"We're still in," Perona said.
Morning light was just beginning to break through cloud cover as the party gathered again, having 'agreed' to take Elaine's job to destroy the Blue Locust 2—at least on the surface. In truth, they intended to warn Celran of Elaine's plot, the city's sentiment towards the Brass Hand and protect the Brass Hand's valuable cargo.
Elaine handed each of them a small vial filled with fine black powder. "These are enchanted, and they'll detonate after about two or three hours. If necessary, pressing hard on the cork can send the vials into a 15-second countdown. One of you may need to plant a charge in the cargo hold. Even if the ship goes down, we can't risk anything being recovered. I'll be keeping a lookout, and I've recruited some others to our plan since last night. However, given that our plan is stealth, you'll do down by yourselves. If you're questioned, come up with something, I don't know. Either way, if anything happens, my helpers will be down there in a flash."
"Understood," Perona replied smoothly. Without any indication of hesitation, she turned and led the party out of the tavern and toward the docks, her footsteps quiet on the pavingstones as the city around them slowly woke beneath a pale sun.
- - -
As soon as they reached the Blue Locust 2, Amon moved with a purpose, picking the lock to the quarterdeck and heading inside straight for the captain's quarters to find Celran. Grango and Derrick followed close behind.
Meanwhile, Hadarai and Perona busied themselves with faking the placement of the gunpowder vials, pretending to hide them in spots where their hands would be hard to see from onlookers. They mimicked with the motion with their hands, in reality, they hadn't placed the vials at all and were looking for the opportunity to ditch them.
Aralynn pretended to head down belowdecks as well before she worked her way up to the quarterdeck using crates, low walls, and the banister as cover. From there, she kept watch with Objection in hand.
Perona summoned her telepathic interface using her skill again, just like the day before.
{Perona: We know that Elaine's got eyes on us. Hurry. If the whole city feels the same way she does about the Brass Hand, and they figure out we're not on their side… we're going to be outnumbered fast. This isn't something we can fight our way out of.}
{Amon: Understood. We found Celran. I'm updating him now.}
Aralynn was just beginning to relax when movement caught her eye. A group of three humanoids strode down the dock, roughly towards them, though it was too early to tell.
{Aralynn: We have company. Don't look up right away, but we might have three humanoids coming in our direction. If we're making a decision, we need to make it quick. What's Celran said so far?}
{Amon: Still talking. Give us a moment.}
{Aralynn: Fuck.}
There were still crates lashed down on the quarterdeck—overflow cargo and supplies secured with thick rope and steel bolts. Aralynn slipped between a wall and one of the crates, her body hidden between the two shapes. She quietly opened her rifle's bolt. With a click, she chambered a round and settled into a sitting position, the barrel just barely peeking through the slats of the railing.
Soon, Hadarai placed the final decoy vial, then doubled back to 'check' their placements one last time.
{Hadarai: Amon, where are we at with Celran?}
{Amon: Celran's heading up with the crew now. We're undocking and setting off immediately. If the city turns against us, then we can't risk losing any cargo at all. If you're near lashings, undo them right away, or at least do what you can. Elaine probably already knows, or at least suspects us. Better to get a clean getaway.}
{Perona: Understood.}
Perona knelt down to one of the lashings holding the airship to the dock and got to work with the knot, feverishly picking away at the scaly rope. Hadarai on the other hand, had taken the liberty of starting to pull up the anchor.
They weren't alone, however.
{Aralynn: Incoming.}
The three humanoids that she'd seen earlier drifted into view, and as they grew closer, Aralynn could make out that they were dwarves. Specifically, the three dwarves from the drinking contest that Perona had the previous morning.
As they approached, one of them lifted a hand in greeting. "Oi! Half-elf! You've got a mean liver on you. We should drink again sometime!"
Perona didn't break stride. She continued working at the lashings, barely glancing up. The dwarves got closer, seemingly unaware of Aralynn watching them.
"Of course," Perona replied smoothly.
"What's this then?" one asked. "Getting ready to set off?"
Aralynn become aware of the noises that began to fill around them—dockworkers, crewmembers, carts arriving with supplies, crates, and trades. The docks were growing crowded as the sun now hung gleaming in the sky, and the airship ports were getting ready for the day. Perona noticed this as well and used the scenario to her advantage.
"Yes," Perona said, keeping her voice even, easily selling the lie. "We're trying to get a head start to make good time."
With her uncanny communication and acting skills, Perona should've easily convinced the dwarves of the case—that is, if the dwarves didn't have a certain piece of information.
The second dwarf laughed. "That so? Funny—I thought Elaine told you lot to sink the ship. So what's this, then? You flying with them now?"
Shit.
Those words were like sparks to fireworks, setting everything in motion all at once in a massive fireball.
Hadarai and Perona drew their weapons in a blur of motion. Hadarai moved in front of Perona to protect her.
In response, glass vials—identical to the ones that the party were given—arced through the air towards the Blue Locust 2, thrown by the dwarves.
From the quarterdeck, Aralynn pulled the trigger as she racked a shot, her sights on the lead dwarf. The rifle went off with a crack, and the bullet buried itself into the dwarf's shoulder. The dwarf grunted but shook it off like it was nothing and whipped his head around to an approximation of Aralynn's position.
At the same time, Celran emerged from the deck below just on time along with Cozith and what he could find of the crew.
Shocked dockworkers scrambled out of the way, several screaming for guards. Hadarai engaged the three dwarves in a melee with his longsword and shield in hand.
One thing was clear, though. The vials that the dwarves had threw had landed on the main deck of the Blue Locust 2 and were beginning to glow.