[Bloodhawk – Interior – 1 Hour Before]
Zopi (cleaning rifle):
"…Wind's steady. Sky looks calm."
Surgien (irritated):
"Calm means something's about to go wrong."
Rue (floating a small gadget):
"It's quiet. Really quiet."
Zev (sharpening his blade):
"…Too quiet."
Genrihk (on balcony, distant):
"…The air feels restless."
Ron (over intercom):
"Diagnostics normal. For once."
Battery:
"Correction: mostly normal."
[Netoshka's Room]
(Lights flicker. The room distorts into a static haze.)
???: 1… 3… 4… 5… 7… 3… 13… 24… 15…
Symbols crawl across the walls — circling triangles, broken sigils, black suns.
A voice whispers over itself in loops:
Whispers:
"—run—ritual—error—aberration—"
"—why did you fail us—"
"—wake up—wake up—wake—"
A tall figure steps from the static, wearing a ruined officer coat dripping with red.
Its face = Netoshka's.
Its eyes = hollow.
Shadow-Netoshka:
"…Netoshka. Why did you fail me?"
Lights explode into white.
[Netoshka Wakes Up]
She shoots upright, choking on air, sweat soaking her shirt.
Netoshka:
"…Not again."
Then—
ALARM—blaring through every hallway.
Ron (intercom):
"Uh—Team? Yeah we've got a problem.
Unknown signals—fast and hostile!"
The Bloodhawk SHAKES violently.
Something just hit them.
[Hallway – Crew Responds]
Zopi:
"That wasn't turbulence."
Raine:
"We're being shot at!"
Twila:
"Already?!"
Ginny:
"My panel's glitching—someone's jamming us!"
Renzo:
"I count… twelve signatures. Closing fast."
Genrihk:
"…Enemies."
Zev:
"I'll get my gear."
Rue:
"What's happening?!"
Netoshka storms out of her room, still catching her breath.
Netoshka:
"Status Report. Now."
[Broadcast Suddenly Forces Itself Onto Every Screen]
Static.
A crude emblem forms:
A rusted sawblade over a skull of welded scrap.
Then the voice:
> "Attention, unidentified airship."
"This is Captain Krane Stratos of the Sawtooth Razors."
"You're trespassing in MY Territory."
A grin fades into focus — goggles, face paint, unhinged confidence.
> "Hand over your supplies, fuel, and any valuables…"
"…or we carve the Bloodhawk open like a tin can."
The static crackles.
> "Last chance."
[Bridge – Immediate Response]
Zev:
"Boss… he's serious."
Rue:
"Who are these idiots?!"
Surgien:
"Airship-bandit trash. Fantastic."
Netoshka stands in the center of the bridge.
Eyes cold.
Jaw locked.
Her voice cuts through the chaos:
Netoshka:
"Everyone—combat stations."
"Full defensive protocol."
"No one fires until I say."
She steps forward, staring at the screen, face lit by red alarm lights.
Netoshka:
"…Krane Stratos. You shouldn't have done that."
[Bridge – Red Alert Still Active]
The lights stay crimson.
The deck vibrates with the hum of rising shield capacitors.
Ron (typing furiously):
"Great. Just great. They hit our long-range sensors first. Clever little sky rodents."
Battery:
"Correction: moderately clever. Their aim is imprecise."
Ron:
"That's not the compliment you think it is!"
Netoshka (cold):
"How many ships?"
Renzo (visor glowing):
"Twelve to Fithteen signatures confirmed. But… these aren't standard aircraft."
Rue:
"What do you mean?"
Renzo:
"They're mixed types. Scrap-built fighters. Retro to Diesel blimps. Patchwork wings. A Frankenfleet."
Zopi:
"Sky bandits. These Sawtooth Razors live off jerry-rigging."
Raine:
"They're coming into range."
Taran:
"Loadouts ready. Just give the command."
Netoshka turns, scanning each of them.
Her voice is low, steady—unshakable.
Netoshka:
"No one breaks formation. We play defensive until we understand their weapons."
[Exterior – The Sawtooth Razors Approach]
A dozen silhouettes pierce through clouds like vultures.
Blimps reinforced with welded armor plating
Small glider-fighters, wings made from scavenged solar panels
One long air-cruiser with rotating teeth along its hull
They fly in crooked formation, the sky rattling with their engines.
[Back to Bridge – First Contact]
Ginny:
"I'm picking up an open channel—they're broadcasting again."
Screens distort.
Krane Stratos reappears, lounging in a chair made from scrap metal and bones.
His voice drips arrogance.
> Krane:
"Inferius Bloodhawk… cute ship. Very… expensive-looking.
You must be carrying something real shiny."
He spins a knife lazily between his fingers.
> Krane:
"Here's the deal. Drop altitude. Kill your engines.
We tow you. You walk away with your lives."
Zev:
"You call that a deal?"
Krane:
"Oh—and hand over whoever that glitching woman was on the scanner.
The one screaming numbers?
She looks fun."
Every crew member turns toward Netoshka.
She doesn't move.
She doesn't blink.
She just exhales sharply through her nose.
Netoshka:
"…He dies first."
[Barracks – Teams Preparing]
Twila (shapeshifting fingers):
"He really wants to fight us? Us?"
Serah:
"These bandits have gut problems. No self-preservation."
Alev (flame hovering over hand):
"I'll roast their toys."
Surgien:
"If any of you idiots get shot, don't cry at me. I'm not a miracle worker."
Zev (strapping armor):
"Rue, stay close. Don't wander."
Rue
"I'm not afraid of some rusty air pirates!"
Zev:
"That's the exact attitude that gets you skewered."
---
[Main Deck – Bloodhawk Shakes]
THUD—THUD—KRRRSH.
The ship rocks again.
Ron:
"That was a warning barrage! Their accuracy's improving!"
Battery:
"Shields at 69%."
Ron:
"Stop announcing numbers in that tone!"
[Genrihk – Balcony]
Genrihk stands perfectly still, cloak fluttering.
Cirke approaches cautiously.
Cirke:
"…What do you sense?"
Genrihk:
"Malice. Greed. Bloodlust.
These sky scavengers kill for sport."
Cirke:
"So we crush them?"
Genrihk nods once.
Genrihk:
"Inferius will not bow to insects."
[Bridge – Krane Taunting Again]
Krane's face suddenly enlarges on every monitor.
> Krane:
"Bloodhawk, I see you're still thinking about it.
I'll speed things up."
He snaps his fingers.
A Razor ship fires a bolt that scrapes the Bloodhawk's port side, sparks flying.
> Krane:
"Oops. My boys get… impatient."
Netoshka:
"…He wants a reaction."
Zopi:
"And what's yours?"
Netoshka steps forward, narrowing her eyes at the screen.
Netoshka:
"Broadcast back."
Ginny:
"You sure?"
Netoshka:
"Do it."
Screens switch to her face.
Immediately, the Razor ships hesitate.
Even Krane leans forward, intrigued.
> Krane:
"Well, now…
that's the glitching one."
"Those eyes… hah.
You're not normal, are you?"
Netoshka smiles—but it's thin and dangerous.
Netoshka:
"You attacked the wrong ship, Dipshit."
Krane grins wider.
> Krane:
"No.
I attacked the MOST PROFITABLE one."
"And when I drag that ship down,
I'll mount your skull on my prow."
Netoshka responds in a very cold tone:
" yeah, we'll see about that when i take your head off, Scar face"
Static cuts the feed.
[Alarm — Combat Imminent]
Renzo:
"Multiple fighters locking onto us!"
Battery:
"Shields at 62% and falling."
Ron:
"Can everyone STOP SHOOTING US FOR FIVE MINUTES?!"
Netoshka:
"All teams.
Prepare for hostile engagement."
Zopi:
"Sniper nest ready."
Raine:
"Hull guns armed."
Alev:
"Fire spells primed."
Genrihk:
"Shall I unleash the dead, commander?"
Netoshka:
"…Not yet.
Let them strike first."
[Exterior – The First Wave Begins]
Three glider-fighters dive from the clouds.
Junk engines scream.
Miniguns ignite.
Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!
Rounds spray across the Bloodhawk's shield, rippling light across the hull.
Rue:
"They're hitting the lower thrusters!"
Zev:
"I'm going down there!"
Netoshka:
"No! Stay in formation.
We don't separate."
A second wave swoops in.
Explosive harpoons streak toward the ship.
[Harpoon Impact – Port Side]
KWRAAK—!
One harpoon hooks into the Bloodhawk's midsection.
Cables whine.
Ron:
"THEY'RE TRYING TO BOARD US!"
Raine:
"Let 'em try."
Genrihk:
"I will bury the first man who steps foot aboard."
[Bridge – Netoshka Takes Command]
The alarms are deafening.
Sparks rain from a panel Ginny is frantically rewiring.
Zev grips his blade.
Rue hides behind him but stays ready.
Surgien curses at absolutely everything.
And Netoshka—
She is perfectly still.
Then:
Netoshka:
"Bloodhawk…"
"…activate counter-fire."
Ron:
"NOW we're talking!"
Battery:
"Weapons online."
Turrets emerge from the hull.
Defense grids power up.
Magic cannons glow with arc-energy.
Netoshka:
"All units—
Open fire."