Any crash you could walk away from was a good one, or so said Commodore MacBannion. Most airships went over open sky, and so if there were crashes, there were disappearances.

Gerrick crashed them down in an old forest. The force of the impact threw him to the deck hard and unforgiving. He felt himself roll hard against the stern railings. Before he could come to his senses, he felt several pairs of hands grab him and haul him off deck.

Ansley's voice. "Gerrick!"

A soft hand on his cheek, then his forehead. Rose's voice. "He's alright, he's just dazed."

Giacomo, in the background. "Damn fool guided us in instead of tying off."

Gerrick coughed and chuckled. "Ye're welcome." He sat up, with the help of his friends. It hurt.

Digs patted him on the shoulder. "That's why we went down smoother than Sine on Aifric."

"Ha!" Sine scoffed. "Ye wish, laddie."

Jonas fingered a hole in the hull about four and a half inches across in the blue glow of dawn. He squinted.

Fearghas sighed. "What the hell did he hit us with?"

Jonas studied his fingertips, rubbing them together. "A small weapon."

"Why?" Giacomo strode to Jonas. "He could have flown right through us and smashed us to smithereens and never even felt it. Why waste time with that piddly horseshit?"

Jonas turned to Gerrick, a dark expression on his face. "He was taking his time. He intended to torture us, to enjoy it."

Gerrick nodded, then grinned at the realization. "He thought we were a civilian ship. That's good news."

Jonas smiled at Sine. "He didn't count on your aim."

Giacomo smoothed his hair back. "Lesson one, mates. Don't play with your food."

Sine shook her head. "That shot was pure luck, Gerrick. I couldnae even see 'im. I just aimed for the fire."

Ansley grinned. "Then the first thing we tell Laird Hamish is aim fer the fire." She looked to Gerrick.

There were many reasons Gerrick loved her. This was one of them. He smiled. "See? We've already had some success on this misssion."

Jonas pointed to the east. "We're near Ballymoran outpost. We can get help there."

"Alright." Gerrick started walking. "Let's go."

Sine was the huntress of the group. She led the way, picking out a path through the woods with nimble footing. She silently signalled to avoid two bear-traps, probably put there by the soldiers at Ballymoran. When Fearghas started to fall behind, Rose and Spider dropped back to help him along. Jonas kept up, but the quick pace at which they moved left him panting. Gerrick could sympathize--it was a chore that required great focus for him to keep up with Sine.

After three miles, They began to crest a low ridge. At the top, Sine stopped abruptly and held up one hand, dropping down low. Gerrick turned to the others, signalling get-down.

They heard a man singing quietly--in a Marsaukan dialect.

Another man spoke. They conversed briefly in annoyed tones. It ended when one of them said, in clearer Chrysanthemum, "Heeeeeere leetle Highlanders! Is okay! We hurt you quick!"

Gerrick eased his dirks into his hands. Ansley raised her crossbow.

The other Marsaukan answered in a more annoyed tone, and the first responded with a laugh and a quick retort.

Sine slowly readied her new garrotte. Giacomo eased his hand to his saber, gripping the hilt in readiness. Jonas took off his gloves, stowing them in his belt.

And then they crested the hill, still talking and laughing among themselves. There were three.

And Gerrick would later say their faces were priceless when they saw themselves in grappling distance of the Troublemakers.

With a pop of a crossbow, the first one went down, a bolt all the way through his throat and sticking out the back of his neck. Sine kicked the knee out from under the next and had her garrotte around his neck instantly. Gerrick thrust for the thigh of the third, rising to clamp his hand over the man's mouth to silence his scream. He gave the dirk a quick, hard wrench. Blood gushed from the wound. Gerrick threw him back into the Troublemakers.

Jonas caught him, with a bare hand on his face. The man tried to scream, but instead gurgled blood, and fell dead.

Sine's catch struggled impotently, but eventually fell still, a sheet of blood trickling down his neck. Jonas checked each of them, finishing the ones who still lived.

Gerrick smiled at Giacomo. "Dinnae play wi' yer food. I like it."

Giacomo stood up. "If something has to die, you do it quickly, efficiently, and on this mission, quietly."

Gerrick nodded. "I'll remember that."

Jonas held up an insignia. "Marsaukan rangers. They're a little deep into our territory to be out so casually."

Fearghas scrambled up. "How much food and water are they carrying?"

"We got plenty." Rose gestured to her pack.

Jonas held up a half-full water-skin.

Fearghas grimaced. "Their camp isn't far away. Look at this, they don't even..." He checked them again. "Nothing. Not even a snack." He looked up to Gerrick. "They're here in force already."

Gerrick nodded. "Alright. We procede in stealth from here. We have tae get tae Ballymoran."

He led on, staying low, his dirks out and ready.

When he got home, there would be much to tell Da.