Lord Roboute Tyrell

- 260 AC - 

The Aegis, the ship Roboute was on, sailed in front of their second one, the Diligence. The Aegis moved into the causeway, knowing full well that they were exposing themselves. But Roboute was counting on this and had prepared extensively for a naval battle. The two longboats they were using had been designed by him and constructed under his watchful eyes. Behind Split Rock, pirate sails emerged, like sharks smelling wounded fish. Three fast raider ships surged forward to intercept the Aegis, while Captain Narro Saan on his ship, the Drowned Widow, followed at a slower, heavier pace. 

The Ultramarines were not all grown men. Some of them were the graduates from Macragge, whom Roboute used to give them experience, while the others were made up of Reach soldiers, whom Roboute had put through training regimes. They were the protectors of Macragge and now, part of the Ultramarines. 

The Pirates aimed their bows and arrows at the Aegis and released their arrows. The first volley struck. However, instead of getting even a single kill or wound among the Ultramarines, the men raised their shields and protected one another, having no problem with it. While this was going on, the Aegis' women had been preparing their own arrows and the special flames. The archers, who were hidden behind the Ultramarine shields, dipped their arrows in the fire and then loosed their arrows at the nearest raider.

The pirates' laughter at the 'successful trap' turned into screams as the fire struck true. The sail caught fire, and the chaotic positions of the pirates were used to kill many of them. 

The other two raiders saw this and grew angry. They changed course slightly, moving in to ram the Aegis and board it. But the Aegis had thin metal plating built into the hull, making it very expensive, but also far more durable and strong against both the tides and enemy ships. But that's not all. Having forgotten about the second Ultramarine ship, the Diligence appeared at full sail, slamming into the rear of one of the two raiders. 

The Diligence was a specially designed ship. While the Aegis had been outfitted with extensive defensive measures, the Diligence was an attack craft. The bow acted like a battering ram, or better yet, a knife in a sense. The metal plating and slight spear shape allowed the Diligence to cut into the side of the raider and almost split it in half. Had this not been Paxter's very first time in a battle, he would have done this better and aligned his ship better, allowing him to split the entire raider in half. However, it still did significant damage. 

60 Ultramarines disgorged onto the pirate raider like a well-organised tidal wave. The women continued to shoot bows and arrows, picking off those the foot soldiers missed. The men were methodical, moving like a single unit, following the training they had received. The Pirates tried to break their formation of shields, but the long spears pierced them and stopped them from reaching them. Should one man fall, another behind him would take his place. But it didn't come to that. 

Aboard the Aegis, the men and women felt the third raider hit their side, but failing to do any damage. Roboute had turned the rudder, positioning the ship almost parallel to the raider and minimising the hit. Roboute jumped on board, followed by his men and got to work. He was the tip of their spear formation, taking the most attacks, while his men were at his side, fighting to match his pace and rhythm. With powerful and fast slashes, each of Roboute's movements was followed by several dead pirates. 

They were merciless and deadly efficient, and while this wasn't a trained army they were facing, the chaotic aspect of a naval fight made it somewhat interesting. Roboute blocked the screaming pirate's short blade by catching it with his hand and sliced him in half. After the corpse fell to the ground, Roboute looked into the distance and saw the Drowned Widow approach their position. 

"Mathis, take your group and fall back to the Aegis! Attach the raider on the starboard side and prepare!"

Mathis took his group of 20 men and moved back to the Aegis, getting into positions for the arriving ship. Roboute calculated the time it would take and got to work as well. They grabbed thick ropes and attached the raider to the Aegis' starboard side. Then, they took positions, preparing for the incoming attack. The Drowned Widow had two scorpions on board, which allowed Narro Saan to become such an influential and feared pirate in the first place. 

The scorpion fired once, skewering the side of the raider and embedding itself into the hull. It doesn't reach the Aegis, but does quite a bit of damage to the raider. That's why Roboute used the pirate ship as a shield. Mathis, meanwhile, was steering the Aegis, keeping their starboard side pointing towards the Drowned Widow. 

"Grapple on my signal," Roboute commanded, his voice cutting through the air like steel. 

As the Drowned Widow was about to ram into the raider, the Aegis turned as sharply as possible. The pirate war galley, therefore, didn't ram the side of the raider and Aegis, but cut through the raider from the bow to the middle, before coming to a stop. The ship rocked violently, and the signal was heard. 

Pirates jumped off the Drowned Widow and on the raider, hacking and slashing wildly. But they were welcomed with steel and death. The pirates had the numbers, but the Ultramarines were savagely trained and knew what to do. The front line moved forward, giving way in the middle, allowing new men to take their place. It looked like new men were being spawned, while the men who were at the front were moved to the sides, keeping the pirates engaged until they killed them. 

One of the pirates aimed the scorpions at the Ultramarines when the Diligence came gliding in and struck the side of the Widow with a hard crunch. It wasn't enough to sink or break her, since that wasn't their goal, but enough to know the pirates off their feet. Mathis Rowan from the Aegis and Paxter Redywne from the Diligence boarded the pirate galley and engaged the pirates from both sides. 

Meanwhile, Roboute and his group mowed down the pirates on the raider and also boarded the Drowned Widow, splitting their attention further. Amidst the fighting, Captain Narro Saan, a tall man with a scimitar at hand, looked around, trying to engage one of the Ultramarines. But all he got was defence. No one fought him, making him enraged as he tried to quench his bloodthirst, which he was famous for. But he was not there to kill. Only Roboute would be allowed to kill one of the Nine. And that's what he came to do. 

"So one of you finally dares to fight me? Pathetic Westerosi children of whores!"

Roboute sheathed his sword and approached Saan. The pirate captain snarled and swung his scimitar through the air. He was a tall and strong man, with agility that made him special among men in his line of business. He struck low, high, spun into a reverse arc, only to find that he hadn't even made Roboute move. The expressionless face unnerved and angered him further, causing his movement to become erratic and uncoordinated. 

"I'll fucking kill youuuu!"

With a roar, Narro Saan slashed forward. Roboute slapped the man's blade to the side, like swatting a fly. His armoured fist smashed into the Pirate's face, cracking his bones and causing blood vessels to burst. It happened so fast that he didn't realise what happened, and the massive concussion didn't help either. Acting on impulse, Narro Saan tried to swing his arm towards Roboute again, but the heir to Highgarden caught his arm and clenched his fist, breaking the poor sod's bones to powder. 

"AAGG...gg--"

Roboute's hand grips the Captain's throat and lifts him into the air, for all to see. 

"You weren't trying hard enough," Roboute said. 

With a fast movement, Roboute breaks Saan's neck and rips out his vertebrae, splattering the ground with the man's blood and gore. The Drowned Widow's deck, which had been drowned in loud sounds of war, were now quiet. No one dared to say anything. Roboute's expression didn't change whatsoever. He dropped the late Captain's head and wiped his armoured hands with his shirt. 

"Kill them all."

That brought everyone back from their stupor. But the loss of their captain and the brutal way he was killed demoralised the pirates, making them run away and jump into the sea. The Ultramarines made quick work of everyone on board until the last one was dead. 

Their first battle had been won. A perfect victory, without a single death, albeit four wounded. Roboute and the Ultramarines had just taken out a member of the Band of Nine with a fighting force of merely 150 men and women. And this was merely the start of this war. 

.

The first fight for the Reach forces had been won, and with it, they took out one of the Band of Nine. Roboute had taken all that was left on the three raiders. This included weapons, food, drink and anything else. The real goods and resources which were interesting weren't found on the ships, though the captain's quarters on the Drowned Widow did have gold and gems in them. The island, which Narro Saan had taken for himself, did have valuable items. 

Roboute set up a rather permanent camp on the farthest island south of the Stepstones. This island would serve as the outpost of the Reach forces and also the place he might take over fully, once the war was over. Roboute's large war tent was the first one to be constructed. He had a large table installed, with different maps of the eastern parts of Essos, the Disputed Lands and of course, the Stepstones. After their camp was finished and they had secured the perimeter for potential attacks, it was time to have the discussion for their next steps. 

"Our next steps are as follows: In one or a maximum of two days, the ships containing more of our troops and provisions will arrive. It is imperative that we use this as efficiently as possible, since we can't know for certain when the next provisions will arrive. We have taken this island at the far south, to control the sea routes between Essos and Westeros. So we must hold this. 

Then, we will load all of the valuables we have looted already onto the ships and have them sail back to the Reach. All those who have been wounded from now on and can't continue to fight will be shipped back that way as well, while new recruits and soldiers will arrive, should we need them. Is everything understood?"

"What about our next offensive, my Lord?"

"As far as I have found out, the biggest and bloodiest fighting is taking place on Bloodstone Island, the biggest of all islands. Lord Ormund Baratheon has a hard time dealing with the denizens there, since they have prepared and built forts and are heavily armed and prepared for a long fight. 

Dorne is closest to our position, just to the west of here, while the Lannister host and the bulk of Baratheon's are to the north. Quellon Greyjoy is using his fleet to fight naval battles. This means we have almost free rein over the south and the east. That's also what we will use to gradually move up, until we reach the Disputed Lands. We are not in a hurry at all, so we will keep things orderly and do it methodically."

"What about Tyrosh, my Lord? Shall we not get involved in the strike to free the city?"

"Not yet. Tyrosh is not a priority of Lord Ormund and rightfully so. Maelys and the Golden Company are a large force of soldiers, and they do nothing but fight for a living. Dealing with them is the top priority and will use up most of the manpower Westeros brought. I will not waste good men for a task which will be done by women."

"Women, my Lord?"

"Yes. Everyone has their own jobs and importance in this war. Rest for now, for tomorrow, we fight."

After almost everyone left the room, Roboute called out to someone. 

"Rowena."

"I'm here, my Lord."

"You know what to do. Take your time and report things back to me. Should you not wish to do this, I have other uses of your talents--"

"No, my Lord. I am more than prepared. The girls and I are eager to proceed with your plan. We will not fail you," she said. 

"Very well. I await your report when the time comes."