text: [Themes: grimdark fantasy, war, grimdark, villain protagonist, fantasy]
  
  Year 62
  
  "The transport airships have made their test run to the outskirts of Dokkrus and returned. They're ready for the real mission now, my Emperor." Elam remarks.
  "Good, because we're sending them and a couple of the upgraded regular airships." You say.
  
  This is a major step closer to your goals. Cassandra, Galen and the rest have managed to locate and hold a fairly intact portal for you. The base around it has already been dug out for easier lifting and they haven't suffered many svelk attacks, well not many concentrated svelk attack at least. The svelk that are attacking are just the regular xenophobic type that doesn't want outsiders on their territory. They have no real grasp of the greater plans that are going on.
  
  Semra's actions have been surprisingly minimal though apparently she's been too busy defending her own territory (and portal and mines) from not just your sabotage attempts (Which unfortunately haven't been too successful), but from other svelk warbands. It would seem that Cassandra and your Eyes have at least successfully managed to keep up the ongoing chaos there.
  
  Won't be long now.
  
  "Emperor, may I accompany you on this mission?" Zana asks.
  "Huh?" you say being interrupted by your private thoughts.
  "May I accompany you on this mission, my Emperor? I know I sounded a little afraid the last time Dokkrus was mentioned, but I admit part of me still wanted to go. I'd like to join you on this mission. Besides, I did have a hand in building these airships, it might be best if someone with that knowledge came along."
  "I imagine Klemto might have some objections to that." You say.
  "I love him, but he's too over protective. Besides, you're the Emperor if you want me to come with you then he has no choice but to comply right?" Zana says almost in a flirtatious way. You're not exactly sure how to take that, but Elam definitely looks surprised. Maybe even a little jealous.
  
  "Well, that is correct...okay fine you can come with me."
  "This will be a great honor my Emperor! I'm looking forward to this!" Zana says.
  "You will be accompanying me aboard the Storm III." You say.
  "You're going to be on the Storm III?"
  "That was the plan given that it's the flagship, why where did you think I was going to be?" you ask.
  "Well I assumed that you'd want to be aboard one of the transport airships to better oversee the process as well as to better defend it from attack in case the svelk try something."
  "That's sort of why I have the Storm III and company going with them. They will be defending against possible svelk attacks, though barring Semra's meddling; I don't see any major threat to any of the airships themselves. The svelk are remarkably still stuck in the dark ages when it comes to weaponry."
  "True, but I know you have the ability to cast those large barriers for defense. I dunno I just don't see your own extra protection on a transport airship as such a bad idea. It would allow the escorts to focus a little more on protecting the other."
  "Hrm. Never hurts to be sure I guess. Duly noted, I'll think about it."
  
  With Zana's brief suggestion she excuses herself to get her things prepared for the mission, leaving you alone with Elam who realizes his glances of faint jealousy have caught your attention and he is now trying to not make eye contact.
  
  "Elam you're acting like a teenager. I'm not remotely interested in your woman so you can stop worrying that I'm going to start fucking her on the airship." You blurt out.
  "Uh...um...thank you my Emperor...I uh..." Elam stutters a bit at a lost for how to respond.
  "How long have you two been an item anyway? It doesn't really show much when you two are together."
  "We try to keep it professional my Emperor. Human women here aren't in big supply here in New Dessel and I can't identify with any of the Eyes, but Zana...she's something special...never have I encountered a woman with such a magnificent intellect for science!"
  "Mm, I'm sure that the only thing..." you smirk.
  "Well her physical attributes are nice as well.' Elam says.
  
  Elam goes on to ask if he can discuss his desire to work more in the medical and biology field when you return. You tell him that he may continue his experiments as usual, but you're going to need his help with the portal when it's brought back most likely.
  
  Your don't bother talking with Klemto about Zana. You figure she can tell him herself, assuming she even bothers and decides to just make it a surprise for him.
  
  You do take the opportunity to look at the new airships. It's odd, but as many times as you've seen them up close this will be the first time you'll actually be on one of these things. Even on your return trip from Nyttrus you went by boat rather than waiting for another airship.
  
  When the day arrives Klemto approaches you. You're guessing he must've heard the news by now. He comes to you hat in hand looking pitiful.
  
  "Emperor...I understand my daughter is going with you...I just beg of one thing and that's that you see that she's safe."
  "You make a lot of demands of your Emperor...(sigh) She'll be fine Klemto, you worry too much. I doubt if the svelk are even going to be able hit us if they even attack. Besides, she's going to be aboard the Storm III and given that it's the heaviest armed airship we have right now, she'll be one of the safest people there."
  "Well that's good to hear. At least she'll be close to you."
  "Not necessarily. I might be flying on one of the transports. Zana suggested that it might be best if I was aboard one to better defend it in case the unexpected should happen."
  
  As Klemto's mind fills with worry again, you wonder if you should take Zana's advice or not.
  
  > Board one of the transports
  Zana had a good idea; the transports could use a little extra protection so you decide to get on one of them.
  
  After about a half hour you finally get used to the idea of being so high in the air and less paranoid. You didn't think it possible for you to be, but somewhere in the back of your mind, you had the concern of this thing falling out of the sky which is probably why you haven't stayed in one place on the ship for very long and have felt the need to pace about it.
  
  Just as you're getting used to the long flight over the ocean, you are suddenly in for something extremely unexpected.
  
  The a few of the Storm III's cannons suddenly fire upon your transport ship! The transport you're on is hit severely and is set ablaze along with several of the crew killed. More than that though is from this distance you can also see the Storm III suffering its own explosions in several places. You have no idea what is going on, but it's obvious some sort of treachery has occurred. The only other thing you see is a figure jumping off the Storm and then a large odd piece of what you guess is white fabric comes out of the figure that jumped, slowing the descent.
  
  Meanwhile your ship slowly starts veering towards the other transport while continuing to burn around you. Between the collision, the fire and the other explosions going on aboard the ship you are caught in this disaster and even your magic can't save you. One explosion knocks you unconscious and you aren't awake when the wreckage finally hits the ocean.