Doxi missed the gun by a few inches, but quickly readjusted and slid into the space behind the Ballistae.  Tearing the protective tarp from it she began cranking the winch.  She heard Stoella, somewhere behind her, foreward of the ship shouting orders to the two new marines and then the ship began to bank.  Stoella began to turn the ship to the south, allowing the aft ballistae that Doxi was manning as well as the port side one to come into play.   If they could somehow get the dragon in front of them, they could use the smokepowder cannon, which was Virtuous Maiden's main gun.<br/><br/>Janmorel's voice came up from the speaking tubes, "Captain, should I ask Zephyr to slow and create a shield?"<br/><br/>Doxi knew that Zephyr, the air elemental that was the heart of the Virtuous Maiden could focus it's powers in various ways.  If it ceased it's elemental ring, they would lose maneuverability, only able to turn a few degrees a minute and not able to move, mostly just float in place.  But the shield that Janmorel mentioned was a powerful defensive tool.  The air elemental could wrap the ship in a bubble of wild winds, fouling any arrow fired at the ship and also deflecting many heavier missiles like ballistae bolts.  But Doxi didn't know what such a shield would do against a dragon.  Zephyr could also put her abilities to regenerating damage to the hull, but again, it was a choice of that, the shield, or maneuverability.<br/><br/>Doxi growled as she dropped the ballistae bolt into the launcher.  She had to make a decision and the cool morning air rushing across what was only moments ago a wet pussy stimulated her.  She had maybe another thirty seconds before the dragon was in range of the ballistae, not long enough... then again... when facing down a dragon, was there ever enough time?  The beast looked angry and aggressive, but most people had never seen a dragon in their entire lives, so Doxi had no idea how to judge it.