Springer ran up on deck wearing pants, his nightshirt with armor over it and carrying Dirk's gear. A sword belt clattered at his waist. He glanced north took in the enemy vessel and ran to give Dirk his gear. 5 men at arms trotted up on deck with full armor and a shield and sword each. They faced the enemy ship at the rail. Whistles sounded three times all over the ship, the call to arms had gone out. Dirk admonished Springer, "Looks like we're in for it, they made straight for us when they saw us. They are fast too, no way we'll out run them."
Thomas and Gendry came up on deck carrying their 'thunder box' and it's frame. They saw the enemy ship and ran up to lock down points the had installed by the rail on the poop deck. Thomas shouted at the two captains, "Say the word and we'll take a shot." Dirk responded, "You can't hit anything from here." Arya who had come up on deck behind them snarled, "Take the shot Thomas." Thomas threw off his sling and unscrewed the back cap of the 'thunder box', he poured grey powder into a small white bag and got a wick out from his waistcoat. "Dammit Bronn why did you have to injure me just before a real battle." Bronn who had just sauntered up on deck with Tormund surprised him by responding, "Learn to survive."
Gendry admonished Thomas saying, "Not too much powder it will over heat the throat and we won't be able to fire again until it cools." Thomas poured a little more in the bag, stuffed it in and screwed the cap back on. He placed a little grey wick in the tiny hole on the top of the cap. Gendry took a rod and rammed the bag from the front a few times and then stuffed some cotton in and rammed it again. He pulled a lead ball from the bag and placed it in the mouth, then he rammed more cotton in to hold the ball in place. He handed Thomas a lit stick with some crumbly stuff burning on it. Thomas looked at the ship bearing down on them and adjusted the framework holding the bronze dragon. He locked it down and they both stood back. He looked at Arya again and she nodded. The little wick sparkled when he touched it with the stick. Then it fizzed loudly and a shocking explosion happened. The frame caught the recoil of the shot and everyone turned towards the other ship still hundreds of yards away. The shot made an angry sound as it sped toward the other ship. A fountain of wood splinters puffed up on the enemy ship's prow and then a massive bang occurred at the other ships main mast. Then that mast cracked apart and fell sideways, clogging their deck with lines and sails and wood. The other crew quickly jumped about cutting lines and shoving the whole useless mess overboard. But their approach had been interrupted somewhat. Dirk gave an astonished whistle saying "Well struck lad. They will have trouble catching us easily now. And...fire when ready if you please."
But the enemy ship still forged onward. Most of the crew was on deck now brandishing boat hooks or short swords and knives. A few carried grapple hooks and lines. They knew a fight was at hand. They cheered loudly when the other ships mast went down. They weren't keen for a fight but they were ready to defend life and limb. They would give as good as they got. Bronn surprised everyone when he shouted out, "They are greenish gold with scales and their eyes are red. They look like lizards. We get to spill some lizard blood today boys. I wonder what color it is?
The crew was aghast at his description but they cheered when he called for the lizards blood. At less than 200 yards the enemy crew became clearly visible and another one ran to the prow throwing something towards the Sovereign. An arrow sprouted from his head and he pitched over into the water. But what he had thrown whirred in the air and stuck soundly into one of the knights shields. It was a strange three bladed knife of some sort that were deadly when thrown.
"Look alive men and stay low," Portsmith shouted. Jack was manning the catapult to aft and a woodsman was on the smaller one fore. Jack called for an iron bolt and fired but it went slightly wide while the woodsman at the prow fired and struck another lizard dead. As the enemy vessel closed they turned and shipped oars on the side coming at the ship. Thomas fired again and the enemy fore castle erupted in a cloud of wood dust. Deadly knives were everywhere suddenly and several crew were struck, one in the chest and several in their arms. The two woodsman archers and another crewman good with a bow ran to just behind the knights line. Another man manned the other catapult. The knights would move sideways to make a gap and an archer would step forward and fire. Then the knights would close to protect against the flying knives. Thomas got off one more shot blasting a huge chunk out of the side of the enemy ship, it was too far above the water line to sink her though.
Thomas had to duck because a fling knife buzzed straight at his head and every one on the poop deck knelt low. Nymeria howled so loud the enemy looked aghast at the sound. She was on the poop deck as well and dodged several flying blades. As the enemy closed into grapple range nets and grapples flew from both sides. A grapple hook caught the railing near Thomas and Gendry and they grabbed their weapon and backed off low. Gendry brandished his forge hammer and Thomas pulled a small sword someone had grabbed for him. Brienne in full armor pushed to the rail to fend off boarders and Arya was just behind her. A tall lizard man leaped the closing gap off one side of the knights and his chest sprouted 4 dirks from Dirk. The enemy combatant went down in a heap. Three lizards jumped from poop deck to poop deck, claws grasping the rail but Brienne beheaded all three in one stroke. Two more followed clearing the rail but Arya killed one slitting it's throat and Nymeria got the other by the neck a shook it mightily. Bronn killed one on deck and said, "Oh green blood." Tormund shouted, "My blade is thirsty come on with you."
And come they did, a wave of them crashed into the the Sovereign and fighting erupted everywhere. Boarding nets, planks and grapple hooks flew along with three bladed knives, the air was full and the decks ran red and green with the blood the dead and dying. Springer shouted, "There must be 50 of them still coming." The boarding wave of enemies fully threatened to over whelm the Sovereigns crew in one mighty push.