Despite the Unification Wars' success, the Demosian peninsula wasn't completely secure. Yes, it was mostly secure. Most of the brigand gangs and bandit groups in the interior of the peninsula were all hunted down and either butchered or surrendered to Pryhan authority. The various warlords and the Teufel river valley did the same. However, not every area of the Empire was fully secured.

This final remnant of the old anarchy of Demos were pirates. Many of them were killed when the Pryhan navy originally captured the city of Creui, which was a pirate meeting place as well as the biggest slave market on the peninsula. However, a few of them either escaped or weren't present during the initial campaign. These crews of marauders were much harder to stamp out due to them being constantly being mobile. Since then, they had begun to raid smaller, isolated coastal villages and on Imperial or Corporate shipping. However, even the most annoying and hard-to-hit insect would eventually get swatted.

That was what she was doing on the ship she was currently at. The Pryhan Trireme, the Provocatio, she was on was apart of an operation to ensnare one of these remaining pirate crews. The ship was currently was anchored by a pair of large rocks, hidden from view further by a light fog. Across from her position, hidden by the fog and rocks, was another ship, the Imperium. In between them, in the open waters and free mostly from the fog, was a third ship, one that was disguised as a partially broken merchant vessel. This third ship, the Vicit, was the bait, and the other two ships were the jaws of the trap.

The prey? One of the pirates still remaining, the crew of the ship the Unconquered Will. The ship had been tracked by smaller Pryhan ships, or by their Griffonian allies, who also wanted to be rid of the pirates. They had been tracked to this area, and the griffons that were helping them had told them it would be heading their way.

This was the plan. They would lure in the ship, and let the pirates go for the Vicit. The other two ships and Griffonians soldiers on the rocks would then trap them in, and, well. Meat to the grinder.

She stood on the bow of the ship, looking out over at the Vicit. The crew had disguised themselves as a merchant vessel that had run aground on the rocks and needed help. They would hope the pirates would take the bait, and try to board the vessel. However, the ship was of an older ship and was vastly understaffed. The plan was for them to abandon ship as soon as the pirates got on board, then swim for the nearby rocks. The remaining ships would then come in from the sides and fuck 'um in the ass.

A griffonian soldier landed on the deck next to her, giving her the more Equestrian style salute. "They're coming. By the scout's estimates, they'll be within sight of the vessel in about five minutes. I suggest you get ready."

"Thanks." With that, the griffon took off and Rainbow ran past the sailors and the marines to the helm and the Captain of the ship. She relayed what the griffon had told her, and he ordered the crew to get ready.

A few minutes later, the sound of another ship could be heard. Looking through the fog, she saw a ship emerge from it. It was a Griffonian style Sloop, by far not the biggest ship but still almost twice the size of the Triremes. Along its decks, she could see the various members of the crew milling about, running to arm ballista or to grab weapons. They had apparently spotted the Vicit, and were closing in for the kill.

The pirates pulled up alongside, ropes and boarding bridges known as a Corvus were placed along the edge of the two ships. As planned, the navy personal took that opportunity to leap over the edge and into the water. As then scrambled to avoid crossbow fire and sling bullets from the pirates, the commander in charge began waving a turquoise flag. That was the signal.

"Hard to port!" the captain of her ship, Captain Thomas, yelled. "All hands to battle stations! Attack speed!"

The ship kicked into high gear. Sailors ran back and forth across the decks like on their ship. The ballista slings were pulled back, the bolts loaded and ready to fire. Below them, the loud, repetitive sound of the signal drummer kicked off, and the rowers soon picked up the beat. The Provocatio lurched to life, leaving its docks as it made for an intercept course.

The pirates picked up on the trap, and began to scramble back to their ship. However, the Imperium had already gotten in front of them, trapping them in a killing box. Griffonians on top of the rocks began to appear, crossbows at the ready.

The first to draw blood were the griffons, who fired down a hail of bolts onto the enemy deck. They tried to return fire with their own crossbows and ballista, but they didn't have a good angle on them to do so. Those that did, or could fire up that high either missed or had their shots avoided by the nimble, flight-capable griffons.

Speaking of flight-capable, she had agreed to make sure that they didn't try and escape. She drew her swords and took off, a rainbow streak cutting through the midday fog. The pirate up in the crow's nest noticed her, but a quick flyby and a slit throat later, and he fell out of the wooden basket to the deck below. She then went to work, sawing through the ropes holding up the sails. Soon, the heavy canvas sheets fell onto the deck, scattering or covering the Pirates.

By now, the ships were within boarding distance. Under covering fire of ballista fire, the marine's own grappling hooks and corvii were secured to the ship. The marine officer yelled, "Boarders away!", and the marines began to board them from the rear. At the same time, several of the griffons chose to draw their curved sabers and get in close, swooping down onto the shell-shocked and outmatched pirates like birds of prey.

The crew of the pirate ship stood no chance. Those who attempted to fight were simply cut down, if not by better skill than by sheer numbers. Most, however, like many of the brigand gangs she had fought, chose to throw down their weapons and surrender. Soon, any survivors were dragged to the deck, and shoved to their knees.

Among them was the captain, judging by his fancy hat, large coat, and the amount of gold and jewelry he had on him. She stepped up to him, grinning under her pulled up neck gaiter. She said, "Captain Smith. You and your crew are under arrest for Piracy, Murder, Theft, Disturbing the Peace, Destruction of both Public, Private, and Corporate property, and Conspiracy to commit all of the previously listed charges. You have the right to remain silent, as any and everything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. Not that anything you do have to say as an excuse will help you."

Please, no 'boarding from the rear' jokes.