The meeting room’s pale light seemed to seep from the edges of the morning sun, casting soft, reluctant shadows over the table where Lt. Sarah Kade sat, nursing a deep scowl and an even deeper cup of coffee. Her fingers drummed a restless, annoyed rhythm as she scanned the file open before her, muttering under her breath.

  "Three candidates," she said finally. "Three potential people, Lawson. And I’ve spent the entire night sifting through these files, only to end up with three decent candidates. You’d think with a crew this size, we’d have more options."

  "You know you didn’t have to stay up all night doing this, right?" Lawson replied.

  His tone was mild and measured. The battle with the drowned had been a trial by fire for him. While it was clear that he was still trying to process the loss of some of his men, he'd done an outstanding job of stepping up and being the leader they needed. Kade glanced at him, a weary smirk tugging at her lips.

  "Sure, tell the cannoneers that’ll be under-trained if I don’t find someone competent," she said.

  "Besides, I confirmed one bit of interesting information. Almost this entire crew has very few family ties. That's not normal. No wives, children, living parents, or anything else."

  "Well, I suppose that one small favor from the universe, isn't it?" Lawson replied.

  "I've never seen it in my career. Though I rarely need to go through everyone's entire personnel file," Kade said.

  "Interesting. So, no family back home for you?" Lawson inquired.

  "Not much. An older sister, a brother-in-law, and their twins. I can't remember the last time I saw them. It's been a while," Kade said, her eyes getting a faraway look. "I send cards and emails, but it's been at least four years since I visited."

  The Simulation’s message blinked into view, cutting across her train of thought with all the tact of a drunk admiral at a promotion ceremony.

  Greetings, Players! Congratulations on making it through the second planetary cycle of the Simulation reboot. You will be happy to know that the level zero protocols are working as intended and the global player population is adjusting toward the accepted upper limits of the Simulation. Previous player population: 5,354,948,178 Human. Current player population: 3,265,685,136 Humans. No player data for additional player species is available.

  "Well, that certainly drives the point home of the crew not having numerous family ties, which is a benefit for us at the moment. No matter how morbid," Lawson stated grimly.

  "I hate to agree, but you're right. The last sentence is interesting, though. No additional player species data?" Kade said.

  "You don't think there used to be things like elves, dwarves, and the like, do you?" Lawson said thoughtfully.

  "It's possible. That creates more questions than it answers if that is the case. If things like dwarves and elves are real, what other mythical creatures are out there?" Kade continued.

  "We know kraken are real. So it's not looking good for the home team. Can't say I'm looking forward to running into a medusa or pretty much any monster of Greek myth." Lawson shuddered.

  "There is a terrifying thought that I didn't need so early in the morning. However, I'll have to schedule my existential crisis for later. For now, we have more important things to take care of. Shall we get back to the grind of finding our cannoneer?"

  Sarah was sure that the weight of everything that was happening would catch up to her, and probably soon. However, she needed to focus on what was happening now and not on things she couldn't affect. Worrying over things outside her control was no use, as her mother had always told her. Still, she couldn't help but wonder what the impact on religion and scientific institutions would be.

  Lawson chuckled. "Who's the last person on our interview list?"

  Lawson's comment snapped Kade back to the current situation. They’d already interviewed two candidates this morning. Both had been fine on paper, but in practice? Less so. Kade’s standards were high, yes, but this wasn’t a role for someone who couldn’t handle the pressure and, so far, neither had met the mark.

  "Well, here’s hoping this one’s worth the loss of sleep," she said to Lawson before calling out to the next room. "Send in Chief Gunner’s Mate Maleko."

  A few moments later, the door opened, and Kai Maleko stepped in, his expression carefully neutral, though Kade noted the slight flash of uncertainty in his eyes. He was sharp enough not to show it in his stance, though she had to give him that. He stood at attention, his posture as crisp as his uniform, and waited without a word.

  Kade held him in her gaze for a long moment, appraising. Interesting, she thought. A bit more composed than the other two. She shared a glance with Lawson, who gave an almost imperceptible shrug.

  "Chief Maleko," she began, "Let’s get straight to it. We need someone who knows how to handle naval artillery. Take a seat."

  Maleko nodded, the uncertainty in his eyes hardening into resolve as he took the seat. It was a look that said he was ready for whatever test his officers threw his way. And Kade, finally, felt the faintest glimmer of hope that maybe her long night wouldn’t have been in vain.

  Kade leaned back in her chair, letting her gaze drift over Kai Maleko as he settled himself into the seat across from her. His shoulders held the natural set of a man who’d long ago stopped worrying about making an impression, his eyes sharper than they let on as he took in the room and her own expression. She respected that. Maleko was one of those chiefs who knew how to play the game without ever needing to bluff.

  "All right, Chief," Kade began, "I reviewed your jacket, and I think we all know you’ve got a reputation for knowing your way around artillery. That being said, you are a bit out of your element here on the Talon. Someone with your service method rarely has a place on a ship like the Talon. However, you may just be in the right place, at the right time, with the right skills to solve a problem."

  Maleko replied, "Aye, ma’am. These old-style cannons are… different, for sure. More room for finesse, I’d say, though they don’t exactly pack the punch of what I’m used to."

  "Already get a peek at them, did you, Chief?" Lawson interjected.

  Maleko chuckled, a sound that seemed to rumble up from somewhere deep. "Could say that, Lieutenant. Quartermaster, let me look at the cannons earlier. They are smaller than expected but have a good range of motion. Not sure what all the numbers and abilities they list do, but they sound impressive."

  "Yeah? Got a few ideas on what we should do with them, then?" Kade replied.

  Maleko leaned forward, his voice shifting from the humor-tinged banter to the easy professionalism of a man who’d spent years honing his craft. "If you ask me, Lieutenant, they belong on the forecastle. Get a better firing arc that way. Aftcastle’s fine for cover if you’re fleeing, but if it’s all the same to you, I’d rather have the flexibility to shoot forward. If we’re running, ma’am, we’re already in trouble."

  A silence settled between them, thick with the unspoken acknowledgment of the kraken attack. Kade let the pause stretch, her eyes lingering on Maleko’s face as if reading a deeper meaning in his words. She could feel Lawson’s tension beside her, a subtle tautness that made her wonder if he, too, sensed there was more to the Chief’s story.

  "Interesting perspective, Chief," she said, at last, her tone casual. "And it’s one that makes me wonder. What’s a man with your background doing on the Horizon Talon, anyhow? Don’t get me wrong. I’m thrilled to have someone with your particular… finesse onboard. But I can’t imagine you volunteered for a post on a ship like this."

  "Funny thing about that, ma’am," he said, his voice softer now more guarded. "I didn’t volunteer. Got my orders last-minute. Told me to pack up, head over to the Talon, and keep my questions to myself."

  Kade’s interest sharpened. "No kidding. Last-minute orders from above? Someone out there must have one hell of a sense of humor."

  "You could say that," Maleko replied.

  "Still, it had to be a pretty good reason," she said, pushing further. "Someone thought you were the perfect fit for this post."

  "I was curious myself, Lieutenant. Only thing I got out of one officer when I asked was a slip of the tongue. Only thing I caught was something weird. Catalyst, I think? Sounded classified."

  "Catalyst?" Kade repeated.

  Service aboard the Talon was supposed to be a volunteer posting as part of an elective at the academy, Kade thought to herself. There were starting to be an odd number of occurrences with this latest training cruise. First, the last-minute posting of Marines to the Talon that was supposedly hitching a ride. Then, most of the crew have very limited or non-existent family ties. Now, a sailor sat before her, assigned to the Talon, who could help arm the otherwise defenseless ship.

  Maleko, seeming to pick up on the slight shift in tension, folded his arms, his gaze settling into something wary. "That mean anything to you, ma’am?" he asked.

  "No, Chief, I can’t say it does," Kade said.

  A tight smile touched Maleko's lips, but his expression changed, as if he accepted he wouldn't receive answers.

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  Kade watched Maleko, letting the silence settle just long enough again for her to gather her thoughts. There was a carefulness about him. The kind of approach she recognized and rely upon in seasoned crew members who knew better than to rush anything. She tilted her head, waiting until his gaze finally met hers again, and then she leaned forward slightly, giving him her full attention.

  "So, Chief," she began, "about those cannons. You said you had time to look over the item stats?"

  "Yes, Ma'am," The Chief replied, "besides the damage this type of cannon would normally do, they do some additional lightning damage. I'm unsure what that looks like in practice, but it sounds interesting. The description also said that if they were fired into the water, they'd stun any creatures in the water. I'm not sure if that would have worked against something like a kraken or not, though. So probably ought to note test that theory out if we can help it."

  "No, you're probably right about that, chief. Let's try not to test that theory out," Kade chuckled.

  "They're not like anything I've handled before and lack firepower compared to what I'm used to. Still, artillery is artillery." Maleko said.

  "I'd be thrilled to see you back in your element, considering your unique set of skills," Kade continued.

  "I'd love to see what these things can do. I've already offered to help set them up once the Captain decides where to put them. Not sure if it's my place to say, but I've got some thoughts."

  Kade nodded, following every word with genuine curiosity. She could see it. The faint spark in his eyes, the way his shoulders relaxed as he spoke about the cannons. It was the posture of someone who’d finally found his footing.

  "And?" she prompted. "Any insights you’d like to share with the rest of us mere mortals?"

  "Well, to be honest, Lieutenant, I’d say they’re not so much cannons as they are… something else entirely." He paused. "Given their capabilities, I wouldn't be surprised if we find uses for them beyond simple aiming and firing."

  "The lightning damage is the wildcard here. Will it stun everyone nearby if we hit a ship with it? Something like fire damage would have been easier to understand. Wooden ships… fire… not a good combo. I’ve seen some unusual munitions in my time, but these have potential. Removing the whole end of the world thing from the equation, these could be some of the most exciting things I've ever seen. I'd love to be on the cannon crews for these."

  "Well, chief," she said slowly, giving him a measured look. "Since you seem to have taken a special interest in these unique cannons, let’s make things official. How would you feel about taking charge of the cannon crews?"

  "You’d be responsible for fire team training, working with the quartermaster to get the supplies squared away, coordinating with officers to make sure we’re fully stocked… the works."

  Maleko's face shifted, and for a moment, Kade thought she saw near reverence there, as if someone had just given him a rare prize. He sat up a little straighter, his expression open, and then he let out a long breath that sounded like relief.

  "Lieutenant… I am honored," he said. "Thank you. This… this means more than I can say."

  He hesitated momentarily before continuing, "Truth is, I’d been worried I’d end up as just another set of hands, but this? This is what I live for."

  "Good. It’s about time we got you back to what you’re best at. I’ll make sure the quartermaster knows you’ll be running point on all cannon matters from now on."

  "Much appreciated, Lieutenant," he replied, "and if you’re open to it, I’ve got a few suggestions that might just make these cannons run smoother."

  "By all means, please share," Kade replied.

  "First off… back in New London, the academy museum’s got a handful of historical cannons. Pieces from old sea battles, genuine beauties. If we could get our hands on even a few of those…" He trailed off, letting the potential of his idea speak for itself.

  "You really think a few museum pieces could make a difference?"

  Maleko’s face lit up with excitement, and for a moment, he looked less like a grizzled navy man and more like a boy with a brand-new toy. "Absolutely, Lieutenant. Those old models… they’re not just antiques. Someone designed them for precision and built them to last."

  He shook his head, his voice full of quiet admiration. "The Horizon Talon would certainly live up to the talon portion of her name."

  "All right, Chief. I’ll pass that up to the captain. I have a feeling we will look for every edge we can get."

  "Thank you, Lieutenant," he said, his voice earnest. "This means a lot. Really."

  "Don’t thank me just yet, Chief," she said lightly. "Let’s see how those cannons perform first."

  Maleko chuckled, "You’ll see, Lieutenant. I’ll make sure of it."

  The moment lingered between them, charged with the promise of what lay ahead. Kade let herself lean back, folding her hands in her lap and allowing the weight of her decision to settle. She could feel Lawson’s steady presence beside her, though he remained silent, no doubt reserving his thoughts for later.

  "See that you do, Chief. Dismissed!" Kade said finally, her tone warm but firm.

  Maleko stood, a hint of pride in his posture as he snapped off a salute, and with one last look of quiet gratitude, he turned and strode out, leaving the room charged with the lingering energy of his excitement.

  The door clicked shut behind Maleko, leaving Kade and Lawson alone in the small, quiet room. The faint creek of the ship's hull and the sound of the wind catching the sails filled the silence. Kade let the moment stretch, observing Lawson out of the corner of her eye. He stood there, hands on his hips, brow furrowed, as though wrestling with something unsaid.

  "There goes a man with a passion for his craft," Lawson said.

  "We're going to need to see a lot more of that from everyone if we're going to survive this," Kade replied.

  The room grew silent again. Kade could see that Lawson was working himself up to say something. However, she wasn't sure what. Hopefully, he wasn't getting ready to make a pass at her, she thought.

  Finally, he turned to her, hesitation flickering across his face.

  "Lieutenant," he began, "do you know anything about Project Catalyst?"

  Well, that wasn't what she was expecting.

  "Can’t say I’ve been briefed on anything by that name," she replied. "Sounds like one of those ‘secret squirrel’ operations to me. You’ve been in long enough to know they’re always up to something behind the scenes."

  "Maybe so," he admitted, looking back up. "But something about this just doesn’t sit right with me."

  "Go on." She said.

  "I mean, when we got orders to board the Horizon Talon, it was supposed to be for transport, nothing more. Just a lift to one of the Talon’s ports of call. We could’ve taken a plane or hitched a ride on a regular naval ship and would’ve gotten there in a fraction of the time."

  Kade tapped her fingers lightly on her arm, considering his words. She’d been in the Navy long enough to know when a cover story was being laid thick, and from the sound of it, this one was dripping. She gave a slow nod, inviting him to continue.

  "Even my CO was confused," Lawson said, his tone lowering as he leaned in a bit. "Orders didn’t come from him directly. They were… well, unusual."

  "A man in a black suit showed up with a general by his side. They handed over the orders. No explanation, no clarification, just instructions to board the Talon." Lawson said. "Caught a glimpse of the paperwork while they were talking. Project Catalyst was right there at the top."

  Kade’s smirk faded as she absorbed his words. She kept her tone light, almost casual, though her mind was already turning over the implications.

  "So, a civilian and general shipped you off on an antique sailing ship for what? Routine transport?"

  Lawson exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "That’s the thing, Lieutenant. I highly doubt the suit was a civilian. The way he walked and the way the general was deferring to him. It didn’t feel routine. Not by a long shot."

  "You know how generals are. Just like admirals. Unless there is someone with more stars on their shoulders in the room, they always think they have the biggest swinging dick."

  Kade’s gaze drifted, her fingers returning to tapping a silent rhythm on her armrest. She was aware the Navy ran several clandestine operations, only sharing details with essential personnel. But one that involved an age of sail training ship? That felt like a stretch. If true, someone had arranged the pieces on the board long before the orders were ever issued.

  "Well," she said at last, "sounds to me like someone wanted to stack the deck in the Talon’s favor. And I can’t say I mind that, especially after our last run-in with the Lord of the Drowned."

  "Still, there’s more to this than we may know. A lot more." She continued. "Of course, on the other hand, it would also be more plausible that someone from logistics just hosed things up and assigned you to the wrong ship."

  "That's certainly possible and maybe even more probable, Lieutenant," he said, "Though the more of these little nuggets we find, the more it feels like there’s something… something planned. Something big."

  "Don't get delusions of grandeur, Lawson. However, mark my words," Kade murmured, "with these things, the plan’s already in motion long before they pull us in. Best thing we can do is stay sharp and keep our eyes open."

  Kade watched Lawson as he started pacing a short line across the room, his eyes narrowed in thought. He stopped, leaning slightly against the wall with his arms crossed, and glanced at her, an unspoken question in his gaze.

  "You’re thinking it, too, aren’t you?" he asked.

  "Depends on what you think I’m thinking," she replied, a hint of her usual dry humor surfacing despite the tension hanging between them. She leaned back, arms crossed, considering his question.

  Lawson continued, "Everything we’ve seen so far. Project Catalyst, the sudden orders, this specific crew configuration… It doesn’t feel random. Like someone wanted the Talon to be fully stocked, fully staffed, ready for… I don’t know, whatever this Simulation Reboot is supposed to be."

  Kade studied him carefully, letting the silence fill the room for a beat before responding. Her gaze held steady, and she could see the truth settling in his expression, even if he hadn’t quite voiced it yet.

  "You think someone knew?" she said, her tone more a statement than a question.

  "The timing’s too perfect," he admitted.

  He stopped pacing and stood in one place, shifting his weight from foot to foot for a moment before continuing, "Feels like someone in the government, or… I don’t know, some branch of it, knew what was coming. They took every possible step to ensure the Talon's preparedness.

  Kade let his words sink in, her mind turning over the implications. She’d been in the Navy long enough to see the undercurrents of operations that went above and beyond the standard chain of command. But the level of foresight here was unsettling, even for her.

  "You think someone up the food chain decided we were the ones worth stacking the odds for," she said.

  "Let's say that it's not just one giant coincidence. All the right people, all the right gear, all dropped onto one ship as if they had a plan in place all along. And for what?" She said, "A secret project that no one’s talking about, but everyone seems to know just enough to mention in passing."

  Lawson let out a short breath, his face taut. "And the rest of the fleet? The other bases? You think they’re set up like this, too?"

  "Honestly? "I'd be surprised if they were," she replied. "If Catalyst is what you seem to think it is. Then this isn’t some run-of-the-mill preparedness. They’ve merged resources. For whatever reason, they wanted the Talon ready to go, specifically. Which means…"

  She trailed off, a flicker of concern passing over her usually composed features.

  Lawson finished the thought for her. "Which means they expected us to be the only viable ship."

  "We can speculate all we want," she said quietly, "but that doesn’t get us any closer to knowing what, if anything, is really going on."

  "Still, we should take it to the captain." She added.

  "You think he’s in the dark on all this?"

  Kade shrugged, though her expression betrayed a hint of doubt. "Could be. Sometimes, they bring in the captains only after things have started."

  "And if he knows something? He might clue us in, given what we’re putting together here," She continued. "Though I'll be surprised if he knows anything. He most likely would have shared that information by now."

  "Unless he wasn't supposed to," Lawson replied.

  So, we’ll put together a preliminary report?" he asked.

  "Yeah," Kade replied, "A nice, careful summary of the facts we know so far, along with a few pointed questions. Enough to get his attention without making us sound like conspiracy theorists. Nothing too over the top. Just the facts. For now."

  A trace of genuine concern underscored her wry chuckle. They were making a lot of assumptions, and now was not the time to start the conspiracy rumor mill. There was already enough gossip and rumors around the ship with the actual cataclysm.

  "Sounds like a job for the XO, Lieutenant," Lawson said.

  They shared a long look, both of them fully aware that the report would do more than simply inform the captain. It would mark the beginning of a deeper investigation into whatever had brought them all together on the Horizon Talon. As they stood there, an unspoken understanding passed between them.

  "Let’s get started, then," Kade said at last.

  From the Logbook of Lt. Sarah Kade, SMC

  Tides of Ruin: Book One is only the beginning. The full manuscript has already been written and scheduled, so you don’t have to worry about this journey being abandoned halfway through. We’ve charted the course, faced the monsters, and fought like hell to keep this story on track. You’ll get every chapter, right on time.

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