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Description
Scenic Creature Commission by ~DarkSabata .

In the resource rich northern mountains of the Alkirian Sky Empire, there are many looser organizations and smaller nations that ply the sky routes of the region. However, Captains of all stripes are aware of the dangers of the native Sky Reapers, massive worm-like dragons that make their homes in the region.

Varying in size from the size of small bombers to those that are larger than battleships (a rare occurence that has not often been recorded), Sky Reapers are a fantastical creature and a natural threat to the modern development of airships. Sky Reapers are able to consume anything, ranging from local livestock and wildlife to trees and even rocks (though for these creatures this would be their least favorite food). Sky Reapers generally are solitary creatures, and mark their territories by the heavy cloud cover that their bodies naturally create over time. In addition, their hide has a natural tendency to deflect modern day radar equipment, which has led to countless surprise attacks against unarmed merchant and trader ships.

Occassionally, the smaller, independent nations will dispatch a small squadron of ships to escort or 'discourage' attacks against shipping in the region. Below is a little short story on the scene above:

===========

"Sir, the Venture is being attacked!" shouted the Officer of the Deck to the Captain of the Free Trader's battleship, Opportunity.

Captain Maximilian ran his hand through his slightly graying short beard as he peered out the starboard window of the ship's bridge. In the distance the Venture could be seen as it engaged one of those bloody ravenous beasts. Word had come down official channels that there had been an uptick in attacks and spottings of Sky Reapers in the region and his small squadron of ships had been ordered to pacify the area. He had opted for a divide and conquer approach, dispatching the Venture to scout and lure any possible Sky Reaper to the scene while the Opportunity and her smaller destroyer escort Pact stayed back to surprise the creature.

"Helmsman, bring us on a heading of three-one-zero,"

"Aye, aye Sir! Bringing us to bear to three-one-zero!"

The Opportunity and the escort destroyer Pact began to shift course to come to the aid of their stricken sister in the distance, and Captain Maximillian let out a sigh.

"Something wrong, Sir?" asked the Officer of the Deck as he put down his binoculars as he addressed the commanding officer.

"I'm not sure... why would a Sky Reaper be attacking a military ship? Usually they just flee at the first sign of real resistance, but that one there is hanging around. I'm sure it ought to know that we're here."

"They're just dumb beasts, Captain. I doubt those things would think any further ahead than what was their next meal." the officer replied as the ship's guns came to bear on the distant target.

"Perhaps... but I can't help but shake this feeling that--"

"Sir, message from the Pact... they've detected another one! A massive Sky Reaper!" shouted a junior officer on deck.

"Where is it now?!" demanded the Officer of the Deck.

The Pact began to open up with her quad mounted 20mm cannons as she came across the bow of the Opportunity, firing deep into the cloud cover below the ships. It was then that its target made itself known. A massive Sky Reaper suddenly lunged out from the mists off the starboard side of the ship. It came racing in quick and fast, opening its gigantic maw as electricity started to spark and form for its attack.

The Captain noted with surprise that is was a monster of a creature too, probably the biggest he had ever seen in his entire career. Just what the hell has that thing been eating to get that humongous?

And that had to be why the other Reaper wasn't backing down from his luring ship... they were working together as a PACK. Sky Reapers working together of all things?!

A creature of that size was more than enough of a threat to his battleship, let alone his meager, insignificant escorts. The writing was on the wall of what was to become of not only his ship but his entire squadron, and no one would the wiser to what really transpired out here. If had been just one of these things, maybe they would of have a chance... but two of them?

And those bloody MONSTERS would be lying in wait for the next unsuspecting ship to come this way. In the next moment, the creature's electrical attack struck the armored bridge of the Opportunity. The blast hit the ship with such force that the bridge exploded into a ball of fire and twisted, squealing wreackage.

The Home Office would later mark the squadron as missing in action, as there would be no known survivors that could recount what exactly had transpired that fateful day or what had become of the ships of Captain Maximilian's squadron.

Description
Scenic Creature Commission by ~DarkSabata .

In the resource rich northern mountains of the Alkirian Sky Empire, there are many looser organizations and smaller nations that ply the sky routes of the region. However, Captains of all stripes are aware of the dangers of the native Sky Reapers, massive worm-like dragons that make their homes in the region.

Varying in size from the size of small bombers to those that are larger than battleships (a rare occurence that has not often been recorded), Sky Reapers are a fantastical creature and a natural threat to the modern development of airships. Sky Reapers are able to consume anything, ranging from local livestock and wildlife to trees and even rocks (though for these creatures this would be their least favorite food). Sky Reapers generally are solitary creatures, and mark their territories by the heavy cloud cover that their bodies naturally create over time. In addition, their hide has a natural tendency to deflect modern day radar equipment, which has led to countless surprise attacks against unarmed merchant and trader ships.

Occassionally, the smaller, independent nations will dispatch a small squadron of ships to escort or 'discourage' attacks against shipping in the region. Below is a little short story on the scene above:

===========

"Sir, the Venture is being attacked!" shouted the Officer of the Deck to the Captain of the Free Trader's battleship, Opportunity.

Captain Maximilian ran his hand through his slightly graying short beard as he peered out the starboard window of the ship's bridge. In the distance the Venture could be seen as it engaged one of those bloody ravenous beasts. Word had come down official channels that there had been an uptick in attacks and spottings of Sky Reapers in the region and his small squadron of ships had been ordered to pacify the area. He had opted for a divide and conquer approach, dispatching the Venture to scout and lure any possible Sky Reaper to the scene while the Opportunity and her smaller destroyer escort Pact stayed back to surprise the creature.

"Helmsman, bring us on a heading of three-one-zero,"

"Aye, aye Sir! Bringing us to bear to three-one-zero!"

The Opportunity and the escort destroyer Pact began to shift course to come to the aid of their stricken sister in the distance, and Captain Maximillian let out a sigh.

"Something wrong, Sir?" asked the Officer of the Deck as he put down his binoculars as he addressed the commanding officer.

"I'm not sure... why would a Sky Reaper be attacking a military ship? Usually they just flee at the first sign of real resistance, but that one there is hanging around. I'm sure it ought to know that we're here."

"They're just dumb beasts, Captain. I doubt those things would think any further ahead than what was their next meal." the officer replied as the ship's guns came to bear on the distant target.

"Perhaps... but I can't help but shake this feeling that--"

"Sir, message from the Pact... they've detected another one! A massive Sky Reaper!" shouted a junior officer on deck.

"Where is it now?!" demanded the Officer of the Deck.

The Pact began to open up with her quad mounted 20mm cannons as she came across the bow of the Opportunity, firing deep into the cloud cover below the ships. It was then that its target made itself known. A massive Sky Reaper suddenly lunged out from the mists off the starboard side of the ship. It came racing in quick and fast, opening its gigantic maw as electricity started to spark and form for its attack.

The Captain noted with surprise that is was a monster of a creature too, probably the biggest he had ever seen in his entire career. Just what the hell has that thing been eating to get that humongous?

And that had to be why the other Reaper wasn't backing down from his luring ship... they were working together as a PACK. Sky Reapers working together of all things?!

A creature of that size was more than enough of a threat to his battleship, let alone his meager, insignificant escorts. The writing was on the wall of what was to become of not only his ship but his entire squadron, and no one would the wiser to what really transpired out here. If had been just one of these things, maybe they would of have a chance... but two of them?

And those bloody MONSTERS would be lying in wait for the next unsuspecting ship to come this way. In the next moment, the creature's electrical attack struck the armored bridge of the Opportunity. The blast hit the ship with such force that the bridge exploded into a ball of fire and twisted, squealing wreackage.

The Home Office would later mark the squadron as missing in action, as there would be no known survivors that could recount what exactly had transpired that fateful day or what had become of the ships of Captain Maximilian's squadron.