MONTGOLFIERS MEDUSAE

We were 23 destroyers strong. Our crafts were hot air balloons made to look like jellyfish. Each basket held a team of three men: one to navigate, one to load the weapons (every sort of arrow-firing device imaginable) and one to pull the triggers. We had been sailing the foul southwest winds for more than few days when we saw the tiny forms of our enemy on the horizon. They were in balloons too, it seemed. My confidence turned to sick horror when I realized the models of their ships. Our floating phalanx would be no match for them. They were 46 strong. They were advancing fast in shark-shaped blimps. These blimps were larger (held more weapons, ammo and men) and faster than our humble crafts. I shouted orders to my left, which in turn was repeated down the line. Our only advantage was a steeper firing arc. They lacked a good angle. I started cranking the bows to face the sun.