Yo ho. Yo ho...(Armsmen)

As Kiva was entering the water, Dirk was climbing into the helicopter.  He would lift off, acting as an eye in the sky.  "Okay, big guy.  I have eyes on deck; count fifteen hostiles.  Engage at your discretion."  One of the pirates spotted the aircraft and opened fire.  The bullets mostly just clattered against the fuselage harmlessly.  Dirk pulled away but otherwise ignored them.

Distracted by the helicopter and the whir of its engine, a group of pirated failed to notice the Hispanic giant of a man.  Wielding only his axe and bowie knife, he rushed them.  The first man took the axe blade in his chest, heart carved open.  Follow through allowed Guerrero to pitch the broken man away, freeing his blood-stained weapon.

The next man caught a knife to the neck.  As the blade tore free, the dying pirate cluched his neck, vainly trying to hold he blood in.  His ribs shattered as the mercenary's boot connected and suddenly the pirate was flying backwards, ragdolling into the pirate behind him, the latter trying to train is AKM knock-off on Guerrero.  He got free only in time for an axe to cleave his skull.  Grody.

"Three down," Guerrero said into his comm. Stowing his close range weapons, the large man drew his pistol. The deck had been covered with various crates and boxes, all empty. They provided cover for the large man as he began to maneuver toward the next batch.

"Impressive, but Fishy is still leading." Dirk had just counted the motor boats now manned by bloodstained carcasses; he saw the next man pulled into the water, saw blood mix with the water, then saw the body heaved back up to be tallied later.

Swinging back over the deck, Dirk scouted out the next bunch of pirates. "Four just around the next corner, right side." The big man stepped into a turn, squeezing the trigger on his 1911. Each man fell in turn as eight bullets ripped through them. "Six," came Dirk's warning and instinctively knowing what that meant, Guerrero drew his his knive and threw it as he turned. It caught him in the throught.

"What's the count now?"

"All tied up."

Meanwhile. the boaters had noticed their losses beyond the freighter and began to speed up, hoping to keep whatever had been slaughtering them from boarding any more vessels....

Kiva sensed the growing fear of the pirates, but the promise of loot held some sway over the attack group. It was time to switch from subterfuge to shock and awe. She deftly exits her bulky power armor and has it hover underwater, and she sprang up into the middle of the boats.

Like a great shark, she leaps out of the water and gleefully sinks her teeth into an unsuspecting pirate, ripping out the arteries to maximize blood flow. She then plunges her knife into the man's rib cage, reaches in and rips out his still beating heart, arteries still connected to the organ. She takes a bite out of it and shows it to all the wide eyed, literally heartless pirate's comrades. She shouts some choice words in Azlanti, to complete the intimidation.

The sight of a monstrous merefolk doing the Mortal Kombat worthy fatality would likely evoke panic, fear or frenzy. Either way, Kiva doesn't bother staying in the middle of the crowd- hopefully some fool might start shooting her way wildly, causing some collateral damage, but she would rather telepathically see it unfold than with her own eyes. She jumps into the water after the brutal display.

Kiva returns to her suit and turns on the telepathic range extender, letting her communicate directly with her comrades. The telepathic message itself carried the faint sensation of the thrill of the kill, and the taste of blood for Dirk and Guerrero to share in. "...Is this all these pirates are capable of? Do they not have any worthy warriors among their ranks?" She boasted, seeking a greater challenge.

"I have to agree," Guerrero said over his comm. With a twist the sound of a man's neck shattering filtered over the device. A trio of pistol shots followed as he finished the last of his boarders. "This is just unsporting..."

"What'd you expect?" The black huey swung down and the large man climbed aboard. He grabbed his .50cal from the back of Dirk's seat. "They're just a bunch of poor saps."

The helicopter flew out, Guerrero setting up his sniper rifle and taking aim at one of the still moving boats. By now the pirates were in disarray, turning into a full retreat. The sniper took aim at the lead boat.

"Still," Dirk continued, keeping the bird level. "We need to make a name for ourselves before the fun work starts to come our way. This is advertisement."

The Barrett's barrel retracted as it fired. The lead boat slowed as the pilot died, his body falling on the throttle. Lucky. "Bring us low in front of them," Guerrero ordered. A low flying helicopter would force the retreating men to slow down, making them easier targets.

"Got it," Dirk said, tilting the aircraft forward. The pilot licked his lips, confused. "Why do I taste tin foil?"

After the battle, Kiva rejoins her allies at the home vessel. The power armor shoots out of the water and high up into the air, before allowing Kiva to power-land on the deck.

The power armor made Kiva look alot bigger and taller. With a mechanical hiss she removes her helmet, pouring out water.

"I have done as you asked. The dead remain in their boats ready to be collected... Though the lack of a champion among them has made this day... incomplete." She said telepathically, conveying a sense of dissatisfaction. The fish girl was a warrior down to her blood and bone.

The huey rested on the pad.  Black bags were stacked inside the craft.  More were being carried from the front of the ship by Guerrero.  Bodies of the dead to be traded for coin.

"I'll look into finding more exciting work after delivering our catch." Dirk indicated the mounting pile of body bags. A grizzly sight to anyone unfamiliar with real violence.

The larger merc heaved his last two carcasses into the helicopter and slammed the hatch. "Still, work like this is consistent. It keeps food on the table."

"Among other such clichés," Dirk added, not really hiding his words. "Well, we'd better rendezvous without employer. Shame not to get paid for our work." Heading to the bridge, Dirk plotted his next course and the mercenaries set out, seeking fortune and glory...well fortune, maybe.