Chapter Fifty-Five: Setting Off

Howard and the dragon flotilla face an urgent departure from Atlantis due to volcanic eruptions and toxic gas emissions. After a final fishing attempt, the group sets out to sea with limited supplies, encountering severe storms that kill dozens of dragons and destroy one floater. As starvation threatens the population during the journey to Lemuria, Howard devises a plan involving covert drone-delivered fish restocking, then proposes a solution to transport part of the dragon population ahead via relay stations built on rafts.

The chapter opens with Howard's trawling crew preparing to test fishing methods on the floaters when volcanic activity forces an immediate evacuation. A toxic gas eruption propels the flotilla seaward at unprecedented speed, committing them to the ocean crossing. The voyage is marked by two major storms: the first lasts three hours with severe waves, and the second causes a fire that forces them to cut loose a burning floater, resulting in the loss of dozens of dragons and significant damage to the remaining fleet. As supplies dwindle and dragon morale worsens, Bridget calculates they have only four days of careful rationing left before starvation becomes critical. Howard proposes using Mario's cargo drones to conduct covert midnight restocking runs from Atlantis, which works for three nights until the increased fish stocks are noticed, triggering social conflict that Alexander's authority barely contains. When questioned about their suspicious knowledge and resources, Howard deflects by emphasizing the fishing success and engineering prowess. With the food crisis becoming dire and Mario reporting limited fish populations near western Atlantis, Howard develops a new strategy: transporting the dragon population ahead in waves using signal fires and midway rest rafts, leaving a smaller contingent to bring the floaters later with adequate supplies. Alexander, initially skeptical, accepts the plan as the best option.