A young slave woman entered the room, trying not to disturb him, but he heard the small sounds of her bare feet on the stone floor and the swishing rustle of her dress. “I would appreciate wine,” he managed, his crusty eyelids still closed.
“Of course, General,” the woman whispered, “but the healers advise against it, combined with your medicines.”
“To the darkest caves with the healers,” Nerino wheezed. His lungs had been cooked as well. Then he paused, contrite. The healers had done quite well, as a matter of fact, and were as gentle as possible. It wasn’t their fault that they had saved him only for further suffering. “Their doses do help with the pain,” he granted, more softly. “But do bring wine, if your other duties allow it.” He knew he wasn’t the only horribly wounded officer in the villa. “I assure you it will not hurt me.”
“Of course.”
Nerino finally opened his eyes to watch the slave girl leave the room. He doubted he ever would’ve noticed her under other circumstances, but she’d been his nurse through all the long nights of misery and pain, and she attracted him. Not in a physical way, necessarily, but her kindness, patience, her very presence, had been the most effective balm to his torment. He wondered about that as he painfully shifted to gaze out the window beside his bed.
He didn’t know how long he lay like that. Perhaps he slept. He stirred at the sound of the slave girl returning, and turned to face her with the closest thing to a smile he could achieve. The girl wasn’t there. Instead, to Nerino’s mixed horror and amazement, he saw the chiseled goatee and darkly benign features of Don Hernan DeDevino Dicha, Blood Cardinal to His Supreme Holiness, the Messiah of Mexico, and by the Grace of God, Emperor of the World. Shrouded in his dark red robes, the man seemed to almost float into the room, radiating an aura of what someone who’d never met him might mistake for concerned solicitation. Incongruously, he also bore a large goblet of wine.
“My dear General Nerino, you are awake,” Don Hernan said in honeyed tones. “I am so glad to find you so.” He smiled benevolently. “Having learned the extent of your wounds, I feared I might arrive too late.”
“Too late . . . for what, Your Holiness?” Nerino asked, his heart racing.
“To properly start you on your journey to the next world, of course.”
Nerino felt a chill in spite of his burns. “Of course,” he whispered. At least, if Don Hernan’s tone could be believed (never a certainty), he wouldn’t be flayed. But the “Final Cleansing,” administered by a Blood Cardinal known to be particular about due form, would be only slightly less unpleasant. He clenched his teeth. It wouldn’t be quick, but his misery would end. For that, at least, he was grateful. “Of course,” he said more firmly. “Thank you . . . for your interest, Your Holiness.”
* * *
Don Hernan flicked it away. “Do not be so impatient, dear general. I cannot release you to Heaven just yet! Now that I see you so nearly healed with my own eyes, it is clear to me that your duty to God demands that you remain in this world a little longer. You see, I may have need of your observations, from time to time.”
Nerino was stunned. “Ah . . . yes, of course, Your Holiness. I will . . . try to be patient. And I will most humbly serve you in whatever capacity you think best.” He paused, his mind racing. I’m not going to die! “Your Holiness, I receive little news. May I inquire about the state of my army?”
Don Hernan sat on a chair beside the bed, and instead of holding the wine goblet to Nerino’s lips, he took a long gulp himself. “Your army, my dear general, no longer exists. It is being absorbed into the greater one I am now assembling—the Army of God.” He flicked his fingers again. “Not that there was much to absorb! No blame rests upon you; you were bravely wounded, after all. But after that, your army fled the heretics! Abandoned sacred soil!” He shook his head sadly. “I do so hate to crucify able men, particularly when we are in such need of them.”
“H-how many?”
“Only one in five. As I said, we need them, and perhaps my leniency will return the rest to their duty.”
Nerino clenched his eyes shut. “And my officers?” he ventured, fearing the answer.
“Half are being buried alive,” Don Hernan replied wistfully. “Again, I deplore the waste, but none can ever be trusted to lead, having once run away. The rest will be reduced to the ranks.”
“No,” Nerino said before he could stop himself, and cringed. “Ah, I mean, with all my heart I beg you to read the report I dictated. I—I ordered the retreat to continue, once it had already begun. There was no stopping it, and few officers are guilty of more than following the orders I gave to preserve the experience gained against the heretics. We . . . You will need them, Your Holiness. To advise you regarding enemy tactics and capabilities!”
Don Hernan’s expression had hardened when Nerino challenged him, but now it softened again. “Perhaps. I may . . . reevaluate their fates on a case-by-case basis. But that is not for you to concern yourself about! Heal! We will talk again soon!” He stood.
“One final thing, Holiness, if I may?” Nerino ventured. “I thought I would soon have no interest in such things, but my worldly curiosity is restored.”
“Name it, General Nerino, and I will grant your wish if I am able.”
“I only wish to know how you mean to defeat the heretics. They have weapons, monstrously effective, and they are not fools.”
Don Hernan pursed his lips, then smiled. “Of course. First, as I told you, the army I am building, blessed by God, will be invincible both in size and power. Needless to say, I will command it myself, and no one knows the heretics better than I. The outcome on land is not in doubt. At sea, we have assembled the greatest fleet the world has ever seen, and even now it waits, beyond the enemy’s view, in the vicinity of El Paso del Fuego. All the small dragons that could be gathered, from as far east as Hispaniola in the Caribbean, will sortie with it. The enemy fleet offshore and gathered at the Galápagos, regardless how powerful, will be ground to floating dust.” He smiled more enthusiastically. “And since the small dragons, even in such numbers, cannot assure victory with the enemy flying machines being so effective, His Supreme Holiness has finally given leave for his personal stable of greater dragons to be employed! Such a thing has never been done, and I am most excited!”
Don Hernan’s eager smile faded into an expression of profound compassion. “Rest now, Nerino. Soon we will purge the heretics from all the world, you and I, and earn our places at the right hand of God.”
SPECIFICATIONS
American-Lemurian Ships and Equipment
USS Walker (DD-163)—Wickes (Little) Class four-stack, or flush-deck, destroyer. Twin screw, steam turbines, 1,200 tons, 314' x 30'. Top speed (as designed): 35 knots. 112 officers and enlisted (current) including Lemurians (L) Armament: (Main)—3 x 4"-50 + 1 x 4"-50 dual purpose. (Secondary)—4 x 25 mm Type-96 AA, 4 x.50 cal MG, 2 x.30 cal MG. 40-60 Mk-6 (or “equivalent”) depth charges for 2 stern racks and 2 Y guns (with adapters). 2 x 21" triple-tube torpedo mounts. Impulse-activated catapult for PB-1B scout seaplane.
USS Mahan (DD-102)—(Initially under repair at Madras). Wickes Class four-stack, or flush-deck, destroyer. Twin screw, steam turbines, 960 tons, 264" x 30' (as rebuilt). Top speed estimated at 25 knots. Rebuild has resulted in shortening, and removal of 2 funnels and 2 boilers. Otherwise, her armament and upgrades are the same as those of USS Walker.
USS Santa Catalina (CA-P-1)—“Protected Cruiser” (initially under repair at Madras). Formerly general cargo. 8,000 tons, 420' x 53', triple-expansion steam, oil fired, 10 knots (as reconstructed). Retains significant cargo/troop capacity, and has a seaplane catapult with recovery booms aft. 240 officers and enlisted. Armament: 4 x 5.5" mounted in armored casemate. 2 x 4.7" DP in armored tubs. 1 x 10" breech-loading rifle (20' length) mounted on spring-assisted pneumatic recoil pivot.
Carriers
USNRS (US
Navy Reserve Ship) Salissa, “Big Sal” (CV1)—Aircraft carrier/tender, converted from seagoing Lemurian Home. Single screw, triple-expansion steam, 13,000 tons, 1,009' x 200'. Armament: 2 x 5.5", 2 x 4.7" DP, 4 x twin mount 25 'mm AA, 20 x 50 pdrs (as reduced), 50 aircraft.
USNRS Arracca (CV-3)—Aircraft carrier/tender converted from seagoing Lemurian Home. Single screw, triple-expansion steam, 14,670 tons, 1009'x 210'. Armament: 2 x 4.7" DP, 50 x 50 pdrs. 50 aircraft.
USS Maaka-Kakja (CV-4)—(Purpose-built aircraft carrier/tender). Specifications are similar to Arracca, but is capable of carrying upward of 80 aircraft—with some stowed in crates.
USS Baalkpan Bay (CV-5)—(Purpose-built aircraft carrier/tender). First of a new class of smaller (850' x 150', 9,000 tons), faster (up to 15 knots), lightly armed (4 x Baalkpan Arsenal 4"-50 DP guns—2 amidships, 1 each forward and aft)—fleet carriers that can carry as many aircraft as Maaka-Kakja.
“Small Boys”
Frigate “DDs”
USS Donaghey (DD-2)—Square rig sail only, 1,200 tons, 168' x 33', 200 officers and enlisted. Sole survivor of first new construction. Armament: 24 x 18 pdrs, Y gun, and depth charges.
*Dowden Class—(Square rig steamer, 1,500 tons, 12–15 knots, 185' x 34', 20 x 32 pdrs, Y gun, and depth charges, 218 officers and enlisted).
**Haakar-Faask Class—(Square rig steamer, 15 knots, 1,600 tons, 200'x 36', 20 x 32 pdrs, Y gun, and depth charges, 226 officers and enlisted).
***Scott Class—(Square rig steamer, 17 knots, 1,800 tons, 210' x 40', 20 x 50 pdrs, Y gun, and depth charges, 260 officers and enlisted).
Corvettes (DEs)—Captured Grik “Indiamen,” primarily of the earlier (lighter) design. “Razeed” to the gun deck, these are swift, agile, dedicated sailors with three masts and a square rig. 120-160' x 30-36', about 900 tons (tonnage varies depending largely on armament, which also varies from 10 to 24 guns that range in weight and bore diameter from 12–18 pdrs). Y gun and depth charges.
Auxiliaries—Still largely composed of purpose-altered Grik “Indiamen,” small and large, and used as transports, oilers, tenders, and general cargo. A growing number of steam auxiliaries have joined the fleet, with dimensions and appearance similar to Dowden and Haakar-Faask Class DDs, but with lighter armament. Some fast clipper-shaped vessels are employed as long-range oilers. Fore and aft rigged feluccas remain in service as fast transports and scouts. Respite Island Class SPDs (self-propelled dry dock) are designed along similar lines to the new purpose-built carriers—inspired by the massive seagoing Lemurian Homes. They are intended as rapid deployment, heavy-lift dry docks, and for bulky transport.
USNRS—Salaama-Na Home—(Unaltered—other than by emplacement of 50 x 50 pdrs). 1014' x 150', 8,600 tons. 3 tripod masts support semirigid “junklike” sails or “wings.” Top speed about 6 knots, but capable of short sprints up to 10 knots using 100 long sweeps. In addition to living space in the hull, there are three tall pagoda-like structures within the tripods that cumulatively accommodate up to 6,000 people.
Commodore (High Chief) Sor-Lomaak (L)—Commanding.
Woor-Na Home—Lightly armed (ten 32 pdrs) heavy transport, specifications as above.
Fristar Home—Nominally, if reluctantly Allied Home. Same basic specifications as Salaama-Na—as are all seagoing Lemurian “Homes”—but mounts only ten 32 pdrs.
Anai-Sa (L)—High Chief.
Aircraft: P-40-E Warhawk—Allison V1710, V12, 1,150 hp. Max speed 360 mph, ceiling 29,000 ft. Crew: 1. Armament: Up to 6 x .50 cal Browning machine guns, and up to 1,000-lb bomb. PB-1B “Nancy”—“W/G” type, in-line 4 cyl 150 hp. Max speed 110 mph, max weight 1,900 lbs. Crew: 2. Armament: 400-lb bombs. PB-2 “Buzzard”—3 x “W/G” type, in-line 4 cyl 150 hp. Max speed 80 mph, max weight 3,000 lbs. Crew: 2, and up to 6 passengers. Armament: 600-lb bombs. PB-5 “Clipper”—4 x W/G type, in-line 4 cyl 150 hp. Max speed 90 mph, max weight 4,800 lbs. Crew: 3, and up to 8 passengers. Armament: 1,500-lb bombs. PB-5B—As above, but powered by 4 x MB 5 cyl, 254 hp radials. Max speed 125 mph, max weight 6,200 lbs. Crew: 3, and up to 10 passengers. Armament: 2,000-lb bombs. P-1 Mosquito Hawk or “Fleashooter”—MB 5 cyl radial 254 hp. Max speed 220 mph, max weight 1,220 lbs. Crew: 1. Armament: 2 x .45 cal “Blitzer Bug” machine guns. P-1B—As above, but fitted for carrier ops.
Field Artillery—6 pdr on split-trail “galloper” carriage—effective to about 1,500 yds, or 300 yds with canister. 12 pdr on stock-trail carriage—effective to about 1,800 yds, or 300 yds with canister. 3" mortar—effective to about 800 yds 4" mortar—effective to about 1,500 yds.
Primary Small Arms—Sword, spear, crossbow, longbow, grenades, bayonet, smoothbore musket (.60 cal), rifled musket (.50 cal), Allin-Silva breech-loading rifled conversion (.50-80 cal), Allin-Silva breech-loading smoothbore conversion (20 gauge), 1911 Colt and copies (.45 ACP), Blitzer Bug SMG (.45 ACP).
Secondary Small Arms—1903 Springfield (.30-06), 1898 Krag-Jorgensen (.30 US), 1918 BAR (.30-06), Thompson SMG (.45 ACP). (A small number of other firearms are available.)
Imperial Ships and Equipment
These fall in a number of categories, and though few share enough specifics to be described as classes, they can be grouped by basic sizes and capabilities. Most do share the fundamental similarity of being powered by steam-driven paddlewheels and a complete suit of sails.
Ships of the Line—About 180'–200' x 52'–58', 1,900–2,200 tons—50–80 x 30, 20 pdrs, 10 pdrs, 8 pdrs. (8 pdrs are more commonly used as field guns by the Empire). Speed, about 8–10 knots, 400–475 officers and enlisted.
Frigates—About 160'–180' x 38'–44', 1,200–1,400 tons. 24–40 x 20–30 pdrs. Speed, about 13–15 knots, 275–350 officers and enlisted. Example: HIMS Achilles 160' x 38', 1,300 tons, 26 x 20 pdrs.
Field Artillery—8 pdr on split-trail carriage—effective to about 1,500 yds, or 600 yds with grapeshot.
Primary Small Arms—Sword, smoothbore flintlock musket (.75 cal), bayonet, pistol. (Imperial service pistols are of two varieties: cheaply made but robust Field and Sea Service weapons in .62 cal, and privately purchased officer’s pistols that may be any caliber from about .40 to the service standard.)
Republic Ships and Equipment
SMS Amerika—German ocean liner converted to a commerce raider in WWI. 669' x 74', 22,000 tons. Twin screw, 18 knots, 215 officers and enlisted, with space for 2,500 passengers or troops. Armament: 2 x 10.5 cm (4.1") SK L/40, 6 x MG08 (Maxim) machine guns, 8 x 57mm.
Coastal and harbor defense vessels—specifications unknown. Aircraft? Field artillery—specifications unknown. Primary small arms: Sword, revolver, breech-loading bolt action, single-shot rifle (11.15 x 60R—.43 Mauser cal). Secondary small arms: M-1898 Mauser (8 x 57 mm), Mauser and Luger pistols, mostly in 7.65 cal.
Enemy Warships and Equipment
Grik
ArataAmagi Class BBs (ironclad battleships)—800' x 100', 26,000 tons. Twin screw, double-expansion steam, max speed 10 knots. Crew: 1,300. Armament: 32 x 100 pdrs, 30 x 3" AA mortars.
Azuma Class CAs (ironclad cruisers)—300' x 37', about 3,800 tons. Twin screw, double-expansion steam, sail auxiliary, max speed 12 knots. Crew: 320. Armament: 20 x 40 or 14 x 100 pdrs. 4 x firebomb catapults.
Heavy “Indiaman” Class—Multipurpose transport/warships. Three masts, square rig, sail only. 180' x 38' about 1,100 tons (tonnage varies depending largely on armament, which also varies from 0 to 40 guns of various weights and bore diameters). The somewhat crude standard for Grik artillery is 2, 4, 9, 16, 40, 60, and now up to 100 pdrs, although the largest “Indiaman” guns are 40s. These ships have been seen to achieve about 14 knots in favorable winds. Light “Indiamen” (about 900 tons) are apparently no longer being made.
Giorsh—Flagship of the Celestial Realm, now armed with 90 guns, from 16–40 pdrs.
Tatsuta—Kurokawa’s double-ended paddle/steam yacht.
Aircraft—Hydrogen-fil
led rigid dirigibles or zeppelins. 300' x 48', 5 x 2 cyl 80-hp engines, max speed 60 mph. Useful lift 3,600 lbs. Crew: 16. Armament: 6 x 2 pdr swivel guns, bombs.
Field artillery—The standard Grik field piece is a 9 pdr, but 4s and 16s are also used, with effective ranges of 1,200, 800, and 1,600 yds, respectively. Powder is satisfactory, but windage is often excessive, resulting in poor accuracy. Grik “field” firebomb throwers fling 10- and 25-lb bombs, depending on the size, for a range of 200 and 325 yds, respectively.
Primary small arms—Teeth, claws, swords, spears, Japanese-style matchlock (tanegashima) muskets (roughly .80 cal).
Holy Dominion
Like Imperial vessels, Dominion warships fall in a number of categories that are difficult to describe as classes, but again, can be grouped by size and capability. Almost all known Dom warships remain dedicated sailors, but their steam-powered transports indicate they have taken steps forward. Despite their generally more primitive design, Dom warships run larger and more heavily armed than their Imperial counterparts. Ships of the Line—About 200' x 60', 3,400–3,800 tons. 64–98 x 24 pdrs, 16 pdrs, 9 pdrs. Speed, about 7–10 knots, 470–525 officers and enlisted. Heavy Frigates (Cruisers)—About 170' x 50', 1,400–1,600 tons. 34–50 x 24 pdrs, 9 pdrs. Speed, about 14 knots, 290–370 officers and enlisted.
Aircraft—The Doms have no aircraft yet, but employ “dragons,” or “Grikbirds” for aerial attack.
Field Artillery—9 pdrs on split-trail carriages—effective to about 1,500 yds, or 600 yds with grapeshot.
Primary small arms—Sword, pike, plug bayonet, flintlock (patilla style) musket (.69 cal). Only officers and cavalry use pistols, which are often quite ornate and of various calibers.
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