by Chris Hechtl
The Duke nodded. “I'll support you.”
<==={}------------>
When the meeting was over he met with the others. “So far so good, I'm really surprised the Queen has thrown her support behind this project,” he said. Which was true. He had yet to work anything out with the Queen but so far she was supporting him on this. Deidra had been quiet, busy with her own political dealings.
Today's discussion with the Duke was the first salvo in this project. He'd given the Queen a lot to think about, and apparently Sue had primed the pump with discussions of the British monarchy and how the United Kingdom and other nations were set up. She'd apparently even given the Queen translated copies of the British constitution. One of which had notes comparing the document with the tablets the Imperium government had been originally based upon. He could see Sydney's hand in that, obviously.
“Meddling? Or something else?” Perry asked.
Ryans smirked. “No the other one.”
“Ohh... Yeah. Don't you remember it's a woman's prerogative to always be right...and to change her mind?” Perry asked smiling to Sue. She stuck her tongue out at him and he chuckled.
“Yeah, I think I remember that from somewhere,” Ryans said dryly. “Typical female logic, doesn't make any sense.” He shook his head mockingly.
Each of the girls gave him a dirty look. He shrugged it off. “It makes perfect sense,” Wanda growled dangerously.
He held up his hands. “If you say so,” he said. “Of course you being female we're back to that first part of that statement aren't we?” he teased. She glared. He held up his hands smiling.
“That I do,” she said giving him a knowing sniff then turning her back on him. He made coo coo motions with his hands. Perry smirked. “I saw that,” Wanda growled.
“Anyway,” Ryans said, tom foolery settling down. “Troy is on board; he really liked the provisions about the child immunization. I never knew he had a first wife and son,” Ryans said shaking his head. Sue nodded. “Pryor is on the fence. She hadn't broached the subject with Rojer yet, and of course not with Duke Emroy or Duke Sung.”
Perry nodded. “And?”
“And for now I'm going to try to keep a light hand on it. Just guide it but let them deal with the nitty gritty on their own. Not be the tyrant forcing them to do this in other words,” he said.
“Okay...”
“I want to see just how committed they are to this. Besides, I've got other projects,” Ryans replied.
“Including a certain princess?” Wanda asked slyly. She'd finally caught on that the two had not only broken the ice but had finally fallen for each other. Fallen hard.”
“Maybe,” Ryans replied with a chuckle.
“We've got another problem,” Perry said.
“Oh?” Ryans asked.
Perry scowled. “Dragon,” he said, pointing up as a shadow and flapping wings thundered overhead.
“Shit,” Ryans said looking up in annoyance.
<==={}------------>
Wanda, Perry, Ryans, and others quickly hatched a plan to use fireworks to knock the dragon from the sky. The giant flying predator had competition, wyverns both big and small had arrived to scavenge the area.
They set up on a hill, and during the dusk raid by the dragon fired off the fireworks over the animal's head. The fireworks popped over head, forcing it lower in surprise and confusion. Perry launched a Greek fire mortar; it arched overhead and then burst above the dragon. It was sprayed with flaming tar. Screaming in pain it fell to the ground as its wing sails and soft skin caught fire. Grim and still terrified men of arms moved in to kill it by hand but Perry waved them off. He tapped his radio and told Edison he was on. The sniper took aim and carefully shot the dragon in the eye with his fifty caliber Barrett rifle.
Brain matter vomited out it's ears and the back of its skull. Its once great head flopped to the ground as its body moved like a chicken with its head cut off for a brief moment as its nervous system realized the central brain was gone. Finally the dragon's thrashing settled to quivers as its body relaxed in death. Footmen moved in to make sure, and then celebrated when they found the brain matter and blood.
“Not bad and we didn't have to use a modern rocket,” Ryans said smiling as the men celebrated around them.
“It's a lot better than trying to loft that net up with rockets like you planned,” Perry said nodding.”And it gave us a chance to test the first mortar,” he said.
“True. But I've got another idea for that,” Ryans said. He waved to the others. “Let them take what they can, like the skull and trophies.” He turned to a nearby assistant. “I want poles rigged with block and tackle set up here around the carcass.”
“Ah. I see what you have in mind,” Perry said nodding as the man ran off.
Ryans nodded. “Good. I think it'd be a good idea to keep an eye out for anything that comes knocking till we're ready,” Ryans replied watching the men. Some were cutting into the carcass, severing claws while another group used a giant lumber saw to cut through the neck. They were hacking and slashing, splashing blue blood everywhere. The area was quickly swarming with flies and a reeking stench.
“Yuck,” Ryans said watching the men get blood splattered. Already the local insects were swarming in thick clouds. “Nasty.”
“Wonder if it tastes like chicken?” Perry asked. Ryans snorted.
<==={}------------>
When the wyverns were sighted overhead they pulled the men back. The poles had been set up and lines run, all was set. The first beasts circled warily, and then came down as the fires ebbed. They flapped their wings as they landed on the carcass and then cawed and pecked at it. It reminded Ryans of oversized buzzards fighting over a carcass.
“Let's see how many we can get,” Ryans said watching the others circle. “Looks like they let a small one land first to test it out.”
“Yeah. Smart, let the young and stupid go first,” Perry said watching through his NVGs.
After an hour the carcass was swarming with insects and wyverns. A few were fighting over choice bits. “Boss... I think we've got as many as we can handle,” Perry said. He wasn't at all certain if this was going to work or not.
Ryans nodded unseen. “Yeah. Let's do it.” He patted Answorth next to him on the shoulder. The page turned and cupped his hands to his mouth to make a cawing sound. He changed it to a hoot and then two caws.
“There they go,” Perry said watching the lines go taught as they raced through the block and tackle. Under the main lines the net spread out. It flew over the scavengers. A few looked up at the growing menace, hissing and cawing. A few of the smaller ones took wing. One got caught in the net and started to thrash. The thing was an oversized upside down purse net, sealing them in.
“Coming down,” Ryans smiled as the net got to its release point and then dropped. The beast thrashing in it toppled onto the savage creatures below. The drawstring tightened, enclosing the animals.
Alarmed they tried to take wing but were trapped by the embrace of the net. Men raced forward, some holding mallets, others stakes or spears. One ground a stake into the ground waited for a man to hit it, then turned and looped the nearest section of net around it.
One man near a wyvern clawing it's way free of the net turned and slammed his sledge home right on its skull. It was squished. Blood and brain matter splattered the area. He grimaced but turned back to the stakes around him.
“Not bad. Looks like the knight's creatures have enough food for a while...” Ryans said with a grin.
“And that should thin out the aerial menace until we can do that again,” Perry said nodding. Ryans nodded and then yawned.
“Me I'm off to bed. Most fun I've had in a while though,” he said. He was fairly certain Deidra was probably pacing in his quarters thoroughly pissed and worried. He smiled and waved to the men. “Good job!” he called as they cheered. Grim men and women were already moving forward with sharpened knives, pitchforks, and spears. Yup, he definitely d
idn't want to stick around for that he thought as he and Answorth left.
<==={}------------>
The next morning Ryans was congratulated on the victory. Several of the younger knights showed a sudden interest in the gaijin weapons, something they hadn't before. Now they asked him why the gunpowder works were outside the city, and in berms. “The berms aren't designed right for defense,” a knight complained. “Shouldn't it be here in the city where it can be better protected?”
Perry came over and explained that it was to protect the city in case the powder exploded. He explained to the group that the powder they were currently using had an unstable quality, it tended to explode when mishandled or exposed to lightning or fire. “That stuff can go off if you pack it too hard too; it's scary if you don't know what you’re doing. The berms are there to channel the explosion up, away from the town and surrounding countryside.”
Wide eyed the knights nodded. In court a count gave Ryans a hard time about the political changes he sought. The count said they couldn't change the weather, which amused Ryans.
“Actually, we can seed clouds to make it rain. Or direct lightning away from buildings. Which is what we've already done here,” he smiled politely to the old Dominus. The count blinked in confusion. Ryans pointed to the window. He went over with the count and others. He pointed to the highest tower in the castle, which now sported a lightning rod and cable. He explained the purpose, and then pointed to other tall buildings that now have them. “Some of these are radio antenna too, but we have to have a lightning rod to protect the electronics and the brittle roofs from electricity.”
“By directing the energy into the ground, we can channel it away from the buildings that can catch fire, and the people around them,” Ryans explained patiently. The count seemed to simmer. Ryans smiled knowing he'd deflected the count's initial attack but he wasn't quite done with his lecture just yet. “We can even make tile, cement, or slate roofing shingles stronger than what you have, that will last for decades and protect roofs even better than the wood and thatching your serfs have now... but that's a side issue to the discussion at hand,” he said and smiled politely. “Part of our tech is to learn to map and predict weather. To know when a sudden frost is coming to warn the farmers so they can save what they can... or to let them know when rain is coming, or if it will be too much,” he said. Many nodded thoughtfully at that.
Several people took turns to look out the window at the lightning rod. “It's such a simple object, but effective. One of the founding fathers of my nation came up with the idea after experimenting with lightning actually. Benjamin Franklin. A great man, a great orator and inventor. He helped found my nation on the principles of democracy and equality,” Ryans said. He bowed to several of the lords. “Here her majesty is working towards a constitutional monarchy.”
“Just what does that entail?” one of the lords in the back asked, eyes narrowed in suspicion.
“Now that we've streamlined the paper industry and expanded it, I'll see if we can print up a translation of the Magna Carta, the British constitution and other works for you to read and use as a template,” Ryans smiled. “To go along with the tablets here,” Ryans said pointing to the tablets behind the dais and around the room. The group looked up at them. Ryans smiled. “By building on these and incorporating the concepts your ancestors have started and you their descendants have built upon we will all assure a greater, brighter tomorrow for your children and your children's children,” he said.
“The crown doesn't need any more power!” one of the lesser lords yelled. Several looked at him.
Duke Pyror gave the man a long look. “I and Duke Troy have heard of this, and the Queen is... intrigued,” he said. “As am I,” he rumbled when the man opened his mouth once more. He looked around for a moment. “It would mean each of us; the crown and the lords would give up some power, and gain others. Some things like the parliament Ryans has mentioned, which is somewhat like the council we have now, but better laid out, with each role clearly explained in written law, with more laws governing it,” he said and then smiled politely, enjoying the looks of shock coming from the lesser lords. They had expected him to be firmly against it since he was an old lord. “I for one am willing to keep an open mind,” he rumbled. Ryans bowed slightly to him in thanks.
“That is what I ask now, to keep an open mind,” he said. He nodded to a page. The page handed him a clipboard.
<==={}------------>
“How goes the manufacturing?” Ryans asked Max and Scooter later that evening. He needed a distraction, that damn constitutional flap was eating up more and more time when he could least afford to lose any time at all. Max shrugged.
“As well as to be expected. It's like reinventing the wheel with some things,” he sighed.
“Casting isn't so bad, it turns out they knew about lost wax casting methods, we just added a few modern twists with the sand and ceramics. Same with the sand casting... Wanda and Charlie got a local bonding agent to work so we can use it. Now that we've got it, it's all a matter of making the molds and stuff.”
“But that's only part of the problem. We need the right materials for some things, and we also need them for the dies for the parts that have to be stamped,” Scooter said. “We also need rolls of thin gauge metals to stamp. Another bottleneck,” he grumbled.
“Ah,” Ryans nodded. “The metal has to be harder than what it's stamping?” he asked.
Max nodded. “Got it in one. See I didn't get much into this when I worked in the factory,” Max sighed sitting back and drinking his beer.
Scooter eyed him. “You worked in a factory?”
“Detroit. Engine parts for Ford. I was young and stupid, thought I knew it all,” Max rumbled gruffly. He shook his head. “Dropped out of high school 'cause it was boring to me, went to work for Mister Felding. He got me in at his factory since my dad used to work for him before he died. I busted my tail for two years on the factory floor. Had a ball for a little while, but the monotony of the routine bored me to death. I found out everyone else wanted a diploma and degree to move up, so I went to night school and got my GED.”
“Ah...so you were versed in the factory the hard way, with hands on experience,” Scooter nodded.
Max returned the nod with one of his own. “Yeah and car mechanics also. I rebuilt my first car when I was ten. It was the thing to do in Detroit. I was always good with my hands but sucked at the whole book studies crap,” he said in disgust and waved.
“Hands on learning. Some people learn best that way. Show then teach,” Ryans nodded.
Max grunted and looked at Scooter. “Right. Well, when the great recession hit I was out of work like a lot of people. I got into trade school and ate up the hands on stuff. Even found I could handle electronics too. That's how I ended up working for him,” he said. He jerked a scarred thumb Ryans' way.
“Stamping is a problem,” he said getting back to the subject at hand. “The metal of the dies has to be harder and stronger to withstand the forces... and we have to have presses that can also handle the stresses. It's a bitch. I was never exposed to that sort of thing, figuring out stress tolerances and such back then, so we're playing it by ear. So far the dies last about ten or twenty strikes before they crack or crumble. Some of the stamps aren't all that great either.” He scowled. They needed hard alloys, harder than what they currently had available.
“Ah, that explains why things are still going slow,” Ryans replied nodding.
“We've got the muskets moved out to the cottage industry. Some of the Glock, Springfield, Mortar, rocket launcher, and Winchester parts too. The easier parts. The outer casing and a few of the inner parts were stamped, so you see the problem,” Max said then drank his beer and took a mound of pretzel like snacks up in his hand.
“So you're going with the Winchester?” Scooter asked surprised. “Why not take one of our MP-9s or other guns apart?”
“Cause they're a bitch to make,” Ryans answered as Max trie
d to swallow. “A lot of fine tolerances and the parts have to be made with the right mix of materials or they would shatter under the strain. The last thing we want is to have machine guns blowing up in our hands.”
Scooter winced. They all remembered what happened to that kid with the Springfield. “Ah. Good point,” Scooter said getting some pretzels himself.
“Also, we need weapons that have good fire control. A repeating rifle is easier to shoot for someone with this tech level, and it keeps their fire discipline to manageable levels,” Ryans explained.
“No spray and pray. Good,” Scooter nodded smiling. He was referring to the way some people seemed to think they could just hold down the trigger, spray the entire clip and hope muzzle lift didn't enter the equation. “That must make it easier for the rounds too.”
“Right up till some idjet gets a jam,” Max growled. “Winchester makes it easier to fix too. We can train people on them. If we're on the subject of modern weapons though, I'd rather make AK-47s than the American guns we've got. Patriotism is all well and good, but the AKs are just hardier weapons.”
Scooter gave him a surprised look then slow nod. “Yeah, saw that in Iraq and Afghanistan. Bury it in the sand or mud, pick it up, rap it to get the barrel clear and pull the trigger. Sumbitches were well built.”
“Take a beating and keep on ticking,” Max said.
“That's take a lickin' and keep on ticking you ignoramus,” Scooter replied chuckling. Ryans smiled.
“The Glock is working out though?” Scooter finally asked.
Max frowned. The Glock, mortars, and rocket launchers were last minute additions to the army's weapons chest. The mortars and rocket launchers were crude unguided things but would be extremely valuable against knots of footmen or heavily armored alien Titans. “Yes and no. Lot of stamped parts there, so we're having bottlenecks. I've got about five that are finished. We were supposed to wait and ship crates to the soldiers but Waters dropped in and snapped them up to field test. He's going to drop by and give me his notes in a day or so,” Max shrugged.