Hostage Rescue (Princess Rescue Inc Book 2)

by Hechtl, Chris

When everyone arrived on the eve of the sessions, the castle was lit with colored lights and a procession of carriages as a formal dinner and ball commenced to greet everyone. Deidra saw it as an opportunity for everyone to get-together and begin to talk while also having a bit of fun.

  Of course she took some sadistic pleasure in dragging Eugene out on the dance floor at every opportunity.

  ~~~^~~~

  The first House of Lords was gaveled into session shortly before the very first House of Commons session. The two houses met in different chambers at different times. Usually they were to be broken down into committees to go over bills or hold discussions on points that needed to be addressed.

  There had been delays as the castle photographer had tried to get photos of them together as groups and as individuals. Many wanted copies of the pictures.

  Elections for the House of Commons had been spotty; some of the dominus had rigged them or appointed their own chosen person to take a seat. Deidra decided to let it slide for the time being. The important thing was to get things rolling and get them used to the idea.

  A new parliament building was under construction near the castle. They would blend Terran industry standards with Roman and Imperial architectural designs. The foundations had been laid, and Max had printed a 3D model of the building, complete with a lift-away roof to show the interior. He'd even managed to get one of his students, Evan, to make 3D renderings of the exterior and interior and print out enlargements for all to see.

  It was quite an impressive sight, and the model was displayed for all to see for the first day before it would be moved to a tent near the construction site for the public to see.

  Deidra couldn't attend both sessions at the same time. Technically, she shouldn't attend either, but she did address a joint session of both in the evening, giving the state of affairs in the kingdom. There was a great deal of applause, something she took deep pleasure in.

  She made it clear to them that they were blending Terran concepts in politics with their own. “At one point in our distant past, our ancestors had a Senate, where elected or appointed people would come to debate matters of state and pass laws and a budget. In time we moved away from that. Now we are blending both. I won't say it will be easy, but if we are to move forward, we need to listen to all voices in order to succeed.”

  The following morning she listened to some of the initial debates through the live feed. There were questions about the budget and when more of the Terran technology would be available. There were also questions of who would pay for some of it.

  Apparently, some of the older lords were peevish about the tribute from Duluth and her investments. That led to an argument about some lords sending convoys north expecting them to take over holdings without first consulting the Imperial government and the Duluthian Thing .

  Some of the lords insisted they had the right. The fact that a couple of them had not contributed much to the war effort was brought up, which turned the entire debate into a hash and wasted a good part of the day before the session was gaveled out for a lunch recess.

  In the afternoon the matter was tabled so they could move on to the rest of the schedule. “Unless you want to be here until the snows are waist high?” Duke Emory demanded caustically when one lord tried to object.

  Duke Haiat backed Emory, and they achieved enough of a consensus to move on.

  ~~~^~~~

  Deidra wasn't completely out of the mix though. She gave official or unofficial approval of bills to let the dominus know if it was safe to move forward or not. She had a lot of reading to do, and meetings. But she also got to acknowledge the elevation of a couple of dominus to take over their family's holdings. Their fathers had died due to illness or age.

  The bit of theater was done in the early morning and each received applause when they joined the House of Lords. She also knighted several people who had proved themselves in battle or in deeds. She insisted on knighting each of the Terrans in a ceremony. They ribbed each other over being called “sir.”

  ~~~^~~~

  While the dominus and domina debated in session, the rest of the capital enjoyed a carnival and Expo atmosphere. New rides had been set up as well as new booths and areas for the tech expo.

  Some of the rides consisted of animals being ridden. There was even a petting zoo for small children. But there were also rides on some of the Terran vehicles and showcases of some of the vehicles and equipment to come. The showcases had to be roped off and guarded.

  There were a lot of new experiences in the capital, including new food concoctions. Ice cream and deep frying were popular. The medical tent was nearly overrun with people who had overindulged in one sweet concoction or another.

  Pickpockets were out in force but so were undercover deputies. Two rings were busted, both family affairs.

  ~~~^~~~

  At one of the technical expo sites, Max showed off a snowplow and snow blower. He had plenty of interest as well as interest in the ice maker and snow machine he'd had to create to make snow. “As if we don't have enough of it coming shortly!” a merchant complained.

  “Ah, but I see potential,” another merchant said, rubbing his jaw. “Can you make these machines? All of them?” he indicated the snow blower as well as the snow maker.

  Max chuckled. “The same principles are used in combine harvesters and other equipment. Now that we've improved the industry in the area, we can make a few. Why? Interested in buying them or making and selling them?”

  “Both,” the merchant admitted. Those around him were taken aback but then cocked their heads thoughtfully.

  “Why would anyone want to make snow?” a merchant asked with a frown.

  “Well, on Earth, Patria ,” Max hesitated then continued, “there anyways, they make snow for different things. Like to fill the slopes for skiing season to open early. Or for children to play in. Or for movies, though I heard they don't use real snow for that.”

  The natives looked confused.

  He shrugged. “They also have smaller ones that make snow as a treat,” he said.

  “Treat?”

  “In the hot summer a cold treat is welcome.”

  “Like the … ice cream?” a dairy merchant asked.

  Max turned to him and nodded. “But simpler. Just shaved ice. You can flavor it with fruit juices though. It is great on a hot summer day.” He looked over to where some of the children were playing in the snowbank. He snorted.

  “I see all sorts of potential for this,” a fourth merchant said. That started a bidding war before Max got them to agree to work as a collective. “Look, if you all pool your resources, you have a building in mind, you have some lines on metals …,” he indicated each of them. “Some of you have money. Sit down, hash out an agreement between you and a business plan, then come to me.”

  “What is this business plan?” a merchant asked, looking confused.

  “A business plan is a document, a plan of what you wish to do with the business. A guide for setting it up and goals. Goals and how to achieve them,” Cecily interjected. “My mate is needed elsewhere,” she said. “But I can answer some of your questions. There is information about all of this available at city hall as well …,” she said smoothly, interposing herself between the merchants and letting her husband retreat and head to another expo.

  ~~~^~~~

  Charlie had an entire section of a street for her wares. She had her students manning each of the display booths. There were displays about soap and basic things as well as more complicated chemical processes. There was also a booth on what a prospective student needed to learn in order to get into their field.

  By far her most popular booth was where they were showing off the new batteries. They were a dry cell model, not as efficient as those in America but far better than anything they'd had before. She had managed to make several different models with Max. They had some items on display, including cordless power tools.

  Which was a bit ironic since each was chained to
the counter to keep people from making off with them. A student monitored the devices carefully to make sure no one tried to make off with parts too.

  The materials were still in short supply. The rare metals came from materials from Duluth. They made a point of that in the display.

  With working batteries, Max had finally unleashed a hybrid vehicle. The vehicle could burn biodiesel as a generator or use its batteries to power its DC drive motors. The vehicle was a big hit. They had not managed to finish the display model, but even partially built, it had its admirers. And the actual working model had people paying to ride in it.

  “Remind me to find someone to start a theme park sometime,” Max said in an aside to Charlie.

  Charlie grinned. “As long as I get dibs on the roller coaster,” she said eyes bright.

  He snorted. “Do you really want to be the first on an untested roller coaster?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “You'd test it first. Then I'll get my ride.”

  “Okay,” he chuckled.

  “Don't wait too long, I'm in dire need of a vacation, and I've missed going to a theme park,” she said.

  “I thought it was the beach that you wanted to go to,” he teased. She shook her head. He snorted.

  ~~~^~~~

  In between committee assignments moving bills through them, the house also debated and appointed judges and approved of appointees. That seemed a bit confusing to some of the dominus. The confusion was again tabled when one of their bills failed to reach a majority in the House of Commons and it had to be revised. Consternation and indignation warred in the dominus briefly before they broke down and worked on making revisions to the bill.

  Eugene and Deidra saw it as the first flexing of muscles from the House of Commons. It was an important test. When some of the lords drew in some of the newly-minted leadership of some of the parties in the Commons into discussions on the revisions, Eugene sighed in relief. They knew they weren't completely out of the woods, but it hadn't taken any poking or hints on his part to get that to happen. That was definitely a good sign.

  ~~~^~~~

  On the weekend, both houses had a half session so they could take a tour of the airport and attend a brief air show. Max's students had different designs of aircraft on display. They highlighted that the long-range design was reminiscent of a DC-3.

  Max didn't pull any punches as he highlighted problems with the fuel. “It doesn't like cold weather. We've had to create a heater system to keep the fuel fluid in cold temperatures,” he grumbled. “That and finding light material like aluminum and finding ways to cast material. The good news is we're applying some more modern tech for this design to balance things out. And of course this is just the first steps. Eventually, we'll move beyond it.”

  “But not for several more annus ,” Cecily added. Max nodded.

  They showed the latest aircraft, which was a modular design. The base model as planned could haul cargo, people, or firefight by dropping parachuting firefighters or air drop water or foam. The aircraft could have skis added for landing on snow or water pontoons to land on water.

  “We don't know how they'll hold up over time. But we're getting there,” Max said.

  There was a smattering of applause and then they turned to watch the air show.

  Eugene and Deidra were there watching from the VIP booth with Duke Emory and a few others. They watched the drones fly, then the paragliders and then a couple of the small aircraft. Max and Charlie had even managed to arrange for them to do a mock spray on a fire.

  “Impressive,” the duke murmured as he watched through the binoculars. “So many changes,” he said. “But I see the potential, I truly do.”

  “Good,” Deidra said with a small smile to Eugene.

  ~~~^~~~

  The following morning a balloon festival in the suburbs got underway. Preparations began early in the morning, long before the sun rose. It was cold but the methane tanks Max and Charlie had made quickly made up for that. The burners lit the surrounding area and warmed anyone nearby.

  By dawn the balloons were dotting the field like colorful mushrooms. They launched as the sun came up.

  Those who had paid to ride within them clung to the seemingly fragile wicker baskets as they went up into the heavens.

  They drifted over the capital to the amazement of those awake. They woke others, sometimes roughly, and people rushed to windows to see the sight of the balloons flying overhead.

  The castle photographer was on top of one of the towers and took photos as quickly as his cameras would allow.

  Eugene cradled his wife under one arm as she pointed to one colorful design or another. “I think it's a hit,” he murmured, rubbing her arm. When she shivered, he left her for a moment. She turned, wondering why but he brought back a blanket from the bed, which he draped over her shoulders.

  She cuddled next to him anyway. “Do you think we can make patterns and things on the balloons?” she asked softly.

  He chuckled. She poked him. “What?” she demanded.

  “Fashion show for balloons,” he chuckled. She poked him again.

  “I think in time anything is possible. Either painted onto the fabric or woven into it,” he said, moving his elbows down to defend his flanks. “They did that on Earth.”

  “Oh.”

  “Want to see your face up there?” he asked teasingly. “They have electronic ones too on dirigibles.”

  She shook her head. “Just shut up and watch the show,” she growled at him. She felt his silent rumble of a chuckle but decided to let it go.

  Chapter 24

  Eugene played a bit of hooky to take a tour of the military academy with some of the Hawkish dominus. He enjoyed seeing their reaction at the sight of the obstacle course and the “tower of power” at its center. Seeing a class of cadets climb it and then rappel down was impressive.

  General Aeneas Tacticus and his aides led the tour. They had taken a lot from the Terrans. The building was mostly Terran as were many of the drills. When one of the dominus asked about traditions, Eugene piped in. “Many of our traditions came from the same places as yours and of course some of the training methods too. They just look a little different here.”

  They saw a short parade as well as a team-building exercise. They toured the firing range and saw some of the newest weapons being used and then toured an adjacent shoot house.

  The cadets even had to go over to the fire academy to learn the techniques there and learn to fight a fire and make command decisions while under pressure.

  Eugene noted that some of the dominus singled out children who he assumed were children or relatives. They were given a brief time to talk with them.

  He found himself drawn to a pair of familiar teens going through the first stages of puberty. Both were no longer the gangly youths from before. Corgi looked impressive as an upper-class man. Answorth looked like a smaller version of him. Both were muscled and had an air of quiet professionalism about them that Eugene admired. He made a point of complimenting them on that and their achievements.

  “I'm looking forward to attending your graduations,” he informed both of them.

  “Thank you, sire,” Corgi murmured with a slight bow.

  “And I know you are grateful that Deidra finally stopped fiddling with the uniform design,” Eugene teased. Answorth snorted softly. Corgi grunted.

  Each of the cadets were dressed in formal military attire. They still had a roman centurion helmet, but it was modified with Terran tech for comfort. They had a Terran style white shirt covered by a blood red or black jacket. The black was trimmed in white, the red in gold. Red was female, black male. They had braided piping in their respective trim colors and shiny brass buckles and buttons.

  They both wore dark gray slacks. Some of the upperclassman had red, black, gold, or white piping down the outside seam of their pants. Eugene wasn't sure what that denoted. Their boots were all black and shined to perfection.

  “Is it true you are consid
ering opening up another branch of the military? Air force?” Answorth asked.

  Eugene smiled indulgently. “Yes, and navy. Both will take time to establish though.”

  “I'm curious about the air force. I'm not interested in the navy; I get seasick,” Answorth muttered.

  “Me too,” Corgi admitted.

  “I appreciate the books, sir, and the pictures,” Answorth said. “My class will get to take advantage of the new things coming in,” he said with a smile to Corgi.

  “We're improving steadily,” Eugene said with a nod, “as you two are too. Keep up the good work.”

  “Thank you, sir,” they said, taking a step back and then saluting. He returned the salute.