Sixth Realm

by Michael Chatfield

  It makes sense, with the water floor we had to take months for Yui to train and prepare his people. Most of what they learned was from Rugrat’s notes on beach assaults, fighting on the water and so on. If we don’t keep training a water focused force then if we need them again we will need to train up a whole new unit. This air assault also sounds useful and could provide greater mobility. What Erik and Rugrat taught me and what I am learning from others from Earth’s Militaries, it would be another vital tool.

  “Okay, what would you need?”

  “Birds, we have a number of different birds that are being raised across Alva. We can use those as the mounts for the aerial force. On Earth we needed helicopters and other types of aerial transport. We could make them with enough time, but the birds have some great advantages. First, each team member could have one bird to transport them. Entering and exiting a helicopter is the most dangerous time. Instead we can just jump on a bird and in seconds we’re lifting off. Faster exfiltration. Also birds can be healed, and just need to be fed, don’t need to perform costly maintenance in terms of materials and time. The team on the ground can manage most issues themselves. Finally birds are quiet and you don’t need to learn to pilot them. We can insert and exit silently, with the birds taking care of the flying while we take care of the fighting.”

  “I have read about medical evacuation that was primarily taken care of by helicopters. Also close range support. If we were able to train birds we could have medical groups on standby to rush into the fight, get the wounded and rush out, increasing the chances of survival. We could also mimick the bombers and attack helicopters of Earth. Add in machine guns under the beast’s wings and storage rings on their stomach that can drop bombs. Even if they’re not capable of that they can remain in the sky, feeding information back to command. Give new firing solutions to the artillery forces on the ground even,” Glosil said.

  “You know about helicopters?” Kanoa was a little shocked.

  “Erik and RUgrat told us everything that they knew, same with Matt and Tanya. I thought that it was crazy, but I’ve learned that there are a lot crazier things to be found.”

  “Yes sir, we have the birds, I have been talking to the beast tamers and there are a number of beasts that we could raise to be insertion mounts, bombers, quick response medical transport.”

  “Can we not use one kind of mount?”

  “We could, but they would be limited, the panther’s of the ground units are perfect for getting in and out of an engagement, also they have been raised in large numbers to fill the needs of the army. Meanwhile the birds, while they are raised and sold to traders, they are luxury items they have not been raised in large numbers the fastest ones have been breeded the most, while other birds were left alone, the aggressive ones especially. Who wants a mount that is angry?”

  “I’m guessing we do?” Glosil smiled, getting a grin from Kanoa.

  “Damn right we do. We need their aggressive nature to dive at the enemy, to go into dangerous situations. If you can tame the stronger-willed ones then they will be better than the most docile ones.”

  Glosil sat at his desk, turning it over in his mind.

  “Bring it up at the meeting at the end of the week with the Silaz boys. I think you might get your airborne unit.”

  ***

  A whining noise filled the air as Rugrat and the rest of the testing group were in a bunker, using all kinds of spells and gear to watch the test bed platform and the target.

  There was a tzzing noise as the target was struck.

  Everyone was looking a the weapon, the heat dissipating formations pumped the heat away, their glow dimming so one could see a barrel between formation blocks with a chamber at one end.

  “The power consumption is still much higher, but the barrel variables are lower,” one of the people in the room said.

  “Yeah, Phil, it is much more stable than the air-enhanced weapon system, but the requirement for power and formations is too high to mass produce it,” Rugrat said.

  “Over the last couple of weeks we have come up with the enhanced airgun and railgun. The air gun uses a modified round, an artillery shell. Once the round is fired, air formations are triggered, shooting in a massive amount of air. The artillery shell combined with the air formations greatly increase the overall velocity of the round. Though The timing has to be perfect or else the airflow will slow the round, or worse, it will higly pressurize the barrel and then when the round is ignited then the barrel could explode. The railgun uses metals that when introduced to an electrical charge create magnetic forces that shoot the round forwards at great speeds. I never knew that metal could be turned into a magnet before,” Taran said.

  “We have mostly fixed the issues in the enhanced airgun version, we are testing the fourteenth version and it has fired ten thousand rounds without fail already,” Julilah said.

  “Though the overall power of the airgun is less than the rail gun,” Rugrat said.

  “You just want a science fiction rifle in a fantasy world,” Phil said as he was checking information on his clip board.

  “Yes, Phil, I want a laser gun. Can we do that?” Rugrat paused.

  Phil looked up and tapped the pencil to his chin.

  “I don’t see why not, though we are in atmosphere so the power of the weapon will be greatly decreased and it will be even more prone to overheating than your railgun.”

  “We have two issues, one, power,” Julilah, guided them back onto task. “The railgun takes a massive amount of power to shoot, and two the weapon tears itself apart because of the forces acting upon it.”

  “We already have charged magazines, what if we were to create cartridges that didn’t have gunpowder but mana stones?” Rugrat said.

  “We would need to work it out, if we could use Earth or Sky stones that should solve our issues, I think? Julilah?” Taran asked.

  “It could be possible, though that means every round we fire is going to cost a ton.”

  “We’re raking in the stones, to enhance our military I think we’ll be happy to do so,” Rugrat said.

  “Why don’t we use crystals to power all of the weapons?” Phil asked.

  “One, they are as Julilah said, expensive as hell, we’d be burning money to shoot. Two, we can mass produce a ton of gunpowder. Railguns are expensive and time consuming to make. As our military is still expanding we will continue to create more rifles and their necessary rounds. They are not outdated yet, for the lower realms there are few things that are their equal.

  “Three with formation sockets on our weapon systems we can update them all the time, increasing the way that they enhance the weapon. The systems work and they are reliable, adding crystals would be a waste as they currently are. There is so much we can upgrade on them still,” Rugrat said.

  “And we would need to build out a system like the airgun or railgun for them all, which takes development and time. I think I have a solution to the second problem we have with the railgun, wear and tear. Controlled air buffers. Create a powerful air cushion in the barrel. It keeps the round in the middle of the barrel when it is fired instead of scraping along the barrel when it fires,” Julilah said.

  Everyone sunk into thought with her words.

  “Normal rifles work on the use of explosive force to shoot. Railguns don’t. It doesn’t need to be a completely enclosed system,” Rugrat said.

  “The air flow could also decrease the overall temperature of the weapon. First with the lack of friction and also expelling air from within the barrel,” Phil added.

  “We would have to keep the system separated, with all of these formations we won’t be able to add in formation sockets to start with. The metals and materials making the weapon will melt with so much power running through them.”

  “Looks like we have an idea for prototype Twenty three!” Rugrat announced.

  “More damn prototypes,” Taran rolled his eyes.

  “At least we have the airgun, the rounds are large
enough to be stamped easily with formations. They can shoot faster and longer with the cooling effect of the air system and the speed of the round has increased by ten percent compared to our regular rifles with thirty percent less recoil,” Rugrat said.

  “We are creating a new factory for them to assemble the machine guns as we speak, should be starting production in another month,” Taran rubbed his face, feeling tired.

  “How is production going on the conquers armor?” Rugrat looked to Julilah.

  “We have replaced a regiment’s worth of armor with the new versions. It will be another month to armor up all of our current serving members, as I understand it.”

  Rugrat made to talk and got a sound transmission, he listened to it, before smacking his head.

  “How the hell didn’t I think of developing out the Navy and Airforce. Dammit. At least Kanoa talked to Glosil. Well, damn, we could use the airgun for weapons on the birds, we might need new bombs for the bombers. I should talk to Han Wu,” Rugrat was muttering to himself.

  “If you two idiots start making bombs together, do it somewhere like the metal floor. You’re likely to blow up the damn dungeon!” Taran said.

  “More bombs? Do you ever get tired of explosions?”

  “Tired of explosions? Pfft! Nope! The bigger the better!”

  Taran, Phil and Julilah looked at one another and then shrugged.

  “Since the others from Earth arrive we have had an explosion in the areas of research and technology, they are all rapidly advancing in different crafts,” Taran said.

  “We just need to know how to coax the Ten Realms into understanding our skill levels. We’re still figuring out the kind of rules for the Ten Realms. Healing without any aids. Using the principles of shooting and our knowledge to take out targets at a long distance, mixed with skills to take out people at close range with great accuracy. As long as we apply that knowledge within the Ten Realms parameters then it will give us a clearer and easier route of skill progression. Though I am not sure that is for the best,” Rugrat said.

  “How so? I know we have the whole debate of application and academics going on right now, but if we find a way for people to increase their skill level faster isn’t that good?”

  “It is good for experience and egos, but it is not good for learning. In the Sixth Realm academies they call it specialization. Someone will specialize in one area. Say healers, they will specialize in broken bones, or on colds. They will just do that one thing. They learn all the spells that can heal a person’s bone in the best way possible. They reach the stage where they can heal a person’s bone in one touch. They are Master level healers because they have demonstrated to the Ten Realms their ability in that one area. Academically, that is awesome, but in reality, they are pretty damn useless, take our medics, if we had one learn how to do one thing then how the hell are they going to talk to one another, if they are dealing with a gunshot wound? Just how are they going to heal them? Sure that is fine for research, find out those spells, teach others and then they can do it as well, though you see just how learning the system of the Ten Realms allows us to manipulate it. Looks at the tech we’re coming up with!”

  “As time goes on I think that the practical applications will have a greater weight than the theoretical academic advances. Still we should teach general principles up to Expert, beyond that people have to specialize, but that knowledge when distilled into the practical, aren’t they two sides of the same coin empowering one another?” Taran said.

  “Yeah, I just hope we don’t lose our edge of taking knowledge and applying it in new and different ways. Just talking to the other military members I’ve found there are so many things that I am missing. Phil is a integral part of this team with all of the ideas he has come up with,” Rugrat said.

  “Well lets leave those questions to the council and the teachers to worry about, we can just make the guns and tech,” Julilah said.

  “Maybe I am thinking on it too much. Making guns and explosives is much easier!”

  “Says you!” Taran shot back.

  Chapter: New tempering path

  The weeks were rushing by, there was just over five months to go untill the Second Annual Fighter’s competition in Vuzgal.

  Erik and Delilah were walking through the alchemical garden as Delilah kept him up to date with everything that was happening.

  “There have been more inventions being created every day. The traders are certainly loving it and while there are people taking a break from their academic pursuits some of them have actually advanced their class with their new inventions. With the group creations the Ten Realms give experience to all of the people involved in the project. Not only increasing just one but multiple skills as people have to understand the parts they are creating and how they relate to the other components.”

  “What does that mean if they make a journeyman level item?” Erik asked.

  “Some of them might get journeyman in their main skill and others will get lower ranked contributions. Whatever the level of the item is, no one can achieve a skill level higher than it,” Delilah said.

  “Okay, that is interesting I was scared that it would stagnate people completely. I thought that only the main people working on the item would get experience? Like with weapons and formations. The Smithy gets their experience and then the formation master gets theirs from the Ten Realms.”

  “I think that it might be how everything is assembled. The one smithing item to one formation is very simple. With these new inventions there can be multiple parts that are created by themselves, and then they can be altered and refined and then combined with other components to create a complete device. It lines up with the experience gain, there is a burst when creating the parts and then a larger one when all of the parts are put together and then function. It can increase with time as components are changed and the overall design becomes better, then all of the parts contained within will send experience to the original creators as their parts were able to create an item with a higher level of ability!”

  Delilah couldn’t hold back her interest and excitement.

  “There are new things happening every week across Alva’s lands,” Erik chuckled as he continued down a path out of the alchemy garden.

  “It only seems to speed up as things go on,” Delilah muttered.

  “Well you have new helpers as well, Lord Aditya is now under your direct command and I heard that he is helping out where he can?”

  “He and Lord Chonglu have really helped out a lot, with them both being controllers over lands and people, they’re a great resource. Though what are your plans for them?” Delilah asked looking at her teacher.

  “Well, Hiao Xen is on loan to us by the Blue Lotus, that time will come up eventually. Chonglu has had a front row seat to the operations within Vuzgal kept in the loop by Elan and attends all the meetings with Hiao Xen.”

  “You’re grooming him to take over the position?” Delilah nodded. “He is well-suited, he has been training himself up, tempering his mana and his body. He is one of the strongest fighters we have in Vuzgal, training with the Alva Army based there to increase his capabilities. His wife’s position lends him strength as well.”

  “Aditya will become the leader of the Beast Mountain Range, then we will pick out someone to replace him so that he can join Alva completely, train as he wants and do what he wants. I am hopeful that he will take over managing another area of Alva. We have a lot of people filling in positions leaders are hard to find,” Erik sighed as they passed through the formations that contained the alchemy garden.

  “There is always more happening in Alva than what one can see on the surface,” Delilah admired the sights around her as they walked.

  “How has the integration with the Earthers to Alva going?” Erik asked.

  “Mixed reactions. Most of the military members have joined up in one way or another. The civilians are a mixed bag. Some have joined in completely and see Alva as their new home opening up ne
w fields of research, delving into the secrets of the Ten Realms that were seen as grounded facts previously. Others,” Delilah had a complicated look on her face.

  “We’re from the same planet it doesn’t mean that we’re all alike, in fact you would be surprised how different most of us are from one another,” Erik reassured her.

  “Some of them don’t really understand their situation. They complain about the Alvan system, they are trying to create protests asking people to stand for a democratic system. Only three of them. Saying that what we have now is akin to socialism, or communism, or slavery, whatever all that means. Police have been called a few times but then the protestors go wild and say that they are going against their rights, saying that it is their right for free speech.”

  Erik felt a headache coming on.

  “What’s the Alvan response been?”

  “Don’t care for it, think that they’re idiots, more pissed off than the police. Tell them to get the hell out and go see what the ten realms is really like.” Delilah shrugged.

  “If they don’t have jobs and aren’t doing anything to help Alva, I won’t do anything. They are no different than any other intern citizen.”

  “Thank you, I was going to press that we treat them the same as everyone else as well.”

  They reached a large house, one could hear people talking and laughing inside.

  Delilah walked up to the gate.

  “So, any boys or girls you’re interested in?” Erik asked.

  “Boys! And not really,” Delilah sighed. “My job kind of keeps everyone at a distance from me. Though I am happy that I have my position and not Aditya’s or Chonglu’s.”

  “Oh, why?”

  “Well here at Alva, while there are a lot of people, they are all our people. We can walk around freely, we don’t have to care about our outside appearances. No matter one’s station, well well other than between military members of different rank in the same chain of command. For Chonglu and Aditya people are always talking up to them. They have to cultivate a certain personality to deal with the outside world.”