Marseille- Rome airpost service.

[maddox]

Rome early 1918,
French embassy.

One of the aids recieves a telegram, and is rather puzzled by the contents.

Merde, how short can you make a message and fail to convey the meaning. I just got some consenants. That cheapskate in Paris.


Monsieur l'ambassadeur, do we have somebody that is strong in solving crossword puzzles?

Why do you ask Jaques?
I got a telegram from Paris that is utterly undecryptable. I hope its not an urgent message, because we're waiting on the official dispatch that is flying in with the airship.

That is a problem, as the dispatch leaves Paris Aerodrome when the airship lifts, and that's depending on scedule and weather. We both know it won't be here for at least, and then we're talking fast as lightning action, tomorrow about this time.
Maybe we should use a faster means of transport?

Like?For fast we have telegraph and wireless, and the new fangled radio setup. Airships, or the fastest ships are the next part of fast.
My previous post was in Russia, and I had the opportunity to fly with one of the Great Russian Planes from the inventor Sikorsky. Faster than an airship, and as luxurous as a train wagon.

Hm, you are right Jaques.  We have seen the large Italian planes, and the landing fields ain't that far from here.
I know Paris is getting very interested in such. I'll send a dispatch, not wired inquering about such things.

[maddox]

A few days later.  In one of the many Roman Osteriï.

(translated from Italian, for our convenience)

Bonjour ,Monsieur Amantea*. I'm happy you could see me in such a short notice.  

It's my pleasure signore Jaques, not every day I get an invitation to talk about aircraft and my vision about a world wide network of aircraft carrying mail, passengers and even perishable goods. But, how did you know I had this plan?

I'm a bit of an aircraft enthousiast and if I find an article, I do read it. Your idea was published a few months after the New Zion Issue in a local paper.

Funny, I don't recall that. I didn't talk to a reporter about it.

It doesn't matter that much, the person who did write it, did a good job, and gave you all the credit. And yes, I want to talk about what is needed to start this idea of yours. It all started when the ministry of finance did impose on the telegraph cost, and messages got condenced to the maximum, and beyond. Lately, more and more telegraph and wireless messages got intangible messes of connosants. As the operators get bonusses on how short they can make the messages*¹. In such cases, we need to wait untill the dispatch arrives in mail form. Currently airships are the fastest way. But even then, if all goes well, it's at least 24 hours difference.
What do you wish to drink?


Caffee please.
I see. And of course, running a dedicated mail service for the embassy is a tad overkill, especialy if money is so tight already. In other words, you want to set up a commercial service, and use that to get your messages a few hours faster.

Yes, you understand our need perfectly.

If speed is the essence, we have 2 options. Use the fastest plane, and have it land to refuel at certain airports along the coast, or cut out the refueling, and use a larger, unfortunatly slower plane to make the trip in 1 or 2 legs.With cost and return on investment, I would say, the larger aircraft is the best bet. Maybe a civilian Ca3?

Or a Russian Giant, the Sikorsky Murmoretz?

That's thinking big...



* Amantea , OTL Italian ace.
*¹ It's obvious that the bonus's are more expensive than normal send telegrams.

[TexanCowboy]

OOC: The Boeing Falcon has a civilian varient.

[maddox]

OOC, Jaques had a periode of service in Russia as an ambassadorial aide.  Not the in the CSA. That colors his view, as well the fact he is an adherent of Minister Capet, and that in itself is enough.

[maddox]

Moskou, the French embassy.

Monsieur l'ambassadeur, we have a request from Jacques.

the ambassador, a grossly fat man, enjoying his breakfast, at noon looks up
Jacques, the guy you took over from?

Yes monsieur.

What is he asking?

He wants to open negotiations with the relevant Russian ministry to purchase 12 of the Big Sikorsky airplanes for passenger transport.

The coffee the ambassador was trying to drink turns into a horizontal fountain.
What? Does he have any idea how much that such a thing costs? Where does he think to get the money from.
Send a telegram to Paris, to have a commission looking into the resources of that man, it feels like he's accepting money for unnammed services.

It takes one to know one ,thinks the Louis, the aid.
And what will you, monsieur, answer to Jacques? Not replying would be rude, to say at least, and maybe rouse suspicion.

You're right. Get my secretary on the request. She knows her way better in the labyrinthine structure of the Russian Government. And a reply to Jacques. In essence, just ask him what his plans are.

Mes oui monsieur l'ambassadeur.

[maddox]

Rome, 10 days later.

Hm, it seems my old boss doesn't trust, me that fat boyloving hedonist.

"Dear collegue

In utter respect of your question, I honnestly can answer there are no nefarious plans with the Sikorsky Murmoretz passenger planes.

An Italian warhero and airforce captain and me are investigating the possibility of starting a regular passenger service that is faster and cheaper than the government run airship services to Rome.

I hope this answer satisfies the well founded curiousity benefiting the safety of France.

Ambassadorial Aide Jacque A.

[maddox]

Somewere  may,  the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk.

The Italian merchant vessel SS Digiuna il Profitto is loaded the Sikorsky labeled crates, destination Marseilles.


At Marseilles a surveyor is calling out to his assistants.

"Get that marker 2 meters to the east, there the digging crew can start with the foundations"
Oui monsieur l'ingenieur, meanwhile mutter under his breath, you slaver.