Halifax june 1910
What? Clear slip 5? Ligne de France won't like that at all.
Sorry sir, that are the orders from Paris, the Ministry of Commerce has ordered a slip. And they are paying handsomely for it. So we can pay the fine on the delay. Also, it shouldn't take longer than 6 months to build the design they have sended. But why would the Ministry want a warship?
I don't know that either, but as they pay, and it is official, so lets get to it.
Will do so. But, strangely enough, the CSA is also involved in this? They are sending the boilers. And structural steel
18JUN10
Bordeaux, France
0130 Local
"We're hauling WHAT!"
"Manifest says a 'fuel tank', sir. It's supposed to be a replacement for the Federal Building in the provincial capital. Load weight is damn heavy, though... you think they'd send it full of fuel oil?"
"I wouldn't put a damn thing past the French. I just want to know why they want us off the ship while they load it!"
"Sir... have they seen you without a cigarette since we docked?"
"Ah... good point. Tell the boys that we're on chewing tobacco until we make it to Halifax. And get everyone off- sooner we get this damn thing delivered, the sooner we get paid."
On the way off the dock, the captain stole a look at his cargo. It was a monster if it was a fuel tank... at least 15' in diameter. Of course, it got coll as hell in Halifax in winter. They'd probably need a lot of oil.
Halifax 30 June 1910
Slip 5 Cleared sir. And it seems the first parts are getting delivered already.
A CSA merchant is delivering the nursery, it was being shipped in 1 piece from Bordeaux.
But why the loading labels mention that the crane needs to exceed 100 tons of capacity? I don't know, what are we going to build for the Ministry of Commerce?
I've got the first plans here, and the slender hull looks more of that of a cruiser than of a yacht.
And I don't understand why those 2 round spaces on the ends have to be done with 6" high grade steel. if I wouldn't know better, the aft one looks like an underarmored barbette for a battleship turret, and the front one, in size best compared to the main barbette of a Gloire.
Sir, what you say, it's a cruiser.... not a yacht. But we have a crate full of golden faucets for the Emerald queen. Those were delivered from Gran Colombia. And we have a shipping order for 50 tons of pink marble sheets and a bathtub too. I don't get it.
Dockmaster, Dockmaster. What do we do with that old Battleship twin turret that is placed at dock 5?
WHAT? Who ordered that, where does it come from?
Give me those papers, and when did it arrive?
I don't know dockmaster, it just arrived by Barge and here are the papers.
(face is getting very white now of the dockmaster, almost translucent)
Ok. Put that stripped turret next to dock 5, it seems part of the plans. Put it astern, then it's closer to the spot it needs to be.
And, now I need a break, this is getting ridicolous. I guess a bottle of whiskey is in order.
All my gold plumbing are belong to you.
Quote from: The Rock Doctor on January 09, 2008, 10:51:15 AM
All my gold plumbing are belong to you.
LOL Im trying to decide which french Diplomat wants a Battle Yacht...
I think you're looking in the wrong direction.
LOL I was afraid you were going to say that... (drags back out the plans for his Freighter 26 knots just wont cut it now...)
Nursery?
They told us it was a fuel tank!
Why would a nursery need a 100t crane?
Milk is heavy, Baby shit too.
Borys
Quote from: Borys on January 09, 2008, 11:45:46 AM
Milk is heavy, Baby shit too.
Borys
Thats no lie on the Baby shit part man from empty to loaded a diaper gains like 5 pounds I swear. I remember wondering how so much could come out of somthing that only weighed 9 pounds...
Plus, of course, you have to factor in weight for the supporting structure for the nursery, living space for the nurses/nannies/caregivers, and the auxiliary nursery aft.
28 june 1910
New Rhun, French Naval magazine 51.
Contre Admiral Pierre, we have a request from Halifax. The Ministry of Commerce has need of those old Anuhuac 13"L30 guns. It's something about a test.
Those we don't have? I don't know how they know we salvaged a few of those from the "disappeared battlebarges" But I'm glad those old guns will be gone then.
Sir, they only need 3.
Damn, send them all, make a mistake in the books, whatever. Those haunted pieces are gone.
Has the ministry said anything about transport?
Yes Contre Admiral, a freighter with escort will get them next week.
************************************************************************************
A week later, battledigger Gargantua, delayed from the trip to Haïti due engine failure, is loading the formentioned 13" guns.
3 are loaded in the hold of the freighter Lausanne (an obvious NS freighter with French Flag), but 2 others are loaded on a barge without markings.
The luitenant in charge is talking to 3 men in expensive suites, but obviously not Europeans. A suitcase is exchanged from hands, and the Luitenant, a bit pale, walks away to an office.
Quote3 are loaded in the hold of the freighter Lausanne (an obvious NS freighter with French Flag),
Sounds like the Swiss alright! ;D Money first, loyalty second! Course if I was the French I would send an escort along so that there are no unfortunate 'accidents' along the way. After all the Bermuda Triangle happens to lie along the route...
Excuse me Desertfox... It's one of the freigthers France held in custody during the Pacific war. And because the "upheavals" after that war, gently forgot to mention that to the NS.
So the ship, with a French crew, working for the state owned merchant line "Ligne de France" is now a real, undisputed French vessel.
A bit of a flashback...
*cues that wavy effect to begin*
10MAY10
Tredgar Foundry, Virginia
0830EST
"How in the Sam bloody HELL do 1000 tons of steel ingots GO MISSING!?!?"
"Well, it didn't exactly 'go missing,' Sir. We know where it went, we just don't know WHY it went to Halifax, nor WHO ordered it to be sent there. The requisition form was signed by a Jeremiah B. Le'frouge... but after searching through the Admiralty employment rolls, we can't seem to find anyone by that name."
"Well, where did it GO then!"
"Apparently, it went to Selma Machine Works. Seems it was to supposed to be used in construction of some turbines."
"Contact the Admiralty, then... let them know where they need to look. I'm washing my hands of this shit."
17MAY10
Selma, Alabama
1200CST
*snippets of a conversation overhead in the Foreman's office by his secretary*
"Department of the Treasury wants to know where the money came from."
"Need to know the names of the people that contacted you."
"Something about J. B. Le'frouge... I DON'T KNOW!"
"We'll be watching you."
02JUN10
Richmond, Virginia
2100EST
"So, you're SURE of this?"
"Yes First Lord... seems that a set of boilers ordered by Lykes Lines for one of their planned high-speed transports went missing at almost the exact same time. The steel was surplus, and apparently was unnoticed until these forged documents and it's non-existence were noticed. The request form says that it was shipped to 'build replacements for previously machined parts found to be substandard'. The parts that were already produced disappeared, and we didn't notice until this steel was routed there to replace them."
"What about the money issue?"
"I wish I had an answer to that as well, Sir. We know that $2 million went missing... but not exactly where or why. All trails stop at the name 'Jeremiah B. Le'frouge'; when we see him, we hit a brick wall. Strange, though... his signature doesn't seem to be particularly suited to someone in such a high position. His penmanship is very poor, and he even misspelled his own name once."
"Then all we know is that we have someone running around with convincingly forced Admiralty authorization to issue drafts and requisition materials- without our knowing his real identity?
Cross-check with EVERYONE- and I mean EVERYONE- to see what's happening here. If there are any projects, and operations, anything that could make this a legitimate enterprise, I want to know. In any other event, notify me immediately."
JUN0210
Richmond, Virginia
2200EST
*a man staggers from a local bar, frequented by police and investigators. A second man follows him out, speaks, and after a moment of drunken confusion, is recognized*
"Inspector Featherstone... how goes the case?"
"It's all fucked up, man... can't get any traction. Why you ask?"
*WHACK*
"Sorry to do that to you, Jackie... but it's for your own good." The man pocketed the sap as quickly as he produced it. He signals a waiting milk delivery wagon, which responds quickly. The men aboard are clearly not working for a dairy. "Make him disappear... two weeks, maybe three. DON'T HURT HIM! Just keep him secure till this blows over. We've got a lot of covering up to do after all the ground he turned up.
Oh, and make sure he knows WHY he can't look into this any further, and that other people are on the case that won't rest till it's figured out. He deserves to know at least that much."
Halifax, customs office. (relevant time periode)
A burly Gran Colombian contractor ports in a teak chest, banded with sturdy steel bands, with several large and heavy padlocks keeping it hermeticaly shut.
Good afternoon messieurs, it's most uncommon to have an armed gentleman like you here. But your papers are in order, so we won't object to your presence.
But the chest you're delivering is of interest to us too. The papers list the content as "Medical Supplies", but that doesn't warrant your presence. So we need to have a look inside.
"No habla Inglas"
Damn, that happens now. Does somebody speak Gran Colombian, or whatever this language seems to be? A Portugese dialect maybe.
(a voice from another office, the accent does say its not Portugese, and Gran Colombians do speak Spanish, I'll come in a minute, form 262A, section 17Bis paragraph C is almost ready)
A few minutes later (and for everybodies convenience, translated)
Sir, we need to look in that chest, you have to admit the situation is strange. You're guarding a very heavy, sturdy chest, what ,according to the papers, is filled with medical supplies. What reason is there for medical supplies to include a Gran Colombian guard of your quality?
I have to admit, I don't know, but it isn't my job to know, I only know the contents of this chest have to be guarded.
I agree monsieur?
José will do ,adjudant.
I agree on your job, but we'll have to inspect the cargo. After all, it's meant to be on a French diplomatical vessel.
I garantuee you the contents won't be damaged. Only inspected. After all, what hurt can a crate of medical supplies do?
I agree , and I'll send for the keys. But beware, it will cause a lot of problems if the contents are disturbed.
Opening the chest ? Gold glitters everywere. A strange device, a gilded electrical tesla motor clearly recognizable between the equaly gilded mechanical linkages that seem able to drive a smooth formed, but removable rod, in a 3D oscilating movement.
In between the straw fillings, several sized and strangely shaped attachement are found.
José, can you explain this?
No adjudant, I cannot. I have no idea what this device is. But if I can offer any advice, if this is medical, we should ask a doctor.
(in English)
Ok, send for a doctor, I want to know what this is. if it's not medical, it won't go the Le Reine Emerauld.
(aide runs off)
José, can you lift out the device and set it on the table. Then we can clean out the straw, and present this cleanly to the doctor.
I can, but again, if it gets broken it is your problem.
The 50 lbs device is put on the table together with the attachments. Straw is picked from between the linkages and adjustment screws. After half an hour, what contains a few cups of coffee and small talk, the doctor shows up.
Bonjour Docteur, I requested your presence to identify this device. (showing the device)
According to the papers ,it's medical supplies. But if you ask me, it doesn't look like medicine, nor chirugical material, not apothecaries.
(grinning from ear to ear ;D :D) You're right, monsieur. It's medical, and from the Siegmund school of tought. It's a treatment for ladies who suffer frequent hysterical attacs. I myself have a far less elaborate, less expensive and handpowered version. It's very efficient. If it's labeled medical supplies, I would say, it is. And I almost envy the doctor who's going to apply that. He must be very rich to order such a piece of craftmenship.
It's ordered by the ministry of commerce, to go to the sickbay of a diplomatical yacht. So I doubt the doctor pays for this. That does correspond to what you tell us.
That explains it all. The government pays for it. It will do a good job, I can imagine the wifes of Diplomats suffering the strain of the demanding task their men fullfill. That can induce bouts of hysteria readely enough.
But I'm surprised at use of cold metal and the level of smoothness of the attachments. My patients react better on varnished wood with a more knobbly texture.
Thank you docteur, for your professional explanation. I hope we didn't impose on your time.
No problem monsieur, I'll just send the bill to the the commisionair.
(Timejump modus on)
Early 1915. Marissa is enjoying the equatorial heat, reading a good book,and contemplating life on the 7 seas, in memory of her loving husband.
Unfortunatly, the gentle murmuring of the engines the waves and wind is shredded by the shrieks of 2 7 year young children running after a beleagered maid.
Shaking her head, Marissa realises that the nursery, even redecorated, isn't ideal for 2 up and coming members of the powerfull Mars family. In a few years, the twins will need their privacy and gender specific education.
Mid 1916. Constanta , Romania.
The Emerald Queen is refueling on the cheap sweet Ploêsti oil available there. But the social life is more than dull, almost deadly boring. Only tidbit that amuses Marissa are the endeavors of the young princess Flowranis.
Just lost in toughts
"That princess has acces to technology that wasn't even thinkable when I was her age ,and she's allowed to partake in that. It was almost a miracle that I was allowed to read a book. But, mom made it possible, good teachers in religion and magic, and money to boot. And then Agrival, who encouraged me to learn, gave me the means to raise power and learn more, I miss him. "
Shaking her head.
No, life isn't that bad atm, he children will have the opportunity to learn, to do, to live life totaly as she never could.
The tenth birthday of the Terrible Twins is approaching fast, and a suitable present is needed.
Lets travel to Nice....
Traveling trough the Bosporus.
Late night, the lights of Constantinople on port, the many feeble illiminating devices on the Ottoman fishingboats dimly around the slowley advancing Queen.
Braaaap, chraaaaak, HISSSS
Steam venting.
The ship yawning to port.
Bridge. A scantly clad Marissa storming in.
CAPTAIN, what is happening...
Milady, the port engines seized and the noise you hear is steam venting to avoid more problems. A very important safety feature.
Ah, and why did the port engines seize?"
Sorry Milady, I can't tell you right away, but if you can accept an educated guess, we ran over a heavy fishing net. Our engines ain't that powerfull at low speed and can't rip free of such things. The older style tripple expantion engines wouldn't have any problems with that.
Captain, whatever it takes, we won't suffer from that anymore, I want a full briefing at breakfast. AND SHUT THAT STEAM WISTLE UP.
more to follow
That morning, lady Mars is having a breakfast , together with the twins, Lilith and Samael. Captain Vasquez brings the report and recommendations.
Milady, we know now for sure that the port propeller was jammed by a steel cable that was attached to a buoy. The combination of the strong tide and the low waterstand made it possible for our outer prop to grab and reel the cable in. The buoy itself was jammed between the 2 port propellers. We have removed the remains of the buoy and the cable, but the outer prop and shaft are beyond our capacity to be repaired, and the inner propeller is damaged , we can't risk to give her more than 20%. It's a dry dock job.
Any preferences captain?
Yes milady. First I have to point out that we can get anywere in a reasonable time. The starboard props are in fine shape.
I don't recommend the Ottoman ports, I fear the crusaders could get active anytime, also, there is civil unrest in the Ottoman empire.
That gives the same problem for Greece.
So, I suggest that we set JB on the problem.
I agree captain, so, let us travel on to Nice, at a leisury pace of course. And contact the Dutch architect Victor, if he could join us in Nice, Our emerald Queen needs some redecoration.
Mid 1917 , The French floating Drydock, 130 nm west-northwest of the Darien Canal Caribean entrance. The Emeral Queen recieving her new outer port shaft and propellor, as well replacing the hastely repaired inner port propellor. In the mean time, a venerable army of skilled workers are scraping and painting the hull with the newest anti fouling paints.
In the mean time, the Mars Family and a few selected retainers reside in a convenient place provided by local friends.