Fianna Kelly Versus the Jeebees: A Collection of Steampunk Stories (19 page)

I looked
by the small hill for a door leading to my airship. I laughed at myself for
thinking that a secret underground military base would have a door that anyone
could walk through. I went to the security office in the castle next. The Major
and Eric were there as I expected. I said, "This last week has been
wonderful, but once my airship is ready, 'tis time for us to go home."

Eric
glanced at the Major who said, "She's been ready for a few days; just
waiting for you to ask for her... Actually, she's been ready several times. The
problem with scientists and engineers is they keep wanting to fiddle with
things even after they're working."

"How
much is this costing me? I don't know if replacing the steam engine twice is
considered travel expenses."

"That's
a matter between our two countries. You don't need to worry about it."

Eric
asked me, "When are you thinking of departing?"

I
asked, "Is late afternoon too soon to wrest her away from your
engineers?"

The
Major said, "You won't need to pry their fingers off it. They'll let go
willingly. They cannot wait to find out what you think of their work."

"It's
a nice day. Let's not keep them waiting."

I
sent Gerald off to pack our things, locate the pilots, and to inform Felix and
Mary to get ready. Felix's business had concluded successfully and I had
offered them a free ride home. Eric had things to do, as usual, so it was just
the Major, Bradan, and I driving a wagon out to see my airship.

We
stood on the hill as the ground split again and my ship rose under her own power.
When the opening was closed, a dozen men came out of her and tied her down. We
walked down the hill while they lined up in front of the cargo door. The Major
introduced me to each one. When it was their turn, they explained what part of
my ship they had worked on.

Two
of them had repaired the damage to the outside. I couldn't tell where it had
been shot now. Four of them had worked on the engine and one had repaired and
properly installed the buoyancy control. I asked him if I really needed it. He
looked to the last man in line before answering, "Now you do." I
didn't dwell on that for long. I guess the last guy would tell me. The next two
had worked their way through the entire ship making minor improvements. The
tenth man had worked out a better harness system for Bradan which allowed him
to secure and release himself.

That
left the last two introductions. They were shy and I could tell they felt the
same way around me that I had around Jim Anderson at dinner last week. I would
have to get them talking. "Besides giving me a comfortable sleep, what
does the buoyancy control do now?"

"It
balances the recoil from your cannon," answered one. "We shortened
all the feedback loops, increased the shifter power, and connected it to the
firing console."

I
looked at the Major. "What cannon?"

"We
had a high-level meeting and at the insistence of the King, you were given that
railway gun to take back to England. The scientists refused to put it in a
crate arguing you might need it for defence on your flight back. I had to agree
with them since you have no other weapons installed on your ship. The engineers
mounted it to the airframe just above your suite."

The
man added, "I secured it really well so the buoyancy control would work
with it. It's not going to move an inch."

The
Major said, "I gather that means they'll have a difficult job removing it
when you get home."

"That's
wonderful. Now I have more explosive material above my bed," I said.

One
guy said, "We produced special non-explosive ammunition for it that you
can use on targets. I bet with practice, you could bulls-eye a dartboard in a
pub five miles away."

"How
can I thank you guys for everything?"

The
Major said, "I think that's all they want; someone to say 'Thank
you'."

We
drove around to where everyone was staying to pick up their luggage and all the
things that Mary and I bought. I wanted those stowed properly in advance so we
wouldn't forget anything at the last minute. Bradan was wonderful when it came
to arranging packages. I figured that he learned it from watching the
stevedores. I asked the Major to stop at the castle for a few minutes. While I
was content to wave at most of my new friends as we left, I had a very private
farewell planned for Eric and I didn't want him to suddenly get busy before I could
give it to him.

Since
I hadn't told anyone a specific time, we left when everyone had arrived. It was
a smooth takeoff. We flew low over the exhibition and all of us, except the
pilots, were halfway out of the windows waving at the people below us. When we
reached the coast, the pilots took us up above the clouds. I asked them what
they thought of the airship now. They showed me a set of new gauges that would
tell them before anything like what happened before could occur again.

I
said, "Unlike the last time, I would appreciate it if you can get us
across the North Sea as fast as possible. I'd like to be in London before
sunset."

It
was smooth flying for the next hour. Then one of the pilots pointed to a silver
speck to our port side and closing.

I took
out a telescope and looked where the pilot indicated. I could see the
distinctive shape and a black flag flying at the rear. I passed the telescope
to Gerald to confirm what I had seen. He agreed with me that it was the same
airship that we had encountered going the other way. I turned towards Mary and
Felix to give them the bad news.

Felix
asked, "Are you sure?"

Gerald
said, "We know that airship. I doubt if they'll settle for stew this
time."

Felix
asked, "What are we going to do?"

I
said, "I will miss the rendezvous with my friends if I stop to play with
the pirates too long."

Mary
asked, "Is that all you're concerned about?"

Gerald
said, "It appears we don't have a choice but to fight back. They are
headed for us with their gunports open and they are faster than us.

Felix
asked again, "What are you going to do?"

I
said, "The pilots are going to swing us around to point at them, then you
and I are going target shooting."

He
protested, "I don't know anything about shooting."

"Just
follow me!"

I
addressed the pilots, "As soon as we are in position, turn off the fans
and run the engine full throttle. I will need all the power for the
cannon."

Gerald
asked, "We have a cannon now?"

"I'll
tell you later... Felix, let's get moving."

We
went up inside the superstructure of my ship to the fore section where the
engineers had secured the railway gun. I turned to Felix and said, "It
takes two people to work this. I need you to watch the gauges and adjust the
controls while I aim and fire."

"How
do I work it?"

"It's
technical," I said and then laughed. "You have a minute to figure it
out while I load it."

While
Felix pondered the problem, I searched for the shells. They had taken my
concerns seriously and moved the ammunition far away from my suite while I was
gone. The non-explosive ones were in a crate while the mortars were laid out on
special shelves. I grabbed an apron-full of mortar shells and ran back to the
firing platform. As I fed the shells into the chute, Felix figured it all out.
"They made it easy enough for army officers to work," he stated.

I
looked out of the telescope at the pirate ship. She was getting in position to
give us a broadside. In an even fight, that would be devastating for us, but
this wasn't going to be a fair fight when we got the railway gun working. The
engine increased speed and it was very loud in the enclosed space. I shouted to
Felix, "I want to fire eight shells as fast as possible. How long until we
are ready?"

"Hold
on... Now!"

The
pirate ship had six gunports and a cannon in each one. I lined up on the left
one and fired. I knew it was going to miss as the gun wasn't sighted in yet. I
checked where it had hit with the telescope. I adjusted my aim and put the next
six into their cannons. The scientists did a good job. I had barely felt the
gun or the ship recoil as I fired.

When
I checked the pirate ship again, I saw smoke rising. A minute passed and I saw
the blinks from their signal lamp. I hadn't had time to learn more than a few
letters so I didn't know what they were saying. They also brought in the black
flag and replaced it with a white one. I knew what that meant.

Felix
and I returned to the sitting room and I had the pilot idle the engine. Gerald
spoke first, "They wish to approach and discuss terms."

I
looked around at everyone. They were all looking at me for guidance. "You
don't need me to approve of that. We certainly don't want them to have time to
think about it and reconsider."

The
pilots sent my reply. That gave me a minute or two to think.

When
they were about 50 yards away, I opened one of windows and shouted, "Ahoy
on the pirate ship! Are you in need of assistance?"

Captain
Benton replied, "No Miss! We can still fly. I would like to congratulate
your gunners. Their skill is impressive."

"Why,
thank you Captain. I accept your compliment, having fired all the shots
personally."

 He
was quiet for moment then shouted, "This is absurd; dealing across the sky
and shouting at one another. May I board so we may discuss the terms of my
surrender in a civilised setting?"

"Do
I need to request you come alone and leave your pistols behind?"

"I'd
be disappointed if you overlooked that."

I
closed the window. "Mary, you know I'm not one to ask for favours..."
I started to say.

"...but
could I cook up something appropriate for you and the Captain to have while
negotiating?"

"If
you don't mind."

"It'll
be no bother."

I
addressed everyone, "I'll be in my suite. An escort of two men will be
sufficient to satisfy his ego."

I
closed the partitions and lit the lamps. They seemed brighter; likely one of
the minor improvements. I stood near the table and waited. Gerald and one of
the pilots showed the Captain in. He had his hat in one hand and my large pot
in the other. I had to smile when I saw that. I told the men to deliver the pot
to Mary in the galley and then dismissed them. I motioned for the Captain to
sit on one side of the table as I sat across from him.

I
let him start. "You did a good deal of damage to my ship. Did you forget
that we helped you the last time we met?"

"I
remember one of the last things you said to me. Did we put up enough fight for
you to let us go?"

He
said, "I see your point. It was bad manners on my part to leave you with a
threat. From what I saw of my ship, you could easily have scuttled her before
we came into cannon range and I thank you for not doing that."

"I
don't want us to be enemies, and I have a simple question for you. If I were
another pirate, what would I do with you now?"

He
thought on that for a moment before answering. "It is within your rights
to demand all of our plunder and to either make us swear allegiance to you or
to swear never to darken your skies again."

"The
first part is obvious, but I am puzzled about this swearing allegiance to
me."

"That
means me, my crew, and my ship are yours to do with as you see fit. We fly your
flag and fight in your name."

"I
believe it would be better for me if you flew your own flag somewhere far away
than flying mine around here."

"You
are probably right. One pirate working for another seldom ends well for
either."

I
said, "Now about taking your plunder. I don't know if I want things that
you have taken from people by force."

"I
have the solution to your dilemma. On our last raid on the English coast we
took in a good amount of gold and silver items: platters, rings, and heirlooms.
It would not be a hardship for you to take them from us and return them to
those we took them from."

"I
can rest assured you won't be going back for them again as you'll be swearing
to stay out of my skies, as you put it."

He
asked, "Now we have the conditions of my surrender concluded, would you
satisfy my curiosity? How did you fire six shots that quickly and accurately?
We had to be over a thousand yards apart."

"To
be truthful, I fired seven shots. The first one was high and to the left. The
next six were on target. I hope I didn't hurt anyone with the one that
missed."

"If
you wish to be evasive, I understand. We all have our secrets. You could at
least tell me what kind of gun you were firing? I don't think it was one of those
rifles on the wall behind me."