Princess Rescue Inc (34 page)

“Give
me a break boss! Not you too!” Max said shaking his head as he sat down in a
chair heavily. “Anyone tell you Rome wasn't built in a day? Well, a rifle
wasn't built in a day either! I've got the tracing lathe up, but it's buggy as
all hell. Now that we've got the concept across to the artisans it isn't half
bad. Some are good in their own way. But we're at least a week away from
sorting out the casting and getting a decent rifling bench done. We're still in
the build the tools to build the tools stage boss.”

“Right.”

“That
blacksmith Roads is a good sort. He's got a good location right next to the
river. He's not specialized in any one field and he's got a lot of shop space
going unused. A big ass four story brick and cement building. I think I might
be able to talk him into becoming a gunsmith. He's young and flexible enough
and he's got good hand eye coordination for the fiddly bits. The space can be
turned into a small factory to turn out the weapons or assemble them there.”

Ryans
nodded. “Good.”

Max
wrinkled his nose. “Muskets though?”

“You
yourself said we need to crawl before we can walk Max. Work out a prototype,
and test it. Not by hand. Use all safety methods and a range Max,” Ryans
cautioned, one hand up. He made sure to lock eyes with the engineer. Max
nodded.

“Don't
have to tell me twice,” Max growled. “No way I want to blow my hand or ass off
with this shit. Any word on Wanda?”

“She's
still stuck on bleach. She said making black powder is all about getting her a
safe place to work and the raw materials. We'll see,” Ryans replied as Max got
up.

“Okay,
well, I'm going to go eat and then find a bed,” Max said rubbing the small of
his back. “The water wheels are a good idea. I'll see if one of the other
smiths can make an assembly line and make the parts instead of custom making
the shit. Easier that way,” he said gruffly.

“Good
idea. Gregory's due in for a report on the food production soon. Doctor
Roshenko get with you about the metallurgy yet?” Ryans asked. Doctor Fred Roshenko
was a brilliant Canadian metallurgist and geologist. He was overhauling the
metal smelting in the city and surrounding area. Perry had assigned the absent
minded professor a guard and a LAV to get him around.

Max
scowled, half to the door. “I haven't seen him but some of his stuff is
starting to get in. I'm not happy about the quality though. Still bad.”

“We'll
work on it then. Go, eat. I'll see you tomorrow,” Ryans said waving.

“Right,”
Max sighed as he left.

<==={}------------>

Sue
and Wanda worked on training Xandor and Senji, the royal healers, and Angie,
the head nurse. The quiet, pixy like Angie soaked up the training like a
sponge. She was young and eager to please. Senji was more stubborn and set in
his ways. Xandor was a few years younger than Senji and more flexible. Tau, a
Chinese healer was amused when Sue and Wanda readily accepted acupuncture and
some traditional healing potions. Tau was the castle's resident pharmacist.
Wanda explained to him that some things, like mint for asthma and stomach bugs,
were well known.

The
lack of proper materials was a major frustrating handicap for the Terrans. The
competition for resources was fierce right now. Sue focused on concepts the
healers could understand and absorb, and focused on changes that could be
implemented with a minimum amount of materials or intervention and supervision
from the Terrans. It was frustratingly slow for her though.

<==={}------------>

The
royal court titillated in reaction to Ryans and the gaijin and their actions.
Some were scandalized, other amused or dismayed by the changes. Some were not
sure what to make of the interlopers but they were impressed with their tech.
Commentary about Ryans and Druzilla's head butting was fodder for the rumor
mills, the encounter growing in proportion with each retelling.

There
was a meeting between Duke Rojer, Baron Muchinson, Earl Pettigrew and Duchess
of Rojer Serena. It wasn't too hard to arrange, Rojer and his wife Serena had
just arrived and were resting in their quarters. Making sure there were no
royal spies had been difficult but not impossible. Fortunately for them her
grace had long ago bribed the royal spies assigned to watch over them. So far
the King and Queen had not caught on to the double treason.

The
Rojer couple had just arrived with their retinue and were settling in. Rojer
frowned as Serena dismissed their steward. He was unhappy about the invasion
but his older brother's fall could be turned to his advantage. The gaijin were
an unknown factor however, they were a wild card he didn't know and didn't care
for. He wanted to get a sense of them before committing to anything. “The
question is, how do we turn this situation to our advantage? And what do these
interlopers mean to our plans?” the Duke murmured as his wife swirled her drink
with a golden stirring stick. It glittered in the fading light of the day. They
had just managed to get to the capital before nightfall. He was glad he'd
pressed on, though one of his
branacks
would have to be put down.

“They
are strange,” Earl Pettigrew nodded. “And we know so little about them. But
they are well versed in many things apparently. Each is an expert in many
fields.” He explained a little about Ryans. The Duke and duchess had seen a few
of the gaijin and their magical vehicles but had little to go on in
understanding such machinery.

“Medicine,
weapons, food, they even promise new ways to heat and cool the castles!” the
baron scoffed.

“A
treasure then,” Serena murmured. That brought the normally reactionary baron up
short. He looked thoughtful.

“A
treasure but one that doesn't know when to keep its mouth shut,” the baron
replied after a long moment.

“True
but the one known as Ryans was wise. If any of these tales of his encounter are
even half true he has some experience with moving in rarefied circles. We must
be wary and take his measure carefully,” the Duke replied. He looked to his
wife who nodded. They had already heard from their spies in the palace. It
would be interesting to compare their spy’s reports to what the other nobles
said of these gaijin and the events surrounding their arrival.

“We
need their help. After the war it will be a different story,” Earl Pettigrew
agreed with a malicious smile. The Baron was more reluctant to agree. “After
all, treaties are meant to be broken,” the earl said. This elicited a wicked
chuckle and knowing nod from the baron.

“You
do have to admit they're doing our work for us,” the Duke said, sitting back
with a smile. One finger smoothed his mustache. “After all we couldn't have
undermined her majesty any better than this gaijin Ryans did. And so handily
too! They're driving a wedge betwixt themselves and don't even know it! Let the
split widen some more.” Grudgingly the Baron agreed to wait.

“In
the meantime why don't you fill us in on my niece’s adventures? And of course
all that has transpired since the gaijin have arrived. I need to know the
battlefield and the players after all,” the Duke said with a nod to the other
nobles. Pettigrew nodded. Muchinson smiled nastily and started in with what he
had heard about their travels.

“I
think perhaps we will lay low. But if you my dear Baron wish to test the waters
to stir them and see where things may lead, feel free. But do have a care in
how much you stir.”

“There's
no pleasure in rocking the boat and knocking us all out,” the earl growled.

“True,”
Serena murmured smiling. “Be impetuous but be ready to back down if you are
cornered or if we indicate it. We shall see what this trouble brews.”

<==={}------------>

Max,
Ryans, Sue, and Perry reported to the Queen and royal court the following
afternoon. The Queen was dressed in rich red flowing robes, trimmed in gold.
Her neck ruff was trimmed in gold and was high backed and stiff, forming a
circle behind her head. Her face was painted white, even her eye shadow and
lips. She had on a snow white wig done up in a classic Asian style and wore
white gloves. Her red petticoat had a white laced frilly under dress that
peeked out of the sleeves. She was a piece of work, Ryans had to admit
privately to himself, she reminded him of that queen from the Star Wars movies.

Deidra
was there as well, she was dressed in rich purple, trimmed in silver. Her face
was also paper white, and she had a snow white wig on. Unlike her mother though
she had black eyeliner on and black lipstick, lending her a goth look. Her
bosom seemed to be supported by strands of black rope, an interesting addition
to her wardrobe in Ryans opinion. Her belt sash was more of a gun belt, wide,
black with silver fittings. She wore a jeweled dagger on her hip, something the
guards seemed unhappy but resigned to see.

Zara
was absent, one of the royal family was watching over his majesty at all times
apparently.

Duke
Rojer had just arrived the day before and apparently the formal court was for
his benefit. He made a show of bowing politely to the Queen and was introduced
to the gaijin with a sweeping hand from her majesty on her throne. Rojer turned
back to them. He was a younger version of his brother, with black hair wavy, a
faint scar on one cheek and a handlebar mustache and goatee. His sideburns were
slightly silver giving him an elder distinguished look. He was dressed in rich
red robes of the royal house. The robes did a good job of hiding his bulk.
Well, his gut at least. Ryans could see the double chin and jowls easily.

That
robe and lack of a wig had actually surprised Ryans, he had noted the people
had their own style but it normally trended to some form of medieval fashion.
Rojer bucked the system, either going to a throw back of their ancient Roman
and Greek ancestors or he just wanted to look different, stand out from the
crowd. The glittering gold badge of his office was on his shoulder, pinning his
cape on. Apparently that was all the ostentation he desired.

Duke
Rojer in turn quietly sized the gaijin up. Ryans was amused when Rojer gave him
a look of amused disdain and commented slyly about his odd clothing. Ryans shot
the Queen an amused look. “Actually we've already been over that. I prefer my
own clothing thank you,” Ryans replied. He turned his attention to the Queen,
who frowned but didn't rise to the bait.

Ryans
had heard that Druzilla had retired for the time being, attending to other
business. She hadn't been out and out dismissed but she was apparently in the
doghouse over their little misunderstanding. He knew she was a partial
scapegoat but it didn't bother him. If she was the one who came up with these
designs she should be out on her ass. He for one wouldn't be caught dead in
such get up.

Perry
reported that the weapons programs and other projects were going well. Once
they had working prototypes and trained workers they would hopefully be able to
turn out a dozen a day. Hopefully they would have the first prototypes or even
mock ups in the trainers' hands by the end of the week.

“One
of our problems is that it's the start of spring and the men are out planting.
If we pull them to train then there will be no food later. The usual campaign
time is after planting,” Ryans mused. The Queen nodded regally. “Which is why
the defenses were caught so flat footed. No one expected the attack so soon
apparently. You do have to admire their chutzpa.”

The
Queen blinked at the unusual word. Ryans shrugged. “The good news is once we've
got some of the farm tech in the fields we should free up additional manpower
for the army. Max is focusing on the tech that's attainable right now and
attempting to leverage as much out of all of it as he can.”

“And
that means?”

“It
means with our technology one man can do the work of ten,” Ryans replied with a
shrug. There was a murmur from the courtiers over that. “More if we can get
more tech in. Harvest time will be very interesting but that is a ways away and
we will lay the ground work for that in a month.”

“Indeed?”

“Well,
a John Deere tractor is out but I think we can do a couple of animal drawn
combines and threshers,” Ryans mused. “Which should help with the logistics for
the population and the military,” he said turning to Perry. The lieutenant
nodded, taking up the report.

Perry
reported that the military training was going okay, but it is still in its
early stages. “It'll be weeks before we're sure of a proper crop,” he finished.
This seemed to amuse Rojer. “We're training them to a hybrid standard, partly
ours, well okay mostly ours, but with some of your traditions as well. At least
those that transfer over to the new weapons, tactics, and strategies.”

“These
wonder weapons have changed the field of battle that much?” the Duke asked with
a polite smile.

“You
have no idea what kind of a can of whoop ass we're talking about. Let me know
if you want a demonstration. I'll set it up for you and any other interested
lords by the end of the week,” Perry replied.

“I
look forward to it,” the Duke said with a polite nod. Perry's eyes cut to the
doctor.

Sue
reported that the King was resting comfortably. She had him exercising a little
to regain some of his muscle tone and he had lost some weight. The water pills
had reduced the swelling and puffiness and helped reduce his blood pressure and
stress on his heart. The blood pressure medication had helped prevent blood
clots from resting for so long. Her training program was going better.