Chapter 3 BELFAST IRELAND JANUARY 14 1899
It was launch day and I was a nervous wreck.
A million questions went through my mind. What if I didn't float right? What if one of my lines snapped as I slid down the ways? Or worst of all, What if I didn't move at all?
"Maybe hearing the story of Great Eastern right before your launching was not such a good idea." Olympic muttered as she watched me fidget.
"You're probably right." I muttered back.
Great Eastern was a London built ship launched in 1858 for Brunel's Great Western Railway Company.
Known affectionately as Great Babe by her owner, she was a disaster for the line.
First she refused to even get off the slipway for several months and when she finally did move, one of her mooring lines snapped and the backlash killed three workmen.
Then on her maiden voyage, a boiler blew up when one of the exhaust values was shut killing five men and injuring several more. One man jumped overboard and was crushed by the spinning paddle wheels.
Later, these same wheels splintered five feet off the dock in New York and as several men came on board to inspect the damage, they fell overboard and drowned.
Some drunken sailors suffered the same fate a few years later. Talk about a run of bad luck.
I was determined not to suffer the same fate as Brunel's Great Eastern.
Fortunately the owner did not live to see the disasters she caused, dying shortly after her maiden voyage after suffering two strokes that year.
"Oceanic relax, technology is more modern than it was before. There's no need for cranes to lift you anymore." Olympic assured me.
"Sure there's no reason." I muttered. "Come on, you'll do just fine without them. Plus, it's not like the cranes could do it anyway, you're far too heavy for them." Olympic said.
"Are you calling me fat?" I asked. "No, just a little chubby perhaps." Olympic replied. I rolled my eyes. "Ha, ha very funny. I'm not chubby sis." I snapped. "You are by '70 standards." Olympic replied cheekily.
"Well it's the '90's now." I replied.
Olympic sighed. "Say, have you been hearing the news recently?" She asked in an effort to distract me.
"No, why what's going on?" I asked. "America just kicked Spain's stern clear across the Atlantic." Olympic replied.
"Wow that was quick." I said. "Just a few months of fighting and that splendid little war is over." Olympic said.
"And Spain has no territory left in the Caribbean?" I asked. "Nope." Olympic said simply.
"Talk about payback." I muttered. "Remember the Maine and to the hell with Spain!" Olympic agreed.
"Did you make that up?" I asked her. "No, it's something the yellow journalists were saying after Havana." Olympic replied.
"Unfortunate accident. Do they know for certain it was Spain who caused the explosion?" I asked.
"No, but the press seemed eager to say it was. Adds more drama to the story I guess." Olympic replied.
"You can't deny the press their drama can you? If they're the bees, then it's the flower." I said.
"What do you think caused Maine's death?" Olympic asked.
I sighed. "You know I really don't know. The sabotage theory does seem a likely candidate but something doesn't add up. How the Spanish could get on a fully manned warship and get out again without being seen I do not know. And there'd have to be some traces of their presence aboard if they did sabotage her." I said.
"A coal dust explosion seems more likely but the press won't print that because a. there's not much drama or excitement and b. it'll make the navy look stupid for letting their fuel get away from them. They have to be seen in the right." I explained.
"Just like another fleet I know." Olympic muttered.
"Don't even get me started on the Royal Navy, ugh arrogant little seaworms.
Sometimes I wonder if they can even think straight with all the stones rolling around in their bows." I said.
Olympic laughed. "That's the first time I've ever heard you cuss sis." She said.
"And it probably won't be the last if this keeps up." I muttered darkly. I started fidgeting again. "Will you quit that?" Olympic hissed.
"Hmm, oh sorry Olympic." I said and sat still. Olympic sighed.
At last, the time came. Much of the White Star fleet was here. I could see Atlantic docked calmly nearby, just as she said she would be.
Even Lucania had the courtesy to show her face here. "Checking out the competition no doubt." I muttered to Olympic.
"She's probably gonna leak oil here in a minute, her fleet stands little if any chance against us." My sister muttered back.
"Shh." A workman hissed. I settled back evenly on my slip.
"You ready?" Thomas asked. "As I'll ever be." I replied.
"Nervous?" He asked. "Definitely." I breathed. He laughed. "You'll do fine. Just let gravity do the work for ya." He said.
"That's exactly what Olympic said." I said. "Great minds think alike." He said with a fond smile at my sister. Olympic blushed and ducked her head shyly.
Thomas laughed and took his place in the nearby stands. I took a deep breath to slow my rapid heartbeat.
"Ok Alex, she's all yours." Thomas said. Alexander Carlisle nodded.
"Brace yourself Oceanic, in three, two, one, launching!" He called.
He pulled the lever and the hydraulic triggers were released. My hull creaked and groaned and I felt myself slipping backward.
My path of travel was helped along by soap and train oil. I hit the water smoothly, a grin spreading across my face.
"Yes!" I yowled. Thomas breathed a sigh of relief and Olympic grinned. "No Great Eastern today." She sang happily.
"No indeed." I agreed. My anchor was dropped and the tugs moved in to help clear the debris and move me into my new berth for fitting out.
I would spend the next 8 months here. Once safely in my berth, Atlantic came over with Cunard leader, Lucania at her side.
"You did well Oceanic." She praised me. I dipped my head. "Thank you." I murmured. "I'll be in Liverpool for the next week but Lucania will be here. She'll be happy to tell you more history." Atlantic said.
"That'd be great!" I exclaimed. My enthusiasm was halfhearted though. I was not looking forward to being left with a Cunard ship. Atlantic smiled and left.
I was left alone with Lucania and there was an awkward silence. Lucania broke it. "So, a crosser now eh?" She asked. I nodded.
"Yes, what's it to ya?" I snapped. Lucania shrugged. "What do you know of the Cunard line?" She asked.
"Enough to say you're irritating, arrogant little seaworms." I hissed in reply. Lucania didn't appear offended by this, amusement lit her golden eyes.
"Learned that from Harland and Wolff did you not?" She asked. I didn't answer.
"You'll be very fast when you're in service Oceanic, I better watch my wake." Lucania went on.
I looked at her in surprise, my prejudice thinking momentarily forgotten. "How did you know I was after the Riband?" I asked.
"I have my sources." Lucania replied. "Spies, you mean?" I retorted.
"Not all Cunard ships are bad you know." Lucania said, her tone firm. "Humph, well I find that very hard to believe coming from the ship that killed Belgic." I retorted.
"And did Atlantic tell you how close of a fight that was?" Lucania asked.
Curious, I shook my head. "No, she never told me anything about it really." I said.
"Well Belgic and I were in the same race together, the speed race and she began to challenge me, saying she was faster. I knew there were no rules so I edged her on, seeing if I could push her over the edge. After all, an angered opponent is a careless opponent." She said.
"And a careless opponent is a dead opponent." I muttered. "Go on." I asked.
"Belgic did challenge me to a fight, I agreed to it. I should've known better. Fights then, they weren't just skirmishes or matches, most were to the death. That's why they happened so rarely. But I was bold and rash then, not exactly leader material." Lucania said.
"You seem plenty the leader to me." I said before I could stop myself. "Forget I said that." I begged. Lucania rolled her eyes.
"Well anyway, Belgic lunged first and I met her challenge. She was old Oceanic, but was still a fierce opponent and a brilliant fighter. She nearly did succeed in winning but at the last moment, she backed off.
"She couldn't bring herself to kill another ship, even if that ship was Cunard. Thinking she was trying to trick me, I took advantage of her hesitation and threw her off me.
"Next thing I knew I had her pinned and with one quick blow, I…" Lucania broke off, shaking her head and blinking harshly.
"If only I'd showed the same restraint that Belgic did to me. If only I knew mercy, she never would've died." She moaned.
"And the war might not have ended." I countered.
Lucania snapped her head up to look at me in surprise. "The war ended when Atlantic became leader right?" I asked.
Lucania nodded. "Yes, she asked for peace saying that her line needed time to recover from their loss. The death of any ship in a line is bad enough but the death of a leader…" Lucania shrugged.
"Java was most sympathetic and agreed to Atlantic's request, she even declared this war a draw. Neither side had won." She said.
"In war, no one wins. But perhaps it was a good thing that you killed Belgic, after all it did end a seemingly unending war. It could still be going on today if not for that." I was surprised to hear that I sounded just like my sister.
"There's a silver lining in every dark cloud." That was Olympic's favorite line and she used it around me constantly.
Lucania smiled. "Thanks Oceanic." She said. "Thank you for sharing this with me. I had no idea." I replied.
"I guess we're even then?" Lucania asked. "I suppose we are." I replied.
The Cunard leader turned to go. "Lucania?" I called. She paused and turned around. "Yes Oceanic?" She replied calmly.
"Maybe you could, tell me more tomorrow?" I asked eagerly. Lucania smiled, for the first time the light of it reaching her golden yes, brightening them.
"Yes, I don't see why not. Tomorrow then." She said. "What do you want to learn?" She asked. "Everything." I breathed.
Lucania laughed, soft and gentle. "One thing at a time young one." She said and left.
The days passed and as I got to know Lucania better, I wondered if the Cunard line was as bad as Atlantic and the others made them out to be.
I even wondered if long-term peace could be established between the two lines. The more I thought about it, the more certain I was that it could be done.
At last I dared ask Lucania about it. The Cunard leader seemed a little surprised at my bold suggestion but agreed with me, that peace could be possible.
"I doubt Atlantic would agree though. She's never forgiven me for Belgic." She said.
"She's got a long memory Lucania, and that allows for significant grudge holding." I replied.
"If you became leader, you would agree wouldn't you?" Lucania asked.
"Lucania, it was I who first suggested the idea of peace, of course I would." I replied.
"Lonic is old, and like Atlantic she believes that peace can never be possible." Lucania said. My eyes widened.
"You aren't suggesting I kill her are you?" I asked. "I don't believe you'll have to go to that extreme. No doubt Lonic's days on this earth are numbered but you won't have to kill her." Lucania replied.
"Propellerous?" I said.
"Possibly, or any other disease. Remember, if you get to be her age even the slightest cold can prove fatal let alone a terminal infection." Lucania replied.
I nodded. I'd never given much thought on being leader, but now I wanted it, and I wanted it badly.
My newfound ambition coursed through me. "You must become deputy." It said. "I know I must." I thought.
"If not for myself then for my line, for peace to be achieved I must lead White Star and one day I will." I vowed.