CH 7
Diane showed Myui how to make a basic steam cannon, then a ballista to shoot single heavy arrows either steel ones or longer heavier spears, or multiple arrows all at once. They had fun making each type of weapon and shooting it. Once Myui had the designs down, Diane had her try to make a new weapon with what she learned.
It took Myui a couple days, and a few questions about steam and how Porcupine moved to come up with something new. Proudly, she showed Diane her new design.
Laying the papers on the small table in Diane's room, Myui explained her drawings of what looked similar to Porcupine. "The armor protection we need is not as thick as what Porcupine has, so this will not need those big, long steel belts on all those wheels. Only four wheels like a wagon, with the driver in front to turn those wheels. Plate armor like knights wear will be the outside covering, so instead of an engine, a couple strong guys in the back pushing the pedals like are on the bicycles I saw, will move it. Up here in the turret will be a crossbow that can shoot two or three arrows at a time, and on the back, a catty pull that will work by someone inside kicking down hard to make the board swing up and throw the rock."
Diane hugged Myui. "That is brilliant! You came up with your own tank!" she said happily.
Wearing a proud face, Myui replied, "And I promise we will not shoot at Porcupine!"
Diane laughed and clapped. "Myui, maybe you are a genius. "When you get the first one built, I HAVE to see it."
Even Lady Stellano was looking proudly at Myui.
"A word of warning," Diane said seriously. "Do not show your design to anyone before you have the first one built and working. When making something new, problems come up. You may have to redesign it, or say, add another man pedaling, or make other changes to get it to work. ONLY after you have one made that works well, do you tell ANYONE other than the men you have building it, what you are working on. Even then, only use men you can trust to keep a secret. If anyone finds out what you're doing, they may try to steal it, or study it to make one themselves."
"I promise!" Myui said with a nod.
The door opened and Eddie popped his head in. "Hey, Diane, the reinforcements are here, and guess who's with them, Erwin!"
Myui gasped and leaned over on the table to cover her drawings with her body. "You can't come in here!" she cried.
Eddie cast her a questioning look. "Huh?"
"Myui has a secret, I'll be right out," Diane explained.
"OK, just come to the tank lot. They have Leopards one's," Eddie said and shut the door.
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Diane met Suzanne and Captain Satomi (Erwin) standing in front of Hippo with the current crew. Erwin was explaining her career so far.
" … and my Sensha-do experience was more crucial than I thought!" Erwin said with a big grin. "Being a sub commander on a team that won the international matches got me a place as a Tank commander right out of training. After some practice matches, and I showed them I could lead, I became the sub commander for our platoon. Doing well there, the Platoon commander got out, so I was moved up and promoted to Captain."
"That's awesome, Erwin!" Suzanne said. "So all twenty tanks are yours?"
"Only ten, but I am well on my way to becoming brigade commander. Studying Field Marshal Rommel's tactics helped a bunch. Of course I studied the tactics of all the great panzer generals also."
A man in uniform came over. "Captain, I take it these are your High School team mates?"
Erwin snapped a salute and said, "Yes sir! "This is Suzanne, Eddie and Diane. Suzanne is the team Commander for Ooari."
The Major returned the salute, then saluted Suzanne. "Ah yes, the famous Suzanne. It is a great pleasure to meet you, Ma'am. I have been following your exploits. Perhaps I could convince you to join our brigade?"
Suzanne blushed. No one had ever called her 'Ma'am' before. She bowed to him. "Thank you, Sir, but we are joining the astronaut corps after we leave here."
"Right after we're married," Diane added.
The Major shifted his gaze between them with a funny look on his face.
Erwin asked, "You guys and Eddie are getting married? That's great!" She then hugged each of them.
The Major shifted his gaze to Eddie. "Is that legal?" he asked.
"We're sect members, so yes," Suzanne told him, and took off her helmet.
"Are you sure you don't want to join our brigade? I can pull some strings," the Major coaxed.
"We're sure."
"Damn shame," the Major said. "I came to tell you the official change of command ceremony will be 0900 tomorrow morning. It will be held on the main parade grounds with all troops in attendance. You girls have earned some awards, so it is not going to be quick. I also was asked to inform you that a column of riders is headed this way. We have aerial photos of them, Princess Chika would like to know if you recognize any of them," he said, and showed Suzanne to pictures.
The pictures showed a royal coach and knights all around them. They were all looking up at the camera. Suzanne nodded. "The red haired woman is Princess Pinya, and I recognize a few of the female knights. She was going to ask the Emperor to meet with Chika to make a peace treaty. I think that's why she is coming."
The Major nodded and said, "I shall inform the Princess. Would you be willing to provide an escort for the locals?"
"Yes, Sir," Suzanne said, then glanced at Erwin. "May I borrow Captain Satomi and one of her tanks?"
"Absolutely. Captain, assist the Commander."
"Yes Sir!"
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"WHAT was that!" Diabo asked as he watched the helicopter fly away.
Pinya cast him a smirk and said, "One of the iron Pegasus I was telling Father about. I watched one kill fifty men faster than the time it takes to inform you of it. Wait until you see their iron elephants."
Diabo sat watching the helicopter until it vanished over the trees. "They have many of those?"
"I only saw six, but with how deadly they are, I don't think many of them are needed," Pinya explained.
"So our men never had a chance at all," he said in a musing tone.
"No, they never had a prayer. Neither did the combined allied armies." Seeing everyone had stopped to gape at the Pegasus, Pinya commanded, "Who ordered a halt? Everyone, get back in line, keep moving!"
The knights who had surrounded the coach when the helicopter appeared and flew over them, took their positions and the column moved on.
"I never believed you until I saw one," Diabo said. "Please forgive me."
Pinya put a hand over his. "Brother, if anyone would have told me about them, I wouldn't have believed it either. Princess Suzanne and her family have power greater that you can imagine. Since they know we are coming now, I expect someone will be on their way to meet us."
"What you said is true, we must have a peace treaty to save the empire."
"Correct."
A few hours later, the lead scout came galloping back down the road. His horse was lathered up from being pushed to full gallop all the way. Reining back beside the coach, the frightened looking man pointed they way they were going and said, "Princess! Something big is coming, and it's growling like it's angry! There was a woman on top of it, she has silver hair!"
"That would be Princess Suzanne," Pinya stated. She called out, "Column, HALT! Ranks, split to the sides of the road in formation!" She then got up to exit the coach. The footman opened the door and assisted her as she got out. She turned to Diabo. "Brother, will you join me in meeting Princess Suzanne?"
Diabo exited the coach and walked with her to stand in front of it. "Our scout was riding fast. It may take some time before she arrives," he said.
Right after he spoke, they heard a faint growling noise.
"Here she comes," Pinya said.
The growling got louder, then the ground began to tremble. All the men bore nervous looks, fearing what it was that was coming at them. Then a long barrel appeared, followed quickly by a large iron shape that took up the whole road. The Leopard tank drove up, slowing as it came closer. Standing atop the turret, Suzanne waved.
The tank stopped at the head of the column. Suzanne jumped off the top and flew halfway to where Pinya and Diabo stood before she hit the ground and walked towards them.
Stopping a few steps in front of them, Suzanne bowed and said,"Greetings, Princess Pinya. I am happy to see you came."
"Greetings, Princess Suzanne. This is my Brother, Prince Diabo. We have come to begin the peace negotiations."
"Excellent! Please follow me. I will guide you to our base," Suzanne told her, then walked back to the tank. She waved an arm in the air in a circular motion. The tank spun around in place, flinging dirt to point the way it had come. Suzanne jumped back up on top. Pinya called her troops back onto the road and ordered the march continued.
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When Diane got word that Princess Pinhead was arriving in an hour, she ran and found Myui and Lady Stallano to impress upon them WHY Myui had wanted to come here.
"I can't even say we're friends?" Myui asked with a long face.
"NO!" Diane insisted. "You were here to spy. You only pretended to be my friend so I would show you some things about how our weapons worked. Myui, this is very important, OK?"
Lady Stellano put a comforting hand on Myui's shoulder. In a gentle voice, she said, "Countess, Princess Diane wants you to do this because she is your friend. If Princess Pinya is coming to announce we are to begin peace negotiations, they we will have to go home."
Myui looked up at her, no longer frightened by the woman. "But … can we come see Diane again?"
"No one knows that, sweetie, I will come see you if I can," Diane offered.
Myui gave her a sad nod.
"Good, I have to go explain to Chika before they get here," Diane said, and left.
.
Ready to receive the visitors, Chika, Diane and General Kouichirou stood inside the gate to the fort to greet the royals when they arrived. General Kouichirou was not happy about learning Diane had kidnapped a Countess to get the peace process started.
"Princess Chika, is it common practice to kidnap someone important to force people to take action?" General Kouichirou asked.
Chika glanced at Diane. Diane had thought up a good cover story, one she hoped would hold water. "No, it is not. My well meaning daughter-in-law meant to show Countess Myui what we are like to assured her we mean her city no harm. As I said, her intent was good, just not well thought out."
Diane bit her lip and kept quiet. Seeing Chika glance at her again, Diane let out a huff and said, "I will apologize to Princess Pinhead … I mean Princess Pinya, for my ummm, misguided behavior."
"You better sound more sincere than that," Chika warned.
"I will," Diane said defensively.
General Kouichirou eyed Diane.
The Leopard tank appeared over the ridge past Alnus hill, and crept it's way towards them with a dual column of soldiers behind it, the royal coach leading a coupe other plain coaches. Behind them was another string of horsemen and foot soldiers.
"I would recommend letting only the royalty and their servants onto the base," General Kouichirou said.
Chika nodded. "I agree. Their soldiers can stay in the town. General, please pass the word we will pick up the soldiers' expenses while they are here. Is the meeting room readied?"
"It is, and there are three new suites set aside for them. The servants will have normal barracks rooms."
Noting the number of soldiers, Chka asked, "Do the inns in town have enough rooms to hold them all?"
"Yes, Princess. More were added to accommodate the quickly growing population, as well as visitors. I believe the new 100 room Inn has yet to have any residents." Turning he motioned to someone.
Lt. Yoji came up. "Yes, sir?"
Nodding to the approaching column, he said, "Lt. Yoji, you will show the soldiers approaching to rooms in the town. If there are not enough, inform me and we will move the temporary barracks to this end of town to help accommodate them."
"Yes, Sir."
The column came closer. Suzanne jumped off the tank, Erwin turned and drove to the side to go another gate farther down the wall. Pinya called a halt to the column and got out of the coach with Diabo. Diabo's head turned side to side as he took in every detail possible.
"Princess, it's good to see you," Chika said with a bow. "You know Princess Diane, and this is General Kouichirou, Commander of the Alnus Hill base."
Pinya returned her bow. "Greetings Princess Chika, Princess Diane, General. This is my brother, Prince Diabo. I have talked to my Father, the Emperor. He agrees that we need to construct a peace treaty."
Chika offered her a smile and said, "I am happy to heard that. I am sure Countess Myui Formar will be pleased at this news also. General Kouichirou has provided accommodations for your escort. If you will follow me, I will show you to your rooms so you may rest after your long journey."
Diane felt like throwing up at all the sweetness in their voices. Chika had Diane stay with them until Pinya asked how the Countess was doing. Chika sent her to collect Myui and Lady Stellano so they could all have dinner together.
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Right after Chika showed Pinya and Diabo to their rooms, Diabo said, "Princess Chika, if I may, I would like to go see to our troops to ensure they have accommodations, as well as restate to them that this is a mission of peace. You know how some soldiers can be," he ended with a brief grin.
"Of course. Would you like an escort?" Chika offered.
"I can find my way, thank you for your concern," Diabo replied.
"If you get lost, just ask any soldier, they will point you in the right direction."
Diabo thanked her and headed back out into the town. He walked the streets noting many people had come here as he searched for the place he as looking for. Seeing a few of his men, he did stop them and asked them if they had proper quarters. He smiled as they told him their rooms, food and drink were free while they were here, and thanked him for his generosity. He took the compliments and continued on. If they were happy, that was fine. He needed to find the place he was truly looking for.
Coming upon a cobber shop that advertised 'We even deliver!', he went in.
A man was behind a counter working away at a new pair of boots. Diabo went up to the counter, noting no one else was here.
"Taskman, report," he said firmly.
The cobbler looked up, then shot to his feet. "Prince Diabo! You're … here?"
"The report, please," Diabo said firmly.
"Yes, my Prince," the cobbler said, then came around the counter to go to the door to shut and lock it.
Returning to the Prince, he said, "Our local spy has found out the guard rotation schedule. The number of soldiers here are nine thousand at our best guess. More arrived with bigger elephants yesterday ..."
Diabo held his hand up to stop the man. "What about Countess Myui?" he asked.
The man frowned and said, "She has been seen almost exclusively with that purple haired woman. Our spy found them making weapons outside of town."
"What kind of weapons?" Diabo asked with interest.
The man shrugged and said, "Weapons our spy has never seen before. Things called Caty Pulls and Tree Bushes. Some throw rocks at incredible distances, others make a loud noise and fling things even faster. I cannot put a function to what each one does, but our spy was injured from four bow shots away when they were practicing."
"Any information on why the Countess was making weapons with the enemy?" Diabo asked.
"Nothing certain. We just know they were."
Diabo frowned in thought, then asked, "This town, does it trade with Itallica?"
"Doesn't everyone?" the cobbler asked. "I mean people from other places come in now and then, but mostly they come and go from Itallica. After all, that is the main trading city for the entire region, isn't it?"
"It is indeed," Diabo said. And if the Green people had brought Countess Myui here to learn how to build and operate their weaponry, then Itallica could develop their own arsenal of powerful weapons without the empire knowing. It was quite possible Itallica was aligning itself with the Green people. Possibly to attack empire troops who were headed for Alnus Hill, or to choke off the trade routes to put pressure on the empire. He had to find out for sure discreetly, and at the right time. "Thank you for your hard work," he told the cobbler, and gave him two gold coins. "Maintain your current network of sending in vital information."
"Thank you, your Highness," the cobbler said, and reopened his shop.
Diabo visited one of his soldiers, then walked back to the star shaped walls of the fortress. The more he thought about it, Making weapons in Itallica while they were being watched here would allow the Green people to secretly sneak weapons deep into the empire with no one being aware if it. That had to be stopped.
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While Diabo was on his fact finding mission, Myui and Lady Stellano went to see Pinya. Imagining Diane by her side gave the girl the courage to speak to the powerful Princess. Myui told Pinya how she had spent her time finding out about new weapons the empire could use, as well as cautioned her that the Green people must not find out what she had discovered.
"That was very brave of you, Countess," Pinya praised. "Also very surprising. I doubt anyone suspected you of all people, of spying."
Myui gave a proud nod. "I will get men working on making them inside my palace in secret until we have working models. Once we know they work, I will send some to you," she said firmly.
Pinya smiled at the girl who showed she was more than what most people thought she was. "That is a very good plan. You must not speak of it again until you are safe back at your own palace with no one but your own staff around. To do so may be dangerous," she warned.
"I promise," Myui said.
Looking at Lady Stellano, Pinya said, "Make sure of it. I do not want Countess Myui executed as a spy."
Myui cast Pinya a confused look. Before she could say Diane would never do that, Lady Stellano spoke up.
"We have discussed it, Princess. No one else will know until you inform our Emperor, and the Countess gets to work on her creations."
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As the royalty sat down to a large dinner complete with music and pleasant conversation, one of Diabo's men rode out past the outer perimeters to meet a dragon rider waiting off the road. He handed the rider the scroll Diabo had written and settled down to wait as the dragon rider took to the air and flew away. Before morning, the Emperor would give his orders to Prince Diabo.
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