Lothern, Ulthuan
This time there was no need to hide the meeting. This time it was simply about things most Asur who resided at the Royal Court did not care about, which meant that far fewer would care about them in 50 years or so. A few aides and secretaries surrounded the Phoenix King, hardly the usual backdrop for him. And while the middle-sized room was the epitome of elven decoration the beamer that threw harsh light at one off-white wall was not. The beamer was connected to a computer handled by Aurelius of Ethelorne, Ulthuan's ambassador to the Reiksbund.
Osirion was notionally his superior, but after having suppressed information about the Reiksbund years ago he had to tread very carefully around Aurelius. One would not always realize this though, Ulthuan's foreign adviser tested the waters from time to time.
"We have used channels since time immemorial to transport goods all over Ulthuan Ambassador. They have served us well, they are already there and with the new narrowboats and tractors we make much better use of them. And now you propose we invest huge sums into this unelven monstrosity you call Railroad. Why? Why can we not improve our channels if we really have to move such amounts of goods. Why cut down more trees, shovel more dirt and burn coal for such a thing?"
"Locks Sire."
"What?"
"Many of our channels are marvels of construction. They include viaducts and above all, locks to navigate elevation differences. There are lock flights, like the Silverspire locks, which have 26 locks interconnected. Each of them takes at least half an hour to navigate and that is something we cannot overcome unless we invest seriously into German technology. They could build us lifts that take our barges and the water around them and elevate them, but this is seriously costly. Also, I think you underestimate what "improving the channels" really means. As long as they are loam-lined for most of the way they will be speed-limited to six kilometers per hour. We could of course enlarge them and line them with bricks or concrete, but that would really cost too much. Railways are a proven system and they can carry huge amounts of goods and Asur over great distances. If we want to connect our coal and iron mines, if we want to ship grain in serious amounts we need railroads."
"Proven technology? You said yourself that the Germans use them for only 200 years…"
"I do believe that our Ambassador has fulfilled the task we have set before him well Osirion. You made a good case for adopting railroads in several provinces. You also said something needs my decision Aurelius, what might that be?"
Finubar, the Phoenix King, sounded relaxed and slightly bored. More was not needed to stop the bickering between Osirion and Aurelius.
"We have offers from three German companies for locomotives, the great engines that pull the trains. Basically, we have choices here: electric, diesel or steam. Electric would be a very good choice, silent, very clean and allows increased capacity on a given rail line. It is also very expensive and the electric lines can be added at a later time when greater finds are available. Which leaves us with diesel and steam.
The picture on the wall changed to a rounded box on wheels. It had hardly any visible features but for the wheels, a few windows and intakes.
"This is the latest offer by Siemens, a diesel-electric locomotive with about 3000 horsepower. It is extremely efficient, emits very few pollutants and can be operated by one man. It can store enough fuel for the longest trips and maintenance requirements are low. Those requirements are there have to be fulfilled by German specialists for the time being. They cost roughly 2.5 million marks depending on how many we buy."
The picture on screen changed to a totally different locomotive, this one had huge wheels, a chimney and lots of other details.
"This is the offer from the Meiningen Locomotive works. This is a 2-D steam locomotive with a three-cylinder compound engine. They offer it for coal or oil, its power is comparable to the Siemens one. It needs two Asur to operate and we will have to establish water and coal stations along the longer lines we plan. Maintenance requirements are much greater than for the diesel engine, but a lot of this can be performed by personal trained in a few months. It emits lots more smoke than the diesel engine and needs more fuel. It is somewhat louder and needs some time from the time you heat the boiler to the point where it can pull a load. It costs a bit below two million Marks"
"So what do you recommend then Aurelius?"
"Shouldn't that be obvious Sire? If we have to use these things at all this diesel is the much better choice, quieter, cleaner, more efficient …"
"That seems so Osirion, but I am interested to hear what Aurelius has to say."
"All arguments that the honorable Osirion used are correct Sire. And yet I have to wonder."
"Wonder about what Aurelius?"
"About the purpose of these locomotives. Yes, we need them to transport people and goods where this the best choice. And yet I wonder if the Phoenix King does not have a different purpose for them in mind."
"And that might be?"
"The future of Ulthuan rests on the Asur mastering technology and developing and industrial sector strong enough to make us self-sufficient. This is something that not many true Elves have yet understood fully and it will be necessary to convince them. These locomotives will be the most visible sign of the new times, they will represent technology as few other things. And what will strike most at the heart of our youth, a featureless box that growls or this?
There was a moment of silence and a hint of a smile on Finubar`s face.
"There are days when I do believe the fates smiled on us when we sent you to far-away Germany. Today is such a day Aurelius."
"These smoking monstrosities shall life the spirits of out youth? More like poison their lungs."
"Osirion, I am not in the mood….."
"Sire, if I may?"
"Yes Aurelius?"
"The Dawi produce blocks of metal heated by Runes of Fire for the Germans. They use them to power many devices. The Empire's Gold Order makes engines for Germany's tanks. Our mages surely can do better."
"Aurelius, your time in this Reiksbund has changed you in unexpected ways. I like them. Scribe, contact the Tower of Hoeth. They are to send four of their best mages to Lothern forthwith. They will accompany the ambassador to Germany and stay at these Meiningen works until they have found a solution for this. We will have these steam locomotives, and they will be powered our way."
"Yes Sire."
Soreil, Bretonia
The room was lit by a roaring fire in an ornate fireplace and a smaller stove that gave of far more heat than the open fireplace. Candles gave of a flickering warm light, but the sole human in the room had the impression that most of the illumination was provided by another source.
Leah was not much taller than him, there was no halo or anything he could lay his hands on. And still when he saw her he could not help, but compare her to an iceberg. The part that he could see was probably the smallest about her, there was so much more of Leah..elsewhere.
She had taken the time for an audience with him now that he was back at Soreil and his heart hammered against his chest. This was the moment that a year of sweat and bloodshed pointed to. He could not bear the thought of wasting it.
"Pierre Laval, a lot of truly inspired men and women have heeded my call. They lead men into combat, they healed, they developed strategies that confounded our enemies. Many gave their all and others will never be the same again. And yet I know that few of them, if any, have done so much to bring about our victory as you have done. We are in your debt and I will do my best to make good on that.
Your old, beloved country is lost to you Pierre and it is far past my powers to send you and your compatriots back, even if they wished it so. And while there is a strange similarity between sacred Bretonia and la belle France we are not the same. While it may seem that way we are not a France in infancy and even I cannot foresee the course Bretonia will take. I am just as sure that we will not follow a path that will rebirth the great nation forever lost to you Pierre Laval. We will become, but we will become something different.
"Mylady, I am aware of that, this world is just too different for anything else. And yet, what is a country? It is a place, it is the people that inhabit it, it is its history and its culture. And while I would love to see my country again and cannot, I am even more unhappy to see our culture fall by the wayside. Germany has so much of it in its archives, the books, the films, the thoughts by the great philosophers. I will not ask you for Bretonia to become the Fifth Republic Mylady, this is not possible.
I and the French that joined our cause that these books be added to our libraries, that the films may be shown at festivals and that a bit of it is presented to the children that will enter our schools soon. Let them sing some of the old songs, teach them a bit about a country that is no longer available to us. And if they like what they see and hear, if they think it worthy then maybe the French culture is not lost to this world, but helps to found something new. And if these films, stories, poems and thoughts fail to excite, if they do not interest our people then so be it."
"Now that is something we can surely do Pierre Laval."
Altdorf, Empire
Karl-Franz, the Emperor might wield more power than any of his predecessors, but had succumbed to a new plague. It was horrible, sapped his will and weakened his body. Paperwork was something the Empire had known only in homeopathic doses and only the Germans could elevate it to such an art form.
The next item in his "in" basket gave him pause. There was a formal request by the Reiksbund to contribute soldiers for the peacekeeping forces in Bretonia. They might be less controversial than the Germans or Rebel. He had already agreed to that before of course, this just needed his formal approval. It gave him pause though as this thing had repercussions for his own realm. On the face of it the Empire was different as it always had fewer serfs and treated them immeasurably better.
The problem was just that this rebellion had plowed the Royals under after a hard start. At least inside their Republic nobles had no more privileges and their holdings had been distributed to those who actually worked the land. He could practically hear the tongues of his own nobles waggling. They might be getting even more nervous than before and try something stupid.
Time to kick this "constitution" into higher gear.
Naval Headquarters, Wilhelmshaven
The ship had long lines, a man of war with four turrets bearing battleship-caliber guns and numerous smaller ones. A huge wave rose at the bow and together with the black smoke that came from twin funnels indicated that the ship worked hard to keep a speed very close to the best it could. It was followed by another of a similar type and three others of similar but not identical configuration. These ships were built to be faster than anything they could not outgun and being better armed than anything faster. Despite their speed they were well armored and their kind would only go down after taking a terrible beating if at all. They steamed through an afternoon that had the first hints of dusk in it. In the background more ships could be seen and smoke on the horizon indicated where more might be. The video was high-resolution and full color but had the jitter that was to be expected from a camera mounted on a helicopter. The picture zoomed in on the flag borne by the lead ship for a moment. A white flag with a black cross on it, a quarter colored by red, white and black. A black dot in the middle was probably an eagle.
Friedel Bauer did not have much problems placing the ships, this was the Imperial German battlecruiser squadron on its way towards the battle of Jutland.
The room Friedel Bauer was in was of a featureless white, with very simple furniture and comparatively simple electronics. It did shine in another respect though, it was shielded both against mundane as well magical eavesdropping to a very high degree. Given that this room was used to brief the crews of those German submarines equipped with nuclear-tipped cruise missiles that made great sense. What did not make any sense was the video, especially after being reminded of the classification of what was discussed today.
"I am very sorry Dr. Lindner, but why do you show us this CGI of the old Battle Cruiser Squadron?"
"Because it is no CGI video, it was made by a helo from "Sachsen" two years ago. If you are patient I will show you additional video of other parts of the Hochseeflotte."
"What? How could Sachsen make such a video?"
"Two years ago, after the explosion of the Black Pyramid the Sachsen received wireless signals with codes so long out of circulation that nobody could decipher them. As nobody with wireless gear should have been in that location they sent a helo for recon and that is what he filmed. We tried to contact the ships and the helo flew directly in front of the bridge of "Derfflinger". If the crews ever saw them they gave no notice. And when you look more closely then you`ll see that at times you can look right through some of the ships. The explosion of the Black Pyramid has produced a spike of magical energies unlike any in Elven or Slann memory. We know from the wreck of the Warratah and some other incidents that people and objects from Earth are sometimes transferred to this world. In this case it seems they did not bring the whole HSF with it, but this mirage. There are enough crackpots around spouting theories so we kept this a secret ever since. We would not have brought it up anyways if it would not have a direct bearing on your next mission."
"How so?"
"We followed the course of this HSF ghost fleet for two days, much longer than the original would have steamed in a straight line if this was historical. The mirages faded out on the third day which allowed us to extrapolate their course with a high degree of precision. The courses all converged here."
A map of Naggaroth replaced the video and a couple of red lines met at its coast.
"This area is called the Glades of Doom and they contain one of the entrances into the Underground Sea. We have planned a reconnaissance mission into this area for quite some time, but lacked priority and means. The priority was provided by the ghosts of the High Sea Fleet, and the mean is, as you undoubtedly guessed, U40 with its new batteries."
There was a collective breath by everybody in the room but the for scientist holding the meeting.
"We do not know that much about the Underground Sea and the little we know makes for more questions, not more answers. The Underground Sea is a body of water that runs all across Naggaroth and allows the Druchii to send their ships to both oceans despite Asurian blockades. It is most under the Blackspine Mountains where a maze of caves holds a body of water rivaling the Sea of Claws for size. In most cavers the water table is considerably lower than the roof so that ships or the sea monsters the Spitzohren like so much can pass. Despite using this sea for many years, they are said to have explored this sea only to the extend necessary to traverse it.
The fact that the Dark Elves could hide whole navies down there should already be enough reason to explore this sea, but there is more. Even the little research that we could so far undertake states makes it very clear that the Underground Sea was not formed by natural causes, but has been formed by technical means used by an advanced civilization. We have requested information about this from the two AI in German hands and they both state that this conclusion is correct. They also stated that this sea was not build by the Old Ones, but was existing already when they first arrived on this world."
"Who did it then?"
"That is a very good question Captain Bauer. One of the main tasks of your upcoming mission is to provide answers to it. The Old Ones did extensive research into the Underground Sea, but neither Nathan nor Hypatia could provide much information about that. What we know for a fact is that long before the Old Ones came to this world there was another high-tech civilization on this world. The little we know about the Ancient Ones comes from a variety of sources."
The picture on the wall was replaced by the insides of a tunnel. It was smooth, seamless and devoid of sharp edges.
"This tunnel leads to the Quarry in the Great Forest that was under siege during the Storm of Chaos. It was used by the Skaven to infiltrate the compound, but not made by them. We have found many such tunnels ever since and the Dawi tell us that they are actually quite common. They state that must be really old as tectonic shifts are blocking some of them."
The next picture showed a relief in a gray, smooth wall. It showed figures that might be Men, Dawi and Elves besides others. It was a simple thing and still everybody inside the room paused.
"This is a photo taken from a mural inside a tunnel that is used by the Truthsayers of Albion. It was taken during the Citadel of Lead campaign by a member of the Royal Highlanders. We had opportunity to examine it last year and we can state that it is very old, predating the arrival of the Old Ones considerably."
A laser pointer moved along the lower progression of figures.
"We believe that this part of the pictures shows the hominids that populated this world at least 100.000 years ago. Here you see that they are touched by some sort of ray, that might be either a real thing or an allegory. This ray divides them into the humanoid races we see on this world today, Men, Dawi and Elves. These rays originate from these beings over there."
The laser dot rested on something far bigger than the human figures below, something even those scratchy lines marked as non-human with too many appendages.
"We have lots of origin stories from various primitive societies Dr. What makes these special?"
"I`d prefer not to call them primitive, but I do believe we all know what you mean. The test results make it pretty clear that these lines were drawn with a stick into a concrete-like material when still malleable. A material we cannot reproduce at present I might add. Our best explanation is that some members of a pre-technological society drew them during construction. Construction workers leave marks like these at times even today, here the hired help did the same roughly 100.000 years ago. And if you look closely then you`ll find these lines around the necks around the figures that we believe represent Elves, Dawi and Humans. The best explanation for them is collars and so they might not have been the hired help. This might be a message left by slaves."
Both AI could not provide much information about these beings, what research the Old Ones did about them was heavily classified. The Old Ones did believe that the Ancient Ones might have caused this world's proximity to the Warp. It will be up to you to search for more clues about them. In order to do so we need to change crew composition on board a bit and replace some of your current equipment. Your special forces on board will be reduced to one team, the reminder goes to a couple of scientists. They are currently in Eckernförde at the Training Center Submarines and receive an abbreviated basic course. They won`t receive dolphins, but we won' let anybody on board who cannot operate the toilet.
The new equipment will consist most of new remotely operated underwater vehicles. Two of them are based on the Seahake torpedo, some are quadcopters and there will be at least two "Shield" drones as well. This should allow you to scan before you enter any caves by submarine. There will be a training cruise for you and your new members in late Jahrdrang. You will then make good on any deficiencies found, restock and meet up with the sub tender Nürnberg north of Ulthuan. From there you will explore the Underground Sea starting in Sommerzeit 2533."
"Uff"
