Soreil, Bretonia, Brunntag, 7. Sigmarszeit
"Thanks Sergeant, see you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow Corporal."
The doorbell chimed when the door closed behind the corporal who was one of James Andrea Corradi's aides. He was now alone in the small office that had been a merchant's "kontor" before.
There was nobody in the rooms besides the legionary and Corradi was not enthused by that.
The German Foreign Legion had decided to capitalize on the end of the Breton Civil War. Both sides reduced their armies now and experience showed that not everybody would fit in polite society after the fighting. They would make prime recruiting material for the Legion and the former Rebel soldiers would have had the right sort of training and attitude.
Maybe Andrea's superiors were also taken by the idea of a German Foreign Legion recruiting in what looked like France when one squinted the right way. Whatever the cause, they had sent James Andrea Corradi to Soreil and had slapped him with quite a recruitment quota.
All of that was well and good, but for the fact that the Breton Republic had just enacted the closest thing to a GI Bill that this world had ever seen. All soldiers who had served the Republic had the right to a vocational training of up to three years, all expenses paid. Here one part of the German government had shot down another one as they financed a big part of it. And while the legionary thought this good on general principles as this would stabilize one of Germany's neighbors he hated the idea of failing.
Failing at his mission would mean that the dream of another stripe was gone. Both his competitive nature and his future planning said he had to have it, but presently he could not see..
"Clink, Clink"
The doorbell chimed when the door was opened, this time from the outside. The being that stepped through it had to stoop slightly to clear the frame and when he straightened up again his head was alarmingly close to the ceiling.
Hair, blonde and fine as any maidens hung to the being's back in a braid. They parted enough at the sides to show the pointed ears.
The newcomer was clad in leathers and some homespun and handled a spear as if it were an extension of his own body. Andrea's hand was creeping closer to his holster when the spear's point went up and the haft thundered on the floor.
"I am Arda ad` Huus, First Spear of the Glade Guards. Whom am I addressing?"
The Elf had a nice tenor, but it was obvious that Reiksspiel was not his favored language.
"I am Sergeant James Andrea Corradi of the Foreign Legion. Welcome to my office, how may I help you?"
"Sergeant Corradi, I am told you hire soldiers for your Legion here, is that so? Will you hire our kind?"
"Yes, we recruit at this office. I take it you are of the Asrai? We recruit all beings who can meet our standards and are not connected to Chaos. So, you would be a first as far as I know, but yes, we would recruit you if you were willing."
"Do you train your soldiers?"
"Yes, we do, depending on your specialization."
"What does that mean?"
"There is a basic training for all Legionaries, about our ways, about how to fit in our army, about how to fight with modern weapons. You can become a Legionary only if you do not fail that phase. After that you can apply for the many jobs the Legion has to offer. Depending on whether you want to become a scout, a driver or whatever else is needed you will receive additional training.
If you have the aptitude the Legion also offers vocational training at the end of your tour of duty or will sponsor you at a German university if you are so inclined. The latter case is only available for those who enlist for a longer time."
"What is a longer time Sergeant?"
"Depending on the studies between 15 and 25 years. You would also be eligible for German citizenship after that."
"Not so long then. So, you would teach me your ways, teach us to use the new weapons and this magic you call science?"
"As much of it as you can stand Arda."
"Then I, Arda ad`Huus give you my oath for the time you "enlist" me in your Foreign Legion."
"Now that is excellent to hear. I suggest that you enlist for five years up front, we can prolong this at any time. I will need to print some papers for you to sign and…"
"Will this take long?"
"Not really, are you in a hurry?"
"No, but there are 50 more lads waiting outside, and they want in as well if your word is good."
U40, Underground Sea, same time
"This bloody sample is driving me nuts."
Dr. Herbert Lammert would have hammered his hand on the table if that little thing had enough free surface for that. Being inside a submarine meant he had not.
"What is up with that sample?"
Andrea Hermanns could hardly fail to take notice of the geologist's outburst given that their quarters were quite tight. Not that any of U40's scientists complained. Their introductory course into all things submarine had included a week-long cruise in U17, one of the last 206A class submarines.
Anything bigger than a telephone box was a palace compared to that.
"This thing should not exist."
"Uh. Why?"
"This is a piece of granite that drone scraped of the pillar in the 05/01 cavern. You remember the pillars, very even, very circular and obviously shaped that way?"
"Hard to forget them."
"Good. Well what drives me crazy is that I have no idea how they were shaped that way. They were not mechanically formed, that would show up even after such a long time."
"Sure that did not abrade off, they have been here for a long time?"
"The underlying structures would have shown that. They do not."
"So they melted them and cast them into form?"
"I know what changes that would have caused either and they are not there."
"Uh?"
"Uh indeed. It is as if somebody asked that granite nicely if it would flow into the shape needed and it just did."
"Magic?"
"There is what I just checked. And the magic detector gives off a big fat zero. We use this model to check on many structures and it pegged magically formed ones well enough. This one was not. It is as if somebody asked the laws of nature for a leave of absence and got it."
"That is pretty hard to take."
"Why do you believe this sample drives me crazy?"
Hamburg, same time
The Dawi had to stretch every bit of their not so considerable height to see better. Their exertions were rewarded by an impressive sight. Two tugs maneuvered Varrjag from the cave that served as Barak Varr's harbor. They cast off when the Panzerschiff had cleared the narrows and all three vessels sounded their horns. The man-of war's screws churned the water and the vessel accelerated until it was swallowed by a gray curtain.
"I have used this harbor entrance for more than a hundred years and I cannot find a single thing wrong with it. I am Varrjag's captain for six years and this is her after her last improvements. This is well done Herr Hertz, really well done. I would not have believed it myself if I had not seen it. Your model is truly Varrjag and this is Barak Varr."
"Thank you kindly Captain Grundisson, this is rather exciting to hear from Varrjag's captain herself."
"I have heard about this place from a clan brother who works here. He was quite taken with it."
"That must be Herr Einherrson I take it? He suggested this model and was led the project. He is a very important member of our staff, his attention to detail and his craftsmanship suit us well."
"That a stout Dawi can make your toys should not be doubted."
"And we newer did. You can meet him later when we introduce you to our staff."
"I am looking forward to this, even if I would appreciate a bit more time to see what you have wrought."
"We have reached our planned size this year Captain. Currently we have 13.000 model trains, more than a 100.000 carriages, 400.000 figurines and 500.000 lights."
"That is a worthy undertaking. I could see many a Dawi enjoying this place.
"Thank you. The Miniatur Wunderland saw visitors from all over the world before the Weltensprung and it gratifying to see that this continues. Captain Grundisson, kindly accept our offer of free entry for all members of your crew as long as Varrjag is in Hamburg Harbor."
"Herr Hertz, I thank you in the name of the crew, I think this offer will be taken up by most."
Miniatur Wunderland - Wikipedia
Soreil Bretonia, a few days later
Pierre Laval was making his way to his favorite restaurant for lunch when he heard the song. He stopped where he was before changing his path towards the source of the singing.
Sur le Pont d'Avignon
On y danse, On y danse
Sur le Pont d'Avignon
On y danse tous en rond
The children sang the ditty while they did something that would become dancing in the future. Now they ran around in a yard of compressed dirt and smiled when they did not sing.
Les beaux messieurs font comme ça
Et puis encore comme ça.
They kids looked like they had been reasonably clean this morning and were clad in a wild mixture of homespun and third-hand modern clothing.
Les belles dames font comme ça
Et puis encore comme ça.
They were all lanky, had yet to fill out. Still, their skin tone said they saw plenty of fresh air and were reasonably well-fed at the end of the winter months. That had been rare during far too many years.
Les filles font comme ça
Et puis encore comme ça
The children smiled and there were enough teeth to be had. There were few bend legs, big heads or cankers that had been all too common before. These children had been part of the Rebel territories for at least two years and it showed
And that was when he sat down on a handy fence, his legs were no longer supporting him. He was French, not a dour German, a few tears would not hurt his dignity.
Healthy, well-fed children, living in peace and safety. Nobody would look at them as livestock, nobody would tell them they could not leave some estate or only marry whom they were told to.
Children who sang the songs of old France.
This was what he had given up living in a modern society for. This was what he had risked life and limb for. This was what he had worked so hard for.
And it felt even better than he had ever imagined.
Meiningen Locomotive Works
The room was huge and harkened back to another era. It had to be that big as it was given for the maintenance and storage of steam engines. It showed its age as reinforced concrete and corrugated metal were unknown when it was erected. Red brick was laid in pattern that mixed static requirements with artistry, wood was blacked like coal from the smoke of many years. Iron girders were fixed to each others with rivets and many small panes of glass were set in frames that allowed a decent amount of daylight to enter the room
Two rather distinct groups of beings stood in the shadow of the silent black giants that had once roamed Germany's railroads in great numbers. Clad in slightly oily overalls and carrying tools of all kinds a number of older Germans stood to one side while an equal number of Asur tried to avoid all soot and oil stains.
One of each stood before the locomotive in the middle.
The Class 01 locomotive was one of the oldest that was at the legendary locomotive works. It had been used by the old GDR who had dutifully removed all the swastikas left by the original owners.
"So this is the steam engine that you would use for this test Freiherr Müller?"
"Yes Master Teclis, it is the only one that the works will allow us to. What you propose has never been done as far as I know. And since you cannot tell me how hot things will be there is a chance we destroy a firebox. These are the most expensive parts of a steam engine and destroying one is not been taken lightly. Better we use this one, the firebox will need to be replaced anyways, than something really expensive."
"Wouldn't a newer steam engine not withstand more heat?"
"Yes, it would. That will be your safety margin when operating. But, this is a very mundane machine. Will it keep..it."
"Oh, not so mundane Freiherr and when I am done with it certainly no longer. But even without my wards, a fire elemental cannot breach solid matter. And your firebox is solid enough, it just need cooling."
"Then I`ll worry about the engine and you about that elemental."
"That sounds Wise Freiherr Müller."
The two teams went to work doing what they each did best with both watching each other with a bit of disdain and a dose of wonder. The Germans made sure that there was enough water, that the old engine was still have, that sufficient lubrication was available and that the old girl would perform as well as she could.
Teclis' Asur cleaned a circle on the floor, placing a simple-looking carpet before it. The mage took his place inside another Circle of Warding while his aides inscribed runes and sigils on the ground. Teclis' eyes were already closed when they started to glow and rise into the air.
More signs were written, this time on parts of the steam engine itself. The Germans distanced themselves a bit when these started to glow and lit up the locomotive's cab.
And then the voice filled the room. Teclis was slender, even for an Asur and his voice should not have been able to fill the huge workshop to its ends. It did, it filled every soul in the room with wonder and awe and set every window pane to vibrate.
The air above the Circle started to waver like a heatwave and the temperature in the room started to rise markedly. There were sounds no microphone ever recorded and which every being in the room heard. There was a scratching, a screeching and a roaring, a cracking and a whispering that became louder by the minute.
A first drop of sweat developed on Teclis brow when a tear ripped open in the air above the Circle. Something poured through it, liquid, fiery, beautiful and deadly. The screeching in everybody's ears intensified for a minute before something channeled the fire through the locomotive's cab and into the firebox.
"You might want to close that door Freiherr Müller, that will allow me to release that spell."
There was a "thunk" when the metal door closed and the screeching ended like if cut of with a knife.
"Now that went pretty well, if I say so myself. Freiherr, how is the old girl holding up?"
"I have rising steam pressure all right, even if only from the firebox at present. I need to start the steam injector soon, then the heat will be pulled through the fire tubes and we can raise steam for real. Are you sure that this will not allow this thing to escape?"
"I would be very disappointed in myself if that were to happen Freiherr. Do you happen to have any wine around, this is thirsty work?"
"You want to ride that locomotive, drive it yourself, right?"
"Yes."
"Well, if you want to become a railroad elf beer will have to do. A good railroad man will not touch wine on duty."
"Traditions need to be maintained it seems, there are probably worse ones. So when do we learn if this works?"
"I'll request permission for a test drive and by the time you have finished that beer we will push her to the turntable. Give it an hour or so and we will see what we will see."
Two hours later Kurt Müller watched as Teclis pulled the lever that regulated speed a bit backwards and felt the locomotive gain a bit more speed.
"I would not want to take her past 100 today Master Teclis, but this seems to work as advertised. Congratulations."
"This is surprisingly fun Freiherr, I could get used to this."
"If you want me too I can give you a couple of lessons before you leave for Ulthuan Master Teclis."
"Thank you Freiherr, I think I will avail myself of your services when you are in Ulthuan."
"Why should I travel to Ulthuan?"
"Who is going to train our engineers of not the master himself Freiherr."
"Oh my god, you are serious?"
"Of course."
"You explain this to my wife."
Railroad Works Meiningen, Königstag 19. Sigmarszeit
The office had a red brick wall and the ceiling had iron beams. The window had many frames holding single pane windows that rattled whenever a train passed and the fluorescent lights that hung from the table had been there since the GDR was still a going concern.
The furniture was not much better, but the computer in the room was and by a lot. The two beings in front of the monitor were as much a contrast as the room and its electronic equipment.
Kurt Müller was a 70-some old human and looked his age. Teclis might have been regarded as ugly by his Asurian peers, but had a rather ageless quality about him. Both were looking at a cutting edge-display presenting pictures of a past that wanted to become a future.
"I found this in the books you gave me Herr Müller and frankly I have to say this is amazing. If anything can convince my more hidebound brethren in Ulthuan that humans can make things worthy of our attention beyond their functionality it is this. And it will fulfill the Phoenix King's mandate to inspire the hearts of our youth."
"Oh yes, that is a beauty, isn't it? Still, I would like you to consider this one instead."
"Hmm, I'll admit that this is still good, but not as beautiful as my pick. So why?"
"Because the old 2/6 has only two driven set of wheels. You will lay down tracks with a decent weight allowance in Ulthuan, but even so this is good for a train of 120-150 tons."
"So much?"
"So few actually, trains become very heavy very quickly. If we want to keep costs within reason we have to use standard carriages frames and wheels, your artisans can place whatever aesthetically pleasing edifice they like on top of them. And these frames are heavy, the whole bloody train is pulled through them. With the 3/6 you add a pair of driven wheels, meaning you gain 50% pulling power. Also, your way of powering the locomotive means we have no ash pan and the firebox is considerably lighter. Together with that heavy four-cylinder compound engine that trailing axle is not going to be overloaded at all.
Many fast locomotives have been two-coupled and they were absolute beauties. They were also relegated to secondary duties after a few years. Be it the 999, the Hiawatha or the 2/6, always the same story. Take it from me, the 3/6 is a keeper."
"That is unfortunate but seems unavoidable as well."
"It would be great to see her running."
"Take it from somebody who can catch glimpses of the future Herr Müller, you will do exactly that."
