Evangelina was getting tired of this. Three times in the last month Emmerich had canceled appointments to have some classified briefing with Myers or Clarke. She shivered as she recalled the look their Minister of Security had given when she asked about what was discussed.
'If you were cleared to know. You would know. Any further questions?' Clarke had started with a glare.
What the hell was happening to Emmerich? When they'd worked together in the past he'd been committed and passionate about his work. Now he looked half dead when she managed to meet with him. She'd heard all about how stress could age people, but what the hell did that to someone younger than her?
She sighed and let her head fall back against her chair. This train of thought was getting her nowhere. Before she could order another cup of coffee brought to her there was a ping from her terminal.
Glancing down at the screen she read the notification, it was an invite from Ramos. Emmerich was due for an inspection at the harbor to see the progress on the dry-dock conversions. She was about to hit re-schedule then paused. The invitation was for the Office of the First Minster, she checked her own schedule then tapped to accept the invite herself. She was part of the office as his deputy, if he was busy why shouldn't she step up and do the inspection?
An hour or so later she stepped off the train at the harbor terminal. A squad of Peacemakers in Onyx black marched with her as an escort. The human Onyx Guard were still acting at Emmerich's personal security detail and none were being spared at the moment.
Ramos cocked her head as Evangelina came into view.
'Huh. Funny seeing you here? They finally let you out of the office?' Ramos remarked.
'Not quite. Emmerich is in another meeting with Clarke and Myers. All top secret no plus ones,' Evangelina said, not quite keeping the venom out of her voice.
Ramos shrugged, 'Hm. Well at least someone turned up. You want the full walkthrough?'
'Yes. I've seen what we're paying for the work here. It would be nice to see something first hand rather than pictures and videos.'
'Trust me it's worth the front row seat. First things first follow me.'
Ramos led her over to a small modular building that overlooked dock 2. Inside she was given a hard hat and fluorescent jacket. Now equipped with the PPE, Ramos led her over to a warehouse.
Inside were several airships in various states of disassembly. Workers and DeeBees crowded around open sections and parts lay across the floor in a neat grid. The craft were a mix of designs she'd not seen before.
'This is our reverse engineering team. We've brought these older models to avoid any legal issues with studying them. Most are out of production so we're okay to pull them open and see how they work,' Ramos explained as they climbed a set of stairs to a catwalk above.
'If they're older won't we be behind in our own designs?' Evangelina asked. Looking down as they passed what looked like a sailboat with canvas wings.
'Not quite. From what we've learned there are a few ways their airships work. The oldest stuff, classical like that Mistral craft over there. They used treated wood to make them fly?'
Evangelina stopped and looked at the small craft, 'How would treating wood let it fly?'
Ramos stopped turning to face her, 'It's really interesting. From what history we've read up on, the nations that formed on Anima have always had airships at some point. Even if one fell, their successor would also develop the technique to make the treated wood.'
'That's usual? The locals seem to rely heavily on them? Why would they always appear in the same place?' Evangelina asked.
'Easy. Lake Matsu and its floating islands.'
'How do floating islands lead to that kind of development?'
Ramos shook her head, 'It's not the islands themselves, it's what grows on them. The trees from that place end up pulling up trace amounts of gravity dust from the ground.'
'So that wood floats naturally? Interesting.' Evangelina said, looking down at the wooden ship.
'It's a bit more complicated but yeah. Once someone notices the fact it's that wood they get the idea to try and imbue wood to make the effect stronger.'
'Okay,' Evangelina said looking at the next few crafts, 'But we're not looking at wooden ships are we?'
'No we're looking at something heavier,' Ramos said, leading her down the other side of the catwalk.
These crafts looked to be more modern. Was that right? Or was it just the fact they seemed more like aircraft then ships.
'We managed to snag a few of these. They're called Nymphs. Apparently the company that made them was hoping for a contract with Atlas. They lost and were about to go under so DBI swooped in and bagged them along with their design team,' Ramos said proudly.
The Nymphs were sleeker craft but still with an edge to them. They were much more aggressive than any of the other ships. A glass cockpit with two seats one behind the other gave it an narrow nose. Two small stubby wings poked out from atop the large engines on each side of the body. Slightly further back and below the engine pods were the sliding doors for passengers and cargo.
'These are military craft?' Evangelina asked as she looked them over.
'Security craft technically. They're not armed as it stands and these are the demo models,' Ramos replied.
'At least they seem more appropriate for our needs. I don't want to imagine cramming a squad of gears into one though.'
'Yeah they weren't intended for troopers. They're meant to be a rapid response craft that will drop a team of huntsmen into danger or pull them out. Speed over carry capacity.'
'I hope you're planning some larger ones. We need to have equipment that has parity with the other nations.'
Ramos smiled and said, 'Oh we're working on that, come have a look at the workshop.'
The workshop was set at the ground of dock 2. Dozens of machines of different sizes and shapes were being tested. Some just looked like bundles of cables and piping. Others were geometric shapes with various patterns set into their undersides. Many were floating a meter or more in the air inside cages, steel cables tied the contraptions to the ground.
'We've had the ability to make repulsorlift tech for some time. The JACKs, Watchers and other drones use them to fly. The issue is we've lacked the ability to scale up without the power requirements ballooning,' Ramos said, weaving a path through the test area.
'And we've solved that now?' Evangelina asked, letting her gaze track across the room.
'Solved it a bit. And getting better all the time,' Ramos said as they looked at the largest of the machines.
It was a Minotaur or at least it had been at one point. The wheels were missing and in their place were semi circular disks with cables and bundles of wire snaking out. Ramos gave a nod to a waiting technician who turned and pressed a switch on the console in front of them.
The truck shuddered for a moment. The technician gently grabbed a dial and started to turn. Before their eyes the Minotaur began to rise into the air. Six bright points showed where the repulsorlift engines were forming plasma as they fought against gravity. After a few moments the truck started to wobble as the engines started to pulse and flare.
'Shut it down,' Ramos instructed.
'Yes. Ma'am,' The technician said, turning the dial back down and switching the power off.
'Not quite flying but still progressing,' Evangelina said, nodding.
'Don't worry, each test we get a little more data. And it's all about getting more data at the moment.'
'How so?'
'Those engines? That was the twelfth revision. The alloy we're using to make the jets? On its ninth new mix. We try a dozen changes and take what works. Each time the results get put into the design systems and it spits out a new set. Rinse repeat. It's a brutal way to work but it's working.'
'Well provided we're getting results any cost is acceptable. Now about the finished version?'
Ramos turned and led Evangelina to another lift they accented then walked across to look down into dock 3. A ship was being built inside. Its shape was familiar yet different. It had the curving lines of a sea going craft forming. The lower portion was the most finished. With the upper parts a mix of compartments being moved into place. They boarded the lift and rode it down to the bottom of the dock. The crafts underside was painted black, strangely there were sections missing from the hull.
'I'm hoping those holes are intentional?' Evangelina asked, cocking an eyebrow.
'Yep. Those are where we're putting the lift engines,' Ramos replied with a wave of her hand.
'I don't recall the larger airships using lift engines? Why are we?'
'The locals are using a kind of gravity negation. No need for their stuff to have external mountings. It's the same on their small stuff. It lets the craft reduce their relative mass. We're not up to the point of being able to make that kind of stuff on a large scale. So we're upping the repulsorlift size to accommodate the size of the craft.'
Evangelina stared up at the ship. So not quite a mirror match but having their own take would be a win for the domestic audience, the seran one at least.
'I'm assuming it's not going unarmed? Our last trip abroad had some... friction.' Evangelina said.
'Oh don't worry. This thing might look like a yacht. But we're just keeping the outside presentable,' Ramos said, pulling out a tablet.
She tapped it for a moment before holding it out to Evangelina. The finished design was much like Ramos had said, like a pre-war yacht of sorts. Ramos tapped the screen and the ship seemed to shift. On its forward deck a turret emerged. A section of its lower hull folded away revealing a similar weapon. Midway along the upper part a set of hatches opened and racks of missiles rose into place. Smaller turrets popped out across the hull.
'We're fitting a pair of light railguns. Both to save weight and because the power draw will still be a near thing with just two,' Ramos said pointing to both.
'Those smaller turrets?' Evangelina asked, leaning in.
'CIWS. Rotary cannons for defending against incoming attacks. They can shred projectiles or enemy craft as needed.'
'Good. We know that some Grimm can fly. The last thing we need is the First Minster being killed on this things first trip.'
'If anything can make it past the railguns it would still have to beat the missiles before the CIWS get involved. We're working on a multi seeker head to give us the best odds of a hit. After all, we don't know what the next Grimm might wind up with for a radar or heat signature.'
Evangelina nodded and they both took the lift back up. As they walked back to the modular building there was the blast of a horn. Evangelina turned to watch a ship enter the harbor.
'More new arrivals.' She nodded to the ship.
'Yep. We've got a few recruiters out hunting for more experienced people. Plus a few folks are bringing their family along,' Ramos said watching as the tugboats guided the ship in.
'How are the issues on your side?' Evangelina asked covering her mouth with her hand on reflex
'Quiet for now. I'm hoping that's a good thing.'
'Yes. Lets hope that it is.' Evangelina said. Her eyes were watching the ship as it was moored but her mind replayed the events of Settlement 2. Sometimes the quiet was just the calm before the real storm began.
'Grandpa!' Erwin shouted, waving excitedly.
'Erwin there you are. You've gone and grown again,' Foist responded as he walked over.
'Hi Dad. How was the trip?' Zane asked as he took the small bag from his father.
'Not bad, not bad. I'm just not that good when it comes to boats. Still I have to say this place is as warm as you said it was,' Foist responded looking around the harbor.
'Well come-on let's get you to your place,' Zane said walking away.
'My place? Aren't I staying with you?'
'Don't worry you'll like it.'
They took the train back to the city. Foist watching out the window in awe at the scale of the place. Erwin sat opposite him pointing out all the interesting things that could be seen. They changed over to a tram and rode it to the housing area next to theirs. Zane would have them to be in the same building but it was a few minutes travel on foot.
The apartment was on the ground floor. Zane took the key and opened the door showing his father inside. Foist looked around his new accommodation with a mix of confusion and disbelief.
'You're sure this is for me? I mean. It's big. Who else is staying here?' Foist asked, walking into the living room.
'Just you Dad. This is what the COG thinks a person needs to live comfortably,' Zane said. Walking though and putting the suitcase into the bedroom. He made a mental note to go shopping for some new clothes with his Dad.
'But… but. All this space? For me? How much did this all cost?' Foist said, dropping onto the couch. He seemed to sink into it far too much like the furniture was eating him.
'Don't worry about the space. Our place is bigger. And the cost is being taken care of,' Zane replied, resting his hand on his fathers shoulder.
'Yeah I have my own room. And we're so close we can visit you every day,' Erwin said running over.
'Every day. Huh. That sounds great,' Foist said with a smile.
'Tell you what. Why don't we have a meal together my treat,' Zane said looking between them.
'Oh. Oh can we go to Major Burger?' Erwin asked.
'I think Grandpa would do better with a restaurant. How about that Kashkuri place that we visited two weeks ago?' Zane offered.
'Yeah. You'll love it Grandpa.'
'Oh um. Well if it's not too much trouble,' Foist responded.
Soon enough they were getting seated and ordering. Foist was looking at the menu. Trying to pick out something small but Zane insisted he could order what he wanted. Soon enough they had plates before them. Zane and Erwin ate eagerly and after some encouragement Foist joined in.
'You know. This is the best meal I've had in years,' Foist said as he cut into a thick piece of meat.
'I've said the same. It's not quite like home but it grows on you,' Zane replied, tucking into his own meal.
After a few minutes Foist had relaxed greatly. He seemed far more at ease with it all, the beer might have helped. They talked for a time about Erwin's time at school and Zane's job. Foist was starting to feel like things were going to get better from here. Then he felt it.
It was that slight tingle in his chest again. The one he dreaded. His breathing became slow and he found a tightness gripping his chest. He tried to stay calm and reach for his inhaler but he fumbled and it slipped out of his pocket.
'Dad?' Zane asked, seeing the familiar pain on his fathers face.
'Grandpa?' Erwin mumbled out his eyes wide with fear.
'I… Inhai…. Ah-' Foist fought the words out before the coughing started.
'Grandpa!' Erwin cried.
At this point several other diners had turned to see the commotion. Foist nearly fell out of his seat, Zane caught him and lowered him to the ground.
'Erwin pass his inhaler,' Zane called.
Erwin ducked under the table looking for the inhaler and snatched it up. He crawled over passing it to Zane who charged it and pressed it to his fathers lips, they were turning blue.
'I've called for help,' A waiter shouted from a phone on the wall.
Zane lay his father on his side and tried to charge the inhaler again. Foist coughed up a mouthful of water, small yellow lighting bolts danced inside it. Water and lighting? This was bad.
The staff were getting them some room and calling for calm. There was a siren howling in the distance growing closer by the second. Zane held his fathers hand trying to get him to hold on for a few more moments help was almost there. Finally there was the screeching of cart brakes.
The doors flew open as a paramedic and two androids with medical markings carrying a stretcher. Then Foist stopped breathing. Zane's world shrunk down as he tried to shake his father and wake him.
'No. NO! Dad! Please wake up!' Zane begged.
'Sir step back,' The paramedic said, trying to push him away.
'What no. Please I-' Zane said.
'Sir, please step away from the patient,' One of the DeeBees said, pulling Zane away.
The other crouched over Foist removing his shirt and beginning to pump its hands up and down on his chest. The one that had pulled Zane away pressed a mask over Foists face beginning to squeeze a
'Dad?' Erwin uttered as he stood there unsure what to do.
'Its okay. He's going to be okay,' Zane said, hugging Erwin close. As much to assure his son as himself.
The paramedic had affixed two pads to Foist. One on the right just under his collarbone the second along his left side below his armpit.
'Charging. Clear!' The paramedic called.
Foist's chest seemed to tense for a moment then relaxed.
'Pulse recovering. Breathing restored but still below normal. Continue monitoring and update me if any changes,' The paramedic instructed the androids.
They carefully lifted Foist onto the cart and raised it to waist height. Then began to wheel him out of the restaurant.
The paramedic stopped and called over to Zane and Erwin, 'We're moving him to Phoenix General. You can't come in our cart but I can call a taxi to tail us.'
'I.. Um. Yes. Yes please,' Zane said, taking Erwin's hand and leading him outside.
'Central. This is MC31. Requesting cart allocation for patient relatives. One adult, one minor.' The paramedic said into a radio as he walked out.
The androids already had Foist on their cart and were locking the stretcher into place. A taxi cart pulled up behind it. Ccrolling text on its sides reporting it was commandeered for a medical emergency.
Zane and Erwin boarded the taxi cart strapping into the seats. The medical cart started up its siren and pulled away first then the taxi followed. The carts shot along but with the streets getting busy Zane worried they might not make it to the hospital in time.
Then the carts took a turn into a side street and moved off the road into a cart bay. Had something gone wrong? Did they need to get out? Before Zane could say or do anything the cart shuddered and then moved, downwards.
They were on a lift. The two carts were lowered into the sublevels of the city. Zane and Erwin looked around distracted for a moment. They'd seen the place being built. But even they hadn't thought about what actually happened under the streets.
The lifts came to a stop at a new level and started up again. This time they were traveling far faster than above ground. They tore through junctions where other carts sat waiting for them to pass. Ahead they could see other carts divert to waiting areas or other lines to clear the path.
Minutes later they arrived at a station. A small crowd of androids and medical personnel were waiting for the medical cart. Even as Zane and Erwin stepped off Foist was being whisked into a large lift with a gaggle of people checking him over.
One of the staff walked over and started asking questions. Zane answered on reflex but his mind was blurred. They were guided to a waiting area and given some water. How long it was Zane wasn't sure, Erwin had fallen asleep against him as they waited.
The doors opened and an older man strode into the room. He was wearing a white coat and holding a clipboard.
'Serac? Is there a Zane Serac?' He called with an odd accent.
'Here,' Zane said standing up.
'You came in with your father, yes?' The man asked.
'Yes. Foist Serac. How is he?' Zane asked worriedly.
'Hmm. Grumpy and complaining. Understandable. He says you were having dinner. Walk with me please.' The man said, turning and walking back through the doors.
Zane turned but Erwin was asleep he quickly scooped him up and walked after the man.
'I'm sorry and you are?' Zane asked as he caught up.
'Apologies. Am Dr. Blerinca. Currently head of Pulmonology.' Blerinca responded.
'Is my father going to be okay?'
'Okay? I spend fifteen years as head of Pulmonology at Viska Hospital. Then seventeen more working out of half rusted ambulance during war with locust. After war traveled from place to place till UIR reformed. Got recruited to help with this scheme to build new city in middle of nowhere. Then end up brought to place with new monsters.' Blerinca said his voice dry. Then he stopped and turned to Zane.
'Sorry. I have how to say it? Ah yes, poor bedside manner. Better with lungs then people. Still your father is fine for now. See,' Blerinca said with a shrug as he turned back and opened the door to one of the rooms.
'What is it now?' Foist muttered from the bed then he saw Zane.
'Dad,' Zane called, walking over to his fathers bedside. He put Erwin down in a chair.
'Oh. Ah. It's good to see you. Where the hell did they take me? This place has paint on all the walls?' Foist asked, wheezing.
'They took you to the general hospital. How do you feel?'
'Like I got stuck in a rock crusher. But I can walk. Just. Just give me a moment and we can get out of here,' Foist said, trying to rise from the bed.
'You must rest Mr. Serac. You suffer cardiac arrest and just had lungs drained. You are not in state to leave,' Blerinca said walking over to his patient's bedside.
'Look this has probably already cost enough. Lets just get the bill paid and I'll rest up at home,' Foist grumbled trying to rise again.
'I can give sedatives if needed. But you are not leaving without my say so,' Blerinca said firmly.
The two men's gazes locked for a moment then Foist relented lying back on the bed.
'Good. Now to the matter at hand. Your condition is complex in some ways. You have dust lung correct?' Blerinca
Foist sighed deeply and said, 'Yeah. Thirty years in the mines. Might have another one or two now.'
'Whilst I've not had patient with this before I have many many years experience. Pneumoconiosis of many types including rust lung. Many things the same.'
'Oh yeah how you figure?' Foist snapped.
'You have scarring inside your lungs. Complication is the traces of Dust trapped in the scars. It cannot break down into your blood and be filtered out. So it's trapped until it is agitated and its effects trigger. I am correct so far, yes?'
Foist grumbled something under his breath.
'Yes that's right. He has an inhaler to help keep things in check,' Zane replied.
'Keep things in check? He came in coughing up electrified water. Is that in check?' Blerinca asked.
'No. It's not. But once I have a bad spot things are better for a time,' Foist answered.
'Feels better is what you mean. This is just a period of low activity. Your condition remains unchanged. It is my recommendation to operate as soon as possible to try and remove the cause of your condition.'
Both father and son sat in silence for a few moments.
'You what?' Foist finally asked.
'Apologies if not clear. Your current condition means it is best to operate now. I want to confirm schedule and-' Blerinca started
Zane held up a hand to stop him and said, 'No. We heard you. But. How can you treat dust lung? It's never been done.'
'Ah. I see. World first. Will look into nice plaque to commemorate. Still I have done lung repair before. Not easy but doable. I remove damaged tissue and have you placed onto coma. Whilst you are in coma we give you medication to stimulate recovery. Surgery should be few hours perhaps half day at worst. Coma will be longer a week minimum.'
Foist and Zane looked at each other for a moment.
'You want to cut out bits of my lungs and put me in a coma?' Foist said in shock.
'Not so random. Will be removing the scar tissue. Coma is to let your body heal, if goes well you will have 75% tissue regrowth. If bad 50% but still better then scar tissue that tries to kill you,' Blerinca said, looking between them.
'Are you sure you can do this? It sounds… dangerous,' Zane said hesitantly.
Blerinca looked him in the eyes as he spoke, 'Was not telling lie earlier. Have been surgeon for decades. Have worked in place more like butchers shop and only half as clean to save a woman with a hole in her lung.'
He held his hands up for them to see as he continued, 'I work under shell fire when war with Locust began. Kept working to save lives even as the Locust breach hospital and in the corridor outside. My hands did not tremble then they will not fail me now. You have my word as a doctor I will do all in my power to help your father. I have done such things with less. Now I work with machines I could not have imagined before.'
Blerinca lowered his hands.
'But the cost,' Foist said his voice strained.
'COG will cover costs. You have documents yes? So they pay bills. Service is free at point of use. I am the point now use it.' Blerinca responded.
'Dad,' Zane said, gripping his fathers hand.
'Okay then. Let's do it,' Foist said finally as he looked at his grandson's sleeping face.