News and Stories from the Vilnius Union

[The Rock Doctor]

8 June 1927

"Your Majesty, it's important to consider the possibilities arising from our particular geographic position," the Governor of Wybrzeze Papuzek remarked as his aides pinned a large, colored map on an easel.  "Three neighbours; three opportunities to expand Wybrezeze Papuzek.  Roman territory to the west; Iberian territory to the southeast; and Byzantine territory to the south."

"And when you say expand, you mean..." Gunther trailed off.

"Expand.  There are obviously different ways to go about it," the governor shrugged.  "The Romans have apparently fortified their positions, but this is the very poor cousin to their position in North Eryka.  The Iberians have self-isolated and their colony is tiny.  The Byzantines are scattered all around the world; their territory has a large hinterland and resources which, according to many in the local prospecting community, rightfully ours."

"Rightfully ours in the sense of..." Gunther started.

"I'm certainly not advocating going to war with all three nations, or even necessarily two.  But I do believe it is in the Union's grand, strategic interest to consolidate territories in South Eryka.  Indeed, the sale of territory to Japan was a mistake - not a disaster in the same way that our sale of the Costa Rican territory was for them or us, but a mistake nonetheless.  One can only imagine the Incans preparing to move in and take the territory from them at the earliest opportunity."

"Governor, I recognize I'm merely a king, but a simple study of lines of communications suggests the Incans would have significant challenges supplying an invasion of the Japanese territory," Gunther noted.  "Not that I see the relevance since the territory in question isn't even one of the three you appear to be advocating annexation of."

"Every bit helps.  This can be - and should be - the premier territory in the Union of Unions," the governor said.

"I'm going to take that under advisement," Gunther said.

[Kaiser Kirk]

"I'm certainly not advocating going to war with all three nations, or even necessarily two.

You border on Parthia in S. Erika as well, you could manage war with four nations !

[The Rock Doctor]

Ah but that's a different governor...

[The Rock Doctor]

And the point of this little tour is to illustrate that every single overseas territory occupied by the Union has at least one distinct problem that will grab at the government's attention from time to time.

[TacCovert4]

Maybe you should institute the Aztec policy.   Governor does something stupid and wasteful, like start an unsuccessful war, they suicide or are executed.

[The Rock Doctor]

17 June 1927

Wind-swept rain hammered at the windows as while the governor of Srebrny Rzeki composed his thoughts.  "My colleague..." he started.  "He means well, but...may be ready for retirement."

"He mentioned pressing you to invade the Parthian territory, though he wasn't clear if he meant to the north or south," Gunther III Vasa observed.

"Oh, both," the governor sighed, reaching for his drink.  "I've made it clear to him I'd do nothing of the sort, and I've wondered at times if I was going to receive a cable from Vilnius telling me to send an expedition up to Gustavholm to arrest him, but by and large I think his bark is more obnoxious than his bite.  He occasionally scolded me for not moving into the Chaco when I had the opportunity, but clearly he is unfamiliar with the area.  Besides, our current western border is ideal."

"In what sense?" Gunther asked, "Because it's a river?"

"Exactly, Your Highness, it's a great bloody river that the Incans can't pretend isn't there.  Sneaky buggers the lot of them.  Can't trust them any further than you can throw a treasure barge."

"You hear stories," Queen Christine murmured.

"Likely true," the governor agreed.  "All that said, I've had no issues with them of late.  Where I am having issues is with the immigration."

"From...?" Gunther prompted.

The governor cocked his head.  "From Europe, of course.  Thousands of people coming out of the rural areas, jumping on ships in Kiel or Amsterdam, and sailing all the way down here with notions of free land and tools to build a farm.  Only the land isn't free, and it isn't empty.  The people who were here long before we Europeans showed up are really not keen on being swamped with our cast-offs from the motherland."

"Can you persuade them otherwise?  There's rather a lot of people looking for a new start, as I understand it," Gunther said.

"There's an area west of here, along the rivers, that didn't host large numbers of any local culture.  We've cut a deal to allow for settlement there, in exchange for clear land and mineral tenure elsewhere in the cultural territories," the governor noted.  "But that land is already filling up, and if we're honest about it, a great number of the immigrants don't have a clue how to make a living in this climate.  Nor are the locals especially interested in helping them out.  If this keeps up, things will explode and I'll have a great deal of violence to deal with."

"We can't just deny a dream to so many," Christine implored.

"Your Highness, nobody is entitled to a dream," the governor said flatly.  "Either the outflow has to be stanched in Europe, or I need the powers to stop the inflow at my ports."

[The Rock Doctor]

28 June 1927

"Slicks like that aren't uncommon anymore," said the governor of Orimirilandia, a tall Dane with a mild sunburn on his nose and forehead.  "And it's becoming a problem.  A real problem.  People get sick from the water, sometimes fish die off.  It's generating a lot of hostility toward the industry."

"Is that why there were all those issues with pirates not so long ago?" Gunther III Vasa asked as the two men looked out from the royal yacht at one of many branches of the Orimiri River, this one smeared with a black streak.

"That was mostly about genuine piracy - stealing the oil for re-sale.  The military's increased capability in the Delta has helped considerably, Your Highness, there's no question of that.  Most of the gangs were broken up, shot apart, or went to ground.  Now we're seeing examples of sabotage against wells and storage tanks...which are sometimes messier than the actual production and transportation of the oil in the first place."

"Oh."

"Yes.  So what we need here, I think, are laws to protect the people, the river and the land from the accidental mishaps.  Unfortunately, my past efforts to do exactly that have been struck down by the Union High Court as being outside my jurisdiction."

"That's rather outside my purview," Gunther noted.  "I have no real role in appointing or supervising the court, other than signing the papers for each appointment."

"Of course, Your Highness, I understand that," the governor said.  "What I'm asking of you is to be a voice for my concerns in Vilnius.  Influence the Prime Minister to amend my powers so that I can make these regulations and have them stand up to the inevitable legal challenges."

"What if the companies challenge your expanded powers?"

The governor shrugged.  "We go to court - but on a matter where I don't already have a losing streak."

[The Rock Doctor]

25 September 1927

Prince Wiktor Vasa, his adjutant Porucznik Jan Blaszczak, and a small entourage gathered at Wilno's very modest aerodrome for what was a fairly unprecedented occasion in the Union:  A long-duration flight by a member of the royal family.

Also present were a two-man protocol team and two translators from the Ministry of International Affairs, a valet and a servant from the House of Vasa, and four pilots, two stewards, and two aircraft mechanics from the Union Army Aviation Corps.   

The aircraft in question were a pair of Weller WE.25 transports.  These tri-motor aircraft had been in service for just over two years and could carry up to twelve passengers.  With a range of 700 km at a speed cruising speed of 170 kph, it would take multiple legs to reach Gilan on a mostly overland route that skirted the coasts of the Black and Caspian Seas and passed through Byzantine airspace.

The first aircraft, with the lofty designation of Eagle One, lumbered into the sky at 10:34 AM with Wiktor, Jan, the four government people, and one steward aboard.  The second aircraft, Eagle Two, followed a few minutes later with the remaining personnel aboard.  They concluded their travel late in the afternoon in the southern town of Zhytomyr, where the delegation and aircrew had the entirety of the town's single hotel to themselves.


26 September 1927

"Black Eagles, eh?  Eagle this and Eagle that," Porucznik Blaszczak mused as a flight of Byzantine pursuit aircraft eased into formation on either side of the two transports.

"According to the briefing, they're one of the elite Byzantine squadrons," Wiktor replied. 

"Well that maneuver looked sharp enough, I suppose.  Rather like watching well-trained cavalry."  They had the forward compartment to themselves at the moment, though the protocol people would join them soon enough for a brief on the stop at Mykolaiv.  "So are you really competing for Princess Shirin's hand, or just going to have a good time, or what?  I know what the briefings have said, but where's your head at?"

"I don't quite know," Wiktor sighed. 

"Hard to help you out if I don't have a firm grip on the mission objectives," Blaszczak noted, reaching for his beer. 

"Look, I liked Shirin.  We got along really well.  It's...odd...to have a platonic female friend, but that may be the extent of it.  Or we could court or even fall in love," Wiktor replied after a moment's consideration.  "The family would prefer the latter, of course.  I'm...kind of content to just see what happens."

"You'll have competition for her if the briefs were correct.  Ali's quite the hotshot."

Wiktor nodded.  "Nice guy.  Very driven.  Very independent.  I don't know if I'm competing with him and I don't know if I necessarily want to."

"...compete, or know that you're competing?" the adjutant prodded.

"Yes," Wiktor replied.


27 September 1927

"Well, this is why we started when we did," Blaszczak mused as they stood in the shade of Mikolaiv's wee terminal and watched the Army Aviation Corps mechanics dismantling Eagle One's centre engine.

"And why we brought two aircraft," Wiktor replied.  "I suppose they don't want us wandering off too far while they take care of that."

"Likely not."


28 September 1927

Down to the left, the Sea of Azov sparkled under a noon sun.  Off to the right, the Black Sea stretched out to the horizon.  "I can see why they want us flying over Crimea as much as possible.  Don't know how comfortable I'd feel just flying over water like that," Wiktor mused.

"I'm sure these things float," Blaszczak remarked, then leaned forward to advance one of his pawns.

Wiktor looked back at the chessboard and contemplated his next move.  "Briefly, perhaps."


29 September 1927

"The ceiling's coming down too much, Sir," the co-pilot declared over the drone of the engines.  "There's an aerodrome marked at Sochi, right on the coast - we'll try there first.  If it's too socked in there, we'll turn back for Novorossiysk."

"Too tricky to carry on?" Blaszczak asked.

"A lot can happen between here and Batumi, Sir.  More to the point - the terrain's higher southeast of Sochi and that poses a risk if the cloud deck forces us to stay low."

The adjutant shrugged.  "We're just along for the ride.  Play it safe."


30 September 1927

"Check," Blaszczak announced as he lifted his fingers away from his queen.

"Your Majesty, we've arranged for a dinner with the mayor of Sochi and some local leaders and businessmen," the senior protocol officer interjected.  "Just a couple of hours."

"Yeah?" Wiktor said.

"Indeed.  I noted that we'd be attempting to take off early tomorrow if the weather has improved so we could make up our schedule and they understood that," the officer confirmed.  "Mr. Blaszczak does seem to have your king rather tightly contained."

"I see that," Wiktor muttered.

31 September 1927

"My thinking is to refuel at Tbilisi, then proceed into Parthian airspace," the captain of Eagle One said as the entourage stood around his aircraft in the early dawn light.  "We'll lose the Byzantine escort soon after and then likely pick up some Parthians in their place.  Three, three and a half hours to Tabriz puts us there late afternoon.   What happens at that point is up to you, Sir."

"In terms of stopping for the day or a third leg to Gilan?" Wiktor asked.

"Yes, Sir.  If the refueling stops are quick and the winds favorable all the way, we can theoretically reach Gilan with time before sunset.  It will make for a long day, though, for all for us as well as the aircraft."

"Otherwise we stay at Tabriz?"

The pilot nodded.  "In which case, knock on wood, I can have us on the ground in Gilan well before noon tomorrow."

"Which is the first day of October," the senior protocol officer observed.

"Yes, but only the first day of October," Wiktor agreed.  "I suppose we could play it by ear and see how we're doing when we reach Tabriz?"

"We could do that, Sir," the pilot agreed.  "Or we can make a final decision now and fly accordingly."

"Ignoring the date issue, what's your preference?" asked the man third in line to the Amber Throne.

"I'd prefer we conclude in Tabriz for the night.  Passengers can rest while the aircrew undertake some maintenance.  Everybody is fresh for our arrival in Gilan tomorrow," the pilot said.

Wiktor tipped a finger at him.  "Make it so."

[The Rock Doctor]

October 1927

At the southern port city of Rostock, construction of the monitor Zugspitze is coming to a close.

Laid down in July of the previous year, the monitor has one job (well, one primary job) and that's to shoot the heaviest piece of naval artillery in the Union's inventory.  The barrel of the 450mm/45 gun has been installed in the single turret just forward of amidships, and the armor plate is being installed on the turret around the gun.  More than a few yardworkers have stopped to pose for photographs next to, or under, the barrel amid jokes that the vessel is capable of shooting a rhinoceros at its targets.

Most of the workers have never seen a picture of a rhinoceros, but find the idea amusing nonetheless.

November 1927

The aircraft carrier Golab runs speed trials in the Baltic, achieving just over 33 knots in a lightly loaded, clean-hulled configuration she'll rarely enjoy in the future.  Her design speed is 32 knots, still as fast as any known Norse cruiser and probably good enough to keep away from any Roman or Iberian threats as well.

The carrier has no aircraft aboard, yet, but a solid nucleus has been trained aboard her sister Wrona.  She'll take aboard a quartet of Kadet trainers in a few weeks as a starting point for her deck and flight operations crews, and add sections of torpedo-bombers and fighters by year's end.

Far away in the Caribbean, Wrona is operating with two sections each of fighters and torpedo-bombers, plus two trainers, and has been exercising with the Caribbean Station's armored and light cruisers to establish her capabilities in the fleet reconnaissance role.

December 1927

The torpedo-boat Weesp begins her trials. 

The second unit of the W-Class, she's a bog-standard modern Union escort with four 130mm guns, a single 100mm anti-air gun, machine-guns, torpedoes, and anti-submarine weapons.  The class - and the preceeding, nearly identical T- and U-class ships - have been criticized by some as being under-armed, too fast, and/or overloaded with unnecessary equipment like long-range wireless.  Still, the admiralty seems happy with the general template and the government seems not too perturbed by the nit-picks so far, at least to the point that a total of sixteen W-class boats are anticipated. 

Looking ahead, another incrementally improved class is expected in 1929 and there's some discussion about naming.  The next letter in the alphabet is X, but there's precisely one significant town in the entire union with a name starting with X, so that's been tentatively assigned to the sixteenth and final W-class unit instead.  Y comes after that, but only a handful of towns start with that letter; current thinking is that a short run of new sloops will likely take that letter instead.  Surely there are enough towns beginning with Z to make a good pool, right?

[The Rock Doctor]

Meanwhile, backing up to November again...

"So how was the trip?" King Gunther III Vasa asked as the family tucked into breakfast.

"Good," Wiktor replied, cutting up some breakfast sausage. 

"Will there be good news?" Queen Christine asked.

"That depends on what you consider good news," Wiktor said after a moment's contemplation.

"...Meaning what?"

Wiktor shrugged.  "The trip was pretty much about seeing who was going to court Princess Shirin, and I can tell you I'm not going to do that."

"...Ah," Christine said.

"On the other hand, I had a very nice visit with Lady Aspas Surena, who you might remember from Dad's funeral, and I am thinking over where to go with that."

"Oh, she seemed nice," Queen Sophie remarked, a spoonful of diced fruit paused before her mouth.  "Ladylike.  Not a soldier."

"No, not a soldier," Wiktor agreed.

"Not a Christian, either," Sophie added.

"Apparently not."

"We can always have her convert."

"I don't think that will be necessary," Wiktor said. 

"But aren't you talking about marriage?" Christine inquired.

"I'm thinking about it, yes."

Sophie nodded.  "Then conversion would be necessary."

Wiktor sighed.  "No, Mom, it wouldn't.  Ah-ah-ah, don't.  We need to be absolutely crystal clear about this.  I will not marry for the State.  I will not marry for the Crown.  I will not marry for you.  I would marry for one person, and that person alone will be the one to negotiate the conditions of that marriage.  Got it?"

His mother sat up straight, looked at her older son and his wife, and harrumphed.  "I take it you do not want my blessing, Wiktor."

"I'd like it, Mom.  I won't be constrained for it," Wiktor said.

"So are you going to propose or what?" Gunther asked.

"You'll know after I know," Wiktor replied.

[The Rock Doctor]

January 3, 1928

The aircraft carrier Centaury is laid down. 

About 4,000 tonnes heavier than the recent Wrona class, she's better protected and, more importantly, will carry almost twice as many aircraft:  Up to 35 when completed, maybe 30 a few years from now.  Current thinking is that the airgroup will primarily be fighters, with just enough torpedo-scouts to fly a sturdy search pattern.

A sister ship seems likely in 1929.  What happens after that is unclear, but the general expectation is that the navy will come back to fund something larger in 1931 - once they'd got a few months of trials and operational experience under their belts with Centaury and can demonstrate that they know what they're doing.

3 February 1928

The monitor Klinovic is being broken up after a thirty year career.

Employed almost exclusively with the Baltic Swarm, she and her sister - soon to follow her to the breakers - were familiar sights around the Jutland peninsula and nearby islands.  Their role was to back up the dozens of torpedo-boats which were to keep the Baltic safe from intruding enemy vessels in time of war, but there's no indication at this time that the class will be replaced with something of a similar design.  Indeed, the nature of the swarm itself is evolving from torpedo-boats to smaller motor torpedo-boats, submarines, and aircraft with a limited back up of much larger torpedo-boats.

12 March 1928

With an invitation for Prince Wiktor to visit the Azteca Domain in October 1928, there are some necessary discussions about how the prince should be conveyed to the Pacific port of San Diego.  This includes consideration of what message said conveyance might deliver to various parties.

The hosting Aztecs are, of course, considered friends, even if the Union wasn't prepared to enter the war five years ago on their behalf.

The neighbouring Mayans are, of course, considered threats, and there was that unfortunate little fuss during the Union's world tour prior to the war.

And there's the Parthians.  Marriage negotiations between the House of Vasa and the House of Suren are well-advanced and seem destined to conclude on a successful note in the next few weeks.

Prince Wiktor is not terribly inclined to make a fuss of this; he traveled most of the way back to Europe for his father's funeral on a sloop, after all.  But in the words of the House of Vasa's chief steward, "Optics, Your Highness, optics."

After a run-down of his range of choices, Wiktor makes his decision and the appropriate advisories are conveyed.

[The Rock Doctor]

19 April 1928

"I can't believe you turned down a battleship.  I've always wanted to travel in a battleship," Porucznik Blaszczak complained as they sat down at their table.  It was an unseasonably warm day in Wilno, and a number of local restaurants and bars had taken advantage of this to open up their patios and street-side tables earlier than normal.

"It would've been complete overkill," Wiktor Vasa said as he stirred his coffee. 

"You don't think everybody would've been impressed as hell?"

"Not anybody I'm concerned with," Wiktor said, nodding at a couple of women who were staring at him from a few tables over.  "Besides:  The navy specifically built their cruiser for this situation.  It's got a whole area set aside for visitor accommodation.  Senior admirals sometimes use it when they're at sea for a while."

"Since when did you give a damn about what the navy does?" Blaszczak jabbed.

"Since I started spending so much time on their ships.  Does it really make sense to dispatch a forty thousand tonne ship to haul me around for, what, three months when a ship a tenth the size can do the same thing?"

Blaszczak grimaced.  "It is a long trip.  Jadwiga's not looking forward to me being gone that long."

Wiktor nodded at another gawker, this one an old man seated against the wrought iron fence surrounding the patio.  "So bring her along this time."

"Hey?"

"You heard me  Bring her along.  The cruiser has suites for senior advisors, I'm sure they can stuff the two of you into one of them."

"I...huh.  I don't know.  She's never been to sea, let alone away from home that long," Blaszczak remarked.  "What's she going to do with herself when I'm working?"

"Sew a quilt?  Write a manuscript?  Learn Aztec?" Wiktor suggested, nodding yet again as another, younger man made eye contact from the entrance to the bistro.  "I know nothing at all about San Diego but there's got to be something she can do once we're ashore.  Assuming the Aztecs don't just whisk her along with us - which they might."

"Maybe we should've chose a more secluded joint," Blaszczak remarked, unable to see this latest distraction on account of having his back to the door.

"It's fine.  Gotta be out on the street with the people," Wiktor said.  "This fellow wants to say hello, apparently."

The young man walked unsteadily towards their table, as if nervous, and a trembling hand reached into his coat pocket.  "D-death to the royalist scum!" he blurted, drawing a revolver.

[Kaiser Kirk]

well thats a twist

[The Rock Doctor]

"Right, what's going on?" King Gunther III Vasa demanded as the motorcade sped away from the newly-opened steel mill in Wroclaw.

The head of the security detail turned to look at him from the front passenger seat.  "Somebody attacked and seriously injured your brother, Your Highness." 

Queen Christine gasped.  "What happened?"

"I'm afraid I have next to no information, Your Majesty.  The telegram is, by design, very brief and in code.  Once we're back at the hotel and my men have secured the location, telephone calls can be made and we can get a better sense of whether there's any continuing threat."

"So we don't know that there's a threat?" she prodded.

"The coding indicated it was an act of violence rather than a mishap.  It may be isolated, it may be part of something larger.  Regardless - as was the case with the late king's passing - the protocol is to secure the immediate family until more information is known and the situation is properly assessed," the head said.

"But we know he's alive?" Gunther pressed.

The head nodded.  "The telegram coding indicated injury rather than death.  I can't promise the situation has remained static since the incident."

"Well, shit," Gunther muttered.


19 April 1928:  Warzawa Evening Observer

Prince Wiktor is reported to have been gravely injured in a shooting in Wilno earlier today.

Witnesses report that the prince and a companion were at a cafe in the city centre when an assailant approached, uttered threats, and drew a firearm.  The prince and one bystander were each shot once before the prince's companion and other bystanders subdued the gunman.  The gunman and those involved in his capture are reported to have sustained minor injuries in the fracas.

The House of Vasa has confirmed that Prince Wiktor is being treated at Wilno University Hospital, but has not otherwise commented on his condition. 

The Wilno City Constabulary has not released any information regarding the identity or motivation of the gunman, but confirmed that he is in custody and being questioned.

Wilno University Hospital has confirmed that it is treating two men for gunshot wounds and has noted that the security at the establishment is considerably heightened.  Individuals presenting to the hospital for scheduled, non-essential appointments may find that these have been delayed; similarly, visitors to patients will not be allowed for a minimum of forty-eight hours.

20 April 1928

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty," Porucznik Blaszczak said as he knelt in front of Queen Sophie in the hall of the Wilno University Hospital.  "I should have been faster to react and I wasn't.  I-"

"Get up, Jan," Sophie said, surveying their immediate surroundings.  Coincidently, every other person around them was looking somewhere else at that exact moment.

Blaszczak nodded, stood, and adjusted his tunic.  "Yes, Your Majesty."

"Now look:  You aren't Wiktor's bodyguard and he wasn't supposed to be in danger.  As I understand it, your back was to the man, you were still able to aid in his capture before more damage could be done, and you attended to Wiktor's injury until relief arrived.  What more can I ask of a man in such circumstances?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"That was a question, Jan."

Blaszczak swallowed.  "I don't know, Your Majesty."

"Neither do I," Sophie said.  "No, that's not true.  I will ask you to continue supporting Wiktor as he recovers.  He will need the help - not just physically, but mentally, I suspect."

"Of course, Your Majesty."

"And how are you coping, other than feeling unnecessarily guilty?"

Blaszczak shrugged.  "Mostly that, Your Majesty, and worried for my friend."

"You were injured."

"He - the gunman - flailed about and struck me a couple of times as we took him down.  It looks worse than it feels."

Sophie nodded.  "What of the others who helped you?  I've heard little of them."

"The two men took a few blows.  The lady was unharmed."

"And the other victim?"

"I've not heard, Your Majesty."

"It's fine, Jan.  I'll make inquiries.  Come, let's see if Wiktor is conscious."

[The Rock Doctor]

13 May 1928

"Good morning, gentlemen, and thank you for being here," said (newly minted) Kapitan Jan Blaszczak.

"Morning, Sir," replied the youngest naval officer in the room, "I'm Komandor Porucznik De Vries, commanding the Bug.

"I'm Komandor Strauss, in charge of yard operations at Stoczina Gdanska," the oldest man present added.  The other three officers, as it turned out, reported to him.  "I assume we are here on account of Prince Wiktor's planned voyage to North Eryka?"

"That we are, Sir," Blaszczak agreed. 

"Dare I ask how His Highness is recovering?"

"Well...It's going to be a lengthy recovery.  The bullet struck here," and he patted the front of his left leg, adjacent to the hip, "...damaging muscle and nerves alike, though thankfully missing major blood vessels and bone."

"Was it a poorly aimed shot, then?" Strauss inquired.

"The shot was likely intended as center of mass while the prince was seated, but the prince moved quickly once the gunman declared his intentions.  You can take the man out of the jungle, but you can't take the jungle out of the man," Blaszczak noted. 

"I see."

"Indeed," Blaszczak replied.  "Now, unfortunately, the prince is not moving quickly at all, and certainly not on his own feet.  He will probably be able to walk in a limited fashion, with crutches or a cane, by the time the voyage begins in September - but it is not a given.  He will not be capable of stairs.  Or ladders.  A wheelchair may be required.  Our task today, then, is to determine how to ensure that the facilities aboard Bug are equipped to support his needs."

After a moment's thought, Komandor Porucznik De Vries spoke.  "The VIP accommodation block occupies parts of three decks near the aft battery and the VIP suite itself is laid out on two decks, one below the other, with a steep set of stairs linking them.  It's definitely not designed for somebody who can't climb."

"We'll need to change that," Blaszczak stated.

"So this implies two separate but related issues," Strauss said.  "The first is reconfiguring the VIP quarters to minimize the amount of vertical travel - or any travel, really, that the prince would be required to undertake.  The second is ensuring he can safely move between decks where it's necessary to do so."

"And how hard is that going to be to resolve?"

Strauss turned to his staff, one of whom answered, "Reconfiguring the quarters will take some time to plan out.   We'll need to understand how he's going to spend his day, who he needs the most access to, and so forth.  Actually doing the work shouldn't be too complicated or time-consuming provided we don't have to adjust anything structural.  The paint would be dry before he comes aboard."

"I think we have to consider installing one or two small lifts to deal with the vertical element of his travels," another officer spoke up.  "That will be trickier to situate since we've got to sacrifice space on the main and second deck levels as well as minimizing the amount of changes to under-deck venting and wiring where we cut the hole.  Plus whatever vertical space above or below those decks that we need for the lift machinery itself."

"Ah...the second deck is the armored deck," Komandor-Porucznik De Vries interjected.  "And if it's at all possible, I'd really prefer not to have any additional holes cut into it, please."

"Okay, so the machinery will have to be situated above the lift on the A1 deck, then."

"Will there be enough electricity to handle the additional load?" Strauss asked.

"I would think so," a third officer said.  "If not, we can either add a small generator or disconnect an existing draw on a temporary or permanent basis."
Blaszczak sat back and listened as the navy men hashed out how to create a handicap-accessible cruiser...