Paris Temps

[Guinness]

I think I have the perfect lady for you. Marthe.
Not only is she well versed in the feminime arts, but she's also an accomplished aviatrice.

An aviatrix and a whore? I need to meet this woman....

[Sachmle]

Hope you don't have that "over-the-shoulder-wife" problem that Rocky has or you may be in trouble for that last remark.  ;D

[Guinness]

Hope you don't have that "over-the-shoulder-wife" problem that Rocky has or you may be in trouble for that last remark.  ;D

Don't you worry, I can get in ample trouble with my wife even if she's not reading over my shoulder.

[maddox]

After the dinnerparty in Hotel Napoleon.
Mademoiselle Marthe reporting to Monsieur Grange

- I have taken the subject to the appropriate establishment for a cordial diner with Le Premier, his spouse, and Ambassadeur Takeda de L'Empire Allemand de Brandenbourg. His Excellence l'Ambassadeur has tried to interrogate Monsieur L'Admiral as to Le Masque but has been suitably circumvented with harmless and officially correct information. It is obvious that Monsieur Le Premier is not aware of the differences between Masque and the true destination of the project. Further information from Madame Galpoux refers to her interest in all that flies. I mentioned a flight I have had the privilege to attend a few years ago which made Madame Galpoux remark correctly that I had flown it.

- aah... the flight and the little train trip?

- Yes, that one. On your orders if I may be so blunt about it.
The result is that Monsieur L'Admiral diverted all the conversations towards flight, he himself is a frequent passenger on naval airships and has extolled on the virtues of said vessels. But he got interested in aircraft because of the conversation went about that subject and I had professed experience in handling such craft. I respectfully suppose that this interest might be delved further into by your aides or personally with Monsieur L'Admiral. By the way, he has not availed himself of any other of my services.

- Hmm... *strokes his greying whiskers*... I think I have new orders for you, my little songbird. You will have a talk with Monsieur L'Ingenieur Dune, his new aircraft is approved for military use and needs a sponsor.

- You mean a closer look by our department ?

- Exactly.

[maddox]

Current events.
Paris, Institut du radium.

Madame Marie, did you read this? It's an article that my dad did send in his latest letter. He tought it could interest us.

Ah, Homme Du Fer John, how's he and your mum Michael?

According to the letter, they are doing fine. The new house is almost finished, thanks to the stipend dad gets from the Grand canal compagny. I wish I could be there to help, but my education here needs to be finished before I can go.
But returning to the article dad did send with his letter, it's this part that is important.

The symptoms of the illness included paralysis, nausea and vomiting, vomiting blood, diarrhea, pain, spasm, and ultimately death. Circumstances surrounding the deaths are still not well understood, though those who sought to provide aid reported that the illness came on very quickly.

It sounds like a hemmoragic junglefever, like Caroline told about.

Caroline?

Ah madame Marie, don't play so innocent.  She's my friend, who is working at L'institute Pasteur.

I know Michael, I was joking. But isn't she working on the  Cote D'ivoire fever?

Yes, that is why she told me about that fever. But my dad did send the article, because I told him about our illness a few months ago, when we worked on the radium extraction from the Congo ore. Except the paralysation and death , it's about the same.

You are right. We should investigate this, if it's radium fever, it is bound to lead to a radium mine, or at least to ore that is rich in radium. And it is time that you return home.

Madame, my education isn't complete, I have 3 years to go before I can finish my Enginerings degree, not to mention the things you can teach me.

Michael, it's a field trip for you. And I'll ask professeur Pierre that he can spare Caroline to join you.

But, but, but, how, when, why... 

Michael, I can see that you're smitten by her, don't you think that this withered crone doesn't recognize love? And you're a great student in need of a break. Also, it's been 5 years of the last time you have seen your parents. You have grown from a boy to a big man. I sometimes wonder if it's not to could up there, tall one, you're almost as tall as Capitain Louis Mtandi, but a lot less heavy. And Monsieur Grange already expressed his wish that you and him would travel together to the CSA, this is a great opportunity. By asking that your lady joins you, its a great opportunity. Imagine if it isn't radium fever, but a hemmoragic fever, then we have a team at the grounds, because you'll take one of the Little Curies with you. Its just to convenient. I wish i could join you, but alas, family is important for all of us. Irene neds my support now.

I understand madame, the Jacque issue.

[ctwaterman]

Minister Le Bruns' Office Paris France January 1916

An assistant magistrate from the Italia Consulate in Paris had spent a very boring afternoon waiting to see Minister Le Bruns who evidently had several very important lunch appointments and had kept the assistant magistrate waiting for over 2 hours.

Finally paperwork in hand he was escorted in to see Minister Le Bruns, after the usual pleasantries' they got down to business. 

"Minister" the Assistant Magistrate began, "I have here the listing of the Armored Cars Italia is transferring to France.  I was told to contact your office to arrange for the delivery.  Where do you wish for this transfer to take place?"

Minster Le Bruns inquired "Could they be delivered to Kolkata?"

The Assistant Magistrate thought about it and replied "Yes indeed they could Minister, if you will just sign the form authorizing the delivery and have an officer in Kolkata sign for the receipt on delivery they can be on their way within a few weeks."

Minister Le Bruns smiled and chuckled "Yes I think Kolkata it will be." He then took and signed the paperwork.

[maddox]

Monsieur Granges secundary office, the back room.

Ah mademoiselle Marthe, how did it go with L'ingenieur Dune?

Not as well as we hoped monsieur. The aircraft is strange but can fly. The main problem is the difficulty mass producing a suitable version that can carry a useable payload. For recon it's useable, for the range it has. Bonne, then the italian CA series is a better option, if we can buy the licence.

How do you know that Marthe?

Monsieur Grange, this establisment entertains certain individuals from several embassies. The service and the discretion is famous. One of the guests is an Italian military aviator. And we had several enjoyable encounters. One of these was in Italy, 6 months ago. Those large bombers have not much privacy, but his fellow aviators were friendly enough not to comment on Luigi's prowess. And I have to admit, at 5000 feet, with the roar of the engines, under the Sicilian winter sun it's a new experience, but not one to repeat easely.

[maddox]

Going back a bit.

late August 1915.

Ah, monsieur Grange what a pleasure to see you here at the birthplace of the biggest and best battleships of the world.

Pure business Premier Galpoux,  aussi bonjour Ambassador Takeda.

Bonjour Monsieur le Directeur Grange, what a surprise to see you here. I expected you to be at your roost, Chez Loulou.
(A nervous twitch makes it obvious that Grange isn't pleased with this greeting)

It's not all play for me Ambassador Takeda, not all of us are capable to combine work and pleasure with duties to the country we serve. But now the pleasantries are done, lets go to the engineering room of the Hangar Une. From there we can overlook the build of Masque.

Leading the small group trough several check points, with elaborate controls and investigative messures, most, but not all waved by Monsieur grange waving a set of papers, they arrive in a large room, with large window panes overlooking a manmade cavern.
In that manmade cavern, a manmade steel grey mountain rises. Large steel grey sheets everywere. Smoke and fumes obsure the sights, the grease on the windows makes things blurry. But even the thick panes can't keep out the noise, it's just muted to levels making conversation possible.
The walls of the room are covered with stained plans of a huge ship,  some depict parts, other entire sections.

Messieurs, I'm here on the request of Grand Admiral Geon. He asked me, to guide and inform you totaly about the build of Masque. As he explained earlier, it isn't safe to tour the site itself, the scedule is so tight on this construction yard that even toilet breaks are planned. But you have a full overview here from the comfort and safety of the main overseers room.  What gives the introduction of our working brunch.
Admiral Geon arranged for our comforts. And during brunch we have an explanation how the ship works and how it is being build.  Monsieur l'engineur , start the introduction.

The room goes dark,  a white screen is dropped, pictures are getting projected, the very soothing voice of the engineer brings cold facts about Masque in an enjoyable manner. Beautifull mademoiselles bring tidbits of foods and drinks of the far most corners of France.

*****************************************************************************************

In the mean time. In the temproray kitchen set up for the gastromical delights of the VIP's.
Doctor Lemarte calls the shots.

Louis, don't forget to add the pure caffeine to the coffee. It will offset the drowsiness from the extra alcohol in the wines.
Jamal, get the laxative in the Cafe Glace, the temperature and the sugar will camouflage the taste of the medicine.
******************************************************************************************
3 hours later
And this, gentlemen, concludes the virtual tour of the manmade mobile fortress Masque.
Are there any questions?  Monsieur le premier?

I do have a question.  Where are the toilets? 

[Phoenix]

OOC... and you guys think I'm the cruel one ?

[The Rock Doctor]

Diarrhea >> digit amputation

[maddox]

Somewere on a canal in Europe.

Actualy,   in The Netherlands, the Zuid-Willems vaart .
A lockkeeper and a friend having a conversation overlooking boat with a tar black coated hull and  bright yellow cabin waving the Tricolore, the fold away smokestack gently expelling light gray smoke, typical for a fire fed with antracite.
************************************************************************************

Jan, die Franse stomertjes zie je tegenwoordig ook overal.

Lawaaierige roetbrakers zijn het Piet, met een vrachtcapaciteit kleiner dan een spits, en ze hebben minstens 3 man aan boord nodig, dure jongens zijn het.

Nu niet overdrijven, ze zijn sterk genoeg om de Maas of zelfs de Rijn op te kruipen, en ze kunnen een aak meetrekken, wat anders alleen door een sleepboot gedaan kan worden, wat ook stomertjes zijn. En ik hoor je daar niet over mopperen.

Toch, het lijkt wel alsof die Fransozen alle kanalen willen dichtplavijen met hun gedrochten. Kunnen ze geen eerlijke trekschuiten bouwen? En waarom dat verdomd dure staal? Is ijzer of hout niet goed genoeg meer ofzo?En dat overdreven kraantje in't midden. Het kon niet duurder, er zit meer staal in de voet ervan dan in een hele Spits.

Ik heb gehoord dat deze scheepjes de Schelde bevaren hebben tot Terneuzen toe, met rotweer, dat bewijst wel de stevigheid van die kleine opdonders. Maar je hebt wel een punt, het zijn er veel, gelukkig dat ze allemaal hun eigen kleurschema hebben, met de uitzondering van de schepen van de reders, die allemaal dezelfde kleuren dragen. Maar ook daar is individualiteit troef.

Zolang ze hun taxen en waterlasten maar betalen is het goed voor me. En als ze uit de voeten kunnen in het Nederlands, is het nog beter. Wat eigenlijk wel het geval is, ik heb nog geen zo'n stomertje tegengekomen waar een bemanningslid geen aardig woordje Nederlands kan.

Ik vind het wel grappig, ze noemen hun bootjes penis.


************************************************************************************
Translation will come later.   ;)

[maddox]

The rough translation.

Jan, those French little steamers, you see those everywere.

Noisy sootspreaders are those Piet, and with less capacity than a Spits, needing at least 3 men to keep them going. Expensive buggers.

Don't overdo it. The steam engine is powerfull enough to get them upstream on the Meuse or even the Rhine. They even can tow a barge, something normaly done by a tug, and those are steamers too. You don't critisize those.

Still ,it feels like the frogs are paving the canals over with those awfull boats. And why using the expensive steel? Can't they build a barge in honnest iron or wood? And that crane in the middle, coumdn't be more expensive, there is more steel in the foot than in a whole Spits.

Those little ones are even plying the Schelde towards terneuze, even at bad weather, that proves the sturdyness of these lilliputters. But you have a point, there are a lot of the same. Luckely the skippers have their own paint scemes, even the ones owned and operated by a ship-owner.

As long they pay taxes and the waterway fees, I don't care too much. And if they can use Dutch, it's a plus.Actualy, I never have met such a boat were non of the crew could speak reasonable Dutch.
I find it funny, they call those boats "penis".

[maddox]

14 December 1915

Premier Galpoux's offices.

Minister Marveuille.  I congratulate you with the friendly way you coorperated with the ecomonical developments in Europe.

Thank you Premier. I see the Rhineland development as a great opportunity, a giant, unified market to sell French products on.

I agree wholehearted on that. Selling on that new, huge market is ok, but we'll have to restrict the buying a bit. I guess Minister Lebrun will be mad, but isn't it an idea to limit the military spending, like buying warships from Bavarian yards?

Premier, canceling the Mushroom order would cause a lot of resentment.  Shouldn't you rethink the situation?

Maybe I should. Care to give me a few reasons, like, before next week? Also, you could negotiate a change.  In place of the Mushrooms, why not more  river and canal boats? Our yards can't keep up with the orders for Peniches.

I'll get my people working on it, and will talk to Minister Lebrun on the defensive issues of such a proposal.

[maddox]

Just an interlude


Brest, early 1916

Jacques, those new fangled Countre Torpilleurs we're supposed to be building, are these ment as punishment details? It's unbelievable, there isn't a wine cellar below the captains quarters.

What? Show me.  What moron did draw this? The room for the captains "XX" is reduced to nothing, and the crew quarters, just paces to hang a hammock in every nook and cranny. No privacy at all. Look, the only real bed is in the closet marked infermery. And that doubles as operating table.
And only 1 shower for the officers, to be shared with the captain? 2 Showers, combined with 4 toilets for the crew.  That means that the men will have a shower once in 3 days. Even the fresh water tank takes that in account. I guess the men will take turns taking a shit over the rails of the quarter deck.  Oh, there is a removable fabrick screen, just for that purpose. Oh the concession to the sailors comfort.

We should warn to Admiral Geon about these horrors.

At least I find a thing in the galley. A thing called "Addifren cooling closet".  that can be used to keep the wine cool. But it is so far away from the Captains quarters, it's not an option to have the captain walking, bottle in hand trough the galley and the tiny main crew quarter.

[maddox]

January 2 1916

A train coupe towards the Paris Airship port.
Minister Marveuille traveling towards Bavaria, to fend off a diplomatic disaster.

Of course, not without some comforts. A blonde lady is traveling with him.

January 2 late evening.

Premier Galpouxs offices.
What? He died in action? Monsieur Grange, I'm not in the mood of jokes.

Premier, I'm not joking. Le conducteur went to the coupé after he heard screaming. He found minister Marveuille, with all his 69 years, in the same position, the lady screaming her heart out pinned down.

What lady?

Margerite Jeanne, officialy his secretary, of course.

Ah, but who'm will we send to Bavaria then?


January 4

Paris Temps.

George Marveuille was a great politician, a consumate socialist. Who worked steadely to a better future of France and mankind.
His untimely demise does hurt the French people. We all feel symphaty for his fair, darkhaired wife, Josephine Charlotte.