Paris Temps

[The Rock Doctor]

"Off to the old country for a fortnight of corrupting souls.  Cheerio!"

[TexanCowboy]

Shhhh... He's in Ukraine. New storyline I'm creating. Still needs mod approval.

[maddox]

January 3th 1917.  Brest.

A Big day.   Masque is slated to be pulled out of the covered dock, to be towed to her finishing quay.
Magenta, the old venerable battleship from the previous century is returning from her far away posting at Papeeté, Polynesia.

Political heavyweights, industrial moghuls, famous celebrities all home in on the coastal, industrial city and mayor naval base. Hotels are booked full all around, and a lot of temporary bed and breakfasts are springing up.

9 AM, the old battleship Magenta enters her assigned berth, the decks filled with men in their uniforms. But it's very obvious that a lot of the men at deck wear more clothes than normal, even on this cold winter day, with a clear sky and an eastern wind that chills to the bone. Those men are also a lot bigger and darker of skin than the avarage French sailor, even after a few years of Polynesia.
In the marconi room, the communications officer send his message. The simple code is recieved, but non of the land based bases can decrypt it, but on Occitanie, the communications officer has no problem, and can bring the message to Admiral Geon, who's on the admirals bridge together with his guests. Monsieur Grange and 3 of his agents. A Navy airship and a blimp can be seen, and are known to be above Brest. The brandnew oil fired powerplant runs almost smokeless, but the wake is getting more agitated, the big ship picks up speed ponderously.

10 am,  Monsieur Timbre, accompagnied by a stunning arabian beauty, is entering the covered dock where his brainchild Masque is waiting for him, and the politicial Bigwigs , to baptise her. An escort formed by the saloirs of Magenta, under the lead of a Brown Giant gunnery sergeant, wearing a nameplate Gunny Pappas, joins the pair. 



Bonjour Monsieur Timbre, mademoiselle, ah?  Paul you didn't tell us that your beautifull niece from the Levant would join you, we expected your wife.
(Paul swallows, but recovers fast)
Unfortunatly Premier Galpoux , the new years parties we joined did prove to exhausting, and my dear wife is now recovering. Luckely my recent associate Lumina has agreed to accompagny me on this formal occation.

I count my blessings ma belle Lumina. I'm happy you can join us for this monumental occasion.

Thank you premier, it will prove an interesting day full of surprises. I'm ultimatly eager to see the results.

Oh my, sounds omnious. But yes, as long the surprises are pleasant, why not?

The pleasantness of the surprises is always in the mind of the surprised.

You're right my dear.Lets proceed


The Huge hangar, 270m long, 60m wide. The ship in the filled dock looms over the visitors, but something isn't right. Premier Galpoux notices it immediatly.

Parbleu, this is a lot smaller than what I have seen, were are the 6 main gun turrets? I see only 4 and above each other????

Premier, I learned your admiral, and your head of securité decieved us. And we can't do much about it.  I myself learned about it very recently, and had to agree due outside factors to tell you this. The ship you see is called Britannie and is a half sister of a battleship that is already a year working up. You know about her , but not officialy.  Remember the Iberian battle setup ,called the "battle or Gozón"?

Yes, I do remember, you mean, we had Occitanie?

I applaud your memory premier. Yes, Occitanie is real, and only the unholy alliance between the French Securité and the Admirality with some outside help I don't know of could pull this off. And the ony way to save face is to go along with it.

Timbre, I resent your exclamation of unholy alliance.
A deep, basso rumble exclaims in perfect, but accented French. The Giant Samoan sergant Pappas goes on.
Premier Galpoux, Admiral Geon is  Protecting France, and we, the Marine National follow him in that goal. But Democracy will be preserved. Admiral Geon is not prepared to install a military dictatorship. Nor is he interested in your job at all. He just made sure France is getting the right tools for the task, not the pocket filling plans of industrialists. And your head of Securité agrees in that assesment. And monsieur Timbre too, when faced with the results of his actions.
Lucifera, make sure premier Galpoux reads the scenario, and keeps to it. Premier Galpoux, the best minds in France labored over this scenario, please, if you want to keep your job, follow it. Otherwise the political shockwaves will at least ruin the Promise of France. 

With pleasure Pappas.

Premier Galpoux, in half an hour, Magenta will leave the port again, and join with her youngest sister,Occitanie .Together they will welcome the new born Brittanie at noon. It's your job to bring a passionate speech for France. The navy and army are standing by to make it a joyous occasion, the barrels  of vinogel for the people are being set up as we speak, the brassiers with coal to keep the people warm are being lighted, and the food is made available by the people of Brest.
Before you think the worst, 50% of the people here get their income directly from the marine, 20% from catering to them, and 6000 men and women agreed on the build of the 2 battleships. It speaks not well of you and your government that you didn't know. The Habsburgers, the Iberians, and the Germans all knew about her. Even official inquieries have been made. And still you believed the money of cockroaches like Timbre.

SLAP, Timbre couldn't keep his cool, and Lucifera now has a firm hand print on her left cheek.

You whore, I will not stand for your insults.

A giant hand interveins a fraction of a second to late. Paul Timbre is now airborn. The collar and back of his expensive suit half ripped away.

Monsieur Timbre, I may look like a stone age caveman, and my parents were giant stone age people, but I did grow up in a French paradise. I will not condone such behavior at all. You will make amendments to the lady after you recover. Korporal  Dwayne escort monsieur Timbre out of here.

Excuse me Premier. But this piece of garbage needed this.



to be continued

[maddox]

continued

10 h 40 minutes, perfectly timed
Magenta, barely arrived, is already casting off, with a reduced crew. Her ancient engines thumping, the great smokestacks billowing black clouds. In true old school style, her tumblehome hull greaty accented by the bulges, the heavy polemast and the negative bow just say 1 thing "I'm the sister of Neptune. Sea, make way for me."

A huge rigid and a blimp follow her out. The weather, cold , but clear skies and little wind is a relief of the harsh weather of the last weeks. Even the sun is making this wednesday a joyous day.


30 minutes out at sea (barely 7 miles out) She joins her big sister, and together they sail stately towards Brest.

Gunnery crews are working, the big guns, Magenta's 6 275's and Occitanie's 12 huge 380mm's loaded with blank- nothing more than wooded tampions and a special charge concoted up to make as much noise and flame as possible.

1 mile out, the marconi crew of Occitanie delivers the message, "it's a girl". All sirens of the town and yard start screaming. Sudden stop after 30 seconds, the noise rolls out, and then BLAbamBAM , as one Occitanie and Magenta fire the special shot. The huge flames, the billowing clouds and the incredible sound is a surefire way to get the attention to the crowd. 

The crowd is watching the 2 ships entering port in silence- Magenta just using momentum to glide in-, and in the same time, 2 tiny tugs pull out Britannie.
When emerged, her horn divides the attention again.


More to follow

[Kaiser Kirk]

continued
10 h 40 minutes, perfectly timed
Magenta, .... In true old school style, her tumblehome hull greaty accented by the bulges, the heavy polemast and the negative bow just say 1 thing....

The old French tumblehomes ... not my taste.  Nice narration though

[maddox]

After Britannie's horn gets the attention of the people, the strange cone like devices attached to a lot of lightpoles, cranes and other vertical supports show their use. For the first time on earth an electric sound amplification system is used to adress the public. ^*

"Honored guests, people of France, the world was expection the mountainous Battleship Masque. But, Masque was the working name, and she was a mask. Thanks to the relentless energy of 1000's of loyal French, France can show that Masque is the pair of battleships, called Occitanie, as she's entering the harbor, a fully worked up battleship as the new Glorious French Fleet flagship. And Brittanie, the newest of the battleships.

I, as Premier of France, appolegise for the deception.  
The riches we can give our people are unparalleled, the social security imitated, but not ever equaled, our technology always bettering life of the people of Glorious France. But in this world, such riches draw the eyes and greed of envious leaders of abused countries. Our army and navy are the instruments that assure that France is saveguarded against such.
To saveguard, open display of Power is a tool, but secrecy too. And for these ships, Secrecy was more important than showing the iron fist.

Let us cheer for Occitanie and Brittanie. But also for our Valiant and venerable battleship Magenta. She returned from French Polynesia to welcome her 2 youngest siblings, and to rejoin with her sister Marceau, to serve and protect France in the Mediterranean Sea. Let the public festivities begin."

^*I based the MagnaVoiX PA on the irl Magnavox firm, that started commercialy in 1917.  France is using  sound technology for a decade now, thanks to the relentless research of Emile Berliner .

[maddox]

A follow up on this.

Christmas morning 1916.  At the recently finished house of Iron man John.  Michael is trying to sooth his fiance Caroline, who's in tears.

Caroline, it's the 3th time you visit our house in the charming city of Opelousas, what is changed?

I don't know Michael, but the people are nasty to me now, even people I tought that were friends. Some act like they still are friends, but I notice, they avoid me, others are openly hostile, and now, this morning the reverend in his christmas preach speech, advocated peace and prosperity, but he was weaving in really hatefull things, never saying it out loud, but all did knew it was about france, and the prostitutes that live there, the corrupting whores of sodom. After mass , some of the bolder boys started shouting insults at me, and when I asked their mothers to put an end to that, one of them asked "why would I forbid my son to tell the truth, you French hussy, corrupting a fine boy like Iron Johns son, go home to your brothel over the seas and keep your filth there."


DAD! What's this, what is happening?

Son, I'm afraid Caroline is right, some people believe the lies about France in the papers, because they want to believe them, and partialy because some of those ain't lies , exagurations, yes, mistakes, probably, but all those words, repeated for months now, don't do much good.
Your mum and I try to explain to the people it's filthy politics, not worthy of attentionof the hardworking people.
Unfortunatly, people want a bad guy, or place to accuse of anything, most of the time of the vices themself secretly commit.

Mum is now talking softly to Caroline, and guides her gently to the homeliness of the kitchen.

But dad, if people over here think that about her, how can I stay here then? Not with hurting Caroline, and that is a sacrifice I cannot make.

I don't know son, you have a bright future in front of you, a better mind than most men, and women, a sound body, and the best education that money can buy. I never understood why you got that scolarship. But I still bless the day.
You can't say this is your home, you only lived in this area for a year, when I was at the canal, and 2 week long stays over the last 18 months. It's the house your parents live in, and a home in times of need or prosperity, but not a place to spend time in agony.
You already have shown that your work is valuable, with the solving of the Barry County case , and Caroline is becoming a fine physician, you 2 could go far in this world. Whatever you choose, you have my blessing. Except 1 thing. Losing your temper over insults. That you cannot do, not here, not now. If you do, you give credential to the slander. And knowing myself, sooner or later , it will happen.

You're saying dad, that we should go then?

I'm saying you 2 have to make a tough choise whatsoever. Carolines mother live in France, we live here, and non of us are planning to move. And once the scolarship and the patronage ends, it will become prohibitively expensive to travel. Ever tought about what it would cost if the university or the stipend from Monsieur Grange wouldn't cover it?

No idea dad, we just fill in the application, get the tickets for the days at sea, and the visa.

I had a look to it, as I wanted to surprise you. But we cannot afford it, not with my current wage, and the stipend I get from the Compagnie universelle du canal maritime Grande, and we're not poor.
I would say, when you're back in France, talk to Monsieur Grange, he may be a lowely clerk in the foreign affair ministry, but he knows. He's also the one who's doing the paperwork on the scolarships for "foreign students".

You're right dad. I guess we'll have to restrict ourselfs to the house for the time being, next week we leave for France, and then we'll see what can be done. I just hope it's just ,as you say, a filthy political game that will play out after Monsieur Wilson becomes president.
We should be joyous in this time, not sad, nor angry.

[maddox]

12 days after this conversation

Paris
Minster Capet, l'aide d'ambassadeur pour le CSA François Garçon est ici pour vous.

Let him in André.

Bonjour Piere, long time no see. A pleasant surprise I hope.

I'm afraid not. I have this transcript of the rebuke monsieur Garçon got from "secretary" Wilson.

What rebuke?  The only thing, outside the regular Nassau post and exchanges, that spring to mind that could  warrant a rebuke is the question about the press coverage of the , what I call" the sell out of Nassau" proposal.

Exactly that minister. Read the transcript. But I'll add our personal comments to it.

Future president Wilson, known for his prudish mores, hates France, just because we did cast of the restrictions of religion. But we doubt he's willing to trow away the safety of his country. After all, the things the draft joint resolution gives are next to idiotic.
"should no longer provide protection to Le Grande Canal"  With Admiral Pouvoire and his flottila, we do it ourselfs. And pay handsomely for the ressuply of those vessels in the CSA, so why would they go for this piece of shit: "should no longer allow Marine Nationale ships free access to Confederate ports and resources?". That part was just a way for France to avoid building naval bases in the Caribean, after we sold the excisting ones to the CSA. Thus appeasing the gran Colombians, and convincing them that the Nassau Treaty is defensive.

No, the reference to the Gran Colombian aquisition of Dutch Congo, and the subtile warning from France, in the cadre of a Nassau Treaty friendly gesture about the Orange intentions, is just a pure lie.  When that situation became clear, the options were clear.

• Accept the OR idea, and start a world war with the Southern Cross.


• Ignore it, and possibly have a war at the French doorstep in Africa.


• Give the warning and retain peace between the 2 most powerfull alliances on earth.

If Wilson wants to see that as a betrayal, it gives more of his believes, than of his knowledge or intelligence. Of course, those matters are already in doubt, by his aversion of colored people and the almost communist believes he has, strangely enough mixed with an offshoot of an offshoot the Calvinists, the Confederate Presbyterians.

I see Piere, I partialy agree, but I have more information I cannot give at the moment.
I believed the Nassau Treaty was shortlived with the CSA in it. This is why
France is a democracy, with a permanent component in the cabinets and the bureaucrats of the ministries. The only thing that changes are the people who wield the power invested by them ,by and for the French Citizens.
In a modern monarchy there is only 1 difference. The king or emperor has a personal interest in a better future. A goal some politicians forget about, as they try to gain as much power and wealth in those 5 short years, if they get those 5 years and the government does't "fall" over something trivial.

I will inform Premier Galpoux of this diplomatical failure, and will ask my Italian and Norman counterparts for advice in the matter. One thing is for sure. if Wilson is acting on a personal antipathy, and doesn't have an ace up his sleeve, the CSA will be sandwiched between the "remains" of the Nassau Treaty, Meso-America, and their southern antagonists, the Gran Colombians.

If you bring it that way Minister Capet, we should act first, and oist the CSA before they can dump us... A result future President Wilson wouldn't expect, not according to his last words,  Quote verbatim

The best way to repair this situation now is to take responsibility for the shameful behavior of your Premier, stop the self-aggrandizing leaks, and show the Confederate electorate that your worthy of being friends with."

To me it feels like he's fishing for bribes himself, and French tax payers money invested in the CSA.

We can all of those, why not, it's just money. It seems the Sicilian Gambit could be our solution.

[maddox]

Following up on Capets recap.

Paris, Premier galpoux's offices
Monsieur Grange, Minister Capet. what is this nonsense about the Nassau Treaty being a giant on sodium feet, with the sea running in fast.I ask you 2 specific, because you warned me about this. Capet, you first, it's your direct department that seems to be involved

Premier Galpoux, 2 weeks ago François got a rather cold, and more to the point, insulting reception about the inquiries he had to make concerning the new proposal against the Nassau Treaty, and more to the point, the fact the mainstream press is making a big show to make France into a giant cesspool of decadence.
President Rooseveld shot down simular proposals in the past, but that's because those didn't have any backing by more than 1 or 2 biased senators. Not because the president used his veto, only common sense, and according to me, a misplaced trust in his secretary, the black sock wearing sourpuss Confed Presbyterian Wilson.

So you say Wilson is behind the desintegration of his own pet project?

I dare to say so. I just can't see any justification, outside the fact Wilson abstains from any joy in life. I wonder who's the father of his daughters, if you catch my drift. In the past, several proposals were made , but monsieur Wilson rebuked those, and in some cases rather brutal. Money seems of no consequence to him, land nor direct power hold no sway. And I cannot imagine how a full male can ignore the charms of a warmblooded young lady. Except if the male is more inclined to the ancient Greek practise.

BANG, monsieur Grange using the heavy paperweight to break the string of insults.

Capet, just shut up. Even if you would be right in your assesment, it is not your task to make sure heads of state will get angry at France.
Why do you think Wilson is behind this, and why would he dare to destroy the best defence against Gran Colombia he can imagine, the combined power of the Nassau Treaty. After all, he was one of the masterminds behind the alliance.

Thank you, Monsieur  Grange.  Capet, please keep your oral explosions to the facts, not slander, antipaty nor wild accusations. Now please, explain yourself in civilised language.

I'll keep the fact to a list.

1) He seems incorruptible.
2) He was instrumental in getting a deal done that made the CSA safer against outside agression.
3) After his election to become president, the level of anti French agitprop and hate reached idiotic hights.
4) The Rohirrim are stirring.
5) Only now a new bill for Congres against the nassau treaty seems to have possibility to pass. And Wilson, if he doesn't want shit hitting the fan early his legislature, will have to enforce it.

I make from that, excuse me if I'm wrong, I'm only a mere political scientist with roots in the real history of France, not the protegé of an insane high priest of a cannibalistic nutcase, that Wilson found backers that he likes more, and his election succes gives him the balls needed to discard France.

Grange is fuming now, but his experience gives him a pokerface. Still, the aura of utter malice is almost tangible and assuredly noticable.

Premier, can I explain the conclusion I had send you 3 days ago?

Yes Grange, please do.

According to my information, it's the other way around. Wilsons attitude and behavoir is rather normal for his class and type. Straightlaced, no fun allowed, and utterly honnest. And if you excuse me, that's about the opposite of our political elite. I disapprove of the no fun allowed part of Mister Wilson, but the other things are a good lesson for ours. In other words, because he was born rich, and had a superbe education, combined with the strict rules of his religion, he abhors the French Savoir Vivre and the political expediency we are used too. His honnesty does not allow him to act against the confederate citizens Press pushed view of France, as he believes that. And from his point of view, he is.

Rooseveld on the other hand has a more "folk" attitude, and accepts differences from different cultures a lot better. That is what made Wilsons treaty work in the Nassau Treaty work. But now that safety valve is gone.

I advice a cautious approach, with an open hand from France. Even with the current economical dip, France has enough money to aid allies. Admiral Geon and me had this idea. Port au Prince , Haiti, a small fleet base the CSA is using for very limited purposes,and agreed upon to be accessible after the transfer- and that's in writing- could be enlarged. The  $75 and the resources the equivalent of 1 Demarce IV will enlarge that port to a level needed for a strong fleet in the Caribean, and will increase the economics of Haïti greatly. If this proposal is accepted, France retains an important fleet presence in the Caribean- without being to obvious-  The CSA/Wilson gets a Bribe he can't ignore. And the Nassau Treaty remains intact.

Premier, in effect Grange is proposing to pay Danegeld. I advice strongly against that. Better to use those resources to make sure a lot of CSA senators hold allegience to France, than to pay Danegeld. At least that will keep the costs down in the long run.

Grange, I tend to agree with Capet. But this is giving me a headache. Messieurs, give me the paper version of your plans, send your best advisors, and I'll assemble a task group with only 1 purpose, make sure the Nassau Treaty stays intact.

[Guinness]

I guess no one has the gall* to point out to Galpoux that it was his reception of the Confederate ambassador that started this mess, huh?

*aren't I punny! :)

[maddox]

What did the poor Premier do wrong?
Of course, the attentions of a little secretary are worth a little patience. If an ambassador doesn't understand that, he should ask for a new posting, like in a convent.

[maddox]

March 1917, Paris.

A meeting between Premier Galpoux and Admiral Geon.

Dear François, good that you can be here.  We have a situation developing.

We have several situations developing, Premier Galpoux. But what is the situation that warranted this emergency meeting?

The Great Canal and the diplomatical stance of the CSA.  The bills that are floating around in the confed congress are very very negative for the Nassau Treaty.
Now our defensive flotilla for the Canal uses CSA supplies, in CSA ports. As agreed in 1913 , with the signature of monsieur Wilson as part of the defensive plans for the Caribean. But we expect that Wilson will support the new idea that France should be on its own. With President Rooseveld it wasn't even on the table, as that man was down to earth, and receptive to good idea's.
Wilson seems a stiff prick with a steel rod up his arse. Even if he did negotiate the Nassau Treaty agreements for the best part. Incidently giving the CSA the best defence against the expanding Gran Colombians.
But since a year or so, the good relations are souring, and most of the states newspapers started an anti French campagne, destroying most business and cultural endeavors. Only in New Orleans the relations between the citizens stays cordial, but that's not a surprise.
In any case, we have all reason to expect a breach in the Nassau Treaty. So we like to be prepared.  Due the financial situation, it isn't an option to build a type 2 or 3 military port at New Rhun. So, what would you do?

Premier, I would send the type 3 floating drydock to the Canal zone, and buy the services of a tender. With that we can maintain the current flottila without using the CSA ports. Otherwise, why not start arranging a contract with the Gran Colombians? Or even the Rohirrim. These are up to their eyeballs in supply ships.

You were prepared Admiral?  Otherwise the answer wouldn't have come so direct, easely.

Of course Premier. It's my job to anticipate problems on naval matters, that is why I'm Commander in chief of the French Marine.

So, why do you think the change in the CSA political stance happened?It's rather stupid to trow away such a strong defensive alliance.

Unless another deal is made behind everybodies back. I gave that a serious tought too. And that's something diplomacy could answer for us. Or Wilson is sure the current naval and military strenght is good enough to keep the  main dangers at bay, Gran Colombia, Rohan, and in case of a shattered Nassau Treaty, the UNK.
Or Wilson made deals with one of these 3.  I don't believe the UNK did so.
Gran Colombia isn't showing any signs of relaxation towards the CSA.
Rests us the Great Paladin of the West, Rohan.  The noble relics of the past, those alternates to the Knights templar. I see them perfectly capable to defend the poor, small Confederate States of America against the evil French decadence, the Sauronesque Powermongering of the Gran Colombians or the Wormtongued Normans of the east.
But even then, I believe any deal between Rohan and the CSA would be defensive in nature.

I'll have the diplomats on that case.  Good advice Admiral.

[maddox]

1917 HY 01 in fast forward.


Ile de Terre , the squeling of pigs in agony is painfull to the ears, even if the men administring mercy are in complete rubber suites and heavy helmets, remicent of diving suites. The poor animals covered in large yellow pus oozing blisters and coughing up blood tinted foam.


Brest, on the deck of Britanie.

Gunnery sergeant Pappas, the marine national has a new job for you and your company. Admiral Geon liberated enough money from the tightfisted parliament to raise a dedicated corps of soldiers for the Fleet.  Your job is to test the new techniques and weapons to the bone, in training excersizes that will be rigorous, even dangerous.  Italian advisors will accompany you to test our new armored cars in those tests.

Mes oui commandeur.


Another part of town.  A luxurious office nearby the now tidied up covered type 4 dock.

Monsieur Timbre, it seems the Rumanians are not sure of themselfs. We were starting to cut the steel for the keel of their battleship, when they did send in more plans, for a heavier ship.  But we didn't get any word from Paris about this. Whats the idea or plan now?

Don't worry Jean-Paul. Store the already cut steel, and make the dock available for the repair and upgrade of our poor beauty Le Magnificent. We need to undo the torpedo damage, remedy the vibrations at high speed and convert her to oil firing.
Once the Romanians have their act together we always can send the steel to another dock.

As you say sir. The work orders will be send asap.



Port Said, Suez develeopment zone. Almost summer.

What, another tanker waiting to be unloaded?  What are those fools in Paris thinking? This refinery ain't fully operational yet, and the completed storage tanks almost completely full.

[maddox]

1917, the Caldera Cup Caper.


February 1917.

Below Chez Loulou.  Securité HQ.


Marthe, our chemical engineers have invented several fuel additives that can give aircraft engines a powerfull boost, albeit at a cost. As it is explained to me, one way is to increase the stability of the fuel, so the engine can run  with a higher internal compression. This is difficult,as it needs a very high quality, distilled fuel in quantity. The other way is to make sure the fuel doesn't need as much oxygen from the air to burn completely.

And we have the means to both?

Not affordable, nor dependable. The only chemical we have in quantity is what  the chemical engineers call trihydrogencarbon nitrogendioxide. It's the stuff that makes fuel burn more completely without adding air.
I want you to give the stuff to your Italian friends with the express warning not to use more than 17% added to the fuel. This will result in 25% less range, but 11% more power, if the engines can handle it. Overheating is a real danger, as well rpm exceeding the motor or airframe capacity. Also, I ask you to stress the pricetag, it's only useable for short time and limited scope applications. Unless they are willing to pay a lot for more stuff. But for now, you have 2 barrels. Be sure those are used wisely. 

I will do so Monsieur Grange.



March 1917
Ministry of defence, a stuffy attick.

Dastardly, I have an envolope with money, an envelope with an assignment, and a truckload of  fuel additive. I want you to make sure the designated parties recieve the fuel without knowing who's delivering it.

Why should I do it?

Oh, a few reasons. The money is good. At least 5 yearwages. The reason is good. We want certain teams to win the Caldera Cup. And the means are fun.  My departement has deviced a fuel that can increase the power of internal combustion engines. Unfortunatly, it's too expensive to use in every plane.  And you get a companion for the trip. A lovely lady with certain qualities.

Good reasons then. I'll endeavor to satisfy.


Trihydrogencarbon nitrogendioxide explaines all.

[maddox]

The Caldera Cup Caper. The aftermath.


Chez Lou Lou, secret HQ of Securité.

Marthe, you can't blame yourself for the death of Lt. Commander Baracca . If our fuel addition would be the reason of his unfortunate death, only I'm to blame. I gave you the order, you just carried that order out.

I should have known better, maybe we have some engines that can take the increased power and heat, but the normal engines obviously can't. No, I shouldn't have given the stuff to the Italians in such a way. Maybe they misunderstood my instructions, maybe they tought more is better. 

Richards, you're not to blame.  Several planes had engine problems that could have caused a fire, even without the fuel additive we invented. It's just a part of doing business on the bleeding edge of engine power. You're an aviatrix yourself, and I know you have flown a Dune prototype, even if I did forbid you.

Still, I feel guilty.

I can imagine, you're one of my people, and I won't accept heartless people. Ruthless, yes, hard, of course, smart, obvious, but not heartless.
Maybe our addition was to blame, maybe not. But I accept my potential responsibility in this case, and the Family of Lt commander Bacarra will recieve a stipend of "Societe Pilote Heroïc", large enough to keep the widow from having any financial troubles if she doesn't squander the money.

He was married?  HE WAS MARRIED? HE LIED TO ME.  I gave myself to him , my nice coat got stained by the oils on the workbench.... That ...  AAAAA



but he was good....

Marthe, you're just irrestable, and most males with their parts working will commit crimes to gain a time of pleasure with you. It's your gift to mankind.The only thing you need is knowledge and less of a fire. Both are just a question of time.