Chapter 102: New Suspicions Part 3

"We may be able to turn this to our advantage." McAllen looked over at Cal. "Though it may be uncomfortable for the Commander. If we act as if we believe the accusations, we may be able to draw out the people responsible."
"How uncomfortable do you plan on making it?" Cal raised an eyebrow. "I don't want anything to get in the way of my work."
"Nothing to interfere with the project, but a rather...inept tail put on you in public places."
"Meaning I will need to go to public places." Cal sighed. "I'm uncomfortable already." The others laughed. "We could go a step further if you think it would force the issue."
"You're thinking of meeting openly with the Ambassador." McAllen rolled his eyes. "It would certainly force the issue. You'd have to be careful to keep the occasions diplomatic. The gossips won't need anything more than the two of you in the same room to go into a frenzy."
"Since I don't keep track of such things, a list of events the Ambassador might attend would be helpful."
"If you're sure."
"I'd like to smoke them out and then smother the flames." Cal frowned. "While I'm prepared to ignore the gossip, I can't pretend it doesn't bother me."
"Very well," the Lord Admiral said, rising to leave. "We will let you and McAllen plot."
***
Cal walked back to the Shed with Bundo and Chief Petty Officer O'Brien flanking her.
"I'm still having problems understanding why I'm working for you," O'Brien muttered.
"You've demonstrated you can obey orders. If you obey me in that same fashion, we'll get along well. You also know the people and set up. I don't want to waste time training a new person."
"Aye, Ma'am. Thanks, I think..."
Cal walked into the shed and asked Bundo to whistle. She covered her ears before the piercing sound echoed through the cavernous space.
The engineers finished what they were doing and gathered around Cal.
"O'Brien, close the doors." Cal waited until they were shut and barred.
"Here's the plan." Cal put her hands behind her back to keep from waving them. "For reasons unrelated to our work here, you are going to hear a lot of nasty gossip if you haven't already." A few heads nodded. "I'm ordering you not contradict them with any vigour. There is a purpose for my request, and I'm going to ask you to trust me. If someone approaches you with a request which makes you uncomfortable, you are to discreetly report it to Chief Petty Officer O'Brien. At the same time, I want you to sound frustrated at our slow progress. Again, I'm not going to explain. Any questions?"
"Only the ones you said you're not answering," Landers said. The others shook their heads.
"Right then, back to work. We're working on a schedule now. Team leaders, in my office in five."
Cal climbed the stairs to her office. Tallinan was setting a tray with tea on her desk as she entered.
"Thank you, but that isn't necessary."
"You're my Commander." Tallinan returned to his office next door.
The team leads assembled.
"Progress reports."
"We've pushed the pressure on the boiler as far as we can without making it too heavy. A layer of insulating wrap is keeping the heat and pressure up longer. It will mean a longer lead to get steam." Digney shrugged. "Everything is a trade-off."
"The propellers are at peak efficiency. They're a balance between starting power and cruising. The oak is heavy but the most durable, even better than steel." Landers nodded in Digney's direction.
"We've moved away from trying to maximize the pressure through the fan engine." Patrick's fingers brushed the new Engineer Second Class emblem on his jacket. "The new goal is sustainable power. One of the guys has built a valve to top out the feed pressure well below the critical safety level. The biggest issue now is the fan engine heating up. When we run it too long, the fans scrape the casing."
"Give the fans more clearance."
"Aye, Ma'am." Patrick looked at her. "The system to direct the steam where we want it steals a little power, but that captured steam might be useful for heat or running small engines."
"Good notion," Cal approved.
"We've settled on a mix between a full frame on the envelope and none. We don't think the bag will take enough pressure to remain stiff in a rough wind. The more pressure, the less lifting power. There will be a full loop lengthwise of laminated wood for strength and lightness. A few hoops between bow and stern to help fasten the separate envelopes. If we lose one, it won't be catastrophic. We're thinking ladders to aid in repair and a rail for rappelling ropes to cover the areas not accessible by ladder." Ensign Cesare waved his hands to show the shapes he talked about. "With the decision on having a partial frame, we've been able to design the steering and stabilizers. They will need to work by cable, but I'm told the gondola will be toward the stern, so it will be doable. Speaking of the gondola, we are using the lamination idea to make strong surfaces without getting too heavy. With Patrick's idea of using waste steam for heat, we won't need as much insulation.
"Sounds good, we need to start coordinating so the gondola team knows where to build the engine room and the envelope has space for control cables." Cal looked around the room. "It is even more important now that all drawings and plans be stored in the secure room when not in use. Don't worry about being a bother, asking Chief O'Brien or me for access. Anything which is not put into the secure room is to be burned. I do not want a repeat of the disaster with the fan engine out there."
"Aye, Ma'am," they chorused and stood up.
"Dismissed."