Chapter 112: Turncoat Part 3

"I see." Hans unpinned the plan. "I will see about getting the pieces we need made."
Cal meandered over to the barn to see the envelope had become almost taut. The little airship floated, held down by ropes at each corner. She climbed up the ladder to the gondola. It would be spacious for one, cramped for two. Adding her weight made the ship sink. Close, but not there yet.
***
"All right, crew. The moment has arrived." Cal looked over the gathered engineers. "We are going to start assembling a prototype airship. It won't be full scale, as it must fit within this building. I have the complete plan drawn out, with detailed illustrations where needed. I fully expect we will discover all kinds of things we should have thought of earlier. The important thing is to fix the issue and move forward. Let's not waste time with blame."
The engineers nodded and murmured to each other.
"The first order of business is to decide on the order in which the parts should be assembled. Once we start filling the envelope with hydrogen, there will be no flame or even sparks allowed in the Shed. No matter how we treat the fabric to be fireproof, the hydrogen will burn."
"If there is a fire, ring that bell." Cal pointed to the newly installed brass bell. "If you hear it, drop everything and get out. Use the main doors, or if you're upstairs the back hatch. Do not try to rescue anything. I will not trade lives for paper."
"Team leads, in my office in five to determine the construction order. The rest of you, check what we have on hand and give Petty Officer Tallinan a list of anything you need."
The ship began to take shape. The partial frame was hung from the ceiling, then the envelope stretched over it. The main keel for the gondola they laid on the floor beneath the envelope, then fastened the boiler, engine and shaft to it. They began to assemble the gondola around it, stringing cables which would steer the airship.
Each night Cal copied plans, locked one set in the room and hid the other in her desk. Sometime during the day, the extra plans disappeared.
***
"We should be able to test the prototype in the Shed before the end of the month. After that, we build another one outside and fly it in the open air."
"Excellent news." The Lord Admiral leaned back smiling. "What's next?"
"If all goes well, we build a full-size ship based on what we learn from the prototype. We will still have a lot to learn. Each time we scale up the machine, things will need to be changed."
"Very good. My daughter and her husband are visiting from Ferandica. The airship arrived this morning. I am looking forward to a ride on our own vessel." The prince grinned at Cal.
They went through the rest of the meeting.
"Your Highness, if I may have a word in private?" Cal waited for him at the door. The prince stepped back into the room and closed the door.
"I haven't had a proper chance to inquire after your health." The prince looked at Cal.
"That's part of what I wish to discuss," Cal said. "The situation is a little more complicated than I initially reported to the Admiralty..."
***
Cold winds made Cal fear they'd be too late in the season for a proper test of the prototype outside. The ship in the Shed was almost complete and hydrogen bubbled up into the envelope from four tanks. They'd accomplished everything they could until it lifted off and they could check the balance.
The small ship in her barn required weight on the bow to keep the nose down. The wings she'd attached, folded in against the gondola. They'd spread quickly with the turn of a winch. She'd tested the engine and it worked better than she'd expected. Instead of fastening a boiler with a fire to heat it, Cal bolted the sphere down hanging below the airship. She'd had Hans order a shield so she could heat the boiler without risk of lighting the hydrogen on fire.
Cal walked around the Shed giving one last inspection to the work done that day. All that remained were details. The ship would indeed fly. It floated on taut ropes below, slack ropes above which had held the weight of the envelope. She had to make her notes for the day and finish the plans.
"O'Brien. Give me an hour, then have the escort ready." Bundo followed her upstairs. Tallinan still worked in his office.
"Working late, Petty Officer?" Cal stuck her head in his door.
"Aye, Commander. All this work has created a mountain of paperwork. The Navy likes to have every penny accounted for."
"I'll be done in an hour. You have until then."
"I should be able to finish in time."
Cal went to her office and got to work. She put the plans in the locked room and inside her desk. Tallinan's door was closed and locked. Good, she didn't like keeping her people late. Tired men made mistakes.
"All right Bundo, it's time to go. The escort should be waiting." They walked down the stairs and met up with O'Brien.
"All secure?" the Chief Petty Officer asked.
"Everything locked and checked," Cal replied. "I'm looking forward to an evening with a glass of brandy by the fire."
O'Brien pulled the door open. Men rushed into the Shed. They wore Navy uniforms, but none of them were men Cal recognized from her escort.
They carried clubs and swords. Bundo jumped at them, swinging the first thing that came to hand, a boat hook they used to hoist small items into the gondola.
"Get the Commander upstairs," Bundo shouted.