Chapter 83: A New Thing Part 4
"Works for me." The prince looked around the table as the Admirals nodded. "That's out of the way. I'll let you and Cal work out the details later. What I want to hear now, is how we're going to build this thing."
"I've been giving it considerable thought." Cal wished she'd known what the meeting was about. Then she could have brought her sketchbook with her drawings and notes. "I have some preliminary drawings, but before we start putting things together I need to learn some important things. First, is what volume we need to displace to float an airship. Second, we need to look at different ways of creating the volume. Hot air will lift a weight from the ground, and hot air balloons have been around for a while. The problem is how we heat the necessary amount of air and keep it hot. There may be other solutions to make a lighter-than-air volume. We'll explore them. Third, we need an engine, a propeller for it to drive and a mechanism to steer both port and starboard as well as up and down."
The prince held up his hand to forestall her as the Admiral stared at her with glazed eyes. "Thank you, Commander. What resources do you need?"
"People who won't mind working with a woman. I don't have time to coddle men who want to push me around because of who I am. I also need the biggest open building you have. Even a prototype airship is going to be huge." She drummed her fingers on the heavy, mahogany table. "A full machine shop and people to run it, preferably creative people. And I will need silk or some similar lightweight fabric. Canvas will be too heavy. Everything we make for this ship will need to be light and efficient."
"Just how much silk are we talking? My wife bought a silk dress and it cost a small fortune." One of the Admirals waved his hands in the air.
"I may be able to find another fabric which will work, but that's a priority."
"Very well. Keep us informed." The prince steepled his fingers. "Now, I know we have some other business."
"Excuse me, with all due respect. I don't have the experience to contribute to your other discussion. Since I've made my report, I would like to return to my work."
"Return to your work? You haven't even started yet. We need to swear you in and get you oriented." Vice-Admiral Peysk looked shocked.
"I need to design experiments to learn more of the parameters I'm working with. I also need to work on the engine and steering component design."
"How about we swear her in now, and do it all officially later?" The Crown Prince said, looking at the others.
"That's what you said when you made me Royal Engineer."
"I did, didn't I?" He grinned at her, not the least bit apologetic. "Well, I'll work on that. For the moment, do you swear..."
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