Chapter 99: Dangerous Demonstration Part 4
"A woman of many talents." The Queen waved at Cal's tea. "Drink up before it gets cold."
They were deep in discussion of Prince Alfred's plans when a knock at the door interrupted them. Prince Hubert walked in and bowed to his mother.
"My apologies for taking so long. I needed to reassure Astrid I was still in one piece."
"You are forgiven. It gave Us time to get to know your delightful Commander. Do sit down, you know I don't like people looming over me."
Hubert sat looking stiff and uncomfortable on the chair.
"We couldn't learn anything from the men who put on the demonstration... they both died." He scowled. "Saves us the trouble of hanging them, I guess. They rented the building only a month back. Intelligence is tracking who did the fabricating, but if they spread out the work, it won't tell us much."
"Their motivation is key." Cal put her teacup down. "If they truly thought they could get the jump on the engine with stolen plans, it may have been mercenary. After all, how much would the Navy pay for engines which worked as those poor fools promised? But I wonder if the people behind them had a darker motive. How many people will trust the fan engine once they hear about the disaster?"
"You think someone wanted that to happen?" The Crown Prince looked shocked.
"Given the shoddy way they ran the demonstration, its spectacular failure was almost a guaranteed result. Their backer probably swore up and down these were the newest and best plans, so they didn't need rigorous testing. Add ambition to greed, and you have a fiasco which very nearly killed the Crown Prince."
"I should have listened to you; a lot of people would be alive now if I had."
"What made you move? One moment the thing was screeching like all the devils of hell, the next, I was lying on the floor with a pile of people on top of me."
"It was you, actually. I heard you mutter something like 'God help us,' and I decided it was time to move. Sorry about your ribs. You would have been all right with just me, but my bodyguards landed on us."
"When I think of the alternative, I will happily put up with injured ribs." Cal gave them a tired grin.
"Take some time off to recover, and that's an order, Commander. Doctor Grant will check you out in a week. If he says you're ready for duty then, you may return."
"Yes, Your Highness." Cal closed her eyes and sighed carefully. "If I may be excused, your Majesty?"
"Of course, Commander. Our thanks for your dedication to duty." The Queen nodded her head. "One of the guards will see you home."
Cal stood and cautiously curtsied, then followed a guard toward a coach and home.
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