Building Civilizations on Primitive Planets
28. The Sinking of the Admiral's Ship

Until noon Day 6 September 2022 people in Alamut are still waiting for dozens of ships sailing from Gunungmacan.

Time continues to run, now the hour hand hanging at the entrance of the tent occupied by 10 brothers has shown at 10:00

Cloudy weather and lightning flashes in the middle of the ocean that appear in the distance are seen from the southern part of the island that makes people on land wary. So did Zayn and Udin who had been in Rihlah since last night began to think bad things.

For those wondering why Zayn and Udin would rather spend time in Rihlah while resting is the toilet of the answer. There are no toilets as comfortable as in Rihlah that they can use, hehe..

“Din look at the black cloud with lightning in the middle of the Ocean in our south, I so think of the safety of Johnny who has not had a ship for several days. Moreover, I think the Viking-style ships used by the people here are suitable for maneuvering between the islands and sailing in shallow waters, but what if the sea in the fierce open ocean like that, I think it's a little uncomfortable” Zayn talked to Udin while sipping warm tea.

“That's also what I thought of Zayn, to why I designed the small yard next to the Alamut gate towards the estuary, so, we do need a ship that is more ocean going with the simplest technology that can be accessed by the community here with easy materials. A moment ago Zayn, from the view of the drones on the horizon already seen a fleet of dozens of ships heading here, probably the fleet from Gunungmacan, he said,” replied Udin who was controlling the drone next to Zayn who had just sat next to him with a cup of tea.

“Well we will sail briefly to the estuary and down to the mainland we give instructions for their welcome. A distance of 12-18 km from Alamut will be reached by the fleet in approximately 1-2 hours. Let's prepare a welcome,” Zayn asserted.

They were both not long on the ground. On the mainland they only communicate with Rena and Anna who will make further arrangements to the others.

The plan there are some who will march to greet the group by standing waving their hands over Stockholm and Ragnarok which is anchored in the western part of the estuary.

At the estuary has flown the Alamut flag and under it hundreds of people are preparing to welcome the arrival of dozens of ships with the accompaniment of songs and instruments Bangsaku Alamut Raya (Ceddin Deden edited version Udin).

Zayn and Udin remained positioned on top of the Rihlah to direct the ship from Gunungmacan to enter the estuary.

After giving brief instructions, Rihlah sailed back to the high seas to welcome the arriving fleet. It turns out that in the middle of the sea the sailing ship did not amount to 15 ships as told by Roni and Leman, but 16 ships.

The most striking is the 2 large vessels with catamaran design rowed in two hull sections that compose the catamaran structure.

“Zayn, it's like the Galley model from ancient Greece if it's not wrongly named Terrakonteres, there are two types of galley like that catamaran and single hull,” said Udin amazed.

“Maybe it's a ship called Jumanji that can accommodate 200 people Din,” Zayn who gawk commented.

“99 percent so I think Zayn. Just in my observation 2 large ships that are about 90 meters long, the draft below sea level can be more than 2 meters may be anchored on the deepest side of the estuary, especially with a width or beam that reaches 15 meters, it really takes place. In the future we really have to conceptualize an ocean port. Our dock alone is now only able to accommodate ships with a 3-meter draft only. Before this the largest ship here such as Ragnarok and the ship carried by Roni although the length of 39 meters is still a draft from sea level to keelunasnya when the full load is not up to 1 meter because of its slim size. In the future we will make strange ships that need a large port. Later we start with high mast sailing ship.” Udin.

The vessels in the Gunungmacan group on the watch consist of 2 Terrakonteres type ships, 2 A size warships, 2 B size warships, 6 B size merchant ships and 4 A size merchant ships.

The length of the ships in the Fantastica Islands, especially in the Kingdom of Suleka in general according to the information obtained from Roni can be described as follows:

Viking Karve B-type passenger ship: 9 meters (example: Valhalla)

Viking Carve type A passenger ship size: 14 meters

Viking Longship B-type warships: 27 meters (example: Babu Feather and Sea Worm)

Viking Longship type A size warship: 39 meters (example: Ragnarok)

Viking Knaar type B size merchant ships: 16 meters (example: Stockholm)

Viking Knaar type A size merchant ship: 24 meters.

Rihlah approached the ship's entourage and then with signals and warnings delivered via loudspeakers relaying instructions to enter the estuary.

The inside of the estuary that is already in a narrow cone shape will enter a size B warship that has the lowest draft, which has the lowest draft, furthermore, the deepest and most prominent part of the estuary in the middle is directly filled with 2 Terrakonteres type ships then on the left and right terrakonteres will be included A size warships and on the right left of size warships A will be inserted merchant vessel size B in front and size A behind on the side of the deeper estuary.

Commercial ships that can load a lot of cargo have the deepest draft, but still under terrakonteres.

“Please note, we are from the SS Rihlah ship of Imperium Alamut, we will guide each ship to its berth. First of all please the size B warship follow us to the inside of the estuary,” Udin guide through the loudspeakers with Zayn guiding the ship's way to the estuary.

Immediately senopati Parjo and Kentung direct the Squid Ink and Kelemang Shell into the estuary.

Then one by one the ships entered the estuary after 2 Terrakonteres followed by A-sized warships including ships boarded by Rear Admiral Andi Keling then the last followed by commercial ships size B and then A.

But the accident occurred when a merchant ship size B that will be parked in the last sequence somewhat dragged the current to the east side of the estuary, when about to enter the door of the ship's estuary, the last A-size merchant ship that was about to dock at the estuary rubbed against a large rock so that there was a leak at the bottom of the front keel.

On board his warship Andi Keling was in shock when he saw the merchant ship began to enter the water and gradually sank.

“Ohhhh do not sink Sense Bulus,... my ship...hu,” cries Andi Keling broke to see the large merchant ship began to sink where 20 people who were riding him plunged into the sea to save themselves.

Udin then turned the volume of the full-sized loudspeakers to give command to the soldiers who welcomed the arrival of the Gunungmacan fleet from above Stockholm and Ragnarok to immediately release the anchors and help rescue people and merchant ships that's.

“Vessel rescue role, ship rescue role.Please who this morning served above Stockholm and Ragnarok in the dock to move to save the shipwrecked merchant ship on the east side of the end of the estuary, and,” Udin repeated the command that immediately greeted the crew who served deftly.

Rihlah then rescued 7 people from the ocean, along with 2 ships ordered to carry out rescue activities.

While 15 ships from the fleet that had just docked at the estuary were not allowed to carry out rescue operations by returning to the estuary door because it would make the arrangement of the ship difficult again.

“Why the admiral is so sad, look at all the passengers of the ship successfully rescued,”, said Chief Justice Giman pointed at the mouth door in the south.

“Will you be Mr. Giman, 20 years ago when I had just graduated from the Naval Training Center, my job for the first two years was to become the escort soldier of the sinking merchant ship Akal Bulus, maybe it was his fate that the old ship sank easily to rest after a long trade task,” Andi Keling sobbed.

“The Stump of Wulung what load did Sense of Bulus carry,” asked Giman to the man standing next to Andi Keling who was still sobbing.

“So a large merchant ship like wakal Bulus should only carry 6 master crew for maximum payload, but we carry 20 people overall thus reducing the load capacity. The charge of Intellect Bulus is the property of the Resident Building is mainly of the type of stone sculpture, while other loads of the building were also loaded 3 ships of size A other Mr. Giman,” Senopati Tunggul Wulung explained.

“Aaa.. What statues of the Great Gods drowned.. ohhh Gods do not wrath us who are held captive by these ungodly humans. Look God is not willing to see your behavior and you will soon get a punishment,” Appoint Resident Pramono to the people around him.

“Stop your superstition Pramono, soon Alamut in front of us this will dominate the entire archipelago I believe it,” Thumenggung Jayadi chimed.

At 14:00 everyone had been unloaded at Alamut, while the final cargo of the entire ship was completed at 17:30

In the decline of people and cargo to the edge of the estuary from the deep part of the estuary that is the role of the Rihlah and some small lifeboats really felt. Because the ship anchored around the thick mud or in the middle of the estuary can not directly lower people and their cargo.

Every 1 Terrakonteres ship has 4 small lifeboats so that with Rihlah which measures 13.5 meters long there are 8 small lifeboats with a length of 8 meters that can nimbly swerve between the ships anchored to act unloading people and cargo from some ships that need help.