The Thousand Year Dynasty
17. New Ship
Right next to the pier was released shallow waters of the west sea, a ship was docked.
The ship was made entirely of iron. The shape is like a sea ship in general, only it does not have a sail. Where usually stood a sail pole, now replaced with a chimney and some weapons similar to those mounted on the cliff wall of the south gate.
The front end of the bottom of the ship was attached to a serrated iron plate. When viewed from a distance, it looks like a shark's jaw. Even using a mechanical system, the iron plate can move up and down like a mouth.
On each side of the ship, there are 8 windows the size of an adult head that can be opened and closed. And from inside the window was a cannon whose muzzle could be pulled out or pulled in. There is also a door that can be opened up to the size of an iron train, just below the 8 windows of the cannon.
At the bottom of the boat was a propeller submerged in water. And when it has not fully entered the water, the lower body of the ship looks like an oval tube with two holes right in the front.
But when the ship was already in the water, the oval tube-shaped part was completely in the water. Not visible from the surface.
The ship has six deck levels. The bottom contains steam locomotive engines and ship propulsion equipment and armament. Aksa called it room B3.
One level above B2, is a place to store all kinds of goods and eating materials. There are also several small boats kept in the area.
One more level above it is floor B1. In the center is the room where the crew rested. While on the edge is a place to put 18 cannons. Which is 8 cannons on each side, and 2 cannons on the front of the ship.
Then the deck above, called Aksa with F1, is an open deck containing several harpoon-throwing cannon weapons.
Then on the second floor, F2 which is only half the size of the entire ship, there is a bridge and space for the captain.
On top of it again is an empty place that only has a cannon that has two iron tubes lined up.
Then the same as the steam train, the ship also makes a whistle-like sound from its chimney.
The ship was the one that Aksa would use to intercept ships from the Urbar kingdom in the west sea.
Aksa was on board with Rafa, Val, Marco, Anna, Nikolai, and several crew members. Seemed busy preparing everything before getting ready to sail.
Val follows Aksa this time as he is responsible for protecting Aksa as long as Lily protects Nata. And it seems Marco just wants to follow wherever Val goes. Therefore, Marco will help the crew to run the ship.
The uniform worn by the crew and also Aksa, Rafa, Anna, and Nikolai were dull black armor as used by Lucia and the soldiers. It's just that for Anna, he still doubles her up with the captain's long jacket she used to wear.
Then the addition to the people on the ship is, they are all equipped with floats. Per each one. Which is kept in a special place.
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"What amount of wood will be enough, Lord Aksa?" Nikolai was on the deck where the ship's propulsion engines were located. The bottom deck.
"Don't worry, Mr. Nikolai. The ship uses a hybrid drive system between a steam furnace and an electric battery. I think, if to move non-stop for twelve hours anyway, still strong" replied Aksa who seemed busy examining some objects shaped like a furnace and iron tubes, with a lot of serrated wheels, with a lot of wheels, iron chains, and iron bars.
"I don't really understand what you're talking about. But if you say so, then I will follow him" Nikolai replied.
"OKAY. Now try to ignite the burning, Mr. Nikolai. We will start to leave" Aksa said later.
The locomotive furnace inside the ship was already on, when Aksa and Nikolai were back on the bridge. The place where the steering wheel of the ship is located.
The bridge is one floor above the first deck, right in front of the captain's room. In the room there is a very wide clear glass window. The height is almost as high as the room, and the width is also almost as wide as the circumference of the room. With an iron frame attached at each corner at each distance of two steps, as a buffer of the glass
Slowly they started to move away from the dock. Workers at the dock were seen removing the hook and waving to the people on board. There were 60 crew members in total.
"Think we're going on a sightseeing, what? Pake in all drugs" Aksa chirped to see the workers who were on the dock.
"This ship is really much more impressive than the ship on the east coast" Anna said from next to Aksa who stood in front of the glass window of the bridge.
"obvious. The ship on the east coast was only used for crossings. Which only takes no more than an hour to travel, without the need for complicated maneuvers" Aksa explained.
"really. Like iron funnels to talk to everyone on all levels of this floor. Really a very helpful tool" Nikolai pointed at some iron tubes attached to the edge of the bridge wall. Which has a tip with a widened size like a trumpet.
A name was written next to the tubes as a marker.
"Also with the cannons" Anna told Nikolai's speech was missed. While pointing at a tool like a harpoon thrower but has a larger size four times. The one on the lower deck, in the front of the ship.
"By the way, Miss Anna. How have wars been going on over the ocean?" Aksa asked later.
"Usually we get closer to the enemy ship, then drop our troops onto their ship" Anna replied.
"So they're very likely to do that to us. They'll try to get close to this ship, and bring down the soldiers to attack?" Aksa sounded like he was making sure.
"really. They will definitely do it" Anna replied confidently.
"Then do they have a long-range weapon to sink or destroy the opponent's ship? They're definitely not going to use cannons, are they?" Question Aksa connect.
"really. We don't know what a cannon is. But normally we would use witches to conduct long-range attacks on enemy ships" Anna explained.
"Oh yes, right too. That's what happens if you guys can do magic" Aksa nodded as if she had just realized something.
"Then how is the war in your place that knows no magic, Aks?" This time it was Val who asked, from behind Aksa.
"Yes, more or less the same. They use materials such as gunpowder and other chemicals. But unlike magic or mystical weapons whose use is limited to a certain number of people only, the materials for weapons in my world can be obtained by everyone. And it can be used by everyone" Aksa explained at length.
"Everyone has a balanced power, that means there will be no tyrant in full power in your world?" val said later.
"When viewed in terms of weapons it is like that. But tyrants everywhere wouldn't last long if they only relied on the power of weapons, right?" Aksa responded to Val's remarks.
Val was silent, looking thoughtful.
"Also if we look at it from another angle. The ease with which everyone has the same weapon, can be very destructive" Aksa added later.
"Why could that be?" Val asked in wonder.
"The great magic like the Torch you made there is only one in this world. In my world a weapon equivalent to a Torch could be owned by more than one party. And what would happen if the parties fought each other?"
Val looks to nod, "I understand" he said later.
"Therefore, Nata and I always thought several times to bring the knowledge of the weapons of our world here" Aksa added later. Which brings awkward silence on the bridge.
Those who hear Aksa's words do not know how to respond.
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And after walking for some time, finally the mast of the royal ship Urbar was seen at the end of the horizon.
Aksa monitored the presence of the opposing ship with his binoculars.
"Treally thirty ships. Did they not learn that such a big ship could not pass through shallow waters? They still have to use a small ship to land on the beach" Aksa said himself.
"Then what plan shall we make to block the ships, Lord Aksa?" Anna asked.
"The plan is just one. Drown!" Aksa exclaimed by raising her fist into the air.
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