The renovation project happened, not a week later, but just three days.
“I got the ships.”
For some odd reason, Aurora, the head of the project ordered Belisari to purchase at least twenty ships, and she also noted that they must be large and fast and big enough to carry goods and people. Not taking a minute to consider, the prince headed straight to the port, to the Milishilian docking space, and:
“He was kinda surprised and frightened at first, but the deal was quick.”
Cereus’s cruiser, once a coffee delivering vessel, is a high quality full-rigged ship, which was built in Vineci, capital of the Maritime Federation. That is one fine ship for their fleet. Belisari takes another trip to the Maritimer bay, where he buys the rest of the ships on Aurora's demand. The ship-building technique of the Federation, as their name suggested, is superb. They were the naval dominance power in the known world until recently, when the Milishilians invented explosive shells for their wartime vessels.
However, for trading ships, which prioritized transport weight over armaments , merchants would still favor the Maritime over Milishila, and so does Aurora.
“Good, that is pretty much all of it. Although all of them need to be retrofitted, they might be able to both carry out naval combat and logistic missions.”
The Great Expedition, a plan which was drawn out by the Latilian Army to repeal the Elestovakians as well as reclaim their empire, had three objectives that require a naval force:
Firstly, keeping Vlenna fighting for as long as possible, to keep the imperial force of the Empire far from their army, better in the south of the Granisus river, and to do so, supply ships are a must to deliver weapons and grains to Vlenna.
Secondly, to resupply their army far in foreign land. Food and water can be seized from captured territory, but not ammunition or gunpowder, and on some occasions, even food cannot be harvested, they need to be delivered from the homeland.
And last but not least, defending the city of Latilia from the Elestovakian navy. The imperial fleet was significantly reduced after the war against Milishila, almost all catapult ships were wiped out, but they were still able to threaten Latila if they were not prepared for it.
“Is twenty enough?”
“For coastal defense that is more than enough. Watch this.”
Aurora, the girl is sitting on a cliff by the shore. And Lily is helping her to place a large tube into a mechanical complex using two iron rails to stabilize the tube. Belisari sees, although he is not sure what is happening.
“Don’t be ashamed to admit it. I have no idea either”-said Lily to Belisari, putting her cigarette aside. Aurora meanwhile is adjusting the receiving end of the rail-based machine:
“Adjust to 07 degrees, wind 04. Ready”
Suddenly, Aurora says some unusual words to Belisari, while at the same time igniting something. Then, the girl covers her ears, and tells Belisari and Lily to do the same. It is better to listen to advice from this girl, the two have decided a few days ago, and so they did.
“Fire!”
From the tube, a cloud of hot orange air sprayed out, pushing the tube forward into the sky, into the direction Aurora aimed it into. The ammunition travels a massive distance, further than stone launched from trebuchet, beyond their biological eyes vision:
Bang!*
Then, before it makes an impact on the ocean floor, the tube flashes a light of fire and disappears. Without needing an explanation, that is definitely an explosion.
“Test success, black powder worked fine, no need for nitrocellulose. I guess that should be the best option considering the cost effectiveness.”
Aurora takes out a note she brought with herself and writes these words into it-”That is how we are going to arm the ships by the way. It would give our fleet an advantage against the Elestovakians”-she adds-”Hey Belisarius-”
In contrast to her, her two companions are stunning. This is only the second time Belisari ever saw a blasting shell, while for Lily it was the first. It is understandable how they are like this. Black powder rockets were not new for them, the Fliers had been using them for a century, but their true potential only exists after being fused with blasting warheads.
Putting back the note to her backpack, Aurora uses her fists to knock these two people from their own world and back to reality:
“Ouch.”-both say, clutching their heads.
“That should make you less distracted. I have more things to show, don’t be surprised by the first one.”
“Aha. sorry about that”
Belisari rubs his head, looking at the launching platform. With that, the smaller Latilian fleet should be able to outmatch their Elestovakian counterparts in range and firepower. Aurora really made it to her promise: she gave them explosive shells. With blueprints and mass producing method notes being delivered across the nation, into every blacksmith houses and military complexes, soon, Latila would be flooded with these types of weapons.
“I could imagine how the Elestovakians would feel when we showed them this. They might just surrender in an instant.”
Lily says with a joking voice, giggling-“Yep”-to which Belisari agrees with her.
“If you two think that is enough for a war, then you are absolutely wrong!”
A voice suddenly comes and makes Aurora, Belisari and Lily startled. Behind the three, off the cliff, three figures are running at them. One of them was Klein, the two others probably guards. Klein is in rush, for some reason:
“What do you mean by not enough?”-asked Lily, her brother immediately replies:
“I said not enough is not enough. I’ve seen that weapon, it is impressive. However, the Elestovakians are not willing to give up a bunch of land out of fear…in fact, none did, or is going to do so. They are going to win us by an attrition war if that happens.”
“I know I know. I was just kidding, don’t take my words seriously.”
Klein flaps his right hand-“No no, it is hard to distinguish between you and His Highness joking and being serious, no matter how satire it may sound.”-At the same time he drags Aurora closer to him with the other hand.-”And may I borrow her a bit.”
They walk out of the hearing range of the others:
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
“Hey Aurora, sorry for yesterday”-The Voyage whispered to her-”I lost my control and punched you, sorry about that.”
“No no, no problem, I did the same to Her Grace and His Highness just a few minutes ago”
“You did what!? Geeze…Gosh, your nation has no hierarchy? Is your country “Russia” a republic?”
Aurora nods-”Probably, I guess?”
“Well, now you know that you are in a monarchy state, you should learn how to behave with an aristocrat.”
“You dragged me here just to say that?”
“No of course, though it is still important- Anyhow, I am here to give you this. James, give it to her.”
One of the two guards takes out a thick metallic tube and throws it to Aurora. This is not a frame for a rocket, for obvious reason, it is too heavy to fit that role, not mentioning the mechanical part which is too complicated for a projectile in this era. There is a handle, even.
The blueprint of this particular device was sent to only one institution of the entire nation, the only one capable of producing such a complex weapon: This is the handheld rocket propeller, one would enable launching rockets on horseback and in the infantry, without relying on artillery support:
“This is for you, Liliya- Your Grace. And your cavalry unit, the Winged Husaria”
The Winged Husaria, one of the most formidable cavalry units in the entire known world, probably even the best, is a unit consisting of 1500 personnels. They were all horse riders, armed with light black leather armor with extra breastplate, a matchlock, a 6,2 meter lance and a melee weapon. What is special about this unit is that their cavalrymen were decorated with wings, to create an illusion about their height and distance. Another thing, their horses, despite already carrying so much of an arsenal, has not reached their weight limit. Hence it is why Aurora chose this unit to renovate first:
“Put a rocket into the tube….like this?”
Now, Lily Sobieski Voyage, the commander of that unit is testing the weapon that was designed for them. It is far heavier than a conventional matchlock, but smaller than a ship cannons. Belisari realized that its design resembled the gun Aurora used to demonstrate the explosive shells to him.
“Yes, and ear plugs as well”
Aurora puts two ear plugs for Lily, before her and the rest run out of the site as if they are running for their lives, leaving Lily alone with that launcher.
With a projectile ready in the barrel, the archduchess pulls the trigger. This is…more familiar to a gun that she thought.
“Fire!”
Just like the repeating of the explosive shell test, the rocket again exploded when it flew out of their vision.
**
“Your Majesty, it was a pleasure meeting you here.”
“Sit down, Sir Khaliz. I know you are not here for a mere visit.”
While the young generation of the Latilian monarch is spending their time testing weapons on the shore for the incoming war, the older one is managing the Elestovakians on the diplomatic battlefield.
Justinius had received a letter from Levantia, saying that a consul from that nation is going to arrive at the city, and now that consul is here. Khaliz, Consul and Duke of Rashid, was sent by the empire to receive tribute from Latila. It has been a practice for a long time, since the Latilians were defeated by the Elestovakians. Milishila did manage to help Latila to hold on its independence, but cannot prevent Elestovakia from forcing them to pay tribute yearly.
“Yes, you got the point. So, may I receive it?”
The Latilian king places a small chest full of gold coin onto the table, his face having a sorrow expression:
“Sorry, but we’ve only managed to gather tribute for two months ahead. Please take it, we will try our best to gather money to pay you later.”
It was a lie, obviously. The expression is also fake. The money Latila had from exchanging the diamonds is forty times this amount. Justinius, if he wanted to, can easily pay tribute for another decade. However, it is unwise to send more money to their future enemies, when there will be an inevitable war. Justinius, both of his sons and the House of Voyage thought of that, hence they just offer these as minimum:
“I see.”-Khaliz nods his head, saying-”I will take it, or course, and negotiate with the empire. Let's see if I can give another exception this time. May you leave us for a moment?”
After Khaliz raises his hand, all of his guards withdraw from the room, leaving only Khaliz and Justinius:
“My friend”-Khaliz says-”Justinius, give up Latila, there is no point in existing as an independent nation anymore.”
“What do you mean when you say that?”-asked Justinius
“I mean, your nation has a population of a quarter million, that is a lot, a lot for a tiny country. I know, the Latilian monarch had done many things to avoid that huge population being starved: selling artifacts, heavily taxed the Maritimers and Milishilians, borrowing a huge sum of money…to buy grain, but it has the limit.”
Khaliz looks at the map on a wall, this map, unlike the one that Aurora had seen on the ceiling of the palace, this map shows Latila not as a big kingdom, but as a depressing small city, so small, and lacking arable land. The vast plain of the Duchy of Voyage was claimed by the Elestovakians, those silver mines in Flemton, forests in O’well,...were lost. Nowaday, that depressing Latila cannot survive on its own, always relying on Milishila and the Federation to keep its running, from food to water, to even military defense. Ten years, that time should be enough to show this country and its people that there is no way they can survive for any longer if there is nothing to change. Elestovakia had been merciful and extended the tribute period, but time is getting tighter, Latila is again on the brink of collapse both economically and politically.
“Let the kingdom die to release its people. I am saying this as your friend, Justinius”-Khaliz looks at the eyes of the king-”Being king of a dying kingdom is not a viable choice. I promise, if you agree to be part of the empire, I will help you to be a count or something, I can do that.”
Justinius was shaken by these words. This has not been the first time he was offered to give up his kingdom, he was already facing these requests from the very first day after the Elestovakian War ended, and he rejected them all. Latila had never lost its independence, never.
But as time went by, his willingness became more and more weakened. The palace Justinius is in, the Latilus Latila palace, was much more prosperous than it is right now, with gold and silver shining on the throne, in the armors of the guards, marble sculptures came from ancient time, before this city was even rebuilt…but they’ve all gone now. Anything that had not been attached to the wall was sold to the Milishilians, and now had gone forever. All for the money to rebuild their military strength, yet compared to fifteen years ago, the Latilian Army is just a small presentation of its former glory, the one that was defeated under the hand of the Elestovakian Imperial Army.
The Latilian Port, the port that made the face of this country, the masterpiece of the Latila and Voyage family built from a hundred years ago, half of it was now owned by the Maritimers, not as a rented place, but as a colony, for Latila to receive some annual financial aid from Ganeo and Vineci. A kingdom that was already small, being colonized by merchants, that cannot be more humiliating, but it is a price they must pay because the Latilians still want to renovate their kingdom after the devastating Siege of Latila. And although they’ve not been starved, overpopulation is also endangering the city. A single disease can wipe out ten, twenty, thirty thousand in a week. He had seen it, just eight years ago, a disease had swept across the street of Latila, spreading rapidly due to its population density, killing one sixth of its population, including Justinius father:
“Justin…”
That should be enough reasons for a wise king to submit, knowing that resistance is certain death for this nation, that Elestovakia is the master of this continent, that Latila is not a threat to them, and will never return to its glory days. But:
“I am not willing to give up Latila”
Justinius casually places his hands on the table, his vision of a wise emperor met with the look of his old friend. He is a king, king of a nation which had survived many wars, survived through the test of time, through all attempts to vanish it. This time, Latila will not give in either:
“This country is ancient. Tell the Elestovakians, as long as I am the king, there will be no province of Latila, Latila can only exist, as either a kingdom, or an empire.”
With Aurora, her innovation and her charity, things would change, they would not be defensive anymore, they would invade Elestovakia. He and his family, the Latilian monarch, could change the fate of this country. That is the gamble Justinius is willing to play, for the sake of Latila.
“So, that was your decision. Goodbye, then”
Khaliz shakes his head, he turns around and intends to walk away, but the consul stopped right by the door:
“Vlenna has also rejected us. We will invade that country in less than months, the imperial army is being ready in Levantia. I don’t know which time, but Latila is definitely the next target after Vlenna.”
The Elestovakian consul then leaves the palace.
“This is the last time we will ever meet, perhaps.”