Date: Mon, 29 Jun 1998 20:51:06 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [ffml] [MW] Reinforcements From: Sky H Ainsworth (note: this takes place before the dinner) Bacca stood on the top of the palisade that had been erected around the entrance to the tunnel. In the sky was a host of black specks. Bacca had been alerted to them by a messenger and eagerly awaited what he hoped was the answer to his prayers. As the airships closed in, Bacca smiled broadly as the flag of the Caliph was displayed. Lady Paladin walked up beside Bacca and took his arm. "Is that what I think it is?" she asked, trepidation in her voice. "Yes," said Bacca with zest. "Your friend the Caliph is quite the honorable gentleman I took him for." Bacca thought back to his meeting with the man, then of Lady's dance. His mind raced and he squeezed Lady's hand. She looked over at him, and he smiled, with a glint to his eyes. Lady was unsure of the look and stood back a little. The airships came within range and landed. Several men unloaded from each. A couple men, one dressed in finery and recognized to Bacca as the Caliph's Chamberlain, came over to the fortification. Bacca went down and greeted the man. "My lord sends you his greetings and wishes for good health," siad the chamberlain. "I send the same to him, with the wish that good fortune will greet him in the future for the major boon he has given us," answered Bacca, formerly. "I must say I am impressed with these fine ships." "And indeed you have every reason," said the wizened man. "These are top of the line air-craft. Built by the best in Banon, before its fall. Each corvette requires a crew of thirty, though the minimum to run is four. They are armed with slings and ballistas, ten to each side, with two to the front and rear. Two of the side ballistas can be turned to face forward. They have a top speed of .5 mach, almost as fast as some dragons (I'm just guessing here), and have a good turn radius. "The cargo capacity is also quite impressive," continued the chamberlain. "As you can see, we had the guymelefs attached to the rear of each airships." He indicated the mechs. "The guymelefs themselves are marvels. "Made by the skilled hands of the clan of Ispano, the guymelefs stand twenty five feet high. Powered by the energist and ingenius gears and mechanisms, they can be operated by one man and be manipulated to lift even their own weight if necessary. They can handle being dropped from thirty feet in the air, although the occupants may be quite put out from the impact. "We gave you several different vareities to choose from in these mechs. Spears, swords, and axes are the different weapons we had available. There are no shields, since these are much too heavy and expensive, even for my lord Caliph to give away. But the armor on the mechs should prove sufficient. The weapons are case hardened and can withstand any weapon strike repeatedly, although replacing after fifty battles is suggested. "It is my master's hope that you use these weapons wisely and that they bring you victory against the moogles," concluded the old man. "Tell your master that I thank him from the bottom of my heart," said Bacca, looking to the man. "He has my eterenal gratitude and my aid, should he ever have need." Both men bowed to the other. The temporary crews gathered around a larger passenger airship. When the chamberlain met them, they quickly loaded onto the vessel and took off. "Scotts, get some men to secure these vehicles," ordered Bacca before the Caliph's men took off. Squads of men went to each airship and inspected them. All that was found on board were some emergency supplies, standard armament loads, and navigation equipment. "The Caliph gave us the basics," said Scotts. "But we have everything in the army necessary to fully equip these corvettes." "Okay," said Bacca. "Make the necessary arrangements and outfit each corvette with a crew of thirty. SpaceCat said that part of the army used to be airforce, so pick those guys out first and distribute them accordingly. That will leave us with eigthy thousand men on the ground, but we should be alright. Also, have the mechs unloaded and prepped to travel. We will have them march in the columns tomorrow." "Is that wise?" asked Scotts. "Mechs wear out the more often they are used. Why not leave them attached to the corvettes, sir?" "With a full crew and equipment, the airships would be too weighed down having to tote the mechs as well. Also, their battle effectiveness is really hindered. And if we loose an airship, we also loose the mech. I watched how awkwardly those airships handled as they came in and landed. They are not designed to carry that extra weight. Also, this will the pilots of the mechs time to custumize themselves to the mechs." "Did SpaceCat say there were mech pilots in the army as well?" asked Scotts. He had a look of interest on his face. "No, but there might be," said Bacca. "Asked around and if not, then give it to the Lance Henriksens. They should trained enough to handle these machines and not turn tail and run at the first sign of trouble. "These mechs will put our troops on better ground then those moogleboars. They may be fast, but they cannot do that much damage to these machines. Also, if we assign companys to these mechs in combat, they can help each other out. The mechs will take on the brunt of the attack and draw the attention of the boars, while the infantry can keep the boars from climbing on the mechs and cuasing trouble. And against the moogles themselves, the mechs can squash them like peas." "Ah, victory is in sight sir," said Scotts, breaking out into a broad grin. "I hope so," said Bacca. He was not so sure of himself as Scotts was.