Princes of the Universe, Part I

[Fetch]

Originally Posted by Sisiutil

No offense, but... could you guys take this discussion to the off-topic forum? I'd prefer this thread be limited as much as possible to either story or discussion of it, not another internet message board political debate. (And yes I acknowledge that I, too, have posted OT in here.) I also don't want it turning into a flame war (which is usually inevitable).

Thanks!

Sis- the best way to silence them is to give them another chapter.

[Civfan333]

no, he's right, there's WAYYYYYYYYY to much off-topic thing here.

[Sisiutil]

Princes 14 – Child’s Play

Part 4: Weapons Check

“So how does this work?” Caesar asked as he cradled the weapon in his arms.

“Very much like a musket, but with a few key differences,” Jin explained excitedly. “First of all, pull back on this lever,” he said, pointing to a metal lever near the bottom of the barrel, next to the stock. Caesar did so. “That opens the breech, into which you can insert the cartridge. Pointed end forward.”

Caesar carefully inserted the metallic cartridge into the breach. The new cartridges were enclosed in a metal shell rather than paper, and had one conical end and one flat. Also unlike the paper cartridges, these new ones did not have to be opened before loading; they were entirely self-contained, gunpowder and projectile combined into one small, neat, deadly package.

“Slide the bolt back,” Jin instructed him. Caesar pushed the lever back until it closed with a click. “Now raise the weapon to your shoulder, take aim, and fire.”

Caesar stared down the sights of the weapon. “That target you’ve set up has got to be well over one hundred yards away,” he muttered.

“Two hundred yards, to be precise, Caesar,” Jin said, his voice even and confident. “I understand you’ve been practicing with a musket?”

“Since you were but a beam of light in your father’s eye,” the immortal leader of Rome responded.

“Then you should have no problem hitting that target with this weapon,” Jin assured him. When he saw Caesar was about to lick his index finger, Jin interjected. “No need to check the wind, Caesar. Not at this range.”

Caesar cocked an eyebrow at the engineer’s self-confident tone. He sighted the target, took aim, and squeezed the trigger. With a loud retort, his shot fired. The shell flew out of the breech and landed at his feet and he felt the familiar kick of the weapon into his shoulder. He lowered the barrel and stared at the distant target.

“You hit it, sir,” one of his sharp-eyed aides told him.

“I can see that,” Caesar said, barely hiding his surprise. He could fire a musket all day long at a two-hundred-yard distant target without ever striking it, let alone scoring a bull’s eye. But this new weapon had proved remarkably accurate, even on his first attempt. “What do you call it again, Jin?”

“A rifle, Caesar,” Jin said proudly.

All it had taken was the sight of his own son using a basic principle of physics to accurately throw a ball, and everything had become clear. The conservation of angular momentum meant that an object, such as a ball, or a bullet, rotating around a reference point would continue to rotate around that reference point unless acted upon by some external force. Thus, imparting a spin to a bullet gave it greater accuracy and range. It was an idea so obvious, so simple, that Jin still couldn’t help chuckling when he thought of how he’d missed it all these years.

Once he had the idea, the implementation had been obvious: carve grooves into the barrel of the musket, a process called “rifling”. Then engineer the bullet so that it gripped those grooves when the weapon was fired, thereby imparting a spin to the projectile. Inspired by this innovation, Jin’s team of military engineers had also developed the breech-loading mechanism and the new, simpler, and more aerodynamic cartridges. It had taken a few years to perfect everything, but after decades of little progress, the time seemed to fly by.

The sound of the rifle firing echoed across the field as Caesar took another shot. This one was a perfect bull’s eye.

“Excellent,” Caesar said as he lowered the rifle’s stock from his shoulder. He turned to one of his companions, an angular-featured man with youthful looks but thinning hair. “Septimius. How long will it take your firm to start mass-producing these rifles?”

The man pursed his lips and considered. “It isn’t just the rifling,” he said. “It’s the breech mechanism, and the new cartridges… we’ll have to completely retool our munitions factories. I’d say we can be ready to make these in, say, six months?”

“You have two, or I turn the contract over to your competitor,” Caesar said sharply. “Time is of the essence.”

Septimius inhaled deeply, his eyes widening, then nodded. “I’ll see to it myself, Caesar,” he said, then looked away, his mind already considering how to accomplish the task.

“Are we expecting to be attacked, Caesar?” Jin asked innocently.

Ceasar turned suddenly, his ice-blue eyes staring sharply at Jin in such a way that the military engineer had to suppress a shudder. Then a smile slowly appeared on those ancient, angular features, crinkling the corners of his eyes.

“It’s of paramount importance that Rome’s soldiers be as well equipped as possible as soon as possible,” he said in an assuring tone. “They must be prepared for… any eventuality. Don’t you agree, Li Jin?”

“Of course, Caesar,” Jin said with a respectful bow. As he rose, he saw that Caesar and his aides were already walking away, and he could feel his own guts churning.

[xaka]

Yay a new chapter (or rather a new part thereof). Thanks a lot.

It is very well written and interesting as usual. Just a question, where'd you learn all the "trivia" (around rifles for example) that you put in your stories ?

[Miles Teg]

It's not really trivia, just the basic theory behind the rifle. You can pick it up on Wikipedia for God's sake!

[tthf]

do i hear the beating of war drums in the near future?

reminds me of an old old song (can't remember the singer): i hear the sounds, of distant drums....

[Uncle Istvan]

Ah very interesting and ominous.
I suppose this update explains why there's not yet a Pregame thread for Ragnar?

[Sisiutil]

Originally Posted by xaka

Yay a new chapter (or rather a new part thereof). Thanks a lot.

It is very well written and interesting as usual. Just a question, where'd you learn all the "trivia" (around rifles for example) that you put in your stories ?

As Miles Teg said, Wikipedia is a wonderful thing. Like any encyclopedia it's not to be used as a primary source for serious work, but for gathering a few basic facts for a work of fiction it's dandy.

[The Menace]

Who will the drums of war sound against, I wonder?

[Bill Odie]

Well It's got to be either against Greece or Mongolia, and there was a hint in part 2 of this chapter "England needs Romes help" and England is at war with Greece, so I'd guess Rome and England V Greece

[rabidveggie]

Nice update again. I thought Mongolia was also at war or was about to be with England.

[carl corey]

Originally Posted by Sisiutil

As Miles Teg said, Wikipedia is a wonderful thing.

Hmm, I don't remember that part of Dune...

[Sisiutil]

Originally Posted by carl corey

Hmm, I don't remember that part of Dune...

No? It was in the scene where Gurney Halleck is showing Duncan Idaho's clone how to use Google. You really don't remember?

[Gooblah]

Now lemme think, here...
Okay, Rome has Rifles. Rome and England are best buddies/lovers. England is at war with Greece. Rome is chivalrous. Rome defends English lady-friend with said Rifles.
So...Roman/English Alliance pitted against Greeks. Did you enable PAs at all, or no? Also, since PAs are enabled by Fascism, it'll be awkward. "Rome bows down to Mussolini, then institutes a PA with England." The first part is accurate, the second part not so much...

[Miles Teg]

Originally Posted by Sisiutil

No? It was in the scene where Gurney Halleck is showing Duncan Idaho's clone how to use Google. You really don't remember?

Oh god, the images! CHOAM lecturing on the pop up ad industry, A Bene Gesserit monograph on the Lolcat meme, Thousands of scams trying to sell you partial ownership of Dune, Tleilaxu in the porn industry...

Can you imagine how big the internet of the Million Worlds would be? And after the scattering..

Since I forgot to say so earlier, Nice update!

[FourthThunder]

I'm wondering, were there always only three civs on the second continent or were some wiped out? I havent seen any non-English/Mongolian/Greek sounding cities but I haven't really been paying that close of attention to the screen shots.

[Sisiutil]

Originally Posted by FourthThunder

I'm wondering, were there always only three civs on the second continent or were some wiped out? I havent seen any non-English/Mongolian/Greek sounding cities but I haven't really been paying that close of attention to the screen shots.

It was a standard-sized map, so I chose the standard 7 civs. Rome, Spain, Japan, and the Aztecs wound up on my continent, while England, Greece, and Mongolia were on the other one.

[Sjakelen]

Originally Posted by tthf

do i hear the beating of war drums in the near future?

reminds me of an old old song (can't remember the singer): i hear the sounds, of distant drums....

'The drums, the drums, the never-ending drumbeat! ...I... AM... THE MASTER.'

Next thing you know, the cabinet will be gassed, eh?


EDIT: Sorry, I'm still kind of a Doctor Who fan...

[Sisiutil]

Princes 14 – Child’s Play

Part 5: The Games of Nations

“What do you think?”

Li Jin did not answer his son’s question. He could only stare, dumbfounded.

The uniform of Rome’s legions had changed remarkably, adjusting not only to changing fashions but to the new realities of the gunpowder era. Armour could not hope to prevent injury from the new, powerful weapons, so it had been abandoned. The military had compensated by adopting a more lightweight uniform that allowed troops to be more mobile, both in battle and over long distances. They also compensated through sheer weight of numbers. Rome’s modern legions were larger than ever before.

And Li Wei was determined to be one of those countless soldiers fighting for the glory of Rome. He stood before his shocked father and his teary-eyed mother in his brand new uniform. He wore a high, dark shako upon his head decorated by a single eagle’s feather in the front. A dark blue short coat and white cross-belt adorned his broad chest, while his legs were clad in white breeches that were neatly tucked into dark brown boots. At his side, its stock resting upon the floor, was a Li Rifle—the weapon that Jin and his father had worked their entire lives to create.

Li Jin could not take his eyes away from his uniformed son, who stood so proudly before them in their small home, even though he wanted to wipe the sight from his vision. Eventually, he found his voice.

“You… enlisted,” Jin muttered, stating the obvious. His son nodded proudly. “But… you were accepted into the university…”

Wei shook his head impatiently. “Father, how many times have I told you that I’m not cut out for that type of life? This is what I want to do—to fight for my country, for the greater glory of Rome!”

“No,” Jin whispered. “No!” he said more firmly, shaking his head as he pushed himself up from his chair. “Take it off! I forbid it!”

“Father, please…”

“NO!” Jin shouted. “You are my only son! And you want to throw your life away?”

Something in Wei’s deep brown eyes hardened. He picked up his rifle and held it out towards his father.

“Look at this, father. It’s a Li Rifle. Named after our family. Are you trying to tell me that we can create such a weapon, but that our family is too good to carry them? Are you?”

Jin shook his head and stared angrily at his son. “You foolish child! Rome will be at war soon!”

Wei’s eyes widened excitedly at the news. “Truly?” he said as his lips broadened into a smile. “Are you sure, father?”

Jin was taken aback by the boy’s enthusiasm for conflict. But of course, like so many other young men, he would know nothing of war; no one on the continent had, not for generations. But soon, he would know. Far too soon, if Jin had read Caesar’s behaviour correctly.

“How can you look forward to war? To death?”

Wei looked at his father as though he’d suddenly sprouted horns. “The business of Rome is war, father. We made it a profession. We perfected it! You and grandfather devoted your lives to it,” he said, gesturing toward the rifle. “You honoured our family with your achievement. Would you have me shame our family by refusing to serve?”

To that, Li Jin had no answer. He sat down heavily in his chair, his eyes staring emptily at the floor.

Wei sighed. He couldn’t understand how his father could have devoted his life to developing a military weapon without considering its obvious, logical use.

“My legion leaves for Antium in two days,” Wei said. “I don’t officially have to report in until then. I was hoping to spend that time with my family, but if you’d rather I go…”

“No,” Jin said quietly. “Stay here, with your mother and I, until you have to go. This is your home. You are always welcome here.”



Wei nodded, then reached down and affectionately held his father’s hand for a moment. Then he turned and strode from the room, heading for his own bedroom. Once he’d gone, Jin’s wife, Xue, sat down heavily upon the arm of Jin’s chair. She wiped her eyes and placed one hand upon her husband’s shoulder.

“Do you think… do you think he’ll be all right?” she asked softly.

Jin shook his head. “I don’t know,” he murmured. “I don’t know…”

As his wife gently pressed her head against his and sobbed softly, Jin could only reflect on the enormity of his actions, which he had not appreciated until now. So many boys, just like his own, would be marching to war soon. And they’d be carrying the weapon that bore his family’s name. They’d mete out death to other boys, the children of Mongol or Greek parents—whoever Caesar’s first target would be. All those boys, all of them thinking of glory and honour, none of them with any idea what they were truly getting into. A bitter laugh escaped his lips. Child’s play, he’d called it when the germ of an idea that led to the rifling innovation had occurred to him. Child’s play indeed.

[Premier Valle]

To WAR!!!!!!!!!

Thx Sis