The Longboats

I turned to my plane to take one more look at it in wonder and dozens of people started to surround me with questions. It became nearly comical as they wanted to know how it got into the air, why so much noise and where did I get the idea from, the Gods? Yngvildr grabbed my arm and started pulling me out of the crowd towards the hanger where the plane was being pushed into.

“I thought you needed a hand to escape.” She said with a smile as we stepped away from the crowd and the Skipper started answering questions. I even saw a few with a pad of paper and a pencil and wondered if they worked for the newspaper.

I looked around for my ground crew and saw them going over every inch of the plane already with a fine toothed comb. The engine cowl had been removed as a mechanic was on a ladder looking into the engine with three more moving all ailerons and tail section by hand, then following the wires to the cockpit to make sure everything was in order.

I saw Mac on the other side of the fuselage and yelled at him.

“Mac!” I moved to his side as he still inspected the under carriage, or landing gear.

“This thing is slightly tail heavy. Nothing I couldn’t compensate for but may be you could take a look at it?” I paused in thought. “OH! And that exhaust pipe too!”

I walked around to the front and pointed to the two pipes coming out of the engine.

“This thing blew exhaust in my face the whole time I was up there. You need to reroute it to the belly of the fuselage to keep it out of our faces.”

“Sure, Gunny, we’ll get right on it. Simple enough.” He said then went back to work.

“OH! One more thing before I forget! I want this painted on the wings and side of the fuselage.” I handed him a scrap piece of paper with a drawing of a white star with a dark blue circle around it.

“The star represents the stars on our flag.” I said and he smiled.

“Nice!” he said then turned and left.

“I need a long scarf to put around my neck when I fly. I need something to wipe off my goggles up there. All that exhaust and fuel gets all over my face and it’s hard to see.” I told Yngvildr as she just looked at me in amazement.

“Also! A hair cut and a shave!” I looked at her when I said that.

“What? Why do you want to take your hair away?” She asked with a frown.

“When I was up there, my hair worked its way from under my helmet and got in my eyes and this beard makes it very hard to get a tight fit under my chin when I buckle it.” Yngvildr just stood there with that frown as she looked at me.

“Where did you get an idea like this anyway?” She stood there, arms at her side just staring at me.

“It’s not my idea, actually. It’s a concept from my time line from a war long ago.” I said as I removed my leather flight helmet.

“It’s from the Gods!” She said then looked at the plane again.

“Well. I need to get a ground school started and I need a meeting with Oswald, Gerhold and Major Welsh as soon as possible but use runners. I don’t want the Greeks to pick up on a telegraph message and know what we are up to.” I turned to her. “Can you get a meeting with them?” I started to turn but stopped. “OH! And get that Colonel promoted to General. The one you said was running the army now, what’s his name?”

“Colonel Hendricks, he’s one of your men.” She said as she ran her hand along the leading edge of the wing.

“Hendricks! OH! Sergeant Hendricks! Yeah, I remember him.” I looked at her for a second. “I knew he was a damn good Marine and now he’ll make a damn good General.”

“Ok, I’ll get on it if you give me your word on something.” She said as she stood next to the wing.

“What’s that?” I asked.

“I want to fly!” She said as she seemed to burn a hole into me with her gaze. I was stunned for a moment.

“Well. OK! I’ll get you into the first ground school and see how you do. Nothing in this school is given away. You have to know exactly what you are doing and it isn’t for everyone.”

“That’s fine. Just give me a chance!” She said.

“Ok....you’re in!” I said as I went out towards the Great Hall with a feeling of pride and accomplishment in my chest.

Colonel Hendricks got word from the communicators that he was being promoted and if he could return to the rear for one day or should the King go meet him in the field? He stood there with a slight smile on his face as he read the message again. Looking around he saw Corporal Dominador, a Pilipino, one of his old Marines nearby so he walked over to him with the message.

“I have to get back to the rear for a day and I need to put you in charge.” He paused and looked at him. “And, by the way. I’m being promoted to General and I’m putting in that you be promoted to Colonel.”

Dominador looked up from sipping his tea with a stunned look on his face. As it sank into his mind, he sat up straight with a smile.

“Does that mean I get your CP then? WITH all that neat crap you have there?” He smiled.

Hendricks smiled at him and nodded.

“Absolutely. I’ll get another CP in the rear and you’ll have to run things from here.” He said.

“Sounds good to me....General!” He stood and shook Hendricks hand, both smiling.

It took several days for all the commanders to arrive in Skavateland for the meeting with me and in the mean time I had been busy organizing the flight school and even held one class that lasted all day on flight characters of an airplane. Most of them were confounded at what I was saying so it would take longer to teach them than it would back home. All this was new to them and it was as if I were teaching children so patients was needed.

The engines were being built for the planes but I also had separate shops to build engines for all the boats and even held meetings with the Skipper and several black smiths and other leaders to start making small tanks. Now that we have the gasoline engine there was nothing that was impossible. I also got with the aircraft builders to make the next plane a two seater with dual controls so I could take the student pilots up and teach them how to fly.

I was in the Great Hall with all the leaders of the countries when Colonel Hendricks arrived in his dirty uniform. He looked as if he had not bathed in several weeks as he walked into the Hall. Everyone stopped what they were doing and stood looking at him. I had already spoken to the leaders that I was promoting him as soon as he arrived and this was perfect, with everyone present.

“Colonel Hendricks!” I yelled as I went to greet him in the center of the Hall.

He came to attention as I approached.

’At ease, Colonel. Come in and have a drink. We want to get you promoted and into a new uniform as soon as possible. Then you have to stay for this meeting. As General you’ll want to know about our break through.”

I called the room to attention and read from his promotion warrant, pinned stars onto his lapels and stand up collar, shook his hand and the room cheered loudly. I had a runner bring in his new uniform that was on a wire hanger, complete with new cap and shoes.

“You can put this on after you have a bath, I assume.” I said with a smile.

“OK. Everyone, take a seat,” I motioned for Hendricks to sit next to me.

“I take it all of you have seen the new shops around the city and the activity surrounding them?” They nodded.

“I have an announcement that I did not want on the airwaves for the Greeks to hear.” I paused, then shoved some sketches into the middle of the table of the Albatross.

“This is our new airplane. We patterned it after one of the German planes from our time line.” Gerhard raised his head when he heard his people mentioned.

“I have flown it and it works like a charm. It has two fixed forward firing machine guns and can carry three fifty pound bombs.” I said.

“This thing can FLY?” Oswald said as he looked at the drawing. “How?”

“I will take all of you over to the airfield after this meeting and show you. Right now we need to discuss the situation of the Greek dreadnought.”

“That damn thing is playing havoc on us every single day!” Sigrun said with an angry look on his face. “They come around at different times of the day and pound the city. Our shore batteries return fire but he never comes in close enough for us to get in good shots. His guns are a lot bigger than ours and better range. Our three inch guns are the only ones that will reach him.”

“So the Parrot rifles are out of the question then?” The Skipper asked.

“Yes! This ship has bigger guns with better range and I think they are using them on the front line as well. Ralf returns fire when the Greek artillery opens up but I really don’t think our guns can reach theirs.” Sigrun said as he picked up a picture of the plane.

I opened a small folder that had other drawings in it and pushed them onto the table. I saw eyes widen and General Hendricks had a smile on his face.

“So!” Hendricks said. “Seems you found that elusive gasoline engine you always wanted, hay Gunny?” He smiled as he looked at the drawings of a small tank.

I looked back at him smiling.

“Yes we did and it changes EVERY thing!” I said as the others looked at the tank with furrowed brows, except for Major Welsh.

“This looks like the French FT-17 Light Tank from the First World War!” Major Welsh said as he looked at the sketch.

“It is designed after it, yes. Most versatile tank in the war and it can carry a small barrel cannon with one machine gun.” I said.

“What the HELL is it?” Gerhold asked.

“It’s a steel monster that can go over virtually any terrain and carries a small caliber cannon AND a machine gun and is operated by two men.” The Skipper said.

“By the GODS!” Oswald said as he looked at the drawings. “If this is true we will just walk over the Greeks in a day!”

“Not exactly. The Greeks will have all this technology in a matter of months.” I said. “They get it from their Gods who spy on us as well as Greek spies living here.”

“How long will it take to get that FT-17 onto the battle field?” Major Welsh asked as he looked at the drawings.

“I’ve spoken to the builders and they said it will take another week to get the first one out then they should have one every two days after that. BUT!” the Skipper paused. “We need more iron ore and tin from Germany.” He looked at Gerhold.

“We can do that!” Gerhold said. “But we need more ammunition and food supplies.”

“That will not be a problem,” I told him.” Just get with the Skipper after the meeting and tell him what you need and we can get it loaded onto the trains.”

Fiete sat in silence for a few moments then spoke up loudly.

“We Saxons need better weapons. These Sharps are fine but those bolt action rifles are much better. Can we get some of those?” he asked.

“I was going to go over that with you, Fiete. We actually NEED you to start using the more modern rifles and a few machine guns.” I told him.

“Can you get to your land yet? I mean have we pushed the Greeks back far enough so you can get to your coal fields?” The Skipper asked.

“Yes. As of last week I’ve sent scouts out there and they say the Greeks are gone but only a few miles away where they dug in, connecting their trenches with both flanks.”

“What about your farm land?” I asked. “Is there any left you can start production on?”

Fiete stood with an angry look on his face.

“The Greeks held our lands for over a year before you helped us remove them. When we went out there last week I found they have salted the earth in the best farm land that stretches three miles long and a mile wide.”

“Salted it?” The Skipper asked with a frown.

“Yes! Now nothing will grow there because of the salt.” He said. “I want to kill every Greek I can find!” He slammed his knife blade into the table.

“I’ve heard of this in our time line where the Romans did this. And even a thousand years later, nothing grows in this one spot where they salted the earth. It’s useless ground.” I said. “Why they would do this is beyond me.”

It was silent for a few seconds then I continued the meeting that lasted for another few hours. We discussed everything we could think of as well and the future of our planes and bonding together all our countries. At one point they seemed they wanted to integrate all our countries into one large one but they were still unsure as to who, exactly, would run it if not me. I let them keep talking about it but it would ensure that everyone had the same thing and same opportunity if and when attacked by another country. We all decided to speak of it again in the next meeting next month.

Three weeks later I was on the airfield sitting in the rear cockpit of a two seater ready to take off with another student pilot when a runner came to me with a message. He handed it to me and was careful not to let the propeller wash blow it away. He stood there while I was reading it and it was from the front, near Amsterdam. There was a second dreadnought that showed up last night that gave the city hell with naval gun fire. Ralf said their guns were so powerful his could not reach them when he returned fire. Also they had beaten back an attack by land from a large infantry force and it looked like they were ready to hit them again in the same spot. I knew what the Greeks were up to and I was not going to fall for it. They were trying to take our minds off our left flank then hit us hard to roll up our lines.

I handed it back to the runner and yelled I would be back in a few minutes to respond and to stand by. I took the student pilot up to about a thousand feet then let her take the controls for several turns, then straight and level, then a decent and quick pull up turn to the right and back to land. Yngvildr was doing a great job this time so I let her try to land it with my hands on the dual controls just in case she made a mistake. After she landed she taxied to the hanger and turned the engine off.

“Great job!” I said as I climbed out of the rear cockpit.

“That was exciting!” She said with a wide smile. “When can I solo?” She asked.

“A few more flights and we’ll see. I need to see how you do in a strafing run with the guns next time.”

I put my hand on her shoulder as we walked back into the hanger then saw the runner still there, waiting on me. We both removed our parachutes (another item I had made....but much needed) and laid them on a table before we left.

“I need to find the Skipper so you take the class into the class room and I’ll be back soon.” I told her as I went off the Great Hall.

Once I entered I saw the Skipper and Hagan at the table going over a map.

“There you are!” The Skipper said aloud. “We may have a problem.”

“Yes. I got the message. Greek attacks on the city and the front lines.” I removed my leather helmet and coat then threw them onto a chair.

“I think they are trying to get our attention away from our left for an attack there.” I said.

“My thoughts exactly.” The Skipper said as he ran a finger across the map.

“And that other dreadnought playing havoc on our lines as well. Ralf said his guns won’t even reach them any more so they have bigger calibers now.” Hagan said as he stood up.

“We’re going to have to go now. We can’t wait any longer or it may be too late.” I said, looking at both of them.

“Are the pilots ready?” The Skipper asked.

“I have nine that are close and eight planes with one two seater.” I said, pouring myself some mead.

“And my boats are not complete yet. I only have four with the new gas engine and another six still waiting.” Hagan said.

“We’ll have to go anyway. I’m afraid the Greeks have already been reinforcing their right to hit our left.” I thought for a second. “I could fly that two seater over there and see if we can find anything.”

“You think that would work? I mean, you said yourself you started with twenty-six students and you only have, what? Thirteen left?”

“Yes. And Doc with his medical exam is throwing a lot of them out. He says they don’t qualify.” I said as I drank.

“What about the Germans, Saxons and English?” The Skipper said.

“I’m still waiting on them to show up. I heard from Major Welsh that he has some candidates ready but he hasn’t sent them yet. “I said then moved to the map.

“How far is it to that part of the lines anyway?” I asked as I leaned over the map.

“Our lines run from south of Amsterdam in The Hague then south east to Dusseldorf then back north east to Hanover, and that is where we are the weakest. Our rail road has been progressing and is now in The Hague then all the way to Dortmund, about half way to the edge of our lines.” The Skipper showed me with his finger on the map.

“You would have to land somewhere to refuel because it’s about two hundred miles to our left flank there. OR!” He said. “Move our squadron on site with everything here, fuel, tents, mechanics, the whole thing.”

I stood there for a moment in thought.

“That would leave the dreadnoughts open to attack here.” I thought. “What if we attack the coast first, then move south with the squadron?” I looked at both of them with furrowed brow.

“I could hit those damn dreadnoughts at the same time you do, Gunny!” Hagan said as he leaned on the table.

“I think it might work. Let’s put this on paper and see how we will go about it. And I want to do this tomorrow or the next day at the very least!”

“Do you have the pilots yet?” The Skipper asked.

“Yes. I have nine, counting myself but I don’t want to commit that two seater, we can’t afford to lose it. It’s the only one we have.”

We sat at the table for the next few hours devising a plane of attack on the dreadnoughts with both air and sea action. It would be a coordinated attack that had to go as planned or it would not work.

Yngvildr stood near Gunny’s plane as he went over it to make sure everything was ready before he got in to take off. He moved all the ailerons and tail surfaces then opened the engine cowl with the mechanics nearby and they spoke for a few seconds then left.

“You know you pissed me off, Gunny!” She told him as he wrapped a long white scarf around his neck, then put on his goggles.

"Well there's a new word you picked up!" I laughed.

“You know what look like with that short hair?” He said with a smile.

“Don’t change the subject!” She yelled and he laughed.

“I know but you haven’t soloed yet. You’re a good pilot so don’t rush it, things come with time.”

“Are the bombs in place?” She asked then bent down to check them under the fuselage.

“Yes. I already checked them out. We also have enough fuel to be over the target for about fifteen minutes but no more.” He said as he climbed into the cockpit.

She saw the other eight planes all sitting in a row, side by side with the first rays of the sun coming over the far hills.

“Hagan left here last night and said he will be on target about an hour after sun rise. That gives us just enough time to fly down there and engage the ships. I want you to stay with the communicators and read all message with the Skipper. Will you?” He asked her as he climbed into the cockpit.

“I will,” she then ran to the side of the cockpit, climbed up to him and kissed him on his cheek. He froze as if stunned then she saw a broad smile come across his face.

“For luck!” She said then saluted him and stepped back as he glanced into the cockpit then over the side.

“CLEAR!” He yelled then flipped the starter switch and the engine burst to life. All other planes then started their engines and the quiet morning became a loud growling noise as if a dragon had been awakened.

The Gunny was the first to take off then followed by the other eight planes, all climbing slowly into the air as their engines faded on the wind and she saw them turn and head south over the trees and out of sight with the sound of their engines fading.

“I sent a message to General Hendricks to pass the word for his troops to NOT shoot anything they see in the air. No one on the front knows about these planes other than the General, so it’s going to be a surprise for the troops up there.” She said.

They turned and walked back to the Great Hall to await the incoming messages from the attack.