The Rail Cannon

"And for the most part, that summarizes the forces behind it. It's worth noting that we can reduce the number of electric runes required by making the barrel longer."

Shiro turned to look at Azura, Geraltavin, and Johnaquil. He had spent the better part of the morning sketching schematics and trying to explain electromagnetic field generation. Judging by the looks on their faces, he'd only succeeded in confusing all three of them.

Yeah... I was never much of a teacher.

"Any questions?"

The arcane magistrate was the first to speak of the three. Being a Craftsman, he was able to follow along the best.

"Ignoring all the mumbo jumbo... this is just a very large bow? Made of metal, with the limbs side by side instead of curved? Do they straighten out between shots?"

"Ehhh... I wouldn't call it that, but to an extent, yes. You're launching a solid metal arrow at an enemy from very far away."

"It seems overly complicated just to increase the range of a bow. On our ride back, you mentioned several different types of bows. The 'crossbow' and the... 'balisticaita'?"

"Ballista."

"Right. Why aren't we building those? If they're just bigger bows, why jump straight to all this?"

"I don't think we can afford to spend time developing obsolete weapons."

Azura joined the discussion. Her arms and legs crossed over each over

"So this metal bow of yours... is that what they used back in your world?"

"No. Nobody ever managed to get this working in my old world."

"THEN WHY ARE YOU WASTING OUR TIME?!"

"Because of magic runes, money... and the insurmountable manufacturing gap!"

Azura's eyes narrowed. Shiro was leaving something out. She couldn't hope to grasp what it could, but she could tell simply by watching him.

"Look, hear me out. Besides the demons, our second biggest problem is funding. This weapon uses feather steel for both the frame and the projectile. We'd be turning our most abundant resource into something incredibly valuable, then we could sell it to other nations."

Azura's eyes remained narrowed. Johnaquil's, however, lit up.

"If this is a powerful weapon that can only be crafted from feather steel, then Vermelionne would have a fortuitous opportunity."

"Don't let his words deceive you. He's still hiding something. This 'Rail Cannon' uses electric runes and, by his own admission, breaks itself. What's stopping other nations from making one out of stronger steel with copper engravings instead?"

She's actually paying close attention... and keeping up.

It's probably because she hates me, but having both her and Geraltavin understand this is going to be important once we move on to more complicated topics.

"Azura is entirely right. Pure copper, or more precisely a copper alloy, along with steel for structural support would be better. Not to mention you won't even use the feather steel for the arrow... Eh I guess the armature would still be aluminum... but we haven't even accounted for the use of one in the design yet..."

Shiro cut himself off when he realized he was rambling once again. He was losing what little supporters he had.

"Why are we trusting him? For all we know this weapon isn’t even a bow, but a dagger made to stab ourselves! He even admits his own plan to improve our finances is also faulty."

"If we can get this weapon workin..."

"Working despite your old world being unable too. Despite the so called 'insurmountable gap'."

"If we can get this weapon working, we can't hold off the demons and sell the weapons. By the time other nations figure out to use other metals, we'll already have taken their money. Then we can show them the true value of Feather Steel."

"Not as profitable as I would have liked, but even if there is a short period where other nations are buying our exports, it would make a difference.

Azura rolled her eyes but didn't argue with Johnaquil.

"Sure but then what? He'll have you take those coins and make metal ships that sail in the sky instead of sea. That's even more unbelievable."

"It is. We'll have to see how these 'Rail Cannon' match his promises before allocating any more funds."

"What about you Geraltavin, do you believe in these ‘Air Ships’?"

Geraltavin had lost track of the conversation, his eyes pouring over Shiro's diagrams

"Huh? Oh. I don't know. Hopefully not though. I don't think I can handle a forge large enough to smith an entire boat."

Huh? I mean it's going to be a big project but I hope he doesn't think he's going to be pounding the hull like a sword.

"Well now that that's settled. I'm going to need a variety of feather steel bars. Different highs for testing. Also runes and magic. Ice for cooling, Fire resistance, rock hardening?..."

Shiro kept listing off different variations and requirements to begin the development trials. Geraltavin and Johnaquil both took down notes. The Arcane Magistrate to prepare, and while the Treasurer was tracking the funding.

Azura interrupted them once again.

"I still want to know what you're hiding!"

"I'm not hiding anything."

"You are. What does your world use if this cannon is unusable but bows are also unusable."

Explosion magic probably exists…Still, I want to avoid chemical combustion as much as possible, but I also can't just say that to her.

"Even if I told you what you think I'm hiding you wouldn't understand."

"Tell me then."

"Payload delivery using chemical propulsion generated by an exothermic reaction."

Azura's eyes remained narrowed.

"That's the correct way of defining it. Unless you want to listen to me talk all afternoon."

"What is the correct way of defining this Rail Cannon?"

"Mass driver.... Happy now?"

"No."

"Three days!"

Geraltavin interrupted the two.

"That is the time that I will need to forge all of this. In the meantime, all of you, get out of my shop."