Construction

"This is going to be the lower floor. We're going to have wooden planks from that maker to this one. The edges are marked on the ground."

"I thought yer were cutting back in size due to the invasion?"

"We are. The upper floor will hold the engine along with the bridge. The lower floor will hold the rail cannon along with their supplies. We're also only doing two turrets of twin medium rail cannons rather than the three turrets of twin heavy rail cannons."

Shiro and Geraltavin were the newly designed construction sites within the city's walls. A large area had been cleaned out for them, but the decision came down that it was too risky to build outside the City.

"Yeah yer smaller but will it be done by time?"

Shiro looked around in case someone was watching.

"Assuming something goes or the traitor makes a move and sabotages something, then we'll be right on time."

"Huh? We will be on time if something goes wrong?"

"Yeah, if nothing goes wrong we will be early. Things but things always go wrong, which is why you never plan to be on time."

"... Yer drinking for the bottle of my cup somewhere I know it."

"Yeah. The volumetric size to weight of a lift ratio is off the charts. So we have a lot of allowances."

"Not sure what yer means. But I have a feeling it's something along the lines of 'exceeding expectations'."

"Bingo. My math is probably off since the measuring tools here are kinda bad. But even accounting for the errors were at a sci-fi level of efficiency... but I guess we are using magic to bend material properties... Still though!"

Geraltavin just shook his head and began walking through the site.

"Where are we at then?"

Shiro walked along Geraltavin, pointing to the respective locations.

"We have these carpenters building the wooden structure. None of it enchanted.... Over here we have the call outs for the feather steel framework. Also not getting enchanted."

"Not enchanting anything other than sail?"

"Just like the hot air balloon, this part here isn't going to be reused like the sails, our biggest limiting factor is time. Have our enchanters work on what needs to be enchanted. Then we can hire local carpenters and other contractors for other things."

"Fair enough."

"Beside look at everyone. We are on the brink of war yet they aren't wallowing around. They're working hard. Happy for the Job and happy they can use their skills to contribute."

Geraltavin looked through the men working their respective tasks.

"Ai, and considering what yer said about the possibilities these ships hold, it's nota just whatever something something markets. These men will like to be ship builders for the rest of yer lives. Thank you."

"Awe don't get all sappy on me, we got to hold out against the invasion first."

"I know but you're doing good work. At the meeting yesterday, I know a lot of people voted..."

"Seriously man. You, Johnaquil, Marcellia and Azura all voted for me not to die. And the King too."

"Uhh. Azura voted for you to die."

"Yeah but you saw her at the end there, she was going to switch her vote the moment it actually meant me dying."

Geraltavin looked at Shiro's face, trying to read something from him

"You're a strange one."

"Actually while talking about the vote, why is it, that everyone who was on my side proceeded to insult me before voting for me to live!? You of all people said I'm bad with words!"

Geraltavin immediately turned around and continued walking through the construction site.

"Yer are. But yer right, let's drop the events of yesterday since yer not bothered by them...so ummm. Ah! That new weapon design you gave me, it makes no sense."

Shiro narrowed his eyes at the dwarf's new found spring in his step.

"Fine. But yes I know, it is an unorthodox idea. Probably not a good one either to say the least. I don't know if it's worth the time right now compared to making everything else but if you have extra time, maybe you can..."

"Extra time! Yer are running my rampant as is! It's a bad idea for a weapon, a want to be a Bunker Hammer."

"And who gave you that idea?"

"Yer ideas cannot all be good. Now get back on track to the airships."

You're the one who brought it up to change the topic in the first place!

"Fine. Frame work is going right here, it's going to go inside the balloon as well so we don't have to wait for it to completely fill up an empty balloon. A third engine entirely just for a faster lift and back up if one goes down. The balloons also have separated inner sails to help with possible holes. We are also not able to pressurize the cabin, so we are just going to have to rely on wind runes to pump more of the thinner air inside. Hopefully that's enough."

"...yer got your problems cut out for you."

"Yeah. But the biggest is finding a crew. It may have sails on its side, but it's far from a normal ship. Still we don't have time to train rookies from scratch."

"Maybe you can ask Gris to look through the refuges for anyone with experience on a ship?"

"Not a bad idea..."

Shiro looked around the construction site.

"Where is this guy? He's supposed to be watching me today! Gris!? GRIS!!"

Shiro started to call out and across the working area.

"Yes?"

"Ah!"

Gris had appeared right behind Shiro out of nowhere before speaking into his ear.

"Damn it man. Aren't you supposed to be watching me?"

"Yes but that does not mean you need to know where I am. As part of your increased security there will always be a minimum of one person watching you whom you will be unaware of."

"... I missed when you were neutered."

Geraltavin struck his elbow into Shiro's gut.

"What!? He did vote to have me killed yesterday? I should get to give him some shit."

"Gris, yer know of any ship crew in the city? Refugees form the nations that fell west of the mountains?"

"Yes. I do."

"Alright, let's get going."

Before Shiro could start walking, Gris interrupted him.

"Wait, Shiro. About yesterday..."

"Please don't give me some boring apology."

"I possess no ill will towards you. I understand you feel the same towards me and the council. What I do, I do for the needs of the King and his people."

Once again, such a boring answer.

"Alright let's go!"

Geraltavin blinked at each other as Shiro already began his exit.