Consolidation The Great Eagle Origins

[Anatoli Sidorov]

The morning was a quiet one, yesterday, one of my C3 cargo ships was off the berths and swayed gently at anchor. I was going through some paperwork when Pavel knocked on my door. That crazy man was already wishing to lay down his ships. Even though I would like, no LOVE some rest and recovery I was also enthusiastic to start laying ships of our own. Also I had promised him some time of my day so I had to let him in. I took a sip of my black tea and said: "Come in." Pavel came in with a bunch of rolled up papers in a cart and his eyes where glistening with pride. "What do you have there Pavel?" He didn't respond. He just smiled with the smile of a 12 year old and started putting the schematics on the whiteboard in my office and he took the the black and red markers and started writing on the left over spaces of the whiteboard "GOLDEN EAGLE" Ambitious name for a ship class, not to mention the first one to be built from our shipyards as our own designs but let's see what he had in mind. I stood up from my chair and went around my desk only to sit on it's edge from the opposite side, my arms holding the edges of the mahogany desk of mine. Pavel seemed to be too hyped up for this project and it was emitting his enthusiasm to me too. To be honest he had sold me on the idea only for his excitement and nothing else. Then he looked at me and said: "So here we go."

 

[Pavel Petrosky]

"This is a Kresta II class cruiser. It has a bunch of long range guided munitions in it's original configuration but I am sure Yuri will have a field day converting them and improving them for both gravitational and space usage thus implementing them and utilizing them for our needs. I kept the same name for the sake of simplicity and secrecy as, well for starters, we don't have the weapon systems themselves, despite having the blueprints for them and their operation program. The idea is to have Yuri dig the plans, develop them or even improve them so they can be used efficiently in both atmospheric and space environments." Anatoli then asked: "So, you tell me that you want us to develop and manufacture our own missiles and ammo for our own ships?" When he finished I asked back : "Do you want to try and buy them from the military, at questionable quality, quantity and possible political ramifications or would you like to build a plant tasked with producing ammunition for your own ships, custom built for your own purposes? Minimize intermediaries, minimize risk. You can transport the cargo yourself with Anatoli Rail straight to the shipyard. You make money all around so don't complain. Maybe we create Sidorov Armaments so we can sell at ourselves and to any other potential customers." After a while Anatoli replied: "You mean I should go and create a business to rival the Aphotic Industries?" "As if that held you back from creating Sidorov Shipping when you were studying at university." I shot back. Then he reluctantly said: "You have a point there..." "So I start building it?" "Name her Irina." "Willco sir. Thank you very much."

 

[Anatoli Sidorov]

Since there was nothing for me to do I left my office and started to walk around the office building still deciding what to do. My brain was trying to think of something to do. Playing boss was not too simulating for my brain and I had a feeling that didn't help with the creativity between the employees. Yet I needed to find something to distract my brain with. Pavel was scooting his way to Yuri to present him the plans and now, having finished my paperwork, I was wondering aimlessly. I ended at the cafeteria where I sat a corner table munching a spaghetti salad while thinking Pavel's proposal. Anatoli Armaments. Creating the company would be the easy part. Sourcing the raw materials and means of production also. Now the personnel would be a problem but maybe machinists would accept coming and people from governmental gun industry would come drawn in by a better pay and working hours. I would conferee with some potential investors if I needed them. Anyways, until that point a ship would need to be built. Maybe I should call ahead some metal smelting industries to prepare them for potential contract opportunities. After finishing my salad, I exited the office building, grabbed my safety hat and went for a walk towards the bearths. Cape Frio, Black Swan and Rochester where still in their bearths being patched up from the holes and damage they have suffered during my first trans galactic transport for Affotic Industries. Indomitable and Diamond Knot where swaying gently at anchor just outside the shipyard. I entered my small motorboat and started sailing towards Indomitable. As I was slowly motoring towards her, I noticed a wierd gap in the rock face of the nearby mountain. Curiosity overwhellmed me and I motored towards it. It was a bigger that it seemed but the mouth of it was too low to the sea surface. So low I had to duck in order for my head to pass safely under the rock face. Once inside and enveloped by darkness I opened all the lights on the motorboat. Soon it was revealed that I had entered a cave that was extremely spacious. Also it had a very spacious sailable area all the way to the core of the mountain. I motored around for a while admiring the beauty of nature before I exited the cave and finally motored to Intomitable which I boarded and went to the officer's lounge to play the piano. I hadn't managed to sit when through the intercom a call from the VHF was heard transmitting: "Base to Intomitable, base to Intomitable, do you copy?" Reluctuntly I stood up and went to the bridge to grab the VHF. Once at the bridge I grabbed the mic and said: Indomitable to base I copy." "This is Yuri Makarov sir. Pavel came by and I wanted to come and ask you some questions." "Do they meed to be asked now or they can wait until tomorrow?" "Some of them must be asked now. Not in an open channel preferrably." "Ok. Get yourself at Intomitable and we will talk." "Yes sir. I will come over as soon as possible."

 

[Yuri Makarov]

After looking around for a boat and someone to take me to Indomitable I was on my way to meet the boss, or maybe the dream maker. Thanks to him what was denied to me during my service at the military he gave me generously. The lab I wished I had at the military was not only given to me but with way more machines to aid me with my work. Where my requests were denied, Anatoli not only approved them but also requested prototypes for testing. He also allowed me to venture to my own projects allowing me full intellectual creativity. He would sometimes ask me to develop specific tasks but he was not too pressing about it. He wanted results but in reasonable time frames. He was strict but not oppressive. He was persistent but nit stubborn. For his young age he wasn't a boss. He was a leader. When something went wrong, he wouldn't start pointing fingers but he would ask what could he do to help us not fail next time. In general he tried to have us working for him with him yet maintaining overall command but never with an aura of superiority. I wish I would be able to work for him until it was time for me to retire. Once I arrived at Indomitable he was already there, at the top of the ladder, waiting for me. I climbed up and once I stepped on deck he gave me his hands and I took it and shook it warmly. Then he said: "Let's go to the captain's office." In 3 minutes we were sitting at a nice office before he said: "I dragged you all the way here, better start talking not to waste your precious time." "Well yes. Pavel came by and requested to develop some stuff of which he had the schematics for. Does he have authorization?" "Yes." "Ok. Do you want them as they appear or I have the time to further develop them?" "From what I am told, the weapon systems are not the top of their class but I find no tactical advantage rolling out the best of our abilities. I will let you know when to start building some "wunderwaffe" but that will be done at a later stage with my own personal funds out of any of the enterprises under me. I will talk to you later about an idea I have. Think of it. The more time we appear to be weaker than we are actually are, the more time our enemies have to solidify their underestimation of our power and that will give us great advantage in any possible confrontation." "Ok so we build them as advertised. Will I have your word though that at a refit you will allow me to upgrade the weapon systems?" "Yes. And it will be even better if this happened after one of the class would be either, destroyed, captured or in general defeated in battle." "Yes sir. When do you want them ready?" "Pavel has already authorization to take one of the free berths and start laying keel as soon as possible. So you may need to ask him when he will need them ready. The least of time the equipment is assembled and in storage the less the possibility of enemy spies finding out about our revolutionary power multipliers." "Ok sir, thank you for your time. I don't have any other questions." As I said that Anatoli rose and so signaled the end of the meeting. We walked together to the deck where my boat was waiting for me to take me ashore and after a final farewell and handshake, I descended the steps and went back to shore.

 

[Anatoli Sidorov]

As I watched Makarov motor away I decided to sail around the fjord into which my shipyard was located. Soon Indomitable's propellers were spinning and I eased her out of the anchorage in order to start sailing around the fjord. This turned to be a pretty difficult job. The ship was a bit too long, the fjord itself too narrow and I didn't have the necessary equipment to cartograph all the nooks and crannies. I would have to ask a research vessel to do this job. To turn around the vessel inside the fjord would be an impossible task so I sailed out of it to the open sea, club hauled the ship around and slowly sailed back in to the anchorage spot reserved for my ship. Once I was in my spot and dropped anchor for the night I was soon enough under my linen beddings and enjoying a good night's sleep. The next morning I woke up and I started making me a breakfast consisting of eggs and bacon and a pot of black tea. Then with my caravan in hand I exited to the starboard wing of the bridge, sat on a chair, propped my legs over the railing and started munching my meal while taking in the peace and beauty of the nature that surrounded me with the middle of it all my shipyard sitting quietly until the day's work would begin. I was about to take an other sip of my tea when I heard the VHF chirp in the bridge. I groaned and I got up to go and pick it up. Once I opened the heavily armored door I heard:
"...ble do you copy? Indomitable. Do you copy?"
Once the transmission was over I hit the PTT button and I replied:
A- "Indomitable copies. You guys have a tendency to disturb me at the best of times..."
?- "Sorry sir. It's me. Pavel. I have ready the list with the materials required and the companies we should contact. Now regarding the other stuff I suppose you spoke with Yuri. Am I correct?"
A- "Do your lists include the companies from where you want your materials?"
P- "Yeah mostly Kovalenko Metal Works will provide us with the materials for the hull and other companies will provide us with the piping, electrical and auxiliary machinery. No what Yuri will need I don't know."
A- Don't worry. Yuri's needs will be handled internally by other companies directly under the Anatoli Industries.
P- So you plan opening more companies than the one I proposed you open?
A- As the need arises yeah. Anyways. Let me finish my breakfast and I will go to Kovalenko Metal Works to finalise the contract details with Andrei Kovalenko myself.
P- Shall I prepare your car for the trip then?
A- Nah. I am thinking of commandeering an Ironhorse and take the gondolas we have with the scrap from the repairs of the ships and take them down there to get rid of them.
P- Oh good idea. The yard was starting to fill up. We have one engine in storage that you could take.
A- Great. Tell the engineers to prep her up and I will be there in 30 minutes and I will handle all the shunting and the trip itself. Ok?
P- You will take 7734?
A- Why not?
P- Well you are familiar with the meaning of the number right?
A- No why?
P- If you turn it around it sais HELL...
A- Well the rail route to here is also hell but nothing has ever happened...
P- Ok... I'll say to the engineers to prep her up but I am not sure if anyone will volunteer to come with you on her... By the way... You have an engineer's licence?
A- It may need to be renewed in some years but yeah I have one.
P- Is there something you can't do?
A- Well I can't drive trucks...
P- Hahahahaha. Yeah ok. I think though that this is why they like you that much. Your determination is something else.
A- Pavel if you want a raise just say it. Leave the flaterries. Anyways. I'll be there in 30 minutes.
I said and closed the VHF to go back to my breakfast. After 10 minutes I finished eating and went to get dressed for the trip. A good pair of pants with a shirt and an overcoat was the outfit I chose for the day. Once I was dressed I attached to my hip my pistol holster along with my RSh-12 and hid it under my overcoat. With 20 minutes in front of me to get myself to the yard, I got on my motorboat and motored my way to the shipyard where I tied the boat to a pier and then made my way to the railyard. Among the saunters working the gondolas and flatbeds around the yard trying to organise the numerous wagons sitting, some filled to the brim with cargo. After looking around for a bit, I found a black Ironhorse 9 class B with the number 7734 and a white AS painted on the sides of it. So this was the locomotive I would drive down to Kovalenko Metal Works. She looked pretty clean and that was weird with the use they were getting. A locomotive that clean meant that she wasn't being used at all and she stayed in storage. As I was looking at the loco, an engineer approached me and introduced herself as Elena Mirev. After exchanging pleasantries, she took me for a walkaround of the engine and she showed me a holopad with the paperwork for the trip down to Kovalenko Metalworks. Then I asked her: "Why is she in storage?" My question caught her unprepared and she muttered: "Wha... What do you mean?"
A- She is an Ironhorse class Type B engine she should be used to bring in cargo from our suppliers to the shipyard but she is just sitting here...
E- Well she was the lead engine when our saunters arrived but after that she was pushed into storage with a saunter...
A- All of this because of a number? You guys are very superstitious... anyways have you prepared the locomotive as per the manual?
E- Yes
A- Ok. Will you join me or I will ride it alone?
I saw the hesitation in her expression and I said: "You don't have to come if you don't want to." before I placed my hand on the railing and start climbing my way to the cab of the train. I didn't look behind me but I heard boots clanking behind me. I slowed my pace for her to wait for her to catch up with me. Suddenly though, as she was pacing towards me rapidly, she slipped forward and crashed on my back. Out of instinct I threw my hands backwards and miraculously caught Elena by her shoulders and she tried to support herself by grabbing on my overcoat in her desperate attempt to stop her fall. While my hands under her shoulders prevented her face meeting the grating of the passageway we were standing on she tried to lift herself up by pulling on my overcoat making me to stumble backwards but i managed to steady myself by taking a step to the back, thus bringing my center of mass between my two points of contact with the grating below me and stabilizing myself. When i was confident that I had no risk of falling down myself I said: "Hand on the railing."
She slowly took her left hand banged it on the railing and she said: "Hand on railing."
A- Steady yourself on your feet.
E- Feet steady under my body. She said after some stomping.
A- Now you can let go of my overcoat and stand on your own.
E- Oh yeah sure, sorry. she replied back and chuckled.
Once she let go of me, I turned around and asked her gently:
A- Are you ok?
E- Yes. she responded shyly.
A- Good. Don't blame the engine for this. The temperature is below freezing and ice can form anywhere.
E- Yes sir. She said and lowered her head.
We entered the cab and asked her if she minded me taking control of the engine.
E- As long as your permits are in order, I have no problem with that.
A- Here you go. I said as I brought up the electronic version of my operator's license.
After looking at it she took out her holopad and typed something on it while I made myself comfortable on the engineer's seat. Once Elena was ready herself, she guided me to the siding where the gondolas with the scrap metal, mainly from the junk that was removed from my damaged ships. Metal plates full with bullet holes, bent support pillars, broken pipes and other junk along with all my impromptu blocking of passageways, barbed wires and kilometers of exposed electrical cord I used to make the whole ship a median of electricity in order to electrocute anyone that dared touch more than one surface of the ship at a time. This was practically the last piece of evidence that could tie me to the war crimes I committed against those pirates that tried to attack my ships. Even though my employees knew me as a caring and helpful employer they didn't know what I would do if anyone of them run into trouble. Soon enough we were arriving at the tunnel ready to leave the shipyard behind us and make our way to the main railway network and from there we would head south to Kovalenko Metalworks.