Thomas -- barrier tower Forgot where I left off... Thomas focused on Caroline instead. What do you want to see here? Everything. Caroline extended her hand to him. Her maid had already scrambled down. Bonnet hanging from its ties, hair wind blown, hands pressed to her face, Frédérique was laughing with giddy excitement. Caroline descended from the skiff like a princess. Our greatest minds were at the world exposition when Vienna fell, taking an entire generation of inventors. There was a mad rush to build defense systems against the undead. Thousands of these towers springing up all across Europe with jackals investing in the companies that built them, like the railway mania of the 1840s. Geoffrey had told Thomas that his family had made their fortune in railroads during that time. His grandfather had been one of the first investors in Midland Railway in 1844. In less than two decades, he was one of the richest men in England with his oldest son married to the granddaughter of the Holy Roman Emperor. And just like the railways, as companies started to go under because Europe continued to fall, one company began to buy up strategic subcontractors. Royal Shields now has a monopoly on the mechanism that produces the barrier. Dr. Chadwyck works for Royal Shields? Yes, fortunately he was here doing routine maintenance and could be consulted on your spell mark. She indicated the skiff that was charging beside the Avengers. I believe this is his craft. I want to have words with him. She marched toward the steep ladder-like stairs that lead to the elevated door of the tower. They were on a pulley system and could be raised up, out of reach of a man on the ground. Every tower that Thomas had ever seen, the stairs had been raised. This was the first time hed ever seen a set lowered. He paused as Caroline gathered up her skirts to study them. How did Chadwyck get in? The sides of the tower rose twenty feet straight up with the brick tightly set. Could even undead scale these? They were agile but this seemed beyond what they could scramble up. At close inspection, he realized that the stairs were weighted so theyd swing upward easily once a counter balance was tipped. Once in motion, they fold and latch onto a bar above the doorway, effectively barring the door. However, there was a lever that be reached from a hovering skiff that would reverse the process and lower the stairs. It would mean anyone arriving on foot or via the train would be effectively locked out. Since only people of means owned Mounts – the widow for example would not be able to afford one – it meant that common people could not enter the tower. Do you need help? Fitzroy asked Caroline Heavens no, these are nothing compared to my library ladder. Thomas blushed. Sorry, Isabella never needed… Certain aspects of her wardrobe – from what Geoffrey told me of her -- fills me with envy. Caroline trotted up the stairs easily, keeping the skirts wrapped tight about her. I can not wait until Ive had my children and they are grown and no longer care about society thinks of me. Im going to adapt mens clothing, make a great bonfire and burn all my gowns, and take up pipe smoking. Your poor husband. Balderdash! If I could produce children that were kindly received by the public without the aid of a husband, I would do so forthwith. I do not look forward to surrendering all that I have – freedom, money, pride, and even physical safety – to a man because I need him for ten minutes in bed. Miss Farr! Her maid cried. Careful, Fitzroy murmured. Your landlord will be most displeased if you corrupt her daughter. Caroline snorted in contempt. The door was steel set into reinforced frame with a large tumbler lock. Thomas had seen bank vaults with less fortified doors. Ive seen hundreds of these, Thomas said. Never close up. It was common knowledge at Borkum that theyre not worth the effort to loot; theres nothing but machines inside. I never realized it until now – theyre always locked up when I see them. How exactly do they fail? It has always been reported that one of the towers were breeched by undead. Caroline took out her moleskin and made notes within it. As far as I know, no one has been able to verified those reports. Early attempt to do so failed spectacularly and there were no later attempts. Vienna stole the backbone and grit from the profession. I do know that the towers are linked, which is why its important that theyre in line of sight of each other. Thus, with the construction of the towers, a circle of hilltop or motte, no more than twenty miles in diameter is a perquisite of site selection. Thomas turned to scan the horizon. He never knew of the size limit. Paris pushed to the limits of the tower while other towns and various castles had been small islands at the center of their zone. Calais lay straight to the north, a dense knot of building surrounded by a patchwork quilt of fields. Beyond it was the barrier tower built in the harbor as part of the daisy chain that ringed the city. Every male involved in todays expedition had questioned why Caroline hadnt simply visited it instead. Apparently she had already tried and failed. Thomas suspected that Dr. Chadwycks presence and the tower unlocked wasnt a lucky coincidence but careful planning timing on Carolines part. So much we dont know and yet idiots are still rushing to build towers in England. Theyre all we have. Frédérique exclaimed and then blushed as she remembered that servants werent supposed to be seen or heard. Miss. We have our intelligence and currently time – but that time is running out. We should be trying to figure this out, not meekly hiding in houses of straw, waiting for wolves to blow down the door. We need a house of bricks. Were running out of time, Miss? Frédérique was quick enough to understand the implication that her hometown was doomed. The crown is doing everything possible to keep you safe. Thomas said to comfort the girl. Fitzroy looked like he was going to debate that, so Thomas shook his head. Frédérique knew the horrors that happened when a town fell; there was no way anyone in Calais could be ignorant of it as wave after wave of survivors fled through the port for Dover. There was no reason to terrify the girl. Fitzroy nodded and let the subject drop. Carolines eyes had gone wide as she realized that shed slipped. Private Atkins is completely right. The military is doing all that is humanly possible to protect Calais. There is no reason to be afraid. Now, come along. And with that, Caroline marched into the barrier tower. The rest of them had no choice but to follow. (Not totally sure the diameter I want the towers to protect so expect that number to change.)
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 00:14:52 +0000
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