Probe nods grimly as Blackfoot finishes explaining what herself and
her news.
"Well….I guess it could be so," Probe conceded. "Though…it' be pretty
much of a useless thing against the heavier ammo that the Alicias have
come up with together. Not only did they already have plans of incorporating
armor piercing ammo - full metal jacket bullets and such - for handguns,
but I just saw them have a sudden flash of insight while examining a wine
bottle….the basic design being similar in design in both how the force
inside the case is funneled out, causing more pressure ….."
"And providing more damage impact on the target in question, instead
of the traditional cylinder design of a regular bullet," Blackfoot sighs.
"They've just invented the magnum bullet….or are in the process…."
"I'll just have to tell them how to machine those special bullets,"
Probe sighs. "That's one of the ways the Alliance is paying for the Tiberium….."
The Military had done this and other things like this for the Terran
people friendly with them. Ethiopia, the Manimal Nation, and Aqualaria
had also gotten the Alliance civilian brand of metallurgy from the Military.
Ethiopia already had more assets in place ready to "convert over" to produce
the newer, stronger, metals, but was still in the early stages of conversion.
The Manimal Nation was presently in the last stages of tooling up to produce
the new metal alloys (easier to do since their operation was much smaller
scale….and the incredible…determination….and dedication…on the part of
the manimals). Aqualaria was something like a generation or two behind
Ethiopia in metallurgy BEFORE the coming if the Phage. She was trying to
tool up for the new techiques, but she would….take the longest (not too
much longer….but an appreciable…and dangerous…..amount of time). Queen
Alicia was hoping that by making inroads into Tarin's clan of dwarves -
get onto the proud race's good side - that perhaps an strong alliance with
these fine metal smiths would help…..
There were other things that the Military was helping with, but this
was one of the most…painful.
Oh, the weaponry the metallurgy was being incorporated into was for
mostly a defensive goal in mind (in as far as no plans were out their to
START conflicts with them….but to end the conflicts in a quick….if deadly…manner).
Probe and the others of the Military understood and supported the Terrans
view on being prepared for violence (the Home worlds had suffered for not
being better prepared for conflict when the Enemy attacked years ago….)
Still….it hurt the heart, it was too close to Home.
Back Home the official Home calander read December 24, 2099….but it
would have been nice to not have to start off the new century with yet
MORE bloodshed!
"What next?" Blackfoot sighs. "Machine guns, I guess. Oh, I forgot!
They already have their version of the Gattling gun that was seen during
the American Civil War! That 'gattler' monster."
Probe nodded, remembering instantly recognizing the basic design of
the hand cranked monstrosity. While not as fast as a machine gun of the
20th century, and by far much more bulky (being only usable in a mounted
position), it was deadly enough!
"What worries me is how the mages are going out of their minds," Probe
laughs a little bit. "They know many facts about the universe around them….from
their studies of magic, but until now they could never really apply them
real effectively. Too impractical, using magic. But science…..strikes again."
"The Lizards really let the genie out of the bottle with this world….and
forcing us to come here," Blackfoot sighs. "Now….the Terrans are going
to go through some MAJOR growing pains from He….from heck."
Blackfoot was agnostic, leaning towards atheistic, in belief. Perhaps
the mind survived on, beyond death in ALL realities. Or perhaps, just in
this universe (or a copy of a person….through a side effect in magic).
But whatever the case, Blackfoot wasn't going to muddy the water by cursing….just
in case.
"Ah, but I do agree with you about the possibility of bullet proof armor,"
Probe sighs. "Inquirer told me about something similar, in one of her numerous
roleplaying games, about similar type of body armor used by some Far Eastern
crime syndicates up until early in the 20th century…in some places…. I
guess that game had more basis in fact than I gave it credit for. Hopefully,
at least the new ammo will be out before something like THAT becomes a
factor."
A month later
Aqualria and Ethiopia are beginning to distribute the newest tools of
war, the repeating rifle, with a larger and more powerful ammo. Full metal
jackets are becoming available, as well as something called "magnum rounds."
It's a tossup as to which is better. Both have boons and banes that will
take time for even the most discerning Amazon ranger to fully weigh before
a final judgment can be made.
It doesn't matter to one young Amazon ranger who had foolishly gone
off alone into the woods alone. She had gone off in a huff because of something
her male companion on the patrol had said, and was ambushed quietly by
awaiting orcs.
They gleefully hide the body and strip it of the revolver, with it's
old style ammo.
"Finally," Sithe laughs, sure that the tides will now turn…..and the
Orcs will ride out and sweep the lands.
Perhaps not…..for right now Ethiopian and Aqualrian repeating rifles
are beginning to trickle out. The Ethiopian brand looks something like
the American Winchester 1893 while the artisans of Aqualaria have managed
to make up something like the Enfield rifle with a conversion kit….something
that Inquirer would make it a Snider…. Both use the same caliber of rifle
ammo.
But now, let's change scenes to the Manimal Nation, where Trilling Blackfeather
and his entourage (with the Aqualarian Ambassador) are paying a friendly
visit. It wasn't too far to travel for the griffins and human. The nation
of Griffin was down on the southern tip of what on Earth is the Nation
of South Africa, presently (large portions of the griffin populous moved
about during the summer and winter due to their avian heritage).
-
 The land of
what used to be called Nom Malbra is the north eastern upper portion of
what would have been called the Nation of South Africa and Panaras - the
home of the manimals - is located on it's eastern shore….
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