175 We All Floa (1/2)
UNS Singapore, Command Bridge
”Captain, Isles's Fleet currently on an east heading, 116 km away from the wreck,” The operator reported from her station. ”The Fleet has just passed by Point Baker and heading towards Point Charlie, estimated time of arrival, 7 hours 48 minutes.”
Commander Ford traced his fingers on the tactical table plot, measuring the distance between the fleet and the wreckage, and nodded, ”Sir, we can begin salvage operations. The Islanders shouldn't be able to see what we are doing at this distance.”
”Do it,” Blake ordered, ”But make sure the work team takes safety precautions.”
”Aye Captain.” The operator turned back to her station and started issuing instructions.
”Lucky we managed to recover the lost platoon,” Ford sighed, as he traced his finger up the digital map on the table, tapping at a spot in a forested area. ”We haven't fully mapped out nor explored this area yet.”
Blake joined Ford at the table and leaned both arms on it, as he looked at the map of their surroundings. ”We only barely managed to survey and explored a radius of roughly 200 km around the Colony and roughly a 50 to a hundred km of each outpost we have out there.” Blake indicated the mines, hydro dam, farms, and Far Harbor.
”We might need to do a proper mapping of our surroundings, but it is just too manpower intensive if the area is forested,” Ford replied. ”and manpower is something we can barely spare!”
Blake nodded, ”We really need to find more ways to resolve our manpower issues.”
”How about getting more autonomous golems adapted for the factories?” Ford replied, ”Automatic manufactories should reduce a lot of our manpower issues.”
”No, we only have one source of golems and it's from one Elementalist” Blake replied. ”Should anything happen to her, our industry will be crippled.”
Ford nodded, ”Maybe we can get more slaves and free them?”
”Urgh... where do we get the gold for that?” Blake sighed, ”Unless... We strike directly at their slaves' markets and free everyone?”
”But do we have the lift capabilities for an attack?” Ford asked.
Blake rapped the table and looked up at Ford, ”We need to prepare and plan for that scenario once we have the lift capabilities.”
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Goblin Coast, Shipwreck
Chief Matt stood on the slanted deck surrounded by a thin layer of fog. He leaned over the railings and barely made out the few figures on the beach who had drawn up several spell formations, which were activated currently. Tendrils of fog drifted out from the center of the spell formation and covering the surrounding areas with a layer of mist.
Chief Matt nodded with satisfaction at the fog created by the students, knowing that it will effectively cover their salvaging operations from any prying eyes. He turned to his men and said, ”Start securing the ship with the load bearing straps! Once the Isles Fleet is out of range we can prepare to float the ship out!”
”Aye Chief!” The men excitedly started their work. ”Check the lines!”
The weapons onboard had been removed and tossed overboard before being dragged to shore. The remaining stores and furniture were too removed and dumped overboard. Several techs dressed in their EVA (Extra Vehicular Activity) space suits less all the accessories like maneuvering thrusters had dropped into the water under the ship and straps were carefully wrapped under the barnacles infested bottom of the ship's hull before being secured to through the opened wide rectangular gun ports.
The techs underworld worked carefully and slowly due to the force of the waves and the dangers of getting crashed between the hull of the ship and the rock reefs. They also have to be careful of the razor-sharp barnacles and shellfish that covered the surfaces of the rocks and hull.
It had taken the men in the EVA space suits a couple of hours to wrap four sets of load-bearing straps under the ship and once they were done, packets of self-inflating floats were looped into the straps and carefully secured to the straps at strategic locations.
Other crew members spent the time ensuring the timbers and the main deck of the ship was solid. The two radial engines were then secured under the main deck and bolted into the wooden frame of the ship. The two sets of paddle wheels were left on the top deck waiting to be installed once the ship had been successfully refloated.
”Chief!” A tech yelled from the beach, ”HQ reports that the Islander's Fleet has just passed Point Baker! We are cleared to commence salvage operations!”
”Got it!” Matt hollered back, ”Pack up the gear and be ready to embark on the ship!”
”The rest activate the floats!” Matt ordered, and the men jumped to his orders.
On the hull, were four sets of load bearing straps each ladened with a single floatation device on the sides. The men in the main deck pulled a tab linked to the devices and the CO2 canister releases the gas stored inside and the floats popped out from their packaging and enlarged into bright orange pods.
The ship tilted and groaned as the balance of the ship shifted on the rocks. ”Check the hull for any leaks!” Matt yelled, ”Also check the floats! See if any have any leaks too!”
The ship was a hive of activity as the small army of techs ran up and down the hatches, verifying and double checking the hull to ensure everything is shipshape. Soon the tide started to come in, and the ship groaned as it was carried up by the secured floats. Matt and his crew held their breath as they all stood at the railings, looking at the floats rubbing against the rock reefs, hearing the scratching and squeaking of the floats.