Revised- Chapter 2 - A few weeks after the Middlesea Event - The Duke briefly stops in Gearhaven

Caledon Gearhaven, Present Day

“To me the Metaverse is like a 7% Solution was for Sherlock Holmes.  A distraction until something else draws on my particular set of skills. When I am called off to a new adventure, I don't need to the… outlet”

The Lady nodded politely. Her typical reaction. A sign of her training. Affirm positively. To not appear distracted and keep the Gentleman properly engaged.

It was night time in Caledon. The moon reflected off the Firth. In the distance, the public airships hummed over the Port, turning to cross Gearhaven and then glide over the Firth to Tanglewood. The Gearhaven standard flew off the bow of the ship. Lady Orr noticed the absence of a Caledon or Armadan insignia. It wasn't like the Duke to be openly disrespectful of the Commonwealth. She felt sad about the missing Armada flag.

The  Duke had returned abruptly to Caledon. He had returned to legally enforce his claim on the Fiefdom of Gearhaven. His wandering had taken him far from Caledon. An attempt on his life, followed by a legal issue had dulled his enthusiasm for this world.

“Your Grace, tell me. Do you think you will stay long? The Governor and his staff have been very worried about you.”

“I don't know yet. What I do know is that I have some questions for certain “allies”.

The lady didn't react this time. She let the statement marinate.

“Do you think the attempt on your life at Sakura was really Mondrago and not GSM? Not the Neko’s People Army?”

“I am more useful to the Neko’s Peoples Army only because a threat of returning to the throne allows them to keep a boot on the throat of the people. Dictatorship of the proletariat and all.”

“But the Gnostic Separationist. They oppose your claim to Sphinx Caliphate.”

“As do the Mondragons.."

“But for other reasons. Your restoration of Armada was the problem they had.  GSM is opposed to the idea that you could assume the mandate of the Esoteric Khan of the Heavens  and office of the Hierophant effectively restoring the Caliphate.”

“I have never asserted such a claim. Although, some think it is my right”.

“But we were attempting to restore the Temple of the Hidden Goddess in Rosehaven. Your influences would have driven people against both the SteamPope and the Mondragon Iman”. A spot light from a turning air ship briefly illuminated the deck of the Gray Area. Washing the turbine engines in light. After the fall of Iron Cloud and disruption of the Firth, shipping was more sporadic and less consistent into this part of Caledon.

“The Iman is a fool. And the new magistrate is worse. More tea? Lady Orr?”

“No, thank your grace. I do need to return to Sakura. The Duchess is arriving early. She had a new ward. I have been asked to train her.” 

“What time period was this girl rescued from?”

“1990’s Earth Prime. Hispanic North American. Skater girl. But has strong powers”.

“Better than the space age freaks. Klingon BDSM is too odd. Even for here.”

Lady Orr laughed politely. “Not Klingon, Reaver.”

“That’s actually worse”, the Neko deadpanned.

“I do have one question, your grace. Why even hold on to the claims to the Caliphate? It doesn't seem to suit your interest here or other wise.”

“Are you aware of Aga Khan in the earth Prime timeline?”

“Yes heredity religious leader who raced horses and dated movie star”.

“More than than. He kept his mantle to establish a humanitarian foundation to protect culture and to help his people who were… less fortunate. We could still save the steamlands. Unite them in a model that thrives..”

“This type of talk drove Callidus and Dr. Albion to try to kill you. People don’t think they need saving. Not from an upstart Neko from outside the Steamlands.”

“Don’t you think that escalated quickly?”

“Only because they want to unite Caledon under  “Greater Mondrago”. There has been a vicious trade war. Drama undermining every institution in the Steamlands”.

Lady Orr leaned in and kissed his Neko ear softly. “Be careful, your Grace - after the destruction of Iron Cloud and the defection of some of the Vicereine's navy. Caledon has become less stable.”

“I fear Caledon will go the way of Nexus Prime and other parts of Metaverse. A slow decay into nothing.” He caught himself. “but thank you for the concern.” He paused… “Wait, I have a gift for you and something for you to give the Duchess of Omnium.”

He handed two small boxes to the lady. “Inside one of these is a ring of emerald and silver. The runes on it side can be used to open a portal to the life tree itself. So I was told by an Odinist. I thought it would be useful to your new master and in new role. The other is a special timepiece. It could be useful to the Duchess.”

Lady Orr smile. “Thank you, your Grace”. In the distance, repair bots were welding a fissure on the hull of the Gray Area. The lights of Port Caldeon seem to burn brightly. A defiant contrast the blackness of the non-navigable Firth after the Middlesea event. A reminder of the past glory and aspirational future.

“Lady Orr - please ask the Duchess if I could call on her soon”. 

“Of course, your Grace. So long as you don't raise the idea of a dynastic marriage again”.

“No, I wouldn't ask her or anyone to join me in this. Besides that is a peace time option. Not for a time of conflict and maybe war.” Hiro smiled. “You need to get back. They will be looking for you.”

Lady Orr curtsied and stepped on to the waiting airship shuttle. The small craft turned quick towardly in the direction of Victoria City and quickly accelerated.

The Duke waited until Lady Emilly Orr's airship was almost out of sight. He finished his drink. It was a few minutes before he realized he was staring into the darkness of Middlesea, expecting to see the lights of Iron Cloud. It was unsettling to not see the might of Caledon’s Air Defenses hovering above. He began to walk toward the bridge.  

On the bridge of the dreadnaught and the largest Airship in Caledon. The Duke studied the instruments. The crew was well into completing the preflight checklist.”

“Ensign, signal Victoria City that we are ready to get underway. Set a course to the fleet rendezvous point.”

He noticed movement from the Code Poets house. An old man with a spyglass. Reporting to the Pirates no doubt. Let’s given them something to fear.  “Weapons, charge the Aetherium Canon.  Helmsman, raise the Armandan Flag.” Hiro smiles as the Tesla coils began to hum.   Green and Purple lighting flashes reflecting off the copper skin of the airship. The Kraken and Skull of Armada were raised, next to the Eye and Gear.  Passing the Port of Caledon, the engines began to speed up.

 Hiro glanced at the burnt up hull of the pub on the dock of the Port. He wished he had been there when Gearhaven Militia kicked in the door in retaliation for the attack at Sakura.  He was told the Doctor was in her hidden Spa “relaxing” with illegal slaves. She could have been tried for human trafficking and atrocities in Caledon. 

However,  Emilly, acting as Regent of Gearhaven, had been given specific orders. The private militia was sent to send a message, not bring people to justice. The doctor was forced to watch as her entire household of slaves were liberated. Her databases hacked, wealth confiscated and building a fire. Evidence of the Mondragon plot was presented to Caledon officials directly. The next morning, the Doctor was deported to Cala Mondrago, not before falling in her cell and bruising her face. Hiro wondered if he would have shown the same restraint if Emilly had been the victim of the attack rather than himself.

         As the engine began spinning up, the Gearhaven telegraph service began to send a predefined message to several predetermined stations in the Steamland.  “HMAS GRAY AREA IS UNDERWAY.  THE DUKE OF GEARHAVEN IS SECURE AND ON BOARD. PROCEED FLEET TO POSITION. 

OPERATION DJINN, PHASE ALPHA. END TRANSMISSION”

The Airship began to move swiftly away from the bright safety of Caledon into the darkness.