If you want to read 20 Chapters ahead, be sure to check out my P-Tang12!!!
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(A/N: Don't forget to give those power stones to Skyrim everyone!)
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However, Caleb was fiercely determined to ensure that the research did not consume his entire life. He remembered that he had a wife waiting for him, and he deliberately limited how many hours he spent inside the warehouse laboratory. Mary-Beth occasionally appeared at the warehouse during the late afternoons, carrying a basket of fresh food from the mansion.
"I see you've managed to get grease on another brand new suit, Mr. Thorne," Mary-Beth teased one afternoon, handing Caleb a napkin as he wiped his hands. She looked over at Tesla, who was frantically adjusting a vacuum tube. "You are becoming just as obsessed with these inventions as Mr. Tesla. Soon, I'll have two eccentric scientists living in the mansion, muttering equations at the dinner table."
Caleb laughed, wrapping an arm around her waist and kissing her cheek. "I promise, sweetheart, I am entirely capable of leaving the equations at the door."
Tesla looked up from his workbench, a genuine look of confusion crossing his gaunt face. "I do not understand why taking breaks is considered so vital, Mrs. Thorne. The conductive properties of the atmosphere do not require sleep. There is still so much work to be done!"
"The atmosphere doesn't require sleep, Mr. Tesla, but your brain certainly does," Mary-Beth smiled gently, setting a sandwich down next to his soldering iron. "Eat. That is an order from your friend's wife."
Tesla looked at the sandwich, then at Caleb, before finally relenting with a sigh and taking a bite. These lighter, human moments grounded the intense scientific work, making their relationship feel warm and deeply genuine.
Over the following weeks, Caleb and Tesla made terrifyingly rapid progress. Because Caleb possessed the anachronistic knowledge of how the technology was eventually supposed to work, he gently steered Tesla away from the dozens of failed experiments, dead ends, and flawed theories that the inventor might otherwise have wasted months exploring.
However, Caleb never made Tesla's genius feel irrelevant. Tesla remained the absolute primary scientific mind driving the physical experiments, designing the delicate vacuum tubes and the complex oscillating circuits, while Caleb provided the unusual knowledge, the practical engineering insight to physically manufacture the parts, and the conceptual leaps originating from his Past Life Memory.
Eventually, late one humid evening in the warehouse, the work paid off.
Tesla stood near a massive, humming copper transmitter coil, his hand resting on a telegraph style key attached to a microphone. Caleb stood across the vast expanse of the warehouse, holding a crude, heavy receiver box wired to an early speaker cone.
"Testing frequency modulation," Tesla's voice echoed, slightly distorted and crackling with static, but undeniably, clearly recognizable through the speaker in Caleb's hands.
Caleb lowered the receiver, a massive smile breaking across his face. It wasn't an exaggerated, magical instant success, the audio was filled with interference, the equipment was incredibly bulky, and they still needed to dramatically refine the transmitters to increase the range, but the achievement was monumental. They had successfully transmitted a human voice over a distance using synchronized wavelengths.
Tesla was practically vibrating with fascination.
"The fidelity can be improved by stabilizing the vacuum tubes!" Tesla talked excitedly, already pacing around the transmitter. "Caleb, this will completely change the world! Ships at sea communicating with the shore! Instantaneous news broadcasts across entire continents! The numerous applications alone..."
"We will refine it, Nikola," Caleb agreed, setting the receiver down. "We will increase the reliability, and then I will figure out how we manufacture the receivers commercially so every home in America can afford one."
Tesla's larger dream of wireless power remained humming in the background of his mind, but Caleb made it abundantly clear that they would return to that monumental task once the radio technology was mature enough to fund it.
Meanwhile, as the weeks turned into a month, the Pioneer sporting rifle and the Enforcer shotgun finally rolled off the assembly lines and entered the market.
The impact was immediate and explosive.
The weapons immediately attracted massive attention because of their stunning reliability, their flawless handling, and their devastating performance compared to the aging lever action rifles and fragile shotguns currently dominating the market.
The release caused another massive wave of intense public and commercial interest in the Thorne-Marlin Firearms Company, firmly cementing the company's reputation as the absolute most innovative, dangerous firearms manufacturer in the country.
Wealthy merchants in Saint Denis, big game hunters traveling to the West, local law enforcement professionals, and government representatives in the capital began talking almost exclusively about the new Thorne-Marlin weapons.
Their overwhelming success further strengthened Caleb's towering reputation as a visionary industrialist and inventor, especially among the wealthy, entrenched businessmen of the era who were rapidly beginning to realize that Thorne-Marlin was not simply another regional gunsmith.
Then, Caleb received another telegraph from John M. Marlin in Connecticut.
Caleb read the message in his study. John informed him that the schematics had arrived safely and that the massive Connecticut factory had successfully adapted its production lines. The first northern production efforts were proceeding flawlessly, and the company expected the Pioneer and the Enforcer to flood the national market within weeks.
However, John also had infinitely more important, highly sensitive news.
The United States government had officially approached the Thorne-Marlin Firearms Company regarding a potential, massive military contract.
Senior government representatives from the War Department were intensely interested in the company's new weapons, specifically the Vanguard rifle and rumors of heavier support weapons. They wanted to discuss the possibility of purchasing them exclusively for military use. Furthermore, they explicitly expressed a strong interest in meeting Caleb Thorne personally, recognizing his rapidly growing, undeniable influence over the company and his direct role in developing its newest, lethal designs.
Caleb lowered the telegraph, reacting with a complex mixture of deep satisfaction and cold, calculating caution.
He understood intrinsically that a federal government contract could fundamentally transform Thorne-Marlin from a highly successful commercial firearms manufacturer into a nationally vital, untouchable industrial titan. It was the kind of contract that built dynasties.
At the exact same time, he knew that the eye of Washington brought severe risks. It brought heavy political obligations, bureaucratic complications, and intense, unforgiving scrutiny.
Caleb immediately summoned Pierre, Hosea, and Vincenzo to the study to discuss the news.
Each man offered a distinctly different perspective.
"A federal military contract of this scale..." Pierre breathed, his mind instantly thought of the staggering numbers. "It would guarantee hundreds of thousands of dollars in steady, undeniable revenue for years. We would have to triple the size of both factories just to meet the demand."
"But while the money is undeniable, Caleb, but the politics are treacherous," Hosea warned, his voice low and serious. "You must be incredibly careful not to become entirely dependent on the government. If they become your only buyer, they control you. They can dictate your prices, and they can demand access to your proprietary designs. You must retain your independence."
"I say we take the meeting," Vincenzo added pragmatically, leaning against the doorframe. "If the military is buying our guns, it means the national police and the entire criminal underworld will think twice before they ever try to raid one of our warehouses. It gives us a federal shield."
Caleb listened, absorbing their counsel. They were all right. This was another undeniable sign that Caleb's businesses were rapidly, violently moving far beyond the borders of Saint Denis.
As the meeting adjourned and the men left the study, Caleb walked over to the towering windows, looking out over the sprawling, manicured grounds of the Garden District mansion.
Mary-Beth quietly slipped into the room, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind, resting her head against his back.
Caleb stood there, the telegraph resting on the desk behind him, reflecting on the staggering reality of his rapidly changing situation. He looked out at the city, understanding that the developments with Tesla, the dominance of Thorne-Marlin, the explosion of the bicycle market, the massive construction of Thorne Crown in New York, and his growing web of political connections were rapidly fusing together to form something vastly larger than what he had originally intended to create.
His operation in Saint Denis was no longer simply a powerful criminal organization with legitimate businesses attached to it as a front.
It was becoming a genuine, towering industrial empire.
He had only just begun to build what he wanted, but the massive pieces were finally beginning to connect and interlock, advanced firearms, modern transportation, international restaurants, revolutionary electricity, luxury hotels, the birth of wireless communication, and deep political influence.
Caleb turned, wrapping his arms around his wife and holding her close, a fierce, unstoppable ambition burning in his blue eyes. The meeting with the United States government regarding the military contract was approaching, and Caleb knew it would be the next major turning point in his life.
Then after that, Mary-Beth had successfully dragged Caleb out of his thoughts, as the two of them sat in Caleb's private study. The fire cracked warmly in the hearth, casting long shadows across the Persian rug.
Caleb poured two glasses of aged bourbon, handing one to Mary-Beth before settling into the heavy leather armchair opposite her.
"I received a telegraph from John Marlin in Connecticut this afternoon," Caleb said quietly, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. "The Pioneer and the Enforcer are entering mass production up North. But that isn't the real news."
Mary-Beth tilted her head, taking a delicate sip of her drink. "What is?"
"The United States government has officially contacted Thorne-Marlin," Caleb explained, watching her reaction closely. "The War Department wants to discuss a potential military contract. They are specifically interested in the Vanguard, and they want to meet with me personally."
Mary-Beth's eyes widened, genuine shock registering on her beautiful face. She had already understood that Caleb's firearms company was highly successful, practically printing money in Saint Denis. But the fact that the federal government, the massive, untouchable military apparatus in Washington, wanted to negotiate with him personally felt like a terrifying leap into an entirely different world.
"Caleb, that is... that is incredible," Mary-Beth said, a bright, deeply proud smile breaking across her face. She leaned forward, setting her glass on the mahogany table. "You have to accept it. A federal military contract could take your company to an entirely different level. It would make you practically untouchable."
Caleb smiled at her enthusiasm, but his blue eyes remained highly calculating. "You are right. The opportunity is absolutely enormous. But I cannot simply rush into it blindly, Mary-Beth."
"Why not?"
"Because the eye of Washington brings a very specific kind of danger," Caleb explained, leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "The established firearms industry, Winchester, Colt, Remington, they already view Thorne-Marlin as a severe regional threat. If we suddenly secure a massive federal contract, we become an existential threat. They will attempt to undermine us. They will spread vicious rumors, pressure politicians in Albany and Washington, attempt to aggressively poach my master machinists, and challenge Pierre's patents in federal court. A government contract gives us prestige, immense capital, and influence... but it also paints a massive target directly on our backs."
Mary-Beth listened carefully, the reality of the corporate warfare sinking in. She stood up, walking over to him, and gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Whatever choice you make, Caleb, I will support you," she promised softly. "If you believe the target is worth the prize, then we take the shot."
Caleb placed his hand over hers, deeply grateful for her unwavering support.
After Mary-Beth retired for the evening, Caleb remained in the study for several quiet hours, staring into the dying embers of the fire, meticulously thinking through the decision.
He weighed the staggering financial advantages against the political liabilities. He considered the sheer, undeniable national recognition a military relationship would bring. Eventually, Caleb decided to accept the meeting.
He reasoned that this was the first, vital step toward gaining absolute influence on a national scale. Saint Denis had given him an impenetrable foundation. New York had given him crucial access to national finance, Tammany Hall, and political protection. A federal government contract would fundamentally transform Thorne-Marlin into a company with lethal influence extending throughout the entire United States.
His thoughts also drifted toward the radio technology he and Nikola Tesla were currently developing in the warehouse.
He knew that the moment wireless voice communication became public, the name Caleb Thorne would become even more widely, terrifyingly recognized. At that point, Caleb could potentially dictate relationships with dozens of different government departments, not just the War Department, but the Navy, the intelligence bureaus, and the national press.
He even considered the distinct possibility of eventually meeting the current President of the United States, William McKinley.
Caleb paused, a cold chill running down his spine. He remembered with chilling clarity from his previous life that McKinley was fated to be assassinated in Buffalo the following year. Caleb briefly considered whether he possessed the power to intervene and prevent the murder.
However, he quickly recognized that it was a problem for the future, aggressively interfering with a historical assassination too early could trigger massive, unpredictable consequences that he could not control.
He also thought about Theodore Roosevelt, whom he remembered would then ascend to the presidency after McKinley's death. Caleb was interested in meeting the rough riding progressive and potentially building a relationship with him, understanding that Roosevelt would soon dictate the future of the American century.
Having made his decision regarding the military, Caleb drafted a telegraph to John M. Marlin in Connecticut.
'I accept the opportunity,' Caleb wired. 'I intend to travel to Connecticut personally. Notify the War Department that I will attend the meeting in person. Prepare the boardroom.'
He wanted to establish instantly that he was treating the federal government contract with the absolute, deadly seriousness it deserved.
Shortly after dispatching the message, a runner arrived at the mansion with another priority telegraph.
This one was from Herr Strauss in New York.
Caleb tore open the envelope. Strauss reported that the initial outreach to Detroit had been highly successful, and he had personally met with Henry Ford in Manhattan.
According to the brilliant accountant, Ford was much like Caleb and Tesla in one highly specific, crucial respect, he was a relentless visionary. Strauss detailed that while Ford's current business was struggling heavily, Ford genuinely, fanatically saw the limitless potential of the automobile and absolutely refused to abandon the concept simply because the current market was unprepared for it. The technology was still crude, but Strauss believed it could eventually revolutionize global transportation.
Strauss informed Caleb that he had prepared all the necessary arrangements for Ford to travel south to Saint Denis, pending Caleb's final approval.
Caleb immediately sent a response, drastically altering the plan.
Rather than having Ford travel eight hundred miles south to Saint Denis, Caleb instructed Strauss to arrange for Ford to travel to Connecticut instead. Caleb was already heading North to meet John Marlin and the War Departmen, he wanted Ford to join him there. It was highly efficient. Caleb would handle the federal government, his firearms empire, and the future of the automobile industry all during the exact same trip.
The following morning, the mansion erupted into a frenzy of preparation for the Connecticut journey.
Mary-Beth found Caleb in the study, organizing a leather briefcase full of patents.
"I want to come with you," she announced, her tone leaving absolutely no room for negotiation.
Caleb looked up, slightly surprised. "Connecticut is going to be incredibly boring, Mary-Beth. Endless boardrooms, factory inspections, and military generals."
"I don't care," Mary-Beth insisted, walking over to the desk. "I want to see the main facilities of Thorne-Marlin with my own eyes. I want to meet the Marlin family. I want to see the part of your empire that exists far away from this city. You are not leaving me behind again."
Caleb couldn't help but smile, deeply happy that she wanted to be by his side. "Pack warm clothes. The North is significantly colder than Lemoyne."
The traveling manifest quickly expanded. The group would include Caleb, Mary-Beth, Hosea, Vincenzo, Silvio, Arthur, Javier, Bill Williamson, and a massive, heavily armed detachment of trusted capos and security personnel.
It was abundantly clear that Caleb was traveling with a substantial, terrifying entourage because this was no ordinary business trip. He was going to meet the Marlin leadership. He was meeting the United States government. He was potentially meeting Henry Ford. And he was transporting staggering amounts of cash, highly sensitive patents, corporate documents, and expensive gifts. The syndicate required serious security.
Caleb and Mary-Beth also meticulously prepared several thoughtful, expensive souvenirs and gifts for the Marlin family, chosen specifically from luxury products associated with Saint Denis. The gifts were not presented as crude, mafia-style bribes; they were elegant signs of deep respect and a formal acknowledgment of the powerful relationship Caleb was building with the northern executives.
Meanwhile, across the city, Nikola Tesla caught wind that Caleb was preparing to leave for Connecticut.
Tesla practically broke the door to the mansion off its hinges, marching into the study with a face entirely red with panic. "You cannot leave, Caleb!" Tesla objected immediately, slamming a stack of blueprints onto the desk. "We are at a highly critical stage in the frequency modulation! If we stabilize the vacuum tubes this week, we could double the transmission range! An interruption now could severely derail my calculations!"
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Name: Caleb Thorne
Age: 23
Body Attributes:
- Strength: 8/10
- Agility: 8/10
- Perception: 9/10
- Stamina: 8/10
- Charm: 8/10
- Luck: 9/10
Skills:
- Handgun (Lvl MAX)
- Rifle (Lvl MAX)
- Firearms Knowledge (Lvl MAX)
- Past Life Memory (Lvl MAX)
- Knife (Lvl MAX)
- Blunt Weapon (Lvl MAX)
- Sneaking (Lvl MAX)
- Horse Mastery (Lvl MAX)
- Poker (Lvl MAX)
- Hand to Hand Combat (Lvl MAX)
- Eagle Eye (Lvl MAX)
- Dead Eye (Lvl MAX)
- Bow (Lvl MAX)
- Pain Nullifier (Lvl MAX)
- Physical Regeneration (Lvl MAX)
- Crafting (Lvl MAX)
- Persuasion (Lvl MAX)
- Mental Fortitude (Lvl MAX)
- Cooking (Lvl MAX)
- Teaching (Lvl MAX)
- Trilingual Language Proficiency - G, I, & C (Lvl MAX)
- Inventory System (Permanent - 100x100x100)
- Acting (Lvl MAX)
- Alcohol Resistance (Lvl MAX)
- Treasure Hunter (Lvl MAX)
- Drugs Resistance (Lvl MAX)
- Business (Lvl MAX)
- Leadership (Lvl MAX)
Money: 2,772 dollars and 60 cents
Inventory: 283,392 dollars and 61 cents, 11 gold nuggets, 74 gold bars, 1 Double Action, 1 Schofield, 2 Colm's Schofields, 1 land deed (Parcel), 1 Mauser, 1 Semi Auto Pistol, 1 Lancaster Repeater, 1 Old Wood Jewelry Box, 1 F.F Mausoleum small brass key, 1 Ruby, 1 Broken Pirate Sword, 1 Milton's Safety Deposit Key, Proof Of Marlin-Thorne Firearms Co., 10 Dynamites, 1 LeMat, 1 M1899, 1 Carcano, 1 Ownership deed of Doyle's Tavern, 3 Diamonds, & Important Documents & Deeds Of Cornwall
Bank: -