While the engineer once again disappeared into the depths of his own brilliant insanity, I turned toward Tandao and raised an eyebrow.
"There was nothing we could do, Commodore," the captain immediately reported, understanding the question without words. "The Fire Lord's orders were to provide him with every possible assistance. And his installation wouldn't fit aboard anything smaller than a cruiser. Not to mention that he genuinely wanted to repay you for your help."
"But there is good news," he added quickly.
"And what would that be?" The transformation of MY ship into a floating powder keg filled with poisonous substances had not improved my mood in the slightest.
"One moment." He turned toward the scientist. "Mechanist, perhaps you could demonstrate some of your other inventions as well."
"Well, those aren't nearly as interesting," the mad scientist admitted with obvious disappointment. "Knowing that there are occasions when you prefer not to advertise your identity, Master Chan, I prepared a few things. Ah... would you mind bringing the blue chest from my laboratory?"
The engineer turned toward one of his young assistants. "Please."
"Right away!" The young man dashed off at once, only to return five minutes later, slightly out of breath, standing before us. "Here."
"Mm-hm." The Mechanist opened a small case and pulled out what looked like an ordinary pair of bracers. Suspicion stirred in the back of my mind. "As I've learned, experienced firebenders can condense their element into weapons at close range, but at longer distances, things become more complicated. I don't particularly enjoy making weapons, but I hope this will help you in your adventures, colleague."
"And what exactly is it?"
"This is the Hand Launcher! Version Three, improved."
"I know I'm going to regret asking this, but what happened to the first two versions?" Suki asked, stealing the question right out of my mouth.
"Oh, nothing serious. The spring in the first version couldn't handle the strain. When it snapped, it buried itself in my arm." The Mechanist held up a limb sporting several fresh scars. "As for the second one, I poorly calibrated the trigger mechanism and nearly shot myself when I tried to scratch my nose." The engineer proudly displayed a hole through one ear. "But don't worry! I definitely got it right on the third try!
"Five bolts in a circular magazine fitted to the forearm, spring-loaded firing mechanism! Thanks to our metallurgists, I managed to create a spring that can remain cocked for up to three days without any ill effects! It's wound using a special key... Now, what else? Ah, right, almost forgot!
"There's also a compartment for candy!"
The Mechanist pressed some inconspicuous protrusion, and a hidden compartment sprang open in the bracer, revealing several... candies.
He had just committed an atrocity against my sanity.
No, I'd heard that all geniuses were a little crazy, but I'd never really dealt with one personally before. Well, a hidden compartment could always be used for something more interesting, like poison. Candy... Yeah. I couldn't help wondering whether he'd been called Q in a previous life. The man certainly had the same inspired enthusiasm.
Everyone around us was staring at this monster with superstitious horror. I wasn't exactly an exception.
"Ahem. Thank you. This will definitely come in handy." The important thing was not to scratch my nose. Just in case. Better yet, keep the thing unloaded unless I actually intended to use it. You never knew.
With that, the satisfied engineer departed, leaving us with the warriors and Tandao to discuss the matters ahead. In the near future, I would need to gather the captains for a war council and discuss our formation with them, but... first, it would be a good idea to actually devise that formation. The assistance of an old sea wolf would be extremely welcome.
So, the formation.
There were some complications. Fire Heralds, as is well known, exist outside the normal military chain of command and could tell any general or admiral to go to hell without even bothering to explain why. The problem was that Heralds—meaning us—were usually individual agents. A heavily armed cruiser bristling with weapons? Certainly. A fast, discreet raider packed with modifications? No problem. A personal team? Spirits, yes.
But a full naval squadron was an entirely different matter.
Could one be attached to a Herald when necessary? Certainly. But having one assigned on a permanent basis and directly under a Herald's created a genuine nightmare where command priorities were concerned.
Zhao would be commanding the operation. He was a full fleet admiral, which meant every vessel participating in the campaign was obligated to obey him. But what exactly were the ships in my squadron supposed to do? Technically, command priority rested with me. On the other hand, Zhao was in charge of the operation. But command priority still rested with me. It was a delicate situation, to put it mildly.
Especially when one added the fact that my relationship with the Western Fleet wasn't exactly warm. There was no outright hostility, but still. And I'd already gathered extensive information on Zhao, both through official inquiries to the Admiralty and through conversations with my father... well, before the two of us started airing our grievances.
The newly promoted admiral, as it turned out, was not a particularly pleasant man to deal with. Arrogant. Conceited. Abrasive. A man perfectly willing—and eager—to climb over other people's heads to get what he wanted. Not quite a Bohemian corporal, but not far from one, either.
At the same time, he possessed all the qualities necessary for success: influential patrons in the upper ranks of the bureaucracy, Lord Ozai's favor, and genuine talent for military service. Frankly, had it not been for his difficult personality, he might well have become a Fire Herald himself. Then again, the man had done quite well without it.
The real question was how I was supposed to deal with him.
(End of Chapter)
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