Two months had passed since the first batch of weapons had been delivered to the newly formed military unit. During this time, Daniel Armstrong, the commander tasked with training the soldiers, worked tirelessly to ensure the recruits mastered their new firearms. The intense training regimen began to show results as the soldiers became more disciplined, physically stronger, and increasingly proficient with their weapons. Arthur, deeply invested in their progress, frequently visited the barracks to oversee the training and provide motivation to the troops.
This morning, however, Arthur's excitement was focused elsewhere. He skipped his usual morning routine and prepared quickly, his anticipation clear on his face. Today marked a monumental moment in the kingdom's history: the first test of its steam-powered steel battleship. This vessel, the result of months of meticulous planning, design, and construction, represented a significant leap forward in naval technology and military power.
Dressed in formal yet practical attire and accompanied by a small group of guards, Arthur rode to the newly constructed naval shipyard. The facility, located just outside the city along the coastline, had been built to accommodate the construction and maintenance of these revolutionary steel warships. The journey took about thirty minutes on horseback, during which Arthur's mind raced with thoughts of the ship's potential.
Upon arriving at the shipyard, Arthur was greeted at the entrance by William, the brilliant engineer who had overseen the vessel's construction. William had been eagerly awaiting Arthur's arrival and wasted no time welcoming him.
"Welcome, Your Highness," William said with a wide smile.
"Good morning, William," Arthur replied, his voice tinged with excitement. "Is everything ready for the test?"
"Yes, everything is prepared. We can begin the trial as soon as you're ready," William assured him.
Together, they entered the heavily guarded facility and made their way to the ship's berth. As they approached, Arthur caught sight of the battleship for the first time. His breath momentarily caught in his throat as he took in the sight of the massive steel vessel.
The ship, reminiscent of a early 20th-century dreadnought design, was an imposing sight. Its steel hull gleamed under the sunlight, while two towering smokestacks billowed thick black smoke into the sky. Massive artillery guns were mounted strategically on the deck, their sheer size a testament to the ship's destructive power. The innovative design and engineering were unlike anything the world had ever seen, and Arthur couldn't help but feel a surge of pride.
"Does she have a name?" Arthur asked, breaking the silence.
William grinned. "We were waiting for your decision, Your Highness. What shall we call her?"
Arthur thought for a moment, gazing at the ship. "HMS Victory," he said finally, his voice firm. "It's a name that represents what this ship stands for—a triumph of progress, innovation, and power."
William nodded. "A fitting name for a vessel that will lead us into a new era."
Arthur's gaze lingered on the battleship, pride evident in his expression. "Let's see if she lives up to it."
He and William boarded the ship, making their way to the command center. Inside, William introduced him to the ship's captain, Edward Smith, a young but exceptionally qualified naval officer in his late twenties.
"Welcome aboard, Your Highness," Edward said, bowing respectfully. "It's an honor to have you join us for the test."
Arthur smiled warmly. "The honor is mine, Captain. Finding someone with the qualifications and leadership skills to command a ship of this magnitude was no easy task. You stood out as the best candidate, and I have high expectations for you."
"I won't let you down, Your Highness," Edward replied with confidence.
The formalities complete, the crew prepared to set sail. The ship's boilers had already been heated, and with Edward's command, the order to begin the test was relayed via the intercom system—a new innovation Arthur had integrated into the ship's design to improve communication. The crew quickly moved to their assigned stations, and the battleship began to pull away from the dock under the power of its steam engines.
As the ship moved further out to sea, Edward and the engineers monitored its performance closely. Everything appeared to be running smoothly, and after a short period, Edward gave the command to push the engines to full power. The ship steadily accelerated, reaching a top speed of 18 knots.
"This appears to be its maximum speed," Edward remarked after observing the readings. He ordered the engines to reduce speed to a comfortable cruising pace before turning to Arthur. "To be honest, if someone had told me a year ago that a steel ship could not only float but also move this quickly, I would've laughed at them. And now, here I am, commanding one."
Arthur laughed lightly. "It's incredible, isn't it? But we're not done yet. Let's test the weapons."
Edward nodded. "We'll reach the firing range in a few minutes."
A short while later, the ship arrived at the designated testing area, a few kilometers off the coast. In the distance, an old decommissioned wooden merchant vessel had been set up as a target. Edward ordered the artillery crew to prepare for the test. The gunners calculated the distance to the target and adjusted the angle of the massive guns accordingly.
"Fire!" Edward commanded.
The first shell roared from the gun, the thunderous sound echoing across the sea. The shell struck the target with precision, shattering its hull. The crew fired three more shots in quick succession, completely obliterating the wooden vessel. Arthur watched in awe, impressed by the ship's firepower and accuracy.
The next phase of the test involved a simulated coastal bombardment. The ship moved closer to the shore, stopping three kilometers from a prepared testing area on land. Once again, the artillery crew fired with precision, destroying all designated targets. Satisfied with the results, Edward gave the order to return to the shipyard.
As the battleship docked, Arthur and William disembarked and headed to William's office within the facility. Once inside, William poured Arthur a cup of tea, and the two sat down to discuss the results.
"I'm extremely pleased with today's test," Arthur began. "The battleship performed beyond my expectations. With this success, it's time to begin mass-producing these vessels and modernizing our navy."
William nodded. "This shipyard can be expanded to produce up to ten battleships per year. However, given the scale of your vision, I recommend constructing additional facilities with even greater production capacities."
Arthur leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. He opened his satchel and pulled out several carefully prepared design plans, laying them on William's desk.
"These," Arthur said, gesturing to the blueprints, "are the designs for other ships we'll need to strengthen our navy. Cargo ships for transporting troops and supplies, amphibious landing craft for coastal invasions, destroyers to escort fleets, and cruisers capable of reconnaissance and long-range missions. Each ship has a specific role to play in ensuring our navy's dominance."
William's eyes lit up as he examined the detailed plans. "Incredible. Your foresight is remarkable, Your Highness. With these designs, we can build a navy capable of securing Pendralis's future."
After finalizing the details, Arthur returned to the palace. That evening, he poured himself a glass of wine and sat at his desk, reflecting on everything he had accomplished so far.
"Transportation, education, and the economy are finally reaching the levels I envisioned. The full modernization of the military will take a little longer, but if we continue at this pace, I can build a modern attack fleet in less than a year," Arthur thought aloud.
He shook his head, smiling to himself. "I can't rush things too much. First, we need to allow the soldiers to familiarize themselves with the new ships. Then, we can focus on exploring and mapping the rest of the world. Once we understand this world fully, we can truly begin to expand our influence."
Arthur then turned his attention to another idea. "Now that we can build steam-powered military ships, we should start producing steam-powered civilian cargo ships. With a fleet of commercial ships protected by the navy, Pendralis could dominate global trade, importing goods faster, cheaper, and in greater quantities. As an island nation, control of the seas is critical for our future—no "Pendralis must dominate the world's seas and oceans."
Fueled by inspiration, Arthur began designing a steam-powered cargo ship specifically for trade. Since it was a civilian vessel and steam technology had already been developed, he completed the design within a few hours. He placed the plans in his desk drawer, poured himself another glass of wine, and stepped out onto his terrace.
As he gazed at the stars, Arthur's thoughts drifted to the adventures and challenges that awaited him. The world was vast and full of mysteries, and he couldn't help but feel exhilarated at the prospect of exploring it. Lost in his dreams of discovery and conquest, Arthur allowed himself a rare moment of peace and comfort before retiring for the night.