Sticking ‘commentary’ in front of these titles renders them what I’d consider to be unnecessarily long, so I figure I’ll drop the ‘Nathaniel Cannon and the’.
One of the things that Crimson Skies didn’t provide was the thrill of airborne aircraft carrier operations. I can see why they left that part out, but at the same time, it would have been cool for an oddball like me.
Outside the cockpit, the clouds turned until they leveled with the canopy framing. Nathaniel Cannon felt his weight settle back into his seat, rolled his Kestrel fighter into a gentle turn, and took a look around.
The sun settled toward the horizon, casting bronze light off the clouds, puffy and scattered. Ten miles north, Cannon’s zeppelin Inconstant ran for a line of dark squalls further ahead. Ten miles south, HMS Sparrow of the Royal Naval Air Service gave chase. Two thousand feet below, sunlit specks danced a deadly dance, linked by lines of tracers. Cannon’s pilots flew cautiously, knowing that if they were shot down, they would be picked up by the British and doubtlessly hanged for air piracy.
Looking over his shoulder, Cannon saw Joe Copeland’s Kestrel in loose formation a hundred yards away. A slender forward fuselage held the .50- and .70-caliber machine guns, flaring at the cockpit and then swelling further to accommodate the coaxial twin radial engines and aft-mounted propellers that made these modified Kestrels some of the fastest planes in the skies. Narrow, sharp-edged wings tipped with vertical stabilizers swept back from just behind the cockpit frame.
Cannon’s radio crackled, carrying Joe’s deep voice through the static. “‘Nother flight of bombers southeast of the furball, boss. Four of ’em.”
Cannon thumbed his microphone switch. “Roger that,” he said, leaning to the left to look out the side of his cockpit. “I can’t mark them,” he added after a moment, throttling back. “You take the lead.”
Joe’s plane slipped ahead, then rolled into a dive. Cannon followed him, spotting the bombers as he settled onto Joe’s course and watching as they slid from the left of his windscreen toward his gunsight. He twitched the controls to line up ahead of the third bomber in the formation, judged the lead to be about right, and pulled the triggers. A long line of bullets filled the sky in front of him, chewing into the right-side engine nacelle of the bomber, then walking up the wing toward the fuselage. Ahead of him, Joe opened fire, and Cannon nudged his stick to bring his sights over the tail-end charlie. Smoke poured from his first target’s stricken engine, and it fell out of formation, turning back toward the British zeppelin.
The gunners in the remaining bombers finally realized they were under attack, and tracers flashed up toward Cannon. He ignored them, firing a long burst into the fuselage of his second target. Flashes peppered the aircraft’s flank as the bullets struck home, and as Cannon whizzed by beneath it, he caught a glimpse of flames licking at its tail. Glancing in the shaving mirror hanging from the bar over his head, he saw the bomber trailing thick, black smoke. Behind it, parachutes popped open.
Joe’s fighter, still ahead, pulled up into a steep climb, and Cannon followed him. As they leveled off, he saw only one of the enemy bombers still on course for Inconstant. Joe wheeled about to dive on it again, and Cannon circled overhead, scanning the skies for incoming threats.
He hadn’t planned on tangling with the Royal Naval Air Service today, but a patrolling British flying boat had chanced upon him over the Indian Ocean, and soon after his pilots had forced it down, they’d spotted the Sparrow making a beeline for Inconstant. The two zeppelins and their air wings were evenly matched, more or less, and that spelled a fair fight Cannon didn’t have the time for.
We’re away, embarked on another tale of action and adventure with sky pirate Nathaniel Cannon!
I was supposed to type this last night, but I got distracted playing DCS: Black Shark instead. I can still fly a Russian attack helicopter! Sorry for the slight delay.
I find myself with a little time to throw together a post before I have to be off to do things, so here are two pieces of news:
1) John Brimlow, collaborator, etc., has opened vanguard.manywords.press to host future writing of his.
2) soapbox.manywords.press, which doesn’t have any content yet, will eventually host musings and stories of mine that aren’t more narrowly about writing—games, guns, controversy, and whatnot.
Have a wonderful Sunday, reader.
So brings to an end this front-page contribution from John Brimlow, a.k.a. parvusimperator, a.k.a. my collaborator in building the skypirates universe. We’ve each taken a zeppelin crewed by criminals and malcontents of a variety of types, and in planning and writing stories around our zeppelin, we’re building out the detail of the world. It’s exciting stuff. It’s now probably the most-detailed universe in which I write, ahead of Nexus/the Confederacy/war in space. That’s detailed by dint of being long-running, but only in a few specific places I’ve needed so far.
Speaking of Nexus, I finished my first editing pass of We Sail Off To War, and today I’m sending it out to a few test-readers for their feedback on pace and tone. The e-book edition is more nearly done than it’s been since I wrapped up writing on the story, uh, almost a year ago, I guess. Besides a few moments during which I thought, “Did I really think that was okay when I wrote it?” the editing process has gone well so far.
Paging through my writing notebook, I see that I’m now about two weeks ahead on Nathaniel Cannon and the Secret of the Dutchman’s Cross, which is reason for self-congratulation. It’ll start posting on Tuesday, and I’m excited for it.
Alas, I have household chores to do today, and so my gabble about the other things I’m doing/have planned will have to wait for later.
KNOW YOUR PIRATE ZEPPELINS: INCONSTANT
Manufacturer: Société Provençale de Constructions Aéronautiques, Marseilles
Type: custom-built privateer
Engines: Eight Peugeot V12 blaugas engines, internal mounts, 1,150hp each
-four low starboard pusher propellers, staggered
-four low port pusher propellers, staggered
Bow chaser: 3-inch class flak gun (Canon de 75 mm contre-aéroplanes modèle 1917)
Main battery: 12x 3-inch class flak guns (Canon de 75 mm contre-aéroplanes modèle 1917)
Dorsal turrets: 6x Browning M2 .50-cal. MGs
Propeller strut turrets: 8x Fabrique National d’Herstal Mitrailleuse aérienne modèle 1924 18mm MGs
Stern chaser: Aerial minelayer, unknown type
Air wing:
– 3 skyhooks
– 20-30 aircraft total
– 15-20 fighters, light and heavy types
– 4-6 bombers, single- and twin-engine
– 1-2 transports, twin-engine
Design Notes:
Inconstant was originally designed and built in 1925 for privateer and pirate hunter Gustave de la Salle as Le Chevalier. While she was undergoing final fitting-out in French Indochina in early 1926, the Bloody Flag pirate gang arranged to steal her. Air pirate Nathaniel Cannon, then a member of the Bloody Flag, bribed the skeleton crew aboard Le Chevalier, and, while the Bloody Flag gang was engaged with French air defenses, escaped with the zeppelin.
Inconstant was a forward-looking design in 1925, and carries a large and capable air wing for her size even by today’s standards. She possesses limited launch and recovery gear, and cannot rapidly deploy her air wing if surprised. She is triple-keeled, and can evade pursuit through moderate storms and squalls.
She may be identified by the insignia upon her empennage: two muzzle-loading cannon on naval carriages, one above the other, pointing forward. This insignia may be modified or covered. If so, identification may be made by count of gunports and anti-aircraft machine guns.
Crew Notes:
Inconstant is operated by air pirate Nathaniel Cannon. Believed to be among his crew are Emma Foster, wanted for murder in the British Empire, Choufeng Chuang, wanted for murder in the British Empire, and Iseabail Crannach, wanted in the British Empire for various acts constituting breaches of the King’s peace, including disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct, sheep rustling, grand larceny, fraud, and arson.
Bases:
None known. Inconstant operates primarily in the East Indies and South Pacific.
The KNOW YOUR PIRATE ZEPPELIN series is brought to you by KEY Aviation Security.
Copyright 1928
The formatting on these isn’t really as pleasing to the eye as I’d like, but I’m a lazy bum and these are filler material, so naturally I wasn’t going to spend much time on them.
KNOW YOUR PIRATE ZEPPELINS: ARYS
Manufacturer: Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH, Friedrichshafen
Type:Peter Strasser-class Kampflinienluftschiff (‘Airship of the Line’)
Engines: Eight Maybach M589 V16 Diesel Engines, 890 kW (1,200 hp) each
-four low starboard gondolas, staggered
-four low port gondolas, staggered
Bow Chaser: Type XII-B twelve-tube 15cm rocket battery firing R32T Aerial rockets
Main Battery: Eighteen Krupp 7.7cm FK/Z 96 n.A. flak guns per side in three gundecks
Dorsal Turrets: Four twin Mauser MG-28 17.97mm (~.70 cal) MGs
Ventral Turrets Four twin Mauser MG-28 17.97mm (~.70 cal) MGs
Gondola Turrets: Eight twin Mauser MG-28 17.97mm (~.70 cal) MGs
Stern Chaser: One Krupp 7.7 cm FK/Z 96 n.A. flak gun, turret mounted
Aircraft Compliment:
-7 Messerschmitt Bf-79 Interceptors
-1 Kawanishi Z6K Interceptor (see: Aki Nagumo, Kempetai file UR-99155; KAS file J-59519-FF)
-8 Albatros Al-99 Fighters
-8 Focke-Wulf Fw-103 Heavy Fighters
Design Notes:
Originally built as an Airship of the Line for the Kriegsmarine in 1924, the Arys is designed to engage enemy zeppelins in close combat. Her heavy gun armament makes torpedo attacks difficult and allows for reduced patrols. Large bow planes increase vertical manuverability; however these are uncommon on Strasser-class zeppelins so they may be part of a modification program. The Arys suffers from a limited ability to launch long range strikes or to quickly seize cargo from another zeppelin. Escorts should NOT engage the Arys within gun range.
The Arys still bears the tail colors of the Kaiserliche Marine, as well as Grafiene von Schmeisser’s crest. Arys can also be identified by her triple gun decks and armored gondola, rare sights outside of German-controlled territory.
Crew Notes:
Arys is owned by the Grafiene Katarina von Schmeisser, and commanded by Harlan Calhoun. Despite the best attempts of the Geheime Staatspolizei, Grafiene von Schmeisser maintains a significant pool of assets. Bribery attempts have been unsuccessful, and are no longer reccomended.
It is believed that Calhoun and the Grafiene are lovers. Both are wanted by police and security forces of the Third Reich for high treason, grand theft zeppelin, and the killing of several members of the Sturmabteilung.
Other known crew members are Dr. Aki Nagumo, wanted by the Kempetai for high treason; Petar Jovovic, wanted for murder in Belgrade; and Vasily Chernov, wanted in connection with a plot to assassinate Vladimir Lenin.
Bases:
None known. The Peter Strasser-class zeppelins are very hard to dock without external assistance.
The KNOW YOUR PIRATE ZEPPELIN series is brought to you by KEY Aviation Security.
Today’s guest post is brought to you by author John Brimlow.
Petar and a few of the other heavy fighters gained altitude. Petar called out orders to his formation. “Alright, this is good height. Circle for a bit, then follow me in, slightly staggered. Aim for funnels.”
The three heavy fighters circled over the Graf Spee like great mechanical vultures. As the flak batteries started lobbing their black puffs of death skyward, Petar barked, “Go Aki, go!”
Aki brought her plane around, throttled up, and came in low, firing bursts from her guns to draw the gunners’ attention. Flak gunners frantically cranked their elevation wheels to lower the guns as bullets hit the deck and hull around them. Aki’s plane was so low that the 15cm casemate guns fired at the water trying to tip her plane, but to no avail. As she closed, she lengthened her bursts and gunners hit the deck. “Clear for attack, Petar,” she called.
As Petar rolled into his dive, he noticed puffs of smoke from boxy launchers on the quarterdeck and the aft gun turrets. “Watch out! Aerial mines!”
But it was too late. As Aki pulled out of her dive, her left wing caught on one of the aerial mine cables, gently drifting down on a parachute. The speed of her plane pulled the explosive charge into the wing, blowing off the wingtip and tearing off the left aileron.
“Kuso!” snarled Aki as she worked to stabilize her damaged plane. Fighting to keep her plane level, she drifted into the fire arcs of the flak guns on the other side of the ship. Eager to avenge their comrades, these guns opened fire.
Petar was well along into his dive now. Some of the flak gunners noticed the problem, but they were unable to elevate their guns fast enough. He aimed for the forward funnel with his big bomb and waited to get close enough. Petar knew his bomb-aiming skills weren’t the best, so he held his dive to the frightful altitude of 240 meters before he yanked the bomb release toggle and pulled back on the stick. Resistance on the stick was incredible, and despite his strength, the Beast of Belgrade found himself needing both hands to wrench the stick back far enough. His plane narrowly missed hitting the foremast as he managed to pull out of his dive. Beneath him, the large bomb crashed through the armored deck near the forward funnel, sending a gout of fire, smoke, and debris skyward. With altitude beneath him Petar watched his two comrades drop their bombs. One missed narrowly, sending up a great column of water, and another hit amidships. Between this and his own bomb, a significant portion of the upper decks amidships were ablaze. Smoke from the forward funnel was noticeably reduced, so he guessed boilers were out of action too.
“Arys, this is Jovovic. Ship damaged significantly. Will not be capable of pursuit or interference.”
“Copy that, we see it too,” replied Ernst Franz. “She’s slowed considerably. Nice bombing Petar. Come on home everybody.”
Aki keyed her mic, “That might be difficult. I’m hit pretty bad.” Her interceptor was streaming smoke and oil from its damaged engine, and her savagely truncated left wing was leaking fuel.
Today’s guest post is brought to you by author John Brimlow.
Aboard the Graf Spee, lookouts had also taken note of the presence of the Arys. “Kapitan! Kampflinienluftschiff ahead, climbing,” reported Lieutenant Gruber.
“A Kampflinienluftschiff? We have none out here. Are you sure?” asked Kapitan zur See Karl Langsdorff.
“Yes, sir. There’s no mistaking the three gun decks.”
“Let me see,” replied Kapitan Langsdorff. He figured that his new officers were being overenthusiastic again.
“You’re right. Three gun decks. And the colors of the old Kaiser’s fleet.” Karl thought for a moment. The Abwehr had circulated a file on just such a zeppelin, but no one in the Kriegsmarine had believed it.
“Mein Gott! It’s the Arys! Sound action stations!”
Men scrambled across the deck as the Graf Spee increased speed. Ammunition lockers were opened and antiaircraft guns were brought to bear. The gunners awaited the order to fire, but Arys remained out of range. They could only watch planes begin to emerge from her belly, set the delay fuzes on their shells, and wait.
Aki put her fighter into a lazy circle, waiting to form up with other fighters. Glancing back, she noticed that the big Nazi warship wasn’t shooting yet. Bringing her plane overhead, Aki grinned broadly and rolled in for attack. Now the 8.8cm guns began to thunder, flinging softball-sized projectiles skyward. Dr. Nagumo retaliated by raking the deck with machine gun fire, causing some of the greener men to dive for cover. She held her dive as low as she dared, waiting for the Graf Spee to fill her gunsight. Then she released her two small bombs and pulled the stick back hard. G-forces slammed her back in her seat, but she strained against them to see the results. The bombs hit and exploded amidships. Something seemed to be burning, but she could not tell what. She sped away, gaining altitude, and keyed her mic. “Petar? Petar, hurry up. You’re missing the fun.”
Petar Jovovic was just completing his launch from the Arys’ port skyhook. “Coming out now. Any idea how to stop this thing?”
“We just have to inflict enough damage, preferably to the engines,” replied Aki. “Your bombs should be big enough. The funnels are a pretty good aim point.”
Just then, a pair of turrets a bit aft of amidships begun to spit bursts of five onion-sized balls of flame at the assembling planes. They contrasted vividly with the inky black puffs from the flak rounds of the eighty-eights. Petar had seen these in the War. He keyed his mic, “Mind flaming onions. They’re lighter than most flak, but they still hurt.”
Aki muttered, “I thought those were obsolete.”
“Well, you did set boat deck ablaze,” replied Petar. “I’ll come from above and you attack low to suppress flak?”
“Sounds like a plan,” replied Aki.
