Read Online The Hidden Man: A Phineas Starblower Adventure (Phineas Starblower Adventures) by Giles, Lori Othen - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Giles, Lori Othen
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them, having just met them.
The bridge crew filed past him and rapidly dispersed to their respective positions while Phillips seemed rooted to the deck. He had never seen a bridge like this! The walls seemed to be of some sort of quilted velvet with tiny brass rivets at each intersection of the quilting. And there was actually an upholstered gold and white settee and chair complete with a tea table bolted to the deck on his left. Jerard did not know whether to applaud or scoff, who ever heard of taking tea in an airship gondola? Jerard’s amazement was interrupted by Mr. D'Arcey clearing his throat. The man was sitting in a chair behind a rather odd console. Phillips moved to his side as Mr. D'Arcey flicked a couple of switches and began calling out the readiness of the ship's systems.
“Captain; batteries at 92%, fuel at 75%, ballast is level, all pumps show green. Do you wish to start engines Sir?”
“No Mr. D'Arcey, thank you; I’m just trying to get a feel for the ship is all.” Phillips replied and leaned closer to Nichols. “Is he always this keen?” he added sotto vocce.
The Chief engineer grinned beneath his beard and whispered back. “Can’t say for sure, Sir, he’s new as well. Excellent references and qualifications though.”
Jerard nodded and clapped the enthusiastic second engineer on the shoulder. “Nicely done Mr. D'Arcey but instead of frightening the ground crew, how about you run me through your board here and tell me how you determined what you just said. This girl’s controls are somewhat different from the last ship I flew.”
D'Arcey colored under the captain’s amused tone and muttered a hasty “Oui, monsieur.” He then began pointing out the various gauges of the ships systems that he had just quoted from. When he was done Jerard again congratulated him and next moved to the nearby helmsman’s station.
“So what have we here Mr. Wallace? Explain it to me.” Seeing the man’s slightly quizzical expression he added, “Assume I know nothing about airships Mr. Wallace. I want to hear how you explain your station and duties if you please Sir.” Jerard did not feel the need to explain that he had never seen a helm quite like this. Where were the pitch controls?
Wallace’s face went blank for a moment as he marshaled his thoughts, Phillips wondered if the man really had the right temperament for a pilot if this display of nerves was anything to go by. Still, he believed in giving a person a fair chance before pigeonholing them forever. And he was extremely curious about the odd ship’s wheel.
“Well Sir, tha wheel is similar t’ that on a sailin' ship but has two axis o’ movement t’ allow for tha fact that an airship moves in three dimensions through tha air.” The man grasped the wheel and pulled it firmly back, the whole thing tilted backwards some twenty degrees. “Hauling tha wheel back like this adjusts her rear flaps t' angle us upwards and tha center rotors t’ angle downwards t’ spread tha load of tha climb throughout tha frame o' tha ship.”
Releasing the wheel he pointed to a set of gauges set just above eye level that extended out from the ship’s side to hang over but well out of the way of the wheel “Here, Sir, is where I 'ave tha indicators for airspeed as well as tha ships approximate pitch an' yaw. Tha last is a warnin' gimble, if tha craft begins t’ roll t’ any significant degree I can make immediate corrections.”
“And what constitutes a ‘significant degree’ Mr. Wallace?” Phillips probed gently, finding a chance to quiz the pilot.
“Arr, anythin' over ten degrees will affect tha flight trim Sir...”
“Why?!” Jerard snapped suddenly to see if he could rattle the man. Pleasingly, Wallace didn’t flinch or stammer.
“Our propulsion rotors are fixed on the sides o' tha craft. If our relative up an' down position is altered t' much by lateral roll then tha wee rotors will deliver their thrust ina way that reduces tha ship's
The bridge crew filed past him and rapidly dispersed to their respective positions while Phillips seemed rooted to the deck. He had never seen a bridge like this! The walls seemed to be of some sort of quilted velvet with tiny brass rivets at each intersection of the quilting. And there was actually an upholstered gold and white settee and chair complete with a tea table bolted to the deck on his left. Jerard did not know whether to applaud or scoff, who ever heard of taking tea in an airship gondola? Jerard’s amazement was interrupted by Mr. D'Arcey clearing his throat. The man was sitting in a chair behind a rather odd console. Phillips moved to his side as Mr. D'Arcey flicked a couple of switches and began calling out the readiness of the ship's systems.
“Captain; batteries at 92%, fuel at 75%, ballast is level, all pumps show green. Do you wish to start engines Sir?”
“No Mr. D'Arcey, thank you; I’m just trying to get a feel for the ship is all.” Phillips replied and leaned closer to Nichols. “Is he always this keen?” he added sotto vocce.
The Chief engineer grinned beneath his beard and whispered back. “Can’t say for sure, Sir, he’s new as well. Excellent references and qualifications though.”
Jerard nodded and clapped the enthusiastic second engineer on the shoulder. “Nicely done Mr. D'Arcey but instead of frightening the ground crew, how about you run me through your board here and tell me how you determined what you just said. This girl’s controls are somewhat different from the last ship I flew.”
D'Arcey colored under the captain’s amused tone and muttered a hasty “Oui, monsieur.” He then began pointing out the various gauges of the ships systems that he had just quoted from. When he was done Jerard again congratulated him and next moved to the nearby helmsman’s station.
“So what have we here Mr. Wallace? Explain it to me.” Seeing the man’s slightly quizzical expression he added, “Assume I know nothing about airships Mr. Wallace. I want to hear how you explain your station and duties if you please Sir.” Jerard did not feel the need to explain that he had never seen a helm quite like this. Where were the pitch controls?
Wallace’s face went blank for a moment as he marshaled his thoughts, Phillips wondered if the man really had the right temperament for a pilot if this display of nerves was anything to go by. Still, he believed in giving a person a fair chance before pigeonholing them forever. And he was extremely curious about the odd ship’s wheel.
“Well Sir, tha wheel is similar t’ that on a sailin' ship but has two axis o’ movement t’ allow for tha fact that an airship moves in three dimensions through tha air.” The man grasped the wheel and pulled it firmly back, the whole thing tilted backwards some twenty degrees. “Hauling tha wheel back like this adjusts her rear flaps t' angle us upwards and tha center rotors t’ angle downwards t’ spread tha load of tha climb throughout tha frame o' tha ship.”
Releasing the wheel he pointed to a set of gauges set just above eye level that extended out from the ship’s side to hang over but well out of the way of the wheel “Here, Sir, is where I 'ave tha indicators for airspeed as well as tha ships approximate pitch an' yaw. Tha last is a warnin' gimble, if tha craft begins t’ roll t’ any significant degree I can make immediate corrections.”
“And what constitutes a ‘significant degree’ Mr. Wallace?” Phillips probed gently, finding a chance to quiz the pilot.
“Arr, anythin' over ten degrees will affect tha flight trim Sir...”
“Why?!” Jerard snapped suddenly to see if he could rattle the man. Pleasingly, Wallace didn’t flinch or stammer.
“Our propulsion rotors are fixed on the sides o' tha craft. If our relative up an' down position is altered t' much by lateral roll then tha wee rotors will deliver their thrust ina way that reduces tha ship's
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