The Venusian Gambit by Michael J. Martinez Read Free Book Online Page B

speech! Think of what a boon that would be! A strategic advantage like none other!”
    Weatherby turned and walked slowly up the stairs toward the quarterdeck, knowing Finch would follow. “Has this been tested at all, Dr. Finch?” Weatherby asked.
    “We’ve been able to engage in some limited tests, yes,” Finch said. “We’ve managed to cast our thoughts from one end of the ship to the other.”
    “One end to the other? Do you know how far our ships sail in the Void? We may be ten miles away, maybe more!” Weatherby said.
    “And what of the side effects?” asked Searle, who had little love and a great deal of mistrust when it came to matters of alchemy.
    Finch suddenly looked away, as if he were distracted. “What are you doing here?” he muttered.
    “Excuse me?” Searle said, with some force behind it.
    “Oh, quite sorry,” Finch said, snapping back. “Something…just occurred to me. Anyway, there have been some cases of headaches, a bit of nausea, one very isolated case of vertigo and unconsciousness, but, I promise you. Admiral, these issues have been addressed. The days of signal flags and fog-of-war are over!”
    It was very clear to Weatherby that Finch was intensely passionate about his discovery, and that he likely had spent many sleepless nights perfecting it, as was his wont when creativity struck. “I’m sorry, Finch,” Weatherby said gently. “We shall test your innovation at our very next opportunity—just one that does not involve actual combat. We cannot afford to have myself or my captains incapacitated.”
    Finch nodded sullenly. “Of course, sir.” He then brightened up slightly. “I shall discuss this with Captain Searle when we return to the outpost, then?”
    “As soon as we return,” Weatherby agreed, giving Searle a slightly apologetic look. For his part, the captain of Victory smiled tightly, and excused himself to see to Weatherby’s orders.
    “It’ll work,” Finch said quietly.
    “I know, old friend,” Weatherby said, equally sotto voce . “But the captains need to focus on the task at hand. It is not your working, but their lack of preparation for it, that has me worried.”
    It was something of a fib for Finch’s benefit, and Weatherby felt badly for it, but it seemed to assuage him greatly, and the alchemist soon made his way below decks to begin preparing for battle. Not only was Finch responsible for all the alchemists aboard Weatherby’s ships, but in times of battle, Finch would use his knowledge of the Great Work to help treat wounded, repair the ship and fire back with the deadliest weapons alchemy could empower.
    As the crew of Victory unfurled her sails and prepared to make for the Void, Weatherby paced slowly on the quarterdeck, his mind already among the stars, mentally reviewing where each of his ships would be. There were, of course, standing orders as to the positioning of the ships in the fleet, depending on what Thunderer and her squadron found as they scouted ahead. There were six other major warships at Weatherby’s disposal—all third-rate, 74-gun vessels—along with a host of smaller ships taking up picket positions around the outpost. The pickets would be the last line of defense—aside, of course, from the hundreds of guns on the outpost itself. These guns had never fired upon a French vessel while Weatherby was in command, and he would do much indeed to further such a record.
    Weatherby started slightly as Victory pulled away from the outpost and sailed out toward the unknown. When he was a mere captain, his mind captured every small detail of his ship’s operation and could identify a slack line or misplaced ammunition with but a glance. But he’d been an admiral now far too long, it seemed. His mind was on every ship, not just the one upon which he personally sailed. Taking out his glass, Weatherby saw the other ships in his fleet form up, creating a kind of chevron in the void, with Victory herself at the point. Over years of