The Grumman G-21 Goose would have been a relic in the eyes of 21st century Earth aviation, but to Alastair-Adder Inc., it was as valuable as any potent artifact their archaeologists might yank from ancient temples. When traveling between realms, too much electrical equipment often proved too sensitive to sharp changes in electromagnetism, and older vehicles such as the Goose, once subjected to the proper modifications, suited their needs very well.
And this Goose had undergone extensive modifications. The fuel she consumed was called elm in most of the Alastair-Adder facilities, adapted from L.M. for "liquid mana," mana being the term their researchers used for any lasting (.4+ hrs) physical manifestation of magick-derived energies. With elm running a properly modified Goose, she could cross the Pacific Ocean four times without refueling, and then make it back to Midway if needed. This allowed the Goose (this particular one named The Sealily) to travel from several of the company's ports and other marine holdings through "P.D.Q.'s" (somehow derived over the years from the term phase-quadrants, referring to 'tricky' areas such as the Bermuda Triangle through which one might escape their own realm) and into the realm of RhyDin.
Trace element analysis off of the stopwatch that Simeon Adder had brought into the Red Dragon Inn the night before allowed them to finish triangulating RhyDin City's position, and while it confirmed his suspicion that direct gate travel would be too unstable, travel through at least one intermediary realm would prevent a "slingshot" effect back to the home realm. So far Alastair-Adder business officials and their various security contractors had made their way into RhyDin through very tricky, unreliable means, but this, Simeon knew, would simplify things.
He'd said so to the Board, after all, and his uncle sat on that board. Together, his uncle and the other senior partner, Mr. Alastair, controlled 60% of the company, but without the support of one of the two, it became an uphill battle to get any measure through the Board of Directors. One of Alastair's underlings, a relative of the old man, Simeon vaguely recalled, was already in RhyDin, organizing some of the company's more trusted security contractors as bounty hunters to turn a profit while the company learned more about the realm. Alastair opposed an Adder bridging the gap between RhyDin and the company's holdings because it would place investment in RhyDin further out of Alastair's direct control, but the Board had spoken....and Simeon Adder had spoken quite well in order to convince them. He had only to convince five people in order to gather enough support for the measure, and instead he convinced six.
Even his own family feared Simeon's silver tongue, such that more than one had prodded him to go into RhyDin. They spoke of it as a golden opportunity, but Simeon did not need his sources to tell him (though they did indeed tell him) that they thought it was a waste of time, and it would make Simeon's ambitions no longer their problem.
And Simeon Adder knew better. RhyDin was a treasure-trove, a great business opportunity for the company and perhaps more. He would show RhyDin what Alastair-Adder could do for them, and in return, he would get evidence for the Board that RhyDin could do a great deal for Alastair-Adder...
The pilot spoke in Drow to announce their approach, and Simeon could feel the plane's gradual descent. It was a peculiar dialect of Drow, but he had learned it to communicate better with many of the company's workers. Many in his family thought it an unusual and egalitarian move, but the better people felt you understood them, the more they listened to you.
It was how magick now ran through Simeon Adder's veins, sharpening the senses and extending his abilities. His cousin, the senior Mr. Adder's son, had intervened at the last minute to prevent Simeon from participating in an experimental study, and yet the doctor responsible for administering the infusions had been closely befriended by Simeon, and did it anyway in private.
Simeon's cousin, Alexander, was furious, but the doctor went on to become a section R&D chief. Playing ball with the right people paid off, she had learned that day.
Splashdown. The Sealily bounced lightly on the water as she slowed down and pulled up to a dock the company had acquired by proxy. He heard the door open and the dignified old goblin holding it for him welcoming him to the realm, and he smiled to himself.
The Adders had arrived in RhyDin.
And this Goose had undergone extensive modifications. The fuel she consumed was called elm in most of the Alastair-Adder facilities, adapted from L.M. for "liquid mana," mana being the term their researchers used for any lasting (.4+ hrs) physical manifestation of magick-derived energies. With elm running a properly modified Goose, she could cross the Pacific Ocean four times without refueling, and then make it back to Midway if needed. This allowed the Goose (this particular one named The Sealily) to travel from several of the company's ports and other marine holdings through "P.D.Q.'s" (somehow derived over the years from the term phase-quadrants, referring to 'tricky' areas such as the Bermuda Triangle through which one might escape their own realm) and into the realm of RhyDin.
Trace element analysis off of the stopwatch that Simeon Adder had brought into the Red Dragon Inn the night before allowed them to finish triangulating RhyDin City's position, and while it confirmed his suspicion that direct gate travel would be too unstable, travel through at least one intermediary realm would prevent a "slingshot" effect back to the home realm. So far Alastair-Adder business officials and their various security contractors had made their way into RhyDin through very tricky, unreliable means, but this, Simeon knew, would simplify things.
He'd said so to the Board, after all, and his uncle sat on that board. Together, his uncle and the other senior partner, Mr. Alastair, controlled 60% of the company, but without the support of one of the two, it became an uphill battle to get any measure through the Board of Directors. One of Alastair's underlings, a relative of the old man, Simeon vaguely recalled, was already in RhyDin, organizing some of the company's more trusted security contractors as bounty hunters to turn a profit while the company learned more about the realm. Alastair opposed an Adder bridging the gap between RhyDin and the company's holdings because it would place investment in RhyDin further out of Alastair's direct control, but the Board had spoken....and Simeon Adder had spoken quite well in order to convince them. He had only to convince five people in order to gather enough support for the measure, and instead he convinced six.
Even his own family feared Simeon's silver tongue, such that more than one had prodded him to go into RhyDin. They spoke of it as a golden opportunity, but Simeon did not need his sources to tell him (though they did indeed tell him) that they thought it was a waste of time, and it would make Simeon's ambitions no longer their problem.
And Simeon Adder knew better. RhyDin was a treasure-trove, a great business opportunity for the company and perhaps more. He would show RhyDin what Alastair-Adder could do for them, and in return, he would get evidence for the Board that RhyDin could do a great deal for Alastair-Adder...
The pilot spoke in Drow to announce their approach, and Simeon could feel the plane's gradual descent. It was a peculiar dialect of Drow, but he had learned it to communicate better with many of the company's workers. Many in his family thought it an unusual and egalitarian move, but the better people felt you understood them, the more they listened to you.
It was how magick now ran through Simeon Adder's veins, sharpening the senses and extending his abilities. His cousin, the senior Mr. Adder's son, had intervened at the last minute to prevent Simeon from participating in an experimental study, and yet the doctor responsible for administering the infusions had been closely befriended by Simeon, and did it anyway in private.
Simeon's cousin, Alexander, was furious, but the doctor went on to become a section R&D chief. Playing ball with the right people paid off, she had learned that day.
Splashdown. The Sealily bounced lightly on the water as she slowed down and pulled up to a dock the company had acquired by proxy. He heard the door open and the dignified old goblin holding it for him welcoming him to the realm, and he smiled to himself.
The Adders had arrived in RhyDin.