Chapter 336 Prelude to the Francis Bonaparte Expedition
"Tokugawa?"
Before Daphne could further question Francis about the unfamiliar term, the port was suddenly filled with the blaring sound of a horn. They both instinctively turned their gaze towards the window. What met their eyes was the majestic Pacific Fleet coming into view on the San Francisco Bay. The fleet comprised of formidable battleship, destroyers, battlecruisers, submarines, amphibious assault warship, and auxiliary ships.
"Prepare for departure, Daphne," Francis said as he rose to his feet, his gentle demeanor turning serious.
"Yes, brother," Daphne stood up promptly, matching the urgency in her brother's tone. They made their way to the exit, and trailing behind them was Daphne's maid.
She followed Francis somewhere along the port, and it was far from the Post Office.
"Brother…slow down," Daphne called out, her breath coming in short, uneven gasps. The brisk pace at which Francis moved was proving to be a considerable challenge for Daphne, especially in the high heels she wore. Each step was laborious, her feet aching from the strain.
Francis engrossed in his thoughts and the path ahead, initially didn't notice Daphne's struggle. When he did, he paused, turning to see his little sister several paces behind, laboring to catch up. A wave of realization and guilt washed over him. He had been so caught up in the urgency of their departure that he had overlooked Daphne's discomfort.
"I'm sorry, Daphne," he apologized, quickly closing the distance between them. His towering frame cast a protective shadow over her, and for a moment, Daphne felt like the little girl who used to follow her big brother around, always a few steps behind.
He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and tenderly wiped the sweat from her brow.
"Are you alright?" he asked with concern etching his handsome features.
"I just need a moment," Daphne responded, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. "Moah…brother do you want to kill me?"
"Sorry," Francis chuckled as he rubbed the back of his hair sheepishly. "The sweat ruined your makeup a bit, but you still look beautiful."
"Brother~!" Daphne bashfully hit Francis on his arm, her face turning a slight shade of red. "Stop saying silly things."
"Perhaps I should carry you like a princess to make amends," Francis teased, his tone lightening as he offered a playful smile to Daphne. This brotherly side of Francis, though seldom displayed, was something Daphne cherished deeply.
"Stop teasing me," Daphne replied, trying to mask a smile.
"All right, all right," Francis conceded, still wearing a grin.
He offered his arm to Daphne, "Shall we proceed, my lady?"
Daphne rolled her eyes but took his arm nonetheless. They resumed their walk, this time at a more leisurely pace.
"Where are we headed, brother?"
Just as she asked, Daphne saw a helicopter, a type of rotorcraft that was introduced in 1819 by the Ministry of Science and Technology for the Imperial Army and the Air Force. She learned about it after reading a brochure when she was in Paris. Powered by piston engines, the helicopter's rotating blades allowed it to take off and land vertically, hover, and fly forward, backward, and laterally. This particular model was a sleek design, painted in royal colors, indicating it was meant for the use of the imperial family and high-ranking officials.
"We're flying on that to get to the flagship," Francis replied. "I believe it's going to be your first time."
"Indeed it is brother," Daphne confirmed. "Is it safer than the airplane?"
Francis noticed her little sister's anxiety and gave her a reassuring nod. "It's just as safe, Daphne. You have nothing to worry about," he assured her while placing a hand gently on her back.
They approached the helicopter, the pilot and crew saluting their prince and princess. The siblings climbed aboard, followed by Daphne's maids. It was not as luxurious looking compared to the airplane but it'll do.
"It's going to be your first too right?" Daphne asked as she glanced at Elise and Maria.
"Yes, Your Imperial Highness," they intoned simultaneously.
The hum of the helicopter's engines grew louder as they prepared for takeoff, the vibrations resonating through the seats and into their bodies.
As the rotor blades gained speed, the helicopter lifted gracefully into the air. Daphne's grip tightened on the armrests, her knuckles turning white. She glanced at Francis; his calm demeanor helped mitigate her anxiety.
Their destination, the flagship of the Pacific Fleet, a battleship, loomed in the distance, an imposing structure against the backdrop of the vast ocean.
The helicopter's journey was short, and soon they were descending onto the deck of the fore of the battleship. Standing on the deck was the admiral commanding the fleet, standing to his right is seemingly the captain of the ship.
When the helicopter landed on the deck, the door opened, and Francis stepped out first, followed by Daphne and the maids.
The admiral and the captain bowed their heads reverently.
"Raise your head," Francis commanded.
The admiral and captain raised their heads and spoke.
"Your Imperial Highness, welcome aboard to the IFNS Napoleon, my name is Gaspard de Richebourg, Admiral of the French Pacific Fleet, and this is the captain of the ship, Frédéric Henri Waldeck."
"Pleasure to meet you two," Francis gestured a nod to the two. "I'm sure you know of my little sister, Daphne."
Upon hearing her name, Daphne performed a curtsy, lifting the hem of her dress slightly. The admiral and captain both nodded respectfully towards her.
"Your Highnesses," Admiral de Richebourg acknowledged. "We are honored to have you aboard."
Francis scanned the appearance of the deck of the ship. "So this is the newest commissioned battleship for the Navy huh?"
"Yes sir, the latest and the most advanced ship in the world. With state-of-the-art radars, communication, and weapon systems. Not even the latest Russian battleship would be able to compete with it in open combat," Captain Waldeck said confidently.
"The naval arms race isn't stopping anytime soon, so we have to be ahead of others," Francis said.
The IFNS Napoleon is a fast battleship characterized by its impressive specifications. With a standard displacement of 64,240 tons and a full load displacement of 72,104 tons, it's a formidable presence at sea. The battleship spans a length of 280.8 meters, has a beam of 36.9 meters, and a draft of 11 meters.
In terms of power, the IFNS Napoleon is equipped with eight water-tube boilers that generate a combined 172,000 horsepower. It employs four geared steam turbines and is propelled by four screw propellers, allowing the battleship to reach speeds up to thirty knots. The ship boasts a range of 27,800 kilometers and is operated by a crew of 2,789 sailors.
The armament of the IFNS Napoleon is as impressive as its structure and power. It's armed with 12 406-mm/50 caliber guns and 20 127-mm/54 caliber guns for significant offensive capabilities. For defense against aerial threats, the ship is equipped with 10 40-mm anti-aircraft guns and 56 20-mm anti-aircraft cannons.
The battleship's armor is designed for maximum protection. It features a main belt with a thickness of 409 mm, bulkheads that are 457 mm thick, barbettes with a 541 mm thickness, and a turret face that boasts 572 mm of armor. The main deck is armored with a thickness ranging between 179 to 187 mm, ensuring the vessel's durability during combat.
Additionally, the IFNS Napoleon is capable of carrying three floatplanes. These aircraft are equipped for forward scouting and artillery spotting, launched via the ship's catapults.
Such a great specification came with a great cost, but France believed that it was a necessary investment to protect its interest overseas. Oh, this battleship is not powered by coal, the reason? Coal is inefficient as it takes up more space while oil provides a higher energy output and is more efficient in terms of storage and handling.
Virtually every European ship, be it a warship or a merchant, has been powered by oil since 1812. It came from a decision from Napoleon, to justify why they have to hold on to their Middle East colonies. Though coal is still used in power generation.
"Okay, let's get this fleet moving towards Japan. We are going to force them to open their country."
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