Lawrence meets you at the bottom of the stairs.

"Lady Alice, the car is waiting for you."

You thank Lawrence, and step out to the waiting car. Lawrence opens the door for you, and as he closes the door, he offers a few uncharacteristic words of advice.

"My lady, though we are not at war as yet... give them hell.. and do be careful."

With that he closes the door with a thud. The driver bids you good day and drives away from the estate in silence.

Not long after, you arrive at the naval yard. It is early morning, and the docks are beginning to stir to life. Sailors are beginning to go busily about their daily work, maintaining and supplying the Royal Air Navy ships. To the left, a line of ships appear, all still and suspended in the air fifty feet above. Below them, there is nothing, only clouds and sky where the floating continent abruptly ends. The ships have engines protruding on struts driving large propellers and various fins for steering and stability. All bristle with naval guns and other ordnance. Some are small patrol vessels, others impossibly massive carriers capable of launching dozens of airplanes. The car pulls up to the base of the tall piers alongside one of the smaller ones, a frigate, with “RNS COMET” painted in flourishing letters on the bow. The driver parks and gets out and opens the door for you. Before you are two men, one tall with cropped hair and an officer's uniform similar to yours, though the single gold star on his shoulder marks him a second lieutenant. The other is shorter and burlier, with the uniform of a senior enlisted sailor, chief engineer by his insignia. With a deep breath you step forward...

What do you do?

>>31545254
Introductions and pleasantries?

>>31545254
Are there going to be rules for creating airships?

>>31545324
Shoot I missed part of the copy paste:

What do you do:

A) Take an immediate air of command and superiority

B) Go for a softer more friendly approach

>>31545486
B) Go for a softer more friendly approach

>>31545429
Yes, there will be opportunities to outfit/upgrade the ship.

A!
In peace as at war.

>>31545254
What rank do we start at, as a princess?

>>31545594
"If you want war, ask for peace"

>>31545486
>B) Go for a softer more friendly approach

>>31545516
>B) Go for a softer more friendly approach

You approach the Second Lieutenant, and reach out your hand with a smile.

"Good morning gentlemen!"

The Lieutenant takes your hand firmly.

"Good morning Lady Alice, I'm Lieutenant James Barnes, this is Chief Petty Officer Stroud, in charge of engineering on the Comet."

Stroud shakes your hand.

"A pleasure your Highness." he says in a gravelly voice marked by years of smoking and liquor.

"Captain will be fine, gentlemen," you respond pleasantly.

Barnes speaks up again.

"We have planned a tour of the Comet for you today. Would you prefer to see the bridge first? Or perhaps the weapons station or engineering? There is also of course the Sensor's chamber."

A) Bridge
B) Weapons
C) Engineering
D) Sensor's Chamber

>>31545608
More to come later, but basically you're kind of like Prince Harry, you'll probably never be monarch so you go in the military as an officer.

>>31545752
A) Bridge

Always a good place to start.

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>Dieselpunk Princess Quest
>already have airships

You have my attention.

>>31545752
>C) Engineering

>>31545752
>A) Bridge
Let's check the bridge first; it is the most important piece of a proper airbattleship.If a bridge is lacking the ship cannot be commanded efficiently and cannot operate to its full capability.

>>31545752
I assume we're going to hear of fleet sizes and composition in due time?

>>31545752
>C) Engineering

>>31545877
In due time my friends, in due time. There will be a briefing soon enough.

By the way, this idea is awesome!

Go, Princess, go!

>>31544990
>dieselpunk
>no research on a prototype nuclear reactor, or at least a twin turbo 4 stroke V-16 diesel engine with an electrical generator attached

>>31545752
>C
So we can see what shenanigans we need to fly.

>>31545791
>>31545807
>>31545823
>>31545880
>>31546303

Best out of five is Engineering! Though it will have to come in a bit as it is dinner time for me. When we return in a bit, a tour of the engineering bays! What mechanical or mystical contraptions await Princess Alice in the bowels of the ship?

Also thanks guys for the positive reactions, this is my first quest thread!

>>31546364
I can tell you have no trip.

>>31545752
C.
Engineering is the heart of the ship.

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>New quest
>Dieselpunk
>Floating continents
>Naval-style airships
Aw yeah.

Fuck yea being the little girl. Also, anybody else getting a Space Princess vibe off this?

>>31545752
>C) Engineering
Let's defy expectation and be taken seriously.

>>31546364
Bumpin

Let's not be one of those know-nothing, silver-spoon-sucking, affair-meddling captains like so many other royal officers are in these sorts of stories. We should have dual-majored in aerial naval strategy and engineering at whatever Royal University we went to.

>>31548090
I daresay that proper understanding of our vessels and those of other powers would indeed be a vital course of study.

>>31548090
Well if we want to be anything but someone who just messes things up, having been educated in pertinent matters goes without saying. We seem to be lacking in actual combat experience however.

>>31548090
Agreed, to a point.
Commanding and leading the ship should take priority.
Engineering, while important for the job, doesn't really fit in with the skillset royalty are encouraged to have. Limit it to knowledge and/or a hobby.

Depending on national tradition we probably attended the Royal Military Aeronautical Academy

Depending on how the storyteller swings it, it could go either way.
Historically monarchy has had to serve at least token time in the hierarchy, if nothing else but to train them. Remember, regular old Nelson's navy officers started around 12. Or we could be a princess brat, who knows.

>>31548491
Speaking of which where the fuck is he?

>>31548277
We still need to get a feel for the world, but it is at least the sort to let a (royal) woman wear a uniform and command. Given the setting conceit of dieselpunk, technology and mechanics are an important factor here. I would be willing to bet that the Royal Naruna Military Aeronautical Academy has engineering courses, and that at least a basic understanding of how these things work would be required for a captain.
Agree that command and lead is the priority, and I wouldn't rank us as a match for our ship's engineer, but going with a 'greater than average' appreciation of the technology that drives the fleet seems like nice idea.

>>31548277
I think airship engineering would be a very good hobby to have. Beats horsebackriding.

We'd have our own private sailing airship to putt around in.

>>31548539
>>31548570
I'd definitely say 'greater than average', just not somehow being a princess, a trained officer and an engineering specialist.

Also how long does it take to eat dinner?

And we're back, now with tripcodes!

After a moment of consideration, you decide to indulge a passion of yours from the Naval Academy and take a tour of the engineering bays.

"As you wish, Captain," Barnes says, motioning to Stroud. "I believe Mr. Stroud should take the lead here as chief engineer."

"Lead on, then, Mr. Stroud. I am all ears to hear about the Comet."

Stroud turns, grumbling and "Aye Ma'am" as he does. You chat pleasantly with Barnes as you make your way through the ship. As you walk through, the crew turns from their various duties and salute you, and their eyes follow in curiosity as you pass. The ship is somewhat older, a Skysword class about 15 years old, but is in generally good shape. Down several decks, the hum of machinery gets louder, until you have to speak quite loudly over the racket. Finally, Stroud throws open a final hatch and the main engineering compartment opens before you. Stroud finally speaks. Behind the gruffness, you sense a barely concealed pride.

"And here, Cap'n, is the heart of the Comet."

He gestures grandly toward the massive diesel engine the size of a double decker bus.

"She's got five cylinders, forty thousand horsepower, enough to take us to 23 knots."

You gaze on it with some excitement.

"Chief, is it one of the Darkins models?"

The Chief is impressed with your knowledge.

"Why it sure is Cap'n! One of the best, and one of the orneryest too. But we keep her in shape."

"What about the turbine and crystals?"

"Turbine is standard, as are the crystals. I'll show you 'em anyway."

Through a small hatch in the floor and down a stairwell is a long narrow room. Running down the middle inside a thick glass and steel container is a series of giant green crystals. The high hum of electricity fills the room, and Stroud speaks over the noise.

"As you know, these are the Fugam Crystals, what give us our lift. We can put five megawatts into these, giving us a climb rate of about 300 feet per minute."

Is OP coming back? I was really looking forward to getting into this.

>>31548852
Fascinating. What is the ship's turn rate?

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>>31548570
I think I'd like an automotive hobby on the side.
Maybe a taste for racing cars, that seems like a decent idle rich hobby.. We are royalty though, so prehaps kick that up a notch to a racing air-yacht or racer, whichever it more appropriate.

>>31548852
Welcome back!

>>31548863
He just did.
Looks like a fantasy ship, rather than a Zeppelin

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>>31548922
better picture

>>31548922
Perhaps we have a reputation as a car enthusiast and hobbyist racer.

>>31548922
>>31548946
>>31548959
I'd prefer something more like yachting, but hey. We could have mechs as a hobby too.

>>31548959
I suspect we race against Lady Creighton-Ward from time to time

>>31549017
We could be a hardcore technophile.

>>31548852
The operation of Fugam Crystals has been well known for decades, since the advent of electrical power, though the specifics of why it works is less well understood. Simply put, an electrical charge put through the naturally occurring gems causes the gems to defy gravity and float. The greater the charge, the higher it goes. There is a limit to this, however. Too much power and the crystal will crack, losing efficiency at best and catastrophic flight failure at worst. Larger crystals, of course, are needed for larger ships, as they can take more power and create more lift. The amount of power that needs to be generated is enormous, so there is a minimum size for a vessel powered by Fugam in order to fit a powerful enough engine and generator turbine.

"There was a crystal refit not two years ago, so the crystals are basically brand new."

You nod in approval. "Everything seems shipshape here. The main props are in good working order I assume?"

Stroud puffs out his chest with pride.

"They'd better be on my watch, or my name ain't Sebastian Stroud!"

"Very good, Chief. Now then what else was on the itinerary Lieutenant?"


Unless you have more questions, where do you want to go next?

A) Bridge
B) Weapons
C) Sensor's Chamber

>>31549061
I'd settle for motorhead. You don't need to be able to build an engine to appreciate them and what they can do.

>>31549103
Yachting a more lady-like hobby, though. And fits with the general premise.

>>31549097
B) Weapons

>>31549097
>B) Weapons
Let's leave brige to the last since that's where we'll end up, eventually

>>31549129
Agreed; let's say yachting, with some passing appreciation to automotives.

>>31549097
>where do you want to go next?
Work our way our from the heart, whichever is closest.
I'd wager that Weapons would be next, followed by Sensors or Bridge.

>>31549097
A)The Bridge
If we're commanding this ship we better see where we are doing it from

>>31549097
Weapons

>>31549152
And hey, we might have aircars available. Best of both worlds.

As an aside, you guys are right there with me on Alice being a bit of a technophile. As someone said, not a professional engineer by any stretch but a definite tinkerer. We'll see about yachting, car racing or whatever as we go. I love suggestions so feel free!

>>31549178
It seems the crystals need large amounts of electricity to work, and technology is not advanced enough to miniaturize power plants below certain sizes.

>>31549097
Let's hit B) Weapons next

>>31549236
That sounds like a challenge!

Princess Alice: first racecar driver

>>31549129
>>31549152
We're a lady with pants and command of a ship.
Conventional 'lady-like' as you see it may not be our thing (or a thing, depending on the setting)

Given recent statements about Fugam crystals though, it seems that yachts of that sort might be out.
Powerful cars are likely in, benefiting from military research into diesel engine.

Yachts would, I imagine, rely on other means of lift, if available. So still powered to actually get around, but a lot gentler and lighter. Maybe with a bit of Fugam to help the lighter-than-air material for heavier ones.

>>31549322
There are other means of flight, airplanes as was mentioned earlier and zeppelins as well.

>>31549224
Does the airship have a gasbag?

>>31549261
>>31549174
>>31549156
>>31549134
>>31549129

Weapons it is!

"I'd like to see the weapons systems. I am passingly familiar with this class of ship, but I'd like to see the specifics."

As you return to the top of the stairs, Barnes gestures forward toward the bow.

Unless you have any objections, I'll give a brief skim of the light turret armaments on our way to the forward rocket battery.

(Do you want to see the light armament?)

>>31549479
Of course.

>>31549479
Sure. It is to our advantage to be familiar with all the ship's weaponry.

>>31549479
By all means Lieutenant

>>31549479
Certainly.

Alright guys I apparently got hit with an extension bug that made captcha not work and now that I got it working I have to go to bed. So bear with me, and I'll have more soon. Thanks for the great response!

>>31550328
Do you have a twitter?

This is important

>>31550333
Yes, but its full of personal bullshit, though I can make another if necessary. Stand by.

Okay, its @stirfriedweasel

>>31550529
Just make sure to update people when the next session is.