Raymond had taken the Captain's Quarters and turned them into his headquarters, mostly because it was the only room in the crashed skyship that had a desk. The Ship Condition report made him groan as he read it. He was hoping the damages were minor and that they'd be able to repair them easily and get airborne, but it seemed like they were stuck here, wherever here was....
He had called a meeting with all the people he had sent out and everyone else who had an issue to bring up. “Okay, lets see how we can make my day worse,” He started with a joke which eased the considerable tension in the room. “First issue please, and give your name too.”
A woman, middle aged and holding herself with a graceful air, approached. “I am Madam Geraldine Knotsford Sir Skalter, and-”
Raymond interrupted, “Just Chief will do.”
She resumed, “Chief Skalter, we simply do not have enough room onboard this skyship for nearly two hundred fifty men, women and children to live. We need a more open shelter, lest disease spread and decimate us.”
“I agree. We will need to find a suitable place for habitation away from this wreck. We can't all survive within this ship.”
“Furthermore, we request that to stifle the premature spread of sickness, we ask that a latrine be built.”
“Granted. Dobson,” he addressed one of his old Union members, “Take ten men and get it done. We will look into new habitation sites, Madam, I promise. Next.”
An old man approached. “Hiltz. Just Hiltz. A storm is comin', and I can feels it. Its gonna be a biggun too. I dunno what te do abouts it, but I thought ye'd like te know.”
“Thank you, Hiltz. People?”
The skyship engineer who he helped and did the ship condition report stepped forward. “Jenks Viladi, I think its best we release the hydrogen on the balloons. If lightning strikes them, we could all get blown to hell, pardon my language.”
“Is there any chance we could fly without it, Jenks?”
“No, but I can assure you chief, this thing won't fly ever again. Its all in the report.”
Raymond nodded. “Can we use the hydrogen for anything?” Jenks shook his head. “Okay then, you're in charge of releasing the hydrogen without losing the balloons. We could use that large amount of canvas.”
“We could make ponchos out of them!” Madam Knotsford spoke up.
“Sounds good. Jenks, once you release the hydrogen gas, give the balloons to Madam Knotsford. Madam, I am putting you in charge of making ponchos out of balloon canvas. You may requisition anyone you see fit and able in this manner. Lets start with an order of fifty in... two days, then we'll see.” Jenks and the Madam nodded. “Also, send out a general order to the people to set out buckets, bowls, pots, anything that can catch water. It'll save us maybe a day or two from having to trek up the mountain to gather snow for water. Next?”
“ Knute Crenshaw, boss,” Knute had worked with Raymond as his direct underling in the Union and the two knew each other quite well. He had only introduced himself so that everyone would know his name, and as a subtle reinforcement of Ray's position. “Our food supplies are dangerously low. I'd like to organize a foraging party as soon as possible.”
“Granted, but I'd rather you hold off until after the storm. I'd also like you to organize a logging party. We could use the wood for cooking fires, repairs to the hull, tools, etcetera. Feel free to requisition whatever you feel appropriate from the arms locker. Next order of business, we need to find a new location for settlement. Ideas?”
Jenks stepped forward again, “We could use the life carrier to survey the surrounding region. We don't need to fully repair the it, we just need to fix up the gondola and the burners, then secure a line to it from the ground so it doesn't blow away. It's small enough to float only with hot air so we don't need any hydrogen, all we need is some lumber to fix the gondola and some coal or charcoal to give it lift.”
“That sounds much more efficient than sending scouting parties out into who-knows-what. Jenks, you are now Chief of Aviation. You're in charge of anything to do with the Life Carrier. If there are no more issues, you may all go about your duties.”
