Journal, it's finally done. The Clan Ame, after two days of hard labor, several tonnes of paperwork, and no amount of financial haggling, has finally secured the materials and constructed its first submarine in the company workshop. Being in charge of said device, I christened it the A.A. Red October.
Delivery of it to the outpost in Kugane for acquatic insertion was the next difficult task. Along the way myself and Trelynn, who is the named robot made some time back in previous journal enties, conducted pre-dive simulations. Trelynn was hooked into the main power core via several cables across her exoskeletal frame. Her form was intert, but still had her eyes open and they shifted about as I tossed scenario after scenario and she calculated dive results.
On approach, I noted that there were already several dozens of submarines stationed, coming, or going. This I was not surprised about but that didn't let me stop the excitement as I approached the dockmaster. We exchanged a few pleasantries and I gave him the certificate of registry. He nodded, made a copy of it for the docks bosun, and took us to the stall that would serve as its new home.
For all intended purposes, it looked like a service bay for an airship, but again I'm not surprised as the design for a submarine is loosely based upon airships, with a few calculated shifts in design and built of materials that would survive the deep sea. I made a mental note to return here frequently, but the dockmaster caught my glimmer of thought and assured me that the technicians here would take very good care of it. He eyed Trelynn for a moment, and asked me if this was the person responsible for captaining it. With some hesitation (as you can never quite know with house Winters) I told him that she was until we had a proper mammet constructed for longer durations. He seemed to accept this answer and we traded grips.
Going inside for the final time before her first true maiden voyage, I plugged Trelynn back into the system, this time giving her full control over the ship. I got out a map of the recommended routes based on hull integrity and permitted access and told her to follow them precisely. She gave me the Winters' famous glare (probably added upon request by Noire) yet politely told me to shove off and let her go about this responsibility. I chuckled and exited. I walked the length of the pier while it was still at parascope depth until it sank into the waters. "Godsspeed", I whispered to my creation--that's the submarine, by the way. I only helped make Trelynn, though I wasn't the principle designer.
Returning back home, I took care of the material leftovers, making sure they were properly categorized for future use then went to dinner and a light swim with my dear heart, Lira.
-Drail Silverleaf Journal entry
Drail pushes back from his desk, satisfied with the entry, when a sudden sharp pang rolled through his senses. Part of him felt like he was under attack and he nearly passes out. Through willpower alone he managed to stand and make his way to the door to his room to see Crystilla, bleeding aether, come up the stairs with a pained look in her eyes. Silently, she began to become translucent and drift towards him. Lira was also in attendance, wide-eyed and gazing between the two of them. The image...merged into Drail who, despite all his aetheric training, manipulation, and combat usage, fainted moments after reassimilating his own aether. Lira, despite being pregnant, picked him up over the shoulder and carried/limped their way to the glade bed. It took her considerable effort to get him over the edge of the bed. She stripped him down, obstinately to admire his lean body, but to check to see if there were other wounds. What she saw next horrified and yet somehow excited her.
