{DISCLAIMER: "Rogov" copyright to Jay Naylor and is used without permission.}

"Welcome to the place where victory is born, Admiral!" said Philip Logan grandly. "Our great nation owes its latest advances in naval and landed warfare to the dedicated and brilliant minds which my brother had the great vision and foresight to assemble here."

The Admiral was obviously not impressed by the words. "I am well aware of the work that goes on here, for all of the finances the Admiralty has poured into this magic wishing well. I have come to assure myself your company really has something to offer. You have the complete confidence of my peers within the Hierarchy Naval Command, but I personally have my doubts."

Philip smiled ingratiatingly. "After the escape of Rosov to the New Worlds, the funds became available to pursue development of our company's most ambitious designs. In a way, his defection has been blessing to the Hierarchy. He consulted with our concepts office several times to consider purchasing designs, but always found some "serious flaw" in various of those more promising, flaws his reputation and skill with words made seem realistic. He put us at least two years behind in design progressions and we spent seven months after his flight, reevaluating those early designs he had originally expressed his interest concerning. Now, we are advancing rapidly on several concepts. Proceeding upon something of a loose schedule, I feel confident in promising you an amazing demonstration before this month has passed."

Admiral Ertwander growled impatiently in his throat. "You have no trouble with words yourself, so I can hear," he observed dryly. "Do not mention The Traitor again. Take me into the workshops, Mr. Logan. I wish to see."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Notice the result?" demanded Trevor excitedly. "The grain causes a goodly part of the penetrated lumber to peel back for a considerable length, making the breach worse. And this is as in newly built ships. The hulls are stronger from fresher timbers, of course, but they peel much worse when penetrated from close ranged guns." He signaled the musketman again. "Now, see how a concept for another hull crafting method holds up."

Another muskiball was fired, this time into a checkerboard arrangement of timber blocks. Whether the shot was well aimed or not, a single block was blown out of the middle in an explosion of splinters.

The Commodore moved to examine the result of the second test with serious interest. "What is proposed to joins the blocks?" he inquired with a small smile. "A design lke this would have the bottom of a ship torn out by beaching and stormy seas alike. The general idea of sailing is to stay dry and above the water."

Trevor obviously did not appreciate the humor. "We are well aware of the drawbacks. We DO have a consulting staff of sailors and ship builders," he said icily. "The virtues of such a design are in the nature of the material it requires and the limiting aspect to damage from single cannonnballs. As to its disadvantages, we have negated many in design adjustments and amendments, almost certainly attaining to a Confederate class equivalent hull strength without even incorperating the new hull armor designs."