Napoleon

by Stephen Arseneault

  Daimon looked up and down the trenchline. The French casualty-count was low. Out on the mountainside approach to the redoubt however, dead and dying Austrian fighters littered the slope. He turned to face Henri. “I told you we had nothing to worry about.”

  The Austrian soldiers, followed a new command, which took them to a camp of just over a kilometer away. The fighting for the day was over.

  Colonel Rampon was soon standing on the ground just behind the back of the trench. “You there, Corporal. What is your name?”

  “Daimon Lamonde, sir.”

  “Your charge over that trench, you exhibited the bravery a commander desires in every one of his soldiers.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “Lieutenant. See to it this man is promoted to sergeant. He has earned it.”

  Naffi reached forward, halting the play. “That was a gratifying moment.”

  Reno replied, “Was it not the Colonel's defiance and yell that led to the actual rally?”

  “It was. I just made it more memorable, resulting in my promotion.” Naffi smiled. “Getting recognized and promoted will increase my chance of getting an audience with Napoleon. Shall we continue?”

  Reno gestured toward the display. “We shall. But one more question, the clone of detective Marwal, there has been no sign of him?”

  “No. As we talked about, stay on the move and we become difficult to track. I came in near Savona. We are only eight kilometers from there, but he has no way of knowing what direction I went in. And he has the added issue of getting into the army. Is there any indication of him making a journey to this area?”

  Reno looked over the data. “Not yet. But that might not happen for another hour or another day or a hundred days. Regardless, he could travel back to the same time from any of those times. Until that happens, we won't know.”

  Naffi sighed. “These time limitations continue to be confusing.”

  “We still have no explanation as to why, but we are restricted from traveling again to the same place and time as we have before. Marwal will have the same exclusion. Let's say he arrived back in Savona at the same time you were there. From that journey on he can no longer return to that place and time. In effect, he has one chance at tracking you down. He is otherwise excluded by his own time bubble. That is until after his clone's death of course, but with every day we may be moving farther away.”

  Naffi tapped his fingers on the arm of the chair. “Hmm. I can't believe I hadn't thought of this before. What would you say to our attempting to find the location of their station?”

  “Is it not in orbit around Bredren?”

  “Not according to a note I received from Vara.”

  “What did you have in mind?” Reno asked.

  “Sabotage. If we take out their station, they can no longer follow us.”

  “And how do you propose we do that?”

  “We capture the Marwal clone and insert our own bio-link implant.” Naffi grinned.

  “There is a problem,” Reno said. “We do not have the expertise to do such.”

  “Can we experiment?”

  “How so?”

  “Ready a clone. We remove its eye and see if we can attach a bio-link to its optic nerve.”

  Reno tilted his head in thought. “Hmm. I suppose that could be a possibility.”

  “Marwal said the soft-tissue of the bio-link will self-attach in less than an hour or two. What if we use their same tactic to find and disable their station? Or better still, to steal their station.”

  “They would just build another.”

  Naffi held up a finger, wagging it back and forth. “I'm not so certain. I don't think the empire has a full understanding of what is happening. I believe Nunol has been keeping this close to his chest. If that is the case and he loses the station, I can't see them giving him the billions of credits required to manufacture another one. Not unless he comes clean about the entire operation, at which time he loses face having not told them everything before.”

  Naffi turned back to face the display. “Either way, we take them off our heals for several months at least. Imagine the changes we can make in just two months’ time.”

  Reno looked at the display. “The data says you only live another fourteen hours. What happened.”

  Naffi smiled. “Let's continue.”

  Chapter 3

  _______________________

  The remainder of the day saw more French reinforcements coming to the redoubt. The Austrian General, Argenteau, was awoken early in the morning by a runner. A large force of French troops were coming up the road from Altare. Argenteau, knowing his flank was exposed, ordered a full retreat to Acqui. After a morning fog lifted, artillery rounds from the redoubt on Monte Negino began to rain down on his camp.

  French General Harpe's division, who had joined the others at the redoubt the evening before, sprang into action following the artillery barrage with an assault on the chaotic Austrian camp. Thousands of men were soon running through the woods in a scattered retreat, paying a heavy price for not offering even a smattering of defense.

  Sergeant Daimon, the clone of Naffi, who had been taking part in the assault, was struck in the neck by a stray musketball, before falling to his death in a ravine.

  Naffi leaned back from the display monitor as it went black. “The charge was physically demanding and yet thrilling at the same time. I do not know who fired the weapon that killed me, or whether or not it came from one of our own. But I believe I was able to make a difference. And I now have an established character to play.”

  “You plan to go back as Daimon? Were the others not witness to your death?”

  “I had separated myself from them just before this occurred. During our charge I had several close calls, so I thought it best to move away during the carnage. As it turns out, I was right and Sergeant Daimon will live because of that.”

  Over the course of the next two days, a chase ensued that saw half of Argenteau's force either captured or killed. It was a crushing and humiliating defeat in every sense of the word. Driven back to a mountain known as Montenotte Inferior, the remaining troops continued to flee, all the way back to Acqui.

  Naffi looked over the archives with a scowl. “All that effort with no difference other than the casualty count.”

  “Perhaps we are again going at this the wrong way.”

  “What would you suggest?” Naffi asked.

  “As an individual soldier your contribution is but one out of thousands or tens of thousands. What we should concentrate on is making those tens of thousands more effective. I would suggest a weapon with a rifled barrel and fully cartridged rounds.

  “Those would act as a tremendous force multiplier. Imagine a soldier able to fire a weapon several dozen times in the time it takes for a single round now. And imagine each round being deadly accurate at a greater distance. Such weapons are still relatively low on the technology scale, and easily produced. We can upload a variety of designs into the memories of your next clone.”

  Naffi slowly nodded. “Such a simplistic solution. And one that reveals how little either of us knows about conducting war. New weapons would be the logical enhancement we could make to their fighting ability. Load my brain with weapons technology on this next run. Wait... I suppose it is time you went back. Perhaps with the same knowledge?”

  “Are you suggesting I go back and design new weapons for the French Army?”

  “I believe I am. But we need to be careful. Any such enhancements should be provided through Napoleon so as not to disrupt his rise to power.”

  “Good thinking, Naffi. Are you certain you have not done this before?”

  “What? I don't understand.”

  “It was a joke.” Reno chuckled. “I find myself wanting to crack them more often since these journeys began. When I look back at my former self I am almost shocked by how wooden I must have been. Some of these changes that have resulted from spending time as a Human have been eye-opening. Humor, caring
... and a myriad of other sociological changes, in my mind anyway, have been for the better.”

  “I find it interesting you feel that way as I too am thrilled with the new Naffi. Everything seems so much clearer to me now, as if a fog has been lifted.”

  “Back in our past, during the Human Renaissance with our own people, I have to think now that would have been an exciting time to live.”

  “Quite. Shall we ready a clone for your adventure?”

  Reno nodded. “I believe we shall.”

  An hour later, the almost deafening crack of space-time ripping open permeated the room. Seconds after, the clone of Reno was standing in a field, this time near Rouen. It was a fifty kilometer walk to Paris, but eagerly undertaken. A time was selected that was two years prior to any of the other visits.

  A month was spent acquiring a job at a musket manufacturer. From there the raw materials were gathered and experimentation on building a better weapon began. Another three months followed where machines for parts fabrication were constructed. Over the three months after, the first repeating rifle with a self-contained cartridge was ready for a test.

  Reno paused the playback. “It was an exciting moment. To have produced something so advanced in such a short time. I couldn't wait to test it.”

  “Well?”

  “Well what?”

  Naffi shook his head. “Are we going to see it?”

  The playback was continued. “Given the crude instruments I had available, I was actually quite pleased with the weapon's accuracy and durability. Try as I might I couldn't make it jam. Dunked in ice-cold water for several minutes, heated with flame... it was even given a mud bath, but fired reliably.”

  “Is that a magazine?”

  “Twenty rounds. And the parts can be stamped out with large presses, yet to be built of course, but I believed at that moment I could have a factory up and running, turning out thousands per day within a year. I only needed figure out how to finance it all.”

  “And?”

  Reno smiled. “Gambling. Knowing the future has distinct advantages. I took a ship to London, then came back to Brussels, and finally took a tour in Frankfurt. By the time I returned to Rouen I had the bankroll I needed. Buildings were purchased and machines built. Workers toiled night and day, never knowing what exactly it was they were producing. There will be final assembly required as I felt that necessary to conceal the identity of what we were making.”

  “So what is the plan for these?”

  “I acquired a warehouse in Monaco. There you will find the first twenty thousand rifles and close to half a million rounds of ammunition. I would suggest you take a pair of the weapons and get yourself an audience with Napoleon. With these rifles, his troops will sweep through the European nations in a matter of months. From there we will evaluate what other technologies we can bring in.”

  Naffi looked at the display. “What of your clone? It says you lived another twenty-six years.”

  “So as not to interfere with your war, I made a journey over to America. It was an interesting time, and I thought it might be in our interest to scout out their capitals for eventual takeover by your forces... I should say, Napoleon's forces.”

  “Won't conducting such a war at that distance be troublesome?”

  “Not with these new weapons. The Americans are determined, but the right technology can easily trump that determination.”

  Naffi tapped his fingers on the console. “Hmm.”

  “What are you thinking?”

  “I'm thinking about the Civil War and if we attack with Napoleon's troops, that entire war might never happen.”

  “Would that be a bad thing?”

  “Only with regards to my memories of it. I suppose it was horrific by every definition, but I did enjoy the camaraderie, the friendships.”

  “Yes. And did those suit a purpose in the end?”

  “In the timelines? I suppose not. But they did shape who I am now. It's strange. All of that occurred here within minutes over the course of a number of days. And yet it has deeply affected how I think and feel about almost everything. I was initially seeking revenge for the loss of my family. Now I just look at our empire and see a system that is morally corrupt. Most of us have no purpose other than raw existence.”

  “You did quite well for yourself.”

  “Because there is no drive, no conviction in our people. You were successful with this experiment because you had the determination and drive to see it through. There are only a handful of us out there, Reno. Without people like us moving everyone forward, this empire would certainly fall into decline to the point where it would all just end.”

  Reno chuckled. “It sounds like you are contemplating revolution.”

  “It would be so easy except for one thing... there is no one else who cares. A revolution of one does not have much chance when that one is but one of billions.”

  Reno rubbed his chin. “What resources do you still control?”

  “Out there?”

  “Yes. Here in the Empire. You have Vara. Are there others?”

  “Many others. But we are only talking a few dozen at most.”

  “And could those few dozen be inspired to go out and recruit more?”

  Naffi tilted his head to one side. “What are you suggesting?”

  “I'm suggesting that perhaps we need to be fighting our wars on two fronts. The war to change the past and a war here in the present. Should a revolution come about and our government was overthrown, would that not take away all support from Nunol and Marwal? They get funding and supplies from our government. If control of that government were to change hands...”

  “Interesting. Until this very moment, I don't think the thought of revolution had ever crossed my mind. I will have to contemplate this idea for a bit.”

  Reno stood and walked toward the door.

  “Where are you going?”

  “To prepare a clone. You still have a war to fight in the past.”

  A short while later, Naffi's clone walked into Monaco. It was a bright spring day. A trek was made to the warehouse and a pair of the new rifles were collected, along with a five hundred rounds of ammunition that were already contained in a backpack. The pack was pulled on and the eighty-kilometer journey toward Savona undertaken.

  Naffi sped through the playback to the point where he first encountered a French captain. A quick demonstration had him standing in front of a colonel for the same. From there a demonstration was given to a general, whereby the clone was dispatched with a squad of riders, heading to the front lines where Napoleon's army was conducting continued warfare against the Austrians.

  Naffi stopped the playback. “Two additional demonstrations before it happened. I was escorted to a villa where Napoleon's staff had set up a command post. I was beginning to wonder if my weapons were going to be confiscated and my clone kicked out when I was taken behind the villa to a field. But Napoleon soon came from the villa with one of my rifles in his hands.”

  The playback continued.

  “You sir, from where did you acquire this? And have we met? You look familiar.”

  “You met my cousin, Jacques Lamonde, at École Militaire. My name is Daimon Lamonde.”

  “Ah yes. How is Jacques?”

  “Well, sir.”

  “And this weapon. It is of Jacques's design?”

  “It is. And we believe it will offer your armies a tremendous battlefield advantage.”

  “My staff seems to think this demonstration to be worth my time, which is extremely valuable. Please proceed.”

  A full magazine was shown along with a handful of individual bullets. The clone proceeded to give a quick explanation of their function before snapping the magazine into the weapon. Careful aim was taken at a target placed a hundred meters away. An empty casing “plinked” off a rock when it struck the ground.

  A near perfect strike on the target was seen when the target was returned minutes later. After a short description of the mecha
nisms that made the rifle function, a second aim was taken and a burst of the remaining nineteen rounds were released, followed by the removal of the empty magazine with a second full magazine being inserted.

  Daimon stretched out the weapon. “Please, sir, give it a try.”

  “That was twenty bullets fired at once?”

  “Yes, General. A trained soldier could fire as many bullets with one of these rifles as an entire company during battle. We call this particular weapon a Reno.”

  The playback was paused.

  “You did not just name that weapon after me.”

  Naffi chuckled. “It just came out. I thought it to be humorous.”

  Reno sighed. “And it tells Marwal that we are responsible for its development.”

  “Please. You don't think they would already know that? This is technology that won't be developed for another hundred and fifty years. How would they not know it was us?”

  “Hmm. I suppose.”

  The playback proceeded.

  “Impressive, Mr. Lamonde. And would this weapon be made available for sale? I can have the necessary funds brought to you.”

  The clone held up a hand. “Funds will not be necessary, General. All that is needed are horses and wagons. I have a warehouse full of these waiting to be used by your armies. Consider it a donation by the Lamonde family.”

  The general turned to an aide. “See to it this man has all the horses and wagons he needs. And send a brigade of men for the escort.”

  Daimon bowed. “A wise move, General. We don't want these to fall into the enemy’s hands. And as a tactic I would make it a battlefield policy that every weapon be accounted for after each battle. This will be such a powerful force in your quest to conquer the Austrians... and anyone else who stands in our way.”

  Napoleon placed a hand on Lamonde's shoulder. “You are a true patriot, masseur. I was told you hold the rank of Sergeant?”

  “Yes, General.”

  “If these weapons are delivered and all function as this one, I will authorize your promotion to a full colonel. And you will have earned an advisory position on my staff.”