The Sewage Dilemma

"Sir Conners, we have a problem." A young soldier saluted while nervously standing at attention.

"Out with it then, man, it's not going to speak up for itself," Daniel said as he didn't even bother to look at the soldier and continued his game of chess with another one of the knights.

"Captain Hawley sent me to inform you that the road to the Holy Chadton Empire is being reopened and that two brigades of the Empire's men are marching our way." The young soldier practically yelled out.

"Good work soldier, take a message to Captain Hawley, form up Dragon brigade prepare for a sortie." Daniel moved his Queen and called out "Check!"

The other man instantly moved his own Queen, "Check and mate. I have no idea why you ever bother to play chess Danny, you are a terrible strategist. All you know how to do is charge into the enemy and break skulls."

Daniel laughed loudly, "Whatever gets the job done. Leonard, I am going to need your Golden Bear Brigade this time."

Leonard gave him a grin, "Of course you are, we aren't fighting a pack of brigands this time, you need someone to tell your troops where to stand so they don't die." He rubbed his chin for a moment and then asked, "Danny, what in the hell is so important about this road that we are tying up two brigades for it?"

Daniel slapped his back and said in a very serious tone, "A woman."

Leonard frowned and stood up gently sliding his sword over his hip properly, "Look, if you don't want to say or can't say just forget I asked. You don't have to be an ass about it."

*****

Emily walked over to the construction site and asked softly, "Mr. Hammer, I understand you have a concern?"

"Lady Connaissance, thank you for coming so quickly, yes, we have a problem. You see in order to cut costs on the original construction for the city, the way we dealt with our sewage was to bore out long deep well shafts at several points in the city and allow the waste to gather at the bottom. During our excavation for the new steam tunnel, it was brought to my attention that the three shafts built in this phase are already full. With that said, we'll need to find a better long term sewage solution for the entire city as we uncover the other sites. Perhaps we should use these steam tunnels for something useful to us now, like sewage instead of this dream of the future."

Emily looked at the plans and noticed some changes made to the plans, "Mr. Hammer, the plans that were approved by me and given to you had a sewage system included. Also, I see that you have made changes to the steam tunnel pathing and the overall street design."

"Well, of course, we had to make changes, first of all, we had to make the streets much narrower to make the residence buildings larger for the three buildings that house the poor. Each of the seven buildings for the wealthy also needed to have a decorated atrium and lobby that would need us to expand the sizes of the ground floor. As for the steam tunnels, they followed the street design which would take too long to finish, so we made shortcuts."

Emily looked over the plans and then asked, "This new set of plans, who approved them?"

"Mr. Duke, of course, it's his labor company that is handling the construction phase. My company has been outsourced with underground work and demolition. "

Emily frowned and then grabbed the plans and tore them up, "These plans are NOT approved. You will go forward with the approved plans."

Mr. Hammer looked shocked, "Lady Connaissance! I am a subcontractor, the only plans I can work from are the plans authorized by my employer. Even if you say these plans were not approved by you, I still have to work based off of the plans my employer gives me. I am not beholden to the City!"

"Very well." Emily waved Captain Alexander over, "Jon, will you make sure that these men only work from the plans I have approved? If they so much as touch a single stone based off of these other plans forcefully restrain them. I have to pay a visit to Mr. Duke, it seems."

Captain Alexander frowned, "I'll go with you to see Mr. Duke, I'll have Sergeant Staughler handle things here." He turned and called out, "Sergeant, keep an eye on things here, I'm taking her Highness to see Mr. Duke."

The Sergeant gave him a salute and then went back to guarding the site. Emily and Captain Alexander walked back toward the city. Mr. Hammer walked over to his normal position and said quietly, "Randall, send James over to Mr. Duke, let him know that she is on her way. Make sure he knows to hustle. I want Mr. Duke to have at least ten minutes."

A few moments later a skinny young man jumped on a high wheeler (a Penny-farthing) and sped off to the business district.

Emily and Captain Alexander were walking along the sidewalk when they saw the young man zipping past on his high wheeler, "You are amazing you know that? How did you know he would send a warning in advance?" The Captain smiled at her as they walked.

She patted the arm she held on to with a giggle, "Jon, please, you are a military man, what's the first thing you do when you advance? You send out scouts to give you a warning for when trouble is coming, right?"

He nodded, "Yes, that's true. I thought you would want to drop in on the man by surprise though, I know for those of us in the military having the advantage of picking the when and how of the battlefield is the most important step."

She gave him a bright grin and then replied casually, "This isn't a battle Jon. It's more fun if he has time to prepare for our visit. Mr. Duke is a very sly man, he just wants to reassert his dominance over the city in any way he can. This planning change is his way of showing me that it is him and not I that run this City."

"How will you put a stop to it?"

She giggled again, "Why the easiest and quickest method should be the best way, I suppose."

"Wait, you are going to kill him?"

"Oh, Captain Alexander you are such a violent man!" She gasped and put a hand over her mouth.

"You set me up, didn't you? Alright, what is the easy and quick way?" He frowned.

She smiled and leaned against him, "I'm going to threaten to have him killed of course."

"What if that doesn't work?"

She looked up at him and batted her eyelashes flirtatiously, "Didn't I bring you?"

"Oh. I get it. You meant that you are not going to kill him. I am going to kill him. That's a rotten way to ask for something so evil. What if I say no?"

She thought for a moment, "I wonder if I should send a letter to Danny seeing when he will return to the city?"

"You are a mean woman, Emily, " Captain Alexander pouted.

A few minutes later the pair walked up to the front of Mr. Duke's office. Out in front of the office was the high wheeler they had seen rushing past them leaned up against the side of the building. Compared to even the City of Connaissance city hall, this building was the nicest she had seen in the building. There was a golden revolving door that led into a wide marble-tiled lobby. At the main lobby's desk were two very attractive women . Emily walked forward and smiled at the women, "Hello, I am here to see Mr. Duke."

One of the women smiled and said, "One moment please, I will see if he can see you. What is your name?"

Emily smiled and said, "It's 'If you don't get your fat ass out here this instant. I am going to have you killed.' Yes, the common spelling of fat ass."

The woman's hand shook as she put the message in a tube that shot through a vacuum system to somewhere in the back. She smiled politely, "Would you please have a seat. I can get you something to drink if you'd like?"

Emily smiled and said, "Could I trouble you for a cup of tea? The handsome gentleman here would like a coffee with cream and sugar."

They sat down looking very comfortable as the two girls looked frantic as the hustled to prepare the drinks. Just as the two finished preparing the drinks, Mr. Duke and several younger men in suits walked out together. The younger men were obviously bodyguards who walked along keeping Mr. Duke in the center. Captain Alexander smiled handsomely at the pretty young woman who handed him his coffee, "Thank you."

Emily took a sip from the tea she was given and then just tossed it on the ground, "Awful."

Mr. Duke spoke up, "Lady Connaissance, what a pleasant surprise, may I ask what brings you to my humble office."

"Who told you that you were allowed to alter my plans?"

He wiped the sweat from his brow, "I.. I'm not sure what you mean? I believe my engineers may have needed to make a few slight modifications to meet the cost and time deadline, but I am sure it wasn't anything major..."

She crossed one of her legs over the other and tapped on the armrest of the chair, "I'm only going to say this one time. This is the one and only warning you will ever receive. Those who get in my way will be removed. I have allowed you to retain some dignity and keep the millions of Sprite you stole from this city before I was appointed to take charge. The moment I took power here was the moment your days of splendor came to an end. You work for me or you..." She looked down at the broken teacup and the mess on the ground. "Well, let's just say that fortune you stole will go back to where it rightfully belongs. Am I being clear? Before you answer that, know that any answer that includes the word but will be taken as a no."

"Yes, Lady Connaissance." He stammered.

Emily smiled at him and then stated flatly, "If someone ever tries to call themselves your subcontractor like that again, I will assume that you are inviting me to come back for another, this time, final discussion. Make sure you inform the others, Mr. Duke."

She stood and started to walk causing Captain Alexander to stand and gently hand the coffee cup back to the pretty girl, "It was wonderful, thank you very much."

Emily stopped just at the main entrance and turned looking at all of the young men and the two girls, "The rest of you should really consider other employment. This company's future is looking grim." Emily walked out the door fiercely with Captain Alexander giving the two women from the lobby one final hero-like smile before quickly rushing to catch up to Emily.