Chapter 164: Appreciation towards Human Craft
Chapter 164: Appreciation towards Human Craft
"You mean the helicopter?" Vincent asked, raising an eyebrow. He could sense her eagerness despite her calm exterior, a flicker of excitement beneath her regal demeanor.
Velara's eyes sparkled with genuine fascination, a sharp contrast to the cold calculation that usually accompanied her expressions. "Helicopter? So that is its name," she mused, the faintest hint of a smile pulling at the corners of her lips. "Yes, the one that soared through the skies as you arrived. I've never seen anything like it."
Vincent allowed himself a small smile. "Would you like to see it up close?"
The queen nodded, her gaze locking onto his with an intensity that told him she wasn't merely curious—she was deeply interested. "Yes. Show me this 'helicopter.' I want to understand what makes it fly and how it works."
Vincent turned slightly toward the chamber door, reaching for his comms unit. "Marcus, this is Vincent. I need the Apache brought down to the gate. Let the pilot know we have a special guest who wants to examine the craft."
"Copy that, sir. ETA thirty minutes," Marcus's voice crackled through the radio.
Vincent nodded to Velara. "It will be ready shortly. I'll take you to see it."
She gestured toward the grand doors of the chamber, and the two began walking side by side. Vincent noticed the change in Velara's gait-she moved with purpose, her steps faster and more deliberate than before. It seemed that her reserved composure was finally giving way to excitement.
As they walked through the halls of the dwarven kingdom, they passed several curious dwarves, their faces lined with suspicion and confusion. But none of them spoke as they witnessed their queen walking with a human outsider. Vincent felt the weight of their eyes on him, but Velara's presence beside him kept any murmurs or objections at bay.
Once they reached the grand gates, Velara paused. "Our people have long prided ourselves on mastering stone and metal. We've crafted weapons, defenses, and cities that have endured the ages. But the sky... that has always been beyond our reach. If your people have found a way to conquer it, then perhaps there is more to this alliance than I first believed."
Vincent gestured toward the towering gates. "You'll see for yourself soon enough."
With a loud creak, the massive stone gates slowly opened, revealing the rugged landscape outside the dwarven kingdom. The sunlight streamed in, casting long shadows across the valley below. In the distance, a faint whirring sound grew louder, signaling the approach of the Apache helicopter.
Velara stood still, her eyes scanning the skies, her posture rigid with anticipation. As the helicopter drew closer, the sound of its rotors thumped rhythmically, vibrating through the ground. The sleek, predatory shape of the Apache appeared over the horizon, cutting through the air with precision as it approached the dwarven kingdom.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
"That sound..." Velara whispered, her eyes widening as the helicopter came into view. "It's unlike anything I've ever heard. It is from the rotating blades atop of it right?"
Vincent confirmed with a nod. "Yes, the sound comes from the rotors. They spin at incredible speeds to lift the helicopter and keep it airborne." He glanced over at Velara, whose fascination with the approaching Apache was unmistakable. Her piercing blue eyes followed every movement of the helicopter as it gracefully descended toward the clearing outside the gates.
The Apache hovered for a moment above the ground, its powerful rotors kicking up dust and leaves. Then, with a practiced precision, it touched down, the rumble of its engine gradually fading as the rotors slowed to a stop.
Velara remained still, taking in every detail of the aircraft. Her regal composure momentarily slipped, revealing a genuine sense of awe and wonder. "It looks... alive," she murmured softly. "A machine with the power of flight, yet it moves as if it's aware of its surroundings." Vincent smiled slightly. "In a way, it's an extension of the pilot. The technology may seem alive, but it requires human control and skill to operate. The Apache is one of our most advanced pieces of military equipment, designed for both reconnaissance and combat." Velara's curiosity deepened as she took slow, deliberate steps toward the Apache. The pilot climbed out, offering a quick salute to Vincent before stepping aside.
"You may take a closer look," Vincent said, motioning for her to approach the helicopter.
The queen wasted no time, her steps quickening as she circled the aircraft. Her hand hovered near the fuselage, and for a moment, it looked as though she was reaching out to touch it- but she hesitated, keeping her hand an inch away, studying the materials and design as though trying to absorb everything at once.
"What powers this machine?" Velara asked, her voice filled with the same intense curiosity Vincent had seen earlier when she examined the Sig Sauer M17.
Vincent stepped forward, standing beside her. "It runs on a turbine engine, which converts fuel into mechanical energy. The rotors generate lift by creating a difference in air pressure, allowing it to stay in the air."
Velara nodded, her mind clearly processing the information. "And the materials it is made from? This is no ordinary metal, is it?"
"You can look for it yourself, you have magic right?" Vincent suggested with a small grin.
Velara gave him a knowing glance, acknowledging his remark with a slight smirk. "Very well," she murmured, stepping closer to the Apache's fuselage. Her fingers brushed against the cold metal, and as before, her eyes began to glow faintly with that soft blue light."
Vincent watched as the dwarven queen connected with the helicopter, her eyes slowly scanning its structure. After a few moments, she began speaking again, this time her voice slightly more animated than it had been before.
"Composite armor plating-lightweight, yet strong enough to withstand small arms fire and shrapnel. The turbine engine is compact, efficient... and the metal framework beneath is reinforced with high-strength alloys. It is built for speed, maneuverability, and protection," she noted, her tone filled with admiration.
Her fingers glided over the Apache's tail rotor, and she continued, "The tail rotor provides counter-torque, maintaining balance. It allows for the quick directional changes I saw as it approached."
"Good," Vincent said.
"Thank you Sir Vincent for showing me this," Velara said.
"Why are you thanking me?"
Velara smiled. "Because, you just taught us how we can we build those helicopters, but even
better."