January 1904
With improved machinery plants being developed, the Cascadian Navy submitted early design proposals for two new classes of protected cruiser. Although it was unlikely the budget would permit said ships to be built before 1905, Admiral Garrett presented them to the Admiralty.
Juneau was proposed as a cheaper alternative to the
Fairbanks. Only 4" guns for armament and with a relatively smaller fuel bunker, it still had a top speed of 25 knots due to newer machinery technology, and all on a hull just over 5,000 tons.
The
San Francisco would be a line cruiser. 6" armament with 4" casemates, it would have 25 knot speed as well.
February-March 1904
West Portland, Oregon
6 February 1904
A rare break in the winter cloud cover provided for some sunlight to grace the Garrett home in West Portland on this Saturday. The Admiral watched his boys chasing each other around the backyard. The sight made him thankful that he had received his shore posting after all this time and was keeping it. It had been hard, missing his boys growing up as little children, but at least he had seen them start to become fine young men. Rafael, the oldest, was about to turn 16 and had all these signs of following in his father's footsteps. Thomas, who had just turned 14 the prior November, was a rambunctious young man who had inherited some of the Vallejo family wild streak, but tempered by his intellectual curiosity. And Sophie… was starting to become rather big for him to pick up and carry around. His precious little girl was seven years of age now, and every bit the bookworm her brother had grown up to be.
While the boys played and Sophie read, the Admiral was treating with his family guest. Tall, fine-featured, and every inch the patrician, Rafael Vallejo was once again Senator for the Province of Upper California, the northernmost of the four Californias (the other three being Lower, North Baja, and South Baja). He sat with the Government as a Liberal at the behest of Governor Norton.
The old Mexican Republican looked with approval at his grandsons' active lifestyle. "It is good that you are here for them at this time of life," he said to the Admiral. "Boys that age need their father."
There was a nod as an answer. "Yes. And I have decided that I will not accept another sea posting. Not until Thomas is of age."
"Good." The elder Rafael gave him a quiet smile. "You've done well for yourself since coming home. I hear the admiralties of Europe consider your new ships to be visions of the future."
Garrett shook his head. "
Warrior is a step in that direction. But I feel we have yet to truly put into service a ship that would qualify as such. The all-big-gun ship, with several turrets in the main battery, is my ultimate goal. I think it will change the world."
"Perhaps so…" Vallejo looked over a magazine on the table. "
The Strand? You are still reading that Englishman's mystery stories then?"
"This one is the best," the Admiral proclaimed. "A ten year wait for more Holmes, and it was well worth it, sir. Well worth it."
"You always had an interesting taste for fiction..."
The door to the patio opened. Rachel stepped out. "Your guest of honor is here," she said.
That brought a fresh smile to the Admiral. He stood up and followed his wife inside. Sophie followed behind out of curiosity. Inside, sitting quietly in a chair, was Rachel's mother Dolores. She was paler than ever. Undoubtedly she would return home by train before the winter weather overcame her frail constitution. But she had wanted to see her husband to his new post and visit the grandchildren. Her brown eyes glinted with curiosity at what they were coming in for.
A figure had just stepped into the door in the blue-gray uniform of the Cascadian Navy. A newly-won Pacific Cross glinted among the medals and commendations on his breast. He pulled his cover off and smiled at them. "Admiral," he said.
Sophie was the first to react. "Uncle Reggie!", she squealed.
Etps knelt down and accepted Sophie's enthusiastic hug. "You have grown, little one! Very soon you won't be a little girl any longer."
"But I'll always be my Daddy's little girl!", was her happy reply to that.
"Reggie, how do you do?" The Admiral took his protege's hand and turned it into a warm embrace. "How goes the Hero of the Pacific War?"
"I am not much a hero, truth be told," Etps insisted. "'twas but one engagement."
"But what an engagement it was."
"Senator Vallejo, an honor." Etps accepted the Senator's praises and hand. "I was only doing my duty."
"Beyond it. A lesser man would have let the German escape into the storm." Vallejo shook his hand vigorously. "Our nation needed that battle. A chance to remind the European Powers that our nation is to be respected upon the seas."
"I shan't think they will ever forget either," Etps admitted.
"What was it like, Uncle Reggie?", Rafael the younger asked. There was clear enthusiasm in his voice, the enthusiasm of a young man imagining his own future glory in that uniform. "The storm, the battle?"
"Exciting and terrifying and gut-wrenching, Raffie," Etps said. He was close enough to the family that he knew, and got to use, all of the nicknames. "Almost ten hours in action stations was exhausting. My men needed the leave in Madagascar while the French yards repaired us."
Rachel gave her husband a meaningful look. He knew what she meant and said, "Before you begin, Reggie, now that you're here… Rachel and I have something to share. With all of you."
"Oh?", Etps asked.
Rafael Vallejo was seated by his suffering wife now. They were also waiting to hear what this was.
"I am carrying another child," Rachel revealed. Her hand went to her belly. "The doctors are certain. And I already was."
The Admiral took her other hand with deep love.
Naturally, it was Sophie who reacted first. "
I'm gonna have a baby sister!", she squealed.
"Congratulations!", Etps added.
The Vallejos simply held hands and smiled softly at each other. One could almost see the sad realization that Dolores might not live to see this grandchild, but had a solid determination to do so.
The Admiral had little idea, however, that this year would herald even greater changes for him…
The Cascadian battleships finished their refit and returned to the fleet, now possessing central firing mechanisms.
Relations with the United Kingdom took an unexpected dip when Hawk-Democrat Representative Muniz gave an electrifying speech in the House that accused the Balfour Government of pushing the peace treaty on Cascadia to limit Cascadian power.
The Naval Artillery Office reported to Admiral Garrett that they had finished testing on a new 13" naval gun.
The Navy ordered the
Defiant-class and
Chinook-class cruisers into the yard for refit with central firing mechanisms. The ships of the
Fairbanks-class were also laid up for the same purpose.
To help fun the rebuilds and ensure the Navy budget was not exhausted, the battleships of the fleet were shifted into reserve status.
April 1904
Workers completed further expansions of the docks. New expansions were ordered.
Admiral Garrett's design teams reported improvements to weight control processes for new ship hulls. This aided them in finalizing early work on the concept of adding a third centreline turret to a warship.
Problems with the supply of steel at Mare Island Yard caused delays to the refitting of the
CRS Fairbanks.
Word, meanwhile, arrived that a year after the
Warrior was laid, the British and Russian navies had ordered their own
Warrior-type ships, the
Invincible and the
Izmail. It was unknown at the time if the two ships had implemented a third main battery turret or not. They were, however, lighter than the
Warrior.
May 1904
New economic reports showed that the Cascadian economy was booming. Cascadian industrial production was still climbing rapidly.
Naval Intelligence got their hands on the plans for the British battleship
Jupiter.
June 1904
Four cruisers finish their fire control refits.
German Government sources accuse the Cascadian government of undermining the Balfour Treaty after the Government refuses to pay compensation to a German citizen with Samoan property. The Cascadian Government haad decided the individual in question was a German agent and was exempt from the considerations of the treaty. The British Government investigated the claims and launched its own complaint against the Cascadian Government. President McGraw interceded and okayed the compensation payment, much to the aggravation of the Hawks in Parliament.
UK Tension to 4
Germany Tension to 5
July 1904
Accelerated construction of both
Warrior and
Ranger is ordered
August 1904
The Admiralty
Portland, Federal District
12 August 1904
Admiral Garrett was about to finish up his work day when Yeoman Clark informed him that Admiral Wilburn wanted to see him. Garrett stood and saluted his superior officer. The Cascadian Chief of Naval Operations had a somber look on his face. "Admiral, at ease. Be seated. I have something to talk to you about."
"Yes sir." He took his seat.
Wilburn took one opposite from him. "We just got a wire from Los Angeles."
"Sir?"
"Admiral Wilcox is dead."
Garrett looked blankly ahead. "I… how? I know he went south for a leave to regain his health…"
"Embolism, they say. The important thing is that I need a new Vice CNO. And beyond that…"
Garrett knew what was going to be asked. But he could tell there was more to this than just the one job. "Sir?"
"I… haven't officially announced this yet," he admitted. "The doctors… my breathing problems…" The older man seemed to grow older before him. "They think I have growths on my lungs. Lung cancer."
"Good Lord." The Admiral shook his head. Wilburn was a dead man if that were true. "I'm sorry, sir."
"I know. I may have a year or two left, if I'm lucky. In that time… I want to make sure I'm leaving the Navy in good hands."
Admiral Garrett said nothing. He didn't need to.
"Please accept this offered promotion, Admiral," Wilburn said. "So that I can train you to become the next Chief of Naval Operations."
Garrett closed his eyes and swallowed. Him, the Chief of Naval Operations. Every key decision for the Navy would be his. He would pick the actual designs to build. The strategies to employ. He would have the ear of the President and Secretary of State in addition to the Naval Secretary.
There was only one answer he could give to Wilburn.
"I am honored, sir. I will gladly take up your charge. But I only wish it was being given in happier circumstances."
Wilburn smiled thinly. "So do I, Admiral. So do I."
September 1904
Design teams finish work on control tops for fire control systems.
Foreign Secretary McInnes reports to the Government that relations with the British and French had improved thanks to new trade treaties beneficial to the three nations and enhancing commerce in the Pacific Rim.
The diplomatic gains are marred, though, by a resumption of the Bering Strait fisheries controversy with Russia. The Russian government criticized Cascadian fishing expedtions from Alaska that they accused of using threats and aggressive maneuvers to drive Russian Far East fishing companies away from vital fisheries.
UK tensions down to 3
France tensions to 2
Russia tensions up to 3
October 1904
The Admiralty
Portland, Federal District
October 4
The Vice Chief of Naval Operations office was bigger than that of the Chief of Naval Design and Procurement. A large map was maintained showing the reported positions of various Cascadian naval ships and commands. Entire binders carried with them reports from across the Pacific, relayed by naval sources and intelligence operatives, all waiting to see if another conflict might start for the Republic.
Admiral Garrett had taken to his new job, and the promotion to four star Admiral that came with it, with alacrity and enthusiasm. Since WIlburn spent so much time dealing with the other service heads and the Government, he more often than not was the originator of many day-to-day commands. Nothing big, of course, since Wilburn had to okay such. But he was effectively the Chief of Staff for the entire Cascadian Navy - a daunting task indeed.
It had been quite a year.
Many of his subordinates noticed over the past week that he'd become more jumpy. More alert for a call over the phones, a messenger with a wire. News traveled fast. Everyone knew what the Admiral was so keen on hearing.
So no one was surprised when the day finally came.
The Admiral was going over a set of plans sent to him by Naval Intelligence on the new Japanese armored cruisers. Faster than the
Defiant and more heavily armed - 8" secondaries - it was still quite inferior to the
Warrior.
The door opened and Yeoman Clark stepped in. "Sir," the young man said. "I've received a call for you. It is from your father-in-law at the hospital. He said…"
"...it's time." The Admiral quickly slipped the plans into a secure safe and made sure to trip the lock. He grabbed his coat and umbrella and went to the door. "I don't have a moment to lose!"
After a cab ride from the Admiralty into West Portland, he arrived at St. Jude's Hospital near the river and rushed in the main entrance. His uniform seemed to give him some immediate respect.
His father-in-law was waiting for him. "This way!", Rafael Vallejo urged.
After a trip through white corridors among nurses and doctors and others, they wound up in their destination. Rachel was in a hospital gown of light-blue color and laid out on the table. A doctor was in place and spoke to her gently as she screamed in agony.
"I'm here, darling," he declared. The Admiral rushed to his wife's side and took her hand. She gripped it strongly, as if to transfer some of her pain to him. It was a burden he would have taken willingly.
There were calls to push. More cries of pain. More hard breathing. Finally a relief seemed to come over Rachel's face. There was a soft thwack and a splitting cry. "Congratulations, ma'am," the doctor said. He lifted the struggling little form above the blankets. "You have a healthy baby girl."
The proud parents laughed. The Admiral let his wife's hand go so she could hold her newborn daughter in her hands. The little girl continued to cry.
"My little one," the Admiral said proudly. He put a hand in the frizzy hair at the top of his daughter's head. "My dear little one."
"Gabriela," Rachel said. "Gabriela Dolores Maria."
"Our little Gabriela…"
After mother and child were fast asleep, the Admiral and his father-in-law were quick to take up the last bit of business. A nurse and a wheelchair were arranged with a trip to another room.
Dolores Gabriela Maria Vallejo was dying. That was clear from the sheer effort she exerted just to move. The pain and misery in her bright face. But for now she was alive, with family, and it was with pride that she got to meet her infant granddaughter. "You've done well," she said, weakly, to her slumbering daughter. "And you too," she said to the Admiral. "Take care of them."
"I swear to you that I will," Admiral Garrett replied.
8 October 1904
The Vice Chief of Naval Operations office door opened. Admiral Garrett looked up. His wife stepped in, wearing a great coat soaked from winter rain.
He needn't ask why. He could see it in her pained face. It wasn't the fresh pain that other horrible news might have brought; it was a resigned pain. One that knew what had been coming.
"When?", he asked.
"Two hours ago," Rachel said. "She got to say goodbye to the children."
"Good. Good." He stood up and went over to Rachel. By the time his arms were spread she was crying. He embraced her closely. "I'm here for you," he whispered. "I know."
And indeed he knew the pain his wife was in. The feeling of having her heart ripped open and a chunk torn out. A terrible hole that would never quite fill in again.
That's usually what happened when someone loses their mother.
There was nothing more to say. He simply stood there with Rachel in his arms, mourning the death of her beloved mother.
The Cascadian Navy decided to authorize the laying of the
CRS Juneau
Naval Artillery reports setbacks in attempts at mechanizing shell delivery systems for turrets.
November 1904
President McGraw proposed an international sailing regatta and competition for all invited world powers. To fund this event would require dipping into the naval budget. Many in the Admiralty protested, but Admiral Garrett prevailed upon Wilburn to see it as an opportunity to show the world the skill of Cascadian mariners. Admiral Wilburn promptly seconded the proposal and the competition was held.
A warm welcome was offered to attending nations. The Germans especially appreciated the event and relations with Berlin improved as a result.
Germany tensions down to 4
Researchers reported a failure in their attempts to improve fire control systems.
December 1904
In light of improved relations and funding needs by the German Navy, the German Government approved a proposed sale of Range Calculator plans to the Cascadian Navy. The offer was accepted.
Germans offer Range calculator - accepted
Admiral Peter Lewis, the new Chief of Naval Design and Procurement, reported to Admirals Wilburn and Garrett that the Engineering Office was ready to implement steam turbines into ships, improving engine performance and forever revolutionizing the environment of a ship's engineering spaces.