Chapter 99 The News Across Europe

Poul left the drawing room, his mind abuzz with satisfaction. He had just introduced his engineers to the wonders of the alternating current system, a feat that had been three years in the making. It had not been an easy road, not after the unfortunate accident in the train station that had claimed so many lives. But now, they had crossed a threshold, and there was no going back.

Their electric company would be up and running soon, and they would finally be able to compete with James Russel for electrical distribution. As Poul strode down the hallway toward the entrance, his thoughts were interrupted by the sight of someone approaching him. He squinted his eyes to get a better look and saw that it was Jonathan.

"Jonathan, did you just finish talking to Caroline?" Poul asked as they drew closer to each other.

"Yeah, she called me about the pistol we are going to develop for the military," Jonathan replied before continuing. "She also suggested that we start an electric company soon if we don't want to fall behind James Russel."

Poul's brows rose in surprise. "She really said that? Because what a coincidence, I just finished debriefing our engineers back there in the drawing room about the AC system we are going to develop in the near future."

"Really? That's great news," Jonathan said, clearly pleased. "I was about to tell you when we were going to start it. So, next year?"

"Probably by mid-season," Poul replied, his mind already racing ahead to the next steps. "But we still have to apply for a patent for electrical distribution, such as the alternator and the transformer."

"Aren't those electrical devices already invented at this time of year?" Jonathan asked curiously.

"They might have been, but we have to ensure that we don't infringe on any existing patents. If someone has already invented a transformer and an AC dynamo, then I'll just have to design a superior and modern one to get around any potential infringement."

Jonathan nodded thoughtfully as they continued walking toward the entrance. "It's a smart move to make sure we don't run into any legal issues. I'll talk to Caroline about expediting the patent application process."

Poul smiled in appreciation. "Thanks, Jonathan. I'm sure Caroline has connections to the officers of the patent office. I'm going back to the office to write a patent application. Are you coming with me?"

"I'm going to oversee the production of the AN-M1," Jonathan said, shaking his head. "I have to make sure that we are not producing any defects."

"Very well," Poul nodded understandingly. "We can't afford any mistakes, especially with the military contract."

Jonathan gave a wry smile. "Not to mention, Morgan will have my head if we don't deliver on time. Oh speaking of Morgan, should we inform him about our electric venture?"

"Nah, he is already backing James Russell. We will go with Caroline this time, I heard that she is willing to provide, right?"

"Damn right."

***

November 5 883,

It was a chilly autumn day in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Poul was busy at work. The industrious inventor was hunched over his notebook, scribbling away with his pen as he worked on designs for the electrical transformer. He paused momentarily, taking a bite of the juicy apple in his hand and pondering the problem at hand. Suddenly, the door to his workshop swung open, and he looked up to see Jonathan walking in, a newspaper in hand and a serious expression on his face.

Without wasting any time, Jonathan cut straight to the chase. "There are two things you need to know," he said urgently. "One is less serious, and the other is urgent. Where do you want me to start?"

Poul furrowed his brow, sensing that something significant was afoot. "Let's start with the less serious one first," he replied, steeling himself for whatever news was to come.

Jonathan took a deep breath and began to speak. "The AC dynamo and electrical transformer have already been patented in Europe," he said. "The electrical transformer by Gaulard and Gibbs, and the AC dynamo by Siemens."

Poul raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Is that so?" he mused. "Well, we'll just have to proceed as planned. We'll apply for our own patent for a dynamo and transformer."

"How?" Jonathan asked. Poul took a deep breath, clearly excited about the prospect of delving into the technical details of his design. "Well, Gaulard and Gibbs' transformer uses a single iron core with two separate windings, which are connected in series," he began, gesturing animatedly with his hands. "This results in a step-up transformer, where the output voltage is higher than the input voltage. However, it also means that the transformer is not very efficient, as the magnetic field generated by one winding will induce a current in the other winding, leading to energy losses in the form of heat."

Jonathan nodded thoughtfully, clearly impressed with Poul's knowledge of the subject. "So what's your solution?" he asked.

Poul grinned. "My design uses two separate iron cores, each with its own winding. This allows for a more efficient transformer, as the two magnetic fields do not interfere with each other. Additionally, I'm using a core made from laminated sheets of iron, which reduces the energy losses even further."

Jonathan whistled appreciatively. "That's quite an improvement," he said. "What about the dynamo?"

Poul's grin widened. "Ah, the dynamo. Well, Siemens' design uses a single loop of wire rotating inside a magnetic field to generate an AC current. It's a clever design, but it has its limitations. For one, it only generates AC current in one direction, which means it can't power devices that require a DC current. Additionally, it requires a lot of maintenance, as the brushes that transfer the current from the rotating wire to the external circuit wear out quickly."

Jonathan leaned in, clearly fascinated. "And your design?" he prompted.

Poul leaned back, clearly relishing the chance to show off his ingenuity. "My design uses a system of multiple loops of wire, arranged in a circular pattern around the central axle," he explained. "Each loop generates its own AC current, but they are all synchronized so that they are in phase with each other. This allows for a more stable and reliable output current, and it can easily be converted to DC current if needed. Plus, it requires much less maintenance than Siemens' design, as it doesn't rely on brushes."

"Well, that's good to know. Now that it is settled, do you want me to reveal to you the next urgent matter?"

"What is it?" Poul asked.

Jonathan handed a newspaper to Poul. "Read it yourself, the Russian Empire just declared war on the Ottoman Empire."

"Huh?" Poul raised a brow as he received the newspaper. He unfolded it and read the article.

[St. Petersburg, November 5, 883

In a stunning development, the Russian Empire declared war on the Ottoman Empire, citing years of conflict over control of the Crimean peninsula. The announcement, made by Emperor Alexander III in a public address today, marks a significant escalation of hostilities between the two powers.

The roots of the conflict date back to the 8th century, when Russia began expanding into the Black Sea region, which had traditionally been dominated by the Ottoman Empire. In the years since, tensions between the two nations have grown, with Russia seeking to expand its influence and the Ottoman Empire seeking to maintain its territorial integrity.

In recent years, the situation has grown increasingly volatile, with skirmishes and incidents of violence occurring along the border between the two nations. Russia has accused the Ottoman Empire of mistreating its Christian minority populations, while the Ottomans have accused Russia of meddling in their internal affairs.

In his address, Emperor Alexander III cited these ongoing tensions as the reason for the declaration of war. He emphasized that the conflict was not a rash decision, but rather the result of years of careful consideration and diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation peacefully.

"The Ottoman Empire has shown time and time again that it is unwilling to negotiate in good faith," the Emperor said. "We have exhausted all diplomatic avenues and have no choice but to take action to protect our sovereignty and the safety of our people."

The declaration of war has sent shockwaves throughout Europe, with neighboring powers such as Britain and France expressing concern about the potential for a wider conflict. The Ottoman Empire, for its part, has vowed to defend itself and its territories against what it called "aggressive Russian expansionism."

As the world watches and waits, the fate of the region hangs in the balance. The conflict between Russia and the Ottoman Empire entered a dangerous new phase, and the stakes could not be higher. The war has the potential to reshape the balance of power in Europe and the Middle East, with far-reaching consequences that could last for generations.]

After reading the article, Jonathan spoke. "You know what this means to us right?"

"Yeah," Poul nodded. "Expect that there'll be orders from the foreign market soon."