It wasn’t difficult to install the rockets; it only required strapping the selected rockets to the vertical supports between the wings. The whole process took just over half an hour.
If there were any challenges, they lay in the ignition.
"How do we ignite them?" The question came from Major Fisher, perhaps because he oversaw the entire airport’s operations and was habitually concerned with whether any part of the process might stall.
Eric looked at the wires on the rockets and said, "If we use wires to ignite them, we can’t estimate exactly when they will launch, making it impossible to time it right to point the nose at the target!"
The pilots unanimously agreed.
Aerial combat differed from ground combat in this regard; timing was less critical on the ground, where rockets could always reach the enemy and be effective.
In aerial combat, conducted at high speeds, the time a plane had to dive and align with its target could be mere seconds. If the rocket didn’t launch due to a delay in the fuse during that window, it would mean mission failure.
But Shire didn’t see this as a problem.
"We can use an electric detonator!" Shire turned his gaze to Major Fisher and asked, "Do we have any?"
(Note: The electric detonator, also known as an electric blasting cap, was invented in 1876.)
Major Fisher was taken aback but then nodded with excitement. "We don’t have any, but the engineers should. I’ve seen them use wires to detonate bridges! I’ll contact them right away!"
Thus, the problem was perfectly solved. Major Fisher even called in a group of engineers to help. At first, the engineers were unwilling as they had their own tasks to handle.
But Major Fisher said, "Do you know who is commanding the flying squadron right now? It’s Shire. You’ve heard of him, right?"
Immediately, the engineers dispatched a personnel unit, not knowing the situation, and even sent a corps of over two hundred men!
In the operations office of the fortress command, the wall-mounted clock rang twice; it was exactly two in the afternoon.
The map on the table was dotted with flags of different colors representing various units, with several attack routes penciled in. Piles of documents beside them held recently recorded operation plans.
General Gis, brimming with confidence, looked at these items and said, "We will succeed. We know the terrain, but the Germans do not. They won’t expect our troops to flank them from the rear via the small paths!"
General Winter hesitantly suggested, "Should we let Shire look at the operation plan? After all, last time, he immediately spotted issues in our defensive layout!"
General Winter lacked confidence in both himself and General Gis. Albert I was not part of the discussion; he didn’t command troops, lacking the knowledge and experience for it.
General Winter knew this dependency on Shire was unhealthy.
But this was war, and a moment’s hesitation could cost many lives. This might be their last chance!
"No!" General Gis refused without a second thought. "We don’t need the advice of someone planning to escape, Winter!"
Albert I remained silent. He never believed that Shire would flee.
During this time, Albert I thought about going to the airport to see what Shire was doing but forcibly suppressed the urge.
What if Shire was indeed planning to escape?
Though Shire had made special contributions to Belgium and received a Kingdom Crown Medal, that didn’t give him the right to sacrifice the lives of Belgian pilots for his own!
It was a matter of principle.
So, if Albert I discovered this, he would have to stop Shire, and then Shire couldn’t escape!
That’s why he couldn’t go.
If he didn’t go, he wouldn’t know, and if he didn’t know, whatever Shire did would follow proper procedure, so Albert I wouldn’t need to stop him.
Maybe it was better if Shire escaped, Albert I thought. After all, he was still a child. The war had already made him endure so much, and he had done enough. He could have a clear conscience!
Besides, future battles would need him. Staying here only to be captured by the Germans would serve no purpose!
Just as General Gis was about to rehearse his surprise attack plan again, a courier rushed in and reported, "General, the airship, the German airship!"
Everyone’s expressions changed. They simultaneously dropped everything they were holding and rushed out of the office.
To the east of the fortress, under a pale sky, a German airship slowly moved toward Antwerp. Its hull looked like a giant cloud, floating gently and almost imperceptibly moving, yet clearly nearing Antwerp.
Albert I put away his binoculars, his expression blank, and asked the staff officer beside him, "How long until it reaches overhead?"
"I’m not sure, Your Majesty!" the staff officer replied, "Probably about two hours!"
Two hours, which meant around four in the afternoon.
General Gis looked at the airship’s direction and then turned his sights to Wavre Fortress on its extended line, making a judgment, "Its target is Wavre Fortress. The Germans plan to bomb it with both the airship and heavy artillery!"
Albert I shook his head, "No, its target is the water supply system behind Wavre Fortress!"
General Gis instantly accepted this explanation.
The water supply systems were much more fragile than the fortress, completely exposed on the surface. Even a near miss could disable them.
General Gis’ face changed multiple shades and immediately ordered the courier, "Organize firepower to intercept it at once. We cannot let it get close!"
"Yes, General!" the courier responded and left.
Albert I shook his head with a bitter smile; everyone knew this was futile.
The airship was over a thousand meters high. The only artillery in Antwerp capable of reaching it was inside the fortress. Rifle bullets might reach it, but any damage would only poke tiny, almost invisible holes in its outer shell.
General Winter couldn’t help but marvel, "What a terrifying giant! They actually built such a thing!"
"Indeed!" Albert I sighed, "The Germans call it the ’invincible cannon.’ Others say it’s an ’unsinkable battleship.’ They see it as an unbeatable weapon, and it certainly seems so. The only thing that might stop it is unpredictable weather!"
Blimps, due to their light weight and large size, were often blown out to sea by the wind, eventually disappearing over the ocean, never to be seen again.
Albert I looked up at the sky. Although the weather was poor, there was no sign of impending wind.
"Only God can save us now!" Albert I’s voice was filled with helplessness and sadness.
(The image above depicts the Zeppelin Airship, clearly showing the traces of its aluminum girder.)