Creating an Industrial Empire in 19th Century Parallel World

"Jonathan!" Poul called as he approached Jonathan who was talking to a familiar figure. "Oh, I see that you are talking to Mr. Morgan here."

"Good day, Mr. Nielsen," Morgan greeted him formally with a nod of his head. "When is the demonstration going to start? Sitting here for almost an hour is bad for my back."

"We'll start in ten minutes, Mr. Morgan," Poul adopted a formal tone as he replied. "Just sit there and relax, and have yourself some refreshments. What do you want? We are serving orange juice? No liquid courage."

"What? There's no liquid courage?" Morgan feigned disappointment. "Okay, I'll take the juice."

Poul beckoned the staff over and ordered a glass of orange juice for Mr. Morgan. As the staff scurried off to fulfill the request, Poul turned his attention back to Jonathan.

"Jonathan, I'm going to join our pilots now. Can you handle it from here?"

"Yeah, I got this, you do you, Poul," Jonathan said, clapping his hands lightly on Poul's back. Poul nodded appreciatively before making his way toward the designated area where the pilots were preparing for the upcoming aerial demonstration.

Left alone with Mr. Morgan, Jonathan resumed their conversation, starting from where they left off.

"Jonathan, I wonder why you invited foreign dignitaries to attend this demonstration? I thought your company had an exclusive deal with the United States Government. That only the United States will get the best technology from your country and no one else."

As Morgan asked, the orange juice that Poul ordered for him arrived in a sparkling glass. Jonathan took a moment to collect his thoughts, contemplating Morgan's pointed question.

"We know, Mr. Morgan, you don't have to remind us. The reason why we called those foreign dignitaries is that they are different kinds of aircraft we'd be selling to you. There are military aircraft that can be used, as the name implies, for military purposes, there are also of course civilian aircraft that carry passengers to be transported from point A to point B, and there are research aircraft that are used for scientific experiments and exploration. We can't sustain our aircraft manufacturing enterprise with only the United States government as our primary customer. Of course, the government will receive the cream of the crop, but we also want to expand our market and forge partnerships with other countries."

Morgan sighed, buying Jonathan's explanation. "Very well, Jonathan, you had a valid point."

Jonathan looked at his wristwatch and checked the time. "Oops, it seems like it's time for me to make the opening speech," Jonathan said, glancing at the bustling crowd that had gathered for the aircraft demonstration. He adjusted his suit and left Morgan.

Taking a deep breath, Jonathan made his way toward the podium at the center of the field. The onlookers turned their attention toward him, their curious eyes filled with anticipation.

Clearing his throat, Jonathan began his speech.

"Gentlemen and ladies, esteemed guests, I stand before you today to present a breakthrough in human innovation. Today, we shall witness the power of flight, a concept that has captured the imagination of mankind for centuries."

The audience leaned forward, hanging onto Jonathan's every word. He continued, "It is with great pride that I introduce to you our revolutionary aircraft. This magnificent creation, born from the ingenuity and dedication of our team, represents a new era in transportation and exploration."

Jonathan gestured towards the aircraft lined up on the field, gleaming under the warm sunlight. "Gone are the days when the skies belonged solely to birds. Today, we unveil to you a machine that defies gravity and allows us to soar high above the earth."

A murmur of excitement rippled through the crowd as they marveled at the sight before them. Their eyes widened with amazement, mingled with a hint of trepidation.

With his speech concluded, Jonathan stepped away from the podium, leaving the crowd buzzing with excitement. He glanced back at Poul, who nodded reassuringly, who was one of the pilots of the aircraft whose design is similar to B-25.

Poul, who was in the cockpit, nodded back as if they could see one another.

"Okay, let's give them a show, boys," Poul said through the radio as he started pushing the throttle. With a powerful roar, the engines of the aircraft ignited once again, filling the air with a symphony of raw power. The crowd's anticipation reached a crescendo as Poul skillfully maneuvered the aircraft down the runway, ready to demonstrate its capabilities.

Jonathan stood at the edge of the field, his eyes fixed on the aircraft as it gathered speed. The moment of truth had arrived, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of nervous excitement. The crowd held its breath as Poul pulled back on the controls, lifting the aircraft off the ground.

The machine gracefully soared into the sky, leaving behind a trail of awe and wonder. Poul and the other pilots showcased the aircraft's performance. The journalist below began jotting down notes, their cameras pointed at the aircraft streaking across the sky.

But that's not what the industrialist duo wanted to show the spectators. Jonathan ambled towards the podium and addressed the stunned crowds.

"Gentlemen and ladies, I know all of you are enjoying the demonstration but please may I ask that you take a step back for a little for your safety. We will show you other things an aircraft could do.

The spectators heed Jonathan's words and took a step back. Poul, who was looking out of the windows, saw that the crowds were cooperating and quickly relayed the information to the other pilots through their headsets. They adjusted their flight paths accordingly, ensuring a safe distance between the aircraft and the spectators.

"Okay, I'll begin first," Poul informed as he opened the bomb bay of the B-25 with a flick of a switch.

500 pounds of explosives began falling out from the bomb bay. The spectators followed the trajectory of the falling objects with their eyes. Seconds later, a thunderous explosion reverberated through the surroundings. Dust and debris billowed up from the impact site, creating a mesmerizing visual display. The shockwave rippled across the field, and was felt even at a safe distance.

"What the…" Cleveland exclaimed and turned to his military advisors. "Did you see that? It dropped a lot of bombs!"

The military advisors, who were invited to evaluate the use of aircraft in military strategy, exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of astonishment and intrigue. The unexpected bomb demonstration had certainly caught their attention, highlighting the aircraft's potential in military operations.

Other aircraft whose design is similar to Curtiss P-40 Warhawk began its strafe run, flying low over the field, unleashing a rapid barrage of gunfire. The sound of machine guns echoed through the air as tracers streaked across the sky. The crowd watched in awe as the aircraft demonstrated its firepower, sending plumes of dirt and debris into the air, simulating a ground attack.

The military advisors leaned forward, their eyes glued to the spectacle unfolding before them. They whispered amongst themselves, discussing the tactical implications of such an agile and powerful aircraft.

"We must get that, Mr. President!"

"I know…I know…" Cleveland said, agreeing with them.

Jonathan headed over to where Morgan was sitting, and there he saw his faces, glued to flying aircraft.

"So, Mr. Morgan, how do you like our aircraft?"

"Very," Morgan uttered.