Poudre B

Shortly after taking off, and once everyone was used to being in the air Banri came to find Dr. Jackal to show him to the crate filled with the strange powder. The man had a very proper voice that if on the ground would probably be normal but on the ship was a touch to loud. "I trust you are the Scientist?" he asked. "I am something of a Scientist myself, though I do not have the collegial degree as you likely do I feel we can agree in matters of scientific matters."

Dr. Jackal smiled and greeted Banri and then introduced Ms. Lavigne to him. Then Dr. Jackal answered Banri, "Understandable Mr. Banri. Science is so vast that no man of science can master it all. How about we start with the Scientific Method and test the powder step by step. Dr. Jackal then set his portable lab down and opened it. It was full of test tubes, small packs of test samples and other tools. He then pulled out a test tube and a long metal scoop with a tiny scoop on the end to take the sample from the white powder.

Banari popped open the crate in question. Inside was an staggered array of little glass vials. Nestled in a wooden lattice so they would not move. Banari pulled a glove from his coats pocket, donning it before taking a vial from the box. Though it was corked he wasn't taking chances, and handed the glass tube to Dr. Jackal

Dr. Jackal thanked Banari for the test tube and then said, “First we will see if the substance will dissolve in water using a litmus test. Then we will use an Iodine/KI test for starch (amylose) by adding a few drops directly to a small sample of the white powder. This will test for evolution of carbon dioxide gas (CO2) by using a few drops of vinegar (5% acetic acid) added directly to the white powder for each test.

Banari listened and caught most of what Jackal said, though he wasn't trained in as scientific a manner as The Doctor was he did know a thing or two. Enough to keep up at any rate, but he mostly allowed the doctor to work. Watching his methods so that he may be able to figure out how to do this himself in the future.

Then Dr. Jackal examined the Litmus test to see if he was dealing with an acid or a base compound. Then as he looked at the colored marking on the litmus test paper he compared it to the scale and saw it showed the presence of acid impurities. He then said to Lily and Banari, "According to the Litmus Test we have an acidic compound here." Lily then asked, "So what's next Dr. Jackal?" Dr. Jackal then replied, "Next we will take a very small sample and see if it is flammable or explosive. We use a small sample in case it is volatile or explosive." Then Dr. Jackal took a tiny measuring spoon from his lab box and scooped out a sample of white powder the size of a pencil's eraser end and poured it into a copper test tube. Then he put the spoon in the lab kit and took out a metal rod with a wick dangling on the end of it. He lit the wick with a lighter and slowly aimed the test tube in a safe direction before he slowly lowered the lit wick into the copper test tube. Then a small explosive 'WHOOSH' sound and a small flame gushed out of the metal test tube. This startled Lily and made the good doctor curious as he wafted the smoke to his nose. He then let out a small smile as he had a good idea what they were dealing with. He looked at Banari as he said, "It would be best if no flames are allowed near this powder Mr. Banari."

Then Dr. Jackal added another chemical to the small white powder sample and grinned as he he replied, "Well Mr. Banari I was correct in my assumption. This white powder is Poudre B which was the first practical smokeless gunpowder created in 1884. It was perfected between 1882 and 1884 at "Laboratoire Central des Poudres et Salpêtres" in Paris, France. Originally called "Poudre V" from the name of the inventor, Paul Vieille, it was arbitrarily renamed "Poudre B" (short for poudre blanche—white powder, as distinguished from black powder) to distract German espionage. "Poudre B" is made from 68.2% insoluble nitrocellulose, 29.8% soluble nitrocellulose gelatinized with ether and 2% paraffin. "Poudre B" is made up of very small paper-thin flakes that are not white but dark greenish grey in colour. "Poudre B" was first used to load the 8mm Lebel cartridges issued in 1886 for the Lebel rifle. And you have more than enough to blow a rather large hole in the ship. I suggest we notify the crew to make sure this stuff if very dangerous." Lily was a bit nervous by being that close to an explosive unlike the good doctor.

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