So, what kind of adaptation did he decide to build for long-range shooting? The basis was taken late Roman ballista for shooting stones. The frame was made from well-dried oak blanks. The front frame was small and had two bronze bodies for toning on the sides, which were equipped with a guide for levers and a window for estimating the tension. In the upper part of the body was an adjusting mechanism in the form of an asterisk, fixed by a pawl with a hole for the lever. All thirty steps of tone there perfectly fit. The support frame was equipped with a rather long guide groove for the projectile - it went beyond the tones for the length of the arm. The platoon system represented a somewhat modified form of the English gate, arranged with the enlarged shape of the crossbow lock. The shot was made by pressing the trigger handle toward you. The peculiarity of the modification was that instead of a block of wheels, a pair of two massive bronze gears used as a reduction gear with a ratio of 1 to 8 was used. Such a solution made it possible to excavate this unit without any special effort. The twin block was needed in order for the gear to be engaged at both ends of the shaft in order to avoid distortions and excessive loads. As a safety fuse, two dogs were used, which blocked both large gears from turning in the wrong direction. The speed of the cocking was very solid. The working stroke of the bowstring with a swing of the levers, with a frame of one hundred and fifty centimeters, was a meter. After the tests, the result was about six hundred kilograms. Which was even better than planned. The last stroke of the design was a wheeled machine on two light wheels of large diameter. For that time, the combination of the bushing with the rim and spokes gave a unique result in relation to the lightness of the wheel strength. The rim itself was reinforced with a strong iron stripe. In order to simplify transportation, it was decided to refine the traditional design by introducing a charging box, to which it was possible to attach a horse harness. The charger itself was equipped with a compartment for four spare tones, a set of repair and adjustment tools, some spare parts and a compartment for two hundred cores five centimeters in diameter. The charger box, like the ballista, was installed on the same light, dial-up wheels. A spare tire was attached to its front cover. A place for the charioteer is not provided. The fact is that the whole structure was very light, and therefore the harness included a saddle, allowing the driver to ride on horseback if necessary. In combat conditions, even one person could cope with the design, but the staff was supposed to be allocated to each ballista on the group. Ballistic and operational tests, which took place in February, showed that with a flat shot, this device can effectively hit the enemy, defended by mail and aketon, at distances of up to two hundred and fifty steps. At the same time, accuracy was maintained at a distance of up to a hundred steps, with a maximum range of up to four hundred meters, on which a good traumatic effect still remained. Separately, it should be said that from a distance of about a hundred paces the core was pierced with a shield of pine boards six centimeters thick. The rate of fire was about one shot per minute. The weight of the ballistae with a machine without a charger is about one hundred and fifty kilograms. The main percentage of weight, of course, went to the shells of the tonus and the mechanism of the platoon. The only significant drawback of the design was that on average after ten shots it was required to check the adjustment and tension of the tonus. Otherwise, accuracy and range of fire began to fall sharply. In general, the tonus of such a manufacture, after the tests, stood about four hundred shots, after which they fell into disrepair. Not so bad. To protect the servicemen, Eric wanted to install two protective shields, but experiments showed the failure of this solution, since it seriously heaved the design, and also reduced its rigidity. In general, having carried out comprehensive tests of the prototype, laid four new, taking into account all the deficiencies in the design, identified in the process of active operation. Of course, the existing sample was dismantled, and its bronze pieces went to one of the ballistic twins.

By the end of January of the new year 1202, a campaign was completed to measure the straits of the Bosporus and the Dardanelles, and therefore the baron sat tightly behind the map. It was necessary to calculate all the distances and make an adjustment to the original outline of the coastline. The work turned out to be very painstaking, but the running Mornington behind it was very helpful this time - it helped a lot in terms of systematizing the received data, as it did accurate sketches of fragments of straits on the basis of which it would be possible to make a common map. The maps of the two straits obtained in the second week of February were reproduced and prepared for marking depths. Before sending people to measure the bottom, he personally walked through the straits in a small nave with an experienced local pilot, so that he showed him all the shoals and other troubles in the relief of the bottom, which Eric marked for measurement. Returning to the courtyard, duplicating the marks on the other cards and giving them to the brigades along with the oral instructions, sent them to make notes on the depth of the bottom. The straits are deep enough, therefore it was senseless to measure the whole bottom, it was enough to determine the depths of less than seven meters. For these purposes, a lot of pyramid cargo was used on the rope. The rope itself was marked with marks every half a foot. This fascinating business involved four brigades, which ran simultaneously all four coastlines. Two more brigades were engaged in studying the nature of the current and wind regime, each in its strait. The work is also very boring, but very useful. At the exit they should get a map of straits with marks on shallow depths, main streams of currents and wind. Why did we need marks of shallow depths? At the narrowest point the straits had about five hundred meters, which made it possible to calmly pass without worrying about the shallows. But if it would be necessary to maneuver, for example, in battle, or carry out an assault landing, this data would be very useful.

At the end of February, the most interesting thing started: Theodore appeared with a report on the fulfillment of his reconnaissance and diplomatic mission. The cities of Kafa, Surozh, Khersones, Korchev and other large settlements of the southern coast of Crimea have been carefully studied. They collected not only plans for fortifications and the general arrangement of the cities themselves, with the designation of streets and all important objects such as cisterns, warehouses, fortified farmsteads and others, but a characteristic of popular moods was compiled. Particularly important part of these moods was the list of all the nobility of each of the cities with a brief characteristic - what kind of person is he and what does he want from life. In addition, a simplified scheme was drawn up for all settlements, including fortresses and fortified villages, with the same personal characteristics. Unfortunately, this work covered only the entire territory of the Kerch Peninsula and a small area along the southern coast. Information on the Crimean and Lukomoryan Polovtsians was rather meager, as contacts were seriously hampered. However, according to the information that was collected - the guys had serious problems, due to internal organizational difficulties. That is, there was a struggle for power with a living ruler. So they can not quickly and organically move forward. Good news came from the lands of the Kiev principality. The fact is that there was a very active fuss over the possession of the throne, and therefore he remained with the ruler, relying only on his word of honor. Now there was Rurik II Rostislavovich, but he was actively challenged by four other contenders, and so the prince desperately needed support from his predecessor and city residents. Both those and others could be bought as a result of a successful campaign against the Polovtsians. The most reasonable will be either a winter hike, when they are vulnerable in their parking lots, or in the spring, when their mobility is severely limited due to mass calving in the herds. Given the tension of the situation, increasing with each passing day, Rurik can easily decide on an adventure, in order to retain power. Further, the relatively pleasant situation was in the Novgorod-Seversky principality. There, albeit in a considerably weakened form, there was also a struggle for power. Therefore, the current autocrat Vladimir Igorevich with pleasure will join this adventure. Pereyaslavl and Galicia-Volyn principality were not ready for quick and decisive action, since in the former was vicegerency, and in the second - order and stability. So, the choice was made - Rurik Rostislavovich and Vladimir Igorevich, and started - the first one for which an official letter was composed from the emperor of the Byzantine emperor in the Crimea Eric, baron von Lenzburg. In this letter, he invited the prince to take advantage of his invasion of the coast, in order to restore order to the lands that had emerged from the power of the crown. The interest of the proposal for Rostislavich was that after the start of the campaign on the southern coast the Polovtsians would push him towards the soldiers, leaving their parking without cover. It is a sin not to use. Not only that, he will do a great favor to the baron, since the Lukomorye Polovtsians will not be able to recover after two such strikes, and for some time will not pose a threat to Eric as the governor of the Crimea. It was also mentioned in the letter that Vladimir Igorevich from the Novgorod-Seversky principality would not refuse the offer to rob his favorite enemies. In general - a hook with a large and delicious bait was thrown directly under the nose of a hungry predator, it remains to wait for bite. Next came the analysis of the remains of the principality of Tmutarakan. The city of Korchev was mainly Slavic and Greek population, his magistrate, in general, was ready to return to the fold of the empire. Of course, if she can protect them from neighbors. That is, that they rushed into the arms of Eric with joyful cries, it is necessary to show strength and show the success of his military enterprises in the region. As for the city of Tmutarakan that stood on the Taman Peninsula, that is, across the strait from Korchev, everything was very dull there, since mostly the Khazars lived. The main problem with them was that these Falcons at one time fell under the authority of the Jews and adopted Judaism. Just a caricature of some kind - the Turks in the Jewish faith. This affected the nature of the guys, that is, they became like leaves in the wind - where profitable, there and bend. There is no trust, but there will be no special obstacles. In general, a rather favorable picture emerged. Kafu will have to take an assault, since the magistrate consists exclusively of Genoese, who decided to take this land for their own use. Korchev will surrender himself after taking the Genoese port and defeating the Polovtsi detachment, which will be put forward to restore order. Tmutarakan will smile cunningly and wait for the winner to join him. It remains Sugdeya, but there, as in the Cafe, is run by the Genoese - this is the second city of the coast that can create problems. Fortunately, not immediately, but in the long term, since its garrison will not be enough to participate in a serious military operation, and there are no siege machines there. It was also estimated the reaction time of the Polovtsians - it was from three to five days. Exactly so much is needed for them to get information about the landing force and they managed to put forward the soldiers, numbering about four to five hundred, to repel the invasion. Yes, everything is just gorgeous. So, the first step will be like this - we make a leak of information to the Kafa Magistrate, so that they will learn about Eric's approach on four ships. Of course, having a serious advantage in ships and manpower, they will go out to sea to meet him and prevent an assault on the coast. But they do not have a ballista, and in general throwing weapons are more powerful than bows and a small number of early crossbows. Therefore, maneuvering, he can take them away from the shore, so that if he realizes the danger of the situation, they could not quickly return to the port. And then, firing from the ballista from a distance of five to six dozen steps to quickly start to the bottom. The fact is that the planking of the naves was a board three fingers thick, and there were no internal waterproof partitions in these large tubs. Therefore, punching from such a distance the body of the Genoese ship through and through, it simply will not give them a chance. Yes, of course, it is very pitiful to sink such a large quantity of weapons, because this is a whole bunch of valuable iron. But he does not see any other way of quickly destroying the main part of the garrison, and even with little blood. After the sinking of ships, the landing force itself arrives at the port, the assault on the gate and a breakthrough to the building of the magistrate. Then the fate of the city is already solved. In it, he expects the approach of the Polovtsian forces and, as soon as they approach, sends the courier to Ryurik, so that he would speak. He himself smashes them and moves to the city of Sugdeya, blocked all this time from the sea by the ships of Demeter. Taking an attack and plundering the city, he moves to Korchev, where he will settle, as this will be the most loyal and loyal of all the cities that will be in the zone of his possession. The result of the operation is more than satisfactory - it gets enough extensive land in a convenient location, a considerable number of people and several years of tranquility. After the defeat in the Cafe and Sugdde, the Genoese will think well, before opposing it, the Polovtsi in the region will have nothing to fight. There are no other competitors for him there. Having thought everything over and having made a decision, he sent the Theodore himself to the Kiev prince, so that he helped correct reading and understanding of his letter. At the same time he had a solution to the problem of a quick communication with Rurik to keep him informed of what was happening.