Compressed Air

Used solely by the Industrialists, compressed air is used by them to fire air-rifles and other weaponry. It also is used in some of their production processes. Small cannisters can be filled with special steampowered compressors. The Exploration Alliance carries these on armoured wagons, allowing hunting expeditions to refill at will.
Air-cannons, however, require larger machines to power. As such, only some of the Exploration Alliance bases can recharge these, as well as their steamships. Smaller bases instead have a large supply of compressed air barrels, constructed to maintain airtight pressure. These barrels are switched out in seasonly supply runs.