"Farquarson's peril" Official report is 'up'

[OSHIROmodels]

Or how the Anglo/Japanese war on Mars started on December 12th 1887.

Brought to you by Archibald Harris-Hampton, overseas and across the aether reporter for the London Illustrated News
Photography by Harry "Flash-Bang" Whallop
Foreign news by our French Reporters for Le Monde newspaper Monsieur Henri Biro and Charles Bic

After the Tokugawa's isolationist policy of the previous centuries, the British first made contact again with Japan and signed the first treaty in October 1854. A few incidents almost scuppered relations but eventually things were straightened out and a new period of cooperation ensued.

With the discovery of lighter than air travel and also aether travel it was inevitable that the solar system would be explored. The Japanese, always quick to take existing technology and improve it, were the first to reach Mars early in 1880, closely followed by the British. The treaties drawn up on earth were strengthened in this new place of discovery and construction started on the modern wonder of the age; New Victoria.

The Alliance grew from strength to strength, prospering via trade with the local inhabitants and benefitting from each other's drive and thirst for knowledge. Just one thing seemed to continuously get in the way; that of Farquarson and the Princess Imperial. The British inability to rein Farquarson in was an increasing annoyance to the Japanese Imperial Royal family and therefore to the Japanese government and their representatives on Mars...


Farquarson pushed the thin sheets aside, got up out of the small, iron framed bed and wandered to the window. Throwing back the curtains he gazed over the dishevelled view that met his eye. New Victoria might be the greatest city on Mars but the rot was already starting to set in. Sighing, he turned around at the noise coming from the bed as the Princess Imperial gathered the sheets around her as she got up.

"Well," he thought "perhaps something good will come of this".

In the distance he could just about hear the marching of feet, getting closer.

"Ah, maybe not..."

[Dr DeAth]

Bring it on!

[von Lucky]

Farquarson sounds like a real burly simpleton that's just going to hit his head on every doorway he walks through

[FramFramson]

Farquarson sounds like a real burly simpleton that's just going to hit his head on every doorway he walks through

 

Funny how more than one of us immediately had the same idea.

There's even a mini ready made for a daring bedroom escape! Though he's a bit short...

[Malamute]

Archibald Harris-Hampton was at his desk when the shooting started. He was always an early riser and had been compiling his bulletin to the Illustrated London News on the latest scandal to rock New Victoria.

Allan Farquar-Farquarson VC’s fall from grace was as spectacular as his rise to prominence and power. He was a fresh faced young leftenant in the Queens Royal Surrey Regiment when Prussia invaded England in 1871. He was soon awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry in the defence of Shere Bridge and the subsequent battle of Dorking.
 
He quickly became the toast of the social scene in London. A handsome outgoing young man he was popular amongst the Lords, ladies and gentry. He used this to his advantage and advanced his career at a rapid rate gaining the rank of Major.

In 1879 things quickly changed when he had his first encounter with a Japanese Princess that would subsequently see his spectacular career in ruins. Whilst serving in China he was introduced to The Princess Imperial Noma Noki. But she was no ordinary Princess, she was in fact the niece of the Emperor himself. Their brief affair and the subsequent scandal brought England and Japan to the very brink of war with the Japanese threatening to remove his head if he was ever seen again.

The embarrassed British government did not know what to do with their disgraced war hero so Farquarson was dispatched to the far reaches of that hell hole jungle planet of Venus where it was assumed he would soon be forgotten and it was expected he would never return.

So it was a shock to see Farquarson appear on Mars ten years later with a suitcase full of money. He opened a small company trading goods with the Martians and made relationships far and wide. His enterprise prospered and it was not long before The Great Martian Trading Company had established a network across the whole planet trading in the remotest locations with the most hostile of the feared Sky Martian clans.

It was no surprise to Archibald Harris-Hampton that Farquarson would come into contact again with Princess Noma Noki in New Victoria. Their affair resumed and was soon the talk of the Earther legations. Farquarson’s ruin would quickly follow mused Harris-Hampton when the door to his room flew open.

Harry “Flash Bang” Wallop Archibald’s photographer and closest friend was standing in the doorway in a state of disarray. Half dressed and clutching his camera he blurted out the Japanese had attacked the Great Martian Trading Company headquarters on Albert Street. Archibald grabbed his pencil and notebook and made for the door. He paused for a second then returned to his desk and opened the second drawer. Inside was his revolver which he withdrew and slipped into his pocket….

[OSHIROmodels]

Looks like there's going to be trouble...

 

[The_Beast]

*rubbing hands...* This is going to be good!

Doug

[gamer Mac]

Come on, get on with it, when do we get the photos and AAR?

[OSHIROmodels]

Come on, get on with it, when do we get the photos and AAR?

Soon 

[gamer Mac]

IS this too soon?

[OSHIROmodels]

IS this too soon?

This coming week if you're good 

[FramFramson]

Define "good" 

[OSHIROmodels]

Define "good" 

 

[Captain Darling]

Sounds cool, a good storyline is half the fun... 

[Bullshott]

I'm looking foreard to this, as are the owners of the British Mars Trade and Exploration Exploitation Company, in the hope that this may herald the demise of their trading rivals