Vice admiral Walsh of the 2nd Martian Battle battle squadron paced his study in agitation. There had been no news from London in over three days and things were going from bad to worse. Communication with the French had been cut save for erratic flyer mail which all too frequently fell into Prussian hands. Admiral Farleysrusk of the Imperial Russian Navy had been in his office most of the morning. He could still see the marks on his desk where the old man had banged his fist repeatedly. The shocking loss of most of the Russian Convoy that month while the British fleet were relatively unharmed had not gone down too well. Diplomatically the one surviving Russian Captain was hailed as a hero in London and this had gone some ways to simmering down the situation. But now he had to worry about supplying the Russian outposts when his men were already stretched to the limits just holding the line around the capital of New Brighton.
His ADC Lieutenant Hock knocked briskly and entered the room. He carried a message tube in his hand.
"Excuse me sir, message has arrived through sir. From London".
"A ship has broken through the blockade?"
"Not exactly sir..this one is a special message. Came via the Seer sir"
Walsh knew what that meant. The Seer were a strange and aloof race but they could be useful at times. It always gave him the willies though having a conversation with someone without moving his mouth. It was said that the really powerful ones were able to send messages and images to each other over vast distances. But from Earth?
"It's been transcribed into code sir, standard cipher"
The message read:
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=9738.0Once Walsh had applied the cipher to the message he leaned back in his chair and rocked slightly.
"Hock, kindly pass this message on to Admiral Burns of the American legation. From the look of those Astronefs they will not be on Earth for long. It would seem as though we can expect company very shortly"
That evening vice-admiral Walsh went back to the test labs. The great steel duranium doors swung open to a cavernous interior full of men in boiler suits ...pulling, riveting and fitting every type of component possible. In the middle of all this dim hall one figure stood over a drawing board, a single gas light illuminating a pile of drawings as thick as his arm. Walsh approached as Jonas Arkwright looked up .
"We need those infernal machines now Awkwright! How much longer?"
"I can work wonders Admiral, but miracles take a little longer. We're having to strip old craft as it is to build the new ones. You know we are now almost out of supplies. However..." he held up his hands before Walsh could say a word. " I have made some alterations that I think you will like. We've increased the speed by reducing the weight of the armour..not the strength mind you...just the weight. And that white coal is looking very promising. But probably the best thing is this..."
Awkwright pulled a cloth back from a large lump of metal standing behind him. He could see that Walsh was taken aback.
"Good grief that's a ...."
"Indeed it is."
"I thought they were.."
"Indeed they were.."
Walsh paused just long enough for a thought to pop in his head. Images of the sights and smells of childhood fairgrounds with Nanny Smackley invaded his mind. "I don't suppose it makes candy floss too does it?"
"Alas, quite a lot" said Awkwright, pulling the lid off a large drum that stood next to it.
"My dear Awkwright.."said Walsh with a faraway look in his eye "I do so love the taste of candy floss before bedtime. Tastes like....victory.."
10 October 2009, 12:50:39 AM