H.M.A.S Badger ~ Online Æther Ship ~ Member's Wanted

[MWBailey]

Bailey was, in fact, examining the corpses. He found that both had blasters, in addition to the noisy cricket in teh one's inner breast pocket, which puzzled him somewhat; why had the one fellow attacked him and Nightshade with the dagger instead? He shruggged. It was like that time a buccaneer party had attacked the packet blimp he was riding to meet the Sultana in. The one fellow had had a blunderbuss, but swung an axe instead. Avoidance of structural damage, perhaps? It just didnt add up, but then again, he himself did have a tendency to use a blade rather than a gun; It was a longstanding habit, obtained mainly because he had been trained, originally, as one of Colonel James Fannin's Texian recruits, back when most guns were still single-shot, and a "belly ripper" or "bowie" knife or a cutlass or even a small sword were the real mainstay of a soldier's arsenal.

Bailey noticed an interesting trait shared by both Germans: both had the same tattoo. It was not really too terribly unique in itself, since most members of close-knit units and crews tended to "mark" themselves and each other with identical or similar designs, like insignia for the skin. But the tattoo in this instance looked masonic, with variations, and tehmasons had already been noised about as possible conspirators in the cases he had followed before he joined the Badger...

He sketched the design on a small piece of notepaper and put it in his wallet. One never knew, it might come in handy later. He also collected both blasters and put them in the Security Section weapons pool. they almost seemed powerful enough to serve as small deck weapons...

His comm unit buzzed, and he received the order to collect Nightshade and Miss Curious and bring them with him to the Captain's ready room, along with Perkins, the young yeoman. MW asked Prentiss, the lady who manned the Security HQ communications stationwhile en route to aetherspatial departure, and was told that Miss Curiouis was in the Dining Hall. He went around to nightshgade's room , first, then to the Captain's Stateroom and collected Perkins, who seemed somewhat out of sorts for some reason, and then went down to collect miss Curious, who was just then exiting the dining hall; he managed to persuade her to come along with the rest, and then the gaggle of persons reported to the Captain's ready room.

"Bailey Reporting as Ordered, Sir, with Mr. Nightshade, Miss Curious and Yeoman Perkins, as requested." Bailey said, snapping off a salute.

[Alexis Voltaire]

Frank tried to find his room soon after takeoff. there was a room number and deck section on his boarding pass, but several minutes of wandering had gotten him more lost than anything. One of the hallways appeared to open onto cargo storage rooms, and for some reason smelled strongly of brandy.

"Need some help, sir?"

"Yes." he responded to the crewman who had noticed him wandering the hallways with a lost look.

"What this ship needs is a map on every level."

the crewman laughed. "Indeed, sir, that has been requested by several passengers. may I see your pass?"

Frank handed it to him, and the crewman, whose name was Reynolds, showed him on a direct but fairly complicated route that went up five decks and around several curved hallways to the passenger cabins. "there's the map, sir." Reynolds pointed it out on the wall as they passed. it showed a series of round sections, the deck levels, with a few important locations marked in colored ink.

"Your room, sir." Reynold said as they reached it. "Pleasant journey." Reynolds said, and departed.

Frank opened the door and found that everything had already been stowed in his room, including the bag he thought he had forgotten. Apparently he'd left it with the pile of other things to be stowed on board. Fortunately his name had been on the tag, and it hadn't been stowed in a storage room somewhere. It sat on the table beside a decorative electric lamp fashioned out of a glass oil lamp.

He reached into the bag and lifted out a spreading silver-colored fern in a white clay pot. It was one of a few he had managed to cultivate from the spores of the rare plant that grew only in the high cliffs of the Ericus crater in the Nibium desert. It would make a nice gift for the Captain, and as long as it wasn't overwatered the species was practically indestructible. he straitened out the fronds and set it on a shelf under a bright electric light one corner of the room.

He fiddled for a minute with the panel of switches and knobs by the door, some of which were apparently for the ship's communication system. He finally found the right dial and managed to turn off the main room light, and then collapsed into bed. It was technically morning but he was so tired he could probably sleep through a meteor collision. He wondered for a minute whether something else would come up, but quickly fell asleep.

[Theosophus Grey]

"Bailey Reporting as Ordered, Sir, with Mr. Nightshade, Miss Curious and Yeoman Perkins, as requested." Bailey said, snapping off a salute.

"Very well, Mr. Bailey - please, make yourselves comfortable.  Perkins, the coffee service if you would", Grey replied, turning slightly from where he stood at the ship's notice board, which he had wiped clear and was writing on with a stump of chalk.  Dropping same and wiping his hands on a rag, he stepped over to his guests and, much to everyone's surprise, offered his hand to Nightshade.  Somewhat taken aback, and not without a little suspicion, the man accepted Grey's hand and shook briefly, albeit coldly.  "Mr. Bailey informs me that you've been more forthcoming about your motives in this matter", Grey offered by way of explanation.  "Given what I believe to be transpiring, I think that continued cooperation may be in all our best interests.  Miss Curious, that applies to your case as well, but only so long as you cease flaying my crew" he finished, drawing a curt nod from the athletically-built woman on the settee.

Seating himself at the desk, he accepted the china cup of strong, black coffee the yeoman had brought over from the sideboard, taking a sip before continuing.  "In that spirit, I suggest we play a little game - a game called the truth.  For the next few minutes, we will all swear to to tell what we know, without omission or misdirection."  Placing the cup on the desktop, he folded his hands and leaned forward, face darkening.  "I offer this opportunity not just out of duty to this ship, or even my own curiosity, but out of genuine concern that a large number of people may suffer greatly, if even half what I suspect is true."  Retrieving his cup, Grey sat back and, sipping again, said "As a token of trust, I will go first."

Before he could continue, a deafening klaxon began sounding General Quarters, bringing Grey to his feet just as the ship began to heel sharply over with an ominous sound of creaking metal.  Perkins appeared at the door, reporting "SIR!  We are under attack!  Helm is taking evasive maneuvers!"

[Cornelius Nightshade]

The first explosion shook the entire ship, then followed three more less violent then the first.

At the first every one assumed it was the ship advancing on them, but that conclusion quickly vanished. The first explosion was in the communication room killing the two men who had been on duty. The other explosions had gone off in the secondary communication room, then the small closet that held the ships transponder, and a smaller one in the engine room.

The result was that the Badger was adrift and unable to call for help. In addition with out the ships transponder, the  Badger was next to invisible.

However the Badger did not have long to wait, with in twenty minutes after the first explosion the German Aether ship S M S Adler was spotted drawing in close behind them. With in a few moments the sounds of grappling clamps was heard as she attached it self to The Badger.

The captain and crew expected a bloody boarding only to be surprised when in stead of blowing one or several hatches to gain access the clear sound of someone knocking against the metal hatch with a metal object could be clearly heard at the forward hatch.

When the Captain gave the order to open the hatch the first thing Grey saw was a white flag and the call in heavy German accent for “parlay”

Captain Grey, Mr. Bailey and a full security team stood to meet the Adler’s captain. Behind them a good number of the passengers including Curious, Nightshade and a few of the newer passengers who had just come aboard at MBV.

The first thing anyone saw was a pair of shiny black boots descending the hatch ladder. Then facing them was a men in his late forties clean shaven with  one streak of gray in his black hair dressed in a crisp uniform of the Imperial germen aether navy. He stood for a moment facing them, then clicked his heels sharply

. “ I am Captain Alexander Von Muller of the S M S Adler, I wish to speak with your Captain, please”

[Cornelius Nightshade]

After offering Grey  a salute,

“ Captain Grey first I must offer you and your crew my deepest respects. I as all men of the aether do, know full well the dangers associated with rogue meteor showers. To successfully bring any ship safely to port, much less a ship not built for speed and agility,, well ,bravo!

Now pleasantries aside. I do hope sir, that it is not your intent to offer resistance to my men, when we board your ship. I fully understand that such would be your first instinct. I can but assure you such action can only lead to unnecessary deaths on both sides. If, you would be willing to honorably surrender to me, I can give my oath as an officer of the Imperial navy no harm will come to, you, your crew, ship, and most of the passengers under your protection.

To demonstrate the strength of my position I would ask you sir to attend me at one of your port side windows.”

Grey escorted his “guest” to his ready room and looked out the port side window, were Von Muller indicated. In the distance Grey saw a second ship approaching.

“ That Captain Grey, is the S M S Friedrich lll, a Kaiser class battleship. About, twenty minuets away, no?

I am sure a man of your experience  knows the power such a ship brings with it, you see?
Out of respect for you and your men I will give you that twenty minuets to confer with your officers. Then I will return , with your permission, to receive your answer. I am sure it will be the right one.”

Captain Von Muller salute again, then left grey standing at the window and returned to his ship.

[MWBailey]

while it was true that the main communications array being moreor less disabled, that did not necessarily mean that the Badger had absolutely no means to call for help; it just meantthat an active, high-powered transmission was impossible- for the moment. Bailey kept telling himself that, over and over, reminding himself of teh time that the sultana had been so badly damaged by a pirate attack that her regular radio was inoperative. adrift over the mid-Indian Ocean, they had finally figured out a rather haphazard, jury-rigged crystal-and-razorblades receiver, and cobbled together a transmitter from individual uniform radios and the emergency set in teh Main Lifeboat.  

The Badger had 20 life craft, just in case of catastrophic damage, requiring evacuation of the ship, and at least three had subspace aetheric comminications arrays, albeit lower-power than the man mother ship's arrays. Plus, they had the Main Security Station Compact Aetheradio, a stopgap measure included in the fitting of teh vessel, in case the bridge or radio rooms were damaged or held by hostile forces. It had the same usable range as the Main Ship's Aether Radios, but lacked directional indicators and had only rudimentary Aether Compass functions. Bailey had had Arguild drop back and secure the unit as they moved to face the Boarders.

Also, two constables, 'way back in the back of the Greeting Party, had the two new German blasters, and four of their fellows had the four cutter-rig lasers with shield and tractor arrays , used for cutting through and pulling apart wreckage for purposes of rescue operations in the event of massive damage; such could potentially be used against Armor, given enough time and space to work. Also, Bailey's finger hovered constyantly over the "call" button on his uniform radio, so that he could push it if things "dropped in the pot" and send the security personnel left in the Center into hiding with approximately 1/2 of the rest of the mostly-undeclared "small artillery" on board the Badger, including the six 2-pounder "window cannon" Maxims that were leftovers from the days of airships armed against privateers.

Commander Bilstrupp stepped forward, tapped discretely on Grey's Shoulder, and said, softly, "Sir, give the word, and elements of the ship's Anti-boarding Armament shall be concealed, and supplementary rations stored for in-ship resistance activities." He and Bailey had worked those measures out over the last several days, just in case something like the present crisis occurred.

[Alexis Voltaire]

Frank had only been asleep for about two hours when the warning alarm went off. it was probably the worst way to be woken up he had ever had the misfortune to experience.

After turning on the light, he managed to silence the warning communicator that he had inadvertently turned on when he came in. moments later an explosion almost knocked him off his feet. He could hear several more impacts, distant enough to only shake things slightly. What the hell is going on!? He dashed out into the hallway and ran towards the nearest port window. it was as empty and back as if it had been closed, except for a few stars. He quickly made his way to the next one, trying to calm down and think more rationally. The alert hadn't sounded everywhere, so it was unlikely to be another meteor collision, or at least it wasn't a dangerous one. But then the explosion had sounded far to big to be anything minor. The conclusion that immediate came to his mind was that the ship was being attacked. It was not uncommon for pirates to launch from a land base at the same time their intended prey did, and simply shadow them until they were out of range of immediate help. His hand went to the pistol under his left arm, making sure it was still there, along with an extra clip.

A few of the passengers were poking their heads out of the cabin doors and looking around in alarm. One of them just shook his head and muttered something, and closed the door. A frightened woman in a formal-looking dress came out of her room and went quickly toward the nearest opening to the main access shaft between decks, her two children in tow.

The next port seemed just as empty at first, but in one side of the round window, just barley visible, was a partial gray form of another ship waiting just off the front of the Badger.

The nearest map on the wall showed only one airlock near the upper part of the ship, except for a few small emergency maintenance points.

He thought for a moment. When pirates took a ship they did it by intimidation if possible, and overwhelming numbers, if necessary. He would probably be more of a hindrance than a help to the crew if they needed to defend against boarders, but they were all in the same boat, so to speak.

He ran for the main corridor.

[MWBailey]

The part of Bailey's mind that had overpowered the other parts when he and several other constables from the Sultana boarded and fought Khaisin Shah's crew down to their last man, the mind-part that refused utterly to accept the possibility of surrender (and the part that had dared work out a plan with Bilstrupp for guerilla-style resistance aboard the Badger) kept working, in the absence of other stimulation, to figure out a small discrepancy in the current situation, and reconcile it with the rest of the situation's parts: Why don't they just go ahead and board Us? he thought, feverishly. if they're fearing that, why don't they just just blast the passenger and crew sections and power in with military suits and grab what they want? Why are they acting like outnumbered pirates, instead of a military sortie?

Several Possible answers cropped up and refused to leave Bailey alone:
1. they don't know for certain where the plans/artifact/both (?) are.
2. They are afraid of being caught trying to take the item(s) by force, because the lights from the gunfire and the radio static caused by same would give away their position; why would they be worried about that? Is there another ship from another country, or maybe even a British aethership-of-the-line in the area?
3. (Related to #2) Why knock out the radio rooms? And why merely threaten to start shooting when such a huge battleship is present and on their side?


He suddenly remembered, and forgot to refrain from muttering aloud,  "When I got up to  Comm. Room 1, just before the break-in at Nightshade's stateroom, the radiomen had been talking to a ship called the HMAS Inflexible... Wait, hold on... The Inflexible's one of those new big protected Aether- Battleships!"  He realized he hadn't kept silent when Grey turned around with a question on his face, and Bilstrupp made a noise, as of catching his breath.

Bailey decided to brave it just in case; he was really just grabbing at straws, but he couldn't stand the idea of just letting the Germans use the Badger (or himself, of course) for a doormat. "I'm sorry, Sir, but why aren't they just going ahead and attacking?" He said, with a suspicious note to his voice, "The Germans are not noted for extreme chivalry, and frankly, they seem to hold all or most of the weaponry cards -- So, Why aren't they simply attacking and blasting us to pieces and grabbing what they want?"

"The radiomen were talking to the Inflexible no more than a couple of hours ago. We may not have the main communication arrays, any longer, sir, but down in Security Central, there's that new "lifeboat" radio; the power's much less, but the range is the same, in terms of how far away the signal can be picked up, and it would  pick up transmissions like those from a British Line Ship. It'd just be a matter of keeping the Germans from getting wise to what we were doing..."  

Bilstrupp spoke up: "Alright, MW, but what about in the interim, until tehe Inflexible arrives? What about our own armament? Sure, we've got those window guns and the cutters, and those new-type blasters we confiscated from those two German spies, but those're no match for the long guns on that Big German battlecruiser. If only we had some kind of really-powerful gun!"

[Theosophus Grey]

Grey listened wordlessly to the exchange between Bailey and Bilstrupp, straining to maintain his reserve and bearing in the face of the German's threat.  Have to agree with Bailey there, he thought; absent chivalry, Von Muller had no reason to not simply scuttle the Badger once he had what he wanted - why leave witnesses, given what may be at stake?

Turning to the two men in heated discussion about ordnance and planning, he interrupted "Gentlemen, while the safety of the ship and its passengers are of course my first concern, I suspect that the only reason we are not all dead already is that the Germans are unsure as to the location, and perhaps even the appearance, of the object this scheme seems to revolve around.  That would explain their focus on disabling our communications - I can only assume the two spies killed earlier had planted radio-controlled explosives before we caught up with them - as well as their 'kind' offer to accept a quiet surrender - I'm sure they are well aware of any competing ships in the area, particularly one such as the Inflexible.  The Governor General mentioned her when they were aboard earlier, apparently there already been some skirmishes in MBV space that he was attempting to resolve diplomatically."

Turning to his desk and pressing the button for the bridge, Grey called "Mr. Mulhaney! What is the disposition of the Tesla cannon?"  "In working order, Sir, but there was no opportunity to test it before we left Earth", replied the bridge officer.  "Forgive me, sir, but wasn't the ship's cannon intended for asteroid control while underway?" interjected Bailey.  "It's powerful, but only fires in a broad beam and takes a while to recharge between shots."  

"Correct, Mr. Bailey, you know your weapons - while we have little hope of severely damaging either of the German ships, I'm contemplating how we might temporarily disable one or both of them while we contact the Inflexible in the confusion.  What are your thoughts, gentlemen?  We have about ten minutes to decide."

[Cornelius Nightshade]

“” What are your thoughts, gentlemen? “  Nightshade broke in, "My thoughts are that I do believe that this ships captain is as homicidal as its security chief! What are you thinking? You want to pick a fight with,,, with THAT! Look clearly the Germans want some thing and I happen to have a good idea what.

So my thoughts are don’t get us killed, and use that leverage to, oh, I don’t know stay alive for longer then the next twenty minutes! Captain I wonder if we may have a word on that matter in your ready room?”

Seconds later,,,,

“ I have an object in my possession that is bloody important one culturally speaking for the Martians. Who ever gets this thing to Mars is going to become incredibly influential in Martian politics and hence Earth politics as well. I am willing to and would bet YOUR life that is what the Germans want. Of corse  they can not have it, but,,

If the Germans knew what it was they were looking for exactly or were it was we  would be ash.

So it seems to me,, offer to give it to them. But don’t give it up in till we safely reach Mars. In that time,,, who knows what can happen? If we happen to get to Mars alive despite your best effort to kill us all, we still can try our best to cheat them of it.

BUT, if you decide to,,{ Nightshade blanched at the thought } slug it out with that! I think you will success will only be  in killing all of us!”

[Theosophus Grey]

Grey smiled behind his hand as Nightshade rambled on; his serious consideration of an attack on the Germans had had the desired effect on the Llyod's man, giving him cause to offer up at least some of his knowledge of the item in his possession, and it's potential significance regarding Mars.

"Excellent idea, Nightshade" Grey replied.  "The Germans have already demonstrated restraint apparently fueled by desire, I agree that we may be able to parlay that into an actionable delay and maintain fighting as a last resort.  However, I think we need a further discussion on the matter between ourselves first."

Reaching over to the desk, Grey picked up a telegram and handed it to Nightshade; it appeared to be random strings of letters and numbers, obviously a code of some sort.  " I won't expect you to read that, I just wanted you to see that it was indeed from a Mr. Rhys Marringer, Master Pro Tem of the Lunar Temple where I ran into trouble, which I had intended to discuss before we were so rudely interrupted," explained Grey.  "He has taken upon himself a doom that I had held for many years, waiting for the right moment; his communique confirms the correctness of my decision to bring it to light now, and leave it in his capable hands."

Sitting back down with a sigh, Grey paused before continuing in a low voice.  "This scheme you're part of is older and more intricate than you can possibly know, Nightshade, unless I miss my guess about you, and only peripherally has to do with Martian politics.  You see man, I know you're not delivering a stolen Aegyptian artifact to Mars... you're bringing a Martian one home."  

[Cornelius Nightshade]

“All right Ill bite, what dose the message have to do with this?

As for the artifact It makes no difference were it came from only what it can do now. It is a means to gain power a lot of it and very quickly”

[Alexis Voltaire]

Frank was just about to open the door on the corridor shaft, when his hand paused just away from the handle. he turned, almost reluctantly, and ran back to his cabin.

The rifle case was stowed under the bed. He pulled it out and set it down on the bed, quickly snapping open the clasps and throwing open the lid.

This is mad! This is the kind of secret that causes people near it to end up dead! The remaining rational part of his mind protested. He ignored it, knowing he might live to regret it very much, later.

He retrieved the power cells from their hidden compartment and loaded the rifle, dropping the rest in his pocket. He then turned and quickly left the room, carrying the rifle in the bend of one arm with the practiced ease of someone who had done so many times.

He stopped momentarily to look at the map. The corridor exit that was closest to the airlock was obviously a bad place, as the airlock opened into the same room. The one on the deck below it seemed to be a better choice, and he repeated the deck number to himself several times.

He hurried to the shaft entrance and opened the door, stepping out into the strange gravity neutral shaft. Grabbing one of the thick railings that ran the length of it, he made his way upward. There was no one else in the corridor, and it stretched nearly two hundred feet above him, and an unknown distance below. High above in the command section, three vertical rows of red and white lights flashed silently in warning. The doors that opened to the decks were painted with numbers, and as he passed the passenger section and into the command decks, the numbers started again from one, with a C in front of them. He made his way to the door marked C14, and with no idea what he'd find on the other side and a sense of impending doom, opened it.

[Theosophus Grey]

"The communique relates the aftermath of the recent shooting of the Lunar Temple's Worshipful Master by one Jeremy Bullweather, Bank of England," replied Grey; "I believe you may know him, he's associated with the financing of vessels such as this," he continued, gesturing around him, "and also works very closely with Lloyd's, I believe-?"

Grey observed Nightshade's eyes to widen slightly at the mention of the banker's name, but to his credit reacted no further.  "I also believe that you and he were involved in the skimming of tens of thousands of pounds from the construction of this ship - yes, before you 'doth protest too much', I deciphered the Badger's graving ledger before dinner the other night - but that aside, you may be unaware of who really backed both this ship, and your mission - as Bullweather most certainly was, before he descended into madness."

Taking the telegram back from Nightshade's hand, he continued "Marringer has concluded from his interrogation of Bullweather that the backers of both the BOE's financial support and the instigator of your orders from the Foreign Office are... the Illuminati."  "Oh, please", replied Nightshade, rolling his eyes and waving his hands dismissively, "the so-called 'Illuminati' are nothing more than a fairy-tale spread by conspirators seeking to cloak their true plans in muddle and mystery - pah!"

"Oh, I don't deny there have been imitators, some even purposely created to provide misdirection", admitted Grey, stepping to the sideboard and pouring himself a short whiskey.  "But the fact of their existence is well known to third degree Master Masons... like myself", he concluded, returning to his seat.  "There are even rumors that they sit at the head of the Masonic Order, although I think it more likely that the Brotherhood is just one of many secret societies they use like an octopus its tentacles, reaching out to accomplish a thousand schemes fielded by a single mind."  Picking up the telegram to make his point, Grey continued "Marringer also related the contents of a package I left with him, one I knew to be of significance to the Order but which I was sworn to leave unopened until a certain set of circumstances were met... as they have been recently.  But we are too short of time for ghost stories."

"Yeoman, please have Bailey and Bilstrupp report here from the observation lounge - our twenty minutes are up, and we're expecting guests."  Turning back to Nightshade, Grey said "I intend to see us through safely to Mars, despite my reservations about the real motives behind your mission, if for no other reason than to know the truth of the matter; but I warn you now, Nightshade" Grey concluded in a lower tone, stepping closer to the man until they were eye to eye, "I'll toss you under a train without hesitation before I let innocent people suffer for your greed."  Tossing back the last of his whiskey, Grey turned to hear his security officers 'arrangements' for receiving the German captain.

[Theosophus Grey]

"As for the artifact, it makes no difference where it came from, only what it can do now. It is a means to gain power, a lot of it and very quickly.”

Frank had just opened hatchway C14 a crack when he heard a strident, nasal voice taking about power, and a firmer baritone one answering.  Listening to the exchange for a few moments, it became obvious that it was the captain and the man Nightshade speaking, and that it was a conversation he had very obviously not been meant to hear, and understood little of.  I'm a spy one day, and I'm already in the soup! he thought nervously.  As he heard the Security detail being called into the room, he quietly dogged the hatch closed and moved to his right, looking for an accessway to the corridor outside the captain's ready room, hoping to present himself in a more conventional manner.

[Alexis Voltaire]

Frank closed the door as quickly and quietly as possible, hoping his presence hadn't been noticed.

Fortunately there was another hatchway opening to the same deck, a small unmarked service entrance. he moved over to it and opened it cautiously. The door was heavy, and opened into what was apparently the maintenance corridor for the hydraulics. he went inside and quickly shut the door behind him. there was another door directly across the walkway from it, and he opened it a small amount to see what was beyond it. It opened into an empty hallway, and he stepped out of the doorway and shut the door softly.

He heard footsteps approaching, and turned to face whoever it was that was coming down the hall.

[Cornelius Nightshade]

.Plans layered out so carefully once again gone off track, just a minor annoyance Nightshade murmured to himself. Still when you are playing for the stakes I am you make so many layers of possible back up plans that nothing rattles you.

“Even so who would have thought that Grey would have figured out who I was realy working for all along.”
Well, we have come to far to stop now.”

So as every one scurried about to put up a defense Nightshade was able to slip unnoticed to the escape capsule launching tubes.

He was well aware that he would not get far the Germans would not let him get away. He expected capture, and was already forming the plan he needed to deal with the Germans. Just as he was about to duck into the launching tube he turned to the person who had been following him.

“Ahh, Miss. Curious, come to see me off or are you coming with me? Decide quickly we don’t have much time,,,,,,”

The escape capsule fired and was of course intercepted by the Germans, If anything it did give the Badger more time. The Germans brought the capsule aboard the Alder.

Just before the Adler was on her way, Nightshade sat  in the capsule when he opened the hatch it we to a ring of faces and several guns.

"Ahh Herr Nightshade so good of you to save us so much trouble,,,"

Shortly after the Adler detached from the Badger and Both ships departed for Mars leaving the Badger in the distance floating in space.

By the time the Alder reached Martian space the battle ship Friedrich lll had moved on to other things and the Alder was free to make port at the British held Martian capital of Syrtis Major.

[Zuttle D. Curious]

    ... Leave the ship in harms way like this? Zuttles jaw dropped slightly when hearing Nightshades Offer. She nodded her response. Not much I can do here anyway. I don't know where we are going. But Nightshade thinks it will help his situation. Maybe it can do more good than just that. Heh. Sure it could. She walked a step behind Nightshade as he led the way onto an escape capsule. This is... wrong. It just is. Nightshade seemed to be rigging the system to take off and setting some sort of autopilot on.
    "Something wrong?" Nightshade asked, more seemingly out of boredom or precaution than actual caring.
    Zuttle laughed. "Once upon a time I had a soul and cared about people." She paused and looked out the window. "I think I still do. Does that feeling ever go .... That's not good. The Germans seem to have spotted us. There are two secondary ships coming this way.
    SHUNK CLOMP CLOMP BOOM! The single light went out.
    Within moments the two secondary ships had them cought in what seemed to be a very strong net between them towing them towards the main ship.
    Zuttle began going through her Bag of tricks in her pocket. "Great. Only real weapon other than my knife is this pistol. Only 6 shots besides." She looked at Nightshade who seemed to be preparing himself in a different manner. "You were in the fight with bailey against the two Germans, I heard they had new types of guns. Weird ones. What can you tell me about them?"
    "They do not use bullets. Some sort of blue energy. Several settings. Why?"
    Zuttle thought for a moment. "Blue energy? What kind of energy?"
    "A light kind. Now why?"
    SHUNK! They felt the ship set down rather roughly.
    "I think I have an idea. It may buy us time." She took something out of her bag, pressed some buttons on it, and set it on the floor in front of the door. "Don't move this." It had what looked like a small remote attached to it by a long wire. She took it in her hand. "Be prepare to attack, alright?" She stood next to him. Remote in one hand, as concealed by her sleeve as she could manage (which wasn't much.) Other hand hovering above her pistol ready to draw. The door opened. About 9 men stood in front of them. All with guns drawn. The man who seemed to be in charge of them noticed both passengers on the capsule, but spoke directly to Nightshade, who was sitting still.
    "Ahh Herr Nightshade so good of you to save us so much trouble,,,"
    Zuttle pressed the single button on the remote, A yellow light illuminated the area. Heres hoping. She lifted her gun and let off a shot that hit one of the 9 men (but not the man leading them.). They fired back at her. She was out like a light.
    When she finally came to, she was alone in her own cell with a raging headache. The guns must have been on a very low setting. Deuce.... Obviously. The energy wasn't light. Yellow cancels out blue. If that had been Light, the guns wouldn't have worked. Zuttle checked her pocket. Her bag of tricks was gone. This is not going to be easy.

[MWBailey]

Bailey had told Bilstrupp earlier about the Sultana's crew building what amounted to a glorified "crystal radio" receiver, and a cobbled transmitter; he, Arguild, Dispatcher Prentiss, adn Constable Milpott were effecting the same (unbeknownst to Grey, as yet) in the remains of the old Radio Room, wearing suits and helmets just in case there were undiscovered air leaks or unexpected radiation. Once Milpott, with the help of three engineer's mates, had found and repaired all possible leaks, and re-pressurized the room, found three more leaks, and repaired them and re-pressured again, they removed their helmets and gauntlets so that they could work more efficiently--

But then, they had to stop when the call for a security detail to greet the Adler's captain was requested. Bailey sent the other three back, telling them to go ahead and continue to work on the radio, especially since Arguild and Prentiss between them had remembered an old instructional-project signal booster that would work for both the receiver and transmitter, and Milpott was such an able hand with a soldering tool. He went down to the observation lounge, collected the rest of the security detail, linked up with Bilstrupp, and had the constables set up in the corridor, weapons concealed so as to present a surprise front should things go sour -- Then, lance-corporal McGuillan and the cutter-rig detail started shouting about the Friedrich suddenly breaking off, "Lokkit tha'! She's leavin'! It wer nae mar th'n a roose!"

"Stow the chatter, you five," Bilstrupp ordered, "We still have the Captain of the Adler to--

There was a lound CLANG! and then CLACK! followed by a a ponderuus CHUTHLUNK! WHOOOOUUUSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHssssssssss!.
The "Whoosshhsssss" faded to silence as they saw a life capsule's plume of propellant fire and directional-control steam as it accellerated out beyond the Badger and Adler's Mass Gravitic Fields, and then engaged its rudimentary Aether Prop -- and suddenly, they could hear, transmitted by the contact-transduction of solid metals, the sound of screamed orders and curses aboard the Adler, answered by engineers and marines cursing and swearing in protest and response, and then the loud CLANGCLUNK of the disengaging airlock and grapples.

And then, Bilstrupp, Bailey, the cutter-riggers, and everyone else watched, agape, as the Adler disengaged and moved after the capsule, both fading into the distance...

"Whot inner bleedin 'ell're they bloody DOING!!" McGuillan shouted. Bilstrupp started laughing, Bailey tried to hear a sudden and unusually-powerful uniform-radio transmission, and everyone else started laughing and throwing verbal imprecations (both male and female officers alike; some imprecations more downright hilariously foul).

Bailey kept asking for a repeat of transmission and failing to hear what was said, then shouted, "QUIET! WE HAVE A RADIO WORKING AGAIN!" The corridor grew quiet, and as Grey and Vilhaus moved up even with the jubilant Security detail, Bailey continued in a more normal voice, "But it's not as powerful as the original, and is more a jury-rig than anything else. Dispatcher Prentiss, Mister Arguild and and Constable Milpott all deserve your thanks and admiration." he listened to his headset again, and said, "They have some leads for hooking up to the bridge leads for the aether compass, but the other aether sensors probably won't work exactly right, because its just a low-power, scratchbuilt, jury-rig receiver."

MW explained their building of a crystal-and-razor-blade receiver for the aether radio frequencies, which was apparently working admirably well, despite all theoretical teaching that such was impossible, the adaptation of the security center's emergency lifeboat aetheradio for the transmitter, and the homemade booster that made both viable for shipboard use.

"Have they managed to raise the Inflexible yet?" Grey asked gravely.

"Hold on...." Bailey listened yet one more time, and then announced, "They've contacted the Inflexible, yessir, they have us on visual, and they're about ten minutes away; they say they'll be happy to give a tow, or escort us with instructions." Everyone breathed a - guarded - sigh of relief, and quite a few cheered.

[Theosophus Grey]

He heard footsteps approaching, and turned to face whoever it was that was coming down the hall.

Grey had left the ready room on his way to meet with the German captain when he felt, then heard, the distinctive sound of an escape capsule being fired.  Bloody hell he thought, picking up his pace, who's playing about?  Rounding the corner, he almost collided with a young man in a long lunar frockcoat... carrying a rifle.  Before he could say a word, the man stammeringly introduced himself as the Royal Botanical Society's representative, and a confidant of the Governor General, here to help not hinder, and oh by the way, I've got this rifle that might prove handy in our current predicament...

Although startled at first, by his demeanor Grey could tell the man was being truthful, and taking him by the arm walked him down the hall to where he could see Bailey and the security detachment had gathered.  Hearing his report and that the Inflexible was on its way, Grey inwardly sighed in relief, then renewed his personal oath to see Nightshade in a box...

[Cornelius Nightshade]

Curious, was sitting on her bunk holding her head in her hands and rocking back and forth, when Nightshade arrived at the cell block.
He looked around to make sure the two of them were alone.

“Well Miss. Curious I had believed you had more to you then the homicidal rage that Mr.‘s Grey and Bailey have or I would never had invited you along. I can forgive such out bursts once,, but don’t ever do anything like that again. I had the devil of a time convincing our new hosts not to just dump you out an airlock!”

It finally sank in to Curious that Nightshade had his freedom,
 “our new hosts? You bastard, are you selling out the Germ,,!”

“Lower your voice! No ones selling out to anyone. Look, For right now, their is OUR side, and then everyone else’s side. Right now we are using the Germans, before we were using the Badger, that all.
When we got picked up, the Germans let the Badger go, so we in affect saved them,, ok?
I have a lot to tell you so, can your head handle it?”

“Good, this is our plan now, When we land on Mars I well be handing over the scrolls that were taken from the Cairo museum over to the Germans.”

“What! You cant,,,”

“ Hold on, and relax I know what your thinking but your wrong. The scrolls are as far as Mars is concerned, worthless.
“When I agreed to take this assignment I was told that their was an movement with in the order who wanted to use the artifact in their own national interest, the Germans.
In my favor, was the fact that few knew ALL the details that involved the plan, like what the artifact really was. So, I arranged the theft of the scrolls, a very public crime, made all the papers, and gave the Germans something to look for. See?”

“ A distraction? ” Curious murmured

“ I prefer the term misdirection but, Yes”

“With a little luck this will keep the Germans occupied on Mars long enough for us to do what we need to do. I also believe before all of this is done that getting the scrolls back will not take much effort, that should make you happy. And what we need to do is utilize your talents, you see the real artifact is still on the Badger. I was in no position to get it before we left, When the Badger lands this is what I want you to do,,,,”

[Theosophus Grey]

While waiting for the Inflexible to arrive, Grey reviewed the damage reports from Bailey and decided to make any further repairs underway, once they had the battleship's protection - the sooner they got to Mars the better, especially with the long lead the faster German cruiser would have on them with its military engines likely at flank.

I'd better get Dan up to speed on all this, Grey thought, calling for the yeoman outside the door.  "Perkins! Please check in on the Major, and ask him to come to the bridge at his earliest convenience."  When the yeoman uncharacteristically hesitated, he continued "Yes, what is it then?"

Swallowing hard, the blond crewman asked, "Permission to speak freely, sir."  "Certainly, stand at ease", Grey replied.  "You can speak your mind with me when we're alone, Perkins, you've more than earned it."  Glancing at her feet first, the young yeoman straightened to attention and, looking directly ahead formally stated "Sir, I believe the Major to be unfit for command at this time."

"That's a serious charge, Perkins, on what do you base this accusation?" Grey replied, setting aside the reports and sitting on the corner of the ready room desk.  The yeoman reached into her clerical satchel and withdrew a stenographer's book, which she held out for Grey to take.  "You asked me to record everything he said and did, sir; I believe it's self-explanatory."  Grey thumbed through the pages of the notebook for a moment and, looking up in shock at Perkins asked "Is this accurate?"  "Exactly accurate, sir; I hesitated to report in by ship's communication until I could speak with you privately - I know that you and the Major are friends, sir", she added quietly.

Nodding, Grey replied "Properly done yeoman, return to your post for now."  As Perkins saluted and passed back through the door, Grey took the speaking tube from its hook and connected with the medical bay.  "Doctor Shah, is that you? Are you alone? Good, then listen carefully - take two orderlies to the Major's quarters, sedate him, and then restrain him.  Yes, I'm serious - I believe he has either been drugged or... gone quite insane.  Oh, and best leave a medic with him for observation."

The poor bastard, Grey thought, returning the mouthpiece to its hook.  Sifting sense from the yeoman's notes, it was apparent that the Major had not just been detained before the launch, but likely confined and heavily dosed with some opiate or similar drug, his escape and return to the ship a product of his own superhuman will and  ingenuity.  Well, at least that explains the comment about watering the pot plants.

Locking the notebook in the ship's safe, Grey returned to the bridge to see to securing the ship from General Quarters, and to re-plot their route to Mars.

[Alexis Voltaire]

Frank listened to Bailey talking about the radio apparatus he had constructed to replace the damaged aether radio. Surprisingly, he understood most of what Bailey was talking about. Michael's endless talking had done some good perhaps.

The fact that they got strong reception in spite of it being theoretically impossible sounded suspiciously like they had accidentally gotten a power boost from a nearby frequency signal. It was one of the aether's more unusual transmission properties, something Michael called 'slipstreaming'. Michael had figured out how to build a transceiver to take advantage of it, and unbeknownst to the lunar authorities, probably had the most powerful wireless array on the moon.

---

When Bailey had finished, Frank introduced himself, and added,

"I have an... unusual weapon here that might prove useful. I have a bit of experience with it, as well as as with a pistol."

[Cornelius Nightshade]

Father Conner was sitting in his confessional, as a seemly endless parade of the faithful came to confess their sins. Theses long sessions were still hard for the Jesuit even after all these  years. He tried to really focus each time a sinner entered the booth, but most of his congregation were just not prone to any really juicy sins.

“ I should be grateful for that as least”

The church right accost from British Consulate in Syrtis Major, most of its support came from the wives and children of the British diplomats mostly Scotts, Welsh, Irish and the still faithful English.

“ Now if I could get the husbands and fathers in the confessional, I am sure that would be interesting.”

Father Conner sat up as someone knelt in the booth outside and waited, when it remained quite the Priest prompted “Confess your sins”

“ I have a great many sins Father and would take much more time then I have to tell you of them. Plus I can not honestly say I regret any of them.”

“Then why did you come to see me today?”

“I came for on old widow and her son who needs your help”

“what did you sa,, Nightshade!”

The two men sat in a small office after Father Conner turned the confessional over to a younger Priest.

“,,,, so the Badger, if I know old Captain Grey should be arriving any time. In till then I am going to need a place to keep out of sight. Then transportation to the shrine.”

Nightshade sat back and sipped the sherry the priest had given him.

“Transportation, not a problem, I had that lined up already, Ill find a cot for you. Anything else”

“Yes, a young women well come asking about me, that will be important so don’t make her wait. Shell be bringing gifts.

“She will have the relic?” Father Conner asked

“ Yes, or she better have it or were all in a lot of trouble”

[MWBailey]

In the hours and finally, the single standard day that followed, it was proven just how incredibly talented were McTavish and his Ship's engineering section; within only eight hours, having been given the basic schematics of the parts to make, and the degree to which they were to be made "suitably redundant," they had completely built/rebuilt two completely new Aetheradios, to replace the ones destroyed by the German bombs, not to mention patch the holes and repair, from the outside in, all damaged hull plating and insulation. There was a general cheer when the crystal-and-razorblade set, (itself no less beloved and admired, yet universally recognized as being not quite as good as the actual new units) was retired and relegated to backup status; that it was considered good enough for that purpose spoke volumes of the appreciation of the set.

The security and all other sections, and more than a few passengers, in fact, all pitched in to help; it was as if all hands, both crew and passengers, had become a vast machine dedicated to the goal of thwarting Fate's apparent decree for the H.M.A.S. Badger.
When planetfall at Marswas finally imminent, they had not only replaced or repaired all that was damaged, they had also installed a beefed-up version of Martin's rifle in two locations, and vastly improved the Tesla cannon's firing rate, accuracy, and reliability.  (top and bottom of the hull when lying longwise).

When the Badger fired its retros and eased down to the Docking yard, all hands, including and especially all security personnel, were commanded to stand in readiness in case of reprisals or outright attack, manning even the "Window guns" in the non-rotating parts of the ship with portholes to the outside,  their crews space-suited to enable the depressurization of the areas in which the guns were located.

In fact, the skeleton crew aboard the Adler did rather foolishly fire upon the Badger, but no vital part of the ship was struck (although the hit did occur uncomfortably close to crystal cone of the bridge enclosure). The Badger responded with the "Vilhaus Guns" the tesla cannon, with notable support from the Window Guns, and disabled at least one lift component, as the Adler wallowed to groundward and lay like a beached whale, and also damaged her armament, as several small tertiary ammunition stores blew up upon the second shot. There was a cheer from the Badger -- and from the Port offcials as well, as they had been held more-or-less in thrall after the Germans forcibly landed; their "guards" surrendered at the sight of their ship being so resoundingly defeated.

Unfortunately, the general jubilation and rampant celebration allowed the entry onto the Badger of a former member of her crew, who was looking for an artifact that no one on board would have believed they still had...