The New World

[Cpt Wallace]

He rested upon the counter looking at Bella as she spoke, she seemed genuine enough honest and good hearted, he chuckled at her last statement and folded his arms over his chest, He was tall well over six feet tall but was lean as a prize fighter not an ounce of him was wasted a telling sign of a hard life of labour and work.

"That's a false economy there lassie, sure you'd been satisfied with a broth made from a steak but you just end up going hungry quicker."

He gestured at the burlap sack by his work top.

"That there is filled with the bones of six deer and four dogs, they'll make a hearty stock and you should get enough meat from the bones for a good stew."

He moved the work top and tapped a makeshift bowl shaped from a crook of wood by Jonah, a damp cloth covered the bowl hiding the contents from view.

"But you'll find what's in here more useful."

He smiled as he turned from the work top going to the skillet he checked the steaks and looked up at the pair of them.

"But I have to ask, what in it for me?"

He produced a trio of wooden slabs which he deposited the steaks on and offered them to the two girls.

"So why don't ye tell me what I get out of helping the military while we eat..."

[Stella Gaslight]

"Thank you Sir."  Isa said before bowing her head and blessing her food.  The meat was amazing and she ate slowly to savor it while listening to Bella and the butcher talk.  "But sir if you help Miss Bella it not just helping the airmen it is helping people like me.  Miss Bella found me out in the rubble,  I was on a airship that big black devil of a ship shot down.  She knew nothing other than my name but she loaned me her coat and took me to a warm bed and food.  The ship I fell from was a pirate vessel she could have turned me in for a bounty knowing that I was just a slave to them and never meant anyone any harm But she didn't she took care of me I was her own sister.  I am a weaver, I make strong warm things.  I could make you something in return for your help so in turn the shelter can feed more people. This is going to be a hard winter and so many people have so little left.  I saw the burning Sir, I lost people in it."

[MWBailey]

'Bella blushed a little, hearing Isa's description of her actions. "Welll... I only really did what probably anybody'd do in such circumstances, and besides she does sorta remind me of a sister back home. New York's not really my usual Theatre of Operations, but I was there, and she was there and needy, her back all covered with burns and whip-weals and old bruises, so there I went, if you catch my drift."

She thought a minute, and added, "What do you get from it? Well, I can't promise you more than the cash in my scrip-belt, and while I might be able to put in a good word for your enterprise for a contract with the military, I can't really promise anything there, either. 'Bout the best I can say is that you'd be earning the good will of the people, and of the airmen, and further down the grapevine, of the cops -- or the Shore Police -- who'll eventually be returning to this area. I'd imagine a few of them are already here, acting as regular citizens, and they'd remember the man who was in a position to be generous and did so. 'What goes around, comes around,' pardon the old saying."

[Cpt Wallace]

He chewed on a slice of his steak as they talked turning the meat in his mouth savouring the juice and the flavour, finally swallowing he spoke again before taking another bite.

"In my experience the military has expectations few can meet, I'm here now helping those who don't trust the military, those too afraid to go to the shelters, I'll be remembered here as the man who brought those left to rot food and saved them from starvation. The good will of those people goes a lot further than the good will of the army, but I'm not about to let people starve take the bones and offal in the bowl, have your cooks make up a stew for those in the shelter."

Their faces lit up at his offer.

"But that's as far as my charity goes. The people out here need me more than you do at the shelter out here they have nothing, their homes are destroyed they have to scrap by living his hovels like this."

He gestured around himself letting out a sigh he dropped his arms by his side.

"Come back tomorrow morning and bring some rifles."

He took another bite of his steak.

[MWBailey]

After finishing their meal and thanking Burns for his generosity, They took the contents of the bowl, and wrapped it in an old scarf that Bella sometimes used for transporting spare parts. Then, using the liftline that Bella had dropped from the roof when they parked the vehicle, they ascended the side of the building, the winch on the airbike hauling the two of them up with just a few complaints from the drivetrain; It doesn't take much to pull what amounts to a giant balloon, and that was one of the early duties of machines like the airbike. Bella stowed the bundle in the storage space under the saddle.

"I wonder where he thought we'd be able to get rifles?" Bella mused out loud as they cruised off of the roof and turned for home. "It's not like I can just go up to Garrow and ask him for a crate of Springfields, to arm some random civilians with..."

The cook was ecstatic with their bounty, and made a stew as suggested. It did feed people a lot better, just as Burns had said it would, even though it had to be watered down and breadscraps added to stretch it out for the hundred or so people in the line that night. 'Bella told the cook what Burns had said about the rifles. "Hmmm... "Bella, dear, I think maybe you're a little too 'good' for your own good, if you catch my drift." She thought a minute or two, then brightened and said, "Burns didn't say what kind of rifles, did he?" the Cook asked, a cagey look in her eyes...

[Cpt Wallace]

He waited till the girls had gone before tidying the room as best he could it was starting to smell like a charnel house, threw some water over the work top sleucing the gore from the table he turned from the scene and went to his rifle in the corner, behind the gun was a long coat of well worn leather which he pulled onto his lean body a pair of old fingerless gloves came from one pocket and slid onto his hands while a scarf of the same material came from the other and wrapped round his neck.

He sighed as he turned to leave scooping up the rifle and hang it from his shoulder he stepped out into the drawing darkness a quick check of the nearest traps and he'd retire for the night, he wondered if the girls would have any success getting the rifles, it was a small matter really they truly didn't need them it would just be nice for someone else to be using their ammunition for once, it was after all not easy to come by these days.

He trekked for close to an hour before he came upon the first of his traps smiling the trap had been triggered and a wild dog was tightly tethered by a cord round it's neck it growled at him as he drew closer but drew quiet as he came upon it shying away from him, he tossed a morsel of dried meat at it and strode on past as it dove into the meat without a care for him any more. 

His next trap had something all the more interesting a large dog had been snared an it tore and pulled at the cord he watched it at a distance for a while as it fought against trap and he supposed it would wear itself out yet when it broke the cord he dropped to one knee his rifle coming to his shoulder in a fluid movement he sighted down the weapon and took aim pausing as the beast turned to regard him. his breath caught in his throat and he lowered the weapon letting the beast go on it's way, he smiled a little as it padded into the rubble an ruins vanishing from sight.

"Be safe Lassie."

He whispered before moving on to the next trap, they were all empty for now so he turned back to his dwelling a short distance from his "shop" ducking into the building he dropped the rifle on the small cot that served as a bed moving to a chair he slid into it pulling a metal frame on the table before him closer, he took a tool from the table and worked on one of the many mechanical joints despite the failing light he would work late into the night as though the could see quite happily in the dark, in truth though he was so familiar with the contraption in front of him he could strip it and rebuild it blindfolded in a matter of minutes, in it's current state of disrepair he was forced to work on repairing and replacing parts which he could scavenge from the city. As the night drew on he yawned and finally gave in to weariness turning to his cot he folded himself up in the thin blanket and slept a few hours before rising before dawn and heading out to the shop to await the girls, he exited the building into the harsh cold of the morning without a reaction as though he felt nothing, sometimes he wondered if he truly did.

[MWBailey]

At 1300 hours, the Raptor, piloted by Captain Fergus O'Flaherty and bridge crew, Lofted from the Lincoln Yards of the COV's Military Aerodrome there, followed by over one hundred aerial warships, roughly half of them of the Dreadnought class, the bulk of the remainder consisting of Cruisers, corvettes and numerous smaller craft, plus an accompanying attached force of over 200 two- and one-person courier and recon units (over 70 of which were the remainder of the Courier Unit that 'Bella belonged to) swinging out ove the bay, they proceeded to a point approximately 20 miles offshore, and then began the approach to New York City. Fergus ordered the Raptor to 20,000 feet, and all personnel to don cold-weather and high-altitude gear. The reason for the extreme altitude became clear when Fergus thumbed on the aetheradio set, and spoke the following message:

"Attention, New York City Aerodrome, this be Cap'n Fergus O'Flaherty abard the Specials airship USAS Raptor, I say again, this be Cap'n Fergus O'Flaherty aboard the Specials airship USAS Raptor. I am at the head of a feet of 100 aerial warships, bound for New York City Aerodrome, estimated ETA three hours. We come in peace, I repeat, we come in peace; This sortie is an Allied support fleet, to be transferred to the command of Captain Garrow o' the USAS Caroline upon arrival. I say again, we come in peace; This sortie is an allied support fleet, to be transferred to the command o' Captain Garrow of the USAS Caroline upon arrival. Our regards and compliments to captain Garrow, and to Lieutenant Abrabella Jiroux. Please advise disposition of Lt. Jiroux, over."

The message was repeated, and after a while the reply received to proceed on course, with a welcome and the news that Lt. Jiroux was billeted in a shelter in the City close to the Barracks and Aerodrome, but was not near the comm station at the moment.

"Please inform the Leftenant," Fergus replied, that she is to repart tae Cap'n McAlister ab'ard the COV Dreadnought COVAS Richmond as soon upon the ship's arrival as she may be able to do so. They have a command for her to take charge of -- oh, and 'ave 'er be told tae visit the Raptor at 'er leisure, as well."

The message came for 'Bella at the shelter just as the stew was being served to the second shift of diners.

"A command?! what're they playing at now? I'm just a sprog lieutenant with an airbike, what could I possibly ... Oh well. Isa, hon, how'd you like to go see a Virginian dreadnought? Might as well take you to meet Cap'n O'Flaherty as well, he's got special powers just like you, only he throws fire and heat; he's a smith, too. Dayumn! that means I have ta dig out that spare flightsuit an' stick all th' bric-abrac on it. I sure am glad you bought me this fancy cutlass..." She hugged Isa in her excitement.

[Cpt Wallace]

The morning sun was coming up slowly the weak heat touching his skin as he sat looking up into the sky while he waited, his eyes good as they were had picked out the specks in the distance, airships at high altitude a whole fleet he guessed at around sixty or seventy, leaning back on the outcrop of rubble he was sitting on he closed his eyes against the sun and the airships.

'You're forgetting why you're here'

His eyes snapped open and he came to his feet looking around for the source of the voice, he frowned when he didn't see anyone.

"Get out of my head."

'You think helping these people will make your past go away?'

He stalked from his shop his head down as he went a face of pure fury painted across his features.

'You are a killer, and a dammed fine one, that is why you were sent.'

He snarled turning in the direction the voice was echoing in his mind.

"Leave me alone!"

His voice echoed through the ruins and he quickly turned back on himself heading to the shop ducking inside he pushed the boards against the door and over turned the counter.

'Getting angry will not change the situation, all you have to do is remember why you were sent to America in the first place.'

"Enough I am not that man anymore."

'Once a Windwalker always a Windwaler Eric, do not disappoint.'

He cried out and went to his knees gripping his temples.

'A reminder.'

"How can I do what I am supposed to do when my harness is damaged?"

'So fix it, you were trained to do so

"I am trying but without the parts it is not going to happen."

'You know where you can get the parts.'

He turned hearing a sound outside.

"Leave me be I have company."

[Stella Gaslight]

"You are going to be a an important lady then." For a moment she was sad because the only friend she had was leaving but then Bella asked her to come and suddenly things were much brighter.  "I can go with you?"  Isa grinned from ear to ear listening.  'There are more people like me?"  Isa looked relived.  She had wondered if she was the only one touched with a gift instead of madness. It was good not to be alone in the world.  "Do you think he could teach me how to stop the webs when I don't want them?"  She just had to grin. Things were getting so much better than before.  "Oh I almost forgot. I made nets for the butcher and some good strong rope for snares.  I wouldn't know my head from my feet with a rife but I have the blade and I am not too bad with it."

[MWBailey]

Arrival of The Virginian Fleet and Building of the Airbase
The first to land were the Logistics and Support battalions in their lighters and frigates, and the cargo and troopships carrying the air marines. Soon, the entire rubble field adjacent to the landing site was cleared to the extent required to pitch tents and stack defensive walls and build blockhouses from rubble and debris. The Camp soon resembled an old dictionary illustration of a fortified Roman army camp, with parade ground and command center and officers' amenities at center, Noncom facilities just left thereof, and an air&ground courier/reconnaissance staging area to the right of center. Almost from the moment that the staging area perimeter was laid out, airbikes and other light aerial contrivances began coming and going, sometimes singly, sometimes in formations of five or more. Batteries of field and Ak-Ak guns were installed in the fort's walls and blockhouses, and along the airfield's perimeter. Steamvans and other ground vehicles began moving people around, faster than they could have walked.

As the Dreadnoughts and Main Body Troopships and flying batteries hove into view over the horizon and took up pre-berthing positions, mobile masts, mostly pulled or pushed by teams of six or more personnel, were moved out onto the newly-policed-and-smoothed Airship field, leaving a smaller square off to the west for the comings and goings of duty and detail craft.

Into this beehive of activity the Raptor and the Richmond cruised, meeting the Caroline at about 900 feet of altitude. The meeting of the two forces was broadcast over the Aetherradio waves, and played over loudspeakers set up around the NYC barracks, where 'Bella and Isa were getting the airbike refueled and spruced up as best they could for the trip to the Richmond.

Bloody bugg-! Fergus thought, This bleedin monkey suit is drivin' me batty! An' I used tae think me ould rifle coat was itchy! The blue uniform, with yellow and bullion piping and a (to Fergus) ridiculously full cloak, was a hot and uncomfortable thing even in the near-freezing air and blustery wind of the upper air where the two ships met and performed the ceremonial handover of the fleet.

"Is something wrong, Fergus?" Garrow asked the smith-turned airship-privateer. "You look downright disgruntled about something."

"It's this damn' uneyform, Cap'n -- er, I mean Commodore, now, don't I? Anyways, this monkey suit's got me itchin' in places where I ain't itched since Africa!" he chuckled darkly, "I've 'arf a moind tae flame up an' burn it tae cinders, but the Virginnies'd be a mite insulted, I'm thinkin, since it were them what gave  it tae me..."

-----------------
Bella and Isa left the Barracks-yard as soon as teh ceremony and its attendant artillery salutes were over.  "I've had to fly through a storm of blank-wads before, at a patirotic event; them salute batteries just aim any old where to set up a tableaux fro teh crowds, and teh wads just go flyin' all ove rthe place -- and some are made o' wood, and fly up a fair distance. and them star-shells with the phosphorus; if tyhat stuff gets on you, kiss anyting fancy you're wearing bye-bye. Dodgin' em 's a chore, I can tell you. Best to go after all that stuff falls to earth."

When they finally rose up above the barracks and the city, both the airbike and Bella shone like newly-made weapons. Bella had put on her black lambskin dress flightsuit with silver piping, and a line of two medals and three ribbons on her left chest., the baldric for teh cutlass from right shoulder to left hip, and her colts turned handles-forward for crossdrawing. the possibles bag with spare cylinders hung on the small of her back on the right side, and her officer's greatcoat and cloak rustled in teh wind of their passage through the air as they approached tyhe huge, gunturretted bulk of the COVAS Richmond, with the Caroline and Raptor still alongside.

"Lt. Jiroux reporting as ordered, and requesting directions to berthing. I have one passenger, a person with abilities, to see Captain O'Flaherty for consultation." Bella spoke into the wand-like handheld transceiver.

"Roger, Lt. Jiroux, Our forward spotter has you on visual. This is COVAS Richmond Air Comm, come around to heading three-0h-six, altitude eight-fifty, and ascend into landing hold, over.

"Richmond Air Comm, Roger, executing now." 'Bella answered, put the wand onto its hook, and sidelsipped to lose altitude whgile simultaneously turning "Hang on, Isa, this won't be bad." she called out to her passenger as they whipped around and down, and then began to rise upward into the interior of the relatively massive warship.

[Stella Gaslight]

Isa had washed her face three times, patched her worn clothes as best she could and braided her hair so that even after the wind it would look neat. Still she felt grubby and small compared to Bella.  The Richmond was vast and for a moment Isa grabbed on to Bella full of fear remembering how the black ship rained fire on the Lime Cutter,if she had not been wearing her gloves the webbing would have covered them by now.  They were so small and fragile but the ship did not fire instead a rather friendly sounding voice came our of the transceiver.  Isa calmed a little but she was still quite nervous.  The last time she met an airship captain he chose weather she would live or die.  Isa kept telling herself that this captain knew Bella and could not be as bad as Jacobi but still her heart hammered and she had butterflies in her stomach.  She wanted to hide in Bella's shadow but knew she had to talk to this Captain O'Flaherty.  He had to know something about this alteration that had stolen over her if he had one his self.  Perhaps she could master it given time and work or at least not stick people to things when she didn't meant to. "Captain O'Flaherty is a good man right?"  She asked in a small voice.

[MWBailey]

"He's a good man, yes." 'Bella pondered a moment, then added, "A bit gruff, and not quite the gentleman that most of the officers in the Virginian military are, but then he was a sergeant in an African war on the side of the British, and not an officer until his commanders were all Killed din some kind of huge ambush, from what I'm told, so its understandable.

"But he's got a kind streak a mile wide, I'd wager. He's definitely a warrior, though, and tough as nails." 'Bella paused as she hooked the airbike to the hooks of the berthing harness, and reached over rand hand-hauled the gangway over so that Isa would not have to leap from the saddle to the catwalk. "Now, Looka here; he's had to kill, Isa, like many of us. That changes a person; so he/I/we might not seem as nice as he or we might otherwise, but he's an upstanding man, and a fair one. But first we have to report to Captain McAlister. He's a good man too, so don't worry." She walked down the catwalk to the duty officer in the berthing hold, and he led them to the gangway hatch. "Up the gangway steps from here, one flight, then turn left, third corridor, then up the gangway to the Wardroom hallway. Officer's Call is in the Wardroom. I'm told they're expecting you, so don't dawdle, Lieutenant."

When they arrived, Bella told Isa to stand by her side and stand up straight."don' be afraid, you're safe, hon." The she went ramrod-straight and stiff, and barked out, "Lieutenant Arabella Jiroux reporting as ordered, sirs!"

""Welcome aboard the Richmond, Lieutenant Jiroux, a blonde-headed man showing grey in the temples responded. I'm Captain Ewan McAlister, commander of this vessel. h gestured to Captain Garrow on his right, and a salt-and-pepper headed and mustachioed man with longish hair, wearing a Virginian Air Captain's dress uniform, complete with the rather ornate peaked cap and greatcoat, and the voluminous cloak that most simply doffed indoors. He looked profoundly uncomfortable in it.

"I'm told you know Captains Garrow and O'Flaherty -- oh, by the way, Cap'n Garrow is now Commodore Garrow, as he has been given command of our fleet.  I believe you must be Miss Isa, am I right?" Mcalister asked, addressing Isa."

"Now, Lieutenant, it is my duty and pleasure to inform you that you have been assigned command of the 4th Messenger and Reconnaissance Company of the Air Courier Service. Second lieutenant Murphy will be your second, and sergeants Milhouse and Flagg will be your Platoon leaders. You are to be billetted in the Fleet Base HQ Fort, which will also be your base of operations for the time being, along with the first through the fifth companies, until the fleet is deployed in the field. Your duties and assignments will be made clear to you upon your arrival at the fort. For now, though, I believe you have some business with Captain O'Flaherty? If you will, commodore, I'd like to show you some of our fleet's special features..." their voices faded away down the corridor.

"We meet again, Leftenant." Fergus said, with a nod that could have been a bow, or an attempt at one."I 'ope your Mission ended well. Don't worry aboot not downin' the Demologos, We'll have another crack at 'er again before long, I'll wager." He turned to Isa, then, and addressed her as gently as he could, which was none too gentle, but it was obvious he was trying. "Weeel, now, I be Fergus O' Flaherty, Lass, and what's your name, again? Scuttlebutt sez you kin make spidersilk..."

[Stella Gaslight]

Isa nodded at Mcalister, this all seemed so very official and she wasn't sure what to say.  Fergus was a big man and his clothes made him look even larger but he didn't have the crazed look in his eye like Jacobi had that made her so fearful. "My name is Isabell Magdalene sir but most people call me Isa."  Standing in front of him feeling much like a student all over again she removed her gloves and the webbing seemed to spill out on it's own.  "I was a weaver once so I know how to make things with it.  It is very strong and can be molded like dough when you have a handful of it"  She made a simple sample using flat weave because she was too nervous to try anything fancy.  "I don't know why I can do this.  I was a slave on the Lime Cutter when the bombs fell. It changed me I think but I don't know for sure.  Some times it comes out on it's own like when I am sleeping or scared and I don't know how to stop it besides wearing gloves at the time.  There are too many things I don't know and Miss Bella thought you may be able to help me."
 
 
 

[MWBailey]

"Huh." was all Fergus said for a few minutes. h elooked at Isa's fingers, which were spilling silk at a more or less constant rate of about an inch every three seconds. He rememebred the slow way he'd learned to control his heat at the beginning, and how smithing had helped to keep him from setting everything within reach alight. He then spoke, his thick Dublin brogue rolling like a molasses flood. "I'd say, first, that ye should use yer talent as much as ye can; tha's what I did when I first started manifestin' the fire. He pondered, then continued, "Ye say ye can weave things? Well, weave ye a set o' clothes, and some knockabouts fer yer leftenant Miss Bella, there. When she gets billetted, she'll a' least 'ave a barrack room tha' she shares wi' others. Curtains an' blankets an' th' like 'll be a welcome commodity." He chuckled. "Might even make ye some decent shimoleans too."

"Then, when ye've figured out what weaves ye can do, try makin' ropes n' cables, or do 'em at the same time as all the millenery. Tha's how I larned tae control me fires, was usin 'em as much as I could. Before long, I reckon, ye'll hit a pace, loik, where ye only grow silk when ye wants it. Just as a practice tae show ye what ye can likely do, now, try makin' a 'olster fer yer pistola, there, an' make it so it has a strap tae run ontae yer belt. Go on, it's an exercise."

[Stella Gaslight]

The first thing that came in to her mind was an ivy vine damask that had been very popular before she left the mill.  It would be tricky without a full set up but with that heavy brass rail, attaching the strands to her belt and making a two bars of solid webbing she could have a makeshift back strap loom.  The beginning was hard and she had to start over twice but once the mussel memory kicked in she could let her fingers move while her mind wandered.  Isa thought about the shape she needed then about the sturdiness she needed and the web changed so subtle she didn't notice until she was almost done. The finished cloth was as thick and supple as tooled leather but was quite a bit lighter and uncut-able.  Isa was perplexed until she remembered how she had made the sample for the shop keep.  You are scissors she told her fingers over and over again then she folded the cloth over the gun and hoped it worked. Much to her surprise not only did her sniping fingers cut the edge it also sealed it shut more thoroughly than stitching ever could.  Isa was grinning ear to ear as she finished the holster and took it over to Fergus.  ""Captain O'Flaherty please look this over.  I think I understand a little more now,"

[Cpt Wallace]

It was Jonah pushing the boards aside he stepped in looking around with a bemused expression on his face his eyes turning to the up turned counter top Burns stepped to it pulling it back up and sitting on in.

"I lost me temper that's all."

"Why?"

He sighed rubbing his brow.

"I have a debt to pay Jonah, I have to go."

Jonah smarted at the words and looked at him.

"Go? Go where? What about the people here?"

He looked at Jonah.

"I will make provisions for everyone here, you and Heather can run the shop."

He moved from the table unfolding a sheet of paper.

"This is a map of the locations of my traps you should have a snare every few days."

"I Don't know what I'm doing with the meat Eric, you do."

He smiled picking up his rifle gesturing for Jonah to follow him leading the older man through the ruins they walked to the Hudson shelter, Jonah put up a complaint about coming so close to the shelter but he quashed the argument approaching the guard station for the rally point.

"I'm lookin fer  Lieutenant Bella Jiroux, I have business with her regarding relief supplies for the shelter."

[MWBailey]

Hudson Rally Point
"Jiroux?" the corporal at the barricade looked dubious, and eyed Burns' rifle warily.. "Hang on a second. SERGEANT O' TH' GUARD!?"

"Lower yer voice, Micklin, I'm rightchere," a four-striped sergeant in the drab of the regular Infantry said as he walked up to the barricade, his helmet straps loosened and his rifle carried ready-port style. "I'm Sergeant Gerschwin, sir," he said to Burns. "What's th' trouble, corporal?"

"This man says he has business with a 'Lt. Jiroux,' Sarge," Micklin answered. "We got anybody around these parts by dat name?"

"I'd Reckon he means that courier Looey from Virginny an' her friend Isa," Gerschwin replied. He turned to Burns and said, "She's not here or at the shelter right now; she's been called to report to the COV Allied Flagship, the Richmond, I think it is. We can send 'er a message for you, if it's urgent, but they'll probably be back to pick up their bedrolls and such in a bit if you want to wait."
-------------------
Aboard the Richmond

"That's a fine job, I'd say, Lass," Fergus said wonderingly. "You might want tae set up in business for ye'self, unless ye've a moind tae enlist. Can ye foight with that webbin' stuff?"

[Stella Gaslight]

"Thank you sir." She paused for a moment thinking.  There were a lot more opportunities open for her than she had ever imagined.  She could go back to the city and build a fine life up from the rubble but somehow Isa doubted she would be satisfied with that. There was a thirst for flight in her now that she would have never expected.  "I would like to stay with Miss Bella sir.  I want to learn how to fly like her.  I know how to fix airships the pirates beat it in to me."  There were scars even Bella had not seen lasting remains from Isa's time in hell.  "I have an idea how to sir if you would be willing to let me try with you.  I know basics of fighting dirty and rough, I had brothers and I worked near the docks.  I think your fire will be quite a challenge and you may be able to burn my webs away,"

[Cpt Wallace]

He smiled

"Aye that be the girl, we'll wait in the shelter fer her, who's in charge here any way?"

He gesture for Jonah to head off to the shelter and he'd catch up.

[MWBailey]

Aboard the Richmond
"Isa, if you want, you can stay here with Captain O'Flaherty while I fly back and get our bedrolls n' stuff.  I'll let you billet with me at the fort, or you can find a place o' your own around th' base. But in any case, I have to get my bedroll and spare things, and I'll get your stuff as well."

Fergus said, kindly, "Aye, I'll stick with 'er, Leftenant, an, we'll go back tae teh Raptor. Might even be able to get in a lit'le sparrin', if they lets us down on th' airfield, or maybe we kin do it later at the fort, they'll be bound tae have a place fer that kind o' thing."

Back at the Shelter
"That'd be Light Cap'n Short, sir," Gerschwin answered. "We're a barracks for the Hudson Air Garrison, among other things. What's your business with the Lootinnint, if you don't mind me asking? Micklin, I hear an airbike. Go see if that's our Looey back from Officer's Call."

When 'Bella landed in the Barracks yard, A corporal came running over from the perimeter and said, "Beggin' the lootinnint's pardon, ma'am, but are you Arabella Jiroux? There's a man named Burns waitin' for you in the shelter, ma'am, says he has business with you."

"I thought our business had concluded," Bella said, surprised. Long, harsh experience had taught her that Men in general got funny ideas from just one conversation, so a bit of dark reasoning went on in her head. In the end, she deposited her cloak in the undersaddle compartment, and opened her greatcoat and pulled it back so that the pistols and her new cutlass were in optimum position for drawing. "Thanks, Corp. What's your name, by the way?"

"Micklin, ma'am, Herb Micklin. Dayum, lootinnint, is there gonna be a fight? You want I should get a few o' the unit t'gether just in case?"

"I don't know, Corporal, I'm not sure why Mr. Burns is here. Could be just a regular handshake, I suppose. Yeah, might ought to do that, just in case. He doesn't seem the type to throw down where innocents might get hurt, but you cain't ever tell fer certain."  

As he entered the Shelter, she nodded to Gainsville the door-warden, and waved back to the back where Cook was serving a line of waifs and old folks. She turned back to Gainsville and asked, "Where's my visitor?"

[Cpt Wallace]

He stepped up behind her.

"Right here miss."

As she turned he offered her a short formal nod of the head.

"If ye please."

He led her over to a table where Jonah sat with a bowl of watery broth. He rested the rifle on the table and took a seat beside it.

"I've considered your offer Lt. Jiroux bout helpin the folks here and I agree it's in the best interest of the city to have as many people fed an happy I've lived through famines and I've seen what folks will do in them, but I have business with the Demologos II. I plan on enlisting with who ever will take me, but that leaves a problem of no-one being about to bring in the meat."

He looked at Jonah

"I've given Jonah the location of all the traps I've set, other than me he is the only one that knows where they are, and it'll stay that way. I'm proposin that my shop and your shelter work together, we get only what meat we need you get the rest, there are close to fifty traps and snares on that map plenty to supply a steady food source during the winter."
 
He wrapped his fingers on the table as if wanting to say more but not knowing what to actually to say

[MWBailey]

"Just a moment, Mr. Burns." she noticed the man's change of expression, and added, "no, I'm not welchin', its just that I'm not going to be here anymore, or not for a long while at least. I've been ordered to take command of a recon unit with that fleet that roared in overnight, and been billeted in the Airfield fort, what there is of it at any rate. I've just come back for my and Isa's effects. You'll need to let the Cook and the Warden hear you, so They'll know whats what. She waved a dirty-blonde urchin over, and sent him to fetch the two.

When they arrived, 'Bella waved the Corporal, who had been standing by the counter with three or four other soldiers (they were called Rangers, she thought, or maybe Riflemen), to join them as well. "Just you, Corporal Micklin, it's all on the up-and-up." She turned back to Burns and Jonah with a smile. Allright, tell them what you just told me, if you will. When Burns had finished, she said, sounds fair to me. What about you, Cook? Mr. Gainesville?

"I'm 'appy jus' to have food ta serve, you bet its OK by me," said the Cook, a bright smile on her chubby face. "people'll finally get enough ta eat.

"Sounds fair da me," Gainesville said. "Long's th' army don't mind armed people deliverin'  the meat. If'n ya wants us ta come get it, that's fine too, long's ya don't mind us bein' armed also. City's gettin' better, but there's still thems'd waylay a food delivery."

"Well, there we 'ave it, Mr. Burns," 'Bella said. Shd noticed his fingers and the way he sat his chair; he seemed to want to broach another topic. "Is there something else?" She smiled, aiming for a disarming look, "you look like a man with somethin' else to add."

-------------------------
Aboard the Richmond
"Weell, nowe, lass, shall we cross over tae th' Raptor, or take an airboat to the field, so's we kin spar? " Fergus asked Isa. "Best not be throwin' fire aboard ship, that might be a tad 'azardous."

[Cpt Wallace]

He smiled weakly as his fingers stopped.

"I wanna meet this Garrow fellow, I maybe able to help him with this rogue captain."

He looked at Jonah and the cook talking and pushed himself to his feet.

I'd ask that I accompany you when you return to the fort, please give me an hour to gather my things."

Moving to Jonah he spoke again.

"I trust I can leave the details of your arrangement in your hands old boy?"

He nodded as he stepped passed heading for the door.

"It's no matter miss if ye canny wait fer me I can make my own way to the fort in due course."

He bowed he head as he left, he quickly made his way back to his quarters ducking into the sparse room he collected up his things into a kit sack pushing in his spare clothing and tools he paused looking at a tunic his hand hovering over the dark fabric, sighing he pulled out a matching pair of trousers and changed them for the ones he was wearing flattening out the multitude of pockets on them before pulling the tunic on and fastening the brass buttons, he looked down at the buttons each on blazoned with a winged skull and brushed them down once he'd finished, his next item of clothing was heavy it fitted his right arm and hung from the shoulder lapel to his elbow, it consisted of dark brass scales backed by leather the same colour as the tunic and trousers, he looked at the mechanism on the table and rolled it up in a leather square before pushing it into the bag. He took one last item and fixed it to the collar of the tunic a bar of three brass diamonds. He finished packing his bag and slung his weapons about his person, the blade from his left hip, pistol right his winchester went into a holster across the small of his back and then pulling on his long coat and pushing a wide brimmed pilgrims hat onto his brow he swung his rifle over his right shoulder and his bag on this left and departed the room, heading back towards the shelter.

[The Corsair]

The hangar was guarded, but not obviously so. There were no fences and no physical perimeter. There were no towers and no men standing about the tarmac. There was, however, a series of hatches atop the hangar, from which Falko guessed angels would emerge at any sign of danger. He had no wish to face any number of adversaries, human or no, so spent a few moments thinking of alternate plans to simply marching up and setting the whole building alight.

The building's weakness, he realised, was its position on the leading edge of technology. Over top of the city ran a series of powerlines linking various large buildings with the local power station. All Falko had to do now was position himself below the lines running to the hangar. This he did in a few short seconds, leaping across a few rooftops and crouching behind a chimney pot. There, he waited.

The seconds passed and accumulated into minutes and, finally, the rumble of the hangar doors beginning to open reached him. He closed his eyes and summoned what strength he had, the day already having taxed him greatly, before facing his palm upwards and letting loose an enormous bolt of electricity. Its tendrils slashed out across the air, colliding with the chimney pot and blasting away roof tiles here and there, but the main strand of it landed solidly on the small wire running above him. His next motion was almost simultaneous. He forced the air between his other palm and the wire leading away from the hangar into a blade which he sliced across the wires, severing them with an invisible power. The power had, for the most part, only one way to go. At the end of that one way was a massive stock of ships and armaments that forced themselves to detonate when exposed to large currents. With no time to move off the rooftop, Falko braced himself.

The hangar simply ceased to exist as a torrent of fire and smoke screamed its violent way outward, kicking out a shockwave in all directions that was so powerful it flattened some buildings in an instant. The damaged chimney he crouched behind exploded out on to him, showering him in bricks and dust. It was luck that stopped any from cracking his skull in pieces.

However, his luck didn't hold for much longer. The building lurched beneath him and suddenly the walls began to tip away from the epicentre of the blast. The roof first travelled with it mostly upright but suddenly it cracked and tore away from itself and the walls, crumbling beneath him. Something in him, though it seemed reflexive it clearly can't have been, forced his legs to extend, launching him away from the worse danger and in to a lesser danger. Now he tumbled toward a heap of burning houses, set alight by the electric surge that had passed through them. He sent out a billowing gust of wind below him, hoping it would do something. It did. It fanned the flames and he found himself briefly thrown further upwards before tumbling back toward what was now a larger, hotter and brighter inferno.

[Stella Gaslight]

"I would like to take an air boat if it is no trouble to you sir.  I do not know how the webs will handle heat so this will be a good test I think."  Isa grinned wildly she liked this Fergus he reminded her of the old mechanic from the mill.  They both were large men with good working hands and both had that boyish sort of half smile.  She felt comfortable around him much like she did around Bella.