"STEAM LONDON" Game Thread

[ShredsnPatches]

Jennifer tore her eyes from Patrick's face, blushing furiously. Tugging at his hands, she began to lead him further into the ship.

"We need to find the captain - did you see him before the fight broke out? And have you spoken to George?"

[Vancouver Air Privateer]

Elisha and Captain Hudson came running down the narrow corridor, before seeing Jen and Patrick and coming to a halt.

"What on earth is going on?" asked the Captain. "I heard gunshots outside!"

Patrick hurriedly explained the situation to Hudson. Elisha listened silently. The police were involved? What sort of ship had he landed on?
He thought carefully. As a servant of the Queen, he should contact the police right away. If this ship was a pirate, he must do his best to help apprehend it. Of course, that would be the proper thing to do. And quite out of the question.

Elisha had begun privateering when he was only fourteen. Before that, he had been a nameless face on the Vancouver Aerodocks. No parents, no relatives. Only his friends. When Canning had landed a contract as a privateer, he made sure his comrades from the docks comprised the majority of the crew. Elisha's responsibility had earned him the post of First Mate. All members of the crew were loyal to the death to the crown, but most remembered that the law is an unwieldy tool. Elisha decided to help his best to rescue Emma. He hoped he could do it without bloodshed....but if so, he had friends in high places.

"You have Trip and George looking for her? Is there anyway they can find out where the prisons are in this town? Those should be checked first"

"What are you doing, giving orders?" asked  Patrick. Elisha noted that the stress had probably made him irritable.

"He's right, Patrick" Hudson said gently. "We need to move fast if there's to be any hope."

Elisha walked briskly aways and began to depart the ship.

"Where are you going?" called Hudson after him

"You think I'm going to attempt a prisonbreak with just my travelling pistol? I'm going to arm myself. Get everything ready, locate Em and we'll all meet by the ship. And be careful. The police would be fools to not expect us to attempt a rescue."

Hudson nodded and watched him disappear into the crowds. He went back to give orders to his crew.

[Stella Gaslight]

Emma sat peering out at the tiny barred window, looking out in to the courtyard while time passed with all the speed of a meandering glacier.  She was bruised and hungry and none of the guards seamed to understand a thing she said.  Her short visit to the Athens lockup had been far more pleasant. At least then she had George to keep her company.  Without him to translate she had no idea what any of the guards were saying and they kept coming and starring at her in a way that made her want to hide.

Her right arm tapped her on the shoulder and began to make symbols.  It took her a moment to remember what the Gestuno letters meant.  "Hello George."  She said felling her spirits lifting. "What am I going to do? Apparently they have all sorts of evidence against me and well you saw  how they didn't listen to you.  I think I am in trouble."   Her right hand started to sign out something too quick for her to fallow.  "Slow down George I am months out of practice."  Emma wished she had a pen and paper. "They going to what?"  She exclaimed figuring out what George was saying. "Please tell them to be careful."  She tied a bit of fabric from the hem of her her pants to the window bars to mark her cell.

A guard had entered silently and without a word he guided her down the hall at gun point. A man in a sober looking suit was waiting for her, briefcase open and official looking papers piled neatly on the table.  "Good morning I am your court appointed defender.  I have taken the liberty of filing insanity plea for you."

Emma got up out of her chair in an outrage.  "What!  Who gave you the right to do that?  I refuse to have you as my council."  It felt like the whole world was against her.     

He shuffled his papers and looked down his nose at her. "I was merely trying to save you from the gallows but if my help is not wanted I have other clients.  I do not think you understand the case against you."

"Of course I don't. No one has told me anything."  She paced in agitation.

"Your fingerprints are all over the murder weapon.  You knifed a man in the middle of a crowded restaurant.  We found bloody discarded clothes and they were tailored in France specifically for you."  He set a two photographs on the table one of her on the banks of the river Seine and the other was of the same outfit covered in blood.  Emma was at a loss for words.  She remembered that outfit and the first picture but she had left all that behind when she... 

That was it.  She slammed her hand on the table.  "This is all a pack of lies and you know it." 

The lawyer put his papers away and nodded to the guard.  "I see you are not going to be reasonable. Perhaps some more time in your cell will calm you."  And she was taken away angry but with a better picture of what was going on.  Black had reared his ugly head again.

[Vancouver Air Privateer]

Elisha found himself in the weapon shop. He had used his poor amount of the local tongue to find a shop run by an American. As experience had taught, Americans were quite skilled at "blowing stuff up". The owner eyed his pistol. "Say, not often I get a customer whose not Chinese or a Russkie...that pistol is a real work. A connoisseur are we?"

Later, Elisha ducked into a back alley to view his purchases. He had squandered the money meant for the parts....but that was someone elses responsibility now and he was always determined to be prepared.

First, another pistol. It was a monstrous thing, Russian in make, with the barrel carved into the shape of a wolf head, maw open. With his left arm of steel, he could wield this safely as well as his own pistol. But pistols were for closer combat, something to be avoided. His hands practiced assembling the rifle he had bought. From the look of it, the sleek weapon was American. Someone had tied hawk feathers along the barrell. He checked the scope. Clean. He dissassembled it, allowing him to carry the parts concealed. He had bought an airman's hatchet for breaking doors. He had bought a heavy walking stick, a hidden weapon in plain sight. He had bought a small flaregun, if an airship extraction was needed.

He looked down at his final, most expensive purchase. To find one of these here... It looked like a monstrous, short fat version of the shotguns popular in America. He broke the gun, opening it and practicing loading the explosive charges it fired. A weapon designed to defend against small airships, he hoped it would fare as well against prison walls. And it was compact enough to fit under his duster.

He made his way through dark side streets to the Boheme, . He ran, seeing how the weight of the weapons felt, clutching the walking stick in his hand, which looked out of place with his airman's attire. He smiled. This may be far more interesting than fighting pirates.

[T.Taylor the Third]

Trip had a large amount of knowledge, mostly from experianse, about prisons and soon he discoverd the one emma was being held in. looking through the window of emmas marked cell  he saw emma being locked baack into her cell. "psst...Emma."
it took her a moment to relise were the voice was coming from. "oh..trip how'd you find me so fast?"
"eh...well..i've had some experanse with jails."

[Nigel Wetherby]

 Patrick opened his closet, revealing something akin to a suit of knights armour, sitting on a rocking chair peacefully like a patient general. It's tarnished appearance showed it had seen many battles. He only used it for on-deck repairs in the midst of heavy ship battles, it had taken it's share of blows, but still held strong. It'd design was simple, A lightweight chainmail undershirt protected the young man from simple musket and rifle fire. A segmented metal chestplate to protect him from explosions and higher-calibur shots, with a rubber interior to insulate him from electric weaponry.
A pair of wristplates and greaves followed the same schematic. His armor becoming concealed by a long, brown trenchcoat which he slipped on over the protective shell.
His weapon choice was a simple rifle, A handgun, his Issounboshi aetheric derringer, and a pistol-sized Aether ray gun, perfect for burning holes in artillery and soldiers...
"We're comin' Em...."

[Stella Gaslight]

Emma forgot her anger and smiled. "Goodness Trip you have to get out of here.  They will shoot you and I can't bare to see you hurt."  She got up on tip toe and reached through the bars to touch his hand.  "Listen I think this whole thing was cooked up by Black."

"I know George told me."  There was movement on the walls getting closer. "I have to go but I will be back and we will get you out I promise."  He kissed her hand and then he was gone back to the Boheme to tell them what he found out.

[Vancouver Air Privateer]

Elisha returned to the Boheme, standing on the platform just outside. The area was deserted. He began to assemble his rifle and load his weapons. He was disturbed by Patrick exiting the Boheme. The man seemed to be a walking armoury...in fact he appeared to be wearing armour under his trenchcoat.

"You might want to go get some more guns" said Elisha dryly.

"Speak for yourself" retorted Patrick stiffly.

"Quite"

Trips slipped into the docking area.

"I've found where they're keeping her!" he said breathlessly. He paused, staring at Elisha and Patrick.

"Are you quite sure you will be needing all that?" he asked.

"Of course" they said in unison

Captain Hudson appeared, with George and Jen trailing.

"Alright" he said "We need a plan"

[ShredsnPatches]

Jen looked thoughtful.

"Captain - we also have to acquire parts to repair the ship, and collect that package you were talking about. These could both be a useful excuse for openly wandering and making mischief in the city, while casing the prison to get Emma out, and making sure she's all right. And I know somewhere we can hide her until we can smuggle her onto the ship again."

Captain Hudson nodded.

"We're more likely to get someone killed if we run in, guns blazing."

[T.Taylor the Third]

"One of us could get themselves arrested and by carful concelment of small bladed  weapons we could  get into the cell with the weapons and procure the keyd by way of...uh...persuading a guard to give them up" trip said

[ShredsnPatches]

"Persuading? Do you mean to say seduction? Or threats?"

[Nigel Wetherby]

Patrick marvelled at Jen's innoscence. "Why do ya think the person'd be carryin' the knife?"
Jen's eyes widened. "Oh."
"Well, we'd need someone good with small weapons, who knows the weakpoint of a policeman's chestplate, and can operate heavy weaponry... But where could we find someone like...."
His statement rolled to a stop as everyone stared at him. "Well Trip," Jen stared at him with wide doe eyes.
".....Bloody hell, it took me 2 hours ta get this stuff on me!" He frustratedly mumbled to himself as he stomped back to his room.

[ShredsnPatches]

Jen ran after Patrick, reaching his room just as the first pieces of armour hit the floor. Patrick was tearing his greaves off, muttering under his breath.

"Patrick. Um... it's very brave. What you're doing. I..." she stammered. Grinding to a halt, she bolted just as Patrick's ears began to turn red.

Returning to the group, she coughed and tried to look nonchalant, waving the boots she had paused to retrieve from beside her bed.

"So, what can I do to help?"

[Nigel Wetherby]

Patrick began to ponder which concealed weapon he would bring. When forced into jail you were frisked and searched. He had a few experiences in such occaisions. The only reason the crew of the star hadn't left him to the gallows was because the captain deemed him 'useful' and therefore indespensable at that given moment. He remembered that the guards there had never checked his saviour's shoes.

A grin crossed his face as he grabbed a thin, porcolean stiletto blade from his dresser drawer. He remembered magnets were used to find weapons, and this particular blade had not an iota of metal about it. He tested the edge with a slip of paper, which it easily cut through. "This may be fun after all." He slipped the sheathed dagger into his shoe and headed back to the crew.

[Vancouver Air Privateer]

Elisha carefully stored his weaponry in his cabin. He realised it may be useful later, if this "Black" character ever resorted to direct force. He decided that he would bring only his walking stick. He had seen men killed by those who practiced with the simple non-weapon. Even though his metal leg and foot worked as well as real ones, they did provide a nice excuse for bringing it into the jail, or any establishment weapons were prohibited. He sighed as he gently packed away the new pistol he had pruchased. It was a beautiful work of craftmenship. He guessed he may have to use it before he reached London.

[Nigel Wetherby]

Patrick walked into Elisha's room. "We havent known eachother very long, ye know I'll be countin' on ye ta get me and Em out alive, ye got it?"
Elisha nodded. "You've got nothing to worry about, I've got my weapon right here." He proudly twirled his cane in his artificial hand. Patrick flung a series of four sharp dagger's all along the stick's length. "Heh, I still got it!" He pulled the daggers out one by one. "The boys used to play targets back on the star. I won meself a whole lemon pie once!" He said as he slipped the ceramic daggers into his shoe, their hilts vanishing in a small pocket inside his boots.
"Em's got some important info in her head, If it dissapears, we've lost a mind capable of making this world a better place, and it's our duties as human beings to make sure that girl lives." His words were steely and sincere.

[ShredsnPatches]

Jen looked thoroughly confused. She hadn't a clue what to do now - the men were running around hiding weaponry on their persons, and she had fallen unarmed from the Owl. She felt useless and it was upsetting her.

[Stella Gaslight]

Emma's aetherphones sat half fixed on the table on top of the parts list.  It sputtered a bit as Jen accidentally bumped it.  A faint crackle that almost sounded like words started quiet as a whisper.  It was a voice, George's to be exact. "Thank goodness I was able to reach some one the stupid monkey took his horns off. There is a woman coming up the lifts that looks to be our employers contact."  He had to repeat himself several times to get the message across. Jen poked at the pieces and the voice got louder. "Someone will have to go with her but I don't trust this not to be another set up by Black.  Be careful and don't spread the defenses too thin."  He sounded worried.

Emma sat on he hard wooden bench half happy her friends were coming to save her and half scared that someone was going to get killed.  She wondered what would happen next.  Black had something more than this up his sleeve she was sure of it. There had to be a reason he hadn't come to claim her yet and it made her nervous.  He was ruthless and well connected and she was at a deep disadvantage.  Her only hope was the strength of her friends and her own mind to guide her through this trap.

Black smiled has he read the up dates.  A small ship was being prepared to take him to Emma.  She had played the part just as he had planned.  He was rather annoyed the Flea had yet to die but that would only make the next act more sweet.   

[sir charles of tayle]

The guard outside emmas cell fell silently to the ground as a shadow apeared from around the corner.
"shhh"
The man in black hunched over the cell door for a moment before swinging open the door,"Come miss Gaslight we must hurry" He siad.
"And who are you?" Emma asked.  "My name is Charles" He said quickly,"This way" leading emma down the hall.
"Can I trust you?" she asked.
"You will be unharmed on my ship, I cannot promise the same from these men holding you, its your choice"
"alright"

[Stella Gaslight]

"They took my things when they tossed me in to this place and I am not leaving until I get them back. I am an inventor and I have some designs in a notebook I would rather rot here than lose."  Emma was thinking of her half of the plans for build number 12.  Without them George would remain trapped in the aether and she hated to think of what even an incomplete set of plans could do if it fell in to the wrong hands. Charles changed their path to swing by the evidence room.  "Why are you helping me."  Emma asked as he picked the lock on the door.  "I doubt I have anything of value to you." If he was under Blacks employ as soon as she got Luciérnaga back she would blast him and find her own way out.  Her right hand signed out the symbols for clean and caution. Well he didn't have Black's mark on him but that didn't prove much. "Thanks George." she whispered.

[fmra]

--
Journal of J. Ulrich Eisenmann

13 December

The negotiations with the Emperor Pedro II of Brazil have proved fruitful.  After weeks of discussion, His Majesty has agreed to contract with us for his planned military excursions into Argentina.  Now I might thankfully return to my personal work while transiting back across the Atlantic.  If father's health were better, I'd not need to worry about these matters of business...
--

Captain Hirsch and the flight officers waited for me as I stepped out of my coach aboard the Von Wagner.  The sun setting over the horizon cast the sky in magnificent red and devoured the jungle in blackest shadow.  I joined the man while we walked to the bridge.

“Captain, how long before we leave for London?”

“I expect within the hour, Herr Eisenmann.  We have a brief stop in Sao Luis to top off our fuel and  then week to British air routes.  We wait only for the last of the ground crew to board.”

“Sehr gut, Captain.  I shall be in the library should you require my attention for anything.”

He wouldn't, of course.  Hirsch was a very capable Luftschiff Captain, one of Prussia's finest.  I stood a moment on the starboard promenade and looked out over the capital of the vest Brazilian Empire one last time.  Unlike the proper nations of Europe, Brazil had to fight a constant battle with its own land, pushing back the encroaching jungles and the savages that inhabited them.  Less a unified nation and more like so many small islands of civilization in a tempestuous sea of green. 

Leaving the wilderness behind me, I walked inside and took the lift to the top floor.  Once in my quarters, I set about making notes on the changes needed for the war engines the Emperor requested.  Not long into my work, I heard the rising whine as the lift and propulsion engines were ramped up to take the ship to a cruising altitude and us to London.

[ShredsnPatches]

Jen slipped the one whole aetherphone into her ear.
"George, I'll go. Defending the ship won't be a big problem, I spent some time here before taking passage on the Owl. Lots of the dockers owe me favours."
She made her way to the gangway, just as the woman George had warned about exited the lift. She was alone, had an air of imperious confidence, and her walk suggested concealed weapons.

Taking a deep breath, Jennifer arranged her face in a calm expression, and stepped forward.

"Good day to ye."

[T.Taylor the Third]

While patrick was trying to get arrested Trip whent back to the jail to cheack on emma to his dismay  he saw a man in a trench coat slipping out of the cell with emma, he had a strange feeling that he had seen this man before, he tryed to attract emmas attention but he falled, so he tryed to find were they would come out. For it was plain to see the man was not a guard in the prison.

[Nigel Wetherby]

Patrick began to defy every law the convent had told him was a crime back during his childhood. Eating meat though it was clearly friday was one of his many dastardly and horrendous offenses.
He laughed evilly as he casually tossed toffee wrappers on the ground as he walked over pretty flower arrangements, though he quickly found himself feeling guilty and offered to re-plant and fix them.
He then resorted to Tripping to occaisonal passerby, but this made him even more guitly, so he helped the person up and would buy them something to snack on.
  He finally decided to do the morst horrible act he could think of, an act that had a cardinal ostricised by the convent.
He went into the book store and purchased a copy of the kama sutra with no knowledge on what the book even was. As he walked down the street and flipped through it, a bright red blush crossed his face and he promptly handed it to an arguing couple, who grinned to eachother and ran off.
 All his attempts at dastardly crime proved utterly moot as no wandering guard, policeman, or noble would look at him twice.

[ShredsnPatches]

The woman stared at Jennifer.
"Greetings. You are later than we expected. But no matter. Come with me, I will bring you to the office."

Jennifer mutely nodded assent and was about to step onto the gangplank when the still-tinny voice in her ear said "Wait. The Captain's coming."

Just as she whipped her head about, Captain Hudson strode out, brisk and confident.

"Ms. Sheehan. Can I trust you to see to help Lakshmi with repairs and re-supplying? I'll handle this. If I'm not back by sundown, something has happened to me."