Personal Letter from Capt. Henry Forsyth, RE (ret.) to his brother Clarence.

Letter from Capt. Henry Forsyth, RE (ret.) to his brother Clarence.

Mars, late evening following dinner with the governor (again).

Dear Brother,

I trust you are well and the gout is less troublesome. I am pleased to hear that you that have gone to the spa and are partaking of the waters. My good friend the doctor here tells me that, what he calls ‘the ammonia content’, will kill off any infection.

The back-brace you describe on the chair, while lowered into the pool, strikes me as rather reminiscent of some middle age contraptions. I can’t quite recall where I’ve the seen the like, perhaps ducking stools or I recall a similar device in the dungeon at the Tower of London. What a ruse that was, what! Pretending to be ensigns to gain entry. Oh wait, I was an ensign!

I have to tell you that things have gone rather well here on Mars. In my last correspondence, I told you about the events in Thoth and my good fortune to be ‘ennobled’, if only by a lowly Martian prince.

Following that, a threat was removed from the Kingdom, when their aggressive neighbours and foe of the empire, suffered a catastrophic loss. Seems their munitions store unexpectedly exploded. I’m afraid I can’t comment on rumours of a surprise attack from unassigned British personnel. It would be unprofessional and immodest.

Our return to the capital was much feted. Indeed, a play was held in our honour. Sadly, a Belgium affair, which is what may have aroused my suspicion. After all, one simply cannot put the words ‘Belgian’ and ‘Culture’ into the same sentence without sounding utterly ridiculous.

As I suspected, the affair was a sham. The later cocktail party turned into a violent free for all, with the lethal Red Sands being released in an attempt to assassinate all the British hierarchy.

It was horrific, people transformed to monsters in the blink of an eye. The perpetrators, foul villains that they are, had planned to watch. But I and my companions had other ideas. I don’t mind admitting privately, I’d carried a concealed revolver to the event.

I know how monstruous that must sound, but I was vindicated. The evils visited in that room are such that I cannot commit them to parchment. We escaped with our lives, with the Governor and many leading lights of society here. Some lost their lives in the most horrific of conditions.

As you have probably heard, the opera house, the jewel here on Mars, was burnt down in the chaos. It’s a sad loss, but I take comfort in that the loss could have far worse.

It is true that I directed the fire crews to damp down and preserve the surrounding buildings. I judged that the structure of the opera house was already lost to the flames and preventing the spread of the fire seemed to me to be the priority.

Naturally, we tracked and traced - I apologise for my poor use of language, not an expression I can ever imagine being used. In mean to say, that our enquiries led us to the house of a supposed scholar, previously employed, by the late lamented Reverent Fogg and I believe previously by either Waldorf or Stadler.

We managed to find the corner this traitorous dog called home. Within we found evidence of the dastardliest plot to destroy the British Army on Mars, with a cowardly attack planned to use this deplorable ‘Red Sands’. An evil that cannot be countenanced.

We set off in pursuit, it seems their airship had left our capital shortly before, to attack our gallant troops from behind. At the airship enclosure, we were near to dismay, our quarry was already on the horizon, how would we hunt it down?

Then there was our old friend the Wasp, building a head a steam. Seems she had been chartered by a group of hunters. By great good chance, I’d met them on Venus, exchanged a loyal toast and when I cried ‘for Queen and Country, I need this ship’, they waved their charter and joined us in the pursuit.

We were underway with minutes and managed to keep the smaller enemy vessel within sight for days. Indeed, with a combination of luck and some skill, we were able to close.

Then the unexpected happened. The accounts we’d read described a dread vessel as being invisible. Now we understood, as this vessel appeared from nowhere before our eyes. Its considerable arsenal fired, our vessel was shaken, but now stirred.

Although now facing a much larger vessel than our own, with a much larger crew, we lost no time in grappling. Indeed, had we not done so, we could have faced more horribly superior barrages than we had to endure anyway.

As we did so, the foul villains swung from their rigging to our decks. Meanwhile a pitiful few of my colleagues made it over the gunwale to the enemy deck, our advance checked by the threat to our own ship and the limited boarding point which meant we could only leap into the fray one at a time.

The heat of battle is always hard to remember. For sure the brave Wasp was in jeopardy and it fell mostly to the crew to deal with the foul boarders. For a long time it was touch and go, but eventually British pluck won the through.

It left those very few of us that crossed to the deck of enemy ship somewhat exposed to superior forces. Thankfully we had the covering fire of the original hunters, who had charted the vessel and now made sport on behalf of the empire, their great elephant guns at least keeping the enemy out of the open.

It soon became apparent, that all of the dastardly conspirators were aboard. All known to be skilled fighters and fanatics to boot. They employed many a fiendish device, strange occult weapons with deadly powers.

We were outnumbered and outgunned and although my revolver grew hot with the action, the situation seemed all but hopeless. We fought to a standstill.

Then the Wasp finally cleared its decks and her brave captain led the remainder of the crew over the side. Sadly, I have to report, he was cut down in short order.

With supporting fire from a machine gun regained by the marines, the tide turned in our favour.

I have to mention by batman, Jones. Despite my reservations as to his character, he does somehow manage to turn up with the unexpected. He can be trouble have no doubt about that, he has a knack of finding himself in difficulties, yet he has also found ways of getting us of scrapes. He gave admirable supporting fire on this occasion.

Moreso, it was he that realised one of the enemy cannons on a mid-deck was at liberty and prepared to fire into the Wasp at point blank range. The consequences would have been dire. He called attention to it and directed his fire there.

It was enough that the one shot they got off was so misdirected as to only be a glancing blow to the Wasp and another disaster was averted. Thereafter he fired on a powder keg, with resultant explosion dislodging the cannon.

Slowly we advanced across the deck on the enemy, a more lethal combat I’ve not experienced. These were all merciless killers with abilities the likes I’ve never seen. Their weapons were strange and monstrous, truth to tell, we were badly outmatched.

Yet we had the one truest weapon of all – hearts of oak. For surely nothing can withstand British courage and so we fought with all the conviction of rightness, for Queen, for Country, with ne’r a backward step.

The acts of bravery are too many to recall, everyman giving his all.

So it was that the enemy now depleted, showed his true colours, the last turned and fled.

We paused a moment; the deck was ours!

As I prepared to face and root out the enemy below decks, the good doctor realised the danger. Clearly beaten, what were the those remaining foul fiends doing below decks, with this mass of Red Sands a weapon more lethal than anything known.

Their ship would never reach it’s intended target, their plots, their plans were over.

The body of the gallant Captain Thurgood was recovered, most regrettably others were not. We made haste on the Wasp to be up and away from the inevitable.

We saw the last of villains, all but the leader that is, dive from the ship in strange costumes that seemed to control their fall. But then the great enemy ship convulsed and exploded. Its deadly cargo released harmlessly over a barren desert. The falling craft and its contents overwhelmed those villains with their strange descending apparatus. Fittingly, they became victims of their own plot.

It was heavy toll. We lost many good men and as I looked around my comrades, we all carried injuries. The doctor and to a lesser extent myself, were hard pressed to treat the wounded. But we had the satisfaction of victory.

So, dear brother, the course is run, the plot defeated and the empire saved.

Yet there is one small detail. The leader of this evil cabal, a Martian, had some strange device which allowed him to move anywhere in an instant. He disappeared from the deck using this device. So, I believe him still at large.

I write as I recover from these momentous events. Of course, such a small action, will never trouble the public consciousness and perhaps it’s best that way. I rely on your discretion as always when writing.

I believe I am well regarded by society here on Mars, but what the future holds I am uncertain.

But for now, the Empire and by extension, humanity, is safe.

Yours Respectfully,

Henry

Personal Letter, Venusstadt and later, Colorado, Captain Henry Forsyth (Ret)

Colorado, 1889

An ongoing letter to Clarence Forsyth, from Captain Henry Forsyth, RE. (Regretfully, retired.)

Denver, Colorado, America.

Dearest Brother,

I would have you know that I’m down to earth.

The business on Venus ended most unsatisfactorily. In the swamps, we were set upon by vile German assassins, I believe targeting my erstwhile famous, dare I say, friends.

Of course, they proved no match for British pluck and we turned the tables neatly on the villains and ‘All’s Well That Ends Well’ as the bard would say.

Still, we still had some alarms in trying to return. The blighter of a leader having run, as I might add I would expect from a Belgian, on the first encounter, tried to ambush us. Another foreigner trick and failure to fight like a man.

We captured the bounder, though I confess he was surprisingly fleet of foot for a man of his build and very at home in the swamps. Still, he sang like a canary, as I believe the expression is with the lower life.

Seems there was someone else behind all this.

We returned to Venusstadt. Naturally we stopped to change attire and then to the bank to call out this fiend, for that was his lair.

Yet, things again took on an unexpected turn. Another ambush! Why so many German thugs have an Irish name I cannot tell, yet seems always to be the case. Maybe they are damnable nationalists.

I regret to say many shots were fired and in a bank at that, a sad state of affairs. Despite poor odds, ultimately our British fighting once again proved superior. We followed those that fled our justice down and out into, well, I baulk to say it, the, er, lower recess.

It was most embarrassing when we returned to the hotel.

We then moved to investigate the warehouse belonging to this bounder. I will not trouble you with the details, but what we found was not only very illegal but most disturbing.

I now have to confess a most unfortunate incident. A number of villains opened fire on us in the warehouse, which was naturally returned. However, a stray bullet hit the case we were investigating. I can reveal that a Venus death flower was the content.

Naturally we all ran for our lives, friend and foe alike.

It is hard to explain what the draw of this flower is. I felt it touch me briefly, were I anything less than a British gentleman and officer, well, I hate to think what consequences would have entailed.

However, the enemy gunfire had clearly attracted the attention of the authorities. I regret to inform you that I was embarrassingly detained with my far more famous colleagues if I may be so bold as to describe them thus.

There followed an interesting discussion with I believe someone who may have been a member of the Zeppelin family. I think it may have been an opportunity missed, but who can truly tell in the very strange world I now find myself.

Frankly, it all ended rather embarrassingly. I was forced to resign my post on Venus to keep my reputation intact.

Further, my colleagues and I had to leave Venus, or otherwise be under a cloud.

Rest assured that my honour is intact and can assure you that no taint is attached to the family name.

Our flyer arrived in Denver, Colarado a week ago.

I will update you again soon.

Boulder, Colorado, America.

Once again, my felicitations to you and the family and I can but hope that all continue to prosper. Please give my humble regards to our parents.

We have tracked this vile smuggling ring to this part of world. I’ll forebear to say more, but trust you have received my coded letters and placed them as instructed. I hope they will not be necessary.

I do not know if the rest of America is like this, but it is much as the popularist papers depict. There is no discernible civilisation, everyone carries guns, law seems to be a matter of opinion rather than principle, it is close to anarchy.

Yet this allows a certain sense of freedom, certainly opportunities abound and an engineer such as myself could well make a fortune here. If only so many people weren’t trying to kill me!

We traced the smugglers to a warehouse in a small town within the state. We managed to gain entrance via something of a ruse, that owed its essence to the wooden horse of Troy. Please let father know that I didn’t entirely let my education in the classics go to waste.

That said, I cannot recommend being confined in a crate with others, especially when one insists on bringing a rifle. I can say that I don’t care how good a shot he was, there was one butt too many.

So, the ruse worked and thankfully we had avoided yet another gun battle. However, the foul villains had adopted the place as a landing for an ether flyer, the roof being its underside.

As its searchlight illuminated the place it smarmed with guards. Really do these people not understand the consequences of firing on a British officer? I may admit that it could be some time before a new uniform reaches me in these far places and that I’d had to resort to local dress, but even so!

It was touch and go to be sure, but the Rev. Fogg, who I may have mentioned in my previous despatches, surrounded himself with dynamite, so that the enemy dare not fire for fear of their own lives. He then dealt out some righteous justice, which allowed us to once again prevail.

Sadly, the ether flier was able to make good it’s escape during this interlude. So the villains remain at large.

We did however, find more evidence of their evil doing. Evidence that I may tell you of the utmost and shocking import. I pray that we have communicated this in time and the authorities in Europe have acted.

If you are reading this then those in London most certainly have. If there is war or disorder on the continent, then they have not and we will be swept with a double crisis of both plague and war.

My prayers are with all of you.

Now to the final chapter of this letter, which I need to send post haste. A sad tale.

As befits our calling as British men, we attempted to beard one of leaders of this dreadful conspiracy in his lair.

We were grievously outmatched, something I realised from the outset. Yet we were honour bound to try. It was clear that some dreadful weapons were being constructed, we had to know what.

But the scientist working on them and as I now know his wife, were being held captive. Naturally we resolved to free them, despite the odds.

We have the company of an interesting gentleman, Copperfield by name, but of slightly dubious character, if I might make so bold. I do not deny him a gentlemen, for he clearly is, but I should not like to play cards against him.

He gallantly undertook to enter the main house to bring out the hostages, all with the intent of remaining unseen.

The rest us positioned ourselves to best advantage. The ever-gallant Waldmart to the front with a posse (as they say in these parts) of hired men to overview the courtyard. This yard was surrounded by buildings on 3 sides. In military terms my dear brother, in was a killing ground.

The heroic Rev. Fogg assembled a diversionary tactic, a cart laden with inflammable material and dynamite. He really is the most fearsome and oft reckless fellow.

For my part I took the rear of the house to be able to see and relay any signals from inside. I could also rush up to assist from this position.

The plan proceeded well at first, Copperfield entering the house unobserved. From my vantage point I could see the lady hostage held in the kitchen by a distracted guard.

On the other side, were clearly two of the main villains in discussion. Why he chose to interrupt these and place the odds against himself I have yet to find out, when the other way would have suited the purpose far better.

Yet one cannot judge the actions that men make in the heat of battle; each has their own rationale.

I gathered he’d come of the worst of the affair and rushed to the least cover his retreat.

He got out badly wounded, but with a guard stumbling out hard on his heals. I managed to knock this man down, but with more coming needed to look to hold them up and my attention was to the door.

I confess I mis-judged in expecting Copperfield to take out the now prone guard. Instead, he ran off into the night and the cad shot me in the back.

I too now had to retreat in ignominy.

Meanwhile Fogg’s diversion had hit home drawing many guards, but in the event too few.

Waldmart used his position well initially, but kept advancing beyond reason until he placed him and his men in the killing zone.

Somehow Fogg ran through it all and entered the house that was vacant of anyone but the enemy. I believe the Lord must truly look after his own.

By now, I’d come round the side of the building and managed to rally and draw a couple of our hands to me.

Although I placed them behind cover to give fire, such was the intensity of incoming shot that one of them was killed before he even got a finger to his trigger.

So, it was I witnessed a scene that will haunt all my years. The brave Waldmont, the man that had become a legend, the man that had survived beyond reason, that generous sole, a colossus that strode earth and then the heavens.

It was my fate, to watch him breath his last as the ceaseless gunfire cut him to ribbons. Even as I watched I wanted to run to him and try and change the outcome. For I like to think that not only was he companion in arms, but my friend. But I am a soldier, we know the battlefield. I could only die by such an action.

A few more shots were fired, but with little effect and I retreated in the best order I could, the last of our hired men being shot in the back as we made our way into the night.

Remarkably Fogg also made it out. There was a gallant attempt to subdue the main villain and hold him as a shield, which failed but to which the cad surprisingly showed some spine and held a fisticuffs duel with Fogg.

Despite being outmatched and surrounded by armed guards, Fogg once again proved his worth, landing a blow to stun the foe.

Recognising his predicament, he also realised that blooding his opponents’ nose was what he would have to settle for. He used the opportunity to also retire in good order.

Thankfully we met up as arranged. The good reverend was able to staunch my wound and I’m as near full health as can be expected.

We are now licking our wounds, if you forgive the crude expression. I am stunned by the loss of Waldmont, it leaves a big hole in our little party which has fought so hard together.

In the military such things are expected, yet this has been a different experience, we fight not on orders, but to do the right thing. We are dealing with injustice and criminal activity because we are British and it is the right thing to do.

We have a common purpose, which binds us more tightly, than I can express. I therefore mourn my friend and benefactor of our party.

Alas I have little time to do so, as I fear the villains may move against us.

I am disturbed that we could not recover Waldmonts body. To leave it behind feels like a betrayal and I am sure it will be ill used by the enemy. The Spartans of old would surely not have failed so, but they were not faced with Winchester rifles.

Dear Brother, I do not know the future holds for me, but it is of necessity one of great danger. Should I fail in this endeavour, then know the affection that I hold my family. Know also that I will have perished in service to God, Queen and Country, although on a battlefield that may never be revealed.

Respectfully yours,

Henry

Personal Letter, Oct 4th, Captain Henry Forsyth (Ret)

Venus, 1889

An ongoing letter to Clarence Forysth, from Captain Henry Forsyth, RE. (Regretfully, retired.)

Fort Collingwood.

The tedium continuous. The endless rain, the damnable heat. The rubber over coverings are a liability, they make one perspire even more and one positively cooks. I am sure it is a matter of time before fatalities are recorded due to the shear temperatures one experiences donning the accursed things.

While I do my best to absent myself from the squalid little town, surveying the locations for my proposed improvements, I am still subjected to these absurd dress dinners. Lord, knows India was bad enough, but here it feels like manners have regressed a century!

I do understand the remoteness and the relatively high proportion of officers to the small town. I shall confess that I do not think them the highest grade, no decent officer would want to be posted here.

For myself, I find the assertion when I took he post, although not many options were exactly open, that my considerable tropics experience would prove invaluable to be gibberish. Nothing can prepare a man for this hell hole. The heat and humidity are at the limit of man’s endurance.

I’ve drawn up a scheme which would hopefully bring some relief to domiciles and public buildings, but it’s met with predictably mixed reaction. Cost is immediately cited as a concern, but compared to the improvements , it should be small beer. Of course I’ve considered that and many other factors.

I will not bore you with the detail, but dams, canals, a water and sewage distribution network are but a part. My own, dare I say ingenious cooling pipes for houses, to be supplemented by a reverse engineering of the roman hypocaust system, incorporating the cooling system employed at the royal palace in Fatipur Sikri. I am sure I have previously told you of this exceptional Indian site.

At present I daren’t even moot my principle finding that Fort Collingwood should be relocated wholesale and rebuilt in a more practical manner, at a place that can more easily be served by the services I propose.

With my recommendations in the balance, I believe I may have achieved all I can here. The Colonial Office have been most supportive and I have a good deal of leeway in my activities. But I feel I need another assignment soon. This place is oppressive in every way.

I hope all is well with you brother, that the family is also well and you continue to prosper. I am unlikely to find sufficient paper which will survive the humidity to write to our parents, so please pass on my felicitations and assure them I am well.

For now, I need to get this sheet between two rubber mats as it’s already starting to degrade.

Aboard an airship, bound for Venusstadt.

Dear Clarence,

What excellent fortune! A party arrived on Venus, including two very well known explorers of Mars and a colleague from the Foreign Office. I am sure you will have heard of Wilhelm and Walmart! I was of some small service to them in the matter of paperwork and have taken the opportunity to accompany their party to Venusstadt.

I write to you from the Zeppelin that is conveying us there! It seems I have much in common with this party, but I regret that confidences dictate that I cannot go into detail. However, as I learn more, I am increasingly struck by what an excellent bunch of fellows I seem to have fallen in with.

There are some challenges ahead and I believe some danger. Yet those are things to be faced head on. I am most curious to see where this might lead. My only regret is that I do not have a bearer to hand.

A hotel in Venusstadt.

Dear brother,

I need to be brief. The most striking things have happened. As expected there are problems and grave danger here. In an effort to expose this, we are going on safari. I say ‘we’ because in an extraordinary generous act, I’ve been spotted by my famous associates to join the safari!

While it’s quite the adventure, it’s a real step into danger. There are some serious criminal activities going on here. I can say no more than that. If I don’t return, then open the instructions I have left.

The safari is being led by a Belgian, of dubious character, but then again which Belgians aren’t.

The Venus lowlands.

Hardily bearable down here. Swamps, heat and humidity beyond reason. We have a party of lizard kind bearers and porters. A group of ‘protectors’, thugs and mercenaries gathered from Venusstadt, whom I do not trust.

An utterly remarkable encounter. We encountered some raptors, these are best described as a man sized T-rex, which I’m sure be familiar with. However, they hunt in packs. I saw them out of fog, everything is fog or mist or rain here, circulating my bearer.

I’m not sure I’ve every drawn my revolver so fast or fired so true, but I took the first beast down. But only then did it become apparent how fast these killers are. Two leapt upon me faster than could re-cock my pistol.

We have a reverend with the party who leapt and pulled my bearer away and placed himself between this poor lizard man and himself. Such courage, an insane act of self sacrifice!

But then as one these wide jawed, big teeth killers, leap at him, there was a straight left jab that hit a critical spot and the monster went down.

I had to retreat, I’d been in the van and now two sets of lethal jaws napping at me were difficult to hold. My earlier marksmanship deserted me.

Then a few remarkable things happened.

A shot rang out and one of my tormentors went down.

As my vision began to blur, I saw most incredible sight, the good reverend landing a blow of monumental proportions that just launched the creature back where it’d come from. A finer administration of divine justice, I’ve not seen, save perhaps for that caper in Alexandria.

I believe I may have taken a knock during the exchange, but my new found friends (if they would have me call them that) have a wondrous healing mask. Within minutes I was right again and feeling tikatiboo at that.

I’d have barely credited it except I witnessed the same effect on the good reverend minutes later.

The situation is now tense. It’s clear that the leader of the safari, intends us ill. The good reverend has many of the bearers on our side after his most remarkable heroics, but it is mixed. Of far more concern...

Damn the insolence, they are manoeuvring----

Diary Entry 3/2 Dr. James Wilhelm

Mars continues to both be a wondrous place and one of great turmoil and violence. After our excursion through the Martian desert and our interesting ship ride from Meepsoor to Syrtis Major, I figured things would settle down and I’d enjoy the sites. Sadly this has not been the case.

Upon arriving at Syrtis Major myself, Esmerelda, and Waldmont disembarked our ship and was met by Charles Ottway of the Colonial Office. He gave us a quick debrief about the goings on and upon mentioning the rebellion in Shastapsh, let us know that a new cruiser being built in the yard would deal with that problem. We also saw a ship powered by a steam engine heading towards the shipyard that Ottway looked at with some awe. He told us that the ship was Captain Bernaby’s, a leader among the Red Captains.

We were told the two best places to stay were either the Savoy or the Explorer’s Club located in the city. We opted for Explorer’s club for both monetary and information reasons. After trying to get rid of to no avail all the sand and dirt that had accumulated on my belongings and myself, Waldmont and I headed out to visit the sites. Now I was finally starting to feel like I could do what I do best, use my inventions to investigate and not get into a terrible amount of trouble.

We gave some talks at the Explorer’s club regaling our adventures thus far to our audience that seemed enthralled in our tales. We had finally found peace and went to bed for the first time comfortable and with little fear. Alas, this was but a short respite from the trouble that was right around the corner.

The following day we went to a place called the Sunset Tide for some Bhutan Tea and hoping to gather some information that would help Esmeralda. Of course much to my dismay we overhear some Martians discussing the new cruiser and blowing it up. I cannot understand why these Martians are so resistant towards some culture and civility being brought to their dying planet.

Waldmont and I realized we needed to do something to preserve the new ship, so we headed to the address we overheard, 2244 Old Harbor Road, after failing to find Ottway. We guessed correctly that the conspirators were in a room facing the Shipyard and Waldmont sneaked up to investigate. I eventually joined him and, using my incredible helm, heard the Martians speaking in High Oenotrian, discussing that their “Red Devil” allies were ready to move and that the English would be surprised.

We ended up engaging the 5 traitors to the crown. I’m beginning to think that instead of just being seen as an oddity my incredible inventions are making me a target. I received several wounds, as a result of which I was forced to take a swig of my grandfather’s ole cough medicine. Waldmont chastised me for doing such a thing but I did not see him with several bullet wounds.

We eventually forced the enemy to flee with 1 dying & 1 jumping out the window to his death, capturing one, and 2 escaping. We took our prisoner to the colonial office where we had to conduct the interrogation. Things quickly went sideways as the prisoner got out of his bonds when Waldmont went near them and attacked him. I went to block his escape and he tackled me. While we were grappling on the floor Waldmont came over and ended up killing the prisoner.

He is a big game hunter and well respected among the community but sometimes I wonder whether my compatriot has not spent a little too long out in the wild and among the beasts. His willingness to use lethal force so quickly and effectively does worry me on occasion.

Esmerelda walked in seeing Waldmont with a machete and me on the ground covered in Martian blood screamed and ran away. I hope someday she can realize it wasn’t my fault and we can work together again. Unfortunately we had even bigger problems now. The rumour of death of a local by British hands had spread faster than a fire ever could. We needed to proceed with caution.

A caution my compatriot was a little less willing to follow. He went to The Greenfield Inn to investigate and said he found where the conspirators’ main base of operations was. Apparently, his lack of caution paid off in this instance. Getting in without being noticed would be difficult but fortunately instead of using his blunt force trauma entrance I came up with an ingenious idea of using liftwood and some rope to allow us to enter through the window.

Others might have tried a ladder but I say liftwood is quieter than a creaking ladder, and also far more exhilarating.

Upon reaching the window we entered and much to my horror saw the traitors had built glider bombers. Something needed to be done and once again upon careful inspection using my Helm I was able to sabotage the release mechanisms and we left to find another way to ensure these rapscallions were properly confronted. To our surprise Captain Barnaby was still in port with a skeleton crew and was willing to aid us for Queen and Country.

Later that night we along with Captain Barnaby and his crew engaged the enemy in a light air confrontation. My sabotage worked perfectly not allowing a single bomb to fall upon the new cruiser and after several well placed shots by Waldmont and my own rifle aided once again by my Helm we had a special light show with bombs bursting in air.

We are not sure whether any of the conspirators made an escape or died upon crash landing. All I do know is Mars is a very interesting place and I assume more trouble will find us soon.

Dr. James Wilhelm