Ralph tipped his hat a little and aided the women's entry into the car, before heading towards the truck where Falcon was waiting to depart.  He could only imagine that Imran would want to accompany Cynthia in the Ford.

In reply to Prof. Ralph T. Fulty (msg # 240):

Molly smiled sweetly at Professor Fulty.  She loved her independence but she also certainly loved to be treated as a lady.  She could only imagine what it would be like for women in the future and was proud to be part of the pioneering army for such times to come.

She also wasn't ignorant of the fact that she could make more progress towards any of her causes if she still let the men treat her as they thought she wasn't one of the women's movement.  Perhaps that was, after all, the real power women had...the power to influence men's decision on how they saw them.

With that happy thought, not to mention a few plans of her own, Molly settled into the vehicle with a sweet serene smile on her face.  Only those who really new her might cringe at that smile.  It usually meant trouble would soon be brewing and Mungo would be in the thick of it.

Once the loading was done, the investigators set off for the alternative location. Aside from the Count's town house, this was a large country house rented by JM out in Barking, some miles out of the city.

Barking was a quiet town east of London (just shy of 9 miles from Charing Cross) and on the north bank of the Thames. It was once primarily a fishing community (not of the Thames but on the North Sea) but now it was wholly agricultural and suburban in nature. Aside from a rail line (steam and electric trains) and the A13/Alfred's Way, there was a tube line and Underground link to London, not to mention regular bus services.

The Barking house was a smallish run down 2-story country house, formerly owned by a shipowner since fallen on hard times. Once it had been set back in the midst of lush gardens and landscaping, now most of the surrounding estate had been sold off and developed, sold to Londoners looking to settle outside the city but still relatively close.

All that remained of the property was the main house and a 1-story carriage house and greenhouse out back surrounded by a crumbling brick wall topped with wrought iron. The buildings were in considerable disrepair, the surrounding garden overgrown, greenhouse windows all smashed. There was running water, electricity and telephone, arranged courtesy of the land agent. He also had some repairmen sent around the last week to fix the worst of the roof leakage and fix broken windows.

JM is available to hand out the ladies as they arrive at the country house.  "Welcome all, it's not much, a bit overgrown and shabby but it was the best available with some privacy on short notice.  I've had the worst of the leaks fixed and it's got electricity, gas and water.  Karlheinz and I have furnished the beds and such so there is space for everyone and privacy for the ladies."

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 243):

"Thank you sir." Molly bubbled as she let John-Marc help her out.  She did a little hop of excitement as she got out of the vehicle and looked around.

The Count spoke as he exited the truck;

"It is more then adequate Mr Falcon. Once we have unloaded should be take a quick walk in the grounds, just to see if we are secure ?"

Cynthia will escort herself to the house (or perhaps under the solemn eyes of Mr. Singh, if he is not otherwise engaged), locate a suitable chair for curling up in, and quietly return to her reading, now and again resting her eyes. She intends to keep her mind busy tonight, and will not go to bed.

Singh indeed follows Miss Holloway into the house. He finds the kitchen and sees to getting a pot of tea brewing. When it has steeped, he takes a mug to his employer. Then he sets about inspecting the accomodations.

And Mr. Singh is rewarded with Cynthia's first smile of the evening :)

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 248):

Molly watched Cynthia and Singh go into the house and smiled.  She would get there but for now there was stuff to explore.  She grinned at the men and nonchalantly moved off to one side and then started to explore the premises on her own.  She wasn't sure if one of the guys would follow her or not - men did that on a regular basis - but she wasn't going to wait.

JM nodded to the Count.  "Yes indeed, let's get this lot under cover in the house.  There a disused ball room we can stow it all in."

Seeing the women head off, JM called out to Molly.  "Be careful in the gardens, things are quite overgrown and fallen down.  If you don't mind waiting I can show you about Miss Fuller."

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 250):

Molly stopped in mid stride and turned around to look at John-Marc.  She took off her hat and held it delicately in her hands while she shifted from one foot to another.  It was a picture of her being coy (which she was surprisingly good at) and she just smiled and nodded to him.  "Why certainly Mr. Falcon.  I would be honored to be escorted by you.  You know how clumsy I can be."

Molly then chuckled and put her hat back on and was back to her normal self.  "I just won't guarantee how long I can contain my curiosity."

The tour of the grounds encompassed by the crumbling brick wall by JM, the Count and Molly was accomplished in short order. A little light was provided by the streetlamps and the house lights.

Outside the front doorsteps was a short path to the front gate on the street. Built before the advent of the motor car, there was no front drive. To the left of the path (looking out) was an overgrown decorative pool of some kind with a moss-covered statue, to the right a small long-dry fountain and marble benches. All around these areas and the grounds itself was overgrown by bushes, hedges and trees gone wild. A path down the right-hand wall led around to the back. A larger gate in the rear admitted motor vehicle traffic, with the carriage house converted into a garage and shed.

The house was 2-stories with cellar towards the rear, there was a small 3rd story turreted garret turned into a study. There was a front door, rear door, kitchen door (also in the rear) and cellar door inside by the kitchen and outside on the side path.


This message was lightly edited by the GM at 02:18, Fri 05 Oct 2012.

Major Storm saw to the storing of surplus war materiel in the shed that took up half of the carriage house.

"Somewhat safer there, I'll bet!

Once finished, Storm brewed a pot of coffee using the supplies that JM and Karlheinz had laid in. He noted the lack of alcohol.

"Damn it all, no brandy? I can remedy that." He poured a dollop into his cup from his flash, offered it around.

"As for our plans, in my opinion we won't get the full benefit of the old switcheroo we just pulled earlier today unless we lie low for a spell. It'll take a couple days for Gavigan and the Brotherhood to determine we're gone. Lulled, as it were. Maybe the raid at the warehouse will put them on guard, but it was a police raid as far as any witnesses saw. The other consideration is we saw Tewfik's truck outside al Misr House so we know he's there. What about Gavigan? What about the rest of the Black Brotherhood? Maybe they're there now, maybe not. The only time we can be sure to get them all together is in a week, for the ceremony.

"The downside of waiting is we need to be careful in the mean time of being discovered. And if they've kidnapped Howard, as well as Ai'yesha and her cousin Rashid, well, the wait could be pretty tough on them. I won't lie."

"Either way someone mentioned a water approach, and I gotta say I like that a whole heck of a lot. It's quiet and avoids their main lines of defence and the bridge."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:57, Fri 05 Oct 2012.

Mark offered his arm to Molly as a gallant gesture.  He appreciated her beauty and intelligence which was a rare combination in man or woman.  After the tour of the grounds he led them back into the house just in time for a spot of hot coffee and tea.

"My apologies for a lack of spirits Major.  We've hardly been here except to snatch a bit of sleep and the arrangements are still a bit sparse."  He took the flask and applied some of the contents to his coffee.  Passing along the flask he sipped the coffee and sighed.  "That is a capital brandy sir, thank you."

"Now, we do want to catch all of the villains at once if we can.  It does mean waiting incognito for week until the new moon but I agree we should wait."  He considers the aerial view of the place. "We could get a couple of boats with muffled oars and motors.  The oars for the approach and the motors for a get away if needed."

In reply to Major Charles Storm (msg # 253):

With an intense look he modified with a smile, Karlheinz waved off the brandy.

"It vas mine choice about zee lack of alcohol in zis place. Haff being trying to keep, how you say, dry? Dry out?"

As they toured the ground the Count asked if he could take further advantage of Mr Falcons hospitality and say the night. It was late and he did not fancy the drive back to the shop.

Once they where back inside the Count made use of the telephone to make two calls one to Mr Perkins explaining that he would be saying the night and also to Sarah Evans. He is vague as to where he is, but in the circumstances that is probably expected.

"Should we look at the weapons and astatine exactly what the good Detective has given us ? I agree that waiting in-till the full moon would seem the most prudent move. Also we may want to have a second party to cut off any escape route off the island such as the bridge to the front of the estate."

In reply to Count Sigismund Bathony (msg # 256):

The Count made his calls. His friends understood and accepted his absence, Perkins perhaps more deeply understanding the situation, Miss Evans with perhaps a touch of wistful regret she wouldn't be sharing his company.

They had the two cases, containing 40 stick grenades. One crate of 20 Mauser rifles, another with 20 Lee-Enfield rifles. Several thousands of rounds of .303 and 7.92x57mm ammunition. There were 5 Luger pistols and 15 magazines, but no 9mmm ammunition.

In addition, there were 2 well-worn Stokes trench mortars but no ammunition. Further, in another crate there was a Lewis gun with 4 magazines in canvas pouches.

Singh spends a few contented hours field stripping and cleaning all the weapons, comforted by familiar activity and the scent of gun oil and metal.

"I regret that I have no training with machine-guns or mortars. Major Storm, Karlheinz, have either of you any competence in those areas?

"Perhaps one of the London residents should go to an Army-Navy store and purchase some innocuous material, specifically some musette bags to carry grenades. Those I am familiar with and may be quite handy."

In reply to Imran Singh (msg # 258):

Sipping his mug of tea, Karlheinz nodded.

"Ya, I am familiar mit der machine guns. Vee had zee Maxims on zee Zeppelins!"

In reply to Imran Singh (msg # 258):

"Yeah, ah reckon I got a little know-how when it comes to mortars. These look pretty beat-to-hell, sure enough."

Storm looked a little dubiously at the Stokes mortars.

JM nods; "As well, I've a good deal of experience with machine guns on the aircraft.  I dare say that between Karlheinz and I we can lay down a pretty powerful carpet of fire."

He nods to Singh; "We'll want to get bags for sure for the grenades, ammo and other gear we'll need.  The guns will need to be wrapped and concealed while we move to our target as well as a small satchel or pack for each of us to carry ammunition and grenades.  Then there are a few boats to procure."

"I saw we put one group outside the landward entrance to the island to bottle up the enemy.  They can also make a secondary assault to divert attention.  Then we go across in the boats with a few stout fellows to help us."  He looked to Major Storm; "I'm not sure where to set up the machine gun for the best firing?  It seems like it might best be used to fire at the gate area as part of a diversionary rush across the bridge.  I'm not sure if it will be of much use in close hand work clearing rooms of cultists."

"The mortar would be nice but where do we get ammunition for it?"

"I have my own pistol but we should also try to acquire 9mm ammo for the pistols so we can distribute them to all without a secondary weapon.  Darlington will be key in helping gather those eager fellows he spoke of to be part of our little army."

[How ungainly is the Lewis gun?  Can we bring it along with us easily or is it more a set up and shoot kind of thing?]

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 261):

Molly listened to the plans and then spoke up.  "Sooo, while you guys are doing that, what do you plan for us little ol women to be doing?  I'm sure you can think of something that we can be useful at."

Molly thought she already knew what the Major would say and perhaps it wasn't fair that she would goad him into saying it...but it really was fun to do.

"Some training may not be a silly thing given the numbers of people who will be running around. I could procure some time on a range for those who are interested. For a small donation to the club we could get it to ourselves."

In reply to Count Sigismund Bathony (msg # 263):

Molly perked up.  "Would this be one of those men only clubs or would I be able to go in to learn how to shoot?"  Molly didn't want to admit that she could handle a gun so so and was better with a rifle or shotgun, but the chance to get inside a "club" to get target practice would be too good of an opportunity to pass up.  Sooooo, Molly tried to curtail her enthusiasm and merely inquire as to the possibility of such a thing.