Molly, having gotten over her temptation to be unladylike amongst so many, swallowed hard a couple of times before opening her mouth.  She didn't say anything the first time and quickly shut her mouth again and swallowed some more.  Her color was coming back to her but she didn't want to appear any whiter than she already was so gave up the idea of her taking pictures.

Afraid that her newspaper or uncle would hear of her silliness, her mind prodded her into action before anybody could yell STOP THE PRESSES!  Good Golly Miss Molly!  Mungo left Speechless!

John-Marc, do you have a camera attached to your plane or does somebody need to lean over and take pictures?  I would normally volunteer but I'm afraid that I'm still suffering from...dark room fumes...and wouldn't want to dirty up your plane or its passengers before I can recover.  Is there more win left?  That should settle the stomach quite nicely I believe."

Singh taps Colonel Storm on the arm as they look down on the tableau of the estate spread before them, "Perhaps, sir, we should consider a sea-borne route."

JM nods to KH at the controls to slow down and stay in position as he leans down into the passenger compartment.  "There should be most of a bottle of wine left Miss Mungo, I'm sorry to hear that your stomach was bothering you.  If you want to get a photo you can climb up into the cockpit and you'll have a great view."

Storm nodded.

"Indeed, in and out with no fuss, bypassing the choke points of the gate and the bridge. In fact, once we hold (or destroy) the bridge, no one gets on or off the island.

"Alternatively, I think we could easily land a plane in those fields for a quick getaway. We'd need to arrange signals, like flares, as we don't have a wireless. Might get a little complicated..."

In fact, the first wireless signals had been recently transmitted and received in the UK to a Vickers Vimy transport like theirs, but they themselves didn't have portable sets.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:00, Sun 29 July 2012.

In reply to Major Charles Storm (msg # 93):

Using his own camera, Fulty began taking photographs out the window as they flew by the island.

Seeing JM, he asked, "can we open the door and take some pictures that way? It shouldn't be too dangerous?"

Leaving KH in the cockpit, JM clambers down into the passenger compartment.  "As long as someone keeps a good hand on you Professor there should be no danger leaning out the door and getting pictures." 

He heads back to the rear door and catches the gist of the conversation with Singh and Major Storm.  "It would be easy enough to land on the fields though at night it would be tricky.  Best to have some one in the field mark it off with flares and then signal when you need the plane landed using flares as well.  I'd think it would be best to just stick with boats as flying in the dark is always risky."

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 95):

Molly heard the Professor say he would take pictures and brightened up.  "You know Professor, we could help each other on that.  You can hold me for me to take some pictures and I'm sure that I can help you get some also.  I believe that my stomach problems are over John-Marc but thank you for your offer.  After we get some pictures with the door open I'll take you up on the offer of the cock pit."

In reply to Molly 'Mungo' Fuller (msg # 96):

Fulty got his equipment ready. He was using a Brownie camera that wasn't quite the equal of her Leitz. He laughed, dismissing her suggestion.

"Hold you? In the door? That's a jolly good joke, miss Fuller. Now, as a woman you lack the necessary upper body strength to be safe, everyone knows this. Unthinkable!

"Here, Major, JM, grab my belt, let us proceed."

He opened the door, getting ready to lean out and take pictures. A strong wind blew in, and the roar of the motors became a little louder.

JM stepped up. "I'm sure we can get you a shot at a few photos out the door as well Miss Fuller.  You've got a good equipment and know how to use it.  The more photos we can manage the better.  Let's get Professor Fulty set up first and then we can manage you." He took hold of the professor and helped him to the door.

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 95):

Major Storm got ready for the door to open.

"I concede you are correct. Night landings must be desperate indeed! Still, I had fond hope your aeroplane could be used for strafing. Too bad there's no armaments."

When the door opened, he grabbed Ralph's belt.

Lympne Aerodrome had been the main point of disposal for Great War aircraft, to be sold and then disarmed and broken apart for salvage. In fact, disarmament was generally the buyer's responsibility. When JM and KH bought the Bristol F.2 "Brisfit", it was armed with twin air-cooled Vickers mounted forward and twin Lewis guns in the swivel mount behind.

Instead of selling them as scrap metal for a few pence, Karlheinz wrapped them in oilcloth and stored in the hangar. They might come in handy during flights to Africa and Asia. (In fact, a French mail plane was recently ambushed by Tuareg tribesmen in the desert, barely escaping under fire.) The fine for unregistered machine-guns was a princely fifty pounds if discovered, but registering them with the police would be a simple matter.

At any rate, over the weekend Darlington had easily taken care of the permits for the machine guns. JM had located a surplus wareshouse that might well be able to supply them with ammunition belts. KH had installed the swivel and fixed mounts on the Brisfit but not the guns. Not yet.

In reply to Prof. Ralph T. Fulty (msg # 97):

Molly was tempted to give the good Professor a boot, purely to help him get a closer view for his pictures, after he made the statement about women's upper strength.  She didn't give in to her temptation though since they were suppose to be on the same side.  Instead, when his back was turned, she rolled her eyes and chuckled.  "I can't imagine what I was thinking of Professor.  I'll just wait for Jean-Marc to help little ol me.  After all a girl loves to have to have strong manly arms supporting her."

Molly then took another sip of her wine so that her mouth wouldn't get her in more trouble.

As they opened the door for the photographers JM smiled knowingly at Major Storm.  "Ah sir, a soldier is always prepared.  Karlheinz and I managed to acquire the Brisfit with her full armament forward and in the observer's station.  The guns are well preserved and only lack ammunition.  There may be a warehouse in the City that can supply us with that key ingredient.   Strafing might be a bit indiscriminate though, especially at night.  We could however dismount the guns and use them afoot in an assault."

He chuckles to himself at Molly's exchange with the professor.  Seeing her roll her eyes he winked at her comment.  Stepping up he extended his arm.  "I would be honored to support a dashing, beautiful woman such as yourself Miss Fuller."

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 101):

Major Storm helped hang onto Fulty as he looked out the open door and snapped pictures. "That's swell news about the guns! Damn great thinkin' ahead of time!"

"Good point about strafing, and with it being the new moon and all, there will be very poor light at night, depending on the cloud cover. We used to mark our trenches and positions, we could do the same with ground flares or flashlights."

"Hold Miss Fuller out the door? Well, I've seen some crazy things in my time, I think that's taking the whole "flapper" business too far, don'cha think?"
This message was last edited by the player at 08:50, Wed 01 Aug 2012.

In reply to Major Charles Storm (msg # 102):

Molly took John-Marc's arm and chuckled at the Major.  "Really Major Storm.  You have missed the point.  It is not to hold me out of the plane but to hold me inside the plane so I can hold my camera out and take pictures.  Carrying Flapper business to far?  Nay sir.  I refuse to talk about such business in a small plane with an open door.  Surely the plane would land with one or two fewer passengers.  It is not "Flapper" business as you put it...it is "newspaper" business.  A totally different thing."

In reply to Molly 'Mungo' Fuller (msg # 103):

Cynthia agrees with Molly, "yes, a totally different business, and much less respectable." There's enough tease in her voice to suggest she isn't being too serious.

Storm had the decency to look embarrassed as he held onto Fulty in the doorway. He needed to shout to be heard over the roar of the motors.

"Quite right, please accept my apologies! Although I did know what you mean about being inside the plane. Like good ol' Ralph here! I am ashamed to admit I forgot you are a reporter, taking pictures is your job of course, so when the professor is done I'll be glad to assist you. But them flappers, I still say they take things too damn far, pardon my French!"

Fulty soon finished in favour of the professional, and it was Molly's turn looking out the door.

Keeper's Note: make a photography roll...

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 106):

Molly grinned and graciously bowed her head to the Major.  "No harm done Major.  I do not always want people to see me and think to be careful what they say.  That would be dull reading in the papers now wouldn't it?"

Molly got out her camera and prepped it and slowly made her way into position.  Her earlier nervousness was forgotten as she soon was happily clicking away lost in the moment as she trusted those behind her to keep her safe.

In reply to Molly 'Mungo' Fuller (msg # 107):

Molly took some pictures she was very satisfied with. This was despite the vibration of the airframe and lack of a decent focal length.

There wasn't a lot going on in the afternoon at al Misr House. She also noted that parked outside a carriage house behind the decaying mansion was a small delivery van of some sort, rather out of place. It looked rather like the one belonging to Tewfik al-Sayid, owner of a London spice emporium, whom she knew from her investigation into the Egyptian Murders/Soho Slayer killings was affiliated with the Penhew Institute as a former expedition guide and a possible suspect.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 108):

"I say Major, did you notice the delivery van behind the carriage house at the al Misr House?  Isn't that a peculiar place for it?  It almost looks like the one that the owner of  a London spice shop has.  What was his name?  Oh yes.  Tewfik al-Sayid.  He used to be an expedition guide but then was considered a possible suspect in the Soho Slayer killings if I remember right."


Molly allowed them to pull her back in but as she did so she still kept taking pictures.

In reply to Molly 'Mungo' Fuller (msg # 109):

Storm helped close the door. The noise was cut down, but not much.

"Thet pole-cat... We figger he's the skung who kidnaps the victims for the Brotherhood. For Gavigan. Iffen he's not the leader of the cult hisself, then he's Gavigan's personal assassin. We had a look in his place, found some strange cult kinda things. some Egyptian sceptres, powder, a scroll. Perfessor Fulty might know more. Darlington went ta have a look at 'im yesterday, wasn't in his shop. Guess we know where he was at."

They banked and turned south-southwest, heading for Croydon.

Lacking any specific instruction, Karlheinz kept lazily circling the Naze estuary.

It was a beautiful day, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet. London looked like it was having a short rain shower.

Once Molly was done, they headed back to London.

Avoiding the rain clouds (which had mainly passed eastwards over the north sea) they flew over the western parts of the city, landing at Croydon airfield to the south.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 112):

Molly was positively beaming after that experience.  "Oh what a marvelous experience that was.  Thank you for that opportunity John-Marc.  Karlheinz your piloting was wonderful and due to it managed to snap some great pictures."

Molly reached for the rest of her drink and sat down inside again.  "Major, knowing about the van and such now, does it cause you to rethink any of your/our plans?"

In reply to Molly 'Mungo' Fuller (msg # 113):

Storm looked out the window and down, then back at Molly.

"I don't think this changes much a'tall, ma'am.

"We been hopin' to ketch all them four-flushers at the mansion at the same time, it's jes' more proof that's where they went to ground. Now, if they hole up there, they won't be in the city causin' more mischief."