ooc: I was going to go into the rules and specifics and all that crap, but I'll do it later! I'm in a rush and there's no time for me to delve into Victorian card games! ;P

Marian proceeds to cut the deck, having procured tea if there is any to be had, to go along with the game. Everything was better with tea.

So tell me Miss Diggory, how does one decide to become an actress? And even more curious, how did you determine you were good at it!?

In reply to Marian Holroy (msg # 109):

Maybelle did enjoy tea, and she took a few sips before answering Marian's question. "Well, Papa was an actor himself on the stage, and I found his job fascinating, so he began teaching me when he noticed that I had the talent for it. When I was a little girl, he would read me stories, and the next day I would act out passages from them for my friends. "
This message was last edited by the player at 22:24, Tue 07 May 2019.

Ah! Parents do have a way of influencing us don't they? How wonderful! My own parents were explorers before I was born. I ended up writing because of the amazing stories they told me. And now, finally, I get to have my own! I must say though, adventure is a little more dangerous than I realized! Hopefully I live through it long enough to write about it! she chuckles, dealing the cards. But you should have some nice advantages, being an actress. I've had to lie quite a bit already and when I'm prepared enough I'm passable at it, but I daresay you would be simply born for it! her eyes shine with excitement for the woman, who no doubt is wondering just what she wandered into.

In reply to Marian Holroy (msg # 111):

Maybelle smiled at that, and replied, "How interesting. Yes, I suppose I would, wouldn't I?"

In reply to Maybelle Diggory (msg # 112):

Dash goes looking for Connor.

"Connor, my good fellow!" Dash says, upon finding the Tiger-Man, "As we shall have a few days of semi-free time--duties of operating this airship and all that--what say we two engineers put our heads together over the idea of combining that steam-rocket backpack we got from our friend [name forgotten and I don't feel like looking it up], during that excitement over Arabia?"

"As you know, better than anyone, the steam rocket is very hard to control the flight path of--but the glider-wings that the Vril from this very dirigible used against us appeared to be quite maneuverable--but unpowered."

"What do you say, sport?  Shall we?"

Not sure who Dash is talking to, or even thinks he's talking to, Mercy can't help wondering if he's lost his mind.

"Dash, dear... Connor isn't with us. He and Matthew remained in Bourbony at the Exposition to take care of Hugo and my booth," she informs him.

"If we're not back by the time the fair ends, he will put Hugo aboard the Falcon and they'll all come looking for us."

"If you want to collaborate on a project, you have me, Rosabelle and Professor Cavor. I know Connor thought he was a better inventor that I am, but we were still debating that point."

"Did you bring that backpack and the wings with you?"

In reply to Mercy Kincaid (msg # 114):

"Really?  Connor's not here?  I could have sworn I saw him climb aboard as we lifted off." Dash scratches his blonde head, up under his cap.

"Maybe that hundred-foot leap out of this dirigible did more damage than we thought." Dash ponders, then grins at Mercy, "Despite landing on a squishy Vril Gatling Gunner."

"But, to answer your question, yes I have the device.  Connor and I were sharing sleeping space on the Falcon--which is far smaller than this dirigible--and he'd placed the backpack on top of my steamer trunk.  I assumed he would be coming with us, and thought he might enjoy the distraction of working on it with me, while we sailed.  So I brought it over with my own gear."

Squinting at her cards, Marian continues, So have you had much experience in deceit on the fly? I imagine not having a script would make it trickier. And what of physical danger? I imagine your profession is fairly safe. Mine was too, until I was mixed up with this lot! Hopefully we won’t run into too much trouble but I’d be remiss if I weren’t honest with you about the risks... She winces apologetically.

In reply to Marian Holroy (msg # 116):

Maybelle glanced at her own cards, and replied "Yes, acting is quite safe, and not having a script can make things very tricky."

Cracking the first code book allowed Grimsby to make better and quicker progress on all the others.

These were instructions for the captain of the ship.

It started with him being given command.

There were four operations in Europe, including a trip to Iceland and to Svalbard, both of which involved picking up something called bluish. It also included the captain's report on those trips, both of which were successful but not without some action and a few casualties.

The material was then delivered to the Spot, which, based on travel times, is somewhere in Central Europe.

The next operation was dealing with a problem in Lithuania. A business was being poorly run and the manager needed to retire.

The next operation was Scotland and the removal of Lord Kentigern from the equation. After the mineral was extracted from the land, it was to be taken to an expert in Vanuatu while the finder was going to be a guest at Second. His report covered what you already know happened, though it's interesting to read it from someone else's point of view. Oddly, it wasn't exaggerated or false in any way, but it did hint that some other agency was involved.

The next report wasn't an operation so much as a spontaneous effort, which dealt with rallying some minor agents in Marseilles to stop the interference.

The next operation was in Graustark. There was a problem with the ruler not agreeing to a request and the captain was supposed to solve the problem. It's not specifically stated that Princess Yetive was to be assassinated, but it could be inferred, including the use of explosives.

The next operation was dealing with a passenger on a ship, but it was transferred to the Blackhawk as the Black Talon had a different mission.

That was to go to Bourbony to disrupt the Exposition. The phrasing was 'the Exposition should be spectacularly unsuccessful and those in attendance should be permanently discouraged'. There was no report written for this.

The final operation in the books was to take the finder to Lakshadweep to assess turning one of the submarines into a flying ship that could fly to Mars. And to acquire a submarine to go to Vanuatu.

Further instructions would be given in Vanuatu.

Once Grimsby had deciphered all the coded records from the ship's captain, he asked the others to take a little time from their own activities and listen while he described what he had found.
He passed fairly lightly over the earlier phases of the ship's mission, which some of the party had already been involved in thwarting, and emphasized the last part -- the journey to Lakshadweep and the plan to turn a submarine into a vessel capable to going to Mars. He concluded, "Foiling this plan must now become our next objective. I do not like to think what the Vril could do to our Martian colony if they succeeded in reaching it."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:48, Sat 08 June 2019.

It had been a few years since Bellgrove had such responsibility for an airship. He had assisted as needed aboard the Falcon, but given that Captain Remi had a proper crew he had not done much. Accordingly, he spent most of his time focused on reminding himself the wisdom of his mentor, Captain Thaddeus Larch, and bringing US Aerial Corps professionalism and rigor to the bridge.

That said, he knows that this is not a one-person job, so anyone who takes an interest in piloting is given a tutorial and then he starts them off with short turn at the helm. With time he increased the term of each Helmsman and focused on navigation. Anyone interested in this duty was given turns depending upon their experience.

If there are no takers to these duties he continues to handle them himself, which means he pretty much sleeps on the bridge.

In reply to Bellgrove G. B. Wander (msg # 120):

     Like Bellgrove, Dash had taken some opportunity to spend time aboard Remi's airship familiarizing himself with Aeronautical skills.  But, aboard The Falcon, Dash found himself only expanding the skills he'd learned from his background sailing aboard Clipper Ships--re-learning those sailing basics that carry through to duties aboard an airship.

     Aboard the Black Zeppelin, Dash took the opportunity of Bellgrove's tutelage to learn more of the Operational skills on the Bridge, like Piloting and Navigation.  Dash was already a fair hand at Navigation--at sea--and had thought that Navigation would be Navigation, no matter what kind of vessel he was on--and to a degree this was true--but it was damned annoying not being able to see the open sky--day or night--abouve himself, because of the massive Hull Envelope stretching out to all sides over his head. Although, truth be told, Dash did find climbing up, through the Envelope, and opening a hatch on the back of the zeppelin, in order to take navigational sightings, to be quite exhilarating--especially at night.

     And when Piloting an airship, it wasn't just 'Turn to Port' or 'Turn to Starboard'--there was this pesky Altitude thing to constantly remember...and also keeping the ship 'In Trim'--the airship equivalent of Pitch and Yaw--and keeping track of how much Ballast was still on board.  How much Ballast?!  Ballast is just weight that sits at the bottom of the ship, helping to keep an even keel, isn't it?  Why did he need to 'keep track of it'?  *sigh* So many new things to learn...

Since he knows that Bellgrove and Dash are better prepared than he is, Grimsby says, "I will gladly leave the ship to your care, gentlemen, though if you need my assistance in an emergency, I shall do my best to aid you."

Marian will learn a bit about piloting the ship, but more in case of an emergency than an actual desire to take the wheel. She was much too afraid of messing up and plummeting them to earth on accident. She is happy to help in the galley though, running it quite well and pleased to have a less risky way to lend a hand.

Upon hearing Grimsby's breakdown of the Vril, she is quite surprised. Mars! They couldn't be satisfied with taking over one world at a time eh? she notes drily. Considering how large their framework seems to be, I sincerely hope we're not the only ones trying to stop these twits. It always feels like they're so prepared! Even when we succeed we never really seem to stop them do we? she sighs. Well I hope we can stop them before they are able to find a way off this planet. I never have cared for the idea of space. Too empty and cold. She shudders.

Grimsby offers pedantic consolation: "After all, space is not truly dark and empty. Scientists assure us it is filled with luminiferous aether."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:15, Wed 12 June 2019.

Perhaps that may be true but it’s still cold right? She laughs teasingly. Besides, there’s something about being in a place devoid of oxygen that makes me...unsettled.

Grimsby concedes, "I grant that without oxygen we would not enjoy our explorations very long."

By the time Lakshadweep comes in sight, everyone that wants to learn has a basic skill in operating the ship. You can get it to take off, probably land, turn left, turn right, and keep the ship level, but anything more than that would be a bit beyond you, though you might make a gallant try at it.

Someone can make an analogy with sea-going ship that the vessel doesn't stop on a pence nor does it turn on a pence. The ship can't rotate on its axis to suddenly go in the opposite direction.

It's hoped that at the altitude you are flying no one on the ground is likely to spot the ship until it starts to descend, although if they are expecting the ship... and right about now, too... they might be keeping an eye out for it.


There aren't so many airships plying the skies yet that you can expect an airfield or aerodrome at every major city, but you will find them when getting supplies and news is importance. Clearly, as you approach the archipelago that is Lakshadweep, you can see the military and naval significance of its location, which is why you spot the aerodrome on the main island.

Grimsby says a bit reluctantly, "I suppose we must land at the aerodrome, but I hope we can approach it cautiously without provoking a hostile reaction, either from the Vril or from local authorities who might think we are Vril if they are aware of the Vril and know the Vril are expecting a ship."

Bellgrove was at the Helm as the aerodrome came into view. Turning to Grimsby and whomever else is present, "Are there enough Vril uniforms onboard that we can pass ourselves off? Though, I suppose, there may already be an ambassador of some sort from the Vril already present...

Pausing a bit bashfully, "Or am I forgetting something you all have gathered in your search of this vessel while I was at this post?"

In reply to Bellgrove G. B. Wander (msg # 129):

     "From what I recall of what you deciphered in the Vril papers, Grimsby, I don't think that the Lakshadweep government is completely under Vril influence." Dash offers up, "A few members of it, maybe.  But, I believe that you said that this ship's Captain had orders to bring Cavor here, and have him then assess the possibility of using his Cavorite, or Wonderflonium, or whatever, to convert a Lakshadweep-built submarine into a vessel capable of interplanetary flight.  And if Cavor thought the project possible, then to look into acquiring a submarine."

     "If the Vril already controlled the Lakshadweep Government, or even controlled the industry that builds their submarines, I don't believe this airship's Captain's orders would have included that bit about 'acquiring' a submarine--they'd already have one lined up."

     "So I don't think we need worry about being recognized as not being the Vril crew of this airship by the local authorities.  I think our greater concern is not being discovered by whatever Vril agents may be in place at Lakshadweep, awaiting the arrival of this ship.  You found papers ordering the former Captain to take command, yes?  The question for us, then, is if that information was passed on to the agents here--meaning that they know the name of the Captain who should be in command--and then we must worry if any Vril here actual know the former Captain, by sight--which would ruin any plan we might put into effect to impersonate him."

     "Actually, can any of us impersonate him?  I think I recall Miss Marian saying the former Captain was German--wasn't he?"

Bellgrove shrugs without turning away from the helm in response to Dash's comment, "Well, I did not mean to suggest that Lakshadweep is under Vril 'control', but it seems likely that the Vril would have an ambassador or representative of some sort, and if so, they might be expecting this ship."

Turning he continues with a suddenly piercing glare and in a crisp tone, "And... Wenn man sich als Kapitän ausgeben muss, um Deutsch zu sprechen und ein Luftschiff zu steuern, dann... Ja, ich glaube, das kann ich."

In reply to Bellgrove G. B. Wander (msg # 131):

Dash turns to Grimsby with a grin.

"By Jove, I believe it's the Vril Captain, come back to haunt us.  Was his name in those papers--or perhaps Miss Marian caught it?"

OOC: Does Grimsby know the captain's name from the papers he decoded? Should he do a roll to find out?