In reply to Bellgrove G. B. Wander (msg # 158):

     "Really?" Dash asks, "I mean, I get the Hebrides reference, of course, and I'm personally not all that familiar with the south pacific islands, but I have a vague recollection about hearing that the New Hebrides island chain was under French administration."

     And Dash also turns a significant look towards Grimsby.


OOC: ^_^

Grimsby replied carefully, "The New Hebrides were originally settled chiefly by British subjects from Australia,  but of late they have had more French settlers than British. I understand there are negotiations looking towards the formation of an Anglo-French Condominium, but I believe that as of yet there has been no formal agreement. I daresay the instability may provide an opportunity the Vril find attractive." 
This message was last edited by the player at 03:00, Mon 08 July 2019.

Marian listens with a frown, seeing both sides of the debate and amused as they descend into more particular points. She never felt the need to pick up a travel pamphlet with her comrades and their vast knowledge about. Instead she waits patiently for a decision to be reached. Writing about adventures was one thing, but knowing the best way to go about them was quite another. They hadn't led her astray so far, so she puts her faith in them reaching the best conclusion, whatever that may be.

"Ah, yes, the Pandemonium," Professor Cavor says as he enters the room. "Since you seem to be discussing my fate, it seems only fair that I have a say in it."

"Having fallen into Vril clutches once already, I can assure you that I have no intention of doing so again! I have never had any intention of aiding these Vril cultists... certainly not voluntarily. Even if they forced me, I would do everything in my power to sabotage their efforts."

"I was not aware that they wanted me to use the wonderflonium to make a submarine fly! I can't say for certain, but I believe that is possible. Though, it makes me wonder who could have conceived of that idea. Wonderflonium isn't a quite new discovery, and I was certainly under the impression that I was the only one that knew about its gravity repulsion properties."

"As for Vanuatu, yes, it is a Melanesian word that means 'islands in the sun'. So, no, there is no island actually named Vanuatu, but, instead, it designates the country. It's not official yet, but with the establishment of the Codominium, natives of the islands had no nationality since they were barred from becoming citizens of either power."

"I was there last year. There was a report that cavorite had been found. Turned out it was on Grande Terre in the Desolation Isles. It would have been harder to reach than Scotland, so that's why I was visiting Lord Kentigern."

In reply to Prof. Cavor (msg # 162):

Maybelle was quite delighted to meet the Professor, and found him quite interesting.

In reply to Maybelle Diggory (msg # 163):

     "Well, then, Professor, as it is your safety we are discussing, after all," Dash says to the elder scientist, "What would be your preferred course of action?  Would you rather we return you to safety with Lord Kentigern, back in Scotland--or would you rather continue on with us in the attempt to prevent the Vril from perverting your discoveries to their own, evil ends?"

     "I assure you, Professor, that whatever you decide, I feel confident in saying that for most of us here, the fight against the Vril will go on.  It will for me, at least.  I'm only asking if you feel it to be the better course of action to remove yourself from the possibility of recapture by the Vril, versus the obvious benefit you would provide to us on the front lines of the fight.  I see great advantage for our side in both actions, and so seek your counsel."

Marian nods in agreement with Dash. Yes. Whatever you choose I will respect Professor. But I most certainly will keep on fighting too. Please don't let that pressure you though! The benefits of keeping you out of enemy hands versus someone such as me is substantial. I understand not wanting to risk such capture. It may well be the wiser path.

Grimsby remarked, "If Professor Cavour prefers not to go to Lakshadweep, I can probably arrange for him to be placed in the care of British representatives who can see that he returns to Britain safely."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:20, Fri 19 July 2019.

Having said his piece Bellgrove continues to listen from the helm.

"Well, I'm not sure there's any cavorite left to mine in Scotland," Cavor replies. "With such stalwart allies, I would much prefer thwarting these Vril whenever we can."

"Do you really know what these Vril actually want?"

Grimsby replies "I applaud your courage, Professor Cavor. If you are ready to go to Lakhsadweep, I am ready to escort you."

"Aside from world domination or some such nonsense?", Bellgrove says in response to the Professor's question.

Pausing, "You know, the Professor asks a good question. Do we really have a certain idea of what the Vril are after given not only the interactions we have had with them, but the coded materials we have found?"

You know, I really just assumed this whole time they were megalomaniac madmen. That may well be true but it does seem awfully...simple. How silly of me not to wonder more about it. Everyone knows the best villains in books have sturdy motivations! Honestly, I just wish I could have studied with the female Vril a bit longer. I have a feeling their insights could have proven useful if I could have gotten them to trust me.

Grimsby remrks thoughtfully, "Well, trying to rule the world has worked quite well a a motivation for most of the Great Powers for the last few centuries, ever since it became technologically possible. Perhaps the Vril have a more sophisticated motivation, but it is not really necessary. I do have the impression that they --particularly the ladies --may believe the world would be better off under their management, but that belief is also hardly unique."

Yes, power for the sake of power is valid enough, Marian nods. But from a writer's standpoint it's been done to death! she laughs. I suppose it's a classic for a reason though. My own questioning about their motivation comes from their willingness to die for their cause. If it's solely to gain control and power, why are so many of them willing to die for it? You can't have power if you're dead. My theory is there is some kind of belief system involved perhaps. Some kind of faith or thinking of superiority or larger cause they truly believe in, even if it's just some charismatic leader we've yet to discover. There has to be some factor, some motivation other than simply wanting to rule the world for that sake alone that makes all these lower officers so rabidly loyal. Though I could be wrong of course. Still, I believe in the past when you've tried to question them, they've attempted to take their own lives have they not? It's all very interesting.

ooc: If I'm remembering wrong just let me know and I'll edit the post! But didn't they take poison or something in the past to avoid questioning? It's been a while....

In reply to Marian Holroy (msg # 173):

Ooc: Yeah, they did do that.

"Well, even fairly straightforward conquerors could inspire devotion --look at Napoleon, for instance, though I suppose he thought he was also spreading the '"enlightened" modern French reforms as well." Grimsby responded.

"The premise of that Vril book was that the powers the Vril women have made them better able to 'lead'... though I think they meant 'rule' over the rest of the world," Mercy suggested.

"Yes, some of the Vril agents did take poison so that they wouldn't talk. It was the ones in Marseilles, wasn't it?"

"We kept the ones in Bourbony from doing the same."

"As I understood it from the information we do have... all these assassination attempts... they are trying to create world anarchy... plunge the world into a vast war and then they'll rebuild it from the ashes."

"I think that's their ultimate goal, but it does seem as if they have a bunch of other schemes going all at the same time. Didn't put all their eggs in one basket, as it were."

Grimsby comments "That seems a fair summary of what we now of the Vril's goals so far. But how shall we foil their plans?""

Marian nodded, listening in agreement. Yes, anarchy and rebuilding sounds about right. They've certainly created trouble enough already. Napoleon is a good point Grimsby. My thought is there has to be some kind of leader or hierarchy that we can perhaps target. Someone has to be organizing all this, and it wouldn't surprise me if it were the women in some form or another. I imagine finding out those responsible would be...difficult though. And not likely gleaned by questioning alone; too loyal for that. A pity this ship has not revealed more to us. But then it's probably not something one would find lying around anyway. she adds with a dry smile.

"Pardon me for saying so if I'm wrong," Cavor says, "but I think you are already doing what you need to do."

"After all, you... well, we, now... are only eight in number. Our resources are limited. If I understand Grimsby here, correctly, he's already reported the Vril to the authorities. So, that means they are either working on the problem as well or else they don't believe anything you told them."

"In any case, it's all local. Lord Kentigern is aware of them, and will no doubt have started something."

"Those in Bourbony know about the Vril. How much can they do, though?"

"So, what you're doing is good. Disrupt any of their plans that you can find. If you do that enough, not only will you delay this anarchy from coming, but it may cause a disruption in their heirarchy... and they may come looking for you."

Bellgrove smiles, unusually, at the Professor's words, "I dare say that you all hear the Professor speaking the words I ought to have a few moments ago.... Thank, you, sir!

"Our advantage has been that the Vril knew little about us, so we were by accident as well as strategy able to rescue the esteemed Professor and muck up so many of their schemes up to this point.

"The bad news is that to some extent they are now quite aware of us. If we take time away from continuing to disrupt them they will have time to recover and not only alter their plans but better counter us."

In reply to Bellgrove G. B. Wander (msg # 180):

Grimsby added, "I quite agree that we must press on to keep the Vril off-balance, and I think that will mean doing whatever we can to frustrate their plans for Lakshadweep."

In reply to Bellgrove G. B. Wander (msg # 180):

Maybelle laughed at that, and thought the Professor was quite interesting. He certainly has quite a wealth of knowledge, to be sure. Far more then she might have.

"That's the way I'd do it!" Mercy says. "Keep one step ahead of them."

"Just because telegraphs exist doesn't mean the whole world has them yet. Based on that, the Vril in Lakshadweep may not yet know about their ship. For that matter, the way things happened, the Vril anywhere may not know that we have the ship. Heck, they may not even know who we are... or that we exist."

"We've just been running around willy nilly, going wherever the wind takes us. Admittedly, that wind is of Vril make, but even they don't seem to know where it blows."

"The real issue is whether the Vril women have any... well, psychic abilities... such as long range telepathy or precognition. If the former, then they would be able to warn the other Vril. If the latter, then they would probably know where we are going."

"I'm not saying I believe they have these abilities, but that could be what we're sailing into."

"We still have to do it, though. Otherwise, we just give up and go home."