Flying Home (I hope)
In reply to Grimsby Baskerville (msg # 470):
For the journey, Dash will be splitting his time between getting a few hours of sleep, pulling a "Learning Shift" with Bellgrove on the Bridge learning Airship Operations--and maybe even pulling a few solo hours, here and there, to give Bellgrove some needed rest--otherwise he'll be cooped up with Connor, either in a make-shift machine-room or whatever this zeppelin has that passes for one, working on adapting the maneuverable Vril Personal Gliderwings with the powerful Pressurized Steam Rocketpack.
I'm just guessing, at this point, but if I understand correctly, Bellgrove may be the only person on the zeppelin who has any airship operation skills--so I would guess that he'll be spending most of his time either directly running the ship, or supervising/teaching said skills to anyone who wants to learn--as that would be the only way he could get some time off. Just a guess...
Grimsby's work at decoding is very important--both if we wish to better understand what may be going on, as well as to better prepare ourselves should we wish to try, again, to impersonate Vril operatives--so I would suggest he stay focused on that. Having said that, however, I also realize how dull decoding can be, so if Grimsby wants to, occasionally, take a break from the codes and learn/work for a few hours on the airship, that should be encouraged.
Mercy--I am guessing--will likely have no difficulties in maintaining and/or repairing the internal combustion engines (uh, they are German Diesel Engines, aren't they?), so won't have any difficulty performing the job of Chief Engineer--I assume. As with Bellgrove teaching airship operational skills, if anyone wants to help Mercy as an "Engine Oiler", please do.
Ladies--I do not mean to sound Sexist, but it is 1899--so the immediate "activities" that Dash can think of, for you to fill your time with, would be to act as Secretary or Assistant to Grimsby, as he works at decoding the documents. Or--and again, I remind all of you that it is still 1899--one or more of you Ladies might take up duties in the Galley. Dash is more than willing to perform the duties of Ship's Cook--but are all of you ready for that? ^_~
Marion, I am truly sorry to say this, but while your writing skills would likely be of great assistance to Grimsby, you are, by your own admission the most "domestically skilled" of all of us, here...hint-hint (Please be the Cook! Dash can barely make coffee! He has no idea how to make bread--please be the Cook! Please-please-please-please)
As for things that misogynistic Dash can't think of, please, feel free to...
...stand a watch on the Bridge and learn Aeronautical skills from a veteran United States Army Aeronaut (that would be Bellgrove--Dash was Cavalry).
...get your hands dirty working on the engines and making other, general repairs around the zeppelin with Mercy, the young Engineering Savant and student of Nicola Tesla. Miss Tinker-Plumist, I would think that working with Mercy and studying the mechanisms of this Vril Zeppelin might interest you?
...assist Dash & Connor with their tinkering on the personal flight device. Even if you only have an interest but no mechanical skills, you could always fetch tools and hold items.
...What of Professor Cavor? I hope the old Gent will have recovered from the ordeal of his kidnapping, and that he might take an interest in continuing his work--or any work. Assisting Cavor is always an option, if he is working. If he still feels frail, then--it's 1899, remember!--one of you ladies could be his Nurse.
And let us not forget that this is a pre-electronics era--we are responsible for creating our own entertainments! Likely, after dinner, we shall all gather in whatever passes for a salon on this airship (maybe just a dining chamber, cleared of dishes), for conversation on the day's accomplishments, perhaps some cards. Also we can entertain ourselves with stories, songs and the playing of music (yup, Dash sings--as a wealthy punk he had voice lessons as a kid; he's a Lyric Baritone).
So we can all be pursuing any and all of that, over the course of days that we will be sailing over the Indian Ocean.
Oh! Dash is a fair swordsman, and he learned a few dirty tricks during his time in Cuba. I'm sure we can find a space long enough for a fencing sale somewhere on the Zeppelin. It'll only be a couple days worth of instruction--but anyone want to learn to fight with a saber?
