"ROBERT, GET DOWN!" Louis' scream is punctuated by the boom of her rifle. Robert looks up to see a group of men racing across the intersection from right to left, pistols blazing...

Robert instinctively ducked and rolled to the side into better cover.  He brought his pistol up toward the sound of running feet and fired at the approaching men.

Robert's roll saved his life - a bullet splats into the paving stones three inches from his face, sending shards of rock flying. One of them snacks him in the forehead hard enough to make him see stars for a moment. Then, one of the women falls on top of him, and he sees nothing from under her motionless body.

He hears at least one man screaming, and two women. One is very close, and the other is in the the direction where he last saw Louis.

Upon hearing the screaming of women Robert frantically heaves the body off of him and turns toward where he last saw Louis.  He readies his pistol praying that she was not injured.

It takes Robert a few seconds to extract himself from under Claude. She is bleeding from her left front above her breast. Womack is also down, but Robert doesn't see any obvious injuries.

Looking across the alley, he sees O'Rourke sitting on her backside, pressing both hands to her right thigh. Blood is seeping between her fingers, and her face is pale.

Louis is still lying prone behind her rifle, her head resting on the stock. She is motionless, and Robert sees a trickle of blood on the stock below her head. He can't see her face, and her hair obscures her head and face. The crate she and O'Rourke were using as cover is splintered by what appears to be several shots.

To Robert's right, two figures are down in the alley intersection. One is motionless, the other is curled into a fetal position.

The gunfire has moved in the direction of the waterfront. Several police officers move through the intersection, followed by a small group of British marines. Their barracks is nearby, Robert remembers. To his left, a party of sailors runs to the alley intersection, and begin firing toward the waterfront.

Robert moves Claude aside easily but his attention is focused on his wife.  He calls to the marines.  "You there, corporal... I'm Commander Robert Darlington.  We have injured women here.  See to them." He points to O'Rourke and then Womack and Claude.  Without waiting for an answer he runs over to Louis and kneels to examine her.

The marine looks at Robert, and then turns to look behind him. "Medic forward!" he yells over the gunfire.

After a brief examination, Robert sees that Louis is regaining her senses. She has a deep laceration from her right temple to a point above and behind her right ear, which is bleeding freely from three points. The wound is the width of his pinky finger, and three inches long by a quarter inch or so deep.

"Robert?" Louis says slowly. "What happened; my head hurts." She tries to roll over on her left side and reach up with her right hand. "Owww."
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:40, Mon 12 Dec 2016.

Robert tears a section of his shirt loose and presses it against the wound to staunch the bleeding.  "You were cut badly by splinters."  He was well acquainted with splinter wounds having fought aboard wooden ships. "Lay still and we'll get the medics to attend you."  He smiled and kissed her cheek.  "You did well taking out those two gunmen."

"Ow!" Louis protests as Robert presses the cloth to her head. "We have dressings in my pack."

Robert hears movement behind him.

"Now you lie still, lass. Ye've a splinter as long as me finger in yer thigh, and pullin' it out won't help ye. We gotta get ye to the surgeon right quick."

The gunfire is dying down, and moving toward the canal.

Robert fishes around in Louis' pack and finding the bandages applies them to the head wound.  "That's nasty but it looks superficial." He looked about and blanched a bit at O'Rourke's wound. Robert had seen plenty of splinter wounds and this was a bad one.  "Do you have transport Corporal?  I know the right surgeon back at the navy yard.  We need to get those two women as well."  At the moment he wasn't much worried about the continuing battle but rather focused on his wife and the American.

"We have people coming, Sir. They will be along right quick," the medic replies. "Me mate is looking at the other two o' them now."

"Ow," Louis says as she sits up. She sits still while Robert applies the bandage with hard-earned skills. The smell of gunpowder and the sight of blood brings back some very unpleasant memories...

Robert shook his head as the memories swirled over him.  First there had been the sabotage and crash of the ship that had brought them to Mars.  They'd managed to survive, building a relationship that had been born of a moment of passion as they'd faced death in the landing.  That had been bad enough and although Louis had demonstrated over and over again skills in the wilderness and with her rifle as well as an iron will, Robert had gritted his teeth as they had faced danger again and again.  Now she was once again in the firing line and wounded to boot.  Despite a performance to equal any man Robert felt anger that his wife was exposed to this further plot. "Just rest Louis, we're going to get everyone to a surgeon.  The battle has moved on past us."

He turned for a moment back to the marine; "Make sure those two women stay nearby.  They are deeply involved in the plot behind this running battle.  What brought you to this area?  Not that I am complaining about the help."

"I am fine, my love," Louis replies, placing her arm on his. "Vulcan himself is wielding his hammer inside my head, but I will be fine. How is Maude?"

The corpsman shrugs. "I don't know, Sir. We was playin' a round o' cards, and then the Sar'Major comes in hollerin' orders and sayin' there was a gun battle at the docks." He grins mirthlessly as he presses a bandage to O'Rourke's leg. Robert can see that her trousers leg has been slit nearly to her hip, and a chuck of wood the size of his finger is sticking out of her thigh. "I think one of them is gone, Sir."

"Dammit, that hurts," O'Rourke says through gritted teeth. "Robert, how are Womack and Remington? They haven't moved either of them, and they aren't even working on Remington."

Robert sighs in relief as Louis replies, obviously in decent health.  It's still obvious that he's upset at her injury but can contain it.  He glanced over and listened to what the corpsman had to say. "I'm afraid Claude may be beyond help from her wounds."  He frowned, upset that the two women under his protection had been injured as well.  That O'Rourke was a Secret Service agent and the other two Americans were running guns to the deadly enemies of the Crown mattered little at the moment.

"Well I'm glad you lads came when you did.  We were about to be over run and even then paid a heavy price."  He rose to his feet. "Send one of your men to fetch a carriage so that we can get these women to a surgeon.  I'll check on Womack and Remington." 

Robert walked over and checked on the two Americans.

The gunfire has died down to a few sporadic shots, and Robert notices a group of civilians being hustled away from the canal by a trio of police officers.

He immediately sees that Claude is beyond help. A large bloodstain covers her torso, and Robert sees two holes in her blouse, one close to her heart, and another just over her right breast. She has that huddled, shapeless look that only the dead can achieve.

Womack has a large bandage around her head, and the corpsman attending her looks up at Robert. "She's lucky - the bullet just grazed her head, but she's out cold. The other woman, well, she was gone when I got here."

Robert sees a trio of officers down the alley from the direction he had come. They are speaking to a police sergeant, judging from the brassard on his tunic sleeve.

Robert sighed as he looked down. "Bloody..." He turned away and glanced at Womack.  "At least one..."  Robert looked up at the corpsman.  "You've done well in saving this one.  The other woman... she had no chance." He looked around, seeing that the police sergeant was speaking to some of the naval officers.  He headed back to Louis and O'Rourke.  "It's about up unless Louis and I can get out of here ahead of the police again."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:05, Fri 23 Dec 2016.

Louis makes it to her feet, and immediately braces her hand on the wall. "I don't know that I can travel quickly, my love."

O'Rourke looks up from her injury. "There is little you can do while being a fugitive," she says breathlessly as she grits her teeth against the pain of her injury. "I am willing to testify on your behalf, if that helps."

Upon seeing Louis standing weakly Robert went immediately to her and put his arm around her shoulder to brace her.  He looked at O'Rourke and nodded grimly.  "I'll not leave Louis while she's injured.  And I think you are right; it is time for us to let the authorities know what we've learned.  This is a tangled affair but it's out in the open now."

Syrtis Major (May 24, 1889, 5:30PM)

The next two hours are a blur of activity.

OOG: Interject anything Robert would like to do or say into the narrative...

Dr. Marsten and the Chief arrive to take care of Louis, O'Rourke and Womack. They are transferred to a nearby police station, which also has a small surgery attached to it. Robert is allowed to stay with Louis. Claude is dead at the scene, and her body is taken away, along with the other people Robert saw killed in the battle. Robert also sees a dozen other wounded; police, sailors, and soldiers, the last both British and German.

A British Navy commander arrives to take command of the scene for the military. Police Captain Aaron Chambers (Robert and Louis' friend from the Explorer's Club) also arrives, along with a detective. Robert also spots a pair of German officers, and several well dressed men and women who appear to be diplomats or attaches.

The three ladies are bandaged and are able to rejoin Robert - just as they are called into the squad room at the police station. Captain Chambers is there, along with Robert's commanding officer, a German major, and three men and a woman in civilian dress. The four of you are invited to take seats across the table from the impromptu panel.

OOG: Robert would ask a few questions of the course of the running battle and will certainly point out the deaths that they saw in the warehouse of the Martian smuggler.

The situation unfolded as follows:

Robert, Louis and Maude O'Rourke arrived at the warehouse shortly before a detachment of German grenadiers, presumably to guard the weapons. Meanwhile, Claude Remington and Bessie Womack had escaped custody and also go to the warehouse to meet with Gelber about the double cross and their money.

Gelber arrived with a cadre of men from the German Embassy, and moved toward the warehouse. Meanwhile, a flotilla of Martian-crewed canal boats arrived at the dock near the warehouse. The gunshots summoned the police, and a group of sailors, who had been trailing Womack, also arrived on the scene. An officer from the nearby Army barracks also heard the shots, and assembled his men to investigate.

The sailors contacted the German infantry, and the firefight started. Gelber managed to extract most of his men to the canal boats, while the grenadiers held off the British. The army troops were preparing to assault the warehouse when the German commander demanded a cease fire. That was granted, and the Germans withdrew on their own canal boats, taking some of their dead and wounded with them.

By the time the warehouse was searched, the weapons were gone. Louis (and I presume, Robert) provide a narrative of what has transpired over the last day (Robert arrived home from work to find Louis gone at about 5pm yesterday).

OOG: Is there anything pertinent that Robert wishes to leave out of his testimony?
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:10, Sat 24 Dec 2016.

Robert will leave out anything that might incriminate those that helped them along the way.

When Robert and Louis are done speaking, they are escorted out of the room so the panel can deliberate. A policewoman arrives with clean clothing and a small meal for the couple, since it is dinnertime. She also offers Robert and Louis a room where they can freshen up.

An hour later, the couple is summoned again, and are invited to take seats. This time, Maude O'Rourke is present, seated next to Louis. She is also wearing fresh clothing, and is favoring her wounded leg. The German delegation is conspicuously absent, though.

"Commander Darlington, Missus Darlington, and Agent O'Rourke," Robert's commander begins. "We have reviewed this matter, and we have come to a consensus regarding its resolution. I will begin, Commander, by recommending that a letter be placed in your record stating that you did not contact me regarding this situation. Your reasons were well thought out, and, for what it's worth, I agree with them. The facts remain as they are, however. Her Majesty's officers are expected to work within the law, whether retired or not. There will be no other repercussions for you, considering the circumstances. The charges against you have been dismissed, and the warrants withdrawn."

"Missus Darlington," Louis stiffens as he addresses her, "you have cut quite a swath through this city. It seems you are a very dangerous lady, indeed." Louis flushes, and the officer smiles tightly. "As with your husband, no charges will be brought, and no recompense for any damaged property will be sought from you or your husband."

"Agent O'Rourke, your report is still under review by your superiors, and, since you are not under my authority, they will speak with you regarding this matter."

"Our conclusion, in brief, is that you all acted within the scope of reasonable," his brows swoop down, "although not entirely legal, people, and your actions have uncovered a serious threat to Her Majesty's interests on Mars. I regret to say that we cannot publicly acknowledge your contributions, since the weapons you found have once again disappeared."

"The Germans are not at all pleased, and the Kaiser is protesting your actions, and our response with the Crown. Pending a response from the Home Office, though, we are quite on our own."

He leans back with an expression that sharpens Robert's attention. "We are, in a word, over a barrel. If we open an official investigation, it could bring about open conflict, even here in Sirtus Major. The American government is equally concerned, and their delegation is small, given that they hold no lands here. Therefore, we have a proposal to offer - work for us clandestinely, and find those guns before the rebels get them. We will have Army and Navy units on call to actually capture them, but we need to find them first."

Robert listens impassively.  He doesn't stir at all during the discussion other than a nod in acknowledgement of the rebuke for not contacting his superior.  He doesn't stir when the attention shifts to Louis but his hand does seek hers under the table to give her a reassuring squeeze.

When the last cards are laid on the table Robert glances at Louis and then to O'Rourke.  He looks back to his wife and takes a deep breath.  "What was done here was not just treacherous and a threat to every British subject on Mars but it is personal.  My wife was placed in great danger and my own honor besmirched.  These men are not only ruthless but they slaughtered innocents in their quest to bring harm to the Colony.  I wish strongly to see these men brought to justice or silenced permanently along with the destruction or recovery of the weapons."

Robert leaned in more closely to Louis.  "What do you say Louis?  I will take up the offer to see this through to the end.  Do you wish to join me?  I would sorely miss your steady hand and deadly aim."

"I will stay by your side," Louis says, her eyes hard with the light of battle. "They murdered my dear cousin, and for that, they will pay. One way or another," she wipes a tear from her eye, "they *will* pay."

O'Rourke nods in agreement. "I have not spoken to my superiors, so I don't know what position my government will take. Considering the arms originated in America, I would think we would want to be involved."