Robert thinks only for a few moments. "Dozens or more lives will be lost if those weapons reach the rebels.  Swing around to sunward and we'll take them out if you please Captain.  Tracking them down would be useful but we do not have that luxury now with war at our doorstep.  We'll try for prisoners who might give us more information."

"Aye, Sir," Meghan says with satisfaction in her tone. "Mind yourselves with any incoming fire, though. People can be unpredictable." With that, Meghan goes to command her ship.

Hawkwing turns west to put the afternoon sun behind her, and then she swings to the southwest, descending rapidly as she approached the caravan. The steam engine chuffed, and heat roiled out of her stack as the propeller drove the flyer at full speed.

After a few minutes of maneuvering, hailing the caravan, and a burst from one of the Nordenfeldts, the caravan stopped at a wide spot in the ancient riverbed they'd been following. Meghan ordered the people to stand at the front of the caravan with their hands in plain sight, an order punctuated by the ominous snout of the ship's four-pounder pointed in their direction.

"I have an away team of four Marines to assist you," Maghan says. She smiles at Louis. "I presume that you will be going to greet them in person."

Robert watched the maneuvers of the ship with pride and great enjoyment.  The ship was obviously well handled and the officers and crew well trained and disciplined.  So it was when they had the caravan cowed into obedience that he smiled. "Well done Captain, well done.  We'll definitely want to interrogate the caravan.  The marines will be welcome as these rogues are desperate and their allies have already tried to kill us a couple of times."  He checks his weapons and heads back to the ladder to confront the smugglers.

When Robert, with Louis right behind him, arrives at the head of the caravan, he sees that the four Marines have spread out to cover the caravan with their rifles. They stand with their weapons ready, but not pointed at anyone.

Behind them, Hawkwing has lifted up to fifty feet to give her gunners a better field of fire, and to allow her lookouts to see further in case the caravan has aerial helpers about.

As the couple walks up, Robert recognizes two of the Martians as drivers from their original caravan. All of them, perhaps a dozen adult males and six older juveniles, are scowling at him.

"What is the meaning of this," the apparent leader says with a glower, his ears flat against his skull. "We are unarmed and peaceable folk, carry first aid supplies to our brothers." His English is nearly flawless, and only carries a slight Martian accent. From the network of knotted ropes draped around his neck, Robert determines that he is an assistant tribal chief, and a battle leader of some higher rank.

Robert bowed in acknowledgement of the Martian's rank but then shook his head.  "Rifles, weapons smuggling, treason..." He looked about.  "Step back and away from the caravan, keep your hands clear."  He pointed to a place where the guns of the marines and the ship could cover them. "If you have peaceable supplies then you will not mind a search.  If all is well we will leave you in peace to go with our blessing."

A chorus of low mutters from the drivers greets Robert's orders, but the leader stills them with a raised hand. "Step aside, brothers. Your lives are worth more than what we carry. Do not argue, for they will shoot us without hesitation."

The drivers do as they are told, and two of the Marines move in, covered by their comrades. A few minutes of searching yields the weapons and ammunition cache. Louis verifies that the entire shipment is present.

"We got it," she says to Robert.

Robert stands impassively, pleased that the Martian had chosen not to fight.  He sighs just a bit as the weapons are found.  "Now that the unpleasantness is addressed, let's get down to business.  I don't intend on slaughtering you all out of hand.  We've put a stopper on this route of getting weapons.  It won't work again although I'm sure another way will spring up soon enough."  He pointed to the leader and two drivers from the caravan.  "You three will come with us for now while we ask a few questions."

Louis turns to see a pair of sailors moving toward them, and notes that the ship has descended to load the weapons crates. She goes to assist them while Robert deals with the caravan leader.

The three Martians do Robert's bidding, and they wait for him to speak.

Robert is quiet for a moment as he thinks through the ramifications of his plan.  "The supplies can continue on to your people.  Her Majesty's government would never restrict food and medicines to anyone on any planet."  He knew that was not always true especially in times of war but Robert had no desire to cause unnecessary harm.  "You three are coming with us along with the rifles.  There was an attack on my wife and I that almost killed us.  You will be questioned and released after we determine if there was any involvement."

The Marines help Robert take the three Martians into captivity. One of them, a grizzled corporal, searches each of them with the air of a man who has done such things before. He collects several knives, done in the wickedly curved style popular here, along with two revolvers and a brace of percussion lock pistols.

Soon, the group is back aboard Hawkwing, and Meghan turns to Robert after ordering the prisoners secured below. "Should we go to our base in Avenel, or to the Yard in Syrtis Major?"

Robert let's the sailors do their work with the 'guests'.  He watched for a moment and then climbed aboard the ship.  When Meghan returned he thought for just a second or two. "Back to the Yard if you would please Captain.  The news we have of this smuggling must be shared at once."

"Very well, Sir. We won't be able to make the Yard until after nightfall, and we aren't allowed to operate at night unless it's a dire situation. We can retire to Avenel, or we can lay over at the refueling station west of Syrtis Major, which we can reach by twilight. In either case, we will be at the Yard on the morrow.'

Robert shrugged. "Avenal would be best if you would ma'am."

Thursday, June 21st, 1889 3:00 PM

Robert and Louis stand at the rail, watching as Hawkwing settles into her docking cradle. The ground crew runs out the gangway, and the ship's boiler hisses loudly as steam is vented away from the drive turbine. Behind them, the prisoners stand in a group, with the ship's Marines in close attendance.

Robert and Louis had enjoyed a restful night in Avenel as guests of the base commander. They'd had a bath, a good meal, and a wide, soft bed for the night. Louis had taken advantage of the bed, and they were both happily tired the next morning.

The flight from Avenel had been uneventful, and they'd had time to visit with Meghan Wilder. They told her their story, and she related how she'd struggled with institutional misogynism in her journey to becoming a Queen's officer. "I've had to be twice as good to measure up," she'd said.

The next morning, they'd risen with the sun for the flight to Syrtis Major. They'd seen nothing of military interest on the flight, though Robert did see that their original caravan had arrived at the canal docks south of Avenel, where the nuns' humanitarian goods were loaded onto canal boats.

Now, Meghan steps up to the couple with a smile. "You may debark at your leisure, Sir. We will bring your baggage along as soon as we are secured."

Robert deeply enjoys the time aboard the Hawkwing.  He doesn't offer advice or comments but watches keely all aboard.  The time alone with Louis was equally pleasant as he celebrated the the relief from the dangers of the past few days and the new life carried by Louis in the privacy of their room.

As they talked to Meghan Robert nodded his head slowly in sympathy.  "Times and traditions change slowly in the navy.  Not too many years ago it was considered bad luck to have a woman aboard." He shook his head; "Foolishness..."

When they reached Syrtis Major Robert extended his hand to Meghan.  "Your hospitality has been superb as was your timing in rescuing us Ma'am."  He remains formal in sight of the crew and officers.  Robert lets his voice grow a little louder.  "You have a crack ship and crew.  It has been a pleasure to ride aboard her."

"Thank you, Commander Darlington," Meghan says with a warm smile. "I am due back here in a week's time for a minor refit. Perhaps you and my cousin will have dinner with me?"

Robert bowed; "It would be a pleasure Captain.  If you wish we can host you in our club.  You should find the company most stimulating."

Meghan nods. "That sounds wonderful. I shall contact you when I return." With that, she goes to attend to her duties.

Louis turns to Robert. "So, can we go home, now?"

Robert bowed slightly to Louis and offered her his arm.  "Of course my dear.  I received a letter while we were docked at Avenal that all of our problems have been solved.  Apparently the British attache here had a talk with his German counterpart.  Gelber was sent packing back to Earth with charges dropped in exchange for dropping them against us."

He led them through the well kept grounds of the naval base to the gate where the chief petty officer in charge of the guard hailed a cab for them.  Passing on their address to the cabby Robert leaned back with his arm around Louis. "Let us hope we have a time to relax and enjoy our marriage and your pregnancy."

Louis giggles. "The question is, my love, will you enjoy what comes after the pregnancy?"

Brent nodded slowly.  "I look forward to raising a family with you Louis.  The details of babies, diapers and such not so much.  I would assume we'll have a nurse at least to take some of the burden from you."

"Yes, but you'd best behave yourself. I'll find the homeliest woman in Syrtis Major!" She nudges Robert in the ribs. "Maybe you will still love me after I get fat with the child."

Robert chuckled.  "As long as she's clean and diligent she can resemble a goat for all I care."  He smiled at Louis and kissed her.  "A pregnant woman has a beauty and desirability all her own.  I think you will have no fears for my ardor darling."

"Goat, indeed!" Louis smiles at her husband. "Take me home."

Robert kissed Louis on the cheek and made a little 'baaa...' sound.  He gave her a slight pat on the derriere and then offered his arm as they headed home.