Notes taken by Alastair and Samantha Beadle.
Session 5.9 Index Session 5.11
We are in a barn somewhere in the north of England, discussing what to do next.
Noesis states that, in his opinion, there are basically no good guys in this world. But that the lesser of the two evils is France and the Octuple Alliance.
As previously stated Blitz thinks we should just kill Cromwell, then leave them to it.
However, with some discussion we conclude that even should we do this, this world will not be at peace. And when we return home our Puritan counterparts will just take over their bodies again, which will not be a good thing.
We then wonder if Servo could give them the technology to deal with superhumans. For example, power suppression cuffs and other things of that nature. However, Servo has been considering this already, and is of the opinion that this would take years to achieve. That is, much faster than a natural process of development, but still quite slow. It would also have the side effect that it would require the introduction to this world of lots of 'intermediate' technologies too - that is, the things required to build the things required to build the power suppression cuffs.
Even if he were to build the cuffs secretly and just release them, thus holding on to all of the intermediate technologies, that would have the problem of the cuffs breaking down and being damaged. Without the technology to build them, they will all eventually stop working. Problem!
We discuss what to do with the supervillians in the absence of high technology solutions. Various ways to restrain them are discussed, but without arriving at a solution. Void suggests we could all take powerful poison before leaving here, so our counterparts return to bodies inches from death. No-one else is really in favour of this plan.
Leaving this subject for now, we also discuss intercepting the New Commonwealth's supply routes into Britain, and developing the U-boat for the Octuple Alliance.
The thought also occurs to us that, from their files at the Ministry of Security, our counterparts all got their powers at about the same time as we did in our world. That being so, we consider that there may be other superhumans here who are as yet undiscovered. Fair point.
And that being so, we conclude that the French or more likely Madame Drakulich may be able to help in identifying superbeings. Or perhaps Bethany.
Noesis suggests that we could perhaps take out Cromwell and substitute a replacement for him, who would be less of a fanatic. Void suggests that perhaps we could do the same with the Witch-Hunter.
Or perhaps we could get Bethany to talk to him, and pretend to be the Voice of God. However, from what she said both the Witch-Hunter and John Smith can sense when she moves into someone, so that could be a problem.
However, replacing Cromwell does seem to be the best way forward.
With that pretty much decided, we discuss things further, and conclude that our blockade of the New Commonwealth shipping into Britain or France is worth considering as a distraction if nothing else. As something to allow one of us to gather the necessary information on the other side of the Atlantic.
We also consider that we need discuss the treatment of the prisoners the French are holding with the Baron Charles de Bourges if we do decide to go ahead with our blockade.
With that decided, Void opens up his gate to the French cave and we all go through.
The Baron Charles de Bourges, Master Lucius van der Stel and Duke Otto von Würzburg are sitting at the folding table in to one side of the cave, with papers spread out on it in front of them. They seem to be discussing the current situation.
They greet us as we step through Void's gate into the cave.
Noesis tells them that we are settling on a plan to sever the New Commonwealth supply lines, to France and, perhaps, to Britain too. However, he carries on to tell them that we are concerned by the treatment of prisoners we have seen. We wish to know more about the protection from torture and arbitrary execution they may have if they give themselves up. "They should be treated as you would like to be treated if captured," he concludes.
The Baron tells us that all of the nations who form the Octuple Alliance have signed up to an agreement on the treatment of prisoners. However, not all necessarily follow it fully.
He continues to tell us that the agreement has those who are captured kept in prisoner of war camps. Officers are interrogated (as there are far too many normal prisoners to interrogate them all), but not to the point of being permanently damaged - which is not the case with the New Commonwealth, as far as we have seen. They do shoot prisoners who try to escape, but do not execute people arbitrarily or do things like put heads on stakes. Any more. Conditions in the camps are very basic but, so the Baron tells us, not too bad. Certainly no worse then in the workhouse. They do sometimes use prisoners for slave labour, usually in farming or construction, but nothing that will kill them.
Perhaps that is not so bad after all.
We suggest that they make plans for many more prisoners to be taken over the next weeks and months. This is noted.
We also ask for details of the New Commonwealth supply chains that they know about, so we can decide how best to disrupt them.
The Baron nods, and a soldier is sent off, returning quickly with some files, which the Baron hands to us.
Apparently the New Commonwealth forces in France are supplied by small escorted convoys sent out every day from the three ports of Portsmouth, Southampton and Plymouth to the various ports in occupied France. The Octuple Alliance do intercept some of these (as many as they can), using their ships that patrol La Manche (the English Channel). These consist of ironclad warships and some submarines (although not enough according to the Baron). Apparently more Octuple Alliance warships are used in holding the La Manche open for Alliance ships than in attacking New Commonwealth ships.
Blitz suggests that many casualties would occur if we were to attack convoys mid-Channel.
It is then suggested that we should attack them while they are in port instead. We could perhaps obtain some assistance from the resistance to stop any trains and other means of transport going in and out to stop them clearing the ports easily. This seems like a sensible plan.
We look over the information the Baron has provided, and choose Portsmouth as our first target.
We intend to hit the first available convoy while it is in port or near to it so that there are as few casualties as possible, and also so that escape is possible for the crews of the ships. If we can cause some ships to sink in such as way as to block the harbour entrance then so much the better...
At that moment Noesis, Void and Servo notice a presence forming around Void as Bethany arrives back.
Servo asks her whether she knows of any other superhumans - other Blessed - in the resistance or outside of it.
She considers this. After a moment she says, through Void, that the Organisation of Revolutionary Justice has a Blessed within it. They can turn themselves invisible. However, as far as she knows, that is it apart from the Golden Cavalier.
There is some discussion about people who do not known they have powers, for example someone who is invulnerable, but who works at a desk job where they are never in danger. How would they ever discover their power?
Blitz asks about UFOs (which are very common in our world).
All of the natives look at one another, and then tell us that they do not know of any. Apparently there are sometimes sightings of off things, as well as rumours of werewolves, vampires and so on, but no real ones have been found as far as they know.
We then ask to see Madame Drakulich.
The Baron nods and sends a soldier to get her.
After a few minutes she arrives and greets us all. She does something of a double take when she sees Void with Bethany on board but does not otherwise comment.
Servo asks her whether she can detect that we are Blessed.
Noesis tells her that we are trying to identify other Blessed who might fight on our side.
Madame Drakulich tells us that she cannot do this.
Noesis asks if she could perform some magic to mask us against the Witch-Hunter.
She says she could perform magics - make us charms - that would let us blend into a crowd and not be noticed as standing out from it.
In fact, as she says this, we realise that she almost certainly does this to herself all the time, as we really cannot remember a great deal about her.
We ask he about these charms.
Apparently we would each have to wear one to take advantage of the effect. They would last for a few days.
We ask her to get to work on preparing some of these for us, with the Baron's permission.
He nods.
We also request some teaching of the use of explosives. Just in case.
The Baron nods again.
Lastly, we request some information on Portsmouth and the tides there, as that will affect the timing of the departures of the convoys to France.
Again, this is done.
Madame Drakulich is lead off by soldiers to go and work on the charms.
We are also led off, to a different location, where we are taught the basics of the use of demolition charges. These turn out to be simple devices consisting of bundled sticks of dynamite (or the local equivalent) with a timing device attached. However, it is relatively easy to learn how to use them.
While this going on, we also look at the files on Portsmouth provided by the Baron. The tides there are complex, because of its being in the Solent, with four tides a day rather than the usual two. The Solent is protected by powerful shore batteries at each end and on both sides of the channel, on the mainland and the Isle of Wight. Warships also patrol the area. The town of Portsmouth itself is small compared to its size in our world, but the dock facilities there are even larger than they are in our world, stretching up the west coast of Portsmouth island and the east coast of Gosport, opposite it. There is also an aerolon in the dock area.
We have refreshments, study the file, and blow things up. Time passes.
After some more discussion we decide that Noesis will go to Boston to reconnoitre prior to our replacement of Cromwell, as he is basically the best qualified of us all.
We tell the Baron this, and over the course of the day he provides Noesis with false papers, including passport and permit to travel to allow him to 'legally' visit Boston and North America, as well as tickets for the flight to Boston. Noesis is pretending to be a lieutenant in the New Model Army of the New Commonwealth, someone who is a prisoner of the French.
He is also provided with files containing information on Boston.
It is the capital of and largest city in the New Commonwealth, as well as one of the largest cities in the world. Several million people live there. It is also perhaps the plainest and dullest. It is dominated by the Cathedral of Christ, a vast and austere structure built on Beacon Hill in the centre of the city. Boston consists of houses and tenement buildings no more than eight stories high, with churches dotted throughout them, and factories far out from the centre, so the Cathedral towers over everything. However, although built of the finest white marble, it no longer gleams, having become, over the years, coated with a thick patina of airborne grime. All of the older buildings of the city are also coated with this grime. Around the cathedral are to be found the various ministries and offices making up the government of the New Commonwealth.
Boston has extensive port facilities, and a large aerolon. It also lies at the centre of an extensive system of canals and railway lines linking it to many other places in Massachusetts and beyond. An extensive elevated railway system provides public transport within the city.
There are extensive defences around Boston, mostly dating back to the time of the War of Holy Liberation (from 1690 to 1705), and as such many of them have been subsumed into parts of the city that have grown up since then, and are no longer used. The defences of Boston Harbour are still fully functional, however. The defences of the city are centred on Boston Castle, a large star-shaped structure with walls designed to deflect cannon fire and provide the best defences available at the time it was built in the early eighteenth century. It overlooks the Old Harbour.
Although still a fortress, Boston Castle is now the feared headquarters of the Ministry of Security. Many religious and political prisoners are taken there, never to be seen again. In the wing for these prisoners, the floors are carpeted and silence is the rule; everyone there wears masks. This is so that the inmates do not know when people are being moved around, and no-one inside the prison, on either side, knows with certainty who is there.
Noesis is also given a street map of the place.
The Baron tells us that the Octuple Alliance does not have any contacts we can use there. Damn.
We will also be out of contact with Noesis once he is there. Trans-Atlantic telephone calls are expensive, public and must be booked in advance. Boston is too far away for Void to be able to open a gate there. However, taking all of this into account, Bethany agrees to act as a contact between him and the rest of us. Noesis and Bethany agree that at midday every day (Boston time) she will make contact with him and information will be exchanged.
With that agreed, Void and Noesis touch hands, and Noesis feels Bethany move into him. They exchange some words as she concentrates, forging a link to Noesis' mind that will allow her to reach him wherever he is.
Void agrees to drop Noesis at Tilbury Aerolon, where he will be able to board a flight for Boston.
Once that is all arranged, Noesis asks Bethany if she could get into Cromwell's head and give him a good talking to. Perhaps acting as an Angel come to advise him.
She says she is willing to give it a go if we can get rid of the Witch-Hunter and John Smith. "If nothing else, I could sing irritating songs into his head for days on end," she comments.
There is also some discussion on whether Bethany can answer the age-old question of whether different people actually perceive things, such as the colour red, in the same way, or whether it really varies from person to person. Bethany tells us that, as far as she is concerned, everyone sees colour the same way. We then wonder if that is because that is actually the way of things or because that is how Bethany perceives things...
Time passes, and eventually night falls. We all sleep in tents provided for us by the Baron.
To again find ourselves in the grey misty realm between worlds. And to again find ourselves facing our counterparts. However, they are now slightly closer than they were last night, some six metres from us, where yesterday they were about seven metres away. The only exception to this is Truth, whose counterpart was further away last night, and who is still further away than those of the rest of us tonight (if closer than she was the night before).
Noesis again communicates with his counterpart using dreamed-up paper and pencil. His counterpart does likewise, only without the pencil.
Noesis tells Dr James to prepare for bad news, and after giving him a few minutes to adjust to brace himself, tells him that his family are dead.
Dr James is shocked and upset.
Noesis tells him that despite their knowing that he was not himself the New Commonwealth treated his - Noesis' - actions as if he was Dr James. And his family have thus been executed on Cromwell's orders.
Dr James continues to be upset, and turns away.
He refuses to 'speak' any further.
In his dream Servo dreams up tomatoes, that he then throws at his counterpart.
Marcus Forfar draws a rifle out of nowhere instead, and aims it.
No impressed at the level of restraint shown by his counterpart, Servo dreams up and raises a splat-gun instead.
A silent gun battle ensures. It does not seem to cause any injury to either of them, but the bullets do sting slightly as they hit Servo.
Our other counterparts just glare at us as before, with no communication of any kind taking place.
Next morning, we all wake and have breakfast.
As we eat, Madame Drakulich arrives, escorted by soldiers, and tells us that she has made the charms, as requested.
Truth asks her about our counterparts, particularly why they are coming closer in our dreams.
Madame Drakulich tells us that she thinks it is the beginning a merging of each of us with our counterparts. Apparently we need to strengthen our minds against them to resist this.
But regardless of this, Madame Drakulich hands out the charms she has made. They are each a small leather bag of herbs, to be worn on a cord around the neck. She tells us not to open the bags, and wishes us good luck.
The soldiers escort her away again.
So we are now as equipped and ready as we are likely to be.
Noesis collects a New Commonwealth-type pistol and ammunition for himself, and hides them inside his body.
Then Void opens his gate, spies around, and then opens it fully inside a toilet cubicle in Tilbury Aerolon. Noesis steps through, and the gate closes behind him.
Emerging into the Aerolon proper, Noesis discovers that there is a chapel and a coffee shop there, but very little else. Although armed guards patrol the place, there does not seem to be too much security inside the building; looking through the windows he can see that most of the precautions seem to be outside, before people come in.
Looking at the departures board, he sees that there is only one flight departing, the trans-Atlantic flight to Boston via the Shetland Islands, Iceland, the southern tip of Greenland, Newfoundland and Boston.
And he waits. Other passengers drift in as time passes, and also wait. After a few hours all of the passengers are called out. They cross a stretch of tarmac to the edge of the dock, where a seaplane [roughly Catalina-sized] is bobbing. It bears the white-cross-on-black-circle insignia of the New Commonwealth.
Boarding the seaplane with the other passengers, he is shown to his seat by a steward. When everyone is on board, the stewards check that everyone is seated properly, the boarding ramp is withdrawn, the door closes, and the seaplane taxis away from the dockside before accelerating off across the (rather rough and bumpy) water and up into the sky en route to Boston.
The plane will take about a day to reach its destination.
Meanwhile, in Portsmouth, Void scans his gate around to find a suitable arrival point, and when he has done so we all step through, and begin to make ready for our impending attack on today's supply convoy to the New Commonwealth forces in France.