Royal Xenological Society, Vol. 2

Giant Tortoise of Venus

An interesting new species of giant tortoise has been discovered by our Texican allies on Venus. The new species, officially classified as Testudo venustica thibodeaux (or T. v. thibodeaux), is incredibly large. It is also, according again to our Texican friends, a rather tasty meal. The Texican photostatic expert for the expedition has again provided this journal with the first glimpse of the huge beast. It is conservatively estimated to weigh in at over 900 pounds, with a shell measuring over 10 feet across! Truly a monster, and a feast for many days to the hunters who manage to kill the beast. Rumor has it that its thick shell is proof against Earthly rifles, and that only a shot to the softer tissues of the extended head or neck will bring one down. The Thibodeaux tortoise's hard beak-like mouth can shear through tree limbs as thick as a man's thigh with ease. I shudder to think what its terrible maw could do to the tender flesh of Man.

A Flight of Wild Deathrays

This photostat shows the incredible gracefulness of these dangerous predators of the Martian skies. A trio of golden whorled deathrays can be seen gliding smoothly over the dry plains of the Martian outback. This particular photostat was taken from the safety of the armored deck of HMS Wasp, on a test flight out of Albertport.

I do hope you have enjoyed the latest in our educational series of posts regarding the flora and fauna of the Inner Planets. Return again soon to this telephonic journal for more edifying fare for your mind.

[Editor's Notes: The Testudo v. thibodeaux is nothing more than a Safari, Ltd. giant tortoise vinyl toy I purchased at Michael's Craft Store the other day. It just seemed perfect.]

Remember, Remember!

...the Fifth of November,
The gunpowder, treason and plot.
I know of no reason
Why the gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot."

Guy Fawkes Night Celebration in Martian Crown Colony

In celebration, good friends, there shall be a bonfire, and the traditional fireworks over the Government House in Albertport. Bonfire toffee and toffee apples will be provided gratis, thanks to the good efforts of the British Gentlemen's Benevolent Society. The effigy of Fawkes was constructed by the Ladies' Auxiliary to the Benevolent Society, and will be set alight by rolling tar barrels down the street into the effigy at the base of the bonfire. The barrels themselves are sponsored by two public houses in Albertport, the Woodstock and the Cock and Bull's.

For those of you lacking a solid classical education, please recall that Guy Fawkes was the man arrested on the fifth of November in 1605 in connection with the Gunpowder Plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament and King James I. He has since come to stand (in certain political circles)for the idea that a government should fear the people when it fails to represent them. However, most Englishmen revile the man who would overthrow his rightful king through such underhanded and cowardly violence as a hidden bomb. He was, of course, given a fair trial after his confession, and then quite rightly hanged, drawn, and quartered for high treason.

Delays in Posting

More news of technological breakthroughs and the Progress of Empire later this week, or perhaps this weekend. Astronomical conditions and work stoppages have made it difficult to send and receive messages via the Aetherial Heliograph System. We apologize for the delays in notification.

[Editor's Notes: In actuality, I have been swamped and smothered by work and our houseguests. There has been little of real progress to report. I hope the out of character notices have kept your interests piqued, and I eagerly await the next installment of Adventures on Venus (or whatever RSM Cox is calling his serial) just as I know the rest of you are.]

[OOC] More stuff has arrived!

Man, I love it when I get stuff that I don't even recall having ordered!

Today I got 24 German Seebattalion troops in 15mm from a fellow on eBay. I'm not super-impressed with the paint jobs. Another problem is that they seem to have been on Venus too long. Just check out the photo:

Once they are cleaned up, I'll be making an 'official' announcement of their arrival.

I also got a small package of bases and casualty caps the other day. Not very exciting stuff, but I needed more bases and I am going to try the casualty caps in Napoleonics. Which means I probably ought to post something on the Napoleonics blog, which is languishing sadly as I try to make progress on my VSF projects that have been piling up for the last few years.

The Pontifical forces are being held up at Little Wars while they await a re-stock of figures. I have no ETA on these, which irritates the crap out of me. They have my money, I would like to have my figures. In store, they are great guys, and I don't think they are trying to cheat me or anything, but I am not a really patient person in the first place.

What else am I waiting on? Uhm... I ordered a few Donnington Miniatures 15mm religious types (a bishop and a couple of priests) for the Papal forces. Those will be delivered at Warfare in Reading, a convention in the UK, where some nice folks from TMP are going to pick them up and ship them to me at cost, rather than the somewhat steep $16 for shipping 4 figures. I checked Royal Mail's airmail fees, and that's pretty high.

Also, I won a large tunneler from GW's offshoot company Forge World in an auction on http://www.games2trains.com/. It is resin, and emerging from the ground. Pretty cool, but waiting on delivery.

There are 10 RAFM shield gunners from their Space 1889 line coming in sometime soon as well. Got a steal on them - $12.60 including shipping! Woo Hoo! I love TMP!

And, I have a line on most of the Mordians I need to make the special weapons squad in 25mm for them. Of course, I have no other German troops in 25/28mm scale. Keep looking at the Tiger Miniatures, but I am not convinced about them. Don't see much else out there, though. Need to wait to get the Mordians, as I am totally blowing my budget lately, even with the pretty good deals I have been finding.

Still working on the airship. It's coming along slowly. Also, pouring the occassional resin saddle or two. Only need five (?) more. Once I get them all done, I can put together the deathray cavalry. After I paint the riders, of course. Perhaps I should quit typing and get painting. Too tired this evening, though.

I need to come up with a monthly poll, too.

Don't forget to vote tomorrow. Choose the lesser of the two evils, as you see it. Not that it matters much, since the only people you really want in the job won't go anywhere near it.

Think that's all for tonight.

A new month

01 November ...

This morning colors were a more prideful as our permanent three-section nautical flagpole was completed late yesterday evening. As the bugler played the Republic Anthem and the flag of the Republic was hoisted smartly up the thirty-foot tall pole you could feel the pride surge through the troops. This is the first time since landing on Venus that we got to fly the Ceremonial Republic flag, and unit flags of the RA and RM simultaneously.

Still no pigeons today, and it has almost been a solid week since the officers took a squad to make contact with Camp Trafalgar. I hope they are not in any trouble, as the planet is most hostile. I still will bet my money on the fact that a pigeon could not out-fly one of the flying reptiles we see daily over the camp.

I will be glad when the Santa Fe comes back to deliver the boilers and the rest of the construction equipment. I know the men would love to get their hands on the steam lumber sawmill or the steam auger or a steam drill. Knocking down trees is not a problem, as Spot is the best forest clearing device I have ever seen. It saves a tremendous amount of time trying to cut trees when Spot can pull a tree straight out of the ground in only a few minutes. The boiler will be nice so we do not have to boil water for purifying or for showers. Presently our showers consist of empty wooden barrels with holes drilled into them. Just heat the water and pour five gallons into the barrel, and presto! Shower time.

Our perimeter is now cleared of trees for 100 yards around the camp and we have trees stacked to the sky, to be used as building material. Since we have enough raw materials to build, I think I will have the road towards the tar-pits and the Venusian Sea cleared of trees at least and the road will come when we find some type of stone to use as a good foundation. Until then, we might build a corduroy road using the surplus logs.

So far today, we have eaten turtle three times. When Sergeant Thibodeaux is not cooking him and Private Mistrot are working on the turtle's shells. I asked Thibodeaux what he was going to do with the shell and he said he was making a big bath tub from the back shell.

Well, time to close and we all look forward to a day of relaxation on our day off.

Wasps over Albertport

Aerial Gunboat Takes to the Skies of Mars

We have also received word from the Royal Navy's ethership docks here in Albertport that Her Majesty's Royal Navy shall soon have a new class of small, steam-powered, hydrium-lift gunboats to protect the Crown Colony from the German menace and the troubling actions of certain Martian princes. Though it has yet to be armed, your faithful journal writer has no doubt that it soon shall be.

Seen here is the armored control cabin and the steam engine of the new HMS Wasp, the first ship of its class. Below, you can see a sergeant of the Royal Artillery's Research and Development Field Testing Platoon atop the armored cabin. The lights of the Albertport Ethership Tower can be seen in the distance behind.

You can not see the hydrium venting system in the hull that helps control the altitude of the armored airship in these photostats. Unlike the more common rigid frame gasbag type of airship, this vessel uses internal tanks of hydrium and is constructed largely of liftwood for added bouyancy. It can rise and dive rapidly as a result, and is far smaller and more maneuverable than even the smallest of the framed gasbag types.

[Editor's Notes: This airship can be converted for use by other nations in a matter of minutes, by changing the flag (on a removable pole). It currently sports the naval ensign of Imperial Germany, which is why it isn't seen in these small photos. It still needs a good bit of work, repairing damage sustained during shipping, and adding little details I like. Plus weapons, of course!]