Venusian Megafauna Domesticated!

Remember, good readers, that you heard the news here first.

It appears that at least one of the giant herbivorous dinosaurs of Venus has been tamed and put to serving Her Majesty. My scientific assistant tells me that the beast in question is undoubtedly one of the great saurupods, probably brachiosaurus, but perhaps apatosaurus. Difficult to distinguish from the photostat.

From that high perch on the howdah, Her Majesty's troops can safely move through the teeming jungles of Venus without worry. I am hoping that the man who trained this remarkable beast shall be prompted to train additional dinos for purchase at auction.

I apologize for the paucity of posts again this month. This time illness, and not crushing workloads has been the main malefactor. I've been flat on my back for the best part of two weeks now. But I am improved, and hope to post more in July. Watch for a new monthly poll very soon.

Interesting Poll results

A tie between the Tsar and the Republic. Very interesting.

I already have some Texicans bought and painted. That's old news, but I need more. A trip to Little Wars (a fine retailer and the source for Freikorps in North America, and its on the other side of town from me! Hurray!) next week may be in the offering. On second thought, what with the current cost of gasoline and the hour to 90 minute drive to get across town (Houston, as capital of the Republic, is rather large). it might be less expensive to have the figures posted to me. I used Freikorps' Spanish-American War figures, by the way.

What figures to use for Russians of the late 1800s though? Crimeans would be too early, I think. I'll have to do a little research and ask about on TMP.

The Holy Father will definitely have a mission on Mars. Must set to work converting the heathens and all that, what? And naturally, he'll send a few good Catholic boys along to protect his missions. So, Papal Zouaves or somesuch, I think. The Zouaves should be simple enough. Just need to find a good ACW or FPW 15mm Zouave. Monks, on the other hand, I don't know a source for. I'll check Freikorps or LKM's Ancients line. Perhaps something will be there.

Japan and Belgium tied for second place. Not sure if I will do them in 15mm. I suppose some Boxer Rebellion Japanese infantry would work for rank and file. But I do like the look of the Japanese soldiers and the 'smoke-stalkers' put out by the London War Room under the Parroom Station line in 25mm. So there's a likely unit or two as well.

Poor little Austria (which was not all that little back in the late 1800s, if you recall your history) came in next to last. It was a fairly major empire then. So we may have to make room for them as well on Mars. Or perhaps Venus? The Imperial Germans have a fair presence there. An early attempt at Anschluss, perhaps?

First post of June

Gentlemen,

News as it happens.

Received today a shipment from a popular auction house. In the package were five pieces of absolutely stunning model terrain. The craftsman responsible advertises his auctions frequently on TMP, and goes by the name of Battlefield Architect there. His alias in the auction house (e-something-or-other) is, if I recall correctly, enjar.

I purchased the items as a bit of a test, as I have seen his work previously on numerous occassions. It is very nice stuff, looks marvelous and seems sturdy. There will be additional orders in the future, as finances permit.

In other news, I am off work for the summer, so hope to accomplish many things in the next two months. Perhaps even make a dent in the backlog of projects. Many things half-purchased. Perhaps a poll of opinions - a short poll, as I don't wish to wait for the end of the month to have my data!

Writing has Commenced...

I just finished today the first chapter in my VSF book. Champagne for all!

It is virtually the only work I have done in Victorian Science Fiction for the past week. Its only a 38 page (paperback pages; 19 letter) short story about the first adventurers to (briefly) enter the luminiferous aether in my timeline. British, naturally, as I am such an Anglophile, and Britain was the pre-eminent industrial power at the time of the launch in 1861.

It's good, I think, for a first go. I already have the idea for the second, longer story to be put in the book, which I envision as a compilation of short stories rather than a single tale. Of course, with a bit of work, it could all be tied together into one novel, I suppose.

I'll consider posting the story online here, for constructive critique, if there's a desire to read it. Ultimately, I hope to publish the collection, or at least parts of it, professionally. I'm always critical of my own writing though, so I am never sure if its worth submitting. Let me know if you think I should post it.

AAR: Second Ghola

   Alas, good readers, it seems that there shall be no photostatic images from the Second Battle of Ghola. Our intrepid reporter on the scene seems to have not taken his camera equipment with him on the expedition.

   And his notes on the action! Barely deciphirable, and incredibly incomplete. His - for lack of a better word - mind must have been focussed on something other than his duty to report the situation in an accurate and timely manner. Needless to say, the incompetent fool has been sacked. I don't care what my wife - his aunt - says! Harrumph!

   I have been able to make out a few details. Our forces advanced from the south, taking fire from a Martian gun. A second gun fired on the French, who advanced from the north of the village. The first shot from the Martian cannon struck the French steam walker, but failed to penetrate. A few half-hearted shots came from the rooftops on the northern end of town as well, felling a single French legionnaire.

   Our brave lads continued to press forward on the western side of the village, heading for an incomplete section of wall to cross. Meanwhile, ASA #27 stalked the Martian cannon through the town, finally roasting the red crewmen with his Grenville-patent Firethrower. Unfortunately, at the moment of his victory, he lost steam pressure and was out of commission for quite a few minutes until pressure could be restored.

   The wily Martians sprang an ambush on both sides of the village, with wild-eyed swordsmen charging both the French and our stout-hearted sepoys. Both ambushes were seen off after a few desperate moments of melee, with the natives virtually wiped out to the last man. Our own troops did not escape unscathed - seven sepoys and seven Legionnaires lay dead in the red sands at the end of the fierce scrap!

   A well-placed shot from the French walker and a series of volleys from the second squad of Legionnaires eliminated the majority of the Martian riflemen. The Emerald Legionnaires tried to sally forth from a building into the decimated French first squad, but were destroyed by volley fire before they could come to grips with their foes. The French occupied a large building adjacent to the shrine just as Lieutenant Popinjay arrived with his fresh squad at the gate of the shrine.

   The French officer called for a truce, to allow Popinjay and his men to retrieve the Orb of Ghola from the shrine, apparently unwilling to shed European blood and cause an incident that might lead to war with Britain.

   Inside the shrine cowered the few remaining native troops - six men. Popinjay's men fired into the shrine, seeking to kill the foe without having to enter the shrine, where the long halberds of the natives might chop them to bits. One by one, the enemy fell, until only one man, the native commander, remained inside the building.

   At that critical moment, ASA#27 suffered a second pressure failure. With that threat eliminated, the French struck! Firing from rooftops into the backs of our brave sepoys, the treacherous dogs killed all but one our men, including Lieutenant Heribert Q. Popinjay, late of Her Majesty's First Britannia Rifles and Chelmsford. The French steam walker slaughtered the remnants of Sergeant Fitum's squad, leaving only ASA#27 to take vengeance.

   With the Imperial powers occupied, the Martian commander seized the Orb and made a brave but foolhardy dash for the hills. He was shot down by French Legionnaires exiting the building adjacent to the shrine. At the same time, ASA #27 roared back to life and attacked the French walker with its powerful claw, causing a massive boiler explosion and destroying the French machine!

   ASA#27 then attacked the Legionnaires attempting to escape with the Orb, killing several, but failing to stop them from carrying off their trophy.