Deep Seas War 6.1

6.

The Surface

The sight from above at the height of five hundred feet was not the cup of evening tea that the Sergeant Major would like to take on then. He stayed glued to the seta that was offered to him on the huge death bringer balloon in his exact words. He had been taken on a ghostly ride by the speed fiend and then boarded onto that balloon with a Dutch Captain that was still cursing at traveling in the twilight hours to the deep seas.

Earlier they have arrived at the so named Airfield where these infernal; he did borrowed that term from his Lordship were all hovering overheads. There was a few which were about to leave on their short voyages to the other cities. It was more expensive than taking the train but those trips were for the more affluent and in the words of James, spending by their passion.

Passionate for flying was never one of the Sergeant Major’s vices but he tolerated his Lordship. Jones however was all eager to fly than hang around the carriage.

“Still having the jitters, Sergeant Major?” His Lordship asked of him. “I have truly enjoyed the ride except for the cut here.”

The Sergeant Major had treated the minor cut on the forehead when his Lordship had knocked on the table. He was to reprimand the Corporal for the injury inflicted but his Lordship had praised the other for bravery and good action in face of danger.

“I never had a joyful ride since we crashed that armoured vehicle over the cliff.” It was an amazing feat for his Lordship and the Sergeant Major when during a pursuit by the enemy, they drove over the cliff but thankfully, it was a short drop into the mud. They survived that fall to fight on the next day.

“His Lordship, I begged you reconsider your trip. It’s getting dark now.” The Captain of the Dirigible cautioned him. 

“We can sailed in the wee hours of dawn if need be.”

“No, Claude. I must go there now.” His Lordship was insistent. “Urgent matter awaits me there.”

“The navigation and the low light…” Captain Claude complained.

“Use the sextant, man.” His Lordship took no more excused then while the Captain walked away cursing in Dutch.

“Claude, I know what ‘ik laat een’ scheet in jouw richting’ means. I do have relations on my grand aunt’s side.” His Lordship hit back. He then muttered to himself.

“How dare that man say he will fart in my direction? I will have him assed out if there were no better pilots than him.” Lord Henry was all worked up on the insubordination of his staff. He saw the Sergeant Master staring at him. “And that have nothing to do with his pay.”

The dirigible had lifted off an hour ago and was headed for the setting sun. It was named the Angel in reference to the ones that lived in the clouds then. The dirigible held by the main balloon above her metal compartment which housed the passengers and pilot. The main balloon was the one that stretched over a hundred and fifty feet in length with a radius of over forty feet. She was elongated in design with her twenty five frames that formed the main rings and forty longitudinal girders that span the length. There was a triangular keel at the bottom of the stern. The dirigible covering sheet was layers of gelatine in between two sheets of cotton.

The dirigible was powered by the two main steam turbine engine mounted on the extended metal struts away on the rear both rear side ends. Each engine produced a fair speed of ten knots on the fair run to thirty knots on a rush.

The passenger compartment was over thirty seats with seating capacity for no more than six persons. It was a fair arrangement with the drink bar and long table. It also housed the pilot station with the engines compartments to the rear and below the passenger deck. The engineers could cross over to the outlaying engines via the walkway by the metal struts. His Lordship had insisted on the twin Lewis guns be positioned at both sides in the engine deck to avert any unwanted incidents.

Their destination was the island lying off the boundary limits where Lord Henry have invested part of his inheritance there. It was a small island with an inert volcano and measured over two miles across and three miles in length. The island was a sanctuary for lost ships on voyages or storms. It held two large inlets which offered protection from the treacherous waves. The inlets were named Big Jaws and Small Jaws. It was told to his Lordship by Captain Arthur and since then his Lordship had staked a claim on it. He had built a fortress there at the mouth of Big Jaws. Unknown by many, Small Jaws held a large water cavern that leads to inside the island hills. The water in the cavern was warm from the lava heated tunnels that was beneath the island. The island was also a heaven given land for growths with its rich soil from the previous eruptions of the yesteryears.

Lord Henry had built the high wall fortress with its six pounders cannons facing the oceans. He also had a company of guards there from his old command that will not live under the truce with the authorities. They have built themselves a home there with their own independence. The island also sanctioned ships which are in need of shelter but with the neighbouring deep seas, there were little of such visitors except the ships of his Lordship or the bigger tankers which stop over to but the catches. The ships there fished in protective convoys with the armed boats forming the outer defence perimeter. Their tasks are to stop the predators from attacking the fishing trawlers.

Across the surface of the water to the solid land, Lady Jan picked up the Thompson gun. She glared at the line-up of the twelve guards against the wall of Lord Henry’s mansion. They were led to the wall by gunpoint.

“Lady, we tried but they were…” One of the guards had spoken up in defence but the lady was not keen. She raised the gun and emptied the load on the guards. She left the guard who spoke still standing.

“They were old and all of you were younger. So tell me more where the training failed.” Lady Jan aimed the gun at the living guard. “You got three seconds.”

The lady counted to three and then shot him in the legs.

“I have extended it by two more seconds.” Lady Jan looked at the man screaming in pain while writhing on the ground. She decided to end the man’s agony. She then discarded the gun after emptying the ammo clip. She turned to look at the two standing at the other side.

“Lord Ian, I do not like failures. They were retired army personnel and yet with an odd of five to one, they failed. You failed too along with them.”

“Lady Jan, I will not condone their failure but” General Clarke spoke out of turn. “You may not think that we are useless.”

“If you were any smarter, then do not have your sniper on me.” Lady Jan replied. “Well, I have taken care of that.”

General Clarke heard the body fell from the stables roof. He then felt the creeping fear on his spine. It was the same before he was wheeled into the operating theatre to remove the bullet from his lower back. He made through that but doubt he will live through another one. The figure joined up with the lady. He was a short man with a stout body dressed in black. He had a hoodie on and carried a curved bow with the arrow notched. Above it all, he was not Far Eastern by descent but a blond with Slavic looks.

“General Clarke, you owed me one arrow. I will take it now.” Lady Jan gave the command and her bowman released the arrow inches from the General’s feet.

“Maybe another day.” Lady Jan smiled and the walked away with the bowman. General Clarke turned to his Lordship.

“I...” General Clarke was cut off.

“Shut up, Clarke. We blunder there. You are lucky to be alive.” Lord Ian replied.