(Transcribed from Petty Officer Caine's coded log after the Iron Rhine Affair):
19 July, 1870
Special messenger from Consulate brought bad news. Weapans cache was removed from Von Gower Glassworks before police arrived. Possible Prussians were tipped off by informant within Belgian forces. More likely destruction of Teutonic Knights hall prompted other agents to move assets to safer locations.
Brixton Horrors drive war news off the front pages of London newspaper.
League divided forces to pursue leads: Cuthberts, Sinclair, and Frazer search glassworks; Cosmo, Edward, Bertilde and Deveril to train factory; MacGregor, Salmalin, Chigwidgeon, Whitnell, Wooster, and I to consulate; Wilson, Henri, and O'Flaherty will build weapons effective against Schmidt.
Spent day planning tactical responses with Capt. Moriarty. MacGregor and others proceeded to coroner's office to follow up on other leads related to Arkwright's murder. Current focus is to find Schmidt's accomplices.
News from Paris and Berlin not good. Received rumour via informants in Paris that Assembly passed a resolution declaring war on Prussia. Emporer set against it. Personally appealing to faction leaders to reconsider. No public announcement.
Received reports from League. Missing Arkwright shoe in possession of de Ritter. Prussian agents removed guns, as suspected. Unusual train car was shown to local rail expert some months ago by Prussian businessman. Local expert gave advice to improve design.
Prussian warships sited off the coast of Holland, heading toward France. French warships in port seem to be remaining in port. Unconfirmed reports of aerofrigate near the Rhineland.
More news from the League. Annoying american woman has been kidnapped from her unconcealed spying position outside the villa. Another american, Leslie Gallant, Jr. contacted O'Flaherty and asked to meet and share information.
Confirmed reports arrive from Paris: Emporer forced to veto declaration of war. Made personal appeal at the chamber of the assembly. Shouted down during re-vote. Declaration passed again. War is declared.
Sent to villa with message from Moriarty. Ambushed on the way by nine men. Leader is Dutch agent, Count Rugin. Wooster distracted Rugin until escape could be attempted. Wounded or killed Rugin's associates. Also wounded Rugin. Carriage destroyed. Horses run faster when not pulling carriage, anyway.
Delivered message. League understandable upset. Packing began. Cosmo, Wilson, and Edward accompanied us back to docks to install additional rocket batteries in Orion's battlegroup.
Cosmo also reported meeting with Mr. Gallant. Gallant acting on behalf of a "senior civil servant." Fate not working for American government, but working for a specific political faction. Gallant's superiors worried that Fate will cause incident and implicate Americans. Gallant shared additional information about Prussian agents who removed weapons. Provided descriptions, which Pennington has added to the files.
Moriarty showed us his sealed orders. Commodore Moriarty to take command of British forces and take all action necessary to protect Belgian neutrality. Wooster made Flag Lieutenant.
Moriarty gave Wooster command of sloop with rocket battery. We are ordered up the canal to guard Iron Rhine bridge. If Prussian train refuses to stop at border, we are to destroy the bridge. If Prussian toops cross border, we are to stop them. If French aerofrigates cross border, we are to stop them.
Moriarty and Orion group setting sail to engage Prussian warships if necessary. League going to Brussels to coordinate with the ambassador and Belgian forces. Peacock ordered to assume active rank and offer services to Belgian government.
We set sail at 7:30. Arrived bridge 10:05. A Belgian artillary unit and platoon of army has taken position at the border station, stopping all trains.
11:50 train from Cologne failed to slow down at station. Commander Wooster gave order to fire as engine cleared the bridge.
Unusual railcar with largest cannon I have ever seen did not make it across the bridge. Is currently laying in three fathoms of water beneath wreckage of bridge.
A rather intimidating number of Prussian soldiers got out of train. A larger number are wounded or dead in the wrecked cars. Soldiers showed surprising good sense when Wooster and commander of Belgian artillery group ordered them to stand down and assist in treating the wounded.
Dawn is still six hours away. I fear the worst is yet to come.
Proceed to Anxious for battle
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