Excerpts from the diary of Petty Officer Caine
Friday, 23 July, 1870
After the previous day's mystical dangers, almost a relief to learn that Prussian army has finally advanced into French territory. French forces fell back in orderly fashion to a defensible line approximately 12 miles from the city. Assisted Sir Cosmo and Sir Robert in assessing the situation.
No news yet on other Prussian allies--Bavaria, Hesse, Württemburg--but no attack from Palatinate or Württemburg has been reported, so it is safe to assume they have not yet committed themselves. Railways out of city closed. Reports of damage to tracks. Derailment on line to Belgium--could be accident or sabotage, no way to tell. Some telegraph lines down. Fortunately French semaphore towers still intact, so city not isolated completely.
Discussed options to evacutate Mrs. Middleton and children. River-canal route would take us dangerously close to front line. Also nearly certain Prussian troops guarding river at border.
Mrs. Cuthbert reports vision of Prussian gun in position six miles behind battle line. More mundane sources confirm that some large device is being assembled in that vicinity.
Discuss options. Consider ways to mount covert mission to gun. Henri, Benton, and self could attempt to cover country in disguise, attempt to sabotage. Perhaps just set fire to gun cotton. Edward suggests re-painting numbers on the shells. Brilliant idea.
Other League members think larger group should go. Tried to discourage idea, then mystics came up with method to pass under the battle line. Sweet William can lead through caves to spot on the map four miles south of gun position, well behind battle line. Entire League, particularly ladies, insist on coming. Mystics also have solution to evacuation problem. Hassan will take Mrs. Middleton and children to London in fiery chariot. MacGreggor and Miss Bertilde will accompany them on journey. Miss Whitnell points out that fleeing chariot may mislead Prussian sorcerers to think we are returning to London, and not expect our interference with gun.
Spend much of the rest of the day devising disguises.
Caves lead to location as promised. Set out through fields. One tense moment when Wooster had another rabbit incident and brought Prussian patrol attention our way. One spotted Mr. Cuthbert. Suspicious of his cover story until Edward ran out of underbrush crying "Grandpere! Grandpere!" Crying and clinging to Mr. Cuthbert's legs. Excellent performance.
Find artillery battalion encampment nearly midnight. Gun seems nearly ready to begin firing. Smaller group consisting of self, Henri, Benton, and Edward, sneaks into camp without major incident. George following short distance behind. Others wait at rendezvous outside camp, prepared to make distraction or mount rescue if needed.
Inside tent longer than anticipated. Artillary officers using analysis engine to compute firing positions. Suspected that was what machine in the other train was, but couldn't be certain. Swap shell 1 and 2, repaint both. Allow Edward to sabotage engine, in case the shell switch is noted.
Left camp and rejoined group. Entire League retreat to location of caves. Await the dawn to see if gambit worked, having overheard comments about firing at first light.
Saturday, 24 July 1870
Heard very satisfying explosion, saw large cloud of smoke at horizon, and heard other noises to indicate gun had misfired.
Prepared to leave, but Sweet William, our guide through caves, nowhere to be found. Brief search located him on east side of hill, watching "strange clouds." Spyglass that way reveals Le Victoire flying from direction of Württemburg, leading a fleet of even larger aeroships. Victoire flying LeCoq's flag as Admiral of Fleet, along side Royal Flags of Bavaria, Württemburg, and Two Sicilies. Larger aeroships flying flags of Bavaria and Württemberg--indicated King Ludwig II, King Charles, and King Francis II personally on board. Would seem that Bavaria and Württemburg have not only declined to support Prussia, but have actively sided with France.
Prussian units spot aeroships and begin to move heavy guns into position to fire at ships. Another guide of craft is dropped from the large aeroships--dozens of small winged "boats" that flew ahead of the aeroships. Boats equipped with Maxim guns or something similar, and began firing upon Prussian gun emplacements.
Was very reluctant to leave, though if Prussian anti-aeroship crews fled the gunboats, would almost certainly overrun our position. Edward even more enthusiastic to watch new weapons than me. Better sense prevailed and we retired from the field.
Once returned to Consulate, prepared reports and attempted to draw winged gunboats. MacGreggor and party had returned from London. Reported no trouble on journey.
Having been awake all night, eventually gave in to exhaustion and slept the rest of the day.
Sunday, 25 July 1870
Awoke to find fleet of aeroships "at anchor" above city. Spent much of the morning on balcony with spyglass observing the larger ships. Significantly different design than aerofrigate. Cargo capacity obviously much larger. Unfortunately no winged gunboats in sight.
By noon news was all over city that a temporary cease fire had been agreed to by King Wilhelm. No surprise that Two Sicilies came to France's aid, since King Francis credits LeCoq with saving his country from Garibaldi and the Piedmont navy in 1862. Not certain what reasons Bavaria and Württemburg will give for not honouring mutual defense treaty with Prussia. Presumeably Herr Falkstein's evidence was sufficiently compelling.
Alliance between France and Two Sicilies stronger than before. Princess Maria Teresa, daughter of King Francis and Queen Sophia, now betrothed to Imperial Prince Napolean Eugene. Heir of the House of Bonaparte now engaged to a member of the Neapolitan House of Bourbon. Maria Teresa is grand-niece of both claimants-in-exile to the French throne. This weakens Royalist case and strengthens Bonapartists; or at least it will if Napolean III negotiates favourable peace.
Rumours abound in city. Able to confirm that King Ludwig II of Bavaria, King Charles of Württemberg, and King Francis II of the Two Sicilies are all guests of Emporer at Citidel. Prussian Prince sent as envoy of Wilhelm. Have not been able to confirm which prince.
Wooster and I spent rest of day at the docks with crew, observing aeroships and attending to maintenance on the sloop.
Monday, 26 July 1870
Spent all that time with eye glued to spyglass for naught. LeCoq came Consulate today to offer unofficial thanks of Emporer. Offered all a tour on aerofrigate and the larger aeroships, which LeCoq referred to as aerocruisers.
LeCoq admitted that Bavaria had joined French cause because of assassination attempt on Colonel von Tarlenheim, Ludwig's principle military advisor. The assassin was an agent of Herr Bopp, and was supposed to leave evidence that would implicate France in murder. LeCoq also admitted that as the Imperial Prince's godfather, he arranged the betrothal, "With his Imperial Majesty's approval." I wonder if the approval was granted after the fact.
LeCoq spoke briefly in private with Henri, making overtures toward the Royalists. Henri seemed amenable to the idea of this compromise of the House of Bonaparte and the House of Bourbon joined in matrimony. I doubt the Duc de Bordeaux or Comte de Paris will be as amenable, but they are both elderly men, and the Duc de Bordeaux's only male heir is the Comte de Paris, in any case.
Before LeCoq was able to take his leave, Edward asked for one favour--he whispered something in the Admiral's ear. I recognized the name of "Arronax." Presumably Edward asked that Prof. Arronax be released from his protective custody. The Admiral promised to look into the situation.
We gathered ourselves together and took carriages to the Citadel, where LeCoq was as good as his word. We road a breaker's bouy arrangement from one of the towers of the Citadel to get into the aeroships. While on board, allowed to look at ornithopters--single man flying gunboats. Flying gunboats developed by Bavaria and Württemburg in cooperation. Dirigibles brainchild of Count Zeppelin of Württemburg, Bavaria provided funding for aerofleet.
Implicit in this are closer ties between Württemburg and Bavaria than previously known, with apparent aim of mutual defense against Prussia. Neither would like a repeat of the Seven Weeks War, obviously.
Henri and Edward were both extremely disappointed that they were not allowed to fly one of the ornithopters. Will spend the rest of the evening attempting to draw details of the ornithopters and aerocruisers.
Proceed to Behind on my quota
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