Wish you a Happy New Year.
Below is an extract from a new Steampunk story which I began recently.
THE STEAM WARS.
From ‘Blood for The Empire’ the biography of Sir George Jackson, MBE, Commander of Her Britannic Majesty the Queen’s Forces in the North. (by Aki Atkinson, Empire Publishing, 2035.)
Sir George Jackson was born in the debtor’s prison in Appleby (Westmoreland, England) in December 1976- a hard year for the British Empire; one of the coldest winters on record, and the year in which The French Empire re-conquered Mexico and threatened The North American Commonwealth in the west, and launched an attack on Greater India in the east.
His father (Sir Stanley Jackson) had died in a duel six months before. His disinherited mother (Lady Alice) had been incarcerated for debt one month earlier, and George was to spend his birth and his first Christmas and Easter in that cold dungeon. Unlike so many prisoners at that time, both he and Lady Alice survived.
Upon gaining his freedom, they retired to a modest country cottage in Kirkby Lonsdale, where George was raised by his mother and uncle, the notorious poet James Hunter. At the age of five years and nine months he was sent to Lancaster Military Academy. At the age of sixteen he graduated as an Infantry Lieutenant in The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment and served a year in the border guards in Africa. In that year his mother died fighting the French in Finland and his uncle was exiled to Orkney. At the age of seventeen he was sent to fight the French in India, where he served with distinction.
The author requests that the reader remember this harsh beginning in life, and does not judge Sir George too harshly. As he himself once said ‘Her Majesty expects me to kill her enemies; She does not expect me to be a Saint’.
From the Diary of Sir George Jackson, MBE, Commander of Her Britannic Majesty the Queen’s Forces in The North, in The Year of Our Lord 2010.
13/12/10.
0700 HOURS.
Have the most shocking hang over. Shall require a good dose of the jolly laudanum once the day’s duty is done.
Last night we celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of the Battle of Hyde Park. How we drank to celebrated the day the French army was driven from London, and down to the sea, where their ships would be massacred by the brave pilots of the Royal Airship Force!
If only things went as well now for our lads in Mexico… ah, but we still have India…
Have a busy day today. Must inspect two new volunteers; a stout fellow who was a Lancer before he last a few fingers in Chile, and a young lady, recently made orphan from a charming family of good name from Carlisle. Must also speak with Professor Gribbenfaust regarding his new patent for the revolving musket, and other tedious matters.
2100 HOURS.
Rather well now. Far better.
Which is for the best, as I was informed that Tsarina Llydamilia of the Russian Empire is making a surprise visit to hunt with Her Majesty on Her Westmorland Estates tomorrow and I must organise a body guarding force to meet her airship. Think a squad of Heavy Cavalry, a squad of Heavy Infantry and couple of Steam Tanks will do it.
Really big Steam Tanks!
Glad that I have not been charged with the Tsarina’s catering…
Lady Charlotte Duchess of Carlisle seems a most promising recruit.
14/12/10
2200 HOURS.
The Tsarina’s visit was a success! Her Russian Majesty delighted Herself by shooting two Red Deer Stags, and Her Britannic Majesty showed her natural superiority by bagging a stag, a doe and thee wolves. The fest afterwards was excellent (thought of course the Tsarina did not take one bite), and –best of all- no attempts were taken on the lives of either Majesty.
The Tsarina is a charming lady (despite all that they say about her- which is all true, but we must honour our allies). She reminds me a little of my darling Countess Fiona. God how I miss her! One day I shall take her back from France…
16/12/10.
0700 HOURS.
Jolly News! The French Empire falters in Mexico. Out North American Commonwealth troops shall be roasting turkeys in Mexico City at Christmas!
17/12/10
1700 HOURS
There was rioting in Lancaster, York and Newcastle today after Her Majesty announced that the age of conscriptions was to be lowered from eighteen to seventeen (due to recent losses in The Americas). I suspect that the riots were mostly caused by food shortages due to disruptions in trade caused by rogue German Privateers. Damn The Hun! (Fortunately, I am well stocked in laudanum and cake).
Commanded our troops to be lenient on the rioters, as it is nearly Christmas. There were no fatalities in either side, and only a total of 75 causalities in the region.
19/12/10.
0520 HOURS.
The French have invaded!
2100 HOURS.
This afternoon a force of French Paratroopers landed in rural Lancashire at dawn today. Motives unknown.
The first time that their experimental weapon was used on Jolly Old British ground.
Led a platoon of Dragoon’s from The Northern Defence Force against them, and was victorious.
Lady Charlotte of Carlisle set a fine example to the troops by single handily slaying a French officer, and shooting down two more Paratroopers. God bless that fine lady!
The RAF destroyed two out of three of the French airships which delivered that foul cargo.
My platoon lost only tree troops (and seven wounded), and twelve more British troops were lost in the conflict. There shall be severer retaliations against this attack (perhaps after the Christmas Truce)
24/12/2010
2300 HOURS.
Tomorrow is Christmas Day! Mexico City has been recaptured! Hurrah!
26/12/2010
1240 HOURS
Jesus Christ’s Birthday was celebrated with the joy and glory which He so much deserves.
The opium flowed like laudanum, the laudanum flowed like wine, the wine flowed like water, and the water was mostly in the form of snow… Such jolly fun was had in the Officer’s Mess!
Am terribly tired now.
31/12/2010
1800 HOURS.
A New Year is upon us, and with it a new hope of victory.
This year, as with every past year, I am sure we shall finally beat the French. We have fought the scoundrels for 218 years, but never have we faltered, never have we surrendered, never have we lost sight of our inevitable victory!
P.S The charming Lady Charlotte accepted my invitation for dinner on New Years day.
No comments:
Post a Comment