Pilot

SCENE 1. EXT. DAY.
Mechanus, the Clockwork City, in all of it's glory. A cataclysm of spires, clock towers, and smokestacks. Airships, dirigibles and hot-air-balloons sail through the sky, while beneath them a layer of greenish smog hides the dirty streets below.

CUT TO: The street, shrouded in fog. A street-sweeping machine passes, buzzing for the pedestrians to get out of the way. Everyone is walking along with their heads down, doing their best not to attract attention.

Along comes Genevieve Sparling, Captain of the airship Aether, and she's striding boldly along as though she has some purpose. Her jaw is clenched angrily, and at her heels trails Newton Falk, pilot and pistoleer, and Luka Arlexi, dressed in greasy overalls and carrying a wrench.

Luka Arlexi: "What do you think is keeping her?"

Newton Falk: "Hell if I know, we'll be lucky if it doesn't kill her before we get there."

Genevieve Sparling: "If she's true to form, we'll find her gaping at something shiny and explosive."

Luka Arlexi: "…" Luka shudders.

They come to a building marked "Chymical Supplies" in a dark gray font. Newton and Luka enter in front of Genevieve; she hesitates before entering, looking around at the crowd on the street. In the distance, over the heads of the other pedestrians, she thinks she spies the dark shape of a bowler hat. She turns quickly and hurries inside, shutting the door behind her.

CUT TO: INT, DAY. Inside the Chymical Supply store. There is a lot of dust in the air here; and bottles filled with a variety of dubious-looking liquids and powders, in many colours and consistencies.

The protagonists look around, and the camera follows them deeper into the shop, where we find Dr. Evelyn Higgenbotham.

Luka Arlexi: Luka looks around, curious despite herself.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: She is standing at the cash register with the cashier. She turns to the rest when they come in. “Ah, there she is. The tall one in the middle. She’ll pay for my chemicals.”

There's a pile of packages behind her about as high as she is tall.

Genevieve Sparling: Genevieve tries to avoid inhaling too deeply, but can't hold back an exasperated sigh. "Dr. Higgenbotham, I'm told that personal timepieces have advanced marvelously in recent years. Perhaps you should invest in one."

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Hm?"

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Is distracted counting the packages.

Newton Falk: Newton steps away into the shelves but stays within earshot

From somewhere deeper in the shop, a cuckoo clock chimes.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "What's this fuss? What's this?"

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: is not really paying attention

Genevieve Sparling: Genevieve rolls her eyes and starts stacking coins on the counter.

Luka Arlexi: Luka is oblivious, picking up some of the bottles near the window and holding them up to the light.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn picks up one of the packages. "HENRY! No touching!"

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Good news, everyone…"

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "I found us employment."

Newton Falk: "Shit…"

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: She picks up a package, turns to everyone, and smiles.

Genevieve Sparling: Sparling quirks a brow. "Please tell me our employer is not in the box.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "…in the box? Interesting?"

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: is muttering to herself, "could i do that?"

Newton Falk: Dig it

CUT TO: The Airship Docks. A huge building with an enormous curved roof lined with hatches for airships to descend through. There are several airships docked here. There is also a bustling crowd of people here, with many comings and goings, peddlers offering food and wares, urchins pickpocketing, and so forth. A enormous banner hung from the middle of the ceiling reads: "Efficiency is Necessary to Vitality."

CUT TO: The Aether.

Michael Harrel: Sleek and rosewood-colored, the Aether stands apart from the other airships in the dock; its design flourishes contrast with the utilitarian monotony of the grey giants that surround it.

Michael Harrel: We zoom in as the crew is heading up the ramp. Newton is pushing a cart with Dr. Higgenbotham's recent purchases. Felix, the ship's navigator, is there to greet everyone.

Michael Harrel: "Hey Cap'n! We ready to cast off?"

Genevieve Sparling: "If you've finished setting our course, Felix."

Michael Harrel: "….er, just about. If you tell me where we're headed to," he grins.

Genevieve Sparling: ((Heh. Should have thought about that.))

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn looks to Newton, “Put them in my lab. I must start straight away! Efficiency!” she raises her hand above her head, points into the air with gusto, and shakes her finger.

Newton Falk: "Then you can take them there yourself. I have a ship to prep."

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn laughs and walks past him into the ship, muttering excitedly.

Luka Arlexi: "I'll help, Professor," Luka sighs resignedly.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "So good of you, Henry."

Newton Falk: "Felix, you wanna help me with the lines? I'll feel better when we're not tied down." Moves about prepping ship.

Michael Harrel: "Sure thing," says Felix.

Michael Harrel: He moves to help. Genevieve tarries on the ramp, distracted. Far below, on the actual floor of the docks, she sees a gentleman in a black bowler cap staring up at the ship, twirling his cane slowly around his finger.

Michael Harrel says: He walks on as she looks down at him.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: (for refernce: Evelyn has gone to her lab)

Newton Falk: -under breath- "Keep moving Cap, he's been on us the whole time"

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: (which is also her room)

Genevieve Sparling: Genevieve takes a deep breath and proceeds on board, heading for the lab.

CUT TO: INT. DAY. Evelyn's Lab.

Luka Arlexi: "Where does this one go, Doctor?" Luka points to a large box still on the hand cart.

The lab is also Evelyn's room. The only thing that really resembles a personal room is the unmade-bed. Evelyn is already unpacking her purchases, and Luka is attempting to help. There are diagrams taped to the wall, including various figures, formulae and equations written on the wall in chalk. Beakers on bunson burners sizzle and smoke.

Genevieve Sparling: Genevieve steps inside, taking care not to touch anything. "Doctor, would you care to explain to the crew of this vessel exactly how we're going to earn our next meal?"

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: “Smuggling!” she clasps her hands together, smiling, looking at everyone in turn.

Genevieve Sparling: (Muttering) "Well, that's a relief."

Luka Arlexi: "Hmm? Oh, hello, Captain."

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: “This package,” she lifts one that looks a bit more battered than the rest, “houses a toxic chemical! Our employer needs us to bring it to his contact in Dublin.”

Genevieve Sparling: "Doctor… I can't tell if that's better or worse than the crate of scientific cadavers you had us carry to Arles."

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Oh, much better!"

Luka Arlexi: (mutters) "I had nightmares for weeks."

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "But we should have gotten part of the money up front."

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Looks around, "Oh well."

Genevieve Sparling: "Indeed. And I don't suppose you made such an arrangement this time around either."

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "No, but we'll ask for more."

Genevieve Sparling: Genevieve pinches the bridge of her nose and sighs.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "So… Dublin," looks at Felix, "Shoo!"

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Makes shooing gestures.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Henry! Be careful with that."

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Turns her attention back to the packages.

Genevieve Sparling: Seeing she'll get no further information out of the scientist, Genevieve turns and proceeds to the bridge.

Newton Falk: "Captain on the bridge"

Luka Arlexi: Luka looks around, shrugs, and sets the box someplace where it won't be tripped over.

Genevieve Sparling: "Hardly necessary, Mr. Falk, but I appreciate the effort."

Newton Falk: "Training, Sir. We have a course yet?"

Genevieve Sparling: "Dublin, I'm afraid. I don't intend to stay long though, so don't expect to go straight to a pub."

Genevieve Sparling: ((Depending on Falk's attitude toward drinking of course, that last bit could have been sarcastic.))

Newton Falk: "Aye, sir." Busies himself with controls

CUT TO: INT. THE DOCKS

The Aether disengages from the docks, and rises swiftly and gracefully into the air, its steam engines pumping steadily. We watch as it rises up through the hatch in the dock ceiling and then flies away on a north/northwesternly course. As it passes out of sight, the camera zooms out to: The Gentleman in Black, watching the Aether disappear into the distance.

CUT TO: commercial break.

[Session 2]
Michael Harrel: Ambling madly all over the town, it's Cogs: The Aether Chronicles! Brought to you by Dr. Zacco's Magic Elixer! The quality potion that's certified to clear your sinuses, balance your humours, and make your food taste great!

Michael Harrel: And now, back to Cogs…

EXT. The skies over Europe.

The Aether sails through the sky, leaving a trail of steam behind it; its engines chugging along like a locomotive's. Captain Sparling and Newton Falk are on the bridge. They're discussing the Gentleman in Black from the previous scene.

Newton Falk: So why now? What did we do this time?

Genevieve Sparling: Sparling shakes her head. "I can't imagine what offense was grievous enough to bring him out of retirement."

Newton Falk: "Maybe he just took a vaction? A few years off the see the coast… shit."

Genevieve Sparling: "Sure. A little fresh sea air, performing operations on stray cats instead of humans—it must have been lovely."

CUT TO: A FLASHBACK.

Captain Sparling is quite a bit younger; her hair is different, and maybe a scar or two is missing. She's in St. Petersburg, near the building that used to be St. Isaac's Cathedral, which is now a factory with large smokestacks spewing smog into the air. She's got an envelope under her arm, and is waiting for someone, looking nervously about and pacing.

Michael Harrel: Someone approaches her; she turns and is surprised to see Viktor, who is a close friend but clearly not the person she was expecting.

Genevieve Sparling: "Viktor… what is it?" Her voice reflects surprise and concert, but not annoyance.

Michael Harrel: "Genevieve, you must come quickly," he whispers hoarsely. "Our position has been compromised. Alyosha has been arrested."

Genevieve Sparling: Sparling swears and clutches the envelope, then follows Viktor.

Michael Harrel: Viktor leads her through the maze of alleyways.

Michael Harrel: "Sergei thinks we were was betrayed; he wants everyone in hiding."

Michael Harrel: They head off through the alleys.

CUT TO:

An alleyway in another part of town. Sergei keeps a cellar here for emergency meetings of the underground movement. Sergei and the rest of Genevieve's group are here, nervously checking the street in both directions. A younger version of Pavel, Genevieve's contact from the present day, is here.

Sergei: "Quickly, into the cellar!" Is ushering people into a cellar.

Michael Harrel: Everyone is ushered inside. The cellar is a dank, dusty enclosure with stone walls and a drain on the floor. One of the group, Tasha, lights a lamp. There is a table in the corner, a pile of blankets, and a chair. "How long do we have to stay here?" says Tasha, one of the group.

Sergei: "Just until we find out who the traitor is."

Pavel: "As long as necessary, then," Pavel mumbles.

Michael Harrel: "Well it isn't me," says Tasha.

Sergei: Sergei moves through the croud to Pavel. "Do you have any ideas who it could be?" he asks quietly.

Pavel: Pavel shrugs. "If I did, I wouldn't be down here."

Anton: "And why are we down here?" Anton mutters

Sergei: "Where did they pick up Alyosha?"

Michael Harrel: "From his home," says Tasha. "I saw them carting him away."

Sergei: "And why were you there? I don't remember telling you to be in that district?"

Michael Harrel: "I can go where I please if I'm not on business," says Tasha indignantly. "And where is Genevieve and Viktor? Shouldn't they be here too? Aren't they just as much suspect as we are?"

Sergei: "Anton, keep a look outside. Let me know if you see anyone coming."

Anton: "Da."

Michael Harrel: As Anton moves toward the door of the cellar, there is the sound of a steam car on the road above. It comes to a stop outside of the building.

Sergei: I'm assuming everyone in the room draws a weapon. Sergei certainly does.

Anton: "Shit, we're made… I, for one, will go down fighting!" Draws mean looking pistol.

Pavel: "Shhh~! Listen!"

Michael Harrel: There are footsteps outside, and some muffled voices. Then — an angry fist pounding on the door. "Open up! We have you surrounded!"

Pavel: Pavel swears under his breath.

Sergei: Sergei walks over to the vent and opens it. He starts motioning for people to go through.

Anton: [Red Shirt]"I say we rush them! If we move quickly we can get away!" Anton exclaims with a slightly mad look on his face.

Sergei: "You're mad."

CUT TO: Viktor and Genevieve, in the alleyways. Genevieve is following so closely behind and so quickly that she almost fails to realize that the last turn they have taken leads *away* from Sergei's emergency meeting spot.

Genevieve Sparling: Sparling pauses for only a moment, then resumes her brisk pace, but reaches into her coat and grips her pistol.

CUT BACK TO:

Michael Harrel: Most everyone is in the tunnel. The Black Caps are trying to break the door down. Sergei and Pavel are trying to drag Anton into the tunnel, but he's resisting.

Anton: "You are all cowards!" Anton struggles in their grip

Sergei: Sergei knocks Anton out.

(A conflict, not posted to the chat: Anton wins both the conflict and the narration.)

Anton: Anton ducks the punch and uses the opertunity to kick Pavel in the gut and break free. "Damn you cowards! I'll fight them alone!" He begins to turn back down the passage.

Pavel: "Augh!" Pavel clutches at his stomach. "Bony-elbowed idiot."

Sergei: Sergei trains his gun on Anton. "Anton, if you open that door, i will consider you a traitor."

Anton: "Why? because I fight for my friends and country men?" -spits- Runs

Sergei: Shoots

(Sergei succeeds, GM wins narration.)

Michael Harrel: Sergei aims and fires. A neat circle of red opens on the back of Anton's head, and he drops to his knees and then to the floor, a pool of blood spreading underneath him.

"Farewell, you hot-headed fool," says Sergei. He holsters his gun, and turns, glancing at Pavel. "Come on, then."

From above comes the sounds of the door breaking open.

Anton: "So you were the traitor?… I go on before you Comrades." Colapses [/Red Shirt]

Pavel: Pavel shakes his head. "Poor fool."

Sergei: Sergei gives an agreeing look and head off into the darkness.

Pavel: Pavel follows.

Anton: Anton bleeds.

Michael Harrel: Fade to: The Aether. Present day. The Lab. "Dr." Higgenbotham is hard at work on some experiment or another.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Dr" Higgenbotham is unpacking and labeling her purchases.

Michael Harrel: Luka is also helping.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Humming to herself. "Hydroooo-chloric….Acid." Write the label on a vial of liquid.

Luka: "Where does this one go, Doctor?" Luka holds up an elaborately twisted bit of glass and metal. She holds it slightly away from herself, unsure of its purpose.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Hm? Oh! Um. Right there." Points to a cabinet bolted to the wall. "On the shelf with the purple liquids."

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Picks up a tin from another package.

Luka: "…" Luka walks over and gingerly places the object in a bit of empty space on the shelf.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Lifts the lid and looks in. "Oh! Hahaha!" She jumps a bit from the smell and laughs. She Closes the tin.

Michael Harrel: The camera pans over to the box that they were given for their job. It shudders slightly; there is a crinkling sound, and then the box begins ticking like clockwork of some sort.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "I shall label you 'Smelly!'"

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Stops shortly. "Tick tock? I don't have a clock." Looks around her room. Gets up and starts searching for the source of the mysterious ticking with her ear. …"Getting colder." She moves closer towards the box. "Are my feet in lava?"

Luka: "Hmm?" Luka hasn't been paying attention.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "There!" Hovers over the box. She picks up the box and brings it back to where she was sitting. She examines it.

Michael Harrel: She sees the outside of the box. It is a wooden box, nailed tightly shut and with a wax seal.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "What does this sound like?" She shoves the box toward Luka.

Luka Arlexi: "What? Oh, this?" Luka holds the box up to her ear. "Sounds like cogs clicking against each other…"

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Cogs? What else?"

Luka Arlexi: "Well, it sounds like a machine. Clockwork."

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Curious.Let's open it!" Her eyes light up.

CUT TO: THE PAST.
Viktor and Genevieve are still heading through the alleyways. Vitkor stops at the door of an unfamiliar building, and knocks on it loudly.

Genevieve Sparling: Sparling hangs back out of arm's reach, her hand still on her pistol. "What is this place, Viktor?"

Michael Harrel: He turns to Genevieve. "Sergei got scared by the arrest; he thinks there might be a traitor in the group. So we're meeting here instead of the emergency celler." There is no answer at the door. He tries the handle, and it opens. "Go on in, I'll be right behind you."

Genevieve Sparling: Sparling draws her pistol and starts to back away, towards the nearest major street. "Clearly Sergei was right."

Michael Harrel: "What? What are you talking about, Genevieve? They're all inside waiting for us."

Genevieve Sparling: "If you knew me at all, Viktor, you wouldn't assume I'd fall for such a ploy." ((How far away is the nearest major street, anyway?))

Michael Harrel: It's a ways away; he's led you down a windy path of alleyways

Genevieve Sparling: ((Well, hell.))

Michael Harrel: He shakes his head sadly. "We haven't got time for this, Genevieve. My friends…they're rather impatient."

Michael Harrel: In her peripheral vision, Genevieve sees a half-dozen policemen coming out of the buildings to her left and right.

Michael Harrel: A man in black, with a bowler hat and a cane, emerges from the door next to Viktor. He has a large mustache.

Genevieve Sparling: "Oh, hell."

CUT TO:
The tunnel. Pavel and Sergei catch up with the rest of the group. From behind them there is the sound of pursuit: lantern lights in the distance, maybe the sound of a dog or two.

Pavel: "Shit."

(At this point, Sergei's player decided that she had probably built in a system to cave in the tunnel in the event of pursuit. I agreed.)

Sergei: "I don't think we're going to make it. Pavel, go on ahead. I'll set off the trap."

Michael Harrel: In the light of the pursuing lanterns, a sillhouette takes aim and fires at the group. Someone is hit and falls to the ground, a bullet wound through the chest.

Sergei: "Run!" Fires back. Looks for the switch to blow the explosives. Finds it.

Pavel: Pavel ushers the others onward.

Sergei: "Run!" Looks back at Pavel. "Don't trust Viktor or Genevieve."

Pavel: "Don't die too easy, comrade."

Sergei: Gives a lopsided Han-solo-esque grin and fires another round at their pursuers.

Michael Harrel: Pavel and the others disappear into the darkness of the tunnels.

Sergei: As soon as the others are out of range, he flips the switch. "Go to Hell!"

Michael Harrel: There's an explosion, and the roar of the tunnel collapsing in on itself. Then —

CUT TO

Genevieve, surrounded by cops, her hand on her pistol.

Genevieve Sparling: "Well, how did I manage to attract the attention of such important people?" Sparling is still backing away, and plans to do so until she reaches a wall or a policeman.

Michael Harrel: "There's no need for bloodshed here, Genevieve," says Viktor. "They don't want to hurt you, they just want to…educate you."

Genevieve Sparling: "With a scalpel, I'm sure."

Michael Harrel: "You're not going to hurt her, right?" Viktor says to the gentleman beside him. The gentleman shakes his head slowly — there's something oddly mechanical about the movement, something not quite natural. Almost just as unnatural is the complete absence of emotion in his cold grey eyes.

Michael Harrel: "There, you see?" says Viktor.

Genevieve Sparling: Sparling barks a short laugh.

(Here we had some discussion on the voice chat, deciding eventually that the envelope Sparlin has, she still has in the present day. It's the reason the Gentlemen are still chasing her, even now.)

Michael Harrel: "In fact," says the gentleman. "We would even be willing to let the good captain go, if she were only to relinquish the small parcel she is carrying beneath her jacket."

Michael Harrel: "Don't be a fool, Genevieve. Give him what he wants," says Viktor.

Genevieve Sparling: Sparling manages to keep herself from unconsciously reaching for the envelope by tightening both hands around the pisol. "I'm not carrying any parcel."

Michael Harrel: The policemen have backed Geneviece almost to a corner. She feels the cold brick of the wall behind her.

Genevieve Sparling: Sparling lowers her pistol. "Fine. I take it you mean this?" She produces the envelope in one hand, and a match in the other.

Michael Harrel: "Don't be an idiot, Sparling," says the gentleman in black. "Your life will be more than forfeit if you should damage that envelope in any manner."

Genevieve Sparling: "My life is worth little enough as it is now." She strikes the match on one of the bricks behind her. "Be a sport and clear a path for me?"

Michael Harrel: "This won't be the end of it, you know, Sparling. We shall hunt you down until the end of your pathetic little life; and by the time we're through with you, you will love us. You will beg us to kill you as punishment for your crimes."

Michael Harrel: Despite these words, the policemen are actually making way for Sparling to pass through them.

Genevieve Sparling: She heads for the street, keeping the lit match dangerously close to the envelope as she goes. "As soon as you overcome the shame of losing me this time, you're welcome to come find me again."

Michael Harrel: As she disappears around the bend, she hears him say, "I don't feel shame, Sparling."

CUT TO: The bridge. Sparling and Newton. Present day.

Newton Falk: "So they finally cought up with us. Been what, 2 years?" Newton asks putting the ship on autopilot (metal rod in wheel)

Genevieve Sparling: Sparling grunts an affirmative. "They wouldn't take that long to find us—we don't exactly blend in. They've been keeping their distance…"

Newton Falk: Newton quitely studies the console

Genevieve Sparling: Sparling's hand goes to her waistcoat's pocket, fingering the aged and dogeared envelope concealed there.

Michael Harrel: Felix enters the bridge. "Captain? I think we're being followed."

Newton Falk: "So soon?"

Genevieve Sparling: She hurries to the spyglass on the bridge's port side, which can be angled to the stern.

Michael Harrel: "7 o'clock," says Felix.

Newton Falk: Newton takes his seat and puts the autopilot under it.

Michael Harrel: There in the clouds are three dots, some distance away. Even through the spyglass it's hard to see any details of them; save that they are smaller than airships, and that they seem to have wings, like birds. Whatever they are they're keeping a distance.

Newton Falk: "Orders, Capt.?"

Genevieve Sparling: "Take us north, Mr. Falk, and ascend three hundred meters."

CUT TO:

Evelyn's lab. She and Luka are sitting at her desk, with the box in front of them. It's still ticking. Invitingly.

Luka Arlexi: "You sure this is a good idea?" Luka asks uncertainly. Her fingers twitch, though, as good sense and curiosity war internally.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Let's take off a side."

Luka Arlexi: "Should we take an impression of the seal first?"

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Stops and looks at her. "Whatever for?"

Luka Arlexi: "In case it gets broken, and we want to… well, not look like we opened it."

Luka Arlexi: "Plausible deniability."

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: She smiles, "We won't break it!" Chuckles and grabs a tool box out from under her cot.

Luka Arlexi: Luka sighs. "Whatever you say, Doctor."

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Grabs a small crow bar and begins to pry nails out of the box, humming. "Oh, we'll need a light."

Michael Harrel: There's a tapping from inside the box, as if something has scurried over to the side opposite the "Doctor's" prying.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Ooo, we have motion!"

Luka Arlexi: Luka looks around, and grabs a lantern. "Will this do?"

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Yes, yes," she says not looking up.

Luka Arlexi: Luka holds the lantern up so that Evelyn can see better.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Perhaps a clockwork spider. Or a marmet."

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Finishes taking out the nails, puts the crowbar down and slowly opens the side a crack.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Boo?"

Luka Arlexi: Luka leans in closer.

Michael Harrel: The crack is too small to let enough light in to see all the way to the back.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Come on, into the light. It's ok, we won't smash you," she coos to the thing inside. ("We might smash it," she whispers to Luka.)

Luka Arlexi: "Uh…huh."

Michael Harrel: Suddenly, the thing in the box emerges. It's a small beetle made out of metal and clockwork, moving with a mechanical shake, it scurries out of the opening and onto the table.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Zounds! Catch it!" she yells smiling.

Luka Arlexi: Luka blinks, and cautiously pokes a finger towards it.

Michael Harrel: The thing hurriedly crawls for the edge of the table.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: She empties a glass jar filled with gumdrops and tries to catch it.

Luka Arlexi: (6,5,3)

Michael Harrel: 1,2,6,+0

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Roll(3d6)+0:
3,2,5,+0
Total:10

(The beetle wins. Luka wins narration.)

Luka Arlexi: The mechanical beetle dashes off of the end of the table, tiny legs waving uselessly in the air for a moment before it hits the ground and scurries off into the maze of boxes and debris still scattered around Evelyn's lab.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Don't move!" Evelyn's looks around wide eyed.

Luka Arlexi: "But-"

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: She looks among the boxes and waits for movement.

Genevieve Sparling: Sparling uses the speaking trumpet in the bridge that transmits to all portions of the ship. "All crewmembers report to your stations immediately."

Luka Arlexi: Luka swears.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn does not look up.

CUT TO: The Bridge

Capt. Sparling is at the spyglass, checking on the progress of their pursuers. It seems as though they can't match the Aether for altitude. But they are gaining in terms of speed.

Newton Falk: "I'm giving her all she's got Capt."

Genevieve Sparling: "That's fine, Mr. Falk. This isn't exactly the most modern airship in the sky."

Genevieve Sparling: "Felix, where exactly are we?"

Michael Harrel: "Somewhere over Great Britain, sir."
Michael Harrel: Felix goes to the chart table near the entrace, and starts making calculations.

Genevieve Sparling: Sparling squints through the spyglass, trying to pick out any further details of their pursuers.

Michael Harrel: On the side of the nearest pursuing ship, she can see the flag of the European Enlightenment

"We've just passed Cardiff," says Felix. "Should be above the channel shortly."

Genevieve Sparling: "Thank you, Felix."

Newton Falk: "I hate Cardiff" Newton mumbles

Michael Harrel: Genevieve notices that "Dr" Higgenbotham and Luka have not reported from their posts yet.

Genevieve Sparling: Returns to the bank of speaking trumpets and selects the one that travels to the ship's stern. "Bridge to engine room."

Luka Arlexi: "Yes, Captain?"

Genevieve Sparling: "I want you to coax every possible ounce of power you can out of this ship. Burn the Doctor's workbench if you have to."

Luka Arlexi: "I… yes, Captain. How hot do you want me to run this thing?" It's hard to hear Luka over the roar of the engines and the screaming of steam.

Genevieve Sparling: "We have three rather eager and oddly-shaped pursuers behind us. Pick the temperature that will keep us away from them."

Luka Arlexi: "Aye, aye, Captain." There is a brief silence after the engine room's trumpet clicks off, before a slight shuddering goes through the entire ship.

(A conflict, then. Luka and Newton vs. the three pursuers. If Luka wins, they get a burst of speed and everything's fine. If she fails, something goes wrong with the engines. If Newton wins, they evade the enemies. If he fails, the enemies are still on their tail.)

Michael Harrel: Roll(3d6)+0:
6,3,6,+0
Total:15

Luka Arlexi: ((Roll(3d6)+0:
1,6,5,+0
Total:12))

Newton Falk: ((6+6+4=16)

(Newton wins the roll and narration. Luka fails.)

Newton Falk: "Luka, cut pressure to the laterals and give me as much thrust as you can to the mains. Don't cut it until the struts go."

Luka Arlexi: "Looks like that'll be sooner rather than later—"

Newton Falk: The Aether surges up and forward into a cloud bank. As the three pursuers catch up. As they rise from the top of the clouds the Aether is gone.

Michael Harrel: Felix, looking through the spyglass, gives a cheer. "We've lost them, captain!"

Genevieve Sparling: Sparling allows herself a small sigh of relief. "Excellent work, Luka," she says into the speaking trumpet.

Newton Falk: There is a loud thump from the engine rooms and a shudder is felt through the ship. Everyone feels the sensation similar to being in a decending elevator.

Newton Falk: "That's not good… I didn't tell her to do that…" Neton says looking at the altimeter

Genevieve Sparling: "Luka… What was that?"

CUT TO: The engine room

Luka Arlexi: ((SHIT IS ON FIRE!))

Michael Harrel: The air is all steam and smoke; Luka is spraying down some flames with a fire extinguisher (of the old type that had water inside).

Luka Arlexi: "CAN'T TALK! BUSY COMBUSTING!" Luka yells at no one in particular.

Michael Harrel: The ship is free-falling.

(Another conflict: can Luka get the engines back online before the ship crashes into the Channel?)

Michael Harrel: Roll(2d6)+0:
4,4,+0
Total:8

Luka Arlexi: Roll(3d6)+0:
3,1,1,+0
Total:5

(Apparently not.)

Michael Harrel: The ship spirals downward, trailing smoke and steam. It breaks below the clouds, and there's the english channel, far below. It plunges toward the water.

Genevieve Sparling: "Crewmembers brace for impact."

Michael Harrel: A quick succession of shots follows, showing each crew member the second before the ship hits the channel:

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Is still looking for the beetle, but has put a box over her head.

Luka Arlexi: Luka is still trying desperately to coax the engines back to life, while beating back flames with her coat.

Newton Falk: Newton furiously trys the bring the ship under control and is flung over the console at the moment of impact

Genevieve Sparling: Sparling holds onto one of the stabilizing straps on the bridge and stares out the nearest window in morbid fascination at the approaching waters.

Michael Harrel: SPLASH! the ship hits the channel in an eruption of water. CUT TO BLACK.

Michael Harrel: TO BE CONTINUED!

Michael Harrel: Next time, on Cogs:

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn opens her eyes to see the beetle right in front of her.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: She hurls herself onto it.

Michael Harrel: In the background, another beetle, almost exactly like the first, runs across the floor.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: ((she's lying on the ground, by the way))

Newton Falk Newton begins to pick himself up "Well, any landing you can walk away fro- Oh wait, I think my leg is broken…"

Luka Arlexi: Luka throws a wrench at the wall and screams in frustration, before leaning against the wall and sliding to the ground.

Unless stated otherwise Content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. Paper texture background by Zela.