Dino Attack

22 March …

This week was quite sad and today we had the funeral of Army Privates Stan Durant and Gary Jenkins, both from Chihuahua Province. They were on patrol to the east of Fort Humid when the squad was attacked by five dinos that were about six feet in height, bipedal and attacked in unison. It was brutally quick as we have two dead and three seriously injured. Private Wells has lost his left arm, and we are prayerful that he doesn't get infected as so many wounds here do. The squad managed to kill two of them and the other three ran off.

They were very lucky as no sooner than they left the site of the first attack, there was a sound in the jungle of a massive animal moving at high speed, crashing through the underbrush. As the squad turned back toward camp, a much larger dino, standing about nine to ten feet in height, barred their path. It had a terrible growl that we could barely hear all the way back at the Fort. RSM Taggart himself assembled a squad and led it toward the sound of gunshots and the dino growl. Taggart's squad arrived in time to see the dino put down by a volley of fire from the remaining patrol. He claims the dino is some sort of deinonychus. I think I spelled that correctly. Anyway, LT Armstrong and his herbalist assistants were ready for the returning squad and it is amazing at how quickly they worked. Father Flannigan was there as well, helping the medics and praying over the injured.

Major Lamar has the whole fort on alert and all patrols that left were mounted on Pachysaurs to utilize their speed in this environment. A mounted patrol returned from the site of the attack and said nothing bigger than a chicken leg was left. We have not had an attack since we lost Private Simmons, so I guess we are lucky to a point, but it does not help the sadness we feel and the realization that we can not get comfortable in this environment.

On the brighter side of things, Corporal Redfeather’s squad is quite professional at horizontal construction and it is amazing at how well they have taken to the Triceratops. They managed to clear a lot of land in the past week. They will also expand the open perimeter from the fort an additional 200 yards. The Aetherpad is going to be a little bigger than the fort to handle the anticipated overflow of ships.

The temple is still a mystery (except how the door was open). Drs. Caruthers and Palmer have been documenting everything as usual and are still trying to decipher the dead language of the Lizard Men.

HMS Wellington

15 March ….

The HMS Wellington landed Thursday and it is immense! I cannot imagine any Hun vessel that could stand up to her. With her arrival, the RTS Santa Fe squadron departed for the Aether and Earth. The HMS Wellington brought a pleasant surprise for me, as they were carrying our additional draft of Republic Marine Engineers. We received a squad of road builders lead by Corporal Samuel Redfeather, a Caddo Texican from San Jacinto Province. He is from a long line of military scouts and is the first Marine in his family. He has a way with animals like Sergeant Garcia, and also is great at elevations with the naked eye. I was very happy to see him and I remember his smiling face while I was an instructor at the Basic Engineers Course near Nacogdoches. He seems to always smile but is very straightforward and to the point. He will be assigned to Sergeant Garcia, and will be working on clearing the Aetherpad and eventually improving our dirt roads as well as building proper new roads.

The news of the Hun has been tales of plunder and strict rule. There is also a rumor of the German troops killing all of the men who did not swear allegiance to the Kaiser in Neu Munchen on Mars. I wonder if they plan on an aggressive stance on Venus as well? I have looked at the rudimentary maps we have, and try to estimate the travel paths of the Hun if they chose to invade this continent. They would have to come by air, as I cannot imagine trying to sail the oceans on this planet. Our experiences fishing on the reef are scary enough to believe the tales of sea monsters that lurk beneath the surface.

With the arrival of the Wellington we have had a large number of visitors in the camp. Three ships from the HMS Wellington battle group landed here as there was no room at Camp Trafalgar for them - the Welly is that big!. We have a frigate and two gunships on our pad. All are quite new, not more than three years of age. The frigate’s hull is 25% liftwood, I had to see for myself as I have only heard of it but never got to see in person. The crew is quite pleasant and has even helped out around the camp. Sergeant Thibodaux was happy to have the help around the kitchen and got to trade some recipes with the ship's baker.

Corporal Gallegos has learned of RSM Taggart's boy and mine attending Gannon Military Institute next month and has written a story for the Alamo Gazette. I can only imagine what kind of attention that will bring our boys, especially during their first year as a fish. Sorry about that, son!

I think I will fetch Lady V, as she has been playing with those working dogs and maybe stop by the NCO mess to visit RSM Taggart.

[Editors Note: The Alamo Gazette is a military paper written and distributed around all of the Republic's military installations. The paper headquarters in Alamo Square, hence the background for the name. All reporters and staff of the paper are military personnel.]

No rest for the RTS Santa Fe

08 March ….

The RTS Santa Fe, Hammerhead and Mako are still here by request of Camp Trafalgar. Captain Franklin, RN, commanding the Santa Fe squadron, was more than willing to take a little time out of the Aether to patrol the region until the HMS Wellington battlegroup arrives. The Santa Fe will stay on the deck (as she is just a converted cargo ship with a limited weapons system) as the Hammerhead and Mako patrol the atmosphere in case of any attack by the Hun. It is a little unnerving to think of the seriousness of the situation, when all we can do is keep working, but there is tension around the camp. Some of the troops have started to bicker at each other as they start to get their minds prepared for what might lay in store. The HMS Wellington is a new battlecruiser and could wipe out our whole fleet in a single salvo. It will be a sight to see if she has the chance to land on the surface. It will probably be a year or two before the Republic could possibly build something like her - if we even bother.

In response to the growing fleet of ships, Mr. Griggs has ordered us to expand the Aetherpad and to start construction of a new site. Sergeant Garcia and Sergeant Cromwell will have to stretch their men even thinner to accomplish the mission. I was sure hoping to get additonal Marines last week, and all we got was the RA troops. I guess I should not complain, and I can understand the thinking of the brass at Alamo Square, but it sure makes us earn our money.

Father Flannigan sure has stepped up to the plate to do his part. Before he got “the Call” he was a corporal in Her Majesty's 88th Regiment of Foot (The Connaught Rangers). So he knows well the feelings of the troops on the ground and knows when one is complaining to hear himself or if it is something to take seriously. He has a way of inspiring us to do more in his talk and mannerisms as he walks around talking to all the troops, Catholic or not. He would make a wonderful Friar Tuck for our Merry Men.

Last week I had forgot to mention the arrival of Lieutenant Joseph Kowalski of San Jacinto Province, he is a red leg artillery officer with a good reputation for listening to the troops. I know he will make a great impact here at Fort Humid today and in the future. With three 2.5” guns and two 1” Gatlings, a lieutenant to take charge is very common. Subaltern Kern will serve as assistant Artillery Officer. This will probably be the limit of artillery officers, but I do expect to see at least another Infantry lieutenant and three subalterns.

I have not heard much about the temple as it has been overshadowed by the obvious. I have seen the combat correspondant from the Alamo Gazette, our military newspaper. His name is Corporal Marvin Gallegos, from Chihuahua Province. He is here to do a story on the Army at Fort Humid, but being a squid he has spent more time hanging around us and talking to Mr. Griggs and the NCOs then talking to Baby Pummel and Staff. Well, I must depart as it is getting late and I have been ordered to relax and have a pint.

A Second Sentinel is Finished!

"British Engineering Still the Marvel of Western Science!"

The Army today unveiled its newest steam-driven military conveyance, the Sentinel, Mk. 2. The original Mark of the Sentinel chassis was armed, you may remember, with one large cannon slung underneath the operator's station, and two Tesla voltaic rifles for close defense.

The Mark 2 has done away with both weapons of the earlier Sentinel, and is instead fitted with ten 24-pdr Cosgrove bombardment rockets, which fire in pairs. This fearsome combination will undoubtedly batter down the walls of any native potentate who dares to defy Her Britannic Majesty's imperial will. And our European cousins which have been casting their covetous eyes over our beautiful colony here on the Red Planet must be content with gnashing their teeth, as they would never be so foolish as to risk a confrontation against such awesome firepower. Marching into the firestorm of these huge rockets is more than any Continental conscript soldier could bear.

His Excellency, the Viceroy of the Crown Colony spoke at the unveiling, held on the parade grounds of Fort Gordon:

"Before you stands proof - further proof! - of the superiority of our British society. British engineering is still providing the yardstick to which all other nations compare, and is the marvel of Western science. Luckily for the other imperial powers here on Mars, Her Majesty's Government does not, at this time, seek to expand her influence abroad, as there is dashed all they could do about it now! Haw haw!"

News From Earth

01 March …..

The RTS Santa Fe, Hammerhead and Mako arrived this morning just after Father Flannigan's sermon about the rising of Lazarus. It was quite an encore to the sermon. Sgt. Thibedeaux cooked fish and chips for us, it being Lent and all. It seems he has found a green colored type of potato here on Venus. They are as big as eggplants and were found just north of us about half a mile from the Aether landing pad.

Chief O'Malley says he is getting used to the constant traveling between planets, saying they make life interesting and he swears he holds the record by a Texican for time spent in the Aether. We received mail from Earth, and my family is doing quite well. The boys are doing great and are ready - as usual - for school to let out. Ian is especially ready, as he reports to Gannon Military Institute in the fall semester and is also slated for their “fish camp” orientation course that starts a week after his high school graduation, the third week of April. I'm sorry I'll miss that, but the missus says not to worry, because she has a surprise in store for me in regards to that. I am now officially worried.

The black legs received another company of infantry and two 1” Colt Gatling gun crews as well. That means two additional officers, one Field Artillery (red leg) officer, Subaltern Alex R. Kern, and another black leg officer, Subaltern Reginald P. Smyth. The Army battalion is now up to 324, officers and other ranks. We did not receive any new Republic Marines, engineers or otherwise. We did, however, increase the amount of NCOs as the Army also received more corporals, sergeants, and colour sergeants.

President McCrae sent word to us via the Secretary of War that we will support the British Empire; however, we will not openly declare war to defend those egg-sucking Frenchies. We also need to prepare for any attempted attack on our territory or our British friends.

Well, the weekly input is short today. I have to get over to the Staff NCO Mess and enjoy some Texican Stout as promised by Chief O’Malley, who smuggled a barrel on board the Santa Fe for us poor parched boys here on Venus. The Chief's not a bad fellow, for an aether-sucking swabbie.