Chapter 49: Officer's Call

Date: 30 December 1899
Location: Fort Grant
Situation: Officer's Call
You THERE!  Yes, You.  Double Click Your Images!
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Before 1899 ends, Major General Pettygree, commanding Fort Grant, summoned selected officers for a meeting. As they arrive....

Major Trevelyan 10th Hussars, greets Lt. Caddy RE whilst Dr. Watson waits to enter.

Several officers gather at the bar for drinks and a little conversation.

 

Bartender: "Did you hear the one about Lt. Byron from Glasgow?"

Lt. Bracegirdle, leftmost: "No. I can't say I have. Why?"

Bartender: "Well, he's a pukka (very good) laddy to use the lingo here an' wastes not a drop o' the Scotch. Yesterday a fly dropped in his glass. Frowning, he saved the delirious little bugger from drowning, placed him on the rim and demanded, Spit it out!"  

When Major General Pettygree arrived, the officers gathered arround.

Left to right: Dr. Watson, Lt. Bracegirdle Heliograph, Major Faraday Political Officer, Major Colin McKenzie Seaforths, Captain Gill 9th Bengal Lancers, Captain Jellicoe RN, Lt. Caddy RE, Lt. Colonel Preece 10th Hussars, Major General Pettygree and Major Trevelyan 10th Hussars.

Trevelyan: "Gentlemen. May we have your attention?"

Pettygree: "Lawford, no please don't get up. Very good to see you. Your wounds from the Kota Ki-Bandahar incident?"

Lawford: "Glad to be back General. My injuries are healing well. I'll ride with the regiment when the campaign resumes if Dr. Watson allows."

Watson: "Count on it Sirs. He's healing marvelously from the torture."

Pettygree: "Very good. Good indeed. -- Now to the business at hand."

Pettygree: "Gentlemen. -- We shall return to the field to finish the job. Not only will we fight with rifle, lance and cannon, we've added the Gatling and cutlasses so to speak of Captain Jellicoe's seamen and one more ace too. Her Majesty's Government has agreed to negotiate extensively with friendly and enemy native leaders alike with promises and incentives." Major Faraday will explain.-- Major?

Trevelyan: "Welcome Major Faraday.

Faraday: "I'm glad to be here Gentlemen  to help finish this Muljadhi chap and his Tug followers once and for all. In addition to your arsenal of weapons and skills I am authorized to make treaties with the khans. To encourage them, I will subsidize friendly leaders with rupees and rifles."

Preece: "Rifles!"

Faraday: "Yes. You see as the Army marches deeper and deeper into enemy territory, the khans who agree to remain peaceful will need weapons to defend themselves from neighboring leaders who will not be so agreeable. Plus, if we sweeten the deal with continuing subsidies of rupees,  it makes things better for us. Protects our line of communication."

Pettygree: "Quite so. Thank you.  Gentlemen, let us adjourn and enjoy the rest of the evening."

The meeting ends and they disperse.

When the hour grows late, they retire to their quarters.

Good night Sirs. We'll see you in the new year, God willing.

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 CLOSING REMARKS:

1. Lawford and Faraday are from Foundry's WWI British interrogation set painted by John Preece.

2. Bar, bartender, small table and stone structures are from Miniature Building Authority. The main table was scratch-built.

3. Winter ground cover in this and the previous chapter is on loan from the collection of Der Alte Fritz manufactured from The Terrain Guy in Texas.

4. May I encourage you to place your remarks at the word comments below?

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