Chapter 4: Storm

[Solomoriah]

"We know about the bomb, if that's what you're referring to," says Artie. "One of the lady passengers saw Lars on his way to dispose of it and told us about it. I sent her off to find the captain... and for a second we wondered if Lars here was another saboteur. Glad to know otherwise," he adds.

Over Green's shoulder, Artie saw the door to the passenger quarters open just a bit, and a feminine face peeking around... Catherine. Of course, they haven't made it to the Captain at all, thought Artie, they'd have to come through here to get there.

"Do you mind if we accompany you to report to the captain? I'd also like to find Miss Emily and reassure her. I wouldn't want her telling everyone on the ship about it: it'll just create a panic."

GM Note: I'm omitting this, as Artie can plainly see where Miss Emily is, and can assume she knows the situation.

[Solomoriah]

"No sir, it appears the storm is messing with our compass," Tommy said to Briggs. "I've been trying to keep the ship steady, but this wind isn't making it easy," Tommy says with a very small chuckle.

It seemed like hours, but when the storm ended, Tommy saw that it was only just past 12:45 AM. And end it did, so suddenly that the clouds seemed to melt away; ahead, Tommy saw stars once again.

According to the compass, which had also settled down, Morgana was proceeding almost due west; Tommy automatically began to turn the ship around, still wishing for full power.

[rredmond]

..."Do you mind if we accompany you to report to the captain? ...

Will is going to quietly nod in agreement as Artie is talking, and watch the crewmembers to see any reactions, or telling signs of anything out of the ordinary. While Artie has their attention Will, nonchalantly, trying not to call attention to himself, puts the safety on and slips the gun back in his belt under his shirt/suit jacket to hide it. And he will head with the group to find out what's going on as well.

[Solomoriah]

Will is going to quietly nod in agreement as Artie is talking, and watch the crewmembers to see any reactions, or telling signs of anything out of the ordinary. While Artie has their attention Will, nonchalantly, trying not to call attention to himself, puts the safety on and slips the gun back in his belt under his shirt/suit jacket to hide it. And he will head with the group to find out what's going on as well.

"Oh, very well," replied Green. "You lot follow me. Lars, when you're ready, number one awaits."

Turning around, the Chief Engineer saw Catherine. "Dear girl," he said, "don't worry, we've everything under control. You ladies may return to bed." Nodding, Catherine withdrew, closing the door.

Green led the way downstairs, moving directly forward as soon as he reached the bottom. Some of the crew were in the mess, deep in discussion, but they clammed up as soon as they saw passengers. Green nodded to them but did not stop until he reached the end of the passageway. The door on the right was open, but Green knocked anyway.

"Yes, Mister Green," came the Captain's voice from within, "have you good news for me?"

"Well, sir, mostly. Mister Lars has thrown the bomb overboard. However, I'm afraid he ran afoul of some passengers."

Seeing Green's glance toward Will and Artie, Captain Pelton stepped out into the passageway. "Well, now, fellows, is there some problem here?"

[Mak]

Turning around, the Chief Engineer saw Catherine. "Dear girl," he said, "don't worry, we've everything under control. You ladies may return to bed." Nodding, Catherine withdrew, closing the door.

Artie whispers to the withdrawing Catherine as the group moves by, "Please let Miss Emily know that she need fear nothing. All is well and the ship is safe. Have a good night!"

Seeing Green's glance toward Will and Artie, Captain Pelton stepped out into the passageway. "Well, now, fellows, is there some problem here?"

Artie lets Lars speak first, if it's him the captain is addressing; otherwise, he replies: "Hello again, cap'n. Will and I were about to retire when Miss Emily came rushing down the stateroom corridor with the news that she'd just passed a man carrying a bomb. Well, given the evening's events, Will and I decided we'd better investigate. We were happy to learn that Lars here wasn't planting a bomb, but rather disposing of one. Still, we wanted to let you hear how things played out from our end. Frankly, cap, I can't help wondering if there's any other imminent disasters going on we should know about." Artie says this last bit half-jokingly.

[Solomoriah]

GM Note: Lars is not with you, unless he chooses to do something other than follow Green's orders.

[Rosisha]

OOC: Lars is NOT with you guys, but is up in the engine room!

Lars takes a deep breath and nods thanks to Green before heading back to his poor engines. He will continue to work on the engines and hope that he can get them up and running. As the winds howl and blow, he mutters to himself in stress, going over the steps out loud. Eventually covered in grease and oil, he takes a moment to realize that the storm has stopped. He heads up the passage to the crows nest for a quick look around, to see if he recognizes any constellations to find out just how far off course they might be.

Finally he will head back. Duty calls and he wants to get to the States alive!

[Mak]

GM Note: Lars is not with you, unless he chooses to do something other than follow Green's orders.

Revised response:
Artie replies: "Hello again, cap'n. Will and I were about to retire when Miss Emily came rushing down the stateroom corridor with the news that she'd just passed a man carrying a bomb. It was, of course, Mr. Lars, whom you'd apparently sent to dispose of one, but we didn't know that. Given the evening's events, Will and I decided we'd better investigate. We were happy to learn that Mr. Lars wasn't in fact planting a bomb. Still, we wanted to let you hear how things played out from our end. Frankly, cap, I can't help wondering if there's any other imminent disasters going on we should know about." Artie says this last bit half-jokingly.

[rredmond]

Will listens as the others interacts and looks for anyone who's reaction is a little too cool, or a little too nervous, or anything in between by anyone in the room. At this point he's pretty trusting of Artie and is comfortable letting him do the talking and is just intent on gathering information. Getting off the dirigible safely is his goal, and he's working toward that end, with his paraniod tendencies he is assuming that there are other "bad guys."

[Solomoriah]

He heads up the passage to the crows nest for a quick look around, to see if he recognizes any constellations to find out just how far off course they might be.

As Simon Lars ascended the stairs to the crow's nest, he could feel the ship coming about; as he watched the stars through the great window, he saw and felt the ship settle on course. Though he was no navigator, Lars could readily recognize Polaris, off to the right, and thus knew that the ship was on course westward.