THE LIFTWOOD EXPEDITION OF 1889.

(Is there life on Mars?)

 

 

Being a full and substantial report on Colonel Smythe’s actions in and around the forests of Southern Mars in August this Year of our Lord, 1889.

 

A British force accompanied by their Styrian allies was tasked with discovering the reasons for the loss of contact with a signalling station and the liftwood logging camp that it linked to in the Southern Highlands of Mars. An aerial patrol had reported the station wiped out and no sign of life at the camp. Due to the nature of the winds in this region the aerial transports could not take Colonel’s Smythe’s force any closer than the signal station which was duly reinstated. The column had to press on to the logging camp on foot. 

As we joined the action the patrolling flyers had returned to Paroom Station for coaling and the column was approaching the last ridge before the forests began. At their approach a single artillery gun opened fire hitting the British infantry and killing one of the draft animals. The British guns were still out of range and as they advanced they suffered growing casualties from this same gun. However the heliograph had signalled for help and the flyers were reported to be returning post haste.

 

By now a lightly gunned Martian flyer had appeared and was adding to the problems the British and Styrians were having.  Try as they might they were unable to drive it away or bring it down. Then HMAS Thunderer appeared and engaged the gun and flyer but then disaster struck and the Martian craft blew up the Thunderer’s engine and it crashed to the ground at the feet of the Martian gunners who promptly fled.

The British advance had now reached the forest and was engaged by units of savage Martian warriors and their lizard-like allies. Another two flyers replaced the first one which had by now disengaged. At last HMAS Mosquito arrived on the scene and her guns were giving the Martian flyers something to think about. The battle on the ground began to sway slightly in favour of the British although they had suffered greatly in their advance. At the sight of the Mosquito a group of lumberjacks in the logging compound appeared to add their support. Several more groups of Martian fighters appeared from the forest around them and they were being hard pressed when the British finally managed to break through to their rescue.

The result was a hard fought draw. Although the British had reached the logging camp they had not broken the Martian resistance nor secured future liftwood supplies for the Empire and Styria.

 

Also this evening there was held an English Civil War battle between two of our younger members & there was much slaughter.

  

 

For more photos see Gallery 12 here