The Secret War
Professor Montague Edward L'Estrange
It has long been clear to my eyes that there are dark and terrible secrets at the heart of the Empire. For many years I was convinced that only I and a few trusted friends and allies sought to uncover these secrets and to take up arms against the men and not men that protected them.
Many of my friends have fallen in this fight, our enemies are numerous and most powerful. They command blasphemous and unholy powers unexplainable by reason and wield the results of science perverted beyond all measure.
I came upon the Society in London that has from time to time allied itself with my friends and I but mostly we walk a lonely path and all too many have fallen, to their deaths or to a worse fate.
But over the last few years I have developed contacts in Whitehall, within the government itself or within the ranks of the bureaucrats who run the Empire. It is by this means that much has come to be known that was previously hidden from me.
For decades I have seen the official reports, the stories in the papers, the gossip among gentlemen and scholars. But now I have learned what is to be found behind such stories. I have learned to read what is hidden between the lines of the newspaper or journal.
With my eyes now open to see what is hidden I have looked in libraries and archives, I have sought out newspapers and books of history. I have sought evidence and proof where it exists and where it does not I have compared what has been told so that I can see what may be hidden within the words.
A ship of Her Majesty’s navy lost in a storm in the Atlantic, every hand lost. Yet not one other ship makes note of a storm in that area at that time. I read diaries and logs, I have studied reports of the weather, searched for mention of other ships lost. A ship of the royal navy lost, every single well trained and well led member of the crew gone, not a single trace. Yet the barges and scows crewed by poorly trained scum did not report so much as a drop of rain. How is this?
A man of war in the Far East reported to have engaged pirates. A victory for Her Majesty’s navy, the pirates routed, their ships sunk and every man of their crew gone to the depths. The damage reported to be moderate and the casualties likewise. Yet I have seen accounts that report the damage to the ship to be extensive and costly to repair. What battle with pirates would result in the loss of all three masts? Records from another source report that new sailors to be assigned to the ship account for as many men as the entire ships compliment. Likewise reports from yet another source report that dozens of men from the ship were sent to the naval hospital at Greenwich yet queries with the hospital reveal that not one of these men was ever treated there.
There are dozens of such incidents, each of significant damage and casualties, every one described as being far less than it was. This goes far beyond an effort to cover up defeat in battle, there have been enough defeats over the years that have been made public. What is so unusual that these events must be hidden away behind lies and misdirection.
While the navy may be keeping a few secrets the army is hiding a veritable library of such. The Empire has no shortage of enemies, most of whom lurk in ambush then run and hide. It is the onerous task of her majesty’s soldiers to hunt down these rebels and bandits and not a month will pass without some report of action in some distant corner of a far away land. There are no shortage of articles in newspaper or journal of troops lost against the Queens enemies.
The might of the empire falls upon any who defy her rule and such reports all too often follow any report of defeat.
But this makes it all the more strange to see reports of platoon or company much reduced in number due to casualties or even lost all together and then see no further mention. No word of the army exacting due vengeance for such an attack or rebellion.
Across the Middle East, the wilds of Africa, the distant seas of Cathay, men wearing the red coat of the British army fall in battle and nothing more is heard. Even here in Europe there are unexplained events. The incident some years ago, a platoon of foot training near Glastonbury of all places, a training accident, eleven dead. What manner of training would kill so many?
It has also come to my attention that there are files and reports made available to the Secretary of State for War that go otherwise unseen. I do not have access to such as these and only a few of my most highly placed contacts are even aware that such secret reports exist. Still I am able to read between the lines and to find adequate secondary information to support my hypothesis.
The recent campaign against the rebels and bandits at the town and fort of Al Shalish is a case in point. Mention has been made of modern German weapons in the hands of the rebels and reports of casualties in the close and bloody fighting. A number of men of the expedition have been mentioned in reports of the battle as having died bravely.
But nothing has been publicly mentioned of the fact that the surviving members of the company involved numbered little more than a platoon. Nor has it been mentioned that of no less than four of those most marvellous steam powered devices of war called Ironsides only one was listed as being serviceable. Mention was made of one suffering a steam boiler explosion, what fate befell the other two that has escaped mention.
Likewise I have not seen a single mention of the battle from any source save that of the official reports. A full company of officers and men, nearly two thirds of them lost in what must have been a most terrible battle, half a dozen mentioned for medals or recognition. Yet not a single journalist has reported on the event save to repeat the official report. In addition with the exception of General Summerby not a single officer or man of that company has returned to England.
Even the return of the general raises questions, his notice that he was retiring his commission and retiring arrived in London the same day he did, I have also heard rumours that his resignation was a considerable surprise to those that knew him.
I have gathered such evidence as I can, my conclusion is made up more of estimate and conjecture than fact and record but I believe it to be sound and those of my friends I have shared my views with agree.
Since before our good Queen Victoria came to the throne the armed forces of the Empire have been engaged in a war most terrible and most secret. Under the rule of our Queen this war has grown in both size and scope as the Empire has grown in size and scope. Entire battalions and ships of the line are engaged in battle most ferocious, losses are high, many brave men have fallen in this most secret of wars and their deeds and fates go unrecorded.
I have faced foes so terrible that only by fleeing with the greatest speed did any of us retain our lives. Yet I hesitate to image such a foe as could engage a warship of her majesty’s navy or a company of stout British soldiers armed with the weapons and courage that have created the Empire.
That the most loyal servants of the crown stand ever vigilant to defend the Empire against its enemies is most heartening. That my friends and I do not stand alone, that the Empire itself fights with us against these dark and terrible foes, this is most heartening.
Yet the fact that the creatures that I have faced are but a tiny part and that they exist in such numbers or wield such power that even the might of the armed forces of the Empire cannot prevail against them fills me with dread.
How can a man such as I stand against an enemy that can face or worse defeat a warship or a company of soldiers. As long as I stand in the light of day there is hope but it is most difficult to remember such hope when the night is at its darkest and the wind carries the howls of some blasphemous foe to my ears.
Professor Montague Edward L'Estrange
It has long been clear to my eyes that there are dark and terrible secrets at the heart of the Empire. For many years I was convinced that only I and a few trusted friends and allies sought to uncover these secrets and to take up arms against the men and not men that protected them.
Many of my friends have fallen in this fight, our enemies are numerous and most powerful. They command blasphemous and unholy powers unexplainable by reason and wield the results of science perverted beyond all measure.
I came upon the Society in London that has from time to time allied itself with my friends and I but mostly we walk a lonely path and all too many have fallen, to their deaths or to a worse fate.
But over the last few years I have developed contacts in Whitehall, within the government itself or within the ranks of the bureaucrats who run the Empire. It is by this means that much has come to be known that was previously hidden from me.
For decades I have seen the official reports, the stories in the papers, the gossip among gentlemen and scholars. But now I have learned what is to be found behind such stories. I have learned to read what is hidden between the lines of the newspaper or journal.
With my eyes now open to see what is hidden I have looked in libraries and archives, I have sought out newspapers and books of history. I have sought evidence and proof where it exists and where it does not I have compared what has been told so that I can see what may be hidden within the words.
A ship of Her Majesty’s navy lost in a storm in the Atlantic, every hand lost. Yet not one other ship makes note of a storm in that area at that time. I read diaries and logs, I have studied reports of the weather, searched for mention of other ships lost. A ship of the royal navy lost, every single well trained and well led member of the crew gone, not a single trace. Yet the barges and scows crewed by poorly trained scum did not report so much as a drop of rain. How is this?
A man of war in the Far East reported to have engaged pirates. A victory for Her Majesty’s navy, the pirates routed, their ships sunk and every man of their crew gone to the depths. The damage reported to be moderate and the casualties likewise. Yet I have seen accounts that report the damage to the ship to be extensive and costly to repair. What battle with pirates would result in the loss of all three masts? Records from another source report that new sailors to be assigned to the ship account for as many men as the entire ships compliment. Likewise reports from yet another source report that dozens of men from the ship were sent to the naval hospital at Greenwich yet queries with the hospital reveal that not one of these men was ever treated there.
There are dozens of such incidents, each of significant damage and casualties, every one described as being far less than it was. This goes far beyond an effort to cover up defeat in battle, there have been enough defeats over the years that have been made public. What is so unusual that these events must be hidden away behind lies and misdirection.
While the navy may be keeping a few secrets the army is hiding a veritable library of such. The Empire has no shortage of enemies, most of whom lurk in ambush then run and hide. It is the onerous task of her majesty’s soldiers to hunt down these rebels and bandits and not a month will pass without some report of action in some distant corner of a far away land. There are no shortage of articles in newspaper or journal of troops lost against the Queens enemies.
The might of the empire falls upon any who defy her rule and such reports all too often follow any report of defeat.
But this makes it all the more strange to see reports of platoon or company much reduced in number due to casualties or even lost all together and then see no further mention. No word of the army exacting due vengeance for such an attack or rebellion.
Across the Middle East, the wilds of Africa, the distant seas of Cathay, men wearing the red coat of the British army fall in battle and nothing more is heard. Even here in Europe there are unexplained events. The incident some years ago, a platoon of foot training near Glastonbury of all places, a training accident, eleven dead. What manner of training would kill so many?
It has also come to my attention that there are files and reports made available to the Secretary of State for War that go otherwise unseen. I do not have access to such as these and only a few of my most highly placed contacts are even aware that such secret reports exist. Still I am able to read between the lines and to find adequate secondary information to support my hypothesis.
The recent campaign against the rebels and bandits at the town and fort of Al Shalish is a case in point. Mention has been made of modern German weapons in the hands of the rebels and reports of casualties in the close and bloody fighting. A number of men of the expedition have been mentioned in reports of the battle as having died bravely.
But nothing has been publicly mentioned of the fact that the surviving members of the company involved numbered little more than a platoon. Nor has it been mentioned that of no less than four of those most marvellous steam powered devices of war called Ironsides only one was listed as being serviceable. Mention was made of one suffering a steam boiler explosion, what fate befell the other two that has escaped mention.
Likewise I have not seen a single mention of the battle from any source save that of the official reports. A full company of officers and men, nearly two thirds of them lost in what must have been a most terrible battle, half a dozen mentioned for medals or recognition. Yet not a single journalist has reported on the event save to repeat the official report. In addition with the exception of General Summerby not a single officer or man of that company has returned to England.
Even the return of the general raises questions, his notice that he was retiring his commission and retiring arrived in London the same day he did, I have also heard rumours that his resignation was a considerable surprise to those that knew him.
I have gathered such evidence as I can, my conclusion is made up more of estimate and conjecture than fact and record but I believe it to be sound and those of my friends I have shared my views with agree.
Since before our good Queen Victoria came to the throne the armed forces of the Empire have been engaged in a war most terrible and most secret. Under the rule of our Queen this war has grown in both size and scope as the Empire has grown in size and scope. Entire battalions and ships of the line are engaged in battle most ferocious, losses are high, many brave men have fallen in this most secret of wars and their deeds and fates go unrecorded.
I have faced foes so terrible that only by fleeing with the greatest speed did any of us retain our lives. Yet I hesitate to image such a foe as could engage a warship of her majesty’s navy or a company of stout British soldiers armed with the weapons and courage that have created the Empire.
That the most loyal servants of the crown stand ever vigilant to defend the Empire against its enemies is most heartening. That my friends and I do not stand alone, that the Empire itself fights with us against these dark and terrible foes, this is most heartening.
Yet the fact that the creatures that I have faced are but a tiny part and that they exist in such numbers or wield such power that even the might of the armed forces of the Empire cannot prevail against them fills me with dread.
How can a man such as I stand against an enemy that can face or worse defeat a warship or a company of soldiers. As long as I stand in the light of day there is hope but it is most difficult to remember such hope when the night is at its darkest and the wind carries the howls of some blasphemous foe to my ears.