"The Violence of War admits no distinction. The lance that is lifted on guilt and power may sometimes fall on innocence and gentleness." -Dr. Samuel Johnson
SATURDAY, MAY 1st, 1915
PIER 54, NEW YORK, NY
R.M.S. Lusitania
Those that have survived the tragedy of the sinking of the Royal Mail Ship Titanic just three years ago, would unfortunately, find only a short time to live in peace and prosperity. Between the sinking and now, there have been diplomatic tensions between the great powers of Europe, specifically between Germany, the Austria-Hungarian Empire, Russia, and Great Britain and France to name a few.
In August of 1914, when Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated by a Serbian Terrorist, the incident alone gained little attention.
It simply served only as an excuse for the fuse to be lit.
Europe was now at war.
Great Britain and France have been clashing artillery and gunfire with the Germans and Austria-Hungarians and the Russians.
The United States of America chose not to become involved in Europe's affairs, as they do not concern those of the Americans.
Nobody knew that their minds would change in less than a week.
!
23-year old Franklin Combeferre and his 21-year old wife Eponine, were walking through the crowds of well-wishers standing on the dock. In their tow was Eponine's younger brother, Gavroche Thenardier and their two-year old twins, Veronica and Alan Combeferre.
"Gavroche, are you certain of this voyage?" Eponine asked her little brother.
"Of course I am sure, 'Ponine!" he replied. "What's there to be uncertain about?"
Eponine had trouble with her words. "I'm certain you'd understand my concerns…"
She was of course referring to their lost family members from three years ago, their parents, and her young sister Azelma.
"Aye, I hear your concerns, dear sis. But you're not to worry! Take a look up there!"
He pointed to the top of the Lusitania's hull by the Boat Deck. "They've plenty of lifeboats this time around!"
"We only wish for you to be sure that this is what you want to do, Gavroche." Franklin said, putting his hands on Eponine's shoulders. "And given what's happened, it's only fair that she shows concern."
Gavroche sighed and placed his one hand on Eponine's arm, and the other on Franklin's arm. "Look, I know why you two are concerned. And I share your concerns. But I'm eighteen now, and I've decided that I can't be away from my homeland forever. I miss my friends. Out here…the children my age…they look at me funny."
"They don't look at you funny!" Eponine tried.
"I just feel like I can be more at myself with my friends of Irish blood!" Gavroche said.
Eponine pulled him in for a hug. "Can you at least just promise me that you will be careful, Gavroche Thenardier? If anything happens to you I'll kill you!" She said.
"I promise, 'Ponine. And I'll send you lot a wireless. Don't worry about me! I'm a fighter!"
Thinking about the current political clash that Ireland is facing right now, Franklin thought to himself "That's what I'm afraid of.".
Just then the whistle blew the first time.
Gavroche knelt down to hug his niece and nephew. "Don't worry my wee little ones! I'll see the lot of you real soon!"
"We'll miss you, Uncle 'Roche!" The twins chimed in perfect unison.
Franklin and Eponine couldn't help but smile at their rehearsed timing for two-year olds.
Gavroche then hugged Franklin with his usual 'take care of my sister or I'll kill you' lectures to which Franklin was more than used to. Then Gavroche hugged his sister tight before grabbing his luggage and hustling towards the gangplank and climbing up to board the Lusitania.
The R.M.S. Lusitania was no way near the size of the Titanic or the Olympic, nor that of White Star's newest giant, the Gigantic later renamed and converted to a hospital ship, Britannic. But the Lusitania was slightly better in terms of speed, which was a relief to Eponine because it meant less travel time across the Atlantic.
Lusitania was owned by White Star's rival company, the Cunard Line. Her main structure was rather plain looking compared to Titanic. Her four large smokestacks were all painted black.
But Lusitania also excelled in one area that Gavroche had already mentioned: She carried enough lifeboats for everybody on board.
After the third whistle blow, Lusitania slowly pulled out of the pier and soon began its' voyage to England.
Frank could see tears rolling down his wife's cheeks. Routine called for him to turn her to face him as he would wipe away her tears. "Gavroche will be fine. I promise."
Eponine smiled as she grabbed his tie and pulled him closer. "You better be right, Franklin Combeferre! If not, you'll be feeling my wrath in Gavroche's place!"
Franklin smiled and kissed Eponine on the lips. "I'm sure of it."
As they were returning to where they had parked their car, Combeferre noticed a newspaper clipping on the ground. He went over to pick it up.
It was an article in German.
He understood only parts of German, but enough to know that the content had talked about U-Boats, or a submersible boat capable of travelling underwater.
These crafts were deadly in the water. They had the ability to launch torpedoes, or, directional underwater cannon balls.
But that's not what concerned Combeferre so much.
What concerned him is the fact that there was a list of British ships, and that Lusitania was three times bigger than the other ship names.
Why would Germany post a list of British names on their list?
Combeferre quickly crumpled the newspaper clipping and shoved it in his pocket as he rejoined his family to their car.
As Combeferre was driving out of the city and crossing the bridge back into New Jersey, he couldn't help but notice that Eponine's eyes never left the ship as it was sailing into the horizon.
"He will be fine. You're the one that said that once he was eighteen, he would be free to go anywhere that he chooses." Combeferre said, placing his hand in Eponine's.
"In the States, Franklin. I never thought he'd want to go back to Ireland so badly. I really wish he didn't want to…"
"I know darling. But weren't you the one who told me that he didn't want to leave for America in the first place?"
"Yes. He was heartbroken inside, but he kept a tough exterior for a fifteen-year old. And we would've eventually let him return to Ireland when he was old enough and had enough money…"
Combeferre didn't even finish her thoughts for her, because he knew that the circumstances were different.
"I don't know, Franklin. I just…I have a bad feeling about this voyage."
"Darling…I understand your concerns. But rest assured there haven't been any shipwrecks since…you know." Combeferre said.
"No? What about the Empress of Ireland last year?!" Eponine challenged.
Combeferre had forgotten about that. "Well, Lusitania is taking extra precautions. And Gavroche is a fighter. He will be alright!" He tried to reassure her.
Eponine sighed and squeezed Combeferre's hand tight.
They returned to their home in Cape May. They bought a house of their own thanks to the help of Combeferre's very good friends, Jack and Deena Carson.
Combeferre enjoyed his view of the ocean. His traumatic neurosis from three years ago had finally been eradicated from his mind once and for all.
Frank and Eponine's happiness couldn't have been more bliss. Combeferre took over as manager for the town's Western Union, and studied codes on the side.
A year after Eponine had given birth, she was once again approached to appear in moving pictures by her acquaintance Marion Morgan, who just recently, married her fiancé, Chief Investigator Isaac Bell, who had been of unequaled service to the Combeferres due to unprovoked terrorizing by a gang of anarchists.
Eponine's performance proved to be a smash at Marion's film premiere. Almost immediately, Marion's moving picture company signed Eponine on as a permanent silent screen actress. Combeferre couldn't have been more proud of his wife.
And no one could forget the newest addition to their family: Veronica and Alan. They were very adorable, well behaved, and were practically the favorites of Cape May.
The only thing that could be better is if Gavroche had reconsidered his decision to return home to Ireland. But Combeferre had already convinced Eponine that she couldn't hold on to her little brother forever. Like their own children someday, she would've had to have let him spread his wings.
But other than that, life was grand for the Combeferre family.
MONDAY, MAY 3rd, 1915
WESTERN UNION, CAPE MAY
Combeferre parked his car and walked into his office. He was greeted by his colleague, Jack Carson.
"Morning, Frank. This just came in for you." Jack said, handing Combeferre a telegram.
To Combeferre Family:
Having Blast X First Class Swanky X See You At Christmas
-Gav.
Combeferre smiled as Jack approached him. "Gavroche?" The latter asked.
"Yes. He's on his way to Ireland. I suppose he just couldn't find his calling here."
Jack sighed as he took a seat next to Frank. "I'm gonna miss that little kid."
Something clicked in Combeferre's mind. He dug into his briefcase as he asked Jack "You don't happen to speak German, do you?"
"Somewhat. Why?" Jack asked.
Combeferre pulled out the newspaper clipping he found on the docks the other day. "Perhaps then, you could translate this for me?"
Jack took the paper and read it carefully. His eyes widened.
"What?!" Combeferre asked.
"Uh…what ship is Gavroche on again?!" Jack asked.
"The Lusitania. Why?"
"Damn…" Jack said to himself.
"What is it?!" Combeferre asked again, slightly worried.
Jack took in a deep breath. "Frank…" he began. "This article from Germany is a warning to American civilians. They considered any British liner a threat to them because there are rumors about British ships carrying ammunition."
"Ammunition?"
"To aid the British and French forces fighting the Germans. Since there's that possibility, the Germans are warning us Americans that any British ship…" he pointed to the list on the clippings. "specifically on this list, is a potential threat and therefore, game to be torpedoed and sunk by any German U-Boat that finds it!"
"What the hell?!" Combeferre said bewildered.
FRIDAY, MAY 7th, 1915
RMS LUSITANIA
OFF THE COAST OF IRELAND
Gavroche was leaning on the railing on the forecastle deck. He couldn't keep his eyes off of the coast that was up ahead of him.
Soon he would disembark in England, then take a boat to Ireland, and he would be home free. He was given enough money for passage, and to secure a room to rent for a short while. He kept everything in his satchel that he had strapped around his one shoulder.
He was walking along the deck by the railing when he thought he saw something on the horizon, facing the Lusitania's Starboard side.
It was like a little thin stick, sticking up out of the water.
Gavroche had no idea he was staring at a periscope.
!
Eponine was dressed in a western cowgirl outlaw outfit, with a leather skirt, red vest over a white blouse, country boots, and a black Stetson. She was cast as the heroine in Marion's newest Western production.
She was on the set of a bar and there were several actors standing about for their cues.
Marion had walked up past the large Kodak camera that was sitting on the large tripod that was pointing at Eponine.
"Okay, now for this scene, you've been tracking down this brute, and you find him in a bar. He's the crook responsible for burning down your house and murdering your family. Your motivation here, is revenge!" Marion said, giving her directions.
A prop master had hustled over and gave Eponine a Colt .45. She was eye wide.
"Now don't panic." Marion said. "The gun only has blanks in it. Now here's the action!"
She walks over to the swinging doors on set.
"When I say action, you will enter the bar from these doors, and firmly walk your way to this little spot right here!" Marion mimicked the actions by walking up to the little "x" that was made in chalk on the floor.
"Once you get to your spot, the actor playing the brute will stand up and take his position.
I want you to silently count to five, before pulling your gun out…" Marion took Eponine's gun and placed it in her holster. "And pulling the trigger. Now as I mentioned, this gun has blanks. No real bullets will come out. He will only pretend to clutch his chest like he was just shot, as he falls to the ground. Understand?" Marion asked.
Eponine nodded. "Ready whenever you are."
Marion then called around the set. "Places everybody!"
Eponine walked out through the swinging doors.
"Rolling Camera!" Marion called out.
The camera operator began rotating the crank. "Rolling!" he said.
"Background action…and ACTION!" Marion shouted.
Eponine shoved the doors past as she stomped to her spot. She produced a glare in her eyes. Marion noticed a couple of background actors kind of flinched at the entrance. Good, she thought. It shows the authenticity.
When the "brute" actor got to his position, Eponine counted in her head.
One. Two. Three. Four. Five.
And before the brute actor could grab his holster, Eponine whipped out her gun and pulled the trigger, slightly flinching at the loud pop the gun made.
And right on cue, the actor dropped his gun from the holster, clutched his stomach, threw his head back in exaggerated pain, stumbled forward, collapsed on his knees and landed on his face.
"And…Cut!" Marion said.
!
Marion and Eponine were chatting away as they were exiting the studio. They were met by Chief Investigator Bell and Frank, leaning against Frank's car.
Frank had a grim expression on his face; Bell looked no better. Eponine could tell something terrible had happened.
"Eponine…darling…you'd better sit down."
At 2:10 pm on May 7th, 1915, German U-Boat #20 had launched one torpedo against the RMS Lusitania and struck in the cargo hold just below the first funnel. Nearly four seconds after the impact, a second explosion occurred.
Because of the severity of the damage, Lusitania listed dangerously to Starboard. Only six of the forty-eight lifeboats were successfully launched.
The entire ocean liner went down in a matter of only eighteen minutes.
There were 1,962 passengers and crew aboard the ship. Only seven hundred and sixty-one survived.
But this was also a spark of an International Crisis; There were 139 Americans who sailed. 128 of them had perished.
Britain and the United States were outraged to say the least.
Eponine was in hysterics by the time they had reached their home in Cape May. Bell had issued every order within his power to find out if her brother had survived. It was a painstaking three days.
But on the fourth day, Bell received a wire.
Gavroche had survived and is uninjured.
Gavroche was thrown back from the impact of the torpedo's collision. When he leaned over the railing to find out what happened, the second explosion threw him overboard, as well as one of the lifeboats that was knocked off from its davits. Luckily, Gavroche was able to climb in nearly right away. He managed to pull a few survivors in.
"I knew something like this would happen! I fecking knew it!" Eponine said, trying to wipe away her tears.
"But what's important is he is alive and well, darling. Have faith! Everything will be alright" Frank said, as he was consoling his wife.
But as he looked at Bell for reassurance, he knew from Bell's face that there wasn't.
America was not going to let this go unanswered.
Those who falter and those who fall must pay the price.
