Lord Arcanon Strikes
Colby, Bret and the Southern Railway Engines proceeded to do their jobs. Bret, Colby, Tabitha and Mordred were given goods trains, Caliburn was given a mainline stopping passenger train and so was Lord Brenton. Alolan Line, Dover and Sir Richard Belmonte were given express trains to take that day.
Richard was already arranging the coaches for Caliburn, Lord Brenton and the Bulleid Pacifics as those trains along with Andrea the U Class Moguls had to go out. Richard finished arranging the coaches for the Bulleid Pacifics trains since they needed to leave right away before he went to go get Caliburn and Lord Brenton's Coaches for their trains.
Dexter meanwhile was arranging Daniel, Andrea and Ashley's trains for them. Since they were covering branch line work they didn't have to worry about rushing but they still needed to keep to the time.
Dexter: Okay Andrea your coaches are ready to go but please be careful. These coaches are scared of being attacked by Lord Arcanon and his thugs. It took a lot to coax them out of the carriage sheds and even then they're still scared.
Andrea: Somehow I'm not surprised the coaches would be scared. Still we can't let this Arcanon thug get the upper hand, we'll continue working as usual and the Kalos Controller will have the place fixed up.
Dexter: Good idea. I suggest you get going before the passengers complain.
Andrea agreed as the U Class Mogul left with her coaches as Ashley watched the train go. Dexter also watched her go before he pushed some cars into their proper sidings before going to get the coaches for Ashley's train. He brought the coaches to the station but they were spoked and to the point where some of them considered putting their breaks on and holding back.
Dexter: (to the coaches) Okay we have a lot of work to do today so please cooperate and don't act like the trucks back in the United Kingdom.
The coaches were insulted by that statement about acting like the Troublesome Trucks but they couldn't blame Dexter for saying that since they considered holding back and were acting like they didn't want to go.
Lead Coach: Lord Arcanon is unlike anything we've seen and his minions are dangerous. He even has mercenaries, street gangs, truck companies who hate steam engines, pirates, you name it he's got it on his books. Entire countries are afraid of him to the point where some cities won't even speak his name and anyone and everyone who's crossed him, his organization or their clients has been eliminated on the spot and so have all their relatives. Nobody is willing to testify in court against Lord Arcanon period. We're all terrified for our lives!
Dexter sensed the fear from the coaches and knew that they'd be the targets of a train robbery as part of Lord Arcanon's warpath should he decide to declare an attack.
Dexter: I know you're afraid but you can't let doubt, fear and uncertainty creep into your minds. Doubt, fear, and uncertainty will paralyze you. You need to keep your emotions in check and understand that Lord Arcanon is not invincible and his reign of terror won't prevail on the Kalos Railway or anywhere in the world. His reign of terror will come to an end.
The coaches seemed to be reassured as Dexter shunted them into place at the platform. He then watched as Ashley backed onto the train and left before going to get Daniel the K Class Mogul's freight cars for his slow goods train.
Back with Richard the Z Class Tank engine, he had just finished getting the last of the coaches for Caliburn's stopping passenger service before going to get Colby's freight cars.
Richard: There you go Colby. Your freight cars are ready to go but please be careful. The cars have been terrified to the point where I had to practically drag them out of the sidings. They're starting to act like their British counterparts.
Colby: You don't have to tell me twice. The cars are afraid of Lord Arcanon and the Kalos Controller can't afford to have me taken out of service because of that. I am the Strongest of the Heavy Goods engines so loosing me would put the Kalos Railway in a tough spot. I have to go. These cars are going to the Section of the Kalos Railway that's worked by the London and North Eastern Railway Locomotives and there's more.
Richard: What more could there be? The coaches and cars are scared out of their wits. The passengers feel restless and the freight clients are spooked of an impending attack from Lord Arcanon.
Colby: Thomas the North Western Railway's Number 1 is going to be staying with you guys for the rest of his visit. Nina on the other hand is going to be staying with the London and North Eastern Railway Locomotives and Jason is heading back to stay with the London Midland and Scottish Railway Locomotives. This is being done to make sure all the engines are together and so that if one runs into Lord Arcanon or his minions and stands in their way the Kalos Controller will know which Railway that engine is from so he can beef up security and protect the fleet and the staff.
Richard: Okay but what of Gervase? He's from the United States. So is sean even though he was modified in hungary. I also need to bring up the other American Locomotives here on the Kalos Railway. You do know that they were originally on loan to the Kalos Railway until 1948. Then when British Railways nationalized and the Kalos Railway Began buying up engines as needed they let the American Engines go.
Colby: Yah I know and some of us were tossed to the scrap heap by British Railways when we still ahd a lot of life in us thanks to Beeching and his so called modernization plan to make room for diesels. But it seems the plan backfired and Duchess Corrinne and her pals showed up each and every diesel that ahs ever tried to insult or belittle them. Not only that it would also seem that karma hit any diesel that dared to try to pay them out instantly.
Richard: That's right. Though the Stanier Duchess was worried what the Great Western Railway Locomotives and the Gresley designed London and North Eastern Railway Locomotives would think of her considering LMS locomotive policy held the most sway over British Railway Locomotive policy in terms of locomotive design between 1951 and 1954.
Colby: That's true Richard but know this. Duchess Corrinne need not have worried. I spoke with various engines from all across the British Isles during the days of steam and I had a word with the Belmonte Family and based upon everything I've witnessed and adding that to the testimony of engines from between the Days of Steam up to this point. It's safe to say that while Duchess Corrine can be cruel especially to her enemies and more recently to her enemies relatives she is a good leader overall and bring a lot of practical ideas to the table.
Richard: That's very good to know but anyway you better get going.
Colby collected his cars and didn't say anything else.
Meanwhile Lord Brenton was puffing along with his passenger service enjoying the weather and thinking that things were running like clockwork as usual when he heard a gunshot and his whistle being struck. Lord Brenton's driver quickly applied the breaks and brought the train to a halt.
Lord Brenton: Great Scott what was that?
Lord Brenton's Driver: A gun shot.
Lord Brenton: Did it hit anything?
Lord Brenton's Fireman: I'll check.
So Lord Brenton's Fireman went to take a look and saw that Lord Brenton's Whistle had been damaged.
Lord Brenton: Well?
Lord Brenton's Fireman: I hate to tell you this but your whistle has been damaged. Which means we're stuck here.
Lord Brenton's Driver: Well I'll call for help. At least things can't get any worse right?
As if on cue screams could be heard from in the coaches as robbers dressed in black and armed with tactical gear, gas masks and weapons arrived.
Lead Robber: This is a robbery we have weapons!
The passengers were frightened and screamed until the mercs shot the roof of one of the coaches.
Lead Robber: Now hand over all your money and if anyone here thinks of calling the cops we'll shot the lot of you!
The passengers did as the robbers demanded and handed over their money.
At the head of the train two of the robbers were holding Lord Brenton's driver and fireman at gunpoint to make sure they didn't call the cops while a third was doing the same to the guard as the robbers went coach by coach till all the passengers handed over their money before they left smokescreens to use as cover for an escape and to double as knock out gas.
By the time the knock out gas wore off the robbers vanished and Lord Brenton was behind schedule as Noah showed up.
Noah: Lord Brenton what is the meaning of this? You're late. The passengers are cross.
Lord Brenton: I know that but it's not my fault. Or did you not notice the state of my whistle.
Noah: That brings me to my next question. What happened to your whistle?
Lord Brenton: Train Robbers attacked, they robbed my passengers and shot off my whistle.
Noah: Follow me. I don't have time to turn round so I'll have to run bunker first.
Lord Brenton: Given the situation we have no choice.
Fortunately Noah was on the same track as Lord Brenton so he buffered up to him before they headed to the next station.
At the next station the Kalos Controller was waiting and so was Gervase.
Gervase: What's taking Noah so long to find him? I hope Arcanon didn't shoot him.
Kalos Controller: Gervase while we can't always think Lord Arcanon did this we have to stay alert and be prepared for anything. That's why you're here. In the event something did happen to Lord Brenton.
Gervase said nothing more as Noah arrived with Lord Brenton give the fact that the latter had his whistle shot off of him.
Kalos Controller: Lord Brenton what happened?
Lord Brenton: We were ambushed by train robbers and the passengers lost their cash. They had the nerve to shoot off my whistle and railroad policy states that I can't go anywhere without one.
Kalos Controller: Yeah I know. Which is why I sent Noah to find you.
The Kalos Controller turned his attention to Noah and Gervase.
Kalos Controller: Noah, Take Lord Brenton to the shops and get back to work. Gervase I need you here to cover Lord Brenton's work until I transfer a substitute.
Gervase: Yes sir.
Noah: Let's get going Lord Brenton.
The Station guard uncoupled Lord Brenton from the coaches as the Lord Nelson Class engine left with the Fairburn Suburban tank engine.
Gervase then backed down onto the coaches gently before racing out to make up for lost time.
After that the trains were a bit held up but the Kalos Railway's Public Relations office managed to explain what happened and promised that the Kalos Railway would report these robbers to the police and make sure that they were punished to the full extent.
Later on in his office the Kalos Controller reflected upon the events of that day.
Kalos Controller: (thinking) This situation has made it clear to me that we need some extra security measures out here and I may need to ask my brother in law Lord Jonathan Brenton for help. I have a terrible feeling that this train robbery could most likely be the first of many.
The Kalos Controller sighed before preparing to hand out the shed assignments and the job lists for the next day's events.
Meanwhile in a dangerous part of Paris in an abandoned warehouse that was far away from the Railways the robbers were meeting with a mysterious figure in the shadows.
Mysterious figure: Did you do the job as I asked?
Lead Robber: yes we did but why did you tell us only to steal the money and not the jewelry?
Mysterious Figure: Because I have no use for jewelry and pawning it off would attract too much attention for the moment. If I am to resume terrorizing the European landmass before that Stanier Duchess defeated Coi I need to be more careful in the planning but also to let her know that I'm back.
Lead Robber: So basically you had us rob a Southern Region engine to test our skills?
Mysterious Figure: Yes I did. That and to spread the news. I have no doubt that people already know that I'm back.
Lead Robber: Then that means that you're Lord Arcanon.
The mystery figure revealed himself to be a warlord from Western Europe wearing casual clothes, he had gray patches in his hair yet still looked like he could lead.
Mystery Figure: That's right. I'm the Mysterious warlord known as Lord Arcanon and now that you've done your job well I'll need you to pull off another job.
The Train Robbers were interested in working with Lord Arcanon as he handed them their next test.