The London Midland and Scottish Railway Engines
Back in France, the Kalos Railway was holding its own and business continued as usual. On the London, Midland, and Scottish section of the Kalos Railway the fleet was preparing for a plan of attack upon Lord Arcanon and his organization. Greg was already suggesting a plan as they spoke.
Greg: So, I say we just charge in and send the French Foreign Legion in to crush Lord Arcanon and his group during a conference once and for all. It's simple but effective.
Duchess Corrinne: (yawns) Well I'm not entirely jazzed by your plan Greg. But considering we're low on options I don't see much choice. At least it's better than what somebody like Edward or Nina would come up with.
?: Sounds like you guys need some help in fighting Lord Arcanon.
The fleet glared as they found the source of the voice that spoke.
The voice in question came from a diesel and it was from a class that they knew of and had seen in both France and the United Kingdom. The Class 66s. Upon seeing the glares from the Kalos Railway's London Midland and Scottish Locomotives the diesel spoke.
Diesel Locomotive: (speaks nervously) I mean no disrespect to you lot, I'm here to help and I want to help.
Blaine: (Glares firmly) Let's start with a couple of questions so here are the first two, who are you and why the hell are you here?
Diesel Locomotive: My name is Anton and I'm here to pick up the slack for the Great Western Locomotives that are away for the summer. (Sees the outraged glares on the fleet and spoke fearfully) I'm only here for a week, the Kalos Controller's gonna bring in the BR Standard Class Locomotives to cover for them please don't blast me half to scrap. My driver has mouths to feed.
Claire: Duchess Corrinne, want me to give the word and call the Foreign Legion to blast this gas guzzler?
Duchess Corrinne: Not yet Claire, let's see what this guy can do. Then we'll decide on what to do with him.
Anton: (Surprised) Duchess Corinne? As in the leader of the British Railway's fleet? I am not worthy to be in your presence your highness. First off, I would like to formally apologize for my horrible classmates and the diesels who sided with your enemies when you brought positive change and got Chantel Payne's brat daughter voted out of power.
Duchess Corrinne: Not good enough. You want my trust. You'll have to earn it. Let me say this right now, it won't be easy, so I suggest you don't screw this up!
Anton gulped and left to do the jobs he was given before the Leader of the Kalos Railway's LMS Engines blasted him.
In the Kalos Controller's office, Lord William Belmonte was in the middle of a visit from his son, Johnathan Tyler Belmonte about what to do about Lord Arcanon.
Johnathan: Dad, what do you plan to do about Lord Arcanon and his organization? I've been traveling the continent and I went to the British Isles and most of the people are terrified of them and those who team up with Lord Arcanon and his organization. This guy even has the Russians say that they miss the days of the KGB and Stalin in charge.
William: This is much worse than I thought. For now, we'll have to let my in laws namesakes take the lead on this. House Belmonte is not as trained as House Brenton or House Fox are in fighting this ruthless organization. Still I can support them and their namesakes by letting them do as they see fit to battle anybody who hires these guys.
Johnathan: So, in other words if Duchess Corrinne votes for brute force you'll back her up to the very end? At this point I've got your back. But what about that diesel you borrowed?
William: He leaves today. I've made the arrangements to transfer the BR Standards to fill the gaps left behind by Brody, Monica, Churton Hall, and Zach. Provided nothing else happens.
Johnathan: Well that's one less concern at any rate. I just hope the Fleet isn't too pissed over it.
Back with the fleet the LMS Locomotives were still coming up with ideas and it looked as if sending the French Foreign Legion was the way to go at this point.
Corrinne: Since the plan is using brute force sending in the French Foreign Legion is the way to go.
Jake: How do you expect to get the French Foreign Legion to take on Lord Arcanon and his organization? Last time I checked the French weren't so eager to help us fight Lord Arcanon and his organization. Just how do you plan to get them to help us out this time without any bullshit?
Corrinne: By remind them that if Lord Arcanon wins then all that we know and love will be lost forever and he and his organization and his clients will be free to do as they please. We can't let that happen.
Noah: Sounds logical but we have another problem. We don't have enough power to make anything happen just yet so for now we'll have to serve as the eyes and ears. We can't do much beyond that.
Michael: Noah's right besides we better get to work. We'll figure it out.
Princess Aurora: And besides that's what your namesakes would want Duchess Corrinne.
Corrinne agreed as she and the London Midland and Scottish Locomotives went to work but they were still trying to come up with a suitable plan to defeat Lord Arcanon and his organization.
Speaking of whom, Lord Arcanon was once again taking care of business when one of his mercenaries arrived with bad news.
Mercenary: Lord Arcanon, the Kalos Railway is doubling its efforts to stop us and the clients of our organization and the crows. What is the plan to counter this?
Lord Arcanon: We eliminate the Kalos Railway's efforts to opus us and then we'll teach them to fear the power of our organization.
Mercenary: Of course, Lord Arcanon, But the question is how to do we teach them to fear the power of our organization? I did some digging and reading of our previous organization and last time I checked the Kalos Railway is not easily intimidated and the LMS Steam Kettles are usually the first ones to speak out against the enemies of the Kalos Railway like us.
Lord Arcanon: First we plan to do what we do best, wait until the fleet is overwhelmed.
The Mercenary understood that plan knowing it was a classic in Arcanon's plans but couldn't help but ask a simple yet important question.
Mercenary: What if they get other engines to help like they did before? Or they transfer other engines in?
Arcanon knew what the Mercenary was talking about when the Kalos Controller got Colby and when he transferred the BR Standards into the areas where they're needed most.
Arcanon: Finding steam kettles brave enough to fight us is gonna be extremely difficult for our enemies. All the Kalos Railway's allies are under our watch across the planet and anyone brave enough to challenge us has been beaten to the point where they'll never walk again. The Diesels who hate Steam engines and those who like steam engines are getting treated like royalty in the United Kingdom and before you ask about the ones that like steam engines let's just say that they're either indisposed or will soon be indisposed. Permanently.
Both he and the Mercenary smiled wickedly knowing that nothing could stop them now.
Back on the Kalos Railway, Jake was taking iron ore from the mines to the steel mill before collecting some steel to take a factory and from there he had to take a train load of machinery for the Kalos Railway's Main workshops in Paris.
Jake: (Thinking) Lord Arcanon is stepping up his game if our goods clients are starting to feel scared. Some of them have said that they're considering using the lorry companies to do their business with for the time being. Our passengers however trust us and that's increased our passenger traffic but it also means that Claire, Aurora, and Corrinne are starting to get overwhelmed.
Jake's Driver: Thinking about what's been going on?
Jake: I have driver and I'm worried.
Jake's Fireman: Well I can only guess what it is. You're worried about Claire, Princess Aurora, and Duchess Corrine being overwhelmed aren't you?
Jake: I am. But how did you know that?
Jake's Fireman: It's not that hard to figure out given how Aurora and Claire have been mentioning their aching wheels as of late. And with Corrinne's turn on the Orient Express coming up tomorrow it's gonna be even harder on the two of them.
Jake: Hopefully Manager can figure out what to do by then because they'll need all the help they can get. Perhaps he can send Joshua to help them.
Jake's Driver: That's good because the crews are starting to feel the pressure.
Later that evening after all the jobs were done for the day Aurora, Claire, and Corrinne were back at the sheds with the rest of the fleet.
Michael: I know I'm taking a huge risk asking this but how did today go?
Claire: It was brutal. Passenger services were swelled up like no tomorrow. I like coaches as much as the next engine does but I'm getting overwhelmed.
Princess Aurora: That makes two of us. I'm not afraid of hard work mind you but this is getting a bit too much. And here's the scary part. Corrinne's due to take the Orient Express Tomorrow and she'll be away for a while. Remember the last time she was gone for a year or so? We were swamped. We had to ask for help from the other sections of the Kalos Railway.
Duchess Corrinne: And Manager had to pull Joshua and Sophia into service to help.
Sophia: Don't remind me. Still Josh, Greg, Blaine, and I are willing to help where we're needed but even we can't be everywhere.
Greg: We just have to dig deep and give all we have and more. If we do that, there isn't anything we can't accomplish.
Blaine: I like your attitude Greg but remember what happened the last time you said that? You burst your safety valve. Noah had to take you to the shed while Gervase had to take your passengers.
Greg: Tell me about it. Gervase says that he's a disaster when it comes to passengers. Even though he had training.
Duchess Corrinne: Remember this. The Royal Scots and the Patriot Classes had more experience. At this rate we may need one to pick up the slack but finding one is gonna be difficult. Which means we'll need a new plan and I'll have to tell manager.
?: That won't be necessary.
The engines were shocked to see the Kalos Controller present and standing before them.
Noah: Sir I gotta ask. How much of that did you hear?
Kalos Controller: Enough to know that you need some help.
Claire: We really need it.
Kalos Controller: Then you'll be happy to know that I'm transferring Abigail to this section of the Kalos Railway to help with the Passenger Trains while Gervase is going to the London and North Eastern Section of the Kalos Railway to help Colby cover the freight runs.
Jake: Okay and what about Anton sir?
Kalos Controller: Anton's being transferred to the same section of the Kalos Railway as Gervase is. Unfortunately, the resident Heavy Goods Engine of the London and North Eastern Fleet is due for repairs so Anton will have to stay even longer to fill in. I know you don't trust him but it's only temporary unless you'd rather have Coley, Jake, or Michael fill in.
Mary: To be frank sir, the LMS and the LNER didn't get along that much during the days of the Big Four. I'm too young to know much but I do know that Coley, Jake, and Michael may not be welcomed there as much as Colby is.
Kalos Controller: Again, I'm aware of that which is why I sent Gervase. Still Abigail and the BR Standard Classes can't be everywhere and I'll see what I can do about looking into other Passenger Locomotives from the London Midland and Scottish Railway to help you lot. I'm doing the best that I can now I need you to help me.
Noah: We understand. Hopefully you'll have a plan to defeat Lord Arcanon once and for all.
Kalos Controller: Once again, I'm aware of that too and believe me Lord Arcanon and his clients will fall once and for all.
The Kalos Controller left on that note as the fleet had a lot to think about regarding what he said.
Author's Note: Finals are done which means Summer Vacation begins.