Munitions
The London Midland and Scottish Engines were all oiled up the next day as they prepared for their jobs. Having remembered the routine by now the LMS all knew that today was the day that they trained for every year. The Military Contracts. Gervase was among the Great Western Locomotives since Brody, Monica, Zach, and Churton Hall were all on Sodor helping out with the Summer Traffic and wouldn't be back until the first of September so he had to pick up the slack.
Greg: Well here we go. It's time for the Military contracts.
Sophia: Let's hope we don't have a near disaster like we did last year and the year before that.
Blaine: It wasn't that bad.
Duchess Corrinne: I've been gone for two years so care to fill me in on what happened?
Princess Aurora: While you were gone Passenger Services were difficult. Claire and I had to keep the trains running or the railway would fail.
Duchess Corrinne: Was it really that bad?
Noah: It was and that's when Josh was helping. When Aurora was called away to pull the Orient Express on occasion Claire was overworked. Even with Josh helping. The Kalos Controller had to transfer Sophia, Greg and Blaine to help with the workloads.
Malcolm: Manager even had to press Noah to do Josh's jobs, Mary to do Noah's and I had to do Mary's work as well as my own.
Duchess Corrinne: Oh my. This sounds worse than I thought.
Mary: It was. We felt like we were being rushed off our wheels.
Josh: The Trucks were starting to complain but the Coaches were complaining more than usual about the increased workload. They even felt that they were getting confused.
Duchess Corrinne: On the flipside Gervase tells me that the Great Western Engines have been picking up where I left off in making the changes that I tried to bring to Barrow in Furness over here.
Noah: It's not just them. All the Locomotives on the Kalos Railway have also been stepping up their game and so have all the British Steam Engines.
Jake: And that's not even the surprising part.
Duchess Corrinne: What could be more surprising?
Sophia: A lot of the Well-Mannered Diesels have also begun to step up and take a stand against the crows and anybody that sides with them. They've even decided to rat on anybody who hires the Crows to do their bidding.
Michael: And they've all been trying to tell the Current Controller of the Other Railway to grow a back bone and resist the likes of Chantal Payne once and for all.
Coley: And if things are to change she also needs to step up and change. Like you quoted from Avatar the Last Airbender, only Justice Will Bring Peace.
Duchess Corrinne: I know but even so the Passenger Traffic has increased lately and we need another passenger engine. I hate to say it but none of us can work any harder, not even I can work any harder than usual and I'm a Stanier Princess Coronation.
Hassan: So, what do you expect us to do about it? Just wait for the Kalos Controller to show up?
Jason: That's being passive and that plan is going to get us knocked to bits.
Hassan: And what's the alternative? Risk losing the Kalos Railway's reputation?
Josh: Hassan, Jason is trying to help.
Hassan: I'm sorry Jason. It's just all this work is getting us stressed and unless we get some help then we're screwed.
?: Fortunately, some much needed help has arrived.
Right on cue another engine appeared and had the crest of the LMS Railway on the Tender and the odd thing was that the Kalos Controller was stepping down from the cab.
Claire: Glad you could make it. We were just talking about you.
William Belmonte: Yes, I know.
Princess Aurora: How much did you hear sir?
William: Enough to know that you, Claire, Noah, and Duchess Corrinne need some help with the Passenger runs.
Princess Aurora: Okay that answers my first question now can you explain who the Locomotive is?
Hassan: Princess Aurora's right sir. That could be a Royal Scott Class or perhaps a Patriot or Jubilee Class.
William: Well this is locomotive is a Patriot Class.
Jason: Those engines were built for Passenger Services. Thank god one's here.
Duchess Corrinne: I will say one thing though. The Patriot Class was one of Fowler's designs and I'm not expecting much from them considering Henry Fowler had a small engine policy and everyone here know how that worked out.
Patriot Class Locomotive: I understand that and I just want to say that I'm just lucky to even be here.
Mary: That makes most of us. (To the Kalos Controller) Who is this locomotive groveling before us?
William: This is Reginald. He's here to help with the Passenger Traffic on the London, Midland, and Scottish Section of the Kalos Railway.
Sophia: Mind if we ask Reginald some questions?
William: Go ahead Sophia. I'll let you guys get acquainted before I hand out the jobs. I have yet to hand the Great Western Locomotives their jobs.
The Kalos Controller gave the fleet some space to talk freely so that they could be totally honest with Reginald and Reginald can express himself freely. As he did he took out his tablet PC so that he could hand the Yard Master of the Great Western Railway the Jobs for the day.
Reginald: Duchess Corrinne. It's an honor to be in your presence. I am not worthy.
Duchess Corrinne: The Kalos Controller will be the judge of that. Anyway let's introduce ourselves.
Once the fleet introduced themselves to Reginald Sophia got right to business.
Sophia: Okay Reginald so what makes you think you're qualified to serve with us?
Reginald: Well for one I'm great at handling coaches.
Claire: That's a start and Duchess Corrinne, Princess Aurora, Noah, and I are glad to hear that but we're not talking about railway duties. We're talking about battling Lord Arcanon, his organization, the Crows, and anybody who has called upon the Crows to get revenge on their behalf.
Reginald: I'm aware of that and I did some transport of Troops during the Second World War and I helped battle the crows when Coi was leading so this should be no different. I have a plan in mind and some news.
Princess Aurora: And what plan or news could you possibly have that would interest us?
Reginald: In terms of news I bring both good news, great news, bad news, more good news, more great news, worse news and even worse news. Which do you want to hear first?
Noah: Let's start with the good news first. We could use some of that.
Reginald: Well the good news is that Chantal Payne's brats have all been voted out of power, the school yard bullies are even being punished according to how Duchess Corrinne sees fit from here on out, and that Jen's finally grown a back bone. She's transferring to a School in Texas that holds a martial arts program. Kick Drugs out of America I believe.
Duchess Corrinne: That is good news. I would know considering Wyatt Hatt and his Texas ranger buddies were all talking about that and I was there.
Josh: So what's the great news?
Reginald: All the Railway Controllers across the British Isles are finally taking a stand against the Crows, Lord Arcanon and his organization. Even the Four Big Railway Controllers of Sodor have stepped up to the plate and between them, and the cops, things are looking up and they're even putting Duchess Corrinne's new policies in place from the schools to the legal system of how to combat the criminal element.
Michael: That's really great news. It's about time the railway controllers grew a back bone and took action against this mess.
Mary: I hate to be the cynical locomotive but Reginald said that there was some bad news coming up so what is it.
Reginald: The bad news is that Chantal Payne got word of the first two pieces of news and is moving to retaliate with Payne Industries beginning to make a big move.
Malcolm: That's bad. If Payne Industries gets control of any of the companies that the railways do business with then the controllers are in big trouble and we'll all be back to square one.
Reginald: Fortunately, there is more good news, Foxteca the company run by Lucius Fox the Second was aware of the first three pieces of news and has moved to prevent Payne Industries from getting control of said companies and Lord Brenton is also stepping into action.
Greg: That's good news.
Reginald: And there's more great news. I met with the engines that were sent from here to Sodor and they told me that they just put a plan into motion for a rescue operation and said rescue op was a success.
Blaine: Sounds like Edna is safely away from Arcanon's watch and so are her parents.
Claire: Which means Edward now has no excuse to undermine Duchess Corrinne anymore.
Reginald: Now here comes the worse news and the even worse news. The worse news is that Lord Arcanon and his organization are gearing up and getting stronger each day.
Jason: And the even worse news?
Reginald: Chantal Payne, the Crows and Lord Arcanon and his organization all know the news that I just mentioned to you.
Duchess Corrinne: Which means that if we are to make sure that all we've been doing has had an impact we will have to go into battle and we'll have to handle the military contracts.
Claire: The only question is, does the Kalos Controller know all that you've told us and has he told King Elgar, Silver, and Alolan Line and the rest of the fleet?
As if on cue William Belmonte the current Kalos Controller showed up and he had heard everything.
Kalos Controller: Know what?
Greg: We were just talking about you sir and getting to know Reginald.
Claire: He'll make a fine addition to the fleet.
Kalos Controller: Well that's good to know considering he's already brought you the news that I was planning on telling you in addition to giving you lot your jobs.
Sophia: (Shocked) Wait you knew about all that we discussed?
All: Sophia!
Sophia: What he was gonna find out sooner or later.
Noah: Good point. Well I'm sure the Kalos Controller heard all of that.
Kalos Controller: I did and I'm pleased so far at all that has happened but for now let's focus on the work we have today. It's military contracts so you all know what that means. We'll be working with the French Military but we're loading United States Navy Trampers.
Coley: Yes, we know that. Thank god they put common sense before orders. So, who takes what?
Kalos Controller: Duchess Corrinne, you're on the Orient Express today, head to Paris at once.
Duchess Corrinne: Got it sir.
Duchess Corrinne steamed off as the Kalos Controller gave out the rest of the jobs.
Kalos Controller: Princess Aurora, Reginald, Claire. You three are on passengers. Noah, you've got suburban duties. Joshua you're doing Sophia's duties with Greg and Blaine doing their usual runs. Malcolm, You and Mary have branchline duties. Michael and Coley you both have goods trains.
Sophia: What about me and Jake?
Kalos Controller: Getting to that. Jake thanks for winning us the steel contract.
Jake: I had Noah's help sir. If it wasn't for him we'd have lost the contract to a lorry company backed by Lord Arcanon.
Kalos Controller: I know that. Pick up a load of steel to take to the weapons factory then pick up the weapons and deliver them to the naval tramper Etna.
Jake: Yes sir.
Kalos Controller: Sophia since Joshua's doing your duties on the farms you'll be taking parcels and mail. Deliver them then head to the Fuel depot to take oil to the refinery.
Sophia: Yes Sir, but what of the Ammunition, Explosives and Fuel?
Kalos Controller: That's being covered. I've given Ammunition to the LNER Engines to take to Shasta, Explosives to the Southern Engines to take to Vesuvius, and since the Great Western Engines are busy Anton will cover the fuel run to Saint Helen. Now get going.
All: Yes Sir.
The Kalos Controller left on that note as the fleet headed out to their assignments.
Over at the explosive depot Daniel, Tabitha, and Ashley were doing the trip. Normally Bret would be doing this but since he was filling in on the Great Western Section of the Kalos Railway Tabitha had to take his place.
Daniel: Okay listen up moving this lot is going to be very tricky. Ashley move first. Handle the train with care. Show the lorry companies that high explosives don't scare you and if they get too close.
Ashley: I can blow them up.
Daniel: With your whistle. No need for silly games. You don't need to be stupid.
Ashley: I understand.
Ashley puffed slowly with her load of explosives being careful to follow all the safety measures.
Daniel: Keep flying those danger flags and let everyone know that it's dangerous. Tabitha you're next. You've done this before with me and Bret so I don't need to remind you what's at stake.
Tabitha: I know that. This is going to Vesuvius the naval tramper. It's amazing that he's still here in service and Kraka-Toa was somehow rescued and was transferred to Washington D.C. at a naval base there.
Daniel: Yeah but just handle that train gently alright?
Tabitha understood as she puffed off next and once there was enough distance between them Daniel took his load of explosives next.
Daniel: (to himself) Eat your hearts out. This trip is worth 20 garbage trains, commuter lines and Steel runs. Right easy does it.
Daniel puffed off slowly as he pulled his train.
Over with Tina the Great Western Engines they were talking about Anton and how they were holding up while Brody, Monica, Zach, and Churton Hall were away.
Tina: I never thought I'd say this but I for one am happy we have a diesel around. Too bad the diesel in question couldn't have been Alana, she's very nice and prefers to hang around Steam Engines than other diesels.
Norton Manor: Yeah but for how long? If Alana does end up having to work with other diesels whose to say that they won't try to influence her to turn on us?
A Great Western 5700 Class Tank engine also had to add to that comment.
GWR 5700 Class: I hate to be the bearer of bad news but Norton Manor has a point. Alana's been in and out of scrap yards, steel mills and she even did a stretch on the Sodor Ironworks.
Bryant: I understand your concerns Preston but Alana's been taught to respect her steam engine elders. She'd never turn on her steam engine friends that easily.
Tyler the GWR 5101 Large Prairie Tank spoke up.
Tyler: True but then again people change and so do engines. Nothing lasts forever. That's why we were on our toes or wheels all the time.
Kalos Star: Very impressive considering you've been on suburban trains all your life and rarely did goods train duties. I agree with that statement but consistency is also important but we have bigger issues. Like making sure that the Weapons, Ammunition, Explosives, and Fuel get to their destinations
King Elgar: Kalos Star is right. What we're carrying today is very dangerous enough, if those dangerous loads fall into the wrong hands then all hell will break loose.
Edinburgh Castle: Good point. Either way we'd best get back to work. The Munitions aren't gonna get delivered.
Tina and the other Great Western Engines agreed as they went back to work knowing full well that after this they'd resume their usual jobs.
Soon Night had fallen and the Kalos Railway Engines had delivered their respective loads to their respective naval trampers. The Engines in charge of the explosives were all uncoupled and watching as Vesuvius was being loaded with the dangerous cargo aside from Daniel as the last of his trucks were the ones being unloaded. Dock lights helped in the transfer as one last minute slipup would mean disaster and that history would repeat itself here just as it did in Bigg City Port in the 1920s.
Daniel: That should be the last of it.
Tabitha: I hope so. Nothing against you but I hope the Great Western Engines on Sodor return before we have to do this again.
Daniel: So do I and I wish Bret had been here but he was needed with the LNER engines today.
Ashley: Can we go now?
Daniel: It's late so I'm afraid not. Protocol states that the engines in charge of delivering the explosives are not to leave the dock yards until the tramper is in open ocean waters. This is to prevent any last minute slip ups.
Ashley: But sitting around here is so boring. I don't know how you and Bret can handle this. Why didn't you pick Cody or Mordred?
Daniel: The others were all busy on other assignments and you were the only one available. The Kalos Controller is looking into getting a Q Class or Q1 Class to Join us or even a South East and Chatham C class to join us. That way we won't have to worry about our goods division falling apart.
Ashley sighed as the last of the Explosives were loaded but by the time they were it was very late.
Ashley: So now what?
Tabitha: Usually after the ships are loaded we'd head back to the sheds. Normally that would be the plan but with Lord Arcanon running about its too risky for us to be out this late. Which means that we'll have to sleep in the sheds at the docks.
Ashley: You mean we'd have to deal with the smell of fish?
Tabitha: I'm afraid so and personally I hate fish.
Ashley: Fish can't smell that bad and they can't cause that much havoc can they?
Daniel: If they get into an engine's boiler yes they can. Fortunately, this port doesn't deal in the transport of fish. They're somewhere else and the one of the LMS Engines usually gets that job anyway. For some odd reason they're the only ones that actually like the smell of fish that I know of.
Tabitha: That would explain why they get all the barn yard based jobs. Either way we should get some sleep. I for one am going to need it. I need to look my best you know.
Ashley and Daniel agreed as they got comfortable knowing that one thing was for certain, Lord Arcanon and his organization were out there and they had their threads weaved in many factions of the criminal underworld.