Previously...
"Gordon. This isn't Fowler or Roderick's handiwork... This is different..." Braedey looks on with narrowed eyes.
"Braedey, if Fowler and Roderick didn't blow up your railway sheds and station, then who did?" Ella asked in concern. "I'm... I'm a little scared."
Braedey looks on. "This is the work of the DGSSE... but it's not the work of Fowler and Roderick. Those two are hunters who prey on engines, not assassins who plant explosives to blow up a station and sheds. This is the work of someone else higher than those two, higher in the ladder of hierarchy."
Thomas looks at the crimson engine in concern. "Someone higher on the ladder of hierarchy? Are you saying that Fowler and Roderick are not the head honchos of the DGSSE?" He asked.
Braedey chuffs. "That's right, Thomas. Fowler and Roderick, they're the leaders of their little task force that hunts down and collects engines for scrap. They answer to someone of HIGHER status and authority."
"The TRUE leader of the DGSSE... Goliath..."
Everyone looks on at the crimson GWR locomotive with concerned, curious, and cautious eyes. The way he spoke about this particular locomotive, it sounds as though he once knew about this Goliath.
"Goliath is the one in charge of the DGSSE, someone who's thought to be nothing but a rumour... but that rumour is true." Braedey explained to the other engines. "Goliath is actually the prototype engine of the BR Standard 9Fs, much like Murdoch, Evelyn AKA Evening Star, and sibling Alexander AKA Black Prince."
"He's the original prototype?" Henry wondered.
"How unexpected." Edward remarked.
"And I thought Murdoch was the first prototype model." Hayden commented.
"Goliath is the personification of sadism, cruelty, megalomania, infinite destruction, death, power, and madness." Braedey continued to explain. "His plan to gain dominion over all, it just sickens me to the pit of my firebox. He is a monster, one who speaks of revolutionary idea and design, his ideas becoming the basis for what we know of the ideologies of the DGSSE. He is the first to make it official, Dr. Beeching being his advisor behind all of the British Railway issues and complaints."
"So Beeching hid all the dirty secrets and such from the public eye?" James spoke with narrowed eyes.
"That explains a lot." Gordon huffed. "Pulls the wool over the eyes of everyone, hiding the dark truth of the crimes done by the D.G.S.S.E, as they go about and do their evil work." He grunted.
"Goliath is a ruthless genocidal maniac who thinks of himself like a god, a saviour, believing himself to be the great leader of a new revolution. Anyone who doesn't see things the way he does... they end up being scrapped." Braedey added in. "Those who do see things how he sees it, they are part of his inner circle, and his army. He also believes in a world of only dieselisation with just a small percentage of steam, even though he's a steam locomotive himself, his objective to bring forth diesel and be rid of steam at every level, regardless of the laws and regulations regarding non-faceless vehicles rights."
"Holy Gresley..." Was all Hayden could mutter out.
"Yikes." Ella shuddered. "Goliath sounds like a monster, a nasty one."
"Yes." Thomas agreed with the blue Stirling Single.
"Worse - he seems similar to that guy from one of those superhero movies my crew had seen with their families a little while ago..." Jane then huffed. "Oh, man. I can't seem to remember the name of him..."
"Regardless, this locomotive sounds like nothing but trouble and a threat to all railways." Edward spoke out. "We must be ready for anything that happens."
"Especially with those like Diesel, Roderick, Fowler, and Diesel 10 among that group." Henry agreed. "They are definitely those to watch out for."
The other engines were in agreement that Goliath and the D.G.S.S.E are not a group to mess around with this time. Beforehand, they only had a handful of engines, plus Fowler and Roderick, but this time, it's an entire army of diesel and steam locomotives to contend with.
"Everyone." Mr. Franklin spoke up at once, everyone now silent as they look at him, who now climbs up onto Braedey's cab roof to get their attention. "I understand you all want to fight back, but this is something much bigger than anything you all have ever faced against. For the moment, you all shall continue your duties and carry on as normally. However, be on high alert, and keep your eyes open for anything suspicious or incriminating. We cannot let our guard down."
"Agreed." Sir Topham Hatt nodded in agreement.
However, as everyone was in agreement with all of this, and also began to think of how they can help and what ideas they could possibly come up with, Braedey was not listening in to the whole conversation. He was thinking about something else that's on his smokebox as he looks down at his buffer beam, the memories of what happened all those years ago. A thought crossed his mimd in that moment, and he was going to go through with it, whether the others liked it or not...
Later that evening, everyone had finally fallen asleep. Not a sound could be heard, and nobody was moving about. All except for one. Braedey opens his eyes, feigning slumber for a little while, then looks around. He could see all the other engines were fast asleep, but he wasn't concerned about that now. He now had other thoughts on his mind, and nothing else. He then got a fire going within his firebox, and under his own steam, began to slowly roll forward. He gently pushes open the engine shed doors, then notices the turntable set to his track and leading out onto the mainline. Seeing no other obstacles in his way, the crimson engine rolled out of the sheds and out onto the mainline, racing off as fast as his wheels can carry him.
Unbeknownst to Braedey, Jane wasn't actually asleep, and she had seen him chugging away. Thinking quick, and since she was on an adjacent track that wasn't connected to the turntable, she chuffs off after the GWR Hall Class locomotive. But before she could think of continuing her pursuit, she stopped at Knapford and asks the stationmaster to contact Mr and Mrs Franklin at once. The stationmaster acknowledged this, and quickly made the call. A few moments later, they both arrived at Knapford, both surprised to see Jane at the station.
"What's going on, Jane?" Caitlyn asked. "Why are you up at this time of the night?"
"It's Braedey, ma'am. He's racing down the mainline crewless, and isn't slowing down." Jane informed to them, both Caitlyn and Mr. Franklin looking serious.
"Jane. We're coming with you." Mr. Franklin stated, he and Caitlyn climbing up into Jane's cab. "Now follow after him." Wjth that, Jane puffed out of the station and charged onward as fast as her wheels can carry her, racing on down the mainline.
Braedey continued to travel along the mainline in the dead of night, racing along at speed without slowing down, charging through empty stations and yards, the night being silent as he continues on. Eventually, he gets to Vicarstown, but this wasn't his destination - he keeps charging ahead, crossing over the bridge onto the mainland, and powers onward, all the while he's unaware of a red tank engine keeping up in pursuit.
"What do you think is up with Braedey?" Jane wonders to herself as she chuffs along. "Why is he acting up like this?"
"He was rather shaken up when he heard the name of Goliath from Fowler and the two diesels." Mr. Franklin spoke up. "Something must've happened years ago between him and Goliath."
"It must've happened before we ever purchased him to be part of the Josephine Railway." Caitlyn added in. "But what could it be?"
Meanwhile, Braedey charges along at speed, soon reaching Barrow-in-Furness. But instead of slowing or coming to a stop, he carries on and turns off the mainline, heading off down the tracks heading forth to the Josephine Railway. Jane, Mr. Franklin, and Caitlyn were all confused as they follow on, wondering what the crimson locomotive was doing down their own line. He chugs along at speed, his wheels whirring and steam swirling around him as he charges by, not caring about the speed limit, Jane looking on cautiously.
Eventually, Braedey rolled up to the wrecked remains of Marion Station, as well as roundhouse and turntable, coming to a gentle stop with the grinding steel of his brakes. He looks at the remains of the roundhouse, as well as the station nearby, his eyes narrowing at this. He took some deep breaths as he sat there nearby.
"Braedey." The crimson locomotive doesn't respond as Jane slowly pulls up nearby. "Braedey, what are you doing?" Braedey again doesn't answer.
Mr. Franklin stepped out of Jane's cab and he made his way over. "Braedey. What do you think you're doing, all gallivanting out and about in the middle of the night and going crewless?" He questioned to his locomotive.
"Sir. This is none of your concern, nor is your business to know." Braedey spoke back firmly and harshly.
"Braedey, what is with this attitude?" Caitlyn now asks. "Why are you being like this? Is this about Goliath?" But she doesn't get an answer from Braedey. "Braedey..."
"What is wrong with you, Braedey?" Jane demanded.
"I can't let anyone else get involved with this." Braedey spoke back firmly, his eyes locked on. "I have to do this alone."
"Braedey, you're not making sense." Mr. Franklin now spoke back. "Why are you being like this? Has all of this got to do with Goliath? Why do you think you must do this on your own??"
"Because I'm the one who put Goliath there in the first place!"
Jane, Mr. Franklin, and Caitlyn all stood silently, all of them taken aback by Braedey's outburst. The crimson locomotive sighs deeply as he recollected his thoughts before he could continue on.
"I once met Goliath back in 1960, three years before I was withdrawn and retired from service." Braedey now began to say to the trio. "When I first met him, I didn't really know about the D.G.S.S.E, especially since I've been concerned about my future and survival, along with the whole bureaucracy of British Railways. It was all going to hell for everyone. I've seen some friends and close relatives who were taken away to either be withdrawn or scrapped. When I was stationed up in Cardiff until I was retired, I was on my own while my old crew were taking a tea break. As I was on my own, I could hear the sound of steel being cut up, and I saw some of the organised scrapping acts that went with the ill-fated 1955 Modernisation Plan. I watch on as the scrappers began to take apart the faceless engines, lucky enough to not hear or witness any of the non-faceless endure such a fate. As I did, I heard the sound of an approaching engine, and I saw... Him. Paint as black as night, steam so dirty that didn't seem right, bearing no numbers and only the British Railways logo on his tender, and who's eyes look like they've seen the worst of things, worse than the Second World War." Braedey shuddered lightly. "He introduced himself as Goliath, and he explained to me that he considered the future for British Railways to be of one that only some could even envision. He's become a spokes-engine of sorts and is leading a front for a new operation for all of British Railways, as he proclaimed. I didn't know if I should have believed in him at the time, since I didn't know how long I was going to be in service, so I had no idea what might happen. So, I asked him about his new operation, and he offered to present it to me. I decided to follow, going crewless at the time, and followed him off to this oil refinery location. At the time, I had no idea of it being a dastardly place. But when I entered the main shed, all I can smell was the scent of molten steel and burning metal, and to my horror... I saw a number of non-faceless locomotives being taken away to be scrapped, the cries and screams of those being taken apart. It sickens me to my firebox to this day even just thinking about it."
"Oh, my..." Caitlyn muttered in shock.
"Goliath then announced to me that the railways of today, there's too many engines, not enough to go around. And when faced with extinction, a solution is required. Genocide. But at random, dispassionate, fair to rich and poor alike. Goliath proclaimed to be a survivor. A creator. Goliath proclaimed that with the cult following at his disposal, he can simply give a command, and all those against him would all cease to exist. He calls that Mercy. After that, he said he'd finally rest... And watch the sun rise on a grateful railway of the world, one of his design. The hardest choices require the strongest wills, in his words." Braedey continued.
Mr. Franklin now looked at his crimson locomotive with a stern expression. "Then what happened?" He asked.
"Goliath offered a position for me among those of his inner circle in the D.G.S.S.E, but I told him I needed a bit of time to think about it. Goliath allowed me passage out to go back to Cardiff, and I raced back there as fast as possible, getting back there in time as my crew was looking for me. I then told them about what I've seen and about Goliath and his insane plans, and we decided at once to contact the police and the Railway Inspectors Unit." Braedey continued. "Sure enough, a police raid occurred at that place, and most of the engines there were taken away for questioning and interrogation, their crews also being involved as well. I heard of Goliath being taken away by heavy escort, along with those like Fowler and Roderick, but I did not get the chance to relax or feel good, especially with the bureaucracy of British Railways. But I've heard from some engines that Goliath somehow got away, and I had no idea as to how, and I didn't get the chance to know, especially when I was withdrawn from service in 1963. As I waited until my time, I thought about how Goliath might have gotten away with his crimes, and I had the thought that possibly Beeching was the result."
"And after that, you were purchased by my grandfather and uncle in 1965." Mr. Franklin then puts in. "Talk about a dark chapter of your life..."
"So, you believe that it's your fault that Goliath is still alive." Jane now stated. "But why do you believe that you need to do this alone?"
"I got Goliath caught, but he got out of trouble because of Beeching. I'm the reason why he is still around, and he's the reason why our home was attacked like this." Braedey huffed, steam swirling around his wheels. "I must do so and be rid of Goliath from our railways for good, so he nor anyone affiliated with him get away with their crimes."
"Braedey. You saw Fowler, Roderick, even Diesel 10 at that refinery. Who knows how many other diesels or so that might be there." Mr. Franklin spoke to his crimson locomotive. "You can't fight these battles alone. You need to work with a team to face a threat like that of the D.G.S.S.E."
"He's right." Caitlyn added in. "You need your friends and family to help you." She gently patted Braedey's buffer beam to give him comfort.
Braedey sighed softly, looking on at the smoking ruins of the station and roundhouse sheds. He knew his owners are right, and he could not face a threat like the D.G.S.S.E alone. He looks on, then settles on his wheels as he now thought on.
"Very well." Braedey sighed softly. "I need some time to rest my smokebox."
"Right. Let's go back to Sodor." Mr. Franklin stated.
Caitlyn climbs into Braedey's cab, with Mr. Franklin in Jane's cab, the red tank engine coupling up to Braedey as they prepare to leave. The crimson engine looks on the remains for a little longer, then he began to gently reverse away, he and Jane heading off back to Sodor.
Eventually, Braedey and Jane arrive back on Sudrian rails, just as the first trains were moving. The two red engines travel along the mainline buffer-to-buffer, both of them tired from their long travel, so they came to a stop just nearby Knapford. Once they stopped, Caitlyn and Mr. Franklin both head off to find Sir Topham Hatt to tell them about what Braedey explained to them.
Henry puffed up nearby, having collected flat wagons loaded with steel. He saw Braedey and Jane parked up nearby. "There you two are. We were wondering where you had gone to." He said to them.
"Braedey went charging off to the mainland, and I had to chase after him with both Mr. Franklin and Caitlyn Robinson alongside." Jane explained to the Green LMS 'Black Five'. "We also learnt something from Braedey."
"Oh, my." Henry replied in surprise. "Does this have to do with the D.G.S.S.E?" He asked.
"More specifically, Goliath." Braedey grunted out, spitting out the name as if it were a bad poison in his mouth.
"I see. It sounds like you've had some history with him." Henry commented.
"You have no idea. He's the reason why our home has been destroyed, and why Fowler and Roderick have been here on your railway." Braedey grunted. "He's the evil of all railways, and threatens our entire existence."
"Is that true?" The trio look over to see James, Gordon, Thomas, Ella, and the other engines also by the station platform and station yard. "Is this Goliath someone you once knew before?" Darla asked.
Braedey sighed. "Yes." So, after taking a deep breath, the GWR Hall Class locomotive explained to them all about his history and knowing Goliath. After he finished explaining this to them, they all were silent after that.
"Oh, my..." Thomas muttered.
"Holy Gresley..." Gordon added.
"I agree." Darla could only shudder at the thought.
"Braedey." The engines look over to see Sir Topham, Caitlyn, and Mr. Franklin standing by the platform. "We understand your feeling and such in regards to Goliath and what he's done in the past, as well as harming you and your home, but both Mr. Franklin and Caitlyn are right. This is a battle you cannot fight alone. If those like Goliath, Fowler, and Roderick, and others among the D.G.S.S.E wish to cause harm to any fellow engines, they will face against all of us together." The engines of the NWR blew their whistles in agreement.
Braedey smiles softly back. "Thank you. All of you."
"They want to mess with us, they mess with all of us." James declared. "And I'll fight them with bent buffers and a busted boiler."
"James is right." Toby agreed.
"We'll stand with you." Edward added in.
"No matter what happens." Thomas included next.
Braedey, Diana, Liliana, Jane, and everyone else of the J.R look on with smiles on their faces, seeing all these engines of the NWR are willing to put their own lives on the line to help them, whether it be for their home or not. They smile and whistle or blow their horns back, everyone else in tune as well.
"Very well. We'd best make arrangements." Sir Topham announced, Mr. Franklin nodding in agreement.
"For what?" Percy asked.
"For war." Braedey declared ominously.
Sure enough, arrangements were being made. Since both Sir Topham and Mr. Franklin were coordinating the movements of their own engines, they've opted that a few of them will stand behind on Sodor to keep the island going, and for their safety. The engines that will stay behind are Liliana, Max, Austin, Toby, Oliver, Duck, with Derek, Benjamin, Edward, Ella, Madeline, Murdoch, Rowan, plus Molly and Lady, and a few other engines. Braedey, Diana, Darla, Thomas, Percy, Henry, Gordon, James, Raleigh, Peter, Hayden, Maverick, Bear, Boco, Anna, Shadow, Mack, and William have all raised their figurative hands up to join the fight. Those engines have been allocated into a team they call 'The Loco-Vengers'. Plus, they've been outfitted with radios and codenames, as well as them being modified and prepped for the upcoming battle. Once done so, the engines of the 'Loco-Vengers' were all ready to go, with Braedey being the lead commander of the team.
Outside of Vicarstown Station, Braedey, Diana, Darla, Thomas, Percy, Henry, Gordon, James, Raleigh, Peter, Hayden, Maverick, Bear, Boco, Anna, Shadow, Mack and William were ready to go, both Thomas and Percy had been placed onto well-wagons behind Henry. Sir Topham and Mr. Franklin stood by the platform as they look on at the engines.
"The Railway Inspectors Unit will be on standby when this is over. Braedey, you are leading these engines into battle, so please be careful and bring them home safe." Sir Topham Hatt said to Braedey. "Good luck."
"Don't worry, sir." Braedey replied. "We will win. And we will come back home safe."
With that, Braedey blew his war whistle long and loud, the other engines whistle out as they charge onward down the rails, crossing over the Vicarstown Bridge, and they charge off down the mainland mainline.
At the D.G.S.S.E Headquarters, all seemed to be silent and whatnot, albeit with the sound of low humming and rumbling being heard by the diesels. But among those sounds, there's also the sound of the chugging of steam. Goliath could be seen slinking about the yard and among the wagons of scrapped locomotives and machinery, his eyes looking at the remains around him.
Fowler now chuffed up alongside. "Goliath."
"What is it?" Goliath grunted.
"The workshops have been working flat out on Crogha and the three Gronk diesels, and they're back on their wheels with functional motors." Fowler informed.
"Excellent." Goliath spoke back firmly. "Anything else?"
"Not as such. There's been no news or anything else regarding the North Western Railway." Fowler spat out the last three words. "Guess they've overheard the news about that's happened to the Josephine Railway."
"I can only imagine." Goliath chuckled darkly. "Those lousy locomotives didn't even know what hit them, and when we come knocking on their front door, they won't be ready for us."
Just then, a bellowing whistle echoed out, Goliath and Fowler looking about as they heard this sound echo all around them. The whistling echoed out more and more, just as the sound of loud chuffing could be heard now fast approaching the refinery. Goliath chuffs forward out of the line of wagons and scrapped machinery, just as he spotted a crimson red GWR locomotive steaming into view.
"Round up the others. I'll go and confront this one. Wait for my signal." Goliath said to Fowler, the LMS engine reversing away. Goliath chuffs forward until he's by the main front junction points.
Braedey slows to a stop just outside of the gates of the D.G.S.S.E Headquarters, his eyes narrowed. "Goliath."
"Well, well, well. Look who it is." Goliath smirked darkly. "The engine who ratted me and the D.G.S.S.E out all those years ago."
"Never a day goes by when I don't forget about that or your ugly face." Braedey grunted back, steam coming from his cylinder cocks as if he were an angry bull. "But what's been making my boiler burn hotter is knowing you are still functioning."
"Well, you can thank the very man we worship known as Dr. Richard Beeching, the man who made this all possible." Goliath smirked. "He broke a deal with the R.I.U, and got me out of Railgate, along with a few of my associates. Thanks to him, we continued to work with our operation."
"And lead to the deaths of many non-faceless engines, many of those who just wanted to live their normal lives." Braedey snapped back. "Most of the engines that are still around today are the last of their kind, and you don't give a tonne of cinders and ashes about it!"
"It doesn't matter. There will be those who follow on that shall live on." Goliath stated nonchalantly, as if not giving a damn about his despicable atrocities. "All is necessary for a future of my image."
"You can't admit how wrong you are." Braedey grunted back in response. "I once thought of yourself as being a hypocritical locomotive, but now, you're nothing but the personification of sadism, cruelty, megalomania, infinite destruction, death, power, and madness." He suddenly shot forward and slams into Goliath's front, pushing back the Standard 9F a few metres.
Goliath grunted back, then gave a mild glare at Braedey as he then smiled sinisterly. "Was that your best shot? Well, this is mine." He now blew his whistle.
In response to this, a horde of diesel locomotives and other machines began to make their way forth out of the workshop, engine shed, and main smelting shed, all of them blaring their horns and engines roaring out, smoke rising into the air as they began to make their way forward, most of them laughing sinisterly as they were more than ready to charge onward to lay waste to the railways around the United Kingdom and beyond.
"Time for the Revolution!" Croghan announced.
Braedey now sat there with worry and trepidation as he saw the horde of machines before him. However, he did not back down. He stood his ground, his eyes narrowed as he looks on, steam swirling around his wheels while his fire flares up in his firebox, as he glares onward.
Suddenly, a chorus of loud whistles and horns could be heard coming from behind Braedey. He takes notice in some metal to his left, and he could see Thomas, Percy, Diana, Darla, Henry, Gordon, James, Raleigh, Peter, Hayden, Maverick, Bear, Boco, Anna, Shadow, Mack and William charging in. But as they approach, they weren't alone - other engines were arriving on the scene, such as Carol the GWR 'Lady of Legend', Thunderbolt the LNER P2, Eli the LNER A4 Pacific, Evelyn the BR Standard 9F, Mack the BR Class 40, Damien the BR GT3 Turbine locomotive, the LNER A3 Flying Scotsman himself, plus LNER A4 Pacific Mallard, BR Standard 9Fs Evelyn AKA 'Evening Star' and Alexander AKA 'Black Prince', along with other tank and tender locomotives, including Stepney and many others.
"Thought you could use some help." Thomas smiled as he puffs up alongside Braedey.
Braedey smiled back before he stood his ground and glared at the evil locomotive before him and everyone else. A united force now standing behind him, so they now have a chance to fight and survive. Goliath looks on at the many steam and diesel engines before his entire army, then his eyes lock onto Braedey.
"Engines!" Braedey shouted. He clenched his jaw, glaring straight ahead. "Assemble."
With a blast of his whistle, Braedey charged forward, all the other engines charging in full steam ahead, the armies of the railway all charging at full speed with Braedey leading the charge.
The Battle of All Railways has begun.