The Major and Ilse were shown into Baron Wilhelm’s study. He immediately stood to greet them. “…and I’m especially please to meet you young lady”
“Well, then perhaps I can tell you about the Alsace communication that came into my possession, my father has been too concerned with my appearance to pay any attention to it” Ilse looked cross and determined to have her way
“Really, and what makes it so important” replied the Baron trying to keep control of the meeting.
“It was written in code and is some sort of agreement between Prussia and Alsace over splitting Pommaine between them”
“Perhaps we ought to cover this first as it seems relevant to our situation. Now can you show me what this message contains Ilse?”
“Of course” Ilse pulled out a sheaf of papers from her bag “Here is the original message”
“I see and how did you obtain it?”
“It was in the saddlebags of a horse I stole in Traunsberg” at the Baron’s raised eyebrows she continued “I didn’t realise it was a Alsatian courier’s horse until after I had escaped”
“Very well, I see it’s a code, so how did you work out the message”
Ilse pushed up her sleeves “right, first I looked for obvious patterns such as double letters that normally give an initial clue like MM in Pommaine, then I looked for common letter groups, but with no luck. It was only when I relaxed then looked again that I saw the letters were in groups of four.”
“I see it now you have pointed it out”
“Once I had reversed the groups I found the pattern, it used the keyword kraut and the rest of the alphabet reversed, and here is the translation”
“Excellent work! Normally we pass the information to Professor Töring at the University for him and his Mathematics students to find the code”
“I know!”
“How?” demanded the baron
“Well, he has written some interesting papers on the subject”
“But those had limited circulation!”
Von Barner interjected “I admit only recently discovered my daughter’s capabilities in espionage”
Feeling the conversation was drifting in the wrong direction Ilse asked “The part I don’t understand in the agreement is how they define Upper and Lower Pommaine”
“Ah, that’s an old term from the very early days of the Empire, when much of what is now the Frei Stadt was called lower Pommaine. Hmm, it seems that Prussia is out to occupy us should all the current claimants to Pommaine die, while Alsace will occupy Pommaine proper. A very fortunate discovery, I’ll pass on a suitable warning to the Emperor.”
Friday, 2 March 2012
Tuesday, 28 February 2012
The talk of the town?
When Ilse knocked and then entered General Wurst’s study, Major Von Barner was shocked, was this smart young lady his daughter? It was quite a transformation.
The General responded before he could “Fraulein Von Barner, I’m glad to see my wife could find some suitable apparel for you and I must say it is more than suitable in my opinion”
“Thank you General, but I must say, I am puzzled by all this attention”
“Well I must let the Baron reveal what he might wish you to do for the Freistadt”
It was only a ten minute walk to the Baron Wilhelm’s residence in Pappenheim, but it took nearly a half hour to traverse the roads through this fashionable part of town. This was due to the large numbers of young gentlemen who insisted on stopping and passing the time of day.
Looking at his daughter as she responded to yet another gentleman passing the time of day the Major realised that she could be very attractive and yet dangerous as the highwaymen had discovered.
The General responded before he could “Fraulein Von Barner, I’m glad to see my wife could find some suitable apparel for you and I must say it is more than suitable in my opinion”
“Thank you General, but I must say, I am puzzled by all this attention”
“Well I must let the Baron reveal what he might wish you to do for the Freistadt”
It was only a ten minute walk to the Baron Wilhelm’s residence in Pappenheim, but it took nearly a half hour to traverse the roads through this fashionable part of town. This was due to the large numbers of young gentlemen who insisted on stopping and passing the time of day.
Looking at his daughter as she responded to yet another gentleman passing the time of day the Major realised that she could be very attractive and yet dangerous as the highwaymen had discovered.
Friday, 24 February 2012
Smartened up
No sooner than they had stepped through the door of General Wurst’s house than Frau Wurst was there to greet them.
“Welcome Major, I see the problem, now young lady if you will accompany me”
“Father” queried Ilse
“We are going to meet the Baron and you have to be presentable, now go along with Frau Wurst and she will do the best she can in the limited time we can spare, I’ll be in the study with the General”
Having ascended to a bedroom, Frau Wurst looked Ilse up and down “ I don’t know if I can manage in the time. Now girl, don’t looked so frightened, just get out of those things, as you just look like a maid”
“But it was the best I had at the time”
“Of course, but now, give yourself a quick wash, while I find something suitable from my daughter’s clothes. Martha, where’s the hot water?”
“Coming Marm, have you heard the excitement about the highwaymen attempting to rob the Welle post-coach?”
“No! What happened?”
“Well they shot the guard, then this girl! Can you believe it! She took his place and killed lots of them”
“I only killed one!” exclaimed Ilse to their surprise. “and killed a horse….and knocked another off his horse”
“Well no wonder you need tidied up” expressed Frau Wurst “Now run along Martha and find a suitable bonnet as I don’t have time to wash and set this young ladies hair”
“Welcome Major, I see the problem, now young lady if you will accompany me”
“Father” queried Ilse
“We are going to meet the Baron and you have to be presentable, now go along with Frau Wurst and she will do the best she can in the limited time we can spare, I’ll be in the study with the General”
Having ascended to a bedroom, Frau Wurst looked Ilse up and down “ I don’t know if I can manage in the time. Now girl, don’t looked so frightened, just get out of those things, as you just look like a maid”
“But it was the best I had at the time”
“Of course, but now, give yourself a quick wash, while I find something suitable from my daughter’s clothes. Martha, where’s the hot water?”
“Coming Marm, have you heard the excitement about the highwaymen attempting to rob the Welle post-coach?”
“No! What happened?”
“Well they shot the guard, then this girl! Can you believe it! She took his place and killed lots of them”
“I only killed one!” exclaimed Ilse to their surprise. “and killed a horse….and knocked another off his horse”
“Well no wonder you need tidied up” expressed Frau Wurst “Now run along Martha and find a suitable bonnet as I don’t have time to wash and set this young ladies hair”
Monday, 20 February 2012
New arrivals in Pappenheim
As the coach swept into the main square in Pappenheim, Ilse was surprised to see a mass of red uniforms. By the time the coach reached the Greyhound Inn, she realised they were from Glowstein and she could see her father waiting for her.
Of course he was shocked as she leapt down from the driving seat and grabbed her bag from the militiamen. “Hello father”
“No time for that, you are late, come with me straight away to General Wurst’s house”
With that they were striding off up the main streets with Ilse given no chance to explain what had happened.
Of course he was shocked as she leapt down from the driving seat and grabbed her bag from the militiamen. “Hello father”
“No time for that, you are late, come with me straight away to General Wurst’s house”
With that they were striding off up the main streets with Ilse given no chance to explain what had happened.
Saturday, 18 February 2012
Highwaymen (3)
As the coach neared Tonclot, the Driver turned to Ilse “could you hold the reins Miss, while I sound the coaching horn”
“No it’s OK, I can sound it what should I play?”
“One long and then two short blasts”
Ilse picked up the horn took a deep breath and sounded a long note, another breath and then two short ones”
“Good Miss, nice and loud, now wait a moment and sound it again”
By the time Tonclot came into view Ilse could see the Militia assembling.
Once they arrived the driver quickly explained what had happened and a couple of riders disappeared up the road to look for the missing Guard and any traces of the highwaymen.
Another rider headed off for Pappenheim with the news and two burley militiamen settled into the carriage with their equipment in case of further trouble. Ilse was glad she had decided to remain on top of the carriage. With another change of horses the coach was off.
Well Miss, if we’re lucky they’ll find Kurt and fix him up. You see he was new to the business and he grabbed the blunderbuss first and fired at too great a range. Now settle back and we’ll soon be in Pappenheim”
“No it’s OK, I can sound it what should I play?”
“One long and then two short blasts”
Ilse picked up the horn took a deep breath and sounded a long note, another breath and then two short ones”
“Good Miss, nice and loud, now wait a moment and sound it again”
By the time Tonclot came into view Ilse could see the Militia assembling.
Once they arrived the driver quickly explained what had happened and a couple of riders disappeared up the road to look for the missing Guard and any traces of the highwaymen.
Another rider headed off for Pappenheim with the news and two burley militiamen settled into the carriage with their equipment in case of further trouble. Ilse was glad she had decided to remain on top of the carriage. With another change of horses the coach was off.
Well Miss, if we’re lucky they’ll find Kurt and fix him up. You see he was new to the business and he grabbed the blunderbuss first and fired at too great a range. Now settle back and we’ll soon be in Pappenheim”
Monday, 13 February 2012
Highwaymen? (2)
“What did you think you were doing Micha?”
“Well you said find out where we were and the simple solution was to ask the wealthy people on the coach”
“You mean your lads wanted a bit of fun, and now one is dead and another has a face covered in bruises, you were lucky you didn’t lose more”
“Sorry Sergei”
“Well we had better find out where we are and head in the right direction before they come looking for you. Did you discover anything at all?”
“No, it was all in that funny writing, but I could draw the words on the coach if it would help”
Studying the drawing Sergei eventually worked it out “Frundsberg Post!, So in avoiding the Prussians we have come to far north. We have to head south, lets go”
“Well you said find out where we were and the simple solution was to ask the wealthy people on the coach”
“You mean your lads wanted a bit of fun, and now one is dead and another has a face covered in bruises, you were lucky you didn’t lose more”
“Sorry Sergei”
“Well we had better find out where we are and head in the right direction before they come looking for you. Did you discover anything at all?”
“No, it was all in that funny writing, but I could draw the words on the coach if it would help”
Studying the drawing Sergei eventually worked it out “Frundsberg Post!, So in avoiding the Prussians we have come to far north. We have to head south, lets go”
Sunday, 12 February 2012
First meeting of the Regents
The three regents and General Von Gessler reconvened in the Morning room with guards posted outside the doors.
“I didn’t think it would come to this” sobbed the Grand-Duchess Mari
a
“Well the Grand-Duke did and that is why we are allied with Prussia and Alsace” expressed the General “We had hoped for a bit more time to get our allies into position, but we still have the advantage of the ground and our fortified cities”
“Is there anything I can do?” asked the Archbishop
“You could pray for victory and for the Ottomans to cause trouble for the Austrians”
“No I meant I could try negotiating with the Austrians”
“Too late for that, I’m afraid; the Ambassador must have had pretty specific instructions”
A couple of shots broke the momentary silence. Count Vladislav, walked to the window “A bad day for pigeons it seems. Our precautions seem to be working , no-one allowed in or out off the gates and game keepers and falconers ready to deal with any carrier pigeons. It may give us a couple of days extra to prepare.”
“I may be a man of the cloth, but why is there a red flag flying on my cathedral?” asked the Archbishop.
“What, exclaimed the Count. Guards, Guards!”
As the guards entered the room he count shouted at the officer in charge “Get to the cathedral immediately remove that flag and catch whoever is responsible”
“Hmm” expressed the General, “It seems our enemies anticipated our precautions, we need to be more careful”
“I didn’t think it would come to this” sobbed the Grand-Duchess Mari
a
“Well the Grand-Duke did and that is why we are allied with Prussia and Alsace” expressed the General “We had hoped for a bit more time to get our allies into position, but we still have the advantage of the ground and our fortified cities”
“Is there anything I can do?” asked the Archbishop
“You could pray for victory and for the Ottomans to cause trouble for the Austrians”
“No I meant I could try negotiating with the Austrians”
“Too late for that, I’m afraid; the Ambassador must have had pretty specific instructions”
A couple of shots broke the momentary silence. Count Vladislav, walked to the window “A bad day for pigeons it seems. Our precautions seem to be working , no-one allowed in or out off the gates and game keepers and falconers ready to deal with any carrier pigeons. It may give us a couple of days extra to prepare.”
“I may be a man of the cloth, but why is there a red flag flying on my cathedral?” asked the Archbishop.
“What, exclaimed the Count. Guards, Guards!”
As the guards entered the room he count shouted at the officer in charge “Get to the cathedral immediately remove that flag and catch whoever is responsible”
“Hmm” expressed the General, “It seems our enemies anticipated our precautions, we need to be more careful”
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