In Bruckewasser the atmosphere was quite different the gates were closed, the walls manned and the militia were being hastily mustered in the main square. The cause of their nervousness soon became apparent as a large mass of cavalry came into view.
Earlier, Sergeant Schmidt had been alerted by an observant sentry that cavalry were approaching the city and sent him back to warn the city.
“But, what about the Lieutenant?”
“Just get back and tell the Major to call out the guard, now get going”
Turning around the Sergeant called out “Fall in and prepare for cavalry” his men quickly climbed out of the various ditches and ran for their piled arms, before assembling on the road behind him.
Seeing the various townsfolk stopping their work on the fortifications he shouted out “And you lot keep working, it’s nothing to worry about”
From behind he heard the question “Where’s Lieutenant Uston Sergeant?”
“Don’t you worry lad, he’s better off sleeping off his hangover”
The Sergeant wasn't as sure when he looked out at the mass of cavalry that had appeared in front of them.
Thursday, 13 December 2012
Friday, 26 October 2012
Grand Parades
The Glowstein Electoral Grenadiers looked splendid as they passed by the saluting platform in Pappenheim, but their impression was surpassed by the Horse Guards who followed the open coach with General Bludnitz of Glowstein waving to the crowds. Following the parade the troops headed south to join their compatriots on the Pommaine border awaiting the order to attack.
Meanwhile to the south the Prussian army had been assembled and the message from their King was read out to the troops, the officers had had separate briefings the previous evening. Their orders stated that they were assisting a friendly state threatened by a lackey of the Emperor and that any looting or disorder would be severely dealt with.
Further south the Austrian forces were conducting a very similar event, parading past the “Grand-Duke” and the officers pledging to restore him to his throne.
Meanwhile while across the Rhine, the Alsatian troops seemed quiet and stunned when told they would be shipped down river to Pommaine while the Rhine was at its usual spring high.
Meanwhile to the south the Prussian army had been assembled and the message from their King was read out to the troops, the officers had had separate briefings the previous evening. Their orders stated that they were assisting a friendly state threatened by a lackey of the Emperor and that any looting or disorder would be severely dealt with.
Further south the Austrian forces were conducting a very similar event, parading past the “Grand-Duke” and the officers pledging to restore him to his throne.
Meanwhile while across the Rhine, the Alsatian troops seemed quiet and stunned when told they would be shipped down river to Pommaine while the Rhine was at its usual spring high.
Tuesday, 23 October 2012
Dozing!
Slight cough, then somewhat louder.
"Baron?"
The head began to move.
"Baron?"
"Oh Margrave, I must have dozed off, it's the warm weather you know, and unfortunately combined with the excellent wine you brought it put me to sleep"
Rising from his chair "Now remind me where I was at while I get some coffee"
"Well Baron, you were explaining about the War of the Pommaine Succession and how you came to employ Ilse Von Barner as a spy".
"Right, just give me a moment and I'll resume"
"Baron?"
The head began to move.
"Baron?"
"Oh Margrave, I must have dozed off, it's the warm weather you know, and unfortunately combined with the excellent wine you brought it put me to sleep"
Rising from his chair "Now remind me where I was at while I get some coffee"
"Well Baron, you were explaining about the War of the Pommaine Succession and how you came to employ Ilse Von Barner as a spy".
"Right, just give me a moment and I'll resume"
Monday, 23 April 2012
Meeting the Baron (3)
“Thank you Ilse” responded Baron Wilhelm to her detailed explanation of her trips to Pommaine “I must admit I was worried when your father initially suggested your name for this assignment. After all it is not uncommon for people to suggest their relatives as suitable for a mission, whether they are competent or not!”
“However, I see in your case that your father has suggested the right candidate, despite your young age you are quite a capable spy, but as your father explained, you need to learn the airs and graces of a lady”
“What!” exclaimed Ilse to be silenced by a raised finger from the Baron.
“And as your father has already explained you are to attend Frau Wurmser’s Academy, which will be at my expense”
“But!” again a slightly raised finger.
“You already know that there are Prussian agents in Pommaine but you are probably not aware that the trail leads to Frau Wurmser’s Academy. So we need someone inside to find out what is happening and where this information goes next. Are you prepared to take on this mission?”
“Of course!” responded Ilse.
“However, I see in your case that your father has suggested the right candidate, despite your young age you are quite a capable spy, but as your father explained, you need to learn the airs and graces of a lady”
“What!” exclaimed Ilse to be silenced by a raised finger from the Baron.
“And as your father has already explained you are to attend Frau Wurmser’s Academy, which will be at my expense”
“But!” again a slightly raised finger.
“You already know that there are Prussian agents in Pommaine but you are probably not aware that the trail leads to Frau Wurmser’s Academy. So we need someone inside to find out what is happening and where this information goes next. Are you prepared to take on this mission?”
“Of course!” responded Ilse.
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Meeting the Baron (2)
“Oh, and what’s that mark on your arm?” asked the Baron
“It’s a tattoo” answered Ilse caught unawares
Ilse father butted in “She did it to hide a scar from when she broke her arm”
“Yes, but it’s a bird, may I suggest it might even be a sparrow” replied the Baron smirking.
Ilse looked at him and then her father who had a broad smile on his face and then demanded “Right who’s going to explain what’s going on!”
Ilse’s father nodded to the Baron, who responded “Your father claimed that one of his most useful agents in Pommaine was Sparrow, who provided some very useful information. So how did he convince you to go”
“He didn’t, I had read the reports and saw the frustration at how little could be discovered so I decided I could try it myself, after all I thought that if I could break into my fathers study with its locks and other safeguards I could do the same in the palace in Traunsberg”
Ilse then went on to explain the events of both her trips to Pommaine.
“It’s a tattoo” answered Ilse caught unawares
Ilse father butted in “She did it to hide a scar from when she broke her arm”
“Yes, but it’s a bird, may I suggest it might even be a sparrow” replied the Baron smirking.
Ilse looked at him and then her father who had a broad smile on his face and then demanded “Right who’s going to explain what’s going on!”
Ilse’s father nodded to the Baron, who responded “Your father claimed that one of his most useful agents in Pommaine was Sparrow, who provided some very useful information. So how did he convince you to go”
“He didn’t, I had read the reports and saw the frustration at how little could be discovered so I decided I could try it myself, after all I thought that if I could break into my fathers study with its locks and other safeguards I could do the same in the palace in Traunsberg”
Ilse then went on to explain the events of both her trips to Pommaine.
Friday, 2 March 2012
Meeting the Baron (1)
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.”
“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.”
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.
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