Tales from the Infinite

[arcanus]

Victorianna Aeterna - Babbage II - 1879

Divergence Point: Charles Babbage and Ada Loveless perfect the construction of the Analytical
Engine in 1850, this starts a steamtech revolution and vast expansion of the British Empire.
Herman Hollerith goes on to develop the first programs at the age of 18, in 1878.

Closing his eyes Matthew Gideon stepped through what appeared to be a wall of ice, one that was contained within a large industrial doorway.
Unlike the slight stomach sinking feeling experienced in a Conveyor, his body felt as if it had been plunged into freezing water, simultaneously shocked and refreshed.

Opening them he stood upon a gantry, various lights had now changed from red to flashing green, a lab coated technician looked at him with bored curiosity.
In the same manner as the room from which he departed the chamber he stood in was very industrial, metal gantries, scaffolds and beams, in front of the platform he’d stepped onto stood a four meter high plexiglass barrier.
Beyond the barrier lay offices and control rooms, also contained behind reinforced windows and doors, the reason for the precautions was simple, whereabouts ninety nine per cent of World line transit was via conveyor, travel to Babbage was through the rarer Nexus Gate.
Its Infinity controllers couldn’t always be sure that someone or something might dial in!

He shook the sensation of cold from himself and made his way down to where a dapper young man, turned out in sharply pressed 1870s tweed suit and tie.
Gideon was similarly attired, leaned into the barriers retinal scanner and allowed its DNA analyser to extract a pinprick of blood, he waited several moments before the barriers gate chirped an affirmative and opened.

“Mr Gideon” smiled the well-heeled man, who he noted was wearing a morning suit complete with striped trousers “And you are?” he replied
“Maxwell, Terrance Maxwell, I am to brief you for your get going”
Gideon stepped in beside the local agent as they moved into the hall beyond the chamber, they briskly travelled the corridor leading out of the chamber and upwards via a flight of stairs. As they ascended the architecture became more in keeping with the year, red brickwork, wood and brass, stepping through a door and into a warehouse space full of crates.

By this time Maxwell had given Gideon an update on the current events and handed him a datapad, “As you can see, it’s quite straight forward, a scallywag gone native!”
He regarded the man “What do you mean by that Mr Maxwell?”
“Well, from what I can tell a rogue picked up on some fantasy World Line, who’s reverted to type!”
Gideon looked back at the profile and report detailing one Dai Blackthorne, he raised an eyebrow “This scallywag is an Iswat agent?”
“Um yes, there is that, Mr Gideon can I ask why you’ve been sent rather than an ICop?”
“Perhaps it’s because our lost sheep is Iswat” he replied

The pair had now stopped before the main doors of the warehouse, Gideon could see that Maxwell’s curiosity was turning into frustration, however he was unsure of Gideon’s place in the scheme of things and didn’t want to press the matter.

Gideon smiled “I’m a Survey Scout from the Penetration Division, Agent Maxwell!”
“Oh!”
“More importantly I surveyed Babbage, cleared it for exploration and commerce” he added
“Oh, Mr Gideon, had I known” Maxwell stumbled
“Not at all Mr Maxwell, I can only presume that my knowledge of Babbage is the reason for my assignment, I see that a local scout has been recommended”
“Yes, gruff sort of fellow, however a native of this era”
“Sounds like a good place to start, where would I find him” Gideon quickly rescanned the pad in case he’d missed this piece of information
“You’d do well to start at the Temple public house this evening”
“Excellent” Gideon handed the datapad back to the agent “Gives me time to find my accommodation and settle in, Good Day Mr Maxwell you’ve been very helpful”
Maxwell nodded and watched as Gideon hefted his travel bag and stepped out of the Infinity facility.

[arcanus]

Etheria II – Victoria Street, The Crown Capital
Evening fog drifted around the street corners into Victoria Street, given eerie illuminance by the ether street lanterns.

The member of Parliament for Islington South and Finsbury turned from the window and regarded his Conservative comrade, they might sit upon opposite sides of the House but were unified in common interest.

Looking across the study he scowled at the other guests, the somewhat sinister Falco and the incredibly dangerous knife woman.

“Proceedings move forward as planned” smiled the Conservative MP, Islington turned to their final guest a magnate of industry and commerce, who added nothing other than to look down into his swirling brandy.

“So next steps?” added Islington South
“Now that his Lordship is stitched up like the proverbial kipper, we quickly retrieve the goods!” replied his fellow member of Parliament

[arcanus]

Etheria II – The South West
It had proven significantly harder to penetrate the Estate house than planned, they had anticipated robust and high-quality alarms and locks, however in reality the security had been something akin to establishment facilities.

Frustratingly the raiding party had been forced to subdue several members of the Estates guards before gaining entry, they quickly separated having 5 or 6 target rooms to search.

The Manor house was two centuries old, although the majority of its décor dated from the Regency period, the squad leader Sergeant Albert Tailor reached the fourth floor and its Upper Library, one of the oldest rooms in the house.

It was also the office of the first of the Reynolds Lords, so a prime area to search, two of his squad spread out checking the bookshelves, display cases and ornaments whilst he approached the antique partner’s desk.

It was unlikely anything of import or significance would be on display, little was known of the secretive first Lord Reynolds apart from his whispered proficiency in espionage and clandestine activities for Her Majesty’s Government. Tailor had a degree of respect for a fellow shadow, allowing himself a moment to survey the room and consider its secrets.

They operated silently and in darkness relying on their ether goggles to see, although the fuzzy blue and yellow illuminance cast the rooms fixtures and furnishings as areas of deep and sinister shadow.

His attention turned back to the desk, in the darkness it appearing like some hunched monster ominously waiting for prey, he started to trace its edges carefully.

They had chosen a time when all of the other Reynolds family were away, leaving a skeleton staff and guards, nether the less they were to be discreet, their orders on this matter had been very implicit. They worked carefully but quickly.

After several minutes he had picked the desk drawers complex locks, including elaborate spring mechanisms and counter locks, but still nothing other than curios presented themselves.

Tailor stood and looked around, his team were now making their way around the Eastern end of the library, one carefully picking the lock on a Restoration Period display stand whilst another checking the voluminous books on a wall case.

As the lock clicked open, Tailor heard a quiet click from the desk, as a figurine on the bookcase was handled another louder click resounded, the squad froze and watched as lines of green ether flickered through the libraries air and joining into a symbol on the floor in front of the desk.

[arcanus]

Etheria II – The South West
For several moments the squad warily watched the glyphs shine within the etheric medium, with nothing occurring Tailor gestured for his men to continue their search.

His attention momentarily returned to the desk before he heard a noise, something like metal twisting or snapping, once again he stood frowning until he saw one of the house automations step into the doorway.

Tailor paused watching the thing as it just stood there, his hand slowly moved down to his pistol is squad hadn’t noticed it so far, it stood in the dark silently out of the corner of his eye he watched as a green mist seeped from the glyphs.

He winced the metal screech again and he watched as it seemed to grow taller, Tailor wasn’t fast enough as it streaked across the library, COGs didn’t move that quickly and yet it had got to his man before he had even drawn his gun.

The metal monstrosity snapped the man’s neck, as Tailor brought his gun to bear it had reached his other man, he tried to defend himself but in a single swipe the automation tore his throat out.

Tailor fired, the silent rounds bounced harmlessly off its metal chassis, the twisted automaton advanced its emerald faceplate filled with swirling energies.

Tailor backed away as it rounded the desk, he noted that in pristine condition it would have normally stood about 4 feet tall, however its frame had stretched and contorted to over 5 feet tall, its normally human fingers albeit metal were twisted into inch long claws.

Tailor attempted to dart to keep the desk between them, seizing his chance he made a break for the door, but it moved faster than any Cog, the silence of the house broken by his cries as its metal talons sinking into his shoulder.

It spun him around lifting him off his feet, Tailor had seen many fearsome things during his years of service but his eyes widened as a face formed within the green energy, a woman’s face but the most terrifying aspect of the face was that its mouth was full of fangs.

The automaton allowed Tailors lifeless body to fall to the ground, without a second thought she turned towards the door and began to hunt the remaining intruders.