Conspiracy Parties

It would seem that I can't stay away from trouble for any long period of time. *chuckles* I returned to the city of New Babbage one more to find it only slightly changed from how it had been when I last left, but one of the changes was not for the better, unfortunately. The Steamweaver company, led by one Mr. Steamweaver, of course, in a twisted vision of 'progress' had built a building known as the Atheum, containing a large machine, the purpose of which was to read the information on a large quantity of books and convert and input it into punch card format. While this on its own was rather harmless, the primary method of fueling this machine was to burn the books after it was done reading them.

Naturally, this raised moral objections in several Babbagers, led by Ms. Bookworm Hienrichs, decided to take action. With diplomatic avenues for attempting to convince Mr. Steamweaver to shut down, or at least alter, the Atheum having been exhausted, Ms Hienrichs decided to organize a more direct approach. A group of citizens (accompanied by myself) kept watch outside the building while one of her associates proceeded to sabotage the machine. During the operation, I helped Ms. Hienrichs rescue some of the more rarer tomes by replacing them with more common books, and then rearranging the orderly shelves enough that it would take them some time to discover the...removal, if they did at all.

Unfortunately, it seemed that despite the sabotage, Mr. Steamweaver would not give up so easily...



Since it seemed he was determined to keep the Atheum running, it followed that we may have to try again. However, I am not sure how far any planning went or if more peaceful methods were employed, because the next I heard, Steamweaver had issued a challenge! If Ms. Hienrichs could managed to raise L$10,000 for the local charity before the end of the weekend (the challenge was issued on a Friday I believe), he would not only suspend Atheum operations, but would MATCH the amount raised out of his own pockets!

Now I believe he thought that she would be unable to meet this challenge...he was VERY wrong I am pleased to say...



Throwing an impromptu street party outside the building in question, our little group, as well as many others, not only matched the amount specified, but, as of the final report, more than TRIPLED it. Needless to say, Mr. Steamweaver was probably not very happy about this, considering he would be forced to match the amount, and shutdown the Atheum, hopefully once and for all.

Events Heat Up In New Babbage

Well, that was certainly interesting... The remains of the militia gathered today and made a strike against the captured headquarters building, retaking it and nearly capturing Ashiko Kuroe in the process.

Captain Kuroe

Unfortunatly, it seems he was able to take a hostage, and he and his associates fled aboard an airship to city hall. I myself arrived just prior to the attack, and unfortunatly so did Doctor O's right hand man, Mr. Merricks. Merricks was knocked unconcious only, luckily. I decided to make sure he was spared by helping him out of the area, and over to city hall, ironically. There we met up with Kuroe, who announced his intentions to return to Armada Breakaway and abandon New Babbage for now. On their way out of the city's waters, I assume they dropped off Mr Merricks back at the doctor's obervatory.

I was questioned by pursuing members of the militia, however they identified me as neutral and sent me on my way. Curious to how things would fare for the Obolensky forces, however, I used the underwater tunnels to return to the Doctor's lair, once again running into Mr. Merricks and a couple of the doctor's other associates. Though it appears that though the resistance has managed to retake about 2/3rds of the city, Obolensky's naval admiral is bringing in a fleet that could mean a possible quick end to the uprising...

Lead from the Library

A lead at last! While speaking with a couple people in the Palaeozoic Museum, they mentioned that the person most likely to know what happened to the time machine would be the owner of the library itself. Logical, and I kick myself for not thinking of it before. Ms. Knight and I then went to the library itself, and while the owner was not there, we did find the address for her place of business. Going there, we also failed to find her, but luckily I was able to leave her a note in the building's mailbox.

Later, I recieved her worrying reply. Apparently the time machine had never been recovered, and there was rumors that Obolensky had used it at least once... This confirms that Obolensky stole the machine and may still have it in his posession. However, before I take any sort of action, I'll need to be sure. While asking the doctor directly may be foolhardy, I believe that one of his henchmen, Mr. Merrick specifically, may be more open to questions.

Missing Machine, Present Luck

My search for the missing time machine continues, though thus far has been mostly fruitless. A the library records were not easy to look through, as attempting to search for articles about a time machine only seemed to lead to an article about the presentation of one in the Aethernautical Society building, but a check there revealed nothing. On my way back to where I had left the 85 when I ran into Ms. Knight and her companion Chris Farina.

We had a...tense exchange of words before she continued on, and things might have ended there had Mr. Merrik, one of Obolensky's minions, not been following them. Concerned, I followed HIM, until I was accidental spotted. We had a tense standoff of Sonic blaster vs. projectile pistol for a while, before Ms. Knight showed up again. Talking our way out of that, we compared notes. It seemed she had attracted the attention of Mr. Merrik by asking questions about the current regime change.

I filled her in on the possibility of Obolensky possessing time travel, and she suggested doing a tachyon scan. Unfortunately, due to the presence of devices known as Reality Enforcers, this was not possible, so she then suggested a search of the doctor's lair. So, for a third time, I paid him a visit. However, he was not home, but nor was there any sign of the time machine. I wisely voiced that we should leave before the doctor or his minions returned...however instead of returning using the passage we had taken to get to the observatory, she and Chris blundered out the front door, almost right into Kuroe! Though I don't think he bought her story about being shipwrecked, if only because of my presence, we did manage to get out of there unscathed, and I had K9 bring the 85 to us so we could make a clean getaway. Aboard the 85, Ms. Knight agreed to help me try and find information on the missing time machine, whether it was recovered after the theft, if it was destroyed, or if it simply never worked. Until this has been known one way or the other, I cannot in good conscious leave it be.

Wrong Again?

Seems I really need to research before making conclusions. After subtly overhearing a conversation between her and General Kuroe (one of Olbolensky's minions) I had a talk myself with one Beq Janus, a reporter, and possible link to the resistance against the doctor. She informed me that he had been party to the theft of a time travel device of some kind earlier, so my suspicions about him using time travel to gather technology may be founded after all. Still, the evidence is rumor so far. I'll need to do some research into the events of the theft before I have any proof remotely worthy of alerting the council to.

Later, I again subtly listened in as she did a professional interview of the general for the newspaper she worked for, gaining a bit of history behind the takeover, though nothing useful on the current plans...other than they will be horrible. Still...as much as I would like to take an active part in overthrowing this dictator, I cannot act without cause on my part. My immediate plans are to seek out the resistance, as well as to research into the matter of the time machine theft.

Continued Investigations

I may have made a small error... I returned to New Babbage today only to walk right into a group of rather violent people who claimed to work for Doctor Olbolensky (Luckily the 85's perception filter was working so they didn't see it materialize). Also luckily, I was able to talk my way out of their plan to rob me, and thus was able to not only gain information, but even an invite back to the doctor's lair.

I didn't immediately follow, counting my good luck, but talking to several townspeople brought up suspicions, namely the Doctor's advanced age yet good health, as well as some advanced forms of technology. This of course gave rise to the possibility that Obolensky might possibly be a time lord himself, or at least have access to time travel. This in mind, I decided to take up the earlier offer to again visit the lair. A conversation with the henchmen in attendance didn't reveal anything more than I already knew. However the doctor himself arrived a while later, allowing me to interview him directly. Though I cannot be entirely sure how accurate his answers were, what he gave leave me to conclude, for the moment, that he is but a human, though a gifted one, or 'Spark' as some would call him.

Dr. Obolensky

However until I can be totally sure, I will continue to monitor the situation in New Babbage...and maybe even see if I can work against some of the doctor's plans. Subtly, of course.