"Report, corporal," said Colour Sergeant Muttonchops, "What news from the major general's headquarters?"
In a trembling voice, the corporal replied, "Thy uz gone, sah! The 'ole kit and kaboodle!"
"Come now lad," the old soldier looked him in the eye with a steely glance, "Stiff upper lip and all that!"
The corporal took a moment to regain his composure, then continued, "It's lawk oy sed, sah! They uz gone! Adventures in Jimland, Fist full o' Tripods, Tripods and 'Ussars! All of 'em! Almost no survoyvuhs anywhere we looked! It uz… it uz…"
"There, there lad," the old Colour Sergeant replied, in a manner almost kindly, he had seen such shock at massacres before, "You get round the medical officer's tent. Get some brandy in you. Be right as rain in no time. Dismissed"
"And corporal!" called the Colour Sergeant in a low voice that carried nonetheless, "Mind you don't tall the lads what it is you've seen. Not just yet."
Colour Sergeant Muttonchops was well aware that the Empire was going through a right rum time. Durnford's column lost at Isandhlwana, Gordon's forces massacred by the Mahdi, right grim indeed.
But the loss of Major General Tremorden Reddering… now THAT was grievous indeed. He wondered if the Empire could survive it.
***
Just came from the Major General's links page, and almost all of his links to online rule sets are dead. Won't do old Boys, simply won't do. Is there a chance the old man is still lurking in the countryside, planning a surprise attack, or have thew dashed Mahdists or Zulus or Tripods or somebody finally brought the old boy down?
As said, a grievous loss to the Empire that would be.
