A Dark Shadow- Fascist Britain AAR
The front of the building exploded in a burst of brick and concrete, the shockwave smashing glass and lighting the night sky for miles around. Whether the charge needed to be so big was of little concern to it's planters, as it had certainly done the job. From behind wrecked cars and postboxes, half a dozen men, clad in black from head to toe, rushed forward, the leader smashing what little was left of the door away with a swift swing of a procured fire axe. Without stopping the group was down the shattered hallway, scrambling over office rubble, towards their prize.
The vault was blown wide open, its thick metal door imprinted on the opposite wall. They went to work with a smooth efficiency, counting the money and bagging it before another of their number rushed it outside into a waiting Bedford truck. This continued for several minutes, before, speeding out of a nearby street, came two police cars and a seemingly normal Crossley Bugatti convertable. The masked assailants were taken by suprise, the police hadn't put on thier sirens. The three new cars slammed on their breaks, stopping inches from each other. The driver of the truck quickly jumped out of his cab and ran behind the vehicle for cover, joined by two more of the men.
Inspector Dai Thomas, the 'almost-hero cop', jumped out of his car, taking cover with the other officers behind their automobile barricade. Just in time too, as the would-be robbers opened fire with rifles, pistols and a thompson 'tommy' submachine gun. The weapon spat into the assembled cars, forcing the constables to duck.
"Don't you just love American invention"! yelled one of the shooters, his accent distinctly Irish, before unloading with another salvo.
"What do we do Inspector"? asked the nearest officer, Watkins. Dai could see the panic and confusion in the boy's face, he could have been no more than 18, maybe 19. He took in the question, peeking over the bonnet of his fine car, now pebble-dashed with lead, his blonde hair blowing in the wind and his steely blue eyes unflinching to the hail coming at him.
"We wait until that blasted Tommy Gun is reloading and we open fire, aim for the wheels, the gas tank and those bastard Irishmen if you can". The young men nodded, and with their old service revolvers in hand, waited. Half of the robbers were still throwing bags of money onto the back of the truck, obviously confident of their weapondary superiority. Both sides traded shots until a small lull in the firing happened, Dai and the others finally put their heads over the parapet and took aim, taking out the wheels, gas tank and wounding one of the criminals, who was quikcly dragged into cover. Over excited it seemed, Watkins failed to duck as the Tommy Gun opened fire again, its missles thudding up the car bonnet and through his neck and chest. He fell back, vermillion pouring from his body as he lay on the asphalt.
"Watkins"! Dai rushed to his side, the boy chocking on a mix of blood and tears.
"Sir! Help me sir! I don't, I don't want to die sir. Please"! He begged in between screams of pain. Dai, for all his experiance was blank, he merely held the boy in his arms. Watkins face of panic and fear gave away to an emotionless mask, before he finally slipped away. Quiet. Cold.
"I poached me a pig, lads"! Yelled the machine gunner, before knocking out the street lamp above the policemen, shards of glass falling on them, making them cover their heads. Dai lay Watkins down, as the glass fell and moved back up to the remaining constables, his own face showing no sign of any loss, prompted the others to try the same.
"Okay men, they've just given me an idea, I want you to take out all the street lamps, and then give me covering fire".
"Covering fire? You're going in sir"? quizzed another young officer, Dai hadn't bothered to learn his name.
"do you have a better idea, officer"?
"No, not really sir"
"Well get them to do it then". The officer turned round and passed the message, and then began shooting out street lamps. The whole area soon fell dark and Dai, with his two 45's in hand rushed across the road off to the left, while the officers focused on the right, they had also turned on their high-powered torches, blinding the robbers. Very novel, thought Dai as he rolled onto the pavement and opened fire, throwing two of the men to the ground before they could even turn their weapons, their attention somewhere. The other, armed with an Enfield rifle, swung his weapon round and fired, but only managed to hit the already destroyed masonary behind the Inspector, who fired back in turn hitting him in the shoulder. The Irishman gave a yelp before running into the building, seeking cover.
Dai peeked around the corner, coming close to receiving a face full of lead, the process. As he ducked back he noticed the barrel of another gun pointed squarely at him from the floor. Pouring with blood, the machine gunner shakely held his Tommy in both hands.
"If I'm gonna die" he said "you're coming with me. Pig"! He pulled the trigger, and Dai turned white. Nothing. The confident expression on the man's face turned to horror, which Dai could see even through his balaclava.
"Don't you just love American invention", grinned Dai, his two Colts level, their hammers, cocked.
Two shots penetrated the sudden silence, making the officers edgy, they cautiously advanced. They saw Inspector Thomas rooting through one of the bodies' pockets, its face an unrecognisable mess. He pulled out two clips of ammunition and grabbed the submachine gun, not looking up while he loaded the gun.
"I want one of you to watch the truck, I suggest taking out the other two tyres just in case and you other two follow me in. You got that"? The officers nodded.
Dai and the two men, in crouching positions moved as fast as they could through the wreckage. The remaining robbers began to open fire, using a bend in the hallway for cover but with only bolt-action rifles and pistols they were at a disadvantage against the Tommy gun, which Dai used to keep them pinned while he and the other policemen full on sprinted further to the cover of a large pillar. By now they were within shouting distance of the masked men.
"This is the police! Give up now! We have the place surrounded"! Dai almost cringed at his cliche, which was also an obvious lie.
"Feck you, you're gonna have to come in and get us"! Dai heard the sound of running, they were obviously trying to escape through a back exist.
"After them quickly"! He ordered. The three charged down the corridor, past the destroyed vault. They stopped as they reached the exit. A burst of gun fire was heard form the otherside. What were they firing at? They continued their advance with caution, one of the officers pushed the door open to see two of the men unconscious. They checked the bodies, they had literally been beaten into submission. As Dai looked over them in puzzlement, more firing could be heard back out front. The two officers took the back way out onto the street while the Inspecctor rushed back through the building, to see the officer guarding the truck slumped on the floor and the truck gone. He rushed outside to see the Bedford pathetically moving down the street in an almost uncontrolled fashion, only random jerks of the steering wheel kept it from crashing into a wall. He and the others opened fire, harmlessly hitting the sacks of money stacked on the back of the truck, a trail of paper notes flying out of the back. The crippled vehicle slowly began to pick up speed and Dai signalled to get into their cars. As they did so, a flash, almost like lightning shot past.
The driver, giddy at his survival, excellerated as he turned the corner, sure of his getaway, obviously having not onticed the empty fuel tank. Suddenly straight down the road, came a strangely dressed man, himself masked, he was running straight at the truck! The Irishman knew who it was, and in terror pushed the truck as fast as it would go, but the man kept getting closer, his own speed increasing. The robber closed his eyes and there was a massive crash of noise, his body being vaulted through the windscreen.
Failing to start his Bugatti, Dai rushed around the corner on hearing the noise, and couldn't believe what he saw. The front of the truck was a mangle, a mixture of blood and oil covered the floor, while money rained down all around. As he began to advance, the masked attacker ran towards him, carrying the limp body of the criminal.
"Get down"! He yelled, throwing himself to the floor, as what little petrol left in the truck sparked, causing a massive explosion. Dai and the officers flung themselves to the cobbled road, cursing as they did.
The masked man stood above Dai, offering an outstretched hand, which he reluctantly took. The man's strength was apparent as he picked up the Inspector as if he was a child.
"I think this one is going to make it", said the man, pointing at the driver, who, though a crippled mess, was still breathing "And along with the other two behind the bank, you'll should have some leads about who organised this whole thing". The Inspector didn't respond, merely lit a cigarette and instructed the officers to call for an ambulance. Eventually he had to.
"What are you doing here"
"I heard the explosion and was here as fast as I could"
"This is police business, you have no right to be here". On this the man's size became apparent as he went toe-to-toe with Dai and pointed a finger in his face.
"If it wasn't for me they would have got away, maybe killed somone"
"They did kill somone, two officers"
"I got here as quickly as I could"
"Your 'help' led to god knows how many millions of pounds being destroyed. We might as well have let them have it! We would have stopped that truck soon enough"
"Is that all it's about, money"!
"No. But I'd prefer to think good police officers didn't die for nothing. Now if you don't mind me I have to get this mess cleaned up. I suppose that's one of the good things of being a vigilante, no responsibility"
"I'm not a vigilante, I'm..."
"A hero?"
"Just trying to help"
"Well I've had enough help for one night, thank you". And with that he turned and walked away, while the masked man shot off at inhuman speed.
While he sat their for hours writing out the paperwork, Dai couldn't help but think that tomorrow's papers wouldn't commemorate the brave men who gave thier lives for law and order but a more exciting figure. A man in a mask. A 'super-hero'.
Captain Britain.
Benton Street
London, British Empire
March 3rd, 1930
London, British Empire
March 3rd, 1930
The front of the building exploded in a burst of brick and concrete, the shockwave smashing glass and lighting the night sky for miles around. Whether the charge needed to be so big was of little concern to it's planters, as it had certainly done the job. From behind wrecked cars and postboxes, half a dozen men, clad in black from head to toe, rushed forward, the leader smashing what little was left of the door away with a swift swing of a procured fire axe. Without stopping the group was down the shattered hallway, scrambling over office rubble, towards their prize.
The vault was blown wide open, its thick metal door imprinted on the opposite wall. They went to work with a smooth efficiency, counting the money and bagging it before another of their number rushed it outside into a waiting Bedford truck. This continued for several minutes, before, speeding out of a nearby street, came two police cars and a seemingly normal Crossley Bugatti convertable. The masked assailants were taken by suprise, the police hadn't put on thier sirens. The three new cars slammed on their breaks, stopping inches from each other. The driver of the truck quickly jumped out of his cab and ran behind the vehicle for cover, joined by two more of the men.
Inspector Dai Thomas, the 'almost-hero cop', jumped out of his car, taking cover with the other officers behind their automobile barricade. Just in time too, as the would-be robbers opened fire with rifles, pistols and a thompson 'tommy' submachine gun. The weapon spat into the assembled cars, forcing the constables to duck.
"Don't you just love American invention"! yelled one of the shooters, his accent distinctly Irish, before unloading with another salvo.
"What do we do Inspector"? asked the nearest officer, Watkins. Dai could see the panic and confusion in the boy's face, he could have been no more than 18, maybe 19. He took in the question, peeking over the bonnet of his fine car, now pebble-dashed with lead, his blonde hair blowing in the wind and his steely blue eyes unflinching to the hail coming at him.
"We wait until that blasted Tommy Gun is reloading and we open fire, aim for the wheels, the gas tank and those bastard Irishmen if you can". The young men nodded, and with their old service revolvers in hand, waited. Half of the robbers were still throwing bags of money onto the back of the truck, obviously confident of their weapondary superiority. Both sides traded shots until a small lull in the firing happened, Dai and the others finally put their heads over the parapet and took aim, taking out the wheels, gas tank and wounding one of the criminals, who was quikcly dragged into cover. Over excited it seemed, Watkins failed to duck as the Tommy Gun opened fire again, its missles thudding up the car bonnet and through his neck and chest. He fell back, vermillion pouring from his body as he lay on the asphalt.
"Watkins"! Dai rushed to his side, the boy chocking on a mix of blood and tears.
"Sir! Help me sir! I don't, I don't want to die sir. Please"! He begged in between screams of pain. Dai, for all his experiance was blank, he merely held the boy in his arms. Watkins face of panic and fear gave away to an emotionless mask, before he finally slipped away. Quiet. Cold.
"I poached me a pig, lads"! Yelled the machine gunner, before knocking out the street lamp above the policemen, shards of glass falling on them, making them cover their heads. Dai lay Watkins down, as the glass fell and moved back up to the remaining constables, his own face showing no sign of any loss, prompted the others to try the same.
"Okay men, they've just given me an idea, I want you to take out all the street lamps, and then give me covering fire".
"Covering fire? You're going in sir"? quizzed another young officer, Dai hadn't bothered to learn his name.
"do you have a better idea, officer"?
"No, not really sir"
"Well get them to do it then". The officer turned round and passed the message, and then began shooting out street lamps. The whole area soon fell dark and Dai, with his two 45's in hand rushed across the road off to the left, while the officers focused on the right, they had also turned on their high-powered torches, blinding the robbers. Very novel, thought Dai as he rolled onto the pavement and opened fire, throwing two of the men to the ground before they could even turn their weapons, their attention somewhere. The other, armed with an Enfield rifle, swung his weapon round and fired, but only managed to hit the already destroyed masonary behind the Inspector, who fired back in turn hitting him in the shoulder. The Irishman gave a yelp before running into the building, seeking cover.
Dai peeked around the corner, coming close to receiving a face full of lead, the process. As he ducked back he noticed the barrel of another gun pointed squarely at him from the floor. Pouring with blood, the machine gunner shakely held his Tommy in both hands.
"If I'm gonna die" he said "you're coming with me. Pig"! He pulled the trigger, and Dai turned white. Nothing. The confident expression on the man's face turned to horror, which Dai could see even through his balaclava.
"Don't you just love American invention", grinned Dai, his two Colts level, their hammers, cocked.
Two shots penetrated the sudden silence, making the officers edgy, they cautiously advanced. They saw Inspector Thomas rooting through one of the bodies' pockets, its face an unrecognisable mess. He pulled out two clips of ammunition and grabbed the submachine gun, not looking up while he loaded the gun.
"I want one of you to watch the truck, I suggest taking out the other two tyres just in case and you other two follow me in. You got that"? The officers nodded.
Dai and the two men, in crouching positions moved as fast as they could through the wreckage. The remaining robbers began to open fire, using a bend in the hallway for cover but with only bolt-action rifles and pistols they were at a disadvantage against the Tommy gun, which Dai used to keep them pinned while he and the other policemen full on sprinted further to the cover of a large pillar. By now they were within shouting distance of the masked men.
"This is the police! Give up now! We have the place surrounded"! Dai almost cringed at his cliche, which was also an obvious lie.
"Feck you, you're gonna have to come in and get us"! Dai heard the sound of running, they were obviously trying to escape through a back exist.
"After them quickly"! He ordered. The three charged down the corridor, past the destroyed vault. They stopped as they reached the exit. A burst of gun fire was heard form the otherside. What were they firing at? They continued their advance with caution, one of the officers pushed the door open to see two of the men unconscious. They checked the bodies, they had literally been beaten into submission. As Dai looked over them in puzzlement, more firing could be heard back out front. The two officers took the back way out onto the street while the Inspecctor rushed back through the building, to see the officer guarding the truck slumped on the floor and the truck gone. He rushed outside to see the Bedford pathetically moving down the street in an almost uncontrolled fashion, only random jerks of the steering wheel kept it from crashing into a wall. He and the others opened fire, harmlessly hitting the sacks of money stacked on the back of the truck, a trail of paper notes flying out of the back. The crippled vehicle slowly began to pick up speed and Dai signalled to get into their cars. As they did so, a flash, almost like lightning shot past.
The driver, giddy at his survival, excellerated as he turned the corner, sure of his getaway, obviously having not onticed the empty fuel tank. Suddenly straight down the road, came a strangely dressed man, himself masked, he was running straight at the truck! The Irishman knew who it was, and in terror pushed the truck as fast as it would go, but the man kept getting closer, his own speed increasing. The robber closed his eyes and there was a massive crash of noise, his body being vaulted through the windscreen.
Failing to start his Bugatti, Dai rushed around the corner on hearing the noise, and couldn't believe what he saw. The front of the truck was a mangle, a mixture of blood and oil covered the floor, while money rained down all around. As he began to advance, the masked attacker ran towards him, carrying the limp body of the criminal.
"Get down"! He yelled, throwing himself to the floor, as what little petrol left in the truck sparked, causing a massive explosion. Dai and the officers flung themselves to the cobbled road, cursing as they did.
The masked man stood above Dai, offering an outstretched hand, which he reluctantly took. The man's strength was apparent as he picked up the Inspector as if he was a child.
"I think this one is going to make it", said the man, pointing at the driver, who, though a crippled mess, was still breathing "And along with the other two behind the bank, you'll should have some leads about who organised this whole thing". The Inspector didn't respond, merely lit a cigarette and instructed the officers to call for an ambulance. Eventually he had to.
"What are you doing here"
"I heard the explosion and was here as fast as I could"
"This is police business, you have no right to be here". On this the man's size became apparent as he went toe-to-toe with Dai and pointed a finger in his face.
"If it wasn't for me they would have got away, maybe killed somone"
"They did kill somone, two officers"
"I got here as quickly as I could"
"Your 'help' led to god knows how many millions of pounds being destroyed. We might as well have let them have it! We would have stopped that truck soon enough"
"Is that all it's about, money"!
"No. But I'd prefer to think good police officers didn't die for nothing. Now if you don't mind me I have to get this mess cleaned up. I suppose that's one of the good things of being a vigilante, no responsibility"
"I'm not a vigilante, I'm..."
"A hero?"
"Just trying to help"
"Well I've had enough help for one night, thank you". And with that he turned and walked away, while the masked man shot off at inhuman speed.
While he sat their for hours writing out the paperwork, Dai couldn't help but think that tomorrow's papers wouldn't commemorate the brave men who gave thier lives for law and order but a more exciting figure. A man in a mask. A 'super-hero'.
Captain Britain.
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