Defend Your Rights! New Babbage Militia Renewed!

Greetings fellow citizens of New Babbage! Our esteemed mayor Mosseveno Tenk has named Morgan Beckett, Chess Clowes, and myself the new captains of the militia just over a month ago. We have been working behind the scenes to get some things in order and want to share some of the goings on with you. CPT Beckett will be organizing our Marine detachment and expeditionary forces for inter-steamland war games. CPT Clowes and myself will be running the day to day Babbage Militia as well as organizing events in the city, such as gallery shooting matches and other general activities. In addition CPT Clowes will be in charge of our infantry unit and I will be in charge of our horse guard. We are working on bringing you new and exciting uniforms and infantry weapons. In addition to that we will be holding a competition to design a new Miltia HQ so please stay tuned for that.

Please take a few moments to read our bios below and also please feel free to contact us with any questions.

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Morgan Beckett was born July 04, 185#, in Bromley Court, a wealthy borough in the City State of New Babbage, the eldest of three sons. His father was a lawyer, a judge and, for 31 years, a Magistrate and chair of the Babbage Naval Affairs Committee during two different administrations.

Beckett attended Stonegate University, a secondary school popular with sons of upper-class Bromley families. A Stonegate athlete, he became captain of its cricket and rugby team. And against the wishes of his father, he left school 38 days before his seventeenth birthday to enlist in the New Babbage Naval Marine Detachment during the onset of the War of Sklakian Ambitions. Nevertheless, Stonegate awarded him his diploma on June 6, 187#, before the end of his final year; his transcript stated he completed the Politic Course “with Credit”.

In the anti-Sklakian war fever of 188#, Beckett lied about his age to enlist as a Marine private. He trained in Clockhaven, at the Marine Barracks within the New Babbage Naval Station. In July 188#, he went to Roliça, an island in the Lesser Caribb Isles (Sklakian Colonies), arriving shortly before its invasion and capture.

During the morning of July 14, 188#, Companies “C” and “D” of Lt. Col Hubert W. Roberton’s 3rdMarine Battalion moved through the highlands to seize Alcobaça’s Well, the main water supply for the Sklakian garrison at Mondego Keep, Roliça. The NBNS Dolphin (PG-42) moved east along the shore ready to furnish naval gunfire support upon call. The Sklakian forces soon discovered the movement and their main body near the well was alerted. The Marines occupied a sharp hill which overlooked the enemy’s position, but were immediately subjected to heavy long-range rifle fire. Captain F. George Elliott, who had succeeded to command of the Marine Detachment, signaled the Dolphinto shell the Sklakian position; but because the sender was not clearly visible, the message was misinterpreted, and the vessel began dropping shells on a small detachment of Marines who were en route to join the fight. The problem of directing the fire of the NBNS Dolphin was solved by (newly promoted) Corporal Beckett who heroically placed himself in plain sight of the vessel, but in danger of falling shells as well as a brisk enemy fire, and signaled for the bombardment to be stopped.

When Corporal Beckett finished this message, the ship answered. Beckett then picked up his rifle and resumed his place on the firing line. The Dolphin shifted her fire and by 2:00 p.m. the Sklakian forces had begun to retreat. For his gallant and selfless conduct during this action, Beckett received his first Medal of Honor and a meritorious promotion to Sergeant of Marines.

When the occupation of the lesser Sklakian colonies had ceased, SGT Beckett’s company soon returned to New Babbage and after a short break, he was assigned to the armored cruiser NBNS Scorpion for four months. Briefly, he returned home to be mustered out of service in February 188#, but in April of the same year, Beckett accepted a commission as a second lieutenant in the New Babbage Marines – Expeditionary Forces.

The Marine Detachment now assigned him to the 2ndBattalion, 1st Regiment, New Babbage Expeditionary Forces, stationed aboard the NBNS Sedgwick Dagger.In October 188#, the 2nd/1st was dispatched to again to the Tinder Isles to quell a local uprising, which threatened not just a vital Babbage coal reserve station, but general stability within the larger Selduran Archipelago. 2nd LT Beckett saw combat action again when he led 300 Marines to take the tiny capital of Noveleta, from Selduran rebels known as Ostinatos. In the initial moments of the assault, 2nd LT Beckett’s first sergeant was wounded. Beckett briefly withdrew, but quickly regained his position and then led his Marines in pursuit of the fleeing enemy. By noon the Marines had dispersed the rebels and retaken the capital. One Marine had been killed and ten were wounded. Another 50 Marines had been incapacitated by the humid tropical heat.

After the excitement of this combat, garrison duty within the archipelago became routine. Beckett grew restless, and making no effort to hide his unhappiness, unwittingly shared his frustration with Major Horatio Waller, the newly appointed Commanding Officer of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Regiment. Of a like mind and seeking further adventure, Waller became fast friends with Beckett. Once Waller officially received command of the 3rd/1st, he was allowed to select five officers to take with him; one of his choices was 2nd LT Beckett. Fortune favored the choice. No sooner had they assumed their places in the 3rd/1st, orders were received sending the majority of the 1st Regiment to Pendul’ur aboard the NBNS Coil to help put down the Clockwork Rebellion.

Once in Pendul’ur, Beckett was initially deployed at Castlereagh. He took part in the Battle of Stop Wheel Pass on January 13, 188#. When he saw another Marine officer fall wounded, he climbed out of a trench to rescue him. Beckett was then himself shot in the thigh, before being engaged in a vicious close quarters combat with advancing Automatons. 2ndLT Beckett, after exhausting his pistol ammunition, recovered an empty rifle (which he used much like a cricket bat) from a fallen foe and continued his fight, desperate to rescue his fellow officer. He valiantly repelled two more assaults, suffering additional wounds (including a bayonet wound to the face which nearly resulted in the loss of his left eye and has left him permanently scarred), before another Marine helped him get to safety. That Marine was also shot. Despite his many wounds, Beckett recovered the wounded officer and fallen Marine, assisting them to the rear. Four enlisted men would receive the Medal of Honor in the battle. Beckett’s commanding officer, Major Waller, personally commended him and wrote that “for such reward as you may deem proper the following officer: Lieutenant Morgan C. Beckett, for the admirable control of his men in all the fights of the week, for saving two wounded men at incredible risk of his own life, under duress of significant bodily injury, and under a very severe fire.” Unfortunately, at that time commissioned officers were not then eligible to receive the Medal of Honor, and Beckett instead received a promotion to 1st Lieutenant by brevet while he recovered in the hospital, two weeks before his nineteenth birthday.

Once recovered, Beckett returned to service in the field where after several more engagements with the Automatons, he was wounded again, this time in the chest at the Battle of Tjeco’s Crown; the bullet reportedly clipping part of left lung. Because of his record in Pendul’ur, Beckett became eligible for the Marine Detachment’s Brevet Medal, and is currently one of only six Marines to have received it. His service also forced the New Babbage Navy, under Commodore Jedburgh Dagger to reconsider their restriction against awarding Marine officers the Medal of Honor (It was of Commodore Dagger’s opinion that officers, especially among her Marines, were required to behave in a manner consistent with the qualities held by the medal – and so they should not be rewarded for doing their duty. 1st LT Beckett’s service demonstrated that even an officer’s duty could be exceeded and therefore required appropriate recognition.) So upon his return to New Babbage, for convalescence, 1st LT Beckett was awarded his second Medal of Honor and reassignment to the New Babbage Naval Station as Commander, New Babbage Naval Marine Detachment (Home Station Element).

During his tenure commanding the NBNMD, 1st LT Beckett has led his Marines on two very successful Relief/Resupply/Rescue missions to New Toulouse and worked tirelessly to renovate the Marine Barracks in Clockhaven, where his career began. For his selfless service, abroad and at home, in the name and for the honor of New Babbage, 1st LT Morgan Beckett was selected for promotion by the Clockwinder to the rank of Captain and placed in command of the 1st Battalion, 1st Regiment, New Babbage Expeditionary Forces. Captain Beckett has sworn to use his position to strengthen the City State and to bring honor and glory to the fine citizens of New Babbage.

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Chess Clowes was born to a simple life in rural England, where he shared a humble dwelling with his parents – Mrs. Chelsea Clowes and Mr. Cheshire Clowes – and, most importantly, his ailing grandfather, Aldous Clowes. Aldous Clowes was infamous as both an eccentric and inventor whose creations had caused a fair amount of grief for his community in the past.

Cheshire Clowes had attempted to flee his father and his reputation, but was forced to take him into his care as his health began to dwindle. Despite Cheshire Clowes’ best efforts to shield Chess from Aldous’ influence, his presence would have a profound effect on the boy’s development, laying the foundations for his later life as he surreptitiously taught Chess his skills.

Cheshire Clowes attempted to divert his son’s attention from Aldous with another pursuit worthwhile hobby: hunting. While this father failed to deter Chess it did hone his skills with a rifle early in life.

When Aldous Clowes passed away, fighting ensued between father and son when Cheshire moved to dispose of Aldous’ notes and remaining inventions. Chess attempted to intervene and this culminated with Chess being driven away from home, but his efforts were not in vain and he managed to save a great portion of his grandfather’s work.

From that point Chess Clowes made his journey off to a new life, sustaining himself with his hunting skills, lending a hand with whatever work came his way, and the generosity of those who took pity upon his situation.

Chess Clowes soon made it to a city, where he by chance he caught the attention of the infamous Ashiko Kuroe. After demonstrating his skill with his rifle, Ashiko took him aboard and hired him as a mercenary. Soon enough they made their journey to Babbage with the rest of the Vaulten Air Fleet.

During Chess’ work with Mr. Kuroe, he began developing his first creation, the signature “Chessbot” as it came to be known. In reality, the majority of its design was in fact based upon schematics recovered among Aldous’ notes.

Taking note of this other talent of Chess’, he was instead diverted to producing armaments for the cause, just in time for the Obolenskidonia occupation. Chess employed his gradually accumulating repertoire of creations to enforce Dr. Obolensky’s reign. It is rumored after his fall that he was tasked with developing a revenge weapon under orders of Mr. Zebrati during his brief control of the League of Villainy, but regardless of the veracity of these claims, such a device never manifested.

Following the toppling of Obolensky, Chess became increasingly disillusioned and gradually pried himself away from his old contacts and began making a living in a more honest way. In fact, prior to his appointment to Militia Captain, he had been aiding investigation into the murders that had plagued Babbage, doing what he could to restore order.

When Chess threw his name into the hat for the role, he was quite surprised to be appointed, having never served within the ranks of the Militia in the past. Regardless of this, he hopes that he can serve Babbage to the best of his ability and move away from his dark past.

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Captain Gatsby Szuster’s Bio

I was born in Krakow, the son of Duke Wiktor Szuster and Italian Countess Anna Benella. I studied at the Military College in Warsaw and was a student there during the doomed 1830 November Uprising. I am very proud to have fought along side my classmates, noblemen, and peasants alike. Our motto was “Za naszą i waszą wolność” or “For our Freedom and Yours.” When all was lost I tried fleeing to join forces with the young Countess Emelia Plater who also refused to surrender. Sadly, she had fallen gravely ill before my arrival. All I, or any one else, could do was aid in comforting her in those sorrowful final days.

Now a wanted man I fled the Tsarist armies to France. There I met with Fredrick Chopin and many other displaced Poles. Indeed, I would have probably stayed in Paris if I had not learned the Tzar wanted to make an example of me. I was planning to flee to the United States when the Tzar’s agents finally cornered me. I was fleeing for me life, running through some of Paris’ worst neighborhoods when I ran into a man calling himself “The Doctor.” This “Doctor” took me me under his wing and helped me escape. He should me places in space and time I can not describe. Finally after a few months with him and his peculiar vessel he dropped me off in 1880’s New Babbage saying it’s a place where any one can make anything of himself.

After settling in New Babbage I became an industrialist opening several businesses. I have made everything from Coal Gas, to pharmaceuticals, to liquor. When the New Babbage Volunteer Militia was formed I lent my expertise as a Cavalry Officer to the city state and formed the original Horse Guard in my former distillery. Now my city needs me again and I once again offered my services to the Clockwinder and am honored to be one of the militia captains. I promise to serve my fellow citizens “For our Freedom and Yours.”