Prologue
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Cambridge, a scholarly city of learning. Home, to
among other things, one of the best universities of the world. But...appearances can be deceptive,
and there is much more to Cambridge than meets the eye.
Sometime in the 18th century, the Baron Fortesque was made Chancellor of the University. Seeing the advanced science and technology around him,this good man was overpowered by the dark force of greed and became obsessed with knowledge and power. This lust for knowledge led him to hire the best scientists and craftsmen the land had to offer. Fortesque kept these unfortunate individuals in shabby hovels fit only for rats, cockroaches and other vermin and worked them all day in an attempt to create a machine which would make him the richest man
in the world.
One day, one of the scientists drew up plans for a massive steam driven engine which was capable of achieving the alchemists' dream-
transmuting matter. Fortesque immediately had the man imprisoned and set his craftsmento work building the machine. As the men worked tirelessly, day and night,to build the machine, Fortesque continued devising his nefarious schemes and plans. First, he would use the machine to turn all the base metal in his possession to gold, giving him a virtually endless supply of wealth. Using this newly acquired wealth, he would hire the toughest soldiers and sharpest military minds to put together an unstoppable force. With these shock troops, he would sieze control of Parliament,
London, England, Europe,...........the world!
Fortunately, the machine's inventor escaped and warned the world of the insane baron's plans. An elite strike force was selected from the best of
the British army, each soldier with special abilitiesand extaordinary qualities. This hardy group contained some of thefiercest, strongest,
smartest and most powerful warriors in the land. Theytook no flak fromanyone and were experts at what they did. And whatthey did could well
have saved humanity from the dictatorship of an insane maniac. Their mission was to penetrate Fortesque's defences, storm his mansion, destroy
the machine and bring the baron back to stand trial. A general attack was unlikely to succeed, and a more devious and strategic approach was needed. First, an advance scout would be sent to take out the perimeter sentries. Then the soldiers would infiltrate the estate grounds and take up key positions. Under the cover of darkness, they would launch an all out attack, providing enough distraction for two heavily armed demolition experts to slip into the mansion's cellars undetected and destroy the machine.
On the appointed night, as the clock struck midnight, the commandos launched their attack. Fortesque's resistance was strong but his gang of mercenaries, thugs and hired fighters could not hold off the army for long. As their ammunition began to run out, some fled but the more loyal among them engaged the attackers in hand to hand combat. Sensing that the end was near, Fortesque attempted to escape but was caught in the crossfire and gunned down. In accordance with their orders, the men then dynamited the machine, ending its obscene powers, along with one of the most shameful chapters in Cambridge's history.
Not wanting this shame and stigma permanently attached to their land, the powers that be arranged for all references to Fortesque to be obliterated. Anybody not cooperating with them was declared mad and sentenced to rot in an asylum for the rest of their life. Despite this, the name of Fortesque was still mentioned by locals in hushed whispers: teenagers daring one another to set foot inside parts of his mansion still left standing or mothers terrorising their wayward children in an attempt to make them behave.
In time, the Fortesque mansion was repaired and handed over to the University to be used as a place of learning. Other events took place which caught the locals' attention and soon, all knowledge of Fortesque, his foul machine and the myths surrounding them were lost in the endless tracts of time. Or were they?
