Posted: June 25, 2000 at 16:42:43: by Steve Faust
Crap. I spent many hours developing a historical background for Marguerite in East Africa when, had I seen "Tribute" before today, I would have known not to waste my time. There was much talk about a German pilot and Marguerite being a spy, but the important details were never broached. Grea never had to waste time proving the lady was a spy. OF COURSE SHE WAS A SPY! The pilot not only saw her with a high ranking German intelligece officer, he knew the role she had played at Jutland, the greatest naval battle ever fought.She told him, knife at her oh so lovely throat, that she had had HER ORDERS. Many men and ships died during the battle. If she was responsible for Germany's losses, the officer's hatred was understandable, but only if she was German and Betrayed her country to the British.If she was British, she had simply done her job and any officer could not fail to appreciate that. But, if Marguerite was a traitor, even England would be too hot to hold her. Especially as the war had been over for months, not years. Everything would be fresh in every German's mind.I think I know why the pilot said that Summerlee and Ned had no idea what kind of woman they were so nobly defending. He couldn't accept that Marguerite had taken the British side. There could be no reason for her having done so against her own homeland. The murder of a girl in the street by a German officer nonwithstanding ( though it would be interesting to know just who she was and what she meant to Marguerite ). Now, just how could Marguerite have influenced the outcome of battle? That will take a bit of research. Up front, it is only clear that the highly trained German fleet was not as large as the British Grand fleet. Their strategy was to catch the British in a series of traps using U - boats. If Marguerite could disrupt communications and force a mano - a - mano confrontation between the fleets, the British would have a numerical superiority.In any case, the battle, fought in 1916 I believe, still is among the most controversial of the war. It is now very clear why Marguerite foiled an assassination attempt in London and why she financed the expedition. I'm surprised she wants to get off the plateau, she can never go "home." She probably took her jewels with her because she knew that and eventually intended to use them to set herself up in North or South America. A second expedition is definitely in order. If the Germans betrayed at Jutland were not aware of her leaving with the Challenger expedition, they are certainly going to know when that pilot gets back. Marguerite failed to kill him and her life depended on it. That's so unlike her. An Albatross? Apparently the German's didn't believe in affording their secret base pilots with the latest aircraft. No Spandau either. What do think A3G3, just a scout craft? I'd still like to see one of Marguerite's pursuers be a former lover betrayed and still asking "why?" Roxton was definitely a soldier. That's clear when he tells Challenger how to think of an enemy. He could have an East African background. And so could Summerlee for that matter. Where else might he get his knowledge of tropical plants and medicine.
Steve Faust
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