The time is 2:23am, on August 25th, 1943. Your name is Officer Mackenzie Taylor, on-duty alone at Bastion Rock observation post. The threat of a Japanese invasion is at the forefront of everyone’s mind, but so far tonight nothing in the harbour in front of you has moved. You imagine the mines bobbing on the surface, strung between here and North Head.
As the rest of Auckland is sleeping, you sense something is amiss. Instead of the muffled drone of the 4 Lister diesel engines in the searchlight generator room behind you, all you hear is the wind howling and waves breaking on the rocks below. You turn and peer out into the darkness toward the cliff-face through the rear window of the directing tower. Expecting to see the dimly lit tunnel entrance to the engine-room in the cliff, you squint but see nothing but the faint outline of the cliff-top and 12-pounder gun turrets above. Leaving the tower, you make your way through the howling wind and up the steps to the tunnel entrance.
"Bob, you in there?" you yell, but all you hear is your echo and a faint clinking of metal on metal. Switching on your standard issue torch, you walk cautiously along the rough cut tunnel snaking through the cliff, and into the engine-room.
"Bob, what's going on mate?" you ask, after spotting him illuminated by a lantern and hunched over engine #3.
"Oh, hello Mac, the damn engines have stalled again. I think the weather out there is filling the air filters up with crud. Go get us a new set from the magazine room would ya."
"Yeah, righto mate" you answer, and walk past the quiet engines and into the dark south passage. Following the passage veering slightly to the right you come to the main entrance gate and feel the steady breeze entering through the iron gate from outside. You turn to your right and pull open the heavy steel door of the 6-pouder ammunition magazine room. Expecting to see 5000 rounds of armour piercing shells on the side platforms, all that greets you is darkness.
"Jeees, the lamp's out too Bob!" you call.
"Yeah, that wind's strong tonight. There’s a box of matches next to the lamp." You turn and follow the narrow lamp passage hugging the outer wall of the ammunition room. Sure enough, the lamp is out, but as you reach down for the matches, something unusual catches your eye...
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Start your adventure at the published co-ordinates.
Please remember to keep a sensible level of stealth... there's tons of muggles around on sunny days, and they're all oblivious to where you're headed... please don't give away the secret. Also, I'm not going to lecture you, but remember to use a reasonable level of caution around dangerous slippery bits. Come back and try again if it's wet or has been raining.
Also, there is a slim chance you might stumble across a "less fortunate" person inside. I've never seen anyone in 26 years, but it would be wise to only visit during daylight hours.
The log book will contain a password. If you're interested in a detailed history of Fort Bastion, visit http://beanznz.no-ip.biz/fortbastion and enter the password.
Hope you enjoy! :-)