Not bad addition!
Chekhov’s gun fired eventually.

«It is amazing, isn’t it,»
It is because Great Britain has just got the alien technology! And it’s probably in the best hands. If, for example, communist Russia would get it, that would mean the end of the world.

It would have been a surprise if Tink hadn’t survived.

Finally, the characters worked together to achieve their victory! That’s what I was waiting for!
However, I don’t understand how a big and heavy tripod that uproots trees can be as agile as fairies to hit them? If it’s so heavy, how could several people overturn it without using pulley blocks?

This chapter underlines the topic of the day (20th of March 2020).
To be honest, I’m a little bit disappointed. I was expecting that the fairies would play a decisive role in defeating (or negotiating with) the aliens and not bacteria or coronavirus. But hey, the story hasn’t ended yet!

Don’t ask me whether Earth bacteria could find any nutrients and survive inside a Martian—biology is my weakness (let alone xenobiology). Viruses, however, would not do anything to the aliens unless their DNA works exactly the same. Think about it this way: a computer virus for PC is a meaningless mess of bits for Linux. And we’re talking about DNA coding that is million times more complicated. If the Martians and the Earth life were of the same origin, then it might work.

«She would have been kept here and probably cut up and studied and probably not even treated fairly.»
Don’t worry, Tink. A live specimen of an unknown sentient species is million times more valuable than a well-studied corpse. No sane biologist would even think of vivisecting Vidia (right away). She would indeed be kept in the containment for quite a while, but it would be a start of a long and fascinating dialogue.
Think about it lying under that pile of rubble and come out in a chapter or two. London needs a lot of repairs, and the tripods need to be dismantled—sounds like a perfect job for the best tinker.
Now we know that Martians really like blood and probably depend on it. Point taken.

One more minor typo that drew my attention (there are more, I don’t list them all):
«The Marti[a]n gave a satisfied grunt and moved up the steps».

A curious scene! Obviously, the aliens didn’t plan the invasion to get the British biscuits (on second thought, I haven’t tasted them yet, maybe it’s worth it after all).

«...was a type of planet». A plant, I suppose?
«B-but how?» Martin said. «How could this come from Mars, or even them? It … it’s a dead planet, nothing can survive on it...»
Well, if I were the author of a similar story, I would suggest a different line. Martin is a biologist, and it’s unlikely that he would assert it with such certainty. Germs were already known at the beginning of the 20th century, and the only way to be sure that Mars is sterile is to observe a pinch of its dirt under a microscope (I bet, Dr Griffits would dream about it).
I’m willing to read further. Alright, we’ll talk about the hydrothermal vents next time...
In any case, I like the idea of «marsforming» of the Earth!

You know what’s missing? Martin’s scientific excitement. On the one hand, he’s worrying for Lizzy, but on the other... You mentioned that Dr Griffits was obsessed with British wildlife, he was and is a passionate scientist. Technically, I’m not a scientist, but I would burn with a desire (hot like plasma in a tokamak) to study a real alien life form! In all honesty, I would care more about the technology of the tripods, but Martin, as a biologist, would certainly longing to get his hands on at least a corpse of a real Martian. Oh! How many thoughts would swirl in his head! He would definitely guess what’s going on on a cellular level of such a creature.

Granted that DNA wasn’t known back then and Pavlov hadn’t finished his theory of conditioned reflexes, but still the beginning of the 20th century was a time of breakthroughs in biology!
Ah... so many missed opportunities!
Alright, it’s not the end of the story, and there is still hope to find out more about aliens. Oh, and those tripods... well, I guess we should discuss them next time. So many thoughts!

Holy Herbert Wells!
My inner science populariser is glowing with joy and excitement! Finally, finally, I’ve found a story about fairies that’s actually exciting! As the attack began, I couldn’t resist and listened to the track «Futile Escape» from the film «Aliens» while reading the part.
Too bad that this site allows neither links nor replies. Cossacks, feel free to make a new topic on my forum or invite me (and other readers) where we could share our opinions, emotions and some critique.

Thank you so much for your story!
I’ll do my best to read it through as soon as possible.
P. S. Reviews system on this site is driving me nuts!

«They had always thought that Great Britain was one big country that covered much of the world.» Personally, I would make a little reference here. Like so: one big country on which the sun never sets.
Well, not anymore in the 21st century.

Yay! Thank you so much for continuing this! :D

I loved this! Great job!

Whoa...

i like this story it's sad but also an excited story ;)
i'm glad it ended well and Tink and Vidia apologizing to each other at near the end of the chapter