NationStates Jolt Archive

It was another gorgeous day on the high seas, 65 miles off the southern coast of Fluttergork. The S.S. Frisky, a Nimitz class Aircraft Carrier was on routine patrol, as always escorted by two Los Angeles Class Submarines, the S.S. Johnson, and the S.S. Yanker.

On the bridge, a tall man with salt and pepper hair was trying to light a corncob pipe in the wind. He was distinguished looking, his face weathered by years of the sea air. He commanded authority and respect. His name was Captain Nigel Wopner.

A seaman first class ran up to him suddenly.

“Sir! Lookouts report a large wooden crate floating 300 yards ahead.”

“How big is it?” the captain asked in his gravelly voice.

“It’s a cube sir, about four feet on each side.”

“O.K., have the bomb crew do an infrared scan on it, begin circling the object.”

“Aye Aye sir.” Ten minutes later, the word came to the captain that whatever was in the crate was not a bomb.

“O.K.” The captain said. “Activate the winch and get two divers out there. Bring it on board.”

The divers entered the water and fitted huge chain around the object. In 15 minutes it was sitting on the deck of the S.S. Frisky, dripping and emitting the smell of the sea.

“O.K.” the captain said. “Let’s open it up and see what we’ve got here.”

Surveying the scene through the periscopes was a Akula IV Class SSN. In the submarine, the Captain cooly watches as the crate is winched aboard the Nimitz Class Carrier.

"God damn't, they've got the drop box... Transmit a message to the City of March, tell them we have a problem...

OOC: The box is made out of a Neo-Titanium Alloy, and has come through space...

"Sir, the box isn't wood, it's titanium."

"Titanium?" The captian said incredulously. "I wonder how the hell it was floating then."

"What should we do, sir?"

"Get a blowtorch, and radio this to HQ."

"Sir," A radar operator said. "The S.S. Yanker is reporting a contact close by, can't make it out yet sir."

"A contact? here? I bet it's someone looking for this box. Full steam north. We'll see if he'll follow us into our own territorial waters."

***Aboard the Akula IV SSN, the Kraken***

"Captain, the Nimitz Class Carrier is speeding up... Its going at 29 knots."

"Damn't... Has headquarters transmitted orders?"

"Yes, sir. Headquarters orders us to track the carrier and find out where its heading."

"Alright then..."

"Captain, we have two submerged contacts, identify as Los Angeles Class SSNs..."

"Thank God, our vessel is more advanced... Load four Swordfish Torpedoes and two Seaskimmer Anti-Ship Missiles into the tubes... But do not flood or open the tubes..."

"Aye sir..."

"Sir, we can't seem to keep a radar lock on the contact, but it's defintely submerged and appears to be following us."

"O.K., immediately send up the S76 helicopters. WIth their new ASW upgrade, they should be able to take care of him."

"Should they fire at will?"

"Not for a few minutes, not until we're in our own waters. How're we making out with that box?"

"Sir, the blowtorch didn't work, but Master Chief O'Reilly said he has started to use acid. He's burned a 3-inch hole in it so far."

"Tell him to stop working on it. Have it loaded onto one of the cargo planes and take it to HQ. The sooner it's safe the better. And send up a squad of F-310's for air cover."

***On the Kraken***

"Captain, the enemy is loading the crate aboard a transport plane!"

"It just gets worse and worse... Whats the nearest CBG?"

"The 19th Carrier Battle Group under Rear Admiral Joshua Reynolds is twenty kilometers away..."

"Good... Transmit a message to the Admiral requesting it track the enemy aircraft..."

"Yes sir..."

A few minutes pass as the message is transmitted...

"Captain, the message has been transmitted, but we have detected a pair of ASW helicopters overhead..."

"Damn't, dive to 500 meters and accelerate to 20 knots..."

"Yes sir..."

**Aboard ASW-1**

"Frisky, this is Lion. We have a lock on the sub, it's accelerating. It's an Akula Class."

"Lion, this is Frisky. Transmit a warning message on the emergency band."

"Roger."

Unidentified Akula-class Submarine, this is Fluttergork Navy. You are about to enter our territorial waters. Cease and desist at once. Acknowledge immediately

**Aboard the S.S. Frisky**

The cargo plane, call sign Pheonix12, lifts off from deck of the aircraft carrier and begins to head for Fluttergork Mainland. 4 F-310's take up station around it for the 10 minute flight.

***Aboard the Kraken***

"Captain, we are being hailed by the ASW helicopters..."

"Who are they?"

"I believe their Fluttergork's..."

"Send a message, tell them that they have stolen a box containing secret technology from our Space Colonies... And if they don't care, shoot down those ASW helicopters with our Igla V Missiles, fire the Seaskimmers at the Carrier and sink those Los Angeles Class SSN with our Swordfish torpedoes..."

"Aye, sir..."

**MESSAGE TO THE KRAKEN**

We have salvaged a titanium box found floating near our waters. There is no indication at this time that it belongs to you. It is being transported to our mainland for examination. If you know what it contains, we will verify it and return it to you. But you must leave this area at once or you will be fired upon.

**Aboard the Lion**

"Prepare Mark III's" the pilot said.

"Ready for the order."

**Aboard the S.S. Yanker**

"We have a firing solution. Load the Swordfish torpedos, flood the tubs and open the doors, but do not fire.

**Aboard the S.S. Johnson**

"Sir, we've received orders to return to base."

"Full steam to port, then."

**Aboard the S.S. Frisky**

"Sir, we've received word that Pheonix12 has landed at the Naval Base safely."

"Tell them to get that crate udnerground at a secure location immediately. You might wanna ask them to contact the FCN's government as well."

***Aboard the Kraken***

"Captain, they are warning us..."

"Weapons free... I repeat Weapons free... Blow those suckers to kingdom come. Flood All tubes..."

"Aye sir... Igla Vs have been launched..."

"Fire tubes 1-2 at submerged contact 2 and 3-4 at submerged contact 1, fire tubes 5-6 at the Nimitz..."

"Aye sir... Weapons away..."

"Flank speed and dive to 750 meters..."

"Flank speed and diving to 750 meters, aye sir..."

OOC: Should I start a shooting war or should I back down?

OOC - Let's see where it goes. I've never Rp'd a whole war before, and I'm not sure I'd be able to.

IC:

***FLUTTERGORK HIGH COMMAND***

King Roland was enjoying his noontime meal when the doors burst open and a throng of his advisors and assistants entered the room in a flurry. Furio, his secretary of state got everyone quieted down.

"Sir, we have reports of armed conflict between one of our Fleets and Five Civilized Nations. This morning one of our aircraft carriers found a strange item floating in the water not far from our shores. They fished it out and within minutes an Akula class submarine was detected in the area. They began to follow us back to our territorial waters, and we warned them off. The captain had the box loaded on a plane and brought here, but that didn't stop the submarine from firing at our Fleet."

"THEY DID WHAT?!?!" King Roland exclaimed. "They fired at one of our fleets?"

"Yes, sir. The S.S. Frisky was slightly damaged, but one of our submarines was lost and the other escaped."

"Didn't we have ASW helicopters looking for the sub?"

"Yes sir, and they dropped dozens of torpedoes on the sub. We think we damaged it, but it defintely escaped the area. Our damaged ships were recalled, and have arrived safely back to base. Our 1st and 2nd Fleets have also been recalled for border protection, and it'd take Houdini himself to invade our waters or airspace right now. 4th and 5th Fleets are now mobilizing for a possible call up to steam to Five Civilized Nations."

"How many men were on that sub that sank?"

"One hundred and seven, your majesty. One of the officers was the son of the head of our Internal Police."

"Grimm's son was on board?"

"Yes sir."

"Oh leaping lizards, he's gonna go apesh*t."

"Yes, sir."

"Well before I go to war with a nation, I want to speak to it's ruler. Get him on the phone."

Technicians worked furiously and finally got through, handing the phone to the King.

"This is King Roland of the Empire of Fluttergork. What on Earth makes you think you can sink one of our ships and fire at others over a peice of metal that we found fair and square?"

So, you are the king... Your crate that your nation has stolen contained propiertary technology of the Five Civilized Nations... This theft will not be tolerated...

"Laws of Salvage tend to be based on a "Finder's Keeper's" rule of thumb. At one point we may have given it back after a simple safety inspection. But now you've killed our men, and destroyed a large asset. We have done nothing to you. So now I have one question for you - Do you wish to be at War with the Empire of Fluttergork?"

http://www.angelfire.com/rnb/gusta/roland.gif

Roland Deschain
King of Fluttergork

OOC - Leaving till Monday AM, EST. I'll continue w/ ya then. Have a nice weekend.