NationStates Jolt Archive

It is common practise in the Pan-Haaregradian Armed Forces when newly retired equipment is soon to be put in storage that older material will be shipped to allied nations unable to afford their own for whatever reason.

This is generally seen as a good will offering and is accepted. As the final F-29 Drow aircraft are prepared for storage(those fit for possible future useage, many of them have too bad of wing cracking to be considered and were scraped) room must be made. This means the MiG 17, A-4 and early F-5 aircraft in Haaregradian storage will need to be moved along. The benefactor today? United Kurdistan who, due to their recent split from many nations, have no real armed forces to speak of.

The aircraft are prepared for active service yet again and loaded on to various ships, a call is put forward and the vessels depart, stocked with military goods.

"Today looks like a good day for sailing, wouldn't yah say?"
"Yes captain!"
"Tell me, what is that trailing us?"
"It looks kinda like a little submarine, but it's hard to..."

Their conversation was cut short by a loud blast which shook the entire vessel, whatever had hit them was bound to of done some serious damage...

"Arg! We hit the quarry they're good as dead in ye water."

The pirate U Boat pulled into position behind and well under the prey cargo ship. Through the parascope the captain could see the two propellers had been sheared right off and the vessel had taken substantial damage.

He radioed to the waiting PT boats to move in for the kill, after the crew of the waiting vessel had surrendered the freightliner would be dragged back to their secret base, emptied and dragged back out and sunk at a safe time.

The PT boats drew closer to their prey and fired their 40mm cannon(converted from original 37mm) across the bow as a warning shot.

"No! It can't be! Pirates? I thought they only existed in fairy tales nowdays, at least not in real life, attacking my ship!" the captain exclaimed, panicking.

He could tell it would be of no use to attempt to outrun the pirates, for some reason the engines weren't responding at all, and the ship was slowly taking on water. He went out on to the main deck with a white flag to signal the ship's surrender.

The pirates pulled up closer to the stricken cargo vessel. From off of the 3 PT boats climbed 24 pirates, armed with a mixture of Uzis, AKs, SKSs and shotguns. They quickly rounded up the crew and forced them into lifeboats, any who put up a struggle were shot.

"Aye! We've possession of ye ship, now what can ye do, scalliewag?"
"Just don't shoot anyone."
"Arg, I'll see what I can do, if no one fights back this will be alot easier for all of us. NOW INTO THE BOATS!"

As the crew were ordered into the lifeboats the captain took immediate note of what he had captured:
4x F-5A
8x F-5E
6x MiG 17
12x A-4F

"These will be a good addition to our crew, don't ye think?"
"Yes captain."
"Now lets drag this sinking hull back to our secret base. Radio the tugboats and be sure to turn off the emergency beacon, we don't want to draw any undue attention."

All radios were turned off, including the weather radar and the stereo. The tugs hitched themselves up and pulled the stricked freighter towards their base.

Aboard the Metropolis Industries(Haaregradian) Coast Guard corvette Ace

"Sir, we're picking up a distress call from international waters in the Marx Sea"
"What are the coordinates?"
"Sir, the signal went away..."
"Hmm... we should go anyways, just to be safe."
"Want me to plot a coarse?"
"Make it so."

Abord a Firen Blade Corvette...

"Sir, we're getting an SOS."

"Really? From...?"

"Seems to be a ship. Pan-Haarigradian build. In international waters... relatively nearby."

"Anyone else going to help?"

"There's another ship out there, sir. Seems to be... of Metropolis Industries build. It was doing Coast work, but is now heading toward the..."

"What?"

"The... the signal. It disappeared, sir."

"... That's odd. Ok. We'll head that way too. Try to contact that ship."

"Yessir."

The time for massive military buildup was over. There was no more threat from the fascist underground in the region, and Briandom's military was therefore in need of a reformation. The massive amounts of planes that were built for air superiority were no longer needed, and obsolete on top of that.

The military was modernizing and switching from the older systems like F-15s and -16s to the newer, stealthier F-22s, -32s, and 35s. The government was also pursuing the S-32 and S-37 to achieve the best in air superiority.

To combine the power already inherent in the jets, Briandom's scientists developed a new jet fuel for the planes. It would burn cleaner and be more efficient than the previous fuel. Besides, the old fighters were being phased out of service anyway.

This led to the problem of what to do with the leftover plane parts and fuel. There was enough that you couldn't throw it away, but not enough that would make it cost effective to convert. So the government decided to sell it on the international market. To help bolster the deal, air-to-air missiles and radar guided bombs were sold with the package. With that done, the plane parts and fuel would be shipped on a tanker to the purchaser.

The cargo ship had an escort out of the dock and into international waters. Then the escort pulled back and left the giant tanker alone in the vast expanse of the ocean. The captain of the ship didn't mind. He actually enjoyed the open sea and craved adventure as he charted new courses.

Since there was military freight on the ship, a small group of Coastal Patrol ensigns went along to "guard" the equipment. It was a formality, really, and the men kept their weapons locked up in their lockers. Besides, they just wanted to meet some women from a distant land.

*tag

The F-5A Freedom Fighter was very obviously not part of any airforce. It had hastily painted on jolly rogers on the wings, where most nations put some sort of roundel. The pilot was wearing a full flightsuit but had not received any sort of formal training, not that it would matter for this mission.

The target was a large oil liner moving out towards the ocean. The Briandom flag was flying proudly, a sure tell that it was the mark. Bribes pay well and the pirates knew there was useful supplies on the vessel.

The plane was watching to check for any military vessels escorting the ship, as well as for any aircraft that might pose a threat.

"It's all clear, the boats can move into position."

Four PT boats and three speedboats moved to flank the vessel, they would, as usual, strike it hard at first and then board it in the confussion, however, being an oil tanker they would have to be careful. They floated Braindom jacks, knowing that the familiar flags would keep the tanker's crew at bay until the flags were switched.

The trap had been sprung.

Abord a Firen Blade Corvette...

"Sir, we're getting an SOS."

"Really? From...?"

"Seems to be a ship. Pan-Haarigradian build. In international waters... relatively nearby."

"Anyone else going to help?"

"There's another ship out there, sir. Seems to be... of Metropolis Industries build. It was doing Coast work, but is now heading toward the..."

"What?"

"The... the signal. It disappeared, sir."

"... That's odd. Ok. We'll head that way too. Try to contact that ship."

"Yessir."

OOC: some terms I use explained:

Pan Haaregradian - dealing with the goverments of Soviet Haaregrad and her conquered territories, Metropolis Industries and Dill Row
(The Federated Socialist Republics of)Haaregradia - the name of the nation ruled by the Pan-Haaregradian Council(see above)
(The Federal Socialist Republic of) Soviet Haaregrad - the name of largest and most powerful part of Haaregradia

Technically the vessel would be of Haaregradian build. ;)

"Captain, we've got patrol boats headed for us!"

The captain took the binoculars and looked in the direction of one of the boats. "Patrol boats? Our patrol boats? Could we have a stowaway?"

"Possibly, sir. I wouldn't think of any other reason they're headed for us."

"Very well. All stop! Have the uniforms downstairs search for a stowaway."

The patrol boats closed in, with a submarine taking up a position directly behind the ship. As usual the sub aimed at the propellers while the PT boats came in from the front. This time, to insure their guise as military assistance would go unquestioned they didn't move to fank the vessel on both sides, instead the subamarine would keep a watch for any suspicious trafic.

The trap was closing and the tanker crew was none the wiser.

OOC: Sorry about the delay.

"Registered all stop, sir."

"Thank you." The captain got on the radio and contacted the soldiers in the cargo hold. "Have you found anything yet?"

The ensigns replied that all was clear.

Hm. This is interesting, the captain thought. Well, better see what they want.

"Attention Briandom patrol boats: We are the Briandom Ship Kruger en route to deliver military necessities to a foreign country. Our cargo code number is 7258-1325-12. We request information on your reasons for approaching us."

The lead patrol boat radioed over to the submarine, "Fire at will, one torpedo into the propellers as usual." The sub crew fired the torpedo. A loud bang and large shockwave registered throughout the waters and the PT boats closed to boarding distance.

"Sir, the observation deck reports something in the water!"

"What the...?"

The large cargo ship jolted suddenly as the torpedo struck the propellers. The captain was thrown off his feet and into the communications console. He regained himself after a few seconds and franticly grabbed the communicator.

"All ahead full! We're under attack!"

There was no response from the engine room.

"Dammit!" The captain took the ship's intercom controls. "Attention anybody that can hear this. We are under attack. Take any measures you can to save the cargo."

He then tried to radio any ships in the area. "This is the Briandom Ship Kruger. We are under attack. We request any friendly ships in the area to converge on our position and assist. Repeat:..."

The pirates fired grappling hook rope ladders up the side of the tanker and climbed up, AKs, uzis, shotguns, axes and other weapons on their backs.

The PT boats fired their cannons across the deck of the ship to reduce resistance, accompanying this the pirate's Spitfire straffed the deck with 8 machine guns firing.

As the pirates crested the top of the vessel they opened fire on anyone who looked to be putting up a fight. Brutallity was the only life they knew and this attack showed how they did things.

The captain looked out the windows at what was happening on the deck.

"Pirates?!?"

"Yes sir, that's what it looks like. They seem to be heavily armed."

"We only have one handgun up here. The rifles are below deck with the ensigns. I hope they can do something about this. Lock us in. Bolt the doors shut. They will not take this bridge."

The captain unlocked the gun case. There was a Glock 17 and a magazine of bullets.

Ten shots. Gotta make them count.

The captain came over the intercom again. "Attention pirates: We have sent out a distress call, and ships are converging on this position now. We have barricaded ourselves in and are heavily armed. Do not continue to board this ship or we will be forced to take action."

The pocket battleship, HNS Drizzt Do'Urden has been ordered into the Marx Sea to help protect shipping. We hope this will help stamp down on the pirates.

Aboard the Briandom Naval Destroyer Intrepid

"This had better be important, Lieutenant." The captain hated being awakened. Nothing ever happened that warranted his attention anyway.

"Well, sir, we've received a distress call from one of our cargo ships in international waters. The transponder codes check out too.... And we're the only ship in the area. The harbor patrol boats don't have enough engine power to get to the ship and back, let alone the firepower to deal with pirates."

"Pirates?!" The captain was very much awake now. "I thought there haven't been pirates for 400 years."

"Well sir, things look serious there."

"Plot a course. All ahead full."

"Aye aye, sir."

The BNS Intrepid turned and made way for the distressed cargo ship. Althought it was the closest ship, it still wouldn't reach the area for an hour or so.

Firen has moved 2 of its Arleigh Burke AEGIS Destroyers, as well as 3 of its newly-formed Los Angeles-class Attack Submarine force, to the Marx sea, to help shut down the attacks on shipping.

The pirates radioed to the PT boats to concentrate all fire on the bridge, meanwhile they ran amok throughout the ship, using other doors to gain access to the hold and other important parts.

The strike was brutal and the one corridor where people had been trapped was so slicked with blood that people running away slipped and fell in the panic.

If there was any armed opposition on the ship it had yet to make it's presense felt.

The HNS Drizzt Do'Urden is 2 days away from this area, leaving from Metropolis Industries.

The cargo ship captain had never been a religious man, and he regretted that now. The ship-wide closed circuit cameras were showing the slaughter of his crew for him to watch. Munitions from the PT boats were hitting the superstructure, and the captain knew that the bridge was being targeted.

An explosion hit the deck below, causing the floor to open up as the captain watched some of his men fall through what was once his command area.

"Enough," he said, as though anybody else was around to hear him. He picked up the intercom controls and gave his surrender message.

"Attention pirates. This is the captain. There is no need for any more senseless violence. I will hand the ship over to you if we are allowed to leave peacefully."

The captain didn't know what to do from there. Should he risk his life and try to take those of the pirates? Or should he just give up, go home, and see his family again? He had a few minutes before the pirates would come to the bridge and hopefully he'd know what to do by then.

Firen's wing is a day from the area, leaving from its Naval Base "Gold", which is in charge of Marx Sea operations.

Bump

OOC: Sorry bout the delay...

The pirate's leader(ooc: actually a lieutenant) wrapped on the door of the bridge, "Open up, you have 20 seconds. Come out with your hands behind your head, leave your weapons in the room."

The pirate's tug pulled up and the rest of the pirates tied the vessel on, preparing the damaged vessel for it's trip back.

OOC: Sorry bout the delay...

The pirate's leader(ooc: actually a lieutenant) wrapped on the door of the bridge, "Open up, you have 20 seconds. Come out with your hands behind your head, leave your weapons in the room."

The pirate's tug pulled up and the rest of the pirates tied the vessel on, preparing the damaged vessel for it's trip back.

Well, that's your cue. What was the line from that movie my son always watched? Yippie-kay-yay something or other?

He got on the radio. "This is the captain of the pirated ship. Please tell my wife and kids that I love them."

The captain opened the door. He stood to the side of the opening and stuck his left hand out. In a split second, he lined it up at about chest level and fired away. He fired.

Ten shots in a few seconds. If he even got a few, it would be all over now. He dropped the gun, got on his knees, and put his hands on his head.

Well, the captain always goes down with the ship. Just usually not in a puddle of his own blood...