NationStates Jolt Archive

Grand Island Straits, northern New Tiamat, Indian Ocean

CS Daffodil had been out of dry dock for only a few weeks after her extensive repairs- the two Argyllian anti-shipping missiles that’d killed nine hands aboard the Gauntlet Class fleet defence frigate had damaged her almost beyond recovery.

With comrade Captain Esmerelda Hughes at the head of a new crew the four thousand tons of Daffodil’s reduced-radar cross-section had been sent north. She now found herself at the centre of an international diplomatic crisis.

Well aware of Nicobarese colonisation efforts on Grand Island the PCBG desperately needed intelligence. Satellites far above began to hint at further moves towards the mainland, and Daffodil was sent to investigate.

“You can actually make-out the stars on their ruddy flag! ...without glasses!” Seaman Dixon raised and lowered a pair of binoculars, squinting as he spoke. His comrade nodded, throwing a glance to the capitalist vessels a couple of thousand yards north.

“Within range of close-ins, would you say?” Dixon speculated.

“Dunno.” Came his comrade’s reply through a mouth full of peanut butter and bread. The mood aboard was mixed. Some like Dixon were almost spoiling for a fight with the cappies, spurred somewhat by victory against Madagascar’s attackers and by keenly watched reports on the Korean war. Others hadn’t even considered the possibility of a fight, aware that war with ISAN –attempted once before in three generations of living almost next door to India’s foremost capitalists- would be a truly massive undertaking that hardly seemed to fit with peaceful life in the People’s Commonwealth.

Still, here they were, a ship of the People’s Commonwealth Navy, blocking the progress of several Nicobarese civilian and military vessels in international waters.

Grand Island Straits

ISS Smith wasn't a terribly comfortable place to be. The primary Nicobarese vessel held-up by a communist frigate twenty times smaller than itself, the Smith, a Drakonian-built Caribbean-Class troop ship, was packed with around five thousand Nicobarese Marines, plus near two hundred crew. The Marines were meant to secure for the Freely Incorporated States the beach head unofficially established by the several score civilians already on the mainland in a territory that would border the nation of Abydo.

Obviously the communists did not want Liberation (seat of the ISAN govt.) to consolidate any serious foot-hold on the New Tiamatian mainland, and was prepared to police neutral waters to avert such an enterprise. President Brown would not be happy when woken from his... afternoon nap. No one was sure how his secretary would feel about the interruption. Brown would have to decide whether it was in his interests to keep this affair as hushed as possible (if it was not already too late) or to scream bloody murder to the international media.

For now Seahawk helicopters -one of the few military items both BG and ISAN had in common- ferried fresh stores to the sweltering troop ship and the little cutter beside it.

1223 Zulu
New Tiamat Region
Grand Island Straits, International Waters
IDS Apollinaris

http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/factfile/ships/ham-uw.gif

The Drakonian Destroyer, IDS Apollinaris, slid through the waters of New Tiamat. The warship was on a standard long-range patrol sent to the area to conduct a breif investigation and ascertain if there was any threat to Drakonian oil and business interests in the region.

It slowly advanced on the opposing ships announcing itself when it proximately and direction were clear to both sides. "Beth Gellert and Nicobar Vessels, this is the Imperial Drakonian Naval Vessel Apollinaris. We see there appears to be some sort of stand-off between yourselves. May we be of any assistance? Repeat, this is the IDS Apollinaris, offering assistance. Over."

The crew of the Drakonian warship waited for the inevitable replies.

((Tag / TG notice for BG...at least, I'm hoping the TG sent. ;)))

((Tag / TG notice for BG...at least, I'm hoping the TG sent. ;)))

((Hmmmm... BG sabre-rattling and Iansisle sending telegrams, why is this somehow familiar... er, I mean *tag* :P ))

(ooc: Ooh 'eck. This sort of went on hold because of a lack of ambition on our parts and of interest on others. But we've not much else to do, and the Nicobarese colonisation is still lumbering very gradually, so we may as well start up again. I think I should sleep on it before I say anything the continent will regret- we've a near four trillion dollar typical yearly defence spend this time round :)
Anyway, more to the point, the last telegram I have in my inbox is 52 days old, from Western Asia, and on the issues of Manpads, Madagascar, and hangovers :( looks like I didn't receive it, I'm afraid!)

(ooc: Anyway, more to the point, the last telegram I have in my inbox is 52 days old, from Western Asia, and on the issues of Manpads, Madagascar, and hangovers :( looks like I didn't receive it, I'm afraid!)

((*grumble* Good thing I anticipated (and this is always a safe bet) the server being stupid and saved a copy. Else, I'd be out 500 words and probably throwing various things out the window in frusturation!))

The mood aboard ship, much as on shore, was one of evident unease. Some Nicobarese Marines were making an effort at disguising it, playing cards, ribbing one another, annoying the crew. Everyone knew that the man beside him might have been genuine in his apparently jovial anecdote on what he’d like to do to the commies. Everyone knew that amongst the Beth Gellens were an awful lot of old-fashioned revolutionaries who’d like no less than the same to be dealt the Nicobarese. The fear was that the communists were closer to home, feeling more defensive, and were in spite of Liberation’s propaganda claims, slightly the wealthier and more powerful faction. The Nicobarese had a dreadful record in combat since the sixties ended. President Brown had done wonders for the economy, but had a 75% failure rate in military adventures, and an unhappy divide existed between fearful defeatists and revenge-seeking confrontationalists.

Receiving transmission from the Apollinaris, the Nicobarese Magistrate Class heavy cutter escorting ISS Smith responded with some haste, using the most secure frequency available between the two friendly sea powers.

A Lieutenant-Commander Solanki sent that tensions were fairly high, and that hundreds communist submarines were known to patrol all of the continent’s waters. Extreme caution and sensitivity was advised.

Meanwhile Liberation remained unsure where it stood. On the one hand, the land approached for colonisation did not belong to the Beth Gellens, on the other the communists held that it didn’t belong to anybody, and one could see why they wouldn’t want an opposed power landing on the same continent that housed their nation state. It was likely going to be difficult for either side to negotiate; the Nicobarese being guided by the financial and other ambition of their wilful president and the Beth Gellens, if one listened to FBCTV, unable ever to reach quorum on anything of importance.

More ships and aircraft continued to arrive on Grand Island by the hour, and the civilian staff ashore on the mainland stretched their supplies a little further.

1248 Zulu
New Tiamat Region
Grand Island Straits, International Water
IDS Apollinaris

http://67.18.37.14/118/74/upload/p690459.jpg

The destroyer slowed its advance on the two opposing groups of ships, continuing to carefully monitor and appraise the situation. Hostile action could be initiated by either side at any moment it appeared. Although, the Drakonia interference might make it decidedly less desirable, at least that was the hope.

It was standard naval prodecure for Drakonian warships to travel the waves and offer their assistance where needed. They would fight pirates, rescue lost yachts, settle minor disputes, and generally lend help whereever they could. So the attempt to negotiate the tense situation between their United Emirate allies (Andaman and Nicobar) and the Beth Gellert blockade vessel was nothing uncommon.

It did not though negate prudence and the Captain saw the inherent dangers. "All scanners active," he ordered.

"All scanners, aye," the Sensor Officer confirmed and the ships sensors went fully active carefully searching the waters for possible threats. Active Sonar swept the depths of the straits and radar watched the skies.

"Keep a close eye on the Beth Gellert ship and informed Command of our situation," the Captain commanded, pace across the bridge to where he could look out on the waves. "Thank our Nicobarese friends for the heads up, as well."

He looked to the land that was a great distance off, and then to the ships that were squaring off before his own. "Sound General Quarters, I want to be ready in case this gets hostile."

"General Quarters, aye." The alert sirens sounds and the ship's stations were fully manned. All was ready, and all waited. The reply from the Beth Gellert ship was still pending.