NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: We, none of you know what I am up to...hell I've been gathering the bits for this naval technology for a while now. And no I am not going to simply find an article in popular science and then claim it is mine thank you

Dark Sea, The Klatch

The old tanker rolled in the light swells as the nearby Alconian Missile Cruiser and a refitted seaplane tender escorted it north. High above, the sun shown down on the group blocked out by a seagull or the large blimp like object flying over the sea.

Aboard all was quiet as the crew of the two warships steamed along with the tanker. Then two points off the starboard bow, almost 100 miles out a visual identification of a radar array out of the water was located.

"All hands…all hands to battle stations, All hands to battle stations…" The wail of the battle station horn blasted through the ship as both sailors and officers ran for their posts.
****
On the bridge the young captain watched the horizon with a pair of bonoculars."

"Radar…do you have anything…Sonar?"

"No, Sir….No, Sir…"

"The Witch reports we have multiple missile launch I count five incoming…100 miles and closing fast…"
****
The five anti-ship missiles exploded from the sea and began to plot their courses to target

"Warlock has target lock….captain."

"Fire…"

Eight small missiles exploded from the VLS launchers on the cruiser. They shot out towards the incoming anti-ship missiles.

"Eight hawks away…they are operating under Warlock…"

The anti-ship missiles dogged, so did the counter missiles...the anti-ship missiles jagged, and only two of the counter missiles jagged.

"We have target loss on all birds but two…"

One hawk made a sudden mid-air correction and went smashing into the water. A second finally jagged and then exploded. thousands of spinning bits of metal covered a 100 meter sphere above the sea and an electromagnetic pulse emanated outwards. The anti-ship missle it was near suddenly went blind and dumb…just following its present course.

"We have one incoming gone blind, headed strait for us!!!"

Two ram rockets exploded from their blocks as the cruisers CIS system went from active to engaged.

Two more anti-ship missiles suddenly vanished as they were downed by the Hawk counter missiles.

The two unharmed cruise missiles turned and slammed into the tanker. Her hull was torn like tissue paper as the warheads blew holes right through her empty holds.

The ram rockets slammed into the blind anti-ship missile a second later.

The cruiser captain turned her gaze to the tanker. "Inform Fleet, Target Alpha One Four destroyed…"

The Karmanyakan school ship Malicious was a small, old destroyer with light armament. As she was sailing back to her home port in Steamfiord from a journey around the Dark Sea a cadet suddenly noticed a distant explosion on the western horizon. A moment later came the bang.
"Explosion detected approximately three nautical miles south-east from us, sir" he called out.
"Can you determine the cause?" the captain asked.
"No, sir."
A pillar of dense, black smoke rose from a point near the explosion. Several smaller bangs could just be heard above the sounds of the sea.
"We should investigate this, cautiously." the captain said "Prepare for battle. Helm, set course straight for the smoke."
"Aye, captain."
The ship slowly began its port turn. The call echoed through the ship. "All hands to battle stations, this is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill!" Pale faced cadets rushed to their stations, some of them visibly nervous.

The radar picked up three vessels ahead. One of them was the smoking ship.
"Do you think it's an attack or an accident, captain?" the lieutenant asked.
"I don't know. I've a bad feeling about this, Melcher."
"Nevertheless, a live situation is good training for the crew, sir."
"Agreed, but we'll have to be careful."
The captain reached for the microphone, paused for short moment and called out on open frequence.
"This is captain Steen of the Karmanyakan destroyer Malicious, calling unknown ships. Can you identify yourselves?"
He turned to his lieutenant: "Keep our weapons ready. We're a long way from home and we don't know if we're dealing with hostile forces, pirates or just a ship in trouble. Notify Naval Command in Steamfiord of or situation." The captain leaned back in his chair, kept his eyes on the black smoke and awaited the reply.

The ARN Adderus recieved the open frequency communication:
This is captain Steen of the Karmanyakan destroyer Malicious, calling unknown ships. Can you identify yourselves?

But radar had been tracking her since she turned towards the gun fire.

"Mam, we have an open frequency communication from that incomming ship...Malicious...identifies itself as a Kamanyakan destroyer...."

Captain Anderson turned and gave a frown. Her blue eyes a bit concerned. "Who??"

"The Newest Klatchian State, mam' on Lunacy Bay."

A call from the lookout..."Lookout to bridge, unidentified bogey appears to be a tin can...older not sure of the class or type. Flag unidentified..."

"They didn't use JDF radio frequencies or any JDF Hail. It might be the Imperium passing off one of their antiques as Kamanyakan to spy on us."

"True Captain..."

"Inform Fleet..."

Fleet Base Ortha, Northwest shore of Isle of Hubris
Vice Admiral Elser looked at the group of researchers reading data and reports comming in from the test. "Rather poor performance I should think..." He growled out in a thick voice.

"Sir, Adderus reports they have an unidentified tin can entering the testing zone. Claims to be a Karmanyakan destroyer Malicious we presently have no records on the Kamanyakan Navy and they didn't use JDF codes."

"Hurr...I suspect Anderson thinks they are Imperals or some such. Of course the Joint Defence Force has been busy trying to focus on getting the New Shirons into shape after that invasion and straiten out the Neo_Tyr mess."

The Admirals one good eye looked out the windows at the fleet base, while his glass eye kept staring at the action boards.

"Inform the unknown Destoyer that they have entered temporarily restricted waters. As such they will escorted into Fleet Base while we confirm their idenity."

*****
Open Frequency:
Kamanyakan Destroyer...this is the Addrus of the Alconian Royal Navy, you have entered a restricted military testing zone. You are requested to be escorted to Fleet Base Ortha on a heading of one four three for identification...Over

The missle cruiser Addrus turned to an intercept course with the destroyer while the flying boat tender began to turn.

High overhead (10,000 feet) the Zepplin Sea Witch-1 turned to hover over the destroyer.

Captain Steen put down his cup so abruptly the coffe spilled over the green metal table.

"They want to 'escort' us into their Fleet Base?!"

"Sir..." began lieutenant Melcher.

"As if we were common pirates!"

"Actually, a visit to an Alconian navy base could be educational to the cadets. We had planned to visit Alcona and Hubris anyway, but didn't have the time. This might prove a good opportunity to make contacts with the Alconian Royal Navy, sir"

For a few seconds only the slow dripping of coffee could be heard over the muffled humming in the bridge.

"You're right, lieutenant." said the captain. "Call off the red alert, we don't want any misunderstandings here. But keep the crew ready. The Alconians may be our Klatchian friends, but we don't know what we've stumbled into here."

--

At the naval headquarters in Steamfiord, people were confused. The Royal Alconian Navy appeared to be shooting at their own ships.

"This must be some kind of weapons test." said Commodore Rett eyeing the pictures transmitted from the Malicious. "What else could it be?"

"Not an accident, surely." said a young commander at the other side of the table.

"Well, we've had almost no contact with the Alconians up to now and I don't think the Lord Tengil would be happy if this first encounter evolved into a scene. We'd better tread carefully."

The commodore leaned closer to a picture of the smoking debris surrounding the tanker.

"Tell Steen to submit and try and not upset them. They clearly don't want us to snoop around, so let's not get nosy." Rett waved to an aide. "Inform the Defence Minister and try to get a link to the Alconian Naval Command."

--

Captain Steen was an old and experienced captain, that's why he'd been given the Malicious. He knew they had to do what the Alconian commander said, this destroyer with it's inexperienced crew wouldn't stand a chance if it came to fighting. Now he'd have to be diplomatic. He stepped over to the com panel and still on open frequency he answered the call.

"Addrus, this is the Malicious. We're a school ship heading home from a training journey around Klatch. We're honoured that you invite us to your port."

Addrus, this is the Malicious. We're a school ship heading home from a training journey around Klatch. We're honoured that you invite us to your port.

Captain Anderson gave a wry grin at the reply. "Well whoever these people are they can at least give a diplomatic turn of phrase...thank the Malicious that we are greatful for their aquiesence to our request."

"Aye, Aye Captain."

Malicious, this is the ARN Addrus we thank you for your compliance to our request...Addrus out

Fleet House, Thunderbay, Duchy of Alcona

The thining gray hair of the Naval Marshal needed a comb again. He had been running his hands through his hair studying the latest news from Neo_Tyr. Rather than be fustrated and overheated, the officer sat in a short sleeve shirt at his massive carved oak desk. His office had been fitted book cases running half way up the twelve foot walls. Models of warships lined the top shelf and several open places between books.
The red walls above the bookcases were covered in photo's and paintings of ships from frigates to modern carriers. Behind him the ocean breeze stirred the gauze curtains at the 10 foot high windows and soothed his furrowed brow.

A buzz from a modern phone set on the table disturbed his present reading. He answered it in his normal smooth tone "Yes..."
Sir, Lieutenant Commander Vimes with an IM1 Action Report from Elser...
"Send him in..."

The door opened with a short, stocky man in full dress uniform walking in and saluting. It was returned with a perfunctory air, as though really unneeded.
"Well Vimes?"

"IM1 Action Report from..." The Naval Marshall glared up at Vimes..."Yes it seems that they had someone start pokeing their nose around after the test of the Sea Witch and Warlock project."

"Oh, who?..."

"Tin Can, claims to be from ah er...Klemicastican..." Vimes opened the folder and re-read the name "no...Karmanyaka"

"And?..."

"We don't have anything on them, they didn't appear to have a JDF IFF code or transmit a JDF ID code, or transmit on a JDF frequency..."

"Oh, so what did...who was on the spot?"

"Captain Anderson, fairly new to her job and her ship has the Addrus its a Lynx class..."

"Hmm...well Elser might be the most unlucky or lucky man alive depending on how you look at things. Pellew absolutely hates his guts right now...but Elser never was one for promoting twits. Even if he can be one sometimes..."

The Naval Marshal pondered for a few moments, "Oh hell Pellew will drop this in some god forsaken hole in Third District HQ just to make Elser look bad. Vimes forward this to our Naval Attache at the Delegation(1) and have him find the Karmanyaka Delegation and straiten this mess out...I don't need the Octogon(2) thinking it needs to wipe our noses...or the Karmanyakaians...whatever...dismissed."

Vimes saluted again turned and began to make for the door. "Oh, how did the test go..."

"Poor Sir...initial report indicates only a fourty percent kill rate."

"Oh boy the chaps at MERG are going to be soo pleased with that..."

Three and a half hours later, Fleet Base Ortha
The ARN Addrus led the Malicious into Ortha past several small rock islands that had obious obsolete and abandoned concrete gun installations now overgrown with trees and grass. Fleet Base Ortha didn't actually have a fleet anymore. It had been built to house the Hubarian Northern Fleet during the Outer Islands War, but was now mainly a sub base and home of the Sixth and Third Hunting Taskforces and the Third Battleship Squadron.

The Third Hunting Taskforce was in port at the moment. An Arx Class battlecruiser A newer escort carrier sat next to her. Several missle cruisers and a flotilla of frigates and destroyers filled up the quays nearby. In the distance one could see the three Soyuz Class Battleships stationed near the enclosed sub pens. The harbor was filled with small craft moving about. Three fast torpedo boats passed on the Port side out to make a patrol with a modern destroyer following.

On the mast of the Arx Battlecruiser flew a Vice Admiral's pendant. An older fast attack boat approached flying a pilot flag and pulled up next to the Malicious.

OOC:
(1) Delegations refer to the embassy like offices Klatchian States maintain in Port Olympus, the Klatchian Federal Capital, usually as support structures for the Parlimentary Keys.

(2) Octogon, Military Beuracracy of the Joint Defense Force again in Port Olympus.

At the Karmanyaka Delegation in Port Olympus, the situation approached chaos. Assistants and aides were unpacking boxes and crates, moving stacks of paper and piles of books. Computer terminals were being installed, book shelves, desks and chairs were being assembled, walls were being torn down and new ones erected. In the middle of it all the Navy and Fishing Attaché, Miles Knotte had immense difficulties hearing the voice of the Defence Minister on his com kit.

"What? Yes... No, er... Come again, sir?" he half-shouted while pressing the receiver to his ear. "I'm sorry, I don't... Yes, sir." He pushed the mute button and took a deep breath. "WILL EVERYONE JUST BE QUIET?!" he screamed. "I'm trying to figure out what the Defence Minister is saying!"

A small piece of metal could be heard roling to a stop somewhere in the adjoining room.

"Please?" the red faced attaché mumbled in the deafening silence that suddenly filled the office. The technicians and carpenters glanced over their shoulders as his secretary motioned them out into the corridor.

"Yes sir, I'm sorry." he said as he picked up the receiver again. "I'll speak to the Alconian Delegation about it at once. We have to make it clear to them. Yes, I agree. Thank you sir."

He leaned forward and rested his face in his palms, breathed deeply and summoned the scretary.

"Grete, get me the Alconian Naval Attaché, thank you."

"Actually, he's just on the line, I'll put him through, sir." she said.

"Excellent..." he sighed while rubbing his temples.

--

The pilot brought the elderly destroyer Malicious up to the qay with a practised hand, avoiding the many boats crisscrossing the harbour basin at Ortha. Cadets lined the ship's rails, pointing and waving.
The black-purple flag with the red flame hung slack the stern of the ship. Once, the Malicious had been the pride of the small Karmanyakan Navy, now she served as a school, producing some of the best naval officers of the country. Her freshly painted hull gleamed in the sunlight, making her seem like an old, distinguished lady as she lay moored next to a sleek, modern cruiser.

At the sound of the whistle the crew lined up on deck for inspection, awaiting the Alconian officers. Captain Steen stepped out on deck and adjusted the jacket that had replaced his coffee stained jersey.

"Listen up!" he bellowed. "We've been... invited by the Alconian Royal Navy, to stay here in Fleet Base Ortha for a while. You all know the drill by now." He turned to face the gangway.

For a moment the sounds of the harbour and the screech of the sea guls soaring above was all that could be heard.

The Alconian Naval Attaché was one of those bright cheery buggers who seemed to be always happy and optimistic. Of course the fact that he was practicing his putting while talking on the phone.

"Hello?...Oh, Yes...This is Commander Bines over at the Alconian Delegation. How are you boys and girls getting settled in over there? Yes...well "clink" A destroyer wandered into a temporary practice area of ours...claimed to be one of yours, named...er...hold on...the Malicious."
clink
"Of course we don't even have an out of date class listing for your Navy. So we just sent them to the nearest port to try and figure out if their legit or another United Emirates spying attempt against the Klatch."

A distant bang could be heard. "Damn, hit the bunker...Oh sorry you were saying?"

*****
Up the gangway marched three Alconian officers. The first was dressed in his whites with the markings of a Vice Admiral in silver. The most noticable feature of the uniform was three silver dimonds and a rampant griffen standing out from the stood out against the blue tabs of the prussian style collar. The Alconian crest in gold stood out on his on visored white cap with a blue band.

The officer inside the uniform was slighlty portly, about six feet tall with a gray beard on jowled his face. One of his blue eyes locked onto Captain Steen, the other appeared to be looking off at the bow.

The other two officers were both in short sleave Kaki Uniforms with similar white caps. A young blond with gray eyes and a commanders markings walked up next to a short gentleman with thick black hair with a Lieutenant commanders markings on his Kaki Uniform.

The Vice Admiral reached the top of the gangplank and saluted, "Permission to come aboard?" he asked in his gravelly voice.

(a somewhat dark pic of the Vice Admiral (http://www.filmkrant.nl/av/org/filmkran/archief/fk250/slpelam.jpg) in a more relaxed setting)
(Oh, not may sea gulls about. The local rodent population keeps their numbers down.)

"Permission granted! On behalf of the Dominion of Karmanyaka, I bid you welcome aboard this ship, gentlemen." Captain Steen saluted and gestured for the officers to come over to him.
The three Alconian officers stood out among the black clad Karmanyakan officers. Steen had a black uniform with purple shoulder straps, on them a captain's insignia and a red enamel flame on silver.

After a few formalities the captain invited the Alconians to his quarters. The oak panelled cabin had a large desk opposite a set of comfortable leather armchairs. The company was joined by Commander Nesse and Lieutennant Melcher, two grave young men. The dark walls were covered in shining brass gadgets, oil paintings depicting famous naval battles and some yellowed old maps.

"Well, Vice Admiral, gentlemen." the captain nodded to the officers flanking the Vice Admiral. "I've orders not to poke around in your business, which I have no intentions to do. And this seems a nice place, so frankly it doesn't matter much to me whether we return to Steamfiord a couple of days later. But I'd like to know why we've been brought here. Surely your naval command must've got the message that we were sailing through Alconia and Hubris?

"We sent a transmission on JDF frequensy almost a day ago." said the lieutanant.

"Then again, lots of information around and who can keep track on a small school ship in this big sea, eh?" the captain chuckled. "We're happy to visit an Alconian port and I hope you can accept this flag as a token of friendship between our nations. It's a custom among sailors, from where we come."

He offered a flag, folded so that the red flame on black was flanked by the purple sides of the flag. The tight bundle lay in a green verdigris copper case with a polished silver flame on it.

"A gift from the Lord Tengil Richard Loke and the crew of the Malicious." said Captain Steen.

--

In Port Olympus the Navy and Fishing Attaché Miles Knotte had gone all red in the face and had splinters under his nails from his futile attempts at opening the office window. On top of everything the Attaché from Alconia and Hubris seemed overly cheerful.

"Thank you very well, we've had a bit of a rumpus here recently, and there's much to do before we can call this an office you see, commander." he said, while trying to open a bottle of pain killers.

"The Malicious is an old school ship of the Karmanyakan Navy. Served on her myself for a short period of ti..." The sound glass breaking and pills rolling all over a floor filled the line, interrupting the Attaché.

"Oh... bugger." he whispered. "Grete! Can you get me a broom? ...sorry, Commander. Er. Where were we now?" Knotte sighed. "Oh, I can assure you that the Malicious wasn't spying on Alconia and Hubris. According to information from the captain of the ship, they were responding to what they thought was a ship in distress. That's why they didn't use JDF code or frequensy."

Knotte paused to swallow a pain killer with a glass of Geyser spring water.

"It's the sincere hope of the Dominion of Karmanyaka that this doesn't affect our relations in any negative way. Indeed, we haven't had any relations before this event, so let's hope can make the best of the situation."

Knotte leaned back in his newly assembled office chair and could just hear the tiny spring break before he fell over and hit the back of his head on a coffee table...

The Vice Admiral's name was Elser. His aide was Lieutenant Commander Patrick who had a decidedly diffrent accent than the Vice Admiral. The young, female blond was Commander Nessen, the present Duty Officer. She was a bit flat chested so it wasn't until the Admiral called her "Muria" that it became obvious. The Admiral and Commander sat down while the aide continued to stand behind them. The Vice Admiral accepted the flag and said, "On behalf of his Grace Alexander III, I accept this gift."

"Well, if you sent a JDF transmission to Fleet House then why weren't you using this weeks IFF code?" The Vice Admiral asked, then waved it off. "The truth is that we didn't know who you were when you showed up on the scene, your lucky Captain Anderson isn't a Durakian or a Vrakian. You said you were a Klatchian but she didn't have any data that confirmed that. No freindly IFF, no JDF code on the end of your transmission. If you wandered up on a Vrakian Projection Fleet like that this boat and its crew would be at the bottom of Artic Sea." He paused to make sure that all of the officers understood that.
"The reality of the situation is that we have several long running conflicts with the United Emeriates and the Transcans. Until we could properly Identify you, we erred on the side of caution." The Vice Admiral looked at the Duty Officer to see if she had anything to add.

"Sounds to me that we've had a break down in communications," She began in a soprano voice, "Unfortunatly you got the short end of the stick on this one Captain. I think we should detail one of the staff to investigate and send up a intel breif up to Fleet House..."

The Vice Admiral nodded, "Quite...Quite...You do seem to have an awfully young crew aboard Captain."

****
The Commander listened to the antics on the other end of the line. "What ho...sound like you could use a break from being over there chap. Anyway its one of yours, but just to be on the safe side could your Naval department fax over a breif with an ID photo on the Captain and some random crewman?"
In the background someone began a second conversation...
"Can't be too careful with the Drakonians stirring again, then we'll just let your training ship off on her mary way....Oh, while I've got you on the line...do you play golf?"

In the Karmanyakan Delegation office, mr. Knotte stood upp and rubbed his head. "Golf? Yes, sometimes. We do have wonderful golf courses over in Karmanyaka. I haven't had time to play since i came here to Port Olympus... Yes, I'd be happy to join you for a round on wednesday." he said, while trying to recover his glasses somewhere in a big potted plant.

"I'll send a brief and ID photo over with a courier, the tech people can't seem to get the fax working."

--

Captain Steen looked down on his desk and frowned. He lifted his gaze to Elser.

"You see, Vice Admiral... The trouble is that we went out on this training journey before Karmanyaka joined the FKC. And it seems that Naval Command forgot to deliver to us the necessary codes. Karmanyaka has a small but potent and well-organized fleet, but the Admiralty has had problems adapting to a situation where international cooperation is becoming increasingly important. Our country has for many centuries been very secluded, and this has led to bureaucratic difficulties now that our new Lord Tengil wishes to open up the country to the world." Steen paused. "What you've just told us makes it clear that me and my crew have been exposed to unnecessary danger. That, however, is an issue I'd best discuss with my superiors."

"You've noticed how young our crew is, sir" said Commander Nesse. "They're all cadets and this trip is something of a final exam for them. The Malicious has been a school ship for almost thirty years now. Many prominent Karmanyakan men have served this old lady, not the Lord Tengil himself though, he was in the army airforce." The Karmanyakans sniggered breifly.

"Always had his mind in the skies..." muttered the captain smiling. "Anyway, we look forward to a short investigation. We will of course investigate this thoroughly ourselves as well. It is unfortunately an error on our behalf that we didn't transmit the codes."

"Sir? In the meantime I suggest we make the best of the situation and give the crew a brief shore leave. With your permission, of course Vice Admiral?" said Lieutenant Melcher. "They've worked hard these last days and it could be an excellent moment for the cadets to gain valuable knowledge, captain."

"With the permission of our Alconian hosts?" said Steen.

Before the Vice Admiral had time to answer, there was a rapping on the door. A communications officer entered and saluted.

"Sir, we got a message from Steamfiord. They're sending a man here in a Marathon transport. It's Prodirector (*) Rear Admiral Snell, sir."

"Have the Alconians been informed of his arrival?" said Steen and glanced at Elser and his officers.

"Yes, sir."

"What is the purpose of his 'visit'?"

"They said he'd bring codes and documents. Here's the full message." he gave the captain a small readpad which illuminated the captains face in a faint blue light as he eyed through it.

"Thank you, ensign." The captain gave the pad to his subordinates and turned to the Alconians. "They're sending a man to discuss certain things. I'm sure you'l be briefed later on the details."

--

In the halls of the Council of Knights in Katla, Karmanyaka, a meeting was nearing its end. On a large white wall a picture of the sinking tanker was being projected. The large holes in the hull oozed with smoke. In the corner was a satellite picture of the three ships and a big zeppelin, much of it obscured by smoke. From a speaker sounded the bangs of the Alconian missiles.

"The Malicious is now in port at Ortha" said a man with an Admiral's markings. The picture on the wall showed a map over Alconia and Hubris with Fleet Base Ortha marked by a flashing red dot. "We have sent Rear Admiral Snell from the Prodirectorate over there to discuss this incident with the Alconian Navy. He is on his way in a Marathon transport right now."

The Defence Minister, Sir Olav Besk pointed to the wall where now a giant picture of Snell showed, said: "All right, so if this indeed was a weapons test as we suspect, what do you hope Snell will accomplish?"

"Well, your excellency, we had hoped he could learn a bit more by it from the Alconian Navy. They probably won't tell him much, and the Malicious did mess it all up by not using the proper codes and frequencies. However, we are looking for new weapons systems for the fleet, and this might prove a good opportunity to discuss some sort of deal with the United Duchies."

"The Council can't let Snell use this intelligence against Alconia and Hubris." the Minister gestured towards the projection. "We have to be civil about this. Our Klatchian allies and friends don't need us as much as we need them. We not in a position to demand anything, but we can offer our knowledge and money in return for cooperation on a scientific and military level."

"Sir, do you realize what this..."

"Enough! Do you cincerely think we can blackmail a state many times the size of Karmanyaka?!" the Minister roared. "Have the Prodirector contact me immediately the second he arrives at Ortha."

"Yes, your excellency." The admiral sat down and shuffled his papers.

"Now I want you to send an official apology to Alconia and Hubris for interfering in their business. But I also want Snell to investigate why the Alconians didn't contact us to verify the first message from the Malicious. Good evening, gentlemen." With this the Defence Minister rose from his chair and walked over to the door where an aide fastened his black cloak before he strode out of the meeting hall.

----

(*) The Prodirectorate is the highest department of the Karmanyakan military organisation. The office is controlled by the Council of Knights, primarily the Minister of Defence, through the Supreme Prodirector. The Prodirectorate also lead the Military Police and the Military Tribunal of Karmanyaka.

Vice Admiral Elser nodded at most of the comments. "Well Captain we do share something, I once had command of the Alconian Naval training vessle myself. Of course we still teach our boys and girls to be real sailors. That is the Kala and the Elizabeth are both sailing vessles. Nothing like forcing a future officer to actually have to plan their manuvers out ahead...."

The Duty Officer just short of grimaced at that last comment.

"Now then about shore leave, I am not sure that is such a good idea. Gentlemen we are not located in a garden spot of the the United Duchies. Port Ortha was constructed as the Western Fleet Base for the Hubarian Navy. When the Hubarian Restoration occured, we inherited it...but it's primary mission has been somewhat smaller than it's designed role."

Obviously this was going to cause some confusion. "This base gentlemen is a Feet Base because it can handle a full Fleet. Presently however the ARN has eight fleets and ten fleet bases. Presently only two hunter squadrons and a few subs are maintained here..."

The Duty Officer helped out her superior. "Ah, what the Admiral is trying to say is that locally there isn't much in the way of outside amentities. Almost everyone here lives on base housing and most of the small communites around the base are based on minning. And a bit insular, and the base activities tend to be family oriented."

The Vice Admiral nodded, "This has become an unoffical dual officer with preschooler posting. Strange I always thought that the Hunter Taskforces were the most dangerous. Anyway, that makes us a bit insular but also more secure."

Commander Nessen smiled, "Quite secure, only Hull or the Island are more secure. If I might gentlemen? I'm not at all sure what the Karmanyaka fleet consists of at present. But your..."

She stopped mid converstation and pulled out a small cell phone. She looked at the screen. "Ah, yes your delegation in Port Olympus confirmed your I.D. there is just some paperwork we will need to attend to when it gets faxed to us. Now where was I, oh yes...I was going to offer to take some of your cadets on a tour of one of our captial ships. Then perhaps Miss Elas would like to host a reception this evening for our guests? I expect full clearence by tommorrow morning at the latest."

*******
The Karmanyaka Marathon transport was directed to land at the Elizabeth I Air Naval Station on the outskirts of Thunderbay.

Thunderbay, and it's neighbor Wittlebach sat around a long bay on the southern side of Neubayern Island. The large volcanic island that was the center of the Alcona Achepellago. The Naval Air Station was located on the east side of the city, where a long finger of land formed a protective barrier for the harbor.

At the landing strip a formal car was waiting to take the Rear Admiral to Fleet House. The day was sunny and warm, but the cool ocean breeze kept the temperature from becoming uncomforatbly warm.

The Captain was pleased to hear about the ID confirmation and had to supress a sigh of relief. He was in charge of this ship and hated to loose his face in front of the crew which would certainly have been the case if there had been more trouble about this frequensy mess-up.

"I'm confident the crew would much enjoy a short visit on one of your ships, especially since shore leave would be impossible here in Ortha. The ARN employs much larger ships than our navy and I wouldn't mind a look myself." Captain Steen said. "This isn't primrily a leisure trip, but I've always considered that loosing the strains a bit once in a while is good for morale... so I'd be delighted to attend the reception, as would off course my senior officers. Well if that's all, I thank you for coming here, Vice Admiral, Commander, Lieutenant Commander." the Captain saluted the Alconians in turn and followed them out to the gangway where he watched as they walked down to the waiting car.

--

In the Marathon transport Prodirector Rear Admiral Snell had just received the message from sir Olav. Below him the sun glittered on the water of the harbor as they prepared to land at Elizabeth I.

As soon as they had landed Snell and his assistant stepped out onto the tarmac and walked slowly towards the waiting car. The Prodirector was a handsome man in his late fifties with streaks of gray in the dark hair. He had the look that seemed so common among men of the Karmanyakan elite, that is the sharp statuesque features, as if chiseled from the volcanic rock. The pair of thick-framed glasses made him look more like an art critic than a naval officer. But then again the Prodirectors weren't ordinary soldiers, they were powerful bureaucrats whose words carried the command of the Lord Tengil.

Alconia and Hubris was quite unlike Karmanyaka, but the volcanic origin of Neubayern Island revealed some similarities. Despite the cooling breeze Snell soon regretted his choice of a black wool suit. After the cool, almost chilly air in the Marathon the sunny landing strip came as a shock. In Karmanyaka there had been one of those chilly summer rains that always kept the lawns in Katla's parks and suburbs green throughout the summer.

After a short ride they arrived at the Fleet House and were asked to sit in a lounge and wait. Already Snell had became accustomed to the warmer climate and he went over to the open window and adjusted his tie.

The sound of a young lady clearing her throat made Snell turn around.

"Gentlemen, if you'd please step this way." she said and motioned them to follow her.

--

OOC: OK, this was quite a crappy post (insofar as nothing happened... at all!), but I couldn't get the little gears in my brain working as fast as i like today. :headbang:

(Er...this is N.S. character development/moving posts are considered a good thing here)
Port Ortha
Thirty minutes after the Vice Admiral and his staff departed, an electric cart pulled up to the gangway. On board were two men, one was a slightly portly gentleman in his mid thrities and dressed in a standard short sleave kaki uniform.
The man sitting next to him in the front passenger seat was an older gentleman wearing a blue polo shirt and white pants. His hands were crossed over the end of a walking cane. He turned his head to give a considering eye to the foreign destroyer.

The naval officer stood up. Looked down at himself and then tucked a stray flap of shirt back under his pants. After making himself look presentable, he bounded up the gangway like a puppy let out to play on a spring day. He reached the top of the gangway and saluted the guard.

"Lieutenant Commander Parks, I am here to show your cadets around the Kenilworth Permission to come aboard? He smiled a grin that seemed to stolen from a Hollywood movie actor.

*****
Fleet House
Thunderbay reminded most people of Charlston in the Americas. Primarily this was because they had both been founded by the English, and they had similar climates. So the way they had delt with that climate was quite similar.

The streets were shaded by the canopy of old broad leafed trees and most of the houses actually had side yards and verandas rather than any real front yard. In some places, the side yards vanished as the buildings grew closer together and became townhouses. Even here the upper stories had deep balconies to relax on and large windows to catch the ocean breezes.

There were noticable diffrences between Charlston and Thunderbay, many of the buildings here were of dark reddish stone, there was a decidedly Duch flavor to some of the architecture, Thunderbay seemed to have squares and small parks all over the place, and Thunderbay was built on the foot hills of a mountain. The roads just kept climbing up towards the snow covered peak of the dormant volcano.

Fleet House looked like an english manor house dropped into the middle of a this semi-tropical city. The Victorian mixture of Georgian and Elizabethen features dominated a city square. The square was surrounded on the other three sides by 19th century commercial buildings and what appeared to be a greek temple. A larger than life statue of a woman in bronze holding a sword towards the sea stood in the shallow Fleet House forecourt. Around her stone plinith, sailors of bravely bronze pushed two cannons towards the unseen enemy.

Rear Admiral Snell was able to enjoy a profile view of the statue as he looked out of the windows of the octogon waiting room on the third floor of Fleet House. The room was set with few comfortable chairs and a small central table.

The aide, wearing her whites, led the Rear Admiral and his staff through a door and into a confrence room. It had tall windows on two sides and a massive oil painting of a naval battle that seemed to cover an entire wall. Ad the Karmanyaka delegation was led in, several officers were just filtering out another door.
"Marshal? This is Rear Admiral Snell of the Karmanyaka Prodirectorate...Gentleman, Sir Calvin Rathborne, Naval Marshall of the United Duchies."

The gray haired man wore the same standard white uniform, but with only two silver crosses on his blue colar tabs. He gave a short bow and then extended his hand out.
"Ah, gentlemen please take a seat. I understand that your visit is about your cadet training ship running afowl of one of my new captains and her testing project."

His blue eyes seemed to gauge his new guests and the "cut of their jib" as his grandfather would have put it.

(Pic of the Seawitch (ttp://www.worldskycat.com/improved/skyconverted_375/patrola.jpg) design
Yup, more description than anything myself, but in reality the places that they are from are part of the characters. Personally it's o.k. to spend time drawing descritpions of important places. This is Nation States and not International Incidents. (And in someways your maiden thread) Of course it is telling that the Rear Admiral wore the wrong kind of uniform but delt with it. As well as the age of Thunderbay and that Fleet House is not a new modern building, but it is a functioning old building.

"Please wait here, sir" said one the guards. He took the rifle in his left hand and stepped over to a com panel a few metres away. A moment later he returned to the gangway, saluted Lieutenant Commander Parks, said, "Welcome aboard sir. You can wait right here or take a seat over there and Lieutenant Melcher will take you to the captain in a moment." He pointed towards an uncomfortable-looking metal seat next to the com panel.

A minute later Lieutenant Melcher stepped out onto the deck and saluted Parks smartly.

"Welcome aboard the Malicious, Lieutenant Commander. I hear you're going to give us a tour of one of your big ones."

Melcher led the way into the ship, past metal doors and up metal stairs to the armoured glass door leading to the bridge. As they stepped inside the busy room, Captain Steen turned to greet them.

"Ah, so you're our guide, then? Pleased to meet you Lieutenant Commander Parks. As you see the Karmanyakan Navy doesn't employ as big ships as you do, but we try to keep up with the rest of the world nevertheless." He gestured around the room to indicate that this ship wasn't much different from the Alconian ships. Well, the technology was fairly similar, if only somewhat aged. "Are the cadets ready, lieutenant?"

"Yes, sir. I don't know what Lieutenant Commander Parks had in mind, but it might be wise to take the cadets in smaller groups?" The Karmanyakans turned questioning looks at Parks. "In fact, I don't think we can let all our cadets join the tour. We've picked out twenty-two boys who've done well and earned themselves a chance for something like this. And of course some of the officers would come too. But if you insist, Lieutenant Commander, we can bring the whole crew in groups." said Melcher.

Steen had already decided that a sailor with that kind of smile never would have reached the rank of ensign in the Karmanyakan Navy. He really disliked bright smiles. Overall Parks seemed a nice enough guy, but that smile... Steen was a grumpy old sailor, and he distrusted polite officers. His view was that a good officer was a stern officer. Nevertheless he had respect for other people and he also respected their host, the Alconian Royal Navy, and its representatives. "The Kenilworth, was it? What class ship is that, if I may ask?"

--

Prodirector Rear Admiral Snell took the Marshal's hand. The Prodirector had one of those loose handshakes, his hands with moist palms were slightly cold despite the warm weather. It was not a pleasant, firm handshake, nor an insecure one, but an uncomfortable handshake that left you with a strange feeling. The eyes behind his glasses were plain green-brown ones, but with a piercing quality. His black wool suit showed no insignia or markings except for the silver pin on his jacket lapel. The pin showed two crossed fasces below a stylized burning glass and inbetween them the Katla mark of the red flame in copper. Snell reminded some people of a Gestapo stereotype, with the exception that he wasn't an evil psychopath in a black leather coat. He was concentrated, calculating and grave, but could smile and he was very polite. When it came to negotiating and bargaining he was really good.

Snell's assistant shook the Marshal's hand and they both sat down.

"Your new captain and her testing project, yes." said Snell. "Actually, the Karmanyakan destroyer and training ship Malicious responded to what they interpreted as an emergency situation. Of course, the Lord Tengil apologizes on behalf of Captain Steen and his crew, for interferring with Alconian military research situation." Snell clicked his pencil and made a few short notes on his digipad. "We are currently investigating why the codes and frequensies weren't being properly used during communication between the Malicious and the ARN. We suspect that some flaw in the routines was the cause. I hear you're taking a look at why the first message sent from the Malicious wasn't verified."

"Sir." the assistant handed Snell a paper.

"Ah, yes thank you, Thorsten." said Snell and nodded to the assistant. "Marshal, may I ask what you were testing, or is that classified? Karmanyaka would like to know, but we also respect the integrity of the United Duchies. However, since the ARN was informed of our presence, we argue that we're entitled to know if our ship was exposed to any type of danger while in the restricted zone." He smiled at the Marshal.

--

OOC: Thanks for the good advice, I guess not every newb get's this kind of guidance. And you're right, character development is important. And fun too!

"Welcome aboard the Malicious, Lieutenant Commander. I hear you're going to give us a tour of one of your big ones."

"Yup, the Vice Admiral ordereth and I doeth." Parks replied. He followed, bounding up the stairs as though partly filled with helium. As they arrived on the bridge, he scanned the equipment with a careful, steady eye. A complete departure from his almost hyperactive entrance a moment before.

"In fact, I don't think we can let all our cadets join the tour. We've picked out twenty-two boys who've done well and earned themselves a chance for something like this. And of course some of the officers would come too. But if you insist, Lieutenant Commander, we can bring the whole crew in groups." said Melcher.

Parks who had been paying attention to the Captain, but also taking the occasional glance at the activities at the various duty stations around the bridge, nodded and replied, "Hmm, well it is your duty to dole out rewards and punishments for your crew Sir. So if you say only twenty-two deserve to go. Twenty-two shall go. You are right, smaller groups would be better and be less troublesome than one big group. But touring the inside of one of our captial ships takes time..." He had been stuck at parade rest for all of that, but then he almost bounded in a turn to point out the window.
"We could drop off half the group with a pal of mine who can give them a tour of the Python…she's the escort carrier over there." He pointed out the window towards the STOL carrier sitting in the next berth."

The open, friendly attitude seemed natural for someone who was a camp consular or a tour guide. How he could be naval officer was slightly puzzling, although the way he could maintain a conversation and keep tabs on several activities at once was likely useful.

"Oh, my ship sir? The Kenilworth aye…She's an Arx class Battlecruiser, sort of hard to make out hiding on the other side of the Python there. She nailed a Terantucus carrier in that scuffle we had South of the Straits awhile back. Of course the Arxs were a bit wet forward in those thirty two-foot seas, but the second and third turrets didn't have any problems.

****

The Naval Marshall's handshake was a bit awkward also. Primarily because Alconians in general didn't shake hands. The appearance of Snell was such that he was pegged as someone calculating and likely manipulative. In general Alconians tended to respect that kind of individual, and the Sir Calvin was no different. After all, he was up to his neck in Malcavellian schemes which seemed to dominate recent ducal foreign policy since it involved those under his command in some instances.

Sir Calvin sat behind the massive table and listened to the Rear Admiral. He nodded at the question about investigating the non-response. "Yes, I have handed looking into the matter to an officer presently on Fleet Staff. I expect him to have a report forty-eight hours from now. I will forward a copy through our delegation in Port Olympus. I should ask if your destroyer is capable of broadcasting a nine digit, base sixteen alpha numeric code? I know the mess that occurred when the JDF had to replace the seven digit units in some cruisers we got from Ilek-Vaad a few years ago."

Sir Calvin didn't flinch when Snell hit his second major topic. Ah, Snell quite cute. Say you respect us but then demand that we inform you what the hell we were up to because you didn't tell your boys and girls about restricted areas in the Dark Sea. So was the routing of the Malicious intentional, or just your dumb luck?

Sir Calvin stood and walked over to a window. "Well, If am going to sound like a bloody sea lawyer, so be it. Admiral Snell, first I am going to quibble with the idea that any naval ship, anywhere in the Klatch, is ever out of danger, as you statement implies."

He held up his hand to any response, "No, I think the question you really asked was about the risks the Malicious officers and crew unknowingly faced? The answer is very small. They were twenty-five miles from the target and Seastalker missiles are not that inaccurate. The chances that a Seastalker would mistake a destroyer for an out of date tanker hulk are minimal, possible, but minimal."

The Naval Marshal turned to face his guests. "As to your other question, I should warn you that there is a lot of coal dust connected with the project you are requesting information on. My question to you is does Karmanyaka want to get dirty and dangerous on a project that has so far proven to be a failure?"
Coal dust is back, dirty, and explosive. It was an old naval term (considering the ARN hadn't used a coal fired vessel in over one hundred years) that operations were connected to black bag intelligence and likely dangerous in nature.

*****
On the far side of Wittlebach a group of naval engineers, software scientists and several theoretical tacticians sat around a table deep in the heart of the M.E.R.G complex. Most had several cups of tea around them. Most looked bleary eyed from spending time in meetings over the past few hours arguing about unimportant things, looking at data over and over again, and in general slowly getting nowhere.

But they had been avoiding the reality.

The Sea Witch project appeared to be somewhat successful. She had good, precise radar coverage of the entire sea. The LAV had maintained coverage and had been deployed for the entire mission.

Warlock worked well, keeping the ships updated with battle information. Hell the CIWS systems had been able to respond when a bastard Seastalker had gone dumb and then strait at the cruiser.

The problem was that the Hawk interceptors had proven unable to be updated fast eough by Warlock to actually hit their intended targets.

This meeting they had finally admitted it. Either they needed to figure out how to upgrade the rate of targeting solutions the Warlock system could deal with and broadcast by six hundred percent, or the project was doomed.

"Alright, people go home…maybe someone's got a 'friend' who is smarter than us." a voice of authority said from the end of the table.

The team chuckled as they stood up and stretched at the joke. This project had so many portions with security levels that were so damn high most people in this room had to go two floors up to use the bathroom. Talking about it outside the M.E.R.G complex was about as forbidden as one could get.

Commador Jenkins watched as members of his team wandered out towards their offices and then towards the elevators and fresh air. Only Captain Rycheck and Commander Patrick seemed to be dawdling. Of course they were talking in quiet whispers about something.

"Rycheck…Patrick get out of here, go home…who's ever is more convenient, although I think Rycheck you've done enough damage to Patricks table lamps."
The busty brunette seemed to flush at the obvious reference to her and Patrick's late night activities. Patrick recovered the situation with his slow Cawahabian drawl, "I suspect ISS has been keeping tabs on us."

The Commadore nodded, "If I didn't know better I'd say you two were trying out for being models of the Karma Sutra." He could see the worry in their faces, "Officially you are not in the same chain of command. Your both under my command but as individual scientists not officers so relax."
"Oh, that is interesting news sir…" Patrick got a look on his face as he studied Rycheck.

Damn it, now I'm going to have a Form 122C on my desk. I should have let them squirm…

Captain Steen nodded at Parks. "Yes, will you please see to the details, Melcher? I must go back to my quarters now. Have to take measurements for my new jacket and try it out. Got to look nice at the reception tonight, you know." He smiled and shrugged. "I'll be back for the tour. Good afternoon, Lieutenant Commander."

"Well, whenever you're ready. I can round up the crew on deck in three minutes, but I guess the captain's tailoring takes at least an hour." Melcher said. "I wish I had my own tailor," he added looking down at his own uniform. "but I guess that's all part of the hierarchy, right? By the way, no chance you'll be coming to the reception this evening, eh?" Melcher hefted his clipboard and looked into Parks eyes, smiling.

--

Prodirector Snell tapped the pen soundlessly against the digipad screen.

"Yes, it was really very recently that we replaced the com-units in all our ships. They are now capable of transmitting all codes and frequensies in use, they're also easily upgraded to fit any future needs." he cleared his throat. "However, I'm not ready to rule out the possibility that someone neglected to use them properly. So little time for training, you know."

He delivered the second question and listened to the Marshal's answer. He never considered answering the rhetorical question and waited until silence descended upon the room. Snell's smile was a bit more hollow now. He looked thoughtfully at the paper in his hands before answering Sir Calvin. "Well, of course I and my fellow countrymen are relieved to hear the Malicious and its crew were quite safe. Although my information states the actual distance between the Malicious and your little fireworks show was a mere three and a half nautical miles." Once again Snell cleared his throat, coughed a little. "As for coal dust... Well, Karmanyaka has never been worried about getting its hands dirty."

Was that a threat? Against me or Karmanyaka? Suddenly he found himself feeling releif at the thin dragonscale vest beneath his shirt. He quickly shook away the thought. Alcona and Hubris weren't like many of the other countries he'd visited at times. The Alconians were Karmanyaka's allies and friends.

"OK Marshal, we both know I'm not just here to talk to you about a small training ship. The Prodirectorate and the Navy understand very well how far from danger the Malicious was. The big thing is, of course, your testings. We're curious and would like to know more. When it comes to explosives and arms manufacturing, Karmanyaka has a good reputation. We could put you in contact with some very competent scientists of ours. Should you however wish to keep this to yourselves we will, as I said before, respect that."

The assistant looked nervous, Snell however was calm, at least on the surface. Only he himself knew how he felt on the inside.

--

Karmanyaka has, thanks to large mineral riches, a long tradition of arms manufacturing. It started with bronze axes, then swords and crude cannons. During the later decades of the middle ages, Karmanyakan cannons and mortars were widely used in the region. Mines and foundries popped up in every little town in the mountains. Later on muskets, pistols, rifles, howitzers, machine guns and missiles followed. This tradition coupled with the extensive knowledge in geothermics and pyrotechnics acquired partly through volcanic research shows quite promising figures for the Karmanyakan arms industry. When it comes to high-power flame throwers, no-one can beat the Pyrocluster Mk VII.

Parks just blinked at the Kaymatria captain strode off to meet his tailor. "I've heard of Captains having their own stewards. But not their own damn tailor aboard, and on a destroyer?" He shook his head, "I am just fine with the base clothing staff myself. And if I was command track I would enjoy having a steward when I made Captain."

The officer mused for a moment before realizing the last question. "Ah, nope I'm taking care of my five year old niece tonight. Which reminds me, if we are going to be sitting around here for an hour waiting for the Captain. I'm going to have to request your hospitality towards Admiral Jenssen. He happened to be on base and wanted to tag along on the tour."

He looked to see if he could point out the older man sitting on the electric cart. "And you don't say no to the former Admiral of Fifth fleet and a newly minted Baron to boot without worrying about the rest of your career."

******
The Naval Marshall raised an eyebrow. "If they had been that close they would have been forward of the horizon and intercepted before the test. (OOC: Distance to horizon for someone on a cruiser upper deck is about 7 nautical miles approximately…and your ship to be below the horizon would have to be an additional distance or it still would be visible since it isn't flat). I think you mean how close they got to the target after the test Admiral. There was only one missile salvo fired."

"I am a bit curious to what you think we are up to. Not that we don't find new sources of explosives and munitions useful. But I am just wondering why you think that is any use to us on this particular project or are you referring to another Naval Research Project?"

Sir Calvin sat down as he spoke. In reality the Alconians had really inherited most of its naval building technology from the former Klatchian State of Calarca. Being one of their largest suppliers, Clarcian naval building technologies and personnel had been transferred to secure new homes throughout the United Duchies. What interested Sir Calvin most of all was what Snell thought they had stumbled on.

"Actually, the tailor is the ship surgeon. He's a devil with the needle and likes tailoring. Naturally, the captain finds this useful." said Lieutenant Melcher and listened to Parks plans for the evening.

"Oh, I see." there was only a hint of disappointment in his voice. "Ah yes, I'd be pleased to show the Admiral around the ship. If you'd told the captain, I'm sure he'd been thrilled to meet Admiral Jenssen." He leaned forward to get a glimpse of the Admiral, lifted a phone and called the deck guards. "Admiral Jenssen is waiting in an electric cart below the gangway. Ask him if he would like to come aboard, and take him to the bridge at once." Melcher pushed a button and held the phone to his cheek. "Bridge to captain Steen. Lieutenant Melcher here, sir. I've just been informed that Admiral Jenssen is waiting on the quay. Yes sir, I've invited him aboard. Certainly, sir. Bridge out."

--

OOC: You're correct about the horizon stuff. I looked that thing up but I must've confused the numbers.

IC:

The sun passed behind a lonely cloud on the sky and left the office of Sir Calvin in a gloom for a few seconds. Then the low afternoon sun shone through the windows and glinted off the shiny digipad screen into Snell's eyes.

"I think you're testing some kind of new weapons guiding system. Wheather it involves satellites or something else, I'm not sure. But I'm pretty sure this blimp is not just an ad for Goodyear." he slid a blurry photo of the Sea Witch across the desk. "We've experimented with missile guiding systems in planetary orbit and solar-powered platforms flying through the stratosphere. Sure they all worked, but the costs were a bit on the high side. Besides, a lot of solar panels flying around above are quite vulnerable." Snell smiled and cleared his throat. "I've read about the possibilities with blimps for communication and weapons platforms." He coughed into his hand. "Excuse me, Marshal." he croaked while looking for his handkerchief, coughing. His bronchi had been troubling him for a month now. Maybe it was asthma. "I think it's the change of air..." he mumbled excusingly.

His assistant handled him an inhaler, but Snell waved it off. "No thank you, Thorsten. I'll manage. Sorry Marshal, where was I? Ah yes, we have technicians developing new guiding systems and combat control systems for both aerial and naval warfare as well as artillery. From what limited knowledge in these things I possess, I'm guessing you've come up with something pretty advanced. So, I'm offering our cooperation in this, both scientific and financial. We have knowledge, material, and to some extent, the funds."

Thorsten leaned across and whispered something to Snell.

"Well, Marshal, I understand if the ARN would like to consider this for a while. Perhaps we should leave you to consult your people?" Snell leaned back in his chair, snapped closed the digipad and put away the pen he'd been clicking repeatedly during the meeting.

--

Karmanyaka had a tiny navy. The coast was rocky and steep, ending in shallow and treacherous waters in most places, this meant the nation had never bothered to build a fleet. Overseas trade had been sparse throughout history, both by sea and land. Fishing wasn't a major industry. Overall, Karmanyaka had little interest in the waters surrounding it. This however was starting to change, and funds were flowing into the development of naval technologies. Recently the fuel cell powered frigate "Preponderant" was launched. Using new technologies of power and propulsion, it set new standards and pushed Karmanyaka into the world of naval warfare at a deadly pace. However, budgets were still very small compared to most other FKC nations and "sea power" was but a vision for the far future.

Parks shrugged, "The Admiral wants to see the inside of an Arx…but leaving him to cool his heels for an hour is not a good idea." He paused in thought, "Ah, Lieutenant if I may warn you, the Admiral is a newly minted Baron, so call him your lordship. And I should also point out he hosted the peace treaty between the Klatch and Glorius Humanity, so watch yourself…."

The door opened revealing Admiral Jenseen, Baron of Orith. He seemed a bit annoyed at the goings on, "Alright Park, your grandfather had a habit of playing practical jokes on his juniors. I still remember, So If your up to something, I'll toss your tail into this harbor." Physically that appeared to be impossible. But somehow the elderly Admiral actually made it sound as if he would do it if provoked.

Parks nodded for a moment, smiled broadly, and replied. "I am afraid we have been delayed. The crew of the Malicious has offered to give you a tour sir."

"I never liked tin cans…"He looked at Parks for a moment, shook his head and said, "Your more like your mother than anyone else. Alright, I will tour this blasted student ship…"

*********
Sir Calvin really didn't respond to either the picture or the idea laid out by Snell. However the coughing did get a comment. "Likely the pollen…stuff is quite heavy this time of year." He paused and considered the Admiral's offer.

"Hmm, Gentlemen I am afraid that you have hit the next step. Your offer involves several levels of security and cooperation, which means that I will have to take your offer to his Grace and the Privy Council. Luckily you are already on tomorrow morning's agenda. Might I ask that you stay overnight Admiral Snell so that his Grace might discuss the proposal with you tomorrow morning?"

What the ARN wanted or thought was what their Lord and Master, Alexander III, desired. Snell was getting the best opportunity anyone had in a long time to negotiate directly with one of the Klatchs most powerful monarchs.

"I would also like you to think about the fact that by joining this project, will be crossing the International Fair Trade Association? They are not all tin-pot, third rate economies nor are their armies armed with daisies."

Captain Steen was really quite fed up with the grumpy aristocratic admiral when the tour was over. No-one else noticed it of course, you didn't become captain by letting your feelings for superior officers show.

"This has been charming, your lordship!" he said. "I take it you're coming to the reception tonight? Now you must excuse me but there are things that need my attention. Good day to you, Baron."

--

Snell was quite exited to hear he was going to meet the Alconian monarch, but didn't let it show.

"Of course I'd be delighted to meet with his Grace to discuss this possible venture." he said. "I would also like to thank you for your hospitality, sir Calvin."

Of course the Council of Knights would want their say in this as would the Lord Tengil, but meanwhile the Prodirector had the confidence of the defence minister.

"Karmanyaka has not yet had dealings with the International Fair Trade Association, nor have we much knowledge of such an organisation. Karmanyaka has been an isolated country for so long that we neglected international contacts. Perhaps you could send me a short memo on them?" Snell asked. "In any case, Karmanyaka is quite peaceful, despite our somewhat militaristic appearence and we have a small but well-funded and devout military."

The Baron gave a short bow to the Karmanyanka captain and returned his gaze to Parks. "Well when is the real tour starting Parks?"

"As soon as the Karmanyanka cadets are ready sir."

"Good...good..."

*******
Sir Calvin shook his head. "I am afraid anything we tell you about the IFTA would be somewhat biased. I am sure your intelligence boys and girls will give you a far better description just by combing the news stories."

He walked over to one of the doors and opened it. Cartwright, "The Karmanyanka delegation will be staying over tonight. Get them settled over at Blakely House would you?"

The Naval Marshall returned his gaze to the pair. "Now then, good day gentlemen I will see you in the morning. "Cartwright will see you to your guest quarters." He gave a short bow and then exited the room by another side door.

The Karmanyakan cadets poured over the gangway and lined up like a black wall on the quay. The officers were studying the surrounding ships while awaiting the escort towards the Alconian ship. They were impressed by the naval might of their hosts and many of them dreamed of serving on large battleships like the ones around the Malicious. From a distance it all looked a bit like a school class on an outing.

--

It was almost eight hours since they had eaten and both the Prodirector and his assistant felt their stomchs rumbling as they stepped out into the afternoon sun. Snell looked at the Marshal's assistant who were taking them to their assigned lodging for the night.

"Cartwright, was it? Do you happen to know of any decent restaurants in the vicinity? We haven't eaten for a while and I'm eager to try the Alconian cuisine I've heard so much about. Lots of seafood, isn't it?" said the military bureaucrat with eyes almost like a predator scenting its prey.

Due to its geographical position, common Karmanyakans don't eat much fish aside from some salmon or trout caught wild in the mountain streams or bred in the northern lakes. Pork (even boar), chicken, beef or mutton is more common on the plates, usually accompanied by vegetables and the typical, dark Karmanyakan bread. However potatoes and rice from the southern regions are becoming more and more popular. The seasoning is mild and consists mostly of fresh or dried herbs. To drink with their food most Karmanyakans choose beer, mead or milk, maybe water. Karmanyakans are proud of their beer traditions and the country has a long history of brewing. Almost every village has at least one brewery of its own. The fact that the country is littered with excellent springs may have contributed and indeed most tap water systems in the country actually contain natural mineral water from these springs. The rustic Karmanyakan kitchen is really quite low-carb but it has it's downsides. Like in many "western" countries obesity is a growing health problem (though still small compared to e.g. USA or the EU), helped by the fact that people are consuming large amounts of red meat and almost no fish.

Parks looked at them nodded and then ordered, "Divide into two teams." turning he led the chosen cadets down the quay and onto the main loading unloading area. Various cars trucks and other vehicles drove past the group as it turned and walked along until reaching the Quay of the Battlecruiser. As they went Parks explained a bit of naval theory.

"The Navy, I should say the Navy of the United Duchies, is based upon the concept that an enemy will primarily base their fleet around a force projection carrier. Force projection carriers are hard to kill, not due to armor but compartmentalization. The only way to defeat the enemy is therefore to kill the enemy carrier."

Parks paused, "well that is obvious. The United Duchies goes for a combined approach using aircraft, anti-ship missles, and long range guns. The usuall protocal is for the navy to attack as two prongs. One usually is based around a force projection carrier with several layers of support ships protecting it. Most world navies will attack this force. The second force consists of fast, heavy hitting cruisers designed to destroy the enemy's supporting cruisers and disrupt enemy flight operations. This is the primary task of the Arx Battlecruiers. To destroy enemy cruisers and also enemy aircraft carriers by being quick and having long ranged cannon."

Parks paused again as the group turned and followed the quay that the battlecruiser was tied up on. "The silliest thing that the world has done is argue that these ships are capital ships. They are not fast battlewagons they are oversized cruisers. You do not throw a battlecruiser up against a battleship unless you want to lose your battlecruiser."

Parks turned at the walkway up into the Arx. "Now then of course training your officers not to do that is very, very difficult."

The battlecruiser was decidedly long and beutiful, although a bit odd compared to her historical counterparts. With deck space given up for missle launchers and CWIS, She looked like an AGEIS class cruiser upper works pasted onto the body of an Alaska Class Battlecruiser.

*****
Cartwright who was standing at the gate to Blakely House paused. "I could ask if you want high country or low country but you wouldn't know the diffrence. There is a nice little place a couple of blocks over."

It was a ground floor restraunt. As the group walked in they found themselves hearing the sound of food being seared. In the center of the restraunt was a large horseshoe grill with people standing on the inside grilling various combinations of food.

As they sat down Cartwright explained. "This is a barbecue...well a mongolian barbacue actually. They've been popular, oh the last seventy years or so. Anyway, I though you might enjoy it, and this is close enough to Fleet that it is a popular hangout for us Navy types. Also has some great local brews."

Alcona, and expecially Thunderbay, was one of those cities that had been at the confluence of international trade since the mid 17th century. It was a trading port built on exporting the wonders of the Klatch to the world and importing the world to the Klatch. Of Klatchians they were far less insular and more pragmatic about the world than most. Although that was balanced out by the shear level of paranoia they seemed to have. After all even Vrakians didn't go walking down the street wearing short swords did they?

The trading nature of the port had created a wide variety of food available in the city. The fact that their were massive regional diffrences in cooking within the nation (and even the Isle of Neubayern) made the joke about high and low country cooking so funny. It had been noted once, in a popular magazine that most 'Alconian' restraunts in the world tended to define themselves as 'low' or 'high' depending on the range of meats served. Fish, shellfish, oysters, and pork were typically defined as low country. High country tended towards beef, chicken, pork, mutton, and game. In reality it was far more 'mixed' for most people than that. But the jokes, and the labels had stuck. (Usually on the menu's for tourists)

But stir-frying of meat and veggies had always been accepted since 1895 when the Navy had started training marines to do 'one pot, fast cooking' in the feild. This had been the brain child of a Naval Marshal who wanted to deal with some of the speed issues of deploying troops. Specifically against the Deyllians. There was not much wood in that part of the world, or much call for slow cooked meals in a dutch oven. (not to mention the weight envolved) So woks and wok cooking had been introduced. (As well as using the large metal pan for other uses besides cooking.)

The Karmanyakan cadets and the officers followed Parks like a group of tourists. The cadets hardly listened but looked instead at the surroundings, they weren't used to this kind of powerful vessels. The officers on the other hand, listened intently. One of the junior officers wondered if maybe he could be allowed to take some pictures of himself posing in front of a ship. The senior officers were glad that they didn't have to ask, they had all brought their cameras.

The ships were quite different from those of the small defensive navy of Karmanyaka. For centuries the country had depended on the steep coastal cliffs for defence. Almost forty metres high in some places most of the cliffs along the coast towards the Bay of Lunacy was virtually impossible to climb. Therefore the navy consisted mostly of smaller, fast destroyers, frigates and a few cruisers. These were better equipped to protect the national waters in Lake Olympus. The coastal fortresses and batteries along the Bay of Lunacy were kept in good working condition, but the coastal defence relied heavily on the air force. So large battlecruisers and battleships weren't a common sight in Karmanyaka, and hadn't been for half a century. The flagships of the contemporary Karmanyakan Navy were small, fast, highly maneuverable and heavily armed but with light armour.

The group was herded around the battlecruiser and the captain was clearly impressed with the weapons and technology presented. The retired admiral, now baron, Jenseen glared a bit at Captain Steen as he politely
interrupted Parks.
"I say, Lieutenant Commander. Do you think the ARN would care to have an observer from Karmanyaka around next time there's an exercise with these Arx vessels? We're quite eager to learn from our Klatchian brethren, you see." The officers watched their captain closely to see if they could detect any suggestions of sarcasm, but the captain was completely sincere. Maybe the imposing ship had made an impression on him.

--

The Prodirector and his Assistant were quite happy with the choice of restaurant. When the night was closing in they were almost rolling over to Blakely House. "Damn good beer, Cartwright!" said the now rather relaxed assistant.

"I'm inclined to concur, I didn't know you people could brew such good beer." the Prodirector agreed, while loosening his tie for the first time since he landed in Thunderbay. "And really good food too."

Prodirector Snell would have a busy night, keeping in touch the Minister of Defence and other important people in Katla. Likely he would have to do with a couple of hours of sleep at the most.