NationStates Jolt Archive

.-:News Cast: The nation of Htrae Miseria has suffered from a great tragedy! The Island was rocked by a category 6 cyclone, and the number of dead is rising. Homes have been shattered, and the tourism trade ruined. And if this wasn't bad enough - excessive rain and storm has resulted in flash floods all across the island. Pleas for help have been issued.:-.

Daniel Griffith lifted a shaking palm to his head. He looked down at the city from atop the nearby hill, and couldn't believe the image in front of him. The place he had once called home was flattened to the ground - one could see to the opposite edge of the city, where there stood another hill - other than that, no other landmark could be discerned. He might as well have been in another land.

Daniel was soon broken out of his reverie by a nudging hand on his shoulder.
"Daniel...Daniel! We've got to help these people!" Called Melodie from behind him.
They had both been working at the hospital when the cyclone had hit. They had heard the warnings on the radio, of course, but it had all seemed so unrealistic then. It was a wonder that they even survived. When the television had proclaimed that the cyclone was only 10 miles away, and it was coming on fast, panic had run its course. People flooded in through the hospital doors, hoping for a safe place to hide. Melodie and Daniel were only two of the hundreds of staff, trying to herd the patients and visitors into safe areas. Most of the staff had descended the basement stairs, and locked themselves there. Now, five hours later, there seemed to be only a little more than a hundred people left. There were only a few bodies, trapped by the fallen debris. Who knew where the rest were?

Daniel couldn't seem to stop his trembling. He turned to face Melodie, and realised she felt exactly the same - scared for her own family and friends, the horror making her mind go numb. But as he stared into her eyes, he saw that same old Melodie, the one he had grown up with. She was pushing her own fears and needs aside, and turning to those around her. Everyone was afraid, and everyone needed help.
Gathering his senses, Daniel nodded his head.
"Ok. First we need to find any survivors in the immediate area. Gather them on this hill, away from the debris, unless they can't be moved. Then, we need to gather as many supplies as we can - blankets, medicines, bandages - you know, the crucial things. Gather anybody else who is willing to help. Let's get to work..."

And so it was that Melodie and Daniel worked. They worked through the remaining day and overnight, unaware of anything happening outside of their area. They only took two hours for themselves, in order to track down relatives and friends, and even after that they didn't know everything. Supplies were running low, and food was scarce. Their only hope lay pinned on outside help.

The Nation of T.H.L express's it's extreme sympathy's, and pledges aid!

We've deployed an elite Assairs Guard platoon of 60 People to help you. We also will help you money wise.

Within a few hours of the request for aid, two flights of Vastivan C-71s were airborne and enroute. The first carried the 1822nd MASH battalion and the 701st Combat Engineer Brigade, and their full equipments. Unsure as to whether an air drop would be required, they were outfitted for either air insertion or landing operations.

The second flight carried 9250 tons of relief supplies in fifty of the immense cargo planes; food in the form of MREs, clean water in tanks, medical supplies, tents, blankets - all had been packed in to capacity.

Htrae Miseria Air Grid, this is Vastivan Relief Flight Six Two Five, repeat this is Vastivan Relief Flight Six Two Five, requesting flight information. We are inbound, ETA six hours, carrying cargo of relief supplies and personnel.

His Majesty's Government extends the greatest sympathy to the people of the nation of Htrae Miseria and has ordered the Royal Navy to send a Medical Reaction Force at once to render all aid possible.

1. A single Evermore-class destroyer
2. A pair of Wixted-class frigates
3. A pair of Quay-class amphibious assault and replenishment vessels that have been temporarily set up with extra medical equipment and personnel

Due to a lack of military helicopters, a number of civilian helicopters of appropriate types have been requisitioned for temporary service along with their pilots and crews. Warships have been sent along to protect the two transports and shall stay in International Waters if it is the wish of the local government that they do so, and they shall keep their sickbays in highest operating conditions to deal with the severely wounded.


~ Representative of the Royal Family of Romandeos.

Htrae Miseria wished to thank the nations of the Tree Hugging Lesbians, Tocrowkia, and Romandeos for their help.

Vestivan Relief Flight Six Two Five, the skies are clear. The Htrae air strip is now clear and ready for landing. Repeat. The skies are clear the the air strip is clear and ready for landing.

The Anarcanian Militia Hospital Vessel, Solace was being prepped for immediate departure for the waters off Htrae Miseria. A coverted and unarmed LPD, the Hospital Ship's launch well carried the docking cradles and mechanisms for two Anarcanian "Frog" Air-Cushion Vehicles and two Anarcanian "Barracuda" Patrol Boats. The Barracudas were outfitted with search and rescue gear on their back decks, although they could also be fitted with their standard Cyclone machine gun armament to defend the ship and the patrol the shores of Htrae Misteria if need be. The rear landing pad could handle up to six helicopters, two normally being carried for air ambulance and aerial search and rescue duties. The rest of the well space and ship was outfitted as a 700-bed floating hospital.

Commander Andrejez Konzaki watched the helicopter crews work over the two SAR "SeaGull" Helicopters on the back deck, taking a clipboard from his first officer, the ship would be underway in less than four hours.

"Very good number one, send this to Naval Militia command, we'll set sail in three hours and steam to make Htrae Miseria by the end of the week."

He rested his arms on the bridge windows, the doctors and nurses of the Solace would have their work cut out for them.

Over the other side of the hill lay a beach, which by now was pretty messed up. It didn't look like the same beach. The tide had gone back out to sea, though the waves were still dangerously big. Once more, the skies opened up, and the rain came pouring down. Daniel and Melodie were lucky - they were situated on higher ground. At about 3 o clock on the third day, Daniel climbed the steep slope of the hill, in order to get a look at the countryside before them. What he saw did nothing to calm his fears. In the distance, he saw a swarming mass of people, and beyond them, a river of surging water. It was as if they had done something wrong, and God was punishing them.

He was about to fall into that numb state of mind once more, when overhead there soared a helicopter. Turning out to look to the sea, Daniel couldn't help but smile. There he saw many ships, and some more black dots which served as helicopters. Running back down to the camp that they had set up, he rummaged through a first aid kit until he found what he was looking for. He took to object, and ran back to the top of the hill, and laughed at the confused look upon Melodie's face as he passed her. Once back at the top, he let the flare fire, the orange flame shooting up into the air and letting of red smoke. Hopefully one of these helicopters had some medical supplies. Hell...it would be good if they even had some doctors. He watched, and waited, hoping for some kind of assistance.

Htrae Miseria wished to thank the nations of the Tree Hugging Lesbians, Tocrowkia, and Romandeos for their help.

Vestivan Relief Flight Six Two Five, the skies are clear. The Htrae air strip is now clear and ready for landing. Repeat. The skies are clear the the air strip is clear and ready for landing.

Affirmative, Vastivan Flight Six Two Five enroute, five by five, landing in thirty flights of four planes each, ETA start in... two six minutes. Please advise - can you refuel or should we signal for additional refuelers to be deployed?

Onboard, the crews and units prepared for the worst - just in case. Motors began turning over, belts were fastened, the drop lights came on and waited for a signal...

None came. The Vastivan flight came in in fours - each set landed and got off the strip quickly. It took less then an hour for all one-hundred and twenty planes to touch down, three times that for the sum total of relief supplies and vehicles to be deployed, accounted for, and readied.

Colonel Djarat Ghjuli looked around for something approaching a native in charge.

It is punishment from Heaven on your Heretical and Heathen nations.

Turn to the true welcoming light that is True Catholicism, before you suffer more punishments from the Almighty and your citizens burn in the depths of Hell.

-A Guild Bishop in a recent Telelink broadcast to Hatre Miseria

The Platoon Landed outside the destroyed city, and a small squad of soldiers was sent out to look for Survivors.


Reinhard, one of the soldiers tried to turn his attention away from the bloody mess he saw every few steps. He couldnt vomit, or even express weakness. He had to follow the will of The Divine Emperor, and The Divine Emperor did not like weakness.


"At least it's better then being in Malgeria..." He whispered to him self. He looked across the barren land, and cried "Hello?"

The Solace steamed into open ocean, leaving the border escorts behind as the nearly 25,000 tons displacement ship gleaming white in the sun.

Commander Konzaki gave his orders, the crew responding to his commands as the ship accelerated to 20knots. The Solace was huge, 684 feet long with a 105 foot beam, she had been originally designed to land an amphibious warfare group of 800 marines and their fighting vehicles, with a ship's company of 360 officers and crewmen.

That was in her former life, the Solace was now a seagoing hospital, with over 700 beds, surgical bays, pharmacies, laboratories, and other facilities to provide relief for any destination to which it was sent.

Below deck, the medical crews tested equipment and preppred the ship, so it would continue until the Solace reached it's destination.

Back in Anarcanis, a comminque to Htrae Miseria was being dispatched, informing their fellow island nation of the Anarcanian desire to help, and the deployment of the Solace.

It is punishment from Heaven on your Heretical and Heathen nations.

Turn to the true welcoming light that is True Catholicism, before you suffer more punishments from the Almighty and your citizens burn in the depths of Hell.

-A Guild Bishop in a recent Telelink broadcast to Hatre Miseria

His Majesty advises that you either do something to help or remain silent. This is not a time to promote your religion, it is a time to assist.

Medical Reaction Force 1 has been assembled and has set sail. ETA: Two days.

~ Representative of the Royal Family of Romandeos.

The 1822nd MASH had set up camp outside the airport, allowing it the mobility of both the airport and its significant helicopter assets. Meanwhile, the 701st began clearing debris, first near then outward. Areas hard hit were assigned to mobile units, complete with helicopters for lifting and airtransport of the wounded.

Tanks of fresh water and crates of MREs would be shipped to centralized locations at the disrupted townships as they could be arranged.

For now, Vastivan attention was towards the wounded, even as one flight of C-71s headed homeward, to collect more supplies.

"Number one, ETA?"

Commander Konzaki watched the night skies outside of the Solace as he awaited his report.

"52 hours, Commander." Came the reply from the navigator as the Hospital ship made headway towards the waters of Htrae Miseria.

"Very well, any word from the Miseria government yet?"

"No commniques yet, Commander."

"Very well, keep me appraised."

Colonel Djarat Ghjuli figured if his men were infantry instead of engineers and doctors, this land could be made to fall in a few days.

If Vastiva actually wanted an empire, that was.

So far, helicopters ferried water and food drops to devestated villages, ferrying back wounded for treatment. An ersatz fuel dump had been constructed at a midway point, with a supply of AvGas made available from the airport.

A request for a tanker from VALOREC had been filed yesterday, along with a report of the devestation. With luck, the resupply flight would be inbound tonight - if there was a supply not running low, it would be news to Djarat.

But there was still work to be done, and the sixteen-hundred-odd Vastivan's would be loathe to stop, leaving their work half done.

Medical Reaction Force 1 has now arrived on station and is preparing to go into action.

OOC: More detailed information later, but I'm too tired right now.

"Sir, we have other vessels in the area."

Commander Konzaki looked up, the Solace had at last arrived within the ocean boundaries of her destination.

"Friendly?"

"It appears so, Commander, a lot of radio traffic is going on the public frequencies."

"Very well, communications, get a signal out to those ships, This is the ANMS Hospital Ship Solace arriving on station to render aid. XO, get me some of idea of what kind of cooperation we can get from those ships, let's get organized."

"Sir, we have other vessels in the area."

Commander Konzaki looked up, the Solace had at last arrived within the ocean boundaries of her destination.

"Friendly?"

"It appears so, Commander, a lot of radio traffic is going on the public frequencies."

"Very well, communications, get a signal out to those ships, This is the ANMS Hospital Ship Solace arriving on station to render aid. XO, get me some of idea of what kind of cooperation we can get from those ships, let's get organized."

(radioed response)

~ This is Colonel Djarat Ghjuli of Vastivan Relief Force Six Two Five; we are currently operating a MASH unit and attempting to distribute emergency supplies, but demand is outweighing supply, and our field hospital is insufficient for care of this magnitude. Can you aid?~

His Majesty advises that you either do something to help or remain silent. This is not a time to promote your religion, it is a time to assist.

Medical Reaction Force 1 has been assembled and has set sail. ETA: Two days.

~ Representative of the Royal Family of Romandeos.

IC:

We do as we wish, you have no ability to stop us.

-Random Guilder Diplomat

~ This is Colonel Djarat Ghjuli of Vastivan Relief Force Six Two Five; we are currently operating a MASH unit and attempting to distribute emergency supplies, but demand is outweighing supply, and our field hospital is insufficient for care of this magnitude. Can you aid?~[/QUOTE]

Commander Konzaki nodded, "Vastivian Relief Force Six Two Five, this is the Solace. We are in position to provide assistance, communications frequency and satellite datalink of our medical facilities is as follows so that your MASH may communicate directly with our medical staff. We have deck space for four additional helos. If you require additional evacuation we are carrying two medevac helos, two boats, and a medevac LCAC."

He sent the frequency information, while air traffic control was the responsibility of the Solace's air center, the two medical units would be more efficient directly communicating the medical needs. Below decks the triage area was being prepped, as well as the vessels carried in the converted LPD's well deck.

~Roger that. We'll put you on with our company clerk, arrange for the worse cases which can be transported to be sent to you, or picked up. We have a grand total of one hundred and twenty doctors here, working in shifts of fourty. Needless to say, they're going to wear out. You're welcome to combine staff or use our facilities as you see fit. We should also work out... but I'll let that be worked out.

Put in base terms - we're overwhelmed and haven't come close to realizing much good. Twenty four hours, and we've treated hundreds of patients - but I doubt we've made a significant dent. ~

"Roger that, Solace carries a full medical facility of 700 beds, we will be able to process in and take patient load off your units. If your staff needs relief we can rotate in some of our staff in their place."

He turned to his XO. "Bring us to full stop, then flood the well deck and prep the LCAC, get the crews aboard their helos and keep them on standby, we may need the LC to evac a large number of patients to the Solace.

IC:

We do as we wish, you have no ability to stop us.

-Random Guilder Diplomat

Maybe not now, but you would be wise not to anger the young boy, for he is likely to remember you as a man.

OOC: I got that from some quotations collection.

OOC(2): I'll make a post about my forces in the area soon.

The 701st Combat Engineers had managed to sheer off water flow; quickcrete dams and rechanneling flows had managed to slake some of the water, reducing the worst of the flooding.

One of the more interesting developments was the solid cementing of a hilltop into a helipad; quickcrete had flowed down the side, creating an ersatz slick - with a side effect of a drop in erosion in the area. Most likely, they had headed off a mudslide. For now.

Most of their energy, however, was in creating temporary shelters - between tent cities and Ghavami domes, they'd managed to give the population somewhere dry to sleep in most areas. The Ghavami domes and two Weyker domes erected near the airport provided area for the wounded to sleep and recover - but facilities were tellingly primative, even in the climate controlled Weyker domes. If not for the overworked support staff of nurses and orderlies, sanitation might have become an issue early.

As it was, soap - both the wet and dry forms - was high on the list for resupply, along with bleach, ammonia, antiseptics, air fresheners and air filters.

Water churned and foamed at the rear of the Solace as the modified hover landing craft backed out of the Hospital Ship.

When the conversion plans for laid for the ship, the well deck was originally supposed to be eliminated, but the naval personnel hit upon a novel idea, instead of carrying APCs and a full load of LCACs on board, the deck could carry two patrol class boats and a LCAC.

Specs were drawn up, and Anarcanian Naval Systems, Inc. was contracted to modify the LCAC vehicle into a cargo hauler and medevac vehicle.

The "puddlejumper" turned on it's fans, racing towards the shore and Vastiva MASH encampment, carrying needed supplies from the ship's stores.

Turning in a 360 degree circle, Daniel let out a cry when he noticed the Tocrowkian soldiers. He waved his hands in the air, before once again descending the hill top. He wore the same clothes he had been wearing when the cyclone had hit - his white robe, pants, and blue nurses shirt. Though his garments hardly looked white anymore. They were covered with dirt and blood, though he seemed to take no notice. His time was in much demand, though soon he feared he would drop dead from exhaustion. His eyes were bloodshot and weary, and his legs only carried him forward with a last burst of hope. Help had finally arrived.
Earlier, they had got a hold of a cordless radio, which one of the whiz kids had fixed. There wasn't much news to be heard, as there was hardly anybody to tell it. But the news they did hear was of a great force of international help - it filled both Melodie and himself with hope. It was good to know that people out there still cared. And, of course, it was obvious that help had arrived. Helicopters and planes were passing over his head at this very moment, and out at sea he saw the vague, though distinguishable hulks that were what looked like very large ships. Even at this moment, as he looked out, he saw another smaller boat heading in this direction.
He approached the Tocrowkian soldier, out of breath and smiling.
"Hi!" He yelped, crouching over to get his breath back. "Please tell me you're here to help?" He asked, looking up to the man, hope in his gaze.

At the other end of the Island, where there was a communication tower miraculously still standing, the few men who had volunteered to work, were busy with communication with the outside help. It took them a day or so to get the communications up and working again, as it took them an age to find fuel to fill the generators. Some stupid dolt had neglected their job in doing so, after the blackout the month before.
Thanks and directions were sent out to the Solace, as well as information about where they could land, and where they were most needed. It seemed that other nations had come to land near the airstrip, and things were starting to look up for people in that area. Also, on the North end of the island, a cement helepad had been erected, and things looked as good as they could be. It was near the South where most help was now needed. This was where Daniel and Melodie laboured, night and day, with minimal supplies and staff.

OOC: Sorry that I took so long to answer. Been busy with schoolwork. And also, sorry if I've missed anyone. There's been so many replies...The communication sent from the tower would be an answer to most of you.

Day Three

With the landing of a fuel and resupply convoy - and significant supplies from the Solace used as a stopgap - as well as the removal of 787 victims from the Vastivan shelters to "a real hospital" - things turned slowly for the better.

MH-609 "Pony" helicopters had managed food, water, and basic medical supply drops to the Southern end of the island; unfortunately, no member of the 701st had managed to penetrate that far. Information was, therefore, somewhat scattered.

An airdrop and recon mission by Congo Flight looked for a suitable place near people to put down the six fifty-gallon drums of water it carried; landing, the drums were quickly stacked with boxes of MREs and Medical kits from the inside of the helo.

Daffadar Worther held take off for a bit this time, opting for a bit of a look around; he and two of the 701sts scouts did a fast recon of the area while the other two passengers erected an IRCO flag over the site - high enough it could be seen from a distance.

Med Center, this is Pony Nine. We have survivors and need drops and evac, copy?

Two additional MH-609 "Ponys" were scrambled, one carrying water and food, the other medical supplies and a doctor.

(undisguised bump)

In light of current events, His Majesty's Government must sadly withdraw all Royal Navy forces in the area due to the possible risk of war elsewhere in the world.

~ Royal Navy Representative.

*bump*

The southern regions had been reached.

That was the good news.

To the sum of Vastivan aid, the sheer number of wounded was taking its toll. Two more MASH units were being scrambled to the scene, but would not arrive until tomorrow. For now, there seemed to be no break in sight - even the addition of the Solace and her crew was of only slight aid to numbers like this.

Bedspace, blood, bandages, supplies of all kinds were being airshipped to staunch the tide of need - but would it be enough? And soon enough?