Artitsa
22-03-2005, 02:11
The harbour was alive with activity, thick black smog covered the blue skys. The strong winds from the ocean blew it inland over the city, but the residents didn't mind. Their apartments were buttoned up, and the hot summer air was shut out by the fancy airconditioning units. Admiral Georgi Kamov stood high above the naval base, on the highest spiral of the gargantuan Coastal Fortress of Cospally. Across the bay of Artisagrad was the actual city, Artisagrad. The massive metropolis was sprawled along the coast north-south, about 55kms and east 35kms. That urban sprall was home to over 220 Million people... it was huge by any standard. In comparison, Cospally was a town with 198,000 residents, but accomodations for upto 2.5 Million.
Part of the Overshire Province of Artitsa, Cospally was beautiful. There was a tremendous amount of wildlife, forests, mountains to the North West, very scenic for the tourists from the big city. That was the town's major source of income, and quite the source it was. But now, the accomodations were taken up not by Tourists, but by the Artitsan Navy. Sailors, Engineers, Pilots, construction workers, and others were on hand to tend to the massive Black Fleet. Otherwise known as the 2nd Grand Armada, the Black Fleet was the largest offencive fleet in terms of combat numbers. Only the 7th fleet surpassed it, and only due to troopships and carriers. The ships of this fleet were distinctively identified thanks to their jet black hulls, slicing through the waters of the Enemies who would threaten Artitsa.
But today, on this normally bright and blue skied day, the fleet was assembled, all 923 vessels. It was an impressive sight, with the AMS. Red Star tied beside 5 of the 16 Battleships. Cospally had always been the home port of the Black Fleet, but only rarely was it actually in port. This month it had returned.. to take on more vessels. She would be receiving another twelve Arrow Class Cruisers, two more Medjved Class Aresenal Ships, forty-five Vidra ASW Ships, eight more TAMD Mk III's, nine Boxer-Class SSN's, two Levithian Class BBCCN's, 12 Smith Class AOE's, 14 Flansburgh-Class AOR's, 10 General Marsden-Class AP's, and finally 6 more Aylesburgh-Class AS. It was a mighty addition to the fleet, but quite necessary. The Naval council had felt the fleet might be used for to fry some "big fish" and therefor, would need to be beefed up. Kamov was their man. He was chief officer of the Navy, but not the Chief of Staff. He was the highest ranking officer in the Artitsan Navy that still served aboard a vessel, making his orders the only ones to be followed, except for the Presidents of course.
The new ships were being painted the same mat black colour, while AM-98 Cruisemissiles were being loaded into the massive vessels in their berths. The other hundreds of ships waiting out in the bay were being tended to by special support vessels, removing the old AM-96 missiles, replacing them with the new high-tech AM-98's. Kamov was pleased. He had seen those tests, and he had made sure his fleet would be the first to be outfitted. He placed a rough guestimation that there was roughly 75,000+ missiles being transported and loaded in Cospally. The noise was deafening from below. Machines belched smoke, while groaning as they lifted their loads onto the vessels. Hundreds - no thousands of cranes at work, loading food, ammunition, and fuel. The twenty-two carriers within the fleet were being tended to, their decks were being cleansed of the jet fuel and other toxins that remained. This was done in the controlled Berths where the water could be decontaminated before reentering the bay... it was after all a tourist hotspot. Along the coast hundreds of civillians looked on at the massive works. Kamov was surprised they weren't driven away by the noise, but obviously their curiosity was placed higher than their ear drums well being. He looked down the spire of the great fortress, studying the battlements and ramparts that studded the steel reinforced concrete walls. It was a marval of engineering. All the gun doors were closed, hiding away the massive 18" batteries and Anti-Shipping Missiles that peppered the walls. The SAMs were easy to see however, On one wall alone he counted 80 launchers, not including the IGLA-S manpads. Deepwithin the walls lay the big Dublin-600 launchers for the high alititude, long range interceptions.
Kamov was glad to have this kind of protection... the massive fleet just sitting here resupplying made for an easy target. But the days of surprise attacks were over, there was nothing to fear.
Click (http://mars.walagata.com/w/artitsa/ArtitsaMapGood.gif)
This is the map of Artitsa. Find Artisagrad. That little bay there is the one mentioned above. Cospally is not shown, but it is on the opposite side of the bay.
Part of the Overshire Province of Artitsa, Cospally was beautiful. There was a tremendous amount of wildlife, forests, mountains to the North West, very scenic for the tourists from the big city. That was the town's major source of income, and quite the source it was. But now, the accomodations were taken up not by Tourists, but by the Artitsan Navy. Sailors, Engineers, Pilots, construction workers, and others were on hand to tend to the massive Black Fleet. Otherwise known as the 2nd Grand Armada, the Black Fleet was the largest offencive fleet in terms of combat numbers. Only the 7th fleet surpassed it, and only due to troopships and carriers. The ships of this fleet were distinctively identified thanks to their jet black hulls, slicing through the waters of the Enemies who would threaten Artitsa.
But today, on this normally bright and blue skied day, the fleet was assembled, all 923 vessels. It was an impressive sight, with the AMS. Red Star tied beside 5 of the 16 Battleships. Cospally had always been the home port of the Black Fleet, but only rarely was it actually in port. This month it had returned.. to take on more vessels. She would be receiving another twelve Arrow Class Cruisers, two more Medjved Class Aresenal Ships, forty-five Vidra ASW Ships, eight more TAMD Mk III's, nine Boxer-Class SSN's, two Levithian Class BBCCN's, 12 Smith Class AOE's, 14 Flansburgh-Class AOR's, 10 General Marsden-Class AP's, and finally 6 more Aylesburgh-Class AS. It was a mighty addition to the fleet, but quite necessary. The Naval council had felt the fleet might be used for to fry some "big fish" and therefor, would need to be beefed up. Kamov was their man. He was chief officer of the Navy, but not the Chief of Staff. He was the highest ranking officer in the Artitsan Navy that still served aboard a vessel, making his orders the only ones to be followed, except for the Presidents of course.
The new ships were being painted the same mat black colour, while AM-98 Cruisemissiles were being loaded into the massive vessels in their berths. The other hundreds of ships waiting out in the bay were being tended to by special support vessels, removing the old AM-96 missiles, replacing them with the new high-tech AM-98's. Kamov was pleased. He had seen those tests, and he had made sure his fleet would be the first to be outfitted. He placed a rough guestimation that there was roughly 75,000+ missiles being transported and loaded in Cospally. The noise was deafening from below. Machines belched smoke, while groaning as they lifted their loads onto the vessels. Hundreds - no thousands of cranes at work, loading food, ammunition, and fuel. The twenty-two carriers within the fleet were being tended to, their decks were being cleansed of the jet fuel and other toxins that remained. This was done in the controlled Berths where the water could be decontaminated before reentering the bay... it was after all a tourist hotspot. Along the coast hundreds of civillians looked on at the massive works. Kamov was surprised they weren't driven away by the noise, but obviously their curiosity was placed higher than their ear drums well being. He looked down the spire of the great fortress, studying the battlements and ramparts that studded the steel reinforced concrete walls. It was a marval of engineering. All the gun doors were closed, hiding away the massive 18" batteries and Anti-Shipping Missiles that peppered the walls. The SAMs were easy to see however, On one wall alone he counted 80 launchers, not including the IGLA-S manpads. Deepwithin the walls lay the big Dublin-600 launchers for the high alititude, long range interceptions.
Kamov was glad to have this kind of protection... the massive fleet just sitting here resupplying made for an easy target. But the days of surprise attacks were over, there was nothing to fear.
Click (http://mars.walagata.com/w/artitsa/ArtitsaMapGood.gif)
This is the map of Artitsa. Find Artisagrad. That little bay there is the one mentioned above. Cospally is not shown, but it is on the opposite side of the bay.