NationStates Jolt Archive

The Designers at Shrak Aeronautics have often built revolutionary aircraft and created new products that have redefined modern air combat. The process by which they do this is to take what already exists for a role and dissect it, find out its weaknesses and strengths and apply that knowledge to a new airframe to create an utterly new aircraft.

The Shrak designers were recently tasked with creating a long range fighter/interceptor for naval use and fell upon the previous champion in this role, the Legendary F-14D Tomcat. In th course of their disection of this tru;ly great aircraft, they found that with only a few mior modification, the F-14D could once again reign king in the skies over a Carrier fleet. To this end, Shrak Aeronatics is proud to unveil the recreation and reconceptualization of one of the most legendary aircraft ever to fly.
The IF/A-14 Thundercat Naval Long range Strike Figher/Interceptor.
The Thunder cat features a newly designed phased array radar capable of tracking even more targets than the previous radar while offering a massive increase in resolution and enabling a series of new low probability of intercept (LPI) modes to make the IF/A-14 a newly silent killer, retaining the first sight, first kill, even against a large percentage of stealth aircraft, Addittionally, the revolutionary optical target tracking and identification systems original to the F-14 has ben nupgraded with higher resolution and smoother movement for a more capable passive detection system. And a new LIDAR/LADAR array has been added to augment the already formidable sensor array.
A number of ascetic modifications including trimming the F-14 many sharp corners and canting the tale surfaces and the use of carbon composite wings have drastically lowered the Thundercats RS fromt hat of the Tomcat.
The Countermeasures suite has also been overhauled, a new comprhensive decoy has been designed to replace chaff and flares and a blue/green laser system has been installed to jam and confuse enemy LIDAR/LADAR systems.
The AVionics has seen the most work, the cockpit has been rebuilt to conform with the 'glass cockpit' concept, utilizing 6 multi function LCD screens for the pilot, and 8 for the Radar Intercept Officer as well as the Shrak Proprietary full cockpit display. The flight computer has been upgraded to a brand new system with vastly increased speed and ability the new computer has streamlined the computer controlled processes such as wing geomety and drag flap deployment which increases the maneuverabilty and fuel efficiency at all speeds without any overaul of the airframe.
New J-110 hydrogen injecting low bypass jet turbofans provides a much needed thrust boost coupled with a higher fuel efficiency, in tandem with the addition of conformal fuel tanks, the Thundercat has a massive range boost over the original Tomcat. Additionally a pair of weapons pylons has been added to the wings to increase the F-14s already formiddable weapon arsenal.

The Thundercat CAN be rebuilt from an existing F-14 airframe at a much lower cost than building a new aircraft, but an F-14 airframe must be provided.

Stats:
IF/A-14 (Thunder Cat)
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/f-14-053.jpg
Span: 64 ft. (extended), 38 ft. (swept)
Length: 61 ft. 11 in.
Height: 15ft 10 in.
Armament: one 20-mm six barreled partially directable (20 degree cone) gattling cannon
10x external missile hard points (10x fuselage) 6x external Pylons (2x ea. Wing shoulder (may be used for external fuel tanks) 1x ea. wing)
Avionics: LIDAR/LADAR for range detection and Identification w/out alerting the enemy, phased long range RADAR with low probability of intercept pulse modes , high target resolution and mass target tracking capacity, integrated full cockpit display(FCD) for unmatched combat awareness(Similar to a HUD but is displayed over the entire canopy), multi purpose LCD displays for instrument readouts and status displays (Glass cockpit)
Countermeasures: blue/green laser light system to disrupt and scramble LIDAR detection systems, Integrated radar scrambling with frequency agility, 75 integrated decoys or: 100 flares and 50 chaff balls. Modified jet intakes and structural curves and canted tail fins to reduce RCS from original version, liquid cooled engine cowling to reduce IRS.
Engines: 2x Shrak J110s with 37,000 lbs. thrust each with afterburner and 3d thrust vectoring
Cost: $42,000,000
Maximum speed: 2.1 mach at 36,000 ft.
Range: 3,040 miles (maximum with external fuel tanks)
Service Ceiling: 55,150 ft.
The IF/A upgrade to the classic F-14 Tomcat makes this classic interceptor a force to be reckoned with in the modern skies. An engine upgrade has given this legendary fighter new and more powerful legs, full range thrust vectoring jet nozzles increase maneuverability to allow the IF/A-14 to keep up with lighter, more modern fighters. Conformal fuel tanks yield increased range and a fully upgraded avionics suite allows the F-14 to remain the most ‘aware’ aircraft out there as well as streamlining the systems that manage the variable geometry surfaces that increase the performance of the F-14 at different velocities. With a 3d radar array capable of tracking and prosecuting over 100 targets, An array of cosmetic changes such as trimming corners, canting the vertical stabilizers by 15 degrees and streamlining edges as well as refurbishing the jet intakes gives the ‘thunder cat’ variation a much lower RCS than the original.

Integrated Decoy
The integrated decoy is a new countermeasure systems that replaces chaff and flares. the decoy is deployed from a standard chaff launcher and is immediately 'activated'. when activated a small seriec of electric capicitors begin pusing electricith through the decoys piezoelectric threads causing it to unfold. when fully unfolded the decoy has the same RCS and basic shape as the deploying aircraft ( a different decoy is needed for each aircraft, one decoy cannot mirror multiple aircraft types). at the same time, three flares ignite (less for single engine aircraft, more for larger and more than two engined aircraft) these flares mirror the aircrafts engine signature as wel as through a series of heat ducts, the aircraft all aspect signature (the heat caused by friction with the air at high speeds). coupled with a small chaff cloud and a number of small flares, this decoy effectively causes most missiles to 'change targets' from the original aircraft to the decoy.

bump

OCC: Is it possible for you to upgrade all my 9,000 F-14D Tomcats to the IF/A-14 Thunder Cats.

yes, the price to upgrade is 12 million per unit for a total price of 108 billion, using the Mondoth Military Storefront standard mass purchase 10% discount, your total is $97,200,000,000.
we can complete your order at a rate of 750 fighters a year.
we will accept 8.1 billion dollars a year for the twelve years of this order.

Thank you for doing business with us, we hope the IF/A-14 rebuild suits your fighter force and that you consider us for future military needs.

accepted. My fighters will be transported by RO/RO ships.

Your ships have been cleared into the port facilities of Port Regal and Port of Triumph where they will be transported by closed container rail to the Shrak facilities in those cities.

i would like to purchase 100,00 thundercat units

Your order is confirmed for the rate of 500 fighters per year. we will accept 21 billion dollars per year until your order is completed. Thank you for doing business with us, we hope your new fighter interceptors serve you well and that you will consider us for your future military needs.

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Official Government Statement

The Democratic Colonies is extremely concerned by the sale of these highly capable combat aircraft to a Nazi nation like White Nazi Power. It is not only morally questionable, but indeed, irresponsible in the extreme to sell such a nation military arms and equipment.

As the Government of Mondoth is seemngly unwilling or unable to prevent the sale of 10,000 IF/A-14 Thundercats to White Nazi Power, the Democratic Colonies is hereby considering the Republic of Mondoth a Nazi supporting nation, and thus has initiated an economic embargo upon the Republic of Mondoth until such a time as it ceases its support of Nazi nations.

The Democratic Colonies will not tolerate the sale of high performance aircraft to White Nazi Power, and urges the Government of Mondoth to prevent Shrak Aeronautics from completing this poorly considered transaction.

- Secretary Stephanie March (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/JC_Denton/NationStates/March01.jpg), Colonial Department of Foreign Affairs (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/JC_Denton/NationStates/1cd6610f.jpg)

Mondoth holds its right to trade as a sovereign right, not to be infringed by any nation for any reason. In this case, the Government would like to point out that Shrak Aeronautics has the full support of the government in international trade and that Mondothian International trade may only be restricted by current relations between Mondoth and the trading nation.
Furthermore, Shrak Aeronautics would like it aknowledged that the mass purchase discount White Nazi Power is technically elgible for has not been extended and that the delivery of 500 aircraft per year is far below both its ability to produce the aircraft and NWP's ability to pay for them.
Any interference in Mondothian International Trade will not be kindly viewed.

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Official Government Statement

All nations of the world have a common responsibility to one another, even today, amidst the warfare, violence and terrorism that surrounds all of us. Every nation on Earth has a responsibility, a duty, to ensure that the tragedies of our past remain in the past, never to be brought to life again to cast a shadow over the globe once more. The rise of Hitler, the rise of the Nazis, and the following world war was one of the darkest chapters in our shared human history. The images of gas chambers disguised as showers, of cattletrains filled with human souls, remain some of the most horrific images ever to be commited to the celluloid filmstrip. Every nation, every citizen, every man, woman and child born upon this world have a duty to ensure that those horrors never occur again.

The Federated Union of Democratic Colonies, acting for the greater good of mankind, urges the Government of Mondoth once again to prevent the Mondothian corporation Shrak Aeronautics from selling 10,000 high performance combat aircraft to the modern day executors of Hitler's crusade.

- Secretary Stephanie March, Colonial Department of Foreign Affairs (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/JC_Denton/NationStates/March01.jpg)

OOC: It's not like WNP will do anything... And even if for some absurd reason he does, a lot of nations outsize him, and will probably end WNP swiftly.

OOC: Yes, Out of Character, I know WNP isn't going to do anything. Frankly, OOC, I'm suprised that the nation hasn't been deleted for flag/name/national motto rule violations. In character however, the Democratic Colonies doesn't know any of that. IC, WNP is a scary little place that shouldn't be getting uprated Tomcats. Yes, OOC, I'm not paticularly worried, but IC, this is some pretty intense stuff. For RP purposes, I try as best I can to keep OOC and IC things seperate from eachother, as I'm doing here.

I was wondering if you could help my nation
newly founded with Hostile nations and People near my borders i was looking to start my flegling airforce.

Could you help

Minister of Defence Gregoi Kecefki
Belanesi

for starting an AirForce I recommend visiting the main storfront (link in signature) and buying a blend of Gulls, Ospreys and Dragon Flies, most of the other stuff is fairly high end (though if you can wait A week I'll have some new cheap stuff available) As a welcome Gift I will give you 12 IF/A-14s and the trainers and equipment to use them well.

To DR: Yes, the Nazi Chapter of German History was and is a tragic episode of the world history. However, we urge you to find evidence that WNP has followed the psychotic teachings of a man who in truth controlled only a Minority of the german people through actual respect and commonality of goals, historically, most German citizens were afraid that if they disagreed secret police would sweep into their homes and drag them to secret prisons. Addittionally, the Nazi Party existed before the man most assosciated with it and in that time it was not the insane, blood thirsty horde that that name now conjures. The Mondothian Government, as always, urges you and the rest of the world to look beyond the blind conotations of a name and into the actual functioning of the nation before forming biases and demanding that sovereign nations give up their sovereign rights for flawed reasoning.

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Official Government Statement

The Colonial Government believes that there is indeed sufficent evidence to indicate that the Dictatorship of White Nazi Power is a nation based upon the teachings of Adolf Hitler. While there is something of a possiblity that the nation is based upon the ideals presented by the Nazi party before the rise of racially discriminatory policies and beliefs to its forefront, this does not appear to be the case.

The name of the nation itself appears to be taken directly from the ideas of Hitler. The title White Nazi Power seems to indicate that at the very foundation of the nation, the theory of "Aryan Superiority" is acceptable and held to be true. The national motto of the nation as well, "Home of the White Supremists", also seems to indicate that White Nazi Power is a nation where racism and the teachings of Hitler are embraced. The Dictatorship of White Nazi Power has an extremely poor human rights record as well, with so-called "crimes" such as adultery being punished with the death penalty.

The Democratic Colonies feels that it is clear that White Nazi Power is a nation that does follow the teachings of Adolf Hitler, and thus feels that high performance arms simply cannot be allowed to fall into its grasp.

- Secretary Stephanie March, Colonial Department of Foreign Affairs (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/JC_Denton/NationStates/March01.jpg)

Until it is proven to our satisfaction that the Government of White Nazi Power HAS engaged in actions counter to Mondothian Policy regarding trade partners, this transaction will be completed to contract. If you wish to take action against this trade then do it, but if you simply wish to protest it, please keep your position out of the international scene, there are many nations who will go to war over words, feel lucky that we are not one of them.

CNS Resolution of Apollo, Pax Magellanic Class (Revision IV) (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=8853333#post8853333) Aircraft Carrier
Commandship, Taskforce Dysis

The Resolution of Apollo was far from the newest ship in the Colonial Navy. Indeed, she was a member of the so-called 'second batch' of Pax Magellanics, her keel laid down in 1984 at the Passchendale Fleetyards for construction. She had seen numerous refits over the years, adding everything from a strengthened superstructure to a new computer core, until now, four total refits and two decades worth of minor upgrades later, she sailed the high seas as a ship nearly unrecognizable from her original form.

"Helm, adjust course heading 25 degrees port to bring us into formation."

"Aye sir, course heading altered 25 degrees port. Entering formation alongside the Duty of Calypso, sir."

The Resolution of Apollo, as the flagship for the Colonial 7th Fleet, was to serve as the command ship for the three fleet, 36 carrier, 18 battleship strong Taskforce Dysis. The sleek form of the Apollo carefully manuvered into position as she took up position alongside the fellow members of the taskforce, her crusier and destroyer escorts trailing around her.

"Sir, formation has been established, digital handshakes confirmed. 7th, 8th and 9th fleet point defenses have been integrated taskforce-wide, Combat Air Patrols have been synchronized, long range detection optimal."

"Very good, Ops. Anti-Sub?"

"Sir, taskforce sonar nets have been networked. ASW aircraft report no magnetic anomalies. Seawolf escorts report no contacts aside from a whale pod bearing 182 mark 031. Shiptowed arrays confirm no contacts aside from local wildlife."

"Very good. Ops, inform Strategic Command of our rendezvous - Taskforce Dysis is ready to initiate the quarantine."

"Aye sir, report being transferred to our Nexus III Core Avatar for encryption now."


*****


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Official Government Statement

The Colonial Government finds the insistence on providing arms to the Dictatorship of White Nazi Power to be unacceptable. Inspite of our best efforts, it appears that our attempts to reach a non-forceful conclusion to this matter have failed.

The Democratic Colonies is declaring the area around White Nazi Power a quarantine zone. Effective immediately, all vessels and aircraft entering the Dictatorship of White Nazi Power will be subject to inspection by the Colonial Navy. All sea vessels found to be carrying military weapons into White Nazi Power will be turned back. All aircraft entering White Nazi Power will be forced to land for inspection on Colonial Navy aircraft carriers. All aircraft incapable of safely landing on a 635 metre flightdeck will not be permitted to enter White Nazi Power. Should any vessel or aircraft refuse to stop for inspection, they may be fired upon. Any military submarines detected in an aggressive stance may be fired upon and destroyed by quarantine forces.

The Democratic Colonies will not permit the arming of a Nazi nation, but remains hopeful that violence can still be avoided.

In the interests of peace, the Colonial Government is willing to reimburse Shrak Aeronautics the costs expended thus far in the shipping of IF/A-14 Thundercats to White Nazi Power, as well as any business losses directly caused by the placement and subsequent cancellation of White Nazi Power's order.

- Secretary Stephanie March, Colonial Department of Foreign Affairs (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/JC_Denton/NationStates/March01.jpg)

Mondoth Finds you're insitence on violating our sovereignty to trade as we please and the rights of a fellow nation to do the same troubling and the use of military power to enforce these illegal positions to be most unsettling, unless your fully illegal 'quarantine' of the sovereign nation of White Nazi Power is disbanded and the money lost from missed shipments due to your irresonsble and illegit actions repaid to Shrak Aeronautics in full, then you will face consequences I don't believe you can accept.

Mondoth has long held that, while not always agreeing with a nations government, that government has in alienable rights sovereign to its independence, and when a nation feels that for any reason besides the ultimate safety of its populace, that it needs to violate those rights, then for the good of the World That Nation must be brought to heel.
Please reconsider your rash actions, or have them reconsidered for you.

Cambridge Naval Base, Fairweather Colony

The night was a cold, downright ugly one as the crew of the Sight of Polyeidus made thier way aboard the titanic vessel, one of many harboured in the massive naval base. A Pax Magellanic like the Resolution of Apollo, the Sight of Polyeidus was a graceful yet imposing form as it idled, awaiting her crew to take her out to sea.

A harsh, acidic rain pounded the sailors as they shouldered bags and suitcases through the biting night wind, ascending steel loading ramps that let loose a hollow clang at each sailor's bootclad step. Not a star could be seen in the sky as grey and black clouds slid sliently through the heavens, cutting off the wonders of above.

The sailors, pulled straight from leave to deployment within the span of a day, were in poor spirits as they boarded the carrier. The Sight of Polyeidus should have in the middle of her regular maintenance cycle, her crew finally at rest, but the situation at White Nazi Power hadn't allowed that to happen as according to plan.

"Admiral, sir? Admiral Vertido?"

Deep within the confines of the ship, next to the massive, 8 deck tall tower of silicon and steel that was the ship's Nexus III Advanced Computer Core, Commander Charles Murray tried to get the attention of Admiral Andrew Vertido.

"Admiral, sir? Sir, can I have a moment? I don't think the Nexus is ready for - sir?"

"Just a moment, Commander."

Admiral Vertido's back was turned as he juggled reports from the flightdeck, engine and point defense chiefs at the same time. A massive, muscular man with skin as dark as the blackest of inks, Admiral Vertido towered over the officers around him as he signed forms and listened to reports.

"I'm a bit busy right now, Commander Murray - could you give me the short version?" asked the Admiral as he skimmed a report before signing it. "StratCom wants the entire 2nd Fleet out of the dockyards and into bluewater within the next few days. We need everything up and running ASAP."

"I understand that sir, but this is a major problem and needs your personal attention," pleaded Murray. "The Nexus III Computer Core is suffering a serious malfunction - I need every technical specialist I can get from the dockside personel here to assist me."

"Commander, every single department head on the boat is telling me that they have a major problem that requires my personal attention, and that they need assistance from the docksiders," replied Admiral Vertido as an Ensign handed him a reactor readout. "I'm telling you now though, that there are no more docksiders. Every single dockside engineer, maintance crewman and technical specialist is already busy trying to get these ships underway. Every ship in the 2nd Fleet is struggling to go from maintaince standby to combat deployment in zero days flat. There's no one left for you."

"Admiral, sir, I need more personel here. There is a serious problem with the Nexus Core," insisted Murray as the Admiral scrawled orders onto the reactor sheet. "It won't initialize past second stage," continued Murray. "There's something wrong, and all of my people are trying to run it down. It could be electrical, it could be something in the positionic matrix, it could be the fibre optic connecters, the pulse-flux capacitor - I don't know, and I need more people if we are going to know. Unless I get assigned more personel, I'm not going to be able to get our Nexus III Core running past 20% performance, sir."

Admiral Vertido paused as he considered Murray's words. Onboard the Pax Magellanic Class, Revision IV, the Nexus III Advanced Computer Core was considered to be the most important single component of the ship. It controlled the ship's CIWS Point-Defense system, as well as handled ship-to-airwing communications and coordination, effectively having taken the role of a Combat Information Centre on a more conventional aircraft carrier, and also autopiloted all carrier aircraft coming in for landing. While Colonial carrier pilots were trained in how to land thier aircraft manually on the heaving flightdeck of a carrier, few actually did so with any regularity, and fewer still could do so in rough weather. Without the Nexus III Core, a massive, sensitive, EMP vulnerable device, the abilities of a modern Pax Magellanic Class Carrier were severely lessened.

"Alright," said Admiral Vertido, turning at last to face the Commander directly. "I can pull 50 engineers off of the Columbia for you, but that's it."

"Sir, that's all I need," replied Commander Murray, relief in his voice.

"Good," nodded Vertido as he turned again to leave, another pair of Ensigns handing him reports and preparedness charts. "Because you're not going to get anymore. You said that's all you need, and I intend to hold you to that - now get my flagship's computer core running, Commander. I'll need her when the situation gets hot."

"Aye sir," said Murray to himself as Vertido exited through a door hatch. "I will get this computer core online, we will get out there, and I will keep her sensitive, touchy feely guts working in battle, aye sir!"


*****


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Official Government Statement

In the interests of peace, the Colonial Government repeats its offer to reimburse Shrak Aeronautics the costs expended thus far in the attempted shipping of IF/A-14 Thundercats to White Nazi Power, as well as any business losses directly caused by the placement and subsequent cancellation of White Nazi Power's order. This offer was alway extended in the Colonial Government's previous statement.

As a precaution however, the Democratic Colonies is fully mobilizing all branches of its military, and is fully prepared for any eventuallity. Peace is the aim of the Colonies, but should war break out over this matter, over the insistance of the Government of Mondoth on arming a white-supremacist, Nazi dictatorship, the Democratic Colonies stands ready to protect itself and its citizens.

- Secretary Stephanie March, Colonial Department of Foreign Affairs (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/JC_Denton/NationStates/March01.jpg)

Mondoth is not interested in war but if you attempt to regulate OUR trade through force then we are afraid it will become inevitable. Your Mobilization troubles us more than your recent statements and to respond Mondoth's Defense forces have been put on High alert and All of our merchant vessels will be traveling under guard. No Mondothian Ship has ever been inspected by a foreign power that was not invited or was not the recipient of the goods on that ship and there is no intention of breaking that tradition.

OOC: Do you have ships already in the area of WNP or are they on the way? Also, has WNP been notified that his his shipment of fighters is being met with trouble?

OOC: Taskforce Dysis, 36 carriers and 18 retrofitted Iowa class battleships plus escorts, are already around WNP. The rest of the DC Navy is not in the area, and is still assembling/mobilizing.

I haven't notified WNP, although I'll do that via telegram now. To be honest, judging by the post through which he purchased the fighters, I don't think he's really that much into RPing.

If you didn't realize it through my last IC post, the Pax Magellanic Class Carriers used by DC have a weakness in thier Nexus III Computer Cores. They're 8 decks tall, and although they're buried inside the carriers, they're highly sensitive to both conventional damage and EMPs. They control CIWS, communications, and aircraft landing - take them out on a vessel, and you've given it a very effective blow. It's a blatent design flaw that only shows up on the domestic versions of the Pax Magellanics, since the export models don't use Nexus III Cores.

Also, if you don't mind my asking, do you intend to involve MAP in this? If this is just going to be between Mondoth and DC, I'll have the Pax Magellanics go down a little easier for dramatic balance purposes.

OOC: Might involve MAP but not until shots are fired. Thanks for the tip, I use a few Microwave based weapons (mostly just boosted Radars) that have pretty mucht he same affect as EMP so we'll see.

IC: the four SX-24 stealth fighters were not the standard Modnothian Strike Fighter, or even the export model of that fighter, they were top of the line, state-of-the-art SX-24D Stealth Strike fighter Prototypes, incoroprating among various software and material upgrades and a new fangled radar, a Plasma Radar Shield, utilizing the high amount of air friction between the airframe and the air, as well as exotic materials built into the skin and a series of capacitors that charged off of the Jet Engines, the shields enabled the fighter to disapear completely from radar, not just the pansy 'stealth' of other fighters, the low intensity plasma field generated by the interaction of the Fullerene patces in the aircrafts skin, the heat generated by friction and an electrical boost, completely absorbed radar waves, of course the system also blocked the aircrafts own radar, and mildly obscured the pilots vision, and added soem extra strain to the engines, and was too expensive for general production, the shields were highly effective for making a statement.The shield, besides absorbing radar also confused most Heat Seeking systems and generated a lo intensity aura of light, horrible for night operation, the aura blended in perfectly with the sunlight and even blocked LIDAR/LADAR systems, added to the SX-24s native LCD variable camoflauge, the planes were all but undetectable, only viewable to a straining eyeball that knew what to look for or well programmed Heat Seekers that also knew what to look for. They Couldn't do much of anything but fly while the shields were active, but thats all that was necesary. The fighters flew in close to the water, seeking to blend in with the light reflecting off the ligh chop, becoming nothing more than wavelettes te fighters supercruised to within weapons range of the Democratic Republic Ships. It was then that the Expert pilots wen into action, not Mondothian Pilots, but Shrak Pilots they had been flying test models almost all of their piloting carrers and knew every trick in the book, the most experianced pilots that there was to be had for flying any Shrak Aircraft. The Four expert pilots pulled gently back on the control stickes, easing back intot he Hydrodynamic G-force chairs, slowly soaring skyward, staying full seconds ahead of the sound their mighty passage generated, as they began passing over the blockade, the fighters flipped a switch, setting of a prearranged program that began flickering the Plasma shields, causing jittery radar contacts to appear on radar screens throughout the fleet. As that happened the aircraft rapidly decelerated back into sub mach velocities, but they didn't stay there for long, instantly punching the Afterburners the Fighters punched throught he SOund Barrier, releasing four massive Sonic Booms as the LCD Camoflauge Cycled to Red and Gold, Traditional Mondothian Colors. stayng at that color just long enough to register, the fighters quickly dumped chaff, flares and decoys, re activated the Camoflauge and Plasma Shields and backed off the throttle to super cruise, turning in a lazy, nearly invisible arc back around the combat radius of the blockade and heading back towards the refueler wating just beyond radar range.

Message to Democratic Colonies Forces Curently Engaged in an Illegal Blockade of A Shrak Aeronautics Client Nation:

The Next One Comes Armed.
-Muhhamed Al Laden
Chief Executive Officer: Shrak Aeronautics

OOC: My nation is the Democratic Colonies, not the Democratic Republic. Full name "Federated Union of Democratic Colonies", conventional short form "Democratic Colonies", initials "DC".


IC:
CNS Resolution of Apollo, Pax Magellanic Class (Revision IV) (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=8853333#post8853333) Aircraft Carrier
Commandship, Taskforce Dysis

Personel all over the taskforce broke into frenzied activity as command computers activated alarms, sending every ship into combat status and prompting standby fighters to scramble into launch positions.

"Code black, code black, all hands report to action stations. Code black, code black, all hands report to action stations. Code black, code black..."

The pounding of boots on steel meshed with the shouts of urgent reports on the bridge of the Resolution of Apollo as Admiral Ribisi sprinted into the high tech command centre. The blaring of alarms had sent him from sleep to action within moments as the thoughts of combat whirled in his mind.

"Report!" he demanded, still putting on his uniform jacket.

"Sir!" came the instant reply from a junior Lieutenant, his voice strained with tension. Seated at a sensor console, a wall of eyelevel flatscreens flashed warnings and detection grids at him as he spoke. "Four high speed RADAR contacts detected at three-two-two mark four-three-five! Combat Air Patrol en route!"

"Standby fighters?" asked Ribisi.

"Scrambling for launch, sir," came the reply from Commodore Rachel Schreberg, Ribisi's second in command.

As fighters were towed to thier launch catapaults however, CIWS turrets and Sea Sparrow SAM launchers were already opening fire all over the taskforce, directed automatically by the Resolution of Apollo's Computer Core to destroy the detected intruders. 20mm gatling turrets spat out hypersonic rounds, albeit at targets still outside of thier kill range, while SAMs streaked towards thier targets, guided by precision radar and LIDAR tracking.

"Sir! We're having trouble getting a - wait! Contacts have disapeared!" said the Lieutenant, his eyes wide with confusion, looked at his flatscreen radar grid as the four unknown aircraft vanished into nowhere. There's no way, he thought to himself. They might have taken a little damage from CIWS if we were lucky, but the SAMs haven't even hit them yet! Where did they go?"

"Sir! New contacts, further away this time, same speed as previous - " the Lieutenant again began to rattle off coordinates as the four SX-24s reappeared. Outside, the unflinching point defenses of the taskforce were redirected at these new targets, but yet again, they disapeared before a single missile could impact them.

"Sir! New contacts!" shouted the sensor Lieutenant again as his targets reappeared again.

"Damn it - looks like they've got some impressive stealth tech," said Admiral Ribisi as he watched as a barrage of Sea Sparrow missiles fly harmlessly into empty air.

"They're gone again," reported the Lieutenant as the radar contacts disapeared one final time. "What looks like chaff and flares are showing up on the grid, but I have no solid contacts. Still no idea what those contacts were, although they were around the right size for strikefighters."

"Damage report?" asked Commodore Schreberg.

"Sir, all ships report no damage," came the reply from an Ensign. "The contacts apparently fired no munitions."

"Make sure of that," ordered Ribisi. "Have all vessels hold station while the frigates do a mine sweep, and have us do an active SONAR ping to make sure they didn't drop anything."

"Aye sir," came the reply as the last of the Sea Sparrow SAMs splashed into the ocean in the backround.

"Avatar?" Admiral Ribisi asked, facing a wallmounted flatscreen. The screen immediately switched away from a readout of the ship's nuclear reactor status, now presenting the image of a woman's face. The woman's face was nothing more than that of an attractive fashion model, scanned in and put to use by Navy software designers to serve as an avatar for the Nexus III Computer Core's interaction with the crew. Sailors, regardless of gender, tended to interact better with the face of a female model than the bearded face of a male 45 year old software engineer, which served as the original avatar for a short perod.

"Avatar reporting," announced the avatar in something of a monotone.

"Avatar, do you have a visual record of those contacts? Enough to make an ID?" asked Ribisi.

"There was some visual contact, but not enough to make a positive ID," came the reply. "However, before tracking was lost, this occured." The avatar nodded to her left as a looping video replaced a propeller status report on an adjacent flatscreen.

"What is that?" asked Schreberg, studing the video alongside her commander. Although it was blurry, two distinct colours could be made out, rotating between eachother. "Red and gold, Admiral?" asked Schreberg.

"I think those are the traditional colours of Mondoth," answered Ribisi. "I think the Mondothians just sent us a very loud message..."


*****

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/JC_Denton/NationStates/1cd6610f.jpg
Official Government Statement

Despite the aggressive actions of Shrak Aeronautics in the airspace surrounding Colonial Taskforce Dysis, the Democratic Colonies is standing firm on its refusal to allow arms into the Dictatorship of White Nazi Power. The Democratic Colonies has no desire for violence, but cannot allow a white-supremist, Nazi dictatorship to attain high capability weapons systems such as the IF/A-14 Thundercat.

The Democratic Colonies, in the interests of peace, once again extends its offer offer to reimburse Shrak Aeronautics the costs expended thus far in the attempted shipping of IF/A-14 Thundercats to White Nazi Power, as well as any business losses directly caused by the placement and subsequent cancellation of White Nazi Power's order.

- Secretary Stephanie March, Colonial Department of Foreign Affairs (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/JC_Denton/NationStates/March01.jpg)

OOC: oops on the name thing, will edit and fix.

IC:
The boardroom was dead silent as each member of Shrak Aeronautincs board of directors read over the Democtratic Colonies newest message, Finall one of them broke the silence.
"I think they got the message."
"Yes, but they aren't doing anything about it, We've never dropped a contract before, and the Government is still pushing to maintain International Sovereignty of Trade."
"Are they doing anything about it though?"
"Another message is going out from official sources, but I don't think it's going to be enough, If the Dee's didn't scare them off then a few more words won't."
"A ship then?"
"It'll have to be."
"Will the Government support us? We'll need troops to make it effective."
"Gentlemen, we've had a full compliment of marines available since this fracas started. I believe its time to use them. I suggest we send two ships, a Container and a RO/RO. With anyluck we can get right into the heart of the fleet with none being the wiser."
"I like it, We can get both from MPF command and have the troops fly out, we can have the whole operation underway in twelve hours."
"Agreed?" Asked the Chairman, all the board members nodded their assent and word was sent to Mondoth City. Mondothian Government was very strong on international rights, they would not bow to the Democratic Colonies userpation of those rights.

Message to Democratic Colonies:
Be aware that the first set of fighters will be arriving soon, in accordance to Mondothian Policy they will continue directly to their destinations and will bypass your illegal blockade, any attempts to board or redirect these ships without their captains assent will be viewed as an aggressive action and will be dealt with in accordance with that view.

Message from RO/RO ship 'SeaGull" to Naval Forces currently obstructing international trade routes and thusly the path of this ship:

You are currnetly in violation of international law, please leave your stations now and allow this ship and those that follow her our right to free passage of the seas, if you do not yield to us, we will take suit against you in a suitable International Court.

CNS Resolution of Apollo, Pax Magellanic Class (Revision IV) (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=8853333#post8853333) Aircraft Carrier
Commandship, Taskforce Dysis

The fragrant aroma of freshly brewed coffee made its way thorugh the bridge of the Resolution of Apollo as Admiral Ribisi stepped through the hatchway into his command centre.

"Attention on deck!" came the cry from the marine guard posted by the hatchway. The crew came to attention, even as Ribisi waved them back down.

"As you were," Ribisi said with a dismissive hand gesture. A crewman with a tray handed him a coffee mug as the Admiral made his way to his command chair. His second in command, Commodore Rachel Schreberg rose to greet him as he approached.

"Morning, Commodore," said Ribisi as he took his seat in the middle of the bridge.

"Morning, sir," came the reply. "I trust you slept well last night?"

"As well as I could," nodded Ribisi. He paused to take a sip from his mug before putting it down. "Nothing of interest occured last night?"

"Nothing, sir," replied Schreberg. All of the actions of the previous night were logged in a written record, but Ribisi always did prefer to speak to his officers in person whenever possible.

"Seven freighters from the Proctor and Gamble Corporation were stopped and inspected," began Schreberg. "They claimed to be carrying packaged foodstuffs, cigarettes, a charted shipment of frozen salmon, and some amount of softwood lumber. Inspection confirmed this. A further sixteen freighters from various international corporations were inspected and allowed to pass, along with two oil tankers, a fishing vessel, and a personal pleasurecraft. Fairly mundane shipments, sir."

"Mundane is good," said Ribisi. "Mundane is normal, mundane is boring, mundane is quiet - and that, Commodore, is what we want out here. Quiet, peaceful, cooperation."

"Aye, sir," agreed Schreberg. She was about to say something further when the junior Lieutenant at the sensors station called out to his superior officers.

"Sirs, I'm getting a transmission from the Mondothian Ship SeaGull," the Lieutenant began. "It is coming in clear, text only. Punching it up on the command flatscreens now."

Admiral Ribisi and Commodore Schreberg stood to read the message as it appear on a flatscreen infront of them.


"You are currnetly in violation of international law, please leave your stations now and allow this ship and those that follow her our right to free passage of the seas, if you do not yield to us, we will take suit against you in a suitable International Court."

"They're threatening legal action?" asked Schreberg incredulously.

"They'd really have something of a case," admitted Ribisi as he scratched his chin in thought.

"Still," said Schreberg. "Shrak Aeronautics buzzed us with stealth aircraft - which we opened fire on with CIWS - and now they're threatening legal action? It's a total shift in tone, a step down in intensity."

"What do you make of it then?" asked Ribisi. He had his own ideas, but wanted to hear her's first.

"Well," began Schreberg. "It could be that the stealth overflight was as far they're willing to go, and now that they've expended all of thier options, they're going to make this into a legal case."

Ribisi nodded as he watched Schreberg's thought process.

"Ofcourse, it could also be a trap of some sort... a nuclear device, a trap, hidden on the Seagull would probably do the trick."

"Do you really think that?" asked Ribisi to the much younger officer.

"No, but it's a possiblity. The trap could be conventional ofcourse - maybe a load of Exocet anti-ship missiles, set to launch at point blank ranges," suggested Schreberg. "They claim to be carrying Thundercat Strikefighters, but really, it could be anything. It could potentially be some sort of trap in there, sir."

"I agree," nodded Ribisi. Although Commodore Schreberg was many years his junior, Admiral Ribisi had nothing but respect for the younger officer. She didn't have much experience, but the Admiral sensed much potential in the young woman that stood beside him.

"I agree," repeated Ribisi as he stepped away from the flatscreen. "Our orders from Strategic Command however, outline our Rules of Engagement. We'll have to let the Seagull get close if they don't obey our orders to stop."

"That could be a problem, sir," said Schreberg. "If they don't stop, they'll get right on top of us, according to the plan."

The plan in place for vessels that didn't comply with orders to stop for inspection were quite rigid, and to be followed to the letter by Taskforce Dysis. The first stage was to be a close flyover by F-106 Liberators (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=7279039&postcount=6), with stealthy F-133 Valkyries (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=7157896&postcount=1) providing cover to thier non-stealthy Liberator counterparts. The second stage, if the flyovers didn't intimidate the ship into stopping, would be the Liberators firing thier cannons across the bow of the vessel as a warning shot while the Valkyries stayed stealthy. The third step was the approach of Ticonderoga Class Crusiers to physically block the path of the ship, although by this time, it would be well into the interior of the taskforce. After this, warning shots from the 16 inch guns of the taskforce's battleships, updated Iowa Class ships, would be fired across the bow. If this didn't succeed, the fifth and final step would be the landing of Colonial Marines onto the vessel via rotary aircraft, with instructions to reach the bridge of the vessel and force a stop there.

"We'll just have to play this one as it comes," said Ribisi. "We'll follow the normal plan as the Seagull comes in. If they've got something planned... If they've got something planned, we'll just have to adapt to it as it happens. I'll have some of the Liberators equipped with gamma radiation detectors, so we might be able to tell if they are carrying a nuke, atleast. At worst, we could always just sink her."

"And the ships after her?" asked Schreberg. "The transmission mentions others."

"We'll see," said Ribisi. "If we can get the first one to stop, the rest should follow. If the first one's a trap of some sort... well, this could get messy."

as the to Stop came through, the ships captain Laughed raucausly on an open frequency to the fleet.
"This is the Captain of the merchant vessel SeaGull, we hearby DEMAND our legal right to free passage of the seas." As the overhead fighters performed flybys, the captain came on again.
"Careful, you wouldn't want to crash!" and the ship continued until the fighters began fireing across the bow.
"Excuse me! This is not a war zone and we are a legitimate merchant vessel, Firing weapons against us may be construed as an act of war by our Government, if you continue to act in a hostile faction then I will have no choice but to follow through on the threat of legal action as well as notifying my government of your beligerence."
It was the Ticonderoga that got the captains attention.
"Y'all mean business dontcha? Allright, I will submit to boarding for inspection, but be advised that this is a violation of international law and appropriate action will be taken." The ships engines slowed and then stopped, keaving the SeaGull to drift and await a boarding party. Under the decks, where normally cargo would be stored, waa abuzz with decidedly un cargo like movement. The cargo section was crowded full of people wearing uniforms and wielding a variety of unwholesome looking devices, fromshotguns, to assault rifles, to rocket launchers, several hundred troops were arrayed, ready for action when the boarding party arrived.

Much farther out to sea, the Very Large Container Ship "Verity" Was undergoing a different kind of activity, crew members were crawling all over the containers, in a manner that suggested a potentially fatal cargo shift, but was in reality cover for the placign and checking of detonators into the various explosive devices arrayed on the top layer of containers. In the containers, preflight checks were beggining as Jet engines, Lift Turbines and collectives began whining to life.
The trap was set.

CNS Resolution of Apollo, Pax Magellanic Class (Revision IV) (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=8853333#post8853333) Aircraft Carrier
Commandship, Taskforce Dysis

"Good," nodded Commodore Schreberg as the Seagull finally slowed to a stop. Perhaps 50 metres infront of the Seagull's bow sat a Ticonderoga Class Cruiser, her 5 inch gun aimed warily at the now motionless cargo vessel.

"It was looking a bit grim for a moment there, sir," continued Schreberg.

"Agreed, but we're not all clear yet," replied Admiral Ribisi. "Do we have permission to board for inspection?" he asked.

"Aye, sir," came the reply from the Ops officer. "They say they stand ready to be boarded."

"Very good," nodded Ribisi. "We'll insert the Lancer Spec-Ops team first, all 24 Lancers, plus yourself, via Osprey onto the middle of the Seagull's deck. Once you give the all clear, we'll have a marine platoon and the technical inspection team go onboard, Commodore."

"Aye, sir," agreed Schreberg. The two had considered the dangers involved, but had settled on the Commodore herself leading the inspection team. "I'll be sure that we do a clear sweep," she said. "I'll make sure that they don't have anything waiting in suprise for us, sir."

"I expect no less," replied Ribisi. She's nervous, although she'd rather not show it, he thought to himself. I need her eyes, and more importantly, her brain over there though - we can't risk screwing this up.

*****

"All hands stand to, attention on deck!" barked Major Harry Grant over the thundering noise of a V-22 Osprey spinning up its rotors.

The commanding officer of the Resolution of Apollo's Lancer Special Operations Team, Grant stood in stark contrast to the woman who was approaching the row of Ospreys preparing for takeoff on the flightdeck. While Major Grant and his team were dressed in the muted greys and blacks of Colonial bodyarmour, Commodore Schreberg was dressed in the standard DC Navy uniform - beige pants, a black turtleneck, and a red naval jacket with blue trimmings. It's not the best in camouflage technology, mused Grant to himself as he offered the Commodore a salute. The Colonial military uniform was designed as a modern take on the traditional British "Redcoat" design - while distinctive, the crimson red leather of the naval jacket was something that stood out practically anywhere.

"As you were!" shouted Commodore Schreberg, after returning Grant's salute. She looks younger than I thought she was, most officers her age have just made Commander, thought Grant as he studied the flag officer in front of him. Atleast she had the common sense to bring her sidearm, he thought as he noted the 10mm pistol strapped to her thigh.

"Commodore, sir, as I understand it you'll be boarding the Seagull with us?" asked Grant loudly.

"That's correct, Major!" came the shouted reply from Schreberg as wind from the Ospreys tugged at her blonde ponytail. "We need to confirm that it's clear before we send the techies over to have a look!"

"Aye, sir!" shouted Grant. "Are you sure you don't want a suit of bodyarmour, sir?" he asked.

"No, thank you!" replied Schreberg. "We need to look as unaggressive as possible - it'll be much harder to get them to trust me if I'm under a helmet and behind a ceramic composite chestplate!"

"I understand, sir!" shouted Grant in response as he motioned towards the Osprey. "Shall we commence the boarding?"

"Yes, but we need to get one thing clear!" shouted Schreberg as the Lancers began to file onto the Osprey. "You are not to fire unless fired upon, or given my explicit order, and you are to keep your rifles ready but aimed downwards at the deck unless we are engaged in combat! Is that clear?"

"Crystal clear, sir!" came the reply from Grant. "You can count on us, sir! We won't let you down!"

"NAd remember, do not fire unless fired upon, we are only going to capture the boarding team and use the leverage as a negotiating position. Now aby questions?" None of the marines so much as blinked.
"Good, to your stations!" As the final word was still echoing around the cargo area the troops dispersed to a variety of hiding places and ambush points scattered throughout the ship.

"This is the Seagull, you're inspection team is cleared to land ont he forward deck, there will be a small contingent of ships crew to meet you there. And hurry up, I have a schedule to meet" (OOC: not soldiers, those come later)

Colonial Navy Osprey #2911AO-3608GN

The rotorwash from the V-22 Osprey blew over the deck of the Seagull as the aircraft set down, its tires kissing the steel of the vessel.

"We have soft contact, you're clear to go, Commodore," crackled the voice of the Osprey's pilot.

The rear doors of the aircraft opened onto the deck, prompting a pair of Lancers to rush forwards, thier M-22A4 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/JC_Denton/NationStates/c19ceb56.jpg) Rifles held ready, but as Commodore Schreberg directed, pointing firmly downwards. They were followed by the Commodore herself as she calmly stepped onto the deck of the Mondothian vessel, another pair of Lancers flanking her. The polished steel of her sidearm glistened in her thigh holster as she led the Lancer Special Operations Team onto the Seagull.

"Permission to come aboard to inspect for weapons systems?" asked Schreberg as she offered a salute to who looked to be the highest ranking officer that was there to greet them. The request was symbolic, ofcourse, since the Mondothians couldn't realistically refuse, and Commodore Schreberg already knew that there were fighters stored under the deck.

Once we carry out a quick sweep, make sure this isn't a trap, we'll have the techies come over, Schreberg thought to herself. Then, the techies will have a look at the fighters, confirm to me that they are indeed fighters, and we'll send the Mondothians back to Mondoth.

Easy as pie.

*****

CNS Resolution of Apollo, Pax Magellanic Class (Revision IV) Aircraft Carrier
Commandship, Taskforce Dysis

"The video feed is looking good, Admiral," reported Lieutenant Frisk as he tapped in another command line on his keyboard. "The transmission is coming in strong, sir."

"Make sure we don't lose them," ordered Admiral Ribisi as he looked at the array of flatscreens infront of him. The radio chatter of the Lancers, as well as the video feed from thier helmet mounted cameras were relayed back to the Resolution of Apollo, allowing Ribisi to keep track on Commodore Schreberg's status.

"Aye sir, but if the Mondothians begin to jam the transmission, we'll likely lose the helmet cameras," replied Frisk. "And Commodore Schreberg refused to wear a helmet, so we have no feed at all from her."

"That's fine," said Ribisi. "The Lancer's will stay close. We have 24 Lancers plus Commodore Schreberg over there - make sure we know if anything goes wrong."

The "SeaGull" Transmitted a short encrypted transmission as the V-22 landed and the top literally blew off of the distant Container ship revealing multiple squadrons of MRF-9/F (Swallow) VTOL Air Supperiority fighters and a small number of AH-71 Stealth Attack helicopters. the entire air contingent, Swallows far in the lead.
"This is Mondothian VTOL Air Group on route to a scheduled exercise over international waters, we are carrying live munitions so don't try anything." Came a radio message fromt he lead fighter as it lit up its Target Acquisition radar, allowing it to drift and light up various Democratic Colonies' fighters in turn. As the air group closed on the "SeaGull" they began circling in a maneuver any modern naval officer would recognize as a COmbat Air Patrol, Red tipped war rounds dangling fromt he fighters pylons. The Attack Helo's moved in and surrounded the ship, opening their weapons bays to reveal deadly Shrike Sea Skimming High Velocity Anti Shipping missiles (essentially Exocets, a little faster with a slightly reduced warhead) while their Long Bow style LIDAR/LADAR mast mounted sensors began playing over the Democtratic Colonies ships. On the "SeaGull" Itself the soldiers burst forth, assault rifles leveled at the Commodore and her Contingent as Gun Crews began errecting weapons systems on the deck, a few missile sites were set up for SAMs and Shrikes and even a Black Widow CIWS made an appearance on deck.
As all this was going on, the Captain revealed himself, resplendent in a full Mondothian Naval Uniform he strode confidently up to the Commodore, his eyes widening as he took in her uniform.
"Madam... Commodore, you are hereby placed under arrest for violations of international maritime code including the illegal boarding of a merchant vessel in international waters and attempts to regulate trade between sovereign nations in international waters. Under Mondothian Policy you will be tried under a suitable international court of law and you will have access to an attorney of your choice at that trial. No information gained from you before you have spoken to your attorney will be used as evidence in that trial.

Mondothian Vessel Seagull

The Lancers stood rigidly, thier rifles upraised to thier shoulders and pointed at the Mondothians as they took in the situation around them.

"Commodore Schreberg - we need to go, now, sir," hissed Major Grant into his helmet radio. Mondothian troops continued to surround the Lancers even as he spoke, emerging from hidden hatches to totally envelop the outnumbered Colonials.

"Major, I'd be glad to hear any ideas on how to do that," replied Schreberg nervously into her miniature headset.

"Commodore, I would advise you and your personel not to resist," said the Mondothian officer calmly. "As you can see, you and your commandos are totally surrounded."

Schreberg paled visibly as she the number of soldiers behind the Mondothian officer continued to grow.

"You... You have no jurisdiction over myself nor my personel," choked out Schreberg as she took a slow step backwards. She gasped as the Mondothian grabbed her arm, his fingers closing around her arm in an inescapable grip.

"You will let go of me!" demanded Schreberg as the Lancers tensed in thier combat stances. A firefight that would have surely ended in death for the Colonials seemed inevitable as the Mondothian refused to let the Commodore escape from his grasp.

"You are under arrest," repeated the Mondothian as he stared down Schreberg's gaze. "You will come with me for international trial for your crimes."



*****
30,000 Feet Above Taskforce Dysis

"Tally ho, Apollo!" shouted Commander Rydon as his squadren approached the Mondothian fighters. Well inside of the Taskforce Dysis' formation, the Mondothians began what looked thier own Combat Air Patrol around the Seagull, ignoring the dozens of fighters already trailing them.

This is insane, thought Rydon as he studied the Mondothian aircraft such a short distance from the Colonial ships. This is a bloody Colonial Taskforce, and they're starting up a hostile CAP right inside of it! There are 36 aircraft carriers here - over five thousand fighters can be put into action by Admiral Ribisi! What the hell do these Mondothians think they're doing?

"CAP and Alert Fighters, you are to continue to follow Rules of Engagement set Alpha," came the soothing, albeit monotone voice of the Resolution of Apollo's computer avatar over military radio. "Weapons are tight, repeat, weapons are tight," the voice went on. "All aircraft are to fire only if fired upon. "

"Alright CFS-218, you heard the command," radioed Rydon to his squadron. "Weapons tight - anyone who fires a missile without orders finds themselves swimming home, that clear squadron?"

Rydon nodded to himself as the confirmations came in.

They're a good group - they won't screw this up, Rydon thought to himself. The Mondotians though, they have to be insane to fly a CAP in the middle of the entire taskforce.

The digital monotone of a Nexus II Computer Core came through to Rydon's squadron once again, this time with specific instructions.

"CFS-218, you are to form up with CFS-731 and CFS-732 at 60,000 feet above the Seagull, and orbit that position. Utilize lookdown radar to track the Mondothian CAP. Wingcommander Kersey has command."

"Alright, people. You heard command - sweep forward your wings to conventional geometry, and ascend after me," ordered Rydon as he pulled his fighter up. Taskforce Dysis maintained a CAP of over 600 fighters, some of which he could see joining him at high altitude above the Mondothians. Others, although Commander Rydon couldn't see them, were making high speed passes at the Mondothians, while the Alert Fighters of the taskforce were being launched off thier respective carriers and into the increasingly crowded sky.




OOC: Go ahead and just take Commodore Schreberg prisoner. Taser her, manhandle her to the deck, handcuff her - do what you need to secure her. The character is "captured", just decide how to go about it. The Lancers aren't going to shoot anyone, considering the condition they're in. Do with them what you feel is best.

The Colonial Navy Uniforms, since they are not quite normal, appear like this (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/JC_Denton/NS%20Uniforms/a623bf18.jpg).

OOC: No manhandling of the commodore, can't have any of my officers up on the trial for unnecesary force. Besides its not like there would be a reason for it, now the Lancers, they're gonna need to be locked up rather more securely.

IC:
A few soldiers stepped up to the Lancers, their weapons down but alert for any sign of danger.
"Please give over your weapons and communications gear, you will be held in a suitable holding facility and be treated with all proper care, if you do not resist then this will all go easily and ina week or so, maybe we can all go back home safe and sound. Otherwise, I don't think you need me to tell you the consequences."

The captain let go of the Commodore,
"I hope we understand each other, now, we weren't expecting a person of your stature to be a guest so forgive me if you're accomadations aren't exactly what you were hoping for, I'll have somebody prepare a state room. Be advised that while under our custody you will not be allowed unsupervused contact with anyone on or off the ship and that your movement will be restricted to the stateroom unless you are accompanied by an officer of no less than Lieutenant rank. this is for your safety as well as ours.
Now, Chief!" He shouted to a nearby naval chief
"Tell the bridge to send the message, and begin a reverse course, I want as much water between us and this fleet as possible, and as little water between us and the reinforcement as possible."

For The reinforcements consisted of a single conventional naval carrier task group, not much against the Democratic Colonies fleet but a good start, for security reasons, the fleet had not left until just before the SeaGull entered the blockade so it wouldn't arrive for a day or two yet, but with any luck, it wouldn't be needed.

"Message to Democcratic Colonies Fleet:
Your boarding party, includign Commodore Schreberg, is now in custody, any hostile actions taken will put Democratic Colonies forces in our custody at risk. At this time, we will be prosecuting them under international mercantile code for violating trade rights, however, if the Democratic colonies will step down, we will return our prisoners to Democratic colonies territory alive and unharmed."

OOC: Commodore Schreberg is a military officer, technically a flag officer, and was given orders to not be captured. She wouldn't just let herself and the Lancer team fall into Mondothian hands so that they can serve as bargaining chips. They will surrender, but I don't think it should be a painless, clean process...

Perhaps we should exchange IM information? I can be reached through MSN IM at Mr_PhD@passport.com if you feel that we should plan this out further degree.


Mondothian Vessel Seagull

Major Grant looked to Commodore Schreberg for guidence as the Mondothian soldiers advanced on the Lancers. Grant, his rifle braced against his shoulder with his sights lined up and his safety off, was ready to kill and be killed as the Mondothians demanded his weapon.

"Commodore, what are your orders?" Grant asked, forcing any signs of fear out of his voice. Sweat trickled down his neck as he and the other Lancers were forced into smaller and smaller formations by the advancing Mondothians.

"Commodore, please don't do anything foolish," said the Mondothian officer standing infront of Schreberg. The Lancers were now completly seperated from her now, walled off by a line of troops.

"For the sake of your own life, and the lives of your personel, you must come with us," beckoned the officer.

Schreberg's eyes darted from the officer's face to those of the soldier's behind him as she slowly took a step backwards again.

"I cannot accept your jurisdiction nor authority in this," said Schreberg to the officer. Although she was trying to stay calm, a glance into her rapidly moving eyes would have revealed her fear. Surrounded by hostile soldiers, and with enemy aircraft flying overhead, anything but surrender posed an extreme danger.

"I cannot allow the Mondothian government to kidnap myself and other Colonial military personel, and thus I demand that we be permitted to return to our vessel," Schreberg continued, the pounding of her heart growing louder with every word.

I hope to God he doesn't shoot me, she thought as she turned around sharply, leaving her back facing the Mondothian officer.

"This is Commodore Schreberg," she said, speaking into her miniature headset. "I would like our Osprey transport to return to take us back to the Resolution of Apollo."

Schreberg forced herself to stand still, her back turned to the officer, as she awaited a reply. Every second seemed like an eternity as she hoped that the Mondothians would be unwilling to fire the first shot.

OOC: Fair enough, you can AIM me at Salsahead01 (i'm technically never off, but I don't always answer right away) or Email me at Salsathewonderboy@hotmail.com

IC: "Ma'am, these are international waters and you are an agency foreign to the government that operates this merchant vessel attempting and are attempting to violate our rights to free navigation of the seas. I have all the jurisdiction I need to place you legally under arrest. Now, as it stands yo have a comfortable stateroom available with all the comforts of home and all the privacy you could hope for, the harder you make this, the less comfort and privacy I'm obliged to give you. Now then, I hope you've noticed, this isn't exactly the ship you set down on, over ther" he pointed, indicating the Black Widow CIWS. " is a Metal storm CIWS capable of firing its several thousand 20mm shells at the astounding rate of fire of one million rounds per minute. it could tear that osprey into pieces its designers couldn't recognize in under a second. Now, if you really want, I'll let you get on it and fly just far enough away that none of it gets on my ship when it explodes suddenly due to over-exposure to hot lead. but otherwise, I expect you should get out of the weather."

The Mondothian Troops had quickly and efficiently seperated the boarding party. As the Democratic colonies troops waited for the Commodore's orders, the captain that had earlier asled the democratic colonies troops to stand down stepped inside the ring of Mondothian troops and up to the democratic colonies soldier who appeared to be incharge.

"Major, I see you are holding an M-22A4 rifle chambered for 6.5mm ammunition with the safety off and the action in the firing position. Perhaps you're thinking that you and your men can take a few of us down before you die, maybe even enough that your commodore cane scape int he confusion, maybe jumping over the side and swimming to a nearby rescue boat or something. I'd like to point your attention to two things before either of us do something stupid. One, Me and my men are wearing Mondothian Maritime Infantry armor, its heavy, its hot and its uncomfortable, but it protects against anything up to a 12 guage shotgun sabot at close ranges, at this range I could probably survive two or three rounds from your gun before going down. In the meantime there are six AH-71 attack helicopters circling the deck with 20mm chain guns. and I can see with my own eyes that your armor can't take that punishment. Now, are you willing to concede that the best way to serve your commanding officer and your family is by staying alive as long as possible? Or are you about to do soemthing stupid that could get us both killed and maybe start a war that both our families will regret?"

"Commodore, what are my orders?" repeated Major Grant again, staring at the Mondothian before him. His rifle aimed at the Mondothian Captain's throat, he was sure he could kill the Captain if he had to - he was certain though, that if he did pull his trigger, that his death would follow that of the Captain's by a mere split-second.

"You know the Rules of Engagement, Major, and you know what our orders are," came the reply from Commodore Schreberg.

"Commodore, I'm not certain that..."

"We have our orders, Major."

"Aye, sir," said Grant. The Commodore knows what she's doing... she's get us out of this alive, he thought to himself. He tried to focus on maintaining his deadly aim on the Mondothian Captain, but found that the Captain's words wouldn't leave his mind.

"Lancers! Tighten up this formation!" he ordered, slowly shuffling backwards.

We're Goddamn mice in a trap, and I'm going to lead my team to their death in it, Grant's grim thoughts continued. There are twenty one men and two women under my direct command here... thier lives are my responsiblity - but is the Commodore making the right calls here? Does she know when an officer needs to scrub a mission to get the team home alive? Am I making the right call, in following her?

"Boss, we're in a bit of a tight situation," said a Lancer as the 24 Lancers stopped, literally no space between them. There was no where else to retreat, no other way to shrink thier formation - they were in a circle, thier shoulders nearly touching, surrounded on all sides by Mondothian troops.

"You have a plan, sir?"

"I working on it," replied Grant. "I'm working on it - you just keep your eyes forwards and your sights up."

*****

Commodore Schreberg turned to face the Mondothian officer once more, glad to still be breathing mortal air.

"I see that CIWS gun," she began, "and I know what will happen to it if the Colonial Taskforce fires a thousand Exocets at it. I know what will happen to it if the battleship escorts fire 16 inch cannon shells at it. You what else I know? I know that there is currently an Osprey coming for myself and my team, and I know that if you, your personel, or that CIWS mount fires upon that Osprey, this - this entire ship will be destroyed! You want to kidnap us as hostages, but we're only good alive - so unless you plan to shoot me, or you plan to experience a first-class missile barrage in stunning first person, I demand that you let us go!"

Schreberg's hand creeped towards her thigh, where her sidearm was strapped, as she hoped that her threats were sufficent enough for the Mondothian officer.

And I know that if those exocets are launched, or if those guns fire, or if a military aircraft approaches a warship and refuses to turn back, or even if those soldiers that accompanied you so much as accidently fire, then there will be war, I hope that you don't want war because I sure as hell don't. as it stands now, your government stands to pay us damages that they have already offered to pay and you stand to go to an international prison for a few years, We'll even pull some strings and put you in a nice one with plenty of priviledges. but the second any of those things you threatend me with happens, there will be war and I think both our government stand to lose much more than they have to. All you have to do is come with me, you stand to lose nothing, heck, you will even have time to write your memoirs, I've been wishing I had more time to that myself. But if you refuse, then we both stand to lose everything. is that what you want?

"If there's going to be war, it'll be the fault of Mondoth," said Commodore Schreberg as she drew her sidearm, aiming it squarely at the Mondothian officer in front of her. She gripped it tightly with trembling hands, activating the integrated laser sight.

"We are getting off this ship," she demanded. "We are getting off this ship, or I will will shoot you myself."

Schreberg took her finger off her trigger for a moment, oblivious to the Mondothian soldiers stealthily creeping behind her, as she moved her thumb to switch the pistol's safety off.

*****
On the bridge of the Resolution of Apollo, the atmosphere was a tense one as the video and audio feeds were continuously transmitted and displayed on flatscreens. Fighters were still being scrambled and squadrons still being assembled over the taskforce and above the Seagull as Commodore Schreberg remained surrounded by Mondothians aboard a hostile vessel turned trap.

"Sir, Wing Commander Kersey reports he is ready to buzz the Seagull," reported a Lieutenant to Admiral Ribisi.

"Have them wait for my command," replied Ribisi. "Schreberg is walking a very fine line right now - we don't want to push her off. Have Wing Commander Kersey hold orbit."

Maybe I should order Schreberg to surrender, thought Ribisi to himself as he leaned back in his command chair. She's pushing them hard... but she's a smart officer, and she can see what I can't see over there. She's not the most experienced Commodore, but I trust her judgement - I'd trust her with my life.

She's the onsite commander. She'll push as hard as she needs to, with no interference from me.



I'm really very sorry about this, but I'm expecting my internet access to be cut off within the next 12 hours. I'm moving to a new apartment, and I'm told that it'll be atleast sometime after the weekend before my internet access can be transferred.

I'm afraid this RP will have to be put on hold for a week or so.

I do intend to finish this up once I'm back online though. Again, I'm sorry.

Although he hated to have it end this way, he couldn't have hostile flag officers waving guns at him on his ship, the Captain waved his hand dismissivley at the admiral and immediately the soldier who had been creeping into range fired his Taser, unleashing some relatively high voltage into the Commodore and effectively temporarily usurping her nervous system. Using her short period of uncontrollable twitching, the soldier quickly cuffed her and got another soldier to help him carry her to the Brig.

The Lancers got one more chance.
"Your Commanding officer has now been subdued and is in custody, this is your final warning, please lay down your weapons and you will not be hurt." the soldiers watching the lancers were less subtle than the man tasked with stunning the Commodore, as orders went out,t he clicked cartridges of darts into their general purpose sidearms and leveled them at the Lancers, prepared to fire the high strengt sedatives at the slightest provocation.


Message fromt he SeaGull to Democratic Colonies Forces:
"Commodore Shreberg is now subdued and in custody, please refrain from making any attempts at rescuing her, she will be treated with all proper care until the trial or until you are willing to return us our right to trade.

OOC: Any interest in finishing this RP, Mondoth? It seems to have slowed down to a crawl in the later parts, but we could finish this off if you'd like. It'd be easier if we had a pre-planned outcome though. Perhaps a bloody, failed commando raid by DC, followed by the ultimate withdrawl of DC from the blockade in the face of dozens of casualties?

OOC:I'm still interested, A failed commando raid seems a most interesting idea. Feel free to do an IC any time.

And from a sales offer this has turned into a commando gunfight...

It was an interesting and unexpected conversion, the Thundercats are still for sale though if you're interested

OOC: I really must get around to finishing this, I'm sorry sorry that I haven't. I'll get back to it very soon, I promise you.

OOC: s'okay

"Ops!" shouted Admiral Ribisi. "I have something in mind. Equip a squadren of Valkyries with EMP devices, and - "

"I'm sorry, sir, but Strategic Command is sending you a Priority One transmission," interupted the operations officer. "StratCom is ordering us to stand down immedately," the officer continued.

"What?" asked Admiral Ribisi.

"Yes, sir. Verification codes confirmed," the operations officer continued. "We're getting a video feed now, sir - it's Fleet Marshal Sandhurst."

"Let me see him, ops," demanded Ribisi.

Immedately, the somewhat pixilated image of an irriated looking senior flag officer appeared on a wallmounted flatscreen.

"Fleet Marshal, sir, I believe that if we engage the Mondothians with - "

"No dice, Admiral," interupted the Fleet Marshal. "StratCom doesn't want this escalating any further. At the rate you're going, Foreign Affairs projects good chances a war will break out. You are to allow the Mondothians access to White Nazi Power, and get your people back."

"But sir, the Nazis will get the Thunder Cats! Surely, we cannot allow that to happen, sir... can we?" asked Ribisi.

"I assure you, StratCom has other plans for White Nazi Power," replied Fleet Marshal Sandhurst. "You have your orders. Allow the Mondothians through."

"Yes, sir," said Ribisi. He straightened his back, and directed his operations officer to inform the Mondothians of this new change.


This RP started half a year ago. The fact that it isn't done is my fault, and for that I apologize.

I suppose that we might as well quickly wrap it up for, for the sake of continuity, if nothing else. What do you say?

http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/planes/f22/f22-natf.jpg
Check that badass pic!

Use it!

Check that badass pic!

Use it!

I must say, that is a most beautiful picture. Mind if I use it myself?

wow, I tottaly forgot about this thread... (oh, and I did find that picture, its up on this fighters spot in my regular storefront)

sorry I didn't see your last post DC, I had switched to using the subscription thinggy (like I should have done years ago...) and apprently this thread wasn't subscribed (forum went down that one time... I lost a lot of subscriptions)

if yous till wanna wrap it up, I'm still go I spose.