NationStates Jolt Archive

ROUND UP, ROUND UP!
TOUR THE MIGHTY HOOD
HOOD TOUR OPENS: 29TH MARCH 2003
Her Majesty's Ship Hood is the largest and most powerful warship afloat. From her 30'' guns to her huge missile slots to her gigantic nuclear engines the Hood, standing at 1836 metres long and weighing over 18 million tons, is the largest battleship in the Questarian Royal Navy and by far the largest abroad. For twelve glorious years the Hood has been a national symbol. From her comission in 1991, to her part in the Malayan Emergency of 1998, the Hood has had a rich history. She is the ship that every sailor looks up to, wishes to serve onboard. For some, those dreams are recognised. The Hood is currently berthed at Portsmouth, where the only waterdock in an Empire that spans the world large enough to hold a ship this size lies. For the purpose of the tour the Hood will be sitting dormant in the water outside London.

To apply for the tour, simply send in a form to the Questarian Royal Navy Inquiry Boards informing us of your nationality, name, age, and branch of the armed forces (if applicable) and rank (if applicable).

The tour will include a full tour of the Hood, watching a live fire excercise, meeting senior admiralty staff, and getting a glimpse of what it is like to serve on Her Majesty's Battleship Hood.

Your stay, which will cost £850, will include a two week stay at a top Questarian hotel, a luxury lunch onboard the Hood, and temporary diplomatic immunity.

"Hmm...the greatest battleship in history? I'll have to see about that..." Admiral Michael Mullen (retired), head of Research and Design at Baltimore Shipyards and ex-Chief of Naval Operations of the United States Navy, mused. He checked the exchange rate online - $3.4313 Beltway to £1 Questers. Checking his calculator, he found the cost to be about $2,916.62 Beltway. He then filled an expense form, to be submitted the day before he left. Obviously, he wouldn't yet know what day he'd leave for a bit...

Name and position: Michael Mullen, Director of Baltimore Shipyards R&D
Description of expense: Two-week stay aboard HMS Hood of the Questarian Navy
Reason for expense: Research
Total expense (in $ Beltway): $2,916.62
He then went back to the original Questarian website and went back to the form, then paused. That was odd. There were no drop-down menus to choose from, not even for age. Besides, what would he fill in for nationality? American or Beltway? Hmm...why not let them sort it out...

Nationality: American (from The Beltway)
Name: Michael Mullen
Age: 69
Branch of armed forces (if applicable): Navy - currently retired
Rank (if applicable): Admiral - currently retired

"Looks like a nice ship." Chief of the Sea Sam Jorgensen observed. Luchamos never turned down a chance to be friendly with another power. He picked up the phone.
"Yes sir?" answered the other end.

"Is Admiral Benson of the First Naval Task force back from his tour yet?"

"His NPLS Sakima commandship docked an hour ago."

"Call him, tell him not to unpack."

To: RN Board of Inquiries
From: Chief of the Sea Sam Jorgensen
Subject: Application for Hood Tour
Nationality: Luchero (From Luchamos)
Name: Raphael Benson
Age: 57
Branch of armed forces: Navy
Rank: Admiral
Command: 1st Naval Task Force

DC Strategic Command, Viconia City

The room was cold, uncomfortable. It's lighting was of the overly harsh fluorescent variety common to government facilities. The air was the too sterile, filtered and scrubbed oxygen of an NBC safe facility.

The room lacked humanity, and Wing Commander Kate O'Dell hated it the moment she stepped through its doors.

"Wing Commander O'Dell, reporting as ordered," the officer said crisply, as she presented a salute.

The row of admirals and commodores seated in front of her remained silent as they examined her from behind thier long oakwood tables. They studied her, bore into her with thier eyes. They evaluated her without saying a word.

"At ease, Wing Commander," said one finally, an aging man with streaks of white in his hair. He leaned forward in his seat as he spoke.

"I trust, Wing Commander, that you've heard of the offer from the Questarian Government to have foreign personel tour thier largest super dreadnaught, the so called 'battleship' HMS Hood?"

"Yes, sir."

"Very good. I'm certain you'll be pleased to know that you have been selected to tour the Hood."

"Yes sir. Thank you, sir," came the automatic reply from O'Dell.

"You will be accompanied by a diplomat from the Department of Foreign Affairs. While this diplomat is retired Navy, and thus has no official rank, you will defer to his judgement while on this assignment. Foreign Affairs has the mission lead on this paticular outing."

"Yes, sir."

"Very good then. You are dismissed. Please pick up your assignment package from the marine outside, and tell him or her to send in Commodore Chang."

"Yes, sir, thank you sir."

As she turned on her heel smartly and walked back through the massive doors out of the room, Kate O'Dell let a slight smile cross her face.

The Hood. Biggest warship on the high seas? Should be quite a sight.


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Nationality: Colonial (Federated Union of Democratic Colonies)
Name: Stephen Blake
Age: 71
Branch of armed forces (if applicable): Civilian Government, Retired Navy
Rank (if applicable): High Diplomat, Admiral (O-9) (Retired)





Nationality: Colonial (Federated Union of Democratic Colonies)
Name: Kate O'Dell
Age: 34
Branch of armed forces (if applicable): Navy
Rank (if applicable): Wing Commander (O-6)