NationStates Jolt Archive

May 19, 2016
Baltimore Harbor
"Rear Admiral Lovell, sir, new orders from the Defence Ministry," Ensign Jake Porter announced, standing on the bridge of the USS Nimitz, flagship of the First Battle Group of the Navy of The Beltway. He handed Lovell the printout.

To: Rear Admiral Will Lovell, CINC of 1st Battle Group
From: Benjamin Cardin, Defence Minister of The Beltway
Re: Operation MAHAN
1 - USNR Ecstasy, USNR Radiance of the Seas, and USNR SeaLand Virginia are hereby assigned to 1st Battle Group for the duration of Operation MAHAN.
2 - 1st Battle Group is to deploy to the small archipelago in the strait separating Velkyan and Raven Corps territory in Irathria; this deployment shall begin in one week's time.
3 - 1st Battle Group will remain there until such time as the following naval facilities are built there:
I - Naval Air Station John Glenn, on Eldridge Gerry Island;
II - Port Daniel Webster, on John Calhoun Island;
III - DeWitt Clinton Naval Shipyards, on Henry Clay Island
4 - SSK-5 Charles Holliday, DD-21 Chuck Robb, and FFG-59 Kauffman are to be removed from 1st Battle Group and to be permanently assigned to Port Daniel Webster
"USNR Ecstasy... oh, right, the cruise ships and the container ship that we just bought and had commissioned. One week... well, I suppose that should be enough time to get the kind of personnel and equipment they need for this sort of job. Irathria... hey, isn't that the continent with the wars and such? Well, hmm... oh, yeah, the Azazians and Velkyans are there, if I remember, so we should be fine... Heh, Webster's on Calhoun... We're losing an SSK, a destroyer of a different class from the rest of our battle group, and a single frigate. Could be worse, I suppose..." Lovell mused, reading the order.

The White House, Georgetown
"Mr. Prime Minister, if you wouldn't mind signing..." Kostas Alexakis, who, with Warner on campaign, had essentially become the Foreign Minister in all but name, said, handing Prime Minister Timothy Kaine a note.

To _________________________ -
The Beltway is hereby colonizing the small island group in the strait between Velkyan and Raven Corps territory in Irathria. We desire that you recognize our claim to this island group.
Sincerely,
Prime Minister Timothy Kaine of The Beltway

Kaine signed it quickly, then gave it back to Alexakis. "You'll send copies to each of the Irathrian powers?"

"Yeah - Velkya, Azazia, Raven Corps, Ramissle-Florentine, Asbena, and the others," Alexakis replied. "That's why we left in the blank..."

June 9, 2016
It had been two weeks since the First Battle Group, travelling at 23 knots (the pace set by the cruise ships and the container ship), had left Baltimore. The ships had travelled over 7,500 nautical miles of unending ocean, and now they were only a day from the island group they would settle. Time to remind the locals...

Velkya and/or Raven Corps - Some sort of guidance to the island group in question from your coast guards would be appreciated...

Atal Amner looked up from his tea as the aide came in. "Ah, now what have we here?" He placed the dispatch over his newspaper, completly censored of course. No sense in angering the 'Prime Minister' of the Military Junta. "Ah, so more have come to play in our little playground. You would think that with all that fuss over the Inner Sea and the Relish Strait, some people might be wary of sticking their hands into the oven. Send them this dispatch..." He began jotting some words down over his own face in the news. Some sort of article on the newest fasions... When you were the supreme ruler, the news liked you, or else.

Greetings and salutations to the newest blood in the already multicolored realm of Irathria. I am Atal Amner, the Prime Minister of the nation know to some as No Endorse. Your incursion is welcomed, you're not in our back yard, so we can't fuss. Let Raven Corps bring objections if the feel that they must. However, be aware that there are several shipping routes going to Valoria in the Relish Strait. We'd be much obliged if you didn't tear those to shreads.

If you ever feel in the mood to take some tea and crumpets then don't hesitate to come right on over. (Violet does make such wonderful crumpets, although I swear they look just like the ones I see in the market... I'll have to ask her about that some time. You will remind me, won't you?) I'll see to it that the weather behaves its best for you should you want to come.

Pleased to make your acquaintance,
-Atal Amner, Prime Minister of the Military Junta of No Endorse

The transmission was sent in a PDF format, written in the gaudy scrawling print of Amner's calligraphor. Amner's handwriting of course looked nothing like that, but the Prime Minister wanted it done thusly, and so it was done.

May 20, 2016
The Foreign Ministry, Foggy Bottom, Georgetown
"Hmm, what's this then... A PDF? Fricking Adobe Acrobat 8; you'd think it would load faster after eight versions... Oh, it's about Irathria. Military Junta of No Endorse? Well, it's probably not one we set up in the Cold War... Wait, PM of a Junta? It takes all sorts..." a Foreign Ministry official muttered, reading over the PDF that No Endorse had sent to The Beltway. He forwarded it to Deputy Foreign Minister Alexakis.

A few minutes later, Alexakis composed the following response:
To Atal Amner, Prime Minister of the Military Junta of No Endorse -
Thank you for your message. If you would be so kind as to provide the Defence Minister, Benjamin Cardin, with a map showing these routes, it would be appreciated. We aren't leaving for six days, anyways.

With regards to a visit, seeing as how my boss, Foreign Minister Mark Warner, has essentially deserted his job due to his campaign for Prime Minister, I cannot personally visit for a while, as I have to "hold down the fort," as they say. However, Prime Minister Timothy Kaine may be able to visit your nation soon; I'll get back to you on details.

I'm curious as to your form of government, seeing as how you are the Prime Minister of a self-described Military Junta. Would you mind filling me in on this?

Sincerely,
Kostas Alexakis, Deputy Foreign Minister of The Beltway

June 9, 2016
"No response yet, sir," Ensign Porter replied for the second time in the last hour. The Rear Admiral had ordered him to check in every half-hour to see if anyone had hailed the battle group.

"Oh well. Well, I suppose the fact that we're fairly far from the shipping lanes, according to the map No Endorse provided us with, might have something to do with it. Still, carry on..." Rear Admiral Lovell said nervously.

I'll TG you later about details for a state visit...

Another PDF was sent, this one with a map attatched. It showed a shipping route from the Relish Strait going between Raven Corps and Velkya, and another one on the far side of Velkya, as well as several reaching from the Relish Strait (interesting name...) to No Endorse through the Inner Sea.

When one controls the congrees with an iron fist, one gets elected to be Prime Minister quite often. It's rather odd actually. They could 'overthrow' me if they so voted. They would just meet the chair the next day of couse. I leave most of the opposition alone though, they are quite amusing and lack any support.

Attatched are official No-Endorse patrolled routes. We keep ships along those to ensure that our merchants can keep lining their pockets. Quite an interesting thing, trade is. The point is to make someone pay YOU slips of paper for a physical item. Quite ludichris, no?

Anyways, it would be lovely if your Prime Minister would visit our nation. Just send warning a few days before you arrive!
-Atal Amner



(ooc: Valoria is the yellow area at the S end of the Relish Strait. Plus... Amner is a little 'off' en la cabeza.)

To The Beltway

ICCD is opening a diplomatic channel with the Beltway. ICCD does not state any interest in the Island areas you have mentioned. We are willing to open trade and other discussions with you.

In event of protest to your involvement in the area, ICCD leans towards Velkya's determination for that area. In regards to Raven Corps. ICCD does not have formal relations with the said party.

May 21, 2016
The Foreign Ministry, Foggy Bottom, Georgetown
"Two messages this time, one from No Endorse - another PDF... oh, so they're just the ordinary dictator-types, but they keep an opposition around to keep them honest. [snorts] And one from In-tra-cir-cum-cor-dei? Huh..." an official at the Foreign Ministry muttered to himself, reading the latest dispatches from Irathria. He forwarded the messages to Alexakis, and sent the maps to the Defence Ministry.

11:12 AM, June 9, 2016
10 hours until First Battle Group arrives at its destination
Ecstasy was an odd name for a ship, even for Carnival Cruise Lines. Still, Lieutenant (senior grade) Kwame Pew of the Beltway Security Force - specifically, of its Navy's Construction and Engineering Section - wasn't complaining. After all, he would have probably never been on a cruise ship in his life if it hadn't been for this deployment. Of course, he'd have to get off the ship soon, but hey, he might as well enjoy himself while he still could...

Should I assume there are locals on the islands, or should I assume the islands are uninhabitated?

ooc: Err... just assume they're empty I guess... there are no claims to that area.

I love the appraisal of my 'government' ^_^

OOC - Thanks. Now, if Velkya or Raven Corps could actually post...
Or even Azazia...
Or Whyatica...
Or Kraven...
Or anyone...

(OOC: are you sure you want me to post? :P)

OOC - Well, aren't you on Irathria? Just don't kill us...
Look, there's nothing out there, resource-wise. Heck, my nation's got nothing much in terms of resources, either. Just crabs... and not many of those...
Post away - don't threaten us yet, just leave us... warned. I need a new issue for my PM election thread, which I will resurrect...

Kraven had been watching the Transmissions from Irathria for some time now, every day a new message was passed to and fro between nations, all waiting for something to happen, Cydonia the Kraven Held colony of Irathria was not known to be Kraven, and even so Kraven had yet to actually announce that Cydonia was indeed a Kraven Held Territory... but even so, The Beltways Interest in some small Strategic Islands had caused some Kraven Officers to take a lot of interest...



The Supreme Overlord State of The Kraven Corporation

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v399/HorusGodEmperor/KravenInsignia2.jpg

To: The Beltway
From: The Kraven High Command

Tread Carefully, We are watching your actions... Do not displease us

The High Command

Nice; I'm not even worth more than a vague, semi-threatening note... : )

May 22, 2016
"Huh, a new message... Kraven... uh, hmm, what's this now? You'd think they'd actually come out and threaten us; they're treating us like we are barely worth their time. Well, hopefully we won't bother them and they won't bother us..." a bureaucrat in the Foreign Ministry mumbled, reading the latest reply.

Noon, June 9, 2016
USS Nimitz
"Nothing, sir," Ensign Porter said. "Not a single message. I checked, twice, and none was there."

"Hmm. Hey, anything on radar?" Rear Admiral Will Lovell shouted. "Besides us, I mean?"

"Nope! Not a thing. Wait, I'll check with the Hawkeyes... nope, still nothing, sir," Lieutenant (j.g.) John Orkin, radar operator aboard the Nimitz, shouted back.

OOC: Lol, well i didn't want to make it obvious that Kraven is operating in Irathria, it was a little mystique, as far as your government is concerned, Cydonia is a backward little country of nothing more than banana merchants and rice paddys (When in reality its military installation of Kraven proportions :))

True; is Whyatica's presence in Irathria similarly discreet?
Oh, and I'll be posting about you very soon in my PM campaign thread; phrases like "a cult of death," "Kraven's target is humanity itself," and "One cannot negotiate with evil" will come up. I will also make sure to have someone differentiate you from the Nazis - thus, the second comment.
Oh, and by the way, the speechifying came before your 'threat,' so that way you have an IC (rather than just an SIC) reason for it...

May 23, 2016
The White House
"So, what does this mean?" Timothy Kaine, Prime Minister of The Beltway, asked, holding the printed-out copy of Kraven's message.

"It means that Kraven's watching us. It means that we've come to Kraven's attention. Though I'm not quite sure how, we somehow have..." Kostas Alexakis replied.

12:30 PM, June 9, 2016
USS Nimitz
"Still nothing, sir. Maybe we should radio Velkya?" Ensign Porter reported in boredly.

"Not yet. We'll try that at two. Until then, carry on, ensign," Rear Admiral Lovell said in response.

Or, bump...

1:00 PM, June 9, 2016
"Still nothing, sir. Nothing from Velkya, nothing from Raven Corps, nothing from anyone," Ensign Porter reported.

"Carry on," Rear Admiral Lovell said, then sighed. He had expected some sort of response...

2:00 PM, June 9, 2016
"It's 2:00, and nobody's home, sir," Ensign Jake Porter reported. "Sorry, but I think we'll have to send out a radio message if we want anyone to act."

"True enough, ensign," Rear Admiral Will Lovell, in charge of the operation, said as he made his way to the radio room. Once he got there, he tuned the radio to broadcast in the clear and said, "Attention, your attention please. This is the USS Nimitz, flagship of the First Battle Group of the Navy of The Beltway. We are moving to colonize the island group between Raven Corps and Velkya. Any guidance from coast guard personnel would be appreciated greatly."

"Hopefully, that will get somebody to realize we're here," the Rear Admiral said, getting off the radio.

(OOC: It's called the Straight of Eone on Velkyan maps.)


Straight of Eon

"Control, this is Victor 39, unknowns tracked near Eone Island Group, they're hailing us."

Prideful Valor, the picket maritime patrol ship operating in this sector, opened up a communications line with Victor 39, a EW-4 Sauron AWACS aircraft operating in that vicinity. "Patching through the message now." The controller listened to the message before forwarding the message to High Command, who dispatched the message to the Beltway force.

Greetings, brave allies of the nation of the Beltway. We have recieved your transmission and have dispatched the cruiser Sweet Victory to the region to escort you to Hartman Naval Base in Southern Velkya.

2:10 PM, June 9, 2016
USS Nimitz
"A response, sir! If you'll come here..." Ensign Jake Porter shouted jubilantly. It had taken long enough. The Rear Admiral followed, read the message, and sent off a quick reply:To: Velkyan High Command
From: First Battle Group, Navy of the Beltway
Re: Colonization in the Velkyan Sea
Text: Thank you for your assistance; we will indeed need a base for staging. What do you know about the islands that we intend to settle? Are they inhabitated? Have they any resources of note?

2:59 PM, June 9, 2016
USS Annapolis
"Conn, sonar. Strong contact coming in at 32 knots. It's heading for the battle group," the sonarman sang out.

"Sonar, conn. That's the Velkyan cruiser. Nothing to worry about. Carry on," Captain Edmund Parks replied, then radioed the Nimitz to tell them the news.

ooc: The Relish strait is FAR to the south of Velkya. Follow the maze through my sig and you'll find a map.

EDIT:
http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/4849/florintinecontinentislandaddna.jpg

Velkya, out of curiosity, why do you have a colony right on my doorstep? I hadn't noticed that before...

OOC - Gotcha. We're currently in the Enterian Sea, several hundred nautical miles from the Xharn-Toops border.

To: Sweet Victory
From: USS Nimitz
Re: A note...
Text:
Thanks for guiding us in. Please note that we are travelling at a top speed of 23 knots; it would be appreciated if you match your speed accordingly.

Just a quick note... I'm going for the top group of islands in the Velkyan Sea (which actually have 3+ islands), rather than the bottom pair.

June 17, 2016
Rear Admiral Lovell had been waiting at Hartman for a week now, hoping for a reply from Defence Minister Cardin. They wouldn't be able to go through with it now, after all, not after what Lovell had learned about the islands to be colonized...

June 9, 2016
"Rear Admiral Lovell, I'm afraid I have some bad news, news that requires me to tell you a story," the Velkyan Admiral began. "Several years back, when we first settled the island you are standing on today, we attempted to seize control of the other islands in the Velkyan Sea. The southern islands couldn't be seized; Raven Corps threatened war if we did such an act. But the northern islands..."

"The ones we intend to... colonize," Rear Admiral Lovell had said; it had taken him a few moments to choose the right word, and he still didn't think it was right.

"Yes, those islands," the Velkyan said, then sipped at his coffee before continuing. "They were in a strategic location, after all, and we had thought that they might even have had oil..."

"Oil? That would be nice; The Beltway lacks oil," Lovell interjected. "Of course, we also lack most other mineral resources, but oil would certainly be a nice start."

"We never managed to find out. When the colonization force - one corvette, two cutters, four patrol boats, two SSKs, and four LSTs - approached the islands, they ran into... difficulties," the Admiral said. He sighed, then continued, "Both cutters ran aground, one of the subs hit a sandbar, three LSTs struck reefs, and the rest of the force was needed to rescue the stricken ships. We were lucky that we didn't lose any lives. Still, the leadership wanted the islands, so we gathered the same task force and tried again."

"With disasterous results, I take it," Lovell remarked; the Velkyan cracked a wry smile at that and nodded. The two admirals sipped their coffees.

"True. This time, all of the LSTs hit the reef. The commander of the task force ordered the other ships to continue on; somehow, we managed to make it through with only one other ship - a patrol boat - running aground. So, we arrived at the islands. And then," the Velkyan spoke, as if recalling a distant memory. "And then the cannonballs started firing. Quite well-aimed, actually; we later found out that the locals had managed to find a radar somehow, probably off a shipwrecked fishing boat. Nonetheless, one of our patrol boats was actually sunk by a cannonball, while our corvette lost much of its bow to the guns. We managed to silence them with missiles; one hit, and the shells stopped. After that, we rushed out, fishing out the crew of the sunken patrol boat and making our way back."

"Cannonballs? Who were you fighting, Nelson?" exclaimed Rear Admiral Lovell incredulously.

"I now think that we were fighting descendants of some shipwrecked British vessels. But that's beside the point. The fact of the matter is, we couldn't make it in by sea," the Velkyan replied. "The islands are very rocky, and we had trouble getting in even subs. I know; I captained one of the subs that tried to scout out the sea bottom around the islands. So, after trying to get in by sea, we tried to land in troops by air."

"So what did they use to stop you, dragons? Makes about as much sense as cannonballs sinking modern ships..." Lovell said.

"Nah, just high winds and fog. Not one plane managed to successfully drop in troops; the winds and fog were too much, and tossed our planes into mountains or the sea. We lost a good 500 men that day," the Velkyan sighed. "The one good thing is, we haven't been back since, so we haven't lost any more men to those islands."

"And now we're here," Rear Admiral Will Lovell said in reply. This was bad news, to say the least.

"And now you're here," the Velkyan had said.

June 17, 2016
"Rear Admiral Lovell, telephone. It's Defence Minister Cardin," the secretary said.

"Good, put me through... Minister Cardin, I assume you read my memo?" Lovell said. Cardin nodded, and Lovell continued, "So, then, our orders are scrubbed?"

"No. Find a way in; we need those islands. Especially, as you claim, if there could be oil on them," Cardin replied. "We can afford to wait, so long as we take the islands..."

Just giving myself a little challenge...