NationStates Jolt Archive

[OOC: This is openish, and I call it that since I have no idea where it's going, so if you CAN fit in, by all means do, just please ask OOCly through here or PM please.]

[IC:]

HMS Retribution, 5 km off the coast of Haddock, 1800 hours

The commanding officer of the Retribution looked out over the bow of his ship, taking in the majesty of the scene before him. His crew scuttled on the forecastle, their silhouettes blending together in front of the fading sun. Waves rocked the Retribution back and forth slowly, that infamous feeling that was the seed of the drunken sailor. The ship was sturdy, but nimble. Perfectly suited for her duties.

And duties were plenty.

Haddock was the main port of the smaller island south and east of the Trebladorian mainland. This island was a vital part of Trebladorian culture and commerce, with it's 4 port cities and two inland, the island was flowing with foreign trade and investments.

That, of course, meant pirates. Pirates meant patrols, and patrols meant HMS Retribution.

TCS Freedom, 6 km off the coast of Haddock, 1800 hours

Captain James Cody moved toward the wheel to steer his ship, his hands shaking with anxiety. His radar had picked up something big, too big to be a freighter, and so there was only one ship that it could be.

HMS Retribution.

The Royal Navy's only ship patrolling the south east at the current time, HMS Retribution was a pirate ship's nightmare. And if the Freedom's radar had picked her up, it was sure as hell that she had picked up the Freedom.

"Hard to starboard, bring her round. Royal Navy patrol 1 kilometer northward. Once we get turned, I want full speed, mate."

"Ay, sir."

His orders given and his ship turning, Cody felt little relief. The Freedom was swift, but so was Retribution. It would be a race to the finish, and the winner would have quite the prize.

HMS Retribution, 7 km off the coast of Haddock, 1815 hours

The Retribution's deck was alive with movement as it's commanding officer looked out over her bow once more, their prey just in view. Retribution's RADAR had picked up the ship nearly 20 minutes ago, about a kilometer south of the Royal Navy ship. 5 minutes after that, their prey had obviously picked up Retribution, and turned south and run. Unfortunately, their prey was fast. Retribution was running full steam, just above 35 knots, but it appeared that their prey was matching that, and with their lead, they were steadily getting closer and closer to the edge of Trebladorian waters.

TCS Freedom, 8 km off the coast of Haddock, 1815 hours

Captain Cody's ship had been running for 15 steady minutes, his crew was exhausted, but his will remained firm. If the ships could make it to 12 nautical miles off the coast, they would be in international waters, and free from the Retribution. Cody sat in the bridge, speaking to his first mate about the ports nearby.

"Portsmouth is off limits, Haddock too. We enter anywhere near them, and the Royal Navy will have us."

"Ay, I don't fancy facing a battleship today. We need to make for international waters, then we can lie low for a bit, maybe hit a few freighters on their way to Aralonia or Azazia," replied the captain. "Just keep bearing south, we've been in worse situations than this."

HMS Retribution, 7 km off the coast of Haddock, 1820 hours

The CO of Retribution stepped back from the balcony of the bridge, his eyes turning toward the seaman who had requested his attention.

"Sir," said the seaman, with a brisk salute. "With all due respect sir, we'll never catch these scum by ourselves, they have too much of a lead."

"Ay, mate," came the reply, accompanying his salute. "But would you happen to have a better suggestion?"

"Ay, sir I believe I do. Send a message to all ships nearby, asking for assistance in the capture or destruction of the ship we are currently pursuing."

"Hmm, sounds acceptable. Send an open transmission allowing for the entry into Trebladorian waters in order to stop these guys."

After a quick reply, the crewman scurried off, leaving the CO to his thoughts on the balcony.

Official Communique From HMS Retribution
Attention, ships friendly to His Majesty King Anthony I! The Royal Navy
requests assistance in the capture or destruction of a rogue ship approx. 8
km south of Haddock. Assistance in this matter warrants entry into
Trebladorian waters, and is likely to merit reward.
Thank you in advance.

[OOC: Closed now, sorry, I'm waiting for Azazia]

HMS Gladius, 15km Off the Coast of Treblador

Within an integrated mast, a flat surface rotated quickly along its centre axis, emitting and then absorbing electromagnetic radiation in order to present the flesh and body crew many decks below with an accurate picture of the environment. On the LCD screens in combat, several icons denoted various ships, in blue the HMS Gladius, a Type 05 frigate optimised for long-range patrol missions, as well as the HMS Plentiful, a Bounty class replenishment vessel providing fuel and stores for the frigate. Commander Vavrinec Sevcik paced the outdoor bridge, enjoying the cool breeze flowing over the bow and forecastle of the small frigate.

Sevcik enjoyed the honour of being the first Novikovian to command a Royal Navy warship, having been the first Novikovian officer to pass the Royal Navy’s new training programme designed to qualify Novikovian officers to operate and command Royal Navy warships instead of their native Novikovian naval defence force. Off to starboard, the replenishment vessel sailed alongside the Gladius, her crew milling about readying for the afternoon’s transferal of aviation fuel to the frigate, whose helicopter now lay stowed in the aft hangar.

Captain, a voice called out from the open hatch, we are receiving a general broadcast radio transmission from a Trebladorian warship.

Turning about to find the red-haired communications officer, Sevcik nodded while he removed his cap. Running his hands through his brown hair he took a deep breath of the air before heading back through the hatch and into the bridge. What is all this fuss about?

Sir, the red-head lieutenant responded, handing over a piece of paper in the process, it seems as if they are having trouble dealing with a pirate.

Again, Sevcik nodded while his eyes moved towards the small display panel along the starboard bulkhead. Which ship is the rogue? A moment later, an icon shifted from green to red, signifying an enemy threat. She’s close to the shipping lane, and that freighter out of Philadelphia, he said aloud, although not to anybody in particular. With trade beginning to grow between the two like-minded nations, merchant vessels sailing out of Philadelphia and Port Hamptonshire had become know to frequent the cities of Portsmouth and Haddock.

Staring out the windows to the sea, Sevcik quickly made up his mind on his course of action. Commander Yarrow, he called out to the executive officer, bring the ship to general quarters and make ready a boarding party. Navigator, adjust our course to intercept the pirate. Tactical, I would like you to prepare a firing solution for the main battery, warning shot only, then prepare Longbow anti-ship missiles for action. Radioman, please inform the Retribution that we shall render the necessary assistance and then inform Captain Lind onboard the Plentiful that we will be parting ways for a short while.

Rather quickly, the Gladius turned from her westerly course to a more south-southeasterly bearing, her diesel engine and gas turbines providing the maximum safe output, allowing the trimaran to slice through the calm seas at 32 knots. Inside the frigate, Sevcik stood behind the navigator, whose dour face foreshadowed the news. Sir, we will not be able to catch up with her, speed differential is approximately three knots. At current rate, we shall enter maximum gun range in, the navigator looked down to his digital display, his fingers pounding away at the keyboard quickly, four minutes, but then the pirate will exit our gun range in seven.

A three minute window, Sevcik muttered. Commander Yarrow, the Novikovian added within a moment, ready the Sea Falcon for an emergency launch. Tell her crew to move ahead of the pirate.

Two minutes later, the hangar doors had been retracted and the Sea Falcon helicopter began its slow journey out to the landing platform on the stern of the vessel. Although the helicopter was not normally launched at such high-speeds for fear of serious damage to either the aircraft or the ship, it could theoretically be launched, admittedly with a much higher probability for problems and errors. By the time the rotors had begun to spin, the main gun had traversed to the proper bearing and the barrel elevated to the proper angle and the first 90mm shell raced off towards its target.

A moment later, an unseen projectile left the frigate, this one a burst of electromagnetic radiation carrying the voice of the radioman. Rogue vessel, this is His Majesty’s Ship Gladius, you are hereby ordered to come to a complete stop and prepare to be boarded. Failure to do so will compel the Royal Navy to stop your vessel at any cost.

OOC: Is it still closed?

[OOC: Yeah sorry, IC post will be coming probably later today, I just got Rome: Total War. :rolleyes:]

HMS Retribution, 9 km off the coast of Haddock, 1824 hours
"Sir, we're recieving a transmission from the HMS Gladius, an Azazian ship in the vicinity. They will be rendering assistance. They have the pirates in range, and have given the warning message."

TCS Freedom, 10 km off the coast of Haddock, 1824 hours

The Azazian warning fell upon deaf ears, or rather, upon ears that were so preoccupied that they chose to ignore perhaps the loudest and most persistent of their sounds. Nevertheless, the Freedom sped forward, her bow cutting the last traces of Trebladorian waters before her, slitting the ocean in two beautiful halves. Captain Cody, however, would soon be in for a surprise.