NationStates Jolt Archive

Peter Delvany cracked his knuckles as he slid the now completed form over to the outbox. Oh thank God, only one more paper left. He hadn't realized just how much paperwork was involved with the position of Lord Protector prior to his acceptance of Parliament's election of him. Hardly a day went by when he didn't ponder the creation of a "Minister of Paperwork", just to clear the drudgery from his job.

Of course, a lot of the paperwork was due to the circumstances involving the death of his predecessor, John Melkovich. Some fanatic communists had managed to destroy his plane as it landed, killing him. The response accidently sparked a larger communist uprising, one that had been decisively put down. To put it mildly, there would be no Communist Party representatives sent to Parliament in the next election.

Looking at the last paper of the day, a petition from a merchant, he began to slowly smile. Then he began cackling. Oh, this is too good. The irony is just delicious.

To All Mariners
From the Rosdivan Ministry of Trade

Letters of Marque and Reprisal are now currently being issued by the Supreme Commonwealth of Rosdivan against certain members of the Corporate Alliance. These letters permit the holder to outfit a ship and crew for the purpose of seizing merchant shipping belonging to the subject members. They also permit the holder to purchase conventional weaponry from Supreme Commonwealth armament industries subject to the following limitations:
Naval cannons to be no larger than 5"
Missiles to be no larger than man-portable
No weapon deemed in violation of the customary laws of war.

Any captured vessel may be brought either to a Supreme Commonwealth port, or to a neutral port which will recognize the seizure and permit an auction of the ship and its cargo. Passengers and crew may be ransomed or paroled as the holder sees fit. Fifty percent of the revenue raised thereby shall belong to the Supreme Commonwealth government, the rest shall be divided among the crew and holders as they deem fit.

As some do not recognize the validity of a Letter of Marque and Reprisal, a commissioning in the Navy Reserve is also offered. There are currently no known nations which deny the legality of naval forces seizing enemy shipping. This commissioning does require that two-thirds of revenues be directed into the Supreme Commonwealth treasury rather than one half.

Currently Letters of Marque and Reprisal are effective against shipping belonging to member corporations and states of the Corporate Alliance. This includes all shipping belonging to the Blackhelm Confederacy.

These Letters of Marque and Reprisal are not limited to citizens of the Supreme Commonwealth of Rosdivan, and any person of good background who submits a proper application detailing their name, country of origin, identification number (if applicable), and proof of ownership of a seagoing vessel or intent to obtain ownership may receive a Letter.

*People start flocking to Hurtian military surplus stores for 125 mm cannons and mortars, 35 mm light cannons, 'man portable' 6 inch naval rockets, and various 'obsolete' small arms.*

How do I respond to this?


L.t. Dunbar (like L.T. Smash) and Davy Jones
Co-owners of the Davy Jones's Concrete Foot Locker.
(a concrete sailboat/catamaran with auxillary power)
(I actually RPed this duo once, digging them up once again)

Nationality: People's Republic Of Hurtful Thoughts

Armarment fitted:
A double 35 mm cannon in crow's nest
One 125 mm cannon in the bow of each hull
12 torpedoes (21 inch) under middle of deck
2 light observation planes

Boat specs are... somewhere...

*People start flocking to Hurtian military surplus stores for 125 mm cannons and mortars, 35 mm light cannons, 'man portable' 6 inch naval rockets, and various 'obsolete' small arms.*

How do I respond to this?

L.t. Dunbar (like L.T. Smash) and Davy Jones
Co-owners of the Davy Jones's Concrete Foot Locker.
(a concrete sailboat/catamaran with auxillary power)
(I actually RPed this duo once, digging them up once again)

OOC i say they like they guns big

Know Ye, that We have granted, and by these presents do grant, licence and authority to L.t. Dunbar and Davy Jones, commanders of the catamaran called the Davy Jones's Concrete Foot Locker to fit out and set forth the said Davy Jones's Concrete Foot Locker in a warlike manner, and by and with the said Davy Jones's Concrete Foot Locker and the crew thereof, by force of arms, to attack, subdue and take all ships and other vessels whatsoever carrying soldiers, arms, gunpowder, ammunition, provisions, or any other contraband goods to any of the Corporate Alliance armies or ships of war: And also to attack, seize and take all ships or other vessels belonging to the inhabitants of the Corporate Alliance, or to any subject or subjects thereof, with their tackle, apparel, furniture and ladings, on the high seas, or between high and low-water marks. And the said ships or vessels so apprehended as aforesaid, and as prize taken, to carry into any port or harbour within the dominions of any neutral state willing to admit the same, or into any port within the Supreme Commonwealth of Rosdivan, in order that the courts there instituted to hear and determine causes civil and maritime, may proceed in due Form to condemn the said captures, if they be adjudged lawful prize, or otherwise according to the usage in such cases at the port or in the state where the same shall be carried. This commission shall continue in force until the Supreme Commonwealth shall issue orders to the contrary.

OOC: Am I one of the factions you're issuing those letters about?

Know Ye, that We have granted, and by these presents do grant, licence and authority to L.t. Dunbar and Davy Jones, commanders of the catamaran called the Davy Jones's Concrete Foot Locker to fit out and set forth the said Davy Jones's Concrete Foot Locker in a warlike manner, and by and with the said Davy Jones's Concrete Foot Locker and the crew thereof, by force of arms, to attack, subdue and take all ships and other vessels whatsoever carrying soldiers, arms, gunpowder, ammunition, provisions, or any other contraband goods to any of the Corporate Alliance armies or ships of war: And also to attack, seize and take all ships or other vessels belonging to the inhabitants of the Corporate Alliance, or to any subject or subjects thereof, with their tackle, apparel, furniture and ladings, on the high seas, or between high and low-water marks. And the said ships or vessels so apprehended as aforesaid, and as prize taken, to carry into any port or harbour within the dominions of any neutral state willing to admit the same, or into any port within the Supreme Commonwealth of Rosdivan, in order that the courts there instituted to hear and determine causes civil and maritime, may proceed in due Form to condemn the said captures, if they be adjudged lawful prize, or otherwise according to the usage in such cases at the port or in the state where the same shall be carried. This commission shall continue in force until the Supreme Commonwealth shall issue orders to the contrary.

Davy Jones hangs it in a plaque on his boat, for all to see.

OOC: Are you intercepting all vessles owned by the nations affiliated with the Corporate Alliance that you find, or are you intercepting all vessles carrying any products of theirs that you find?

OOC: Am I one of the factions you're issuing those letters about?

If your entire nation is part of the Corporate Alliance, yes. Otherwise, just the corporation registered with them.


OOC: Are you intercepting all vessles owned by the nations affiliated with the Corporate Alliance that you find, or are you intercepting all vessles carrying any products of theirs that you find?

It'd be all vessels carrying contraband material on their behalf, or registered with Corporate Alliance entities. Contraband includes all weapons, ammunition, and military rations (food other than rations is not contraband).

OOC: Well then, I might have to give my navy a little practice on convoy protection... since my entire nation is part of the CA... and all of its shipping is owned by the government...
Excpet that my navy is tied up in the invasions of TWSP and TPF... this could get bad...

It'd be all vessels carrying contraband material on their behalf, or registered with Corporate Alliance entities. Contraband includes all weapons, ammunition, and military rations (food other than rations is not contraband).

So this is anywhere that you find them? International waters and waters of individual nations?

And you would not intercept tankers carrying Griffincrest oil?

Anywhere they happen to find them. And as of now, a neutral tanker would not be seized. Of course, should I change the list of contraband, that might change.

Anywhere they happen to find them. And as of now, a neutral tanker would not be seized. Of course, should I change the list of contraband, that might change.

A tanker belongling to the Griffincrest Corporation would be neutral?

A tanker belongling to the Griffincrest Corporation would be neutral?

Nope. They, and all other ships belonging to Griffincrest and the Blackhelm Confederacy, are explicitly on the "To be seized" list.

Nope. They, and all other ships belonging to Griffincrest and the Blackhelm Confederacy, are explicitly on the "To be seized" list.

I see. Where exactly are your privateers at the moment?

Does this include imports from nations like myself? I'm not in the CA, but I export a lot of oil to Blackhelm. We wont take too kindly to our ships being attacked just 'cause we want money. T_T

Zukariaa;11794885']Does this include imports from nations like myself? I'm not in the CA, but I export a lot of oil to Blackhelm. We wont take too kindly to our ships being attacked just 'cause we want money. T_T

I am sort of in the same boat.

Then I recommend you look elsewhere to do business in order to cut your losses.

As privateering, like unrestricted submarine warfare, really doesn't care, so long as nothing reaches their enemy.

Might want to read my response to Ackistan's question on how/if I plan on cleaning up the oil slicks of destroyed tankers.

The Chimera Mercenary Company hereby requests Letters of Marque and Reprisal from the Rosdivan government. We will not require armaments, however, as we possess our own fleet, modest though it may be.

Yours,
Colonel Jordan Antioch
CEO of Chimera Tactical Solutions

OOC: You're imposing unrestricted submarine warfare?!? Well, then this could get ugly...

Official Document of the Supreme Commonwealth of Rosdivan


Know Ye, that We have granted, and by these presents do grant, licence and authority to the Chimera Mercenary Company, and all officers and sailors thereof, to fit out and set forth in a warlike manner, and by force of arms, to attack, subdue and take all ships and other vessels whatsoever carrying soldiers, arms, gunpowder, ammunition, provisions, or any other contraband goods to any of the Corporate Alliance armies or ships of war: And also to attack, seize and take all ships or other vessels belonging to the inhabitants of the Corporate Alliance, or to any subject or subjects thereof, with their tackle, apparel, furniture and ladings, on the high seas, or between high and low-water marks. And the said ships or vessels so apprehended as aforesaid, and as prize taken, to carry into any port or harbour within the dominions of any neutral state willing to admit the same, or into any port within the Supreme Commonwealth of Rosdivan, in order that the courts there instituted to hear and determine causes civil and maritime, may proceed in due Form to condemn the said captures, if they be adjudged lawful prize, or otherwise according to the usage in such cases at the port or in the state where the same shall be carried. This commission shall continue in force until the Supreme Commonwealth shall issue orders to the contrary


OOC: You're imposing unrestricted submarine warfare?!? Well, then this could get ugly...

I'm not, but he was using that as an analogy. If you don't want to lose money, don't engage in commerce involving contraband shipping or merchandise.

I'm not, but he was using that as an analogy. If you don't want to lose money, don't engage in commerce involving contraband shipping or merchandise.

That was the point of this embargo/privateering concept to begin with, to discurage others from trading, and those who do will face a severe drop in profits (perhaps into a deficit/bankrupcy).

It goes without saying that embargoing the Griffencrest Corporation pretty much makes you immune to all except smuggling checks at blockade checkpoints.

And I do have submarines available to help enforce the blockade if it comes to that

OOC: Becuase I am fighting alongside the Corporate Alliance as well as invading The World Soviet Party, I think it best to divert whatever attention may have been directed at me, awya. Pudite logistical convoys are massive affairs, protected by light-carrier equipped escort groups consiting of the carrier itself, ten escort ships, and three attack submarines. I would go off and privateer someone who's... not me.

OOC: Define escort ships. A Chimera privateering fleet might be able to take it...

Well...at this juncture my oil tankers are usually guarded by two Um al Maradim fast attack ships each.

Then I recommend you look elsewhere to do business in order to cut your losses.

As privateering, like unrestricted submarine warfare, really doesn't care, so long as nothing reaches their enemy.

Might want to read my response to Ackistan's question on how/if I plan on cleaning up the oil slicks of destroyed tankers.

If any privateer attacks Errikan shipping and survives, which is highly unlikely, he will be hunted down and skinned alive.

OOC: Define escort ships. A Chimera privateering fleet might be able to take it...

OOC: Two Adari class air defense destroyers, four Fredora class destroyers, four Royale class frigates, three Forthar class quiet attack submarines, as well as three Executor class combat logistics and command center craft. All this is aided by the air fleet of the aircraft carrier as well as a few helicopters based off of the other ships. This, plus the light carrier, is an escort group.

Sometimes smaller squadrons are used to supplant or support these groups; they are made up of an Atlantia class AEGIS destroyer, a pair of Fredora class destroyers, two Forthar class submarines, as well as another Executor class ship.

After this news of the privateering contract gets to the Dominion, it's probable that both a group and a squadron will be issued to each convoy. If there is any trouble, larger ships may be committed.

OOC: Well, my convoys aren't so well protected... at least not unless they're carrying supplies for my military or actual military goods.

Undershi Convoy Escorts:

For small convoys carrying civilian goods (Five or fewer ships):

- 1 destroyer
- Some light air support (in the form of a Crusader mk. II VTOL gun ship and maybe some scrambled fighters/fighter-bombers/bombers from either nearby carrier groups or nearby land bases).

For Low-End of Medium Convoys (Six to ten ships):

- Two destroyers
- Some light air support (in the form of two Crusader mk. II VTOL gun ships and the same sort of possibly scrambled air craft from nearby bases)
- Maybe one submarine.

For Medium Convoys (Eleven to fifteen ships):

- Four destroyers
- One cruiser
- Some light air support (four Crusader mk. II VTOL gun ships and, once more, possibly some air craft scrambled from a nearby base)
- Maybe one submarine

For High-End of Medium Convoys (Sixteen to twenty five ships):

- Ten destroyers
- Three cruisers
- Air Support: Ten Crusader mk. II VTOL gun ships, on-call air support from nearby bases (which will be at least partially in the air at any given moment).
- Almost certainly one submarine

For Large Convoys (Twenty six civilian ships or more):

- Twelve destroyers
- Five cruisers
- Air Support: Golden Eagle heavy bombers in the air over the convoy at all times, with Lightning fighters for escorts. Plus: 12 Crusader mk. II VTOL gun ships. (And more air support "on call").
- You can bet there will be at least one submarine.

For Military Supply Convoys:

- One destroyer for every two supply ships
- One cruiser for every five supply ships
- Carriers might be employed for escort duty in a few rare cases.

Undershi Commerce Raiding Patrols:

Submarine Based:

- Two or three Undershi submarines

Surface Based:

- Two destroyers or one cruiser and one destroyer.

OOC: Yes, the Undershi Navy is trying to play your own game against you...

Undershi Commerce Raiders are small groups of Undershi Navy vessels, mostly submarines, dedicated to intercepting and destroying unguarded civilian shipping under the flags of nations considered hostile to the Undershi government.
For a list of nations which the Undershi Empire is currently at war with, and what level of warfare they are currently engaged in with them, check the Undershi Military thread:

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=488008

Enjoy!

bump

OOC: Yes, the Undershi Navy is trying to play your own game against you...

Undershi Commerce Raiders are small groups of Undershi Navy vessels, mostly submarines, dedicated to intercepting and destroying unguarded civilian shipping under the flags of nations considered hostile to the Undershi government.
For a list of nations which the Undershi Empire is currently at war with, and what level of warfare they are currently engaged in with them, check the Undershi Military thread:

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=488008

Enjoy!

Poker faces:

I call your commerce raiding tactics and raise you a Marine Raider detachment sent covertly into your country...

My minimal government sponsored search group consists of one Cruiser and two destroyers and perhaps a pair of submarines lurking someplace.

Privateers sail their own way, but have been standardised into groups of 5 ships within the same speed class.

Searchers and privateers may converge for heavier operations.

And escorting your boats just gets them shot by default...

Poker faces:

I call your commerce raiding tactics and raise you a Marine Raider detachment sent covertly into your country...

My minimal government sponsored search group consists of one Cruiser and two destroyers and perhaps a pair of submarines lurking someplace.

Privateers sail their own way, but have been standardised into groups of 5 ships within the same speed class.

Searchers and privateers may converge for heavier operations.

And escorting your boats just gets them shot by default...

OOC: Huh? What's that about? Anyways anyone - want to have an "incident" with some of my shipping?

OOC: Huh? What's that about? Anyways anyone - want to have an "incident" with some of my shipping?

You mean RP a 'contact' with a suspected 'Griffencrest runner'

OOC: Yes. That's what I meant.

OOC: This is delicious, If my peeps accept reserve commission do they get bonafide battle standards to fly?

The offices of late fleet admiral Ahmed Bin Jamaal

Havign recently lost comission in the Mondothian Navy, I find it pleasing to be able to outfit a ship for war and pursue my former occupation on the high seas.
As such, I see fit to ask for reserve commission int he Rosdivan navy for purposes above mentioned.
Under my Command I claim (by virtue of independent wealth and Mondoth's liberal attitudes towards decomissioned vessels)

1 Hornet class pocket VTOL carrier
3 Sea Rover class light frigates
and
6 Free-Booter class surface effect patrol/cutters

OOC: Bin Jamaal really was dishonorably discharged from the MRN, but you can bet the Mondothian Intelligence Agencies crapped their pants when they heard of a chance to get armed Mondothian ships in the seas flying a foreign flag all nice and legal.

Davy Jones's Concrete Foot Locker
(Named for apparent reasons)
The man in the crow's nest (also manning the 35 mm AA cannon) reported seeing a ship on the horizon, but could not identify what ship it was or how many.

L.T. Dunbar then ordered the radio operator to start interrogating the ship.

Radio:
Please specify QRA [what ship are you] and QRG [what affiliation does your ship have?]. QRK [how do you recive my message?].

The freighter Morristown had just left its convoy, and was bound for a nearby Blackhelm-held port in TWSP with a cargo of several hundred HX shells for the artillery of Blackhelm and its allies.
It hadn't expected any trouble... and it wasn't prepared for any. The nearest Navy vessel was the destroyer Agincourt... but it was far enough away for there to be trouble even if they called for it right now...
Captain Heinrich Muller of the Imperial Undershi Merchant Marine was worried. He had been an Lieutenant in the Navy when he finished his State Service, and had loved the sea... and so decided to join the Merchant Marine. Sure, it wasn't glorious, but it was State Service, which let him earn all those lovely Duty credits... now though, now he wished he'd chosen to work as an overseer in some munitions plant, driving the norm slave laborers as they assembled tanks and airplanes for the Undershi war machine... or, in fact, that he had taken any other job what so ever.
The first thing he did when his ship recieved the mysterious hail was to call the Agincourt... the next was to make a reply:
"This is the Imperial Undershi Merchant Marine Ship Morristown, recieving you loud and clear, requesting your QRA and QRG. Over." then all he could do was wait for their reply, and rub the grip of his side-arm like a catholic might stroke a rosary. He thought he could trust the norms in his crew... but you could never be too sure... if the oppertunity for freedom from the Empire came, would they rebel?

Upon hearing the word 'Undershi' L. T. (Not Lt.) Dunbar ordered the UL-2000 lowered into the water with a simple 20 pound demolition charge, 5 RPG-7 rockets, one RPG-7, and a CM-26A-1 fitted with a 200 round belt fitted.

Davey Jones then replied, in a calm, glad, and somewhat cheerful voice, though strained by some sort of stress and tiredness of not getting enough rest before setting sail.

"This is "Davey Jones's Concrete Foot Locker" a private sporting boat (oceoanic racing class [used in an island race RP, made 2nd place (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=466225)]) made of concrete and co-owned by both myself; Davy Jones; and L. - T. - Dunbar. We're just calling to say hello and wondering which way you are going, as our compass was wrecked in a storm, please specify your QRD and QRC so that we may recalibrate our compass, also requst QRB. We'll be approaching your vessel so that we can visually check what your QRC is in relation to ours.

Also, may I request a written QSL, as nobody is going to believe us back home if we tell them without it. I mean, the chances of running across an an Undershi boat of all possable things..."

The radioman then had the auxillary radio transmit on a predetermined military frequency on burst transmission, soon, 4 more privateers would appear, all they would have to do is stall them...

Profile:
BOAT NAME: Davy Jones's Concrete Foot Locker
ACCOMIDATIONS NEEDED: (none)
TEAM NAME: PROHT inc.
TEAM NATIONALITY: PROHT
TEAM CAPT. Mr. Davy Jones (entrapanuer, real skipper is Lt. Dunbar)

Boat info:
Boat has no motor, total crew size: 10
rowing stations: 6 (3 on each side)
One masted Catamaran.
Sails: 1 latern sail.
Mast height: 45 ft
Width (per hull): 8 ft
Width (overall):25 ft
Length: 45 ft
Has perhaps the world's largest bilge pump ever...
Displacement (est): 25 tons

Keep in mind, the boat was re-outitted with a crew of 51...
Best RPed speed was 45 knots [bilge pump used as pumpjet propulsor]...
35 on 'supercruise'...
25 with hull in water.
No chance outrunning her, and the pilot house is built like a concrete bunker...

Captain Muller felt a bit suspicious, true... but he knew about the class that the boat that had just radioed them was of - a small crew, no more than ten... and it could out run them anyway... he sighed, and ordered the radioman to return their new message with one of his own:
"Alright. Feel free to come alongside. We'll be glad to assist in any way we can. However, we're on a schedual, so we'll have to continue towards TWSP. Over." as soon as that message was sent, another was sent to the Agincourt, requesting that it hurry.
Meanwhile, aboard the Morristown, Captain Muller took stock of the weapons on board - one military-issue Gauss rifle and four Gauss pistols and that was all... unless you started counting the flare gun and so on... he was worried, so ordered the True Undershi members of his crew to load their weapons and be ready for trouble... for whatever good it might do if the oncoming vessel had heavy weapons onboard...

Because
Undershi
Must
Prevail
(Hurtful Thoughts, are you there?)

The search party, alon with the raiding party, readied their weapons, the Undershi had a reputation for toughness, and for the first few minutes they'd be on their own.

They double checked the hidden shipboard armarment of eight 21" rocket/torpedoes, two 125 mm field pieces (one behind each false forecastle) and the twin 35 mm autoconnon in the crow's nest.

The radioman asked for an intellegence report on the Morristown, and gained the knowledge that it was catianed by a man called "Muller", he would have to be careful not to meantion that name to the Morristown.

Jones:
"Alright, we're coming, maintain course and speed"


IC info:
The 51 man crew comprised thus:

2: Captians: Dunbar and Jones
Armed with a pistol and flare gun.

12 main boat crew
15 ship's gunners

11 Search party
Armed with 11 6.5 mm CCZ-75 pistol/carbines
Dressed like average sailors

11 Raiding party
Well armed
9 CM-26 LMG/Assault rifles
4 HM-320 underbarrel rocket/grenade launchers
2 RPG-007H AT guided rocket launchers (early domestic attempt to strap an ATGM to RPG-7, think Javalin)
Full military equipment

OOC
(Sorry for abscence, had arc flash and a few refigerators to take care of, among other things)

Moving along...

IC:
The raiding party went below decks and the true crew made themselves scarce as the search party presented themselves on the deck with Davy Jones and L. T. Dunbar.

As they came within view they waved and cheered.

The boat started to turn.

OOC: I'm assuming my guys can see the guns, since you posted they were being uncovered.

Captain Muller watched the boat that had just caught up with his little freighter turn, and realized that he was not going to be making it to TWSP with his load of HX shells. He cursed quietly, and turned to his first officer, saying:
"Tell the crew to stand down. It looks like the Morristown is facing something a bit out of its league." as he said that, he examined the weapons he could see - examined them, and whistled - this little boat would be a match for any patrol vessel in the Undershi navy, perhaps even for a destroyer... most certainly for a freighter crew armed with four pistols and a rifle. As the commerce raider - for that was now what it obviously was - came alongside, he turned to one of the other crew men, and ordered him:
"Go to the mess, tell them to lay out the good china. Undershis don't have much practice surrendering, but we might as well be polite... and, lets face it - resisting would be as much suicide as it would be if we just all shot ourselves." that last bit taken care of, he walked over to the flag pole, and began pulling down the Undershi Merchant Marine flag. As he did so, he began to think of what to use as a white flag - it wasn't easy - they didn't have any hankerchiefs, their uniforms were grey... sighing, he decided to ignore tradition on that reguard, and simply called out to the approaching privateer:
"Ahoy! We surrender, alright? We surrender, you pirates!"

A swift reply was given:
"We ain't here to kill ya! We just want to make sure you aren't supplying the Griffencrest Corporation any longer, and don't believe everything you hear in those political speeches either."

They were slightly doubtful of their honesty...

"You might as well line your men up on deck, as the first thing we'll check for are stowaways such as members of the Griffencrest Corporation ttempting to escape capture, followed by talking with your Captian, Muller I believe... Is he there?"

The radioman gave a hand signal to the men...

"And tell your radiomen to stop transmitting distress calls, unless you want to see which of these boats can outlast aa firefight on the high seas, besides, we both know this boat can outrun any in your navy..."

The 11 man raiding party/security detail boarded the boat first, followed by the search party, with the details of the Morristown's crew, shipment, and destination.

Lt. Dunbar was with them on the deck of the Morristown shortly after.

"It says here you are bound for TWSP, and that is exactly where we shall go, there i a nuetral port just north of the country, we'll escort you there if we find any contraband, you will however, lose this boat under the terms of our charter, but at least your crew will be spared. And we'll try to compensate for your loss, I, sir, am Lt. Dunbar of the Hurtian Marines, and co-sponsor of the Davy Jones's Concrete foot locker, as well as the liason between the Hurtian Navy and the privateers in this sector. But with formalities aside:

How many men have you on board?

What cargo does your ship carry?

To which port are you bound for exactly?

And lastly:

Where is your escort? I was told to expect 2 destroyers and a heavy cruiser, and all I find is this lonely boat sitting here in the oceoan. Why?"

The rest of the search party started questioning the crew...

Dunbar turns around and tells everybody loudly:
"Oh, and any of you are lying, you're all dead, so I'd best tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth and perhaps you'll be saved... But if we catch any of you so much as tell a white lie the whole lot of you walk the plank!"

At that, the raiding party produced a board, and some rope, and made a makeshift gallows of the ship's superstructure. in which involved walking off the plank.

Captain Muller laughed, a bitter laugh, then answered the questions:
"You obviously haven't seen the state the Undershi navy is in these days. Right now it's trying to defend Undershi itself from a significantly larger navy, that of the Hatarians, while at the same time keep the supply lines open to the million odd men we've deployed for the invasion of ThePeople'sFreedom. We were part of a convoy of five freighters - four of them were heading on to the fleet fighting near TPF, while we were bound for TWSP. The entire convoy had only one destroyer for an escort, and so we were left on our own for the last leg of the journey. That's why you got us so easily. As for our cargo, well that's definitely a cargo that falls under the category of "military goods" - it's a load of high-explosive artillery shells, my dear friend, bound for Corporate Alliance guns still active in the fighting within TWSP. That and extra Labor for the Undershi artillery unit that got stuck out there - the Labor is locked in the forward hold, if you want to check on it. We were bound for... well, that's something I don't have to tell you, isn't it? My name is Heinrich Muller, my rank is Captain of the Merchant Marine and my serial number is 2426012. Isn't that all I'm supposed to have to tell you under the Geneva Conventions?" as he said that, he carefully unfastened his holster, letting his holstered pistol drop to the deck. At his gesture, the two armed crewmen on the deck did likewise.
His formal speech done, he shifed tone, and asked:
"Should we continue this discussion in the messhall of this ship? I've had my crew lay out the best china. Undershis might not have a lot of experience surrendering, but we intend to do it right if we have to."

"Nah, here's fine, I don't take surrenders well, and I have not asked for your surrender, consider this a bi-partisan escort to a secluded area due to a detour and change of plans, TWSP is a loss, we both know that, your forces there are pulling out, the Corprate Allinace is crumbling, and the Undershi navy and shipping, as you said, is weak and easy pickings, I'd say, that if you put your men into it, you would make a fairly excellent privateer with this boat after selling these explosives on the black market at a nuetral port and using the profits to outfit a boat, hand pick the best crew you can find, use your knowledge of the Undershi trade routes and convoy patterns, you'd be in a very profitable business, wouldn't you say? Captian Donna Schuelerin started with a bannana boat called the Moewe, and sank a vast amount of shipping, and gained a second raider in his voyages, chances are, you could do better even with this hulk..."

Dunbar then sits back as he is flanked by two members of the raiding party

"Of course there are other choices..."

Captain Muller laughed at that, then made a reply:
"The Corporate Alliance might be crumbling, the war is TWSP might be lost, but Undershi itself is still fighting. I might consider entering the Priveteering buissiness... but I think that if I did, it would be a very bad idea to ever have anything to do with the Undershi Empire ever again. Now, shall we inspect the cargo? I'm sure you'll be interested in the Labor units - they're mostly ex-military, NSAA POWs in most cases. When we beat NSAA, they never agreed to an exchange of POWs, so right now we're getting some use out of the NSAA soldiers we took as prisoners. Some are also un-correctable Rynaldis - you know, real True Believers... well, if you don't want to check on them, then we can go down to the mess hall, and discuss my options..."

"All, right, the mess hall it is, but what makes you so certain that your not dead no matter what you do? If we spare you and word gets out you surrendered to a single 45 foot long sailboat you'll be executed, perhaps through crucifixion, as that is the method of public execution your country prefferes from what I've seen from satalite photoes, so either way it would be best to fake your death or dissapearance, by, perhaps, dropping you off at a nuetral port, then bringing the boat out into public veiw and destroying it utterly with a skeleton crew on board; or you could claim we freed the captives, your crew mutineed, and due to lack of propper measures, they took over the ship and employed it in piracy, with you as a captive, not too far off a story, and they might buy it."

Dunbar coninued pondering the possable ways to make what he saw as a fair business proposition to the captian, as he really needed to figure out what Northfordian ships he was supposed to command.

They came to the mess hall, and noted the fine china.

"I'm afraid I already ate, but thanks anyways, so what was it that you wanted to talk about? Oh, and High Explosive is abbreviated HE, not HX, so I'll ask again, what cargo are you carrying?"

Captain Muller picked up a clip-board with a cargo manifest on it that had been left on the mess-hall table, and began to read out a list of the cargo his ship carried:

- 10,000 105mm High Explosive shells

- 1,000 125mm High Explosive shells

- 50 Labor Battalion workers:
- 35 NSAA POWs,
- 10 Hatarian POWs,
- 5 former members of the Saint Rynald Resistance

Once he had read out the cargo manifest, he sat down at the table, sighed, and asked his captor:
"Alright... I could say that. Anyways, a two meter-tall super-man would make a fine pirate... and you're wrong - they'd probably quietly shoot me, so that no one would hear about my cowardice in surrendering." he hesitated for a moment, rubbing his chin, then added:
"Oh, and the Undershi destroyer Agincourt is on its way here as we speak, so you might want to get moving."

"Taken care of, as I speak a pair of similarly armed raiders are assaulting the north convoy, while another pair are heading this way to consolidate our gains. But if you are in such a hurry, I offer two final offers:

Offer 1:
You, and all your crew disarm themselves, save a single flare gun, and take to the lifeboats as we hand over control of the ship to the prisioners in the forward hold, and encourage them to take up pravateering.

Offer 2:
We take care of this the old fasioned way, as stated by our politicians, ship go boom, all hands stay on the ship, those fleeing shall be shot.

And as you can guess, the only reason why we aren't going to capture you and set you up in one of our own forced labor colonies is simply because our boat doesn't have the accomodations for men such as yourself, we shall, of course, pay you for any lives lost due to the new crew's trangressions at, oh, 1,000 Mhtz per head... In about 30 minutes your situation will only grow worse, and I believe our ship is needed to help deal with the north convoy."

Captain Muller looked visibly distressed, but nodded:
"Alright. I'll take the first option. Fine. We give up." as he said that, he began to pace, then cursed softly and finally turned towards the Hurtarian captain again and asked:
"Whatever happened to me and my crew being offered a chance to switch sides? Its not like I have much to look forward to if I go back to the Empire - merely the oppertunity to die in some manner or other, by firing squad or crucificion..." his voice trailed off as he seemed to lose what energy remained to him.

The Main Convoy

The destroyer Agincourt moved towards the oncoming privateering vessels, begining to fire its light missile armament as soon as it was within range. The freighters of the convoy were heading onwards towards their destination, the Undershi fleet attacking TPF, and they might escape. Might. The Agincourt intended to do what it could to ensure they did... as the Morristown would not.

OOC:
What is the fastest reaction time for a anti-torpedo system?
How good is yours?
Even when they are expecting a missile (above waterline) attack instead?

IC
Dunbar nodded
"True, you still have the option of taking up a life of privateering, or at the very least, going into hiding, with an inventive story about how you managed to 'escape' from your captors perhaps giving you leaniancy on the issue. We can also ofer a variation of option one, in which we take you on board and drop you off at a safe port with a rather large sum of untraceable money for you to hole up until this whole mess blows over, and stories of your apparent death, would later be replaced by your fictional story as an indentured servant at a Hurtian penal colony, and subsequent and death defying escape. I've seen and heard of crazier ideas working, and this one would set you in a far less uncomfortable position with far more options in which your life may go. At the very least it will save you from ever having to run this blockade again."

Duinbar got out of the chair, and started to leave.

"Oh, and for political reasons, we blew up this ship 5 minutes ago... and did not have this discussion."

North
The two boats replied in kind by firing all 16 of the missile/torpedoes upon the destroyer, and firing as fast and well as they could with their 125 guns as the twin 35s worked overtime trying desprately to counter the Undershi missile spam.

The missiles flew for the majority of their flight as a sea skimming missile, and at a predetermined distance, just as the CIWS started to kick in, they dove into the water as supercavitating torpedoes to finish the final and fatal leg mere moments later.

The radio operator of one of the ships only managed to stammer a stream of gibberish before going 'offline'.

Onboard the Undershi destroyer Agincourt, all was panic and shouts of horror and rage... and then the counter-missiles were in the air and twelve of the Hurtarian missiles were smashed, but some got through, and the CIWS was firing... but, even then, two got through.
One struck the Agincourt amidship, ruining a CIWS emplacement, while the other the deck at an odd angle, and only managed to inflict minor hull damage.
The standard artillery was another matter - more of it got through. An AA missile launcher was knocked out, as was another CIWS emplacement and one of the three anti-missile radar units. All of this left the ship even more vulnerable to the superior weight of fire that faced it... but it fought on, hoping to buy the convoy enough time to escape.
Its return fire was less accurate than its first volley, but this time three 6" guns and one 8" gun added their weight to the missile fire. It remained to be seen if this would be enough...

Onboard the Undershi destroyer Agincourt, all was panic and shouts of horror and rage... and then the counter-missiles were in the air and twelve of the Hurtarian missiles were smashed, but some got through, and the CIWS was firing... but, even then, two got through.
One struck the Agincourt amidship, ruining a CIWS emplacement, while the other the deck at an odd angle, and only managed to inflict minor hull damage.

How do two 21" torpedoes do that?

OOC:
What is the fastest reaction time for a anti-torpedo system?
How good is yours?
Even when they are expecting a missile (above waterline) attack instead?

North
The two boats replied in kind by firing all 16 of the missile/torpedoes (Litterally, missile/torpedo, a rocket proppelled torpedo that flies for a perooid of time above water) upon the destroyer, and firing as fast and well as they could with their 125 guns as the twin 35s worked overtime trying desprately to counter the Undershi missile spam.

The missiles flew for the majority of their flight as a sea skimming missile, and at a predetermined distance, just as the CIWS started to kick in, they dove into the water as supercavitating torpedoes to finish the final and fatal leg mere moments later.

The radio operator of one of the ships only managed to stammer a stream of gibberish before going 'offline' (bit of a euphism in that term).

OOC: Sorry - I thought you were using missiles... ooops...

The Undershi destroyer Agincourt managed only a few shots with its artillery and missile batteries after the first hits before it suffered major damage... like all Undershi ships, it was outfitted with an Anti-Torpedo system, but that system wasn't perfect - a few got through, and the Agincourt was struck a fatal blow...
It was quite a lucky hit - it struck at just the right point to penetrate into the fuel reserves. In a single second of horrific fire, the entire rear third of the Agincourt was blasted into a million pieces, falling into the water... leaving the few desperate survivors on the front two thirds to perish in the flames or leap into the water.
In mere minutes, the Undershi navy destroyer had fallen to the two privateers. It was not the proudest moment for the Imperial Undershi Navy...

The Undershi missile salvo, also took a great toll on the Pravateers, one ship was reduced to a floating hulk of shattered, flaming concrete, the other could be seen slowly capsizing to port.

A pair of UL-2000 "Minions" circled over the lifeboats of the destroyer, strafing them with 6.5 mm bullets, and then flew over towards the rest of the convoy, ready to drop 20 pound thermobaric demolition charges down the merchant ship's smokestacks in an attempt to dissable them, followed by straffing them with RPG-7s to the waterline (125 mm shaped charge), by which time, it was hoped that the other privateers would arrive.

"Engage first, ask questions later" is the standing order when confronting a convoy escorted by a hostile vessel. They shall have no chance to surrender.

OOC:
Privateers have little or no CIWS capabilities (all AA hinges on the 125 mm and 35 mm guns [which are aimed manually, and sighted optically]), essentailly these are improvised PT boats... With bigger guns, slower speed, and slightly better armor.

Each UL-2000 has an RPG7 launcher and 5 or 10 rockets in pump action tubular magazine. Expect then to unload all their rockets in 2 to 4 passes.

OOC: You do realize of course that the total armament left to my convoy consists of four Gauss rifles and a couple dozen side-arms?

The Undershi convoy proved easy meat for the privateers, offering little resistance. Two of the four freighters were destroyed, while the other two surrendered.

Meanwhile, Captain Heinrich Muller would like to enlist in the Hurtarian Privateering forces...

Official Response to the Inquiry of Ahmed Bin Jamaal of Mondoth

The Supreme Commonwealth of Rosdivan, reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, Courage and Integrity do by these Presents Constitute and Appoint you to be an Officer in the Rosdivan Commonwealth Navy. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge your Duty as such in the Rank of Commodore of the Reserves, or in such other Rank as the Commonwealth may from time to time hereafter be pleased to promote or appoint you to, and you are in such manner and on such occasions as may be prescribed by the Commonwealth to exercise and well discipline both the Inferior Officers and Non-Commissioned Members serving under you and use your best endeavor to keep them in good Order and Discipline, and the Commonwealth does hereby Command them to Obey you as their Superior Officer, and you to observe and follow such Orders and Directions as from time to time you shall receive from the Commonwealth, or any other your Superior Officer according to Law, in pursuance of the Trust hereby Reposed in you.

OOC: This is delicious, If my peeps accept reserve commission do they get bonafide battle standards to fly?

Yup, available from any Rosdivan flag manufacturer. Sorry about the delay in getting to this btw.

OOC: You do realize of course that the total armament left to my convoy consists of four Gauss rifles and a couple dozen side-arms?

The Undershi convoy proved easy meat for the privateers, offering little resistance. Two of the four freighters were destroyed, while the other two surrendered.

Meanwhile, Captain Heinrich Muller would like to enlist in the Hurtarian Privateering forces...

Yep, overkill to the extreme, those pilots are rather pissed at just seeing two Privateers go out of comission... they want blood...

Also, all frieghters other than Muller's are to be destroyed, surrender shall not be accepted. Those were the terms, and that is how the pilots most likely feel. Though I doubt a pair of 20 pound bombs and 20 shaped charges could actually sink 4 ships. (even if another 3 UL-2000s were used (bringing it up by 3 20#ers and 30 grenades), I still doubt the feasability, though it could very well cripple the convoy.

And considering your Guass rifle fires slugs comparable to a 35 mm auto-cannon...

Muller's terms have been accepted, and the ship is escorted past the area that was now littered with the dead Undershis of the northern convoy, the other two remaing privateers moved in to kill what remained of the convoy. And then picked up survivors of the two wrecked Privateers and put out the fire on one of them as they prepared to have it towed behind their "war prize".

OOC: OK - the convoy was stopped from escaping, now, what does Muller get to set up his privateering operation?

His boat and cargo, he may sell the cargo to the black market and outfit a ship.

OOC: Alright. When I have the time I'll design his privateering ship. Good RP, etc.

Keep in mind, he may use any ship/weapons in his price range (value of his cargo/ship depending on wht he chooses to do)

A look around the black market storefront or non Griffencrest associated stores may be used.

Privateers don't need boats to attack shipping.

And how hard would it be to buy an attack plane capable of being used from your ship (it may need to land on land or ditch at sea though) while hiding a 'boot gun' behind a false piece of hull?

And you have 3 methods of piracy:

Shock and awe

Treachery

Mines

Pirates like torpedoes as that is the lightest way of fitting a 21+" "gun" on your deck, and is very deadly at close range.

Missiles have advantages at the other end of the spectrum, are more expensive, and a warship generally has plenty of ECM against them. While carrying many more missiles than you. so a missile battle is about as one sided as a torpedo battle.

And guns need only be accurate enough to hit the radio shack consistantly to silence their SOS. Generally a weapon of saber rattling and desparation.

Mines are used to destroy ships, but generally are only used to "thin the herd" of warships.

Planes are like cavalry. They can outrun a ship, they can beat them down if they are weak, they can spot them, even slow them down a bit, but the can seldom hold onto or capture them.

(thinks of when Iraqis surrendered to an unarmed RPV, becuase its mere presence implied accurate fire from an Iowa class battleship, but were finally caprtured by a tank that was ordered to the location to handle the situation)

I'll hand off the task of escorting your ship from the Privateers to the Hurtian Navy (1 cruiser and 2 destroyers)