NationStates Jolt Archive

The People's Ship "Zhukov" en route to Hallad, 65 Miles off the Clandonian coast

0630 Hours

The Bergstein Class Frigate slid gracefully over the water, the ocean was calm and only the ripples caused by fish, birds or man-made materials dared counter the smoothness of the high-seas.
The ship's crew was on a special mission to the nation of Hallad, their orders were to get there as fast as they could, without starting an international incident, unfortunately for them, their voyage would take them near Clandonia Prime, and to discover a horrible truth.

"Zhukov's" Port Side

A group of about five sailors had gathered to smoke a few cigarettes, drink, and chat a bit while they were on a break from the ship's routine, a bottle of vodka circulated among them and it's contents diminished quickly.

"I'll tell ya, remember that girl in the bar?" one of the inebraited troopers said loudly, he did not accomplish the goal of getting his comrade's atention, as they were to busy staring at something "What's that you got there?"

"Shut up, I think it's a person"

"You mean, like human? What's someone doing so far from the coast?"

"I dont know, now just hand me the microphone, okay?"

The drunken sailor nodded and handed in the requested item, his friend turned up the volume and spoke:

"YOU ARE APPROACHING A SHIP BELONGING TO THE SOVIET NAVY AND IT'S PEOPLE, STAND DOWN NOW OR YOU WILL BE SHOT!"

No answer came, and the soldier repeated its message, until the floating junk hit the boat with a "Thunk".

"Fuck, I think he's dead!, what do we do?"

"Lets get him out, hand me that Life Vest"

He jumped into the water and reached for the body, his companions quickly lifted him back into the ship and gave him some blankets to warm up while they examined his finding.
And a body it was, for the looks of it, it was a middle aged man, stark naked, with a plastic bag over his head. Removal only revealed dark hair, as well as pretty beaten up face, whoever this man was, he had gotten tortured before dying, by drowning.

"Go get the captain, NOW!"

A week or so ago...

The man had been chased for four days, the CPISF found him in a pub in a small village around eighty miles south of New Kirkland. He was a member of the disbanded Clandonian National Fronts militant wing, a man who had killed before and was prepared to do it again. In the morgue at New Clanon City General Hospital a tray of an Clandonia Prime Interior Security Force agent killed by the man he had been tasked to follow. His family stood next to the body, his wife having to identify the bloody remains of her husband.

The superior of the man standing in the shadows with a mobile to his ear. "I want him dead, the man's a cop killer I got one dead agent here with his wife and kids, it ain't pretty."

"It will be done sir." Came the reply and the man flipped the phone closed.

The person did the same, pulling out the Glock 17 pistol and loading a magazine and attaching the silencer. Stepping out of the parked car in the rough looking Travel Stop Inn on the outskirts of New Danskerans circular motorway system. Running to the door in the black trench coat he checked in using the false booking, the spotty teenager night porter not batting an eyelid. The agent moved down the seedy corridor, the sound of cheating businessmen having sex with prostitutes they picked up at the service station nearby. He reached the end of the hall, room twenty four on the second floor listening in he could her voices, two girls a man and the sound of television, probably a cheap porno movie that this sort of hotel specialised in. No one answered as the agent shot the lock of, the ping as it clattered to the floor he burst in pointing the gun. The man he wanted was on the bed, the two naked hookers side by side smoking in the cheap sleazy bed. The women screamed as the agent pointed the gun as the criminal reached for the bedside draw, the agent put a round into his arm and kneecap, he screamed in pain.

"Shut the fuck up bitch!" Shouted the agent as he pointed the gun at the two girls, the wanted man screaming on the floor in agony as he bled onto the bed sheets. One of the girls tried to run out the open door, the agents quick reaction planted a round in the back of her, shattering the skull as he she fell to the floor with a satisfying thud. The agent grabbed the cowering man as he cried in pain, dragging him out of the bed. The agent threw onto the floor a pile of notes.

"Say anything you stupid whore and your dead like your friend, go fill your body up crack or whatever your on." Spat the agent in his menacing tone, as he grabbed the man and dragging him out of the fire exit into the rain outside. A Range Rover waiting with its engine running powered away as the man was flung into the boot, bleeding he wouldn't be seen again. Flipping open his mobile the agent said to the voice on the other line, "The jobs done had to scratch one civilian, only some scum bag hooker so no one worthile in society there was another one but by the time she's finished with the pile of smack her doped up mind wont remember."

Good came the reply, I will see you back in the capital. The agent flipped the phone shut and sped off in his car. The room was a mess, the sheets covered in blood as the night porter cleared it away a wad of notes in his top pocket, more than his wage for half a year so he wasn't complaining, he didn't care. The body of the dead prostitute was put in the general rubbish bin, disposed of in a land fill the next day, no one knew she was missing and it was unlikely that anyone would care. Her friend was already drugged up in a ally, a hypodermic needle in her pale, skinny hands she wouldn't remember anything.

New Danskeran Airport, Cargo Terminal Two

The Range Rover pulled up, the men stepped out kicking their prisoner out of the boot. "The bastards messed up my lovely car, hope the blood sponges out." Came the reply two guards trained their G36E's onto the prisoner, the waiting aircraft a Learjet 45 was starting its engines as the prisoner was carried on in a blue boilersuit. The jet set off into the rainy night sky from the business terminal, the storm was overhead now as the thunder echoed.

"So, you killed a cop and put two others in hospital and then were found with two hookers. Your fucking disgusting, a traitor to your country and the Crown, what do you think we would do with you?"

The prisoner shivered as the men stood around him on the floor.

"Get the fuck up you piece of shit!" Shouted one of the guards as he strook the prisoner with the butt of the rifle. The pilot, looked back wincing as the man was beaten, glancing across to the co-pilot who just flicked a switch. "How far are we away?" Asked the pilot.

"We just passed Victory Island, shouldn't be more than an hour before we are out over international waters."

Out of Clandonian airspace and into the swells of international waters the aircraft dropped opening its door the body of the beaten prisoner was thrown out. His beaten and bloody head trapped in a plastic bag, as a agent looked out as the body dropped into the sea he muttered under his breath.

"Good riddance you cop murdering bastard." Spitting out before closing the door, the aircraft turned back for Clandonia ready to return to New Danskeran's cargo terminal and the special Air Services hanger for the CPISF.

Presidential Manor, Red City, The World Soviet Party

"Yes, yes... I understand, I pass the message" the phone clacked as the the person on the other side, a navy captain, turned off his radio. The clerk in charge of desk number 14-B got up and went over to talk with his supervisor about the incident, it was a priority to investigate, and orders had been given for the "Zhukov" to stay where it was, and wait for further orders.

T.P.S. "Zhukov", 64 Miles off Clandonian Coast

Captain Rodriguez put down the speaker and sat down in his big, comfy CO chair. Next to him stood his second in command, who had been monitoring the conversation.

"So, the brass has told us to stay here, next to the Clandonian Hellhole?"

"Yup"

"Dont they know the Clandonians are militaristic crazy mofos'?!"

"Yup"

"Dang"

Presidential Manor, Red City, The World Soviet Party

"Sooner or later, the Clandonians are going to notice our frigate standing there, and they'll be pissed, any ideas?"

"Its in international waters, they have nothing to complain about"

"... You know how they are, they'll just go mad because WE are there, they'll probably claim we want to nuke them into oblivion"

"I agree, we cannot let that happen, lets win time by telling them ourselves"

Official Diplomatic Communique

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To: Clandonia Prime
From: The World Soviet Party

Recently, a frigate of ours, the T.P.S. "Zhukov" which was transiting international waters bordering with Clandonia, had some malfunctions in its engines, it'll be sitting there till' we send aid (and that'll we soon enough).
Just letting you know.

Signed,
Alexander Nevskij, TWSP's Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Royal Naval Headquarters, Old Admiralty House, New Danskeran

Clandonia claimed sixty miles of international waters, even so all shipping traffic was monitored within a good radius to protect outward and inbound shipping both civilian and military. At twenty two hundred hours a report came in from a Royal Clandonian Air Force Nimrod MR4 of a Soviet frigate around five miles from territorial waters.

A lieutenant ran through the corridors of the building to the most senior officer on duty at the time, a Commander Lewis the lieutenant knocked on the officer door. "Come in." Came the reply.

"Good evening commander, we have a situation a report just came from a Nimrod of routine patrol, seems the Soviets are trying something."

The commander flicked through the typed FLASH communication, he scowled.

"Christ, get the Lord Sea Admiral Miklanov on the phone, now!"

20 miles from Soviet Frigate, T.P.S. "Zhukov


Out at sea the nearest Clandonian Royal Navy vessel had been ordered to the area, a Danskeran Class SSBN Submarine. The submarines captain had been asleep when the First Office woke him up, the submarine had doubled its speed to intercept the Soviet frigate.

"Engine trouble, the commie bastards are pulling our leg take us to battle stations." Spoke the captain as he awoke from his slumber.

"Is that Nimrod still there?" Asked the Sonar Officer.

"Yes." Replied the Communications Officer, "She's circling the Soviet vessel now."

The submarine propelled itself at twenty five knots, not the most stealth approach its normal silent speed ten knots. Its armament officers oversaw as the crew began loading the torpedo tubes with Spearfish torpedo's in the four twenty one inch tubes. The two front UGM-84 Harpoon tubes were ready to fire, as the Soviet frigate appeared in range. The submarine crew as they approached returned to silent mode, this was the most dangerous time as they feared detection.

Royal Naval Headquarters, Old Admiralty House, New Danskeran

Lord Sea Admiral Miklanov was on the line to the Commander Lewis who was in a sweat despite the air conditioning in his office on full.

"Sir, I don't know what they are doing in the Haven but I've already alerted our allies and the fleet air arm is on alert."

"Good commander, I understand why you disturbed me now I trust we have other vessels on route?"

"Yes sorry about disturbing you sir, a Danskeran's already in the area with a couple of destroyers on route, we must tread carefully as this is international waters no matter how near to our waters."

"Very good, keep me updated commander."

Two Type 45 destroyers, HMS November and HMS Smithing who were on standard patrol in Clandonian waters had been ordered to race towards the Soviet frigate, the situation looked very grave.

OOC: Wow =P

IC:

Soviet Frigate "Zhukov"

Meanwhile, the crew was oblivious to the fact that they were being targeted by a submarine, nor that a couple of destroyers were en route.
Having turned the body to the on-board doctor for a quick autopsy, they were now sitting outside the infirmary, waiting for the results.

Finally, the door opened, and the Doctor came out, accompanied by his aides, the Captain took him aside.

"So, whats the veredict?"

"Well, to put it in layman's terms, this guy here was shot twice, then beaten up to the verge of death and then thrown out of some sort of transport, probably an airplane or helicopter"

"Dammit, this makes it worse, and Im still waiting for the reinforcements"

"The goverment is sending reinforcements, what, are we going to invade Clandonia or anything?!"

"No, we just need more evidence before being able to formally accuse the Clandonian State, we have orders to stand here and scan the sea for more bodies, as well as reporting anything out of normal, or whatever is normal here..."

Royal Naval Headquarters, Old Admiralty House, New Danskeran

The most senior man of the navy had just walked into the building half an hour ago after meeting with the Prime Minister in the capital to discuss the present situation. Lord Sea Admiral Miklanov was one of the best naval commanders and had seen action all around the world. In the satellite communications room, the most secure room and of the highest Operational Security Level, on the wall several mounted flat screen displays show dockyards of some country.

"How old are these prints?" Quizzed the Miklanov.

"Two hours old Sir, as you can see the Soviets are moving equipment and their ships are preparing to leave port."

"I've spoken to the air force and they have witnessed similar pictures at airbases in The World Soviet Party. They are trying something..."

"I've spoken to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, the Foreign Office are preparing a statement questioning the Soviet activity on our maritime border. In all my years I've never seen such a volatile situation, with the strained relationship between the two parties I think the war drums are already beginning to beat on the horizon in the Bay of Clandonia."

As the man left the room, looking out over the port and docks where the main Clandonian fleet sat in harbour, preparations were being made but the navy held the belief that the Fleet Air Arm and Royal Clandonian Air Force would finish any Soviet invasion force far out at sea.

Clandonian Central Air Force Command, Kirkland

The large RCAF Kirkland base was the home of Bomber Command the the Northern Fighter Defence Station. Bustling activity kept the base operational more of less twenty four seven. Several large B-73 Ravager bomber aircraft were on display with their Khan Class Missiles being loaded to possibly be used against Soviet ships.

The red phone in the command room beeped indicating an incoming call from Downing Street. The air force General answered quickly, "Hello Prime Minister, yes we are preparing our aircraft now munitions are being brought up from deep store."

The reply back came,

I want increased sorties out to sea with our anti shipping aircraft, the navy's Nimrod's and TU-22M Backfires are active and will require more refueling assets. I will alert you if the situation changes, Good day.

The General knew something was up, the shortness of the Prime Ministers call showed he wasn't in a chatty mood with the media beginning to discover the story CNN was showing the details of the Soviet 'Spy Ship' and where the Clandonian units were based or preparing. The man sighed putting down the phone as he wiped the brow, hot for the time of year and the air conditioning hadn't quite adjusted yet.


---

Official Clandonian Response

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His Majesty's government would like to announce that the Clandonian teritorial waters are to be extended to eighty nautical miles. We would like to inform the Soviet government that their ship the T.P.S. "Zhukov" is now within Clandonian waters. The vessel will be given ten minutes to leave or it will be classed as hostile and fired upon.

God Save the King



Prime Minister David Sistilin

---

Official Clandonian Response

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/madnukedude/clandoniansmallflag.png


His Majesty's government would like to announce that the Clandonian teritorial waters are to be extended to eighty nautical miles. We would like to inform the Soviet government that their ship the T.P.S. "Zhukov" is now within Clandonian waters. The vessel will be given ten minutes to leave or it will be classed as hostile and fired upon.

God Save the King



Prime Minister David Sistilin


Presidential Manor, President Aszenmil's Office

"This is... odd to say the least, I think they are up to something"

"Yes, but we dont a war, so, tell them this:"

Official Diplomatic Communique

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To: Clandonia Prime
From: The World Soviet Party

While this sudden change of borders strikes us as odd, we will follow suit, our Frigate will be ready to depart in the ten minutes you alloted us, however, due to the damages to its engines, it'll take them somewhat over a day to exit your "new" territorial waters.

Signed,
Alexander Nevskij, TWSP's Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Downing Street, New Clanon City

Prime Minister the situation will be under control if you give my forces the go ahead, we plan to board the frigate and capture it. If they resist then they will be killed, the fleet will be ready in less than a week if there is a reprisal we shall destroy them in the waters of the Haven.

"Thank your Lord Miklanov, I will give you an answer in the hour."

The Prime Minister put the phone down and turned to his waiting cabinet. "Gentlemen the time has come for a decision, the future of the government and the party depends on what we do in the next hour."

"We must strike now!" Cried out the Defence Minister Sir Wilforry. "There are bi-elections next week, they will be lost to Labour if we do not do something now."

After several minutes debate and argument the collective decision was made to seize the vessel and detain the Soviet sailors, if they resisted then the vessel would be sunk. The Prime Minister hit redial, Miklanov was waiting on the other line with half the naval attachment listening with baited breath.

"My Lord, the order is go, seize the ship of sink it."

The line was dropped quickly.

New Danskeran, Fleet Command

As soon as the order was received the message was relayed to the Clandonian military COMSTAR computer. The two destroyers en route were ordered to prepare to engage and deploy their marine contingents to arrest the Soviet personal and seize the ship because of their violation into Clandonian waters.

At the naval airbase the 12th Squadron of the Royal Clandonian Navy's fleet air arm went to strike alert as its TU-22M Tuplov bombers took off armed with their Raduga Kh-22 anti-ship missiles. The fear of Soviet reinforcement was high, if the plan went successfully then the crew would be detention and the Clandonian pilots would back in time for tea.


Bay of Clandonia

HMS November and HMS Smithing were now in visual range of the Soviet frigate, their Royal Clandonian Marines preparing to assault the vessels using the two Merlin helicopters and small RIB boats. Saddling up for action the marines had been told of their orders personally by the King who had just met the Prime Minister in the capital for discussions about the preparation for a possible war.

The captain of the November looked through the pair of binoculars from the bridge. "Tell the Smithing to train her guns on the enemy and be prepared to fire."

The automatic 4.5 inch guns on the destroyers swung round as a round was inserted. The four marine raiding parties in the RIB's lowered the boats, the Merlin helicopter took off from the November with torpedoes armed and the door gunner was prepared as he patted the GPMG.

"Should be getting some action today." He spoke the gun, the pilot turned round and replied. "Jack stop talking to the gun, grinning as the Merlin propelled itself towards the T.P.S. Zhukov. The helicopter carried a speaker system, improvised for the special occasion of capturing the Soviet Vessel. Bellow the depths the Danskeran Submarine HMS Knightsword had moved herself into a target position ready to pounce and unleash a Spearfish on the enemy vessel. Its sonar detected the roar of Nimrod coming low to add to the strength of the Clandonian military, the Soviet ship would not escape. The Merlin came close enough so the Soviet sailors could hear, the message repeated as the Clandonian's waited...


"Attention T.P.S. "Zhukov", you have illegally entered Clandonian waters. Stand down your weapons and prepare for boarding. Any movement will be considered hostile, your communications are being monitored."

"Sir? You should see this."

"Hmm?" The admiral looked up. He quickly skimmed over the report and scowled. "The bastards. Why do they keep trying this sort of thing? Well, under the Clandonian Act, I'm empowered to act as a diplomat here. Send the following message."

*From Admiral of the First Colonial Fleet, to Clandonia Prime*

Your claim of illegal entry by Soviet forces into your territorial waters would be a matter of grave concern. If it were true. Satellite imagery and common sense clearly indicate that the Soviet ship never entered Clandonian waters, and that Clandonian waters were in fact expanded to encompass that location currently inhabited by the Soviet ship. Furthermore, the Soviet ship has promised to leave the new Clandonian waters with all possible haste. Attack of that ship under these circumstances would- quite understandably- probably be considered an act of war. And should Clandonia Prime attack The World Soviet Party, The Holy Confederacy for one shall honor the Global Alliance of Sovereign Nations treaty, and come to her defense.

OOC: Vontanas, I really doubt anyone will let you place an airship fleet inside of Haven (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v160/Midlonia/Maps/HavenMap.png), let alone carry enough supplies to get there.

OOC: Vontanas, I really doubt anyone will let you place an airship fleet inside of Haven (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v160/Midlonia/Maps/HavenMap.png), let alone carry enough supplies to get there.

OOC: Echoing TSS's comments here, other people if you see the map the distances here huge. With no friendly ports of resupply and the risk of being blown up as Havenites don't like foreigners then you won't have more than a few days supplies.

Praetonian High Commission, Clandon City, New Clandonia

The grand marble entrance hall was brightly lit from a glass domed skylight set high in the roof above. Directly beneath, a scale model of the PWS Iron Duke (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v387/Praetonia/IronDukeTechDiagram.png), more than two yards in length, sat illuminated by the natural spotlight, shielded from the gawping tourists by an ankle-height length of velvet rope and a glass case. Taking up the vast back wall facing the entrance was a huge painting of cheering crowds of Clandonians greeting King George IV at New Clandon docks with the Iron Duke and some of her escorts taking up the background, decked out in full Royal Tour regalia.

To the left and right, tourists and businessmen squabbled with conscientious bureaucrats seated in glass and wood cubicles over passports and Letters of Incorporation. A portrait of King George hung on the wall to the left of the entrance. All about, people bustled to and fro. The building was part office block, part display of national power and permanency - built as grand as the Clandonian Parliament in the contemporary Praetonian neo-classical style.

Lord Thomas Margreaves, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Lieutenant Lord High Commissioner to Clandonia, attired in a formal suit and bowler hat, swung his umbrella by his side as he walked through the marble concourse and through a door to the back and one side of the room through a corridor to his office. Very little happened in Clandonia these days, with the Crown Commonwealth sufficiently in control to curtail Clandonia's more disruptive foreign policy excesses, but today was different. Usually there was little reason for the Lieutenant Lord High Commissioner to actually live in Clandonia; like the Lord High Commissioner himself, the King, Lord Thomas spent the vast majority of his time in Kingston.

Lord Thomas unlocked the door to his office, walked in, hung his hat on the hatstand and leant his umbrella on the side of his desk. He sat down behind the desk, and began ordering his papers. He withdrew from one of the draws a folder marked 'SOVIET PRESENCE NEAR CLANDONIA - BRIEFING AND DETAILS'. There were also two stamps in the top left corner, one reading 'SATINT' and the other 'MOST SECRET'. The Royal Cipher had been stamped in the centre.

"Margaret!" Lord Thomas called for his secretary, who opened the door a few seconds later. "Is the Prime Minister here?"

"Yes, Lord Thomas," she replied, as eager as the rest of the staff to find out what, precisely, was going on.

"And the Ambassador?"

"The Ambassador too, Lord Thomas."

The Ambassador arrived first, an ex-MP called Sarah Featherstone. Unlike either High Commissioner, she did live and work exclusively in Clandonia, mainly dealing mainly with tiresome claims of unfair treatment made by Praetonian subjects accused or convicted of criminal offences in Clandonia. She sat down facing the desk sideways, to present an air of neutrality.

"The Prime Minister of New Clandonia, Your Lordship," said the secretary, Margaret, as she showed the man into Lord Thomas's office, and indicated him to sit facing the High Commissioner.

"Thankyou, Margaret," the Lord said, indicating that she was dismissed.

"Prime Minister!" Lord Thomas stood up and offered the Prime Minister his hand, which he shook. Then the Ambassador shook hands with the Prime Minister.

"I have requested your presence to answer a few questions that His Majesty's Government has been asking me," began Lord Thomas, opening the folder he had earlier withdrawn from one of the draws in the desk and placing two photographs on the desk - one of the Soviet destroyer and another of a small group of Soviet ships - facing the Prime Minister, "This frigate was passing through what were then international waters. It is believed that it was en route to another state in Haven - most likely a Soviet ally such as Hallad. However, at around 6:30am this frigate stopped dead in the water. It has not moved since, despite your extending your maritime claim to make its continued presence illegal. The Soviet government pleads engine troubles.

"This would not be in itself unusual were it not for this," Lord Thomas pushed the second satellite image towards the Clandonian Prime Minister, "This is an image taken only a little while after the frigate 'Zhukov' allegedly developed engine troubles. It shows a small detachment of the Soviet surface navy changing course without apparent immediate cause to move in the direction of the stopped frigate. The Soviet navy claim that this frigate can repair itself in less than a day, so it seems strange that they would be diverting such a sizeable force to assist, especially one lacking any sort of dedicated support ships.

"Stranger still, your government was very quick to extent its territorial waters to encompass this ship. Clearly no one wants a potentially hostile foreign vessel - especially not one of communist origin - stationed just outside their country's waters, monitoring ship movements and intercepting radio communications, but the rapidity with which such bold moves were taken to render its continued presence illegitimate are, when taken together with the other strange occurrences surrounding this incident, somewhat suspicious.

"As you know, Imperial Praetonian Shipyards plc. recently agreed a deal with the Soviet government to supply a rather expensive warship. As a part of this deal, His Majesty's Government was able to secure a free trade agreement with the Soviet state. His Majesty is strongly of the opinion that the Soviets are reasonable people who we can work with to increase economic liberty within the country. His Majesty is interested that they should not be unduly antagonised.

"Records from our radar observation satellites note a number of aeroplane over flights near the site of the vessel, some of them government planes, but nothing detectable was dropped that might catch the Soviets' attention, like a mine or a listening beacon. It has been suggested that there may be a crippled submarine beneath the frigate and the Clandonian government does not want this to become public knowledge. Prime Minister, I will put it to you bluntly - is there any special significance to the frigate's location?"

OOC: Vontanas, I really doubt anyone will let you place an airship fleet inside of Haven (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v160/Midlonia/Maps/HavenMap.png), let alone carry enough supplies to get there.

OOC: Very well, I'll retcon it. I can always get involved if later, I guess. Although, you'll note that it's merely three airships.

"Good evening." Said the Prime Minister exchanging handshakes with the Praetonian as he looked at the satellite imagery.

"We have our own satellites but he help is appreciated, I can promise you now there is no hidden secret to why we extended the territorial waters. The Soviet ship was less than four miles from the old boundary so the decision was made to implement the 2005 Maritime Boundary Act that allowed the extension of Clandonian waters by a further twenty nautical miles."

"His Majesty's government of Clandonia was concerned over the sale of the Duke Class Battleship to the Soviet navy. Perhaps you do not fully understand the history of our two nations but I can say they have never been warm. That ship is where, for a reason we will later know the Soviet sailors are interrogated and the ship seized. We have a submarine in the area and its sonar readings show the frigates engines as being fully operational, the Soviet government is downright lying. I would like to remind you that they have killed Clandonian's in the past, our intelligence analysis shows they are attempting to intercept allied communications."

The Prime Minister sighed.

"I fear this is the pre-text for a Soviet invasion of Clandonia or for them to provoke us so the Global Union of Socialist Nations and the vile alliance of the Global Alliance of Sovereign Nations to launch an invasion in their drive to spread collectivism. I'm sure this prospect does not please you? The situation is being sorted, the brave servicemen and woman of the Clandonian navy will arrest the the Soviets and seize their ship until their government comes clean of what the real purposes of the mission were the vessel will be held. As for the deal of the Duke Battleship, you know the Clandonian Navy Procurement will be announced with a large portion of the surface fleet given to Praetonian contractors. Of course I'm interested in what your government suggests we do?"

"Attention T.P.S. "Zhukov", you have illegally entered Clandonian waters. Stand down your weapons and prepare for boarding. Any movement will be considered hostile, your communications are being monitored."

The sailors had rallied to their combat positions, together, they worked as a finely tuned machine, they'd be ready to repel any type of attack the Clandonians could make... for a while.

"Captain, Clandonian vessels are approaching, we are vastly outnumbered"

"Indeed, give the order to put the engines at its max, I want to get out of here as fast as possible"

"But, they will surely fire at us, we must def-!"

He was cut short by the Captain's strong voice.

"I wont be held responsible for starting a war, if they want to create what will possibly lead to a World War, then, they can do it, but I wont. Now, let's answer to the nice folks at the helicopter"

"Atention Clandonia Helicopter, we are leaving your waters as requested by your goverment, we will not open fire unless we are fired at, stand down and let us depart!"

"Send a warning signal to The World Soviet Party, the fleet and any GASN nation you can find, get the camera rolling and upload it to the internet as you go, I want this in every news channel there is, LIVE!

Tenarius, Siriusa

Prince Jacob sat at his desk, staring off into space with a dour expression on his face. It had been a long week, and he was tired of dealing with other people and other nations. He was tired of politics.

He had just received news of Clandonia Prime's threats to The World Soviet Party. Being part of the NEA, there was no doubt as to whose side Siriusa would be on shoul it join the war. However, after the conflict with Terre Internationale, Siriusa was nowhere ready to declare war again. Militarily, the nation was "just dandy," as the Prince said, but politically the nation was divided.

Parliament was split between those who wanted to go to war, those who wanted to stay out, and those who wanted to re-invade Terre Internationale. Prince Jacob's voice counted for half of Parliament's, so if The World Soviet Party needed help, he would be able to override the dissenters in Parliament. However, if the nation went to war divided, Prince Jacob was almost certain that they would lose. After all, all major funding bills took a 2/3rds majority to pass in the vote, and his vote only counted for one person. The way things were looking right now, if Siriusa declared war, then the war would have to take less than a week before Siriusa had to withdraw their forces or surrender. What Siriusa needed was an event to unite the country for a unified war, not another Terre Internationalist campaign.


The phone rang. Prince Jacob picked it up and spoke, "Hello?" He wrinkled his nose at the sound of his own voice. It was scratchy and strained, the sound of a tired man who didn't get enough rest.

"Sire?" A voice said over the phone. It was Parliament member Andrew
Geffson. "I think you need to see this."

"What is it?" Jacob asked suspiciously, almost snapping. Geffson was in the majority opposing war. The anti-war members were less than friendly with the Prince.

"The World Soviet Party's ship, they've got a camera on board. It's streaming to the internet. Something big is about to happen."

"Where is it?" The Prince demanded, immediately waking up from his half-sleep. "What's the address? I need to see this."

Geffson read it out for the Prince. "Thank you," Jacob said. He wouldn't have expected a member of that part of Parliament informing him of that. That was the sign of a good person, someone who put his country before his record. Perhaps he could get Parliament to sent supplied to The World Soviet Party. That would be easier than pushing for war. He hung up the phone, and picked it up, redialing one of his secretaries.

"Y'ello?" a man's voice answered. "You've reached the Prince's public line, My name is Steven Stevens, what can I do ya for?"

"You're getting sloppy," the Prince said.

"Sir!" Stevens exclaimed. The Prince could almost hear him jump. "I didn't know you would be calling. I'm sorry sir, it's early in the morning."

"It's 2:34 PM," the Prince replied calmly. "Now I want you to do two things. I want you to write a memo, and address it to everyone in Parliament and all high ranking military officers." Jacob heard the sound of typing over the phone.

"What's the memo gonna say?"

"Tell them that The World Soviet Party has a streaming video of action aboard the Zhukov, and if anything major happens, it'll be all over the internet." The Prince read off the address. "And second, Stevens, I want you to clean up your phone skills. You sound like you should be asking, 'do you want fries with that?' not answering the phone for the Prince.

"Alrighty then," Stevens said. Then he belched loudly.

"No," the Prince said disapprovingly. "No more of that, or you're out of a job, and a high-paying job, I might add."

"Yes sir." The Prince thought he may have detected a trace of sarcasm in Stevens's voice, but he dismissed it as a fleeting thought. He put the phone back down in the cradle and turned his attention back to the large screen in front of him on his desk. He typed in the address and hit "Enter."

Prince Jacob silently watched as the events unfolded.

The helicopter hovered as the frigate sent the reply message, "Bunch of illiterate communists." Muttered the captain of the November as he listened in to the pilots forwarding of the message. "Send a reply message, this time using the four point five inch gun."

"Aye sir!" The weapons officer screamed in joy as he loaded up the targeting plan and adjusted it so the shell missed the Soviet ship. "Plan complete sir."

"Fire when ready lieutenant."

The boom of the gun as the shell was fired towards the enemy vessel, aimed to miss by twenty metres doing nothing more than soak the crew in sea water. The helicopter crews watched as the round harmlessly into the water. The copilot of the Smithing pushed his headset closer to his ear as the order to open fire with the GPMG was given and the marines in the back to be lowered.

"Get them Andy!" Shouted the pilot on the internal intercom to the door gunner who opened up in the bridge housing of the frigate with a flurry of 7.62. The twenty troops in the back of the other helicopter loaded their weapons as the Merlin from the November approached the Zhukov to allow the troops to rope down. The four RIB's revved their engines and moved into intercept the frigate as it tried to escape, the radio crackeled "Target their communications array, we don't want them blabbing." The marine sergeant ordered a private who had the fireteams LAW 80 to aim at what appeared to be the frigates communication tower, the spotting rifle fired and the rocket propelled itself towards the target on its short fuse arm.

Downing Street, New Clanon City

"Prime Minister, I had just been told the frigate is attempting to flee. Our forces are moving into secure it, the taskforce has been told not to kill the crew unless they have to."

"Good thanks for letting us know." The Prime Minister flipped his phone shut as he entered the car. Whisking him away to the bunker as a potential war unfolded less than two hundred miles away from the city. Turning to his advisor and personal assistant.

"Well we are at war now, I want to arrangements to be made for the Soviet crew to be transferred from New Danskeran to the capital and looked after, give them clothes and organise a conference where I will meet them and offer them Clandonian citizenship. We will make them fall right into our hands and the propaganda battle will be ours."

"Yes Prime Minister." The woman replied noting down what he had just said on her PDA with the stylus. "I will make sure they are kept in a good condition, we will try and convert them to capitalism."

"I'm sure they will bow down to the pressure, poor sods they were probably told they were going to get some food for their hungry families not go on some suicide mission against the capitalists. Bunch of brainwashing bastards."

The car and its motorcade pulled away out of the main urban area to the Clanon City Airport near the docklands and the stock exchange, the helicopter would take the PM away from the possible danger of attack on the city.

---

Official Clandonian Response

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/madnukedude/clandoniansmallflag.png


Following the disobeyment of orders by the Royal Clandonian Navy, His Majesty's government has ordered the arrest and seizure of the T.P.S. "Zhukov" for its illegal entry into Clandonian territorial waters. Clandonian forces have been instructed to only use force if required, if the sailors are co-operative then no harm will come and they will be treated as dignified personal in their detention.

If the Soviet government decides to turn itself away from its previous statement then the crew will be released once a full excuse and apology for the vessels illegal entry has been sent. His Majesty's government hope for a peaceful end to this crisis.


God Save the King



Prime Minister David Sistilin

Erika Kars was sitting at her desk, reading through the useless proclamations made by some tinpot dictator earlier that day, when one specific tinpot showed up. The Clandonian Government had made a statement to the The World Soviet Party government, and it caught her attention. It was the usual Propagandist political Bullshit she was used to from them at this point, saying some Destroyer was in their territorial waters, blah blah blah, apology, blah blah blah, more useless bullshit. It was more likely that the Destroyer was in fact in international waters and the Clandonians were bullshitting, as usual.

She called up her Ambassador in the GASN office in TWSP and asked him to do her a favor, and get the GPS locator coordinates for the ship, and she also looked to see if any sattelite passes had been made over the Havenic area as of late, and low and behold, one was tasked to make the pass an hour earlier, and had so. The Ship in question was indeed in international waters and the Clandonians really had no right to be claiming any of the junk they were.

To: The World Soviet Party Government
From:Erika Kars, Chairwoman of the INGC
Dear sirs/misses/whoever
At this time, it seems the Clandonian Government is spewing their usual Propagandist crap, and If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to have the GPS locater code of the ship in question, and its travel logs of the psat 48 hours,

Thanks,

[Signed]
Erika Kars

Whyatican Embassy, The World Soviet Party
Ambassador Stephen Colbert exited the Whyatican embassy in Red City, getting into a waiting limousine and heding to the foreign ministry of the World Soviet Party. The Communists of TWSP were not considered the friendliest of people to the Whyatican government - however, capitalist influence in this area was slowly encouraging economic reform, and the Whyaticans would certainly not pass up the opportunity for a business deal, especially in arms manufacturing. The Communists were not friends, but the Clandonians even less so - and any opportunity to humiliate the Clandonian government would immediately be taken up, and make a little money in the process.

The Whyatican government had a discreet deal to make with the Communists - siding with one enemy to destroy a greater enemy. Praetonia already sold ships to the TWSP government, and the Clandonians protested that enough. They could not block the Praetonian shipyards from selling arms to the Communists, and they had even less influence over Whyatican industry. If the Clandonians mobilized what little resources they had to attempt to stop the arms sales, serious consequences would come after..

Official Statement From Red Tide Goverment
"Although we are not particularly fond of communism, we condemn the unadultered aggression conducted by the Clandonian Goverment. According to official messages and statements sent and recieved by the Clandonian and Soviet Goverments, this ship was originally located in international waters and was having engine difficulties.

The Clandonians then illegally extended their national waters outside the internationally recognised norm. The Soviets then responded with a quite reasonable, some would say appeasing, reply. Their frigate could have its engines speed repaired within 24 hours and then it could move out of the 'new' territorial waters of Clandonia.

Obviously, given live video footage that has been being broadcast by the Soviet vessel, the Clandonian Goverment decided that it could not afford to pass up the excuse for a war. So they are attempting to seize the ship to begin a false crisis. We warn the Clandonian Goverment that any attempt to violate the rightful sovereignty of the World Soviet Party with a decleration of war without proper reason will not be looked kindly upon by the DSRT."
End Statement

The helicopter hovered as the frigate sent the reply message, "Bunch of illiterate communists." Muttered the captain of the November as he listened in to the pilots forwarding of the message. "Send a reply message, this time using the four point five inch gun."

"Aye sir!" The weapons officer screamed in joy as he loaded up the targeting plan and adjusted it so the shell missed the Soviet ship. "Plan complete sir."

"Fire when ready lieutenant."

The boom of the gun as the shell was fired towards the enemy vessel, aimed to miss by twenty metres doing nothing more than soak the crew in sea water. The helicopter crews watched as the round harmlessly into the water. The copilot of the Smithing pushed his headset closer to his ear as the order to open fire with the GPMG was given and the marines in the back to be lowered.

"Get them Andy!" Shouted the pilot on the internal intercom to the door gunner who opened up in the bridge housing of the frigate with a flurry of 7.62. The twenty troops in the back of the other helicopter loaded their weapons as the Merlin from the November approached the Zhukov to allow the troops to rope down. The four RIB's revved their engines and moved into intercept the frigate as it tried to escape, the radio crackeled "Target their communications array, we don't want them blabbing." The marine sergeant ordered a private who had the fireteams LAW 80 to aim at what appeared to be the frigates communication tower, the spotting rifle fired and the rocket propelled itself towards the target on its short fuse arm.


[CAMERA FEED]

The sailors were not amused by the 4.5 incher, but when the the chopper opened fire on the bridge (which luckily was almost empty, so no one got killed), they had to take action.

"I want that helicopter down or out of here, now"

"Aye aye, sir!"

The 100mm Auto cannons rotated to face the hovering chopper and started firing at, while the rest of the ship's MGs and light-weapons tried to take down the RIBs.

The, the missile was fired, and the last thing the internet feed showed was the rocket coming straight at it.

[FEED LOST]

"FUCK! THEY GOT OUR COMMS DOWN!"

"GET READY TO REPEL ANY BOARDING ATTEMPS, THEY CANT BE ALLOWED TO TAKE THE SHIP, SCUTTLE IT IF NECESSARY!"

"YES, SIR!"

A couple of men went down to prep the explosives should it be needed to sink the ship, the rest of the crew readied the anti-shipping missiles, targeted the Clandonian vessels and got ready to fire.

To: The World Soviet Party Government
From:Erika Kars, Chairwoman of the INGC
Dear sirs/misses/whoever
At this time, it seems the Clandonian Government is spewing their usual Propagandist crap, and If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to have the GPS locater code of the ship in question, and its travel logs of the psat 48 hours,

Thanks,

[Signed]
Erika Kars

Official Soviet Response

Of course, we'll also add some photographs of the "discovery" our frigate made.

ATTACHEMENT: Photo File; GPS Coordinates

Snip

The Whyatican delegate was recieved by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, who greeted them and offered a seat.

"Welcome Gentlemen, what may I do for you?"

It was a coincidence, perhaps a fortunate one for the Soviets, that an Imperial Navy anti-surface task group had been patrolling the Haven Straits not some 150 kilometers from the Clandonian coast when the Clandonian maritime border had been summarily extended by 80 nautical miles, which put the Imperial Navy task group more than 100 kilometers inside Clandonian territorial waters and was also more than 50km past the two hundred kilometer nautical border limit that was agreed upon Haven-wide (except, perhaps, the Clandonians.) Had Rear Admiral Alfonso Talavera known about the new limit he might have been inclined to respect it for no other reason than he had no desire to have his command shot at.

The information came flooding in, as it almost always did, at once. First it was Foreign Service dispatch informing him of the new border and informing him, as if he didn't already know, that the border was beyond the 200km limit accepted by every Haven nation and all foreign visitors to Haven. Then came a message from Admiral Chavez, the overall commander of 2nd Home Fleet's anti-surface force, that he had no new orders and could carry on as if the new border didn't matter if he were so inclined. The clincher came in the form of a garbled audio hack, and an attendant coordinates fix, courtesy of the External Security Service, which did little beyond inform him that a Soviet frigate by the name of Zhukov was potentially in trouble in what were legally international waters.

"Comms, my compliments and thanks to the FS and ESS. Also, send a message to Admiral Chavez letting him know that we have received information that a foreign frigate has sent a distress message and that we're moving to render assistance. Once that's done, get me an tight beam uplink, no encryption, to this Zhukov."

The first three messages took some time to generate, but finally Talavera had his uplink, "Foreign frigate Zhukov, this is Rear Admiral Alfonso Talavera of the Imperial Navy, please state your nationality and the nature of your emergency. Over."

The rear admiral snapped his fingers at one of the midshipmen tapped to sit the rotation on the flag bridge, "My compliments to the Captain, inform him that I need two attack helos and a utility helo prepped for a probable rescue mission and a potentially hot extraction. Got it? Good, run."

The first three messages took some time to generate, but finally Talavera had his uplink, "Foreign frigate Zhukov, this is Rear Admiral Alfonso Talavera of the Imperial Navy, please state your nationality and the nature of your emergency. Over."

The rear admiral snapped his fingers at one of the midshipmen tapped to sit the rotation on the flag bridge, "My compliments to the Captain, inform him that I need two attack helos and a utility helo prepped for a probable rescue mission and a potentially hot extraction. Got it? Good, run."

"Sir, we are picking in a signal, from... underwater"

"What? Put them in"

The message was heard by most of the bridge's crew, which was already minimal due to the GPMG fire and the fact that half of it was ready to repel boarding parties.

"I see, tell them this:"

"We are the Soviet Frigate "Zhukov", we are currently being attacked by Clandonian Navy assets who targeted us despite or agreement to exit their territorial waters"

"I hope they help us, Cap'n"

"Yes, nothing wrong in hoping, but dont get them up, they might be hostile"

"Good afternoon, Minister. I have matters to discuss with you, namely Clandonia Prime. Now, the Whyatican government is obviously not friends with the Clandonians, and we have..a proposal for your government." Colbert said, looking calmly at his briefcase and pulling out a piece of paper.

"Good afternoon, Minister. I have matters to discuss with you, namely Clandonia Prime. Now, the Whyatican government is obviously not friends with the Clandonians, and we have..a proposal for your government." Colbert said, looking calmly at his briefcase and pulling out a piece of paper.

"I see.

Well, there's nothing we can do right now to stop them, so Im all ears, what do you have in mind?"

An inflation in the levels of animosity detected between Clandonia Prime and The World Soviet Party, that's what the report indicated. Several major entities had taken an interest, and it now was beginning to resemble possible preparations for armed conflict. Such hostilities would have repercussions for the International Stage and ultimately reverberations might be felt even in Lifesblood.

Thus a vigil had been deemed necessary by those who preside over such matters and authorisation had been provided for the baptism of the esoteric stealth-craft X. This would allow the situation to be monitored, and any information which might pertain to military involvement might originate from a less biased source.

So it was, under the beneficial concealment of the inky skies that the nonexistent aircraft flared into life, rushing down the runway in a lash of chill air before assailing the dark eternity above.

OoC: I'm sending something equivalent to the rumoured Aurora reconnaissance aircraft if that's acceptable?

OoC: I'm sending something equivalent to the rumoured Aurora reconnaissance aircraft if that's acceptable?

OOC: My guess would be that there is no problem.

[I]
"We are the Soviet Frigate "Zhukov", we are currently being attacked by Clandonian Navy assets who targeted us despite or agreement to exit their territorial waters"

Talavera frowned, not understanding how the Soviets had made it all the way to Clandonia, but he decided he didn't really care. The new law of the Clandonian's was a threat to Imperial interests and he was charged with defending the Imperium. If that meant forcibly informing the Clandonians of the illegality of their act, so much the better. "Zhukov, I must inform you that this new territorial boundary that the Clandonians claim violates long-established custom and law in Haven and will be considered illegitimate by almost all of the governments in Haven. You are no more obliged to move from your current position than any other ship would be and the fact that you are presently under attack is not only an act of war, but an act of aggression. My command's planned course and speed are being upload to you now, please alter your course to intercept my command. Help is on the way."

The printer began whining again, signaling that it was putting out another message. The contents of the message were quite surprising, the frigate Zhukov had been in a single spot just outside of Clandonian waters well before the new, and very illegal, legislation had been passed. The message also informed him the position of the Clandonian frigate that was attacking the Zhukov. Naturally enough, Talavera was quite furious. Everything about this incident screamed "aggressive Clandonians." Well, he was going to put a stop to that.

The rear admiral turned towards the tactical station and snapped, "Get me a real time observation sat uplink, find that frigate, and plot a guns only fire mission. Comms, open broadcast addressed to that Clandonian frigate, guards channel."

"Clandonian frigate, this is Rear Admiral Alfonso Talavera of the Imperial Navy. I have answered a distress call from the Soviet frigate Zhukov and I intend to render any and all aid necessary in order to ensure the survival of that ship in accordance with both my oath as an officer of the Imperial Navy and the maritime laws of my nation. While I would not normally involve my command in a shooting incident, I find the basis of this incident, your nation's post ex facto law that illegally sets the Clandonian maritime boundary past the 200km maximum and passed with such hate that it can only be considered an aggressive act, both morally and professionally repugnant. You will desist with you attack upon the Zhukov and retreat to your previous national maritime boundary or my command, which includes one superdreadnaught, two cruisers, and three destroyers, will sink you. Signal your compliance immediately. Over." Talavera somewhat hoped the Clandonian captain would refuse, it would be oh so sweet to see that puny ship obliterated by his flagship's 22" guns.

SIC:

Golddale, Vantanas

President Steelhammer smiled as he sent a telegram to the Vantanian embassy in The World Soviet Party. He had the nations support, and this whole affair fit in perfectly with his own ambitions. What those were, only he knew.

Red City, The World Soviet Party

The ambassador looked over the message, and a sense of patriotism swept over him. His office was about to become quite important. He forwarded the message, then ordered the embassy staff to break out the wine and party.

Offificial Diplomatic Telegram:
To: The World Soviet Party
From: People's Republic of Vantanas
Our most esteemed ally, we are here for you in these troubled time. We have been watching this crisis with Clandonia unfold via sattelite and your camera feed. It is obvious who the aggresor is, and not for the first time either. Should it come to it, we will assist in a war. Even if the entirity of the Sovereign League should attack, we will be with you.

Prince Jacob winced as the missile zoomed at him on the screen. The screen was now full of static, but the Prince could see it was telling him a message: This is not good. It seemed that things were about to get blown up (no pun intended) into a huge conflict. He sat back and rubbed his temples, contemplating what to do next. The press, he thought, I need to inform the press.

He picked up his phone and called his secretaries. As the phone rang, he silently cursed the budget that Parliament passed that made him repick virtually his entire staff, secretaries included. He just wanted his good old secretary and friend Rob back to take calls for him.

"Y'ello?" A man's voice lazily answered. "You've reached the Prince's public line, what can I do ya for?"

The Prince gritted his teeth. "Steven Stevens, that's the second time in one day. You're fired, pack your bags."

"What?" the voice shrilly cried. "I'm not Steven Stevens! He's the one who's in the desk across the hall from mine."

"Oh," Jacob said, confused. "Which one are you?"

"Stevens Steven, sire."

The Prince exhaled a great breath of air. The last thing he needed was an Abbott and Costello act every time he tried to call his secretaries. "I don't care who you are, I just need you to take the memo I told Steven Stevens to send out and I need you to send it to all the major news corporations. Also, call all members of Parliament for an emergency session." He slammed the phone back down in the cradle, the picked it up again. Military aid was most likely out of the question, unless Siriusa's many potential foes suddenly went on vacation. But the Prince was pretty sure that he could get some economic and financial aid to The World Soviet Party.

He dialed the phone and waited for someone to pick up.

"Hello," a calm female voice said. "You've reached the office of Phillip Hanson, CEO and founder of Siriusan Arms Corporation Service. My name is Jan, may I help you?"

"Hello Jan," Jacob replied. "I need to talk to Mr. Hanson."

"I'm sorry, he's in a meeting right now and he won't be back for another two hours or so." Jan still sounded annoyingly happy.

"Tell him the Prince is calling, and I need to talk to him."

The line was silent for a moment. "Hold on please, sir." Jacob heard shuffling as Jan walked off. The sound of a door, opening, closing. Muffled conversation. Door opening.

"To what do I owe the pleasure, my good Sire?" Phillip Hanson asked. Jacob could tell by his tone of voice that he was grinning. Phillip Hanson was not only the owner of SACS, but also ran the Siriusan Military Trade Association, and that meant if Siriusa was to get additional arms or military money to The World Soviet Party, Phillip Hanson would have to approve of the transaction.

"I need one of two things," Jacob replied sternly. "I need either a lot of arms for an army, or a ton of sorgs."

"Of course, my leige," Hanson replied smoothly. "I just need to know where to deliver them and how much."

"As much as possible, and it needs to be flown out of the country. You'll be delivering it to The World Soviet Party."

There was a pause, then "Oh."

Jacob waited. Finally Hanson said, "Well, you know, we don't exactly get along, the World SP and us. After all, they are communists," Hanson said the word like it tasted especially bad in his mouth, "and we all know how they are about us."

"This isn't about money, it's about the NEA," Jacob said vehemently. "I don't care if you're capitalist and proud or if you're Stalin incarnate. e need to support our allies."

Hanson sighed. "You know, Jacob, we don't really have to do everything you tell us to, we're a corporation and you don't have that much power over us. We just usually do what you tell us to because we respect your opinion. Now, if you wanted to support Clandonia Prime, that would be perfectly reasonable, they have a fine free market, one we ought to have here. If we wanted to trade with them or give them arms, I'm sure it would help our trade relations and economy flourish–"

"Siriusa's supporting The World Soviet Party, like it or not. Furthermore, we are not associating with Clandonia Prime. Now you can either support Siriusa and The World Soviet Party, or you can just sit there and support your precious cash," the Prince snapped.

There was another pause. Then, "Have I told you about our newest assault rifle that's due to come out in a week? It's supposedly stronger than anything currently out on the market–"

"We both know you just took an old rifle and just slapped the SACS label on it."

Pause. "Well, would you be interested in buying–"

"You know, half the reason the military buys from international markets is because of people like you."

Hanson hung up.

Not the first time that day, the Prince sat back and rubbed his temples. This was becoming an intesely frustrating affair.

He turned to his computer and began typing out a message to The World Soviet Party

To: Whomever it may concern
From: Jacob L. Sirius
We have recieved your broadcast over the internet, and we are
as of now attempting to secure either funding or some other form
of support for your nation. I would appreciate it if we could speak
sometime later in the future, perhaps we could help work out a
donation to your nation or some such deal.

Jacob L. Sirius
Prince of Siriusa

The phone rang. He picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Sire, this is your secretary. Just calling because the emergency Parliament is taking place in half an hour. They're sending a limo down."

"Thank you," the Prince sighed. "And I need you to send this message to The World Soviet Party's leader. I'm sending it to you now, just forward it to him."

"Yes sir."

"May I ask which secretary of mine you are?"

"Stephen Stephens, sir."

the Prince hung up the phone in frustration.

"Well. The Whyatican government has much in the way of excess arms that can immediately be transferred to your military to use against Clandonia, including a retired supercapital warship. This doesn't come freely, naturally." he said, putting a piece of paper from his briefcase in front of the foreign minister.

"We'd like a..freer trade agreement, if you would call it that, in exchange for our arms and services. We will also turn a blind eye to anything your men do within Clandonia Prime, and provide all of our relevant intelligence on the matter."

"Zhukov, I must inform you that this new territorial boundary that the Clandonians claim violates long-established custom and law in Haven and will be considered illegitimate by almost all of the governments in Haven. You are no more obliged to move from your current position than any other ship would be and the fact that you are presently under attack is not only an act of war, but an act of aggression. My command's planned course and speed are being upload to you now, please alter your course to intercept my command. Help is on the way."


"We understand, and will be switching course to meet your task force"

"I hope this is the wise thing to do"


Offificial Diplomatic Telegram:
To: The World Soviet Party
From: People's Republic of Vantanas
Our most esteemed ally, we are here for you in these troubled time. We have been watching this crisis with Clandonia unfold via sattelite and your camera feed. It is obvious who the aggresor is, and not for the first time either. Should it come to it, we will assist in a war. Even if the entirity of the Sovereign League should attack, we will be with you.

Official Soviet Response

Thanks for your kind offer, we'll tell you if we need any aid, though none is required at the moment.



To: Whomever it may concern
From: Jacob L. Sirius
We have recieved your broadcast over the internet, and we are
as of now attempting to secure either funding or some other form
of support for your nation. I would appreciate it if we could speak
sometime later in the future, perhaps we could help work out a
donation to your nation or some such deal.

Jacob L. Sirius
Prince of Siriusa


Official Soviet Response

Thanks for your offer, though we need no aid as of the moment, we'll be sure to tell you if we do later.
We are interested in speaking with you too, after this whole incident has finished.

"Well. The Whyatican government has much in the way of excess arms that can immediately be transferred to your military to use against Clandonia, including a retired supercapital warship. This doesn't come freely, naturally." he said, putting a piece of paper from his briefcase in front of the foreign minister.

"We'd like a..freer trade agreement, if you would call it that, in exchange for our arms and services. We will also turn a blind eye to anything your men do within Clandonia Prime, and provide all of our relevant intelligence on the matter."

"This certainly sounds interesting, however, I'd like to know the terms of this... 'agreement' before saying yes or no"

Message to the Clandonian Government

As you know, we are currently downsizing our Navy. Do you need any battleships, submarines, torpedoes, missiles, or Khan missiles? We are sending an emergency shipment of Principe torpedoes via cargo aircraft.

Official Announcement of the Allanean Government

While we will not currently deploy militarily to aid Clandonia, and hope the leadership of The World Soviet Party falls over and dies in terrible suffering, it is unfortunately against our international obligations and against our current policy of peace and arms reduction to deploy against TWSP directly. Therefore we express merely our moral support of Clandonia.

Central Government Emergency Bunker,400 miles North of New Clanon City

The latest news and diplomatic pressure had been received during the early hours of the morning Clandonian time. At breakfast the Prime Minister was informed of the loss of the Merlin helicopter from HMS November and the communication from the Scandavian States. Sir Philips long veteran of the Clandonian ruling classes entered the bunker after arriving back from a trip to Praetonia.

"Good morning Prime Minister, the latest situation is deeply concerning but I think its time to call it quits for today and settle to the fact we have lost three crewman and a helicopter. Our pride and defence has been upheld and this is another rap on the knuckles for the Soviets."

"I think we will have to, its a bit of a running with ones tail in the teeth but for the sake of relations with our Haven neighbours it must be done, but I have never heard of this so called 'Haven law' so we must question them about this." Chirped in the Home Affairs Minister.

"Indeed we will send a communication and why did the helicopter fire upon the ship, I only only ordered for their communications to be cut not for them to shoot up the bridge."

"They shot down a helicopter, we should retaliate by sinking their ship with the submarine we have then return to the old boundary and declare our mission complete."

"Sounds reasonable?"

"Rather so old chap, send out a statement now."

Bay of Clandonia

The destroyers watched as the helicopter went down, the marines and remaining aircraft were ordered back after meeting resistance. Three dead and several marines injured after exchanging fire with the Soviet crew.
"Order our stations to hold fire, we have been told to return to the old boundary and call it a day the Knightsword is going to finish the job." Came the voice over the intercom of the November, he captain looking back at the turning wreckage on the water of his ships helicopter.

Under the waves HMS Knightsword lurked preparing a torpedo for launch on the frigate that had just claimed three of their fellow countrymen's lives. "Course plotted!" Shouted the weapons officer relayling the plan to the captain.

"Fire tubes two and four."

"Aye sir!"

The two Spearfish departed their tubes on active ping mode travelling to the Soviet frigate.

"Take us to six hundred metres and return to the old boundary as instructed by fleet command. Speed mode as stealth."

"Yes captain." Replied the Dive Officer as he moved the bow planes down to bring the submarine down and moved the submarines propellers into 'stealth mode' bringing the submarine to a speed of ten knots with very little sound being made as it passed into the deep.

---

Official Clandonian Response

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Secure Communication to Scandavian States:

On behalf of His Majesty's government we would like to apologise for the confusion over the nautical border of the UKCP. The change was not meant to interfere with our regional Haven partners. In compliance with your request the destroyers are returning to the old boundary as the Soviet threat has been extinguished. The extension was more of a temporary diplomatic act to force the Soviets to leave, I'm sure you would not be so happy if one of your enemy's sat on the nautical border in range of your capital city?


God Save the King

Prime Minister David Sistilin

The Haven Strait

The conning tower of the Excalibur class submarine sliced through the dark deep waters of the Haven Strait, kicking up with it plumes of white foam and a gently misty spray.

HMS Excalibur [SA-098] was the first of this newer class of submarine in the Royal Navy, she bore the name of her class rather proudly, and the ageing figure standing rather dramatically on the conning tower was an ageing Captain of nearly 30 years of service within the R.N. Captain Hanson scratched his chin thoughtfully, it always seemed that the Captain had a grizzled look about him because of his apparently permanent Five o’clock shadow.

The hatch span and burst open suddenly, the Captain merely turned and regarded the ensign now clambering out with a calm, but sharp and keen look.

“Came over the Comms bit a few minutes ago.” The ensign handed the sheet of paper over to the Captain who read it and merely grunted in acknowledgement.

“Prepare the crew.” was all he managed before walking past the Ensign and clambering back down.

------------------------

Excalibur

“The orders are to move and full speed to the stricken frigate Zhukov and to defend it from attack in International Waters from the Clandonian Navy. At the minute we’re about 100 KM from the area, so we’ll take about an hour and a half for us to reach them. I only hope that we manage to get there before the Clandonian’s do something stupid like sink them. That’d result in repercussions from the wigs at the Cabinet because it sets a worrying precedent for our Merchants. Its bad enough that we have to have the regular navy, the Territorial Navy and the Merchant Navy Battle-read arm escort most convoys with a squadron or two as is, imagine if they’d have to send half a fricken battle group with every damn chain!” The Captain muttered in his own way to the crew on the deck around him. With a sigh he turned and headed to his ready room.

“Any idea how we’re actually going to go about it?” asked the Ensign with a questioning eyebrow.

“Not a damn clue. The doctrine guideline says I should leap this ship in-between the two combatants and order them to stop before escorting the Zkukov out of the trouble spo-”

A klaxon sounded overhead, causing both the Captain and Ensign to look up before dashing back to the control room.

“What’s happened?” Barked The Captain to the comms operator who flinched at the now harsh bark of the Captains voice.

“It seems from some chatter we can discern that the Clandonians have fired on the frigate properly.”

“Damn. Continue our course!” snapped the Captain

“Aye sir.” replied the helm control.

SGNS.831

The SGNS.831 was a Kurakaze class Submarine. Given that the Imperium had a stake in Clandonia - especially in Okielahoma which was landlocked behind Clandonia, it would be considered normal for a Questarian nuc boat to be patrolling around the area. SGNS 831 had heard reports of the Soviet frigate and just arrived in the vicinity after hearing reports of a shot down HELO. The highly sensitive SONARs of the SGNS were on active-ping - after all, who would attack a Submarine identifying itself as a Questarian vessel? And it was these SONARs that alerted the crew of the flooding of two torpedo tubes from a nearby submarine.

"Commander, two torp tubes just flooded." The Ensign operating the SONAR equipment turned around and notified the CO of the boat. To be honest, Commander Nagato was expected something to happen and this was the trigger.

"XO." Nagato looked to his Executive Officer, Roberts, who looked back at him. "I'm going to order that sub to stand down and surface."

The XO nodded. "Understood skip. I'll inform the Admiralty. I think we're well within our rights."

"I should think so. Better us than the Scandavians anyway..."

"Yes, yes, quite." The Captain finished. "NavEn -" he looked at the Navigation Ensign. "Set us a path to intercept that submarine. Keep him pinged on SONAR all the time. Don't forget to keep our IFF up. I'd also like to talk to the skipper of that boat."

~

Moments later the Clandonian sub received a message from the SGNS.831. It had fired to two torpedoes in open water and given the full power of the active SONAR onboard the Kurakaze class it wasn't too hard to track and find the Clandonian submarine and follow its dive path as closely as possible.

'This is His Imperial Questarian Majesty's Submarine SGNS.831 to unidentified Clandonian submarine. We demand you stand down your weaponry and surface immediately."

Bay of Clandonia

"Incoming communication from the Questerians!" Piped up the Communications Officer as her tore the dot matrix print out and handed it to the captain.

"What do they bloody want?"

The captain turned white as he handed it down his number two. The commander spoke, "They are going to put us in the brig Jim."

"They are supposed to be our bloody allies! How far are we from Clandonian waters?"

"At least thirty miles sir, we will never make it."

"Better blow the tanks and see what the want, we don't want to upset them."

"Very well, begin our assent."

The slender black Danskeran surfaced, the periscope was raised to give a quick check of what was there. The captain climbed up onto the tower as the Royal Marines stood on the wet deck their combat 95 clothing armed with the standard G36K service rifle. The swell of another storm system coming in as the notable buzz of a RCAF Nimrod MR4 observing from a distance why one of their submarines had surfaced...

The Clandonians would find that the SGNS.831 had already surfaced and was waiting for them. Commander Nagato and several crew members were out on the conning tower and had already observed the storm coming. Given the distance between the two submarines Nagato was able to hail the Clandonian sub with his megaphone.

"This is the Es-Gee-En-Es Eight Thirty One. We request that your XO and CO come aboard for the duration. Bring any personal belongings you do not want to leave behind. Do you need an inflatable to bring you aboard?"

Nagato lowered his megaphone and muttered to his XO. "I hope they don't cause any fuss."

Statement of His Majesty's Government

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His Majesty's Government offers general support to the Government of His Majesty's Royal Georgian League ally Clandonia with regards to this affair, but hopes sincerely that the situation can be resolved in such a way as to ensure that there is no greater damage to Clando-Soviet relations as a result. Before proposing a solution to this problem, His Majesty has directed that the events as they have proceeded should be reviewed so as to avoid confusion over the facts.

At 06:30 a Soviet frigate passing through international waters just outside of the Clandonian territorial claim stopped dead.

At around 06:45 a small surface force of Soviet warships, not including any ships dedicated to repair or resupply, changed course and made for the location of the previous frigate.

Some time later, the Clandonian government extended its territorial claim to 80 nautical miles, incompassing the frigate. NB: 80 nautical miles is equivalent to around 148km - smaller than the 200km limit the Maritime Treaty of Getsburg, of which Clandonia is not a signatory, and not larger, as Scandavian States erroniously claims.

Immediately after, the Soviet government issued a statement agreeing to leave the new claim, but asserting that, as their frigate's engine was damaged, the frigate would not be able to leave for a day or more.

Some time later, a Clandonian force approached the frigate in an attempt to board it. The frigate immediately went to full speed, despite allegedly having a damaged engine. Gunfire is exchanged.

As we can see from this timeline, the Soviet government accepted and agreed to respect the new Clandonian territorial waters boundary, which is smaller than that claimed by Praetonia and indeed most other Haven states, even those signatories of the Maritime Treaty of Getsburg, which allows larger boundaries to be imposed. The Soviet frigate claimed a right to stay, however, based on the claim that its engine was damaged. However, we saw that the moment the frigate was under threat it was able to immediately utilise its engine to full capacity - this is unlikely if the engine was damaged, and impossible if the engine was currently being repaired.

His Majesty, therefore, noting the implicit and explicit acceptance by the Soviet government of the new maritime boundaries limit set forth by Clandonia, and also the extreme doubt cast over its claim to leigitimately remain thereafter, is forced to conclude that the vast majority of Clandonia's actions in this instance have been justified; the only exception being the decision to board the frigate before it was known that the frigate's engines were not in fact damaged which, although technically allowed under the definition of territorial waters, perhaps goe

"We have a boat." Came the reply as the Royal Marines finished lowering the RIB into the water ready for the short distance across the Questerian submarine. The two officers were ready for the crossing with the Royal Marine crew still on deck six marines accompanied their superiors stern faced as they splashed across the waves, the spray soaking the men. The small day sacks in the back with belongings, they knew they may face a inquiry into the incident and wondered how many they had killed on the Soviet frigate or why the hell their government wasn't doing anything.

"You know we could fire back on them." Muttered the commander to his superior.

"I know Jim, the thought did come into my mind then I realised that doing so would be the end of us and the entire nation."

"Hmmm." Came the reply as the boat neared the other vessel. The black storm clouds rolling in. I hope the James will be getting the boat beneath the waves, this looks a rough one.

<snip>Obviously, given live video footage that has been being broadcast by the Soviet vessel, the Clandonian Goverment decided that it could not afford to pass up the excuse for a war.<snip>

[Open Message]

Hey, don't be so hard on them. When half your population can't read and people die of easily curable diseases on the streets every day -- despite Clandonian propaganda to the contrary, there is evidence from such outside sources as Questers and Whyatica -- the people need something to distract them from their own plight. The "War is Peace" tactic, referencing Orwell. At least Clandonia doesn't keep its full military on 100% alert all the time anymore; it's a wonder it even has an economy left as a result.

[signed]
K'iuth Gaelin
Grand Potentate in Absentia of the United Coalition of Dzanjiru City-States
[Official Seal of the Potentate]

Under the waves HMS Knightsword lurked preparing a torpedo for launch on the frigate that had just claimed three of their fellow countrymen's lives. "Course plotted!" Shouted the weapons officer relayling the plan to the captain.

"Fire tubes two and four."

"Aye sir!"

The two Spearfish departed their tubes on active ping mode travelling to the Soviet frigate.

"Take us to six hundred metres and return to the old boundary as instructed by fleet command. Speed mode as stealth."

"Yes captain." Replied the Dive Officer as he moved the bow planes down to bring the submarine down and moved the submarines propellers into 'stealth mode' bringing the submarine to a speed of ten knots with very little sound being made as it passed into the deep.


The captain stood in the bridge, scanning the waters, the skirmish with the helicopter had been... succesful, and by now, his men were fishing Clandonian survivors (should there be any) from the waters. That's when the sonar ping'd.

"Sir, we've got incoming torpedoes!"

"Torpedoes? That means the Clandonians fired them, is there any chance of dodging them?"

The sailor assesed the situation, and was remarkably fast, but his answer came with a sad tone.

"No sir, not at this distance we dont"

"*Sigh* Tell everyone to abandon the ship and board the rafts"

"Aye aye sir"

"ATENTION ALL HANDS, TORPEDOES INCOMING, ABANDON SHIP, I REPEAT ABANDON SHIP!"

The crew moved fast, heading for the nearest exits and then moving into the boats which were lowered into the sea when they got full. The captain was the last one to leave, stopping only to check the anti-shipping missiles, which were still aimed at the Clandonian destroyers.

"I'm going to hate myself for this"

And with that, he pressed the button and let lose the eight R/U/AGM-200 "Typhoon" High-speed Anti-Ship Missiles (HASM) [OOC: Aequatian made =P].
Then, he gave the finishing touches to the explosives that would sink his ship, just in case, and boarded the last raft.

Moments later, the ship was engulfed in flames as the explosives planted deep whithin it exploded, combined with the torpedoes, that made the vessel go down faster than a broken bird.

The two Type 45 Destroyers, HMS November and HMS Smithing were on their way home safely in Clandonian waters. The crew were relieved that they were heading home after the submarine finished off the frigate and it was reported to have gone down with a huge explosion. The bridge of the November was active still as the crew monitored the situation as the many nations patrolled the area with aircraft and various naval forces. Seconds after the confirmation of the destruction of the Soviet frigate the radar operator picked up something.

"Sir we have at least four, no eight inbound hostile's onto us and the Smithing!"

"How the bloody hell did they launch?"

"Must of been some dead man's switch or some person stayed long enough, Christ!"

The captain grabbed the internal phone. "All hands brace for impact!" Sailors rushed to slam water tight doors and hatches before grabbing onto something as the automatic Phalanx CIWS opened up with their DU rounds, one missile was blasted out off the sky but it was too late, the high speed missiles hit the November dead on taking the central structure and another hitting bellow the water line of the helicopter flight deck. The Smithing took a brave three down before taking the remaining rounds hit the bridge house killing the captain and the other officers, a second pierced the magazine armour setting off the shells for 4.5 inch gun. The ships crew were trapped in as the fires raged through the aluminium structure and water flooded in giving it a heavy list to starboard.

The klaxon's began whooping out as the two ships burned, fire fighting teams on the November struggled to protect the helicopter refuelling tank which was dangerously near the flames. "The Smithings lost!" Cried one bloodied and blackened sailor as he made it to the bridge where the glass covered the floor.

"She took two hits as well, her bridge took one and they are jumping off the rails now, she's listing heavily and appears to be sinking sir."

"Send any spare rescue teams to go help them, alert the base at Crown Island to send support, I doubt we can get the other ship back to port but we are sure as hell getting my boat back."

Many who had survived the initial strike on the Smithing were scrambling for the life boats or jumping into the sea to avoid the raging fire on board. It was decided by the last senior officer alive on the vessel the engineering officer to abandon ship. The two hundred and thirty five crew on board had been reduced to only one hundred and eighteen, one hundred and seventeen dead or missing on the Smithing and twenty four dead on the November it had been a costly hit with one warship sunk and the other severely damaged. HMS November radioed in a help request, her radar systems damaged, the helicopter hanger gutted from the fire. The news of the incident had filtered into the media who were now reporting the breaking news.


Central Government Emergency Bunker

The news of the attack was handed to the emergency war cabinet, the Prime Minister looked grave when he saw the preliminary death count.

"One hundred and forty two dead, half the crew of Smithing killed! The murdering bastards!"

"This is beyond an act of war, we should strike now with our bombers and sink the entire Soviet navy whether at port or at sea." Shouted at the Naval Attaché Minister.

"Quiet!" Replied Sir Philips as he called for calm. "This incident has been very serious, we have a submarine captain and his deputy with the Questerians now, the Soviet frigate sunk and also one of our own lost. The Praetonians have backed up our claim ridiculing the Scandavian's claims about the nautical restrictions of a treaty we didn't even know existed till today, let alone that we have signed!"

"That is true, they have a task force very near us and the Midlonians have been reported to be in the area raising questions over the safety of our Western border. I fear for the people of New Kirkland if they crossed the border. We should raise the border military alert and instruct our divisions..."

"Enough! The Midlonians will not invade, it would be suicidal for them to face the guns of the King William Line."

"I don't know, the regions gone to shit. We have our supposed allies arresting our officers, what next the Praetonains killing the King?"

"We will wait till what happens, instruct our air force and retrospective naval forces to prepare for a possible strike against any ship that has a Soviet flag on it."

As soon as the two Clandonians were picked up, SGNS-831 made full speed ahead towards the wreck of the Clandonian frigate. Meanwhile the officers of the boat made their charges feel as welcome as they could, taking them down into the sub.

"We're not going to lock you in irons and throw you down the brig." Nagato chuckled. "As far as I'm concerned, you're officers - you have your honour - so I'm trusting you not to go poking round my boat. The Commander of the Watch will take you to your rooms, I'm sure you'll find them fairly comfortable. If we don't transfer you quicker, you'll be dining with the officers tonight. In any case, I have work to be doing."

Nagato saluted the two Clandonians and the Officer of the Watch took them down to their rooms, an officers room with two bunks. While Questarian surface ships are known for their low level of automation in comparison to foreign models, subsurface is exactly the opposite. An officer of any Navy would find accomodation onboard a Kurakaze spacious. The officer of the watch took them to their rooms and posted a guard outside.

~

SGNS.831 moved swiftly towards the site of the flaming Soviet frigate, still surfaced, a full Questarian flag flying at full mast. The ORB liquid metal reactors pushed to ship to 30 knots and it accelerated at full speed. Within several minutes she was at the site of the Soviet sailors and Nagato once again had to hail the group of small boats with his megaphone.

"This is His Imperial Questarian Majestys Submarine Es-Gee-En-Es Eight Thirty One. We request that the Commanding Officer and his Second in Command come aboard."

Nagato expected resistance and while the CIWS weapon on the foredeck was still encased in the hull it would take seconds for it to deploy.

Onboard SGNS-831

The Clandonian captain and commander returned to the salute and said thank you to the Questerians as they led to their accomodation. "I wonder what's what for dinner tonight then?" Asked the commander.

"Hah, I've not tried Questerian cooking, wonder if their boat food is better than what our cooks make?"

"Good job we brought mess dress then if we are dining with officers."

"Yes indeed."

"What was that explosion we heard in the distance, sounded bloody awful. Poor sods, hope it wasn't any of ours." The captain carried a worried look, thinking about the two destroyers that they had come to support out in the Bay of Clandonia.

The boat rocked as it descended. "Storms getting rough?"

"Yeah, wonder if we can ring our families. The misses will be worried sick with the news that must be coming through."

“Detonation and… Jesus H Christ she’s broken in two, I mean fricken split in half, she’s flooding heavily now.” The Sonar operators eyes bulged as he listened carefully to the screaming and the groaning.

“How far away are we now?” Asked the Captain as he looked at the Positions mapper, responsible for the advanced real-time and GPS feeds from the Midlonian Satellites.

“One Nautical, skipper.” replied the figure who’s spectacles were merely disks of blue. “From our bird in the sky I can see small rafts, seems like the crew escaped.

“Right.” muttered the Captain.

“Prepare to surface. Helm, up 23 and bring us up slowly.”

“Aye sir, bringing up to surface at 23 degrees.” Replied the helmsman.

As the sub broke the surface its soaking wet flag snapped in the strong breeze usually created by the Strait, the Bird soaked in Blood (Also referred to as the Flag of The Dove, and The Flag of God).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v160/Midlonia/Midlonianflag.png

“Ensign, get up to the conn with a megaphone and begin broadcasting this.” The Captain shoved a small crinkled piece of paper into the Ensign’s hands and shooed him up the ladder before he could protest.
---------

“Sailors of The World Soviet Party, we request that you surrender to the naval forces of the Greater Kingdom of Midlonia. In accordance with Midlonian Naval doctrine we are to aid in your recovery to our nearest port and request the surrender of any weapons that may be on your persons. We will offer tow ropes to all but the command crew, who we request to come aboard and speak to our Captain.”

“Sailors of The World….

"What the hell?"

Nagato watched as the Midlonian sub surfaced and began to demand the Soviets to surrender.

"Repeat, this is This is His Imperial Questarian Majestys Submarine Es-Gee-En-Es Eight Thirty One. We request that at least your CO comes aboard."

"This is His Imperial Questarian Majestys Submarine Es-Gee-En-Es Eight Thirty One. We request that the Commanding Officer and his Second in Command come aboard."


The captain looked at his aide, then back at the Questerians.

"I dont trust them, I do wonder what are they up to?"

"Only one way to find out" He picked up the megaphone and answered.

"Please state your reasons for this request!"


“Sailors of The World Soviet Party, we request that you surrender to the naval forces of the Greater Kingdom of Midlonia. In accordance with Midlonian Naval doctrine we are to aid in your recovery to our nearest port and request the surrender of any weapons that may be on your persons. We will offer tow ropes to all but the command crew, who we request to come aboard and speak to our Captain.”

“Sailors of The World….

"Wow, this surely creates a problem"

"Questerian and Midlonian officers, we'll let it up to you two to decide who goes where and the likes, just tell us when you are done discussing!"

"We require your presence onboard our vessel to discuss matters of diplomacy."

Nagato swore under the megaphone. This was getting irritating.

"What about the sailors? We cant just leave them here!"

"We require your presence onboard our vessel to discuss matters of diplomacy."

Nagato swore under the megaphone. This was getting irritating.

Meanwhile

The "aid fleet" sent to help the frigate, had gotten news of its destruction, but continued it's course to pick up the survivors and bring them back home. It consisted of:

Duke Class BTN (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12468658&postcount=1)
-T.P.S. Red October
Indomitable Class Trimaran-Hull Battleship (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=8739969&postcount=14)
-T.P.S. Mars
-T.P.S. Caesar
Indestructable class Aircraft Carrier (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=8708897&postcount=112)
-T.P.S. Warrior
Erschoff Class Guided-Missile Destroyer (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=8739992&postcount=16)
-T.P.S. Victory
-T.P.S. Red Dawn
-T.P.S. Jorge
-T.P.S. Bergstein

"What about the sailors? We cant just leave them here!"

"I'm sure the Midlonians will pick them up. Or some of your own. Or even the Scandavians. I'm not bothered. If you don't get onboard this boat I'm afraid I'm going to have to make you."

"I'm sure the Midlonians will pick them up. Or some of your own. Or even the Scandavians. I'm not bothered. If you don't get onboard this boat I'm afraid I'm going to have to make you."

"Dang, well, then I guess we'll have to come on board"

The Captain (Who, by the way, is named Baruch Goldstein) and his XO made their way to the Questerian Submarine and boarded.
Goldstein extended his hand to shake that of his Questerian counterpart.

"Captain Goldstein, nice to meet you"

"Ensign." Whispered the Captain as he slid up quietly beside him, causing the younger man to scream in terror before composing himself.

"C-Captain?"

"Inform the Captain of the Questarian submarine that I shall be joining them."

"Sir?"

The Captain was already clambouring to the side, a tiny inflatable powered dingy under one arm.

"Ah! Captain!"

The boat inflated and the small solar-powered motor kicked in and propelled the Captain of the Excalibur towards the Questarian vessel.

"In the name of diplomacy and parley on the High Seas my Captain is making his way to your vessel to discuss this situation!" The Ensign managed to blurt out before ordering some tow-ropes to be hurled out to the crews of the Soviet Sailors

Danskeran Fleet Command

It was dark by now as the lights of the city and its impressive water front reflected on the harbour waters. The Clandonian Home fleet pratically gone from its births as they floated around the Bay of Clandonia. The submarine pens at Victory Island were empty as the Clandonian SSN force went out on patrol with Cyclone SSN and Danskeran SSBN submarines out on patrol from their yards.

"Sir latest weather report."

"Storms getting rough eh?"

"Yes sir, our ships have been told to batten down the hatches glad I'm not on board now. Must be all right for the submarines though."

"How many do we have out?"

"A good three squadron of Danskerans and Cylones, combined with our air cover and there's enough sonar buoys out there to pave the way from New Clanon City to Victory Island."

"Quite so, carry on commander its getting late now and I haven't sleep for three days."

"Indeed sir, crisis looks like its dipping down."


Clanonshire Satellite Receiving Station 0400 Hours CCT

The watchman sipped his coffee and looked at the watch, only three hours to the end of his shift then the day team arrived. The place was a strange one, the bunker complex where the control room was leaked in the heavy rain and was bitterly cold all year round.

A computer bleeped as the hard drive spun into life as the latest images on the thermal scan appeared. The Spyglass satellite pierced through the clouds and any visible obstruction. The shapes of several objects showing the heat being released from the funnels of a ship, several ships.

"Hmmm." Sighed the man as he flicked through the logs to identify the spotted object from logs of the last few days and hours. The ship matched that of the Soviet task force that had been noted by Praetonian satellites to have changed course. Dashing for the phone he range the desk at the Ministry of Defence, no answer so an email was fired off to the Admiralty.

The watchman looked worried as the ships were several miles away from Clandonian waters...

Soviet Task Force "Alpha"

The Task Force lead by the Duke Class BTN "Red October" stopped a few miles away of the Clandonian waters, a small group of boats left the formation to gather the survivors of the frigate, which were promptly taken aboard. The information was sent that the CO and the XO were inside the Questerian submarine, so, the order was give to stay there and wait for the results of this "meeting".

The Vendetta-class battlecruiser IES Victorious sailed up behind the Soviet flotilla, the Ezaltian naval ensign (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i114/ninjahedgehog/Slide1-7.jpg) fluttering in the breeze. Its skipper, Commander Vincent Engstrom, sent a message to the Soviet fleet.

This is the IES Victorious of the Imperial Ezaltian Navy. We request permission to attach ourselves to your flotilla to help you monitor the situation.

The Vendetta-class battlecruiser IES Victorious sailed up behind the Soviet flotilla, the Ezaltian naval ensign (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i114/ninjahedgehog/Slide1-7.jpg) fluttering in the breeze. Its skipper, Commander Vincent Engstrom, sent a message to the Soviet fleet.

Answer:

Of course, feel free to join us.

.

Carrier Battle Group of HMS Angel, 340km away from the current position of the Relief Fleet

A Midlonian Carrier group tends to consist of around 45 vessels on average along with around 5 submarines from the Submersible Armada [SSA] of the Royal Navy. So in all the total comes to around 50 ships.
Typically the Angel’s remit is to sail occasionally between Montmarte, the colony just to the north of Clandonia down the strait to Birchester.

Today however the Angel’s Battle group was reduced to just 30 vessels, the rest apparently being drawn on to up the costal security on the new Naval project. So in constellation they had the SSB Homus and the SSCV Pericles with them from the First Submersible Rapid Reaction Force. The two vessels were built as part of a project symbolizing the closing Naval Ties between The Freethinker Commonwealth and the Greater Kingdom of Midlonia, a massive joint project which had culminated with working units of Submersible gun-Subs and Submersible Aircraft Carriers such as the Homus and Pericles.

Rear Admiral Gable merely sighed as he looked at his orders.
“Thank you.” he muttered to the aide that had handed them to him a few moments ago who saluted and left the conning tower of the Angel.

He let his head rest against his chest before lifting it and barked out. “Once more unto the breech! Inform the group that we’re to intercept the Soviet relief group now in the Strait. Should they prove hostile we’re to ensure that they stop, surrender or go home or to the deep. Its to ensure that nothing escalates much further than it damn well is now. The Central Command has decided the Status Quo needs restoring one way or another. So lets hop to it!”

Moving at flank speed the group began to make its way to within 120km’s of the “relief” fleet.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y172/buckaro/15_crossed_riflesCustom.jpg

Encrypted military message to Clandonian Naval Command

Dear Sir,

As a member of the GDI and SL, Hotdogs2 feels it would be useful for both nations to carry out certain wargames. As such we wish to simulate a full scale naval battle using one of our largest fleets, with the inclusion of our mother fleet with our Hood Class SD. Should you accept we shall assemble our fleet and set off immediately, although of course we shall be using full military tactics, as such the exact timings for arrivals will vary depending on forces we decide to send. To ensure no accidents occur by believing the fleet to be a real threat we shall firstly wish to carry out the exercises in a set area, and will also require all ships and submarines to carry recognition devices which can be activated for positive identification so as to ensure only simulation equipment is used. Such details will of course be solved once we send our exercise planning team to Clandonia, which we shall have flown in shortly.

To ensure only ships involved in the exercise are in the area we would also like to inquire as to whether it would be possible to have the area banned for normal shipping, although this would limit possible area to be used, it would ensure the authenticity of the exercise and reduce safety issues. These, and other possible rules to guide engagements would likely be needed, and some ships would not be involved to ensure complete fleet safety. Please respond immediately to this request, as we are preparing the fleet as we speak, and several scouting submarines are on their way as we speak with support ships(and their assorted escorts).

Yours hopefully, Sir John Simpson, Chief Admiral of Fleet Staff

A very large and domed ship sailed within 30 nautical miles of the incident, out of Clandonian Waters. Its FOF beacon was on and broadcasting a Leafanistani signal, along with a Sovereign League rider.

It was an electronic warfare, and command ship, the Vichy Class, based on the Kirov hull and it sat watching the whole incident. As an SL member, it had a vested interest in Clandonia, and as a formerly fascist country that was getting democracy and capitalism, it had an interest in the World Soviet Party.

Next to the ship was the newest battleship to serve in the Leafanistani Navy. The Motherland Battlecruiser, Battleship, the name had yet to be finalized. They were both covered in a new form of visual camouflage and only one ship was broadcasting a beacon.

It was like a blur on the ocean.

Bay of Clandonia, Clandonian Territorial Waters

The eighty nautical miles of Clandonian controlled water (148.16 KM) was heavily monitored following the incident with the Home Defence fleet under the command of Admiral Lord Tintonbery patrolling the water ways with its large force of Type 45 Daring and Type 23 Duke destroyers. The submarine force of over of nearly fifty Cyclone Class submarines from the 2nd and 4th Submarine Squadron at Victory Island, the fast submarines operated in packs of five supported by their larger Danskeran Class SSBN brothers.

Having been alerted of a Soviet fleet on its way to support an alert was put out for Clandonian submarine assets to move towards the nautical border, if the Soviet fleet crossed into Clandonian waters the orders were to destroy them with the sight of the sinking HMS Smithing still in minds of many a Clandonian, revenge was wanted with public pressure high to avenge the deaths.

On board a Danskeran Class SSBN the communication officer reported a movement of another large fleet.

"I don't think it can be anyone else other than the Midlonians?"

"Well they aren't after us they appear to be moving to intercept the Soviet task force who have no stopped."

"We have a lot of stuff hovering around the boundary there?"

"Yes Sir, heavy anti ship cover from the Fleet Air Arm and the Crabs."

RCAF Morecambe Island

The small southernmost island was occupied by the small fishing harbour and the Royal Clandonian Air Force Naval air station. 4 Nimrod Squadron were based with their twenty aircraft as well the 18th Tactical Bomber Wing with the forty F/A-22 Strike Raptor fighter bombers armed with naval Storm Shadow MK2. The local radar and listening post picked recieved the latest movement, an Ezaltian ship supporting the Soviets? Wern't they not busy fighting the Hatarians in the Far East? The F/A-22's and MR4's carried AGM-84F with a good range of 300 KM's. The base also had a number of Clandonian WE.177 Nuclear Depth Charges with the small 0.5 to 10 KT yeilds for the shallow waters as so not to damage Clandonian or allied shipping.

The teleprinter came to life with the latest spotter information, the order from the MoD was to observe the Ezaltian ship and destroy if it entered Clandonian waters. The Ezaltians were allies of the Soviets so were assumed to be hostile in nature, it would be suicidal to cross into the UKCP's waters at such a time but there was never the less such a chance with the de facto state of war currently with TWSP. The base commander watched from his office as the latest base arrival the Khan Class missiles from the mainland were erected into the silos, the huge ICBM sized objects were designed to make some sailors day a bad one but they were ready to be used with the Soviet and Ezaltian vessels in easy range for the large missile.


---

Official Clandonian Response

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/madnukedude/clandoniansmallflag.png

Secure Communication to the Government of Hotdogs2

His Majesty's government thanks you for your offer of aid during this troubling time. If a small carrier group could be sent with a good deterrent and a force that will not cause further complications in the delicate process.

Your force will be permitted access into Clandonian waters and Royal Clandonian Navy resupply and docking access will be avaible if there is a need. We thank you for the offer of support.

God Save the King


Lord Sea Admiral Miklanov

OOC: Just a polite notice to everyone, can we please make posts longer than just two lines, more depth and information is needed.

Encrypted reply to Lord Sea Admiral Miklanov

We are glad you understand the need of this force and exactly what our intents are. As such to keep secrecy we would like to carry out limited war games, particular in co-operation of operations so as to ensure our forces understand each other enough to fight together should it ever be needed. Forces to be sent are listed below:

1x Kingdom-class BBAN
2 X Union-class heavy aircraft carrier CVBN
2 × King Henry V-class BBGN
2 × Castle-class CAGN
4 × Morrigan-class CGN
8 × Sianach-class DDGN/DLGN
14 × Bullfinch-class FFH
10 × Nowotny-class SSN
4 × SSGN Chamberlain-class SSGN
Siren-class signals intelligence ship AGI
2x Lem-class fast combat stores ship AFS
6 × Smith-class multirole replenishment ship AOE
1x Aylesburgh-class submarine tender AS

OOC: All ships listed are from Isselmere and can have their stats seen at http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=484448&page=1

Vetakan Defence Force Naval Ship (VDFNS) White-Rose, Just outside of Clandonian Waters:

The VDFNS White-Rose was a DMG built Chieftain Class Pocket Battleship she was a Veteran of the Vetakan Navy seeing action around the world for example Undead Falcon, The Fighting Stars, Strator and Zanski. Commanded by Veteran Captain Steven Clowes whom had now three times refused the rank of Rear Admiral in favour of remaining aboard the ship he loved with the crew he loved. Much of the White-Rose crew had also refused promotion in favour of remaining aboard the rose their was something about the Rose that drew the crew in and made them into more than coworkers and friends but into a family each and every one of the crew aboard the Rose knew the first name and favourite drink of every other person aboard. Today the White-Rose travelled the sea to return home to Vetaka. A somewhat uneventful journey was due to come to an end that was until the Communication from the Vetakan Admiralty arrived. The Captain took the file from his Comms Officer read it to himself before beginning:

"Ok Ladies and Gentleman listern up. We have a situation it seems a TWSP Frigate the TPS Zukov suffered a malfunction just outside of Clandonian Waters and well was fired upon by the Clandonians at this time we are unsure as to any surviors however thats not all. The Soviets have sent what they are calling an "Aid Fleet" to the area to recover any surviours as a result this has stired somewhat of a situation from the rest of Haven. OBSAT has confirmed alot of Naval Fleets in International Waters. Because we would rather not see bloodshed in Haven. Admiralty is ordering us to prepare to enter Clandonian Waters if permission is granted to recover the Soviet Sailors and transport them as quickly as possible to their aid Fleet so that we can get the Soviets out of Haven as quickly as possible. To avoid an all out shooting war. Ok people lets go to work Amber Alert. Heads of Department brief your personnel. Do we understand?"

"Yes Sir" came a string of replies.

The White-Rose slowed to a crawl and prepared to enter Clandonian Waters just as soon as Vetaka recieved Permission to enter their waters as a result hundreds of miles away in Theeb newly elected President Scarlet Rogers quiclkly dispatched a Communication to both Clandonia and the Soviets:

Official Dominion of Vetaka Diplomatic Message:

To: Clandonian Foreign Office, TWSP Foreign Office
From: Vetakan Foreign Affairs

Subject: Tense Siuation

The Dominion of Vetaka has been monitoring the situation between both nations regarding the Zukov Situation and the advancing Soviet Aid Fleet. Nobody wants to see Conflict and Bloodshed in Haven as a result Vetaka proposes a propisition.

The Dominion currently has a Pocket Battleship the "White-Rose" in the region which is returning to Vetaka from Strator we are in a position to recover the Sailors from Clandoniann Waters and transport them to the Aid Fleet. Thus defusing a very explosive stiuation. As a result Vetaka requests permission to enter Cladonian Waters to recover any Sailors dead or alive?

We hope both nations will choose the right path and mutually help eachother avoid needless bloodshed.

Yours Vetakan President & Lord Govenor Scarlet Rogers

OOC: If its closed now please disregard.

Soviet Aid Fleet

"Sir, we are picking up several signals, coming in, according to the latest intel, they are of Midlonian origin"

"I see, any idea of what are their reasons for this?"

"HQ says that they are probably going to keep us from further entering Haven"

"I see, well, broadcast the following message to any unit of any nationality currently in the area:"

Official Diplomatic Communique

http://img451.imageshack.us/img451/307/officialsealtwspxk5.gif
To: Everyone
From: Soviet Aid Fleet

Fear not, good people of Haven, associates, allies, etc.

We are just here to pick up our survivors, which we have already done, and see what happens with our officers in the Questarian Royal Navy submarine. Once we are finished with these tasks, we'll set sail to the homeland and leave you in peace.

Signed,
Fleet Admiral Emmanuel Roskovsky

"Admiral? A diplomatic communicae."

Snatching it from the Aide the Admiral sighed and flicked his eyes through it.

"I want a visual recon on the fleet itself. Two flights."

"Aye Sah."

The Midlonian aircraft's afterburners screamed as they were flung along the carrier deck, two flights of two aircraft hurled impossibly into the sky at great speed.

Levelling out the aircraft turned lazily and moved to fly past the Soviet fleet at a 50km range.

OOC: Visual Stealth Battleships are impossible in MT-Early PMT, so come back with something more realistic, because I doubt anyone would let a stealth BB enter haven...

[Skyian 4th Home Fleet, 3th Light Carrier Task Force (Taffy 57), 200km from Soviet 'Aid' Fleet]

Rear Admiral (Upper Half) Harry Octavian looked over the message he had recieved from President Kara Maddox, it was a 'response' the message issued by the Soviet Aid Fleet. He grimaced at the sound of the message, Ms. President was not happy.

Expell Soviet Fleet From Haven. STOP
Remove Ezaltian Ship from Haven. STOP
Use of Force Authorized. STOP
Cooperation with Inter-Havenic Forces Required. STOP
Monitor Clandonian Naval Activity. STOP
Protect the Interest of TSS and Haven. STOP
May God Be With You.

The Rear Admiral lowered the message with a heavy heart, he could feel it in the breeze that flew through the windows on his Flagship, the SRNS 'Condor', a 'Avalon-Class Light Dreadnaught, brave men were going to die this day.

He gave the order to sail ahead towards the Midlonian Task Force and the Soviet Aid Fleet. IFFs transmitted away, and a message of friendly intentions was sent to the Midlonian Task Force.

As the task force of 24 Frigates, 28 Destroyers, 24 Cruisers, 3 Light Dreadnoughts and Four Light Carriers bore down on the Soviet Fleet a message was sent to the aid fleet.

"Your kind is not welcome here, your intentions are tainted, you are to blame for this incident, leave Haven with your allies and never return, we shall strike a deal to retreive your dead and wounded, leave now in peace or later in pieces."

The message was signed 'Silver Skyian Republican Navy', no name was attached.

Snip

Uhm, yeah, you'll see, we are currently standing in International waters, hundreds of thousands of kilometers from your mainland and stuff. What are your reasons to demand we leave?

Oh, and as we said before, we'll be leaving once we know what will we done with our officers (who are currently in a Questerian Submarine).

Oh, if it helps our relations become any better, I can offer you free colonoscopies.

A marine on the conning tower spotted the RIB approaching the submarine and shouted out.

"Who goes there!"

The response was that the Soviet Captain was coming aboard and so preparations where made to bring him up from his escape boat. This was done and within minutes Captain Goldstein was shaking Nagato's hand.

"Captain Nagato, Imperial Questarian Navy." Nagato shook back. "I'm afraid we're going to have to intern you and your second in command onboard this vessel for now, you'll be on land in no time for the inquest."

Nagato had barely finished talking when the Midlonian Captain was approaching.

"This is going to complicate things." Nagato said to Roberts.

"I'm sure you can handle it sir." Roberts winked back and Nagato sighed as Roberts led Goldstein and his 2IC downstairs. When they were safely in the bowels of the submarine he briefed them on the situation.

"Basically, you're under arrest. Don't be worried" he said before the Soviets had any chance to change their facial expressions "you won't be kept in chains. I'll show you to your rooms, you should find them comfortable enough. I'd just request that you don't start walking randomly around - you'll be eating dinner with the officers tonight, and with the Clandonians onboard..." Roberts was quiet for a moment. "Try not to cause any commotion, eh? Well, follow me."

Meanwhile

The Midlonian Captain was allowed onboard the ship and Nagato saluted him as the Midlonian was brought up to the conning tower. Despite being colonial rivals, Midlonia and Questers were still Imperial powers and it would be natural for the representatives of the crown to treat each other with a mutual respect.

"Captain Nagato, Imperial Questarian Navy. What can I do for you?"

"Basically, you're under arrest. Don't be worried" he said before the Soviets had any chance to change their facial expressions "you won't be kept in chains. I'll show you to your rooms, you should find them comfortable enough. I'd just request that you don't start walking randomly around - you'll be eating dinner with the officers tonight, and with the Clandonians onboard..." Roberts was quiet for a moment. "Try not to cause any commotion, eh? Well, follow me."


The two officers were not very moved by this, they had been expecting it since the Questerian submarine had arrived at the scene, Goldstein was the first to talk.

"I understand, we'll try to cause as less trouble as possible, I have to ask however, does this submarine count with a library or something like that?"

Then his XO, who had been silent until now, spoke the following words:

"Clandonians, eh? We'll see, are they the ones who sunk our ship?"

"A library?" Roberts shrugged. "Not really. There's some books in the R+R room. I suppose you could hang around there if you like. And yes" he said, turning to the other officer "They are. But we've instructed them to behave well too."

Hanson’s attitude had changed completely, the gruff Captain was replaced with the manners of a respected Captain of the high Seas, while true that Questers and Midlonia were indeed rivals vying for regional power a match it was albeit, rather grudgingly loosing with the rise of the Questarian Commonwealth, but was still slowly winning the Merchant trade “war“ with its numerous easily accessible borders across the entirety of Haven, it also, rather crucially controlled the waterways from Okielahoma into the High Seas.

Hanson snapped to attention and pulled off a crisp salute before offering his hand to be shaken.

“Captain Hanson, SSA Excalibur’s skipper of The Greater Kingdom of Midlonia‘s Royal Naval Submarine Armada. I hate saying that every time there‘s so much to it, anyway. Seeing as we’re also involved in this incident I thought it’d come over and see if we can help out, its an international incident now after all. We can’t have the Soviets just waltzing past us and the Clandonians gallivanting around with a bungie rope for a maritime border can we? Could effect our Maritime trading and what-not.” He nodded and sighed. “Its all a rather frightful mess wouldn’t you say?”

"A library?" Roberts shrugged. "Not really. There's some books in the R+R room. I suppose you could hang around there if you like. And yes" he said, turning to the other officer "They are. But we've instructed them to behave well too."

The captain nodded, he would go pick some reading material later.

"Thanks, I understand, we'll follow you now"

"EM waveform abnormality!"

The Command and Control ship, and its sister ship, the Motherland-class Pocket Battleship were having mechanical troubles. The Glorious Republican Navy had intended this observation mission as a way to test the new Adaptive Camouflage system, now came its first problem.

Suddenly, a seagull was very shocked that he was flying straight into, half a ship. It tried to turn and impacted onto the sky. It was desperately confused as it fell and landed, on the sky again. A person then ran out, picked up the seagull, and brought it inside the sky. It was now suddenly surrounded by gray and after the men talked in their odd warbling language, it was thrown back out into the sky. It quickly returned to land, never to venture far out to sea again, for fear of hitting the sky again.

A quarter of a ship, the top quarter, revealing its front guns, but not anything below it. It was a strange thing watching people walk on the air, as a bridge faded in and out of the sky. They people also seemed to be fading in and out of view. Their pixelated naval camouflage ensured their outline was broken up as they desperately tried to repair the damage to the Phage-Panels that covered the ship. Unbeknownst to them, the technology has been pushed forward too fast to deployment. A control board was burned out because a centipede had gotten itself killed when it touched two capacitors at once. The backups hadn't even been installed yet.

Task Force Angel


“Electromagnetic inteference wash detc- New contacts bearing 220 from our position!” Screamed the Radar operator in the conning tower of the Carrier.
Admiral Gable raised an eyebrow and took a cursory stare at the operator as he frantically hammered into the keyboard at his console.

“Report.” he barked.

“Sudden contact just dropped in at a bearing of 2.2.0. Sir!”

“Full Tactical alert, send out another two wings of fighters and have them armed for Anti-ship warfare, order the destroyers to flood their torp tubes and turn to bear on the new contacts. Launch a wing of anti-submarine helicopters we may be dealing with some kind of new Stealth Sub.”

“Aye sir, relaying your orders now!” barked back an aide as he hammered a button sending the ship into a full alert, the siren wailing through the ship as “All hands report to battle stations, this is not a drill” echoed down its metallic corridors.

The Battle group was now reacting to a new unknown threat that had just dropped into reality. But on top of this it now had to keep an eye on the Soviets, it was entirely possible that they had invested in a very small number of high-tech pieces of kit while the mainstay of their navy remained fairly bog-standard and even out of date in some places. Put basically, the Midlonians were spooked.

T.P.S. "Red October"

The bridge of the Duke Class BTN was bustling with life as dozens of men and women moved around, carrying information, messages, work, etc. It was truly a sight to be seen.
Still, some messages had priority over others when reaching the Admiral Roskovsky, specially those coming from the President himself.

After reviewing the short, but to-the-point telegram, the admiral called his second in command to join him at his quarters.

"We have recieved new orders from the President himself, we are to go back to our port and get ready to liberate the Clandonian Virgin Islands"

"Do you think this is a smart move, I mean, after all that has happened?"

"I really dont know, but orders are orders"

Slowly, but surely, the Soviet Relief Fleet turned around and started their long journey to, finally, exit Haven for once and for all.

Onboard HNS Seahorse, Kingdom-class BBAN

"We're at 24knots now Admiral" Acknowledged a Lieutenant.

"Thankyou P.O." Replied the commanding figure of Vice-Admiral Chalmers. Standing at a tall 6'2" he was well built even after having been injured in a live fire exercise whilst serving in the Hotdian Marines from whence his physical fitness had dropped tremendously. Still, despite this setback he was well on the way to recovery and stood proud at the helm of his new command, the HNS Seahorse, one of the more powerful ships in the Hotdian fleet.

"Take us ten points east, and make it slowly, i want to see how awake the rest of the fleet is. A test i suppose."

"Aye aye Admiral, 10 east"

The great ship slowly changed its course, whilst the admiral kept a stern eye on the ongoing progress of the ship. As someone who liked to take control of things himself he was having a quick lesson on one of the various communication systems on the bridge when he was called by one of the ratings.

"HNS Surway are hailing us sir! Their being pretty rude, i think its their Captain."

"Put them through" responded the admiral. As the Admiral issued this order he picked up the microphone and set it in front of him, whilst switching the communication to the speaker system in the bridge where he was stood.

"Come in Apple Tango! Come in Apple Tango! This is Foxtroot X-ray two Zero"

"FX 20 go ahead, over"

"Your off course and your about to put me out of possition, tell the ruddy admiral to move his stinking bathtub out of my course, i'd rather not push us all our of sync. Of course keep any insults to yourself."

"FX 20 this is Big Daddy Apple Tango, the Admiral said well spotted, changing course now, out." With that he turned the channel back over to his radio operator and turned the PA link off.

"The fucker!" Exclaimed the Admiral...

"Oh, I forgot, tell the Midlonians we are leaving so they dont go berserker on our collective asses"

Official Soviet Message to the Midlonian Fleet

We'll be leaving now, and we'll go around you, by no means fire upon us because we do not intend to fire at you.
Peace.

"Oh, I forgot, tell the Midlonians we are leaving so they dont go berserker on our collective asses"

Official Soviet Message to the Midlonian Fleet

We'll be leaving now, and we'll go around you, by no means fire upon us because we do not intend to fire at you.
Peace.

From Admiral of Battle Group Angel
To: Soviet Fleet

Permission granted, fleet is moving at present to deal with unknown contact.


"Make sure we have some missiles slotted in and ready to deal with them should they decide to ambush us instead."
"Sir!"

Task Force Angel


“Electromagnetic inteference wash detc- New contacts bearing 220 from our position!” Screamed the Radar operator in the conning tower of the Carrier.
Admiral Gable raised an eyebrow and took a cursory stare at the operator as he frantically hammered into the keyboard at his console.

“Report.” he barked.

“Sudden contact just dropped in at a bearing of 2.2.0. Sir!”

“Full Tactical alert, send out another two wings of fighters and have them armed for Anti-ship warfare, order the destroyers to flood their torp tubes and turn to bear on the new contacts. Launch a wing of anti-submarine helicopters we may be dealing with some kind of new Stealth Sub.”

“Aye sir, relaying your orders now!” barked back an aide as he hammered a button sending the ship into a full alert, the siren wailing through the ship as “All hands report to battle stations, this is not a drill” echoed down its metallic corridors.

The Battle group was now reacting to a new unknown threat that had just dropped into reality. But on top of this it now had to keep an eye on the Soviets, it was entirely possible that they had invested in a very small number of high-tech pieces of kit while the mainstay of their navy remained fairly bog-standard and even out of date in some places. Put basically, the Midlonians were spooked.

The fighters got a view of a single turret hovering in the air, as it turned toward them, and then disappeared in a flash. There was a mild wake as the ships sailed under their cloak of invisibility. Their NAVCOM beacon was still online and broadcasting a Leafanistani Beacon.

A radio transmission went out.

Unencrypted Open Channel

"Hello, this is Vice Admiral Mitchell, from what I can presume we've scared you lot."

The sound of his voice was replaced by shuffling papers and some whispers.

"It appears the Midlonians...did I pronounce that right?...were frightened by our appearance. As members of the Sovereign League, we were watching our ally Clandonia Prime deal with this incident."

A loud hum was then audible.

"We are having problems with a new camouflage system we are testing."

More barely audible whispers clouded the frequency.

"It now appears to be fully online, I can no longer see our own turrets."

There was a quiet beeping now, and some worried voices, but it was impossible to tell what they were saying.

"Oh, I see you have turned your fleets upon us. Do not worry, we are just observers. I will broadcast our NAVCOM Beacon frequency now, if you weren't monitoring its channel already."

“This is Admiral Gable, you are to keep your distance from the incident and request you do not follow the Soviet fleet as it leaves the strait.” He shook his head and sighed as he placed the radio-mike back down into its holder with a slight clack.

“Damn techno-junkies. I mean who the hell attempts to make a ship invisible to the naked eye? You could spot its damn wake a mile off.”

“Still makes it fairly hard to hit. We thought it was a submarine after all.” replied the visuals operator who was now tapping into the satellite image showing a rather suspicious wake with no ship attached to it. A ghost wake. Rather unusual.

“Call a general halt on the group also.” muttered the Admiral. “I’ll be in my ready room. Somebody bring me a jug of iced tea.”

“This is Admiral Gable, you are to keep your distance from the incident and request you do not follow the Soviet fleet as it leaves the strait.” He shook his head and sighed as he placed the radio-mike back down into its holder with a slight clack.

“Damn techno-junkies. I mean who the hell attempts to make a ship invisible to the naked eye? You could spot its damn wake a mile off.”

“Still makes it fairly hard to hit. We thought it was a submarine after all.” replied the visuals operator who was now tapping into the satellite image showing a rather suspicious wake with no ship attached to it. A ghost wake. Rather unusual.

“Call a general halt on the group also.” muttered the Admiral. “I’ll be in my ready room. Somebody bring me a jug of iced tea.”

OOC: Actually thanks to its propulsion system, its wake is minimal, and you require a top-down view to notice it. You can't guide missiles via wake.

DMG has a far better explanation of the system than I do. It is expensive, creates a large magnetic field that can set off magnetic mines, but it is expected that underwater CIWS will compensate for it.

"This is a ‘silent’ propulsion drive. It works by having tubes running the length of the naval vessel the EMDS is on. At the front an electrified grid ionises the water molecules, so that the percentage of ions to molecules is increased to roughly half and half. The ions are then split into two different tubes, one for the positive ions and the other for negative ions. These ions are then accelerated by charged pads running the length of the tubes. As the ions pass by they are repelled by the plates in turn, increasing the velocity of the ions. At the rear of the drive, the ions are allowed to re-combine, removing any trace of passage."

I can imagine it leaving the scent of ozone for miles away but I doubt there are scent following missiles.

I don't understand how that stops the ship from being targeted. In fact, its the most pointless, retarded design I've seen on NS next to some of the stuff TPM tries to pull.

I don't understand how that stops the ship from being targeted. In fact, its the most pointless, retarded design I've seen on NS next to some of the stuff TPM tries to pull.

OOC: It doesn't. It is a toy that the command is playing with. It will be useful in foreign conquests if the enemy isn't expecting it. This is merely a field test. When combined with new stealth systems, and an integrated EMW suite, it can reduce its RADAR cross-section significantly, and with jamming systems can render a ship extremely hard to lock onto. And we all know what happens if missiles have a hard time locking on.

People resort to guns, and if the ship is the color of the sky and sea, well, I can make targeting even more difficult. It is all part of my Navy's attempt to modernize itself and they decided to emulate the DMG ships that the Colonial Navies operate.

Do you mean TPF, The People's Freedom? I can think of a few things that were nonsensical that came from him.

OOC: Have you ever heard of The Phoenix Miltia? DMG is basically the tech wank version of TPM. EMDS is basically the same as those Magnetohydrodynamic drives which were a fad in NS submarines for a while. But they do produce wake (the two water ions mixing will produce wake), and massive magnetic signature. And you can guide torpedoes by wake homing (which makes interception almost impossible, cause the wake hids the torp). Underwater CIWS is gonna cause massive drag problems on large vessels, I'd rather use counter-torpedo torpedoes.

Also, alot of NS missiles carry either home-on-emissions, which would home in on your EMW suite, ECCM, or IR homing, which would easily detect even a stealthed warship, cause metal kinda gets hot in the sun (and the engines produce heat), you're also not gonna be reducing a ship's cross section.

Lastly, no one really uses optical gunsights, most guns are radar directed, which will probably give them higher range then optical, and the ability to burn through ECM/EMW.

Water doesn't ionize, it polarizes. Magnets can make a stream water bend because of its molecular shape, but they can't actually move individual molecules. You'd be accelerating some salts and other stuff in the water, but you wouldn't accelerate the water itself, and thus would be really really really slow and need a lot of energy to get any sort of power out of this thing.

If you run electricity through water (or through a grid in the water), you preform electrolysis, which creates hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. Needless to say, get this stuff concentrated enough and it explodes violently. (hence the space shuttle's fuel being liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen)

Stealth boats don't work because they're friggin huge, colors don't work because of laser targeting and non-visible wavelength sensors (like IR, UV, etc, there's a reason they stopped using dazzle camo after WW2)

Water doesn't ionize, it polarizes. Magnets can make a stream water bend because of its molecular shape, but they can't actually move individual molecules. You'd be accelerating some salts and other stuff in the water, but you wouldn't accelerate the water itself, and thus would be really really really slow and need a lot of energy to get any sort of power out of this thing.

If you run electricity through water (or through a grid in the water), you preform electrolysis, which creates hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. Needless to say, get this stuff concentrated enough and it explodes violently. (hence the space shuttle's fuel being liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen)

Stealth boats don't work because they're friggin huge, colors don't work because of laser targeting and non-visible wavelength sensors (like IR, UV, etc, there's a reason they stopped using dazzle camo after WW2)

OOC: That makes sense. Oh well, back to waterjets for me. Thank you for the explanation.