NationStates Jolt Archive

The OOC: Firstly, this RP is currently only open to inhabitants of the region Europa Atlantica. (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=544199) It is a free-form RP, which to my understanding means you may post anyway you wish; storytelling, news reports, government communiqués, as long as it is IC. Please keep all OOC to the regional sign-up thread. Also, I hope the dangers of Atlantican trade would be a decent prerequisite to the Atlantican Union. Thank you!

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:qg37YRqPHk1UrM:http://www.navy.gov.au/spc/ncamo/images/image036.jpg

*****

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:3PS8toNwcliQaM:http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/images/wsci_02_img0251.jpg

Before the creation of the Atlantican Union, trade in the seas of Europa Atlantica was dangerous, unpredictable and eminently aggressive. With each day, ships who challenged the deep blue were lost to the oceanic barbarians that plagued her waters. Pirates from uncivilized territories waited patiently for their prey, devouring entire merchant fleets in one foul swallow.
And in the absence of raiders, Neptune himself claimed the wealthy fleets as his prize as was his will. Thin and sheltered channels which would provide sailors with safe passage were always in the eyes of scavengers, and soon the only way to avoid the bloodlust of the pirates was to challenge the open-sea itself. The brave were fools, the fearful lambs for the slaughter. Terror of the open-sea inspired generation upon generation of Atlantican peoples to coordinate their trading efforts as best they could, as futilely as their efforts so far were.
There was one motto, carried by veteran traders who command the most excessively armed merchant vessels known to the world: "Qui audet adipiscitur"

"Who Dares, Wins"

40km off the coast of Northern France:

The Cruise Ship Atlantica, on her maiden voyage from Yanitaria to Dutch-Ruled Benelux sailed quietly through the night.

Chad Zimmerman, a Yanitarian sat next to his new Dutch girlfriend. The night had been amazing, and for the first time he had had a girlfriend, and it made him so proud.

Unfortunately, for Chat, a 9mm hole in his head started gushing blood, and he slumped over on the screaming girl next to him.

20 men, armed with Glock 17's and AKS-74u's climbed onto the ship from grappling hooks, fired from their submersible.

The leader, Anthoine Girard, a tall Yanitarian man with a smirk and cigarette commanded the pirates as they rounded up everyone on the ship on the pool deck.

250 passengers, and 50 crew were gathered, in water that was just about frozen. Monsieur Girard, dressed eccentrically in a full black wetsuit and 1700's French Naval officer hat addressed his party.

"Group A, please go round up the valuables. Group B, please search the assembled guests, and be careful that they don't pick your pockets!"

It was an hour before the rooms had been looted. From the pool deck, the ship's TV equipment, standard for their intership television station, was brought to the deck.

The lights where turned on, and the cameras readied. They made an open broadcast to the world.

"Good evening, world! Behind me are 300 hostages. T'would be a shame if the were to.... disappear!

"Of course, if any ship comes within sight of us, that is exactly what would happen. However, we wouldn't be opposed to a gift in the form of a small motor boat with, say, $5 million Atlas on it.

"I'll leave it at that, for now. Good night!"

Atlantica

The Dutch girl screamed as her partner's corpse fell onto her; blood staining her clothes. That was the least of her worries, however, as several armed pirates stormed the ship. They were probably 50 miles(81.92 km) from the Dutch coast and she had no hope of escaping without consent from the pirates. She noticed that there were a few other Dutch citizens on board. There was nothing they could do.

Royal Television Watching Station, Amsterdam, DRB

"Hey, Peter, come and look at this," Nicolaas half-yelled across the 10's viewing room. The Kingdom monitored all television transmissions to make sure the RTVC standards were followed on the channels owned by DTV, DCN and DBC as well as foriegn television and independently owned frequencies. The one called Peter watched as did Nicolaas.

It was the Pirates' transmission. The logical thing to do would be to tell the Advisory Comitee to alert Willem V. Instead, Den Haag was called to alert Palace staff. The call got through and Peter spoke very slowly, "I need to alert the King or Grand Duke of a transmission by what can only be described as pirates. They are demanding 5 million Atlas."

Vitaliy Surendra was watching the regional news broadcast channel as the pirate's transmission came on. He was head of the Home Branch of Naval Escorts Inc. based out of No Taxes. Thanks to the liberal weapons laws in No Taxes private companies and even ordinary citizens could purchase, own and even operate naval warships. This of course had led to a profligation of pirate activities, but it had also led to companies like Vitaliy's that made a business of protecting merchants and other unarmed ships from the swarms of pirates that inhabited the coasts and islands. Of course there was a special clause in the company's contract that stated that in times of emergency the government could requisition the warships, but No Taxes hardly ever fought wars and more importantly the federal government would hardly dream of going after private companies seeing as they were the government's biggest source of private donations.

But as for these Yanitarian pirates they could end up proving lucrative. Their ransom demand was almost pitifully small especially since the 5 million Atlas were only worth about 2 or 3 million No Taxes Libs. And paying the ransom to free the captives would really help the company's public relations and hopefully convince some foreigners to hire their services. He sent off a message to a group of several destroyers already in the Channel, telling them to stay out of sight of the hijacked ship and to send a small boat with the necessary cash. If the pirates tried to steal the cash, the destroyers had orders to search for and destroy the pirate vessel. And if need be the destroyers were also given permission to call in air support from the Carrier Group down in the Bay of Biscay. Vitaliy spared no thought for what would happen to the hostages if that scenario came to pass.

It was snowing outside now and with the sun settling down beyond the horizon, Vitaliy headed home after leaving instructions to relay all calls to his house. He smiled as he thought of the media coverage his company would get.

(OOC: 1.792 million Libs in Yanitarian Atla's. 2.6135 million in Dutch Atla's. Not that much actually as far as ransoms go.)

Willem V was immediately awakened and alerted of the situation, "How many Dutch citizens?"

"Between 8 and 10."

"How far?"

"About 80 km"

"How much do we have to spare?"

"Enough"

"How are satellite images looking?"

It was at that moment however that the Dutch satellites picked up a large surprise. It was a tiny motorboat heading in the general direction of the hi-jacked ship and it most likely had the required cash. If the motorboat was there to pay ransom, it was certainly a very generous offer.

"There is an unidentified watercraft."

"Is the pirate ship in Dutch waters?"

"No."

"Is the UFWC?"

"No."

"Is there anyway of contacting the UFWC?"

"I don't think so."

"Then we wait."

(OOC: Stokmolvi, the ship is Yanitarian. Only 3% or so of the hostages are Dutch.)

Stoklomolvi

All over Stoklomolvi, laughter was heard as the pirates' transmission appeared from the captured Dutch ship. Soon, when the SMPF began mobilising around Stoklomolvi, laughter ceased, and murmurs arose.

"What is going on?"

"Why are the police running around?"

Having access to the Northern Sea, Stoklomolvi icebreaker ships ploughed through the frozen landscape in the north. It would take a number of days to reach the location pinpointed on the map by the radar. Aircraft were scrambled and took off for the "Heathen Sea". The Stoklomolvi government was overreacting, but it was a reaction nonetheless.

OOC: I assume No Taxes is going through with that. I'll edit it if you had something planned.

Some Hours Later:

The pirates spotted a small boat, off to port. They met it in a life boat, and the sailors explained that they belonged to a PMC company who had come to pay the ransom.

The pirates accepted the money, taking it aboard their sub.

Girard ordered the prisoners tied up with a yellow cord, but it was slow goings. Finally, once all prisoners were secure, Girard gave a giggley thanks to the cameras, and left them running as the pirates left the ship.

Twenty minutes passed, with the cameras still rolling. The pirates seemed to be long gone...

There was a crash, and the camera toppled over. The hostages screamed bloody murder as the ship listed sickeningly starboard.

There were more explosions, one happening right in the pool water. A severed arm dropped in front of the camera, and finally, the biggest explosion of all happened, and the camera feel overboard just before the ship stopped transmitting.

Captain Thomas Duran had ordered the destroyers to come within range of the ship as soon as it appeared that the pirates had left, thus when the ship exploded, the smoke was soon visible on the horizon. A few of his men had been lost, but he had been sure to send mostly replaceable men on the boat. After all, as he thought about it, he hadn't really expected the pirates to play fair. As for the roughly 2 million libs that had been lost, that was barely any money and (thought the captain skeptically) the more money the pirates had, the more ships and men they could get only leading to more attacks and thus more business for the company.

The Captain put on his best uniform and his best smile as he prepared to go infront of the news cameras that had been conveniently placed on the ship. Tonight's evening broadcast would show the brave and good souls of the men from Naval Escorts Inc. losing several men and several million libs, all in a daring effort to save the hostages. Already several cameras were trained on the boats that went out from the destroyer to look for survivors among the rubbish of the former cruise ship.

Yanitaria:

The anchorwoman spoke clearly into the camera, reporting the days events.

"And finally, the increase of piracy has led to the deaths of 300 civilians, plus several sailors from Naval Escorts Inc.

"Commentators critique the PMC due to it's bafflingly huge loss of PR. While they did manage to rescue three survivors so far, many, in Yanitaria at least, are blaming them for not allowing negotiators to ensure that the civilians would be safe before handing over the money.

"Full story at 8."

"What is going on. Are those destroyer-type ships?" the old King asked.

"Yeah. The TV broadcast makes it look like its the pirates."

"Pirates with Destroyer-type ships? Why would they do this? They got their money. Zoom in on the ships."

"OK, Your Royal Highness."

"The ships appear to be Taxian in nature but weren't the pirates Yanitarian?"

"Yes, they were. I suggest you call Yanitarian government."

The King did so.

OOC: Anyone wish to begin actual trade so the pirates have something real to feed off of? =P

The North Sea, out with Imperial waters

The unidentified fleet was detected intermittently as it made it's way south at an alarming speed. Once or twice an hour, a short 'blip' would burst the crackle of the distorted sonar. Various Pictish naval bases across the Hyperborian isles, the northernmost islands of the Imperium, were at a complete standstill as they waited for orders from their Commanders. The collection of small dots 'blipped' once more, then again, and that was the last they heard of the unidentified fleet.

"Sir? Orders?"

The grey-headed soldier stared intently at the sonar screen, hoping to catch the fleet once more,

"The storm's too bad, if we did mobilize anything chances are we'd lose it and never come within a hundred kilometres of that fleet"

"What about the Dutch, or the Binarians? It could be a merchant fleet caught in the storm"

"Ha! No merchant fleet would dare those waves. They're pirates"

And indeed, heading south was a contingent of some three destroyers and assorted ships, and they were Raiders. (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c5/INS_Mysore.jpg/800px-INS_Mysore.jpg) Their target was unknown to all but them, and between the storm that ravaged the North Sea and the fiasco off Dutch waters, their fleet was approaching relatively undetected. In their sights were the numerous merchant fleets which were glued to coastal routes during times of such upheaval, in particular the trade fleets of the Dutch which rested directly south of them.

OOC: Anyone wish to begin actual trade so the pirates have something real to feed off of? =P

OOC: Yeah my annual trade is worth 42 Trillion Dollars, so I think we can safely assume that would mean a lot of merchant ships.

Also, are those destroyers that your people think are pirates, the same destroyers that Naval Escorts sent out? I just wanted to make sure and I think it would make for a very interesting RP if you attacked those ships.

OOC: Yeah my annual trade is worth 42 Trillion Dollars, so I think we can safely assume that would mean a lot of merchant ships.

Also, are those destroyers that your people think are pirates, the same destroyers that Naval Escorts sent out? I just wanted to make sure and I think it would make for a very interesting RP if you attacked those ships.

Hmm... no they weren't supposed to be, but you're right it would be a good idea. What if there were pirates knocking about in destroyers and they swanned in after we started shooting at each other? That way they'd stand a chance. Of course, we'd have to presume the storm would be disrupting all communications systems and most visuals to mistake you for pirates. Will post IC'ly sometime tonight.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/Retro_1989/Sol.jpg

Official Unencrypted Communiqué:

RECOGNIZING the prominence of the arms manufacturing industry and increasing demand for native Atlantican trade, and the prevailing of raiders and piracy in our seas, and the dangers posed by such blatant aggression against the unarmed merchant fleets of the region,

HIGHLIGHTING that Soleil Scientific Resources houses the largest Information Technology and experimental military development centre in Europa Atlantica, as the première enterprise in The Pictish Imperium and her territories, and the leading competitor of the most developed industry in the nation,

SEEKING a foreign contractor of the arms manufacturing industry to produce said military hardware en masse, as an attempt at unifying the industrial output of the region and provide a sufficient basis for Trans-Atlantican exportation and expansion,

The syndicate PROPOSES the establishment of new trans-oceanic trade routes to further the economic survivability of foreign industry in the ever competitive world economy, under the protection of the syndicates finest military, information and communications technological equipment.

~The Imperial Democratic Syndicate of Soleil Scientific Resources

Soleil Scientific Resources

With an annual output of goods numbering in the trillions of dollars and an industrial base second to none in the region we here at No Taxes Defense Co. feel that we could form the perfect partnership with your company in the production of these goods. With the lax labor laws and few, if any taxes, of No Taxes we can also produce these goods cheaper than any other company in the region. Consider what we have to offer, compare it to what companies out of other regional nations have to offer, and then contact us if you wish to go with the excellent services provided by our company.

~No Taxes Defense Co.

To: Soleil Scientific Resources
From: Yanitarian Arms

Yanitarian Arms is a new company developing new designs every day. We would love to team up with your company, combining our industrial and developmental capabilities so that we may both prosper.

(OOC: Did everyone not think of cargo airplanes to transport goods? Seriously.)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e4/Fnherstallogo.gif

TO: SOLEIL SCIENTIFIC RESOURCES
FROM: FN HERSTAL N.V. (Dutch shortform for a public limited liability corporation)

We would be happy to manufacture arms to you. Please give us directions from Rotterdam to your largest port.

-----
(OOC: permission given by Yanitaria through TG)

The Yanitarian secretary answered the phone, the King immediately said, "I wish to speak to your President."

OOC EDIT: I guess so especially since cargo ships remain today. I didn't think most of them still existed, lol.

(OOC: Did everyone not think of cargo airplanes to transport goods? Seriously.)

OOC: Of course some goods are transported that way, but the majority will be transported by sea or by land, especially where there is a need for huge amounts of volume or there is simply not enough aircraft-handling capacity for the number of goods being transported.

Captain Conrad Morvello was a "dangerous fellow," as he often referred to himself. Captain of the Hunter, an Astute Class Submarine crewed by pirates. He and his men had stolen her a little over a year ago. How, exactly, nobody knew, but it was suspected that the lax security in Torvque that was to blame.

During that year, the pirates had made a good fortune by preying on ships in the Gulf of Torvque (the NS Gulf of Finland). The pirates usually focused on Torvquan cargo and commercial cruise ships. As the Hunter was not a particularly large craft, it usually went after cruise ships, loaded with fancy, expensive, and/or shiny things of which a bucket was worth more than an entire crate on a cargo ship.

Morvello sat quite unwontedly quietly in the control room of the submarine, staring at the monitor in front of him, trying to fight off sleep. Just over forty years old, he was beginning to feel his age. He wasn't quite the young man he used to be, and the seas had taken their toll on him. The life of piracy wasn't as romantic as he had pictured it, but once one starts, it's hard to stop.

The submarine groaned and creaked, hundreds of tons of water pressing in on it from all sides. As the Hunter silently glided through the quiet inky darkness under the sea, the seas overhead raged.

So far, it was a dark and stormy night.

OOC: If you guys are looking for a pirate, I'd gladly supply Morvello. Either TG me or post something in here.

OOC:Less talking, more pirates :)

IC:
The T.S Malichen lumbered through the strangely calm North Sea,the gentle waves breaking against the rusted mess of a hull. Operated by the nearly bankrupt Equinox trade lines, it was the last of the grand merchant navy of Equinox, once the largest ship business in Oily Prata. That all went out the window in WW2. Equinox had been convicted of aiding the enemy by providing them updated nautical charts, allowing their submarines to bypass all obstacles and mines and reach the secure naval base of Bodo during the war, destroying the Republican fleet, leading to Oily Prata's surrender and capitulation in the war. Numerous lawsuits had destroyed the company, and it was on the brink to extinction.
" So, Cap'n, what's the company hav' for us to do t'day?"
" Goddamnit,Tom! What part of your measly brain is lacking that you can't even speak right? Oh,I remember. You don't have a brain!" This outburst was only met by a blank stare by Tom and the elderly crew.
"Elderly? They're at least ninety years old! I hate my job"The captain fumed. He turned to the mouldy old nautical chart,signaling Tom to come closer.
" We're going down the north sea, close to the coast so that we don't get broken to bits by a ripple, then down the English Channel, through the Straits Of Gibraltar,and land at the southern border of No Taxes to hock our wares."
They were mainly regular items like spices, appliances and sofas,as well as the odd 'black' shipment. This trip was Equinox's last chance to break even.
The old girl steamed down the north sea, soon to enter the channel...

OOC: It seems we have a lot of pirates and not much commercial shipping, so here's some to come later...

East Coast, Caledonia, Pictavia

The first ships groaned under the ferocity of the North Sea's might as Pictavia disappeared into the horizon. The vessels were all of trimaran design, in keeping with Imperial Warships, although with no hostile intentions. Instead, the ships contained experimental weaponry and all manners of Information Technological exports, all bound for the continent. Soleil Scientific Resources were not fools though, and the sleek merchant vessels travelled in groups of three, with a highly trained and armed crew. The ships themselves bore minimal defensive measures, equipped with chaff/flare dispensers, a couple of 24 cell missile suits and three strategically placed CIWS anti-missile defence systems per larger "leader" vessels. The two smaller ships which accompanied the "leader" ship were only armed with single CIWS systems alongside basic countermeasures, making the merchant fleets of Soleil easy prey.

East Coast, Caledonia, Pictavia

The pirate submarine owned by Monsieur Girard surfaced behind the ships. The hatch, and set a portable alarm to wale.

He let it go for a second, then stopped it. Over a loudspeaker, he shouted "You are surrounded. Dump your cargo and leave now, or we will all fire upon you."

On cue, 4 active sonar beeps rang loudly in the ocean, not including Girard's sub.

OOC: It's a trick. He may have 20 subs, he may be alone. But then again, these are well funded pirates. Or of course I could just be throwing you off, and he really is alone. ;)


The Yanitarian secretary answered the phone, the King immediately said, "I wish to speak to your President."

The Parliamentary Commitee answered their phone as it was redirected to the Parliament building.

"Hello, this is the Parliament of the USSY. As you have undoubtedly heard, we are having a bit of trouble, so the President cannot answer the phone. How can we help you?"

Luck had finally turned for the T.S Malichen and her motely crew. The stop at No Taxes had been most profitable, bringing Equinox into the black for the first time since the end of the war. Thus, the crew was raving drunk. They headed past the english channel,hoping to stop at a eastern seaport at nova pictovia and refuel. No trouble, or so it seems...

The Parliamentary Commitee answered their phone as it was redirected to the Parliament building.

"Hello, this is the Parliament of the USSY. As you have undoubtedly heard, we are having a bit of trouble, so the President cannot answer the phone. How can we help you?"

"As you have undoubtedly heard about the broadcast of pirates ransacking a ship, I have some shocking information which I ask you keep from the media. Dutch satellites picked up Destroyers, Taxian in nature, firing upon the ship as the camera was left running. We suspect a Taxian force, not pirates, were behind the sinking of the ship."

"Are you sure? It would seem incredible that even a corporate navy would do such a thing, especially after bragging about how heroic they were. Wouldn't it be easier for them to brag if they had saved the ship? We are a bit skeptical."

East Coast, Caledonia, Pictavia

The pirate submarine owned by Monsieur Girard surfaced behind the ships. The hatch, and set a portable alarm to wale.

He let it go for a second, then stopped it. Over a loudspeaker, he shouted "You are surrounded. Dump your cargo and leave now, or we will all fire upon you."

On cue, 4 active sonar beeps rang loudly in the ocean, not including Girard's sub.

OOC: It's a trick. He may have 20 subs, he may be alone. But then again, these are well funded pirates. Or of course I could just be throwing you off, and he really is alone. ;)

Aboard the Imperial Merchant Vessel "Red Autumn"

"Get an uplink established, we should be close enough to the coast. Are they jamming any frequencies?"

"No Captain, SOS is away"

"Ready the missile suit, target the lead sub"

The Captain picked up the ships radio and activated the loudspeaker,

"Attention unidentified craft. We're standing down, however dumping our cargo is not an option; it would take hours and simply wouldn't survive. Requesting instructions"

Aboard the Imperial Merchant Vessel "Red Autumn"

"Get an uplink established, we should be close enough to the coast. Are they jamming any frequencies?"

"No Captain, SOS is away"

"Ready the missile suit, target the lead sub"

The Captain picked up the ships radio and activated the loudspeaker,

"Attention unidentified craft. We're standing down, however dumping our cargo is not an option; it would take hours and simply wouldn't survive. Requesting instructions"

"Put as much cargo as possible on your life boats, release them, and sail away. If our demands are not met in the next 30 minutes, your ships will be annihilated."

IMV Red Autumn

"You heard the bastard. Get to work, load those lifeboats up with anything we can spare, just make 'em look full. And get some of our munitions on those boats too with a remote detonator"

And it was done, some thirty lifeboats were loaded with large crates speckled with C4. As an experimental arms manufacturer, larger ships like the Red Autumn had no shortage of explosive devices. The two smaller ships accompanying the Autumn followed suit, loading up their craft with anything available. At the thirtieth minute of the Pirate's deadline, the life-boats were released towards the lone submarine.

"Any news from home?" The Captain prompted,

"Yes Sir, there are no Imperial Warships within range, and we can't expect support of that kind for another hour. However, a few ACI-73D AQVILA's are closing in on our position, ETA three minutes"

"Are you sure? It would seem incredible that even a corporate navy would do such a thing, especially after bragging about how heroic they were. Wouldn't it be easier for them to brag if they had saved the ship? We are a bit skeptical."

"I realize that you must be, but, with the deaths isn't the company getting a lot of media coverage and we know from satellite images before hand that a small boat went to give the cash. Who could have afforded such a sum but a No Taxian corporation. The amount is only 2 million or so in Libs - No taixan currency that is. An alternative could be a ransacked Taxian destroyer but that is even less likely, in my humble opinion. If you wish, I could send you these satellite images."

IMV Red Autumn

"You heard the bastard. Get to work, load those lifeboats up with anything we can spare, just make 'em look full. And get some of our munitions on those boats too with a remote detonator"

And it was done, some thirty lifeboats were loaded with large crates speckled with C4. As an experimental arms manufacturer, larger ships like the Red Autumn had no shortage of explosive devices. The two smaller ships accompanying the Autumn followed suit, loading up their craft with anything available. At the thirtieth minute of the Pirate's deadline, the life-boats were released towards the lone submarine.

"Any news from home?" The Captain prompted,

"Yes Sir, there are no Imperial Warships within range, and we can't expect support of that kind for another hour. However, a few ACI-73D AQVILA's are closing in on our position, ETA three minutes"

Captain Girard spoke into the loudspeaker "Thank you for your cooperation. Goodbye."

He closed the hatch, and five minutes later the ship submerged.

The submarine's 8 (ooc: assuming it's a Seawolf Class, which is sufficiently obsolete for ns) fired on the three ships, with 2-3 going to each vessel.

On the opposite side, another 8 missiles fired.

"I realize that you must be, but, with the deaths isn't the company getting a lot of media coverage and we know from satellite images before hand that a small boat went to give the cash. Who could have afforded such a sum but a No Taxian corporation. The amount is only 2 million or so in Libs - No taixan currency that is. An alternative could be a ransacked Taxian destroyer but that is even less likely, in my humble opinion. If you wish, I could send you these satellite images."

"We have no doubt that No Taxians were in the area, we saw the footage. However, we have yet to see a reason why it's more likely that the pirates couldn't have done it. They did threaten to destroy the ship, after all."

"We have no doubt that No Taxians were in the area, we saw the footage. However, we have yet to see a reason why it's more likely that the pirates couldn't have done it. They did threaten to destroy the ship, after all."

(OOC: I'm assuming the submarine submerged before heading North and leaving the ship alone.)

"The thing is that we know that the submarine submerged and never re-surfaced in the area. The ships are Taxian in make and a small boat was near the submarine. I can only assume the ransom was given and the pirates left the ship completely. It could be other pirates but then again, why would No Taxian pirates be so far from home?"

(OOC: I'm assuming the submarine submerged before heading North and leaving the ship alone.)

"The thing is that we know that the submarine submerged and never re-surfaced in the area. The ships are Taxian in make and a small boat was near the submarine. I can only assume the ransom was given and the pirates left the ship completely. It could be other pirates but then again, why would No Taxian pirates be so far from home?"

OOC: it did.

"We understand that, but the ships were out of gun range, and a missile launch would be caught on satellite. Perhaps the pirates used explosives on a timed charge?"

"So what exactly made you decide to become an employee of Naval Escorts," asked the Captain?

"Well I served in the No Taxes Navy for several years and... may I speak openly, sir?"

"Of course."

"Well, frankly we didn't do shit. Most of the time we sat in port, with the ship rusting. The pay was alright, but it didn't pay as much as this and I've heard that we'll be seeing quite a bit of action in this service."

The Captain thought back to this conversation as he now faced the cold, silent gleam of a pistol aimed at his head. He really hadn't expected this. After the run in with the pirates off the coast of Benelux several months ago, his ship had returned to port in No Taxes to refit and pick up several new crew members to replace those that had been lost. The Captain had always made a habit of interviewing new crew members to see what he thought of them and he had made no exception this time. All of the crew members picked up at Tristeza had seemed very much like the usual types that joined Naval Escorts.

There had been 13 of them and they were already an integral part of the crew by the time the NES Kalki had set back out to sea. Their first job had come only several days out of port and it was the usual sort of job. A lone cruise ship was sailing back to No Taxes, when it was met by several small and quick torpedo boats full of pirates employed by Naval Escorts. They boarded the ship, taking the passengers hostage, and in less than a hour ransacking the ship for all manners of valuables and currency. The pirates broadcast a demand for a ransom and at that point the NES Kalki, the Captain's Destroyer, having heard the demand, came up to the hijacked ship and gave the money to the pirates whereupon they left and the cruise ship passengers were heroically rescued by sailors of Naval Escorts. Those type of operations were especially lucrative for the company because not only did they serve as a sort of advertisement for Naval Escorts and how necessary it was, but all the valuables stolen usually turned out to be quite a hefty sum - easily paying the wages of the pirates that Naval Escorts employed.

However this time things had started to go downhill just after the pirates left. The man now standing in front of him along with several accomplices had burst onto the bridge, guns at the ready. They escorted everyone outside, except for him, leading to his current position.

The man facing him spoke up, "Now 'Captain', I suppose you're wondering what exactly is going on. You see, I am a special agent of the Anti-Corruption Task Force," as he said this he showed his badge, "And you are under arrest for multiple charges of piracy, corruption, and theft among other things. We've had our eye on your company for some time now, I mean it seems pretty obvious now. Almost every time there is a situation with pirates, your company shows up, and without any kind of bloodshed frees the hostages. It must make for great publicity. Even if your company's fancy lawyers manage to swindle the judge and win the trial, your company's reputation will be damaged, irreparably. So I suggest that you don't try anything, especially since several ACTF helicopters are already on their way here."

At this point, the Captain couldn't help but smirk a little and replied, "Bravo, bravo, I actually didn't even suspect anything. I can't really deny anything you've just said, but there are several huge points you seem to be missing. First of all, I guess you didn't check the news this morning because your boss, the head of the ACTF, just got arrested on charges of corruption, isn't that an irony, eh? Secondly, if you actually tried to bring this through, you'd be dead before we got back to port. My company has connections in agencies so high up that you haven't even fuckin heard of them. You think you serve the government, then you should be following my orders, because we own the government. So I suggest that you..."

Suddenly, the destroyer lurched to one side and the ACTF agent already extremely nervous accidentally pulled the trigger, spreading the Captain's brains on the back wall. Half a second later, there was an explosion that tore apart most of the midsection and the ship sank in a matter of minutes. Meanwhile, several dozen feet below the surface, a Naval Escorts submarine sped off into the northwest, after watching the ship sink.

OOC:
Yanitaria: I think they are in gun range.
No Taxes: Would satellites be able to pick up your men boarding the ships?

IC:

"No, the ships appear to be in gun range and I am pretty sure the destroyer doesn't belong to pirates."

"Well of course they aren't pirates. You can't hide in a destroyer. You'd have to blow it up after taking the supplies."

OOC:
Yanitaria: I think they are in gun range.
No Taxes: Would satellites be able to pick up your men boarding the ships?

OOC: When? My men never boarded ships, really.

"RADAR CONTACT!!!"
"Huh," the captain drunkenly murmered,blinking and squinting to try to make out the form of Tom dragging him from his "companion" to the bridge."What the fuck's goin' on Tom? Better be a good reason..."
"Look at the radar screen,boss."
"Huh, I thought it was just a facade. The radar broke years ago..."
"Nope,cap'n. Just disconnected from the power socket."
"What! For all these years-shit."
He stared at the radar as the four radar contacts turned to three.
"What d' we do, cap'n? Call the navy?"
"No! They'd sink us first! We go investigate! Wake up the cheif from his whore and tell him I want flank speed! If we happen to save anyone, we could just boost our rep even more!"
Malichen groaned as it pushed herself beyond even the design specs when she was built 60 years ago, heading towards the 3 radar contacts.
OOC: ( Yes, Oily Pratan meddlers are coming to crash NP's party, But why dosen't anyone want a undefended, slow, old merchant ship possibly carrying treasure?)

"Well of course they aren't pirates. You can't hide in a destroyer. You'd have to blow it up after taking the supplies."

"I mean Taxian pirates. I do think the No Taxes government allows private operation of such ships."

OOC: When? My men never boarded ships, really.

OOC: Oh, ok, nevermind then.

[OOC: Assuming that the previous stuffs never happened...]

One Stoklomolvi privateer dreadnought emerged from the Western Sea (Arctic Sea). It's target was to disrupt Dutch shipping, as the Stoklomolvi government intended to probe the strength of their defences. Aboard the dreadnought, several odd looking, bearded, moustached, and tri-corner hatted men looked out to the open sea. Oily prata was to their west, and to pass them they would have to plough through the ice sheet in the north. Radar jamming and infrared jamming equipment blocked signals going to and from the dreadnought, and so the dreadnought was alone and would remain alone for a long while.

Aboard the IMV Red Autumn

"Mayday, mayday! Captain, multiple sonar readings closing in on the group, impact in three- two- wuh-"

A succession of three explosions rocked the huge freighter, tearing gaping holes in one of her hulls. The two smaller RoRo vessels were consumed in a flurry of sea and twisted metal, with one completely annihilated. She was quickly consumed by the sea, while the severed head of the second ship rolled onto her side and lay there, bleeding oil and fire into the ocean. The Red Autumn's three hulls were devastated, and also began to lean onto her side, however the balance of the trimaran design proved her saviour, with the sheer coverage of her hulls keeping her from toppling over completely. Great pillars of smoke proceeded to bellow from her gaping wounds while crewmen visible on her surface hurried two and fro- searching for the already launched lifeboats.
Suddenly four Pictish Angels tore through the sky, and began circling the scene,

"Imperial Merchant Vessel "Red Autumn", this is the Imperial Air Force Recon, attempting to establish an uplink to your sonar now"

With the datastream locked, the AQVILA's dropped two MU90 Impact torpedoes each into the sea, which proceeded to chase their target. A further two A-12 Avenger II's were en route, however were not as fast and nimble as their Doomani counterparts. MH-47G Chinook's were immediately dispatched from the nearest base ahead of a small naval force, however the journey may prove longer than the remainder of the sailor's lives...

snip

OOC: modern torpedoes don't hit ships, they explode under them, because water transfers energy better than air or steel. A trimaran design would actually absorb more of the energy. With three simultaneous explosions, most boats smaller than a Cruiser will be lifted, smacking back on the water, breaking the ship's back.

*Dutch Advertisement; being broadcast in Nova Pictavia, Binaria and Oily Prata if they will allow*

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e4/Fnherstallogo.gif
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/Uiri/NoordenZeeOverbrengenLogo.jpg

Announcer1(A1): FN Herstal
Announcer2(A2): and North Sea Transport Firm
A1: are teaming up
A2: to bring FN Herstal products
A1: to you, in Pictavia
A2: you, in Oily Prata
A1: and you, in Binaria
A2: Use guns anywhere
A1[voice over now, image of someone 'shooting' a burglar]: In your home against burglars
A2[voice over a guy shooting a deer]: in the wilderness for your dinner
A1[voice over a guy 'shooting' an 'enemy soldier']: even in the military to shoot your enemies.
Announcer3[talking really, really fast]: FN Herstal and North Sea Transporting Firma re not responsible for any injuries incurred through the use of FN Herstal's products, please shoot responsibly, ammo sold separately.

OOC: Yani: Edited, although it's a commercial freighter so likely to be over 500 feet in length. I'm presuming then that the Trimaran design would be more effective at stopping the ship from splitting completely in two, even if it had absorbed more energy, it would be dispersed amongst the hulls. Anyway, it's sinking either way so it's not important.

OOC: Yani: Edited, although it's a commercial freighter so likely to be over 500 feet in length. I'm presuming then that the Trimaran design would be more effective at stopping the ship from splitting completely in two, even if it had absorbed more energy, it would be dispersed amongst the hulls. Anyway, it's sinking either way so it's not important.

OOC: You're right, the thing should still stay afloat, for a little while, but with heavier ships, the electronics start rattling and many fragile things break. IC post to come soon

Pirate Sub:

The XO flipped a switch, and suddenly the area was filled with pings.

The twin subs both set engines to full, and tore out of the area, while the torpedoes, confused momentarily by the underwater buoys, finally gave accurate chase.

Monsieur Girard's ship managed a close escape, while the other sub did not. The torp exploded right behind it, damaging the reactor. It quickly surfaced, and the pirates aboard surrendered or commited suicide. A total of 20 pirates turned themselves in.

Girard was no amused. He would have surfaced later to grab the cargo on the life boats, and salvage the ships if he could. Instead, he had lost 8 million in torpedoes, and a multi-million dollar submarine, with all hands.

He set course for his contingency base, and opened a bottle of Absinthe.