NationStates Jolt Archive


A Compromising Situation (MT, Open)

Tolvan
11-10-2008, 05:34
CTS Harbinger (FFG-471)
Western Atlantic
0737 hours

"Unidentified vessel, stand to and prepare to be boarded. This is your final warning."

Commander Andrew Stewart leaned forward in his chair as the OOD, Lieutenant Vasquez, addressed the fleeing pirate ship via the Harbinger's loudspeakers. The Type 67 frigate (http://www.forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13291681&postcount=228) Harbinger had been on routine patrol about midnight when the distress call had come in, a Tolvanic flagged freighter, the Eastern Eagle IV, had been boarded by pirates and the ship's safe and the crew's valuables had been taken. Fortunately there were no injuries and the crew had called for help as soon as the pirate skiff pulled clear. It had only taken the Harbinger's SH-96M just ten minutes to intercept the pirate skiff and track it back to the converted fishing trawler they were using as a "mother ship". With visual contact made, and the ship now being tracked via AWACS, it didn't take the much faster Tolvanic warship long to overtake the aging pirate ship.

Despite being badly outmatched the pirate's had shown no interest in stopping though. The pursuit was entering its third hour and Stewart had had quite enough at this point. Turning to the OOD he made his decision, "Mr. Vasquez, kindly fire a warning salvo two hundred metres ahead of our friends."

Vasquez nodded and and thumbed the mic connecting him to the CIC, "TAO, OOD - Fire three round engagement with the Mark 16, target three metres ahead of hostile contact designated Hotel Two."

The TAO, Tactical Action Officer, replied his affirmative and a moments later the Mark 16 barked three times as it sent its 2.8 kilogram rounds directly ahead of the pirate vessel where they exploded into fountains of spray.

Rather than coerce the pirate's into stopping the warning shots seemed to have the opposite effect as several men were seen running to the ship's aft, a few seconds later they left loose four RPG-7 rounds towards the Harbinger. Stewart didn't even have time to issue orders before the rockets were on top of the frigate. Fortunately three of the highly inaccurate RPGs missed and the fourth struck on the port side and did little damage.

Unfortunately for the pirates this only served to worsen Stewart's mood further, "Mr. Vasquez would you kindly kill these bastards?"

Vasquez was barking orders before Stewart had even completed his sentence and within moments the Mark 16 opened again. Only this time the rounds slammed into the pirate ship itself. The deadly 63.5mm rounds devastated the rusty old trawler and she soon heeled to, burning and listing to starboard. A white flag quickly replaced the neutral ensign she'd been flying and several men were observed throwing guns and RPG launchers overboard.

A twenty man boarding party under the command of the ships' senior marine sergeant was sent over to detain the surviving crew and search for any intelligence. What they would find was far more than any of them expected.

Aboard the Pirate Vessel

The boarding party met with no resistance and soon had the surviving sixteen pirates detained. One of the marines was making a last sweep of the captain's cabin as the last boat was preparing to leave when he stumbled across a set of documents hidden inside a worn out papreback novel. As the young private read the pages he grew increasingly unsettled. He quickly turned the documents over to his squad leader, who inturn gave them to the ships' Intelligence Officer upon returning. After examining them the Intel Officer quickly scanned the documents and transmitted them to the Office of Naval Intelligence. From there they would disseminated to the National Directorate of Intelligence (NDI), the Combined Staff, and the Government.

It seemed these pirates had the backing of a foreign government and this was not something the Commonwealth would take lightly.

OOC: If you're interested in RPing as the nation backing the pirates just say so. I'm hoping for some diplomacy and maybe a few small skirmishes, but I'm not really looking for an all out war.
Zinaire
11-10-2008, 07:14
OOC: Sounds very interesting. Unfortunately, I don't want to be at odds with you. Any chance you'd accept a partner against the privateers?
Tolvan
11-10-2008, 17:06
OOC: I'll gladly accept allies providing someone claims to be aiding the pirates and they're open to facing more than one nation.
The Battlehawk
11-10-2008, 17:20
OOC: I'd like some part in this storyline, perhaps some of the pirates could be Battlehawk citizins and one of my cruisers turns up?
Tolvan
11-10-2008, 17:27
OOC: I don't think I made it clear but the pirates are locked away in the brig of the Harbinger and the ship was scuttled due to the the damage. My frigate's on its way back to Tolvanic waters. If you want to claim the pirates once I announce the attack ICly that's cool.
The Battlehawk
11-10-2008, 19:44
OOC: Ok, please not Crusier specs here: http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=14090087#post14090087

Captain Holly O'Brin of the Argonaut Class Cruiser Avenger frowned as she received orders from Command, apparently some Battlehawkian Citizins had been found on a pirate ship and were aboard a Tolvan ship and she was ordered to invesitage.

To: CTS Harbinger
From: RBS Avenger

Tolvanina Cruiser, stand to and prepare to communicate with us