NationStates Jolt Archive

[OOC: This is an introduction of a new and soon to be crucial character. Later on, it may branch out to include some other nations... but not for at least a few more posts.]

Striding along the corridor, the Admiral watched the staff and military personnel make way for her. A tour that was forming up to go through the palaces' various exhibits gawked at her. They knew who she was and to see a living legend like Ursala Mobuto walk past was not an everyday sight.

Her fame had bothered her for years. She never wanted to be a legend. There was a time when Ursala Mobuto was not the legend... but just the officer... damn journalists.

Nine Years Ago

Patrols. Vital to protection, but boring as hell to crews and commanders. The Midnight class light cruiser, once classified as heavy before larger ships were introduced, was the backbone of the fleet even after a century and a half of use. Refits and overhauls allowed them to keep up with the main fleet enough to be secondary ships. Still vital to the protection of the nation, but without the glory associated. Commanding a Midnight class vessel was either a stepping stone for a young officer or a quiet command for an aged one on their way out.

The ship, CSS Steel Butterfly (named for one of the Empire's old allies), leaned into the sweeping turn slightly, tilting up a couple degrees as the aging warship came around on it's quarry. Standing just off the bridge with a pair of field glasses stood the captain. "Three more degrees." A few seconds later. "Steady her out... commander, fire a warning shot."

One of the forward batteries spoke and seconds later, a splash appeared off the port side of the running ship. It was a known pirate vessel and her commander was quite dangerous, according to reports.

The captain of the Steel Butterfly, a young Ursala Mobuto, looked back and grinned. "They have nowhere to run. This should be over in a few minutes." She lifted the glasses back up and lowered them quickly. "They're turning directly at us and accelerating." Her commander didn't need to hear any more, ordering all batteries to open fire. Splashes appeared all around the ship, before the guns corrected their aim. The bridge was blown to hell and the deck was burning... but something wasn't right. "Where's the crew?" There were none in sight on the decks. No one was fighting the fires... "CEASE FIRE! FLANK SPEED!"

The old cruiser's props churned the water as it accelerated. The ramming attempt was crude... all they had to do was move forward and the dying pirate vessel would miss. For a 'dangerous' commander, this wasn't vary impressing... Ten seconds after avoiding the ramming attempt, the cruiser hit the first mine. Another explosion followed seconds later. "God dammit... REVERSE!" Mobuto shouted, pulling herself back up from the deck. Seeing her helmsman unconscious, she grabbed the controls herself and threw the engines into reverse. Even as she did so, Mobuto watched her crew rushing to the bow, pulling injured and dead crewman away from the gaping hole in the starboard side.

The bastards sacrificed their ship purposely to force us into a minefield... She glanced back to look at the pirate ship, which was still on it's course, though was sinking deeper into the ocean as it plowed along. Something caught her eye, though. It was another ship. A ship marked exactly like the bait she so obediently took. "No..." The ship she had attacked wasn't even the real pirate vessel. Ursala looked to her commander, who was already in action, relaying orders to the gun crews.

This time, though... their target was using tactics and evasive maneuvers. And the crew was uncovering a gun far too large for the ship it was on... which spoke in a matter of moments. The captain could see the shell in flight, or at least thought she could. It impacted directly below the bridge, blowing the hell out of the deck beneath her feet and sending shrapnel through the deck. She heard screaming and after a few seconds Ursala realized it was herself, starring at the bloody stump that used to be her left hand. She calmed herself after a few seconds and pulled herself to her feet with considerable effort. Scrambling for the first-aid kit, she injected herself with a multi-purpose concotion that deadened the pain and caused the blood to clot far more easily that normal. Smoke was everywhere, but she heard and felt the familiar report of her own ship's guns. Ursala stumbled out the hatch to a walkway to escape the smoke and nearly toppled over the railing as the ship lurched from another hit, this time on one of the rear guns. The turret transformed into a mass of twisted metal and fire in front of her eyes. She looked out to sea and spotted the pirate vessel, with a hole in her side and a fire on her rear deck. They were hurting her. But not fast enough. As Ursala slumped to the deck, blood loss and shock finally getting through to her mind, she saw a wonderful sight. A trail of bubbles in the water, shooting towards the pirate ship. As she slipped into darkness, she knew her own ship was safe and her crew wouldn't suffer any more losses.

48 hours later

Ursala awoke in a sickbay of a ship she didn't recognize. Her mind tried to process the surroundings. It wasn't the Steel Butterfly's... it was too big. After a few moments, she heard moaning around her and reality shot back to her. The attack, her injury... her crew. Sitting up to quickly made her head swim, even as a nurse rushed over to force her back down. "Lieutenant Commander! She's awake!"

The slightly disheveled officer stepped over and nodded for the nurse to step away. "Please relax, Captain. You're on board the Vladimir." The Vladimir... the only ship that beat out the Midnight class ships age. "The Steel Butterfly is currently under tow... and all the wounded are here. There are sixty five wounded... and twenty three dead. The pirate ship-"

"Is on the bottom, I know... I saw the torpedo as it went in, right before I blacked out." Ursala sat up slowly, with the medical officer's help. "Which sub was it? I want to send her skipper a gift, for saving my ship."

"It was the CSS Democracy's Bane." One of the pride of the sub fleet. And one that had a special connection to Ursala, as her older brother was in command.

"Ah, dear brother." She chuckled grimly and forced a small smile. "Always coming to my rescue... well, I won't hear the end of THIS." She shook her head slowly and sighed. "Well, Lieutenant Commander..." She started, looking down at her torn and bloody uniform. "I suppose now it the part where I try to leave and you try to stop me and we have an argument over whether or not I'm in any shape to even be sitting upright, let alone walking." The man blinked at her. "Well, don't worry... I'm not going to leave the sick bay. I'm just going to have a look at my crew." That seemed to satisfy him, as she stood slowly and used the IV drip stand as a makeshift cane to keep balance.

She spent nearly a half hour speaking to each and every one of the injured. She knew about half of them on sight, as they had served with her for years. By the end of it, she knew all their names. And the names of some of the dead. She'd have to get an official list from the medical officer. Her crew all seemed amazed she could stand, let alone walk and talk. Their eyes kept drifting down to the bloody bandages where her hand was supposed to be. She finally looked down at it and raised it up to get a better look at the mess, as if just now noticing it. "Well, it could be worse." She said, loud enough for the whole bay to hear. They all looked at her and waited. "I could have been left handed." She smiled a bit as there was an amused buzz through the bay. The dark humor seemed to lighten the mood a bit. Even as she moved back to her own bed, she noticed that her little tour had done at least a bit of good. Everyone seemed in slightly better spirits, knowing that their Captain was alright... and that she cared about how they were doing more than herself.

As she sat down on the bed, she noticed that there was a civilian in the room, rapidly scribbling in a notepad. "Who the hell are you?" she asked and he jumped a bit.

"Oh uh... I'm with the IIN." The Imperial International Newslink. The people's favorite news source, by far. "And I was on board to give an account of what carrier life entailed... but after this incident, I think I have another story to submit as well."

"Really? And what would that be?" She asked, laying back and letting out a long sigh.

"You, Captain Mobuto... your trip around the medical bay, putting them before your own well being." He gestured to the other beds.

"Make sure you mention of how I walked right into a pirate trap and ran headlong into a minefield. If I had spotted the ruse, none of these sailors would be injured. None of my crew would be dead... and my ship wouldn't be 'under tow'." She replied, letting bitterness slip into her words. She watched him scribble some more, then wander off. Damn journalists.

Four Years Ago

The deck of the Steel Butterfly rose and fell with the ocean as the ship plowed through the moderately rough seas. Even so, the crew went about their duties as if the deck was flat level. Some even waved at the ship that was cruising nearby. The one Captain Mobuto was watching her old command from. She returned the waves and thought she might have recognized one of the crewmen. It was hard to tell at this distance.

Turning back towards the bridge, she stepped inside, out of the spray. He executive officer stepped over. "Don't go all nostalgic on me, Captain." he said with a smirk.

Ursala chuckled. "Don't worry. The Steel Butterfly is one tough ship and served me well, but the Dragoon is my home now." And was a far superior ship. The Warlord class had replaced the Midnights as heavy cruisers years before Ursala was born and still served as the main ships of the line. Extensive refits and overhauls had allowed them to stay in service for so long.

It was only a few hours after the two ships joined together in the patrol cycle that trouble arose. In the misty distance, there was an immense ship that fit the standard profile of a cargo hauler. And above it was a bright red flare.

"Capt-"

Ursala cut him off. "I see it, Lieutenant. Intercept course, all ahead full... sound General Quarters." A few seconds passed and she let the crew begin to carry out their orders. "Status of Steel Butterfly?"

"Moving to match course and speed. Captain Bates is deferring to your command, as the larger ship." Mobuto nodded at the Ensign who delivered the news. It was standard procedure to do as such.

As the two warships approached the cargo ship, another vessel emerged from her far side. It was flying a solid black flag and was firing smaller guns at the cargo ship. Though they would not cause any serious damage. Apparently, they wanted to take the ship intact. At the sight of the two Crimm naval vessels, it broke and ran. Sweeping to either side of the now drifting cargo ship, the two cruisers stayed slightly off of a direct intercept course, allowing them to bring a few more guns to bear.

The commander of the pirate ship wasn't stupid and began all the proper evasive tactics, trying to play one ship off the other.

Ursala saw the solution and smiled a tad. "Slow engines... to three quarters. Tighten our turn four degrees." Satisfied she had the situation the way she wanted, it became clear what Mobuto had in mind. The two cruisers were in near perfect sync with each other and matched the other move for move. Together they left the pirate with almost nowhere to run and picked the ship apart in minutes.

Ursala would later find out that the ship she had just sunk was commanded by one of the best privateers in the region, working for a larger cartel. The press caught wind of the flawless victory and exploded with fawning and the 'one handed Captain' became familiar to all in the nation in days.

As she watched the reports, she arched an eyebrow at the nickname. Ursala had taken to wearing a steel end cap on the end of her arm, hiding the unsightly bony protrusion at the tip. Now this war wound was becoming her most well known attribute? "Damn journalists..."

One Year Ago

"Rear Admiral, the convoy is awaiting your arrival." Such came the call from the corridor.

Ursala nodded to herself. This small republic was a known pirate haven. Bringing the local government into the Empire would shut them down permanently. And since Ursala was a known pirate hunter, she was a perfect choice to answer the local's call.

The convoy departed within ten minutes and it took only ten more for the RPGs to begin raining down on the roadway. Far enough from the Dragoon that they couldn't assist and overgrown enough that the helicopter gunships from the nearby assault ship, the CSS Blackjacket, had a hard time picking out targets in the wilderness. It took all of three minutes to decimate the convoy and leave each vehicle burning.

Ursala watched from the gunner seat of one of the helicopters. She had sent an impersonator in her place and had doomed that woman to death. The Lieutenant knew the risk when she agreed to the assignment, though. And her family would be taken care of by the Corps.

Behind her, the pilot whistled. "Damn, Admiral... you were EXPECTING this?"

"Of course. I'm this cartels number one target, at the moment. Now, head inland... I have some negotiations to take care of."

The arrival of the gunship was a surprise to everyone at the local palace. Especially since the governor and the leader of the pirate cartel were both sipping wine in the sun. Ursala recognized both and realized immediately that the local government and the cartel were one and the same and the entire trip was a setup. "So much for negotiations..." She sighed and mowed both men down with the helicopter's chaingun. She also fired a few rockets into the motor pool of the facility, before the aircraft headed back to the cruiser. The pirates would still be an issue, but it woud take a while for them to reorganize under a single leader. If they ever did. A split in their forces would be quite useful to her, as there was less to bring to bear against her ships.

Two Months Ago

Vice Admiral Mobuto strode across the deck of the CSS Barbary Coast. The battlecruiser was just recently out of a refuel and refit cycle and back into service. Mobuto had chosen her as the flagship of the fleet for it's name, as well as it's reputation in battle. A high kill count already and a name that brought up thoughts of the pirate kingdoms of the sailing era so long ago. For a pirate hunter such as herself, it was a perfect choice. And the fact that she was just promoted meant she had some leeway in choosing a command still.

She was at sea at the moment and that was the way Ursala liked it. It wasn't that she disliked the land... it was that she always felt like there wasn't enough for her to do behind a desk. Out here... "Here is where history is made." She whispered, glancing down at her left hand. A gleaming steel cap covered the tip of her arm. She thought about going for a hook... but no one she mentioned it to seemed to find any humor in it. So she instead went with the unique and simpler cap. It had already proved useful, as she had broken the jaw of two thugs with it, while on leave.

As she watched the whitecaps flow across the ocean, her eye caught something. One whitecap broke around an object. She spun around and ran towards the nearest intercom. "All hands, this is the Admiral. Periscope off the Port Stern. All hands to General Quarters." Within moments, the crew was running for their posts. Ursala stuck to the outer walkways to avoid the crush and made her way to the bridge. The ship had started to lean hard to starboard as the captain started evasive manuevers. "How the hell did they get this close?" she demanded, as soon as she entered.

"I don't know, Admiral. The sonar is picking up the sub intermitently now. They appear to be holding course." He sounded confused. And rightly so, as any good commander would have gone deep as soon as they were detected.

She stepped off the bridge and scanned the surface again. "The scope is still there... watching us. Why the hell are they riding this high?" She decided to test the sub's reactions. "Tell the aft can launcher to fire off once. Trail the target and set the charge to blow deep. Call it a warning shot." A minute later, the sea rose and boiled. And the periscope stayed. Watching. Almost thirty seconds later, it fell below the surface. Ursala was about to shout orders to open fire, but then the sail of the sub broke the surface. "She's coming up!" In a matter of moments, she recognized the design. "Stand down GQ and match speed and course. It's a Supremacy." Only three nations had ever operated them. The Silver Turtle, Crimmond and Automagfreek. One had ceased to be and the other... well, there was little reason to find the Freeks a threat despite the cooled diplomatic relations. It took less than a minute for crew to scramble out onto the deck. All in Crimm uniforms. They all lined up on the deck and came to attention as the sub came closer. She arched an eyebrow. This was... irregular. Subs at sea were supposed to vanish. Then she spotted a dark skinned officer standing on the sail. Raising her field glasses, she smiled. It was her brother, Koro. He saluted and the crew followed suit. Ursala hit the com. "All crew currently on deck... return salute." She looked through the glasses again and saw that her brother had spotted her location. Ursala couldn't help but grin a bit as she returned his salute. The two siblings rarely saw each other and this was his way of congratulating her on promotion.

The display broke down into waving and shouting across the water from both vessels for a few minutes, but the two Mobuto's just eyed one another. This was really the longest they had seen each other in at least two years. Koro raised his arm and beat his chest twice, and Ursala followed suit. It was a salute of a different type... one the family used. Soon, the two ships made their separate ways, though. But the whole incident had left an idea forming in Ursala's mind. One that built upon other ideas, long since filed away as being inoperable on their own. But mixed with this new idea... perhaps maybe the impossible became thinkable.