EXTRA! EXTRA! EXTRA!

[Ithekro]

It isn't over until the last ship sinks or the last ship enters port....

[Korpen]

HMNLS Flandern around 03:00
"Sorry to wake you admiral, but the lookout have spotted flares dead ahead, fired from just under the horizon!"
"YAWN! What, flares? dead ahead? Order the captain to increase speed, and try and get us out of the sunrise, we will pouch at first light. Now were did i put my pants..."

[Borys]

HMNLS Flandern around 03:00
"Order the captain to increase speed, and try and get us out of the sunrise, "

OOC - but aren't they steaming East, basically on the Equator?
But good tactical thinking, nonetheless.
Borys

[Korpen]

HMNLS Flandern around 03:00
"Order the captain to increase speed, and try and get us out of the sunrise, "

OOC - but aren't they steaming East, basically on the Equator?
But good tactical thinking, nonetheless.
Borys

No, heading west going after the group heading towards the "tortugas".

[Borys]

OOC
OK - I'm lost on the High Seas :)
Good night boys!
Borys

[Korpen]

HMNLS de Zeven Proviniciën, approaching Keeling, around 03
First Officer Van Der Saar: "Well captain, It seem the Swiss ships must have gotten here before us"
Captain Evertsen: "Unfortunately. And no signal from the CGB we dispatched, humpf, if you want something done you have to do it yourself."
We will not approach to closely, lets keep our distance until morning, in the mean time flash Java and order her to cut the wire under the cover of darkness, after that we wait untill moring."
FO: "I think they will be supprised..."

[maddox]

March 27th

The NSN has just released further information on the Battle. The Rouge French ships have been identified as Terrible class supercruisers. The names of 187 (including 15 who died) French sailors picked up by the ships have also been released. It has been announced that those strong enough to face trial have been charged with Piracy and Obstruction of Justice.

Also announced has been the capture of four Agrival flagged merchants carrying a cargo of 'most sensitive nature'. If Agrival has been captured has not been released at this time.

To questions about a possible French response, the NSN has revealed the precense of moving pictures of the engagement. However those pictures have not been released at this time. 

Official reply from Paris- what doesn't know anything, as the marconi instalations of both cruisers nor SS Dali couldn't reach French marconi stations.

The French cruisers Terrible and Indomptable are escorting a Caliphate/Firenj convoy what is transporting over  750 civilians and their possessions as agreed during the French abandonment of Australia.  No mention of any battle is made, nor is any information of their loss known.
We put this propaganda stunt to the New Swiss ministry of desinformation. 
The whole world knows that the misrepresented businessman Agrival Mars, as owner of the Ex ACM merchant Line Agrival is in Peru, acting as a governement official.
If New Swiss claims to have sunk the 2 French cruisers, this is in blatant negation of the treaty of Den Hague. And the capture of the 4 Peruvian merchants pure and debased piracy.

Personal -unofficial -dispatch from Premier Paixhans

We demand a full and complete explanation of this slanderous newpaper message. This kind of international libel is causing a complete breakdown of any progress Nes Swiss diplomates have made in the last 2 years.

[Korpen]

Just before dawn south of Keeling island.
HMNLS de Zeven Proviniciën:
SO (Signal officer):  "Java reports cable cut, and we are standing by to jam any transmission, no sign that we are detected."
Captain Evertsen:"Excellent, lets head there and talk to the Swiss then, standard proceeding, java will close and talk, the AFs will keep distance do discourage foul play".
"Our orders are to collect the ships belonging to the convoy, and we got authorisation from the flag state for that. Secondly, as a matter of goodwill we are to collect all the wounded Frenchmen on the Swiss ships. But we are under no circumstances to allow any ships to leave keeling until the main force arrives, so that is our first priority at the moment."
"And if the Swiss do not give up the ships and prisoners willingly?"
"Then we have no choice but to force them to do it unwillingly..."

[maddox]

Paris, Current events

Admiral Geon, can you enlighten us about the things happening in the Indian ocean? 
It seems New Swiss warships have engaged and sunk 2 large warships of us.

I do have the same information as you Premier, a statement in a New Swiss newspaper.
I must admit, after the sailing from Tricomalee we didn't have had any contact with Terrible. But that's not abnormal, we have a lot of trouble with the marconi sets as used on these ships. Normaly, if all goes well, the ships would arrive in Firenj in 3 days. Then we'll know for sure.But for good messure, I'll dispatch Massana and the 5th escort flottila to have a look.

[miketr]

Madrid, Iberia

A very tired emperor asked, "What the hell is going on in the Indian Ocean?"

The Chief of the Navy answered, "If you go by the Swiss version of events they thumped hard on the France."

A third voice in the form of the Foreign minister cut in, "We have received rumors of the UNK might be entering the picture soon."

A deep cough racked the emperors body, "We... *cough* ...n't have... *cough* for this type of distraction.  I need to focus attention on the election results." The emperor pauses and takes a deep breath and his color improves.  "Are we threated by these events in anyway?"

The various people assembled looked at each other and then the Foreign Minister spoke up, "We have our peace treaty with the Swiss and our relations are correct with France..."

Several others snorted at the statements.

The Emperor looked at the assembled group, "So we are left to deal with either the Swiss hauled off and attacked the French or the French have gone mad themselves.  Is this correct?"

The various people looked at each other again and then the admiral spoke up, "Yes your majesty we just don't know what happened and either possibility is bad for us." 

The emperor looked even more tired than before and paused some time before he spoke, "Very well find out what happened and NOW."

The usher called out, "This audiance is at an end!" and the various people filled out.

A rash of cable traffic was sent out across the world to Iberias diplomatic missions with orders for questioned to be asked. OOC anyone feel free to send me a PM...

A number of Cruisers recieved orders to take on coal and supplies for a long distance cruise.

[Carthaginian]

*Richmond, Virginia*

"You're kidding me..." Thadeous Devereaux sat at his desk in the Senate building, staring at the report placed in front of him. "What in the HELL do all of those dumb sumbitches think they are up to?!? They are gonna drive the whole damn Pacific Rim to war if they don't back down. Half a dozen Swiss ships down, and two of France's biggest cruisers? AND there are indications of piracy on the part of the Swiss?"

"Well, Sir" his aide responded "the Swiss think that it's not piracy; they believe that it's legitimate privateering..."

"Then they need to declare war. They've been 'almost' at war against the Mohammedans for years- SHIT OR GET OFF THE POT. It's as ridiculous to call this 'almost at war' with all this shooting going on as it is to call my wife 'almost pregnant' when she's 6 months and showing!" Devereaux got up and uncomfortably paced around the office. "Any word on the Vice President"

"No, Sir... still the same. His malaria is flaring up again, and the fever hasn't broken yet. He's occasionally lucid, but unfortunately, the bouts of dementia are not decreasing in duration or frequency." There was a brief, respectful pause. "Sir, perhaps we should admit that its time for you to take..."

"NO. I will not consider that option until there is no choice."
Another pause...
"Arty, you think that the Confederate States of America is ready for a Negro Vice-President?"

"I don't know if we are ready... but the doctor seems to think that by next week, we'll have one. So you should start thinking like you are going to take the job. That's why the President sent these reports to you- so you could be up to date on things when the time comes... if it does."

"Very well, Arty. Tell President Clark that I'd personally start screaming for Sparrow's head on a platter, demand a very good explanation from the Swiss, and request that someone kindly tell us EXACTLY where the Dishonorable Mr. Mars is- Peru, or the Pacific. Also, I'd want to have those civilians turned over to their governments within the week, or sooner if possible.

Maybe we can get out of this without any more good men dying..."

[P3D]

After the NS press release Peru and the Caliphate independently announces that Swiss ships in their harbors and territorial waters will be interned temporarily, until the fate of the convoy is determined. Also, New Swiss bank accounts and other assets are frozen. Swiss citizens are required to report at the local constabulary and are not allowed to travel either.

NS activities I assume are pretty limited in Firanj.

[The Rock Doctor]

Cartagena, Gran Colombia

"Okay then...", President Alizandro said, setting down the lengthy telegram from the embassy in Phoenix.  "What do we make of this?"

"We can infer that there has indeed been some kind of incident", Benicio Delgado observed.  "Whether any of the Swiss report is actually accurate remains to be seen.  The brief French statement indicates that they are lacking direct knowledge of the incident, consistent with at least a loss of contact with their two cruisers."

"Or their loss, period", the president noted.

"That also."

"I do believe that means we no longer have to consider the type in our naval strategy", Ricardo Alizandro said with a smirk.  "Last I heard, Gloire was still laid up after her go at our boys."

"Speaking of which - we've had issues with French warships interfering in our business", Industry Minister de Soto noted.  "Would that not lend credence to the Swiss report?"

"If the report were from any other nation on this Earth, I would say so", Eduard Torres said.  "But we are speaking of the Swiss.  They are, as my officials remind me, constantly involved in some scheme or another.  As Senor Mars - their erstwhile quarry - remains, to the best of our knowledge, nowhere near the Indian Ocean, the Swiss claim may be counter-factual and a cover for their true purpose."

"Which leaves us where?"

"At the least", Torres suggested, "The French will respond further when they think they understand what has happened.  Unless the truth, from their perspective, is worse than two of their largest cruisers going rogue and aiding Senor Mars, the French have no real choice but to deny the Swiss report and make their own allegations."

"Are we liable to see a war over this?", the President asked.

The group consensus was "Possibly."

"Are our interests at stake?"

"So long as nobody leans on Peru, I would say not to a significant degree", Delgado said.

"Then we'll sit back and see what happens next", the President decreed. 

[Desertfox]

Korpen, I'm confused. What ships do you have where? And when?

[P3D]

Some ships apparently received the distress signal.
A few ACs and sloops. With Singapore Naval base less than a week away from Keeling Island.