The Iceman goeth

[Sachmle]

July 14th 0300 hours
Home of Contraalmirante Alejandro Bartolo y Juarez
Rio Gallegos, NUS

The pounding was not a dream apparently, as the Petty Officer standing on the other side of the door confirmed otherwise. Bartolo gave him a cross look as he was handed an envelope and then given a quick salute. What could be so important to wake him at such a God awful hour?  He returned the salute and shut the door without looking to see if the young man actually left.  Bartolo recognized the handwriting almost immediately, it belonged to Almirante Torres. With a slight pain forming behind his forehead Bartolo read the orders twice to make sure he understood them correctly.  "Who in Puerto Militar hates me so?" sighed Bartolo as he dropped the orders on the table.  Slowly he stood and returned to the door.  Opening it he was not surprised to see the young Petty Officer still standing there. "Tell Capitan Morales that I expect the entire fleet up to steam by 0700 hours, no excuses!" "Aye, Aye sir!" and with another snap salute the young man was off running toward the dockyard.  Bartolo slammed the door and swore under his breath, "Someone will surely regret this endeavor, most likely me."

[The Rock Doctor]

The entire fleet = the portion at Rio Gallegos, I assume?

Nice start; shall be curious to learn who sees the Iceman cometh.

[Sachmle]

Correct on fleet @ Rio Gallegos, 1st Scouting Fleet only, 2 PCs & 4 DDs

July 14, 0400 hours on board NUS La Argentina

"Contraalmirante, why are we building steam?"
"Because we've been ordered into the Straits to babysit some Orange cruisers because someone at Puerto Militar is suspicious of anyone sailing the straits in winter."
"But sir, our destroyers will barely be able to make 14 knots in this weather and Patria's port engine is still drinking oil like a man just released from prison drinks liquor."
"I know, believe me I know. This is to be a 'pleasent' trip, as the Orange are not expected to try anything, but one never knows anymore."
"Aye, sir. We'll be ready to break port by 0630 hours"
"Very good Capitan, carry on."
"Aye sir"

[P3D]

On the bridge of the Orange cruiser ORNS Orion.

"The lookout spotted smoke on the horizon, sir. Several smokestacks, Sir."
"Apparently the Unionistas or whatever they fancy calling themselves these days" noted Captain Greifenberg. "  Chief, inform our passengers that the welcoming committee is in sight."

[Sachmle]

Somewhere in the Straits of Magellan, believed to be near Punta Arenas the NUS 1st Scouting fleet moves through heavy seas at 8 knots to keep the DDs afloat

In the Admirals cabin, onboard NUS La Argentina.

"Contraalmirante, Capitan Morales sent me to inform you that the lookouts on Patria have spotted what appear to be the Orange cruisers on the horizon."  "Very good cadet, return to the bridge and inform Capt Morales I will be there shortly and to adjust our heading to meet the Orange" "Aye, sir"

On the bridge of NUS La Argentina 10 minutes later

"Capitan Morales, I assume such long legged cruisers as these Orange ones would have a wireless set. Have our radio operator try to raise them and signal our welcome."  (Capt Morales into the speaking tube. "Bridge to radio."  "Radio, go ahead."  "Broadcast our greetings to the Orange cruisers on any known frequency." "Aye, sir")   "Contraalmirante, should we also raise signal flags?"  "I don't know if they'll be able to see them in this God awful weather, but by all means try." "Aye, sir."

[P3D]

[ooc]
spark telegraph are so broadband they are perfect all-band jammers, mentioning 'frequency' is a bit irrelevant.
[/ooc]

"They are raising us on the W/T sir."
"Acknowledge, and ID ourselves. To Catfish, and to Engineering, 8 knots."looks out the weather."Damn Unionistas, why they could not keep it simple."

[Sachmle]

OOC: Did not know that, thanks.

IC: "Sir, they've responded and matched speed."
"Very good, inform them that the best approach is to get as close to the Northern coast as possible, but to watch for the shoals." "Better yet, advise them to take position between Patria and us and we'll lead them through."  "Also send a message inviting their senior staff to join us for some refreshments once we reach Punta Arenas."
"Aye, sir."

[P3D]

"Monsieur Beaumont",Captain Greifenberg looked at the Zambian Normann envoy, "the Unionista Contraadmiral invited myself any other important people on board for a refreshment at the harbor. As there's nothing to do but wait until we load a few hundred tons of coal up, you are welcome to join."
"As much as I liked some diiversion, would not our presence cause some problems and intelligence leaks?"
"Kaapstad and Neubrandenburg can do whatever they want about intelligence leaks. However, if you would assume to be just businessmen from, say, Namibia, with shipping interests in Asia, and...hm...good navy connections, and we'd refrain from discussing sensitive political matter, it won't cause problems at all."

[Sachmle]

July 16, 1400 hours on board La Argentina off the western approach to the Straits of Magellan

"Well Contraalmirante, it appears the the Orange are headed towards the Far East after all."
"I can't believe it gotten so bad in the Pacific that one would purposely traverse the Straits in winter for a 'business trip'."  "Capitan, set course for Rio Gallegos, best speed."
"Aye, sir"  "We will, of course have to make allowances for the La Rioja's as well as Patria."  "She's getting worse you know?"
"Yes, I spoke with Lieutenant Cortez while at Punta Arenas"  "If she falls too far behind we may have to leave her at Punta Arenas until summer."  "Damn politicians, there skepticism may have just cost me a cruiser for 6 months!"

[Sachmle]

July 19 0900 hours in the office of Almirante del conjunto Miguel Torres y Barrientos

"Sir, Contraalmirante Bartolo's report indicates that the Orange cruisers have headed west by north west out of the Straits intent on reaching the Far East.  Appearantly the war is worse than we thought, as they chose this route to avoid it."
"So they say, Raul my friend. So they say..."  "Make sure you forward this report to Ministro Rodriquez to pass on to our 'friends'."
"Yes, of course."

[Borys]

July 1908
The Austrian prospectors, cartographers etc. wintering in Punta Arenas were not unmoved by the sight of half a dozen cuisers on the raede of Punta Arenas. Some of them spent a lot of time - weather permitting - observing the NUSA and Orange warships. And taking some sort of notes.