Snakes and Ladders

[Desertfox]

April 21st, NSN Headquarters


"Ladies and Gentlemen, what is Italy up to?"

"Doesn't look like much, they're just finding something to complain. They don't like us interfering with their plans."

"So why the note? Why a meeting?"

"They don't have anything better to do?"

"April 9th, an unidentified group of people broke Sparrow out of an Italian jail, killed some Italian police on the way."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Pope..."

"Oh... staging an attack on a target with 'Swiss' connections. Dates match. First the Swiss send weapons to New Zion, then 'invade' Italy. Very clever, god ruse to get public support, so they are planning a war?"

"Could be, what do we have?"

"Two war plans, both involve only the African theater. They are quite old, drawn up soon after the last Italo-Zionite war."

"Let's here them."

"Ok, first up Plan African Python, a deliberate blockade of Italian African possessions. Makes use of our superiority in cruisers. We can completely blockade Italian Southern Africa, and once that falls Italian North Africa. It's slow, but a surefire victory and very low projected casualties. Italy simply cannot withstand a war of attrition, as we can out build them 2 to 1.

Second, Plan Sidewinder. A mass attack against the southern Italian fleet. But first, we send a decoy up north. Draw the Italian fleet north, then strike south. We have the numbers to overwhelm their defenses and blast our way to New Zion. Once there we unit with the Zionite fleet and destroy the remainder of the Italian fleet. It's riskier than the first plan, and will lead to higher losses. But we can gain total victory in less that 3 months."

"Python makes the most military sense, but the politicians will push for a fast resolution. Do we have the forces to pull of Sidewinder?"

"Yes, another batch of Dayans is almost finished. We can pour more destroyers trough that straight than the Italians have TBs. We'll have more MPs than the Italians have submarines. We will also have surprise, the Italians do not expect anyone to try to force their way through. A crushing defeat and the Italians will be demoralized."

"How about going North?"

"Definitely the easier route, but we don't have anywhere to base from. Ottoman, Persian, and Omani bases are too small, just big enough for a few cruisers. They are enough for a decoy force, or for cruisers in Python, but nothing bigger. Also that's the clear route, that's the route the Italians will expect us to take, we hold the initiative, the Italians will have to react or gamble and due to their strong defenses South, their most secure gamble is to go North. That's what I would do."

"Very well..."

[Valles]

*prepares war budget*

[Carthaginian]

*prepares war budget*

Ditto

[Desertfox]

I need some more torpedoes, can't have anyone stopping by without receiving a welcoming gift...

[P3D]

Too bad that the Italian, French and CSA fleets has better torpedoes than what the Swiss.

[TexanCowboy]

I think it's time I should start buying some of those Russian 100 ton and 250 ton TB's....

[Logi]

If someone would lend me some oilers...... :D

[TexanCowboy]

:P (Don't we have the oil-trading deal anyways?)

[Valles]

I've got the capacity and to spare - and colliers, too.

[Logi]

I meant for refilling my ships Texan ;)

[Carthaginian]

I need some more torpedoes, can't have anyone stopping by without receiving a welcoming gift...

*YAWN*

Ah... Swiss torpedoes. How quaint.
Just stay outside their range and continue firing at their thin-skinned ships.

[P3D]

Someone must notify Borys ASAP. Austrian units would miss action in the fourth war in a row...

[The Rock Doctor]

*Contemplates opportunities associated with various scenarios*

[Carthaginian]

*Contemplates opportunities associated with various scenarios*

C'mon, Rocky... why would ya wanna do that? ;)

[The Rock Doctor]

It involves less math than war budgets...