Snakes and Ladders

[Sachmle]

ROFLMAO  :D  :D  :D

[TexanCowboy]

What War Budgets are you talking about? I can do Romania's using just one pinkie....

[maddox]

Mademoiselle Glorious France leans back and sips an expensive cocktail.

[ctwaterman]

*sighs*

Perhaps someone should loan the New Swiss some of those Colliers and Oilers

Pours Mademoiselle France another Cocktail....

[maddox]

My lovely new Oiler Luisant and Collier Cometé...  It is an option.

Nothing less than double dealing from Glorious France...  who would expect that?

[Desertfox]

Cinco de Mayo


Gulf of Aden

Commander Brinks was on the move again, as the senior Swiss officer in the theater he was to represent New Switzerland in the Dar-es-salaam talks until the official representative arrived, which could be another month as Altair was having engine problems again.  But first he had to make a stop in Tel Aviv to pick up the Swiss Ambassador to New Zion and provide escort for the Zionite officials heading to the talks. He did not relish the task, but at least he wouldn't be the senior officer for long, for reinforcements where coming.


***


Mid-Atlantic

Two ships that had sailed together for the past months separated...  Aurora headed North towards Lisbon, Flying Fish South, towards Windhoek.


***


New Amsterdam

"Captain! We have our orders!"

"Men, we sail West..."

The skies over the city grew darker as United States and her escorts belched forth black clouds of coal smoke...

[Desertfox]

June 1st

Rear Admiral Ozawa observed the island of Masirah quietly. Was he really expected to operate the Swiss 'High Seas Fleet' from this place? Yeah, they had practiced operations from remote atolls, but then his sailors could rest on sandy beaches and tropical islands, this rocky dusty island was more desert, and summer was just beginning. Well orders where orders, and with the Italians stirring up trouble, one could not be too careful. However, one could wish, and Ozawa for one wished that peace could win out this time. He knew his role if war came, and it was not pleasant. The politicians would surely push for Sidewinder over African Python, and he knew very well, that success for African Python would likely involve the destruction of his own force, for the better he did his job, the more ships he would face... alone. But he was not to question why, but do or die. For the Swiss 'High Seas Fleet' had reached its new home.

[maddox]

On the horizon, a speck of sun is reflected on a shiny object.

[ctwaterman]

7th June 1919

HQ  Imperial Marina Indian Ocean Fleet, Mogadishu Italian East Africa.

Admiral Delcroix  had a large number of reports in front of him.  Some were from Merchant Ships off India, others were merchant ships that were entering or leaving the Persian Gulf.   All the reports including the one from a French Airship pointed to one fact that New Switzerland had moved elements of their fleet to somewhere along the coast of Oman and their was only one port in that area.

Admiral Delcroix consulted the charts of the coast of Oman! So what exactly did the Emir of Oman and the Empress of Romania think they were going to gain by allowing the New Swiss to base shipping out of their territorial waters??

Admiral Delcroix called over one of his Aides... Inform Fleet HQ in Taranto and have them contact Rome.  Use the one time encryption.... The New Swiss are not waiting for the outcome of the meeting in Dar-Es-Salaam.  In addition notify Titus Fabia Quintillius in Massawa that on my authority we are implementing  a War Warning message to all units in my command and I recommend that he do the same to all Army Commands in East Africa.

[Desertfox]

June 13th

HQ New Amsterdam Fleet, New Amsterdam

"I don't have much faith on the Dar-es-salaam conference, so let's see where we stand."

"Ozawa and the 6th Battle Squadron have arrived at Masirah and have begun their part. 1st and 2nd Squadrons are already here at New Amsterdam, and the rest of the fleet should arrive by the 21st. We should be able to sail by the 27th."

"Good, the question is what route do we take? North, south, or central?"

"North, we head to Baharat then south to Orange. Problems are we pass through major shipping routes, next to the French at Ceylon, then a long stretch down to Orange, next to major Italian bases. Advantages, we do get spotted and increase the deception of going via the North entrance, still if we get spotted going south its over, but we might be able to force a fight on the high seas in that scenario.

Central, direct to Chagos then South to Orange. Problems, we will get spotted for sure in Chagos. Advantages, most direct route, easier on the destroyers, less chance of being spotted past Chagos.

South, we drop into the Southern Indian Ocean, using pre-positioned ships and the Orange islands down there. Problems, long trip, bad weather, and tough refuelings. Advantages, we simply drop of the map. Chances of being spotted would be extremely small."

"Hmm, too many drawback in all plans. What if we split up?"

"Definitely a possibility. Will confuse the Italians more, but the different fleets would have to link up past Chagos, otherwise they could be taken out piecemeal."

"Ok, get me detailed plans for all three routes. We might not have a lot of time, and I need to get alot of ships across an ocean."

[Desertfox]

OOC The following ships are the ones that have been redeployed.

At Masirah,
BB United States
CA Honolulu
CA Pearl Harbor
MW Lake Eyre
10 x DD Littlestone
5 x MP M-1
Aux Helper 1
Aux Helper 2

Bouncing around,
CL Civet
CL Mongoose

At Dar-es-salaam,
CA Atair

At Capetown (enroute to Masirah)
CV Flying Fish

[TexanCowboy]

There is no way a Type 0 port can support that Task Force.

[Sachmle]

OOC The following ships are the ones that have been redeployed.

At Masirah,
BB United States
CA Honolulu
CA Pearl Harbor
MW Lake Eyre
10 x DD Littlestone
5 x MP M-1
Aux Helper 1
Aux Helper 2

Bouncing around,
CL Civet
CL Mongoose

At Dar-es-salaam,
CA Atair

At Capetown (enroute to Masirah)
CV Flying Fish

[Guinness]

Hey Foxy: for OOC knowledge, do you mind telling us when those ships arrived at Masirah?

[Desertfox]

It's up there.  ;) June 1st.