It'll be over by Christmas: The Caicos Affair

[TacCovert4]

Christmas Day, Grand Turk

Captain Acalan rode on the motor launch to the IRS Edgbaston, Major Moreau beside him.  Due to the impressive amount of punishment the Roman fleet had thrown at Grand Turk, there were no working wireless stations on the island, or anywhere in the Caicos for that matter.  And so it was his duty to board the Roman cruiser and transmit the Warmaster's private signal, committed to memory the night before. 

"Even with his injuries the Commodore will be sailing to Bermuda?"  Moreau says, breaking the silence.

"Provided the Vilnius government affirms their willingness to provide neutral ground, the Warmaster will sail there."  Acalan replied.

"But surely your foreign ministry will send representatives to treat with ours?"  Moreau replies, confused.

"I'm certain they will, but none of them are the Warmaster.  Short of the Sultan himself arriving or recalling the Commodore, upon his shoulders and his alone rest the responsibility to make war and make peace."  Acalan explains.

"With the cease fire, wouldn't the Sultan just recall him?"  Moreau asks, confused as Captain Acalan steps back with a horrified look upon his face.  "I don't mean to offend, this is not a custom I'm aware...."

Captain Acalan motions with his hand.  "Of course.  Nothing that you would have been taught, a Warmaster hasn't been declared in over a hundred years.  If the Sultan were to recall the Commodore, then it would be seen as a vote of no confidence by his liege, an adjudication that he had failed.  Nothing short of the Commodore's death would satisfy such a judgement.  No major, the Commodore either turns over his responsibility to the Sultan in person upon the arrival of his Majesty, or the Commodore must give account of his conduct and resolution of the war before the Sun Throne."

'Interesting' mused Major Moreau as they climbed the ladder onto the cruiser and the Captain made his signal to a distant scout cruiser, summoning one of the sea wolves that had mocked the Republic's abilities to protect its trade over the last couple of months.  'An outdated system, what with modern telegraphy, but an efficient and responsive chain of command.  I wonder how this war would have been conducted by the government if they had to place one of their own in harm's way and give him carte blanche to conduct the war'. 

A few days later, the Republic fleet spotted a lone ship steaming at over twenty knots.  HAMS SC-5 steamed into the ever crowding anchorage around Grand Turk, her guns fore and aft with tompions affixed and canvas covers on the torpedo tubes.  A motor launch was immediately lowered and made for North Creek, a party of officers visible aboard.

[The Rock Doctor]

TO: Zwiazek Wilno Foreign Ministry

Subject: Intermediary Party to Roman-Aztec Negotiations
As previously noted in these communications, the matter between the Imperial Roman Republic and Aztec Sultanate as changed sufficiently to warrant continued negotiations. We hope the offer to host a conference on Bermudez can be reapproached.

Albin Confortola, Interim Foreign Minister on behalf of His Majesty Emperor Trajan VIII.

To:  Imperial Roman Republic
CC:  Aztec Sultanate
From:  Vilnius Union

Dear Sirs,

The Vilnius Union is indeed prepared to host a conference on Bermudez as previously communicated.

Given the current date, we propose a starting date of February 1, 1915.  As previously noted, my Minister of Foreign Affairs will host.

Please feel free to make use of Union port facilities as may be required in order to convey your delegation to and from Bermudez.  My earlier offer of a naval escort stands, should either party desire such.

Sincerely,

Sigismund VIII Vasa