International

[Desertfox]

March 22

"So two Terrible class cruisers, and four merchants in close formation. We should thank Captain Sparrow for his timely intelligence."

"Captain Sparrow would prefer something more tanglible."

"But thanks are cheaper."

"Smoke on the horizon Captain! Someone's in a hurry!"

"Message from Manta! Terrible class cruisers accelerating in your direction!"

"D***! Signal the fleet initiate plan, make sure Manta get's it. Break out the naval ensign. Bring us to battle stations."

Aboard the ships of the Amsterdam Fleet the blue and white civil ensign of New Switzerland rose...

OOC The ships are deployed in two lines. The Tuna leads the line closest to the convoy with the Cods in line astern. Sydney leads the second line with the destroyers in line astern. Scycilia trails behind both lines.


Aboard Manta

"Captain, signals from Sydney, initiate."

"Very well, you know what to do..."

Suddenyl a flash of light could be seen aboard Manta, the cruiser had brust into flames and thick black smoke could be seen rising from it.

"Fire in the quarterdeck!"

"D***!, Signal on the clear CQD, Indian Navy Cruiser Akbar requesting assistance CQD!"

[maddox]

march 22 just after dawn (5°S 90° E)

Large Protected Cruiser MN Terrible.

WTF is an Indian Cruiser doing here? And why is he running smokeless? If we didn't accelarate to investigate the plumes on the horizon, we never would have known.

Capitaine, that looks like an ACM cruiser, and the Indian Navy doesn't have those in use.

Correct, we bought their last one.  Heliograph, signal an urgent request for an explanation. Train main guns, and Marconiroom, signal Indomptable to join. Try to raise Tricomalee or Touranne, investigation of a suspect cruiser.

That cruiser, couldn't that be one of the last ones of the ACM on the lose?
An Agrival one? I doubt that. I rather think an independent pirate. The Admirality was right to send us with the Caliphate convoy.
But who the other plumes are, I don't know, they seem to evade.

Capitaine, the cruiser blinked back, they claim to be the Indian cruiser Akbar, on extended patrol.
I don't believe it for a moment. But we'll have a surefire way to prove that. Invite the captain for a brunch. 

Blinking capitaine.

WOW, what happened?

[The Rock Doctor]

Methinks I am becoming confused.  But that's okay, I'm just a spectator.

[Desertfox]

You have a right to be. Manta is behind the convoy away from where Terrible is heading, and she is spewing so much smoke from her 'fire' that I doubt precise recognition of the disguised warship is possible.

From East to West the situation is as follows, Swiss Fleet, intercepting French Cruisers, convoy, Manta.

Oh and Maddox the Swiss fleet is not evading...

[The Rock Doctor]

Depends on the amount of smoke, the wind direction, and the orientation of the Manta relative to the French...

Anyway, carry on:  curious to see whether this ends up FUBAR or not.

[maddox]

Heliograph and marconi in concert

Cruiser Akbar, do you need assistance?
Cruiser Akbar, Do you need assistance?

Indomptable, secure the flank, this situation doesn't feel right. Watch the new commers. I want an identification as soon as possible, like yesterday.

Capitaine, Akbar doesn't slow down.  Nor can't I see damage that corresponds to such an explosion, if it was intern.

No reply over the Marconi. We do recieve other messages, but those are unreadeble. No reply over by blinker.

The newcommers are Swiss at high speed.

Merde, merde merde. Would they dare? Attack us? Or the Convoy? Marconi ,try to reach Tricomalee or Touranne. At least give them an situation scetch. Blink to Indomptable, " warn off the NS, use Marconi or heliograph, divert them to the Indian Cruiser Akbar".

Sound battlestations, put us between the NS arrivals and the convoy. Flank speed.

[Desertfox]

Aboard Manta,

"All stop!"

"Sir Terible signaling! Cruiser Akbar, do you need assistance?"

"Do we look like we need assitance? Of course we need assistance. Make sure they get that, and pop of a few more star shells. Hopefully the wind will cooperate."


***


Aboard Sydney, speed 10kts

"Indomptable warning us of, there seems to be an Indian cruiser in distress somewhere around."

"Why would we care about any Indian, we have bigger game to catch, signal prepared response, go to battlestations."

Indomptable, this is the NSS Sydney, we have information that the International Master Criminal Agrival Mars is aboard one of the merchants, we have orders to stop and search the convoy and arrest him. We will proceed on our mission, do not interfere.

OOC The Tuna and Cods are still on line astern, Scycilia has joined them astern. Sydney is to one side and halfway between them, the destroyers are in line abreast next to Sydney and are not visible.

[maddox]

Indomptable.

Capitaine, we got an uncoded marconi from Sidney.  They state that Agrival is on one of the merchants.

What a load of crock. But we'll play that game too.
Reply this

"Aknowledged New Swiss Cruiser Sidney. We're escorting Agrival to his trial. Thanks for the warning."

Blink Terrible. "NS flottilla is a trap"

Terrible.

Message from Capitaine Gilliard. "NS flottila is a trap".

Akbar is aknowledging. They need assistance.

Capitaine, Akbar shows more explosions on the aft deck. More smoke and flashes. Speed isn't dropping, nor is any damage to the hull seen.

Tell Akbar that help is under way . Keep a very watchfull eye at that fake Indian cruiser. Warn me immediatly if the status changes.  Any identifications on the NS flottila? 
No captain, but it's a large flottila.

So close to Firenj or Dutch waters....  No fucking way that's coincidence.
Blink Indomptable, "Honneur ou Mort".
People, I think we're in for a ride.
Change course, oblique angle towards the NS, train the aft main gun, and take carefull aim. The biggest one first. Hold your fire untill, if a NW sailor sneezes , it's playtime.

[Korpen]

150nm south west of Siberut aboard the sloop HNLMS Java.

"Captain, we just received a CQD from and Indian cruiser Akbar, followed by lots of messages in both code and clear", most likely from several ships"
"So something is happening, but what? -Helm, take us towards that position, and radioman, relay those messages to the other ships, we are here to keep an eye on the sealanes, and a take a look we will"

[Desertfox]

Sydney,

"Nice comeback but a lot of BS, it takes two to tangle, signal her..."

If I understand correctly, two French cruisers are escorting Agrival to his trial from Egypt to Australia, in four of his own ships? If that is the case we are willing to take over the escort role, but first we must check to make sure he is aboard. Thank you for your concern.

"Lets give them time to decipher that, meanwhile we proceed straight ahead. All guns loaded with white* and green shells**?"

"Aye, aye Sir!"


*Phosporous shells

**Chlorine shells


OOC I assume the convoy is proceeding ESE.

Manta is about 15,000yds WNW of it, she is stopped, listing, and spewing out a large amount of smoke.

The Fleet is heading due W at 10kts, its located about 10-15,000yds due E of the convoy. All guns are trained on the French ship. They appear to take no notice of the French warship except to reply.

Finally Captain Sparrow is about 40,000 yds due N of the Convoy doing nothing.


Korpen, from what direction is Java aproaching? It might be important.

Maddox, can you give the ranges from your cruisers to the Fleet and Manta?


Quick chart of how the NS ships are deployed:

              PC/T
             
              PC/C
FRE                     CC/S  F  F  F  F  F
              PC/C
           
              PC/C

              LC/S


Note that the Fritz class destroyers are not visible.

[Korpen]

Java & Friends will be approching from ENE.

[maddox]

Plan of battle is send to the moderators.  Now it's just waiting.  Unless.

New Swiss Flottilla, Do not approach the convoy. We repeat, do not approach the Firenj Convoy.

[Desertfox]

Situation on Manta, stopped, listing to port, still spewing out smoke, firefighting teams can be seen on deck. Obcenities are being spewed (inc signal lamps and flags) in the general direction of Terrible. Maddox what is the distance from her to Terrible?


***

Aboard Sydney

"Hmmm they don't want to play...very well send the following."

By the laws of the seas we have the right to stop and search any potential pirate. Im pretty sure you wouldn't cause an International Indcident during the Hauge Treaty would you? It would look bad for France coming right after the Dover Straits...we will proceed with our mission.

"There that should touch them." Captain Williams once agained grinned. "Signal the fleet, Do not fire unless fired upon but if they mean to have a battle let it begin here."

Situation Fleet, no change, they are continuing to ignoring the French cruiser except to point the guns at it. Guns are loaded with Phosporous and Chlorine shells, however the rest of the ammo is stadard APC rounds. Maddox what is the distance from Indomptable to the Fleet?

[P3D]

What does that 'FRE' mean?

And are you sure about APC shells?

[Desertfox]

French, shows how my ships are positioned in relation to Indomptable.

I was just distinguishing them from the other 'special' rounds, however Sydney and the Tuna both carry APC rounds (Capped in the case of Tuna's 10" guns)