Phoenix Daily Star 1907

[Desertfox]

The forbidding shape of the volcano rose in the distance as the cruiser neared the island. Few Swiss had ever seen the island; even fewer foreigners had ever set sight on the imposing shape of the volcano towering over the atoll. This was the Flying Dutchman Island, home to the Van der Decken Special Research Facility, a facility so secret that it existed only in legend, the legendary 'Phantom' Island which could be seen only to vanish in a storm when approached, an island from which no man returned. No map in the world showed this island only a 'danger' zone, an area filled with sunken atolls, very hazardous to navigation.

The island seemed deserted as the cruiser docked to a decript looking pier. Only a broken down hut could be seen as the passengers disembarked, but concealed in the jungle to side lay four powerful eight inch dynamite guns. Powerful and silent these guns formed only part of the formidable defenses of this island.

"Welcome Secretary, if you would please follow me."

A man dressed in the green uniform of the SAF had appeared amidst the trees. The small group followed him disappearing into the green foliage. Soon they arrived at the base of the volcano. A bush gave way to an entrance the group once again disappearing now into the bowels of the volcano.

The volcano was no ordinary volcano, long extinct it housed a massive natural cave inside. This cave was the home of the secret facility and now inside bathed under electric lights could be seen the long, sleek, and sinister shape of one of the 'Black Cats'. Next to it lay a small, barely visible shape like that of turtle. This was the Nautilus, a research submarine. On the other side could be seen the dim glow of sunlight, that, on the inner side of the atoll was the heavily camouflaged, sea entrance to the cave.

"It's good to see you Secretary!"

"Captain Kidd! What do you have for me today?"

"Excellent news, we have had two very important breakthroughs in two critical fields. Nikolas has said that his device can now routinely detect an object five hundred yards away, and the electric torpedoes are operational. Not only that but we have also found another way to detect ships in the dead of the night. Yantai will be avenged."

"Excellent! Is Tesla around? I want to take a look at his apparatus. And what is this new method? Does it work?"

"Yes Nikolas is here probably stuck inside his lab; in fact let's go there right now. As for this new method we've known about it for some time, in fact we made use of some of its principles in the 'Black Cats', the method is sound...ah here we are."

The room into which they now entered had an eerie feel to it. A green glow cam from a pair of strange contraptions and to the rear could be seen several Tesla coils. This was The Lab. A small man could be seen working on something in the back.

"Nikolas! How's the latest experiment working? Mr. Wys would like to take a look at your device."

"Busted a couple of vacuum tubes, will require some spares," barked the man to an assistant. "Ah Captain, Mr. Wys, didn't notice you two coming in. The experiment? Not so well, I need that tower. This is no ordinary weapon; it will be capable of disintegrating ships at the touch of a button! Oh the device? It's back here."

"So big?"

"This is the trial version. It's capable of a range of over three thousand yards. However as you can see it is too big to install aboard ships. But the smaller versions are ready."

"Excellent! So what's this about using sound? And who is Tesla's assistant? I haven't seen him before."

"A brilliant young scientist by the name of Emmet von Braun, currently studying at the Institute on his doctorate. As for the sound, it's just around the corner."

"So how does it work?"

"In simple terms we simply listen to the sound of ships, it's a bit more complicated than that but that's the basics. We are working on two systems, the first one can be seen there, it's that dish shaped object. It works in air and can pick up the sound of a ship at ten knots at distances up to three thousand yards, in the right atmospheric conditions we have picked up sound up to five thousand yards away, but the effective range is around one thousand yards.
The other system is not yet operational but has a lot more potential. It works underwater, picking up sounds coming from the screws. Trials have shown that its range is potentially much grater than the other one. In one instance we picked up the sound of whales nearly ten thousand yards away."

"Wow, and that's just listening?"

"Yes."

"Incredible. I'll pay the politicians another visit; we must increase the amount of funding you receive. We have in our hands technology which could tilt the balance of power decisively in our favor."

Early dawn the next morning the group once again boarded the cruiser. As the cruiser silently sailed away, another ship was seen in the distance, in all appearances a cruiser. But strangely thought explosions where seen on a nearby island as if the cruiser was conducting gunnery practice, no corresponding gun flashes where visible on the strange ship.

"The 'Scourge of Yantai' once again practicing. When will we need her services again?"

That thought sat in Johann Wys' head as he watched the island recede in the distance. Another thought would have struck the casual observer, for at that moment a green cloud enveloped the cruiser, and like a phantom it vanished from sight...

[maddox]

Remember the French promise after the skirmishes at Goa.....  Green clouds will get the chance to surrender. But only for a short time.

[Desertfox]

Fear ye all who dare challenge the green cloud of death...David Jones awaits your company...

paid for by the Committe to Instill Fear Into Potential Enemies

[Desertfox]

Jerusalem, April 1st 1907

The discussions had been going on all day and finnally they had turned to Naval matters.

"This is what we can offer. This design here has a broadside of six ten inch guns and a speed of twenty five knots. No ship in the world can match her, even the German Scharnhorst cannot catch her."

"But how expensive is she? We dont have that kind of money and even your building capacity is limited."

"True, what exacly would you want?"

"Well we are currently looking at a similar but much cheaper ship, we dont need the high seas capabilities and the German ships with the exception of Scharnhorst are not really fast."

"Well we do have this other design, she is about half the size, has the same armament and armor, and has sufficient speed to deal with the German ships."

"Hmmm, she does look attractive."

"We are also looking at possibly assisting you in buying foreign built ships. I know that the Orange Republic might have som sulprus ships which can be got very cheap. Also we will give you the plans for the Turbinias for free. Currently there is no ship in the world planned or in service which can yet match the Turbinias performance. They are capable of 30kts, they carry four eighteen inch torpedoes and at forty tons are very cheap."

"That's a very generous offer. Now why are you asking in return?"

"We need an ally in this part of the world. You dominate the entrance to the Red Sea and the Mozambique Chanel. Our two nations have much in common and the only thing we ask is you friendship."

"That's true. We accept the offer, our friendship is a given."

"So do you think that two new cruisers and the rebuilt Ashmuneins plus any destroyers we can get you, would be sufficient to detter the Germans?"

"Probably, the Germans currently have here, one battleship, two heavy cruisers, three cruisers, two light cruisers, five destroyers, and misc gunboats. We would be able to match that with two heavy cruisers, two cruisers, and probably around six destroyers. Only PD we cant match."

"Battleships can be taken out with destroyers, we learned that the hard way. Which reminds me, if you are interested we currently have three submarines which are laid up and sulprus to our requirements..."

[The Rock Doctor]

And so for a little bling, the Zionites sell their souls to the Swiss...no doubt to be answered with some kind of DKB "favor" to Firanj...

[Borys]

28th September, New Swiss Embassy at Cartagena, Gra Colombia

Note delivered from Habsburg Embassy

Please advise on preferred port to deliver 6000 New Swiss citizens.

[Desertfox]

After getting over the shock. The port would be Phoenix.

[Borys]

1st October
Note delivered by Habsburg Diplomats to Nations with Warships in the Pacific.

The SMHS Salome and SMHS Erzsebet Bathory, accopanied by the Dwimorberg RV and Irensaga RV, are sailing from Esmeraldas to Phoenix by a direct route. The Austrian ships are flying the Merchant Ensign AND Green Cross on White Flag, and will be well illuminated by night. Arrival at destination is expected on  30th October.

[Borys]

2nd October 1907
New Swiss Embassy at Cartagena is delivered an envelope with the names of the 6230 New Swiss in Habsburg custody.
And another list - with the names of those who had not lived to see this day.

[P3D]

Phoenix
November 10, 1907

The  Orange businessman, took the hand offered by not a less personage but Herr Zwingli, director and a main shareholder of Zwingli&Zwingli Schiff-fahrt un Spedizion AG. One of the largest Swiss shipping firm, specializing in Indian-Ocean and Atlantic trade.
"Herr Altmann, a great pleasure to meet you."
"My pleasure, Herr Zwingli." The facial expression of the two were, however, more calculating than in accordance with their words.
"I was told that you have an interesting business proposal, that might make up for the considerable profit loss, what is caused by the war, and the expulsion of Swiss ships from ports worldwide."
"Indeed. I have just picked up a newspaper, that the French seized yet another liner of yours. Outrageous! That three small freighters was also seized from a fellow company, arriving at Brest after a long voyage, did not even merit front page. And now the ships that are at home ports must sit idle, unless they are taken over by the government to transport soldiers and supplies. But more than half of your ships are still stranded far from home."
Herr Zwingli met this with an expressionless face.
"And there is a chance the war would spread further. Orange, of course, wishing to maintain friendly relations with both belligerents, is not imposing any restrictions like that. Rather, offering safe haven to ships regardless of nationality."
"And what is this proposal of yours?" interjected the host.
"My government and some of my financial backers would not be surprised, that, due to the deteriorating business climate and the diminishing opportunities, some Swiss firms would decide to move."
"What??"
" To move. For example, headquarters from Phoenix to Durban. I understand, this would require changing the flag on the ships you are operating, but orange stripes are less inclined to be attacked by Dutch frigates than the white-blue wedges..."

Half an hour later.

After Herr Altmann left, to meet some other competitor, without doubt, Herr Zwingli was sitting at his desk, pondering about the things mentioned for a while. Then he raised the phone, and ordered his secretarty to make some calls.

[P3D]

Phoenix
November 10-11, 1907

Herr Martin Kranitz, well-known (infamous, rather) arms dealer - Kranitz&Co., Industrial and Mining Equipment Import-Export Company, Capetown, Orange, arrived by the same ship as Herr Altmann the day before. He started at the Embassy of Orange, where he picked up two assistant Attachés. Then the group visited the Department of Defense, followed by the Army Ordnance Board. The 11th he spent entirely visiting the Department of the Navy and some naval installation.

[Borys]

28th November

Delayed by heavy seas and stormy weather, the Austro-Riddermark convoy arrives off Phoenix

[Borys]

28th October, off Phoenix, 6 nautical miles from shore

Schlachtiger turned to Hecht.
- When we were leaving probability of a war between the Dutch and New Swiss was high. It is quiet likely that our countires are at war right now. Peace or war, Habsburg ships are to be shot at if they get within 6 miles from Swiss shores.
- I am sending over a launch with a Riddermarkischer officer on board, to ask what plans are there for us and for you. The port? Bugger off?
- In the latter case I will unload you all at some beach not far from here.

[Borys]

- and General, I have a request. It concerns some of your men.
- Yes?
- Some have decided to become settlers in Parana. And several want to enlist in the AFL. I'd like you to counter-sign their dfdeclaratios that they doing this out of their free will.
- I can understand the Parana option - going from a slavecamp to a country at war, if one has no family, is not particualry tempting. But why the AFL - and would you recruit thumbless soldiers?
- Usually not. But as you yourself are prime example, during those 5 years your men have become southpaws. It is true that they will never shot a rifle, but any force - as you well know - needs more than riflemen. Fully trained, war veterans. Speaking a form of German - or at least having some knowledge of it. They are Junior NCO material as they stand. A couple are NCOs anyway - all they expect after coming home is a "honourable discharge". The AFL allows them to stay in the military. And the AFL gives an option not to fight one's countrymen - if our countries do go to war, they will be posted to Morroco or some other out of the way place.

[Borys]

It is the beach then, Schlachtiger decided. The ships moved, to the passangers' apprehension, away from Phoenix. Hadn't this possibility been outlined to the POWs previously, there would had been a riot. After reaching a point where there were no coastal defence guns visible, the troopships moved inshore.
Flying prominent white or white-with-green-cross flags on them, the boats started carrying the ex-POWs to the beach. This took several hours.
Before boarding the last boat, Hecht asked:
- Why is Austria doing all this?
- for the Emperor's Soul.
This confirmed the general's suspicon - the Austrians either had some hidden purpose, or were nuts. But anyway, he was Home. With a salute they went their searate ways.

After securing the boats, the now empty ships and their escorts sailed to the SE.