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Start of 1918 Holder

Imperial Senate Offices Rome:  February 1st 1918

Consul Maximus sat sipping a warm glass of tea as he perused the stack of reports before him.  The one currently holding his attention was appropriately titled Security Concerns for the Territories of the Empire.   It was a very interesting read he thought as he went back to reading the report.

"The Empire has entered a period of stability for the foreseeable future.   However there remains two regions that continue to be a security threat to the territories of the Empire."

"The First is the old one with New Zion at the heart of the matter.   The treaty brokered by the Grand Columbians is holding.  However, the New government of New Zion is still completely non compliant on many of the terms of the treaty.   Recent attempts to get information from the supervisory nations of the CSA, ESC, and Japan have been less than satisfactory.  It appears that New Zion has simply fallen through the cracks of world events with the Wars in Kolkata, Burma, and the 3rd Pacific War.   There are rumors that the Rebel Government of New Switzerland has been in contact with the Interim-Government of New Zion.   This could be a very serious problem as the Empire has no desire to allow the Rebellious Socialists of New Switzerland even a toe hold into a region as contentious as East Africa."

"The 2nd area of Concern is of more recent happenstance.  The Union or "Unitas" of the many nations of the southern half of South America has created a super state in an area that originally lacked such a state.  The New NUS as that nation appears to be calling itself is an unknown entity and until such time as the Empire recognizes it and establishes a Consulate in said country it is unknown if this new NUS will seek to expand and become a threat to Imperial Territory of Uruguay.  Should such a threat appear the coalition of forces just between the NUS and Italia would be unfavorable.  Should the Southern Cross Treaty and the Nassau treaty both become involved a huge war involving millions could be fought over the Territory of Uruguay."

Consul Maximus thought for a moment before he wrote a note for his aid to collect in the morning."Request that Imperial Planning board look into a cost analysis for the Defense of Uruguay in the event of hostile action by the NUS.  In addition look into diplomatic solutions in contact with other Territory holders in the region particularly the Habsburgs.   I will require an immediate Intelligence analysis from the Imperial Intelligence office on the strength of the new NUS military forces.  Finally contact Sextus Aurelius Cotta- Consul of Foreign Affairs we need to discuss the new state in South America."

With that done Consul Maximus finished his tea and called for his car the other reports could await another day.

OOC: I was supposed to watch over New Zion? I'll write up a artical, I'm in the mood since Hanakuah's almost here.

Perhaps a good reading of the following treaty will help you.  You are not the only nation supposed to be helping New Zion form a new more democratic and representative goverment that would comply with the peace terms. 


http://www.navalism.org/index.php?topic=3274.msg35009#msg35009

No, the funny thing is, I was pestering Desertfox over New Zion, because of things I knew weren't in my religions scheme of things. Now I can give a report about it.

Ok

OOC New Zion complied to the letter as far as that treaty is concerned. If Italy is unhappy, that's their problem for not being more specific.

Bloodlines are traced maternally by the Jewish people. So no, you ignored part of that.

The treaty stated the King and HIS line, that's the treaty writers problem. Besides the Kingly and Priestly lines (at least the biblical ones) were passed on paternally.

Is it me? Or did a post just dissapear?

From Office of Imperial Procurement
To:  Office of Imperial Planning.
Re:  Recent Intelligence reports Estimating size of new ship construction.

Sirs,

It has come to our attention that at a minimum 3 nations are contemplating a massive increase in the size, firepower and speed of their next Generation Battle Ship or Battle Cruisers which ever they choose to call them.  I site the Following-

The ESC has just begun a new project which our agents estimate to be well over 700 feet long and 100 feet wide.  She looks to be a 4 turreted ship so depending on draft, size of guns and such she should be somewhere between 38K Tons and 48K Tons in displacement.   He speed can only be guessed upon at this time as she is still a keel.  But the Esc already posses advanced boiler technology to drive this ship faster than the current 22knot standard the Imperial Battle Line is planning upon.  And her guns are sure to be at least 15" or larger.

The DKB is proposing a ship a mere 650+ Feet long and around 100 Wide.  Again based upon depth tonnage can only be estimated but at a minimum larger than the Empire current newest Ship the IMS Imperator.   The DKB design is also a 4 turreted design and likely to pack guns 15" or Larger.  And based on our building of their current battle ship this new ship will also be faster than 22 Knots.

Our Allies in the UNK are proposing a massive increase in Ship Design.  There design is over 850 feet long over 100 feet wide.  And if their claims are accurate mass 38K tons and have a speed to run down many modern cruisers.  She will carry a massive new 16" gun designed by the UNK. 

In response these estimates and some similar designs the French have proposed and a similar design proposed by the Imperial ships design board the procurement office must state for the record that the Empire simply cannot undertake the building of more than a single ship of this size.   In many instances these ships would require an increase in size over even the largest Dry Dock or building slip the Empire currently posses.   In addition to complete a ship of this size in a timely fashion would require the Empire to dedicate the work and labor of at least half if not more of all the Heavy Industry capable of building Heavy Armor, Guns, Boilers and other materials to be found in the Empire.   

Again for the Record if ship building trends continue to push upwards towards building large numbers of 40,000 Ton Monstrosities then the Empire must find a smaller, cheaper, in some way more economical way to meet its security needs in the future.

Sincerely,
General Antoninus, Chief of Procurement.

The neutral commission is there to oversee selection of a new New Zion Government. Nothing more. Nothing less. So says the Dar-es-Salaam Agreement. If Italy believes that New Zion is non compliant on many of the terms of the treaty, then there is nothing the comission can do about it as it has received neither the power nor the juristiction to do something about it. It does not even have the duty to do something about it.

Make that 5. Me, the UNK, France, Japan, and the ESC.

QuoteMake that 5. Me, the UNK, France, Japan, and the ESC.

Not sure about the CSA, but Japan could have been omitted because:
a) Italy does not know anything about the design at this point.
b) The design is not big enough to be mentioned.

France isn't bound to the New Zion issue.

France was mentioned regarding the "Recent Intelligence reports Estimating size of new ship construction" post and not the "Imperial Senate Offices Rome:  February 1st 1918" post. So you can relax now. No need to worry about those pesky Zionists. :D

Quote from: Walter on November 26, 2009, 10:34:35 AM
France was mentioned regarding the "Recent Intelligence reports Estimating size of new ship construction" post and not the "Imperial Senate Offices Rome:  February 1st 1918" post. So you can relax now. No need to worry about those pesky Zionists. :D

and Rohan was ignored...

I mentioned ESC, because I tend to keep an Eye on people in say Europe.  I mentioned UNK because they are my Ally and I know more about them, and I mentioned the DKB because well they are close to my borders in Ost Africa and I have been working with their design bureau to finish the Battle Ship I am finishing for them very very soon.

Japan is well Looks at Imperial Maps... why yes Japan right their next to the part that says here be Dragons in the Northern Pacific... hmmmm that might not be conicedence :)

Rohan is also so far away I did not figure I would bother getting detailed intelligence reports from well the Pacific for sure.   I should have mentioned the Dutch ships but their tonnage wasnt 35K + unless I missed one.

Charles

You were right. Let me forward you my plans.

From: Bureau of Imperial Ship Repair & Construction.
To: Imperial Naval HQ Rome.

Sirs,
The plan for the long overdue refit of the 5 remaining Numidicus or HC-1906 class cruisers has now become critical.  The Numidicus herself has been in the reserve fleet while our Naval Architects studied the damage she took during the war with the Republic of Orange.  The need for these ships at the front has seen them in constant use since their construction and wear and tear is becoming a serious issue.

In addition it is apparent that the ships in question are becoming increasingly dated.  A simple Refit would leave the Empire with 5 slow and outdated cruisers with 6 10" guns.   Instead of a refit and a repair of the Numidicus this dept proposes that the ship undergo a rebuild.

The Proposed changes to the ships in question are to adopt the Confederate 9.2"/L50 380# Naval Gun as has been proposed for the next Generation of the Empire Armored Cruisers.   The Development of a Turret using three of the Confederate guns has been examined and should easily be made compatible to replace the triple 10" barbette of the older guns of the Numidicus class.   This will give the class a new more modern gun with a lighter shell but with greater elevation and range.

The next change is to re-engine the ships with a more modern Engine Design saving a small amount of weight but allowing for a ship 4 knot faster and with nearly double the range.  This speed increase will allow the ships to operate with the new mandate on ships for use with the Battle Line.  The Bulging of the ship has two effects.  The first and primary one was to increase stability and sea keeping.  The secondary effect is to test the effect of a small bulge in protecting against torpedo strikes using water or other liquid to fill this void created.

The Removal of the below deck Torpedo flats allowed the designers to slightly increase the number of shells per main gun while providing more protection and increasing the water tight integrity of the ship.  As you know one of the ships of this class was nearly lost to progressive flooding following a torpedo hit during the war with Orange.  Flooding of the Torpedo flat through wiring pipes and communication tubes were a primary factor in this instance.   The Architect examining the damage to the Numidicus indicate that if the Torpedo Flat had been hit directly the ship would have rapidly flooded and the pumps would have been insufficient to prevent the loss of the ship.  As such we are proposing an increase in the Damage control equipment on this and all future Imperial Ships.

The cost of this radical rebuild however is not inconsiderable.  The pure Denari cost alone is over half that of building an entirely new vessel incorporating all of these changes.  The savings in Heavy Construction Resources that the Naval Board has indicated as necessary however are substantial over those required to build an entirely new ship.   The Cost of this project would be approximately just under 6 Million Denarius and require just under 3 Thousand Tons of new equipment.  The resulting ship while not as capable as an entirely new vessel will be quite capable and usable for years to come with totally modern fire control, night fighting equipment, and operate as a test bed for several new technologies and pieces of equipment such as the ERAD equipments we wished to test from France, and as a test bed for our new turret design.

Signed
Admiral Rica Chief of the Imperial Ship Repair and Construction Bureau.

Early spring 1918

Emilio Giacoma Imperial Magistrate to the Habsburg Empire was having lunch with his younger brother Vice Admiral Atellus Giacoma at the Families Estates along the Adriatic coast.

Atellus – So Emilio what do you think of the new Boats they are asking me to find a use for.  I understand you were requested to show them to a Prince from one of the China's.

Emilio - *chuckles* yes brother I had a very productive and interesting series of discussions with a Prince Pu Lun of the Imperial Chinese family.   He was quite impressed with the Speed and Agility of the new 40 Ton MAS boats.  I believe they intend to license the technology.

Atellus - I myself have ridden in one and I would not want to take one out into heavy seas.  Perhaps you got a feel for how the Chinese intend to use these very small boats?

Emilio- Stopped and looked at his brother.  I believe Prince Pu Lun once described the Chinese philosophy as a Battle ship being equal to a man being attacked by a swarm of bees.  They intend to deploy large number of such boats to choke points and harbors to defend their coastline from nations with significantly larger navies.

Atellus- But how do they intend to force the enemy to Battle these MAS boats are not fast enough to run down modern Cruisers or Destroyers and any Battle Line they faced would have to be supported by such vessels?? I have been assigned to a group staff officers tasked with trying to do more with less and understanding what the Chinese want with such small boats might be crucial.   The first 75 such boats have already been or will soon be delivered the current plan is to use them simply for Harbor Defense and Anti-Smuggling Patrols.

Emilio- "Paused and sent a servant for a book" Prince Pu Lun was here during the Christmas Season and he enjoyed our customs of giving gifts.  The book I have just sent for was his gift to me.   It is a translation into French of an Ancient General.   Interestingly it is titled "The Art of War".   If I remember correctly the book was interesting but not really my specialty perhaps you should read it.

There is a quote I remember that I think is appropriate.  It goes like this "The contour of the land is an aid to the army; sizing up opponents to determine victory, assessing dangers and distance. Those who do battle without knowing these will lose."  I believe the Chinese intend to treat the ocean or more importantly their Coast line just like the army would treat a forest, or Gorge or a River.  The Ocean has terrain just like the land and they intend it appears from my reading of this book to use those terrain features not as impediments but to channel the enemy!

Atellus- "Nods as a Servant hands him the book" That is a very interesting insight brother.  My planning board had already reached some of the same conclusions as you just did.  The small boats were originally built to help comply with our Private Treaty with the Republic of Orange after the war with New Zion.  Both the Republic of Orange and the Empire agreed to reduce our Naval Forces in the Rift Sea.   The Republic of Orange agreed to limit their military shipping to 12 Thousand Tons and the Empire agreed to limit its tonnage to 24,000 tons because we actually have 2 Ports inside the Rift.   Looks at the Title of the Book he had just been handed. The Art of War by Sun Tzu, interesting title I will need to borrow this book brother.

Emilio- Just be careful with it Atellus you were never the best with books and this is a Royal Gift.

Atellus- *smiling* I will treat it gently and if it proves to as interesting as the title perhaps I will have it translated and reprinted.  But, as I was saying my planning board has found several other locations then the Straits of Balantrye in the southern rift sea where a large number of small boats might be useful.
 
The conversation continued quietly as the Servants brought Lunch and more wine.

Nassau, CSA 1918
Sextus Aurelius Cotta, was taking an early breakfast before the next round of Nassau Conferences.  His primary Aid Julian brought him his latest messages from Rome.

The first letter was from Senator Appius Attilius Scapita, who was in charge of the Foreign Office until Sextus could return to Rome.   The letter was simple and to the point the Foreign Office had received an individual in Rome from the new Republic of Mexico.   And now the foreign office was trying to decide if the Empire should recognize the New Republic or simply accept their ambassador without comment.

Consul Cotta, sat thinking while drinking a very good cup of Coffee heavy with cream.   There were serious political ramifications to this decision.  On the one hand the New Republic of Mexico had a former bandit as its President hardly a mark of distinction.  On the other hand it was pretty clear the Confederates and President Wilson were at least partly behind the establishment of the New Republic.   The Flip side of the whole matterwas that the So Called Free Press in Richmond and Atlanta and other such cities were busy bashing the Republic of France.   He wondered why Republic had so little control over their press.  He chuckled mentally as he remembered reading last week's copy of the "Forum" and how little control the Empire had over that Rag and other like it throughout the Empire.  Short of publicly burning the "Forums" Offices down which had happened in the past controlling rumor mongers appeared to be a task for all governments.  Well the decision was not critical perhaps it would be best to feel out the Representatives from France and the UNK on the matter before formally recognizing the New Republic as a favor to the President Wilson.

Next was some news from the NUS it appeared that the representatives from the disparate Nations in the south of South America had reached an agreement and were going to unify.   This was a much more important decision to make considering the proximity of the Imperial Province of Uruguay to the New South American power.   That would require a much more delicate touch and quite possibly even a personal visit.  Formal recognition of the New NUS would be forthcoming immediately.

The last letter concerned the current negotiations.  It seems he was being given permission to open discussion on a new set of International Agreements.  He was to use the Nassau treaty members as a sounding board before directly approaching the other nations of the world.   While the Empires call for a new round of Den Haag conventions had been rebuffed, ignored or simply over looked in the turmoil of the 3rd Pacific War the Emperor was firm in his resolve to form a body or codex of international laws or rules to form a frame work for international relations.   So he would broach the subject of a "Curia of Nations" to the Nassau treaty members sometime in the afternoon after Lunch.

With his paperwork done and a 2nd cup of excellent Coffee in his hand he began to mentally prepare his speech for latter in the day.

Present:
Senator Appius Attilius Scapita
The Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs - Beremgario Lucciano Tullus
Chief Magistrate for the Imperial Courts Rome - Alarice Genovesi Albus

Senator Scapita -  I have called this meeting to deal with a looming diplomatic incident.   Magistrate Albus your court will soon receive a petition from a foreign corporation most likely with the backing of that nations government.   They are attempting to sue the Caproni and most likely the Macchi corporations for Patten Infringement.  I need both your advice Magistrate Alba and yours as well Deputy Tullus.

Magistrate Albus - This would be a case of unheard of precedence.   The Empire as a matter of common courtesy and treaty recognizes patents, copy rights, and most trade marks filled in our Nassau treaty partners' but we simply do not have any laws covering the recognition of patents issued in I believe New Switzerland.

Senator Scapita - Indeed the Wright Corporation of New Switzerland is suing the Caproni corporation and I have sent for the head Lictor of the Caproni Corporation to explain this all to one of my secretaries.  But for now we only need concern ourselves with the Diplomatic and not the Legal ramifications of the case.

Deputy Tullus -  To that end Senator I can speak freely.  The Empire was recently ignored when we called for a re-opening of the Den Haag conventions and a review of currently existing International Law.   It serves the purpose of the Empire to allow this case to go forward even if it hurts one of our most valued suppliers' of Military Aircraft.

The Emperor was very specific in his desire to convene a meeting of nations to discuss international law and ways for nations to settle their disputes short of war.  In any event the Swiss Law suit is being viewed as an opportunity to showcase to the International community the need for some form of International agreements on Copyrights, Patents, and possibly an International Court to settle such disputes in an unbiased manner.

Senator Scapita - That's all well and good Deputy Tullus but what about Caproni and its stockholders.   I have been assured they acted in good faith paying the Inventor of the first flying boat for the right to use his designs even if they had radically changed and improved upon those designs??

Deputy Tullus - Its simple Senator we will allow the case to proceed and Magistrate Albus and the other judges will here the case and no matter what the outcome the Empire will see that Caproni and its Stockholders do not suffer from the case!

Magistrate Albus -  In any case the Patent Infringement case will likely reach this court sometime next year.   The courts are very busy and several of the lower courts will have to reject the case due to lack of jurisdiction before it reaches the high bench.

Senator Scapita - Excellent, I will talk with my fellow Senators and assure them everything is being handled appropriately and allow you two to handle the problem until Consul Cotta returns from Nassau.  

October 1918

Maria Pia, Countess of Genoa had a very important appointment this afternoon one could almost call it a matter of state.  Today she was having Tea with Beatriz Massimo the wife of the Principe of Roviano.   Now tea was normally not a matter of state but some things just had to be discussed in a civilized setting.  So with her guards in attendance Maria Pia waited in her sitting room for her guest to arrive.

The Butler announced the Arrival of Maria Pia' guest in a booming Voice.  Beatriz Massimo Di Roviano.

Maria Pia rose and greeted her guest as the servants busied themselves with serving a proper afternoon tea.


Maria -  My dearest Beatriz it is so good to see you, did you have a good trip to Rome.

Beatriz - The train ride was boring this time of year but Rome is always lovely to visit.

Maria - *Pouring tea for he guest*  so how is your family.

Beatriz - *sipping her tea* my family is doing very well and yours.

Maria - *smiling at the opening* My family is doing very well, and family is what we really need to discuss.

Beatriz - Really and how can I help you with family.

Maria - It is a bother I know but it appears my Husband and Son are to busy running the state to consider the needs of all their female family members.   I myself have 2 daughters both married but Husbands Brother and two sisters I am their emissary so to speak!

Beatriz - *smiles* ah I see and your nieces are now all coming of age then.

Maria - *sipping her tea and nods*  I see you would see directly to the heart of the matter.   My Husbands brothers Wife and his Sisters would like you to be our Emissary to the Court of Iberia.   We know you have not been back for a while but winter in Madrid is even warmer then Winter here in Rome?

Beatriz - *sipping again*  Agreed it has been awhile since I last saw my brother and sisters and the shopping in Madrid is fabulous?

Maria -  *smiles*  Yes the shopping is excellent and despite all the Nieces we must not forget that I still have a single unmarried son, the state will not wait for him to make up his mind forever already the Daughters of all the Blooded Families of Italia prowl the halls or the Palace.

Beatriz - *sips tea* so your are looking abroad for his marriage then?

Maria - Yes, a foreign marriage of state would be best we are still looking and any help in that arena would be greatly appreciated.

The Two woman continue to sip tea and quietly discuss the Royal Families of Spain, Bavaria, the Habsburg Empire and Italia particularly all the Sons and Daughters of marriageable age.

Palacio de la Zarzuela, outside of Madrid
Early December 1918

Emperor Jaime and his sister Princess Beatriz Di Roviano

"I really like this palace and have often given some thought to having it as my residence but the protocol sticklers would have a fit if I wasn't in the Palacio Real de Madrid.  So my dear sister what has brought you back to Spain?  It is always nice to see you and my nieces." Jaime asked.

"I am looking into arranging a marriage or two."   Beatriz answered.

Jaime smiled, "Ah looking for some suggestions.  I could be of some help but I figured you would want to talk to Elvira as she is far more involved with society and could better give you pointers for Iberian Nobility."

Beatriz smiled slightly, "I had planned to talk to Elvira but I wanted to talk to you first about a marriage for you brother."

Jaime for one of the few times of his life was struck speechless.

Beatriz reached out and took her brothers hand into her own, "I know how deeply you loved Mathilde but it's been twelve years.  You have mourned for longer than you knew her, its time to move on with your life Jaime."

"I... I don't know what to say Beatriz.  From time to time the government has suggested I consider remarrying but I always put them off.  What has prompted your involvement?"

Beatriz gave a brief squeeze of her bothers hand and then sat up straight in her chair as she talked, "Two reasons first is because your ministers are right, you need to remarry to secure the throne.  You have but one child Jaime and I love Fernando dearly but what if something happens to him?  We have no brothers and Uncle Alfonso disqualified himself when he converted to take the throne of Greece.  Succession passes down the male line, you know Spain's history Brother and what would happen if you tried to make one of Blanca's sons your heir."

Jaime gave an unhappy nod as he was well aware of the Carlist Wars of Succession as he fought in the last one personally.  Jaime nodded and looked back at Beatriz, "You said two reasons?"

"Yes but it is related to the first as the Italian Emperor has requested that you consider a young lady." Beatriz handed over a small framed photo.

Jaime looked at the Photo and flipped it over and read the reverse side, "Lidia Luigia Gabrielle, Duchess of Pisa b 1897."

"She looks like a nice enough young woman but why would she want to marry a 48 year old man.  I am old enough to be her father or at least an uncle." Jaime smiled.

"Besides becoming the Empress of Iberia?"

"Besides becoming Empress."

"Well so far she has rejected all suggestions from her relatives and is set on finding her own husband.  As I recall you refused a number of suggestions before settling on Mathilde."

Jaime chuckled, "So two stubborn people will make a good match?"

"Perhaps or perhaps not all that I am asking is that you meet the lady."  Beatriz 

Jaime reached into his shirt, took out a locket and looked at the tiny faded photo of Mithilde and then glanced at the one of Lidia, "I should visit Rome or Vienna again soon, and perhaps it wouldn't hurt to meet this Duchess of yours."

Rome Times:  December 1st 1918


The Rome Times, and L'aeronautica del Randello Marittima announce that official applications for participation in the 1919 Caldera Cup.  Dates for the Caldera Cup are to be the 4th and 5th of July 1919 weather permitting alternate Dates are the 11th and 12th of July.  The Historic and Picturesque City of Venice was chosen to host this years race.

Per discussions among the judges at the races 2 years ago a triangular course each consisting of 50 Nautical Miles, 92.6 Km or 57.5 miles has been laid out and will have 2 of the legs over the scenic Gulf of Venice.  It is hopped that a longer course will allow for greater separation among the planes registering to join the race.

Romania will be entering the Kituk Larvota_{OLT Sopwith Tabloid}. This plane will be flown by Commander Alexandru ?erb?nescu, the finest pilot in the Romanian Navy, with over 2,000 hour's of flight time.

Actors:
Commander Caesar
Commander  Fulco Di Calabria


Commander Caesar:     So Fulco it has been a while since school!  How are your wife and children?

Commander Di Calabria: The wife and family are quite fine.  I see Old Maximus still has you running his errands instead of out here flying with the rest of us?

Commander Caesar:   *sighs* I think it is his way of punishing me for using my influence to get the Aquila refitted into a test bed instead of a real ship.  You know I would much rather be either here flying or with the one of the active squadrons.

Commander Di Calabria: So what exactly is it that has gotten you to leave your luxurious Rome office and come down here to Sicily in winter?

Commander Caesar:    I believe you already know we need to start preparing for the next Caldera cup race.   I need to see if there is anything more you need or any prototypes I can push development on for you.

Commander Di Calabria: Well the best plane we have is still probably the MPB.1 we have improved horsepower and center of gravity and unladen it has an endurance of almost 6 hours.   We do have a new prototype Flying boat style fighter that might also meet the needs of this race.  It was designed to escort any long range patrol aircraft and turned out to be quite fast as well.

Commander Caesar:   So we do not have anything to compete with the Japanese Ki-11r that plane was easily the fast plane at the last race and if competently flown would have easily won.
Commander Di Calabria:  We can honestly hope nobody else pays all that much attention to the rules because I doubt the Ki-11r would even complete the new course.

Commander Caesar:  *smiling*  I see you point Fulco!  So the longer course will eliminate all the small fast float plane fighters that do not have the endurance to stay aloft for at least 3 or more hours.   Running the engines at full power for nearly an hour did have some very un-desired consequences during the last race.

Commander Di Calabria:  Exactly Sextus my friend exactly!  This race will not likely go to the swiftest but to the most reliable and efficient.  We should aim for a new engine that can run at the same horsepower as those involved in the last race but do so while only running at say 50 or even 75 of its maximum horse power.  I would recommend it be able to do so for at least 4 hours.  We probably will not set any new speed record but we will finish the race and anyone who tries to sprint the new 150 Nautical mile course is going to run out of gas or burn out an engine.

Commander Caesar:   So we will be able to enter only slightly improved aircraft but endurance and reliability will be more important this year then it was over the much shorter course of last year?  Then we have a plan and we will put it to the test.

December 1918-

Imperial Naval Budget Conference Rome
Present -
Spurius Valerius Maximus - Consul of Military Affairs
Lucius Cornelius Sulla - Grand Admiral Imperial Marina

Quote
Beginning at midnight on the Twelfth of July, in the Year of Our Lord Nineteen-hundred and Nineteen, we the undersigned Nations do hereby swear in the spirit of cooperation and peace to the following limitation: that no warship in excess of 35,000 tons light displacement shall be constructed- in our facilities nor for our nations in facilities of nations not herein undersigned- save up to two warships which shall not exceed 40,000 tons light displacement as agreed upon by the aforementioned undersigned Nations.

Ships of 40,000 tons light displacement may be refitted or reconstructed as the owners of such vessels see fit, so long as their total displacement does not exceed 40,000 tons light displacement.

Provisions shall be made 1.) for the possible accidental overrun of a ship's tonnage in the amount of no greater than 1% of the maximum tonnage (350 tons or 400 tons) and 2.) replacement of any ship of between 35,000 tons and 40,000 which is lost in combat.

Maximus- Well that is a very interesting treaty Admiral!  Do you believe it will actually survive.

Sulla- Actually I think it has a better chance then most.  The problem I foresee is that two very important nations are not signatories', neither the Rabble that calls it self a Government in New Switzerland nor the Dutch signed the treaty.

Maximus- *pauses to consider*  well that does cause a problem the Dutch if I recall correctly started this with their ever spiraling Armored Frigates and their desire for Bigger and Faster.  And the New Swiss well what can I say for them to depart from there history of a very large cruiser force would be unusual.  If they start producing only a few very large fast battle ships I am sure their neighbors Iberia, and Brandenburg will take notice.  So that brings us to future budget plans ?

Sulla-  Indeed it does, I would like to actually lay 2 New Battle Ship but I understand the need for Modernization of the Legions and for the build up in our light forces.  My recommendations would be to continue building more modern cruisers to cover of foreign stations.

Maximus-  So one Battle Ship in the next year or so, the usual batch of Subs, Small Destroyers, and MAS boats, and as many cruisers as we can fit into the budget?

Sulla- Agreed, Battle Fleet is at acceptable levels as long as the refits next year are pushed through.  Modernization to the Fire Control Systems and a refresher in gunnery will be necessary.  Has their been any news in our attempt to find a new target hulk ?

Maximus- No I received your request but nobody appears to be selling anything that would fit your requirements and certainly not at an affordable price.  Me might have to postpone the planned exercise unless we can find a suitable ship.

Sulla-  I hope something can be found we need to test all the innovations we have put into the fleet.

Maximus-  Agreed, now about these budget requests for another of this Air Plane Carriers ??

*Fade to Black*

March 1st 1919 - The Rome Times

The Imperial Office of Foreign Affairs announced Yesterday that it was holding High Level discussion with representative of the Republic of Orange in Paris.   While progress has been slow the Foreign Office Spokesmen said it has been agreed that the Empire will issue travel papers to allow a team from Republic of Orange to participate in this summers Caldera Cup.

March 2nd 1919

The Rome Times [Above the Fold]
Civil war in New Switzerland ends.

Culminating in the Peace of February 14th Rebel Forces have forced the surrender of Forces Loyal to the Swiss Monarchy..   King Henry a captive of the Rebel since they cowardly assaulted his Palace in the dead of the night several months ago and all his loyal servants have been stripped of all their wealth and possessions if not their lives.   The Rebel Swiss faction have agreed to grant the Empires request that they except Exile within the Empire.  Many nobles were granted their titles in the New Swiss Kingdom based upon merit.  These court nobles, many of them former industrialist had their factories, properties, and even their Jewelry stolen from them by the Red hordes of the Swiss Rebellion.

Evidently This News Article Came out in March of  1917 as I missed how far behind the war in Phoenix really was.

Shortly After Dawn April 1st 1919

Lt.  Luthario, Flt Sgt Allesandro, Gunner Sgt Claudius and Flt Corporal Massamba had won the dawn patrol through the unfortunate event of a bad roll of the Dice by Lt Luthario.   Even at the Equator flying at 1,500 meters over the ocean it was Cold.

Lt. Luthario was paying tedious attention to his navigation with the Help of Sgt Allesandro.   About an hour into the flight Sgt Claudius pointed something out of the Port wing of the Aircraft.  3 Large Freighters being escorted by what appeared to be 2 warships.   Time for a closer look he headed toward them at an oblique angle and had Sgt Claudius ready the Camera.

Shortly before Noon the Aseb Air Base  Lt. Luthario made his report to Commander Carlo Lambardi.

Lt. Luthario:  Yes Sir I have Photographs of 4 Warships and 3 Freighters all flying the Swiss Flag moving South, South, West they are heading for New Zion waters.  In addition the freighters are carrying what appears to be either submarines or some other small ship as deck cargo along with several large crates.   The Small craft of submarines were under tarps but the shapes are very distinctive.

Commander Lambardi, checks a patrol schedule.  Damn they must have slipped right past the patrols out of Mogadishu yesterday due to the weather and past the patrol ships in the night.  Get those Photographs ready and be prepared to fly them to Mogadishu in an hour.

Who is Italy sharing this information with?
How much is being distributed to NASSAU?

QuoteWho is Italy sharing this information with?
How much is being distributed to NASSAU?

Patience My Young Jedi ?

Imperial Palace Rome April 3rd 1919

Actors:
Armedo Ferdinando Camila - Emperor of the Italia Empire
Spurius Valerius Maximus - Consul of Military Affairs
Sextus Aurelius Cotta- Consul of Foreign Affairs
Juguratha Mastanbal - Imperial Army Chief of Staff
Lucius Cornelius Sula - Imperial Marina Chief of Staff

Emperor Armedo:  Well Exactly why did we require a very secret emergency meeting?

Maximus:  My Emperor, we have information forwarded to the War Department from magistrate Titus Fabia Quintillius.  One of our Reconnaissance Aircraft photographed a convoy of New Swiss Ships heading into New Zion waters.  The Ships 2 Cruisers, 2 Destroyers, and 3 Freighters are very concerning.   The Freighters appear to be carrying crated Aircraft and at least 3 possibly as many as 5 Submarines.

Emperor Armedo:   "I see",  so the Rabble in Phoenix not satisfied with overthrowing their own monarchy are seeking to re-establish contact with their old allies in New Zion.
I see no possible reason the Empire to allow this to occur?  Options Gentlemen I need options?

General Mastanbal:  I am sorry to say You Majesty that  the Army of East Africa while fully capable of defending it borders in to at this time in a position to launch any of our planned war plans excepting possibly War plan Masada.

Emperor Armedo: "Frowning", and why exactly is that General?

General Mastanbal:  Per our 5 year Plan this Fiscal Half we began issuing new weapons to many of the Units in East Africa.  The Reserve Units just began their early spring call up and are training with many of these new weapons they will not be ready to use them offensively for at least several months as we do not call up entire units at a time but cycle through the units in each Legion every couple of Weeks!  Basically my Liege this Fiscal cycle we have implemented a large training cycle updating everything from Light Arms to Artillery and even our reconnaissance units are receiving motorcycles, new armored cars and light tanks.  We simply could not predict that now would be the time that the Zionist would choose to take such a provocative action.  In addition we will need the Navy to conduct War Plan Masada?

Emperor Armedo:  And the Marina Admiral Sula is the Marina ready?

Admiral Sula:  Yes, and No!  The Navy is completely prepared to carry out defensive operations in the Rift and Indian Oceans.  Offensive Operations against only New Zion by light units could also be carried out.  However,  IMS Gaulius and Imperator have just finished a basic refit of their Fire Control Systems and are currently undergoing a shake down and fire control test after that refit in the Indian Ocean.  IMS Arminius and IMS Germanicus started the exact same refit in Taranto less then a Month Ago?  So we have half of our Battle Line available until at least Late June possibly Early July we could expedite the upgrades!

Emperor Armedo: Looking at Admiral Sula and General Mastanbal.  Well I can not say that I am pleased with this situation.  But I honestly can not say that I see any possible way you could have predicted that this would occur.  So Maximus how do we go about fixing this situation.

Maximus:  The only realistic way to deal with this problem now is the reason I made sure Magistrate Cotta was invited.   We have started trying to Isolate the Rabble that calls itself a government in Phoenix! We are talking to our friends and even some of our enemies about the problem.  I would suggest that since we have just recently repudiated the useless treaty of Dar-Es-Salaam that we contact the three supervisory members and get an actual answer from them.  In the meantime I would leave the diplomatic side up to Magistrate Cotta.

Emperor Armedo:   Magistrate Cotta,  what would suggest we do about this flagrant re-arming of New Zion by the Swiss ?

Magistrate Cotta:  To start with we will as Consul Maximus indicated contact Japan, CSA, and the ESC ask them for a ruling on the Issue?  In addition I would directly contact both the New Swiss and New Zion through our Embassy in Paris and demand in a politely phrased request to know why the New Swiss are interfering in New Zion and to find out if New Zion really wants to accept the New Swiss into their country.

Emperor Armedo:   I will consider the options you have given me and Magistrate Cotta begin the Diplomatic Dance as soon as Possible.   Admiral Sula, General Mastanbal I want position papers on all options available to the Empire by the End of the Month!

April 5th 1919

From: Sextus Aurelius Cotta- Consul of Foreign Affairs
To:    The Foreign Offices of the East Sea Confederation,
   The Foreign Office of the Confederate States of America
   The French Foreign Ministry
   The Imperial Japanese Office of Foreign Affairs
   The Foreign Office of Gran Columbia
   The Foreign Office of Kaiserreich Brandenburg

Sirs,

The Empire of Italia regrets to inform you that on April 1st off the coast of East Africa and Imperial Reconnaissance flight observed and photographed a Convoy  of Swiss Warships delivering Armaments to the Kingdom of New Zion.  

The Empire can only view the actions of New Zion and New Switzerland as very provocative.  This message is to inform you that the Empire will be contacting the representative of both these nations in Paris and requesting that they clarify their actions.

Sextus Aurelius Cotta.

The Confederacy will send former V.P. Thadeus Deveroux to Paris as well to contact the Swiss and N.Z. representatives.

Mr. Deveroux will have the powers of ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary for this meeting, and his statements should be regarded as bearing the full backing of the CSA.

The palace of Versailles is reserved for involved countries.

April 6th 1917 Paris France

Liborio Valentinius, Imperial Magistrate to the Republic of France was meeting with the a ranking member of the French Foreign Affairs Ministry.  

Magistrate Valentinius:  I must apologize for the haste with which this meeting was scheduled Minister.  However the Empire has need of Frances renowned diplomacy.

Minister Capet:  In what way can the Republic aide the Empire Monsieur Valentinius?

Magistrate Valentinius:   It is really a simple matter Minister!  As you know the Empire has serious diplomatic problems with both the New Swiss Republic or whatever they are calling themselves now and the Kingdom of New Zion.  It appears that we need to get them a message so that they can clarify some matters before things get out of hand.

Minister Capet:   *smiles* Do you not also have problems with the Republic of Orange as well ?

Magistrate Valentinius:  *coughs* yes but as you are also aware we are currently holding high level talks with the Republic of Orange both our Governments have undergone significant changes since our last dispute.  The Empire sincerely hopes that compromises can be reached and our dispute ended.  But, in the meantime as we informed your government the New Swiss are sending arms and trainers to work with the Kingdom of New Zion.

Minister Capet:  Ah???  So you wish us to forward letters to the New Zion and New Swiss Ambassadors?

Magistrate Valentinius: Exactly we wish to request an explanation of their actions perhaps even a clarification?

Minister Capet:  And these letters may I read them?

Magistrate Valentinius:  Of Course Minister, "Hands over two Envelopes."

Quote
From: Empire Of Italia
To: To her Majesty' Government , Kingdom of New Zion

Sir/Madam:
  The Empire of Italia has credible information that a large shipment of weapons has recently been delivered to your Kingdom by the Military Forces of the New Swiss Republic.   The Empire seeks clarification as to rather or not your Kingdom is going to seek military alliance with the New Swiss Republic and if you intend to allow ships of the New Swiss Republic to utilize the harbors and ports of your Kingdom?

Given the Empires recent dealings with the New Swiss Republic and its violent overthrow of its legally elected Monarchy the association of your Kingdom with that of the New Swiss Republic can only be viewed with the Gravest Concern by the Government of the Empire of Italia.

Quote
From: The Empire of Italia
To:  The Government of the New Swiss Republic

Sirs,
  The Empire of Italia has recently observed ships of your Nation delivering Military Equipment and supplies to the Kingdom of New Zion.  Given recent events within your country the Empire believes that supply arms to a nation with a history of antagonism and rancor towards the Empire is a dangerous and unnecessarily provocative action.   The Empire would request that you clarify the reasoning for you actions as the Empire can only view such actions at this time as needlessly destabilizing to the region and in the Gravest possible manner

The letters are handdelivered to the respective countries ambassadors or envoys.

OOC Can I speak in New Zion's name?

IC From New Switzerland:

New Switzerland does not see why it has to explain any business it conducts with other nations to Italy. But New Switzerland will respond. First, NS has yet to read in any history book about this fictitious antagonism and rancor that NZ has displayed towards Italy, on the other hand, we do see six wars of aggression by Italy against NZ. Therefore, we have come to the conclusion that a further Italian invasion is a grave possibility in the future, and that NZ must be given the opportunity and means to defend itself. The weapons delivered to NZ where of a strictly defensive nature. If Italy feels threatened by them then it must be contemplating offensive operations against NZ and therefore more than legitimizes the arrival of said weapons in NZ.

New Switzerland has also pledge itself to defend NZ in case of foreign aggression.  It has also come to our attention that Italy has unilaterally and without cause repudiated the peace treaty it signed not to long ago. That is seen in NS circles as preparation for conducting offensive operations against NZ.  And if that is tha case, with point 5 no longer relevant, NS will extend NZ a formal request for a full military alliance including basing rights.   

So A day to transit the message back to Phoenix how long to compose a reply and send it back to France.   ????

Call it April 10th for the reply.

April 9th 1919 Praetorian HQ Rome

Actors:
Mario Decumius - Commander of the Praetorian Guard.
Mori Hebel - Commander Praetorian Criminal Investigative Division.
Pietro Sansone - Commander Praetorian Counter Intelligence Division.


Mario Decumius:   Mori, Pietro, we have a problem and you two are going to help me solve that problem.  By now you have both had a day to review the information we have managed to gather on the attack.  So Mori what does your department have?

Mori Hebel:   Commander as you indicated early on the 7th I dispatched my best investigative officer and a staff of qualified technicians' to Sanremo they arrived this morning by train and took over from the Officer dispatched from Genova on Monday.  We have positively identified six of the attackers to their Tourist Visas by picture and finger print.  We are positive that the names and countries of origin are false.  We have also tentatively identification from several witness on four others who were involved.

Mario Decumius:  Excellent so where do you go from here Mori?

Mori Hebel:  We have gathered all the recovered weapons and shell casing we will attempt to recover finger prints from the shell casings, the weapons, and from the basement and police station.   We can then compare those to recent Tourist and Travel Visa and see if we can positively identify any of the others.  We have warned the French, Iberians, and Bavarians to be on the look out for the men we have Identified and that at least two possibly three of the Pirates are wounded possibly seriously.  Once we begin searching the finger print cards however it could take a great many months before we get any further information.   Since we started using the finger prints we have finger printed all people arrested in the Empire and we include the use of the Bertillon system of body measurement to help narrow the search. But still that tens of thousands of manual print comparisons?

Mario Decumius:  *shrugs* we might have to expand the number of clerks and agents available that will be up to the Emperor and the Senate?  However, Pietro what is the likelihood of this being a covert action by the Swiss ??

Pietro Sansone:  While the attack has a great deal in common with other Swiss [SSS] actions in the past including the use of what appear to be Thompson Submachine Guns actually proving this was an attack by the Swiss would be extremely difficult if not impossible.   If I were to speculate I would infer Swiss involvement possibly with planning and supplying of weapons but no direct Swiss Secret Service involvement!

Mario Decumius: In this case proof really does not matter.  It will depend on what we know, what we can infer and only then what we can prove.   A well run Covert Op should never lead directly back to those involved.  However everyone appears to know who Mr. Sparrow appears to have worked for in the past.  If it turns out that the New Old Swiss  were involved or we highly suspect that they were then It will be up the Emperor to decide what to do about that.


Mario Decumius:   Pietro before we closed down their Embassy' last year did we identify anyone that might have been run by their official covered attaché.  If so put them under observation and if any of them do anything suspicious bring them in for questioning.

Pietro Sansone: Ok, watch gather and arrest on suspicion?

April 11th 1919

Imperial Marina HQ Rome.

Actors:
Spurius Valerius Maximus - Consul of Military Affairs
Lucius Cornelius Sula - Imperial Marina Chief of Staff

Consul Maximus: Admiral I came here today to talk to you about a threat analysis on the Fleet of New Switzerland.

Admiral Sula:  *pauses* and considers his reply very carefully.  The Fleet of New Switzerland is ideally designed around the Concept of Cruiser Warfare!  Their fleet mix of Small Battle Cruisers and Cruisers with extremely long range is ideally suited to a war on Commerce.

Consul Maximus: So if we declare a blockade of New Zion again will the New Swiss be able to do what the Republic of Orange did and break that Blockade?

Admiral Sula:  That would depend upon a great many factors.   However they would need to deploy a very large force and coordinate the action of that force with the forces of New Zion to accomplish that.  They would also need to find somewhere to base their shipping to refuel closer then their base in Sydney.

Consul Maximus:  And the Forces in the Southern Rift?

Admiral Sula: The Forces in the Southern Rift were designed to allow the Empire local dominance in the Rift in the case of renewed hostilities with New Zion.  The Shore Batteries protect the Entrance to the Rift and dominate Imperial Waters along the Rift they also protect the Harbor of Blantyre inside the Rift and the Harbor of Nacala outside the Rift.   So forces operating from those bases are well protected.

Admiral Sula:   In the North we have bases at Mogadishu, and Massawa to help close the Northern Rift.  In that area a more traditional defense was envisioned.  Here the Imperial Marina would face off against a foe in line of Battle.  Here the Empire can deploy 4 DN Battle Ships, 7 Armored Cruisers, many lesser cruisers and Destroyers.   In any battles around East/Ost Africa the Empire can deploy the Airships Leased from France and shortly the ones we have purchased.  In addition we have hundreds of Maritime Reconissance aircraft in the region.   The Empire should operationally enjoy a significant Reconnaissance advantage over any New Swiss task force.

Consul Maximus:  So what you are saying is that the Empire would need to take precautions to protect our Merchant Shipping but that with sufficient warning you should be able to concentrate your forces and turn back any New Swiss adventures.

Admiral Sula: Ideally yes, but there are other factors involved will the Republic of Orange support the Zionists again?  Because if they do then they could provide the Swiss with bases and the additional ships necessary to win a battle of attrition in the Southern Rift.

Consul Maximus:  That is a very good question and I understand that the Foreign Office is even now attempting to ascertain the Orange Republics views on the possibilities of a war in East Africa.   We also need to talk with Grand Columbia to determine their opinion and if we feel that the Orange Republic is likely to join any Swiss adventurism we will need to talk with France, the United Normal Kingdom and the Confederate States of America as well.

Admiral Sula:  That would be a very unpleasant widening of any conflict but we simply do not have the economic force to take fight both the Swiss the Orange Republic as well as New Zion. 

Consul Maximus:  I will so Inform the Emperor.

Quotethe United Normal Kingdom

LOVE YOUR TYPO :D :D :D :D :D :D

Cool we will leave it that way then.

April 11th 1919 - Imperial Palace Rome

Actors:
Sextus Aurelius Cotta- Consul of Foreign Affairs
Armedo Ferdinando Camila - Emperor of the Italia Empire
Marcus Aquila Camila – The Emperors Father
Mario Alessio Decumius - Commander of the Praetorian Guard

The Four men sat around a table discussing business over Brandy after a late dinner.

Emperor Armedo:  So Sextus, what do you think of this reply from the New Swiss?

Consul Cotta:   It is very interesting you Majesty they accuse the Empire of Repudiating the Treaty with of Dar-Es-Salaam, of plotting to Invade New Zion, and that their actions in helping New Zion violate the treaty of Dar-Es-Salaam are there fore in some manner justified.   In addition they deny that the Zionists have any history of animosity to the Empire I wonder if the New Swiss Government even bothers to read any News Papers from Tel Aviv or if they are to busy simply counting the profit from selling guns to every revolutionary, pirate, or subversive group in the world.

Marcus Aquila:   I have to agree with Consul Cotta, we were discussing this at the weekly meeting of the General Staff today.   The New Swiss accuse the Empire of over a half dozen wars of Aggression against New Zion.  Either the New Swiss cant Count of they are counting wars clearly not in this Century and possibly not even in this Millennium.  New Zion as a Nation has only existed since 1905 when a former New Swiss Army Officer Ahad ben Yusev had the Old King of Ethipia Assassinated and assumed his thrown.   Perhaps that is why the New Swiss are upset their Heir of their Puppet King has been displaced?

Emperor Armedo:  Mario what is the likelihood that the attack on Sanremo was a covert action by the Swiss Secret Service to free one of their former agents.

Mario Decumius:  I have two of my top men working on that question.  The question comes down to one of Proof vs. Suspicion! The tactics are very reminiscent of other actions that we either know or suspect to have been carried out by the New Swiss prior to Pacific Wars.   The Use of a Thompson Submachine Gun at the least means that whoever did commit that attack purchased their weapons from the Swiss.

Emperor Armedo:  Whoever committed this attack did so in a very black and illegal act, if our enemy intends to fight an undeclared war without the restrictions of legalities and custom I see no need to so restrict our forces!?! That being said that mere days after someone attacks the Sovereignty of the Empire we receive a very insulting letter from the New Swiss concerning a real substantive security concern to the Empire.  They act as if their actions have no consequences, like children daring an adult to punish them?  The Empire is legitimately concerned that arming those mad men in New Zion will bring instability to East Africa!  So Mario I hate to corner you so early in your investigation but I need an honest answer do you believe that the Swiss Government was involved in the attack on Sanremo!

Mario Decumius: If I go with my cut feeling ignoring the lack of evidence I would say that some way, in some manner yes the Swiss Secret Service was involved.   The plan was to well coordinated for Pirates and from what I can tell this group actually scouted the town before the attack.   They cut communications planned their escape and were gone before the locals could react in sufficient force.  If they had not under estimated the fire power and dedication of the Praetorians guarding the prisoner they would have gotten away with very few casualties.  So if Pressed it is my opinion that the SSS were involved.  But I must stress I seriously doubt we will ever be able to prove their involvement.

Emperor Armedo:  Thank you for your candor Mario.  That is very interesting I would prefer not to have to declare war on New Zion or the New Swiss.  However the New Swiss evidently have never heard of spheres of influence??   Perhaps our forbearance in not aiding the Swiss Monarchy during their late Civil war was a mistake!  But that brings us back to the problem at hand.  How do we answer this insulting letter from the New Swiss.

Consul Cotta:  Well I think we should first contact all our friends and Allies.  Obviously we have not even heard back from all the Nations we had contacted concerning the Empire's concerns about the failures of the treaty of Dar-Es-Salaam?  And we still have time to allow my Diplomatic Staff work to head of a war.  We need to determine if possible the reactions of the Republic of Orange and Gran Columbia?

Marcus Aquila:  The General Staff feel we should match any New Zionist Mobilization but not launch a mobilization of our own at this time.   It might be scene as inflammatory and it would be counter productive to any diplomacy.  As for the Imperial Marina they will have to take a higher state of Alert and more units will have to go to full mobilization.  We need to take precautions to keep the New Swiss from slipping a large force into East Africa.  And we will need to talk to everyone who might provide them basing for such a large number of ships.

Emperor Armedo:  Well if that is the recommendations of the Foreign Office and the General Staff I think we can officially give the order to proceed with those ideas.  And I now have a meeting with my speech writers I have to address the people of the Empire and the Senate tomorrow to inform them of what has been happening.

OOC The Swiss had no knowledge of the raid on Sanremo, when they wrote the reply. The timing just happened to coincide.

BTW the Tommy is not just a Swiss weapon. The Iberians also use it and probably a few other nations.

The Iberians had to have gotten it from somewhere, and I believe the Swiss 'claimed' it.
Besides, unless the Pirates had gotten all kinds of creative (and Sparrow's merry band have never exactly been the brightest bulbs in the box) any weapons dropped could simply have their manufacturer's stampings, proof marks, and serial numbers examined to discover their point of origin.

Ok funny,

I have I think some Pistols and a Knifes, and lots and lots of spent brass in a .45 ACP. And lots of Dead Pirates Officially, unofficially I have two survivors who will begin talking after they have been offered suitable inducement.  :-X
*begins heating the coals and errecting a Cross* ???? Is that suitibly Roman ????

Information is mereley Conjecture and Inference there is no Proof and if everyone keeps demanding *Smoking Guns, Video of the Crime and sworn Eye witness testimony from 2 Priest a Nun and the Pope*  to prove something well Governments never demand that level of proof.

The Emperor just asked the head of his personally sworn retainers for his best guess.  The Timming however is very inconvenient for the New Swiss!!!

Rome Times April 13th [Sunday] 1919

Published Text of a speech given by Emperor Armedo Camilla to the Imperial Senate on Saturday April 12th.

Senators and Citizens of Rome, I come before you today to inform you of the perilous times that come upon the Empire.   On the 1st day of this month of April loyal flyers of Imperiale Aeronautica photographed and reported Warships of the rebellious New Swiss delivering offensive weapons to the Zionists government in Ethipia.   On Monday last a group as yet unidentified agents stormed the Jail in the Imperial Town of Sanremo killing many loyal servants, citizens, and guests of the Empire.

In response to these heinous crimes against the citizens and guest of our great nation I promise you this the Empire will investigate, it will search, it will question, and when it is sure who is responsible the Empire will act.  This is not a court of law and those who attacked our shores did so in the most ruthless and unlawful manner.  To these individual I can only say in warning an old parable "as you sew so shall you reap"!

Within days of this affront to the Sovereignty of the Empire the wanton slaughter of our Citizens by unknown agents of a foreign power the Empire has been delivered a missive from those same rebellious servants of the New Swiss government that were caught supplying offensive weapons to the Kingdom of New Zion.   The Empire had sought through diplomatic channels to seek an explanation for the provocative actions by agents of the New Swiss government.  Instead of a reply seeking diplomatic discussion and resolution to a matter of grave concern to the Empire the government of the New Swiss replied with discourteous nay slanderous accusation that the Empire was plotting a war of aggression against New Zion.  This is a long standing tradition among the government of the New Swiss they deny everything and accuse those who simply seek a peaceful discourse on why their actions might be viewed with concern by another.  Like Children fighting over a toy they show no concern for the opinions of others and seek to bully others into accepting their actions or their words as the truth!

I come before the Senate to inform you the Citizens of Italia that the Empire will not be bullied by these insolent children who have been handed the reins of a government.  The Empire will try to find a diplomatic solution to this problem but failing that we must prepare for the worst while hopping for the best.   To that end as of this moment the Mobilization status of the Legions in East Africa will be tied directly to the Mobilization status of the Troops of New Zion.  If they mobilize for any reason the Empire will match that mobilization exactly.   The Naval forces in East Africa and the Indian Ocean face an even graver threat in the form of the New Swiss Navy.   Our valiant Marina must prepare itself to prevent the New Swiss from regaining control of New Zion as a puppet state.  The Exiled King of New Zion is the son a New Swiss mercenary many of New Zion's Zionist army were once citizens of New Switzerland.  The goal of the Empire is stability in Africa and New Switzerland embodied the spirit of Chaos, Socialism, and Anarchy.  We call upon New Switzerland to withdrawal the offer of Alliance to New Zion and to seek a peaceful resolution to this conflict before blood is spilt.

The Following Letter is delivered to the Swiss Ambassador to France.  Copys of the letter will be available very easily and in particulair will be forwarded to the Ambassadors of GC, Orange, France, and DKB.

To:  The Government of New Switzerland
From:  The Office of Foreign Affairs Empire of Italia.
Dated:  April 15th 1919

Sirs,
The Empire of Italia has not sought a confrontation with New Switzerland but your nation's frequent interference in the affairs of states far from your borders and spheres of influence continue.   The Empire of Italia sought an explanation as to why you so fit to interfere with delicate balance of peace in East Africa.

Your government provided weapons to New Zion with no thought to the consequences of those actions.  As if the actions of your government existed in a vacuum and that they had no impact on those around them.   The Empire has sought a delicate balance of forces in East Africa and the actions of your nation have upset that balance.  To counter balance this action the Empire will have to build, equip, and outfit more ships and more troops, and more aircraft all at the Expense of the Citizens of our Empire.

Following our request for a clarification of the reasons for you actions you accused the Government of Empire of plotting war against New Zion at a time when the actions of New Switzerland make the likelihood of such a war much more likely than it was a mere month ago.

The Empire will not be bullied and your libelous accusations offer absolutely no help to resolving the situation we find ourselves in today.   Instead like a cheap lawyer you deny all wrong doing and slap the opposition with a counter suit.   The Empire will try one final time to reach a reasonable and peaceful agreement.   The French have offered to hold discussions in Paris, the Empire will dispatch a delegation to meet in Paris with any and all nations that the looming Crisis in East Africa may impact.

Imperial Magistrate Sextus Cotta, Consul of Foreign Affairs.

April 14th, 1919

"WHAT THE HELL!?!?!?"


***


Public Reply


New Switzerland is very confused by the Italian Emperor's speech. Is Italy accusing New Switzerland of a deliberate attack on Italian forces on their own soil? New Switzerland has no idea what Italy is talking about. Why would we do such a thing? New Switzerland finds the comments by the Emperor very insulting and provocative. If the Italians truly want peace they will withdraw their inflammatory statements.


***


Swiss Letter Reply

April 17th, 1919


Peace... Does Italy truly want peace? If so, why is the bulk of the Italian fleet stationed in Africa and not at home? With every word you speak, you lead us to believe that it is your intention to re-invade New Zion. If five small defensive submarines is all the excuse that Italy requires to pour enough men,ships, weapons, and planes into Africa that it makes a dent in the Imperial Treasury, then your intentions are not peaceful. Why is Italy so threatened by what are obviously defensive weapons? Does New Zion not have the right to defend themselves? And what are these other accusations that you have brought publicly?

New Switzerland can agree to meet Italian representatives, but only in a neutral location, and not with an Italian Ally.

QuoteApril 14th, 1919

"WHAT THE HELL!?!?!?"
***
Public Reply

New Switzerland is very confused by the Italian Emperor's speech. Is Italy accusing New Switzerland of a deliberate attack on Italian forces on their own soil? New Switzerland has no idea what Italy is talking about. Why would we do such a thing? New Switzerland finds the comments by the Emperor very insulting and provocative. If the Italians truly want peace they will withdraw their inflammatory statements.

We just had this discussion about communication lag the speech was made on a saturday in Rome to the Senate the text was printed in the Sunday Rome Times.  Unless you have somebody in Rome Telegraphing you a text of the speach from  the Newspaper I will respond to this Public Reply sometime in Mid May where it belongs.  If you do have someone in Rome telegraphing this to you let me Know I want to arrest him for stupidity among other things.

Swiss Letter Reply

April 17th, 1919

QuotePeace... Does Italy truly want peace? If so, why is the bulk of the Italian fleet stationed in Africa and not at home? With every word you speak, you lead us to believe that it is your intention to re-invade New Zion. If five small defensive submarines is all the excuse that Italy requires to pour enough men,ships, weapons, and planes into Africa that it makes a dent in the Imperial Treasury, then your intentions are not peaceful. Why is Italy so threatened by what are obviously defensive weapons? Does New Zion not have the right to defend themselves? And what are these other accusations that you have brought publicly?

New Switzerland can agree to meet Italian representatives, but only in a neutral location, and not with an Italian Ally.

Repeat as above you are still responding to this like a text message 1 day to Cable it to Phoenix and a day Back so when did your government exactly consider its response ?????

I will consider the Substantive part [The Last Line after a suitable delay]

QuoteNew Zion shall not enter into military alliance or other cooperative military agreements

Accepting military aid, no matter how slight, from the New Swiss violates this clause of NZ's treaty.
Italy is well within her rights ot be angry, and to react.

Quote from: Carthaginian on April 08, 2010, 09:37:47 PM
Accepting military aid, no matter how slight, from the New Swiss violates this clause of NZ's treaty.
Italy is well within her rights ot be angry, and to react.

Time to look it up. Italy does not have a single valid point to object Swiss military aid to New Zion. So it is nothing more than hypocrite posturing after all the Italian military buildup in East Africa.

Quote5.  Upon appointment or election of a new government, New Zion shall declare itself to be constitutionally neutral, and shall enshrine such policy in a national constitution.  New Zion shall not enter into military alliance or other cooperative military agreements, nor sell or lease lands, equipment or materials to third parties, nor allow basing of third party military forces within its borders.

Quote from: P3D on April 08, 2010, 10:14:33 PM

Quote from: Carthaginian on April 08, 2010, 09:37:47 PM
Accepting military aid, no matter how slight, from the New Swiss violates this clause of NZ's treaty.
Italy is well within her rights ot be angry, and to react.

Time to look it up. Italy does not have a single valid point to object Swiss military aid to New Zion. So it is nothing more than hypocrite posturing after all the Italian military buildup in East Africa.

Quote5.  Upon appointment or election of a new government, New Zion shall declare itself to be constitutionally neutral, and shall enshrine such policy in a national constitution.  New Zion shall not enter into military alliance or other cooperative military agreements, nor sell or lease lands, equipment or materials to third parties, nor allow basing of third party military forces within its borders.

We are getting into serious Legalize here.  There are New Swiss Advisors in New Zion training them on their Modern Aircraft.  There are advisors showing them how to use their subs.  And finaly their is the Offer of a Military Alliance between New Switzerland and New Zion.

I would find that New Zion is both Cooperating with the New Swiss and providing basing for all those Advisors.

QuoteItaly does not have a single valid point to object Swiss military aid to New Zion. So it is nothing more than hypocrite posturing after all the Italian military buildup in East Africa.

The Number of Aircraft in Ost Africa has gone up since our Last War by 100 Aircraft however all of them did become Modern 1916 Aircraft.
The Number Of Legions has not Changed at all and only at this moment have I begun to modernize them.
The Naval Force lets see I have added 1 DN, 20 TB, 75 MAS Boats and the Real Build up is the 20 Subs, and the 3 Large Shor Batteries to Protect the Southern Rift.
I am even in compliance with the limit of tonage of ships in the Rift Sea that Orange and I sighned but seems to have gotten lost.

What we are discussing arguing about is legal semantics.  New Zion may be and I use the term MAY loosely be by the letter in compliance with the treaty ending the war between New Zion and Italia.  How many here think they are even close to obeying the spirit of the treaty??

So far I have complained to the 3 Nations suposed to be overseing a change in the New Zion government I was still awaiting a response when this popped up.  And no I dont want New Switzerland for a neighbor to many pirates, communists, socialists and anarchs who can blame me  ;D

Especially since we are talking about old submarines with a max range of 400 miles. I don't think they can reach ANY Italian base even on a one way trip.

QuoteWe just had this discussion about communication lag the speech was made on a saturday in Rome to the Senate the text was printed in the Sunday Rome Times.  Unless you have somebody in Rome Telegraphing you a text of the speach from  the Newspaper I will respond to this Public Reply sometime in Mid May where it belongs.  If you do have someone in Rome telegraphing this to you let me Know I want to arrest him for stupidity among other things.

Swiss ships are being stopped worldwide. NS wants to know what the hell is going on, yesterday. Such a speech would not go unnoticed and would be reported immediately. Arrest the guy if you want, it was a PUBLIC speech.

You're right on the letter, call it April 20th.

QuoteAnd finaly their is the Offer of a Military Alliance between New Switzerland and New Zion.

There has been NO offer of Alliance to New Zion... yet.

QuoteAnd finaly their is the Offer of a Military Alliance between New Switzerland and New Zion.
There has been NO offer of Alliance to New Zion... yet.

In response to my Diplomatic Note of April 6th 1919 you responded with...

N

Quoteew Switzerland has also pledge itself to defend NZ in case of foreign aggression.  It has also come to our attention that Italy has unilaterally and without cause repudiated the peace treaty it signed not to long ago. That is seen in NS circles as preparation for conducting offensive operations against NZ.  And if that is tha case, with point 5 no longer relevant, NS will extend NZ a formal request for a full military alliance including basing rights.

We agreed that it would arrive on the 10th of April....????  My Discussions took place on the 10th and the 11th.  My Speach to the Senate on the 12th and my return diplomatic note on the 15th.

Unless the Mediteranian is full of New Swiss shipping I dont think Ive stopped any ships of your ships.  I will have stopped some ships that could have been near the drifting Yacht but nobody to my knowledge has yet seized a New Swiss Ship.  There are lots of ships on their way to look for a Pirate who is at this moment getting drunk in a bar with a wench on his lap laughing somewhere in Europe.

Again, all I said is "if that is the case" NS "will", not that they have.

Didn't say that you stopped the ships. Just that ships where stopped and that agents would have been informed to be on the lookout for ANYTHING involving NS. I still (IC) don't know about the escape. Just happened that Italy was the first one to speak up about NS.

QuoteAgain, all I said is "if that is the case" NS "will", not that they have.

Didn't say that you stopped the ships. Just that ships where stopped and that agents would have been informed to be on the lookout for ANYTHING involving NS. I still (IC) don't know about the escape. Just happened that Italy was the first one to speak up about NS.

Well it takes time to make someone talk when you have to keep them releatively neat for their scheduled public execution  :o

But I figure news will trickle back to New Switzerland eventually.

Quote from: Desertfox on April 08, 2010, 09:22:00 PM
April 14th, 1919

"WHAT THE HELL!?!?!?"

It's not yet Freezing.

***

QuotePublic Reply


New Switzerland is very confused by the Italian Emperor's speech. Is Italy accusing New Switzerland of a deliberate attack on Italian forces on their own soil? New Switzerland has no idea what Italy is talking about. Why would we do such a thing? New Switzerland finds the comments by the Emperor very insulting and provocative. If the Italians truly want peace they will withdraw their inflammatory statements.

Le Monde publishes this, and a few bits more with glee.

***

QuoteSwiss Letter Reply

April 17th, 1919


Peace... Does Italy truly want peace? If so, why is the bulk of the Italian fleet stationed in Africa and not at home? With every word you speak, you lead us to believe that it is your intention to re-invade New Zion. If five small defensive submarines is all the excuse that Italy requires to pour enough men,ships, weapons, and planes into Africa that it makes a dent in the Imperial Treasury, then your intentions are not peaceful. Why is Italy so threatened by what are obviously defensive weapons? Does New Zion not have the right to defend themselves? And what are these other accusations that you have brought publicly?

New Switzerland can agree to meet Italian representatives, but only in a neutral location, and not with an Italian Ally.

This will get some response.....

(to be modified and elaborated)

Quote from: P3D on April 08, 2010, 10:14:33 PM

Quote from: Carthaginian on April 08, 2010, 09:37:47 PM
Accepting military aid, no matter how slight, from the New Swiss violates this clause of NZ's treaty.
Italy is well within her rights ot be angry, and to react.

Time to look it up. Italy does not have a single valid point to object Swiss military aid to New Zion. So it is nothing more than hypocrite posturing after all the Italian military buildup in East Africa.

Quote5.  Upon appointment or election of a new government, New Zion shall declare itself to be constitutionally neutral, and shall enshrine such policy in a national constitution.  New Zion shall not enter into military alliance or other cooperative military agreements, nor sell or lease lands, equipment or materials to third parties, nor allow basing of third party military forces within its borders.

There is no Navy in Murmansk, huh P3D?

QuoteSwiss Letter Reply
April 17th, 1919
Peace... Does Italy truly want peace? If so, why is the bulk of the Italian fleet stationed in Africa and not at home? With every word you speak, you lead us to believe that it is your intention to re-invade New Zion. If five small defensive submarines is all the excuse that Italy requires to pour enough men,ships, weapons, and planes into Africa that it makes a dent in the Imperial Treasury, then your intentions are not peaceful. Why is Italy so threatened by what are obviously defensive weapons? Does New Zion not have the right to defend themselves? And what are these other accusations that you have brought publicly?
New Switzerland can agree to meet Italian representatives, but only in a neutral location, and not with an Italian Ally.

Meanwhile Back In Paris the Italian Ambasador again passes a note back to the Swiss Embassy through French Hands.

To: Government of New Swiss Republic
From: Empire of Italia
Dated:  April 24th 1919

Sirs,

The Empire of Italia has met to considered the informative letter you returned to us with such haste.  The Empire wishes for the Government of the New Swiss Republic to name the locations where it would be acceptable for representatives' of your government and ours to meet to discuss the growing crisis in East Africa.

Acrimonious accusation' aside it would be better for our governments to meet and discuss our problems face to face.

Consul Sextus Cotta

Actors:
Mario Decumius - Commander of the Praetorian Guard.
Mori Hebel - Commander Praetorian Criminal Investigative Division.
Pietro Sansone - Commander Praetorian Counter Intelligence Division.

Mario Decumius:  So Mori, what have your agents in Sanremo to report.

Mori Hebel: *Pulls out a large file*  There are a great many things to report.  First three of the attackers were taken alive both two were wounded badly.  Unfortunately one of the wounded died before he could be questioned.   The other two have been and are still undergoing questioning.  But here is the evidence we have gathered as of this moment the investigation is still ongoing.

1.  Through the use of Photographs and Finger Prints we have identified all four of the dead and both wounded men.   In addition we have strong identification on at least six others either scene by witness to be associating with the dead or the wounded men or who came ashore from  French Yacht.

2.  At least two the men we have tentatively identified entered Sanremo from France a week prior to the attack, returned to France and then returned to Sanremo only the day before the attack.

Mario Decumius:  Excellent, now about those men being questioned what have they to say for themselves so far?

Pietro Sansone:  The two men have been persuaded to talk and they are claiming to be Pirates from the crew of a Ship called the Hai Peng under the Command of a Capt. Barbarossa.   *slide a visa passport photo forward*  This is a picture of Capt. Barbarossa as identified by both of his men.

Mario Decumius:  So this is the man responsible?  Did they say why the took such in ordinary risks to rescue the Jack Sparrow?

Pietro Sansone:  That is where we begin speculation.   The men's stories conflict one says its because they were being very well paid for the job.  The other claims they were paid but it was also because Jack Sparrow knows where a great treasure was buried and would lead them to that treasure if he was freed.  There is also some very sensitive information about a meeting of some sort of Pirate Brotherhood they attended just before sailing to France with a plan to rescue Jack Sparrow. *hands Mario Decimus a report*

Mario Decumius:  *reads the report before responding*  Can this be true ?  And if it is does it construe actual evidence ?

Pietro Sansone:   If its true it shows a level of arrogance that is simply not be believed.  However it is my belief that while we may think we know what has happened any accusation on our part would appear to be both self serving and lacking in evidence!

Mario Decumius:  I will have to consider this very carefully and how to present it.  I have to brief the Emperor latter today.   So to sum up what we know for sure is that a bunch of Pirates who we have identified raider our shores that is clear cut and something for the Marina to deal with.   We can speculate that they were paid for the raid by some unnamed third parties because the raid showed a very high level of planning and intelligence gathering.  And finally we have this meeting of Pirates in the South Pacific just prior to the Pirates sailing halfway around the world to rescue Jack Sparrow.  Is this correct?

Pietro Sansone:   To the best of my Knowledge Yes!

Mori Hebel: Yes !

Mario Decumius:  I will brief the Emperor and certain members of the Government latter today!  In the meantime continue the investigation and we will find a Magistrate to start handling the criminal case!

May Day, 1919

To Italy,

Due to the subject in question, New Switzerland feels that the town of Dar-Es-Salaam in the DKB Tanzania would be most appropriate. If the DKB agrees, New Switzerland would be willing to meet Italian representatives there.

Replies to the New Swiss Ambassador in Paris, May Day 1919.

The Empire of Italia will conditionally accept Dar-Es-Salaam as an acceptible meeting place.  We must contact the DKB foreign office and request that they host such a meeting.  We must also contact the other relivant parties?

May 4th, 1919


Pending approval from the other relevant parties Dar-es-Salaam would be happy to host any talks that could lead to the re-stabilization of the region.

Gunther Reuhle
Reich Foreign Affairs, Ost Afrika Office

May 8th 1919

The Empire of Italia graciously accepts the generous offer of Gunter Reuhle  of Reich Foreign Affairs.

The Empire will further contact the Ambassadors of the Following nations in Paris to see if their nations would like to attend a conference in Dar-Es-Salaam concerning the current crisis in East/Ost Africa.

Republic of France,
Republic of Gran Columbia,
Republic of New Switzerland,
Kingdom of New Zion,

The Date to be set by the Host Nation Deutscher Kaiserreich Brandenburg?

OOC: Sure, once I know who's on board.

Early May 1919

Starting in the Mediterranean and slowly spreading to other ports around the world the following posters start to appear.

Wanted Dead or Alive                                                        
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rOqL_PwNKkU/SQNXmKgKfKI/AAAAAAAAAD8/2V1URSytXYg/s320/Captain+Barbossa.gif)                                                                        

Hector Barbossa                                                              
For Murder of Police Officer                                              
Premeditated Murder                                                        
Arson and Piracy                                                                
250,000 Denair                                                                  
Reward to be collected at                                                  
Any Imperial Port, Embassy, or Consulate.                        

Wanted Dead or Alive
(http://snigs1spot.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/captain-jack-sparrow.jpg)
Jack Sparrow
For Murder of Police Officer
Premeditated Murder
Arson and Piracy
250,000 Denair
Reward to be collected at
Any Imperial Port, Embassy, or Consulate.

Reward Offered
500,000 Denair
For Information leading to the
Apprehnsion or siezure of the
Pirate Vessel Hai Peng
[Vessel Description appended]


OOC:  The rewards in Navalism $ are $.25, $.25, and $.5

      (http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20071024110258/pirates/images/f/f7/HectorWanted.jpg)     (http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20071024105826/pirates/images/a/a7/JackWanted.jpg)

Looking around, 250,000 Denair does not only sound more but actually is more than 10,000 Guineas. :)

I figured I would make their heads more valuable to someone else then to themselves.

Charles

In the halls of the Imperial Palace, the following is overheard

"What! 1,000,000 Denair? That's it, get the Green Berets assembled, get Limora back from Ukraine, we leave in 24 hours!"

Somewhere in the ministry of foreign affairs in Pretoria
"Sir we received an urgent message from our ambassador in France, Vincent Delalle!"
"An urgent message from Delalle? What happened? Do the French plan an surprise visit?" asked the minister for foreign affairs, Christiaan Smuts.
"No Sir he's asking why we did respond to the Italian invitation to a conference about the security situation in east-Africa."
"Uh? Never heard about it? Did I miss something?"
"We are not sure Sir. Not according to our post office, but ambassador Dealle seem to be very nervous about it. He doesn't want to upset them after finally getting a chance to flatten the waves."
While looking through the papers he mumbles "I see. A conference it is, and a good additon to our other operations in the area", Speaking up he tell him: "Ok then. Inform him, and the Italians that we will be there."
"Aye Sir."
And after a few moments, already on his way to the next appointment the minister adds: "And make sure the message reaches them this time."

Premier, why is Minister Lebrun in Kaapstad, and not Capet in Salaam?

Lebrun is in Kaapstad for negotiation concerning aquisation of vessels for our navy.  And Minister Capet is still trying to defuse the situation in Eastern Europe.

Who's then slated for Salaam?

We have 2 options. Myself, or a chosen representative.
And I have appointed Admiral Geon for that task.
He will go to that African Peace meeting with his task force, just like he did with the Peacefleet that stopped the mass murders during the New Swiss- Middle Kingdom unpleasantness.

Mid May 1919


The View of the Sinai Desert to one side and moon over the Desert of Egypt was very serine.  General Marcus Aquila Camila had left Taranto aboard the IMS Arminius fresh from her refit.  He had inspected the IMS Dacius and IMS Medicus currently undergoing an emergency refit in Taranto before boarding the Arminius enroot to Mogadishu and then on to Dar-Es-Salaam.

But  as he stood on the Flag Bridge of the Arminius smoking a pipe he contemplated the coming meeting.  He contemplated the simple pleasures of the Journey and wondered yet again how fortunate he was to have avoided the Imperial Throne.  Work  intruded as an Aide brought him a dispatch from Rome.  The meeting at Dar-Es-Salaam was on so that was a relief and apparently Gran Columbia was dispatching an Ambassador, while France was sending Admiral Geon.

The Problem he thought to himself is to many people with to many differing desires.  And at this time to many interweaving  alliances and friendships.  The thought of war was not completely unpleasant the Zionist had not really been punished for their attack on the Italian Sovereignty, or the death of the Pope.  But he was to try to avoid a war if possible but the Empire was in no mood to make any concessions to the New Swiss or their Zionist Puppets.

Admiral Geons little escort constutues of Occitanie (http://www.navalism.org/index.php?topic=1545.msg36066#msg36066) , 2 Demarce IIIB (http://www.navalism.org/index.php?topic=1408.msg43458#msg43458) and  5 Tigre B (http://www.navalism.org/index.php?topic=1744.msg42134#msg42134).

At any time, weather permitting, at least 1 airship is seen with this flottila.

Starting On or about June 15th interested observers will not a large number of merchant ships gathering from  Venice to Taranto along the adriatic coast.  The 1st Alpine Corp fresh from Spring training and refit moves from the Alps by train to begin meeting up with the over 20 Freighters being gathered for the their movement.

At the Suez Canal The Armored Cruisers Dacius, Medicus, Sarimarcus, Pathicus all sporting fresh new paint transit the Canal.  They are accompanied by new Protected Cruiser IMS Taranto, IMS Tripoli, and IMS Tunis and 11 Destroyers.

The freighter Hinakapua bore inward through the sunny afternoon waves off of Fiumicino, and the atmosphere on and under her decks was tense. The crew was tense because of the veritable horde of heavily-armed soldiers who'd invaded their domain - not out of fear, they were Maori, sons of warriors and in most cases veterans of military service themselves, but from the sense that they were involved in some important task nearing completion. They didn't know what it was, though given the political situation in Africa, there'd been speculation, but His Majesty and the Third Queen were obviously taking something about their cargo very seriously indeed...

And the soldiers were tense, because they knew that they were approaching the last moment when disaster could befall their task - a collision, a New Swiss agent, a fire - any of these things, if it were likely to happen, would happen as they brought the chest they'd been charged to guard into the hands of the Italians.

And the ship's captain, and the guards' commander, were tense because they knew what they carried - the risk it would have presented to their own nation's interests in the wrong hands, and the advantage it would bring to a nation whose aid had been of significant benefit in the past.

It wasn't merely a question of debt, but also of advantage. The 'republican' government of New Switzerland, in the pocket of that nation's business cartels and manufacturers, answerable in truth only to those interests, was reckless and irresponsible. It would find a war, sooner or later, somewhere. A serious one, one close enough that even their own cash-strapped nation's fleet could make a difference in it... and more to the point, a war against a foe or combination of foes strong enough to guard an invasion.

The timing wasn't the best, so if the intelligence reports the Hinakapua carried in her purser's office merely let the Italians negotiate their way around the Swiss, that would be acceptable, but if, as seemed likely, there was a major blow-up, that advantage in information would be critical to their future allies.

June 15th 1919

The Commander of the Imperial Flight Training academy was seriously concerned.   He was going to need more training aircraft and more instructors and even then training standards were going to be relaxed.  The new pilots he was being ordered to turn out would have substantially less flight hours both in total and in type of aircraft when they joined their squadrons.

He had complained to Commander Caesar but had been told that wartime priorities were to begin immediately.  In response to his request from more and better instructors about half the Pilots who had joined the Garibaldi Escadrille and served alongside France in the Kolkata conflict had been assigned to first and second training commands.   Even then the sheer number of cadets was more than four times the size of the preceding forums!

Tuesday July 1st 1919 dawned a beautiful day over the harbor of Venice.   The ships and flags of many nations were in port for the preliminary testing and run up to the Caldera Cup races to be held on Friday July 4th and Saturday July 6th.

However there was a pall over the festivities because today the front page of the Venice Voice did not bare pictures of the arriving planes and ships or even the names of the famous pilots to bravely fly those planes.  Instead it bore a simple Extra tall Double Wide Headline... WAR IN EAST AFRICA...

The Articles were equally prosaic speculating on the failure of the Dar-Es-Salaam treaty and the conference of the same name.

There was an article indicating to one and all that starting on July 3rd after 23:59 hours local time East Africa the Empire would institute offensive mining operation in New Zion waters to blockade the Zionist ports.

There were pictures from several weeks ago of Troop Ships leaving Venice and other Italian ports bound for Africa.  Other speculated that several Legions of the North African  Army had also been mobilized and were even now beginning to board ships for East Africa as well.

Despite the news however the people of Venice continued to prepare for the races scheduled just three days away.  The Summer was here the weather was fine, and the war was far away.

July 1st Rome Times:
War Declared:  The Empire has broken off diplomatic attempts to resolve the dispute with the current occupiers of the Former Kingdom of Ethipia.

Announcement to World Wide Embassy' and consulates and all Shipping Companies and Insurance Companies.

Do the state of war between New Zion and the Empire a War Zone Warning is being issued for the Area of the Northern Rift Between New Zion, the Imperial Province of Somalia and Ost Africa.  The Empire will begin Offensive mining operations in New Zion territorial waters after the Third of July.   All merchants vessels are warned to avoid this area as New Zion has already laid un-announced defensive mine fields in the area.

The Empire is announcing a close blockade of New Zion.   Shipping attempting to enter New Zion ports will be subject to boarding and inspection.   Only those ships carrying weapons or military supplies will be subject to seizure and will be sent to the nearest neutral port pending a prize court hearing.   The Empire will allow any Merchant bound for New Zion to stop at any Imperial Port within the Rift Sea and receive a cargo inspection within that port.  If the Ships cargo does not contain war making material it will be issued a certificate and be allowed to proceed at its own risk.  Without any further inconvenience from Imperial Forces.

The Empire is also announcing the Laying of several defensive minefields around the Following Ports in East Africa.  Massawa, Nacala, Blantrye, Mogadishu, and along the coast near Dire Dawa.  Please contact the Watch ship off these ports for a pilot.

Caldera Cup Races and the Venice Air Show Open Friday

The Caldera Cup Races open Friday July 4th.  Entrance from around the world will come to the historic city of Venice to race in the most prestigious seaplane races in the world.   Two years ago the races ended in a virtual tie between the Rinaldo Piago SPA.2f  aircraft flown by Cpt. . Marziale Corutti and the Russian Empires Grigorovich M-19 aircraft.

This years race will be held over a longer course and the speeds of the expected craft are expected to be significantly slower as the aircraft will have to demonstrate their speed and endurance and not just their flat out speed.
Visitors from many nations have come to see the races and the Empire welcomes them all.  A special welcome from the Empire goes out to Prince Cael of the Kingdom of Rohan. 

This year's contestants are from the following Nations. From the Empire of Russia: A heavily modified Grigorovich M-11b and a Grigorovich M-15c.  From the Kingdom of Rohan: A NFB-1-10 Flown by Bessie Coloman and a NFB-1-12 Flown by Ruth Law.  Both members of the Rohans famed Las En Sul squadron. From the Republic of Orange:  a heavily modified JUA-4 piloted by Lt. Alder and Lt. Steiner, an Albatross D.1 piloted by Lt. Jager, and a A.E.G. G.IV piloted by Lt. Schneider and Schmidt. From Gran Columbia's Avianco De Caracas flying club comes an AC-5, and from the Santiago Santo flying club comes a AC-7 Float Fighter. From the Kingdom of Romania:  a Kikut Larvota float plane flown by Cpt. Alexandra Derbinescu. From The Kingdom of Bavaria and Schweiz come an FF43 and a twin engines FF35. And finally from the Empire of Italia' L'aeronautica del Randello Marittima club comes some updated models from the last race.  First is the Rinaldo Piago SPA3A piloted by Capt. Marziale Corutti, followed by a Caproni Caldera M3 piloted by Lt. Casare Magistrini, and finally a Caproni MPB2a Float Plane piloted by Lt. Scaroni De Silva.

Present:
Sextus Aurelius Cotta - Imperial Consul of Foreign Affairs.
Marcus Tullius Cicero - Senator
Appius Attilius Scapita - Senator

The Imperial Foreign Ministry building was quite an impressive monument all marble and granite.  It was difficult to heat in the winter but at least it was cool when summer arrived.  Sextus Aurelius Cotta was meeting today with a small group of Senators.   The Senators represented two factions of the Senate who were financially tied to shipping concerns and were therefore extremely upset about recent occurrences in the Southern Indian Ocean.

Sextus Cotta:   Good afternoon Senators will you please take a seat while I have my steward bring you some refreshments ?

QuoteSenator Marcus Tullius Cicero and Senator Appius Attilius Scapita both accepted glasses of watered wine and took seats in high backed leather chairs while Sextus Cotta sat opposite them.

Senator Cicero;  So Consul, is it true ?  Has the Republic of Orange unilaterally declared itself the sovereign owner of what was it 94 nautical miles of International Waters?

Senator Scapita:  I agree Consul what does the Foreign Ministry intend to do about this Outrage ?

Sextus Cotta:  Senators' please, the Foreign Ministry has examined the matter.  In addition we have consulted with the Consul Maximus in Military Affairs!  We believe that the Republic of Orange's new government was attempting to provide a safe haven for neutral shipping and not to claim as you indicate Sovereign Control over a huge swath of International Waters.

Senator Cicero:   But Consul Cotta, there statement clearly indicates there desire to exert economic control over the entirety of the 100 Nautical Mile Economic zone as they called it?   There was no expiration date, no indication that this unilateral seizure of international territory would end after our war with New Zion is over?

Sextus Cotta:  Indeed we can only assume that the inexperience of the new government ministers in Kaapstadt has led them to make a mistake.  Obviously their declaration has already drawn international condemnation from several other nations.

Senator Scapita: Consul Cotta, Senator Cicero asked you what the Imperial Ministry of Foreign affairs intended to do about this matter.  What you have told us is what the Republic of Orange possibly meant by their declaration and that other nations are objecting.  What you have not told us is what your ministry and the Emperor intend to do about this crisis?

Sextus Cotta:   I thought that was obvious.  Due to the extreme circumstance of the war and the desire to keep the Orange Republic from repeating the mistakes that led to their involvement in the last war with New Zion the Empire will do absolutely nothing.

Senator Cicero: The Empire cannot simply stand-bye ideally while a foreign power declares unilaterally that they control international waters utilized for decades by citizens of the empire!

Sextus Cotta:  Unfortunately Senator that is exactly what we are doing.  Other nations have already taken the lead in curbing the effect of the Orange declaration.  In addition militarily the Empire see's advantage in not taking action!  First we do not antagonize the Orange Republic.  Second the Republic of Orange has taken legal responsibility to protect all vessels obeying their laws inside the zone in question!  Should the Imperial fishing fleets from Italia South Africa stop in Beria to obtain a fishing permit the Empire will pay the fee and the Orange Republic will be responsible for protecting said ships from New Swiss acts of Piracy!

Senator Cicero:  And the president of allowing this violation of sovereignty?

Sextus Cotta:  I is the Empires feelings that this Zone can not and will not be allowed to exists after the end of the war with New Zion.  On the other hand there are many nations who feel that a 12 nautical mile limit is a good idea now that modern battleships can conduct a bombardment from outside that range.  So the Empire will utilize the Orange Declaration to try and once again call a meeting of nations to achieve an International Consensus on the matter!

Senator Scapita:  Well I can not say I totally support this decision but I can see the reason why it was made.   I would appreciate myself and my committee being kept informed on the international effort to reverse the Orange Republics decision.

Senator Cicero:  Consul Cotta, thank you for your time and I would also like to be kept informed.  This is the second time that the Republic of Orange has flouted international law and custom to simply take advantage of a war.  The first during the Iberian and Habsburg war vs. the Ottoman Empire and now this aberration!!

Sextus Cotta: "Escorting the two Senators to the door" Rest assured gentleman that the Empire will be working with it' friends and allies behind the scene to reverse this decision but in the meantime we will take advantage of it!

Friday July 4th 1919:  Venice Harbor Empire of Italia.

The Day started with some early morning rain which broke up shortly after dawn.   Down at the harbor the first day of practice runs, inspections, and festivities for the Caldera Cup Races had begun.

The Fastest Planes of the Day were the Gran Columbian AC-7, the Caproni MPB2a, and the Russian M-11B.   All three Aircraft averaged around 155 Km/h or 96.875 Mp/h.   This years race utilized 5 separate time keepers to keep a very accurate start and stop time.

Unfortunately the first day of the races was not without accidents.   The Italian Caproni Caldera M3 which was averaging 153 Km/h suffered a broken strut and float on the first day and was eliminated from the race.  In addition both planes from the Kingdom of Rohan suffered serious problems.  The NFB-1-10 piloted by Bessie Coloman suffered a seized engine but managed to land the aircraft.  The NFB-1-12 piloted by Ruth Law suffered and engine casualty had to abort with the engine running rough.

Saturday July 5th 1919:  Venice Harbor Empire of Italia.
Saturday started bright and sunny with a freshening breeze out of the south that would lead to head winds on one leg of the flight and a stiff cross breeze on the another.

The races were clean with average speeds slightly slower then the day before.   The Only accident to mar the day was the Bavarian FF-35 Engine seized while it was trying to make up time and the plain landed extremely roughly in the ocean outside Venice harbor.
The Pilot was quickly rescued by one of the waiting boats.

The Finishing Aircraft in Order and Average Speed are:

The Avianco de Caracas AC-5 Piloted by Manuel Bardaji who finished with and Average Speed of  160.83 Km/h.

In Second Place was the L'aeronautica del randello marittima' own SPA3a  which finished with an average speed of 159.65 Km/h.

In Third Place was the Santiago SantoGran AC-7 from Gran Columia which finished with an average speed of 157.95 Km/h

In Fourth Place was the Italian Caproni MPB2a which finished with an average speed of 157.85 Km/h.

In Fifth Place was the Bavarian FF-43 which finished with an average speed of 153 Km/h.

In Sixth Place was the Orange JUA-4 with an average speed 149.55 Km/h.

In Seventh Place was the Confederate L-7D which finished with an average speed of 140 Km/h.

In Eighth Place was the Russian M-15C with an average speed of 138 Km/h.

In Ninth Place was the Romanian Kikut Larvota with an average speed of 110 Km/h

In Tenth Place despite a rough running engine the Russian M-11B finished with an average speed of 109 Km/h.

In Eleventh Place the Orange Albatross finished with an average speed of 107.6 Km/h.

July 15th Asmara, Imperial Province of Eritrea.

General Giulio Douhet stood over his map board in the pre dawn hours.   The Pieces on the board showed disposition of all the Legions under his command.   He sighed thinking back to what could have been if only the high command had accepted his recommendations of even as little as a year ago.   While the forces under his command were more then adequate for the job at hand opposition from Zionist Aircraft were extremely spirited.   His recommendations of a year ago to double the size of the Imperial Aeronautica and to increase the use of mechanization in  the Legions had been rejected as to costly and not yet tested in battle.   Well you fight a war with what you have and not what you wish you had he thought to himself.

More Aircraft he decided he would need more aircraft to protect his line of advance from the nearly fanatical and suicidal low level attacks being launched by the Zionist pilots.   They were quite effective at disrupting logistics and stalling his attacks.  But how long could the Zionist continue to accept such heavy losses to the light and heavy machine guns of his Legions?  Of course he thought it appears from reports from Kigali that the Zionists had deployed all their Aircraft to face his offensive here in the north?

As Dawn arrived outside the map room and his aide arrived bringing both breakfast and the nights dispatches he contemplated his next move.  His first objective was achieved and soon General Bicardi of the XVII Legion would demand the surrender of Eilat from the Zionist force that had retreated into the Port.   He honestly did not expect them to surrender but he fervently prayed they would allow the Civilian population to be evacuated.

With breakfast over and the quite time before dawn disappearing with arrival of  the Staff who started to update the Map from reports delivered during the night, General Douhet began to give orders.  First more aircraft from Italy, and then perhaps the enemy was weak there... he sent for yesterdays reconnaissance photos and reports from the observation balloons going up all over the front!

July 29th Rome Times:

New Swiss Enter War

Despite warnings at the Dar-Es-Salaam conference that New Swiss warships entering the Rift would be considered an act of war by the Empire New Switzerland forces numbering over 100 warships forced passage into the rift sea.

The Crews of nearly 2 dozen New Swiss ships have been rescued from the shark infested waters off Djibouti Island.   Reports from Survivors indicate that the New Swiss Fleet was transporting 25,000 troops and supplies to reinforce their Zionist minions.

Thursday July 31st 1919:  Rome Time

New Zion uses Chemical Weapon!

New Zion forces inside Eilat after being granted a cease fire to evacuate Civilians from the city immediately responded to the courtesy of Imperial troops by utilizing Chemical Weapons on troops of the Legions.   Imperial Senate and Legion officials refused to responded to questions concerning the Empire stance on no first use of such barbaric weapons.   A source in the Imperial Senate indicated that the Empire still continues to consider such weapons to be barbaric but the source felt that the Empire could not allow such a cowardly attack to go unanswered.

HQ XVII Legion outside of Eilat New Zion July 1st 1919:

It had been a hectic few days since the Zionist attack using gas weapons.  The Anger in the Legion camps and trench lines was almost palatable.  The Commander of the Legion had prepared his defenses those facing in and those facing back in the off chance that the Zionist 4th and 5th Division should some how break through the XXII Legion guarding there back.

Special Ammo wagons had begun to appear in the Camp the day before and the Observers from the Republic of Orange, Netherlands, and the Kingdom of Egypt had recently been joined by an Observer from the Iberian Empire. 

As dusk began to settle over the camp the wind shifted so that it was coming directly down from the mountains to wards Eilat as the Legions Artillery pounded the Port while New Swiss ships were trying to dock and unload there troops.   The Observers could not a grim determination among the legions officers and men as the ammo from the special wagons was unload near the Legions 105 Howitzers carefully dug in behind the hills to shield them from the rifles of New Zion and New Swiss ships in the harbor.

As dark fell the wind quickened again out of the west down off the hills towards the harbor below.  Orders went out for everyone to check their gas masks.   As the Legion staff meet one last time in their command bunker not far from the bunker the foreign observers had been assigned three men hurried from the rear to the Staff bunker.   Surprisingly thee three men were the Legions highest ranking Priest, its Mullah and a Chaplin.  The approached the centurion guarding the bunker and were quickly let inside.

The Observers could here a brief conversation followed by the following screamed in a very loud voice.
"What the Hell there is no way in hell I am going to let those Zionist bastards get away with using gas on my men and not reply.   I have authorization from Asmara the conditions are perfect and even better the damned Swiss are crowding the harbor full of ships?  Conditions are Fucking Perfect"

A brief pause "Orders... what fucking orders"

At this the General Commanding the Legion comes storming out of the Bunker followed by his staff screaming at the top of his voice. "Call it off call of the attack damn it some one get on the phone to the batteries and call off the attack."  A small crumpled piece of paper slowly blows across the ground forgotten in the wake of the Officers running off the Communications bunker.

Commanding General Legion XVII[stop]Command Staff Asmara [Stop]Chemical Weapon attack justified but canceled[stop] under no circumstances will it proceed [stop] Humanitarian concerns [stop] Emperor Armedo Ferdinando Camilla[stop]

Djibouti harbor aboard IMS Imperator July 31st 1919

Admiral Rene Delacroix III sat watching the hurried construction to finish installing the massive French 380mm batteries in their hugely armored barbettes overlook the harbor.   When finished they would dominate everything for miles around.   
But his mind turned back to the recent battle and the losses both sides had taken.   He had reports collected from the Survivors of the New Swiss Ships, surprising what some medicinal whisky or brandy could do to a body chilled from over a day in even the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.  He now had the information he need it was all there before him.  But it still did not add up to anything that made since.  He ticked off the inconsistencies in his mind.

1.   The New Swiss had apparently brought everything that could float, row, or bob on the ocean with them.  No sane navy left their own nation so unguarded even to help a close ally.   The Zionist ok they wanted to be a close ally but no treaties bound them?
2.   The Date of Arrival off the Gulf of Oman was too soon.   Unless the New Swiss had prepositioned a large part of the fleet far from its home water they had simply arrived too soon?
3.   Why fight a battle as bloody as the one just fought just to deliver a single division to a country currently holding on only by the strength of the terrain?
Well part of the Plan was plain the New Swiss had shot down the French Zeppelin to cover their approach to the Gulf of Aden.   They had refueled in a country that disliked France and anything Christian or Muslim.  And they forced a channel immediately adjacent to the major French base after being warned against such an action and after being told by the Empire that it would consider such an action as a unilateral declaration of war by New Switzerland?

Well they were here now Admiral Delacroix thought and no point in really wondering why they were acting so insane perhaps syphilis was endemic out in the Pacific.

Looking at his maps and strength estimates he came to a very weird conclusion they were as he had thought earlier truly in the bottle and his gathering fleet was the Cork.  But how did they intend to get out?  The Entire New Zion Port Infrastructure was insufficient to support the New Swiss fleet for more than a few days.  Conservative estimate put the New Swiss fleet at over 200,000 tons of Ships a vast majority of them Coal firing.

Well the Fleet would have to continue to gather and it would have to be prepared to act because the New Swiss might have planned to stay but reality was going to change that soon.   Admiral Delacroix checked his watch he had an hour before he was meeting with Admiral Geon his staff and the commanders of all the other ships currently gathered at Djibouti.

August 10th 1919 Rome Times:

In a speech before the Senate Yesterday the Consul of Military Affairs Spurius Valerius Maximus discussed recent events in the Rift Sea.   Consul Maximus informed the Senate that a battle had taken place between elements of the New Swiss fleet and elements of the Deutscher Kaiserreich Brandenburg and the French Djibouti defense squadron supported by local elements of the Imperial Marina.  Losses to all sides were grave but that the New Swiss fleet fled the battle field leaving their cripples to be run down by elements of the Mogadishu Fleet that arrived shortly thereafter.

The brave sailors of France, Brandenburg and the Empire struggled to save their own ships, their own wounded and to rescue those New Swiss sailors cruelly left to their fate upon the sea by their comrades in arms.  A List of names of the 2341 Swiss Sailors pulled from the Sea have been forwarded to the Green Cross Headquarters and will be forwarded to the New Swiss Government in Phoenix.   These New Swiss sailors will be held as POW under the Vienna Convention on the Conduct of War.  The wounded of both sides require the compassion of the Empire and a call for Medical volunteers both doctors and nurses will be required immediately for deployment to the war zone.

In addition to the losses in what is being called the Battle of the Tadjoura straits the Empire is angered to announce the loss of 1 Cruiser and 2 Destroyers to an unannounced mine field laid in international waters South of Atlit New Zion.   The Scope and size of this minefield is currently undetermined and the 2nd Imperial Marina Destroyer was sunk apparently by submarine torpedo while picking up survivors from the mine infested waters.  The Empire is dispatching forces to clear this minefield even as it attempts to clear the one New Zion is laying in the North.  While the Empire does not expect to be warned when an enemy lays minefields in contested international waters it would expect that neutrals would have been warned before the Empire discovers such a minefield.

On Land the Empire announced that late last month the Defenders of the besieged city of Eilat accepted the offer of a cease fire to allow the evacuation of Civilians from the city.  Despite this offer that allowed the defenders ample time to dig in and conserve their supplies the Zionist forces inside the city waited until the Civilian were safely away before promptly launching an attack on the besieging Legion with Chemical Weapons.   The Empire has always had a very strict no first use policy with such weapons.  The Empire feels that the Ethical and Humanitarian costs of such weapons far exceed their military value.   In response to this attack the Empire will respond in kind Exactly Once.   If the government of New Zion refrains from the use of such weapons in the future the Empire will cease to use them as well.

Late August 1917, Asmara Imperial Province of Eretria:

General Giulio Douhet stood in his war room tracking the movement of the Legions under his command.  Even as he stood contemplating his next move like a Chess Master analyzing his next move his well trained staff were moving the Legions in the South.   Ashrod had fallen and the Legions along with the Brandenburg Demi-Corp were in pursuit of the broken New Zion Corp.   He smiled when reports came in that the Southern Theater Commander General Enrico Caviglia had released his Armored Car Regiments to the pursuit to which they were best suited.

But in the North Events were more troubling the Zionist defenders of Eilat were stubborn and were insistently utilizing chemical attacks.   He had at least three requests from Brigade commanders and one from the XVII Legion commander to appeal the Emperors decision not to retaliate against Eilat' defenders with their own Chemical Weapons. But orders were clear despite the fact that continued resistance by the defenders of Eilat had caused the city to be reduced to a pile of rubble the Empire would not be goaded into utilizing chemical weapons on a city no matter how badly damaged.

North of Eilat the situation was slowly sorting itself out.   The New Zion commander was ambitious and daring he had attempted to cut off the Legions supply lines just as the IX Legion and the VIII Legion had done to the Zionist forces.  There attack towards Adi K'euth was well coordinated but unfortunately predictable and the reinforcements sent to prevent such an attack had arrived with plenty of time to dig in.   Reinforcements from North Africa and Italy had arrived and were slowly being deployed to the Front.

In the far west the railhead at Gonder was now in the possession of the IX Imperial Legion.   The plan to slowly strangle the New Zion forces in the North like a Python does a rat was slowly working.   Nearly the Entire New Zion army was deployed in the field.   The 12th Division at Ashrod was destroyed or Prisoners, the 13th and 14th Divisions were in full retreat being pursued by a Full Corp, 2 Armored Brigades and the Brandenburgers.  The next target in the South then was obviously the New Zion port of Atlit but in the North the North there where so many potential moves to make.

An Aid brought General Douhet a message from the Commander of the Cohort occupying Ashrod.  There was an outbreak of Cholera and Dysentery among the civilian refuges from the battles in the South.   The General thought for a Moment, these French River Barges he said to his aid, they do not have any use accept as costal supply ships and there are so very many of them.   Get a call out to the Green Cross and move some additional medical units sent to Ashrod they can stage across Lake Victoria now that the New Zion gun boats have been eliminated.   Restore the Port of Ashrod to usefulness that will be a priority both for logistical purposes and to get relief to the displaced Civilians.   In addition make it clear to the civilians that the Civilian populace of New Zion is not the enemy of the Empire.   I think it is also time to start delivering the Propaganda notices someone in Rome sent us....!!!!

August 25th Rome
Today a large riot outside Chabad Monteverde Synagogue in Rome resulted in hundreds of arrests as the Rome Militia was called out to suppress the unrest.   Soon units of the 1st Praetorian were on the scene to back up the Rioters who were finally only quelled by a personal appeal by a local priest to restore order to the neighborhood.   By Nightfall Synagogue across the City of Rome were being protected by small contingents of the Rome Militia.

August 26th Genoa
Last night a Fire Broke out in a Synagogue on the outside of the city.   A Crowd of angry protesters had to be moved before the Genoa fire brigade could reach the scene of the Blaze.
 
August 26th Venice, Torino, Turin
Angry crowds stormed local places of worship for those of the Jewish faith attacking those found within and painting large crosses on the Buildings wall, and roofs.  Only after the local fire brigades turned their water hoses on the crowds at the insistence of the Local Authorities did the rioting and looting break up.

August 27th Rome
The Imperial Government has mobilized several reserve militia units to support local police and fire brigades in dealing with Anti-Jewish violence across Italy.  The Editor of the Roman Forum a known radical was arrested for attempting print a call to arms from the Zionist Government in Ethiopia.

August 28th Rome
Today a sullen quiet lay over the City's of the Empire.  Last night across Italy a Personal appeal for Peace, Forgiveness and Tolerance was read from the Pulpits by Priest all across the Italy.   The Plea was first read by Pope Gregory XVII from St. Peters Basilica where even as he read his appeal to gathered crowds workers were removing the vandalism from the iconic cultural and religious landmark.  The Popes appeal called for christian charity and forgiveness.   But with Fanatics attacking churches after Sunday Mass, throwing grenades into crowds and using chemical weapons in futile attacks charity is hard to find.

Late August early September 1919:  Paris France

The observant diplomats of Paris will note quiet meetings being held between the Ambassador of New Zion to France and the Imperial Magistrate to the French Republic.  Also the Imperial Consulates of Rome and Brandenburg have been burning a lot of midnight oil, and sending and receiving a large number of obviously encrypted telegrams.

Tuesday September 16th 1919 Rome Times:
[Head Line]
Dutch Liner Sinks Hundreds floating on the Ocean!
Dutch Liner KMM Piet Heim was lost Early hours of yesterday with nearly all hand and passengers in the shipping lanes south of the city of Nice.   Fishing vessels in the region report pulling hundreds of bodies from the water.  Evidently the KMM Piet Heim was lost while in a well traveled shipping lane due to presently unknown causes.  Imperial Marina dispatches survey vessel to aid in determining the cause of the loss while Citizens of the Empire search the ocean in hope of finding survivors.

[Below the Fold]
New Zion delegation in Paris rejects Peace Proposal!
Rumors from the Foreign Ministry yesterday that a joint proposal put forward by the Empire of Italia, Brandenburg and Austria was rejected out of hand by the representatives of the New Zion government.  A separate proposal to allow humanitarian relief to the besieged port of Eilat was evidently accepted earlier this month. 

Today Officials of the Empire of Italia Foreign Ministry and the Empire of Brandenburg Embassy in Rome announced the Proclamation of Rome.

The Empire of Italia, and the Kaiserreich of Brandenburg agree in principle to not seek a separate peace with the Kingdom of New Zion.

We, the duly appointed representatives of our respective governments, do hereby declare that we are resolute to see this current conflict though to the end, whatever that may be. Therefore, we do declare jointly that both the Kingdom of Italia and the Deutsch Reich agree in principle and proclaim that neither side shall seek nor accept a separate peace.

Signed this day by
Franz Herman von Boehm, for the Deutsch Reich
And
Sextus Aurelius Cotta, for the Empire of Italia

Early October 1919 Massawa Eritrea

Renee Delcroix III Admiral Indian Ocean Fleet Commander sat before his staff going over reports from the recent battles fought in the Rift and Indian Oceans.
Officers and Gentlemen we have some problems and it all comes down to subs.  So can someone please tell me how the HELL New Zion subs are operating in the Red Sea under an umbrella of French Airships heavy destroyer escort convoys and still managed to sink what was it... *grabs a report* nearly 8000 tons of merchant shipping in the Red Sea Alone and what about all these ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.   The damn New Zion subs simply do not have the range to conduct a patrol of any duration in the Gulf of Aden, or along the Indian Ocean coast of Somalia and Ophir.

So Gentlemen you will find where these subs and raiders are operating from.  You will coordinate with the Imperial Merchant Marine you will get trained radio telegraphers and equipment on all our large shippers and you will vary and hide the shipping times of all convoys and sailings.   Next you will patrol off our harbors and any suspicious ships operating in our waters or even off our waters will be inspected.   The Enemy is finding our shipping far too easily. 

Next Item, the recent battles I can only say we did well we fought the New Swiss in a night battle and it hurt us night battles usually do our tactics and doctrine worked and with a little more luck we would have taken easily acceptable looses.   My Only criticism was the decision to tow the Germanicus back into the Rift.  A slight diversion to Mogadishu would have lessened the risk of Submarine intercept and there is a Dry Dock there that could have handled her repairs.   We learn from our mistakes there are Subs operating directly off our ports so find them and sink them.  Extend the air patrols report all sightings photograph all ships.

Now, we have a problem outside our area of responsibility we have had an attack by Zionist Terrorist on the Port of Brindisi.  Obviously Admiral Sulla will be needing some of the Fleet back to support operation against New Swiss raiders in the Mediterranean so let us get moving on coordinating those ship transfers  I need an accurate count from the rescued New Swiss and New Zion POW on what ships both nations have lost.

OOC: The Following story is Private between the Ottoman and Italia governments it needed to be posted as a very good story and an example of good diplomacy.

IC:  The Foreign Officers in Rome will know that the Dutch and the Ottoman Consular officers were sumoned to the Imperial Foreign Ministry the Hapsburg Diplomats were latter invited to lunch.  The DKB had officials present as well.  If you want to know about this discussion please PM me an evil plan to get the information.  I reward roleplaying....

Quote
October 10th 1919 Imperial Foreign Ministry Rome:

The Ambassador to Rome for the Ottoman Empire has had his presence requested for a meeting with the Italia Foreign Ministry as the Ottoman Ambassador was arriving the Dutch Ambassador is seen to leaving.

The Ambassadors of the Deutsche Reich is flanking Sextus Aurelius Cotta the Imperial Consul of Foreign Affairs.

Seats are taken refreshment offered and accepted in a polite but very tense atmosphere.

Ambassador let me begin by saying that the Empire and my fellow representative from the Deutsche Reich are at this moment looking for an explanation for something that occurred recently off Aden.

Apparently one of your ships transmitted this message. "The Lion Waits" on September 7th.  Immediately after this transmittal New Swiss patrols and actions were curtailed as if preparing for a sortie.

Fourteen days later the same hand transmitted "The Elephant Charges" upon which point your task force along with the Dutch changed course and headed towards Aden.  Shortly thereafter from the Coast of New Zion comes "The Phoenix Rises" and the New Swiss fleet sorties on its break out attempt.

The Empire and Deutsche Reich would very much like an explanation for an event that resulted in an unfortunate misunderstanding just outside the territorial waters of the port of Aden and which caused a diversion of forces that resulted in not only the successful break out of a small number of New Swiss ships but the loss of life a very large number of Imperial and Deutsch Reich Sailors.

In addition Citizens of the Ottoman Empire Belonging to the Thessaloniki militia attacked and set fire to the Imperial Port City of Brindisi late last month, The Empire would like an explanation for these actions as well?

The Ottoman Ambassador, Fatin Yolga a man regarded as both old and wise, clinched his jaw for a moment. He'd been expecting this.

"Your Excellencies, first I must beg your forgiveness, as men in my position are usually not included in the distributions of military plans and briefings, I can only relay to you what my government has shared with me."

He takes a moment to collect the next thought. "I have no knowledge of any specific radio broadcasts made during recent operations of the Ottoman Navy in support of Dutch operations in the Arabian Gulf. I am not a sailor, but I was once, long ago, an Officer in His Majesty's Army, and I can relay from experience that any such transmissions are likely to be secret in nature, so I doubt I'd be allowed to comment on their specific nature even if I did have knowledge of them. I'm sure the Consul understands these things, no?"

Pausing for another moment, he sips some tea. "I can, however, assure you that I will convey with the utmost haste via cable your nations' concerns in this matter to Constantinople.

"Now, on the matter of Brindisi I have read very brief reports of this in the newspapers. If it is true that these men were members of the Thassalonian militia, it is true that they would be considered Ottoman citizens, but I'm sure you are familiar with the terms of the 1912 accord at Paris which state very clearly that Thessaloniki and all those living there are now under Hapsburg administration. Even if my government cared to give orders to the Thessalonians, it is quite impossible as a result of this agreement and the nature of our relationship with Vienna. Possibly you should inquire of the Habsburgers about this event?"

Sextus Aurelius Cotta *takes a sip from his tea as well*

"The Empire appreciates your frankness in this matter and will look forward to hearing the reply from Constantinople.   It would be unfortunate if another such incident occurred to mar the relationship between our two Empires!"

"As to the Thessaloniki affair we are simply trying to determine the status of the prisoners.   They are either legal combatants of some nation who has perpetrated an act of war upon the Empire.  Or they are Mercenaries' wearing uniforms to which they were not entitled while attacking the Empire while flying the flag of Greece.  The Empire takes a very dim view of Mercenaries'' committing acts of Piracy against the Empires shores.  Our inquiry into the matter is more of a legal inquiry and rest assured we will be inquiring of both New Jerusalem and Vienna on this matter as well!"

"Unless we have anything else to discuss I still have the Austrian Ambassador to see this afternoon as well?"

EDIT: I fixed some minor spacing issues, and this is my stamp of approval on this as well.

QuoteEDIT: I fixed some minor spacing issues, and this is my stamp of approval on this as well.

Shouldn't that be

Quote"Hi, I'm Guinness and I approve this message."

With a picture of you smiling while holding a baby?who's candy you're about to steal

Hey, one doesn't need to campaign for anything when one is already a member of the ruling oligarchy, no?  ;)

September 30th 1919
Imperial Palace Rome:
Actors Emperor Armedo Ferdinando Camila and his Cousin Duke Augostino Luca Federicho of Tuscany.

The table was set for a private dinner for two outside security around the palace was tight.  The Duke poured brandy for his cousin while the steward a member of the Praetorian Guard set out the desert.

Emperor Armedo :  So Luca how goes the meetings with the Curia I understand we will be supporting Iberia' right to police the Straits of Hercules.  I am hearing quite a bit of noise out of some of the Senators recognizing another states rights to actually police an international strait that reverses nearly a hundred years of policy?

Duke Augostino:  It was a purely pragmatic decision necessary to protect shipping from whomever has been laying mines randomly in the Mediterranean!  Does Mario Decumius have any information on who is doing the mining?

Emperor Armedo:   No, actually Mario is very suspicious of many third parties the Zionists just do not have enough subs to be doing all these sinking's it is very suspicious but proof is going to take quite awhile to obtain.  He is looking forward to taking a look at some records he has not yet managed to obtain.

Duke Augostino:   Well the Iberian Proposal in the Curia is extremely interesting.  The DKB ambassador accepted it very quickly with very few restrictions.  We do however like those restrictions!  However both Iberia and Bavaria are likely to push us to accept a much more liberal interpretation on the borders of New Zion.!

Emperor Armedo:   How Liberal exactly?

Duke Augostino:  They appear to wish the Empire and DKB not to annex any New Zion territory at all!

Emperor Armedo:   That is a very dangerous proposition did not the Hapsburgs and the Iberian effectively annex Greece parts of the Balkans during their war with the Ottomans.  Do they honestly expect the Empire to do less when we have more cause?

Duke Augostino:   I know what we had to promise certain Senators to get them to agree to support this adventure.  So I know what we can and cannot give up in the negotiations.  I also know how sensitive the support of the Iberian declaration was with some of the other Senators as well.  But we are between conflicting needs and desires.  On one hand France, on the other our growing friendships with the Nations of the Curia.   And worst of all we are a beast with 4 hands because we are also caught between the greed of certain Senators and the good of the citizens of the Empire!

Emperor Armedo:   Ok Cousin let us see what we can work out here I can use Senator Cicero to help control the Francophiles he is firmly in Frances pocket anyway so we let him know we supported the Iberian declaration as a show of support for France.  He does not need to know how angry France made certain members of the Curia of Nations.

Duke Augostino:   That will buy us some time and I will take a look at the proposed people with the people over in Foreign Affairs.  And I will have to stop by and talk to Mario and your Father.   We need to know exactly what we want out of this little war and how we can achieve our goals at the lowest possible cost!

Emperor Armedo:  I do not really object to a Free Zionist state but we must make absolutely sure that it is disarmed and not involved in foreign entanglements especially with the New Swiss!  Now comes the hard question the Swiss have flown from the trap but we are still at war with them we need to have plans ready to implement our exit strategy with the New Swiss.   This war in Asia may prove useful but we will have to see!

Engine test Facility Mount Blanc on the Italian French Border, November 1919.
A discussion between 2 Aircraft Engineers working on their latest test engine.

"Sir the new engine seems to be running at the full 250 HP and has been doing so for roughly an hour now.   I think we have solved the high altitude problem for the engines a small supercharger to feed compressed air into the combustion chamber seems to fix some but not all of the problems of loss of compression and horse power above 3000 meters."

"Excellent the engineers will be happy to hear that there latest proposal seems to work above 4000 meters.   But we really need a higher test facility but this is the best we could do in Europe.  Now we have fixed the problem with the engines we need to fix the problem for the pilots as well?   Do you think simply bringing the pilots up to this altitude and getting them acclimated would work or do we need a compressor for the pilots as well?"

"I really do not think that long term acclimation is going to work if the pilots continue to live and work close to sea level.   Perhaps we should consult the French I believe they have some medical staff working on the problem of altitude sickness among their Zeppelin crews above 5000 meters."

"That is really a good idea the point of getting engine performance to this level was to be able to intercept Zeppelins above 5000 meters if necessary so coordinating our efforts with the French medical staff might be a good idea as it will also give us a good look at what the newest Zeppelins are capable of achieving."

Rome Times Monday October 27th 1919:

Yesterday Sunday October 26th the Bells of the Churches across Rome and the Empire rang out in celebration.  The War in East Africa is over and the forces of New Zion broken have surrendered.  Today, select members of the Imperial Government will brief the Senate of Rome on the plans for winning the peace.

The Cost of removing New Switzerland military forces from the Rift has been high and the blood of Empires allies both French and Brandenburg have been shed along with the blood of Legions.   But the Empire must stay the course, the goal of creating a stable government in New Zion one completely free of the New Swiss influence have just begun.

A reminder to all citizens that while the war in New Zion is coming to an end a state of war does still exist between the Republic of Switzerland and the Empire.

Rome Time November 15th 1919
The War in East Africa Ends

With orders to destroy their own country in hand and ground forces closing on their Capital from the north and the south the Army of New Zion finally turned on their corrupt New Swiss masters overthrew their Queen and have sought peace with Italy, Brandenburg and the Hapsburg Empires.

The Empire has begun occupying the Coastal Cities and is negotiating what is expected to be a lasting peace with the new military government of New Zion.   The New Swiss forces in New Zion have been interred and the hunt for New Swiss raiders in the Red Sea, Mediterranean, Indian and Atlantic Oceans continues.
The Surviving remnants of the once powerful New Swiss fleet have eluded pursuit and were last spotted fleeing into the Pacific Ocean. 

Rome Times November 21st 1919
Imperial Speech before the Senate of Rome
Earlier this Week Emperor Armedo spoke on the war in East Africa.   His speech strongly applauded the conduct of the Legions in both their treatment of enemy POW, in their forbearance in not utilizing massive retaliatory Chemical Bombardments of the Enemy and in their efforts to halt the spread of Cholera in the south of New Zion. 

In addition his speech praised the support of all of Italia Allies, the Green Cross and even the Dutch for their efforts to get needed medical assistance to those cruelly displaced by the policy of the New Zion government who choose to fight from inside their own cities.

In his closing words the Emperor called on the New Swiss Republic to cease that republics senseless and ongoing war against unarmed merchant ships and to stops that nations use of illegal and immoral attacks using drifting mines on the seas of the world.  The Emperor further requested that the New Swiss send a representative to Paris empowered to deal with and to take responsibility for the New Swiss actions in the last year.

New Switzerland denounces the words of the Italian Empire. New Switzerland has not and is not conducting any sort of warfare against unarmed merchant ships belonging to ANY of the nations that participated in this bloody imperialistic war, nor has it laid down ANY kind of mine outside of its own territorial waters. Any ship conducting acts of violence against unarmed merchants while flying the Swiss flag is no more than a pirate and as such must be deal with according to international law.

However, it is true that Zionite raiders have taken merchant prizes according to international law. Due to logistical restrictions, the crews of said merchants are under Swiss care. And the Swiss would be more than happy to return them to their nations of origin, as soon as the Swiss sailors currently held illegally by said nations are also returned. The Swiss also propose a non-aggression pact between them and the respective nations to prevent further unnecessary bloodshed in the future. They do so even while the Italians have been shown to be untrustworthy in keeping their word.

November 18th 1919

Rome Times:

Emperor Orders Cease Fire with New Swiss Republic

Despite New Swiss accusations and slander the Emperor today announced that all Imperial Marina vessels would cease cruiser warfare and offensive operations against shipping belonging to the New Swiss Republic.  This Cease fire will allow the New Swiss to send representatives to an undiscolosed location to attempt to negotiate a settlement to the war.

Late November 1919
Report to the Emperor Concerning the Military and Economic cost of the Rift War.

Copy of this report will be forwarded to the War Planning committee, the Civil Development committee, Imperial Marina HQ, and Imperial Legions HQ.

Total Losses of Naval Forces in Rift War.
Units Sunk:
29,700 Tons of Merchant Shipping comprising 19 totals vessels.
IMS Germanicus [Note: It may be possible to refloat and salvage or rebuild this BB]
IMS Iena [Note: Sunk in harbor but due to age recommend ship be scraped rather then recovered]
IMS Sarimarcus
IMS Medicus
IMS Romulus
IMS Taranto
15 Destroyers of the DD-1905 Class [750 Ton]
3 DD of the DD-1908 Class [1000 Ton]
6 DD of the DD-1909 Class [1000 Tons]
2 Mine Sweepers
1 Sub
11 MAS Boats

Damaged Ships:
IMS Imperator [80%]
IMS Dacius [55%]
IMS Parthicus [80%]
IMS Hercules [45%]
7 DD-1912 [50%]
7 DD-1908 [50%]
1 DD-1908 [50%]
1 Sub [80%]
1 Sub [50%]
2 Subs [75%]

While the losses were significant the primary loss of the IMS Germanicus may be offset by the ability to recover the ship from the relatively shallow waters of the approaches to Djibouti.   See attached Engineers report.   The IMS Germanicus suffered 3 torpedo hits to her starboard side during the Swiss Breakout battle and the suicide attacks by New Swiss Destroyers lacking the range to reach a safe port.   The ship was consequently torpedoed again on the port side while being towed into Djibouti harbor.   The ship is sitting only slightly on her side in roughly 50 feet of water.

Economic Costs:
Due to the severe losses in Indian Ocean and Rift Sea freighters it is estimated that economic output from the rift sea colonies will be reduced by at least 10%.   Losses in shipping and diversion of shipping lanes due to the two year project to clear the upper rift of the mine fields will also have an impact on the Empire.  It is estimated that at least 7 million denarius in income will be lost in HY1 1920 and a further 3 million in HY2 1920.

However offsetting these economic losses will be the eventual savings from the proposed reduction of forces in East Africa from 12 Legions to only 8.   This will save an estimated 3 million denarius per half year into the future.  Returning the Imperial Marina battle line to the Italia will save an additional million perhaps as much as 2 million denarius as well.

In addition war reparations from New Zion as well as New Zion assumption of the cost of occupation may eventually recover some of these costs.  It is noted however that a survey of the damage caused by radical elements within the New Zion government just prior to its collapse severely damaged the Infrastructure and Industry of New Zion to the point that it should take at least 10 possibly as many as 20 years to simply recover from the damage of the war.  It may become necessary for the Empire to find some manner in the future to forgive the New Zion debt.   There may be possibilities to purchase some of the Damaged New Zion Industry as a way of eliminating a large part of New Zion' debt thus allowing their economy to recover more quickly.

Actors:
Sextus Aurelius Cotta- Consul of Foreign Affairs.
Liborio Valentinius - Magistrate to the Republic of France.
Mario Alessio Decumius - Commander of the Praetorian Guard.

The meeting was taking place in the study of the Imperial Consulate in Paris.  A fire roared in the fire place keeping the Chill of a Paris Winter at bay.   Around the fire three men sat looking over some documentation provided them by the Swiss Ambassador to France earlier in the week.  Negotiations were slow and ongoing.  What was not being said at the meetings was nearly as important as what was being said.  The true reason for the recent war in New Zion hung over the meetings like a Ghost!  The three men sat sipping brandy and smoking cigars while looking at the ships logs and timelines provided by the New Swiss the list of ships taken and the disposition of their crews?

Liborio Valentinius:  Well the documentation Ambassador Steinberger provided on their raiders appears to be quite extensive.  The New Swiss really are trying to prove that they did not commit the atrocities in the Mediterranean nor launch a large scale raider action in the Atlantic.

Sextus Cotta:  But this documentation it could all be staged?   They ask us to believe they are providing accurate information for the locations of all their raiders.   What if this information is simply a hoax an elaborate ruse to throw suspicion upon someone else?

Liborio Valentinius:  What could they have to gain from such a ruse?   They have to know that we suspect them of funding the attack on San Remo why try such a ruse when they have to know we will not believe them?

Mario Alessio Decumius:  I can confirm the locations and actions of at least these two raiders in the Indian Ocean.   Setting down two log books.  Our Agents in New Zion after the surrender were able to obtain information leading to their locations and Imperial War ships were closing on their locations when the recall order was issued!   So we can at least believe what we can independently verify.

Sextus Cotta:  So we are agreed this could simply be a plot by the Swiss Secret Service to throw a smoke screen around the actions of some of their less then reputable corporations.  We all know that Swiss Merchant Ships are armed and that any one of them might very well have carried out these raids in the Atlantic for extra profit.  We know that they are not above working with pirates what would prevent them from becoming pirates themselves?

Mario Alessio Decumius:   Chuckles softly; the Swiss corporations simply are not to be trusted where a notion of a profit or advantage are to garnered to themselves.   So No we simply cannot rule out that a few independently operating Swiss merchants did not take advantage of the war and the guns provided them by the Swiss government to make a little extra profit out of the situation.  If we find any that did so and did not treat the crews of the captured ships as prisoners of war well that is an act of piracy and murder.  Hiding the sale of stolen goods and disposing of a stolen ship are something for the Criminal Investigators to look into!

Liborio Valentinius:  So what should we do we cannot prove or disprove the information the Swiss have provided.   We know they have attacked us covertly in the past what should I tell Ambassador Steinberger in the morning?

Sextus Cotta:   That depends completely on what the Emperor wish's for the future.  Do we have any directions from Rome?

Mario Alessio Decumius:   The Emperors wishes in this are simple.  The threat of New Zion has been neutralized. The New Swiss have been pushed further away from our shores.   We will remain vigilant against any more attacks by the New Swiss however there is simply nothing to be gained by continued open hostilities.   Unless a coalition of nations in the Pacific could be found to provide basing and support for an Invasion of New Switzerland open war is simply not an option. 

Liborio Valentinius:  That still leaves me with nothing to tell the Swiss Ambassador?  Will we conclude a peace treaty, a permanent cease fire what?

Mario Alessio Decumius: We will have a cease fire we will extend it while we negotiate for peace.   If the New Swiss make any concessions then perhaps the negotiations may lead somewhere productive.  In the mean time there ships will stay away from out ships, our shores, and our waters.  They have acted like the Pirates they do business with so we will treat them as such!

Liborio Valentinius:   They will not enjoy the news I have to give them what if they wish to continue the war?

Sextus Cotta:  Then we remind them of our Allies, or the possibility of a coalition in the Pacific and we ask them does this really help the situation at all!  But what of the Future?

Mario Alessio Decumius: For the Future, we check the facts the Swiss have presented to the Empire.  We verify what we can and what we cannot.  We quietly check the financial records of Swiss owned ship registered under non Swiss flags for acts of Piracy?  And more importantly we answer the question the Swiss have handed to us.   


Sextus Cotta:What question is that?

Mario Alessio Decumius: It is really very simple.  If the New Swiss really are not responsible for the drift mines in the Mediterranean and the raider actions in the Atlantic then there is someone else loose in the world who has committed an act of war against the Republic of France, the United Norman Kingdom, the Confederated States of America, the Iberian Empire, the Hapsburg Empire and the Empire of Italia.   The possibility that an unknown nation might have undertaken such an action that concerns me more than the known threat of New Switzerland!

Mid December 1919
Office of Lucius Cornelius Sula.

Lucius Sula:  Well the Emperor has ordered us to dispatch some sort of contingent to this review of naval ships in Durban!  I think the Senate wants the Marina to send a battle ship for prestige purposes as well?

Aide:   But Sir our newest battle ship just entered the Dry Dock in Taranto it is unlikely that the Imperator will finish repairs from her Torpedo Damage prior to the start of the Durban Naval Review!

Lucius Sula:  Quite correct, and even if she was available I wouldnt send her not with negotiations still ongoing with the Swiss.   We need to keep a strong Naval Presence in the Rift until we are sure the Swiss fleet has arrived back in New Switzerland.   Speaking of which do we have any reports on the arrivial of the Swiss Fleet in Phoenix?  They have not been positively identified since they were spotted off Ceylon over a month ago?

Aide:  Sorry sir, nothing from our attatche' or our agents in the Pacific.  And given the choke points they would have to pass through they should have been spotted by now.  Either they have gone south around Firanji to a port in Southern Australia and risked the Winter Storms of that region or they are still hidding at some port in the Indian Ocean.   Our best guess would be the same people who allowed them to refuel on their way here.   

Lucius Sula:   Yes, Bharat is going to be a long term problem.  They seem to be harboring Pirates as the Pirate captured in the Rift last year indicated and now covert dealings with the Swiss?  However, back to our original problem what do we ahve to send to Durban.

Aide:  Well with the need to keep all our capital ships close to home just in case that leaves us very little that is currently undamaged or not critically needed.   Perhaps one of Scout Cruisers and a few of the Modern Destroyers.   They are all fast enough to make the run from Durban back to our water relatively quickly!

Lucius Sula:  Plulling out a ships list!  Well let me see the Taranto was lost so we cant send the first of the Class but I see that  IMS Tripoli and 3 of our most modern Destroyers have been assigned to Nacala do you think that would meet the requirements.

Aide: Excellent choice the Tripoli is an excellent Scouting Platform practically brand new, and If we sent the Destroyer Leaders DDL-02, DDL-03, and DDL-04 that would make an excellent little task force?  They could compete in the Light Cruiser or Scout Cruiser Catagory and the Destroyer Catagory!  I would send some of the MAS Boats but they really lack the range to make the journey without stopping at multipule Orange Ports.

Lucius Sula: Well will we need a support ship possibly a Tender and or an Oiler to support the trip?  And more importantly will the Republic of Orange allow our shipping to attend?  I know the diplomats have been working on relations with Orange recently and they attended the Caldera Cup but the Imperial Edict on their shipping has not yet been recinded?

Aide:  I will forward a request through the Foreign Office to see how the Orange Republic will reply?  In the meantime should I cut orders for the deployment just in case they accept?

Lucius Sula:  I suppose so!  I guess if the Orange Republic replies favorably the Emperor will be taking steps to imporve relations with them as well!  Go ahead cut the orders along with some cautionary orders about proper protocol!