Gran Colombian News, H2/1907

[The Rock Doctor]

2 July 1907:  The Cromwell Citizen

President Rey Alizandro and Governor Maxwell Butler were on hand at the Cromwell Naval Yard for the keel-laying ceremony of a new cruiser yesterday.

The Westmoreland class protected cruisers* are fast, capable vessels intended to work with the armored cruisers of the Commonwealth Contingent and their counterparts in the Pacific Fleet.  Their speed and firepower will be used to defend against hostile torpedo-boat attacks and for scouting and shadowing enemy formations  at sea.  Four such units have been ordered, one of which, the Trelawny, was laid down in Montego Bay to less fanfare.

The cruisers are the largest vessels to be laid down in the island since the Superb was commenced eight years ago.  Although this is in part due to a lack of need for larger construction out of our capable yards, it has also been due to the need to better integrate our local techniques and equipment with that of their mainland counterparts.  The ultimate test of this integration will be in the eventual replacement of our indigenous armored cruisers, an event that appears to be a few years off yet.

*In the absence of a naval treaty defining a "light cruiser", Gran Colombia views the Westmoreland class as an evolution in the historical protected cruiser...

15 July 1907:  La Prensa Nacional

Just weeks after its completion, the Protestant Church of Saint Paul in central Cartagena has been seriously damaged by a fire that broke out in the early hours of the thirteenth of this month. 

Up to seventy firefighters were involved in combating the blaze, which was first observed by passers-by at approximately two in the morning.  Although the stone structure remains largely intact, fire, smoke and water combined to destroy much of the interior woodwork and art, and a number of stained glass windows commemorating the work of Saint Paul were destroyed as firefighters sought to gain access to the Church.

Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the fire, but rumors in the street suggest it may have been deliberately set.  The Cartagena Constabulary confirmed that it is treating the matter as a criminal act, though it did not identify any possible suspects as of press time.

28 July 1907:  Cartagena

"I'm pleased to say that the Pimichin Canal opened to traffic four days ago", Industry Minister de Soto informed his colleagues and the president.  "The first river steamer, carrying ten tonnes of flour and several passengers, made a southbound passage two days ago."

"Well done!", President Alizandro replied. 

"Excuse me – where is this place?", asked Sir Edmund Fitzroy, Minister for Jamaican Affairs.

"It's about eighty kilometers south of Puerto Inirida, just southwest of the Highlands", de Soto answered. 

"Ah, so Amazonas del Sur*, then", Fitzroy remarked.

"Actually, no – Amazonas del Norte*", de Soto corrected him.  "We dredged some tributaries to the Orinoco and Rio Negro, and where the two are separated by just a few kilometers, we employed a penal labor force to dig out a canal suitable for river steamers and barges.  We can now send small craft directly from Puerto Inirida – which is connected to the railway system, mind you -  all the way down to the Amazon river."

"Useful for trade and commerce", Fitzroy noted.

"And for settlement and defence", de Soto added.  "Settlements have been established at both ends of the canal itself, since there are locks to maintain.  We can also expect that some settlers will make their way to the river system and decide to settle along the way."

"And yes, having another route down there is good for defence", Minister Ricardo Alizandro agreed.  "We didn't want the Mitu-Amazon Railway to be the only domestic link from the Heartland to Amazonas del Sur.  Railways can be sabotaged – canals, not so easily.  It also reduces our vulnerability to Iberian interference on the lower Amazon, if something were to come up."

"How far off is the railway?", Fitzroy asked.

"About two years.  We're working from both ends now, but the major obstacle is actually building the bridge over the Rio Japura.  There's a large wooden trestle being constructed and it's quite the undertaking."

"It will be quite the sight when it is completed", de Soto agreed.  "I look forward to eventually being photographed there at the opening of the railway."

"Out of curiousity",  Foreign Minister Torres interjected, "What exactly are we going to be doing with the seven thousand New Swiss soldiers we have been using for labor on these projects?  I am not aware of any further mega-projects requiring their contributions"

"That's an easy one, Eduard", President Alizandro answered, "We don't know yet.  We're contractually bound to keep them for a five year period, but I really don't know how we go about sending them home afterward without pissing off their government.  It would almost be easiest just to shoot the lot of them."

"I am certain we can do better than that", Minister Torres grimaced.

"When you come up with something, you let me know", the president said.



*Amazonas del Norte is the historical Venezuelan state of Amazonas; Amazonas del Sur  is the historical Brazilian states of Amazonas and Roraima. 

[The Rock Doctor]

6 August 1907:  Cartagena

"According to my officials, there have been at least thirty documented cases of religiously-motivated criminal acts in the past month:  all but one targeting Protestents", President Rey Alizandro announced, waving a sheet of paper at Cardinal Juan Rodriguez.

"That is unfortunate", the latter replied.

"Oh, please", Alizandro snapped.  "I've been at mass.  I've heard you speaking.  You're inciting this."

"I'm inciting nothing", the cardinal stated serenely.  "I'm speaking about the threat posed by the heretical sect in Jamaica to the mortal souls of our countrymen.  If a few misguided individuals make disparaging remarks about the heretics, it will come out in Confession and they will atone for their sins."

"We are not discussing disparaging remarks", the president growled.  "You know this.  We are talking about acts of arson – including two churches – as well as vandalism, assaults, and one case of attempted murder.  This has to stop before it gets out of hand, or it'll fracture the nation."

"So stop it.  Outlaw the heretics", Rodriguez suggested.

Alizandro scowled.  "Don't be nonsensical.  I'm not going to take government action against the Protestants.  It's not how we do things."

"Hypocrisy is sinful, Rey.  That is precisely what you did with El Dorado."

"We didn't move on El Dorado because of their religious bent, Cardinal.  We moved on them because they were a threat to national security."

"We did?", the cardinal exclaimed.  "Quaint.  I thought we attacked El Dorado because they were devil worshippers on our soil."

"They were a rogue group threatening national security, as demonstrated by their assassination of my father", Rey said.

"Their purported assassination of your father", Rodriquez corrected.  "My point stands:  the Protestants are creating unrest in the land.  You should take the bold action you took against El Dorado and stamp them out before they cause our downfall."

"Cardinal, rest assured that anybody seeking to cause our downfall will be stamped out, whether Protestant or Catholic", Rey said flatly.  "Keep that in mind when you prepare your address for this Sunday's Mass."

18 August 1907:  The Yucutan Channel, West of Cuba

The patrol sloop Arismendi was plowing south, on route for the island of San Andres, when the call came down from the crow's nest:  "Sir!  Some debris on the port bow, 'bout half a mile out!"

The sloop's commanding officer, Teniente Isidro Sancho, had already seen a wide variety of garbage on this busy shipping lane, but since the lookout had bothered to comment on it, he called back, "More than usual?"

"Aye, sir!  Might be wreckage!"

Sancho considered how to proceed.  His schedule was rather tight, a dinner with the governor of San Andres standing out in particular.  Poking around some flotsam and jetsam for an hour or two put that timetable at risk.  On the other hand, if a ship had gone down, a quick inspection would, he assumed, reveal its identity.  That,in turn, would allow him to send a useful report up the chain of command - useful in the sense of identifying him as a dutiful officer with initiative, if nothing else. 

"Ring for all-ahead one quarter", he called out.  "Senor Lopez, where off the bow?"

"Seventy degrees, sir!", the lookout replied. 

"Come round to port, then", Sancho said to the helmsman.  The sloop's speed was already falling off as it turned to the east.  "Constables – break out the boat hooks.  Haul aboard anything that might give us a name."  The dozen Naval Constables took up positions, two groups of three on each beam, and waited. 

The first item drifted by, a modest crate that was nearly submerged.  One of the constables reached out but the boat hook didn't quite reach it.  More items came into view:  pieces of wood, scraps of cloth, occasional crates. 

"Body in the water, sir!  Fine on the starboard bow!"

"Stop engine!", Sancho barked.  "Bring it aboard."

"Come starboard ten degrees, Sir!", the lookout suggested.  The helmsman acted without waiting for Sancho to confirm the order, as the constables readied themselves.  A few seconds later, one of the loaders at the forward sixty-five pointed down to the water and the constable extended the boat hook downward. 

"Got it!", the man exclaimed, and his two comrades lunged forward to help him.  It took six of the men a minute to lift the body three and a half metres out of the water and on to the quarterdeck. 

Sancho was waiting when the corpse was deposited in an expanding pool of water on the edge of the wood deck.  It was a gruesome sight – made worse by the fact that the body's hands were clearly bound together behind its back.  Sancho swallowed back bile and looked forward to the radio shack.  In an unsteady voice, he called out, "Sparks, get our position and send in the clear that we're investigating an suspected act of piracy."

[The Rock Doctor]

28 August 1907:  El Sol

El Sol recently received an exceedingly rare opportunity:  a chance to meet with one of the nation's little-known treasures, the scientist Professor Mysterio. 

We are, naturally, unable to disclose the specific city in which Professor Mysterio's facility is located; national security concerns preclude such information.  Sufficed to say, his facility could be closer to you than you might think. 

We are greeted by a security agent in disguise, who examines our credentials and conducts a thorough search of our persons.  Satisfied, he directs us through another checkpoint into the heart of a top secret research facility.

Professor Mysterio could be your neighbour.  With only a white lab coat to distinguish him, he resembles a friendly uncle or elder relative.  His handshake is brief; he displays nervous energy in the form of tapping feet and constant humming when not speaking.  "Welcome to my facility", he says to us.  "Here I am tearing away the veil of ignorance from our world, revealing the previously unimagined secrets of God and nature - secrets we may turn to the greater glory of Gran Colombia."

He leads us through a large room, where attentive technicians probe at devices unlike any we have ever seen.  The hum of electricity is a background as the professor ushers us into a colossal vault guarded by stern men in pastel cotton suits.  Lining the vault are shiny metallic boxes, each perhaps half the size of a shoe box.  "This is the current stockpile of output from Project Mudflap:  two weeks for a battleship, two months for a cruiser."

We ask what the contents of the box are; Professor Mysterio purses his lips.  "Unfortunately, I can not say; but it will revolutionize the field of naval logistics forever." 

He leads us back out into the main room, as the electric lights dim and a massive bolt of lightning leaps from one metallic object to another at the other end of the room.  "Project Sideways", he remarks absently.  "Still in the early testing phase."

We stop at a chalkboard, where the professor gestures at a stream of text and diagrams.  "This is something we term Project Humbug, though to be honest, it's really more of a collection of projects, each directed at one potential enemy of Gran Colombia.  The goal of the project is to negatively
influence enemy civilian morale through selective removal of cultural icons."  We recognize the icon on the chalkboard; it is, indeed, quite a famous icon, and its 'removal' would no doubt cause considerable confusion in its homeland.

"You'll no doubt recognize this icon.  It happens to be of particular interest to me due to its potential relevance to Project Ringworm.  Unfortunately, we seem to be on agreeable terms with the current owners of this artifact, so are not likely to obtain it any time soon.", Mysterio comments.  "There is really no mystery to removing it - it's a simple matter of physically transporting its components to a new location in Gran Colombia.  The real challenge, which requires scientific analysis, is to determine which icon will affect a nation the most. I have devised a mathematical formula, which I can not show you, that does exactly that." 

At this point, we ask Professor Mysterio something every civilian no doubt wonders from time to time:  "How do you assign code-names to these projects?"

The professor nods sagely.  "We have a fool-proof system devised which involves randomly selecting words from a Norman dictionary."

"Why Norman?"

"The premise is that very few Gran Colombians speak the language - so if somebody starts asking around about a project and is pronouncing the name correctly, he's likely a foreign spy."

Enlightened, we move on to where a metallic device looms over a caged rat, illuminating it with a beam of red light.  "This is Project Porkchop, our death ray.  Well, one of them.  As you can see, we have already perfected the ray projection aspect of the technology.  We're now moving on to increasing the lethality of the ray such that it becomes quantifiably in excess of background electromagnetism."

"Is such a weapon ethical, professor?"

"Ethical?  Does this rat seem to be in any pain or distress?", Mysterio asks by way of response.  We concede that the rat does not seem to be perturbed at all.  "In the greater scheme of things, it is not for me to question what is ethical or not ethical.  I am merely a scientist and inventor.  I trust our government to use advanced destructive devices in a responsible manner that betters Gran Colombian society."

We agree with this sentiment, and prepare to continue the tour.  Unfortunately, it seems it is about to conclude.  "I do apologize.  We're about to test Project Earthquake, and it would be better for you to be outside, just in case the effects of the test exceed our predictions.  We wouldn't want you trapped in the rubble with us", he says.

We thank Professor Mysterio for his time and his dedication to national security.  He shrugs off the praise.  "I'm just doing my part", he says modestly, and turns away to continue working for our collective security."

[The Rock Doctor]

2 September 1907:  Southeast of Trinidad

The Armada ponderously shook itself into line of battle.

Three protected cruisers, line abreast, led the Poderoso, Resuelto, Valiente, Insolento, Audaz, and Astuto.  Three more cruisers, also line abreast, trailed the battleline.  Further back, the battleship Helene followed the Battle Fleet, an observer rather than a participant in today's proceedings. 

The last full-scale shooting exercise had been in early 1905, and that had been truncated due to one or another of the many crises that rattled the world that year.  Prior to that, the last full length "Shoot-Ex" had been in 1901; the threat of war with Spain and France had precluded such an undertaking, since the exercise area, Punta Waini, was quite a ways from Cartagena and the Canal.

It would be the last Shoot-Ex for Audaz and Astuto.  Popular though they were with their crews, the old battleships were virtually worn out, and would be off to the breakers in mere months once Invencible and Irresistible completed their trials.  Admiral Morales felt a bit of loss at the thought; on the other hand, replacing eight 27 cm guns with twelve 30.5 cm guns would more than make up for it. 

"The Battle Fleet is in order, Admiral", one of his many aides reported.

"Very good.  How far are we from the firing range?"

"Approximately three thousand yards from the closest marker buoy, Sir", another young officer replied.

The Battle Fleet was already at Action Stations, but the dozen gun turrets remained trained fore and aft.  "Signal the Fleet to train weapons to starboard and prepare to open fire", Morales instructed.  A signals officer repeated the order, followed by a muffled voice aft of the bridge.  Poderoso's forward turret came around slowly as the overgrown wetlands of the Guyanese coast began to give way to the sparsely-treed mudflats of the target range.  Twenty-four large-caliber guns soon threatened whatever wildlife had braved the pockmarked clearings.

"Signal the Fleet to fire as they bear", Morales ordered.  His eyes slid over to Captain Escobar, who repeated the order to his own crew.  Poderoso's aft turret thundered, followed a second later by the forward turret.  Inert dummy shells punched brown geysers into the air above the target range as seabirds erupted into panicked flight.  The stench of cordite permeated the bridge as the wind and the battleship's course brought the gunsmoke across the deck and aft.  The roar of Resuelto's guns commenced about half a minute later as her guns came to bear; in three minutes, all six battleships had fired broadsides and were now shooting at a relatively intense rate of a round per ninety seconds.

The shoot continued for fifteen minutes.  The protected cruisers had nothing to do but hold formation and watch - they were in position to repel torpedo-boats, but none of the latter would be involved in the exercise.  On Helene, cadets lined the rails to observe the spectacle as the target range was churned into a wasteland once more.  "Signal to secure guns.  Hoist to come round to zero-four-five but await my mark", Morales called out.  The orders were repeated as he waited.  Each battleship secured its guns in due course in the usual fashion - by belching out their contents.

"Execute course change", said Morales, and Captain Escobar gave the order as the signalmen aft brought down the signal from the mast.  Morales crossed the bridge and stepped out onto the portside observation platform to watch his battleline.  Resuelto made the turn at the appropriate time.  Valiente did likewise.  Insolento came around a bit slowly...and Audaz and Astuto continued on for a full minute, firing broadsides, before executing the turn they'd been ordered to make.

To:  Admiral Ruiz
From:  Vice-Admiral Morales
Re:  Shooting Exercise, 2/9/07

Sir,

As you aware, the Battle Fleet carried out a shooting exercise at Punta Waini on the second day of September.  As planned, the exercise was conducted in line of battle, firing inert rounds.  The fleet's course was approximately one-three-five at a speed of ten knots.  The weather was mostly sunny, with a five knot breeze blowing approximately northwest.  The fleet engaged the target for nineteen minutes. 

A full report is appended; however, I want to specifically point out the aftermath of the exercise, which was somewhat alarming.  I gave orders to come round to zero-four-five after securing the guns.  Upon executing the order, the three leading units of the battleline made their turns as expected.  The fourth unit turned several seconds late.  The final two units in line failed to execute the order, causing the line to be split in two.

Upon further discussion with my captains, I was advised that the aft three battleships had difficulty observing signals from the flagship, on account of the great degree of gun and funnel smoke and the obstruction presented by intervening vessels in line.  The fourth unit in line, Insolento, was aware of a course change, but could not read the exact heading included in the signal.  The captain of Audaz did not receive reports of the signal at all, and was well past the turning point before realizing the situation.  He chose to secure his guns before coming around.  Astuto did receive the signal, but her captian elected not to execute until the preceding Audaz had done so, lest a navigational issue be created.

I am not particularly pleased with this outcome, but do not see much fault to be laid at the feet of the captains in question.  Low visibility is clearly an issue we will need to address, and I have two recommendations that immediately spring to mind:

1.  Introduction of gunpowder that generates less smoke.

2.  Changes to signal protocols, perhaps using a cruiser on the unengaged beam to relay signals as frigates once did in the age of sail.

As we are now in the process of steaming from Puerta Espana to Cumana for port calls, it is too late to test the second of those ideas in action at this time.  However, it is something I would recommend be tested with the Scouting forces in their exercises later in the season.

[The Rock Doctor]

7 October 1907:  Cartagena

(Note:  I'm allowing for some communication lag...)

"What's the situation in the Pacific?", President Alizandro asked.

"Quiet and tense", Benicio Delgado replied.  "We have no reports of incidents since the Dutch secured a portion of the Peruvian ships two weeks ago."

"Which doesn't mean there haven't been any", Ricardo Alizandro noted. 

"Our people in New Switzerland have been given the access we requested", Foreign Minister Torres stated.  "I have received a preliminary report b y telegraph and the sailent points are:  the passengers appear not to have been abused.  There is an ample amount of gold aboard and appears to be of Caliphate origin, given the stamping.  Some of the paperwork associated with the cargo seemed to be missing."

"That could be the Swiss or the shippers", Ricardo sighed.

"Yes", Torres agreed.

Defence Minister Alizandro rolled his eyes.  "My naval attache has seen motion pictures taken during the primary clash with the French - other reels from a ship engaged by the Dutch are still being developed.  The attache confirms that the French commence gunfire first, but do so at point-blank range.  Prior to that, the French appear to be engaged in a blinker light conversation with the Swiss."

"So we're getting a fairly consistent picture of what happened, but not why", the President mused. 

"Aside from the missing paperwork, and the ownership of the vessels in question, there is no obvious evidence of piracy on the part of the convoy", Minister Torres commented.  "Given the consistent messaging about this supposed Indian cruiser, the Black Pearl, the presence of the gold, my inclination is that the Swiss are, for all intents and purposes, guilty of piracy."

"Did they abuse civilians?  Not that I particularly care, in this case, but the question is out there", Rey remarked.

"As noted, our man in New Switzerland says they did not.  The Dutch have refused us access - whether out of genuine humanitarian concerns or to protect a lie would be the question."

"The Dutch and Swiss may be sizing each other up", Benicio Delgado noted.  "The Kra Canal has been a sore spot for some time, not to mention the failed Triple Alliance.  War is not out of the question between those two, even if the French look to be examining alternate means of satisfaction."

"I assume the basic view remains the same:  that Gran Colombian interests are not threatened?"

The ministers shook their heads.  Minister Escalante helpfully added, "A war in the Pacific should affect commodity prices nicely:  rubber futures, for instance, are already on the upswing."

"War is good for business", Minister de Soto smiled.  "Speaking of which - should we now be shutting the canal to Dutch traffic?"

"Probably", the President conceded.  "They are involved.  Otherwise, I'm still not inclined to get involved at this time, even if certain diplomatic personnel are name-dropping isolated and potentially vulnerable colonial possessions in our region."

"You give me heartburn when you say things like that", Ricardo groaned. 


Edit:  Changed date to reflect Swiss declaration of war later same day.

[The Rock Doctor]

17 October 1907

A notice from the Ministry of Industry, sent to all maritime states:

The Republic of Gran Colombia is pleased to announce that a standing offer has been issued for the ships that have reached the ends of their useful lives.   

Gran Colombia will pay $0.01 per thirty tonnes [light displacement] of military-grade shipping, or fraction thereof. 

For civilian-grade shipping, Gran Colombia will pay $0.01 per one hundred twenty tonnes, or fraction thereof.

Note that the rates assume the ship is undamaged; damaged ships will be of lesser value.

Industry Minister Sebastien de Soto notes, "Consider a UNK D-class protected cruiser as an example.  If scrapped, that vessel would be worth $0.34.  We'd buy that ship for $0.65, giving the seller a premium of almost one hundred percent that they can then invest on their current priorities, without tying up a precious drydock."

Minister de Soto concedes that this rate is not always going to be competititve, but:  "How big is the market for a twenty-year old ship with triple expansion engines when they'll need to be refitted or reconstructed and still be slower and less capable than a modern ship of less size?  And do you, the seller, really want more warships out there to defend against?  Do you want your name attached to whatever stigma the new owners inflict on those ships?  There's a risk in selling arms which can be used against you later. 

"Gran Colombia offers cash in return for the security of knowing that these ships have been broken up for scrap.  Just contact us six months in advance of your proposed sale, and we'll talk business."

[Borys]

25th October, Marineamt, Pola

Linienschiff Kapitaen Zweitehaendewagenverkaufer read the Colombian Ministry of Industry communique, translated at the Foregn Minsitry in Vienna, rubbed his five o clock shadow and made a thoughtful "hmmm ... " sound.

[The Rock Doctor]

"More changes to the 1908 program, I'm afraid", Admiral Ruiz informed Vice-Admiral de Irujo.

"At least this time it's you proposing it", de Irujo replied.  "What now?"

"I received a letter from Industry:  that standing offer for scrap got jumped on by somebody.  They're ponying up over [$15], but have convinced Finance that it should come out of the Defence budget since it'll ultimately benefit us."

"Cute", de Irujo remarked.  He did the math.  "Are we buying somebody's navy or what?"

"Not far off.  Anyway, it's the two forts here and at Montego that will get the axe for now.  We can bump up some torpedo-boats to use the idle capacity, since the lead-time necessary before construction isn't great."

"I can make that happen", de Irujo agreed.  "Are the forts on the books for a later date?"

"I think we can do Cartagena in '09.  Depends on how we sequence the scrapping.  That remains to be seen."

"Let's hope nobody else sells their navy to Finance", de Irujo intoned. 

[Korpen]

Defence Minister Alizandro rolled his eyes.  "My naval attache has seen motion pictures taken during the primary clash with the French - other reels from a ship engaged by the Dutch are still being developed. 

OOC: And as i know the conditions ofthat shot, i know that if anything somes out of it, it is a fake.

Trying to get any reasonable resolution on a ship 40-50hm away in front of the raising sun, without tale lens is pretty much impossible with 1907 technology, hell it is bloody hard with the cameras of today. But it makes it quite easy to retouch the images to say show a signal you want to show...

[The Rock Doctor]

I'll keep that in mind if/when I see that film... 

[The Rock Doctor]

11 October 1907:  Cartagena

"So - now that the Swiss have declared war with the Dutch, over an incident far less severe than the one they provoked with France et al, what are out next steps?", asked President Rey Alizandro, watching the downpour of rain outside his window.

Behind him, his uncle said, "Well, I'm sure there's been some shooting since the seventh, but I've heard nothing specific.  Nothing in our parts.  I've got a battle squadron at Esmeraldas just in case, though."

"With Canal access suspended, we ought not to see much in this region", Benicio Delgado replied.  "The Dutch could well send raiders around the continent to target Swiss traders or ships supporting the other canal.  The Swiss might send raiders around to attack Dutch shipping in the Caribbean.  Either is a  proposition that affects only a fringe part of the adversary, while risking intervention from ourselves and other neutral parties."

Industry Minister Sebastien de Soto said, "We implemented the new Canal access restrictions promptly and without incident.  The Dutch have requested access to the canal to verify that we're being 'fair' in our restrictions."

"That's rather...uppity...of them", Minister Escalante pronounced.  "It's our canal.  We'll do as we please with it."

"Yes, but I saw no particular harm in some basic access to transit records and visual observations from Colon.  The Swiss can do the same in San Miguelito for all I care", de Soto answered. 

"So long as nobody starts demanding inspection rights", the president said.  "If that happens, they're persona non grata and their inspectors are on the next boat out."

"Yes sir", de Soto said.  "Now, I know we're benefiting from higher commodity prices, since significant portions of the world's trade in rubber and the like come from the war zone.  I would think there's also an opening in the market to service Caliphate and Firanji shipping needs..."

"How's that?", asked the President.

"The Caliphate hired the Peruvians, who've not demonstrated that they can protect their own shipping interests.  They were escorted by the French, who've not likely impressed the Caliph or Thrawn with their determination to avoid war.  And while they may appreciate the Dutch efforts, using Dutch ships for their transportation needs risks Swiss trade warfare."

"Clearly that applies to any shipping carrying Firanji goods", Ricardo Alizandro noted.  "The Swiss aren't very fussy."

"Perhaps a SWOT analysis would be in order", Benicio Delgado suggested.

"Sure - make it happen", the President replied.

[The Rock Doctor]

17 October 1907:  Cartagena

The President was...fidgety. 

The first couple years of his tenure had been frenetic, exhilarating affairs:  facing off with France, defeating the Anahuac, maintaining order while half the world fell off its collective rocker.  The last year or so, though...well, there'd been progress.  Amazonas del Sur was almost linked by rail to the Heartland, Jamaica and Cuba were being amalgamated fairly well...the thing with the Church was annoying, but the Cardinal had backed off lately.

He'd been looking forward to implementing a creeping takeover of Liberia, but the Foreign Affairs types had concluded that it risked annoying the CSA on account of their historical links to the place.  Since the CSA had been a generally good neighbour, it hadn't made sense to throw this away for a couple million people and a handful of cacao plantations.  The plans had been dropped.  Plans for Nigeria hadn't progressed nearly that far - Foreign Affairs couldn't put together a coherent picture of that place, which suggested a great deal of investment risk.

Nevertheless, he had an urge to do something, and it took some time for the right word to present itself:  grow.  That was it; Gran Colombia had to grow in order to maintain its status and security.  But growth through internal industrialization was not really an option - the Heartland, at least, was amongst the most industrialized areas of the planet.  Overall, the policy wonks at Industry had demonstrated that Gran Colombia trailed only the CSA in terms of industrialization.

No, it made more economic sense to add to the population, then industrialize the newcomers.  Since it wasn't feasible to bring large numbers of newcomers into Gran Colombia's cities - other than those in Amazonas del Sur - Gran Colombia would have to extend its jurisdiction to external populations and industrialize them where they were. 

He rang the bell beside his desk, and his secretary quickly appeared.  "I need you to take a few notes", Rey told him.  The secretary ducked out to fetch a notepad, returning to sit in one of the big chairs opposite his desk.

"Have Foreign Affairs formulate what they think would be reasonable offers to France and the Netherlands for their Caribbean holdings.  I also want their analysis of the Norman colony at Sierra Leone and whether it's worth an offer."

"Yes, Senor President", the secretary replied, making scribbles on the notepad.

"Miscellaneous Affairs had that idea about the Middle Kingdom.  Get them to dig out the briefing materials and forward them to me."

"Yes, Senor President."

"Also, get them to do the same analyses for...say...Nigeria and India."

"Yes, Senor President."

"Oh, and have Foreign Affairs brief me on the various leftovers of the Union del Sur America."

"Including the DKB and Rohirrim protectorates, Sir?"

"Yes.  Have the protocol office check into the availability of the USA ambassador for the next week, in case I decide to meet with him."

"Yes, Senor President."

The secretary left to perform his errands and the President leaned back in his chair.  That was better.  He'd put some lines in the water and see if there were any nibbles.  Perhaps Gran Colombia could reel something in.

[swamphen]

*studies worm, knowing there's a hook in there somewhere*

[The Rock Doctor]

Nope, just a big, juicy worm.  Go on, try it...

(on that note - can't help but notice that Coquimbo has no population, IC, or BP:  what exactly is the DKB holding there?  A lake?)

[swamphen]

I originally had it set up with pop/IC showing in the reports, but, IIRC, I was informed the population there is <1.