News and Stories from the Vilnius Union

[Kaiser Kirk]

10 December 1920

To:  Unified Berber States; Empire of Ethiopia
From:  Vilnius Union

Sir,

Please be advised that the Vilnius Union has completed acquisition of lands it finds desirous in the Orimirilandia region of Africa.  No further expansion is planned at this time.

Sincerely,

Etc., etc.

The Berbers would be pleased at this news.

[The Rock Doctor]

12 December 1920

"Good news," the Minister of Defence said, "The Sejm has allocated funding for the Ekspedycyjna Flota concept."

"Oh," Grand Admiral Zahle said.  "That's pleasing."

"The bad news, though, is that they didn't allocate a lot of funding.  Have a look."

Zahle took the offered note and had a quick look.  "We can work within those margins, for the most part.  The seaplane tender will require extra funding but I wasn't going to touch that for a year or two anyway."

"Where are you starting?"

"Smaller elements," Zahle said.  "Tugs, survey ships, that sort of thing."

"You were going to propose those as part of the main estimates, weren't you?" the Minister asked.

"I was," Zahle nodded, "But now I'm not.  I'll put that money into more anti-submarine assets."

[The Rock Doctor]

16 December 1920:  Eko, Orimirilandia

"I got it, Hans.  I fuckin' got it.  The big ticket," Piet Hempsted remarked as he and Hans sat at a corner booth in a café in Eko.

"Got what, Piet?  I told ya, there's no more expanding going on now.  The government's done with all that," Hans sighed.  "Hell, they even told the Berbs and the Ethiopians that.  And the Japanese ain't coming."

"Yeah, yeah, I know they ain't coming.  Had to cut my losses from Abidjan cuz they wanted some commie neighbours in the Ericas instead of nice beachfront property here," Piet grumbled, reaching for his cocktail.  "But this time it won't matter, my friend, cuz I got it."

"And I asked what you got and you didn't say," Hans observed.

Piet glanced about.  None of the few other European patrons seemed to be paying any attention, and it was unlikely any of the nearby Africans spoke fluent Dutch.  "Ain't about grabbing new land this time, Hans.  It's about upscaling what we got."  He leaned across the table.  "The Volta, Hans.  It's the place."

"Lot of palm oil coming out of there."

Piet scoffed.  "Palm oil, shmalm oil.  There's bauxite there, Hans.  Aluminum.  A zillion tonnes of the stuff, perhaps.  And further north, I have it under good authority, are prime conditions for coffee.  The world's most important narcotic, Hans, the only reason married couples don't murder each other each and every morning.  There's a lot of opportunity there."

Hans considered this.  "Not much for infrastructure, though.  No railways, not many roads away from the coast."

"But there's the Volta, Hans.  The river is the infrastructure.  It just needs some improvements."

"A dam, eh?" Hans muttered.

"No, no, no, no, no.  Not a dam.  We dam the river, it floods the land around it.  That's good cropland, Hans, the best in the area.  And all those people living there, well, they're gonna be kinda pissed off about losing their homes.  And then there's the problem of a big mass of stagnant water behind a dam cuz that's how you get malaria," Piet rambled.  "A lock system, though – keeps the water moving, doesn't flood everything.  Lets us run steamers and barges hundreds of miles upriver if we make the investment.  We just, you know, gotta round up some investors."

"Interesting," Hans nodded.  "Maybe I need to write a few letters."

"Maybe you do," Piet agreed.  "I got a guy running numbers.  He worked on the Trans-Erica.  Knows his shit.  But that's only part of it.  We gotta get the route surveyed.  Figure out where the locks go.  And then we gotta buy up the rights there.  And we gotta do it quiet-like, cuz if Stockholm Sven or Das Heinz get wind of this, they will surely try to muscle in.  Got it?"

"Got it," Hans said.

[Desertfox]

Just because Japan purchased property in Central America doesn't mean they are no longer interested elsewhere...

[Kaiser Kirk]

And further north, I have it under good authority, are prime conditions for coffee.  The world's most important narcotic, Hans, the only reason married couples don't murder each other each and every morning.  There's a lot of opportunity there."

A) LOL

B) as the Dam didn't exist until later, I could edit the maps to remove it, if desired.

[The Rock Doctor]

No, no need, but thanks for the offer.  It's easy enough to intuit where the non-Lake Volta provincial borders should be.

[The Rock Doctor]

19 January 1921:  Widoknagory, Srebrny Rzeki

"The operation is underway now, Governor," Colonel Vilkkumma reported, unrolling a map and placing it on the governor's desk.  "Smoothly at that."

Governor Berg leaned forward to examine the map.  "I don't think we expected much else, did we?  The Chana have been expecting this for a while."

The Union's territorial acquisitions in Srebrny Rzeki had been along the coast and then inland along the major rivers, leaving something of a bagel-shaped mass until recently.  Vilkkumma's men were now, finally, filling the hole in the bagel.  "They have, and the assistance of their coastal cousins has been most helpful to date.  Even in the north I'm hearing that they're pleased to see us – there were some difficulties with the Tupiniquim and coal prospectors coming into their traditional territories.  The army's being viewed as a peacemaker under the circumstances."

"Excellent. Hopefully there are no incidents to change their minds," Berg remarked.

Vilkkumma nodded.  "Indeed, Sir.  With our columns basically entering from all directions, a full occupation should be a formality in a few weeks – a lack of infrastructure will slow progress into the interior but not stop it.  After that, we should speak again about the border with the Parthians.  We still have that gap in the far north."

"Yes, that still bothers me," Berg noted, "Even if the Incans aren't doing anything to take it, I prefer a neat border picture rather than a complicated one."

"And the river makes for a tidy defensive frontier," Vilkkumma added.  "At some point, our intention to stay out of the Chaco might be worth communicating to the Incans.  They might be less inclined to occupy it themselves if they know it."

"Once we have what we want, perhaps," Berg said.  "Keep me informed, Colonel."

[The Rock Doctor]

28 January 1921:  Gulf of Bothnia, Baltic Sea

The ferry's old vertical triple expansion engines were running hard enough that the vibration and noise were noticeable on the bridge.  Less noticeable was any sign of progress against the ice blocking her path.  "Enough," the captain called out.  "Ring for all stop.  I'm going out for a look."  He grabbed his coat off a hook by the hatch to the flying bridge, pulled it on, and stepped out. 

It wasn't unusual to have ice in the Gulf of Bothnia at this time of year.  The northernmost waters had probably started to freeze back in November, after all.  What was unusual was for the ice to be thick enough that his ship couldn't push through it.  Standing on the portside wing, looking down, his gut instinct said it was at least thirty centimetres thick, maybe more. 

The view to the east showed essentially continuous ice to the horizon, which did not bode for a successful arrival in Oulu.  There was a bit of open water to starboard, in the ferry's lee, but other chunks and masses were slowly bumping into the port side as a cold wind brought them down from the north.

"We're gonna call this off," the captain said upon returning to the little bridge.  "Too much ice in front of us and I don't think it's gonna get better.  We'll try to get back to Skelleftea."

"Alright," the helmsman – also the captain's brother-in-law – said.  "You want to try turning or just back ahead."

"I don't think we got room to turn here," the captain said, returning to his seat.  "Ring for all astern, and we'll watch for open water."

"All stern, aye," the helmsman repeated, pulling the lever.  "Weather must be off further north."

"Guess so.  Hey Bjorn?"

The wireless operator turned about in his alcove at the rear.  "Captain?"

"Let Oulu and Skelleftea know we're turning around due to thick ice.  Ask if either has an icebreaker in port, because we might be needing one."

"Will do.  Where are we?"

"I reckon sixty nautical miles east-northeast of Skelleftea," the captain replied. 

"Passengers won't be happy," Bjorn said.

"It's January.  They know it's a risk," the captain shrugged. 

Bjorn nodded and started tapping out a signal.  Below and astern, the engines were throbbing once again as the ferry began to barge through the ice that had filled in the gap the ferry had cut not so long ago. 

"Think we're in for a long haul here," the captain mused. 

The ferry's progress was dismally slow, and before she'd made even half a mile astern, the head purser appeared.  "Captain – passengers have noticed we're backing away.  Are we returning to Skelleftea?"

"That's the plan," the captain said.  "Let 'em know we've got unusually thick ice and our progress is likely to be slow."

"Aye," the purser nodded.  "I'll do an inventory of the galley and see whether we should hold back something for tomorrow."

"We got cases of biscuits, Emppu, I saw 'em myself," the captain noted.

"I meant something more palatable than the biscuits," the purser replied.  "Some of those things are older than Bjorn."

"After a point it don't matter," the helmsman said.

"That's true.  Plan for two extra days.  Wouldn't surprise me at all if we get stuck hard in this," the captain said.  The purser nodded and departed again.

"Hey Captain," Bjorn called.  "Oulu acknowledges.  They have the Bornholm in harbour but her shaft is borked.  They're going to put a call out."

"Lovely," the captain muttered.  "Acknowledged.  We'll keep them informed of progress."   

[The Rock Doctor]

March 18, 1921

Princess Marie of Vasa and Christian, Duke of Holstein, were married in a well-attended ceremony in Vilnius today in front of family and friends. 

The princess, 22, was radiant in a white lace gown with satin train.  Her necklace and earrings, featuring large emeralds from Choco, were specially commissioned for the occasion, and may start a new trend amongst the Union's upper and middle classes.

The Duke, 27, looked suitably dapper in a charcoal suit with white shirt and tie. 

The royal couple were attended by eight bridesmaids and eight groomsmen.  The flowergirl for the occasion, Princess Edyta, was notably composed for a seven year-old in her first notable public function, and provided some necessary direction to her younger brother, Prince Piotr, as he undertook the role of ringbearer.

Following the conclusion of the royal reception at the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, it is understood that the couple and retainers will travel by train to Germany for a honeymoon of relaxation and, weather permitting, skiing.


20 April 1921:  Zlotabrama, Choco (OTL Barranquilla)

Kapitan Marynarki Heidelberg watched with mild dis-interest as the motor torpedo-boat drew closer to his own ship, the old protected cruiser Weser. 

It was a friendly motor torpedo-boat, to be clear; it and five others had been lowered into the water by one of the navy's Rybolow class korzarze about twenty-five minutes earlier.  The mother ship was still slowly pacing along the horizon while the small craft had come approached the harbour.

This particular MTB came within five hundred yards, then curved away.  It reduced speed to perhaps five knots as it traced a wide semi-circle and eventually idled up alongside the Weser.  Heidelberg stepped out onto the cruiser's port wing to wave.

"Ahoy there," called an officer in the MTB's cockpit as it coasted to a stop. 

"Good afternoon," Heidelberg replied.  "How are you?"

"We're just peachy, thank you.  Just wondering what condition your ship's at right now?"

"Green," Heidelberg answered.

The other officer nodded; an enlisted man standing near him scribbled on a clipboard.  "That's what I figured.  Alright, so the bad news is, we put two torpedoes into you and you're going to sink in about six minutes.  That's maybe a bit generous for a ship of this size, age, and readiness, but the forms work best if I just make notes in increments of a tenth of an hour.  Also bad news that your wireless was rendered useless by the shock of the explosions, so you can't call for help, and we're ruling that you're too surprised to actually man the guns and engage us on our exfiltration.  Disregarding the fact that it'd be suicidal to do so while the ship is rolling over, of course."

"I'm sorry, what?" Heidelberg responded.

"The good news is that your magazines won't detonate when the ship capsizes and you, personally, should have time to get in the water and swim clear of the suction zone if you don't hesitate and your ankles aren't fractured by the detonations.  And then you can either swim back to shore or wait for whatever else isn't sunk to come out and collect you," the officer concluded.

"I don't see why you think you can just come along and rattle off that nonsense, Sir," Heidelberg protested.

"No?  Oh, I'm sorry, Kapitan Marynarki, did I hurt your feelings?" the other man needled.  "We conducted a combat deployment in plain sight and made an obvious attack run on your ship.  There was absolutely no indication that anybody on deck cared in the slightest - no signals, no movement.  And you, yourself, have confirmed that your cruiser is at anchor with her internal bulkheads wide open while half the crew is likely chasing tail ashore.  Do you think the Mayans would be this generous?"

"There isn't a war on, thanks!"

"Good thing, too!" the MTB officer called.  "Or things would be a lot worse than having to listen to annoying old me.  Imagine being in charge of the armored cruiser we sank last month, for example.  Anyway, we've got a ride to catch back home and we've got to make sure we don't get caught by anybody with more savvy than you.  Gun it, Olaf."

The torpedo-boat's engines snarled and her bow lifted up as she accelerated away.  The officer gave a parting wave, then the craft veered away toward the korsarz tracking offshore.

Heidelberg shook his head.  "What a jerk."

[The Rock Doctor]

June 5, 1921

To whom it may concern [OOC:  PC and NPC governments alike]

The Vilnius Union is contemplating a round-the-world cruise by several warship in 1922.  If you would be interested in receiving the squadron for a visit, please contact the nearest Union embassy. 

[Jefgte]

The Vilnius Union is contemplating a round-the-world cruise by several warship in 1922...

All Byzantine harbors are open to the Vilnius squadron.
;)

Gibraltar / Suez passage must be accepted by Iberia & Roma.
Iberia shouldn't be a problem
:'(

[Kaiser Kirk]

June 5, 1921

To whom it may concern [OOC:  PC and NPC governments alike]

The Vilnius Union is contemplating a round-the-world cruise by several warship in 1922.  If you would be interested in receiving the squadron for a visit, please contact the nearest Union embassy.

The Parthian Ambassador will deliver the invitation.

'We wish to request the Wilno 'round the world cruise' squadron visit the Port of Bushere. Liberty will offered to the crews. 
If so desired, railroad excursions to other cities or the Zagros mountains could be arranged.

Further, we wish to invite your squadron to visit several ports around the world, including the Sultanate of Brunei, the City of Kolombo in the Kingdom of Kandy, and Stonestown in the Kingdom of Zanzibar & Zanj. Liberty can be given at each.

If the vessels routes take them past other bustling ports, additional arrangements can be made.

Lastly, we would be pleased to expedite matters and make suitable arrangements, should Wilno wish to provide additional stores and provisions along the route."

(I will try to collaborate with Snip on NPC invitations later in the week).

[The Rock Doctor]

4 July 1921

"Gunther, I want to go on the tour!" Princess Christine blurted as they lay in the sun on matching leather settees.

"The tour?" the crown prince replied.  "What tour?"

"The world tour we heard about.  With the ships."

Gunther thought about that for a few moments.  "You mean the navy thing?"

"Yes!  That!  I want to go."

"...But why?  I mean, it's the navy," he wrinkled his nose in disgust at the mere thought of associating with the junior arm of the Union military. 

"There would be so many things to see.  Remember the fun we had at the canal?  It would be like that, only more of it," Christine said.  "And it would be such a wonderful memory for the children."

"I don't know, sweetie.  They're building a new boat for us.  Wouldn't it make more sense to wait for it to be done?  We can go in a year or two or whenever," Gunther suggested.

"They just built us a yacht.  Four Crowns?"

Gunther rolled over to look at her.  "I think it's too small to go around the world.  Did you want to spend that long on a ship that size?"

"It might be nice," Christine sniffed.  "Get away from the newspapers and the busybodies for a while.  See exotic sights.  Meet exotic people."

Kill them all, the former soldier in Gunther thought.  "I guess I can ask, if you really want to..."

"Yeah.  I think I might," Christine smiled.

[TacCovert4]

The Sultan, via his ambassador to the Union, presents an open invitation at any Aztec ports which the Union may need upon its voyage, including the refueling and repair facilities at Angola and Zealand.  The Sultan would like for the fleet to visit either Acapulco or Veracruz, as he can be present to review it at either location.

[Desertfox]

Japan is also willing to host the Union ships wherever they want.