News and Stories from the Vilnius Union

[The Rock Doctor]

18 May 1929

"Nervous?" asked Christian, Duke of Holstein as the groom's party waited for the cue to get started.

"About being married?  No," Wiktor said.  "About getting married in front of the entire nation?  Yes.  I can't wait for it to be over with."

"Oh, it's not that bad.  Trust a man who's endured it already," Christian said.  "Focus on her and on the Archbishop."

"Ahem," Blaszczak murmured.

"Yes, but you and I and our friend here are superfluous except for that brief interlude where you hand the rings over," Christian said.  "No offence, Reza."

"No, none at all," the Parthian said in heavily accented Polish.  "I am along for the ride, yes?"

"Pretty much," Christian nodded.

"And he's here to represent his family, house, nation and people," Wiktor added after a moment.

"Yes, all that too," Reza agreed.  "Think of this as a tactical exercise, Wiktor.  Take the field, seize the objective, retire in good order."

"Not how I'd put it..." Christian murmured.

"It is kind of weird to hear you refer to your sister as an objective," Blaszczak remarked.

"She is my older sister, Kapitan, I have certainly called her worse in my time," Reza winked. 

There was a knock on the door and a muffled, "Your Highness?  It's time," from the other side.

Wiktor grimaced and tugged on his jacket, the service medals quietly tinkling.  "Company will advance, Gentlemen."   

[TacCovert4]

Under any other circumstances, Ali would have felt trussed up like a turkey, and bored out of his skull.  Formal events, in a church no less, were mind numbing.  The music had been nice, he guessed, though he had taken a liking to the Swing and other recently popular styles on the continent, like Jazz.  But he nodded when appropriate, and clapped when appropriate.  He was here for his friend, and his beloved's friend.  Other than that, he was merely a statue, an ornamental pillar in his dress uniform with his royal badge and baldric overtop his tunic, itself heavy with medals and ribbons from the Mayan War and other occasions.  Ali held no false modesty, his uniform was striking, after all, he had had a say in the selection of a uniform for the Royal Naval Air Service.  But compared to the vision beside him, it was a canvas sack.  His heart still fluttered when he saw Shirin alight from the carriage and join his arm to enter the church.  Unlike the previous reception, they could not avoid their titles, and he chuckled as hers were read, then saw her giggle a little as the herald began his own...

Ali
Ibn Ali
Ibn Ali
Ibn Ali
Ibn Ali
Ibn Ali
Ibn Ali
Ibn Ali
Ibn Ali
Commander Air Group, Royal Naval Air Service
Holder of the Distinguished Flying Crescent
Warrior Peer, Society of the Falcon
Governor-General of Arizona
Heir Apparent to the Sun Throne
Crown Prince of All Aztecs

It was a mouthful, and listening to the crier stumble over the eight 'Ibns' was admittedly worth a giggle.

Finally, the introductions complete, they walked arm in arm to their seats.  Ali did consider that Christians did have plenty of seating, and did not necessitate kneeling on the floor for services.  More importantly, the pews as they called them allowed people to take up as much room as they wanted, or sit as close as they desired.  "Your chaperone will have words later" he whispered to Shirin as they sat, trouser leg touching robes.

The doors swing open, as the processional begins, all rising....

[The Rock Doctor]

18 May 1929:  Warzawa Evening Observer

History was made today in the capital as Prince Wiktor Vasa wed Lady Aspas Suren of Parthia.

The prince and his three groomsmen look resplendent in their respective dress uniforms.  The prince showed no sign of injury as he walked up and later down the aisle, though some observers felt his knee may have buckled momentarily while rising from communion.

The bride was radiant in traditional Parthian wedding attire, a white "jama pichhoir" which lacked a veil but had a modest train.   Her bridesmaids wore pink-hued dresses reported to have been designed by noted Exchange Street dressmakers Pilsudski and Skrein. 

As the first wedding between a Union royal and a non-European, the ceremony did not follow the precise path most recently seen in the wedding of Princess Marie and Duke Christian.  With Lady Aspas declining to convert to Catholicism, the event itself was only possible through a dispensation from disparty of cult and she did not take Communion.  A portion of both her vows and the prince's vows were spoken in the Parthian tongue, the prince seemingly comfortable with his pronunciation.  A Parthian cleric was also invited to pronounce blessings upon the couple shortly before the conclusion of the service.

Eight hundred guests from across the Union and the world bore witness as the couple exchanged vows in the Cathedral Basilica of St. Stanislaus and St. Ladislaus of Vilnius.  As was to be expected, a very large party of royalty and nobility from distant Parthia were in attendance, as was Prince Ali of Azteca, known to be a good friend of the groom and himself due for nuptials in a year's time.   The governors and other very important people from the Union's overseas territories also made the journey.

Many thousands of ordinary citizens congregated on the streets of the city to seek a glimpse of dignitaries arriving and departing from the ceremony.  Security was visibly tighter than usual, likely on account of the attempted assassination of the prince last year.  Thus far police have reported a number of detentions of individuals who have not properly respected the security perimeter but say that there has been no actual threat to safety.

As this newspaper was going to press, a large reception is just beginning at the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania.  Much dancing and revelry can be expected to last into the early hours of tomorrow, following which the newlyweds are said to be departing for a cruise around the Baltic in the royal yacht Cztery Korony.

[The Rock Doctor]

19 May 1929

With Prince Wiktor and Lady Aspas waving from the upper deck to several thousand spectators, the Cztery Korony slips out of Klaipeda.  Once the yacht is a mile out, the royal couple - exhausted, hung over and, in the case of Wiktor, nursing a very swollen leg - retire to their suite and collapse in slumber.

Followed at a not-very-discreet distance by the torpedo-boat Winsum, the yacht begins a counter-clockwise trip around the Baltic...

[TacCovert4]

May 19th,

Watching the Cztery Korony steam out of Klaipeda from the VIP section, Ali notices a slight shift amongst the media present.  Some photographs are taken of he and Shirin, as the happy couple of the day disappear into the distance.  He says to her "Pity the newsmen, I was hoping to have some time before we had to maintain our official personas.  Alas, only a few months and it will be our time to set sail out of sight and mind of those vultures."

With little else to do, and the passengers from the Embassy due to return to Azteca already boarding, Ali and Shirin say their goodbyes and he boards HMS Sol, bound for Veracruz, but at a more reasonable 20kts, the ship able to practically cross half the earth at this still fast pace by cruising standards.

[Kaiser Kirk]

The Wedding had been a grand affair, being able to pay honor and witness to her friend Aspas, while spending precious time with her own betrothed Ali had been wonderful.  Waving goodbye to first Wiktor and Aspas and then Ali on his magnificent yacht Sol was both lovely, but also a bit thrilling. Life was changing drastically, the next wedding would be hers, and she could start a new life with Ali, no longer consigned to writing weekly letters.

The Embassy had filtered the invitations from local Wilno luminaries, Parthia might be distant, but was a considerable economic power, and the Crown and the Seven great sway in matters. This meant appearances at an Embassy party, and accepting a pair of highly select invitations. While only delaying departure by a handful of days, this gave an opportunity to go motoring in the Wilno countryside in a different season. This was far different on the ground, and gave but a taste of the vast realm, but importantly an idea of how the commoners in towns and countryside lived.

Observing and learning was ever a pleasure, and Shirin had been looking to augment her book learning. So these quick jaunts were eagerly looked for.  A fundamental covenant of governance in Parthia was the idea that the Crown-led government would care for the long term benefit of all, while the mainly-elected councils of the shires and towns would worry about the day-to-day rules. The concepts of applying democracy from bottom to top had been tried and discarded when the Arascids had let themselves become figureheads in 1156, and lasted until "High Councilor" Tekish Anuteshgin sent back the heads of an Mongol Ambassador in 1216, leading to the Mongol invasion and destruction of much of the nation, and razing of Ctsetiphon (Baghdad) in 1258. Once again serving to rally the nation, her family had fought from holdouts and slowly reclaimed the destroyed lands. Democracy on a limited basis continued, but here in Wilno, under House Vasa the personal union that formed Rzeczpospolit had adopted the form of it in the 1500s and had both expanded to become Wilno and battled the Horde successfully. A terribly different historical arc than what had occurred in her land, and while the land was good and well watered, the prosperity of the people was still testimony to the effectiveness of it's governance.  Indeed, touring this lovely country was quite nice, if not as ...exhilarating as flying over it with her prince.

The return to Parthia was along the same route, escorted by the same Cruisers. As a Royal Yacht had not materialized fro thin air, the chartered liner served as conveyance. The foreign escorts that joined for parts of the trip were noted and appreciated. There was no actual risk in these waters, but with such high import personages, ensuring that there was no perceived opportunity helped ensure there was no case. The refueling at Malta was followed by a shore trip in magnificent Alexandria, before Passage through the Suez and passage through the Red Sea. Eventually, the ships reached Abbas again. Trains, Planes and Automobiles would whisk the passengers to their final destinations, only to reconvene eventually to make the journey to Azteca.

[The Rock Doctor]

19 June 1929

The initial report on the loss of the cruiser Pocomoke suggests that the ship was lost to a coal dust explosion in its aft bunkers.  This is primarily based on observations made the dive team aboard the submarine rescue ship Okon, which found evidence that the blast originated on the beam and not on the centreline where the ship's aft 130mm gun was located.  Testimony from surviving engineering personnel - a few fortunate individuals who were on shore leave at the time - has indicated that coal dust build-up was not unusual and that ventilation within the ship was generally inadequate.

The ship's surviving officers, including her captain, are expected to be recalled to Wilno for court martials as a matter of protocol.  The rumor mill suggests that the ship's chief engineer - killed in the blast - may be scapegoated for failing to maintain the bunkers in a clean and safe manner.  That said, the ship's captain does not have any particularly important patrons or contacts and is not likely to get off scot-free, either.

A general bulletin is dispatched to other coal-firing Union warships stressing the need to regularly inspect and maintain their own bunkers, lest a second accident occur.

20 June 1929

Prince Wiktor and Lady Aspas take in the summer solstice in the northern port town of Lulea.  They are, not surprisingly, the guests of honor at the town's festival, which includes music and dancing, a baking contest, and various games. 

Lulea's around 150 km south of the Arctic Circle, so the couple do not experience a true twenty-four hour day...but it is certainly very close to it.

28 June 1929

Their honeymoon finally ended, the royal couple arrive in Stockholm, where they'll spend the next few months at Stockholm Palace.  It being the Vasa summer retreat, they are soon joined by much of Wiktor's immediate family - less Princess Marie, Duke Christian, and their son John.

5 July 1929

Princess Elsa is born to Princess Marie and Duke Christian at the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania in Wilno.  At seven pounds, eight ounces, she is judged to be in good health.  Labor was not greatly difficult but Marie is advised not to travel until September as a precaution.

18 September 1929

The incumbent mayor of Hamburg is re-elected in part on the strength of the city's shipbuilding industry.  The mayor had been sure to use the Voss und Blohm shipyard as a backdrop for a few press conferences and speeches, and mentioned the city's importance in building the battleship Gadolin and the first two Rajtar class armored cruisers and a light cruiser as evidence that his policies were successful.

This is a mild annoyance to the navy, which faces renewed demands from other port cities to spread around the joy.  It was already doing so as a matter of course.  Gdansk is seeing jobs and contracts from construction of the battleship Herschel and another light cruiser, while Stockholm's industry is busy with the aircraft carriers Centaury and Smok.  This doesn't prevent sternly worded letters from civic officials and chambers of commerce from reaching the Minister of Defence and the Prime Minister's office.

12 October 1929

Incumbent representatives of Union Shipwrights Union Local #33 win re-election, also on the strength of business at the Imperial Reval Shipyard. 

This is a modest facility, with a 100m and a 50m drydock, so it doesn't get big or flashy contracts from the navy.  However, they've been turning out two harbour defence boats and a motor torpedo-boat every six months for years now.  As the incumbents were quick to point out, these are the bread and butter of the Union Navy, ships that will probably be built until the end of days.  It is steady, reliable and predictable work and the members are generally happy that the Local worked with management to secure these contracts.

[The Rock Doctor]

8 November 1929

"Who's going to the big wedding in the spring?" Queen Christine asked over dessert.

"Oh I thought we could all go," said Queen Sophie, who wasn't in charge yet kind of was in charge.  "It would be a nice family vacation for us all!"

"And that would be really nice," Christine agreed, "But shouldn't somebody stay behind in case the Mayans try to kill us?"

"If they do that, then Uncle Carol has an unexpected new job promotion," Princess Marie chirped.

"But he won't, because the Mayans aren't foolish enough to do such a thing," Queen Sophie declared.

"Oh really?" King Gunther, Prince Wiktor and Lady Aspas all replied in unison.

The elderly queen blinked at them.

"Marie is right, Uncle Carol would do absolutely fine if circumstances put him on the throne," Gunther added.  "While they've got a thin veneer of deniability protecting them right now, let's not be naive and pretend the Mayans don't have an interest in spreading their ways and ideas in violent fashion."

"Let's be realistic," Wiktor added, "The Aztecs are probably pretty grumpy about what happened to us and they're going to go to a lot of trouble to make sure there's no risk of a repeat - especially when the eyes of the entire world are on them for the wedding."

"But that's in their lands," Christine said.  "There's still the trip."

"As I understand it, we're going to be escorted by at least two battleships," Gunther said, his wife's hand.

"The Mayans would lose a significant part of their navy getting through those ships," Wiktor added.

"And the remainder soon thereafter," Aspas spoke up.  "By Union guns or otherwise."

"There would be consequences," Wiktor agreed.

Christine frowned.  "Well, alright, but I want you all to know I'd be willing to stay behind with Piotr if necessary."

"And we're all grateful for your willingness to sacrifice, dear, but it won't be necessary," Sophie proclaimed.  "We will have a wonderful time, all together."

[The Rock Doctor]

13 December 1929

"I have a favor to ask of you," Kontradmiral Karhi said to Wiceadmiral Borkowy.  They were sitting at a table in the flag officer's lounge at naval headquarters in Gdansk, where Borkowy had been quietly savoring a vodka and orange juice and his newspaper until a few moments ago.

"What would that be?"

"You'll be leading the squadron across to Azteca next spring," Karhi began.

"Ah," Borkowy said.  "You want in."

"My squadron wants in, yes," Karhi replied.  "Grenadjar and Petyhorzac won't be in service much longer.  The men would like a final hurrah before they're decommissioned."

"Would you believe I had this same conversation with Wiceadmiral Foremniak two days ago regarding 4th Battle?" Borkowy asked.

"I could believe it, he's in the same position," Karhi nodded.  "And more imminently, as I understand it.  Wspanially's supposed to pay off as soon as Gadolin begins trials."

"Whereas your old girls have until mid 1931, as I understand it," Borkowy said.  "First, I will remind you, as I did with Foremniak, that I'm commanding the squadron; I don't have a final say on what's included."

"I understand that."

"Second - and this is the main issue - I intend to run at fifteen knots the entire way.  Possibly even eighteen.  There was no way Foremniak's predreadnoughts could maintain that.  Can your cruisers?"

"They've got the bunkerage at fifteen knots.  At eighteen, they might need a UNREP - but your escorts might as well," Karhi said.

"They might, but that's only part of the equation, my friend.  Those cruisers have reciprocating engines older than my children.  Can they hold up that long?"

Karhi considered his words for a moment.  "Honestly, I can't be certain.  They can run at fifteen knots on less than half power, so no issue alternating shafts.  Will there be casualties?  It's possible, I admit it.  But having said that, those engines have been pretty reliable, and some of the men tending to them have been doing so almost as long as your children have been around."

"Heh," Borkowy muttered.  "Now suppose the squadron has to fight its way through the Mayan-"

"There isn't going to be a fight with the Mayans."

"I agree with you, but what's my answer if I'm asked that?"

"Your speed will be constrained by the royal yacht and your auxiliaries.  If 3rd Scouting is with you in a combat situation, you've got two big cruisers that can make a mess of Mayan light forces - or at least draw some attention while Encke and Frolich sort matters out."

Borkowy finished off his drink and lifted a finger to catch the steward's attention.  "The two armored cruisers?"

"And the light cruisers.  Orimiri and Benue."

"Their range isn't great," Borkowy noted.

"It's enough, and they can UNREP."

"How many oilers do you think I'm taking along?"

"One of the big ones is enough to get us from port to port," Karhi said as the steward arrived.

"Another screwdriver, please, Hans.  You?"

"Stout would be nice," Karhi remarked.

"Separate tab; we're working now," Borkowy added with a smirk.

"Very good, Sir," the steward declared before heading to the bar.

"Like I said, I'm not intending to slow down for anybody.  The yacht is the only exception to that," Borkowy said.  "But I understand where you're coming from.  I've been in a similar position, a long time back.  If you're willing to take the risk of being left behind, I'll consent to having your ships attached to the squadron."

"I appreciate that, Wiceadmiral."

"Raise it with the Admiral of the Navy and I'll await a decision."

[The Rock Doctor]

March 28, 1930

The royal yacht Stanislaw I departs Amsterdam, with the entire, immediate royal family aboard. 

King Gunther, Queen Christine and their children take the yacht's royal suite, of course.  Queen Sophie claims the primary guest suite, while her two remaining children and their spouses take staterooms - Wiktor and Aspas happen to wind up in the most isolated of the suites, strangely enough.  Also aboard are the Prime Minister and his family, three prominent members of the Sejm, and a number of aides and staff.

Accompanying the yacht are:

-The Third Battle Squadron, under Wiceadmiral Borkowy, with battleships Johann Encke and Carlotta Frolich and light cruisers Warta and Lyna

-The Third Scouting Squadron, under Kontradmiral Karhi, with armored cruisers Grenadjar and Petyhorzac and light cruisers Orimiri and Benue

-Torpedoboats Winsum, Warffum, Wielkopolski, and Wroclaw

This force shakes into a long column, with Third Battle leading the yacht and Third Scouting trailing; the four torpedo-boats take up guard positions beyond them.

A few hours later, a smaller supporting force also sorties from Amsterdam.  These are oiler Nokoue and depot ship Niesamowity, escorted by the sloops Vechta and Randers.  They take up another column, with Randers leading. 

Both formations proceed southwest at fifteen knots, precisely as Wiceadmiral Borkowy had declared they would.

[The Rock Doctor]

1 April 1930

The big Union convoy arrives at Ponta Delgada, in the Azorez.

A good portion of the squadron does not need to refuel, which is handy since the port really isn't large enough to handle them at the same time anyhow.  The two armored cruisers and their light cruiser escorts duck in to oil, as due the torpedo-boats.  The royal yacht docks primarily so that it can host a large dinner for the royal family and the territory's most important people.

[The Rock Doctor]

4 April 1930

"Huh," Prince Wiktor said as he paused to steady himself and then continued into the forward lounge of the royal yacht.  "I was expecting more than this."

The sum total of his immediate family in the room were his niece Edyta and nephew Piotr.  "Mother is sick.  Father is comforting her," the princess said, looking up from her book.

"Casimir's with the nanny," Piotr added, glancing away from the spray-splattered windows.  "He's sick too."

"Well it is quite a storm," Wiktor agreed, making his way to their table a few steps at a time.  "I can imagine the torpedo-boats must be awfully uncomfortable if we can feel it here."

"Grandmother said the ship was supposed to be absolutely comfortable in any weather," Edyta noted.  "I think she's also sick."

"Technically it is pretty comfortable," Wiktor said as he finally plopped down in a chair.  "But this is still a moderate-sized ship in a bad storm in the middle of an ocean."

"How come you're not sick?" Piotr asked.

"How come you're not sick?" Wiktor replied.

"I dunno," said the teenaged heir to the throne.  "Is your wife sick?" 

The phrase Aunt Aspas had not really caught on just yet.  "She's enjoying some quiet time reading in our suite," Wiktor said.

"Oh."

"She could read out here if she wanted," Edyta noted.

Wiktor nodded.  "She knows.  She just likes the solitude right now."  He spied a steward lurching toward the table.  "Can I just get a glass of water, please?"

"Anything to eat, Sire?  Your Highnesses?" the steward asked.

"No thank you," Edyta replied.

"A plate of schnitzel?" Piotr suggested.

"Pardon?" Wiktor said, raising a brow.

"A plate of schnitzel...please?"

"Of course, Your Highness," the steward replied, and turned about, almost falling into a table as the ship rolled.

Wiktor looked back again at his nephew.  "You've got to remember your manners, Piotr."

"I'm going to be king one day," Piotr replied.

"Yes, exactly," Wiktor said.  "So you need to learn to be a proper one, and that begins with your manners."

"But I'll be in charge," the boy remarked.

"Wrong:  You'll be serving," Wiktor said.  "And while you're doing that, you'll be absolutely reliant on people like Hendryk there to support your service.  So treat them with some respect."

5 April 1930

"She's fucked, Sir, seriously fucked," the Chief Engineer of the Grenadjar sighed, scratching his bald scalp.

"In what way, specifically, is she fucked?" the ship's captain asked, taking a drag on his cigar.

"I can't be one hundred percent certain, Sir, but my hunch is the central piston's warped or otherwise out of alignment.  As soon as it's safe to do so, we'll be tearing the whole engine open to have a look."

"Ugh," the captain muttered.  "And that's on the inner port shaft."

"That's right, Sir.  The outer port engine's running smooth enough for now but if we're maintaining fifteen knots and you don't to constantly lean on the rudder, that engine's got to be going the whole rest of the trip."

"I understand that.  How're the starboard engines holding up?"

"At the moment, fine.  I can still alternate between them to complement the outer port engine."

"What're the odds we can have a fix before Johannestadt?"

"Iffy.  Depends on what we find and if we have everything we need in our stores," the Chief answered. 

"Well...do what you can," the captain said.  "Fact of the matter is, the last leg of our cruise is considered potentially hostile waters.  I'm not sure the flagship's going to want us in formation if we're already down one engine."

[The Rock Doctor]

7 April 1930

"That was pretty rough," Princess Marie said as she rocked her mercifully sleeping infant daughter Elsa.

"It was unpleasant," Lady Aspas agreed, watching the baby's face.  "But we have passed through it now."

Marie glanced down at the infant.  "She did alright.  I'm not even sure she noticed.  But then again, she spent most of the time in a crib suspended from an overhead beam, so she just swung around while we wobbled around."

"She was self-stabilized," Aspas mused.  "Convenient.  Perhaps we should have sought out hammocks for ourselves."

"Do they even have that?"

"The enlisted men might.  I have not seen that part of the vessel," Aspas replied.

"We should ask," Marie decided.  "Can I ask...if it's not intrusive...are you and Wiktor trying?  He's never seemed interested in having kids..."

Aspas was silent for a few moments.  "We are allowing matters to proceed in a natural manner," she allowed.

"That's a start," Marie declared.  "Are Mother and Christine being pests about it?"

"They have expressed their views."

"That's a really diplomatic way of saying that yes, they've been pests about it," Marie said.

"Diplomacy is important when one dines with queens," Aspas agreed.


9 April 1930

"As noted, Grenadjar is down one engine, Sirs," the cruiser's captain reported.  "I regret that it does not appear the matter can be rectified in the twenty-four hours we have here in Johannestadt.

"I see," Wiceadmiral Borkowy said.  "What of Petyhorzac?"

"All engines are operational at this time, Sir," the other cruiser's captain replied, omitting to mention that they'd been running without the starboard inboard engine for most of the leg from Amsterdam to Ponta Delgada.

"I see" Borkowy repeated.

"Three engines is enough to maintain twenty knots," Kontradmiral Karhi noted.  "If you're concerned about Grenadjar keeping up with the primary squadron, I'm quite happy to take her and fall in with the supporting force.  It's limited to eighteen knots at best anyway."

"I'm concerned about having a large warship that is without an engine while we pass a potentially hostile coastline," Borkowy said. 

"Which, Sir, is a good reason to have Grenadjar accompany the supporting force as a precaution," Karhi reiterated.  The cruiser's captain nodded along. 

Borkowy sighed and was silent.

His flag-captain spoke up after a moment.  "It's a five day leg to Veracruz, Admiral.  We're running north of Tamara Insula before entering the Gulf of Azteca.  It would be...surprising...if the Mayans were to behave aggressively in close proximity to Roman waters.  Perhaps it would be prudent, then to have Grenadjar remain with the primary squadron for the first two days of steaming, at which time a final decision can be rendered as to keeping her attached to the primary squadron, detached to screen the supporting force, or detached for other duties in the Caribbean."

"That seems fair," Karhi noted.

Borkowy said to his flag captain, "I take it you're looking at this as a matter of diplomacy."

"I am, Sir," the flag-captain replied.  "I think the odds of an overt Mayan attack are essentially nil.  I have little doubt Grenadjar's men have been busting their asses to keep their engines going, and would prefer that they not suffer the consequences of being stuck with ancient machinery."

"Very well, very well," Borkowy grumbled.  "You'll remain in formation with the primary squadron until we are north of Tamara.  At that point, I will signal for Grenadjar and a screening unit to fall back and act as a covering force for the support squadron.  You'll maintain formation with them until they reach Veracruz.  I will be kept up to date on any engine-related issues for either armored cruiser.  Understood?"

"Aye, Admiral," Karhi replied.

[The Rock Doctor]

10 April 1930

Early in the morning, following another large gala aboard the royal yacht, the squadron departs Johannestadt.  Fully oiled up, the force is augmented by the aircraft carrier Golab and another four W-class torpedo-boats.  Two of those boats join the main screen; the other two are attached to Golab, as her personal escort and plane-guard vessels while the carrier maneuvers three miles to the north of the primary squadron. 

Golab's airgroup was normally nine Zurek Z.25 fighters and nine Sauer S.23 torpedo-bombers, but she traded off three of the latter to her sister Wrona in exchange for three additional fighters before departing Johannestadt.  This allows her to keep two fighters at all times as combat air patrol and others on stand-by for a rapid launch.  There are also regular launches of S.23s that fly out ahead of the squadron, then patrol a dog-leg to the south and east in case Mayan naval forces are at sea.

While the carrier's ability to intercept hostile aircraft is certainly valued, it is the torpedo-bombers which actually make Wiceadmiral Borkowy less grumpy than usual.  They mean his battleships and light cruisers won't have to be dropping out of formation to launch and retrieve their own scout-floatplanes while in the last leg of the journey.

11 April 1930

"You felt that, Sir?" asked the Chief Engineer of the Petyhorzac as her captain entered the forward machinery room.

"Everybody felt it, Chief," the captain half-shouted in reply.  "What happened?"

"Not precisely sure, but I've increased power to the outboard shafts so we can open her up again and have a look."

"I just told the admiral yesterday that the engines were working fine..."

"And they were," the Chief agreed.  "Today is a new day."

"I'd really rather not have to signal the flagship that an engine has failed for the second time in less than two weeks, Chief, it just doesn't inspire confidence."

"We got her working the first time, Captain.  Give me a few hours and I'm hopeful we can do it a second time."

"How are the outboards working?"

The chief grinned.  "Slick like whale shit.  No trouble at all."

The captain sighed.  "Keep it smooth, Chief, otherwise we'll get sent back to ride herd on the fleet train just like Grenadjar..."


12 April 1930


"That ship is really old," Prince Piotr observed as the Grenadjar turned to port and left the main line.  Further away, another ship was also turning, but he couldn't see it clearly enough to know how old it was.

"Okay," Princess Edyta said, not looking up from her book.

"When I'm in the navy, I'm going to be in charge of a ship like that," the heir added, nodding at the Carlotta Frolich, curretly a few hundred yards ahead of the Stanislaw I. 

"Why would you be in the navy?" his sister asked with vague disinterest.

"In the army you walk everywhere and you carry all your stuff:  Just listen to Uncle Wiktor talk about it.  But in the navy, you steam everywhere, there's nothing to carry, and you get to shoot the biggest guns," Piotr declared.

Edyta now closed her book, one finger trapped within to mark her page.  "Isn't that the ship with guns so big we could be stuffed inside?  Isn't that what Grandmother said, when she made you cry?"

"I didn't cry," Piotr said.

"But you did cry.  Great, large tears.  Everybody around us could see them."

"You shut up."

"I'm sorry your feelings are hurt, Piotr, but really, you were just a baby at the time."

Piotr turned red.  "Shut up, Edyta, I'm going to be king and then you'll have to shut up."

"I don't think the Union has ever had a baby for a king," Edyta replied.

Piotr punched her arm.

"Ow...?" the princess said. 

"That's for calling me a baby."

Edyta cocked a brow.  "Really?"

"Yeah, really.  You should be nice to me, because I'm going to be king," Piotr declared.

"I see.  Well...I suppose you're right...baby," Edyta murmured.

Piotr drew back his fist.

"Piotr Gunther Alexei Vasa, what on Earth are you doing?  Lower your hand this moment!" Queen Sophie exclaimed from behind him.

"Hmm," Edyta muttered.  "What is the baby doing?"


13 April 1930

"Signal from Golab, Sir, their aircraft reports a Mayan cruiser approximately twenty-five miles south of us and making to intercept us," a radioman called out.

The Encke's captain replied, "Understood, thank you."  He turned to Wiceadmiral Borkowy and the flag-captain. 

"I think there's little doubt she'll catch up with us, but with one ship-" the flag captain started.

"They only needed one ship to cause trouble for the World Tour cruise," Borkowy growled.  "Take these instructions down:  Golab's aircraft to orbit and report on the Mayan.  A class identification would be ideal.  Warta is to break formation and intercept the Mayan.  The Mayan is to be kept out of torpedo-range of the squadron.  Warta has authorization to use non-lethal force to that end.  Finally, Lyna is to assume station on the royal yacht's port beam as close escort.  Understood?"

"Aye, Sir," the flag-captain replied.

"Signal all ships with a summary of all that.  Ensure Support Force and Grenadjar acknowledge.  We'll maintain our current state of readiness for now," Borkowy concluded.


14 April 1930


"Alright, you miserable apes, we've got barely twenty-four hours to return this ship to her previous pristine condition and status as the most beautiful ship in the Marynarka Wojenna Zwiazku!" yelled the chief petty officer of the Warta.  "Painting crews, over the side.  I don't want to see a speck of rust, and I sure as shit don't want to see bare steel from yesterday's little bump!"

Ladder ropes were tossed over the cruiser's port beam, then ropes and planks were lowered so that thirty-four sailors could shimmy down and start re-painting where Warta had gently and respectfully nudged the Mayan cruiser Glorious Solidarity away from the squadron at the height of yesterday's meet-and-greet.

"Carpentry team - if those boats can be fixed, make it happen.  If it's too much hassle, call me over and we'll make a call on dumping them."

The Mayan cruiser had, no doubt accidentally, swung a boat crane out as the ships came into contact, and the two ship's boats on the port side of Warta's bridge had been struck by the swinging hook. From the CPO's perspective, the first one was probably a write-off,  but he'd see what the carpenter's mate had to say about it.

"Engineering - gimme a report on the integrity of that intake ASAP.  Airgroup, how's our little pigeon?"

"Plane's fine, Chief," the ship's pilot called back.  "Nothing touched our precious bird."

"Well thank the blessed baby Jesus for that," the Chief remarked.  "Let's go, let's go.  Hustle!"


15 April 1930

"Signal received from Veracruz, Sir, just a welcome to the Sultanate," a radioman reported.

"We're still fifty miles out, the keeners," Encke's captain mused.

Keen or not, the transmission was somewhat redundant given that the squadron had acquired both a surface escort and aerial escort, the latter giving Golab's airgroup new and exciting things to do.  The Aztec aviators, for their part, seemed to find the little carrier fairly interesting in its own right.

"Advise Veracruz that we are pleased to be here," Wiceadmiral Borkowy said.

"Aye, Sir."

"One other message," he added.  "Squadron-wide transmission.  My personal compliments to the engineering crews of Grenadjar and Petyhorzac.  Scouting Three will lead the squadron into Veracruz.  Battle Three will take up the rear.  That is all."


*****

Flanked by four light cruisers and eight torpedo-boats and firing her secondaries in salute, the Petyhorzac led Grenadjar, Stanislaw I, Golab, Johan Encke, and Carlotta Frolich into Veracruz.  The support squadron would arrive a short time after, even as the Union warships were being directed to their mooring locations...

[The Rock Doctor]

5 May 1930

"So that's a no?" the Admiral of the Navy asked.

"It depends on the size of the carrier, Sir," the Head of Naval Construction confirmed.  "We have four 250m docks in the Baltic; we're required to hold one open for repairs and refurbishments at all times.  Stockholm frees up at the end of this year, Gdansk mid next year, and both Hamburg docks are already open.  However, two of those docks are going to be running hard with battleships I and J soon enough, and that'll be all they do for a full two years.  That leaves you one dock for carriers.  We can juuuust get a Centaury out in a year's time, but anything larger will take longer and push back the second unit's lay-down to at least eighteen months after the first."

"Do you not have specific contracts in place for I and J at this point?"

The Head grunted.  "No, there's political turbulence because of that electoral crapfest in Hamburg last year.  If you ask me, there's a solid argument to keep the battleship construction at Gdansk and Hamburg - and the carrier construction at Stockholm - because those yards have a lot of experience building those types already.  What I think will happen, though, is that the government's going to award I to Stockholm and J to Gdansk so that those cities also get battleship glory.  Hamburg would get the carriers as a consolation prize."

"Carriers are no small matter," the Admiral of the Navy noted.

"A battleship provides more employment than two carriers," the Head replied.  "And they're much more prestigious.  Floating aerodromes don't resonate with urban voters, or so I've been told by the Minister's staffers."

"Resonate?"

"...Eh, appeal to, then."

"So most likely I'm trying to get another dock enlarged on short notice," the Admiral said.  "Except the most affordable way to do that is to expand a 200 metre dock, and we're cycling light cruiser construction through all three of them."

"My suggestion, for what it's worth, is this," the Head replied, "Expand one of the 150 metre docks at Gdansk to 250; it doesn't interrupt any ongoing programming, and you've got time to do it if the second carrier isn't coming until 1932.  If you're feeling bold, expand another of the Gdansk 150s  - or maybe even one of Rostock's pair - to 200 so we have some flexibility at the 200 metre level."

"Rostock?"

"Sure.  They've got a lot of experience on torpedo-boats and lighter stuff but it's a well-run yard and the waters are deep enough to handle cruisers in," the Head said.  "Dangle the opportunity to award major ship contracts to a fourth city, after Gdansk, Hamburg, and Stockholm, and see if the politicians bite."