Brandenburg Gazette

[Desertfox]

Swampy, food is most definately NOT contraband unless carried by a DKB Ship. Dont know where those two guys got that idea. Now there's other stuff that New Gnea does not have...

[P3D]

Which neither part of New Guinea have...

[Borys]

Ahoj!
They probably got this idea from the illegal British blokade of Germany in WWI.
Food IS is indeed non kosher, but only if delivered to a besieged fortress.

Borys

[swamphen]

17 November
Port of Neue Brandenburg

Johann Wendland-Preus stood at the counter in the bierhaus, enjoying a final pint of Brandenburg's Best before boarding his ship. Travel during wartime was always risky, especially when one's route passed through the territory contested by the enemy. However the Ost Afrika Line had executed its war-plan of reflagging under the merchant ensign of Madagascar - there was word on the street that the company might make the move permament - and when the Council sent you on business, you went.

He wasn't exactly sure what he was supposed to do when he arrived in Khazaria (via Japan and Muscovy); he wasn't entirely confident the Council knew either. "Maybe something connected with the old legends of the Rohirrm, but maybe not", he'd been told - he was supposed to see what he could see about the matter.

He'd just mentioned his destination to the barkeep when the old man in the corner stirred. Herr Narenek didn't speak often. His voice was considered by listeners to be quite pleasant, actually, so that wasn't why; it seemed that he simply didn't like speaking to those younger than him, and when he did they usually had a hard time understanding what he meant. When he spoke to Johann, however, there could be no mistaking his inent.

"If you go to Kha'Zak'Stan," he said, "you will die."

[swamphen]

18 November
Brandenburg Gazette

VICTORY BY LAND AND BY SEA!

The High Seas Fleet has driven its Swiss impostor out of the waters of the Fatherland! Two Swiss cruisers were sunk and a battleship crippled! The Heer and the Legion Kondor have triumphed over the invaders of Rabaul! Thousands of Swiss Prisoners Taken!

[swamphen]

late December
Ost Afrika Line ship en route Neue Brandenburg-South America

Oberstleutnant...er, no, Fregattenkapitän...Sally Schilling of the Legion Kondor once again found herself cursing Colonel Hammer for putting her in this position. Somehow, he'd thought that her handling of the Anahuac agent on Paderborn-Delbrück (and the associated Blue Max) made her the logical choice to command the Legion's newest acquisiton.

And where had he come up with that wild plan? Granted, she could see the advantages to the Slammers having their own organic naval artillery support, and the ship could also be used as a fast transport for small squad actions. However - and quite aside from the legal ramifications of a mercenary man-o-war! - purchasing the Almirante Grau, the legendaryinfamous ship of Agrival Mars, and arranging to have its crew "sentenced" for the crimes commited under the command of the Baug to ten years' service in the LK, took some serious chutpah.

With that thought, she turned the surrounding air blue once again, then turned to head back belowdecks to her cabin. After all, it wouldn't do to have the new commanding officer of the armoured cruiser Sereniteit turning her gills green.

[swamphen]

31 December 1907

It was announced today that the Foreign Ministry has transferred Swiss Samoa, captured from the enemy earlier in the war, to the Imperial Japanese Empire. Terms of the deal were not revealed...

[Walter]

(Warning: Possible spoilers for those who read RG Veda and who have not read book 9 yet)

Early January, 1908. Exact date unknown...


A messenger stormed into the Great Hall of Zemni Castle. "Mylord!" he called out. "A message has arrived for General Jikokuten!"

Taishakuten, listening to the beautiful music of Lady Kendappa, looked up as the messenger dropped to one knee before him and bowed his head while holding out the envelope.

"I will see to it that General Jikokuten gets the message as quickly as possible," Taishakuten stated as he accepted the envelope. It was well known to everyone that only God King knew the identity of the mysterious General Jikokuten and all messages to the General were handled by Taishakuten in person. "You may go now," he told the messenger.

Taishakuten waited for the messenger to leave the Great Hall and the doors were closed. He then held out the envelope to Lady Kendappa.

Lady Kendappa stopped playing and gently pushed her harp aside. She took the envelope and opened it. "Let's see..." She pulled out the note, unfolded it and read it. "My troops have landed on Swiss Samoa, having officially been handed over to us on December 31, 1907." She looked up at Taishakuten with a smile. "Samoa-jima is now part of the Empire."

Taishakuten's head nodded slowly in approval. "Excellent. The first step has been made," he stated. He then looked at Lady Kendappa. "The time has come for the second phase to start, General. See to it that everything goes smoothly."

Lady Kendappa got up and bowed. "Of course, Lord Taishakuten." She then left the Great Hall.

[P3D]

Territory that is occupied but not owned by a country should not be transferred legally to a third, neutral state. Control can be transferred to an ally/ belligerent. If Japan wants Swiss Samoa, it has to get into the war - which might not be a good idea with a big brother to the North which did not like Japanese Territorial gains.

Such an act from Japan - taking control of a Swiss owned but DKB occupied island without Swiss approval - is a de facto declaration of war.

[Walter]

Territory that is occupied but not owned by a country should not be transferred legally to a third, neutral state. Control can be transferred to an ally/ belligerent. If Japan wants Swiss Samoa, it has to get into the war

I'd love to tell you what the deal was about, but I am afaid I would have to shoot you...
... or have Lord Grunbeld squash you like a bug.
:)

which might not be a good idea with a big brother to the North

Yes, I can imagine how angry all those Icebergs are at the moment. :)

[P3D]

Let me word it the following way:
Swiss Samoa belongs to the Swiss. By treaties accepted by DKB and Switzerland (and the international community). If after the war NS decides to restore their sovereignity over Swiss Samoa, and you oppose, they have every right to do so, and they could destroy any ships of yours there without declaring war.

And those icebergs speak Russian, I'm afraid.

[Walter]

By treaties accepted by DKB and Switzerland (and the international community).

Unfortunately, because Japan was quite recently reformed, they know nothing of these treaties you speak of.  :'(

And those icebergs speak Russian, I'm afraid.

Last time I looked on the map, the only thing that is north of Japan is the Arctic.

[P3D]

Why I have to give away my car? Because I know that it had been stolen when I bought it? Don't bullshit here, Walter....

[swamphen]

...both Swiss Samoa and the was-planned transfer of Keeling, was/would be 'handing over occupation duties to a fellow belligerant' (with a wink and a nod).

[swamphen]

11 December

After five days of running battle the Battleship Kaiser Wilhelm der Große and cruiser Ägir sunk twice their number in Swiss vessels, and crippled as many more, before the former finally succumbed to dastardly nighttime torpedo tactics...