Iberia News 1907

[The Rock Doctor]

"On behalf of the Republic of Gran Colombia, President Rey Alizandro extends his deepest sympathies to the citizens of Iberia and the family of Carlos the First.  The late emperor made a lasting contribution to world peace by forging the Iberian Empire out of the chaos of the early years of this century.  Gran Colombia's ambassador to Iberia, Sr. Alfredo Riquelme, shall represent our nation at funereal proceedings."

[Borys]

OOC
If there is time, Stefan will be present. If not, the highest ranking Habsburg within reach will attend the Funeral.
Borys

[swamphen]

("semi-IC")
The House of Hohenzollern would greatly like to have one of its members* attend the funeral, however regretfully the war makes it too dangerous to risk the journey.

* - Aside from the King of Rumania, anyway...

[Desertfox]

Plus the fact that the Royal Yatch now looks like Swiss Cheese. ;D

IC NS sends the usual condolences, with the NS ambassador to Iberia attending the funeral.

[miketr]

Madrid, Iberia
A cold misty rain blew out across a city decorated with flags at half mast and women in black morning clothes.  A lone drummer kept a solemn beat beside a rider less horse led by a member of the Life Guard; a jeweled sword in its sheath and fine leather boots reversed in the strips to mark the descended owner.  Just behind the horse came a gun carriage with the national flag draped over a coffin and a crown sitting atop the flag with more of the life guard forming its escort.  Then came three unformed riders, Jaime de Borbón y de Borbón-Parma Prince of Asturias soon to be crowned Jaime I Emperor of Iberia and at his side Stefan von Hapsburg Emperor of Austria and the princes uncle Alfonso Carlos de Bourbon, Duke of San Jaime; behind them came various dignitaries and ambassadors from other nations. 
The procession had made its way around Madrid to give the people an opportunity to pay their respects, at last the procession once more entered the Plaza de Espana from Gran Via.  Soon coming to the incomplete Catedral de la Almudena across from the Palacio Real de Madrid the procession halted to as the fallen Emperor was taken into the Palace. 

A half a world away an Iberian Convoy made its way across the blue waters of the Pacific.

Story to follow....

[miketr]

Iberian Convoy West of Hawaii, Course 260 Speed 8 Knots

A 3,000 ton ship was a small post to fly a Contra Almirante pennant from but the Tagus was the largest and most powerful warship in the convoy.  "Have you much experience in these waters Captain?"

"Sorry Admiral never been out of the Atlantic or Mediterranean."

"So you haven't scene a Typhoon then."

"Typhoons no, a few Caribbean Hurricanes though.  Worried about the Swiss warning Sir?  Their reports had one appearing October 17th, we're some time past that and from what the records say were also out of the season for them in these waters at all."

"Perhaps captain out of season doesn't mean none and the season lasts until January in the Western Pacific.  Those Torpedo Boats are very small craft and are not intended for a big blow...  I have some ideas we are going to work on just in case."

Part 1 of 4

[miketr]

Iberian Convoy East of Midway, Course 255 Speed 8 Knots

Bridge of TB-57

The commander of the 500 ton Torpedo Boat looked over the signal that had been handed too him by one of his sailors, "Your sure you got this right son?"

"Ahhh...  Yes Sir, very sure sir."

A loud sigh was given in way of responce and then a hand wave to allow the signalmen to return to his post.  The commander walked over to the voice tube, "Engine room this is the captain I need to talk to the engineer and have him bring his slid rule and the ships plans to my cabin."


Several minutes later in the captains cabin.

"Skipper I got my slid rule and the plans... whats going on?  Are we going to have to stow more coal on deck or something?"

"No something worse we have to figure out how much water we can take on as ballast if we get hit with a hard blow."

"Thats the crazies thing I have heard yet..."

"Its the admirals orders..."

The engineer sat the plans down and the ships book on the empty space on the captains desk, "I see sir time to get to work.  I can assume the other ships are doing this too?"

"No idea but its a safe bet there is not to much difference between the latest TB's but some of the older ones it will matter more AND we have to be ready to re-coal once we reach the shallows near that atoll... Midway."

"Ugh, thats going to be bitch sir its not a port, we don't have a real collarier with us.."

"And engineer the best part is we get to do it once more at least before we get to our destination."

"Joy... This was a half baked idea from the start sir."

"I know I know lets get this done."

[The Rock Doctor]

Will there be a report on the coronation of Jaime I? 

[miketr]

Will there be a report on the coronation of Jaime I? 

Yes, first the convoy, then coronation and him taking control of the government.

[Borys]

Hordes of Habsburgs and AH aristocracy will be present.

[swamphen]

The DKB's Ambassador to Iberia will be present. We extend our regrets that the war makes it impossible for the Kaiser or Kronprinz to attend.

(Scharnhorst would be secure enough transport...but he is busy elsewhere.)

[miketr]

Iberian Convoy East of the Northern Marianas Islands, course 300, speed ?

H.I.I.M.S. Tagus

"Whats the latest weather update Lt?", the  Contra Almirante asked the young weather officer.

"Sir the Barograph shows pressure is still dropping, the sea state is now 5 and the wind is quicking."

"Do you have any good news Lt?"

"From what I have read on the areas weather patterns this most likely will not be a full cyclone, we are out of the season for such activity, if just."

"From what you have read..."  The Contra Almirante paused to chew on his cigar, "I want you to know how reassuring that statement is Lt."

The weatherman shrugged, "Sorry Sir but my normal posting is Puerto Rico and I have scene many Atlantic Storms all I can tell you is what I think."

Looking out to the gray sky the Contra Almirante pauses once more, *SIGH* "Not your fault son keep me posted."  "Signalmen!  Message to the fleet, prepare for storm..."

to be concluded

[miketr]

Iberian Convoy, 12 hours later

Bridge of TB-31

"Captain the coal bags and other cargo has shifted and we have taken a 8 degree list..."

"Fuck this shit Bosun I want that crap off my ship.... Over the side with it now."

Deck of TB-31

The torped boat destroyer was turned into the waves but the waves were now at least 4 meters high and the little ship was boobing in the storm churned ocean.  The Bosuns work party made thei way aft to were the remaining bundles of coal were gamed up against the side of the ship.

"We...ines and then heave it away!"

The ten man party with bolt cutters quickly cut the through the restraining lines after the winch was hooked up.  The waves made the job all the harder and more than one man had to held down by his fellows as waves battered the small ship.

The second load of coal had been tossed over the side when a wave tossed the ship and caused the winch to slip and then run away... 

"Hit the F... ...rack!"

The 500 lb crate of coal hit the ocean and then quickly filled with water and once the ocean grapped hold it acted like an anchor dragging the entire ship to the side.  The ship quickly had a list once more and heeled hard to port.

Bridge of TB-31

"Engine Room flank ahead starboard shaft! Flank ahead starboard shaft!"  "Helm!  turn us back into the wave!"


Deck of TB-31

The winch and wire never intended for such strain. Soon the wire split and metal fragments shattered across the deck hitting a number of the work party.  The coal, crate and its wire sank into the ocean along the side of the ship....

The increased power had just started to be delievered from the bridges frantic order and the rudder was hard over.  This combined with the sudden loss of drag caused the ship to heel over starboard and the port prop broached the ocean... just in time for the runaway cargo cable to whip past and to be captured be the spinning blades.

The small ship whipped even harder to port once more, the followed prop quickly siezed and the shock damage went up the VTE machinery.  Steam flooded the engine room as pipes cracked.  A blinded crew poured out of the engine room.

Bridge of TB-31

The helms men, "She's sluggish as all hell on the wheel!  Sir..."

The torpedo boat captain picked himself up and called to a crewmen, "You get down to engineering and find out whats going on!"

Nearby on the storm tossed ocean

Deck of TB-34

A massive wave, nearly 10 meters high hit the Torpedo boat, which punched through the but it carried away many things by its passage including two of the air intakes and some debris punched a hole in the smoke stake.  The 500 ton ship quickly lost draft for its engines.

Bridge of H.I.I.M.S. Lobo

A look out cries out, "Mother of god she's breaking up..."

To be concluded...

[Borys]

Nice. I could not resist fixing some typos ...
Borys

[miketr]

Iberian Convoy off Guam

H.I.I.M.S. Tagus

The Contra Almirante had not slept in nearly 50 hours and looked the part; he stood alone on the wing of the bridge looking out east for the rest of his convoy and had for most of the day.

The Tagus' captain came out of the bridge, "Admiral you need to get some rest sir your staff and I can handle the repairs."

"Not just yet captain..."

"Sir there overdue by a day... with the short distance to travel to the rally point I don't see how..." another pause as the captain ended his hemming, "Sir there is no one to wait for."

A pair of sad eyes turned towards the captain for a minute and then a most tentative nod, "Yeomen!"

A young man with a clip board joined the two officers on the wing of the bridge, "Sir."

"You have the report ready for transition to land and to go out over the cable?"

Wordlessly the yeomen handed the clipboard over.

Code Select Expand

To: Iberian War Department, Naval Section
From: Contra Almirante Arsenio Linares y Pombo
Subject: Convoy Status

At approximately 18:00 hour's local time on January 8th, 1908 the convoy encountered a weak pacific cyclone or 'Typhoon'.  The convoy was located approximately 150 miles east north east of the Northern Mariana Islands.  At the height of the storm sustained winds of nearly 80 miles per hour were recorded and wave action in proportion.

I regret to report of the loss of the following ships with all hands.
Torpedo Boat Destroyers number 31, 34 and 39 along with various minor damage to other ships of the convoy. 

The ships were lost not to any fault of the crews but because of the decision to overload the ships with extra coal and supplies for a trans-pacific route to Manila.  In addition the general unsuitability of these small ships to handle any type of major storm and the lost units age no doubt played its role.

Arsenio
Contra Almirante
"That's fine send it off at once Yeomen."

The end...