Blast from the past. Fortress Bugio.

[Sachmle]

Thanks to a visitor who was printing a part of the N2 archive...

Most probably a search engine bot.

Well then, for once, thank goodness for spam bots. :D

Great read.

[Tanthalas]

Thanks to a visitor who was printing a part of the N2 archive...

Most probably a search engine bot.

Well then, for once, thank goodness for spam bots. :D

Great read.

I had read it before but just as good the second time around

[maddox]

Thanks guys, but with Bushranger as one of the Participants, Ithekro and me had to make a serious efford to keep up there.

It's one of the things I mis I have to admit, the stories written together.

[Nobody]

Reading this, makes me wanting to participate in something similar - but preferable without loosing a (important) ship ;)

[maddox]

Reading several postings concerning boredom on the Nverse ,and I admit, I suffer from the same malaise currently, I searched another of the Fun times, This time I'm resurrecting the Clash of the Rustbuckets.
I'm deleting comments and short remarks to make the story a tad more consistent.

The Rock Doctor
Actual Events: Sometime in March 1901

Feet propped up on his desk, telescope to his eye, Teniente Rafael San Martino watched the latest comings and goings of New Swiss warships in Phoenix Harbour. Torpedo boats were patrolling up and down the bay, an old cruiser was out manuevering. Not the most exciting day of ship-watching he'd enjoyed.

With his superior, Capitan Jiminez, off on "official business" - yes, he confirmed, there was indeed racing at the horse track this afternoon - with him out of the embassy, San Martino really had nothing to do. But then, he rarely did. His presence was a matter of Gran Colombian politics rather than a consequence of some legitimate need on the part of Jiminez for an Assistant Naval Attache.

A knock on his open door did not motivate him to turn around. "What is it?", he demanded.

"Perhaps you can spare a moment for me?", a sonorous voice inquired. San Martino nearly dropped the telescope and fell out of his chair in a scramble to face the Ambassador.

"Sorry, Sir", he exclaimed.

The ambassador frowned. "You need to pack your bags, Teniente. You're on the first New Swiss ship to Korea, leaving in two hours."

"Ah...", San Martino began, before pausing to think. "Korea, Sir? In the war zone?"

"That's right. Have a little problem up that way. A freighter called the Santissima Trinidad, owned by Angeles Transport, is stuck in harbour. Some damned local hopped aboard and shot down the officers before the New Swiss harbour police got him."

"They arrested him, Sir?"

"No, you fool, they riddled him with gunfire. Remember who we're talking about here. Anyway, the crew's refusing to do anything without an officer, there are no officers, and Angeles wants its ship back at sea."

"You want me to find an officer, Sir?"

The ambassador's gaze was withering. "No. I found an officer. You. It's time to do your duty. Get to that ship, take command, and bring it to Manila to receive a new set of Angeles officers. Pier Five, two hours." He tossed an envelope onto the desk and walked out of the office.

"Crap", San Martino muttered, and then the rush to pack began.
*********
Actual Events: somewere end april

The SS New Matterhorn reminded San Martino of the ship he'd taken his cadet cruise on, in the sense that Matterhorn, too, was a putrid bucket of rust. He stood on the forecastle, inhaling the fresh sea air, curious to know if his nose had been permanently ruined by the smell of the bilge and his cabinmate's flatulence, or if his inability to smell was merely an unconscious safety measure implemented by his body with those very issues in mind.

Matterhorn was south of Korea, just a few hours shy of turning the corner around the southwest corner of the peninsula before heading north to...whatever the place was called. It was in his orders. He could look it up later.

Dusk was approaching. The sun was low, casting shadow from the superstructure on him. He watched in silence as the gunners practiced loading and unloading the freighter's single large gun, mounted on a small platform at the ship's bow. Two other guns were mounted abaft the superstructure, small enough weapons that even torpedo boats would survive a few hits from them.

"Do you fellows expect to need that thing?", he called forward.

"Prepare for the worst, hope for the best", the gunner in charge replied. "There's trouble everywhere. The Boxers? You won't read it in the papers, but there's fricking thousands of them on the peninsula, all itchin' to put a slug into me or you. Some of 'em got their hands on boats, too, and I've heard they're trying to board merchies like this one, torture the crews to death, and then make off with the loot."

"We're carrying loot?", San Martino asked skeptically.

"No. But we're going to be taking on five hundred water buffalo on the return leg", the gunner replied.

"Too bad I'll be missing that", San Martino commented. "How's the war going, anyway?"

"I dunno. Papers are full of good news - smart defensive actions in some places, surprise attacks in others. Do I believe it all? No. But are the frickin' Chinese going to beat us? Hardly."

"Well, I'm happier knowing that we have an escort", San Martino said.

"Escort? For this hunk a' crap?", the gunner exclaimed. "What're you talkin' 'bout?"

San Martino pointed off to port, where a small craft was making its way towards Niuew Matterhorn with a bone in its teeth. "The torpedo boat over there", he said.

"That's not one of ours", the gunner answered. He watched the craft for a moment, then said, "Lads, maybe you'd better set down those practice rounds and break out the warshots."

Phoenix
Actual events

His Imperial Majesty's Torpedoboats Number 5 and Number 7 were slowly making their way towards the New Swiss merchant ship. Captain Gao took the magnifying tube from his eye and told the sailor standing next to him: "Give the message to Captain Liu on Number 7, we won't waste torpedoes on such small fry, and she looks unloaded to me too, no cargo of significance. Let's go hunt for bigger fish elsewhere."
"We are way too far out of our normal deployment area anyway." Casting an angry glare at his navigator.
The sailor jumped up in obedience and started using his semaphore flags, creating a flurry of coloured whisperings.
Gao smiled. "Get away little fish. Praise whatever God you pray to for your good fortune."
*******
Mark Gutkowski
The Lobo. A proud ship of the imperial armada, was moving at full speed in a series of trials set by her captain, Hardy.
The bow of the grey ship was cutting trough the waves.
Salt crusted captain Piotr Hardy was not happy, his ship is a legitimate target for the New Swiss as Lobo had order to supply aid to the Chinese if asked for.He didn't trust the Chinese either, in a war anything can happen, and even the most simple thing becomes very difficult. How the Chinese will discriminate between Spanish Warship, and a New Swiss Pirate is a good question.

Thats why he ordered battle stations and full speed ahead, in excersizes and drill, keeping the men on their toes and alert. Not many ships  can intercept Lobo as a top of the line ship.
He started thinking about his life,he was a captain for 15years and in the past he dream about being an admiral. But a stupid mistake made 14 years ago stopped his plans he made a mistake of arguing with a higher ranked officer. The fact that he was right didnt change anything.
"Sir":his look out yelled, bringing his mind  to the present "smoke ahead".
He raised the lookinglass to his eye. A tramp, and a dilapated looking one.
"I will not change coures to avoid a rustbucket"
"Sir it may have an escort": the first officer pointed out.
"So.It's small, an escort bigger than a Torpedoboat would be overdone. And we are in position to gather some intelligence."
"What kind of intelligence can a tramp give?"
Hardy regarded him for a minut. His first was not a bad man, but he did have a tendecy to question his orders.He's young he will learn.
"Lots" came the responce" Set a intercept course."let's see what we can learn"
The Lobo turned sligtly.The day of the tramps captain is about to get interesting.

***
Phoenix

"Captain Gao ! Captain Gao !"
The captain turned around with an angry grunt. But the sailor was not impressed, pointing excitedly to the horizon: "There's a big schip coming very fast ! It's going to that merchanter !"
Gao started in surprise, then took out his magnifying tube and tried to look at the newcomer. "Oh dear. New Swiss ? Not the right flag colours. Strange flag..."
He shouted: "Eyh flag-weaver ! Get this message to Captain Liu: turn around and let's get a closer look. Keep torpedoes at the ready. This might be interesting after all."
He grinned like a shark.

***
Mark Gutkowski
On the Lobo Capt Piotr Hardy was thinking what can he find out from that tramp ,some nice uptodate New Swiss maps will be nice.The ones he had were terribly outdated and in accurate.
The footnote on the map "propery of her royal majesty Queen Isabel II 1860AD" .
Forty years old map, good thing it wasnt made by Marco Polo That tought made him smile slightly
"Sir! Two Torpedobouts on starboard" the look out yelled "Flying Middle Kingdom Colors. Range sixty hectometers"
"We are in Middle Kingdom patrolled waters, they may attack"; number one pointed out.
"Steady as she goes"
"but captain..."
"We are at battle stations and full steam."
The old captain face didn't  show any emotions. He reached for his pocket and toke out a  pack of cigarettes, put one in his mouth and lit it,'
"First course of action is always the right one' he thought.
Hardy never ran from any challenge. Rumors had that Captain Hardy was headstrong and probably his own worst enemy.
"Did the freighter show any reaction to our presence?"

"We did see that they manned the single gun on the bow"
"And the Chinese?"
"Changing course.They coming closer"
First looked at the captains cigaret.He heard that when Piotr Hardy lights one of those, people die around him.
At time he desmised as a legend. Now? He didnt know anymore.
The grey hull of the Lobo, pride of the Pacific Armada  steamed further towards the small freigther.
***

The Rock Doctor.
"What in the Family Robinson is that?", the captain of the New Switzerland shouted down from the starboard observation platform, gesturing wildly in the general direction of a very large warship.

"Ah...", the gunner stammered, glancing over at San Martino. "What would you call it, Lieutenant?"

"He was asking you, Senor", San Martino quickly replied. "What do you think? Be sharp, man!"

The gunner glared at him, as if to say, you don't know what it is either, do you? Finally, he replied, "I think it's a cruiser, Captain!"

"Is it one of ours?", the captain called.

The gunner turned to face San Martino, only to find that the Gran Colombian had turned away to look off to port. "Ah, I'm not sure - I can't see the ensign", he shouted back.

The captain's response demonstrated his familiarity with local obscenities.

"The torpedo boats are coming back!", San Martino blurted. He hadn't wanted to see them, he'd just wanted to avoid the gunner's gaze.

The captain demonstrated a familiarity with Russian and German obscenities. "Teniente! You're the navy man here!"

San Martino froze.

"What should we do?", the captain called.

The Gran Colombian officer's head darted back and forth, taking in the looming...big ship...and then the torpedo boats. "I think...umm...I think you should, well, maintain your course and speed, if you will, and, ah, perhaps the gunners vacate their station?" He managed not to vocalize his next thought: so nobody decides they should shoot at us?

"Play it cool and confident?", the Captain exclaimed. "Of course! We're stout Swiss after all - steady as she goes, and you lot - back away from the gun."
***

Desertfox

The Captain of the Matterhorn had a right to be angry. His ship had just attracted the attention of two torpedo boats and a cruiser. The only naval officer aboard was a Colombian, who apparently has just arrived from school. And to top it off his own gunners seemed to have no identification skills.

"What the hell do they teach them at school?" He thought.

Here he was stuck between the proverbial rock and the hard place, and no orders to follow. Well he better hope the Colombian officer knew what he was doing, or he would strangle him with his bare hands.
***

Mark Gutkowski
Prepare a bording party" Hardy orderd with a cigarette in his mouth "Prepare a warning salvo"
"And the Chinese?" First asked
He was getting annoying. Hardy obviously didn't forget them.

"Signal the freigther, tell them they about to be borded by the Empire of Spain."
"In French?"asks the petty officer
"Of course in French, you can't expect those New Swiss rabble to understand a civilised language."
"Its looks that the Swiss are standing down the gunners vacate their station."
"Smart they know that they no match for us"
"Sir? what are do You plan to do with them"
"Nothing. We buy as some Maps, If they refuse we take the maps and put them in a lifeboat for the Chinese to pic them up. If the French can play pirate, so can we"

Hardy face was now in a cloud of gray white smoke, filling the closed bridge ,making first eyes water"
Two Middle Kingdom TB's getting close.
***
Phoenix
Captain Gao studied the unknown navy vessel through his magnifying tube. "If only we knew what flag that is," he mused.
Turning towards his First Mate: "Do we have anyone who speaks that yang quizi gargle ? Or on Captain Liu's boat ?"
"No ?" Oh dear.
"Well, as long as there are not open hostilities we could take a closer look", he said. Picking up his tube again he noticed the New Swiss merchant getting his people away from their guns. This was going to be fun.
Now to find out what that big one would do...
***
Marek Gutkowski
Captain Hardy was waching the Chinese intently. For now those TB's didnt make any agressive moves except getting closer.
Its looked like they are just watching the show that he was about to give.
The Lobo was in the signaling range of the tramp.  'Matterhorn' was written on the ship's bow.

The signaling officer was waving his flags
"MATTERHORN THIS IS THE SPANISH ARMADA CRUISER LOBO.KILL YOUR ENGINES AND PREPER TO BE BOURDED"

Hardy waited for the response.
***

Desertfox

"Sir! its a Spanish ship!"

"Who the hell do they think they are?" Thought the captain of the Matterhorn as he read the message.

"Signal! What the hell are you saying? We no habla francais."

The captain laughed as the Colombian officer, that San Martino guy, started figeting. What was he thinking? This was a war zone, not a pleasure cruise.
***
The Rock Doctor
All things considered, San Martino had kind of expected the Matterhorn to stop her engines and perhaps obey the commands of the very large Hapburg (or was it Spanish?) warship confronting them. Somewhat surprisingly, the freighter maintained its course and speed, and Martino was fairly certain he could hear the Captain's voice, ranting away about something to do with Spaniards.

Taking some care to be subtle, he looked around to see where the nearest lifeboat was. It hung on davits on the port side of the superstructure, about one hundred feet away.

"You know how to put that thing in the water?", the gunner asked from just behind him.

He managed not to jump. "You, ah, need to remain focused on your job, senor", San Martino said, his attempt at scorn going right over the head of the other man.

"My job is to stay alive, Teniente. I didn't join the Army to go down with some garbage scow at the hands of the Chinese", the gunner muttered.

"I don't think the cruiser is Chinese. It looks to be Hapsburg", San Martino replied. "And what do you mean, 'you didn't join the army'?"

"I'm in the army reserve. Navy ran out of guys to man the guns on the merchant fleet, so the army loaned 'em a few of us. And what the hell are the Hapsburgs doing here? I thought maybe that was a Spanish flag there."

San Martino squinted and examined the ship once more, noting at that point the plain language semaphore flags. "Ah ha! So you do know naval matters, and you didn't take the bait I offered", he exclaimed. "Well done! You're correct - it is, in fact, the Spanish warship Lobo, or Panther, if you will. A powerful ship with a notorious captain. It would be wise if our captain were to come to obey her instructions and come to a stop."

"So go tell him that", the gunner suggested flatly.
***

to be continued.

[maddox]

Marek GutkowksiSir.They signaling sometihing hard to unstand someting about me no speak something." a signaling sailor yeald
'They were buying time but time is expensive' Piotr thot to him self
"They not stoping"First officer stated the obvouis.
"Wery well then."Hardy toke a drag on his cigaret."warning salvo...FIRE"
Two fontains of water erupted 400 meters of the Matterhorn bow falowed by two only 100 meter from the freigther aft two more shots flowen overhead of the little ship.
Hardy looked on the freigter"Number One.If Im not mesteken theres a seamen on the freigters forecastle that is aiming a pistol at us?"
A shot was fired, it hit suprisigle close to the Lobo brige.Next monent 2 other Swiss seamen were on the shooter taking away his gun.
"Amusing"Hardy sead with a brode smile"If they not kill they engines in the next 30 seconds 'rain pain' on them Number One"
Captain looked on one of his men signaling some thing to the chinese It was a paciuliar sight on the lead chinise ship same one also was signaling.
His signaling officer was trying sygnaling in Spanish, France, Portugise even Russian and Polish,with no effect the chinese were also trying they best also failing miserebly.
"Do we have any one spaking chinese?"The disilusiond signaling office yeald
"They have to longuges Mandarinian and Cantonian"Yeald some gunnery oficer
"so do we have any body?"
"kinda, but I dont know how to translate that to signaling flags"
'when we return I have to find some one that knows Chinese'Hardy thot.
The Lobo gunners were happy with the concept of shoting at something.
***
Desertfox
Now the captain was really angry. What right do they have to shoot at my ship?

"Turn 5 degrees toward the cruisers, make sure its not noticeable.

Engines, give us all you got, make this rustbucket, Move!

Signal, Engine problem, Cannot stop, and send it in Norman.

Man the guns quietly.

Oh, and keep an eye on that Colombian Officer, make sure he doesnt do something stupid"
***
Marek Gutkowksi
Captain they are signaling Engines problems."The Signal preson reported
"Ok then get oure Maxim on deck and preper to fire on them with it"Hardy reported ligting another cigaret.
"Captain that rustbucket may realy have a Engine problem.We shode wait"
What for so the chinese can lougth at as? No get the maxim and star shooting at them hen its ready"Hardy thank the admirality for giving each ship a Heavy machine gun just in case.
***
Phoenix
Captain Gao chuckled while looking through his magnifying tube. "2 are playing a game here but I wonder why."
"I don't like that gunman shooting," remarked the First Mate.
"True. But then, observe how that merchie is manning his stations as inconspiciously as possible, while trying to maneuver his ship so-and-so as to get a clear shooting field. Learn Hao, watch and learn."
He put down his tube and picked a board up, scribbling with charcoal some characters. Reports, stupid stupid reports, hate the paperwork. If I would have liked it I should have done the State Exams and become a bureaucrat. At least they stay dry.
"Hm... putting a machine gun on deck instead of using his big ones. So these barbarians do know a bit of proper fighting."
Looking up: "Is our flag-weaver getting any results from that stranger ?"
"Uhm, no Captain, somehow we don't get to understand each other. At least he's not New Swiss," the First Mate replied.
"No," grinned his captain: "they could of course be so stupid as to shoot at their own but somehow I doubt it. Take this piece of charcoal and find a big white sheet, draw a large smiling face on it and have the flag-weaver show it to that stranger. When dealing with primitives, sign language is usually the only way to make them understand things."

"And have all hands on deck and ready. Times are about to become interesting."
***
Desertfox
The NSS Launceston had had an uneventful patrol. The Russian freighter was only carring letters, and no other ship had been spotted.

"Captain! Two smoke colums, Northeast."

The captain smiled, here was something to take the boredom away from the crew.

"Full speed! Steer NE. Lets find out whats going on."
***
The Rock Doctor
I told them he wasn't fit for duty", the gunner sighed as two of the ship's deck hands dragged the soldier below decks. "Did they listen? No."

San Martino stared at the gunner. "What do you mean?"

"Herman has a problem with opium. He claims he uses it because of a head injury, but I think more likely his head problems came afterward, if you get my meaning. Now he's given the Spanish some cause to be angry with us."

"Oh, great", San Martino growled. "Good human resource management on your army's part. What're those men doing over there?"

"Looks like they're hauling out one of those new machine-guns of theirs."

"To engage the torpedo-boats, then", San Martino decided. "Because their heavy guns will have trouble training fast enough to engage them at this range."

"I can think of worse reasons", the gunner replied.
***
Marek Gutkowski
Look they are going to figth us"Hardy sead bearly restraing him self from loughing."As sune as the maxim is ready fire at the Matterhorn brige and superstructure"
"Sir.Thats a NS ship you can start a war"
Hardy dismissed the first with a wave of a hand
"Sir!The chinese have drown a smily face on a sheet they are showing it to us"
"Heh they are hell bent on trying to communicate"Hardy sead"What about that officer that knows Chinese?"
"He sead that he can drow word that says 'peace'on a sheat"
"Good"captain anser"Do it"
He looked on the freigther"Do You think I dont see that.The moment you traind that gun on my ,you will have a 200kg of steel I Yours"he put out a cigaret and light another "I'd never thought I'd see something as foolish"
***
Desertfox
What the hell? A smile face?" If this hadnt been a life and death situation the captain would have brust out laughing. But something had to be done.

"We will show those losers taht you dont mess with Switzerland. If the Spanish ship opens fire I want the following message ready: Swiss ships dont stop for nobody. Also brake out the Battle Ensign.

The distance is about 300yds, if they keep on shooting give her full left rudder, and Ram that sucker! If they want to fight let it begin here!"
***
Marek Gutkowksi
"Sir! Smoke on the horizon"Captain Hardy looked trou the mignifing tobe.
'smoke who ever they are they an hour away minimum'Hardy thot and prayed to god its not a NS heavy cruiser that will be bad.
"Ok the negotiations have feild smoke them"
"We are to close Sir.they may ram us."
"I didnt thot about that"Anser the captain filling like a bucket of cold water  hit his face,and tryed to change the subject."How thats word in chinese going. 'peace' right?"
"Its ready,Sir"
"Good.Show it to them"
Hardy felt like a school boy that didnt get 2+2 right.Geting ramed by a freigther was a something he didnt was to be any part of.   
"Ok Increse speed get some distance lets do it by the book"
Sudenly he started thinking that all of this was not a good idea,but he will stand by his decision what the worst that can happend, he was the oldest captain in the armada 61 years old and nothing awayted him at home.

Lobo a ship that up to this moment was never in a combat started firing on the Small freigher.'how unnesesry I only wanted the maps'Hardy thot.
The heavy MG gunner was overjoided with his job he felt like a god.
Give a men a gun his supermen give him a machine gun his God.
The 7,92mm mauser round were wreping havoc on the freigter superstructure a this range the gunner had no problems seeing how men on that freighter were foling down or hiding behind any thing that ofred any protection.The brige was his favorite target the windows of the brige were no more and the brige crew was hit by the bullet and shaterd glass.
Bouth 75mm Quick firning gun on the side of the cruiser started firing 6 kg sheels impacted the hull.The renge of 6 hectometers or 600 yards was stedely incresing .The freither turned to ram the cruiser but its small engines were un able to provide suficiant accelreation,the cruiser was slowly incresing the range.
But it was hurt the NS gunner maneged to score two hits on it before the gun went silent for some resson.
The chinese writen word"peace" was a funny sight spread out over the hull by the men of the Spanish ship firing
***
Phoenix
"Oho, it's raining lead now," mused Captain Gao: "and that strange ship is showing a large white sheet at us.. hmm... "comparatively good living standard" ?? What ? Oh, he must mean "peace". Heh heh, good effort anyway."
"Captain !!"
"What now," he hissed and turned towards the sailor who called him. But then he saw what the sailor was pointing at and he quickly snapped up his magnifying tube. "Oh may the Gods have mercy," he said: "that is something big and nasty coming. And bet you it'll be New Swiss to boot."
"Get the torpedoes ready," he yelled, "flag-weaver signal Captain Liu to keep distance and redeploy for crossing sharks while keeping our big stranger between us and whatever the newcomer might do !"


The 2 torpedo boats suddenly started plowing full-speed towards the merchant, coming from 2 slightly different directions. When they passed the merchant the 25 mm machine-guns started spewing forth death and destruction, sweeping a deadly broom of lead over the merchant's upperdeck.
Then they swerved about.

***
Marek Gutkowski
It looks like the chinese under stude oure masege"an over joyed gunner officer yeald at the captain.He didnt seam to hear him over the shooting.
Sir a gunner that was on the wrong side fo the ship to shoot at any thing ask the officer."Sir.If you dont mind me asking what other words in chinese can you write"
"Devil,tree and a forest"
"Umm that will not be helpfull.Sir"
"Dont You have anything better to do.Mister!"
The gunner was sillent.

"Tell that idiot to stop shooting that maxim they out of range"First yeald at some sailor.Heavy machine gun sone came silent.
"Captain what now?"the First asked
Hardy whached as the Torpedoboat attact the fraither with they gun.
The fraigter was now burning, the smoke at the bow was not alowing to see in what condition the main gun was.Beside the fire the fraigter was in good condition not listing and maitaining speed.'bording her now hase no point the maps are preaty much burned by now.And it will get my ship in a compromising position.Having to stop to put a life boat in the water if that ship on the horizon is Swiss that they will propably not ask qestions and start firing if its Chinese the they will bourd her them self and I dont want to get in there way'Hardy stream of thot was stoped by the First how ask im agein for the cours of action.
"Sir!what are Your orders?"
Hardy taked the Magnifaing Tobe to his eye and observed the coming ship.
"To small to be a Heavy cruiser NS only hase 2 of those its to fast for a Coustel battleship then its a cruiser.He can handel a cruiser if it chinese then its no problem we just give them passing honors and go on oure way"
"Your Orders?Sir!"
"Cease fire!"
"Now we wait"
***
The Rock Doctor
   
"They're not aiming at the torpedo boats", the gunner had time to observe before the machine gun aboard the Spanish ship opened up. The clatter sent both men diving for cover - the gunner towards his weapon, San Martino behind the forward cranes. As it became obvious that the weapon was being directed at the bridge, the gunner scuttled the rest of the way to his gun, two of his men braving the fire to dash out from the superstructure to assist him.

Larger guns on the Spaniard roared, and shells punched into the Niuew Matterhorn's thin hull. San Martino contemplated jumping overboard, but the sight of the two torpedo boats, now clearly coming in for an attack run, put paid to that idea.

The freighter's gun barked and San Martino heard the crew shout with enthusiasm as they hit the Spaniard somewhere. He had no intention of getting up high enough to see where the hit was, however.

What to do? He'd never been under fire before, had hardly heard naval guns firing except during the occasional well-choreographed gunnery drill. He had no station, and there was no protection to be had anywhere around him. Hell, he couldn't even soil himself, having been to the head just before coming outside in the first place.

The cacaphony rose as the Chinese let go with their guns. Holes punched through the cranes above him, shredded the life boat he'd been eying, riddled the superstructure. One of them walked his fire forward, sending the gun crew sprawling for cover once more, surviving only because the Chinese were shooting up at an angle and could not literally sweep the deck. The gun, however, jerked twice, sparks flying off the breech and pintle. The gunner cursed most foully.

The torpedo boats swept past as smoke erupted from an open hatch way near the bow. The gunfire from the cruiser faded and San Martino heard screaming and moaning from the bridge.

"Yes - the bridge", he muttered. He had to get to the bridge and convince the captain to surrender. Otherwise they'd all be killed - especially him.

He sprung to his feet and ran for the superstructure.
***
Marek Gutkowski
"I want damage report!"Hardy ordered looking on a manacing cruiser on the horizon.
"We racived 2 hits both AP rounds one on the bow the other in the midsection no fires started one men wounded he will be ok.We are fully operational"
Now Hardy was in a jam with a freighter burning NS will not ask question they will open fire.The ship coming was propably a NS atlanta class an equal.They had bigger guns he had more Quick firing ones he had to get in close to use them propaly.He vished that Spain invested more in heavy weapons on its cruisers.This machine gun aproche in ship bilding was something he wosnt fan of.
What good dose a rein of shells do ageints a armourd oponent.
But You go to battle with a ship you have not the ship you want.
He can die this day and no one will notice.Command will notice if the ship is overdo but that will hapend in a mounth, no one may now what will happend here.
No one will know that he died fighting and not an old man in his bead.
What was he thinking his not dead yet and if want him dead he'll give him hell before he do.He was a desendant of a great famyly his ancestors foght the hun turk swedish and any other plaig that camed to his country.He descendant of sarmatius knigts.
***
Phoenix
Captain Chang felt pleased. The machine gun-fly-by had worked out quite well, he and Liu are a good team when you come to think of it.
"Tell Captain Liu to execute the Spring Sparrow Pattern, he is to have his weapons prepared, " he told the flag-weaver. Then towards his First Mate: "You heard me. And get the sharks ready for swimming and aimed."
"On the Merchant Sir ?"
"No grashopper ! On that new war vessel that's approaching."
The First Mate bellowed his orderes, then turned towards his Captain again and flinched when Chang continued: "One of these days I'll kick you off the boat in order to teach you the difference between sharks and dolfins. Think you can outswim them ?"

Then he looked to the supposedly friendly strange vessel. "Hm... they've taken some hits but she is still sailing fair. I wonder what her Captain would do with the newcomer. I don't know whether he knows we have torpedoes."

In any case, he thought, maybe he'll get a translator soon. The merchie should have at least one man who speaks Civilized Language.
***

[maddox]

Lost in the mists of History, the rest of the story is missing.

I would ask the main participants, Rocky, Marek, Desertfox and Phoenix to rewrite the reminder of the story.

But we have the MK epilogue...


Captain Gao sighed as he handed over his final paperwork. The official in Dalian's Port Yamen didn't look very pleased, certainly not when he threw a look outside of his window and saw 1 battered half-sinking very leaky Torpedoboat where 2 shiny pristine and absolutely battle-ready Torpedoboats should have moored. No doubt the bean counters were having a field day.
Then he glanced over at the stranger he took from the sinking strange Cruiser. "Spanish" he now knew, at last a foreign country who didn't have that strange "r" sound in its name that baffled so many of the Middle Kingdom. Although this Captain's name did have that sound, a "Grabiel De la Cruise". And he was actually the acting Captain when the real one, called "Piotr Hardy " (now thàt was a jawbreaking name), had died in the battle. Gao sighed again, so many good men had died. And he lost 3 more on the way home. Not that that way home was a picnic really, trying to pass as silently as possible in fears of New Swiss patrols. But at last they were home, and they could pass on the heroic tale of the "Lobo". And a fitting name that was too, Gao mused.
"You are going to travel" the official suddenly said. Gao looked up in surprise. His eyes widened even further when the official continued: " You will go with this yang quizi, who is an ally now, and present yourselves at the Dragon Throne. Somehow your tale has impressed the High Ones, although I wonder why we shouldn't decapitate you on the spot for wasting your ship and Liu's." He glowered at Gao. He looked at De la Cruise, then swivelling his eyes back at Gao, "Try to keep him alive, people are a bit miffed about what happened to Our Emperor and would see any of these strangers as guilty. I'm giving you a guard detail for the safety. Now go."

Several days later

Gao still had trouble believing what he just did. He had presented himself at The Dragon Throne ! He had kow-towed to The Empress-Mother ! Grand Secretaries had smiled at him ! He has been given tokens of honour and recognition, he will be given a new ship when they build one, a bigger one. There was seemingly no end to the wonders.
But when he told his tale of the Lobo, peeking from under his hat, he noticed that even some of those hardened rulers, the Grand Secretaries, were clearly moved. He noticed that the Empress-Mother, divinely beautiful as She is, had tears in Her eyes, and they fell like jewels on Her gold-brocade overcoat. He wondered whether the Captain Hardy, surely welcomed by his Ancestors as a true warrior, would know that an Empress shed tears for his courage. She ordered for the Spanish Ambassador to come forward and from Her own hands came a little cushion of gold, with a medal pinned on it, for the Lobo's Captain's Honour.
Then the last Captain of the Lobo was called forward and he received the tokens of honour which would show for all of the Middle Kingdom that here stands a steadfast warrior.
When they were ushered out of the Audience Room Captain Gao solemny said goodbye to Captain De la Cruise. They met as strangers. They parted as friends.

[The Rock Doctor]

Not a lot of hope of rebuilding the conclusion to this.  What's gone is gone.

I can say that Teniente San Martino has advanced up to the rank of Capitan de Navio since then, spending time in command of cruisers, the base in Pago Pago, and most recently, the portaavione Yubarta.

[The Bushranger]

Ahh, these bring back memories. :) Those were the days...