Gran Colombia, H1/1909

[The Rock Doctor]

Unfortunately for the poor accountant the Swiss Financial records are a mess, sometimes even I can't make heads or tails of them!

I'll agree with that part, at least, and let GOOSENECK turn up whatever he will.

[The Rock Doctor]

3 June 1909:  Invercargill, Brandenburgia

"Herr Becher?", asked the man going by the name of Carl Pieck.  He was ethnically German - it just happened that he was from German-influenced Coquimbo. 

"Ja", Becher replied, peering at the stranger on his doorstep with curiousity.  "What do you want?"

"My name is Carl Pieck, and I'm with Hamiltonbergtelegrafwerks*.  We're doing some research on the performance of current-model wireless equipment, so that we may improve our products", Pieck said.  "I understand you're a wireless operator on one of the whaling ships operating out of Invercargill - I was hoping you'd have ten minutes to spare."

"Ja, okay", Becher said indifferently. 

"Excellent", Pieck replied with enthusiasm.  "I have a brief list of questions for you."

"Mmm hmm", Becher murmured.

"First:  What watch did you serve?"

"Mostly third watch - that would be at night."

"Ah, thank you.  And what model were you using?"

Becher said, "1907-A."

"How far from sea level is the installation, and how far does the aerial extend?"

Becher frowned and gave an estimate of each.

"Can you tell me where abouts your vessel was operating during this past season?"

"Down around the Balleny Islands for the most part, but we steamed over towards Scott Island once."

"Did you monitor traffic continuously, or intermittently?"

"Continuously, except where maintenance prevented it.  You don't want to miss a distress call because the set is turned off."

"No, of course", Pieck agreed.  "During daylight, how far away could you hear other ships?"

"Typically up to one hundred miles reliably", Becher said.  "I did get occasional strong signals from up to one hundred seventy miles once in a while."

"And at night?"

"Remember there's not much night at those latitudes during the whaling season", Becher noted. "But the range could be triple the normal daylight range."

"Mmm", Bieck muttered, making notes.  "Did you ever pick any really strange traffic that seemed very far away?  Like Firanji stations or...Swiss warships?"


*German-speaking players are welcome to suggest proper grammer for this.


30 June 1909:  A Port in Gran Colombia

The tramp freighter's refit had been completed several weeks ago, and trials had been run in the form of a few short hauls to and from Coquimbo.  All had been found to be satisfactory - the new equipment and also the new crew.  It was about time for IX-1 to begin its new job in earnest.

Capitan de Corbeta (Censored) examined his new orders.  Looking for Swiss ships, he thought.  Why're we bothering with that?  Shouldn't we be spying on the French or Confederates or the like?

Still, orders were orders, and there was no changing what he was reading on the paper.  "Mr. (Censored):  have the purser come meet with me, please."

"Aye, Sir", the seaman replied, scurrying belowdecks.

The purser appeared soon after.  "Sir?"

"We have a leisurely cruise to southern Firanj ahead of us, with some stops in Southern Brandenburg along the way.  Kindly ensure we have the appropriate clothing to issue to the crew."

[Carthaginian]

Curiouser and Curiouser...

[Tanthalas]

Considering the time of year I would Recomend against Tropical dress

[Desertfox]

Strange what they are looking for, and especially where they are looking for it. Nothing much in the South Pacific.

[Carthaginian]

Strange what they are looking for, and especially where they are looking for it. Nothing much in the South Pacific.

*points at map*
Atolls.
Hundreds of 'em.
Nice place to get lost if you don't want to be found.

[Desertfox]

But they are looking South of Australia! And all the atolls on the way from GC to DKB to Firanj are either Maori, French, Columbian, or German. All the Swiss ones are farther north.

[Ithekro]

First check the inlets and any fjords (if any) then start looking for islands.  And just because the other own the islands doesn't mean that they keep all that good a tabs on them.  Plus part of this probably comes in reaction to equally confusing news from Swiss sources that do not always make sense...even to their own authors.  ;D

[Carthaginian]

But they are looking South of Australia! And all the atolls on the way from GC to DKB to Firanj are either Maori, French, Columbian, or German. All the Swiss ones are farther north.

Atolls are easily lost in the vastness of the ocean... even to their owners.
I'm willing to bet you that from 1946 until they ceased to be US territory, our all-seeing, all-knowing ::) government couldn't tell you exactly what was going on at one out of any 8 of those atolls on any given day (save Bikini and Kwajalein).

No, the Swiss could have easily threw up a base on at some small, unnoticed atoll without even the owners knowing. I mean, Greenpeace LOVES to drop by that area to check for whales getting nuked, and they snuck up on the French as late as the 1970's. It would be a lot easier in 1908, what with the lack of reliable long-range commo, radar, and patrol aircraft.

[Tanthalas]

The great problem with hideing a fleet is that they have to eat...  that translates to someone is feading them.

[Desertfox]

The problem for the Columbians is that at the moment the Swiss fleet isn't hiding at all! It just looks that way since no one expects the fleet to be where it actually is.

[Sachmle]

Has anyone actually been to New Switzerland since the war ended? Just because the news said the Swiss Fleet disappeared doesn't mean they actually did.  Or maybe the Swiss Fleet did disappear, just to become someone else's fleet.

This made sense when I first started writing, but know I've confused myself.  ???

[Ithekro]

It is that sort of day...confusion is the Swiss speciality it seems.  Their own and others.

The lack of news from the Swiss and Japanese is the main problem at this stage.  Rumors suggest the Swiss Fleet returned home by or during January of 1909.  There has been no In Character evidence of this as of yet.

Trade relations with the likes of Rohan should have returned to normal by January 1909 since the lifting of restrictions towards the various combatants was removed before the Canal opened.  Since the Swiss are still shareholds of the New Beleriand Canal (despite efforts to get them to sell out), they would have access to that canal.

[The Rock Doctor]

The last thing I saw publically about the NSN's status was:

The High Seas Fleet dissapeares during the night.

Now, if...

the Swiss fleet isn't hiding at all

...then kindly advise which port it's at, and a naval attache will be sent to verify this for GC's satisfaction.  Then I can save a few cents by cancelling the IX-1 mission.

[P3D]

The disappearance of the Swiss fleet can be connected to some scams by the admirals, who are funneling Navy money to their private account.

The Swiss ships are also in a state of disrepair, as they try to operate a pretty much exhausted navy without a proper fleet base.