Jerusalem Post 1915

[Desertfox]

January 13th

Victory! In a surprise move the combined fleets of New Zion and Orange have destroyed an Italian squadron in the Rift. One Italian Heavy Cruiser now sleeps with the fishes, while another has been heavily damaged. Damage to the joint squadron has been very light.


***


January 15th

Word has reached New Zion of an Italian ceasefire. Perhaps they do not like the taste of defeat? The Government has announced that it will accept the ceasefire and has ordered all Zionite forces to cease all offensive operations. However, Zionite forces are still ready to defend our homeland.

[The Rock Doctor]

And on that humble note, Moderators advise that the ceasefire will hold through to the end of January, at least, in the absence of any surprises. 

I will post a bit of stuff for the rest of January in a day or three.

[Tanthalas]

January 13th

Victory! In a surprise move the combined fleets of New Zion and Orange have destroyed an Italian squadron in the Rift. One Italian Heavy Cruiser now sleeps with the fishes, while another has been heavily damaged. Damage to the joint squadron has been very light.


***


January 15th

Word has reached New Zion of an Italian ceasefire. Perhaps they do not like the taste of defeat? The Government has announced that it will accept the ceasefire and has ordered all Zionite forces to cease all offensive operations. However, Zionite forces are still ready to defend our homeland.

Man these News Writers Lay it on thick (Contemplates Buying their Services for the NS Propoganda Bureau)

[The Rock Doctor]

You may find it is already on their resumes.

[Desertfox]

The response to the Italian publication...


The Roman Empire. Twenty-five hundred years of enslavement.

Hypocrites! Did not the man they hold in such 'reverence' (but never actually do what he taught) say once, 'Look unto your own house before that of your neighbors?'

For thousands of years many have toiled as slaves under their brutal Roman overlords, and those that have dared to fight for liberty have been brutally murdered, crucified on a Roman cross...

The Romans have tasted defeat and like the cowards they are, they now try to hide under their own sins.

They have blantantly, and without a shred of evidence, invaded a country at peace. But at the first wiff of defeat they see fit to blame the defenders of liberty for their own aggression.

Three times, in the last thirty years, the Roman Empire has seen fit to invade the only independant (for the past two thousand years) African country. Three times they have been defeated. Once again they invade, and once again they shall perish on the mountains of New Zion...

[Borys]

And they are retarded, and will lose themselves in the desert ...

[Desertfox]

January 19th

News of a possible peace treaty have caused several disturbances around the capital. Protestors have gathered with crys of "Death to the Romans!", "Leave Africa!", "Africa for the Africans!", "Leave or die!". While the protests have not gotten violent, they are a troubling sign.   

[Desertfox]

Trying to catch up...



The Jerusalem Times

Triumph! Our glourious armies have once again driven the Roman Legions from our land in defeat. Twin victories on land and sea have shown that we can not and wil not be defeat. The God of our forefathers has once again fought for his people and covered the gentiles in shame. Today, a temporary peace has been signed. It will not be long before the Roman Emperors' bloodlust awakens, but when it does we will once again be ready to strike down their legions.

In other news, the King has announced that he will be abdicating. Untill a successor is named, his mother will be taking over the reins of government. No reason has been given, but it is rumored to be related to some dealings with the Columbians.



***

Tel Aviv


"Ms Washburn?"

"Yes?"

"I have heard that you have a fast boat and are looking for a job."

"That is correct. Who are you?"

"My name is of no importance. I need passage into Italy, money will not be a concern..."


***

Royal Palace


"So what are we taking again?"

"The palace guard, half of the royal treasury, the cruiser Sharon..."


****

The halls of the Knesset


"So what's this 'Peace Treaty' we have signed? We have to rip half the government just a year after we nearly had a coup? Are the Columbians crazy? The people have just tasted victory and are crying out for blood. How does anyone expect them to decide what is right? How is THAT going to bring peace?"

"Calm down, its not that bad. In fact we have probably just swindled the Italians nicely. Only the King and the High Council have to 'resign', the Knesset, the Council staff, the military commanders, and the extended royal family, are not touched at all in the treaty. Also these 'observers' are just that, and like all people, the right money in the right place can go a long way."

"I think I'm getting your drift. So you're saying that that 'Treaty' has more holes than Bavarian Cheese? Interesting..."


***

Lascurain Works


"Fire in three...two...one!"

Rat-at-at-at-at-at

BANG

CRACK!

CRACK!

"It's no use, neither the Mondragon nor the device are reliable enough. Until we can work out all the kinks we'll keep shooting of propellers."

"How long will it take you guys to get it working reliably? Is there any other option?"

"Hard to say, probably more than a year, unless we get more money. We do have another option. We outfitted a couple of Type Ns with metal deflector shields. It's crude but it works. It's also simple enough that we can outfit the entire fleet with them in a couple of weeks. We also fitted a Type L with a mount on top of the wing. It can fire over the propeller, but its a bit hard to aim and fire, and impossible to reload the gun."

"Do the Type Ns, we shouldn't need more gun armed scouts. But if you get any breaktrough with the device let me know."

[Desertfox]

Royal Zionite Army HQ

The halls of the Royal Zionite Army once again rang with intruge and conspiracy. To those seeking lasting peace the Dar-es-Salaam Agreement was a deathblow. The agreement had but one effect, to eliminate the older more experienced government officials and pave the way for others to take their place. The King had been one of the more outspoken supporters of peace, and most of the council had seen war in their younger days. But now the slate was clean and those who sought glory and conquest saw their opening. The Army had lost much of its political power in the wake of the failed coup, but now God himself had opened the sea.

"We MUST act now. There is no one to obstruct us and our armies are still mobilised. We can wipe the Roman scum from this continent."

"Calm yourself Luitenant. We will act, but we can not at this time defeat the Italians. Have you not read the reports from the Second Pacific War? Or the Ottoman War? An army on the defensive can not be defeated conventionaly. We don't attack...yet."

"But...how about the government?"

"There we will act..."


***


Mossad HQ


"Are you sure?"

"We have to assume the worse. There was no reason for him to dissapear and we have not found any traces of foul play. The timing also supports our conclusions, Elder Ahijah has either been abducted or defected to the enemy."

"Find him, if possible bring him back alive, if not terminate him with extreme prejudice."

"But surely he doesn't know that much?"

"It does not matter, traitors will learn to fear the long arm of the Mossad. Either he is here in chains or he is dead, there is no other choice."   

[Desertfox]

3.  A neutral commission shall oversee selection of a new New Zion Government. The commission shall be comprised of three nations; one shall be appointed by Orange, one shall be appointed by Italia. These two appointees shall in turn agree upon a third nation to chair the commission. 

To those members comprising said commision:

Members of said commision will be restricted to a security detachment of no more than 100 armed guards.  Any more than the specified 100 will be detained and their weapons confiscated.

[The Rock Doctor]

April 22, 1915:  Tel Aviv

The Gran Colombian consul and a senior Zionite official leaned over the table, examining the map.

"There are three feasible options for the lease as my government views it.  The simplest is lease of a broadly square block centred on the bay.  We would simply survey the boundaries and mark them on the ground.  You'll have fresh water from the rivers to the west, and control of the rail head at Caimanera.

"A block on the west side of the bay allows some boundary definition by topography.  You retain the rail and river access, and look to gain a bit of land area.

"The third option is an elongated block on the east side of the bay.  It's a more rugged area, and we'd define it almost exclusively by topography.  River access is limited - just the one that would form the northwest boundary.  Although you won't have the railhead at Caimanera, you'll have access to a spur east of Guantanamo itself.  It would be easy to build a station and platform there if necessary."

The official looked up, "What progress has been made on the port?"

"The Armada is completing a survey of the bay and should have a draft report completed within weeks for your benefit.  While we respect that port locations will play a role in your choice of lease boundary, you'll understand that we can't actually begin construction until you make a decision."

"Fair enough", the Zionite said.

"This being said, items with long lead times are being ordered, and we expect that with a May or June decision, we can have the port finished and operational by the end of the year - hurricanes notwithstanding."

"Is that likely to be an issue?"

"Impossible to know until the season is over", the consul replied.  "We've had several reasonably easy years.  We could have yet another, or perhaps our luck will turn."

"What happens if a hurricane arises while our ships are in the area?"

"Ideally, the ships steam clear of the storm.  If caught, they ride it out", the consul said.  "You should ensure you're chartering appropriate steamers, that being the case - good seakeeping, long-range wireless, life boats for all aboard."

"Yes, of course", the Zionite replied slightly impatiently - as if he would put hundreds of civilians on an unsafe relic to save a few sheckels!  "Is there a warning system?"

"The wireless and telegraph systems", the consul said.

"What if the storm is over the sea, away from the cities where your communication infrastructure is located?"

"That's something I'd have to ask about", the consul replied. 

"Very well.  What about convoy arrangements?"

"We'll make use of Orange facilities around Afrika and into Chuvosa.  Your ships can then track up to Cayenne and refuel there if necessary.  As for escort, we'll assign a protected cruiser and two patrol sloops."

"Hmm", the Zionite murmured.  "An armored cruiser would be more appropriate."

"For the King's transit, this can be arranged, but primarily as a symbolic gesture.  A protected cruiser will be capable of dealing with any privateers that might pose a threat to convoy security."

"It's the Romans we're concerned with, not some two-bit Jack Sparrow imitator", the Zionite noted.

"We don't envision that Italia would interfere with a convoy escorted by Colombian warships", the consul assured him.

"They'd love to get their hands on the King and Elders."

"And they would have to disable our cruiser to do it", the consul observed.  "Again, we don't expect it to be an issue."

"You'd better pray you are correct", the Zionite warned him.  "Thank you for the briefing.  I will pass this information along to the King's Senior Advisor and convey any questions back to you."

[The Rock Doctor]

OOC:  Let's pick this up, guys.  More speed!

[Sachmle]

OOC:  Let's pick this up, guys.  More speed!

*Mr Scott mode* I can'a giveya no more Capin' I'ma givinya all shes got. *Mr Scott Mode off*

[The Rock Doctor]

*Fires phasers*

[Borys]

OOC:  Let's pick this up, guys.  More speed!

I think hear a crack of the whip in the background ...
:)
Borys