News of the Mark 3Q1898

[Borys]

July 4, 1898

Scrapping began on four Confederate build cruisers this morning. The Fleet marshals say that these four and perhaps four others will provide materials to keep the remaining 16 vessels functioning for several years to come.

The vessels being scrapped are the former Confederate Cruisers Jacksonville, Corpus Christi, Saint Petersburg, and Los Cristianos.

July 14, 1898

Ostoher, Combat Cruiser of the Mark had an encounter with an Eastern Kingdom fishing vessel on Sunday. It appears that the fishing vessel was poaching in Rohirrim water near the Chinook's reserve for Orca (somewhere off the coast of Oregon). The Ostoher happened to be the closest vessel when a flare was fired late at night indicating distress. It seems there was some kind of altercation between the fishing vessel and a pair of ocean-going canoes. The commanding officer of the Ostoher does not know what happened, only that he had his gunnery officers fire a warning shot with the 4.5 inch guns over the fishing vessel's bow. The fishing vessel turned to flee, and Ostoher remained to pick up the any surviviors from the local tribe...there were none. Ostoher did not give chase to the fishing vessel but did fire on it one more time. The nine inch shells landed fairly close to the vessel but did not hit it. Perhaps they will think twice next time they think to come this far south.

July 19, 1898

Battleship Goldwine left port today for New Beleraind. She will take her place next to the Battleship Theoden now that the Fengle has entered service with the Fleet. However, it is a long trip to Eglarest, with at least three stops in Ceentral and South America on the way.

July 28, 1898

Minor repair and refit work has begun on four former Confederation cruisers today in several naval yards. These vessels are expected to be finished by the beginning of September, but will extra time is to be spent on them to train the crews even further. These vessels are expected to join the fleet in the first weeks of October once they are commissioned into the fleet with new names.

August 10, 1898
(Theoden's Day)

Today we remember one king who helped shape our destiny. Theoden King is remembered as a legend, but is considered to have been an actual living person by historians, as the written evidence from the archives of Edoras, Mundburg, and Dol Amroth along with some mention from other coninental sources indicates that he did live and that he was king of Rohan 8,200 years ago. His grave is also still present in Edoras. While most of his reign is lost to history, just that he was considered to have decayed during the last decade of the Third Age until his spirit was rekindled just before the great battles before the Hornburg and Mundburg that pushed the darkness back to Mordor. Theoden died in front of Mundburg at the hieght of the battle, but his spirit remains to remind us to keep our head in the light and charge when the worse seems to be upon you. Some say his tactics imply that the best defense is a good offense. They may be correct, and Rohan has followed this logic for land and naval warfare. While on land the days of the horse are ending, they still are a heavy and quick offensive tool that reminds our potential enemies that we can strike them back fast and hard should they attempt to take our lands or those of our allies. On the sea, this has brought about the practice of arming our ships heavily. They have to come to us, unless they wish to wait for us to come to them, but we will make them pay dearly should they try either option.

Today the King went to the mound of his fathers, his great-grand mothers, and uncles that were King of Rohan. Vistiting the 274 graves of the kings and queens of old, Theocro is reminded that one day he will be grave number 275. The Simbelmyne (Evermind) still bloom on every grave. The traditional reading of the names was done as is done when a new King is put on the throne, but the line breaks at Theoden to drink then continues until Theocro King is named, then the second drink is had. Rememberance of Theoden still takes centerstage on this day.

August 24, 1898

The Fleet of the East set forth out of Eglarest today to conduct manuvers along the East Coast of New Beleriand. Battleship Theoden lead the battleline and proudly showed the flag (and guns) to the Sarumans on the South and they steamed around into the Gulf of Texas and then returned to the coast to train gunnery crews.

September 15, 1898
(The King's Birthday)

Today the King had his own day. While the people generally make a large display of the day of any kings birth, Theocro tends to sneak away from the festival and spend time away from the crowds and court. This year was no exception. The House of Meriadoc took bets on how long before someone noticed the King was missing and if the guards would find him before the day's end. The House always wins. Theocro vanished about two hours into his own party and the guards have not found him as of this report.

September 17, 1898

Theocro King returned in Edoras with his wife as if nothing had happened. The press thinks the king gets a certain pleasure from being able to slip out from time to time under his own guards noses. While the guards are getting better at finding him, he is still able to elude them for days at a time.

September 22, 1898

The Sarumans have been trounced again. Early reports in New Beleriand report that the First Eored of the Micelhusl of Serni House has found and defeated an intruding force 30 miles south of the border. They seem to have put up a good fight but they seem to have been either poorly trained or badly equipped for fighting in the jungle. However this news has unsettled the King. Theocro says that he "fears this is just the beginning."

September 29, 1898

Battleship Goldwine joined the Fleet near Eglarest today after a long trip around the Horn. Goldwine is suppose to pair up with the Theoden and be sure New Beleriand is protected from the sea as the Southern Sarumans start in with their war mongering and malcontent.

Septemeber 30, 1898

Dol Almoth Base says farwell to the remaining old Battleship and Armored Cruisers as they set forth for the final time under Rohan's Flag. They sail for Southern California.

Meanwhile:

Reports from New Beleriand say the unit of Anahuac troops found on Gondorian soil were equipped fairly well for the area they were operating, but seemed to lack training and disipline. They even dressed using old fashioned brightly colored head-dresses. Had they not been in quite a large group and where not quite as fanatical, they might have been able to use the jungle to their advantage....well if the Micelhusl of Serni House was not so well versed in the ways of the jungle that is.