Opening Moves

Carthaginian · April 06, 2010, 07:53:59 AM

Aboard the SS San Jacinto

"Skipper.... what's that- bearing about 325, kind of lost in the glare of the sun?"
"I'm not sure... binos!"
*binoculars are passed*
"Small vessel... appears to be heading towards us. Run up signal flags and ask who they are. I don't want anyone getting too close to my ship these days. Have the quartermaster open the 'locker,' just in case."

Desertfox · April 06, 2010, 08:14:20 AM

OOC Those are some paranoiac sailors on San Jacinto... but nothing will be happening.

IC "SS Minnow, Saipan to Osaka with a cargo of dead fish."

Carthaginian · April 06, 2010, 11:22:59 AM

Quote from: Desertfox on April 06, 2010, 08:14:20 AM
OOC Those are some paranoiac sailors on San Jacinto... but nothing will be happening.

IC "SS Minnow, Saipan to Osaka with a cargo of dead fish."

OoC: LOL... Any merchantman would be worried about his cargo, what with all the pirate-related stories in the news so far in 1919 (wow, my Pops was born in 1919). The good men of the San Jac are just being cautious for their cargo's sake. ;)

IC: Signal Flags are run up...
S.S. San Jacinto
Long Beach, California/Kobe, Japan
Alter Heading 45* Starboard To Avoid Collision

Desertfox · May 17, 2010, 11:22:42 PM

Wrapping up some loose ends...

April 3rd, 10 PM

Tai Lung, better known to his former Chinese captors as Xu?bào*, move silently trough the trees. Like his namesake he left no trail, no sign for anyone to follow. The escape had been silent and effortlessly, no warning had been raised. And now from the crest of the hill where he stood, could be the waters of the East China Sea, sparkling under a full moon. The fishing village to the north showed that his navigation had been true. Five hours... he had five hours...

*Snow Leopard

***

LZ-13, East China Sea, 4 AM

Commander Strasser was worried. His airship hovered only 500 feet above the waters of the East China Sea, just 5 miles from the Chinese coast, and his target was no where in sight. Dawn was just an hour away and the Chinese base at Shangai too close for comfort.

"Skipper! Skiff of the starboard bow, two lights on the stern."

"That's our man, helmsman, steer right fifteen degrees..."

***

Saipan, April 7th

"Welcome to New Switzerland, General."

Logi · May 22, 2010, 01:04:02 PM

"Why do I see an airship?"

"Give me those binoculars."

The two officers stationed at the small patrol base in charge of watching over movements near Shangahi (due to the naval base at Shanghai) conversed about the mysterious airship.

"That's an airship alright. Question is, whose' is it?"

"We have no airships, nor are any airships granted permission to travel to the Republic. Probably an unwelcome visitor."

"Could be Confederate. Should we shoot it down?"

"Could try. Get the navy to shoot warning shots at the airship, that 3" must be good for something. Get it's response, see if it's Confederate. Meanwhile, I'll ring then Nanjing Airfield. Get the small ships to trace it's route."

"Right." The officer saluted and ran out of the small room, just off of the Cantonment.

The officer remaining in the outpost cursed under his breath, the Airfield was too far away. It would take at least 6 hours to get here. Shanghai was not prepared for this. If the airship was not Confederate, it could be German (DKB), Swiss, or even Imperial (MK). Something must have prompted it's appearance. The officer picked up the phone to call the local precinct, "Anything unusual happen?"

Logi · May 25, 2010, 03:32:30 PM

OOC: If there is no response.....

The ships nearby that were armed with the 3" antiair gun began to fire at the airship. They were met by little success due to the requirement of hand-operating and aiming the gun at the airship. However, they would serve well enough as warning shots.

Desertfox · May 25, 2010, 04:08:53 PM

OOC The airship got no closer than 5 miles to the Chinese coast, at night, in a remote location.

Logi · May 25, 2010, 04:39:00 PM

OOC: Hovered at 500ft and had to pick up a man on land. Unless the man has superpowers, I doubt he's going to swim 5 miles and then jump 500ft into the air.

Desertfox · May 25, 2010, 04:43:18 PM

Quote"Skipper! Skiff of the starboard bow, two lights on the stern."

"That's our man, helmsman, steer right fifteen degrees..."

He stole a boat... ;)

Carthaginian · May 25, 2010, 04:47:55 PM

Quote from: Desertfox on May 25, 2010, 04:43:18 PM
Quote"Skipper! Skiff of the starboard bow, two lights on the stern."

"That's our man, helmsman, steer right fifteen degrees..."

He stole a boat... ;)

5 miles would make for a very, very visible flying skyscraper... even at night, DF.
You know well how easy it it to notice the missing stars and hear an engine's noise several miles away in the desert. It's just as easy to do on the water.

Desertfox · May 25, 2010, 04:54:00 PM

If anyone bothered to observe the stars at 4 in the morning. Its of a small fishing village, and no one would be looking out for an airship. Yeah it might be visible but it should not be anywhere near any Chinese base. Besides the ship is over international waters.

damocles · May 25, 2010, 05:01:26 PM

OOC. Noise:

A 500 kilowatt engine set (at least 2 per airship) makes a lot of racket at a slant range of 5 miles and just above you. You will hear it.

D.

Desertfox · May 25, 2010, 05:07:20 PM

There's an airport 3 miles away from where I live (and 2 miles from school). You cannot hear the planes taking of, unless they fly right overhead, and its a flight training airport so there are a lot of flights.

Logi · May 25, 2010, 05:19:31 PM

I can see 3mi down in practically any direction in great detail. At 5mi i can not make great detail, but I can notice giant structures. And this is in day and night.

I can hear helicopters flying 1 mi out. I can hear jet planes 2 mi out. It is a matter of sensory keenness, but airships in their great size and noise do not make it so difficult. And yes, these were heard by waterside and in the midst of the noise pollution that is New York City.

It can be seen, it can be heard.

Not to mention small fishing villages are exactly where RRC bases are. If you looked into the Treaty of Shanghai you would realize that the RRC would not put bases there as arrested would be subject to CSA law. Therefore bases are established at surrounding areas.

----------------

But then again, let's bring this back. If bases would have this much trouble looking for the airship, what says your man can see it easier? What? Will he simply swim around on the waters at night? That is bound to catch attention.

Desertfox · May 25, 2010, 05:28:35 PM

At night it would depend a lot on the weather. I doubt you could see anything in a cloudy night with a new moon. Helicopters are extremely noisy, as are jets, piston powered planes not so much.

By being too close for comfort, I mean the ship is around 100+ miles away from Shangai. Do you have naval bases in every fishing village along the coast?

My man knows exactly where to look, and he knows he has to look for an airship.