Operation Midnight Ruby

[Borys]

 early December, 1903
Roughly 100km south-south-east of Cape Town

The collier Vulkan rolled slighly in the gentle swell, its two charges bobbing alongside. The Ost Afrika Line had been pleased to part with the ship, the company's shattered financial position was showing few signs of improvement.

Since the initial protests following the bloody battle in the Caribbean a month before, Brandenburg had been rather quiet on the issue. At first, they had simply hoped for France to "come to its senses"; the Reich didn't particulary want to jepoardise its hard-won detente with the 1,000-lb gorilla of the world, and had intially hoped to blackmail the Frogs into blaming the whole issue on Agrival. Having been beaten to the punch on that diplomatic move, they had settled for quietly discouraging French trade while looking for a way out that would not embarrass any of the three parties in the incident.

The arrival of the supected "Agrivalian" cruiser in Cape Town had provided an exit strategy. A quiet diplomatic contact had been made, offering to cover up the issue on the DKB's part in exchange for France covering up the elimination of said cruiser. The agreement was reached, and this was the result.

The crews of the torpedobooten tied up to the collier's side had been asked to voluenteer for a "particularily dangerous mission"; virtually no-one had refused. Some hasty and quiet training had been done while the diplomatic cover was arranged, and now here they were, all three vessels flying the Liberian flag. The collier would, in fact, wind up there; the torpedobooten had another destination.

The TB1892 class torpedobooten had never really been intended for oceanic operations; S79 had, in fact, slipped her towline and sunk a few days before, fortunatly with little loss of life. S77 and S78 were fully fueled and ready to go, however, and with intelligence informing them the "Peruvian Pirate" was still in harbour, they cast off, their target: Almirante Grau.


to be continued
   
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P3D    
Posted: Nov 17 2006, 10:52 PM


Hegemon
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OOC
found a bit strange that the DKB already knew in early November that Agrival would be visiting Cape Town next month.
   
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Maddox    
Posted: Nov 18 2006, 12:45 AM


Hegemon
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Current Events ,

roughly 160 km south-east of Capetown

The French scientific sailing vessel "L'interesse" tacitly following the Liberian freighter and the 2 towed ships at a respectable distance.

The new "Ears" in combination with the absence of nearby VTE's prove to be capable of longer distances than the model used on L'inquisiteur. On a day with perfect visibility the shadowed ship was barely visible, and that because the smoke from the coal was a telltale sign.

This knowledge alone is worth the involvement on the pirate hunt. Additionaly, the buoy marking the sunken Liberian torpedo boat is a cherry on the cake.


3 days earlier

Geanville (Brazzaville). Messeurs, we have a job to do. Intercept and inspect the Peruvian Armoured Cruiser Almirante Grau. According to our data it's a modernized UKA ship, with very strong legs, and a wicked punch. But only a 1 opponent at a time fighter.

That is why we are elected to go after him. The large cruiser Terrible and the protected cruiser Descartes will cut him off when he rounds Cape horn

Pascal,Catinat and Protet will sail from the east into Drake Passage, to stop Almirante Grau returning.

We have at least 4 days advantage on Grau. We'll have to steam hard and fast to get ready, as she is a fast one.
We will be recoaled from collier that leaves from Brazil.


   
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swamphen    
Posted: Nov 18 2006, 10:03 AM


Großeadmiral Sumpfhühn
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QUOTE (P3D @ Nov 17 2006, 10:52 PM)
OOC
found a bit strange that the DKB already knew in early November that Agrival would be visiting Cape Town next month.

Abwehr. They're everywhere you want to be...

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

An outside observer inspecting the two torpedobooten would have noted an extraordinary fact. For the very first time, vessels of the Kreigsmarine were in operation without a single German on board. The officers were, to a man, Norman, all with Swiss-style uniforms and identification indicating they were originally from the People's Democratic Republic of New Switzerland. The senior NCOs were the same, while most of the remainder of the crew were askaris, a few from the navy and the rest hastily trained, all with Liberian identities. Efficiency would be reduced, but for a one-shot mission this was acceptable in the interest of deniability.

The Liberian flags had been struck, and flags of the Orange Republic raised, in hopes of bluffing their way into the harbour. As they approached the harbour entrance, a light from one of the guardian forts challenged them. Distasteful as working with the French was, it had its benifits, the proper response had been provided and was now returned. They slipped into the main basin before somebody became un-sleepy enough to check the hazy silhouettes against their copy of Jane's; another challenege flashed, this time from one of the ships.

But the target was now in sight, and caution thrown to the wind. The Orange flags were cut away, Liberian ones raised again, and the boats slammed to full power, aiming torwards the distinctive silhouette of the "Peruvian" ship. The gyros of the tin-fish had been spun up, now the bow torpedo tubes emptied and the nimble boats spun broadside, each spitting two more torpedoes at the target before aiming for the harbour exit.

Surprise gone, small guns opened up, phosporous tracer tips criss-crossing the night. A few larger guns opened up as well, and the torpedobooten began to bob and weave, seeking to evade.

The time ran out on the torpedo-runs...with no result. Although it was not known at the time, Almirante Grau had been provided with underwater protection. A simple network of deep-sea fishing nets surrounded the vessel underwater, snagging three of the torpedoes as they made for the hull. Two more had dissipeared into the muck of the harbour bottom, while the final one ran past into an unoccupied dock and, a minute later, detonated.

The harbour forts now opened fire on the escaping boats. S77 took a hit aft, splinters and flesh thrown everywhere, the boat slewing sideways violently, then having been tripped by a wave beginning to barrel-roll. Somehow somebody found the switch for the destruct-charges; in the air and inverted, the boat blew apart. There were only two survivours of the skeleton crew, and the sharks would quickly remove them from the picture as well.

S78 escaped alone, leaving Cape Town in an uproar. Making it back to Vulkan, his crew scrambled aboard, dissipointedly reporting their failure. After a hurried conference, the destruct was set, and the collier moved away. With a loud blast, the final direct evidence of the raid was shattered and sunk; the collier would proceed on to Liberia, to which it had, in fact, been sold; the crews had been provided liner tickets back home.

The mission had failed; Agrival was still at large.
   
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P3D    
Posted: Nov 18 2006, 05:07 PM


Hegemon
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Rear Admiral Schwartz was furious. Being in charge for Cape Town Naval Base was thought to be an easy job, but it required full commitment, and occasionally he felt that the job needed two. He glared on the lieutenant.
"Admiral, some of the torpedoboats were on excersize, and the harbour guards assumed the attacker are the returning ones."
"Survivors?"
"Crews are searching, but besides some debris from the boat they found no survivors, and they spotted some shark fin, too."
The admiral turned to his aide.
"When would the two korvettes and the Pretoria join the Bloemfontein to look for these suspicious vessels?"
"Bloemfontein is steaming out in any moment. The other ships needs a few hours."
He walked to the bookcase and took last year's Jane's and opened it.
"Liberia...they have a few TBs, that's true, but how could they get this far? As they have nothing to do with Peru* as far as I know. Apparently we have to improve the security procedures, remind me later." He looked at his aide.
"Contact the Peruvian vessel that I wish to speak to the captain about the incident."
Then turned to the lieutenant.
"Get someone from Ordnance to investigate the remains of the torpedoes, and get a salvage team to the spot where the other boat sunk, to see what we can find out from the wreckage."
The two officers still stood there.
"Dismissed."

*: The Peruvian Embassy officially requested fuel and supplies for a Peruvian Navy ship. Only a handful are aware of the ship's connection to Agrival.
   
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Maddox    
Posted: Nov 18 2006, 05:35 PM


Hegemon
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Current events,
50 miles southeast of Capetown on "L'interesse"

Capitaine, we heard only 1 fast running VTE return to the merchant, an explosion followed, We guess they ditched the attack boat, as the merchants VTE started rev's and they are making speed.

Men, hard tack, and godspeed to Madagaskar, I suspect that the Orangers will be stinged and angry, lets use our distance to avoid them.

Capetown harbor, Wine merchant Rothschild III walks to the telegraph office.

QUOTE
C'est un fille


Paris, Premier Palpatés offices.

<C'est un fille> Merde Merde Merde. Is that man invincible? Is he even human?
   
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P3D    
Posted: Nov 21 2006, 02:16 AM


Hegemon
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Orange Ministry of the Navy
Department of Naval Intelligence

Most Secret
Eyes Only

On the incident in Cape Town Naval Base

a/ Two unidentified torpedo boats entered the base, hoisting an Orange flag, then changing to a Liberian one. It must be noted, however, that the flags were that of the respective countries, not the navies themselves.

b/ The boats launched a torpedo attack with four to six torpedoes, from a distance cca. 800m from the Peruvian cruiser Almirane Grau, two torpedoes were caught by the torpedo nets and exploded, one was recovered intact, and one detonate hitting the pier.

c/ Leaving, the coastal batteries opened firem and one of the TBs was sunk leaving the harbor.

d/ The frigate Bloemfontein investigated a Liberian merchant vessel Vulcan, newly purchased from Brandenburg. The captain let the ship go, as nothing suspicious was found, and returned to base. As later evidence emerged, ships were sent to intercept the Liberian vessel, with Liberian crew, but the chances of catching it again are slim, as it gained a full day to escape.

e/ Black-skinned body parts, what remained after a shark attack, were recovered where the boat was sunk. Remains of Swiss uniforms were also found with PDRNS insignia. Salvage crews with deep diving suits managed to raise parts of the the wreckage, and were identified as Brandenburgian manufacture. The recovered torpedo was a 14" Brandenburgian model. This corresponds to the Model 1885 and 1892 TBs employed by the Kaiserreich.

f/ Naval Intelligence reports that 3 boats of the latter type left Dar es Salaam naval base last month. Their crew was reassigned to other vessels.

g/ Naval Personnel involved in the investigation were ordered to keep the details confidential.

Note: Nergal was informed about the results of this report.
   
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Maddox    
Posted: Nov 22 2006, 01:54 AM


Hegemon
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10 december 1903, After finishing loading the supplies, Almirante Grau leaves the bay of Cape Hope.
The Orange Republic Navy guides her out with a heavy escort, to avoid further diplomatical embarrasments.

Paris, current events.

Premier Palpaté, we got at last a reply from Peru. Almirante Grau isn't a warship according to their ministry of Foreign Affairs. She's a diplomatical vessel, and therefore, not written in the navy, nor the budget for the navy.

Almirante Grau is a very capable warship, and whatever Peru says, I don't believe it. Our sources indicate it is Agrivals private yacht. I want you to dig out the Agrival Peruvian connection.

Yes Premier. We are already working on that.
We have news from Terrible, her Marconi instalation works a lot better than it ever did on Greater Napoleon.

Ah, so the exchange of 100 main gun shells for a marconi instalation was a good decision it seems.

I'm not so sure of that Premier, she only has 200 275mm shells now, in a prolonged battle she could shoot herself dry. But yes, as leader of a task force, the communication is a serious advantage.

How many of the green shells does she carry? It could be we'll send her to Petropolis, to support the Emperors troops battling around Rio de Janairo.

She's not equipped with green shells. Those are not delivered yet to our African fleet bases. Also, I suggest caution in the Brazilian situation. I still do not trust our guests.

Oh well, I know of the reluctance in the Brazillian solution. I'll ignore that for this time. Now it is Agrival hunting time. You know, with all the rewards on his capture combined, we could do the Navy upkeep for 1 quarter, and have money to spare for the party on 31 december.

Yes Premier, Agrivals situation in Rohan alone is worth a destroyer. But I don't understand why Rohan is so angry. In effect, we suffered a lot more damage from that criminals depridations. Also, only the Habsburgers did suffer really , during the peace fleet debacle. And again, France bore the brunt of that damage.
   
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P3D    
Posted: Nov 22 2006, 04:51 PM


Hegemon
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Almirante Grau is escorted through the Atlantic by the Pretoria.