Parthian tales and other things

[Kaiser Kirk]

Vache was proud father of two daughters, one only recently welcomed to this world. His wife Anoys was doing well, as were both Cassandre and her elder sister  Anzaze. Vache's younger sister Shirin, 3rd in line, had arrived from an overseas trip to see her new niece and room had been found in officer's country for her, while her entourage paid their respects and continued to the capital of Isfahan.

The City of Flowers and Poets, Ancient Shiraz was home to the First Heir, Colonel Vache Arshakuni of House Arascid , his wife the Learned Anoys of House Soter of Elymais*, and his young daughters Anzaze and Cassandre.  Vache's ascension to First Heir had caused some disruption in his life, as his role in the training command came to an end as he transitioned to his Royal Duties. 

The first heir was traditionally kept inform of the current matters before government such they would be prepared.  Typically they were given a portfolio of some importance. At Iskandar's request, Vache had taken up a a post as Inspector General of the Armed Forces, with a directive to Lead a multi-service technical council to evaluate Technical & Foreign innovations and identify which were suitable for adoption and integration. As was the Parthian way, no honorary rank was given, leaving him at what he had earned by merit, Colonel, which was still overshadowed by his Political rank.

Telephones and telexes meant much of the briefings and conversations with Iskandar could happen remotely, sparing him the need to move to Isfahan.  The train to the Capital of  Isfahan followed a route a little over 200 miles, allowing a journey over night to attend monthly briefings. The mountain training grounds of the Zagros mountains, and the Desert training near Yazd, as well as the Fleet Base at Bushere.  The broad valley of Shiraz was home to an expansive aerodrome for both military and civilian types, and allowed for easy air travel to more distant parts such as the Air Corp's training headquarters in Mashhad. Khorosan, or the naval school and the main Fleet base in Chabahar bay.

The plans for the rare departure of the King of Kings from Parthia disrupted Vache's comfortable life in Shiraz. The Shahashan of Parthia customarily delegated much power to the bureaucracy, and typically collaborated with the Legislature, but maintained an active oversight role, as well as the ability to rule by decree if needed. That could not be done effectively from overseas, and while the machinery of state could certainly whirl smoothly along without, the presence of the First Heir meant it did not have to.

The Royal Train carrying Iskandar, Zenobia, Isias and Shirin stopped in Shiraz enroute to Abbas. Uncle Sanatruck had already arrived. This was an occasion for a procession banquet for the Royals, as well as the notables of the city- Nobles, Guild Leaders and those that had High Honors. Dinner, dancing and well wishes for Princess Shirin's future in far Azteca were said. For Prince Vache, it was a bittersweet moment, Shirin was so happy with her Prince, but her new home was on the far side of the globe, so Vache did not know the next time he would see her, or what he hoped were the nieces and nephews to come. Certainly his girls, and the third still growing in Anoys, would never come to know their aunt. While long prepared for this, functionally the Norse Kingdom was distant as well, the reality of it was an interesting feeling. Still, Vache enjoyed this last night with family, and mused that perhaps in the future, he could find occasion to visit Shirin's new home, perhaps even bring Anzaze.

Two days from now, the Royal Train would depart for Abbas, where the two Vazrya class dreadnoughts would join the Expeditionary fleet.  Vache and Anoys would take their own train to Isfarhan, to take up a figurehead role. Vache would be officially able to make any needed decisions in Iskandar's absence, and they would stand unless Iskandar rescinded them on his return.  There was the expectation that little would need to be done, unless an emergency of some sort occurred. Then of course the role would be the same as a Heir's normal role, issuing Imperial decrees to compel direct action to ensure the labyrinth rules and endless paperwork of competing arms of the bureaucracy did not render the response ineffective or laggardly.



*A Princely cadet line fusing House Soter and House Arshakuni, but not one of the Seven families and so eligible. Elymais having it's roots in ancient Elam, it's capital of Susa among the oldest of cities, having been old when Parthia was born. (Historical note, founded around 4200BCE, razed by Mongols OTL in 1218, not in N7, so in N7 roughly 6,100 years old.)

[Kaiser Kirk]

The Home Fleet base of the Parthian navy was at Tis, in the Northeast portion of Chabahar Bay. Chabahar bay was a circular expanse of water, nine and a half miles deep, and 10 and a half miles wide, it's entrance a pair of points 7 miles apart, separating the bay from the Indian Ocean. Tis first entered the annals of history as Tiz, part of Alexander the Greats return journey.
Archaeologists claimed the bay had been used for millennia before. Tis proper stood to the North of a rocky ridge, jutting out of the bay shore, and crowned by a fortress, still headquarters for the coastal defenses.  This somewhat obscured the Naval base. The Naval base technically was 3nm to the north, enormous area carved out of the deltas of the two rivers entering there, with a giant breakwater to seaward. The western portion of the bay was home to the Naval Gunnery School, and the torpedo practice ranges carved from the Mangroves.  Coastal defenses and MTBs guarded the harbor, while the flat coastal plains allowed for several airstrips nearby.

The fleet had moved here in the late 1800s, when the steel navy was founded. This had led to the closure of the port to general trade, much of that moving to Gwadar.  The bay was outside the Straits of Hormuz, and 150nm NE of Muscat across the Gulf of Oman, giving good access to the Indian Ocean.  A Naval town and base, information did not readily leak to outsides, picket vessels and aircraft watched the approaches for threats, while the fleet could slip to sea unobserved.

The battleships Vazya and Vidyudabhi, like many capital ships drew their names from ancient legends, in their case divine weaponry from the Hindi pantheons.  For this first stage of the journey they were to be accompanied by four Gurg class destroyers. The minesweepers home-ported here did their routine sweep in the hours before departure. The vessels cast off and slowly proceeded past the breakwaters, nets, floating booms, and command controlled mine fields, passing unmolested past the batteries of guns and torpedoes dominating the harbor.  Their screws were clear to the various hydrophones listening, both the coastal defenses, and the picket vessels to seaward.

The squadron proceeded to Abbas, only 300nm away and dominating the  hook on the Hormuz strait.   Across the strait on the point jutting out into the hook were the shallow drowned valleys and the base at Khasab, where the defensive flotilla hid in the shallows. At Abbas the squadron was joined by the vessels of the Expeditionary fleet, drawn from Bushere to the north, and Muscat to the south. Here the Gurg class would depart, leaving the Vazya to join the Expeditionary Fleet. Vazya and Vidyudabhi would embark the Royal Family here, ensconcing them in the Admiral quarters on the respective vessels.  A liner chartered for the purpose would carry the nobility, servants, and guard contingents. 

The Expeditionary fleet was intended to reinforce any of the other three fleets in response to trouble. Centered on the Stormbringer and Mournblade, named from the tales of Melnibone, a Bazdari class fighter carrier provided an aerial shield. An elderly Mus-sag seaplane carrier provided additional reconnaissance abilities.  Steaming in advance of the core force, the scouting force was the 4 Asbara class armored cruisers bolstered by a pair of Royal Nisseans and supported by a Avio Aristabara fighter cruiser. Closer in, 4 of the Maelstrom sentry cruisers and a pair of Bakrclass formed the close escorts, providing  a defensive shell around the battlelines, their 165mm guns able to rapidly engage attacking torpedo-combatants.  The 'corvette' force – the Parthian term for their oceanic destroyers- counted 16 hulls of the Babr and Palang classes, four working ahead with the scout force and the remaining 12 providing the outer protections for the main fleet.  The 2 Hakma, 3 Whale and a sole Hawg class Fleet Supply vessels came along as well.

The combined fleet, featuring 42 vessels, over 395,000 tons (inc liner and support ships), with 60 guns of 365mm, and one hundred guns of 230mm and greater, was not meant to be subtle.  The majority of the vessels had been prioritized for the new AA refits, which had also given opportunity for a through cleaning and painting of the hulls.  The voyage around the horn, across the Atlantic, and through the Caribbean to Veracruz was roughly 12750nm (slightly further than Acapulco steaming East) and  would take 38 days steaming, longer with port calls. The Mayan-Japanese war took longer than the transit time. The force would sail past the Yucatan strait, and even without being augmented by the Atlantic Fleet would still feature  more fire power than the Mayan fleet, as a very clear statement of power projection.

The first stop for this assembled force was the port of Sofala (Beira actually).  Seized from Mogadishian founders by Parthians of Kilwa in 1180, the Parthians had lost possession during the time of the Mongol conquest only to return centuries later. The ancient road inland to the mighty Kingdom of Mwenemutapa and it's gold fields had been supplemented by a double track railroad. The position south of the Zambesi Delta gave a advantageous position for transferring cargo from riverine to oceanic transport.  The Zambesi river draining central Africa was navigable for a considerable distance inland, allowing commerce to flow downstream. The mighty delta had once drained north to the Port of Quelimane, founded by the Parthians of Kilwa before they seized Sofala. The slowly changing delta formed a maze as channels moved, and this had silted up the arm leading to Quelimane in 1830, leaving the Sofala/Biera as the more important hub.

After some time ashore at Sofala (Biera), the fleet will proceed 1600nm to Ikapa (Cape Town). A further port call will occur before the fleet journeys to St. Helena island, which simply serves as a navigation reference for continuance of the 5500nm trip to Trinidad. There in the expansive bay the fleet will refuel and make a port call.   From there, the fleet will continue as if under true threat to Jamaica, and then continue that practice through the Yucatan passage before making the final portion of the journey to Veracruz.

[Kaiser Kirk]

The Gulf of Paria was essentially a bay between the mainland provinces of the Orinoco Satrapy and the island of Liere (Trinadad),  a local word meaning 'Land of the Hummingbirds'.  A pair of straits, 6nm wide, controlled the entrance and extent to the great anchorage. The Orinoco Satrapy was rich, but shared a land border with the Maya, which was uncomfortable. The island, a local source of oil and a natural harbor, was key to retaining the Satrapy, but a forward base for any offensive operations.  The actual naval forces deployed were typically light, as Parthia could not be strong everywhere. They served as a tripwire and harassment force. The main relief would have to come from the Atlantic Fleet, likely reinforced by the Expeditionary Fleet.  The Royal transit had just demonstrated that relief could arrive in slightly over a month.

To help the troops hold out for several months, the past several years had seen the defenses improved, with 120mm guns controlling the straits, serving as overwatch for the minefields.  Batteries of large mortars helped ensure the most likely shores were poor choices.  The harbor now had breakwaters and torpedo nets to safeguard ships in it's care, while harbor forces included both minesweepers and anti-submarine forces, while the sky was safeguarded by Parthian fighters.  Should the Maya commence a build up, it would be met inkind.  That knowledge seemed to have helped deter them.

The beautiful countryside was matched by hot, but lovely weather. Liere had been seized by the Mali Empire in the distant past, used as a base by Iberian adventurers, and fought over as the centuries slipped by. The location on the edge of the Caribbean and the Atlantic had long made it a popular base for 'privateers' and 'adventurers' of many nations. The yao population had retreated to the interior of the island, and engaged in belligerent trade with whomever the recent interloper was. The Parthian arrival had brought peace and stability, turning the rugged town of Cumucurapo (Port of Spain) into a commercial hub. The military port was 18nm south at Point Lisas, near the new oil refineries. Settlers had founded new urban hubs and clusters of government service buildings, while national service youth arrived to build roads to serve Parthian and Yao alike. Enhanced access to goods had brought prosperity to the island. 

The patrol ships and minesweepers had been out early to ensure the Northern strait was clear of mines and subs while the flying boats took off in the predawn.  With affirmation of a route free of potential hostile forces, the Babr corvettes moved ahead, to do their own hydrophone check. The scouting force Royal Nissean cruisers and Asbara armored cruisers were next, with their covering cruiser-carrier Avio Aristarbara.  The Bakrsentry cruisers were next, followed by the four battlewagons in oblique order,  Stormbringer, Vazrya, Vidyudabhi, and Mournblade.  The middle two vessels were equipped with flag facilities, which carried the Emperor and his wife on one, and Princess Shirin and Aunt Iasas on the other.  The liners taken in service with representatives of the leading families and guard troops followed, followed by the gaggle of fleet supply vessels with the Maelstrom cruisers, Bazdari carrier and elderly Mus-sag seaplane carrier following. Last was the remaining corvettes of the Babr and Palang, who moved swiftly to take up positions on the flanks and stern.

Fleet speed was 14 knots, which placed it at the upper range of what a submarine could manage on the surface in flat seas.  Throughout the journey, the corvettes would take turns steaming ahead of the main fleet, and then damping down the engines to drift. While not able to completely turn them off, this reduced the hull noise sufficiently to allow the hydrophone arrays to be highly effective. A submarine running maximum screws could be heard over the horizon, as could a surface force.   The three aviation ships took turns launching scouts, while the warships kept their seaplanes on board.

There was no real expectation of trouble from the Mayans, or anyone. A series of long planned refits had ensured that the ships were in top shape and featured the new antiaircraft guns, on which the crews had been drilling. The four battleships alone featured sixty 365mm guns, while the formation bore 100 heavy guns, and outgunned the Mayan fleet. With the Emperor and two named heirs on board, and the potential to disrupt the Aztec Royals, it was imagined that any vessel carrying them would be a target of opportunity, thus they were separated and the entire fleet was used, as an indication of how very unwise it would be to interfere.

The course was followed to the North NE until two hours past nightfall. Then a lowpower signal was sent, and the force shook out in a looser formation before ships lights damped, and the force turned in sequence to the West.  The hulesmeyer devices on many of the vessels gave short range (5.5nm) omni-directional reflections off metallic objects, but could be shrouded for directional proximity, greatly assisting in station keeping and helping ensure the ships did not drift to close. This course was held for nearly 800nm, passing through the middle of the Caribbean, far from any land based aerial searches. The turn point was 150nm South of Parthian Jamaica, and 200nm from the Mayan "Corn islands" themselves 200nm off of Mayan coast. Unknown to the Parthians, this meant they were retracing the route of the Mayan fleet on it's journey to and from Martinique. This time the turn was in the early morning hours at 0315, and brought the fleet on a course for the Yucatan straits, 590nm away.

With the major Mayan base at Cancun, and the strait only 113nm across, if the Mayans chose make a mistake, this was their best location. Maintaining course and speed would place the fleet off the Parthian Caymans at 2200hours and would enter the Mayan Aerial search radius an hour later, but would see the Fleet exiting the strait at 0330 hours, and 60nm away by time Dawn came.  Sneaking through during wartime would be highly advisable, but would not help convey the Parthian message, so the fleet steamed at a reduced speed,  passing their reference point of the Caymans at a little past noon, and entering the Mayan aerial search envelope in the hours after that.  The sole search aircraft was encountered by the fleet's own scouts. A lance of fighters was detailed to patrol that way, but the Mayans turned shortly after sighting the fleet. While at high alert for several hours, the fleet passed the strait just as Night was falling, with no further sign of the Mayans.

The next two days were uneventful. Once past the strait, the force continued into the night, before swinging Southwest, keeping well off the Mayan Yucatan.  The nighttime leg once again at 14 knts, followed by an increase to 16knots during the daytime, to adjust the arrival time at Veracruz to mid afternoon....(see Aztec thread)