www.navalism.org

NSN Headquarters, Morning September 24th

"Report from 'Tortugas', Balao group has gone to Plan B, somethings wrong with Manta's, possible Dutch intervention. No further word from Manta."

"Not good, get me 1st BC, send them of, and get me a plan, call it Operation Komodo."



Palau, Afternoon September 24th

"How fast can you sail captain?"

"Thirty minutes Admiral."

"We sail in twenty."

"Where too Admiral?"

"Krakatoa...*"


*Not OTL Krakatoa, something else...

Emergency Meeting, Morning September 27th

"President, that's all we know at this time. Manta sent her report yesterday from Tortugas. She has since sailed again. The other ships under Balao arrived safely last night."

"Very well, has Atair been informed?"

"Yes, she has just reported that she has Keeling in sight."

"What about 1st Battlecruisers?"

"They are recoaling of the coast of New Amsterdam, they too have been notified and will sail later today."

"Good, do we have a plan in case of a Charlie Foxtrot?"

"Yes, the Alaskan squadron is already enroute here, all our units including reserves are ready, here's our plan..."


Some time later


"Very well Admiral, make it happen. Johann, I want you to take Antares and sail immidietly for Bangkok. Oh, Admiral if anything new comes up let me know."


***

Of Alaska, Afternoon September 27th

"Where are we headed Commander?"

"Phoenix..."


***


Phoenix, Afternoon September 27th

"Next stop...Palau."


***


Taiwan, Afternoon September 27th

"Spratly's..."


***


Sydney, Afternoon September 27th

"New Amsterdam..."

Foxy, Korpen, Mods:  Kindly advise what info will be publically known or gleaned by my diplomatic and not-so-diplomatic personnel in the region. 

As far as I know, neither the Spratlys, nor the Palau can be used as operating basis for ships, recoaling, etc. Moderator goodwill was used up by insisting on recoaling at Tortuga/Keeling without any facilities there (even a cheap lvl 0 port would have done wonders).

Telegraph line issue will be decided shortly.

All the information here is Secret, however an acute observer or competent intelligence service can easily tell that there is an abnormal number of movements in the Swiss fleet. News will be released as such.

On the islands issue, I dont need or want a port there. I consider them Fleet Anchorages, and you dont need more for recoaling. For recoaling all you need is a collier (or coal supply), calm water, and a secure anchorage. I don't need barracks, administrative buildings, storage depots, and workshops, I don't even need repair capabilities above those provided by the ships themselves.  

Fleet anchorages are level 0 naval bases, with minimal administrative facility, and a heap of coal. Especially if you are using it consistently, a base will just grow out.

If that's what it takes to define a fleet anchorage I have around a dozen spread all over the place. I haven't built L0 Naval Bases there due to two things
1. The old rules didnt require them
2. I considered bases as places for docks and slips.
also what about civilian ports?

I mean sites like Palau, Saipan, Dutch Harbor, Kwalajain, Tortugas, and some Australian sites (Adelaide, Launceston, Cairns, North Australia) fit the requirement (limited administration, coal supplies) and have been used consitently by the NSN. Keeling and the Spratlys would not, having only telegraph facilities. I'm sure others also have such places, not bases but anchorages with limited facilities.

I would say we add a new category for Fleet Anchorages. Say cost of $3, have supplies (ammo, food, coal/oil) and administration facilities, but can't repair ships, or build slips/docks.

Is $5 and 1BP too much?

If your not going to be building slips and docks there and don't need the repair capability it is, especially the 1BP.

Hm, cut it back to 0.5 or 0.25BP?

OOC
We have discussed the Spratlies at the old board. If the weather is nice it is possible to recoal there. Nothing else. There won't be enough fresh water immediately available for anything larger than a torpedo boat. And some cocounts ...
Borys

I know about the Spratlys, notice I dont have them on the list of Fleet Anchorages.

Why no BPs for Fleet Anchorages? Only 3 things require BPs, ships, trains, and bases. I figure Bases need BPs because they repair ships for free. If I stick Perch (damage 75%) in New Amsterdam (L1), in 6 months she will be as good as new. But a Fleeet Anchorage is nothing more than a bunch of buildings. I don't see why they would need a 1,000 tons of warship grade steel in their construction.

All events October 7th


Dutch Embassy, Phoenix

"Mr. Ambassador nice of you to be available today. I would just like to make a point out that on the 24th four Dutch men-o-war opened fire on a lone Swiss cruiser. Two days later the underwater telegraph line between Keeling and Australia was cut by Dutch warships. In thirty minutes time the battleship Australia will open fire on Dutch soil. Mr. Ambassador as of now you are officialy an enemy alien, good day to you. That is all."


***


Neatherlands

"Your Majesty, it is my sad duty to inform you that our countries are now at war."


***


Swiss Ships and Shore Installations

"Initiate Komodo Dragon, repeat, Initiate Komodo Dragon."

(folders being opened)


*TOP SECRET*

RE: OPERATION KOMODO DRAGON

COMMENCE UNRESTRICTED SEA AIR AND LAND WARFARE AGAINST THE FORCES OF
THE KINGDOM OF THE NEATHERLANDS

GOOD HUNTING GOD BLESS

(FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS...)

*TOP SECRET*


***


NSS Pegasus, North Atlantic

"Men break out the Jolly Roger, we are going hunting!"

(Cheers)


***


NSS Australia, Of Timor

"It is time..."

Richmond, Virginia: 8 October 1907

"Mr President! The Swiss have declared war on the Netherlands!"

"God help us all... this could get out of hand quickly. Tell Secretary Roosevelt to alert his admirals as to the situation. I want opinions on how bad this could get and how it might involve us."

Prime Minister Gladstone's office:-

Secretary:"Sir, The New Swiss have declared war on the Dutch!"
Gladstone:"Very well, have the Admiralty inform our shipping of the situation, and send a message to the Dutch saying that we on their side, and will work with France to keep the North Atlantic secure!"
Secretary:"yes Sir."

Latter on at the Admiralty

1st Sea Lord, Jackie Fisher:"Signal all UNK shipping agents in the Pacific, and Indian Oceans to intsruct where possible all UNK merchant shipping to leave NS ports, and proceed immediately to nearest French, DKB or if necessary Dutch ports to await further orders."
Ensign: "Aye, Aye sir!"

Wardroom, HMS Troutbridge, Azores Fleet

Lt Bates: "Signal from the Admiralty sir!"
Lt Murray: "Very well, what does it say?"
Lt Bates: "Signal reads-

'Proceed to Marseilles STOP
Collect Vice Admiral Greenwich STOP
Proceed to French Indochina at best possible speed STOP
Be Advised, NS & Dutch at WAR STOP'

message ends sir!

CPO Pertwee: "WAR, man the boats, women and Pertwee first....."
Lt Murray: "Chief! Forget it! Get to the Bridge, and prepare to sail for Marseilles."
CPO Pertwee: "Aye Aye sir!"

(The Question is, will they even be able to find Marseilles???)

Cape Town October 8, 1907
"The Imbeciles..." sighed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He arrived hastily, being awakened after midnight at home by a butler, announcing an urgent telephone call. He was at his desk in the Ministry, and glaring at the hasty reports and in front of him. At least there were a few people keeping "watch" during the nights and weekends. Some of the staff was already on the way.
He looked at the junior clerk standing beside a cart filled with files.
"What is that heap of garbage..."
"Foreign Ministry and Intelligence Reports from the Pacific Directorate, on Indonesia and the Swiss, Your Excellency.'
"Can you type?"
The man stood bewildered from the unexpected question.
"Yes" he stammered.
"There's that typewriter on that desk....What you are waiting for?"

OOC I will make no comments or take any actions until i have been in contact with every player affected my this,
or they are declared to have quit the game.

Paris, current events. On the streets.

Are they stark raving mad, those New Swiss? Or do they have a bet, with how many countries they can be at war with at the same time?
Oh well, France won't go to war, not when everybody else and his grandmother is gearing up to kick NS butt.

I think the worst news this thread contains is the fact that there's another HMS Troutbridge...

QuoteThe Republic of Gran Colombia hereby declares its neutrality in the Dutch/Swiss war declared earlier today, 7 October 1907.

Please note the following changes to Gran Colombian port and canal operations:

-The Darien Canal shall be closed to traffic of Dutch and Swiss flags.

-Gran Colombian ports in the Caribbean shall be closed to Swiss flagged shipping, and open to Dutch shipping.

-Gran Colombian ports in the Pacific shall be closed to Dutch shipping, and open to Swiss shipping.

-Previously announced restrictions on French shipping are hereby terminated, with apologies to France.

Gran Colombia advises belligerants that it continues to assert the right to innocent passage for Gran Colombian merchant shipping in the Pacific Ocean.

Finally, Gran Colombia advises the belligerants that, as has been demonstrated by our reactions to events in Cuba, Brazil, and the Island Commonwealth, Gran Colombia strongly disapproves of any actions that would de-stabilize the eastern Pacific and Caribbean.

QuoteI think the worst news this thread contains is the fact that there's another HMS Troutbridge...

I specifically renamed an entire class of destroyers to let me have another one. ;D ;D ;D

*blurb ran in all Dutch and Swiss newspapers*

NOTICE: Until such time as this restriction be removed, Confederate ports are closed to all warships and civilian vessels of the Dutch and New Swiss navies and merchant marines, and to all civilian vessels flying the flag of and being registered within these belligerents which are currently involved in mutual combat.

All citizens of the several Confederate States residing within or visiting these nations are advised to return to their homes aboard neutral vessels flying neutral colors. Safe passage cannot be assured aboard vessels flying the colors of either belligerent.

Further, no warship or civilian vessels of either belligerent is permitted to approach to within three miles of the coast of and of the several Confederate States of America. Any vessel found in violation of the neutrality of any of the several Confederate States will be held accountable for this action, and will be impounded by the Confederate States of America until the end of the conflict is formally negotiated. Any vessel refusing to heave to and allow itself to be boarded and impounded will necessitate further action.

Hm, any specifoc reason for such a drastic measures - closing ports to the merchant traffic of the belligerents?

This unfortunate measure is a reaction to the possibility of an armed ship of war posing as a merchantman. Due to the unfortunate likelihood of this in light of recent events, the Confederate States have agreed that the safest course of action is to close ports to any traffic from the belligerents until such time as can be ascertained whether or not similar armed merchantmen might be used in combat.

Unfortunately, to be fair, ships from both sides of the conflict must be treated equally.

OOC
Update on what is happening in Firanj

Last week of September:
- rumours about Infidel atrocity in the Indian Ocean make Western legations appeal to own citizens to leave, leving only handful of White diplomats on the spot; evacuation to nearest Dutch island, Kalimatan, under Army protection; Army on alert
- some low scale rioting and unrest, growing as more news tickles in;

30th September
- partial mobilisation - the Sultan calls up 5 classes of reservists; the remaining diplomats interpret this move as having both external - directed against Netherlands and New Swiss, and internal puposes - taking off hot headed single men of the streets;

1st October
- the Sultan demands
a/ the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Swiss Confedaration to return all Firanjee Subjects, Property, and to despatch all ships traveling to Firanj to their destinations;
b/ to provide a full explanation of what had happened
c/ for the Swiss Confedaration to pay damages of 3$ for what is know to have happened
d/ for the Kingdom of the Netherlands to pay damages of 3$ for withholding Firajee Subjects from the care of their families
- the Sultan sends coastal battleship "Allah's Mercy" with his Special Envoy, his brother Dookar, and assorted notables, clerics and doctors to Batavia

OOC
Superseded by feedback from Netherlands, new and correct version a few posts below

Quote from: Borys on June 10, 2007, 11:20:55 PM

d/ for the Kingdom of the Netherlands to pay damages of 3$ for withholding Firajee Subjects from the care of their families
- the Sultan sends coastal battleship "Allah's Mercy" with his Special Envoy, his brother Dookar, and assorted notsbles, clerics and doctors to Batavia

The Netherlands did send the rescued captives to the Franji pretty much immediately. And they have never been in the hands of "Infidels", all conntacts have been made by Malayan men, women and officers, all good Muslims. A Celric was provided for the passengers from the moment Netherlands troops boarded the ships.

The Netherlands have never withheld any passenger for a moment longer then necessary, only for as long as to allow medical attention to the passengers and safeguard their health.

May insatiated vultures feast upon the festering and adled brain of the worthless idiot who did not notice those glaring nuggets of information from the Honourable (even if Infidel) Kingdom of the Low Coutries!
:)
Will edit later ...
Borys

Quote from: Borys on June 11, 2007, 01:59:00 AM
May insatiated vultures feast upon the festering and adled brain of the worthless idiot who did not notice those glaring nuggets of information from the Honourable (even if Infidel) Kingdom of the Low Coutries!
:)
Will edit later ...
Borys

The Netherlands would also stress that the outmost care for the integrity and honour of the passengers have been taken, they have not been forced to be paraded in front of foreign "observers" like livestock or slaves, nor will there be pictures published for the mob to gloat over.

It if to protect the name of the families and their honour the names of the victims will remain secret, those close to the family will be informed, on a strict need-to-know basis. Also the landing will be conducted low-key and away from the flash of photographers, the passengers have already suffered, they should not be subjected to being forced to play the role of political pawns. The Government of the Netherlands will do its outmost to make sure the victims in this affair can leave this trauma behind them and continue with their life's, united with their loved ones.

OOC
CORRECTED update on what is happening in Firanj

Last week of September:
- rumours about Infidel atrocity in the Indian Ocean make Western legations appeal to own citizens to leave the country, leaving only handful of White diplomats on the spot; evacuation to nearest Dutch island, Kalimatan, under Army protection; Army on alert
- some low scale rioting and unrest, growing as more news trickles in;

30th September
- partial mobilisation - the Sultan calls up 5 classes of reservists; the remaining diplomats interpret this move as having both external - directed against Netherlands and New Swiss, and internal, purposes - the taking off hot headed, single men of the streets;

1st October
- the Sultan demands
a/ the the Swiss Confedaration to return all Firanjee Subjects, Property, and to release all waylaid ships traveling to Firanj to proceed to their destination;
b/ to provide a full explanation of what had happened
c/ for the Swiss Confedaration to pay damages of 3$ for what is known to have happened

- The Sultan decrees any attacks on foreigners to be punishable by death, as there are no Swiss Infidels in the Real, the Dutch have proven themselves to be Honorable, and the other Whites to be unrelated to the event

- The Dutch Sovereign was gifted a cat from the line descended from a cat owned by Fatima, the Most Beloved Daughter of the Prophet

Beijing, Forbidden City, Hall of Supreme Harmony...

The small woman in splendid finery rubbed her hands together. "So, they have shown their true faces again ? Will the rest of the world finally listen to us ?"
"Your Most Serene Imperial Majesty, what are Your orders ?" Kang Yi, Grand Secretary of the Board of War asked, kow-towing. His colleague of the Board of Foreign Affairs stood next to him.
"Hmm..." the Empress-Mother mused, "have all of our ports opened for the Dutch yang quizi if they desire so. We could even allow them access to some slips and docks for repairs when needed. We are, after all, still at war with those heinous devils and any enemy of theirs is a good ally of ours."
She looked at Liaing Tung-yen of Foreign Affairs: "Have Pu Lun do some work for his living. Let him travel to that Dutch land and do what is necessary. If we can help these quizi to crush the New Swiss forever we will do great service to Harmony in the World !"

I haven't even posted the official Decleration of War yet! But do not fear it shall be done (later today as I was gone over the weekend).

To Firanj, NS has already asked that a representative of Thrawn be sent to assertain the well being of the passengers. They have not been released due to danger in the high seas, but if Firanj is willing to provide an escort, they will be released with the ships (but not the Gold as that is Caliph property and will be returned there, yes returned)

You posted the unofficial declaration four days ago.  Seemed reasonable to assume the rest of the world would be notified at about the same time.

QuoteAll events October 7th


Dutch Embassy, Phoenix

"Mr. Ambassador nice of you to be available today. I would just like to make a point out that on the 24th four Dutch men-o-war opened fire on a lone Swiss cruiser. Two days later the underwater telegraph line between Keeling and Australia was cut by Dutch warships. In thirty minutes time the battleship Australia will open fire on Dutch soil. Mr. Ambassador as of now you are officialy an enemy alien, good day to you. That is all."

Actualy, immediatly after the Dutch gouvernement recieved this information, they allerted everybody, and his grandma about the NS declaration.... And started to send out diplomatic messages.

(OOC, a lot of PM's are send)

if the New Swiss wish to "lose" this war...  just cease hostilities and start paying repairs.

Also, the Gold, according to the freighter SS Dali's papers is bound from the Caliphate to Firenj. Sending it to the Caliphate won't help....

Reply from Sultan Thraw'n of Firanj to NS

Flea ridden Infidel Dogs!
Deliver my Subjects, the stolen Gold and Just Compensation to nearest Firanj harbour and be spared the Wrath the Faithful!

Yes the official decleration would have been on the 7th (same as the unofficial one). But I made the stupid mistake of posting the unoficial one just before leaving which means no time for PMs.

As to the Gold, the papers are missing, and the Gold is stamped Caliphate. So its a case of give Ceaser what belongs to Ceaser.

Here it is, explaining why I'm going to war.


Official Decleration of War

WHEREAS Without cause the Kingdom of the Neatherlands has aggresively threatened an ally.

WHEREAS Without cause the Kingdom of the Neatherlands has attacked on two separate occasions Swiss warships.

WHEREAS Without cause the Kingdom of the Neatherlands has captured three Swiss warships.

WHEREAS Without cause the Kingdom of the Neatherlands has taken prisioners 1,000 (estimate) Swiss sailors.

WHEREAS Without cause the Kingdom of the Neatherlands has sent sabotours aganist the Kra Canal.

WHEREAS Without cause the Kingdom of the Neatherlands has destroyed the underwater telegraph cable between Asia and Africa.

WHEREAS Without cause the Kingdom of the Neatherlands has slandered and lied about the Swiss Confederacy.

We therefore declare that a state of war now exists between the Swiss Confederacy and the Kingdom of the Neatherlands as of October Seventh in the Year of Our Lord Nineteen Hundred and Seven.


Also sent with it:

Official War Warning

All neutral shipping is hereby warned that the are around the DEI is considered War Ground. Straits in the DEI area can be mined, so neutral shipping is encouraged to take alternative routes for their own safety.

Quote from: Desertfox on June 11, 2007, 09:35:25 AM
As to the Gold, the papers are missing, and the Gold is stamped Caliphate. So its a case of give Ceaser what belongs to Ceaser.

4th October
Joint Communique by Caliph-of-the-Month and Sultan Thraw'n.
Let it be known to All, that the gold shipment from the Caliphate to the Sultanate of Firanj, currently in New Swiss hands, is the property of the Sultan of Firanj, the basking in the Blessing of Allah Sultan Thraw'n

Cycle 76, year Ding-Wei, month 9, day 3

(October 9th 1907)

From the Bingbu Yamen,
To all units and harbours,


(http://www.mandarintools.com/cgi-bin/ugif/7A78.gif) (http://www.mandarintools.com/cgi-bin/ugif/7531.gif) (http://www.mandarintools.com/cgi-bin/ugif/51E1.gif) (http://www.mandarintools.com/cgi-bin/ugif/60E1.gif) (http://www.mandarintools.com/cgi-bin/ugif/9B54.gif)

October 14, 1907

Due to the questionable legal matters over the beginning of this conflict, Theocro King has issued the following statement:

"The Kingdom of  Rohan will not assist the Swiss nor Dutch during this time of war, and will follow through on denying Swiss and Dutch warships from Rohirrim waters and limiting Swiss and Dutch merchants and nationals to a 72 hour limit within Rohirrim ports and all territories for the course of the war.  This will effect trade slighty, but not critically.  Rohan will also not supply either side with weapons of war during the conflict."

The edict from Edoras will take effect on November 1, 1907 to allow for and Swiss and Dutch nationals to collect their belonging.  Diplomatic personel from both nations are immune to this edict, as are workers and companies under contract with the Kingdom of Rohan until such time as their contracts expire.  Any Swiss or Dutch military personel within Rohirrim territories must leave by November 1, 1907.  Naval and Army patrols will increase within Rohirrim waters and territories for the course of the war.  The people of Rohan wish for this seemingly insane conflict to end quickly so that normalcy can resume in the Pacific.

Swiss or Dutch warships that request use of Rohirrim ports will be denied saving for the request of asylum from the conflict, or dire energencies.  In the case of the former, the vessel will remain in Rohirrim waters under guard until the end of the war or a negotiated settlement specifically related to the vessel in question.  In the later, the vessel will be allowed food and medical aid.  If the vessel cannot leave under her own power within 72 hours or does not have the fuel to reach another safe port, the vessel will remain in Rohirrim waters under guard until the end of the war.  If Swiss or Dutch nationals from any vessel breaks Rohirrim laws while within Rohirrim waters or lands, they will be subject to the laws of Rohan and risk their vessel being siezed, should the crime warrent such an action.

Quote4th October
Joint Communique by Caliph-of-the-Month and Sultan Thraw'n.
Let it be known to All, that the gold shipment from the Caliphate to the Sultanate of Firanj, currently in New Swiss hands, is the property of the Sultan of Firanj, the basking in the Blessing of Allah Sultan Thraw'n

As stated before the Gold, Passengers, and Ships are at Tortugas (but will be moved if Germans agree to it to the DKB islands a bit South) waiting to be picked up. Its just a matter of sending over a suitable escort (on Firanj's part) to escort them back.

Quote from: Desertfox on June 11, 2007, 06:50:29 PM
As stated before the Gold, Passengers, and Ships are at Tortugas (but will be moved if Germans agree to it to the DKB islands a bit South) waiting to be picked up. Its just a matter of sending over a suitable escort (on Firanj's part) to escort them back.

Message from Exalted Office for Outside the Realm Affairs
Had it not been been for the unsolicited - and uncalled for - efforts of the New Swiss fleet, the Gold, Passengers, and Ships would had been in a Firanj port, not at some sheep dung sized island. Thus the Firanjee Sultanate demands the Gold, Passengers, and Ships to be delivered to a port of the Realm, and the payment of just compensation as per point 20 of the Hague Convention.

Overheard in the foreign department..

"Whatever the Swiss are smoking it must be good, they seems to have forgotten that they attacked ship under the protection of the Netherlands,  and conducting piracy on the high seas.
Also how the hell is one supposed to know what country ships belong to when they kept changing flags like there was no tomorrow."

"-More then cause enough to intervene to save ships and passengers"

"Yes si,r especially fascinating is the accusation that we have lied and slandered, when thy themselves accuse of holding three Swiss warships, sending saboteurs to Kra and the rest, when we have done nothing of it, talk about the raven calling the Cockatoo black."

The President and the cabinet re-convened to look over the Swiss declaration of war.

"Aggressively threatened an ally?", the President muttered.  "Who?"

"We don't know", Benicio Delgado replied.  "Given reference to the Kra Canal further down, I would presume Siam.  This is the first I've heard of such threats, however."

"Attacked Swiss ships on two occasions?"

Ricardo Alizandro shrugged.  "Our people have seen motion pictures of a purported attack, but I got no idea what the other one is supposed to be."

"Three Swiss warships captured?", the President asked.

"No idea", his uncle said again.  "I got the impression that the battle we saw motion pictures from was just the one Swiss ship - which clearly got away.  Before you ask, I assume the point about capturing sailors is related to this one."

"Sabotage against the Kra Canal?"

"The Siamese have not reported anything of this kind thus far", Foreign Minister Eduard Torres noted.

"The Dutch wrecked a telegraph cable?", the President read.

"The cable is known to be inoperative, but that doesn't mean the Dutch are responsible", Industry Minister de Soto observed.  "Underwater earthquakes have been a problem in that region forever."

"Slandered and lied about the Swiss?"

"Somebody got their feelings hurt", Ricardo Alizandro said sarcastically.  "I mean, come on now..."

"You all don't sound very convinced", the President noted.

"The thinking man does not become aroused by unsupported accusations", Torres said. 

The Deutsches Kaiserreich Brandenburg hereby declares its neutrality in the war between the Dutch and the New Swiss.

*Merchant trade between the belligerents and the Reich is to continue unaffected at this time.

*Warships of the belligerents shall be granted access to the ports of Brandenburg under the following conditions:
-No more than two warships within the territorial waters of the Reich at a time.
-In case of both belligerent powers seeking access to the same port at the same time, access shall be granted on a first come, first serve basis, and under no circumstances shall vessels of both belligerent powers be in the same port at the same time.
-No stay longer than 48 hours per vessel.
-Coal and food will be sold at market rates to belligerent warships. Medical supplies shall be supplied free of charge.
-Any belligerent warship that remains inside Brandenburgian territorial waters longer than 48 hours shall be interned with its crew for the duration of the conflict.

*Any attempt by a belligerent warship to disquise itself as a merchant vessel within DKB territorial waters shall result in the seizure and internment of the vessel.

*The Second German Reich asserts the Right to free trade and transit on the high seas. Any attempt by either belligerent power to interfere with Brandenburgian merchant traffic on the high seas will result in unfavourable consequences.

*These conditions apply to all territories of the Deutsches Kaiserreich Brandenburg, with the exception of Hankow, which falls under the laws and polices of the Middle Kingdom.

*The Kaiser reserves the right to alter or rescind any or all of the above at His Imperial Convienence.

(signed by Kaiser Wilhelm II and Reich Foreign Minister von Bülow, 9 October)

****

The Reich also maintains that the New Swiss hand over the rightful property and citizens of Firanj to the Emperor Thrawn.

****

(Note that while the above is the official stance of the Reich, in practice the Dutch will find officials polite and helpful, while the Swiss will find them surly and meddling, and Swiss sailors ashore are asking for trouble...)

NOTICE!

The Confederate States of America has lifted the ban on merchant and civilian  traffic flying the flags of New Switzerland and the Netherlands. Ships bearing these flags are now allowed to remain in Confederate ports for 48 hours before requiring to depart; extended stays due to emergency situations may be considered on a case by case basis.

Ships not capable of leaving under their own power after 48 hours (or longer, in case of emergency) will be placed under impound until the end of the conflict between the two nations.

Any ship carrying contraband items will be seized by Confederate officals and held until a negotiated settlement between the two parties, at which time the fate of the vessel and crew will be determined.

If any ship chooses or necessitates remaining in Confederate harbor, Confederate law will apply to all personnel while they are disembarked. National law will be observed aboard, except when observing those laws would be specifically in breach of Confederate laws or Confederate neutrality.

The Confederate States of America also reserves the right to inspect any merchantman of either flag entering it's territorial waters for contraband cargo in order to preserve their neutrality.

Oh that's right most of you don't know what happened after the French-Swiss fight.

The following is OOC

Manta as is known escaped. A destroyer with her didn't.

Perch and her towing destroyer where also captured while heading towards Keeling. This is where the reference to a second attack comes from.

Cutting the cable could be an earthquake, but (lots) Dutch ships where seen in the area just before communication was lost.

As for sabotage and threats, a massive fleet excersise of the Siamese coast, complaints on the canal, threats to use military force to stop construction, all mean that even accidents can be seen as sabotage.

Slander, well saying the Swiss raped and beat passengers when not true is more than just streatching the truth and was made with the intent to turn world opinion, since it was made with the intent to hurt (diplomaticly) and was proven false (by GC) I consider it a valid Casus Beli.

Telling us out-of-character isn't going to change anybody's mind in-character.  Personally, I don't think much of these items have been posted in a way that Gran Colombia should know about them.  If I'm wrong, direct me to the appropriate post...

Quotewas proven false (by GC)

Gran Colombia's views were posted in the form of a discussion by government leaders, thus for out-of-character knowledge only.  If other nations ask Gran Colombia what it saw, it may say so, but that hasn't happened yet.

I know, but I don't really know which of those are available IC which is why I posted them OOC, then the mods can verify which is available IC.

Quote from: Desertfox on June 12, 2007, 08:46:23 AM
Slander, well saying the Swiss raped and beat passengers when not true is more than just streatching the truth and was made with the intent to turn world opinion, since it was made with the intent to hurt (diplomaticly) and was proven false (by GC) I consider it a valid Casus Beli.

OOC:
The abuse aboard the ships is true, the Netherlands never claimed that it was ordred from above, we only told that it happend aboard the ships that was rescued by the Netherlands navy.

OOC, a kid given a clout around the ears because he defended his mother/aunts/sisters honor, can become a tale of immense proportions.  A muslim lady watched without veil can become rape ....

a wiff of propaganda, et voila...

But the 2 ships in NS hands do not have any attrocities to mention.  Only annoying happenings...

OOC Wonder who did it as it sure wasn't the Swiss. Maddox can testify about that.

Edit: Ah OK, but then I doubt even that happened, see my reaction to the flares.

I just did

Barring a fluke observation by a neutral civvie ship - whose interpretation of events would be suspect by its very nature - I see no reason we'll know about the battles unless one or both participants break news of them.  

Diplomatic kerfuffles - it's reasonable to think some of Kra-related stuff might've hit the newspapers, recognizing that you or Korpen or his predecessor might not have thought it worth actually writing up at the time.  That's where we really need Mod guidance.

QuoteOOC:
The abuse aboard the ships is true, the Netherlands never claimed that it was ordred from above, we only told that it happend aboard the ships that was rescued by the Netherlands navy.

Again - our nations have no way to verify this in-character.  They're left weighing the reliability of Dutch news reports.

It should also be mentioned that most of the OOC "Information" DS mentioned is information that he does not himself possess IC. About what happen aboard the ships, he has no idea about, especially if the soldiers aboard acted contrary to orders, then they sure as hell is not going to tell the ships around them.

No fleet exercise was ever held of the Siamese coast, it was moved to southwest Sumatra...

And no Netherlands force captured any Swiss ships in the other direction, but it is possible that you got information on the contrary, but then that info is faulty.
The Swiss player confuses information with fact.

Thanks for the clarification. 

It seems that no third parties are particularly inclined to get involved in the war, so perhaps I'll leave you guys to fight it out...

P3D made it very clear that Perch (and any destroyer with her) had been captured. That's the information I received and the one Im operating with.

I was not informed about the fleet excercise being moved, last I heard was the King of Siam complain about the excercises being held of his coast (plus the land ones).

Unless some other player is motivated to join the Swiss because of the exercise issue, I'd suggest that it ultimately doesn't really matter.

Quote from: The Rock Doctor on June 12, 2007, 12:38:30 PM
Unless some other player is motivated to join the Swiss because of the exercise issue, I'd suggest that it ultimately doesn't really matter.

I do not think I matter either, but I used it to point out my point:
Those players should be careful presenting any information they receive as fact, and therefore extremely cautious with sending messages when they tell "OOC" what "really" happened, as that might not be correct.

And I think it is a good thing that the players do not always get the full picture, it adds tension and immersion into the game IMO. I have gotten my reports of what has happened, DS has got his, and neither does have to be correct, as could be the case with perch.
And i think that is a good thing (so i do not demand to know exatly what really happend).

So I have nothing against DS or anybody else makng in game claims and statements about event, but a lot against trying to present it as OOC "Fact".

All the information I received from the mods both IC and OOC showed Perch as being captured. IC information could be worng, but not the OOC one.

As for the excercise only country it can affect is Siam.

Maybe Perch wasn't caught by the Dutch...?

IIRC Perch was left to the Dutch. What happened to it, only the Dutch knows....

Quote from: P³D on June 12, 2007, 01:15:42 PM
IIRC Perch was left to the Dutch. What happened to it, only the Dutch knows....

What?

It seems your admiral forgot a prize to mention.

Or she just didn't make it that far and floundered.

That would have left wreakage, men, and a destroyer straight in the path of the Dutch Fleet.

May I suggest instead having the two ships simply dissapear (Keeling Triangle?)? Nothing changes IC and future historians get a nice mystery on their hands. (Cyclops, Flight 19, Earhart)

Official

The Dutch do not have Perch, and say they do not know about this ship.

France is very silent.... eerie silent even....

Thrawn:  "They say revenge is a dish best served cold, Foxy.  It is (not) very cold in the Indian Ocean."

Foxy:  "THRAWNNNNN!!!!"

The Confederate States of America strongly implores the Swiss to seek a more diplomatic solution in order to resolve the problems at hand. The detrimental effects on stability in the Pacific and the rest of the world are too great for this conflict to continue.

A swift end must be found, one way or another.

15 October 1907:  Phoenix

Synchronized footfalls alerted the Swiss lieutenant to approach visitors coming down the hallway.  As the door to the office opened, he sized them up:  two foreigners in white dress uniform, one of them - lean, impeccably clean shaven - carrying an envelope, the other - whiskered and portly - carrying two duffel bags.  As rank insignia was not clear, the lieutenant played it safe and saluted.

Returning the salute, the one man set the bags down, while the other extended the envelope to the lieutenant.  "Good morning.  I am Captain Federico Juarez of the Armada de Gran Colombia.  This is Chief Petty Officer Angel Armero.  We are here to present our credentials as observers attached to the New Swiss Navy for the duration of hostilities with the Netherlands."

The Swiss lieutenant took the envelope hesitantly.  "We weren't advised of observers, Sir", he said.  "I'll have to speak with my superior."

"Very well", Juarez replied.  The lieutenant disappeared through another doorway, leaving Juarez to remark, "He didn't even offer us coffee."

"You'll recall that lieutenants in general are careless, ignorant youngsters", Armero rumbled. 

"Careless, ignorant youngsters, sir", Juarez corrected him.  "Demonstrate due deference to my rank and stature, man, or I shall have you flogged."

Armero shrugged.  "Yes, of course, Sir", he said with disinterest. 

The Swiss lieutenant returned.  "Umm...okay, Sir.  We weren't expecting you, but your papers are in good order.  The Admiral has asked if you have a specific preference for assignments at sea."

"Capital ships", Juarez answered.  "We wish to see how yours and the Dutchmen conduct their lethal business."

"I'll arrange for a billet and some office space for you, Sir."



*Edited so that the date makes more sense...

1 November 1907

Quote
To:  The Exalted Office for Outside the Realm Affairs, Sultanate of Firanj
From:  Felipe Mendezavil, Consul-General, Republic of Gran Colombia

Dear Sir,

It is the understanding of my nation that detained vessels bearing passengers, cargo, and currency bound for Firanj remain in Swiss waters, due to a lack of agreement between New Switzerland and Firanj on the conditions in which the vessels may sortie.  Given the current war now raging around you, and the demonstrated risk of piracy in the region, it is our view that your ships would be vulnerable to attack if they were to steam alone.

As a peaceful nation which promotes international cooperation and remains neutral in the current conflict, Gran Colombia offers assistance in the form of an escort for these vessels.  This would provide an opportunity for Firanj to regain what belongs to it, without having to accede to demands of the Swiss government. 

Given that our forces are on the other side of the Pacific, we would require approximately sixty days after your possible agreement in order to have our vessels on station at the appropriate Swiss port for initiation of the operation.

Respectfully, Etc. & Etc....

(Hmm Rocky things might just be a little hotter by the time those last two events come about...)


18 October 1907
Diplomatic Note delivered to the USofNS Embassy in Neue Brandenburg
18:00 hours (Port Moresby Time)

"Whereas the United States of New Switzerland has acted agressively regardless of the consequences, has threatened the stability of the Pacific and Indian Ocean Regions, and has violated the conventions so recently signed by its accredited diplomats, the Deutsches Kaiserreich Brandenburg and the Habsburg Empire hereby call on New Switzerland to agree a ceasefire with the Kingdom of the Netherlands, pending a peace agreement suitable to all parties.

Failure to achieve the above within thirty-six hours of the time on this message will be considered casus belli, with automatic effect.

WILHELM II, by the Grace of God Emperor of Germany, King of Brandenburg, etc.
STEFAN, by the Grace of God Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary, etc."

*********

Notice to Mariners
Brandenburg Navigational Authority
18 October 1907

Effective 20 October 1907 ports of the Deutsches Kaiserreich Brandenburg will be CLOSED to New Swiss flagged vessels indefinitly. There are to be no exceptions to this rule except for medical emergencies.

(At the same time, the 'neutrality declaration' that placed restrictions on Dutch shipping is quietly withdrawn...)

**********

18 October
TOP SECRET dispatch, heavily encoded, from OKW to All Stations
(Sent via telegraph, NOT over the airwaves)

WAR WARNING...WAR WARNING...WAR WARNING

THIS MESSAGE IS TO BE CONSIDERED A WAR WARNING. HOSTILITIES WITH CRIMSON ARE CONSIDERED IMMINENT.

IF NO FURTHER MESSAGES RECEIVED BEFORE 20/0600 PORT MORESBY TIME EXECUTE WAR PLAN CRIMSON TIDE RPT EXECUTE WAR PLAN CRIMSON TIDE 20/0600 PMT.

FORCES IN ZAMBIA ARE TO MAINTAIN INCREASED READINESS BUT OTHERWISE REMAIN AT PEACETIME STATUS.

WAR PLAN SCARLET IS TO BE READIED BUT NOT EXECUTED AT THIS TIME.

MAY GOD BE WITH YOU. GOOD LUCK AND GOOD HUNTING.

MOLTKE
LETTERS
NICOLAI

Quote(Hmm Rocky things might just be a little hotter by the time those last two events come about...)

That may be - we'll see. 

Umm so how do we deal with the negotiations? If the negotiations are November 1st then it means that the DKB did declare war since no Cease Fire untill then, which means that the DKB are present? Situation getting confusing.

(Hmm that could be a problem. However these moves are based on an Abwehr intelligence report dated 15 October, and a decision to move as quickly as possible from there to seize the opportunity the report described...)

(assuming the Iberian-mediated talks marked the failure of diplomacy here....)

At ~0500 Port Moresby Time, 20 October, 1907, the following message is sent to all Markoni-equipped ships and shore stations of the Deutsches Kaiserreich Brandenburg.




AUFSTIEG MOUNT WILHELM

Climb Mount Nitakka? ;)

NSN Headquarters

"Admiral the ultimatum ends in a few minutes."

"Very well, no sense giving the Germans the benefit of the doubt, they have acted before, remember the Azores?"

"Sir do we send?"

"Yes, and don't waste time, every minute counts."

A few minutes later, heard over the clear.

THE ZOO IS NOW OPEN REPEAT THE ZOO IS NOW OPEN STOP FEED THE ANIMALS REPEAT FEED THE ANIMALS STOP

OOC One of these days I should sit down and explain my Plans Naming system :P

KuK Kriegsmarine OdeB October 20th

Medittereanean Fleet - Malta and Pola:
LS Jan Sobieski (reduced effectiveness)
LS Frankreich (reduced effectiveness)

KK SMS Dragon 1899
KK SMS Schutze 1899
KK SMS Hajduk 1900
KK SMS Pandur 1900

1st Flottille - Adriatic, 2nd Flottille - Malta;

The big ships alternate between Pola and Malta, training crews and showing the flag, the smaller cruisers and TBs patrol home waters, Strait of Sicily. Will impound any encountered NS merchant.

Atlantische Geschwader - Paranagua/Desterro,
PK SMS Budapest - (reduced effectiveness, limited to 10 knots) - some steaming off Parana coast
KK SMS Drava
KK SMS Sava
KK SMS Vag
KK SMS Maros
The cruisers patrol the Parana-Maio-Alhucema route

The 2nd Minensuchen Skvadron has been ordered to the NOI. They will get there in some 60 days.

Arabische Geschwader - Aden
PK SMS Kronstadt (reduced effectiveness) - semi-mobile coastal defence battery in Aden harbour
5th Halbflottille - Aden local defense
KA SMS Bukovina
KA SMS Erdely 
KA SMS Galizien
KA SMS Kleinpolen

The colonial avisos will patrol Arabian Sea, to Chagos Islands, Dar es Salaam. Normal anti-piracy operations, catching any NS merchants still around, escorting mini-convoys (2-4 merchants) carrying military equipment for Firanj.


Ostasiatische Geschwader - Viraca
SMS kLS Sankt Vaclav
SMS kLS Sankt Sava
6th Halbflottille
8th Halbflottille (ex DKB)
1st  Minensuchen Skvadron – Viraca

Patrolling waters around Viraca, guarding minefields, anti invasion readiness

SMHS Kugelschreiber - in midst of most exciting mission in carreer - is making a full speed run, flat out, white water churning dash (12 knots) from Catanduanes to Canton; left Viraca on 17th afternoon, if not detected will reach Canton on the morning of the 20th;

Kampfgeschwader - moving from Med to Aden, will be ready to sail from Aden on the 28th October
LS SMS Frankreich
PK SMS Inssbruck
RK SMS Uhlan - detached, coaling at Vogeldreck (DKB Chagos Islands)
RK SMS Jaeger
RK SMS Graenzer
RK SMS Hussar

SMHS Xantype and Salome - steaming by Dar es Salaam towards Aden, with AFL Half Brigade

SMHS Elspeth Bathory and Lucrecia Borgia - escorted by 2 cruisers of the Riddermark, are carrying 6230 Swiss POWs to New Switzerland


Donau Flottille - all at Budapest
SMS Afrodite
SMS Hera
S1-S12

Viraca
At noon a runner left the Hafenkommandant's office and hurried to the piers where the torpedo boats were moored. After 30 minutes of whistles, yells, bells and commontion in general, the seven boats which could be made to sail immediately left the port and sailed due south, towards the San Bernardino Strait. All the boats had their decks hidden under sacks and - quel horror! - heaps of loose, shiny Catanduanes coal

Kriegsmarine OoB 20 October
(Active vessels only)

*Hochseeflotte (Neue Brandenburg, Neue Kiel)
Main force:
SS Kaiser Freidrich III
SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse
KK Vineta
KK Ariadne
KK Heimdall
KK Gazelle
KK Thetis
GTB S90 to S99
TB S86-S89
UB U-1
--These ships are to be assigned to Defense of the Fatherland and to Blockade Duty (as best as possible) of the waters between Brandenburg and Australia.

SK Scharnhorst
--Special Detached Unit. At outbreak of war, attacked Palau. After that...??  8)

GK Blücher
KK Frauenlob
KK Agir
ML Nautilus
--These ships have been assigned to bombard/blockade Port Moresby.

ML Albatross
--Doing exactly what it says on the tin...

*Neueguineaflotte (Lae, Rabaul)
SK Kaiser Karl der Grosse
KK Undine
KK Niobe
GTB T104-T108
Kb Tiger
Kb Luchs
FKb Tsetse
FKb Stechmücken
FKb Bremsen
FKb Wollschweber
--Defensive, for now.

*Indischerflotte (Dar-es-Salaam, Mombasa, Goa, Vogeldreck)
PzK Arminius
KK Amazone
KK Medusa
GTB T100, T102, T103, T113, T114
Kb Iltis
Kb Jaguar
--Watching and waiting for any trouble in Ost Afrikan waters

SK Paderborn-Delbrück
GK Roon
GK Yorck
GTB T109
GTB T101
--Special Indian Ocean Attack Fleet...

*Goa Squadron (Goa)
KK Arkona
GTB T115
--D! Fence!   D! Fence!

*Afrikaflotte (Dodoma)
PzK Herta
PzK Freya
TB S80-S81
GKb Delfin
GKb Möwe
GKb Lowe
Gkb Panther
FKb Kocherfligen
FKb Schmetterlinge
FKb Großlibellen
FKb Kleinlibellen
--Keeping a sharp eye on New Zion, just in case they really have sold their souls to the Swiss...


*Atlantikflotte (Pôrto Alegre)
GK Prinz Heinrich
--Nothing to see here, folks.

*Amerikaflotte (Valparaiso)
PzK Friedrich Karl
--Defending the mandate.

PzK Prinz Adalbert
--Defending Easter Island.

*Antarkticflotte (Neue Kiel)
--Administrative command only.

20 October
0500 Port Moresby Time
Note to the New Swiss Embassy, Neue Brandenburg

"We regret to inform you that at 0600 Hours Port Moresby Time, 20 October, 1907, a state of war will exsist between the forces of the United States of New Switzerland on one side, and the Deutsches Kaiserreich Brandenburg and the Habsburg Empire on the other..."

***

20 October
0600 Port Moresby Time
New Swiss Cable Station (Phoenix-Marshalls-Rabaul-Port Moresby line)
Rabaul, Neue Pommern

The chief of the New Swiss cable station wearily opened the door. The cup of coffee in his hand was substituted for in the "instant alertness" department by the fact that the man who had knocked a moment before was wearing the uniform of a Colonel in the RSD...

"Sorry to interrupt you at this early hour," the man said, "but I am Oberst Klink of the Reichsicherheitsdienst, and I have orders to shut down this station."

"Whaaaat? You can't - " the Swissman's protest was cut off as he noticed the multiple armed Brandenburgers standing behind the Colonel, who were holding their guns ready.

"I'm terribly sorry, but as our nations are now at war, this must be done. And I'm afraid I must also place you and your employees into protective custody as enemy aliens. If you wish to resist, my men I am sure would like you to, as I understand you Swiss are prone to say, make their day."

***

20 October
later that morning
SMS Scharnhorst, ~100nm south of Palau, heading 180, speed 20 knots

"The last of our pursuers are breaking off, Herr Kapitan."

"Sehr gut. Reduce speed to twelve knots once they are over the horizon."

"Aye, Herr Kapitan."

Scharnhorst had successfully completed his mission. His assignment had been to, at the expiry of the ultimatum given by the Twin German Monarchies to the Perfidious Swissmen, destroy the US of NS cable station at Palau, cutting off communications between Phoenix and Australia. The schlachtkreuzer's main battery had proven equal to the task, dispatching the station, the wireless shack, and the island's docks in short order.

Five of the pestiferous Swiss "Turbina" type torpedobooten had set out in pursuit of the marauding German battlecruiser, however Scharnhorst's heavy secondary batteries had quickly cooled their martial ardor. Today, it seemed, was not considered a good day to die by Swiss destroyermen. They had settled for shadowing the German ship south, keeping out of 170mm range at first, then pulling further away after a few 305mm persuasions. Finally the last of them had broken away, and the mighty Scharnhorst was alone on the sea again.

And now, the kapitan smiled, the hunt could commence.

NOTICE TO MARINERS
EFFECTIVE 20 OCTOBER 1907

Port Moresby is hereby declared to be under an official Blockade. Any vessels attempting to reach the port are subject to inspection and any vessels carrying Contraband are subject to seizure.

ACHTUNG MINEN! The approaches to Port Moresby have been mined. Any vessels attempting to enter the port do so at their own risk.

ACHTUNG MINEN! Hobart Strait has been mined. Any vessels attempting to transit the strait do so at their own risk...

Early events of the Great Swiss War
Extracted from a dissertation by Karin König at the Brandenburg Military Academy, 1914

The Special Indian Ocean Attack Fleet arrived at Keeling Island on the afternoon of the 20th after recoaling in Vögeldreck. The Swiss garrision was aware that the war had begin but had not expected to be attacked, and especially not from the west. Nevertheless they succeeded in warning Phoenix of their situation before their communications were cut by the naval bombardment. Late the next day, under threat from the Brandenburg fleet commander of the use of "Grünerjunge" shells, the Swiss commander decided to avoid further bloodshed and surrendered the island. The ships then put ashore their assigned Sturmtruppen...

The Port Moresby Blockade Force was only partially successful in their assigned mission for the first day of the war. Achieving tactical surprise, the ensuing bombardment of the military facilities at Port Moresby was not as successful as had been hoped. The minelayer Nautilus was also driven off by Swiss light forces before he had succeeded in competely closing the port. Nevertheless the Port Moresby Blockade began...

SMS Albatross suffered the worst luck (for anyone who was not Swiss) of the first day of the war. Assigned to close the vital Hobart Strait to shipping, the ship struck an uncharted reef while the job was only half done. His captain suceeded in unsticking the ship on the ensuing high tide, but with severe damage to the hull the only option was to return home, while radioing (using code) for urgent assistance.

In contrast, the initial voyage of the Scharnhorst was all her captain had hoped it would be...

***

26 October
Catanduanes, Austian Philippines

The Kapitan of SMS Scharnhorst stood tall on the bridge as his ship, now a bloodied veteran of battle, sailed into the Austrian port. The paint was fresh on the silhouette of the Swiss cruiser - Port Blair, her survivors had revealed - that had been added to the superstructure. The pathetic Swiss cruiser hadn't so much as put a splinter aboard Scharnhorst, while the latter had wasted no time in sending the former to serve the fleet of Davy Jones, with less than twelve minutes elapsing between the first salvo of twelve-inch HE and the Swissmen scurring to abandon their ship like the rats that they were. The kapitan hoped the Austrians had a nice prision, with plenty of fellow rats to keep the POWs he'd taken company. By contrast, the attacks on shore facilities along the northern coast of Swiss Neue Guinea had been mere target practice. Quite successful target practice, of course, but hardly a challenge worthy of the mighty Scharnhorst!

Yes, the kapitan thought, his ship and his crew had done well by themselves and their flag. Well enough, he thought, that a full liberty call was called for. The kapitan hoped the Austians had a nice set of waterfront bars...




(NB: Albatross is at 30% with heavy flooding and is very nearly in sinking condition. The remainder of his mineload (50% of it) was scuttled to lighten the ship. They say all of them sunk or were destroyed...)

OOC
Will reply in due time :)
But you know that Viraca, where you are, has grown from several hundered people in 1902 to 50,000 in 1907? This is a BOOMTOWN, man!
Borys

Hopefully there won't be too many booms in the town caused by Scharnhorst's pack of scurvy dogs.  ;D

The incidence of claps will go up though, hurr-hurr, nudge-nudge ...

BOOM town? He, he, he...

lol

Well it IS a Filipino port...  ;D


(edited condition of Albatross to reflect correct condition - it's 30%, not 70.  :o )

With a Swampy built ship inside.

*omminous humm*

QuoteThe Kapitan of SMS Scharnhorst stood tall on the bridge as his ship, now a bloodied veteran of battle,

Bloodied? C'mon Swampy, that was a 22 year old Protected Cruiser with museum pieces for Guns. Your doing me a favor by ridding me of all the old chaff.  :P

Now if the Captain wants a true duel, a challenge arrives from Constitution and Alliance, Battlecruisers at 30 paces. ;)

28th/29th October

Raid by Swiss SAF produces great display of fireworks, as they manage to set an ammo dump on fire. Night patrols by AFL, police and vigilanttes intensified. New minfield to NE of island laid.

NSN Headquarters, October 21st

"The NSEF reports ready for action, all ships are assembled."

"Excellent! The question is where to attack? Do we go ahead with our plan and strike at the heart of the DEI? Or do we strike boldly before the Gemans can mobilize, straight at Brandenburg? Do we hit their far flung empire? South America? Africa? Do we eliminate Catandunes or secure New Guinea? Or do we releive Keeling? So many targets so little time."

"Admiral, we have plans for Imperial Eagle, Guinea Pig, and Komodo Dragon II."

"Hmmm, perfect! We shall strike...there."

"There?"

"Yes dont you see the beauty? They are a coalition, if we count China and Farinj, thats 5 nations, with 5 religions, 4 languages, 3 cultures, and many different ideas. A strike there will crush the unity of the unHoly Alliance. Its brilliant, it will destroy the enmies will to fight. There and there only will we strike..."
 

***

Phoenix Daily Star, October 22nd

News have arrived of a tremendous battle of the island of Tarakan. A five day battle resulted in the Dutch forces being  crushed in the island. A sortie by the Dutch Battleline was turned back, with half of their battleships crippled. A sortie 2 days later by light forces was totaly crushed, with only a light cruiser damaged on the NSN's part.

Timor has fallen, Tarakan has fallen, Java will fall, and then Singapore. The New Switzerland Navy continues its unstoppable march towards victory. For those vultures who have just joined, beware the Sword of Inevitable Justice shall fall upon you.

A German blockade of Port Moresby? Don't make us laugh. The High Seas Fleet has departed Phoenix with the sole intent of sweeping this pests into the box of extinction.

Do not despair New Switzerland for even as the enemy knocks at our doors, the Lord Our Good will Fight for us!

To Victory!

QuoteRaid by Swiss SAF produces great display of fireworks, as they manage to set an ammo dump on fire. Night patrols by AFL, police and vigilanttes intensified.

What? Dont blame me. It had to be the Smoking Filipinos.  ;D

Heh, you can't blame it on me, Scharnhorst left port on the afternoon of the 28th.  ;D

Phoenix Daily Star, November 1st

Has Hong Kong, Shangai, and Indochina not satisfied the lust for blood of the Chinese? Must they also attack Taiwan and Hainan? Must they subjugate a people who wants to be free? Justice were are thou? Where are the results of the 'Peace' Fleet? Who will be next to suffer under the bloodthirsty Chinese? This time the Chinese shall feel the wrath of God. The seas of China will run red with the blood of their dead.

(a small trip in the WABAC Machine...)

28 October
Rabaul Reporter

INVASION!!

Swiss troops are reported to have landed west of the city!!

Quote from: Desertfox on June 21, 2007, 05:46:36 PM
Phoenix Daily Star, October 22nd

News have arrived of a tremendous battle of the island of Tarakan. A five day battle resulted in the Dutch forces being  crushed in the island. A sortie by the Dutch Battleline was turned back, with half of their battleships crippled. A sortie 2 days later by light forces was totaly crushed, with only a light cruiser damaged on the NSN's part.

So the New Switserland has lost most of their battleline, several crusiers and cost defence battleships, more then a thousand marines and several transports and AMCs to capture a useless Swamp.

And the NOI fleet is still concetrated and stronger then ever!

Your losses haven't been light either, and you have lost an important base with oilfields. There is a method to my madness.

Zeppelin Base Taiwan, Dawn November 1st

"Sir, we've lost comunications!"

"What? Get me some coffee will ya. What the..."

"Sorry to barge in like this Commander, but there has been a change of plans. You will now answer to me, and no one is to leave the base without my direct permission. Get you two Zeppelins ready as soon as possible but do it quietly. They must be ready to leave by nightfall, and pay no attention to the 'civilians' roaming around."

"Who...who are you?"

"My name is not important, it is sufficient to say that I'm SSS. Your orders are in this folder. Oh and one last thing, two trucks will arrive later today. Keep your men as far away from them as possible. That is all, good day Commander."

Ominouss Silence...

All appeared calm at Zepplein Base Taiwan, but something was definately wrong.

1st November, All Saints Day, Viraca Garrison Church

KuKK officers smoking cigarretes before entering the church

Meine Herren, With no news from the Iberians about the Flottille sent to attack Tarakan, I believe that we can add Fregatten-Leutnant San ... he'd prefer it the other way around - where was I? Oh, yes, we should add Fregatten-Leutnant Csepel Sandor to our prayers for those no longer with us.

Sad aint it? Losing an entire flotillla.

November 2nd

Taipei Avenged! Three destroyers caught and suprised by some dozen Austrian warships turned the tables on their attackers and in fifteen minutes of frantic night action, crushed the infidel Austrians! Those that survived to fight the next day where run down and destroyed. Not one survived to fight another day. All for the loss of one Fritz destroyer and another damaged. 

Na wojnie jak na wojnie, raz wybuchnie, raz pierdolnie.

Equivalent of "le guerre cest le guerre" from Western Galicia.

Borys

KuK Kriegsmarine OdeB November 1st - 10th

Medittereanean Fleet - Malta and Pola:
LS Jan Sobieski (reduced effectiveness)
LS Frankreich (reduced effectiveness)

KK SMS Dragon 1899
KK SMS Schutze 1899
KK SMS Hajduk 1900
KK SMS Pandur 1900

1st Flottille - Adriatic, 2nd Flottille - Malta;

The big ships alternate between Pola and Malta, training crews and showing the flag, the smaller cruisers and TBs patrol home waters, Strait of Sicily. Will impound any encountered NS merchant.

Atlantische Geschwader - Paranagua/Desterro,
PK SMS Budapest - (reduced effectiveness, limited to 10 knots) - some steaming off Parana coast
KK SMS Drava - on route to Tierra del Fuego
KK SMS Sava
KK SMS Vag
KK SMS Maros - on route to Deception Island
The cruisers patrol the Parana-Maio-Alhucema route

The 2nd Minensuchen Skvadron has been ordered to the NOI. They will get there in some 50 days.

Arabische Geschwader - Aden
PK SMS Kronstadt (reduced effectiveness) - semi-mobile coastal defence battery in Aden harbour
5th Halbflottille - Aden local defense
KA SMS Bukovina
KA SMS Erdely
KA SMS Galizien
KA SMS Kleinpolen

The colonial avisos will patrol Arabian Sea, to Chagos Islands, Dar es Salaam. Normal anti-piracy operations, catching any NS merchants still around, escorting mini-convoys (2-4 merchants) carrying military equipment for Firanj.
ADDED LATER:
Pola-Firanj sealift takes 60 days - first transports will arrive 1st-10th December


Ostasiatische Geschwader - Viraca
SMS kLS Sankt Vaclav
SMS kLS Sankt Sava
6th Halbflottille
8th Halbflottille (ex DKB)
most of 6th and 8th Halbflottille "MIA" - remanents (3 TBs) combined into "ersatz TB Halbflottille Viraka"
1st  Minensuchen Skvadron – Viraca

Patrolling waters around Viraca, guarding minefields, anti invasion readiness

SMHS Kugelschreiber - at Canton

Kampfgeschwader - sailing to Vogeldreck -
LS SMS Frankreich
PK SMS Inssbruck
RK SMS Uhlan - detached, at Firanj
RK SMS Jaeger
RK SMS Graenzer
RK SMS Hussar

SMHS Xantype and Salome - after recoaling at Aden with Kampfgeschwader, with AFL Half Brigade

SMHS Elspeth Bathory and Lucrecia Borgia - escorted by 2 cruisers of the Riddermark, are carrying 6230 Swiss POWs to New Switzerland


Donau Flottille - all at Budapest
SMS Afrodite
SMS Hera
S1-S12

Now I am thoroughly confused, who is fighting who here again?

Ahoj!
Seems my post was eaten by the insatiable Web :)

It is - TADA!
New Swiss - against Netherlands, Habsburgs, DKB

Firanj may join the coalition.

Borys

Firanj joining depends alot on who seems to be winning, Thrawn is not going to join a 'losing' side.

Emperor Thrawn isn't that interested in coorperating with Infidels.

Last decade of October 1907, the treaty port in Firanj

- I've been to a PEEEEEP mosque more times than in 10 PEEEEEP years!
- Me too, before this I've been posted to PEEEEEP Kraków with a PEEEEEPPrince Cardinal, PEEEEEP his mother! PEEEEEP lots of PEEEEEP mosques there!
- no PEEEEEP booze, no PEEEEEP and no PEEEEEP oink-oink!
- Hurr hurr - missing some oink-oink ass Abdul?
- HURR HURR!
- You PEEEEEP!
- the PEEEEEP sun is killing me and this PEEEEEP stupid PEEEEEP fez has no PEEEEEP visor, only a good for ass wiping hairy PEEEEEP on it!

Small talk of Austrian army NCOs while teaching Firanj junior NCOs the gentle art of indirect fire from Schwarzlose Heavy Machine Guns.

(While we await word from Neue-Pommern, events elsewhere...)

1 November 1907
SMS Scharnhorst
15,000 yards offshore
Taipei, Taiwan

"Looks like we finally woke them up, Herr Kapitan."

Scharnhorst's commanding officer raised his binoculars. He had hoped for five minutes' time for his bombardment; he'd got ten. Although in the dark it was hard to tell for sure, it certainly appeared that Taipei's harbour facilities had been reduced to rubble. (Again.) Perhaps the pestifierous Swissmen had been ashore seeking out the local womenfolk? Anyway, he'd had his shoot, with the perfidious Swiss torpedobooten moving out, it was time to scoot.

"Cease fire. Come to starboard, course 045, best speed."

"Jawohl, Herr Kapitan!"

The schlachtkreuzer's bow swung around to his new course as the plague-ridden Swiss began their pursuit. The kapitan frowned; the ships were mere silhouettes in the night. Five zerstorers? Six?

"Go to flank speed! New target! Bruno and Caesar turrets, lead Swiss torpedoboot, engage and destroy!"

"Jawohl!"

A moment later, two twelve-inch rifles boomed out from the rear of the ship; a moment after that, two more. The shells fell short at first, but quickly closed; a straddle, then rapid fire.

"Current range to target?"

"Seven point five to the engaged target. Another at six to starboard."

"Starboard secondaries engage the second target!"

The three twin 170mm turrets to starboard - Gustav, Heinrich and Ida turrets - swung out and began hammering away. The starboad 105mm battery followed suit.

"Multiple hits on the main target, sir. He appears to be slowing - more hits sir!"

"Two more salvoes, then switch to the next pursuer!"

"Secondaries report multiple hits on the second target."

"Sehr gut! Status of the other Swissmen?"

"They appear not to be gaining on us, Herr Kapitan. In this sea state they can't make enough speed."

"And we can. Very well then. Main batteries, cease fire."

"Lookouts report main battery target sinking."

"Lookouts report secondary battery target on fire."

"Secondaries, two more salvoes and cease fire. Make smoke. Maintain speed for ten minutes, then reduce to fifteen knots for twenty..."

Quote from: Borys on June 25, 2007, 03:21:30 AM
Ahoj!
Seems my post was eaten by the insatiable Web :)

It is - TADA!
New Swiss - against Netherlands, Habsburgs, DKB

Firanj may join the coalition.

Borys

AHEM ?
(sound of tapping foot)

Oooh, Borys, you've made the Dragon angry...you won't like her when she's angry...

;D

Hmm that's weird. I doubt anyone could hit a Turbinia at 10,000yds especially at night, and I strongly doubt a Turbinia would have survived ANY hit. They are after all little more than steam powered early PT boats. Then again I might be wrong and those aren't Turbinias.

Taiwan, November 5th

"How bad was she damaged?"

"Total loss, the weather was bad."

"Hmm, any idea on replacements?"

"Wireless from Phoenix said about 5 days, she's carrying Wright Fighters. By the way, any sign of the Chinese Air Forces?"

"None, I doubt they can fly in this weather, but Rünzi has other ideas, he is already fitting Machine Guns to his ship."

"How about you?"

"I don't know, don't think they can get me, but I sure would like to have one of them 40mm light guns. Passed a couple of juicy ground targets on the way back, plus a few fishing junks..."

(I'll cut the range a bit, I was overestimating torpedo range, which you never got into.  ;)  Scharnhorst - and thus I - don't know whether they're zerstorers or torpedobooten, just that they were there and they were sunk. And remember, this is just what the lookouts on S. saw - not necessarily what really happened. ;D )

Cut it to say 105mm range, Scharnhorst has 26 of those bloody things, and those can hit the Turbinias, especially in a stern chase in heavy weather where the Turbinias cant use their extreme speed.

By your command...  ;D

Quote from: Phoenix on June 25, 2007, 09:03:29 AM

Quote from: Borys on June 25, 2007, 03:21:30 AM
Ahoj!
Seems my post was eaten by the insatiable Web :)

It is - TADA!
New Swiss - against Netherlands, Habsburgs, DKB

Firanj may join the coalition.

Borys

AHEM ?
(sound of tapping foot)

Oh most Illustrious of Dragons! I bessech Thy mercy for this worthless eunuch! Her Name had been written in Gold Coloured Font in the first message that the Devils of the Warp (most likely in Swiss service) had sabotaged! Yes, sabotaged! And this turd of a servant had copied and pasted the last draft, without the part

You do know those might not have been Swis boats at night.  :)

Shhh, Ithreko...

Ahoj!
In the dark all cats are grey.
Folk wisdom from Westgalizien.
Borys

Quote from: Borys on June 25, 2007, 11:19:00 AM
Ahoj!
In the dark all cats are grey.
Folk wisdom from Westgalizien.
Borys

But a cat is a cat and should be shot on sight! ;)

Blue on Blue? Could be, I thought that since it was the Germans shooting it had to be Swiss and hence Turbinias...However my comment on range still stands, after all its night, and if they ARE Turbinias they are not going to survive ANY hit even by the 105s!

Given the timing*, and that they came out of the harbour**, they were assumed Swiss until proven otherwise. And Swiss are shot first asked questions never...

(* MK has not seized Taipei yet; ** AFAIK aboard Scharnhorst.)

FOR COMPLETNESS POSTED IN THREE THREADS

Letter from Kaiser Stefan to Principe de Asturias Jaime, dated 3rd November.

Dear Jaime,
Events are pressing me to ask you to make up your mind about the AFL Halb Brigade I wrote you about. And quickly, over the next few days. I repeat my offer of reinforcing Iberian forces in the Chagos Archipelago.
Habsurg experience with Orange makes me expect the worst from them. Nor do I fully trust the Dutch.
The Foreign Legion will be put under Iberian command, and intructed to shoot any non Iberian forces landing on the island - without asking questions. It will be removed the moment Iberia judges their presence unnecessary.
How is your Father's health? The news reaching us at Vienna ...
God Bless
Stefan

November 9th, morning

The Kampfgeschwader came into range of the DKB trasmitter at Vogeldreck, and started to receive messages relayed by the Brandenburgers.  After decoding them the SMS Frankreich started blinking commands at the troopships. These raised more steam and effortlessly pulled away from the warships, cruising at close to their maximum  - 21 knots. The warships slogged behind at 10 knots.

When the warships arrived at the DKB island 24 hour later, slowing down even further as to arrive after dawn, the troopships at Bon Jesus were already reading themslves for a high speed run back to Aden.

On the Iberian island - whose garrison just grew from 40 to 4040 men, the men in black berrets were already hard at work. Setting up camps, clearing low growth to improve lanes of fire, etc.

The very same set of cables roduced some activity elsewhere.

In Aden the 8th Halb Brigade was given 24h leave, sure sign of redeployment or similar "major" event.

10th November, Aden
To the SMS Kronschdat crew's surprise, they started taking on provisions for a long sea voyage.
And the 80 mines were mind boggling, to say the least ...

KuK Kriegsmarine OdeB November 11th - 20th

Medittereanean Fleet - Malta and Pola:
LS Jan Sobieski (reduced effectiveness)
LS Frankreich (reduced effectiveness)

KK SMS Dragon 1899
KK SMS Schutze 1899
KK SMS Hajduk 1900
KK SMS Pandur 1900

1st Flottille - Adriatic, 2nd Flottille - Malta;

The big ships alternate between Pola and Malta, training crews and showing the flag, the smaller cruisers and TBs patrol home waters, Strait of Sicily. Will impound any encountered NS merchant.

Atlantische Geschwader - Paranagua/Desterro,
PK SMS Budapest - (reduced effectiveness, limited to 10 knots) - some steaming off Parana coast
KK SMS Drava - on route to Tierra del Fuego
KK SMS Sava
KK SMS Vag
KK SMS Maros - on route to Deception Island
The cruisers patrol the Parana-Maio-Alhucema route

The 2nd Minensuchen Skvadron has been ordered to the NOI. They will get there in some 40 days (should be reaching Africa by now).

Arabische Geschwader - Aden
PK SMS Kronstadt (reduced effectiveness) - steaming flat out (9 knots) towards Vogeldreck - ETA 19th November
5th Halbflottille - Aden local defense
KA SMS Bukovina
KA SMS Erdely
KA SMS Galizien
KA SMS Kleinpolen

The colonial avisos will patrol Arabian Sea, to Chagos Islands, Dar es Salaam. Normal anti-piracy operations, catching any NS merchants still around, escorting mini-convoys (2-4 merchants) carrying military equipment for Firanj.
ADDED LATER:
Pola-Firanj sealift takes 60 days - first transports will arrive 1st-10th December


Ostasiatische Geschwader - Viraca
SMS kLS Sankt Vaclav
SMS kLS Sankt Sava
6th Halbflottille
8th Halbflottille (ex DKB)
most of 6th and 8th Halbflottille "MIA" - remanents (3 TBs) combined into "ersatz TB Halbflottille Viraka"
1st  Minensuchen Skvadron – Viraca

Patrolling waters around Viraca, guarding minefields, anti invasion readiness

SMHS Kugelschreiber - at Canton

Kampfgeschwader - sailing from Vogeldreck to Soerabaya - ETA 21st November
LS SMS Frankreich
PK SMS Inssbruck
RK SMS Uhlan - detached, patrollong seas between Soerabaya and Niu Amsterdam
RK SMS Jaeger
RK SMS Graenzer
RK SMS Hussar

SMHS Xantype and Salome - making round trip Bon Jesus-Aden-Vogeldreck, picking up AFL Halb-Brigade at Aden, ETA at Vogeldreck - 20th November

SMHS Elspeth Bathory and Lucrecia Borgia - after dumping 6211 Swiss POWs on beach near Phoenix, new Switzerland, steamed fast to Maoria - ETA 20th November


Donau Flottille - all at Budapest
SMS Afrodite
SMS Hera
S1-S12

Ah Borys, something was going to happen at the DKB Chagos way before the 9th. The German wireless might not even be in operation.

If only NS had a single ship that could get there in time...

Actually I had, a few actually, 6 warships and a mercenary...

Ahoj!
OK - I FREEZE FRAME on the 6th - now do whatever you were planning with the mods. I will (re)act accordingly.
Borys

Phoenix Daily Star, November 3rd

Blockade? A blockade must be effective to be legal, however the Germans abandoned their blockade of Port Moresby as soon as they got wiff of Swiss Naval Forces. Where oh where is the mighty German High Seas Fleet? German papers might mock the Swiss High Seas Fleet, but where is their own? Maybe we should call it the Coastal Seas Fleet! They have yet to show their face on the high seas while the Swiss have meet the enemy on his side of the field and defeated him. At this very moment Swiss Marines are besieging the great German Base of Rabaul? And where is the 'High' Seas Fleet? So far the only view Swiss forces have had of 'mighty' Shamhorse has been the tail end, yup the tail.

Again we ask, Where oh Where is the 'High' Seas Fleet?

At Neue Heligoland - Festung Heligoland under construction - light guns operational, one twin 350mm operational under duress. (Second twin 350mm not yet operable.)

10,000 man garrison.

Meanwhile, the Hochseeflotte is relieving Rabaul - KM OrBats delayed pending outcome of battle.
(And the Swissmen on Rabaul had better look up! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a...)

Manzo?

QuoteManzo?

Quite possible. After all, you made him lose his way in The Great MacRobertson Air Race over in Wesworld... :)
As if him terrorizing the Wesworld isn't enough... ;D

5th November Viraca

At first light
The SMS Sankt Sava and the SMS Sankt Vaclav, flying the Schwarz-Gelb and the new fangled Red-White-Red/Green banners sailed to the south. Omniously for some, they were making the same course as the "Dissapeared Flotille" of a fortnight before.

Some officers were whispering that von Tempelhoff was wrong in depriving the island of the protection of heavy vessels. Others murmurred that old age was getting to him, and he wanted to "go out in a blaze of Glory". Another group linked this sortie to his remorse over the loss of Fregattenleutnant Csepely Sandor and the Seven Torpedo Boats.
Whatever reasons were guiding him, the almost 80 year old Rear Admiral himself took command of the two ex-Riddermark, ex-CSA vessels. Leaving as Acting-Gouvernour his deputy, Ingeniur Heinz Rollmops, kindly released by Iberia for this pupose from his previous post as Intendiente-Mor de los Ferrocarilles Pilipinas.

In the first rays of the sun the M-2 returned from its nightly patrol around the island. It passed the M-3 which was taking another 12 mines to reinforce minefield V3.

Grunting under the weight, groups of AFL soldiers left their camps. They were setting up caches of ammunition and food in the wooded hills in the island's interior. In case of invasion no need to bring up from Viraka. Also, it was a good way to "keep the buys fit" and to have them "acquantied with the terrain".

Kriegsmarine OoB 7 November
(Active vessels only)

*Hochseeflotte (Neue Brandenburg, Neue Kiel)
*Neueguineaflotte (Lae, Rabaul)
GK Blücher
KK Vineta
KK Ariadne
KK Gazelle
KK Thetis
GTB S90 to S94
TB S86-S89
UB U-1
--HSF defensive units.

SK Scharnhorst
--Operation SHANGRI-LA.

ML Nautilus
--Minelaying in harm's way.

SK Paderborn-Delbrück
SS Kaiser Freidrich III
SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse
KK Frauenlob
KK Agir
KK Heimdall
KK Undine
GTB S95 to S99
--Rabaul Relief Force.

KK Niobe
Kb Tiger
Kb Luchs
FKb Tsetse
FKb Stechmücken
FKb Bremsen
FKb Wollschweber
--NGF defensive units.

*Indischerflotte (Dar-es-Salaam, Mombasa, Goa, Vogeldreck)
PzK Arminius
KK Amazone
KK Medusa
GTB T100, T102, T103, T113, T114
Kb Iltis
Kb Jaguar
--DOA defensive units.

GK Roon
GK Yorck
GTB T101
--Special Indian Ocean Attack Fleet (Dutch command).

*Goa Squadron (Goa)
KK Arkona
GTB T115
--D! Fence!   D! Fence!

*Chagos Squadron (Vögeldreck)
PzK Freya (en route from AKF)
GTB T109
--D!! Fence!!   D!! Fence!!

*Afrikaflotte (Dodoma)
PzK Herta
TB S80-S81
GKb Delfin
GKb Möwe
GKb Lowe
Gkb Panther
FKb Kocherfligen
FKb Schmetterlinge
FKb Großlibellen
FKb Kleinlibellen
--Keeping a sharp eye on New Zion, just in case they really have sold their souls to the Swiss...

*Atlantikflotte (Pôrto Alegre)
GK Prinz Heinrich
--Rider of the South Atlantic storms.

*Amerikaflotte (Valparaiso)
PzK Friedrich Karl
--Defending the mandate.

PzK Prinz Adalbert
--Defending Easter Island.

*Antarkticflotte (Neue Kiel)
--Administrative command only.

Question, how did PD get from Keeling to Brandenburg? Did she take the long COLD way around Australia?

Patience, Grashoppa...

I just remmembered that PD also has cagemasts. If Hawaii and PD meet in battle...! Looks like the probability of Blue on Blue (for both sides) just went way up!

[WABAC]
late evening 21 October 1907
Approaching Vögeldreck, Neue Heligoland

A few hours earlier, a signal had come in from Neue Heligoland: the port was under attack by the Swiss. Paderborn-Delbrück, Battleship of the Reich (one-time Battlebarge of the Anahuac and Big Haunted Battleship), returning from the reduction of Keeling Island, had poured on full steam, and now...

"Enemy in sight! Lookouts report a damaged vessel, Swiss by the looks of her!"

"Identify! Schnell! Train out the main battery and prepare to fire!"

"Lookouts say Swiss privateer 'Peacekeeper' sir!"

"Very well, open fire!"

The Swissman had seen better days. Obviously they hadn't gotten the memo that the "light" (170mm) armament at Festung Heligoland was already in place and operational. Their little cable-cutting raid had already turned into a fiasco; the 13-inch shells now raining down on them undoubtably qualified it as a full Charlie Foxtrot.

A few minutes later, the Swissman dissapeared into the murk. "P.D." had scored, by his lookouts' count, at least three main-battery hits, and his 170mm battery had gotten in a few licks as well. His kapitan briefly considered pursuit, but the Swissman's engines hadn't appeared to be damaged enough to make it worthwhile. Besides, if he tried to make it to Keeling he was in for a surprise. An exceedingly nasty one...
[/WABAC]

*************

7 November
Brandenburg Gazette Evening Edition

OKW has relased news that the battleship Paderborn-Delbrück today bombarded the Swiss Australian port of Neue Amsterdam, evading pursuit afterwards. Let the Swiss know that no part of their ill-gotten empire is safe from the Allies' righteous retribution for their perfidious ways...

19 November 1907
SMS Scharnhorst
South-South-East of the New Swiss Home Islands

Dawn came up like the proverbial thunder as Scharnhorst fled to the south after the most audacious mission of his admittidly short career.

"Lookouts report all clear, Kapitan!"

The kapitan took a deep breath. "Sehr gut. Sehr gut! Reduce speed to twelve knots!"

The last two weeks had been hectic. After bombarding Taipei - from what he'd heard neither the scumbag Swiss or Brandenburg's raging-dragon Chinese allies had a clue as to whodunit! - Scharnhorst had encountered the fringes of a late-season typhoon to the south of Nipponese Okinawa. Thankfully it had been a weak one, although it did serve to prove that the engineers had been right, the Scharnhorst class did, indeed, take it green over the bows in heavy weather.

After escaping the storm on the fourth they had proceeded to wreak merry havoc against the cowardly Swiss islands in the Bonin and Volcano island chains. There had been some particulary satisfying secondary explosions around the docks at Iwo Jima. After that they had put into the neutral port of Yokohama in Nippon on 7 November. The authorities had been most accomodating and he had happily given an impromptu tour of the ship to the commander of a Nipponese destroyer that had been present in the port. His crew had been quite pleased with the night's leave as well, and the next day at noon they'd departed with full bunkers and the ship's cooks rubbing their hands with glee over torturing the crew with wasabi.

Then had come the meat of the mission: Operation Shangri-La, the bombardment of the north coast of New Switzerland! They had managed to evade detection and, on the evening of the 17th, Scharnhorst's six 305mm guns belched flame at the shoreline of the hated enemy. Over the next day they had hit multiple locations as they moved east along the northern edge of the mountainous island group, the Swiss fleet being so far from home in the Dutch East Indies gave them confidence, but they were careful to steer clear of foolhardiness.  The Markoni shack had reported increasing chatter on the airwaves as the day went on - the Swiss were notoriously dependent on the newfangled, if useful, technology - and they'd decided it was time to scoot.

The decision was proved wise as Swiss masts loomed over the horizon behind them. But Scharnhorst was among the fleetest ships on the sea, the sea state was favourable for them, and they showed their pursuers a clean pair of heels. Through the early part of the night searchlights and star shells had been visible astern as the hornet's nest swarmed in search of the persons who'd well and truly sticked up their nest, but they had fallen further and further astern.

Now a new day had dawned, and they were, at least for the moment, clear. Now they were to fill their depleted bunkers at the Cook Islands. The kapitan scratched his chin; they'd sold the Cooks to the Colombians, but the latter hadn't yet arrived to claim their new territory. So were they still part of Brandenburg or neutral? Either way he was to recoal and scram, there were other targets in need of special attention...

Various dates during the month:
The airships Z-2, Z-3 and Z-4 make a series of raids against the Swiss invaders on Rabaul. On the first mission Z-4 is destroyed on takeoff by a freak gust of wind. The remaining two zeppelins, each carrying four 45kg shells hastily modified for aerial drop, complete six missions. Most have only psychological effect, however Z-2 scores a lucky hit on a Swiss destroyer on his second mission, the shell penetrating to the magazines and destroying the vessel. Two raids stop Swiss troop movements, while raid number four hits an ammunition dump.


9 November
The two kleiner kreuzers of the Neueguineaflotte, departing to engage in the second relief-of-Rabaul attempt, drive off Swiss forces pursuing the Austrian coast-defense battleship Sankt Vaclav, which makes port and fills his empty bunkers.

(ooc: Results of the relief attempt, and possible sorties by Sankt Vaclav, will be found seperatly when available.)


11 November
After recoaling in Firanj, the minelayer Nautilus arrives off of Neue Amsterdam to lay mines,  after the port was sofened up by P.D.. Unfortunatly it wasn't softened up enough, and shore batteries drive him off with only 1/3 of the field laid.

Notice to Mariners:
Achtung minen!
The approaches to Neue Amsterdam have been mined. Vessels attempting to approach or depart the port do so at their own risk.


13 November
Oberst Anton Hammer of the Legion Kondor stood on the beach as the last of his men waded ashore on the western end of Neue-Pommern. Transporting 10,000 men on short notice using coastal liners and fishing boats wasn't an experience he wished to repeat. 750 of his men hadn't made it; the Swiss had managed to intercept two of the transits. But now that the whole of the Slammers was ashore, they would head east to link up with the two divisions of Heer troops on the island, and start showing the Swiss how war was really fought.


18 November
The schlachtschiffe Paderborn-Delbrück limps into Lae after striking a mine off of Port Moresby. The ship is pumped out as best as possible. (ooc: Rebuild level repairs needed, however the guns are serviceable, as long as he's in port...)


20 November
The großer kreuzer Blücher swarmed with activity in Neue Kiel's port. A steel plate was hastily welded over the hole a Swiss shell had made in his upper armour belt; the patch would provide no protection, however it would at least keep the sea out until proper repairs could be made. Meanwhile on the other side of the harbour the minelayer Albatross, sunk at his berth after being towed home following his grounding the previous month in Hobart Strait, was also the scene of activity, as the eight 88mm guns on his deck were unbolted for transfer to Blücher, to replace the portions of that ships' teritary battery that had been destroyed in the Battle of the Solomon Sea. Some thought that Blücher should be drydocked and properly repaired immediately, but the supervisors said he was needed first for one more operation. The name 'Crimson Tiger' was whispered about...


22 November
From: Brandenburgian naval attache, Singapore
To: OKW
Re: Nautilus

SMS Nautilus struck a mine this morning while departing Singapore to complete his minelaying off Neue Amsterdam. Ship sunk. Crew retreived by Royal Dutch Navy vessels, no fatalities.

4 December 1907
Brandenburg Gazette

Swiss Samoa Falls!

The mighty schlachtkreuzer Scharnhorst has added to his laurels as Swiss Samoa surrendered without a fight under the shadows of his mighty guns!

Now how does mighty Scharnhorst intend to keep Samoa?

Thankfully there are 500 troops on nearby Deutsch Samoa...perhaps half of those can be spared. :)

30 October/1 November:
The Swiss land on Neue-Pommern to the southwest of Rabaul. Despite the failure of their fleet to score a decisive victory in the First Battle of the Solomon Sea the following day, a beachhead is established.


2 November:
Brandenburg's three Zeppelins get to play the cavalry. Z-4 is destroyed on takeoff by a freak gust of wind, however Z-2 and Z-3 reach Rabaul and drop four 45kg
"bombs" each. Little accuracy is achieved, however it does have a psycological effect on the Swiss. Nevertheless Swiss forces push inland for a mile against heavy resistance.


4 November:
The second raid by the airships scores big as Z-2 sees one of his bombs score a direct hit on a Swiss destroyer, punching through the deck and detonating the magazine. Upon return to base a huge party ensues. Z-3 bombards the Swiss troops, forcing them to hold.


5 Novmber:
Despite the best efforts of the Rabaul-based kanonbooten, the Swiss troops are reinforced.


6 November:
The Return of the Zeppelins sees Z-2 attacking the swiss troops this time, forcing another hold. Z-3's navigation is off and he misses his targets.


7 November:
The Swiss move out from their beachhead torwards Rabaul, making a few miles progress.


8 November:
The airships are back, and this time they score big again, detonating a Swiss ammunition dump. The explosion also takes out some of the food supply the invaders had brought along, forcing a stop to their advance.


9 November:
A quick turnaround on the airships produces little results, as the Swiss push forwards another mile.


11 Novemeber:
The rapid turnarounds are tiring the airship crews as raid #6 sees little to no results. After this they are stood down for R&R.

Outside of Rabaul, the troops of the Reich have fought the New Swiss to a stalemate.

Late that evening, the Kreigsmarine arrives at Rabaul, their ships battered but victorious, having driven the NSN from the field of battle.


12-14 November:
Demoralised by their navy's defeat, the Swiss fall back before a Brandenburgian counteroffensive. With no gunfire support available anytime soon, the decision is made to call off the invasion and evacuate.

Late on the 12th, Oberst Anton Hammer's Legion Kondor completes landing on south-west Neue Pommern, and begins a march up the island to rousing cheers.


15-16 November:
The Swiss have now been pushed back to their original beachhead, where they fight a holding action as they attempt to evacuate their men and material.

On the evening of the 16th, the banner of the Kondor is raised over the Brandenburgian camp.


17 Novemeber:
The Legion Kondor attacks from the south-west and rapidly overruns the Swiss beachhead. Only 26% of the Swiss invatsion force manages to escape; 11% are captured.

(The Kaiser will be generous with the awards; these include Oak Leaves for Oberst Hammer's previously-awarded Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.)

Invasion of Tasmania

Swiss forces
About a division size (25K), Mostly National Guard, with a few regular units and significant local militia forces

DKB
Around 10K, with units identified as belonging to the Legion Kondor

Dec 14
Swiss fishing vessels manages to warn the Tasmanian Army Command by flares that a large DKB force was spotted. Swiss command issues a general  alarm of an incoming invasion, but basically they are caught with their pants down.

Dec 15
At dawn, the Austrian troopships and Le Magnificient launch landing boats that reach the beaches around the fishing village of St. Helen. Swiss forces around the port consist of 1 militia and one NG. DKB forces manage to cut the small harbor off from further reinforcements. Swiss forces boards artillery on narrow-gauge trains or start marching towards the beachhead.

Dec 16-20 DKB forces (5k infantry with light artillery and shore bombardment) starts attacking St. Helen. First three days defenders hold attacks which are unsuccessful, but the fourth day the village surrenders. Half the Swiss force is either dead or wounded, the rest is taken prisoner. Rest of the  forces are securing the beachhead.
Swiss forces are enteching themselves next to main roads leading to Launceston, Hobart and the coast, and bringing up artilery.

Dec 21-23: The harbor cleared of mines and somewhat restored after Swiss sabotage, the ships starts to unload further supplies, ammunition and horses. Meanwhile the Swiss with their artillery superiority throws DKB lines back a bit.

Dec 24-25: Both sides are preparing during the Christmas the ceasefire.
An Orange frigate is spotted with other unidentified ships on the Tasman sea, but the DKB ship did not close for further identification.

Dec 26-31: Swiss storm DKB lines, heavy casulties on both sides.

Meanwhile some chaos around Sydney (blown up bridges and railroads, cut telegraph lines) throws the Swiss command into momentary confusion.

(Bump)

15 December 1907:  Sydney

Capitan Frederico Juarez studied the shape of the ex-Orange battleship, then looked down to his canvas.  Something wasn't right.  "Chief, what the hell have I messed up?"

Chief Petty Officer Angel Armero glanced up from the report he was writing.  "Placement of the conning tower, Sir.  Needs to come forward a bit."

Juarez frowned.  "Are you certain?  Okay, yes, I suppose - hey, careful!"  This last bit was uttered, in Spanish, at two Swiss seamen who staggered past with what looked like a small caliber gun barrel cradled in their arms. 

"It's unfortunate that their insistence on repairing the ship is getting in the way of your artistry", Armero commented. 

"Your sarcasm is noted, Chief", Juarez replied.  NSS Hawaii had taken some damage in the past weeks, combatting Alliance forces in the Solomons, and was now back home to affect some repairs along with other elements of the NSN.  Being neutral observers, there was little for them to do - unless they wished to watch the repairs.  Armero had chosen to do this, and had engaged in some informative dialogue with his Swiss counterparts.  Juarez had determined that he'd be better off staying out of the way, and had set up his canvas and easel on the starboard deck, next to the forward superstructure.  Unfortunately, the area's lack of damage meant that it was in heavy use as a passageway.

Off on the shore somewhere, a klaxon began wailing. 

The immediate response of Juarez, Armero, and the Swiss around them was to start looking east for Brandenburger zeppeliins, but the sky appeared to be clear. 

"How quaint", Juarez remarked, and then Hawaii's own siren began to whoop. 

"Perhaps we should report to the bridge, Sir", Armero suggested.

"Perhaps we should", Juarez agreed.  "In a moment."  Brush in hand, he dabbed in the proper location of the ex-Orange battleship's conning tower, frowned, set his brush down.  Sighing, he picked up the easel and moved it back against the superstructure, pausing several times to allow Swiss sailors to run past.  "Let's report to the bridge, then."

The scene in the bridge was of controlled confusion.  Hawaii's crew were seasoned professionals, but being called to battle stations while tied up in one's home port was not normal.  Captain Steubing was already there, listening as various sections of the ship called in their status via voice pipes.  Seeing the inquisitive look on the Colombians' faces, he said, "Some kind of disturbance reported over at Waverly.  That's all I've been told so far."

"Where's Waverly?", Juarez asked.

"Southeastern part of the city, on the coast", Steubing replied. 

"Captain - the ship is at battle stations, with all bulkheads secured", a junior officer interrupted.

"Six minutes is not acceptable, Mr. Reuben.  This isn't a bloody cruise ship", Steubing snapped.  "How long till we have enough steam to cast off?"

"Engineering reports two hours, Sir."

A puff of black smoke roiled into the air off to the south, followed by a distant thumping sound a few seconds later.

"We're being bombarded, Sir", a lookout reported.

"I disagree.  That was well inland", Steubing noted.  The lookout didn't argue.

"Couple of our destroyers are entering the harbour, Sir.  Bones in their teeth", another lookout reported.  Steubing, Juarez, Armero, and others raised binoculars to study the approaching ships, working their way up the Harbour.

"I don't think these are Swiss ships, Captain", Armero commented.

"Difficult to say, since we buy them from so many goddamn places", Steubing responded. 

"I think they're Brandenburgers, Sir", the lookout contributed.

"This time I agree with you, son", Steubing replied.  Down the harbour, closer to the newcomers, medium-caliber guns banged out a welcome that fell short.

"Sending two torpedo-boats to attack this place in broad daylight would be pure idiocy", Juarez opined.  "Perhaps they intended to be here before dawn and were delayed."

"I'd have waited, then", Steubing noted.  "Unless they're only part of the picture."

Additional guns, from the shore and several ships, were adding to the reception being meted out to the DKB ships.  Although the two made attempts at evasive manuevering, hits were not long in coming due to the total volume of shells being directed at them.  Within five minutes, one was a burning wreck, and the other was staggering forward at a reduced speed.  When it rolled over and capsized shortly after a medium-caliber hit, the men on Hawaii's bridge began noticing other details in the city around them. 

"Sounds like rifle fire to the south, Sir", Armero reported.

"And there are at least three new fires burning - there, there, and over that way", Steubing added.  "I'd say the Brandenburgers have managed to land a raiding force.  Very bold of them."  To a junior officer, he directed, "Have the marine detachment watch for possible infiltrators or marksmen.  They are not to fire unless fired upon, however."

A good forty-five minutes passed before further information arrived, in the form of a courier.  After he'd been questioned and his identification papers inspected, he was escorted up to the bridge and saluted Captain Steubing.  "Sir, I'm making rounds of battleship row and have an oral report to deliver."

Steubing nodded.  "Proceed."

"We have civilian reports of an unidentified ship grounded off Waverly.  Rigel is raising steam and will be investigating shortly.  There are reports of armed raiders in the streets of the city attacking key infrastructure targets such as telegraph lines and rail tracks.  The army is now engaging them.  Headquarters is concerned about the possibility of mines being present."

After a moment's consideration, Steubing asked, "Do you have any orders to pass along to me?"

"No, Sir, only the status report.  If I may speak freely?"  Steubing nodded.  "It's pretty chaotic in HQ.  When I left, Admiral Townsend and several others hadn't arrived yet."

"I see", Steubing replied.  "Thank you, Commander.  Be advised that I have ordered my marines to watch for possible infiltrators or marksmen, and recommend that other vessels do the same."

"I'll pass that on, Sir", the commander replied.

"Very good.  You are dismissed."  As the courier departed, Steubing turned back to Juarez.  "This will be a long day."

A loud bang and a black blossom of smoke to the southeast provided the punctuation to his sentence.

They were certainly supposed to attack during the night - looks like they were suitably punished already, though, so no scorpions for them...