Cochin Naval Base   
January 10, 1916

A pair of foreign cruisers enters the great natural harbor, HIIMS Apra and JNS Amazonas.  Already in the harbor are a number of other warships.  Several Bharat but some from the Republic of Orange and several merchant ships flying Orange Civilian flags.

On the bridge of Apra Capitán de Navío Leopoldo turns to a near by ensign, "Signal Amazonas and ask Captain Catalano if he wishes to join us ashore when we check in with the Bharat Naval Commander."  Looking out across the bay again the Iberian captain taps his binoculars for a moment, "Also someone get a full list of what ships are here and what they are up to.  Ready a party I am going ashore."

Poola, Bharat
February 11th, 1916

Mogambo
Vengalil Krishnan Krishna Menon
The Foreign Guru

Menon stated to his two guests, "Things go well in the French holding, the men you have left there report the fighting is becoming more and more violent by the day."

Mogambo paused for a moment and then said, "Excellent but more supplies will be needed if the French are to be driven into the sea."

"That could prove a problem we have exhausted our supplies of foreign made munitions and weapons.  There is nothing left to send to them." Menon said with a sigh and a shrug.

Mogambo laughed for a moment, "Come now Mr. Minister of War you have vast supplies of weapons in armories and fortress across the land.  Simply tap into those stock piles."

Menon looked alarmed at the suggestion, "If we do that it will be noticed and the French might respond."

The Guru gave one of his inhuman laughs that dripped madness, "The French have run away from Indo China, they will run away from Calcutta.  All that is required is that we give an offering, an offering of blood and flesh.  There are plenty of Frenchmen in Calcutta and then Calcutta shall be Bharats once more."

"Bharat can't fight France and all the foreign powers we would be destroyed.  While some powers are willing to aid us others are without a doubt looking for a reason to attack us, Gran Columbia, Iberia and Italy all sent ships and the Hapsburgs sent thousands of mercenaries to Calcutta.  At the same time the Baltic Confederation and Brandenburg are reinforcing their holdings."  Menon tried to explain.

Mogambo gazes into the distance as he answered, "It would be best to avoid additional distractions then... tell the professor he is to reign in his followers so no more organized attacks against the foreigners."

"He has been very effective at getting people agitated at the foreigners it will not be as simple as turning off a switch; things have acquired a life of their own."  Menon informed Magambo.
 
The Guru interjected, "Perhaps a personal sacrifice is required then.  The foreigners have demanded that your government 'protect' the foreigners?"

The calmness in the Guru's voice was almost as unsettling as his bouts of madness but Menon was used to it and replied at once, "That is true."

The hooded figure nodded, "Good...  You have received a shipment of armored cars yes?  I suggest you use them and decisively on any more demonstrators.  That should placate most of the foreigners and you would be free to support the revolt in Calcutta."

Menon tried to reason with the pair, "France is too powerful if aroused they coul...."

The Guru wheeled about and looked at the Bharat Minister of War with his cold pitiless eyes, "You sounds like you lack faith...  perhaps you need a reminder about the nature devotion and faith?"

Terror gripped the minister of war's heart, "No... Of course not I believe and have faith in our victory.  It will be as you say."

Magambo stood up and clasped Menon on his arms, "Excellent and you should also work on plans for when we occupy Calcutta.  How soon can you have the supplies shipped?'

Menon glanced at the Guru once more and suppressed a shudder, "Within a few days no more than a week."

Magambo smiled and said, "Magambo is pleased..."

QuoteMadras, Bharat
February 18th, 1916
Three cruisers entered the harbor slowly and anchored in the outer harbor; PNS Amazonas, HIIMAS Apra and HIIMS Colonia.

A party of officers and ratings went ashore to talk to the harbor master and the local military to see what the situation was.

As normal the Bharat military were less than happy to see them and there were the protestors.  Capitán de Navío Leopoldo turned to his Peruvian counter part Captain Catalano, "Ah the welcoming committee is here I see."

A crowd of locals was shouting in Hindi and the local dialect, some even had some flags that they were burning. 
Captain Catalano chuckled, "Should we tell them that Peru and Iberia don't fly the Dutch or French flag?"

Capitán de Navío Leopoldo smiled for a moment and then said, "Why disappoint them, after all they went through all the trou.."  *BANG* *BANG* Shots rang out across the plaza and the party ducked to the ground.  He glanced around and then called out, "Any one hit?"

A chorus of no's answered back to the question a moment of looking around didn't show where the shots came from and the mob had panicked and as scattering.  "I think its time for us to leave Captain Catalano and I think its time we got some millage out of your marines."

The Peruvian naval officer nodded and then said, "Sergeant Major!  Get us back to the launches and be quick!"

"Eye Eye Captain! Marines fix Bayonets!"  The 20 year veteran called out and was quickly answered by the squad of marines attached to the shore party.

The crowed quickly scattered as the party made its way back towards the docks. 

A group of armored cars entered the square from the other side and within seconds opened fire into the crowd.  Captain Catalano called out, "Marines we are leaving!"

To be continued...

QuoteMadras, Bharat
February 18th, 1916

Capitán de Navío Leopoldo pushes himself back up with the help of a Peruvian Marine, "Thank you corporal, we should leave."

Captain Catalano turns to the Marine Sergeant, "Signal distress and then lets get out of here."

"Color guard!  Distress!"

"Eye Sergeant!" The Peruvian flag was waved tightly about.

In the harbor attached by a tether to the Amazonas was a balloon with some men and field glasses.  They had noted the firing and their flags movements; the information was sent down to their ship below.

The executive officer on Amazonas called out orders, "Inform the rest of the squadron and get the marines away in the boats!  Signal Battle Stations!"

Back in the city the Iberians and Peruvians fell back across the square and then towards the docks as the Bharat armored cars cleared the square but all too often it was done by opening up into any group that moved.

Back in the harbor all three cruisers cleared for action' on HIIMS Colonia Capitão-de-fragata Francisco Louçã turned to his signal officer, "Inform that Bharat Authorities that if any of their ships move we are going to blow them out of the water. Helm! I want us under way as soon as our boats are away and lets get the squadron out of here."

Soon five launches from the three ships raced towards the docks packed to their gunwales with men and guns.  The Peruvian Marines had four heavy machine guns in their two boats.  Once at the docks the hundred heavily armed men bullied the panicked Bharat Harbor authorities out of the way.  The officers of the three ships quickly conferred and half the marines, most of the naval ratings and three of the machine guns would hold the docks while the rest went into the city to find the shore party. 

A Peruvian Marine Lieutenant called out, "To me!" and thirty marines and ratings went into the city.
Within ten minutes the two groups had found each other and the Lieutenant said, "Captains we need to get you both out of here quickly, Sirs."

"Quiet right Lieutenant, Captain Catalano its best if we be going we can sort this out from our ships." The Iberian captain said flatly.

"Good God sir they just massacred those people back there." Captain Catalano replied with now that the shock of just being alive had warn off.

"I know Captain but..."  The Iberian officer was cut off by the voice of the Peruvian Marine Lieutenant, "Marines! Ready arms!"  A group of Bharat troops had come up on the group and then someone called out, "Parley!" In French.  After several minutes of effort the Bharat troops were able to get across that they had something to show the Iberians and Peruvians and that it was critical they come with them. 

A runner was sent back to the docks to let the party there know what was going on and no additional rescue attempt was needed, for the moment.  Soon the enlarged shore party was back in the square where they meet the Bharat garrison commander and through a translator he said, "I am most sorry for this horrible incident as a sign of how serious my government takes these acts of lawlessness new orders for firmer action have been issued."

The two captains nodded at the statement and then Captain Catalano asked, "What are you going to do with them Brigadier?" And then the captain pointed at a group huddling under the guns of the armored cars.

The Bharat officer shrug, "As I said new orders have been issued and I wanted you here to witness this.  We will not tolerate acts of chaos and destruction."  The Brigadier then turned towards his men, "Line them up along the wall!"

To be continued...

Madras, Bharat
February 18th, 1916

Neither Alliance captain was a fool and it was fairly clear what was about to happen.   Captain Catalano, "Brigadier there is no need for such an act and I would be surprised if anyone had anything to do with the earlier shooting."

The Bharat officer shrug at first, "Be that as it may I have my orders and they are clear.  Examples are to be made following acts of disorder."

Captain Catalano glanced at the huddled people against the wall, "I also have my orders and would be willing to take all of them on my ship.  Call it exile if you wish."

The Brigadier just shook his head, "You foreigners can't make up your minds.  If you want to have them fine...  After we are done with them." In Hindi, "FIRE!"

The armored cars opened up on the prisoners and more screams echoed across the square.

"You son of bitch!" Captain Catalano roared and pulled his side arm out but Capitán de Navío Leopoldo grabbed the Peruvian captain, "There is nothing we can do for them!"

Bharat, Iberian and Peruvian soldiers and sailors readied their weapons but no one fired despite the tension. 

"Captain we need to get out of here, our mission is to report and we have something to report."  Capitán de Navío Leopoldo said.

The Peruvian Captain worked his mouth for a moment before any words came out, "Yes you are correct Captain."  He then put his side arm back in its holster.

The Bharat officer said into the ringing silence, "It would be best if you left...  for good gentlemen."

Done...

QuotePoola, Bharat
January 26th

Proclamation in the name of his Majesty Chhatrapati Shahu IV, Maharaja of Bharat

Since the unfortunate acts of disorder that have occurred since last fall in the Sub-Continent various nations have reacted by sending more troops to the region.  The Baltic Confederation has set additional troops to Gujarat and Deutscher Kaiserreich Brandenburg has sent additional troops to Goa.  Gran Columbia, Hapsburg Empire, Iberian Empire, Italian Empire and Peru have all sent ships to prowl the coast of Bharat.  The Hapsburg Empire which has scene fit to involve itself in every bloody war for the last twenty five years in particular the Crusade vs. the Ottoman Empire in 1912 has sent 10,000 troops to Calcutta were they are now brutally killing Hindu's.

Only the French government has not been able to effectively deal with these unfortunate acts of disorder.  Despite having tens of thousands of troops already in Calcutta the French government says it needs more.  More troops to murder more Hindu's perhaps?  Such acts are barbaric but it is only barbarism when done against non Christians it seams and France calls Bharat a nation of Religious Fanatics.  Perhaps the religious fanatics are Christian Crusaders that feel the need to extinguish any other religion but their own.  France is the most powerful nation on Earth and yet it feels so threatened that it must mobilize its mighty army. 

It is clear that the safety of the Kingdom of Bharat is at stake and as such a General Mobilization of the armed forces of the Kingdom is declared from this date.  The Kingdom of Bharat has no wish to be at odds with anyone.  As such Bharat offers to the Baltic Confederation and  Deutscher Kaiserreich Brandenburg that while its forces will be mobilized they will be kept 10 miles back from our mutual border if they will do the same.  The same offer is extended to the Mughal Empire and the Kingdom of Bengal.   

The Kingdom of Bharat also appeals to friendly nations of the world to come to its aid in this time of need.

Vengalil Krishnan Krishna Menon
Minister of War
Kingdom of Bharat

18 feb
After the reverse in Madras to help foreigners, HIIMS Apra, JNS Amazonas & the Nevado leave the harbor late in the afternoon.

20 feb
They arrive in Mannar Gulf.

16 march
The small squadron is always patroling in Mannar Gulf.
In board of the Nevado Huascaran, always 12 injureds
- 9 Frenchs
- 3 Colombians

20 March
Orders from Lima were receive on Amazonas;
Stop -
- To Amazonas & Huascaran - stop
- Your work is now too difficult & dangerous - stop
- This war is not ours - stop
- Transfer the French on a French ship - stop
- Return to Esmeralda GC & Lima - stop - stop

22 march
On the way to Madras, the French Fleet meet the small Allianza Squadron in the Mannar Gulf -
9 French civils injured, in board of the Nevado Huascaran, were transfered on a French Cruiser.

2 April
Amazonas & the Nevado call in Manilla Bay

3 April
To Esmeralda (GC harbor)
With the long range of Amazonas, the 2 ships cross directly the Pacific - 9460nm in 39 days.
They arrive in Esmeralda harbor on Gran Colombia coast 11 may 1916.



NOTA:
Until 11 may in official NAVALISM history , counter orders could be receive from Lima.

Mid March 1916

Flies danced around the ceiling and across windows of the mostly deserted diner.  To one side of the room, ignored by the other patrons, sat two men. Acquaintances by virtue of a common trade, they worked for different employers; since meeting a few months earlier, they had made a habit of spending lunch together on occasion.

Newspapers were spread across the table, turned to the puzzles section. A bowl of creamy soup sat next to one man's crossword as he flicked a pencil between his finers. An ink bottle sat adjacent to the other man's puzzle as his pen scratched an entry into one down.  Were either container to be jarred, it would have the unfortunate effect of spilling onto their puzzles and obliterating them.

"It's always a pleasure to conclude with a good crossword puzzle after all the depressing news in the preceding pages", one noted.

"Especially when we can work together on a common solution to the puzzle", the other agreed.

"Mmm, yes." The first man scribbled seven letters into seventeen down.

The other man peered at it, nodded, and wrote the word into his own puzzle. "I was disheartened at the news about France and Bharat. War in Asia! Great armies colliding!  Think of the huge army France will have to gather from its empire and throw into the cauldron of Kolkata just to fend off the Hindi hordes."

"The social unrest as the French colonies realize they are bearing the burden of this war", the first man said, and then added, "And in France as the decadent masses find that their government can not spend as much on their dole as it once did."

"And as the war progresses, millions could die - staggering material losses - the public horror as wave after wave of disfigured veterans return to their homes, maimed and unable to find employment.  France will be shaken for years."

"Tragic", the first man agreed, copying his compatriot's answer in six down.  "Fortunately for France, it does have its allies to call upon.  The Confederate States of America, for instance - a strong republic which only recently demonstrated its will to aid another ally in need."

The second man nodded.  "Yes, and a republic facing an election later this year.  Setting aside the question of whether or not the Confederates actually like France, will the Confederate electorate support military intervention?"

"If they approve of the cause, they will.  But your earlier question is relevant; if the Confederates disapprove of a regime's government, I think their support would be muted."

"Mmm", the second man murmured.  By now, most of the down entries were filled, each man having supplied roughly half the answers.  The two compared their puzzles, were satisfied that they were identical in content, and paused.  A nosy waiter - if there had been one - might have noted that the entries were all surnames, and were not the correct responses to the clues in the newspaper.

"Not so much news from others of late", the first man said.  "Take the Colombians.  Whereas they might normally opt to antagonize France or, alternately, fight the good Catholic fight, they are rather steadfastly maintaining a neutral position in respect of the Asian troubles.  It seems they are content to sit back and spend mind-boggling sums on tulips and wooden shoes."

The second man smirked.  "Wooden shoes are surprisingly comfortable.  And while they likely favor neither French nor Hindi, I would wager that their current commercial interests outweigh any inclination they might have to add to those belligerents' collective misery."

"You reckon the throneless king will not act?"

"I reckon so", the second man agreed, as they began to exchange answers to the across entries.  Again, a nosy waiter might have observed a distinct lack of correlation between the puzzle clues and the answers in the entries, which looked like building designations.  However, the establishment featured no service staff, and the man behind the counter had not left his post.

"The Rohirrim have been absent from the news for an eternity", the first man observed.  "They've been a shadow of themselves since their finest Riders were mowed down by Anahuac machine guns and maimed by Anahuac shrapnel.  They stood by as the French waged dirty tricks on its neighbours, and as the Colombians acquired neighbour after neighbour through questionable terms."

The second man nodded.  "The Colombians mastered, for a time, the art of being the lesser of two evils.  They do not have it so easy now.  But you're entirely correct about the Mark.  They are focussed inward, their king's health said to be poor."

"The king's heir is said to be quite the firecracker.  At such time as he takes the throne, he may well re-introduce the world to Rohirrim power."

"Yes", the second man said.  They compared puzzles, added or corrected entries as necessary, and sat back, eying each other curiously.

"It would seem to me", the first man said, "that a situation in a state normally of interest to France, the Confederates, Colombia, and/or the Mark might develop and be resolved without these powers being able to make significant interventions in it."

"Yes, but only for a short time", the second man concurred.  "With a new Confederate president or Rohirrim king, or the Colombians' enterprise concluded, they would have a free political hand to interfere once more."

"Correct", the first man said.  "And that would not necessarily be in the interests of those creating the situation I cite."

"No, it wouldn't", the second man said, clearing items off his newspaper.  He folded it and deposited it into a briefcase.  "I believe we have solved our puzzle."

"We have", the first man affirmed, placing his paper in his own briefcase.  "May first?"

"Sounds splendid", the second man agreed.  "Good day."

"Good day", the first man replied.  The two stood, pushed their chairs back, and exited through the swinging doors of the establishment into the crowded bustle of central Tenochtitlan.  With a nod, the first man turned north, and the second man south, returning to their workplaces after a successful meeting.

Quote from: Kaiser Kirk on April 30, 2009, 11:51:32 PM

Quote from: miketr on April 23, 2009, 10:16:53 PM
One of your cargo ships finds a life raft floating in Atlantic off the West Africa coast.  Its from the SS Peces Espadas, Gran Columbian registry of 2,000 GRT.  The survivors report, there are 7 and all injured, that on May 1st they encountered a large Cargo ship SS Nassau flying Confederate Merchant flag.  The Nassau ordered the SS Peces Espadas to halt which refuesed at which point hidden deck guns on the Nassau opened fire.  The SS Peces Espadas was smashed into a wreck; the other ship steamed closer fired some more rounds below the waterline and opened fire with machineguns on those in the water and then steamed away.

The crew of the Natisone would of course render all aid possible.

The handful of vessels in the Bavarian Merchant marine would be likely of Friuli origin, and have been built prior to 1908, lacking a long range wireless.

As such the vessel will detour for Iberian El Aaiún in western Sahara.  Not only is Iberia neither of the parties, but there is a telegraph cable there to Cuba(1), so news of the crew's safety will be able to be transmitted home. The Natisone will debrief and continue, though letters will go out by post home.

When word reaches Madrid from El Aaiún a task group is sent into the Atlantic from Cartagena to search for a ship fitting the Nassau's description.  Iberian Merchant and Southern Cross ships are questioned briefly for info as they come into Iberian port.  Iberia thanks Bavaria for helping its ally and sends its own message to Gran Columbia, NUS, Peru and the Hapsburg Empire.

Iberian Atlantic Patrol
H.I.I.M.S. Madrid
H.I.I.M.S. Rio de Janeiro
H.I.I.M.S. Manila
H.I.I.M.S. Lisbon

OOC:  Any sense of when GC catches wind of this?  I have at least four issues for the Colombian leadership to juggle in this timeframe - the presidential trip to the Pacific, the leadership change in Italy, and difficulties in the DRM being the others.  The relative timing will influence what gets decided (and by whom).

No later than may 5th I would assume it was fairly far up the coast.

Michael

I'll assume May 5, then.

14 June 1916

On the front page of the New Beleriand Banner:

QuoteWith local police unable to deter or defeat coordinated attacks by heavily armed rebels, the DRM Government announced that it is deploying the Mesoamerican army to restore order.

A spokesman for the Premier noted, "The police are working valiantly to maintain peace and order but find themselves confronted by bands of criminals armed with rifles, grenades, and even machine guns.  It is appropriate that we call upon the military to combat what is clearly a threat to our national security."

The government did not disclose which units were being deployed and where, but attacks against government offices and employees have taken place in most major Mesoamerican cities in recent weeks.  Yesterday alone, an armed band stormed a post-office in Tepic, a public works office in Mazatlan was bombed, and a police station in Oaxaca was machine gunned, with at least forty people killed in the three incidents.

Closer to home, officials assured this reporter that the troubles in Mesoamerica were unlikely to spill across the border into the Mark.  "As with any young government, the DRM has teething problems from time to time.  We anticipate this matter will be resolved in due course", one source in the government said.

The Siamese Ambassador to France, Kiattikhun Chartprasert, had to wait three full days before an appointment with Premier Galpoux opened up. Nonetheless, he was assured that this matter was one that Galpoux personally would be interested in. After waiting an additional 37 minutes (Chartprasert kept track with his pocket watch), he was finally shown into Galpoux's office.

Galpoux greeted him "Ambassador, it's been a long time since we've spoken. We missed you at the gala last week."

"I'm sure my invitation was lost in the post" Chartprasert thought to himself.

"Please, sit down. Can I offer you a beverage? Coffee?" Galpoux asked.

"Yes please. Two sugars." Chartprasert told Galpoux's secretary, who returned promptly with a fresh cup of steaming hot coffee, and placed it on the side table between the two guest chairs before the Premier's desk.

"So, what business brings me the Ambassador from Siam?"

"Premier, we have a business proposition for you." Chartprasert reached into his briefcase and withdrew a pair of matching leather-bound folios and handed one of them to Galpoux. On the cover read simply "Canal de Kra".

"Premier, as you know, France is the preeminent expert in civil engineering projects of very large scale. What Siam proposes is another French engineering triumph. A Canal across the Kra Isthmus."

Galpoux flipped through the first few pages, before arriving at a map of proposed routes.

"I see you've already done quite a bit of work here." The Premier observed.

"Yes, in the past we've employed a number of noted Swiss firms to survey the possible routes and do the necessary surveys, it's all there." He pointed at the folio on the Premier's desk.

Galpoux continued to page through it, noting the detail of the various maps, landscape surveys, flow rates of rivers listed, estimates of shipping traffic and other geologic, economic and engineering minutia. He looked up at Chartprasert, then leaned back in his chair, thinking.

"So then, let's get down to it, what exactly is the arrangement you propose?" The Premier asked.

"The King recognizes that endevours such as these present considerable risk to those who undertake them. In exchange for taking that effort on, Siam would offer France leases of territory necessary to construct and initially operate the canal, as well as the necessary security guarantees. In return, Siam would receive the right to use the canal at no cost, and after French costs have been recouped and the agreed upon profit made, the canal and associated territories would return to Siamese control."

"Mmmhmmm. Mmhmmm. Yes, I see. As you note, there is considerable risk and cost here. What if France does not choose to undertake this task alone, and would like to invite some of our friends?" the Premier asked.

"Well, I think for Siam, that would depend on who the friends are, but in general the arrangement would be one where France is building and operating the canal for some period of time, and as long as France's friends don't interfere with those provisions guaranteed to Siam, it should be no issue if France's friends would likewise like to invest in the canal. I'm sure though if some specific proposal were to come to light that we could discuss in further detail."

"Can I keep this?" The Premier held up the folio. Chartprasert nodded in the affirmative.

"Well then, thank you for coming in to see me. We'll have to get together again in the future. I'll need to discuss your proposal with my ministers of course." Galpoux stood up and showed the Ambassador out. After the ambassador had left, he bent over and wrote a note on his secretary's notepad:

It read: "Make sure that the Siamese Ambassador is invited to future state functions."

Approved by Maddox.