"You, Commander, have the look of a man with bad news to deliver."

"Yes, my Queen. I'm afraid so."

"Well, sit down and tell me about it, then?"

"Yes, my Queen." The thin man in now seated in front of the biggest desk in the Naval Office took a deep breath. "We've uncovered a problem with Cross Mirage."

"...What sort of problem?"

"Three days ago, the Testing Division carried out an acceptance trial with the first of her main guns, complete with simulated deck structures. The mast-stays... snapped. We think from the blast effect."

"...Damn." The Third Queen's lovely features furrowed as she thought through the implications of that for a moment, and then she sighed. "Well, see what Bureau C can tell us about ways to deal with that - adapting the new model mast design from the nineteen-sixteen cruisers, or heavier stays, or anything else they can do."

"Yes, my Queen."

"If you have any problems, refer them to my office." A note was jotted down on the blotter. "I'll have Sara put your name on the priority list."

"Yes, my Queen."

Done on the request of Valles

QuoteTo the desk of Admiral Kebarcide,
on the status of the Maoria fleet,
October 31st, 1918

This report, which has been placed upon your desk by the Romanian Naval Intelligence and Research Commission, is to ascertain the strength of the Maoria Navy, of all ships in commission or under construction.

Cross Mirage
10 15'', 16 6'', 20 knots, 15'' belt, 4.5'' deck, 33,250 tons

The world's most heavily armoured battleship, this ship is still under construction, and represents a major jump in size for the Maorian fleet. The armour on this ship has been judged to be worthwhile against all types of gun's currently in service, and it has been estimated that this could handle 10 torpedoes before sinking. However, this ship does have a few problem's. The ship is probably the slowest modern battleship in existence, and as such, could be crossed by the battlelines of the DKB and New Swiss. The range is uncommonly good for the Maorian fleet. This ship should be exercised as the flagship of the fleet, since, with it's armour, it can withstand almost anything afloat, and is very spacious.

Bardiche-3
10 12'', 16 6'', 18 knots, 12'' belt, 2.5'' deck, 26,250 tons

A huge battleship that was the world's largest at the time period when it was built, excepting France. Mounting 10 12'' guns, the broadside of this ship is more limited than that, because it can only fire 7 on the broadside. The range on this ship is minuscule, limiting it to coast defense duties until refitted, and the speed is very low. The armour protection, like on most Maorian ship's, is very good. We believe that this ship should be refitted to increase the speed and range of the class, preferably doubling the latter and increasing by two the former. The planned refit's we have seen blueprint's of support the latter conclusion, but not the former.

Kerykeion-2
6 12'', 8 6'', 18 knots, 12'' belt, 2.5'' deck, 17,000 tons

A semi-arcadia, this class has the standard heavy armour protection of most Maorian ships. However, the speed on this ship is uncommonly low, and the range is even more so. This ships could be considered superior to the Bardiche's, since the ship can fire only one less gun on a broadside on a tonnage of 9,000 less. When refitted, the number of secondaries should be increased, since it is scarcely enough to defend it's self, and the speed and range should be increased.

Battleship Overview:

The battleship's of Maoria are uncommonly large for the times in which they were built, and we have noted that they share comman problem's and advantage's. The speed and range on all, or, for the latter, most of them is subpar, but the armoured protection is excellent. With the exception of one class, they all have very heavy broadsides as well. Our recommendation is that all 6 of them serve together as the battleline, with Cross Mirage as the flagship. As for future battleship's, we would recommend a new gun, and, looking at how the battleship progression of Maoria is, a giant ship with 10 16.5'' guns on a larger Cross Mirage hull. If the battleship progression was not like that, we would recommend a ship fairly similar to the French Bretange's, with B and X turret's raised.



Midweights:

Rapid Strike-4
8 10'', 24 3'', 18 knots, 10'' belt, 2'' deck, 10,750 tons

A ship that may appear powerful on first appearance, but is less than satisfactory. The speed on is very subpar for a ship that is meant to be a armoured cruiser. Also, the guns on this ship carry the grand total of 75 shells, and the secondary is underpowered, as well as the range being bad. As soon as these defect's are removed, we believe that these ship's should form a second battleline, of sort's, serving from a different port, but still as a battleline. The armour on these ship's is better than many battlecruiser's, so these could stand in a line of battle with 12'' guns. For the next type of this class, we recommend a 6x15'', 27 knot, battlecruiser, similar in concept to the Rohanese Rhinvan class.

Escorts:

Mako-6
4 6'', 32 3'', 22 knots, 8'' belt, 2.5'' deck, 5,000 tons

A large, heavily armoured, underarmed slow cruiser. With 32 secondary guns, the secondary battery is at the point where it could be considered too large. We believe the secondary should be upgraded to 16 4'' guns, another 6'' gun should be added, and, as normal, the speed and range should be increased, although the range problem is not as bad on this ship.

Orca-3
6 6'', 32 3'', 22 knots, 9.5'' belt, 2.5'' deck, 6,000 tons

A huge light cruiser, for the period of when it was built. With a belt that can stand up to anything short of a battleship's guns, this ship is one of the most powerful escort cruisers in the world. However, the secondary on this ship is too large for the size of it, and the lower casemates should be removed. Also, the Torpedo Bulkhead should be removed, because it is seen to be worthless on ship's with beams of less than 90'. We believe, that with this tonnage, the speed should be increased dramatically.

Audacity-2
6 9.2'', 12 3'', 20 knots, 7'' belt, 1.5'' deck, 8,500 tons

One of the oldest ship's in the Maorian Navy. This ship would be more accurately seen as a midweight, and will be reviewed as one. With the gun's, these ship's would be capable of standing in the secondary line of battle. Unfortunatly, the amoured protection on this ship leaves something to be desired. We believe that, ASAP, the speed and armour should be increased, with the engines being replaced. After this is done, these ship's should be capable of standing in the line, escorting, or screening the fleet.

Shadowed Rose-3
10 6'', 26 knots, 4'' belt, 1'' deck, 5,250 tons

A ship that is closer to the traditional light cruiser as opposed to previous ship's, that marks a revolution in terms of Maorian design principle. Although the speed may be 3-4 knots slower than contemporary designs, it has more armour, and, more importantly, a heavier broadside. We believe future classes should build upon this class.

Escort Overview:

We believe that the escort group is somewhat vague, and, therefore, be divided up amongst three categories. The Audacity class should go to the Midweight class, to serve in the secondary battleline. The Shadowed Rose class should be split into a new, lightweight's category. The other two should stay in the escort category. With those, the speed should be improved, and the secondary reduced. The armour is very heavy, and, therefore, these ships should be escorts. The lightweight's should improve upon the Shadowed Rose class, a very good class already. The size should be increased, and all of this extra weight should go to speed. These ship's should be used for screening the battleline, in conjunction with the new midweights, and to lead destroyer squadrons.

Destroyers:

In Amber Clad-8
2 6'', 4 3'', 4 16'' torpedoes, 27 knots, 750 tons

A type of destroyer that was most likely influenced by Dutch designers. We have serious doubts about the practicability of mounting 6'' guns on anything smaller than 2,000 tons, because we fear the recoil could prove sufficient to poop or turtle the ship. Therefore, with this in mind, we recommend that these ship's have those replaced with twin 3'' guns, giving a total of 8 3'' guns. While this is happening, we also recommend that these ship's get better torpedoes. Although the speed on this ship is enough, considering the average speed of the Maorian fleet, it is enough, although it could be increased. The amount of machine guns should be cut to 12, or less.

In Sacred Names-4
2 6'', 3 3'', 4 16'' torpedoes, 27 knots, 750 tons

A follow on to the Amber class, with one less 3'' gun, on the same hull. It shares many of the strength's and weaknesses of the previous class, and we recommend that the same process should occur to replace the 6'' guns, giving this ship 7x3'' guns. The torpedoes should also be increased in size, and whatever excess strength is left should be given to speed, range, or increasing the magazines.

Base of Spring-3
1 6'', 2 3'', 6 18'' torpedoes, 28 knots, 1,000 tons

A larger ship compared to the previous, these ship's have less gun capacity in exchange for more torpedoes and speed. Like many Maorian destroyers, it has the 6'' gun, which should be replaced with a twin 3'', for a 4x3'' ship. The magazine should also be enlarged. The range and speed on these ships are very good for a Maorian ship.

Rest in Peace-6
4 3'', 6 21'' torpedoes, 30 knots, 1,000 tons

A ship that corrects the errors of all destroyer's from the past, by mounting a single battery of 3'' guns. The torpedoes on this ship are heavier, as well. This ship could be improved only by adding a few more guns, but all and all, this is a good ship. It could be upgraded to the Color and Surge class.

Rise in Victory-3
4 3'', 6 21'' torpedoes, 30 knots, 1,000 tons

A class that is identical to the preceding class. It shares in the strengths and weaknesses of the previous class, including it's amazing turning circle, and the large torpedoes, and the great, for a destroyer, seakeeping and stability. It could be upgraded into the Color and Surge class.

Color and Surge-4
4 4'', 6 21'' torpedoes, 30 knots, 1,000 tons

Using upgraded engines to allow for larger guns, this ship is built on the same basic hull as the previous class, but has two twin 4'' gun mounts. The advantages of these are clear, as the enclosed mounts are preferable for the Southern Sea's, yet it maintains a heavy fire at a reasonable RPM. If ever upgraded, the torpedoes should be increased in size, if possible. Also, the freeboard should be increased.

Queen of Hours-4

A class that is identical to the previous class. It could use larger torpedoes, and a tad more freeboard, but other than that, is a magnificent class. It shares in the strength's of the previous class, such as the good turning, and good stability.

Destroyer Overview:

The destroyer's of Maoria can be divided into two groups, the 6'' gun type, and the fleet type. The 6'' gun type is prematurely outdated, because of the 6'' guns. In our opinion, no destroyer should mount that heavy of a main gun. We recommend that all 15 of this type either be refitted immediately to have more guns of the smaller type, to replace the 6'' guns, or be sent to serve as station ship's in the south of Maoria, or to be converted into something else, such as a fast transport or minelayer. The fleet destroyer's are all built on a common hull, marking an advance in building construction for the world. Since this is the case, they can all be refitted to the same type, and we recommend the latter, although both are good. These 17 ships should serve with the battlelines of Maoria. Future ship's should follow the fleet destroyer path, with more ship on the same hull. Alternatively, if larger destroyers are possible, those could be built.

Support Ships:

Infinite Succor-2
2 6'', 4 3'', 20 knots, 8,750 tons

A very large coaler, with the capacity for almost 20,000 tons of coal. This class has within it the power to recoal almost the entire battleline by itself. For that reason, we believe this class to be one of the most effective coaler's in the nation, not to mention the world. It is probably the newest coaler as well. It could benefit from some more minimal armament, such as 2 more 6'' guns, but they are not necessary.

High Charity
2 6'', 4 3'', 20 knots, 8,750 tons

A oiler built on exactly the same hull as the previous coaler, allowing for easy conversion. This ship has the capacity for almost 20,000 tons of oil, and just one could refuel every oil powered ship in the fleet several times. For this reason, we believe this to be one of the best oiler's in the Pacific, where range is necessary. The guns could be upgraded.

Support Ships Overview:

Although the support ships of Maoria are some of the best in the world, there is but three of them. Although those three are sufficient to refuel every ship in the fleet, the fact remains that other support ships are needed. Dedicated tender ships, to repair damaged ships and provide ammo to them, might be in order. Also, smaller ships, such as MTB's, Submarines, and Minelayers might be useful for coast defense purposes for Maoria, considering how effective they were in the last war in the Pacific.

Fleet Overview:

The fleet of Maoria is what could be considered top heavy, with 12 ships that could be considered capital vs. semi-capital. Also, all of those ships are relatively well armed, in comparison to the Swiss and DKB competition. We believe that the there should be two battlelines, the more powerful, consisting of the battleship's, in the west of Maoria, and the midweights forming another, to the north of Maoria. The escort ships should be expected to run convey's during a war, but the new lightweights should serve as destroyer leaders. The newer destroyers should be with the main fleet, while the older ones should be with the midweight fleet and as station ships. The Support Ships should be divided into two groups, one with a collier and an oiler in the main fleet, and the other with the other. The Support Ship fleet should be increased dramatically, with attention paid to transports and tenders. More so, new types of ship's should be invested in. The fleet shares similar faults, namely, range and speed. Those problems should be fixed. On the other hand, the armour on ship's is incredible, with 10'' of armour on a escort! The Maorian Fleet has an abnormal fleet for the Pacific. It remains to be seen whether it is better or worse.

March 16, 1919
A Bar In Phoenix
New Switzerland

A calm man sat in a booth, reading a newspaper and alternating sips of excellent beer with bites of the house's indifferent stew. Privately, he was enjoying the latter more, since beer from hops didn't appeal to his palate, but it was part of the image. As he finished each page, he seperated it from the rest of the paper and slid the new sheet under the bottom of the small pile lying beside his meal; the top, front page showed the name of one of the city's more prominent jingoist publications.

Another man, twitchy and sweating, slid into the bench across from the first.

"Glad you could make it," the calm man said, setting his paper aside and smiling warmly. "Have you tried the beer? It's excellent."

"No. I mean, I haven't. I'll try one. I've heard it's good."

The calm man waved to a barmaid and ordered a stein for his friend, then told the nervous one, "Take a moment and relax, why don't you? You look like the Devil Himself was after you."

"Worse. I think I was followed. I... I didn't try to lose them, since... since he told me not to, but I know that that means that they know I'm-"

"Mmmm, five men? Don't worry, we have them taken care of. Their superiors think I'm... a manager for companionship - the sort whose customers don't like scrutiny."

The nervous man stared, and flushed involuntarily. "Are you?" he asked, rudely.

"Oh, as a sideline. It's useful for my line of work. More importantly, I have the authority to evaluate your conditions and commit my employers one way or the other."

"Who are they?"

"Does it really matter?" the calm man asked whimsically. "Not the Chinese, I suppose, or anyone else with blood in their eye... But you know as much as anyone in this country about hunting submarines; that information, those skills, have a price on the international level."

The nervous man was silent for a long moment, staring at the tabletop. The calm man thanked the barmaid and poured his guest some beer from the pitcher he'd paid for earlier.

"No," said the nervous man. "No... It doesn't matter. As long as you can do it."

"All right, then. What are your conditions?"

The nervous man named a sum, and the calm one blinked. For a moment, the new traitor - for whatever else he was, he was honest to himself - thought he'd been too greedy after all, but then the other nodded. "All right," said the spy, "and the other?"

For the first time, the aura of unhappy fear dropped away from the sharp, bony features facing him, burned away and turned demonic by a flash of sick, hateful rage. "They, both of them, the slut and that fucking engineer, need to die."

"We can do that," the calm man agreed, this time unruffled.

"Then I can tell you whatever you want to know about the hydrophones, mines - fleet protection in general. I'd been planning a book, before she..."

Tears started to trickle down the nervous man's cheeks, and the calm man produced a handkerchief and handed it over. "Welcome to the family," he said, comfortingly.

March 20, 1919
NSMS Colonial Mover
Pacific Ocean

If he had been in a state or position to care, it would have been almost terrifying how easy it had been for him - a serving member of the general staff and one of the Navy's top recognized experts in his field - to slip away with a trunk full of papers to a ticket under a false name on an anonymous steamer bound for Darien.

When he'd gone to his superior, explained why he wanted leave... that look in the older man's eyes hadn't been pity, or even shock, but a kind of expectant dismay.

The Commodore had known, known before hand.

That engineer, the pride, the 'key genius' behind the Navy's new turbine designs, had a reputation for getting anything he wanted, and that usually what he wanted was women. Evidently it wasn't just a rumor, or the man's own doing, but an indulgence of his superiors - even at the expense of their own loyal people.

So to hell with them.

He'd long made a habit of bringing home papers from the office to aid in his work on his book, technically illegal but not seen as a problem since he lived in the naval base's housing reserve, which had its own security. A simple remark about starting a chapter on mine warfare and he had a wealth of material on the devices, their fusing, placement, and clearing, to add to his own notes on submarines and their detection. The materials had fit easily into a sea chest that had been a gift from his late mother...

She would not, he knew, have approved, and though the thought hurt terribly, a greater pain held him in iron claws.

...if an ill-considered one, being as it was far too large for a Naval officer's meager allotments of space. A layer of plain civilian clothes on top of the tied bundles and no customs officer would ever have guessed that he was going to deal such a blow to the Swiss state.

He'd left the reservation in the back of a converted hearse, with his trunk and a number of similar heavy boxes packed together in a reek of cheap alcohol that had gone unremarked by the gate guards who'd greeted his driver so familiarly - as had the twenty-spot folded under what even he could tell was a forged supplier's pass.

Because after all, what harm could a bit of untaxed hooch do, especially when you were seeing the gin-runner after he'd sold his wares?

Customs and his new 'face' - a cleanshaven lip and false sideburns - had gone smoothly. Probably the agent who'd stamped his new passport had been one of the whoremaster's people, from his slight, carefully hidden wink, but he honestly couldn't say he cared.

He couldn't say he cared about much at all. Except for the sick, acid burn of hate, the entire world tasted of ashes and gray. Possibly, after he'd done as much damage as he could, he'd go make an early accounting of his sins. Possibly not.

It didn't matter.

Eagerly awaiting a new installment.

:)

Probably one at Canalside to give the good Doctor a chance to block this in the name of Mod, then another showing arrival and the beginning of debrief in Maoria before I officially declare the New Swiss ASW and Mine Warfare techs 'stolen' and put the digestion in my next report...

But I've got other stuff I want to lift, so there will be different plotlines with different characters, after.

So I get alot of flak for breaking out a character I made up, and you get none for actually STEALING technology?

Wrong. He's stealing tactics, and whatnot.

Quote"Then I can tell you whatever you want to know about the hydrophones, mines - fleet protection in general. I'd been planning a book, before she..."

I took that as the proper way to use them, not the way to produce them. Fleet protection is tactics, not technology.

Quotebefore I officially declare the New Swiss ASW and Mine Warfare techs 'stolen' and put the digestion in my next report...

Nope, complete techs. If I knew it was THAT easy, I wouldn't bother doing research anymore...

QuoteProbably one at Canalside to give the good Doctor a chance to block this in the name of Mod,

And indeed. He realizes that this may be blocked. If you have an objection, PM the mods.

At least this is more realistic than breaking into a prison in the RRC, which has martial law, as of the moment. Even if technology is more important, it is easier to steal.

For that matter, the structure of the operation and its reporting, and those of any like it I carry out in the future, are set up to give the 'victims' a chance to partially or outright block an acquisition they particularly object to. Four days realtime seems more than enough time for a response, so I moved on.

(Doctor, feel free to PM me if I've gotten something wrong - I'll edit and fix it.)

March 28, 1919
Hotel Baja del Sur
Colon, Darien, Gran Colombia


The water was crowded, full of transports, tugs, and the occaisional military patrol vessel riding herd on the lot under the guns of the battery across the water.

Two men in straw hats and cheap suits walked up and sat down at the table where the thin man with the haunted eyes looked out over the harbor and the traffic of the canal. He simply nodded politely; there was no fear or nervousness in him now, that having burned out days ago.

"Whiskey, gentlemen?" he offered.

"Don't mind if I do," said one, and his partner shook his head. Good cop, bad cop... and one of them guaranteed to be sober.

A wasted effort, but professional, one supposed.

"Commander Hans Littner, New Swiss Navy," said the one with no drink. "Travelling under a false name and papers forged by the Maori. Interesting thing for a naval officer to do."

Hans drained his shot glass, and poured himself another. He wasn't drunk yet, and probably wouldn't be. It all tasted of ash. "Perfectly ordinary for a traitor," he said, with the reckless candor of the damned.

The men in straw hats traded a glance. "Why say so so openly?" asked the one sipping his whiskey.

"Because you're no friends of those sons of bitches back home," the traitor told them, "and because I'll give you this," and he tapped the attache case sitting on the ground next to him. "Which holds microfilm copies of everything I brought with me. We made them on the trip over. Nothing your people won't know already, really, from what I remember of the intel reports, but useful for knowing where mine are. You've got nothing to gain stopping me, and an offchance of losing an enemy to a neutral."

"And if, instead, we were ordered to prevent any incidents?"

"I don't give a damn. But these weren't the only copies made." Those eyes weren't haunted, they were gates into a very private sort of hell.

The first man finished his whiskey and tipped his hat, standing. "Then I suppose that we might as well never have seen you."

Hans raised his own glass in a toast. "I never met any men in straw hats," he said.

And the two Colombians left him alone, taking the attache case with them.

Giving the mod in charge of making the decision some of the confidencial information... Smart & Devious... I have to do something about that.

Why, thank you - but, as noted, the Colombians already have home-grown versions of all four stolen techs, so it wasn't exactly a hard call to make on my part or likely to be particularly compelling in the good Doctor's logic.

April 5, 1919
Royal Palace South Annex
Kaiwera, Kaiwera, Mayan

Hans Littner looked up from the drafting table he had been working at and blinked at the woman who'd just walked in on him. A little taller than average, slender and very pretty, dressed in a traditional sari in white. One ponytail, left side of her head. Bodyguards, big and competent looking, coming in after her and fanning out around the room. Clearly, someone important.

"Yes?" he said. He didn't care.

She laid an envelope on the table. "The details on the bank account holding your fee, as agreed. Is there anything else we can do to show our gratitude?"

Hans looked at the envelope, then at her. "There'll be a war. Soon."

"Yes, probably."

"Win it."

- - - - - - - -

A few minutes later, out in the halls of the central nerve cluster of the Maori Information Directorate, a bodyguard spoke up quietly. "Majesty..." he said. "That man..."

"People don't leave behind everything they've known because they're happy," Nanoha told him, a little sadly. It would have been better if there had been something that could actually be done for Mister Littner... but only time could really tell if he would heal... or wouldn't. "And he represents probably the greatest intelligence coup I ever expect to see."

"It's worth what the Swiss have started off on, then?" the Queen's assistant said as she stepped inside the moving ring of muscle and offered her mistress a telegram.

Nanoha read the missive, then handed it back to the shorter woman and asked, "Do we have any more information?"

"Besides the arrest, they were shadowing a number of our operatives, both Covered and not. Station Five pulled all the compromised rings, on his own authority. Overall, he says that besides breaking in a new Station lead, it'll be about a year before any serious operations can take place, and another before we're fully recovered."

"Really? Quicker than I'd have thought."

"Apparently Station Six made a breakthrough and will be able to send the new Five some support."

"Hmmm. I'll need to think about that. Anyway, thank you, and could you have it all on my desk?" the Queen smiled.

"Of course!" Her assistant bowed, short dark hair bobbing with the motion, and almost dashed off.

"Lively girl, isn't she?"