Kalistani Major History

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Majatran Privateers ordered back to Kalistan following fierce battle with Deltaria
Captain Coltrane lost, and presumed dead at sea
Ur Bahra, Kafrestan, Barmenistan
October 18, 5092


Coltrane's Flagship, the Marcus 1 burns following destructive attack by Deltarian Naval forces

On the morning of August 31, a pitched battle between Kalistani privateers under the command of Privateer Captain James Coltrane and elements of the refitted Deltarian Navy led to disaster for the Kalistanis. As has been reported in the Deltarian Press, a hasty task force consisting several corvettes refitted for the purpose of hunting Coltrane's crew was dispatched from Deltaria in the third week of August. Because this fleet represented a significant threat to Coltrane's mission, Coltrane moved his fleet to intercept the Deltarians. According to reports from members of the officer corps, the Kalistani's possessed almost no intelligence with regard to the size or composition of the Deltarian task force, but did know that it had departed thanks to information obtained from the crew of a private yacht that the Privateers seized in mid August.

The two groups met one another early in the morning on August 31st. Arrayed against the Kalistanis were three refitted corvettes and a number of smaller craft. On Coltrane's side was the whole of the Kalistani Majatran Expeditionary Fleet which consisted of several converted freighters, 20 LAFA craft, two remaining militia corvettes and Coltrane's Flagship, the Marcus 1, as well as most of the fleet's supply train, most of which had been seized in the year long conflict.

Coltrane was at anchor over a small bank when the Deltarians opened the engagement. Several well placed shots announced their presence, and much of the fleet scurried to get under weigh while the militia corvettes attempted to maneuver into firing position. 8 LAFAs were deployed, but the remainder were either disabled or destroyed on the decks of the Marcus 1: A direct hit from the Deltarian Main guns hit the ammo cache aboard the Marcus 1, causing massive explosions and igniting fuel stores. The battle began in earnest while the crew of the Marcus 1 began attempting to fight the massive fire, in vain, it turns out.

Following the first salvo, the Kalistani corvettes returned fire, but the bombardment was ineffective as Deltarian vessels remained out of range, and any attempt to maneuver was met with heavy gun and rocket fire by the better armed Deltarian corvettes. The LAFA who were engaged did have more success however: as soon as the light armored craft deployed they got four torpedoes into the water using hasty firing solutions. One of the four found its target, striking the aft port engine compartment and crippling the ship. The resulting explosion rocked the Deltarian ship and forced it to disengage and attempt to make for home. The LAFAs initially attempted to pursue the wounded ship, using their mounted .50calibers to machinegun Deltarian crewmembers on deck attempting to fight the fire, but the craft were forced to return to the Kalistani fleet under heavy fire from the other Deltarian vessels.

For their part, the Deltarians managed to cripple both of the militia corvettes before sinking one outright. The second suffered severe damage when Deltarian shells, complimented by rocket fire destroyed the superstructure, and forced the ship to be scuttled. Crew losses on the corvettes alone were counted as more than 50. Deltarian fire also damaged several of the freighters, but they were ordered to retreat at the beginning of the engagement, and most of the supply vessels were saved. By noon, the Marcus 1 had lost all communications, listed dangerously to her starboard, and was dead in the water, with all hands aboard presumed dead, either by fire or by drowning. At this point, the Deltarians disengaged, and the Kalistanis were left to search for survivors. The Marcus 1 finally broke apart in the early evening and sunk completely after sundown.

As it got dark, the Kalistanis limped northward to the neutral port of Ur Bahra, which had served them as a base of operations, which they arrived at six days later, and radioed Kalistan to inform them of the disaster. Following an emergency executive session, the Foreign Minister ordered the remnants of the fleet to remain in port and cease operations until a more permanent decision was made. The fleet remained in port for another four weeks, until the last of the prize ships sent by Coltrane back to the Republic could be sold off, and then Coltrane's Letter of Marque was officially rescinded. The Acting Captain of the fleet, Commander Melanie Quasny, was informed of the decision and was ordered to return to Kalistan. She was also informed that any further actions against Deltaria would be deemed piracy, as they now lacked the sanction of the Privateer Act. Coltrane's prize vessels had more than offset the loss of the Container ship and its cargo, Quasny was informed, and the Republic had been made whole.

This naval disaster likely represents the end of Kalistani adventures in the Majatran Sea: It is one thing to take advantage of lack of order and security, but quite another to engaged uniformed naval forces of a resurgent power. Investors in Coltrane's expedition have certainly made many times their investment in return, but future expeditions will likely head to quieter, less lucrative waters. At least until such time that the Majatran Sea becomes lawless and open once more.