Kalistani Major History

[Doc]

Northern Limit of Ananto Straits, 1934 local

Captain Rebecca Rodriguez arrived on the Bridge of the KRS-52 "Kracken".  This old destroyer had been completely refit, having been stored in drydock for 200 years.  And although the engine was completely rebuilt, the ship still dogged out.  The Kracken was patrolling the Northern Limit along with its sister destroyer, the KRS-57 "Balrog", and flanked by four squadrons of LAFA craft.  The small destroyer detachment knew that success in its mission lie in getting shipping to stop and to agree to call in at Port Sweedes.  So far, Rodriguez had been lucky.  Civilian ships sailing through the Straits had either acquiesced to the instructions or turned back to go around the outside of the cordon.  One ship was boarded by the LAFA crews, before it too decided that it would prefer to go around the east side of Ananto.  The Destroyers had obtained compliance in 37 of 37 engagements.

Rodriguez took the control of her ship and scanned the horizon.  The shipping lanes between Selaya and Majatra were not unusually busy for this time of year.

"Out there," she said to her XO, Commander Diego Gomez, "Out there, somewhere, people are fighting wars, and smuggling, and killing each other.  We've held this line for two years now.  We haven't been tested.  I wonder what they are doing in Ananto.  I wonder if they are ever going to reopen these straits?"

Gomez just stared and shook his head.  "Sometimes, I don't know what they are thinking, you know?  I'm an officer, I do what I am told, but it would be nice to understand the purpose."

Rodriguez put her binoculars down and looked at Gomez.  "Commander:  You know already why we are out here.  We are the Kalistani Navy.  This is it.  They've only got one ship in the South, but this is as far as Kalistan goes.  North of here where all those ships sail back and forth, that is a world that doesn't even acknowledge our existence, let alone our right to determine what we do inside our own borders.  Behind us, that tranquil water, all those ships you see back there?  Those are our ships.  Those are our oil rigs.  Those are our Militia.  So we hold the line until what is North stops trying to act like what is South is theirs."

Gomez nodded his head, and Rodriguez muttered something about needing some of the Commissars on her ship...

Just then, the radar station PO-3 called out.  "New Contact bearing Zero four three.  Commercial Cargo vessel.  Range Seven Two Hundred, Speed, 20 Knots.  Heading Two Zero Five.  New Contact bearing Zero Four Four.  Three Military Escort Ships cannot characterize at the moment, Range Seven Niner Five Zero.  Speed Twenty Knots, Heading Two Zero Five."

As the CO and XO's eyes shifted to the North East to look for the ships, Gomez said calmly into an overhead intercom at his station,  "Chief of the Watch, report to the Bridge."  Within a minute, Chief Petty Officer Frank Flowers appeared at the hatch and was shown in.  The XO said "Chief, put all stations at the ready."

"Aye Aye Sir,"  was the Chief's watch and he smartly disappeared.

Rodriguez spoke up then. "Comm, call the Squad commanders and tell them to prepare for a potential runner."

The comm Operator responded "Aye Aye Ma'am."

"And put Captain Taino on my headset please."  Rodriguez sat in her command chair, and put her headset on.  The bridge crew heard only one side of the conversation.  "Yes.  You got them.  Yes, please advise.  We think Alpha, not Delta. Correct.  Standby.  Sonar, any sign of subsurface noise?"

The sonar scanned for a moment, and answered "Negative, Ma'am."

"Right.  Negative." Rodriguez began again.  "Yes, that works for us too.  You take 3 and 4 with you, and we'll keep one and two.  Check.  Three Five Hundred Meters.  Check.  52 Actual Out...  Comms, put me on with Militia squads 1 and 2."

Just then the Intercom went off.  "Bridge, this is the Chief of the Watch.  All stations manned and ready, Captain."  Gomez spoke into the intercom. "Roger, Chief.  Thank you."  Both Squads reported in, and Rodriguez said, "Gentlemen, you two are with me.  Form on my larbord flank.  I think we have might get a probe today."  "Aye Aye" came both of the LAFA squads, and they moved into formation on the right side of the ship.  Meanwhile, Gomez said, "Helm, bring her about to Three Five zero hold steady."  The Helmsman repeated "Bringing her about to Three Five Zero Holding Steady."

Gomez then turned to the Radar operator.  "Radar, Range to Target."

The Petty Officer answered, "Sir, target closing, range Five Seven Zero Zero.  Speed, 18 knots" 

Rodriguez ordered, "Comm.  Open a Channel."  She grabbed her intercom, and switched the speaker to the overhead.  "Incoming Commercial Vessel, this is Kalistan Republican Ship 52.  Over."

The speaker answered, "Er...  KRS-52, this is Kazulian Super Container 'Joannie's Delight,' eh...  over... eh.  What's up?"

The Bridge crew looked at each other.  "What's up?"  Gomez mouthed to Rodriguez.  She just shrugged.  "Kazulian Container ship.  You are approaching the sovereign National Territory of the United Republic of Kalistan.  We are prepared to escort you to Port Sweedes to apply for your Transit Pass.  Over."

A couple seconds passed.  "Eh..." came the radio.  "No.  We won't be going to Port Sweedes. Eh.  Over."

Rodriguez and Gomez looked at each other again.  "Kazulia Container ship, you are ordered to stop and your naval escort is ordered to turn back.  Transiting the straits without official written permission of the Republican Government is strictly forbidden, and if you attempt to do so, your ship is subject to interdiction and embargo until we can determine that you are not hauling contraband.  Under no circumstances can your naval escort enter Kalistani waters.  Over."

The radar operator reported, "Naval Contacts, bearing Zero Four Five have stopped.  Range Four Zero Zero Zero.  Civilian Contact is still coming forward."

Gomez looked up at Rodriguez.  "What are they doing?"

Rodriguez thought for a second.  "They wouldn't sacrifice that cargo ship, would they?" 

Gomez turned to his own intercom.  "Chief of the Watch, all stations on Yellow alert.  Comm, let the LAFAs know that if that ship doesn't stop, they are to attempt to board it, and if they can't do that, they are to sink it."  Rodriguez nodded, and went back to her intercom.  "Kazulia Container Ship.  You are ordered to stop immediately or you will be fired upon."

An ominous silence came through the intercom.  Suddenly there was another voice, one that spoke with Vrassan with a thick Kazulian Accent. "Kalistani Naval Vessel.  You will allow that ship to pass under the Laws of the Sea.  If you attempt to interdict this ship, you will be guilty of piracy, and will be fired upon."

Rodriguez asked radar for a range.  "Ma'am, range to civilian contact, One Six Niner eight."

Rodriguez and Gomez shared a brief look of disbelief.  "XO, Red Alert.  Have the Gunner notify me when they have their firing data worked up.  Those naval vessels are staying outside the LAFA range, and without the militia, they outgun us.  Damn." 

"Aye Aye, Ma'am."

As Gomez confirmed the order, the LAFA squads spring into action, swarming the much less maneuverable cargo ship.  The Ship did not stop by the time the LAFAs arrived.  Several flashes appeared on the distant horizon about a mile and a half distant:  The Kazulians were firing. There were splashes around the LAFA and one ship was nearly swamped.  At this point, the partisans opened fire on the Container ship.  The ship was huge, but easy to pepper with bullet holes, and impossible to miss.  The Gunner reported to the bridge that all guns were ready, and Rodriguez ordered them to fire at the Kazulian escorts.  Meanwhile, the LAFA began launching shoulder fired missiles at the Container ship's aft, attempting to disable her.  Squads 3 and 4 joined into the attack, and soon there were 12 fast boats armed with machine guns and rockets firing upon the ship.

The Destroyer's Main turrets went off in a controlled series of thunderous explosions, and the KRS 57 fird her guns in tandem with the 52.  The first salvo landed short.  But by now, the Container ship was on fire.  Several of the rockets hit the command tower, and many of the bullets fired from the swift boats had blown apart containers that were tied down on the deck.  Black smoke started pouring out from the ship's aft, and the ship stopped moving in the middle of the ocean.

Kazulia's Navy fired again, and this time scored a hit.  But the hit was on the KRS 57, rather than the LAFAs.  "Keep up that fire, Damn You!" Rodriguez called to the Gunnar.  "57, What's your status?"

Some static came over the radio and then the sound of Captain Taino.  "Main turret is destroyed.  We have a fire in the Hull when the magazine blew up.  10 killed, 15 wounded.  We'll let you know when we get the fire put out.  But Give them hell!"  That was Taino's last words.  Another round from the Kazulian escorts hit the Balrog's bridge, and Rodriguez knew that her friend was dead.