[Earth II] The Riddle of Monte Carlo

[Layarteb]

July 4, 2013 - 20:13 hrs [UTC-1]
South of Cape Verde
F-45C Scorpion Flight

Zooming in at 2.3 times the speed of sound was an experience that few pilots could relate to but Scorpion drivers knew it and they knew it well. The Tu-142 Bear was but seventy-five miles away and getting closer. In another minute, or twenty-five miles, they would turn on their radars and light up the Tu-142 Bear, locking onto it with their search modes but not going into acquisition mode, which would signal to the Bear's crewmen that they were being engaged. They weren't engaging the Bear; they were merely here to figure out what was going on with it. Fully aware that they'd been detected long before the radio transmission, as any supersonic plane burning through the skies cannot hide its thermal signature alone, the pilots were still taken by surprise when the radio transmission came. They'd have thought they could at least turn on their radars before they were hailed.

"Khorsuni Naval Aviation, Imperial Layartebian Defense Force interceptor flight, we acknowledge, state your reasons for being in this sector?" The lead pilot, Major Kyle Garcia stated back over the open guard channel, knowing that the communications were also bouncing back to and being monitored by sector command. As he did, his RIO, Captain Jimmy Pagan took note of the radar-warning receiver.

"Surface-search radar, S-band, very powerful," he said over the intercom before switching to the encrypted channel back to sector command. "Charlie Victor, Brazos One-One, we've got a surface-search radar here, likely a frigate or a destroyer down there. I cannot confirm it's one of ours."

"Brazos One-One, Charlie Victor, we're investigating now. We have two maritime contacts; we're ascertaining what they are at present."

"Silo Six-Two, Brazos One-One, transferring datalink feed now."

"Understood Brazos One-One, we're seeing them too." In the seconds that passed, the airborne early warning and control (Silo 6-2) had passed on its data and now all three of them were looking at the same information. The Khorsunis were up to something and it was something worth investigating. The two F-45C Scorpions in the air were just interceptors, they could do nothing to the ships. The single Independence Flight II class patrol frigate could do some damage but more was needed.

Waiting on the reply from the Khorsunis, the Independence and the Silo Six-Two compared their data and worked to triangulate. They would need a third source though and the F-45C Scorpion's weren't the best for it, their radar more tuned to aerial threats than surface threats. For that, they would need something else…

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July 4, 2013 - 20:14 hrs [UTC-1]
South of Cape Verde
Independence Flight II-class (ILDF)
(12° 0' 12" N, 23° 37' 46" W)

"Clear the deck! Clear the deck!" Came the announcement as a klaxon sounded. Pushed out onto the helicopter deck was the alert MQ-8B Fire Scout drone, a helicopter drone capable of five and a half hours of endurance and a speed more than double what the Independence could do. Launching it meant that they could get a visual on the contacts in much less time and so that was the maneuver now. The two drones alternated their alerts, standing on alert for six hours and then standing down for six hours for maintenance. It was a constant cycle designed to give the patrol frigate a rapid response since it's single Seahawk required at least five to fifteen minutes to get airborne, depending on the situation.

Fitted with a turret for thermal and electro-optical sensors, the Fire Scout had its rotors spinning within sixty seconds of detection of the contacts and now the operators within the bowels of the ship's CIC were watching on a high-resolution camera as the drone's flight surfaces moved up and down to their commands. With a tap of the collective and some steadying of the cyclic, the MQ-8B rose ten feet into the air and held as the frigate passed underneath it and the drone was now airborne and over water. Continuing to power both the cyclic and the collective, the small helicopter climbed and headed forwards, heading first to the closer of the two contacts, which it could reach in just sixteen minutes though it would be sending back visual and thermal data in half that time.

[Khorsun]

8:14 PM [10:14 in Monte Carlo]


"Intraceptor flight, we are part of military training exercise in intranational sea, it is our sovreign nation's right," the bomber's radioman responded, struggling a bit with the English. "We are...reckon-sanse airacraft, no weapons aboard. Not threat. Over."


Kashano's radars meanwhile had lit up both the Layartebian patrol vessel and the freshly launched aerial target. The Independence II was still working up speed; the Khorsunis couldn't tell for sure yet what it was, but they'd have their guesses narrowed down fairly well once it passed forty knots. As for the new aircraft, it was quickly deduced as one of the Layartebians' small helicopter scout drones, coming in for a closer look at the Khorsuni vessels.

Eagle One's radio chatter with the Layartebian fighters was being relayed to Kashano's radio room. The senior radio officer had sent them an order to disclose no further information to the Layartebian fighters and to deflect all further requests for such to Kashano herself. Kashano's captain was also listening in. He would respond if the Layartebians hailed first, but Kashano would otherwise hold tight.

She did, however, flash a light signal to Zan da Kildh as she pulled alongside the larger freighter, the simple code for the letter A, repeated three times. This indicated contingency A, the first ruse the Khorsunis had prepared for the likelihood of Layartebian investigation: Zan da Kildh was to shut off main power, and raise the flags and signals indicating engine distress.

[Layarteb]

July 4, 2013 - 20:14 hrs [UTC-1]
South of Cape Verde
F-45C Scorpion Flight

"Pagan, let's turn on the radars, we're two minutes out now," MAJ Garcia said from the front cockpit of the F-45C Scorpion. "Training and reconnaissance huh?" He said to himself smiling behind the visor of his helmet.

"Roger that Khorsuni aircraft; turns out so are we, on a training sortie that is. We don't see ourselves as a threat either." With that the two fighters slowed down some, coming down from Mach 2.3 to Mach 1.8, a big drop in speed that would only add another thirty seconds to their flight to the Tu-142 Bear. They would slow down to subsonic speed soon enough though.

With their radars one, the two fighters were able to get accurate ranging and speed of the Tu-142 Bear and they began to vector themselves in for an advantageous intercept. The lead aircraft would come along the Bear's port side, vectoring up to within a few hundred meters so that the pilot of the Bear could see the fighter. The other would be back and to the starboard side, visible to the tail gunner on the Bear. The Bear's two AM-23 cannons were the only defensive armament left on the maritime patrol version of the bomber but they weren't very reliable past a mile and a quarter, which was why the second fighter would be one and a half miles behind the bomber, close enough to see but not engage easily.

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July 4, 2013 - 20:15 hrs [UTC-1]
South of Cape Verde
Independence Flight II-class (ILDF)
(12° 0' 12" N, 23° 37' 46" W)

"Positive ID, we've got an Absalon-class frigate, and she's swept her radar on us," a sailor in the CIC called out as his panel indication the classification. "We've got full position on both contacts." He called out again.

"Put it on the tactical display sailor," the ship's XO called out as he stood in front of the display. Within a second and a push of a button, the information was on the tactical display. Leaning over the display, the XO could see the position of both Khorsuni contacts, the Tu-142 Bear, and the approaching Scorpion fighters. If he zoomed out far enough, he could even see the orbiting airborne early warning over Cape Verde. Sitting there staring at it, he gave his recommendations to the captain for course.

"We're still within our EEZ," the captain responded. "Are those ships within it?"

"Aye sir, the two vessels are into it by a few nautical miles."

"Let's find out what they're doing there then. I want firing solutions plotted on both vessels and that Bear."

"Aye sir, we're doing that now."

[Khorsun]

8:15 PM [10:15 in Monte Carlo]

"We shall enjoy having your company tonight," the Khorsuni radioman replied, joking to help settle his nerves. His life was quite literally in the hands of the two Layartebian pilots; one small movement of the trigger finger from either of them and the big bomber would be blown out of the sky. There'd be no way to escape, no way to fight back. All he could do was sit and wait and see what his fate intended.

The bomber was lit up by the Layartebian fighters' radar soon after, and just a minute or two later came visual contact, pilot and tail gunner each sighting an F-45 Scorpion as the Layartebian fighters slowed to follow the Bear, one shadowing while the other pulled up along the port, coming in nice and close to give the Khorsunis a proper hello. The bomber maintained its new course, now arcing away from the EEZ boundary; the Layartebians were invited to follow and burn up all the fuel they wanted. The F-45 could fly rings around the Tu-142, but the big Bear, with more than five times the Scorpion's endurance, could effectively fly rings around those rings without having to land, given enough time of course.


8:15 PM [10:15 in Monte Carlo]

Kashano, meanwhile, was readying its own weapon systems in case this confrontation turned ugly, preparing firing solutions with its Harpoon and ESSM missiles upon the Layartebian drone and patrol ship, now approaching at a 47 knot sprint. One of her own helicopters was manned and ready on the pad for takeoff to extract Zan dha Kildh's eight-man crew, though no order had yet been given. The Layartebian F-45s had caught up with Eagle One and were following closely; Kashano, with only a small payload of short-ranged anti-aircraft missile, would be of little help against them if the Layartebians started shooting. Her radio crew meanwhile got in touch with Verela, relaying the position Zan dha Kildh had been brought to a stop at.

[Layarteb]

July 4, 2013 - 20:15 hrs [UTC-1]
South of Cape Verde
F-45C Scorpion Flight

The F-45C Scorpion, like the SR-71 Blackbird, didn't use the conventional turbofan or the turbojet but rather the turbo-ramjet to make power. That was what gave it performance over Mach 3 and because of the immense power of the engines, which gave the fighter super cruise capability; she didn't drain as much fuel from her engines as some would have thought. It also helped that the fighter had 38,000 pounds of internal fuel capacity and the ability to carry up to two, external drop tanks. The two F-45C Scorpion fighters had taken off using afterburner and sucked their two external drop tanks dry before they reached supersonic speed, after which, accelerating on military power, their engines drew 50,400 pounds per hour. Given the power of the engine, that number would have been nearly double in any other type of engine outside of the turbo-ramjet.

Flying for as long as they had, the two fighters each consumed around 15,000 pounds of fuel, a little over one third. Throttling down now, the two fighters were consuming only about six hundred pounds of fuel per minute giving them thirty-nine more minutes of flying time, not enough to get back home but more than enough to keep on patrol for some time. Checking his fuel calculations and verifying with his RIO, MAJ Garcia watched as the Bear changed course, drawing the fighters away from the Layartebian EEZ, a calculated and smart move. "Charlie Victor, Brazos One-One, he's altering course now, we're heading away from the EEZ. Advise on status of relief?"

"Relief is wheels up in five mikes; ETA on the ships is thirty-two mikes."

"What about fuel, we estimate three-nine minutes flying time at current speed and altitude?"

"Roger that Brazos One-One, thirty-three mikes until tanker is on station. We'll be sending you some relief too. Maintain station with the target as long as possible, ETA on relief is thirty mikes."

"Understood Charlie Victor, will report aspect change." At some point, the Scorpions would have to pull away and head to the tanker but the point of driving the Tu-142 Bear away from the EEZ was the name of the game. Even if it was in international airspace, the ILDF didn't want it within the maritime bubble that was the EEZ. Scrambling now from Cape Verde was a quintet of aircraft, those which took more time to get airborne than the Scorpions, which including a pair of F-46E Enforcers for maritime patrol, each equipped with anti-ship missiles, a single KC-10A Extender tanker from the air force, and another two F-45C Scorpions, which would head to the Bear's position at a reduced and more fuel efficient speed of Mach 1.5, which would burn just under eight hundred pounds of fuel per minute. As long as the Khorsunis were in the sector, Layartebian aircraft and maritime assets would be responding. There were plenty of fighters on Cape Verde, enough to maintain constant vigilance and patrol.

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July 4, 2013 - 20:15 hrs [UTC-1]
South of Cape Verde
Independence Flight II-class (ILDF)
(12° 0' 12" N, 23° 37' 46" W)

"Sir how close are we going to get to these contacts?" Wondered the ship's XO as the captain joined him at the tactical display board. "That's a frigate with more gun range than we have and anti-ship missiles. We're not much of a match for it."

"We're going to stay out of gun and torpedo range, there's no way to stay out of missile range XO," Captain Chris Campbell, which went affectionately by the name "Triple-C" said as he eyed the Bear turning away and heading out of the EEZ. "I just want to know what these people are up to in our EEZ. What do we have so far?"

"Two contacts Captain, one the frigate is now slowing down and the other, an unknown contact, is at full stop. We haven't started to hail them yet but it's about time we did."

"Do we have any plot before now?"

"Yes sir, the ship was holding steady on course and speed and now she's coming to a stop and very close to the other vessel, within a thousand yards, at most."

"So they're both coming to a stop together then? There's something up for sure. They're on a training exercise all right but it's in our EEZ so whatever they're doing they aren't supposed to be here."

"Yes sir it would seem so. Command has relayed the information from the fighters. The Bear is heading away and likely drawing the fighters away from the two ships. Command is putting up a pair of Enforcers with missiles just in case something goes awry. More fighters and a tanker are taking off too. They think we're here for a long haul."

"All right, all right," CAPT Campbell took off his hat and scratched his balding head. "We're alone out this far, who's our closest help?"

"There's a MOPAC-601A patrol corvette operating sixty nautical miles to our north that's about three hours from us and operating further back at one hundred nautical miles is a MOPAC-1801A patrol frigate. What are you thinking Captain?"

"I'm thinking we're in a trap here but we'll have to see. Let's halt at eighteen nautical miles from the contacts and leave the drone out there. Radio out to the 601A that we could need assistance. Pass on targeting data to both the 601A and the 1801A, they both have AMESM tubes like we do and they can render support if needed. Also let's start hailing these intruders and find out what they're doing."

"Aye sir."

Within the next minute, the radio operator began to hail the Khorsuni vessel, identifying its position and speed, "This is the Imperial Layartebian Defense Force, ILNS Michael D. Harvey, hull code FFG-174. Your position is within the exclusive economic zone of the Empire of Layarteb. Advise your reason for being here."

[Khorsun]

8:16 PM [10:16 in Monte Carlo]

Silence was broken as the Layartebian vessel came to a stop several miles outside Kashano's gun range but well within reach of a Harpoon. "Michael D. Harvey, Harvey, this is Khorsuni Navy ship NKN Kashano Runaluma, this is Kashano," the Khorsuni replied. "We are responding to mechanical engine failure on auxiliary ship Zan dha Kildh. Zan dha Kildh has lost power and can no longer steer herself. Our engineers will be attempting to repair her engines. If they are not successful, we are here to keep watch on her until a tug arrives. We have no ill intentions."

Not that the Layartebians would take that at their word. The story was plausible, but the situation was still fishy. Kashano herself would have little trouble winning a one-on-one duel with the Harvey, but she posed a neglible threat to Cape Verde on her own. This could come off as bait for a submarine trap; the nearest of Khorsun's three operational Akula-class submarines was however a good four to five hours away.

The Layartebians would still be suspicious of a ruse from the habitually deceitful Khorsunis, but the story only needed to buy an hour and a half or so of time from them.

[Layarteb]

July 4, 2013 - 20:17 hrs [UTC-1]
South of Cape Verde
Independence Flight II-class (ILDF)
(12° 0' 12" N, 23° 37' 46" W)

"I don't buy it sir," the XO responded to his nodding captain.

"Neither do I, let's go to radio." With that, the two men left the CIC and went to the radio room where a young enlistee was standing by, waiting for further direction. Petty Officer, Third Class Roy Craven was manning the radio and he smartened up once the two officers entered. "Craven is it?" The captain said, eyeing the nametag. "Hail them again and ask them where their destination is and why they are moving so close to our EEZ. Then inform them that because they are within our exclusion zone their safety is our responsibility and we will be dispatching a tug to render assistance. Khorsuni territory is further away than Cape Verde is and the law of the sea is the law of the sea."

"Yes sir," the radioman replied as he sent the message.

In the meantime, CAPT Campbell turned to his XO and whispered, "They're up to something. They were transiting through here and the Bear was heading right to where they are now. It didn't leave on an emergency dispatch. I don't know what they're doing but let's keep this one cautious. Head up to the bridge and make sure we stay eighteen nautical miles out and no closer. I'll be down in the CIC when I get through here. I'm also going to get on the horn to São Pedro and see if they can dispatch a P-8 Poseidon. They should have one on the tarmac ready to go."

"Aye aye sir." As the XO departed, the radioman was finishing up his hail back to the Kashano, while waiting for a reply, CAPT Campbell had the backup radioman call out to sector defense and scramble a P-8A Poseidon. Based on the Boeing 737, it was a long-endurance, maritime patrol craft. Dispatching it might take up to twenty minutes but she would be on station in no time, flying the two hundred nautical miles in less than thirty minutes. He just hoped that the one on alert was armed. He looked at his watch, it was 20:18 and he had a lot of assets coming his way but for the next hour, tops, he was going to be out here without the real kind of support he wanted. A pair of Enforcers was one thing but like any fighter, they'd have to come off station to refuel. A Poseidon could stay up for four hours.

[Terra Reborn]

Lieutenant Commander James Roberts IN
P-8 Poseidon
West of Sierra Leone, Atlantic Ocean
Thursday 4th July 2013, 2020hrs Local Time (1120hrs Imperial Capital Time, 1920hrs Zulu Time)

Mere months had passed since Sierra Leone had joined the Apilonian Empire, following the highly successful intervention that had prevented the stable government of William Dubaku from being overthrown by radical elements within his military and government. The Imperial East India Company had moved in quickly after the end of combat operations, as it had always done, repairing the damage done to the country by the civil war and proceeding to start the process of enhancing and developing the infrastructure and other quality of life concerns. In doing so the idea was that the Empire would bring both security and stability as well as progress and development. It was a strategy that had found success in numerous places across the globe, and had gained the Empire significant influence even in places where it didn’t hold any actual territory or sovereignty. Despite what some might think, and what it may appear like, the Empire didn’t expand for Imperialisms sake, it only went where it was asked or if Imperial interests were directly affected, and even then it only stayed as long as was necessary.

In Sierra Leone, or the Duchy of Sierra Leone as it was now officially known, things were proceeding apace as had been the case in any number of other Imperial interventions over the last decade, but there was concern to the south. The ‘Republic’ of the Khorsuni Nation had a hell of a bad reputation, and by and large the Khorsuni minorities in neighbouring territories were treated with a degree of distrust. It was seen as very possible that due to the Empire’s presence in Sierra Leone they might come into conflict with them, if for no other reason than that they essentially stood between the RKN and a number of states to the north which might not be particularly responsive to Khorsuni expansion. The strength of the Imperial Armed Forces in Sierra Leone was not particularly strong, a relatively small land force as local Regiments were raised, as small IAF contingent and a small collection of various ships, but it was what they represented that mattered, the sure fact that if Imperial assets or territory was directly attacked, by anyone at anytime, the Empire would strike back with the full force of its military.

Thus the name of the game in Sierra Leone was vigilance, and to make that possible the Imperial Navy’s Fleet Air Arm had deployed a squadron of P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to Sierra Leone.

It was the aircraft of Lieutenant Commander James Roberts, who had previously flown both the Orion and the Nimrod, that was observing the developing situation out to the west of Sierra Leone. They had been on standard patrol when they had detected the growing concentration of ships approximately two hundred nautical miles south of Cape Verde. Given that this was the territory of the Empire of Layarteb, a close ally, it was deemed of interest and the P-8 had been instructed to observe the situation from afar, relaying the situation back to the squadron command centre at IAF Freetown. Right now there was little else they could do. Sure the Apilonian Empire viewed the Republic of the Khorsuni Nation with suspicion, and considered it to be a potential threat to regional security, but ultimately they were operating in international waters and aside from slightly infringing upon the exclusive economic zone of the EO they were doing nothing wrong.

Thus all that Lieutenant Commander Roberts and his aircrew could do was train their powerful sensors on the ships and aircraft taking part in the coming together and see what happened next. They had watched the Bear get intercepted by a pair of Layartebian F-45s, and no doubt the shore-based radar in Sierra Leone would track it carefully until it returned home, and they were now focusing their attention on the ships involved. There were currently only a handful of frigates led by a destroyer at HM Naval Station Freetown, it was intended that there would soon be a Battlecruiser and escorts stationed there, but what ships were available would be put on increased notice to sail, just in case the situation blew up in front of them.

For now the Imperial P-8 would just loiter and observe the situation, relaying the information they were retrieving back to the chain of command.

“What do we think they are up to?” Lieutenant Susan Bates, the co-pilot, mused thoughtfully. “Trying to provoke the Layartebians?”

“Yeah, only if they have a death wish,” Lt. Commander Roberts replied wryly. “That’d be like poking a bear with a stick.:

“God only knows what they are up to then, probably some elaborate deception, wouldn’t exactly be out of character, would it,” Lt. Bates commented. “I reckon this little stand-off will get that Battlecruiser down here a damn bit quicker than we were anticipating.”

“A fairly good bet I’m sure,” Lt. Commander Roberts smiled. “Alright, let’s turn and wander northwards a bit otherwise we’re going to get too far south.”

[Khorsun]

8:18 PM [10:18 in Monte Carlo]

Captain Naibla Padanga clasped his hands behind his back, feeling his palms start to sweat under his thin black leather gloves. Kashano's loneliness out here was beginning to have an effect. The situation was becoming more and more dangerous by the second, but the plan was still on the rails. His frigate's advantage in firepower was keeping the Layartebian ship at a respectful distance, well away from the supposedly stricken Zan da Kildh where they could cause trouble.

Padanga, maintaining a stern tone so as not to betray his own nervousness, dictated a response for the radio officer. "Harvey, we are part of a long-range sortie exercise. Zan da Kildh was to rendezvous with us for a resupply at sea." There was a pause before Padanga continued. "She is over forty years old, malfunctions of these sort are unfortunately common. Allow us one hour to have our engineers work on her. If we cannot have her sailing by then, we will accept your tug."

[Layarteb]

July 4, 2013 - 20:19 hrs [UTC-1]
South of Cape Verde
F-45C Scorpion Flight

"Where's he taking us?" MAJ Garcia asked as he watched his compass. Flying a southeasterly course, away from the ships and the EEZ, the Bear was trotting along.

"He's just toying with us," CPT Pagan said. "Silo Six-Two says that the Khorsunis are reporting engine trouble with the ship."

"That's some coincidence."

"Evidently there's a P-8 mission getting ready right now. I guess command doesn't believe it either."

"Roger that," MAJ Garcia looked at his fuel gauge. They weren't in trouble yet and as the aircraft became lighter, he could throttle back more and more, conserving more fuel. If he wanted to, he could climb to the even thinner air of 50,000 feet and cruise on near idle power but he wanted to maintain a visual sighting on the Bear's cockpit.

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July 4, 2013 - 20:20 hrs [UTC-1]
South of Cape Verde
Independence Flight II-class (ILDF)
(12° 0' 12" N, 23° 37' 46" W)

"Engine trouble my ass," CAPT Campbell said to himself. Standing over the radioman, he looked at the two young sailors and shook his head. "First lesson of the sea boys, the enemy is a lying son of a bitch."

"Aye aye sir," PO3 Craven answered with a laugh he tried to suppress. CAPT Campbell was known for being candid but they hadn't expected it at that moment. "What should I tell him sir?"

"It'll take at least a day for a tug to get out here so let's see what happens. Tell them that we'll maintain our position and observe. Them already being in our EEZ isn't necessarily a violation but they aren't going to do it without us sitting here watching."

"Aye sir, will tell them," PO3 Craven answered before keying up his microphone. "Kashano, this is the Harvey. We've called for a tug to be dispatched and we'll maintain position for the time being. If you can get on your way before it gets here you're more than welcome to leave."

"Good work, when they decide to tell the truth let me know what they say. For now we're going to watch them like a hawk." CAPT Campbell departed and headed back to the CIC where he was announced as he entered. When he got to the tactical display board, he turned to the chief surface-warfare coordinator, Lieutenant Bob Miller. "Lieutenant, what's the situation?"

"Captain, we have an accurate firing solution on both vessels. We've got sixteen AMESM missiles with solutions to fire with the push of a button. We're keeping them active and we're updating the solution every thirty seconds."

"Good, what about you Lieutenant?" He asked the chief air-warfare coordinator, Lieutenant Josh Edwards.

"Captain, we're keeping a look out for launch signatures. If we get a launch detection we'll swat down what we can. In our forty-eight cells stand sixty-four ESSM missiles and sixteen Super Standards. We've also got the RAM to help and we have our countermeasures system currently on semi-automatic."

"All right, what's our range to the targets now?"

"We're at full power right now sir, moving at forty-five knots and they're twenty-five nautical miles away. We'll be at eighteen nautical miles in nine and a half minutes. Maybe we shouldn't rush there sir?" Suggested the navigator officer and CAPT Campbell agreed.

"You're right, we've already got the drone off and we're not going to close to where they are, let's back down to cruise speed and coast our way in, then we'll maintain a circle at eighteen nautical miles around the two vessels."

"Will order it so sir," replied the navigator officer. Within minutes, the ILNS Michael D. Harvey would be back down at eighteen knots. The good news though was the MQ-8B Fire Scout had closed now to within thirteen and a half nautical miles. Cruising in at 8,000 feet above the ocean, the MQ-8B Fire Scout had a clear and open line of sight to the two vessels. Using thermal imaging and light amplification, the drone was able to zoom in on the two vessels and provide high-resolution imagery back to the patrol frigate, which pleased CAPT Campbell very much as he watched sailors milling about on the two ships.

[Khorsun]

8:22 PM [10:22 in Monte Carlo]

One of the Kashano's pair of Kamov Ka-60K helicopters took off from her rear deck, making a brisk flight of a few hundred meters over to set down on the Zan dha Kildh. Six of Kashano's crewmen had gone aboard as the supposed engineering team; the helicopter had enough seats to see both them and the Zan's eight crewmen off all at once. The good news was that there was no way a Layartebian tugboat would arrive before the test. The bad news was that things could get very ugly indeed if the Layartebians decided to inspect the Zan up close after Kashano's departure, and were still there when the missile came down.

Captain Padanga's original plan of action had been for the Kashano to stall any Layartebian approaches by sticking around while the engineers were supposedly at work. That plan, however, allowed very little time for Kashano to put some distance between herself and the Layartebians. Padanga decided a change of plan was necessary and began giving a new set of orders.


8:38 PM [10:38 in Monte Carlo]

Kashano broke radio silence after its helicopter returned carrying all men off of the Zan dha Kildh. "Michael Harvey, this is Kashano. Our engineers have determined the damage to the ship's engines irreparable. We have received new orders from our command. We have extracted all crew from Zan dha Kildh and are departing with them for our home waters. We have orders to scuttle her and charges have been set. Advise you maintain safe distance and tell your tugboat to stay home. Good night to you, Harvey."

Kashano began turning to depart.

[Layarteb]

July 4, 2013 - 20:30 hrs [UTC-1]
Tarrafal, Cape Verde
Cape Verde Air Force Base
(15° 16' 6" N, 23° 43' 31" W)

General John McCall grunted as he listened to the next radio communication over the speaker. Glued to the tactical display in the War Planning Room, General McCall had been called out of a date with his wife to come back and manage this ordeal. His wife, one who forgave but never forgot, had released him from duty on the condition that he make it up immediately, if not sooner. Angry to be pulled away, he had been noticeably grumpy when he arrived in the WPR and now, after fifteen minutes of back-and-forth, he was one pissed off son of a bitch. Relying on Major Mario Wade to be his go-between, General McCall wasn't overly thrilled with what was going on here. He looked at his watch, it was 20:30 and the night wasn't getting any younger.

"Major, give me those estimates again?" He asked, making a mental note this time as Major Wade read off the ETAs for the various aircraft.

"Buzzard flight will be arriving on station at 20:47; Texaco will be on station a minute later at 20:48; relief for Brazos flight will be arriving on station at 20:45; and lastly, Neptune will be arriving on station at 20:57." Buzzard was the flight of two F-46E Enforcers, each carrying three external fuel tanks, two anti-ship missiles, and four air-to-air missiles and it would take up a station patrolling in a box fifty miles from the Kashano. Texaco was the KC-10A Extender and it was going to be in a position well out of range of the Kashano's missiles but still close enough so that any of the fighters could get to her and refuel quickly. Relief for Brazos flight was Brazos Two-One and Two-Two and instead of getting into visual range of the Tu-142 Bear, they were going to set up an orbit approximately fifty miles away from it, following at higher altitude and matching its speed. Neptune flight, having only just taken off, was the P-8A Poseidon and as luck would have it, she was armed, carrying four anti-ship missiles and three torpedoes, the latter of which were useless against the Kashano lest the Poseidon want to be shot down.

"How long until Brazos One has to head to the refuel?"

"Ten to fifteen minutes sir," he answered, "leaving them unwatched for at least five minutes."

"Ordinance load on Brazos Two-One and Two-Two?"

"It's mixed, Two-One has long-range Halcyons while Two-Two is loaded with Meteors."

"More than enough to take down a maritime patrol bomber, are we sure she's unarmed?"

"She could have weapons internally but Brazos One-One reports nothing externally, which was why he vectored to within visual range sir."

"All right fine, let's keep an eye on them. That little stunt with the Ka-60 makes me more wary. It's all a little too convenient, don't you think?"

"I do sir," Major Wade responded as the tactical display updated with the latest positions of all aircraft. The furthest behind, the P-8A Poseidon was climbing to its cruising altitude and picking up speed. Since it wasn't on an anti-submarine missile it didn't have to fly down low, where its fuel supply would be eaten up faster.

¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ | ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤

July 4, 2013 - 20:35 hrs [UTC-1]
South of Cape Verde
F-45C Scorpion Flight

"We're joker fuel Viper," called the pilot, Captain Ivan Finn of Brazos One-Two. "How are you lead?"

"Looking like we're at joker fuel too. That gives us five minutes before we're bingo and we have to separate and go to the tanker. Texaco Three-One is on the way so hang in there Finn."

"Roger that sir, just don't want to be on fumes when we hit that tanker." The two F-45C Scorpions had been taken on a lazy orbit as the Tu-142 Bear set up its own pattern. Of course, the pilots in the long-range bomber were laughing at the fighters but whether they knew more fighters were coming in or not was unknown to MAJ Garcia. If they did, they might not be laughing when those fighters stayed back and kept the Bear within missile range.

Five minutes later though, it was time to go and MAJ Garcia merely shook his head, knowing that the Bear crew had sort of won the first round of this affair. "Khorsuni Bear, we're going to be leaving you now to get something to drink but don't you worry, we'll be back shortly to keep you company." MAJ Garcia said over the radio as he eased back on the stick, brought the fighter into a gentle climb up to 40,000 feet, turned for the rendezvous with the tanker, and accelerated up to the area just below transonic speed, maximizing his fuel efficiency as he headed for the tanker.

¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ | ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤

July 4, 2013 - 20:40 hrs [UTC-1]
South of Cape Verde
ILNS Michael D. Harvey (FFG-174)
(11° 48' 17" N, 23° 10' 35" W)

"Scuttle the ship? Well that's a load of hooey if I ever heard it sir," responded the XO over the phone.

"That's what they say and that's a major issue for the politicians that's for sure. I bet they're flipping a shit back in Cape Verde right now over it," CAPT Campbell said and quite true, General McCall was flipping a shit. "We've got plenty of endurance left on the drone so we're going to leave it in the area. The Poseidon is on the way and it'll be response for the Kashano, not us. Our objective is the other ship."

"Do you think they're bluffing sir?"

"Not a clue and I'm not risking men to find out either. Radio is asking them how long until the charges go off right now but just in case let's ready the Seahawk."

"Aye aye sir, it'll take a solid five minutes Captain."

"Make it five and I'll be happy."

"Yes sir!" As the XO went about ordering the patrol frigate's MH-60R Seahawk to get ready, PO3 Craven was inquiring of the Kashano how long before the charges detonated. During that time, the MQ-8B Fire Scout would be maintaining an orbit two nautical miles away and 8,000 feet into the air, well safe of any charges the Khorsunis could have planted save for a nuclear warhead, which would have been the start of a massive and unrestrained war.

¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ | ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤

July 4, 2013 - 20:45 hrs [UTC-1]
South of Cape Verde
F-45C Scorpion Flight

"All right Texaco Three-One it is good to see you, how much fuel do you have for us?" MAJ Garcia asked as he vectored into the slip behind the KC-10A Extender.

"We've got a full load right now, how much do you need?"

"Thirty-five thousand pounds," MAJ Garcia responded as the boom locked into place.

"Pressure is green, fuel is flowing. How's the night sir?"

"Quiet and starry, enjoying your Empire Day?"

"Not really sir; can't have a beer up here." That drew some laughter and just under five minutes later, because that's just how much fuel the Scorpion carried, Brazos One-One disconnected and let Brazos One-Two come in to take his load of fuel, thirty-seven thousand pounds, which took a little over five minutes. It was 20:57 when Brazos One-Two disconnected from the tanker.

[Cotland]

MV Kristinas Glede CDM2I
South off Cape Verde islands
July 4, 2013 -- 20:22 hrs local

The Cottish-flagged container vessel was cruising at a fuel-economic 20 knots, making good time and taking advantage of the eastern current that had helped it make good time since leaving Natal in the Achesian Democratic Ascendency a few days earlier, loaded with Achesian-made products destined for Apilonian Gibraltar and Pula in Lacoze.

Her master, fifty-two year old Vilfred Hansen, had captained the feeder-size container ship since she had been new in 1996, and seen quite a lot during thirty-five years at sea, starting at age 17 as a deck boy on a coastal steamer and working his way up the chain of command. He had sailed the seven seas, seen pretty much every port worth seeing (and many that were not) and done it all during his time. Somewhere in between it all, he had found the time to marry and set three children into this world back in Finland, but his one true mistress was the sea. Hence, he spent the better part of the year out at sea, working two months on duty captaining the Kristina's Glede on the Natal-Gibraltar-Pula run, one month off being at home as husband and father to the three kids, all of whom were now grown up and had left the proverbial nest to live lifes of their own.

The safest and most economically viable route took the Kristina's Glede north-northeast from Natal towards the African coast, passing south and east of the Cape Verde islands, then following the African coastline until it reached Gibraltar. Then, after unloading roughly a third of the containers in Gibraltar and taking on new ones loaded with Apilonian goods, the freighter would continue through the Mediterranean to Pula where she would offload the containers, take on fresh containers filled with Lacozen-made goods, and do a return trip to Natal via Gibraltar, retracing her course. The Natal-Gibraltar-Pula run was the standard fare for Kristina's Glede, generating a modest profit for her owners and giving steady employment to her crew of 24.

The eight to twelve shift had taken over twenty minutes earlier, and there had been no reports of anything unusual taking place. Thus, the 8-12 watch had taken over and were settling into the watch routine when suddenly the wireless operator came onto the bridge, startling the third officer who had been napping in the captain's chair and the lookout who had been out on the bridge wing, taking a smoke and observing the sunset.

"What's going on Sparks?" The third officer inquired, looking somewhat miffed at having been interrupted in his evening nap. After all, they were in the middle of the ocean, with no contacts on the 3-cm navigation radar, fair seas and calm weather.

"After listening to the usual eight o'clock weather forecast issued by Nouakchott Radio, I picked up a conversation on the MF emergency band." The wireless operator, popularly known as Sparks, replied. "A Layartebian frigate talking with a Khorsuni warship. I didn't catch all of it, but it seems there's a naval confrontation somewhere near the Cape Verde islands. The Khorsunis seems to have been operating in or near the Layartebian EEZ, and one of their ships had a breakdown of sorts.
It sounded serious."

The third officer rubbed his beard stubbles thoughtfully as he checked the navigation radar. Nothing there... wait! Yes, there he had something, on the horizon to the northeast. Two surface contacts, just on the horizon, and right smack dab in his course line! They must have just gotten into range.

"Alright, go inform the old man. Tell him we've also got two contacts on the nav radar that just appeared, that are in the middle of our courseline, and that his presence is requested on the bridge." The third officer said, not being too comfortable with this. The last thing he wanted was to end up in the middle of a confrontation between two navies.

"Okay." Sparks said before leaving the bridge.

A few minutes later, Captain Hansen appeared on the bridge, and quickly became apprised of the situation. He did not like the situation, but he had been out in a winter storm before. Deciding to err on the side of caution, he had Kristina's Glede alter course northwards, keeping her well clear of the surface contacts and taking her on a direct course towards Cape Verde. It would mess up the time table somewhat, and he'd spend more fuel than planned, costing the company money, but he figured it would be cheaper than to lose the ship and the goods if the ship ended up in the middle of a shooting war without anything bigger than an old 40 millimeter Bofors on the bow and a pair of aging 12.7MM Kord machine guns bought cheaply from the Cottish military for anti-piracy work.

Unfortunately, that course change worked only to put the 4,152 deadweight ton merchantman on a collision course with the ILNS Michael D. Harvey, which they learned less than twenty minutes later when the frigate first appeared on nav radar, then a few minutes later visually. Having sailed for some time along this route, the bridge crew recognized the outline of the frigate as a Layartebian warship.

Deciding not to increase tensions further by appearing out of the blue on the frigate, Captain Hansen got on the VHF.

"Layartebian warship on my port bow, this is Cottish merchantman Kristina's Glede callsign Charlie Delta Mike Two India, hailing you on VHF channel sixteen. We are a civilian merchant vessel carrying consumer goods four days out of Natal, headed for Gibraltar. We heard there's a bit of a commotion taking place in these waters, over."

[Layarteb]

July 4, 2013 - 20:22 hrs [UTC-1]
South of Cape Verde
ILNS Michael D. Harvey (FFG-174)
(11° 48' 17" N, 23° 10' 35" W)

It was only seconds after CAPT Campbell departed for the CIC that the transmission from the Cottish merchant vessel arrived. The XO, still standing in the radio room only shook his head, "Great now we have to deal with a Cottish merchantman in the area?" He called out to the CIC over the ship's intercom system and spoke to the navigation officer. "All right Craven, tell him that there is indeed a 'commotion' going on and that it's best he clear out of here just as fast as his diesels will take him. Advise him to clear out on a course of three-zero-zero at maximum speed."

"Aye aye sir," PO3 Craven said as he keyed up the microphone, "Kristina's Glede, this is the Imperial Layartebian Defense Force warship, FFG-174, Michael D. Harvey. You are entering an active exercise area. Advise you clear out at maximum speed heading three-zero-zero. Do not, I repeat, do not, linger."

[Khorsun]

8:40 PM [10:40 in Monte Carlo]

"If you have trouble finding us again, just give a call," the Tu-142 radioman replied, earning a snicker from one of the navigators who also knew some English. The Layartebian fighters peeled off out of sight. Of course, they might have already sent a relief team that hadn't announced itself or moved into line of sight. They might in fact have already had more than just those two fighters following. They had no way to be sure until the Kashano could tell them again. Their original pursuits out of the picture for a few minutes, the bomber's pilot made a turn that would be put the aircraft on a path intersecting Kashano's once more, while the radio officer got in contact with the ship again.

"Relazhosh Han anz Kashano. Hanum antrhazadarta asam larheto para rhokarbarona. Muzha tayum vhanaro anzabaya. Zatavhasa? Azorma.
("Eagle One to Kashano. First interceptors are returning for refueling. We are coming back to you. Situation? Over.")

"Muzha tayum partaro hal Zan dha Kildh. Zhari aykapa asam banta muzh. Lohartabata anvharanona dhanadhra arhadan anz zabadro. Muzha datona takayol nadhra chazhata vola tadhano adha han-han-zha-sora. Azorma."
("We are departing from Zan dha Kildh. Her crew is with us. Layartebians informed of our order to scuttle. We have told them our charges will detonate at 1120 hours. Over.")

The aircraft acknowledged and informed the ship that it had changed course to rendezvous with her to cover her while she left the vicinity; Kashano would be vulnerable now as she turned her back on the much faster and more agile Harvey if the Layartebian ship decided to follow her. The Tu-142 had flown without the Kh-35 anti-shipping missiles under its wings that would have really frightened an Independence-class patrol ship, so as to minimize its threat profile. It was, however, carrying a dozen 533mm torpedoes in its internal bay; with these it could deter the Layartebian vessel from following Kashano's wake too closely if they chose to pursue. The bomber came down in altitude as it headed to rejoin the frigate, dropping sonobuoys along the way to check for any Layartebian submarines lurking in the area. Kashano, meanwhile, worked herself up to top speed, hoping to put as much distance between herself and the target zone.

Further afield, Khorsun's ballistic missile unit had been ordered to readiness for launch at a moment's notice; the test might have to take place than the midnight in Monte Carlo it had been scheduled for. The Khorsuni Navy meanwhile was readying a fast reponse force in case the Layartebians went after Kashano. An A-50 AWACS aircraft was mantaining station in Senegambian airspace, a concession of sovereignty the weak Senegambian government had made to avoid provoking the much stronger Khorsun. Two Il-78 refueling tankers had joined the AWACS in the skies over the Casamance region, a squadron of MiG-23's operating off a Senegambian airfield rotating through escort duty for these aircraft, whose support would be essential for launching a strike to protect or avenge Kashano.

The strike package itself would include some of the most modern aircraft in the Khorsuni Navy's arsenal. Sixteen Dassault Rafales ordered from the the Kingdom of Holland in anticipation of the upcoming sale of Charles de Gaulle to Khorsun, nearly half those in the Khorsuni Navy's service, were prepared for a long-range air-to-air mission, each slinging three drop tanks underneath for extended range and armed with a pair of PL-12 beyond-visual range missiles and four smaller MICA missiles for closer combat. A pair of EA-6B Prowlers, legacy aircraft of the Hirgizstani Navy, would accompany the Rafales to provide jamming cover, each loaded with five 300-gallon drop tanks of its own. And finally, the real beasts of the strike group, six Tu-22M Backfire supersonic bombers, four of them carrying ten Kh-15 anti-ship missiles apiece while the other two were loaded with a trio of the much larger Kh-22, a colossus made for sinking aircraft carriers.

The Rafales and the Prowlers began taking off at a quarter to nine in Khorsun (10:45 in Monte Carlo and 8:45 in Cape Verde), flying across the border to Senegambia through Guinea in order to hook up with their refueling tankers, with whom they'd top off and hold station with until they were called into action. The Backfires were held back on the runways for the time being; the supersonic bombers once launched could be firing range in the Cape Verde vicinity within half an hour. A host of other fighters as well as the Navy's and Army's surface-to-air missile units were on standby or engaged in "readiness exercises" of their own, ready that is, to swarm any fighters the Apilonians sent up from Sierra Leone in case they tried to interfere with Khorsuni operations.

And the Akula prowling about 250 km to the south of Kashano began making its way to the northeast.

[Layarteb]

July 4, 2013 - 21:00 hrs [UTC-1]
Tarrafal, Cape Verde
Cape Verde Air Force Base
(15° 16' 6" N, 23° 43' 31" W)

Twenty minutes earlier, General McCall had a rousing laugh at the communication from the Kashano. "Two and a half hours my ass, they don't plan to scuttle anything and if they do no one sets charges that far out and leaves the area. Tell the Harvey to get a small team on the Seahawk over there at once to figure out what they're doing. For caution's sake, have them depart by 23:00 at the latest. Also, let the Khorsunis know that since they left the vessel in our EEZ and are vacating from the region, we're claiming salvage on it. Inform them that if the charges go off prior to 23:00, we'll be holding them accountable for the deaths of many Layartebian sailors."

"Yes sir," Major Wade had answered. Twenty minutes later, hence now, the Seahawk from the Harvey was in the air and moving towards the Zan dha Kildh. For the purposes of easy communication, this vessel had been given the contact name of Sierra Two while the frigate was Sierra One. The Tu-142 Bear was given the contact name of Alpha Three. The Harvey was going to follow the Khorsuni frigate, there was no point to the maneuver, they were out of the Layartebian EEZ and at maximum speed, 24 knots, they couldn't get far enough away to get them out of missile range from the F-46 Enforcers or the Harvey, which were all carrying the AMESM missile.

Now as the Seahawk neared Sierra Two, General McCall was summarizing, for his own benefit, the situation. "The Bear dropped down in altitude the moment those fighters peeled off to refuel."

For his purpose, Major Wade was confirming or correcting the general. "Yes sir."

"And now she's down at what fifteen hundred feet and heading for the frigate?"

"And dropping sonobuoys sir but she's not sticking around much. We don't have any submarines in the area though, unless the navy has a Virginia or a Seawolf lurking about but I don't think so, we'd have been informed."

"That we would have Major; okay then consider the Bear and Sierra One pretty much worthless. The Bear is definitely running out of fuel, the range on those things is four thousand miles but she probably ate up half of her fuel supply just getting here and flying around in circles. Now what about Silo Six-Twos contacts over Western African?"

"Definitely a lot of air activity over Senegambia and it isn't their aircraft. There's a Beriev A-50 Mainstay out there and a pair of larger aircraft that long-range radar distinguished. Silo Six-Two believes them to be refueling aircraft giving their flight pattern. That's all we have so far."

"If there's a Mainstay they'll have escort fighters but the distance is just too great to detect and frankly, so long as they stay there that won't be a problem. The moment airborne early warning gets anything moving westward, scramble fighters to them. Brazos One and Brazos Two will maintain an orbit near the edge of the EEZ in case that Bear wants to turn around. Obviously there's more to this than our Khorsuni 'friends' have admitted to and that's fine. We expect a country such as them to lie so we'll just do what we need to do."

"Yes sir. Will we be keeping the rest of our assets in place?"

"Absolutely! The Khorsunis are up to something so we need to stay at full readiness. We'll swap out the Enforcers as needed and we'll keep refueling tankers on standby. Let's establish a second refueling station so that our Enforcers can operate out there for longer. The Poseidon can refuel where it needs when it needs, they have a long enough endurance anyway."

"All right sir, I will relay those orders immediately." As Major Wade walked away, General McCall looked at the map, showing all of the various contacts. Alpha Four, Five, and Six were over West Africa and naturally, near them would be whatever fighters the Khorsunis had protecting them. Senegambia was indeed a weak country and that could prove to be a problem for the Empire.

"Major," General McCall called as Major Wade was a few feet away. Major Wade turned and returned to the table. "Major, on second thought, this air activity over Senegambia is a bit of a problem. It's about four hundred miles to their airspace, correct?"

"Give or take sir, yes."

"Put up a flight of F-45C Scorpions to make a long transit. Fly them out to the edge of Senegambian airspace and then have them make a few orbits. Have them refuel at the closer point and stay up there. That'll give us eight fighters airborne with how many more on standby?"

"Ten Scorpions and a dozen Vipers," Major Wade recited from memory.

"How long until the rest of the Scorpions and Vipers can be ready?"

"The 3701st is active now, the 3702nd can be active within the hour; the 3703rd is active; and the 3704th can be active within thirty minutes to an hour. The whole of the 3705th is active."

"What's that leave us, the Thunderbolts from the 3706th and the 8701st?"

"Yes sir."

"They're not much use right now, all right Major, let's leave our plan in place as is. I'll sure be a lot happier when we get the 29th Bomb Wing and the 98th Fighter Wing down here at the end of next month."

"I will too sir." Major Wade responded before he headed off to set the orders into motion.

[Terra Reborn]

Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Leach
Freetown Garrison
The Duchy of Sierra Leone, The Apilonian Empire
Thursday 4th July 2013, 2110hrs Local Time (1210hrs Imperial Capital Time, 2010hrs Zulu Time)

The sudden uptick of Khorsuni activity in the air, which just so happened to coincide with some form of stand-off with the Imperial Layartebian Navy, naturally caught the attention of Imperial Joint Command Africa, headquarter out of Freetown Garrison in Sierra Leone. Deep in the brand-new purpose-built facility just outside of Freetown the regional commander, Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Leach of the Imperial Army, watched with an even expression as he watched the situation display, which brought together all of the information that ground and air based radars were reporting, as well as any and all other data and information in order to build up a picture of precisely what was going on. Whatever it was he didn’t like it, despite the rhetoric from the Republic of the Khorsuni Nation the likelihood of it launching an attack against the newly-formed Duchy of Sierra Leone was limited, if only because surely they wouldn’t want to bring down the full weight of the Apilonian Empire down upon them, but if they were now playing games with the Empire of Layarteb of all people then that assumption went out of the window.

All bets were off, and given the comparatively small Imperial military presence in Sierra Leone this was a very, very bad thing.

“Alright, what’ve we got?” Sir Thomas asked with a heavy sigh.

“One A-50 Mainstay and two IL-78 refueling aircraft are in the skies over Senegambian territory, we’re also detecting sixteen fighter sized aircraft which we are tentatively identifying as Rafeles and Prowlers,” Group Captain Ian Kanpp, Commanding Officer of No.36 Group and the senior IAF officer in Sierra Leone, reported. “Long range radar and satellite reconnaissance also reports a large number of Khorsuni fighters either in the air or in readiness positions on the ground, most troubling, we’re seeing a squadron of TU-22 Backfires at hold on Khorsuni runways, obviously this does not bode well.”

“Alright, what do we have to counter,” Sir Thomas replied instantly. ”I want to get every damn aircraft we have available in the sky, god knows they’ll have their work cut out for them.”

“Our fighter assets in the region consist of a squadron of Raptors and a squadron of Vipers, if used in conjunction with radar those Raptors especially should be deadly effective against Khorsuni fighters, and the Vipers will hardly be a slack either,” Group Captain Knapp replied. “I was also informed just this morning that we’ve finished installing the first part of the SAM network we’ve been setting up, not what we’ll be looking at in the long-run, but enough to give us some help, should we need it.”

Sir Thomas nodded grimly, it still wasn’t a lot.

“Alright then, lets get as many of those Raptors and Vipers that are serviceable in the air, maximum air to air load-out without compromising stealth on those Raptors, and have all air defence crews on immediate alert,” Sir Thomas instructed. “Pass all the information we have to the Layartebians, let’s keep them abreast of this situation, it’s becoming more than just a few ships now…”

[Layarteb]

July 4, 2013 - 21:00 hrs [UTC-1]
South of Cape Verde
Zan dha Kildh
(11° 34' 18" N, 23° 20' 43" W)

The MH-60R Seahawk went into a slow hover just eight hundred meters from the Zan dha Kildh as it began to lower itself to the deck of the ship. They were going to put themselves down where the Khorsuni Ka-60 had put down to "rescue" the crew of the Zan dha Kildh. Within its cabin was a single Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST) consisting of a single squad of five men. Organized not unlike a civilian SWAT Team, the MSST squad were outfitted in body armor and they carried submachine guns and pistols for easy maneuvering within the bowels of a ship. Highly trained, they would move as a singular unit to the bridge, sweep through it, and then move down into the bowels of the ship to locate and disarm any scuttling charges.

"Ten seconds," called out the pilot as the Seahawk dropped towards the Zan dha Kildh's deck. With a mild thump, its wheels touched down and the five men came out of the already open cargo doors, took a knee, and waited for the Seahawk to get back into the sky. Unequipped with a door gun because of its anti-submarine nature, a pair of crewmen were strapped in with sling-mounted light machine guns, which they could use to offer support if the need arose.

[Cotland]

MV Kristinas Glede (CDM2I)
South off Cape Verde islands
July 4, 2013 -- 20:23 hrs local


"Kristina's Glede, this is the Imperial Layartebian Defense Force warship, FFG-174, Michael D. Harvey. You are entering an active exercise area. Advise you clear out at maximum speed heading three-zero-zero. Do not, I repeat, do not, linger."

The message was clearly received onboard Kristinas Glede, where the third officer immediately looked through the folder marked "Notice to Mariners", which contained all navigational warnings, no-sailing zones, warnings of areas to stay well clear of, and other similar notifications intended to keep innocent merchants well clear of potentially dangerous areas. Before answering, Captain Hansen looked over to the third officer, who shook his head.

"There's no message warning us of military exercises in this sector."

"Are you certain that we have them all?"

"Yes sir, we don't have a gap in our registry."

Hansen frowned as his suspicion that the Layartebians were trying to pull a fast one on him was confirmed. Like hell there were exercises going on! More like a military confrontation. Grumbling, Hansen ordered the helmsman to steer hard to port and come to course 3-0-0 before he picked up the VHF radio again. He was not pleased with being bullshitted.

"Michael Dee Harvey, this is Kristina's Glede Charlie Delta Mike Two India. Roger, am altering my course port to three-zero-zero. As I am in international waters, I intend to pass within three nautical miles off your starboard quarter. For the record, since your headquarters couldn't be bothered to inform the world of these 'exercises' taking place in an international shipping lane, I'm guessing that my company will send you the check for the extra fuel we'll spend making this detour. Kristina's Glede will monitor VHF channel 16 in case of any further traffic, have a good day. Out."

As Captain Hansen finished up on the VHF, Kristina's Glede steadied up on course 3-0-0 and increased speed to maximum, 27 knots.

[Layarteb]

July 4, 2013 - 20:25 hrs [UTC-1]
South of Cape Verde
ILNS Michael D. Harvey (FFG-174)
(11° 48' 17" N, 23° 10' 35" W)

"Testy one isn't he?" PO3 Craven remarked as the transmission came back in from the Cottish ship. The XO just shook his head.

"I don't care who he sends a bill to only that he gets out of here right quick. Let him take it up with the Khorsuni government."

"What should I tell him sir?" The radioman asked.

"CIC, radio, can you confirm the Cottish merchant has altered course and speed?"

"Roger that sir, course changing to 3-0-0 degrees, speed increasing," came the reply from the CIC. The XO put down the intercom phone and turned back to the radioman.

"Simple, tell him that we acknowledge his course and speed change, we thank him for his cooperation, and that's about it. He's a merchantman and so he doesn't need to know that the Khorsuni's are a bunch of moronic fools."

"Aye aye sir," PO3 Craven answered before repeating what he'd been told.

[Khorsun]

9:00 PM [11:00 in Monte Carlo]

Captain Padanga cursed as the Layartebian chopper descended upon the abandoned Zan dha Kildh. Why did every turn this situation took have to be one for the worse? He glared to southeast, thinking evil thoughts in the general direction of Verela. Who thought this would be a good idea? Where was the admiral (fucking admirals, he thought) who had concocted this scheme, and why hadn't he been volunteered to lead the mission personally? Why Padanga? To whom had he done what?

Per the latest orders from Verela, Kashano was turning about after leaving the EEZ, remaining outside it now but in the vicinity of Zan dha Kildh. Padanga was awaiting Verela's answer on how to respond to this latest development. The Layartebians searching the ship would find no charges, although the Khorsunis had disabled her equipment to prevent them from simply turning the engines back on and sailing her away. They would confirm what they already suspected: everything the Khorsunis had said about that ship and why it was here was a lie.

Kashano had spotted its Tu-142 overwatch returning a few minutes, coming in rather low. Padanga had worried that the plane would be forced to leave them soon. Its crew, however, reassured him they'd be with Kashano for a while longer; the pliant Senegambian government would be opening up a runway at one of its airfields for them to land and refuel, cutting down the return journey by a considerable distance and giving them more time to remain on station. That, at least, was one small blessing.

There came another, from Verela this time: they were giving Padanga authorization to disclose what was really about to happen. A moment later, Kashano was back on the radio with the Layartebians.

"Michael D. Harvey, this is Kashano. Your men must remove themselves from Zan dha Kildh immediately for the sake of their own safety. I repeat, you are putting their lives in danger by keeping them aboard that ship. They must extract themselves immediately. Zah dha Kildh is the target vessel of a weapons test. It will be destroyed. Your men must not be aboard and you yourselves would be unwise to remain in the area for the duration of the test. Do we have your understanding?"

[Layarteb]

July 4, 2013 - 21:05 hrs [UTC-1]
South of Cape Verde
ILNS Michael D. Harvey (FFG-174)
(11° 48' 17" N, 23° 10' 35" W)

"The fuck did he just say?" The XO responded before immediately calling the captain. "Sir, the Khorsunis say that the target vessel is the target of a weapon's test!"

"A weapon's test? Of what nature XO? Tell the MSST team to go onto standby!"

"Aye aye sir," the XO said as he quickly turned to PO3 Craven. "Call that son of a bitch back and ask him what weapon's test? We need details right now!"

"Aye sir," PO3 Craven said before he pushed the transmit button. "Kashano, Harvey, what are you talking about a 'weapon's test'? We need more details immediately. What kind of weapon and when will the test take place?"

"This is a long-range missile test and it is scheduled for launch at 22:00 hours."

"A missile test?" The XO said to himself as he repeated it back to the captain.

"A missile test in our EEZ, okay XO here's what you're going to do. Get on the fucking horn with sector command and let them know. Then tell those sons of bitches that we're going to check that goddamn ship for whatever they have hidden on it that they don't want us to find. Then we're going to take possession of this ship as it is legally within our EEZ. Then we're going to clear out long before their missile test and if they do we're going to send them the bill for our salvage."

"Aye sir."

"Maybe we can send it on the warhead of an ICBM. In the meantime, we're going to call in backup, we might have to fire back at these assholes tonight!"

"Yes sir!" The XO turned back to PO3 Craven; "Tell him this precisely, 'We're going to check this ship to find out what you are hiding from us and since you're in our EEZ we're going to take possession of this abandoned vessel. We'll clear out before this supposed test. Any action firing into our EEZ will be a direct provocation of war against the Empire of Layarteb.'"

"Aye sir," said PO3 Craven, who repeated it back word-for-word. In the meantime, another radio operator got on the line with sector command back in Cape Verde and relayed the new development.

"There is nothing to find aboard Zan dha Kildh. Her engines have been disabled and you are taking her nowhere under her own power. These waters are international and we are within our sovereign rights to be here. Evacuate your men from the ship. You are putting their lives at a needless risk." Came the reply from the Khorsuni vessel but the XO wasn't buying it.

Everything he said now, he simply said in the microphone instead of letting the radioman do it. The situation was too serious for a relay. "We can certainly tow her. The vessel has been abandoned and we are claiming salvage. Now if you say this missile test is at 22:00 hours, we have an hour to inspect the vessel. We'll leave with plenty of time to spare." He turned to the radioman near him, "Tell the inspection team they have twenty minutes to inspect that vessel and then they better clear out on the double."

"Zan da Kildh is a vessel of the Khorsuni naval auxiliary. We do not recognize your right to salvage and we will not allow you to take her under tow."

At this, the XO laughed. There wasn't any sort of worldwide recognition of "Laws of the Sea" but the one thing that was generally held by all nations and navies of the world were marine salvage rights. "That's for you to take up with our politicians. The Empire of Layarteb recognizes marine salvage rights on all abandoned vessels throughout the world's oceans, especially within our territorial, contiguous, and EEZ boundaries. If you do not wish for us to take it under tow you will have to come back and reoccupy it for the vessel not to be abandoned. We'll await your imminent return."

"We shall be returning shortly. We advise that your men be off of the ship by the time we arrive."

"Aye aye, we'll do just that," the XO said. In the meantime, sector command was flipping a shit and the MSST team was running through the ship looking for two things, intelligence and demolitions charges. They'd split up into two teams. Two men were searching the bowels of the ship, where the charges would be, while the other three men searched the living quarters, the bridge, the radio room, and other essential areas. The clock was ticking and the Seahawk, orbiting outside of the ship had limited fuel. They couldn't have stayed there too long if they wanted to anyway and it was too far to send a RHIB to rescue them.

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July 4, 2013 - 21:15 hrs [UTC-1]
Tarrafal, Cape Verde
Cape Verde Air Force Base
(15° 16' 6" N, 23° 43' 31" W)

Meanwhile, back at sector command, everything had gone to hell in a hand basket. General McCall had the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs on one line, the Harvey on another, and the entirely deployed aerial force on a common channel. It was pandemonium in a way and as the clock ticked away, and the MSST team searched the vessel, General McCall had some hard decisions to make. In the midst of it, he got the information from the Apilonians concerning the nature of air activity over West Africa. Sierra Leone was part of the defensive umbrella of the Cape Verde Sector so it was naturally logical to have an Apilonian team consisting of a few NCOs and two officers posted in the command center. The information went right to them and from them, right to General McCall.

"This is certainly shaping up to something quite insane Chairman General," General McCall said into the wireless headset in his right ear. "We're going to need contingency plans sir."

"General this is a unique situation. In light of the circumstances, I see no choice but to order your sector to MILCON Condition 2 and I will put the rest of the military on Condition 3. Should you witness a hostile act your forces are authorized to return fire and that is whether or not they are threatened."

"Yes Chairman General sir. How should we treat the air activity over Western Africa?"

"If any aircraft approaches the outer barrier you are authorized to engage them by any and all means necessary. You must assume that they are hostile and preparing a strike. Should any aircraft open fire obviously you will destroy them. We'll have to scramble everything we have in the sector."

"Yes sir!" With that, General McCall put the phone on mute while he issued his orders. On the other end, the Chairman was dialing the Emperor on another line and getting the National Security Council back together for a very quick, very emergency meeting. The Emperor's party would be cut short in a way but this was a major matter, a national emergency of the direst of situations.

In the meantime, every aircraft in every squadron on Cape Verde and now the Canary Islands were getting up to immediate, crash alert status. The Canary Islands were nearly 1,000 miles to the northeast but that was of little consequence. Tankers could keep aircraft refueled indefinitely and that meant bringing tankers down from the Azores, some 1,500+ miles from the Azores. It would all happen though; the Empire of Layarteb had many contingency plans for crash alerts throughout the North Atlantic albeit all of them were focused more to the north. This would indeed by a test of the overall response system.

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July 4, 2013 - 21:18 hrs [UTC-1]
South of Cape Verde
Zan dha Kildh
(11° 34' 18" N, 23° 20' 43" W)

"Franklin, this is Torrey," the radio burped as Franklin, the MSST team's leader keyed back that he was listening. "We've got nothing down here; we swept like crazy so unless they have them hidden there are no demolition charges."

"All right Torrey good work, get back up here on the double, we've got less than seven minutes before we've got to get out of here."

"We're on our way, Torrey out," Torrey said as he and Francis immediately began to rush, on the double, to the topside areas.

Now in the radio room, Franklin, Knapp, and Trujillo were sifting through logbooks and scattered paperwork. The forty-year old merchant freighter was in terrible condition and it had been a derelict for quite some time. The man had independently wondered just how much effort the Khorsunis had spent making her seaworthy again. To their credit, she wasn't leaking water. "Okay guys let's finish up here, I don't see anything of merit."

"Nah there's nothing here. This ship is a floating hunk of junk," answered Trujillo.

"Let's get back on the Seahawk and get out of here just in case these sons of bitches aren't lying," Knapp said, groaning, as they cleared out of the radio room.

"Torrey, hold position," Franklin said suddenly. "How close are you to the engine room?"

"A compartment away, why?"

"Check the engines out and see if they run. You have four minutes, meet on the helipad afterwards, got it?"

"Got it!"

"What are you thinking boss?"

"That if they lied to us about the scuttling, they sure as shit lied to us about the condition of the ship. I bet the thing works just fine."

"I'll take that bet," answered Knapp. "Case of beer!"

"You're on, Trujillo, you're the witness."

"I'm always the fucking witness boss, always!"

[Yanitza]

9:00 PM
July 4, 2013
Dakar, Republic of Senegambia

The skies of Senegambia were unusually busy this particular day, with all manner of military aircraft hovering above or around the ailing country's territory, none of them belonging to the Sengambian air force itself, naturally. The children of Senegambia who were able to see the display of aerial might above them looked with wonder and excitement as the various jets circled and dived over their heads in the cities and villages of the country. The adults either paid the air craft no mind, they had more pressing issues of day to day survival to look after, or simply looked at them in disapproval and wondered what the hell it was President-General Segou was up to in his little palace in Dakar. The response of the Senegambian government to the situation was hardly thrilled at all, having unwittingly found themselves in the middle of a confrontation between three major military powers.

“So what exactly is the issue going on at the moment?” President-General Segou asked again in a tired tone, as he rubbed his temples in a frustrated manner.

His Chief of Staff, or what passed for his chief of Staff Brigadier General Oussea gave him the same answer as before

“Well, we don't actually know President-General Sir, it appears a confrontation has emerged between the Khorsunis and Layartebians”

“Over what? Why?”

“Um, we don't exactly know as of yet the exact details of the conflict of interest, President-General Sir,” Oussea again replied in an unsure tone. As shoddy as the Senegambian air network was, even they had noticed, first the increase of Khorsuni aircraft over Senegambian skies, which of course was perfectly legal given the treaties between the two states, and then later as nearby Sierra Leone became alive with Apilonian fighters and the Layartebians started approaching the boundaries of Senegambian airspace. The exact specifics of course were unavailable, but that really didn't matter to Ibrahim anyway.

“So what your saying to me Oussea, is that the Khorsuni's are dragging our poor little country into a shit fest with 2/3rds of the October Alliance and we don't know why?”

“If you put it that way, then yes, President-General Sir”

Ibrahim sighed as he thought about how to deal with this entirely unexpected issue confronting him. Had he known that the Khorsuni airbases inside Senegambia were likely to cause him this much trouble, he still probably would have allowed them to establish themselves anyway. It was not like he had much of a choice when the Khorsuni's approached him, with plans about a military base in one hand and hefty bribe in the other. He could either take the money, or refuse and likely face the wrath of economic pressure from Khorsuni mining magnates or militias inside Senegambia, both with the same end result. At least he was able to invest the money into valuable long term commitments by ensuring his governments legitimacy by continuing to fund it's patronage networks and military capabilities.

“Perhaps, if I may President-General Sir, we should at least scramble our airforce and declare our neutrality?” Oussea suggested in the face of Segou's silence on the matter.

“Oh yeah, give everyone have a bit of comic relief in this tense situation”

Ibrahim's rather bitter remark was a reference to the dismal state of the Senegambian air force. The motley collection of antiqued fighters and helicopters that the government had managed to collect over the years from various sources would have done little to show the world that the Senegambians meant business, even if they were all functional. Several of the Planes were inoperable because they had either been bought faulty or were poorly maintained, or because their pilots had sold vital parts or fuel to make a quick buck. That was not even mentioning those planes that mysteriously disapeared from the airfields periodically, their entrepreneurial pilots using government aircraft to operate private services for moving drugs, guns, other questionable cargo and individuals across Senegambia for a healthy profit.

“No, don't bother scrambling the air force, we'll say it's a show of our peaceful intentions and determination not be involved in the situation developing” Ibrahim had a lot of expierence at spinning his regime's weaknesses into a better picture “We'll release a public statement stating our neutrality and request our soveriegnty be respected, hell, lets say we'd be willing to host talks to resolve the issue for good measure”

“President General Sir?” Oussea queried, a little worried about his last statement

“Relax, no one will take it seriously, it's just posing” Segou scoffed with a wave of his hand “ after that I want my nephew in Verela to do something for once and ask the Khorsuni government what the fuck they are doing to rile everyone up, if they are going to use my airfields and country they could at least tell us what they're up too.

OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SENEGAMBIA

The Republic of Senegambia officially declares her neutrality in the current situation that is developing along the West African Coast and although all existing agreements regarding the use of Senegambian territory will be respected, we ask that all states recognise Senegambia's ultimate neutrality and non involvement in the current situation developing, and thus respect her territorial sovereignty. We hope that current hostilities in the region can be brought to a speedy end and would like to offer Dakar as a potential place for discussion to peacefully resolve the situation.

President-General Ibrahim Segou
Republic of Senegambia
July 4, 2013

-----------------------------------------------
9:20 PM
July 2, 2013
Senegambian Embassy, Verela, Republic of the Khorsuni Nation

When Yaqub Tibou had received the phone call from his uncle in Dakar to politely ask the Khorsuni government over what it was they were up to, he put the phone down with a feeling of dread. Although he had largely got his posting as Senegambian ambassador to the Republic largely due to his relations with Ibrahim, Yaqub was not entirely incompetent. He was a bright kid who also had his hands clean of any illegal dealings or misuse of political power. This was welcome relief as the previous Senegambian ambassador to the Republic of the Khorsuni Nation and the West African Republic had been shot to death as a result of his involvement with local crime syndicates. Yaqub was just somewhat inexperienced and shy.

Thus after summing up enough courage, Yaqub contacted the Khorsuni government,calmly and politely requesting a personal meeting the Ankhazar or at least any government official that could inform his government of the unfolding situation that was occurring so close to her borders.

[Khorsun]

9:21 PM [11:21 in Monte Carlo]

The roar of the incoming Bear, growing so intense that the rusting Zan dha Kildh shuddered around them, that they began to feel it resonating within their chests, alerted the Layartebian MSST unit that the clock was running out if they wanted to get out before the Khorsunis arrived. Kashano was not far behind, now approaching within a kilometer of the freighter. The Khorsunis had prepared an away team of their own to re-board the vessel once the Layartebians were off it, comprising the vessel's former crew as well as a squad of naval infantrymen. The team's helicopter was prepped for takeoff but remaining on deck; the Khorsunis were keeping an eye on the Layartebian Seahawk to see they whether they were leaving the ship or not. Captain Padanga hoped they wouldn't have any more trouble over that, but he was not optimistic.


_________________________________________________________________________________________



10:23 PM in Verela [11:23 in Monte Carlo]

"Yaqoub Tipou on the phone," the staffer said.

"...Who?" answered Zussami Atamba, Khorsun's deputy foreign minister. The staffer winced. The sharp-minded Atamba was not a man who forgot a name lightly. He knew court politics inside and out, and you hadn't made much of an impression in Verela if Zussami Atamba drew a blank on hearing your name.

The staffer placed a hand over the receiver. "The Senegambian ambassador."

"Oh, the nephew," Atamba answered. He was relieved that it wasn't someone important whom that he'd completely overlooked somehow. That would have been worrying.

"He wants to know if the Ankhazar is available to speak to."

Atamba snorted. Was the Ankhazar available to speak to anyone? Who could know the whims of Taneltar but the man himself? If I had to give you my best guess, Atamba thought, the Ankhazar is probably prowling around his war room and high on amphetamines at the moment. But you may leave him a message.

"No. But I will take his call, if it is important," Atamba said.

"It's about the uh, situation with..."

Atamba put his hand out and the staffer handed the phone over. "Yes, the situation is a highly complex and currently developing one, very fast-paced and certainy rather uncertain," he began after Tibou asked him, in essence, what the Hell was going on with all these aircraft and why the Khorsunis were riling up the EOL so badly. Atamba's reply, of course, answered none of that.

"Khorsun is currently in the midst of a defensive military exercise that has the Layartebians rather on edge. You know how they are. Rest assured, it's just a drill, this little spat will blow over and business as usual resumes soon enough. Remember that your country is included in our defensive plans, that we drill to protect you as well as ourselves from the possibility of invasion, Birean, Apilonian, Layartebian, or any other possible threat. Do not be worried, we hold the security of your government and your territory to be of tantamount importance. We are not out to jeopardize either. But if you enjoy having the privilege of our guarantees of security, you must be a collaborative partner from time to time when it comes to these sorts of exercises. I hope this is understood in Dakar."

[Layarteb]

July 4, 2013 - 21:20 hrs [UTC-1]
South of Cape Verde
Zan dha Kildh
(11° 34' 18" N, 23° 20' 43" W)

"Well I guess you owe me that case of beer," Knapp joked as he, Trujillo, and Franklin popped back onto the helicopter deck.

"Yeah, yeah, stow it. Torrey make your way up here on the double, we're out of time."

"Roger that boss, we're on our way," came the reply. The engines were dead indeed, Torrey reported as much but he also reported that they'd been sabotaged. Though with the cat out of the bag there wasn't much else for them to do much vacate the ship and see if the Khorsunis really did have the balls to launch an anti-ship missile against a target floating in the Empire's EEZ.

"Davis, you can vector back now, we're good to leave, nothing to be found here. The Khorsunis sabotaged the engines and there aren't any detonating charges. They've been lying to us the whole time. No Intel recovered, there's nothing worth a damn on here."

"Roger that, ETA on your position one mike."

"Torrey, one mike until the chopper is back," Franklin said into the radio as he took a knee. The helicopter was audible since it had been hovering five hundred meters away from the ship in a lazy orbit that kept it out of RPG and assault rifle range but close enough that its door gunners could light up whomever they had to with their light machine guns. As it came back and vectored in to land, Torrey and Francis popped out of the superstructure and joined with the rest of the team. The Seahawk came in just as the Tu-142 Bear, flying at fifteen hundred feet above sea level came back around to the target. "Well look who came back," Franklin commented as he hopped into the Seahawk's cabin. The rest of the team piled in and the Seahawk lifted off of the deck, leveled off at a hundred feet, and headed out over the water. "How much fuel do we have Davis?" Franklin asked over the intercom as he plugged himself into the headset.

"Plenty, why you thinking about going back?"

"I'm thinking what with the Khorsunis suddenly interested in their ship we ought to stick around. What say we hang out here until we reach bingo?"

"Will have to clear it…"

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July 4, 2013 - 21:24 hrs [UTC-1]
South of Cape Verde
ILNS Michael D. Harvey (FFG-174)
(11° 48' 17" N, 23° 10' 35" W)

"Could be a good idea skipper, what with the Khorsunis suddenly back here."

"It could be; we've got them targeted if they try anything funny. We can put every anti-ship missile we have in the air against that frigate and enough SAMs against that Bear that they'd be better off just ejecting rather than try to fight them off," CAPT Campbell replied.

"Suggest we use it as an opportunity to flip the Fire Scouts."

"Make it so XO, good thinking." With that, the XO radioed back to the Seahawk to remain within range of the Khorsuni target vessel until "bingo" state on fuel was reached. In the meantime, the MQ-8B Fire Scout was recalled while the crewmen in the hangar prepared to get the other aloft. By the time the MQ-8B Fire Scout returned and was in the pattern to land, the other would be airborne, maneuvering over the fantail, and heading out to observe the Khorsuni vessel.

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July 3, 2013 - 23:30 hrs [UTC+1]
Monaco Harbor
ILS Cordelia (T-AY-19)
(43° 44' 26" N, 7° 26' 5"E)

The Emperor was wholly unaware of the situation south of Cape Verde until he received a tap on his shoulder. Talking with President Briddick of the New African Republic, he excused himself while the aide whispered into his ear. "Mister President, I'm afraid a situation has developed off of Cape Verde. If you'll please excuse me," he said and with that, his jovial expression turned stern and he made a beeline right for his cabin. The two men guarding it straightened up and unlocked the door for him as he approached. They saluted and said "Sir" as he passed by them, returning the salute as he did.

When the doors were shut, he found himself alone with just the man who'd come to deliver him the news. He was an aide of the Emperor but in reality, he worked directly for the National Security Advisor. "Mike, why don't you go ahead and pour yourself a drink and me too if you will," the Emperor said as he undid his bowtie and sat behind his desk. He pushed speaker on the phone set, dialed a number, and waited. When it finally picked up on the other line, it was the Minister of Defense. "Minister, what is going on south of Cape Verde that I needed to be dragged away from President Briddick?"

"Sir, the Khorsunis have towed a target vessel into our EEZ and they are preparing to conduct a missile test. They are supporting it with a maritime patrol bomber and a frigate nearby and a lot of air activity over Senegambia."

"What kind of air activity Minister?"

"Sir, they have an entire strike package airborne. The Apilonians are keeping us apprised as to what they're up to there."

"Minister, remind me to propose to King Sverre that we invite them into the October Alliance."

With a chuckle, the Minister of Defense agreed. "We've just inspected the vessel with a boarding team. We have a single vessel within range, the FFG-174, named the Michael D. Harvey. She's with the Defense Force sir."

"I assume we have a general channel open? Who is on it Minister?"

"All of us here in in the War Room, General McCall at sector command in Cape Verde, and we have the CO of the Harvey too sir."

"All right connect me into it. In the meantime, Mike see if you can find the Minister of Foreign Affairs, we're going to need him in here. He should be on the fantail with his wife. Give Eleanor my sincerest apologies will you?"

"Yes sir," the NSA's aide stood, put his glass down, and departed the office leaving the Emperor alone.

"Minister, do we have anything from the Khorsunis about warnings? Possibly something hidden somewhere?"

"No sir, we've been looking and looking and I do mean looking sir. The bastards haven't posted a thing. This caught us by surprise."

"Well I'm sure that's how they meant it, if they even meant to get caught. Do we know what kind of test they're doing? You only said a missile test."

"Yes sir that's all we have. The captain of their frigate got a bit panicky when he found out that we had men onboard their target ship inspecting it. He might have blown their cover we don't know. All he said was a 'long-range missile test' scheduled for 22:00 hours local time. That's about thirty minutes from now."

"See if we can get the Harvey to get more information out of the son of a bitch. In the meantime, I might have to put a call to Rekhan Taneltar personally."

"Roger that sir, patching in everyone now…" As the line became mudded with additional people, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, visibly upset, joined the Emperor and the NSA's aide again. The Emperor briefed him quickly and the room fell very quiet for a few minutes while people thought about how to proceed next. It didn't take long, after a quick discussion while the phone was on mute, the Emperor, the NSA's aide (Mike Decamp), and the Minister of Foreign Affairs all decided that it was best to contact Rekhan Taneltar and advise him of his own idiocy.