Dominic's aide's phone buzzed. She checked it, then stood up and discreetly exited the chamber. His phone buzzed a second later. The Coast Guard's representative had arrived. Moments later she reentered the chamber, a thoroughly tanned man in a well-pressed dress uniform in tow. Dominic turned to greet him.
"Doctor Clarke, I presume?" The officer said, extending his hand.
"Indeed, Lieutenant Commander. Please call me Dominic." He replied as he shook. Upon closer inspection, the officer's tropical tan was doing a very good job of hiding the fact that his face was flushed. State had probably made it very clear to him what the worldwide consequences of his report could be. No pressure. Dominic had already read an advance brief. Some people were not going to be happy in a few minutes. "Shall we get this over with then?" He asked rhetorically. He turned back to face the chamber and waited for an opening in the conversation. He didn't have to wait long. The Coast Guard dress uniform was a simple affair. Miklanian military uniforms in general were fairly conservative with the use of badges and ribbons as well, and at a distance could be easily mistaken for a ordinary double-breasted suit. But the white hat tucked under the man's arm was rather distinctive, and had already drawn the attention of most of the delegations.
"Honorable delegates, may I introduce Lieutenant Commander Martin O'Reilly, of the Miklanian Coast Guard." The room went truly quiet. Dominic stood up and gestured for the officer to take his place behind the Miklanian delegation's microphone. O'Reilly adjusted it upwards, choosing to remain standing. He cleared his throat before starting in a soft north eastern accent.
"Honorable delegates, as you may be aware, the Miklanian Coast Guard has been present in Menna Shuli for the past six months, assisting and training Mennan Port Authority Police to ensure the protection of oil and other exports that are vital to the Mennan and international economies. The Miklanian Coast Guard has been involved in four Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure, or 'VBSS', operations pertaining to potential drug trafficking from San Javier. On all four occasions, multiple tons of opioids were recovered. The Miklanian Coast Guard was not directly involved in the disputes with MV Rayo. However, we do have access to port traffic control records. MV Rayo first made radio contact with Mihêkallu Port Authority at 18:20 on 14 February..." He then proceeded to play the full transcript of radio communications between the ship and traffic control, which managed to diffuse much of the nervous tension in the room, as it is difficult to be tense when one is also struggling to remain awake. Probably in an attempt to keep everything as thorough as possible and avoid the accusation of omitting information, the Coast Guardsmen who had compiled the report decided to include many audio transmissions from the time frame that did not have anything to do with the Rayo itself. It took about five minutes of talking before they got to the part where the Rayo was allowed to come alongside and drop anchor. Nothing was vaguely interesting until the transmission from the port authority at 05:03 the next morning.
Port Control: "MV Rayo, Port Control, permission to unload cargo is denied. You are requested to submit to police inspection before you may unload."
MV Rayo: "Port Control please repeat your last?"
Port Control: "MV Rayo, you are a San Javierian flagged ship are you not? You must submit to police inspection."
MV Rayo: "Why? We were cleared to unload and have already moved thirty-two containers ashore."
Port Control: "MV Rayo, belay unloading immediately. Your cargo must be inspected for illicit goods before you may unload. Police are on their way to conduct the inspection. You will cooperate with them."
O'Reilly stopped the recording there and resumed talking. "There were no further radio transmissions between MV Rayo and anyone else between then and 15:46. Officers of the Pride, Menna Shuli's top law enforcement agency, arrived on site to inspect the ship's cargo. One crew member was ashore at the time, and there was an altercation. The details of the altercation are unclear. We do know that the crewmember in question returned to MV Rayo, and the Pride inspected the containers that had been unloaded. RMCG asked the Pride liaison at the Port Authority if they required our assistance, they said no. Port Control attempted to make radio contact with the ship again at 15:46."
He went to restart the recordings when Dominic leaned over. "Could you jump around to the salient bits this time?"
"Uh, yes sir." O'Reilly replied. Fortunately for his presentation, the messages were recorded as individual tracks and named by their timestamps, so he was able to select the appropriate ones while retaining a professional appearance. "This is where MV Rayo requests permission to leave the harbor." He queued a track.
MV Rayo: "Port Control, Rayo, we are requesting permission to raise anchor and depart."
Port Control: "Negative MV Rayo. You will surrender your cargo for inspection and your criminal for arrest."
"MV Rayo did not respond, but did not make an attempt to raise anchor. The Pride attempted to forcefully board the ship from shore at this point, but were repelled by the crew with firehoses." He paused, considering playing more recordings, but after a brief glance around the room decided against it. "Port Control attempted to make radio contact with MV Rayo hourly throughout 16 and 17 February, but received no response from the crew. By the evening of 17 February, there was a considerable law enforcement presence ashore. Offers for RMCG assistance were accepted by Mihêkallu Port Authority early on 17 February, but were later rejected by the Pride, who had assumed on-scene command of the situation from the Port Authority. This is the final exchange from MV Rayo before she was boarded. MV Rayo transmitted at 19:22.
MV Rayo: "Port Control, this is MV Rayo, we are departing."
Port Control: "MV Rayo you do not have permission to depart. There is traffic in the harbor. You must remain alongside or you will be fired upon."
MV Rayo: "We are departing."
"At this point the Pride conducted a boarding assault from shore and from small boats operating on the other side of the vessel. Crew members on MV Rayo attempted to use their firehoses again, but were unable to stop the boarding party from the water side from scaling the ship and reaching the deck. The Pride officers used shotguns with rubber bullets to suppress the crew on deck so that the remainder of the assault team could board. They pursued the crew into the accommodations block. The crew attempted to use the anti-pirate gratings to block access to the Pride. The Pride were able to open the gratings with tools, and began clearing the superstructure. According to the assault team, shots were fired by a crew member, which elicited the use of lethal force in return. Two crew members were killed, including the one alleged to have fired on the assault team. One Pride officer was injured by gun fire. Based on evidence made available to us, the wound corresponds to the firearm allegedly used in the incident. Multiple other firearms were discovered aboard ship. Many of these firearms are military pattern rifles and pistols that fit within a serial number range known to have been in the hands of multiple paramilitary factions in San Javier."
O'Reilly ignored the murmuring that broke out throughout the chamber. "The remainder of the crew were apprehended quickly. There were many minor injuries among them but none that required hospitalization. The injured Pride officer was taken by ambulance to the nearest hospital. After the raid, the ship was inspected. Containers located on decks 3 and 4, the lowest on MV Rayo, were found to have contained illicit drugs. RMCG officers and personnel were permitted to view the containers in question. After all the containers above them were removed, the ones containing drugs were removed. About six metric tonnes of opioids were removed from three containers. The drugs chemical composition is consistent with previously apprehended examples of opioids imported into Menna Shuli from San Javier. Additionally, unknown documents were burned in three trash cans in the Master's cabin, the crew mess, and on the bridge." With that the Coast Guardsman regathered his notes into a neat pile.
"Are there any questions?"
