New Olympus Cod War IC (New Olympus Region only)

[Valley Green]

In the year 2017, the fisheries industry of Valley Green suffered a sharp decline when the environmental group HASMO and its supporters forced the government to enact strict new laws regarding marine harvesting practices. The price of seafood skyrocketed even as demand increased. Into this market came a new delicacy, the Glaucus Ocean Codfish. This fish was imported at a high price and served originally at high-price restaurants in big cities. Eventually the dish became more and more popular until it was declared to be a delicacy by the nation's premiere food critic. Soon the demand was far outpacing the limited supply. So it came to be that the country's vast trawling fleets began extensive harvesting within the territorial waters of the outer islands of the country's northern neighbor The Federation of Vadkness. This unauthorized fishing was soon being conducted on a constant basis by hundreds of fishing vessels and the environmental groups began to express concern for the keystone species' long-term survival.

[Vadkness]

May 12, 2017
Off the eastern coast of Kandrall Isle, Vadkness
Aboard the V.C.G Rosabelle
"Chief, we've got a small vessel out here. We aren't sure if it's meant to be out here. Not sure it's ours."

"Then where does it come from?"

"Not sure, Sir. It's civilian. Fishing ship."

"And it's not ours?"

"We aren't sure, Sir. Trying to establish communications now."

"Good. Keep me informed."

---

Excerpt from the unofficial interview of Captain Wynt of the V.C.G Rosabelle, May 12 2017
We caught some fishing boats off Kandrall. Not ours, damn V-Green boats. Fishing up our damn fish. We sailed up to them and we shut 'em down. Put 'em in handcuffs and took 'em away. Figured out eventually thems weren't the only ones. Found more, maybe about twelve or so. Shut 'em all down. And that's just off Kandrall. Heard mutterings of more elsewheres. Got those boats tied up at docks and kept the fish for ourselves. Some sorta special fish, I heard.

---

Excerpts from the Vexby Post, May 13 2017
'Valley Green Fishermen Arrested Off Kandrall Shore
The fishermen aboard more than ten fishing vessels were arrested yesterday in the south-eastern waters of Vadkness. The Vadknessian Coast Guard claims these fishers were illegally catching Glaucus Ocean Codfish that are-'

'-reports that more trawlers may be around in other waters-'

'-left to see is how Valley Green will respond to their boats and people being held in Vadkness-'

[Valley Green]

May 12, 2017
Off the eastern coast of Kandrall Isle, Vadkness
Aboard the V.C.G Rosabelle
"Chief, we've got a small vessel out here. We aren't sure if it's meant to be out here. Not sure it's ours."

"Then where does it come from?"

"Not sure, Sir. It's civilian. Fishing ship."

"And it's not ours?"

"We aren't sure, Sir. Trying to establish communications now."

"Good. Keep me informed."

---

Excerpt from the unofficial interview of Captain Wynt of the V.C.G Rosabelle, May 12 2017
We caught some fishing boats off Kandrall. Not ours, damn V-Green boats. Fishing up our damn fish. We sailed up to them and we shut 'em down. Put 'em in handcuffs and took 'em away. Figured out eventually thems weren't the only ones. Found more, maybe about twelve or so. Shut 'em all down. And that's just off Kandrall. Heard mutterings of more elsewheres. Got those boats tied up at docks and kept the fish for ourselves. Some sorta special fish, I heard.

---

Excerpts from the Vexby Post, May 13 2017
'Valley Green Fishermen Arrested Off Kandrall Shore
The fishermen aboard more than ten fishing vessels were arrested yesterday in the south-eastern waters of Vadkness. The Vadknessian Coast Guard claims these fishers were illegally catching Glaucus Ocean Codfish that are-'

'-reports that more trawlers may be around in other waters-'

'-left to see is how Valley Green will respond to their boats and people being held in Vadkness-'

A meeting of Government ministers is convened in the War Room of the Military Headquarters in Van Der Stam.

The Minister of the Environment was self-righteous. "I told you." he said. "I told you that we should have reigned in the fishing companies long ago. Now we have an international incident on our hands."

The Minister of Foreign Affairs suggested that the government pay the bail of the ships and their crews and make some conciliatory gesture in return.

The Minister of Trade was adamant that the marine harvesting must continue because of the importance of the fishing industry to the national economy.

The Defense Minister, the warmonger that he is, insisted that the government launch a commando raid to free the crews of the fishing boats.

After listening to his subordinates argue for an hour and a half Chief Minister Alphonso Krieger stood and began to speak in his usual slow, serious way. "It is clear to me that our fishing vessels were in violation of the local law when they entered the twelve mile territorial limit and fished without permission. However I see no reason why the harvesting cannot continue at its normal rate offshore. We will pay the bail and secure the release of the crews of the fishing boats and cooperate with the Vadknessian government's investigation. They will keep the captured trawlers. If need be the crews can be extradited at a later time to face trial. In future the fishing companies will take care to keep their boats in international waters. That being said, I want the navy to assign a flotilla of vessels to patrol the fishing grounds and keep our vessels safe from unreasonable seizures and obstructions from environmental groups and whoever else may contend our right to harvest the ocean's resources."

The statement was released publicly and the following day a lawyer flew to the Vadknessian capital with instructions to inuire about the release of the crews.

Simultaneously, another squadron of two dozen contracted trawlers was sent on behalf of the Apelate Corporation, a fishing concern. They were escorted by three Barracuda class frigates, a Kukri class attack submarine and one Pona class Fleet Oiler/Replenishment ship.

[Vadkness]

May 15th, 2017
Waters south of Vadknessian Territory
Aboard a small unnamed V.C.G Scout Vessel

"Do you see them out there?"

"Yeah, they are big. Are they heading this way?"

The coast guard pulled out a pair of binoculars.

"They aren't coming any closer, no. It's Valley Green fishing boats again. But they've got Navy with them."

"Navy?"

"Sure looks it."

"Think we should call it in?"

"They aren't in Vadknessian waters this time. They aren't breaking the law or nothing."

"They've got Navy. It's an act of aggression."

"I really don't think-" The scout sighed and shook his head as his partner stepped away from their card game to grab the radio.

---

The message was quickly passed up through ranks until it had reached the highest of powers, including the Queen herself.

"It's clearly an act of aggression. Any day now they'll be invading to come and-"

"Shut up, Rolfe," The Queen pressed a finger to her forehead. Lord Rolfe Spearrun straightened his back, grimacing. The Queen continued. "We cannot respond to something that is not an act of war with an act of war, Rolfe."

"They sent their Navy into our territory!"

"Actually," a young ginger-haired Lord spoke up, "they only were near our waters. They did not actually enter, and showed no signs of wishing to."

"But still-"

"But we must still act on this," The Queen interjected. "Does anyone... No, does anyone other than Lord Spearrun have a suggestion?"

The table sat quietly. Some murmurs and shuffling noises were heard. A silver-haired boy sat next to the Queen leaned over and whispered in her ear.

"Yes, that should do. Rolfe, have our Navy patrol the southern borders of our waters. Make it clear to them they are they to make a statement only - they are not to leave our territory nor make any sort of attack on the ships from Valley Green unless they attack first. And I mean attack. Existing is not an attack."

"Yes, my lady."

[Valley Green]

May 15th, 2017
Waters south of Vadknessian Territory
Aboard a small unnamed V.C.G Scout Vessel

"Do you see them out there?"

"Yeah, they are big. Are they heading this way?"

The coast guard pulled out a pair of binoculars.

"They aren't coming any closer, no. It's Valley Green fishing boats again. But they've got Navy with them."

"Navy?"

"Sure looks it."

"Think we should call it in?"

"They aren't in Vadknessian waters this time. They aren't breaking the law or nothing."

"They've got Navy. It's an act of aggression."

"I really don't think-" The scout sighed and shook his head as his partner stepped away from their card game to grab the radio.

---

The message was quickly passed up through ranks until it had reached the highest of powers, including the Queen herself.

"It's clearly an act of aggression. Any day now they'll be invading to come and-"

"Shut up, Rolfe," The Queen pressed a finger to her forehead. Lord Rolfe Spearrun straightened his back, grimacing. The Queen continued. "We cannot respond to something that is not an act of war with an act of war, Rolfe."

"They sent their Navy into our territory!"

"Actually," a young ginger-haired Lord spoke up, "they only were near our waters. They did not actually enter, and showed no signs of wishing to."

"But still-"

"But we must still act on this," The Queen interjected. "Does anyone... No, does anyone other than Lord Spearrun have a suggestion?"

The table sat quietly. Some murmurs and shuffling noises were heard. A silver-haired boy sat next to the Queen leaned over and whispered in her ear.

"Yes, that should do. Rolfe, have our Navy patrol the southern borders of our waters. Make it clear to them they are they to make a statement only - they are not to leave our territory nor make any sort of attack on the ships from Valley Green unless they attack first. And I mean attack. Existing is not an attack."

"Yes, my lady."

On board the VGNS Frigate Calamari, twenty six miles south of the nation's far southeastern island, Kandress.

"Sir, the fishing boat captains are stating that the big schools of cod are heading inshore. They insist that they need to follow them in order to achieve their quota for this trip." said the Ensign who was monitoring the fishing vessels of the Apelate Corporation.

"We have orders to not let them cross into territorial waters. We're close enough as it is and they could technically kick us out whenever they want if we get two miles closer. Hmmm..."

"Tell them to launch their spotting planes. The seaplanes can crossover the territorial boundary and scout out the fish. That way the ships can stay outside the line and can pick up the fish as soon as they enter international waters."

The fishing fleet launched four ScanEagle drones and one Quest Kodiak seaplane to scout for surfaced schools of cod and tuna for two hundred nautical miles up and down the coast.

The Navy ships ushered the fishing fleet slightly further away from territorial waters and got in between the fishing trawlers and the Vadknessian Navy and Border Police craft.

Meanwhile a group of two hundred environmental activists flew from Valley Green to the country of Vadkness with the intention of liasing with environmental groups there and engaging in direct action to stop the overfishing. They call themselves Progressivists United for the Relentless Protection of Oceanic Species and Ecosystems (PURPOSE).

Reports came in to the Ministries of the Environment in Valley Green and Vadkness that the fishing boats were using gillnets, bottom trawling, and other destructive methods of fishing to maximize their catch. Conservation groups began to become concerned regarding reports of increasing numbers of endangered species of whales, sharks, and other species ending up as bycatch. These were also being harvested.

[Vadkness]

Vexby City, Vadkness
A small group of local fishermen from the southern coastline had made their way to the city, as a means to protest to lack of aggression made towards the Valley Green ships not far outside the territory. They considered the Valley Green Navy appearing as a threat, and that these huge fishing trawlers would put their tiny boats to shame in the amount of fish they could catch, ruining the supply. They thought it would put them out of business. The leader of this group, Jenelle Johansson, had chosen to arrive in the city on the same day that the Valley Green environmentalist group PURPOSE was rumoured to be landing in Vexby International. Perhaps the two would be able to join forces and get rid of the vile Valley Green ships from Vadknessian Waters.

---

South-East Vadknessian Waters, near Kandrall Isle
"Sir, we've noted a seaplane and several drones flying into our territory."

"Do they looked armed?"

"No, Sir, they just appear to be scouting."

"Send out a plane of our own, just to keep an eye on it. Do not engage unless threatened."

A small plane, white with the Vadknessian flag painted on both sides, took off from the small base on Kandrall a few minutes later. It headed in the direction of the Valley Green seaplane, making sure to keep its distance.

[Valley Green]

Upon their arrival in Vexby City, the two hundred plus members of PURPOSE immediately set about chartering and renting as many cabin cruisers, yachts, and other oceangoing vessels as possible using their significant funds. They eventually acquired seven cabin cruisers, twelve sportfishing type yachts, two larger cruising yachts, and a retired whaling factory ship. The activists made attempts to reach out to local environmental and citizens groups for support. Eventually, their entire flotilla set sail from various Vadknessian harbors and they rendezvoused thirty miles north of Kandrall Isle. They made their way for the Valley Greenian fishing fleet.

Fifteen miles of Kandrall Isle

The spotting plane came upon a massive school of tuna heading inshore. The pilot, under pressure from his superiors to find a good catch, sent the coordinates to the fleet. Two trawlers and a seiner type vessel chased the school of tuna for several miles and surrounded it. Unbeknownst to them, in their mad pursuit of the massive school of fish, they had sailed to a point nine miles away from Kandrall Isle (three miles within territorial waters).

[Vadkness]

Two miles from the coast of Kandrall Isle
"Sir, the plane seems to have brought three ships into our waters, what are the orders?"

"Send some men in, get closer, don't attack, don't do anything. Just get closer. Don't let them forget we are here. And get on the phone to someone higher up already."

---

Vexby Palace
"Lord Spearrun, I highly doubt the Queen would want-"

"Shut up, boy," the Lord turned and snapped at the silver-haired man that followed him down the hallway. The young man leant back, shocked and angry.

"How dare you speak to me in that tone, I am the Queen's neph-"

"Good for flickin' you, boy. Go tell her. I'm the Minister of War, so I'll deal with this obvious call for war."

"Rolfe, she is not going to be happy with you."

"Yeah, yeah, run along and tell her like the little puppy that you are."

---

Two miles from the coast of Kandrall Isle
The captain of the V.C.G Rosabelle sighed as he put back down the phone and pinched the bridge of his nose, squeezing his eyes tightly shut. Relaying the orders to his crewmen, he sat at his desk and cracked open a bottle of spirit. He didn't think this would end well.

Further out in the ocean, close to the Valley Green ships, the captain of a small naval ship used a loudspeaker to demand the ships leave the water immediately, or be boarded promptly.

[Valley Green]

Two miles from the coast of Kandrall Isle
"Sir, the plane seems to have brought three ships into our waters, what are the orders?"

"Send some men in, get closer, don't attack, don't do anything. Just get closer. Don't let them forget we are here. And get on the phone to someone higher up already."

---

Vexby Palace
"Lord Spearrun, I highly doubt the Queen would want-"

"Shut up, boy," the Lord turned and snapped at the silver-haired man that followed him down the hallway. The young man leant back, shocked and angry.

"How dare you speak to me in that tone, I am the Queen's neph-"

"Good for flickin' you, boy. Go tell her. I'm the Minister of War, so I'll deal with this obvious call for war."

"Rolfe, she is not going to be happy with you."

"Yeah, yeah, run along and tell her like the little puppy that you are."

---

Two miles from the coast of Kandrall Isle
The captain of the V.C.G Rosabelle sighed as he put back down the phone and pinched the bridge of his nose, squeezing his eyes tightly shut. Relaying the orders to his crewmen, he sat at his desk and cracked open a bottle of spirit. He didn't think this would end well.

Further out in the ocean, close to the Valley Green ships, the captain of a small naval ship used a loudspeaker to demand the ships leave the water immediately, or be boarded promptly.

The three fishing vessels began to blast their water cannons at the naval vessel as it approached, obscenities were broadcast over the radio and the boats began to haul in their nets. A large factory ship responding to their distress calls moved in close to the oncoming patrol boat and fired on it with water cannons and an LRAD. The assault continued for twenty minutes during which the three trawlers fled from Vadnkessi territorial waters with their spoils, leaving the factory ship engaged with the patrol boat attempting to arrest it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile the flotilla of protest vessels crewed by PURPOSE, and by activists from Vadknessian and other international and domestic protest groups launched a raid on a pair of fishing trawlers operating inside of Vadknessian waters in a small cove on an uninhabited island nearby. They took it upon themselves to seize the crews of both boats with force and took the two trawlers into port on Kandrall Island to be formally arrested. The citizens arrest was only the beginning of their campaign.

[Vadkness]

Edge of Vadknessian Waters
The coast guard boat slowed as the travelers crossed back out of the Vadknessian territory. The captain watched and made sure the Valley Green fishers were far enough out before turning his attention to the factory ship. The orders had come in to chase all the ships out of the waters, but Captain Wynt shook his head and told his crew to turn the ship around. The factory ship had come to the defense of the trawlers and now there was no need to have the ship chase them.

"If those Valley folk have any sense, they'll go back to their own waters now," he muttered as the ship turned back.

[Valley Green]

Off of Kandrall Isle

The captain of the Defiance factory ship was furious. His ship and his trawlers had been chased off of a million dollar school of Cod by that tiny coast guard craft. He ordered the trawlers around the other side of the island. They sailed off the entrance of a cove eleven miles into the twelve mile territorial limit, where a school of cod had entered. The boats lowered their trolling nets and dragged them across the mouth of the bay, netting thousands of endangered fish and causing extensive damage to the sea bottom. While the trawlers ran rampant, the factory ship and its drones which had been launched to find schools of fish harried the patrol boat by firing LRADs, water cannons, and maneuvering aggressively to keep it away from the fishing boats. With their nets full, they turned and fled for the open sea. But the engine on one broke down and the factory ship had to stop and take it in tow. Both ships sailed for the open ocean at a slow rate of speed, plenty slow enough to be caught, if the Vadknessian Coast Guard was willing to press the issue.

Meanwhile in Vadkness' EEZ but not their territorial waters, a fishing trawler hauling in its nets accidentally caught a small whale. It was decided to slaughter the animal and haul its carcass aboard instead of freeing it. This action was observed by Valley Greenian members of the environmental group PURPOSE who were sailing through the area on their way to Kandrall Isle aboard a small yacht. Within two hours six cabin cruisers, yachts, and the PURPOSE flaghsip: Sea Saviour had surrounded and their joint Vadknessian and Valley Greenian crews boarded the trawler. They beat the crew senseless, tied them up, and steered the ship toward a Vadknessian port with the intention of handing them over to the authorities.