Prelude to War - Beringian Naval Transport missing [MT-Open]

[Old Beringia]

Request of Assistance on the High Seas

The Tastifanian Natives are the native people of our continent. We did not provoke them by claiming land or imposing civilized ideas upon them, they wanted to expand onto our territory. We peacefully negotiated and relocated some of the Tastifanians to coastal areas but they terrorist attacks upon our border cities, burning down government facilities in one. Two days ago the newly declared Commodore J. Quantum was assigned the task of the relocation of 2,000 Tastifanian Natives to an island 3,800 miles of open ocean south of Old Beringia. He departed from the southern naval base at 0600 hours with a payload of 400 Tastifanians on the I.B.S. Magnus (Crew/Marines-170). This morning the Commodore should have arrived on the beach on our overseas possession but, all communication ceased at 2000 hours day two of the operation, 36 hours after the Commodore departed. The Beringian Air Force launched a search and rescue initiative 20 minutes later as did the Imperial Beringian Navy to no avail. We suspect the Tastifanians have commandeered the vessel and plan to use it for malicious purposes.

-Admiral Nicholas Connor, Admiral of the Imperial Fleet

[Western Weyard]

Allied States of Western Weyard
Department of Defense
Department of the Navy

The disappearance of a ship - whether through natural causes or not - is always a serious issue. Since we are interested in good relationships with our neighbours and the safety of sea travel, we hereby offer you assistance in your search.
One of our ships, the Nova-class frigate ANS Eclipse (FFG-152), is on a training cruise in the vicinity and could be deployed without delay. We also offer you the capabilities of our P-212 Poseidon maritime patrol aircrafts.

We await your reply.

- Admiral Sam Truscott, CINCEASFOR


Western Weyard submarine ANS Seadragon (SSN-907)
Somewhere between Old Beringia and the Beringian overseas possession

Just two minutes ago, the Tigershark-class attack sub had been ordered to go to periscope depth and receive a message via satellite. Now the Chief of the Watch gave the order: "Raise Antenna Mast", while Commander Matthew McKay sipped his coffee and silently cursed the brass back at home. "Message received, Sir. It's encrypted." McKay took the datachip the communications technician gave him and left for his cabin to decrypt it.
Five minutes later, he called his XO, Lieutenant Commander Susan Tilger, into the cabin. "What do you think about this?", he asked, holding the PDA with the clear-text message towards her. Tilger skimmed the short message and shook her head slowly: "I don't like it all too much. A transport ship disappears, and the whole Beringian Navy and Air Force aren't able to find it? Sounds like trouble, Skipper." McKay grinned and stood up: "Yup, my opinion exactly, XO. Especially this whole "inofficial" thing. Ah, what the hell..."
He left the cabin and walked towards the sub's Command Center, with LtCmdr Tilger following close behind. Arriving there, he took up the 1-MC mike and pressed the button: "All hands, this is the captain speaking. There's been a change of plans. We're to proceed south and keep our eyes and ears open for a transport ship the Beringians lost this morning. I don't know what we're up against, but I know one thing for sure: This boat is one of the finest warships in Allied inventory and we will accomplish our mission. That'd be all. Good luck."
As soon as McKay had ended, Tilger turned towards the two helmsmen: "New heading 175, adjust thrust for 20 knots."

[Gibet]

Gibet is willing to send our Recon Aircraft which are F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. They are our best Recon Fighters. We are willing to send three squadrons of them to help in the search for the ship. We regret that in many cases, a ship lost at sea is usually sank by storms. Although, we hope this is not the case. Best of luck.

[Old Beringia]

The navy and entire nation thanks both of you equally for assisting the initiative. The loss of the brilliant Commodore Quantum would be shocking both to the nation and myself. We will continue searching for any sign that our ship is still out there although we don't hold out much hope for what may unfold in the coming hours.

-Admiral Nicholas Connor, Admiral of the Imperial Fleet

[Pivovarsky]

Senior Lieutenant Shelly Xu - 2nd Special Operations and Response Unit (SORU), Special Operations Command
South Beringian Ocean, Approaching IBS Magnus Last Known Location

Xu looked out the window of the CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter, looking on at the endless ocean over 6,000 kilometers from Pivovarsky. Loaded in the helicopter were two zodiac rafts and twenty men of the 2nd Special Operations and Response Unit, or SORU Regiment as the people of Pivovarsky refer to them. Four other Sea Knights with similar loads were holding a V formation as the unit approached the last known position of the Old Beringian Naval vessel, the IBS Magnus.

The 2nd SORU Regiment was authorized by the Pivovarsky government to participate in a search and rescue mission for the ship, carrying approximately 400 crewmen and Tastifanian natives. Two Gibet Air Force F-35 Lightning fighters passed by, flying low, at the most 50 feet above the water.

"Check your regulators!" Shelly, trying to yell over the rotors of the helicopter. "Lock in and get ready to jump!"

The rear bay of the Sea Knight opened, the pilot descending until almost two feet above the water. "Go go go!" Xu helped her platoon push out the two zodiacs, and once everyone was in the water, she jumped in, mounting the raft with her men.

"This is Whiskey-Whiskey, payload in the water; returning to base." The Sea Knight waved off, returning to an aircraft carrier out of Beringian airspace. "This is Whiskey-Delphi, waving off. Going into holding pattern."

The rest of the helicopters waved off into a circling pattern about 300 meters in diameter around the drop zone. "Start the engine! We're searching in a grid pattern, starting at Alpha 3-2-9."

[Western Weyard]

Western Weyard frigate ANS Eclipse (FFG-152)
100 Miles north of the Beringian overseas possession

They had been given a heads-up, but the new orders came as a suprise, nevertheless. The large frigate - originally on a training cruise - turned around and moved into a better position to monitor all traffic - air and sea - in the area. Several ships were close enough to pay a visit later this day...

Commander Ezri Tigan stood on the port flybridge of the command and scanned the horizon. According to the surface search radar, there was a civilan freighter named MV Ocean Wanderer somewhere out... there. The same moment she had spotted the spot on the horizon, one of Eclipse's two SV-101B Kingfisher tiltrotors, carrying a VBSS team, lifted off the flight deck and sped towards the freighter. Of course - the missing ship was a military transport but somebody who'd managed to steal a goddamned naval ship shouldn't have any problems with changing the transponder code of said vessel...

Western Weyard P-212 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, Callsign Albatross Three-One
En route towards the last known location of IBS Magnus

The large twin-jet engine patrol aircraft descended towards 150 feet while maintaining its airspeed of 200 knots. Lieutenant Nils Anders piloted "his" plane into a wide turn, as he saw the two F-35s crossing his flight path. Down on the surface, he could see Zodiacs being dropped from a group of venerable Sea Knights. "Jeez, looks like lots of traffic down there...", his copilot remarked. Anders nodded and keyed the radio: "All search and rescue units in the area, this is Western Weyard maritime patrol aircraft Albatross Three-One. Do you need any assistance? Otherwise we're going to start a slice-pie search centering on this point. Oh, and by the way - who the hell is in charge of this mess?"

[Pivovarsky]

Senior Lieutenant Shelly Xu - 2nd Special Operations and Response Unit (SORU), Special Operations Command
South Beringian Ocean, IBS Magnus Last Known Location

"This is Whiskey-Delphi, getting incoming transmission from Western Weyard. Forwarding." Xu listened to the recording from the Weyard patrol.

"Albatross Three-One, this is Whiskey-Alpha, we do not require assistance at this time. We are starting a search from this point in a a grid pattern. Captain Julian Nguyen, 2nd SORU Detachment is in command of this detail." Shelly pointed down; three men jumped out in SCUBA suits and started to canvas the area. There were several full oxygen tanks in the zodiac in case of a shortage.

The Sea Knights were circling around, two Blackhawks from the A.N.V. Hsu joined. Three F-35 Lightning aircraft from the Hsu also joined the formation, patroling the skies directly above the rescue team. "This is Echo-One, we are recognizing three bogeys. Should we engage?"

Xu put her index finger on her comm immediately. "Negative, negative. Those are friendlies, over."

[Old Beringia]

Admiral Nicholas Connor, IBS Knight Aircraft Carrier
Last known location of the IBS Magnus

Admiral Nicholas Connor looked out over the expansive sea from the deck of the IBS Knight Aircraft Carrier.
"We should've killed em' when it would have been a mistake, don't you agree Lieutenant?"
"I'm sure Commodore Quantum is safe, he can handle himself"
"I'm fully aware of that, but he can be rather... foolhardy"
"The ANS Eclipse will be aiding us sir, along with two zodiacs and three squadrons of F-35 Recon Aircraft"
"Excellent,mind answering my question now" Taking a step forward he gazed over the edge of the deck and saw a Beringian marine drifting along the waves.
"Well sir-"
"Man overboard throw him a line!" Yelled the Admiral. After the Marine was recovered he was resuscitated and given a few towels.
"What the hell happened?"
"I'm Corporal L. Douglas, we thought by pre-screening the natives would be a good idea to weed out the Tastifanian Nationalist so additional security measures wouldn't be necessary. Instead 135 nationalist boarded the ship and seized control."
"And what of Commodore Quantum and the Magnus?"
"We had no choice but to abandon ship. Commodore Quantum ordered us to stay and make a stand but only an idiot would-"
"Are you telling me you abandoned ship and mutinied upon your superior officer? Fool now a terrorist organization is in possession all the weapons and ammunition they need. The hell were you thinking? I should throw you back overboard myself!" The Admiral sent for another reconnaissance flight of F-35 Aircraft and ordered his men to look out for traitors overboard.

[Pivovarsky]

Senior Lieutenant Shelly Xu - 2nd Special Operations and Response Unit (SORU), Special Operations Command
South Beringian Ocean

The detail had climbed back into the Sea Knights once they received word from the Beringian Navy that the Magnus was actually hijacked by radicals. Xu attempted to contact them. "This is Whiskey-Alpha to Beringian Fleet, we have a ship on scope three miles to the north of our position. We are within immediate strike distance, what is our course of action? Over."

Xu pulled a CZ. 805 Bren A2 Assault Rifle out of a waterproof bag, loading it and charging the handle. "We have a visual."

"Get on the emergency frequency, the loudspeaker to."

The pilot got on the enormous loudspeakers at the aft of the helicopter. "IBS Magnus, this is an armed Pivovarskian patrol. Stop your vessel, stop your vessel. IBS Magnus, this is an armed military flight, stop your vessel, stop your vessel."

"The Hsu is 2 hours out sir!"

Radio the carrier, deploy Apache's. Notify the Beringian Navy. Hold a defensive pattern and make sure the boat does not get away."

"Sir, Beringian fighters on scope."

"They're gonna take it out!"

"Beringian fleet, call off your fighters! We are within striking distance and can take this down with minimal casualties!"

[Old Beringia]

Admiral Nicholas Connor, IBS Knight Aircraft Carrier
Last known location of the IBS Magnus

The Beringian Admiral knew he didn't have much choice about how to go about doing this.
"Lieutenant Hughes notify our fighters not to engage, Whiskey-Alpha is danger-close"
"Fighter Formation Mike do not to engage, Whiskey-Alpha is danger-close
"Roger that, fighter formation mike pull up, over"
"Whiskey-Alpha this is Admiral Connor, our fighters will remain in the air. You are clear to engage, our forces will arrive shortly"

A formation of 12 SH-60 Seahawks are lift off from the Carrier bound for the Magnus for the extraction of the Commodore and other Beringian Naval Individuals.

[Pivovarsky]

Senior Lieutenant Shelly Xu - 2nd Special Operations and Response Unit (SORU), Special Operations Command
South Beringian Ocean

"This is Whiskey-Alpha, taking heavy fire." Xu ducked as 7.62mm rounds impacted on the walls of the helicopter.

"This is Whiskey-Whiskey, we've been hit... guns guns guns!" The machine gunners on the Sea Knights began engaging targets on the deck. "Alpha-Bird, this is Whiskey-Whiskey, we need immediate HE single on the bridge, how copy?"

"Hard copy, coming in hot." A single F-35 came to a stop of the bridge in its VTOL position. It began firing on the bridge with a modular minigun, taking down a machine gun position. "You're clear."

Whiskey-Alpha, you are clear." Xu nodded and gave the thumbs up. "Fast rope! Go go go!"

Her platoon fast roped onto the bridge, immediately engaging radicals with A2 Assault Rifles. "Move it! Check those corners!" Xu kicked in the door into the bridge, cutting down a rebel reaching for an RPD machine gun.

"This is Whiskey-Alpha, moving into the under decks. Deploy the remaining forces on the aft of the ship. Watch for friendlies."

[Old Beringia]

The SH-60 Seahawks arrived carrying a total of forty marines broken into 4 patrols of 10 each.

"Lets move, lower decks now!, the Commodore is objective Quebec"

The marines quickly swept into the lower deck.

"This is Patrol Delta Objective Quebec secure, Whiskey-Alpha be advised non-hostiles are below deck"

[Pivovarsky]

Senior Lieutenant Shelly Xu - 2nd Special Operations and Response Unit (SORU), Special Operations Command
South Beringian Ocean

"Shhh... Flash"

"Alpha"

Xu and her men approached a rebel carrying a duffle bag. "Do you have the package."

"Yes, do you have the payment?"

"Of course." Xu pulled out a SIG pistol and shot him three times in the chest.

"Lu, take the duffle and get it on the Sea Knight before we link up with the Beringians."

[Gibet]

OVER BERINGIAN WATERS

"This is Red Leader to Beringia Coastal Command. Come in Coastal Command. We are starting our search. Each squad will conduct the search spread-out going in each direction about 50 miles apart. This way, all three squads, a total of 15 aircraft, can cover a larger are. We need to find that ship before it's too late or, before there's nothing left"

The squadrons started to spread out and start their dearch. They knew it would be difficult to find a missing ship since, well, you don't know what to expect.

[Old Beringia]

OVER BERINGIAN WATERS

"This is Red Leader to Beringia Coastal Command. Come in Coastal Command. We are starting our search. Each squad will conduct the search spread-out going in each direction about 50 miles apart. This way, all three squads, a total of 15 aircraft, can cover a larger are. We need to find that ship before it's too late or, before there's nothing left"

The squadrons started to spread out and start their dearch. They knew it would be difficult to find a missing ship since, well, you don't know what to expect.

Admiral Nicholas Connor, IBS Knight Aircraft Carrier
Last known location of the IBS Magnus

"Admiral Connor to Red Leader, the ship has been located and we are sending the coordinates. What is you course of action,over ?"

"Admiral Connor to Patrol Delta, it getting toasty in there?"
"Pretty toasty sir, we have Commodore Quantum an he is injured. The natives have barricaded themselves in the mid deck dinning room and they've set up claymores and mines. Patrol Bravo has hit resistance in the engine room"

[Gibet]

"Roger that. All right boys, looks like the ship's been found. We need to see if we can get a helicopter down here ASAP. Maybe, we could evacuate the crew. What are your thought, Berengia? If the crew is evacuated, then, you could just destroy the ship. Or, if you'd prefer, send a few squads on-board. There's really not much we can do at this point." Red Leader said as she looked at the coordinates.

"We'll fly by though and provide some over-watch or something. You just give us the orders."

[Old Beringia]

"Roger that. All right boys, looks like the ship's been found. We need to see if we can get a helicopter down here ASAP. Maybe, we could evacuate the crew. What are your thought, Berengia? If the crew is evacuated, then, you could just destroy the ship. Or, if you'd prefer, send a few squads on-board. There's really not much we can do at this point." Red Leader said as she looked at the coordinates.

"We'll fly by though and provide some over-watch or something. You just give us the orders."

Admiral Nicholas Connor and Lieutenant Hughes, IBS Knight Aircraft Carrier
Location of the IBS Magnus before the disappearance

"The ship was set to be decommissioned after four more voyages ferrying the Tastifanians to our overseas possession so it's expendable. We need you to extract Commodore Quantum from the deck. Most of the crew abandoned the ship after they were ordered to take defensive positions so your forces could look for our marines in the sea, if they are found immediately detain them."

"Admiral Sir, Patrol Delta has a hostage situation"

"What hostages could there possibly be?"

"The nationals are using the civilians as hostages"

"Those aren't hostages, just scapegoats"

[Pivovarsky]

Senior Lieutenant Shelly Xu - 2nd Special Operations and Response Unit (SORU), Special Operations Command
South Beringian Ocean

Xu shoved a Beringian sailor onto a Sea Knight. "This is Whiskey-Alpha, we have the package. We are bugging out. Bridge is clear, bridge is clear."

The Sea Knights took off, about 40 sailors on board. Only two SORU were wounded. "Lu?! Do you have the package!"

"Yes Ma'am!" Xu and Lu were in a seperate Blackhawk helicopter. Lu opened the duffle bag. Beringian combat codes, maneuvers, everything, was in it. "Great... Whiskey-Whiskey, lead the civvies onto the Beringian vessels. We're heading back to the Hsu."

"Copy that Alpha."

[Old Beringia]

Admiral Nicholas Connor and Lieutenant Hughes, IBS Knight Aircraft Carrier
Location of the IBS Magnus before the disappearance


"Lieutenant, notify all parties things are about to get toasty"
"Patrols Alpha through Delta, Whiskey-Alpha has left the vessel, board Seahawk helicopters with Objective Quebec"
"Yes Ma'am and what of the natives?"
"Drowned, don't worry about media backlash, Admiral Connor says the reactor exploded and the ship sank"

The four patrols boarded the Seahawks and withdrawed to the Aircraft Carrier

"Fighter Formation Mike you are clear to engage the Magnus, all friendlies have withdrawn"
"Roger that, FF Mike we are Delta Oscar, Delta Oscar"

The formation of F-35s descended upon the Magnus dropping five Mk.20 Rockeye II cluster bombs.

[Pivovarsky]

Senior Lieutenant Shelly Xu - 2nd Special Operations and Response Unit (SORU), Special Operations Command
South Beringian Ocean, A.N.V. Hsu Aircraft Carrier

Xu gave a sharp salute to Captain Gregory, commander of the rescue mission. "Aye sir!"

"Did you get the package Shelly?"

"Yes sir." She threw the duffle bag on a table. "All naval codes, naval tactics, naval weapons, everything that the Beringians has got, is in the bag."

"We'll have to study to make our next move... Have every SORU trooper study these manuals."

[Old Beringia]

Admiral Nicholas Connor and Lieutenant Hughes, IBS Knight Aircraft Carrier
Cruising toward Emerald Harbor, Beringia

Admiral Connor approached the injured Commodore Quantum

"Glad to have you back Quantum, would you mind-"
"I want all of my crew that mutinied against me executed now. Same for the ones being brought by SORU. I don't give a damn about their wives so I will personally tell the I did it."
"Interesting"

A few crew members rounded up the 24 that mutanied against Commodore Quantum, lined them up and handed him a pistol.

"A pistol is a child's toy. Chain them together and find some ballast to tie them to. You figure out the rest"
"Commodore wait! I am privy to certain information. "

The Commodore and Admiral stopped walking and turned around. That's when the Commodore drew his sword and clenched the marine by his throat.

"What do you know that I don't"
"It's not necessarily knowledge, so much as something I witnessed"
"Go on"

He released the marine and fixed his shirt.

"Well I just want to point out that those Pivovarsky soldiers had something, a package of some sort. I saw a rebel hand it to one and she wasted him"
"Execute the others, you come with me. Please continue"
"After I saw that I ran"
"Okay you just saved your ass, for now. My lieutenant didn't make it out of the fight before patrol delta arrived, how would you like that position"
"I'd be honored"
"Great get started by notifying the Admiral I want to talk to SORU"

[Pivovarsky]

Senior Lieutenant Shelly Xu - 2nd Special Operations and Response Unit (SORU), Special Operations Command
South Beringian Ocean, IBS Knight Aircraft Carrier

A Chinook helicopter carrying the SORU platoon under Xu's command approaching the Beringian Carrier Knight. It dock on the aft end. "Attention on deck!" The twenty SORU's snapped to attention, Xu walking out down the middle. Her unit followed behind her, armed with CZ. 805 rifles.

"Admiral Connor, It's an honor meeting you. What's uhh, that bag?"

"Something we expect your men want."

"Explain."

The Federal Security Bereau had delivered 50 accounts of national criminals of Pivovarsky in the Beringian area as a cover. "It's a list of criminals; one of the natives had information that seemed to pass through security. He knew to much, we couldn't let him live." She passed twenty dead Beringian sailor bodies. "You know Admiral, I didn't get three of my best pilots killed for you to waste the detail."

[Old Beringia]

Admiral Nicholas Connor and Commodore Joseph Quantum,
South Beringian Ocean, IBS Knight Aircraft Carrier

The Admiral hands the bag to Lieutenant Hughes
"I want that information wired to Echo Charlie"

Quantum then stepped into the conversation

"Well Lieutenant Xu your unsure of what you lost your pilots for, correct?"
"Yes"
"Well it's for that exact reason. Those dead marines right there. That was your task ,I assume, to locate and provide assistance to the IBS Magnus. You have completed both and I commend you and your whole unit for that" He stepped even closer to Xu "But next time when you decide to go above and beyond, check with us first. What happens to those marines after they're rescued is of no consequence to you."
"Thats enough Commodore"
"Yes, sir. Good day Lieutenant."

Commodore Quantum walks away and the newly declared Lieutenant follows.

[Pivovarsky]

Senior Lieutenant Shelly Xu - 2nd Special Operations and Response Unit (SORU), Special Operations Command
South Beringian Ocean, IBS Knight Aircraft Carrier

Xu gave a salute and waved down a helicopter, four SORU emerging, giving covering to Xu as she walked in. "Whiskey-Alpha is on board, we are now Whiskey-Whiskey. We're off the deck."

Xu confronted Major Gobavich in the helicopter. "We're home free. Operation Stallion has commenced."

"Understood. Stallion Phase 4 will be commenced in 2 weeks."

[Old Beringia]

Admiral Nicholas Connor - Admiral of the Imperial Beringian Navy
South Beringian Ocean, IBS Knight Aircraft Carrier

Admiral Connor was left with a dilemma, how was he to transport the rest of the natives?
"Admiral, the capitol building was bombed by Tastifanians"
"Again? Negotiating with damn savages is useless. Get me the emperor now"

Lieutenant Hughes quickly reached for the phone and dialed the emergency line handing the phone to Admiral Connor.

"I take it you've heard?"
"Yes and I'm not pleased-"
"Neither am I which is why I'm done negotiating. I want five destroyers, full broadside attack on the Northern part of the Tastifanian reservation. After the cavalry arrives I want you to walk it back toward the sea in accord with the cavalry"
"Yes sir, Commodore Reilly is in that region. He will initiate the attack on your mark"