Attacks at sea

[Rasputin]

Captain PEter Smith was woken from his slumber by a load boom and the rocking of his ship. He jumped from his cot and hastily donned his uniform before heading up to the bridge. As he ran down the corridors the alarm bells were already sounding.
He entered the bridge and found the First Mate giving the orders.
"Whats happend Greg" asked PEter.
"sir we have been attacked, a flotilla of about 10 rebel boats came alongside about an hour ago and hailed us to stop. We followed protocol and continued sailing. Then without warning they launched a hand held missile at us, we have taken a bad hit in the Stern."
"Damge reports?"
"It looks bad sir, we are taking water in."
"Send out a mayday, hopefully some one else wil lbe using this shipping lane tonight."

Crew were madly scurrying aorund trying to block of the leaking shell of the cargo ship, but it was to no avail. Four hours after taking the hit, the ship went to the bottom of the ocean, fortuantly a passing Emerald Isles Destroyer rescued the crew and dispersed the rebels.

Word arrived at Rasputopia Government house that 3 MErchant ships had been attacked during the night. Two had sunk and one was now in the hands of the rebels. Casualties were 8 crewman of one ship dead, with over 15 others injured.

The prime minister called an emergency meeting of cabinet and decrees were passed that the Rasputopia navy would now escort all Merchant ships.

In the morning the press released the news and the public were outraged. For many years wars had raged on nearby islands, but this had not directly impacted Rasputopia except for the refugees arriving daily. Now Rasputopian sons and daughters were not coming home.

By weeks end picket lines were formed demanding the goverment take revenge for their losses.

The prime minister continued to state that Rasputopia would not get involved.

[Rasputin]

Map showig the location of attacks on Shipping lanes.

[Mr. President]

Karakas' embassy in Rasputopia has been closely monitoring the situation in the western islands. The attacks are of concern to the government due to Karakas' position as a naval power, and because of its close ties and movement of goods and services with nearby Jonchastan.

The government is especially concerned by reports (other thread) of larger-scale fighting in the outer islands, fearing that the region could become an instigator of broader instability. However, politicians are divided on the issue, with the ruling Labor party favoring humanitarian or even military intervention in lawless islands and the opposition Nationalists calling for shoring up security links with Jonchastan, Rasputopia, and the Alien Races while staying out of direct intervention in lands that currently lack a government.

[Rasputin]

The dangers of Sea piracy are high. Rasputopia has led a sheltered life and the people are highly upset by the actions of what can only be deemed to be a radical faction in the neighbouring islands.

Karakas ofer of help is highly appreciated and wil be accepted. A few naval patrols around the major shipping lanes would be appreciated too as whilst Rasputopia can look after its own merchant ships, we fear for the rest of the worlds ships.

[GeneralTacticus]

The Commonwealth of Nine Islands wishes to express its grave concern at recent events surrounding Rasputonia. The Commonwealth's largest shipping company, Seven Sons, recently made extensive investments in expanding trade to the region, and stood to make a hefty profit. However, the recent piracy against shipping in Rasputonian waters has threatened this investment, and Seven Sons' share price has dropped sharply as a result.

Therefore, the Commonwealth of Nine Islands requests permission to reassure our investors with the despatch of several specialised naval units to Rasputonia, to protect international shipping and bring these despicable pirates to justice.

Signed,

Lord Valen II of House Trystane,
Prince-Regent of the Nine Islands,
Protector of the Commonwealth.

[Rasputin]

Rasputopian Government has no problems with any Nations patrolling the shipping lines around the island of Rasputopia. We would escort al lships , escept we dont have the naval size at this point in time to accomplish this.

Signed by

Reginald Wright

Chief of Defence Forces

[Mr. President]

"Turning now to the campaign against Outer Island piracy, President Miller announced today that a provisional agreement had been reached with local warlords to purchase seven acres of land in Greenstone Bay (see attached map) to build a naval base which would support the efforts of all the forces involved in the campaign. The cost is expected to run over one billion Karakas Sovereigns.

"Some Nationalist senators reacted furiously, including Olympia Snowe (N, Pendelhaven). 'This base will destroy the League's federal budget and contribute nothing towards protecting Karakas,' she said. Some Nationalists are already threatening to filibuster the appropriations bill, which will be introduced in floor debate next week. However, the President was sticking to his guns last night.

" 'The short-term cost may be slightly painful, but this is an absolutely necessary step,' he said.

"In sports, Jonchastani expatriates from across the coast packed Razorwing Grove to see their soccer team defeat a Karakan side in the midst of rebuilding by two goals to one . . ."

[Rasputin]

The waters in the Straits of Greekodia had been relativley quiet for the past few weeks, Rapsutopian patrols and promises of other nations moving some naval attention this way, seemed to have done the trick. But even as the doves in parliament began moves to down scale the naval operations, came the worst attacks yet.

Two jonchastan freighters had been heading into Rasputopian waters when they were attacked by Submarines. This was the first time the rebels had used equipment of this nature and it meant some rogue power nation was now supplying the rebels.

As Rasputopian naval ships raced to the location of the devastation, the crew of both ships were already freezing to death in the cold waters of Greekodia.

News was flashed around the world, only 4 survivors were resucued from both ships.

Rasputiopia inteligence corp was acitvated to find the culprit who was supplying the latest submarines into the hands of such rebels.

[joncha]

Our top story tonight: The Central Committee has issued a formal statement denying any loss of Jonchastani life in Northwest Apolynesia's growing piracy crisis. This after the government of Rasputopia reported two Jonchastani freighters lost to what they described as "rogue submarines."

The CC called the Rasputopian claims "a cynical ploy to embroil Jonchastan in the conflict" that has gripped the troubled region since the collapse of civil order in Auldoninna and Emerald Cove. In fact, according to the statement, "there has been no shipping from the Federated Council Republics of Jonchastan, Chandler Island, Tassadaria or Azan in what is now Rasputopian waters since the collapse of the Auldoninnan regime." A detailed search of shipping records by JNN has confirmed this assertion.

JNN has also learned that the Jonchastani Navy has been placed on highest alert in anticipation of what one source called "further Rasputopian provocations." The same source noted that the experiences of the conflicts in Azan and Tassadaria have left the Navy "very well placed" to deal with external threats such as the one posed by Rasputopia.

[Rasputin]

Strange noises were heard outside the bridge but the captain knew better than to investigate. Outside was the head of the Rasputopian Intelligence Organisation. He was speaking to a few divers who had been down to the sunken wrecks. The divers had brought to the surface a lot of material, included amonsgst it was a few dead bodies.

"so they flew the jonchastan flag and yet the 4 survivors we found and now all these dead below are definatly not Jonchastanis. "

"yes sir, we conducted a thorough search and it appears the ships are definatly not from jonchastan, here is the flag they were flying, definatly a jonchastan flag, but all the documents are not written in jonchastani "

"get me more information, this is looking mightily like a conspiracy. "

[Mr. President]

"Politics news is next, and the Federal Senate was the scene of high theatrics yesterday as the appropriations bill for the proposed Greenstone Bay naval base was subjected to floor debate.

"Several Labor senators deserted the President on this issue, as it emerged that the Cabinet had recommended cuts to the education budget and the abolition of the National Schoolteacher Qualification Test.

" 'The President is acting like he cares more about this military base than about Karakan children,' railed Mark Taluntain (L, Maribor).

"Taluntain was heckled by other Labor senators, including Santiago Bernabeu (L, Kyralia). 'I can't believe that you would risk your own party's credibility and position in this closely divided Senate over bean-counting!' He went on to jeer, 'When you go to lunch with your new Nationalist friends, do you pay or do they steal welfare money for the bill?’ The senators then exchanged, er, colorful language and both were ejected from the chamber until the vote. SouthernNews.com’s Premium members can view the complete uncensored footage.

“Others, however, brought a more rational tone to the debate. The two Hammerheim senators, both representatives of the pro-secession Hammerheim National Council whose positions had been mysterious until now, finally came out against the appropriation. Jose Bergdolmo (HNC, Hammerheim) was typical in his wording. ‘I cannot countenance such extreme spending, halfway across Apolyton, while problems on our own border are unresolved.’

“Perhaps sensing change in the air, Minority Leader Olympia Snowe (N, Pendelhaven) did not follow up on her earlier call for a filibuster, and led all but two members of her party in voting ‘NO’ on the appropriations bill. The bill went down 59-41 and its supporters were visibly frustrated.

“ ‘This is a dark day for internationalism and for those who aim for Karakas to take a pro-active role in regional politics,’ said Senator Bernabeu afterwards. ‘Knee-jerk isolationism ruled the day today.’

“Senator Snowe, however, was satisfied, proudly waving a leather-bound book at reporters afterwards. ‘I was ready to use this if it came to a filibuster,’ she said, ‘but I didn't end up needing to.’

“Turning it to the cameras, the title read: Eye of the Storm: A Collection of Poems. By Olympia Snowe.

“ ‘Hey, I’m an egotist,’ she explained almost apologetically.”

[Rasputin]

All eyes were on the new Premier as he arose to accept the governance of the land A landslide win the recent election had swept int opower with somw radical plans for expansion of the Rasputopian way.

He smiled as he looked around the room and at the TV cameras postioned to braodcast his transmission round the world.

His speech ran for over two hours but most people had stopped hearing after his one line on the Securtiy issues.

From the middle of his speech was the following

".......... I can assure all Rasputopians that this government will do all that it can to finally clear the oceans of the piracy and terrorism that has continued to run unabated. The rest of the world may be sitting back and doing nothing, but we can not allow these Barbarians to prevent safe passage from our island home to the neighbouring islands such as the Fiefdom of the scots. The Scots are our friends and need many supplies to re establish their nation in trying times. Our navy set sail this morning on my orders to inspect any unflagged ships found in the waters between ourselves and the Fiefdom of scots. Any ships failing to comply with the inspection orders will be deemed hostile and action taken....."


The people knew that the dark days of war were retutrning.