Post by octavius on Aug 12, 2009 6:33:51 GMT
Christopher could feel the helicopter bounce on its landing gear slightly as it made contact with Bellerophon's flight deck and rolled to a stop. He his the release on his harness and stood out of his seat, leading the way to the side door. The door popped out and rolled out of the way and he jumped the short distance to the deck. Hurrying out from the command tower approached a small welcoming committee. Lieutenant Tully stepped out next and directed the midshipmen into a row to the side, with a couple of lieutenants coming out last.
"First Lieutenant Melanthia." Commodore Octavius began, "what's the situation?"
"The Batavians are making their move right now. Four divisions are currently plunging deep into Gascon territory. We obtained that information from Gascon and Batavian civilian channels. We've pooled as many officers from the three ships that have a working knowledge of the Gascon dialect and Batavian. Information on their navy is still spotty, but AEWs are detecting movement on their horizon indicating that they're moving some of their fleet around to the northwestern coast of Gascony."
"We had better hurry up and land our forces somewhere where they might serve some good. Brigadier Indianensis plans to place them on the Isle of St Jean and use it as a pivot point from which we can do whatever it is that we can do. His transport ships should be landing at Martigues within an hour or two."
"Yes sir, we got that. We already have a flight of fighters dedicated to just patrolling the airspace over St Jean. As you can see, we have another two on active standby at all times, and our regular CAP is overhead."
Commodore Octavius nodded, and then, leaning in and lowering his voice, asked, "and Captain Macarius's status?"
"Honestly, I can't tell, sir. He's been on edge for as long as I've been here, so his current status is nothing new. He does seem slightly more... tired. Around the eyes, that is."
"Understood. Onto another matter, I have fourteen officers and midshipmen to deliver to you, and there should be another two helicopter deliveries of last minute transfers coming in."
Lt Melanthia turned her head to one of the officers behind her. "Lieutenant Paleon, take care of these new transfers."
"Yes sir." Lt Paleon responded, his eyes already sizing up the new prospects. He stood next to Lt Tully to go over the paperwork that he had brought.
"Alright, then. Lead the way, Lieutenant." Commodore Octavius commanded. Lt Melanthia nodded and the two headed to the command tower.
"First Lieutenant Melanthia." Commodore Octavius began, "what's the situation?"
"The Batavians are making their move right now. Four divisions are currently plunging deep into Gascon territory. We obtained that information from Gascon and Batavian civilian channels. We've pooled as many officers from the three ships that have a working knowledge of the Gascon dialect and Batavian. Information on their navy is still spotty, but AEWs are detecting movement on their horizon indicating that they're moving some of their fleet around to the northwestern coast of Gascony."
"We had better hurry up and land our forces somewhere where they might serve some good. Brigadier Indianensis plans to place them on the Isle of St Jean and use it as a pivot point from which we can do whatever it is that we can do. His transport ships should be landing at Martigues within an hour or two."
"Yes sir, we got that. We already have a flight of fighters dedicated to just patrolling the airspace over St Jean. As you can see, we have another two on active standby at all times, and our regular CAP is overhead."
Commodore Octavius nodded, and then, leaning in and lowering his voice, asked, "and Captain Macarius's status?"
"Honestly, I can't tell, sir. He's been on edge for as long as I've been here, so his current status is nothing new. He does seem slightly more... tired. Around the eyes, that is."
"Understood. Onto another matter, I have fourteen officers and midshipmen to deliver to you, and there should be another two helicopter deliveries of last minute transfers coming in."
Lt Melanthia turned her head to one of the officers behind her. "Lieutenant Paleon, take care of these new transfers."
"Yes sir." Lt Paleon responded, his eyes already sizing up the new prospects. He stood next to Lt Tully to go over the paperwork that he had brought.
"Alright, then. Lead the way, Lieutenant." Commodore Octavius commanded. Lt Melanthia nodded and the two headed to the command tower.
The Command Center of the Halimede had a hum to it, of sailors reporting to officers, of officers commanding sailors, of officers relaying to one another, and behind that was the neverending hum of the ship itself.
"What I would pay to get Silvanus and Valeria back now." Captain Scutarius idly noted as he glanced over the raw transmission data from the Batavians. "Silvanus studied Batavian in the Naval Academy and was quite good at it. Valeria's talent with Alexandrian was superb enough that she was able to adapt to the Gascon dialect with such little effort." He thumbed through more pages. "To be honest, this just reads like lazy Slobovian to me. What did you study, again, Ischyrius?"
"Atteran, sir."
"Ah yes. Well, the needs of the Naval Service do change over the years." Captain Scutarius released and the papers flipped back to the first and he held the clipboard out to Zoe. Zoe began to turn away. "Mister Octavia." The Captain said to stop her.
"Yes sir?"
"Out of curiosity, what language did you study at the Naval Academy?"
"Ummm... Babkhan, sir." She responded timidly.
"Interesting." Captain Scutarius said, nodding to himself. "Carry on." Captain Scutarius turned to look out at the rest of the Command Center.
The intraship speakers clicked on, with a slight delay between it and the voice of Midshipman Galenius, who was aiding Lieutenant Echias at Navigation. "Helm, coming up on turn. Bearing 225. Reduce to 30 km/h." The speakers clicked off.
Then clicked on briefly for the bridge to report. "Aye. Bearing 225. Reducing to 30 km/h."
"Mister Galenius." Captain Scutarius said.
"Y-Yes? Sir?"
"Tea for me and the First Lieutenant."
"Uh... yes, sir." Mid. Galenius staggered, unsure of which way to go. He hadn't been given the order for tea yet, and obviously hadn't been observant enough to see the direction. He glanced at First Lieutenant Ischyrius, who subtlely extended his finger in the direction of one hatch.
Zoe suspected that the Captain did that to put Midshipmen off balance, especially when they were in the middle of concentrating on something else important. That way, they would be better adapted to having to quickly switch their mind between different activities. That, and that Captain Scutarius enjoys the aroma of tea.
"What I would pay to get Silvanus and Valeria back now." Captain Scutarius idly noted as he glanced over the raw transmission data from the Batavians. "Silvanus studied Batavian in the Naval Academy and was quite good at it. Valeria's talent with Alexandrian was superb enough that she was able to adapt to the Gascon dialect with such little effort." He thumbed through more pages. "To be honest, this just reads like lazy Slobovian to me. What did you study, again, Ischyrius?"
"Atteran, sir."
"Ah yes. Well, the needs of the Naval Service do change over the years." Captain Scutarius released and the papers flipped back to the first and he held the clipboard out to Zoe. Zoe began to turn away. "Mister Octavia." The Captain said to stop her.
"Yes sir?"
"Out of curiosity, what language did you study at the Naval Academy?"
"Ummm... Babkhan, sir." She responded timidly.
"Interesting." Captain Scutarius said, nodding to himself. "Carry on." Captain Scutarius turned to look out at the rest of the Command Center.
The intraship speakers clicked on, with a slight delay between it and the voice of Midshipman Galenius, who was aiding Lieutenant Echias at Navigation. "Helm, coming up on turn. Bearing 225. Reduce to 30 km/h." The speakers clicked off.
Then clicked on briefly for the bridge to report. "Aye. Bearing 225. Reducing to 30 km/h."
"Mister Galenius." Captain Scutarius said.
"Y-Yes? Sir?"
"Tea for me and the First Lieutenant."
"Uh... yes, sir." Mid. Galenius staggered, unsure of which way to go. He hadn't been given the order for tea yet, and obviously hadn't been observant enough to see the direction. He glanced at First Lieutenant Ischyrius, who subtlely extended his finger in the direction of one hatch.
Zoe suspected that the Captain did that to put Midshipmen off balance, especially when they were in the middle of concentrating on something else important. That way, they would be better adapted to having to quickly switch their mind between different activities. That, and that Captain Scutarius enjoys the aroma of tea.
"Message just came in from Brigadier Indianensis." Lieutenant Valeria hid her smile as she cleared her throat.
"To the Honorable Octavius, Archon of the Antican Republic, Greetings:
Forces are disembarked on the Isle of St Jean. The Jeaniards appear happy to see us. While on my way through the city toward the Chateau des Comtes de St. Jean, I was cheered in the streets by throngs of peasants, and the cobbled streets were strewn with the petals of red poppies. I had a brief encounter with our dear old friend, Alexandre Lebed-Cygne, who only barely managed to avoid calling me a greengrocer. Abhominable fellow.
Forward units are pushing forward to secure the remainder of the island. Salignac and Vacqueyras should be under Antican control within the hour. Initial contact has been established with Gascon Ducal Forces. I have requested that they rally their forces at Dantes according to the plan as discussed aboard the Battleship William."
Christopher smirked. "Alright. Any luck at locating the Gascon Revolutionaries' headquarters?"
Lt Valeria nodded, and flipped to the next page on her clipboard. "They've been on the move, especially since the Batavians crossed the border. We have located what sounds to either be a relay in their communications network or their current headquarters itself."
"Is Mister Beaumont and the marines ready?"
Lt Valeria nodded again. "They and the helicopter are ready to disemberk as soon as they get the order."
Commodore Octavius said, "tell them that the order is given."
"Commodore, additional flights are now patrolling over western Gascony and Eastern Gascony respectively. Two Guardian AEWs are in position to monitor the entire area. Batavian warships are confirmed to be moving to take positions near Sable d'Or and La Roche-Derrien." Lt Melanthia reported.
"An Alexandrian Fleet is on approach. Alignment currently unknown." Captain Macarius added, tossing the sheet he read off onto the Plotting Table before the Commodore.
"To the Honorable Octavius, Archon of the Antican Republic, Greetings:
Forces are disembarked on the Isle of St Jean. The Jeaniards appear happy to see us. While on my way through the city toward the Chateau des Comtes de St. Jean, I was cheered in the streets by throngs of peasants, and the cobbled streets were strewn with the petals of red poppies. I had a brief encounter with our dear old friend, Alexandre Lebed-Cygne, who only barely managed to avoid calling me a greengrocer. Abhominable fellow.
Forward units are pushing forward to secure the remainder of the island. Salignac and Vacqueyras should be under Antican control within the hour. Initial contact has been established with Gascon Ducal Forces. I have requested that they rally their forces at Dantes according to the plan as discussed aboard the Battleship William."
Christopher smirked. "Alright. Any luck at locating the Gascon Revolutionaries' headquarters?"
Lt Valeria nodded, and flipped to the next page on her clipboard. "They've been on the move, especially since the Batavians crossed the border. We have located what sounds to either be a relay in their communications network or their current headquarters itself."
"Is Mister Beaumont and the marines ready?"
Lt Valeria nodded again. "They and the helicopter are ready to disemberk as soon as they get the order."
Commodore Octavius said, "tell them that the order is given."
"Commodore, additional flights are now patrolling over western Gascony and Eastern Gascony respectively. Two Guardian AEWs are in position to monitor the entire area. Batavian warships are confirmed to be moving to take positions near Sable d'Or and La Roche-Derrien." Lt Melanthia reported.
"An Alexandrian Fleet is on approach. Alignment currently unknown." Captain Macarius added, tossing the sheet he read off onto the Plotting Table before the Commodore.
Summary: Entire Antican fleet located just north of the Isle of St Jean. Destroyers patrolling the waters between St Jean and the mainland. Land forces securing St Jean. Fighter aircraft taking patrol positions over Gascony. Airborne Early Warning aircraft in position.
Anticans attempt to contact Alexandrian fleet in order to determine their intentions in the West Benacian area.
Antican forces request that Gascon Ducal Forces rally their forces at Dantes.
Roger Beaumont, a Gascon from St Jean (character from last recwar in Gascony) is being sent with two squads of Antican marines to locate the Gascon Revolutionaries' HQ and negotiate an agreement to coordinate military efforts.