OOC: This is the RP Thread for the War of the Anantonese Straits. You may view the planning thread here.
IC:
September, 4408; 0917 local
The sun rises over the Ocean east of the Island of Ananto, United Republic of Kalistan. This stretch of water remains international water, relatively free of Kalistani naval vessels which swarm across the surface of the ocean to the west of the Island. Here and there, cargo ships loaded to the hilt with goods for foreign sale move diligently north and south ahead, dots of red, black and white in a sea of blue green, underneath a crystal clear azure sky. Most of the shipping is heading to points west or north to Dovani and Majatra. Almost none of it will remain in the area, and very little of it came from this region of the world.
Through this stretch of sea sails, a Lourennaise fleet has recently sailed. Up until this moment, they have sat undetected. Patrols have been sent out, and the two of Lourenne's new corvettes await reports. But Kalistani overflights reported the two visitors to Militia command, and soon their situation will change.
Into this stretch, 2 squardrons of Kalistani Fastboats, too small to raise much notice on any radars, arrive. Their silhouette sits low against the water, and their behavior looks from the air like wealthy Kalistani pleasure seekers enjoying their expensive toys on the open sea. But their purpose is deadly serious.
Over the encrypted radio, a voice squawks, "Gunny, we are approaching the ships. We are just out of range . We will probably not be able to evade detection for much longer. Awaiting orders." The Gunnery Sergeant, a recently appointed militia NCO named Horace Spears had been assigned as squad NCO and in his charge were the three LAFAs which held just out of radar range of the Lourenaise Corvettes. Gunny Spears needed to make a decision. He returned to the radio. "Stand by, Delta November Echo." came his order. He switched frequencies and raised his comrade in the second squad of LAFA craft, Gunnery Sergeant Mica Argos. "2 Actual. Come Back."
The radio went silent for a moment, and then "2 Actual Over."
Spears said grimly, "We are Romeo Tango Echo on the Dos Lima Tangos. What's your status? Over."
"Standby, Over" said the Radio. In 2 minutes the radio will click once. Meanwhile, Spears surveyed the horizon, and so no sign of the Lourennaise Corvettes. He knew they were out there though. "If I can see them, they can see me," he reminded himself, a lesson he learned the hard way during training. "If I can see them, they can see me." He shielded his eyes, and squinted, but still saw only a flat calm sea away to his north. "Click" came the radio, right on time. The click was a little trick of the crypto. The click signified a switch to open channels. It lasted for 1 minute, where the crypto scanned known comm frequencies of commercial and civilian traffic. The radio scanned the civilian wave length, before clicking back to crypto. It switched to this every hour on the hour.
Once the radio clicked the second time, Argos came back, "1 Actual, Over."
Spears repeated into the radio, "1 Actual Over."
Argos' voice was somewhat hesitant when it came from the radio again, and the hesitation gave Spears the Creeps. "De ocho, we are to approach, but do not engage. I am to repeat, we are not to engage. Once we are in view of the Lima Tangos, we are to hail them and order them to leave our national waters. We are to warn them that they will be fired upon, over."
"What?!" Spears said incredulously. "Say again, over!"
"Again, from 8, Do not engage. We are to allow them the opportunity to leave. Over."
Spears thought about this order. "Did 8 say what we are to do when they shoot at us?" He paused. "Over."
Argos returned "Negative." She also paused. "Over."
Spears shook his head. The two LAFA fleets were grossly outgunned by the two Lourennaise Corvettes. But the LAFAs might be their better in mobility.
"Check," Spears said. "Mike Romeo Sierra. Out."
He handed the headset back to the ship's radio operator. "Corporal, please inform the others of our orders." He ordered the helmsman to make a heading of 025, ahead full. The other two LAFA ships in Spears' squadron formed up in a delta formation behind Spears' ship, and the ships beelined north. At this point, none could mistake them for pleasure craft. Their formation was clearly militaristic. If the Lourennaise haven't seen them yet, they will will soon enough. About 2 clicks off Spears starboard Argos' squad pulled up, matched Spears' unit's heading and speed and proceeded to join him in his northward course. The main gunner pulled the sea cover from his mounted gun and clipped a 100 round chain into place, charging the gun with a great pull of the charging lever. The main gunner, Corporal Phillips, was a great hulk of a man, with tattoos all over the place and some gungho haircut that the Gunny maintained was eccentric. But he was fantastically skilled with the 50 cal, even when the ship was on the move. He loved that weapon like it was his own. The Gunny thought the boy had a screw loose.
Within 20 minutes, the lookout at the front of the ship, looking through powerful binoculars, yelled out "Ship Ho." The comm mast of a single Lourennaise ship appeared on the horizon.
(OOC: edit: 2 Frigates changed to corvettes for continuity.)