Marina wrote:I WISH we could get a letter of Marque. Since we don't have any high-ranking navy types, the most experienced navigator gets to be the ship's Master, like in the 18th century, and the ranking Army officer gets to be the Captain. The most skilled mechanical engineer is the Cheng, the mechanical sorts of people get to be the plant crew, with the other engineers as officers.... The navigational crew (Master's Mates) consists of everyone else with navigating experience (ooh, that includes me) to handle the navigation watches, and battery commanders and so on are the remaining military officers, everyone with radar experience gets stuck in CIC, and Shep can even be the ship's electrician--we'll find Elfdart dead one day in one of the showers due to 'faulty' wiring, of course, but whatever.
OPENING CRAWL
The Election of ’08 was a tumultuous one, with the Democrats and Republicans fighting for the American People. This was the first year that the Val-U-Vote machines were deployed nationwide. On Election Day polls showed a nearly 50-50 split between Obama and McCain.
That evening the polls reported that Bob Barr had won the election. Riots soon erupted across the country. McCain and Obama held a joint Conference calling for a re-vote.
Alas, the Randoids attacked the conference, killing both candidates and their running mates. The country soon started to break apart, and the EU began to dispatch forces to Canada. After a series of naval battles in the Atlantic, the USN forces loyal to the Federal Government were defeated,.
In Fall of ’09 President Barr signed the Marque and Reprisal Act, granting the Executive Branch the power to issue Letters of Marque. In order for the country to survive it would take men, strong men, men who would be known as….
The Privateers of SDN
February 12th, 2012
“CAPTAIN ON THE BRIDGE!” CWO5 Lonestar barked as Captain Jegs stepped onboard the Bridge. Jegs grinned.
“You ready for our first combat patrol SIGWO?”
“Itchin’ for it Skipper.” Lonestar said. He was watching the tugs pull along side the Resolute(Formerly the Barry). The linehandlers on the pier at the Washington Navy Yard threw off the lines. The BOOW blew the whistle into the 1MC.
“UNDERWAY, SHIFT COLORS!”
The Ensign came up on the mainmast.
Things were grim for the Republic. Everyday more and more enemies appeared, both from within and without. The United Alliance now had a Million Man Army in Canada, and the Federal Forces were having trouble maintaining order in the country. Whole parts of the West were virtually independent.
The USN was virtually gone, reduced to a coastal defense role and attempted interdiction of EU convoys.
Which is where vessels like the Resolute came in. Privateers had been operating with much smaller vessels, so now most commercial ships were equipped with the arms to chase them away. The Resolute would be able to resume the interdiction of Venezuelan oil tankers, vitally needed for the war effort.
The Anacostia churned under the vessel.
“Boats’, you got it?”
“Ah reckon ah do sar.” The BMOOW said.
“Fine.” Jegs said. “Officers meeting in the Wardroom, pass the word.”
******
The Letter of Marque, signed by President Barr, hung in the Wardroom. Jegs walked in(he had early on issued a standing order to dispense with coming to attention when he entered the Wardroom) and sat down at the Captain’s spot. He frowned.
“Where’s ELECTRO?”
“Shep is down in DCC.” Ender, the CHENG said. “I told him to watch the board. I can call him if you want…”
“Nah, that’s fine. I’m just going down the list before we exit into the Chesapeake. AIRBOSS?”
“The Water Spaniel is ready, so long as we have MILSAT. As you know, that’ll change once we enter the Caribbean AO. It’ll be a bit trickier.” CWO5 Beowulf said.
“Indeed. OPS?”
“Comms are good so far, and all the radars are working as designed.” LCDR Tsyroc said.
“CHENG?”
“We’re doing as good as we can with the…seasoned equipment we’re using.” LCDR Ender said.
“CSO?”
LT. Stile leaned back and gnawed on his cigar.
“We’re ready to blow some shit up."
“SUPPO?”
“All Mountain Dews and Pepsis present or accounted for Sir…” Setzer said.
“Good, Good.” Jegs looked around the table, he had just spoken to the department heads.
“As you know, we will be departing the Chesapeake and targeting God’s Will States’ shipping along the Southeastern seaboard on the way to the Caribbean. There, we will aggressively interdict Venezuelan oil Tankers. We’re doing this for the Republic, for the poor bloody infantry, and for our homes.” Jegs paused, then grinned.
“Now, let’s go make some money.”
"
- PeZook
