Stranded at Sea

"Mboto Jones did what?" Tsubo Tsango, new High Chief of the Marä of Naizerre looked at the General in disbelief. "It's all there in the report sir. During the last days of his regime he asked my department to use our existing nuclear infrastructure to make a nuclear device capable of levelling a city."

The High Chief grimaced. He didn't know Mboto had been this mad. "Burn this report. Wipe all records of this. Shred all paperwork and burn the shreddings. No one can know about this, General. Assemble a small team to handle transit. I'll contact you soon about this matter. Dismissed." The General, a member of Tsubo Tasngo's tribe, followed the orders without comment, wondering what the new leader of the Marä was planning.

High Chief Tsango was already moving into action, waiting until the General had left before telling one of aides to contact the Cogorian ambassador. They would be most interested in what he had to offer, he thought, and the prospect of sticking it to the 'air gangsters' to use a phrase from his predecessor, was more than a little entertaining. Let them quiver in their ivory towers.

---

The deal took some time to set up. The Cogorians were, naturally, very suspicious. They didn't have a great history with this sort of thing, following the disaster at Oktobergrad where the Phoenix Union bombed the nuclear reactor there. That city was a ruin and Cogoria had yet to receive any kind of apology or recompense for that. Well Naizerre knew how to stand by their friends.

Friendship didn't come free or even cheaply however. The Cogorians were happy enough to pay for the technical specs and the enriched nuclear material, but they had little need for the delivery system, having their own. Tsubo Tsango and the team responsible for the deal were satisfied with the amount of currency being handed over in the deal, however, and the Cogorians seemed pleased enough on their end. A good deal all round, Tsango assumed.

---

The ship was old Nyoro Sotha was surprised it could even float. She had paid an awful lot of money in order to get out Naizerre as quickly as possible and was starting to feel she had been ripped off. She wasn't sure where to head but had pointed the ship east and turned up the engines to their maximum setting. Those at the naval base would probably discover she was gone soon. It couldn't be helped. She needed to be out of Naizerri waters as soon as possible.

Whoever had owned the boat had kept the engines in good condition at least, and Nyoro was glad for that small mercy at least. She had plenty of fuel, including a reserve tank she had insisted was fitted as quickly as possible. It meant she would have to run a line from the reserve to the main tank herself, but it got her away quicker. Sotha briefly wondered what her father would think, before pushing the General out of her mind. She had to tell someone - anyone - what they had done. What she had done.

She had supplies for a month but by that time she'd hopefully have been picked up by then - or even given safe haven in one of the nations that would give her a platform to expose the actions of the Marä. Nyoro hated boats and the ocean and the navy in general but had followed her father's demand that she enlist in that particular branch. She had been assigned to Naval Intelligence after basic training - at her father's request she would later learn - and joined his personal team as he helped most of the navy brass defect to the uprising that overthrew Mboto Jones. She almost didn't believe that the old dictator had committed the acts he had, but she'd seen the evidence. He had tried building nuclear weapons.

And now the new regime had sold them on. To who, she didn't know. But she had to tell the world. So when Nyoro Sotha's ship broke down two days later, she used the only option left available to her. Broadcasting on as many frequencies as she could, she spoke and hoped that someone might've been listening.

"SOS This is Nyoro Sotha of Naizerre. My vessel has broken down and I am stranded in the Meterran Sea. I require rescue. I have evidence of wrongdoing by the current Naizerre authorities with regards to the sale of -" A pause. "weapons of a nuclear nature. I will trade this information for asylum or passage to a safe harbour."

Transiting with several other cruisers and destroyers to a joint military exercise with Ascalon, the Goyanean ship HMS Ajklasund's comms officer notices a call for help coming across their inter-ship comms frequency.

"SOS This is Nyoro Sotha of Naizerre. My vessel has broken down and I am stranded in the Meterran Sea. I require rescue. I have evidence of wrongdoing by the current Naizerre authorities with regards to the sale of -" A pause. "weapons of a nuclear nature. I will trade this information for asylum or passage to a safe harbour."

He looked at the Captain, Jonathan Skolla. He faced him and nodded, giving him the permission to respond.

He clicked on the radio. "Nyoro Sotha, this is the Goyanean cruiser HMS Ajklasund. Please state your coordinates and we will dispatch to your location at high speed."

He anxiously waited for a response. This could theoretically be information that could change the viewpoint of Eras forever...

The HKM Shi'jise cruised along at a slow speed, moving up and down rhythmically with the waves beneath it. They searched warily for pirates, which was their job as of right now. They were.. fairly far out for anti-piracy activities, but only because they had gotten information about suspicious unmarked boats in this area of the Meterran Sea, and Skanda would be damned if it let the Iraelians do their dirty work.

An SOS went out towards the comms officer, who informed the captain of the situation. He responded via his own radio in Mercanti, albeit in a somewhat thick Skandan accent. "This is Captain Kazato Torajiro of the Skandan HKM Shi'jise, we are ready and willing to move to your location ASAP, but we'll need coordinates first." He said releasing the button on his radio and holding it with tense hands. If they played this right, Skanda could get into a good position with their neighbors across the Meterran Sea, Naizerre.

"SIR, MY KING", Captain James (a human) of the Draconicsian Aircraft Carrier the Draconic wing screams into the radio frequency into draconics rallying off of a few Draconicsian airplanes made specifically for that reason.

Notboss jumps up from his chair in surprise and his guards step up and one faces the door prepared for anything. "What was that?"

"OH PLEASE PICK UP, SARGEANT OUTTAKER!!!! IS THIS THING WORKING?!?!?" James scrreams again and Notboss looks under his desk remembering the gift his father gave him when he was a teennager in dragon years, a two-way rallying radio which was broken at first but after intense repairs it started working and was the base design for the radios and communications that most of Draconics use.

"Yes Captain James, I am reading that the king himself is recieving it but he isn't responding", a far away voice states.

"THEN WHY ISN'T HE RESPONDING YOU PHEONIX?!?!!?", Roars Captain James as he uses a common and annoying insult used in Draconics.

Notboss picks up the radio and presses the button to talk and speaks into the microphone of the radio, "Now if I may ask what all of this ruckus is about Mr. James?". Notboss takes his claw off the button and hears the reply, "Oh I apologize your majesty, that route you sent us on to Demescia, you know the one we consider an ally? Well on our way there we saw a ship on our radar at full throttle heading away from what seems to be the direction of Naizerre but I was not too sure, they could have come from Demescia or somewhere else. Not too long after that we heard an S.O.S signal coming from the direction the ship after it went off of our radar. But they sent out an 'All-out' signal, who knows what other ships could be there. I'm sure we are the closest and get there faster but that is still an uncertainty your majesty" James takes his finger off the button.
Notboss responds,"Did you send them a signal back?"
"Yes your majesty, we gave them our co-ordinates and asked for theirs, we are still headed in the same direction but slightly off, I have ordered a slow down of the ship to make sure we don't overshoot the ship or get too far away".

Notboss pauses,"But why the intense amount of urgency if i may ask?". Notboss takes his claw off again and there is a long pause.

"Y-your Majesty, the signal was not only an S.O.S, it was also an informational signal, which gave us info about Naizerre selling nuclear weapons to some other country, but I do not know to who, the signal stopped there".

Notboss nearly drops the radio, "Prepare for a rescue mission and send wing (plane slang in Draconic) scouts to see if the ship is nearby, tell me everything that happens with this issue from now on and tell them we will personally escort them to draconics safely by plane", Notboss takes his talon off of the button.

"Yes your Majesty", James responds.

Distantly off the East coast of Archlancer Island the Bonaventure Light Carrier Group patrols the seas for the RLN. The amphibious assault carrier HES Bonaventure, the destroyers HES Saxe and HES Soult, the frigates HES Bonneau and HES Havilland, the submarines HES Chercheur and HES Chasseur sails in formation. Aboard the Bonaventure, Vice-Admiral Jacques Rochambeau hears a shout on the bridge.

"Admiral! Important Distress call, sir!"
"Relay the message."

"SOS This is Nyoro Sotha of Naizerre. My vessel has broken down and I am stranded in the Meterran Sea. I require rescue. I have evidence of wrongdoing by the current Naizerre authorities with regards to the sale of -" A pause. "weapons of a nuclear nature. I will trade this information for asylum or passage to a safe harbour."

The admiral thought quickly. "Weapons of a nuclear nature" were too much to be ignored, especially with the Empire so recently seeking to join META where Naizerre was a founding member, but his patrol could not be abandoned and his carrier could not be left exposed.
"Send the following message to Soult, Bonneau, Havilland and Chasseur. Captain Partouneaux will lead the surface ships towards the signal while Captain Ambert will escort in the Chasseur. Tell both Captains to keep me constantly up-to-date."

"Send the following message to Nyoro Sotha on the distress ship: This is Vice-Admiral Jacques Rochambeau aboard the HES Bonaventure representing the Royal Lancerian Navy. We are sending some ships towards your location to assist. Please relay your exact location on this channel for myself and those vessels to receive. Upon contact, safe passage will be provided to The Lancerian Empire. Please respond promptly."

"Forward the distress signal with the following message to the commander of the Essling Naval Base for relay to naval command: We have received an SOS call from a vessel claiming to be broken down in the Meterran Sea. They further claim to have important information regarding nuclear weapons in Naizerre. Maintaining patrol but sending a smaller force to assist the ship and offer safe passage to the Empire either by escorting the ship or transferring it's crew. He is offering the information in return for that safe passage. Not sure how accurate this claim is. Will send word when the information is confirmed or when important detail is learned. Further requesting two maritime patrol aircraft to be directed from Halliet AAFB to assist in locating the ship."

"Begin organizing some air patrols to head East, provide air cover and patrol above the Soult group as long as they are in range."

Aboard the Soult, Captain Alain Partouneaux relays the orders to his crew and communicates with the captains of the frigates Bonneau & Havilland and submarine Chasseur. The ships peel away from the Bonaventure Group and begin to sail in the direction of the signal.

The Imperial Navy had been, for centuries, the pride of the Imperial Armed Forces, and it still was. Several cruisers, destroyers, a few submarines, and a couple aircraft carriers, with planes in tow, were en route to Iraelia for the purpose of conducting a massive joint military exercise in the Meterran Sea. At that moment in time, they were in the middle of the sector of the Meterran Sea between Lanceria and Iraelia, and were thus not far from Nyoro's location. Leading the Imperial fleet was one Commodore Kirti Nanjiani, who was, at that time, aboard the fleet's flagship, the ISS Tantra.

Suddenly, a signal came in. It was a distress call. A petty officer quickly turned to the Commodore to relay the information. "Ma'am, we are receiving a distress call from nearby!" he said to Kirti, who wasted no time in responding. "Let's hear it." she replied. The petty officer nodded and carried out her orders, relaying the message to the bridge.

"SOS This is Nyoro Sotha of Naizerre. My vessel has broken down and I am stranded in the Meterran Sea. I require rescue. I have evidence of wrongdoing by the current Naizerre authorities with regards to the sale of -" then, there was a brief pause. "weapons of a nuclear nature. I will trade this information for asylum or passage to a safe harbor."

Kirti's eyes widened. Weapons of a nuclear nature. It was no secret that the Naizerri authorities had no love for the Empire. Imperialist air gangsters, they called them. If the Empire could get its hands on information such as that that Nyoro Sotha claimed to have, Naizerre could be ruined in the eyes of the international community. The Empire and its allies would score big political points. Kirti knew she'd be given some sort of honor for this by the Grand Admiral.

Kirti immediately sent a message back. "Nyoro Sotha, this is Commodore Kirti Nanjiani, representing the Syrixian Imperial Navy. We have a fleet of ships near to your location and we have picked up your distress signal. We are sending three ships and a submarine your way to rescue you, along with five airplanes and some helicopters, which will assist the ships in finding you and retrieving you safely. If possible, please send us your coordinates so that we may arrive as promptly as possible. Once we establish contact, we wish to offer safe passage to the Syrixian Empire. Please respond as soon as possible."

The Commodore then appointed the three ships which would be going- the Gurjara, the flagship of this taskforce, as well as the Pratihara and the Vrijji, as well as the submarine- the Narendra, the five planes, and the helicopters. Leading the operation would be the Captain of the Gurjara, Sahil Bhagia. Kirti then sent a message detailing the unfolding events directly to the Admiralty in Bokaro City, as the taskforce sailed in the signal of the SOS.

Nyoro shook her head at how ridiculous the situation was. She was on a broken down boat in the middle of the Meterran Sea with details of a secret nuclear deal between Naizerre and an unknown buyer and she didn't have any kind of GPS and the boat's transponder was broken. She didn't know anything but the vaguest of coordinates but conveyed them back out to the world. She knew Naizerre might well be aware of her actions by now, but they'd have found out eventually anyway. "Gotta keep going." She murmured to herself.

She rechecked the engines, confirming yet again that they were broken. She had supplies and would be found soon enough, but what happened then. There were multiple countries looking for this broken down boat but which could she trust? The Syrixians were the great enemy, representative of everything Naizerre could not stand. Even now, even knowing as she had for years that those thoughts were the result of a pervasive propaganda program by the state, she hated the Empire. The Goys were almost as bad, allied at the hip with them. Lanceria was seeking to join META, could they be trusted? Skanda might save her, but could just as easily just hand her over to her country. Her father. The Draconics were insane, probably. The alternative was too weird.

Secure your own safety first. The familiar words came back to her, training from the General. She got back on the radio. "This Nyoro Sotha to all ships who are in the vicinity. I am armed and until I see some kind of guarantee of safety, no one steps foot on this vessel."

---

Tsubo Tsango listened stoney faced to the broadcast.

"SOS This is Nyoro Sotha of Naizerre. My vessel has broken down and I am stranded in the Meterran Sea. I require rescue. I have evidence of wrongdoing by the current Naizerre authorities with regards to the sale of -" A pause. "weapons of a nuclear nature. I will trade this information for asylum or passage to a safe harbour."

He glanced up at the head of Naval Intelligence. "Who heard this?"

The General grimaced. "Too many. The Goys, Skandans, Drakonics, Lanceria. The airgangsters from Syrixia. Probably more. We should send out our own force. Let it be known that Sotha is suffering from PTSD. Concoct a convincing enough story and they'll detain her and hand her back to us."

"Is the fleet ready enough to stare down the power of multiple nations?"

"Most of them are sending small forces. We can send half the fleet out into the Meterran Sea. I will oversee the operation from the N.N.V. Togbata. We must prevent her from reaching our enemies."

Tsubo Tsango nodded. "Do it. Scramble jets to make it clear that we're in the area. The Marä will answer threats to our nation. Work quickly General, we do not have much time." The General departed, and the High Chief immediately called to be put through to the Naizerre's embassy in Skanda. Ambassador Kiga had worked under the High Chief in the past, and he was confident that he could get the Skandans to hand over Sotha if needed. He was to seek a meeting with the Skandan government immediately. In Gojannesstad, Ambassador Nbeki was doing the same. They needed to get this matter under control.

---

Official Statement of the Foreign Ministry of Naizerre​

Earlier today it emerged that a very ill young woman by the name of Nyoro Sotha had absconded from the naval base where she was stationed as part of the Naval Forces of the Marä of Naizerre in a stolen vessel that had been mothballed in the base. We wish to make it clear that the young woman in question is suffering from post traumatic stress disorder due to the unrest the Marä underwent in the removal from power of Mboto Jones.

Lieutenant Sotha's family and colleagues are worried about her safety and urge caution in any nation wishing to approach her vessel. The Naval Forces of the Marä of Naizerre are being dispatched to help secure the safe return of Ms Sotha, and will work with partners and other nations involved in this endeavour. Questions with regards to this matter may be addressed to the Foreign Ministry or to our Ambassadors in your nations. We thank you for your co-operation in this matter, and hope all nations will have Ms Sotha's well being at heart. Every daughter of Naizerre is precious to the Marä and we will protect them.

Click to expand...

Aboard the Soult, Captain Alain Partouneaux led the three ships farther away from the Bonaventure group. Occasionally a pair of jets from the carrier flew high over in search of the vessel and he had received word from Vice-Admiral Rochambeau that the maritime patrol aircraft flying from their base on the coast back in the Lancerian Empire were well on their way to aid in the search. They had continued to range the signal in an attempt to exactly locate the ship.

"Captain! Message from the ship, sir."
"Relay."

"This Nyoro Sotha to all ships who are in the vicinity. I am armed and until I see some kind of guarantee of safety, no one steps foot on this vessel."

The captain ordered them to continue forwards while he began to think of an appropriate response.

"Captain! Message from the Vice-Admiral, sir."
"Relay."

Captain Partouneaux listened while the admiral relayed what he himself had received from Naval Command, the Naizerri had released a public statement. The Vice-Admiral told him that the Prime Minister would soon be involved and further instructed him to continue with the rescue operation. There were other ships also searching for the woman's vessel. Continue to guarantee safe passage to the Bonaventure and back to the Empire. Regardless of whether it was true or not that the woman held nuclear secrets, the Bonaventure offered the closest extensive medical facilities to evaluate the woman and provide what aid they may, a truth that could prove they key to either rescuing a legitimately ill woman or, depending on the response of the Naizerri, finding out whether they had more invested in the woman than good wishes and therefore if the information she claims to have has any stock to it.

He began relaying a message to the comms officer.

"To Nyoro Sotha, this is Captain Alain Partouneaux of the Royal Lancerian Navy. We have received your location estimate and are continuing to search for your location. We maintain our previous offer. We will guarantee you safe passage to the Lancerian Empire aboard military vessel and aircraft and the protections those provide. The information you claim to have is important not only to the Empire but to the safety of the region. Nuclear weapons should be dismantled at every oppourtunity and a noble effort to expose them will not be ignored by our nation. If you lay down your arms, a helicopter from my ship, the HES Soult will retrieve you from your vessel and once safely aboard our vessel we will transport you to a nearby light aircraft carrier, the HES Bonaventure and then from there to the Lancerian Empire, by sea or air. I give you my word that all I speak is true. The decision remains yours, Nyoro. Captain Partouneaux out."

The captain turned to the rest of the bridge, "Keep attempting to locate the ship with our systems." He turned back to the Comms Officer, "send a message to the patrol aircraft from Halliet and keep the up-to-date with all location info we have. Send another message to Rochambeau with the transcript of the message I sent to Nyoro and request another 2 jets to assist locating the ship."

Partouneaux returned to his seat. They were going to have to act carefully.

The Cogorian destroyer Herald of Revolution had been in the general region of the incident for it's own purposes, purposes it was best no one questioned. Instead it would be more suspicious if it did little and ran, instead of acting like the simple patrol cruise it was pretending to be. The captain decided the best way to hide the illicit cargo would be to head towards the person claiming to have info on it. And so he opened the chart table and removed the newly printed stack of manilla papers. Opening the impromptu guide to the correct page he handed it to the radio operator.
"Mayday relay, Mayday relay, Mayday relay, all stations all stations all stations, this is naval vessel Herald of Revolution Herald of Revolution, Herald of Revolution. Callsign Echo Charlie Lima one, callsign echo Charlie Lima one, callsign Echo Charlie Lima one. Responding to Mayday received. Designating Herald of Revolution as on scene emergency coordinator. All vessels in the area are hereby directed to report to Herald of Revolution on channel 72, keep channel 16 clear for emergency broadcast. All vessels reporting are to await further instruction from on scene coordinator. All actions from this point forward are under on scene coordinator Herald of Revolution's jurisdiction as per POLOS regulations, political purview is non-applicable. Over."
With that the klaxons on board the destroyer began to wail in its confined spaces, waking the sleeping sailors and sending those on duty to action stations. Without the exact nature of the emergency being known the crew prepared for the worst, crates of life jackets were hauled onto deck ready for a large number of potential victims, fire parties scurried around to the railings affixing their equipment and hauling out breathing equipment for any firefighters that may have to board the stricken vessel. The ships ribs were manned and brought out over the water ready to launch and quickly approach the vessel. But more importantly, off the poop deck, the helicopter was being taken out of its cramped hanger, unfolding it's rotars the beast built up speed before gently rising to the sky on its contra rotating blades. The submarine was primarily for hunting submarines, but it could be used for search and rescue, but it was the advanced radio direction finding and ranging equipment that it would now be relying on to guide the destroyer to the stricken vessels location and to do a close fly by to establish the facts of the matter.

Banayi Liyon sat contentedly is his quarters, smoking a cigar. He sat at his desk, looking at his unfinished memoirs spread across the unkempt study. He had just finished page 119 and was proof reading it while leisurely sipping his Arak. He took some time from his reading to study his surroundings, his tight quarters and the bland interior of his ship. The EMSC-78, or the Genovican Conyevor as the crew named her, wasn't exactly made for comfort. They had but one goal in mind when building this ship, ensuring as much grain could be transported between Genovica and Iraelia as possible. Liyon never liked that, it was nowhere near as nice as his previous ship. Of course, his previous ship had been one of two nuclear powered aircraft carriers in the Iraelian Naval Defense Force, the INS Reuhen Adaret, so it is quite hard to come anywhere as close. And besides, this was better then the alternative. The Chief of General Staff wanted to promote him to High Admiral, a prospect Liyon dreaded. Sitting in board rooms, planning exercises, playing chess with the lives of other men. It sickened him. His place was on the sea, leading a fine vessel like the Adaret. Sadly, all sailors grow old, and the High Admiral they had found in his stead decided to replace him with some green boy who had never seen a real war. Disgraceful, he thought. Liyon never could leave the sea, the ocean was his mistress, and so he took what he could get. Traveling from ship to ship, captaining a myriad of different vessels, and eventually ending up on the Genovican Conveyor, likely the last vessel he will ever captain. Several tears came to Liyons eyes, which he quickly dotted with a hankerchief. It was a bittersweet end to his career, but an inevitability.

Liyon's train of thought was interrupted as he heard the sound of a pen come into contact with the floor. He fumbled to grasp the pen, finally grabbing it and returning to the table. As he set down the pen, he saw his hands shake. He had spent far too long writing this book, he needed to lie down. So as he finished his corrections, he organized his writings into a neat stack on the table, and lay down in his bunk. As he began to doze off to sleep, he heard a knock on the door, startling him awaked.

"What is it?" He asked, half asleep.

"Captain, we've detected something, another vessel we think. It isn't moving, what should we do?"

Liyon was puzzled, this sort of encounter was unusual, but it could all just be a coincidence. Liyon weighed his options, evaluated the pros and cons of each side, and then offered an answer.

"Attempt to radio the crew, if we receive no response we will investigate the ship. If we do receive a response, call me and we shall respond accordingly," he said.

Liyon rubbed his eyes as he pulled himself from the bed. He put on his formal attire and made his way towards the Bridge. Little did he know he was about to become involved in an international incident, the magnitude of which he couldn't even conceive.

Above the Meterran Sea one of the LN-3 Polaire maritime patrol craft dispatched by the RLN flies in search of the stricken vessel. The crew sits quietly accompanied by the drone of the turboprops, their study of gauges, screens, and the sea broken only by occasional chatter amongst themselves and the radio communications from the ships below. The radio begins to receive another such communication.

"Attention ships in the area. This is Captain Alain Partouneaux of the HES Soult broadcasting on all channels, speaking on behalf of Vice-Admiral Jacques Rochambeau of the Royal Lancerian Navy and by extension The Lancerian Empire. Under my direct command are several ships that make up one half of the HES Bonaventure Light Carrier Group responding to the distress call by one Naizerri vessel. It is currently our intention to recover the individual or crew of the distressed ship. My vessels have the resources to successfully rescue both ship and crew without assistance. As I'm sure you've heard the Naizerri government has suggested that the individual in question is quote 'very ill'. The Bonaventure is the nearest vessel with extensive medical facilities, beyond the scope that a frigate or destroy may provide, and is therefore the best location for immediate medical care should it be required. We are we nearest safe Lancerian waters and the Lancerian Empire is also one of the nearest landmasses whereby the individual may receive medical attention further beyond the scope of what may be accomplished at sea and is not only the shortest sea distance for the Naizerri vessel to be towed but is also the closest nation distance-wise to Naizerre such that the ship may be returned promptly instead of with much delay. The Empire is therefore the best location to take the individual for extended care of person and ship. With all due respect to your efforts, especially that of the Herald of Revolution, it is the best course of action for the RLN to respond to this call. Should the individual aboard the stricken vessel request Lancerian aid specifically, it is our duty to assist to the best of our abilities and in that case we will insist that the RLN is the one to provide it. Captain Partouneaux out."

---

From: Prime Minister Isaac Oudinot of The Lancerian Empire
To: The Foreign Ministry of Naizerre
Re: Stricken Naizerri Vessel

It is with saddened concern we hear about the theft of a naval vessel by those of unsound mind. Mental health is an ever-present issue that Empire has been seeking to tackle for several years now both with awareness and treatment. To steal a ship, claim bombastic nonsense of nuclear weapons, and sail deep into the middle of the sea is surely a potential sign of an unwell woman and we offer our deepest condolences, especially when it is a brave member of the military that is overwhelmed and snaps to do such a thing. PTSD is something that we are familiar with. Among the elderly of the Empire remain those who remember the Civil War that rocked the lands that now make up our nation. It is not uncommon among those same elders to suffer of that terrible condition to this day. In the development of the health services of the Empire in years after the war, the sheer number of cases meant it was natural that PTSD and strategies to treat it became a priority. It is from that position that we can offer sympathy and understanding to the woman who so clearly suffers dearly from it.

I do also approach you with good news. It came to my attention that in the area of the vessel lies one our of light carrier groups, on routine patrol some distance off the coast of Archlancer Island and that has begun to respond to the distress call. Lead among these ships is the light carrier HES Bonaventure herself. Of all the ships responding to the call, I have no doubt that none other has the extensive hospital-like medical facilities and capabilities that she has so that Ms. Sotha may be attended to most appropriately, and further, promptly. It is therefore obvious that the Bonaventure is the best immediate destination for the next step in Ms. Sotha's rescue. You have called that all involved keep the well-being of Ms. Sotha close to heart and we believe we can answer that call better than any other. With that in mind, I personally request that this information be passed on to the other nations moving to rescue her such that Naizerri authorities back the RLN as the ones to retrieve Ms. Sotha from her stricken vessel and request that other vessels give way to those efforts.

Well wishes, and once again our condolences,

Isaac Oudinot
Prime Minister of The Lancerian Empire

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The old Prime Minister sent the message and leaned back in his seat. The words he sent were not untrue. Nowhere had he told a lie or half-truth, but every sentence and every word was intentional, carefully picked to be both innocent and meaningful. If there was any truth to the words the woman spoke, the message would put the Naizerri in a difficult situation. To respond in the positive would give the Lancerians the blessing of the Naizerri to recover a Naizerri citizen, giving them the most authority to recover the woman and her vessel, but to do so would also mean that she would undergo a mental evaluation as soon as she was on-board the Bonaventure. There she may be proven sane and begin to reveal her secrets either to the Vice-Admiral on-board or to authorities in the Empire once she was flown back to Halliet Army Air Base. If they responded in the negative, in the hopes to keep the information away from the Empire, then they would be partially showing their hand. If she was truly ill and they were seeking the best for her, the Bonaventure was the best course. To deny the RLN their backing would not be the best for her well-being and therefore going directly against the statement they put out. The Empire would still learn there was truth to the woman's words and that there was indeed something of a nuclear nature the Naizerri were trying to hide. On the other hand, if the woman was indeed ill and the Naizerri were telling the truth, then the message was still a win. They'd no doubt appreciate that the Empire was so willing to assist a lone ill sailor stuck on the seas with personal address from the Prime Minister to go along, easy bonus points in the Empire's effort to join META.

The Prime Minister nodded to himself, pushed back his chair, and left his office.

"This is Nyoro Sotha to all ships who are in the vicinity. I am armed and until I see some kind of guarantee of safety, no one steps foot on this vessel."

The message came in, and Captain Bhagia responded quickly. "Nyoro Sotha, this is Captain Sahil Bhagia of the ISS Gurjara. We have, via your signal, found an estimated area where you may be located, and we will maintain our search for you. We ask that you lay down your arms. We know your government does not have the highest opinion of ours, but we wish to put any grievances you may have aside to save the life of a human being. We intend to, should you lay down your arms, send a helicopter to retrieve you safely and bring you back to the ISS Narendra, one of our large aircraft carriers. Once aboard, you will be given free passage to the Syrixian Empire. Please respond at your earliest convenience. Bhagia out."

Later, after a period of continued sailing towards the signal, the Captain picked up a new message. This one wasn't from Sotha- it was a Lancerian frequency. "Attention ships in the area." it said. "This is Captain Alain Partouneaux of the HES Soult broadcasting on all channels, speaking on behalf of Vice-Admiral Jacques Rochambeau of the Royal Lancerian Navy and by extension The Lancerian Empire. Under my direct command are several ships that make up one half of the HES Bonaventure Light Carrier Group responding to the distress call by one Naizerri vessel. It is currently our intention to recover the individual or crew of the distressed ship. My vessels have the resources to successfully rescue both ship and crew without assistance."

"As I'm sure you've heard the Naizerri government has suggested that the individual in question is quote 'very ill'. The Bonaventure is the nearest vessel with extensive medical facilities, beyond the scope that a frigate or destroy may provide, and is therefore the best location for immediate medical care should it be required. We are we nearest safe Lancerian waters and the Lancerian Empire is also one of the nearest landmasses whereby the individual may receive medical attention further beyond the scope of what may be accomplished at sea and is not only the shortest sea distance for the Naizerri vessel to be towed but is also the closest nation distance-wise to Naizerre such that the ship may be returned promptly instead of with much delay."

The message then concluded, "The Empire is therefore the best location to take the individual for extended care of person and ship. With all due respect to your efforts, especially that of the Herald of Revolution, it is the best course of action for the RLN to respond to this call. Should the individual aboard the stricken vessel request Lancerian aid specifically, it is our duty to assist to the best of our abilities and in that case we will insist that the RLN is the one to provide it. Captain Partouneaux out." As the message ended, Bhagia sat for a moment in contemplation. The Lancerians were en route to Sotha as well. Perhaps other nations were sending their forces. Only time would tell, but Bhagia knew one thing- he had to get to Sotha first. His best guess was that the Naizerri were lying- it seemed plainly obvious.

He, however, could not jump the gun. Communicating with the Admiralty, he had been given orders to, upon reaching Sotha, continue with his plan- get Sotha aboard the Gurjara first, and then aboard the Narendra for a mental examination. Should she be proven sane, her information would be a political goldmine for the Empire; but there was always a chance the Naizerri were telling the truth. Bhagia began to relay a message back. "This is Captain Sahil Bhagia of the ISS Gurjara, speaking on behalf of Commodore Kirti Nanjiani, the Imperial Admiralty, and therefore by extension the Syrixian Empire. We have received your message regarding the recovery of Nyoro Sotha and any crew that may be with that individual. Another ship of the Syrixian Imperial Navy taskforce headed towards Sotha's location, the Narendra, also contains the type of extensive medical facilities you have specified to have."

"In this sense, we wish to extend an offer of collaboration to you, in the recovery and rescue of Sotha, and any medical care needed. We seem to both be en route to Sotha- let us work together. In that capacity, I also propose to meet with you in person, when we both reach Sotha's ship to discuss the matter further. Bhagia out."

The Skandans were rather surprised to get a statement from Naizerre, and were just now being made aware of the situation. It seemed as though a certain captain had acted without order... Although that was punishable, they were also doing it to try and further the relations of Skanda and Naizerre, which was respectable. The light punishments to the captain would come later, but right now was the time for action. The Commisar of Foreign Affairs, Hiroshi Masada, prepared for a meeting with the Naizerri ambassador in Saito.

In the meantime, the Commissar of Defense, Miyoko Ishikawa, with approval from Misaka Tawanoa herself, was responding to the situation in the Meterran Sea. She spoke directly to Captain Torajiro via radio. She had been made aware of the exact situation, at least from Torajiro’s perspective. The plans at the time were a little bit impromptu, but they’d work for now.

“Captain, I give you permission to use whatever methods needed to guarantee her safety, at least temporarily. We’ll update you on the situation with the Naizerri government, but until then, tell her nothing of the situation outside of the Meterran Sea. If you meet a foreign ship there, do not stop your attempt at rescuing Lieutenant Sotha. If they attempt to stop you… Radio back with details. Do not open fire. We don’t want a war on our hands. If possible, cooperate with this “Herald of Revolution”. You have your orders. Commissar Ishikawa, over and out.”

Captain Torajiro spoke quickly to the radio operator of the Shi’jise, who nodded before picking up the radio and handing it to Torajiro. He began speaking into it in a calm tone.

“Mrs. Sotha, this is Captain Torajiro of the HKM Shi’jise. With approval from our Commisar of Foreign Affairs, Hiroshi Masada, I have been authorized to assure your safety. We are also authorized to tell you that you will be granted temporary asylum of at least half a year within one of the Special Economic Zone’s of Skanda. We’re en route. Over.”

Kazato didn’t feel amazing about lying, but it was the only way to keep the girl calm. Not to mention that in the grand scheme of things, it would be very much worth it. He spoke to the radio operator once more, who spoke to Commissar Ishikawa and updated her on the situation. The boat sped up, and began moving towards the coordinates that Mrs. Sotha had provided.

"Hmm, so they are trying to claim she has PTSD?" Captain James asks.
"Yes sir, now I know how countries can get trying to hide something behind a disease but this seems much more bigger than that", Sargeant Outtaker replies while everyone else aboard the Draconic Wing scrambles looking for the broken ship and sends out all of their radar planes accompanies by escorts in case of armed conflict.
"We must find the ship, they would be smart to choose Draconics as a safe place considering Naizzere had Demescia to their north and they can only reach us by plane, our ships can defend against a sea invasion and they can't really get to us by land unless they invade two other nations as well. Grrr....WORK FASTER THE FATE OF THE KINGDOM AND THE KING'S TRUST IS UPON US WE MUST NOT FAIL!!!! SEND ALL OF OUR ESCORTS WITH THOSE PLANES!!!" Captain James looks anxious and sits down in his quarters after he closes the door.
"I cannot let Draconics possibly be threatened by nukes."
Everone runs faster dodging themselves so they don't run into each other and every plane is sent off of the aircraft carrier with the planes sending out a signal every once in a while, stating themselves to assure the safety of Nyro Sotha with a safe and escorted passage into Draconics and the king's castle itself.
Notboss looks out into the window facing northwest, which looks out into the rest of Draconics and imagines a mushroom cloud with fire in it all over draconics and he blinks and it all disappears, "Peace for all", he says with anxiety.