Poseidon's Wrath

[Ionia]

Pefki District, Ithinai, Ionian Confederacy
5:39

It was another quiet, warm and sunny June day in Ionia's Capital City, Ithinai. Nearchus, a Navarch (Admiral) of the Ionian Navy, was enjoying a day off. Ithinai was quite foresty for an Ionian City, even by the standards of Gallo-Germania. Pefki, the area in whcih he lived in fact, literary translated into Pine from the numerous pines that filled it. Yet it didn't escape the scorching Ionian sun. Not that the Nearchus and the other Ionians had a problem with that; the bright sun breathed life into their land and made them warm and pleasant people. And the bright white, marble-built Neoclassical buildings that composed most Ionian cities almost in their entirety, were also present in Pefki and of course all of Ithinai, reflecting the sunlight with their bleach white surface.

Nearchus walked to a kiosk on a side walk to buy ice cream for his kids and a newspaper. Hermes, a centrist newspaper was the paper of choice for him and his family, along with Poseidon a known Naval Magazine. He didn't rush, the normal day was rare and relaxing for him and the other Ionian Naval personnel. And then he heard a familiar voice calling him;

"Navarch, Navarch!" shouted a young man in uniform rushing toward him;
"What is it Lieutenant Psaras, my good man? Why are you in uniform already, we have the entire weekend off."

Nearchus was close and friendly with his men. For that exact reason he sensed that something was wrong; though he honestly hoped he was wrong for once.

"We're mobilizing! The Arrentines are trying to lay claim to the islands of our Archipelago and HQ mobilized us and contacted our allied forces to assist us!"
"Holy Mother of God!" he kissed his kids and left them two times the money they needed to pay, just to be sure; "Pay up and go home as fast as you can. Daddy has to go to work right now, I'll see you later OK?" The kids nodded and followed his words.
The Admiral was already in uniform, though not in his official ceremonial one, but rather a service uniform used when personnel was off duty, or not in Naval Base facilities.
"Come on we have to get to the Admiralty!"

Lesbos, Ionian Archipelago, Ionian Confederacy
6:14

An Averof Class heavy battleship was moving toward the island of Lesbos, one of the largest Ionian islands and the closest one to the Arrentine Empire, to take part in emergency exercises put together by the Ministry of Defence.
"12' o clock!" said the observation officer;
"Fire!" ordered the captain;
The guns of the ship, named Poseidon, an Averof Class dreadnought and one of the world's largest, turned unleashing their wrath upon a dummy ship made for the drills.
The dummy ship was torn to pieces, light ablaze with entire sections of its haul missing and massive holes on both sides, sinking rapidly into the Ionian Archipelago's crystal waters.

"Target neutralized dispatch."
"Roger that. All ships this is HQ, return to base. Battle-groups Bravo 01 and 02 remain at positions and perform patrols in our territorial waters and exclusive economic zone near Lesbos. The rest regroup and await new orders. Command out."

The heard of ships that was the Ionian 1st Fleet obeyed the command moving to their tasked positions.

 

[Arretine Empire]

The Emperor walked about slowly in the Imperial War Room, looking at the enormous map laid before him. He gazed at the island of Naxium and the markers surrounding it. "They certainly are getting antsy about a letter, fake as it may be. However I don't suppose I expected them to react quite as quickly as they have."

Admiral Cloalius Ovidius was right next to him, also analyzing the map, "They appear to have made quite the mobilization. We've noticed fleet movements around Naxium, and increased patrols."

"Oh Admiral, remember it isn't Naxium," his voice dripping with sarcasm, "It's Lesbos. The entire world is mocking us."

"Oh of course..."

Martinus waved his hand, "Goodness Cloalius, let the Emperor have a bit of fun."

"Sorry, I'm not used to an Emperor with a sense of humor."

"Of course, " Martinus chuckled, "I want a patrol to run through a portion of their economic zone. Make it one of the older battlecruisers. Don't however let them cross into their territorial waters. However I don't want any mobilization on our part, let us watch. I'll fashion a press statement later today."

 

[Ionia]

(OOC: What is this all about anyway?)

Ionian Naval Command
8:52

"Sir a group of Arrentine Battlecruisers just breached our Exclusive Economic Zone."
"Send Dreadnoughts to intercept them and escort them out. Fire warning shots. Double our patrols, this time on the EEZ not just the territorial waters. I want the next intruders intercepted before they even enter out EEZ."

The 12th Battle-group of the 1st Fleet executed the Admiral's command. The incident was publicized, giving a little more support to the Ionian side.

 

[Arretine Empire]

OOC: Arretines are trying to expand their empire, through territorial or political means. Sadly Ionia was just conveniently the only nation to border Arretium, and it forged a defense pact that threatened Arretine dominance of the Long Sea. Nothing personal.


"They seem to believe that we have sent an entire fleet. The Toretum reports shots fired, and they are requesting orders."

Martinus stroked his chin, "This is a fascinating experience. If they think we have more ships than we do in that area we have the upper hand. Send a tug from the closest fleet, I want them to approach with the intent to tow the ship away. Have the Toretum send out a general distress call."

"What do you think they will do?" The admiral asked.

"I'm not certain, put all fleets on alert, but don't move them away from their normal positions or routes." Martinus said.

 

[Ionia]

OOC: So what will this achieve?

"Sir they are sanding more ships."

"Send three full battle Groups. Radio them ordering them to leave, due to our numerical superiority. Contact the 2nd Fleet to move near, in case the 1st Fleet needs large scale support."

 

[Arretine Empire]

"Are they serious? Are they sending their fleets against a battlecruiser and a single tugboat? We aren't even in their national waters, their king is insane" The admiral stated, completely shocked.

"Its seems they are... There is no need to waste the lives of the men on that cruiser. Tell them to retreat."

One of the admirals officers was on the radio talking back an forth for a moment, "Sire the tug has reached the battlecruiser."

The emperor again paused to think about his options, the Ionians firing on a simple tug would make the Arretines look like saints, "Evacuate the crew and get the battlecruiser out of there, Admiral convene the rest of the war staff here in two hours . Before the crew leaves order them to scuttle the tug. We can use this. It appears Ionia is at war with us."

 

[Oneida]

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Servicio de telegrama
Armada Real


viernes 6.6.1954

Encriptación: máximo


desde: Fortaleza Real Orden Central
a: Fleets operating in the Long Sea

subj: Mobilization
estado de alerta: Rojo


Effective immediately, all current operations in the Long Sea are terminated and all vessels are to immediately converge at the location stated within this message. Hostilities between the Arretine Empire and Ionia have gone critical as the Ionian Nation is believed to have fired upon an Arretine Vessel. All Aurarine Ships of the Royal Armada are to be on stand by for immediate deployment in the event that the order is given. Fortaleza Real is following the situation with the highest severity.

It is imperative that the fleets maintain stealth for as long as possible as detection by the Ionian Navy could result in hostile actions.

Godspeed

tear here

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[Rheinbund]

OOC: Noted. Expect my Navy to send some ships as well, although it won't be a complete fleet.

 

[Arretine Empire]

In the war room, the head of each branch of the Arretine military was present with the Emperor, each ready to give a brief on how they planned either a defense against the Ionian agression, or a preemptive strike.

Emperor Martinus stood at the head of the war room table. He had been thinking long and hard about the current situation. Everything was in his favor, a response from the international community he did not expect to receive. But he had to approach this situation carefully.

"Admiral, generals, I believe I have a plan that may work if you are willing to entertain me. Our main obstacle is the Ionian fleet deployments in their northwest. They have taken an incredibly aggressive stance against us, and their deployment of their naval assets is substantial to say the least. But our own navy needs to begin to act before other Long Sea powers get it into their head to start getting in the way. I believe we should take the First Fleet and post it in international waters directly outside of their territory. The Second and Third fleets should be mobilized in international waters just outside our own territory. Then last, the Fourth fleet, I want them moved deeper to the east, north of Ionia in reserve."

"My Emperor, exactly what is it you wish to accomplish?" Admiral Ovidius asked.

"We need to fight this on our own terms. I want a crushing victory. But I'll make my plans known to you later, just do as I asked. Now unfortunately my knowledge on ground based warfare is much less extensive. General if you please?"

General Abu al-Fadl 'Ismat stood and made a slight bow to the Emperor. "Thank you my Emperor. As far as we can tell the Ionian army has not taken the same aggressive stance as their naval forces. However in the event that Ionian ground forces plan to assault Arretine lands we will need to be ready. I propose assembling five to six divisions and posting them on the border in a defensive posture. In addition to the defensive forces I also suggest we prepare the first ,second, and third field armies for first strike. Our best strategy is to take the Third field army and cut Ionia in half. Through the middle of the country, the amount of land to Long Sea from the border is substantially small, compared to the rest of the country. At the same time the First field army will hit the north and the second will take the south. The rest of our forces will act in reserve. We believe the south of Ionia would fall first in the event of a ground war. We can then press fully on the northern front."

Martinus nodded, mulling over the options to himself. "Which if this comes to war, a decisive naval victory will be all the more important. Naval support in the north will no doubt mean everything. The airforce will critical on all fronts. However, they will be most needed to disable the Ionian navy. We all know that air power now means more than all the ships in the world in a naval engagement. When they come to us we hit them with everything and don't stop. We can't stop until they totally capitulate."