Battlefleet of the Fox

[aimway921]

[OOC Note: This post is made retroactively, taking place in Fall 1931 because irl stuff has delayed me from posting it earlier]


Time was running short. It was already fall, and if they didn't hurry, the oceans to the South would soon freeze over. An urgent letter has been sent to Mil'Nor by the Royal Navy Admiral Vinneamin Gurevich, requesting that the two Ice Breakers provided by Mil'Nor to the temporary service of the Royal Navy, The Rubicon and the Sunbearer, sail out towards Ashinara to meet the Royal Navy, just in case they arrive too late and need the Ice Breakers help to make it towards the leased Mil'Nor port through the ices.

Meanwhile the Royal Navy loaded up. A flotilla of 3 Ironclad Battleships, 3 Light Cruisers, 5 Monitors 5 Torpedo Destroyers, 10 Frigates and 15 Corvettes, accompanied by 10 Medium Passenger Ships to ferry the 5,000 Marines (special infantry) for the incursion into Southern UST, and 20 Medium Cargo ships to carry all the equipment they would need to operate on the possibility of a lack of supply lines for some time. In addition, 30 more Medium Cargo Ships would carry the 115,000 units of Silver for payment to Mil'Nor - which would return to Ashinara as soon as they unload their cargo - as well as 10,000 units of Coal as back-up fuel in case they get stranded too far to be refueled at a friendly port.

Upon their arrival in the leased Mil'Nor port, the crews and passengers of the fleet would be stationed on their ships, although they would be allowed to acquire food and lodgings on shore out of their own pocket should they so desire, and should the Mil'Nor authorities permit it. Additional 50,000 Units of silver over the agreed amount of 65,000 units would be brought in case of unforeseen spending - which, given the amount of ships and troops coming, the Admiralty predicted will take place. 

The Battlefleet would wait over the winter in Mil'Nor, before heading out towards the UST southern shoreline in spring as the ices thaw.

[Kira]

The message had thankfully been received in time, the Rubicon and Sunbearer having steamed through the late fall waves to escort the Ashinarians to port in the Capital of New Raltera. Preparations had been made according to the trade treaty, the Mil'Nor port authorities offering what assistance the Ashinarians were willing to pay cost for. A great deal of care was given to the procurement of the silver, with portions of the payment being kept portside as the rest was transported to the reserves of the Clans.

[aimway921]

Spring was in full swing. Ices were almost entirely melted. It was time.

Having loaded up the troops and supplies, and left the remainder of their silver for safekeeping, and the transport ships that were now empty returning to Ashinara, the fleet sailed out. Bending around the South-Eastern tip of Touli, headed straight for UST waters. First order of business - find and rendezvous with the Franerri fleet to get an idea of the situation in the Southern waters, the state of the enemy fleet, and share a plan of action. According to the latest intelligence they had, they were going to land on the UST-controlled island off the coast of Kithium, so that is where the Ashinaran fleet would head. They would sail within horizon distance of the island, looking for Franerre ships.