Blood In the Water (53 page)

There remained a sense in Baalkpan that the war against the Doms was going poorly, despite recent victories. That was probably due largely to the fact that those victories had been so costly, and the Grik threat was understandably perceived as closer and more urgent. But along with the chaos surrounding the finalization of the framework for a new, mostly Lemurian nation came news of the disaster that had befallen TF Alden, rumors of vast Grik armies poised to throw the Allies off Mada-gaas-gar, and perhaps most devastating of all, the loss of
Amerika
and the confirmation that both Chairman Adar and the much-beloved “Lady” Sandra were prisoners of the hated “Kuro-kaa-waa.” It had, in fact, been Bolton Forester who strongly advised that his nation's allies must immediately acclaim a new chairman to prevent the chaos from becoming catastrophic, as well as any perception by their enemies that the Alliance would be paralyzed by the loss of its leader.

Alan Letts presided over a whirlwind meeting of the new legislature—the very first official assembly—and a number of measures were proposed and adopted. The first was a name for their country. That had been delayed until Adar's return, out of respect, but now everyone recognized how important it was to have that seemingly inconsequential but highly symbolic issue settled at at last. The name, “United Homes,” had been accepted and acclaimed unanimously, though most continued to call it the “Union.” A committee had been established to create a flag emblematic of all the members in some way. Resolutions of support for the armies in the field and fleets at sea were made, along with appropriations (mainly contributions from the various Homes, at this point) for the continued expansion of the armaments and shipbuilding industries in Baalkpan and Maa-ni-la, as well as assistance in creating or expanding those facilities in Austraal and Indiaa. That caused the first real grumbling, particularly when it was argued that some resources must continue to flow to the East and the war against the Doms. But the New Britain Isles didn't need money, material, or even troops anymore; they just needed more examples of the latest weapons, technology, and machines so they could build them for themselves. Ultimately, that was passed as well.

There remained only the final momentous decision of who would be the very first “official” chairman, essentially prime minister, of the new nation. It had been a given that Adar would take that post upon his return, but now he wasn't coming back. At least until they could rescue him. And, like Forester said, they couldn't leave it with him, even in name, as long as he was in captivity. Someone else had to do it. And so it was that Alan Letts, to his stunned amazement, was unanimously acclaimed chairman of the United Homes. He couldn't believe it. Not only was he clearly associated with Captain Reddy's “American Navy” Clan, he wasn't even a 'Cat, for Chrissakes! His clan apparently didn't matter then—or yet. Any chairman would always be a member of
some
clan, after all. And they were at war. Who better than a representative of the most intrinsically martial clan to lead them? Even the Sularaans voted for him, probably in a rare fit of practicality, considering the critical state of the war. Despite agreeing completely with Forester's reasoning, Alan desperately recommended that he just continue to “keep Adar's seat warm.” His proposal was not accepted.

Well,
he thought now, rather hopefully, looking at the delegation of officers he'd come to see,
they can always boot me out. Probably will
. He cleared his throat. “If you know I'm chairman, I guess you got the rest of the word. About TF Alden—and that roach nest on Zanzibar.”

Cook, Brassey, and I'Joorka all nodded. “Then it may not come as a surprise that you won't be going east after all.” Cook didn't react, but I'joorka leaned forward. “That's right. In light of the current situation, the First North Borno will immediately be issued Allin-Silva rifles from the Baalkpan Arsenal and prepare to embark for the West. Once there, you'll report to Captain Reddy for operations against the Grik.” He nodded at Cook and Brassey. “You've already been acting like it to this point, helping Major I'joorka, but I'm making it official. You're both breveted to the rank of Marine captain.” He smiled slightly. “That'll keep you in the skipper's ‘Navy' Clan, and make it easier to assign you to the First North Borno for the duration of its deployment, since King Scott has, not surprisingly, aligned his Home with the Navy.” He closed his eyes and shook his head. “I'm sure this'll all be second nature to us someday, but right now it's still confusing as hell. And I helped write the damn ‘Articles of Union' myself!”

“Lord Forester?” Brassey asked with an undertone of excitement. “Is this acceptable?”

Bolton nodded, rubbing his gray mustache. “Of course, dear boy. You have seen more action than most men twice your age. And any number of our people have been assigned to Union forces and hold Union rank.” Brassey grinned happily, looking at his friend Abel. Both had been excited to return to the Empire, Cook in particular, due to his affection for the Governor-Empress. But this would certainly do as an alternative. Captains! At their age!

Letts looked at I'joorka. “Of course, these appointments are all subject to Major I'joorka's okay.”

I'joorka was displaying what amounted to a Khonashi grin, despite the terrifying array of teeth it revealed. “Glad to ha' they,” he said. “Glad to ha' the Allin-Sil'as too.” He gestured back at the ranks of troops behind him. “Us are . . . delighted to ser' King Scott, Ca'tain Reddy, and our country against our greatest ene'ies. Do you know how Ca'tain Reddy is going to use us?”

Alan shrugged. “I might as well tell you. For security reasons, none of your troops will be allowed in Baalkpan before you sail anyway, and that could be a few days. We're having hell scaring up enough transports. You'll need the time, in any event, to familiarize yourselves with your new weapons when they arrive.” He raised his chin. “My guess is that the First North Borno will join the First Raider Brigade when it hits Zanzibar, while the rest of the army goes for Sofesshk. You'll root out that bed of Jap-Grik snakes once and for all.”

I'joorka seemed immensely pleased. “Good. Us got a lot to . . . show,” he admitted. “To show all the country that not all Grik-like . . .” He searched for a word for “people” that he could say and gave up, waving. “Us are
not
Grik. This is our chance.” He paused. “There is one other thing I'd ask o' you though, 'ister Chair'an.”

“Oh?”

I'joorka glanced at Cook and Brassey, then swung his gaze back to the chairman of the United Homes. “Us go to Zanzi'ar and land on shore against real Jaaphs . . . I'd like to ha' the ‘tanks' you showed us.”

Alan actually grinned, then cocked his head to one side, recalling that I'joorka and his people had fought Japanese before. “Okay,” he said. “I'll see what I can do.”

SPECIFICATIONS

USS
Walker
(DD-163)
—Wickes (Little) Class four-stack, or flush-deck, destroyer. Twin screw, steam turbines, 1,200 tons, 314
′
x 30
′
. Top speed (as designed): 35 knots. 112 officers and enlisted (current) including Lemurians (L). Armament: (Main)—3 x 4
″
-50 + 1 x 4
″
-50 dual purpose. (Secondary)—4 x 25 mm Type-96 AA, 4 x .50-cal MG, 2 x .30-cal MG. 40–60 Mk-6 (or “equivalent”) depth charges for 2 stern racks and 2 Y guns (with adapters). 2 x 21
″
triple-tube torpedo mounts. Impulse-activated catapult for PB-1B Nancy seaplane.

USS
Mahan
(DD-102)
—(Under repair at Madras.) Wickes Class four-stack, or flush-deck, destroyer. Twin screw, steam turbines, 960 tons, 264
′
x 30
′
(as rebuilt). Top speed estimated at 25 knots. Rebuild has resulted in shortening, and removal of 2 funnels and 2 boilers. Otherwise, her armament and upgrades are the same as those of USS
Walker
.

USS
James Ellis
—
Walker
Class four-stack, or flush-deck, destroyer. Twin screw, steam turbines, 1,300 tons, 314
′
x 30
′
. Top speed (in trials): 37 knots. 115 officers and enlisted. Armament: (Main)—4 x 4
″
-50 dual purpose. 4 x .50-cal MG, 6 x .30-cal MG. 40–60 Mk-6 (or “equivalent”) depth charges for 2 stern racks and 2 Y guns (with adapters). 2 x 21
″
quadruple-tube torpedo mounts. Impulse-activated catapult for PB-1B Nancy seaplane.

USS
Andamaan
—Protected troopship converted from Grik BB—800
′
x 100
′
, 18,000 tons. Twin screw, triple-expansion Baalkpan Navy Yard steam engine, max speed 16 knots. Crew: 400. 100 stacked motor dories mounted on sliding davits. Armament: 4 x 4
″
-50 dual purpose.

USS
Tarakaan Island
(SPD—Self-Propelled Dry Dock)
—Twin screw, triple-expansion steam, 15,990 tons, 800
′
x 100
′
. Armament: 3 x 4
″
-50 dual purpose, 6 x .30-cal MGs.

USS
Santa Catalina
(CA-P-1)
—“Protected Cruiser.” Formerly general cargo. 8,000 tons, 420
′
x 53
′
, triple-expansion steam, oil-fired, 10 knots (as reconstructed). Retains significant cargo/troop capacity, and has a seaplane catapult with recovery booms aft. 240 officers and enlisted. Armament: 4 x 5.5
″
mounted in armored casemate. 2 x 4.7
″
DP in armored tubs. 1 x 10
″
breech-loading rifle (20
′
length) mounted on spring-assisted pneumatic recoil pivot.

USNRS (US Navy Reserve Ship)
Salissa
, “Big Sal”
(CV-1)
—Aircraft carrier/tender, converted from seagoing Lemurian Home. Single screw, triple-expansion steam, 13,000 tons, 1,009
′
x 200
′
. Armament: 2 x 5.5
″
, 2 x 4.7
″
DP, 4 x twin mount 25-mm AA, 20 x 50 pdrs (as reduced), 50 aircraft.

USNRS
Arracca
(CV-3)
—Aircraft carrier/tender converted from seagoing Lemurian Home. Single screw, triple-expansion steam, 14,670 tons, 1009
′
x 210
′
. Armament: 2 x 4.7
″
DP, 50 x 50 pdrs. 50 aircraft.

USS
Maaka-Kakja
(CV-4)
—(Purpose-built aircraft carrier/tender.) Specifications are similar to
Arracca
, but it is capable of carrying upward of 80 aircraft—with some stowed in crates.

USS
Baalkpan Bay
(CV-5)
—(Purpose-built aircraft carrier/tender.) First of a new class of smaller (850
′
x 150
′
, 9,000 tons), faster (up to 15 knots), lightly armed (4 x Baalkpan Arsenal 4
″
-50 DP guns—2 amidships, 1 each forward and aft) fleet carriers that can carry as many aircraft as
Maaka-Kakja
.

USS
Donaghey
(DD-2)
—Square rig sail only, 1200 tons, 168
′
x 33
′
, 200 officers and enlisted. Sole survivor of first new construction. Armament: 24 x 18 pdrs, Y gun and depth charges.

*
Dowden
Class
—(Square rig steamer, 1,500 tons, 12–15 knots, 185
′
x 34
′
, 20 x 32 pdrs, Y gun and depth charges, 218 officers and enlisted.)

**
Haakar-Faask
Class
—(Square rig steamer, 15 knots, 1,600 tons, 20
′
x 36
′
, 20 x 32 pdrs, Y gun and depth charges, 226 officers and enlisted.)

***
Scott
Class
—(Square rig steamer, 17 knots, 1,800 tons, 210
′
x 40
′
, 20 x 50 pdrs, Y gun and depth charges, 260 officers and enlisted.)

Corvettes (DEs)
—Captured Grik “Indiamen,” primarily of the earlier (lighter) design. “Razeed” to the gun deck, these are swift, agile, dedicated sailors with three masts and a square rig. 120–160
′
x 30–36
′
, about 900 tons (tonnage varies depending largely on armament, which also varies from 10 to 24 guns that range in weight and bore diameter from 12–18 pdrs). Y gun and depth charges.

Auxiliaries
—Still largely composed of purpose-altered Grik “Indiamen,” small and large, and used as transports, oilers, tenders, and general cargo. A growing number of steam auxiliaries have joined the fleet, with dimensions and appearance similar to Dowden and
Haakar-Faask
Class DDs, but with lighter armament. Some fast Clipper-shaped vessels are employed as long-range oilers. Fore-and-aft-rigged feluccas remain in service as fast transports and scouts.
Respite Island
Class SPDs (self-propelled dry dock) are designed along similar lines to the new purpose-built carriers—inspired by the massive seagoing Lemurian Homes. They are intended as rapid deployment, heavy-lift dry docks, and for bulky transport.

USNRS
Salaama-Na
Home
—(Unaltered—other than by emplacement of 50 x 50 pdrs.) 1014
′
x 150
′
, 8,600 tons. 3 tripod masts support semirigid “junklike” sails or “wings.” Top speed about 6 knots, but capable of short sprints up to 10 knots using 100 long sweeps. In addition to living space in the hull, there are three tall pagoda-like structures within the tripods that cumulatively accommodate up to 6,000 people.

Woor-Na
Home
—Lightly armed (ten 32 pdrs) heavy transport, specifications as above.

P-40-E Warhawk
—Allison V1710, V12, 1,150 hp. Max speed 360 mph, ceiling 29,000 ft. Crew: 1. Armament: 6 x .50-cal Browning MGs, and up to 1,000-lb. bomb.

PB-1B “Nancy”
—“W/G” type, in-line 4 cyl 150 hp. Max speed 110 mph, max weight 1,900 lbs. Crew: 2. Armament: 400-lb. bombs.

PB-2 “Buzzard”
—3 x “W/G” type, in-line 4 cyl 150 hp. Max speed 80 mph, max weight 3,000 lbs. Crew: 2, and up to 6 passengers. Armament: 600-lb. bombs.

PB-5 “Clipper”
—4 x “W/G” type, in-line 4 cyl 150 hp. Max speed 90 mph, max weight 4,800 lbs. Crew: 3, and up to 8 passengers. Armament: 1,500-lb. bombs.

PB-5B
—As above, but powered by 4 x MB 5 cyl, 254 hp radials. Max speed 125 mph, max weight 6,200 lbs. Crew: 3, and up to 10 passengers. Armament: 2,000-lb. bombs.

PB-5D “Clipper”
—4 x 10 cyl, 325 hp radials. Max speed 145 mph, max weight 7,400 lbs. Crew: 5–6, and up to 8 passengers. Armament: 5 x .30-cal, 2,500-lb. bombs/torpedoes.

P-1 Mosquito Hawk or “Fleashooter”
—MB 5 cyl 254 hp radial. Max speed 220 mph, max weight 1,220 lbs. Crew: 1. Armament: 2 x .45-cal Blitzerbug machine guns in wheel pants.

P-1B
—As above, but fitted for carrier ops.

P-1C
—10 cyl, 325 hp radial. Max speed 255 mph, max weight 1,640 lbs. Crew: 1. Armament: 2 x .30-cal Browning MGs in wings.

6 pdr on stock trail carriage
—effective to about 1,500 yds, or 300 yds with canister.

12 pdr on stock-trail carriage
—effective to about 1,800 yds, or 300 yds with canister.

3
″
mortar
—effective to about 800 yds.

4
″
mortar
—effective to about 1,500 yds.

Primary Small Arms
—Allin-Silva breech-loading rifle conversion (.50-80 cal), Allin-Silva breech-loading smoothbore conversion (20 gauge), 1911 Colt and copies (.45 ACP), Blitzerbug SMG (.45 ACP).

Secondary Small Arms
—Rifled musket (.50), 1903 Springfield (.30-06), 1898 Krag-Jorgensen (.30 US), 1918 BAR (.30-06), Thompson SMG (.45 ACP). A small number of other firearms are available.

MGs
—1919 water-cooled Browning and copies (.30-06). 41 lbs without mount, 400–600 rpm, 1,500 yds.

These fall in a number of categories, and though few share enough specifics to be described as classes, they can be grouped by basic size and capability. Most do share the fundamental similarity of being powered by steam-driven paddle wheels and a complete suit of sails, though all new construction is being equipped with a double expansion engine and screw propeller.

Ships of the Line
—About 180
′
–200
′
x 52
′
–58
′
, 1,900–2,200 tons—50–80 x 30, 20 pdrs, 10 pdrs, 8 pdrs. (8 pdrs are more commonly used as field guns by the Empire.) Speed, about 8–10 knots, 400–475 officers and enlisted.

Frigates
—About 160
′
–180
′
x 38
′
–44
′
, 1,200–1,400 tons. 24–40 x 20–30 pdrs. Speed, about 13–15 knots, 275–350 officers and enlisted. Example: HIMS
Achilles
160
′
x 38
′
, 1,300 tons, 26 x 20 pdrs. New construction follows the design of the
Scott
Class DD.

Field Artillery
—The Empire of the New Britain Isles has adopted the Allied 12 pdr, but still retains numerous 8 pdrs on split-trail carriages—effective to about 1,500 yds, or 600 yds with grapeshot.

Primary Small Arms
—Sword, rifled musket (.50 cal), bayonet, pistol. (Imperial service pistols are of two varieties: cheaply made but robust Field and Sea Service weapons in .62 cal, and privately purchased officer's
pistols that may be any caliber from about .40 to the service standard. The Empire is issuing more and more domestically manufactured weapons comparable to those of its allies to its troops.)

SMS
Amerika
—German ocean liner converted to a commerce raider in WWI. 669
′
x 74
′
, 22,000 tons. Twin screw, 18 knots, 215 officers and enlisted, with space for 2,500 passengers or troops. Armament: 2 x 10.5 cm (4.1
′
) SK L/40, 6 x MG08 8 x 57-mm (Maxim) MGs.

Princeps Class “Monitors”
—235
′
x 50
′
, 2,150 tons. Single screw, 11 knots, 190 officers and enlisted. Armament: 4 x 210-mm guns in two turrets, 8 x MG08 8 x 57-mm (Maxim) MGs on flying bridge and deckhouse. 110 officers and crew.

Field Artillery
—75-mm quick-firing breechloader loosely based on the “French 75.” Range: 3,000 yds with black powder propellant and contact fuse exploding shell.

Primary Small Arms
: Sword, revolver, breech-loading bolt action, single-shot rifle 11.15 x 60R (.43 Mauser) cal.

Secondary Small Arms
: M-1898 Mauser (8 x 57 mm), Mauser and Luger pistols, mostly in 7.65 cal.

ArataAmagi
Class BBs (ironclad battleships)
—800
′
x 100
′
, 26,000 tons. Twin screw, double-expansion steam, max speed 10 knots. Crew: 1,300. Armament: 32 x 100 pdrs, 30 x 3
″
AA mortars.