WesWorld

These are harsh seas, thought Adm Ciano as he paced the bridge of his
flagship. We shouldn't be here in this weather. Damned politicians he
snorted out loud. "Pardon, Sir?" enquired the midshipman at his rihgt
shoulder. "Its nothing", he replied, " I just fail to see the point of us
being here. Why should we have to escort our negogiator to Denmark? Why
wouldn't he go on a train or aeroplane like any normal person?" He turned
and stared into the night through the thick glass of his flag bridge. Spray
showered upon the perspex like a swarm of bees. His ship lurched underneath
him and he reached for the sill to steady himself. "At least we don't
operate here normally." he remarked to the awestruck midshipman. Fresh out
of naval war college and thrown immediately into a seagoing ship, not just
any ship, but the newest cruiser in the whole of the navy. He was proud of
his new home. He could see the muzzles of the 203mm guns in front of him,
turned through 120 degrees to avoid the seas, and remembered the times when
they had fired in practice. Great licks of flame spewing out of the
barrels, hurling their projectiles through the air. His daydreaming was
interrupted by the continuance of the Admiral's soliloquy, "Its all to do
with impressions. He wants to impress the other powers. It'll all be a show
and he'll sign away everything again, just like in 1919." Adm. Ciano's
flagship kept plowing through the waves. Zara, the first in her class, and
largest ever cruiser built for the navy, stood out amongst the grey seas.
Her own pearly candesance of white paint seeming rather out of place in the
Bay of Biscay. She was on her way to Copenhavn, carrying with her the
estimed plenitenthorary, Foreign Minister Grandi to the treaty conference being held there. A
cable's length away lay the Royal Yacht Aquila carrying the King of Iberia.
He travelled in abject luxury by comparison. They slowly cruised on through
the seas, unexpecting of what to find when they got to Copenhavn.
Moored alongside each other, Zara and Aquila shone in the daylight that
permeated the sky over Copenhavn. Their white Meditterenean paint a stark
contrast to the battleship grey found daubed other the other ships in
harbour. Fuso, the sword of the emporer lay there, already rumours of a
duel being whispered around the harbour. Apart from the other ships,
anchored in the outer harbour lay Ophion. The South Africans kept to
themselves to such an extent as they could, even forsaking the shelter of
Zeeland for a cove towards Malmö where they sat aboard their flagship
having recently received an Admiral of the Nordmark navy. Likewise,
everyone seemed to give a wide berth to the Philipino ship. They had learnt
the hard way, with the loss of numerous ships. Aeroplanes buzzed overhead
in the clear sky, whilst the delegates sat. That nefarious Japanese Colonel
had not yet been spotted. The standing patrol of Rofix fighters gave some
protection, but who would dare to attack? All the great countries of the
world were there, in 1 room trying to solve the problems that pervade the
Cleito treaty. Some want more and some less. Not everyone can have everything they want.

I wrote this some time ago, but hadn't posted it. The Aquila mentioned is the Iberian Royal yacht. Sorry I couldn't name drop for all countries.

No worries. Neat piece. It's good to have some characterization for one's fleets.

Nice work, and a good way to keep busy while we wait for "the big move" and "Tochiro's holiday".

Kapitan Meyer and the rest of Weimar's observation team (all 4 of them), as befits mere observers from a neighboring state, took the train and the ferry to Copenhavn.

The Filipino delegation is aboard the escort cruiser Bugsuk. They were going to travel by air, but Chief Reyes, having previously flown with Garcia, quickly put the kibosh on that idea...

The USS Pennsylvania has conveyed the United States delegation to the conference.

The Australians arrived on board HMAS Sydney

arrived in two of passenger version of Academician Tupelov's ANT-26 twin-engine bomber. Aircraft returned to Russian Federation that afternoon.

The French delegation arrived aboard the light cruiser De Grasse.

and it's Aguila

Fuso brought specialists to make security arrangements.
Naturally the Japanese delegation (+ bodyguards) arrived in style.

http://takanozomi.web.infoseek.co.jp/ichiban/shi/shi26-l.jpg

...
...
...
... naturally it would be this one. Biggest obstacle would be the different gauge used in the Russian Federation, which probably has the best east-west connection.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en…elkirk_5915.jpg
The brand new Imperial Selkirk, built by the Montreal Locomotive Works in Canada.

Chains rattled forward, as the anchors reached down for the floor of the Red Sea. The lights of Suez faintly illuminated the two South African torpedo-boats as they heeled about and headed south for Asir, their duty done.

The Hindustaan had missed the evening northbound transit through the canal, so would have to wait several hours for the morning transit. The Canal Authority had given the royal yacht the courtesy of being the first ship in the group, which suited the Rana just fine. She'd enjoy the transit without having the stern of a tramp freighter in front of her the whole time.

Leaning against the railing, she pondered the journey thus far. It had been a bit tense compared to previous ones, there being some latent concern amongst her security staff that the Filipino revolutionaries might somehow attempt to intercept the yacht. The Navy had thought the notion unlikely, given how badly the Red fleet was faring in its own waters, but had arranged an escort nonetheless.

So the yacht had sailed under the watchful eyes of an Indian light cruiser or South African torpedo-boats, even as she and her aides discussed strategies, contingencies, and scenarios. The Navy was happy with their limits, saw little need to change anything substantially apart from some disposal issues. Additional allocations would be a waste, there being no industrial capacity to make use of them. The key issues, so far the Rana was concerned, was getting Germany into the treaty, managing the damned British Commonwealth's status in the treaty, and ensuring that other nations - like the Dutch, of course - didn't come out of the negotiations with any additional advantage over India.

Naturally she'd sent daily wireless messages back home. She'd also received daily messages from her family. Usually from Rajiv, but far too often from Brashkar. Every message signed by her second son was further evidence of her husband's failing health. The malaria was taking its toll; more and more, he was finding himself too weak to undertake his duties, forcing their young son to step in as regent. As much as she trusted their doctors and advisors, she really would rather have been at home, in the palace, with the man she loved.

But here she was, destined for the cold, dark winter of northern Europe, to sit in a room with other world leaders as the future of global security was negotiated. Sighing, she turned her back on Suez and headed back to her stateroom to sleep...