A Rendezvous [ATTN: Red]

To Antony Lassale, From Drochasal VII of Curaidach.

I would like to inform you and reply to your earlier letter that I am going to reinforce your fleet at the Strait. I have sent a small fleet of very well-armed ships your way to assist yours and I presume Ironhulls too. At the head of the fleet is General Cirach, an experienced man who I trust with my life. Among wreckage of your trade ships, destroyed by the cowardly pirate Theron, we found only one survivor. His name is Peter Rochdale. He will be delivered back to you with the fleet. We hope to bring the fight back to Theron and end that impish whelp’s life once and for all. I leave General Cirach under complete control of this mission. By the time this letter reaches you he will either have arrived or nearly arrived.
Treat him with respect and the same will be done unto you. In advance, I thank you for your cooperation. Remember to look for the shield to the west. Cirach is estimated to arrive in two days, as is this letter.

Regards, Drochasal VII of Curaidach.

VRS Eon

"Admiral! Curaidach ship sighted off the port bow!"

The officer turned away from his discussion with his lieutenants and walked to the mast, upon which the crow's nest and its single occupant was situated. He peered out with his own spyglass and, sure enough, there were ships out there--distinct grey and blue colours danced in the breeze.

"Signifier!" the Captain bellowed. "Issue orders to our ships to stand down, and inform them of that fleet's status! Change course to meet them and hoist diplomatic colours!"

Soon, the masts were a flurry of colour, as all the orders went out for an appropriate reception for their guests. A negotiations flag--white, with a curled olive branch at the center--went up over Eon. For his part, Admiral Maximilian was ready; dressed in his finest uniform, bristling with medals. Perceptions, of course. Perceptions and politics.

"Sir! Capuan ships off the bow!" A sailor cried out from the crow's nest. Admiral Franz looked up at the man, then moved away from navigating the helm's man. He pulled out a spyglass and soon found the ships up ahead.
"FLAGMAN! Send a message to those Dwarves that we come to aid them in times of trouble and we request permission to pull up along side their command ship to speak with an officer in charge."
"Yes sir." The man began flagging down the Capuan Navy as Franz returned to his quarters. He looked out the window in the rear and admired his fine navy. 20 warships sailed behind, treading the open ocean like it was nothing. His flag ship was by far the largest of the fleet, but what could be expected of a nation with limited resources. He let out a chuckle as he ran over the Dominion's plan through his head and donned the remainder of his Admiral attire.

"Admiral Maximilian! I think I see Ironhull vessels on the horizon! They're flying messenger flags!"

The officer immediately was put ill at ease. There was never any good news that came from "a message" and "Ironhull" being in the same sentence, at least in his mind. Their orders were simple--to meet up with the Curaidach fleet. Large armed forces did not simply show up out of nowhere. When they did, it was cause to be wary.

"Signifier! Fly the Warhammer immediately and inform the Curaidach fleet of our sighting. Issue orders--all men to battle stations. Then send them a message..."

"What's that, sir?"

Suddenly, the ship was a flurry. The message sent to the Ironhull ships was simple.

Turn around immediately. Cease acting upon your intentions. If you close distance much further, this fleet has orders to defend itself.

"DAMN DWARVES!"
"Sir, should i send them another message?"
"....Yes. Tell them we mean no harm and that we come in peace."
"Aye Sir." Franz walked from the bow of the Rhum to the stern where another messenger stood. "Good afternoon Admiral!" The man saluted. Franz saluted back.
"Send a message to the fleet to raise sails and drop anchor until further notice."
"Aye sir."

Franz thought the plan over. Is it possible the Capuans know of our attack and shaky alliance with Theron? I will have to see. This must go off without a hitch.

Aboard the Eon, the ship and crew readied themselves for battle. The mood was rather strange; nobody quite knew what to expect. They'd been told of Ironhull ships approaching, and the immediate reaction was to prepare. As the cannons were wheeled into position, Warhammer Standard hoisted, and powder lockers opened, there was no confirmation as to what would happen next. After all, there were no orders to go to war just yet.

Other ships continued to signal the Curaidach fleet. They were asked to join formation, to come closer. No doubt they understood the situation as well as the Republic did, which was to say very little. With the Ironhulls, however, the situation was much more complicated.

"We can't open fire on them," the 1st Lieutenant said flatly. "We have no orders to, and no declaration of hostilities. We're going to have to escape, and use diplomacy, unless they fire first."

"Agreed," Maximilian replied. "We should rendezvous with the Curaidach fleet and set sail immediately."

"Admiral, they're stopping!" the man in the crow's nest shouted. "Some are setting down anchor!"

Maximilian, and the rest of the brass, confirmed this observation. We come in peace... the Admiral thought, thoroughly unconvinced. If it's not funny business, why are they showing up unannounced?

"Let us be swift," he said, collapsing his spyglass. "If they want to negotiate, they're going to do it with the Capital. That fleet can't be an invader's one; not enough cargo vessels and the like. Signifier!"

"Yes, Admiral?" the very busy communications officer replied.

"Make to informing the Curaidach fleet of our intention to set sail immediately to the north, and order our ships to begin doing so," he ordered, voice calm. He turned to one of the lackeys on deck. "Make ready a boat. We shall have our audience with the Curaidach on the move."

OOC: Unnanounced arrival, eh? Aren't you conveniently forgetting something because of your OOC knowledge?

Sent by Grand Chancellor of the Dominion of Ironhull;
To be received by Antony Lassale, President of the Republic of Capua.
Dated 8 January, 1572
- - - - - - - - - -

My Dear friend,
The Dominion is willing to send out a large portion of it's navy to aid in this fight against piracy. I would like to inform you that during this period of conflict, should we lose too many of our vessels we will be forced to withdraw from battle.Our fleet shall meet yours in the Ardennes Channel where we shall meet the enemy in battle together.

OOC: I didn't respond to that, and as a result, I don't think the navy would be expecting there to be an Ironhull fleet there. Perhaps I should have RPed them having more knowledge of the Ironhull fleet's arrival, but there is no good reason to fall for the Dominion's trap.

OOC: Uhm, that plan was SIC between Theron and Admiral Franz. There would be almost no info reaching anyone else about the meeting. I see no way the Capua should know about it. I call Shenanigans on Redcoat. Everyone, fetch your brooms!

But seriously. wtf?

OOC: The Republic doesn't have to know about your plan to avoid it.

I repeat: the Republic doesn't have to know about your plan to avoid it.

The reason for this is that the Republic certainly does not want to conduct negotiations with a power they distrust on the high seas with weapons involved, and they don't want military cooperation with someone they don't put much stock in. Ergo, my fleet's very cold reaction.

So no, this has nothing to do with metagaming or OOC knowledge. It's a direct result of how the Republic would conduct itself in international affairs.

EDIT: To make it clear, because I am having lots of issues getting this across to people:

THE REPUBLIC DOESN'T ACTUALLY KNOW BECAUSE YES IT WAS SIC.

The Dachan ships formed up with the Capuans. They made a terrifying sight to see; All those ships blocking the horizon. One of the Curaidach ships docks with a dwarven one, with Captain Misaglias stepping onto the Republican ship.

“We found someone among the wreckage of your trade ships. It is presumed that it was Theron but… I don’t think his reach is this far. His name is Peter Rochdale.” Remarked the Captain, in a thick accent. The Dwarf walked onto the Capuan ship and was greeted by some of the sailors.

“Is there an Admiral present in any of these ships? General Cirach would like to speak to him”
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The good General was escorted to the ship, where he stepped foot on. It was strange, the ship looked very unusual. It bore insignias and markings that seemed alien. He thought it was unusual seeing one dwarf, but now there was a whole crew of them. He waited on the deck, as he easily towered over the sailors (he was tall for even a Dachan).