Thank you Ruckdog. I thought I would just add the first campaign dispatch here
Open Salvo: Sinking Sark
Dispatches number. 0
Why Sark?
Sark has been the island stronghold of the Knights Templar since the mid 14th century, when the King of France tried to destroy the order, and they were instead embraced by the British Crown. Since they have supported the growth of the British Empire, with chapter houses from Jamaica to Canberra. However, the heart of the order remains the vast imposing bulk of the Sark fortress. The Templars have long been a thorn in the side of the French Monarchy, the French Republic and now the Latin Alliance, but the support of the British crown and the Royal Naval armada has meant that the fortress has survived with nothing but a few heat-lance scars.
However, this has changed with a massive amount of intelligence chatter of something big brought into Sark under the cover of dark. Some intelligence chiefs believe it a new super weapon designed by Brunel capable of hitting locations in France, others of some ancient relic that could unleash something far worse.
The forces involved - Attackers
This has inspired a wider, if unstable, alliance in support of President Louis-Napoleon’s assault on Sark.
President Napoleon has requested the help of the Prussian Imperium, who have sent a large flotilla, based out of Le Havre, with several large detachments from the Teutonic order attached, under the commander of the Austrian Vice-Admiral Paul Von Liebewitz. While the navy wishes to establish good relations with the French Republic, the Teutonic order Komtur Hanna von Essen is keen to destroy the Knight Templar’s research and prove the superiority of the Teutonic order.
The Ottoman Empire was keen to avenge historical defeats on the Templar order, and the Sultan’s new religious advisors very keen to support the assault. The Turkish force under Admiral Zehra Mecava , a technically minded Bosnian, are based out of Brest. The sublime porte has ordered that relics should be recovered and returned to the Empire, but attached agents of the order are keen to press on and destroy the weapon as a key priority.
The French Legion Normandy are stationed at St Malo, with additional experimental vessels based in protection of the Mont St Michel experiment facility, and come under the control Admiral Kamille Lellouche, an experienced North African commander, with a particular expertise in beach assaults. The President wishes to see Sark taken, but will settle for the capture of Jersey, effectively weakening the power of the Knights Templar to project power into the Channel, and the prevention of further attacks to Mont St Michel.
The Defenders
The British Crown forces have two major deployments. Firstly, a cross Empire force based in Guernsey of various forces summoned by the Knights to their defence coming under the command of the experienced commander vice-admiral Augustus Dennis KCB, a Jamaican by birth who have won renown for his squadron’s conduct in the Hurricane Season campaign, whose purpose is to defend Sark by any means necessary. The Channel fleet battlegroup based out of Plymouth is tasked with keeping the channel open, and their commander Lady Maxine Corbett in her first major deployment, which was meant to be blockade duty.
Disraeli has managed to get the support of a large Russian battle flotilla, sent by the Tsar to ferry the scientist Ivan Schenov to Sark. Schenov is a member of Markov’s circle and has been linked by Covenant intelligence to Project Nutcracker, a joint Britannian and Russian science project. Admiral Svetlana Tsvet is in command of the flotilla, and was keen to use the Britannian installations on Jersey to house a large contingent of submarines, her pride and joy, and is keen to use them to continue her career of privateering in the Baltic, the higher value the better. Her Oprichina officer, Nikolai Pashutin, is keener to preserve Jersey as a base of operations.
Wildcards
A large Celestian Empire convoy out of Vietnam is approaching Sark from the south. Whilst officially a trade goods convoy for the world fair in Bremen, aerial reconnaissance and spying efforts since it rounded the Horn of Africa has revealed a well armed force. The orders for the force remain mysterious, it is certain that the Chinese Admiral Zheng Li, an experienced and calm commander seeks battle only at his own time, his subordinate, the hotheaded and unblooded Japanese commodore Hikari Nomura is keen to prove the superiority of her flagship and fleet by taking down some large prey.
Since the Empire Convoy arrived in Atlantic waters, concerned military planners in the Union have sought to shadow it effectively ads they could. After the disaster of Hurricane season and the damage to the Union’s possessions in the Caribbean no chances have been taken. Vice-Admiral Lawford P. Granger, controversial hero of the Caribbean has been granted command, and he is keen to make up for the Union’s perceived dishonour by preventing any further such attacks.
The Antarctican forces of the Covenant have been seen in the area, though reports of shining ships appearing and disappearing have been discounted by most military planners. More worrying has been the disappearance of important personnel on leave from Sark and Mont St Michel which now has branched into captains or unprotected commodores. The roving intelligence and scouting forces of Castellan-Commander Kwang Hyun-Ok, a Korean aerial commander committed to Sturgeon’s mission of progress and ending the war, has been undertaking fiercer hunting missions while seeking out a location for a forward base.
The increasing military build up has emptied the Aegean and Algeria of mercenaries, low lives and pirates, keen to feed off the growing conflict. Some, like the Honourable Eclipse company, seek gainful employment with one force or another. Others like the Black Wolf Nikonov, only seek the largest prey and highest bounty.
Locations
The following locations have been identified as the most likely areas of conflict in the coming week –
The Channel
The Channel has long been Britain’s defence from French invasion, a vast moat around the island. It also provides the Royal naval Armada a key life line to support the otherwise isolated Channel Islands. Here, military planners and Newspaper commentators alike agree, will the hardest blows fall as the Channel squadron seeks to dominate, the French to cut off lines of supply, and piratical raiders attack the channel’s busy convoys and supply lines
The Belle Ile
The Belle Ile is a large island off the coast of Brittany with a history of occupation. It remains dominated by the now obsolete Citadelle Vauban, and while the southwest is dotted with sharp cliffs, the northeast has shallow bays and navigable harbours. With President Napoleon’s vision fixed on the threat of the Channel Islands and landings on the north coast of France, this island has been left with only a token garrison, and many speculate that this summer’s notably diverse tourist population could include enemy agents scouting it as a potential landing site.
Jersey
Jersey is the main shipyard of the Knights Templar, a bustling and heavily fortified island, and its defences have been bolstered by the presence of a large Russian flotilla. It’s secure harbour offers protection from the channel squadrons, allowing them to resupply at the Templar’s armoury. It’s loss, or at least severe damage would be a dangerous blow to sark.
Guernsey
While Guernsey isn’t as fortified as Jersey, it is covered by the Templar’s vast fortress complex on Sark and be a series of forts on the west coast. It’s importance is another harbour for Sark, and to act as a supply point, its granaries, depots and barracks providing extra capacity to the Templars. It’s vault and banking house, while secondary to the main office in London, still holds wealth and secrets to tempt foolhardy adventurers.
