The Watchers12th May 2019, Sea of Kyne, Operation VigilanceIt was another good day weather wise in the Kyne, with the Seleucid situation having been handled and the tensions of the region having simmered down somewhat, though still plenty strained the Achkaerinese Navy had adopted a posture that reflected the circumstances - the presence, on a small scale, was down to one reason and one reason alone...the potential nuclear threat emanating from Slava Lavosk. Operation Vigilance was an Achkaerinese operation that involved four Achkaerinese naval vessels holding station in international waters close to Slavan territory, they weren't right on the doorstep but a fair distance away it was enough to be able to watch and act if the nuclear threat from Slava did materialize. At the heart of the operation was the navy's
INS Hope and
Musketeer class vessels, today it was the turn of the
INS James Robbins to be relieved by the
INS Rhyth Icerider. On the foredeck of the
Rhyth Icerider the ships CO
Captain Fiona Baines stood taking in the breeze, her eyes closed, she much preferred it this way, there was another captain in the navy who did this and claimed that she could 'hear the voice of the sea' whatever that meant. Her relaxation was disturbed by her radio, the captain of the
James Robbins Bradley Saunders was calling the bridge, time to back indoors, she made her way to the bridge and picked up the radio.
"Welcome to the madhouse Fiona." Bradley said his voice coming over the radio quite clearly
"Very funny." Fiona said "Anything to report?"
"No indications of activity relating to the alleged nuclear development but it's early days yet and all about keeping on top of them." Bradley said "All our aircraft have done is fly CAP."
"I see." Fiona said
"Speaking of I see you're ferrying those shiny new
Dragonbreaths the military bought." Bradley said "Why do you get all the fun?"
"Lucky for the most part." Fiona said "When do you get yours?"
"Few weeks according to the schedule, I make port at Antares, the Bats I'm carrying get moved off and the pilots go on the next training cycle for the Dragonbreath." Bradley said "Still means my crew gets a few weeks leave so not all bad."
"Enjoy yourself." Fiona said "
James Robbins you're relieved."
"Acknowledged." Bradley said.
Half an hour later Fiona was on the
INS Hope meeting the ships Captain and the overall field officer in command of Operation Vigilance
Captain Thomas Webster.
"Captain." Thomas said
"Captain." Fiona said, with the formalities exchanged the pair smiled "Anything I need to know?"
"The Slavan's don't seem bothered by our presence they're doing the usual long range shadowing of any aircraft that go close to their airspace." Thomas said "But until we can spot the location of anything relevant to this it's not going to get messy."
"And if we make that spot then all bets are off anyway." Fiona said
"Precisely." Thomas said "For the moment it's watching and waiting."