Arkiania Awakens

[DeSchaine]

22-29 Alvan, 1588

After the siezure of the first cargo ship, the Red Branch forces went full out in the South and Skathian Seas. Thanks to the electronic intellegence section, cargo vessels with Arkiania as a destination were identified and their routes plotted. In a week, nine more ships had been taken by the fast moving privateer flotilla and moved to a neutral port. There, they were unloaded and crews debriefed. Arkiania flagged ships were kept, while vessels from other nations were allowed to return to their ports, minus the cargo.

Every cargo container was examined, and its contents recorded by contracted dockyard employees for the needed legal proceedings. A full platoon of lawyers versed in admiralty law kept the courts busy with a flurry of in rem proceedings for the cargo and the ships taken. Cases of the ships were separated from the cases of their respective cargos, and to make things quick and simple for the courts, the cargo was grouped into cases by the name of the ship it had been on. In each, statements from the crews of the Red Branch ships involved were given, and copies of each ships letter of marque from Achia were provided.

One foreign flag cargo ship was retained under negotiated contract and turned into a temporary holding facility for the crews of the Arkianian flagged ships. Under admiralty law, those crews were considered prisoners of war, and treated as such by their Red Branch captors.

After the initial operation, Caitlin O'Malley had turned over control of the MC Grace to the ships captain. As CEO of the private military contractor group, she had decided to oversee the disposition of the captured ships and cargos.

"Look at all this." she said as she walked though the rows of containers. "Only ten ships and we're already running out of room."

Commander Murtagh Cormac walked slightly behind and to the right of O'Malley. He was technically the COO of the Red Branch, making him second in command. To O'Malley's left was the CFO, Seamus Muldoon. A bit older and graying at the temples, he was known better for his work as head of the secretive charity fund, the Order of St. Patrick.

"I've got some people working to lease some warehouse space where stuff can be sorted." said Seamus. "The lawyers say it'll be another week before we can open the first container, so we have a bit of time."

Cormac frowned. "In the meantime, we're going to be getting more ships and the stacks are just going to get higher."

"Can't do that. We have to keep each ships cargo in it's own area." O'Malley grimaced at the thought of the space needed. "Maybe we can reload some of the ships."

"We'll have to check with the courts before we do that. It'll all have to match up if we do." Seamus rubbed his chin in thought. "On the bright side, we already have a plan in place to deal with it all."

"What have you come up with?"

"Most of it is going to be sorted into primary material groups and sold as scrap. Higher end items and any munitions will either be used or sold as is."

"What about foodstuffs and medicine?" asked Cormac.

"Donated mostly, through the OSP."

"Outstanding, Seamus." Caitlin said with a smile. "At least there can be a little good found in an idiotic war of aggression. I wonder when the Arkianian people will start feeling the pinch."

"Don't know." answered Cormac. "We've got plans for when they do though. I'm sure they'll try to do something to stop us. That'll certainly put a crimp in their naval actions against Achia."