KSS Liberty
An officer entered the ship's bridge.
"Captain, I have news about that tracking device we found", said the officer.
"Alright, go on", replied Captain Izmailov.
"Pictures of it were sent to the NIA. They have identified its country of origin"
"Continue"
"It was made in Caasd"
"Caasdian, huh? I can't believe that Caasd, of all nations, wants to track us down"
"How can you be so sure?" asked the First Officer.
"Just stop and think for a minute: surely the nation that is trying to track us is planning to attack the fleet. It can't be an SCO nation, for obvious reasons; an SSU nation wouldn't risk triggering a full war between the two alliances (also considering that our country is in good terms with at least two members); Ryccia is currently too weak; Sanden has some internal conflicts to worry about, and so on. That's why I'm sure"
"Should we do something?" asked the communication officer.
"We already are. The Admiral ordered us to be in alert, and to prepare all weapon and radar systems." replied Izmailov.

Sgt. Irving was ordered to send the news to the other fleets. He understood that this wasn't over yet.

On board the HCMS Foreshadowing


"Sir, none of the fleet is responding to hails, and we've lost contact with Cicero."
"Right, I hoped it wouldn't come to this, but set the SBLEG to broadcast mode and send the initial order documents to the fleet."
"Aye-aye, captain."








All across the coalition fleet, screens began displaying a picture of a document, showing the initial request for assistance, as sent to Cicero by the coalition central command.


On board the RCAS We-Couldn't-Think-Of-An-Awesome-Name

The captain stirred, and slowly climbed to his feet. He surveyed the scene before him.
"Is anyone OK?", he asked.
Copper Smoketown groaned slightly and also got to her feet.
"What happened?", she asked.
"Someone fired at us, by the looks of the computer readout.", he said, gesturing at the only screen that was still on.
"But that came from the city, and they've surrendered... Also we're losing height, and fast."
"Computer, calculate crash site, and give a diagnostic report."
"SITE CALCULATED : 25 metres from KSS Liberty"
"DIAGNOSTIC REPORT: ENGINES OFFLINE. NAVIGATION OFFLINE. AIR CONDITIONING ONLINE. DEFENCES OFFLINE. SECURE CONTAINMENT EMPTY. STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY 50%. LADDER ONLINE. HELIUM LEVEL 32%. COMMUNICATIONS OFFLINE. PRESSURE BREACH IN LEFT CARGO HOLD."
"Agent, please tell me you didn't put the briefcase in the left cargo hold."
"No Captain, it's in the secure containment uni---"

"Sir, we have reports of Karnetvorian ships firing at mysterious vessels!"
"Let's not stay and fight. Get us out of here!"
"Yes, sir!"
The Darkstraitese fleet began to move away from the conflict zone, leaving their soldiers in the base.

(OOC: Just to clarify, I have not attacked the Caasdian units. The ships are in alert, but not a single shot has been fired.)

About 300 metres above the Sedunnic cruiser Holltyn
The briefcase fell by.


On board the HCMS Foreshadowing

"Tell the weapons section to load the X-1 distractor into the fore missile tube."
"Aye-aye, captain."




"Missile loaded, captain."
The captain pressed the fire button.
A silvery-grey missile streaked out of the top of the submarine, breaking the surface a few seconds later.
Ten seconds after that, it exploded into several hundred tiny flares, and a large amount of chaff.

One mile outside of Floodport
"How much further?", said Swordfish Minnesota.
"16 miles.", replied Boa Periwinkle.
"Eugh."

They kept walking.

KSS Liberty
Captain Izmailov saw a bunch of sailors running to the deck. He asked one of them, "what's the matter? Why is everybody rushing to the deck?" The sailor answered: "See for yourself. You're not going to believe this." 

Izmailov went to the deck. There, he saw it. A sinking airship, about 25 meters away from the ship. He had seen airships before, but those were either publicity stunts or tourist attractions, he had never seen one like this. He used his binoculars and saw that the airship had Caasdian insignias. "Sergeant Irving, inform the fleet about this. I think we'll have to investigate this thing..." he finally said. Three divers were sent to the airship to investigate and look out for survivors.

KSS Constitution
"There is something in the radar, sir," said James Aitkin, one of the radar operators, to his superior. "It looks like somebody used chaff or something. It's probably an error of some sort." he replied.

Soormann and his men were brought to detention centres awaiting trials and further actions. Military police and peacekeeping forces were being deployed and emergency supplies brought in to aid the Transsunerians. Meanwhile on the cruiser Holltyn:

The proximity defence system had automatically deployed a smoke screen as soon as the missile was detected, but the target was the approaching airship.

"Ready ship! Ready ship!" The captain's voice echoed all over the ship and an alarm started. "Helm, increase distance to Liberty by 300 meters. Lieutenant, send the port boat to aid the downed airship."

"Captain, starboard observer reports a small object falling into the water", reported a blond bridge officer, "a briefcase apparently!"

"Send the starboard boat to investigate. Do not bring it aboard before we know what it contains."

"Captain!"

"Yes!"

"Missile trajectory analysis finished. Results inconclusive, trajectory implies a guided missile with multiple way points, source cannot be extrapolated. It was a direct hit. Apparently, Caasd has enemies nearby."


Further out at sea:
"Sonar, analyse echo bearing N045. Helm, bring us about." A Sedunnic submarine further away had detected the presence of an unknown object.
"Captain, submarine, Caasdian stealth type, not moving. Facing... there... north!"
"Alert naval command!"

On board the new Colofomosian destroyer Permanent Vengeance, 2 miles off the coast
"Direct hit, captain."
"Good, now target the coalition fleet."
"The system can't get a lock, sir, it seems like someone has deployed chaff and flares."


On board the HCMS Foreshadowing
"Sir, Sedunnic submarine in the area."
"Ok, feed it up to the main screen, and prepare the hailing frequency."
A light began to flash on the screen.
"Oh goodness, the briefcase is activating. How good is the Taligent's electromagnetic shielding?"



On board the HCMH Taligent (hovercraft)
"Ma'am, orders from Cicero. We're to meet with the coalition fleet to sort this all out, and find out who fired on the WCTAAN."
"Set course for the liberty, and hoist the kilo flag."
"Aye-aye, captain."

On board the RCAS We-Couldn't-Think-Of-An-Awesome-Name
Water began to rush into the cabin.
"Computer, seal the door, and activate emergency air."
"Captain, divers approaching."
"Get the signal lamp, and explain that we are friendly."

One mile outside of Floodport
"What's that you've got there?", said Boa Periwinkle.
"It's the disarm key for the briefcase.", replied Swordfish Minnesota.
"Won't they need that? Given that there's a powerful EMP generator in there..."
"Eh, what do I know? The separatists don't have it anymore, at least."

"Sir, Caasdian warships have begun attacking Karnetvorian ships!"
"Damn them! Forget the troops. Get us as far away as possible! And keep the scanners active!"

(OOC: Clarification - caasd has taken no offensive measures since acquiring the briefcase, Colofomos is not associated with Caasd and the distractor missile was to prevent any further attacks by the currently unknown ship on the rest of the ships in the area)