The Iron Banquet

[iiLeRoss]

STRENG GEHEIM

Achtung! All classified documentation must be kept in secure areas! Keep all classified documentation on person at all times. Report any missing documentation to attached Feldjäger personnel.

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OPEN FILE

Raw Meeting Transcript: Unternehmen Domino
Date: 16/07/834 AS
Location: KKS-Kaiser, Meeting Room 01-A
Participants: Konteradmiral Erich von Richter, Flottenkapitän Hans Schroder, Kapitän zur See Wilhem Holtdorf, Kapitän zur See Ludwig Fischer, Kapitän zur See Franz Becker, Oberleutnant Johann Weber, Kapitänleutnant Karl Holzner, Fähnrich Lina Klein.
Subject: Final Planning Meeting
Transcribed By: Fähnrich Lina Klein



[//START TIME 18:33\\]
FlKa-Schroder: Achtung!

KAdm-Richter: At-ease gentlemen, sit down.

FlKa-Schroder: Welcome back Admiral, how was Hammersee?

KAdm-Richter: If the Bundschuh rumours were true, we should've just let them have it. Orderlies and secretary reliable?

FlKa-Schroder: Handpicked and trustworthy. There are only patriots here.

KAdm-Richter: Excellent. I trust you're all prepared?

Collective: Yes Admiral!

KAdm-Richter: Good. Let's begin.

KazS-Becker: [inaudible 18:34]

KAdm-Richter: Too much Rheinbier Franz?

KazS-Becker: No Admiral, the supply boys issued us synth paste on our last patrol.

KAdm-Richter: Johann, when did you join the Bureau?

Collective: [laughter 18:36]

Obl-Weber: The Bundschuh waylaid the last shipment I sent, we had to procure some paste from the Freeport to make the resupply on time.

KAdm-Richter: The poor lads would've been better off starving.

Collective: [laughter 18:37]

KAdm-Richter: Now, let's go over things shall we? We'll have to pull our battlegroup out of the line for a bit to mass before we enter the system. We'll rally the fleet at Fulda.

KazS-Holtdorf: Would Holstein be more subtle?

KAdm-Richter: Possibly, but they'll already know we're coming if the bureaucrats fail anyway. Besides, I'd prefer it.

KazS-Holtdorf: We could at least obscure our force strength in the Westerwald.

KAdm-Richter: The most viable areas are too close to the Bureau's defensive perimeter. At Fulda we can throw back any force that attempts a pre-emptive strike right at the gate and make the jump whenever we wish without transiting. We can keep them guessing when we'll jump without our departure giving it up.

KazS-Fischer: Are we really expecting an attack in Frankfurt?

KAdm-Richter: Possibly. If we give them enough time they may strike. If not, our other dear "friends" may visit us instead. That's why time is of the essence. Johann, how fast can you get the supplies loaded?

Obl-Weber: It'll take a few hours. We could mass the supplies beforehand on Mainz under secure guard, there should be sufficient room on board, it's protected and close.

KAdm-Richter: Kusarians go there, can your security forces guarantee safety?

Obl-Weber: There should be secure spaces. And we can use their H-Fuel storage for our own forces. With our expected timetable we can store enough to last the whole operation with a good margin.

KAdm-Richter: Excellent, the cruisers and gunboats will move with the Kaiser to the rally point. I want at least two squadrons on escort at all times with more on standby. As soon as we load the last supplies and get confirmation, we'll proceed with the operation. Karl? How are your squadrons?

KaLeu-Holzner: We've got plenty of pilots who have fought Corsairs and Hessians. They'll at least be able to hold their own in formation with the fleet. The terrain disadvantage will play down on us though. We'll need cover from our gunboats and cruisers to make it work.

KAdm-Richter: Ludwig, you fought with a Donau in the last war? Your thoughts?

KazS Fischer: Admiral, our new flak cannons should be able to disorientate their fighters. We'll need to keep up a steady barrage though, if the Kusari Navy intervenes we may have trouble. There was a lot of trouble with that last time. We should be able to maintain cover without too much interference though.

KAdm-Richter: Unlikely, we have justification and they won't respond on the first run. Hans, our Oders?

FlKa-Schroder: Experienced crews. Some of them have fought in Omega-7, but most have just done escort duty in Frankfurt and Lüneburg. We have cruisers backing us though.

KAdm-Richter: Coordination is the theme here. It's crucial we're all in lockstep and that everyone knows their role. I don't want a repeat of the Kolleda debacle. The Kaiser's point-defense suite is good, so there'll be some room for error in the nebula. Now when we enter, it's important we leave behind a small rearguard. If we have to cut back through the gate, we'll have trouble. Then we'll move north along the lane and onto the objective. We'll be operating with self-defense orders only, but our presence will make a statement.

KazS-Holtdorf: There'll be trouble there. We'll lose initiative without the ability to fight first.

KAdm-Richter: This has to be palatable to Neu Berlin. Besides, if they strike first, they'll be the aggressors. Rheinland is entering a new age gentlemen, and it is our duty to do what the Kaiser requires.

Collective: [table pounding 18:44]

KAdm-Richter: As you're aware, the objective is just outside Helgoland Station. We'll hold a small blockade formation just south of the station. When we make contact with the Guild, we must keep the men disciplined. If they break formation we'll lose our advantages. Officially this is only a show-the-flag operation, but I doubt the GMG will take it lightly. Every ship must be combat-ready while we're in the system. Even if gunboat diplomacy succeeds, I want to maintain readiness until we get back to Frankfurt.

FlKa-Schroder: You don't trust our esteemed diplomatic corps, Admiral?

KAdm-Richter: I trust their ability to host a banquet.

Collective: [laughter 18:47]

KAdm-Richter: Speaking of which, I believe now would be a good time for some refreshments. [intercom sound] Bring it in!

[PAUSE, ORDERLIES ENTER 18:48]

Obl-Weber: Ah Admiral, I've found where my missing shipment went now!

Collective: [laughter 18:49]

KAdm-Richter: Gentlemen, for you tonight we have Holstein Sea Serpent soup, Squelom steaks, Stuttgart Potato Dumplings and ice cream made from Blue Jillies! We also have Cognac shipped from our "dear" Gallic friends, and cigars.

KazS-Becker: I've been rescued from the clutches of Liberty! [laughter]

KAdm-Richter: I'll spare my secretary while I'm at it, Fähnrich, take a plate.

[PAUSE TO FULFILL ORDER]

[RESUMES AT 19:24]

KAdm-Richter: Now the up-to-date plans, with reconnaissance, force composition, etcetera will be sent to your neural-net accounts after the meeting. I intend to present the full plan to Großadmiral Henze and the new Bureau Direktor as soon as we're done here.

KazS-Becker: New Direktor? What happened to the previous one?

KAdm-Richter: Tight-lipped, but disappearance is the word. Shame too, the new one isn't as pretty.

Collective: [laughter 19:26]

FlKa-Schroder: How much political resistance can we expect?

KAdm-Richter: The Bureau likely won't be as amiable as the Großadmiral, but with Frau Viper gone, their political influence should be shaken up a bit.
The rest of the Admiralty will be easy to sway, the GMG has become a nuisance. The bureaucrats will want inaction, but with intrusions on Frankfurt again we can lure them in by threatening their image. The people want action, and only the Rheinland Military has the courage to provide it.

Collective: [table pounding 19:28]

KAdm-Richter: We've got to work with what we have here. As I said before, our rules of engagement are self-defense. We're going to show the GMG the full might of the Rheinwehr regardless. Any sane person should give in to our reasonable demands when they see our ships. We'll hold positions until they agree to negotiate. But if they fire at us, we'll punch above the outlined scope. I want to torch what we can. That means ships, whatever infrastructure we can hit quickly before retreating.

KazS-Holtdorf: [coughing 19:29]

KAdm-Richter: Don't like the exotic taste of Gallia Wilhem?

KazS-Holtdorf: Not strong enough. No wonder they lost to Bretonia.

Collective: [laughter 19:29]

KAdm-Richter: We either fight or they kneel before us. Regardless, we'll rally with our rearguard at the Frankfurt gate once we're done. We'll be the first ones out and they'll follow behind. Now, if there happens to be any Kusarian vessels, I do not want to engage them unless absolutely necessary. Giving them a reason to send a fleet in would be disastrous. Their dues will come at another time, I assure you, gentlemen.

KazS-Becker: Who has command of the rearguard Admiral?

KAdm-Richter: That will be determined the day of the operation. There'll be another meeting a week prior once we get a scheduled date.

Obl-Weber: The transports we discussed, are they available if we do have to extend operations?

KAdm-Richter: We should have adequate shipping available if we are forced to have border skirmishes against the Guild. The bureaucrats are likely to intervene if the Kusarians want to though.

KaLeu-Holzner: We'll need fighter reinforcements for a small border war. The ones we outlined while going over the escalatory plans. Do we have them available?

KAdm-Richter: Hans has been drawing what assets he can, but if it escalates we should be able to attain full support on that, yes. I have arranged for some assessment on likely opposition. As long as we travel along the lane we shouldn't encounter gas pockets. The enemy will consist of mostly snubs with some gunboats and frigates backing them at most. Their paramilitary wing is known to operate a carrier, but it's only a Bustard-pattern ship, far inferior to the Kaiser.

KazS-Fischer: What points of reinforcement can we expect?

KAdm-Richter: They'll likely come barrelling down the lane and out from Helgoland Station itself. There'll be some patrols scattered in the nebula itself as well. External reinforcements will have to come from Honshu, but it is known there are some jump holes in-system. The Guild likely knows at least one, though specifics our intelligence is unable to assess. The best we have are charts from the Saigon War, but the accuracy of them is questionable at best.

KazS-Fischer: A flanking attack would leave us vulnerable, can we expect reinforcements?

KAdm-Richter: Aside from our reserve, it's touch and go. Off-hand I intend to meet with our comrades at Kruger and Daumann. Corporate security units who have fought the GMG before preferably. As well as police and our own military reserves. Ideally, we secure Bureau squadrons to help us, but from past conversations, they may not be so willing.

KazS-Holtdorf: Can they really be trusted to fight? The police aren't soldiers after all. And the private security always needs our help.

KAdm-Richter: Numbers will be sufficient for this, anything to distract from our core forces.

Obl-Weber: Speaking of them, we don't have any prison transports prepared, what do we intend to do if we capture any prisoners?

KAdm-Richter: We'll intern them on the cruisers and the Kaiser itself. We'll let the bureaucrats sort that one out. Further questions? Good. Hans and Johann will see to overall fleet preparations, the rest of you should prepare your men. I expect approval by the end of the month. You know the main battle plan from our previous meetings, you know where your ships need to be. I want to get every ship we have in drydock beforehand if possible. We'll have a feast on the Kaiser before and after we march in. Understood?

Collective: Yes Admiral!

KAdm-Richter: Very good, dismissed gentlemen. There's second helpings if any of you want. Take a bottle of Cognac with you too.

[//END OF MEETING, 19:39\\]