"Captain, all is well", the first lieutenant of the Imperial Russian airship Pobieda saluted and handed over the bridge to his commanding officer. It was now time for him to take some rest, and Dmitri Vissarionovich Kresninski was well looking forward to several hours of shut-eye. The Pobieda - Victory - was one of the newest of Russia's airships, constructed in the Constantinople Airship Yards, based upon the vice-regal city and under the control of the vice-regal authorities. As such it had been sent South at maximum speed - detect the fleet, and report. But so far there had been nothing.
Back upon the bridge the monotony was already being broken
"Single ship, sir", sixteen year-old Roman Ostrovski had the keenest eyes amongst the observers, "Scout cruiser, bearing just shy of one-twenty degrees."
"Ours ?!" snapped the Captain, already heading in his direction
"Novik class sir, I think there are two, perhaps three more just on the edge of my vision"
"Show me"
- - -
"Novik to command", the radio operator banged out the signal, "shadow at following co-ordinates"
Vassily added them and sat back, tensely waiting for a reply. It came a few minutes later
"Command to Novik, fleet steering forty points further to South. Remain on original course with Diana and Aurora."
Vassily frowned, then nodded as he worked it out. He dashed upwards to hand the communique to Captain Ignatieff
- - -
"It is done sir", the Armenian first officer of the ironclad battleship Retvisan stood back and let his admiral look through the small hatch.
Grand Duke Alexei Konstantinovich took in the scene within, and nodded to the first officer,
"You are now captain", he said, "What of our pursuit ?"
"It is already dealt with, admiral", a njew confidence seemed to suffuse the Armenian, "Novik and her squadron will lead the airship away whilst we turn towards our destination"
"Excellent", the Grand Duke muttered, "Keep up the good work"
Best Regards
Grey Wolf
Back upon the bridge the monotony was already being broken
"Single ship, sir", sixteen year-old Roman Ostrovski had the keenest eyes amongst the observers, "Scout cruiser, bearing just shy of one-twenty degrees."
"Ours ?!" snapped the Captain, already heading in his direction
"Novik class sir, I think there are two, perhaps three more just on the edge of my vision"
"Show me"
- - -
"Novik to command", the radio operator banged out the signal, "shadow at following co-ordinates"
Vassily added them and sat back, tensely waiting for a reply. It came a few minutes later
"Command to Novik, fleet steering forty points further to South. Remain on original course with Diana and Aurora."
Vassily frowned, then nodded as he worked it out. He dashed upwards to hand the communique to Captain Ignatieff
- - -
"It is done sir", the Armenian first officer of the ironclad battleship Retvisan stood back and let his admiral look through the small hatch.
Grand Duke Alexei Konstantinovich took in the scene within, and nodded to the first officer,
"You are now captain", he said, "What of our pursuit ?"
"It is already dealt with, admiral", a njew confidence seemed to suffuse the Armenian, "Novik and her squadron will lead the airship away whilst we turn towards our destination"
"Excellent", the Grand Duke muttered, "Keep up the good work"
Best Regards
Grey Wolf