BLE: 47 Black Sea

Metal rang out as hooves stamped against metal, orders rung out from pipes all over the structure, Ponies, Griffons, and Dragons all ran about seemingly chaotically. Suddenly four loud booms were heard accompanied by 6 more shortly after, a much larger explosion followed, the fortifications up on the opposite shore lay in ruins.

“Not bad,” rang out another voice silencing all activity, “But those shore batteries still had the time to put in a salvo, we need better reaction speeds everybody, those Rushkans aren’t going to wait for us, we need every advantage we can get. Dismissed, Set a course for Constanta!” The sun began to fade into the mountains as the Regele Ferdinand and her two accompanying destroyers, Marasesti, and Marasti sailed toward the second biggest port on the Black Sea.

For the past several months Alexander Dronetsc’u, Admiral of the Romaneyan navy had been drilling his crews on shoreline bombardment tactics and River fighting . The Regele Ferdinand was the only destroyer leader they had, and as such it became the flagship of the Black Sea fleet, consisting of two destroyers, 17 PT boats, 8 Torpedo boats, 4 mine layers, 1 minesweeper and the submarine “Delfinul”. The Danube floatilla, under Alexander’s friend Ian had the old cruiser “Elizabeth” renamed “Timisoara” as well as 3 river monitors, and two pt boats as it’s force.

The modest Romaneyan navy had been revamped since the Great War and was now a force to be reckoned with on the Black Sea, However, one major Rival remained, Rushka, with their battleship and several cruisers, they seemed to mock Romaneya’s attempts to become a regional power.

The Nation, Rushka perceived as weak and fragile, only having land to boast about. Romaneya had however formed a close relationship with its neighbors and was even in the process of forming the “Miedzymore” between seas in polish with Poland and the Baltic states as well as Bulgaria.

These thoughts put a calm sense of National security on Alexander’s mind as he watched his beloved home-City come into view. He had always loved the sea, growing up in a large port city does that to you. As Alexander sat upon the Bridge of “Regele Ferdinand” a messager from the radio room two floors down came trotting through the door, a paper firmly in his teeth.

When Alexander sat up to take the telegram from him he stood up, saluted and left, leaving the page in Alexander’s left wing. The paper read, URGENT MILITARY MEETING IN BUCHAREST, KING CAROL REQUESTS ALEXANDER DRONETSCU ATTEND ASAP. NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE.

The paper loosely fluttered to the ground, Alexander turned around and barked “Full power to the engines! Get this girl going 40 knots!” “I need someone to message Ian! Get him to mobilize the Danube floatilla as soon as possible! I want the “Timisoara” guarding the Delta by Morning!”

Aye Ayes were shouted all over the bridge, messages were sent through the voice pipes to the engine and radio rooms and in less than 10 seconds “Regele Ferdinand was speeding past her escorts.

Alexander smiled, his drills had worked just as intended, The ship would be able to disengage any fight on a dime.

“Order our escorts to keep pace, send the “Bulshala” to clear for mines in a 3 kilometer radius of Constanta, Then have “Pitesti” lay a defensive screen in the same area. I am taking no chances, tell Ian the “Pitesti” will also be available tomorrow for any mine laying work on the Danube.”

Less than ten minutes later, the Destoyers came to a halt at the dry docks just south of the Naval Academy. Alexander instantly disembarked, leaving repairs and Inspections to his subbordinates.

A carriage was waiting for him just up on the port road. Traffic was a little busier than usual here as the 16th anniversary of Marasesti was coming up. Although not technically a national holiday, everyone across Romaneya payed their respects on August 8th to the Brave Ponies who fought there to preserve Romaneya.

8 hours later, as the moon shone brightly on the hostel he would be staying in, Alexander disembarked from his ride and slept the night away.

The next morning he was in the palace war room before anyone else, just how he liked it. Aver Aonetscu, in charge of the army always hated it when Alexander was there before him, and who was Alexander to pass up an opportunity to annoy him?

Soon, the rest of the war Cabinet filed in, Aonetscu noticeably late and upset. The newly formed air industry had yet to send a representative and so the room was filled with pitched rivalry between the army and navy until Carol trotted into the room and positioned himself at the head of the table.

“Gentleman, while our position has always seemed precarious, today it becomes more so”, He continued “The facist party has seized full control of Germaney, the new Reich is making it clear it has ambitions towards Ostria and securing a living area for themselves.” Alexander pondered what they could possibly mean by that before King Carol continued. “Hungry has likewise made extreme tendencies in government and is looking to rearm, The question on the table? Do we allow them to in The hopes of a peaceful relationship? Or deny them and keep tramplevania safe and secured? The decision is up to you” He finished while leaning back in his chair.

It was as if the very room had spontaneously combusted with the overwhelming shout of “HELL NO!” Which forced Alex to withhold his opinion until the fire had raged. One of the army generals Ian Petelo had likewise stayed silent, the two exchanging a look of “here we go again” before shrugging and listening to the shouting match.

“Sir is Rearmament for Hungry even and option? You saw what they did 14 years ago! The Hungrians will stop at nothing to gain Tramplevania back and we are NOT giving them access to the sword in which to do it with!” Aonetscu’s voice carried over the others as they all nodded in agreement.

Carol, although noticeably annoyed leaned forward and said, calmly this time, “Alexander, care to share your thoughts as well?”.

“Of course, sir” Alex quickly responded as he stood. “Gentleman, think not of Hungry’s request to rearm themselves as a hostile approach but instead one of self preservation, and a desire to be respected. Think about it, if we were in Hungry’s position we would feel it as part of our rights to defend and project ourselves right? So, men of the cabinet, I urge you to perceive the concept of an armed, but not necessarily hostile Hungry. I recommend you talk it over with the Czechs and Servs sir Carol, after all, they are our allies in the Entente.”

“I move for a motion of general acceptance to the request of a 40,000 strong Hungrian army to be discussed with our allies.” Carol spoke up immediately after.

Only 7 or so hands went up, but it was enough to pass the motion and Carol left, already planning his visit to Belgrade next week.

As the council left the room however Alexander and Aonetscu gave each other death glares as Ian followed them through the door, a mysterious paper folded in his arms.

Author's Note

Please note that while this will be slightly historical, I am taking full liberties when it comes to details like names and battles.