From:	Doctor Doom <JCH8169@*****.TAMU.EDU>
Subject:	Doomsday for the Intrepid
Date:	Tue, 4 May 1993 14:09:20 -0500

>>>>>[

***** Include: News Flash...Intrepid Located

<scene of the open sea... German warships surround a World War II style
aircraft carrier. Presently, smoke a black column of smoke is billowing from
various areas amidships, and there is obvious damage to many of the ship's
outer surfaces. A white flag is raised where the ensign originally flew.>

This is Jessica Farbane, reporting from the East Pacific. Today has seen
considerable action not but a few hundred miles off the coast of Central
America. The Fifth German High Seas Fleet encountered the _Intrepid_,
apparently preparing to make a raid upon a coastal city, in the open ocean.

Indications of the carriers presence were first detected by the reconnaissance
screen of Unterseebooten, or submarines, which were using passive sonar to
locate the _Intrepid's_ acoustic signature.

Fighters from the German carrier, SMS _Friedrich der Grosse_ established the
initial visual sighting of the _Intrepid_, and initiated a pitched battle
between the air complement aboard the carrier, composed largely of helicopters
and a few fighters, and the much larger _Friedrich der Grosse_.

The air cover successfully frustrating most efforts to directly strike the
carrier, the German fighters seemed satisfied to wage a war of attrition where
they gradually wore down the _Intrepid's_ air defenses.

A few hours into the battle, the capital ships successfully moved into range,
and a severely restricted limited naval bombardment ensued, in an attempt to
strike the carrier amidships, and thereby cripple it by incapacitating its
engines. One interesting fact in this regard is that although it is known
several Unterseebooten, or submarines, were with the strike group, the order
was given no torpedoes were to be used on the _Intrepid_, keeping with the
Empire's pledge not to sink the craft.

Some of the air defense units moved to engage the German capital ships, such as
the dreadnoughts, _Preussen_ and _Deutschland_, as well as the frigates
_Bismarck_, _Scharnhorst_, _Molkte_, and _Seydlitz_, in an attempt to inhibit
their firing upon the _Intrepid_. A few of the ships suffered hits, but the
anti-aircraft batteries, coupled with re-aligned fighter units for aerial
defense, eventually disposed of the attackers.

During the various naval artillery salvos and explosives dropped on the
carrier, a fire ignited in the ship's interior, or the raging blaze from the
flightdeck spread below into the recesses of the ship. The carrier had, at
that time, already begun to list badly, and her forward momentum had ceased,
indicating a loss of engine power. Moments later, seemingly realized they were
damage to the point of being unable to contain it, the white flag of surrender
was raised.

Almost immediately, various small craft, manned with rescue teams, raced out to
the crippled carrier, while the other warships created a perimeter around their
quarry.

Presently, most of the fires have been brought under control, with a few
remaining to be extinguished. One officer indicated they barely managed to
prevent the fire from spreading to the ammunition storage, the detonation of
which would probably have destroyed the _Intrepid_.

Admiral Frederick von Zollikofer, commander of the fleet, consented to an
interview following conclusion of offensive operations, permitting his
subordinates coordinate the fire control and repair work.

---

Farbane: Were any attempts made at a peaceful solution before the firing
started?

Zollikofer: Indeed there were. Subsequent to locating the carrier, we
attempted hailing it several times, with no response. A observational flyby
showed despite superficial damage to the tower, their communications equipment
was intact. We could only conclude they were ignoring us.

Farbane: Why do you feel they fought such a superior force?

Zollikofer: I rather feel they did not realize the untenability of their
position as well as the magnitude of the opposition they faced. It is possible
they chose not to hear our description of the forces arrayed against them.

Farbane: What damage has the _Intrepid_ received, aside from what is visible
to the eye?

Zollikofer: All of the air defense complement, meaning the helicopters and
fighters, have been destroyed; although a few may prove to be salvageable.

As to the _Intrepid_ itself, it is readily apparent the flight deck is
completely inoperative at present. The bridge was struck as well as the hull
in several places, which resulted in the fire, which fairly well gutted the
interior beneath the flight deck, which is where, if memory serves, Tirandor
had established his personal abode. His lair and magical paraphenalia, from
its appearance, was completely destroyed by the inferno, and I can only
conclude it is a complete loss.

There was engine damage resulting from one of the armor-piercing hits.
Previous to surrender, the crew was forced to expel the reactor core, lest it
go critical or cause undue radiation damage to the interior. As it was, there
is elevated radiation reading in various areas below decks of varying
intensity.

Certain compartments of the engineering section were beginning to take on
water, which accounts for the rather dramatic listing. This flooding has
been brought under control and halted, and presently the repair crews are
endeavoring to remove the sea water.

Farbane: What about the crew? Were there survivors?

Zollikofer: There is an as yet undetermined number of survivors, all of which
have been arrested on charges of piracy in accordance with the Law of the Sea.
They shall be tried, and if found guilty, summarily executed.

Farbane: What are your intentions now?

Zollikofer: Dragon's Den International, as I expressed earlier, stated several
days ago it wishes for the carrier to be returned. Therefore, following
completion of necessary repairs, we shall embark upon towing operations, the
final destination of which shall be New York Harbor, where it shall be
positioned in its usual dock, at which time, custody of the ship shall be
transferred to Tirandor or authorized representatives of DDI.

Farbane: Do you regret damaging the _Intrepid_?

Zollikofer: Naturally, I regret being unable to reach a peaceful solution;
however, once their intentions were clear to resist, I regret none of my
decisions to compel its surrender.

Farbane: What do you feel Tirandor's reaction will be?

Zollikofer: I would project that Tirandor shall be quite displeased with the
destruction inflicted upon his ship; nevertheless, it is my opinion that the
blame lies solely with him for not possessing security forces adequate to
prevent the capture of the ship. We are well within our rights to halt piracy
on the high seas.

Farbane: And that shall be your opinion if he should object to its present
state?

Zollikofer: We wrested control of his carrier away from vandals and are
presently endeavoring to prevent its loss. Should he be so inclined as to take
issue with our methods, I should counter with the fact they were quite
unwilling to merely acquiesce to our orders. However, if it shall lighten his
mood, we may not request the reward offered for its return.

Farbane: You mean you intend to ask for the reward?

Zollikofer: Of course. They stated their desire for the carrier be brought
back to them, not stipulating anything in regards to means implemented for its
return. However, the final decision is one I shall have to discuss with my
superiors.

---

And there you have it. Admiral Zollikofer defending the validity of the
actions of the German Empire here in the Pacific today, saying the _Intrepid_
shall now be transported to New York where it will be turned over to DDI.

International reaction to this battle has been rather vague. Most were pleased
such an obvious threat to the shipping routes has been successfully
neutralized, and many others have expressed their wishes that a non-violent
solution could have been achieved. CAS, UCAS, and Atzlan, notably, conveyed
their whole hearted approval of the ship's capture, possibly motivated by the
carrier's movements towards their shipping lanes in the Caribbean Sea.

This is Jessica Farbane, reporting for International Network News, in the East
Pacific Ocean.

<End of File> ]<<<<<
-- Doctor Doom <14:06:12/4-MAY-54>

>>>>>[ Well, it looks like ol' Tirandor will get his boat back, even if a
bit
worse for wear. ]<<<<<
-- Mr. Fantastic <14:07:01/05-04-54>

>>>>>[ Yeah...but I don't even wanna think about what the price tag will be
to
get the _Intrepid_ back to running specs. Tirandor's bound to be royally
pissed. ]<<<<<
-- Sonic Boom <14:07:15/05-04-54>

>>>>>[ I think there's an even better reason why he's pissed, though.
Personally, I don't believe this drek about this theft of the _Intrepid_.
Tirandor's got the security to prevent things like that happening. It was
staged, I tell you. ]<<<<<
-- Jack Hack <14:07:27/05-04-54>

>>>>>[ Okay, so maybe it was staged, so what? ]<<<<<
-- Mr. Fantastic <14:07:42/05-04-54>

>>>>>[ Gee, for a decker with as much ego as you've got, you sure act like
you've got drek-for-brains, sometimes. If it was staged, then Tirandor's
getting his wayward warship back without even needing for it to be returned.
I'll bet it was headed for Panama so it could turn up saying the pirates had
been defeated. Nice and neat.

But now, he gets lots of his people executed, and his ship all shot to Hell,
all the while the Germans look like the good guys protecting the safety of the
shipping lines and giving his stolen property back. ]<<<<<
-- Hangtime <14:07:54/05-04-54>

>>>>>[ Which has got Tirandor all hacked off, I'll bet. Even more
important
than the damage, in my opinion, is the loss of the nuclear core, and with it,
all the atomic fuel--not something easy to come by these days. ]<<<<<
-- Sonic Boom <14:08:13/05-04-54>

>>>>>[ I'll give you one better, Sonic. Tirandor's lair must have been
practically ankle-deep in magic stuff. All that's gone now. I think he'll
overlook the atomic fuel question when he finds out his magical base of
operations has been incinerated. ]<<<<<
-- Jack Hack <14:08:37/05-04-54>