MV Auld Laddie

The MV Auld Laddie was a flat-bottomed merchant steamer, previously known as the SS Bǎochuán. In 1697 AN it masqueraded under the cover name of Salem in an attempt to carry arms from Elluenuueq to the Seishi Clique as part of the Post-Chidao Troubles.

Vessel

The SS Bǎochuán was a 6,165 roseric steam cargo vessel of antique provenance, dating back to the Jing subversion of Kildare when it was built and would sail in the coastal waters of the islands subsequently renamed as Gong. Bǎochuán measured 118 riq in length, with a beam of 19.36 riq and a draught of 7.04 riq. The oil-fired steam turbines of the Bǎochuán could attain a top speed of 18 rixon (11,250 riq) per hour. The flat-bottomed hull of the Bǎochuán rendered it eminently suitable for navigating the mega-rivers of Apollonia and Eura, thereby prolonging its commercial life into the modern era.

The history of the Bǎochuán is largely obscured by the loss of its last Jing captain, who drowned himself by plunging overboard, along with the ship's log strapped to his person, rather than accept the dishonour of surrender. Nonetheless it is known that following the War of Lost Brothers the Bǎochuán became a regular feature in the trade between Punta Santiago and the Gangdiguo Special Economic Zone.

Taken by Sea-Reavers in 1694 AN, the Bǎochuán was auctioned by an admiralty court convened in Arak with the proceeds of the sale being distributed amongst the victims of Bassarid piracy. Purchased by the Apollonian Directorate of the Honourable Company and assigned to the residency at Tirlar. After participating in the 1696 AN SATCo trade fleet to Chryse, the Bǎochuánpaid off its crew and remained at anchor in the harbour. Shown to the delegates attending the Congress of Chryse, the Bǎochuán was purchased by the Union Defence Force and rechristened the MV Auld Laddie.

Sailed into a new anchorage in the Viscounty of Lumenetra during mid-1697 AN, the Auld Laddie was refitted, had its superstructure rebuilt to alter its silhouette and house concealed point-defence systems, and received a fresh-crew of Tiegangese recruited from the International Mandate.

Smuggling operation

According to all records of the period, the Auld Laddie remained laid up at Lumenetra for the remainder of the year. The departure of the Meckelnburghish tramp-steamer, the SS Salem was noted however to have occurred on the night of 11.X.1697 AN. Carried aboard were 7,258 M1581 7.62 mm Machine Carbines, 11,662 M1525 Pistols, 1,000,000 rounds of ammunition, 10 machine guns, and 8 crates of shaped explosive charges.

The ship's crew comprised of 40 Tiegangese sailors, an 8 man UDF security detail, and a half-dozen political officers bearing gifts and letters of introduction from the Congress of Chryse addressed to Emperor Taizong of Seishi. The overall expedition was commanded by Kommendör Oscar Henriksson, with the Salem under the command of Kapten Sharif Darzi.

Making free use of the flags of neutral powers, the International Mandate, Meckelnburgh, and Senya especially, the Salem recrossed the Shire Sea and followed the Apollonian coast northwards from the Shirerithian island of Hawshire to Fort Nider, and thence along the Gotzborg Shore to within sight of the Senyan island of Tiana on 13.XIII.1697 AN. From this point the Salem struck eastwards across the Northern Sea as though heading for the port of Victoria only to disappear from recorded shipping movements shortly thereafter.

On 17.XIV.1697 AN the transponder of a ship calling itself the Salem reactivated off-shore from the Seishi Clique held port of Xaoxincheng in the province of Naoi. With enemy actions making a direct approach into the port ill-advised the delegation of political officers, along with their gifts, were put ashore in small boats from the edge of international waters, while the Salem departed eastwards towards Tyrador, a covert anchorage favoured by the Honourable Company and the Raspur Pact since the days of the Hammish Civil War.