MTLNOVEL Chapter 1120: Strange Conflict
The 'Princess', with a displacement of 3,600 tons, a length of 115 meters, a width of 13 meters, and a draft of 5 meters, is an old ship produced in the 1960s by America, having served long-term in the American Coast Guard...
Though the Hamilton-class patrol ship is particularly aged, its hull strength, propulsion system, and electronic systems are not too poor.
In 2013, America reportedly gifted two Hamilton-class patrol ships to the Philippines, but in reality, the butchered patrol ships cost the Philippines nearly 200 million US Dollars to get them operational again.
Even so, the Philippines promptly appointed one of them as its navy's flagship.
Whereas Joe Ga spent only 45 million US Dollars, and signed a document requiring the American Trade Department's approval for a second transfer, securing this basically unbutchered decommissioned vessel.
Later, Joe Ga sent the ship to Italy, spending nearly 60 million US Dollars to complete the final modifications of this old vessel.
Spending so little was thanks to the American Coast Guard's blessing...
Since the unbutchered Princess ship handed to Joe Ga contained a fire control system, radar system, and propulsion system all retrofitted onto the ship in 2003.
These systems are considered relatively advanced models even today, saving a lot of money during modifications.
The relatively outdated anti-submarine system was removed from the original ship, replacing it with an Italian-made OTO Melara 76mm naval gun on the bow.
The earlier 127mm large-caliber naval guns seem to have less power now, but the level of automation, intelligence, and the ammunition capacity have increased geometrically.
Besides, the ship's stern is also equipped with an OTO 25mm naval gun and two 12.7mm machine gun weapon stations.
On the platform below the ship's fore and the platform below the surface search radar, there are also two sets of Avenger air defense systems and two sets of Hellfire anti-tank launchers.
In comparison to other warships with a 3,600-ton capacity, the combat effectiveness of the 'Princess' is negligible, only sufficient for maritime patrol tasks at best.
However, these modifications provided the 120 crew members on board with ample space for activity, freeing up a considerable amount of space for storing supplies and extending the Princess's operational time at sea, occasionally using it to transport important cargo.
In the past year or so, the Princess would make 2-3 round trips in the Gulf of Aden each month, earning escort fees to sustain itself.
But now, they are more relaxed; with Djibouti supplying nearby, not only can the crew rest ashore weekly, but even the ship's consumption is reduced by more than half.
If Mukalla and Bossosa follow the right course in the future, the Princess can even save on docking fees.
Currently, the 'Princess' is sailing slowly around a sea battleground 5 kilometers offshore in the Gulf of Aden...
A 40,000-ton cargo ship is being surrounded by dozens of pirate speedboats...
These pirate speedboats act like a pack of wolves at sea, dispersing and circling the cargo ship; whenever the defenses on the cargo ship are activated, several speedboats would charge towards it.
When these pirates get close to the cargo ship, they even fire RPGs at the deck to cover others attempting to board.
Typically, cargo ships would surrender under such a large-scale pirate encounter, let alone when over a dozen pirate speedboats approached and fired RPGs.
However, at this moment, the people on the cargo ship are still fiercely resisting, and the firepower seems to be intensifying.
From initially using automatic rifles, they have escalated to 12.7mm heavy machine guns...
Theoretically, even from a humanitarian standpoint, the Princess should assist in dispersing the pirates, but when it attempted to approach, the people on the cargo ship actually signaled it not to come close via radio.
The Princess does not have maritime enforcement rights; according to international law, the Princess Maritime Security Company can only fire when attacked itself or when escorted ships are attacked.
Now, since the other party has not purchased maritime security services, and this area belongs to Somali waters, thus the Princess hesitates to act recklessly.
When Joe Ga arrived, the firepower on the cargo ship had already evolved to RPGs and mortars, and it seemed to be continuing to evolve...
The 'Love Goddess' voluntarily approached the 'Princess', forming a formation 500 meters apart...
Joe Ga made a call via radio to the Princess's captain, the Italian Cristiano, and curiously asked, "Why haven't the pirates retreated after such a long time?
Who are these pirates?"
Cristiano, a sixty-three-year-old man, replied with a robust voice, "Boss, I previously saw a ship hoisting the flag of the Youth Party; those pirates should be hired by the Youth Party.
They probably came specifically for the cargo ship called 'Hanson'..."
Joe Ga, holding binoculars, watched the fierce sea battle afar, observing several small boats courageously charging towards the stern of the cargo ship, attacking its propulsion with carried RPGs...
"Are these people crazy? If they stop the ship, how will they get it moving?"
As Joe Ga spoke, Dorian, also holding binoculars, suddenly exclaimed, "Oh shit, the pirates are boarding, oh, they're being shot down..."
Hearing this, Joe Ga quickly shifted his view and then saw two groups of people on the front and rear of the cargo ship attempting to forcibly board...
They used a ladder with hooks to latch onto the deck, and several people, guns in hand, climbed up under the cover of their companions behind.
However, considering the height of over ten meters and the operation at sea, faced with the fierce counterattack from the crew and mercenaries on the ship, they were swiftly shot down into the sea.
The continuous deaths seemed to anger the pirates, who started concentrating fire using RPGs to bombard the ship deck, and the pirates behind the cargo ship fired anew...
With a series of rocket explosions, the stern of the cargo ship, which was constantly accelerating to escape, emitted a faint smoke and slowly came to a halt.
The abnormal state of the cargo ship seemed to anger the people on board, who launched a ferocious counterattack against the pirate assault...
Several rounds of RPGs and a series of mortars were fired at the pirate fleet, with one RPG precisely hitting a speedboat.
Unfortunately, these people underestimated the pirates' determination; the silence of one ship did not diminish the pirates' attacking desire; instead, it made them act crazier, sending more RPGs towards the cargo ship.
Completely different sizes result in completely different effects...
The people on the ship are like trying to shoot mosquitoes with cannons. RPGs and mortars struggle to hit the speeding speedboats.
Pirates are different. Their bullets and RPGs may not hit people, but they definitely hit the ship, and most of them struck the containers on the deck.
As the cargo ship's power system was damaged and containers on the ship were hit one after another, the people onboard seemed to change their minds. They no longer tried to block the pirates but began to pull back their lines, as if they wanted to let the pirates board...
The funniest part of the whole situation is that neither side seems to be on the right track, yet both are familiar with international law...
The cargo ship resolutely refuses to seek help, and the pirates ignore the existence of the Princess ship.
With such a large ship like the Princess around, they're essentially fighting themselves, firmly preventing the Princess from approaching.
The Princess getting directly involved is impossible because they're engaged in escort services, not anti-piracy operations.
Moreover, this is not international waters but Somali waters.
Once a video of them firing is leaked, those maritime security companies that have lost a lot of business would act immediately, the Great Warlord Princess's escort services would face investigations right away.
This has nothing to do with your connections, being a legitimate maritime security company, getting caught would mean facing a series of investigations.
Even if Joe can smooth things over, it would take a lot of time!
An experienced captain, when necessary, can choose to charge through, assume an impact stance to intimidate, but never fire first.
Only if the opponent attacks first, the Princess ship can gain the right to retaliate.
For government navies, this latitude can be a bit wider, as it's just verbal sparring at most.
But for private companies, this order must not be wrong.
However, since the cargo ship hasn't called for help, Joe naturally won't create trouble for himself...
He's just curious, wanting to know why both sides are fighting?
The binoculars could only see from one direction, after thinking about it, Joe Ga turned to Ronnie beside him and said: "Go activate the drone, I want to see what conclusion they'll arrive at..."
Ronnie put down the binoculars, patted the medical officer bird, and led him into the cabin. A few minutes later, the two of them carried a large box onto the helipad on the aft deck.
The Northwestern Wind Missile System is built-in, before activation, Ronnie and the others released a drone about 2 meters wide there.
As the drone took off, Joe in the cockpit finally saw the full view of the naval battle...
A large number of pirates hovered around the stationary cargo ship, these guys seemed like they were on stimulants, continuously tightening the encirclement, while showering the cargo ship with bullets.
Defensive personnel on the cargo ship's deck could only crouch on the scorching deck, unable to lift their heads due to being suppressed.
When Joe Ga took a picture with his phone as the drone snapped the cargo ship's side, then he signaled Dorian to keep an eye, he walked onto the foredeck, took out the satellite phone and dialed Aaron's number...
"I'm really busy right now, what do you want this time?"
Hearing Aaron's impatient tone on the phone, Joe replied displeased, "What can a prisoner be busy with? Found a boyfriend in prison?"
Joe's 'malicious' words made Aaron pause for a moment, then he burst out, "Are you an idiot?
Do you know how busy I've been lately?
Do you think coordinating transport routes to ship arms to Yemen is easy?
Do you think it's simple to guide the Edward Foundation to invest in Yemen?
I have to keep an eye on black market transactions in case something too advanced lands in Al-Qaeda's hands.
I even have to look out for your little lover and son because the Stairway to Heaven people have set their sights on her!
You, who only knows how to shoot, how did you manage to get to where you are today?
Apologize to me now, or you won't get a thing from me..."
Joe paused for a moment, then said gravely, "Stairway to Heaven has set their sights on Grace?
Edward Foundation has crossed the line!"
Aaron could sense Joe's dark tone over the call, he slightly softened his tone, saying: "Currently unclear if it's the Edward Foundation?
Your little lover and son are now big landowners holding 300,000 acres, plus, holding a secret fund with Monica, they've sponsored 5 congressmen!
Most importantly, big-mouth Tang met Grace in Ohio a few months ago, and has been praising her.
Now there's talk that Grace might become America's youngest congresswoman..."
Joe Ga frowned contemplating for a while and then said, "Hasn't Tom Reed reacted?"
Aaron laughed and said, "Tom Reed is a big figure, a senator, plus he has more than just Grace, he has two sons and a married daughter.
And the Reed family has other members..."
Joe instantly grasped Aaron's implication...