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Post by The Viceroy (AdminM) on Oct 8, 2016 16:03:06 GMT
In the darkness of the night, a series of ships arrived late to the harbour, bearing the flags of the Crimean Khanate. The Harbour Master, checked his clock, and shook his head. There was never a moments rest. He marched his way down to the dockyard, surprised to see no lanterns on in the ships. He waved and shouted to get the attention of the crew, they were not moving too fast, but were at risk of missing the allocated dockyards. This act, it turned out, would be his last in the realm of mortals. As one of the ships grew closer, he did spot a light - not a lantern, but a fire that had been started below the deck. With a blast that shook the city, the ship exploded. Nine more ships sailed in over the next twenty minutes, wreaking havoc on the trading infrastructure of Istanbul.
Repairs to the dock yards will cost 20,000 Ducats. Until repairs are made, Ottoman trade income will be reduced by 5%.
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Post by Sublime Porte on Oct 8, 2016 16:20:18 GMT
The repairs are to be made as soon as affordable, and will be taken out of the coming year's tax revenues.
The castellans of Anadolu Kavağı and Yoros Castle, the forts at the confluence of the Bosphorus and Black Seas, at one of its narrowest points, are called to the Topkapi Palace to answer for their negligence.
These northerly forts were established to prevent just this sort of action, after a fleet of Cossacks had tried to raid villages on the outskirts of Istanbul a century before. Entry through the Bosphorus is meant to be heavily controlled, for security and to exact tolls on merchant vessels. The fact that these ships were not stopped, or if they were, not one of them searched, suggests a great oversight on the part of the commanders. What happened to the days when customs were respected? Ever since a Venetian ship tried to pass by Rumelihisarı, the predecessor to the two customs forts, located at a narrow point further south along the Bosphorus, without paying the toll, and the noble Firuz Agha had responded by firing a single cannon shot to sink the ship, and then beheading the survivors, no nation had dared to evade the customs officials of the Bosphorus.
In addition, the Janissary commander of the Rumelihisarı and Anadoluhisarı fortresses are asked to come to the palace to explain how they did not take action. Though not strictly their job, the two fortresses are still armed and ready, and would be capable of providing a second line of defence.
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Post by The Viceroy (AdminM) on Oct 8, 2016 17:03:55 GMT
It seems the ships were not warships, and as they were flying Crimean flags the officials were happy to let them through after receiving the toll. This is no excuse, and the officials were clearly negligent in their duties, particularly with regard to their failure to search the vessels.
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Post by Sublime Porte on Oct 8, 2016 19:23:44 GMT
After hearing this information, it is decided that the commander of Anadolu Kavağı was not to blame. He is to be promoted to the command of Yoros Castle. The commanders of the two ancient castles, of Anatolia and Europe, are completely without blame, as the flotilla would appear innocent enough having passed through and paid the toll.
The commander of Yoros Castle, who is responsible for exacting the toll, has failed in his duties. He should have been able to tell Tatar merchants from Russian spies. Had he never heard of a false flag operation? The Sultanate is at war and extra precautions are the duty of all. The commander of Yoros Castle is held in custody at the Palace, and is to be placed on trial for treason.
Customs officials are encouraged to conduct racial profiling. Ships found to have Russian crews will be turned back. The straits are blocked to foreign traffic from all but the Dutch, Scandinavians, British, French, and Muslim nations. German merchants are also welcomed, but all their vessels are to be thoroughly searched, and those flying the Habsburg banner will be blocked.
If peace is established with the Holy League, all Italian merchants will also be allowed access. No warships may pass the straits without Ottoman approval.
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