Post by Siple on Nov 2, 2012 11:30:18 GMT -5
April 19, 2019
Coast of South Columbia
It is fairly early in the morning. The sun is rising over the mountains on the west of the continent. Many miles offshore, deep under the waves of the Remus Ocean, the continental South Columbian Plate and the oceanic Nacza Plate press against each other as they have for millennia. The tectonics that created the beautiful mountains have created great tension between these plates in many places.
One such spot is located at 22 S, 102.5 W. The tension at this point of contact is centuries old. At 0617 local time (1317 STR), a portion of the South Columbian Plate that has been forced upward in a bulge finally springs back into place. An earthquake ensues. The vertical movement of water created by the grinding of the plate creates massive ripples of displaced ocean that radiate out from the epicenter of the quake. Ships in the area do not notice the waves-- they are yet too shallow.
CNS Sea Dragon, thirteen miles off the west coast of South Columbia, 0621
"Lieutenant, something weird is on the sonar."
Lieutenant Fitch walks over to the technician. "What does it look like?"
"Not a ship, sir. That's as much as I can tell."
The officer examines the passive sonar system's digital readout. The pattern looks like it belongs to something shaky and huge. Certainly not a ship.
"I think this is an earthquake. A few dozen miles away, I would guess, but I'm no expert. I'll have the commander contact Admiralty."
Commonwealth Naval Yard, Siple City, 0630
Rear Admiral Lisa Schneider answers her office phone.
"Admiral, we have a sub on satellite that wishes to report something to you."
"Which sub?"
"The Sea Dragon."
"Transfer them."
The line clicks.
"Good morning, Commander Lewis."
"You're at work early, ma'am."
"I am. What is it you want to tell me about?"
"I recommend that the Home Office be contacted at once. My staff is telling me we may have just detected a coastal earthquake."
Siple Geological Survey, Siple City, 0636
"Dr. Faulkner, Home Office on the line."
"Dr. Faulkner, we have an urgent message from Dr. Pratt."
Jacob Faulkner is anxious to go home after an all-nighter reading seismographs. He decides to let the Home Office wait and speaks instead to his colleague visiting South Columbia.
"This is Faulkner, Dr. Pratt."
"Earthquake!"
"What's that?"
"There has been an earthquake in the subduction zone. It happened maybe twenty minutes ago. The intern here woke me up."
"Good God, Chris, what was the magnitude?"
"According to the figures we have now, around eight. Could be more, could be less."
"Is there a tsunami risk?"
"Almost certainly. Oh damn."
"What is it?"
"It just started to strike. I see it from here on the hill."
The signal then failed. Dr. Faulkner switched the line to the Home Office.
"Is this about the earthquake?"
"Yes, doctor, how-"
"Put out a tsunami evacuation order on all north- and east-facing coasts at once. We have maybe two hours."
Coast of South Columbia
It is fairly early in the morning. The sun is rising over the mountains on the west of the continent. Many miles offshore, deep under the waves of the Remus Ocean, the continental South Columbian Plate and the oceanic Nacza Plate press against each other as they have for millennia. The tectonics that created the beautiful mountains have created great tension between these plates in many places.
One such spot is located at 22 S, 102.5 W. The tension at this point of contact is centuries old. At 0617 local time (1317 STR), a portion of the South Columbian Plate that has been forced upward in a bulge finally springs back into place. An earthquake ensues. The vertical movement of water created by the grinding of the plate creates massive ripples of displaced ocean that radiate out from the epicenter of the quake. Ships in the area do not notice the waves-- they are yet too shallow.
CNS Sea Dragon, thirteen miles off the west coast of South Columbia, 0621
"Lieutenant, something weird is on the sonar."
Lieutenant Fitch walks over to the technician. "What does it look like?"
"Not a ship, sir. That's as much as I can tell."
The officer examines the passive sonar system's digital readout. The pattern looks like it belongs to something shaky and huge. Certainly not a ship.
"I think this is an earthquake. A few dozen miles away, I would guess, but I'm no expert. I'll have the commander contact Admiralty."
Commonwealth Naval Yard, Siple City, 0630
Rear Admiral Lisa Schneider answers her office phone.
"Admiral, we have a sub on satellite that wishes to report something to you."
"Which sub?"
"The Sea Dragon."
"Transfer them."
The line clicks.
"Good morning, Commander Lewis."
"You're at work early, ma'am."
"I am. What is it you want to tell me about?"
"I recommend that the Home Office be contacted at once. My staff is telling me we may have just detected a coastal earthquake."
Siple Geological Survey, Siple City, 0636
"Dr. Faulkner, Home Office on the line."
"Dr. Faulkner, we have an urgent message from Dr. Pratt."
Jacob Faulkner is anxious to go home after an all-nighter reading seismographs. He decides to let the Home Office wait and speaks instead to his colleague visiting South Columbia.
"This is Faulkner, Dr. Pratt."
"Earthquake!"
"What's that?"
"There has been an earthquake in the subduction zone. It happened maybe twenty minutes ago. The intern here woke me up."
"Good God, Chris, what was the magnitude?"
"According to the figures we have now, around eight. Could be more, could be less."
"Is there a tsunami risk?"
"Almost certainly. Oh damn."
"What is it?"
"It just started to strike. I see it from here on the hill."
The signal then failed. Dr. Faulkner switched the line to the Home Office.
"Is this about the earthquake?"
"Yes, doctor, how-"
"Put out a tsunami evacuation order on all north- and east-facing coasts at once. We have maybe two hours."