History

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Pre-Confederation Era (Origins)

The story of The Zanzibar Confederation begins in June of 2143, aboard the Europan Utility Ship (E.U.S.) Zephyr. A newly commissioned vessel in the Coaltion Navy commanded by Dillon Ecard and his First Officer Edward Hill. The E.U.S. Zephyr was a small salvage and recovery vessel operating in the cold caverns. Jovian insurgents and previously undiscovered Fauna had been wreeking havoc on Coalition Trade Routes in the region. For almost a year the Crew of the E.U.S. Zephyr embarked and successfully completed over 45+ missions and sorties during their tour of the Cold Caverns. During that time, they endured Pirate ambushes, Jovian ambushes, sabatoge, attempted mutinies, Husk outbreaks, reactor meltdowns, clowns and on more. The E.U.S. Zephyr was forced to undergo a number of refit's during this time as the primary configuration turned out to be insufficiant for the true dangers of Europa's Oceans. Often a Mission resulted in limping back to the nearest port with a skeleton crew and a ship held together by only hopes and dreams. It had gotten so bad that towards the end of their first tour the Coalition decided they would no longer provide the necessary repairs or upgrades required to survive, citing "Inefficiant operations cost". Despite the massive sacrifices the crew had already made in the name of the Coalition, the Zephyr pressed on. The crew became accustomed to creating makeshift upgrades of their own since almost half of the ship required some form of jerry rigging in order to function at a basic level.

Around Februrary of 2144, the Zephyr picked up an automated distress call from an outpost called Zanzibar while en route to the Europan Ridge to survey a new minning claim for the Coalition. The outpost was located on the outskirts of Coalition territory on the surface of Europa. Records show that Outpost Zanzibar was comprised of mainly working class families and frontiersmen, who were intent on establishing a small city so that they would have a safe place to live while the main breadwinners went off to work in the more inhospitable surroundings. Captain Ecard followed Coalition procedure and informed Coalition Fleet Command for the Cold Caverns (C.F.C.) of the situation. A request to personally respond to the distress signal was denied, C.F.C. responded with the promise that the situation would be handled. But the Zephyr's orders were to continue to the minning claim in the Europan Ridge and conduct the survey as originally planned. Captain Ecard acknowledged the order and took the Zephyr back to it's original course. But before they left the sector the Zephyr launched a beacon aimed at the outpost which would autmatically start brodcasting a message saying that their distress call had been recieved and help was on the way.

4 days later the Zephyr was returning from the Europan Ridge when it came into contact with the same automated distress call from the outpost on the surface. Worried about what this meant, Captain Ecard ordered the Zephyr to change course for Zanzibar. The Zephyr at this point had a compliment of Coalition Marines on board in case any Pirates or Jovians were brave enough to board the Zephyr personally, but it was by no means a security force to be reckoned with. Early survey reports showed numerous unexplored caves near the outpost and at this point everyone who had been serving aboard the Zephyr was a seasoned veteran. The crew knew they could be running into untold dangers, especially after how much time had elapsed. Europa never fails to surprise a crew who turns a blind eye and this was no exception, as the dark infested waters had already dragged many a poor sailor into the deep with it's cold and dark hands. Securing an entire mining outpost would be too big for the handful of Marines the Zephyr carried on board. So Captain Ecard ordered the entire crew minus essential personnel to begin outfitting themselves for a possible rescue mission.

The situation was grave. Zanzibar had not responded to any hails by the Zephyr after it had come into communications range. It had been 4 days since the Zephyr initially picked up the distress call and who knows how many days it had been broadcasting before that. The Zephyr's shuttles, packed with Marines, Medics, Engineers and Mechanics zoomed towards Zanzibar in an expedited fashion.

What ensued for the next 7 days would haunt the survivors of Zanzibar for the rest of their lives. The away teams were able to land safely and disembark. But almost immediately the stench of death began to seep through the cracks and bolts of the outpost walls. They quickly discovered that almost the entire civilian population of Zanzibar had been killed. It appeared that an aggressive Husk outbreak had occurred almost 2 weeks ago and had decimated the outpost. Any survivors that had been found were already showing advanced stages of infection and were given what medical care that could be spared. But eventually they all had to be euthanized. Then the real problems began. The second day a fireteam of Marines were sent to scout out the caves closest to the outpost to make sure we didn't leave anyone behind. That fireteam never returned. Their last cries for help on the radio was more than enough motivation for Captain Ecard to order the away teams back to the ship. Unfortunately, a new version of highly mutated Husk was waiting for them back at their shuttles.

With no way off Zanzibar, the away teams were forced to retreat back into the outpost. There was no plan. There was only survival. For 6 straight days, the crew of the Zephyr was forced to fight from compartment to compartment, from room to room and cave to cave for their lives. With no chance of ressuply, non existant medical gear and constantly dwindling batteries. Split up and outnumbered, some teams had to resort to welding themselves into storage containers in order survive the Husk menace. These Husk were unlike anything that the crew had seen before. They were much larger, much faster and seemed to understand how to operate simple devices such as doors. First Officer Hill led the main defensive efforts for the crew that he could get his hands on. He eventually was able to lead an assault into the caves where the fireteam of Marines went missing. Once deep inside he discovered the horrific sight of a Husk nest that had gone unnoticed underneath the outpost. Employing every single explosive and incendiary device on hand the away team was able to purge the nest and its queen from the Caves, ultimately securing the outpost.

Confederation Era

The crew of the Zephyr were veterans of Europa. But nothing could have possibly prepared them for what happend at Zanzibar.Wiki5.jpg

Once back aboard the Zephyr, Captain Ecard made contact with C.F.C. demanding to kow what happened to the response team they said that they would send out. Ecard was met with the usual beaurocratic nonsense that he had become so accustomed to every time he had to fight Fleet Command when he needed to get something for his ship or crew. It had become clear that the Coalition had other priorities when it came to operations on Europa. "Inefficient operations cost" had become a mantra that played in Ecard's ear one too many times. He responded with his Resignation and broke contact with C.F.C. before they could respond. He did not know if the Coalition would send anyone out for the Zephyr and he did not care. It wasn't just him, the whole crew was tired of being treated as disposable Coalition lackies in return for a paycheck.

Dillon Ecard called for the senior crewmembers to assemble as a council on the bridge of the Zephyr. After much deliberation it was decided to clear out what was left of Zanzibar and use the remaining construction supplies to create a new and independent outpost. Smaller ships that were left behind were used to continue repairing the Zephyr and begin construction of a humble fleet. With growing confidence, it was decided the crew and colony would call themselves the Zanzibar Confederation. A group of free men and women who would work to ensure their mutual survival and prosperity. Each vessel within the Confederation would be governed by their own set of laws, set forth by the Captain of each ship. While pledging their support to the newly instated Admiral of the fleet. A Haven for people who wanted to create their own purpose.

March 2144. Week's passed as the Crew of the Zephyr set forth to begin their work at turning Zanzibar into something that resembled a home. The outpost had enough supplies to build shelters, oxygen gennerators and some hydroponics bays. The remaining necessities would have to be processed out of the minerals they found in the cave, which fortunately could be traded for Europan Marks. The Coalition never sent any ships to challange the resignation of the crew. The crew figured the Coalition had written off the Zephyr as a junk heap and decided it wasn't worth the time or resources to pursue.

With a fresh coat of paint and a significant overhaul in dry dock, the new citizens of Zanzibar designated the Zanzibar Confederation Carrier Ship (Z.C.C.S.) Zephyr, the new flagship of their fledgling navy. The cargo ship that had originally brought the frontiersmen to Zanzibar was brought online and redesignated as the Zanzibar Confederation Utility Ship (Z.C.U.S.) Axios.

The Confederation were now outfitted with a small fleet of shuttles, two ships ready for duty and a stable settlement. Their mission, to establish a new way of life for future Europans that did not require them to live at the mercy of some obscure corporation's bottom line. Nor pledge allegience to an ideology that demanded their subserviance to a cause that was not their own. Zanzibar aimed to be an independent and free civilzation, where the governing bodies only responsibility was to ensure that it's people continue to be able to thrive and flourish on it's own.

These are the voyages of the Confederation Navy.