A Hidden Treasure: Crimson Skies

 

Yeah, I'm procrastinating again. Just an update on what's going on: I've been working on my follow-up to Gentlemen of Fortune. This new story, The Pirate King, will be released as an e-book on 19th September (Talk Like a Pirate Day, naturally).

Anyway, I like to give shout-outs to obscure gems from time to time. Since pirates are on the mind, I know what I'm choosing. Crimson Skies is an arcade-style flying game released in 2000, based on a collectible miniatures game of the same name. The game takes place during the 1930s, in an alternative history in which the United States and Canada have broken up into 23 squabbling nation-states. With most roads and railways crossing hostile borders, air travel has become the primary means of transportation. The zeppelins that ferry passengers and goods across the continent are a lucrative target for air pirates, and the government air militias formed to fight the pirates regularly face off against one another in sabre-rattling contests.

The player assumes the role of Nathan Zachary, a self-proclaimed "gentleman pirate" who sees himself as a modern-day Robin Hood, stealing from those who can afford the loss while minimising collateral damage. The game follows Zachary and his gang, the Fortune Hunters, as they embark on a series of adventures across this balkanised continent. 

It feels weird talking about games I haven't played (it's hard to find and harder to run on newer machines). Nevertheless, I've been watching Let's Plays on YouTube and have become truly engaged with the Fortune Hunters during their travels thanks to their endearing sense of camaraderie and likeable personalities.

The game's story is divided into five arcs, each of which features around five missions:

1. The Fortune Hunters search for a ship in Sir Francis Drake's fleet, which was lost in a storm somewhere in Hawaii (which has gained independence and become a constitutional monarchy in this universe) and was purportedly carrying stolen Spanish gold. They tussle with the Medusas, an all-female pirate gang led by Justine "Battle Axe" Perot, and also foil an attempt by the British to establish a colony in clear violation of Hawaiian sovereignty.
2. Nathan's old friend, the renowned aviation scientist Dr Wilhelm Fassenbiender, is kidnapped by Soviet agents in Pacifica (a nation-state encompassing Washington, Oregon, and British Colombia). The Fortune Hunters mount a rescue, and then carry out a raid on the Boeing Aviation facility where he and his daughter work, putting them into conflict with a private air force established by Paladin Blake.
3. Johnny Johnson, a studio executive in The Nation of Hollywood (a nation-state encompassing California), claims that his nation will never be threatened by pirates. Nathan becomes determined to put his old rival in his place.
4. During a period spent resting in Sky Haven (a pirate city in the Rocky Mountains), the Fortune Hunters are kidnapped by a vicious new pirate gang known as the Black Hats. Nathan must team up with his rival, Black Swan, in order to rescue them.
5. The Fortune Hunters have discovered a connection between the Black Hats and Sacred Trust, a new private security company which has been poaching many of Paladin Blake's customers. They travel to Empire State (a nation encompassing New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania), in order to expose them.

Since I was only watching Let's Plays, I haven't been able to look at the gameplay, but it's mainly revolving around flying or customising planes with different engines and munitions. All in all, the game has brought a very pulpy adventure feel with elements that kind of resonate today, such as punishing corporate greed and state regionalism.

Before I go, I'd like to tie this into some trivia I dug up during research for my pirate stories. For those who are unfamiliar, a Letter of Marque was a document issued to ship crews which sanctioned acts of piracy against the enemies of the issuing nation. It was common practice for the colonial powers to issue these in times of war, to help bolster their fledgling navies. This practice was formally abolished by the Paris Declaration Respecting Maritime Law, which was signed in 1856 by 55 nations. 

However, the United States - despite agreeing to uphold the agreement - is not officially a signatory. This means that the USA can still issue Letters of Marque (albeit requiring Congressional approval to do). One notable story was that the crew of the Goodyear blimp Resolute allegedly held a Letter of Marque to fly anti-submarine patrols during the early years of the Second World War. This was later debunked as an urban myth, as the Navy didn't have Congressional approval to issue a Letter of Marque and subsequently requisitioned the vessel. Nevertheless, it made a great concept for a story, and probably influenced a lot of air pirates in other works of fiction, including Crimson Skies, TaleSpin, and Porco Rosso. I hope to do something with the concept myself in the near-future.

Well, that's about it. Happy writing.