Grand Bahama is the northernmost of the islands of the Bahamas and is only just over 60 miles from the coast of Florida and 360 miles north of Cuba. It was once part of the Bahamas which was a pre-Fall archipelagic state of close to 700 islands in the northern Caribbean. As a very popular tourist destination the main islands of the Bahamas were soon infected with the Stands virus and overwhelmed. Those that could fled but in doing so often took the infection with them and within a few months the main islands had been overrun. The arrival of a US Marine Expeditionary Unit at Grand Bahama brought a ray of hope for the scattered survivors as the Island was cleared of the infected, though at great cost. The US Navy used the shipyard and harbour to repair and maintain their vessels and to wait out the winter months while the Marines recruited from the local Bahamians to replace their heavy casualties. Then in the spring the Americans left to liberate the US and never returned.
Nassau and many of the other islands remained infested with infected and may well remain so to this day. Grand Bahama was left almost empty and increasingly derelict though people drifted to the island over the years. Ten years after the Fall a salvage unit from the ARC came and removed the lighter items from the island and then left. Then fifteen years ago a pirate adventurer called ‘Admiral’ Benito Socarras brought his flotilla of vessels to Freeport where he established his kingdom bringing his slaves and other chattel with him. For five long years Freeport was a den of savagery and flourished as a slave port till he finally annoyed the Cubans. Benito had been attacking their shipping whilst pretending to have ARC backing; given their anti-Communist stance this was believable. Finally his raids became too much and the Cubans launched a full attack on Grand Bahama. Benito escaped but his ships and followers were not as lucky. All captured pirates were hung and the slaves evacuated back to Cuba leaving the island virtually deserted again.
Then four years ago an Irish survey ship, the Celtic Explorer, visited the Bahamas and docked at Freeport where the handful of residents warmly welcomed them. Captain Kilhooley reported back to his government and they shared the information with the other Anglo-Celtic nations. Less than a year later the SS Scillonian Scout, a Cornish ship, visited Grand Bahama and carried out a thorough survey including the harbour, old shipyard and the airport facilities. On board were representatives of the Anglo-Celtic Confederation nations who entered in to negotiations with the local inhabitants to establish a trade port. Since the visit of the Celtic Explorer the island had been hit by a devastating hurricane and a pirate raid leaving the residents to want nothing more than security and assistance. The Anglo-Celts would not all agree on the locals request with the Scots and Irish unwilling to take on defence commitments but wary of English ‘neo-colonialism’ as well.
As with Bermuda a compromise was agreed with England taking responsibility for Grand Bahama but with access rights be given to all the other Celtic nations. The English representative agreed a 99 year lease of the island from the local inhabitants in exchange for a guarantee of protection and aid. Two Welsh chartered cargo ships arrived escorted by ENS Swan to deliver aid and general materials to Freeport. Gallowglass, a Scottish private military company, was employed to provide security to Freeport and Grand Bahama in general while the Irish health company, Ospidéil, was brought in to care for the local populace. As was usual the Isle of Man based Ronaldsway company repaired the airfield.
All the activity has not gone unnoticed and within six months a raid by Hispaniolan slavers almost wiped out the Anglo-Celts. ENS Swan, a converted merchant ship, was sunk at anchor by sabotage and the subsequent land attack sorely tested the ability of Gallowglass to defend Freeport. The Scots mercenaries normally worked on oil rig security and were challenged by the large and varyingly equipped force of irregulars that attacked. That said they fought valiantly and though they took heavy casualties drove off the slavers in to the area east of Freeport. Effectively besieged a call for help was sent out and reinforcements sent. The helicopter carrier ENS Arthurian had just left Bermuda and was returning home from her maiden voyage. The ship headed at full speed for Grand Bahama after rendezvousing with a volunteer force of Bermudan based naval personnel. 48 hours in to the siege of Freeport an air assault routed the besiegers and the Freeport garrison was reinforced. A combined force of Gallowglass mercenaries and navy personnel cleared out the stunned slavers. The event was hailed at home as a fine example of Anglo-Celtic co-operation but calls were made for the withdrawal from Grand Bahama.
Today Grand Bahama is garrisoned by a force of English marines supported by a flight of Lynx helicopters with two patrol vessels on station. A combined patrol agreement has been established with the Cuban government but relations are poor with the ARC who refuses to accept presence of foreign forces so close to the USA. It is growing as a safe trade port with vessels from Cuba, Mexico, Texas and the Caribbean islands visiting. Immigration has brought the population to over 10,000 from a wide range of backgrounds.
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