Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki

[Alikchi2]

ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish

...it's interesting stuff, I think you guys are going to just eat it up...

*wince*

[Cuttlefish]

September 29, 1944

Location: Bonin
Course: None
Attached to: TF 27
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 410

Orders: Proceed to Bonin

---

The task force, now comprising a heavy cruiser, a light cruiser, and nine destroyers, remains idle at Chichi Jima. Saipan reports that they have received no transmissions from the island for two days, so it has to be assumed that the garrison there has been destroyed. Recon flights show a large number of enemy transports there, well covered by battleship and cruiser forces. There is no sign of enemy carriers but they could be lurking in the area.

---

In the petty officer’s wardroom Taiki mentions to Shun the strange conversations he and Riku have had with base personnel. Shun nods fractionally.

“There is a strange feeling to the place,” he says. “I felt it while ashore.”

“What do you think is going on?” Taiki asks.

Shun looks at him impassively. “Don’t ask too many questions,” he says. “You might not like the answers. It’s not our business, anyway.”

“But aren’t you even curious?” Taiki asks him.

“No,” says Shun. This effectively kills the conversation for the moment. Taiki sits at the table, staring into space, his fingers drumming quietly on the table. Shun reads a newspaper.

“Black market dealing on a large scale?” says Taiki after a while. “Maybe this General Tachibana has been serving his men rats or something and selling the good rations. Or maybe…”

Shun just looks up at him and Taiki trails off. After a moment Shun sighs and sets aside the newspaper.

“Come on,” he says, standing up.

“Where are we going?” says Taiki.

“Ashore.”

---

Shun stands impassively as Taiki throws up into some bushes beside the road.

“Finished?” asks the chief as Taiki rejoins him. Taiki nods once.

“I think so,” he says. His face is pale and strained. Behind them they have left one of the base’s cooks, a friendly fellow who did not really start talking until he got well and truly drunk. Then he would not stop talking, even though there came a point where Taiki desperately wanted him to. The man finally passed out, bringing a merciful end to his tale. It is possible, Taiki thinks, that the man will not even remember talking to them.

“You were right, Chief,” he tells Shun. “I should have left it alone. It’s an abomination! We have to tell Captain Ishii, we have to…” He stops as Shun’s hand comes down on his forearm with a grip of iron.

“You will not tell the Captain,” says Shun. His gaze catches and holds Taiki. “You will not tell anyone. I have known Captain Ishii for many years. I know exactly what will happen if he hears of this. He will confront the general directly. And it will not end well for him, whatever happens. For his sake, you will remain silent.”

Taiki gazes back at Shun for a long moment, then he looks down. “All right,” he says. He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. “I should have listened to you, Chief. I should have let it go.”

Shun releases his arm. “Too late for that,” he says. “What matters now is how you deal with knowing.”

Taiki groans. “How could they, Chief?” he asks. “How could anyone?”

“You are a rational man,” says Shun. “You do not understand, maybe, the savagery men are capable of. I think it’s likely that Tachibana is insane. As for the others, let me ask you this: if Captain Ishii gave you a direct order to take part in such a feast, would you do it?” Taiki looks at him for a long moment.

“I see what you mean,” he says. “It would be very hard to refuse. But…no, Chief, I wouldn’t.”

Shun nods in agreement. “There is strength in you,” he says. “Not everyone has that. You have learned a lot, Takahashi, but you still need to learn this: if you expect the worst from men they will seldom disappoint you.”

Something deep within Taiki rebels against such a cynical judgment but he says nothing. At the moment, in fact, he is inclined to agree with his mentor. He does not speak on the return trip to Hibiki and does not look back at the island.

---

Historical Note: General Yoshio Tachibana was executed in 1946, along with several members of his staff, for war crimes related to the murder of several captured American pilots. Tachibana, a brutal and sadistic alcoholic, appears to have been a head case even by Japanese standards of the time. Accounts contradict each other to some extent but it seems clear that between August 1944 and March 1945 Tachibana executed at least four captured pilots and had their livers served to himself and his senior officers. Other atrocities may also have been committed.

George H.W. Bush, the future forty-first president of the United States, was shot down while attacking Chichi Jima but escaped this fate when he was rescued by submarine Finback.

[Marc gto]

wow that hit like a ton of bricks

[vettim89]

Too late to get Nixon involved as he was assigned to ComAirSols throughout the war. Gerald R Fordhowever was aboard CVL Monterey at this point. Just food for thought (ouch, I really didn't intend that pun)

[AcePylut]

What a delictable, delicious read

Thanks Cuttle, this cannibalism is something I never knew, but now I do.  Great story... I hope you realize you've created a story that will last forever on Matrix.  10 years from now, 20 years from now, I guarantee there will still be references to the "voyage of the hibiki" on these here forums.

[Cuttlefish]

ORIGINAL: vettim89

Too late to get Nixon involved as he was assigned to ComAirSols throughout the war. Gerald R Fordhowever was aboard CVL Monterey at this point. Just food for thought (ouch, I really didn't intend that pun)

Well, I haven't really involved George H.W. Bush in the story, I just pointed out that historically he came close to being one of Tachibana's victims. Food for thought indeed!

[Cuttlefish]

September 30, 1944

Location: Bonin
Course: None
Attached to: TF 27
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 410

Orders: Proceed to Bonin

---

From the personal diary of Petty Officer First Class Taiki Takahashi:

I did not sleep much last night. As I lay awake I thought of that British pilot we rescued in the early days of the war. It was obvious at the time that Captain Ishii delayed turning him over to the kempei and when we were hit by that bomb I suspected that Lieutenant Miharu allowed him to escape. I always wondered why. Now I know.

All my life I have been taught to serve and to obey. I have never doubted that this war was just, because I knew we were fighting to save Japan from enemies who wished to destroy us. If I thought about it at all I believed that they hated us because we were Asian and that they did not want us to take our rightful place among the world’s powers.

I learned a long time ago that the Americans and the British are not the savage demons that we say they are. What I did not suspect was that there are really are demons – and that they wear the same uniform I do.

I do not know what to do now. Do I keep silent? If I do, am I really any better than those who do these evil things? Do I speak out? Shun says no one will listen if I do and it will only cause grief for me and for the captain. And he does not say so but I think it might cause trouble for Sayumi as well.

I used to think that if I stayed to the path of honor that honor would be my guide when decisions became hard. Now I think perhaps that I was young and foolish. Maybe there is no honor. Or maybe there are times when honor is useless. I do not know.

I wish I knew what to do.

[tocaff]

Nothing worse than realizing that there are monsters, especially when they're your own countrymen.  It shakes the very foundation of everything you were taught that is right & decent.

Excellent CF.

[Capt. Harlock]

Accounts contradict each other to some extent but it seems clear that between August 1944 and March 1945 Tachibana executed at least four captured pilots and had their livers served to himself and his senior officers. Other atrocities may also have been committed.

George H.W. Bush, the future forty-first president of the United States, was shot down while attacking Chichi Jima but escaped this fate when he was rescued by submarine Finback.

Double wow. I hadn't put those two historical tidbits together.[X(]

[John 3rd]

The incedent involving President Bush fundamentaly shaped his future life.
 
CF---as always...
 

[ny59giants]

One of my grandfather's was in the 45th Division (N. Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, Germany). He told me of how they would get intel out of prisoners that was not politically correct. IMO, the victor gets to write history in a more positive light.  

[Wirraway_Ace]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

One of my grandfather's was in the 45th Division (N. Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, Germany). He told me of how they would get intel out of prisoners that was not politically correct. IMO, the victor gets to write history in a more positive light.  

Leaders of all armed forces faced the issue of managing senseless violence and sadism during, and immediately after, intense periods of combat. Some nations took the responsibility more seriously than others, but you are certainly right, no one's hands were completely clean.

A senior leader ordering the murder of a prisoner and then eating their organs is a different issue and Cuttlefish does his usual masterful job of describing the moral dilemma in which it puts subordinates and peers.

[Cuttlefish]

October 1, 1944

Location: Bonin
Course: None
Attached to: TF 27
Mission: Surface Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 410

Orders: See below

---

Order from Admiral Tashiro, commanding task force 27, to all ships:

[font="Courier New"]Our enemies have withdrawn the bulk of their combat ships from Pagan Island. Our lack of response to the attack there has doubtless lured them into a sense of complacency. We have been waiting for this and now the ideal time to strike.

We will depart Chichi Jima before dawn tomorrow and position ourselves to attack shipping at Pagan the following night. The success of the operation will depend on speed and secrecy. Powerful enemy forces, including aircraft carriers, are based at Guam and will no doubt intervene if our approach is detected. Complete radio silence will be observed during the operation.

I know that each man will exert himself to the utmost to ensure the success of this attack.[/font]

[Alikchi2]

Our enemies have withdrawn the bulk of their combat ships from Pagan Island. Our lack of response to the attack there has doubtless lured them into a sense of complacency. We have been waiting for this and now the ideal time to strike.

Oh dear. These sneak attack things always seem to work better in reality than in WitP..

[Mike Scholl]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

One of my grandfather's was in the 45th Division (N. Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, Germany). He told me of how they would get intel out of prisoners that was not politically correct. IMO, the victor gets to write history in a more positive light.  

Always have, always will. The difference is mostly in what they "glossed over". I doubt your Grandfather's feelings of remorse had anything to do with how many Germans he had eaten.

[Mike Solli]

Had the Japanese been victorious historically, how do you think General LeMay would have been portrayed in the history books?

[Cribtop]

I have put a lot of thought into this.  I cannot think of a single war novel I've read that tops "Small Ship, Big War."  What a story.  Thanks CF.
 
 

[Capt. Harlock]

ORIGINAL: Alikchi

Our enemies have withdrawn the bulk of their combat ships from Pagan Island. Our lack of response to the attack there has doubtless lured them into a sense of complacency. We have been waiting for this and now the ideal time to strike.

Oh dear. These sneak attack things always seem to work better in reality than in WitP..

It's worked excellently at least twice before in Surface Combat raids that Hibiki was part of. And just maybe, that's the problem. Wolffpack -- ahem, Allied HQ -- might have learned from experience. I remember a series of bombardment missions that came to grief once the other side thought of laying mines.

[tocaff]

Going to the well once to often has it's price, though who can say when that threshold is reached? 

I think that CF has to try to do something to slow the Allied steamroller a bit and to throw it off balance a bit.

[Marc gto]

may be a trap too....