Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki

[cantona2]

All present and correct, sir!

[CarnageINC]

Drive on Cuttlefish, drive on! 

[Rysyonok]

ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish
I will mention one other thing. Whether Hibiki survives or not we will now follow the war to the end. We’ve come this far together and I think I owe it to all of you and to the crew to tell the tale complete.

Perhaps another ship can take up the name, should this happen?

Or some of the crew survive and continue their story from a new home?

[Dixie]

ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish

I will mention one other thing. Whether Hibiki survives or not we will now follow the war to the end.

I hope this isn't tempting fate...

[Feinder]

If Okinawa has Allied troops ashore...
 
That's where Shun's family lives, right?  Or did they relocate?
 
-F-

[Cuttlefish]

January 1, 1945

Location: Osaka
Course: None
Attached to: Disbanded in port
Mission: None
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

Orders: None

---

Taiki comes up on deck and finds a spot along the rail. He is not alone; all over the ship sailors are standing in the gray predawn light, stamping their feet to keep warm or talking quietly among themselves. It is New Year’s Day, the most significant Japanese holiday of the year, and on this day it is considered good luck to see the sun rise.

They will have no trouble this year; the skies over Osaka are clear, though quite cold. Already the light behind the hills to the east is turning from gray to gold, indicating that sunrise is close.

A figure moves up beside Taiki, his footfalls making no sound. Taiki glances around to see Chief Shun standing there. Shun nods in greeting and stands quietly, seemingly unaffected by the cold.

“Are you hoping to renew your luck?” Taiki asks.

“I do not believe much in luck,” growls Shun. “I believe in fate, perhaps, and I believe in skill and preparation.”

Taiki nods. “I feel the same way,” he says. “Then why do you suppose we are standing out here in the cold, Chief?”

Shun grins. “I also believe in covering all my bets,” he says. The edge of the sun peeks over the hills, bathing the men crowding the decks of the destroyer in pale golden light.

“Happy New Year, Chief,” says Taiki.

“To you as well, Takahashi,” says Shun. They watch as the rising sun climbs higher in the sky.

[BigDuke66]

Sorry for an uncultured question but the Japanese don't celeabrate the new year right on 00:00 but on the sunrise?

[Cuttlefish]

ORIGINAL: BigDuke66

Sorry for an uncultured question but the Japanese don't celeabrate the new year right on 00:00 but on the sunrise?

The Japanese pay special attention to a lot of "firsts" on New Year's Day, believing them to hold special significance for the coming year. The first thing they eat, the first job they do, and so on. Watching the first sunrise of the new year, as mentioned in the entry above, is believed to bring luck. It isn't exactly when they celebrate the New Year, though - that tends to go on throughout the day. It is a much more important holiday in Japan than it is in the West.

[Capt. Harlock]

“Then why do you suppose we are standing out here in the cold, Chief?”

Shun grins. “I also believe in covering all my bets,” he says.

Great line![:D]

[Terminus]

To correct a rather grievous oversight: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CUTTLEFISH!

[tocaff]

Happy Birthday, youngster! 

Now get back to work on the story.

[thegreatwent]

Happy B-day!

[Skipjack_]

Happy Birthday CF!  And thanks for the outstanding AAR!

[ColFrost]

Happy birthday, and many happy returns.

[Feinder]

And a last question, do they celebrate the Western or Chinese New Year?  Or both?
 
-F-

[Hornblower]

ORIGINAL: Skipjack_

Happy Birthday CF!  And thanks for the outstanding AAR!

Ditto

[Commander Stormwolf]

Predicted Ending ~

Hibiki is used as defence against Soviets after the Activation ~ and is sunk by the 1st Torpedo Bomber Regiment of the VVS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP_t2_Ni56Y

[8D]

- in harbor -

and is resurfaced (99 system damage) and used as AA battery against B-29 raids

[John 3rd]

Happy B-Day Sir.

[Cuttlefish]

Thanks for the birthday greetings, everyone! This was number 50 for me. I approached it with some trepidation but ended up having a pretty good day and decided that I'm not all that old after all.

[Cuttlefish]

ORIGINAL: Feinder

And a last question, do they celebrate the Western or Chinese New Year?  Or both?

-F-

Since the Meiji Restoration the Japanese have used the Western calendar. I think that by WWII most if not all Japanese celebrated the New Year on January 1.