herbiesan vs Cantona!!!

[1275psi]

1/1/44

Extract from "Shattering the Sword" a cantona production

44 began as 43 ended - countless bombing missions against the pereimeter of Japans empire.
Forty Three had been a bloody year, a year of inching forward base by painful base. For the footsloggersin particular, Tokyo seemed a long, long way away.

But could the entire war be short circuited? .

Grand dictator Herbiesan travels heavily escorted.
Always. His limo is reputed to be heavy machine gun proof. before travelling a guard of at least 3 oother vechiles preceeds him. Motor bike escorts surround him, and the route is always never announced.
His security detail is good -very, very good.
They are paid to be that way.
Nevertheless, the first serious attempt on his life fails purely through ill luck.
His Limo is well armoured -but all that armour equals an awful lot of wieght.
Shortly before 5 am, herbiesans convoy comes to a sudden halt, some 500 metres short of the Diet building itself- a brocken axle loudly proclaiming that enough is enough.

The security detail is ruthless in clearing the street, painfully aware of the immobile target their employer presents.
None will even wonder that "the saviour of Japan" should be so hated that they have to take such action.

They work well.

The 2 tons of explosives -timed to go off as herbiesans car passes over them just 500 yards away -work well too - just 2 minutes too early.
The explosion tears into the front of the deit- craters the road, shatters the buildings around it -and kills far too many of the innocent..
Whether the message it sends perturbs the dictator is unknown................

[1275psi]

1/1/44

Rear Admiral Tanaka posts -at very short notice, to the Mutsu -operating in the pacific.
He departs Japan via Emily flying boat exactly 32 minutes after the attempt.

[1275psi]

1/1/44

47th are on parade
behind them, the 85th, the 87th
A Tiger stalks them.
Oh , he walks on two legs, and he looks like a thin, thin man.
But a tiger stalks them.

Nakamura's eyes speak enough -a light blazes in them - and he stalks up and down the line.

Today -deep in the afternoon, 9 Liberators attacked -low, fast - bombs missing the ships - and 50 tojo were in position to stop them.

Not only did they fail -but many -a great many turned away............

The Tiger approaches the first man.
"Am I worthy?" he quietly asks
The man stares ahead. The Adams apple bobbles
"Sir?'
'Am I not worthy to follow into battle?"
The man sweats -looks confused " Of course not sir!"
"then, if I fly into the gates of hell -will you follow me? -and never turn away?'
The first pilots face reddens.
It does not have to be said.
it is said
'I will never turn away again Sir"

Nakamura steps back, straightens. He salutes the first pilot
Then, in the terrible silence -he faces the second man
'Am I worthy?' he quietly asks

[1275psi]

Hosho sleeps, the hated gun still nestled between his legs.
The train taking him and the para's back to hanoi travels in fits, in starts. it is old, decrepit.
Hosho sleeps, the sleep of the exhausted.

He dreams.
he dreams, he dreams he is carrying a gun -a gun the size of a locomotive....................

[1275psi]

raidens and zeros take the wieght at Port Blair

[1275psi]

2/1/44

47th awaken to a new snarl in the sky -J2m raidens.
They come not to reinforce -but to relieve.

Once again, with out warning, high command pulls them from battle.

Its a chaotic day -orders are planes, pilots only to Bangkok - -Nakamura has asked for a deep maintenance opprtunity - to his surprise -he has it.
By dusk 20 odd planes are being wheeled into the spacious hangers at bangkok -22nd flotilla greets them again.
Over a dozen cripples remain at Blair, their pilots cursing their luck - bangkok would be so, so much better than this place...........

Few consider the deeper ramifications of the rotations . 47th was flown in to cover the troops that would crush the british.
A month has passed.

The british remain.

[1275psi]

47th have been assigned good quarters -proper huts, nestled amongst palms some distance from the field.
It has a proper mess, a bath house, running water.
Luxuries.
The men of 47th spend the day quietly - doing the washing, uniforms, sleeping, sitting around in the sun.
There is quite a shock to the system to overcome -from being in the front line one day -death at your shoulder every day -to this -this quiet and calm.
few -very few will venture into town tonight.
Many will write home, and wonder once again at their survival.


Nakamura -as always -works.
he watches carefully the work on his planes, every one special to him.
Many pilots are still to come in -and nearly every plane of his Sentai is being pulled down again for desperately needed repair.
The men sweat under the arc lights - the work will go all night.
Today, at raheag -P 51's on an offensive sweep.
Lashio has fallen -the front moves just that little bit further south.
Nakamura does not believe for a moment that the Army will take it back..

[1275psi]

extract from "fighting the tide" by Col Nakamura


and how we needed the rest!. But it would, I felt, be the last for a long, long time.
It was a painful day -watching the 44's come apart -how beaten up they were!. How Old!.
I'd heard rumours of new fighters -again, and again. I no longer believed them.
No, I beleived in Japan, in her spirit, her eternal life.
But no longer in those who controlled her current destiny............

[1275psi]

Captain Umeya's XO is smiling as he passes the flimsy to him.

" To Capt Umeya'
From
Combined Fleet

'Upon completion of current mission, proceed to ###### at best speed.
Assume there Command of TF 23 - CV Junyo and accompaning CVE's
Mission briefing upon arrival"


"Congratulations"
Umeya smiles too. A carrier Command -again, at last.

And a guarrantee of action

[1275psi]

4/1/44

By dawn 30 of 47ths fighters are declared servicable -a tremendous effort.
6 more are written of

Nakamura is at his desk, signing the endless release forms for them when the orderly raced in.
Another flimsy
Where, wonders Nakamura - will they fight next?
The message is stunning.
Unexpected.

" 47th sentai, 87th sentai, 85th sentai -Col Nakamura Commanding, to transfer to Gunma airforce base at earliest opportunity for conversion training to new KI 48 fighter."

The world disapears. It shrinks to this tiny piece of paper -and all it means.
"report to Gunma"
Japan
Home.
Good God. They are going home............................

[hosho]

not a moment too soon [;)] it is a sight for sore eyes indeed!
hat off to mr. Iwaya!

[CV Zuikaku]

[:D] [8D] Ki-84 [&o]

[1275psi]

5/1/44

Nakamura stands back from the edge of the field this quiet cold morning.
He is, as one may have gathered by now, truly a man who enjoys observing people -and this morning, to him, is highly amusing.
In front of him, 47th's fighters are scattered higgly piggly around the edge of the strip -there is no chance of enemy interference here- and the sentai's pilots are preparing for the next short hop on the journey home.

Nakamura cannot help but smile -the exagerrated care being taken today is in such sharp contrast to the cavilier attitude so many have had in the last month -even Juni is frowning and fussing over his plane.
The prospect of home -the prospect of a chance to actually survive this day - nobody -absolutely nobody wants to get killed now -especially by something stupid as an operational accident.

Nakamura has no doubt either on another aspect of this sudden call for home. High command has blunted the sword he has sharpened completely -to be called to battle now would be disastorous..

A short hop today - second of many.
he picks up his gear, wanders over to his plane, begins his daily pre flight.
Nakamura to is only human -its a very, very thourough one too.

[1275psi]

5/1/44

Nagumo too is inspecting an airplane. This one however is shiny, brand new -it smells of clean oil, polish, fresh leather.
Genda is excitedly explaining it, his voice echoing in Zuikaka's crowded hanger
"Its designation is D7A -and finally the Dive bomber we have always needed"
"Its larger -can we fit it onboard OK?" Nagumo climbs onto its wing -inspects the cockpit - so much bigger this beast than the Val
'yes -the thing is -a 500lb bomb -finally we can truly hurt their carriers -and anything else but the heaviest ships"
Nagumo smiles -eyes twinkling.
'Mr Iwaya delivers for us again hey Genda?"
'yes, and they are coming at a good rate too"

Nagumo climbs down - his elderly frame still youthful in vigour here under this planes wing.
he murmers, mostly too himself. 'maybe Yamamoto is not so wrong. A few more planes like these........."

He straightens -stares down the length of this veteran carriers hanger - at its packed planes, the figures hard at work around them. He can feel it, the confidence -the aura of invincibility exuding from his crew
" we can win this war yet!"

[1275psi]

5/1/44

Mr Iwaya stands at the briefing table. He is horribly aware of the lack of Tanaka's presence -but herbiesan has deemed to iether not notice his absence -or to simply ignore it.

The Dictator is currently addressing the table -and from time to time glancing at Iwaya .
Iwaya struggles to contain the nerves - he knows he is safe -for now -but then, now, is anybody safe?

The report herbiesan is reading ensures his safety -surely? the empire is entering the third year of war -entering with a fleet considerably larger than it begun, its armies fundamentally yet to be defeated, and literally hordes of new fighters and bombers about to enter the fray.
but most importantly of all -japans stocks of oil, or resources stand higher now than at wars beginning -Iwaya's great gambles have paid of.

"The plan gentlemen" Herbiesan takes them all into his dark gaze " is simple. I believe one more great defeat will do it -the Americans are tired of dieing for the british empire. failing that -we bleed them white.
Kill them quick, kill them slow -the americans are weak. Of This I am convinced "

Iwaya remains still. To hear how the Americans persisted in new britain -and to then have them described as weak!
Foolishness!

"Therefore, i have decided to accept Yamamotos "decisive battle plan". ' Army will provide the required divisions i have released from my reserve........"

Divisions? what bloody divisions?
And Iwaya's blood runs even colder. if herbiesan has spare divisions that he, Iwaya does not know about -what else has been hidden from him -just how far out of the circle was he becoming?

[1275psi]

6/1/44

Canton
47th come to their old home -again.
The old radio is gone -a lot of buildings too.
And so is any sign of Japanese air strength.
It is distressing to the extreme, to hear of allied planes flying, attacking at will in an area where one has once given so much blood and sacrifice.

The field seems empty -full of ghosts.

Nakamura cannot wait to be gone.

[1275psi]

It comes just after midnight.
Captain Umeya is just climbing towards the bridge when the distant CRUMP, comes rolling in.
It takes just three steps to get him to the bridge -in time to see the last of the explosion fade away.

"damn"

Hibiki lurches to a halt - her bow gone - there are enough flames to see this.


"Damn"

Umeya stares hard at his struggling friend. It should always have been the other way around - not like this.
The OOW turns to him "Sir? -any orders sir?"
War is hard. Captain Ishii would understand -would insist on it.

"maintain course and speed"

Hibiki fades from view. Mizuho races across calm seas.
The night is very dark indeed

[1275psi]

7/1/44

ectract from "Shattering the Sword" a Cantona production.

As always -japanese response to the daily pounding of its front line positions remained muted.
It is obvious to all and sundry that the Empire is conserving her planes for the next great battles.
The war consists of countless bombing runs for the Airforce, barge hunting for the navy around the coast of PNG, and consolidation in burma.

In China, the Armies are on the move -a new battle for Wuchow develops. On Port Blair, british troops praise the navy submarine arm - starvation is kept at bay for another week. The siege of port blair is becoming epic. Some british troops even begin to think of Victory.
but, as always, behind the scenes, in the quiet areas, forces again were marshelling for the battles ahead.....

[1275psi]

Nakamura considers his bed -another rough cot. More than sufficient. The prospect of a nights sleep, out of range of the enemy is taking some getting used to.

The attitude of the forces here at Tainian -is even harder to come to grips with.

Never, never in his life has Nakamura seen the like - a mess so divided.
So many swearing the war won -and acting as if it was. Was it that difficult to understand that the Americans continued to fight? -would continue to?
The others. Truly -this was frightening. Open words against the Dictator. Open critisism!. And the talk of peace -peace at any cost?
DiD they not wear the same uniform as he did?

Nakamura climbs into his cot -stares briefly out of the window - his Tigers glimmering in the dark.
Uniforms and politics. Oil and water.
And the pleasant thought. A few days more -and a chance to remove his for just a while.

[1275psi]

For interest sake

Hibiki makes a size 4 port -she may live -but she is out of this war for quite a while!


Hosho arrives -finally, back to his unit. I'm afraid he is no longer quite the gorrilla he left as.
The recent hike has reduced his bulk some what.............