herbiesan vs Cantona!!!

[flaggelant]

always good to see the hibiki making port safely, no matter in what PBEM
(in mine she was severely hit during the first week of the war and has been in one of the mayor ports for the past 2,5 months)

Hibiki remains! [&o]

[1275psi]

8/1/44

The mess is crowded -a fog of cigarrette smoke, and the stink of a crowd of bodies.
Out side the rain beats down in great sheets -turning the field and all the surroundings into a sea of mud.

The mess is wet with condensation -its really quite cold outside -something our men have not experienced for some time.
Weather over Okiwana is even worse than here -Nakamura simply has had no choice today -stay on the ground and chaff at the delay.

Home is so close they can all almost taste it -two more legs - then Japan.
Tension amongst the men is palaple -and there has already been a good number of arguments -and invites outside.
Nakamura keeps a tight reign on them - there is only one way today -to be amongst them, to talk with them.
There is a card game going - and Nakamura keeps his hand in -although Juni matches him most of the day.

Every man -of course -asks THE QUESTION -is there going to be leave in Japan?
Nakamura merely shrugs -how do I know? he answers -wait until we get there - this will avoid disapointment.
He does, however know the answer -47th's reputation has certain advantages, certain pull.

2 weeks leave for everyone on arrival.

[1275psi]

9/1/44

47th fly back into Japan.

For those who have served, and remember that first glimpse of land, of your country, the land you have sweated and sacrificed for -sometimes with your very blood, whether its fromm the window of your plane, or its the first smudge of land you see as your ship turns for its final port...................

You understand how the men of 47th feel, as their sacred home slides under the wings, and those sweet, sweet familiar land marks come into view.............

For those who have served - on any side, home coming is a special and rare thing....................

[1275psi]

Tokyo

47th are on parade
The speech is short, as it should be.

"You have fought well, you have fought hard. Take your rest. Japan owes you that. I will see you on the 24th"
Nakamura smiles, it is filled with pleasure "Tigers dismissed!"
Hearts bursting, the men move towards the gates................

[1275psi]

Iwaya reads the report, and curses.
Three -not one -three of the new KI 84 prototypes have cracked up on landing in just two days.
The metal in the landing gear has , it has been discovered -a disturbing lack of strength -poor castings, poor materials.
It may be another month.......

"Damn to hell!"
How in the world do these things happen?

[1275psi]

Captain Umeya takes command of his new carrier -and its task force.
Mihuzo merges into the task group, no longer a roving pirate, but now the true eyes of the fleet gathering here

CV Junyo is not the ideal carrier -nor are her companions -the fat little CVE's that make up the rest of the group.
But Umeya only has to take one look around the anchorage that they share to see his real mission.

Many say the battleships day is done, but if he can cover this lot into striking range..............

But first things first - orders.
The envelope is thick, large, heavy. It contains many, many maps, schedules, call signs. Yamamoto has a plan -and as Umeya studies it into the night, he can begin to feel the great wieght of responsibility settling onto his shoulders.
By dawn, the plan digested, he half wonders if this command was such a good idea at all.

[1275psi]

11/1/44

Smn Miyazuki's neck aches. No, it more than aches -it burns. Hours of bending over the great glasses have put a permenant kink in it. But there cannot be any relaxation -not here -not now.
They are being hunted -and so much depends on them here up here- the ocean is large -periscopes are small.

Yamato steams steadily over a brilliant blue sea, under an even bluer sky -nary a cloud to disturb the brilliance of the day.
Its a day, a scene to stir the dullest of hearts -the fleet, the Imperial fleet, is at sea -19 carriers, 5 battleships, countless cruisers and destroyers -a huge grey wedge covering the ocean as far as the eyes can see.
Above - Combat air patrols growl endlessly.
And yet..............
One periscope - one sub - can bring them so badly undone.
Miyazuki bends over again -scans his sector -again. There is no glamour, no glory here. Just sheer necessity.

[1275psi]

The area bordering the Sumida river in tokyo is the most heavily populated in the world. It is a bewildering area of tiny alley ways, blind streets, and a tremendous jumble of wooden buildings - a riot of construction seemingly out of control -yet so absolutely japanese in its neatness and cleanliness -despite the tiny size of so many of these buildings.

Through this maze Nakamura moves unerringly - it has been two years, yet he turns at each alley intersection as if he has never left -steadily moving towards the river.
He reaches the road that parrallels the river, the intersection of the bridge -and quickly now - strides towards the familiar building.
The shop, still dark inside -and Mr Yashimoto is still there - he nods his way, accepting the bow of honour -he has not changed that old, old man - then the stairs to the upper rooms, narrow, the third step still squeaks -the door.

He hesitates, and there is doubt, and worry, and fear, and desire, and longing -and gently, gently, he opens it.

She is there -her back to him -kneeling over -sewing? - her long dark hair as beautiful as ever.
For a moment he takes her in, yes, she is as always , beautiful.

'Sentsuko?'

She turns, and time stops.
The sewing drops, and his wife, his wife, Oh, his wife -is in his arms, and the tears, the tears, and yes -he is home, and THIS is THE World, and she is still beautiful, and he is lost in her sweet, sweet perfume..............

[1275psi]

Captain Umeya again stands on the bridge of a real carrier.
Junyo may be old, may be a barsted child of a merchantman, but compared to his little Hosho, she is a giant.
And maybe for these reasons, her age, her background -her 100 and one little quirks, Umeaya already felt fondly towards this old scarred warrior.
He liked her, liked her a lot. it could be a long and fruitful relationship this -if it survives the week ahead.

Right now Junyo pushes south, around her the CVE's struggle to keep pace, between them and the northern coast of PNG, 4 battlewagons storm south with them, each a white bone between the teeth.
The weather is perfect -miserable -heavy storms and low cloud caver them -and periodically they plunge into almost darkness -and streaming rain obliterates visibility.
Then briefly -they will erupt into stunning sunlight -naked -before wrapping cover around themselves.
Yes, the weather is perfect.

Ahead, off wewak, some 180 miles ahead of him, Takao is racing south -if the weather holds, Madang will be hit tomorrow.
If it holds.
If it clears, Umeya knows this might be a very brief command indeed -the air power to the south at lae is truly monstorous.....

"from Takao sir"
Radio silence broken -damn.
"read it"
"Unexpected break in cloud cover. Attacked by torpedoe bombers. One hit sustained, Cl Kiso hit. Am continuing attack"

Umeya smiles. Continuing attack. Somebody ahead of him knew their job. Good. Now they must play their part.
"Where is the convoy?'
his staff bustle,
'departing biak sir"
"very good"
Stage one of Yamamato's latest grand plan, in all its glorious complexity, begins to unfold then.........

[1275psi]

extract from Shattering the sword -a cantona production.


...............Japan simply cannot sit back and await the next blow -she just cannot. Yamamato's operation MA, almost smells of desperation, now, one can see that tactically, it made no sense at all -it would, even if successful, chew up valuable divisions, divisions Japan no longer could spare.
But strategically -if the Ameriacn carriers could be forced to come to battle prematurally - japan could possibly gain one last opportunity of victory.
And so, on January 15th, we find virtually every vessel in the Imperial fleet, at sea, heading south, target....................

[1275psi]

14/1/44

Hosho sits comfortably in the sun, dozing in the deck chair. Around him, the rest of 13th transport sentai doze as well, lulled into sleep by the drone of the KI-43's overhead, the sun, the gentle breeze.
Kiungshan bakes in the sun -a pleasant change from the weeks biting wind and rain -and the dozens of transport pilots take full advantage of the day.

Hosho's slumber is interupted -yelling from somewhere. Damn para's and their endless exercises -take a break will you?
buggar off -we are sleeping here..............., hang on -the drone above is a snarl -and that is no 43!
Hosho needs no awakening -he knows that snarl - already he is running, sprinting for the slit trenches -"AIR RAID! AIR RAID! -and swift glittering hawks -beautiful, terrible are snarling across the strip -and the bombs and guns are rattling, and Hosho dives head first into the trench -dirt flying, the ground shakes, the snarls are great hammering howls of Rolls royce Merlins scattering across the strips .........CRUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMP!, CRUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMP!, CRUMMMMMMMMMMMMP1, and hangers are mushrooming like bursting flowers, wings, and motors, tyres, parts of men raining, raining down.

Hosho lifts his head -and is almost decapitated by a car jack bouncing, no scittering across the top of his trench -gone -he cannot help but look again.

The P 51's are coming in still -feet of the deck - they are silent as they come towards you -then the blast as they flash above -and Hosho cannot but admire their terrible beauty, and the skill of those at the controls.
how wonderful they look -and how poor the 43's seem alongside them -although Hosho senses , no, knows, that few of them are left now -not in the face of this.

And then, as always, the shocking moment of silence, that moment before the screams and yelling begin.
11 oscars are gone, a dozen Transports
And a deck chair.

[1275psi]

14/1/44

Mr Iwaya, minister of production, leaves his office in his usual hurry, many things to do, many peaple to see, a crushing schedule to keep.
He passes through his typing pool - the secret to his success. Here 30 odd typwriters, assistants, researchers, interpret his frantic notes, implement his instructions, and chase down his thousands of requests.
Some days the chatter of the keys reminds him of the chatter of the guns -and sometimes the missives produced are almost as lethal.

He pauses at one of the desks. Yes, he is busy, but he always will have time for this.
"Mrs Setsuko Nakamura?"
The , yes, by heavens, she really is that beautiful, woman pauses at her work.
'Sir?'
"I understand your husband arrived home last night?'
A smile of intense delight crosses the young womans face, a delight so deep that she can only nod.
'And all is well?"
confusion
"he is well, you are well?'
"Oh yes sir -he , he is very well"
That wonderful smile
She is a good woman Iwaya thinks -a woman I would be pleased to call wife.
"Setsuko, if I may -I know time for you both will be very precious. But I would very much like to meet the man who commanded my son......."
Eyes widening -Oh, she did not know after all
'Sir! - I did not know. But...........
"This old man would very much appreciate it,"

Setsuko Nakamura face has reddened -the Minister to see them?
'We would be honoured sir, Im sure my husband can come tomorrow."
Iwaya waves a hand -'No, no, and no. I would be honoured to come to you. Tomorrow then -dinner perhaps?"
'yes, yes of course."

Iwaya hesitates. To hell with it.
"Setsuko -you look a little ill. Why don't you take some time off eh? -say ten days -that should see you right"

And then he simply has to move on -those barsteds still have no answer to the KI-84 wheel strut problem.

[1275psi]

15/1/44
"here they come"
It was inevitable. Totally expected. But still your body reacts the same.
Captain Umeya reaches for his glasses, and tries to hide the trembling in his fingers. Yet his voice remains cool and calm
"'Where?"
"There -coming over the coast -CAP is intercepting"
'Full speed ahead, stand by for heavy manouvering." he turns to the XO, an old regular like himself 'how does this old bucket handle?"
His new XO grins -"Oh -about as good as any scow I've sailed"

The enemy have been stung -Madang field last night has been struck -and the allies are howling mad.
Umeya takes the enemy -little dots, into view - helldivers by all rights -can they be stopped?
His guns train expectantly -no man expects to die today, but Umeya knows just how quickly death to a carrier can come.

But this first wave of helldivers will never reach the task group -a swarm of fighters from wewak intercept -and the crews are treated to an aerial battle at long range -one that Japan wins.
As they do the next, and the next -the small raids of avengers and hell divers cut up by his CAP, and the LRCAP from Wewak.
The enemy send few -if any fighter escorts, and the Nicks are especially lethal today.

All day Umeya awaits the crushing blows he has expected - but they never come. And by dusk, he realises his first mission is complete.
'Signal Tanaka -crush madang!"

Four of Japans great dinosours shake themselves free of his fleet, and white bow waves creaming in the gathering dusk, begin the race south.
The second battle for Madang opens.............

[1275psi]

Nakamura spends the day doing what he has dreamt of doing ever since he was so abruptly yanked from home and thrust into a war he neither understood or supported in china -fixing the 101 things around the house he had left undone so long ago.

Setsuko has done a wonderful job with out him -but -there were so many things still to do............

He is busy fixing the hole in the bathroom floor, when the first visitor arrives - Mr Yashimoto from downstairs -who brings a small gift of sake "in appreciation for our fine warrior" -which, of course, has to be sampled.
He has barely excused himself from him -when his ex school teacher companions arrive -all three of them -and they too bring Sake .
They are not the last.

Its a terrible day in the end - so many people wishing to meet"our hero" -so many who fight the war via the newspapers, and so many who think that getting him drunk -when there is just so much to do!- is the best way to show their appreciation for 'our great fighter pilot" (as if they owned a part of him!)

Its a quite muddled Nakamura who firmly shuts the door on dusk - and threatens wildly to his wife that"Ill shoot the next man who knocks on our door" -and realises that he is far too drunk now to even attempt to fix anything -especially the roof -that really needs doing.

But the door does knock again -Setsuko answers it - for a moment his mind blanks out at the name "Iwaya?' -but then it comes rushing back -and he makes to the door.

Mr Iwaya comes alone - and he brings no Alcohol - but something far, far finer -a solid single Tuna.


His home I see, is small -and tight -and deep in the heart of the Sumida area -its a miricle that my driver found it. How incouragous the black saloon looks here!
I hope they like the fish
Ahhh -steps - Oh -this one is lose.
The door
he knocks - growling voices from inside -that should be him.
Yes -that is Setsuko -telling him to shsss up. Funny -our commander being shssssed
Yes, she is beautiful -especially in that.

I do hope they like the fish

Mr Iwaya enters the neat small room -few furnishings
Nakamura stands before him.
Oh, my Son, you did not do him justice. But I see now -why you followed him into battle so confidently

Nakamura extends his hand.
The grips are firm.



It is much later -the fish has been superb. The conversation has warmed now - common grounds found. But it still has not totally flowed -for a dead man hovers unseen at the table.
Finally - as the moon begins to rise -Mr Iwaya must ask the question.
"My Sons effects. Thankyou. But I must ask. I do not understand. Why was the tooth brush so important / Why maust i never lose it?"

Nakamura's remembers. One eye -might, well it might have moistioned. Ahh, the Toothbrush. How to tell a Father how a Son grew to be a man?
'let me see -...............
Nakamura pours more drink -and tells him.





I am content
So, the son, the one who could not do anything -in the end -could do everything.
What more can I ask?


Dawn
Two men sit on the roof of a ramshakle house overlooking Tokyo's dirty river, waiting the sun.
Twelve hours ago -they had never met
"Do you think Japan can win?" asks Nakamura gently -did he die for nothing?
'I already know he died for something - for you, for me, for Japan. But that is not the question. "
The sun begins to break - it is very cold today
"No -we cannot win. What I am trying to do is limit the damage."
'I see"
Iwaya turns to the commander. "can I count on your support?"
there is no hesitation
"yes, yes you can"

[1275psi]

The bridge of the Taiho

Yamamoto and Nagumo stand side by side, feeling the great carrier begin to ride the pacific swells.
Truk falls steadily behind

There is nothing to be said. The dice of war have been thrown, another great gamble begins.

[1275psi]

16/1/44

Extract from Shattering the Sword -a Cantona production.

............we know now, with the benefit of historical hindsight, the Allied plans for 44. We also know this. they did not factor in a major Japanese conter attack -not now, and not at Madang -a base in the very shadow of its air power. But by the evening of the 15th, there was no doubt, an attack WAS coming - and local commanders begun to desperately prepare to meet it. Thus, the seeds of the Oklahoma tradgedy were planted..............

[1275psi]

16/1/44

Hosho is getting angry. No, not angry -now he is getting right royally peeved off.
For the third day in a row his base, his home -his beloved planes have been straffed mercilessly by the silver sharks.
For three days now he has cowered in muddy, wet miserable holes
Three damned days in a row!
At this rate he might become infatuated with guns again

[1275psi]

Tanaka's flagship - 1st naval battle of madang

[1275psi]

her principle opponent

[1275psi]

And the victim............