an extract from the upcoming novel 'Land of The Giants'...
...Captain Matsuba prowled the bridge of the Satsuma. He was tired but could'nt sleep, as his taskforce had been given the dishonourable task of guarding the invasion forces loading in the harbour. He was not a happy man .
Suddenly Ensign Abe came upto him and saluted. ' There are upto four unidentified craft coming around the headland sir....they are not giving any identification signals.'
Matsuba nodded his appreciation. He looked out through his binoculars and scanned the horizon. Within minutes the four strange ships came round the headland and headed straight for the harbour mouth. They were too close to the minefield.
Suddenly a sheet of flame shot up from one of the ships. It had hit a mine and it was plain to everyone on the bridge that they were not Japanese.
'Action Stations, Action Stations'. The sirens began to wail. Matsuba was perplexed. Who was insane enough to sail straight into Satusba on a suicide mission. There was one man, but no.... it could'nt be him....could it??.
Matsuba focused on the bridge of the leading enemy ship ( it was the Parrot ). He stared in amazement....it was none other than Rear Admiral 'Mad' Jack McMad, the maddest man from Madtown, his old drinking companion from his days while training at Dartmouth Naval College. It could only be him...no one else was mad enough.
Ensign Abe saluted. 'The guns are ready and awaiting orders Captain.'
Matsuba inwardly sighed. 'Fire at will', he replied.
The Satsuma's and Aki's guns roared their first volley in unison. The Battleships had spoken.
Matsuba was not a happy man. It was going to be a night to remember.
