herbiesan vs Cantona!!!

[1275psi]

Its a long train, full of vital materials -magnesium, aluminium, light alloy scrap.
Probably enough material to build a hundred fighters.. But last night, somebody has had it re routed to here -this remote siding in northern japan -had it routed here, uncoupled from its engines -and parked.

And here it will sit, and sit - overlooked, anonomous, and ultimately (if somebody gets their way) forgotten.

[1275psi]

Once again Iwaya’s big black limousine almost blocks the road between the river and Nakamura’s house . Nobody will of course complain –the city is quite used to big black limousines since the revolution –and the reaction of the usually big thuggish drivers who drive them should one wander too close.

Mr Iwaya has bought another fish, and a very rare bottle –wine, French at that –something very strange to the palate of the Nakamura’s.

The evening has gone well – so well that Nakamura has even been able to recount some of the pilot Iwaya’s adventures –especially those that involved breaking various airplanes
But now the two men sit again on the roof, and talk has turned to politics……….

Nakamura is adamant “trying to disrupt our industry is wrong, and foolish Minister –it simply hurts innocent men –and if we lose, gives us less time to solve the problem permanently”
“By which you mean………..assassination?”
Nakamura laughs. “You will need more than that my friend. Cut this head of, and the body will live on. No, we (and how that word we strikes Iwaya) need a full bodied Coup to pull this of”

They contemplate the river, the teeming traffic on the bridge nearby, the small barges floating past
“A coup? – I have not –pardon my ignorance –a clue how to organise such a beast”

Nakamura sits silently, and looks at the bridge.
He struggles for a moment with himself. A whole village? – Majuro? And its pits of murder?–did he support that?
A bridge.
He crosses it.
“The first thing we need Minister –are some troops –at least a division I would think – loyal to the emperor, Japan, and nothing else”

‘Alright. I will do that first – it will take a lot of political capital –but I think I can do that –there is a division in Manchuria I could use”

‘Good”

They sit in silence, and the sun is nice against the winter chill.
As they rise , Nakamura speaks again. ‘I think it would be wise not to come again Minister to here” and he nods in the direction of the bridge.

There is a second black car parked there –occupants unseen.

[hosho]

herbs, the standard of your writing is incredible! [&o]

you are spoiling us (and we want more!)

hat off mate

[1275psi]

20/1/44

From

Admiral Yamamato
to
Combined Fleet HQ

Initial combat report for 20/1/44 -operations against madang

As planned, Combined fleet cruised this evening in waters east of Madang
Fleet attacked appproximately 0300 by a dozen odd twin engined bombers -with near misses on Akagi, kaga and Zuikaku

As per plan, heavy naval units bombarded multiple enemy installations

Battleships Yamarishio, Hyuga , Ise struck Madang -inflicted heavy damage
Battleships Kirishima, Hiei and Kongo heavily damaged Finchesen
Cruisers Kumanao, Suzuya , Nachi, Myoko also struck gassmatta -with extremely heavy damage inflicted.

Combined fleet unable to operate during early morning hours, and thus BB Ise suffered a single torpedoe hit during with drawal towars wewak from Avenger torpedoe bombers

Majority of enemy air strikes in morning were weak -and concentrated on Madang invasion fleet -5 transports hit
Rain cleared by midday -and enemy attacked this fleet -all attacks easily beaten off.
detirmining that enemy resistance remained disjointed -I ordered a strike against shipping at Gassmatta - for 15 A/c lost, 4 DD, 1 CL sunk

Invasion continues, saidor invasion successful, enemy 2nd division is cut off

I consider my obligations to ARMY completed, and will retire the fleet at best speed - I intend to withdraw close escorts within 24 hrs

Estimated enemy air losses approx 150 a/c today.

This fleet -men and machines is tired. We must return to Japan ASAP for refit and repair

[1275psi]

From Intelligence HQ Pearl Hbr
to
HQ Pacific Fleet

54th division reported moving to Tokyo................

[1275psi]

Captain Hara stares at the darkening ocean
His Mighty carrier heads slowly north, astern of her one of his DD escorts sucks on its teat, filling her tanks.
Below him his flight deck bustles - the last of the bombers safe onboard -quite a few with the now all familiar holes in them, but thankfully, none missing today.

The pilots clamber out of the cockpits - slowly, old men, or men who appear drunk. There is no joking, no laughter, just exhausted men seeking some sort of rest..
They will be lucky, the pilots will -by his orders, get the rest they need.
But of the rest? - these 1500 odd men who live solely to see these men into the air?
What rest for them?
For him?

Hara is tired. As tired as he has been -since? since Majuro?, Port blair?, Port Moresby?, the battle off Japan?
So many battles.
He feels the weariness deep in his bones, in the uncontrollable tremors in his fingers.
How long can this go on?
Oh, to sleep -just to sleep.................

"Captain?"
Startled, Hara wakes -turns to the officer politely waiting for him
He shakes himself in the chair "yes?"
"from Mushia sir -Fires extinguished "
'is that all?'
"Yes sir'
"Very good"

Hara's mind wanders again - can he afford that? - what was he thinking sitting here!"

"OOW! -I am going to speak to the pilots -call me if anything happens"


The OOW watches his Captain stride from the bridge -strong, confident - the pillar of the Akagi.
He feels the pain in his legs, his back from 36 hrs standing here, the utter weariness in his bones. How he wishes he was so strong like his captain...............

[1275psi]

Captain Umeya watches the first of the new dive bombers carefully being placed onto Junyo's flight deck.
He is told that they carry a bigger bomb -and can reach 600 miles with it.
A thought strikes him

He needs a new Jolly roger flag
A very big, new Jolly roger flag!

[1275psi]

SMN Agarshi, Shimto share a small meal on Ryujo's quarter deck.
'heard the word?"

"Huh?"

"Heading back to home"

"The truth?"

'The truth"

[1275psi]

21/1/44

'If you did not drink so much, I would have declared you fit to fly weeks ago Juni"
"And would life have been worth living heh?'

The doctor grins.
"poker again tonight you old rascal?'

Juni begins to button up his shirt -" yes -and bring your money Doc"

Juni is having -this time -a very good leave

[1275psi]

Nearly every city block in Tokyo has one - a citizens local defence committee.
Tonight Nakamura is fullfilling his obligations, giving a short lecture on his time at the front. He does well -a quick story full of things the people want to hear -that the fighters are superior, that the allied advance is bogged down, that victory is assured,
Everything the quiet men at the back of the hall would like to hear - the secret service is not so secret tonight.
Afterwards, Nakamura invites questions -and the first is , well, un expected.
"Could the allies ever bomb here?" -and if they did -what should they do?"
And it strikes Nakamura -that here -in the Shitamachi suburb - the most densly packed area in the world - just how few defences he had seen.
Oh, every house had a bucket of water, a bucket of sand - and a here and there tiny slit trenches were squeezed under houses or edges of roads.
But AA guns? Fire brigades? -fire trucks -or even a proper defence organisation?

For a moment he pauses, perplexed with what to say -and the men on the back wall suddenly seem very interested.....
he can only smile wanely - "I rest confident we will never let that happen..........."

later, as his wife sleeps peacfully beside him - he thinks about his home -paper, wood, and what bombs would do to them.
he must dig a decent shelter for her -tomorrow -he must.
But some how he felt that that might not be enough.
His mind spends many hours this night, trying to come up with a solution -and falls asleep some time -with out one.

[1275psi]

Extract from Shattering the sword - a cantona production

The second Marine division would not panic - it was abvious -that for now -the Japanese were not strong enough to penetrate the lines. The Navy may have abandoned them for the moment -but the airforce would not.
Most of the marines settled in this wet night -ready to push"this damn nuiscance" as described by "Howling mad" General Smith back into the jungles.

To the east, the marine third division has a better night -id intense combat can be called better.
Advancing rapidly now upon Rabual, the defenders decide to try to forestall the inevitable - and luanch a desperate attack.
It mistimes, and is smashed by the firepower of the marines. The capture of rabual -goal of so much spilt blood, edges appreciably closer...............

[1275psi]

They lie everywhere, still forms, leaning against bulkheads, in the passageways.
It is dark -and the great fleet has, finally, fallen out from action stations.
Everywhere -those that can, sleep.
And those that cannot yet - those that have to keep the ships going -battle on -and wait for their turn to take the rest so well earned.

[1275psi]

It is bitterly cold as the couple slowly make their way up the well worn path.
Snow lies about them, and the breeze carries its chill to their very bones.

And they barely feel it at all.

Setsuko and Nakamura tramp steadily up Japans most sacred mountain. Like New Yorkers who have never visited the statue of liberty, this is something 'they have always wanted to do"
Nakamura has taken the bit into his mouth -and now, this week, 'they are doing it"

It remains unspoken, but it is there -the shadow -they may never get another chance.

Japan is particularily beautiful today, quite, still -any chatter from the steady stream of pilgrims carries a long, long way -but not many break the silence.

Its a beautiful day, almost impossible to believe that war rages in the world today.

[1275psi]

22/1/44

Battleship Mutsu refuses to die
Its hard to tell who is more stubborn - the Stokers who battle below her decks to stem the floods -or the great grey lady herself.
It does not matter.
She fills the bay at Hollandia -refusing to die, her quarter deck almost awash.

The Allies know she is here -and want her - the Liberators come -brushing aside the light army fighters (as always) -today they miss.
They will be back - if they cannot get her away.

Below decks -in the dark, the stink, in the chaos -her men battle the water, the heat. Mutsu will probably never fight again -and it matters not a single dot -stokers never, ever give up.

[1275psi]

22/1/44

A group of pilots sit on a field to the north of the Bismark sea.
They are considerably fewer in number than the week before. A bitter taste fills the group -the taste of failure.
They have flung themselves at the enemy -and still they come.
Many of them have died - and still they come.
Many have attacked -and most bitterly of all - missed -and still they come.

'It is obvious" says one of them quietly " that we die attacking no matter what"
Sad nods of agreement, and growls of distaste 'It is also obvious that we die for no affect"
Silence.
yes -that is true - a 250 KG bomb cannot hurt a carrier or battleship at all
"Next time I attack" and the voice is hard with detirmination " I will guarrantee success - I intend to dive into a carrier -and ensure my death means something"
Silence again.
they were always going to die. it is what the empire expects, what they have always expected. One life for a thousand?

A good bargain
'Who is with me?"
Many hands rise........................

[1275psi]

23/24 of January, 1944

From the Diary of Col Nakamura.


..............a wonderful day. Our new friends here in the country such a pleasant addition to what truly has been a magic week of happiness. The Isuki's are good, honest people. They believe in the Empire, in Japan, even in the Dictator -which I do not condemn them for at all -after all -so far one must say -for the farmers of japan, life has been better under his policies.
And yet. I am almost ashamed to write this. I must cultivate this unexpected friendship. If the war goes as I fear it might, if we cannot stop them -this little place may be an answer to a prayer..............

[1275psi]

Mr Iwaya looks at two seperate reports on his table.
One -he knows all about.
54th Division has moved to Tokyo

The second comes as an intense shock - a nightmare in fact.

Rabual has fallen.

[1275psi]

It is a rowdy command briefing indeed

"42nd, 43rd divisons would HAVE NOT! done better going to Rabual instead of Madang! I will relieve from Command the next man who even, thinks, let alone suggests that!"
Herbiesans voice almost cracks -his face is red, angry -furious. deadly intent flashes from his eyes.
"So many of you doubted me in 33!, so many of you opposed me in 34!.None of you dared think I would usurp the emeror -but I did!" his fist crashes into the table " I conquer Manchuria , I conquer China, I conquer half the damn world -and still you doubt me!!!
He sweeps maps from the table 'The Americans will give up -they will give UP!"................

It is quite a display, one Hitler would be proud of (but he has his own problems of course at the moment) -and it goes on for a long, long time.
His generals are right though -the Madang operation is a bust -a nother division would have done it -but it was not sent. The second marines hold this night against the suicidal attacks. On this day you can effectively remove two divisions from Japans order of battle..............

[1275psi]

"Full house.................."

growls of distaste around the table -the pot is very, very large.
'If you will excuse me gentlemen, time is short -and I have a lot of spending to do"
Juni gathers his winnings, cocks his new cap at a suitably rackish angle, and heads into the night so full of possibilities.
Juni continues to have a very, very good leave.

[1275psi]

a simple memo from one department to another somewhere in Japan


.......we will there fore be ready for last trials of KI 84 pre production A/c to begin 1 Febuary 44. Can you please ensure suitable Army pilots are available for the trials?. We will arrange accomodation ect............