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22/3/44

47th come crashing back to reality less than 12 hours later.

Pulling back to a rear area, Nakamura comes in for a rude shock.

There are no spares.
No replacement aircraft
In fact -the entire supply situation appears to be chaotic
And so today 47th sit out the war -and pray the navy can come through.

23/3/44


47th sit grounded today -and watch the low grey clouds boil in.
Its back to the basics of life -a table, a packet of greasy cards, and companionship.
The war rages -but not here today

Captain Hara conducts formal rounds of the Akagi
It is an exhausting business -but one he intends to carry out completely.
This is Command - letting even the lowest of ranks know that you matter to him. To fail to visit a single compartment that men have laboured to present -to not acknowledge the effort -is unforgivable.

From the jungle of ropes in the bosuns store, to the depths of the bilge areas under Akagi's boilers, his keen eye takes it in.
Many things he can see, many things only a personal visit can reveal.
The crew, the crew he has no concern about -Akagi's moral is superb -confident in themselves, in the ship -and dare he think it? -even in him
Akagi herself?
That is another story.
Simply put -she is tired, very, very tired. he see's it in the untreated rust on her flanks, the cracked insulation, the ugly stains of worn metal.
She feels -she feels old.
But there is life left in the old girl yet -that he feels too.
Her planes shine bright, and her weapons gleam. Inspection complete, he gazes from the bridge, down at the ranks of men awaiting his verdict on the inspection.
Almost with love, definately with affection, he pats this binnacle he has stood with for so many hours .
'I know old girl ' he murmers to himself, unaware that he actually speaks " not quite ready for retirement neh?. Don't worry -I will take you to glory if I can old friend"

The men await. The enemy, and the war, continues to creep north. Captain Hara, Akagi's backbone, descends to the men, confidence exuding from every pore.

24/3/44

Its the sort of loss Nakamura hates
Combat airpatrol over a target devoid of enemy for an entire day.

And a pilot missing.

How did it happen?
Did anyone see it happen?
Mechanical failure?. Pilot error? -or enemy action?
It is no way to die, he muses, to just disappear.

25/3/44

47th is ordered by Burma command to rest today -there is considerable shuffling of air groups over the entire front.
The men barely care -after all, who really knows what is going on in the back areas? -not that they know what is going on HERE in the front areas.

The day is spent well however, briefings on local condituions, the fields, and other groups in the front line.
In the afternoon, Nakamura attempts to hold a early warning exercise -it turns into a fiasco -somewhere along the line the exercise is confused with the real thing -nearly a dozen fighters are rolling before the red flares go arcing into the sky.

Other factors, however are good. War has winnowed out the useless ages ago - chutes are ready here on time, the met briefings are as good as they can be, and the general airfield organisation is smooth.
But the exercise shows Nakamura one clear thing -chances are too good that they will be caught on the ground .

OK then. If that is how it is -there is only one answer.
Attack

The atmosphere in the room, is , to put it mildly, cold

Herbiesan and Yamamoto are "having one of their little chats"
In short -herbiesan is trying to tell Yamamoto how to run the Navy

"Why is the fleet not engaging?"
Yamomoto inwardly sighs -heavens, doesn't he get it yet? -what more does he need?
'Sir -as I've tried to explain - we don't consider this the main thrust -its not dangerous enough to be the main thrust"
The dictators face darkens - "On the contary Admiral -any advance is dangerous -Wewak must be fought for!"
"Not so dangerous that we risk all for it -what if the main carrier fleet turns up somewhere else while we chase piddling CVE's down there?"

herbiesan hesitates -and takes another tac " These CVE's -Combustible, vessel expendable I hear them call them - I don't think much of your efforts to fullfill that description"
Yamamoto controls his temper -just " CVE White plains sunk, CVE Corrigador sunk, CVE battler sunk - not even the Americans can keep losing ships at that rate!"

"BUT THEY CAN!" screams herbiesan "THEY CAN! -and you bloody Admirals once told me that they had no will, no stomach to fight!. That they would roll over and die!"

Yamamoto smiles inside - and now you find they don't. You thought war was a game my liege -just a game. If Tokyo burns -then history will truly see you for what you are.
But of course, these thoughts remain hidden
"Are you ordering the fleet to sea sir?'

herbiesan's anger just stops. The charm, that terrible charm that has beguilled so many returns "No Admiral. 1 April -my revolution parade -and the navy -those big grey things -they will make a good backdrop in the bay. No, keep the battleships here unless something critical comes up............."

Hosho has had many cargos, many different passengers in his life.
But this load he knows.
Crates. Lots of crates -and each one full of guns.
For two weeks now, he has travelled back and forth across the sea from manchuria, delivering these anomonous crates to equally anomonous people.

Ask no questions, get told no lies.
And its been a good life so far.
But now -new orders.
Return to Gumma. Replace the seats - and fit curtains to the windows.
complete a pantry -and this brings whistles - a very, very fancy pantry.
Build a door between the cockpit and the passenger area
Get fuelled up -and wait -and be sure to be waiting from midnight on the 1st of April -ready for immediate takeoff.

Hosho counts the cash that has come with the orders -its an awful thick wad.

Hosho -our great gorilla -doesn't have to be very smart to know -his next passenger must be someone very, very important.

just a couple more days until the big "move"

26/3/44

Tokyo is filling with troops
Troops for the parade, troops re deploying, and troops for 'security'
As herbiesan desires it -the parade will march along the edge of the bay -the saluting Dias facing the ocean -all those impressive battleships currently riding at anchor a pretty backdrop.
Today the 54th Division hold a rehearsal -gathering near the docks, and marching the entire route.
The March is due to finish at the Diet -where Herbiesan will make a very, very important speach

Iwaya watches the rehearsal very carefully -troops come into view..............eyes right................and pass the dias.
His eye catches 54th Divisions Commanding General - and an invisible message passes between them -yes, thinks Iwaya -I will need to be well clear of here by then -its very exposed here indeed..............


Elsewhere, 54th Naval Guard unit moves into the palace quarter areas -and assumes complete security for the Emperor and the palace.
55th naval guard is assigned "as additional support" to local security forces near the Diet, the central exchange, and other strategic places.

High Command - Army -announces the raising of 3rd Imperial guard division -and elements of this unit are assigned to secure the parade route -they are distinctive indeed in their Black uniforms.

And with the arrival of many additional AA units into Tokyo -the thousands of sailors wandering about every evening -the citizens of Tokyo are being forcibly reminded that the military run japan today -and this means just one thing -a right royal pain in the ass.
But -if you asked them, with the war being won, the stores again overflowing with produce, and the Emperor again firmly on the throne of heaven -what could you really grumble about over a few closed roads?

When you get right down to it -Japan has very, very few luxury cars to go around. few before the war -and even with these ones captured at Hong Kong -still not enough for every tin pot Commander, politician and the like who thought they deserved one.

But even Setsuko -even a woman of Japan -knew what these were. Rolls Royce - and in mint condition, black paint gleaming.
She is entering Iwaya's offices -another day of work almost done with this message run -when the two cars pull up in front of the building.
Iwaya himself, climbs out from one of the seats -spying her -he breaks into a great grin -so reminding her of the child in him.
"Like my new cars Sentsuko?"
She is, as ever, japanese polite " Oh yes sir -they are very grand -are they for you?"
"Oh no, I already have that Amaerican beast -these are for a very special passenger -I hope"
He hesitates, makes a decision
"Please don't think this in appropiate -but would you like a lift home -a ride in my new car?"
She hesitates. Normally, this would be considered very inappropiate -but then, thinking of her Husbands links and friendship with Iwaya -and his exortation to him to look out for her -she accepted.

The ride - the ride was astounding. Iwaya was a picture of politeness -even when they became lost in the maze of streets near her home.
But eventually, with her help, he managed it. "Must learn how to get here one day by myself you know -might be handy"
He refuses Cha -but does give news - "Your husband has seen more action -cannot say where -and is doing very well"

then the great car is gone.
Sentsuko thinks for a long time as the car disappears into the mass of humanity on the street. "Funny fellow Iwaya. And she wonders why he really needed to learn the way to her house........."

26/3/44

Its been a long time coming
But now it is here - KI-84's -en massed - on the hunt

Nakamura leads them - cool, calm, smiling -but a boiling excitement inside him.
63 heavy fighters -deep in the enemy territory -and beyond this cloud -mandalanby -main British airbase.
And behind him -another sight to stir the soul - massed ranks of Army bombers

he wheels them around the flank of this floating grey mountain -and they emerge into brilliant bright sunshine.......

'Spitfires!"

Adredalin surges -and subsides -there are only three of them -oblivious to the danger above.
No, now they see the sharks streaming down nearly vertical ..............too late, too late.
47th have another kill

They circle - a ridicoulous circle -here in skies packed with allied planes for months, and nobody to fight, and watch clinically as the bombers ruin the day by totally missing the field.

Nakamura does not curse, or grumble. They have tried the offensive today , it feels good, good, good.

So good, he does a what was his name? - flies part of the way home inverted.

3 months ago, they accused us of cowardice
3 months ago, they banished us from the war
3 months ago, we made a vow.
Today, we keep it

may the empire remain a thousand years











CVE Swanee, off Wewak.

If gloom and doom was a radiation, then this CVE would have killed the entire Wewak invasion fleet stone cold dead by this day.
Hunted three days straight now -watching her sisters torpedoed, bombed to oblivion -all onboard felt that today their luck must run out.
Not a few men curse the name cantona this day.

The attack -the inevitable attack, does not come until the afternoon -and initially it goes well - a pack of zekes escorting a big gaggle of bomb armed oscars -Swanee's hellcats, and the LRCAP -deal with them well -and what oscars that do get through fall one by one into the mottled sea -FLAK and fighters eating leakers easily.
The gloom lightens momentarily - until the dive bombers are reported -dive bombers protected by the biggest formation of george fighters seen to date.

CAP goes to work -, but, isn't it to be expected? -the bombers get through...........

Vals. Armed with 25o kg bombs.
Maybe not so lethal to kill them all..........

The first VAL stoops, dives, steeply, down, down, down -and it does not release her bomb -instead it plummetts into the little carriers bow - throwing her into a tremendous whiplash, silencing her guns, breaking bones through out her length..........

Minds cannot accept what has happened -but the horror that follows rams it home.
3 vals skim across the water - across the water -and straight into her flanks -CRUMP! CRUMP!!...explosions swallowed up by the screaming dives as 6 more plunge down -and into her very guts..............


The men of this invasion fleet have seen much, seen many ships struck -but also beaten off many attacks.
But this? -how do you fight this?

27/3/44
Miyazuki pauses before his machine. A sence of de ja vue has just struck him, a sense of history?
In the cool morning light -he has been here before, has he not?
Another day, another mission, another waking, wondering if he will see the dusk of this dawn.
And then the japanese, the ancient japanese in his blood finally overcomes the modern man he has striven so hard to be.

If he dies today -karma
It is all karma.

And suddenly, suddenly, the scales falls from his eyes. Karma. What is death anyway?. What has been so damn afraid of for so long?
Karma. What will be -will be.

He breaks into a smile -and greets his ground crew jovially - they all smile. he passes around the inevitable smokes -and they enjoy them in the comradship they bring.
47th Sentai prepares for another day -the sky is pinking on the horizon -that quiet moment before the engines ruin it by returning the war to the field.
He likes this plane -likes it very much. he likes it because war in the air is no longer one dimension -now it is three -vertical climb, vertical dive, horizontal turn, inverted loop or dive -its all the same now -the great engine will take him wherever he pleases.

yes, he likes this plane very much

The green flare floats lazily into the dawn . "Time to go eh?- I hope the wings don't fall off today neh?"
His men grin - no, they won't today.

Climbing in, settling in, flap lever, trim lever falls to hand, feet sit light on the peddles -the straps snug on his top of them -essential in the Gs odf modern flight.
He wobbles the stick -controls are good, , pump the throttle, set the mix.
Look left, right -and start.
Its all automatic this preparing for flight -an art we will never comprehend -the ballet of men over machine- where Miyazuki's skill is all between him and disaster.

The field reverbs to the beat , and the Tigers roll
He tucks in beside Juni again, the tigers climbing into the sun, the world in shadow still below -and it is still cold.
Nakamura wobbles his wings -violently, and at 5000 feet, still climbing, 47th are already in action.........


Liberators -our old friends -coming with a wake up call -high, high,. glinting in the early light -clear, clear to se.
47th respond to the challenge
Throttle full -stick back -and the swift climb begins.
How rude to spoil the plans so carefully made..........

"Nakamura here - section three only engage -the rest -resume the plan -a dozen is not going to hurt us"
Damn -one really wants to try them on..............
A dozen fighters continue the climb - the bombers already turning for home


Nakamura leads the bulk of them North again- Ki-43's with them today.

16000 feet -and the mask is so annoying...................

The sky is clear today -come on -where are you enemy -where are you?
But nobody rises to them again -and Burma steadily slides below.

Mandalaby - and the attack begins again -and again frustration -only 3 spits again are in the sky.
nakamura however, is not content with this today -the KI-43's peel away -and sweep across the field -straffing , shooting, challenging.

The Bombers -on time again, arrive -and the field disapears in the heavy thick clouds of dust...
And all the time Miyazuki swivels the head -and wonders, where are they?, where are they?

Home

The mind inevitably wanders..............

Silver crosses -there, on the horizon, the flash of Aluminium over Rangoon.
karma
Karma
leave it to karma
No emotion, just the brain calculating, calculatingm, and the body responding, throttle to the wall, winginging over -G forces up - he goes in for the attack- maybe half a dozen of them against so many..........


The T bolts are in a great circle -busy straffing troops on the rail line below -queing up to kill.
The Tigers, a hald dozen against twenty , fall onto them
A T bolt drifts across his sights, and the big fat barsted knows he is there, turning as hard as it can inside of him.
Miyazuki turns as hard as he can too, the circle closing, closing, the mathematics inevitable.
The T bolt inverts, dives, and now the world is inverted to him, as he follows it down, and the other fellow is good, damn good, but he knows he is better - if he would only just co operate..........

Another T bolt comes in from his flank - and now, as the fight now climbs across the sea, Miyazuki see's this tactic they have heard so much about lately -this Thatch weave.
he hesitates in the face of it -no fear -just perplexed with the problem -of attack against this manouvre -and the fuel guage is rock bottom, and reluctantly -he breaks for home.

No kills today, guns still unfired, but he cares not -karma






Operations report 47th sentai
busy day - intercepted 11 B-24's at 26000 feet, 1 B-26 destroyed -bombing missed field
Conducted offensive sweep with 87th, 85th Sentai over Mandalaby - field straffed, bombed
47th no kills today -one pilot MIA




Extract from the diary of Col Nakamura

.......attack -we must try to attack. balancing attack to fatigue is going to be difficult.
Moral is strong. I fear the Army retreats still, Taung Gyi has fallen. Moulmien may well become the front line. How are we to handle that?
I miss my wife.

UNCLASSIFIED

28/3/44
Nakamura sends one of the Sentai south –it needs more planes, and regretfully, pilots.
For the rest –a frustrating day conducting patrols over the designated area of sky, only to have the enemy visit apparently every other one

The pressure is on –Taung Gyi has fallen, enemy columns are nearing Rangoon.

But, on the other hand, high command is sending further groups. There are to be no more bombing freebies for the Allies………….









It is evening in the crude huts that serve as the mess –Nakamura and his Aces are deep in discussion.

In this the great Cat and Mouse, tomorrow will be a big day.

In the end, Nakamura has to call it.



“They will come for us here I think –try to sweep us from the sky. I am not going to let them”























29/3/44

Extract from “The Forgotten Fighters” – interviews from the Burma war

An Amazon book

“Up until those damn Tigers had arrived, things had been going swimmingly. But now the Japs had thrown us a real googly, and I was determined to take up the challenge –hit him for six and all that rot

But on this day –initially at least, it all went pear shaped.

Thanks to some dodgy weather, we failed to find the bombers –and rather stupidly you see –they just pressed on alone –damn shame really.

Well, the Franks, and the new Tonies were waiting –and lickity split -6 , or was it 8 ? bombers gone- never had a chance – the sky was simply crawling with red sunballs

Then we arrived. Now the Mozzie was a great plane –don’t get me wrong –but getting into a turning fight was not its strongpoint –and I was damn lucky to get out of there – but five –five of my friends didn’t.

If it had not been for the Americans………….



Fighter combat is all about one thing. Energy.

Nakamura looks around him –at his sentais scattered across the sky –and every instinct in him screams –too low, too slow!

The Mosquito’s are diving away –too many 84’s still chasing………

And then the T bolts hit them



They have the energy, the height, the weight, everything –and numbers

Nakamura never sees the plane that hits him –just feels the frightening hammering behind him –and the immediate loss of control.

He is already half way out the cockpit even as his bird lurches over to the right into its final spin –the blast of air –the flashing impressions of the great silver beast that has got him, and then the jerk of the chute.



Mortifying –shot down over his very own field………….



He looks around –the sky is almost clear already –but the damage is horrifying –how many Tigers down in that first pass…..?



Must worry about that later……….. the field is rising below him – it won’t do to land in the mess itself.



As always –the ground hits him hard – and with out dignity.

Silence –he swallows to even the pressure in his ears, and now the sound of snarling engines reaches him –the battle is still on – but how many have they lost?

Damn –a bad day, a bad day.





Operations report

47th sentai

53 * Ki-84 and 28 KI-61 maintained CAP over Moulmien

Initially intercepted 3 Liberator -3 claimed shot down

Intercepted 6 –B-26 medium bombers –all 6 shot down

Engaged 13 Mosquitoes -5 shot down



Bounced by 30 plus T bolts

47 lost 2 A/c, one pilot KIA

85th, 87th sentai savaged -12 A/lots



Only 2 T bolts claimed



Sentai strength stands at 31 available, 3 damaged, 26 pilots, 112 kills total

Have requested reinforcements.















Dusk

30/3/44



47th remain grounded – the rain –again, holds them down.

Liberators bomb Bangkok port

And Port Blair falls to the British



Something you can be sure herbiesan won’t be mentioning in his speech on April 1





Dusk, 31/3/44



CVL Ryujo

Our two stokers Agarshi and Shimto have received well earned promotions, and a new position in the hierarchy –they have moved from the sweltering Boiler rooms, now their domain is N02 engine room. It is a highly unusual time to begin it –right on dusk –but the word has spread like lightning –make all preparations to sail



Her Machinery is simple, basic, flashing it up will follow a procedure all steam sailors would understand, the mechanics are simple –it’s the details where the devil lives.



There is little do once all the oils and auxiliaries have been checked –and the shaft checked clear of obstructions – until the oil heaters have the oil to temperature, one can relax, drink the tea, and speculate why the get underway orders are occurring now –and what they mean



Next door, they know, their boilers is being lit of, pressure being raised. From a hundred funnels –this tell tale of shovelling thick smoke emerges unseen into the now dark sky



The PO likes the oil temperature –and turning gear is engaged, the shaft begins to turn –our boys using auxiliary steam from the already on line boiler to roll the oil pump.



Gland steam is applied next –sealing the turbine –and pre warming it. From time to time one of them will roll a condensate pump –it is poor form to hog the fed water over here

An hour in, and the Turbo generator is started, and now the true steam, condensate, feed water cycle begins.

The Engine room becomes a rain forest –a hundred leaking packings, in a hundred valves –they will take up as the temperature rises

The boiler reaches pressure – and now the exciting work begins, the air ejectors, their condensors, the drain tanks, are started, and vacuum in the mighty turbine is raised.



The minutes of worry pass –full vacuum –and the PO smiles –it is going well.

‘Open main steam guard bypass” –“disengage turning gear” Agarshi swings of the valves – the subtle hiss –so much suppressed power –and the engine is alive. The circulating and condensate pumps are working well –and Shimto is given the honour –he takes the astern throttle –opens it –and she rolls truly



Then, the waiting, the checking, the flashing of the evaporators, the fans, the other auxiliaries.

The engineer arrives –as usual in stunning white

A quick test –the engines turn true.



And soon, not long after this, just before midnight –the telegraphs ring, and the little carrier once again comes alive –and heads to sea, to whatever fate the winds decree.





And at dawn, as Iwaya rises to this most important day – he is greeted with a most disagreeable sight.



April 1

Dawn

And the Yamato, Yamamoto –the entire damn Navy –is gone.

ooooooooooops, posted last post without editing.
sorry

The coup has begun...................... more at ten

CMDR Te zuka of the 54th Naval guard swallows. His mouth is as dry as dust, and terror grips him.
Never, never in his wildest dreams, would he have considered what lies ahead of him this quiet April Fools morning.
“he is but a man” the thought hammers through his head –‘no, he is the son of heaven –and this is madness” instantly counters in his mind.
He grips the reins –afraid that the terror he feels will transfer to his horse
“Steady girl”.
He pats her, and again looks around –maybe , maybe seeking some sort of deliverance from this trap he has weaved for himself.

The Eastern gardens are quiet, and beautiful in this early morning light, and steam rises from the ponds.
Ducks gamble across the waters, KOI circle.

And the Emperor, flanked by just his two retainers, takes his early morning ride…….

7am
Precisely
Time for the actors to take the stage.

He urges the horse forward –a gentle trot – not to alarm, just fast enough to convey urgency……
The two retainers see him – and one wheel towards him – there is no alarm, he knows the approaching CMDR Tezuka –newly appointed leader of the Imperial Palace Guard
The stop, 30 metres away from HIM –HE continues unconcerned, ambling , ambling
Horses snort, and stamp
‘Is there a problem Tezuka?”

Tezuka hesitates –this man, this “secretary” is so imposing –so ,so hatamoto –so samurai –but he manges to hide it in the handling of the horse.
‘Yes”
Eyebrows are raised –but he says nothing –merely keeps his horse discreetly between Tezuka and HIM.
‘A message from the Lord protector, Herbiesan. Enemy carriers have come within 200 miles of Japan –an attack is due any moment. Radio chatter says the palace –that , that the Son of heaven is the target”
The ‘secretary hisses in anger –and shock.

Tezuka almost cannot believe it –he has taken the tale –and now, emboldened, he carries on –committed now
“herbiesan wishes the Emperor conveyed to safety -we have a car waiting at the Otimen gate”
the man shakes his head –“The palace has a shelter –it is closer –why the car?’
Lie upon lie
“We believe the enemy may use poison gas”

Silence –hooves clump.
Minds turn, empires hang, and lives are committed.
‘Very well –I will inform his highness –you will lead, we will follow”

Incredibly, it was that easy

The car is there –and a dozen men of the 54th naval guard stand outwards –daring not to look at the small man on the white horse cross the bridge, carefully dismount.
He does not hurry –talks to the horse, then as if the rest of the world does not exist, slips into the car
At exactly 0716, the Son of heaven, settles his too human form, into the luxury of the big Black british Rolls Royce –and CMDR Tezuka himself, takes the wheel.










At 0715, Major General Oda, calls his first regiment to attention.
A crazy though passes through his mind – this will be the neatest coup ever conducted.
Murder in dress uniform

His voice rings loud, clear, true
“1st Battalion, 54th Division – ATTENNNNNNNNNNTIONNNNNNNNN!”
CRASH!
2000 men, 1980 unloaded guns, 20 loaded guns smash to rigidity.
He cannot help himself –eyes again meeting those two front ranks.
Steady, steady –they will follow you……………
‘Battalion will move to the Left in File, Left,TURN!’
Crash!
Silence, and then just the clip, clip as Oda marches to the front of the column.
He takes his place
‘Battalion!, stand at ease!.
Crash!
10 minutes, one mile, and then history.







Iwaya takes his place on the Dias
Its cold up here today –the sun has yet to warm the spring air.
Cold, but crowded
Again, he looks at the bay –he cannot comprehend that what yesterday was so crowded, is now so empty……..
Herbiesan catches his eye
He has a strange grin –well stranger than usual, on his face –as if he has some sort of secret joke he wants to share –but not yet
“’maybe the navy did not like the dinner menu for tonight neh? – I believe it was pig skewered”
Iwaya merely tries to smile –but he is too nervous for that –and too afraid. He manages a weak nod of the head, and then scrambles for his seat –a seat that is well near the back, and to the side .
He has rehearsed his exit twice - and the car is still there, waiting…..






0715,
and Setsuko lights the small charcoal burner, and begins the morning tea.
Iwaya has given her the day off – but she will take his advice on the parade –and keep well away
Its going to be a beautiful day.




Extract from “Shattering the sword”
A Cantona production.

And here is the hindsight of history.
We know NOW –the tragedy that herbiesan leads Japan to, but then –even then in 44 –we must remember –many in Japan still trusted and followed him.
The radical nationalisation programs, the free education, health programs, the socialisation of every facet of Japanese life –had made a difference to many lives –as unsustainable as they were.
Japan in 44 was a Gigantic ponzi scheme –financed by the rape of the occupied territories. As long as that rape continued, as long as the freebies flowed, herbiesan would always have support –support keen to protect the flow of milk and honey .
Supporters who had ears, and had been listening………………..

CMDR Tezuka resists the temptation to look in the rear view mirror –not now, not now.
7:17 – not long to the parade………….
He takes the keys in his hand, and turns the ignition.
And nothing happens.


7:20 am
A large Army truck pulls up at the head of the battalion.
A large corpulent figure climbs out, and marches towards him
A shock passes through Major general Oda
Toranaga!
Commander of the Army itself!
And Oda can feel his skin crawl …………herbiesans very, very right hand man.

The Commander is smiling –but there is no humour in it. Nor in the riding crop that beats on the highly polished boots.
“All ready Oda for the big day?”
‘Sir!”
‘Ahh, good. “
The smile widens –and Oda cannot think of anything but of a cat playing with a mouse
‘there is a hitch –some idiot has blocked a road with a truck – can I borrow , say –20 odd men?”
The smile is a positive evil grin, and Oda can feel the sweat flowing down his spine.
He is helpless, helpless………
Silence.
The world reduces, reduces, to that smile………………..
“The first two rows would do it………………..if I may?”
Oda can barely croak his assent – the bow is so, so hard………..

He cannot look at his men –his very, very special men, as they and their guns, the loaded guns – are hustled onto the truck………..

The commander watches, watches him.
A hawk hovering
‘Thankyou Major general - make the parade a good one yes?”


Betrayed.
Betrayed
Betrayed
We are dead men..
Its seems to be some one else, not him, not this man with legs of Jelly who barks the orders
“The battalion will advance!”…………..


At Gumma, Hosho finishes his breakfast, and does a last pre-flight.
Full tanks –where will he be going?………….



Tezuka sits frozen.
And then a nightmare
A thin, high pitched voice from behind him………
“is there a problem?’

he cannot answer – a life of worship for japan, and the son of heaven, he just cannot answer……..
The voice speaks – there is no concern, no anger, just a decision.
‘Never mind CMDR – the Imperial palace bunker will do –I really don’t think the allies would use poison gas…..”
And the door opens, and Tezuka can do nothing, but watch one half of the plan climb out of the car, mount his horse, and simply trot away………………



The dais remains crowded –and Iwaya is glad to merge into the background.
And then herbiesan takes him into his gaze, the battalion, Oda in the lead, comes into view.
‘Iwaya, old friend “ and that joke must be so damn good, his face is almost splitting “Come and join me –you did give me all these toys hey!”
In a fog, Iwaya makes his way forward, and chest beside chest, they prepare to take the salute

Escape, escape –there is no escape………..

‘Eyes right!”
Eyes lock –Iwaya to Oda –and the guns come up to the salute –and the ranks march past, and past, and past……………….. and Iwaya finally breathes.
Herbiesan is speaking –and Iwaya knows it is directed at him
“
‘Seppuko –by midnight” . And the eyes bore into him. ‘’you have been a good tool, you will have a good second”
And the face turns away –and the battalion marches past, and past, unseen –thud, thud, thud.


9;15 am

There is the sound -brief, of a machine gun, somewhere in some remote barrack.


11am

Setsuko is startled by the knock at the door.
‘Who is it?”
Me!’ –its Iwaya!”

A wild eyed man enters, can this be her boss, her friend, the Minister for production?’
He is babbling – something about betrayal, and death, and slipping away , and being hunted.
Especially about being hunted
He is also hot, and sweaty –he has obviously run to here.
Gumma! –I need to get to gumma!”

But how?
Mr Yashimoto, downstairs – he has some bikes……………


Dusk

Hosho is pissed.
All day, waiting, waiting, waiting –bored.
Who ever the passenger was –he was not coming.

Two peasants are coming through the gate –on bikes no less –how did they do that? –ahh –one he knows –that is Setsuko –the other peasant? –is –Oh –Mr Iwaya!

Hosho is clued up enough.
Something has gone very, very wrong………

Iwaya has regained some composure
‘Ahh, Mr Hosho –care to give a ride to the ma who has paid for all your extravagance these last months?’
How can he refuse?

Sentsuko will not come.
After all –what does she really know?

As the sun –the great cherry blossom, sinks into the sea –Hosho takes his bird aloft –and heads south, future, and destination as dark as the gathering night ahead………..




Extract from shattering the sword……………

How many heard of the failed coup ? not many
How many died.
Not many
How many did herbiesan know were involved.
Ahhhh –he would let them sweat on that……………….

didn't see that one coming!

Flotsam

Captain Hara leans on Akagi's bridge wind deflector -contemplating the delightful sight of a pod of dolphins tracking beside the great ship
His XO is with him, both enjoying the sun after such cold weather at home

"Where are we going captain?"
Hara raises an eyebrow 'You really don't know that?'
"Oh, yes -but after that? -where is Yamamoto taking us? -does he have a plan?"

Hara turns his back to the sun, the wind -"Actually I think he doesn't really know himself "
his EX laughs " I heard a very nasty rumour -that Tokyo has suddenly......"
'become very unhealthy for him" Hara finishes the sentence.

He turns again, the dolphins never lose their appeal.........
"You know " he says to no one in particular " The one time we knew where he was..........I would have fired a 18 incher that direction first chance.........."

His best friend, and companion nods in agreement. 'One thing for sure about Yamamoto though -Yamamoto will always be for Yamamoto." he spits over the side "A neat trick, sailing like that"

Flotsam -


There were, of course, a few Command "changes" this day.
54th div commander
54th NG commander
A few others
each one specially delivered via 22 mm cartridge case.