Flashman and the Yellow Peril

[Roger Neilson II]

Flashy looked at the paper on his ‘desk’ of upturned tea chests and a door. There were two sheets of paper there….

Sheet 1, probably should have been labelled PRIVATE and UTTERLY Confidential.

Side 1. Reasons for Darwin being a good place to be……..
The sheet was empty apart from the title.

Flipping it over . Reasons for Darwin being not a good place to be……..
1. Too close to the enemy
2. Too hot
3. Too wet
4. No decent bars
5. Full of Australians
6. Full of Australian troops and ships – therefore a magnet for the Japanese to attack
7. Full of nasty tropical diseases
8. Full of nastier insects, vermin and other life forms dedicated to killing Flashy in particular.
9. Very few women, and the ones that were around built like …….
10. No decent way out to civilisation
11. No HQ run by a ‘chinless wonder’ who could be impressed by the ‘baloney baffles brains’ approach.
12. Sleeping in a hammock

Flashy shuddered, that list was getting very close to number 13…… not at all auspicious.
He turned to read sheet 2. Intel summary for what had been going on whilst he was ‘in transit’.

Japs had not made any moves north of Tavoy and Raheng – maybe he should have gone for Burma after all when he left Teloetbetoeng? Hordes of the screaming devils battering against Singapore and getting nowhere. Little action in DEI or Philippines though a TF has arrived off Christmas island in the Indian Ocean and Flashy imagined the garrison there writing their wills. Things seemed very quiet, ominously quiet really.


In some respects Flashy was happy with that, but not everyone seemed to share his philosophy. The Allies seemed to have adopted a somewhat piratical approach of hit and run. Patrol boats based ‘somewhere’ had raced out of the night and twice now shot up shipping at Brunei, getting away with only some scratched paint both times, and the captain of the Boise had sneaked up on a Japanese transport task force as it was disembarking troops to invade Amboina and shot them up pretty well. Flashy reflected that the Boise at Amboina was a little too close to Darwin – and maybe was stirring up a hornet’s nest?

[Roger Neilson II]

BGen Fraser glanced up with his usual perpetually worried expression as Flashy entered the office and gave a smart salute.
‘Major, worrying times indeed eh what, worrying times?’
‘Sir?’
‘Ah I assume you have not heard, thought you must have by now, this office leaks like a sieve. Percival has just given up Singapore.’
Well, well Flashy thought to himself, he would credit Percival with any craziness, he’d pulled a few fast ones over him back at Singers and the man was hardly a shining example of the British Officer Class. On the other hand the men there, for all they were not the ‘sort’ you would choose to associate with, had seemed eminently capable of holding the strongest fortifications this side of the globe…. Flashy felt that maybe, just maybe he’d underestimated the little yellow fellers, and frankly he wasn’t, by the look of it, the only one.
‘I can see by your face you are troubled by this news Flashman, I gather you were stationed there and there may be many of your friends now under the control of the enemy. Have no fear, the Jap is honourable, bound by a code of behaviour. ‘
‘Sir, I am sure you are right’
‘Anyway, to business. Your speciality seems to be organisation and supplies. I need you to sort this shambles out and prepare for the onslaught of the enemy. Use every means at your disposal to acquire the materials to make this area a strongpoint. I am appointing you in command of the MAF Aviation, you will relieve Major Bufton immediately.
‘Sir, the MAF, they were lost at Singapore were they not?’
‘Most were, it is true, but a cadre shipped out and arrived here last night. They are tired, morale low, and of course lacking in experience. However your superb leadership, and care for the men will shine through and they will quickly recover led by a man of your fine status.’
‘Sir, you do me an honour, I will not let you down. May I be permitted to leave and visit them?
‘Of course, Flashman, deuced good to see such eagerness. Off you go, off you go.’
A plan was already forming in Flashy’s brain………

[Capt. Harlock]

ORIGINAL: Roger Neilson II

Hordes of the screaming devils battering against Singapore and getting nowhere. Little action in DEI or Philippines though a TF has arrived off Christmas island in the Indian Ocean and Flashy imagined the garrison there writing their wills. Things seemed very quiet, ominously quiet really.

That quiet didn't last for long! What was the date of Singers' surrender in this game?

[Roger Neilson II]

Rumour has it it was the 30th January....

[sprior]

It's amazing what you can do with that word, "sir".

[Roger Neilson II]

'B****r,' thought Flashman, and 'b*****r' again to add emphasis.
He'd just returned from his wander though the base area, clipboard in hand. Always a good idea to wander with a clipboard - looked like you were being official as opposed to just passing the time. Right flaming spanner in the works now he reckoned. Some yank Top Brass now in situ, biggest house in Darwin taken over, and the whole place taking on a different atmosphere. He hadn't had the 'pleasure' of an interview with the new man at the top, but rumour had it that Adm Hart was a careful and meticulous officer, pretty skilled in Naval affairs, and ran a 'tight ship'. From the look of it the Allies were beginning to establish more than just some order out of chaos. Darwin looked to be growing every day in facilities, in strength and in a purposeful air. This was decidedly not to Flashy's liking - the more chaos, the more confusion, the more opportunities for him to pull some strokes. He did smile though, CinC of the Asiatic Fleet based in Darwin..... shows how far the little yellow men had pushed and pushed.

Still, in the week or so since his appointment to command the remnants of the MAF things had gone well. He'd discovered who was who, and who wanted to behave properly, and who was not averse to bending a few rules..... and Base Fag had been established.... the location of which was known to a few of Flashy's most trusted (difficult to apply that word to them really) men. The base was enough off the beaten track to be not likely to be found by an enemy - or friend for that matter. BGen Fraser had been told, for his own good, he should not, at this stage know its location. 'Need to know basis and all that'. There were lots of supplies there, a couple of fast boats, and of course Flashy's own Recce Catalina - Officer 's escape for the use of! For all Flashy was not addicted to work he always read anything before he signed it, unlike Fraser who tended to scrawl on any paper put in front of him.

And so far, no worries on the Jap front. Apart from some bombing of Moulmein (abandoned anyway) and a landing at Merak in North Java (unopposed)and the KB appearing off Noumea and sinking anything that was afloat it had all been pretty uneventful.

[Mike Scholl]

Roger. Certainly hope you can keep this going. In the absense of the original author, it's about as close to a new "Flashman Fix" as one can get. Good Show!

[Roger Neilson II]

I will do my best, thanks for the kind words.....

[Roger Neilson II]

Flashy sat indolently at his desk, scanning the latest briefing. It was, how could you put it, brief. The more Flashy looked at it the happier he felt inside. It was the first time in quite a while he felt really at ease.

What was that American expression - zippo, that was it. 'Zippo' was happening, well apart from the Jap carriers steaming round Noumea giving a sense of headless chickens. Flashy was no military genius, indeed he'd gone out of his way to ensure no-one ever thought he was - a useful backroom boy was his forte. But really, given the total bloody shambles of the allies it appeared the Japs had taken a holiday - or were so b****y surprised by their own success that they were sitting back admiring their cleverness.

Ok suits Flashy he thought...... long may it last.

[Capt. Harlock]

ORIGINAL: Roger Neilson II


Ok suits Flashy he thought...... long may it last.

I wouldn't count on it . . . Flashy's best chance is for the Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere to head north to India instead of south. (Any news from the Phillipines?)

Incidentally, nice use of British expressions in describing Flashy's thought processes.[:D]

[bradfordkay]

" Incidentally, nice use of British expressions in describing Flashy's thought processes."

I suppose that comes naturally to Roger, being a brit himself... [:'(]

[Roger Neilson II]

As we inhabit parallel universes, that of the WITP beings and that of real life there has been a call back to real life of the enemy to do things called exams that have put slight brake on progress...... this is now remedied and the WITP universe has resumed.

[Roger Neilson II]

Flashy reclined in his bed, the mosquito net overhead looked yellow and uninspiring. As regards his own immediate surroundings things had changed little. He thought for a few minutes, then concluded 'America' that was the place to be. Land of the brave, home of the free.... far enough away from the nasty Nazis, and equally far enough away from the nasty nips.

Yes, America was the place to sit out the war..... but how was our brave hero going to get there?

Increasingly it looked like Darwin was going to be, how was it put, between the rock and the hard place. The Dutchies had made a right ***** of it at Batavia, been chucked out in short order and were now scurrying through Java as if the devil was in pursuit of them - which in a sense he was. They had not realised of course that eventually they couldn't run any further and on present form it did not look long before the Japs had control of what they had obviously gone after by starting the war.

At the same time the big Jap carriers had sailed right up to the NE coast of Oz and proceeded to work over anything there that moved or attempted to fly or sail...... Things were looking decidedly dicey. Flashy was looking at Darwin being the filling in the middle of a huge sandwich...... which would eventually be gobbled up.

So, Flashy had to make himself essential to the wider war effort, and trade on his skills, attributes and low cunning to get a posting as far away from here as possible. Perhaps it was time to present his credentials to Admiral Hart?

[Roger Neilson II]

Just to let you know the game continues, but has been halted due to holidays and other events. Expect an update soon.

Roger

[khyberbill]

I for one will hope you return soon. I was wondering what I would do since George McDonald Fraser went to his great reward.
Thanks

[Roger Neilson II]

14th March 1942

Flashy found Koepang a little more to his liking than Darwin in that there were fewer other people around, but that was the sum total of his enjoyment of his new , and he hoped temporary, posting. He was certainly closer to the front line, but the beach was less crowded and apart from the Dutchies he was looking after, the place was quite peaceful.

He gazed towards the runway to the south, where another Dutch plane was limping in, probably running on fumes now. Recent orders had been sent to remove as many serviceable planes from Soerabaja and rebase them further south – which meant Australia effectively. Many of the short legged planes could just about get to Koepang so they dropped (sometimes literally) onto the landing strip, and those that were able to then refuelled and headed to Darwin and pastures new. HQ reckoned their pilots probably needed a bit of a respite and some R&R, and frankly they were probably not much use anyway compared to the shiny new Yank stuff that was appearing all over the place.

Flashy had had his chat with a staffer from Adm Hart’s HQ – but it hadn’t quite gone his way. The Commander had decided that his talents for liaison with the Dutch meant he was the ideal person to link the Dutch and allied efforts at Koepang, so off he hopped on a Flying Boat to sort stuff and here he was……

No sign of the nasties at present, they were apparently keen on finishing off the Dutch where now only Soerabaja stood flying the Dutch flag on Java. Elsewhere Manila still stood untouched, and Rangoon seemed to be the furthest incursion towards India.

Where the big bad Jap ‘flattops’ (as the Yanks called them) were was anyone’s guess.

What could be described as a ‘lull’ was how most of the Pacific War could be labelled at present – but Flashy knew the old adage…….

[Capt. Harlock]

HQ reckoned their pilots probably needed a bit of a respite and some R&R, and frankly they were probably not much use anyway compared to the shiny new Yank stuff that was appearing all over the place.

Flashy had had his chat with a staffer from Adm Hart’s HQ – but it hadn’t quite gone his way. The Commander had decided that his talents for liaison with the Dutch meant he was the ideal person to link the Dutch and allied efforts at Koepang, so off he hopped on a Flying Boat to sort stuff and here he was……

No sign of the nasties at present, they were apparently keen on finishing off the Dutch where now only Soerabaja stood flying the Dutch flag on Java. Elsewhere Manila still stood untouched, and Rangoon seemed to be the furthest incursion towards India.

Our boy should haver gone north instead of south. But methinks it's only a matter of time until it occurs to someone in Tokyo that all those supplies going along the Burma Road might make the job in China a bit more difficult.

Is some of that fancy new Yank hardware of the P-40 persuasion?

[Roger Neilson II]

Ah I'm afraid that Flashy cultivates a total lack of interest in anything that doesn't allow him to be a passenger, and to proceed to quieter locations at speed. Anything else is just noisy and a possible reason for the Japs to come a calling.

Roger

[Roger Neilson II]

21st March 1942

Flashy clambered out of the Coronado and mounted the jetty. Looking round Darwin hadn’t changed that much since he last saw it. A few more bombed out buildings, and few more ships with holes in and the odd fire smoldering a little.

Chatting to the crew on his journey from Koepang he gathered that the big bad Jap flattops had appeared not far from a place called Baker Island and had sunk the odd American ship there or thereabouts, He also gathered that there was a range of landings taking place on islands south of Rabaul. Flashy assumed that the Emperor had decided that it was time to cut him off from his route to America, land of the free, and the ability to be anywhere miles away from the sea!

He strolled through the town, in no great hurry to report for more ‘orders’ and also wanting to check with his own little private army that all was still well.
Rounding a corner he halted, blinked, and then moved at unaccustomed speed (well that normally only used when a young lady is in need or her husband has reappeared), burst through the doors of his MAF HQ to find the place deserted.

……………………………………….

An hour later he sat, glass of scotch in hand and ruminated as he gazed about his old haunt. Deserted now as in his absence the unit had been packed off on a long journey to their new base at Townsville. Shame, he’d got quite fond of some of the reprobates in the unit, men after his own heart, even fonder of the stash of goods that they had amassed – also gone with them or traded to others and the proceeds converted in to more easily transportable funds. Looks like he had to pop along to HQ and get his chit to follow his men – strictly for the morale of the unit of course – thoughts of confronting the robbing b********* never entered his mind.

[Roger Neilson II]

Flashy sat staring at his drink and musing. Around him there were wild scenes of enjoyment. He didn’t share their glee.

As far as Flashy was concerned the last thin you did was poke a wasp’s nest with a stick. However, for what looked like the first major Allied success for a long time the rest of the drinkers in the bar were acting close to how they might if, and if ever, this beastly war ended. On the other hand, Flashy did have a tinge of pleasure that the yellow b*******ds had been given a bloody nose. They were the ones who started this, and they had, seemingly chased him thousands of miles from what had been a cushy little job, with significant prospects.

He also thought it ironic, that in the exultation there was a convenient forgetting of the recent decimation of a greater number of ships at Baker Island when the Jap flattops came a calling. However they were, according to reports heading away now and the exploits of CL Perth were being celebrated.

Apparently the Jap had been sneaking small task forces down the chain of islands south of Rabaul and the allies had sent the Perth out for a little trapping. She had sat off Tulagi and, unspotted by Jap air, had in turn spotted the approach of a TF of two Jap destroyers escorting five troopships. As the enemy rounded the cape with the destroyers in the lead they had been clobbered by well aimed shots from the Perth’s superior guns, both had been crippled, and one had turned over and sunk, while the other had been hit by one of Perth’s torpedoes. With no escorts, two of the transports had been badly damaged, possibly sunk, and another hit also. Perth’s Walrus had reported only two steaming NW the next morning.

Flashy’s view was that in the near future they would be back, with some grown up surface forces and the Perth had better not still be there!