The little ship that could.
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
RE: The little ship that could.
+1 to British Exile's comment. 100 pages of pure excitement!
RE: The little ship that could.
Just registered to comment. (Gawd what a hassle)
This is hands down one of the best online stories I've read. And I've been doing this for a while. It's one of the first pages I check every morning. Keep it up!
This is hands down one of the best online stories I've read. And I've been doing this for a while. It's one of the first pages I check every morning. Keep it up!
RE: The little ship that could.
18/2/45
The enemy fleet approaches the gap between Eilanden and sarmi, approximately 300 miles south of Djangas
A single probe of Francis bombers die, but they die well, giving high command a good guess of the strength coming
300 odd hellcats on CAP!
High Command ponders.
And issues its orders
ATTACK!
The enemy fleet approaches the gap between Eilanden and sarmi, approximately 300 miles south of Djangas
A single probe of Francis bombers die, but they die well, giving high command a good guess of the strength coming
300 odd hellcats on CAP!
High Command ponders.
And issues its orders
ATTACK!
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
-
ny59giants
- Posts: 9902
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 12:02 pm
RE: The little ship that could.
Great reading to date. [&o]
But why no Corsairs on CAP??
But why no Corsairs on CAP??
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[/center]RE: The little ship that could.
Fighter number 237, designation N1K2, George to the allies, sits with its companions at Tacloban.
Right now it has a flat tyre, and ground crew are struggling to repair it.
Today, she is the only un available fighter in Ogowa's command.
Think about that.
Consider what this single eagle needs to fly.
Why not consider that flat tyre?. Remember, we went to war over the rubber that its made from. carted it to japan, processed it, turned it into a wheel, and then moved it, to here.
There are spares on the field........all six of them
Fuel sloshes in her wings.
Another thing we fight, and die for.
How much fuel on this fieldd?. how much needed for 100 plus eagles? How to store it?. how to hide it from roving recon planes?. How to get it to the birds, get it into the tanks?
How to avoid the tropical humidity, water, ruining it, (and in turn, ruining some poor pilots day in a horrible big way).
There are 4 trucks at Tacloban.
The rest, drums.
Manhandled drums.
In her wings, cannon.
And what of those shining brass casings of death?
Ever seen what these tropical climes does to ammunition?. It swells it, jamms it in breeches.it corrodes it.
And of course, like the fuel, we have to hide it, move it, load it.
Again, here, mostly, by hand
Her pilot will need oxygen. Minor miricles are being performed to provide that. plus Ogowa has absolute priority.many a plane in the phillipines will not be climbing high, so that his men can.
His eagles, this eagle, needs 13 different types of oils and greases, just to remain functional. Tins of grease for the control surfaces (use the wrong stuff, and it will literally freeze), grease for the guns, grease for the undercart, oils for the engine,...........
All has to be ordered, provided, used.
Are we beginning to gain a picture?
All this, for one bird. Ogowa has many
Then he has a Met, a small medical team, two intelligence officers, a photographer, parachute packers, armourers, 300 mechanics, cooks, radio operators, clerks.............
The george is a good plane
but a hanger queen
Today, Ogawa has them all. He is under no illusion. They are a wasting assett.
175 eagles.
Japan may never see the like again
Right now it has a flat tyre, and ground crew are struggling to repair it.
Today, she is the only un available fighter in Ogowa's command.
Think about that.
Consider what this single eagle needs to fly.
Why not consider that flat tyre?. Remember, we went to war over the rubber that its made from. carted it to japan, processed it, turned it into a wheel, and then moved it, to here.
There are spares on the field........all six of them
Fuel sloshes in her wings.
Another thing we fight, and die for.
How much fuel on this fieldd?. how much needed for 100 plus eagles? How to store it?. how to hide it from roving recon planes?. How to get it to the birds, get it into the tanks?
How to avoid the tropical humidity, water, ruining it, (and in turn, ruining some poor pilots day in a horrible big way).
There are 4 trucks at Tacloban.
The rest, drums.
Manhandled drums.
In her wings, cannon.
And what of those shining brass casings of death?
Ever seen what these tropical climes does to ammunition?. It swells it, jamms it in breeches.it corrodes it.
And of course, like the fuel, we have to hide it, move it, load it.
Again, here, mostly, by hand
Her pilot will need oxygen. Minor miricles are being performed to provide that. plus Ogowa has absolute priority.many a plane in the phillipines will not be climbing high, so that his men can.
His eagles, this eagle, needs 13 different types of oils and greases, just to remain functional. Tins of grease for the control surfaces (use the wrong stuff, and it will literally freeze), grease for the guns, grease for the undercart, oils for the engine,...........
All has to be ordered, provided, used.
Are we beginning to gain a picture?
All this, for one bird. Ogowa has many
Then he has a Met, a small medical team, two intelligence officers, a photographer, parachute packers, armourers, 300 mechanics, cooks, radio operators, clerks.............
The george is a good plane
but a hanger queen
Today, Ogawa has them all. He is under no illusion. They are a wasting assett.
175 eagles.
Japan may never see the like again
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Ogowa recieves the message
He nods, moves through the crowded threadbare tent to the typewriter.
he will type the order himself
"The enemy approach. All fighters will sweep Djangas, 0700 hours tomorrow. Take off, 0530 hours"
he leans back, contemplates his order
grins
Combat sweep.
battle
"Its been too long my friend, too long"
As he pulls the paper from the writer, moves to the notice board " All commanders, briefing tent, 10 minutes" he barks, a thought passes through his mind, and a detirmination fills him. Diogowa has 7 kills now, rolls of fat and all. He has but five.
Time to rectify that score..
He nods, moves through the crowded threadbare tent to the typewriter.
he will type the order himself
"The enemy approach. All fighters will sweep Djangas, 0700 hours tomorrow. Take off, 0530 hours"
he leans back, contemplates his order
grins
Combat sweep.
battle
"Its been too long my friend, too long"
As he pulls the paper from the writer, moves to the notice board " All commanders, briefing tent, 10 minutes" he barks, a thought passes through his mind, and a detirmination fills him. Diogowa has 7 kills now, rolls of fat and all. He has but five.
Time to rectify that score..
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Chiburi limps into manilla harbour, comes alongside.
There are, of course, no spares
Some available in Japan, none here.
She must remain, it seems, until a convoy arrives. If, of course, one ever does.
There are, of course, no spares
Some available in Japan, none here.
She must remain, it seems, until a convoy arrives. If, of course, one ever does.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
100 Miles south of Naga
Hosho cannot sleep.
Not surprising, considering the sweltering conditions in what is laughingly called the accomadation area of the AK Kosin Maru.
He gives up.
Stiffly he climbs from his bunk, borrows a smoke, and squeezes his way to the upper deck.
There is not much more room up there, men lie scattered over every square inch of deck, sleeping under the stars, but far cooler for it.
Hosho reaches for his lighter
"You!.no smoking on the upper deck!"
He glares at the admonishing sailor, and reluctantly puts it away. The night is dark, he waits for eyes to adjust further, seeking the other ships of the convoy.
He is a good soldier, is Hosho. Not sailor material though. He stares directly at the periscope, and never sees it.
Nor the torpedo for that matter.
But there is no missing the deadly crump of its arrival into the Kosin maru's guts.
Hosho cannot sleep.
Not surprising, considering the sweltering conditions in what is laughingly called the accomadation area of the AK Kosin Maru.
He gives up.
Stiffly he climbs from his bunk, borrows a smoke, and squeezes his way to the upper deck.
There is not much more room up there, men lie scattered over every square inch of deck, sleeping under the stars, but far cooler for it.
Hosho reaches for his lighter
"You!.no smoking on the upper deck!"
He glares at the admonishing sailor, and reluctantly puts it away. The night is dark, he waits for eyes to adjust further, seeking the other ships of the convoy.
He is a good soldier, is Hosho. Not sailor material though. He stares directly at the periscope, and never sees it.
Nor the torpedo for that matter.
But there is no missing the deadly crump of its arrival into the Kosin maru's guts.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
-
british exil
- Posts: 1686
- Joined: Thu May 04, 2006 6:26 pm
- Location: Lower Saxony Germany
RE: The little ship that could.
Nooooo! Hosho will survive I hope, due to his being on deck. But a huge loss to the empire.
Mat
Mat
"It is not enough to expect a man to pay for the best, you must also give him what he pays for." Alfred Dunhill
WitE,UV,AT,ATG,FoF,FPCRS
WitE,UV,AT,ATG,FoF,FPCRS
RE: The little ship that could.
18/2/45
As if the devil himself was stoking the furnace of war, the taps are opened, and men, machines, and hope, roar into its flaming hell, consumed.............
As dawn breaks (0430 hours) 200 miles south of Djangas, rear Admiral Sherman of the Hornet 2, watches the first of his fighters climb into the grey sodden clouds, ready to fly combat patrols over the invasion beaches to the North.
It has been a long, but quiet night
The invasion fleet remains to his east, 40 miles away, only now making for the target beaches. There have been too many reports of Japanese ships to the north to risk it, the last thing they need, now, is a night surface engagement.
40 miles to his south West, the bombardment battlewagons too, are now steaming north
The word,from Fletcher, is go. (and how in the hell did Mr caution himself get promoted to the top job/)
They will.
(By bloody well not getting killed, like so many others already had)
Not that he is happy about it. Whatever happens, this is sure to be a costly day.
His stomach growls, a reminder of a long night awake, of a breakfast missed.
He won't get it.
"bridge, radar!"
"bridge"
'Surface contact, bearing 270 degrees true, range, 35000 yards, closing!"
"Due west?, not north?"
"Can you confirm that radar...........Captain, signalthe Reno, she's nearest , to investigate"
Sherman raises his glasses...........pointless, the horizon is dark, rain covered, shrouded
But sherman is no fool "Comms, signal all ships, expediate launching, and contact the big boy, these bloody japs are too goddam sneaky .........."
he glances around, Lexington 2 is only just commencing, Wasp 2, still not even started, bataan yet to even finish spotting.
5 destroyers only, and the CLAA Reno, between him, and whatever is behind that curtain
he raises his glasses again.'radar.any clarification?"
'No sir, the rain is hiding the contact"
'Bridge!, Reno signals.........'Am in contact, single "e" class patro vessel.am engaging"
The atmosphere, tense as bow string, relaxes slightly
Shermnan watches the light cruiser vanish into the mist, 25000 yards away, a small blur.........."
A single 'E class.............undoubtably put there to confuse the picture.
he turns to the matters in hand, todays plan. "Any further word on the enemy group captain?"
he flight operations chief smiles...........300 plus CAP, and growing sir...........enemy may be east of leyte gulf, our bombers are hitting the target, moderate numbers of japanese over head"
'So, they remain in there holes?"
'that they do............they must attack us though"
Sherman keeps his thought on that to himself..............even a blind man could see that it was them that had to attack.........would any carrier man fling himself at a fighter thick CAP like they right now were launching?.
Damn Fletcher and his caution, damn this almost pathological fear of the mystical japanese carrier forces......
To himself, quietly, he growls......."why the hell are we not rampaging about....attacking him?"
'Sir!, reno signalling!"
Sherman turns, seks the ship.............there, coming out of the rain, guns trained aft, no firing aft.steaming hard...........shell splashes all about her"
'Signal reads ..................."INJUNS!"
At 25000 yards, bursting from the mist, at 35 knots...........Chokia, 9 Akisuki class DDs
.
The furnace roars.
As if the devil himself was stoking the furnace of war, the taps are opened, and men, machines, and hope, roar into its flaming hell, consumed.............
As dawn breaks (0430 hours) 200 miles south of Djangas, rear Admiral Sherman of the Hornet 2, watches the first of his fighters climb into the grey sodden clouds, ready to fly combat patrols over the invasion beaches to the North.
It has been a long, but quiet night
The invasion fleet remains to his east, 40 miles away, only now making for the target beaches. There have been too many reports of Japanese ships to the north to risk it, the last thing they need, now, is a night surface engagement.
40 miles to his south West, the bombardment battlewagons too, are now steaming north
The word,from Fletcher, is go. (and how in the hell did Mr caution himself get promoted to the top job/)
They will.
(By bloody well not getting killed, like so many others already had)
Not that he is happy about it. Whatever happens, this is sure to be a costly day.
His stomach growls, a reminder of a long night awake, of a breakfast missed.
He won't get it.
"bridge, radar!"
"bridge"
'Surface contact, bearing 270 degrees true, range, 35000 yards, closing!"
"Due west?, not north?"
"Can you confirm that radar...........Captain, signalthe Reno, she's nearest , to investigate"
Sherman raises his glasses...........pointless, the horizon is dark, rain covered, shrouded
But sherman is no fool "Comms, signal all ships, expediate launching, and contact the big boy, these bloody japs are too goddam sneaky .........."
he glances around, Lexington 2 is only just commencing, Wasp 2, still not even started, bataan yet to even finish spotting.
5 destroyers only, and the CLAA Reno, between him, and whatever is behind that curtain
he raises his glasses again.'radar.any clarification?"
'No sir, the rain is hiding the contact"
'Bridge!, Reno signals.........'Am in contact, single "e" class patro vessel.am engaging"
The atmosphere, tense as bow string, relaxes slightly
Shermnan watches the light cruiser vanish into the mist, 25000 yards away, a small blur.........."
A single 'E class.............undoubtably put there to confuse the picture.
he turns to the matters in hand, todays plan. "Any further word on the enemy group captain?"
he flight operations chief smiles...........300 plus CAP, and growing sir...........enemy may be east of leyte gulf, our bombers are hitting the target, moderate numbers of japanese over head"
'So, they remain in there holes?"
'that they do............they must attack us though"
Sherman keeps his thought on that to himself..............even a blind man could see that it was them that had to attack.........would any carrier man fling himself at a fighter thick CAP like they right now were launching?.
Damn Fletcher and his caution, damn this almost pathological fear of the mystical japanese carrier forces......
To himself, quietly, he growls......."why the hell are we not rampaging about....attacking him?"
'Sir!, reno signalling!"
Sherman turns, seks the ship.............there, coming out of the rain, guns trained aft, no firing aft.steaming hard...........shell splashes all about her"
'Signal reads ..................."INJUNS!"
At 25000 yards, bursting from the mist, at 35 knots...........Chokia, 9 Akisuki class DDs
.
The furnace roars.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
The hammering at the door is loud, insistant
Cautiously Mioko opens it, peers around the corner.
two men stand at the door, for a moment she is confused by the kempati uniform, her neighbors husband is not due home............
the confusion passes swiftly to fear...........the fish, the boat maybe?"
'is this the home of Uzawa?"
Now the fear doubles, freezing the viens..............after all these years, is this the dreaded moment of the black borderd telegram?
"is he home?"
Who is it?" Uzuwa calls, ambling into the room. he turns pale at the faces in the door
"the first kempati stiffens, holds out a telegram " Mr Uzuwa.........your call up papers, 165th division is being assembled, you are to report for duty at the post office tomorrow, 0800 hours"
The men leave, leaving three figures, two pregnant, the other old, staring at the form.
Disaster.
Cautiously Mioko opens it, peers around the corner.
two men stand at the door, for a moment she is confused by the kempati uniform, her neighbors husband is not due home............
the confusion passes swiftly to fear...........the fish, the boat maybe?"
'is this the home of Uzawa?"
Now the fear doubles, freezing the viens..............after all these years, is this the dreaded moment of the black borderd telegram?
"is he home?"
Who is it?" Uzuwa calls, ambling into the room. he turns pale at the faces in the door
"the first kempati stiffens, holds out a telegram " Mr Uzuwa.........your call up papers, 165th division is being assembled, you are to report for duty at the post office tomorrow, 0800 hours"
The men leave, leaving three figures, two pregnant, the other old, staring at the form.
Disaster.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Hosho does survive
The Kosin maru is a large vessel, the hit well forward. She settles slowly, on an even keel. She may have even been saveable, but nobody tries, it is to the boats, or the destroyer that risks much to come alongside.
Hosho does not even get wet. The ship sinks, taking gear, but no lives , with it.
55th Division, minus some guns, will continue steaming south.
The furnace roars.
The Kosin maru is a large vessel, the hit well forward. She settles slowly, on an even keel. She may have even been saveable, but nobody tries, it is to the boats, or the destroyer that risks much to come alongside.
Hosho does not even get wet. The ship sinks, taking gear, but no lives , with it.
55th Division, minus some guns, will continue steaming south.
The furnace roars.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
'Starboard 30!, full ahead flank!", cease flight deck operations, guns, prepare for action port!"
Lexington 2 heels, her funnel belches.
Sherman stares at the horizon from the tower.........see's Reno take a hit, see's Chokia erupting in fire.guns.
An air of unreality siezes him. below, on the flight deck, men move almost unhurridly, securing the birds, securing the fuelling system
many have actually paused, stare at the vague shapes on the horizon, the columns of smoke, the vague splashes.
One man, he see's is even carefully taking photos.
And then, over his head, the screaming shriek of artillery. The ocean erupts to his starboard, then to his port.
Straddled...............
"Port ten!"
Nobody is moving unhurridly now.
Lexington 2 heels, her funnel belches.
Sherman stares at the horizon from the tower.........see's Reno take a hit, see's Chokia erupting in fire.guns.
An air of unreality siezes him. below, on the flight deck, men move almost unhurridly, securing the birds, securing the fuelling system
many have actually paused, stare at the vague shapes on the horizon, the columns of smoke, the vague splashes.
One man, he see's is even carefully taking photos.
And then, over his head, the screaming shriek of artillery. The ocean erupts to his starboard, then to his port.
Straddled...............
"Port ten!"
Nobody is moving unhurridly now.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
History shall call it the sprint
Sherman has no choice but to run hard east, as fast as his legs can carry him.
The essex class are quick, but today, not quick enough.
Agonisingly slowly, the Japanese, especially the destroyers, gain.
The allied DDs trail the carriers, wildly gyrating, laying smoke, firing back
For 30 minutes, nobody is hit, the carriers dance through a forest of shell splashes.
But they hit back
At 17000 yards, DD Yoizuki falls away, burning.
At 12000 yards, 2 allied DDs are hit, but fight on.
Reno, chokia engage in a private duel, and miss
At 10000 yards, Sherman swears loudly on his bridge, a single expletive, one of rage and frustration. he has been hit 6 times now, 3 carriers hit......slightly damaged so far, but for how much longer can his luck last?
He swears, and brings his carriers about.
They are fitted for AA defence, these banks of 5 inch AA guns, but 3 carriers carry 12 of them each...........
In minutes, 5 japanese DDs are burning.............and turning away.
Rain falls, covers Sherman, and his guns fall silent
INJUNS!, the reno cried.
Now, as Sherman pulls what many calls the manouvre of the war, the cavalry arrives.
Sherman has no choice but to run hard east, as fast as his legs can carry him.
The essex class are quick, but today, not quick enough.
Agonisingly slowly, the Japanese, especially the destroyers, gain.
The allied DDs trail the carriers, wildly gyrating, laying smoke, firing back
For 30 minutes, nobody is hit, the carriers dance through a forest of shell splashes.
But they hit back
At 17000 yards, DD Yoizuki falls away, burning.
At 12000 yards, 2 allied DDs are hit, but fight on.
Reno, chokia engage in a private duel, and miss
At 10000 yards, Sherman swears loudly on his bridge, a single expletive, one of rage and frustration. he has been hit 6 times now, 3 carriers hit......slightly damaged so far, but for how much longer can his luck last?
He swears, and brings his carriers about.
They are fitted for AA defence, these banks of 5 inch AA guns, but 3 carriers carry 12 of them each...........
In minutes, 5 japanese DDs are burning.............and turning away.
Rain falls, covers Sherman, and his guns fall silent
INJUNS!, the reno cried.
Now, as Sherman pulls what many calls the manouvre of the war, the cavalry arrives.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Hornet one hit
bataan one hit
Lex 2, 3 hits
wasp2 1 hit
Reno, 6 hits
all 4 DD a single hit each
The entire Japanes task force has taken damage............
The furnace moves to full
bataan one hit
Lex 2, 3 hits
wasp2 1 hit
Reno, 6 hits
all 4 DD a single hit each
The entire Japanes task force has taken damage............
The furnace moves to full
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
New Mexico
Nevada
Arizona
Idaho
Arakanas
Designated bombardment task force
But still battleships . And battleships, those maligned beasts, are designed to do but one thing.
Kill other ships
Chokia' and her destroyers pass across the battle lines flank at 18000 yards
And the battle line thunders...........
The action , if you could call it that, lasts a mere 18 minutes.
Only one destroyer escapes.
The furnace flares white hot now, fuelled on the carcass of the Japanese Navy.
Nevada
Arizona
Idaho
Arakanas
Designated bombardment task force
But still battleships . And battleships, those maligned beasts, are designed to do but one thing.
Kill other ships
Chokia' and her destroyers pass across the battle lines flank at 18000 yards
And the battle line thunders...........
The action , if you could call it that, lasts a mere 18 minutes.
Only one destroyer escapes.
The furnace flares white hot now, fuelled on the carcass of the Japanese Navy.
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
Abe reads the message from Tenuzuki.
So many ships................so many men
I must be hard. I must be.
In the dark..........seek what light you can
The enemy battle wagons, they have expended their ammunition..........
I am still in this fight. Still in it.
I must be hard.
"Captain!, set course, due south, battle speed two!. Signal all ships, signal all commands, execute battle plan as ordered!"
Zuikakua begins to vibrate.
Behind, Tanaka peels off, he will make for Jolo island, attack from the West.
Nagato powers ahead
Fuso will try as well.
And his hammer, Yamato, Musashi, follow
. The enemy are sailing North, Djangas the target.
All or nothing
May the gods of war, may Mars smile upon us
BANZIA!
So many ships................so many men
I must be hard. I must be.
In the dark..........seek what light you can
The enemy battle wagons, they have expended their ammunition..........
I am still in this fight. Still in it.
I must be hard.
"Captain!, set course, due south, battle speed two!. Signal all ships, signal all commands, execute battle plan as ordered!"
Zuikakua begins to vibrate.
Behind, Tanaka peels off, he will make for Jolo island, attack from the West.
Nagato powers ahead
Fuso will try as well.
And his hammer, Yamato, Musashi, follow
. The enemy are sailing North, Djangas the target.
All or nothing
May the gods of war, may Mars smile upon us
BANZIA!
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt
RE: The little ship that could.
20/2/45
Imperial HQ
Yamamato is in his office, a small room to the side of the main Map room.
He conteplates the Chess board, White to win in three.
He is black.
A horrible anology?, no?
But truth nevertheless.
Suddenly, through the glass of his office, a disturbance in the main room.
Officers springing to attention, the hum falling silent.
The door opens
Yamamato stands
'Your Highness!"
The emperor nods, closes the door, sits opposite Yamamato..........'Sit please Admiral.........." he points to the board 'White in three I see"
"yes"
The emperor is here, here at HQ..............impossible, un heard of.............but hear he sits...............
'I hear, that there is a battle underway..........."
"That is true..............it will be the last, I think"
The Emperor nods. 'I appreciate the honesty...............and the fleet?"
"is dying for you, for Japan"
'And this does not make you bitter?"
"Bitter?, how can duty make one bitter?"
The emperor takes the white queen from the board. 'This war must end...............and we must consider ..........consider the after"
'Sir?!"
The emperor smiles............'Relax Yamamato, I am not talking surrender.............but I need a symbol to rally Japan around after the war. I need a symbol to hang our hope upon in the bitter months ahead"
'I do not follow you"
The emperor stands, his voice, so often soft, becomes suddenly hard, commanding utter obedience
Battleships Yamato, Musashi are not to be risked. Return them to Japan at once"
Imperial HQ
Yamamato is in his office, a small room to the side of the main Map room.
He conteplates the Chess board, White to win in three.
He is black.
A horrible anology?, no?
But truth nevertheless.
Suddenly, through the glass of his office, a disturbance in the main room.
Officers springing to attention, the hum falling silent.
The door opens
Yamamato stands
'Your Highness!"
The emperor nods, closes the door, sits opposite Yamamato..........'Sit please Admiral.........." he points to the board 'White in three I see"
"yes"
The emperor is here, here at HQ..............impossible, un heard of.............but hear he sits...............
'I hear, that there is a battle underway..........."
"That is true..............it will be the last, I think"
The Emperor nods. 'I appreciate the honesty...............and the fleet?"
"is dying for you, for Japan"
'And this does not make you bitter?"
"Bitter?, how can duty make one bitter?"
The emperor takes the white queen from the board. 'This war must end...............and we must consider ..........consider the after"
'Sir?!"
The emperor smiles............'Relax Yamamato, I am not talking surrender.............but I need a symbol to rally Japan around after the war. I need a symbol to hang our hope upon in the bitter months ahead"
'I do not follow you"
The emperor stands, his voice, so often soft, becomes suddenly hard, commanding utter obedience
Battleships Yamato, Musashi are not to be risked. Return them to Japan at once"
big seas, fast ships, life tastes better with salt