Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki

[mdiehl]

Hibiki could take Glaurung or Ancalagon ANY day! [;)]

[Cuttlefish]

May 20, 1944

Location: Osaka
Course: Docked
Attached to: TF 23
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 1
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 459

Orders: Await further orders

---

The woman waiting on the pier is tall and striking. She is wearing a simple western-style dress and shoes. The only sign of elegant adornment about her is a colorful lacquer barrette holding back her long mane of glossy black hair. At the moment she is shielding her eyes from the sun and straining up on tip-toe to get a better look at the approaching small boat.

As she settles back she notices that a man has come down the pier and is standing beside her. He is also watching the approaching boat, though with considerably more patience. A fit man in perhaps his middle forties, he wears a neatly pressed navy uniform. His shoulder tabs show a thin stripe between two wider ones, all under a single star. He is clearly an officer, though the woman does not know how to interpret the insignia.

The officer notices her glance and turns to face her. “Are you waiting for someone from Hibiki?” he inquires politely.

She smiles. “Yes, my husband, Petty Officer Takahashi.”

The officer smiles in turn as he looks at her. “That young man continues to impress me. I am very pleased to meet you, Mrs. Takahashi. My name is Ishii.”

“It is good to meet you…” she begins, and then her eyes widen. “Ishii? Oh, you are the captain!”

Captain Ishii bows slightly. “I have that honor.”

“I am sorry I did not recognize you,” she says. She recovers some of her composure and just the hint of a smile appears at the corners of her mouth. “It is just that you are not seven feet tall and breathing fire.”

Ishii stares at her for a moment and then bursts out laughing. “I see,” he says after a moment. “Mr. Takahashi has been revealing my secrets. I shall have to remember to have him put in irons.”

“Yes, Captain,” says Sayumi seriously. “But if I may make a request, please do it after tonight.”

This time Ishii practically chokes. He finally recovers and gives her another small bow. “How can I refuse a woman who speaks her mind so plainly? It shall be as you ask.”

“Thank you, Captain Ishii,” Sayumi says.

The boat ties up below the pier. Several men from Hibiki come up the gangway. They are led by Taiki, who looks around eagerly and then comes striding on his long legs towards his wife. He comes up short when he belatedly spots the captain standing next to her. Immediately he comes to attention and salutes.

Ishii returns the salute. “Hello, Takahashi,” he says. “I have just had the honor of meeting your wife. Allow me to extend my congratulations to you both on your recent wedding.” Both Takahashis murmur their thanks. Ishii glances sideways at Sayumi. “And if I may say so, Petty Officer, I have always known you were a brave man but even so my opinion of your courage has just risen considerably.”

Taiki glances at his wife, who smiles serenely. “Oh dear,” he mutters. “Thank you, sir,” he says more loudly.

“Not at all,” says Ishii. “And now I will leave you to enjoy your reunion in peace. Good day.” He moves off to talk to Ensign Izu, who has just come up the gangway. Sayumi steps forward and smiles a delightful smile as she takes both of Taiki’s hands in hers.

“Hello, sailor,” she says.

[Cuttlefish]

May 21, 1944

Location: Osaka
Course: Docked
Attached to: TF 23
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 1
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 456

Orders: Await further orders

---

“What do you have?” the Rickshaw Man asks. He is sitting at the end of a dock dressed as a fisherman. He even has a line in the water and every now and then gives it a slight tug.

The Japanese officer standing nearby does not look down at him as he speaks. “Ariga is engaged to be married, to some girl from Okinawa.”

The Rickshaw Man frowns. “Effective, but I prefer not to involve women if it can be helped. What else do you have?”

The officer knows the name of the woman in question but does not think it worth mentioning. Had he done so the Rickshaw Man’s response would have been much, much different. As it is the officer simply moves on.

“He has two very good friends aboard the destroyer,” he says. “I gather the three of them are quite close and will go to some lengths to aid each other.”

“That will do,” says the Rickshaw Man. “Names?”

“Shiro Kuramata, seaman first class, and Taiki Takahashi, petty officer second class,” says the officer.

The Rickshaw Man nods and begins bringing in his line. “Very good,” he says. “I will take it from here.”

“What will you do?” asks the officer somewhat nervously.

“Whatever needs doing,” says the Rickshaw Man. He smiles, revealing his bad teeth. “Don’t worry, no one will get hurt. Much. Not if Ariga cooperates as he should.”

[Capt. Harlock]

Location: Osaka
Course: Docked
Attached to: TF 23
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 1

System damage is unchanged from when they arrived at Osaka. Surely Ishii and Miharu are about to have words with the chief engineer?[;)]

[FeurerKrieg]

Precision machined parts are probably hard to come by in Japan at this point in the war.

[Cuttlefish]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

Location: Osaka
Course: Docked
Attached to: TF 23
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 1

System damage is unchanged from when they arrived at Osaka. Surely Ishii and Miharu are about to have words with the chief engineer?[;)]

I suspect the daily expeditions out into Osaka Bay so the carriers can launch and recover aircraft are the culprit here.

[Cuttlefish]

May 22, 1944

Location: Osaka
Course: Docked
Attached to: TF 23
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 1
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 454

Orders: Await further orders

---

It is mid morning. The sunlight barely penetrates the opening of the narrow alley leading off a street near the Osaka docks. What light there is reveals several men standing around the body of a small, slender man dressed in black. The dead man lies on his back, sightless eyes staring as if in surprise up at the narrow strip of sky above. His head is cocked at an odd angle to his shoulders and a knife lies near one outflung hand.

Among the onlookers are Captain Shimura of the Tokeitai, two police officers, Captain Ishii, and Chief Petty Officer Shun. Standing a little ways apart is Petty Officer First Class Taiki Takahashi. Taiki is carefully not looking at the body. Not far from Taiki a small pool of vomit adds its aroma to the alley’s general stink.

“Describe what happened once more, please, Mr. Takahashi,” Captain Shimura asks Taiki.

Taiki focuses and addresses the Tokeitai officer. “Yes sir. I was returning to the ship early this morning – I had duty at 0600 hours – and as I passed by a man reached out and yanked me into the alley. There was another man with him and I saw that man was holding a knife. I didn’t fight the pull, I was off balance anyway, instead I just went with it and attacked. I…I broke the neck of the man with the knife and I think I broke the other man’s right arm. He ran off.”

“And where were you coming from at that hour?” Shimura asks.

“The Hotel Abiko,” says Taiki. “My wife is there.” Shimura glances up at Captain Ishii, who nods.

“And you have never seen either of these men before?” Shimura says. “Or have any idea why they would attack you?”

“No sir,” says Taiki. “I have no idea.”

“Perhaps it was just a mugging, sir,” says one of the policemen. “Sailors coming off a night on the town are sometimes temping targets for thieves.” Shimura nods but looks uncertain. Shun steps forward and kneels by the body. He lifts a limp arm and pulls back the sleeve of the loose shirt the man is wearing, revealing a wavy line tattoo on the forearm.

Shimura leans forward to examine the tattoo. “This is an Amur River man,” he says in surprise, then looks sharply at Taiki. “You are sure you have never seen him before?”

“Quite certain, sir,” says Taiki, looking reluctantly at the body. “Amur River, sir? I don’t understand.”

“The Society of the Black Dragon River,” supplies Captain Ishii, giving the Amur River its name in Japanese. “Or the Black Dragon Society, if you prefer. This was no random mugging.”

Taiki’s eyes widen in alarm. “Sir, what do they want with me?”

Captain Ishii looks searchingly at him. “I was hoping you could tell me, Mr. Takahashi.”

“Sir, truly, I do not…” begins Taiki, but Captain Ishii holds up a hand.

“I believe you,” he says. “But until we get to the bottom of this you had better stay aboard ship.”

“Yes sir,” says Taiki reluctantly. “Sir, my wife…”

“Yes, good point,” says Ishii. “Shun. Please go see Mrs. Takahashi and make sure she is all right. Give her my greetings and keep an eye on her until she can be moved to a place of safety. Will that do, Mr. Takahashi?”

“Yes sir,” says Taiki gratefully.

Shimura directs the two policemen to escort Taiki back to Hibiki. They and Shun move off on their various errands, leaving Shimura and Ishii alone in the alley with the body.

“Well, Captain,” says Shimura. “After the Umeda episode I thought that you and your men would leave me in peace. It seems I was mistaken.”

“It seems so,” says Ishii. “Captain, I believe that young man. I really don’t think he knows why they attacked him.”

“I believe him too,” says Shimura. “One learns to read people after a while in this job. The attackers certainly seem to have misjudged their target, at any rate.” Ishii looks down at the body with its head lolling at an unnatural angle.

“They certainly did,” he says.

Neither of them notices the old beggar who pushes away from the wall on the opposite side of the street and shuffles slowly away.

---

“Idiot!” snaps the Rickshaw Man. “Imbecile! You said that those men of yours were good!” The Japanese officer stiffens. He is unaccustomed to such abuse. The evil glitter in the Rickshaw Man’s eyes stifles his protest in his throat, however.

“They were,” says the officer. “And if you had mentioned that Takahashi was such a skilled fighter they would have been prepared for it.”

“You did not find that out either,” says the Rickshaw Man sulkily. He stares at the floor of the old warehouse for a moment. “Shun was there,” he says to himself. “Shun, of all people.”

“Shun?” says the officer.

“Old business,” says the Rickshaw Man. “Unfinished business. That Takahashi whelp must be his protégé. It is regrettable. We cannot afford to try and use Ariga any longer, we will have to find a new candidate. See to it, and this time try not to bungle things so thoroughly.”

The officer stiffens. “I will find someone,” he says curtly. “And what will you do?”

“Pay an old debt,” says the Rickshaw Man. “Pay it in full.”

[rjopel]

What's in the plan for CPO Shun?
 
Only the shadow knows...
 
[&o]

[Shark7]

ORIGINAL: rjopel

What's in the plan for CPO Shun?

Only the shadow knows...

[&o]

I somehow see this ending with Shun standing over the crumpled lifeless body of an old beggar...but only time will tell. [;)]

[John 3rd]

Very nice plot development here CF.  Quite enjoyable to read...

[tocaff]

...or maybe some crew members save Shun for a change?

[Cuttlefish]

May 23, 1944

Location: Osaka
Course: Docked
Attached to: TF 23
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 1
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 452

Orders: Await further orders

---

Taiki sits at the table in the petty officer’s wardroom staring blankly at the bulkhead opposite. He does not look around when Chief Shun enters. Shun gets a cup of tea for himself and then sits down across from Taiki.

“You have never killed a man before,” he says, not ungently.

Taiki slowly focuses on him, then shakes his head. “Not like that,” he says slowly. “I did not like it much. I keep seeing his face.”

“You have killed in the course of your duties,” says Shun.

“Yes,” says Taiki. “And I do not like that either. But it is…it is necessary. It is war.”

“It is different when you are looking a man in the eye when he dies,” admits Shun.

“You have killed before,” says Taiki.

“Yes,” says Shun.

“Did it bother you, the first time?” Taiki asks. Shun stares lowers his cup of tea and stares into it for a moment, remembering.

“Yes,” he says quietly.

---

Kanazawa, November 1918:

The young man from the Ryukyus is plainly dressed and speaks Japanese with a heavy Ryukyan accent. But he has a commanding presence and moves with grace despite his obvious strength. The geishas present giggle with delight over his tall tales of the islands and watch him with undisguised admiration.

Not everyone is pleased by the young man’s monopoly over the women. Several of the local rakes drinking nearby watch the scene sourly. After a time they get up and leave, muttering darkly to each other.

It is quite late when young Shun, for it is he, leaves the geisha house. He turns up the street, walking purposefully and steadily despite a literal surfeit of wine, women, and song. He checks his stride when three men drift across the road into his path, two from the left and one from the right.

“Hello,” says Shun. One of the men steps forward, tapping a length of pipe slowly against his leg.

“You should have stayed in the islands, barbarian,” says one. “You’re not wanted here.”

Shun feels a slow burn of anger begin behind his eyes. He knows it is harder to control when he has been drinking and makes an effort to force it back.

“Please get out of the way,” he says.

“Hey, the ape knows how to address his betters,” says one of the other men. “Would you like a banana, ape?” Shun does possess uncommonly broad shoulders and long arms. He has heard the “ape” comment before and does not like it.

Shun growls a suggestion about what the man might do with his banana. The three men mutter angrily. The one with the pipe steps forward, while the other two circle to either side.

“You need a lesson,” hisses the man with the pipe. His friends dart in to grab Shun’s arms while he swings the pipe down in a nasty blow aimed at Shun’s left knee.

This cowardly assault snaps Shun’s temper like an old rope. He moves with far greater speed than his antagonists anticipate and slips forward, easily evading the men flanking him. He steps inside the arc of the swinging pipe, which bangs off his thigh, and levels a straight jab right into the center of the pipe man’s face. The blow does not travel far but there is enormous power behind it. Cartilage and bone crunch and blood spurts out across the dust of the road. The man’s head snaps back and he topples, landing full on his back in the road. He convulses once and lies still.

One of the men now behind him throws himself on Shun’s back, trying to get an arm around his throat. Shun roars in anger. He reaches back and hauls the man up and over his head, then sends him flying fifteen feet into a ditch. The last man standing takes one look at Shun’s face in the lamp light and bolts back down the road, to be followed a second later by his companion as the man scrambles out of the ditch and limps quickly away.

Shun takes a few steps after them and then stops, breathing heavily. A red haze seems to clear from his vision and with an effort he unclenches his fists. He stands thus for almost a minute before remembering the man he hit.

Shun turns and goes quickly over to him. The man lies on his back where he fell and is plainly and obviously dead. Shun stares for a moment, not believing it. I only hit him once, he thinks. The thought goes around and around in his head like a single wheel slowly turning above an overturned cart. He looks at the dead man’s battered face, devoid now and forever of all thought or feeling, and feels ill.

A commotion begins from among the houses down the street where the other two men disappeared. Lamps are lit. Shun takes a last desperate look at the dead man and then turns and leaves at a stumbling run.

The next morning he goes down to the docks and signs aboard the first ship he finds leaving Japan. They don’t ask any questions aboard the tramp steamer and Shun does not ask about their cargo or destination. The ship is leaving and that is all he cares about.

It will be more than three years before he returns, and when he does he will be wearing the uniform of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

---

Shun has said nothing. He raises his eyes to find Taiki watching him intently.

“Does it get easier?” Taiki asks him.

Shun sighs. “Yes,” he says reluctantly. “It does.”

“It shouldn’t,” says Taiki.

“No,” says Shun. “It shouldn’t.” He opens one big hand. “Takahashi. You did well. You were attacked and you fought back and won. It could have been you lying in that alley. How would your wife and parents feel about that?”

Taiki stirs but says nothing. “You do what you have to do,” says Shun. “You take the consequences and move on. I would not worry about becoming a killer if I were you. You are not the sort to ever do it casually.”

“I hope not,” says Taiki after a moment. “I just…I just wish I could stop seeing his face.” Shun stands up.

“Stop brooding and write a letter to that pretty wife of yours,” he says. “She should be back home soon and she is worried about you.” He finishes his tea, then stands and places his cup in the wash basin. He leaves the wardroom, his footfalls making almost no sound.

Taiki sits for another moment after he gone. Then he stirs himself and finds some paper and a pen. He takes them back to the table, sits down once again, and begins to write.

[Feinder]

Excellent CF.  Any chance that tramp steamer is the one we saw earlier with the pirates...?
 
I'm curious CF, many times, an author will either empathize or live vicariously thru a character or two in the story.  Any of this sort for you?
 
-F-

[Cuttlefish]

ORIGINAL: Feinder

Excellent CF.  Any chance that tramp steamer is the one we saw earlier with the pirates...?

I'm curious CF, many times, an author will either empathize or live vicariously thru a character or two in the story.  Any of this sort for you?

-F-

I don't think it was the same ship. I picture young Shun wandering around the Far East for about eight months on a couple of different ships and eventually ending up in Saigon. I think he signs aboard Hier when his money runs out and that is where he first meets Ishii and they encounter the Malay pirates.

As for the second question...hmm, I haven't really thought about that before. I think I have some spark of identification with most of the people I write about in the AAR, even the unpleasant ones. If any of them are effective characters and not just cardboard cutouts that is why.

It's an interesting question, though. I may talk about the characters and their evolution a bit more when this thing finally wraps up.

[thegreatwent]

I still think Cuttlefish is a clever nom de plume. Secretly you are actually John Updike or William Manchester incognito[8D]

[Capt. Harlock]

“Shun was there,” he says to himself. “Shun, of all people.”

“Shun?” says the officer.

“Old business,” says the Rickshaw Man. “Unfinished business. That Takahashi whelp must be his protégé. It is regrettable. We cannot afford to try and use Ariga any longer, we will have to find a new candidate.

And now we're really off to the races. I confess I had thought Shun was going to keep himself hidden while the Rickshaw Man was in town, and only come out when Riku's friends were roughed up. This is yet another marvelous plot twist -- and for once the Tokeitai is on the side of our lads.

A thought -- the Black Dragons were the obvious choice for the muscle when the job was pressuring Riku. But now that Shun has been identified, Big Ears may be willing to send some of his best Green Gang enforcers. This could end up in higher places than the Hibiki's wardroom.

[tocaff]

It does appear that the characters in Hibiki's crew are capable of taking care of themselves, though a little help from the establishment can't hurt.

[Cuttlefish]

May 24, 1944

Location: Osaka
Course: Docked
Attached to: TF 23
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 1
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 450

Orders: Await further orders

---

“Welcome back, Lieutenant,” Lieutenant Sugiyura says to Lieutenant Miharu. The executive officer sets his duffel down on the deck and looks around.

“Thank you, Lieutenant Sugiyura,” he says. “You managed to keep her afloat while I was gone, I see.”

“Yes sir,” says Sugiyura. He smiles. “I have to say I am very glad to see you. I have tried to keep up with the paperwork but I am afraid it is starting to get the better of me.”

Miharu nods. “Facing the enemy is easier in many ways than facing the Navy’s bureaucracy,” he says. “Is the captain aboard?”

“No,” says Sugiyura, “he and Petty Officer Takahashi are ashore taking care of some matters regarding the investigation.”

Lieutenant Miharu raises an eyebrow. “Investigation?” he asks.

“Right, sir, you wouldn’t have heard about that,” says Sugiyura. “Takahashi was mugged near the docks a few days ago. Well, they tried to mug him. Two men with knives jumped him and he killed one and drove the other off. It was a damned nice piece of work, they pulled him off balance and instead of fighting it he used the momentum to start his attack.” He seems about to launch into an enthusiastic demonstration of the fight so Lieutenant Miharu quickly cuts him off.

“Did he?” says Miharu. “I had not realized he was that skilled.”

“Oh yes,” Sugiyura says. “We have sparred before and I have been impressed. He is very quick.”

“I see,” says Lieutenant Miharu. He pauses, obviously thinking about something.

“How is your wife doing?” Sugiyura asks.

“Hm?” says the executive officer. “Oh, she is doing well.” He smiles. “Very well. She and my mother are convinced the baby will be a girl.”

“Ah,” says Sugiyura. “When I get married and settle down I would like to have a son or two, but having a daughter would be a fine thing as well. I think all that will have to wait until after the war, though.”

Lieutenant Miharu lifts his bag. “I think that is wise,” he says. “Even though there is no telling now when this war might end.” He bids Sugiyura farewell and heads to his cabin to unpack.

[tocaff]

So the Exec now has a new candidate for his investigation.  Oh the webs you weave CF................

[oi]

Cuttlefish,
   I do not know how to attach a single picture, but on this website there is one of the best photos of the Hibiki that I have ever encountered.  Apparently, it was taken as part of Admiral Kondo's Southern force, December 10, 1941.    
        oi