Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki

[tocaff]

As usual an excellent read.

[veji1]

This AAR is so good.... it really really really has to become a comic book... At least this is the way I picture it in my mind, I see the strips, the frames, the lines..

[Onime No Kyo]

ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish
Benzaiten, coiled neatly inside, simply regards him with her lidless eyes and says nothing. Oizuma takes this to mean “yes” and goes to find a box in which to carry everything.

Flick your tongue once for yes, twice for no, Benzaiten. [:D]

[NormS3]

Sorry to interrupt again, but Wonderful, Fantastic, and Masterful story telling, Cuttlefish!

Terrific plan and many congratulations on your excellent execution!

[T Rav]

CF,

Ref the flowers: I don't know you did it, but you managed to hit the exact right spot on what it feels like to get a random thanks from a school kid.

I got an "any soldier" letter from a kid a few years back. It mostly just said thaink you and be safe. I felt a little silly at first, but wrote back and said thank you in return, and that she, and other kids like her was one of the reasons I was there in the first place. To this day, it is one of the highlights of my military service.

Sorry for the highjack,
T Rav

[Marc gto]

Hey t-Rav...Thanks again

[Hornblower]

well done

[Capt. Harlock]

November 12, 1944

Location: Tokyo
Course: None
Attached to: Disbanded in port
Mission: None
System Damage: 0

Now that's fast work! Hibiki's men have evidently learned how to deal with the "unfixable" last damage point.[;)]

[Cuttlefish]

ORIGINAL: T Rav

CF,

Ref the flowers: I don't know you did it, but you managed to hit the exact right spot on what it feels like to get a random thanks from a school kid.

I got an "any soldier" letter from a kid a few years back. It mostly just said thaink you and be safe. I felt a little silly at first, but wrote back and said thank you in return, and that she, and other kids like her was one of the reasons I was there in the first place. To this day, it is one of the highlights of my military service.

Sorry for the highjack,
T Rav

No need to apologize! Thanks for sharing that, it made my day.

[Cuttlefish]

November 13, 1944

Location: Tokyo
Course: None
Attached to: Disbanded in port
Mission: None
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

Orders: None

---

“You are going,” says Captain Ishii, and his tone makes it obvious that this is a command. Lieutenant Miharu nonetheless makes one last effort.

“But sir,” he says, “we might be ordered back out at any time.”

Ishii raises one arm and makes a sweeping gesture out over the harbor. “Right now the ships ready for action consist of Tone and maybe half a dozen destroyers,” he says. “The enemy will have doubled the guard on their transports. We aren’t going anywhere for a while. The Imperial Japanese Navy can spare you for one week.”

“Yes sir,” says the lieutenant, “but…” Ishii cuts him off by gesturing peremptorily towards Izu.

“Ensign Izu!” he says. Izu trots promptly over and salutes.

“Sir!” he says.

“Izu, please find Chief Shun and ask him to report to me at once,” says Ishii.

“Yes sir!” says Izu. Lieutenant Miharu raises his hands in a gesture of surrender.

“Very well, sir,” he says, “I will go pack immediately.”

“Belay that, Izu,” Ishii tells the ensign. To Miharu he says “Enjoy your trip, Exec. Your wife and new little girl will be glad to see you.” The lieutenant salutes and leaves. Ensign Izu watches him go and then addresses the captain.

“Sir,” he says, “I should inform you that if anyone orders me to depart on leave I will obey quickly and promptly.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, Ensign,” growls Ishii. His effort not to smile almost succeeds. “Return to your duties.”

“Yes sir!” Izu snaps a salute and goes back to his station.

[Onime No Kyo]

Maybe if the bridge wasnt so small Ishii would have found some neglected corner to examine to keep his smile hidden. [:D]

[Alikchi2]

These guys have been together long enough that even the Captain is okay to joke around with. Speaks well of the crew. [:)]

I'm still continuing my read through, btw. So far I spotted a Portal reference, a Fred Noonan reference, an Indiana Jones reference, a Dinosaur Comics reference.. someone should write a Reader's Guide. [:D]

[Cuttlefish]

November 14, 1944

Location: Tokyo
Course: None
Attached to: Disbanded in port
Mission: None
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

Orders: None

---

With the ship’s stores once again full Riku has little trouble wheedling a day pass out of the tolerant Paymaster Kataoka. His next step is to lure Taiki ashore. This he accomplishes with only a little arm-twisting, and before long the two men are sitting cross-legged on mats on either side of a low table in a good restaurant.

As tea is poured and the first courses arrive the two friends talk about the recent battle, news from their wives, and other matters. Later, when they are full of good food and enjoying a cup of warm sake, the conversation wanes to a companionable silence. Riku sets down his cup and looks at Taiki.

“All right,” he says, “let’s have it.”

Taiki looks up at him, a little confused. “Have it?” he says. “Have what?”

“Whatever has been bothering you these last few weeks,” Riku says. “I don’t think anyone else has noticed, but you can’t fool Shiro. He mentioned it to me and I have been watching you. Something has been bothering you, bothering you a lot I think.”

Taiki grimaces. “I need to find less perceptive friends,” he says. “Look, Riku-san, I appreciate the concern, but it is not something I wish to discuss. Thank you, but I am fine.”

Riku just shrugs, as if in acquiescence, and takes a sip of his sake. Taiki does the same, though he takes an uncharacteristically large gulp. Riku signals the hostess, who glides over in her kimono and refills the cups. After she withdraws Riku simply sits quietly and waits, watching Taiki. Taiki takes another drink.

“That damned island,” the young petty officer says after a moment. “I wish we had never gone there.”

“It seemed like a nice place,” Riku says in a carefully casual tone. “Rather pretty, if it weren’t for the war and all.”

Taiki sets down his cup with such a thump that a little sake slops over the side. His face, however, is like a mask. “You don’t know,” he says. “You can’t. That island is cursed.”

“You would be surprised,” Riku says, “by what I have seen and what I might believe.” Taiki sighs.

“Look,” he says, “I will tell you, but it must remain between us.” And without waiting for confirmation he tells the tale of General Tachibana and his grisly feasts. By the time he is done Riku has emptied his cup again.

“I thought it must be something pretty bad,” Riku says quietly. “But I didn’t know it was like that.”

“Why would someone do something like that?” Taiki asks him. “How could someone do something like that?”

“I think,” says Riku slowly, “that this war squeezes people. Under the pressure everything else melts away until only one’s essential self remains. I imagine that Tachibana was always cruel and mad, deep down; with the war his masks are now gone and the monster within him is visible.

“It isn’t all bad,” Riku continues. “Look at you, for example. Before the war you were a plasterer, a man with great gifts you never used. Now you are a petty officer, one worthy of respect. You could be an officer. But whatever you do, you will not be the simple, quiet man you would have been. Under the pressure your quality has emerged.”

“The same could be said about you,” Taiki tells him. “You have changed even more than I have.”

Riku bows his head slightly in acknowledgement. “It’s the same with us as a people,” Riku says. “The war has brought out the best in us; our ability to endure, our loyalty, our courage, our spirit of sacrifice. But it has also brought out the worst. Cruelty, harshness, barbarism. The good and bad, both now as starkly visible as the bones of a starving man.”

Taiki ponders this for a few moments. Finally he nods to himself. Then he looks up at Riku.

“An officer?” he says with a slight smile.

“There is no doubt in my mind,” says Riku. “With Captain Ishii and Lieutenant Miharu’s help you could take the qualifying exams. You would pass them easily. You would be an outstanding officer, the kind that men follow willingly.”

“Perhaps,” says Taiki. “I never thought about it before.”

“Think about it,” says Riku. “And think about what you learned on Chichi Jima. I have seen a few things too. If we survive the war it is our job to see that such things do not happen again.”

“We do not want our children to see what we have seen,” Taiki agrees. He raises his cup. “To a better future,” he says. Riku raises his cup and both men drink.

[thegreatwent]

“We do not want our children to see what we have seen,” Taiki agrees. He raises his cup. “To a better future,” he says. Riku raises his cup and both men drink.

Perhaps the prayer of any veteran.

[Yakface]

Wonder if someone could fill me in on "tale of General Tachibana and his grisly feasts. By the time he is done Riku has emptied his cup again".  Can't seem to locate it in the back story.  Thanks
 

[rjopel]

General Tachibana practicied canabalisim on Chichi Jima.  He was sentanced to death after the war.

[kaleun]

"Flyboys" narrates it quite well.

[Shark7]

ORIGINAL: rjopel

General Tachibana practicied canabalisim on Chichi Jima.  He was sentanced to death after the war.

And this was not just part of CFs story, he took this straight from actual history.

[Capt. Harlock]

“Think about it,” says Riku. “And think about what you learned on Chichi Jima. I have seen a few things too. If we survive the war it is our job to see that such things do not happen again.”

“We do not want our children to see what we have seen,” Taiki agrees. He raises his cup. “To a better future,” he says. Riku raises his cup and both men drink.

Mind you, in order to survive the war, it may very well be necessary to, unthinkable as it used to be, surrender.

Any chance of an after-battle summary of the action around Iwo Jima? It looks like at least two BB's were sunk on the way back. (Perhaps Ishii could get a glimpse of a classified report at his next briefing? Or of course there's always another excerpt from Morris Elliot Samuelson . . .)

[Cuttlefish]

November 15, 1944

Location: Tokyo
Course: None
Attached to: Disbanded in port
Mission: None
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

Orders: None

---

There are ships where the captain is a remote figure, seldom seen by most of the crew and communicating mostly through the executive officer. Captain Ishii has never been such a commander; while he is spotted in many parts of the ship only occasionally his personality, his energy and drive, are nonetheless as much a part of Hibiki as the steel of her hull. The men know he is there and their unshakeable faith in him is a large part of their spirit and confidence.

Thus it is quickly noted that he has been less visible than usual since Hibiki returned to Tokyo. This is not yet a matter of much concern; most believe that he is busy in his cabin with important matters. Only a few of his senior officers note that he looks drawn and tired. This is understandable; the strain of the long war is beginning to tell on everybody and of all the crew they have some idea of how much greater the strain is on Ishii. They carry on while subtly encouraging him to rest.

---

Ishii sits at the small desk in his cabin, finishing a letter to his wife. He has to concentrate on his brush strokes, as he is so tired his hands lack their usual steadiness. If only he could sleep, he thinks. But for the last couple of weeks he has awakened frequently in the night, awakened bathed in cold sweat and with pain twisting in his guts. Of course he cannot say anything to anyone. If it confirmed that he really is ill he might be relieved of command, and that is something he cannot risk. Perhaps it will pass. He hopes so.

He finishes the letter and sets it aside to dry, then stands. As soon as he does so he is hit by a wave of dizziness. On its heels comes a stabbing pain right behind his breastbone. Ishii’s eyes widen and he grips the edge of his desk, setting his teeth against the pain. Slowly it eases. Ishii straightens carefully, his breath coming in hoarse gasps.

This is not good, he thinks. This is not good at all.