Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki

[Dave3L]

Thanks CF for the magnificent work of art you have created for us.

[KDiggity]

Thanks, CF!!!

[Canoerebel]

Thanks, Cuttlefish, for devoting so much time to give us so much pleasure!

[NormS3]

Many thanks for sharing your great epic! I look forward to the conclusion as well as any of your future work.

[&o][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o]

BTW- Please put me down for two copies of your completed work. One to read and one to keep as a collectors edition![:)]

[HarryM]

Great stuff, Cuttlefish! You have a real gift. 

[veji1]

like everybody else, thanks Cuttlefish..

[flaggelant]

[&o][&o][&o]
 
thnx for a great story CF!!

[Dili]

Thanks.

[Barb]

Thanks CF for your effort. I really enjoyed the story. [&o]

[Cuttlefish]

Wow. Just...wow. Good thing I'm the rugged and manly type or I'd have a lump in my throat after reading all these comments.

[Cuttlefish]

July, 1945

Location: Wakkanai
Course: None
Attached to: Disbanded in port
Mission: Surface combat
System Damage: 5...4...3...
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 475

Orders: None

---

Japan burns and her people starve. The glow of the victory at Yamaguchi has faded and what is left is a desperate fight for survival in a ravaged land.

It is better in Hokkaido, which is almost untouched by the enemy bombers. There the ragged remnants of a navy that once terrified the world huddle at their berths, a force without a role to play in the last savage days of the war. They are like a species of fierce predators whose numbers have been so reduced that the last few are confined in special pens.

And like said predators they react in different ways. Some brood, sinking deep into lethargy. Others pace endlessly, snapping at the bars that confine them. Some go nearly mad.

Aboard Hibiki the men are held together by the bonds they have forged, the bonds between the men and their captain and between one another. These bonds have been tested over long years and in many battles and hold firm. Discipline and pride remain, holding at bay despair. It is not a happy time but the ship remains ready for battle.

Men like Riku and Chief Shinoda are no longer alone in worrying about wives and loved ones. Death stalks Japan and with the breakdown in communications almost everyone on board is left to wonder and worry. Most of those on board will look back later and remember this as the longest and cruelest month of the war.

[Onime No Kyo]

CF,

I would like to add my gratitude for allowing me to enjoy your wonderful work. I very much look forward to your AE AAR as well as the conclusion of this one. [&o]

On a speculative note, I wonder if the IJN command would simply reform Hibiki's company as an infantry unit. Both the Russians and Germans did that in rough circumstances. Not sure if the Italians did as well.

[alaviner]

This is truly a great work of literature.  It should be printed and bound for posterity.

[Feinder]

And another warmest thanks CF, a most excellent read these last years.
S!
 
-F-

[ltfightr]

You have made us all better with your writing. I will miss Small Ship, Big War. But I will still keep coming back to watch you close out the rest of the magnificant story.

[Skipjack_]

Many thanks, CF. You had me hooked way back when you described the CL Enterprise as a goat staked out to hunt a Tiger [:)]

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[Skyland]

Many thanks CF for this great story.

[kaleun]

If you are not going to publish it in Lulu.com (And you should)
Can we have a PDF file of it? Pretty please?

[Ambassador]

I gladly join the chorus of praise, CF.  Or sadly ?  No, I gladly join the sad chorus of praise : glad to have been able to read your marvellous and epic story, but sad that this has to end.[&o][&o][&o]

I'll be one of the many who'll eagerly await your next AAR.[&o]

[Cuttlefish]

August 12, 1945

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

Orders: None

---

“It cannot be true!” claims Oizuma. “Yoshitake, you believe everything you hear. There are so many rumors these days, you must learn to be more skeptical.” Shiro, sitting on the floor and whittling as usual, looks up but says nothing, concern on his face.

Footfalls sound in the corridor outside and then Riku and Shoji duck into the narrow machine space where they all sling their hammocks. Oizuma, standing by Benzaiten’s crate, turns to face them.

“Riku, tell Yoshitake he is being…” he begins, but then falters as he sees the expression on Riku’s face. Shoji looks equally grim. Riku looks at the two men.

“It’s true,” says Riku hoarsely. “Lieutenant Miharu told me so himself. One bomb has been dropped in Kitakyushu and the city of Kokura is destroyed. There have been many, many deaths.”

“One bomb?” says Oizuma. He sounds like a small child. “How could one bomb do that?”

“I don’t know,” says Riku. His voice drops to just above a whisper. “It is something new, something terrible.”

“Americans!” bursts out Yoshitake. “Those murdering devils! How could even they do such a thing? How could anyone do such a thing?” Oizuma backs against the bulkhead and slides slowly down to a sitting position, his head on his knees. Riku just shakes his head.

“What would you do?” says Shiro quietly. The others all look at him. Shiro’s eyes are bright with unshed tears. “What would you do if you were the Americans? Their invasion has failed. We are beaten but will not surrender. What would you do if you were in their place and had such a weapon?” Yoshitake opens his mouth to speak but then closes it. He has no answer.

“We must surrender now,” says Oizuma. “Surely now we must surrender before all of our cities destroyed.”

“Like lanterns being extinguished,” murmurs Riku. “Going out one by one, until nothing is left but darkness.”

“We must surrender,” agrees Shiro sadly. “But will we? I wonder.”

The five men lapse into silence. Each is glad that his friends are around him right now, but for the moment no one feels like talking. All of them feel the darkness gathering as the last night approaches.