Tokyo, Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff
Newly installed radio surveillance station was working for only two hours, when it intercepted an important note. It was promptly delivered to Tokyo, and handed to Chief of Gunreibu, Prince Fushimi Hiroyasu, who was in meeting with Admiral Kuranosuke, head of the 1st Section, Operations Bureau of Gunreibu.
“It would appear that England is loosing the war in Europe. Churchill is requesting that a cruiser and two destroyers are sent home from India. At least some use from our allies in Germany.” Prince was well known for his objections to the Tripartite Pact, and used every opportunity to express it.
Kuranosuke couldn’t care less about British or Germans at that point. He had much bigger problems on his hands. He had just received report of great Yamaguchi’s victory at Samoa Islands, and damage report. Soryu must be repaired as soon as possible, the problem was where to put her. Japan’s repair yards were cramped. Fast pace of conquest impose heavy price on Imperial Navy, as 12 capital ships were in or en route to repair yards, along with three submarines, two patrol crafts and some 40 merchants.
As if this wasn’t enough, Mutsuki class destroyers, 11 of them, were scheduled to start their refit from tomorrow. Most of them were already in preparation, and the rest will be in yards by the end of the week.
And with destroyer Wakaba sunk yesterday south of Borneo, the total number of Japanese ships lost reached 36, which was still modest, compared to the damage inflicted to the enemy.
The problem was, Americans can replace their losses, Japan can’t. This fact was well known to Kuranosuke, which is why he felt a sharp pain in his abdomen every time he received a report of a sunk ship. At least, his ulcer is progressing nicely, he thought grimly.
Edit: Change the date, at Mynok's request. [;)]
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