Small Ship, Big War - The Voyages of the Hibiki
Moderators: wdolson, Don Bowen, mogami
RE: Small Ship, Big War
Better and better.
Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
RE: Small Ship, Big War
Yes, the internal logic is maintained, while a super story unfolds. CF this is a really well done tale.
As for those that guess at the "end", I say, okay, make your guess, but I, for one, am happy to just be along for the ride.
As for those that guess at the "end", I say, okay, make your guess, but I, for one, am happy to just be along for the ride.
RE: Small Ship, Big War
This would actually make for a nice movie screenplay.
Clint Eastwood can direct "a la" Letters from IwoJima[8|]
(Great movie BTW)
Clint Eastwood can direct "a la" Letters from IwoJima[8|]
(Great movie BTW)
Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
-
Capt. Harlock
- Posts: 5379
- Joined: Sat Sep 15, 2001 8:00 am
- Location: Los Angeles
- Contact:
RE: Small Ship, Big War
ORIGINAL: princep01
Yes, the internal logic is maintained, while a super story unfolds. CF this is a really well done tale.
Let me second the motion. The plotting in this tale would put most Hollywood script-writers to shame.
But I have to wonder. Shun is good with his fists, but he is not a slow-witted man by any stretch. I've a feeling he'll eventually learn the source of the money.
Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?
--Victor Hugo
--Victor Hugo
RE: Small Ship, Big War
The ride is everything here. CF if I was wearing a hat it would be off to you.
Todd
I never thought that doing an AAR would be so time consuming and difficult.
www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=2080768
I never thought that doing an AAR would be so time consuming and difficult.
www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=2080768
-
Onime No Kyo
- Posts: 16846
- Joined: Wed Apr 28, 2004 5:55 am
RE: Small Ship, Big War
ORIGINAL: tocaff
The ride is everything here. CF if I was wearing a hat it would be off to you.
May I suggest you put one on? Doffing your scalp could be somewhat unpleasant and maybe even a bit painful. [:'(]
"Mighty is the Thread! Great are its works and insane are its inhabitants!" -Brother Mynok
-
Cuttlefish
- Posts: 2454
- Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:03 am
- Location: Oregon, USA
RE: Small Ship, Big War
November 23, 1942
Location: Kwajalein
Course: Docked
Attached to: TF 72
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 463
Orders: Await further orders.
---
Ensign Handa steps out on deck and heads aft. He is on his way to do an inspection of the depth charges. The Hibiki has dropped exactly two depth charges so far in the war, and it is necessary to make sure that the charges in the racks are in sound condition and are correctly set.
He passes a pair of sailors. The two of them are unusually slow to come to attention and salute, and Handa stops to upbraid them for their sluggish performance. He is working up a good head of steam when he senses that something is amiss.
“…and if nothing else will instill the proper respect then perhaps some time spent…” he is saying, then notices that rather than keeping their gaze rigidly forward as they should the two men keep glancing at his head. “What ARE you looking at?” he bellows. The two men look at him, then glance at each other, and then finally just stand there, plainly at a loss for words.
This is intolerable. On some ships he would slap some sense into them, but he knows that Captain Ishii frowns on such measures. He orders them to report to the galley for extra duty, and they scurry off in relief. Badly out of temper now, Handa continues on to the depth charge racks.
He is just getting started when the first gull lands on the rail nearby. This is hardly unusual. The Hibiki tosses a lot of garbage overboard, and the voracious birds find it tasty. The gull is joined by a second, and then a third. They stare fixedly at Handa. Handa ignores them and continues with his task, though he continues to hear an occasional flutter of wings.
A shadow passes close overhead, and a line of gull droppings splats along the deck and over one polished shoe. Handa hisses in annoyance. He looks up, and then stops still.
There are now gulls all along the rail, and more gulls perched on the Y-racks. All of them are looking at him with what Handa imagines is an implacable, hungry expression. This is not only unusual, it is downright unnerving. But no Japanese officer is going to allow a bunch of mangy seabirds to get the better of him. Handa takes off his cap and waves it at the nearest birds, yelling “Hey! Get out! Go away!”
The birds launch into the air with a raucous rattle of wings – and then attack. Gull after gull swoops at him, uttering croaks and cries. He ducks, waving his cap wildly about, but this just seems to madden the gulls. A healthy dollop of droppings splashes onto one of Handa’s shoulders. A gull seizes his cap in its beak.
This is too much for Ensign Handa. He shakes the bird free, then jams the cap back on his head and sprints for the nearest hatch. Gulls swoop after him with hungry cries. Handa reaches the hatch, plunges into it, and then slams it shut behind him. Disappointed, the birds swoop around for a few moments.
Safe in a companionway, Handa takes a deep breath, then removes his cap to check it for damage. That’s when he sees what the gulls were after. Carefully pinned to the top of the cap is a large crab.
Handa examines this artifact. It has been carefully hollowed out so that the weight will not give away its presence. A cunning arrangement of small springs and wires cause the limbs to twitch enticingly as the cap moves. Whoever did this, Handa reflects, was obviously aware of Handa’s habit of keeping his cap stowed upside down so that he can scoop it up by the bill and jam it on his head as he exits the bunkroom.
“Izu,” mutters Handa with a curse. The first thing to do is to go change his uniform. And then…
His thoughts are interrupted by someone coming up a ladder into the companionway. Handa sees the cap first as the figure comes up into sight and realizes it is Captain Ishii. In reflex he swiftly puts his cap back on and comes to attention.
The captain steps away from the ladder and sees Handa. Handa salutes. Captain Ishii returns the salute and starts to turn away. He stops dead still, then slowly turns back around. Handa swallows. Ishii advances to within a few steps of Handa and then looks him over from top to bottom. Handa’s cheeks burn and he carefully does not meet the captain’s piercing gaze.
Ishii takes in the befouled uniform and then he stares fixedly at Handa’s cap for a moment. At last the captain clasps his hands behind his back and then clears his throat.
“Ensign Handa,” he says in a normal tone, “there is a crab on your head.”
“Yes sir, there is sir,” says Handa. Captain Ishii takes in this fact and then regards Handa for another long moment.
“Very well,” says the captain at last. “Carry on, Ensign.” He steps considerately aside. Ensign Handa salutes the captain again, and the motion causes one of the crab’s claws to appear to salute as well. One corner of Ishii’s mouth twitches. Handa edges past him and then leaves with all the speed dignity will allow.
Location: Kwajalein
Course: Docked
Attached to: TF 72
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 463
Orders: Await further orders.
---
Ensign Handa steps out on deck and heads aft. He is on his way to do an inspection of the depth charges. The Hibiki has dropped exactly two depth charges so far in the war, and it is necessary to make sure that the charges in the racks are in sound condition and are correctly set.
He passes a pair of sailors. The two of them are unusually slow to come to attention and salute, and Handa stops to upbraid them for their sluggish performance. He is working up a good head of steam when he senses that something is amiss.
“…and if nothing else will instill the proper respect then perhaps some time spent…” he is saying, then notices that rather than keeping their gaze rigidly forward as they should the two men keep glancing at his head. “What ARE you looking at?” he bellows. The two men look at him, then glance at each other, and then finally just stand there, plainly at a loss for words.
This is intolerable. On some ships he would slap some sense into them, but he knows that Captain Ishii frowns on such measures. He orders them to report to the galley for extra duty, and they scurry off in relief. Badly out of temper now, Handa continues on to the depth charge racks.
He is just getting started when the first gull lands on the rail nearby. This is hardly unusual. The Hibiki tosses a lot of garbage overboard, and the voracious birds find it tasty. The gull is joined by a second, and then a third. They stare fixedly at Handa. Handa ignores them and continues with his task, though he continues to hear an occasional flutter of wings.
A shadow passes close overhead, and a line of gull droppings splats along the deck and over one polished shoe. Handa hisses in annoyance. He looks up, and then stops still.
There are now gulls all along the rail, and more gulls perched on the Y-racks. All of them are looking at him with what Handa imagines is an implacable, hungry expression. This is not only unusual, it is downright unnerving. But no Japanese officer is going to allow a bunch of mangy seabirds to get the better of him. Handa takes off his cap and waves it at the nearest birds, yelling “Hey! Get out! Go away!”
The birds launch into the air with a raucous rattle of wings – and then attack. Gull after gull swoops at him, uttering croaks and cries. He ducks, waving his cap wildly about, but this just seems to madden the gulls. A healthy dollop of droppings splashes onto one of Handa’s shoulders. A gull seizes his cap in its beak.
This is too much for Ensign Handa. He shakes the bird free, then jams the cap back on his head and sprints for the nearest hatch. Gulls swoop after him with hungry cries. Handa reaches the hatch, plunges into it, and then slams it shut behind him. Disappointed, the birds swoop around for a few moments.
Safe in a companionway, Handa takes a deep breath, then removes his cap to check it for damage. That’s when he sees what the gulls were after. Carefully pinned to the top of the cap is a large crab.
Handa examines this artifact. It has been carefully hollowed out so that the weight will not give away its presence. A cunning arrangement of small springs and wires cause the limbs to twitch enticingly as the cap moves. Whoever did this, Handa reflects, was obviously aware of Handa’s habit of keeping his cap stowed upside down so that he can scoop it up by the bill and jam it on his head as he exits the bunkroom.
“Izu,” mutters Handa with a curse. The first thing to do is to go change his uniform. And then…
His thoughts are interrupted by someone coming up a ladder into the companionway. Handa sees the cap first as the figure comes up into sight and realizes it is Captain Ishii. In reflex he swiftly puts his cap back on and comes to attention.
The captain steps away from the ladder and sees Handa. Handa salutes. Captain Ishii returns the salute and starts to turn away. He stops dead still, then slowly turns back around. Handa swallows. Ishii advances to within a few steps of Handa and then looks him over from top to bottom. Handa’s cheeks burn and he carefully does not meet the captain’s piercing gaze.
Ishii takes in the befouled uniform and then he stares fixedly at Handa’s cap for a moment. At last the captain clasps his hands behind his back and then clears his throat.
“Ensign Handa,” he says in a normal tone, “there is a crab on your head.”
“Yes sir, there is sir,” says Handa. Captain Ishii takes in this fact and then regards Handa for another long moment.
“Very well,” says the captain at last. “Carry on, Ensign.” He steps considerately aside. Ensign Handa salutes the captain again, and the motion causes one of the crab’s claws to appear to salute as well. One corner of Ishii’s mouth twitches. Handa edges past him and then leaves with all the speed dignity will allow.
-
Onime No Kyo
- Posts: 16846
- Joined: Wed Apr 28, 2004 5:55 am
RE: Small Ship, Big War
ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[:D][:D][:D][:D]
[:D][:D][:D][:D]
"Mighty is the Thread! Great are its works and insane are its inhabitants!" -Brother Mynok
RE: Small Ship, Big War
[:D][:D][:D][:D]
"I propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer."-Note sent with Congressman Washburne from Spotsylvania, May 11, 1864, to General Halleck. - General Ulysses S. Grant
RE: Small Ship, Big War
ROFLMAO!
Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
RE: Small Ship, Big War
Todd
I never thought that doing an AAR would be so time consuming and difficult.
www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=2080768
I never thought that doing an AAR would be so time consuming and difficult.
www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=2080768
-
Cuttlefish
- Posts: 2454
- Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:03 am
- Location: Oregon, USA
RE: Small Ship, Big War
November 24, 1942
Location: Kwajalein
Course: Docked
Attached to: TF 72
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 461
Orders: Await further orders.
Location: Kwajalein
Course: Docked
Attached to: TF 72
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 461
Orders: Await further orders.
-
Cuttlefish
- Posts: 2454
- Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:03 am
- Location: Oregon, USA
RE: Small Ship, Big War
November 25, 1942
Location: Kwajalein
Course: Docked
Attached to: TF 72
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 460
Orders: Await further orders.
---
It is a warm and humid day on Kwajalein. Then again, almost all days on Kwajalein are warm and humid. The temperature varies little here from month to month. Year round, the high temperature is usually about 30 degrees (86 degrees Fahrenheit, as the Americans would have it), and the low temperature is about 25 degrees (77 F.). If anyone on board is inclined to complain about the temperature they are reminded of how much hotter is was during the Hibiki’s sojourn down south, or that they might even now be in the Kuriles with December coming on.
There has been no further word of enemy incursions up north, or anywhere else for that matter. Their foes seem to have probed at Japan’s defenses and then withdrawn, stung. Quiet returns to the Pacific, although it is a watchful kind of quiet.
The only fresh news to feed the rumor mill comes from New Guinea. Tales reach the Hibiki of the recent appearance of a new type of enemy fighter over Port Moresby. There have been no enemy fighters anywhere over New Guinea in many months, and the fact that this plane is flying out of bases in Australia means it has a far more impressive range than other enemy fighters. According to the A6M3 pilots who have faced it the plane can take an amazing amount of punishment before going down. The new fighter’s signature characteristic, though, is its peculiar twin tail.
These stories are of only minor interest to the officers and crew of the Hibiki. True, it means that the enemy can attempt to start bombing Port Moresby again, but what of that?
They have no way of knowing yet that this is just the first harbinger of a gathering storm.
Location: Kwajalein
Course: Docked
Attached to: TF 72
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 460
Orders: Await further orders.
---
It is a warm and humid day on Kwajalein. Then again, almost all days on Kwajalein are warm and humid. The temperature varies little here from month to month. Year round, the high temperature is usually about 30 degrees (86 degrees Fahrenheit, as the Americans would have it), and the low temperature is about 25 degrees (77 F.). If anyone on board is inclined to complain about the temperature they are reminded of how much hotter is was during the Hibiki’s sojourn down south, or that they might even now be in the Kuriles with December coming on.
There has been no further word of enemy incursions up north, or anywhere else for that matter. Their foes seem to have probed at Japan’s defenses and then withdrawn, stung. Quiet returns to the Pacific, although it is a watchful kind of quiet.
The only fresh news to feed the rumor mill comes from New Guinea. Tales reach the Hibiki of the recent appearance of a new type of enemy fighter over Port Moresby. There have been no enemy fighters anywhere over New Guinea in many months, and the fact that this plane is flying out of bases in Australia means it has a far more impressive range than other enemy fighters. According to the A6M3 pilots who have faced it the plane can take an amazing amount of punishment before going down. The new fighter’s signature characteristic, though, is its peculiar twin tail.
These stories are of only minor interest to the officers and crew of the Hibiki. True, it means that the enemy can attempt to start bombing Port Moresby again, but what of that?
They have no way of knowing yet that this is just the first harbinger of a gathering storm.
-
Capt. Harlock
- Posts: 5379
- Joined: Sat Sep 15, 2001 8:00 am
- Location: Los Angeles
- Contact:
RE: Small Ship, Big War
ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish
The only fresh news to feed the rumor mill comes from New Guinea. Tales reach the Hibiki of the recent appearance of a new type of enemy fighter over Port Moresby. There have been no enemy fighters anywhere over New Guinea in many months, and the fact that this plane is flying out of bases in Australia means it has a far more impressive range than other enemy fighters. According to the A6M3 pilots who have faced it the plane can take an amazing amount of punishment before going down. The new fighter’s signature characteristic, though, is its peculiar twin tail.
The "fork-tailed devil" has appeared! I wonder how long it will be before the "whistling death" (the Corsair) arrives . . .[X(]
Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?
--Victor Hugo
--Victor Hugo
RE: Small Ship, Big War
Hm. Just noticed. How is it that their fuel is going down, if they're disbanded in port?
-F-
-F-
"It is obvious that you have greatly over-estimated my regard for your opinion." - Me
-
Onime No Kyo
- Posts: 16846
- Joined: Wed Apr 28, 2004 5:55 am
RE: Small Ship, Big War
ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock
ORIGINAL: Cuttlefish
The only fresh news to feed the rumor mill comes from New Guinea. Tales reach the Hibiki of the recent appearance of a new type of enemy fighter over Port Moresby. There have been no enemy fighters anywhere over New Guinea in many months, and the fact that this plane is flying out of bases in Australia means it has a far more impressive range than other enemy fighters. According to the A6M3 pilots who have faced it the plane can take an amazing amount of punishment before going down. The new fighter’s signature characteristic, though, is its peculiar twin tail.
The "fork-tailed devil" has appeared! I wonder how long it will be before the "whistling death" (the Corsair) arrives . . .[X(]
I have to note that my favorite plane nickname (as I was informed on this board, anyway) was the one for the Stranaer. The "whistling s**thouse", I think it was. [:D]
"Mighty is the Thread! Great are its works and insane are its inhabitants!" -Brother Mynok
RE: Small Ship, Big War
ORIGINAL: Feinder
Hm. Just noticed. How is it that their fuel is going down, if they're disbanded in port?
-F-
This happens if recon (or other aircraft) overfly the base, iirc. Ships automatically cast off in case of attack...
EDIT - but this should only happen if they are at dock, i think...
-
Cuttlefish
- Posts: 2454
- Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:03 am
- Location: Oregon, USA
RE: Small Ship, Big War
ORIGINAL: rtrapasso
ORIGINAL: Feinder
Hm. Just noticed. How is it that their fuel is going down, if they're disbanded in port?
-F-
This happens if recon (or other aircraft) overfly the base, iirc. Ships automatically cast off in case of attack...
EDIT - but this should only happen if they are at dock, i think...
Hibiki is still attached to TF 72 and is docked, not disbanded in port. Fuel levels are dropping by one or two points a day, usually two.
RE: Small Ship, Big War
Well, then 'tis expected due to enemy recon...
-
Cuttlefish
- Posts: 2454
- Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:03 am
- Location: Oregon, USA
RE: Small Ship, Big War
November 26, 1942
Location: Kwajalein
Course: Docked
Attached to: TF 72
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 458
Orders: Await further orders.
Location: Kwajalein
Course: Docked
Attached to: TF 72
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 2
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 458
Orders: Await further orders.