Freedom Rises With the Sun

[Cascadia]

Part III, by guest author KiMaSa (mostly)

The Langley Affair

Aircraft Transport USS Langley

At the start of 1939 with tensions rising between Japan and Italy, and the prospect of a General European War also looming on the horizon, the aviation transport USS Langley was dispatched with a cargo of 36 new P-40 fighters bound for British held Malta and to Mozambique where 16 P-40s had been purchased for the provisional Air Force there. The voyage would end in tragedy some 40 miles South West of Crete in an incident that would trigger the formal entry of the United States into the Pacific Entente and subsequently into war with both Italy and Nazi Germany.

It has been suggested by revisionist historians that President Roosevelt deliberately conspired in the destruction of the Langley in order to facilitate US entry into WW II. The speculation states that FDR knew of the impending surprise attack on Taranto and intentionally ordered the Langley and her escort; the destroyer USS Pope into the same waters where the Japanese Strike Force was now retiring. While it is true that US officials were aware that the Kido Butai had transited the Suez on February 10, 1939, it is also true that there is no evidence suggesting any deliberate intent to hazard Langley either on the part of Roosevelt or any other official, American or Japanese.

What is known is this: On February 11, USS Langley arrived at the island of Malta to deliver 20 P-40 fighters which had been purchased by the British. After a two day stay in which Langley's crew attempted to make repairs to the old ship's number two boiler which had gone out of commission during the transit from Gibraltar, Langley departed Malta bound for Alexandria where the better facilities there would allow a more thorough repair job before proceeding on to Mozambique.

At 19:37 hours on February 13, number two boiler again failed, critically reducing Langley's speed at a moment when other events were coming to a head.

By 10:00 hours local time the following morning, Langley and Pope had received word of the Japanese strike on Taranto harbor. Both ships were immediately brought to General Quarters with extra lookouts sent topside.

The USS Pope

An Italian Sparviero bomber

At 13:07 an Italian reconnaissance bomber reported to base spotting a carrier and one escort vessel sailing approximately 200 miles north of Benghazi. The Regia Aeronautica immediately armed and dispatched Sparviero torpedo bombers to the contact point. At 15:17 hours lookouts aboard.USS Pope reported aircraft closing from the starboard. By this point the Italian bombers were already descending to begin their attacks. Aboard Langley, wireless operators attempted to signal the approaching aircraft without success. Both ships went to battle stations. In short order Langley had taken four torpedo hits and was burning along her entire length. The Pope was smaller, faster, and more manueverable but tied to the wounded transport, she also took two torpedo hits and went dead in the water with a 13 degree list. On both ships the order was given to abandon as wireless operators issued a general distress call before joining their shipmates in life rafts to await their fate.

Eighty miles east, these messages were received aboard the ships of the Kido Butai. Aboard the flagship, Admiral Yamamoto faced a dilemma as he weighed the safety of his own ships against the instinct to aid whatever survivors there might be from the American vessels. Finally Lieutenant Commander Kudo Shinsaku of the destroyer Ikazuchi signalled a request to carry out a rescue. Knowing that any ship sent to pick up survivors would be at serious risk from Italian bombers, Yamamoto finally gave consent warning Kudo that the Ikazuchi would be on her own. The task force could not stop to wait. Yamamoto did however assign fighters from the carrier Kaga to sweep the area for further Italian aircraft. Shortly before midnight, the Ikazuchi arrived on scene. By 12:00 hours on the 15th, the crew of the Ikazuchi had picked up over five hundred survivors from the two doomed ships. Some 27 men had been killed on the Pope with another 16 aboard the Langley. but 576 men survived in large part due to Commander Kudo's actions on the night of the 14th.

The IJN Ikazuchi, which helped save hundreds of US survivors.

Reaction from Washington was swift. President angrily denounced the sinkings as the unprovoked murder of American servicemen. In Rome, Mussolini accused the Americans of conspiring against Italy. Within a week the United States was formally at war with Italy.

In the aftermath of this incident, Commander Kudo was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions as was able seaman Sakabi Tenchi who repeatedly dove into the waters in the early hours of February 15th to help secure and save injured American sailors.

Moreover, The United States Navy shortly formed the Sixth Fleet under the command of Admiral Ernest J. King. Eight Battleships.... Half the US Battleline accompanied by the carrier Saratoga would be sent to the Mediterranean to join forces with the Combined Fleet.

On February 15, Japan and the United States of America signed a formal military alliance, joining America to the Pacific Entente with Korea and China. Later, the name of this alliance would be changed to a more all-encompassing title, in order to further distance themselves from the old Great War-era Entente. They would become known as... the United Nations.

 

[Nathan Madien]

Pearl Harbor remix...that was awesome, Cascadia!

 

[KiMaSa]

Update? Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeease?

 

[Armfeldt]

Pretty please?

 

[KiMaSa]

Ping.... Ping.... Ping....

 

[Cascadia]

Chapter Seven, Part Two: Rising Sun in Africa

While the Imperial Japanese Navy's Striking Force under Yamamoto was crippling part of the Regia Marina, the real show was beginning in the horn of Africa. All Japanese intelligence indicated that the Italian presence in East Africa was minimal. That was liable to change quickly, but Japan's surprise attack would allow for time to establish a foothold in the farthest-flung corner of the Italian Empire.

The IJN forces in the area were on high alert, patrolling the invasion area for Italian vessels. Joining the Japanese ships was the Chinese cruiser Hai-chen, the only RoC military presence in the theater. On February 15, the initial landings were underway: four divisions securing part of eastern Somalia. Two were Japanese: the Eleventh and 'Sendai' infantry divisions. Two made up the Free Ethiopian Forces: the 'Lions of Abyssinia' and 'Golden Lions' divisions.

Following the intial force, the IJA's armored divisions were landed to the southwest, broadening the beachead. General Asaka, Lt. General Yamada, and Lt. General Yamashita Tomoyuki headed these forces. Within two weeks, the entire 36-division Pacific Entente force was in Somalia.

Meeting no Italian resistance, this force drove inland and quickly liberated all of Somalia from the enemy. Landings were planned for the Eritrea region of Ethiopia in the north, but no suitable sites could be found. As such, it was up to the Japanese and Korean ground forces to keep pushing inland. So began what became known as Japan's 'Drive to the Sea'.

For two more weeks, no enemy resistance was met. Imperial Navy and Air Force scouting did reveal an alarming increase in Italian naval traffic, but Japan was doing all it could. Some ships were bound to get through. The Regia Marina had been ordered to punch through any enemy blockade by Mussolini, who was determined to reinforce his newest possession. The Duce was unwilling to let that traitrous witch of a Japanese schoolgirl take one of Italy's colonies.

Lt. Gen. Yamashita Tomoyuki, commander of 3. Senshagun, plans strategy southeast of Addis Ababa.

The exact number of enemy reinforcements was unknown to the Japanese, but it was clear that substantial resistance might be met. Italy had sent twenty-three divisions to stop the Japanese and Korean armies. Each convoy that got through, though, lost Italy transports, destroyers, and even two cruisers. First contact between the forces was made just south of Addis Ababa, the pre-conquest Ethopian capital.

It was an accidental battle; the two Italian infantry divisions were moving towards defensive positions that had been hastilly prepared by colonial militiamen. Instead of reaching their defenses, the Italians ran straight into the spearhead of the Japanese invasion force. Asaka's tanks, backed up by infantry, broke through the Italian lines like a katana through warm butter.

Another stand was attempted by the Italian army in Addis Ababa itself, but reinforcements didn't arrive quickly enough. Yamashita's armor boldly hooked around the Italian left, Yamada's to the right. In late March, they linked up behind the enemy lines, cutting off five Italian divisions. With that done, the Imperial Japanese Army closed the trap, destroying those divisions.

Italian soldiers surrender after being cut off in Addis Ababa.

More Korean troops arrived via Mozambique, and were left to guard Somalia in case the Italians attempted to retake Japan's access point for the theater. Meanwhile, the Free Ethiopians entered Addis Ababa, welcomed mostly as heroes by the locals. Empress Yoriko called the liberation of the Ethiopian capital "a singularly great event, a victory for the Ethiopian people and a terrible blow to the fascist enemy." Japan's armies then turned north, advancing with three army groups: West, Center, and East.

Army Group East reached the sea first, in mid-April of 1939. Center stopped short of the sea a few days later, allowing East to drive west along the coastline, and supporting East's attacks against Italian forces there. Several smaller battles had been fought in Ethiopia, but had resulted in quick reversals for the Italians. There was a stalemate, though, when Army Group East neared the final Italian coastal province in Eritrea. Even with Center supporting, the Italians managed to hold back the Japanese troops.

A tank crew from the Imperial Second Armored Division at rest during the Drive to the Sea.

On April 20, Army Group West arrived, leaving the Italian defenders only one foothold in East Africa. Italy's supply lines had been cut by the Imperial Japanese Navy. Supplies were running low for the Italian army, who had lost another four divisions in the campaign since Addis Ababa. With Army Group West in position, Army Group Center, and the largest concentration of Japanese tanks, went on the attack against the dug-in Italians. East supported, and slowly but surely the IJA broke the Italian defenses and split the lines in two. Yamada and Yamashita drove in from the west and east, respectively, and further caused the Italian lines to resemble Swiss cheese.

With morale destroyed, supplies gone, and no hope of reinforcements from Europe, the Italian force's command staff faced a reality they hadn't expected. They had been beaten, and badly, by the Imperial Japanese and Republican Korean forces. A lack of modern arms, specifically anti-armor measures, poor leadership, and low morale all contributed to this. Without any other option but to slip away in the night and abandon his men, the Italian commander had his decision. Field Marshal Rodolfo Graziani offered IJA Lieutenant General Yamashita Tomoyuki the unconditional surrender of Italian forces in the East African theater on May 10, 1939.

Field Marshal Rodolfo Graziani just after surrendering to Yamashita.

The same man who'd headed the Italian conquest of Ethiopia was defeated soundly, losing fourteen divisions in the process. As the military campaign had gone on, Japanese diplomats had met with native African politicians to form a provisional government for Italian Somaliland. Emperor Haile Selasie I was spirited home in secret along with his government-in-exile.

Victory in East Africa had become Yoriko's greatest triumph yet, but the war had only just begun. Germany declared war immediately after the attack on Taranto. Italy had suffered a defeat, but was still strong in the mediterranean. For the moment, she could relish another Japanese victory. It was made greater when, on June 3, Ethiopia and the Republic of Somalia became independent, both joining the coalition of nations Yoriko had assembled thus far. Japan, Korea, China, the United States of America, Liberia, the Phillipines, Somalia and Ethiopia all stood against Mussolini.

Yet Japanese eyes looked north, to the Italian holdings there. One campaign finished, more to come. Possibly to allow the Japanese military to strike into the heart of Italy itself. And soon, an unlikely nation would be added to the United Nations alliance...

 

[KiMaSa]

Bravo! Well done to the forces of the UN!

 

[Nathan Madien]

Way to go! An invasion of Italy? Sounds exciting!

 

[Cascadia]

Interlude: Domestic Complications, Part 1

The darkness of early morning eveloped the streets of Osaka with a menacing shadow. Apart from the occasional street lamp, this particular neighborhood might as well have been a cave. Several figures moved through the shadows and winding alleyways to reach a secret meeting place. A meeting place where men with a common concern for the direction of Japan would meet.

First one, then another filtered into the home of one Doctor Kawabe, a noted local surgeon and former Imperial Army officer. The men who entered Dr. Kawabe's home all wore uniforms of the Imperial services for the most part. There was Captain Tanaka, the group's leader and a veteran of the Great War in the Imperial Army. Rear Admiral Ishikawa (ret.) was sort of a figurehead leader, but the old man had been brought in more to give the group some respectability than for his leadership qualities. He was also the last to arrive, in a civillian suit himself and still with the limp he'd had since the Russo-Japanese War.

Inside their gathering area, a hinomaru banner was strung up on the wall, flanked by images of late Emperors Meiji and Atsuhito. Several chairs had been brought into the room, which despite the group's dedication to traditional Japanese things was western-style. Once the Rear Admiral had taken his seat, Dr. Kawabe stood up to begin the meeting with a few words.

"We are all present and accounted for, so now begins this meeting of the Osaka chapter of the Imperial Preservation Society," he said stiffly, then motioned to Tanaka, "I believe the Captain wanted to start us off this morning."

The captain stood as Kawabe sat, not hesitating as he began his speech, "Thank you, doctor. As you know, gentlemen, our forces recently finished pushing the Italian forces out of eastern Africa. Yet the Empress, who initiated the war, seeks to continue hostilities against them. To continue a conflict thousands of miles away from Japan, against an enemy whom posed no threat to Japanese supremecy. While we should be taking advantage of the European conflict to seize the western powers' colonies in Asia, we are instead poised to attack Europe."

"Ask yourselves, gentlemen, how many thousands of Japan's sons will fall for this woman's cause? How much will we lose because Atsuhito's little girl thinks she should play general, or admiral? And how shameful it is for our brave sons to be forced to call a woman their leader," Tanaka growled, "She has brought war with Germany once again, and worse still, she has allowed women to join the Imperial Air Force as combatants! These insults cannot stand. The Society is prepared to take unrelenting, decisive action to remove this stain upon Japanese honor."

"But who would replace her, Tanaka? Her Majesty does not have any siblings," Ishikawa spoke with doubt clearly expressed in his voice.

"That is something of a problem, but the Empress does have a worthy relative, sir," Tanaka answered, "General Asaka, a proven soldier and able commander, is an uncle of hers. He renounced his claim to the throne, but perhaps we can convince him to relent. Especially after his niece is.. removed from power."

Just what he meant by 'removed from power' would not be known to the Imperial Preservation Society's Osaka chapter. It was at that moment that a window burst as a figure clad in black crashed through it. Two more figures leapt through the window, similarly dressed in black. Not like ninja, though. Their uniforms bore more of a martial appearance, not unlike a cross between the Imperial Army and the German SS.

What was more startling were the faces revealed as the intruders' masks were pulled down. They were all women, and all bore a stern, cold expression. Without so much as a word they went about their deadly work, three junior officers nearest the window taking blades to the throat or heart. Dr. Kawabe panicked and tried to run from the room, only to be shot after one of the women in black produced a Nambu pistol from her uniform.

She put two more rounds into the doctor while her partners went after Tanaka and Ishikawa. Tanaka, the more fit of the two, was able to dodge the first deadly swings of a katana by one of the ladies. Ishikawa attempted to, but was too slow. He took several strikes before falling to his knees, bloody and wheezing. Moments later his head was lopped off by one of the two women with swords. That left Tanaka, who fumbled with a pistol of his own, to fend off the assassins.

The two wielding swords parted as their leader stepped forward, levelled her Nambu, and grinned maliciously. Tanaka fired his weapon first, catching the woman in the arm. She cursed, then fired three more rounds in rapid succession into the captain. With the last man dead, the women departed the scene of carnage, leaving it for the authorities to see.

Only two signs of the assailants were found besides the bodies of the men they'd slain. One was a message, scrawled on the wall in black that simply said 'TRAITORS'. The other was less noticeable, left between the teeth of the dead Captain Tanaka. A single black rose.

 

[KiMaSa]

A fitting end for traitors!

 

[Nathan Madien]

Women who kick butt...I like that.

 

[Cascadia]

Chapter Seven, Part Three: First Contact in the Mediterrenean

It turned out they were right about the Mediterrenean - it was quite lovely in the springtime. Or it looked that way from a vantage point in the sky. You couldn't really tell what the water was like from the confined space of a fighter's cockpit. Not unless you had to make a crash landing into that water; in that case, you had more important things to worry about than how pleasant it might be.

Lieutenant Ookami Yuki, the unofficial commander of the Special Combat Squadron, was happy just to be in the air. The limited aerial action over Somalia and Ethiopia by the IJAF had involved mostly ground support. That meant that the Ki-40 fighters of the SCS had been grounded, the pilots left to roast in the Mozambique sun. With the war widening and Imperial forces advancing, the IJAF needed every plane it had in the theater airborne.

A look to the left and to the right confirmed that Pilot Officers Sumida and Lee were on still nearby. The two had been assigned as her wingmen (though 'men' wasn't really the most appropriate term) after the SCS' deployment to Mozambique. Behind her flew Pilot Officer Mizuno Keiko, one of the last girls to join the unit before its departure from the home islands. After weeks of combat-readiness training alongside sleeker Ki-44 and Reisen fighters, they were now being put into front line action for the first time. Everyone was at least a little afraid, but Yuki refused to show hers. Weakness in the commander would drop morale with subordinates. That's what she'd been taught in officer's training anyhow.

"What a wonderful morning," Pilot Officer Lee remarked, her Japanese bearing an obvious American accent, "Not a cloud in the sky."

"Not an Italian, either," Yuki added, then cautioned, "Keep your eyes open all the same."

They flew for a few more minutes, with a second group of four Ki-40s off ahead and to the west of them. That group included Lt. Kuroda Hiroko, her wingmen, and Capt. Anzai Hiroshi, who the IJAF had assigned as the official commander of the IJAF. He'd been a last minute addition, much to the consternation of the women in the unit. The man could fly a plane, but he was a stubbon, impetuous officer who didn't know his way around the American-designed machine the SCS flew.

As an island came into view below, Anzai's voice crackled over the radio, "There's the target, ladies. Let's go in for a closer look, then head home."

"What about enemy fighters, sir?" Kuroda could be heard questioning Anzai, trying to mask the annoyance in her voice.

"Do you see any, Lieutenant?" Anzai emphasized his superior rank with obvious delight.

"No sir," Kuroda responded grudgingly.

Then, just as the first group of Ki-40s began their dive towards the island, Mizuno suddenly sounded a warning, "Fighters! Italians at ten o'clock!"

Yuki jerked her head to the west to look for the enemy the kid had warned her of. Sure enough, a group of three Italian fighters were headed right for them. She also noted a second group coming in at a lower altitude from a little farther north. Could they have been made aware of this mission? Yuki didn't have time to worry about that. The enemy was here, and they had to be met.

"Captain, we have two groups of enemies headed for us: ten o'clock and eleven o'clock! Group B is moving to intercept at ten o'clock," Yuki announced over her radio, then signaled her wingmen to swing west.

As they moved to intercept the Italians, Yuki gave her orders, "Hoshi, Keiko, pair up and take one of them. Hazel and I will take another. Work together, and don't let them get on your tail. Remember, they can turn inside of us."

"Youkai," Sumida and Mizuno both responded immediately, as they peeled off to intercept the fighter on the left. The other two paired up and went right.

At closer inspection, the fighters appeared to be Fiats, not exactly Italy's finest. All the same, they could be dangerous if not taken seriously. Yuki flew past the Fiat and then made as sharp a turn as she dared to with her Ki-40. Suddenly she was on the Fiat's tail. Lee was right with her, slighty above and behind. When she got just close enough to fire, the Fiat started to climb, but the Italian exposed his canopy to Yuki's line of fire. A mistake he wouldn't make again; Yuki tapped her trigger once, then again. One of the bursts hit the Fiat, which went from a climb to tumbling out of the sky.

A glance to the left revealed that the Italian there had been taken down as well. The one remaining Fiat apparently decided that the odds were decidedly not in his favor and turned around to head home. Yuki almost wanted to let the Italian leave, but the squadron had orders to prevent the enemy from reporting their presence if it could be helped. She maneuvered to attack, but the Fiat was a little too fast. The bursts she fired missed wide, and neither Lee nor Sumida could score a hit.

That was when the Captain's voice could be heard shouting, "I've been hit... sneaky bastard. Just... got to... arg! Losing control... I can't.. keep her.. straight.... aaaagggh!"

Then there was static. Yuki didn't need an explanation for that - Captain Anzai was gone. She wouldn't particularly miss the man, but she still felt anger towards the Italian who'd gunned him down. What if that had been Kuroda? Every pilot lost would be hard to replace. This also meant, though, that Ookami Yuki was now the commanding officer of the Special Combat Squadron.

Not wasting any time, she led her wing towards the others and called through the radio, "Kuroda, what's your situation? Report."

No response. Yuki spoke again, "Report."

As the Ki-40s descended upon the dogfight, Yuki noticed four aircraft - one Japanese, four Italian. The Italians here weren't Fiats. They looked to be Reggiane fighters, which were supposed to be better quality. Apparently these Italians were more skilled pilots as well. Two of the Reggianes were engaged in a tight-turning pursuit of the remaining Ki-40, which was trying desperately to flee. Smoke was wafting out of its engine block, which was a bad sign.

The second group of Ki-40s dove on the assailants, Yuki at the forefront. She tapped the tigger once, twice, tree times. One of the Reggianes trailed smoke, then burst into flames moments later; she'd hit the fuel line. As one Reggiane exploded, another took a hit and vanished in the chaos of the battle, headed for home. Yuki had the remaining Reggiane on her tail, but then pulled a trick the American advisor Claire Chenault had taught the squadron.

Yuki slowed her aircraft and let the Reggiane fly past her. Now that the tables were turned, Yuki squeezed her trigger again. No effect was visible at first, so she fired again. Still no effect. She followed the Italian into a series of turns that the Ki-40 really didn't seem to want to make. In the midst of one, she fired again. The Italian stopped banking right and plummeted for the island below.

"Kuroda, report! What happened?" Yuki called out again after recognizing the smoking Ki-40 as Kuroda's.

"Terazawa was hit before we could react, but she might have ejected over the water. Anzai's dead. Tanizaki took a round to her machine early and peeled off for home before it got worse," Kuroda finally responded, then half sarcastically remarked, "Glad to see you lot made it out in one piece."

"More or less," Yuki responded, smirking a little. They'd lost at least one, maybe two pilots. Three, if Tanizaki hadn't gotten back to their airstrip. There'd be time to mourn later if they really had died; for now, keeping themselves alive counted for more.

"All right, let's head home and pass along what we found," Yuki ordered, "Consider the current mission aborted. Repeat: aborted."

"Youkai," someone responded - she thought it might have been Mizuno. Her mind was drifting a bit, so she couldn't be certain. Things became fuzzy in her vision for a few seconds, then went normal and back again. Only as their fighters neared the landing strip did she notice the dark stain on her uniform.

 

[Nathan Madien]

That was when the Captain's voice could be heard shouting, "I've been hit... sneaky bastard. Just... got to... arg! Losing control... I can't.. keep her.. straight.... aaaagggh!"

A bit overdramatic, I think.

 

[Cascadia]

A bit overdramatic, I think.

Right you are. Keep in mind that it was written when I was a bit tired, and in such a state is not when the best writing comes out.

 

[Nathan Madien]

Right you are. Keep in mind that it was written when I was a bit tired, and in such a state is not when the best writing comes out.

If I may recommend, I think his sentence should be shorten a bit.

Of course, this little point doesn't detract from the enjoyment I had reading this update.

 

[KiMaSa]

A bit overdramatic, I think.

Not necessarily... Or rather, if so it is because the pilot in question was a bit overdramatic himself. Frankly the IJAF did not assign him to command the SCS because he was the best suited. On that basis, Saburo Sakai would have been the choice but he has apparently been returned to his old outfit. Anzai could not have been totally incompetent or he would have been grounded, but from the IJAF point of view, he still had issues that would have kept him from getting a regular squadron command.

Namely excitability and a lean toward histrionics. this is supported by the manner in which he lost control (And indeed why he was probably the only SCS pilot killed that day.) He is a proficient pilot IF he were flying Nakajimas or Mitsubishis. He undoubtedly tried using standard Japanese combat techniques in a copy of a P-40. When these failed because his plane would not climb or turn like the planes he was familiar with, he panicked. The loss of control came not from battle damage as he assumed, but from the bane of pilots: over compensation in an emergency.

Yuki and the the other pilots like Kumoda went through Chennault's training and understood their birds. Anzai did not. Indeed his only real qualification for being squadron commander was his rank and the fact that no one wanted to give him a regular line squadron.

 

[Nathan Madien]

Not necessarily... Or rather, if so it is because the pilot in question was a bit overdramatic himself. Frankly the IJAF did not assign him to command the SCS because he was the best suited. On that basis, Saburo Sakai would have been the choice but he has apparently been returned to his old outfit. Anzai could not have been totally incompetent or he would have been grounded, but from the IJAF point of view, he still had issues that would have kept him from getting a regular squadron command.

Namely excitability and a lean toward histrionics. this is supported by the manner in which he lost control (And indeed why he was probably the only SCS pilot killed that day.) He is a proficient pilot IF he were flying Nakajimas or Mitsubishis. He undoubtedly tried using standard Japanese combat techniques in a copy of a P-40. When these failed because his plane would not climb or turn like the planes he was familiar with, he panicked. The loss of control came not from battle damage as he assumed, but from the bane of pilots: over compensation in an emergency.

Yuki and the the other pilots like Kumoda went through Chennault's training and understood their birds. Anzai did not. Indeed his only real qualification for being squadron commander was his rank and the fact that no one wanted to give him a regular line squadron.

I see.

Interesting background into someone's final words.

 

[KiMaSa]

I see.

Interesting background into someone's final words.

Well maybe anyway... I'm probably reaching though. o

Still a nice piece of action!

 

[Cascadia]

Chapter Seven, Part Four: Readying the Sword

TOKYO - War was already taking its toll upon the Empress of Japan. Even thousands of miles away in Africa and the Mediterrenean, worries about its progress kept her up late every night. She'd gotten into the habit of checking in with her commanders every couple hours in case some new development came through. Fretting about assaults that were still in place hadn't just put Yoriko out of sleep, but also at times on edge.

After all, the thousands of Japanese sons fighting fascism were in the theater because of her. Their deaths were on her shoulders and on her mind. It saddened her deeply to even glance at the casualty lists that came in as fighting became more difficult. Her resolve remained, though, to defeat the fascists in Europe. How many lives might that save? Not enough Japanese ones to be sure.

At home, the opposition Conservative party was raising hell about her methods of leadership. They asserted, not without merit, that the Japanese democracy was disappearing. The Diet was becoming nothing more than a rubber stamp for the Empress' policies, and the Social Liberals were her instruments. With Japanese soldiers fighting and dying half a world away, they were calling for new elections. Some of the more brazen candidates went so far as to promise they would bring the soldiers home if the Conservatives won. On the left, the Social Liberals too began to complain of the Empress coercing the Diet to do whatever she wanted it to. Calls were coming in for the resignation of Prime Minister Tanaka.

Then there were disturbing intelligence reports. A group of military men with far right wing political leanings had been found slaughtered in Osaka. All that had been left behind was a black rose and the word 'traitors' on the wall. The Japanese national police were working with military intelligence to try and identify the perpetrators. Yoriko was both fascinated and horrified that anyone would be so vicious, apparently in her name.

Intelligence also indicated that the amount of traffic amongst the known Chinese espionage network in Japan had increased dramatically in the past two months. Particularly centering around Tokyo. No one was sure what the Chinese were looking for, but Yoriko had her guesses. Her new personal aide, Yi Mei, could be one of them. The Empress of Japan having a Chinese national as an aide would certainly raise some eyebrows in Chiang Kai-Shek's camp. If they found out anything more about her... well, the delicate friendship between China and Japan might have some trouble.

It was late at night again as Yoriko poured over a map of the Mediterrenean. Only the Empress remained in the conference room, which had seen several meetings earlier in the day. Prime Minister Tanaka had come in earliest to discuss the precarious position she was in, and the danger of Yoriko not consulting the Diet more thoroughly. The PM left earlier than planned due to the military needing to see Yoriko earlier.

From their meeting, Yoriko had learned that Japanese forces had begun operations in preparation for the next high-risk strike at Italy. The Imperial Japanese Navy, alongside U.S. Navy vessels, three Korean warships, and the Chinese cruiser Hai-chen were working together to hunt down and destroy the Regia Marina. So far, the IJN was having the most success. The USS Astoria (a cruiser) had notably sunk not one, but two Italian surface ships in an engagement recently - including the RM Conte di Cavour, a battleship.

The Army reported that planned landings on the Italian islands near Greece and Turkey had been completed. Only on one island had the Italians mounted any kind of organized defense. On that island, Japanese soldiers had made short work of the enemy largely due to IJAF air superiority. Everything was in place for the next attack. Yoriko still mulled over the decision the command had come to with her input, but knew it was the best choice out of three dangerous options.

"Still up, Your Majesty?" someone called from the doorway.

Yoriko looked over and spotted Yi Mei in the doorway, still dressed in a finely tailored suit. Sighing, the Empress nodded, "Yes, Yi Mei. Today has been overwhelming, for lack of a better term. I hope we're doing the right thing with this new operation."

"Wasn't the decision ultimately yours?" Yi Mei posed her question as she stepped inside the room.

"It was, but that doesn't make it easier. Or safer for the men who will actually be carrying out the orders," Yoriko answered, then stepped over to her aide and placed a hand gently on the girl's shoulder, "At least I seem to be able to get along with my commanders now. With our past victories, some private conversations and a lot of research, I think I've gained their trust. Now if only the Diet felt the same way."

"I suppose it can't be helped," her aide said with a slight smile, "What can be is your sleep. Why don't you go to bed, ma'am? I'll get you some tea if you like."

Yoriko thought about that for a moment, then smiled and nodded, "Yes, that sounds lovely. You know just how to get me to step back and relax sometimes, you know that?"

"It's my job, Your Majesty," Yi Mei answered, and was about to say more before a soldier came running down the hall.

He stopped short of the conference room and bowed deeply before holding out a letter, "Sorry to intrude, Your Imperial Majesty, but this message just came in."

Yoriko took the message and opened it, but asked, "Where from?"

"The foreign ministry. They said it was urgent," the soldier replied, still catching his breath from running all the way up from the ground floor.

Yoriko scanned the letter, frowned, re-read the section of interest and finally announced, "Italy has declared war on Albania."

There was a deathly silence for a long moment before the soldier asked, "What do you want me to do, Your Imperial Majesty?"

"Get me the commanders of the Navy and Army. We've got to see what we can do to help Mussolini's newest enemy. If he thinks he can still go around invading his neighbors while his forces are being beaten back... he's made one too many mistakes," Yoriko gave her answer, then turned to Yi Mei, "I need you to get the Foreign Minister on the phone. Tell him that we should extend United Nations membership to Albania, and see what we can do to that end."

"You're never going to get that sleep, are you, Your Majesty?" Yi Mei asked, sounding more concerned than amused. Amusement was there, though, if only slightly.

"Not when the Duce is giving us more ammunition to shoot back at him," Yoriko smirked, then gave Yi Mei's shoulder a squeeze before heading back to the map.

************

Immediately following Italy's declaration of war on Albania, United Nations troops were dispatched to help defend the Balkan nation. King Zog of Albania accepted Japan's offer of assistance as soon as it arrived, greatful for any help against Mussolini. Hours after Albania officially joined the United Nations, a full division of Korean infantrymen unloaded on the coast.

Soldiers of the Korean 5th Infantry, recruited from the northern reaches of the Republic, set up a machine gun position in Albania. Note the American gun, sent to Korea as part of a lend-lease program.

Soon, bombers from the USAAF and fighters from China and the Phillipines landed in Tirana. Albania would be defended against any Italian incursions. There was disaster amongst this hasty attempt to assist Albania as well. A second division, the Korean 6th Infantry, was loaded aboard Japanese transports and sent towards Albania. While the IJN and USN had dealt major blows to the Regia Marina, they hadn't entirely destroyed it. An Italian surface force intercepted the convoy and sunk the 7th and 8th Yuso Sentai (transport flotillas), and the Koreans with them. A few survivors were picked up later, both by the Italians and by Japanese ships on patrol. Most were lost at sea.

Despite the setback, a major new offensive was being planned by Japanese tacticians in east Africa and Tokyo. All the Italians had left were Libya and Italy itself, and the decision was made to force a wedge between Europe and North Africa. Code named Operation Typhoon, it centered around the invasion of Italian soil. The invasion of Sicily.

 

[KiMaSa]

Excellent work!