Against the Tide Imperial: The Struggle for Ceylon (The Usurper's War: An Alternative World War II B by James Young (story reading txt) 📕

“Can’t keep many secrets aboard this ship, sir,” O’Malley replied. “But the crew is ready to scrap with the Japanese again. Having the two big boys along helps with that.”

Jacob chuckled.

“They do certainly look impressive. Let’s hope that translates into them actually being impressive.”

6

Chaos Dawn

It is an invariable axiom of war to secure your own flanks and rear and endeavour to turn those of your enemy.

—King Frederick II, Prussia

Morton Residence

0600 Local (1200 Eastern)

9 August

Once more, someone was knocking on their kitchen door.

“This sort of thing has got to stop,” Patricia said as Jo stepped out of her bedroom.

“We are in violent agreement about that,” Jo replied running her hand through her hair.

We were both up way too late last night. Especially for people who have to keep secrets. They’d sat up with Sam and David as the twins caught them up on everything that had happened in the last few months. The whole time, Jo had been distracted on what was likely happening out in the Indian Ocean. It had been a very sleepless night.

“Were you guys expecting company?” Sam asked lowly as he slid off of the couch bed and sauntered towards the kitchen.

It’s kind of scary that a man that big can move that quietly. Patricia wondered why I asked who won hide and seek in her family. If she wasn’t used to it, she’d know how weird it is that all of her brothers move like Injuns, with Sam the chief.

“No, we’re not,” Patricia answered, looking at Jo speculatively.

“I figure anything that Sam and David can’t handle just might shrug off a shotgun,” Jo said, then stopped.

Goddammit, she thought, relieved when Sam and David both started smiling. Patricia looked at all of them with a questioning glance.

“You want to get the door, Sam?” Jo asked with a giggle.

“Why yes, yes I think I will,” Sam said, walking into the kitchen. She watched as the eldest Cobb threw the door open to look down at his younger brother.

“Didn’t Mom teach you to call ahead?” Sam asked, dragging Nick Cobb into a giant bear hug.

“Agnes!” he said with a surprised smile as Nick’s girlfriend walked into the Morton residence.

“Nick!” Patricia said simultaneously, rushing forward to hug her brother as well.

“What the hell? Is Eric going to show up tomorrow?” David asked, smiling as he also embraced his brother.

I notice he’s not in his khakis, which means he didn’t just get here. Jo met Agnes’ eyes from behind all the embracing Cobbs and gave the secretary a knowing smile. The Portuguese woman just gave a slight smile and shrugged back.

“Well, there’s no more room for anyone else to sleep here, so you guys better start looking for a place to stay,” Patricia said, her smile belying her words.

“I assure you, we’ll find room,” Jo said. “Although it would be very amusing if my father found out I’d turned this into a boarding home.”

“Amusing isn’t the word I think would apply,” Patricia said. “Let me get some coffee started.”

“So now I’m in limbo,” Nick said a few moments later. He glanced over at Agnes before continuing. “There’s apparently been some big shake up at BuPers, which means that the previous order got rescinded.”

Sam and David looked at one another, then at Nick.

“You know about Admiral King, right?” Sam asked.

“I’ve heard rumors that he’s not in charge anymore, but no one’s said anything directly,” Nick said, drawing a startled gasp from Agnes.

“I’m sorry, I thought for sure Commander Emerson told you,” she said. “Nick, Admiral King has been dead for almost two weeks."

Nick looked at her, thunderstruck.

"What?"

"Dropped dead of a heart attack," Sam said. "Scuttlebutt is in mid-argument with Secretary Knox."

"That explains why there’s been some changes at BuPers, as I imagine whomever is going to replace him probably wants his own folks in charge," Nick said, eyes still wider than normal.

“Why would someone change out people in charge during a war?” Patricia asked. “That doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense.”

“The war is going badly,” Jo stated flatly. “So I can imagine that will lead to changes of leadership. Especially since they’ve got a carrier admiral in Halsey who is not someone you chain to a desk.”

“I can’t believe Admiral Jensen’s replacement still hasn’t been named,” Sam said. “I thought for sure that would have been done already.”

“Might have happened and we just don’t know it yet,” Nick said, then took a pull of coffee. “Holy shit, I still can’t believe King is dead though.”

“Language, Nick,” Sam stated lowly.

“Yeah, best watch your fucking mouth,” Jo responded without a moment’s hesitation, drawing a titter from Agnes and a glare from Sam.

“Anyway,” David said, “do you guys care if we bring Major Haynes over for dinner tonight? We’d like you all to meet him.”

Clearly this is a man who has gotten their respect, Jo noted. As well as their friendship.

“Where is Major Haynes from?” Patricia asked. “If we need to make something special for him, I can try and scrounge up some food.”

“Upstate New York,” Sam said. “He was born into money.”

“What kind of money?” Patricia asked, genuinely curious. “Vanderbilt money?”

“He’s kind of reticent to talk about it,” David said. “Doesn’t throw it around, but other people in the squadron said he’s the sole heir to an optics fortune.”

“I bet his family’s just thrilled he’s out here,” Nick said “I imagine his Mom is like ours, just on steroids and with money to interfere.”

Sam and David shared a pained look.

“His mother’s dead, actually,” David replied. “It’s a story he’s best able to tell.”

Patricia, Sam, and Nick all swiveled their eyes towards David with various degrees of shock, then looked at Jo.

I can't believe he just said that, Jo thought as she grimaced. David at least had the decency to look briefly pained before Jo twisted the rhetorical knife.

“Oh, hello Major Haynes. Glad to meet you. Why don’t we quiz you about what is probably