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

Dunlap watched as shock, understanding, then sorrow crossed Halsey’s face while he continued.

"Sir, I thought the Essex, Wasp, and Ranger suffered no damage!" Halsey stated.

"Well, that's what we told the public," Dunlap replied. "The Essex took a torpedo, while the Wasp and Ranger each caught one of those new German glide bombs."

"Jesus," Halsey said, his face paling. "And we thought the Senate was in an uproar over what they were told."

“Especially given that the Krauts and their Limeys smacked the living crap out of the Washington, North Carolina, and South Dakota,” Dunlap responded.

"When is the public going to be informed on how heavy the losses were?" Halsey asked. "Bad news doesn't get better with age, and the man in the street still believes we lost some transports and old battleships."

We’re lucky we "just lost some transports." When Secretary Knox had briefed him on the war to date upon his recall to active duty, Dunlap had nearly vomited.

"Once there's a victory to overshadow what happened," Dunlap stated. "Which Vice Admiral Fletcher has delivered part of one."

"What were his orders, if I may ask?" Halsey inquired.

He recovers from bad news quickly, at least.

“At no point was Vice Admiral Fletcher to allow the Bonhomme Richard, Independence, Massachusetts, or Indiana to drop below enough fuel to be able to make it past the Cape of Good Hope and into the Central Atlantic,” Admiral Dunlap stated.

“Here I figured ol’ Black Jack was channeling his uncle,” Halsey replied, tone somber. "This is the situation so far.”

Dunlap had a sensation akin to falling off a tall building as Halsey succinctly recounted what had been happening in the Indian Ocean.

Mother of God.

“I’m glad I’m not in Washington right now, as Admiral Tovey was already fit to be tied,” Dunlap observed somberly. “I imagine he’s positively apoplectic at this point, especially if Vice Admiral Cunningham is confirmed dead. Who did you say was in charge of Illustrious?”

“Rear Admiral Philip Vian,” Halsey replied. “He’s the senior surviving officer with the British fleet. Vice Admiral Cunningham’s deputy was also killed aboard the Malaya.”

“The Japanese seem to be very good at killing admirals,” Dunlap said, pursing his lips. “Let’s hope they’re not going to add Jack Fletcher to the list.”

Halsey glanced at his watch.

“Jack should be in contact with them right about now.”

Dunlap shook his head angrily.

“I truly hope I’m not taking command of a fleet just in time for my carriers to get sunk an ocean away,” he remarked. “When this is over, we’re bringing Yorktown and Enterprise back to Pearl.”

Halsey nodded as Dunlap continued, looking out the window towards the Ford Island.

“I had already anticipated those orders, sir,” Halsey said. “They were just awaiting the arrival of whomever took over from me. I don’t think the British will be happy about it, though.”

“Our navy has worked on the same warplan for over twenty-five years, Bill,” Dunlap stated. “The British can either help us execute it or not, but I’m not losing any more vessels trying to hold on to someone else’s colonies.”

“Sir, you sound like you don’t think Jack is going to win.”

“Jack is outnumbered six to four, and that’s before you count that second carrier force that’s apparently up near Ceylon,” Dunlap replied. “My best hope is that he knows when to call it a day. Unlike this Vian fellow.”

“Oh, Vian is being very cagey,” Halsey said, holding up a hand as warding off an attack. “When we were testing night operations off Canada back in March, the British developed a way to maintain contact with our Avengers.”

Dunlap raised an eyebrow as they passed through Pearl Harbor’s main gate. He returned the sentry’s salute, noting that the Marines manning the machine gun never left their weapon’s mount.

On one hand, I would think that’s a bit of paranoia. On the other hand, I’d feel awfully stupid if a Japanese Fifth Columnist showed up in my office to put two in my head.

“Sir?”

“Sorry Bill, I got distracted,” Dunlap said. “Run that by me again.”

Halsey nodded.

“The Brits figured out a way to put a bigger ferry tank in the Avenger’s bomb bay,” Halsey said. “Whole plane would go up like a roman candle if anyone shot it, but it added another hundred and fifty miles to the range.”

“Could they put any bombs under the wings?” Dunlap asked, intrigued.

“Not much point in doing that, sir,” Halsey replied. “The important thing is keeping contact with your opponent so you or someone else can smack him at dawn the next day.”

He has a point. This isn’t like a gunnery battle where both sides are going to stand toe to toe until someone gets tired or scared.

Further discussion was interrupted by the car coming to a stop.

“I will need someone on your staff to bring me up to speed on carriers, Bill,” Dunlap said.

“Sir?”

“I’ve been on the beach for almost ten years, Bill,” Dunlap said. “My predecessor clearly didn’t understand what carriers could do and it got him killed. I want to make sure I don’t make the same mistakes.”

“Rear Admiral Towers is a good man to talk to, sir,” Halsey replied after a moment. “He’s on his way back from Florida.”

“What was he doing in Florida?” Dunlap asked.

“We’re planning a surprise for the Emperor,” Halsey said. “He has an idea using some B-25s and a carrier. Needed to go to Eglin Field to try it out.”

Let’s hope I have carriers left, Dunlap thought grimly, looking at his watch. Going to be a long day of waiting.

I.J.N.S. Akagi

0435 Local (1835 Eastern)

Northern Indian Ocean

10 August (9 August)

“Sir, we are ready to launch the combat air patrol,” Rear Admiral Kaku said. “As per your orders, we have made First Division the duty carriers today.”

Vice Admiral Yamaguchi turned his bleary eyes towards the man. The two officers were in the vice admiral’s day cabin, Yamaguchi having finally retreated there after a night of poor rest thanks to what he assumed was the Illustrious’ air group.

“Thank you, Kaku-san,” Yamaguchi replied. “Has the weather improved any?”

“We still have the