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

low hanging cloud and squalls from last night, sir,” Kaku replied. “But the Chikuma’s scouts report that the weather is clearing to the south.”

“How long ago did they launch?” Yamaguchi asked, trying to clear the fog from his head.

I need tea, badly.

“Thirty minutes,” Kaku replied. “Given the losses yesterday and the need to cover more area than expected, I countermanded your orders to double up on scouts but did narrow the sectors. Given the weather, I thought it was prudent.”

“Very well,” Yamaguchi stated, rubbing his eyes and nodding. “I do not know how the British were able to fly in that crap. “I would like to have not been harassed the entire night.”

“I am sure we can properly thank our friends for our sleeplessness before lunch,” Kaku said, eyes narrowing.

“How long as it been since the last British aircraft departed?” Yamaguchi asked.

“An hour, sir,” Kaku replied. “We began spotting our strike immediately after they left the Taiho’s radar screen.”

That is not nearly enough sleep for me or the pilots. There will be accidents.

“We should have determined they were merely feinting sooner,” the vice admiral said aloud. “It would have been a miracle for them to hit in those conditions.”

Kaku shrugged.

“They managed to damage one of Ozawa-san’s carriers in the darkness,” his chief of staff replied. “Our opponents seem desperate.”

Yamaguchi grunted at that.

“Cornered rats, my friend,” he replied. “You and I both know the Army will take no prisoners once they storm the island.”

Kaku nodded, his face passive. Yamaguchi was aware his chief of staff believed such a course of action was proper given the extended supply lines.

It is unfortunately he cannot see what it does to the enemy’s willingness to fight. None of the zealots can.

“Do you still wish to hold back a second strike, sir?” Kaku asked, politely changing the topic.

“Yes,” Yamaguchi snapped, then caught himself. “If Fuchida is correct, there is only the Illustrious to our south. I still want to have something to throw at Fletcher when he makes his appearance.”

I can only imagine how complicated this would be if we also had to account for land attacks from Ceylon or suppress the island's garrison.

Yamaguchi once more ran through the timing in his head.

At least this way we can immediately begin preparing our second strike in anticipation of Fletcher being sighted or the need to hit the British again. Torpedoes and bombs do not care what flag a warship is flying, after all.

Thinking of torpedoes made Yamaguchi consider another factor.

“How many Sandaburo torpedoes do we have left?” he asked.

“The first strike will have the last of the weapons,” Kaku replied.

“I hope that damn American submarine captain hit a mine on the way home,” Yamaguchi snarled.

“It is unfortunate our pilots were so zealous in going after the battleships as well as the carriers,” Kaku stated.

“Fuchida-san said the Illustrious was still on the edge of a squall,” Yamaguchi replied, defending the Akagi’s CAG. “Warspite and Malaya are old, but I will take either of them being destroyed rather than a continued threat.”

“I hope the weather gods do not smile as fortuitously on Illustrious today,” Kaku observed.

“The weather gods can smile on whom they please at this point,” Yamaguchi replied. “Unless she’s underneath a hurricane, we will sink her with the first strike or the second."

As if on cue, there was the sound of rain falling on the Akagi’s flight deck. Yamaguchi fought the urge to head up towards the bridge and look out at the squall

If I go up to the bridge, the staff will feel the need to wake up. I need them fresh, if only for another hour.

“Do not have the pilots man their planes until the rain stops,” Yamaguchi ordered. “Turn us back northward to buy us some time.”

“Yes admiral,” Kaku said. “This will also give the searchers more time to find the Illustrious.”

Yamaguchi could have kicked himself.

I am tired and not thinking clearly.

“I do not think Fletcher would be in range yet,” he said aloud. “However, better to be safe about it. Tell the staff good work for not becoming overly focused like their admiral did.”

“Yes sir,” Kaku replied with a small bow. “Due to our losses, the staff believed it prudent to only use the seaplanes and maximize our strikes.”

U.S.S. Houston

0535 Local (1920 Eastern)

Northern Indian Ocean

10 August (9 August)

I wish I was in Hawaii right now, Jacob thought as he completed his circuit of the Houston’s deck. Probably a wonderful afternoon to sit on the back porch with Jo and just read something from the library.

He moved aside in the predawn gloom as one of the heavy cruiser’s damage control parties passed aft.

“Morning captain,” the chief petty officer in charge greeted him.

“Morning chief,” Jacob replied, then quickly added, “Carry on.”

Wonder what they’re doing? He wondered briefly, then cleared the question from his mind. Damage control was not his job anymore, fighting the Houston was.

If the XO and Lieutenant Haven have a plan, best to leave them to it.

Haven, the Houston's damage control officer, had been one of the wardroom's replacements after the Dutch East Indies. Trained at the school only established in November '42 to take advantage of what the Royal Navy had shared, the young officer had relentlessly trained the heavy cruiser's damage control parties.

Here's to hoping that man has no opportunity to put theory into practice.

Jacob climbed the ladder to the bridge, took a deep breath, and stepped into the structure.

“Captain on the bridge!”

“At ease,” Jacob said. “What’s the latest from the Yorktown?”

I hope I sound way more rested than I actually am.

He’d had a terrible night’s sleep, especially given the last signal from the Repulse.

Not sure if I like the idea of being a forward picket, but we’ll see how that works out for us. When the Yorktown turned south into the wind, the Massachusetts, Repulse, Houston, and four destroyers were going to continue moving to the east. They’d join the Indiana, Exeter, and four more destroyers to reform TF 25. Ostensibly their mission was to be prepared to