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

day," Jacob observed, glancing at the plot before him. "Let me know when they're down to twenty miles."

"Aye aye, sir," the talker replied.

"Now, explain Rear Admiral Vian's plan again?" Jacob said, looking over at Commander Farmer. The British officer looked down at the scribbled notes he'd just made from the very long signal passed via semaphore lamp from H.M.C.S. Repulse.

"Rear Admiral Vian employed aircraft fitted with long-range tanks to keep tabs on the Japanese task force," Commander Farmer said. "That’s why your blokes were able to launch before dawn."

"Understood," Jacob said. "But you lost me when you started talking about unicorns."

The British officer's lips pressed into a thin line.

Not my fault you people have weird names for your ships. I know my way around mythology, but I've never had the urge to name a ship after it.

"The Unicorn is an aircraft repair vessel," Farmer stated. "She's got a flight deck and she was in the process of ferrying two squadrons of your new P-47s and P-38s to Addu Atoll. Rear Admiral Vian ordered her north to cover the Ark Royal's retreat and provide an additional flight deck for fighters to land on if necessary."

Case in point. Why would someone name a carrier the Ark Royal?

"So he's basically serving as bait?" Jacob asked, incredulous at yet another force being offered up as a sacrifice.

"Not quite, apparently," Farmer replied. "Admiral Vian believed he would be at extreme range from the Japanese carriers this morning and that they would not launch until they found him."

Farmer looked at the map, visibly overcome by emotion.

"It would appear that we were quite wrong about Japanese capabilities," he stated after gathering himself. "However, the P-47s joined some P-38s and Beaufighters from Addu and ambushed the strike just as they were getting close to the task force."

About time something broke our way.

"There were still casualties among the fleet," Farmer stated, killing Jacob’s smile.

"How bad?" Jacob asked.

"The Unicorn took four torpedoes and is likely a loss," Farmer said. "The Illustrious took another. But they report heavy losses among the Japanese strike, and the extra hundred miles they had to fly probably means some of the damaged aircraft aren't going to make it home."

Jacob nodded.

"Hopefully our boys made it so there's not a lot of flight decks for the Japanese to land on anyway."

Farmer looked at his watch.

"Unless your pilots are extremely accurate or we caught them by surprise, I'm certain the Japanese will be sending a counterattack in this direction," Farmer said. "Their commander would have to be criminally negligent if he sent everything south after only Illustrious knowing this force was about in the Indian Ocean."

Jacob nodded.

"Of course, considering I wasn't even aware of the two extra carriers and battleships until they hove over the horizon," Farmer noted, his bitterness very thinly veiled, "I wouldn't blame them for turning and running."

"Or alternatively calling down whatever carriers are up by Ceylon," Jacob mused. "I really hope it doesn't come to that."

Farmer laughed bitterly.

"Sir, the returning aircraft are twenty miles out," Lieutenant Ness stated.

"Thank you, Lieutenant," Jacob replied. He turned to Farmer and asked, "What's so funny?"

"When speaking of battlecruisers before World War I, some wag stated they were 'eggshells running around with triphammers,'" Farmer said. "I wonder what that man would say about bloody aircraft carriers, as it seems like things just come down to who gets their bolt off first."

"You might be onto something," Jacob said after a moment's contemplation. "The Japanese had it all their own way at Hawaii, then again at…"

"Aircraft attack!"

The lookout's cry was followed shortly by one of the heavy machine guns mounted amidships opening fire. It was joined a moment later by every other light anti-aircraft weapon on the Houston, then several other ships in the task force as a trio of olive green aircraft came swooping in from the heavy cruiser's port quarter. All three aircraft arrowed towards the nearby Repulse, the red rising suns on their fuselage and wings leaving no doubt about their nationality.

"Bloody hell," Farmer said just as the leader, then the two wingmen, released their weapons. It was the former's last act, several 40mm guns combining to blow the Japanese torpedo bomber out of the sky. The remaining two torpedo bombers turned hard away, streaking towards the rear of TF 25's formation. Jacob couldn't be sure, but he swore he saw a pair of impacts on the torpedo bomber's fuselage before the aircraft was out of sight.

"Where in the hell are the fighters?" Jacob asked, voice rising.

"Sir, Massachusetts is reporting that the CAP got bounced by enemy fighters," the talker replied.

"Probably busy trying to count heads of the returning flight," Farmer said quietly.

Well, I can't say I blame them. Probably worried about friends coming back.

Jacob watched the Repulse's bow came around in a tight turn to comb the torpedo tracks. He did some quick mental math on where the battlecruiser was likely going to end up and didn’t like the answer.

"Port ten degrees," Jacob barked.

Whether those torps hit her or not, we don’t need to be that close.

There were several anxious moments as the Houston’s bridge crew collectively watched the torpedoes close with the Repulse’s path. The exhalation of breath was audible as the British vessel cleared, furiously signaling to the vessels beyond her about the weapons passing through.

“Going to be very interesting here in about an hour,” Farmer stated.

"I agree,” Jacob replied. “It might have been a mistake to put us out here, as the carriers can't maintain a CAP over both us and them."

"I don't envy that Japanese admiral right now," Farmer stated. "Those two planes that survived are probably warning him he's also got a surface group heading towards him."

Jacob chewed on the inside of his cheek.

"Depending on whether he has any cripples, we just became priority target number one."

Just as Vice Admiral Fletcher intended. I sure hope the carrier boys make it worth it.

Royal Hawaiian Hotel

Oahu

1800 Local (2330 Eastern)

9 August

"There better be a very good reason for this, Jo," Patricia Cobb seethed. "I