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

By the gods…

The torpedo’s rear cockpit was shattered, with the savaged remains of the tail gunner still holding what was left of the rear gun. The observer was nowhere to be found, but the bloodstained fuselage and peppered empennage didn’t bode well for his survival either.

"What is the matter with that idiot?!" Kaku asked, then cursed as he too realized what had happened to the aircraft. As the crews rushed forward, the pilot ripped his seat belt off and stood up, screaming and flinging his helmet at the Akagi's bridge. The first crew chief to reach him attempted to render assistance and collected a blow to the head for his troubles. The crazed man continued to scream expletives, his eyes wild as he began ripping off his life jacket, then threw his navigational chart at another member of the deck crew.

"He's gone mad," Kaku noted. Clearly that opinion was shared by several others, as a contingent of crew rushed towards the pilot and tackled him. It took five or six men to finally drag the inconsolate man down, the sound of his screams drowned out as the next Tenzan roared low over the Akagi's deck.

"I want the senior surviving officer to report to me immediately," Yamaguchi ordered. "I also want a report on how many aircraft the Soryu recovered. I will be in my flag cabin."

As he turned to walk away, Yamaguchi hoped no one realized how close he was to vomiting. Nodding to the orderly outside his hatch, he stepped through it and closed the entry behind him. Only then did he allow his knees to buckle as he dropped to the deck.

We are lost.

Bile rose in his throat as he considered what had apparently happened, his doubt frantic. It was only through the greatest effort that he prevented himself from vomiting as he stood, then staggered to his desk. Dropping into his chair, Yamaguchi put his face into his hands. For several long minutes, he gave into his despair, shoulders shaking as he drew quaking breaths.

The victor of Hawaii. Undone by his arrogance and stupidity.

Even as he berated himself, Yamaguchi realized he was being an idiot.

Think how to get out of the trap, Tamon. Nothing else is important.

Once more, Yamaguchi considered what factors were involved. His pilots had savaged the Royal Navy. The majority of his force could continue to steam at high speed. Even with his four carriers untouched, Fletcher's air groups had not come through the morning unscathed. Ozawa was to his north, and as humiliating as it was, the Kido Butai would have to flee towards him.

I will likely lose the Soryu, but I do not need to sacrifice cruisers with her. Especially given the Vinson bill and what is coming.

Yamaguchi’s thoughts turned to the shipyards he had seen during his assignment to the United States.

It is fortunate indeed the Germans forced the British to provide fleet assets in the Atlantic. If we had to fight the USN solely by ourselves, we would drown in an overwhelming tide.

The knock on the hatch broke him out of those dour ruminations. Taking a moment to compose himself, Yamaguchi sat up straighter at his desk.

"Enter!" he barked.

That the strike's senior survivor was a lieutenant whom he did not recognize nearly sent Yamaguchi back into a tailspin of despair. The young man looked shell shocked, as if he had watched his comrades eaten by some great monster. Nearly staggering as he came forward, the lieutenant regained his equilibrium, came to attention, and saluted.

"Lieutenant Minase reporting, sir," the man said. Kaku walked in behind the young officer just in time for Minase to mutter a curse, turn, and suddenly vomit on the chief of staff's shoes. The rear admiral looked at the man in shock, even as the lieutenant stepped back in horror and bowed while muttering apologies.

"You idiot!" Kaku began.

"It's all right Lieutenant Minase," Yamaguchi said, standing up and motioning for his chief of staff to back away. "Orderly, have the surgeon get some sake for this man."

Ten minutes later, as sailors scrubbed where Minase had lost his lunch and the surgeon was handing him a second glass of sake, Yamaguchi gently prodded him to start talking. After a few moments, the dive bomber pilot started his account.

"The escorts cleared the enemy fighters," Minase said, shaking. "It appeared that it would be like Hawaii all over again."

Yamaguchi saw tears starting to form in the man's eyes.

"We went in first, to clear the way for the Tenzans…"

As Minase recounted the attack on the Allied fleet, Yamaguchi began to make mental notes.

I wish there was some way we could have sent a camera.

The Kido Butai had correspondents, but most of them had gone to document the first strike on the British. Seeing the attack unfold would have told him a great deal about the American defenses.

"Thank you, lieutenant," Yamaguchi said when Minase was done. The junior officer nodded, finished his sake, then bowed. Yamaguchi watched him go, then waited until the orderlies and his flag lieutenant left also, the latter closing the hatch behind him.

"Order the Chikuma to detach from the Soryu," Yamaguchi ordered.

"Sir?" Kaku asked, aghast.

"She cannot keep up with the rest of the force," Yamaguchi stated. "I cannot launch another strike, not in the face of those defenses."

"Sir, we can…"

"We can what, Kaku?" Yamaguchi snapped. "Throw more pilots we can't replace into a cauldron? This battle is over, and we must save what we can."

Kaku continued to look at him, shock clearly on his face.

"I have no trouble with dying as a samurai," Yamaguchi continued. "I will not throw these men as snowballs into a furnace."

Kaku looked like he was about to argue, then bowed.

"Admiral Yamamoto can countermand my orders if he thinks they are improper," Yamaguchi continued. "Have a signal prepared for the Soryu to send."

It only took a moment for Kaku to realize what Yamaguchi's orders meant.

"Sir..." Kaku said.

"The time for pleasantries is