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

pilot instincts kicked in and he brought the nose up. It was only his conscious brain catching up that prevented him from advancing the throttle, as just as suddenly the Dauntless soared upwards from an updraft.

Then the world was a cacophony of darkness, lightning flashes, and rain lashing at the dive bomber. Through the noise of their ten minute transit in the heart of the storm, as his arms and legs grew sore fighting the dive bomber through updrafts, Eric could hear Constanza screaming in terror from the rear seat, then gradually descending into helpless sobbing as the Dauntless nearly flipped over a half dozen times. In each instance, he managed to fight the updraft or downdraft just long enough to avoid an inevitable death plunge. It was only on the final iteration, as the plane hovered vibrating on the edge of a stall, that he briefly considered jettisoning the 1,000-lb. bomb that made its handling so much more precarious.

I did not come this far to turn around and leave.

His resolve wavered as the dive bomber hung vibrating on the edge of a stall. Fighting his fear, his bladder screaming for relief, Eric fought the dive bomber back to level.

Don’t know if I can do that…wait, we’re coming out.

Eric looked over the rainbow hue briefly wreathing his propeller as sunlight caught on moisture. Beyond he could see the Indian Ocean’s majesty, blue waters stretching off into the horizon. Pulse racing from adrenaline, any thoughts of fatigue gone, Eric felt a sense of awe even as Costanza continued to sob incoherently.

What a time to be alive.

"Constanza," Eric said, fighting the urge to yell at his gunner. He repeated the man’s name more firmly as the teenager continued to panic in the rear cockpit.

Like calming a startled horse.

To Eric's relief, the sobbing gradually stopped.

"Yes sir," Constanza said, then yelped as the Dauntless bucked with turbulence again.

"I need you to help me find the rest of the squadron," Eric stated, once more trying to keep his voice from being too severe. "Get out your binoculars and scan from nine to four, I'll take from nine to three."

There was the sound of shuffling equipment in the rear cockpit, then a moment later Constanza attempting to shove his canopy forward. The gunner strained mightily in the Dauntless' rear cockpit, and Eric began to grow concerned until, with a large snap!, whatever was obstructing the canopy's passage gave and it slammed forward. Opening his own canopy, Eric was struck in the face by the warm moisture coming off of the Dauntless' nose and into the cockpit.

Like a dog shaking itself off from the pond. Maybe I should have taken Secretary Knox's offer and stayed back home. Probably be married with a kid on the way by now.

"Sir, I don't see anyone," Constanza said, his tone worried. "Are we the only ones left?"

Wouldn't be the first time a storm ate an entire squadron, would it?

Eric’s stomach churned as he considered the possibilities.

Goddammit Charles, you better have gone back home if you're not coming out this side.

"We'll give it five minutes," Eric said, setting course towards where he believed the rally point might be. Five minutes later, just as he was getting ready to give up hope and set off towards the Japanese carrier by himself, Eric spotted several dots descending from the heavens above.

"Constanza!" he barked after several seconds of nothing from the rear cockpit.

"Yes sir?" Constanza asked nervously as Eric put the Dauntless into a gentle turn.

"Get your damn guns out!" Eric ordered. "Never, ever assume bogeys are friendly."

"What bo…oh shit!" Constanza said. Eric gritted his teeth as he heard the twin machine guns being taken out of their stowage and hurriedly prepared for combat. Already Eric could tell the eight shapes were not Dauntless from the speed of their closure. With great relief, he quickly recognized the Hellcats' outline. The two flights of fighters zoomed over his Dauntless while waggling their wings.

"Sir! I've got three…no five Dauntlesses astern!"

Eric turned and saw the aircraft behind him. As the small strike group joined up, he felt his spirits soar as he sighted Blue Two and Three. The pair of pilots were trailing Yellow section. As the group joined up with him, Eric realized he was the senior officer present and the clock was not on their side.

"Constanza, signal all aircraft we're going to go find that carrier and then go home," Eric said. He heard Constanza grabbing his signal lamp, followed by clicking back and forth between Constanza and Yellow One's tail gunner.

"Sir, Yellow One is ready to follow you," Constanza said as the Hellcats began flying a protective weave overhead. Eric brought his nose around to the southeast, hoping that he had guessed correctly which way the storm had blown them. Fifteen minutes later, he was not disappointed, as he could see the glittering hue of floating oil beneath them.

Like a gutshot deer indeed. Well, time to go put Bambi's Mom out of her misery.

"Sir, more Dauntlesses!" Constanza said, pointing off to their south.

Dear Lord, please let Lieutenant Commander Brigante be among them, Eric thought, looking at the three approaching planes.

Two minutes later, in a sure sign that maybe he should be on better terms with the chaplain, Eric watched as Red One swung around to take the formation lead. He also noted that only one of the other bombers was part of the original Red section.

Hoping the Japanese can't call up any more divine weather. Or maybe I just need to accept God's not playing favorites today.

I.J.N.S. Soryu

1415 Local (0605 Eastern)

"You there! Pilot! You need to put out that cigarette!"

Isoro took a deep drag of the cigarette in question before turning around to see who was shouting at him from halfway down the Soryu's flight deck. Seeing a mere ensign striding towards him, he exhaled the smoke in his lungs like an angry dragon.

This carrier smells like someone set fire to a meat shop, she's so low in the water I feel