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Cuttlefish -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (8/7/2008 10:55:14 PM)
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May 28, 1944
Location: Osaka
Course: Docked
Attached to: TF 23
Mission: Air combat
System Damage: 1
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 439
Orders: Await further orders
---
“Sir, you cannot do this,” says Lieutenant Miharu with determination. He is facing Captain Ishii at the top of the gangway, blocking the captain’s descent to the pier.
“Do what, Exec?” says Ishii calmly. “I am simply leaving the ship on some personal business.”
“You cannot go hunting killers on your own,” says Miharu. The captain’s eyes widen in surprise, then narrow.
“I damn well can,” says Ishii, not bothering to deny it. “He is not only a member of the crew, he is my oldest friend. Who has a better right to revenge than I do?”
“This is not some matter of samurai honor,” says Miharu. “You are the captain of this ship. Your responsibilities here override your personal feelings…and sir, you know it.”
“Don’t tell me what I can and cannot do!” yells Ishii. “Remember that you are my executive officer, and you will follow my orders!” He takes a deep breath. “And right now my orders are for you to step aside and look after the ship until I return.” There is a general movement away from the area as the few crewmen within sight or sound of the two officers quickly find somewhere else to be.
“Sir, the loss of Shun is a blow to this ship. Your loss would be much worse,” says Miharu. His voice remains level but his face is set and his lips are nearly white with tension.
“Stand aside, Lieutenant,” says Ishii.
“Sir, at least take a couple of men with you,” says Miharu. He gestures over the captain’s shoulder and two men promptly step out of a door at the base of the tower and walk towards them. The first is Lieutenant Sugiyura, who is obviously trying not to grin, and the second is Petty Officer Takahashi, who looks much more solemn.
Captain Ishii turns and narrows his eyes at their approach, then looks back to his executive officer. “You are remarkably well prepared for something that was supposed to be secret!” he says accusingly.
Lieutenant Miharu inclines his head slightly. “It is part of my duties to anticipate the Captain’s needs and be ready to fill them,” he says. “I am just doing my job, sir.”
“Indeed he is,” says another voice. Tokeitai officer Shimura appears behind the lieutenant at the top of the gangway. “I got your message, Lieutenant Miharu. Captain Ishii, my men and I are ready. Shall we go?” Ishii looks at him in surprise and then turns his gaze back to Miharu. His face is red and his eyes almost bulge with indignant fury. Suddenly he shakes his head and then bursts out laughing.
“Naval academy shogi champion,” he says. “I should never forget that. Very well, Exec, you win. We will speak more of this later, however.” He gestures to Sugiyura and Takahashi, nods to Shimura, and leads the way down onto the pier. Lieutenant Miharu snags Lieutenant Sugiyura’s arm as he passes.
“Remember, Sugiyura, that this is not a lark,” he says in a low voice. “You must protect the captain at all costs. Is that clear?”
Sugiyura nods. “Clear, sir.”
“Good hunting,” says Lieutenant Miharu. He watches the men walk down the pier and get into a couple of official cars, then sighs and turns back to see to the ship.
---
The Rickshaw Man is not happy. Shun is still alive. Feng, who has never before failed, is already back in Shanghai. Du will soon know that the Rickshaw Man has set aside his assignment in order to pursue a personal vendetta. The Rickshaw Man only hopes that Du retains enough hatred of Shun to approve. It is doubtful, though. Du is a very practical man and generally places business before pleasure.
All is not necessarily lost, however. Shun may die yet. And, thinks the Rickshaw Man, there is still a chance to finish putting the opium network in place before he has to leave. He ponders these things as he sits in the dingy apartment and watches his bodyguard and Kanai play cards. Kanai is having a little trouble managing things with one arm in a sling. The Rickshaw Man has little sympathy. Not only did Kanai screw up his mission but he is better off than his partner, who suffered a broken neck.
Suddenly he sits up, alert. Was that the creak of wood he heard outside the door? And come to think of it the sound of pedestrian traffic outside has fallen off in the last minute or so. The Rickshaw Man has stayed alive as long as he has by trusting his instincts and right now they are telling him that trouble is near.
“Hst!” he says to his bodyguard, indicating the door. The bodyguard tosses aside his cards, stands, and draws his pistol. The Rickshaw Man draws his own gun and fades back towards the hallway. Kanai also stands and looks about. The Rickshaw Man stops and considers him for a moment. He knows the bodyguard will die defending him if necessary but the Black Dragon man is another matter. He is worthless in a fight now and owes the Green Gang no particular loyalty.
There is another stealthy sound from right outside the door. The Rickshaw Man raises his pistol.
---
Taiki steps into the apartment over the bullet-riddled corpse of the bodyguard. He looks around warily and sees that Captain Shimura and his men have the situation in hand, so he turns around and motions Hibiki’s two officers forward. Captain Ishii enters the apartment with Lieutenant Sugiyura at his side as if glued there. Ishii gives Sugiyura an annoyed look but says nothing.
In the middle of the room playing cards and money are scattered across the floor next to an overturned table. Beside the table a man lies on the floor, groaning. His face is pale and he is clutching his right arm, which is already in a sling.
Ahead is a short hallway where a closet door stands open. Captain Shimura is standing there shaking his head in disgust, and when Ishii enters Shimura motions him over. Hibiki’s men advance to see a square hole in the closet floor. The wooden hatch that covered it has been flung aside and a narrow crawl space can be seen beneath.
“He had a bolt hole and somehow had time to get to it,” says Shimura. “Though not before taking a shot at that fellow there.” He indicates the injured man on the floor.
Taiki looks more closely at him. “I know him, sir!” he says to Captain Ishii. “He’s the other man who attacked me!”
Shimura nods. “In a strange sort of way you saved his life, Petty Officer,” he says to Taiki. “He threw up an arm to protect himself and the bullet shattered the cast and deflected upward. I understand the resulting pain is rather severe.” Shimura does not sound really sorry.
“Where does this go?” Ishii asks, looking at the crawlspace.
“Just to the next apartment, which is empty,” says Shimura. “This Rickshaw fellow is already gone. But we might find some evidence here and we do have a prisoner, who I think might be persuaded to tell us a few things.”
Ishii looks coldly at the injured man, who continues to whimper on the floor. “I believe you are correct, Captain,” he says.
---
As Captain Ishii and the others come back aboard they are met by Lieutenant Miharu. The executive officer is unquestionably relieved to see all three of them safe, especially the captain, but he says nothing of this.
“Sir, we have received some news,” he says instead. Ishii looks up sharply.
“Is it Shun?” he says.
Lieutenant Miharu shakes his head. “No sir, Chief Shun’s condition is unchanged as far as I know,” he says. “It’s the war. A huge enemy fleet has been spotted approaching the Marianas from the east-southeast.”
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