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Cuttlefish -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (9/23/2009 8:26:28 PM)
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June 18, 1945
Location: 180 miles NW of Niigata
Course: Northeast
Attached to: TF 9
Mission: Surface combat
System Damage: 5
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 446
Orders: Return to Wakkanai
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It is a beautiful summer day. Hibiki cruises across the sea, a brisk wind rattling her pennants and stays. A few whitecaps dance here and there. The only thing marring the serenity of the scene are the survivors of lost ships huddled together on the foredeck.
Lieutenant Sugiyura stands on the port observation platform, arms crossed. He seems the very image of the steely-eyed naval officer, gazing grimly out to sea while the wind tugs at him. What he is thinking no one really knows, as the only three words he has spoken since the battle are “yes,” “no,” and “sir.”
Lieutenant Miharu steps out from the bridge to stand next to him. He glances at Sugiyura, who does move, then puts his arms behind his back and looks out to sea.
“Nice day,” he comments.
“Yes sir,” says Sugiyura, not looking around.
“Perhaps I am old-fashioned,” says Miharu, “but in my day it was considered customary to salute a superior officer.” He speaks in his usual mild tone but there is a hint of steel in his voice. Sugiyura whirls around, eyes wide. The ship’s officers have worked together for a long time and usually dispense with salutes while at sea, and Lieutenant Miharu is usually the last person to insist on such formalities. Yet he is of course correct. Sugiyura turns and salutes him.
“Yes sir, I’m sorry sir,” he says. Mihura eyes him for a moment, then returns the salute.
“At ease,” he says. “But now that I have your attention, Lieutenant Sugiyura, please do me the honor of telling me what you are thinking about.”
“Sir?”
“You have been still and silent ever since the battle,” says Miharu. He smiles a little. “This is not the fire-breathing torpedo officer I have served with these last few years. Are you disappointed, perhaps, that we did not find glorious death in battle?” Lieutenant Sugiyura raises his eyebrows slightly.
“Is that what it seems like, sir?” he says. Miharu nods.
“Sir,” says Sugiyura seriously, “I have never sought glorious death in battle. Oh, I do not fear death and given a choice between a coward’s life and a hero’s death I will choose the latter. But death happens, or it does not. What matters, sir, is the glory.”
“There were some big targets out there last night,” says Lieutenant Miharu.
“Yes sir,” says Sugiyura. He sighs. “The biggest. I have fought and trained for years for a shot at them, and then…well, sir, you were there.”
“Yes,” says Miharu. “Tell me, Lieutenant, how many enemy ships has Hibiki sunk?”
“Three torpedo boats, one gunboat, one submarine, two freighters, a tanker, and two destroyers*,” says Sugiyura promptly. “We have part credit for another two freighters and a destroyer.”
“That is not a bad record for one destroyer, wouldn’t you say?” ask Miharu. He does not wait for a reply but asks another question. “Is the war over yet, Lieutenant?”
“No sir,” says Sugiyura.
“Well then,” says the executive officer. “Better keep your men ready. The enemy is not likely to run out of big targets any time soon.”
“Yes sir!” says Lieutenant Sugiyura. “With your permission, sir?” Miharu nods. Sugiyura snaps another salute, turns sharply, and goes below. Miharu remains, looking out at the dancing waves.
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*This should actually read “one tender and one destroyer.” Hibiki’s crew still believes that AVD Thornton, which they sunk off Wake Island back in 1942, was a destroyer. Perhaps an understandable mistake, since started life as one.
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