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Cuttlefish -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (12/22/2007 10:05:11 PM)
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August 22, 1943
Location: 100 miles north of Truk
Course: North
Attached to: TF 46
Mission: Transport
System Damage: 1
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 460
Orders: Escort tankers back to Japan
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The mood on the bridge is tense as Hibiki and the other ships head north away from Truk. There is no way of knowing whether or not enemy reconnaissance planes spotted the tankers while they were unloading, and whether the enemy might be thus be waiting for them. Even without specific intelligence about the tankers or their likely route there are still enough submarines out there that the chances of encountering one are uncomfortably high.
The task force left the archipelago before dawn, and by now they are out of range of any enemy search planes. The tankers, riding much higher in the water than they did on the trip in, proceed placidly along. They are again led by Hirado, while Hibiki and Akebono roam around on the flanks like worried collie dogs.
Midshipman Tanabe is on the bridge this watch. He glances from time to time at Captain Ishii, who is sipping a cup of tea with the relaxed attitude of a man enjoying lunch at a nice tea house. Yet Tanabe has already come to know that the captain misses nothing, and has observed that the men around him miss nothing either. Tanabe hasn’t figured out yet how the captain maintains such control without seeming to try, but he is determined to learn.
One thing that Tanabe hasn’t gotten used to yet is the apparently casual disregard for regulations regarding uniforms. Ishii’s jacket is unbuttoned, for example, and the sonar operator is wearing no hat. Tanabe has already learned to stop mentioning it, but it continues to bother him.
Two men come up onto the bridge. One is the medical officer, Lieutenant JG Nakagawa. He is accompanied by Chief Petty Officer Shun. Shun is one of the men aboard who is almost always in proper uniform, with razor sharp creases and shoes shined to a bright gleam. Today, however, he is sporting a uniform violation so egregious that Tanabe almost chokes.
“How is he?” Ishii asks them, without seeming to notice.
“Sir,” says Nakagawa, “he has a fractured left cheekbone and a mild concussion. I have removed two teeth, he will need to have more work done when better dental facilities are available. He has various bruises and a cracked rib on the left side. I would say it will be several days before he can return to duty, but he will be fine.”
Ishii nods. “Very well,” he says. “Your report, Chief?”
“He apparently thought some of our men were holding a private party, sir,” growls Shun. “And found some soldiers instead. Words were exchanged. They threw the first punch.” Shun gives one of those grimaces that always chills Tanabe, especially because it means the Chief is smiling. “Brave army men, they took him on at twelve against one.”
“I see,” says Ishii. “I think then that no action against Petty Officer Okubo is warranted. It sounds like his injuries are more than enough punishment for any bad judgment he displayed. Were you able to identify his attackers and lodge a complaint, Chief?”
“I am sorry, sir, I could not,” says Shun.
“Too bad,” comments the captain. Only now does he glance up at the cap Shun is wearing, the item that first attracted Tanabe’s attention. It is an army-issue cloth field cap. “Nice hat, Chief,” Ishii says.
“Thank you, sir,” says Shun, and gives another of his frightening smiles. “A nice sergeant gave it to me last night.”
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