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Cuttlefish -> RE: Small Ship, Big War (1/29/2008 2:44:14 AM)
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October 9, 1943
Location: Luganville
Course: None
Attached to: TF 4
Mission: Air Combat
System Damage: 0
Float Damage: 0
Fires: 0
Fuel: 426
Orders: Protect evacuation convoy arriving from Kwajalein
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The Japanese carriers do a sweep to the west to make sure there are no Allied ships in the vicinity. Nothing is found, and by nightfall they are back at Luganville. Evening finds Riku in the fresh food and vegetable storage locker doing inventory ahead of a morning foray ashore in search of supplies. He is just finishing when Taiki enters.
“Ah, Seaman Ariga, I was told I would find you here,” he says.
Riku comes to attention. “Good evening, Petty Officer,” he says. Taiki indicates he can relax, and Riku does so.
“I have a strange question for you,” says Taiki. “You don’t speak Chinese, do you?”
Riku shakes his head. “Not a word,” he says. “But I know someone aboard who does. Snake Man spent several years there when he was younger. His father was with the embassy or something.”
“Ah, good. I’ll go find him.”
“I’m heading for my hammock now,” says Riku. “He’s probably there. Let’s go find him.” The two make their way forward to the machine space where Riku, Shiro, Oizuma, and a few others rig their hammocks. Taiki looks around as he comes in. This is where he slept before his promotion. As crowded and noisy as it is, he still misses it sometimes. Sailors jump to their feet as he comes in.
“Relax, everyone,” he says. He spots Oizuma is over by Benzaiten’s crate and walks over there, weaving his head around some pipes as he does so. “Seaman Oizuma, how is the snake doing?”
“Just fine, Petty Officer,” says Oizuma.
“Good,” says Taiki. “I’m told you speak Chinese.”
“Yes, Petty Officer, at least I used to be pretty good. I’m a little rusty now.”
“Tell me,” Taiki asks, “do you know what ‘ching bang’ means?”
Oizuma looks puzzled for a moment, then he brightens. “Do you mean ‘qing bang’, Petty Officer?” He pronounces the first word as an odd cross between “ching” and “tsing” and the second word as “bahng”.
“Yes!” says Taiki. “That was it exactly.”
“That’s the Green Gang,” says Oizuma.
“Green Gang?” says Taiki.
“Sure,” says Oizuma, “the criminal syndicate that runs Shanghai. Ran it, anyway.”
“Those guys are really bad,” says Riku. “Where on earth did you hear that name around here, Taiki?”
Taiki shakes his head. “That’s not important,” he says. It's just another mystery, he thinks to himself, then thanks Oizuma and leaves.
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