1275psi
Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005 Status: offline
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26th feb 1945 Imperial palace A long, low room. paper walls. A long narrow, very low table At its end, the emperors chair. Upon it, the God man, looking tired, looking decidedly as he really is, human. Before him, upright, sitting cross legged, the Imperial naval, Army staff, Yamato nearest to the emperor, arrayed in immaculate uniform. This is the daily imperial conference. There have been many, but few as momentous as this. The emperor nods to the Army chief of staff "you may make your report" The general nods. The enemy have landed at Alor star, and potentially threaten to cut off all but two of our divisions in malaya. We have ordered them to die in place.........." "carry on" 'At Dajangas the enemy now out number us approximately 2 to 1 in numbers, but are still considered to be too disrupted to mount an attack yet. We have some 5 regiments at full strength marching across Minandao, and the bulk of 55th Division. They may, or may not arrive in time to sway the battle......' The Emperor remains passive. So malaya will soon be lost..............Damn that fat fool Churchill.......didn't he have enough of the war in europe? Does he really think, now? that he will regain his British empire? You have taken too long, been shamed too many times, Winston, too many times. 'Navy Minister?" The navy Minister nods too. But unlike the Army , he is eager to report. "Your Highness, the last two days have seen terrible fighting over the invasion beaches, but we have mainly prevailed. " he pauses for the effect "Since the invasion, we claim 70 enemy ships sunk. In the last two days alone, we claim 2 more CVE , a light cruiser, 3 destroyers and 37 various assualt vessels sunk. We have lost approximately 300 aircraft . " Yamamato speaks "can you verify these claims.........too often our pilots claim wildly, I have seen a shot down Betty claimed once as an Essex class carrier sunk" The navy Minister merely smiles."sir, I agree, but in this case all one has to do is stand on the hills overlooking Dajangas, and count....." A long silence fills the room. 70 ships...........a dozen carriers..............and still they keep coming........... The Emperor speaks again... "and our losses in the last two days?" CVL Chitose has been scuttled sir, the Atago sunk by a SS near Tarakan, a small escort vessel near manilla by Submarine" The Emperor glances swiftly at Yamamato "The patrol craft.......do you have any details navy Minister?" The question catches the Minister by surprise, he looks to a staff officer. Paper is passed. "E class Chiburi sir" "Survivors?" "Ah, regrettably, Nil " Imperceptably Yamamato nods. Again the Emperor speaks 'The Emperor wishes to express his gratitude to the men fighting to defend the Empire. They Must fight on. Gentlemen, news. Today, as we meet, there are riots in Washington, Chicago, San Fransico, a large number of American cities. Somebody protested the war, apparently in Denver. The police shot them. Dissent, apparently, in America, is considered patriotic............ Keep Killing our enemies...keep killing, and we may yet prevail............"
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