* * *
Halsey took the message, eyeing it with those aquiline eyes, his brow furrowed beneath his cap. Then his sour expression deepened, and he reached up and threw that cap right on the deck.
“Now what in God’s name is this all about?” He had a mind to say something considerably worse, but given his cap was already on the deck, and the eyes of every officer on the bridge were on him now, he restrained himself. Captain George Murray was standing by his chair, arms folded. “In my ready room,” said Halsey, and he went steaming off, leaving his cap behind. Murry had the presence of mind to stoop and pick it up as he followed. The two men entered the small room off the main bridge, and closed the hatch.
The island of a carrier was much smaller than many would think, with small metal walled rooms, low ceilings, hatches you had to step up and over to get through. The ceiling was a morass of bundled cables, squawk boxes, PA speakers and other oddments. Murray had glanced at the broad Plexiglas status board to make certain nothing was amiss there, but he suspected the source of the Admiral’s anger was not ship’s rotations or anything else that was aboard before that message just came in. He knew what it was—orders—and they were obviously not to Halsey’s liking.
“Will you look at this?” Halsey handed off the message, scowling, watching as Murray looked it over, scratching his head.
“Ellice Islands? Why there?”
“God only knows.” Halsey snatched the message back and read it aloud. “EAM - Withdraw immediately to rendezvous at coordinates to follow. Additional Message to follow. An Emergency Action Message. Funatuti? That’s in the Ellice Islands Group! Well here I was just about to lock horns with Yamamoto and now they want to pull us off east? That next message had better have a damn good reason for this bullshit. What’s Nimitz doing?”
“Steady Admiral. He must know something we don’t know. We haven’t heard a thing from Fletcher for the last six hours, and we know he got into something down south.”
“All the more reason to get down there,” said Halsey, eyes wide, the anger still there.
“Commander, Pacific Fleet wants us somewhere else,” said Murray. EAM is an order, hard and fast in any book I ever read. Let’s wait this out and see what this next message is all about.” He handed Halsey his cap, a wry smile on his face easing the atmosphere in the cramped quarters.
It wasn’t long before they got that second message, but it didn’t come before CINCPAC sent a request that Halsey confirm his new heading. When it did come, the news was far worse than anything Halsey expected. “Mother of God,” he said this time. “We lost Yorktown and Saratoga—both of them went down in the Coral Sea.…. We’re to move east at once and rendezvous with Wasp and Shiloh. Sweet Jesus, they don’t even know if Fletcher made it to one of the cruisers safely.”
“Did we get off an attack?”
“Apparently. They found the Jap carriers and scored hits on both, but fuel was suddenly a big issue. They all had to divert to the Santa Cruz Islands.”
“Well we can get down there and bring them home,” said Murray.
“Captain, twenty minutes ago you were telling me about orders. No. Anybody that made it to those islands and landed safely will just have to sit there until we sort things out. Right now Nimitz wants us to meet up with Wasp and Shiloh. They left Pearl five days ago and have been heading our way. They’ll have a tanker waiting for us there as well.”
“Nimitz wants to draw another two cards before he makes his next bet,” said Murray.
“Sounds that way. Christ, this is almost as bad as Pearl. To top it off, the Japs got through to Moresby and took the place yesterday. Radio Tokyo made the announcement at 16:00, and rubbed it in real good. The bastards even invited us to try and take another crack at Tokyo and see what happens.”
Murray shook his head. “This is getting serious. We’re down to three fleet carriers now, and the two scout carriers. Antietam is still laid up in Pearl, and after Wasp, we won’t get anything else for a good long while. We just can’t afford to lose anything else out here. What do you figure Nimitz is scheming on?”
“Fiji,” said Halsey. “HYPO dropped this bullshit about A.F. and Midway, and now they think that’s where the Japs are headed next. They told Halsey an invasion group is already at sea. People have been saying something was up, and I never thought it was Midway from the beginning. It’s right down here—Fiji—that’s what they really want now. They take that, and they’ve damn near cut us off from the boys down under.”
“It’s a big ocean out there,” said Murray. “They can think that, but we’ll just fall back on Samoa. Pago Pago is every bit as good as Suva for a staging point. They’re even shipping in the 1st Marine Division there.”
“Well don’t throw this match just yet,” said Halsey. “If they are planning to hit Fiji, I should be down there as soon as possible. Waiting for Wasp and Shiloh could let them get ashore before we have anything to say about it.”
“Face it, Bill. We just lost Fletcher’s entire group, and Nimitz isn’t taking any chances now. He wants us loaded for bear before he moves anywhere close to the Japs again. They only had four carriers at Truk, and maybe Fletcher got one in that scrap. With Wasp, we can go toe to toe with them on a level playing field. That has to be the plan now.”
Halsey thought for a moment. “If they hit Fletcher that hard it had to cost them something. They would have lost planes, pilots, fuel, munitions, and hell, maybe a carrier too. I’d be willing to bet that was Carrier Division 5 in the Coral Sea, and for my money I’d say they would have to go to the corner before they come out for another round. That’s where we make our move.”
“Then you figure they’ll cover this Fiji operation with those other two carriers from Truk?”
“It’s looking that way. So we may even have the home field advantage when we handshake with Wasp. Nimitz knew I’d want to get down there and throw punches the moment I heard about this. That’s why the bastard split these orders into two parts. He wanted to make sure he got me out of the ring and heading east before he sent us that news about Fletcher.”
“The old man’s a sly one,” said Murray with a smile. “But it’s better this way, Bill. You want to take this fight south? With Wasp along, we’ll have the muscle. This isn’t over, and we’ve got to play this right. If we lose this one…”
He didn’t have to say anything more.
Chapter 18
When the strike wing finally returned to Hara’s task force they were dismayed to find only one carrier there. Sakamoto’s knowing eye spotted the Lucky Crane, a thin stream of white smoke still trailing from the starboard bow area. He made one fly by pass, seeing the decks were clear and undamaged, and then ordered his men to begin landing.
Hayashi was one of the first down, elated that he had put his bomb right on the enemy carrier, and further pleased by the news that both carriers had been sunk. “But where is Shokaku?” he asked.
“Hit many times,” said the flight crewman. “The ship went down an hour ago, but we were able to get most of her pilots and crew off safely. There are many aboard, so don’t be surprised if we have visitors tonight.”
Hayashi went below to find them, speaking with several torpedo plane pilots with consoling words. They had not had the chance to get airborne before the American dive bombers came in. “They made a clumsy attack,” one man said, a Lieutenant Sato that Hayashi did not recognize. “But there were many planes. We should have had more fighters up. The gunners on Shokaku did their best, but those 25mm guns do not do well against fast moving targets like dive bombers. They are difficult to elevate, track too slowly, and jam all too often.”
“I am sorry for your loss, Sato. How is it I do not know you? I recognize most everyone else here from the Division.”
“Because this is the second carrier the enemy has taken from me,” said Sato sullenly. “I should throw myself overboard, for all I will do here is bring you bad luck.”
“Second carrier? Then you were o
n the Hiryu?”
“A good ship,” said Sato, with just a hint of nostalgia in his tone.
Hayashi was suddenly very interested. “Tell me,” he said. “Is it true that Hiryu was sunk by a rocket weapon?”
“I saw it with my own eyes,” said Sato, “though I still cannot believe what I witnessed. It was terribly fast, so fast that our gunners had no chance to even take aim at the thing before it struck us. It came from above, then swooped low over the sea. I thought they would get it, but it was not possible. Nothing could have stopped it, and it found the ship as if it had eyes. To this day, I am convinced it must have been piloted, but where the enemy got such a weapon still escapes me. The Siberians? They’ve been under our heel for decades, and now they openly declare war on Japan? That is also unbelievable. Talk is that the Russians gave them this weapon. We do not know how it is deployed, but some say there is a ship operating up north that uses these weapons. You have been here in the South Seas, so you may not have heard, but our sailors have given this ship a name up north. They call it—”
“Mizuchi,” said Hayashi, yet even as he said that he could not remember ever hearing it.
“Yes!” said Sato. “Then you have heard the story once already? The name is well given. I have not seen this ship, but it must be a demon. It struck the Hiryu from well over the horizon with this rocket weapon, and then, when we sent Mutsu and Chikuma up to get after the Siberians, they came back as floating wrecks. I heard what happened—more of these naval rockets. They strike with terrible speed, and set off raging fires that are simply uncontrollable. Whatever this ship is, it is very powerful, very dangerous. But no one has seen it since. I am no coward, but believe me, when I got the news that I was to be transferred to the South Seas Fleet, I was very happy. The farther away from that demon, the better.”
Mizuchi… Hayashi could see a shadow in his mind, something dark and wavering on the sea. It was as if he was up above, ready to strike with his comrades and then he saw himself falling like a stone to attack. The sky was suddenly alive with the strange smoky tentacles of the beast below them. They reached up to find his brothers, striking the planes and smashing them to pieces as they dove—and yes—they were rockets. Now he felt a cold chill settle over him, and an oppressive sense of dread. Mizuchi… death on the sea… his death, but it was a brave death, an honorable death…
He shook his head, almost shivering as he sought to dispel this strange recollection. His better self chided him that he was just being foolish, servicing the fears and rumors that had been circulating through the fleet. But then again, he found it odd that Kaga and Tosa were not assigned to this operation. Then he heard they had been kept in home waters because of the threat posed by the Siberians, something that would have been laughable just months ago. The Siberians? They had no navy at all, but now it seemed that was not the case. They did have at least one good ship, something dark and unseen in the cold waters of the north. Something he had the strangest feeling that he, himself, had encountered in the disturbing vision he had just shaken from his mind… Mizuchi….
Hayashi looked around the briefing room, seeing the faces of all his squadron mates, their cheeks red, smiling, eyes wide as they boasted of the brave attack they had made against the American carriers. They fought well. They were the best of the best, the pilots of the Misty Lagoon, unmatched by any other flyers in the world. He watched them as they boasted, clapping one another on the back, their hands describing the movement of their planes as they recounted details of the attack. And he watched them go, one by one to seek out food and rest. The Lucky Crane was heading north, or so they had learned. They were going back to Rabaul to replenish, and then they would fight again. His men were very eager, and he was proud of them.
He lingered there in the briefing room for some time, hearing the last echoes of the others in the corridor outside. Then a darkness seemed to fall on him, and he saw the empty room, the empty chairs, and that feeling of impending dread returned. What was he thinking? Soon those chairs would all be full again as the men gathered to be briefed on their next strike mission. He would sit next to his good friend Matsua, from the torpedo squadron, and they would discuss tactics after the briefing , just as they always did.
But one day, he thought darkly, those chairs will be empty. Why should it be me that stands here alone to know this? What is this doom I sense all around me now? I must have a case of the jitters from that last mission, though I cannot see why I should be so bothered. No… It was not that, not the mission. I have flown so many others, and never felt any fear worth mentioning. I am no coward. I am not afraid to give my life to strike my enemy, for that is what I came here for. Yet this feeling… it is something more than fear. It is almost as if I can see things that have not yet happened, things that will happen… It is almost as if I can read the book of fate…
He looked around at the empty briefing room, then lowered his head and hastened off to follow his brothers to the mess hall.
* * *
Admiral Hara reviewed his orders, a subtle knowing smile the only faint outward sign that he had finally come to terms with what had happened.
Secret South Seas Fleet Operational Order No. 13
Moresby Carrier Force: CV Division 5 – Admiral Chuichi Hara
Sortie from Truk towards the Solomon Islands on about day X–10 through waters to the north-east, and then continue to provide direct support for the Tulagi invasion operation. On day X–5, (the day after the start of reconnaissance flying boat patrols from Tulagi), enter the Coral Sea from the east of the Solomon Islands, begin to provide direct support to the Moresby Invasion Force as required, according to the following strategies.
a. When a powerful naval force is detected, first attack and destroy.
We have certainly done that, he thought. Two enemy carriers! Yet for that we pay with the loss of our sister ship. The Soaring Crane will never fly again. Shokaku is gone…
b. Continue to make preparations for the appearance of a powerful naval force, and mobilize to protect the Fiji Invasion Force as required. Provide limited air patrolling and support for the Fiji Invasion Force when this becomes necessary according to the situation.
Not possible. The action against the Americans in the Coral Sea has left me with only minor damage here on Zuikaku. The Lucky Crane lives up to its name, but we have lost planes, pilots, and now we need to replenish before I can hope to be of any further use to Operation FS. My torpedo bombers have only six lances remaining. It will be necessary to withdraw to Rabaul.
c. Up until day X+5 after the successful landing at Fiji, continue preparations for the appearance of a powerful enemy naval force in the area of the Koro Sea within range of Japanese landing sites. Command of naval units in the area shall be directly under Combined Fleet Headquarters aboard Yamato when engaging a powerful enemy force.
That explains Yamamoto’s order for me to disengage and move east to the New Hebrides instead of pursuing the survivors from that enemy task force we engaged. He wanted me to join Carrier Division 1 and restore the Kido Butai to its normal full strength of four fleet carriers. Unfortunately, I cannot do so, and I have so informed Combined Fleet Headquarters of that sad fact. The Fiji Operation will now only be supported by Carrier Division 1, but I have at least succeeded in covering Operation MO, and insuring the invasion and occupation of Tulagi and Port Moresby. The latter was a significant victory. If nothing else, this will reinforce my proposal that we should make Darwin our next Objective after Fiji is secured.
Yamamoto will continue south, even though we know there are enemy carriers lurking well north of the operational area in the Marshalls. There we paid again, losing both Gozo and Mezu to what was apparently a much stronger enemy task force. That was inevitable. Those two scout carriers could muster no more than 24 planes between them, and at least most of those safely diverted to Kwajalein. Where are those American carriers now? I was ordered to retrace my route near Tulagi on my way back to Rabaul, though I cannot see wh
y. This single carrier could not oppose another strong enemy carrier task force. So Yamamoto will have to deal with that, and I hope he is equal to the task. Akagi has returned to the fleet, and the crews on Soryu have also lost their sister ship to that strange rocket attack up north.
That had been quite the mystery. I have heard fleet rumors, whispers in the intelligence channels, talk about Karafuto—Sakhalin Island. That is why we are not at full strength here. Tosa had to be retained in home waters, and Kaga is still under repair. That, and the unfortunate terror that nearly destroyed the entire 2nd Infantry Division on Java, have forced us to conduct these operations with only four fleet carriers.
The Army was none too happy about the loss of that division, and they have refused to replace it. It was all Yamamoto and Ugaki could do to get them to agree to take the 48th Division from Java and reduce the garrison there to only one division. Now where will I get the force I need for my Darwin proposal? Perhaps I could see if General Imamura could spare anything from Singapore, but that will have to wait… For now, I must get Zuikaku safely back to Rabaul, repair that small hole in our bow where that last American dive bomber got lucky, and then we will see what the situation is regarding Fiji.
Steel Reign (Kirov Series Book 23) Page 15