Acts of War by James Young

Author:James Young [Young, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781503228740
Publisher: Unknown
Published: 2014-11-11T05:00:00+00:00

North Pacific

1845 Local (2145 Eastern)

25 March

It is a gorgeous day, Isoro Honda thought, giving his Shiden a slight left rudder to line up behind the twin columns of carriers. Nothing at all like the last three. Not that I am complaining—we could not have asked for better weather during our approach.

The entire Kido Butai was steaming into the westerly wind, and Isoro thought briefly of how striking the fleet was. The six carriers were steaming in two columns of three, the sun turning their wooden decks a fiery orange as it reflected off them. The flattops were surrounded by the battleships Hiei and Kirishima roughly equal with the middle of the columns, and the heavy cruisers Tone, Chikuma, and Mogami steaming forward of them in a semi-circle. Beyond the heavy ships, two light cruisers and ten destroyers made up the rest of the escort. Even as Isoro watched, two of the latter broke inward to take up their position as plane guards, ready to pluck any member of the twelve strong CAP out of the sea.

How horrible would it be to suffer a mishap today? Isoro mused. To go through all these months of training only to be killed by some mechanical error or accident. Or even worse, be saved and not be able to take part in the strike tomorrow? Shaking his head, Isoro turned away from the fleet beautifully outlined against the red orb of the setting sun and looked over his chutai. He felt a warm sense of pride as the two other Shiden in perfect formation.

We have come so far since we first started flying these fighters. I look forward to meeting the Americans tomorrow, Isoro thought. Gently, he moved astern of Akagi, noting that the carrier’s funnel smoke was moving straight behind her like black yarn trailing behind a running child.

Thank goodness, no cross wind, he thought. The weather gods continue to smile upon us, and tomorrow we shall make history.

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