Japan was unchanging. But the world was changed beyond recognition.
It was around 23:40 on March 9, Reiwa Year X. A massive communications failure struck Japan, cutting off all communication with the rest of the world. While everyone was plunged int...
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I have prepared a brief operational chart of the naval battle of Alaska. I hope you will find it useful.
- Kujaku Aoi
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Gulf of Alaska: Heavy Cruiser Ashigara
"Commander, are you sure?"
"Oh, what's wrong?"
In response to the question from Captain Miura, the commander of the heavy cruiser Ashigara, Rear Admiral Tanaka cheekily asked back.
The question and answer were a complete waste of time. The time to take the helm had long passed, and the distance to the American fleet, led by the new Baltimore-class heavy cruiser Quincy, was already less than 30 kilometers. The surviving destroyers have regrouped and were about to charge toward the fleet.
Even after a brilliant attack using aerial torpedoes, the enemy remained formidable. However, the fleet as a whole was filled with a vigorous fighting spirit, as if the runaway attitude that had persisted for a long time due to the inferiority against the enemy had been blown away. Everyone was equally looking forward to a clash between surface vessels that will probably never be seen again.
"See the enemy, kill the enemy, is that the only thing we need to adhere to?"
"Well, that's true."
"Yes, so it's 'see the enemy, kill the enemy.'"
A cheerful Tanaka looked at the fog-blurred horizon. His spirit as an admiral was definitely looking forward to a fight.
The approaching American fleet, knowing that it had nothing to contribute to the war effort, was probably determined to fight back. Then, no matter how absurd the people of the Reiwa era might be, no matter how much they might denigrate it as an abuse of human life, they wanted to challenge the decisive battle, setting this moment as the climax of the war. From the outside, it may look like trivial pride and vanity, but it was for this reason that he wanted to fight hard and seize the truth that was buried outside of reason.
And—gazing intently at the heroic figure of the Imperial Navy's largest combat ship—Tanaka smiled lovingly. This ship was born only to win fleet battles, and to deprive her of that significance in the face of the perfect opportunity was just cruelty.
"Hey, Captain, isn't Ashigara a good ship?"
"Yes, without a doubt, sir."
"Then... don't you want to have her win?"
Tanaka continued to speak calmly.
"Of course, we'll do it our way. The glory that comes after firing the main guns and torpedoes at each other. We want to win it that way."
"We can't be proud of our achievements on borrowed time. That is just what I was thinking," Miura responded with a look of realization.
