Ugaki bowed his head briefly, acknowledging the Admiral’s decision. “We had thought these operations would have to be conducted on a shoestring, but given the swift capitulation of enemy resistance on Java, we do not perceive a threat from the British on that front. Therefore, the Army has placed the entire 48th Infantry division from Java at our disposal. The 38th will remain there as garrison, except one detachment under Sakaguchi. Beyond that, we will employ the South Seas Detachment, Shoji Detachment, and other Naval Marine groups in these operations.”
“Where will we begin?” asked Fukada eagerly.
“Port Moresby. Orders to that effect will be sent immediately, using an altered Book B encoding. Orders indicating our intention to strike at Midway will also be disseminated using the old Book B encryption keys. After discussion with Admiral Yamamoto, it was determined that Operational order 626 would be transmitted in the new code, Book C, but that every outward sign would be made to convince the enemy that Midway and the Aleutians is our next objective. It is our hope that if the Americans have broken Book B, then they will muster their carrier forces to oppose the fictitious Midway operation, leaving our carriers free rein to support operations in the Solomon Sea.”
“One comment,” said Fukada. “At present, the only way you can disseminate information on the new code encryption keys is by using the existing code, correct? That will be risky. They may learn we are changing our code, and act accordingly.”
“What else can we do?
“Just use the existing code for the moment, Book B, but assemble all forces required for either operation at Truk. There it will be possible to meet with all senior officers, informing them of the new encryption keys in person. Our people can help with this. We also have equipment on board that can help the transition to a new code. Otherwise, I agree that the orders pertaining to the Midway Operation should be sent in the old code, as long as our forces know enough to ignore them.”
“Very well,” said Yamamoto. “Truk is a suitable point to muster the fleet. At that point we will issue orders that appear to indicate Midway as the next target, and even dispatch initial covering forces as a ruse. Then the real operation aimed at Port Moresby will proceed instead.”
“And after Port Moresby?” Fukada seemed to have a restless energy about him now.
“Port Moresby will be taken,” said Ugaki, “concurrent with two other operations. One will be aimed at Tulagi and Guadalcanal, the second to reinforce New Caledonia with the Shoji Detachment, and then, once these objectives have been secured, the 48th Division will invade Fiji. We will meet to discuss concluding operations again after the successful completion of that invasion. In the meantime, your ship, Takami, will be assigned to operate with the Kido Butai.”
“Where will Yamato operate?” said Fukada.
“This ship will remain at Truk as a floating operational Headquarters.”
“If I might make a suggestion… it was found that one great flaw in our Midway deployment was the segregation of heavy fleet elements from the carriers. In effect, our carriers now operate independently, with only cruiser escorts. Later in the war, the Americans discovered that the heavy AA fire support from their battleships and heavy cruisers served to add a strong measure of support against possible enemy air attack. May I suggest we consider adopting such a policy? It would mean that we assign fast battleships and cruisers in direct support of the Kido Butai, and not in a separate screening task force.”
Ugaki deferred to Yamamoto on this, and he considered it briefly before responding. “I find such a proposal interesting,” he said. “In fact, I think I will order it. Yamato is already being referred to as “Hotel Yamato” at Truk. Musashi is due there soon, and certain Combined Fleet support elements can transfer to that ship. But yes, I think I will take Yamato out with the Kido Butai, and Admiral Ugaki, please assign any additional fast battleship support that may be available. If nothing else, I will have what the Americans call a front row seat to these operations. Now then… The timetable… Gentlemen, if I am correct, we have the next six weeks to try and win this war. Should we fail, then we can all sit here again and argue about how best to lose it. Yet for now, I want your full and unqualified support. The British also have a quaint expression which applies here: in for a penny, in for a pound.”
He smiled.
Part IV
Hook, Line and Sinker
“There are two types of fisherman — those who fish for sport and those who fish for fish.”
Chapter 10
Karpov was restless. The long hiatus imposed by the harsh Siberian winter had left him chafing for action. Yet ice in the Sea of Okhotsk was particularly severe that winter, one of the coldest in memory, and so he had taken Kirov down through the Kuriles as Fedorov advised, and out into the North Atlantic. They moved at night, through thick weather, with excellent charts of these waters, and passed quietly through the Nadezhdy Strait, a 20 mile gap between two small rocky islands. Radar returns from the high volcanic peak of Sarychev Mountain on the northern isle of Matua guided them through, and the Admiral mused on the fickle nature of the earth itself.
So Krakatoa has blown its top down south, he thought, and right in the middle of the Japanese landings on Java. From all reports the entire western segment of that island is largely uninhabitable now. That must have cost the Japanese a good deal in men and ships if they landed where Fedorov predicted they would. The British pulled out, having no stomach for the fight after that, though it was probably a simple case of logistics that forced their withdrawal.
That’s my problem now, isn’t it—logistics. I have good divisions waiting at Magadan for this damn ice field to thin out, but Fedorov tells me winter may hang on longer than normal now. That damn volcano has sent up so much silt and ash that it’s literally blocking sunlight from reaching the earth. It wasn’t even supposed to happen this year. The eruption was supposed to occur in 1883, but Mother Nature can be a headstrong lady. Look what she did to us right in the middle of that fight with Tanner and his 7th Fleet in 2021.
Yes, it was that demon of a volcano that sent me here, and I had a real good look at what the US Navy is going to look like by 1945. A pity I was on the wrong side back then, and still hot headed from that engagement with Tanner. All I could see was red when it came to the Americans, and I picked a fight there without properly thinking the situation through. Orlan paid the price for that, and everyone aboard. I never really did think to look in the history books to see how that little farce was written up, but then again, what does it matter? It’s 1942 here now, and everything is different. My little sortie to 1908 took care of that, but it also gave rise to the dragon I am now dueling with up here—Imperial Japan. None of those events I lived through in 1945 are ever likely to happen now, particularly since the Americans will be on my side this time around.
Hell, they were unbeatable without me, but with Kirov at my disposal, the outcome of this war is certain now. I’ve already shown the Japanese that I’m not to be trifled with. Fedorov tells me they were worried about the opening of a northern front all through these early months of the war. Well, now I’ve given them one. The loss of Kamchatka must have reddened quite a few faces in Army and Navy circles in Japan. The loss of that aircraft carrier and the other ships I pummeled also clearly demonstrated what I can do to them if they dare to oppose me.