>>6103660“… I suppose we should get this show on the road,” you say at length. “We’ll make for Pearl, once we’ve cleared the area. I’ll send a flight in range of Wake to take a listen, but if something like this could happen to Kwajalein, well. Let’s not count on help there. Nagato, what’s your best speed?”
“I am rated for 26.5 knots.”
“And your cruising speed and range?”
“5,500 miles at 16 knots.”
“Hawaii is over 2,100 miles away, and we have no expectation of resupply; do you think you can make that at over 20?”
“I believe so, yes, though at much over it will be close.”
“Hmm. 18, then. Faster if it proves feasible. Long Beach, Bainbridge, maintain a separation of 12 miles. Nagato, stick close to me. Emissions will be at absolute minimum, intermittent and directional only. As for rules of engagement, you are weapons-free effective immediately until I saw otherwise. Do try to make contact first, but the enemy is persons and parties unknown - maybe it’s the Chinese, or the vengeful ghosts of the IJN, or all the devils of hell. Whatever the case, I intend that we will make Honolulu alive and intact.”
“Roger that.”
“Got it, boss.”
“Ryoukai!”
An hour later you are standing on the beach as the last of your second wave of fighters is reaching its BARCAP station about 200 miles out, and the last back of the first event has safely landed. Two S-3s scouted ahead along your intended path, a second set of helicopters was warming up to take the place of the first, and waiting on your forward deck were eight F-18s loaded down with two Harpoon anti-ship missiles and four 1000-pound laser-guided bombs apiece, with four more on tanking duty and four Tomcats ready to fly escort for the laden bugs.
Your two cruiser escorts, not ones to sit around, were already out in the water snooping around with towed sonar, but Nagato is standing next to you, watching the proceedings wordlessly. Despite her stoic demeanour it’s not hard to see that she’s conflicted about something.
“What’s on your mind?”
She gives you a distant look. “Where will I go?”
“After, you mean?”
“My… Enterprise, my home is gone,” she says, voice tight.
“Japan still exists, though? It’s actually quite peaceful and prosperous. They haven’t had a war since the last one.”
“The Empire is gone.”
“Akihito reigns, last I heard. The Heisei Emperor.”
That catches Nagato off-guard. “That little brat?”
“You knew him?”
“He toured me once, with his father. He was seven. Truly? He still lives?”
“Well, fifteen years ago. Things are fuzzy after I was inactivated, so maybe his son is on the throne now.”
