Kusaka looked as if he would like to say something, but Yamaguchi stood from behind his desk. Reaching to his right, he pulled out a simple courier’s portfolio.
“Also included in this packet are your transfer orders, I thought I would give you an early start on your movement to Vice Admiral Inoue’s staff,” Yamaguchi said. “Since you are so fixated with Wake, it is perhaps a move for the best.”
He keeps a straight face despite the fact I have just basically relieved him, Yamaguchi thought, looking at Kusaka. No matter, he will soon not be my problem.
“I have instructed Captain Genda to make a Suisei ready for your departure,” Yamaguchi said. “May you have good fortune.”
Kusaka took the courier’s bag, stepped back two steps, and bowed. Yamaguchi gave the man a short nod in return, and then watched as the junior flag officer exited his day cabin. Turning, he went back to the map of the Pacific that was hung on the bulkhead. Exhaling heavily, he regarded the Dutch East Indies.
Our entire war effort comes down to those islands, he thought. I wish the Kido Butai could fully participate. Shaking his head, he returned to his desk and sat down, placing his feet up and tipping his cap down over his eyes. But, for now, we have done our part, and we must rest.
Less than two minutes after he sat down, Vice Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi, victor of the Battle of Hawaii, slept for the first time in weeks.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
U.S.S. Nautilus
Lieutenant (j.g.) Nicholas “Nick” Elrod Cobb
Lieutenant Commander Jason Freeman
Ensign Larry Workman
Lieutenant Commander Harold Banes
Chief Robert Pound
U.S.S. Houston
Commander Jacob Thoreau Morton
Chief Petty Officer Roberts
Seaman Third Class Teague
Captain Sean Wallace
Lieutenant Adam Connor
Lieutenant Commander David Sloan
VMF-21
Major Adam Jefferson Haynes
Captain Scott Walters
Captain Keith Seidel
Captain William Kennedy
Captain Jacob Bowles
Captain David West
Captain Todd Burke
Wing Commander Connor O’Rourke
VB-8
Lieutenant Eric Melville Cobb
Ensign Charles Read
VMF-14
Captains Samuel and David Cobb
Major Max Bowden
Pearl Harbor and Oahu
Admiral Hank Jensen
Rear Admiral Daniel Graham
Vice Admiral Jacob Bowles
Patricia Ann Cobb
Josephine Marie Morton
Joanna “Sadie” Cobb
Nurse Beverly Bowden
Lieutenant Colonel John McKenna.
Commander Keith Hertling
Nurse Nancy Hertling
Alabama
Alma Cobb nee Lee
Samuel Cobb
Elma Cotner
Theodore Cotner
Joyce Cotner
Beauregard Forrest Cotner
AFTERWORD
I would like to take this opportunity to thank a few people for their help with this novel. As always, my wife Anita has been her usual supportive self. It is not easy, nor exactly fun, being an author’s spouse. Writing, by and large, is a solitary activity, and at least in my case, very streak oriented. Doing little things like, oh, making sure I eat and occasionally come out of the room to interact with humans is not always properly rewarded by the proper amount of gratitude. However, no matter how much I may get annoyed, I am grateful that I am married to a wonderful woman who has always been willing to help me get things done. Even when I grumble about being forced to go to sleep when I have “just one more paragraph,” I know that I drafted about as well as a man in ye olde wife lottery. Love you honey, and here’s to many more “Hey, I have an idea…” discussions in the future.
Second, I’d like to thank other individuals who have lent me beta reading support and lent me help with this manuscript. Kat Mitchell, despite her protestations, two major moves, and occasional bout of absentmindedness has done another great job correcting my grammar. My sister, Catherine Cole, put her editorial skills to use when she could between her numerous other commitments. Author Alma Boykin has provided a willing ear and eye to scan over things and sometimes save me from myself in earlier iterations. Mary Cantrell provided professional editing service on short notice despite me being delayed thanks to an onset of Murphy. Finally Patricia Hildebrand, in addition to introducing me to Mary, is responsible for inspiring a version change via stating, “I’ve watched lots of World War II documentaries, and I can’t tell where this deviates from what actually occurred.” Well, 150 pages later, I hope that the Point of Deviation from our actual timeline was much clearer.
Lastly, as always, thank you for purchasing this book. Please tell your family and friends about it, and if you liked it give it a rating on Amazon. Merchandise associated with it is available on Redbubble (http://www.redbubble.com/people/youngblai/works/12774584-battle-of-hawaii?ref=recent-owner) and CafePress (http://www.cafepress.com/mf/93163485/battle-of-hawaii-acts-of-war_tshirt?productId=1400901475).
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
James Young is a Missouri native who escaped small town life via spending four years at a small, well-known Federal institution in upstate New York. After being set free from the Hudson River Valley, Mr. Young spent the next six years of his life in various locations (both foreign and domestic) having the cost of his education repaid one nickel at a time. Along the way he collected a loving, patient, and beautiful spouse...and various animals that did not fit any of those descriptions.
After leaving the Republic's employ, James returned to the Midwest to pursue his doctorate in history--a process that has taken approximately twice the time he planned. Currently living with the same great woman and roughly four times the weight of pets (in the form of a pair of flatulent, WWE emulating shelter dogs), Mr. Young spends his time researching history, working for the Republic (again), and plotting new and interesting ways to torment characters.