FALLING and RISING
8 of February 1942 saw the beginning of the Japanese invasion of the island of Singapore. The Allied order for the destruction of the North-South Causeway connecting the island to Malaysia only delayed the inevitable. Battles raged for heavily to the 15th of February.
Due to some inexperienced soldiers or even untrained soldiers, military miscalculations and lack of armoured vehicles and tanks as well as heavy round ammunition that were ineffective against infantry… The inferior in number Japanese force overran the Allied Forces and accepted the largest British led surrender in British history.
The Allied Forces suffered heavy losses. 9,500 killed, 5,000 wounded and 120,000 captured. In comparison to the Japanese forces which suffered 1,713 killed and 2,772 wounded. Of course, the real cost of the conflict isn't calculated until afterwards. Numbers doesn't give the full story.
Prisoners of War were escorted to the Eastern part of the island in numbers to be imprisoned in Changi, Singapore's Civilian prison and the British Army's Selarang Barracks. Those not strong enough to make the trek were slaughtered where they fell and later disposed of.
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Leroy Jethro Gibbs was one of the few Marines that were sent to Singapore to train with the Allied Forces after the attack on Pearl Harbour. The silver haired seasoned marine took in as much of the surroundings without slowing as they were forced in the direction of the already overcrowded prison. He silently ordered his legs too keep moving since stopping or falling meant death. Two strangers beside him had collapsed from exhaustion and then were bayoneted without question. The screams still echoed in his mind.
The Selarang Barracks had good standards in comparison with the rest. British people had good taste that was obvious. Perhaps it stemmed from being ruled by a Royal Family. But its standards were greatly diminished once the prisoners were being forced in.
Gibbs hadn't realized they were being stopped until he felt the steel of bayonet pressed against his chest as an order to stop moving. The Japanese soldier shouted at somebody and ordered a group into an area so the prisoners could be maintained easier. Gibbs knew that maintaining composure could possibly help in his survival.
The bayonet steered him in the direction of one of the buildings. It was obvious what they were being ordered to do. One thing he was confused by and that was if he should be thankful he lasted this long.
Obviously the area was going to get stuffy and the advantage of being one of the first indoors meant he could choose an area near a window. As if that was a prize. He sat down with his back propped up against the wall.
He watched with a certain Marine's paranoia as people piled in. A young man sat in similar position but wrapped his arms around his knees and buried his head deep as if hiding from the situation.
The only thing that stood out from the rest was the fact that the younger man was dressed in civilian attire. The young wily man almost jumped out of his skin when he heard somebody walking by. Gibbs reckoned he could afford the civilian lee-way and thought that Changi Prison must be filled to the brink if they were mixing civvies with military personnel.
"Hey," Gibbs shouted so his voice could be heard over the commotion. A few others turned around but not the intended target. "Hey!" He repeated himself which was something he despised doing.
The young man's green eyes finally acknowledged someone talking too him.
"You okay?" Gibbs asked. Concentrating on something other than the confinement put his mind at ease. Honestly, Gibbs had never been so far from his family before. Even during training he was never too far. This was going to test his resolve.
The other man carefully considered the implications of the very question. What was he to say? Could he answer truthfully and invite the chance of being ridiculed by the battle hardened soldiers or just plain lie. One that probably would easily be seen through.
There was no vocal response.
Gibbs didn't speak for a moment as he adjusted his ass as to feel slightly more comfortable. "What's a civvy doing here?" Gibbs continued pressing.
"I work for in the military," even with his voice slightly wavy and uneven, the man spoke distinctly. Every syllable could be clearly heard.
The voice sounded familiar too Gibbs. "Have we met before?" Gibbs asked. Everybody was virtually scattered. He didn't even know whether the men he was fighting alongside were still alive.
"I don't believe so," he jumped and hugged himself tighter when there was more banging going on.
"How about we make a deal… I'll watch your back if you watch mine. The name's Gibbs," he introduced himself without extending his hand. It was more of an offer to become comrades. An invitation of trust and loyalty without saying so.
"I think you would rather somebody else. I'm no soldier."
"I'm asking you…" Gibbs said and waited for a name at the very least.
"Uh… Tim McGee. I think you'll prefer a real fighter kind of man," McGee stated.
"You look like you've been in a good scrape yourself, McGee," it didn't feel odd for Gibbs to use the man's surname. He was used to the rank or surname kind of life.
McGee rubbed his neck and throat. As impossible as it was he could feel the hands still there as well as the phantom sensation of a pointy bayonet. He closed his eyes and thought about something else. But every decision in the past, every memory of his childhood always led back to this Hell.
"Good. You have fight in you," Gibbs said.
There were people talking near the door but Gibbs was too far away to make out what they were saying. It sounded like they were plotting something. There was an inbuilt mechanism inserted in each soldier that told them that escape was their duty. Like any good soldier, that's what they tried to do.
Inaudible shouting outside attracted everyone's attention. A few people in Barracks Alpha rushed to any window or the door to see what was going on. A loud roar from prisoners from each barracks could be heard. Gibbs and McGee stood up and looked out the window.
Three prisoners had decided to make a run for it. They tore through the open area, kicking up dust as they tried to make it through the gates where there could be some safety in the trees outside the fences.
Onlookers willed them on but no others physically interfered. Gunfire silenced everyone and there was a delay until the three escapees sprawled forward ending their attempt and dashing the hopes of the rest.
Gibbs watched as one of the three struggled to get too his feet and continue forward. The back of his khaki coloured shirt started to slowly change into a bloody shade of red. Japanese Soldiers pointed guns towards the barracks to deter any thought of action.
The one who appeared to be leader walked methodically through the camp towards the man who was now crawling. It was a move of desperation and because the man knew what was about too come.
The Japanese soldier shouted in his native language. Even though not everybody understood exactly but the message being conveyed was clear.
"What's he saying?" McGee whispered almost fearful that the Jap would overhear.
"Somewhere along the lines of 'Escape attempts will be punishable by death' I guess," Gibbs answered without turning around. Body language always said more than any words.
"What?" McGee faced the Marine.
Gibbs didn't need to respond. A bloodcurdling cry reverberated around Changi as the leader thrust a bayonet into the wounded man's back and twisted it hard. The man writhed in agony before eventually the welcomed death finally arrived.
It was then Gibbs made his way to the front of the door, being mindful too keep both feet on the inside. That was the first time he caught a full look at the Lieutenant. After the attack on Pearl Harbour the previous year, they had been given a crash course on identifying the ranks of the enemy. Lieutenants had two gold stars on a bed of red and yellow stripes attached to their dirty brown uniforms.
Looking at the Lieutenant was more of sizing him up. He looked like the runt of the litter and Gibbs was sure he could kill the guy in a straightforward fight. But with a lot of things, initial looks had a habit of being deceptive.
The Lieutenant didn't say anything further even when he made split second eye contact with Gibbs. There was a tense moment as Gibbs couldn't predict what the course of action was going to be.
Gibbs licked his dry lips before heading back to the area he had claimed before and hoped that things would calm down until the initial anger has worn off. Things could go to hell pretty damn quick.
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A/N This is written for NFA WW2 x-over challenge. Australians and British may remember hearing about Changi. But for those who haven't I did include a bit of a history lesson. I'm just putting this up to see how it is received. More NCIS people will be coming in.