Forward
So I recently watched HSF, and I was underwhelmed. Not by the naval battles, but by the world around them. The backstory makes no sense and removes humanity's greatest invention, flight. So this is my attempt to change the backstory of HSF to something more to my liking while giving the spotlight to one of my favorite ships of all time, The USS Enterprise CVN-6. This first chapter will be a timeline of events for the world of "We are Legend". Oh and I don't own High School Fleet. Enjoy!
Prologue:
On October 9th, 1905, a month after Japanese victory in the Russo-Japanese War. The Great Pacific Quake, a 10.3 magnitude earthquake strikes the island nation. Tsunami's rock the entire Pacific Rim, from as far south as Chile, to as far north as Alaska. The exact death toll is unknown but estimated to be well over 1,000,000. The resulting tectonic shift floods most of the Japanese coastline, crippling the country and ending their dreams of imperial dominance of the pacific. Among the dead was Emperor Meiji, and much of the Imperial Family. Luckily for Japan, Prince Yoshihito, now known as Emperor Taishō and his family survived the quake. However, it soon became clear that Japan would not be able to survive on it's own.
October 11th, 1905: President Theodore Roosevelt, having led the negotiations between the Russians and Japanese, was contacted by Ambassador Takahira Kogorō. Takahira requested the President assist his nation in their time of need. Later that day Roosevelt himself requested congress pledge assistance to Japan and do all they could to assist the nation.
October 13th, 1905: Congress passed the Japanese Assistance Act. This act pledged limited assistance to Japan until negotiations take place between both nations.
October 14th, 1905: Newly appointed Secretary of the Navy, Charles Joseph Bonaparte, is given the task of delivering relief supplies to Japan. Bonaparte himself assisted with distribution of supplies to refugees, arriving in Japan aboard the USS Charleston in November.
January 8th, 1906: Japan and the United States sign the Manila Accords. In return for full military and economic assistance from the United States, the Japanese would write new constitution under a constitutional monarchy requiring the Emperor relinquishing all political political, renounce all claims to Taiwan and Korea, and vow only to use their military for defense. The Emperor and Roosevelt were present for the signing of the accords, The Emperor is said to have told Roosevelt "The actions you have taken have saved my nation, for this the Japanese people are in your debt." Charles Joseph Bonaparte is appointed the first head of the Japanese Reconstruction Department. The Manila Accords were cited as a major reason why President Roosevelt was awarded the 1906 Nobel Peace Prize.
July, 28th 1914: The Austro-Hungarian Empire declares war upon Serbia, beginning the Great War.
January 19th, 1917: The Japanese receive a telegram from the German Foreign Office. The message offered Japan extensive territorial gains in the Pacific, including the American territories of Guam and The Philippines, if they would side with the Central Powers. Instead the Japanese informed Ambassador Lloyd Carpenter Grissom who informed President Wilson. Soon after Wilson petitioned congress to declare war upon the German Empire.
October 3rd, 1936: The USS Enterprise is launched. The ship would go on to become the longest serving ship in navy history, aside from the USS Constitution, as well as the most decorated combat vessel in history.
November 4th, 1937: Japan begins construction on the Yamato class battleships. The 5 ships are the largest battleships ever constructed. The ships called the Yamato, Musashi, Shinano, Kawachi, and Chāruzu Bonaparuto (Charles Bonaparte), would eventually form the backbone of the Blue Mermaid Fleet.
July 4th, 1941: The German Kriegsmarine attacks the Naval Headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia. The attack results in the sinking of several American ships, however the only German Carriers, the Graf Zeppelin and Paul von Hindenburg are both sunk soon after the attack. On July 5th, 1941 the United States of America declares war upon the Third Reich.
May 7th, 1945: The German Instrument of Surrender is signed, ending the Second World War. The USS Enterprise emerges as the most decorated combat vessel of all time. Some of the Enterprise's most well known engagements include Operation Catechism, where bombers from the Enterprise assisted the RAF in finally sinking the German battleship Tirpitz, and the Landings on Utah Beach. After the landings, Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Jr. said "If it weren't for Big-E we would have lost a lot more boys on the sands."
October 9th, 1955: 50 years after the Earthquake which devastated their nation, the Japanese have not only rebuilt their nation, but become pioneers in maritime construction.
January 8th, 1956: The Manila Accords expire after 50 years. However, due to increased piracy on trade routes and civilian centers, diplomats from major seafaring nations flock to London for negotiations on a new agreement.
September 1st, 1956: The London Agreement is officially approved by the governments of The United States, Japan, Korea, West Germany, The United Kingdom, France, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. The Agreement created the Pacific Rim Oversight and Trade Organization (PROTO). Each nation was also required to provide a dedicated oceanic defensive force, while also providing for the education of future sailors.
April 18th, 1958: The Japanese create the Blue Mermaids, making the Japanese the first nation to fulfill the terms of the London Agreement. The Yamato Class Battleships are the first vessels to make up the Blue Mermaid fleet. Under Grand Admiral Munetani, the first female to be granted the rank, they would serve as Japan's protectors on the high seas.
June 24th, 1959: President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs the "Coast Guard Expansion Act" and the "Maritime Education Act" vastly expanding the capabilities of the US Coast Guard while creating several high school age Coast Guard academies through the nation.
July 4th, 1960: The USS Enterprise is modernized and officially transferred to the US Coast Guard, she would remain their Flagship for over 50 years. Commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Alfred C. Richmond said "She's a brand new ship for a brand new Coast Guard. This vessel, once celebrated for taking lives, will now be celebrated for saving lives."
December 25th, 1991: The Soviet Union Falls. A United Germany now sits on the PROTO Counsel, the new Russian government requests to join PROTO. After long negotiations Russia is allowed to join, but it is required to reduce the size of their combat navy before joining. The Russians create the Vladivostokskiy flot zashchity (Vladivostok Defense Fleet), to safeguard the City of Vladivostok which had been beset by pirates for decades.
February 3rd, 2014: Due to the development of jet fighters, the USS Enterprise is no longer able to adequately preform it's role of long range scouting and rescue. As such it is decommissioned from the United States Coast Guard in a public ceremony. Former Officers and Crew from both the Navy and Coast Guard attend the ceremony. Along with Royal Navy personnel who sailed along side Enterprise in WWII. Civilians rescued by the vessel shared their stories. Aside from the Constitution, Enterprise was the longest serving US Maritime Vessel in history, and her most decorated. She received commendations from over 20 different nations. The vessel was transferred to the Pearl Harbor Coast Guard Academy, where she would assist in the training of future sailors. At thevery end of the ceremony, it was announced that the second Gerald R. Ford-Class Aircraft Carrier would be named the USS Enterprise (CVN-80).
Author's Note:
Differences from Canon:
The reason for Japan going full Atlantis makes slightly more sense: I changed the reason for the degradation of Japanese coastlines from over mining to a massive Earthquake. Hopefully I didn't go overkill on the magnitude.
Flight exists, however the invention of the Jet engine delayed significantly, and not made practical until 2014. Propellor planes, like those used during WWII are still the most widely used.
Boys exist: The US coast guard will be Co-Ed, however the Carriers, Cruisers, and Submarines will manned by men, while Battleships and Destroyers will remain all female. I will assign other ship types to specific genders as the story goes on.
Date Change: The story is being moved from April to August because AMERICA!
Important differences from Real Life:
The Yamato Class was completed: There were originally 5 ships planned for the Yamato Class. Only 3 were named and only 2 were completed as battleships. Since High School Fleet refers to the Shinano as a battleship and not an Aircraft Carrier, I assumed the all 5 ships were built.
Korea is united: North Korea never existed because the Japanese never fully annex Korea because their country imploded.
Japan owns the southern half of Sakhalin: The Japanese are not required to give up their claim on the island after WWII because they did not fight in it. Roosevelt also doesn't require them to cede the island back to Russia in the Manila Accords.
The Zimmerman Telegram goes to Japan instead of Mexico: Because it makes about as much sense, and it helps to cement the relationship between the US and Japan.
The Germans attack Norfolk instead of the Japanese attacking Pearl Harbor: I had to keep the Japanese out of World War II for this to work. I will fully admit this makes no sense. Hitler would have to be even more of an idiot than he really was to try this. I also had to use some Alternate History Magic to have the 2 German carriers completed, as the Graf Zeppelin was never completed and the second one was never even named.
Battleships are still practical: Both the Lion Class and the Montana Class battleships were built. The Super Yamato is not built for the reason that it was not mentioned in High School Fleet, but mostly I just couldn't name anymore Japanese ships.
Speaking of naming things if I butchered Japanese or Russian and you speak Japanese or Russian feel free to correct me.
Charles Joseph Bonaparte is even cooler than he already was: Yes he is real, yes he was on Teddy's cabinet, and yes he is related to L'Empereur des Français, Napoléon Bonaparte! Charles help to created the Bureau of Investigation, which would be expanded under J. Edgar Hoover in the 20's to form the modern FBI.