The Twentieth Century. A time period of mankind's greatest achievements and biggest disasters. It brought an end to imperialism, which had plagued the globe for centuries, and ushered in a new era of peace and cooperation.
But nothing goes perfectly according to plan.
August 9th, 1945. A B-29 heavy bomber of the United States Armed Forces drops its nuclear load on Nagasaki, Japan. The resulting nuclear blast kills 40,000 civilians and military personnel outright.
August 15th, 1945. The Emperor of Japan, Emperor Showa, announces the surrender of Japan to the allied powers. He orders Japanese troops to cease fire the next day.
August 16th, 1945. The Japanese Diet issues a top secret order, permitting Japanese soldiers' assistance in local independence movements.
August 17th, 1945. The Republic of Indonesia declares its independence. Former Imperial Japanese personnel rally under the Red and White banner in order to support the new nation's independence.
August 19th, 1945. Imperial Japanese forces begin to pull out from the Chinese mainland. Hostilities between Chinese Communists and Nationalists resume.
September 2nd 1945. Japanese government officials sign the Instrument of Surrender on the deck of the USS Missouri. The Democratic Republic of Vietnam is declared.
September 4th, 1945. Imperial Japanese forces begin to pull out from the Indochinese Peninsula. Those who remain join forces with the Viet Minh.
September 16th, 1945. Moments before signing the Instrument of Surrender, the Imperial Japanese garrison of Hong Kong evacuates its forces. Those who remain surrender.
September 24th, 1945. The Viet Minh and its sympathizers attack the French Colonial Administration in Saigon. 150 European civilians are killed.
September 28th, 1945. Imperial Japanese forces retreat from the Sakishima Islands and head to Taiwan.
October 25th, 1945. After turning the island over to the Chinese, Imperial Japanese forces begin to pull out of Taiwan.
October 31st, 1945. Imperial Japanese forces arrive at a military base located in between Russia and Alaska. They rendezvous with Japanese forces already present in the area and form the Imperial Japanese Arctic Fleet.
January 1st, 1946. Imperial Japanese remnants launch air attacks on Soviet garrisons in the Kuril Islands. The Soviet navy launches a pursuit fleet in order to destroy the remnants' base. The Fleet is destroyed.
January 25th, 1946. Indonesian Republican forces, along with 600 British Indian defectors, repel a Dutch offensive on the island of Java. 3,000 Imperial Japanese remnants participate in the engagement.
March 4th, 1946. The Submarine I-403 launches an air attack on American bases around Alaska. I-404 attacks Soviet bases on Sakhalin Island.
March 10th, 1946. Imperial Japanese remnants based in Hokkaido launch attacks on surrounding US and Soviet bases. The United States Air Force launches a counterattack, destroying the remnants.
March 14th, 1946. Imperial Japanese holdouts on the islands of Saipan, Iwo Jima, and Guadalcanal surrender to US Forces.
March 20th, 1946. Viet Minh and Imperial Japanese remnants launch an offensive against French colonial forces. Though successful, only minor gains are made.
May 9th, 1947. The Heavy Cruiser Takasugi successfully bombards American positions on Iwo Jima. The ship retreats soon after.
August 17th, 1947. Indonesian forces successfully repel a second Dutch invasion of the islands. The United Nations recognizes Indonesia as an independent state.
August 23rd, 1947. More Imperial Japanese remnants arrive at the arctic base.
August 25th, 1947. Imperial Japanese dive bombers attack the US 7th Fleet. The attack is unsuccessful.
August 31st, 1947. The Imperial Japanese Arctic Fleet roll out a jet-propelled version of the J7W Shinden. Mass production of the aircraft begins.
September 11th, 1947. USAF airships comb Alaska for Arctic Fleet bases. Search is unsuccessful.
September 21st, 1947. A Soviet airship is shot down a few miles west of Alaska. Cause is unknown.
September 29th, 1947. An Australian patrol notices suspicious activity in New Guinea. Patrol is destroyed.
May 1st, 1950. Communist forces emerge victorious in China. Nationalist forces retreat to Taiwan.
May 10th, 1950. Nationalist forces fight a brief skirmish with Imperial Japanese remnants. The remnants surrender.
May 30th, 1950. The USAF 4th Air Fleet engages Arctic Fleet forces. 4th Air Fleet destroyed. First use of A7M3-J Reppu-kai in combat.
May 31st, 1950. Admiral Tendo Uesugi, commander of the Arctic Fleet, announces the existence of the Arctic Fleet to other Imperial Japanese remnants. Imperial Japanese remnants leave the Philippines to join the Arctic Fleet.
June 1st, 1950. The Arctic Fleet begins preparations for a massive intercontinental offensive, intended to reignite the flames of nationalism in Asia.
June 7th, 1950. Arctic Fleet agents manage to establish contact with Waffen SS remnants based in Argentina. The Germans agree not to intervene.
June 8th, 1950. The National Army of Indonesia secretly offers assistance to the Arctic Fleet. Imperial Japanese remnants begin battle preparations.
June 10th, 1950. A Soviet Airship is shot down by Arctic Fleet ground fire. The Arctic Fleet reschedules the operation in response. D-day is set to June 19th, 1950.
June 18th, 1950. The USAF sends another Air Fleet to Alaska in order to locate the Arctic Fleet's base of operations.
Our story begins here.
Somewhere over the Bering Strait
June 18th, 1950
The buzzing of piston engines echoed through the cold, dry air. Everything seemed calm as a cool breeze blew over the frozen seawater. Suddenly, a white silhouette zipped over the surface, cracks of the sound barrier echoing behind. More bullets struck the ice behind the A6M Zero as it banked left, avoiding another volley of bullets. The pursuing aircraft, two USAF P-51 Mustangs, continued to fire volleys at the fleeing Zero in hopes of bring the aircraft down.
Yorha Mizuchi clicked her tongue in annoyance at the two flies buzzing around behind her. The Mustangs continued to give chase and seemed to be catching up. Behind the two American aircraft, a large shadow loomed above the clouds.
"An Airship," Yorha said to herself.
More cracks echoed behind her, this time from the airship. Yorha banked left as 90mm shells smashed the ice below apart. One of the Mustangs took another shot at her, nearly grazing the Zero's right wing. The second Mustang fired as well, this time pulverising the Zero's tail.
"Damn it!" Yorha exclaimed. "Outdated piece of crap! Hold together until I make it back to base, will you!?"
Thankfully, the controls seemed to operate just fine. Yorha jammed the throttle of her Zero forward, gunning the aircraft forwards.
The first Mustang dived in behind Yorha, managing to line up its sights on the Zero.
Shots rang out through the air.
This time, however, the Mustang plummeted towards the ice in a ball of flame.
Jet engines screamed past the Zero as Yorha turned her head around to see what flew by.
"Yes!" she exclaimed. "Kikkas!"
"What the hell was that!?" exclaimed the Mustang pilot. He looked around, left, right, above, below, but failed to see anything except the Zero and…
30mm cannon shells tore themselves into the Mustang, shredding the aircraft until it exploded. A J9Y Kikka screamed through the flames, smoke, and debris, heading for the American Airship.
"Captain!" the radar operator called. "Incoming! Twelve o'clock low! Bogey is closing in fast!"
"Atlas 1 and 2, destroyed!" another operator announced. The captain gritted his teeth.
"Anti Aircraft fire!" he ordered. "Focus on the incoming Jap fighter! Shoot it out of the sky!"
The airship's .50 Caliber and 20mm guns immediately opened fire in response. A curtain of lead raked the airspace surrounding the airship as the Kikka closed in.
"It's no use sir!" an operator exclaimed. "The enemy is too fast!"
"500 yards!" another exclaimed. "200 yards!"
"Hard to starboard!" the captain ordered. "Evasive maneuvers! Hurry!"
"The enemy has fired rockets!" screamed an operator. "They're coming straight for us! Evasion is impossible!"
"All hands! Brace for impact!"
Twenty four R4M air-to-air rockets struck the bridge of the airship, the rockets' 0.4kg warheads detonating the fuel tanks and ammunition racks.
The airship exploded into a massive fireball, the Kikka punching straight through it as if nothing happened.
Yorha could not help but stare in admiration at the speed at which the fighter destroyed its opponents. She sighed, slightly wishing her usual fighter had been available for this mission. Yorha took note of a set of lights below her, indicating a runway. An E16A Zuiun took off from a nearby catapult, possibly on a reconnaissance mission. Yorha turned a dial on the radio set, adjusting the frequency slightly.
"Mizuchi here," Yorha said. "I'm coming in to land. Be careful, though. My tail is kind of shot up."
"Affirmative Ensign," the operator said. "Everyone make way. Damaged Zero coming in."
Yorha sighed as she made her landing approach. She managed to touch the Zero down onto the runway perfectly without causing further damage. To runway personnel ran up to the Zero to hold it in place. Yorha popped open the cockpit and jumped out of the plane.
"Do me a favor and apologize to this plane's owner, will you?" she asked one of the mechanics. "I didn't mean for it to get shot up."
"Will do that, ma'am," the mechanic said.
Yorha took a breath of the cold, arctic air, savouring its slightly salty taste. She walked towards the base, already pondering what she had witnessed.
Perhaps it would be a good time for her to switch to a jet aircraft.
Only a single light bulb lit the room.
Granted, the light bulb alone illuminated the room enough for its occupants to see inside. One of the occupants cleared his throat.
"So I hear Ensign Mizuchi has returned," said he. Another officer nodded.
"Indeed," said he. "But I hear the aircraft she borrowed has suffered damage."
"True. It is lucky that her usual aircraft has been repaired. We cannot let such talent be lost simply because of an incompatible aircraft."
"We will receive a proper report of the events, correct?"
"Yes."
A knock on the door silenced the group.
"Admiral Uesugi," the guard said. "Ensign Mizuchi and Ensign Tanikawa have arrived."
Uesugi nodded.
"Good," said he. "Send them in."
Yorha stood at attention, slightly nervous at the sight of the high-ranking officials who stood in front of her. Their clean white uniforms, golden decorative cords, medals, and officer's swords gave off a seemingly bourgeoisie-like air to them.
The woman who stood next to Yorha, Ensign Hiei Tanikawa, displayed a calmer expression in front of the elites in front of here.
"Ensign Mizuchi," Uesugi said, scratching his beard as he did so. "Report."
"Yes sir."
Yorha stepped forward and presented a folder to the high command. Uesugi gently plucked the folder from Yorha's hands before opening it.
"Hmm," said he. "I see."
"What do you advise, sir?" Yorha asked. "It's an entire fleet out there. It is bigger, too."
Uesugi nodded.
"Ensign Tanikawa," he asked. "What is your opinion on the enemy?"
"Sir," said she. "The enemy airship seemed to be equipped with 90mm guns for anti-ship duties. It fired at me with fairly primitive armaments. The ship also used the same powerplant as a B-17."
Uesugi nodded.
"Second line forces, huh," said he. "Alright. You are dismissed."
The two saluted before turning around to exit the room.
Yorha sighed as she entered her quarters. She flopped onto her bunk, waking up the person who slept above her.
"Ugh…" said she. "Stop being so loud…"
Yorha removed her pilot suit, shoes, and eyepatch before plopping back onto the bed again.
"Hi Asagi," Yorha said. "I'm back."
"I can tell," Asagi mumbled. "How many this time?"
"Three," Yorha replied. "Ran out of ammo, though. If I didn't I could have probably downed more."
Asagi hopped down from the top bunk.
"Right," said she. "I think it's time for my shift."
Yorha mumbled something in response, waving her hand at Asagi as she did so. Asagi chuckled a bit before changing into her uniform. Soon enough, only Yorha remained in the room.
Sleeping seemed to refuse to cooperate with her. Perhaps it was the intelligence she had gathered.
"71st Air Fleet from Clear Air Force Base," she muttered. "44th Bomber Wing. 89th Fighter Wing equipped with F8F Bearcats…"
Perhaps her uncanny habit of repeating intelligence to herself calmed her down a bit. Who knows.
"10th Fighter Wing, equipped with P-80 Shooting Stars… Shooting Stars, huh. Those jets will be a problem."
Aware that lying around accomplished nothing, Yorha lifted herself out of the bed. Upon changing into something more suitable to the outside world, she opened the door to her room.
By chance, Yorha managed to catch another pilot walking past her door as she opened it.
"..."
"..."
"Recon mission, Warrant Officer Murata?" Yorha asked. The boy who stood in front of her, slim with black hair and a scar on his neck, nodded in response.
"Yes ma'am," he replied. "I need to check on the Soviet side of things."
Yorha nodded in response.
"The Ki-74 is slow," said she. "Try not to get shot down."
"I am aware of that, ma'am," W.O. Murata replied. He saluted before walking towards the hanger.
Yorha sighed before tying her eyepatch back over her right eye. She walked over to the mess hall for a soda before returning to her quarters. With a snap, she popped the cap off of the bottle before downing the contents.
She sighed once again.
Suddenly, the intercom crackled to life.
"All pilots report to the central meeting room for a mission briefing, then proceed to your aircraft immediately. Repeat…"
Yorha already found herself out the door.