To: A. Ricardo. From: M. Loftus.

Ricardo,

Is this who I think it is? Strange how our lord SecNav works. Dare I ask how your Easter was?

If I'm wrong, let me get right to the point. We're mostly just fighting paper airplane duels over here and the brass knows it. Something needs to be done to maintain the idea of productivity, and of course that something involves paperwork. My little "fleet" of the office is supposed to go over the finer aspects of damage control and injuries. One or two reports are a good start.

To: M. Loftus. From: A. Ricardo.

Martin:

It is who it is and I yam what I yam. Can't believe we're both desk captains. Mind clarifying what "reports" you want me to provide? That stuff piles up. Ammo expenditures, nutrition facts, it all blends together.

To: A. Ricardo. From: M. Loftus:

The low-down AAR type summaries. Just hand those over with whatever the wound overviews are contained in. Would you believe there isn't one person here who understands how damage works in this case? Commentary from someone involved would be nice, too.

To: A. Ricardo. From: M. Loftus:

If the brass thinks they can stomach it, I have no choice but to cook it. Let me start with an appetizer to be safe:

See attachment: Kume Jima jostling . pdf

Damage report relating to actions off Kume Jima island.

Date of incident: 05/02/2003

Background: HQ at embattled Naha island received vague reports from civilians of abnormal activity off the coast of Kume Jima. Initial assumptions were that this indicated mere scouting actions with no diversion of resources from the main theatre to occur soon. This attitude was revised following a lone call from one inhabitant who hastily outlined the presence of bright lights spreading across the islet of Ojima, located a short distance from Kume Jima proper by bridge. Further details were lost with his connection.

Response: Home defense HQ on Naha assembled a makeshift "reaction force" to scout Ojima and secure it if needed. The defense fleet's options were previously limited due to casualties incurred during the Daito campaign (see attached file). Once assembled, the understrength cruiser squadron departed from Naha in the opening minutes of May.

Steaming at the verge of top speed, the Reaction Force first stopped at the island of Tonaki that lay on their route. Questioning the remaining inhabitants of Tonaki proper, it was confirmed that sounds of explosions could be heard to the west. The Force resumed speeding towards the island. By about 0340 they had passed to the South of the Kume reef and began a northwestern course correction towards Ojima. All possible signs of harm remained obscured by the night. At 0349, flagship observed the first lights shining against the backdrop of the islet. The encounter is recorded as follows:

BLUE FORCES:

Reaction Force

CL Mogami Class "Mikuma" (Flagship)

CL Mogami Class "Suzuya"

DD Fubuki-I Class "Isonami"

DD Wakatake Class "Yugao"

RED FORCES:

Scouting squad (Suggestion, unknown OOB)

CL Red-A01

CL (?) Blue-A01

DD Blue-A02-A05 (estimation)

Support Squad (unknown oob)

DDH Blue-B01

DD Blue-B02-B05

Ground forces

Estimated 250 infantry-type beings fortifying Ojima.

COMBAT SUMMARY:

0350: Flagship Mikuma calmly orders full alert.

0351: Reaction force identifies Scouting squad via night scopes. CL Suzuya mistakenly identifies Red-A01 as a battleship.

0352: Scouting Squad fires first. Reaction force commences turn away from enemies. CL Suzuya unloads both starboard triple torpedo tubes.

0353: Flagship Mikuma begins reassuring her sister that Red-A01 can't be anything heavier than a CA. Rapid fire is exchanged by primary weapons on both sides.

0355: DD Yugao hit by 120mm shell on mast. Sparks begin to ignite on superstructure.

0355: Fires continue to spread DD Yugao discharges both twin torpedo tubes to nullify risk of detonation.

0356: Support squad is sighted by DD Isonami off Eef beach. CA Mikuma orders another port turn to avoid receiving a crossed T.

0356: Scouting squad turns to pursue Reaction force.

0356: CL Mogami, DD Isonami launch torpedoes at Support squad. Hits observed on CL Blue A01 and DDs Blue A02, A03.

0357: CL Mikuma fires on DDH Blue-B01 CL Suzuya lists to port from 3 150mm shells fired by CL Red-A01. Audibly upset by the hit.

0357: CL Suzuya's shouting suddenly ends. Returns fire with primary and secondary batteries.

0358: CL Mikuma grazed by 130mm shell. Maintains fire on enemy flagship.

0359: DDH Blue-B01 knocked back by 155mm hit center mass. Support squad fire begins to slow.

0401: CL Blue-A01 is hit by torpedo. Right leg observed to snap off at the thigh. Blue-A01 immediately loses balance and falls. DD Blue-A02 grabs CLs' weaponry while passing.

0401: DDH Blue-B01 begins turning towards the beach in bent stance. Other DDs form a screen.

0401: CL Red-A01 crossed into DD Blue-A02's path and fires at Reaction force.

0401: DD Yugao extinguishes fire.

0401: DD Yugao hit by 150mm shell to smokestack. HE round passes through before detonating. New blaze erupts on superstructure and Yugao's hair.

0402: CL Mikuma reminds DD Yugao that the swearing is highly improper.

0403: CL Mikuma orders starboard turn towards Scouting squad.

0404: CL Mikuma engages Red-A01, CL Suzuya opens fire on DD Blue-A02.

0404: DD Blue-A02's left arm is severed by 150mm shell from CL Suzuya.

0405: CL Blue-A01 begins to sink. DD Blue-A02 regains speed. Several shots land in Blue-A02's wake.

0406: Support squad has now reversed course to steam east away from Ojima.

0406: CL Red-A01 struck in head by 127mm shell from CL Suzuya. Rate of fire unchanged.

0407: DD Yugao reports fire uncontrolled. Scouting squad observed to turn away.

0408: More minor hits on multiple DDs.

0408: CL Mikuma orders withdrawal to assist DD Yugao.

0410: Exchange of fire slows considerably.

0411: DD Isonami provides damage control crew to DD Yugao.

0412: CL Mikuma and CL Suzuya separate from DDs and head to Ojima.

0416: Footsoldiers observed digging in on Ojima.

0416: CLs commence bombardment of enemy positions.

0419: Temporary repairs enacted on DD Yugao.

0423: last sighting of enemy naval forces.

0441: Bombardment ends. Flagship Mikuma records dozens of infantry eliminated.

0445: Combat ends.

RESULT:

Japanese victory, hostile fleet driven off, Kume secured.

LOSSES:

Blue:

CL Mikuma: Superficial damage

CL Suzuya: Minor damage

DD Yugao: Minor damage.

Red:

One CL sunk, one CL moderately one DD heavily damaged, several DDs hit.

(Note: I've got a basic system for how to describe injuries laid out. Hits that don't penetrate or break anything are superficial, outer damage or small hits are minor, bridge damage and disabled weapons are moderate, internal damage such as torpedo hits are severe, and dismemberments, wrecked turrets, eye wounds, crippled engines, and the like are heavy. We can do more sorting later-Loftus)

DAMAGE REPORTS:

CL Mikuma:

Designation: Light Cruiser. Class: Mogami. Origin; Imperial Japanese Navy. Armaments: 5x triple 155mm turrets, 4x dual 127mm AA turrets, 8x triple 25mm turrets, 4x double 13mm turrets, 4x triple torpedo launchers.

Height: 5 feet 7 inches (using familiar measurements here-Loftus)

Hair: Black.

Eyes: brown

Body type: slender

Measurements: 37-27-39

Cup size: 32DD

Damage: A single 130mm shell severed her right twintail and grazed the mast of her rigging. Observation: Mikuma was reportedly incensed that she would need to redo her hairstyle.

CL Suzuya:

Designation: Light Cruiser. Class: Mogami. Origin; Imperial Japanese Navy. Armaments: 5x triple 155mm turrets, 4x dual 127mm AA turrets, 6x double 25mm turrets, 8x double 13mm turrets, 4x7.7mm machine guns 4x triple torpedo launchers.

Height: 5 feet 7 inches

Hair: Pale green

Eyes: Lime green

Body type: slender

Measurements: 40-28-40

Cup size: 33F

Damage: Forward starboard torpedo tubes destroyed at the base by 150mm shell, necessitating replacement with a new turret. Damage could've been fatal had the torpedoes been present. Conning tower penetrated at the base by 150mm shell, multiple compartments destroyed. Right arm hit at upper humerus equivalent. The 150mm shot sliced through clothing and skin to hit the ocean without penetrating deeply. Extensive tearing of flesh left a one-inch diameter gash below the right shoulder.

Suzuya's Sweater and undershirt were ruined as a result

Observation: Suzuya reported uncontrollable flashbacks upon first sighting CL Red-A01 due to events in her original service. She was driven to fire torpedoes as a result. The panic ceased after being hit and gave way to the realization that she wasn't facing a battleship.

DD Yugao:

Designation: Destroyer. Class: Wakatake. Origin; Imperial Japanese Navy. Armaments: 3x 120mm guns, 4x 25mm turrets, 2x 7.7mm machine guns, 2x dual torpedo turrets, depth charge projector. Height: 4 feet 6 inches

Hair: Purple.

Eyes: amber

Body type: slim

Damage: Fire damage across 1/3rd of her rigging. 2 AA mounts destroyed, one torpedo mount damaged. Smokestack holed near the top. Mast cut down to half size. 1st-degree burns covered the back of her neck and shoulders. Hair partially burnt. (Note: Their hair is much more resistant than a human's, but it also grows more gradually-Loftus).

Observation: Yugao was mortified about her "uncouth" reaction in the heat of battle. The unfamiliar nature of her wounds caught her off-guard. No unwelcome memories reported. Claims one of her torpedoes sank the enemy Light Cruiser. Suzuya does not dispute this.

ENEMY NOTES:

CL Red-A01:

Designation: Light Cruiser.

Appearance: This enemy flagship appeared to have a featurless pale body. Hair was confirmed to be long and grey, alternatively dirty in style by Isonami's account. Left half of her face was obscured by opaque mask producing a more muted glow than her normal right eye. This protection would explain why she took Suzuya's hit without much disruption.

Weapons: Tentacle-like growths numbered between 2-5 and ended in at least one triple turret. No torpedo mounts observed.

Behavior: Appeared somewhat protective of her subordinate cruiser, but broke off without any delay after rescue attempt was halted by Suzuya.

Notes: Information is too generic to risk labeling this flagship. Threat designation rejected due to lack of exceptional combat capability.

(And that's the report. I've tried to include everything I could think of that'd make for a complete summary. Let me know what's missing. I won't call this "fun", but if it helps somewhere in the grand scheme of things, that's what counts-S).

To: M. Loftus. From: A. Ricardo.

I knew I could count on you. This is just what we're looking for. Minus some extra details for context, commentary, and info like ship histories. We're ready to hit the ground running!