The Final Countdown
Chapter 7.
November 1941
Atlas stood at attention on the deck of the aircraft carrier Akagi, anchored in Hitokappu Harbor. He was dressed in the uniform of Naval flight officer assigned to the Admiral Nagumo's flagship. It had taken him two and a half weeks to work his way into the position, carefully forging identification documents to create a new identity for himself. Back in the 21st century the task could have been done in days by hacking into military computer systems, here in the early 20th century all records were on paper and one had to physically forge the required papers. With the attack force now scheduled to leave the island in two days, he was in position to insure that mistakes that had been made the first time would not be repeated.
Astro waited outside Admiral Yamamoto's office. For the past two weeks he had kept up a vigil researching historical naval battles since the 16th century at the Tokyo University. He had managed to enlist the aid of a professor who was also a supporter of the pacifist cause, wishing to keep his country out of a possible war with America. Armed with several letters of introduction from the staff of the university signed by professors of the history department, Astro hoped to sway the Admiral from his plan of war. He was surprised that his effort had succeeded to the point where Yamamoto was willing to see him, although he had been a bit deceptive on the actual purpose of his visit.
The intercom phone on the desk of the Admiral's secretary buzzed and the officer picked up the receiver. He made eye contact with Astro and spoke. "The Admiral will see you now." He opened the door and motioned for Astro to enter the office.
Yamamoto Isoroku stood by the window looking out at the garden outside of the command office. "I understand that you are a student of naval history," The Admiral said, "What is it that you wish to learn from me?"
Astro had rehearsed in his mind what he had wanted to say to Yamamoto, but he was still unsure how to actually approach the leader of Japan's navy. He didn't know the man, except for what he had read in the history books back home. "I'm sure that there is a great deal I'd like to ask you Yamamoto Teitoku," Astro said, "But as a concerned student of naval history I've come to offer you advice."
The Admiral turned to face his visitor. "Really? What do you think I have missed from my studies of history?"
"Perhaps underestimating the strength of your enemies." Astro replied in a slow soft voice. "We can't win a war against the Americans. They have too much capacity to build a fighting force many times what Japan can ever hope to muster. In the end, a war with America will devastate us."
"You must be able to read tea leaves." The Admiral laughed.
"What do you mean?" Astro asked.
"I mean you have guessed right in that war is imminent." He said. "You are correct, Japan can not win a protracted war against the United States. Our only chance is to deliver a massive surprise attack that will cripple the Americans badly enough that they will negotiate for a peaceful solution."
"That will not work, Teitoku," Astro said. "America is too strong, too resourceful. Surly the events of the great war should be an example to you."
"You are wrong," The Admiral answered. "America is currently still in economic turmoil, and politically engaged in isolationist polices. She is vulnerable."
"Perhaps." Astro replied. "But consider the risk to Japan."
"Now you are talking politics, not tactics." Yamamoto said, staring Astro in the eyes. "Are you a traitor, or a pacifist?"
"Neither." Astro said. "I am a friend of the royal family."
"I see." Yamamoto replied. "But I've already spoken at length with the Emperor."
Astro realized that he would not be able to change the tide of events with Yamamoto. "Thank you for your time, Teitoku." he said bowing.
The Admiral waved him towards the door and he turned to face the window again. Astro left the naval compound, considering his next move.
Atlas adjusted his goggles and scarf for a comfortable fit before running though the preflight checklist. He flipped the ignition switch and the Nakajima A6M2 Model 21's Sakae 12 940 hp engine roared to life. He kept his eyes on the linemen who were directing the aircraft towards the flight line. The Akagi had already turned into the wind making 10 kts over the deck of the carrier. Given the go ahead signal, Atlas firewalled the throttle and his aircraft leaped toward the end of the runway. Once airborne he followed his wingman in the rehearsed flight formation. This was his second training flight of the day. The squadron made several practice runs over the Akagi, dropping weighted paper mache bombs. The A6M2's providing cover from any enemy fighters for the B5N turpedo bombers.
It did seem a bit weird to the blue and red battle bot to be flying in a vintage piston powered Zero, but if he wanted to fit in as part of the attack force, this was the best way. He'd already advanced himself up the ranks by proving his flight skills, his computer brain and lighting quick reflexes were no match for any human pilot. By the time the battle group reached their destination, he would be sure to be one of the squadron leaders.
Admiral Nagano watched from the bridge as the last flight group returned from their practice runs. Tomorrow the Akagi along with five other aircraft carriers and other ships of the attack force would leave the waters around Iturup Island for the Eastern Pacific. His fighters appeared ready for the task, he was confident that they would succeed. Intelligence reports indicated that most, perhaps all of the American carriers were sitting ducks the Hawaiian Pearl Harbor naval base. With just a little luck he would be able to knock the Americans out of the Pacific conflict before they could even enter it.
Astro sat in his berth along with other sailors in the crew quarters of the Kaga. He had managed to forge himself a set of enlistment papers under a fictitious name and secret himself aboard the aircraft carrier just before it had left the harbor. For the past few days he had been doing manual labor along with the other enlisted 'grunts', doing everything from swabbing the deck, to loading practice bombs on aircraft. At least when the time came he might be in the right position to do something to stop the attack, though at the moment he hadn't a clue what that might be.
Cordel Hull made his way across town though the capital towards the Embassy district. This section of Washington DC contained many of the foreign embassies, and early on the morning of November 26, 1941, the Japanese embassy was the destination for the Secretary of State. The US state department, under the direction of President Roosevelt, had decided that the conditions for continued trade with the Japanese would be the withdrawal of all of that nation's troops from French Indochina and China. Hull had drawn up an official document stating these conditions, and was now in route to hand deliver this to the Japanese ambassador to the US personally.
Senator Samuel Chapman looked up from his desk towards his secretary. Laurel Scott sat at her desk in the senator's office typing up a letter which the senator had just dictated to her. Her dog Charlie sat quietly under the desk at her feet. "Are the arrangements for our inspection tour of the Pacific fleet based in Hawaii ready?" the senator asked.
"Yes, your private yacht will be waiting for us at Pearl." Laurel replied.
"Good." Chapman responded. "Things are coming to a head, but nobody believes me. The Japanese are going to declare war against this country, they may possibly even launch a sneak attack sometime early next year. I can't understand why the President keeps ignoring my memos."
Early on the morning of November 26, 1941, the attack force consisting of six aircraft carriers Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, Hiryu, Shokaku, Zuikaku, with over 420 aircraft between them. There were also five fast battleships, cruisers, and destroyers, along with numerous tankers to to fuel the ships, left the waters near Iturup island. An advance Expeditionary force of large submarines, five of which carried midget submarines was sent ahead to scout around Hawaii to attack any American warships that might escape to sea.
Atlas and the other pilots aboard the Akagi drilled several times a day to keep ready for the expected attack. During the passage across the Pacific some of the aircraft were kept ready to launch at a moments notice in case they were spotted by the enemy and had to defend the task force. Mostly the pilots attended group briefings where the battle plan was drilled into their heads.
Astro kept track of the passage of time on board the Kaga. He knew that by dawn of December 7, they would be stationed less than three hundred miles to the north of Pearl Harbor. He realized that if he could come up with no other option, he would have to fly toward the American naval base and try to warn them of the impending attack. Exactly how he might do this, was still a mystery to him.