I feel really bad that it's taken me so long to put this up. I remember saying that this one would take less time, and would be really easy to write, but then I realized a huge flaw in my original plan, which I'll discuss at the end of this. Anyway, sorry to leave you all waiting, here it is.
Letters From the Front
Chapter One
April 15th
Colonel Oda,
Orders have come down from command. You and the 27th infantry are to be among the secondary forces to arrive on Hokkaido if operation Prince succeeds. Hopefully your men have had enough time to train. Two American Divisions will assist you in this mission. Hopefully your men have finished training. Load into your ships. General Ikari will give you your orders from there.
Commander of Japanese Armed Forces,
General Shinji Honda
0700 hours
April 16th
Dear Sora,
Our division has finished training, and we're being sent to serve on the front lines. I had mixed feelings when I found myself in the same division as TK. Hopefully nothing bad happens to him. I wouldn't worry about me too much, but I don't think Kari would ever forgive me if something bad happened to TK under my watch. For the past five nights, none of us have slept for more than a few hours at a time. The noise of artillery overhead is incredible. Our naval batteries have supposedly weakened their defenses, and Colonel Oda tells us that our bombers have gone as far as to hit military bases in Kamchatka. Apparently, the Russian army has no air defense, or anti-air deployed in the area. We also heard rumors about the unlucky few who were chosen to be part of the elite paratrooper core. They attempted to end the war quickly, and jumped directly into Moscow, only to find at least ten tank divisions waiting for them. The Russians have a larger army than we ever thought. Good thing the Americans are on our side, or I don't think we'd ever be able to stand up to Russia. And we've also heard whispers that the Russians on Sakhalin Island are rebuilding their nuclear facilities. If they do, nowhere in Japan will be safe. Nowhere at all. Don't worry though. I'm here fighting to make sure that never happens. Give my regards to Matt.
Your best friend,
Tai Kamiya
April 18th
Dear Tai,
Matt told me that he felt reassured knowing TK was under your wing. I hope nothing bad happens to either of you, and no matter what you say, I can't help worrying. Come back in one piece, Tai. And try and bring TK with you.
Your best friend,
Sora Takenouchi
April 30th,
Dear Sora,
I'm sorry it took me so long to respond, but I've just gotten back from the front. You wouldn't believe what happened. Just as we were halfway across the Tsigaru straight…
The rain was falling down harder and harder, and Tai looked across the boat at TK. TK looked sick to his stomach. It was so odd to see TK dressed as a soldier. But Tai supposed TK felt the same when he saw Tai dressed like one.
"You gonna be okay, TK?" Tai asked, putting a hand on TK's shoulder.
TK quickly turned around, and threw up over board. Tai never got seasick, but he understood completely. The feeling that his life was about to be on the line, if it wasn't already, was enough to make any sane man vomit. Just as it began to get to Tai, Colonel Oda walked down the ship towards them.
"Corporal Kamiya, hold yourself together! We're not even in combat yet!" Colonel Oda was perhaps the most intimidating woman any of them had ever met. She simply commanded authority, and none in the 27th would dare to disobey her. But she was an excelent military leader.
"Of course, ma'am," Tai said, as he tried to not focus on the rocking of the boat. He took out the letter from Sora.
"So Matt trusts me to protect TK…" Tai said under his breath.
It was working. Focusing on his friends' lives was exactly what he needed. He had almost forgotten the boat, and didn't hear Colonel Oda's orders. Then Gunfire erupted just over his head.
"I said down, Damnit!" Colonel Oda yelled, as she pulled Tai's head down.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" She screamed, grabbing the letter, and folding it up, and putting it in his pocket.
"I hope you pay more attention in combat, or you're liable to get yourself killed!"
"Ma'am, seeing as we're being shot at, aren't we technically already in combat?" TK asked, as he loaded his rifle.
"Is hunting Ducks combat? No. It's only combat when both sides are shooting!" Oda yelled, as a bomb exploded directly above them.
Shrapnel fell into the boat, and sliced across the soldier next to Tai's arm. It was quickly followed by a piece that cut Tai's cheek. Tai had just put a hand to his wound, when he heard a thud.
"We've landed! Move out!" Oda yelled, as the ramps on the boat opened, and the soldiers began to run onto the beaches. Occasional bursts of fire hit the beach, but for the most part, Operation Prince had succeeded in a securing a landing zone. Now the true test would be weather or not Operation Castle, the operation to reclaim Hokkaido, would succeed.
An American landing craft unloaded right next to them. The soldiers came out, and quickly moved to cover. The leader of this American division approached Colonel Oda, and bowed to her.
"Colonel Oda, I am Major Sean York, commander of the American 12th sea of Japan division. I suppose I am to follow your orders, as you out rank me."
Colonel Oda was impressed. It was flawed, but Major York's effort and skill at speaking Japanese was impressive. Colonel Oda shook his hand.
"Major York, it will be an honor to work along side you."
"Thank you, Colonel. I was given the most up to date plans before I was sent to back you up. Shall we follow them, or are yours better?"
"Yours are most likely better, Major," Colonel Oda said, as she took the paper from York. After a minute of reading, she turned to the troops.
"Alright, we've got to take out an artillery position on the top of this hill. I'll lead the main force as a distraction. Corporal Kamiya, take Private Takaishi with you, as well as our explosives for the mission. Major, I also want your pick of three Americans to go with them."
"Very well. Matthews, Erickson, and Wilson, go with those two, and take our explosives. You're under Corporal Kamiya's command."
Three US privates nodded, and walked over to Tai and TK.
"Wait three minutes, then move up," Colonel Oda said, as she and Major York led the rest of the troops up the hill.
"Tai, I'm scared."
Tai turned, and couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"What? TK, are you serious? Just think of training, and you'll be fine."
"Right. Thanks Tai."
"Anytime."
Tai looked at his watch. It was time to head up.
"Follow me," Tai said, and TK and the three Americans began to move up with him. They heard gunfire near by, but it slowly became more distant. They continued up the hill, until on of the Americans, the one Tai thought was Matthews, fell over.
"Is he okay?" Tai asked, as Erickson checked.
"NO sir, he's…" Erickson was cut off by a bullet hitting his helmet.
"Sniper!" Tai yelled, and the three ducked behind a log.
"I'll take him out," Wilson said, as he slowly aimed his gun from behind the log. Wilson fired, and the sound of a thud could be heard.
"Safe to move up."
The three continued, until reaching a clearing. Three artillery pieces were in the middle of the clearing, firing upwards. There were trenches dug around them, and there were two soldiers per each, and a gunner.
"Okay, let's go in slow," Tai said, as the three approached the trench around the first artillery piece. One of the Russian soldiers looked like he was asleep.
"That bastard," Wilson said, as he raised his gun, "I'll teach him to sleep on the job."
"No, wait," Tai said, just as Wilson fired, putting a hole through the soldier's head. The other Russian looked up, and Wilson fired again, hitting him in the stomach.
"Allies!" One of the Russian soldiers screamed.
"Damnit, Wilson!" Tai said, as he and TK ran for cover. Wilson aimed his rifle at another Russian, and fired. The Russian collapsed.
"Tai, we need to cover him!"
"Right," Tai said, as he and TK began to aim at the Russians. Wilson aimed again, but missed his target, and collapsed, as a Russian bullet hit him in the leg.
"Shit!" Wilson yelled out, as he aimed at another Russian, and shot him in the stomach.
"Tai, we need to help him!"
"Right. TK, cover me. I'm going to go in and get him back!"
Tai stood up, and shot another Russian, just as Wilson took down the last one.
"Wilson, I'm gonna take out the gunners on those artillery units, then I'll come back for you."
"Hurry," Wilson said through clenched teeth.
Tai moved up, and got into the trench, just as one of the gunners got out of his artillery unit, holding a pistol.
"It's only one American, and he's wounded," the gunner said, as he jumped down into the trench. Tai slammed his rifle into the gunner's head, knocking him to the ground. He looked around the artillery unit, and aimed at the gunner of the next one. His shot rang out, and the Russian gunner hit the deck.
"Damn, I missed!" Tai said under his breath, as he leaned back behind the artillery piece. At his feet, the Russian began to move. Tai slammed the butt of his rifle into the back of the gunner's head, and the gunner stopped moving.
"TK, can you take the shot? How about you Wilson?"
Wilson and TK both fired, and Tai began to move through the trench, stopping at the next artillery piece. The gunner was seated against the wall of the trench, clinging to his pistol. Tai aimed his rifle at him.
"Nothing personal."
Two shots rang out, and Tai felt a searing pain in his arm. He looked down, and saw blood coming from a hole in his arm.
"Damnit," Tai said, just as he collapsed, unconscious.
"Takaishi, Corporal Kamiya's down! There's still at least one gunner left, and I can't see him!"
TK jumped from behind the log, and ran to the trench. He got in, and reached the dead body of the second gunner. He looked to his right, and saw Tai's unconscious body. He turned around, just as the last gunner came around the turn in the trench. TK aimed his gun at him, but the Russian knocked it out of his hand. TK grabbed for the Russians gun, and did the first thing that came to mind. He brought a leg up between the Russians legs. With a groan of immense pain, the Russian loosened his grip on the pistol. TK aimed at the Russian, and fired.
"Wilson, I need your explosives!"
TK came out of the trench, holding Tai's unconscious body.
"He's not…" Wilson asked, before TK cut him off.
"He'll probably be fine. Looks like he got shot in the arm though."
"Here, take these," Wilson said, handing his explosives to TK.
TK ran back to the artillery units, and affixed the explosives to them, and then ran back.
"I can't carry both of you," TK said.
"Shit, you're right. Here, take us to cover one by one, then detonate those explosives. We can call for an airlift out of here!"
"Okay," TK said, as he picked up Wilson, and went to behind the log. He put Wilson down, and ran back to Tai, grabbing him, and going behind the log. TK laid Tai down, and got behind the log, covered his ears, and pressed the detonator. Pieces of debris flew overhead. Even with his ears covered, TK thought the noise was near deafening. Tai's eyes flew open.
"Where am I?" He asked, with a panicked look in his eyes, "what the hell was that?" He glanced down, "why the hell is my arm bleeding?"
Wilson's radio went off.
"Private Wilson here," he said into it in English, "no, we lost Erickson and Matthews, sir. Yes, sir. I see, sir. Very well, sir. Yes, right by the smoke, sir."
Wilson pocketed his radio.
"Corporal Kamiya, the Russians are retreating all over the front line, sir. Phase II of Operation castle has been enacted. Major York has sent a transport to pick us up."
The noise of a helicopter could be heard, and the billows of smoke were cleared by the spinning of it's blades. The helicopter landed, and a group of American soldiers got out, with two stretchers.
"Over here!" Wilson called out, and the American soldiers arrived, and lifted Wilson and Tai onto the stretchers. TK walked with the soldiers to the helicopter, where Major York was waiting.
"Private Takaishi, Colonel Oda has requested that you report to the beach we landed on," Major York said.
TK saluted, and turned, and walked back down towards the beach.
...so that's what happened. The doctor tells me that I'll be able to go back to the front tomorrow. Phase II of Operation Castle hasn't gone nearly as well as phase I. There is still a lot of Russian resistance in Hokkaido. But at least we have a foot hold now. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Your best friend,
Tai Kamiya
End of Chapter One
Author's note: So, now I want to tell you all the problem I had. Originally, this entire story was going to literally just be letters between Tai and Sora. No action at all, just the letters. And then, halfway through writing this, probably around Sora's last letter in the chapter, I realized how bored I was writing it, and though of how bored you all would be if I was already bored of it. Then I reread chapter Zero and thought that it worked well under those circumstances, but that I would need action for the plot. So I abandoned the idea, and decided that what occured in some of the letters would be shown happening. I don't know why I thought that it would be a good idea to have a story that was just a series of letters. But I changed it. I don't know when chapter 2 will be up, but I have a couple of ideas for it. So again, sorry to make you wait so long for this.