"Are you still working on that?" I hear Eugen call from the door of the compartment I had converted into a makeshift workshop.

"No," I reply not looking up, "This is a different piece of wreckage."

"But you are still working on them," Eugen points out.

"I might as well do what I can here," I explain, as I remove the final twisted piece of the outer skin from one of the downed aircraft to expose a complex array of tubes and what could be best described as computer processing units one would expect to find in a state-of-the-art data facility.

"That was supposed to be until to re-joined the others," Eugen answers.

"Didn't you say that we wouldn't catch them up until around mid-day tomorrow?" I ask, "Given the head start they have, combined with the speed they are having to maintain to keep in touch with the enemy fleet."

"It is mid-day," Eugen answers, "You've been working in here for almost sixteen hours."

Finally looking up from the workbench which was covered with various pieces from the numerous pieces of wrecked aircraft from the air raid the today before. Reaching over for the mug that was sitting on the only empty space on the bench, I took a large mouthful of coffee, "Hmm. This is ice cold," I comment, "When did I make this?"

"Around ten last night," Eugen replies with a chuckle, "You commented on your way out from the galley, that you were making good progress with this garbage."

Looking down at the contents of the mug and finding it still well over half full, "Guess I never touched it once I got back here," I add with a shrug, "Oh well. I've had worse." I add, before downing the rest of the mug.

"You never fail to surprise," Eugen comments shaking her head with a smile.

"I'll take that as a compliment," I say, "But getting back on topic. I take it we've caught up to the others?"

"We have," Eugen confirms, "They'll be here shortly. Kaga is recovering the scout planes she sent out this morning and will have a report for you."

"Excellent," I answer, "I'll grab a fresh coffee for the briefing then."


Stepping onto the bridge of the Prinz Eugen, a fresh mug of coffee in hand, I find both Kaga and Akagi waiting next to the chart table. Placing my mug down on the table and ignoring the look of distain on Akagi's face. "Before we discuss yesterdays air raid in detail, can someone bring me up to speed on where the enemy fleet is now and where they might be heading?"

"They are currently heading East," Kaga begins pointing to a mark on the chart laid out on the table, "The last report from my scouts has them here, maintaining a speed of twenty-seven knots."

"Are we able to chase them down?" I ask.

"We are gaining on them slowly," Eugen answers.

"It will be some time before we can launch an air strike," Kaga adds, "Currently our scout planes can only remain above the enemy fleet for a couple of minutes before they have to turn back."

"And those same restraints apply to your fighters and bombers?" I inquire.

"At the last reported sighting," Akagi speaks up, "None of our bombers would reach the enemy fleet with the required fuel load to be able to position themselves for a successful attack run and then return."

"Our fighters on the other hand," Kaga continues, "Could certainly harass the enemy for a short while and possibly slow them down, however we run the risk of them either turning away from their present course and striking somewhere else, or increasing their speed and sprinting away from us."

"What speed are we maintaining right now?" I ask.

"Twenty-eight knots," Eugen reports, "Any faster and our formation will split up given the speed differences of the various ships."

"How many more scouting reports are due before nightfall?" I ask, studying the various marks on the chart.

"We have been sending scout aircraft out in pairs every half hour," Kaga answers, "I have another four groups due back over the next two hours."

"After that I have eight groups out right now," Akagi continues, "The last of which should return just after dusk."

"Are we able to track them through the night?" I ask.

"We can try," Kaga says, "If they use any sort of navigation lights and we can accurately predict where they might be, we may get lucky."

"Okay," I say, "I'll work on predicting their possible positions, basing it on what we've already confirmed."

Turning my attention fully to the chart on the table, I notice that the reported positions appear to show that the fleet were not travelling on a direct course, but rather appeared to be following numerous point to point positions.

"Are these position markings fully accurate?" I ask looking up.

"Of course, they are," Kaga replies briskly.

"I only ask," I begin, "Because it would appear that the enemy is reluctant to enter territorial waters."

"Does that make a difference?" Kaga asks, "We still need to close in on them to be able to strike."

"It gives us a chance to close the distance slightly faster," I answer, "While they seem to be maintaining parallel course with the Australian coastline to remain in international waters, we will follow a direct course to at least this point," I continue pointing to a position on the chart just beyond the northern most tip of Australia, "And then depending on where their course takes them, we will try to plot an intercept course."

"Do you want a briefing on yesterday's attack?" Kaga asks.

"I do," I reply, "But it can wait for later. I want to get these predicted course positions sorted first, so we don't lose any time later when you need to know where to send your scouting groups."


By late afternoon I find myself still on the bridge, plotting possible intercept courses both for tonight's attempt to continue tracking the fleet and possible course changes in case the enemy fleet decides to change direction. The steady flow of incoming reports now coming from Akagi's scouts show that the enemy is still sailing determinedly to the East, and that they have continued to remain outside of the territorial waters claimed by Australia.

Whilst this observation is still continuing to raise a number of questions, I've yet to be able to come up with any reasonable answers. It has however allowed us to close the distance slightly faster than predicted and now Kaga was readying a squadron of Zeroes to accompany the first overnight scouting group in the hopes that the enemy fleet would change their formation overnight and one of the rear guard would be open to attack.

A flash of light outside catches my attention and I look out through the open hatchway to observe in the near distance Akagi skating across the wave tops, effortlessly keeping pace with the rest of the fleet as they sail through the calm swells of the Coral Sea.

As I watch on, one of her scout aircraft buzzes overhead, before circling around the fleet and lining up for a landing. As the aircraft approaches, I'm find myself wondering just how exactly a full-scale aircraft is supposed to land having not yet had the chance to fully observe and study in depth how the girls operated their rigging without a full-sized ship given everything else that been happening that required my attention.

As the aircraft reaches what I could only assume would be the minimum altitude before a conventional carrier landing, with a brilliant flash of red, the aircraft transformed into what appeared from this distance to be a child-like cut-out of an aircraft, which Akagi deftly caught between two outstretched fingers before it vanished from sight.

I had only a moment to begin to process what I had witnessed, thinking to myself that we really needed to start capturing this on video for later review when time allowed, when in a bright blue flash just in the distance beyond where Akagi was still keeping pace with the fleet, the flight deck of the Kaga was suddenly swarming with aircraft.

Wasting no time, the first of the aircraft rapidly accelerated down the flight deck, followed closely a second, and then a third, until a steady stream of fighters were rapidly climbing up into the late afternoon skies.

"It would seem she means business," I hear Eugen comment from behind me.

"I think she still takes it personally that the enemy slipped past them yesterday," I reply as I continue to observe the strike group continues to take to the skies. "What is the latest position report?" I ask finally turning back to the chart.

"Here," Eugen answers pointing to a faint mark I had placed on the chart as a possible intercept point. Updating the chart with this new confirmed position I comment, "It would appear that my theory is correct. They are intentionally staying out in International Waters."

"Any thoughts as to why?" Eugen asks.

"None that make any sense, given their shoot first ask questions later approach that we've been witnessing," I say, "Although it's possible that they are on a pre-planned route. But to where is anyone's guess right now."

"Do you believe they'll turn and fight when Kaga's air group strikes them?" Eugen asks.

"Hard to say," I admit, "It all depends on them changing formation from what has been previously reported, so far they've completely ignored the scout aircraft all day, but it could be either that they never saw them, or they did but chose to let them return and report back to us."

"And if they do choose to fight?" Eugen asks.

"Kaga has only sent out fighters," I reply, "At best they'll be able to harass any ship they encounter for a couple of minutes based on the last reported position."

"No torpedo bombers?" Eugen asks.

"The range is still too great for them to be able to get into a position to strike and make it look like the attacking forces are ahead of them," I explain, "The hope is that we can either trick them into turning back thinking that there is a large force ahead of them blockading the passage Australia and Papua New Guinea, or slow them down enough whilst they try to sneak past a non-existent enemy force and we can close the distance to possibly launch a full scale attack in the morning."


"Okay, before we begin the briefing on yesterday's action," I begin, looking around the galley, "Can I get an update on whether the attempt to slow the enemy down worked?"

"We had no luck," Kaga reports shaking her head slowly, "Whilst we could just make out their positions from the air, they have neither changed formation or slowed enough for the plan to proceed with a high rate of success."

"Will you be able to track them overnight?" I ask.

"Some of their ships appear to give off a faint glow," Kaga answers, "We didn't notice it earlier due to the reflections of the sun off the water's surface."

"At least that will help us track them tonight," I admit, "Still no ideas where they might be headed?"

"None that come to mind," Kaga admits, "They don't appear to be following the same battle plan as yesterday."

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"Well aside from a couple of minor differences," Akagi explains, "They copied our tactics almost perfectly."

"Can you explain that in more detail?" I ask.

"Just like when they attacked Pearl Harbour and when you noted down all the reported sightings and we learned that they had copied the original Pearl Harbour attacks," Kaga explains, "The same happened yesterday. The only difference between yesterday and when we attacked during the war, was the position of the fleet."

"Can you show me on the chart?" I ask reaching for the chart I had brought down from the bridge.

"Yesterday's attack originated from somewhere in this region," Kaga explains pointing to an empty piece of ocean almost directly north of Darwin, "Our attack during the war was conducted from here," she adds pointing to a different part of the map to the south of Timor.

"That's quite the difference in location," I comment, "That's well over two hundred and fifty nautical miles between the original and the western most point they could have come from."

"Indeed," Kaga confirms, "Which is partly why we missed them. We were looking too far to the west."

"Sure, the enemy managed to slip in past your air screen," I answer, "But let's be honest with ourselves. None of us had any warning that they would strike at the Port of Darwin. Let alone when we were in the area."

Akagi and Kaga share a look between them before Kaga speaks up, "That may be so. However, we should have been better prepared."

"How so?" I ask, "As soon as you realized the enemy was attacking, you warned me. I was able to alert both Graf Spee and Bogue, and we were able to not only get the barge out of the harbour with only minor damage, but were also able to inflict a lot of damage to the enemy in the process. I doubt they were able to achieve all of their objectives."

"They were still able to cause considerable damage to both the Port and the Fuel Depot," Kaga comments.

"True," I admit, "However I'm told that they were unable to cause any significant damage to the airport. They were only able to destroy a maintenance hangar. The runway, terminal buildings and control tower are still fully operational."

"We still should have been better prepared," Kaga insists.

"We'll work on that," I promise, "We have what appears to be a pattern of behaviour beginning to form. We need firstly to prove it and then to work on countering it and using it against them."

The sound of numerous plates crashing to the floor interrupted any further conversation. Looking over in the direction of the kitchen, I find a small child with short pink hair clutching a yellow hat in her hands sitting on the floor surrounded by nearly a dozen plates that had fallen off the counter.

"Are you okay?" I ask getting up and walking over.

"What happened? Is this place haunted?" she comments looking up at me in wide eyed surprise.

I look back to where Akagi and Kaga are still seated with a look of confusion etched on my face. "I take it this is Uzuki?"

"Yes," Akagi replies standing up, "It would appear that in her rush to deliver her report she bumped the counter."

"What report?" I ask now even more confused.

"We had Uzuki conduct a patrol to the rear of our formation in case anyone tried to attack from the rear," Kaga replies.

"A wise decision," I comment, "Are you hurt?" I ask turning back to Uzuki who was still sitting on the floor of the galley.

"I think I'm okay," she replies quietly, "But who are you?"

"This is our Commander," Akagi answers helping Uzuki up from the floor, "You spoke with him yesterday on the radio."

"Wahahaha," Uzuki cries out.


"That could have got better," I comment.

"You sure have a way with children don't you," Eugen chuckles.

"That's not what I meant," I reply, "Although I'm sure that would be most people's reaction to meeting me right now, given my physical state," I add looking back at my reflection in one of the windows of the bridge.

"I'm sure Uzuki will be fine," Kaga comments, "She gets easily excited."

"I suppose that's good news," I allow, "Although I'm not exactly thrilled by the prospect of sending someone that looks for all intents like a pre-school child into combat, regardless of the fact she is sporting numerous guns and torpedo tubes."

"Uzuki is more than capable when it comes to combat," Kaga affirms.

"I don't doubt that," I reply, "It's more my personal feelings on the matter. It doesn't feel right to send a child into battle, no matter how capable they may be."

"Sooner or later, you may be forced to make that choice," Kaga comments, "War is not always fought by what one feels is right."

"Sorry to interrupt," Eugen speaks up, "However, your Admiral Jensen is on the radio."

"He's not my Admiral," I reply taking the radio from Eugen.

'I heard that,' Jensen's voice can be heard over one of the speakers I had installed earlier.

"Only speaking the truth," I comment, "But I'm assuming you didn't call to hear that."

'Hardly,' Jensen replies, 'I was hoping for some good news regarding the enemy that attacked Darwin yesterday. I've seen reports of Japanese Zeroes in the area.'

"Well, the news I have is neither good or bad at the moment," I admit, "The enemy took us by surprise yesterday, although we do have a better understanding of their tactics now."

'Their tactics don't concern me,' Jensen admits, 'It's the fact that they seem able to strike in multiple locations at the same time that concerns me.'

"How many further attacks have there been?" I ask.

'Not counting Darwin,' Jensen begins, 'There have been four reported sightings of the enemy.'

"Are any of them in the Coral Sea?" I ask.

'No, why?' Jensen replies.

"We are currently tracking the fleet that attacked Darwin," I report, "They are sailing East at this point staying just in International Waters North of Australia, we are steadily gaining on them. However, the earliest we can expect to engage them effectively is still at least twenty-four hours away."

'Heading East you say,' Jensen comments.

"Yes," I reply, "Once they clear Australia however, they could head anywhere. Tomorrow is going to be a long day if we don't sight them early in the morning."

'I think I can help you there,' Jensen answers, 'There is a Chinese Naval Fleet conducting a diplomatic visit to Australia. They are currently docked at the Naval Yard in Sydney.'

"That's certainly a tempting target," I admit, "I'll keep it in mind if they make a turn South. Now these other sightings you mentioned?"

'There was a sighting of a Carrier Fleet in the Bering Sea off the coast of Russia,' Jensen begins, 'Another sighting of a fleet in the Barents Sea although the type of fleet could not be determined.'

"Why is that?" I ask.

'That fleet was spotted by a commercial airliner,' Jensen replies, 'The British have requested that any large-scale fleet sightings by reported, regardless of who makes the sighting or how much detail they are able to report.'

"Do they still believe that the German's are behind the attack on their Carrier Fleet?" I ask.

'Not anymore,' Jensen answers, 'There was an attack on Wilhelmshaven overnight. Nowhere near the scale of the strike on Darwin, but it's believed that it was the same fleet that attacked the Brits.'

"Any credible eyewitnesses to the attack?" I wonder aloud.

'To the attack itself, no,' Jensen answers, 'But your engineer Albert Ganser reported in with a sighting of a large fleet consisting of at least one battleship sized ship at the centre of the formation.'

"Any other information on that report?" I ask.

'Nothing we didn't already suspect,' Jensen admits, 'Although the Royal Navy have now stepped up their hunt.'

"That makes sense," I reason.

'It does,' Jensen agrees, 'Although their search any doesn't.'

"Why, where are they searching?" I ask.

'Off the coast of Norway,' Jensen answers, 'It would appear that they are buying into the reports of a lone warship in the Fjords around Norway.'