"And just how do you expect us to run?" Professor Strickland asks struggling to keep up with me as I stride down the corridor towards my office.
"Professor," I begin, opening the door to my office, "We currently have several heavily armed warships anchored off shore. I am sure one of them will be suitable to get everyone off the atoll and safely to Hawaii."
"And just what are you going to do?" Strickland presses, "Surely you're not going out there?"
"Do you have any better suggestions," I comment, opening a cabinet door and retrieving my back-up sea bag. Turning to see the Professor standing silent, "I'll take that as a no then."
Stepping past the Professor and walking back out into the corridor I almost walk straight into Amagi, "Sorry," I say, "I didn't notice you there."
"That's okay Captain," Amagi replies, "It would seem you have a lot to deal with at the moment."
"That's putting it mildly," I answer, "I need to oversee the evacuation and make sure that the facilities logs are properly backed up before we leave."
"If I can offer a suggestion," Amagi says.
"If you can explain it whilst we walk down to the main lab, I'm all ears," I reply.
Falling in step beside me, Amagi speaks, "You plan on meeting this enemy head on?"
"My plan is to buy as much time as possible for the team here to get to safety," I reply, "The details on how I achieve that haven't come to me yet."
"From what I understand, you will be facing an unknown number of hostile enemies, you don't know where they currently are or their capabilities," Amagi comments, "And you have no plan on how to deal with them once you find them."
"That about sums it up," I admit, "Ask any of the girls who were part of the fleet that just returned. When it comes to military strategy I rely on the advice of others. I tend to sit back, observe, and try to find an opening that can be used to gain the upper hand."
"Kaga did mention that you had a shrewd mind," Amagi says, "However, a shrewd mind alone is not enough."
"You have a point?" I ask opening the door leading to the computer lab.
"If you are willing to listen to the advice of others, I believe the key to not only buying your friends time to escape, but also a striking a clear victory can be achieved," Amagi replies.
Looking across at Amagi from the main computer terminal, "Do you truly believe that a fleet this size can achieve a victory against an unknown enemy?" I ask, "I know that we have managed to drive back a handful of air raids by this enemy. But I put that down more to luck the fact that they were small formations and they did not expect any serious resistance."
"From small success, greater feats can be achieved," Amagi comments with a wry smile.
"We've got nothing to lose," I mutter to myself, "What do you need?" I finish speaking up.
"The Professor was kind enough to share some of the files from the project," Amagi explains, "However, it seemed that a lot of the information you have gathered was not in the files I saw."
"Which files did the Professor share?" I ask.
"They were appeared to be simple overviews for each of the girls that have so far been encountered," Amagi replies, "With that information alone, I can suggest that the fleet formation is heavily carrier centred, with only Bismarck and myself capable to operate as capital ships."
"You can rule out Bismarck for this operation," I say holding up a hand, "She is already on assignment in Germany."
"That is unfortunate," Amagi admits, "None the less. I am certain a winning strategy can be found."
"But you need access to all our data?" I guess.
"It would help to know the capabilities of all the ships within the fleet," Amagi states, "I have a strong understanding of what my sister is capable of and have no doubts regarding Kaga's ability, the others though I am unfamiliar with."
"How much time will you need?" I ask.
"That is difficult to answer," Amagi replies, "It depends on the depth of the reports for one. And knowing exactly where to look within the reports for this information is another."
"How familiar with our computer network are you?" I ask.
"Not at all," Amagi replies with a shake of her head, "All of the files the Professor has shown me were either already on the screen or typed reports."
Nodding in reply, I turn to a computer screen behind me stationed alone, mounted into the wall with a keyboard sitting on a slanted bench just below the screen. Quickly typing in the security password to log in, I am met with a basic drop-down menu at the top of the screen.
Using the keyboard, I bring up a Command Box. After rapidly typing in several prompts, I tap the enter key. On the screen numerous lines of code flash across the screen, before another message box appears. Typing in my personal security clearance code, I tap enter once more.
On the far side of the room a printer whirs to life and begins rapidly printing page after page.
"All of the combat data, medical reports, and personal observations from myself and others on the team are on the pages being printed now," I say, "I have sorted them so that all the data is in order based on who the subject is. I will leave you here to start to go over them whilst I sort out the other departments."
"Thank you, Captain," Amagi replies as I step out through the door back out to the corridor.
"Right," I say looking over the final check list, "That's everything covered expect for the final back-up and wiping the server."
"Not quite," Professor Strickland says, walking over to me, "It appears that we are missing someone."
"Who?" I ask.
"Amagi is not here," Strickland replies.
"She's in the main server room," I answer, "She is going over some of our data files. She believes that she can formulate a strategy to drive the enemy off."
"Is that wise?" Strickland asks, "We still do not know exactly what we are dealing with."
"Professor," I begin looking across at him, "I have seen first hand exactly what the girls are capable of. We know next to nothing about the enemy that has been randomly attacking us other than they do not care who or where they target."
I hold a hand up to stop the Professor from interrupting, "One thing for certain we do know and can prove. Is that the girls do not share that same intent. If they wanted to harm us, we would not be having this conversation right now. Besides it was you that decided to play God and brought two of them into this world. You cannot now change your mind."
Professor Strickland looks blankly at me mouth slightly agape.
"Assuming any of what we have learned so far can be used to give us an advantage out there," I continue, pointing out towards the ocean beyond the window, "And it buys time for you and the team to get to safety, then I am prepared to do just that. Remember. That is one of the main reasons why you hired me in the first place."
"But surely, you never envisioned going into combat," Strickland protests.
"Of course not," I reply, "But its too late for that now. Besides, it is a Captain's duty to lead during an emergency. Now if you will excuse me. I will tend to the final step to lock down the facility and we can start getting everyone off the atoll."
Stepping back into the main server room, I find Amagi scanning through numerous pages spread out across a table. On hearing my approach, she looks up, "Captain. Your timing is perfect."
"How so?" I ask approaching the table.
"I believe I can see the opening phase once we make contact," Amagi answers.
"Fantastic," I say, "Can you explain it to me later. We need to start getting everyone off the atoll now. And I need to ensure the server is properly backed up and then wiped."
"Of course," Amagi replies, beginning to gather up the scattered pages into a rough pile.
Turning back to the monitor mounted in the wall, I log back in and run a quick system check. Finding the system to be correctly backed up, I execute the second stage back-up and data log dump and enter and confirm the system delete protocol, before turning back to face Amagi.
"Okay let's go."
Walking back into the auditorium, I find everyone still gathered calmly waiting to receive instructions for the next phase.
"Alright," I call out, "As I am sure most of you have heard by now. Our second research ship was attacked and we believe has been sunk a little over three hours ago. Jim Murphy was able to get a distress message out before we lost all contact. In that message he believes that whoever attacked the Global Explorer is headed for Midway Atoll."
The sound of numerous people whispering to their neighbours tells me that not everyone was fully aware of how serious a threat we potentially faced was.
Holding up my hands to get everyone's attention once more I continue, "In that message, Jim believes that threat is just over half a day away from now. With that in mind," I continue raising my voice to be heard over the rising noise, "We will be fully evacuating Midway until such time as we can be certain it is safe to return."
"How?" a voice from the back of the room calls out.
Turning to the girls who were gathered near the front off to the side, "Uzuki. Your ship has the shallowest draft. You should be able to get in to the dock where we can start loading everyone on board."
As I say this Uzuki's eyes go wide in surprise, before she quietly nods and leaves the auditorium through a side door.
Turning back to the rest of the room, "As soon as the ship is moored at our dock. Everyone is to board and leave the atoll."
"A..are you sure of this plan?" Uzuki nervously asks looking up at me nervously fidgeting with the small yellow hat she usually wore.
"Yes," I reply, "You have the most important role."
"I do?" Uzuki quietly says eyes widening in shock.
"Not only is your ship the only one that could have made it through the reef to the dock," I explain, "You are also the fastest, meaning you can get everyone to safely out of harm's way."
"The Captain is correct," Amagi adds as she approaches, "All you need to do is follow the navigation charts and make best possible speed for Hawaii."
Uzuki looks back and forth to Amagi and then me, before placing her hat back on her head and joining the queue of people at the base of the boarding ramp.
"You are aware not losing Uzuki to this role hurts our chances of tracking down the enemy," Amagi mentions quietly.
"My first responsibility is to ensure that the team is safe," I remind Amagi, "We both know that Uzuki is best suited for that role. Besides, if my prediction is correct. I know exactly where to find the enemy."
Several hours later, I found myself standing at a chart table towards the rear of the bridge aboard Kaga's ship listening to Amagi outline how the fleet would form up under the cover of darkness whilst we made our way out to sea in order to intercept the approaching enemy.
"Does anyone have any questions?" Amagi asks on finishing her briefing.
"Not a question," I comment, "But a suggestion."
"Go ahead," Amagi replies.
"Based on this strategy," I say, "You have Eugen and Pensacola screening the formation, with Spee and Roon just off their starboard flank. Then the three carriers and you screening the other side of the formation."
"That is correct," Amagi answers, "This formation offers the best use of our long-range guns and air power."
"I understand that," I reply, "However the spacing between the formation won't work based on how you intend on intercepting the enemy."
"How so?" Amagi asks.
Pulling out a fresh chart, I mark a position to the North-west of Midway, "This is the final location from where the Global Explorer transmitted. We can assume that the enemy is coming from this position."
Drawing a faint line direct from the point I had marked earlier to Midway I continue, "This route is the most direct and assuming the enemy took this path, we would have made contact with them already given that we have numerous scout planes ahead of us looking for them."
"You believe they are not taking a direct approach?" Amagi asks.
Turning to Kaga, I hand her the marker, "Plot out the original plan when you attacked Midway during the war."
As I look on, Kaga begins to fill in a section of the chart well to the South of the direct course I had marked moments before, "This was the fleets position when we began our attack on Midway," Kaga says handing me the marker back several minutes later.
Wordlessly I begin to fill in an additional set of markers to the North-east of Midway. On finishing I explain, "These marks are the position of the defending US Navy when they made first contact with the attacking Japanese."
"How does any of this relate to the upcoming attack?" Amagi asks looking down at the chart.
"So far," I explain, "This enemy has made two separate attacks that were near identical to how the Japanese Navy conducted them back in the war. We have a third attack in the Atlantic which according to the reports mimicked a British Naval engagement from history as well."
"And you believe that the enemy will do the same again?" Amagi questions.
"I do," I reply, "And I believe that they will set-up in anticipation of any retaliation to come from this direction." I add pointing to the marks I had made.
"I see your point," Amagi says after a moment, "Our carriers would be exposed if we intercepted them if they were to attack from that position."
"Why not have the carriers in the center of the formation, with the rest of us encircling them?" Pensacola asks, "At least until we make contact. Then we can change according to what we encounter."
"That makes sense," I add looking to Amagi who was still studying the chart, "We just need to decide where we strike from."
"Based on that," Amagi says, "We need to reach this point by first light tomorrow," she finishes pointing to a location to the South of the marks Kaga had made.
Quickly calculating the distance from our current position, "If we can maintain twenty-five knots overnight, we will reach this area at around four in the morning," I announce.
"How long until sunrise?" Kaga asks.
"A little over fifteen minutes," I reply checking my watch, "Are you ready to go?"
"I'm ready," Kaga answers, "Although I still don't see the logic behind Amagi's insistence that you be stationed here."
"Me either," I agree with a shake of my head, "But Amagi must see the benefit. She was able to come up with several possible counters to what we predict the enemy will do."
"She certainly has a tact for strategic planning," Kaga admits, "Now we just need the enemy to oblige us and do what we want."
"I don't see that happening," I comment wryly, "If anything today will be a long day."
"Then let's get the day started," Kaga replies, "I am done waiting for them to make the first move. Let us strike them first for a change."
Turning to look over to where Kaga stands, I notice the impatient look etched on her face, "If you have got enough light to see what you are doing out there…"
Before I can finish replying, the roar of engines split the still morning as the first pair of scout planes accelerated down the flightdeck and climbed into the slowly brightening skies. As I watched them climb higher and turn towards their designated search areas, from the corner of my eye I caught a flash of red.
Turning to look out across the portside wing, I could barely make out Akagi who was in the process of launching her own scouts.
Above me an overhead radio buzzed. Picking up the receiver, 'Do you require air cover Captain?'
"Send up a pair to circle the fleet," I answer, "Have the rest of your fighters on standby."
'Understood.'
Turning to Kaga, "Bogue is sending up a pair of fighters to scout above us. I suggest doing the same."
Kaga merely nods in reply and outside on the flight deck a pair of Zeroes appear behind the scout aircraft that had just begun their take-off roll. As soon as the flight deck was clear, the roar of their engines drowned out the buzz from the scout planes idling whilst waiting to take off, as they accelerated down the flight deck and took to the skies.
Marking another section on the chart pinned to the table, I scratch the back of my head, "Where are they?" I mutter to myself. The sun had long risen and the scouts had yet to report so much as a sail boat.
Turning away from the chart, I make my way out to the starboard wing. Raising a pair of binoculars, I had draped over my neck, I scan across the horizon hoping to spy something, anything that might give some insight as to where the enemy were.
"Is it possible the enemy turned away during the night?" I hear Kaga ask aloud behind me.
"Anything is possible," I reply stepping back onto the bridge, "It is possible that we reacted too hastily. Jim's warning was based on what he observed whilst under attack. Maybe he was wrong about their next target."
As I say this, the skies above the fleet rapidly change to a brilliant shade of red. Looking back across the seas, I observe that the waves have increased in size and the wind speed could be heard to have increased noticeably as opposed to the calm swells I had gazed across moments ago, large waves rising several meters in height now battered against the hulls of the fleet.
"Something tells me this is not a natural weather pattern," I comment aloud.
In the distance I hear a muffled thump over the crash of waves and roar of the wind. Rapidly scanning the horizon, I soon spy the source of this new noise as rising through a wave and shrouded in smoke I spy Roon's ship.
Grabbing the radio, "All ships. Report in!"
'I have enemy contact,' I hear Roon's voice through the over-head speaker, 'Two ships, three nautical miles from my position.'
"Advance scouts," Kaga comments, "Their main force won't be far behind."
Before I could reply, a brilliant red flash of light momentarily blinded me.
'My radar detects numerous new contacts,' I hear Pensacola report.
"How many and where?" I ask blindly picking up the radio trying to refocus my eyes to the rapidly changing environment.
'They are ten miles, directly West of our location,' Pensacola replies, 'I lost count after thirty.'
As my eyesight finally clears, I find that the not only have the skies returned to their previous cloudless blue, but the ocean has also returned to its previous calm state. Stepping out onto the Port side wing of the bridge, I raise the binoculars once more.
In the near distance, I observe Roon still engaged in a shooting match with two smaller vessels similar in design to the escort ships we had engaged during the defence of Sydney. As I scan out further, I pick up the rough outline of numerous approaching ships.
As I rapidly try to count their number, I hear the roar of engines close by as Kaga begins to launch the main elements of her air group. Finishing my count, "I can make out at least forty ships. Maybe more." I call out to Kaga, "We need eyes on them as soon as possible to determine how much of a threat they are."
I turn my attention back to the skirmish at the front of the formation and soon find that one of the smaller escorts who had first appeared was now fully ablaze and riding very low in the water. As I focused the binoculars to get a clearer view, an explosion, seemingly from somewhere below the waterline erupted, sending large fragments of the super structure flying.
As the smoke cleared in the light wind, I caught one final glimpse of the vessel as it slipped below the waves. Scanning across to Roon's ship, I watched on as she rapidly changed direction, before being enveloped in smoke as she unleashed another broadside.
"Captain," I hear Kaga from behind me, "We might be slightly outnumbered."
"You have a clear sight of the enemy then?" I ask.
"I do," Kaga confirms, "They are in two separate formations currently. The closest of which is just under ten miles away and closing. It consists of four carriers, what appear to be six of their heavy cruisers, ten light cruisers and a dozen ships the size of a destroyer."
"And the second formation?" I ask.
"Same as the first," Kaga replies, "And what could possibly also be their version of a battleship. I see three of them in the second group as well."
Picking up the radio, "Amagi, did you have any suggestions?" I ask.
As I wait for a reply, I watch on as the second scout ship is struck numerous times in quick succession as Roon presses her attack.
'We certainly didn't plan for this,' I hear Amagi reply, 'I don't see an opening at this stage.'
As I scan across the approaching enemy formations, I mentally run through the various strategies Amagi had discussed the day before. Turning my attention back to where Roon was now finishing off the second scout ship, a sudden flash of inspiration hits me.
Picking up the radio, "Amagi. I know what our opening is," I begin, "The enemy is basing this attack off human history. Most of the ships in this fleet were never part of that battle. Our opening is that we can be unpredictable."
As I say this, in the distance Roon turns her main guns on the closest of the main enemy formation and opens fire.
