I Became a Captain of the British Empire

Singapore (4)

“First, tell me who you want.”

“Who are you?”

headquarters in Singapore.

Rose, who proudly occupied a corner of the conference room, sat down on a chair with her arms crossed. Seeing me blankly blinking, she knocked on the desk and said,

“I don’t think there will be anyone I want to meet.”

“ah… I want to meet the fleet faction.”

“Are you in the fleet?”

tilt one’s head Oh, should I tell you by name? Well, unless you are familiar with the Japanese Navy, you won’t be able to know the details of the internal affairs.

First, I picked out the figures who would be called the essence of the fleet.

“Dogo Heihachiro.”

He is a hero of the Russo-Japanese War, and a very unpleasant person to me. It is this that provided the starting point for the opening of the current Dreadnought era. However, I can’t help but feel embarrassed when I think of the bad situation that Joseon suffered as a result of the Russo-Japanese War. However, for now, he is an ally that needs to be appeased.

“The old man is famous. But I don’t know if I’ll be able to meet you there. He is a very good person.”

Is it hard too It must be difficult to meet the captain from the beginning. Not even active duty.

“Then Hiroyasu Fushinomiya.”

As a figure of the Japanese imperial family, he is currently being deified while reigning at the top of the navy along with Togo. The representative of the fleet faction.

“That’s a bit of a burden… .”

Sheesh, look at them pretending to be emperors.

Showing a slightly disappointed expression, I continued to speak curtly.

“Eisuke Yamamoto.”

Current Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet. He is a veteran who has served in the Navy since the Russo-Japanese War. He was interested in aviation early on, and unlike his image, he belonged to the fleet faction.

In addition, several admirals such as Kanji Kato belong to the Fleet Faction, but those three are the ones in power that we should keep in mind now.

Among them, the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet, which has advanced into trucks, has great influence as a combat unit.

“Anyone can do it. By the way, he must be in the truck right now?”

“Even those around you are fine. Can you provide a place to meet? As secretly as possible.”

Any movement from an outsider to defending an inside faction at a public meeting is just as suspicious. Treaty―As long as the pro-reconciliation faction isn’t an idiot, they’ll keep an eye on our movements.

If so, it is better to proceed quietly here.

“great. Let’s look for it.”

“It is a matter of the fate of the British Empire. Do you know how to behave?”

Gulp, Rose swallowed and nodded.

In fact, even if I didn’t say anything, K would keep a close eye on it. I’ve been feeling the cold eyes from before.

Anyway, now the Japanese Navy is on the verge of wielding power due to the abolition of the disarmament treaty. But things are not so rosy.

As I lowered my head and thought, Lieutenant Colonel Richie, who stood next to me, whispered in my ear.

“From what I heard instead of the Navy, it is not a fleet faction. It seems to play a role in balancing the two forces.”

“For now, it’s not the enemy.”

“However, I think Admiral Taniguchi is a bit dangerous. He is the commander-in-chief of the Navy Command, and he is known as the leader of the treaty faction.”

Admiral Naomi Taniguchi.

In the original history, ahead of the London Naval Disarmament Treaty, he is an admiral who rose to the post of Commander-in-Chief instead of Kanji Kato, a member of the fleet faction.

But even here, I am now in the military command. That would mean that there are people in the cabinet who are against the showdown with the US.

To sum it up, it’s like this:

The United Fleet, which is an actual warfare unit, is a fleet faction, that is, those who put their strength into the battle of the fleet.

Those who avoid an all-out war with the United States, saying that the military command is still a treaty group or a peace group.

And the Minister of the Navy plays a role in coordinating the two.

Since there are Togo and Fushinomiya, the fleet faction will have the upper hand, but if the remnants of the treaty faction remain and wait, this side cannot be relieved either.

In addition, the Army’s solo action is also a situation where the decisive battle against the United States comes out. In the worst case, the showdown could be delayed further.

‘If that happens, the reason we came will disappear.’

It should be blocked. From the Japanese point of view, aiming for fisherman geography is the best option, but that is not my business. Rather, as an alliance, we have an obligation to encourage participation in the war.

Of course, if all the peace factions in Japan go out, the brakes to stop the recklessness of the naval leadership will disappear. However, the UK is not kind enough to take that into consideration.

They are simply allies who have joined hands with one another. We use it if it is to our advantage. That’s it.

“For that, I must go to Japan. Don’t rush.”

“yes? But the fleet hasn’t even arrived yet.”

Lieutenant Colonel Richie, surprised and questioning.

I calmly opened the door and continued talking.

“So, we need to prepare supplies. I’ll just hold on to the port for a while and move right away. Rose, please wait for now.”

“yes? I need to go to that contract consultation… .”

Rose covers her mouth in contemplation.

He added like a sigh as he watched her eyes shake as if she was about to have a seizure.

“I’ll come with the contract, so wait.”

Your face brightens like the sun.

Leaving her running around like she was doing somersaults, I took a hasty step.

The sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway, and he instructed Richie’s adjutant.

“Let’s meet Ambassador Eden right now. And notify the Southern Fleet. Task Force Z will be deployed off Kuantan as soon as the main fleet arrives!”

To catch a tiger, you have to enter the tiger’s den.

* * *

Four days later, Task Force Z flagship Repulse.

The faces gathered in the flagship conference room.

I looked at the captain’s group, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time, and said.

“I haven’t seen you in a few days, but I didn’t expect you to be so happy.”

Even after falling for a while, it feels so different. Somehow, everyone’s face is shiny. Well, unlike here, where they spent their days in non-stop diplomatic battles, they got a chance to rest even for a moment.

Tobay, who sat closest, asked with a worried face.

“Admiral, are you okay… ?”

“It’s okay. More than that, you guys should prepare for a sortie right away.”

actually not okay But it’s too waste of time to stop with that.

“You must have disposed of all the supplies as I said, right?”

“yes. however… This is the first company I have heard of, is it trustworthy?”

“Fleet administration is my responsibility. You just have to follow orders.”

When I firmly raised my eyes, everyone didn’t ask anymore.

Originally, I’m not the type to hide. But it’s too embarrassing to reveal here, so… .

To change the topic, I immediately looked at the three captains alternately.

“Rather than that, I’d like to know the combat deployment situation.”

Fraser was the first to catch my eye.

After clearing his throat, he opens his mouth.

“During long-distance voyages, breakdowns are occurring one after another in some aircraft. There are a lot of problems mainly on the Osprey side.”

“Is it because it’s a new machine? So what about maintenance?”

“We have requested accessories from the local air fleet, but some may have to be abandoned.”

Eventually, a problem arose.

The conditions for an aircraft carrier are not only structural strength for silky goodness. Natural conditions, such as the salinity of the sea, cannot be ignored.

This is why it takes time to make a land aircraft into a carrier aircraft. I can’t help it because it came out earlier than the original history.

Still, it’s a pity that the multipurpose aircraft became hemiplegic.

“I can’t help it. Let’s save as much as we can. How about the battlecruisers?”

“There is no problem with Indipatigable. Sometimes the electrical system fails, but I can say that it does not interfere with combat action.”

“You’ve done well, so I’ll believe you. Tobay, how about you?”

“Repulse is always in perfect condition. Crew morale has been at its best since the last landing.”

Tobay’s proud voice. After seeing the captains meeting in Liverpool last time, for some reason, his expression is relaxed.

I think I can hear the pockets thumping sometimes… . what? Are you really hiding something?

Leaving behind my uneasy feelings, I cleared my eyes from glancing at him.

There is still a lot to do.

“Gentlemen, you may have heard of it beforehand, but we have to drag the kids out of that truck.”

I stood up from my chair, pointing to the huge evangelist spread out on the desk.

It’s not the whole of Europe that I’ve seen so far. On the map representing the vast Pacific Ocean, there were nameplates of three powers.

Blue is our Royal Navy Oriental Fleet.

Red is the US Pacific Fleet.

And yellow is the Imperial Japanese Navy.

… Just in case, I did not mean to mock Yellow Monkey by any means. It’s just a coincidence.

The blue dots are bisected by Manila and Pearl Harbor, respectively. Guam has already been captured, and Wake Island is empty except for the air corps.

In contrast, the Combined Fleet does not move after entering the truck. The ostensible reason is to wither the Asian Fleet from the rear, but… .

“Then you can just clean up these idiots. We are embarking on an interception operation against the US Asian Fleet.”

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Pointing to the US fleet in Manila, I looked around for a moment.

Captains quietly looking at the map. It’s a more laid-back attitude than when he first started the operation. As a captain, he has gone through fierce battles in the Mediterranean, so this is no problem now.

Seeing the unconcerned subordinates gave me confidence.

“In order to catch those trapped in the harbor, an air strike is essential. Captain! What is the condition of your aircraft carrier?”

“There is nothing wrong with the Furious. The boilers, turbines, and even the elevators on deck are all in order.”

Unlike carrier aircraft, the Furious is brisk. good night.

After that, I turned my attention to the air chief.

“Air chief. Is it possible to strike the US fleet in the Philippines with the current air group?”

“it’s possible. Currently, the Asian fleet deployed in the Philippines is at most one heavy cruiser, two to three light cruisers, and some destroyers. Even a small air group can do a lot of damage.”

The heavy cruiser is probably Augusta.

In the Second World War of the original history, it is a distinguished ship that was active in the Atlantic Ocean.

The last of the Northampton-class heavy cruisers, armed with nine 8-inch guns. Other than that, it is a typical treaty type middle, but here it would have been designed and built without the restrictions of the treaty.

We should not be relieved by the memory of the original history. Of course, they are not opponents of our battlecruisers.

“good. During the night after the air raids, our battlecruisers will directly approach the shore, open fire and destroy any escaping enemy ships. After we organize the fleet, it’s the British Commonwealth’s job after that.”

Drag one more nameplate onto the map. Royal Australian Fleet. This is also our sea.

“Leaving only our cruisers and the Australian fleet at the scene, we head north to Hong Kong. Our goal is to receive supplies there and call on the Japanese mainland immediately.”

The nameplate of the Z Task Force going up all the way. Passing through Shanghai and Hong Kong, it enters mainland Japan.

Just like the arrival of a black ship on a ferry, we will proudly call.

“Be mindful. Destroying the Asian fleet is just the beginning. We must remember that our ultimate goal is over there at Pearl Harbor. So don’t get too hung up on your past. Got it?”

Mentioning the old man again, he looked back at his subordinates. Each of them makes eye contact with each other calmly. Now, if you pretend, you pretend to understand.

I should be able to do this. Now that we have informed them of the goals of the operation, they will do well even if we leave the rest to our own judgment.

It was time to look around and nod in satisfaction.

kiik-

“Admiral, this is an urgent message from the Southern Fleet.”

Someone opened the door and came in.

Adjutant, Lieutenant Colonel Richie.

“Something else, adjutant?”

“Check it out.”

Lieutenant Colonel Leach calmly handed over the telegram.

What the hell is going on with those who have been quiet since the notice? Are you trying to stop us?

… No, I don’t think so.

“Gentlemen.”

I put down my professional and sat down again, holding my hands together.

The number of people who felt suspicious and gathered their eyes.

After confirming that his eyes were focused, he slowly opened his mouth.

“They say the US Asian fleet has departed.”

Somehow, I think we should start the operation earlier than expected.