The Second Day of Infamy

Much of it to the United States. Our unemployment has reached almost fifteen per cent of our work force. For two very long years, our people have had to suffer through the coldest of winters without the comfort of heat in their homes. Our children have had to eat cold meals and attend unheated schools. And yet, the Diet would rather negotiate with the United States than take a course of more drastic means. It is time for the Military to take control and solve our dilemma. Once again, we will become the "Tosei-ha’, the Control Group. We must force the United States Government to share their abundant reserves of Alaskan oil with Japan. Their leaders must not be allowed to determine our destiny as they attempted to do in June of 1941 when they cut off our oil supply." Somberly and dramatically, Admiral Aoi gazed around the table, waiting until each of the other high ranking officers had nodded their agreement. "Gentlemen!" The admiral’s dark eyes flashed zealously. "We are going to build a military force that will be powerful enough to take the United States hostage. Hostage until that country meets our demands," he declared, pounding his right fist emphatically against the top of the conference table.

After a moment of undisturbed silence, Admiral Aoi spoke again, "You have all been chosen for this mission because you are men of daring and imagination and for your indisputable loyality to the Military. Your records have been carefully scrutinized and your relations with the news media have been closely monitored. Among all of you officers, there was not a single trace of evidence that any of you have ever leaked military information to the media. Unlike 1941, Japan has no offensive weapons. No battleships. No aircraft carriers. No bombers. And in this day of modern warfare, we have no nuclear weapons. We must build a strike force from ground zero. And it must be accomplished with the utmost secrecy and with great haste. Gentleman, it will be a most difficult task, but it must be done if Japan is going to regain its position as the world’s number one economic superpower."

Admiral Aoi went on, "Rear Admiral Nemoto, you are going to be assigned to our diplomatic mission in Washington as a military attache. You will coordinate all of the covert operations in the United States."

Rear Admiral Toshiki Nemoto nodded. "Will Ambassador Inagaki be informed of our plans?" he asked.

"De nai! No one in the Embassy will know of our plans," the admiral declared.

"But we must have some cooperation from the civilian population if we hope to complete our mission," Admiral Nemoto argued.

"Rear Admiral Nemoto, I have already compiled a list of industrialist whom I know we can trust. They are men, whom I believe will benefit the most financially, once our task has been successfully completed. They would be very foolish if they did not subscribe fully to our cause. In more ways than one," Admiral Aoi explained. His last words carried the implications of a veiled threat.

Admiral Aoi turned to the next highest ranking officer at the conference table. "Vice Admiral Washio, I give you probably the most difficult task of the whole operation. You are to assemble a task force of ships that can secretly transport our troops to the United States. And you must conceive some sort of platform that will be able to launch the type of aircraft that can support our onshore assaults, if that becomes necessary."

"Thank you for your confidence in me, Admiral," Vice Admiral Washio said, bowing respectfully. "For secrecy from our prying press this, the Kuriles, would be an ideal place to assemble that task force. But, with the United States’ continued mistrust of the Russians, they no doubt have their satellites passing over here continuously."

Admiral Aoi smiled. "Admiral Washio, I do not wish to punish our workers by bringing them to such an inhospitable jikoku ana. Please search out a location where the weather is more attractive."

Admiral Washio grinned. "I have already thought of a better location. I will begin negotiations with that country immediately."

"Captain Kikuchi your assignment will be to assemble an naval air arm. You will integrate your activities with Admiral Washio," Admiral Aoi said, directing his briefing to the second most junior officer present, but also one of the most intelligent. Captain Mineo Kikuchi was Japan’s leading candidate to be the first Japanese astronaut to have been orbited into space from their space center at Tanegashima. That was before continued problems with the NASDA/Mitsubishi H-2 launcher postponed the launching date until sometime in 2005.

Captain Kikuchi grinned. "To me this will be a greater challenge than orbiting the earth in a cramped spacecraft. I have a long standing score to settle with the Americans," he said grimly.

"I’m sure there are others who have scores to settle, Captain, but do not let the bitterness that is burning inside you interfere with your duty," Admiral Aoi cautioned.

Captain Kikuchi, shaking his head doggedly, assured his superior, "Sir, I believe the bitterness will only help me to carry out my assignment more efficiently."

Admiral Aoi turned to his Air Defense Force commander. "General Koda, your task will be to assemble a long-range-bomber attack force. One that is similar to the United States’ B52s. We may never use them in an actual attack, but they must be available as a pawn when the time comes for our confrontation with the President of the United States."

"We might be able to procure a large number of Russia’s surplus Bear and Blackjack bombers now that the Cold War has long since ended," the general suggested.

"That may be feasible. But it must be done with the utmost secrecy," Admiral Aoi warned.

General Koda grinned and wrote a few notes on the pad in front of him. Evidently, he had other ideas, but at the moment did not wish to share them.

Admiral Aoi then turned his attention to the lowest ranking and the youngest of the officers whom he had selected for Japan’s clandestine action against the United States. "Colonel Tashima, you are the only reserve officer in the group, but you were chosen because you have traveled extensively in the United States for your employer, Sumati Motor Company. You have had a great number of contacts with American businessmen and have mastered the workings of the American import system. In other words we know, you have learned how to circumvent US Customs."

Colonel Makio Tashima whose seat was at the far end of the table smiled smugly. "Yes, Admiral, over the years, I have learned a few tricks that have enabled me to slip certain restricted items past the noses of the lax US Customs Service."

"Colonel Tashima, it will be your job to," the Admiral paused and smiled, "I think the most definitive word would be ‘smuggle’. To smuggle into the United States, the ordnance that our troops will require to carry out their mission. And, any other items that the staff deems necessary."

"That should not be too difficult," he assured the admiral and his staff. The young colonel frowned, wondering what the admiral meant by other items.