Post by Sophie on Jun 19, 2023 9:36:45 GMT -5
Rear Admiral Ai Takayama waited quietly, unsure how to feel. With a change of power so sudden, many questions flew around the admiralty. A lot of conspiracy theories as well. Even for an outcast like herself, she heard things. From the absurd, “Empress Reito slaughtered her mother to take the throne herself.” to the not-so-absurd, “Foreign spies penetrated the inner circle and assassinated her.”
She stewed in her brewing thoughts for the better part of an hour. Until finally, “The Empress will see you now.” The maid spoke softly.
“Thank you.” Takayama stood and walked into the room. She was a bit stunned. In her head, she knew the Empress was fifteen, but she didn’t know it until now. She, a forty-nine-year-old Rear Admiral of the Kumosenkan Royal Battle Fleet, was about to have a security meeting with a fifteen-year-old girl. “Y- your Highness.” She had let the silence drag on for too long.
Reito looked up at the Admiral. “Are you a believer,” she paused for a beat as she stood from her desk, “Admiral?”
The Admiral showed the confusion on her face. “I’m sorry?”
“Do you place your faith in the living stars?” Reito spoke carefully as she walked around the desk to meet the Admiral face-to-face. Reito was over a foot shorter, but to even an alien observer; it was clear who held power in the meeting as the Admiral slowly recoiled backward. “In your ancestors?”
“Of course I do,” Takayama confirmed as the pressure pressed her into the now-closed door behind her.
Reito’s eyes darted between the Admiral’s with intent. “Do you hear the call of your ancestors?”
She nodded as confidently as she could muster. “I do.”
“And do you heed that call?” Reito took a step forward, pushing the Admiral further.
“I do.” Again she held.
Reito pursed her lips. “Do you believe that my ancestors call to me and guide me?”
“That’s-” She hesitated. “I do, Your Highness.”
“Do you believe that my mother’s soul has yet to reach the living stars and instead guides me with a steady hand from the beyond?” Reito observed the Admiral’s response diligently.
“If you tell me that is the truth, then I will believe you,” Ai confirmed.
“Good.” Reito’s expression remained firm as she turned back to her desk. “Sit.” She ordered sharply. The Admiral quickly obeyed and sat at the other side of the desk.
“Who are you loyal to, Admiral Takayama? She didn’t expect an honest answer if she was devoted to Kure. She knew what her response would be but wanted to see the tone.
The Admiral again showed confusion. “I am loyal to the Empress of the Kumosenkan Empire. Reito Doku Kumo and I am honored to serve under her.”
“I would like to speak to you about the future of our fleet and your position in it.” Reito’s tone was harsh and blunt. And her glare matched her tone.
Rear Admiral Ai Takayama returned the glare with vexation and a hint of anger. “Are you firing me?”
The Empress’s eyebrow furrowed into an icier gaze. “Why would I be firing you?”
Takayama’s tone became hostile, yet still measured, considering her current dance partner. “I know you are no fool. Nor am I. I’m aware my standing in the Admiralty is poor. Not just the admiralty, outside of my crew, I would be lucky if a seaman recruit obeyed my orders.” Her eye began to twitch outside of her control. “I understand you listen closely to your ministers. I will not go against her suggestion and step down peacefully if it is your wish, Your Highness.”
“Her?” Reito questioned. “Who is ‘her,’ Admiral?”
“Minister Kure?” Takayama asked a bit quizzically.
Reito stood again, turned her back to the Admiral, and stared out her window towards the Fuyonouso skyline. “I was going to speak with you about your future in the fleet. About a new position I am opening up, I have been led to believe you would be perfect for it. However, the woman before me is not the woman Rear Admiral Yukiko Hayakawa claimed you are.” Reito’s voice was downright vicious now as she attacked the very character of the Admiral.
The flood of new information battered Takayama like a ship’s windows in a harsh storm. “New position? Hayakawa?”
“I was told you were a fierce yet maligned Admiral who fought tooth and nail for what she believed in despite her reputation. A woman who would stop at nothing to succeed. A fierce fighter who came out swinging even when the chips were down. So I must have called the wrong woman into my chambers as all I can see is a sniveling coward offering up her resignation when I didn’t even ask for one.”
“I am not a coward!” Takayama stood and shouted back at the Empress. “I am a fighter.”
Reito turned back to face the woman. “Prove it.” She slammed her hands on the desk. “If you’re who Yukiko Hayakawa says you are, show it to me.”
“I’m the one who got Mzukarakana built in the first place!” Ai fired back. “When Amali converted their battle cruiser into the world’s first aircraft carrier, I was the one who knew we couldn’t fall behind. I pushed for it, and your mother took the credit. I oversaw her design and construction at the Fuyonouso arsenal. Despite being an outcast in the admiralty, I subtly incepted the idea to make me her captain in Minister Kure’s mind.”
Reito met the rising fire inside the admiral. “Why?”
“Because I was scared. Days after Amali commissioned their carrier, the UKUG began construction on theirs. We were behind on the technology ball for the first time ever, and the UKUG was about to close the inning.” Ai shouted. “I didn‘t know if aircraft would be an important development in naval combat; I still don’t. All I knew is that if it was, we couldn’t develop it last.”
“You’re claiming all responsibility for the carrier program?” Reito questioned with all scrutiny.
“I am.” Takayama stood firm. “And I can prove it. My name is on the supervisory forms at the arsenal and in the shipyards. You can check them.”
“I already checked them. Only a Vice Admiral is authorized to sign those forms.” Reito pushed back. “How did you sign them?”
“I called in a favor. One owed to me a long time ago.” Takayama explained.
“By whom?” Reito stepped to Takayama’s side of the desk.
Takayama began to sweat as she looked up at the Empress. “I can’t answer that.”
“Only an Admiral or Fleet Admiral can make that exemption. It wouldn’t take me long to find out who.” Reito stared firmly.
“You can’t do that.” Takayama almost begged.
Reito squinted an eye. “You don’t tell me what I can’t do, and if you’re asking like that, it's a friend, which narrows it down to two women. Tell me why I can’t.”
“You can’t because they’re a friend and an outstanding Admiral with a pristine record and is undyingly loyal to you,” Takayama answered.
“Which narrows it to one person.” Reito half smiled. “What was the favor? Why did Admiral Okamoto authorize that? What did you have over her?”
“I don’t have anything over anyone. A legal favor was done in return for a legal favor.” Takayama
“Favors that are technically legal are not always so under military law. What was the favor?” Reito pushed.
“I can’t tell you that,” Takayama answered, averting her eyes from the young Empress.
“Can’t? Or won't?” Reito again pushed.
“I won’t,” Takayama answered.
“Refusing an order from the Empress is grounds for an immediate dishonorable discharge,” Reito explained carefully. “I’ll ask again, what was the favor.”
“I will not betray someone who put their trust in me.” Takayama returned her gaze to math the Empress. “So if you want to fire me, then you’ll lose a dedicated officer who has worked herself to death to ensure the superiority of our fleet, despite being an outcast for her entire life as an Admiral.”
Reito smiled and sat back at her desk. “Now, there’s the woman Hayakawa-kas told me about.”
Takayama recoiled. “What?”
“Fiercely loyal with an unmatched passion for the Royal Battle Fleet. Willing to go to the edge for what she believes in.” Reito explained. “I have a lot of respect for you, Admiral.”
“I’m confused.” Takayama eyed the Empress questioningly. “Am I fired or not?”
“I would never fire someone for protecting a friend,” Reito explained. “I reward loyalty. I don’t punish it.” She smiled, hoping to reassure the woman she just pushed. “However, from now on, I expect your loyalty to me to be above all others, and you trust in me not to betray your trust when issues like this arise. Can you do that for me, Takayama-kas?”
“Are you going to ask me about the favor again?” Takayama pushed back.
Reito shook her head. “No, because I trust you; I don’t need to know about it.”
Takayama searched Reito’s eyes. “If that’s the kind of person you are, then you can expect my undying loyalty.”
“Good, because I need full trust in my Vice Admiral in charge of carrier command.” Reito casually offered the position and promotion to the Admiral.
“That’s not a position in the fleet.” Takayama corrected.
“It is now, and it's yours. If you want it.” Reito offered more clearly.
“Your Highness...” The Admiral paused. “I am honored, but are you sure I’m the best for the job? My reputation amongst the other Admirals isn’t just a headache for me. It could be a political quagmire for you. Minister Kure...” Again she hesitated. “May I have permission to speak freely?”
“Of course.” Reito gestured for her to continue.
“Minister Kure despises me because of my mother's actions during the Hawaii war. I can’t prove it, but I’m certain she put an ill crewmember aboard my ship during ‘the plague’ event. She will do anything to see her political will foisted unto the fleet, and when she hears of my promotion, she will work even harder to torpedo the carrier program. She is incapable of separating her personal whims from the needs of the fleet.” She tried to explain calmly, but emotion did rise in her throat.
Reito smiled. “You are exactly who I want for this position.”
A bit taken aback, Takayama questioned. “Are you sure? I just told you I do not trust your Minister of the Navy. The most influential woman in the entire fleet.”
“I don’t want someone who trusts Minister Kure in a position of power,” Reito explained. “I want her deposed of her position and for her name only to be spoken in shameful whispers.”
“You can’t fire her,” Takayama interjected in a panic. “The-”
“The Admiralty is more loyal to her than to me.” Reito nodded in solemn resignation. “The great white shark of Hawaii.” She laughed and shook her head. “I will show you how much I trust you and then ask you a favor.”
She nodded. “Go on.”
“Minister Riko Kure is a traitor who ordered the murder of my mother. I can prove it, but even if I held a court for her and had her found guilty...” Reito hesitated.
“There’s a chance the Admirals wouldn’t believe you, no matter how damning the evidence.” Takayama followed the thread in complete dismay and shock.
“And without the loyalty of the Admirals.” Reito sighed deeply.
“You would lose all authority.” Takayama continued.
“And Kure would take the mantle of power.” Reito finished.
“That cannot happen.” Takayama’s voice became desperate. “If someone like Kure were to take power,” She froze momentarily, imagining the world under Kure’s fist. “It’d be the end of Kumosenkan.”
“Then we’re on the same page,” Reito confirmed. “I need your help. I need to know which Admirals are loyal to me and not to her. Then I need to expand that list to the vast majority of Admirals.”
“Kure’s made an enemy of at least a quarter of the Admiralty. Someone that politically charged makes a lot of enemies.” Ai explained. “Another quarter would side with you if you had decent proof that she did what you say she did. Another third if it's damning.”
“Are you telling me over forty percent of my Admirals are more loyal to Kure than me?” Reito questioned.
Ai bit her lip and nodded. “If it were your mother, you could take off at least another ten percent, but most admirals don’t know you. They see you...” She cut herself off.
“They see me like you did when you walked in here.” Reito finished the sentence in an unintentionally accusatory tone. “A child, unqualified to command.”
Ai looked away and cringed a bit. “Yes. That is the growing opinion.”
“Do you still think that of me? Do you have faith in me as Empress High Admiral?” Reito asked in a tone that she hoped conveyed that she wanted honesty.
“I have faith in you, Empress Reito. You may only be fifteen, but you have completely changed my opinion of you in fifteen minutes.” Ai met the Empress’s eyes with a steely gaze that conveyed her honesty.
“Now, if only I had the time and ability to meet with all two hundred and forty-six admirals like this.” Reito sighed and pressed against her temples.
“I may be an outcast, but I have a core group of Admirals who believe in and trust me. With your permission, I will share my new convictions of you after this meeting if I can convince them. Hopefully, the sentiment can begin to spread naturally.” Ai offered.
This gave Reito a perk up. “I like how you’re a step ahead of what I was about to ask you, but you missed that I also want you to undermine Kure’s image. Not directly. Just in any way you can think of to decrease other admiral’s opinion of her.”
“I will get it done, Your Highness.” Ai agreed without hesitation. “I will do anything to excise that tumor from our midst.”
“As Vice or Rear Admiral?” Reito questioned, redirecting Takayama back to the question of whether or not she’d take the job.
“Vice,” Takayama answered firmly.
“Good.” Reito dug up a folder and handed it over to her. “Your first job is to get Kumosenkan her first purpose-built aircraft carrier. Not a refit, not a rebuild, not a conversion. From keel to mast, aircraft carrier.”
Inside the folder were Reito's specifications for the warship: no more than thirty-five thousand, two hundred tons. Speed no less than twenty-eight knots using the Kobayashi Kampon boiler engine in unit machinery. A range to be able to reach Hawaii and back without a refuel. Six double turreted six-inch guns in wing turrets with two hundred rounds of ammunition per gun. No more than six inches of armor on her central waterline belt, no less than four with one inch on the extended belt in the “All or Nothing” scheme with an inclined belt. No more or less than four inches of flight deck armor and one inch of hanger side armor. A six-inch thick torpedo bulge with four meters of void space. Enough hangar capacity and deck space to handle eighty aircraft with a thirty to twenty-five to twenty-five split for Fighters, Dive Bombers, and Torpedo Bombers, respectively. Additionally, an armament of Forty twin twenty-five-millimeter anti-aircraft guns, twenty-two forty-millimeter flak cannons, and four anti-aircraft directors.
“Use whatever connections you have at your disposal; I want four of them under construction by the end of the next fiscal quarter,” Reito demanded with a smile.
Takayama lit up like a newly installed lamp as she read over the specifications. “Does she have a name?”
Reito nodded with a sly smile. “The Takayama class aircraft carrier.”
She stewed in her brewing thoughts for the better part of an hour. Until finally, “The Empress will see you now.” The maid spoke softly.
“Thank you.” Takayama stood and walked into the room. She was a bit stunned. In her head, she knew the Empress was fifteen, but she didn’t know it until now. She, a forty-nine-year-old Rear Admiral of the Kumosenkan Royal Battle Fleet, was about to have a security meeting with a fifteen-year-old girl. “Y- your Highness.” She had let the silence drag on for too long.
Reito looked up at the Admiral. “Are you a believer,” she paused for a beat as she stood from her desk, “Admiral?”
The Admiral showed the confusion on her face. “I’m sorry?”
“Do you place your faith in the living stars?” Reito spoke carefully as she walked around the desk to meet the Admiral face-to-face. Reito was over a foot shorter, but to even an alien observer; it was clear who held power in the meeting as the Admiral slowly recoiled backward. “In your ancestors?”
“Of course I do,” Takayama confirmed as the pressure pressed her into the now-closed door behind her.
Reito’s eyes darted between the Admiral’s with intent. “Do you hear the call of your ancestors?”
She nodded as confidently as she could muster. “I do.”
“And do you heed that call?” Reito took a step forward, pushing the Admiral further.
“I do.” Again she held.
Reito pursed her lips. “Do you believe that my ancestors call to me and guide me?”
“That’s-” She hesitated. “I do, Your Highness.”
“Do you believe that my mother’s soul has yet to reach the living stars and instead guides me with a steady hand from the beyond?” Reito observed the Admiral’s response diligently.
“If you tell me that is the truth, then I will believe you,” Ai confirmed.
“Good.” Reito’s expression remained firm as she turned back to her desk. “Sit.” She ordered sharply. The Admiral quickly obeyed and sat at the other side of the desk.
“Who are you loyal to, Admiral Takayama? She didn’t expect an honest answer if she was devoted to Kure. She knew what her response would be but wanted to see the tone.
The Admiral again showed confusion. “I am loyal to the Empress of the Kumosenkan Empire. Reito Doku Kumo and I am honored to serve under her.”
“I would like to speak to you about the future of our fleet and your position in it.” Reito’s tone was harsh and blunt. And her glare matched her tone.
Rear Admiral Ai Takayama returned the glare with vexation and a hint of anger. “Are you firing me?”
The Empress’s eyebrow furrowed into an icier gaze. “Why would I be firing you?”
Takayama’s tone became hostile, yet still measured, considering her current dance partner. “I know you are no fool. Nor am I. I’m aware my standing in the Admiralty is poor. Not just the admiralty, outside of my crew, I would be lucky if a seaman recruit obeyed my orders.” Her eye began to twitch outside of her control. “I understand you listen closely to your ministers. I will not go against her suggestion and step down peacefully if it is your wish, Your Highness.”
“Her?” Reito questioned. “Who is ‘her,’ Admiral?”
“Minister Kure?” Takayama asked a bit quizzically.
Reito stood again, turned her back to the Admiral, and stared out her window towards the Fuyonouso skyline. “I was going to speak with you about your future in the fleet. About a new position I am opening up, I have been led to believe you would be perfect for it. However, the woman before me is not the woman Rear Admiral Yukiko Hayakawa claimed you are.” Reito’s voice was downright vicious now as she attacked the very character of the Admiral.
The flood of new information battered Takayama like a ship’s windows in a harsh storm. “New position? Hayakawa?”
“I was told you were a fierce yet maligned Admiral who fought tooth and nail for what she believed in despite her reputation. A woman who would stop at nothing to succeed. A fierce fighter who came out swinging even when the chips were down. So I must have called the wrong woman into my chambers as all I can see is a sniveling coward offering up her resignation when I didn’t even ask for one.”
“I am not a coward!” Takayama stood and shouted back at the Empress. “I am a fighter.”
Reito turned back to face the woman. “Prove it.” She slammed her hands on the desk. “If you’re who Yukiko Hayakawa says you are, show it to me.”
“I’m the one who got Mzukarakana built in the first place!” Ai fired back. “When Amali converted their battle cruiser into the world’s first aircraft carrier, I was the one who knew we couldn’t fall behind. I pushed for it, and your mother took the credit. I oversaw her design and construction at the Fuyonouso arsenal. Despite being an outcast in the admiralty, I subtly incepted the idea to make me her captain in Minister Kure’s mind.”
Reito met the rising fire inside the admiral. “Why?”
“Because I was scared. Days after Amali commissioned their carrier, the UKUG began construction on theirs. We were behind on the technology ball for the first time ever, and the UKUG was about to close the inning.” Ai shouted. “I didn‘t know if aircraft would be an important development in naval combat; I still don’t. All I knew is that if it was, we couldn’t develop it last.”
“You’re claiming all responsibility for the carrier program?” Reito questioned with all scrutiny.
“I am.” Takayama stood firm. “And I can prove it. My name is on the supervisory forms at the arsenal and in the shipyards. You can check them.”
“I already checked them. Only a Vice Admiral is authorized to sign those forms.” Reito pushed back. “How did you sign them?”
“I called in a favor. One owed to me a long time ago.” Takayama explained.
“By whom?” Reito stepped to Takayama’s side of the desk.
Takayama began to sweat as she looked up at the Empress. “I can’t answer that.”
“Only an Admiral or Fleet Admiral can make that exemption. It wouldn’t take me long to find out who.” Reito stared firmly.
“You can’t do that.” Takayama almost begged.
Reito squinted an eye. “You don’t tell me what I can’t do, and if you’re asking like that, it's a friend, which narrows it down to two women. Tell me why I can’t.”
“You can’t because they’re a friend and an outstanding Admiral with a pristine record and is undyingly loyal to you,” Takayama answered.
“Which narrows it to one person.” Reito half smiled. “What was the favor? Why did Admiral Okamoto authorize that? What did you have over her?”
“I don’t have anything over anyone. A legal favor was done in return for a legal favor.” Takayama
“Favors that are technically legal are not always so under military law. What was the favor?” Reito pushed.
“I can’t tell you that,” Takayama answered, averting her eyes from the young Empress.
“Can’t? Or won't?” Reito again pushed.
“I won’t,” Takayama answered.
“Refusing an order from the Empress is grounds for an immediate dishonorable discharge,” Reito explained carefully. “I’ll ask again, what was the favor.”
“I will not betray someone who put their trust in me.” Takayama returned her gaze to math the Empress. “So if you want to fire me, then you’ll lose a dedicated officer who has worked herself to death to ensure the superiority of our fleet, despite being an outcast for her entire life as an Admiral.”
Reito smiled and sat back at her desk. “Now, there’s the woman Hayakawa-kas told me about.”
Takayama recoiled. “What?”
“Fiercely loyal with an unmatched passion for the Royal Battle Fleet. Willing to go to the edge for what she believes in.” Reito explained. “I have a lot of respect for you, Admiral.”
“I’m confused.” Takayama eyed the Empress questioningly. “Am I fired or not?”
“I would never fire someone for protecting a friend,” Reito explained. “I reward loyalty. I don’t punish it.” She smiled, hoping to reassure the woman she just pushed. “However, from now on, I expect your loyalty to me to be above all others, and you trust in me not to betray your trust when issues like this arise. Can you do that for me, Takayama-kas?”
“Are you going to ask me about the favor again?” Takayama pushed back.
Reito shook her head. “No, because I trust you; I don’t need to know about it.”
Takayama searched Reito’s eyes. “If that’s the kind of person you are, then you can expect my undying loyalty.”
“Good, because I need full trust in my Vice Admiral in charge of carrier command.” Reito casually offered the position and promotion to the Admiral.
“That’s not a position in the fleet.” Takayama corrected.
“It is now, and it's yours. If you want it.” Reito offered more clearly.
“Your Highness...” The Admiral paused. “I am honored, but are you sure I’m the best for the job? My reputation amongst the other Admirals isn’t just a headache for me. It could be a political quagmire for you. Minister Kure...” Again she hesitated. “May I have permission to speak freely?”
“Of course.” Reito gestured for her to continue.
“Minister Kure despises me because of my mother's actions during the Hawaii war. I can’t prove it, but I’m certain she put an ill crewmember aboard my ship during ‘the plague’ event. She will do anything to see her political will foisted unto the fleet, and when she hears of my promotion, she will work even harder to torpedo the carrier program. She is incapable of separating her personal whims from the needs of the fleet.” She tried to explain calmly, but emotion did rise in her throat.
Reito smiled. “You are exactly who I want for this position.”
A bit taken aback, Takayama questioned. “Are you sure? I just told you I do not trust your Minister of the Navy. The most influential woman in the entire fleet.”
“I don’t want someone who trusts Minister Kure in a position of power,” Reito explained. “I want her deposed of her position and for her name only to be spoken in shameful whispers.”
“You can’t fire her,” Takayama interjected in a panic. “The-”
“The Admiralty is more loyal to her than to me.” Reito nodded in solemn resignation. “The great white shark of Hawaii.” She laughed and shook her head. “I will show you how much I trust you and then ask you a favor.”
She nodded. “Go on.”
“Minister Riko Kure is a traitor who ordered the murder of my mother. I can prove it, but even if I held a court for her and had her found guilty...” Reito hesitated.
“There’s a chance the Admirals wouldn’t believe you, no matter how damning the evidence.” Takayama followed the thread in complete dismay and shock.
“And without the loyalty of the Admirals.” Reito sighed deeply.
“You would lose all authority.” Takayama continued.
“And Kure would take the mantle of power.” Reito finished.
“That cannot happen.” Takayama’s voice became desperate. “If someone like Kure were to take power,” She froze momentarily, imagining the world under Kure’s fist. “It’d be the end of Kumosenkan.”
“Then we’re on the same page,” Reito confirmed. “I need your help. I need to know which Admirals are loyal to me and not to her. Then I need to expand that list to the vast majority of Admirals.”
“Kure’s made an enemy of at least a quarter of the Admiralty. Someone that politically charged makes a lot of enemies.” Ai explained. “Another quarter would side with you if you had decent proof that she did what you say she did. Another third if it's damning.”
“Are you telling me over forty percent of my Admirals are more loyal to Kure than me?” Reito questioned.
Ai bit her lip and nodded. “If it were your mother, you could take off at least another ten percent, but most admirals don’t know you. They see you...” She cut herself off.
“They see me like you did when you walked in here.” Reito finished the sentence in an unintentionally accusatory tone. “A child, unqualified to command.”
Ai looked away and cringed a bit. “Yes. That is the growing opinion.”
“Do you still think that of me? Do you have faith in me as Empress High Admiral?” Reito asked in a tone that she hoped conveyed that she wanted honesty.
“I have faith in you, Empress Reito. You may only be fifteen, but you have completely changed my opinion of you in fifteen minutes.” Ai met the Empress’s eyes with a steely gaze that conveyed her honesty.
“Now, if only I had the time and ability to meet with all two hundred and forty-six admirals like this.” Reito sighed and pressed against her temples.
“I may be an outcast, but I have a core group of Admirals who believe in and trust me. With your permission, I will share my new convictions of you after this meeting if I can convince them. Hopefully, the sentiment can begin to spread naturally.” Ai offered.
This gave Reito a perk up. “I like how you’re a step ahead of what I was about to ask you, but you missed that I also want you to undermine Kure’s image. Not directly. Just in any way you can think of to decrease other admiral’s opinion of her.”
“I will get it done, Your Highness.” Ai agreed without hesitation. “I will do anything to excise that tumor from our midst.”
“As Vice or Rear Admiral?” Reito questioned, redirecting Takayama back to the question of whether or not she’d take the job.
“Vice,” Takayama answered firmly.
“Good.” Reito dug up a folder and handed it over to her. “Your first job is to get Kumosenkan her first purpose-built aircraft carrier. Not a refit, not a rebuild, not a conversion. From keel to mast, aircraft carrier.”
Inside the folder were Reito's specifications for the warship: no more than thirty-five thousand, two hundred tons. Speed no less than twenty-eight knots using the Kobayashi Kampon boiler engine in unit machinery. A range to be able to reach Hawaii and back without a refuel. Six double turreted six-inch guns in wing turrets with two hundred rounds of ammunition per gun. No more than six inches of armor on her central waterline belt, no less than four with one inch on the extended belt in the “All or Nothing” scheme with an inclined belt. No more or less than four inches of flight deck armor and one inch of hanger side armor. A six-inch thick torpedo bulge with four meters of void space. Enough hangar capacity and deck space to handle eighty aircraft with a thirty to twenty-five to twenty-five split for Fighters, Dive Bombers, and Torpedo Bombers, respectively. Additionally, an armament of Forty twin twenty-five-millimeter anti-aircraft guns, twenty-two forty-millimeter flak cannons, and four anti-aircraft directors.
“Use whatever connections you have at your disposal; I want four of them under construction by the end of the next fiscal quarter,” Reito demanded with a smile.
Takayama lit up like a newly installed lamp as she read over the specifications. “Does she have a name?”
Reito nodded with a sly smile. “The Takayama class aircraft carrier.”
