Chapter Text
あの侵略がなかった世界で
(Ano Shinryaku ga Nakatta Sekai de)
The invaders from another world never came.
The disappearance and subsequent return of the cruiser Unebi had yielded technology from another world. Using that knowledge, the Imperial Japanese Navy’s Magitek Research Department—commonly known as MRD—conducted its research in secret and prepared for the arrival of the otherworldly invaders.
Yet the Otherworldly Empire never appeared. The world remained unaware of the existence of people from another realm, and the war that began in Europe instead drove humanity toward conflict with itself.
The Empire of Japan, continuing its expansion onto the Asian continent and becoming mired in a protracted war, saw its relations with the United States deteriorate. After being subjected to hostile economic measures, including an oil embargo that threatened the nation’s lifeline, Japan resolved to go to war.
On December 7, 1941, Japanese forces began landing at British-controlled Kota Bharu. Two hours later, the 1st Air Fleet—Nagumo’s Kidō Butai, centered on the six aircraft carriers Akagi, Kaga, Sōryū, Hiryū, Shōkaku, and Zuikaku—launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The assault inflicted severe damage on the battleship force of the US Pacific Fleet.
Thus, the Pacific War had finally begun. Seeking the oil and other vital resources that had been cut off, the Japanese military advanced into Southeast Asia. In the Central Pacific, it attacked and occupied American territories such as Guam and Wake Island.
While the 1st Air Fleet under Vice Admiral Chūichi Nagumo, having struck the battleships of the US Pacific Fleet, returned to the Japanese mainland, it is less widely known that submarine forces were simultaneously enforcing a blockade of Hawaii and conducting commerce raiding in nearby waters.
Historically, submarines were also dispatched to the west coast of the United States. In this world, however, a different force advanced in their place. It was the Special Commerce Raiding Squadron—a unit known as the SCRS, operating directly under the Navy General Staff. Created by the MRD, this force would later become known to history as the Resurrected Fleet…
・・・
Approximately two weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor, a Japanese fleet was approaching the American West Coast across the Pacific.
At its center was the battleship Tosa. Originally slated for scrapping under the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty and ultimately sunk as a target ship, it had been salvaged, rebuilt, and modernized by the MRD. Based on the unrealized Kaga-class battleship design and enhanced with MRD modifications, the vessel displaced 41.000 tons standard, measured 240 meters in length with a beam of 31,2 meters, and could make 28 knots with its 136.000-horsepower machinery. Its main armament consisted of ten 41-centimeter guns mounted in five twin turrets.
On the bridge of Tosa, flagship of the 1st Special Commerce Raiding Battle Group, stood its commander, Captain Ryūzō Shinmei. His expression was perpetually impassive, giving him a cold impression. Of average height and build, he looked more like a diligent office worker quietly handling paperwork than a military leader. Yet appearances were deceiving; he was one of the central figures behind both the Navy General Staff’s special direct-command units and the MRD itself.
Approaching him was Lieutenant Commander Shōji Suwa, the group’s senior staff officer. Slender and refined in appearance, he was said to have been regarded as the most handsome man in his Naval Academy class.
“Commander. There have been no special communications from the 32nd Submarine Squadron. Commerce raiding off the American West Coast appears to be proceeding smoothly.”
The squadron consisted of ten submarines belonging to the Special Commerce Raiding Force and operating ahead of the main fleet. No reports was not necessarily good news, but submarines relied on stealth, and frequent communication only increased the risk of detection. Although the Special Commerce Raiding submarine force used an exclusive communication system known as the magical method, even that was avoided whenever possible outside of combat.
“Excellent.”
Shinmei answered calmly. Suwa raised one eyebrow slightly.
“Still, I believe our submarine squadron alone would be sufficient. Why bring a task force containing battleships to the American mainland, even if it is a small one?”
“To let the enemy know that Japanese battleships and carriers have reached their own doorstep.”
In other words, it was the same logic employed by German naval commerce raiders. Germany had not relied solely on submarines; surface vessels such as the pocket battleships and the Scharnhorst-class battleships had also been deployed, forcing the Royal Navy to scatter its strength across vast areas.
“So showing ourselves is a tactic in itself…?”
“Because the Pearl Harbor attack ended up raising American morale instead of crushing it, contrary to Admiral Yamamoto’s intentions.”
At the opening of the war, the destruction of the US Pacific Fleet was intended to break American morale and create favorable conditions for a short conflict. Weakening the enemy population’s will to fight was certainly useful for a nation seeking a quick victory. In reality, however, Americans were reportedly demanding revenge.
“I heard Navy Minister Shimada said Pearl Harbor might have been a mistake if it only succeeded in boosting American morale.”
“No. It wasn’t Pearl Harbor. Roosevelt was simply the better politician,” Shinmei answered without hesitation. “He turned a crisis into an opportunity and rallied the nation brilliantly. Personally, I don’t like him, but that president’s speech was exceptionally well crafted.”
Whether Pearl Harbor had succeeded or failed hardly mattered. Roosevelt had simply transformed a dangerous situation into a political advantage.
“President Roosevelt is an outstanding politician… Though I dislike him.”
From memories of his previous life, Shinmei knew that when invaders from another world had attacked Earth, cooperation between Japan and the United States had been slower than it should have been. Part of that had been due to the caution of Japan’s leadership, but Roosevelt’s prejudice toward the Japanese had also played a significant role. Then again, Japan’s treatment of Theodore Roosevelt had likely contributed to that sentiment.
Shinmei also knew that the Navy leadership’s hopes for a short war against America were unrealistic. In his previous life, even when the American homeland had been invaded by the Otherworlders, the United States had never raised a white flag.
A previous life, was it…? Shinmei found himself thinking about it again. The invaders from another world. The great war in which the nations of the world had united against a common enemy. In the end, he had never learned how that war concluded. When he muttered as much aloud, Suwa sighed in exasperation.
“Talking about your previous life again, sir?”
But the calm ended there. A report of enemy contact arrived on Tosa’s bridge. A Type 98 reconnaissance seaplane had sighted “three battleships and four destroyers.”
“Did you hear that, Commander?”
“The survivors from Pearl Harbor, perhaps?”
Suwa chuckled.
“And it’s only been two weeks since the Kidō Butai struck Hawaii.”
“They’re probably heading home for proper repairs.”
Shinmei adjusted his cap.
“Now, who was it that said our commerce-raiding force would only be dealing with small fry?”
“A big catch from the start… Shall we do it?”
“Order the carrier Zuiyō to launch the strike force. And put us on battle stations as well.”
“Battle stations!”
Alarms echoed throughout the battleship Tosa. On the flight deck of the converted carrier Zuiyō, accompanying the 1st Special Commerce Raiding Battle Group, the attack squadrons began their launch preparations.
It was December 24, 1941. The battle that would later be remembered as the Christmas Tragedy was about to begin.