Keynes' Cruisers Volume 2
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Story 2929
Seaside Heights, New Jersey July 6, 1945
"Leave now. This is a family establishment not a place to establish a family.". The two slightly mussed teens sheepishly grinned at the arcade owner. They hurried out to the brilliantly lit boardwalk and walked hand in hand past the zeppoli and fried clam shacks. They had time and they had money to spend tonight.
"Leave now. This is a family establishment not a place to establish a family.". The two slightly mussed teens sheepishly grinned at the arcade owner. They hurried out to the brilliantly lit boardwalk and walked hand in hand past the zeppoli and fried clam shacks. They had time and they had money to spend tonight.
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Story 2930
Western Pacific, July 7, 1945
"Secure from General Quarters, Secure from General Quarters. Set Condition ZEBRA Set Condition ZEBRA. Resume regular watches..."
The 1MC echoed across the ship. Within seconds, Jaroschek and the rest of the gun crew began their routine drill of securing their anti-aircraft gun. They had been manning the station for the past hour. Anytime USS North Carolina was at sea, the gun was manned from half an hour before local dawn to half an hour after local dawn unless the radar room picked something up. Dozens of other crews were securing their weapons. Some of the men would soon begin their routine checks and tweaks to the stations while Jaroschek and his compatriots had time to head to the mess deck for a hot breakfast and plentiful coffee.
Before he ducked inside the superstructure of the ship, he looked over his shoulder. Twenty other warships were in the task group and if he squinted he could see another battleship and a few carriers at the edge of the horizon. They all were steaming at a steady twenty knots to the west northwest. Tomorrow they would be seeking out trouble. Today they were just ready for it.
"Secure from General Quarters, Secure from General Quarters. Set Condition ZEBRA Set Condition ZEBRA. Resume regular watches..."
The 1MC echoed across the ship. Within seconds, Jaroschek and the rest of the gun crew began their routine drill of securing their anti-aircraft gun. They had been manning the station for the past hour. Anytime USS North Carolina was at sea, the gun was manned from half an hour before local dawn to half an hour after local dawn unless the radar room picked something up. Dozens of other crews were securing their weapons. Some of the men would soon begin their routine checks and tweaks to the stations while Jaroschek and his compatriots had time to head to the mess deck for a hot breakfast and plentiful coffee.
Before he ducked inside the superstructure of the ship, he looked over his shoulder. Twenty other warships were in the task group and if he squinted he could see another battleship and a few carriers at the edge of the horizon. They all were steaming at a steady twenty knots to the west northwest. Tomorrow they would be seeking out trouble. Today they were just ready for it.
Story 2931
San Francisco, July 8, 1945
"You sure?"
"Yes, I want to move in with you. We work well together and I want to be the first person you see in the morning and be the last person you see at night."
"But what will people say?"
"Two former Marines who met during the war saving some money by being roommates... we're in the city where no one is going to raise an eye brow at the arrangement. Seems like half the men here are like us. Hell this is where the Navy discharges poofs and fags who can't keep their head down and not be too obvious. Look at us, we fit in here, and I can bring you home to my parents as my friend and roommate."
"You sure?"
"Yes, I love you, I'm sure."
The recently honorably discharged Marine Corporal Jaroschek could not speak any more as his better half enveloped him in a full body hug.
"You sure?"
"Yes, I want to move in with you. We work well together and I want to be the first person you see in the morning and be the last person you see at night."
"But what will people say?"
"Two former Marines who met during the war saving some money by being roommates... we're in the city where no one is going to raise an eye brow at the arrangement. Seems like half the men here are like us. Hell this is where the Navy discharges poofs and fags who can't keep their head down and not be too obvious. Look at us, we fit in here, and I can bring you home to my parents as my friend and roommate."
"You sure?"
"Yes, I love you, I'm sure."
The recently honorably discharged Marine Corporal Jaroschek could not speak any more as his better half enveloped him in a full body hug.
I've hinted a few times about Jaroschek Brother #3
Keynes' Cruisers Volume 2
Bergen, Norway October 2640 So which planet in the inner sphere is that on ? :)
www.alternatehistory.com
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Story 2932
Bremerton, Washington July 9, 1945
"I'll consider it. But I really need to talk to my wife before I can make any commitments. I really appreciate the meal, the steak was excellent and the whiskey was exceptional..."
Josh Jaroschek left the word of thanks hanging as the two older men shook his hand aggressively.
"We need bright young men like you in the party. The '46 election is not too far away and voters will like young men who have made a life for themselves. We have a district just outside of Pittsburgh that would be a great fit for you and your young family." The portly man stopped shaking his hand while the slimmer, taller man adjusted his hat once more to provide a slight protection against the spitting rain.
"Josh, may I call you Josh." Joshua nodded.
"Josh, don't want about being a neophyte, the party will help you out and help you connect to the right people in the right towns. You have a chance to do something and you should. But first, you should talk to your wife... how about the two of you come to dinner with my wife and I next Saturday evening. I have a girl who can keep an eye on your children and it will be just pleasure instead of business."
"That sounds wonderful... I can commit to dinner and a night without children."
The men stepped into the waiting taxi. They had another recruiting visit to make in Seattle tomorrow morning. The last ferry was scheduled to leave in thirty four minutes. Otherwise, they had a long and expensive drive to look forward to.
Josh walked home in contemplative silence. This was his third candidate recruitment dinner. The socialists took him for a burger and a beer while the two big parties wined and dined him. Was this the future that he wanted? Was this what Margaret wished for? Could he do it? If he did, he would be hanging up his wings. When he got home, he gently kissed his exhausted wife on her cheek and began massaging her calves as he unloaded his mind to her.
"I'll consider it. But I really need to talk to my wife before I can make any commitments. I really appreciate the meal, the steak was excellent and the whiskey was exceptional..."
Josh Jaroschek left the word of thanks hanging as the two older men shook his hand aggressively.
"We need bright young men like you in the party. The '46 election is not too far away and voters will like young men who have made a life for themselves. We have a district just outside of Pittsburgh that would be a great fit for you and your young family." The portly man stopped shaking his hand while the slimmer, taller man adjusted his hat once more to provide a slight protection against the spitting rain.
"Josh, may I call you Josh." Joshua nodded.
"Josh, don't want about being a neophyte, the party will help you out and help you connect to the right people in the right towns. You have a chance to do something and you should. But first, you should talk to your wife... how about the two of you come to dinner with my wife and I next Saturday evening. I have a girl who can keep an eye on your children and it will be just pleasure instead of business."
"That sounds wonderful... I can commit to dinner and a night without children."
The men stepped into the waiting taxi. They had another recruiting visit to make in Seattle tomorrow morning. The last ferry was scheduled to leave in thirty four minutes. Otherwise, they had a long and expensive drive to look forward to.
Josh walked home in contemplative silence. This was his third candidate recruitment dinner. The socialists took him for a burger and a beer while the two big parties wined and dined him. Was this the future that he wanted? Was this what Margaret wished for? Could he do it? If he did, he would be hanging up his wings. When he got home, he gently kissed his exhausted wife on her cheek and began massaging her calves as he unloaded his mind to her.
Driftless
Donor
^^^ The previous post got me thinking of how many US politicos of my youth were WW2 vets. George H. W. Bush, Bob Dole, Daniel Inouye, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon John F Kennedy, et alia. Also, Bob Dole losing the 1996 presidential election was considered to be something of a watershed, in that he was likely the last WW2 vet to make that presidential run.
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Story 2933
Near Singapore, July 10, 1945
Two fleets were heading north.
HMS Ark Royal led the East Indies Fleet. Four other fleet carriers were part of the main striking force. Five new light fleet carriers provided both fighter and anti-submarine support while half a dozen escort carriers would cover the fleet train and provide temporary reinforcements. King George V led the battle squadron with three of her sisters as well as the old battlecruisers Hood and Renown, These heavy ships were surrounded by fourteen cruisers of five different classes, thirty eight destroyers and twenty seven lighter escorts. The lighter escorts were mostly circling around the three dozen ships that made up the fleet train.
Twenty miles to the west, Richelieu led the French Oriental Squadron. She was accompanied by two modern battlecruisers and a pair of American built light carriers. Half a dozen cruisers and a dozen destroyers surrounded the capital ships.
Between and around the two fleets half a dozen old Ansons circled the fleet looking for the increasingly rare Japanese submarines. As the twin engine bombers scoured the sea, hundreds of aircraft entered the landing patterns of the carriers as they gained sea room. By nightfall, the two fleets were heading north by north east. The first part of the journey was to cover a trio of convoys to the southern Chinese ports. Once the merchant ships had arrived in half a dozen ports, the fleets would steam to Okinawa where they would rendezvous with the American 3rd Fleet. Once the formations had a week working together new operations against Japan would be undertaken.
Two fleets were heading north.
HMS Ark Royal led the East Indies Fleet. Four other fleet carriers were part of the main striking force. Five new light fleet carriers provided both fighter and anti-submarine support while half a dozen escort carriers would cover the fleet train and provide temporary reinforcements. King George V led the battle squadron with three of her sisters as well as the old battlecruisers Hood and Renown, These heavy ships were surrounded by fourteen cruisers of five different classes, thirty eight destroyers and twenty seven lighter escorts. The lighter escorts were mostly circling around the three dozen ships that made up the fleet train.
Twenty miles to the west, Richelieu led the French Oriental Squadron. She was accompanied by two modern battlecruisers and a pair of American built light carriers. Half a dozen cruisers and a dozen destroyers surrounded the capital ships.
Between and around the two fleets half a dozen old Ansons circled the fleet looking for the increasingly rare Japanese submarines. As the twin engine bombers scoured the sea, hundreds of aircraft entered the landing patterns of the carriers as they gained sea room. By nightfall, the two fleets were heading north by north east. The first part of the journey was to cover a trio of convoys to the southern Chinese ports. Once the merchant ships had arrived in half a dozen ports, the fleets would steam to Okinawa where they would rendezvous with the American 3rd Fleet. Once the formations had a week working together new operations against Japan would be undertaken.
Driftless
Donor
Smilin' Sam the Used Cruiser Man: " I got a couple of low-mileage, snazzy large cruisers that would look mighty fine under the Tricolor. Whaddayasay? I can sell 'em to ya cheap!"
Driftless
Donor
BTW, I'd rather have had the Dunkerque and Strasbourg early on, than the too late Alaska's, with too little mission. Give the D&S a US secondary armaments makeover 1940-41ish
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yep, the French fleet that was operational-ish in 1940 had a long and hard war and the big 3 (R-S-D) all spent some serious time in US Navy yards
Here is our special of the week, Buy 2 Light Carriers and we'll throw in a Large Heavy Cruiser (Battle Cruiser for you European type) for free. Limited time offer, no down payment required, aircraft wing sold seperately.
Story 2934
Pyongyang, Korea July 11, 1945
The air raid sirens resumed. The first raid had targeted a series of factories on the edge of the city. Japanese colonists looked at the sky and soon found an ever growing set of dots. Twin engine bombers escorted by single engined fighters soon became visible. The target was a military headquarters and the rail yards. Many bombs missed. A few landed in the marshalling yards.
The air raid sirens resumed. The first raid had targeted a series of factories on the edge of the city. Japanese colonists looked at the sky and soon found an ever growing set of dots. Twin engine bombers escorted by single engined fighters soon became visible. The target was a military headquarters and the rail yards. Many bombs missed. A few landed in the marshalling yards.
I have followed this TL literally for years. Sad to see it winding down but super excited to see what’s next!
The author has permitted me to reveal that he is halfway through a spin off - a 500 page story of how the Cubs reached the 1943 World Series.
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