7:40 PM; August 13, 1943 to approx 7:00 AM; August 15; Alaska Territory; First Special Service Force Camp to beach of Aleutian Island Kistakuta
FSSF Camp:
Valens answers Phil's question with a shake of the head; "No, I don't think so. The only civilians that ever go there are a couple of lone Aleut hunters or fishermen....and I can't imagine they'd be there with the Nips hanging around. As for non Talent Japanese troops, I supposed it's possible, but highly unlikely. The Intel Source doesn't seem to think so....but you'll have a radio with your Team, so if you see that you're sailing towards huge numbers, but all means, call the
Carderock for a bombardment and scrub the attack." With that he nods to all of the members of SST 11, salutes Frederick, who salutes back and leaves.
Frederick walks back with the members of SST 11 to their barracks, engaging in small-talk and leaving most of the Team feeling quite impressed that their Commanding Officer. They get some sleep and wake up to their weapons and gear being doled out and a quick 'course' in how to use some of it; most notably Heuron's SCR 300 Backpack Radio. To use it; Phil would activate it, tune in on the correct frequency and then notify LT Hyde-Smythe, who would pick up the phone to talk to the other end; in this case; the
USS Carderock......
The other really interesting piece of hardware was the 'Bazooka' Anti-Tank Launcher that Battaglia had been assigned, along with 3 Rockets for it. While they certainly weren't expecting Japanese tanks in this rocky, almost permanently slick with ice or snow or rainy terrain; the weapon could most DEFINITELY be used against Pillboxes or other fortifications. In addition to this, he was assigned an M1A1 'Folding' Carbine; as was Phil to help alleviate the weight of the Radio and Bazzoka they were carrying. The Carbines didn't hit all that hard, but having 15 rounds in a clip was comforting.....
Koda, Nado, Porcupine and Hyde-Smyth were all issued M1 Garand Rifles; the Canadians a bit dismayed to not have their familiar SMLE Rifles; but SST 11 was part of the Force....and the Force was issued with American weapons to all its members. Chisholm got a Tommy Gun, but a newer model; the M1A1 which had the bolt moved to the side inside of on top like the older 1928 version and it also came with 30 round Stick Clips. Campbell was issued the M1941 Johnson Light Machine-gun. The 'Johnny Gun' had quickly become a darling of the Force.
Colonel Frederick had made a deal with some Marine Raiders the previous year where he traded a large amount of Demolition Equipment for about 125 Johnson LMGs when it became obvious that the Force was not going to be used as a behind-the-lines demolition force in Norway and when he learned the Marines weren't crazy about the Johnson and the way it tended to jam-up in the hot and humid tropics. Highly doubting that his Cold-weather and Mountain trained unit would be employed in the Tropics; Frederick was quick to snatch up the weapon which he found superior to the BAR in almost every way. It was shorter, lighter, could hold more ammo (they both had a 20 round clip, but the Johnson could ALSO hold and additional 5 rounds manually inserted into the action via the same old-school 'Alligator Clips' that Springfield 1903 Bolt-Action Rifles used) and due to the fact that the Johnson's clip was mounted on the side, it made laying down and using it on its built-in bipod was a much more comfortable option for the user.
OOC: Some quick notes I'm realizing I never really mentioned....the Uniform of the FSSF was unique....all members wore the same unit and had MOST of the same patches/pins, including the crossed-arrows (that had once been used by the 19th Century 'Indian' Scouts assigned to the U.S. Army) pin and the unique Red Arrow-head patch that had USA and CANADA on it; with a second pin that said either USA or CANADA depending on the wearer's Army of origin:
This is the Canadian version
SCR 300 Radio:
In the utter darkness shortly before Midnight on the 14th; the members of SST 11 boarded a landing ship and they set out on their mission. At around 5 in the AM, they were lowered in their 'Alligator' landing craft and they started to make their way towards the tiny island of Kistakuta. Everyone gripped their weapons tightly and shivered as the sea-mist occasionally blew in from the sides or the open air above them. It was AUGUST and to most of the men, it felt like winter. They all shuddered to imagine winter in these parts....
The way to the tiny island was taking MUCH LONGER than they would've thought as the current here was VERY strong and they could all start to hear the bombardment of Kiska as their fellows in the FSSF and the other units made ready for the dawn assault on the much larger island to the East. Meanwhile, they slowly crept closer and closer. It was almost dawn and in the growing-yet-still-faint light they could now see their objective through the thick fog....a tiny island with a small sandy beach they were aiming towards and a rocky, flat-topped hill that dominated most of the small land area....
As they got within a couple hundred yards; every member of SST 11 could 'feel' a strange new Talent being employed and a few moments later, the thick fog somehow got even thicker. The trio of sailors driving the Alligator or manning the .30 cal LMGs all got real nervous, but the coxswain (driver) held it together and stayed pointed right at the beach. "I ain't sure how long 'till we hit land; but I'm guessing within a couple of minutes...but obviously, I can't see sh#t Lieutenant! What's the call, sir?" Hyde-Smythe's voice sounded even tighter than usual, but steady. "Keep us on course if you please!" "Aye-aye!"
It was a long, tense few minutes that brought sweat to everyone's brow, DESPITE the cold when FINALLY the landing craft's tracks hit sand. The coxswain drove the craft up until the water was only ankle high and called out; "OKAY LIEUNTEANT!" Hyde-Smythe just turned to the other members of SST 11 and called out; "Follow me!" and he went over the side. He was an unbearable SOB, but he certainly didn't lack for courage....
The other members all followed him and the Alligator soon was back out at sea and a few moments later, the Talent Power they were all feeling faded away and the thick clouds parted a bit....though many were still swirling all around; giving the rocky, barren place a foreboding look. As their vision cleared a bit, they could see several cave entrances on the side of the hill, along with a a couple of paths that had clearly been worked into the side of the hill to head up towards these cave entrances. What was more interesting though were the numerous pipe-like tubes that broke through the side of the hill seemingly randomly and the objects on the top of the hill where it was flat....
One was a long radio antennae; the other was a half-sphere pointed up with some kind of smaller ball and wires suspending it in place. (I.e. picture a radar dish pointing straight up...but not rotating at all). A moment later, a new, unfamiliar Talent Power could be felt and everyone readied weapons and looked every which way, but saw nothing. A strange noise could be heard.....rather like a plane's prop engines, but higher pitched and not as loud. A few minutes later, a small, perhaps beach-ball sized machine came flying around the side of the hill....it had what looked like miniature plane props on the bottom of it and the back of it and a couple of strange devices on the 'face' of it pointing towards the members of SST 11. It hovered in place about 100 yards away from the team and a moment later a voice emanated from one of the 'tubes' in the side of the hill; perhaps 50-60 yards from SST 11's position....
The voice was obviously a Japanese male, but it spoke in almost perfectly American accented English. "Greetings and welcome to our little island. My actual name is now dishonored and so therefore not important; but my name among us Talents is 'Daimyo' or 'The Leader or The Lord if you want to be more Mediaeval about it I suppose. The flying machine is one of the creations of one of my fellows, 'The Maker'. We also have 'The Marksman', the 'Cloud Maker' and 'Sun-Burst'. We have chosen to remain on this island in the hopes that some worthy foes would land here and we could either Triumph or die with Honor....and you have come."
"You see; all of us have been pulled from battles in various locations around the Pacific and were sent here. Then, our high command decided that after losing Attu; they would withdraw everyone from Kiska. Your fellow soldiers are landing on a deserted Rock. We were supposed to leave as well; but we had all had enough of the dishonor of fleeing and retreating from battlefields, so we chose to stay. Now prepare yourselves....in a few minutes, we will engage in glorious battle!"
With that, the flying machine set down gently on the rocks and then the Talent Power 'faded out'......
