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Yushuo Takeda
Aug 19th, 2008, 08:58:02 PM
"Let us drink, Lieutenant, to the success of our squadron, our fleet, our country," said Ensign Takeda, holding up his sake cup to lightly touch it against that of his commander's cup.

With a single gulp he downed the contents, feeling the slight burn trickle down his throat with the mostly tasteless but time honored liquid.

A ringing bell came after they have set their cups down. A call to general quarters was being sounded through the ship.

"Come, my brother. The time we have been awaiting is upon us," said the Lieutenant, slapping Takeda on the back as he picked up his leather flight cap and goggles and made for the stairs upwards, Takeda right on his heels, other pilots joining them.

The flighdeck of the Akagi was a buzz of activity. Takeda glanced upwards, seeing Adm Nagumo looking down at all the activity below. Throwing a brief salute in the Admiral's direction that Takeda was sure was not seen, he made for his fighter.

The A6M2 Zeke was torwards the rear of the assembled aircraft. As the fighter's consumed the most fuel, they would only take off after all of the D3A1 'Val' Dive Bombers and B5N1 'Kate' Torpedo Bombers had left the flight deck.

Climbing into his fighter and settling in, he glanced around and saw the first aircraft lifting off the flightdeck of the Kaga, steaming one thousand yards off of Akagi's port side.

The propeller blade cranked and swirled into life, air being pulled into it and rushing past the cockpit. The thirteen 'Kates' in the squadron of Akagi had already lifted off, and the 'Vals' were following.

Finally, it was his turn. Goosing the throttle, Takeda raced down the flight deck and climbed into the air. After having gained altitude and speed, he settled into place next to his flight leader, and the other aircraft of the fighter squadron settled in around him. He glanced around and spotted the other fighter and strike aircraft from the other carriers, well over one hundred aircraft, flying in formation.

They were approaching the target. Banishing all other thoughts from his mind, Takeda focused on the mission at hand. The clouds cleared away, revealing their target below them.

Taranto Harbor.