May 11th, 1932
Somewhere in the East China Sea
Dawn was breaking on the to the starboard side, as HMS
Frobisher sliced through the waves at a stately 15 knots. Like other ships in the squadron,
Frobisher had the largest identification flags aboard flying, and crews had taken to painting a large green maple leaf on the funnel for further identification.
"What's our status, commander?", said Commodore Decker as he walked onto the bridge with a cup of tea.
"We have cleared the Formosa Strait, and are on schedule for our course change in 4 hours for passage south of Kagoshima. Our lookouts did not report any sightings, so it is unlikely we were spotted.", responded Commander Anne Gauvreau,
Frobisher's XO. "Any idea what we're doing out here, sir?"
Decker took a moment to stir his tea before replying, "I wager the brass back home wasn't too pleased to find a Japanese carrier loitering on our side of the pond. I'd guess we're being neighbourly and returning the favor. Shouldn't be much to worry about, we'll be staying well outside their territorial waters, and running full identification."
"Very well, sir. We are maintaining radio silence, and the other ships are still in formation."
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And that's why I don't write up more than news reports.