Chapter 569: Defying Authority
"General, ahead lies Miyako Island. We've spotted a large number of vessels loitering in the area—likely Japanese 'pirate ships'!"
The Japanese called them fishing boats, so naturally, East Africa defined them as pirate vessels roaming the Southern Ryukyu waters—adding legitimacy to any future engagement. Both sides were playing the same game: feigning virtue while scheming in the background.
"Fire warning shots. Begin expulsion," General Gleis ordered.
East Africa didn't open fire directly—out of respect for Japan's strength. After all, East Africa was the outsider here and didn't yet have the power to act recklessly in the Far East.
The gunners aboard the East African ironclad Partridge adjusted their cannons and fired three rounds skyward over the Miyako Strait.
Boom...
Shells arced through the sky and exploded in the ocean, sending up enormous plumes of water.
The shells landed less than 800 meters from two Japanese "pirate ships." One smaller fishing boat was nearly capsized by the shockwave. The vessel tilted almost 90 degrees before six crewmen scrambled to stabilize it.
Through his telescope, General Gleis watched the scene closely. "Looks like they're not ordinary fishermen. Likely disguised Japanese naval personnel."
"Why do you think so, General?"
"Because those men reacted calmly to an explosion nearby—quick coordination, perfect control under stress. That's not something common fishermen can do."
"So you're saying they're Japanese soldiers in disguise?"
"Most likely. But whether they are or not, if they don't back off, we'll send them to the bottom of the sea," Gleis said coldly.
The Japanese sailors praised for their poise were anything but calm. At the moment of the blast, cold sweat soaked them, and they turned pale. Only their training saved them from panic.
"Baka yarō! East Africa has gone too far!" barked Japanese Commander Ozawa Seiji.
They had seen the East African fleet the moment it arrived. The vibrant flag was unmistakable. But what startled them was that the ironclads opened fire from such a long distance. Had they targeted Ozawa's command ship—a mere 500-ton sailing vessel—it would've been obliterated.
Luckily, East Africa didn't intend to escalate—only to intimidate. But the pressure was enormous.
"Commander, that should be East Africa's navy. The enemy is strong, and those shots were clearly a warning. They want us to retreat. What now?"
"East Africa has no honor! We're just fishing boats, and they send a navy fleet? This is classic great power bullying," Ozawa grumbled.
To Japan, East Africa was still unfamiliar. But based on what they'd seen, they considered it among the great powers. Though East Africa concealed its full strength, its navy could not be hidden. When Archduke Ferdinand visited the Far East with a full fleet, East Africa's maritime might became widely known.
East Africa had never hidden its navy. Its main purpose was deterrence—to prevent foreign aggression. If its navy were weak, East Africa's coast would become an open playground for colonial powers.
Ozawa couldn't take East Africa lightly. He clenched his teeth. "Engaging the East African navy now would be suicide. Though we're willing to die for the Empire, the gap in strength is too great. Japan can't afford to lose her precious sons here."
"Commander… you're okay with retreat?"
"Damn it! We should've seized the islands before East Africa secured them. Now look at the mess!"
"It wasn't your fault, sir—it was the General Staff's poor judgment. Who could've guessed East Africa would send an entire fleet for a few faraway islands?"
The Southern Ryukyus meant little to East Africa, but deploying a fleet was costly. It would take decades to recoup, especially with the cost of a standing garrison. Still, strategically, it gave East Africa a foothold in the Pacific—critical for protecting interests in the Far East.
"Commander, we need to report back and regroup. Even if we retreat now, the General Staff won't blame us—the enemy is too strong."
"Fine, order the withdrawal."
The flagship signaled the other Japanese vessels to retreat toward Naha using flags and horns.
Since the "fishermen" were military in disguise, they fell back in an orderly manner. But would it really be that easy?
"I knew these 'fishermen' were military. Look at how coordinated they are. No real fishing crew is that well-trained!" Gleis said, pleased.
"General, maybe not all of them are following orders. Look at their left flank!"
Sure enough, some ships weren't retreating—in fact, they were doing the opposite.
Ozawa noticed too. "That's Takamori Kōsō's unit, isn't it? What are they doing? Get them back—did they misread the signal?"
"Commander, Takamori is known for his arrogance. He's never truly respected your orders. It's unlikely he just misread the flags and horn blasts."
"Damn him. If his uncle hadn't assigned him to me, I wouldn't even tolerate him. If he causes irreparable damage, I won't forgive him."
"Should we intervene? He's still one of us."
"Hmph. He disobeys orders and endangers the Empire's interests. No one is to help him. Tell his men to retreat. Ignore Takamori's orders."
Thanks to Ozawa's override, some of Takamori's men did pull back. But over twenty of his boats remained.
Ozawa could already guess what Takamori, that spoiled brat, was planning. But out at sea, there was nothing he could do. If Takamori refused to retreat, then let him die out there.
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 40 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Canserbero10