October 25th, 1945
Off the coast of Kyushu, southern Japanese island
0800
The American fleet loomed off the coast of the land of the rising sun like a massive dragon, a gigantic beast waiting to strike at an equally gargantuan opponent. It was indeed perhaps the largest gathering of naval force within such a close proximity that history had seen and would ever see. There were unprecedented numbers of Marine Corps and Army troops aboard the boats, all loading into the Higgins boats that would help them storm the beaches of Japan.
General Douglas McArthur had been promoted to the 'super-rank' of General of the Armies just for this purpose, to command the massive expedition onto mainland Japan. He was amongst the fleet, but his vessel was never stated for security reasons.
Naval and Marine aviation pilots had been strafing and bombing the immensely defended beaches relentlessly for the past week, with almost no affect on the concrete bunkers and trench systems that had been constructed on the beaches of the Japanese island.
In only an hour, the invasion would begin.
On the shores of Kyushu
Yuuji Tsuchiya sat with crossed legs, his sword and rifle on the ground before him as he inhaled and exhaled slowly and deeply. He rose from his state of meditation as he picked up his katana and rifle, slinging the rifle over his shoulder and sheathing the katana with the familiar, satisfying sound of honed steel sliding into its sheath.
He and his men had been assigned to the trenches down on the beaches. They were to stand and fight for as long as possible, and they would do exactly that. Not just for themselves, but for the empire and their god-emperor.
Just down the trenches, a larger group of young volunteers were tying the traditional hachimaki rising sun headbands around their foreheads, gripping their katanas with killer intent, and downing their sake just before the battle. They were the kamikaze brigade, a group of approximately one hundred young volunteers who would charge forward once the American troops hit the beach.
Yuuji sighed, glad this was not him, but disappointed he would not perish in such a glorious charge.
