Untimely losses, p.1
Untimely Losses, page 1
part #3 of Yesterday's War Series
Untimely Losses
Book #3 of the Yesterday’s War series
By Gerald L. Hall
Dedicated to my wife who is known to all as ‘Rev Bev’. She’s the good Shepherd that this old ‘sheepdog’ has been working together in love with for over twenty-four years. She has been and continues to be my ‘walking, talking miracle’.
Copyright Pending 2018, Gerald Hall
Image credits: Cover Art by Nijhia Serrano
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission by the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.
Prologue:
The war in Europe is over. But instead of the Allies winning a clear victory over Nazi Germany, a second armistice treaty was signed between England and a Germany that had removed the Nazi party from power. Adolf Hitler was dead along with his dreams of exterminating the Jewish people. The Soviet Union had been defeated by the Germans though and was now led by a former political prisoner of the late Josef Stalin.
All of the main combatants in Europe are struggling to rebuild their nations after the war’s devastation. The cost of the war is hindering their efforts though.
The war in the Pacific continues. The Japanese still hold much of what they have initially captured. But China, Australia and the other Allies in the East are pushing back. America is helping more now to try to prevent the attacks hitting her West Coast. But back home, America is strongly divided. While many Americans impatiently want the push to end the war, there is a strong isolationist minority who wishes only for America to return to a fortress mentality and to avoid further foreign entanglements.
Harold Cavill has continued to try to influence the course of history to avoid the causes of humanity’s final apocalyptic war from his previous timeline. But, as with all of man’s plans, there are always complications.
Chapter One:
Australian Military Headquarters
Canberra, Australia
April 9, 1945
After learning of Dorothy’s misuse of the computer database and her premature release of information on transistor technology, Harold spent several sleepless nights, praying for guidance. He was terrified about what completely unexpected changes to the timeline would occur after Dorothy’s actions.
Then Harold thought of something that had frequently been used by governments to restrict technology from being shared. He contacted Colonel Burke immediately and had him arrange for a meeting with the head of military technology research and development in Canberra. The next day, Harold went to visit the officer in charge there.
Colonel Willard Hunt looked like he would be just as comfortable wearing a lab coat as he did wearing a uniform as he stood there examining a piece of new equipment. This was actually a very familiar sight for Harold since he had often met such officers in the years prior to the Final War during the course of his defense-related business ventures.
“Good morning, Mister Cavill. I’m rather surprised that it took you this long to finally come visit us here. I had always thought that we would eventually work together on some new technological wonder that would help our troops. You have done so much on your own, of course.”
“It’s all really already out there, Colonel. We just have to combine the available technologies to create something useful for our customers, whether they are our men in uniform or our civilians back home.”
“So, how can we help you here, Mister Cavill?”
“Sir, there has been a security incident within my organization that I am hoping that the government can help contain. We have a new prototype technology that was recently developed by one of my laboratories that could revolutionize many electronic devices used by our military. It would allow for much smaller and more powerful radios and related devices to be constructed.
Unfortunately, this technology was disseminated to an outside commercial firm without my permission. I would like for the government is classify this technology under the War Secrets Act and restrict it for military use to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. After the current hostilities have concluded and my scientists assure me that no one else will be able to use this technology against us, I will then request that it be released from the necessary restrictions and made available for commercial use.”
“So you want the government to prevent this outside firm from being able to sell it or do anything else with your purloined electronic technology?”
“Exactly, Sir. We would also want all copies, documentation or examples of the technology to be immediately returned to my control for safekeeping. Of course, my people will continue to develop the technology to give our troops a decisive advantage against the Japanese. I have already taken measures to ensure that this sort of incident will not happen again, of course.”
“Mister Cavill, I’m sure that we can arrange for your stolen information to be sequestered as you have requested. You have done so much to help our country defend itself so far. It would be a small price to assist you in return in this matter.”
When Harold returned home by plane the next day, a dour-faced Dorothy met him at the front door.
“Sweetheart, I just tried to get into the secret room to do some research but something has happened to the lock. I couldn’t get in.”
“I know. I changed the locking mechanism a couple of days ago.” Harold somberly replied.
“Why would you do that?”
“Because I can no longer trust you with access to the information in that room. In fact, I didn’t just change the lock on the door. I have also set up the equipment so that if anyone tries to force their way into the room, the computer and all of the papers would be set on fire and destroyed forever.”
“Harold, it would be such a terrible crime to do such a thing. All that knowledge destroyed? I can’t believe that you would even consider that.”
“All that knowledge in the wrong hands or exposed at the wrong time would be an even worse crime because of all of the death, destruction and misery that it would cause. No, you have no idea of the danger that you have created by ignoring my admonitions about releasing any of this technology prematurely, Dorothy.”
“What about all of the money that we were given for such a tiny piece of the future, Sweetheart?”
“I will return every penny of that money back to the person that you sold that technology to. The Australian government will ensure that he does not use the knowledge in any way for the foreseeable future also. The ‘tiny piece of the future’ has the potential of changing far too much, far too quickly. We cannot take that risk.”
“But we are fighting a war now, Harold.”
“I know. But the changes in history that I am already responsible for terrify me enough as it is. To have this extraordinarily transformative technology available at this time would change everything beyond any realm of my ability to responsibly control events.”
“I’m sorry, Sweetheart. I just wanted to help our people win this terrible war against the Nazis, Fascists and the Japanese imperialists.”
“That is what the Americans said to themselves in my timeline as they worked to build the atomic bomb. But that technology got out into the hands of many people who had no benevolent feelings at all towards the rest of the world. That ended humanity’s future nearly a hundred years from now. We have to change this somehow.” Harold tried to explain, knowing how hurt Dorothy felt at this moment.
“What can I do to change your mind, Harold?” Dorothy begged, tears running from her eyes.
“Dorothy, I don’t see how you can change my decision at this point, I’m afraid. You’ve gone too far. I still love you, but this is far too important for me to do nothing about. You still have a lot of other important things that you are involved in. Please focus on them instead.” Harold said before turning and walking away.
Dorothy sat down in a nearby chair, shocked into silence by the unexpected turn of events. Couldn’t Harold see that she only wanted what was best for her family and her country? All she saw was that grim, determined look on his face that told her that he was not only angry, but also that he was not going to change his mind anytime soon.
Sitting in that secret room had become addictive to Dorothy. She had been spending hours at a time reading about future historical events in addition to the technological wonders to come. It had gotten to the point that Dorothy was perhaps even neglecting her family and her work training new pilots in order to spend more time in the secret room.
Dorothy had to find some way to redeem herself in Harold’s eyes. But she knew that trust was one of the most difficult things to rebuild. But she wasn’t going to do that by sulking. Dorothy had spent enough time with Harold to know that it would not change his mind. While Dorothy loved spending time with the children, she would have to focus on doing the thing that she knew and loved best.
First, Dorothy would have to cry. Then she would go out to fly. Flying would, at least, take her mind off of her sadness for now.
Chapter Two:
White House Oval Office
Washington, DC
September 4, 1945
President Dewey and his Secretary of War William Marshall met for a private discussion about the future of the US military. The mood in the room was somewhat jubilant in spite of the situation in the Pacific.
“I am certainly relieved to not have to commit more American troops to fight against the Germans, Sir. That was something that Churchill had been pushing us to do for nearly six years.” Secretary Marshall noted.
“I suppose it was the threat that we would intervene much more directly that finally got the Germans to the negotiating table though. The two front war that they had been waging had to have drained them dry, both financially and in terms of manpower. Plus, with Hitler out of the picture, it had to be very difficult to motivate the German people to continue the war after the defeat of the Soviet Union. After all, Hitler used the threat of the Bolsheviks very effectively in his speeches.”
“From what we have learned from our overseas intelligence sources, apparently the German Nazi party attempted to stage a coup against Hitler. They got their target alright. But the Nazi plot was uncovered by the German generals. The plotters were quickly arrested, tried and convicted by the German courts.
At least, that is what the Germans are saying to the rest of the world. It seems a little odd that the Nazis would try to assassinate their own leader, but we have little evidence to the contrary. Most of the people involved in war crimes have already been executed by the new German government.”
“Well, quickly putting their own people on trial and executing them does prevent a lot of dirty laundry from being aired, doesn’t it? That was indeed very shrewd on the part of the people running Germany now, I’m sure.”
“So, what are we going to do about the American Tigers Division and General Patton, Mister President? They are no longer needed in Europe with the armistice and the new governments in both Germany and Italy.” Marshall asked.
“We need to bring them home as quickly as possible. Then we will either demobilize the unit or prepare it for service in the Pacific as a regular Army unit, of course.”
“You know that General Patton has expressed an interest in becoming the Commandant of West Point. I suppose that he wants to infuse America’s future officers with his ideas on combat and leadership. But I am already receiving a lot of pressure from the rest of the Army’s senior leadership, especially the traditionalists. They really don’t like Patton personally or much of what he espouses. So what they want very much is for George S. Patton to simply disappear from the scene.”
“Will General Patton be willing to quietly retire to prevent any additional problems?” President Dewey asked.
“I think that he would rather resign his commission rather than retire under pressure, Sir. If Patton retires, the Army can order him to keep his mouth shut. But if he resigns, he will probably have an even bigger forum to speak from, especially since he now is the most combat experienced senior combat-arms officer in the entire US Army at this point.
But Patton wants most of all to get back into the fight. He believes that it is his destiny to go to war and lead troops into battle.”
“Then perhaps we need to find another war for General Patton to be a part of, gentlemen.”
“Well. Mister President. Since we are not about to invade Japan, that only really leaves one option. We send General Patton to China to act as a military advisor to the Chinese forces fighting Japan. I don’t think that there will be nearly as many reporters out there to hear anything ‘awkward’ that Patton to say.” Secretary Marshall said with a sarcastic chuckle.
While General Patton’s success in Italy and North Africa with the American Eagles division had been extraordinary, it was not without some problems. His relationship with his British allies was tempestuous at best. Patton often competed with them for resources and for the opportunity to strike decisive blows against Italian and German forces.
General Patton’s use of colorful language and verbal swipes against both friend and foe alike drew a lot of attention from the press. Reporters were always ready to seize upon any controversial quotes from Patton to highlight their bylines. Unfortunately, that not only caused problems at home for Patton’s supporters, it also gave fresh ammunition for his rivals within the US Army to use against him.
“Are you planning on sending any troops with General Patton out there, Bill?” The President asked.
“No, Sir. In fact, the American Tigers division is to be disbanded upon its return. We wish to spread the combat experience of the Division throughout the rest of the US Army by sending the members of the Tigers that wish to remain in uniform into regular Army units. Hopefully, that will also dilute General Patton’s less laudable attributes among his soldiers at the same time.
We would send the general with a very small staff and security element, of course. But this force will certainly not be large enough that Patton will be tempted to use it for any ‘adventures’ of his own.”
“But will he accept such an assignment?”
“If the alternative is sitting behind a desk for the rest of his military career, yes. General Patton will likely accept going to China to help the Chinese fight the Japs. Such a move would also boost the impression to the public and our allies that you are continuing to take the war in the Pacific seriously as well.”
“One thing, Bill. I would strongly recommend that you hold off on disbanding his Tigers until Patton is in China and thoroughly tied up with his new assignment. Otherwise, he sounds like the sort of person who would turn down the assignment, resign his position and then publically tell us all where to get off.”
“Then I better order Patton onto a plane back here to the States as quickly as possible. I will then let him have his ticker tape parade and immediately shove him onto another plane heading west. The sooner that we get that man into China, the more comfortable the rest of the Army will be.”
“Hopefully, General Patton will somehow manage to help shorten this war while he is out there in the Far East. I really want to get America back to a peacetime stance finally.”
Military Seaplane Ramp
Haiphong Harbor, French Indochina
October 21, 1945
General George Patton stepped out of the huge Cavalier flying boat and onto the pier, followed by more than a score of other American soldiers. While the other American soldiers disembarked, General Patton looked around to survey the scene in Haiphong Harbor. The main port in French Indochina was a flurry of activity.
The French battleship Richelieu and the hybrid battleship-carrier Jean Bart had recently replaced the battle cruiser Strasbourg after four long years of operations and the withdrawal of Wehrmacht troops from French soil. The arrival of the two French capital ships was a portent of increased French activity against the Japanese navy now that the European war was over. There were dozens of other warships and transports also at anchor in the harbor, adding to the hectic atmosphere there.
Patton saw dozens of French soldiers also arriving from a naval transport. Had the American general been any closer, he would have seen that the soldiers were wearing Foreign Legion patches.
More than a few of these Legionnaires were speaking German as they were former SS soldiers who had left Germany after the destruction of the National Socialist Party there. Not everyone in Germany was happy with the new political reality there after the demise of the Nazi Party. Many former SS soldiers left the ‘new’ Germany and joined the French Foreign Legion to continue fighting against the Communists, some of whom were fighting the French in a nasty little Marxist insurgency in French Indochina.
After Patton watched the port activities, a handful of Americans in uniform walked up to you. In the lead was a slender American man with black hair, wearing an Army Air Corps uniform, an American Volunteer Group patch and captain’s insignia. The captain then walked up and crisply saluted General Patton.
“Welcome to Haiphong, Sir. I’m Captain John Birch. General Claire Chennault sent me down to intercept you before the rest of the US Army here found you. We are looking forward to having you work with the Chinese Army, Sir.”
“Well, Captain. The Army must have figured that they didn’t need me out in Europe with the Armistice and all. So they shipped me back home, gave me a ticker tape parade then shoved me on a west-bound airplane. The next thing that I knew, I learned that was the new senior American military advisor to the Chinese Army.
