He studied the Australian out of the corner of his eyes. What would he want? Would he be willing to avoid further bloodshed, or would he insist on forcing Japan to submit or die? Would he be willing to work with Yamamoto, or would he demand complete submission? He shuddered; few Japanese would go along with that.
Admiral Turtledove – a strange name for a fighting admiral – coughed. A midshipman, awed to be in Yamamoto’s presence, poured him a cup of foul-smelling coffee. Yurina had no qualms about drinking it; she took a gulp before it was cool enough to drink.
“I am not a diplomat,” Turtledove said. “I trust that you will not be offended if I speak bluntly?” Yamamoto shook his head; he appreciated bluntness. “Admiral, you have lost the war. Your mighty fleet has been destroyed. Your air force has been weakened greatly. Your army has lost nine of its best front-line divisions. Your merchant marine, which you need to supply your food, fuel and basic resources, is being exterminated even as we speak.”
Yamamoto recoiled. He’d hoped, deep inside, that the British wouldn’t know the true state of affairs. “The physical survival of Japan as a nation is in doubt,” Turtledove said. “How long will it be before your people are reduced to eating themselves?”
Yamamoto met his eyes. “I understand the situation,” he said. “If it were completely up to me, I would surrender, or at least discuss terms. However…”
Yurina recognised his problem, his difficulty at speaking of something so shameful. “Perhaps we could discuss the terms of surrender first,” she said.
Turtledove smiled. “We have some basic terms,” he said. “However… we have to know what the problem is. Are you speaking on behalf of your government?”
His mocking voice irritated Yamamoto, enough to blast its way through his reluctance to speak. “The Emperor is currently being held prisoner in his own palace,” he said. “We need you to help us speak to him.”
Menzies lifted an eyebrow. “Why should we care about your internal problems?”
Could he really be that stupid? Yamamoto didn’t know. “The Emperor would be willing to discuss peace,” he said. “Unfortunately, his… current set of advisors is feeding him bad advice, such as claiming that we’ve sunk nearly three hundred of your ships.”
“That’s the entire pre-Transition Royal Navy three times over,” Turtledove said. He snorted. “Now we know where all the money went.”
Menzies frowned. “And I assume that you wish us to land troops in Tokyo to rescue him?”
“No,” Yamamoto said. “We can land troops. The problem is that they have more battalions dug in around the palace, while I can only bring two naval infantry battalions to the palace. If you were to attack the palace from the air, and use your precision weapons, we might have a chance.”
“I see,” Turtledove said. “And after that?”
Yamamoto took a deep breath. “I will speak to the Emperor, convince him to stand down the troops, and discuss a peace.”
“We would need your agreement for the peace terms before we even considered such an operation,” Turtledove said. “Perhaps…”
Menzies interrupted him. “Admiral, it might be a trap!”
“Can we take the chance that it isn’t a trap?” Turtledove asked. “We have worked out a set of surrender terms, Admiral; are you ready to hear them?”
Yamamoto took a deep breath again. He felt Yurina’s hand steal into his and squeeze gently. “Yes,” he said. “However, I make no guarantee that they will be accepted.”
Turtledove nodded. “We understand your position,” he said. “First, we want a complete evacuation of all of your conquests. Manchuria will be allowed to determine its own destiny, along with Siam and Indochina; Burma will go to India. Formosa – Taiwan – will go to us, along with Hong Kong. You will have nothing outside the Home Islands.
“Second, you will demilitarise for the next twenty years, during which time we will guarantee your security,” he continued. “You will permanently renounce the use of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and you will be forbidden to research, develop, or stockpile such weapons. During that time, an Allied army will be stationed on your territory, including inspectors to ensure that you keep your word.
“Third, you will democratise. The Emperor may keep his title, but power will be placed into the hands of a civilian, democratically elected, government. The noble families, the army families and the industrial concerns will be broken up; they will no longer be allowed to steer Japan’s destiny.
“Fourthly, your economy will be adapted to service the needs of your people, without conquest. We do not intend to return you to farmland; however, we intend to be certain that you will be unable to threaten the peace of the world for some time to come.
“Fifthly, Japan will assist in the rebuilding of the nations devastated by your war. Fully twenty percent of your GNP for the twenty-year period of occupation will be set aside to aid in the rebuilding.
“Finally, although we understand that the causes of the war were multifaceted, Japan will acknowledge its role in starting the war and carrying out atrocities against helpless civilians. All of the records of the civil service, and the armed forces, are to be made available to a war crimes division, which will have complete powers to investigate and punish crimes. Further, all of your nuclear, chemical and biological research is to be handed over to the commission.”
“You leave us with very little,” Yamamoto said, after a long uncomfortable pause. “Do you not realise that you might be sowing the seeds for the next war?”
“I assure you,” Menzies said, “that there are those in Australia who want to burn down your cities and sow the ruins with salt. Australian opinion will accept nothing less than a humbling peace.” He scowled. “We will not commit mass rape, Admiral, nor will we poison your citizens with diseases, nor will our soldiers hold beheading competitions. We will treat you decently, as long as you surrender.”
“Military resistance is futile, Admiral,” Turtledove said. “You will not get better terms.”
Yamamoto looked up. His eyes were bright with tears. “I was on the deck during the battle when we beat the Russians,” he said. “I witnessed the birth of Japanese power – and now I am to witness its end?”
“For the moment,” Yurina said. “The occupation will not last as long as you suggest, Admiral?”
“Perhaps,” Turtledove said. “Still, there will be retribution for crimes you have committed.”
Yamamoto made his decision. “Can I have a promise that there will be no new terms added on, should I agree now and launch the coup with your assistance?”
Turtledove frowned. “I will enquire of the Prime Minister,” he said, and looked at Menzies. Something passed between the two men. “Prime Minister?”
“I don’t think that the Commonwealth would add extra terms,” Menzies said. “I will place the full backing of my government behind the terms. Now, about launching the coup…?”
Yamamoto outlined the plan. It was simple enough; his forces would travel around the island in the handful of remaining transports and land directly in Tokyo Bay, covered by his single remaining battleship and British air cover. The minefields would be removed by one of his people who had responsibility for the defence of the bay. They would land directly into Tokyo itself, and fight their way to the palace, where they would rescue the Emperor. Once they had saved him, he would surrender Japan.
“And what if he refuses to surrender?” Turtledove asked. “It would be crazy, but he might just decide that he had nothing left to lose anyway.”
“I will ensure that he doesn’t,” Yamamoto said, and felt something inside him die. “Do you agree to support me?”