Review - Zipang, Episode 6: ORDER OF ATTACK

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Zipang, Episode 6: ORDER OF ATTACK

Review of Episode 5: Here.



We start the episode with Lt. Satake's VTOL Umidori under attack by two A6M2-N "Rufe" floatplane fighters and his co-pilot already dead. After some handwringing back in Mirai's CIC Kusaka informs them that they can end this without further casualties if the Lt. manages to target the fighters' central floats. Without them they'll lose stability and will have to cease their pursuit. Satake manages to do so and returns home safely.



Lt.Commander Kusaka of the IJN later proceeds to present his plan for them and the Mirai: to stay afloat and undetected they'll have to take on supplies in the former Dutch East Indies. The signs look good: due to the Battle of Midway many of the fleet units in the area had been withdrawn so Japanese naval patrols are limited in number.



After the dead co-pilot is given a burial at sea the Capatin orders Cmdr. Yosuke to accompany Kusaka on his trip to Singapore where he'll try to acquire the necessary civilian vessels to make the supply runs. Strangely enough Yosuke seems genuinely surprised when cthe captain hands him a pistol for self-defence. I mean, really? At least the captain's reasoning is sound: they cannot fully trust Kusaka, and Yosuke needs to be on his guard.



It's also nice to see Kusaka spill the beans in plain terms: he doesn't think the JMSDF crew are soldiers. Preach it, bro!



They make it safely to Malaya and Kusaka and Yosuke are flown ashore via helicopter. The episode ends with Kusaka welcoming the commander to his era.



Quite honestly, not too much happens in the episode. It just seems to go with the flow. I hope there's something more substantial in next episode.