Jack of Harts

One of the more interesting events to happen in Hawaii during the Second Great Depression was the arrival of the last free fleet to escape Fallen Asia. The new Empress of Japan had been evacuated during the Fall of Japan and her ragtag fleet, composed of ships from most of the Asian nations now under Chinese control, stopped off in Hawaii on their way to the Los Angeles. They performed repairs and refueling, and many came ashore to visit the island paradise. The Hawaiians were ready and willing to give the survivors a few days to relax, and both Governor Mahana and Admiral Nakamura presented themselves when the Empress stepped off her transport to “get leid in Hawaii” as the old saying goes. They walked the beaches with her and her retinue, and spoke for many hours as the refugee fleet streamed into the harbor. What exactly they said has never been made public, even after all these years, but I have seen the transcripts. The public synopsis is accurate. The Empress truly did tell them that the time for her people to stand alone was gone. That they all had to stand together in the face of Chinese expansionism, and that anyone who attempted to stand on their own would fall in time. And yes. Governor Mahana and Admiral Nakamura were in full agreement with the Empress.