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PLOT In 2021, a US-led . Accidentally, the time travelers collide with the US force that would have won the battle. The 21st century personnel are rendered unconscious and control reverts to AI s, a Japanese ship in the task force is spotted and the contemporary US Fleet opens fire. By the time both sides realise their mistake, most of the 1942 US fleet has been destroyed. At the same time, the northern Japanese fleet, en route to attack the Aleutian Islands , stumbles across an Indonesian Frigate ( ''Sutanto'' ) and divine both what has happened near Midway and what the future holds for Japan. Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto is swiftly informed and orders the Japanese Fleet to sail home immediately. The Allies head for Pearl Harbor, where tensions between the WASP male sailors of 1942 and the mixed-gender/ethnic/sexual personnel of 2021 result in riots, brawls and a murder. However, Allied leaders are already beginning to take note of future mistakes, advances and other windfalls of the Transition. The technology alone is astonishing enough, but the historical ramifications are even more momentous. The Axis powers are not idle either. With the aid of both contemporary Axis officers and Indonesian sailors Yamamoto prepares a new plan designed to reverse the outcome of the war and stave off America’s rise to power. The ''Sutanto'' is stripped down while certain crew members make their peace with Allah and prepare for their final mission. Hitler is soon appraised of the Transition and dispatches his own envoys to Japan. The Allies soon discover another Indonesian frigate half-buried inside a mountain in New Guinea —and Japanese soldiers busy stripping her down. An air strike obliterates the vessel, but now both sides are aware of the other’s gains. To gain some goodwill amongst their new compatriots, the Multinational Force decides to liberate the prison camps at Singapore and the Philippines . The operation results in thousands of Allied POW s and civilians rescued and immense devastation being inflicted upon local Axis forces; this victory is diminished when the task force encounters the ''Sutanto'', packed with explosives and crewed by jihadi fanatics. Though destroyed before ramming the Multinational Force’s flagship, some ships are sunk or damaged by the shockwave. More disturbing news follows when an Australia n Submarine manages to sneak into the Imperial Japanese Navy base at Hashirajima . Two Japanese carriers and some other vessels are destroyed, but the bulk of the Imperial Japanese Navy has already left port. Yamamoto outlines his plan to the Japanese war cabinet. Japanese troops will be withdrawn from China and used to invade New Guinea and Australia. Hawaii will also be dealt with. Meanwhile, Hitler sends Joachim Von Ribbentrop to Moscow to deliver certain proposals to Stalin ... HISTORICAL CHARACTERS FEATURED British Commonwealth
USA
Germany
Japan
SHIPS OF THE MNF
(For the 1942 ships, see Midway Order Of Battle .) CRITICAL RESPONSE ''Weapons of Choice'' has been both hailed and critized by members of the Alternate History community. Some believe it to over-emphasize the racism and sexism of the 1942 Allies, to the point of their being barely morally superior to the Axis. The 'flawless' nature of the 2021 personnel is also viewed as being heavily tainted by liberal bias. Others argue that the novel is grounded in well-known fact and that the 2021 military is a credible force, given the 20 year War on Terror referred to throughout the book. These concerns were addressed to some extent by Birmingham in his next book, '' Designated Targets ''. Del Rey Trade Paperback, 448 pages June 2004 ISBN 0-345-45712-9 excerpt WALK-ON ROLES OF REAL PEOPLE
INTERESTING QUOTES are ''infinite variations'' are possible . ''A universe where there was no War of Independence because British colonial policy was more enlightened. An American Civil War after which Lincoln wasn't assassinated. A Second World War in which Hitler was. Or where The Whole Planet Was Invaded By, I Don't Know, Space Lizards Or Something .'' (pg 195) (Captain Halabi speaking to Admiral Spruance about alternate universes) This refers to several alternate history tropes, giving particular attention to Harry Turtledove's works. |
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