Chapter 17: Tokyo Drift
Risa greeted the morning with a fair amount of satisfaction. She had escaped the cold, dark confines of her apartment and the empty refrigerator inside and Yoji had promised that the heat, light, and water would be back on by this evening. She had scored a very satisfying meal. And didn't everything seem better on a full stomach? And this morning's prospects looked bright as well. Breakfast was an excellent notion and with Yoji's stipend payments in hand, it was a good idea to go shopping. Luckily, Itami had suggested it would be a good idea to take their off-world visitors to see the stores and markets in Tokyo. Risa had some suggestions on exactly where to go, of course.
The other satisfactory result of last night was the wealth of stories and gossip she had heard. It was perfect fodder for inspiration. Before heading off to breakfast, she opened a new document on her laptop and typed: 'Shiroi Saten wo kiru Kishin-tachi', or translated: 'Knights in White Satin'.
At this same early hour. Princess Pina and her knight companions were sitting down to a meeting with Lady Octavia and a few other notable Saderan Ladies, Lady Agrippina among them. Under the mentoring of Lady Octavia, Agrippina's anger had been honed to a sharp edge, the woman being given a focus and clarity she had previously lacked after having been abandoned by her so recent spouse.
The casual observer might mistake the single red rose set on the table to be decorative in nature, perhaps symbolic of Pina's knightly order but it was a sign: This meeting was to be held in strictest confidence, sub rosa, meaning 'beneath the rose'. To ensure that they were secure from eavesdroppers, at least human ones, Octavia had Felicia and one of her battle sisters standing guard, ears alert for the slightest sound of intrusion or disturbance.
"You need not worry, your Highness," Octavia assured her. "Their clan are the most loyal retainers of my House."
"Of course, my Lady," Pina replied calmly. "And I appreciate you and your Ladies meeting with me so early. I do not know how long I will be staying here in Japan but before I return to the Empire I require the benefit of your wise counsel. It is no exaggeration to say the Empire faces the greatest danger in its history. I came here to find an avenue for securing peace before we are completely destroyed." Pina paused. "At the same time, I cannot sanction a peace which results in our annihilation by surrender and quiescence. I ask you to guide me."
Octavia nodded. "Very well, your Highness. Then I will be succinct as I say that your presence is a fortunate circumstance as with all respect, no other member of the Imperial Line enjoys your advantages of clear perspective and apolitical standing." She continued: "Your father will have a hard time ending this war having presided over its inception. The war faction in the Senate is strong and for the Emperor to seek peace without some tangible victory, some material gain for the Empire, he would lose face before the Senate."
"It will be necessary to sway at least some of the Senators of the War faction first," Pina concluded. "Many sons of Senators and prominent nobles may be held here. Their release might persuade their kinsmen to adopt a more favorable attitude."
"Perhaps," Octavia replied. "Though many of them may well be too stung in their pride to appreciate their good fortune. Still, we can hope," she agreed. "On the other hand, I must believe that your brother, Prince Zorzal, will strongly oppose any peace talks. It is known that the Prince has cultivated friends among the merchant guilds and many of the Senate's war faction. As the presumptive heir to the throne, he has been hard at work establishing his own power base and the core of his influence is built upon the continued aggressive expansion of the Empire and the acquisition of 'easy' riches."
"I will need to keep a low profile around him then." Pina agreed.
"And then there is Prince Diablo." Many noted Panache's jaw set hard at the mention of the younger Prince's name. Lady Octavia seemed not to notice as she continued.
"While Prince Diablo is certainly capable of reasoning the war is unwinnable, he is perhaps too clever for his own good. He is born to conspiracy. He publicly supported the expedition while privately making certain Prince Zorzal was denied a role in it. If he tries to manipulate the powers of this world we may find they do not play the game the same way."
Pina sighed. She could not deny Octavia's appraisal of the situation. Her father had taught one of her brothers to seize power and the other to manipulate it. One lacked the subtlety of their father while the other lacked the directness needed to command authority. He had divided them well and neither of them could gain the Imperial throne without his support and blessing. As for Pina, he had mostly left her to her own devices as she was not seen as a serious candidate to ascend to the throne.
Perhaps it was for the best that her lessons had been learned away from the attention of their father whom she loved but could not at this point confide in. But as daunting as her task seemed, what worried Pina the most was just exactly what price Japan and her allies would demand to secure peace. She trusted Itami and Taylor. She believed that General Hazama and Minister Shirayuri and Ambassador Russell were all honorable people but there were men like Hazama's aide who had a predatory look in his eyes. What would they take in exchange for peace?
As if sensing Pina's thoughts, Octavia turned to the other side of the equation. "As to the intentions and goals of the Japanese and Americans and their allies, It is certainly difficult to read the intentions of people whose ways are so different from our own. I will note this is why it was important for me to find an heir from among them. He will better understand many dangers we cannot conceive. It is my sincerest hope that in bringing him into My House, he will be vested in protecting it." She smiled, "however, it is still possible to consider their aims in the broader sense ourselves:
"If their design was simple conquest, which we cannot deny is well within their ability, then they would have no need to conduct any negotiations at all. In the scenario of a direct invasion, delay favors us and not them. It is safe to conclude that conquest is not their intended aim. I must carefully add that they still can do so at any time they choose if negotiations fail to produce acceptable results for them."
Pina looked to Bozes, Panache, and Hamilton. Each of them carefully nodding in consideration of this. The logic was unassailable.
"They could still desire concessions of territory," Hamilton noted.
"Indeed. Though from what I have seen, their agriculture must be vastly superior to ours for them to be able to support cities like this one. They clearly have no need of our croplands. Now, of course, they might desire more room to spread out and expand. But from what you describe happened at Italica, it at least sounds as if they do not currently desire our territory… beyond securing control of the Gate."
"The Gate is the key after all," Pina agreed. "With it in their hands, they control the board. I see no outcome where they do not insist on holding sacred Alnus and the ground immediately surrounding it. Even if they make no other claims, this will be bitter medicine for many but it is inevitable."
"True," Octavia agreed. "And I see no way to make the medicine go down any easier."
Pina pondered this. It would be preferable if this unpalatable matter could be allowed to quietly pass without comment as a fait accompli. But this was an unrealistic hope and everyone knew it. It might be best to state matters openly, better than the opposition bringing it up at the wrong moment. She put this matter aside to ponder later as Hamilton suggested another disturbing possibility.
"A city so large must take a great deal of labor to build. What if they intend to use the Empire as a source of slave labor?"
Pina's heart froze at the thought. Slavery had always been a part of the Empire. It was not something she particularly gave thought. She may have found slave dealers a generally loathsome lot and her older brother's association with them and the rumors of how he treated his slaves were disturbing but while a few eccentric nobles had denounced the practice in their lands, it was still the normal way of things. After all, the Empire frequently went to war to ensure a steady source of slaves. Funny how a shift in one's place in the scheme of things altered one's perspectives. Though the notion seemed incongruent to the behavior of Itami and Taylor and the Allied troops at Italica, her mind still began to imagine the sight of thousands of Imperial citizens in chains.
These thoughts were dismissed by Lady Octavia. "No. That won't happen. In fact, the cultures here view slavery as vile and uncivilized. The mere presence of slavery in the Empire will be offensive to them. More serious is that some of their citizens were sent back to the Empire as slaves in the first hours of our incursion into their territory. They will be absolutely furious where it comes to their own people being enslaved."
"We will have to discreetly inquire as to their whereabouts," Pina replied. "We need to prove at least a good faith effort to return their people."
"That would wise, your Highness," Octavia agreed.
'Yes. Unfortunately, we still don't know what they might want, what we can bargain with," Hamilton commented. "They asked for a reparations payment of more gold than has been mined in the entire history of the Empire and when we told them that, they seemed unconcerned. Almost as if they already have something else in mind.".
"Perhaps today's tour of the city will give us some clues," Pina replied.
A very short time later, with Chief Richardson driving, a bus with heavy tinted windows cleared the main gate. Richardson glanced back at his passengers with a grin as he keyed his radio. "Tourist Wagon to sentinels: We are on the move. On your cue."
A slightly accented voice answered him: "Acknowledged Tourist Wagon. Commencing 'Hospitality', let's get you on the highway."
"Roger that."
As the bus lumbered onto the main road, two sets of vehicles began following it, each in a rolling relay.
Hamilton cringed as their bus hit a pothole.
"There is at least one thing that the Empire can claim, your Highness. Imperial roads are certainly much better maintained," Hamilton noted drily.
"Asphalt," Taylor told them. "It's cheaper than concrete, quick to set but not nearly as durable." He smiled ruefully. "Even our concrete probably isn't as good as yours, since I'm betting you probably still use the old Roman recipe. Our concrete will last about fifty years. There are still sections of Roman roads still usable after two thousand. Still, we do have a few tricks up our sleeves."
"No doubt," Panache replied mildly.
With this event being put on with far less preparation time that anyone would have liked, the operation was, of necessity, rather free-form in nature. Ideally, the Foreign Ministry, in conjunction with Public Security, would have carefully planned out an itinerary. Security forces would have been deployed in advance but in this case, there had been literally no time to plan and whether the Foreign Ministry and the American State Department liked it or not, Lieutenants Itami and Taylor had by far the best rapport and understanding of their off-world guests. It was necessary to rely on these men to follow a set of hastily composed guidelines and to use discretion and provide a heads up to Public Security. Of course, this did mean that there were fewer parties who knew the planned movements of their guests. This was well as there were dangerous leaks of information which had still not been fully tracked.
The party followed a route passing the site of the new Tokyo World Trade Center South Tower, where their visitors could witness modern construction methods at work. Even for Lelei, Rory, and Tuka, who had witnessed at least a sample of modern building techniques in the building of Camp Alnus it was impressive. For Princess Pina and her party, it was nothing short of astonishing.
"Even the greatest towers in Sadera are nothing next to this," Pina breathed, next to her, Bozes nodded in shock.
Were their group smaller, perhaps, Itami might have considered splitting up but under the circumstances, it was best for everyone to stay in one location. Their first stop was the Junkudo Ikebukuro bookstore. It was here that Risa helped Pina and Bozes discover walls filled with Manga. It was as Risa began to discuss the Yaoi titles that were her bread and butter that Pina noted an interesting phenomenon as Tomita, who had originally agreed to assist them in a search for 'art', seemed to look embarrassed and get very quiet as if trying to quietly fade from sight.
Hmmm… I wonder if Itami or Taylor will react the same way? Perhaps I could ask Sergeant Kuribayashi? Or maybe I should simply experiment for myself? Looking around, she spotted her target. "Ah! Itami!"
In the meantime, with assistance from Shino, Lelei quickly found the science section. Books on astronomy, physics, and chemistry were eagerly seized by the young mage. Rory was fascinated by books on the various mythologies of this world, while Tuka found books on zoology, as well as collections of poetry and songs and even cooking. At the same time, Taylor, Panache, and Hamilton were on the floor where books printed in English were. Taylor looking for books on government and history, especially histories covering Rome and on England in the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth centuries. All told, the group purchased some seventy books of various types and not including Pina making a virtual clean sweep of the yaoi manga. Fortunately, the Japanese government was picking up the tab for everything but some personal purchases by Itami, Taylor, Shino, and Tomita. The cashier had an understandably pleased expression as she rang up the group's purchases.
After a tour of the Tsukiji market, a break for lunch was in order. Of course, this was also an opportunity to demonstrate the full scope of Japan's Capital with a visit to Skytree tower, dining with a full panoramic view of the city below stretching to the horizon.
Even Rory was struck by the view before she grinned. "Hardy would never dare to come here, so near the heavens!"
Pina nodded. "This is… They truly are giants," she breathed. "They can raise us up or crush us underfoot." Briefly, she imagined such a tower rising above Sadera. The wealth and prosperity she saw here she wanted for her people but her people could not simply take it. They would have to earn this.
"The Musashi?" Taylor asked, looking around the restaurant and the very expensive looking fittings. "How did you manage to get a group this size into the Musashi with no reservation?"
Itami looked a little embarrassed. "I know someone who has that kind of pull."
"Well, I'm impressed. Glad you're learning to use your powers for good."
Of course, Shino took it upon herself to organize the seating with a little input from Bozes. This left Itami sitting between Rory and Tuka with Lelei directly facing him and Risa and Shino in a good position to watch his discomfort while Pina sat with Bozes on her left and Hamilton across from her and Panache next to Hamilton. Shino smirked as Taylor pulled out Lady Panache's seat before taking his own beside her, an act matched by Tomita as he 'coincidentally' found himself next to Bozes.
If the ramen shop Itami had taken them to the previous day had been a sampling of common but hearty food, the Musashi was an experience in high-end Japanese-French Fusion cuisine, an epicurean experience unmatched even in Emperor Molt's palace.
Light conversation accompanied the food and the stunning view. Afterward came fashion shopping. Unlike the hurried shopping to prepare Tuka for her testimony before the Diet, this was a broader cultural sampling with Risa and Kuribayashi as primary guides for their guests and Itami, Tomita, and Taylor a captive audience. At one point, even Kuribayashi finding herself slightly embarrassed if very smugly pleased as Panache quietly took her aside to ask for help with intimate fashion, the results of their consultation were not readily revealed although some purchases had apparently been made, Panache still being rather puzzled by what she saw but trusting Shino's judgement in the matter.
Next, the group headed for Akihabara. Among the purchases, Lelei and Hamilton each found heavy duty laptops with solar charging cells. Lelei, fascinated with having a world of knowledge literally at her fingertips and Hamilton seeing the potential for organizing and storing data in a small and secure place. It was during this time that Itami was informed that decoy bus had been ambushed near Tokyo Tower.
Pina's face paled at this news, her companions closing around her protectively, Tuka looking to Itami for reassurance while Lelei considered and Rory prepared for a possible fight. Shino instinctively scanning for threats.
"What happened?" Taylor asked.
"Some injuries on our side, Several hostiles killed, five in custody," Itami answered. "Also our trip to Hakone has been canceled due to unacceptable security risks on site," Itami replied.
"Well…" Taylor considered, "I guess it's time to call it a day."
As they drove back to Yokosuka, Pina asked the question that everyone wanted to be answered:
"Why? We come under a flag of peace to make peace! Who would want to attack us?"
"I don't know," Itami admitted.
Taylor considered carefully. "As I see it, there are two groups of people out there who would want something to happen: Most obvious are people who lost loved ones in the attack on Ginza and just want to lash out against somebody for their pain. These people are a very sympathetic cause to get people who ought to know better to talk about things they maybe shouldn't but usually don't have the reach that this sort of thing requires. Someone had access to both information and assets to act on it in a timely fashion."
Pina nodded. She could understand the anger and grief that might drive someone to wish them harm and she could hold no ill will toward them… But this other party…
"Why though? If not revenge, then what?"
"To embarrass the current Japanese and/or American government in a major public fashion. After Tuka, Lelei, and Rory's testimony before the Diet, they've become celebrities in the popular press. And if the current American and Japanese governments failed to protect them? Imagine if your father invited a ruler from another land to be his guest in Sadera and something happened to that person."
"It would publicly humiliate my father."
"And weaken him politically?"
Pina nodded. "Yes."
"There you have it. I don't know what the interrogators and investigators will find but my guess is that all of you were made targets of opportunity in someone else's power play."
"I don't like the sound of that," Pina replied.
"Neither do we, Princess!" Bozes replied, Panache and Hamilton nodding in agreement. "Whoever has made a target and pawn of you have made an enemy this day! The Order has a long memory and we will not forget either a friend or an enemy!"
Panache growled. "Let them pray to whatever gods they hold that we never find them! Our steel will be drawn upon their flesh!"
Rory nodded with a cold smile. "A blood oath is given then."
Itami and Taylor both felt relief these words were not directed at either of them. Soon they returned to Yokosuka. Chief Richardson and his group were waiting for them. The chief waving away the corpsman checking him over.
"Welcome back LT! Have a nice trip, sir?"
Taylor looked at the group of mostly female Marines standing around next to their rather dented bus. "A lot more peaceful than yours, Chief." He pointed at the sizeable dent on the vehicle's starboard side. "What happened?" Taylor asked for everyone in his group to hear.
"Cement truck rammed us, forced us into a concrete barrier. Then they tried storming the bus! Shit! Being tased sucks, LT! Don't misunderstand me, sir. Great to have kevlar armor, but it doesn't cover everything and they tased me right under the armpit! And then all hell breaks loose as this big guy, must have been six eight and built like a brick house, he tried reaching for our resident priestess of death." He nodded at Corporal Nakamura, who smirked with satisfaction, "and she kicked him in the throat! Broke the hyoid, and then the guy behind him got a nine-millimeter lobotomy. They probably thought that securing the bus was going to be the easy part!"
Rory gave a considering look to Nakamura. "Oh?"
"Nakamura! Front and center!" Richardson called out.
Corporal Nakamura, called 'Buns' by her squad mates, stepped forward still wearing Rory's spare outfit. She saluted Lieutenant Taylor and then turned to Rory. To the casual observer, Rory and Nakamura were virtually indistinguishable.
"Sorry for the blood stains on your outfit, your eminence. I'll make sure to clean it before I return it."
Rory smiled. "No need to concern yourself. Emroy is pleased with your work this day." It truly was a shame she could not claim her own apostles yet. Both this girl and Kuribayashi would have been excellent candidates, Rory thought. "You may keep it as a token of Emroy's favor."
Nakamura bowed and thew a wicked grin at Chief Richardson, who had been teasing her lightly before they left.
Great, she's now literally the Herald of Death. Just what this base needs… another Marine with a swelled head. Richardson thought sourly. "Anyway, LT, Public Security took the survivors into custody." He chanced a glance over at Panache before looking back to his lieutenant. "By the way, I checked when we got in. The kid's here. His flight arrived around mid-morning."
"Outstanding! Well, Senior Chief I'm sure mother has someone showing him around. And a fairly good idea who at that. So better get somebody to track him down." He looked over at Nakamura as he caught the wicked gleam in the Chief's eye. "Preferably someone who isn't a dead ringer for the Angel of Death."
"Right sir" Richardson agreed. "Locke!" He called to the tall blonde woman who had been Tuka's decoy. Unlike most of Richardson's group, Locke wasn't a Marine. The yeoman had been chosen simply because there was no one else closer to Tuka's complexion and build. Still, she had comported herself well and the Chief would have no problem filling out the paperwork to make sure that his kids all received proper credit and recognition for their performance.
"Yes, Senior Chief?"
"Go find Miss Lucilla and see if she knows where our newest guest is. Get him over to the common room. We'll be there shortly, so get the lead out!"
"Yes, Senior Chief!" Locke double-timed it into the main building,
Taylor turned to Princess Pina. "I'm told they are just taking care of a last-minute surprise. Everything should be ready now though..."
Risa greeted the morning with a fair amount of satisfaction. She had escaped the cold, dark confines of her apartment and the empty refrigerator inside and Yoji had promised that the heat, light, and water would be back on by this evening. She had scored a very satisfying meal. And didn't everything seem better on a full stomach? And this morning's prospects looked bright as well. Breakfast was an excellent notion and with Yoji's stipend payments in hand, it was a good idea to go shopping. Luckily, Itami had suggested it would be a good idea to take their off-world visitors to see the stores and markets in Tokyo. Risa had some suggestions on exactly where to go, of course.
The other satisfactory result of last night was the wealth of stories and gossip she had heard. It was perfect fodder for inspiration. Before heading off to breakfast, she opened a new document on her laptop and typed: 'Shiroi Saten wo kiru Kishin-tachi', or translated: 'Knights in White Satin'.
At this same early hour. Princess Pina and her knight companions were sitting down to a meeting with Lady Octavia and a few other notable Saderan Ladies, Lady Agrippina among them. Under the mentoring of Lady Octavia, Agrippina's anger had been honed to a sharp edge, the woman being given a focus and clarity she had previously lacked after having been abandoned by her so recent spouse.
The casual observer might mistake the single red rose set on the table to be decorative in nature, perhaps symbolic of Pina's knightly order but it was a sign: This meeting was to be held in strictest confidence, sub rosa, meaning 'beneath the rose'. To ensure that they were secure from eavesdroppers, at least human ones, Octavia had Felicia and one of her battle sisters standing guard, ears alert for the slightest sound of intrusion or disturbance.
"You need not worry, your Highness," Octavia assured her. "Their clan are the most loyal retainers of my House."
"Of course, my Lady," Pina replied calmly. "And I appreciate you and your Ladies meeting with me so early. I do not know how long I will be staying here in Japan but before I return to the Empire I require the benefit of your wise counsel. It is no exaggeration to say the Empire faces the greatest danger in its history. I came here to find an avenue for securing peace before we are completely destroyed." Pina paused. "At the same time, I cannot sanction a peace which results in our annihilation by surrender and quiescence. I ask you to guide me."
Octavia nodded. "Very well, your Highness. Then I will be succinct as I say that your presence is a fortunate circumstance as with all respect, no other member of the Imperial Line enjoys your advantages of clear perspective and apolitical standing." She continued: "Your father will have a hard time ending this war having presided over its inception. The war faction in the Senate is strong and for the Emperor to seek peace without some tangible victory, some material gain for the Empire, he would lose face before the Senate."
"It will be necessary to sway at least some of the Senators of the War faction first," Pina concluded. "Many sons of Senators and prominent nobles may be held here. Their release might persuade their kinsmen to adopt a more favorable attitude."
"Perhaps," Octavia replied. "Though many of them may well be too stung in their pride to appreciate their good fortune. Still, we can hope," she agreed. "On the other hand, I must believe that your brother, Prince Zorzal, will strongly oppose any peace talks. It is known that the Prince has cultivated friends among the merchant guilds and many of the Senate's war faction. As the presumptive heir to the throne, he has been hard at work establishing his own power base and the core of his influence is built upon the continued aggressive expansion of the Empire and the acquisition of 'easy' riches."
"I will need to keep a low profile around him then." Pina agreed.
"And then there is Prince Diablo." Many noted Panache's jaw set hard at the mention of the younger Prince's name. Lady Octavia seemed not to notice as she continued.
"While Prince Diablo is certainly capable of reasoning the war is unwinnable, he is perhaps too clever for his own good. He is born to conspiracy. He publicly supported the expedition while privately making certain Prince Zorzal was denied a role in it. If he tries to manipulate the powers of this world we may find they do not play the game the same way."
Pina sighed. She could not deny Octavia's appraisal of the situation. Her father had taught one of her brothers to seize power and the other to manipulate it. One lacked the subtlety of their father while the other lacked the directness needed to command authority. He had divided them well and neither of them could gain the Imperial throne without his support and blessing. As for Pina, he had mostly left her to her own devices as she was not seen as a serious candidate to ascend to the throne.
Perhaps it was for the best that her lessons had been learned away from the attention of their father whom she loved but could not at this point confide in. But as daunting as her task seemed, what worried Pina the most was just exactly what price Japan and her allies would demand to secure peace. She trusted Itami and Taylor. She believed that General Hazama and Minister Shirayuri and Ambassador Russell were all honorable people but there were men like Hazama's aide who had a predatory look in his eyes. What would they take in exchange for peace?
As if sensing Pina's thoughts, Octavia turned to the other side of the equation. "As to the intentions and goals of the Japanese and Americans and their allies, It is certainly difficult to read the intentions of people whose ways are so different from our own. I will note this is why it was important for me to find an heir from among them. He will better understand many dangers we cannot conceive. It is my sincerest hope that in bringing him into My House, he will be vested in protecting it." She smiled, "however, it is still possible to consider their aims in the broader sense ourselves:
"If their design was simple conquest, which we cannot deny is well within their ability, then they would have no need to conduct any negotiations at all. In the scenario of a direct invasion, delay favors us and not them. It is safe to conclude that conquest is not their intended aim. I must carefully add that they still can do so at any time they choose if negotiations fail to produce acceptable results for them."
Pina looked to Bozes, Panache, and Hamilton. Each of them carefully nodding in consideration of this. The logic was unassailable.
"They could still desire concessions of territory," Hamilton noted.
"Indeed. Though from what I have seen, their agriculture must be vastly superior to ours for them to be able to support cities like this one. They clearly have no need of our croplands. Now, of course, they might desire more room to spread out and expand. But from what you describe happened at Italica, it at least sounds as if they do not currently desire our territory… beyond securing control of the Gate."
"The Gate is the key after all," Pina agreed. "With it in their hands, they control the board. I see no outcome where they do not insist on holding sacred Alnus and the ground immediately surrounding it. Even if they make no other claims, this will be bitter medicine for many but it is inevitable."
"True," Octavia agreed. "And I see no way to make the medicine go down any easier."
Pina pondered this. It would be preferable if this unpalatable matter could be allowed to quietly pass without comment as a fait accompli. But this was an unrealistic hope and everyone knew it. It might be best to state matters openly, better than the opposition bringing it up at the wrong moment. She put this matter aside to ponder later as Hamilton suggested another disturbing possibility.
"A city so large must take a great deal of labor to build. What if they intend to use the Empire as a source of slave labor?"
Pina's heart froze at the thought. Slavery had always been a part of the Empire. It was not something she particularly gave thought. She may have found slave dealers a generally loathsome lot and her older brother's association with them and the rumors of how he treated his slaves were disturbing but while a few eccentric nobles had denounced the practice in their lands, it was still the normal way of things. After all, the Empire frequently went to war to ensure a steady source of slaves. Funny how a shift in one's place in the scheme of things altered one's perspectives. Though the notion seemed incongruent to the behavior of Itami and Taylor and the Allied troops at Italica, her mind still began to imagine the sight of thousands of Imperial citizens in chains.
These thoughts were dismissed by Lady Octavia. "No. That won't happen. In fact, the cultures here view slavery as vile and uncivilized. The mere presence of slavery in the Empire will be offensive to them. More serious is that some of their citizens were sent back to the Empire as slaves in the first hours of our incursion into their territory. They will be absolutely furious where it comes to their own people being enslaved."
"We will have to discreetly inquire as to their whereabouts," Pina replied. "We need to prove at least a good faith effort to return their people."
"That would wise, your Highness," Octavia agreed.
'Yes. Unfortunately, we still don't know what they might want, what we can bargain with," Hamilton commented. "They asked for a reparations payment of more gold than has been mined in the entire history of the Empire and when we told them that, they seemed unconcerned. Almost as if they already have something else in mind.".
"Perhaps today's tour of the city will give us some clues," Pina replied.
A very short time later, with Chief Richardson driving, a bus with heavy tinted windows cleared the main gate. Richardson glanced back at his passengers with a grin as he keyed his radio. "Tourist Wagon to sentinels: We are on the move. On your cue."
A slightly accented voice answered him: "Acknowledged Tourist Wagon. Commencing 'Hospitality', let's get you on the highway."
"Roger that."
As the bus lumbered onto the main road, two sets of vehicles began following it, each in a rolling relay.
Hamilton cringed as their bus hit a pothole.
"There is at least one thing that the Empire can claim, your Highness. Imperial roads are certainly much better maintained," Hamilton noted drily.
"Asphalt," Taylor told them. "It's cheaper than concrete, quick to set but not nearly as durable." He smiled ruefully. "Even our concrete probably isn't as good as yours, since I'm betting you probably still use the old Roman recipe. Our concrete will last about fifty years. There are still sections of Roman roads still usable after two thousand. Still, we do have a few tricks up our sleeves."
"No doubt," Panache replied mildly.
With this event being put on with far less preparation time that anyone would have liked, the operation was, of necessity, rather free-form in nature. Ideally, the Foreign Ministry, in conjunction with Public Security, would have carefully planned out an itinerary. Security forces would have been deployed in advance but in this case, there had been literally no time to plan and whether the Foreign Ministry and the American State Department liked it or not, Lieutenants Itami and Taylor had by far the best rapport and understanding of their off-world guests. It was necessary to rely on these men to follow a set of hastily composed guidelines and to use discretion and provide a heads up to Public Security. Of course, this did mean that there were fewer parties who knew the planned movements of their guests. This was well as there were dangerous leaks of information which had still not been fully tracked.
The party followed a route passing the site of the new Tokyo World Trade Center South Tower, where their visitors could witness modern construction methods at work. Even for Lelei, Rory, and Tuka, who had witnessed at least a sample of modern building techniques in the building of Camp Alnus it was impressive. For Princess Pina and her party, it was nothing short of astonishing.
"Even the greatest towers in Sadera are nothing next to this," Pina breathed, next to her, Bozes nodded in shock.
Were their group smaller, perhaps, Itami might have considered splitting up but under the circumstances, it was best for everyone to stay in one location. Their first stop was the Junkudo Ikebukuro bookstore. It was here that Risa helped Pina and Bozes discover walls filled with Manga. It was as Risa began to discuss the Yaoi titles that were her bread and butter that Pina noted an interesting phenomenon as Tomita, who had originally agreed to assist them in a search for 'art', seemed to look embarrassed and get very quiet as if trying to quietly fade from sight.
Hmmm… I wonder if Itami or Taylor will react the same way? Perhaps I could ask Sergeant Kuribayashi? Or maybe I should simply experiment for myself? Looking around, she spotted her target. "Ah! Itami!"
In the meantime, with assistance from Shino, Lelei quickly found the science section. Books on astronomy, physics, and chemistry were eagerly seized by the young mage. Rory was fascinated by books on the various mythologies of this world, while Tuka found books on zoology, as well as collections of poetry and songs and even cooking. At the same time, Taylor, Panache, and Hamilton were on the floor where books printed in English were. Taylor looking for books on government and history, especially histories covering Rome and on England in the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth centuries. All told, the group purchased some seventy books of various types and not including Pina making a virtual clean sweep of the yaoi manga. Fortunately, the Japanese government was picking up the tab for everything but some personal purchases by Itami, Taylor, Shino, and Tomita. The cashier had an understandably pleased expression as she rang up the group's purchases.
After a tour of the Tsukiji market, a break for lunch was in order. Of course, this was also an opportunity to demonstrate the full scope of Japan's Capital with a visit to Skytree tower, dining with a full panoramic view of the city below stretching to the horizon.
Even Rory was struck by the view before she grinned. "Hardy would never dare to come here, so near the heavens!"
Pina nodded. "This is… They truly are giants," she breathed. "They can raise us up or crush us underfoot." Briefly, she imagined such a tower rising above Sadera. The wealth and prosperity she saw here she wanted for her people but her people could not simply take it. They would have to earn this.
"The Musashi?" Taylor asked, looking around the restaurant and the very expensive looking fittings. "How did you manage to get a group this size into the Musashi with no reservation?"
Itami looked a little embarrassed. "I know someone who has that kind of pull."
"Well, I'm impressed. Glad you're learning to use your powers for good."
Of course, Shino took it upon herself to organize the seating with a little input from Bozes. This left Itami sitting between Rory and Tuka with Lelei directly facing him and Risa and Shino in a good position to watch his discomfort while Pina sat with Bozes on her left and Hamilton across from her and Panache next to Hamilton. Shino smirked as Taylor pulled out Lady Panache's seat before taking his own beside her, an act matched by Tomita as he 'coincidentally' found himself next to Bozes.
If the ramen shop Itami had taken them to the previous day had been a sampling of common but hearty food, the Musashi was an experience in high-end Japanese-French Fusion cuisine, an epicurean experience unmatched even in Emperor Molt's palace.
Light conversation accompanied the food and the stunning view. Afterward came fashion shopping. Unlike the hurried shopping to prepare Tuka for her testimony before the Diet, this was a broader cultural sampling with Risa and Kuribayashi as primary guides for their guests and Itami, Tomita, and Taylor a captive audience. At one point, even Kuribayashi finding herself slightly embarrassed if very smugly pleased as Panache quietly took her aside to ask for help with intimate fashion, the results of their consultation were not readily revealed although some purchases had apparently been made, Panache still being rather puzzled by what she saw but trusting Shino's judgement in the matter.
Next, the group headed for Akihabara. Among the purchases, Lelei and Hamilton each found heavy duty laptops with solar charging cells. Lelei, fascinated with having a world of knowledge literally at her fingertips and Hamilton seeing the potential for organizing and storing data in a small and secure place. It was during this time that Itami was informed that decoy bus had been ambushed near Tokyo Tower.
Pina's face paled at this news, her companions closing around her protectively, Tuka looking to Itami for reassurance while Lelei considered and Rory prepared for a possible fight. Shino instinctively scanning for threats.
"What happened?" Taylor asked.
"Some injuries on our side, Several hostiles killed, five in custody," Itami answered. "Also our trip to Hakone has been canceled due to unacceptable security risks on site," Itami replied.
"Well…" Taylor considered, "I guess it's time to call it a day."
As they drove back to Yokosuka, Pina asked the question that everyone wanted to be answered:
"Why? We come under a flag of peace to make peace! Who would want to attack us?"
"I don't know," Itami admitted.
Taylor considered carefully. "As I see it, there are two groups of people out there who would want something to happen: Most obvious are people who lost loved ones in the attack on Ginza and just want to lash out against somebody for their pain. These people are a very sympathetic cause to get people who ought to know better to talk about things they maybe shouldn't but usually don't have the reach that this sort of thing requires. Someone had access to both information and assets to act on it in a timely fashion."
Pina nodded. She could understand the anger and grief that might drive someone to wish them harm and she could hold no ill will toward them… But this other party…
"Why though? If not revenge, then what?"
"To embarrass the current Japanese and/or American government in a major public fashion. After Tuka, Lelei, and Rory's testimony before the Diet, they've become celebrities in the popular press. And if the current American and Japanese governments failed to protect them? Imagine if your father invited a ruler from another land to be his guest in Sadera and something happened to that person."
"It would publicly humiliate my father."
"And weaken him politically?"
Pina nodded. "Yes."
"There you have it. I don't know what the interrogators and investigators will find but my guess is that all of you were made targets of opportunity in someone else's power play."
"I don't like the sound of that," Pina replied.
"Neither do we, Princess!" Bozes replied, Panache and Hamilton nodding in agreement. "Whoever has made a target and pawn of you have made an enemy this day! The Order has a long memory and we will not forget either a friend or an enemy!"
Panache growled. "Let them pray to whatever gods they hold that we never find them! Our steel will be drawn upon their flesh!"
Rory nodded with a cold smile. "A blood oath is given then."
Itami and Taylor both felt relief these words were not directed at either of them. Soon they returned to Yokosuka. Chief Richardson and his group were waiting for them. The chief waving away the corpsman checking him over.
"Welcome back LT! Have a nice trip, sir?"
Taylor looked at the group of mostly female Marines standing around next to their rather dented bus. "A lot more peaceful than yours, Chief." He pointed at the sizeable dent on the vehicle's starboard side. "What happened?" Taylor asked for everyone in his group to hear.
"Cement truck rammed us, forced us into a concrete barrier. Then they tried storming the bus! Shit! Being tased sucks, LT! Don't misunderstand me, sir. Great to have kevlar armor, but it doesn't cover everything and they tased me right under the armpit! And then all hell breaks loose as this big guy, must have been six eight and built like a brick house, he tried reaching for our resident priestess of death." He nodded at Corporal Nakamura, who smirked with satisfaction, "and she kicked him in the throat! Broke the hyoid, and then the guy behind him got a nine-millimeter lobotomy. They probably thought that securing the bus was going to be the easy part!"
Rory gave a considering look to Nakamura. "Oh?"
"Nakamura! Front and center!" Richardson called out.
Corporal Nakamura, called 'Buns' by her squad mates, stepped forward still wearing Rory's spare outfit. She saluted Lieutenant Taylor and then turned to Rory. To the casual observer, Rory and Nakamura were virtually indistinguishable.
"Sorry for the blood stains on your outfit, your eminence. I'll make sure to clean it before I return it."
Rory smiled. "No need to concern yourself. Emroy is pleased with your work this day." It truly was a shame she could not claim her own apostles yet. Both this girl and Kuribayashi would have been excellent candidates, Rory thought. "You may keep it as a token of Emroy's favor."
Nakamura bowed and thew a wicked grin at Chief Richardson, who had been teasing her lightly before they left.
Great, she's now literally the Herald of Death. Just what this base needs… another Marine with a swelled head. Richardson thought sourly. "Anyway, LT, Public Security took the survivors into custody." He chanced a glance over at Panache before looking back to his lieutenant. "By the way, I checked when we got in. The kid's here. His flight arrived around mid-morning."
"Outstanding! Well, Senior Chief I'm sure mother has someone showing him around. And a fairly good idea who at that. So better get somebody to track him down." He looked over at Nakamura as he caught the wicked gleam in the Chief's eye. "Preferably someone who isn't a dead ringer for the Angel of Death."
"Right sir" Richardson agreed. "Locke!" He called to the tall blonde woman who had been Tuka's decoy. Unlike most of Richardson's group, Locke wasn't a Marine. The yeoman had been chosen simply because there was no one else closer to Tuka's complexion and build. Still, she had comported herself well and the Chief would have no problem filling out the paperwork to make sure that his kids all received proper credit and recognition for their performance.
"Yes, Senior Chief?"
"Go find Miss Lucilla and see if she knows where our newest guest is. Get him over to the common room. We'll be there shortly, so get the lead out!"
"Yes, Senior Chief!" Locke double-timed it into the main building,
Taylor turned to Princess Pina. "I'm told they are just taking care of a last-minute surprise. Everything should be ready now though..."