To Save the World
At Okinawa, the invasion fleet for the Dutch East Indies are sailing past the islands where sixteen requisitioned sea ferries carrying Shogunate infantry and armored forces are en route to join the fleet.
"They sure gave us what they promised."
"As they should. After all, only a few of the Kiko Army forces joined the operation. We may have naval and air power but we're hopeless when it comes to driving the invaders away from the isles without the ground forces."
At the command room of the new Kiko Battleship Nagato, General Kotori and her subordinates looked at the sea ferries catching up to the fleet of about 18 ships split into three battle fleets. Two had the new aircraft carriers Shoukaku and Zuikaku as their lead ships while the flagship of the main battle fleet was the Nagato.
"Anything from sea radar?"
"…Nothing, General. It seems like there wasn't any information leakage and there will be no one meeting us for a naval engagement."
"Good. Still, it's not wrong to exercise due caution. Have the Shoukaku and Taihou spread out aerial reconnaissance planes in our front and west. Have them scatter and try to spot any ship in our vicinity."
"Roger!"
As Kotori kept treading on a warpath, back at Japan an emergency meeting was held by the national assembly about the operation.
"This is madness, General Shimura!"
"You may be the commander-in-chief of Kiko's forces, but this is clearly an abuse of authority!"
"We will not accept you vetoing the invasion now! Not now and not ever!"
The assembly hall was filled with scornful shouts and pleads… and yet, Nobisuke's expression never changed as he let the ministers, governors and even his fellow military subordinates to simmer down until they ceased their squabbling.
After a while, the ruckus died down and he spoke out.
"Are you done with your idiocy now?"
"W-Wha-!?"
"I've stated my case and why I have come to this decision… I will veto a land invasion. Although I would allow the fleet to cripple the enemy's naval power by destroying their ships and naval facilities, I will not let them set foot on foreign soil."
"This is madness, General Shimura! How are we supposed to win if you will stop them half-way?!"
This protesting statement was immediately met by a sharp reply from Nobisuke.
"Are you going to subject this nation and its people to another war?!"
"T-That-!"
Nobisuke's retort immediately silenced the entire assembly.
"Are you willing to send our men to fight the entire world?! To lands unknown where they will most likely die because you're all afraid of your own shadows?!"
At that moment, some of the people who was shouting to have the land invasion continued realized what just happened.
"General Himeji used your own fears against you! She told you that we have to strike now or else, we will have to fight the entire world when in truth, us invading their colonies will likely draw that future into a certainty!"
As things stand, Japan has formed diplomatic relations with both Britain and Prussia, and although they are currently bitter enemies, even the Netherlands has recognized that they are a country that is a formidable opponent.
They have friends and an enemy that recognized their strength. While this is true, it is also a fact that if they decided to do so, no single country at present can match their military might and capability.
However, performing a land invasion in the Dutch east indies is not just a display of power, it is a reckless display of too much power. Not only would it further galvanize the European desire to be rid of Japanese meddling of their colonial holdings and ambitions, it may even force Britain and Prussian to turn against them as well, as Europe is a more closer and tangible enemy.
"Again, I will not stop the part of the operation regarding the destruction of the European fleet, but we will stop there. No land invasion, no aerial bombardment beyond the coastline and definitely no leaving of guerilla forces and commandos to harass and sabotage the enemy beyond the period of this operation."
"If I may be allowed to speak, General Shimura."
"…You may, Lord governor Hanma."
Amongst the seats of the Prefectural governors, an elderly man stood up and stated his case against Nobisuke.
"While I understand your fear that we will hurt our diplomatic relationship with our new European acquaintances, this is a case where our own situation is far more important than what we can gain from tolerating their presence near us."
The old man's words gained the applause of those around him, some of them even giving out supporting exclamations.
"That's right!"
"Lord Hanma is right!"
However, it was his next words that bothered those who are siding with cutting the operation on the terms stated by Nobisuke, and gained more applause from those who are supporting Hanma's side.
"We must drive off those foreign invaders! How dare they set foot at the land promised to us by our might and divine right!"
"That's right!"
"Drive them off from our land!"
"Asia is ours to claim!"
Thankfully, before the entire place erupted with support for their cause, the arrival of a certain individual "cut the snake by its head", which is to say, it was stopped before it became a bigger problem.
"You damned loons!!!"
"Gih-!"
"Who told you to run your mouth like that?! Do you think I would tolerate that!?"
It was no other than the Shogun… Amanogawa Sora.
"T-The Shogun!"
"Y-Your majesty… We are-"
"Make way, you dolts!"
"Argh! What the- Kih!"
And the surprises didn't end there, for behind Sora who was walking to the raised stage was another person who is seen by all as the supreme master of the realm… The Emperor.
"I expected you to arrive… but you never told me that you'd bring His Imperial Majesty here."
"Well, you know… He got bored in the palace, this and that, insisted to come here and now we're here."
"I see."
After both the Shogun and the Emperor took their respective seats, the entire assembly hall was silenced in the presence of not one but two of the most powerful men in the realm.
"Even from outside, I can hear the idiotic ideas that you lot have been pressuring your fellow assembly members to take… and if I must say anything, it is that you clearly have not understood one thing that we have been working on for so long."
As soon as he said that, Sora hit his walking cane on the floor and as if waiting exactly for that signal, every shogunate soldier in the room took out their guns and pointed it at every single person in the room save for him, Nobisuke and the emperor.
"W-Wha-!?"
"What's the meaning of this, Shogun!?"
"This is what exactly you are asking for by pushing to have us invade a foreign land and claiming that our surrounding lands are ours to conquer!"
Just like his usual methods, Sora favored demonstrating his point rather than simply talking about it. With death staring them down through a gun barrel, everyone understood what his point was.
"If you're ready to condemn this country to a future where it either wins everything other than peace for its people or one where we lose everything save for our own dignity and stability… then be my guest, vote to have the land invasion done."
"…"
"However, be prepared for the worst. For even if we have the strongest military might in this world, it is all for nought when we have to use it till the end of time just to secure a sense of peace for our people."
With another tap of his cane on the floor, the soldiers holstered their guns and returned to their places.
"…I believe the Shogun's demonstration has made it clear, yes? There is no point in driving this beyond the bounds of what is currently endangering us. The naval battle and destruction of vital facilities will be permitted, but a land invasion will not be permitted."
At Nobisuke's reiteration of his point, the hall kept its silence until a rarely heard voice spoke out.
"If I will be allowed to give my word… I favor the statement given by General Shimura."
"Y-Your Imperial Majesty…"
"There is no need to claim any more land than what we have been bestowed by our ancestors. We already live in safety and bounty, and everything that we need that we do not possess in our lands, we acquire through trade with friendly foreigners."
The emperor's words forced even the most radical war-hawk in the assembly to give up on the invasion. This is not only because of his influence and authority but because they understood that it was not worth it to continue their insistence against such a sound argument.
"I will leave this to your judgement… and I wish that you would make the right choice."
By the afternoon, the meeting was concluded and the choice of cutting the operation short of a land invasion received a landslide vote. General Himeji Kotori is now bound to cut the operation she is leading short of a land invasion.
However, this vote is for nought… because just like how she planned it, she is no longer in range of radio communications from Okinawa.
"General, we're receiving communications from Okinawa… but it is garbled and filled with interference."
"…Must be nothing. Have it recorded that we're receiving vague and garbled messages from the relay station and let's focus on continuing the mission."
"…Understood."
And so, Kotori continued on her war, not heeding official orders through the alibi of bad communications.
However, it will not be long until this alibi can no longer hold water. For just at that moment, Hiroshi and Chiyo has launched out from the moon and are en route towards earth where they will perform their last objective in the checklist.
"With less mass with us and more velocity because of the gravitational launch assist from the moon, we'll be home by three days."
"I see. That's good news."
While busily fiddling with the consoles around his commander's seat, Hiroshi was performing all kinds of diagnostic and operating procedures while Chiyo was preparing their packaged space meal of sweet curry and rice alongside some ramune.
"Hm? Oh! Look at this, Chi-chan."
"Hrm? What is it?"
On one of the computer monitors, a familiar name of a file from the storage drive given by the nanomachines showed up and began to play on the onboards speakers.
{"♪-Darling, you make me smile-♫- When you tell me you love me every once in a while-♪"}
"Oh! It's the original singer's version too!"
{"♫-Oh darling, you make my heart skip a beat-♪- Every time you tell me that I make you complete-♫"}
Singing along with the song, Chiyo showed a smile that brought sweet memories to Hiroshi's mind. Seeing that, he undid his seatbelt and took her by the hand and the waist gently.
"A-Ah… Hiro-kun…?"
"May I ask for a dance?"
"Dance? Hehehe! You silly one, is this really the right time and place to dance around?"
"Ah… Ehehe. I guess you're right about that."
Hearing her reply, even Hiroshi admitted in his mind that being surrounded by both sensitive and vital equipment is not the right place to goof around, not to mention the fact that although it was designed to be spacious even for one extra person aboard, the crew cabin is still pretty narrow and packed.
"But y'know, I've been itching to have a dance with you for a while. Add to that the fact that we're in space, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"See? It's not that much of a silly idea."
And so, after holding him by the hand and the shoulder, Chiyo and Hiroshi danced in the cabin where both gravity and any other person was not present.
"Wow! For once, you didn't step on my foot."
"I have nowhere else to step on anyway. We're dancing on air right now."
"You're right about that, hehe!"
As if purposely done so, Hiroshi led Chiyo near the window of their cabin and there, twirled her around as she looked up to the distant bright stars before bringing her back to an embrace.
"My, my… That's sweet of you."
"Everything for my lady."
And so, for the next few hours, the two cherished each other's company and warm embrace as the songs that played kept them moving and remembering sweet memories from both their past and present lives.
They only realized how much time has passed when the packaged space food that they were supposed to eat for dinner became their breakfast and for a day in their return trip to Earth, they shared a sleeping back, relishing on each other's warmth and love.
Back in Japan, the fact that the invasion force led by Kotori has not sent back a single reply or report forced the formation of a small air and naval detachment meant to catch up and directly give them the orders.
Inside the command headquarters of Sagiri Harbor, the captains of the ships in the detachment are being briefed by Nobisuke himself.
"Your mission is simple. Catch up with General Himeji's force and transmit to her the changes in Operation Tenka… Your detachment will include the 5th Naval Flotilla alongside Carrier Taihou and Battleship Kongou."
"Sir."
"Yes?"
"I-I don't mean any disrespect to my fellow ship captains, but why do we need Kongou and Taihou in our detachment if we are only to catch up and send the new orders to the invasion fleet?"
Being asked that question by one of the new Destroyer ship captains, Nobisuke saw the veteran sailors around him heave out a sigh of exasperation.
"That's simple… because in the off chance that the invasion force mutinies against us, you need to at least have enough firepower to fight against them."
"E-Excuse me sir… Mutiny? Is there really such a danger?"
"It's just a precaution, greenhorn."
"I-Is that so?"
After the deliberation, the ship captains went to their ships to convey what was agreed on during the briefing. While Nobisuke was poring over the map laid on his table, a man took a bottle from a bucket of ice cubes and poured a glass of wine for himself before bringing it up to his nose to relish its deep aroma.
"So, it's really happening… it has only been a week since Iwasawa-sama and Chiyo-sama left and we're on the brink of another blasted civil war."
"I told you already that this day is coming… I should've really convinced you to not join in this lunacy, Ryuusui."
"It's exactly because I leveraged my command over the submarine force and gave them three of my boats that they let you keep those aces up your sleeve."
"Right… and now, all eyes are on me whether I will threaten Kotori with it or not."
Arriving back in Kiko by secret through submarine, Ryuusui hid the fact that instead of himself, it was a trusted subordinate that was leading the submarine force provided for Operation Tenka, unlike the terms of the agreement she made with Kotori.
And here he is, forming another scheme beneath the noses of his subordinates.
"So, the true reason why you latched the heavy Taihou and Kongou to the destroyer flotilla was to make them slow down enough for our top speed to match their cruising speed… you really are cunning, Nobisuke."
"Just like how Iwasawa-sama did it back then, trick even your own friends and you will surely fool your enemies."
"Heh! Enemies, you say. Is that really how low Kotori-chan turned in your eyes? So much so that you are now referring to her as "enemy"?"
"…That depends on whether or not she will heed my order. I believe she still has some sanity inside that thick skull of hers."
Nobisuke spoke before moving several wooden pieces nearer to a line of similar wooden pieces on the map using a stick.
"And if you're wrong?"
*CLAK-!*
With that abrupt question, Hiroshi pushed the stick forcefully, making the pieces he was moving to collide and topple the other pieces, scattering it on the floor.
"Uhh… Nobisuke…?"
"…If I'm wrong, then with the heaven as my witness and my ancestors behind me. I will perform the duty given to me by my master…"
With the same flame on his eyes that Ryuusui saw back when they invaded Mizuki province, Nobisuke spoke out the following words.
"…even if I must deprive him of one talented yet troublesome retainer."
At the sea near Formosa Island, the fleet anchored itself within visual range of the land and a few moments later, the silhouette of a small ship appeared from the direction of the island. As it came closer, the sailors recognized it to be a long-range patrol vessel of the Kiko coast guard sent here in advance.
"General Himeji, we didn't expect you to be here earlier than expected."
"We had the winds behind our backs, so we got here quicker… well then, what are their terms?"
"The residents of the island insist that we follow the terms set by Iwasawa-sama before. Firstly, they are not to be dragged into this war. Secondly, they will not provide their land or coastal waters to any sides for the purpose of making it a battle area or port to replenish or repair and thirdly, they want assurances that we will honor the "previous agreement"."
"I say "yes" to all terms. I know that official protocol states that we can only move in once they receive our reply but unfortunately, time is not something I can afford to waste, captain."
"…I understand, General. I'll apologize to them in your stead."
"Mm! …Captain, inform all ships that to raise anchor! We will sail through the night so we can make it to Manila by morning!"
"Aye, General!"
"All ships, we are moving in! Prepare for battle as soon as sunrise!"
Kotori's warpath is now blazing towards its opening barrage.
After another day in their return trip, Hiroshi and Chiyo are now preparing for the last item in their mission's itinerary.
"Is it sealed good?"
"…Yeah. Let's do this, Chiyo."
"Mm."
At the storage bay of the spaceship, Hiroshi and Chiyo wore their spacesuits without the extra layer for the lunar landing and with a press of a button, opened the compartment that carried the single heaviest cargo carried by the vehicle, exposing it to outer space.
"The satellite is ready."
"Roger. I'll leave the robot arm to you, Chiyo."
"Got it."
The first to jump out of the vehicle was Hiroshi as he carried six metal boxes the size of Randoseru bags secured together by a latch with him. At the point where his safety line has been pulled taut as much as possible, he called for Chiyo through the radio.
"Am I in the right direction?"
["…Yeah. You can release them there now."]
"Roger."
With that, he undid the securing latch of the metal boxes and loaded them into a tubular pipe. One by one, with 5-minute intervals between them, he shot them out using the pressurized air cannon.
After being fired out, the metal boxes spewed a few millisecond-long spurt of air to correct its orientation, having its camera and communications antenna face the earth before shortly unfurling out a two-meter long and half-meter wide solar panel array on its behind that by itself, orientated towards the sun to capture power.
"Alright, all of the "Familiars" are now in orbit."
["Gotcha. I'll take the satellite out now."]
After replying, Chiyo operated the robotic arm outside the spacecraft and took from inside the compartment a huge metal box the size of a double-door fridge. Except for the latch where the robot arm grabbed it, the entire thing was covered with a layer of pure gold which Hiroshi inspected as soon as he reached it.
"Hmm… looks like nothing is amiss. The temperature regulation mechanism is working good too."
["Hiro-kun, I'll be going out now."]
"Clear copy. Take the tools and the computer panel with you."
At a distance where it can receive data from three or four out of the six smaller satellites that was nicknamed as "Familiars", the geostationary satellite named "Super Mirai" was put into an anchored position right above Japan where it can easily receive and send information. The names, as usual, was from the magical girl anime from the past world.
"Establishing connection with the familiars now."
"Mm… Three out of six has responded. Right about now would be… there!"
With their orbit set so that they can transmit their collected information to Super Mirai, the "Familiar" micro-satellites enter a so-called "dead spot" for a period of time before emerging back at the horizon where they can resume communications with the main satellite.
This was done due to the fact that with the short time that can be given for the space mission, an entire array of independent satellites cannot be created. And so, the idea of a single main satellite anchored to always be above Japan while a small swarm of micro-satellites will perform the surveillance work while orbiting the earth was made.
"Let's activate Super Mirai now."
"Mm. I'll handle the activation sequence then you go and connect the solar panels now."
Chiyo gave Hiroshi the tool pack alongside several folded solar panels and both of them went to work. While Chiyo was fiddling with the computer panel, running diagnostic programs and activating its systems one by one, Hiroshi carefully installed the solar panels of the satellite, connecting its wires and making sure that it would remain working for decades to come.
Half an hour later, both of them finished their work and they tugged on their safety lines to move away from the satellite and admire it as it worked.
"Alright… Hah! That's that."
"Now then, start working please!"
Chiyo pressed a button on the panel and after a few minutes, pulses of laser light from one of the passing micro-satellites hit the receiver dish of Super Mirai and on the panel appeared the following words six times, signifying the successful connection of all six satellites:
{"Hello world 1"}
{"Hello world 2"}
{"Hello world 3"}
{"Hello world 4"}
{"Hello world 5"}
{"Hello world 6"}
"Yes!"
"We did it, Hiro-kun!"
The two embraced each other in utter joy as the last objective they have left was finally achieved.
"Now then, let's inform everyone! Now that both the nanomachines aren't sending corrupted signals and we have a satellite array set up, we can talk to them wherever they are."
"Wait, Hiro-kun! Let's go in first, we're running out of oxygen already."
"Ah, right… Wow, I was so excited that I almost forgot that."
As Chiyo tugged on her safety line and went ahead of him on getting back inside the spacecraft, Hiroshi felt the hairs on his back stand up and a foreboding feeling of dread convinced him to look back to earth.
"…Oh no."
["Hm? What's wrong, Hiro-kun? Why are you still outside?"]
"C-Chiyo, open communications with Naka right now. Stat!"
["Y-Yes!"]
In Hiroshi's visor was reflected a series of flashes that may seem like nothing but unimportant specks of light, but on the surface, was evidence of a terrible attack.
"Everyone… please don't jump to the abyss yet."
On the surface, the 5th Naval Flotilla was moving through the waves, trying to catch up to the fleet carrying out Operation Tenka with the new orders set by the national assembly. While this fleet of ships are steadily sailing, deep in the sea, ten submarines are directly under them, running their engines on top speed as they carry the true orders of Nobisuke.
"Distance to the invasion fleet?"
"Still a long way off, admiral. Garbled signals from them that the surface fleet triangulated say that they just passed through Formosa, but they are likely at the west of the Philippines already."
"Just a few nautical miles to Spanish Manila and Dutch Malaya… I see."
"If they are strictly following Operation Tenka, they'd likely leave Manila alone and hit the Dutch port before landing the Shogunate troops."
"Right, but it is that mad dog Kotori who is leading them. They'd likely send an air raid on Manila or even use it as target for naval bombardment before turning towards Malaysia and Indonesia."
Seeing their situation, Ryuusui turned towards the monitor in front of his seat and studied the last recorded position of the invasion fleet that they got from triangulated signals.
"Damn that wench… She's going for it, isn't she?"
Realizing the places which she can reach with the forces she has under her command, Ryuusui held his head in frustrated contemplation before issuing a new and definitely hare-brained order.
"Break radio silence! Contact the other submarines and order them to surface with us!"
"Aye, sir!"
"Radio officer! Form an encrypted line back to Naka! Use the most urgent line that we have!"
"Roger that, sir!"
With that order, the beginning of another war came closer once again.
In Naka, the report sent by Ryuusui on his suspicion about the true objective of Kotori was not taken lightly by the leaders of the alliance. At a video call with the three other leaders of the alliance, Nobisuke asked them for their support in case all-out war breaks out between Kotori's faction and the rest of Kiko.
"…I understand where Admiral Fumikage is getting, but do we have any concrete proof of this?"
"With all due respect, Lady Kusanagi. We are at a point where a 100% assurance on the information we are receiving can no longer be guaranteed."
"Haaah!? What are you trying to get at? Are you telling me to sign off on something that we don't even have a guarantee about being true?!"
"What I'm saying is that we shouldn't let ourselves be entangled with making sure of everything down to the last speck… or what? Are you saying that we should delay once again and come to a decision when it's too late already?"
"Lady Kusanagi and Daigo, I implore you to be civil as we come to this decision."
After Nobisuke's short reprimand, he turned to the last member of the alliance that is yet to speak his mind.
"Lord Yamaguchi, your words, please."
"Hmm… If I may be allowed to speak my own opinion, I believe it is right that we do this now rather than later."
"And why do you say so, Koshiro-dono?"
"Because if he was here, I know that this is what Iwasawa-dono would be doing as well."
Hearing that, both Kyouko and Shizuka was silenced with the young lord's wise answer and ceased their hostility to listen to what he has to say.
"If I am in charge, I will exhaust every possible way to stop this without the need for force… but given our situation, I agree that this is the only way forward."
"…I agree with Lord Yamaguchi's words. Kise also agrees on this."
"Hmph… I still want to have this done properly but I understand our present situation. Shinka will agree on this as well."
With the unanimous vote reached, Nobisuke bowed towards the other leaders as a show of respect before reaching for the telephone on the desk.
"…Connect me with Admiral Ryuusui's vessel."
He spoke to the radio relay operator who after a few moments, connected him to Ryuusui.
"This is me, Ryuusui…. The Alliance's leaders have reached a decision. As soon as you reach Kotori and she doesn't comply with the orders or shows any sign of resistance, you have full authority to bring her force down."
["And what of the forces sent by the Shogunate?"]
"Director Kawasaki Endou has expressed that the help lent by the Shogunate forces was directly from him and him alone. Shogun Amanogawa has said that if they pose any harm to you, you have the right to fight back but he asks that you do it with maximum tolerance in mind."
["Understood. Expect a report by noontime."]
As soon as the line was cut, one of the participants in the video meeting spoke out.
"Haaah… No wonder my dear sister never stood a chance against all of you."
"Darn it, Shizuka… You didn't have to dig up that thing."
"These are the times when you have to learn from your losses, Marshall Leader. Now then, let's move to the next topic. On the off-chance that a mutiny does come, how prepared in Kiko's Nuclear launch command to-"
Before Shizuka can finish her question, the call was interrupted by the abrupt arrival of a new participant in the video meeting.
"C—y-- -ear u-"
"Who on earth is that?"
"Can you hear—us!?"
"That voice-!!! Chiyo-!?"
A few moments later of sputtering on the monitor, Chiyo's face appeared alongside her voice that although is still garbled with some bad sounding audio, was at least legible.
"Nobi-nii! We finally got through! Hiroshi! Come here, quickly!"
With her exclamation, another person appeared into view and caused the four other people to show both happiness and relief.
"I-Iwasawa-sama!"
"You idiot! You made all of us worry!"
"I'm glad that both of you are alright, Iwasawa-sama and Chiyo-dono!"
"It's excellent that you survived!"
However, instead of immediately replying to them as expected, Hiroshi immediately jumped to work mode and gave Nobisuke a staunch question.
"Nobisuke! What the hell happened while we were gone?!"
"I-Iwasawa-sama! We are just-"
"Just minutes ago, I saw flashes of light all across south-east asia! Have you lost your minds and ordered an invasion!?"
"I-It is---!"
Before his pressuring aura that was just as potent through a screen as it is in real life can crush the life out of Nobisuke, Kyoko stepped in and told him about what happened so far.
Hearing all of it, Hiroshi held his head in pain and muttered one thing only.
"That idiot… I knew she was planning to do this as soon as I told all of you that I'm not giving up on going to space…"
"T-Then how did this slip under the radar? How did we not know that they're stocking up and preparing for war?"
"Because Kotori leads the logistics and transportation wing of the armed force. It's as easy as breathing for her to hide those supply orders under false "emergency stockpile" programs and the preparation of the manpower as "readiness exercises"."
After saying that, Hiroshi seemed to ponder about what to do until an idea came up to his mind and he commanded Nobisuke to do something for him. Hearing what it was, Nobisuke mustered all his courage to stand up against his request.
"I am at a lost for words regarding your utter magnanimity, my lord… But I do not understand why you still insist on giving her another chance."
"…Whether I like it or not, Kotori is my friend before she became my retainer. She swore her loyalty to me as my subordinate and I did the same for her as her master."
"But still, Hiroshi… This is going beyond the supposed limits."
Kyoko's reply made Hiroshi nod along a bit, but after a sigh, he gave out a response that all of them can understand properly.
"I don't want to kill another friend whose goals no longer align with me and thus, we have to become enemies. Let Akari be the first and last time that I have to fight against a sworn friend."
After hearing that, all of them were silenced until he spoke up again moments later.
"I'll give Kotori one last chance to end this properly. After that, I will address her disobedience appropriately and this will end with the least damage as possible… Am I understood?"
With a unanimous "Yes" from all of them, Hiroshi nodded towards Nobisuke who returned the gesture and dialed a number on the telephone.
"…Aircraft Carrier Taihou, this is General Shimura speaking from Naka castle. Bring out your best Makibishi Interceptor planes alongside the new Taka Jet fighters… we will be welcoming back our master from his trip to space."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
In the sea of southeast asia, the true plan of Kotori finally unfolded. Splitting the fleet into three strike forces, the targets were placed for each fleet to attack with absolute impunity before claiming it as Kiko's new land.
For the fleet containing many battlecruisers and a few landing ships, they were assigned with assailing and taking over Spanish Manila of the Philippines.
For the fleet containing aircraft carriers and a lot more landing ships, they were assigned with utterly destroying the Dutch military harbor alongside the coalition of European ships in Jayakarta before heading to Batavia and razing the Dutch company's headquarters in Indonesia.
Lastly, the fleet that is formed by battleships and carriers without any landing army forces was put against Malacca, Malaysia where the company manned a sea fortress that guarded the important sea route leading to India. An area that they have to secure lest it choke out Japan's trade with the rest of the world.
Everything was set and as soon as sunrise hit the bridge of her flagship, the command to begin the strike would be set.
"Ten minutes until sunrise."
"Mm. There's still time for you to pray, boys. Better wish for the heavens to keep us safe and victorious!"
"Hah! Today, we will be legends!"
Just when everyone's spirits are high, the radio operator held his headphones and raised a concern to Kotori.
"General, there is a transmission from the submarine detachment. They say that it's urgent."
"Hah! More urgent that our impending victory?"
"…Y-Yes, they said that it is."
Hearing that, Kotori knew already what was happening but feigned ignorance as she took her headphones, and the call was transferred to her.
"Admiral Fumikage, I believe I already told you earlier that your submarines have to stay back as assurance in case your ballistic missiles are required for deep in-land bombardment."
["Oh? Is that so? I don't recall receiving such an order. I guess we're on the same situation though given that you are clearly aware that we sent you updated orders and you chose to ignore them."]
Hearing him call her bluff as she already knew that he wasn't leading the three submarines at all in the first place, Kotori's lips twitched in annoyance before she recomposed her tone to give him a reply.
"Still, we are already in position to act as the mission objectives have set. Although we did extend the coverage of the mission to also tackle the other European colonial strongholds in these lands, it is still within our objectives, and we will see it through."
["Which is the reason why we have contacted you. You are free to destroy the strongholds but the national assembly, the shogunate and even His Imperial Majesty has already signed off to remove a land invasion from the coverage of Operation Tenka. Hold back the landing forces and you will likely not walk into a military tribunal or a court martial."]
"Likely? Are you saying that I have a chance of getting away with it then?"
["You do… but trust me, it's as slim as my remaining patience with you."]
"Slim? Hahaha…!"
After a few moments of laughter mixed with snide mutterings, Kotori spoke one line coldly.
"I like those odds, then."
["I see… then before you head off, I guess you have the right to hear it given that you are also a direct retainer."]
"Hm?
After some garbled static, the voice she heard almost instinctively made her kneel down and give up any kind of resistance.
["Kotori, give up this stupidity. Follow the new orders and end this as nothing more than a preemptive strike."]
"B-But Iwasawa-sama-! We have to get rid of them now or else we will---"
["This is an order, Kotori. I will not tolerate any disobedience or objections. Stand down or I will make you do so."]
Just as he said those words, alert bells in the ship's bridge sounded and the sonar operator shouted the following words.
"Sonar and Radar lock! Sonar and Radar lock! We are being targeted by a dozen of submarines!"
"Tch! It's Admiral Fumikage! He's locked both missiles and torpedoes to us!"
Hearing all of that, Kotori understood that she cannot stand against this order anymore and replied to her master meekly.
"Himeji Kotori, sworn samurai and retainer of Lord Iwasawa Hiroshi of Kiko… humbly complies to her given command."
["I'm sorry for this, Kotori… We will meet back in Naka castle as soon as this operation is finished, and you have returned to Japan. Expect for heavy punishment."]
"…Yes, my lord."
And so, what could've been the beginning of endless enmity between all of Europe and Japan was minimized and the still unsecured colonies that was attacked during Operation Tenka ended up failing and became the beginning of a revolt by the local population.
Back in Kiko, the arrival of the spacecraft carrying Hiroshi, Chiyo and all the stuff they returned with was met by the Kiko air force that escorted them as soon as they broke through the clouds and ended up landing just off the coast of Naka harbor.
The Soaring Kirin, the new world's first spacecraft, successfully finished its mission and landed on its belly at the sea water near Naka where it floated due to its floatation bags and was met half an hour later by tugboats that brought it ashore.
A week later, Kotori arrived back in Naka and was held in house arrest until her trial in a military tribunal that was scheduled after a very special date upon her earnest request.
And so, at the month when the warm summer winds have also began to carry the gentle breeze of autumn, a very special occasion is being held in the heart of the place where everything changed for Japan and the rest of the world.