Chronicles of the Sekigahara: Freedom
by Nicholas Stone
Combat slacked off after the successful raid on Dermus, but
it was not a comforting pause to the fleet on station off of
Tauri. On the officers' deck of the Sekigahara, a very disturbed
Captain Zenigata walked towards Rear Admiral Cologne's stateroom
reading the latest after action report. It was not very good,
and if it kept up at this rate, then the battle group would be
sorely press to even get off one complete strike. Rounding the
bend, the marine guard standing at the side of the door quickly
snapped to attention.
[Are you expected, sir?] the guards translator clicked out.
Keibu stopped to gaze up at the Amourian, his features reflecting
in its black, pupiless eyes.
"Yes I am, soldier," he replied. The mandibles clicked
again, and the guard accessed Cologne's internal communication.
She told him to admit Zenigata, the door parting. Keibu walked
in.
Behind her desk, Cologne sat looking at her monitor typing
in something on the keyboard.
"Sit down, Keibu. I'll be with you in a moment,? she said.
Zenigata took a near-by chair reading the rest of the
report. Cologne finished, turning around to face him.
"Is that the final report on the Dermus strike?" she asked.
"Yes, and I must say even though it was a success, we took
quite a pounding."
"Really?"
Popping the data disk from the pad, Zenigata inserted it
into the desk slot. A display appeared on the far wall monitor.
"Fifty-three Slammers, forty-seven Swallowtails were shot
down from this carrier alone," continued Zenigata. "Tunis lost
forty-eight Slammers, twenty-five Swallowtails for a combined
total of 173 planes. That's not counting fighter losses either."
Cologne's brows twitched slightly at the figures. Slowly
she leaned back and crossed her arms.
"This is dreadful, Keibu. What did the most damage?"
"Ground fire. The Prox did a number on our lead strikes.
They were well emplaced. Very well emplaced."
"That's not a good sign," replied Cologne getting out of
her chair. She stood before the rooms bay view port, staring at
Dermus now fading form in the distant space. Small specks could
still be seen on the moon's surface; fires that have not
extinguished themselves raging through the shattered Proximian
bases. The dark forms of the battleship/cruiser task force left
to cover the approaches passed briefly across the face of Dermus.
Cologne pursed her lips together turning back around.
"Somehow we can take this for good as well as bad," she
said.
"Huh? How so, Admiral?"
"Now we see how the Proximians are adapt at fortifications.
This gives us an idea what to expect when we start striking
targets on Tauri."
Zenigata shook his head, taking a quick glance back at the
display. "Ma'am, if this is what we can expect, then we are
going to be out of business by weeks end."
"I trust our people will learn quickly." She paused
thinking for a moment. "Still . . . Keibu, have Kasumi compile
all the intel we collected from this fight. Make up a vid and
have all the pilots review it."
"Yes, ma'am. I'll get her started on that immediately."
"Good, good. Now I assume that Admiral Happosai has not
seen this yet?"
"He's aware that there were high casualties, but no he's
not seen this report. I figured you would want to present it to
him."
Cologne nodded, drawing in a heavy breath. Happosai was
sure to be very upset with this, but there was no way around it.
She went back to the desk and popped the data disk.
"I better go see him then," she said grabbing her staff.
"You want me to come along?" asked Zenigata.
Cologne shook her head. "No need. Happy will rant, but I
think he'll take it well enough."
Zenigata frowned, a rare look of fatigue crossing over him.
"Keibu, you better go and get some rest."
Zenigata shook it off. "No ma'am, I still have letters to
write plus replan the first ground support missions. My schedule
is quite busy."
"There's plenty of time, Captain," Cologne replied placing
a firm hand on one shoulder. Zenigata looked up, conceding to
her request.
"Okay, Admiral," he said.
Cologne headed for the door, suddenly pausing before going
out. "Keibu, our people are good. We have to keep the faith in
them," she said. "Good night."
Watching her depart, Zenigata took a brief moment to stare
out the view port. Troubled thoughts clouded his mind, and he
knew the next few weeks would see more casualties and fewer
planes. He wasn't looking forward to the letters he'd have to
write . . .
* * * * *
Flashes of lights darted past the windows of Sekigahara's
operations center, a new wave of planes being launched for the
days activities. Throughout the room, controllers, techs and
scannermen worked at their consoles, routing flights to station,
recovering missions, or just watching the long-range scanners for
any sign of the enemy. Most of the activity was concentrated at
the lower levels, the pit as it was called, but up on the third
row sat the nerve center of Sekigahara's operations. Still
called `vultures row' after some long standing tradition dating
back to earlier waterborne operations, a long stretch of consoles
and displays tracked what was happening around the flight decks
and hanger bays. Normally manned by a team of ten officers and
ten enlisted, attrition called for crews to perform well below
that standard. Currently three enlisted scannermen and two
officers sat manning the stations feeding the information to the
current Air Ops Officer on duty.
Lieutenant junior grade Murasaki Suminawa filled that
position today sitting at the AO console. Her young features
were lit up from the glow of several status displays, all of them
calling for attention. With consummate skill, she cycled through
all of the readouts, tapping launch orders, clearing sectors for
recovery, checking to see which flight was slated to go next.
Bad enough she had to worry about Sekigahara's evolutions, but
the Tunis's planes also had to be coordinated adding to the
stress.
A break appeared, Murasaki taking advantage of it and leaned
back. She ran her hands through her dark brown hair and let out
a long sigh. Barely twenty-one years old, she felt twice that
every time she sat here. Indeed the war wasn't going well for
them, but Murasaki felt that shouldn't affect her aging,
especially when she still longed to raise a family before her
prime gave out. A beep over the headphone speaker made her look
up, brown eyes focusing on the red dot flashing on the status
display.
[Excuse me, ma'am,] the coordinating computer said. [We
intend to launch strike package four in ten minutes,]
"Oh, yeah," Murasaki replied somberly. She sat up looking
over to the controllers. <Jariten, I need Bay Five cleared for
cycle four in five minutes,>
The young humanoid sitting at the center console, swiveled
around to her smirking sharply.
Ensign Jariten finally shook his head. <I can't, Murasaki,>
he answered. <Bay Five is still recovering and servicing Squadron
Two Fifty-seven. Its going to take at least fifteen minutes to
get them turned around as it is,>
Disaster, thought Murasaki. Bay five was supposed to launch
the fighter escort for this strike. Some days could just go sour
so quick.
<Jariten, how could you let this happen? You know how
important this was,>
The Oni shrunk back in his chair, flinching at the sharp
rebuke. <It wasn't intentional, ma'am,> he replied, nervously
running his hands through his short, green hair. <Two of the
fighters developed engine trouble after they touched down. I've
been heckling the flight deck crews, but it will still take a few
to clear them.>
<Oh not now!> Murasaki exclaimed. She looked back up at her
status board searching frantically for an answer. Kasumi will
kill me! I'm supposed to be able to handle things like this, and
now look.
Glancing up and down the launch list, her eyes suddenly came
across launch cycle three's scheduled Combat Patrol flight,
fighters from VF 314, the "Fighting Demons". They were a top-
notch group if her mind recalled correctly.
<Jariten, hold CAP three's launch,> she ordered. <Get on the
net and tell them their tasking has changed.>
Jariten did as ordered, calling up the status displays while
he worked. Suddenly he let out a low gasp, face moving closer to
the screen.
<Lum-chan!> he exclaimed in disbelief turning to Murasaki.
She frowned confused by his reaction.
<What?>
<You can't do this. Lum-chan is in that squadron!>
Murasaki wondered what he was talking about, and then
remembered that he had a cousin in that squadron. That was all
well and good, but she needed those fighters.
<Jariten, I'm sure your cousin can handle herself, so stop
worrying.>
<That's not what I'm worrying about. Its who she flies
wingman for!>
Calling up the squadron roster, Murasaki scanned it until
she found the current flight assignments. Lieutenant (junior
grade) Lum assigned to second section, Lieutenant Ataru Moroboshi
lead. She had heard stories about this Moroboshi, some good,
some bad. His flying record looked normal; twelve kills the
count so far.
<Sorry, Jariten, but I've got to send them,> she said.
<That knucklehead Ataru will get her killed. He's a loser,
a leech, a--.>
<Jariten! We don't have time to call up another group. Get
them lined up for this flight.>
<Just Five minutes, Five minutes, please Murasaki,> Jariten
pleaded. It was not to be, a stern look coming to her face.
Sadly he turned around punching up the circuit.
<He's no Lupin, I'll tell you that,> Jariten grumbled.
Murasaki smiled. <I don't think he reached where he's at now
for being reckless.>
<Humph! You don't know him like I do.>
She laughed, returning to her duties. The Fourth cycle
finally launched, Murasaki relieved that things panned out so
well. A quick glance over found Jariten staring up at the main
tracking screen, watching as the strikes to Tauri flew away. She
felt for him, remembering how worried she'd get when Goemon flew.
A hard thing to do, waiting to see if somebody you cared for
would return. At least she didn't have to face Kasumi for the
mix-up.
Her internal comms light flashed.
<Air Ops,> Murasaki answered.
<Murasaki, I believe we missed a launch in the third cycle,>
Kasumi's voice said. <Care to tell me why?>
Murasaki hung her head . . .
Episode Two
Freedom
(Urusei Yatsura)
Damn, this flack was thick. I should know since me and my
wingman were doing the crazies up hear in the sky trying to avoid
being shot down. Oh I can bet if there were any other place to
go that was safe, I wouldn't find it. Call it the Moroboshi
curse, ever since I was born, luck had a strange way of rolling
bad on me.
<Lum, are you still with me?> I said over the circuit.
<Right here, darling!> came Lum's sweet reply.
Lum. Lieutenant(j.g.) Lum to be exact. My ever-present
partner in flight and constant shadow since collage. Gosh when
the war broke out, I'd though that was my chance to be free of
her for a while. You know, get some space. Yet again, luck
threw me a curve ball. Should have known she'd already had a
pilot's degree, and held rank in the Oni Naval fleet.
I peeked a glance behind me to see her flying naturally
through the rain of bolts and solids being thrown up at us.
Would you believe it. The crazy woman actually took a lower rank
below me, opting to serve in the Federation Navy instead. I
should feel honored by that, but instead all I could feel was a
tinge of resentment at her.
"A couple should always stick together, Ataru." I remember
her saying when she appeared at the squadron. As usual, nobody
complained. Megane, Mendou and the others virtually kissed my
feet when they found out.
<Demons, listen up. This is Sakura,> the net called out.
Lieutenant Commander Sakura, now there was a babe I could follow
to the ends of the universe, even if she was our wing leader.
What a bod, what a bod.
<That means you too, Moroboshi!>
Ooops, guess it was time to stop daydreaming and get back to
reality.
<Got a report that a flock of Jackknifes are running a raid
on one of our armored columns. Mendou, Moroboshi go run them
off,>
Mendou's voice cut across. <Why Moroboshi, Sakura?> he
shouted. <You always send bad luck with me. Why?>
Damn you, Mendou. Lieutenant Shutaro Mendou, still my
bitter rival and friend all in one. He's always the first to
down me, but there was never a time when I couldn't beat a moron
like him, no matter how much credit he had.
<Hey, Mendou, you jerk!> I shouted. Couldn't let this fool
get away with that. <I know some pretty tight situation I pulled
your gilded ass out of. So don't start talking smack unless
you've got it right!>
<Moroboshi? You pull me out of tight situations? Who was
it that--.>
<ENOUGH!> roared Sakura. <Here are the coordinates. Both of
you get your butts moving, on the double! Kakaguri, Chibi go
with them!>
I swallowed the fear lump in my throat. Not only did Sakura
hold a class one in hand-to-hand combat, but also she was a bitch
to face once she started chewing your ass.
<Yes, ma'am,> I quickly said vectoring over to the new
course. Mendou and Shinobu flew up next to me, the two weasels
taking station above us.
<You guys, really,> Shinobu said. Here it comes, another
lecture from Miss Perfect.
<Can't you guys just give it a rest for once?>
<Hey, I didn't start it,> I replied in my defense. It was
true, but recently I had been squabbling with Mendou, and some of
the others. I don't know why, nerves I guess.
<Shu shouldn't have insulted Darling, Shinobu,> Lum said.
Maybe that was it. Lum standing up for me despite all of my
blatant failings. It baffled me why she would do it, drawing on
my nerves day in and day out. I fought hard to hold back my
angry outburst.
<Hey folks, we'd better skip that and pay attention to
what's going on ahead,> Kakaguri said.
I looked forward. Tauri had the makings to be a planet rich
in beauty, rolling plains of green and golden plant life mixing
with the hills and mountains. The skyline though was dark, not
from clouds or the approaching night. No this was from the fires
that burned the plains, and we could see flashes of gunfire as
the Proximians pressed upon our armies. Our section streaked
over a long column of infantry making their way back to Mago.
They moved in a slow pace, and I felt their despair as they
retreated. I think Lum felt it too, moving up to gaze at me
sadly from her cotpit.
Soon we reached an open valley, and Chibi suddenly called
out the alarm.
<Mendou, I'm picking up tanks over that next rise,> he said.
<Ours or theirs?>
<Federation signatures, but there's Prox targeting scanners
with'em also.>
<Well, it looks like its time to go thrash some Prox, eh
gang?> I said to them.
<We're looking at a lot of targets up here, Ataru,> Kakaguri
replied. <You know what a Knife can do to a plane.>
I wasn't really worried about mixing it up with the Prox.
I've fought against Hammerheads, Battleaxes, and Flamers, so what
was one more type. I still was here, wasn't I?
We pulled up over the ridge, and I gasped at the sight that
greeted us. Federation tanks and armored units stretched for
kilometers around, moving with every ounce of speed towards the
far pass. A multitude of them burned furiously behind them,
thick black pyres of smoke curling up towards the sky. I saw a
brief flash then another tank exploded.
<Looks like those guys haven't seen us yet, Mendou,> I said.
<Then I guess we should announce our presence. Kakaguri,
you guys have a--.>
<One calling card coming up,> Kakaguri replied.
It was kind of impressive watching the two weasel birds pop
missiles from their pods. They streaked away, and we watched our
monitors as they zeroed in to the distant targets. Angry burst
of light dotted the darkness. That was our queue to attack.
<Mendou, I'm on the flock that just dropped low,> I said.
<I'll get the group north of them. Be careful you two.>
Be careful he says. Mendou peeled away with Shinobu and
Kakaguri and I found myself suddenly feeling uneasy about this
run.
<Lum, take my left. Chibi flank right. Lets drive these
Prox back home.>
I found myself looking over at Lum again. She smiled and
flashed me a quick wink before moving off. There it was again.
That gnawing ire I felt having her around. The onboard computer
broke me from the thought, several alerts sounding as Proximian
tracscans began to lock down on my plane.
Then I got my first look at the targets. Jackknifes, that
was the moniker some Electro-Nut designated them, skimmed along
the basin floor trying to get below us and to the tanks. Amazing
things really. Long dirty brown colored aircraft, short stubby
wings and triple finned tails; most of us pilots still couldn't
believe they can fly. Nothing more than flying cannons in all
actuality, the pilots sat well back to the rear right between the
two engine housings. Guess the Prox figured it better for the
pilots to be away from the blast, but I don't know. Seemed like
a hot ride to me, a guaranteed death if caught by the likes of
us.
I banked, coming down to greet them, pickling off four
missiles. Two of the Knifes burst into scrap, the rest shooting
straight up to the sky.
<Lum, get the three on the left, Chibi knock down those
two stragglers. I got the center cluster,> I directed my team.
Oddly, I found myself cutting a quick glance over to Lum as she
pitched up in pursuit. Chibi's plane streaked past my right
wing, then I hit the thrusters heading up.
Gosh these things move fast, too fast for any quick kills.
Four of the bastards broke away, turning right trying to get
around me. Ha, fat chance in that. No one dodges `Ataru the
Undodgeable', especially when he's in the mood to kill. I
followed their glide then pitched over cutting them off in their
futile attempt. Two more missiles sent a pair down, and I was
feeling very cocky, until a bright burst flashed past my cotpit.
My own scream filled my ears as I went evasive.
Looking at my scanner, six of these damned things slipped up
behind me while I was occupied. Sneaky son's-of-bitches, I fumed
while kicking in thrusters. Nope that didn't work, the Knife
pilots must have been practicing, clinging to me like sharks on a
wounded whale. What a sucker I was, fell straight into their
trap. Well they still had a few things to learn about
dogfighting.
I kicked in my forward lateral thrusters, pulling a sharp G-
roll up towards the sky. My pressure suit tightened around me,
but I endured its protective squeeze, fighting to stay conscious
as my fighter rolled out onto their rears. Needless to say, the
Proximians were quite surprised, scattering like the four winds.
I wasn't about to give them any chances. A quick burst
splattered one across the ground, a second exploding into a
bright ball of flame right after that. The remaining four broke
for the deck, tails between their tails as they ran for home.
<Lum, Chibi, how are you guys doing?> I called to my
wingmates. Chibi's voice called loudly over the circuit.
<Ataru, these bastards a swarming all over the place. I
can't get'em all!>
Checking his position, I could see what he was talking
about. Chibi's plane flew helter-skelter through a cluster of
Knifes, some hassling with him, some pressing on towards the
armor column.
<Hold tight, Chibi. Lum and I will be there in a second.
Lum!>
<Right here, darling,> she answered.
Lum was a few clicks behind me, splashing what remained of
an attacking flight trying to sneak in from the west. Damn, was
she good, cutting and juking like this was child's play. I felt
relieved despite my earlier feelings, happy that she wasn't in
any kind of trouble.
<Join up with me. Chibi needs some help.>
<Alright.>
I winged over, and soon both of us were shooting across the
sky to engage the remaining Prox. One of those pirates must have
sounded the alarm on us. All at once, the swarmed turned guns
blazing. This time Lum's cry cut my ears as we flew through the
barrage. Suddenly I caught a brief glimpse of a flash, then her
plane streaked towards the ground.
<LUM!> I cried. There was no time to check on her. I
dodged a stream of bolts, then let go with my own weapons. Did I
mention the fact that I was angry? Oh boy was I ever. Even
though I wasn't sure Lum had been shot down, the thought alone of
losing her made my blood go cold. Killed by these bastards that
only brought out the darkest of my darkest emotions.
Burst after burst flashed from my guns, every missile I had
in flight to a target. It looked like New Years Day before the
war, and I wasn't close to being done yet.
<Jeeesss, Ataru!> Chibi shouted. <Watch where you're
shooting those damn things!>
<They got Lum!> I shouted back.
<What? AAARRRRRGGGGGHHHH!>
Chibi's missile pods erupted in a chrysanthemum of reds and
orange. If the Proximians didn't know they'd screwed up, well
they certainly knew it now. Knife's exploded around the sky, and
finally they called it quits, conducting a fighting withdrawal
back towards their side of the planet.
Chibi and I stayed on them, rage and remorse driving us on.
I found myself thinking about Lum, wondering if I could ever go
on with life without her. So preoccupied with her, that I missed
pair of Jackknifes cutting up behind me. The first indication
was the loud blast of energy that burst against my hull screens.
A pulse of energy put me into a stunned stupor, unable to defend
myself. I was a clean target even a child could pluck out of the
sky. I managed to look at my aft scanner. Yep, just about done
for. At least I'd see Lum again.
You can imagine my surprise when first one, then the other
Jackknife exploded.
<Chibi?> I called.
<No, darling,> came Lum's sweet reply.
<Lum, Lum your alive!> exclaimed Chibi.
<Of course.>
It sounded like she was confused, and rightly so, but not a
confused and delighted as I was.
<Lum, I saw you--,>
<Go to the deck? Of course, darling. Had to get out of
that cannon fire. Took a bit of a scrape on my tail, but-->
<You scared the crap out of me, woman!> I shouted.
Lum glided up of my right, Chibi taking position just behind
her. I could see the bemused look on her face.
<You were worried, Darling,> she said.
Damn, busted!
<Well . . . only because you're my wing man. Yeah, that's
it . . . I mean yes. A flight leader should be concerned about
his group.>
Lum giggled at me. <Okay, Darling. If you say so.>
<Moroboshi!> Mendou suddenly called.
I thanked the reprieve I was getting. <Yeah, Mendou. You
guys need help?>
<Cut the comedy, loser. We've cleared out our end. What's
your status?>
<All clear here. No sweat.>
It was a lie, I know, but hey couldn't let Shu see me in any
other light.
<Well the columns clear for now. We've got to rejoin the
rest of the group and get back to the ship.>
<Okay, we're on our way back. See'ya in a bit.>
I chanced another glance over to Lum, somewhat embarrassed,
mostly relieved that she was still there. Her eyes were still on
my plane, and I could see her warm smile. Oddly, all I could do
was smile back; giving her a quick wink then guided my ship
around to rejoin Mendou and the others.
Guess it wasn't so bad having a shadow after all.
Especially when I had one that was so darn beautiful.
Freedom? Aw, hell, who needs it anyway . . .