For Duty, Honor, and Loyalty

  Version 2.1
  Written by Razorclaw X (spiceoflife@hotmail.com)
  http://www.crosswinds.net/anaheim/~slythe/ranma/ranff.html
  Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 and characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi. And 
all that other good stuff. Proper licenses belong to respective properties 
and characters. 
  This file can be freely distributed so long as it appears in its complete 
form and proper credit. No part may be reproduced for monetary gain without 
permission from the author. (to which the answer is probably "no")

  Author's note: This takes place in an unusual setting, namely, the future. 
You really SHOULD pay attention to the short history lesson. 

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Opening theme: Don't Make Me a Shrew

  To know what lies in the future, one must know of the past.
  In the year 2232 of our modern reckoning, mankind spread throughout an 
entire sector of the galaxy under one government, called the Earth Alliance. 
Science and technology advanced with leaps and bounds under this single 
government, and mankind was on the road to success. But it was not to be. 
  For in the year 2232 the Earth Alliance erupted into civil war. Corrupt 
officials in the government spent taxpayer money for their own agendas. 
Grievences in several sectors went unheard or were ignored. It was then the 
outer colonies of the Alliance, who wished to govern themselves, sparked 
the rebellion. This, combined with the presence of numerous corrupted 
officials in the government, drew others in the Alliance into the war as 
well. Seven years of bitter war, mankind destroying itself from the 
interior until the year 2239, when the most powerful rebel faction 
overthrew the Alliance government. In the end the former Earth Alliance 
was split into five governments, each with a different idea on how to live 
their lives. 
  The first of the five governments declared rule under the influential 
House Saotome, the very ones who sparked the rebellion in the first place. 
This particular House valued the strength of the one above the strength of 
the many, and wished above all other desires to become the most powerful 
force in the galaxy. The Earth Alliance weakened them, they argued. 
  The second of the five governments was under the rule of House Tendo. This 
House, while more domestically-oriented than the Saotomes, favored the 
rebellion and provided the rebels with much-needed supplies. The Houses of 
Saotome and Tendo have long been in collaboration, but remain together only 
under paper agreements. 
  The third government prospered under the rule of House Kuno. A powerful 
and influential trading House, during the civil war the patriarch wisely 
decided to remain neutral. In the end the House was left relatively intact, 
and gained valuable space in the process. The wise head of House Kuno 
enjoyed the popular support of the people throughout the worlds of the old 
Earth Alliance, and no one dared to challenge the Kuno authority. 
  The fourth House came under the tyrannical rule of the Joketsuzoku House. 
While they were not part of the initial rebellion, the matriarch decided to 
make use of the opportunity to grab power. Joketsuzoku also valued strength 
of the one, similar to the Saotome philosophy, but believed the weak must be 
weeded out for the good of humanity. 
  No single House ruled the fifth and final partition of the sector. Those 
who formed the Terra Combine were the remnants of the Earth Alliance that 
still held some kind of power. The philosophy of the Combine, the largest of 
the five governments in terms of territory and population, was that the 
government was based on the people it governed. The Combine often absorbed 
the minor Houses and governments swept away from the rebellion, and thus 
became reviled by the other four governments. Yet the resources of the 
Combine remain vast, and those who oppose them usually end with their 
deaths.
  Time passed with few major incidents. But, in the year 2296, with memory 
of the unified Earth Alliance still fresh in the peoples' minds, that was 
about to change. It began with the ascension of the third head of House 
Kuno. 

  In the territory under the grip of House Kuno, open rebellion exploded 
after the people decided to rid themselves of the current patriarch, who 
was dangerously insane. Tatewaki Kuno, the next in line for succession, 
fought back, but found the support and money House Kuno once possessed 
dwindling as contacts and suppliers deserted to the rebellion. No doubt the 
rebels sought to eliminate every last trace of House Kuno, considering what 
Tatewaki's father had done during his rule-- actions best left unsaid. At 
the moment, Tatewaki assumes command of House Kuno in his father's place. 
  Why was House Kuno under fire, after enduring popular support for the 
last thirty years? Tatewaki asked himself. Only one man, his own father, 
managed to turn the popularity into revulsion. Grandfather would roll over 
in his grave if he'd heard about this. 
  On the grand agricultural-industrial world of Halydis, the base of House 
Kuno, Tatewaki and his remaining loyal forces made their last stand. Kuno's 
father, the patriarch, was kept locked up in a cell under the compound 
under tight security. Ironic that Kuno, his father, and his sister were 
the only surviving members of House Kuno now, the others having been killed 
in the earlier stages of the rebellion. Kuno shuddered at the thought of 
Grandmother's death; she'd been publicly-disconnected from the life-support 
machine that kept her vital fluids going. 
  The planetary shield over House Kuno headquarters prevented orbital 
bombardment, so it would have to be ground combat with the rebels. 
  At least, until the generator ran out of power. 
  In the large hangar beneath the Kuno headquarters Kuno made his way to 
his personal battlemech, helmet under his arms. Resting on two legs was 
what resembled the curved beak of a vulture, the cockpit in the center. Two 
arms jutted out of the vulture's 'ears,' ending in large cannons. Missile 
launchers rested beside the cockpit. Painted figures of the bronze phoenix 
decorated Kuno's personal 'mech. 
  "Brother, wait!" called a feminine voice from across the hangar. Kuno 
looked over his shoulder, watching his sister, Kodachi, run toward him. The 
younger Kuno dressed in a plain suit with a white lab coat over it, fitting 
for her biological work. 
  "Sister, you should be with the transports," Kuno said. 
  "How can I leave you behind to die here alone?" Kodachi pleaded. "If I 
have to go you must come with me! You're the head of House Kuno."
  "I can't," Kuno replied. "It is not for your eyes to behold what will 
happen today." A sight which might make Kodachi go over the edge if she saw 
his own death. "As head of House, I order you to reach the Terra Combine 
safely, or there will be no one left to carry on the Kuno name. Once there 
you, as the last living Kuno, can rally the Combine to return and crush the 
rebels. As for me, it is my duty as a warrior, and as head of House Kuno, 
to join our ancestors in the afterlife this day. I've been preparing for 
this day all my life; let it be my finest hour!"
  Kodachi slapped Kuno across the face. "Well, if you're not coming with 
me, then why shouldn't I stay? I'm not such a bad fighter myself! Stop 
spouting this warrior-martyr crap and let me fight! Vengeance be damned, we 
can die together in the field of battle!"
  Kuno rubbed his cheeks, slightly annoyed. "Don't you get it?" He grabbed 
Kodachi's shoulders, hard, and shook her. "If we both die, nobody would be 
left to avenge our deaths!" Calming himself down, Kuno added, "The Combine 
won't act unless you survive. It's not your time to die. You have to live, 
Sister. If not for our family honor, then for me. Promise me that you'll 
go!" 
  "I can't live knowing that you died in order for me to live," Kodachi 
protested. Tense moments of silence followed. Finally, she said, "I'm not a 
little girl anymore. If it means so much to you, I'll go. But not for the 
family, or honor, or because you're the head of House Kuno. Just for you. 
I promise." 
  "I'll be fine," Kuno assured his sister. "But you have to go, now! If you 
don't, the escorts won't be able to punch a hole in the blockade."
  Kodachi let Tatewaki go. As Tatewaki turned and walked away, she called, 
"The House of Kuno will survive!" Almost to herself, Kodachi vowed, "Your 
sacrifice won't be in vain, I promise." 

  Watching the scanners on board his 'mech, Tatewaki watched as the 
transport his sister was on broke through the rebels' blockade around the 
planet. With luck House Kuno may one day return to power. 
  Tatewaki wondered for a moment why he was defending his insane father, so 
unfit for rulership, until the scanners picked up planetary landers 
breaking pass the perimeter defenses. The landers housed a single enemy 
mech each, he knew. More and more were making their way through. 
  Kuno patched into the House commlink. "This is it, men. Today we die 
heroes for House Kuno! Let this be our finest hour!"
  The reply to Kuno's bold statement was a unified battle cry of the 
warriors of House Kuno. 
  The twenty-odd 'mechs of House Kuno charged in a battle line to meet their 
opponents, weapons blazing. 

  In the meantime, arrangements were being made between House Saotome and 
House Tendo for a diplomatic alliance, thus forming one House. The matriarch 
of Joketsuzoku, Cologne, was less than pleased. For many years she badgered 
House Saotome to wed their only son with Cologne's great-granddaughter, 
recognizing the strength of both Houses. Now they add insult to the 
rejection.
  It was time to mobilize. 

  "Warning: heat level critical."
  "Oh shut up!" Kuno screamed at the 'mech computer. The last enemy 'mech 
was in his sights, and in critical condition. It was now or never. With 
seething anger Kuno fired both of his particle projection beams, and watched 
as both bolts slammed into the enemy 'mech. 
  Well over six hours passed since the beginning of the battle on Halydis. 
The forces of Kuno were dwindled to a mere four 'mechs, including Kuno's 
own mech. And they were out of missiles. 
  Kuno let himself relax for a moment as the last of the fourth wave of 
rebel 'mechs was destroyed. He watched the heat levels overflow the heat 
sinks, and the 'mech powered down for a moment. It usually took only thirty 
seconds before the heat sinks compensated for the overheating of mechs. 
  A transmission from headquarters beeped in. Communication systems were 
still on-line. "Go ahead," Kuno said, opening transmission. 
  "Sir," started the communications officer, "we've identified the ships of 
the attacking force. They belong to House Saotome."
  "Saotome," Kuno spat. "No wonder why the rebels were so well-organized, a 
rival House plotted against our own."
  "We're detecting more landers dropping in your area, about seven of them,"
continued the comm. officer. "Sir, you'd better fall back."
  "Never!" Kuno shouted. "My structural integrity readings may report 
critical in several areas, but I will go down fighting!" The heat sinks 
finished compensation, and the 'mech began to power-up again. 
  "But sir, we've got...." then the transmission went blank. In the distance 
raged a large explosion, where the Kuno headquarters once stood. Damn them, 
that means the planetary shield over headquarters was down! Which also meant 
orbital bombardment would rain on the four remaining 'mechs at any moment, 
Kuno thought, hiding his glee in the knowledge of the demise of his father. 
  "Enemy 'mechs in visual range!" shouted another 'mech warrior. Sure 
enough, there were seven of them, all bearing the marks of House Saotome. 
  So, Kuno thought, the Saotomes themselves decide to join the fight. 
"This is it, men!" Kuno thumbed the long-range laser cannons, firing on the 
lead 'mech. 
  The lead mech, resembling a man with a missile launcher on his shoulder, 
returned fire with a volley of twenty missiles, straight at Kuno's 'mech. 
Without thinking, Kuno reached for the ejection lever, and threw it. 
  Realizing too late that this was no way for a warrior to die, Kuno watched 
from his ejection pod as his personal 'mech exploded into a million pieces. 
  Suddenly, the ejection pod's upward velocity halted. Kuno expected the 
downward velocity to increase, but it never came. He looked up, and saw that 
the ejection pod was attached to a sleek space fighter. The body of the 
fighter was shaped like a needle, except for the broad wings, shaped like a 
quarter circle, that curved forward from the rear of the craft. Kuno's eyes 
moved to spy the markings on the underside of the wings, and saw the mark 
of the black rose. 
  "Today's not a good day to die, Brother," Kodachi told Kuno over the 
commlink. Her image appeared on the communications monitor in Kuno's pod. 
She was dressed not in a flight suit, but still in a lab coat, which meant 
big trouble for her if the ship ruptured in space. 
  "Kodachi!" Kuno exclaimed. "I thought you were long gone!"
  "Well, I was, until I gathered a few volunteers to come back for you," 
Kodachi replied. "I never promised not to come back."
  "Damn you," Kuno muttered under his breath.
  "I'm not going to let you die like this, not now," continued Kodachi. 
"Now hang on, because we still have to get out." 
  The next thing Kuno heard was Kodachi's maniacal laughter. Damn those 
adrenaline rushes.... 
  Almost lost in Kodachi's laughter, Kuno muttered, "Damn you for 
disobeying my command!" 
  Surprisingly, Kodachi replied, "I'm doing this for you, Brother, not for 
anything else. Appreciate it while you can."
  Kodachi maneuvered her personal fighter into space, with several other 
fighters close behind. The small contingent headed straight for the Saotome 
space fleet's blockade. 
  Kodachi opened her channel to the other fighters. "We're going in fast!"
The Kuno girl punched all available energies into the fighter's engines, and 
cruised on afterburners, outdistancing the trailing fighters. She weaved 
back and forth between incoming fire and spacecraft, dodging with ease. And 
soon Kodachi's fighter punched through, with only three other fighters 
making it through as well. 
  "Kocchi, that was the dumbest thing you've ever done," Kuno voiced over 
the commlink. "You could've been killed, and the House of Kuno with you."
  "You're welcome," Kodachi replied, curving her lips in a smile. Tacchi 
sure did have a way with 'thank-yous.' "I promise you brother, we'll live 
and die together. Punching in hyperspace coordinates. Next stop, Terra 
Combine."

  The head of the Saotome government, under one Genma Saotome, played their 
hand in the so-called 'Halydis Massacre.' Records and information were 
falsified to place blame on the Terra Combine, so only Genma and his top 
advisors knew of the operation. After that news was made public, the 
Saotome government 'moved-in' to Kuno territory and 'quelled' the rebellion.
How 'unfortunate,' that there were no surviving members of the Kuno family 
any more. Saotome claimed the land for itself. 
  The Terra Combine, while publically-denying involvement in the Massacre, 
failed to act on the accusations. The issue got lost in the sea of debate 
that plagued the Council of the Combine. 
  The resources of the former House Kuno would support Saotome nicely, 
Genma thought. Kuno was only the first. 
  Soon thereafter the Joketsuzoku launched their dual-pronged attack 
against the Tendos and Saotomes. With the relatively-nonmilitaristic 
nature of Tendo and the spreading of Saotome forces, the Joketsuzoku scored 
early victories during the conflict, but that was not to be. 

  It came to pass that the Joketsuzoku's attack against the Tendos and 
Saotomes ended in failure. The Saotome heir, Ranma, was wed to the youngest 
of the Tendo daughters, thus sealing the alliance between the two Houses. 
Their first order of business was to consolidate their newfound power where 
House Kuno once stood. Once that was completed, the new, single House, 
under the name Saotome, attacked the Joketsuzoku House. The tide of battle 
turned quickly against the Joketsuzoku forces. 
  Cologne held a meeting in the secret headquarters of the Joketsuzoku, 
hidden deep within an asteroid. Among those present were Shampoo, the 
great-granddaughter, Mousse, the war captain, and Ling-ling and Lung-lung, 
the devilish pair of warriors. The rest of the Joketsuzoku leadership was 
also present. 
  "My warriors, we are at the brink of disaster," Cologne began. "Something 
must be done, and done soon, or our proud House will fall to our enemies."
  "House Kuno fell before the Terra Combine," argued Mousse, "and they 
went down fighting to the last man. I say we should do the same."
  "Nonsense!" Shampoo protested. "We know that two of the House Kuno heirs 
survive in Terra Combine. The two were granted amnesty, and aren't 
political prisoners. In fact, it was Saotome, not the Combine, behind the 
rebels and the Massacre. The tiger must lick its wounds before returning 
to the fight."
  "Who gave you that report?!" cried Mousse. "I've heard no such news!"
  Shampoo's lips curved into a malicious grin. "Some information 
Intelligence discovered. My personal agents." Then, feigning surprise, she 
added, "Oh, I forgot! You aren't cleared for Intelligence."
  "I agree with Shampoo," Cologne said. "We will appeal to the Terra 
Combine for aid, surely they cannot refuse us! Both the Saotome and Tendo 
Houses are their enemies, as the Combine is made up of the remnants of the 
old Earth Alliance."
  Mousse slammed his fist on the table. "That's the coward's answer! We 
should go down fighting!"
  Cologne bopped Mousse on the head. "Is it cowardly to consolidate one's 
forces and allies, Mousse? Or is it your pride getting in the way again?"
  Mousse backed down, defeated. Of course the matriarch was right, and he 
hated it when that happened. 

  And so it came to pass that the remnants of the once-proud House of 
Joketsuzoku fled across the borders to the Terra Combine, the Saotome fleet 
hot on their heels, lead under the banner of Ranma Saotome's own mothership, 
the Wild Stallion. 
  Ranma leaned forward in his command chair, watching the viewscreen before 
him, depicting the last of the Joketsuzoku convoy cross the borders. To the 
helm he shouted, "Faster, they're getting away!"
  "Sir," the sensors officer called, "we're detecting another fleet heading 
this direction."
  Ranma had the viewscreen changed to watch the new arriving fleet. They 
bore the marks of the Terra Combine, but the lead ship also bore the marking 
of the jade dragon. A symbol of good luck. 
  "We're receiving transmission," the communications officer said. 
  "Audio and video," ordered Ranma. The viewscreen's starry field was 
replaced with the view of the interior of the lead Combine craft. Standing 
there was the captain of the lead ship. This captain dressed in the 
traditional Earth Alliance fleet uniform, and appeared as a clean-cut 
soldier, except for the long hair flowing behind the uniform in a pony tail. 
Ranma dropped his jaw in surprise. 
  "Ucchan...?" Ranma said in recognition and disbelief. Ukyo was a friend 
from childhood; the two met during one of Genma's tours on the border 
worlds. Even after so many years Ranma could distinguish Ukyo's features. 
  "Greetings, Heir-apparent Ranma Saotome," returned Ukyo. "But, you should  
refer to me as Captain Ukyo Kuonji of the Terra Combine Ship Jade Dragon. 
And you're violating our territory."
  Ranma regained some composure. "We are in pursuit of enemy vessels. Stand 
aside and let us pass, or risk the enmity of House Saotome."
  "Ohohohohoho... that was good, Saotome," Ukyo laughed. "The Terra Combine 
deals not with rebels like you. Leave now, or we will return fire."
  "Look, Ucchan," Ranma started, visibly sweating, "for old times sake, let 
me pass." 
  "Sorry, Saotome," returned Ukyo, keeping a professional tone, "but you're 
still in our territory. I advise you to leave now, or pay the consequences. 
Think twice before defying the Jade Dragon fleet." The viewscreen shut off. 
  Damn! cursed Ranma to himself. After all these years apart, just a hostile
reunion. So hostile... and beautiful. He strided to the scanning station. 
"How many Combine ships are there?"
  "There's only three of them, sir," returned the officer. 
  "Three? Against our twelve?" Ranma laughed as he returned to his command 
chair. "We go through." The Heir-apparent pushed thoughts of Ukyo behind 
him. What Ukyo was doing with the damned Combine would have to come later. 

  I can't believe he's taking the bait, Ukyo thought. Well, that's Ranma 
for you. Saotomes weren't particularly bright, after all.  
  She turned to her aide, Konatsu. "Signal the Joketsuzoku convoy. It's time 
to play possum."

  The Saotome fleet pressed further and further into Combine space in 
pursuit of the Joketsuzoku convoy, little realizing the present danger they 
were in. Ranma was so full of himself that he failed to realize the danger, 
and even removed a bridge officer for pointing out that fact. After that, 
no one dared defy the wishes of the Heir-apparent. 
  After seven tense hours into Combine space, the Jade Dragon reappeared 
from behind. This time there were over thirty Combine ships. The Joketsuzoku 
convoy turned around as well. 
  Ranma couldn't help but wonder why Ukyo was serving the enemy. 
  Ukyo appeared on Ranma's viewscreen to gloat. "Oh, poor you, Ranma. As I 
predicted, you fell for my trap." She spread her arms wide. "I introduce 
you to the Jade Dragon battle fleet! It's a wonder how you Saotomes got as 
far as you did since the collapse of the Alliance."
  Ranma replied, "Ucchan, please! You're serving the wrong side! Join me, 
and we can go back to Saotome space together."
  "Wrong, Saotome," countered Ukyo hotly, "I serve the side of the people." 
She disconnected the transmission, then sat back in her command chair. To 
her weapons officer and the rest of the Combine fleet, she ordered, "Turn 
them into hot molten slag." 
  Pausing for a moment, she added, "Make sure that the flagship remains 
intact. Inform Major Hibiki to prepare his marines for boarding. I want the 
Heir-apparent prisoner!"

  Much to Ranma's disappointment, he was taken down in hand-to-hand combat 
by overwhelming numbers of the Combine's marines, lead by one Major Ryoga 
Hibiki. He sat alone in the middle of a dark room, strapped to a chair that 
was bolted to the floor. A single, annoying light glared from the ceiling 
into Ranma's face. 
  A door appeared in the darkness, letting light within. Three figures 
stepped inside, two remaining at either side of the doorway. The middle 
figure approached Ranma, and in the light he could tell who it was. 
  "Ucchan...." Ranma said weakly. 
  Ukyo slapped Ranma across the face. "Never call me that while I'm on 
duty, Saotome!" 
  Ranma shook his head to gather his senses. He peered at his old friend, 
age never touching her perfectly-shaped face. "Ucch-- Ukyo... why are you 
serving the other side? The Combine's the bad guys!"
  Ukyo began to pace around Ranma's restraining chair. "When we last 
separated twenty years ago," Ukyo started, referring to the time when both 
she and Ranma were children, "you promised to help the poor people that 
were my friends and family. You lied, and left me behind to rot, worse than 
I was before. The hope I once held was shattered forever."
  "But join the Terra Combine?" Ranma said. "How could you?! The Terra 
Combine is the bastard child of the corrupt Earth Alliance! Us Saotomes 
stand for rightiousness, justice, and honor! Why did you betray your own 
government?"
  "Justice? Rightiousness? Honor? That's not what your father, the head of 
your government, said," Ukyo countered. "I remember the two weeks you and 
your father spent touring the border territories, making promises to end 
poverty, famine, and suffering among my people, my family, my friends. All 
of them, those words, were lies, lies! Did he act upon his words? No! Did 
the poverty and famine end? No! All he wants is to fill his stomach and 
live comfortably! He cares not for the people, those who need help. He 
cares only for his own health and prosperity, at the expense of others."
  "After you left for good," continued Ukyo, "I couldn't stand to live 
under Saotome rule. I grew up with the spark of hatred for your family. 
Your government cares nothing about the people it governs over, not even 
the poor! One day I met a visiting naval officer from the Terra Combine, 
one Lieutenant Taro. In fact, I saved his life from the pro-Saotome mob. He 
saw my potential, so I was offered honor and glory if I joined the Terra 
Combine Navy, and so I did." She stopped in front of Ranma proudly. "I 
excelled in every course, surpassing those ten years my senior! I studied 
the ancient arts of warfare, from the Art of War to the thirty-six 
strategems and beyond, and applied them to present day. I rose in the ranks 
to become the youngest captain in the Navy!"
  "I always knew you were brilliant," Ranma commented. So, this was all 
about revenge. "But it's a shame that you must serve an evil government. 
You sunk so low in your quest for vengeance that you'd serve money-
grubbing, indecisive politicians and baby-slaughtering generals. We know 
what you did in the Halydis Massacre-- the last surviving members of 
House Kuno were destroyed by your hands."
  "What?!" Ukyo glared. She slapped Ranma across the face. "Granted, the 
political system needs work, but the Halydis Massacre? You fool, the 
destruction of House Kuno was YOUR fault!" 
  Ranma was taken aback. "Liar! You'll say anything to make my family look 
bad!"
  "Konatsu, bring me the Halydis record!" Ukyo snapped at one of the two 
men. Konatsu saluted, then exited the cell. 
  Minutes later, Konatsu returned and handed a datapad to Ukyo. Ukyo 
punched in a few keys, then showed the display to Ranma. "These are the 
reports filed by the sole heirs of House Kuno."
  "Sole heirs of Kuno?" Ranma said, staring in disbelief at the datapad. 
"I thought you killed them all!"
  "No, two of them escaped, and the Combine granted them refuge," Ukyo 
said. "Right here, plain and simple, are the accounts of those who were at 
the Halydis Massacre. The Heir-apparent of Kuno, Tatewaki, personally 
verified the reports of Saotome craft in the area. The black box under his 
ejection chair proves it further."
  Ranma stared at the report, then at Ukyo. "Lies! They're all lies!"
  "The evidence is irrefutable," Ukyo replied. "Would you like me to 
introduce you to Tatewaki and Kodachi Kuno, too?"
  "It... can't... be!" Ranma cried. 
  "Yes, it is!" Ukyo boomed. "YOUR government is evil! It was YOUR 
government that massacred House Kuno!" 
  The Saotome Heir-apparent seemed to hang his head in shame. "Why...?"
  Ukyo continued, "If it wasn't for your family the Earth Alliance would 
still exist today. The Terra Combine seeks to rebuild those days of unity, 
and you seek to undermine it in your quest for dominance! The Combine 
serves the people, not the other way around, like your government. The most 
important part of government is to serve the people; your government seems 
to have forgotten that."
  "Ucchan, please, let me go," Ranma said, hope in his eyes. "You can come 
with me, back to the Saotome government, where you'll be safe. We can 
change things for the better! We can be together again."
  "Together? After you married the Tendo girl? Don't make me laugh!" Ukyo 
spat on the floor after mentioning 'Tendo.' "Both your Houses should be 
condemned for what they've done! Service in the Terra Combine is based on 
three principles, Saotome: duty, honor, loyalty. These are what I hold most 
dear, and if I join you I have to violate one of them! You can't convince 
me to betray the people!"
  Ukyo straightened her shirt, then assumed her official-air again. 
  "Under orders from Fleet Command and the Council, I'm to bring you back 
to Earth." Ukyo slapped Ranma across the face twice more. "I don't know 
what I'm going to do with you, Saotome. But be warned, try to compromise my 
principles once more, and I guarantee you won't see another day."

  News of the capture of the Heir-apparent sent a shockwave throughout the 
new Saotome-Tendo Dominion, as it became. As only the Terra Combine stood 
in its path, the leaders resolved to declare war. 
  Backed by the resources of the former House Kuno, and the warrior people 
of House Saotome, the Saotome fleet plunged into Terra space like a knife 
into butter, border worlds absorbed by the Dominion quickly and without 
fanfare. The knife plunged further into the Combine until it reached planet 
Earth, the ancestral home of mankind, and the center of government of the 
Terra Combine. 
  Ukyo was disappointed, to say the least, when fellow captain (and mentor) 
Taro continued to report failure to rout the Dominion fleet. She was even 
more disappointed when Command decided to hold the Jade Dragon fleet in 
reserve, back in orbit over Earth, instead of at the front lines. 
  The political prisoner, Ranma Saotome, was kept isolated within the 
center of the Combine prison complex in Siberia. The heads of the Combine 
bickered over what to do with the Heir-apparent; while some continued to 
argue using him as an ace-in-the-hole (read: threaten to kill him to make 
demands), those with clearer heads (who were, unfortunately, in the 
minority) wanted to return him to the Saotomes, just to get the Saotome 
fleet out of Combine space before something terrible happens. 
  However, one day Ranma had a visitor. Ukyo stepped inside, flanked by 
Ryoga and Konatsu. 
  "What do you want this time?" asked Ranma. "I thought you hated me."
  Ukyo fidgeted with her gloves. "Apparently your wife and parents managed 
to rally enough support that the Saotome government has declared open war 
against the Combine. Your own wife, Akane, insisted on leading the charge, 
even though she has no fleet experience. I suspect the actual military 
actions were monitored by your Saotome generals." She started pacing around 
Ranma. "I don't know whether I should admire such an action, or condemn it, 
after all, they are doing this for their own benefit, not for that of the 
people. Even your wife's doing this for her own benefit, if not for the 
benefit of your government, but for love." 
  Ukyo's eyes seemed to stare at the ceiling of the cell. "Imagine, a 
Saotome-by-marriage, selflessly throwing herself into danger! I could 
admire such a trait, if her rescue mission wasn't so reckless. Perhaps there 
is hope for you Saotomes after all." 
  And I barely know Akane, Ranma thought. He wasn't surprised that Genma 
and the other Saotome family members chose to stay home. Apparently the 
Tendo girl WAS different. 
  "Ukyo," Ranma started, "just because we're on different sides, doesn't 
mean we can't still be friends." 
  "If you're trying to get out, that won't work, Saotome," countered Ukyo. 
  "It's not that, I mean," corrected Ranma. "I just want to spend time 
alone with you. To talk, that's all."
  Ukyo glanced over to Konatsu and Ryoga, who left the cell. "Talk."
  "That cold, hard exterior, Ucchan," Ranma began, "it's not the Ucchan I 
knew. Whatever happened to the happy girl that played in the streets? The 
girl that knew every street and corner, who knew everybody on the block, 
who helped the Heir-apparent find his way home after getting lost. The one 
who didn't care what I was, but cared about who I was."
  "That girl grew up, Ranchan," Ukyo replied. "And grew up hard. I can only 
guess how your life growing up must've been: the best food, the best 
clothes, the best house, the best service... everything you could ever 
want at your fingertips!"
  "It wasn't the same without real people to call friends," Ranma said. 
"There were those back home who wanted to get it good with me so I could do 
favors for them later when I became ruler. They weren't really my friends. 
When we toured the border worlds I met real people, people who didn't care 
about my heritage or my past. I met you, Ucchan."
  Ukyo sat down on the cold floor alongside Ranma. "Those were good old 
times, weren't they?"
  "For the first time in my life," continued Ranma, "I met someone who was 
more alive than the world, who had everything that made her happy right 
there. I thought, 'if only I could be like that!' I realize now I've lived 
a sheltered and closed life; I don't know what it's like to really live, 
like you do." 
  "I remember the dinner you invited me to, Ranchan," Ukyo said. That was 
the same night Ukyo helped the lost Ranma find his way back to the local 
governor's mansion, where Ranma was staying on their border tour. "I 
remember thinking, 'look at all this wonderful food!' Of course, such meals 
as that were probably normal to you, but to a poor girl like me it was a 
feast; I would've been lucky to get a loaf of bread all to myself."
  "Pop didn't want to take you back with us," Ranma said. "'After all,' he 
had said, 'what good would it do to have another pauper in the shining 
capitol city?'" Ranma remembered vividly the streets of the capitol, with 
not a single poor person in sight, all having been deported to the border 
worlds. The menial tasks were left to the far-more-efficient machines. 
  "Destiny's conspired against us, Ranchan," Ukyo concluded. "Perhaps some 
things weren't meant to be." She got up. 
  Ranma reached for Ukyo's arm. "I'm not going to ask you to let me go, 
Ucchan. But I must know: what's going to happen to me?"
  Ukyo showed a faint smile to her old friend. "You won't be executed, if 
that's what you're worried about. The higher-ups think you're more useful 
to us alive. As a hostage." For all the good it did the Combine, as I know 
the chances of beating back the Saotome forces were next to nothing so long 
as we hold their Heir-apparent. "To tell you the truth, if it were my 
decision you would've been released unconditionally a while ago." 
  "Because you want to protect your people, or personal reasons?" asked 
Ranma, humor returning to his eyes. 
  "Both," answered Ukyo. "Bye, Ranchan, whenever we meet again, in this life 
or the next."

  The Terra High Command met in the confines of its headquarters in Geneva. 
The heads of military were gathered here, along with Ukyo, Taro, Cologne, 
and Kuno, among others. 
  The Director of Military presided over the meeting. "It is a grave day 
for us all, as the rebel forces of the Dominion plunge toward Earth with 
frightening speed. Captain Taro informs me that they'll be here within a 
few standard hours." 
  Taro nodded sadly. "Border forces have cut their supply lines, but it 
appears that the Dominion doesn't care; obviously, they're putting 
everything at stake on Earth itself. We have reason to believe that the 
strike force consists of every ship in the Dominion fleet that isn't 
patrolling the border worlds." 
  Kuno said, "Those people upstairs whom you call leaders are still 
bickering whether or not to hand over the Heir-apparent to the Dominion. 
Had they done so before, this disaster would never have happened! By 
holding the Heir-apparent, the Dominion people became fiercer than ever." 
  Cologne voiced, "We were fools to believe the Combine could turn the tide 
of battle against the Dominion. If you surrender, we will go on fighting."
  "As shall we," the Director replied. "I don't intend to hand Earth over 
to the Dominion, but if any of you don't wish to fight, leave now." Nobody 
left. "All right, then, we shall begin. Captain Kuonji?"
  Ukyo stepped up and took the podium. "The Dominion justifies their attack 
by claiming a rescue mission for their Heir-apparent, but we know the truth 
of the matter. Since our esteemed Council has their hands tied behind their 
backs, so to speak, it is up to us to deal with the incoming fleet. Under 
recommendation by the Director, and with the recent losses at Beta Ceti, I 
assume the role of Grand Admiral of the Navy."
  Murmurs shot across the room. "The Dominion won't have Earth without 
heavy losses, I guarantee it. All available ships have been recalled to 
assist in the defense of Earth. With the ships we have available we will 
form a defensive perimeter around Earth. Nothing must to get through."

  After the meeting was ajourned, Captain Taro approached Ukyo. 
  "My protegee," greeted Taro. 
  Ukyo hugged her mentor. "It's good to see you again!"
  "It's good to see my protegee surpass her mentor," Taro congratulated. 
  "Yeah, but who knows how long I'll enjoy my promotion," Ukyo said grimly. 
"You know as well as I our chances of success." Damn those politicians 
upstairs. 
  "It doesn't matter," assured Taro. "History will remember us for what we 
do, and judge us accordingly. The most important thing to remember is to 
live and die with consistency; you should die the way you lived. I intend 
to die by my principles, and so should you." Taro stared at his 
chronometer. "I have to get back to the Minotaur's Eye soon. I'll see you 
on the field of battle."
  Ukyo saluted Taro, and watched her mentor stride off down the hall. 

  Ukyo reclined in her command chair, watching the viewscreen as the 
Saotome Dominion fleet returned from hyperspace into realspace. The Combine 
fleet was deployed in an array about Earth, nothing must get through. 
  The newly-promoted admiral checked a datapad by her armrest. Major Ryoga 
Hibiki and his marines lay waiting to repel boarders, if neccessary. 
Otherwise, Hibiki and his marines had another task. Kodachi Kuno and her 
Black Rose squadron held pattern around the Jade Dragon. Kodachi retained 
her needle-shaped medium fighter, a design shared by only two other fighters
in the squadron, the others made up of different designs. Kuno and his force 
of Bronze Phoenix star-mechs hung silently nearby, waiting for battle. Not 
far away were the remnants of the Joketsuzoku fleet, under the command of 
the heir, Shampoo, who in turn was under Ukyo's command. Mousse formed the 
command of his White Swan wing of fighters nearby Shampoo's ship, the Pride 
of Joketsuzoku. 
  And of course the heads of government, including Cologne, waited below in 
Geneva for the outcome. Politicians still bickered in their seats, with an 
outcome not likely in the forseeable future. 
  In a cell in Siberia Ranma Saotome rotted, waiting for the inevitable 
end, one way or another. 

  The first of the Dominion warships entered realspace just outside Earth's 
orbit. Soon it was followed by several more warships, each launching smaller 
fighters from their bays. 
  Ukyo's lips curved into a malicious grin. Konatsu, her aide, scrambled to 
her side in panic. 
  "Sir, engage the enemy?" asked Konatsu. 
  "No," replied Ukyo. All eyes turned to the officer in surprise. "The 
arrogance of the enemy is their weakness. Watch, and learn."
  Dominion fighters surged ahead of the slower warships. They passed several 
unarmed satellites unconcerned, heading straight toward the Combine fleet. 
  It was a mistake. 
  Concealed within the depths of the satellites were several high-powered 
anti-ship weapons, which made short work of the approaching fighters. 
  The celebration on the Jade Dragon's bridge was short-lived as a swarm of 
warships entered realspace. Ukyo maintained her composure, and pushed a 
single button. 
  Had the Dominion fleet exited hyperspace well out of Earth's orbit, they 
could've performed sensor sweeps before heading in; standard Combine Navy 
procedure for invasions. The scanners would've detected the stealth fields 
of numerous tactical nuclear weapons, designed to detonate at the touch of a 
button. The proximity of the enemy warships to the space mines caused 
several shockwaves to glow across their shields, then through to their 
armor. The Dominion warships were far from crippled, but were shieldless. 
Some even lacked weapons batteries in certain locations. 
  "Order all squadrons to break and attack," commanded Ukyo. 

  Kodachi's Black Rose squadron, made up of medium fighters, escorted the 
heavy bombers of the Catoblepas squadron toward the oncoming Dominion 
warships. The bombers would make a torpedo run on the warship, but needed 
about twenty seconds for the torpedo to match shield modulation. However, 
since the shields were temporarily burned-out, that was no longer 
necessary. All the bombers needed now was cover from enemy fighters. 
  "This is Catoblepas Leader, ready and arm torpedoes!" Kodachi heard over 
the commlink. 
  "Incoming fighters!" shouted another. 
  Kodachi thumbed on her commlink. "Black Rose squadron, do not engage! 
Stay with your escorts!"
  Had the squadron been her usual team, they would've complied without 
hesitation. But, since only two survived previous conflicts, the rest were 
made up of green Combine pilots, who barely listened to Kodachi. Three 
broke off to engage the Dominion ships. 
  Damn, Kodachi thought. Damn those green pilots! 
  She reached for the commlink and opened a channel to the rest of her 
squadron. "Alright then, Dervish and Thorn are with me, delta formation! 
The rest of you, STAY with your escorts!" Time to save some greens.
  "Copy, Black Leader!" replied Thorn. 
  "Time to open a can of 'whoop ass!'" Dervish cried.  
  Kodachi and two other fighters broke from the rest of the squadron in a 
triangle pattern, Kodachi at point, the other two behind. Together the 
three fighters chased after the three green fighters. 
  The three greens were reduced now to a mere two as they engaged six heavy 
fighters. Both were panicking over open frequencies, something in which 
Kodachi punished if it happened within her veterans' circle. Dominion 
heavy fighters, armed with beater weapons and power plants than medium 
fighters, pummeled shields. 
  Kodachi opened a frequency to the lead enemy fighter. She taunted, "Hah! 
Six heavies against five mediums? Sounds fair to me! Ahahahahahahaha!!"
  Without waiting for a reply, Kodachi and her two companions opened fire. 
All three lines of fire converged on the lead fighter, crippling its 
forward shields until it peeled away armor. Thorn and Dervish rotated in a 
circular pattern about the axis fixed by Kodachi, dodging fire as they 
dished their own. The first enemy fighter burst into flames, then exploded. 
  Kodachi identified the stray green fighters and opened a channel. "You 
two'd better stick with me! Extended delta formation!" 
  The two greens complied, and joined in the rotating triangle behind and 
to the side of Thorn and Dervish, extending the triangle further. Together 
the five craft engaged the remaining Dominion fighters as a flying wedge. 

  Kuno waited in his star-mech as the Dominion fighters broke past the 
satellite defense batteries. Star-mechs were specially-designed for space 
combat. Unlike standard 'mechs, star-mechs had better propulsion jets, but 
not nearly enough to replace the function of actual fighters in battle. Of 
course, their weapon loadout made them a plus anyway. 
  This particular 'mech had a similar sloped-down cockpit resting on two 
legs like Kuno's old 'mech, but the similarities ended there. There were no 
missile launchers on this 'mech. The 'arms' of the mech carried two 
energy weapons each instead of one each, two of those weapons being the 
deadly particle projection cannons. Mounted on top of the 'mech was a huge
machine gun; sometimes old-fashioned weapons worked better than energy 
weapons. Of all the 'mechs Kuno was offered, this one in particular 
appealed to his taste and combat style; it was an older model, but experts 
in 'mech combat praised this one as a marauder in battle. 
  Kuno's 'mech, along with the rest of his squadron, stood atop the armored 
plating of the Jade Dragon herself-- effectively mobile turrets. He watched 
his scanners as the Dominion fighters approached the Combine capital ships. 
It was time to join the battle. 
  "Bronze Phoenix squadron, prepare to engage the enemy!" Kuno cried into 
the commlink. All at once, every single 'mech ignited their jets, and 
catapulted into the void to the oncoming enemy. Kuno fired off several 
particle beams of death to greet the enemy. 
  From behind Kuno and his 'mechs the weapon batteries of the Jade Dragon 
fired, shooting lasers that cut through the fighters like a knife through 
bread.  

  The battle seemed to fare well for the Terra Combine. Konatsu was already 
ready to celebrate, but Ukyo was not. 
  "What troubles you, sir?" asked Konatsu. 
  "They're holding out, they've got to have more than this," Ukyo said. 
"Either they're trying to soften us up, or this fleet's just bait...."
  She watched the tactical display. The Dominion forces appeared to be 
pulling out. Several of the Combine ships left their positions to pursue. 
  "Who is that, and get me a link to him!" Ukyo ordered Konatsu. 
  "It's Captain Hikaru Gosunkugi, sir. Putting him through."
  The image of Gosunkugi appeared on Ukyo's viewscreen. "Come on, Admiral! 
We got them on the run!"
  "Get back here, you idiot," Ukyo snarled, suddenly realizing the danger, 
"they're luring you away!" One of the oldest tricks in the book....
  Someone shouted from behind Gosunkugi, "Sir! We're detecting massive jump 
gates forming around us...!"
  "Oh shiiiii...." Gosunkugi screamed, then the transmission went blank. 
  Ukyo didn't have time to contemplate Gosunkugi's demise. She opened 
channels to the ships surrounding Gosunkugi's previous guard position. 
"Close up that hole in the array! Nothing gets through!"
  But the defenders were too slow to act as the Dominion reinforcements 
plunged through the defensive perimeter left open by Gosunkugi. The real 
battle just began. 

  Mousse's heavy fighter weaved through the swarm of Dominion craft. What 
remained of his White Swan squadron was now battered, as they took the 
full brunt of the frontal assault. 
  Over the comm-channel Mousse heard, "Oh my god! They're torpedoing the 
Pride!" 
  Mousse checked his radar, and sure enough, a full torpedo spread fired 
off at the main Joketsuzoku battleship. Shampoo's ship. 
  "Shampoo, I'm coming my darling!" he cried, leaving the squadron behind 
in the wake of afterburners. Silently, Mousse cursed whoever it was that was 
supposed to take out the bomber squadron. 
  The torpedoes were getting closer. 
  "All available power to engines, including shields!" Mousse shouted at 
the computer. The speed of his fighter increased significantly as laser 
blasts punched through the hull. 
  The torpedoes were almost within shield range. 
  Mousse flew faster and faster, ignoring the explosions around him. His 
glasses cracked in a sudden blow, blinding Mousse with shards of glass. But 
he didn't need his eyes anymore. 
  Mousse let out a war cry as his fighter crashed through the torpedo 
spread. 

  Shampoo stood staring out the window from the bridge of the Pride, 
watching the torpedo spread make its way to her ship. Then, without warning 
one of her fighters drove itself into the spread, detonating the warheads 
and sparing the Pride from destruction. 
  Shampoo turned to the tactical officer. "Identify that craft!"
  "Sir!" the female officer replied, "that was Mousse's fighter."
  Mousse. Stupid goose had to be a hero. He died a hero. 
  "Sir?" the officer said to Shampoo. The captain hadn't said a word for a 
long time. Or what seemed a long time. 
  "Divert all power to weapons," ordered Shampoo. "Take all of them down 
with fiery death!"

  If it hadn't been for that damned Hikaru, Ukyo'd be in control of the 
situation. Now things were getting out of hand. 
  She watched the tactical grid with disgust as more and more Combine blips 
faded away from the screen, and more and more Dominion ships appearing. Once
the toe was in the door, it would cost dearly to get it shut again, Ukyo 
knew. Perhaps the cost was more than the fleet could offer. It was one 
problem with being on the defensive. 
  Ukyo stared in horror as the blip that represented Captain Taro's ship, 
the Minotaur's Eye, vanished. She bit back the tears as her mentor died in 
battle. He died the way he lived, just as he wanted. 
  The ship rocked as Ukyo stood oblivious to her surroundings. 
  "Incoming torpedo spread!" warned Konatsu. 
  Ukyo snapped back from her thoughts. Now wasn't the time to mourn.  
  "Sir!" an officer cried. "Our countermeasures have been exhausted!"
  "Brace for impact!" Ukyo yelled furiously. 
  The Jade Dragon rocked once again, this time more violently than before. 
Bridge crewmen were sent flying, some dying before they hit the ground from 
explosions. Fire erupted on the bridge. Ukyo was thrown from her position.
  Konatsu rushed to replace the dead helmsman as Ukyo gathered herself. 
  A transmission burst through the confusion. "This is Admiral Ritecourt
of the Saotome Dominion flagship Crazy Horse. Combine vessels, you are 
ordered to surrender to the Saotome Dominion. Failure to do so will result 
in your destruction."
  "In hell," Ukyo spat under her breath. She half-expected one of the 
blood-relatives of Saotome to be on the flagship, especially Akane, issuing 
orders, but it seems they were all too-cowardly to lead the assault 
themselves. So where the hell was the wife of Ranma, Akane? The small 
admiration Ukyo held for the girl before faded to nothing. 
  She glanced over at the comm officer. "Tell the marines to drop on Earth, 
as per pre-instructed orders. We no longer need them. We're not going to go 
down without a fight."
  Ukyo stood before her seat, the blood and sweat trickling down her face. 
She watched silently as the marine dropships descended toward the surface. 
"All weapons forward! Target the flagship, the Crazy Horse!" To Konatsu she 
barked, "Full speed ahead!" 
  The officers on the bridge stared at their captain as if she were mad. 
  Konatsu looked back at Ukyo in alarm. "Full speed?!"
  "Ram them, dammit!" Ukyo snarled. "No one destroys the Jade Dragon but 
me!" 
  Konatsu nodded in understanding. "It has been an honor to serve under 
you, sir!" He stood, and withdrew the blaster he held at his side. Taking 
aim, he shot at Ukyo. 
  Ukyo never flinched. She looked over her shoulder, to an officer standing 
behind her, holding a weapon in his hand, pointed at Ukyo's neck. Konatsu's 
shot hit the officer right between the eyes. Ukyo's lips curved into a 
smile as she watched the life drain from the treacherous officer's eyes. 
  The master of the Jade Dragon nodded to Konatsu, who returned a salute. 
Loyal to the bitter end. 
  Konatsu returned to his seat and punched in the proper sequence. The Jade 
Dragon lurched forward at high velocity. 
  Ukyo sat back in her command chair. All eyes were busy at their consoles. 
"All available power to forward shields, engines, and weapons! We won't 
need life support where we're going." 
  "Yes sir!" cried an officer. "Not enough power for forward shields, but 
enough to hurt them!" The Jade Dragon accelerated faster than before as 
the fire from the ship's batteries intensified. 
  "Jade Dragon, cease your present course immediately!" Admiral Ritecourt
ordered, almost pleaded, as he realized the intent of the Jade Dragon. 
  Ukyo walked to the communications console herself, and replied, "I AM the 
Jade Dragon, and I hunger for you! Stare into my gaping maw, and know that 
you behold Death incarnate!" She opened the comm-channel to broad-band 
frequencies. "For duty, honor, and loyalty! Burn in the fires of honor and 
justice, you bastards!" 
  Damn all Saotomes to Hell. Ukyo stood on the bridge, a stone sentinel to 
the inevitable doom before her, never flinching, eyes open. She stared 
death in the face, and was enjoying every minute of it. 
  Konatsu had just enough time to stand from his seat to meet Death with 
open arms. My honor is my life....
  The Dominion flagship Crazy Horse couldn't get out of the way in time. 
  Oh, the light, Ranchan! If only you could see it with me.... 

  Far from the collision between the Jade Dragon and the Crazy Horse, Akane, 
now of Saotome by marriage, slammed her fist on the desk of her stateroom, 
hard enough to cause a mug to jump off the edge of the desk and shatter on 
the floor. A maintainance robot was on hand to clean up the mess. 
  "Shit, that was our flagship!" cursed Akane. 
  The captain of the light cruiser, Dio's Blade, replied, "It is a shame to 
lose Admiral Ritecourt, Mistress, but he was far from the only military 
head at our disposal. Shall we open a channel to Admiral Jackstone?"
  "No!" fumed Akane. "Those Combine bastards have taken my husband and 
imprisoned him in god-knows-what hellhole! They've destroyed quite a number 
of my ships! I will direct the battle myself!" 
  The captain bowed. "If that is your wish, Mistress!" 
  Akane stared out a window, facing the battle that raged at the front line. 
It was a little-known fact that the wife of the Heir-apparent was not on 
board the flagship, as others would've done. Instead, Akane wisely chose not 
to present herself as a target; disaster such as the loss of the flagship 
and losing the wife of the Heir-apparent in the process would have crippled 
the Saotome government. Following her own advice, Akane chose to remain 
on board one of the smaller, more 'insignifigant' ship in the fleet, far 
from the front line. From the Dio's Blade Akane directed her subordinate 
officers, as was her right as Commander-in-chief of the fleet. 
  She didn't know why she stood here today, here to rescue her husband and 
topple an evil government. Akane barely knew Ranma Saotome; the little she 
knew of him came from the brief moments during the wedding ceremony and 
the short honeymoon afterward, which was cut short due to Ranma's desire to 
lead the attack against the Joketsuzoku. Perhaps the real reason Akane was 
here today was to avenge a soiled honor; she found it insulting that the 
Heir-apparent, her husband, wasn't returned safely to the Dominion. Her 
father, Soun, and her sisters, Kasumi and Nabiki, tried to disuade Akane 
from going, but Akane felt she had to deal with the situation herself. 
Honor and duty demand it. 
  Her new father-in-law, Genma Saotome, had destroying the Terra Combine in 
mind for years; this was the best chance the Dominion would get to crush 
the Combine. Akane knew Genma supported the attack to claim Combine space, 
more foremost in his mind than rescuing his own son. 
  Well, it wasn't bad to kill two birds with one stone, Akane thought. 
After all, the corrupt Combine massacred millions of innocents and stole 
from the people; the galaxy would be much better off without the murderous 
bastards. 
  Akane strided back to her desk, and opened a comm-channel to the captain. 
"Inform the fleet to annihilate the enemy fleet. No quarter! I won't be 
satisfied until the entire Combine fleet is reduced to ash and the Heir- 
apparent safe at my side!" 

  Kodachi watched as the Jade Dragon plunged into the Dominion flagship. 
The fireworks were spectacular. 
  The Kuno girl's fighter shot off more energy bursts at her opponent. In 
no time flat her opponent's craft was ripped to shreds. Kodachi flew 
through the explosion at full-speed, letting the shields soak up all the 
damage. Suddenly, one large chunk of debris slammed into Kodachi's fighter. 
The shields couldn't take the impact; all about Kodachi computer systems 
shorted-out or exploded outright. 
  "Damn, that was one hell of a boom," noted Kodachi to herself. 
  It was about that time Kodachi's fighter was nearly helpless; wires 
dangled from exploded panels, sparks flew, weapons malfunctioned, shields 
failed. And the hull was getting punched up to hell. Ejection was simply 
out of the question, as the mechanism was shot. 
  They all knew the fight was hopeless. They all knew the risks. They knew 
they weren't going home. The most dangerous enemy was one that had nowhere 
to run. Kodachi was one of them. 
  "If I'm going to go down, I'm taking the bastards with me!" she vowed. 
  Kodachi turned on her commlink, broadcasting on all frequencies. With one 
hand on the flight stick, one on the commlink, she cried, "AAAAHHHHAAAAAA, 
AAAAAHHHAAAHAAAAAHAAAAAAAA!!!"
  The light blinded Kodachi as she cried out maniacally. 
  Kodachi rammed her ship into the engine section of one warship. The chain 
reaction it caused sent shockwaves throughout the ship that ripped it apart 
from the inside. 

  Little did Kodachi know that her interference in the comm-frequencies 
screwed-up communication on both sides, with larger losses on the Dominion 
side as a result. Kuno knew what Kodachi was doing when her laughter burst 
from every frequency. 
  So, I am the last of the Kuno line, Kuno thought as he watched his sister 
plunge to her fiery doom. The phoenix was reborn in fire, perhaps it was 
time for Kuno to do the same. We live and die together, Kodachi had said. 
I'll see you shortly, dear Sister. I promise. 
  As his star-mech accelerated at the nearest warship with guns blazing, 
Kuno shouted over the commlink, on all frequencies, "For House Kuno! We die 
for honor!" 
  It was indeed Kuno's finest hour. 

  Akane was taking a sip of coffee when Kuno's death cry blared from her 
communications board. She spat out the coffee in a spray, for she 
recognized the voice that shouted, "For House Kuno! We die for honor!" 
  She thought it was bad enough when the awful laughing appeared on all 
frequencies, and now this? 
  It was the voice Akane recognized from diplomatic dinners and summits: 
it could only be Tatewaki Kuno, the Heir-apparent of House Kuno, and a 
memmorable, thick-skulled man. But wasn't he supposed to be dead? 
  "Computer," Akane started, "cross-reference speech patterns between that 
of Tatewaki Kuno and sample 73-48-mark-2." 
  "Accessing," replied the computer. "Speech patterns match." 
  Oh shit, what the hell was Kuno doing alive, and working for the Terra 
Combine, at that? Tatewaki Kuno was supposed to be dead, killed in his 
sleep during the Halydis Massacre. Something was wrong, and Akane intended 
to find out what. 
  "Computer, access records of Halydis Massacre," began Akane, turning to 
the console on her desk. Time to do a little research. 

  Ranma watched as the door to his dark cell opened, revealing Major Ryoga 
Hibiki, of the late Jade Dragon. 
  "Come here to gloat?" Ranma speculated. 
  "No, I'm under orders from the admiral to make sure you don't die," Ryoga 
replied. 
  "Ucchan's doing?" Ranma said in surprise. "Why?"
  "She wanted to make sure you lived to see the next day," explained Ryoga. 
He handed a datapad to the prisoner. "She recorded her final message here. 
You have five minutes to look it over before I come back." With that, Ryoga 
stalked out of the cell.
  Ranma looked at the datapad curiously. Then, with a shrug, he turned it 
on. The image of Ukyo appeared on the small screen. 
  "Greetings, Ranchan," Ukyo said. "By the time you hear this, I'll be with 
my ancestors." Ucchan... dead? "It appears that your Saotome government 
have won. Know that I lived and died by my principles, for the people I 
serve. Never forget that, old friend." She halted for a moment. "I have 
one favor to ask of you, one I'm sure you'll carry out. When it's time for 
you to take the throne, remember the people. Always remember that the 
government exists to serve the people, my friend. I wish things were 
different between us; I've come to forgive our pass differences, perhaps 
you can do the same. You don't know how tempting your offers to defect 
were, just so I could be with you! See you, Ranchan, wherever we meet 
again, in a place without wars to tear us apart." 
  The message was short and to the point, just like Ucchan. Ranma held the 
datapad tightly, silently mourning the loss of his friend. She's right, I 
will do her this one favor. 
  It was then Major Hibiki returned with a group of marines. The marines 
picked Ranma up off the floor unceremonially. They followed their leader as 
he marched down the hall, enter an elevator, and descend several floors 
before stopping. Ryoga lead the marines and their captive to yet another 
cell, far below the surface. 
  Why am I not surprised? Ranma thought to himself. 
  The marines tossed Ranma into the dark cell. Ryoga called, "This is for 
your own safety." 
  Even in death, Ukyo held quite a bit of power, Ranma thought as the cell 
door slammed shut. 

  Major Ryoga Hibiki left a small squad just outside the Heir-apparent's 
cell as he made his way to the compound's single entrance. Dominion marines 
may arrive at any moment, and Ryoga was itching for battle. 
  Surrender was not an option. The Directors of Military, and the admiral, 
made that point clear. Ryoga intended to put up a good fight before he 
bought it. 
  As he strode down the corridor Ryoga reached for a stim-pack. Producing 
the pencil-thick pack, Ryoga jabbed the needle end of the stim into his 
arm, letting the drug flow in his veins. The stim-drugs gradually did a 
great deal of harm to one's system as a cost for heightened awareness and 
strength, but now it didn't matter. Ryoga knew he was going to die. 
  The major made his way to the entrance of the prison compound, shouldering 
a heavy bazooka before approaching the officer he left in charge. Saluting, 
Ryoga said, "I assume the batteries and barricades are in place?"
  The officer returned the salute. "Yes sir! Twelve heavy laser batteries 
facing the projected direction of assault." 
  "Good," Ryoga replied. "If it's a fight the Dominion wants, they'll get 
one." Heavy laser batteries seemed like overkill in a defense of such an 
insignifigant building, but Ukyo insisted on the finest of defenses. Ryoga 
intended to use them, and use them well. He estimated at least three marine 
contingents would go down before the compound's defenses were broken. 
  Another officer approached Ryoga, out of breath. "Sir! Dominion landing 
craft sighted to the north!"
  Ryoga nodded. "This is it, men! Get to your posts!" 
  Ryoga intended to fulfill the admiral's dying wish. 

  In the end none of the Terra Combine fleet survived the onslaught of the 
Dominion's numbers. However, the Dominion only barely succeeded in rescuing 
the Heir-apparent from his Siberian prison, as the forces under Major 
Hibiki set up a fierce defense. Unfortunately for the Combine, the entire 
defense force was wiped out. Ryoga died a warrior, as did those who died 
in the heavens above before him. 
  Akane arrived on the surface in a personal shuttle to greet Ranma as he 
was escorted from the ruins of the Siberian prison. Ranma found himself 
embracing the woman he married, a woman he barely knew, but a woman with 
such passion and determination to get the job done. 
  "I've missed you," began Akane. With a sudden change of expression, she 
yelled, "Why'd you have to run off and play cowboy like that?! We didn't 
even finish our honeymoon!" 
  "I missed you too," Ranma replied. He didn't know why, but somehow, Ranma 
knew he loved this woman. Oh well, at least she cared. "So, how's Pop been?" 
  Akane's expression became grave. In short order she explained the past 
events, and a new discovery. 
  The Terra Combine was crushed under the heels of the Saotome Dominion, 
but at what price? Following Kuno's final war cry and blazing death, the 
truth of the Halydis Massacre was revealed to all in the Dominion fleet; 
records within the Combine archives and Kuno's own black box and logs 
verified that it was Saotome, not the Combine, responsible for the 
eradication of House Kuno. There was too much evidence for the accusation 
to be false. None of them would look at their leader, Genma, in the same 
way any more. 
  "An entire family was murdered for material gain," Akane concluded sadly. 
  "I know," Ranma replied. "We've been living sheltered lives for too long. 
It took another to open my eyes, and I'm disgusted at what I see." He shook 
his head. "No, actually, it was a friend that helped me, and now she's dead. 
I wish you could've met her." And, Ranma thought, the two, having similar 
dispositions, might even have become friends. 
  "This friend of yours," Akane started, "what was she like?" 
  As Ranma began telling his tale to Akane, the couple was escorted back to 
the waiting shuttle. 

  Ranma watched as the surviving enemy were lead to the prison ships, among 
them Shampoo, who somehow survived the destruction of her own ship (she 
wanted to kill herself, but the escorts prevented her from doing so). 
Nowhere Ranma saw a trace of Ukyo, and he felt a pang of guilt in his 
stomach, even if he did know she was dead already. 
  I could've saved you, Ucchan, Ranma thought. If it weren't for these 
damned wars, everything would've been different between us. In the end, 
you chose your duty over friendship. I have to respect that. 
  Good-bye, Ucchan. Your sacrifice will not be in vain. 

  So it came to pass that when Ranma returned home he memorialized Ukyo and 
those under them for their duty, honor, and loyalty, in the face of death. 
Posthumous honors were bestowed upon the defeated officers, and their 
families were provided with full benefits of other military families. Genma 
wanted to punish those who acted against the Dominion during the war, but 
Ranma dissuaded him, arguing that it was time for things to heal. With 
those who participated in the final battle against the Combine behind him, 
and some stern backing by Akane, Ranma threatened to make Genma's treachery 
public. Reluctantly, Genma agreed. 
  When it was time that Ranma became head of government, with Akane's help 
sweeping reforms were made throughout the Dominion to make it a better 
place. For Ucchan. For the people.  


Closing theme: Let's Be Platonic
-----------------------------------------------
Author's Rant

  As of Version 2.1: Added scenes with Akane in them. Probably makes the 
'rescue' mission more believable. References to Akane were added as well. 
Spruced-up the look at life as the heir to the 'family business.' The rest 
is up to your imagination. 
  As of Version 2: I've taken comments to heart and rewritten the scenes 
between Ranma and Ukyo, added a few more bits to make the Kuno siblings 
more 'Kuno,' and added some other minor details. Fixed a few mistakes I 
missed in Version 1. Added interaction with Taro in the story. Added extra 
event involving Genma. I must say, I'm happier with this version. 
  The ship name 'Wild Stallion' can mean two things to you; take a pick 
which one was foremost in my mind when I wrote it :) 
 
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