Data 5: The NIRAA Strikes! At Lawndale High School, Mr. DeMartino was speaking to Angela Li, the principal. He was trying to persuade her to cancel the game due to some security concerns. "Ms. Li," Mr. DeMartino began, "given the fact that a terrorist has seized a plane and has it going to the United States has me gravely concerned that there might be a chance he might bring it over to our community. We should cancel the game." "Forget it, DeMartino," Ms. Li said, "there's too much money at stake here! We've got a sold out stadium, I promised Mystic Spiral I'd pay them $1000 for playing the national anthem, and the Fashion Club's poised to make a lot of sales with their homemade goodies." "Dammit, Ms. Li," Mr. DeMartino roared, "is money all you ever think about? What about people's lives?" "I could make things rather rough on you if I ask the Board of Education of start disciplinary hearings against you for insubordination!," warned Ms. Li. With that, Mr. DeMartino realized that Ms. Li had him. "All right," shouted Mr. DeMartino, "go ahead with your damn game, but it'll be on your conscience if anything happens to anyone out there!" With that, he left the office. "Paranoid bastard!," Ms. Li dismissed the entire affair with a huff. ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Downtown Lawndale was quiet, since almost everyone was heading for the game. Meanwhile, the Lawndale Militia had quietly assumed attack positions. Trucks were parked in strategic positions in town. Anthony was making a check of the situation. "Troop A ready at City Hall?," he said on a portable CB radio. "Check," said the first troop leader. "Troop B ready at Police Headquarters?," Anthony asked. "Check," replied the second troop leader. Finally, Anthony asked, "Troop C ready at the Courthouse?" "Check," stated the third troop leader. All was set. "OK, now we wait for the right moment to strike," said Anthony. Almost no one noticed when a bus stopped and left off Beavis and Butt-Head, who began their hideous laughter as they headed down the street toward the high school. "Wait a minute," Anthony said, "it's those two idiots who threw firecrackers at the scrimmage." "Should we kill them?," Poindexter asked. "No," Anthony replied. "We'll deal with those two soon enough. Hold your positions. It'll only make the taste of victory that much sweeter." ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- The joint SDF/USAF base near Yokohama was one of the biggest on Honshu, the main island of Japan. Airman First Class Brian Mackenzie, Mack's cousin, was doing some routine maintenance on his F-15C Eagle when he got the orders. "Mackenzie," Sgt. Frank Stone said, "we've just got our orders in from the Pentagon. We are to intercept the JAL plane and force the terrorist to land the plane outside the mainland. Your unit is to scramble immediately." Brian didn't waste time. He finished up his maintenance and got ready to go. He didn't even notice the white, unmarked truck that was approaching the gate. The two guards on sentry duty did, but they were ran over as the truck crashed through the gate and pulled to a stop. It was what he saw next that was shocking. The NIRAA ninja soldiers pulled out small black boxes, pushed the buttons on them, and then donned gas masks. Brian, not a fool, got into the cockpit of his fighter and activated the oxygen. The devices went off, sending deadly clouds of sarin gas in the air. There was enough to kill everyone outside. Brian activated his radio and alerted the tower: "This is Airman Mackenzie to tower! Some terrorists have just entered the base and activated sarin bombs! Seal all vents in all buildings at once! I'll try to stop the terrorists until help comes. Out!" The cloud began to subside, and the ninja terrorists moved toward the hangar where the Neo-Zero prototype was being stored. They now had their masks off. It turned out that one of the ninja soldiers was none other than Yoriko herself. "Open the doors to that hanger!," she ordered. Two of the ninja soldiers opened the doors, and the Neo-Zero prototype was now revealed. It was unlike any jet fighter the SDF currently had. Based on the rejected YF-23 design from Northrop/McDonnell Douglas, the Neo-Zero was vastly improved by Mitsubishi over the original design specifications. The capacity for AAM's had been doubled thanks to the design of new, smaller and more effective "Neo-Sidewinder" missiles; one of those had the explosive power of two regular Sidewinders. The machine guns were also new: it was the experimental 35-mm "Deathgrip" cannon. Further, radar jamming devices on the fighter made it even more stealthy than it already was. All in all, the Neo-Zero was a worthy successor to the legendary fighter plane that was its namesake; although paying homage to the past, it was symbolizing Japan's ascendancy as the second most powerful nation in the world, a nation that was committed to peace, albeit it was ready to defend that peace if need be. Yoriko stepped up to the cockpit and opened the canopy. She stepped in and began the pre-flight check. Brian had seen what was going on. Until help arrived, it was up to him to stop the hijacking. "Hold it right there!," he yelled. Yoriko had started the Neo-Zero up, and it was slowly taxiing out of the hangar toward Brian. "I said to hold it right there!," he repeated. Yoriko fired the Deathgrip cannon. Brian got out of the way, only to be in the way of several ninja soldiers who proceeded to use their nunchuckas on him. Yoriko now got on the runway and put the plane on full throttle; it was roaring down the runway and soon took off. Yoriko activated the afterburners and soon the craft reached its maximum speed of Mach 2.5, once again an improvement over the YF-23's original performance specs. Yoriko armed all systems, and set a course for Tokyo. Luckily for Brian, several MP's arrived on the scene. After a brief scuffle, the ninja soldiers had been captured, but already the damage had been done. One of the MP's asked Brian, "Did you see what happened?" "Every last thing, Sir," Brian said. "I tried to stop them, but they had detonated serin bombs. I was lucky to escape that, they tried again to stop them. They overwhelmed me." "Airman," replied the MP, "this is a very serious matter that's just happened here. Whoever has that fighter can cause havoc anywhere in Japan right now. But at least your quick thinking might have spared quite a few lives inside. We're going to send you to Gen. Torymura for a debriefing." Brian followed the MP's as they put the captured ninja soldiers in a truck. They were soon heading for the base stockade and the main administration building. ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Sendai Hill Shrine was abuzz with activity. Reports were coming in about the JAL situation, and now the report of the theft of the Neo-Zero was coming in. "We've just got this report in from Yokohama," an NHK anchorperson began to say. "An experimental jet fighter has just been stolen from the joint SDF/USAF base located at the port city. It seems to be on a direct course for Tokyo. SDF and American military personnel are asking all civilians to take necessary precautions in case of an air attack. We will have further warnings and bulletins here on NHK as we receive them." "I guess now I should tell you about my meeting with Ryu," Mamoru said. "What do you mean, Mamo-chan?," Usagi asked. Mamoru began, "Ryu asked--I digress, demanded--the Sailor Senshi's assistance in case the Neo-Zero fighter was hijacked. We have no choice. Special Intelligence has extensive files on each of us." "But they don't have one on me," Daria was quick to point out. "Not yet," Mamoru replied. Mamoru's cellular phone began to ring. "Hello, Chiba Mamoru speaking," was his answer. "Mamoru," said the voice on the phone, "this is Ryu. The time has come. You and the others are to go to the joint SDF/USAF base in Yokohama for you assignment briefing immediately." Ryu stopped there and hung up. "We've just got our orders," said Mamoru. "We've got to move it to the SDF/USAF base at once." Usagi never thought that the Sailor Senshi would ever be called to stop an internal threat to Japan; always the threat was from outer space, from another dimension, from another time. Now Usagi and the others had grown up too fast. "All right, everyone!," said Usagi, "It looks like we have no choice in this matter! Prepare to transform!" The Sailor Senshi began their transformations again: "ETERNAL MOON STAR POWER, MAKE-UP!" "SUPER CHIBI-MOON STAR POWER, MAKE-UP!" "SUPER MARS STAR POWER, MAKE-UP!" "SUPER JUPITER STAR POWER, MAKE-UP!" "SUPER VENUS STAR POWER, MAKE-UP!" "SUPER SATURN STAR POWER, MAKE-UP!" "SUPER URANUS STAR POWER, MAKE-UP!" "SUPER NEPTUNE STAR POWER, MAKE-UP!" "SUPER PLUTO STAR POWER, MAKE-UP!" "SUPER MERCURY STAR POWER, MAKE-UP!" As soon as each of the Sailor Senshi and Mamoru had completed their transformation, they headed for the base. "I never thought my trip was going to take this turn!," Daria said to herself, still fussing over her seirafuku. ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- "Ladies and gentlemen," Gen. Torymura began to speak, "I guess you know why you're here right now. The Neo-Zero prototype has been stolen by the New Imperial Rule Assistance Association, an extreme right-wing organization that wants to restore the wartime military government that had ruled Japan. This aircraft is so advanced, it makes every jet fighter now with the SDF obsolete. The NIRAA's objective is to use the Neo-Zero in a terrorist campaign to bomb Tokyo until the civilian government surrenders to them. Your mission is to stop the Neo-Zero and the NIRAA at all costs. You have complete authority to use whatever means necessary to stop them. Do I make myself clear?" "General," Sailor Moon began, "with all due respect, the Sailor Senshi are not some mercenary force; we don't go out on commando missions for anyone." "Listen, sister," Gen. Torymura replied, "this isn't any fun and games here! You're not dealing with some powerful alien beings trying to take over the world! We're dealing with a ruthless terrorist organization that wants to re-annex both Koreas, all of Sakhalin Island, the Kuriles and Taiwan as well as retake the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, The People's Republic of China, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Vietnam, Mynamar, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, the Pescadores, Indonesia and the various Oceanic nations. They've even issued grandiose statements about waging nuclear war against the United States, Russia, Great Britain and France. Sailor Moon, or shall I call you Ms. Tsukino, this is a very grave matter. This isn't something you can just say some magic words and hope your enemies turn to dust. We must use force against the NIRAA and stop them from destroying half a century of progress!" "But by using some of the methods your government denounces the NIRAA in using, isn't your government being hypocritical?," Daria retorted. "No one asked you, sister!," Gen. Torymura replied. "And who the Hell are you anyway? You're not Mizuno Ami, alias Sailor Mercury!" "No, I'm not," she replied. "I'm Daria Morgendorffer from the United States. I'm filling in for Ms. Mizuno. She's now on board the JAL plane that's been taken hostage by Islamic Jihad." "Don't get wise with me, Ms. Morgendorffer!," replied Gen. Torymura."You may sass around like you do back in the United States, but remember, we have a saying here in Japan: 'The nail that sticks up gets hammered down!'" "And we have a saying back at the United States you should know about," snapped back Daria. "And what's that?," demanded Gen. Torymura. "'Up yours!,'" shouted Daria. Gen. Torymura seemed to blow a fuse. "Daria, that was uncalled for!", Luna said, dropping her reservations about speaking when strangers were about. "You listen and you listen good, all of you!," said Gen. Torymura. "You will co-operate with us, or you will never get out of all the possible legal trouble you could face!" Daria seized Gen. Torymura by his lapels and threw him against the wall. "Now you listen to me, Sir!," growled Daria. "I've got a friend on board that JAL flight and I'm scared for her! For the first time in my life, I'm worried for my family back home! The last thing I need is your military crap! We'll stop the NIRAA from blowing up Tokyo and maybe get your precious Neo-Zero back, but we want to play by our rules! Adults screw up things a lot as it is! And the last thing I need is some holier-than-thou flag officer in my face!" Daria let go of him and he seemed to slink to the floor. He got us slowly. "Fine, do it your way," he finally conceded; "see if I care. I'm not going to argue with a bullheaded, hotheaded American gaijin- shojo with an attitude problem. I just hope to God you save our nation, that's all." Somehow, Daria had a humbling effect on Gen. Torymura. "We'd better check the radar readings," he finally said.They left to go to the radar room. ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Yoriko was now over Tokyo. She was trying to pick her first target. She saw the famed Sendai Hill Shrine ahead of her. "That will be my first target!," she said. She locked on the target on the fighter's HUD, then pressed the fire button. One of the Neo-Sidewinders ejected from the fighter and flew straight for the shrine. Yuuichirou saw the missile firing and ran to get Rei's grandfather. However, the missile was faster than him, and it blew the shrine to matchwood. "DIRECT HIT!," Yoriko roared. Yoriko then flew toward the Kuriles. The NIRAA had a secret base there, since it was in Russian jurisdiction, and Japan dared not try to follow here there. Dr. Vander Helffen was supposed to meet her there. ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- The radar at the SDF/USAF base was tracking the movements of the Neo-Zero. It has just seen the attack. "Sir," said the SDF private who was checking the radar for Gen. Torymura, "I believe that the fighter just attacked in the area of Sendai Hill." A sickening thought raced through Rei's mind when she heard that. "Oh, no! Not Grandpa!," she screamed. There was only one thing to do: head back to the shrine. ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- When they got to the shrine, the TMPD as well as the Tokyo Fire Department were already on the scene. Several TMPD officers were digging through the rubble when they pulled out Yuuichirou. Rei ran up to him; he was barely alive. "Yuuichirou," Rei said, "where's Grandpa? Is he alive?" "I don't know," was all he said. He blacked out. "Get him to the hospital!," one of the TMPD officers sharply ordered a paramedic. Yuuichirou was taken away. "We've found something!," said a firefighter. Rei raced up to where the fireman was. They had unearthed something, all right. Rei stopped in her tracks when she saw what it was. It was the short, bald corpse of her grandfather, still clad in his priestly clothes. She yelled, "Grandpa, it's me, Rei. Please tell me you're all right!" She began to shake the corpse. The firefighter looked for vital signs. "No pulse, no respiration," he said. " I'm sorry, Miss, but he's dead." Rei shrieked with a loud "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!," and began to cry uncontrollably. Daria went up to her and let her rest her head on her shoulder. "I'm very sorry, Rei," Daria said, and for the first time in her teenage life, she was beginning to cry herself. She never felt anything like this before. "Grandpa," Rei began to say, "I will avenge your death! I will not rest until I've destroyed whoever did this to you!" Usagi and the other Sailor Senshi began to cry as well. Mamoru gripped his gloved hands in fists of rage. "Do not worry, Rei," he said to himself, "the Sailor Senshi and I will help you in this! This I swear!" ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- A couple of hours had passed in the lavatory where Ami was being held prisoner. Ami had apparently fallen asleep, for then she saw a strange light, and someone standing next to her. "Who are you?," she asked. "I am the spirit of Hino Rei's mother," the apparition said. "My beloved daughter prayed to me and asked me to help you. I will grant you your deepest, fondest wish in your heart." "I wish I had my Sailor Mercury powers back so I can save the passengers." "So it shall be done."With a wave of her hand, the ghost imparted energy into Ami, and automatically she began the transformation to Sailor Mercury. Now with new-found strength, Ami kicked down the door. Akbar heard it, and roared, "What's going on?" "You evil man!," shouted Ami. "I will not allow you to carry out your plan! I am Super Sailor Mercury, Champion of Love and Justice! In the name of Mercury, I will punish you!" "The only one who will be punished here will be you, infidel!," roared back Akbar. "And Allah's punishment is the worst of all! He will condemn you to Hell, you Satan!" With that, he lunged for Sailor Mercury and applied a chokehold on her.