Data 15: Sailor Misery Chick Takes to the Skies Gen. Torymura and Mamoru were both pacing the floor. The waiting was the hardest part in any battle. One did not know until the troops came back as to who survived and who was injured or dead. "They've got to be OK!," Mamoru finally said. Suddenly, there was a blinding flash of light. Usagi, Daria, Ami, Jane, Trent, Jesse, Mack and Jodie had finished their teleportation. Mamoru couldn't hold back his feelings. "Usako, you're back!," Mamoru said as he ran to her and kissed her. "I was worried." He then took a look at Daria. "Daria, what's with the bikini?" "Long story, Mamoru," Daria said. Mamoru noticed that Ami was with them. "Ami, you're alive! What happened?" "As Daria just said, it's a long story," Ami said. Daria then turned to her friends and said, "Guys, I want you to meet my friends." She began with Jane and went from left to right. "This is Jane Lane; that's her brother Trent; the guy next to him is Jesse Moreno; the black guy is Michael Jordan Mackenzie; we just call him 'Mack'; and the black women with him is Jodie Landon. Everyone, this is Gen. Torymura Keiichi of the Japan Air Self Defense Force, along with Chiba Mamoru, a/k/a Tuxedo Mask." Tuxedo Mask extended his hand to Trent and said, "Welcome to Japan. I wish it was under better circumstances." "Hey, man, it was one strange trip," Trent replied. "So, how are things here?," Sailor Moon asked. "Not good," Tuxedo Mask said. "Tokyo has virtually been bombed to rubble. Even now Yoriko and the Neo-Zero are heading for the Imperial Palace. We've got to stop her." Ryu, Gov. Nagai and the Solar Warrior returned. "You'd better turn on the TV and tune in to NHK," Ryu said. "The Emperor is giving a speech." The TV was turned on. There on NHK was the entire Imperial Family: Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko, Crown Prince Naruhito and his wife, Crown Princess Masako, and all the other immediate members, as well as the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet. In the background was the Imperial Standard, which had the Imperial Mon, or crest, of a yellow sixteen-pedaled chrysanthemum on a red field, along with the Prime Minister's flag of five white chrysanthemums in a pentagon arrangement on a yellow field and the familiar national flag of a red disk on a white filed. The Emperor stood up. "Citizens of Japan," the Heisei Emperor began, "we stand at a perilous crossroads in our nation's long history. There are forces here in this nation who are trying to destroy over half a century of peaceful, democratic progress. We must not succumb to those who would ruin all the progress that has been made in these past five decades. We have always been a resilient people. When the West visited us nearly a century and a half ago, we realized that we had to adapt and modernize. After the tragic events of the 1920's through the 1940's--where ruthless military leaders led our nation to disaster--we resolved to rebuild, even taking some help from those had been victorious against us. Some would question that assistance, but in the long run, it has been for the better. Are we to go back to the chaos of that terrible time, or are we to embrace the dawn of the new millennium by fighting back against these extremist elements? Therefore, it is the duty of every citizen of this nation to fight back against those who would bring chaos to our nation. We must fight to protect one of the strongest democratic regimes ever known. We must defend our way of life and our peaceful economy. We must stand up and fight back, even if we must resort of sharpened bamboo stick to fend off the enemy and fall to the last man. Now what is at stake here is not territorial expansion or defeating foreign troops;it is the very survival of our nation that is at stake. Go out and fight for what is right, and may all the kami and megami who watch over our nation defend us." "The Emperor did the right thing, just like his father before him," Gen. Torymura said. "The people are now on his--and our--side," the Solar Warrior said. "Now if we could only hear if we'll get any outside help," Usagi said. ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Yoriko heard the entire speech on a portable radio. She was not pleased. "The Emperor has betrayed us!," Yoriko said. "He will pay!" ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Vander Helffen had heard the entire speech himself and decided that action had to be taken. "Yoriko has now become too much of a liability to successfully carry out her mission," he said to some ninja soldiers. "She will now blindly try to fulfill a blood lust. Get my Iron Cross robotic armor and suit me up. I will go to the Imperial Palace myself and take care of matters." ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Back at SDF HQ, a private arrived with a message for Gen. Torymura. "I'm afraid it's not good," the private said. "The Americans will not be sending any help, nor anyone else for that matter. The American bases have been far too damaged, and popular opinion is against them interfering in what they feel is an internal affair. The Russians, Chinese, British, French and others have expressed similar problems, as well as limited resources and budgetary concerns." "It looks like we stand alone, then," Gen. Torymura said. "It's time to fall back on my back-up plan. Take Ms. Morgendorffer and her friends to Mr. Hamada's place in Narita." The private saluted and motioned to the others. "We have to go someplace. We have an ace in the hole," was all the private said. ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- It was a considerable drive given the bombed-out conditions of the roads in Tokyo. They weren't that much better once they entered Chiba-ken. Once they got to Narita, though, they were much improved. Finally, the SDF Humvee reached the residence of the Hamadas. They stepped out of the Humvee and went to the front door. The private rang the doorbell. Ieyasu answered. "I have been expecting you," he said. "Come in." They entered the house. It was like most houses in post-war Japan, of somewhat Western style but with some of the touches of traditional Japanese living. As customary, everyone's shoes were removed. Daria could see that for all the modern day conveniences, the house still had tatami mats on the floor; so important were these mats in traditional Japanese architecture that rooms were often measured in how many of these mats could fit in them. Here in the living room--which was one of two rooms done in the traditional Japanese style--stood the tokonoma, or alcove for art; off to the side was the family shrine. There was the TV and the radio, along with a computer and a short-wave CB. "Pretty impressive place you have here, sir," Daria finally said. "I am Hamada Ieyasu, but almost everyone here calls me by my nickname I had when I once was working for Toyota's American operations,'Harry'. As you can tell, I don't let old age slow me down. You see, I just happen to be a special operative for the SDF." "Huh?," Usagi said in surprise. "You see, I do have a lot of expertise in these matters. When the militarists took over our nation, I was contacted by a group of concerned Japanese-Americans who were worried about our nation being involved with the Axis powers. I played the role of the good soldier, volunteering to be with the old JIAAF, while at the same time giving information about upcoming attacks on American positions. Even after the unfortunate relocation of the Japanese-American population, the American government thought I would be of service to them. I was even entrusted with special messages that were sent to me by the famed Navaho Code Talkers, which you know out government was unable to decipher. I admit that I did some things I was not proud of for both sides, but I was never suspected. When I had the opportunity to capture American POW's, I let them escape after briefing them about my activities; if I was captured by the Americans, I always told the top brass about my covert activities on the behalf of their government. I was one of the first persons to warn the new Truman Administration that the government was willing to sacrifice everyone to save their nation. It was perhaps one of the reasons why the atomic bombs fell on Hiroshima and Nagasaki." "And you have no remorse over that?," Daria said. Ieyasu continued, "I'll admit that I do feel remorse that many died in those two attacks. But it is known that some American POW's died as well. But as I see it, atrocities were made by everyone in the war, so it's a wash. What matters is the here and now. Anyway, after the war, I did my part in reconstructing the nation; I assisted the occupation forces in various matters, and after they left, I was contacted by my government about forming a special unit that would keep an eye on groups that would try to bring back militarism. The unit was named 'Red Unit'. We're a special part of the SDF--which for obvious reasons officially doesn't exist--that keeps an eye on groups like the NIRAA in case something like the present situation occurs. I keep tabs on these groups via short-wave radio and the Internet, as well as take considerable risks in infiltrating their secret meetings. Believe me, I am seen as a hero by my neighbors; to them, I am not a traitor for what I did during the war, or even now. There is no honor lost if you admit that you did wrong and wish to do penance. We'd much prefer what we have now than to go back to those dark days of the past." Everyone stood there, silently amazed at what Ieyasu had told them. He finally broke the silence: "Come, I know why you are here. The plane is waiting for us in the back." "Plane?," Usagi said. They stepped out and saw the Nick there in the backyard. "Any of you into airplanes?," Ieyasu said. "I am," Daria said. "That's a Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu night fighter/ground attack aircraft. Maximum speed, 338 MPH; powerplant, two Mitsubishi Ha-102 14-cylinder radial piston engines rated at 1079 horsepower; range of 1240 miles; service ceiling of 33,000 feet; armed with a forward-firing 37-mm cannon, two obliquely mounted upward-firing 20-mm cannons and a 7.92-mm machine gun in the rear observer's position. The 'Nick,' as we called it, was unusual for a Japanese aircraft since it had armored gas tanks, whereas most other planes like the Zero didn't. And it was this plane, and not the Zero, that made the first Kamikaze attacks against American naval vessels in 1944." "I see you know this plane very well," Ieyasu said. "Right now, this old plans is the only airworthy craft we have against the Neo-Zero." "Wouldn't that be like using a pea shooter against an ICBM?," Daria said. "I have studied much of your Western world's religions," Ieyasu continued, "and if I recall, in both Judaism and Christianity, they didn't give a young man not much older than you named David much of a chance against someone named Goliath, who was a bit taller than most of your nation's basketball players. Remember, back in 1281, no one thought we stood a chance against the mighty Mongol Empire when they sent a vast armada against us. But then our Shinto priest prayed for divine intervention, and a massive storm sank much of the Mongol fleet. That was the origin of Kamikaze, the 'Divine Wind.' Only much later on was it given to those soldiers and pilots who sacrificed themselves in fighting against the enemy during World War II." "For what it's worth," Daria said, "no one thought the English had a chance against the Spanish Armada back in 1588, either, and they were totaled by bad weather as well." Ieyasu got a good laugh over that. "Young lady, you are not like most other Americans I have met; you're not so uptight. Now, I guess I'll take you and you." He pointed to Daria and Ami. "Let's get in the plane and take off. My wife has already let down the fence so we'll taxi onto the street and take off from there." Natsume, Ieyasu's wife went to Jane and said, "You can join me in the car and follow them." "Fine by me," Jane said. "I'll fly on my own and see if I can't help in anyway," Usagi said. Thus Ieyasu, Daria and Ami got into the Nick. Ieyasu got to the pilot's controls and turned on the ignition. Ami sat next to him while Daria got in the rear observer's position. The engines coughed to life as the propellers began spinning. Soon the lumbering plane was going down the backyard, to the front and out onto the street,where it got into take-off position. Ieyasu made a careful check of all systems. "All systems go," he said. He then pulled gently on the throttle and the plane eased down the road, and was soon airborne. Jane and Natsume followed in Ieyasu's car, and Sailor Moon took off and flew in the same direction. The final battle to save Japan from the NIRAA was soon underway. ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Yoriko was flying over what was left of Tokyo. She had "Black Monk Time" in the CD player again. This time she was listening to "I Hate You" Larry Clark's screeching organ playing led into Gary Burger's vocals: "Hey, well, I hate you with a passion, baby! Yeah, I do!/But call me!/Well, you know, my hate's everlasting, baby!/But call me!/Do you, do you, do you, do you, do you, do you, do you, do you know why I hate you, baby? Huh? Do you now?/But call me!/Wellllllllllll, it's because, because, because you make me hate you, baby! Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!/But call me!" Suddenly, she saw the Nick and Sailor Moon flying right toward her. "Hah! All they can send against me is a rusty old World War II relic? It's no contest!," she sneered. Yoriko had the Nick targeted in her HUD. She was ready to fire away with the Deathgrip cannon when suddenly, Sailor Moon parked right on top of her; all Yoriko could see was Sailor Moon's buttocks. "GET OFF OF ME!," Yoriko yelled. Yoriko instinctively pulled back and got into a steep climb. Sailor Moon was thrown off, but it gave the Nick a momentary edge. Ieyasu fired the forward cannon, sending a hail of bullets Yoriko's way. "DAMMIT!," Yoriko screeched. The bullets cut right through the Neo-Zero, though it was pretty heavily armored; thus it only got slight damage. Yoriko decided to arm Neo-Sidewinders. Ieyasu saw that coming. "If she fires those missiles, we're done for!," Ami said. "See those infrared flares back there?," Ieyasu said. Ami said she did. "Light some, and then throw them overboard on my mark," Ieyasu said. Ami did as Ieyasu said to her. She lit the flares. Luckily these were somewhat similar to roadside flares and could be held for some time. Yoriko aimed the HUD again at the Nick. "SEE YOU IN HELL, BASTARDS!," she yelled as she fired every available missile she had. Ieyasu saw it coming. "NOW!," he yelled. Ami dumped the flares overboard, and the missiles went right for them, blowing up harmlessly, though it was a bit too close for comfort for everyone aboard. They were jolted a bit. "YAHOO!, and I don't mean that Internet search engine, either!," Ieyasu said. "WHAT IN HELL!," Yoriko said. Sailor Moon saw all this going on and said, "Holy moley!" Now the Nick had the edge. Ieyasu sent the forward gun blazing. The bullets ripped through the Neo-Zero like lightning. The Neo- Zero fired back, doing some damage of its own. Daria was lovingly holding to the trigger of her tailgun. The wind was whipping her hair as she stood in her position. Somehow, wearing her new armored bikini outfit and with her wind- tossed hair, she felt very sexy; perhaps the sexiest she ever felt in all her life. The Neo-Zero made another pass at the Nick, firing away like crazy. Two bullets whizzed just short of Daria, who fired back. "God, I love an old-fashioned dogfight!," Ieyasu said. He was now remembering those days when he flew this old plane up against the Americans, but now this was different; he had American allies, and they were fighting for a free, democratic Japan. How much times had changed since 1945! If only most of his comrades were alive now, he could tell them about this."We were wrong for opposing the Americans; by all rights, we should have called them our allies against the Nazis and the Fascists," was what he wished to say to them. "We were foolish to back their cause. We should have made some type of economic association with our neighbors more like the European Union and not the imperial expansion we sought. Didn't we decide to adopt Western technology and Western ways so we could stand as equals with them instead of being subservient? We must lead by example to show the rest of the world the way to a better day." But he was not so much worried for the past as for the future. No matter what that future was--a new Ice Age leading to Crystal Tokyo, or a high-tech future like many wished, or even the status quo--he was fighting for a future where freedom and democracy ruled, not a return to reactionary rule. He was fighting for his future; he was fighting for Usagi's and Ami's;in a sense, he was also fighting for Daria's as well. He knew that even his own father opposed the militarists, but was silenced by them. If only he was alive to see this. The fusillades were fast and furious now. Both planes suffered considerable damage. Somehow the superior speed and firepower of the Neo-Zero was beginning to tell. But now it was time to play the end game of this battle. Ieyasu piloted the Nick so that it was now right below the Neo-Zero. "Ami, Daria, aim for the drop tanks," Ieyasu said. Ami aimed the obliquely-mounted, upward-firing guns at the top of the plane at the left tank while Daria aimed her tailgun (which was on a flexible mount) on the right tank. "On my mark, fire!," Ieyasu said. They got very close to the Neo-Zero now. Yoriko managed to pick them up on her radar. "They think they can knock me out with a surprise attack?," she sneered. "I'll show them!" Ieyasu sensed that he was at the right position. "NOW!," he yelled. All the guns were blazing at the drop tanks. Yoriko was ready to fire the afterburners and launch a surprise attack of her own. However, one of the bullets (which was especially reinforced and hardened to pierce the armored tanks) managed to go right through the right tank. When the afterburners were kicked in, it ignited. Yoriko saw it ignite in horror. "NO! IT'S NOT POSSIBLE!," she screamed. She knew she only had seconds in which to act. She pressed the eject button and was thrown out of the Neo-Zero. It went on its own for a few seconds before the right drop tank finally exploded; soon the entire jet fighter was enveloped in flames, dropping to Tokyo Bay; when it landed into the water, it exploded with a loud "BOOM!" Yoriko was now floating down toward Tokyo. Sailor Moon saw what happened. She got onto a radio she was carrying and said, "You guys did it!" She could hear the sounds of celebration in the Nick. In the Nick, which was still airworthy despite all the damage inflicted on it, Ieyasu turned to his comrades and said, "Well done, ladies." "The Neo-Zero may be destroyed, Harry, but we still have Yoriko to deal with," Daria said. All agreed with her on that. They were making their way back to Narita when Jane radioed in from Natsume's car. "We saw everything, guys! Way to go!" "Better not open the champagne yet, Jane, " Daria said, "as Yogi Berra says, 'It ain't over 'til it's over.'"