Civil War in Natan (RP, IC, Open)

[Shemiki]

Working late in his office, King Théodore's attention was diverted from the current task at hand (reading a report on the rapid mobilization of Shemienese forces) by the delivery of a communiqué by one of his aides. He saw at once that it was from Jean Trabuzeau, Shemiki's ambassador to the Novemics. On the communiqué were scrawled two words - PLEASE ADVISE. Frowning and turning it over, Théodore saw and read the following message:

To His Shemienese Majesty's Ambassador to the Court of St. Hierr's,

The Crown and Commonwealth's Government has started processes to have formal negotiations to resolve the Sea of Natan Crisis. The Empire of the Japanese Pacific States has stated willingness to participate. The governments of the United States of Natan and the Republic of Frankish Provence would also be interested in this official conference. The place of the summit that our government has decided to host will be at the Royal Villa in Heruden, in the Province Chocobo Islands in the Novemics. Would His Shemienese Majesty's Government be agreeable to this location of the summit?


Sincerely,
The Crown and Commonwealth's Assistant Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Diplomatic Corps,
Debbido Keanzu

The wheels began turning in Théodore's head. He was in a bad position. His fleet was trapped in the Sea of Natan and could very well be destroyed. There was no guarantee that this would happen, but as the tactical situation stood Shemiki was in great danger of military disaster. Théodore didn't think of himself as a coward, but he also didn't think of himself as a fool. He knew when it was good idea to seize the opportunity for a respite.

He turned the communiqué back over and wrote underneath his ambassador's message - BY ALL MEANS ACCEPT.

[New Decius]

SMS Wilhelmshaven, Near Kyushu
Philippine Sea, International Waters

Kommodore Julian Wallner watched another flight of Me-122's come to a halt on the flight deck to be stowed back below the hull so another trio could be brought up for the next patrol. Not only were they ordered to keep a fighter patrol up every hour for their assigned intimidation mission, but Wallner was happy they were. Even twenty kilometers from the Japanese coast, well inside international waters, he had to be on the alert at all times. They were easily within the range of naval aircraft from Japanese airfields in Japan itself and the Philippines, as well as warships from Japan. If the Japanese decided they would not tolerate their presence or the ballon went up between Germany and Japan, then the carrier would have to fight its way back to the nearest German base, in the Karolin Islands. A nuclear-supercarrier the ship was, with three heavily armed destroyer escorts, but four ships against the entire Japanese fleet would not last long.

Just then one of the radar operators attracted his attention. "Kommodore, I have something you should see." Wallner walked over to his station to observe his screen. "It would seem the Japanese have deployed a significant force within their waters to observe us. We are well into international waters but they are close enough to reach us in fifteen minutes." Before Wallner could even ponder the matter a message had come through from Hong Kong.

"Let us see what we have here." Apparently the high command are planning fleet exercises in the North Pacific. To take place in a weeks time and consist of the whole Ostasiengeschwader along with Schalchtschwadron. III currently on its way East from Africa. Now that would be an impressive display of power for sure. Two supercarriers, five fleet carriers, three nuclear battlecruisers, and about sixty or seventy destroyers and other screen ships, large for a Pacific fleet exercise. Though small compared to those that take place constantly in the Atlantic every couple of months which at minimum involve a hundred ships. Wallner saw another fine detail of the plan-the western boundary of the exercise area was only forty kilometers from the northernmost coast of Honshu, Japan's main island. Far enough into international waters to be less of a threat to the Japanese Home Island's, but close enough to scare. Nevermind attacking Japan, if such a mighty force slipped into the Pacific, it was possible that in event of war said fleet could cut off the link between Japan and her American territories. The ships wouldn't even need to return to berth at Hong Kong or any other German Pacific base-Germany had seized the Falkland Islands from Britain two decades ago and the fleet could go there if need be for resupply then slip back into the Pacific.

War itself however still seemed highly unlikely, at least until Germany had more forces deployed in the Pacific theater. The 29th Army and the 15th Army were at present preparing to ship out from Egypt to Indochina, while various naval and air units were being redeployed. Until then brinksmanship was the preferred tactic.

[Japan and Pacific States]

"You have seen that I am more machine than man. Yes I have cybernetic enhancements." replied Raijin. He looked around as several of the guard got in a semi-circle around him and the Director's entourage. They aimed their guns at him, but they would not shoot just yet, as the Director was near and in the line of fire. "Tell me, Director, have you ever seen a cyborg before? Is your friend there afraid?" asked Raijin. He felt a quick but strange sensation, but he was back to normal. But he felt this sensation before, a long time ago on a mission before he got his cybernetic body. Someone here was using ESP. Raijin then deduced it was this Kasumi girl, being shy and hiding from him behind the Director. The ESP did not effect him in his cybernetic state, as the partial cyberization of his brain made him immune to ESP readings. His body camera took a photo of the Director and of Kasumi.

As Raijin was having his conversation with the Director, Serpent got down to the last level through a small freight elevator that went all the way down from the 44th floor. "The JPS are very paranoid." she whispered to herself. She exited the elevator and walked up to a railing and saw below the Director's group, Raijin, and the guards surrounding them, and several of the support staff standing there in surprise. All going to plan, thought Serpent. The nanomachines in her body gave her extra strength and speed in combat, but would gradually wear off as the nanomachines were flushed out of her system through sweat, excretion, and general breakdown of the nanobots in her body. Her next injection was coming up soon and she felt the gradual reduction in strength that has happened since getting into Alaska. She took cover, and injected her 24-hour supply of nanomachines. Then she got a better position of seeing the events folding and watched.

Level 45, IJA Top Secret Research Bunker, Below IJA Alaskan Facility

Kasumi stood behind Yuuko hiding from the spy, she herself was afraid but her face didn't show it, she couldn't even pick up any sort of aura from Raijin. "I've seen a cyborg before. But as far as human experimentation's gone in the past few decades it's not really been allowed as it would take troops off the frontlines.... So you're from Nonus I take it? Only other country than Natan that you could be from... And it can't be them, their scientists are essentially children compared to both your country's and mine." Yuuko smiled but still she didn't really like the fact Kasumi was holding tightly onto her, what was she so afraid of... Aside from the obvious? "So what do you want? Unless you're here to make sure we survive this whole thing with the regents, I'll be sure to report to the Shogun your country found it apparently necessary to trespass on my government's property after all this." Yuuko said while her left hand gently patted Kasumi's back. "I must admit though, it is impressive, and very annoying that you've managed to scare even Kasumi. I don't know how your country managed it but it's sloppy, there's been.... Easily "hideable" spies from America that managed to trigger my little fly trap but not to this point."

Of the Coast of Kyushu, Imperial Japanese Home Islands

Admiral Nagumo stood on the bridge of his flagship, the Fusou, the nameship of the Fusou V-class High Speed Dreadnaughts, essentially larger versions of the Fusou-class dreadnaughts that were used in both the first world war and the Asia-Pacific war, in their design they incorporated a nuclear reactor, an anti-ship missile battery, as well as multiple automated anti-aircraft guns, the other ships in the Japanese fleet were no different except for the TSF carriers of which at this point had their TSFs loaded up with gun sweeper modifications which greatly improved their firepower, usual TSFs carried atleast a Type-74 PB blade, and one Assault cannon, these ones carried four assault cannons, two able to be held by the mech's hands and the others were linked to two metal arms that would extend around the body of the TSF and fire... The Japanese fleet itself consisted of both Fusou V-HSDs, Three of five of the Shoukaku III Standard Aircraft Carriers of which rivaled the size of American supercarriers, Three Type 00 Yamagumo VI class Destroyers, One Kii class battleship of which itself was like the Fusou class HSD but with a larger missile complement, all four of the Kongo IX Battlecruisers, One Katori V light cruiser, Two Tone VI class heavy cruisers, One Type 99 Yamato IV Kai class Battleship, One Type 02 Miura class Standard Air Craft Carrier, Two Type 05 Mogami IV class Heavy Cruisers, and lastly in support three Type 85 I-450 class submarines.

This fleet wasn't the whole of the mainland defense fleet but it was close, the Japanese didn't trust the Germans what so ever and would keep them on a very short leash. "These fools. They think they could come anywhere near our homeland and we wouldn't take notice.." Admiral Nagumo watched the opposing German fleet with a look of disdain, he never liked the Germans, while the IJN had it's naval budget brought down in the past decades the Army's budget was brought up, doubled what the Navy had, perhaps the fact of the Germans getting so close to the mainland would cause the Shogun to reconsider her predecessor's decisions.... But that would most likely be addressed at a later time. Admiral Nagumo left the bridge and looked around to his fleet, one TSF carrier had taken up position near the Fusou and it's TSF complement was rising from the inship built elevators to launch position as the Admiral had ordered earlier, of course this was a precaution, just encase the German fleet had decided to take a wrong turn, they would be ready to counter it at anytime.

[The Novemics]

The Embassy of the Crown and Commonwealth of the Novemics, Berlin

Ambassador Sebasuchan Uddo, the Nonus Ambassador to Imperial Germany, was sitting at his desk with the latest orders from Iyagure: speak with the German Foreign Ministry about an alliance. Particularly an alliance with the entire Natan Region.

Collectively, the great powers of the Natan Region can be a near-rival to the superpowers such as Shemiki, the JPS, or Imperial Germany. But recent dysfunction in the Regional Government has led to the great powers of the Natan Region individually, the Novemics particularly, to handle foreign affairs for the most part. The Crown and Commonwealth is solely spearheading backchannel negotiations for the entire region to the superpowers. This also means the Nonus were the primary ones to send in operatives to spy on the JPS to gather intelligence for foreign policy-making, not the Four-Eyes Foreign Intelligence Initiative (the coordinated foreign intelligence network for the four great powers of the Natan Region, and thus the entire Region), which has been stalled with low funding and lackluster support since the new regional constitution went into effect. Cabinet President Jessica Zoidberg, along with Foreign Minister Gloria Vikaunto were the two top dealmakers for the entire Region right now. Slarvainian and Natan were in the midst of their own civil wars. Frankish Provence has sent limited communications after the blockade fleet was created--pretty much the Novemics was only one acting for the entire region in regards to international relations and regional security. Everyone else was preoccupied with serious domestic matters in their own countries.

"Diana, set up a closed door, low key meeting with the Imperial German Foreign Minister, in the next few days preferably." asked the Ambassador. He was given wide latitude in this alliance negotiations. He wondered what Imperial Germany wanted in exchange. To expand into Southeast Asia and East Asia? A collective security alliance? We'll see then, thought the Ambassador.

[The Novemics]

"You have seen that I am more machine than man. Yes I have cybernetic enhancements." replied Raijin. He looked around as several of the guard got in a semi-circle around him and the Director's entourage. They aimed their guns at him, but they would not shoot just yet, as the Director was near and in the line of fire. "Tell me, Director, have you ever seen a cyborg before? Is your friend there afraid?" asked Raijin. He felt a quick but strange sensation, but he was back to normal. But he felt this sensation before, a long time ago on a mission before he got his cybernetic body. Someone here was using ESP. Raijin then deduced it was this Kasumi girl, being shy and hiding from him behind the Director. The ESP did not effect him in his cybernetic state, as the partial cyberization of his brain made him immune to ESP readings. His body camera took a photo of the Director and of Kasumi.

As Raijin was having his conversation with the Director, Serpent got down to the last level through a small freight elevator that went all the way down from the 44th floor. "The JPS are very paranoid." she whispered to herself. She exited the elevator and walked up to a railing and saw below the Director's group, Raijin, and the guards surrounding them, and several of the support staff standing there in surprise. All going to plan, thought Serpent. The nanomachines in her body gave her extra strength and speed in combat, but would gradually wear off as the nanomachines were flushed out of her system through sweat, excretion, and general breakdown of the nanobots in her body. Her next injection was coming up soon and she felt the gradual reduction in strength that has happened since getting into Alaska. She took cover, and injected her 24-hour supply of nanomachines. Then she got a better position of seeing the events folding and watched.

Level 45, IJA Top Secret Research Bunker, Below IJA Alaskan Facility

Kasumi stood behind Yuuko hiding from the spy, she herself was afraid but her face didn't show it, she couldn't even pick up any sort of aura from Raijin. "I've seen a cyborg before. But as far as human experimentation's gone in the past few decades it's not really been allowed as it would take troops off the frontlines.... So you're from Nonus I take it? Only other country than Natan that you could be from... And it can't be them, their scientists are essentially children compared to both your country's and mine." Yuuko smiled but still she didn't really like the fact Kasumi was holding tightly onto her, what was she so afraid of... Aside from the obvious? "So what do you want? Unless you're here to make sure we survive this whole thing with the regents, I'll be sure to report to the Shogun your country found it apparently necessary to trespass on my government's property after all this." Yuuko said while her left hand gently patted Kasumi's back. "I must admit though, it is impressive, and very annoying that you've managed to scare even Kasumi. I don't know how your country managed it but it's sloppy, there's been.... Easily "hideable" spies from America that managed to trigger my little fly trap but not to this point."

Of the Coast of Kyushu, Imperial Japanese Home Islands

Admiral Nagumo stood on the bridge of his flagship, the Fusou, the nameship of the Fusou V-class High Speed Dreadnaughts, essentially larger versions of the Fusou-class dreadnaughts that were used in both the first world war and the Asia-Pacific war, in their design they incorporated a nuclear reactor, an anti-ship missile battery, as well as multiple automated anti-aircraft guns, the other ships in the Japanese fleet were no different except for the TSF carriers of which at this point had their TSFs loaded up with gun sweeper modifications which greatly improved their firepower, usual TSFs carried atleast a Type-74 PB blade, and one Assault cannon, these ones carried four assault cannons, two able to be held by the mech's hands and the others were linked to two metal arms that would extend around the body of the TSF and fire... The Japanese fleet itself consisted of both Fusou V-HSDs, Three of five of the Shoukaku III Standard Aircraft Carriers of which rivaled the size of American supercarriers, Three Type 00 Yamagumo VI class Destroyers, One Kii class battleship of which itself was like the Fusou class HSD but with a larger missile complement, all four of the Kongo IX Battlecruisers, One Katori V light cruiser, Two Tone VI class heavy cruisers, One Type 99 Yamato IV Kai class Battleship, One Type 02 Miura class Standard Air Craft Carrier, Two Type 05 Mogami IV class Heavy Cruisers, and lastly in support three Type 85 I-450 class submarines.

This fleet wasn't the whole of the mainland defense fleet but it was close, the Japanese didn't trust the Germans what so ever and would keep them on a very short leash. "These fools. They think they could come anywhere near our homeland and we wouldn't take notice.." Admiral Nagumo watched the opposing German fleet with a look of disdain, he never liked the Germans, while the IJN had it's naval budget brought down in the past decades the Army's budget was brought up, doubled what the Navy had, perhaps the fact of the Germans getting so close to the mainland would cause the Shogun to reconsider her predecessor's decisions.... But that would most likely be addressed at a later time. Admiral Nagumo left the bridge and looked around to his fleet, one TSF carrier had taken up position near the Fusou and it's TSF complement was rising from the inship built elevators to launch position as the Admiral had ordered earlier, of course this was a precaution, just encase the German fleet had decided to take a wrong turn, they would be ready to counter it at anytime.

Level 45, IJA Top Secret Research Bunker, Below IJA Alaskan Facility

"You can think whatever you want, Director. But that won't matter anyway." said Raijin. When he finished speaking, the lights cut out and the entire room turned pitch black. Serpent's doing her part of the plan, thought Raijin. He quickly jumped over the Director and Kasumi. He knocked out one of the twin bodyguards who wasn't restraining Sakamoto with his stun knife, and then dashed over to the other twin, who was restraining Sakamoto, and grabbed her free arm and twisted to the point of breaking; Sakamoto was freed and on his knees wheezing from the moderate choking that happened when the lights went out. Both twins were on the ground, one was wailing in pain and the other was out cold. Raijin drew his high frequency blade as the lights came on, stepping in front of Sakamoto as Yuuko pointed a pistol at him. Serpent managed to take out three fourths of the guards of the semicircle when the lights were out; she used the machine pistol with the stun rounds and her nanomachines' accuracy support in her muscles and in her sense--all perfect single headshots. The guards fell to the floor with a loud thud one by one in the 10 seconds the lights were out.

"Director, I think we'll be taking our leave now." said Raijin.

[New Decius]

SMS Wilhelmshaven, Philippine Sea
Near the Japanese Home Islands

After having been posted on patrol near Kyushu for ten hours now, the Pazifik Hauptquartier was at least ordering the supercarrier to return to port at Hong Kong. She was to undergo refitting for the upcoming war games at the end of the week. With what seemed the entire Japanese Navy waiting nearby, Kommodore Wallner was glad to receive the orders to return. Though he was not surprised that while the Wilhelmshaven had been ordered back to port, the SMS Rotterdam had been given another patrol area near Japanese territory. The Rotterdam was the Graf-Spee-Class Nuclear Battlecruiser stationed at Hong Kong, now given orders to patrol with several other ships including a carrier, near Okinawa.

The supercarrier and its destroyer escorts turned for the South to begin the journey back to Hong Kong, steadily heading farther away from Japanese territory.

SMS Rotterdam, Pacific Ocean
Near Okinawa Islands

Vizeadmiral Ludwig von Geissler smirked as he looked into the distance from the bow of his ship. The sun was beginning to fall but he could still make of the outline of the Okinawa islands far ahead of the small patrol force. God he wished their orders were to strike the islands rather than patrol near them. Bring the fight to the Japanese and show them that the Kaiserreich will not be pushed around nor will it be denied its rightful glory in the field. However, the brass back in Berlin wanted to try and raise Japan's hackles before getting tough on them.

Von Geissler was more than confident in the force's ability to attack and neutralize Japanese forces that may be at Okinawa due to several factors. One, the very ship he stood on had enough firepower to sink an island, this being the SMS Rotterdam, one of the seven Nuclear Battlecruiser's in the Kaiserliche Marine. The two forward mounts on the ship were 280mm EM Railguns capable of ripping a ship apart in one shot, then there were two 15 inch mounts in the rear and four cells of V-22 Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles along with a host of CIWS and SAM weapons. Second, accompanying them was the 70,000 ton SMS Margaret, a Clausewitz-Class Fleet Carrier with seventy aircraft ready and waiting. Five Z-Class Guided Missile Destroyers and one L-Class ASW Destroyer also accompanied the two larger ships as escorts. True the Japanese might have a strength in numbers around their islands, but sometimes quality beat out quantity. Though if the Japanese tried to bring the war to the Atlantic this time around they would not find it as easy as last time.

Ludwig was muttering to himself while he continued to gaze at the darkening horizon, the waves calm as the massive 75,000 ton Battlecruiser cut through them. "Damn Japanese have sat on their high throne for too long. They think themselves the superior's by God! Germany is making plans for a manned outpost on the moon and they think they are the superiors!" Geissler was born in Litzmannstadt (Lodz) in what was once Poland, and had been brought up being taught German's were superior to all others. This was a teaching almost exclusive to former Poland, Ukraine, and Russia where partisans continued to threaten citizens on a daily basis more than four decades after the territories were conquered. "At the very least they should turn over what used to be Malaysia and the Dutch East Indies to us. We have earned them by rite of conquest. Holland was defeated and annexed into Germany in 1973 and we beat the living daylights out of Britain three times in the last four decades. All that was once there's is ours by rite!" That the Japanese had beat the English and Dutch first didn't cross his mind or at least it mattered for little.

So the small task force moved onwards for its patrol near Okinawa, they would be at their assigned position in about five hours.

Kaiserliche Außenministerium, Berlin
Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire

As soon as he arrived in front of the marble steps of the Imperial German Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Uddo was greeted by a smiling young lady who introduced herself as Helga, one of the Foreign Minister's aides. "If you will please follow me Sir, Außenminister Keller is waiting for you in her office." Thus she led the way inside the building's massive lobby which hustled and bustled like that of any first-world government building, and which also had a guard with an automatic weapon every twenty paces. Up nineteens floors in the elevator and they came out in a much smaller lobby, this one deserted save for two stone-faced guards at a pair of mahogany doors and a young man at a desk nearby. Helga strode up to the man at the desk. "Karl, Ambassador Uddo from Nonus to see Außenminister Keller." Karl nodded and stood up, whereupon he led Uddo over to the pair of guards who opened up the doors to the office within.

The room was moderately sized and very spartan in nature. Sitting behind a large desk in front of a set of floor-to ceiling windows was the sixty-three year old Güdrun Keller, German Foreign Minister. She allowed a amiable smile to show as she stood to shake hands with the Ambassador. "Welcome Ambassador. I am glad you asked for this meeting as there are matters which I feel both of us would like to discuss regarding certain events which at present affect both our nations." After the pleasantries were out of the way, she got down to business. "Now as you called this meeting, please go first."

[The Novemics]

Kaiserliche Außenministerium, Berlin
Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire

"Thank you, Außenminister, though I do not know why other nations refer to my country as Nonus when it is the Novemics. Nonus is our language and demonym." said Uddo in German. He studied it at the University of Iyagure when he was in graduate school for his international relations doctorate. "My government has a proposal, two proposals actually. One is more immediate and clearly in both of our interests. The other is more uncertain and dependent on a particular outcome of a particular and hypothetical war." The German Foreign Minister sat up and leaned in a bit when she heard this--something from a nation that had its own imperial ambitions hindered historically. "The first is pretty obvious. A military alliance between the Natan Region and the German Empire. We would both access to much needed resources and potential trade routes and partners. And Japan would be on its toes even more so if it came about. The second is, of course, hypothetical and highly uncertain. And the unofficial position of the Nonus government; even the Natan Regional Government and the United States of Natan are unaware. Simply, we would not care if you happened to...liberate Southeast and East Asian countries from the JPS, though of course incorporate them into a democratic, multinational empire that you are developing. We do desire however, the reunification of the United States of America, which was partitioned after the Second Great War...I mean World War 2 when Japan invaded and managed to get a conditional surrender from America at the time. So, if a war were to happen, the USA would be reunited as the eastern check to the JPS. You would be the western check. The Natan Region, south of the Pacific area, would definitely emerge as a world power from a war in the Pacific. And the three powers now, the USA, the Natan Region, and Imperial Germany, would be able to check Japan's power for decades. We could even give you some technology that would give you an edge in this war."

[Japan and Pacific States]

Level 45, IJA Top Secret Research Bunker, Below IJA Alaskan Facility

"You can think whatever you want, Director. But that won't matter anyway." said Raijin. When he finished speaking, the lights cut out and the entire room turned pitch black. Serpent's doing her part of the plan, thought Raijin. He quickly jumped over the Director and Kasumi. He knocked out one of the twin bodyguards who wasn't restraining Sakamoto with his stun knife, and then dashed over to the other twin, who was restraining Sakamoto, and grabbed her free arm and twisted to the point of breaking; Sakamoto was freed and on his knees wheezing from the moderate choking that happened when the lights went out. Both twins were on the ground, one was wailing in pain and the other was out cold. Raijin drew his high frequency blade as the lights came on, stepping in front of Sakamoto as Yuuko pointed a pistol at him. Serpent managed to take out three fourths of the guards of the semicircle when the lights were out; she used the machine pistol with the stun rounds and her nanomachines' accuracy support in her muscles and in her sense--all perfect single headshots. The guards fell to the floor with a loud thud one by one in the 10 seconds the lights were out.

"Director, I think we'll be taking our leave now." said Raijin.

Level 45, IJA Top Secret Research Bunker, Below IJA Alaskan Facility

Director Yuuko didn't like this at all, but she kept her pistol pointed to Raijin, a look of anger clearly present on her face. "Damn you... You are from Nonus, you can't hide it from me... But I have more important things to worry about." Clearly she was referring to Kasumi being afraid.... And the Regents forces most likely coming to steal research materials and kidnap Yuuko to give to the Americans. "Fine." Yuuko lowered her pistol and kept a tight grip on Kasumi while she and Kasumi moved out of the way. "Get out of here before I change my mind... I'll be sure to report this too." Raijin wasted no time, walking with Sakamoto past Yuuko, he thought he was in the clear... Up unto Yuuko quickly raise her pistol and fired a shot just at the top of Sakamoto's skull, causing him to almost instantly drop to the ground, a dirty smile donned on Yuuko's face, though she knew it probably wouldn't kill him, it'd hurt him... Or atleast his memory for a very, very long time. ....But she also quickly regretted her decision, quickly she was shot by Serpent in the arm with one of her stun rounds. Dropping to the floor Kasumi yelled and started shaking Director Yuuko. "D-Director Yuuko! D-Director Yuuko!" Showing a bit more emotion than usual... Mainly due in part to Yuuko being one of the only people she's ever gotten closed to and used to. But to no avail, Yuuko was out cold despite Kasumi shaking her. Though there was nothing much to worry about, now IJRG forces and IJA forces in Alaska had arrived at the facility, fighting it out with Regent Ikaruga's forces.

Tokyo, temporary capital of the Empire of Japanese Pacific States

Shogun Meiya was at this point catching all seven rings of hell on one finger, the navy, the diet, the people themselves were upset over Germany's recent stunt off the coast of Kyushu, calling for an increase in the naval budget to prevent such stunts in the future. "These idiots.... We're trying to keep peace and they're obviously trying to start a war." Meiya picked up a report on her desk that was brought in five minutes earlier by her Vassal Retainer, Michiru, stating that the small patrol off Kyushu had turned back to Hong Kong. "Oh thank god...." But then she got to the bottom of the page where apparently another fleet was seen off Okinawa and the coastal defense units were asking what to do about it. "....You must be kidding me..." Meiya leaned forward on her desk letting go of the paper, she pinched the bridge of her nose. "Damn Germans..." Meiya sat up and looked to her phone, picking up the phone she called the German Embassy in Tokyo waiting for Germany's ambassador to pick up the phone.

Off the Coast of Kyushu, Imperial Japanese Home Islands.

Admiral Nagumo himself was relieved, the ships from the German Navy were turned back to Hong Kong, he could finally breathe or so he thought, he received new orders, a portion of the fleet was to head to Okinawa, both Fusou V-class HSDs, Three Osumi Tactical Surface Fighter Carriers, One Shoukaku III carrier, two Tone VI class heavy cruisers, One Yamato Kai-class battleship, two Kongou IX Battlecruisers, two Mogami IV class heavy cruisers and lastly one Miura Standard Aircraft Carrier. "Christ.... Another patrol? When will these idiots get it through their heads." Admiral Nagumo nodded his head and handed his orders back to the radio operator of whom received them. "Give these orders to the fleet. Helmsman! Set a course for Okinawa, top speed!" Admiral Nagumo yelled to the Helmsmen of whom complied with the order, the small fleet was on it's way to Okinawa at top speed.

[New Decius]

Imperial German Embassy, Tokyo
Empire of Japanese Pacific States

Erik von Steinbauer, Ambassador of the German Empire to the Japanese Empire, sneered at the crowd gathered outside the embassy gates and which was also blocking his limousine from getting through to enter the premises. He noticed that some members of the crowd were holding signs or shouting slogans revolving around obscenities aimed at German's, even one suggesting the Kaiser was nothing but a eunuch pretending to be a proper man. One common phrase they kept chanting was 'Doitsu no ienikaeru' which translated loosely to German's Go Home, something Erik was very keen to do, Stuttgart would be lovely this time of year after all and he had never been able to get used to the climate in Japan, even after being posted here for seven years. Most of the crowd seemed to be of the younger variety-students and the like though there were plenty of older men and women in the group which seemed to number around two hundred, thankfully none seemed armed and no shots were ringing out. Erik had been posted to the embassy in Tehran twenty years ago, gunfire had been a daily occurrence there and the KSK guards had been the most paranoid people Erik had ever met. The Kommando Spezialkräfte were the German military special forces though their main purpose was not guarding embassies-only German embassies in central Africa and the Middle East tended to have KSK guards, the rest, including Japan, were guarding by members of the Seebataillon, the Imperial Marine Corps.

These people, and the Japanese government, had better hope no idiot tried to start something by hurling a grenade or a molotov cocktail over the walls or by firing a gun, it would get messy fast. International law defined embassies as extensions of the represented nation, meaning that once inside the gates of the German embassy in Tokyo, it was akin to being in Germany itself. International law also stipulated that this meant that guarding forces could react as they saw necessary according to the situation, and if they were attacked the Seebataillon would see fit to reply with bullets. Oh sure it might spoil relations even more but so long as German troops did not act first, the Japanese could legally do nothing but rant and rave.

The limousine finally reached the gates, the crowd having parted to avoid getting run over. On the other side soldiers ran up to form a perimeter as German shepherd's were brought up to help ward off the crowd. The gates opened to allow the car through quickly and were shut just as fast once inside the compound. The garrison of forty was nervous, and why shouldn't they be? For the first time in about five years they might have a potential crisis on their hands. Even if Germany would not be legally responsible for any injured Japanese citizens who tried assaulting the embassy, Berlin would definitely be unkind to whatever poor officer ended up causing the injury. His career would either be shot or he himself would be.

The German embassy in Tokyo stood out from other embassy's in the city in that most of the others had at least tried to appease the Japanese by having a local architect consult on the construction, whereas the German embassy looked like a little piece of Berlin in the middle of Tokyo. Erik got out of the car in front of the marble steps leading up to the entrance, ignoring the continued calls from the crowd outside, and was immediately set upon by his aide. Thomas Hattendorf had been the Ambassador's aide for close to three years now, a young man just out of the International University at Zurich (Switzerland is one of the few countries in Europe that neither have to consider Germany their enemy nor listen to them like lap-dogs. The only others are the Vatican City and Finland) he had an easy tell to when something important had happened, his left eye twitched. It was a machine gun of twitching right now.

"Your Excellency, you have an urgent call waiting on the priority line. It seems to be the Shogun herself, I have had the call transferred to your office phone." He next handed him a folder containing satellite images of the recent attempted seizure of power by the Regent's as well as documents concerning German fleet movements in the Pacific. "Additionally, Berlin conveys that nothing concrete is to be admitted to or agreed upon between the Empire and Japan at this moment. Independent diplomatic action will be perceived as acting against the wishes of His Imperial Majesty." Which was German political talk for 'If you decide to try your own way, you won't have the job anymore'.

Erik thanked him and was on his way to his office where he would speak to the Shogun. On the way he looked through the satellite images and fleet documents thoroughly, preparing himself for the call ahead. His secretary informed him that the Shogun was waiting on the line and he could pick up as soon as he got in.

Upon picking up Erik lathered his voice with the false sincerity and amicability of a diplomat. "Your Grace, what a pleasure and an honor it is to receive your call. The German Empire has every respect for whatever it is Japan wishes to convey in the hope of fostering an ever greater path to world cooperation. I do apologize for not picking up sooner but I was returning to the embassy and my car had difficulty getting through a mob gathered outside the compound. Reports tell me another similar group surrounds the Consulate in Osaka. But we'll come to that later, for now what is it you wish to discuss Your Grace."

Kaiserliche Außenministerium, Berlin
Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire

Güdrun Keller kept an impassive face, not at all surprised by what Ambassador Uddo had proposed, if he hadn't done so she would have. It was in Germany's best interest to make an alliance with Natan and limit Japanese power. With dominance in Europe and Africa constantly threatened by a Communist France and Britain as well as vengeful Russia, Germany needed resources to tap into to keep its massive industrial complex going. Proposals had been given for expansion further into Africa but they were scrapped by the sheer fact that no supply route through the Saharan Desert could exist for troops heading into Sub-Saharan Africa. An alliance and partnership with Natan could give Germany access to more resources to keep the truly massive industrial complex going. So would seizure of Japanese territories in the Far East.

"In regards to the alliance and partnership between the Natan region and the German Empire, I think we can safely say that is a done deal. No one in the government has any objection to such a concept. The formal paperwork can be drawn up and finalized later, and it would be a good bulwark against Japan."

"Now on to the second notion. Our goal is not annexation of all Japan's territories in the Far East, we know we could never hope to hold them all down while still facing partisans in Russia, Poland, and Africa. However, in specific we wish the annexation of what was once British controlled Malaysia and the Dutch East Indies. You see it is a matter of national pride in both, for we defeated and annexed the Netherlands themselves in the 1973 by which time their colonies were already in Japanese hands, and we have defeated Britain three times in the past four decades and stripped them of quite a few territories. The Kaiser will be most pleased to learn that the return of these territories to the rightful owner will not be met with great protest."

"I can find no objection regarding the reunification of the United States and the three power containment solution in the Pacific. However, the Atlantic is Germany's sphere of influence so we would have to have assurances that the American's would not intrude upon German matters there without due cause and respect. Otherwise I believe everything is largely squared away."

"On the mutual assistance front, specifically technology, we are prepared to give your government the design plans for our latest MANTIS automated defense system and allow your scientists access to our EMP and EM railgun technology."

[Japan and Pacific States]

Imperial German Embassy, Tokyo
Empire of Japanese Pacific States

Erik von Steinbauer, Ambassador of the German Empire to the Japanese Empire, sneered at the crowd gathered outside the embassy gates and which was also blocking his limousine from getting through to enter the premises. He noticed that some members of the crowd were holding signs or shouting slogans revolving around obscenities aimed at German's, even one suggesting the Kaiser was nothing but a eunuch pretending to be a proper man. One common phrase they kept chanting was 'Doitsu no ienikaeru' which translated loosely to German's Go Home, something Erik was very keen to do, Stuttgart would be lovely this time of year after all and he had never been able to get used to the climate in Japan, even after being posted here for seven years. Most of the crowd seemed to be of the younger variety-students and the like though there were plenty of older men and women in the group which seemed to number around two hundred, thankfully none seemed armed and no shots were ringing out. Erik had been posted to the embassy in Tehran twenty years ago, gunfire had been a daily occurrence there and the KSK guards had been the most paranoid people Erik had ever met. The Kommando Spezialkräfte were the German military special forces though their main purpose was not guarding embassies-only German embassies in central Africa and the Middle East tended to have KSK guards, the rest, including Japan, were guarding by members of the Seebataillon, the Imperial Marine Corps.

These people, and the Japanese government, had better hope no idiot tried to start something by hurling a grenade or a molotov cocktail over the walls or by firing a gun, it would get messy fast. International law defined embassies as extensions of the represented nation, meaning that once inside the gates of the German embassy in Tokyo, it was akin to being in Germany itself. International law also stipulated that this meant that guarding forces could react as they saw necessary according to the situation, and if they were attacked the Seebataillon would see fit to reply with bullets. Oh sure it might spoil relations even more but so long as German troops did not act first, the Japanese could legally do nothing but rant and rave.

The limousine finally reached the gates, the crowd having parted to avoid getting run over. On the other side soldiers ran up to form a perimeter as German shepherd's were brought up to help ward off the crowd. The gates opened to allow the car through quickly and were shut just as fast once inside the compound. The garrison of forty was nervous, and why shouldn't they be? For the first time in about five years they might have a potential crisis on their hands. Even if Germany would not be legally responsible for any injured Japanese citizens who tried assaulting the embassy, Berlin would definitely be unkind to whatever poor officer ended up causing the injury. His career would either be shot or he himself would be.

The German embassy in Tokyo stood out from other embassy's in the city in that most of the others had at least tried to appease the Japanese by having a local architect consult on the construction, whereas the German embassy looked like a little piece of Berlin in the middle of Tokyo. Erik got out of the car in front of the marble steps leading up to the entrance, ignoring the continued calls from the crowd outside, and was immediately set upon by his aide. Thomas Hattendorf had been the Ambassador's aide for close to three years now, a young man just out of the International University at Zurich (Switzerland is one of the few countries in Europe that neither have to consider Germany their enemy nor listen to them like lap-dogs. The only others are the Vatican City and Finland) he had an easy tell to when something important had happened, his left eye twitched. It was a machine gun of twitching right now.

"Your Excellency, you have an urgent call waiting on the priority line. It seems to be the Shogun herself, I have had the call transferred to your office phone." He next handed him a folder containing satellite images of the recent attempted seizure of power by the Regent's as well as documents concerning German fleet movements in the Pacific. "Additionally, Berlin conveys that nothing concrete is to be admitted to or agreed upon between the Empire and Japan at this moment. Independent diplomatic action will be perceived as acting against the wishes of His Imperial Majesty." Which was German political talk for 'If you decide to try your own way, you won't have the job anymore'.

Erik thanked him and was on his way to his office where he would speak to the Shogun. On the way he looked through the satellite images and fleet documents thoroughly, preparing himself for the call ahead. His secretary informed him that the Shogun was waiting on the line and he could pick up as soon as he got in.

Upon picking up Erik lathered his voice with the false sincerity and amicability of a diplomat. "Your Grace, what a pleasure and an honor it is to receive your call. The German Empire has every respect for whatever it is Japan wishes to convey in the hope of fostering an ever greater path to world cooperation. I do apologize for not picking up sooner but I was returning to the embassy and my car had difficulty getting through a mob gathered outside the compound. Reports tell me another similar group surrounds the Consulate in Osaka. But we'll come to that later, for now what is it you wish to discuss Your Grace."

Tokyo, Temporary Capital of the Empire of Japenese Pacific States

Meiya sighed and rolled her eyes at Erik's perceived "politeness" if anything to her the Germans were of course good at putting on a smile and keeping a knife hidden behind their backs. "Yes well you may dispense with the "pleasantries" if one can call them that. I too have heard of protestors around your embassy, I've heard the second in charge of the navy yelling about an increase in the naval budget, I've even heard one of the regents is attempting to do something very foolish in Alaska. But the last isn't connected.... Couldn't be that there's protestors, wanting you and your staff thrown out of the country because of your navy making very dangerous advances near the Imperial Mainland, now I don't need to tell you that the common citizen can't tell their ass from their head, but I've gotten reports of your navy coming too close for comfort to both the Imperial Mainland and to Okinawa, I don't care if this is your country's own way of waving it's dick around, or attempting to start a war between our two Empires. You should report you'll get nothing out of it except wasted fuel. We're already in the middle of attempting to start peace talks with the Nonus, and I won't have any attempts to starting a war at this point disrupt our plans.... Also send your troops in south east asia home, you'll find that there's more Chinese in China willing to fight for us than against us. .....I'll send the Kempetai to clear the street for you, I'll do the same in Osaka when I have confirmation your ship, turns back around and goes back from wherever it came, I suggest your government clear it's act up." Shogun Meiya finished putting down the phone down on the receiver before clasping her hands together. Of course she was right.... In Central, Eastern, Northern and Southern China there were people volunteering for service but refused due to the sole amount of people volunteering, the same case was in Korea, Japan after the war had made reparations to China and Korea, building up their infrastructure, the same was the case in Mongolia, the Philippines, far eastern Siberia, Alaska and even the occupied United States.

Japan after the war had solely taken mostly to a policy of staying out of the people of the occupied territories lives except when absolutely necessary, as was the case in 12/21 in 2000 when US military forces had tried to retake the US states by land invasion and naval battles, even then after the battles during that time when the US forces were pushed back to the pre-determined border as agreed upon in the 1945 treaty, Japanese forces assisted with rebuilding homes, infrastructure and restoring basic necessities in the areas effected, as was the case in multiple areas of occupied Japanese territories, areas effected whether they be by natural disasters, or through trivial conflicts were rebuilt by the Japanese military, Japan itself was viewed mostly nowadays in it's occupied territories as a wonderful country, which was how the Shogun and Emperor had wanted it, yes the people were being occupied, but it didn't seem that way, the most anyone would see of a Japanese soldier was in a parade or even if necessary during times of martial law which was an increasingly rare occurrence.

[The Novemics]

Kaiserliche Außenministerium, Berlin
Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire

"Excellent, Außenminister, thank you. This will be the best for both of our countries. Of course, the Atlantic is your backyard. And you can take what you want, the former Dutch colonies. Perhaps, East Asia can be our buffer states against the JPS. " said Ambassador Uddo. They both stood up and shook hands. "My chief aide will come around in a few days with the necessary paperwork, along with the military attache that will explain the technology. Good bye, Außenminister. Her Majesty and Serene Highness the Queen of the Nonus and Ignisans sends her regards to His Imperial Majesty the Kaiser." Uddo walked out the door, extremely happy that he was able to get the diplomatic machine running again after so long. The Crown and Commonwealth's Embassy in Imperial Germany was run more like a boarding house for newly minted diplomats to gain some basic experience, negotiating with the Imperial diplomats and the German client-states. When he came in a year ago, he managed to get an extremely good trade deal with Germany, and a working relationship with regards to Australasian peacekeeping efforts. Now, a military alliance and the baby steps of a containment plan against the JPS.

Uddo returned to his car that returned to the side entrance he came in from. He got in and he was driven back to the embassy to give his report to the CCNS by video call.

IJA Special Weapons Facility Alaska, 45 Level Underground Section

An arm-rocket system emerged from Raijin's left arm, and with his right he caught Sakamoto's body as he collapsed. He was going to send the Director and her entourage flying--ending the Special Weapons Division's main brains there. But Serpent got a head shot on the Director with her MP7 with stun rounds. The Director collapsed and Kasumi began screaming and shaking the Director's unconscious body. Then he got an urgent cyber-com message from the support unit on the surface.

"Mr. Raijin, sir. It's me, Koma 1!" said one of the experimental AI of one of the walker-roller light tanks on cyber-com, another experimental technology with cybernetic individuals. "JPS reinforcements inbound! I am still holding position near Ikaruga's TSF. He is still giving orders; he's redirecting his forces to attack the reinforcements." Raijin fired four smoke-chaff grenades, obscuring any and all vision (naked eye, infrared) so they all can escape. "Copy. Get ready for Plan B. We're coming up!" Just as he finished, an explosion went off. Raijin looked and saw Serpent landing near him, her lower leg blown off. "Damn." said Raijin. Serpent's nanomachines kept her from screaming in pain, but she was losing consciousness and blood. Raijin grabbed her and ran for the elevator. He hacked it, closing the door as gunfire rattled the elevator's doors. The elevator's speed was also changed by Raijin to shoot up quickly to the surface. The Komas, nicknames for the walker-roller 'jumping spider' tanks, were already engaged in a firefight with some of Ikaruga's guards. "Komas, open up your pods, you have two wounded, both critical. We need to get out of here. Where is the Hakken?" ordered Raijin. "50 km away, near Stuart Island." replied Koma 2, the one with the unconscious Sakamoto. "Ok, activate thermoptic camo and head there, avoid contact with the enemy. JPS TSFs are going to swarm this area soon. And you'll need heavy support." he said this as he stared at Ikaruga's TSF, which was the MIS Database identified as a Type-82 Zuikaku, a generation and a half behind the JPS's current mainline TSFs, the Type 97 Fubuki and the Type 00 Takemizuchi. But the thing was a beast. And Raijin was curious if a cybernetic TSF pilot could best a human TSF pilot.

"I don't care that you are still searching for the security force's TSFs, we have more pressing matters--I can't raise Satonaka and we have the Shogun's reinforcements on the way. I don't know if we can go down into the bunk--" said Ikaruga as he was restrained, his access key for his TSF taken, and lastly thrown by Raijin towards two IJA MPs who were the vanguard of the reinforcements coming into the facility. Ikaruga's body hit both guards as they were standing close to one another, and now all three were unconscious. "Time to test this sick baby." said Raijin. He got into the chair, input the access key, and he was enclosed into the TSF. He put in his neck's cable for hacking into the TSF's AI and computer systems. He was in. He shut down any overriding procedures that the IJA might try to use. He also started recording his flight so he can get some data on combat and avionics. "This engine is definitely not a common thing. And what is this, neurological drugs trying to get into my system?" He was the A-Model Cybernetic Enhancement Set, 95% cybernetic. Regular drugs had no effect on him. "So this is how the pilots compensate for stress or fear--drugs to return to homeostasis or to bolster concentration or aggression. Something similar to the nanomachines that we are starting to use with our special forces. And an exoskeleton to give further projection to the pilot, along with a secondary armored combat exoskeleton? The JPS are imperialistic and militaristic, but they have damn fine technology. Materials Group would love these toys." He had full and comprehensive control over the TSF. He ascended into the air, and saw 9 incoming IJA TSFs--Shiranuis. "Komas, start heading to the extraction point," he said over cyber-com, which was even more encrypted and protected since only cyborgs could use it. "Let's do this." said Raijin. He accelerated towards the IJA TSFs.

[New Decius]

Imperial German Embassy, Tokyo
Empire of Japanese Pacific States

The manner in which the Shogun handled the call did not much surprise Erik. He had expected the Japanese to respond in the way they had. After all, no one in the Kaiserliche Außenministerium or the Oberste Heeresleitung had expected the Japanese to ignore the naval incursions or simply roll belly up for Germany to pick away her Empire. However, they also hadn't expected so sharp a response from the Japanese so soon. Perhaps the upcoming peace talks had them a little on edge. That was the intention of the German efforts anyway.

Still their military response, while certainly grand on a visible scale, still seemed to be walking on glass, trying not to light the fuse. They simply matched Germany as they could without responding in their own fashion. If the Japanese had wanted to they could have started running fleet exercises in the Bismarck Sea, an area of the Pacific in which both Japan and Germany possessed island territories. They could have subtly surrounded and cut off the Karolin islands in that manner or they could have gone bigger and started having warships patrol the length of Indochina. No they were simply showing force wherever Germany showed force. The goal was to push them to the edge so they would resort to such intimidation tactics of their own and weaken their stance at the negotiating table, or at least put them extremely on edge.

Erik picked up the phone, knowing the Kempetai were bound to be listening in on the calls that came in and out of his office. He wouldn't be surprised if they had bugged all the foreign embassies and consulates in Japan. He wanted them to hear who he made this call to.

"Manfred, get me Generalmajor Walther Dornberger, Imperial Rocket Corps, Peenemünde. Thank you..."

---

Kaiserliche Raketenkorps Hauptquartier, Heeresversuchsanstalt Peenemünde
Peenemünde, Province of Pomerania
Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire

The phone picked up in the office of the commanding office of all German military assets in orbit and beyond, Generalmajor Walther Dornberger. "This is Dornberger speaking." "Ah Walther! It's been really too long." "Erik, it certainly has though it might have something to do with the fact I run a project as classified as the location of the Kaiser's fallout shelter. Not much time for idle chit chat." "Oh of course. I'll stick to diplomacy myself. Let you boys with the stripes on your trousers handle the military." "Is this important Erik, I have to go inspect a new upper stage module design in an hour. My time is precious you know." "I need a favor." "I'm hanging up." "In my capacity as a member of the government, not as a friend." "I'm listening. But this better be worth my time." "Alright I'll cut to the chase. You have a couple dozen upper stages in orbit at any given time correct, half of them reconnaissance and then the rest are our missile-carrying satellites yes?" "As you well know I can neither confirm nor deny that. If I did either I would find myself before a firing squad. But what of it?" "Oh believe me old boy if you help me with this they'll pin the Pour le Mérite on your lapel. Anyway, would you happen to have any passing over the Pacific or Far East Asia at present?"

Dornberger looked to his desk computer and opened up the tracking logs for the several dozen orbital modules he was in charge of. The German space program was divided into civilian and military branches-the civilian branch sending up commercial satellites and running shuttle tours up into orbit or to the moon as of 2014. The military used its satellites to spy and mount thermonuclear missiles on as an extension of the Nuclear Triad. He got back on the phone to Erik.

"At this present moment, no none of them are over the Asian Pacific or the general Far East. We have several passing over the American Pacific heading towards Europe but the next one to have either a coverage or firing solution on the Far East won't be in position for at least a day and a half." "What if you were to have the pilots reposition their modules? How long would it take to get one in position with a firing solution on say China or Japan?" Walther frowned. Repositioning satellites was always a tricky business, there was always the risk of going into the path of another satellite, getting too close and falling out of orbit or slipping from orbit into deep space. But it wasn't impossible, especially with supercomputers that calculated flight trajectories. He activated the program on his computer to figure out if any could repositioned for surveillance coverage of the Far East or a firing solution on said. "Alright Erik, with repositioning I could have two of our missile-equipped modules, S-34 and S-61, over the Far East in nineteen hours. They would have a firing solution on targets mainly in China for the main duration of their stay there with a brief six or seven hour window giving them a solution on the Philippines and Japan." "Would the move be detected?" "Certainly. My guess is just like we spy on the Japanese space program they spy on ours. By now they probably have our regular flight routes up there figured out. Their likely to notice the change in location. We don't often reposition our satellites except when they are damaged and then we make sure their over Europe or Africa so the pilots can land back in German territory." "Well thank you Walther you've been a great help."

---

German Embassy, Tokyo

"Well thank you Walther, you've been a great help." "Before you go I have a question. This is all just a temporary maneuver correct? I'm not going to start receiving orders to reposition our satellites to give them firing solutions on Japan and Russia and France right? This request isn't coming with orders to fire on the Japanese is it?" Knowing full well the Kempetai were probably listening in on the line, Erik simply replied. "I'm afraid I can't give you that answer. I know only so much as my superiors have told me. Good day Walther, lets have lunch when I get back to Germany soon." And with that he ended the call.

Warranted Berlin had not given Erik any directives regarding the Rocket Corps, strictly speaking just knowing about the program was enough to get you hauled in by the Abwehr. Oh the civilian's knew that Germany had missile-carrying satellites in orbit, the propaganda machine loved them for tools of loyalty. However, the civilian's were under the impression that these satellites were for defensive purposes-that they carried missiles designed to shoot down ballistic missiles in-flight. Just as the German government claimed to no longer test nuclear and chemical weapons, it similarly claimed to the international community that these satellites are for defensive purposes. Hardly any other nation bought the story but it didn't matter. Most of the military considered the armed upper stages as a deterrent rather than an offensive part of the nuclear forces. The satellites would keep an enemy from trying to go nuclear but if they actually went nuclear then the majority of retaliation would be dealt by the missiles, bombers, and submarines on Earth itself.

Erik opened the door to his office and called to his secretary Manfred. "Send a notice to the Japanese government informing them that we are closing our Consulate in Osaka immediately and will have all staff there out of Japan as soon as possible. Then get me the Außenminister, I want approval for a proposal to put a little pressure on them. The Japanese have a football (OOC: Soccer to you yanks out there) team competing in the Moskau Cup in two months and a racing team at the Palermo Cup three weeks from now. Let's see how the Japanese like it when their visas are cancelled. Along with this will be the cancellation of all visas of Japanese citizens coming into the German Empire and Italy for these events." Manfred then posed a question.

"What about Japanese citizens already in Germany and Italy on visas?" Erik shook his head. "No Berlin would never approve kicking out that many foreigners, particularly since a lot of those foreigners would be students in Germany to study. If we did that the Japanese would probably kick out all the German's in Japan on student visas. Concentrate on those who have applied for temporary visas to see the events. Shouldn't be too hard to get the Italian's to follow in lockstep, when Berlin sneezes, Rome catches a cold."

Notice of the Imperial German Foreign Ministry

Notice to the Japanese Imperial Government, it is our regret to inform you that due to budgetary cuts, the German Empire will be closing its Consulate in Osaka immediately. We shall ensure the departure of all German nationals formerly employed there as soon as possible. Any locals hired on by the Consulate shall be reimbursed for loss of work. Our embassy in Tokyo will continue to remain open.

It is also our deepest regret to notify the Japanese government that due to clerical error the visas acquired by the Japanese National Football Team to enter Germany for the Moskau Cup have been cancelled. The same clerical error has resulted in the cancellation of some four thousand visas acquired by Japanese citizens whose reason for the visa was to come see the Moskau Cup. If it is any cancellation a similar error has resulted in the Indian National Team suffering the same fate as well as many Indian citizens coming to see the event. The error has been fixed but unfortunately the Japanese National Team along with citizens with cancelled visas will have to reapply for said visas. Acceptance is likely though it may take up to seven weeks for new visas to arrive.

The German government sincerely apologizes to any and all Japanese citizens inconvenienced by this event. Due to the closure of the Consulate at Osaka it is possible that visa applications to enter Germany may be temporarily halted for Japanese citizens until the situation stabilizes.

[The Novemics]

Iyagure, Daietto House

"Welcome back, Gloria! We've missed your ancedotes and stories. How was meeting with the Regent?" asked Finance Minister Ajizu Sutama. "Productive. We managed to get the JPS to join the peace summit at Heruden. I understand Shemiki is also coming to the summit?" asked Gloria Vikaunto, the Foreign Minister. "Why yes. We just received the official communique from the Shemienese ambassador; he presented it directly in St. Hierr's to the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps rather than sending a letter." replied Ajizu. "Very interesting. But the Shemienese are known for their adherence to diplomatic protocol concerning royals and imperials--they would have done the same in the JPS or Imperial Germany." "So what's next?" asked Ajizu. "I will get on the phone with the Lord Vice Chamberlain for Royal Residences and he will get the Royal Villa at Heruden set up for a diplomatic conference to last for a few days. The conference itself will start in about a week." "I also heard that a member of the Royal Family was going to attend." "Yes, as pretty much all of the foreign leaders have high rank in regards to diplomatic protocol. The Regent is technically a extended member of the Imperial Family in Japan, and so is given status equivalent to a head of state as appropriate. The King of Shemiki is a royal, so he would also be treated as a head of state. The President of the United States of Natan is also the head of state, so he has high diplomatic rank. The Cabinet President needs the Second Royal Duke Vuānon Sofosu of the Blood so there is an equality among the dignitaries. Of course, HRH is merely an observer and would have no direct role in the negotiations." "You always have everything thought out and in hand. By the way, Ambassador Uddo sent in his report." "Why is our ambassador to Imperial Germany sending me a report? I didn't ask for one and I know wasn't expecting one from him soon." asked Gloria. "Apparently, the Cabinet President wanted him to speak with the Imperial German Foreign Minister on important issues--trade, defense--and I only got the files on potential free trade agreements with several of the German client states, as did my brother Daisuke, but you were supposed to get something on defense, but I was unaware what was in those files." replied Ajizu. "Ok, I'll head to the Foreign Ministry and look at the report. See you around, Ajizu."

Crowned Commonwealth Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Offices of the Minister

"This slimy fish is wiggling around in Berlin, and he tells me this?" said Gloria in a frustrated voice. She never really like Uddo, and he never really liked her. They both served on the same delegation that got them both knighthoods all those years ago. But they had different diplomatic philosophies and foreign policy ideas. Gloria was for multilateralism and a pragmatic internationalist approach while Uddo was a unilateralist and a hawk in the Old Liberal faction, a fellow Liberal in the government who agreed more with the Conservative hawks in the Council of 600. The Old Liberals are the smaller faction in the Liberal Alliance, the leading party of the coalition government. Gloria was a New Liberal, the larger and stronger faction in the LA. The Old Liberals were more for economic freedom but also somewhat neoconservative when it came to foreign policy. They shared some affinities with the Democratic Conservative Movement, the opposition party, especially when it came to foreign policy; they were hawkish. Uddo was the only hawkish Liberal, and he managed to get an ambassadorship to a superpower that has already conquered most of Europe, Africa, and some of Asia. His hawkishness is now set free in this environment.

Years ago, Uddo and Vikaunto were both on the same delegation that lead to a ceasefire and later a power-sharing agreement in a neighboring region. They were both knighted by the late King Ryuji IV, both Knights Companion of the Order of the Wash. Now, they were both involved with foreign policy again, after all of those years.

"I can't believe he greased the palms of the Germans with this. Now we have to do this. The Cabinet President will be very upset."

Alaska airspace, near the IJA Special Projects Facility

Raijin accelerated towards the central TSF in the formation. "They're quick to get into a formation." As he was just 200 feet from a TSF he dodged below its incoming firing, got behind it, unsheathed his TSF's blade and quickly hit both main engines of the TSF, sending to fall into the snow below. Next he accelerated backwards, with two TSFs turning around to aim him. But he shot up into the air again, and in a arc above those TSFs, he aimed at the necks and elbows of the TSFs, disarming them and turning off their main sensor units. He then aimed and fired at their jet engines, causing them to catch on fire and fall to the snow below. "I have a higher reaction time than these pilots. I am using an outdated model, and my onboard cybernetic programs is on par with their operating system." He turned to face the other 6 TSFs. They were all going into a new formation. "Let's try a fair fight this time." said Raijin as he accelerated towards them.

"Mr, Raijin, we're half way to the extraction point. The Hakken is on stand-by for another 35 minutes. We'll be there in about 20 minutes." said Koma 1. "Copy, keep a low profile. I have all of the reinforcements' TSFs distracted." He made the reinforcements think they were fighting Ikaruga directly, but his combat maneuvers were throwing them off. He overheard via hacking into the IJA's chatter that the reinforcements were aware of unknown forces in the area along with Ikaruga's forces. That's why they sent in the large super-carbon armored cavalry to find them as well as to arrest Ikaruga. But if they thought he was Ikaruga, they would try and subdue him in order to make an arrest than outright killing or severe incapacitating injury. So this is why they are being careful about hitting him so they don't cause too much damage that his TSF might go up in flames and explode. But he already took out three of their buddies--they must be thirsty for revenge. One TSF accelerated towards him, and they locked both of their blades into one another. Raijin manged to hold off the enemy's blade with his left arm and used his right to use the assault cannon to shoot out the legs of his enemy. He ascended into the air after the that TSF fell to the ground and the other five surrounded him. They all gave chase. He dumped speed, and took aim at another one's engines as it flew past him upwards and it fell into a fiery explosion as Raijin spun around. But then he was hit by several rounds in his back, and the alarms went off.

[Japan and Pacific States]

Notice of the Imperial German Foreign Ministry

Notice to the Japanese Imperial Government, it is our regret to inform you that due to budgetary cuts, the German Empire will be closing its Consulate in Osaka immediately. We shall ensure the departure of all German nationals formerly employed there as soon as possible. Any locals hired on by the Consulate shall be reimbursed for loss of work. Our embassy in Tokyo will continue to remain open.

It is also our deepest regret to notify the Japanese government that due to clerical error the visas acquired by the Japanese National Football Team to enter Germany for the Moskau Cup have been cancelled. The same clerical error has resulted in the cancellation of some four thousand visas acquired by Japanese citizens whose reason for the visa was to come see the Moskau Cup. If it is any cancellation a similar error has resulted in the Indian National Team suffering the same fate as well as many Indian citizens coming to see the event. The error has been fixed but unfortunately the Japanese National Team along with citizens with cancelled visas will have to reapply for said visas. Acceptance is likely though it may take up to seven weeks for new visas to arrive.

The German government sincerely apologizes to any and all Japanese citizens inconvenienced by this event. Due to the closure of the Consulate at Osaka it is possible that visa applications to enter Germany may be temporarily halted for Japanese citizens until the situation stabilizes.

Tokyo, temporary capital of the Empire of Japanese Pacific States

The German response of course was swift, a fabrication of false statements as the Shogun had seen before of the Germans.... This time she was surprised they hadn't drawn up a non-aggression pact and sent it to Toyko with anyone named Ribbontrop. While the shogun read over the paper sent by the German Foreign Ministry it was clear there would be no de-escalation of the situation so it was decided then and there. "Michiru! Please come into my office." Meiya crumpled the paper and threw it into a wastebin right next to her desk as Michiru, the Shogun's Vassal Retainer and secretary entered her office bowing her head. "Yes Ma'am? Is there anything you need?" Meiya got up from her desk and turned looking out the window down to a group of protestors of whom were dispersed from the Tokyo German Embassy.

"Yes. Recall all citizens in Europe as well as America back to Japan.... Inform recruiters in China, Korea, Mongolia, Russia, America, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and the various islands throughout the pacific, to begin accepting any and all requests from the local populace to join our military, send out our stockpiles of Type 54s, 64s, and 89s as well as any and all uniforms and equipment we have in warehouses." Michiru raise an eyebrow, what was the shogun preparing? Whatever it was, it obviously wasn't good if it called on the use of old supplies. "Yes Ma'am.... Is that all?" Michiru replied, bowing her head, awaiting the Shogun's word of dismissal. "No... Get into contact with the leaders of the Chinese Nationalist Faction in Western China, The leader of the Chinese Communist Faction in Western China as well, the leader of the Vietnamese Partisans in Indochina, and finally get into contact with the head of the German KPD. Inform them privately they are all invited for secret talks of which are of the upmost importance in Sendai... Send the Tozamas, Yamashiro Kazusa, Noto Izumi, Fujisawa Tsukiko, and Kai Shimako with these messages, and inform them they are to remain with each faction until each faction leader returns from this meeting as assurance this isn't a trap." Meiya said while she looked on the protestors of whom passed by the government building, going back to their homes or places of work. "Yes ma'am. I will send these orders out right now..." Michiru started to make for the doors to the Shogun's office when Meiya spoke up one last time. "And one last thing Michiru, inform the Nonus these... Peace talks may have to wait, we have more pressing matters, such as the future of our empire to deal with." To which Michiru turned around and bowed her head to the Shogun.

"Yes ma'am." To which Meiya replied. "Good.... Good..." Meiya knew what she was doing, there was one card she had and she would play it, the Chinese, both Nationalists and Communists were in an uneasy peace and had been since the end of the Asia-Pacific War which resulted in Japanese Victory, Japan had allowed for both factions to officially govern the west of China and Tibet, they had for years been in talks with the Japanese Government in allowing for Chinese restored rule of China but they had remembered well the situation as well as what had lead up to China's multiple civil wars in the past 19th and 20th centuries, the Western Powers of Britain, Russia, Germany and other countries, while the Vietnamese on the other hand, the people in the country were sick of German rule, they were sick of Imperial rule all together and for years to Japanese military intelligence were requesting for support from the Americans, Chinese, Russians, and even Japan itself, all four had denied support to them in order to maintain a relative peace in the world... Though it seemed peace was now but a fleeting dream.

OOC: Note, the journeys of the Tozamas will be below in Spoilers with their names and their assignments.

Hours later... In Yushu, Nationalist Chinese Territory, Western China

Tozama Noto Izumi had left from her posting in Bejing, as third in command of the 9th Imperial Royal Guard, by orders of the Shogun she had traveled in secrecy, to the Chinese Nationalist capital of Yushu, the city itself bordered on a desert which caused the city itself to become quite hot especially at her time of day, going to a hotel it was found that there was already a room reserved for her on the top floor but the manager wouldn't say who it was reserved by, taking her room key and her suitcase in one hand she went up to the room and listened to the door, hearing the sound of boots on the otherside, just one set though... Whomever this was would get a quick and uneasy wake up call, she put the key in and quickly opened the door charging in before slamming it shut and being caught by two Kuomintang officers of whom were waiting on each side of the door, her head was put into a spin, she had no idea of what was going on at this point. "Who are all of you! What do you want!" Izumi yelled to the two before her attention was turned to an officer sitting directly across from the door by a set of large glass windows. "You know why we're here. Tozama." The officer in the chair said, he was wearing the standard KMT officer's uniform which hadn't changed from the Asia-Pacific war period. "Of course... Then you know I wish to see your leader." Izumi said being let go of by the two officers at her sides. "Of course, get dressed in uniform or you'll most likely be shot as a spy..... I'll also introduce myself... I am Major Jiang. KMT Intelligence.... I already know who you are Tozama, Noto Izumi."

Izumi adjusted her glasses and picked up her briefcase standing up and bowing her head before the Major of whom blew it off walking to the door. "It is an honour to meet you then, Major." Izumi said while the Major walked by her to the door. "Yes, yes, all very well... You have five minutes before we must leave." Major Jiang said while one of the two officers with him of whom wore the rank of Captain, opened the door and left behind Major Jiang and the Lieutenant with the two. "Of course. I'll be out before then." Izumi said and the door shut, quickly Izumi went to the bed in her room and opened the suitcase, taking out her uniform, firstly putting on the black protective bodysuit which protected the wearer from most pistol caliber rounds and then proceeded to get dressed in the rest of the white and bronze trimmed uniform before leaving the room and walking with the KMT officers to their car and being taken before head of the KMT, Generalissimo Xian Wu, the successor to Chiang Kai-Shek's son, Chiang Ching-Kuo.

Arriving at the KMT government building, Izumi was escorted in by Major Jiang while she got somewhat rather hostile looks, the uniform of a Tozama was a somewhat well known scene in Japanese occupied territories, after all it was but a step up from the Non-nobility members uniforms, walking up a large staircase after her briefcase was partially checked she and Major Jiang walked down a long hallway to a set of large black coloured wooden doors. "This is where I get off Tozama, I shall be waiting out here." Major Jiang took off his cap and sat down in a chair of which was the first in a row of chairs to the right of the door. "Thank you very much Major Jiang."

Izumi bowed her head before taking ahold of the door knob and turning it, entering the room she found herself before a group of men sitting on the other side of the room sitting at a table on the other side of the room, with Generalissimo Wu at the center of the table, shutting the door Izumi walked to the center of the room and bowed her head. "I am Tozama Noto Izumi, of the Imperial Japanese Royal Guard. I come with a message from Shogun Mitsurugi Meiya." A few of the Generals and other high officers of the KMT could be heard talking amongst themselves before the room fell silent with the raising of Generalissimo Wu's hand. "So. What is this message you have for us, Tozama." Izumi opened her briefcase and took out a manila folder before walking to the table, placing it on the table and stepping back. "The Shogun invites you sir, to Sendai for secret talks. She suspects that you may suspect this to be a trap so I am to remain here in this building as assurance that this meeting is not a trap, should you accept." Generalissimo Wu looked over the invitation and handed it along down the table, for the others to see, before it was handed back down the other side of the table, then back to Generalissimo Wu. "I see... I accept. I shall leave as soon as is possible, which is in a few hours." Generalissimo Wu stood up from the table and as did the other officers with him. "Thank you for bringing this Tozama." Then the General left along with the other officers but the Generalissimo himself left for Japan.

Lhasa, Chinese Communist Territory, Western China, Tibet

Like with Izumi, Yamashiro Kazusa had left her posting from Busan, Korea with the very same orders, leave Japanese Territory and seek an audience with the Chinese Communist Party, of course this would be a degree harder to do. The Communists had no real love of the Japanese, but it was worse with the communists, they'd sooner hang a Japanese citizen from a tree before let them pass, but of course if this happened they'd most likely end up in another war with Japan so they just harassed Japanese to a slight degree, giving them a hard time here and there. It was harder for Yamashiro though, she had the look of a noble which was easily detectable, but surprisingly she had little to no trouble, which caused her suspicions to be aroused, this got worse and was confirmed when a black car with darkened windows had pulled up next to Yamashiro and a man with a Chinese Red Army uniform had got out of the back.

"Miss Kazusa, your presence is requested by Chairmen Zhan, please get in." Yamashiro was caught off guard by this of course, they knew who she was. "Who are you and how do you know who I am?" Yamashiro held onto the briefcase she was given which had her uniform and a manila folder in it, same as Izumi... Yamashiro would get an answer she'd genuinely dread. "I am Lieutenant Yi, with the Communist Party's Intelligence. Please get into the car." Yamashiro sighed, she had no choice of course if she refused then most likely Lieutenant Yi had a couple men hiding in the crowd passing her and would most likely "help" her into the car. "Alright, Lieutenant." Yamashiro got into the car and scooted to the other side of the seat, away from the Lieutenant. Lieutenant Yi then got in and shut the door and the car took off going to the Chinese Communist Party's headquarters in the city. "How did you know who I am, Lieutenant?" Lieutenant Yi kept quiet for a moment and responded. "We caught your passport at the border, it was a horrible fake but your file matched what we have on known Imperial Japanese Royal Guards." Yamashiro's eyebrow twitched... They knew who she was from a file they apparently had on her. This didn't comfort her at all. "I see..." Yamashiro watched while the car passed a military convoy, most likely going to take part in wargames.

Within the hour, Yamashiro had been taken directly to the Communist Party's headquarters in the city, getting out of the car she was escorted into the building then to a private room in the building by Lieutenant Yi. "You'll want to get dressed in your uniform, otherwise you may be seen as a spy and shot on the spot." Lieutenant Yi, opened the door to the room and Yamashiro walked in with her briefcase. "I'll let you know when I'm dressed." Yamashiro shut the door behind her and set her briefcase on the table getting dressed in her uniform before shutting the briefcase and going to the door, opening it. "Where is Chairman Zhan?" Yamashiro asked to Lieutenant Yi of whom turned back around. "I've been ordered to take you to him. Come with me." Lieutenant Yi responded, taking Yamashiro up to the third floor of the building to a large set of doors. "Chairman Zhan is behind these doors. He knows of your arrival. I shall wait out here for you." Lieutenant Yi said, standing by the double doors. "Alright, thank you Lieutenant."

Yamashiro opened the doors and walked in, they were shut behind her by two guards of whom were in full dress uniform with SKS rifles. "Tozama, Yamashiro Kazusa. Member of the Imperial Japanese Royal Guards.... I assume you have a good reason for coming here." Chairman Zhan said while he sat at his desk, doing paperwork, looking up to the Royal Guard. "Yes, sir." Yamashiro approached Chairman Zhan, followed by the two guards at her back. Noticing this, Chairman Zhan ordered the two guards out of the room in Chinese so Yamashiro's comfort. "Thank you Chairman." Yamashiro bowed her head and stood straight up continuing on her way to his desk, taking a manila folder out of her briefcase and placing it on the Chairman's desk. "You've been invited to a meeting of the upmost secrecy in Sendai, on the Imperial Mainland by Shogun Mitsurugi Meiya." Chairman Zhan, opened the folder and looked over the papers inside of it, which were invites to the meeting and hoped time of arrival. "I see... Do you know anything about this meeting?" Chairman Zhan asked while he read over the papers, looking up to Yamashiro. "No sir. Only I've been told to deliver these papers to you sir.... And that as assurance that this is not a trap, I am to remain here in your territory until you return from this meeting, should you accept."

"I see." Chairman Zhan said while he put the papers down on the table, leaning forward on his desk he clasped his hands together and thought for a moment before sitting back in his chair. "I accept, I shall leave immediately." Yamashiro smiled and bowed her head. "Thank you Chairman, the Shogun will be happy to hear of this." Chairman Zhan smiled himself and got up from his chair. "In the meantime, while I am gone, you shall be a guest in my home." Chairman Zhan walked around his desk patting Yamashiro's shoulder motioning for her to walk with him, while his aid of whom Yamashiro hadn't noticed, picked up the papers and put them in a hidden safe behind a large portrait of Chairman Mao. "I assume that the KMT will also be joining us at this meeting..." Chairman Zhan said while he and Yamashiro left the office and Lieutenant Yi followed behind the two. "I'm unsure of that Chairman, I was not told of anything to do with the Kuomintang." Chairman Zhan sighed and nodded his head. "I see. Well, no matter, I shall come to this meeting... I assume secrecy is of the upmost importance then?" Chairman Zhan said while he, Yamashiro and Lieutenant Yi of whom was following behind walked down a long corridor. "Yes sir." Yamashiro said looking to Chairman Zhan. "I see. Well then this matter will be treated as a matter of state security.." Yamashiro bowed her head to the Chairman. "Yes sir.." Within the hour, Chairman Zhan left Communist China for Japan.

Off the Coast of German Occupied Indochina, Minisub I-19

While Japanese tech had advanced quite far they hadn't figured out how to make a better Minisubmarine... To add onto this Fujisawa Tsukiko had no experience in the sea before... Which caused her to throw up quite a bit in the submarine, but thankfully such things were dealt with modifications in the past to accommodate sailors that got sea sick, a sort of vacuum tube was put in the submarine for sailors to throw up into and ejected it out into the sea. "You okay there Tozama?" IJN Lieutenant, Yoji Kusaka asked while he looked through a periscope to Tozama Fujisawara Tsukiko. "Y-Yes... Just give me a moment..." Lieutenant Kusaka looked to the Tozama and sighed. "You said that five minutes ago.... And the five minutes before that..." Lieutenant Kusaka said with an eyebrow raise while Tozama Tsukiko flushed the tube out into the sea. "Yes, yes, very funny.... How much longer until we hit the coast?" Tuskiko asked. "We're almost there, just a couple minutes and you can get out safely." Lieutenant Kusaka said, while the periscope lowered, thankfully they hadn't been detected by any German patrol ships.... As a matter of fact there were no patrol ships at all from what Kusaka had seen. "Alright good."

Tsukiko said checking her watch while she waited for four minutes to pass. "Check the periscope Lieutenant." Tsukiko said while Lieutenant Kusaka raised up the periscope and looked around. "Area is clear still, alright, Helmsman, surface us." Kusaka said while the helmsman surfaced the submarine and Lieutenant Kusaka and Tozama Tsukiko climbed out swimming to shore with the briefcase in a large sealed clear bag. "Alright.... Command said our spy managed to get into contact with the head of the partisans in Indochina, they're willing to meet. Their base is deep in the jungle outside of some city called Ky Son... Good luck Tozama." Kusaka saluted the Tozama, handing her a map of northern Indochina, a compass and a machete. "You'll need the machete for the jungle.... Again, good luck." Kusaka began swimming back to the I-19 and managed to get back in, within minutes the submarine was gone from sight. and Tsukiko was on her way to Ky Son, all the while through the jungle, the Imperial Japanese Royal Guards were experts in such terrain, while in the days she was making her way to Ky son, she substituted her diet with whatever she caught that she identified as non-poisonous....

Half a day later, Tsukiko made her way outside of Kyson, she started looking around for the partisans... She didn't have to look far, while in the middle of looking through a cave she was blindfolded and knock out, just before losing consciousness she said in Vietnamese to the best of her ability. "I'm not a German." Awakening several hours later Tsukiko found herself sitting at a table deep in a cave with a light over her. On the other side of the table there was a man sitting there wearing a red armband with a star on it... The symbol of communist partisans in Vietnam. "W-where am I?" Tsukiko said in Vietnamese which earned some shock from the man on the other side of the table, noticing her briefcase was sat on the table infront of her... Open. "We shall let you know when you identify yourself." The man replied... But not in Vietnamese, instead it was Japanese. "I am Fujisawara Tsukiko... Imperial Japanese Royal Guard... I come with a message for your leader... Pham Thi Lan.... Where is she?"

Fujisawa said holding the right side of her head, it was bandaged but still she felt a lot of pain coming from it. "...What did you do to me...?" The man sat forward his face illuminated by light, thankfully he wasn't European, it was an Asian face which caused a lump in Tsukiko's throat to dissipate the had indeed found the Partisans. And within the moment a young woman stepped forward into the room, with some strange looking flowers on either side of her head. "I am Pham Thi Lan... What is it you want Japanese." She said adjusting the G-3 rifle slung over her shoulder. "Shogun Mitsurugi Meiya has sent me with an urgent message for you.... She invites you and only you to a meeting of the upmost secrecy in Sendai, on our mainland, there's a minisub off the coast right now, when you go, go between the times of 12 in the morning and..." Tsukiko felt the pain flare up in her head and held onto the right side of her head with both hands. "Ah shit.... That's not good.... 12 and 2 in the morning... The submarine will take you to the Imperial mainland, and you'll be taken to Sendai... She wants me to stay here as assurance this meeting isn't a trap... If you accept, go to the coast... Fifteen kilometers north of Thanh Pho Vinh..." Tsukiko then fainted, the pain flared up to the point where she could barely handle it.

Hours later Fujisawa awoke on a straw mat, sitting up slowly she held the right side of her head and looked around, noticing the woman from before. "W-why are you still here?" Pham stood up and sighed looking down at Tsukiko. "I wanted to let you know myself, I'm going. My best doctor, will be looking after you. And I wanted to apologize for what my men did to you, usually we don't have such visitors, just Germans nowadays... I'll be back as quickly as I can... Fuijsawa Tuskiko." Pham then left the room and hours later at night, left Indochina on the submarine I-19 for the Japanese Mainland.

Days later after the departure of thousands of Japanese citizens from Europe, Berlin, Imperial Germany.

Kai Shimako like her fellow Tozamas were sent to the various leaders of factions in Asia that the Shogun hoped would most likely be willing to help the Japanese empire, in a combined war of Asia against a western power, Kai herself was thrown into the heart of it all... Into Berlin itself. To find one man, of whom the Shogun knew would help the Japanese against the threat of the German Empire, she didn't have to look far of course, there was one man handing out fliers on a street corner for people to vote for Ernst Kammler, the head of the KPD, Germany's now illegal communist party. "Excuse me sir... Where might I find Herr Kammler?" Kai asked in German, her very clear Japanese accent to a slight degree muddling her German. "Why do you ask comrade? Working for the secret police?" The German asked to Kai looking to her with suspicion to which Kai said very plainly, whispering in the German's ear.

"I wish to meet him, he's a very big hero of mine, I'm a member of the Japanese communist party." That very sentence caused the hairs on the man's neck to stand up on end. "You're kidding me...?" He replied to which Kai nodded her head. "Why do you think I'm wearing the red Hamachi in my hair?" Kai replied a smile on her face, of course this was a lie, Tozamas were ultimately loyal to the Shogun and the Emperor only. "I see... Alright.. A few blocks from here you're going to see a sign that says the Drunken Hunter, go around the back and you'll find a manhole, as soon as you climb down it you'll be met by three of my comrades down below. Tell them Erich sent you." Kai smiled and bowed her head. "Thank you very much." At that moment she wasted no time in finding this manhole, and just as Erich had said, there were three members of the KPD down there, One was armed with an old MP40, another was armed with an MP5, and the other was armed with a Mauser 98. "Hold it right there girl. ...Who are you, what do you want, and more importantly how did you find this place." The apparent head of the group with an MP5 said, the submachine gun slung over his shoulder. "I've come to see Herr Kammler. I'm a Tozama with the Imperial Japanese Royal Guard, here with a message from my superior, Shogun Mitsurugi Meiya."

Kai replied rather plainly unphased by the weapons being pointed at her. "Oh really...?" The leader of the group said, looking to both of his colleagues. "Alright... What is it she wants?" Everyone in Germany at this point knew who Shogun Meiya was, she was the sort of object of hatred of a good number of Germans in the country. "My orders are not to give this message to anyone but Herr Kammler. I'm sorry." Kai bowed her head apologetically. "Alright. Fine. Come with us. Ludwig, get behind her, she makes a wrong move, you know what to do." The head of the group said while the one with the MP-40 moved around Kai, behind her holding his MP40 to Kai's back. "I assure you my orders are true." Kai said before she was pushed forward while the head of the group with the MP5 and his second with the Mauser 98 turned around and started walking down the long passageway, following behind silently, there were a set of twists and turns before Kai was finally brought before Ernst Kammler of whom was very obviously planning acts of sabotage against the German government, before he noticed Kai and the men who brought her. "Who is this?" Ernst said looking to Kai then to the groups of men who brought her.

"Herr Kammler, she said she's a.... Tozama? With the Imperial Japanese Royal Guard and she says she has a message for you from their Shogun Meiya." Ernst then looked to the head of the group and then to Kai. "Alright.. Sit down. Tozama, what is your message." Kammler motioned to a box with one smaller box on one side and a pile of bricks fashioned into a sort of chair, sitting down on the side with the bricks, Kai put her suitcase on the table, moving her uniform out of the way she took out a manila folder, handing it to Ernst. "Herr Kammler, if at all possible the Shogun would like to extend her assistance to your cause, at this very moment, Germany may stand to carve up Asia and cause millions of unneeded deaths, the recent news I assume you all know of, with one of your country's super carriers, coming dangerously close to my homeland and now one of your country's battlecruisers off the coast of Okinawa puts my country in a difficult position, as it stands if any further escalation is taken a world war could be inevitable... We wish to avoid this. And we are willing to lend supplies to your men all over the country in order to overthrow your government, we wish for peace and I can personally assure you, we only wish for the continuation of this world as we know it.... I'm authorized to offer your men the means to overthrow your country's emperor, and afterwards the Shogun would wish to speak with you about a possible alliance and giving up of colonies in Asia, nothing more... What do you say Herr Kammler?" Kai looked to Kammler very seriously, it could be seen in her eyes, this was an offer, a true offer from Japan.... To avoid the possibility of a world war.

"I'm not sure... This all does seem too good to be true to me, even if the most you want is just the giving up of Asian colonies." Kammler said while he read over the papers given to him by Kai of which offered fifty crates of Type 64 battle rifles, nine crates with a thousand rounds of ammunition each, grenades, mortars and light anti-armour weaponry. "This all looks tempting... And you say this is to avoid a war?" To which Kai nodded her head. "Yes sir... Japan wishes for peace but should Germany not wish for this, you'll have to be the one to take over.... I know there are millions of communists in this country who would not wish for such a war, but it could very potentially be unavoidable." Kai said very solemnly, it was clear to even the most dull of mind, if Germany were to start a war it would most likely end horribly for all involved.

"Alright. You can tell your Shogun I'll agree to this... And uh. I guess you'll want to know this, we pay attention to more than just the military and know you're currently going to be going into a peace agreement with those Nonus guys.... Well their ambassador to our country apparently is going to have a deal signed that will make the two allies... Militarily." Kammler said handing the papers back to Kai of whom put them back in the folder and put it into the briefcase, locking it. "I see... Shogun Meiya will be quite.... Upset over that... Thank you for telling me. I shall be sure to relay all of this to her.... As for the arms, there's already a few crates of these weapons specified in the basement, we've managed to get them smuggled into the country, there is a secret passage leading from the embassy basement to these sewers, it's large enough for you to get these weapons out in their cases, they're unmarked of course so just take them all.... On our side we'll have to report them as stolen officially." Kai winked and stood up from the pile of bricks. "Thank you Herr Kammler." Kai held her hand out for Kammler of whom took it and shook it. "No, thank you miss...." Kai smiled and saluted him. "Kai Shimako, Imperial Japanese Royal Guard." She turned then walked the way the men had brought her from while Ernst started having his men look for a secret entrance near the Japanese Embassy from the sewers of which didn't take long, and soon the communist partisans in Germany were all armed with Type 64 Battle rifles, grenades, and anti-tank weaponry while Kai was now on her way back to Japan, her mission was complete and she hadn't been ordered to remain with the Reds to her delight....

Of course though she had returned to Japan days later after the weapons mainly just the battle rifles were publically reported as stolen from Japanese arms lockers in their embassy, of course all going according to plan. After returning to Japan, Kai made her way directly to Tokyo, straight to the Shogun's office. Saluting her Shogun Meiya smiled, no others had come back and the Imperial Guard reported through various direct lines of communication that they were bringing the leaders of the Nationalist Chinese forces, Communist Chinese forces and Vietnamese Partisan forces to Sendai very discreetly, so much so that they were absolutely sure that none would be picked up on radar by any foreign intelligence services.

[The Novemics]

Basement of the Nonus Embassy in Berlin

"Tell me again, what did you say to those German commies a few days ago?" asked Senior Agent Sura Tadachi, the OIS attache to the Nonus embassy, as she punched the person who leaked out sensitive documents and information, the ambassador's deputy secretary Kairā Merukeru. "He's not saying anything sir," she said to Uddo who was standing in another room but was peering in via a one-way window. "Get the box then." he ordered. A cart with a car battery and wires was rolled in. Agent Tadachi got the information after a few minutes of 'coaxing' and 'encouraging' Merukeru. "He said he met with a representative of Kammler, the German Communist Party leader." said Tadachi to the one-way window. Uddo turned around and spoke aloud: "I have some contacts in the communist party, some are informants and some disagree with Kammler's revolutionary ideas--ideas which got his party banned. We can find out where the documents went. Senior Agent, send one of your best agents to speak with this man. I will give you the details when you pick your man." "What about Merukeru?" asked the agent. "He's done. Arrest him for aiding the enemies of the Crown and the Commonwealth by leaking sensitive information and send him home. Inform Daietto House of Merukeru's actions." ordered Uddo.

...Several hours later...

"Sir, we found out that some Communist Party paramilitary members and Kammler himself met with a representative of the Imperial Japanese Royal Guard, a...Tozuma, a secret envoy to the insurgent groups. OIS has some info on a few known Tozumas since they tried to rile up some Ignisan nationalist extremists and Nonus communists back in '94. The one who met with Kammler was Kai Shimako. Shimako apparently told Kammler an offer of giving material support to overthrow the Imperial German government if war were to break out." said Agent Tadachi, summarizing her deep cover agent's investigation into the leak and the communist connection. "Well, it seems that we are going to be having a proxy war soon. No doubt the JPS knows of our attempt to form an alliance with Imperial Germany. I'll quietly and discreetly inform German security services about a possible communist uprising--I'll tell my close friend the head of the German security services about the JPS Tozama connection and advise him to only arrest the leadership of the KPD so as to nip this revolution in the bud. Perhaps they can secure the Tozama. But also ask them to legalize the KPD at the same time as to discredit Kammler for his attempt to overthrow the government."

...back in Uddo's office...

"Diana, get me the head of the German security services for a special secret meeting. The military attache will accompany me as well." ordered Uddo. "All according to plan; Vikuanto and Zoidberg will fall, and I will ascend." he muttered to himself with a grin. He knew Merukeru was a communist sympathizer, and he let him send those documents to the KPD. Now, his machination was coming to fruition.

---

Tokyo, the Empire of the Japanese Pacific States

Yosuke Nevuiru (OOC: I put all of my characters' names into Nonus now; before he was Yosuke Neville) received the latest orders from the Shogun via his mole in the Shogun's inner circle of confidants and aides. "A secret meeting in Sendai? I wonder what for? I have heard there was some 'recruitment' in the occupied territories in the East. A meeting with the leaders of the rebel and insurgent groups in China and in Vietnam? It makes sense for the Shogun to do this, in case of an invasion. A special guerrilla force to counter invasions and to bolster local support for the JPS regime. The Shogun is indeed a tactful diplomat and stateswoman. Thank you for the information." he said to a slender figure in a trench coat who got up from the park bench to return to work. 10 minutes later, a man sat down next Yosuke. Yosuke was sitting in a park overlooking the old quarter of Tokyo. He was enjoying his coffee and newspaper. "So, there is going to be a meeting in Sendai. The insurgent leaders, two from China and one from Vietnam, are meeting with the Shogun. Tozumas were sent to each leader's headquarters as insurance. It would be sad if the collateral had to be taken if certain events took place in Sendai. Perhaps, opposition to the JPS would grow as well in the occupied territories of East and Southeast Asia." said Yosuke. "Indeed, it would be. And it shall be." said the man. He got up, and walked away from Yosuke. Yosuke had free reign to harass and slow down the JPS partly in retaliation for the JPS internment of Oliver several weeks ago. He managed to find out where Oliver went through this inner circle contact of his, and he was vaguely aware of the operation to rescue Oliver underway already. Now, with the Germans entering the game, and the civil war in the JPS dying down, he needed to find a way to keep the JPS occupied domestically. And now he had his chance. The Regents' rebellion was a pure chance event, and it helped Yosuke's operatives greatly by exposing new information and angles to pursue. Now, he needed to keep the JPS busy at home so they would be more willing to settle for less at the peace summit--an idea he got from his friend and political mentor, Sebasuchan Uddo.

---
Iyagure, Daietto House, private office of the Cabinet President

"Jessica, why did Uddo offer to give up military technology to Imperial Germany? That is not the way we do things around here, and I don't trust him to handle an affair like this. And when did we decide to do a military alliance? I wasn't consulted, and neither was the Cabinet. Who gave you this idea to pursue this path? I, and most of the Cabinet, wanted to do expanded economic agreements with the German client states. Military alliance was to be done at a later time, well after the peace summit, and not like this." asked the upset Foreign Minister Gloria Vikaunto. "Uddo suggested it to me, and I agreed with him because war seems a strong possibility, and an alliance with a foreign power such as the German Empire would help us. The Region is in disarray--I don't even know if we can muster a collective defense of the Region if the JPS invades. I thought Uddo would do a conventional military alliance, not this bold gift to the Germans." replied Jessica. "Well, it does not help because it would escalate tensions further--the First Great War was caused in large part due to alliances. And alliances make other countries feel like they are pushed back into a corner--which the JPS would feel now if they found out about it." "Well, it appears the JPS does know about it. Our embassy in Berlin has reported that some documents related to the exchange between Uddo and the German foreign minster have been leaked, but to who they don't know. Perhaps the media. We have to keep this underwraps. The papers and cameras cannot find out about this affair." said Zoidberg. "This puts our entire foreign policy program in jeopardy, not to mention our national security and reputation. Uddo is a loose cannon. He was like this years ago and he is still like this. I don't even like how he got an ambassadorship. He is a corrupt individual." said Gloria. "Our hands are tied now, and we have to live with it. But soon, we will have discussions on peace. We can still reformulate our agreement to the Germans--it would take time for anything to get to them. And the JPS would be and still willing to negotiate."

Suddenly, a message came from the CP's phone. Jessica picked it up and was disappointed to hear what the messenger said: Kyoto needs to postpone the negotiations for now. "I recommend that our ambassador in Tokyo--he fled Kyoto after fighting broke out--to speak with the JPS foreign minister. To get a clearer picture on this." said Gloria. "Ok, I'll send a message to our embassy in Tokyo." replied Jessica.

[New Decius]

Fleet Exercise "Hammerhead", Northern Pacific

Despite the escalating tensions in the Pacific between Germany and Japan, the Kaiser had ordered that the scheduled Fleet Exercise take place as planned. Pacific Fleet Exercise #101 "Hammerhead", would be the largest military exercise the German Empire had ever conducted in the Far East/Pacific Theater, all prior exercises usually being much smaller in attendance and activity. Involving around a hundred military vessels and hundreds of aircraft, including some from the Royal Italian Navy, these war games are to last three weeks with resupply ships standing by in the Karolin Island's should it be decided to continue them for longer. The most notable exercise will be a live fire event involving the sinking of eleven decommissioned German and Italian warships by participating forces. Twenty-three naval commanders from both the German Empire and the Kingdom of Italy shall be involved in the execution of these exercises, with observers invited from several nations with interest in the region. However, the most important fact of the matter is that at its closest, the boundary of the operational zone is only one hundred kilometers from the Japanese Home Island's. A distance covered in a matter of a day for the massive fleet if it started moving in that direction. But, the exercises were still being held well into international waters and if the Japanese wanted to observe with their fleet then they would have to post their ships in international waters where they, like all nations, had no jurisdiction.

The chosen flagship was the SMS Spree, one of the two Kaiser Wilhelm Augustus III-Class Supercarrier's participating in the exercises-the other being the SMS Wilhelmshaven. From here the exercises would be coordinated and conducted. Besides the two Supercarrier's, there were six other fleet carriers present, 5 German and one Italian, as well as three of Germany's Graf Spee Nuclear Battlecruisers along with one Italian heavy missile cruiser. Twenty-two attack submarines would be participating, 19 German and 3 Italian, accompanied by four ballistic missile submarines, all German, and six submarine tankers, 12 Helicopter Destroyers, 8 ASW Destroyers, 4 Guided Missile Cruisers, and 32 Guided Missile Destroyers. It was the largest battlefleet Germany had ever assembled in the Pacific since the Indo-German War in 1987. Though this group's purpose was not war.

Near Ky Son, German Indochina

Unfortunately for the Communist partisan's and the Tozama, the 161. Infanterie Division had at this time chosen to execute its plans for an attack on the recently discovered partisan headquarters near Ky Son. Given that it was deep in the jungle and underground, the battle was sure to be bloody, but the soldiers were prepared for this operation. And at dawn the first artillery shells began raining down around the whole surface perimeter of the base.

The PzH2000's being used to shell the area with heavy battery fire, fired 155mm shells, which packed quite a punch, however not enough to breach the reinforced ceilings below, certainly enough to destroy emplacements above and kill the sentries. Which Willi Dernan and Wolfgang Storch, two poor SOB Schutze's who happened to be part of the raiding party were more than grateful for. It meant that there were very few enemies left to shoot at their Feisler Fe-130 helicopter and others when they arrived over the area. However he did not see how they would be getting inside, though the Mark.IV Autonomous Attack Drone hanging from a steel cable beneath the chopper and two others told him they would be helping clear out the base. So far they'd cleared out dozens of these bases just this year alone and the damn Red's kept on coming back.

The choppers were ordered to pull back when a pair of Horten Ho-709's flew over and dropped several MOP's on the base. These massive ordinance penetrators were designed to bust through fallout bunkers so they sure as hell did for those ceilings. The explosions were terribly loud and bright but it did cave in parts of the ceiling. Corporal Arno Baatz then proceeded to call out. "Put on your gas masks. Its a luxury you have but the enemy isn't likely to. We'll be dropping in chlorine gas canisters before we send the AAD's in to clean house. Then we go in." Willi took out his gas mask and strapped it securely to the back of his head. Then Wolfgang reminded him to hold on as the chopper tilted on its axis to line up its cannons with one of the cave ins. Several canisters fired from the launchers suspended beneath its wings and into the cave in area, immediately they began emitting white smoke, which men began choking on soon after.

Then the AAD's dropped in and started blazing away. Time for the Kaiserliche Armee to get down and dirty.

Berlin

"Stolen Japanese weapons and its my fault! This is not the KSD's area of expertise! Where was the Abwehr?! The Kaiser should hardly be screaming my ear off when our intelligence boys were sitting on their ass on the matter. I mean seriously, we don't have the authority they do and he expects miracles!" Reinhard Wolfe, Director of the KSD, the Kaiserliche Sicherheitsdienst or Imperial Security Service, screamed at his command staff in his office. He had just had the Kaiser screaming at him over the stolen Japanese weapons and recent rise in KPD activity.

While the Abwehr was the military intelligence service with domestic operatives, and the Kriminalpolizei ran the police, the KSD essentially were Germany's official secret-police. They could make people vanish off the street like the Kriminalpolizei could but they couldn't vanish them entirely like the Abwehr could.

Just then Wolfe got a phone call. He picked up quiet angry. "What!?" Sir Ambassador Uddo is on the line. "Put him through. Ah Uddo how are you. Do please make it quick because I am in a bit of a situation here. The Kaiser just tore me apart for letting the KPD get those Japanese weapons so I have to send all my available officers out now. What exactly do you want?"

OOC:
The AAD: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/or ... d1ba04.jpg

[United States of Natan]

My apologies everyone, I was not able to participate while away on vacation, and after that, I've been quite busy. I have not yet decided on the fate of this RP moving forward, but I will do so soon.

[Japan and Pacific States]

Alright well Novemics, Decius and I are going to start another rp away from this most likely to not clash with this one.

Tokyo, Temporary Capital of the Empire of Japanese Pacific States, Mainland Japan

Shogun Meiya had a busy couple of days ahead of her, she and those still left after the rebellion of most of the regents in Japan has relocated further away from the embassies of which moved from Kyoto to Tokyo when the Regents tried to take the city for themselves, what's more she also had learned from the staff of which were present at the IJA's secret Alaska facility that they had been attacked by both the forces of Regent Ikaruga, and what Director Kouzuki Yuuko had claimed were spies from Nonus. This caused her to believe that maybe, just maybe, the peace talks of which were being very carefully planned for, might not be as they appear, she ordered that any and all communications from anyone in the Nonus government were to be redirected to her and her alone. The recent information, combined with what Tozama Kai Shimako had said, shook her trust with the government of Nonus, no longer would she full heartedly believe the words from them. Their recent actions in her eyes made it abundantly clear to her they could not be trusted...

Thankfully though in their infiltration of Japan's facility in Alaska, Yuuko only received a superficial injury, and though one TSF was found to be missing, the TSF in question being but a simple first generation Type 82 Zuikaku Kai, Japan had secured the last Regent, the one of whom was apparently behind the whole rebellion, Regent Ikaruga. Of whom was summarily executed by Second Lieutenant Tatsunami Hibiki of the IJA. Though it wasn't suggested, Director Yuuko and her "fly trap" Kasumi made their way back to Mainland Japan as soon as Director Yuuko had felt she was able to.... Which was just two hours after she came to.

Director Yuuko had barged into the Shogun's office with Kasumi at her back much to the dismay of Vassal Retainer Isumi Michiru of whom ran in after both. "You both must wait for the Shogun to-" Meiya stood up from her desk and motioned for Michiru to stand down, she did so hesitantly of course. "Thank you Michiru... Now please leave, and shut the doors behind you." Michiru bowed her head and followed the Shogun's orders, shutting the doors as she left. "Yuuko, I'm glad you're still alive, there is much work to be done still... With the recent information I've learned from my Tozama and from you, I've come to the conclusion that the peace talks may yet very well be but a ruse, against us, to catch us off guard and destroy our Empire." Meiya said regretfully as she walked around her desk, to Yuuko, sitting on the front of it. "So with you hear, I can give you your orders... With the knowledge that no one will know.. And it is with a heavy heart I find myself having to give these orders, you are to proceed with Alternative V. Take all research materials, experimental weapons, and anything related to the advancement of our military and civilisation to Area 13 in our northern occupied areas. In addition, two full regiments of Royal Guard will accompany you, as well as VF-17, Generals Marimo, both Isumi Marika, and Akira. In addition, The Emperor himself, My daughter, Regent Takatsukasa, all science personnel and a small percentage of civilians."

Meiya was sad to have to give this order, Japan had ten different "Alternative" plans, Alternative V though but the fifth plan in the series was one of the most extreme for various reasons. "Shogun I.... I don't know if I could comply with that order..." Yuuko said sadly crossing her arms, Kasumi herself looked indifferent to the mention of the plan, as per usual expressionless. "Isn't there any other way miss?" Yuuko asked hoping that maybe, just maybe, Shogun Meiya might say something of comfort. "No. There is no other way as I see it right now, for us, for my husband, for my daughter, for the very future of our empire, we have no choice but to enact this plan as much as it pains me. Our survival as we are is not guaranteed in anyway as I see it, with the Germans to our west, Nonus to our East, South, and North seemingly... We have no choice, of course the Emperor and my daughter will travel in secret. Their safety is above my own, I shall join you all wen the time comes, until then, for now, we shall prepare for war." Meiya said to Yuuko turning back and going back behind her desk, sitting down her phone started to ring. "I'd like to thank you if things do not turn out in such a way that I'd be able to join you, should the war start you are to wait 34 hours for my arrival then we shall enact the climax to Alternative V.... In the meantime Yuuko, Kasumi, you both are dismissed."

Meiya said saluting both to which both saluted back, a clear look of sadness could be seen in Meiya's eyes, the empire she had sworn to watch over, to protect with all her power and might, may fall. She knew it, anyone with any sense that paid attention could see, Japan wouldn't survive a war with both Germany and Nonus even with all it's power and technological advancement. The Empire was sure to fall, but currently there were more pressing matters to attend to, like whomever was calling the Shogun. And so Meiya picked up the phone while Yuuko and Kasumi left for Area 13, one of the more best kept secrets of the Japanese Empire, much like Area 51 for the Americans except no one knew where it was or what it's purpose was, and it would remain that way.

"Yes? Who is this?" Meiya said finally answering the phone of which rang for so long. "It's Kyoko ma'am, I've received a call from the Nonus Embassy in Tokyo, they wish to speak to me but I'm redirecting them to you, you should receive their call in a second or two." Kyoko hung up and Meiya sighed, hearing her second line ringing she hit the button on it switching the lines. "This is Shogun Mitsurugi Meiya, what is it you want?" Meiya said rather bluntly, anger in her voice rather plain and clear.

Meanwhile of the eastern coast of Japan, the Japanese Home fleet had positioned a few ships in Japanese controlled waters while the rest of the fleet was ahead of it, Admiral Nagumo's flagship, the Fuso, the nameship of Japan's High-Speed Dreadnaught class ships, followed other ships in the fleet, Two Tone VI class heavy cruisers, Four Kongo XI class battlecruisers, Four Tactical Surface Fighter carriers, Two Shoukaku III carriers, both Kii class battleships, all Yamato Kai class ships, one Miura class air craft carrier and most of Japan's submarine fleet, of course this fleet was currently under the command of recently returning Admiral Ito Genda, supreme commander of all Japanese Naval Forces.

Admiral Genda himself was a tactical genius, he was present for the last naval battle between Japan and the United States of America, spreading his submarine forces out as well as most of the Japanese home fleet, he created what he thought would be a line of steel between the Japanese Home island and the combined German and Italian ships. "The Germans and these... Damned Italians, always following behind the Germans like the dogs they are.... Both are a horrible combination.." Genda said to himself letting out a loud sigh pinching the bridge of his nose. "They're going to end up causing WWIII..." The admiral watched across the lines while the Germans and Italians went at it with their "exorcises".

[The Novemics]

OOC: just so you know, this is the home stretch before I switch over to my revamped Novemics. So, before we agree on war or not, perhaps having the peace talks going forward, I will say this: I will use the current Novemics right now, in terms of government and culture.

Iyagure, Daietto House, Private Office of the Cabinet President

"Ma'am, I have the the JPS Foreign Ministry via our embassy in Tokyo." said an aide over the line, connecting Jessica to an important member of the Japanese government.

"Hello, Foreign Minister..." she began, but then heard a familiar voice, one she heard from intelligence reports and from attending an economic summit last year about Pacific trade. "...Madam Shogun!...is that appropriate to address her that way, Gloria?...I am glad to finally speak with you. A lot has happened recently. I understand you are making significant headway in fighting your rebellious oligarchs. My government is still willing and desiring to host the peace summit at Heruden. I understand you are dealing with internal disputes at the moment, but a speedy resolution to this standoff is still necessary. Things between our nations have cooled down, but there is still the ongoing Shemiki involvement in Natan and the blockade. An amiable peace can still be reached here. Her Majesty the Queen Alexandrina wishes to you, in private, when you are here. She wants to meet you."

CCV Hakken, South Pacific, near Natan Regional waters

Raijin covered up the body of Serpent with a blanket, who was declared dead 12 minutes ago from blood loss and trauma. He saluted her from her bed. She told him before she passed that a guard managed to throw a grenade near her feet when the Director shot at Oliver, and she didn't see it. "It's ok, Serpent. You need your rest." Raijin knew she would not make it home. She lost a lot of blood, even though her nanomachines tried to stop the bleeding. Losing a limb is something the nanomachines could not fix. He could take losing his arms and still keep fighting. His legs were designed to hold blades, as well as to be acrobatic to get a full use of his body in combat. But Serpent, she was not an A-Model, not a cyborg like him. She was the last mostly organic operative in Blue Octopus. And now they have no one to fill her shoes.

His TSF was shot down after he took out 5 others, but he engaged the ejector/exoskeleton system to break free from his flaming, falling cage. He broke through that thing and after he landed on the ground, he activated his thermoptic camouflage and took off after the Komas. He had no time for the other TSFs. He managed to avoid them when they tried to pursue him. But they lost him and the Komas after just 5 minutes. He and the Komas all got onto the Hakken with 4 minutes to spare--the sub quickly and quietly exfiltrated from the area. He brought Serpent to the sick bay for critical and intensive care. Oliver was stable somewhat, though unconscious. He stayed with Serpent for an hour after she regained some consciousness, before she closed her eyes forever.

A few minutes later, Raijin walked out of Serpent's room to Oliver's room, where he lay unconscious. The ship's doctor was looking at several monitors with a nurse, while the Hakken's MIS intelligence officer was staring from the door at Oliver. "I'm sorry about Serpent, she was a great soldier." The officer turns his head to Raijin and continued,"Doc says he's in a coma, and a bad one. The bullet from the Director grazed him on the top of his head, but it was enough to knock him out for good. I was supposed to debrief him, but now...Doctor doesn't know if he'll ever wake up. You finished your report?" "Yes, I mentioned the Director and this little girl next to her named Kazumi. She has ESP and is able to read minds. There was this strange covered-up thing that had a glowing blue light." replied Raijin. "Well, the data you extracted will say things on the various projects the JPS was cooking. For now, the EML-99X is now obsolete now that we can reverse-engineer it and find out its weaknesses. If the JPS does attack, we would drive them back with our own special gun." replied the officer. "How's everything at home?" asked Raijin. "Good, though Imperial Germany joined in the fray; they have a fleet off of the southern part of Japan, near Kyushu, and now they are doing a massive movement in Southeast Asia. It's possible they may duke it out. Daietto is feeling ambivalent about that--the JPS needs to be kept busy for now, but now another superpower getting involved." "Well, dammit all." said Raijin in a calm voice. He doesn't have much emotion given he is mostly cybernetic--he didn't cry or feel terribly upset about Serpent's death, but he still felt an emotion that was different and heavier to what he usually feels. "We'll be home in about a couple hours. Get some rest. We'll need you for a full debriefing then."

Berlin

"Wolfey, it's good to hear from you again. I've got something interesting to tell you. I'll come by your office in a few minutes, I am already on the way there. You'll definitely want to hear this, something related to the case that the Kaiser chewed you out for. And don't act surprised; you are somewhat aware of what my associates can do. Be there in 10, Wolfey." said Uddo on his encrypted cell phone.

[Japan and Pacific States]

OOC: just so you know, this is the home stretch before I switch over to my revamped Novemics. So, before we agree on war or not, perhaps having the peace talks going forward, I will say this: I will use the current Novemics right now, in terms of government and culture.

Iyagure, Daietto House, Private Office of the Cabinet President

"Ma'am, I have the the JPS Foreign Ministry via our embassy in Tokyo." said an aide over the line, connecting Jessica to an important member of the Japanese government.

"Hello, Foreign Minister..." she began, but then heard a familiar voice, one she heard from intelligence reports and from attending an economic summit last year about Pacific trade. "...Madam Shogun!...is that appropriate to address her that way, Gloria?...I am glad to finally speak with you. A lot has happened recently. I understand you are making significant headway in fighting your rebellious oligarchs. My government is still willing and desiring to host the peace summit at Heruden. I understand you are dealing with internal disputes at the moment, but a speedy resolution to this standoff is still necessary. Things between our nations have cooled down, but there is still the ongoing Shemiki involvement in Natan and the blockade. An amiable peace can still be reached here. Her Majesty the Queen Alexandrina wishes to you, in private, when you are here. She wants to meet you."

Tokyo, Temporary Capital of the Empire of Japanese Pacific States

Shogun Meiya herself was indeed rather surprised to receive a call from the Cabinet President of Nonus, but in any case rolled her eyes while she let her go on about the peace talks. "Ah yes... The peace talks. I had come to the conclusion you were no longer interested in such a thing, with information I've received it does bring me to that conclusion, an alliance with Imperial Germany, to share military equipment and become an alliance, one of which if either state attacked would bring the other into the war, a war that as I foresee it now would be started by Imperial Germany against us. I maybe royalty, Cabinet President. But what I am not is a fool." Meiya said while she sat back in her chair turning on the speaker on the phone then putting it down. "So am I wrong? Are you still interested in peace talks or would you instead bring us to a table for the claims of peace only to throw our countries into a war that would devastate the whole of Asia itself. I've been honest about my intentions, I've intended for peace in my part of the world but it seems to me your side hasn't... Especially with Director Yuuko telling me you've sent in a spy to one of our to get one..." Meiya leaned forward opening her desk looking through multiple memos she's kept under lock and key in her desk. "One Sakamoto Rin of whom was charged with espionage, captured in the back of a embassy car just outside of your country's very own embassy in Kyoto. ...And please do not try to tell me it wasn't on your country's part. Unless the Germans somehow gained an interest themselves in Sakamoto Rin to where they would send a spy to one of my country's most secretive research labs, to secure him and him alone."

Shogun Meiya was indeed obviously very annoyed, with everything that was going on she had only a couple of Regents captured, the most important one that was to have been captured was killed instead in Alaska.... And with her having to give the order to begin preparations for Alternative V, the Japanese Alternative plan to evacuate a percentage of the population during a losing war to a far off distant planet, colonize it and rebuild their own strength for a counter attack. She wouldn't be one to put up with any sort of rings ran around her at this time.

Meanwhile...

Director Yuuko sighed, holding the spot of her head where she was shot with a stun round, being escorted by Kasumi out of the temporary capital building to a private short limo being driven by Tsukuyomi Maya of whom wasn't at this very moment recovering from her arm being taken out of place, unlike her cousin. Sitting down in the back, Kasumi got in last while Maya shut the door and got in the front, driving quietly to a nearby secret Japanese research facility near Mt. Fuji where Yuuko would have to go to oversee the dismantling and transfer of research projects and other materials before sending them to Area 13. "Christ, those Nonus stun guns have worse effects on a human body than elephant tranquilizers..." Yuuko said out loud expecting atleast somewhat of a response... But then she remembered she was with Kasumi of whom remained silent. "...Right... Kasumi? Are you okay? You haven't said anything since I came to." Yuuko said putting her hand on Kasumi's shoulder. "..... I don't want to be around that thing again..... No Aura.... No thoughts..." Kasumi said reluctantly in a quiet tone of voice looking down to the floor of the car. "I see... Don't worry I promise you won't see it again okay?" Yuuko smiled and patted Kasumi's head while she sat back holding the right side of her head with her right hand while she patted Kasumi with her left. "You did good either way... It's not your fault that those Nonus apparently I guess have metal men now... ...Which makes me very jealous.... I probably should have mentioned that to the Shogun and she would have probably let the human experiments go on." A twinkle had shined through Yuuko's right eye as she said that... She loved her experiments after all, it was how she got paid.