by Jessie Wolf
“Monsoon Maiden, we do not kill defeated foes. These men will face justice, but in a court of law. Over”
“But Mistress they’ll just get off again. You know that. No all-male jury will convict them. Over”
“Have faith in the real justice system, daughter. Over”
“Yes, ma’am I’ll try. Over”
Stepping in I decide to reassure her. “Monsoon honey, they won’t be facing an all-male jury. I promise you that. It also won’t be one from House Light. Over”
“You mean that, Wave Dancer?”
“If she doesn’t I do, Monsoon Maiden. I’ll make sure they face a military tribunal. Over” Alice puts in.
“Alright Storm Dancers we need to get these two back to headquarters. Over” I tell them.
Once we have our prisoners headed toward the end of the range and headquarters I send a signal for mama and Alice to join me in on a secured frequency. “Mama, I think we have a traitor in our midst.”
“I agree daughter, but who do you think it is?”
“I think I know who Lady Dai Etsu.” Alice tells us.
“Well speak up child, who is it?” mama demanded.
“I hate to point fingers at one of our own House troops, but I believe it is Captain David Rockwood of the support troop.”
“Allison, why do you believe it is him?”
“It’s simple ma’am. He is the only one who knew of our route into town; also he is in the perfect position to filter all communications to and from units in the field. Secondly he is also in charge of all training schedules, so he would know when we were on the range. Lastly he was one of the former Head Captains most loyal supporters. Plus before he came to work for House Nakatoma he was an officer in House Daniels military.”
“Question love. Is Blackthorn one of his troops?” I ask her.
After a few moments she answers me. I can only figure is she was collecting her thoughts. “Yes, I believe so, Maiha. Why do you ask?”
“Who is in charge of the security for the practice range?”
“Captain Rockwood’s troop. Why?”
“Just one more question and I’ll answer you. How is the practice range secured and do the patrol sweeps cover the backside of the range?”
“The range is monitored twenty-four seven from the tower, but the regular patrol sweeps do not cover that area. There are too many unexploded ordnances out there; it’s just too dangerous.”
Oh shit! That is a thirty hectare long hole in the compound’s security. However if you want to sneak in an enemy force that was the perfect place to do it “Alice I need you to contact Top and tell him not to let that ass hole Blackthorn leave the tower. Mama get a hold of Col. Fujiyama and let him know that he is to detain all of the troops under Captain Rockwood. While you two take care of that I’ll get a hold of Sergeant Major Miller and have him round up a place to question these two.”
It takes me a few minutes to get a hold of the CSM, but when I do he tells me he is already working on an interrogation room. Looking out of Vicky’s windscreen I see Top and three other men dragging another man out of the range tower. They aren’t being too nice about it either. From the looks of things he may have ‘fallen down’ a few times. The real surprise though is the lance of assault class APS’ in Death Dealer black. Now I’ve seen this display of power before, but what makes this one so impressive is the fact that they are all the same model. Never have I seen four one hundred ton UH-1D Iroquois’ standing side-by-side. To see four of the second rarest assault APS that there is tells me just how far the Emperor is willing to go when it comes to putting down this revolt. These Suits pack more firepower than just about every APS out there. Hell, just one of them matches the firepower of all three of my sisters Patton’s put together.
As we approach them I see all of their main guns track and bear down on the two prisoner Suits. The message is clear. If they try something stupid then they’re dead meat. I led the Storm Dancers around behind them letting the Iroquois’ take charge of the prisoners. Once over by the tower, I pop Vicky’s canopy and climb down. I’m met by all of the unit Commanders that I had, had lunch with just a short while ago. “Gentlemen, if you’ll hold your questions until the rest of my lance mates join us, I would greatly appreciate it.”
One by one my family joins us after climbing out of their Suits. As I am waiting for them to join us First Sergeant Bailey walks over. “I see that the Storm Dancers have once again gotten into trouble.”
“Hey, wait a minute here, Top. All we were doing was a team training run. It wasn’t our idea to step up a live fire exercise.” I complain.
“Don’t go trying that ‘it’s not my fault’ bit with me young lady.” When I start to pout my lower lip at him. “And don’t try that either, you may not be my daughter legally yet, but I’ll still tan your backside, missy.”
When I hear that I can’t help but to burst out laughing. The fact that Top Bailey just threatened to give me a spanking for trying the number one weapon in every young girl’s arsenal for getting her way was priceless. Even my family who were all there by that time were laughing.
Top Bailey takes over at that point. Turning to the assembled Commanders. “Gentlemen, allow me to introduce six of the meanest APS pilots on all of Hades. First we have the pilots of the three Patton’s that so readily handed the enemy scouts their asses.” Pointing to Fuyuko “This young lady is the Lady Fuyuko, pilot of Monsoon Warrior, next are the twins Ladies Nanase and Nanami the pilots for Tempest Dawn and Typhoon Harbinger.” Pointing to Alice “Next up is the four time ace with a grand total of twenty-three confirmed kills, the Lady Allison who is the pilot for the Panther Puss-in-Boots. She is also one of the few pilots to truly master a B1-7B Panther.” Stepping over next to mama “Next up is the very lovely Grand Lady Nakatoma Dai Etsu pilot of the Highlander Snow Mountain Guardian.” Then placing his hand on my shoulder. “And last but not least, the Lady Nakatoma Maiha, Head of House Nakatoma, First Lady of the Death Dealer, and pilot for Victory Maiden, one of the few Mountain Lions on Hades. Gentlemen I give you the Storm Dancers.”
When Top finishes we receive a round of applause. To say we were embarrassed is like asking if bears shit in the woods. Clearing my throat, “Thank you, Gentlemen. I hope that our little demonstration on the range has relieved your fears about our ability to hold up our positions on the battle field?”
Major Bob Crain of Hogan’s Hero’s’ was the first to speak. “Ladies, if you ever get tired of living the soft life, please come look me up. I have seen seasoned combat teams that could not work that well together.”
“Hear, hear. Robert. I totally agree. That was extremely impressive Ladies. Your team work was flawless. The way that your two fire support suits fell back to engage in anti-aircraft fire was perfect. Had you rehearsed that?” asked Captain Ernest Borgnine of McHale’s Raiders.
Smiling mama gives him an answer no one expects. “That Captain, was totally unrehearsed. My girls saw what had to be done, and did it. Wave Dancer and Koneko Mistress were merely the best suited to the job. Any of us would have dropped back to perform the job.”
Captain Eileen Brennan of Benjamin’s Bastards was the next to say something. “So what we just saw was a fluke?”
Before I or any of us could comment, Captain Allen Alda of Hawkeyes Heartbreakers made his presence known. “I highly doubt that, Eileen. That my dear was a family coming together as a team to tear apart a threat, both real and imagined. Very well done, Ladies. I salute you.”
“What I would like to know is, who first spotted the ambush, and who set the order of battle for engaging them? I have never seen such a quick response to an ambush before.” It was the commander for F Troop Scouts, Captain Forrest Tucker.
This time Alice was the one to answer. “It was Wave Dancer who spotted the first signs of a possible ambush, but Mountain Mistress was the one to lay out how we engaged it.”
While I had not said anything up to this point. Being happy to let my family s
how that they knew what they’re doing. It was not to last. Thanks to Captain Van Williams of the Green Hornets. “Lady Maiha of all the AP Suits you could choose from, why do you pilot one of the most temperamental Suits there is? Surely you can do better than a Mountain Lion.”
If mama had not had a hold of me I might have pounded the man into the ground for insulting Vicky that way. So instead I just looked up at her. “Ignore him Vicky, he just doesn’t know a perfect AP Suit when he sees one.” The laughs from the other commanders at my actions caused Captain Williams to blush. “Sorry, about that Captain I didn’t mean to embarrass you. But to answer your question, when Victory Maiden was first captured no one else was certified to be her pilot, but me. At the time we needed as many APS’ to insure our safe return home, so I volunteered. Once I climbed in her cockpit it was love at first sight.”
“And that Van is why you can never get your Panther to perform the way this young Lady can her Mountain Lion. You just don’t love it enough.” Comments Captain Phil Silvers from Bilko’s Bandits. “Young Lady I to would like to offer you a place in my unit if you ever tire of the soft life.”
“As much as I am honored by your offers, I doubt that I or my mama will ever be able to take you up on them. Now when it comes to my baby sisters that is a totally different matter. You only have one competitor to woo them away from.”
“And just who that might be, Lady Maiha?” asked Captain Williams.
“The Death Dealers.”
When they start to laugh General Star speaks out. “I’ll have the enlistment papers to your mama by seventeen hundred, Lady Maiha.” You could have heard a pin drop at that announcement. “That’s correct folks the ban on women in the Death Dealers has been lifted by the Emperor Himself.” Turning back to me. “So Lady Maiha, to what field do you want them trained in?”
“Sorry, General Star, but my daughters have to finish school first.” Mama tells him with a smile on her face.
“Ahhhh! Mama! Can’t we just enlist now?” the twins say at the same time in that freaky twin speak of theirs. This caused even more laughter from the gathered commanders. They may have been immune to the horrors of war, but not to the antics of little girls.
“Sorry girls, you’ll have to wait till you finish school. Until then I’ll send over a couple of our best instructors to help with your private training.” General McCall tells them. “However, there is one thing that needs to be addressed, and that folks is how did three full lances of scout class APS’ get on the range and no one noticed.”
Leave it to a true Death Dealer to bring the point home. “A traitor is how, General McCall.” I state without preamble.
“Excuse me, Lady Maiha, but I was led to believe that the troops of House Nakatoma are some of the most loyal on all of Hades.” Captain Tucker put in.
“Normally sir that would be true, but there are a few of our House troops that placed their loyalty with the former Head Captain.”
“How does that effect the situation, my Lady?”
“At the time of my appointment to Head of House the former Head Captain challenged me for the full leadership of House Nakatoma. He lost. Now those few who were his strongest supporters have continued to wage a quiet rebellion against me. I had thought I had taken care of this, but it seems I still have a few rats in the house.”
General Star made a very unusual offer “I have six of the finest interrogation expert Intelligence Officers in all of His Majesty’s service. I would be more than happy to loan them to you. May be they can find out just how far this rats nest goes.”
Thinking about some of the interrogation methods that Death Dealer Intelligence Officers are known to employ; I eagerly accept. Looking over at Top Bailey “First Sergeant Bailey have you secured an area for questioning the suspects?”
“Yes ma’am, I have. I figure the old fallout shelter behind the troop barracks should do nicely.” He tells me.
“Sounds good. Command Sergeant Major Miller if you would be so kind as to make sure the ‘rats’ show up for our new friends, please?”
Laughing at my comment he nods his head, and heads for the troop barracks. “General Star, I’ll meet your people in the day room on the first floor to show the way.”
“Thank you Sergeant Major. I’ll have my people there within a half hour.”
Looking over at Fuyuko I see her rubbing her fingers together. “Hey sis, what’s bugging you?”
“Just the matter of who was ‘Top Shot’ before all Hell broke loose out there. If I remember right there is still the little matter of ten gold credits to the winner plus another ten per individual kill.” Leave it to one of my sisters to bring up our bet. I know I should have not made that damned bet. Out of all of us I know that I only dropped a total of seven APS’ and that everyone else had to score even more except may be Alice. If it wasn’t for those damned helo-attack craft we could have kept up with the others.
“Now that little lady is something we all want to know.” Said Captain Brennen. Of all the mercenary unit commanders she was the only female. The fact that she has earned the respect of her troops was evident by the fact she was their commander. This was a woman to be both respect and feared.
“Well Captain that is a little confusing. Before we decide who is the ‘Top Shot’ I need to know the terms of the bet.” Major Howard put in.
“Oh, well that’s easy. The terms were as follows. Ten gold credits to the top shot plus ten for every individual kill.” Mama tells him.
“In that case we have a three way tie for the ‘Top Shot’. You see until you hit the section with the helo-attack craft all six of you were going neck-n-neck. That is until Lady Maiha dropped back and started taking out the helo-attack craft, at that point in time she surged ahead to take the lead with an average of two kills for each one that the rest of you had. However when the Lady Allison joined her that dropped back down to a one and a half to one. However this forced the Lady Dai Etsu to pick up her rate of fire along with the rest bringing it down even further. It wasn’t until you engaged the assault class that our three winners emerged. With an average of one and a quarter to one our winners are the three Patton’s. The Ladies Fuyuko, Nanase and Nanami.” Major Howard informs us. To say that I’m proud of my little sisters is an understatement.
“Way to go little sisters. That means you’re buying tonight.” I say only to have mama step in.
“I don’t think so. I will not have my bride’s maids hung-over at my wedding, do I make myself clear?” the laughter that greats her pronouncement is infectious. “Ladies and gentlemen, if you’ll join us in the range ready room we will meet you there once we have put up our team mates.”
“Excuse me, Lady Dai Etsu, did you say your team mates?” asked Captain Silvers.
“Yes, I said, team mates. Do you not practice the philosophy of ‘the horse, the saddle, and the man’ when it comes to your equipment and personnel?” mama asks of them all.
“Well, yes ma’am. That has been the core philosophy of modern warfare since the early part of the fourteenth century. If not before. No one knows when it really started, but it is from that century we have the first reference of it.” Stated General McFeeters. I could tell he was one of the few classically educated military men still serving. One of the things that has disappointed me in the past was the way our younger officers were educated. With more and more emphasis being placed on technology over using your head and training it has reduced the human element of warfare.
“And so do we, but my family takes things a bit further. You see in our eyes’, our APS’ are part of our team. They may need us to pilot them, but we can’t do what we do without them.” Fuyuko proudly states.
Not to be out done by their older sister the twins make similar comments. You can tell that they truly have embraced the idea of ‘the horse, the saddle, and the man’. When it comes time for them to have their own commands they will be some of the most formidable leaders out there. These three girls will definitely make a trul
y fearsome force to be reckoned with.
I decided that if we were going to join them in the ready room for drinks or whatever mama had planned we needed to get a move on. “Ok, Storm Dancers let’s get them home. All I need is to get Vicky in for some repairs.” When my family hears this they all run to mount up. “Gentleman and Lady, until we meet again.” I bow to them all and climb up to Vicky’s cockpit. As I’m settling in I contact mama and the rest. “Mama, what is up your sleeve?”
“Really, Maiha. Why would you think that I am up to something?”
“Mama, I have known you for a long, long, time. You are just like your sister in a lot of ways, so what are you up to?”
The giggle that comes before her answer confirms my suspicions of her being up to something. “I figure that if we can keep our friends busy enough that you and Allison can slip out and get the information we need out of the traitors. I fear that General Star’s men will be unable to gather enough from them to help with our rat problem. They will be too soft on them I fear. Remember Maiha these are men who were raised to the traditions of Bushido. They will not break easily.”
As we move toward the family’s hangar I think about what mama said. The more I think about it the more I realize that she is right. Those men will not betray their leaders. It goes against everything they were taught. If we were to get any helpful information out of them it would have to be in the next few hours. What mama was giving me was the time to do that, by any means necessary.
“Ok, mama, Alice and I will get it done. Little sisters I need you to help mama. Whatever you do, do not let the commanders leave without me or Alice knowing about it.” When Fuyuko asks how they were supposed to do that I remind them of their secure communications link in their AIs. Once they’re reminded of this they all quickly promise to keep them busy.
Once we were back at the hanger and we had maneuvered our APS’ into their work stations Vicky asked me a question. “Maiha, do you think they’ll be able to repair me in time for tomorrow?” she sounded like a little girl who was sick and was going to miss out on a family trip.