by Jessie Wolf
Taking a step back but not turning away from me she gets a very thoughtful look on her face. After a few minutes she takes a deep breath, and placing her hands on her elbows crossing her arms in front of her; just like when she was teaching one of her lessons. She asks me “What are these Three Great Universal Truths, Maiha? Are they some secret that is taught only to the military or can anyone know them?”
I am saved from answering her question by the track commander for Blue three. “Allow me Lady Maiha.” I nod my head yes and he continues, “Lady Dai Etsu, what your daughter is referring to is what we in in the military do not under any circumstances frack with. There are only three and every race both human and alien understands this. Rule one you don’t frack with a man’s mama. Rule two you don’t frack with a man’s family. And finally rule three you don’t frack with a man’s way of supporting them.”
“So if these are known to all militaries how is it the corrupt politicians do not?” she asked me.
“Mama, they do know these things. The problem is either they don’t care or feel the rules don’t apply to them.” I tell her.
“Lady Maiha there is one more reason you forgot.” Looking over at the young man who said this I noticed he was a corporal. “They’re just plain stupid and you just can’t fix that. Not even with duct tape.”
Everyone starts laughing at that simple statement. Before we can continue I hear the sound of almost two dozen heavy or bigger Power suits come into the square. Looking over to the northern entrance I see the combined heavy, assault and fire support lances of the Hell Hounds and the Mountain Wolves arriving. My God, that is a shit load of fire power. When Howard and Fujiyama said they were sending help they meant it. There was enough fire power to give every god there is second thoughts. I count six one hundred ton suits, one ninety-five tonner, six that range from sixty ton to seventy-five tons, and two whole lances of fire support suits all ranging from seventy to eighty tons. I recognize one of the heavies as being Maj. Howards Marauder.
“Well it looks like things are looking up.” I know that I shouldn’t be this giddy seeing all of these beasts, but I was. With this amount of fire power I can guarantee the safety of my family. “Mama, I know that I can now get you all home safely.”
“Child, there are times that you are truly scary. Do you know that?”
“But, mama I try my every best to be friendly to everyone. Besides, with as small as I am who would be afraid of me?” I ask her.
Shaking her head she begins to giggle. However it’s Nanase who answers for her. “Sissy, we all love you, you know that right, but there are times you could scare the very Gods themselves.”
“Hey! I’m not that bad. Just because my idea of the proper response to someone threatening my family is to call down the unholy wrath of the gods, is no sign that I lack restraint.” I said with a pout.
“Excuse me; ma’am; but most people don’t use a particle projection cannon for hunting rabbits.” Said a young private over by the IFV.
“Hay! In the words of my grandfather ‘Overkill is underrated.’ Besides this way, when they push we really flatten.” When the troops of mama’s bodyguard hear that they all get very big smiles. Before someone can say something the sounds of IFVs and Armored Power Suits interrupt us. Looking over at the south entrance I see the first of the Black Knights. That is when all kinds of chaos breaks loose. The Hell Hounds and Mountain Wolves swing their main guns around to target the Knights. While the Black Knights do the same. Now under normal circumstances the Hounds and Wolves would have the advantage, but these are not normal circumstances. They were facing off against the Black Knights who are members of the meanest bunch of s.o.b’s in the known universe; every last one is a Death Dealer. Seeing this I realize I need to do something fast.
Running out into the middle of the square I raise my arms waving to get everyone attention. Keying up my c5 I get on both radio frequencies for the individual units. “Hold fire! I say again! Hold fire!” I wait to see what happens. Slowly both sides move their main guns to point somewhere else. Talk about your long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. “All right. Now everybody just calm down. Maj. Howard would you and Col. Fujiyama care to join me over at Blue two please?” turning to face the Black Knights I key up their radio frequency. “Black Knight four would you please dismount and join us over by the IFV on the near side of the square?”
“Roger that, Wave Dancer. Be with you shortly. By the way who are your friends? Over”
“Knight those flocks are the Hell Hounds and Mountain Wolves. Over”
“Dancer do you mean to say that those are House units’ ma’am? Over”
“That’s a negative, Knight Four. Those are House bodyguards. Over”
“Shit! Who uses A.P.S. units as their bodyguards, Wave Dancer? Over”
“Knight four the answer to that is simple. House Nakatoma. Over”
“Damn! Wave Dancer you have got to introduce me to these people. Over”
“Then dismount and get your ass over to the IFV. Out”
Walking back over to Blue two I see mama standing outside with my sisters who have very confused looks on their faces. I guess it’s time for me to come clean with them, looking around for some place where we can have a private conversation. “Sergeant, do me a favor please. When the commanders for all the units get here please have them introduce themselves to each other. Once they have done that show them over to the dinner over there and have them wait for me and my family to show up.” When he nodded his head yes and told me he would take care of everything. “Oh, one more thing. Make sure your LT is there as well. That young man has earned the right to be there.”
“Ma’am, there is only one LT that I ever heard of who was crazier than that young man. During the fire fight he actually took on a Rifleman APS with an assault rifle. I’m surprised he’s still alive after that stunt.” He told me with some pride.
“When did this happen, Sergeant?”
“When he ran out into the fight to pull one of the infantry troops out of the line of fire ma’am.” The look on his face told he wanted to know why.
“Just do me a favor and don’t give him any shit about the wound he got in pulling that trooper out of the fire fight. He’s going to catch enough from the enlisted personnel.”
When he hears this he does a double take. Starts to put two and two together “The ‘million credit wound’ ma’am?” when I nod my head yes he has the good sense to not bust out laughing. Instead he tells me “I’ll make sure no one and I mean no one gives him any shit about it, Lady Maiha.”
“Thank you, Sergeant. Now I have to take care of some family business first.” With that I head over to my family. Gathering them up I have them follow me into what is left of the town square’s diner. As we enter what we see is depressing. What was once a friendly place to eat and share a family moment was now in ruins. Cleaning off a booth I have my sisters and mama sit down. Once they are seated I pull over a chair and join them.
I take a few minutes thinking of where to begin. Once I have, I decide to give my three little sisters the whole truth. After what they went through today they have earned that from me. Looking over at mama I began. “Mama, I believe that my sisters have earned the right to know the truth about me, do you disagree?”
Shaking her head no. “No Maiha, I agree with your decision on this. They need to know who, and what you really are. You already have one sister who wishes to become like you, and I do not doubt that your other two wish to do the same.”
With that said I began to tell them everything. “First before I tell you anything I need you to promise me they what you hear in the next few minutes is never repeated to anyone else please.”
All three of the girls looked at each other and then at me. “We promise, sissy. We won’t tell anyone. Whatever you tell us will stay with us.”
“Thank you. I didn’t like lying to you, but it’s to protect our family. You see I am not really the granddaughter of James
and Matsu Owens. In reality I am James J. Owens. A little less than week ago I went through a secondary reconfiguration for a Death Dealer.” And so I began telling them of how I came to be their new big sister, and everything that was done to hide who I really am. When I got to the part of how I was explaining to everyone else I was a new prototype of Death Dealer, and had inherited my old rank and title; Fuyuko asked if there was a way for her to be the same way. “I don’t know Fuyuko. I am not even sure that the technologies still exist. Mama, do you know if it’s out there?”
“Yes, I know where the information is on the secondary configuration. As a matter of fact Maiha, so do you.” She tells me. I can tell she doesn’t want to say it out loud. She really must fear what my little sisters want. “All you have to do is look inside for the key.”
Holy shit! Dai Etsu Nakatoma just told me that the answer to what my sisters want is inside of me. There is only one place it can be.
“Dee De, do you have the codes for the secondary reconfiguration protocols?”
…… (Dee De)
“Dee De I asked you a question, and you will answer it.”
Yes. (Dee De)
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Because I knew that you would want them, and sooner or later you will use them. (Dee De)
“You had no right to keep this information from me. If that technology can be used to help fight this war I want it.”
Maiha, no James, think about this. You are having a hard enough time controlling yourself whenever you go into combat with years of experience. Can you imagine what would happen with someone who didn’t have that kind of training or experience? (Dee De)
When she put it like that I realized just how dangerous the secondary configuration was.
“Thank you, Dee De. I had forgotten just how deadly of a weapon I am. However maybe between you and Charley the two of you can figure out how to remove the emotional tie to the program along with that behavioral programming to render it safe for use.”
(Sigh) I will do my best for you Commander Nakatoma. You shall have your weapon. (Dee De)
As you command First High Lady Nakatoma. (Charley)
“Listen up you two. If my sisters want this and I can find a way to give it to them safely I will. Damn it do not make me out to be the bad guy here. This is hard enough as it is. Do you really think I want them to be like me?”
No kiddo I don’t. I just don’t understand why you want it? (Dee De)
I am in agreement with Dee De commander. (Charley)
“To keep them safe, and from trying to find a way to do it on their own. They want revenge, and the power to get that revenge. This way if I can give them what they want, but without the emotional tie or behavioral programing it will take them years to learn how to use it.”
AH! A delaying tactic. Commander that is truly brilliant. (Charley)
“Mother, I will not unlock the technologies for them until they are ready. I swear it.” When I tell mama this she just grabs me up in a big hug. No I will not let my sisters throw away their childhoods they may find themselves hating me, but I will let them do it. “Ok little sisters here is the deal, but first I want to know something. I am going to ask each of you do you really want to be like me, or would you prefer to be APS pilots?”
Nanase and Nanami spoke first. “Sissy, we want to be pilots, but Death Dealer pilots. They are the best of the best. We know you’re a Death Dealer, sissy. What kind we just don’t know.”
“That I can arrange for, baby sisters. If you want to be like those Death Dealer pilots out there then that’s what we aim for. Ok Fuyuko, I know that you want to be exactly like me. There is a way, but first you have to complete the full training program for an Omega Class 1, Death Dealer. There will be no half measures here Fuyuko do you understand? If you fail any part of the training you will have to repeat it until you get it hundred percent correct.”
“I understand sissy. If I want to be like you I have to earn it the way you did. Through hard work and training. Always pushing yourself to be the best of the best. I will not let you down.” She told me as her head bobbed up and down.
“Alright now that that is out of the way. Would you care to explain to me why you were operating the turret gun of that IFV? Especially when I told you to keep your heads DOWN AND STAY OUT OF THE FIGHT?!” By the time I got to the end I was yelling. I couldn’t help it. That stunt of theirs had scared the crap out of me. “Didn’t you realize that if you had left everything alone they would’ve thought that the track was dead?”
The answer surprised me to no end. “I told them to daughter.” My head whipped around so fast you would have thought it was on a roller ball. “Yes you heard me correctly. We had to protect the injured crewmen, and the only way to do that was to fight. Yes it goes everything I believe in, but to do nothing was to let them possibly die in vain.” Sighing deeply she went on. “I now know why you have always fought so hard for your men, Maiha. You have taught me something this time.” Then she just leaned over and gave me another big hug.
To have her tell me that was something I never want to hear. She had seen the elephant and will never be the same. Whispering in her ear “I’m so sorry mama. You have no place in this. You belong back in your Temple praying for the souls that are lost and helping to heal those who are injured.” I was truly sorry. She is a woman of peace. She believes in the goodness and kindness of mankind. To have forced her to this point was unforgivable.
What she says next amazes even my sisters. “For too long I’ve believed that all conflicts can be solved through peaceful means. I now know that no matter how hard you or I try there will always be those who will resort to violence. I may not be able to use violence to stop them, but I will no longer stand in the way of those who can. When this war is over though you will come home, and together we shall find you and your sisters the inner peace you deserve.”
Looking at her I can see why she is the Reverend Mother for the Temple. I always knew that she was made of steel that was forged to the highest of standards. What I didn’t know was the edge that steel held. She may not believe in violence, and will normally do her best to avoid it, but now that she has four young daughters things have changed. Before she was always able to keep some distance between her and the novices. Now she doesn’t have that with us. We have become her daughters, and just like a mama bear protecting her cubs she will do whatever it takes. I truly pity the fool who crosses this woman.
“Now child, you have work to do, and training for your sisters to arrange. There will be no more talk of what should be, only of what must be, and will be done. Your wife once tried to explain to me what I have learned this day. When we have returned home I will appoint my replacement as Reverend Mother. I can’t let you girls face what you must without my full attention. You all need a mother to guide you, not a priestess.”
“Very well then, mama. If this is what you want?” when she nods her head yes I continue. “Ok, little sisters there are four heavy class and one assault APS suits that need pilots. I’m going to have them brought here. When they arrive I want to put each of you into one of them.” at their looks of surprise I giggle. “Yes baby sisters; those captured suits now belong to you. It will be your jobs to take care of them, and to pilot them. You wanted to learn to be pilots, will you start today. Fuyuko, if you would be an Omega class 1 Death Dealer, then you need to understand APS operations. Oh mama, you get one too. I’m putting you in the assault class Suit. I figure you can ride herd on these three while I handle getting everybody else on the same page.”
I think I just shocked the hell out of all four of them. I just put one of the most peaceful people in the known universe at the controls to one of the biggest war machines ever built. “Yes mama, you said ‘See to the training of your family’, and I’m doing just that.”
“I meant your sisters’ training child. What in the world would I do with one of those beasts?”
“Every mother bear has her claws.” Is al
l I say to her.
“Child, you are out of your mind. I am way too old to be learning how to pilot a monster like that.”
Giggling at her statement of being too old I almost lose it. “Have you looked in the mirror lately, Lady Dai Etsu?”
“Maiha Mana, just what do you mean by that?”
With a little white lie in mind I smile. “Mama according to my AI you are now only twenty-eight to thirty years old. So you are not ‘too old’. Now let’s go get you all suited up for the trip home.” With that I stand up and head back outside. I don’t give them a chance to back out. I’m putting all four of them in the biggest, baddest, most heavily armored form of transport for the trip home I can find.
Once outside I see that the commanders for all three units have gathered at the rear entrance of Blue two. Walking up to them I began by introducing myself to the commander of the Black knights. “Col. allow me to introduce myself. I am Lady Maiha Nakatoma, Head of house Nakatoma, and First High Lady of the Death Dealers for the Delta sector.”
“You’re the First High Lady for the Delta sector? Hay right little girl, now go get the real Lady Nakatoma before I lose my patience” the Lieutenant Colonel said. Now normally I would have more than likely have come down on this jack ass with both feet. However, I have at my back something he is not prepared for.
“Um Col. I have only one thing to say. Command authorization Delta six Alpha seven code phrase Hell Fire.” I stand there with a sweet smile on my face as I watch his Death Dealer AI confirms my command authority codes. When it comes back as authenticated he just about shits his pants. “Yes Col. I am the one and only First High Lady of the Death Dealers Maiha Mana Nakatoma. The granddaughter of First High Lord James J. Owens and his heir. Now would you like to try this again?” I figure by now the poor man has had quick words with his commander via his AI.
“Of course, my Lady. I am Lieutenant Colonel Powel commander of the first of the seventy-second armored power suit battalion of the ninety-first Death Dealer Heavy Division. I understand Lady Nakatoma you are in need of troops and medical support.” Was his more diplomatic answer this time around. I guess having the chance to pull one’s foot out your mouth after pissing off someone who can send you to a frozen waist land can really change a person’s attitude.
