New Tokunosu Chronicle

by Helltanz98

Japan isn't suited to survive the zombie apocalypse, but not everyone in Tokunosu is prepared to give up. From high schoolers, to Yakuza, police, ultranationalist ... and a stranded American marine with a few too many guns. Tokunosu maybe under siege from the dead, and the city might be burning, but some people will find out how to survive in this new world.

4. Chapter 4

Chapter 4

-scene break-

To describe the period after the rescue of Alice (And the little dog) as irritating was an understatement. It had been pretty well assumed that at the very least Minami's apartment was going to be safe at least for the night, but that was over and done with. Takashi, and to a lesser extent Kohta, had been lightly chastised by Saeko, and both had been doggedly told to think more by Saya, but that was the sum of what was said in the morning hours. Camping on the river banks in the moonlight allowed at least some sleep.

One the other hand there were other issues. "Like this Takashi, you have to seat it firmly in your shoulder, and your other hand should be here." Kohta declared as he held the shotgun tight, "If you're loose with it the muzzle climb is too much. You try." Trying wasn't exactly what Takashi wasn't what Takashi wanted to be spending his morning on.

"So this river is the Onbetsu?" Ishi nodded as the American fished his bag out as they stood between the riverbank and the road. "Well guess thats good to know." Now that there was thankfully some daylight they could actually walk around... it also let the girls put their clothes back on, without running the risk of falling in the water. Of course that only highlighted the clothes issue, sooner or later there was going to have to be a run for clothes. Shelter, and water though were the big priority for survival. At least the power was still running for the moment. "At home we'd have called this a goodie bag," He shoved the breakfast MRE over, "the food is shit but you'll thank god for the caffeine." David commented before taking a long sip from his own caffeine laced drink. Then he patted the duffle bag beside him, and pulled open the end compartment. "Normally I'd be opposed, to this, but this is a Glock 26. Kohta, you'll like this shit."

The Otaku turned away from Takashi, which was for the best since Takashi was understandably tired, and beginning to get agitated, and that was working both of the boys up. Kohta squatted down in between the sophomore and the America and opened the bag's main compartment only briefly eyeing the nine millimeter glock. It wasn't even he didn't care for them, "The right arm of the free world the FN FAL. 7.62 x 51mm NATO Cartridge. Paratrooper version." He announced pulling the heavy metal gun from the bag.

"Yep. Sig, and the Ruger in there as well. Rest are pistols." He commented offering a MRE packet of biscuit and gravy over to Takashi, who tentatively accepted. Kohta had demolished his own, which thankfully had dealt with breakfast for the boys... though convincing Alice to eat the slop might prove to be a bit more work.

Kohta handed over the 308 rifle and delved further into the bag. "Its not an M4. This is...," He turned the next rifle on the side, "a SIG 556." He sounded a tad put off at lack of an AR carbine. Like the FAL the Sig rifle had a similar side folding stock similar to the MP5K that David had slung on his side.

"Yeah I'm already regretting not bringing the AUG." He responded already eying the contents of the bag critically. The Sig rifle, with its stock folded, was roughly equal to the overall length of the Steyr AUG. It wouldn't have taken up that much more space in the extra large duffle... and the two rifles could feed from the same magazines. In short it was an oversight in planning, because the AUG would have been significantly easier than the FAL for a new shooter to learn.

"Whats the stuff on the front?" Takashi had the foresight to ask, taking a break from the the breakfast of champions.

Kohta pressed a button on the back of the tube, turning the 'super bright' flashlight on, "Just a light, and this a laser, but no IR?"

"I didn't bring goggles." He commented with a shrug, setting the FAL on the walkway, which admittedly goggles might have been useful the night before... and in the coming nights. They also would have eaten batteries. It had been a mess... as if during the day hadn't been bad enough, but the zombies couldn't see to begin with so what did they care about lack of light.

Kohta frowned, and looked a put out, "Oh well. It would just be one more thing for batteries." He admitted, passing over the last rifle, which was disassembled, in favor of the spotters optic, which he turned towards one of Tokunosu's several bridges.

While Kohta had started to rifle through the handguns the girls made there way back over. Saeko had packed the food she'd cooked, but that wasn't the point of eating the MRE. Caffeine was... and strictly speaking it was 'healthy active food'. No one had slept well... and ... that was when Saya chose to speak up, "So have you considered where to go from here? We have weapons obviously enough to get us from point A to point B, but where do we go from here?"

"Do we go where is the best chance for survival?" Saeko asked bobbing her head, and that was what drew both Kohta, who was busy carefully studying one of the handguns, and Takashi who was now suddenly interested in the discussion. "From the sound of the news the whole world is facing what we are, which leaves us with few options."

It was Takashi's idea, and in its own way made up for any impetuousness the night before. He turned to Saya, "Your house is closest isn't it Saya? Don't you live in 2 Choome near Higashi hill?" At Saya's confirming he nodded, "Then thats closest."

"And what if its infested with them?" Saeko pointed out tentatively, "We may need supplies, and clothes but should we risk a confrontation right now?"

Takashi nodded, "But we did say we'd try and find everyone's parents, and it'd be better to go now while we're close than have to double back later." There were a few nods of agreement, and Takashi dropped his second bombshell, "and besides isn't it quieter now... we need to find out whats going on." And that was the truth, when they'd first left the school there had been some cars on the road, and later there had been masses of people trying to flee anywhere they could. There had been screaming, and shouting, and at least something.

Now though... now the streets were empty and it was quiet. Where normally there would at least be the hum of trains running, and buzz of cars as people made their way to work like normal there was nothing... not even screams. That emptiness now was probably the worst thing, because it made everything seem so hollow. There was nothing. When daylight had first broken they'd dismounted leaving the cramped confines of the somewhat safe interiors of the vehicles. It had given them the chance to stretch, move about and walk a little on the river bank. Saeko, Kohta, and the American had dismounted in order to secure the area. Kazu, and Takashi followed and then Rei and Saya and finally Shizuka and Alice. It gave them time to go through the stuff that needed to done.

Saya nodded, "I understand we might not find them, but..."

"Then we should get going,"

"Lets move out!" Kohta declared pumping one his fist in the air, while he clutched the AR 10 in the other. He too lived in the second district, indeed not far from Saya, but his parents were abroad for business so there was no point in wasting time trying to go to his house. There was just too much at risk right now. That decided things.

Shizuka, Kohta, and Takashi headed for the Humvee. Rei, after taking the time to sling the Springfield over her shoulder, scooped up Zeke the dog, and went over to join them with Alice in tow. Saeko clutched her bokken. The reasoning was simple enough, understandable. The hull of the lav vehicle was armored with no big windows. It made sense to maximize the firepower of the humvee; as Kohta had wisely put it... also the less people cluzting around the lav meant the easier if god forbid the M242 needed to be engaged. It was important Kohta handle the radio, though truth be told Takashi or Rei could easily have probably handled that.

-scene break-

Questions started to crop up as they got closer to Higashi Hill. Well not really questions plural, but why did it seem like as they got closer it seemed they were running into Zed more and more. Then from a vantage point didn't see any beyond a certain point further down the way. It mandated a changing of tactics. "There has to be something there."

No one disagreed with the obvious... and there wasn't much of an option. They could try to go around, but chances were it'd be the same. The bad thing about last night had been watching more than a few people get killed. Some of those who had been killed had even been armed with real, meaning guns, weapons. It meant that this situation was a bit more sticky. "We need to go through there, if someone blocked it off..." A couple of minutes of talking and observing didn't do much for real answers about what was going on.

"There should be more of 'them' around," Saeko pointed out as they surveyed the situation, "If we are quick enough we could kill them but... a mistake would be dangerous here."

Kohta adjusted his glasses as he lowered the optic, "I think its some kind of high tension cable," It was kind of hard to make it out, either way. "If we shoot them we'll need to get through quickly and put it back up, and then go quiet." The zombies responded to noise, and even there was suspiciously low number... for a given value of low a couple of dozen walkers was dangerous, but more would be coming. "Someone will need to help."

"Don't bother with the shotgun," The American commented. It would be a waste of ammo, and this was about or less than a hundred yards. A distance that was considered 'easy'... or easy enough, for using a proper rifle. Still dangerous enough to worry about stray rounds though. The 308s might over penetrate as well, but they had plenty of ammo. The same couldn't be said for the shotgun.

With a 'plan' established the two vehicles were slightly angled and rifles passed off... after that it was a couple of minutes chalking scores for team 308. It also brought another kind of attention... zombies came too but the gunshots brought the people, as partially expected, who'd emplaced the cable barrier... and their funny looking firefighter gear. Still it was obvious someone was fucking prepared... or at least thinking ahead... water pressure knocked the dead down.

As it turned out though the Takagi family had managed to pull their shit together in a truly impressive fashion... not that it had been voiced in any kind of vulgar matter. Of course in this case getting their shit together meant calling up the apparently ultra nationalist group that the Takagi family apparently lead, which brought up a variety of questions. They were set up to survive at least the initial problem. The whole complex was immense full on, if ornately painted, security walls that were close to sixteen feet high.

As he sat down in one of the fancy dark wood chairs. He didn't even want to guess how much the furnishings alone were worth never mind the House itself. Certainly more than his annual salary. It was still a pretty classy blend of east meeting west. "So you're Saya's mom then?" The size of the grounds meant this land had probably been in the family for generations.

"I am, but I suppose it was fortune that you happened to be there when they needed you," She said taking a seat behind the desk, it'd been cleared of any semblance of normal paper work in favor of municipal maps detailing Tokunosu's layout, which in any other situation would have been useful... but in the layout it was in just looked imposing. "when the school came under attack. My daughter and her friends are lucky for that, particularly since you're willing to go out again to help look for the other parents, but what will you do after that?" Thats where this became complicated. Takagi Saya was intelligent, as were both of her parents. This woman behind the desk was Yuriko Takagi, and her degree in business administration didn't tell half the story about the deftness of manipulating high risk business ventures. It wasn't quite the same as emergency management, but on the other hand. "Have you stopped improvising and begun to adapt to this situation?"

The American swallowed in English that kind of inflection would have sounded like a threat... as it was he didn't know what to make of it. "I think focusing on the present, and survival, and."

"The children?" Yuriko raised an eyebrow inquisitively, "Its quite a collection. Come work with us, you, and my daughter's friends, you all have the will to live in spite of this chaos which threatens to envelop and destroy our world. We're not without weapons ourselves, and my daughter tells me Kohta was instructed by your Army. Such education could be very helpful in teaching others," ... well when she put it that way.

-scene break-

It was a cool, if kind of gray hazy winter day. If not for the black plumes of smoke from distant burning cars and possibly buildings it would have been mundane. The fact remained the clouds of smoke were there, and after yesterday though it was wonder if anything would seem like normal any time soon. Yuriko Takagi could easily recall the events of the previous day very clearly. How her husband Souichirou had quickly established a firm grasp of what had to be done, and what would still need to be done with the ensuing breakdown, and panic that had resulted when the dead had started walking.

Souichirou had called up every member of this patriotic organization to report to the estate... or to at least make their whereabouts known so they could be picked up. Members were cautioned to be careful... and those who had made it to the estate, which was no small feat given the police blockades, were assigned tasks to protect the neighborhood. Already there were talks about the police blockades, which to some seemed to exist solely to deny the organization its vital manpower, were nonetheless only one problem though. As Uyuko Dantai, and devout Shinto practitioners it was the duty of the organization to seek to protect Japan... and of course the Emperor. To accomplish the latter though would be a Herculean task, despite the good news that the Emperor had been evacuated safely from Tokyo. That news had been one of the few bright lights in an other wise bleak darkness.

Souichirou accepted this task, and all other burdens that came with them without delay. Even now he was out there prioritizing the necessities ... fuel and water. While Souichirou was away Yuriko was in charge... and no one considered that a problem. No one in the organization at least, as each took up their intended roles. Yoshioka gladly accepted the position as head of security, "My lady I have taken the time to distribute what weapons we have to those most competent in their use." He announced bowing from the waist at the doorway, "Perhaps it might be wise though to discuss our latest arrivals."

Yuriko looked up from the encrypted documents in front of her... after all the weapons they had careful stockpiled had been highly illegal to have prior to this collapse of civil order. Even so it was far less than what would have been preferable. "Their weapons you mean?" Perhaps Matsudo could maintain the engine of the tank... that might be within his skill, but... "Can you drive a tank, or operate its cannon?"

"I don't think it would be that difficult, to learn I mean" He confessed, "but I meant the others weapons... the ones the children," He straightened a bit more tensing. Yoshioka was visibly considering the equipment they already had... but even he hadn't taken the step beyond. When the outbreak had first began the current upper echelon of the organization, which existed since the fifties, had reacted as quickly as they could. Souichirou had taken over from his father almost a decade ago, who had succeeded his own father. Souichiriou's grandfather had founded the organization in the fifties, but this was a real struggle... not simply trying to wake the sleeping dragon as it was put so often. Creating a stronger Japan out of this was a much greater burden... and yet when faced with it Yoshioka had been entrusted with a pistol, and rifle, and military webbing to complement the sword he was only mediocre with... and he wasn't carrying all of it. "we only have so many armed personel." That was the real issue.

"My husband believes immediate focus on arms would be unwise,"

Yoshioka bowed sharply, "My lady the don's plan is wise, and I do not disagree, but this is a different situation. Our collection of weapons are meager, and I understand the need to preserve the martial spirit, and use spears because of the scarcity of ammunition, however."

"I have the ledger in front of me, Yoshioka," Yuriko remarked resting a hand on the stack of paper in front of her. She didn't need the cipher in front of her to translate the code. She had long since memorized the translation key. The stockpiles of weaponry were meager only in this situation. Most were discards of the past, and the modern weapons were all civilian ones. The M16A1 Yoshioka, and the handful like it, were the only real military assault rifles they had. "My husband hopes to acquire the Self Defense Force's Howa service rifles, but it will take time." In secret though both agreed that given the chaos outside time they might not have.

The man nodded, "I understand, but shouldn't we consider other options since they're available... this is fortuitous isn't it?"

"Yoshioka-kun, you're correct it is good fortune, but it is in that they can be our allies. My husband wishes to gather those with the strength of will to survive, and does it not prove that character when you look who all made it to us? My daughter's friends are armed, and can serve as an example to our comrades, but we should perhaps leave this for Souichiriou to decide." She turned the chair to the rolling message board that was behind her. "In the mean time we must consider our more pressing concerns. Survivors are trickling in, but we cannot clear the dead fast enough."

There in was the problem, not simply was there an issue of food and water, but also accommodations... and of course manpower. "We are short handed, and while our comrades are coming in slowly it isn't fast enough to allow us to patrol properly." In truth he could barely have four man patrols going out to make rounds on the perimeter, which was why no one had greeted the two 'tanks' when they'd come. "It is only the second day, and I am concerned... that we may be over extended."

"We are over extended," She rebuked in an even, but firm manner. "that is why my husband is going out to not simply gather supplies, but also to locate the other members of the organization. As well as their families, and potential recruits in this trying time." Yuriko remarked, "Tokunosu is embroiled in chaos, indeed all of Japan is embroiled into this chaos. Remember the bridge last night where it should be forgotten that the police have failed. It is why we must secure a future. That means something beyond simply gathering up what is left over from the last shipments of groceries." For the moment food wasn't even a problem, neither was water, but "The power will fail, Yoshioka-kun, unless Souichirou has control of it. It is still only one piece. One piece amongst many,"

"With more weapons though we could do more patrols surely that is what we should strive for, my lady?"

"You wish to disarm an American Marine who has come with a tank?" Yuriko laughed, "I have heard horror stories about less audacious tries." The Japanese had a terrible opinion, nutured from world war II, of American military personal... and strictly speaking a number assumed any member of the American Military in Japan was a Marine.. and that just caused all kinds of bad vibes. Just as the likes of the 101st Airborne had cultivated a propaganda view in the European theater, so too had rumors of ruthlessness been spread.

He swallowed, "Marine? I simply meant the children, the gaijin is a-" Yoshioka seemed to be reconsidering, no doubt processing countless horror stories, and two and half generations of stories told to the Japanese public.

"Who do you expect gave them the guns? All of them are western service weapons. Americans are so immensely fond of their guns. Even if they aren't all his, he trusted them with them. My daughter trusts him and her friends have proven capable of surviving." Yuriko for the moment carefully neglected to mention what Saya had told her of Kohta's education. "Let us have a little faith... with luck our good fortune will continue and they will share more than a few rifles. Rifles that Souichirou might have alternatives for soon in any case. " It wasn't necessarily gruding acceptance, but he did hold reservations... tempered though they were, by the large cannon currently pointed at the gate.

He bowed again, "Of course my lady, thank you for taking the time to hear my worries." The meeting concluded he departed the second floor office.

"Taisho," One of the junior officers bowed, rushing forward. "there is a situation."

Yoshioka sucked in a breath, and desperately hoping the American hadn't killed someone. He exhaled, "What has happened, Tamaki?"

"We found some survivors," As Yoshioka began to perk up at this good news Tamaki dashed the hopes quickly, "They do not belong to the organization, but they are not infected. We do need more personnel there are at least a dozen of them." Probably more, and if not then more would probably soon be coming this way.

He considered turning back around and going back to ask Lady Takagi what should be done, but this was the kind of thing he was supposed to be prepared to handle. "I see, we should go immediately. How many members are available?"

Tamaki swallowed... "Most everyone is busy assisting Masudo-sensei with the bus, or other projects like the barricades that are still being put together." That was arguably the most important thing that they were doing at the moment. The barricades would further bolster their ability to prevent the undead from getting close to the complex... and the bus well once it was fully plated it would hopefully allow them to cruise through town safely.

Yoshioka cast a longing eye towards the Lav... and then towards the humvee. On the other hand at least the bus would have more room, and if it was true that the refugees would only grow in number... then that would be good. The sooner Souichirou-sama returned though the better... being in charge was more tiresome than he liked.

He slowly turned to survey the complex. Souichirou-sama's home had become a fortress. A castle during a time of war. Two large military tents had been erected by the gate, along with three more smaller tents, but the real work was being done in them, and the garage. If Yoshioka was in charge of security, then Matsudo was in charge of much of the preparations. Most of the men were helping him rig defenses whether ones that would be used to block the roads throughout the neighboorhood or weld on metal plates on to buses.

-scene break-

The clock tower of Fujimi Academy rang for noon, Akechi for his part kept a careful eye on the movements of the dead as the noise caught their attention. The clocktower was a mixed blessing truth be told. The zombies being blind had slowed the tide of the dead entering the school, but there hadn't been much to convince them to drag their rotting bodies elsewhere either. It meant that, for the survivors of Fujimi Academy, their movements had to be carefully planned... and careful planning was hard for some students after more than a day being cramped up in the upper floors of the school.

Once again Akechi's eyes drifted towards the small crater caused by the tank cannon... and the strewn and burned remains of the dead. The continued presence of the dead within the school presented a constant danger, but venturing out meant going into the unknown. The various student survivors, regardless of Muromachi-sensei's wishes, had begun appropriating makeshift weapons... and small groups ventured past the barricades. The purpose of this was not just to kill the undead, but more importantly to gather water and food. Not that killing the dead was something some of the groups shied away from... it was just more risky. Working out ways to combat the dead required people to think and use the scarce resources they had on hand... and there was still no word from the police so their cellphones were being used as noise making bait to draw the dead away than anything else... and talking, texting, with those in sealed off parts of the school. What they really needed was to access to the dorms though...

"Akechi-kun, you look pensive," The senior declared walking up. Yamato had found a toolbelt in a closet and had unscrewed the legs from some of the desks to use as bludgeons against the dead. It was an inventive idea, but one largely borne of desperation as all their efforts were. Yamato stroked at nonexistant stubble looking around. "Muromachi-sensei keeps insisting we wait for the police, but they're no where in sight." For whatever reason Yamato, and Date had some disagreement which prevented them from coordinating... class politics or maybe something between their families it wasn't something Jubei could say, but they both shared that the old biology teacher was a potential problem.
Jubei still hand't mentioned Shibata's switchblade to anyone. It wasn't worth it to get on the senior's bad side... so for now he was keeping his mouth shut. Yamato had appropriated a hammer, which he wore on his toolbelt, though... and it wouldn't be all that much of a surprise if the senior had taken a box cutter for that matter. "Sempai?"
"There are bikes," He declared, "You've heard Date, he's talking about the buses, but they need gas, and they'll make noise too," Never mind they'd need drivers... even so they did have advantages, "I think bikes would be best for looking around the area," It was then Yamato produced a set of keys from his pockets. "here," He tossed them underhanded over to the younger student, "lets take back the gymnasium,"

-scene break-

Saya was quite happy to be home... even if the mansion was much busier than normal. Her papa's retainers were all busy with various tasks, which in itself was very important, but it left Saya with nothing to occupy her time with. The adults were all doing things. "Saya you know these guys did I say something to Yoshioka he might have taken the wrong way? He's being really skittish."

"Not that I can think of," Saya resonded laying the crossbow on her dresser. It was the only weapon she had, but it was better than nothing even if they were safe here. Yoshioka was effectively an uncle to here after all, "He's probably just shook up by everything," With a shrug she pressed onwards to other matters, "How did things go with that group of survivors?"

A dark expression crossed his face, and Kohta looked up from the shotgun, but said nothing after thinking about it. "It could have gone better, but they're here, and safe."

"Ah good," She responded tersely, "Kohta shouldn't you try and wear something a little less flashly, your otaku appearance could cause trouble." She remarked glowering at his load carrying vest...

Kohta glanced at the American, as that had been the first thing that he'd had put away; in favor of a multipocket jacket. "Might be worth it, at least while we're around here." One or two of the Takagi people walking around had ALICE webbing, but the black vest was unique... modern."Wear a backpack if you have to carry something, it draws less attention."

Kohta inevitably elected to compromise he wore a jacket over the vest, and everything moved on from there, "Has there been anything more on the television?"

"Well the power is still on, but the stations are almost all blank... I would guess they fled. One or two are still running, but its nothing we didn't already figure out on our own." Saya grunted, as she reached for the remote. It took a minute of channel flipping, but indeed all that was on were either prerecorded blocks of television... and one or two newscasts. The government advisory had turned into emergency edicts, but remained nearly the same content wise. Stay inside, and now bar the windows and doors and wait for police. "There hasn't been any word on when or if the evacuation has been scheduled. As it is people have disregarded that."

With the police seemingly no where to be found it made sense... and of course not all homes were created equally. A handful of high rises might be secured, but once the power stopped they'd go dry without water pumped upwards. Any buildings with more than single story would have similar problems, without suitable backups... and as it was hospitals were probably some of the first buildings overrun yesterday. It was the issue of the police, or rather lack of there presence and the commentary that really had begun to wear on Rei.

The Ultranationalists weren't even abundantly critical as a group of the police, but more than a few had less than choice words about their response... or apparent lack of. Unfortunately the ones who were disparaging the police were the ones who hadn't seen the bridge... and that was probably worse for Rei. The truth was the ruthlessness employed in attempting to hold the bridge meant the dead officers on the bridge had earned them a grudging amongst some of the more hardline elements. If anything that was the real demonstrator of how bad things had gotten. Even Takashi had a hard time believing it that police officers would start firing into a crowd... for the Japanese and how mild their police were, and how tightly they were bound to the community that was harder to believe than if this had been in America.

Now there were new problems. The new arrivals presented a problem... not so much for them but for the Takagi themselves. Saya launched into a lengthy psychology dissertation about panic, and misplaced aggression as a result of stress. Two days in and everyone was starting to feel it, especially with suddenly frequent shouting matches... it would only be worse tomorrow. "And as an adult you should consider doing something."

"Uh say that again? I am doing something." The American replied, " Your mother is in charge, any claims of its your dad's show means very little when he isn't here." He commented blithely, before shrugging, "Look around," as he made a sweeping gesture to grounds, "if there was something I could do then I'd do it, but these aren't my guys," he said as he gestured to a cluster of ultranationalists in work overalls fitting the front of the Takagi's full size bus with a metal wedge, and then pointed to the latest arrival, "and they especially don't like me... even more than whatever I did to upset Yoshioka, and I haven't even said anything to them."

Saya scowled and crossed her arms, "Did you consider trying to help teach people to shoot?"

"I have, and there are three or four guys with 308s, i.e. People I can freely give ammo to." He pointed to Kohta, "on the other hand Kohta has a 308 but doesn't really have the need to do the practice," Kohta objected proclaiming he'd like to practice, but was ignored for the moment, "so that leaves Rei, and Ishi on the remaining three oh eights. Thats the M1A and my FAL." which thankfully weren't being used at the moment.

Kohta nodded at this, "I would like to practice some more," He reiterated,"and possibly shoot the FAL some, you know when we get a chance. It probably wouldn't hurt to uh teach Takashi to use the M1A since its similiar to your EBR."

Saya glowered at Kohta, as if there was some big point he and the American were missing, "My papa's organization is in charge," Which was obvious because this was her father's household, "the adults are in charge. You're an adult. If we have any hope of influence then it must be through a proxy, someone who will consider our interests."

"Your mother is running herd over everything as it is," He pointed out.

Just looking at the ground though raised questions about that... or how stable the present establishment was given the fresh civilian arrivals were already agitating about the situation. Then there was the seeming factionalism within the Ultranationalists themselves between their own hardliners and 'moderates', and further divisions.

The mechanic handled building defenses, and modifying and repairing cars, and such whilst Yoshioka was trying to run security. The latter would have been a lot easier with more weapons, and more guns that were the same or at least similar. As it was the Takagi faced the understandable reluctance to waste valuable ammo, in addition to such would have made noise, which could be dangerous.

-scene break-

Index:

Weapons List (Abridged)

Steyr AUG: Of all bullpup firearms it is the Austrian Steyr Army Universal Rifle (Or AUG in German) that lead the way. The gun is chambered in 5.56x45mm and capable of feeding from the same Standard Nato Magazines as the M16. The HBAR (a 24 inch barrel) variant is roughly five inches shorter in overall length than an M16 (20 inch barrel). An AUG with a 20 inch barrel is still roughly the same size as an M4 (14.5 inch barrel)

SIG 556: A variant of the Swiss service Rifle (SG 550) the Sig 556 has a folding paratrooper type stock, and can feed from the same STANAG magazines like the M16 uses. With stock extended is has an overall length of 37 inches.

M1911: Like the MP5, except some 50 years older, is a widely popular firearm with various Military and Police units, but also within civilian markets. Most of what are marketed as '1911s' are in fact M1911A1 models or further developments.