Nadir Recharge Station

Benjamin, Benjamin District

October 19th, 3056

The light above the hatchway turned green and Omi swam out onto the passenger concourse in the microgravity of the Olympus space station. Dressed in plain shipboard coveralls and with a tethered soft bag floating behind her wrist, she was the image of another anonymous crew member as she approached the security checkpoint where a quartet of Friendly Persuaders waited in their distinctive red and white striped uniforms. She took a deep breath as she paused, noticing the unholstered stunner one carried and the riot shotgun not quite pointed at her by another as she presented her credentials.

"Identify yourself."

Omi suppressed her feelings of disquiet as she fed her DCMS-issue identity card into the offered reader. While the crew of the Shigure had used the equipment on board to forge her a set of papers, this was the first time that they would be tested. "Petty Officer Nakamura Ami, currently traveling on orders from the Draconis Combine Admiralty."

"Purpose for travel to Benjamin?"

"I am here to meet my brother to honor his new posting before I travel to Proserpina to get married, Persuader-sama." A lesson from Shin Yodama during the interminable series of jumps as the Shigure made its way from dying Luthien. Use the truth to lie.

"Proceed."

Omi bowed her head as she retrieved her papers, and then proceeded through the checkpoint, waiting on the other side so Shin Yodama could clear it. The ex-yakuza looked at her. "Where should we meet?"

Omi scanned the directory of services available on the large grav-deck of the station and gave a small smile. "Once you speak to your acquaintances, make your way to Benzaiten's Ivories. They will have a meeting area that we can use."

"Hai." With that, he nodded to her and proceeded toward an area of the station marked with bright-almost garish-lighting advertising the delights found within. Omi shook her head minutely as she remembered a conversation from two days ago where she had raised the possibility of assisting Yodama in his travel negotiations. He had stared at her, laughed briefly, and then said that it would be a race between her brother's ghost and Victor to see who throttled him first for subjecting someone like her to the underbelly of Combine life.

With that, she took a deep breath and slid out a smartphone from her bag. Tapping in a number from memory, she bit her lip as she listened to the dial tone. Finally there was a click.

"Moshi moshi?"

"Minoru, it's your Oneesan. I am waiting at gate ten. Could you send your aide to pick Ami Nakamura up? I have matters that I must discuss with you in person." She took a deep breath. "Remeber the time that Mother caught us using her kitchen without permission to make dango when I was eight?"

There was an indrawing of breath on the other end of the line. "I...see. I shall make arrangements. Gate ten then and Ami Nakamura. Sayonara."

Omi turned off the phone after locking it and took a seat as she concentrated on the ebb and flow of people. Red-and white striped Friendly Persuaders patrolling to deter criminals and vagrants; tan-uniformed DCMS personnel crewing the station; a dark-skinned Azami patriarch shepherding his burqua clad female relatives all passed before her as she immersed herself in the movements of society to find the inner peace that she so desperately needed.

Finally the crowd resolved into a stocky silver-haired man dressed in DCMS uniform with a wrinkled almond skin color that made Omi think of nothing so much as a hazelnut. He bowed to her. "Nakamura-sama?"

She stood and returned the bow, her eyes tracking automatically to the stylized katakana '5' in lavender on the brown backing of his rank tabs. "Hai, Shujin-sama. I am she." Even if she was a Kurita and he was merely a lowly master sergeant from the infantry, such a man was worthy of her respect as a warrior. While her grandfather may not have approved, her father had taught Omi otherwise.

His dark eyes scanned her...looking for what? Finally he grunted, "Follow me please." With that, he gestured brusquely and turned in an automatic about-face.

Omi hefted the bag containing the katana and followed him, reassured by his solidity. He was a rock, and the Combine would have need of such in these troubled times.

Ten minutes and two security checkpoints later, the Shujin tapped an intercom panel next to a guarded hatch. "Sir, she is here."

A voice sounded from within. "Then show her in!" The hatch then opened and Omi stepped inside.

Beyond it, two familiar faces sat in conversation. Her younger brother-had he grown since Omi had seen him off to Sun Tsu School of Combat five years ago?-turned, his eyes examining her and pausing at the bag she carried. Though slight in form, barely filling out the DCMS uniform that he wore with understated pride, he dominated the room with his quiet strength of presence. Next to him, her father's cousin had his eyes widen as he saw her, the apple-green katakana with the gold bar showing his rank as Warlord of Dieron District flashing in the lights.

Omi bowed deeply and took a deep breath. Her voice was tightly controlled, drained of all emotion. As much as the words she had to say would tear at her wounded heart, she was Kurita, and would not dishonor her father and brother's sacrifice in this moment. "Tai-shu Kurita Isoroku-sama, Chu-i Kurita Minoru-sama. I come bearing news. Luthien has fallen to the Smoke Jaguars and the Coordinator is now with his ancestors."

Naked shock appeared for a moment on both faces before iron discipline reasserted itself. Isoruku was the first to respond as he narrowed his eyes. "Then my nephew Hohiro...?" His voice was hoarse with emotion as he spoke despite his decades of service to the Dragon.

Omi lowered her head in respect for the dead before speaking in that controlled voice despite her burning eyes. "He died with his face to the enemy. Father was in the Palace commanding our troops when the Jaguars sent a headhunter unit to attack. During the confusion after he died, major elements of their 'Mech forces broke through and made their way into the Kado-Guchi valley. Chu-sa Kur-" Her voice broke and she swallowed before resuming in a sadly proud voice. "Hohiro led the remnants of the Black Ocean to halt their advance, and when he was being overrun called for a nuclear strike on his position."

Minoru stood and walked over to hug his sister as tears streamed down their cheeks. "Then I must rally us and get vengeance. Our blood cries out for it."

Omi nodded sadly after their tears had ceased and unzipped the bag. "Indeed. All is not lost, for Father in his wisdom ordered me to carry the heart of the Dragon to the next Coordinator."

Steel flashed in the light as she unsheathed the sword of Shiro Kurita. Isoruku's eyes widened and he prostrated himself as Omi knelt to offer the ancient blade to her brother. Minoru's face was unreadable as he looked down at the blade that she offered.

"Kurita Minoru-dono, son of Coordinator Kurita Theodore-dono, grandson of Coordinator Kurita Takashi-dono. Our blood cries out for vengeance for our dead all the way to Kurita Shiro-heika. Shall you accept the mantle of the Dragon?" Despite the tear tracks on her pale cheeks, Omi's voice was as hard and resolute as the steel she offered her only surviving kin.

For a long moment all was still, then Minoru reached out and took the sword from where it lay on the outstretched palms of his sister. He raised it over his head with both hands in a smooth, practiced movement. Omi remembered her brothers practicing the men strike in kendo as she secretly watched them as a child as Minoru assumed the position for the pear-splitter.

"I shall. Keeper of the House Honor, I swear upon my name and lineage that as no man may rest under the same sky as the murderer of his kin, so shall the Dragon not rest until the Smoke Jaguar is no more. Warlord, summon my generals to conference on Benjamin." His voice was a growl of grief, pain...and the iron pride that had driven his ancestors to make their mark on history.

Isoruku silently bowed and departed, leaving the siblings alone. Omi watched in silence as Minoru sheathed the sword then turned to her. "I have a war to fight, Sister, but I would see you safe."

She nodded. "Such was father's intent. He spoke to the Fox to make arrangements for my safety if such was necessary. I shall travel to New Avalon and gather what aid I can muster to support you...unless you command otherwise."

Minoru walked to her, and placed his hand gently on her shoulders. For long moments he stared into her eyes, into her soul, then nodded sharply. "I shall obey Father's wishes in such matters. I merely request that you do not travel openly, for Father and Uncle Isoroku have shared concerns about dissident elements with me. What...has happened recently may embolden them and I...the Coordinator does not need distractions from his duty."

Omi smiled through her tears and hugged her little brother as she choked out her thanks. "Doumo arigatou gozaimasu, Minoru-chan. I shall go to make arrangements for my travel now."