THE SIBERIAN WAR-A CANDLE IN THE NIGHT
By Red Star
NOTE: I do not own any real or anime characters mentioned here.
TOKYO, RUSSIAN OCCUPIED AREA IN JAPAN
The Mil-24 came out of the west, escorted by two other Mil-24s. It circled Yoyogi Park once, and then found a place to land. The doors on the chopper slid open, and out jumped staff officers clutching maps, papers, and radio equipment. The last man to get out was Marshal Vladimir Lakov. The park was chaos; hundreds of wounded men lay around on stretchers, waiting for helicopters to arrive and deliver them to medical units in the rear. Dozens of attendants were leapfrogging around the area, giving injections, handing out medicines, and sometimes even performing amputations. Lakov growled in disgust and looked around the Park. He spotted a familiar looking building across the street and waved down the jeep that had been dispatched to drive him around the fallen city. "Go to that building over there," he ordered.
A lone sentry stood outside the Medical School, and was surprised to see Marshal Lakov hop out of his jeep and approach him. "You there," said the CINCEAST, "What is this building?" "A medical school, sir," he answered, "For training doctors." Lakov was silent as he glared at the school. He frowned and growled, "Are there any students inside? Patients?" "About 120 students, sir, and perhaps 10 patients that they were observing when we captured the building." Lakov nodded. "Get the students out here, immediately," "Yes sir!"
The guard commandeered a passing platoon on patrol and within 12 minutes, the entire student body was out on the street, after being ordered out by machine gun wielding troops of the Russian Imperial Army. Lakov stood in his jeep and commanded silence. When the students failed to be quiet, Lakov took his gun out of it's holster and fired three shots into the air. There was some screaming and a few tried to escape, but the bayonet tipped Kalishnikovs pushed them back into line. Lakov glared out into the crowd and noticed a young fellow who seemed to be the only one not disturbed by this. Something about him put him in Lakov's good graces. The Marshal began to speak.
"Listen up, Japs!! I have several thousand wounded men scattered throughout this city. My medical services are being stretched to their limits and we need help. As Commander in Chief of His Imperial Majesty's Forces in the East, I hereby order you to aid my doctors in their efforts."
"What if we refuse?" called a girl.
Lakov's eyes narrowed as he looked at her. "If you refuse, I will instruct the Russian Imperial Army to help our doctors by seizing every last band-aid in this city! We will take every medical item in your hospitals and drugstores! By the end of the day, there won't be one drop of rubbing alcohol left in this town!! If you still refuse, we will simply dump your sick out of their beds and make your doctors help us! The penalty for attempting to stop us in such a sweep will be death! Do you understand?!"
The girl became silent and vanished into the crowd. The Marshal then pointed at the young man he saw earlier. "You!! What's your name?!" The fellow had bluish hair and glasses. "I'm called Joe, sir," The Marshal nodded. "You seem like a smart man, Joe. Listen to me, all of you! Joe here is in charge!! Now get to work!"
As the Japanese students swarmed into the park, Lakov drove off to inspect the newly conquered city.
Marshal Lakov had reason to be proud. The Russian Imperial Army occupied every stretch of Japanese territory from Fukai in the west to Chiba and Niigata in the east. Further west, the Russians controlled most of the historical region of Chugoku and was stretching to link up with Russian forces across Hyogo, Kyoto, and Shiga. Russian bombers had wiped out most of the Japanese forces on Hokkaido, paving the way for a Russian air and sea invasion. Admiral Kolsov had led the Pacific Fleet around the end of the peninsula. About 3 days before Lakov had reached the gates of Tokyo, Kolsov had subjected a small group of islands off the coast of Shizuoka to fierce bombardment. After the Admiral had fired off thousands of explosives into the islands, a division of Naval Infantry troops had captured them without firing a shot. The Russian Army was advancing faster than ever before. Entire Rifle Divisions were now marching across the north without losing a man. Japan's Air Force sometimes managed to scrape together a few airplanes to attack a Russian ship or an aircraft base, but Russian aircraft sent them limping back to their base with sometimes as much as half fewer numbers.
The MGB agent Rulov had told him that the Japanese High Command had fled Tokyo. The Emperor, Prime Minister, and General Nohitomo were thought to be somewhere in Northern Honshu. Very well, thought Lakov, Let them hide from me. All of Honshu will be mine eventually. Soon, I'll chase them out of their hiding place like the rats they are and do what Papa always did with rats: Snap their little necks.
The jeep sped past burning hulks of steel, formerly Japanese and Russian tanks. Scattered around the road, like some massive babushka tossing seeds around her garden, were the bodies of the fallen. Japanese and Russian alike lay on the street, many were frozen in a position that suggested that they were jumping, their legs were out in a bizarre fashion, their hands, clutching the machine guns that had probably cut down a few enemies before they were shot down, were flung out to the sides. Several times, Lakov's jeep approached a body on the street. He would wait patiently as his aides dragged the body out of the way. They didn't do this on their own prerogatives; the Marshal himself had ordered them to do it when they had found the first one.
His jeep approached a large building with various transmitters built on top. A group of soldiers were outside standing around or leaning against one of the two BTR-60 PB APC vehicles. With them was a group of Japanese civilians. He ordered his driver to stop over there.
Marshal Lakov climbed out of his jeep and approached the group, who immediately snapped to salute. He walked over to the senior officer. "Major, what's going on here?"
The Major, "This man here has cooperated with the Japanese Government in making several anti-Russian propaganda films." He looked at the little man in a black suit and then turned back to the Major. "Which films?" The Major's face hardened as he rattled off a list. " 'The Russian Soldier: The Last Barbarian; Mother Russia the Filthy Whore; The Idiocy of Moscow,'"
Lakov became angry at the mention of those films. They were lies, every filthy one of them. They were filled with the most venomous racism-on-film since "The Eternal Jew". Lakov turned to the man with a terrifying glare. He was about to talk to the Major again when he heard a strange sound; like water running. He turned and saw a yellow liquid escape out of the Japanese propagandist's pants and onto the sidewalk. It continued for about 30 seconds and eventually petered out. Lakov gave a snort of disgust and hate and whispered something into the Major's ear. The Major nodded and signaled, directing his hand first to his troops, then to the Japanese man, and then made a cutting motion across his throat. The men approached, grabbed the propagandist, not to mention various members of his staff, and hauled them into the building. A few seconds later, there was the sound of gunfire, and bodies collapsing to the ground.
Lakov turned to the Major and said, "Find an administrator for this station; one who will cooperate." He climbed back into his jeep and left as the troops dragged the bodies out and flung them onto the sidewalks, to wait for a truck to cart them off.
THAT NIGHT…
Matt was awakened by a violent rapping on his apartment's door. He grumbled and got off his couch and answered it. His visitors were a squad of Russian Rifle troops. "Look guys, my dad went with you this morning already, so…" He stopped when he saw the confused looks on the Russians' faces. They pushed past him and spread out, rapping on various parts of the wall and floor. His pulse quickened as he thought of something, Tai.
They went into his room and slid open his closet…to find Tai sitting on the floor, dozing off. He woke up and leaped to his feet, as surprised as the Russians. They grabbed him and searched him and the closet. One, who seemed to be a sergeant, put on a thoughtful look, smiled, and said: "Deserter," The Russians stopped and then broke into laughter. They patted Tai on the back, said their apologies and left.
Tai looked at an equally confused Matt and said, "Well…No more hiding I guess…"
KAKUNODATE, NORTHERN HONSHU, 11:57 P.M.
Almito Kagita, Prime Minister of the Empire of Japan, got on his hands and knees and bowed, touching his forehead to the floor. Before him was His Imperial Majesty Fohitoro, Emperor of Japan and Descendent of the Sun Goddess, seated serenely on a small mattress. Behind the Emperor was a large screen, decorated with a large gold Rising Sun and gold rays emanating from it. "Your Imperial Majesty," said Kagita, "I am your loyal servant; command me." For Kagita, Nationalist that he was, these words meant all the world to him. Fohitoro's eyes narrowed as he began to speak.
"Prime Minister Kagita, the Land of the Rising Sun has been invaded-and occupied-by the armies of the Russian Motherland," the Emperor, considered a wise man already by age 27, continued, "Our people are dying. Japanese people are dying…on Japanese soil! The Russian Commander…Vladimir Lakov…has proved unstoppable. I have watched him send many of my loyal soldiers to my Ancestor in Paradise. Behind him, I feel, is the presence of his own Emperor, given new and even more dreadful powers by the rage and hatred of his people toward my own subjects.
"The Emperor of all Russians, Dane I, has whipped his armies onto our country. I should tell you, Prime Minister Kagita, that Russia's Imperial Master may show to us the limits of his cruel side, a side the world may be more fortunate not to see.
"What have you to recommend to me, O Representative of my Subjects?"
Kagita cleared his throat and began speaking.
"Imperial Majesty, it is true that Russia's armies have seized much of our lands. Lakov himself has been said to have visited your palace these passing hours.
"But, I believe to have found for us a White Knight: the United States. If we ask the American Government to aid us, we may be fortunate enough to have supporters in War-Hawk circles in the Continental Congress. If President Ventura refuses to aid us, our supporters may be able to override his objections and wage war against the Russian Empire.
"The American Ambassador is waiting for me as we speak, Imperial Majesty, I shall attempt to forge a new alliance."
He bowed again. The Emperor dismissed him with a wave of his hand. The Prime Minister got up and left through a sliding door.
"So, he is desperate," said a voice from behind the screen. The Emperor looked down at the ground. "Indeed, he despises America. There was many a time when he spoke to me of his plan to chase the Americans out of the Pacific once and for all." The figure came out from behind the screen and bowed to the Emperor. Fohitoro pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "My people are dying, my friend. I have had enough of war. There is too much suffering, it…is a stain upon the History of the Land of the Rising Sun."
Emperor Fohitoro rose from his seat and brushed his Business suit clear of dust. He then looked the man in the eye.
"Do it. With my Blessing."
Prime Minister Kagita strolled into the garden. His temporary office was across from the Emperor's rooms. He thought he saw a flash of black to his right, but he didn't see anything on closer investigation. He continued on his way, until a figure stepped in his way. He was surprised and stepped back a little, until he saw who it was. He sighed in relief.
"General Nohitomo! Good Lord, man!! You almost gave me a heart attack!"
The General's eyes narrowed.
"Is something wrong, General?"
General Nohitomo answered quietly.
"It ends now…"
The General produced a revolver and pointed it at Kagita.
"What?!?" stuttered the Prime Minister.
General Nohitomo fired once. It was all that was needed.
Kagita collapsed. A red stain spread out from underneath his black jacket onto his white shirt.
Nohitomo kneeled down by the dying man. Kagita seemed to be saying something. The General leaned in close to hear.
"Wha…What have I done…?"
And then, Almito Kagita discovered that God does exist after all.
"And I will deliver my people out of your hands, and you shall know that I am the Lord."