Sakura Wars: The 21st Century
By Steve Edward
Chapter 12
Saturday, June 11th, 1927 – Shouwa 1- Imperial Theater – 0300 hours –
With a concern over his involvement, Count Aritsune Hanakouji had asked that John stay out of the raid on the warehouse where the experiments were supposedly taking place; which John agreed to. John did ask that if anyone of importance was captured that he be allowed to participate in the interrogations.
The Count agreed and ordered that Captain Kayama and Captain Oogami coordinate the raid.
John now sitting in the tactical area of the Flower Division with General Yoneda observed the progress of the raid. Next to him clutching Jean-Paul to her chest was Iris and next to her was Leni. The theater itself had been fully sealed and was now under heavy guard by the Moon Division and Rose Division. There would be no more distractions from outside forces against them again.
Deputy Commander Fujieda continued the progress reports from a location near the warehouse, when she reported a startling discovery, "General the warehouse is secure and the Moon Division reports four personnel in custody; however they are claiming diplomatic immunity."
Commander Fujieda further stated, "There is also unknown type of equipment inside the warehouse. The type of equipment is unfamiliar to the Moon Division Inspection Team."
Raising an eyebrow John turned the Ikki, "If possible I would like to examine the equipment and since they are claiming diplomatic immunity that it would be best that I talk to them." General Yoneda agreed to John's proposal and ordered that the personnel who were in custody be taken to the Moon Division headquarters for interrogation.
Getting up and walking to the stairs, he turned to Kohran Ri who was sitting at a nearby control consol, "Kohran lets go and have a look at that equipment. Perhaps your engineering and scientific skills can be put into good use." Then turning to Leni, "Leni I am sorry to ask this of you but would come with me as well; as you may be able to give some indication what the equipment components are." Nodding in agreement, Leni stood up and joined the Admiral and Kohran at the stairs. Pausing at the stairs, John turned to Iris; "I'll take good care of Leni, go ahead and go to bed and I will tell you about everything later, ok?" Nodding, Iris slipped out of her chair and with Tsubaki climbed the stairs behind them.
A driver from the Moon Division was waiting with a car and was able to quickly get them to the warehouse. Stopping outside the building, John got out of the vehicle and eyed the gaping hole in the side of the building. Turning to Kohran and Leni, "I see Kanna was busy," as they walked through the new entrance, the massive rollup door still closed next to it.
Captain Oogami with Commander Fujieda greeted the Admiral and led his group deeper into the cavernous warehouse. Walking past what appeared to be jail cells; John stopped and peered into one of them.
A small bunk bolted to the floor with a disheveled mattress and sheets, a book case bolted to the walls; the books it once contained scattered about the floor and the sight of empty shackles and restraints hanging from a nearby eyebolt firmly mounted into a cement wall. Frowning, he turned to look at Captain Oogami and asked, "Captain; how many were in here?" Ichiro solemnly reported, "There were ten sir, all of them woman; all have been taken to the Flower Division medical facility for examinations. With the exception of the welts on their wrists and ankles from the restraints they appeared to be unharmed. They were found in a sedated condition." John, looking at what was left of the cell doors them selves; could imagine the anger that caused that damage. Kanna certainly had been busy in here.
Seeing Captain Kayama at a large machine, John approached. "Captain what have you found so far." Captain Kayama turned, "This machine and another like it. They appear joined by cables and there are control stations nearby. Be careful for the larger cables on the backside of the machines sir, as they are electrical."
Kohran who had stepped closer to one of the machine, climbed onto the flat platform to look at the interior. Peering back at the Admiral, "It looks like a big donut."
John turned at the sound of Kohran's voice saw what she was describing. Leni too walked closer and then stopped, "This is one of the machines that they put me in." John realized what he was looking at. An MRI machine, but this could not be possible. These machines did not exist in 1927. Yet a machine bearing a very good resemblance to a 21st century Magnetic Resonance Imaging device was there in front of him.
John asking Kohran to get off the machine, "Kohran there is no need for you to go further because I know what the machine is. It is called a MRI which is known to me as a magnetic resonance imaging device. It is an imaging method used by radiologists in the 21st century to view internal body structures using combinations of radio waves and magnetic fields. The MRI is noninvasive to the human body and utilizes the properties of magnetism to create nondestructive, three-dimensional, internal images of the soft tissues of the body, including the brain and spinal cord. I should know; as I've been inside those several times during medical examinations. In general use they are not harmful nor do the pose a threat to the well being of the patient, because of the capabilities of the machines they can be used to see the condition of the brain for example in real time and see the different processes of the brain itself." But why was such a machine be in existence now. The current level of technology should preclude it existing as John stood looking at both machines.
Turning to Captain Kayama, "Captain have the Moon Division assist Kohran in dismantling the equipment and move it to a more secure location. Any written material is to be gathered and brought to your headquarters for further examination. I would like transport for I and Leni to interview the individuals that were taken from here. There is some serious questions I want to ask." Turning about he paused and looked at Leni who had fallen to her knees, it was her eyes that caught his attention. They were filled with terror.
Three years earlier – 1924 – Time and Date Unknown – Germany –
Leni could not move any part of her body, as it lay tightly strapped to a wooden table that was being slid into position within the opening. Just 13 years old, she showed promising abilities with her spiritual powers. But the men said that she needed help in bringing them forth. At first it had not been painful, but as each examination continued the pain grew.
The power level of the machine had been increased each time to a higher threshold, all the while photographs of demonic creatures that had been taken in Japan and France had been flashed into a small screen fixated above her eyes. The men said it would help with preventing fear so that she could face these creatures in battle.
Unable to move, or even contort her body with her eyelids taped open; she faced the horrific images alone. It was the final sequence that caused the incident. Her mind raging at the images, the spiritual energy within was released. Colliding and interacting with the energy from the machine itself, the reaction with the electrical system caused a massive feedback; a feedback directly refocused into her brain. Knocked into a coma that lasted 5 days, when she finally awoke in a soft bed she felt nothing. Neither sadness or joy, grief or any normal human emotion; and when shown the last set of images that had caused the incident within the strange machine there was no reaction in terms of flailing about. All she wanted to do was to kill the creatures that appeared in the photographs.
Later transferred to the Star Division, though successful initially; the problem of having little emotion on the battle field became apparent when Leni would charge out on her own and attack. She would also attack her own members of the Star Division if they got in her way. After the Star Division's demise and at the urging of Elder's Institute Member Haruyoshi Tanuma, she would be transferred in mid-1926 to Japan's Imperial Flower Combat Division where she would later be joined by Orihime Soletta and in December of 1926 by Lachette Altair.
Saturday, June 11th, 1927 – Shouwa 1- Imperial Theater – 0900 hours –
John was bone tired and feeling the effects of no sleep. Sitting within the dinning room with General Yoneda, Deputy Commander Fujieda and Captain Oogami along with others of the Imperial Flower Division he held a briefing on what had transpired since the raid.
"Kohran confirmed my identification of the machines within the warehouse which she has since carefully disassembled. Normally they would cause no harm on a patient during examination, but these machines instead were used to boost the brain functions of an individual." John gave the description of what a MRI machine was supposed to do and was met with gasps.
Maria speaking up, "So this is what Leni was exposed to in an effort to strengthen her spiritual energy." Nodding, John continued; "Yes, but in terms of technological advancements these machines were being used for the wrong purpose. Seeing that there were two of them and from the engineering report from Kohran that they were wired in parallel I am lead to believe that one was to be used for Iris and the other likely to house Leni, which would when used in combination of the other machine the operators using Iris as an involuntary guinea pig would attempt to replicate her brain signature functions within Leni's. After which, if successful they would have in turn used the machines to replicate the similar brain pattern in the women who were being held as prisoners."
Going on to the interrogation John continued, "As for the interrogation of the individuals found at the warehouse, all four are of German nationality and claimed to have diplomatic immunity from the start. However, since I also speak German which may have surprised them in the first place I was able to wrangle out of them that Germany had no knowledge that they were in Japan and that they eventually named Tanuma as their sponsor. They also admitted that Tanuma had funded part of the Project itself in Germany."
Count Hanakouji who had entered during the middle of the briefing interjected, "Tanuma had gone to Germany in June of 1924 as part of a trade delegation, so it is likely he may have been present during the experiments and with the knowledge of Iris's abilities may have informed the scientists in Germany at that time." John having talked at length with Leni surmised that Tanuma may have been present when the failure with Leni took place. Because she was an orphan and had no family, Tanuma took custody of her because in all likelihood the German scientists would have been hard pressed to explain her condition to others in the medical field and were likely relieved to see her transferred to the care of the fledging Star Division. The rest was a matter of history, which left a vile taste in his mouth.
Turning to the Count, "Sir I understand you have been attending to the delicate issue of those rescued from the warehouse? What are their conditions and if I may ask who are they?"
The Count withdrew some papers from his briefcase, "There are ten young women in all and thanks to Kanna and Sumire they are doing rather well." John recalled the smashed and torn jail doors at that point. The Count continued, "The oldest is just 16 years of age and the youngest is 12 years of age. A heavy silence followed.
John spoke, "The scientists admitted that the women had been kidnapped from various parts of Japan since March of this year, by men who had been hired by Tanuma." The Count nodded, "All were taken from various temples and were selected for their apparent spiritual powers that they posses. None of them have memories of their incarceration within the warehouse as the scientists kept them sedated for much of their time there. All of them do recall a mechanical machine appearing at their cell doors and ripping them off the hinges." John turned to Kanna, "Having seen your handiwork at the warehouse, we can be thankful that since they are not from Tokyo; as they would not have any idea what a Koubu looks like so to them in their sedated state it may have been a dream. My indirect observation of your entry to the warehouse, you might have used the door." That elicited numerous laughs from those gathered in the dinning room.
Captain Ichiro Oogami spoke up next, "But why ten and not fewer?" John had already done the math replied, "Because that is the precise number of Koubus and Esienkleid that are currently in inventory of the Imperial Flower Division. Tanuma reasoned that once the Flower Division was disbanded the equipment would be available for his use." John turned to Tanuma's former briefcase and withdrew the most damning piece of evidence.
"This paper is the order containing the final orders for the dispersal of the Imperial Flower Division equipment. Tanuma had these orders ready to go that would place the main fighting equipment in his possession and control. Which if Tanuma had been successful in starting a coupe with the pilots inside of them leading it as General Yoneda had agreed with me previously; his forces would have been unstoppable with anything that the Imperial Army or Navy currently has. In short it would have been violent and very bloody for all those that would have been involved." Letting that sink in John continued, "Of course planning the dispersal of the Flower Division personnel would have prevented their immediate reactivation since in all likelihood based on the coupe plans that were found at the late Tanuma's residence, among the first targets on the attack plan was the Kanzaki Heavy Industries Plant where the Koubus are manufactured."
Sumire hearing that comment, "Tanuma was planning on attacking my father's factory, to prevent us from stopping him?" John nodded yes. Handing the Count the paper with the other documents that he had added notes to, John sat back.
The Count turned to John, "With this evidence and from the statements taken from the scientists, he could have been hung for treason." John nodding in agreement, "Yes but I had Maria save you the trouble of building the gallows, because that bastard who has caused so much grief and hatred will never harm anyone or anything again."
Kohran, who was followed by the likeable lug Sergeant Ota; walked into the dinning hall, "Admiral I have brought the blue prints to those machines and Sergeant Ota brings the scientific documents, but they are in German;" John standing up and stretching, "Well lets have a look at the spoils of the raid." Looking over them briefly he realizes the significance of what was recovered and has Kohran take them to the equipment hanger to be secured.
"Gentleman and ladies, it had been a long and tiring day for all of us and I will need to get some rest before beginning translation of these documents, if there is no objection we can continue this tomorrow and I would prefer to have Leni to assist as well." John paused and turned to the Count, "I am assuming sir that the young women who were kidnapped will be repatriated to their respective temples and compensated in some fashion?"
The Count nodded, "They will be assisted back to their respective temples and monetary assistance will be provided. I have already seen to that as well."
Shaking hands with the Count and General Yoneda both, John retired to his room within the theater. Entering it and being as exhausted as he was he almost missed the bed. Sergeant Ota who had followed John upstairs carefully undressed him and tucked him under the covers. Sergeant Ota then took station outside the room having received orders directly from General Yoneda that the Admiral was to sleep undisturbed for as long as he wanted to.
Sunday, June 12th, 1927 – Shouwa 1- Imperial Theater – 0300 hours –Not having the opportunity to take any catnaps prior to nearly missing the comfortable bed that he awoke in, John discovered that he had been undressed and tucked into the said bed. Slightly embarrassed he could only guess who had done that chore for him. Noting that the shoulder holster and the Colt were carefully hanging off of the nearby chair and that a fresh change of clothing was hanging nearby, he got to his feet.
Opening the door to the darkened hallway, what normally should have been a fully visible window was obscured by someone standing in front of it. The shadow greeted the Admiral, "Good morning sir, I have hoped that you have slept well." Gazing upward till he could finally pick out the eyes, he identified Sergeant Ota. "Yes I have Sergeant; I suspect I would have slept right through a dance troupe made up of Koubus."
Chuckling, the Sergeant continued, "The General ordered me to ensure your peace and quiet, and I can say that I was very successful." The Sergeant did not go into the detail of what he had done, but at one point earlier in the evening Sakura and Sumire had got into one their usual tiffs directly in front of the Admiral's sleeping quarters causing him to physically pick up both and make a run for it while both hammered away on him with their fists. Ota had thought for sure that the noise had awoken the exhausted American.
Tsubaki on her way to begin kitchen duties stopped by and asked a question of the Admiral, "Pardon me sir, but could I speak with you please?" as John pulled the door shut, in his hands an architect's briefcase; "Yes Tsubaki you may," as he looked at her.
"When you came to my rescue in the lobby, I did not have the opportunity to thank you at the time and this now makes it the second time that you have saved my life."
Looking briefly at Sergeant Ota who was now in the conversation ignorance mode, "Tsubaki what happened to you in the lobby was completely unexpected, and that the fact you had a gun barrel jammed into your forehead did not help. I got four lucky shots off and they hit the men on either side of you. My actions are mote at this point considering the mandate that I am operating under. A certain Professor whom I believe you will meet was rather emphatic about interfering with the lives of people in this time line; because of the possibility of causing other events not to happen. I am certain that I did the right thing in your case as well as ordering Maria to shoot Tanuma, because in the end my actions have justified the means, though again that certain Professor will certainly make a lot of noise when he finds out what I have done."
Turning to Sergeant Ota, John dismissed him from his duties and bid him farewell and turning to Tsubaki asked her to wake up Leni and Kohran both so that they could get some breakfast before they began the process of translating the scientific material. Going towards the lobby and descending the staircase he entered the dinning room filled with the smell of fresh brewed coffee.
As John laid the architectural briefcase at a nearby table on his way towards the kitchen, he was surprised to see Deputy Commander Fujieda and Yuri Sakakibara with Kasumi Fujii pushing a serving cart behind them exiting the kitchen, and greeting him good morning. Replying in kind, "Good morning Commander, Ladies, I hope all of you had some rest," seeing the coffee serving on the cart John asked for a cup.
"Kaede, how are things progressing so far?" as he accepted the cup from Yuri.
Kaede replied, "The kidnap victims from the warehouse were repatriated yesterday afternoon with General Yoneda accompanying them on their journeys. The German scientists have been released and were deported on a ship that will take them to Bremerhaven, Germany." Seeing the perplexed expression on John's face she paused. Looking at Kaede John spoke, "With all due respect Commander was there not something that the Japanese Government could have punished them for?"
Kaede expecting such a question replied, "Yes and no. There would have been the difficult problem of prosecuting them utilizing the evidence. However because the experiment that they conducted on Leni while in Germany was not sanctioned by the German Government and the resulting medical condition of Leni that the Flower Division has documented; the German Government has been notified through diplomatic channels of the behavior of the scientists and the death of the ring leader that the scientists named."
Sitting back and sipping on his coffee, "Well I suppose that is the best we can hope for the time being. I am assuming that the ship is making a non-stop voyage?" Kaede smiling, "Yes and the German Embassy provided guards for the trip." Hearing that, John now had his theory as to why Professor Wilkins had such difficult time even uncovering information on Project Wachstum. Any evidence of such a project undertaken in Germany, sanctioned or unsanctioned would be destroyed long before the ship arrived in Bremerhaven and as for the scientists involved their fate was already sealed.
John thinking about the enhancement equipment, "Kaede about the equipment in the warehouse that was dismantled; please tell me it has not been destroyed." Kaede smiled, "Per your orders it has been safe guarded. It is now loaded onto one of the Koubu transporters that have been previously pre-staged." Giving a sigh of relief he took another sip of his coffee, John replied to Kaede; "The equipment will be taken back for study. I will prohibit any experimentation of any kind." Hearing the door open to the hallway, John glancing at who was coming in and seeing Kohran with Leni and Captain Ichiro Oogami following continued, "Once the engineering examination of the equipment is done and the medical specialists that I have available get an opportunity to study those machines; so we have some idea as to what the scientists did to Leni; the machines will be destroyed, and I will make damn sure that no such experimentation is conducted again in the fashion that Leni suffered so that no one will go through what she did again. Even if it means I have to start a war to do it."