Sakura Wars: The 21st Century
By Steve Edward
Chapter 13
Sunday, June 12th, 1927 – Shouwa 1- Imperial Theater – 0500 hours –
After having breakfast with other members of the Flower Division, John with Leni, Kohran and Yuri descended to the equipment room where the blue prints and other scientific material had been placed the day before. Starting off with the blue prints of the equipment, John was surprised to learn the scientists had called the machines, Magnetic Focusing Devices or MFD. Instead of being able to present a visual representation of the human brain or body, the machines instead were used to measure the magnetic field down to a very precise location on the human body.
To be more specific as John translated the drawings, the machines could measure the magnetic field generated by the brain. Like a degaussing system on military vessels, it could in selectively adjust the magnetic fields. Because the human body is in itself a small electrical plant and it too generates a magnetic field, the scientist's theory of adjusting the magnetic field of the brain would likely alter the neural pathways or even activate dormant paths.
Going to the medical records, John knew there would be some disturbing information within the voluminous books and he found it from the first book. The scientists had created the theory that if by using a powerful magnetic field and altering the magnetic field of the brain itself, they could tap into unknown regions. Remembering that some arthritis suffers had found relief by wearing small magnetic bracelets on their wrists; they would get some relief from pain. What these people did not know was that they were simply altering the flow of the electrical charge that was within their bodies and were dampening or even canceling out the pain signals that traveled on the neural pathways themselves.
John who had asked Leni if she was willing to hear his explanation to what happened to her was met with a firm yes. "Leni, when you were experimented on the scientists were trying to damper a section of the brain that deals with emotions and at the same time to enhance the section that likely deals with your spiritual powers." Asking Kohran for several pieces of wire, resistors, a battery and two light bulbs, he quickly built a simple electrical circuit.
"Not being of a medical background, but of an engineering one instead I know that when you dampen the electrical flow this is what will happen." Showing with the resistors as each was put into the circuit, the light bulbs either dimmed or brightened.
"Unfortunately the scientists went too far with you and did something that should not have been done." Asking for a larger and powerful battery John continued, "They increased the power until they burned your neural pathway out." With a wire visibly smoking, "My theory is that because of your resistance against the invisible magnetic field your neural pathway; was destroyed or severely damaged."
Leni turned towards John, "Then there is no hope for me?" Shaking his head no, "I believe there is hope for you, because you have been showing emotions to me. Please consider that the human body is very resilient. It has the ability redo things and in time I believe with the right stimulus you will recover." Looking at the clock, now nearly 1100 hours he decided that he had done enough and with the others packed the material and had it prepared to be sent to the staging area, and then asked who would like to go out on the town.
Wednesday, June 15th, 1927 – Shouwa 1- Imperial Theater – 0900 hours –
With General Ikki Yoneda back from repatriating the kidnap victims, John brought him up to speed on his findings. Ikki, who had spoken with Count Hanakouji, had learned that there had been a political and military fallout as the result of Tanuma's planned coupe attempt. "There have been three resignations from the House of the Lords and two Imperial Army generals have been relieved of their commands," as Ikki took a sip of Sake.
Sitting back in his chair John sighed, "I suppose this was unavoidable in the short term. I can assume that the former House of Lord Member's, whom were involved with Tanuma, had been in cahoots deeper than most expected." Ikki nodded, "Yes two had traveled with Tanuma to Germany in 1924 as part of the "trade delegation" and became suspect immediately. The third who did not travel was a money supplier." Standing and preparing to leave for dance practice John turned, "Well we can hope that this particular point in history will be kind to us in the end;" and with that John walked out the door and headed to the theater for practice.
John who had been charting the dance chorography on the stage floor plan, sat back and watched Captain Ichiro Oogami and Sakura Shinguji go through their dance in a flawless performance. Taking the time to retrieve a digital video camera that could record up to 250 hours at a time and temporarily putting it into place so that it had a unobstructed view, he had ran some test recordings to see how things had turned out.
Surprised with the clarity of the audio and picture quality, he went even further and put into place several wireless microphones that were normal were supposed to be for surveillance; would feed their input back to the camera now hidden from view from and unnoticeable by anyone. Though likely breaking every rule in the future time travel do's and don'ts bible, John relished the idea of having such a historical recording. Being able to activate it remotely from his position on the stage at the start of the performance was a plus. Only he would see the discreet red LED that signaled the camera was active.
Saturday, June 25th, 1927 – Shouwa 1- Imperial Theater – 1730 hours –
Butterflies in the stomach; was the feeling that John had. It had come down to this. The final performance of the Imperial Operatic Troupe would take place in this grand theater tonight. The rumors had been spread that after this performance, the Troupe would go on extended tour. The final preparations completed, all that remained was a single Koubu transporter and it's Koubu. Packed in boxes was the vast library of General Ikki Yoneda, now loaded onto the transporter containing Kohran's Koubu. Ikki would after this performance see those that he had commanded for so many years depart and never been seen again. In his possession was a letter from Admiral John Long explaining to the real Herbert Robert Long what had and what will transpire
The Rose Division personnel who were to disband after the mission was completed had the diversion plan in place and were waiting for the signal. Each member down to the likeable lug Sergeant Ota had letters of introduction, though John doubted any of them would be questioned by Herbert when they finally arrived in San Francisco. He just hoped his grandfather had a good sense of humor and from John's memories he in fact did. The show which was scheduled to last precisely two hours would end at 2000 hours. The final act which would be recorded for posterity and bring the house down would be the dance between John and Leni.
Saturday, June 25th, 1927 – Shouwa 1- Imperial Theater – 2200 hours –
The bedlam that had ensued from the final performance, had John and Leni returning to the stage repeatedly. Huge bundles of flowers from audience members had been sent to Leni for her performance. When the accolades finally ended it was 2100 hours. Having previously packed, the Flower Division changed from their costumes to street clothes. The Dream Division having already been taken to staging area were waiting. The trip for the Flower Division began and for a future world their arrival will not occur at a better time.
Sunday, June 26th, 1927 – Shouwa 1- Staging Area – 0100 hours –
Though damp from a passing rain shower the ground was in good shape and as John laid out the portal markers for the doorway, he pondered has he done anything that might have totally altered his world in some fashion? Instructing Ikki on what to do with the doorway markers by utilizing two thermite grenades, John added the warning of just how hot it would get, "Ikki the reason I had the holes dug into the ground is that when you place the markers in those holes and ignite the grenades the thermite will burn at around 2200 degrees centigrade. Their destruction is important as I can not take them with me with the door active." Acknowledging his final part in the Flower Divisions movement to the 21st century, Ikki shook hands one last time and walked to each member in turn and giving his final farewell.
Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 – Area 51 – 1000 Hours –
John had set the doorway portal markers in place and with a simple activation sequence triggered the opening of the doorway. In the vast underground complex the computer generated voice began intoning "Warning, Trans-Dimensional Doorway Activation! Warning, Trans-Dimensional Doorway Activation," the echoes bouncing throughout the complex.
With a built-in time delay, the security personnel and their equipment were mustered, included were four M1A1 Abrahams battle tanks their gas turbine engines quickly spooling up. This time for no need to have a voice relay, the steamer trunk had already been loaded on the lead transporter and would be amongst the first through.
Dr.'s Julie and Mary Long enter the control room at a rush and hear their brothers voice across 83 years of time, "Hello Nevada do we have a go; over?" Julie, slapping the transmit button down; while looking at Staff Sergeant Bloomberg who gives the thumbs up from her position at the doorway replies "Hell yes John! Bring them through."
The first transporter rumbles through the doorway, Staff Sergeant Bloomberg quizzically looking at the bright red Koubu as it goes by begins to understand why the women that were coming through are called the Flower Division in the first place. Dr. Mary Long, wonders why John is bringing back a large brightly painted tea kettle.
The massive receiving area gives plenty of room to maneuver and following hand signals, Kanna expertly wheels the mammoth transporter to where it is to be parked.
John turning to survey what is left sees Kohran's transporter which is not moving. Frowning he walks toward it. Kohran likely had the heaviest load hand managed to find the only soft spot in the entire field. She was stuck.
With the Dream Division streaming through, Staff Sergeant Bloomberg hears the Admiral reporting that he had a problem, "We got a transporter stuck in the mud and we are going to need some help here. Send me a tow vehicle now!" Without thinking she turns to the closest vehicle that would be stout enough, a M1A1 Abrahams.
Turning to look at Dr. Julie Long, "Julie I am sending the tank through, we got no choice," as she signals the driver to turn the tank. Aghast, Dr. Mary Long, "Teresa can you not use something else?" Just as the tank begins backing through the doorway, the tow cables on its rear hanging in position, Teresa looking up shakes her head no and follows it through.
Still in 1927, the sound of a machine that Tsubaki had never heard before emerges backwards through the doorway. In its wake is the woman she knows as Teresa who appears very formidably attired is pacing the vehicle and she shouts above the din that the last transporter is stuck.
Urging the very last Dream Division member through the portal, she stops and looks back. The Admiral is standing at the front of the transporter and without hesitation leaps aboard the mechanical beast, startling the driver as she scrambles across the front of the turret who notifies, Staff Sergeant Bloomberg; "Hey Sergeant I just picked up a passenger, she just went over the turret to the back of the tank. It look like a little girl!"
John hearing the warning also turned to look and saw Tsubaki on the back deck of the tank as it drew towards him. Tsubaki unable to hear his warning came into contact with the exhaust port of the gas turbine engine. Hop scotching as best as she could Tsubaki, spots what looks like large cables with hooks attached to the rear of the tank.
Though only a sprightly 90 pounds, she is game enough to wrestle with the hooks, which with the cables weigh nearly two times her own weight.
Staff Sergeant Bloomberg tells the driver to halt which he does too abruptly, sending; Tsubaki and the cables she holding on to flying into the air as she had been preparing to jump off the back of the tank. The cables landed with a thud at the feet of the Admiral as he is trying to catch Tsubaki, whose trajectory carries her onto of the hood and she lands face first on the transporters engine hood knocking her out in the process.
Dr. Mary Long, who inadvertently hit the relay button put the radio broadcasts into the staging area caught John's version of the play by play as she ran down the stairs, "Oh shit, Tsubaki!" the noise of the tank's gas turbine unable to mask the sound of her impact.
Kohran in the cab who had let out a screech in the process of Tsubaki's landing leans out of the cab trying to reach her when John, seeing what she is about to do yells; "Kohran stay in the damn cab, I'll get Tsubaki. You get ready to drive that thing!"
Pulling Tsubaki clear of the tractor, he grabs the left cable as Teresa takes the other and as one they slam the hooks into the tow pads.
Turning towards the tank, and to the tank commander now visible in the hatch, "Driver ease her forward slowly and take up the strain," the driver of the Abrahams eases forward until he feels a slight tug and giving it more power the 65 ton Abrahams yanks the transporter clear and taking no chances he orders the driver to continue into the doorway with the transporter in tow.
Maria, who had also heard the blow by blow, was stopped in mid-tracks by a man wearing a tan Navy uniform. On each of his collars, shining was the insignias denoting that his rank was that of a Navy Captain, "Maria do not go back through that doorway, he can handle it; please Maria don't," as Captain Frank Orkney looked at her. Commander Fujieda stepped next to her and put her hand on her other arm and shook her head no.
"CLEAR THE DAMN DOORWAY, TANK AND TRANSPORTER INBOUND!" as Dr. Julie Long screamed out the warning. Everybody scattered, Frank to the left and Maria and Kaede to the right as the 21st century mechanical beast howled through the doorway with its charge in tow.
Ikki had knelt and picked up Tsubaki and walked to John. Turning around as Ikki approached, "Thank you General for what you have done. The Imperial Flower Division will live on," as he took Tsubaki into his arms. Ikki nodding and stepping back; saluted the Admiral for the last time and walked away never looking back as John crossed the doorway into the year 2010.
Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 – Area 51 – 1045 Hours –
"MEDICS!" the first words out of John's mouth as he crossed over carrying Tsubaki, who was still out cold from her impact onto the transporters hood. A medical team lead by a United States Air Force Surgeon scrambled with a stretcher and relieved him of Tsubaki. The doctor, running along side yelling orders into a communications device as they entered a waiting elevator, John's last look was of Tsubaki for the time being was the doctor perched on the edge of the her gurney; his stethoscope down under her blouse seeking a heart beat.
Turning to his sisters, he got two very unexpected hugs, which was followed by a applause from security personnel and the Imperial Flower Division.
Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 – U.S.S. Wisconsin BB-64 – 1205 Hours –
The out of breath sounding radioman stormed onto the bridge nearly running over the Marine on duty, "Where's the Captain?" asking the Marine who in return silently pointed out to the Starboard Bridge Wing. Captain Sammy Hollister spun her wing chair around as the radioman saluted and gave her the message board. Taking it, Sammy read then whooped loudly and jumped out of the chair and entered the bridge, "Boatswainmate of the Watch! Pipe All Hands and on all circuits!" Replying in the affirmative, the Boson began to pipe and the shrill and ancient sound of a whistle carries across the sea.
Taking a moment to gather her thoughts Sammy began, "As all of you having been briefed earlier about a mission that Admiral John Long was to undertake, we have received communications stating that it has been a resounding success. In fact far beyond any expectations that we had earlier even had hoped for.
Admiral John Long is in good spirits as are our newest members of the U.S.S. Wisconsin and Task Group Rose. When we arrive in San Diego on Friday, we will put our next phase of this operation into play. Each and everyone of you onboard have been assigned a part of this and I expect that each and everyone will do their best. That is all."
Her Executive Officer Commander Chris Tyler followed by the Chief Engineer entered the bridge, turning to Commander Tyler, "Congratulations Chris you are the proud Papa to fifty young newbie's," as Commander Healey is in a rare showing has appeared on the bridge; digs out a cigar and gives it the Executive Officer.
Captain Hollister eyeing the big stogie, "Chris you had better not light that stinky thing on my bridge," as she departs for lunch.
"Fifty of them Captain? Fifty of what, Ma'm?" As he watches her leave the bridge, "But Captain I am not even married!" as Commander Healey too walks out, "Chris I warned you about all them gals that you have in port, I just knew the day would come when they would come calling for you," smiling as he left he winked at the female Lieutenant who was the Officer of the Deck., who shook her head in disbelief.