30 Worlds: Royal Megaforce, Episode XX: "Kokaku Kidotai (Mobile Armored Riot Police)"

CHAPTER ONE

Author's Note: Although the character of Chief Aramaki (played in the 2017 Ghost in the Shell live-action film by legendary Japanese actor/director "Beat" Takeshi Kitano) only speaks (or thinks) in Japanese, all of his lines in this story are written in English for the convenience of all readers.

Please remember that, to the characters in the story, he is still speaking Japanese.

Unaligned World of Ghost in the Shell

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China

July 27th, 2xxx

In the headquarters of the governmental security agency known as Section 9, Chief Daisuke Aramaki sipped at a cup of tea and waited for a report from his agents in the field. A voice entered his mind through the "Mind-Comm" implant all members of Section 9 had.

"Chief, this is Major. All suspects are in custody. I require minor repairs to my body," Major Motoko Kusanagi thought. "Understood, Major," Aramaki thought in Japanese. "Come back to Headquarters and we'll get you fixed up." "On my way," Major thought.

The doors into Arimaki's office opened, revealing Togusa, the only member of Section 9 to not have any cybernetic enhancements to his body. "Chief, the American exchange officers have landed at Kowloon Airport," he said in English. "Shall I go pick them up?"

Arimaki nodded. "Go ahead, Togusa," he said in Japanese. Togusa nodded, then left Arimaki's office.

In the waiting lounge at Kowloon Airport, William led Sofia and the Rangers into the waiting lounge. "Now, remember the data from the briefing files. Although Chief Aramaki only speaks in Japanese, he can understand any other Terran language," William said. "So feel free to speak English around him without fearing he will not understand you."

A Japanese man walked up to where William and the Rangers were sitting. "I am Togusa of Section 9. Which one of you is in charge of your group?" he asked. "Each of us is from a different agency, with different ranks and chains of command," William said. "I am Supervisory Special Agent Harvey Bennett, head of the cybercrimes unit at NCIS—the..."

"Naval Criminal Investigative Service, right?" Togusa said. "Yes," William said. "I am honored to meet you, Togusa-san."

William and Togusa shared a bow. "I was asked by Director Allen to represent NCIS in this exchange program with Section 9," William said. "Each member of this party represents a different Federal agency's cybercrimes or anti-terrorism division, who will take Section 9's tactics and protocol back to their agency for dissemination."

"Very well," Togusa said. "Please follow me back to Section 9." William nodded, then gestured for the Rangers to follow him and Togusa out to a waiting vehicle.

While Togusa, William and the other Rangers arrived back at Section 9's headquarters, Aramaki and his agents were discussing the results of Major Kusanagi's latest mission. "Twelve arrests in two days," Aramaki said. "The remains of Hanka's security staff are really trying to get revenge."

"I highly doubt it's just Hanka," Ladirya said. "There has to be an outside agent working with them." The door chime into Aramaki's office rang. "Come in," Aramaki said. Togusa led William and the other Rangers into Aramaki's office.

"Chief, our distinguished visitors from abroad have arrived," Togusa said. Aramaki smiled as he stood from behind his desk and made his way to where the Rangers stood. "Welcome to you all," Aramaki said.

"Thank you, Chief Aramaki," William said in Japanese before exchanging bows and business cards with Aramaki. "You know our traditions well, S.S.A. Bennett," Aramaki said.

"We have to, as, on occasion, all six agencies we represent deal with foreign dignitaries, civilian nationals and law enforcement in the the performance of our assigned duties," William said, switching back to English.

"So, what do you want us to do?" Sofia said. "Colonel Meyer, S.S.A. Bennett, I'll assign your party to work with my top agents, Batou and Major, in order to investigate the rash of revenge attacks against the city by the remnants of Hanka Robotics security," Aramaki said. "They are most likely down in the repair room by now. Togusa, please escort them."

"Yes, sir," Togusa said. The six Rangers bowed to Aramaki, who returned the bow. "This way, please," Togusa said before leading William and the Rangers out into a corridor.

"Why is your Major in the repair room?" Sito said. "Major is what we call a 'ghost in the shell,'" Togusa said. "By that, I mean her brain is a typical human brain and consciousness in an artificial body that sometimes requires repairs due to damages suffered in the performance of her duties."

"Your technology is most remarkable, Togusa-san," William said.

Down in the repair bay, Batou used his artificial eyes to examine the progress being made on the repairs to Major's body. A pair of doors hissed open, revealing Togusa and the six Rangers.

"Are those our American guests?" Batou said. "Yes," Togusa said. "The Chief wants them to work with you and Major to investigate the Hanka retaliations." The door from the repair bay to the corridor opened, revealing Major. She was putting her field jacket on over her thermoptic operations suit.

"Welcome to Section 9, everyone," Major said. "Follow us to the lab and we'll get started." William bowed to Togusa before turning to follow Major, Batou and the five other Rangers down the corridor.

::TBC::