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"Anyway – after the take over of the world network, we realized how few techno-savvy people we really had, and started looking in world records..."

"And found us?" Batou interrupted Hitomi, sitting back with his beer. Damn – he'd almost forgotten how good the stuff was, it'd been years since he'd had any. "That's pretty far-fetched."

"Not really," Hitomi said, smiling a little as she stirred her espresso, having taken the same drink as Motoko, "You both were connected to the world network without authorization at one point, weren't you?"

Batou glanced at Motoko, who was merely staring holes at the other woman, as if trying to decide whether this situation was really what it seemed. He was with her on that one, to be honest. "Yeah," he finally said, looking back at the bioroid, "we hooked in a few times once it was running to see the news."

Hitomi hummed. "I'll never understand why you both stayed out there – there's civilization now, the world war is over. You could have gone to Poseidon instead of going all the way over the pacific!"

"Those greedy bastards?" Batou burst out incredulously, "Like we'd let them touch the goods!"

Motoko frowned slightly. "We know that – but until the take over of the world network Japan was still… acceptable." Motoko finally said, "And after that – fighting is what we were designed to do."

The woman sighed. "You and Deunan…" She looked them over. "Did you have trouble repairing your bodies?" she asked, "I know Briareos has trouble sometimes…and you two are so advanced – you even look human!" She blinked as the two gave her odd looks. "Oh, I'm sorry, was that offensive?" she asked, worried.

"Don't worry about it," Motoko said gruffly, "we managed to download a lot of the maintenance manuals before Japan collapsed fully, and the rest we worked out ourselves."

Batou noticed that she didn't say anything about the fact that she still had trouble with pinpoint balance on one foot due to the fiber optic nerves in her toes being on the fritz – or that his eyes still occasionally went haywire and gave him and distorted image of the world – sometimes it was even upside down. They'd gotten on very well, all things considered.

Hitomi leaned forward. "It sounds exciting," she said, smiling, "we have awhile before Deunan and Briareos will be back, and I can have dinner brought in here – can you tell me the whole story?"

Batou and Motoko glanced at each other briefly, guardedly. Did they want to? Batou shrugged slightly. He didn't really care – they wouldn't reveal any secrets or theirs, but they could tell the basic stuff. Motoko nodded slightly. "Where should we start?" she asked.

"Oh, wherever you think the beginning is," Hitomi said pleasantly, "I'm in no hurry."

The two looked at each other. They both knew exactly when that was.

"Japan managed to stay out of the global war for a long time due to our ministration's neutral policy," Motoko began, "And no one really bothered us – the biggest shift we saw was economic – American goods became more scarce, European practically unheard of."

"Actually it was good for our economy," Batou added, "We sold more in-country goods to our people, and more Japanese goods to other countries."

Motoko nodded, and then grew quiet for a moment, eyes half-lidded in thought. "America then decided they didn't like our neutrality – taking the token that if we weren't their friends, we were their enemies."

Batou looked to the side, and Hitomi suddenly realized exactly what story they were about to tell. She sighed a little. This story was going to be filled with all the emotions she was uncomfortable with…

Aramaki sat at his desk, frowning at the file in his hands. He didn't like the direction this war was taking. America had tried to forge an alliance with them twice now, but Kayabuki was firm – she would remain neutral. No one would have Japanese troops, weapons or supplies unless they paid for them up front. He sighed. Getting too old for this… and he couldn't shake the words his father had said. "Don't turn into me – finding a woman gets harder as you age."

Well, he was old enough he might as well write it off. Oh well. He was married to his job – that would have to be fulfillment enough.

There was an odd click, and he twitched, looking up and reaching for his desk drawer, where he still kept a gun – but hadn't even begun to pull before he was looking up a barrel himself.

"Major?" the title was more out of habit than anything, but he couldn't help it. She looked more fierce than he'd ever seen her – no exceptions – dark glasses pushed up around spiky purple hair and her trench coat wrapped tightly around her. "I… didn't hear you come in," he said, wondering for a split second if he'd actually done anything that warranted her killing him.

"Aramaki," she said sharply – a soldier's tone, but it held a spark of something unreal. He frowned immediately. That was fear. "Get everyone in here – yesterday. There's a mass air strike planned on this city in forty-five minutes. Somebody's got to survive it – or else Japan as a country will collapse."

He blinked, trying to process the information as she put her gun away. This… he closed his eyes for a moment, taking a brief moment of meditation. Then he did the only thing he could do. "Very well. They're all here in any case," he said, and reached down, pressing the emergency page button. It would have his core team running to this office in moments. He looked up, saying gruffly. "Good to have you aboard, Major."

She almost cracked a smirk, but the expression didn't reach her eyes.

Aramaki wondered if this was his last day on earth.

"You're just the herald of bad times, aren't ya?" Ishikawa asked her as soon as she'd told them. They'd all set their clocks to hers – all of them said thirty five minutes.

"Beside the point," she muttered, but looked at them all, especially at Togusa, who was pale and beginning to sweat. "We have to get as many as the true politicians underground as possible."

"I will go to the prime minister," Aramaki said, standing, "Once she is safe we can warn the city at large."

The major nodded, "If it's an air strike they'll be focusing on collapsing buildings – not only the most deaths, but the most economical effect if they get the right ones."

"You're telling me they've got that big of a vendetta against Japan for being neutral?!" Batou snarled, one hand fisted so tightly he shook slightly.

The major looked at him. "Not only that," she said, "There's a blood grudge between the countries that goes back as far as the first world wars."

"Pearl Harbor – you've got to be kidding me!" Togusa burst out, standing and pacing, "That's ancient history!"

"It's also convenient," Seito murmured, arms crossed tightly, his good eye, "A good battle cry. You've heard of remember the Alamo?"

Togusa gulped and looked down. The major observed that despite his gaining reputation as a leader in section nine – this news had almost reduced him back to being a rookie. Then she realized why. "Togusa, go get your wife and children if you want," she said, almost softly.

He looked up at her suddenly, and there was a crackle of near disbelief in the room. Since using Togusa as bait in the Solid State Society case, he'd fumed over and over about her lack of humanity, tendency to put an operation over it's people… "Thank you, Major," he said, and looked at Aramaki, who nodded. He would go whether he allowed it or not, why should he detract from his confidence to bring his family to safety.

"God's speed," he said as the man ran out. He looked at the remaining team and nodded to Motoko. "She is your commander," he said roughly, "Until I return. You have…" he looked at his watch, "thirty minutes. Give me at least twenty to secure the Prime minister – then sound the alarm."

"What if you haven't gotten the prime minister by then?" The major asked.

"I'll still have ten minutes," Aramaki said as he stood. He took his coat, and with all the dignity, walked out, leaving the major with Batou, Seito, Paz, Ishikawa, and Bomer.

She looked around, grimacing. "If any of you have special people, now would be the time to go and get them."

The men looked around at each other, but none of them rose.