Date: January 6th, 2014

Place: Maximum Security Prison – Beijing

Sat alone in his cell, Kakeru Shishi pondered his fate. He had been caught spying for the Empire of Japan by the People's Republic of China and he suspected that the only reason he had not been executed was that he was to be 'interrogated' for information. He knew that meant he would be tortured and his death would be explained as being 'intercepted while trying to escape'. He knew that he would not give his captors any useful information as he had planned to take the suicide pill he kept hidden in the rum of his glasses, which his jailors had foolishly allowed him to keep. He was shaken out of his solitary thoughts by the sounds of people approaching his cell. He stood up, determined to be taken to his fate on his feet.

As the cell door opened, he felt a strange tingling sensation, but he dismissed it down to nerves. "Kakeru Shishi, you have been found guilty of spying on the People's Republic of China" the lead guard said "Your sentence is death". He paused, letting those words sink in, and then said "The People's Republic of China is willing to show you mercy and grant you a stay of execution" the lead guard said "In return for this act of generosity and mercy, you will tell us what you saw and why you were spying on us". Kakeru looked at them and said "As the Americans would say 'Bite me'..." Seeing the enraged look on the lead guard's face was worth being punched in the gut by him. Though in pain, he did not double over and remained standing. "Will you assist the People's Republic of China?" the lead guard asked, to which Kakeru replied "No". As the guards approached him, Kakeru felt his entire body once again become tingly. Then to the shock of the guards, Kakeru disappeared from his prison cell. For a second, none of the Guards moves, then the lead guard yelled "PRISONER HAS ESCAPED, WE HAVE A PRIONER ESCAPING..." Two of the Guards stood outside the cell while the others raced down the long hallway.

Place: BioLabs Main Facility – MediLab

Kakeru materializes in the MediLab. A Medic awaits him with a cup of hot coffee which he downs gratefully. The Medic helps him onto an examination bed and moves off to get the scanners required to check him for injuries. "Kakeru Shishi, you have just been the first human being to be teleported" Commander Meyers says, handing Kakeru another cup of hot coffee. "I need to speak to someone in charge" Kakeru says "It is important..." he sips his coffee and says "It concerns the Dragon Warriors and the recent spike in Chinese archaeological digs and expeditions..." Upon hearing that, Commander Meyers nods and says "I'll be right back, Shi". As Commander Meyers left the room, Kakeru knew that from Commander Meyers subtle hint that from this point on, he had to stick to his assigned mission. Even with Commander Meyers hint, it was going to be tough, but then again he never doubted it would be anything less.

Kakeru knew that the information he had to pass on was vital to the security and interest of not only the Empire of Japan, but the United States as well, though the Empire of Japan was his first and foremost concern. Though he was a loyal citizen of the Empire, he knew that he had to assist the United States as this concerned them as if China's Dragon Warriors were legitimate and they had accessed The Grid, then it would be bad for both the Empire and the United States. Since they had been invited to become a partner in the Terra Venture project, the Empire of Japan had also learned about the research going on at Zordnia Island. While an agreement between Washington and Tokyo ensured that they received technical reports on all the technology being developed there, they felt it was not good enough, which is why Kakeru was here and about to proceed with his assigned mission. 'Given what we have at Mount Midoriama; and what we found at Lake Shinji' Kakeru thought to himself. As one of the few outside the Directors Office at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries who knew about the discoveries at Mount Midoriama and Lake Shinji, Kakeru knew that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries needed more than just technical reports on all the technology being developed there, they needed direct access to it.

With the apparent easing of tensions between the two major powers of the world after the North Island Crisis of 1992 and it's subsequent resolution, the Empire of Japan was informed of the Zordnia Island research during the Oregon Conference in early '93. They had used the technical reports on all the technology being developed there to advance their own technology at a surprising pace, much to the shock of the US, who believed that it would take Japan many years to decipher the technical data. This allowed the Empire of Japan to become equal partners in the Terra Venture project and advance their own space program to a point where it was now only 4 years behind the United States. While this was perceived as good news, the Empire of Japan did not like being subordinate to the United States in the new arms race and they had decided to gain an edge by whatever means they could. Imperial Intelligence had very little success at first as security on Zordnia Island was as tight as anything in the Empire, but that all changed when they had received an offer of assistance from someone who actually worked at Zordnia Island. The offer of assistance from someone inside Zordnia Island had accelerated Japan's own program to where it was now at a point where all they needed was one final thing and they would be ahead of the Americans.

Kakeru was forced to put those thoughts aside when Edward Collins entered the MediLab with Commander Meyers following behind him. "I understand you have information about the Dragon Warriors" Edward says. "That I do Mr Collins" Kakeru says "But as you Americans say, this information does not come for free". Edward tensed up, he knew that Kakeru was going to ask for, and more than likely receive, copies of some or all of the technology they had here at the Research Facility. "What do you have to say and what do you want?" Edward asks, trying not to talk through gritted teeth. "What I want is simple" Kakeru says "You claim the Empire of Japan is the closest ally of the United States, you claim to share things with us but this is a lie". Edward was angry; Kakeru liked this as it gave him the edge. He was tempted to push Collins' buttons, make him angry further, but he decided against it.

"What do you WANT?" Edward asked, the anger now clearly seeping into his voice. "For the information I have on the Dragon Warriors, the Empire of Japan would like all the information you have on Project Ranger, including a the green transformation device AND the Dragon Coin". Edward tried to contain his anger but try as he might, he could not contain it all. "You think you can BLACKMAIL us into giving you advanced technology" he said, the anger evident in his voice "You will not get a dam thing, NOW OR EVER, except a small, dark cell where you will spend the REST OF YOUR MISERABLE LIFE". Kakeru simply smiled at Edward, which infuriated him further. "Yes, we will get what we need, and you will give it to us, gladly" Kakeru said "Otherwise, I will forget to tell you everything about the Dragon Warriors...".

Edward knew that he was being held over the proverbial cliff. Either he gave Kakeru what he wanted or he would withhold vital information about the Dragon Warriors, information that the US needed. "I will need to consult with Washington" Edwards said through gritted teeth "I will return when I have their answer". Kakeru smiled at Edward and called out after him as he left the MediLab "I'll be waiting right here Mr Collins". Kakeru smiled and sipped his coffee. Things had gone exactly as he had planned them, right down to getting caught by the Chinese to his rescue by the US. 'When we get the Dragon Coin, we will be able to proceed to the next stage' Kakeru thought to himself 'Especially with what we have at Mount Midoriama and what we found at Lake Shinji, the US will no longer be the sole possessor of Morphing Technology'.