September 15, 2006
Falmart Continent
Alnus Base
It was a peaceful, starry night. Most of the base was fast asleep, with only the sentries standing guard to ensure that no one tried to sneak into the camp unnoticed.
This was made easier for the Japanese guards because their newfound allies willingly lent some of their equipment to bolster the defenses. Automated turrets and AI-controlled drones assisted the sentries in their challenging but necessary duty.
The drones, in particular, proved to be highly useful. They didn't need light to see, as they were equipped with both night vision and thermal imaging capabilities, and their ability to fly meant they were not hindered by terrain obstacles. The only drawback was that they were unarmed, but that was a minor issue.
One might question the morality of creating and using robots whose sole purpose is to kill, but since it wasn't the Japanese who had built them but rather the Poles from another world, moral questions were left aside.
Especially since this futuristic technology effectively addressed the manpower shortage that had plagued the Japanese Self-Defense Forces for years. Ironically, this issue didn't affect the Poles, but they still made ample use of the AI.
One of the ways the Polish Armed Forces utilized AI was in writing after-action reports. This was something Itami had envied about his Prussian Marine counterparts, with whom he had been working closely for the past few weeks.
The process was simple: all discussions, orders, tasks, events, and the like were recorded and filtered through the Topaz AI. The AI then generated reports from the collected data, which were subsequently reviewed by the relevant officer or non-commissioned officer to whom the report pertained. Corrections were made if necessary before forwarding the reports to higher command.
In other words, almost all the work was done by the machine, and a human merely ensured that nothing had been fabricated, which did occasionally happen. How did Itami know this? He asked, following General Hazama's directive to learn as much as possible about the Poles.
More importantly, a portion of his report, mainly concerning artillery fire requests and orders received through Topaz during the Battles for the Gim Diocese, as they called the clashes with a portion of the Louriean army, had been written by the AI and included in the report.
To make it even more amusing, another AI translated the entire text into Japanese for him. Although he had a copy of the original for comparison.
So, the AI wrote part of his report too, that was something good. It's a shame that, in the process, he had to write even more about the AIs, their types, and the scale of their use in the Polish Army.
"Damn," he muttered when he realized he was out of coffee again. He sighed, saved the current state of the report—which was quite thick, to say the least—and headed to refill his cup with another dose of black caffeine. He needed it because Hazama and the others were eagerly awaiting what Itami had to convey. Although the brief and concise reports he had sent earlier gave them some idea of the situation, which was unsettling for the Japanese, it was only when all this was put into words in one large text that they would fully grasp what they were dealing with.
And so, once again, they found themselves confronted with a world that turned everything they had known on its head. Even someone as carefree as Itami understood the gravity of the situation all too well.
Third World, Second Japan, Super-Poland. Six words that contained so much within them!
On the one hand, new threats, and Itami had already encountered one, albeit from a safe distance. On the other, new opportunities. The second Japan was undoubtedly a reliable trade partner because they understood a Japanese person better than another Japanese person, right?
And what about Super-Poland? Well, it was more or less on the scale of America in terms of power, but on the other hand, it had similar views on the Empire, which, as one of the Prussians put it, caused "a lot of stink and crap." Something along those lines. Although, trying to look at it from every perspective, Itami had to admit that, like America, they could pose a problem for Japan and its ambitions in the Special Region.
What made it even more dangerous was that they had their own Gate and were much stronger than America. The latter fact brought a certain degree of satisfaction to Itami—having a superpower stronger than the Americans. But he didn't need to be reminded that it worked negatively as well because with greater capabilities and strength, they didn't have to play nice with the Japanese.
The Poles could simply kick them out, and there would be nothing Japan could do about it. After all, he knew firsthand that the Poles fielded units with much more advanced equipment and sophisticated systems than the Japanese. Japan deliberately used the least advanced equipment for this kind of work.
"Ugh, it's not my headache," Itami muttered to himself as he made another cup of coffee. His voice disrupted the quiet of the staff room. He knew there was no one else in the room except him and the sentry. He glanced at his watch; fortunately, they had quickly adjusted to the time difference between Falmart and Japan and set their watches accordingly—it was now three in the morning.
When did he start writing? Itami wondered. Around seven in the afternoon? But when was that—yesterday or the day before? He had lost track of time. Nonetheless, he had made significant progress, and most of the work was already done. Once he finished, he planned to crash hard and not wake up until he had rested.
But there was still a long way to go. Fortunately, he had completed most of the work. As soon as the computer beeped to signal the end of its work, he picked up his coffee cup and returned to his workstation.
...each soldier of the Republic is equipped with a portable computer in the form of a large wristwatch. This computer has a 24-hour power supply for uninterrupted operation and contains everything a soldier and their commander need on the battlefield. It is permanently connected to the uniform and equipment of each soldier, allowing for continuous monitoring of the location and status of individual soldiers.
The essential data, as mentioned earlier, is transmitted to the soldier's goggles in a style similar to a typical first-person shooter.
Overseeing the data flow is a specialized AI that sifts through all information, eliminating unnecessary personnel at the unit's headquarters level and allowing data to be streamlined directly to the platoon, squad, and even section levels.
This provides an unimaginable level of situational awareness in the chaos of battle, a level reminiscent of military fiction set many years in the future.
Itami realized where he was stuck; he had trouble explaining how Topaz worked. It seemed simple and obvious, but he was lacking the words to fully express its capabilities. He understood that it was about network-centric warfare, as military theorists often mentioned, and something the US Army was implementing.
However, Topaz went beyond that. It was a few steps ahead, a level that would make the US Army feel outdated and weak. The mere use of AI completely changed the rules of the game because machines didn't tire like humans and were much better at searching for and compiling information.
Although he remembered the advice of the Polish officer who told him that you could trust AI, but it needed verification. They could draw conclusions quite well, but a human would do it better.
He saw it firsthand. The Polish staff was more or less what he knew, but AI allowed the same number of people to achieve much more than he was accustomed to. There was hardly any sound of human voices. Data was transferred where it was needed, instantly. He remembered requesting a report on enemy positions, and a second later, the relevant data appeared on the tablet he was given.
No one told him; Topaz did what the radio operator in the JGSDF used to do. No human intervention, just a request, and boom, you had what you wanted. Needed special ammunition? No problem, click that you need ammunition, and the appropriate drone would deliver what you wanted to your position.
Looking for allies? Ask, and their positions would appear within millimeters. Need suppressive fire on a particular position? Mark it, and one of the units would take care of it. Everything he needed without wasting time contacting command, just click the appropriate command.
He didn't need to see or understand what others were saying; he just needed to learn what each option meant. In practice, he could serve in the 1st Division.
Even individual units on the front lines could request support from each other, bypassing higher levels, while the command always knew what was happening and could intervene directly with a single person if necessary.
The fact that the Poles had not reduced their staff despite this was at least unsettling. It meant that with the same number of people, they could afford much more.
Itami paused; the last sentence gave him an idea. He returned to writing, trying to describe as best as he could how he understood Topaz's operation, trying to convey it as best as he could. The absolute informational superiority that their new partners possessed.
Actually, he devoted quite a few pages to Topaz itself, more or less praising the system's simplicity and incredible usefulness. He also confronted it with his knowledge of network-centric warfare, noting a significant number of differences and explaining their existence.
Then he had another revelation before he began to elaborate on Topaz, AI, and the overall implementation of modern technologies in the Polish Army. Before he knew it, the night had passed, dawn was announcing a new day, and his half-drunk coffee had gone cold.
As the wake-up call echoed through the base, he proudly finished the last sentences. And when someone entered the staff room, he had already reviewed the text and made the final adjustments.
"Yoiji?" a male voice spoke up.
"Oh, hey Akira," a tired but satisfied Itami greeted his colleague.
"Did you write all night?" a surprised Yanagida asked.
"Yes," Itami agreed, "But I'm done now," he informed his friend and saved his work. Then he copied the entire document to a USB drive, making sure everything was in order. He unplugged the drive from the computer and turned off the machine.
"Now, off to see the general," Itami said to himself.
"You're not going like that, are you?!" Yanagida asked. "Get yourself together, man, before you show up in front of the general!"
"Yanagida," Itami interrupted, "I know, but there are things that are important, and there are things that are more important. This right here has absolute priority. Japan's safety depends on it."
Yanagida was speechless; he had never heard this carefree guy worry about anything other than his hobbies. Hearing the seriousness and uncharacteristic determination in Itami's voice, he understood that this situation was different from the norm.
"I understand; I'll inform the general that he should expect you," Yanagida replied before heading towards the exit. Before leaving, he glanced back at Itami. "It better be worth it for all the fuss you're making," he said before exiting.
Itami, in a sluggish response, called out after him, "It is."
General Hazama happened to be nearby, so when he heard what was going on, he immediately went to the office, nearly dragging his aide and Itami with him. He patiently listened to the report from the lieutenant before accepting the USB drive.
A quick glance at the contents gave this not-so-young man a newfound energy. "Indeed, these are strategically valuable data," commented the general.
He began reading, occasionally asking Itami about this or that.
"Alright, and this?" the general asked once again.
"That..." Itami yawned heavily, "Sir, it means..." and yawned again.
"General," Yanagida spoke up, "I don't think keeping Lieutenant Itami in this state is a good idea."
"No, no way!" Itami protested. "I can still stand and talk."
"No," Hazama interrupted him. "Lieutenant Yanagida is right, Lieutenant Itami. Your health is more important. I'll manage from here. Your task for the next 72 hours is to rest thoroughly. No one is allowed to disturb you during that time. Sergeant Major Kuwahara will take over your duties during this period. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir," Itami weakly replied.
"Yanagida, escort the lieutenant to his quarters and inform his unit," the general instructed.
"Yes, sir!" Yanagida replied.
"Alright, you're dismissed," the general said before his subordinates, particularly Itami, supported by Yanagida, headed to the barracks.
The general returned to reading the report, and when he wanted to call Itami back, he quickly remembered what he had done.
"Damn," the general muttered before taking out his notebook and started jotting down notes. As it turned out later, the general wrote enough to keep Itami occupied for hours. Nevertheless, Itami was right; this report was of utmost importance from the perspective of Japan's security. The revised version of this report, along with the original, was only accessible to a few individuals throughout Japan.
The conclusions drawn from this report were one of the many shocks the Earth was to experience. A shock larger than the discovery of the Gate and, unlike its treasures, never to be revealed.
September 18, 2006
Alnus Base
Itami, well-rested after his two-week forced leave, stood before his superior officer. General Hazama looked with satisfaction at his refreshed subordinate.
"Feeling better, Lieutenant Itami?" he asked warmly.
Itami nodded. "Much better, General. I report that I am ready for new assignments!" he replied with uncontained energy. Although at this moment, he was cursing himself internally; he had just put his head under the executioner's sword. He would regret this.
"Ready for new assignments? Hmm," the general looked amused. He reached into a desk drawer and pulled out a folder. Then he took several pages connected by a clip from the folder and turned them towards Itami, sliding them so that he could see what was written there.
"As it happens, I have a task for you," the general said. Itami struggled to hold back his reaction and instead asked, "What task, sir?"
"Very simple, Lieutenant. The Japan you mentioned earlier has offered the support of their special task force dedicated to combating aggressive Arkadians. Our government, after brief but thorough consideration, has decided to accept this offer. Something about expanding cooperation between our countries, doesn't matter. Shortly, in a few minutes to be precise, the officer in charge of this Group should arrive. Your task is to acquaint this officer with our little world in the Special Region."
Itami grumbled even more. Showing some bigwig around? That was the last thing he needed. He couldn't believe he had to do this. Had General Hazama lost his mind? He had to guide a VIP?
"Sir?" he asked his superior.
"Yes?"
"Why me? I believe Lieutenant Yanagida would be better suited for this."
The general sighed. "You see, Lieutenant, as soon as I saw who they were sending, I knew that you, and only you, had to introduce this guy."
"Why?" Itami was puzzled.
There was a knock at the door. The general smiled. "I think you're about to find out," he said and called out, "Please come in!"
The door opened after a moment, and Itami felt... weird.
"Ah! Finally made it. I'm sorry for being rude, General, but your subordinates are a bit peculiar. Please kindly show me the way to your office, and they're looking at me so strangely, as if they've seen an elf or a ghost. Especially that one, what's her name? Kobayashi? She told me to stop joking," the entering man said, visibly pleased to see General Hazama.
"I apologize for the trouble, Colonel. Sergeant Kuribayashi was often unusually energetic towards others. Especially that she..." the general paused, chuckling, "has certain reasons to behave that way," he said, pointing to Itami.
The colonel only now realized that there was someone in the office. He wanted to say something before he noticed who he was looking at. He was momentarily speechless, then burst into laughter, understanding the joke.
The laughter infected Itami, who also understood why Hazama had chosen him for this task. Indeed, only he was suitable for showing this guy around. He then made a mischievous smile, seeing it as an opportunity for some jokes.
People passing by the general's office listened with strong concern to the laughter coming from inside. It seemed to them like they were hearing two identical laughing voices. Some muttered something about needing a checkup.
The laughter subsided after a few minutes, but both Itami and the Colonel still had big grins on their faces.
"Very well," the general cleared his throat, "Welcome to Alnus, Colonel Itami. This is Lieutenant Itami, the commander of the Third Reconnaissance Team. He will be your guide for the near future. If you encounter any problems, please contact him."
"Thank you, General. I hope this promising introduction is a good start to our cooperation," replied Colonel Itami.
"Alright, Lieutenant," he turned to his doppelganger, "shall we?"
"Yes," Lieutenant Itami nodded quickly, "Please follow me, Colonel."
They quickly left the office and headed towards the exit. Along the way, both Itamis were the subject of widespread shock, with comments about double vision, murmurs that they were having a nightmare, or that there were two of them.
Of course, this amused both gentlemen, delighted by the chaos they caused. They chatted, made jokes, and laughed about everything, quickly finding common ground.
Very soon, the conversation turned to something that was rather obvious - what could incurable otakus talk about?
"... that's why Spy x Family is so good," Colonel Itami concluded. The younger of the two meticulously noted down notable titles in his notebook.
"I understand," Lieutenant Itami nodded, "And when does the first chapter come out?"
The Colonel scratched his head. "I don't remember, I think it was in 2019?"
"Oh, that far back?" Lieutenant exclaimed. "I'll be a fossil by then."
"A fossil?" the Colonel was surprised. "I don't look that old, do I?"
"No, not in that sense," the Lieutenant quickly replied, then suddenly it struck him, "Wait, could you..."
The Colonel immediately guessed what he meant, and just as he was about to agree, someone interrupted them - someone very persistent.
"THERE YOU ARE!" a very distinctive female voice yelled. Kuribayashi was very agitated and immediately started her tirade at a machine gun pace, "Explain yourself! What's the meaning of this dressing up as a Colonel and aging yourself? I understand that you're unserious and take life lightly, but this..."
She stopped when her neurons processed the information that she was looking at the same person twice, but at different ages. She fell silent for a moment, her accusing finger pointing at Itami, the Lieutenant, of course, frozen in the air. Her eyes quickly shifted between the two individuals.
This lasted for a while before she muttered, "Oh no, there are two of them," and promptly fainted.
"What's wrong with her?" Colonel Itami asked in concern.
The younger of the two scratched his neck nervously before answering, "Well, you see, she's one of my subordinates, and she's gotten to know my leadership and personality style. Apparently, it was a bit too much for her."
"I understand," the Colonel replied, understanding what was going on. "Alright, let's take care of her." The Lieutenant agreed, and both quickly approached the fallen sergeant, checking on her condition.
They quickly and efficiently placed Kuribayashi in a safe position and checked her pulse and breathing.
"Ugh, she's fine. Her heart is beating, and she's breathing. She should wake up soon," the Lieutenant calmly reported.
"Great, I wouldn't want anything to happen to anyone because of me," the relieved Colonel said. They waited for a while in silence, interrupted only by the sergeant's breathing, before the Lieutenant called out.
"Maybe I should fetch my medic? She'll know best what to do."
The Colonel agreed without a word, and the Lieutenant hurried off in search of his other subordinate. Apparently, she wasn't far away, as he returned just a few moments later with a young woman with black hair tied in a half ponytail with a blue ribbon.
In contrast to Kuribayashi, she reacted calmly upon seeing the older Itami and quickly checked her condition before recommending that she be allowed to lie down peacefully. The Colonel easily gave up his place for her to take care of her colleague.
They waited for a while until Kuribayashi woke up. "What happened?" she asked weakly. "I remember seeing Itami split in front of my eyes."
"You fainted when you realized there were two of us," Lieutenant Itami replied.
"Huh?" Kuribayashi looked at her commander before, to her horror, she saw another Itami, in a colonel's uniform, behind him.
"I feel weak..." she said, and she was about to faint again, but Kurokawa stopped her just in time.
"Shino!" she called to her, which brought Kuribayashi back to her senses. "You're fine, nothing's happening."
"But..." Shino replied, but Kurokawa stopped her.
"Don't say anything. You need to drink."
"The cafeteria is nearby," Lieutenant Itami said. "Let's take her there and ask for some water."
Kurokawa thought about it before agreeing. Then, with the help of the Colonel, she lifted Kuribayashi and took her to the cafeteria. The kitchen staff easily provided a glass and a bottle of water for the injured sergeant.
In the meantime, both Itamis ordered something for themselves. Colonel Itami was a bit thirsty and hungry. The journey had taken some time, and he hadn't had a chance to eat.
Kurokawa, on the other hand, didn't plan to go anywhere until her friend was fully recovered. As a result, a conversation quickly unfolded once Kuribayashi regained her clear thinking.
Alright then, Colonel. Who are you, and why are you here?" Kurokawa asked with a somewhat accusatory tone.
"Sergeant!" Lieutenant Itami reprimanded her, surprising his commanding officer with his reaction.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled.
"It's alright," the older Itami reassured her. "In response to your questions, I am Colonel Itami Yoiji, a version of your commander who is 14 years older and from an alternate Japan, the one from the Polish Gate on Betulus. As for why I'm here, well, my government, as a goodwill gesture, offered assistance to your government in the Special Region. I am the commander of the Momotaru Special Group, which is being deployed here. I came to get a sense of the situation."
"Momotaru?" Kurokawa exclaimed.
"Like from that legend?" added Kuribayashi.
The Colonel chuckled slightly. "The name stuck with us after Operation Momotaru. I don't know if someone had a sense of humor when naming it because the series of coincidences is incredibly unusual."
"What was Operation Momotaru about?" Kuribayashi asked.
The older Itami sighed before replying, "Well, in a nutshell, it was an operation to kill the Demon King and his Army, who attacked after centuries of inactivity."
"You're kidding," Kuribayashi said.
"I wish," the Colonel replied earnestly.
"It sounds like something out of a light novel or manga," Lieutenant Itami interjected.
"And your situation doesn't sound like it's ripped from a manga?" Colonel Itami retorted.
"True," Lieutenant Itami agreed.
"Can you tell us more about this operation?" Kurokawa asked.
The Colonel tapped his fingers before responding, "Well, why not? Most of it isn't a secret; it's common knowledge in my Japan. But I won't do it for free," he grinned slyly.
"What do we have to do in return?" Kurokawa inquired.
"Simple. Let Lieutenant here tell the story of the incident in Ginza first," Colonel Itami suggested. Lieutenant Itami paused for a moment, considering that he was in the middle of eating, and it looked comical.
The expressions on the two women's faces clearly indicated what kind of response they expected.
Resigned, Lieutenant Itami said, "Alright, alright, I agree," and then added, "But he goes first!"
"Sure," Colonel Itami agreed and began his story. "It started two years ago, in December. Almost a year after we were transferred to Arkadia. At that time, we were in a dire state. The economy was collapsing, society was falling apart, and the threat of war with Roderius hung over our heads like the sword of Damocles. Negotiations with Parpaldia were at a standstill. We were desperate, looking for friendly faces and allies wherever we could. So, when the Kingdom of Topa, also in a desperate act, sought help, we decided to assist them..."