Transmission #7-3-7-5; Addendum
South of The Wall, Tokyo Metropolitan, US 6th Army Base "Camp Basilone"
Recovered Audio Log #162
Subjects: Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph; Major General Abernathy, George
Audio Start:
*Loud noises beyond, muffled footsteps; sound of opening door*
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: Oh, for Pete's sake, George; this is horseshit and you know it!
Major General Abernathy, George: You watch that damn tone of yours, Lt. Colonel.
*Door slams shut*
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: Pfah! "Lt. Colonel"? Three weeks since saddling me with this traveling circus, and shit keeps rollin' downhill. Training manuals, cleaning kits, web gear, hell, fucking toothbrushes - Every single requisition order I ask for gets denied, George. Instead, I'm sent hundreds of cubic yards of concrete, metal wire, bulldozers, backhoes, three shipments worth of Seabee equipment - of which I know fuck-all to do with. Not to mention, I'm supposed to figure how to fit half the artillery pieces and armor on this base into one of our birds. Who the hell is this all for?
Major General Abernathy, George: Ponchos? Soap? Socks? It's "counter-insurgency", Joe. Six hundred million in the budget, and you wanna allocate it to extra footwear? We're not setting up a convenience store. Half the crap you're asking for can be found on every stinking street corner from Hue all the way down to the Delta.
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: So, that's it then: we are helping arm the junta.
Major General Abernathy, George: Oh, don't start with that now. My hands are tied; you know as well as I do ARVN logistics are crap. And Lord knows Minh doesn't trust the SDECE to save his bacon, either. Only way this government lasts until the new one is elected is if enough security is sent to man the cities. That's the only manner we guarantee a discreet presence while a vote is taking place.
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: Discreet presence...?
*Slight pause; sound of drawer opening and ruffling of papers.*
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: Forty M102's, twenty m24 Chaffee's, ten M55's, seven of the Bell Iroquois, twelve Bradley's; including repair parts, service crews, trainers, and maintenance personnel. Fifty thousand light shells, twenty-three anti-material rifles, one million rounds of ammunition. All signed and paid for directly from the offices of Robert S. McNamara, U.S. Secretary of Defense. Discreet enough for you?
Major General Abernathy, George: General Khanh's requested reinforcements for his sector. We're lucky he wasn't tied to a tree and strung up like all the other officers we found after he got captured. He's one of the few ARVN with enough combat experience to keep Minh honest.
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: Ah, so an honest traitor; to keep one Judas in line, we play him off against another. Fine way to engender confidence before the ballot.
Major General Abernathy, George: Jesus Christ! Over two-hundred foreign operatives on base, Joe, and you wanna start moralizing the mission? Now?
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: Moralizing?! We go in looking like the military arm for a bunch of dictators, and this insurgency won't just be in the paddies: it'll be in the streets of every city we'd be stationed in.
Major General Abernathy, George: A risk we got no choice having to take.
*Sound of shuffling feet; a hard knock against a wall*
Major General Abernathy, George: In the last week and a half, guerrillas got another village chief, his family, a French captain, and a magistrate. Shit on the ground is getting worse every day. Khanh's kidnapping has got the man scared shitless; he's pulled ARVN forces here, here, and from here. Insulating him and his cronies, but leaving every other spot in the Mekong woefully undefended.
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: And because Minh doesn't trust Khanh, he's calling back his own units from the parallel, and consolidating around Saigon. All while NVA and Communard armor moves into position. George, these fools are about to have a civil war against each other! Come on; what are we heading into? I don't give a shit what McNamara says, this is a goddamn mess.
Major General Abernathy, George: Sigh, I couldn't agree more... Which is why, I'm heading there to get a bead on the situation myself.
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: ...You've got to be joking.
Major General Abernathy, George: No, I'm not...
*Sound of creaking chair; muffled footsteps, small cabinet opens - clink of glasses is heard. Heavy pour*
Major General Abernathy, George: Came down from on high: it was either between me or Westmoreland. Westie's an all right sort of guy, but this isn't his kind of fight. Personally, I think they went with the better option here. Plus, I'm handsomer. Oh, don't give me that look; I'll be fine. Observe and report. Will be back here before you know it.
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: Jesus...When were you going to tell me?
Major General Abernathy, George: Before you so rudely barged into my office complaining about socks.
*Heavy breathing; a pen clicks nervously*
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: Please tell me this has got nothing to do with Clayton?
Major General Abernathy, George: What?
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: I told you, I have no intention of sending him over there. If he's been chewing your ear off as much as he has mine, I get it. But you don't need to take an unnecessary risk, all because you think your shadow is gonna scare off your son.
Major General Abernathy, George: For crying out loud - it's got nothing to do with him, Joe. This is an executive order. Screw McNamara, this came directly from the Oval Office.
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: Yeah, well, tell Kennedy to suck my balls. A train station near the base gets blown to hell, and the Defense Minister of Southern Japan is killed across the border. In the same day. And now's the time they decide to send you to Vietnam? George, those were planned, coordinated attacks. In conjunction with everything else going on, I mean... I'm not one for conspiracy theories, but...
Major General Abernathy, George: Well, good, then. Don't be; you'll creep me out.
*Slight pause - sound of glass being placed on desk; more footsteps, door opening*
Major General Abernathy, George: I'm flying out with the first batch at the end of the week. Faireborn's group. Man's smart, but soon as he opens his mouth, leaves a lot to be desired. I'll make sure he doesn't cause an international incident.
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: He's not the one I'm worried about, sir.
Major General Abernathy, George: Quit it, will ya. Told you not to creep me out. When I get back, I'll bring you a T-shirt. Or socks.
*Sound of door closing; long sigh*
Audio End
South of The Wall, Tokyo Metropolitan, US 6th Army Base "Camp Basilone"
Recovered Audio Log #162
Subjects: Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph; Governor General of the Oniwaban & Head of the Naicho, Sarutobi, Hiruzen
Audio Start
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: I'm sorry for the impromptu intrusion yet again, Lt. Colonel. I hope Mr. Himura did not startle you.
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: No, no, please...That's - uhh...That's the least startling thing I've had to deal with recently. Please, come in. Have a seat.
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: I will not take up most of your time.
*Three pairs of feet; movement; chair leather settling; long silence*
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: So, um...What can I-I help you with...today?... Has anyone offered you anything? Water? Coffee - ugh, wait. No. Not the coffee. It's terrible here. Forget I even offered that. Tea?
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: Your secretary was kind enough to offer us some already, Lt. Colonel. I took her up on a cup of coffee. She is a delightful and very diligent.
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: Oh, good. Yes, uh, yes she is...
*Long pause for silence; sound of a cough*
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: No, in actuality, today I come here to offer you something instead.
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: Is it a medium hot Donut Boy Hazelnut blend? Cream, no sugar?
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: Pardon?
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: Never mind, lay it on me.
*Sound of leather moving, grunt; heavy folder dropped on desk*
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: These are the police reports from Chief Yamato on Ginza station.
*Sound of more paper shuffling*
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: And these are the notes from my own department in regards to the attack.
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: You're allowed to call it that, too?
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: Indeed. But to avoid panic, my people believed discretion is the best way forward.
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: Your people, discretion?
*Long pause*
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: Sigh, sorry. I...I didn't mean that. You're right, ummm... Easier to proceed without everyone throwing in their two cents.
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: Two cents?
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: Hm?
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: This expression, "two cents". What does it mean?
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: Oh, um, well it means giving one your opinion when it may not be warranted. Kinda like penny for your thoughts. You understand that one?
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: Ah, yes...
*Pause; sound of ruffling change*
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: I will pay you a penny for your thoughts then, Lt. Colonel.
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: Oh, heh! It's not necessary.
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: In my line of work, knowledge comes with a price.
*Knock against the door, a muffled "excuse me"; door opens, sound of heels against the floor*
Private Morelli, Jane: Hot coffee here!
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: Ah, Morelli-san. You spoil me.
Private Morelli, Jane: Not as spoiled as the coffee. Would you like any, Lt. Colonel Colton?
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: No!...I mean, no, thank you. That'll be all Private Morelli.
Private Morelli, Jane: Of course, sir.
*Heels sound again; door closes*
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: So, penny for your thoughts, Lt. Colonel. What is your assessment of the force gathered here for our expedition to South Vietnam?
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: My assessment...?
*Long pause; sound of slurping coffee*
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: We're not ready. Weeks, months; won't matter. Reinforcing a government that can barely hold itself together? What's the endgame? No matter what, we're going to be seen as the enemy. And when the bullets start flying, they won't care who we are or what we stand for.
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: Interim President Minh agreed to hold elections for the new year. He said so himself.
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: I don't believe him, and you don't either.
*Sound of metal screeching against wood*
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: Your turn. Penny for your thoughts? What do you think of all this?
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: I think this is a trap.
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: A trap?
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: Hai, all of it. Diem's assassination, the sabre rattling, war in Vietnam. Even these most recent attacks - all are meant to avert our gaze from the real threat among us.
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: Who? Who is the real threat?
*Sound of metal screeching against wood*
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: You've chosen those set to go in the first wave. What is their composition, their number; are they all vetted?
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: ...Composition is set to be split four ways: a quarter give or take from each representative nation. Right now total number of personnel is at one-hundred and forty. All with impeccable records, and spotless recommendations.
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: One-hundred and forty?
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: Major General Abernathy has been ordered to assess the situation there on the ground. For protection, I upped the number of troops going with him. I'm still waiting on the DPRJ delgation.
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: And I will stall that for as long as needed.
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: Why?
*Sound of metal screeching against wood*
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: Everything we've tracked through Northern lines says the attack against them took out most of their upper elite. Niw, I know politics can be deadly up there, but this goes beyond simply edging out a rival for a majority vote. Tell me what you know.
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: Please...
*Slight pause, sound of flipping paper*
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: I know that my people's Democratic Republic of Japan are not wholly complicit in these events. Sanzo Nosaka has been silent for months. The brunt of the leadership has fallen to a select few of the Sapporo Politburo. Beyond Daimyo Kaneko, who currently is in critical condition, the Committee is governed by four: Mitokada Homura, Utatane Koharu, Yakushiji Tenzen, and Sarutobi Asuma.
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: Sarutobi..?
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: My son.
*Small pause, flipping pages*
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: All those names you mentioned are listed as KIA. All except your boy...
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: Who is now being blamed by the State for the incident. ROOT security services have detained him, and have begun to build a case. A formal investigation has commenced, which will soon be followed by a trial. Of which whose verdict will be used to placate the public, sweep the ordeal under the rug, and pave the way for his replacement.
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: ...You sound like its already a foregone conclusion.
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: Because it is. They will threaten him for the information he possesses.
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: And what does he know?
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: Around the time America was building Los Alamos, the then government of the Empire of Japan conducted numerous experiments on their own weapons of mass destruction. Prior to war's end, one such experiment was nearly concluded at Hiroshima. Until your bomb put a halt to it. Much of the research was destroyed, but what remained has been in Konoha's possession ever since. It has been the task of every Hokage to safeguard this highly sensitive material, hide it from those who'd seek to unlock this knowledge once more. Even against those within The State itself.
*Sound of metal screeching against wood*
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: Do you have any children, Lt. Colonel Colton?
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: Excuse me?
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: Children - do you and your wife Suzie have any?
*Long pause*
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: Ahem, erm...Uh, no. No, Suzie and I didn't have any kids. Not for lack of trying. It just never panned out that way.
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: That, too, can be a blessing. At least then you'd be spared infinite worry. Besides Asuma, I had another son: Hanzo. I lost him before his time, too.
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: ...The war?
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: After the war, actually. When Danzo Shimura defected, Hanzo was one of those sent to retrieve him.
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: I read a little on that...
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: He gave his life performing his duty. I tell you this, because though Danzo and I never were the best of friends, he ever remembers to pay my son respect for what he did for him that day. Which is why it's curious I did not receive a call on the anniversary of Hanzo's death. This was three weeks ago, Lt. Colonel. Just as Danzo began his trip north. I kept tabs on him throughout, until he went dark for three days around Sendai. Afterwards, he suddenly pops up in Sapporo. Long way for an old man to travel so quickly.
*Small laughter*
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: You seem to get around all right.
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: I'm younger than him.
Sound of metal screeching against wood*
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: Why are you so concerned about a dead man?
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: In Japan it is customary to bury our deceased with all the proper funerary rights. Danzo's remains have not returned to us; this is something which warrants grave concern.
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: Reasoning?
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: In my experience the dead have a bad habit coming back to haunt us if not given the proper respect, Lt. Colonel. And when they return, are never as we remembered them.
Lt. Colonel Colton, Joseph: ...Well, that doesn't sound very pleasant.
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: Indeed.
*Shuffled feet; chair sliding backwards; sudden movement*
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: I apologize for taking up your time again, Lt. Colonel, but you must be very careful. Even amongst your men here on base, I strongly advise vigilance. I will send one of my people over to assist with security. Till then, take a look at mine and Chief Yamato's notes concering Ginza; I'm sure you will find the reporting a swimming read.
*Sound of metal screeching against wood*
Sarutobi, Hiruzen: Till next time.
Audio End
Recovered Audio Log #162 cont.
Audio Start:
*Swift knocks against the door*
Private Morelli, Jane: Hello...? Hello is anyone there? Lt. Colonel Colton?...Huh? Weird.
*Hurried steps along a hallway*
Captain Abernathy, Clayton: Jane? Jane!... Hey, come on. It's getting late and I'm starving.
Private Morelli, Jane: I know, I know but,...I swore I heard a noise coming from inside Colton's office just now.
Captain Abernathy, Clayton: Really?...No one's here.
Private Morelli, Jane: I definitely heard whispering.
Captain Abernathy, Clayton: I think Colton's been overworking you a little too much lately. Shit, guy hasn't had a proper R&R day for himself in like forever.
Private Morelli, Jane: He's had a lot to handle these last few weeks. But look at this place; paperwork everywhere. It's never usually this bad. Ugh, sometimes the only one you can count is yourself.
*Sound of shuffling papers; drawers opening and closing*
Private Morelli, Jane: Swear, sometimes I'm cleaning up after my little brother.
Captain Abernathy, Clayton: Huh, little brother? Didn't know you had one.
Private Morelli, Jane: There's a lot of things you don't know about me yet, Captain. Because you haven't taken us out on our first date.
Captain Abernathy, Clayton: Which I'm trying to, but if someone doesn't stop working we're never going to make it to dinner.
Private Morelli, Jane: Oh, don't worry; night's still early. Sure we'll have plenty of time learning more about each other afterwards.
Captain Abernathy, Clayton: ...Should we just skip dinner then, and go straight to-
Private Morelli, Jane: As if; you promised me an authentic Japanese dinner, and I want an authentic Japanese dinner.
Captain Abernathy, Clayton: Yes, m'am. Know just the place that's got the best noodles in town. You'll love it.
*Sound of feet; door closing shut; muffled voices growing distant*
*Long pause*
...
...
...
*Creaking; shift of weight; heavy breathing*
?: No one's here...No one's here...Definitely heard whispering...Jane...No one's here...
*Papers being shuffled; drawers opening; heavy breathing*
?: Huh, little brother? Didn't know you had one...Night's still early...Know just the place, Jane...Yes, m'am...No one's here...No one's here...No one's here... The only one you can count on is yourself.
Audio End