[Prologue] From the Ashes

Andrea just took out her electronic cigarette and puffed on it few times, exhaling the smoke-less air towards the ceiling. It was really lacking and she would really enjoy proper cigarette. Her long ear listened to others chat as she smiled. Satoshi was indeed naive young officer.

"Well," Andrea said and chuckled. "If nothing else possible rioters will be less dangerous as they start laughing their arses off when they see that uniform over the armour." She said. That uniform got no respect whatsoever anyway. Only people who respected were the mythical law-abiding citizen. It was why Andrea preferred not to wear the uniform at all.

As Trudy watched and listened to the conversation untll she realised someone was had spoken to her.

"EEP! Sorry III just zoned out sorrysorrysorrysorry!!"

She blurted out to Sera nearly dropping her NSP. Quickly regaining her composure back and flattening her ears (which had gotten out of place in her excitement) she spoke to Sera again

"I don't like to guess on such things, to much effort in planning stuff out mentally, also its like a surprise and those are fun. Though judging from what everyone else is talking about, it may be riot control, it seems the most logical."

As everyone settled down in the staff room for the briefing, Araiah looked all business. She held aloft the folder she referred to ealrier and addressed them.

"Ok, everyone, I hope you've cleaned yourselves up and found your way around the station."

She glanced across the room and nodded.

"By the looks of things, it seems ike you've already equipped yourselves," she added. "Good."

She opened the folder and handed a sheet of paper to each person there. There was a picture of a middle-aged Yamataian man with a grey mustache and hair clipped to the side of it. The man appeared dressedf in formal business attire, the kind reserved for politics rather than that of the royal court. The man had brown eyes and, judging by his face, seemed rather world-weary in the photo.

To the side, on the same sheet of paper, details regarding his job, his relatives and other bits of general history were written.

"This is Mr. Satoshi Takeda, mayor of Kyoto city," Araiah said as she burshed a bit of her hair to the side. "He's currently serving his third term and was, until now enjoying a high degree of popularity amongst the people of the city."

She accentuated the statement with a raising of her eyebrow.

"Most of you probably know him being the person in charge of ration management for the city," she said dryly. "Most of us are lucky enough to avoid the worst of it, but a lot of people in the city have been chomping on 'delicious' dry cubes for a couple months now."

She sighed.

"You can imagine the amount of frustration some of the people are feeling, especially those in the poorer districts," she said. "Nobody's starving, or at least I hope so, but tensions are running high and people are demanding an explanation. For the most part, Mr. Takeda has been fulfilling those obligations via state-sponsored shows on television, but it seems to not be working out for him."

Araiah cleared her throat, to let the information sink in before she continued.

"The poor mayor's approval ratings are plummeting to the point where he may lose his comfy seat in the government," she added flippantly. "So, he's going out to meet the people and give some speeches. And, because our other offices are busy with more important matters, Unit 4 has been hand picked to escort the man on his barnstorming tour."

"Any questions so far?"

Shizu raised a hand.

"How are we not going to be utterly overwhelmed by stupid people?"

Sera raised her hand and spoke with confadince, "Are we really to play babysitter to some paper pusher?"

Araiah nodded slowly, but the sour expression on her face provided as much an answer as her words would.

"Yeah, we're doing a babysitting routine," she said. "Not exactly what I envisioned for a first assignment, but from all the crap I'm getting fed from HQ, it's better than nothing."

She nodded towards Shizu.

"That's what the armors and equipment are for. And the badge. How we are perceived is as important for deterrence as our actions. Let us hope it doesn't come to violence, but should that occur, we must make every effort to preserve the mayor's safety. Self preservation is also a priority, but no excessive force. We don't want lawsuits."

The lieutenant reached for a cup of coffee and took a sip. She seemed to be contemplating something as she looked over her documents.

"I was going to hold your hands for this, but I'm not your mother," she said. "Pair up, any odd man out see me."

Andrea gave Araiah a nod. When it got down to business, the officer seemed to know how to handle herself and how to handle the leadership. Police job was hard work.

"Got that," Andy said and stood up. "No excessive violence. Thanks god for the stun-guns in this stupid armour." She added with sigh and stretched to test how well she could move in the armour. Not too well.

"Long-hair," she pointed at Shizu. "Let's roll. I want to see you work." Indicating easily who she picked to pair up with.

"Right!" Sashi barked with one of those stereotypical enthusiastic young cop nods. "I'll take the job of trying to quell and calm the crowd. I'll let the bravest squad-member join me."

"Longhair," she asked, twitching her thin lips up into something that might have been an ironic smile. "Alright, Smokey."

Shizu frowned slightly, glancing over the squad. She had been sarcastic with her question, and this was what she got for it. This was going to go south with the birds; Shizu could already tell that.

She wondered just how south, exactly.

Lam said:

"Right!" Sashi barked with one of those stereotypical enthusiastic young cop nods. "I'll take the job of trying to quell and calm the crowd. I'll let the bravest squad-member join me."

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Sera thought for a few moments before nodding to Sashi, "I guess I'll stick with you, so I can keep you out of trouble." She stood in her uniform and armor, ready to roll. in a lower voice, "your not looking for a fight are you?"

Trudy frantically glanced around as everyone started pairing up trying to find a partner of her own.

"I... um.. Ill take bodyguard duty if anyone wants to join me"

she added sheepishly with a half raised hand.

Sashi put a gloved finger over his lower lip pensively. He took a second to take Sera in before answering, calmly, "I have no intention of fighting the crowd. I want to calm them down if possible. When and if things get out of hand-- I'll be ready enough."

Sera was still concerned that her chosen partner was looking for a fight but at least he seemed competent and hopefully smarter then he first sounded. Smiling, "Well lets just hope that this will be a breeze."

Araiah smiled at her team as they were getting read. This mission is a chance for SI4 to get back some good points. As this unit was not highly valued, they are bound to get crappy jobs. Araiah was sure though, that if they will do their best and overcome these odds, they will rise and be proper police unit in no time. She wanted that to happen.

"Okay let's go people. Our cars are in the garage!" She said and lead the way downstairs, into the underground garages. There were two Classico Hovercars waiting for the group. Araiah promptly went and leaned against the first car. "Okay we have two cars, when we pick-up the Mayor, two of us will ride with him in his limo. As usual one car will ride in front of the limo, while the seconds will go behind it. Keep your eyes peeled. Now let's go babysit a mayor." She added with smile.

Boarding the cars promptly, members of SI4 drove out into the city. Some time have already passed since battle of Yamatai, but damage so extensive was still seen on the city. Especially on the buildings that were not completely ruined but merely damaged. The new material used to fix the holes and crates practically shined, compared to its surrounding. And then there was the army.

As they were nearing centre of the city to pick-up the mayor, they were running into more and more military checkpoints. Infantry men and women clad in both body-armours and Daisy-suits were checking every vehicle coming through. Few heavily armed Mindies on stand-by should any of the hover-cars try to escape. Watching this all, Araiah was once again reminded that half of the city was just one big military base.

Within twenty minutes the SI4 team arrived to the town hall. They drove around the back and down into an underground garage where important people of the city could park their cars. It was fairly empty and in middle of it all stood a beautiful large limousine. Next to it stood a neko in black-suit and glasses.

The cars stopped and the Araiah disembarked accompanied by the rest of her team. The neko in front of the limo walked the police members. She had long brown hair, tightened into a pony-tail. Expression on her face showed she was not very pleased.

"Good morning," she said and sighed. "I am Saku Mono, mayor's body guard. The mayor should be her any minute now." The skilled eyes of the policemen could easily see a bulge under her arm, showing that she was armed.

Doors of the limo opened on drivers side and another nekovalkyrja stepped out. This was one a shorty wearing a black uniform with a hat. Her blonde hair was cut short and she smiled at the group. "Name's Aoshima Kaori. I am mayor's driver. Yoroshiku." She introduced herself and bowed deeply.

"Good day to you both," Araiah responded with slight bow. "I am lieutenant Araiah of Special Investigation 4. Me and my people will be escorting you today."

The bodyguard acknowledged it with a nod. "Only six of you I see?" She said and sighed again. "We will send a locations to your cars. Aoshima-san handle it."

"Hai!" Responded the blonde and climbed back in the car. Araiah turned back to her team. "I will have two of my people ride with you in the limo. I hope that is okay with you."

"Yes that is good idea," the bodyguard replied, her eyes darting to the rest of the group. She really looked like she did not like the situation at all.

"Okay me and Gertrude will take the front car," Araiah said, looking at her team. "Two of you decide who wants to go into limo."

Shizu paced forward.

It was a fairly bright day; the sky looked a little bit overcast. She looked up at it. Overall, it would probably turn into a humid afternoon, and although she had showered and changed into a fresh uniform, that could become unpleasant.

The inside of the limo would be air conditioned.

"I don't mind," Shizu stated, folding her arms over the helmet settled against her abdomen.

"I guess I can go, too, if we're not gonna try and calm down the crowd..." Sashi seemed a little disappointed, as if the crowd was made up of his close personal friends and influences. He waved his glove in front of his face before slipping it on to clear the air and added, "Maybe I should've brought a helmet anyway..."

"I will drive the lead car," Sera, said as she moved to the vehicles, she wanted to place herself in the most dangerous position instead of any body else. "Who wants to ride Shotgun for me?"

Trudy gave a quick affirmative nod before heading to the car that Araiah had told her to. Sliding into the passenger seat she made a quick once over of her equpemnt as she waited for Araiah and for the proverbial show to hit the road.

Araiah nodded as she heard others. It was nice to see they did not hold back in choosing the positions. Sera even offered to ride the lead instead of Araiah. "Okay Sera, swap with me then and drive with Trudi. Me and Carver will take the car at the back then." That was not bad either, because Araiah will be able to monitor the situation better.

Then a ring of arriving elevator could be heard. Its doors slid apart and a man walked our followed by a young woman. He looked as if he was well in his forties, though he could be older or even younger. Hard to tell with Yamataian bodies. Short black hair, pair of stylish glassess and perfect black expensive suit.

"Ah you are here!" He exclaimed cheerfully and clapped his hands. "My name is Satoshi Takeda, I thank you for your service in advance!" His smiled widened, showing a perfect set of white teeth. If nothing else the man knew how to look representative.

"Lieutenant Araiah. Yamatai National Police." Lt. responded to the Mayor with a bow. "I am pleased to meet you mr. Mayor. We will be escorting you today."

"For which I am thankful," he responded, still wearing his smile. Araiah wondered if that smile was really genuine or fake. "Don't take this badly, but I hope there won't be reason for you to do much today." Satoshi added and chuckled.

"I do hope for the same Mr. Mayor." Araiah said, keeping her voice at professional level. She did wonder how this mission will go. People here in the center were mostly military or upper middle class and high class. They were in far better situation then the people in the surrounding parts of the megacity. People there did not hunger, but living on dry protein cubes was not exactly fun life. Not to mension there were trouble with energy sometimes as ground-lines were damaged during the Battle of Yamatai.

"You should head out Mr Mayor to keep the shedule," A new voice said out. It was the young red-head accompanying the Mayor. "Are you sure you do not want me to go with you?"

"No it will be fine Sakura-chan!" Mayor responded with another chuckle. "Use this time to finally have the office under your thumb for once. Without me looking over your shoulder." The woman did not reply, but she frowned. Obviously she would rather go with her boss.

The Mayor gave her a pat on the shoulder and then looked to Araiah. "Let's go then!" He seemed to be happy that they will go. If his smile was fake, he was pretty good actor.

"Hai," responded Araiah and moved toward her car. "You will drive Carver," she said and sat in the passenger seat.

"Sure, sure," responded the ex-nepleslian and sat behind the wheel.

Mayor meanwhile sat in the limo. His bodyguard Saku Mono waved at Shizu and Sashi to sit inside too. She then moved to the front to sit next to the driver, who whistled some merry song.

As Shizu and Sashi sat down Mayor gave them a wide smile. "I am really glad for your help," he said. "Though I do not expect any trouble. I am just going there to promise people help and hear them out personally." His hand then pointed to mini-bar.

"I would offer you a good whiskey I have here, but I assume you cannot drink on duty." Satoshi said with a little chuckle he often did. "But feel free to help yourself to anything in there you feel like drinking.

The limo itself was quite luxurious inside. WHite leather seats and cushions. It was softer then most beds. The mini-bar had a great choice of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Shizu and Satoshi sat across the cabin from The Mayor, looking behind the car. On his face was still this wide smile.

"Oh I should not forget about my manners," he said and bowed to them both slightly. "I am Satoshi Takeda and I happen be in your debt. May I ask you for your honored names?"

Meanwhile Sera sat in the car with Trudy sitting next to her. In the cars navigation system was already preloaded a destination and path towards it, sent by driver Mayor's driver. It will be quite a long drive through several checkpoints.

Both Sera and Trudy, even Sashi and SHizu in the limo could hear Araiah on their comms. "Lead car this is read car. Testing the line." The lieutenant said. I hope you guys got the pathway just fine. Roll out and keep your eyes peeled. I do not expect any trouble, but it is better to keep a lookout." Were the words they could hear.

"This is the limo-- we're picking you up just fine in here." Sashi radioed back, his eyes still on the mayor. After finishing his transmission, Sashi delivered a delicate bow; delicate because of his armor and uniform combo, and introduced himself, "I'm former Chief Inspector Tamayamo Sashi, of Unit Six. I'm currently serving as a YNP agent in Unit Four, the Special Investigations Unit."

Sashi cocked his hand to his hip instinctively as he slid into place in the back of the limo, to keep the NSP on his hip from moving or jarring him, and added, "I am here to serve the Empire. No thanks is necessary."