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„Tradition is a great value to possess.
Use it like a katana and you’ll be unstoppable.”
– Sensei Yi to Takashima

Part I: Prelude
>Music<

Raidon Takashima was born in 796 A.S. and spent his early years on Planet Kyushu. As a child of a loyalist family, he was sent to the military academy to become a pilot of the Naval Forces, as his parents’ will dictated. The strict environment made Takashi escape twice and lead a worthless life, controlled by momentary pleasures. Later, after the second disciplinary hearing, he resigned to his fate and did his best not to die early.

The change of the young Raidon started, when he was injured seriously after a failed assault on Bretonian military targets in Leeds. Leaving the hospital, he met with a mysterious master, wearing the uniform of the Naval Forces, but a modified one for fast and agile melee combat. In response to the stranger’s questioning, he told him what happened in Leeds, told more and more, finally about his early life, the academy and his view of the world. Surprisingly, the master offered him some help and promised to do everything to exploit his potential.

Five times a week, Raidon were trained with his sensei, who called himself „Yi”. The physical condition wasn’t a problem, he had proved to be suitable for whatever military service, the problem was with his mind. Sound mind in a sound body – Yi’s teachings and spiritual exercises helped Raidon to refresh his mind and freeing his soul from the human filth. One day, traditions and real human values became important for him and this was reflected in his performance both in melee combat and flying.

Raidon was working as a trainer in the same military school he studied at, also giving extra history lessons whenever he had the opportunity. Random gathering with old friends was often, those meetings helped him to relax after a hard day. He wasn’t really the social one, but always been a good company. Being usually unlucky with women, Raidon maintained a good friendship with a girl called Amaya, who works as an accountant on New Tokyo.

„…you mean, dive in against three of them?
I know the drill but this is madness.”
– Takashima to his instructor in a live combat situation

One day after, Raidon received a strange envelope from the Naval Forces High Command. They praised him as a trainer and soldier. He was impressed by this, as this was the first time that anyone said a good word to him from above. After a long text, he read the point of the message: „The Naval Forces High Command has an assignment for you, Raidon Takashima. Visit one of the flag officers in two days for details.” Raidon didn’t like it at all. There was something suspicious in this letter. Something he couldn’t sense, but feel. After thinking a while about it, he decided to delay that to the day after. It could wait, taking a rest could not.

The next morning, he read the letter again. It hadn’t become more fancy or worse so Raidon set aside his concerns and made the decision. If my land calls me, I go with haste. If my emperor orders me to fight, I fight with honor – thought while packing his belongings. On his way to Sado, he wrote a letter to Amaya, ensuring her he might not be available the following few days and everything’s alright. In Hiroshima, he was contacted by Sensei Yi that he was expecting him at Deck C, officer quarters. Gaining strength from his master’s presence, he went directly to the said place.

Yi was waiting for him with two other officiers Raidon didn’t know. After the formal salutations and speeches, they told Raidon his new assignment, which is to lead an assault recon unit in Northern Kusari, mainly to respond the Blood Dragon treat in these systems. Under the command of the Second Fleet would give him less authority, but they could not separate more to face with the terrorists. Yi had already done the paperwork and realizing he had no other option, especially that he owed his master one, nodded.

„Blood Dragons are much like us. Equipment doesn’t matter here.
The one who fears death more, dies.”
– Takashima’s opinion on the Blood Dragons

Raidon received six people to form a wing. Being the seventh, they were the 773rd „Samurai swords”, also receiving the rank of Commander. Not the best of the best, but something better than teaching at the academy. After five days of common training and preparations for the upcoming events, Raidon visited Amaya on New Tokyo. Something was different since they had met. Amaya could not look at Raidon as only a friend anymore and the same was true for him. In that outgoing, they got together.

Returned to the Battleship Matsumoto, 12 more pilots were under Raidon's command including 5 of his best friends. Happy moment that was.

„Command: To all forces in Nagano, this is Naval Forces Command. Gallic units are advancing in the Tau systems. We’re withdrawing all combat personel and units from Leeds *static* Samurai swords, you’re to cover the retreating of our fleet along with the Second Fleet…*static*
Takashima: What the hell…”
- Extract from a communication log

The withdrawal was like a cold shower for the unprepared wing and it’s leader. Seeing no alternatives, they went to the Tau systems to join up with the rest of the Kusari fleet. That day was boring before the distress call from High Command, the Blood Dragons were unexpectedly quiet.

Commander Takashima’s task was to protect a convoy of supplies, marines and military equipments heading back to Kusari in Tau-31. That was proved to be a hard job because of the repeatedly attacking bombers. Takashima though realized the situation and made a wise decision by protecting the marine transports instead of the equipment. That was impossible to save every transport and human lifes had priority in his eyes.

All the marine transports were in one piece when they reached the Kyushu jump gate when Raidon’s wing received new orders. With additional bomber support, they were to attack the Gallic forces gathering at the Tau-23 jump hole. Twelve fighters and 5 gunboats were awaiting for them to destroy, saving the last convoy arriving from Tau-31. Raidon’s wing were gaining the upper hand when something happend. In a few seconds, he saw an unidentified ship about 9 clicks from his position. It was unlike any other ship he saw before, not even sure if that was a ship.

Commander Takashima woke up in a military hospital on Planet Kyushu, having no memories about how he had escaped from the Taus or what exactly happened there. He was told that one of his wingmen had activated his emergency beacon and the reinforcements found him in his environmental suit floating in space. That was the first time Raidon lost a ship in combat.

After the events, Raidon went back to teach in the military academy, swearing not to fly in the upcoming 6 months. He wanted to spend more time with Amaya, taking some rest until the situation is solved in Kusari. The downfall shocked him.