Takahashi, Mikako

[Bakamono]

Takahashi had been invited to a convention in the Tau systems. The subject was war, something there seemed to be no shortage of opinions on. Seldom about the finer points: Always plans-of-attack, spurious guesses at relative strength and dreams of domination. Would-be generals and desk-tacticians already spending the prizes they would win, defining uses for assets still controlled by the enemy.

Takahashi had heard and seen nearly every breed of warrior that Sirius held, and expected the convention to be suitably tense.

Desperate to escape the confines of Matsue, she had brutishly nominated herself for this mission. The familiarity of the cockpit was comforting, even if it wasn't her fathers ship, she was glad to be flying again. Her twin escort of similar chimaeras paralleled her trajectory, she radioed through. '€œSusuki two '€“ what is your status'€

The familiar tock of an open line preceded the static surrounded voice '€œThis is susuki two wing leader. We are clean to ten clicks, all systems are green.'€ The banal routine of status checks and radar reports kept the pilots busy as their formation cruised into the Taus.

*******

The aliens appeared as if from nothing, their light filled hulls shimmering and pulsing like a reactor. There was no warning, no diplomacy or chatter '€“ simply fire.
Purple light lit the darkness, shields squawked before the familiar drumming of battering hull concussions. As fast as was humanly possible, the wing went evasive '€“ desperate to clear the barrage. But their enemies were not human: Susuki two exploded; a scream echoed over the line '€œFy..*crk*Naaa!'€ pieces of his pod and body hurtled and bounced off Mikakos cockpit, Susuki three was on fire. '€œAdmiral...I am sorry.'€ Wan turned his craft and spread his entire mine compliment across the wake. '€œI die free!'€ he screamed as the largest of the alien ships, collided with and shattered, his vessel into splinters. Mikako could see smaller 'oni' circling Wans pod, before blasting it to pieces.

'€œFather, where are you when I need you?'€ Mikakos prayer went unheeded as she felt the creeping inevitability of destruction. Quick as she could manage, she jettisoned her flight-recorder in the hope of leaving some clue of her fate.

Hull panels were shorn away, fire licked through from the rear, the reactor shuddered and sparked, displays flickered and exploded. In a matter of seconds the craft was no more '€“ susuki one was destroyed in tau twenty nine.

The aliens lingered momentarily, blasting larger chunks of debris as they darted about. Minutes passed and they moved on, slipping through the asteroids and ice like aqueous spectres, as a pod with the faintest of life-signs careened through the belt. Tiny and inconsequential as dust.