Chapter 4
[Conspiracy]
Concurrently Tatsuya and company's discussing the infiltration into Tibet.
Hospitalized Ryousuke fiddled with the touch screen in the hospital's IT room. Incidentally, the acronym "IT" of this room does not stand for "Information Technology'' but for "Information Terminal." That being so, this room would be the equivalent of a "computer room" from a hundred years ago.
He was there accessing the USNA Embassy website, looking up the details of the entry visa process.
Mayumi visited him in his hospital room this morning.
Tomorrow will mark ten days since he was stabbed in the abdomen by a magician of the Great Asian Union who attacked FLT's lab. The wound extended to his internal organs, and even with the advancements in modern medical technology, he has yet to be discharged from the hospital. According to Ryousuke himself, he feels that he is already good enough to resume his daily life without trouble.
Nevertheless, the hospital kept a cautious stance, and only today was he finally allowed extended visits. Although today was not the first time Mayumi paid him a visit, it was the first time since his hospitalization that he had a chance to talk with her at length.
On that occasion, starting with a "Actually…", Mayumi reluctantly brought up a subject that greatly disturbed Ryousuke. She asked if she could inform Ryousuke's family about his situation.
Ryousuke left for the USNA five years ago on an exchange student program. There, he dropped out of college after becoming involved in FEHR activities, so at that point, his student visa would have expired. That is, his status would change to an illegal immigrant, subject to deportation.
It so happened that said exchange program he was in was a cover for a USNA's covert operation that they would prefer if it didn't become public. The students USNA sent to Japan were not so much of the student type, if at all. Thus, the people involved with the USNA military were not too keen on running the risk of any exchange students making the news at this time.
So much so that USNA officials took the step of formally retaining Ryousuke's student status at the university even after he dropped out. The authorities bore the costs. This arrangement extended to all exchange students at that time, not just Ryousuke. That said, fewer than ten Japanese students withdrew from the university. This held true until the moment Ryousuke passed through the departure gate of USNA to return to Japan, when he officially lost his university student status.
From the time he decided not to go to college until just before he returned to Japan, Ryousuke's official position at USNA was that of a "college student failing to advance after continuous non-attendance" which is a huge disgrace. He could not bear the thought of revealing it to either his parents or his younger sister.
Yet, it was not because of this embarrassment that he did not contact his family. It was not until some time after he submitted his withdrawal that he learned of the position he now held. It was only after Charlotte Gagnon at FEHR investigated the possibility of his illegal status was he finally made aware of his situation.
At that point, he hoped to find a position that would allow him a long-term stay and employment at USNA in order to continue FEHR's activities in the future. For that, he would need permanent residency or citizenship. But, without a professional qualification, a specialized degree, he wouldn't have the assets needed to obtain permanent residency. FEHR also lacks the sort of administrative capacity that would allow the company to employ unskilled workers for an extended period.
After consulting with Gagnon and other members at FEHR, Ryousuke ultimately opted for a purely contractual marriage with an American to obtain the right for permanent residency. His contractual partner was, incidentally, not Lena, rather a homosexual woman who was also a member of FEHR. He holds Lena in the highest esteem, and as his object of adoration, never would he have considered himself to become someone in equal standing with her like as a married couple.
As far as he was concerned, he made a decision to leave Japan and his family behind. Some would say that he shouldn't be so rigid about the matter, but he held no doubts, that was his decision. But Ryousuke could not fool himself. He was fully sure about that.
For that reason, he doesn't want to show his face to his family anymore. He doesn't have any regrets in choosing FEHR, that is, choosing Lena. But it doesn't make his choice any less unrespectable. It was of poor character according to Ryousuke's values.
It's not like everything with him revolves around antiquated thinking. But it certainly does when it comes to his family values, then he really took things the old-fashioned way. If nothing else, he is a product of a Japanese mindset that dates back to at least the middle of the last century. It's of his vehement conviction that one must be faithful to one's family.
Because of that, he feels deeply uncomfortable about using marriage, an event meant to create a family, as a mere means to an end. There is also a sense of guilt, to his sister, his parents, for betraying them. This was the main reason why he never contacted his family since coming back to Japan.
It was impossible for Ryousuke, after all of this, not to feel disturbed upon hearing about contacting his sister and informing her of his whereabouts.
He saw this as just a short-term visit. He was intending to return to the USNA once after fulfilling the mission given to him by Lena. And now that Lena herself has established cordial ties with Tatsuya, Ryousuke viewed the need for him to be there to "Investigate what Tatsuya Shiba is trying to do with Magian Company" less and less important.
He has long had no doubt that Tatsuya's goal is to secure a significant improvement of the rights of the holders of the magic factor.
To create a social environment in which magians are not compelled to become mere tools.
And the activities of the Magian Company are consistent with this objective.
To achieve this goal, the company is building partnerships with companies and wealthy individuals, presenting that there is an area with not just military power, but also economic interests, that also include a majority of people who do not have the magic factor. Ideals do not make allies, but interests do. This was something that Ryousuke and FEHR ─ even Lena, have not been able to do.
If he were to be honest, the future activities of the Magian Company are of interest to him.
But it hardly comes near to his priorities as compared to working for Lena. Ryousuke felt that it was about time for him to return to FEHR.
And now this latest surprise. Ryousuke was thrown into a panic and decided to "go back to America".
Since he always considered his work in Japan to be temporary, Ryousuke was prepared to return to the USNA prior to even coming to Japan. ─It was like he was simply delegating his work to his colleagues at FEHR.
As a matter of fact, he had already prepared to apply for a fiancée visa5, the preliminary step to obtaining permanent residency by marriage. He's now just double-checking the procedures to be followed.
The process cannot be concluded entirely online, so it wouldn't make much difference if he waited until after he was discharged from the hospital to check. But he was taken by impatience and was in a state of mind to "do anything he could do".
Even if it was just him acting unnecessarily, he couldn't think of anything else that would keep him on track right now.
◇ ◇ ◇
The discussion on the details of the incursion into Tibet was still ongoing, only to be interrupted when Tatsuya received notification of an urgent communication. Then, leaving the other four to move on to mere tea talk, Tatsuya had migrated to the communications room along with Hyougo.
[Apologies if I interrupted your discussion, Director.]
So far, Fujibayashi Kyouko is the only person who calls Tatsuya "Executive Director" in Yotsuba affiliated places.
"I don't mind. I hear it's urgent, was there another attack?"
[Not of such urgency, but I'm of the understanding that it requires your immediate attention. It appears that Tookami-san is planning to travel to the USNA]
"He is?"
Tatsuya, and Hyougo, listening beside him, shared a similar quizzical look. However, the nature of their doubts vary from each other. "What is he trying to do?" Tatsuya wondered, while Hyougo thought, "Where is the problem in that?"
[He was browsing the USNA Embassy's page on how to proceed with a fiancée visa application in the hospital's IT room. And based on the browsing trend, I would assume that he is already on his way to the concrete procedure.]
"I see."
Tatsuya and Hyougo both looked taken aback for a moment. This time with a similar thought in their minds "How can you even tell that with hacking?"
[As of this moment, Tookami has not yet been exposed to any confidential matters of the Yotsuba Family. I would not see any problem with his resignation, but I'd like to defer to the executive director's opinion.]
"I see…"
Tatsuya ponders for a moment. He quickly worked out how much of an asset Ryousuke is, and whether there would come a time in the future when he would need his abilities.
"…Give him a hand."
That resolution was unexpected, to Fujibayashi on the other end, as well as to Hyougo, listening on the side.
[Give him a hand… Sir, you mean helping Tookami-san get to the USNA?]
"That's right. We have enough resources in Japan as it is without him. Rather, I am more concerned about our capabilities in the USNA to counter FAIR. I can't very well expect STARS to mobilize to deal with non-military criminal organizations."
[Do you expect FAIR to still pose a challenge in America?]
"I do, because USNA appears to refrain from putting a shutdown on the operations of the Great Asian Union."
The distinction between military and civilian affairs is fundamental to the democratic political system. As a rule, the military stays out of internal affairs. Else, it is very easy for the military to oppress the people when used to oppress its use in the oppression of the opponents.
But at the same time, it also limits access to the full range of the military's resources against foreign operations in the home country barring a full-scale military aggression. This different level of freedom in the use of manpower is a major reason why democracies tend to lag behind autocracies when it comes to political and espionage operations.
Tatsuya saw the USNA's reluctance to utilize its federal military magician corps, the STARS, as effectively allowing Great Asian Union agents to infiltrate and operate within its territory as a result.
"Tookami's skills are not well suited for large-scale engagements, he's much more effective in a lower level, combating crime. If he's so inclined to go back to FEHR, that works for me. Let him take on the bothersome [Bāxiān]'s in America."
[…Understood. Should I arrange tickets?]
Fujibayashi responded with a businesslike attitude, but her eyes showed astonishment at Tatsuya's cunning.
"Let's not show any open endorsement. I will instruct Daimon to provide assistance."
[─As you say, sir.]
Fujibayashi Hiroto, Fujibayashi Kyouko's uncle, and now Tatsuya's personal subordinate. Fujibayashi Kyouko understood that she should not meddle in his decisions.
◇ ◇ ◇
"Sorry for the wait."
Finishing the call with Fujibayashi, Tatsuya returned to the discussion about the Tibetan incursion.
"As we were discussing earlier, I don't intend to use Takachiho for this infiltration. I want to leave it as a contingency measure."
"I still don't see any reason to worry about the risk of Takachiho being detected."
They resume the discussion from where they left off, with Minoru offering a measured rebuttal to Tatsuya's stance.
"The magistore that you gave to us along with Takachiho usually has [Kimon Tonkou] active at all times. I am confident that no one other than those who know Takachiho's particulars beforehand will ever be able to detect it."
Originally, the Artificial Relic Magistore deployed in Takachiho stored an electromagnetic wave absorption magic. Making it such that no electromagnetic waves, from infrared, visible spectrum, all the way to ultraviolet, or shorter wavelengths than very high frequency radio waves, were reflected off it.
After moving in to the 180-meter-long vessel dubbed "Takachiho," Minoru decided to further strengthen his countermeasures against the risk of accidental detection and threats to his new livelihood by installing the magic sequence of [Kimon Tonkou] in the magistore of the Orbital Residence unit. Even if someone happened to catch sight of Takachiho, the person would immediately lose sight of it due to the effects of [Kimon Tonkou].
With active detection prevented by electromagnetic wave absorption magic and passive detection prevented by [Kimon Tonkou], the likelihood of Takachiho being discovered is therefore admittedly very slim.
"No, I still think it's better if we don't. Not that I doubt your capabilities, Minoru, but it's not like this case absolutely requires us to use Takachiho."
But that doesn't mean it'll never be found. It was Tatsuya's honest thought that Takachiho should not be used in high-risk operations such as this one. In the end of the day it's what Minoru and Minami call their "home," not a base of operations.
"Then how are you planning to get there?"
Lina's question was simply the natural flow of the conversation.
"I was hoping Colonel Canopus would be able to help with that."
"You'll ask Ben for help?!"
This conversation was not the moment Lina had expected to hear the name of her former comrade coming out of Tatsuya's mouth.
"Colonel Canopus still owes me from Midway. Now is a good time to collect on that."
There had been an incident three years ago in which the STARS was effectively taken over by parasites. On that occasion, Canopus and some of his men were held as prisoners in Midway Prison and were eventually freed from their captivity by Tatsuya.
That incident was Tatsuya paying his end of a deal. In exchange for rescuing Canopus and his men, he was given cover for intervening to suppress a guerrilla operation against the USNA forces in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. So Tatsuya's books were clean, with Senator Wyatt Curtis, Canopus's great-uncle, that is. There is still very much a pending debt with Canopus personally.
"He also owes me after Gu Jie's thing."
This was another matter of three years ago that left a bitter memory for Tatsuya. He had been hunting down Gu Jie, the perpetrator of a terrorist attack targeting the Yotsuba family, when he was outright thwarted when Canopus killed him when he had Gu Jie right in front of him. Though it's not exactly the type of debt to "ask for repayment," Tatsuya seems to intend to hold it against Canopus in his books as a "debt" as well.
"…Specifically, what are you asking for?"
Lina inquired, demanding an explanation. There was a hint, however, a nuance of resignation in that reproachful tone.
"There's a Sprite inbound to Kadena Air Base right now, isn't there?"
The USNA Air Force's most advanced hypersonic, high-altitude strategic reconnaissance aircraft, SR-92 [Sprite]. An aircraft born from pure aeronautical engineering expertise that is capable of achieving speeds beyond Mach 10. Able to cross the stratosphere, climbing into the mesosphere, up all the way to the Karman Line, it pushes the boundaries of an aircraft, reaching close to the dominion of a true spacecraft.
Perhaps even more noteworthy is the fact that the Sprite was designed to perform a strategic bomber role as well. All that would take is to replace the reconnaissance drones, which are stored in the weapon bay by default, with the ordinance of choosing. Although the doctrine value of strategic bombers have declined in comparison to previous centuries, they are still pet projects for the USNA military.
"There is… But where do you even think you're going to park a Sprite?"
Lina's issue was saying that he couldn't get on board one. Canopus presently has that much influence, notwithstanding his blood ties in the government. Gu Jie matter aside, she doubted that Canopus would say no if Tatsuya brought the Midway affair into the discussion.
"Of course, I'm not so stupid as to land in Tibet with a Sprite. I never considered that option in the first place."
Tatsuya turned to Lina with a "How could you even consider that?" look. Tatsuya turned to Lina with a "How did you come up with that?" look. There are only a limited number of airfields that can accommodate a cutting-edge strategic reconnaissance aircraft, both in terms of confidentiality and in terms of the necessary runways and servicing infrastructure. Landing in Tibet would be technically impossible, even in the far miracle of a political and military disposition.
"I had to ask."
Lina retorted, slightly offended. Of course she would know that.
"You're not planning to jump off the sprite then, are you?"
"It's exactly what I'm planning."
"What?!"
She was nodding in mock straight face after the question, which was meant to be a joke, then raised her voice in plain disbelief.
"Where are you going to jump from? You can't open the hatch when you're going supersonic."
The Sprite is capable of flying over the major cities of the Great Asian Union, let alone over Tibet. But that's assuming it can fully leverage its airborne performance.
This reconnaissance aircraft places more emphasis on speed and climbing capability than on stealth performance. Although it has anti-radar measures in its design, flying right over hostile airspace at a speed slow enough to open the hatch, it is bound to be detected.
"We don't need to use the hatch. We'll jump out of the weapon bay."
"What about air resistance!? Sure, you can use flight magic to deal with gravity, but any barrier magic, even if it's the two of you using it, that can deal with that amount of air resistance would get you two detected in no time."
"We'll use glider boards."
A glider board is the skydiving version of a bodyboard. It's shaped like an acute isosceles triangle about the size of a person, and its cross section is a near-flat obtuse isosceles triangle.
The diver clutches onto the handlebars on the other, flat, side of the board, and rides the wind. These boards are mainly used in sporting activities, and naturally do not have the endurance to withstand supersonic speeds. However, enhancing the board's durability with magic would be far less likely to be detected from the ground than using pure barrier magic.
"…Tatsuya-sama, and what are you planning to do about the way back?"
Lina fell silent, seemingly losing interest, and Miyuki took over in inquiring to Tatsuya.
Tatsuya had yet to present his plan of escape.
"For now, I'm thinking of taking control of a military aircraft and escaping to one of the Southeast Asia countries of the Alliance. And I'd be returning home normally from there."
"What do you mean by 'for now'?"
Miyuki was neither surprised nor tried to dissuade him about his plan to hijack a military aircraft, blindly believing that Tatsuya would have no problems in doing so. Her interest was more in what was behind the "for now" part of his speech.
"There is a legend about a secret passageway under the Potala Palace. It's not more than a legend at this point, but if it happens to be real, we might use it to get out."
"There is a legend of a secret passageway?"
Miyuki looks at him dubiously, as one would be.
"I don't really believe in it myself. I'm just speaking in 'what ifs'. Besides, there's another possibility."
"What that possibility would be?"
"The IPU may have already started to intensify their covert operations in Tibet. That may open other, more convenient avenues of escape."
"…That seems preferable."
"If push comes to shove and escape is really difficult, then we will use Takachiho as a last resort."
Eventually, those present, including Miyuki, were persuaded by Tatsuya's emphasis that the plan was not solely reliant on luck.
◇ ◇ ◇
Rocky Dean, the leader of FAIR, wanted by the California State Police, is hiding out in a safe house in the city of Richmond, northeast of the city of San Francisco, across the water. He is currently alone in said hideout. Laura Simons, his accomplice and mistress, who fled with him from the San Francisco base, had gone to Japan to retrieve an Artificial Relic and had not yet returned.
Dean has not stepped out of his hiding place since. Food and other essential goods are delivered by the people from the organization that assisted in his escape. Now the only faces he sees are those of the delivery men.
Today was a break from the usual low ranking members of the support organization who just came in to deliver the goods. He received a visit from a high-ranking member of the organization at his hideout.
Zhu Yuen Yun6, a top figure in the American Hongmen.
Hongmen is a secret society of Han Chinese, reportedly formed in the first half of the 17th century. Although it would be inaccurate to label it a "secret society" after they have been open about their existence since the end of the previous century. Nevertheless, the image of a "secret society" persists to this day owing to a constant of incriminating rumors concerning ties with the Chinese Mafia, as well as speculation about a reach beyond the state that remains elusive to the outside world.
As a matter of fact, Dean himself is a member of the Hongmen. Bellying his Caucasian southern European appearance is actually a man with significant blood ties to overseas Chinese.
Dean was originally just a hired head of FAIR under the command of Gu Jie, and it was thanks to the generous backing of the overseas Chinese and Hongmen on the West Coast that Dean was able to wrest control of FAIR and isolate it from Gu Jie.
Dean and Zhu Yuen Yun have known each other for a long time back then. It was precisely because of their long-standing relationship that a high-ranking member like Zhu Yuen Yun bothered to visit the leader of what to Hongmen's eyes was only a puny local organization.
"How are you finding it? If you have any inconvenience, please let me know."
After exchanging a few words of greeting and preamble, Zhu Yuen Yun generously queried Dean in a friendly tone of voice.
"I have my inconveniences, but I have no deficiencies thanks to you, Lord Zhu7."
Dean responded with a politeness that was hard to fathom given his usual mannerisms. The man facing Zhu Yuen Yun was not the leader of an upstart criminal organization, but a member of a long-standing traditional secret society.
"I'm afraid it'll be best not to go out just yet, at this point. But are you really not missing anything? Being alone would make one miss so many things."
Despite the absence of explicit language, it was easy to read that he was referring to "male necessities".
"Speaking of which, has Miss Simons returned yet?"
"Lord Zhu, I have my reservations about the Great Asian Union's good faith in this matter. It's one thing if they didn't get the results they wanted, but how can they not have any contact with the people entrusted to their care? Isn't Bāxiān supposed to be among the best in the Great Asian Union forces?"
"Rocky."
Zhu Yuen Yun called Dean's first name cordially with a load of sympathy.
"Your complaint is well justified. I will personally contact the Great Asian Union to get a satisfactory answer regarding the whereabouts of Ms. Simons."
"I would greatly appreciate it, Lord Zhu."
Zhu Yuen Yun gave him a smile of assurance, and Dean bowed his head deeply.
◇ ◇ ◇
The morning following the discussion of the plan of the infiltration in Tibet.
Tatsuya came with Lina to the communications room in Miyakishima. It was not your ordinary call room; it was more of a facility packed with a host of equipment for heavy encrypted communications.
Lina, standing in front of the operator's seat for the correspondent, looks up at Tatsuya with a "Do I really have to do this?"
He simply stared back at her wordlessly, with a slight smile at the corners of his mouth.
Lina cowed at the implied coercion in the smile. She turned away from him to face the camera and the microphone, and with a practiced hand, maneuvered her way over to the console.
A few dozen seconds passed, and the face of the person on the other end appeared on the monitor. It seemed to be the time it took to decrypt the intricate decoded signal and to read Lina's name in the call notification.
"Hello, Ben. I'm sorry to bother you while you're probably busy. Can I have a moment now?"
[Of course, no problem. I was just about to head back to my quarters.]
Spoke the acting Commanding Officer of the STARS, Colonel Benjamin Canopus, on the other end of the line.
[Is this a case that requires our services?]
"Er… how do I put it… Let me just put the requester to speak for himself."
[Requester?]
Lina switched out without answering Canopus quizzical voice, and Tatsuya switched in the seat.
"It's been a while, Colonel."
[Mr. Shiba…]
Canopus surprise escaped from his voice. Until now, Canopus had arranged several favors for Tatsuya, but all of them had been mediated through Lina. This may have been the first time that Tatsuya had himself asked Canopus directly for a favor.
"I know this is sudden, but I have a business that requires me to infiltrate into Lhasa."
[…Lhasa, in Tibet?]
"Exactly."
The memory of a message sent from Hyderabad, India, where Evelyn Taylor was on dispatch just a few days ago, came to Canopus mind. She stated at the time that Tatsuya mentioned numerous relics were buried in Lhasa.
[I assume that you wouldn't be willing to share with me the nature of your business if I asked.]
"I'm afraid you're correct. And I'm obliged for your consideration."
Tatsuya bluntly refused to
Canopus was unfazed by Tatsuya's impertinent nonchalance.
[And how could we be of service in this endeavor of yours, Mr. Shiba?]
"I'd like to breach it undetected. And, as of now, there so happens to be a Sprite stationed at the Kadena Air Base, isn't there?"
[And you say you hope you use said Sprite to snuck into the country?]
"Exactly."
This request from Tatsuya, without a shred of reserve, was the "help" he mentioned in yesterday's discussion. The half-day delay for the actual request was hardly due to hesitation, just a matter of time zones.
[…How specifically do you pretend to make use of the Sprite?]
"I'd be content if you could just drop me from the weapon bay as you would deploy a reconnaissance drone."
[Without decelerating or lowering the altitude?]
"I have no desire to endanger your cutting-edge aircraft. I just want you to take me and one other person for a ride along with the scheduled reconnaissance."
[How did you come to learn about a reconnaissance course that included Tibet?]
"From nowhere in particular, it's merely a conjecture. I'd imagine that your government would not overlook the rising tension between the Great Asian Union and the IPU."
[Indeed…]
Canopus pondered on the other side, Tatsuya didn't rush for an answer.
Tatsuya knew from the beginning that this was not a decision that could be made at once. While he did not doubt that he would get an answer, he also could not expect to get an answer here and now. At the very least, it would take Canopus consulting with the USNA Military General Staff before he would give an answer.
[…There is a condition].
However, it didn't go as Tatsuya had expected.
[Could you use a Stealth Diver for the descent from the Sprite?]
Canopus gave him a conditional approval for smuggling him into Tibet with the Sprites, without consulting anyone else.
"What exactly are those 'Stealth Divers'?"
But the name 'Stealth Divers', given as part of the condition, was something that even Tatsuya was unfamiliar with.
[Stealth Diver is an airframe that incorporates the flight magic you developed for limited maneuverability, designed for drop-and-dive infiltration operations. It's a one-person spindle-shaped capsule with a high-acceleration launch function for egress. Though the in-flight maneuverability is nothing more than an added extra. I am sending you the data now, please check it for yourself.]
Canopus on the monitor says this and moves as if operating a console.
Roughly at the same time, an encrypted data file arrived at Tatsuya's end. He ran the data through the decrypter at once and skimmed over the file marked "classified" at the beginning.
It outlined the operation of [Stealth Diver].
"…It performs like a rocket-powered aircraft."
[Indeed, it does. It behaves more akin to an individual-use rocket, as opposed to a human torpedo.]
"And you are willing to let us use that new equipment of yours?"
Judging from Canopus' account, the [Stealth Diver] device is a classified device designed for infiltration operations in enemy territory. Tatsuya felt that it was too open-handed of Canopus to not only let him make use of their advanced reconnaissance aircraft but also to lend him a means of infiltration that was still in the confidential stages of development.
[The development office is asking for operational data, however, there aren't any missions planned at the moment that would require a STARS to risk a high altitude descent into hostile territory.]
In other words, they were looking for a test run. That's understandable. ─Tatsuya thought so.
"Before I accept your offer, could I see the actual stealth diver for myself?"
[Of course. If you come to Kadena Air Base, I would be happy to show you. And of course, you may feel free to call off the infiltration afterwards.]
"Then… How about next Tuesday afternoon, three days from now?"
[Three days later in the afternoon, right? I understand. I will make the arrangements for the day. Just in case, I don't need to ask, but do you mind disposing of that data from just now?]
Tatsuya nodded in agreement with the needless reminder, after which Canopus closed the communication.
Although he got the US aircraft to infiltrate him into Lhasa as planned, Tatsuya did not feel that he had won the negotiation.
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