Christmas Cake (part fourteen)

[dd]

?I trust you had a good flight, Sergeant?? Lt. Cmdr. Kalinin held his arm out towards a chair, offering Sousuke the opportunity to sit.

?Yes, Sir.? The answer was physically true.

He was still somewhat weary, but that was from his emotional ordeal.

?Please, be seated.?

Sousuke sat down.

?There are a number of matters to discuss, the most significant of which is the upcoming mission. I would like to start off by saying that we did not remove you on a whim. There were no ulterior motives in mind.? The older gentleman?s eyes were steely and intense.

?Sir, I would not expect such. I understand where Mithril?s priorities lay. And, I trust you implicitly.? Sousuke was being honest. He broke eye contact briefly before making his next statement. ? I believe I also know why you may be stating that up front.

?Good. What I say next is for your ears only. It is no doubt something that you have considered yourself.? Kalinin rubbed his beard, determined to make his point despite the fact that some amongst his superiors might take it as a betrayal or tipping of possible future hands..

?There are those in the organization that think that the benefit of guarding one Whispered girl is not worth the cost of a uniquely qualified soldier. I say this for one particular reason, Sergeant.?

Kalinin sat back and folded his hands. He wanted Sousuke?s assessment.

?As long as I willingly go where I am assigned.... without making waves.... those people will have no reason to act. The Lambda Driver is crucial for Arbalest. Arbalest is crucial for missions against similar technology. I am crucial for Arbalest and the Lambda Driver.?

?Correct. I would hasten to add that you do not wish to say or do anything that might call your dedication into question. It would be wise not to do anything that might hinder your interface with the Black Technology. Emotional stability and control will be prerequisites.?

?Yes, Sir. It is in my better interest to merely be a soldier. It is not enough to be discrete.? Sousuke swallowed. His jaw clenched. His commanding officer did not miss those actions.

The younger man?s thoughts went immediate to Kaname. His mind was in the mood to be perverse. He thought about the kiss again.

Was his life taking its old path. Did he finally discover something meaningful, only to have fate rush in and carry it away?

Kalinin rested his chin on his hands, staring at the younger soldier. He knew more about Sousuke than anyone else alive. He himself had been through difficult or conflicting domestic situations as an inexperienced soldier and as a grizzled savvy fighter.

He thought back the time when his wife was still alive?. when his children were still young. It had been too long since he had a chance to see his son and daughter.

?No. It is not that simple, Sergeant. If only for the fact that you are not merely a soldier, no matter what you may think at times. In addition, those of us who tend to be more visionary recognize the fact that you have not reached your full potential as a warrior. There are particular areas you are deficient in. They have to do with your social skills and emotional awareness.?

?I have begun to realize that, Sir.?

Sousuke wondered what good emotion awareness was to a fighter. Would it help him pilot the ARX-7? Improve his aim or bolster his nerve? Make him unstoppable at hand to hand combat?

?But your wondering how any of that will prove useful?? The Lt. Cmdr. Had correctly predicted his younger companions thoughts.

?Affirmative.?

?When there is time, I will give you a book I once found useful. Suffice it to say, we all have emotions, unless we are dead. We may not be aware of them. Repression and suppression are powerful forces, and are neither our friends nor our enemies. It does us no good to be slaves to out feelings, or to ignore them altogether.. Your feelings are not new, Sergeant. But, they may seem that way to you now that you allow yourself to take notice of them.?

?I see. That would explain what I have experienced. The effect was overwhelming at first, but I believe I have things under control.?

That was what Sousuke?s intellect thought. His intuition and emotions had a different opinion.

?Very good. I will be blunt. Generally, it is poor policy to permit an operative to develop feelings for the one he is assigned to protect. A number of tragedies have occurred in the past, in this organization and in armed forces and intelligence agencies across the globe.?

?I understand, Sir.? Sousuke couldn?t keep the disappointment out of his voice. His eyes gave clear indication of how he was feeling.

Lt. Cmdr. Kalinin raised one eyebrow. It was as close as he would come to smiling. It was good to see a hint of positive emotions in his young subordinate. The young man had been through so much... it wasn?t right for Mithril to expect him to give up things that everyone else took for granted. The same thing could be said for their Captain, despite what Cmdr. Mardukas might think.

?In this case, however, I can see some benefits that outweigh the concerns.? He watched Souske?s face closely. The look in Sousuke?s eyes indicated that he was aware of the scrutiny.

?Sir?? Sousuke sat up straighter. He gripped the arms of his chair.

He would not have to contemplate losing Kaname? A relationship was permitted, if not officially encouraged?

?We don?t have time to discuss that issue now, Sergeant. I just wanted to broach the subject so that I can probe a bit further. You will understand why, later.? Kalinin tapped his hand against a number of folders. Mission reports and preliminary plans.

Sousuke nodded his head.

?Unless I miss my guess, you wore those clothes tonight for Miss Chidori?s benefit?? The Lt. Cmdr. Spoke very casually.

?Yes, Sir.?

?And you two spent time together, such that you either had no time to change, or your thoughts were preoccupied.?

?Correct, Sir.? Sousuke felt as if his one time foe could read his mind.

?Was this because you had plans for tomorrow night? which this mission so ruthlessly torpedoed??

?Yes.?

Sousuke tried not to feel crestfallen. He failed. The idea of time alone with Kaname in an intimate setting had at first confused him. Later, it began to frighten him. Finally, he had begun to feel curious. When he knew he would not be able to accompany her, he wished more than anything else that he could.

?I had surmised as much from your radio conversation. And, it would appear that the rumors were true.? Lt. Kalinin?s eyes narrowed. ?You realize that such unguarded speech does you no good??

?Affirmative!? Sousuke spoke in a great rush. His face reddened.

Lt. Cmdr, Kalinin actually grinned. ?Yes, in that manner too. I think you understand my major point, however.?

?I do, Sir. I did not rush into thing without following protocol. I was discrete in my search for advice. The person I confided in kept my confidence. Neither of us had reason to suspect a serious breech in security.?

?Wiretap??

Sousuke blinked repeatedly. It was as good as saying ?Yes!?

?I will not probe further, now. Someone will no doubt find his or herself on the wrong end of my boot, when the time is right. They will understand that they may be on the unfavorable end of a firing squad if they pull such a stunt again. You need not mention Sgt. Weber?s name at this time.?

Sousuke blinked again. Kalinin nodded his head.

?It is unfortunate that our positions do not allow for us to speak as comrades or old friends, Sergeant. That is how I would prefer to address the following questions. I trust you will not believe that I am prying into your personal affairs for no reason.?

?No, Sir!?

?Commendable. Are you and Miss Chidori romantically involved?? It was plain that Kalinin expected the answer to be ?Yes.? What he was after was the details.

?Uh....? Sousuke began to sweat. His hand twitched.

Kalinin narrowed his eyes.

?I believe so, Sir. I wouldn?t have thought so before... uh... we...?

The Lt. Cmdr. Began drumming his fingers on the desk top.

??Kissed.?

?I see.? For a moment, Kalinin was almost incredulous, thinking that the young man was getting all tied up in knots by a simple kiss. Then, he put things in perspective. For Sousuke, that kind of kiss would be far from simple. There was no telling what he might be feeling or thinking, given the prior life he was forced to live.

There was dead silence.

The Lt. Cmdr. brushed off his sleeve, asking his next question in an off the cuff manner. Sousuke?s response would be instructive.

?Did that lead to sexual intercourse??

Sousuke sat stunned. He looked like a rabbit ready to run. His eyes also looked calculating for a moment.

?N-No, Sir!?

Lt. Cmdr. Kalinin was often thought to be a dour man. He was not. He was professional through and through. He was reserved. It was difficult for him to keep from laughing.

?I see. No need to rush things. It will give you something to look forward to. You and her.?

?Uh....?

?Trust me, Sergeant.?

?Yes, Sir!?

?That is my unofficial response, Sergeant. You have given me the information I needed. That being so, let me give you some advice. You have duties to Mithril that must always come first. Always. You have a debt to the organization that you will continue to repay through the excellent and selfless service you provide. But, you also have a dept to yourself. And, if you truly have feelings for the young lady, you have a responsibility to her as well.?

?Sir??

?Pay attention, Sergeant. You may take this as an order if you like, or the advice of someone who is looking out for your best interests. Do not get caught up with being a soldier, when your mission priorities are not in conflict with your personal ones. Your life is one of uncertainty. There is no telling when the end might come, or when you might be reassigned permanently.? Kalinin understood the life of a soldier all too well.

?I understand, Sir.?

?Opportunities may be fleeting. You need to understand that in your heart as well as your head. Do not rush ahead precipitously. Your tendency to do that in other matters has brought the Finance Department close to burning you in effigy.?

?Yes, Sir!?

?The Legal Department wanted to burn you at the stake???. in person.?

?Understood, Sir!?

?Above all else, don?t feel that you are duty or honor bound to deny yourself the things you are ultimately fighting for. Life. Freedom. Intimacy. Love. Too many people want their soldiers to fight, nothing more---it disturbs some people to realize that we have feelings too. For others, it erodes their confidence. We soldiers do not have to feel the same way.?

Sousuke nodded, a thoughtful look on his face. He felt relieved. It felt as if an unknown burden had been lifted from him.

He wished he could tell Kaname what he heard right that moment.

?I think I have an understanding of what Miss Chidori means to you, Sgt. Sagara.? Kalinin pushed a number of folders towards the younger man.

?I am happy for you as a person. But, I must ask you now to put those feelings aside as a soldier. For this mission, that may be especially difficult. But, it is crucial for our success. I cannot emphasize that too much. And, as I said before, your actions will be scrutinized.?

Skimming the final paragraph in an Intel assessment, Sousuke went cold. The threats were of an enormous scale. But, he did not regret being called in on this mission. He would not have been able to protect Kaname by staying in Tokyo. If things went wrong, there might no longer be a Tokyo.

?I will give you a capsular summary. Sgt. Major Mao will go into operational details with you later. Before, however, you will meet with the Captain in the medical area. I will go so far to say that I do not agree with her decision, but will defer to her greater scientific knowledge. I hope that you will not suspect that her actions are driven by personal feelings or disappointment.? The look Kalinin gave Sousuke was rather pointed.

?No, Sir! Of course not, Sir!? First Melissa. Now Lt. Cmdr. Kalinin. What had them so concerned? Sousuke needed to put those worries out of his mind.

?Good. If you had such suspicions, I would direct you to speak with Cmdr. Mardukas.? The Lt. Cmdr. was not above making jokes. It did not appear that his young associate found any humor in the statement.

?There is no need, Sir!? Sousuke?s eyes bulged.

?I thought as much.? Kalinin coughed. It was time to get to the business at hand.

?As you can tell from the documents in your hand, our target is in the republic of North Korea. The provincial government there has long threatened to use nuclear weapons if they are attacked, but most people understand that to be saber rattling. Unfortunately, that government has been circumvented. A group of rogue military officials has aligned itself with the terrorist group known as Grendel. Together, they are intent on selling fissionable materials and nuclear technology to anyone with a large enough bank account.?

Sosusuke had heard about Grendel in the past. He always thought it would be a matter of time before they and Mithril crossed paths. A sometimes rival of Amalgam, Grendel was one of the big boys. They were felt to have had an equal interest in the Whispered. That likely meant access to Black Technology.

?At least, that is what the North Koreans think.? Kalinin handed Sousuke another summary report. ?We suspect Grendel has different plans.?

?Sir, what about the United States? Are they aware of the full situation? It would be unusual for them to stand by and do nothing.?

Sousuke had no illusions about that nation. It could be viewed as the equivalent of a general surgeon. The intentions were good, and the skill was commendable. But, mistakes were sometimes made. When they were the consequences could be serious. Mithril played the role of a medical specialist. The skill level was higher, if much more focused. Mistakes could be disastrous.

?Yes, there are those who know all that we do. Most military personnel and politicians---in the United States and other nations--- are aware only of the general situation, without knowing the specific threats behind it. Our contacts in America inform us that the United States military is planning to act before any materials exchange hands.?

?Yes. That would be their tendency.?

?Our contacts would like us to disarm the situation before the politicians make their inevitable mistakes.?

?They are concerned that materials will slip by their soldiers??

?Yes. But that is the least of their worries. The conspirators have full use of a number of critical military bases, including the missile launch facilities at Tae Po Dong. They have under control, a number of completed No-Dong missiles and a handful of Taep?o-dong 2 ICBMs.?

Sousuke moved around uncomfortably in his chair. He remembered Kurz? joke about the No Dong missile. Unlike his friend, Sousuke did not take the weapon lightly. With a 1350-1500 km range and a 750-1000 kg payload capacity, the relatively unsophisticated missile still represented a threat. Not having much better accuracy or reliability than the SCUD-C which it closely resembled, the No-Dong could still make an effective terror weapon if the North Koreans had managed to fit them with biological or ?dirty? nuclear warheads.

The Taep?o-dong 2 was a more serious matter. The second stage was a further evolution of the No-Dong, capable of carrying nuclear warheads. The first stage was a derivative of the more reliable Peoples Republic of China?s DF-3 or CSS-2 booster. With a 6000 km range. that weapon would place a fair portion of the globe at risk. A three stage version could reach areas of the continental United States.

?Sir, do our Intelligence sources suspect that the missiles will be used for more than nuclear blackmail??

Sousuke wasn?t certain he wanted to hear the answer. He thought he knew what Lt. Cmd. Kalinin had been speaking about earlier. The one report summary suggested a frightening possibility.

?Yes. I?m afraid so. I doubt that the North Korean participants would be so daring, or so despicable. In fact, it would be against their better interests. Grendel is another matter. They have run afoul of the United States on occasion, and may well wish to rid themselves of that hindrance. Certain scenarios seem both likely and devastating.?

Kalinin made a small flourish with his hand, inviting Sousuke to speculate.

?A move by the U.S. military would prompt retaliation. Not at the American homeland, but at regional allies. The political fallout would be as damaging as the radioactive fallout. American troops and bases in the Pacific could be targeted as well. The resulting chaos would serve Grendel well.?

?Exactly. A fine analysis, Sergeant, closely paralleling a number of computer models. Take things a step further. What do you suspect the primary targets would be??

?South Korea. Most likely Seoul. Japan. Most likely Tokyo.?

?Correct. The North Koreans would be pleased with those targets, even though they would not expect that Grendel would wrest control from them and launch the weapons. They no doubt would fuel the missiles, to try and force their demands to be met. It takes eight hours to complete the process, and there is no way to hide that activity from spy satellites. Such an act would be an invitation to intervention if it failed to be an effective political deterrent.?

?Sir, why wouldn?t the U.S. employ a cruise missile strike or B-2 bombers? Especially if they have no knowledge that Black technology may be at use.?

?They would want proof to show the world community, especially after their actions in Iraq. Another such military action could do irreparable harm to international relations. They would use Arm Slaves and Special Forces. Directed energy weapons might be used on the launch vehicles if they have any such devices in the Pacific theater. At last report, no such aircraft were in that part of the world.?

?The attack would succeed against North Korean forces, but not against Grendel.?

Sousuke was certain of that. Black Technology was to conventional modern weapons as firearms were to horse and lance. Overwhelming numbers could not be brought to bear. That meant that equal technology was needed.

?Correct. Not only are they suspecting such an action, they are counting on it. By report, they have at least one advanced A.S. on Korean soil with Lambda Driver capabilities. Our informants suggest that they may have as many as three. You remember what Venom did to the American Arm Slaves on Berildaobu Island.?

Sousuke nodded his head. He tried not to dwell on the picture he saw in his head, that of Melissa laying wounded, after he failed to get the Lambda Driver in Arbalest to work. He could not afford to doubt himself or the weapons at his disposal.

An image of Kaname took Melissa?s face. For one moment she stood standing by a window. The next instant, there was a flash of light and she was gone.

He became aware that he had been silent too long. He rushed to continue.

?That explains the need for Mihtril. It also explains my importance. I see why you wished to know my feelings for Miss Chidori.? Sousuke?s voice was calm and collected. He held his shoulders up and his chin straight.

Kalinin merely nodded, watching the younger man closely.

?It would be a tremendous responsibility for anyone, Sergeant. Countless lives at stake. The entire political and financial structure of the world is hanging in the balance. It becomes all the more difficult for one who is defending his homeland? his friends and classmates? and his significant other. Your discoveries have come at a difficult time.?

?Yes. That is true.?

?It is paramount that you do not let your emotions distract you, Sergeant. This must be handled like any other mission. Not only must you guard against despair or undue fear of the consequences, you must also be wary of impulses that might seem right and good. It could prove foolhardy to rush in overzealous, determined to protect the ones you care for.?

?I understand. I will not be distracted. I am a Specialist!?

?There is nothing more I have time to discuss. Sgt. Major Mao will explain things in more detail. You should not expect to carry the full weight on yours shoulder, Sergeant.?

?Sir, I??

Kalinin held up a hand, halting any assurance Sousuke might offer.

?Although easier said than done, your sole task will be to delay or destroy the opposing Arm Slaves with Black Technology. Do that, and there stands a very good chance that the missiles will be destroyed before they can be launched. Other soldiers will have the job of gathering proof of nuclear weapons, looking for evidence of Grendel?s involvement, and disabling the missiles.?

?I understand, Sir. The most crucial task of all will be making it to our expected deployment site undetected and getting our equipment on the ground before the missiles could be launched. I take it there are reasons we will not strike before the ICBMs begin fueling??

There were still particulars that troubled Sousuke. Likely it was because he didn?t know all of the details.

?Yes. Mithril?s very existence requires the walking of a political tightrope. Those who know of our existence would erase all ties if we attacked unprovoked, even though they have the same fears we do. Partial fueling of the missiles might be considered as part of a ploy. Complete fueling could be construed as a definite intent to launch. It?s a dangerous game of brinksmanship, with so very much at stake.?

?Can the weapons be launched incompletely fueled?? Sousuke?s question was a good one.

?There are those who doubt they can, given the reliability issues they have faced on short range test firings. But, no one is certain. As things stand, we time our launch so that our forces such that they arrive when the the missiles seven and one half hours into fueling. That means we can afford no delays? no matter what.?

?There is a potential problem?? The tone of his superior?s voice suggested as much.

?Yes. Bad storms are moving in. If we are lucky, they will delay fueling and hold off the Americans until we are able to do what is necessary. If not, we may be fighting under exceedingly rough conditions.?

Better and better.

?If that is all Sir, I should be headed to the medical area. Your words were well chosen. I thank you.?

?Think nothing of it, Sergeant. We all have our jobs to do. You see that you do yours to the utmost!?

?Sir, yes Sir!? Sousuke snapped off a crisp salute. ?I will not betray your faith in me.?

?And I will not fail Kaname,? he added in his thoughts.

It was time to find out what had Sgt. Major Mao and Lt. Commander Kalinin on edge.

[Perfect Soldier]

Ooooooooooh, the plot continues to thicken, i love it.

Zero