12Foreword
Hello again. I hoped everyone enjoyed the first chapter. Now that we've established a solid start, I'm going to steer the story towards the aspect we all love about 40k. Let us see how our girls handle the first step towards the grey line.
P.S. I edited this chapter and fixed a few quirks. So please bear with the changes.
K-ON:
Song of War
"It is well that war is so terrible, else we should grow too fond of it."
-Gen. Robert E. Lee-
Track 2: Initiation
0800 HRS
Monday, May 5, 20XX
Sender: Hirasawa, Yui
"Dear Azu-nyan, how are you? Is the Light Music Club doing well? Guess what, we're on the bus heading to the ROTC training camp. I'm so excited. We'll get to salute generals, sing blues, watch war movies, and take plenty of pictures. I'll send you some everyday so you can enjoy the experience where you are. ^_^
Oh, Ritsu signed us up for this S.A.S. Advanced Curriculum. It sounds tough, but I'll be able to hang on as long as I have you guys. I have a souvenir from the pit-stop for you and Ui-chan. But I can't tell you what it is. It's a surprise. HAHAHA.
I'll see you soon Azu-nyan."
1200 HRS
Tuesday, May 6, 20XX
Sender: Hirasawa, Yui
"Azu-nyan, I need you. I'm scared of the guy in charge. He shot one of his own men right in front of me after…..
I'm sorry. I can't hold it anymore. After the pit-stop, we all fell asleep in the bus. When we woke up, several soldiers dragged us onto this helicopter…they called it the 'Black Hawk'. It took us away to this military base they called, 'Imperial Eagle'. It's really big, dark and gloomy. But then the officer grouped us into three 10-people squads and lectured us. He kept yelling about how worthless we are and that he'll shoot us if we don't listen.
Afterwards, we picked up our stuff and went inside the barracks. The soldiers let us pick our beds which was good, but after 2 hours, they burst into the room and shook us up, telling us that we had to get dressed for the training. I tried to dress up really fast but I tripped and was scolded by Cpt. Price for being clumsy. He pulled me to my feet and dragged me out to the training field and volunteered me to do the obstacle course first.
I did hopscotch on the tires while being yelled at. Then I got kicked down into the mud filled with animal organs and crawled under a barbed wire. It dug into me and scratched my back. I hate them. They threw animal blood over me while I crawled. And I think someone pissed on me too.
Afterwards, I climbed over this really tall spider-rope thing. They said it was 3.6 meters tall but there wasn't a way to get down. You had to climb over it and jump and grab the rope on the other side and pull yourself up to the top of the Cliffside. Mio was too scared to do it so she was made to do push-ups. Ritsu managed to climb to the top but was too scared to jump so she ended up being the last one to the top.
But it just keeps getting worse. At the top of the cliff, Cpt. Price made us cut down 2 trees per squad and we had to carry both logs on our shoulders to the top. One of the guys cursed him and threatened to sue him to his father, the senator. Cpt. Price shot his legs with a Laspistol. It was really bad. Especially since that guy was on our squad. One of us had to carry him to the top where the medical team was waiting. So that left us to carry both logs with 4 people each. Mugi volunteered to carry him and told the boys to carry one log up the path as quickly as they could then come back down and help the rest of us. We followed her orders and managed to get to the top first. I think Cpt. Price smiled at her after that.
When we got to the top, he gave everyone a sack of rice that he tied to our backs. It was already pitch black, but we were made to take the sacks back down to the base using the long path down that led to the west entrance of the base. I was glad that was the last of the course. We slept at around 12 am. I was so sore, that I didn't want to change clothes anymore.
We woke up at 5 am to the voice of Cpt. Price. He made us run for 4 miles through the forest. I can't take it anymore Azu-nyan. The entire 3rd squad fell on the floor after the first mile. The 2nd squad was made to pick them up and continue the run. They were all yelling in pain. We weren't doing so well either. Mugi and I fell to the floor and the Captain kicked us over till we lay on our backs. He made us do sit-ups and kicked our sides whenever we did it wrong. Ritsu begged him to stop but he aimed his gun at her head and told her to keep running forward or he shoots her. Mio then fell and did the sit-ups with us. I'm sorry everyone. I let you down…
Pushups were next. We did so many I can't remember. One guy was kicked in his right arm while doing a pushup because Cpt. Price heard him get mad. That's two in the infirmary now.
Jumping jacks…chin-ups…then we were thrown into the lake and had to swim back and forth using breast stroke and no hands. I couldn't feel my arms anymore. My legs were also really tired and my body was sore from the bruises and cuts. I thought I was going mad. But after the swim, he let us walk back to the base to take a shower. But it hurts. It still hurts. I want to eat and go home."
2100 HRS
Tuesday, May 6, 20XX
Sender: Hirasawa, Yui
"Azu-nyan…I wonder if you received my message. I don't care anymore though. I'm going to escape.
After my last message, we were finally given food in the cafeteria after 28 hours. We could barely lift our spoons to eat. We had a little time to ourselves so I asked my squad to help out in escaping. They were all too tired to try but kept my plan a secret. They must be preparing for when I fail.
Ritsu doesn't talk much now. She just keeps apologizing for putting us in this mess in the first place. I'm worried about them. But I can help them once I'm on the other side. I know when the guards change shifts. I can do this. Please help me Azu-nyan. You're my only hope. 3 hours from now, I'll escape. Please pray for me."
1200 HRS
Wednesday, May 7, 20XX
Sender: Hirasawa, Yui
"Hello Azusa. Are you okay? I wish I could talk to you but they had a jamming device on all cellphones. I guess my last 2 messages never reached you. I'm just frustrated right now and need a way to vent out.
I'm in the military prison cell. Their Special Forces team caught me when I was trying to reach past the forest. 'Storm Troopers' they were called. They were practically invisible and knocked me out from behind.
When they brought me back, they had me tied up to wall and prepared a firing squad armed with rubber bullets. But Commissar Amir Stone had a better idea. He made Pus-1 the firing squad instead. And just in case, he put the original firing squad as the back-up squad should they hesitate in shooting me. In short, Pus-1 plus me would get shot if Pus-1 doesn't shoot. So they fired and I cried for them. They were more scared than I was. And now, I don't know what to do. I wish I was more like Sgt. Frank Ayukawa. He was never scared no matter what Cpt. Price or the Commissar threw at him. But I understand now. There is no escape from this place. Only death is my savior in this hell hole."
2030 HRS
Thursday, May 8, 20XX
Imperial Eagle, "Atonement" Barracks
Sector 214, LOCATION CLASSIFIED
++Sergeant Yui Hirasawa++
Azusa, how I miss you. I've gotten a letter from Ui and she's told me what a wonderful time you're having. Your words of encouragement and the picture you included, mean more than you know.
After a small talk with the Commissar, he gave me a datalog for me to use as a diary and let me rejoin my squad. Needless to say, I was happy to be in the company of friends.
We cried hard and long and swore to never abandon each other. We've become really close since then.
The training grew harder what with gun and CQC training added to the schedule. We were taught how to use M14s, AR-15s, and all sorts of weapons. I really liked the flamethrower. Everything Burns.
I worked really hard this time and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant alongside Mugi, Mio and Ritsu. Everyone else in the squad became Corporals.
As we trained, our specialties and skills began to emerge. Mio became our CQC expert. I never knew how well she could fight with a knife, much less a club though strangulation seems to be her favorite method. Ritsu was our best CQB and demolitions expert. However Cpt. Price repeatedly punished her for throwing the pin instead of the grenade. Mugi was the best of our group showing good leadership skills and the best marksmanship Commissar has ever seen.
I have yet to know of mine. But so far Cpt. Price said that 'soldiers like me only shine when all hell breaks loose' so I must wait till actual battlefield practice.
At 1700 HRS today we were taught more about the base and the use of Comm. links and radios. This place is called the "Imperial Eagle" and is located at sector 214 of the Planet Grid. I'm not allowed to tell you the local name of the place but there are plenty of pine trees and rocky mountainsides. A fresh stream river runs between one of the valleys and there are plenty of bears, fish, eagles, foxes, wolves and hares running about. I wonder what we're having for dinner… I hope they heat the soup tonight.
0100 HRS
Saturday, May 10, 20XX
Alpha-1, Whisper Pass
Sector 214, LOCATION CLASSIFIED
++Sergeant Yui Hirasawa++
I'm currently doing patrols around the roadside to sector 215. Yesterday was a mess. Pus-2 completely annihilated us in the war games. 'We were too cowardly, broke rank and fled straight into an ambush' is what Cpt. Price told us before sending us to do border patrols.
We each took turns as lookouts. Corporal "Stew" Inayama, took the first shift. Then Sawamura-san, Mio, Ritsu, and me taking the last. Mugi and the rest patrolled the forest. She'll be alright. That nice boy, Corporal Shuuji Kobe, is watching out for her. I guess it's because he really likes her that he's looking out for her. I heard he's been excelling the training and could be promoted to 1st Lieutenant soon. That would mean he'd be head of our squad with Master Segeant Mugi second in line. Maybe I should try to work up to 2nd Lieutenant…
I heard a sound. I better go check it out.
1200 HRS
Sunday, May 19, 20XX
Imperial Eagle, Mess Hall
Sector 214, LOCATION CLASSIFIED
++Sergeant Yui Hirasawa++
Two weeks and two days have passed since we first arrived here and I've learned some interesting things about this place. The Imperial Eagle was a new base OP designed for the 'Imperial Guard' system that they've initiated. It's undetectable not because of design or location, but because of the XR20 Warp Gateway. The gateway uses power from the warp storms in space to generate a field that shields against radar and human sight. How Amazing! It even allows faster than light travel which is why we were able to travel from Japan(Sector 11) all the way to Sector 214(1) in matter of seconds. But there is a downside. We must wait 15 minutes to let it recharge. Any less and we'll get our souls torn from our bodies, or at the very least, vomit from the strain put on our bodies.
In the past week, the most important event that happened was during our marksmanship practice. We were given a new gun called a Lasgun. It was created to replace M-16s as the new Battle Rifle. But I have many doubts about that gun. It tends to overheat, is not good for stealth missions and quite heavy(2). The weight issue is a minor problem but the overheating is quite the opposite. But as always, I was given the honor of testing it out. Thank God for nice volunteers like me.
1st Lieutenant Shuuji Kobe finally confessed to Mugi and she accepted. I'm so happy for her. I didn't think it would happen but I guess the bonds between contrasting personalities is a little different. Ritsu has been getting on Mio's case ever since the confession. Why? Mio happens to be really popular with the boys. Especially those from Pus-2. Pus-3 on the other hand is in very bad shape. The girls there are tough but even they can only handle so much.
We've been put through so much hard work and abuse that it really doesn't surprise us anymore when a new addition to the training was announced. Camouflage, field craft and night missions were added to the list on top of the regular exercise, CQC and Weapon's training. In fact, the only rest period we get is during the lectures and 6 hour nap time. I overheard the Captain talk about "the go ahead" with psychological warfare. Of us all, Pus-3 will be the first to break in that.
2102 HRS
Friday, May 29, 20XX
Imperial Eagle, "Apothecary" Infirmary
Sector 214, LOCATION CLASSIFIED
++Sergeant Yui Hirasawa++
It'll be the end of the first month. Only eleven more to go. In the last ten days, we've been put on more live exercises than ever. Border patrols became a regular thing and night raids from other squads kept us alert. Cpt. Price taught us how to build traps and create defensive perimeters so as to better defend ourselves against an ambush.
Quite often on those patrols, we'd get easily ambushed. Sgt. Frank Ayukawa advised us to stop chattering so much as it beacons out our location. So instead of verbal orders, we'd use hand signals, wires and animal calls to communicate. Rarely are we able to use flash signals as we'd often be separated for a defensive ambush maneuver.
But yesterday was the worst patrol yet. At 2200 HRS on the west bank overlooking Whisper Pass, we formed up in a crescent formation with traps in front to cover our retreat. For an hour we didn't say a word. I should've been worried. I hadn't heard a sound from anyone as I watched the road. It was dark and we weren't sure where the next ambush would be or when it would come. By the time I realized something was wrong, it was too late. I was blindfolded and gagged then dragged for an hour to an unknown location. Possibly, a hideout. When they removed the bindings and blindfold, it dawned upon me that we were captured and to be interrogated about the location of our base and the chain of command.
I quickly huddled to Mio, Ritsu and Mugi and told them to not say a word concerning the base or our comrades. Pretty soon, the boys caught on and kept silent as well.
I didn't recognize the soldiers. They wore black, ski masks and spoke in a different language until they dragged us into this small hut and took us to the large basement. It smelled of poop, piss and dead rats. We were tied up and left in that room for about an hour with a guard at the door. Soon, another guard came in and pulled me to my feet and brought me upstairs into this small square room fit for only four people. They made me sit down on a wooden chair and asked me personal questions in English. Because the soldiers spoke the language more often than Japanese in the base, we all became fluent in it. But at that moment, I couldn't say a word knowing I'd put an entire base at risk. So they hit me to make me talk.
They'd ask, "What is your mission?" if I didn't talk, I'd receive a black eye.
Then they ask, "Who sent you?" I didn't say a word so they kicked me in the gut.
Another one cursed I think and asked, "How many more are there?" I wouldn't speak so they took a strong piece of plywood and hit my sides before throwing me to the floor then holding my hands in place and held a wet towel over my face and drenching me with water so as to drown me. They repeated it and asked again, "What is your mission?"
I was in pain but I didn't want to betray my comrades again. I'm not a coward. But they knew that as well so they put me in a large sack and hung me from the ceiling and repeatedly hit me with the plywood. I was sure it was the plywood. But I think they also used a steel tube. I couldn't tell in between the yelling and cursing. It was the most painful night I've ever faced.
They didn't stop there though. They took down the sack and pulled me out just to put me in a drum and rolled me outside and downhill. I blacked out at that part and only woke up when I was at the bottom of the hill. I felt my ribs crack so I crawled out to check. My sides were yellowish red. My arms severely bruised. My legs and head ached and a fiery pain swelled up all over that moving became impossible. I think most of my bones had cracked by then. 5 minutes later, the Storm Troopers came and put me on a stretcher and took me to the infirmary. I slept for the rest of the day alongside other recruits.
The doctors said that they'd perform surgery in a few minutes to mend my body and place a biochemically produced organic implant called 'M-FIBER' to strengthen physical regeneration and mental focus. I also heard something about 'Ecclesiarchy' and 'Adeptas Sororitas' but I think the Commissar shook his head at that.
0.000.127.M42
1000 HRS
May 30, Saturday
Imperial Eagle, "Apothecary" Infirmary
Sector 214, LOCATION CLASSIFIED
++Sergeant Yui Hirasawa++
The operation was a success. My body has never felt stronger. Though at first, I was seeing the world in slow motion, after an hour of adjustment, I'm able to function normally again.
We didn't do any major drills today. Only the daily exercises, marksmanship and plenty of rest. I've never appreciated free time more than today. I took the time to do the picture takings I promised Ui and everyone in Pus-1 joined in. It was the one day of pure fun we've had. We strolled around the base, talked about the time when Corporal "Stew" accidentally mistook a bull for a tank and how good the food was lately.
I got to learn everyone's background today. 1st Lt. Shuuji was from a public high school who graduated at the bottom of the honor roll. He was part of the art club and chose the SAS Advanced Curriculum by mistake so he ended up here. He can be weird and funny at times but I think I see why Mugi chose him.
Corporal "Stew" and the others were classmates from a private school but failed the entrance exams. They were given the offer of ROTC training so they could get into college and wound up here thinking the advanced class would strengthen their resume.
It was a blast. The hours went by so slowly. The hardships we went through taught us that. Oh yeah, we were taught a new system of measuring time. Now we count things by millenniums and the years within those millenniums. It's pretty complex at first but we got the hang of it. All those times practicing reading coordinates and memorizing OP and LZ codes paid off. But what i found out during the lecture about the 'Imperial Dating System' completely blew me. Everyone on this planet is an alien. Not in the sense you see on TV, but in the sense that we are humans not from earth. I had so many questions after that. I couldn't understand that we, being taught were on earth, were actually on another planet just in the same galaxy.
Everyone was just as stumped as I was. But then he started telling us about the 'God-Emperor' of man and the vast empire called the 'Imperium' and that there were many planets like ours-clones of Terra. As he lectured, the galaxy became more fascinating to visit. I hope that one day, I get to be able to visit the real earth and its adjacent planets.
I asked the Commissar and Cpt. Price if we could put a stage and play music tonight. They were reluctant at first but agreed as long as it was taken down by 2200 HRS sharp. I can't wait to show everyone what Houkago Tea Time can do. Especially Pus-3. They've changed so much in the past month. They used to be like those fashion girls you'd see on TV but now there's a mix of coldness and sharpness in their eyes. It's like there are so many clones of Kallen Stadtfeld and Jeanne D' Arc in that squad. I hope they're okay.
Ah, I better get back to the First Aid Training.
0.000.127.M42
0400 HRS
May 31, Sunday
Imperial Eagle, "Nest" Communication Tower
Sector 214, LOCATION CLASSIFIED
++Sergeant Yui Hirasawa++
Today we've been briefed on our first task as Pus-1. There's a Tank Factory in Sector 216 past the East entrance of the base. There have been no communications from it in 24 hrs. So we have to do some recon work and find out what went wrong.
Our objectives are twofold:
Scout the Base
Relay information back to headquarters
If there are any survivors, we have to wait for orders from HQ before proceeding.
This one sounds very serious. It doesn't seem like actual training this time. In fact, the Commissar looked a little bit reluctant to hand these orders out. After we were dismissed, I stole a shielded laptop from the nearby room and got everyone to email their loved ones back at home.
This may be my very last entry in the datalog. So I'm sending all of it to you Azusa. I'm glad that we were friends. I'm sorry for all the bad things I've done. I can only pray that God forgives me. Please tell Ui I love her and that I'm taking care of myself. Tell Sawako-sensei that I had a lot of fun with her and that she should be herself as that's the only way she can make her students shine.
This is Sgt. Yui Hirasawa signing off.
(1) Sector 11 – If you know Code Geass, you definitely know this. If you don't, its the area code given to Japan.
(2) Lasgun – A staple of the Imperium during the 41st Millennium but was in still in its primitive and experimental state in this planet.
Thank you once again for reading my fanfic. Don't forget to leave a review.