In the early morning hours of 07.05.2031, GCF units landed on Okinawa in the south of Japan. Over one million soldiers came out of the enormous warships which had come from China and the Philippines. Moreover, several tank squadrons and a whole air fleet were stationed here. The occupation of Okinawa, that small and strategically very important archipelago, came unexpected and was already a military act.
Not until the year 1972, the former USA had given the rule over the island group back to the old Japanese state, after it had been conquered by the Americans in 1945. At that time, about 120000 soldiers had lost their lives in the great battle for the jungle-covered archipelago.
Since the end of the Second World War, the United States had built up an enormous military base here which could always keep an eye on Japan.
Even after the transfer of the administrative sovereignty to the East Asian state in 1972, this base had remained and had furthermore been used by U.S. troops. In the course of the abolition of the Japanese state in 2020, the Lodge Brothers had converted the old U.S. military base to a GCF base, that had again been dissolved after Matsumoto`s takeover and the re-establishment of Japan.
Thus, Okinawa had been an apple of discord for decades, but now the giant armed force of the World Government took the archipelago without a single shot.
The prefect, the administrative head of Okinawa, Mr. Hirokazu Nakashima, reacted perfectly helpless on the occupation. After only two days, he was arrested and executed by GSA agents, because of „crimes against world peace and humanity”. President Matsumoto spoke of a brazen assault, however, the still insufficiently prepared Japanese army held back and had to accept the loss of the archipelago.
In the meantime, the world press celebrated the “great victory“ and spoke of a „first success against the fascist Matsumoto regime“. The old U.S. military base finally became the strategic headquarter of the southern invasion army of the GCF.
General David Williams, the commander-in-chief of the Global Control Force, who should attack Japan from the south resided here from now on. At the same time, the recruitments for the GCF ran at full speed in China. Innumerable young Chinese volunteered, in order to join the revenge campaign against Japan.
„Retaliation for the massacre of Hangzhou!“ was the slogan of the international propagandists, who relentlessly agitated in the Chinese provinces. In the north of Japan, another huge army was stationed on Sakhalin island which was separated from Japan only by a small strait.
The largest city on the isle, Yuzno Sakhalin, was converted to a giant military camp. At the east coast of China and Korea, still more GCF troops were waiting for the attack on Northern Japan. This second army was under the command of general Daniel Schwarzer. Nevertheless, the World Government still called for more infantry platoons, tanks, cannons and airplanes. Millions of soldiers deployed in front of Japan`s borders, preparing for the great assault. Aircraft carriers, submarines and destroyers encircled the rebellious island state, while the dawn of war was rising.
For now, however, the huge army just waited, because further preparations were still necessary. Military camps were built overnight and supplies were hoarded. Meanwhile, the Japanese government acted disconcerted and it was conspicuous, that Matsumoto was scared of the coming conflict with this terrifying force. The leader of the Japanese nation abstained from any official statements for the foreign press after the illegal occupation of Okinawa. Instead, he held a radio speech to his people. Matsumoto encouraged the Japanese, to be defensive and watchful: „The war will probably be forced on us, my compatriots. Our enemies have ignored all my appeals for peace again. Prepare your hearts to fight!“
In reverse, the international media called the president a “miserable coward” and tried to heat up the situation. “Okinawa liberated by GCF troops: Matsumoto does not strike back! Is the warmonger suddenly afraid to fight?” headlined the “New Britain Times“ from London.
The men in Ivas read the newest reports with the usual suspicion. Thorsten Wilden was once again furious about the brazen press agitation. The others, however, hadn`t expected anything else and reacted much more calmly. Meanwhile, Frank Kohlhaas and Alfred Bäumer spent the sunny days of May 2031 with firing practices and tried to prepare for their mission of war.
Sven and the other younger men followed them like fanatical believers. If Frank and Alfred thought about Sven and his fellows they were not sure, if everyone of them would really be a good soldier.
Sven was the born Landser, already a charismatic young man with his 23 years: Tall, with blond hair, bright eyes, audacious, bold and very insolent. But not all of his fellows were prototypes of the “brave Teuton”.
For example Rolf Hugenthal. He was 18 years old, sturdy and not very articulated. Nevertheless, he was a reliable young man, certainly a bit beef-witted. His parents had come to Ivas five years ago and were from Hamburg. Furthermore, the brothers Christian and Dennis Müller belonged to Sven`s group. Both were two athletic young men with a remarkable talent for shooting. They were about twenty years old.
Thomas Baastfeldt was of Dutch origin and lived with his father and his two sisters here in the village, since over eight years. He was a little berserk and seemed to be easily attractionable and aggressive. His grey eyes often looked around with an element of truculence. Baastfeldt made the impression of being always ready for a brawl.
At last, there was Michael Ziegler who had celebrated his 18th birthday only one month ago. This young boy was something like the weak point in Sven`s little “army”, because Ziegler appeared shy and anxious. The teenager was relatively lean and had a salient pointed nose, why the others jokefully named him „birdie“. He lived with his parents in a ramshackle, old house. Michael was their only child. There had already been controversies at home for weeks, because, above all, his mother tried to forbid him to follow his friends to Japan.
And it was clear that the unhappy young man had no real enthusiasm to be trained for a real war. Sven had just persuaded him to join the volunteers.
Meanwhile, the blond man habitually roared at Ziegler if he behaved awkwardly again or did not answer Sven`s expectations. Sometimes it was so extreme that Frank and Alfred had to intervene.
It was at the end of the month, when Michael Ziegler`s mother unexpectedly emerged on the field behind Wilden`s house, during another firing practice. The village boss was instructing and observing the young volunteers who shot at bottles or cans. Mother Ziegler came to him with an eager expression and reared up in front of him. She just looked ridiculous, because she was a very petite person. Nevertheless, she made a resolved impression.
„Mr. Wilden!”, she hissed. „Now, I will say it again clearly to you: My son doesn`t want to join Sven`s volunteer group. Since weeks, this impudent boy pressurizes him and molests my Michael with his stupid visions of war!”
The other volunteers on the field haggardly stared at the furious woman with the shrill voice. She clenched her bony fists and her little head, covered with gray hair, was whipping back and forth.
However, the village boss was surprised: “Mrs. Ziegler, belive me, nobody has forced Michael to take part in the fight for Japan. It was his own decision!“
„This is a lie, Wilden! Sven urges him day by day and calls him a wimp!”, she screamed angrily.
The rebel leader seemed to be somehow overwhelmed with her mother instinct and called for Sven. Then he asked him: „Okay, tell me the truth! Does Michael Ziegler really wants to join your group?“
„Of course, Thorsten! Michael, come here!“, shouted Sven and looked threateningly at the shy, young man.
„Yes...I want to go to Japan!“, stuttered Ziegler.
„This is nothing but nonsense, Michael! You already said to me yesterday, that you are scared of all this. It`s only Sven`s fault, as you have told me...”, bickered mother Ziegler and stamped her foot.
Thorsten Wilden grumbled: „I have anyway the impression that your son is not very suitable for the front. This war will be
brutal and cruel, and the whole thing is nothing for your boy.”
„My husband was politically active for so many years and we had only problems with all this. That was the reason, why we had to flee to Ivas, Wilden. Nevertheless, you know Dieter. He is a born fighter, but my Michael is a peaceful person and he is my only child.”
Suddenly the mother began to cry and stared at Sven in desperate anger.
“Keep your fingers away from my Michael!”, she hissed.
Wilden almost lost his head, while Mrs. Ziegler transformed into a howling fury. Sven tried to explain her some political things, but she became more and more hysterical.
“Play your war games with another boy, not with my child!”, she snarled and tried to slap the blond rebel. Sven just turned away, railed and asked Wilden for a decision.
Frank, Alfred and the remaining volunteers observed the scene from the field and appeared helpless. This angry mother was worse than a GCF tank. Michael Ziegler looked ashamedly at the ground and said nothing.
“Go home with your mother! Stop this charade now!”, said the village boss and Michael Ziegler walked off the drill ground.
„Yeah, go to your mama!”, yelled Sven and kicked angrily against a wooden post. Frank ordered him to shut up and gave the hothead an assault rifle.
„It`s enough now! Let the boy go!”, muttered Bäumer, staring at Sven with a look of appeal.
Mother Ziegler and her son trudged away and Michael wasn`t seen for the next days. Now, only seven volunteers were had remained to start their journey to Japan. But perhaps it was better that way.
Frank and Alfred had agreed upon to fly on 29.06.2031 from Vilnius to Tokyo. Sven and the other four men should fly to the islands before that. Wilden told them to travel either alone or as a pair. Meanwhile, the village boss had organized further accommodation possibilities, together with Taishi. Kohlhaas and Bäumer spent the next weeks with the basic training of the younger fighters. During a close combat practice, Alf gave the impetuous Sven, more or less inadvertently, a black eye. After that, the pugnacious rebel cooled down a bit.
On 10.06.2031, Christian and Dennis Müller were brought to the airport of Vilnius and started their journey to the Far East. Admittedly, the two young men were not very noticeable, but nevertheless, HOK changed their Scanchips carefully, giving them new false identities. After several hours, the inconspicuous brothers landed in Yokohama and were finally accommodated at a friend of Taishi.
However, the two volunteers were interrogated by the Japanese police and had to stay for three hours at the airport. A Mr. Ishito, an acquaintance of Masaru Taishi, had to vouch for them. When Christian Müller told Wilden on the phone that everything was all right, even Frank and Alf had a better feeling.
Some days later, they celebrated Sven`s departure with a proper bout. On the next day, the young man also drove to Vilnius to start his desiderated trip to the Japanese war zone. His parents were not that euphoric on the last day before his takeoff and Frank had to calm Sven`s crying mother several times.
The rebel finally landed in Kobe, where his Japanese contact person was already waiting for him. Shortly afterwards, the volunteer sent an email to Wilden and insured that everything was okay.
Rolf Hugenthal and the young Dutchman Thomas Baastfeldt left Ivas two days later. They landed in Tokyo and had no problems at the airport. Nevertheless, Hugenthal, the sturdy man, had been tortured by aviatophobia and had spent the flight with stomachache. But HOK`s falsified Scanchips had once again been perfect. The volunteers had carried almost no luggage, because the Japanese army had all the necessary equipment for them. After two weeks, the young men were transferred to various military camps, where they were assigned to platoons and divisions which often consisted exclusively of foreign volunteers.
Sven came to a military base in Kumamoto in the Japanese south. The Müller brothers were brought to Sendai, Baastfeldt came to Kagoshima and Rolf Hugenthal to Abashiri in the north of Japan. Thorsten Wilden got several emails, in which the young men reported about their impressions. Slowly, the war fever seemed to vanish and reality came back.
Who had thought that he could spend a nice adventure holiday in Japan, was soon confronted with a sober and hard camp life and a merciless military training. The Japanese officers also drilled the foreign volunteers with their usual hardness.
Nevertheless, the war was still gray theory, and the volunteers did not know, what was really waiting for them. The GCF had occupied Okinawa, but these islands were far away and hardly concerned their lifes. Everything seemed to be quiet. But the peace was deceitful.
Frank Kohlhaas discussed with Wilden some details of his flight to Japan again. On this occasion, he also visited his daughter, in order to apologize for his rude behaviour at the last New Year`s Eve party.
In the meantime, the leader of the rebel base made a checklist for Frank and Alf for the next day, while Kohlhaas went down to the living room. Wilden was very busy, rummaged around in the drawers of his desk and was just absent-minded. Meanwhile, Frank tried to take a chance and left his office on quiet soles. Julia seemed to have waited for the young man, welcoming him with a gentle smile. She accepted his monosyllabic apology and embraced him, while Frank still behaved clumsily. Nevertheless, he was on the way to a dangerous operation and had to say goodbye to her. Since the beginning of this year, Wilden`s daugther had ignored him, because of his uncharming behavior. But now everything seemed to be forgotten and Frank`s reconciliation with her finally took a big load off her mind.
And the young man knew, that Julia`s annoyance had been justified - the pretty and intelligent daughter of the village boss just couldn`t put up with everything.
„I don`t like these Japanese...“, said Julia and looked at the ceiling. She sat at the kitchen table and played absently with a little egg cup of plastic. Frank didn`t know what to say and scratched his head.
„What do you want there, at the other end of the world? What has Japan to do with us?”, she asked.
“Thus, it is important that the Japanese stands their ground if the GCF attacks!“, explained Kohlhaas not very convincingly.
“I know. My father says the same stuff since weeks, and he is totally proud of you. In the worst case, seven young men from our village will just die there. However, this is madness!“, she groaned and looked desperately unhappy.
Frank tried to turn the discussion back to the New Year`s Eve party.
„Eh, Julia! You aren`t angry anymore, isn`t it? I was that drunk and I can hardly remember...”, stammered Kohlhaas.
Julia grinned precociously, stood up from the chair and gently clapped Frank on his shoulder. Then she stroked through his hair and the young man winced with surprise. It was the first time that the inapproachable woman did somthing like this.
„I know, Frank. But this is forgotten now. I`m not angry anymore, okay?”
Then I`m reassured!”, said the rebel, harrumphed and tried to drive back some inappropriate thoughts, deep inside his mind.
„And I still wanted to tell you something, before I perhaps never see you again… “, whispered Julia sadly.
„What? Then please say it, my dear...“, answered Frank quietly and tried to hug her. Just at that moment Wilden came down the stairs at full speed.
Kohlhaas turned around, Julia stepped back and the leader of the rebel base unhesitatingly started his speech: “Okay, Frank, here are the most important points for tomorrow. I already read them to Julia, perhaps she has told you about...”
“Eh...”, stuttered Kohlhaas and rolled his eyes. Julia gasped and stared irritatedly at her father.
“You shouldn`t carry too much luggage, Frank. I have already said to Masaru...”, elucidated the village boss and Kohlhaas had to listen.
His daugther went to the side room and just wished the volunteer the best of luck, then she departed with disappointment in her eyes.
Wilden`s description of the international situation, full of all theoretical eventualities
, still continued for a few hours. When Bäumer came to the house of the gray-haired man, he had to listen to the same lecture.
The flight to Japan was at 10.00 o'clock and John Thorphy, the Irishman, had the order to bring the two men to the airport of Vilnius in his old, rusty car. Both volunteers had hardly luggage, only a further set of dresses, a jacket and some sandwiches. In this early morning hours, the two rebels became more than nervous, when they thought about the flight to Japan with one of the old, badly maintained passenger planes of the sector “Eastern Europe”. Frank suddenly felt sick, before he got into the car of the Irishman, but then he checked himself.
Finally, Wilden appeared and wished them all the best, but the Irishman interrupted the following new lecture of the village boss about the political importance of this mission, and pointed nervously at his watch.
„We have to leave now, Thorsten!“, he said and opened the door of his car.
The trip to the former capital of Lithuania was unspectacular. Frank and Alfred just looked out the window and let the sun-drenched landscape pass. Green meadows and old farmhouses were on both sides of the road. They looked terribly sordid and humble. This land had already seen better times – without doubt.
They punctually reached the airport and submerged in a crowd of numerous air passengers. John Thorphy finally said goodbye and was endeavors to leave the large city as fast as possible. He did not like trips to densely populated areas, because he was nevertheless still a person who was searched by the GSA.
Kohlhaas looked strange on this day. He had a shaggy, dark beard, wore some broad sunglasses and a gray baseball cap. Alfred wore a cap too, and tried to hide his face from the countless video cameras at the entrance of the airport. The whole place was full of instruments of monitoring and despite their perfectly falsified Scanchips the two men felt more than uncomfortable.
Both breathed more heavily when they reached the control zone, but again, HOK`s falsified datas were proven as safe. Their luggage only consisted of leisure clothing and none of the grimly looking testers examined them more intensively. After they had left the security zone, Frank and Alf gasped quietly and finally went a bit more relaxed to their flier. The large airplane was relatively empty. Only some dozen passengers had gone on board and the biggest part of them seemed to be businessmen. The number of tourists who still visited Japan in these days, was very small. Just one family with three little children who loudly commentated the safety instructions of the hostess, could be seen. Otherwise, many people in fine suits and with big suitcases had spread over the seat rows.
If Frank and Alfred were asked by someone, why they wanted to fly to Japan, they would have answered that they just visited Frank`s sister who lived in Tokyo.
More precisely, not „Frank`s sister”, but Mr. Eduard Rietli`s sister, Diana Landes. Because a Scanchip of Frank Kohlhaas did not exist anymore. HOK and Wilden had imagined a lot of waterproof answers for the two volunteers, even for the most unexpected situations.
But the Lithuainian officials did not ask, because the diplomatic tensions between Japan and the World Government had nothing to do with their own lives. So they just worked laxly – as always.
Then the machine started with roaring engines and dived into the deep blue sky, Alfred already slept after a few minutes and snored quietly. Meanwhile, Kohlhaas looked nervously around and nodded from time to time at the hostess with a harmless smile. The monotonous flight took longer than expected, but in the end, everything went smoothly. Finally, the captain told in English, that the Japanese islands had come in sight, while the passangers tried to see something through the cloud cover.
Frank meant to recognize some large rock formations. Shortly afterwards, the airplane went ever faster into the landing approach and the outlines of the land mass became clearer. From this great height, the Japanese capital looked bizarre. Giant skyscrapers stretched themselves into the sky like huge forefingers and the sea of concrete hulks seemed to be endless.
„Like a termite hill...“, imagined the young man. Alfred snored approvingly. And indeed, this was one of the most densely populated areas on the whole planet. Perhaps even the largest, because about 45 million people lived between Tokyo, Yokohama, Kawasaki and the other cities in the proximity.
Futuristically looking, multistorey buildings with countless floors covered the landscape to the horizon. Some of the skycrapers had the classical angular form, others were roundish or oval. It was an unusual sight. This plane brought them to the pumping heart of civilization - from Ivas, the small village in the vastness of Eastern Europe,
So many houses and buildings at one single place, the two men had never seen before. Meanwhile, they became a bit scary by thinking about entering this “moloch” of a city.
Alfred had slept during the flight, while Frank had fought against boredom. Now the long journey through the sky was over and the Lithuanian machine touched the runway with a loud rumble.
After a while, both men entered the overcrowded airport of Tokyo. Incessant talking, calling and snickering surrounded the two men with the small backpacks who waited here for Masaru Taishi, their contact person in this strange country. It was meanwhile after 18.00 o'clock of European time and the plane had had some delay. But Frank was glad that the old aicraft had still made it to Japan, without landing in the sea.
Now they were already waiting for a while in the proximity of the exit, trying to realize the new environment. Beside a luggage car, they suddenly saw a little, older man with horn-rimmed glasses. He peered around and seemed to scan the crowd in front of him for somebody. Frank and Alfred came nearer. The man waved his hand, called something they could hardly understand and smiled. A moment after, he stood in front of the two rebels and took a closer look at them.
„Frank Kohruhas and Arufred Baumer?“, he asked and grinned.
„Right! Are you Mr. Taishi?”, answered Alf.
„Welcome! Welcome to Japan!”, shouted the older gentleman euphorically and tried to hug Bäumer.
The two Germans looked at each other, nodded and bowed to the Asian. Taishi bowed still deeper to them. Finally, he shook their hands.
“Welcome! Welcome!”, he called. „My name is Masaru Taishi!“
„Frank Kohlhaas!“, said that.
„Hello, I`m Alfred Bäumer!”, replied the tall man.
„Frank and Arufred! Welcome!”, said Mr. Taishi again.
„Why does he always say Arufred?“, whispered Bäumer and nudged Frank.
„These Japs have some problems with the „L“, buddy!”, explained Kohlhaas quietly and had to suppress a laughter.
Their contact person, Wilden`s former business partner, walked ahead now and led the two men to a big underground parking, in which a red „Kensai” was waiting.
They drove about half an hour through various quarters of Tokyo and finally came to an outlying district. Here lived the Japanese who had interrogated them during the entire trip in broken German. Mr. Taishi was really garulous and seemed to have a talent to jar on other people`s nerves. Nevertheless, he was very nice and hospitable. Frank and Alfred just told the most necessary and tried to relax. It was a great feeling to be free in this country.
No overarching monitoring, no omnipresent fear of the police – just great! Here in Japan, they were free men and there was no “long arm” of the system, lurking for them in a dark corner, in order to bring them back to prison. They had not had such a redeeming feeling since many years. It was simply wonderful!
Masaru Taishi stopped the car, politely opened the door for his guests and smiled. At the house entrance, his wife and the two children were waiting. Now they smiled too. The two rebels followed the loudly takling Japanese and were finally welcomed by the rest of his family. Everybody just smiled. Then they all bowed, as if they would already be age-old friends.
„All is okay in Lithuania? How does Thorsten feel? Good?“, asked Taishi and perked his eyebrows up. Little, light brown slitted eyes peeped over th
e edge of the horn-rims.
„He is okay. And we are okay too. It is very nice that we can stay in your house, Mr. Taishi”, said Alf.
The Japanese clapped Alf on the back, still smiling. „Thank you, that you help Japan…for us to fight! Understand?”
The short man gestured and was very excited. Then he continued to walk through his house and showed Frank and Alf the kitchen, where the rest of his family was waiting - with a big smile.
„Japanese always smile… “, whispered Kohlhaas to his friend and prodded him lightly.
„I see it!”, answered Alf quietly.
„You can eat now. My wife Ayaka makes good food, good meals!”, said the Japanese and sat down in front of a little table.
Bäumer nodded and took his shoes off, before he went into the kitchen. Frank was glad that his friend had rememberd this Japanese gesture of politeness and did the same.
They did not want to insult their new friends by being impolite. So they ate, drank a sip of sake and talked for a while with Mr. Taishi, while his wife and the children still stood beside them and kept on smiling.
The former businessman spoke amazingly good German and English. Above all, his English seemed almost to be perfect, because Taishi had traveled around the world for many years. But in compliment to his guests, he tried to talk German most of the time.
Finally, all went to bed and after such an exhaustive day, Frank had no problems to find a good sleep. This time, he just felt free.
On the next day, Masaru Taishi described the situation in Japan at first hand. His German was quite liquid and to elucidate difficult terms, he still used the English language. He told that Mastumoto had added innumerable new jobs and had also introduced a new system of social security. Furthermore, he had brought in a paid holiday for workers and employees, and this was unique in the whole world.
Frank and Alfred were totally amazed, when Taishi talked about these reforms. Things, the people in “Central Europe” could only dream of, because there just ruled one single principle: “Eat or die!”, a soulless capitalism.
In Japan, the small businessmen received subsidies, the Globe was already abolished and the Yen had been introduced again. Meanwhile, Japan was flourishing.
No wonder, that the people loved Matsumoto. The president of the island state had connected the monetary value to the manpower of the population and had also abolished the “interest system”. Effective forms of power production, for example fusion reactors, received an intensive support by the Japanese state, what especially annoyed the international energy companies. Meanwhile, numerous cars ran with water or electricity. The two men from Germany could hardly believe, what they heard.
Moreover, Taishi told them that Matsumoto had abolished the Scanchip, as replacement for credit card and identity card, while he had restored the hardcash again. Therefore, it was no greater miracle that the Lodge Brothers were more than angry about measures like this.
Japan had also advanced in its technological development since Matsumoto`s takeover. And the new government of the island state did everything to promote new technologies.
If the World Government had hoped to bring Japan to its knees by a worldwide boycott of its goods, they had to realize in 2031, that this approach had brought only moderate success so far.
The Lodge Brothers could not believe that Japan, poor in natural resources, could built up an autarchic economy. But Matsumoto`s policy showed them their fallacy.
Furthermore, the rising of a new Japanese patriotism and the recollection of the island people on their traditional culture was a true nightmare for the strategists of the New World Order. The return of the old Japanese value system which honoured family, fatherland and diligence, brought the Lodge Brothers to outbreaks of hate. Haruto Matsumoto had advanced this development with resoluteness, and the Japanese people thanked him for this.
„Sounds unbelievable!”, said Bäumer.
„Nevertheless, it is true. Matsumoto is a real benediction for Japan!”, answered Taishi euphorically. „He is the best president, Japan has had since ages, my friends!”
“I begin to understand, why this man causes some headaches in the ranks of the Lodge Brothers. They must depict him as a real demon. Otherwise, other nations would follow the positive example of Japan!”, meant Frank.
“Now they want to destroy us with war!”, fulminated Taishi full of anger. “They want to punish our nation!”
„Do you think, that you will have a chance against the power of the GCF, Mr. Taishi?”, asked Alf.
Their host clenched his fists and stared grimly at the ceiling. “Japanese people will...they will not surrender!”
Shortly afterwards, the family father went to the kitchen and brought a steaming teapot into the dining room. He put it on the table and appeared thoughtfully now.
„My son, Kazuko, he studies mathematics at Tokyo university, he will also fight. He must go to army to Kobe“, he remarked.
Kazuko Taishi was 24 years old and the two rebels from Lithuania had hardly seen him so far. Today he had probably driven to the university in the center of the city, because they didn`t find him anywhere in the house. On the one hand, his father seemed to be proud that Kazuko joined the army, but on the other, his father was full of sorrow about the rising conflict.
„I just…I hope…Kazuko will not die, when war comes“, said Masaru, looked at his guests and browsed in a German dictionary.
„Don`t worry, Mr. Taishi. He will not die, I`m sure…“, Frank tried to calm him.
The days passed. Occasionally, the Japanese asked Frank and Alfred to dinner and sometimes they drove to the inner city of Tokyo. On other days, they visited old temples and even the Fujiyama.
Taishi told his guests from Europe that the most Japanese were still happy and content, despite the danger of war. Tokyo was hopelessly overcrowded, but nevertheless a beautiful city. Endless streets with large, shining promotional signs full of strange letters, dominated the main squares of the city center. It was amazingly clean and tidy here. Frank and Alf only knew the mouldered and dirty cities of Western and Eastern Europe, but this Japanese metropolis was the absolute opposite. This place was filled with a feeling of advancement.
Blocks of houses and whole quarters were renovated, painted or even converted. Frank and Alfred were surrounded by an immaculate and modern megacity and felt obviously well. Soon they became acquainted with the other members of the Taishi family who accompanied them on some of the trips. Masaru`s wife and his children appeared sophisticated, friendly and were always very polite.
The two Europeans enjoyed these days, until it was time to leave. On the 22th of July 2031, the day of their provisional parting from their guest family had come. Both men finally drove to Mito in the east of Tokyo to join the Japanese army as volunteers, and to find accommodation in the local military camp.
After a trip in an overcrowded metro and a longer journey in a very modern bus, they reached the army base. Some other foreigners traveled with them. Most of them spoke Arab and were probably from Iraq.
Two other Europeans sat in the second row in the forepart of the bus, always looking at them with a smile. During this day, more and more buses full of young men from nearly all countries followed. The military camp filled slowly, while Frank and Alfred reported to the commander of the base. His name was Ishiro and he led them through the camp which became more and more a fussing place.
Jeeps were driving over the large drill grounds, soldiers were yelling and running over the concrete ground. The two men recognized many big billets which could take up hundreds of soldiers. The high command assigned them to the foreign volunteer unit „Nihon no Yari“. The name of the corps meant „Spear of Japan“, as Frank learned.
Until the end of the month, the camp life consisted of instructions by the Japanese commanders and marching or firing practices. The nights in the large sleeping halls were sometimes restless and often the two volunteers were kept awake by a permanent whis
per in many different languages. Frank and Alf mostly spoke English or tried to mediate messages with gestures. One or two soldiers of their platoon volatilely made the acquaintance of them, others just ignored them. The „Nihon no Yari” unit consisted of 1100 soldiers, all together no Japanese – except for the leading officers.
Around 300 volunteers came from Iran, where a guerilla war was still raging between partisans and GCF troops. About hundred soldiers were from Spain and Italy. Furthermore, volunteers from India, the former USA, Canada, South America, South Africa, Australia, Iraq and also from other European countries had come to support the Japanese fight for liberty. Palestinians were another larger group.
Frank and Alfred had the best contact to the Europeans and the whites from North America that they regarded as their “tribal kinsmen”. Besides, they could speak English with them. They talked a lot with Luc from France, also with James from Minnesota and a few others.
It was a strange bunch of guys here in Mito. So many completely different volunteers who often considered each other with warily looks, had submitted to the Japanese high command, in order to defend this country against the so hated troops of the World Government. Their motives were various, but the hate on the GCF held them together like a clip. On the first day in the military camp, the Japanese unit leader explained that all further instructions would be given in English, because this was the best known language among the new soldiers.
„Thank you for joining the Japanese Army! You are now under the command of the forces of Japan!”, were the first words of the pugnacious sergeant who welcomed them, after they had mustered on the drill ground.
„Why are you here?“, asked Frank the beefy man on the camp bed beside him.
„I`m Earl from America“, answered the man. „I`m here to kill some fucking GCF bastards. Like you, man...”
“I´m Frank!” The young man from Lithuania shook Earl`s hand and smiled friendly.
The American straigthened himself and sat down on the edge of the bed. Then he scrabbled in his backpack and fetched a little box of handrolling tobacco.
„Cigarette?“, he asked.
„No, thanks!“, said Frank. Alf came from behind and welcomed the tall man from the former USA too.
„If I ever go back to America, they will execute me!“, explained the volunteer. “I was ten years in prison for political activities...”
Kohlhaas nodded. “They put me in prison too. For the same things!“
„My father was the leader of a paramilitary group in Michigan. In 2018, nearly all members of this anti-government group were executed by the GSA”, outlined Earl. “They put me in prison, just because I was the son of my father. Ten Years! My young wife was brought to a so called “mental health hospital” and is still there. Moreover, I never saw my little daughter again!”
Frank and Alfred could imagine the cruel fate of this man and his family. His hate on the World Government was obvious, but he could nevertheless be glad that the GSA had not executed him after his term of imprisonment.
However, Earl was about 30 years old, but appeared older, doomed by his fate. Deep, dark eye rings had formed in his rutted face. His look was hateful, but sometimes also sad and depressed. Frank and Alfred told him about their lifes and the American showed his understanding.
The story about the holo cell which Kohlhaas told several times, seemed to affect him very much. He clenched his fist and straightened up in front of the two men: „Don`t worry, my brothers! One day, those rats will pay for everything!“
Outbreak of War