[u][b] Papua City (Formerly Port Moresby), Papua, Japanese Indonesia [/b][/u]

Angry shouting filled a small market early in the morning, as a man in rags bounded through stalls, a sack full of fresh fruit in hand. Behind him were three Kempei (members of the Japanese military police), shouting for the rest of the people in the market to move aside. However, between the noise, confusion, and slight panic, barely anyone listened to the Kempei, and the man ran away gleefully, shouting a few insults to the officers.

"Shit, that's the third one to get away this week." said a spectacled man in his thirty's. "The Director isn't going to be happy."

"Well, I'd like to see him make his way through a market to catch a wily one like that." replied a younger man toting a small mustache. 

"Can you just imagine that?" said the third officer, as he began imitating an old man trying to chase down the thief. "By the time the director turned around, that thief would probably already be at Mount Hagen!"

The three officers shared a laugh at the expense of their Director, tossing a few more jokes around before the oldest of the three finally mentioned them having to report the crime. With a unified sigh, the three made their way to the local Kempeitai headquarters, and shuffled inside.

"Katashi! Welcome back! How are things out there for you and your recruits?" shouted a middle aged man sporting a goatee.

"Thanks, Hideki. But... We just lost another thief, in the market this time. I came back to report it to the Director." replied the man in glasses, looking a bit defeated.

"The Director? Oh! That's right, you haven't heard..."  said Hideki, taking a nearby chair, and sitting down.

"Haven't heard what?" inquired Katashi.

"Well... I don't know if this is right or not, but the rumor is that the Director is dead. He apparently lost his footing walking up a flight of stairs, fell backwards, and split his head. I tried asking for more info, but that's all Eiji got from the mainland before they cut the call."

Katashi, who at this point had put his hand to his mouth in shock, reached over with his free hand, taking a chair for himself, and sitting down beside Hideki. After a brief pause, he removed his hand from his face, and waved it lightly in the air. 

"You two... Go ahead and go back out. We have nobody to report to, so just act as if this incident never happened."

The two younger men looked at each other, then Katashi, before walking out, giving a small nod to the older men as they walked out. Once they were gone, Katashi looked to Hideki, and leaned in, whispering.

"So... If the Director is really... You know... Who's in line to take his place?"

Hideki shrugged. "Beats me. Probably some desk worker, or one of those lazy kids of his. You know, somebody that will help somebody's political agenda."

Katashi nodded while removing his hat, and wiping his brow. "Either way... I doubt anything will change for all of us who got stuck down here. After all, we're basically just here to babysit these Indonesians, and herd the rowdy ones back to their side of the island every once in a while. It's not like there's anything anybody can do down here noteworthy enough to get shipped home."

"I hear that." said Hideki with a laugh. "What are we going to do to earn a medal, really? We can't even catch a simple thief most of the time!"

As the men sat laughing, they failed to notice the heavy thumping of the local commanders boots beside them, before it was too late.

"And why is it we can't catch those simple thieves, Hideki?" barked the commander, as a visible chill ran up the two men's spines.

"Ah, well, sir..." stuttered Hideki.

"I'll tell you why!" replied the commander, now speaking loud enough to silence the whole building.  "The reason we can't catch criminals anymore is because nobody really gives a shit anymore."

The two men released a sigh of relief as they realized they weren't in trouble.

"After all, how the hell do they expect us to get our jobs done, when they've been sending away all of our supplies, and our men, to that new camp up North." 

"New camp?" inquired Katashi. "What new camp?"

"Well." the commander said, clapping a hand on Katashi's shoulder. "The new camp that I've been told to send you off to, Officer Minobe. They want you to pack only the essentials, and be back here at dawn. They didn't tell me anything else. Just that they need more experienced men. And since you actually were around for the Boroko riots, I thought you would be the best choice."

"What about me, sir?" asked Hideki. "I was around for the riots, too. Surely I could also help, right?"

The commander shook his head, and pointed at Hideki's leg. "They need able bodied men for this one, Sugita. I'm sorry, but with that injury you got last week, you're still in no shape to go. Maybe next time."

Shifting his attention back to Katashi, the commander returned to his normal, authoritative demeanor. "Officer Minobe! As ordered by Captain Miyamoto, you shall be relieved of service here, at the Papua-shi branch, and be relocated North, to aid in whatever way you can at the Mount Hagen camp. Are these orders clear?"

"Yes, sir!" replied Katashi, rising to his feet. "I will head home right away in order to gather my belongings."

"Good." replied the commander, easing into a smile. "It has been a pleasure working with you, Officer Minobe."

"You as well, sir."

[u][b] "The Red Chamber", Tokyo, Japan [/b][/u]

"Well, now that we are all gathered, this meeting on the culturization efforts in Indonesia may begin." said a small, mousey man wearing a Western suit, a title card marked "Ota" sitting in front of him. "As you all know, for the last few years, we have been heavily investing on our culturization efforts across the Indonesian Islands. While some of the local communities have been accepting of this work, others... Well, let's just say that they are not going to cooperate, no matter our efforts. Because of this, Emperor Akihito has ordered the construction of a few "peace" camps scattered across the islands. The local Kempei forces are currently being drafted to these camps, in order to serve as offensive peacekeepers. Now, what this means is that they, using their judgement of what is best for the Japanese people who have been emigrating South, as well as for those who have accepted the Japanese way of life, will be hunting down the terrorists who dare to oppose Emperor Akihito's wishes. Upon detaining the criminals, the officers will return them to these peace camps, where medical and psychiatric professionals will then try to find the cause of their rebellious attitude, and attempt to cure whatever it is that drives them too such extremes."

"Excuse me, for a moment." interjected a man with a scraggly white beard. "If you do not mind me asking, should the decision to rearrange the Kempei not wait until a new Director is found, to sign off on such a thing? I know for a fact that Director Konjo was strongly against the use of excessive force when dealing with the natives. To me, these "peace" camps sound the exact opposite of what he would have wished for! I highly doubt that he would agree to such a thing! He died of a fall, not of insanity!"

'I understand what you are saying, Mr. Watanabe, however, yesterday Director Konjo sat down with the Emperor himself to discuss this. As you can see..." said Ota, as he pulled a document out of a folder. "Director Konjo not only agreed, but endorsed this plan. You can check the document, if you like. I guarantee you, the seal on there is genuine. I don't know why he had this apparent change of heart, but clearly Director Konjo was far more supportive of our Emperor than you are."

The old man bit his tongue, not allowing himself to come off any worse than that comment had made him look. After all, he knew well what happened when Akihito's regime was questioned, and he wasn't willing to risk everything for a snide comment directed at the Emperor's pet. 

"I apologize, Mr Ota. I meant no harm, nor did I disagree with Emperor Akihito. I simply expressed my concerns, knowing my friend's views. Clearly, though, I did not know them as well as I thought. That is indeed his seal. I have no reason to oppose this motion."

"I knew you would be reasonable once you saw that." quipped Ota with a smile. "Now, the rest of you are fully supportive of this, I assume?" 

The room filled with noise, as the business heads, military leaders, and respected families all agreed to pass the motion, supporting the peace camps. Ota collected the seals of each individual, going to Mr. Watanabe last, leaning in to whisper something to the old man, inaudible to the rest of the room.

"Thank you for your cooperation, Watanabe. However, if you ever speak out like that again, you have my word, you will see waht happens when you oppose the Emperor."

Gulping down his pride, Watanabe apologized once more, and pressed the ink of his seal into the page, giving the proposal the full support of the cabinet. With no more reason to stay, the members slowly trickled out of the building, until only Watanabe was left. He leaned forward in his chair, letting out a sigh of frustration. 

"I did not take this position to be bullied into submission. I took it to represent the people of Japan to Akihito, yet not once have we seen the Emperor in person. I wonder if these are even his wishes, or if that snake is acting on his own."

Shaking with anger, Watanabe stood from his chair, and stepped out of the building, greeted by a heavy rain. With a sigh, he looked around for his umbrella, but it was nowhere to be seen. Resigning to his fate, he began to walk down the stairs, holding the wide collar of his shirt over the top of his head. As he got to the bottom of the stairs, a car pulled up in front of him, and the window rolled down.

"Isao Watanabe." said the man inside the car. "Please, get in. I want to have a few words, if you please."

Watanabe looked around a bit, before reaching out, and opening the car door, getting inside the vehicle. 

"Mr. Watanabe, it's an honor to meet a man as honorable as yourself. My name is Hayato Kenzou, a name you've surely heard in your line of work."

"Hayato... Kenzou? You... I know that name. Then... You are part of that group?" stuttered Watanabe, looking a bit panicked.

"Don't worry. It's not what you think, probably. I'm here because I want to work with you. I need a new ear in those cabinet meetings, seeing as my old correspondent has met a tragic end."

"Old correspondent? tragic end? You mean to say that Director Konjo, the leader of the Kempeitai, was also working with YOU?" asked Watanabe in disbelief.

"That is correct. Konjo knew something was rotten, and you, being his friend, surely do, as well. With Konjo dead, the new Director of the Kempeitai is surely going to be a thorn in my side, and I'm sure yours, as well. That is why we need to be allies. Without an ear on those meetings, I cannot know how to move safely. In exchange, I agree to spread the word of your revolution underground, through my associates."

Watanabe momentarily remained quiet, but sat smiling. 

"I see now why Konjo was working with you. So... I tell you where the Cabinet and Kempeitai are focusing their attention, and in exchange, you spread the word of the people's revolution to the people? Is that right?"

Hayato smiled at Watanabe, and extended a hand, which Watanabe shook firmly.

"I'm glad to see that the People's Revolution and Yakuza will continue to work hand in hand, Mr. Watanabe."