A Gantronese Travesty

A Gantronese Travesty

            Daimyo Colonel Kyoto Tascatzi stood in the room, facing the window never taking his eyes off it. He would sit in the comfortable chair, but his legs were stiff as planks. It felt like his feet were attached to the floor never to be separated.

            The Gantronese Daimyo remained standing in his office within the Naval Headquarters. Turning to a table with all his possessions and papers he poured himself hot tea from a pot sitting a small thick slab in the center. The tea would help him relax and remain calm. For the Vestrisian Air force could strike at any hour. His bed was beside the window and the door opposite the table. Kyoto sipped the hot tea thinking in his mind. 'Is the Imperial fleet ready to face our enemy once more?' He thought to himself. Memories of the first four years of this war circled in his head. Fighter planes shot down, numerous ships sunk, entire squadrons buried beneath the ocean. Whole fleets and countless lives lost to the goddess of the sea. Just the mere memory of when he led an attack force on a raid against Vestrisian carriers haunted him. The enemy's D-5's butchered his entire wave of Zeykos 81s. The Daimyo shook these memories away. Looking to one side of the room he sees his sword. Walking over he picked it up. Kyoto unsheathes the blade and prepares to commit suicide.

            A pilot enters the room. It was his nephew Nerum Akazi, Captain of the Beshiro Squadron. Nerum catches his uncle about to commit suicide; he stopped the Daimyo desperate for the Daimyo’s inspiration and leadership.

             "Uncle no!" The nephew grabbed the sword from his uncle. "This is not the way we must face our enemy!" Nerum shouted. The Daimyo gave him a dreadful look.

            "Nerum." he said "Our fight is finished, the tide of this war is turning against us."

            "But uncle there is still honor and pride in our hearts and souls." objected Nerum. He threw the sword out of the window.

            "This is true and our numbers are still greater too." The old Gantronese admitted in front of his nephew.

            "Then we can out number them uncle. The Vestrisian Union will fall at the hand of the Imperial Gantronese Empire!" Nerum stood proudly as he said this, and saluted his uncle.

            "Our honor and pride are greater as are our numbers in planes and men. Yet these vestrisians have a cause worth fighting for. Their determination to fight and protect are unmatched." Kyoto pondered over these words for a minute, leaving his nephew standing in front of the window.

            Daimyo Kyoto soon walked to the window passing his nephew. Looking out he saw hundreds of pilots waiting for his orders to meet the enemy and fight. Taking one glance at them he bowed his head soon after. All the smiling young faces reminded him of his youth. The early days when he and his comrades fought battle after battle, bringing glorious victories to the Empire. Those days are now gone. He looked up at his desperate nephew, whom was anxious to fight the enemy.

            Kyoto began to pace the room, pondering in his mind. Should he allow thousands more lives to be sent to their deaths? Should he himself, the Great Daimyo Kyoto Tascatzi go out one last time against the Vestrisian Air force? After half a minute of pacing the room the Daimyo stopped with a decision made. The wind blew in through the window, bringing with it the salty scent of the sea. He looked around the room, taking one last look at his possessions. The first thing he saw was the fire place behind the chair. His clock and lamp stood on top of the fire place along with his suitcase. The suitcase contained may letters that were meant for his loved ones, his wife and four beautiful daughters. So many letters received, and much more that had been sent. Yet there were more to be sent, but he had no time. He longed to hear their sweet voices once more. His desires to be with his own daughters had been cut to shreds. Kyoto looked straight into the mirror and asked his nephew.

            "Nerum, what do you see when you look in the mirror?" Nerum became confused "I don't understand uncle, what do you mean? You?"

            "Yes!" Kyoto replied. "What do you see in me?"

            "I see a great and honorable hero. Who has fought many battles. A victorious leader, who will someday, lead us to a greater victory!" Nerum said to his uncle boastfully.

            "Wrong!" he said quietly "You are wrong. All I see is an old and weary tiger, waiting for its time to leave this world." Nerum did not say another word he bowed and left the room.

            Alone once more, Kyoto prepared for a so-called "honorable death". Picking up another sword he tied it to his side. On one corner of the room was Kyoto's pilot jacket and gear. The Daimyo slowly put the jacket on and the airman goggles onto his head. The Daimyo stepped out of his room, and walked through a hallway leading to some stairs. He followed this path taking himself down to the airfield where the pilot fighters waited.

            Outside and entire air force of pilots stood at attention waiting for their Damiyo. His Zeykos 81 was already prepared and expecting its pilot to fly her. Planes had already been dragged out and lined up for the pilots to fly out of the airfield. Behind the airfield was the ocean. The ocean, like the agent of death beckoned them forward to the open gates of death.