North Winds Fall (Xianxia - Survive the Protagonist)

"If the military can't learn to serve the people, sir, then they need to be replaced," she said, striking back at the Major.

If this Special Forces major was someone who had been promoted after serving many years in Special Forces, he surely should be a high 3rd step or 4th step pathist, but he was only able to resist her blade for a few seconds.

Most of these people were swept up in an ideology, so she refrained from the purest calculation of attacking, and instead tried to give the least injury that would keep them out of the fight. The three fighters were all sympathetic figures, and none of them were special forces.

One of the three men with the major was a serious foe with the straight blade, but the other two didn't even have weapons. She defended against the straight blade user while taking down the other two and then surprised the blade user with a teleport and strike.

She watched warily as Deputy Tanimoto organized the trade ministry evacuations. She helped one of the Trade workers drag the heavy teleport formation into their office, and protected them while the teleporting began.

She had to duck into the office as more Gunbatsu sympathisers were rushing towards the office.

"Any suggestions, Deputy?" Autumn asked, as she stood inside the doorway.

/ / /

Captain Tsuda had the platoons arranged in groups of six, covering the attack frontage. He had his second weakest six, which included Kazumi's 8th platoon, in the front row.

Kazumi was hopeful that the arrangement was influenced by 1st Lieutenant Yamada. She didn't want Wei and the other young fighters to go first, even though that stupid choice was doctrine.

After Kazumi's six, came 19th through 24th platoons, then 13th through 18th, then 1st through 6th. Captain Tsuda had strategically positioned himself behind the rest of the troops, like he already knew the results of this charge.

He had ordered a ceasefire on all ranged weapons, so that none of the girls would stand back and fire on the enemy, but the North Winds force certainly didn't have that limitation.

There was a wide open, cleared field for North forces to fire upon, but the Northern army didn't have that many soldiers, perhaps half of Captain Tsuda's combined forces. Presumably they were all trained and had graduated some form of boot camp.

Within the 8th platoon, Kazumi had taken point, but the eastern most part of the line had surged ahead. 12th platoon was almost twenty feet ahead of her own position when she spotted the sparkling, glinting things in the distance. They were scattered, like someone had thrown a bunch of metal bits all over the field. They were glowing with a heavenly brilliance, and then dimming again.

She watched as one of the girls stepped on one of the things.

Even from the other side of the battle line, the noise was incredible. Kazumi shouted, "There's something on the ground, watch out!"

"Belay that, you are not in charge, Private Miyata! Continue the--"

They were running quickly, so as Kazumi's lieutenant was shouting, she wasn't looking at the ground, and stepped on one herself.

The tremendous noise was met with dagger sharp shards gouging into Kazumi's right leg, and a mighty wind which toppled her for a moment.

The sound of these mysterious and deadly items started to stagger one after another, and then stopped as the advance of the first wave collapsed. Kazumi stood up, shaking off pain and shock.

Looking at her leg, she quickly saw that the wounds were not so bad!

"Move up! Keep moving up!" yelled 1st Lieutenant Yamada.

"You idiot! There's death traps waiting for us, all over the field!" Kazumi bellowed. "We have to fall back."

Captain Tsuda sent his voice: "I want Private Miyata captured for sedition! We must charge forward!"

Kazumi grinned as she gripped the two-handed blade. She muttered to herself: girls, they don't care if you live or die. I care.

The North Winds foe started firing arrows on their position, and something else!

It looked like a rock when it landed, but the deafening sound and the uneasy ground even where Kazumi stood, told her different. The 2nd wave, and 1st Lieutenant Yamada at the center, was swallowed up in a massive divine flame.

/ / /

Deputy Tanimoto's plan was to hold off the Gunbatsu in the Trade ministry office until everyone who wanted to leave was gone. Then they could teleport back to the Governor's manor to regroup.

The angry group of Gunbatsu loyalists seemed to have convinced everyone that they didn't want to be left in the office, and all of the Trade ministry workers lined up to start getting out.

Autumn had to work on detaching herself from the visual, as the rush of people into the doorway and the bloody opposition she presented were quite horrifying. She was protecting those who only wanted to escape. They didn't have to rush at her like that.

Her Dao blade was sharp, keen, and faced few indeed who had a weapon of their own. Was Gunbatsu planning on storming the building, or did Seidjiteki surprise them by inviting them in.

If everyone in civilian government was banned from having any combatant ability, then they may have thought it would be a simple matter to take over the offices. They hadn't formed an assault team, but instead a mob.

A man with a hammer climbed into the doorframe, and no one was able to slip in while he fought Autumn. In the tight space near the doorway, her assailant's hammer was not so effective. All he could down was swing it downward tomahawk style and she dodged and struck back again and again, but he didn't go down despite the many cuts he received.

This was not her best fighting environment either, teleports were useless here. Her foe had made a plan though, and in a moment he stepped inside the office, and to the side, and another person rushed past her towards the Deputy and the ministry people.

Looking back, she realized someone was coordinating from the Governor's manor, as several teleport formations had been teleported into the room, and three were being prepared as one of the Gunbatsu rushed towards them.

Her opponent didn't know much about her, Autumn thought. Blade stepping in front of the charging Gunbatsu man, she struck him down without pause, and then teleported her blade to strike the hammer wielder, an incapacitating blow.

She didn't want to waste another teleport, since she was down to less than half essence, by her guess, so she used her newfound boxing skills to defend the teleporters and try to take down the Gunbatsu faster than they could get into the room.

Deputy Tanimoto entered the fray, picking up her Dao blade, and frantically trying to defend with it.
He frowned and gave her the Dao blade, and he paid the price with his body as he learned to fight from scratch.

Who were these people? At least half of them were complete amateur fighters. She had to lean forward and block a strike from one of the few competent fighters, and switched places with the Deputy, but finally the Trade ministry people were gone, and they had two helpers to bring them back.

Getting strapped into the teleport formation, Autumn had to deflect a throwing knife as she and Deputy Tanimoto left the Trade office with its workers evacuated.

/ / /

Fire was burning. The blast wave had knocked her down again.

Kazumi stood up. She put her hand out to stop a girl from running.

"We need to form up and evacuate in an orderly fashion."

There were no more Lieutenant's calling orders out or asking them to charge. The smoke made it hard to see everywhere.

"Gather up girls!" she shouted. "These men of the North must have found a lot of old treasures to trick us with. We don't have any quarrel with them."

Some of the girls kept on running, but some, she stopped with words or with a hand offering comfort.

Kazumi hadn't seen many battles, and certainly none like this.

She was touched to see Wei with a group of girls, marching forward.

"Kazumi!" Wei shouted. "Are you out there!?"

"Right here, Wei!"

Their reunion was short as they had more to do, more girls to gather up. 1st Lieutenant Yamada had been the spine that kept their unit together, and fire and smoke was still billowing where she had stood.

She didn't expect that the North Winds army would charge through the field of death they had created, but they did.

She watched in horror as their army weaved through the field, single file. They had a safe path through, she guessed. They didn't expect any of Captain Tsuda's army would be left.

"You're hurt Kazumi," Wei said quietly.

"We have to get our fighting voices back. Come on girls. Form up around me! We're under attack!"

Kazumi knew where the end of the death field was because that was where the North army began to form up again.

It would be hopeless if they continued to retreat and were hunted down individually.

"Charge them before they form up!"

/ / /

Deputy Tanimoto's wounds were being looked after. Autumn had a cut to her right cheek that was bleeding slowly, and another to her right leg.

They were gathered in one of the Governor's rooms, deciding what to do next. Saito, the Governor and leads of the ministry teams they had rescued were there, as well as the captain of the Governor General's guards.

"Deputy Minister, does the West Winds have any technology to quickly restore essence? I don't care if there's some side effects for a few days, as long as I can get back out there safely," Autumn was saying.

"It's a strategic stockpile, rare and precious, and Gunbatsu may already have it. Third floor, supply closet 7," Tanimoto said, pointing to a detailed diagram of the building.

"I don't recommend taking more than one recharge crystal," said Saito. "I was out on long missions before. We were ordered to take several in a day and the abuse your body takes, with that much essence flow, it's too much.

"Who can go back in with me? Gunbatsu is going to respond, if they think I'm coming back. They'll form up into actual fighting squads instead of a mob of sympathizers."

"Most of the Special forces are already out on war assignment, so you shouldn't face too much superior opposition. It's just the quantity. Guard-Captain, is there any men you can spare?" Saito said.

"At most two, the Governor's manor needs to be protected too. They may try a reprisal against the Specialist's efforts," the captain said.

"I need an expert. Deputy Tanimoto, you need to heal up. Who else knows the most about the Government Offices?"

"Minister of the Interior Seto," Deputy Tanimoto said.

"He's still trapped over there, I assume?" Autumn said.

"Yes. Take Minister Itoh. Try to rescue the Interior ministry," Tanimoto said. "I'll coordinate from here."

The two guards the Captain could spare were both equipped with short blades designed for building security. They appeared to be made for thrusting rather than slashing. These men were quiet.

"We can't risk the Governor General by putting ourselves in too much risk, but we will help as much as we can."

With four people, they had to bring two teleport formations, and they chose a position a little out of the way on the second floor. It was halfway between the Transition office that Minister Kasai had been in and the Minister of the Interior offices.

Gunbatsu had organized their forces, and one roaming man who spotted them ran the opposite direction.

She was tempted to waste a blade step to go after him, but until they got to the Recharge crystals, she didn't want to waste anything.

One of the two guards was bald and the other had a bushy beard. They both reacted when several archers fired on them. As if from thin air, they reached their hands out and suddenly both were holding tower shields, which deflected the arrows with ease.

Other than arrows, some of the Gunbatsu crowd were throwing jagged rocks. While the guards slowly pressed forward against the hail of ammunition from the far end of the hallway, Autumn blade stepped beyond the attackers, and rapidly was in the mix with their fighting team.

The ranged attackers were down quickly, and the guards gained free hands as their shields vanished, and as Autumn fought against an angry sabre user.

The Dao blade weaved and danced, her striking and foot position was pressured against the Sabre user, but she managed to hold the man off until the guards applied enough extra pressure to defeat the Sabre user.

He was the first worthy fighter among the Gunbatsu. They were believers in military organization, so what proud Pathist would submit? Only those who were fully committed to their approach.

/ / /

This North Winds army had no coherent composition, as she faced fighters using every kind of weapon. They had been more impressive at a distance and in their wily defense.

Her girls were struggling, having faced something completely unexpected in the earlier traps. But Kazumi tried to encourage them. Wei was busy being moral support for the girls as well.

"We're fighting for the next girls to come! They won't have to fight." Wei said.

The line bent, but it wouldn't break because Kazumi didn't fall back and she took the fighting burden for the girls around her.

Carefully, she used the arc light to blind her foe, who flinched and was out of position as she struck.

She was tracking her essence as well as she could, and it was growing day by day. She had used her arc light ability three times, and still she could use it more. She didn't have enough essence to use arc light freely and also use her Lightning Hawk ability, so she kept the latter ability for the future.

At this rate she would have a handful of abilities and the essence to use them in a few weeks.

North Winds forces started to flee, and their careful lines through the death field were not adhered too. Another reverberating boom told her that one of the North soldiers hit those glowing death artifacts.

It seemed like Kazumi was the only one who saw those items glowing that way. Even the North soldiers had to rely on walking a narrow line to avoid stepping on them.

Idly she contemplated how useful Shusui would be in this battle. Lacking her mentor's movement powers, she could only be a lightning strike in one spot, whereas Shusui could be everywhere.

/ / /

The initial plan to evac the Minister of the Interior had failed because they had all been captured and moved elsewhere. After that, they made a successful path to the recharge crystals, and Autumn took two.

The guards were a great response to groups of enemies firing from a distance, but their prowess was much less in hand to hand fighting. She wished she had someone like Kazumi to fight with her side-by-side.

She was forced to burn through six teleports and one blade teleport to deal with the three Special Forces soldiers.
When they made it to one of the last teleport formations tucked away, she had to accept that it was time to leave.

They hadn't rescued anyone else, and all of them were injured. Minister Itoh had been teleported back to the Manor at the last teleport formation they found. The guards had been carrying him, because his leg was broken and bleeding badly.

Autumn had been fighting wounded, she could barely walk and the pinky finger on her right hand was barely hanging on. Luckily she fought left handed, but she couldn't bear to put her off-hand on the Dao blade, instead doing her best one-handed and teleporting.

When she got back to the manor, she heard the sound of frantic fighting, and the room where people had been evaced in was overrun.

She decided to take the second recharge crystal, despite the warning.

"What do you want to do?" she asked the guards.

"Go, save the Governor General. We know the manor and it's defenses."

The assault on the Governor's Manor was not full forced, but Saito and a half-dozen guards were all the defense the manor had.

She blade stepped where she expected Saito would retreat to.

She had not seen Warrant Officer Saito truly fighting. His weapon seemed to be a collapsible nightstick and he was busily holding off two attackers.

"Rescued anyone else?" he asked.

"No, but the guards are going to try to use the building's defense formations to stop this."

She was a much weaker fighter with only one useful hand, but she still helped Saito, by turning his fight into one on one as she faced the other.

She could still use footwork to evade and fool her enemies, and once Saito's opponent was down, she teleported behind her foe, striking them in the same moment.

"These two made it to our last position. The guards held their position to let us retreat."

The governor-general's bedroom was filled with men and women in tight proximity. Between those rescued from the Government Offices and those who had been at the manor already.

Doctor Takahashi tried to help her. "I don't have many supplies left. Not much essence left either."

"The guards carried some Recharge crystals with them, hopefully they can lock down the building and get to us," she said.

/ / /

Three North Winds soldiers had been hit by their own nation's traps. Kazumi was leading the girls. She hadn't found any Lieutenants, and the two Sergeants she rallied didn't question her leadership.

They moved east and south, away from the North Winds border, and set up camp a few miles back.

The girls had a lot of questions, she knew that, so she sent Wei out to talk with the girls at each tent.

Some of the girls had left their packs behind when they fled, so there weren't enough tents to go around. Some of them would have to rest and sleep on the ground.

Kazumi didn't have any clear answer of what had to happen next. She had general goals, and an impossible chasm between her and them.

"About eighty girls," Wei told her.

"Gather them up, we need to have a conversation," Kazumi told them.

When the girls sit in a big ring around Kazumi at the center, she spoke to them.

"Foolish orders like the one Captain Tsuda gave today, that's why we can't follow these generals anymore! We have no reason to attack the North Winds. Our leadership believed that the North Winds were already falling apart, and if they didn't scoop up that treasure that the South would.

Did anyone in General Shoji's staff ask, what about the people, or do we actually need more land and treasure, or what's the price in terms of our own people fallen?

Did anyone ask us girls, when we turned 10, do you want to join the army. Or did anyone ask Wei and her sister at the border, do you want to join the army? They just wanted to come to the West Winds in peace, and we just wanted to go to school and have fun, and learn and become good people.

Did anyone ask us if we wanted to be the tip of the spear? We shouldn't be fighting the North or the South! Do you think the army got approval from the elected government before going to war with the North and South? I doubt it.

If you ask me, the Army is already an army of rebel bandits. They capture a bit more of our West Winds every day.

I understand if you want to go home now. But they will identify you, and capture you, if you go alone. Anyone who wants to leave, I can't stop you, but I can tell you, I will fight against the Generals and their evil banditry. I need your help. I need your sisters and your brothers and families and our whole nation to help.

I think, if we have to fight, we fight for a future where we won't have to. If they fight, they fight so they can fight again some more. They spend our lives, so they can spend more of them in the next generation.

I'm not following Command, I'm not following rank. We'll form our own ranks! I respect you and I will treat you with respect, and I expect our new officers to respect those under them."

After her speech, Wei said, "Uh, Kazumi. I think there's some special forces coming towards us."

/ / /

Her hand was patched up, and she was able to walk evenly, but with pain in every step. The defense formations were fully active, and no one was able to enter the manor anywhere.

There were some members of the ministry who hadn't yet arrived at the Government Officers when the craziness started.

With the lockdown happening, eventually the Gunbatsu left, and the two guards who had accompanied Autumn, were busy letting more ministry members into the manor.

They were gathered in every room of the manor, but especially the grand dining room. The Governor's cleaning staff was busy cleaning up after the fighting, while Saito and Minister Kasai coordinated to find out what newspapers were loyal to them.

They had to get out the message, or they would be constantly endangered by the first army returning from the fighting.

South Winds Weekly was basically a Seidjiteki front, and with their alliance with the Gunbatsu, it was hopeless.

The Mizumi Herald agreed to send a reporter for the inauguration, even though they said they were also sending a reporter to the "Constitutional Reformation" happening at the Government Offices.

Autumn was so relieved when she found Miss Chou hadn't been in the government offices, and she was able to change her appearance and family markers back to their originals.

Miss Chou was busy working with Naoki as well, so they had another chance to chat, while she was turning back into herself.

"I was shocked that Masumi disavowed his party, and he is here for the inauguration. He'll be the only Seidjiteki in attendance, but he plans on changing parties during the next election. If we have one," Naoki said.

"He was truly loyal to what his party said they were for, then," Autumn said.

"We don't know what comes next, but Minister Kasai will try to carry on the legitimate government, even if it ends up being in exile. You've got opportunities. You can't go back to the existing military. I know there are plans to form Self-Defense forces, even if we have to ask for those older veterans who are loyal to the idea of fair elections, and armies accountable to elected officials. My father might want to hire you on. There are other ideas too."



Where does Autumn go from here (Post-Inauguration)?

[ ] Work for the Governor-General as a Guard

[ ] Work for the planned Self-Defense Forces under Saito

[ ] Work as Ministry security, protecting Prime Minister Kasai, eventually leading Ministry staff security teams.

Wow, that auto-voting didn't work quite right, but the vote was unanimous. So I guess I'll go back to the old way of voting.


After discussions with Minister Kasai, Governor General Kubota and Officer Saito, Autumn decided to continue working as part of Kasai's security team.

Saito was being picked to lead the new Self-Defense forces, which was the Minister's answer to Gunbatsu's unaccountable armies.

There was much ambition in Kasai's new team, but not a lot of capability, as of yet. They had most of Trade, Agriculture and Science ministry, as well as any staff members that weren't in the office when Gunbatsu invaded.

Minister Kasai's appointments for the other departments had to be drawn from the people he had available, so they were more junior people than hoped for.

Miss Chou was a true master of fashion and design, and in a matter of hours, she had designed a new uniform for the Self-Defense forces and one for Ministry security teams.

Autumn's formal uniform for the inauguration was brown and white, and unobtrusive compared to the interesting green Self-defense forces uniforms. The only thing missing was the insignia which Prime Minister Kasai wanted to present to her during the inauguration.

Even though the Minshuto government wasn't going through a constitutional change, there were differences that would be felt in Prime Minister Kasai's administration.

He hoped to establish a more significant security force for staff, to end political assassinations once and for all. He hoped to re-establish diplomatic contacts with the North Winds and South Winds and work towards peace, towards disarming the out-of-control Gunbatsu apparatus.

He had many other plans, and much that would depend on input from his staff, but these were two primary focuses, in the aftermath of the assault on the Government Offices, and the dual governments proclaiming to be the true West Winds government.

Autumn knew she had a ton of work to do if she hoped to lead such the Ministry security efforts. Hopefully, they would uncover an experienced and loyal person to take over from her as the program expanded. She needed to learn from someone like Saito, so she didn't make obvious beginner mistakes.

The governor had a room with beautiful hardwood floors, and crystal chandeliers that he used if guests wanted to dance, or if he had a large cocktail party. It was much smaller than the normal site of inaugurations, but it would have to do.

They weren't leading a procession through the streets either, but instead took their places immediately.

Autumn and Saito stood behind the new Prime Minister in the two corners, and Kasai, and his Deputy Tanimoto stood together, with the leads of each ministry department forming lines.

Autumn had been to her sisters' weddings, and this almost looked like a wedding to her. These ministry teams were like the maids of honor and groomsmen, except only one of the ministry leads was a woman.

Behind these two lines were the rest of the staff and others present, who stood on either side of the Governor General.

The inauguration started with the Governor General giving thanks to those who sacrificed in the past, and those in the present, who would give everything for the West Winds, and the whole world to have a future,

Much of the event was a procession of boring events to Autumn. It was important, and so she tried to give her attention. But it was something outside of her focus.

Government in the North Winds, was a matter of individuals, and the people who orbited those individuals. Democracy was something she laughed about while she was in the North Winds, but now seeing the situation more clearly, she respected the idea of democracy as Minister Kasai spoke it, even if she hadn't lived it enough to have any idea what it was really like.

She could apply herself to protecting the people involved in this democracy, but when it came to the details of running it, she had to leave that to the Kasais and Tanimotos of the world. She was fond of the Deputy Prime Minister, even those she'd only known him for a very brief time.

She did pay attention when the one woman minister was mentioned.

"For the first time in the history of the West Winds federation, there will be a woman cabinet member. I am appointing Mrs. Sakai as Lead Minister of the Treasury.

We must acknowledge the things we got wrong. In a spirit of compromise, our previous Minshuto administrations had prevented all women from rising above the position of Assistant Staff member. Effective immediately, all positions will be available for men or women based on merit, including Cabinet positions, such as the one Mrs. Sakai is filling. Mrs. Sakai has been an Assistant Staff member of the Treasury department for 23 years, and she has resolved many of the issues her seniors failed to solve. She has ample experience to lead the department. Thank you, Mrs. Sakai for agreeing to step into this position."

Autumn thought that Prime Minister Kasai left the military stuff to the end, on purpose.

"It is a sad fact," he was saying, "that we need to establish and recruit individuals to form our defense against any future acts by the Gunbatsu government. What we do not need to do, is form a military around the idea of aggression against other nations. For that reason, I am declaring the creation of a new military entity, known as the West Winds Self-Defense forces.

These forces are now, and will always be lead by the Prime Minister, who delegates to the Self-Defense Observer, who relies on the opinions of the Highest ranking member of the Self-Defense forces.

Our Law department will prosecute any illegal actions, and the Self-Defense forces are not authorized to act on matters internal to our nation, except in times of civil distress like we experience now, or during martial law. The Self-Defense forces must not be a police force, nor a secret police, but only a bulwark in the event of irrational, and malicious attacks against our people.

Our new Self-Defense Observer, who is and will remain a civilian member of my cabinet, is M Iseri. He will have authority to make recommendations and evaluate the effectiveness of our Self-Defense forces, so that we can decide to remove the commander, or institute corrective measures.

In order to avoid any pretensions of grandiosity and make a new statement in our nation, our new commander agreed to take a rank lower than general. Our new Commander of the Self-Defense forces is Colonel Saito. Colonel Saito is a veteran of eight years in Special Forces, and in that time he has been a thorn in the side of the Gunbatsu-infected Special Forces. He has protected, when they have assaulted."

Autumn smiled as she watched Saito come forward in the dark green uniform of Self-Defense forces. His insignia was a silver hawk, which Prime Minister Kasai pinned on his uniform.

"Many of you may know the youngest member of my new administration. Even if you met her briefly, Ms. Setsu makes a big impact. It is very important that we move past this travesty that is political assassinations. This is a very ugly side of the supposed democracy we cherish, and so I want to make a promise to all of my cabinet ministers and ministry staff that you will be safe.

Lieutenant Setsu will become my personal security chief, but she will also be providing oversight for your own security staffs as we identify and vet trustworthy people to take those positions. She may be young, but her efforts have been vital in keeping myself and my wife safe, and bringing many of you here tonight."

Autumn walked over to Prime Minister Kasai, and stood as he applied the Lieutenant's insignia to her uniform. It was a small gold vertical rectangle.

Afterwards, she returned to her corner.

The Governor General spoke some concluding remarks: "Prime Minister Kasai, your Government is established by the principles put down at the time of Federation. There is no Emperor, and no unelected power which will alter the course of your administration. You will remain in your position, as long as you retain the confidence of the majority of the representatives of the Legislature. You must choose to run an election at some point not exceeding four years from this day.

In addition, I'd like to make a few remarks. As the Head of State, I prefer to leave the matter of governance and policy to the Government head and his subordinates. However, when the course of events is so aberrant, and so inconsistent with the principles of this nation, that the integrity of the nation itself is in jeopardy, it is important for your Head of State to speak up.

When Generals seek to run for office, they must put down their swords and become civilians. When they seek to interfere in lawful elections or lawful government, they have crossed the line.

Prime Minister Kasai, it is my firm opinion that the representatives of Gunbatsu and Seidjiteki who are participating in the rebellious act of declaring "Constitutional Reformation" have forfeited their positions.

I believe the only member of those parties present here is Mr. Seno Masumi. Thank you sir, for standing for respectful opposition, when the rest of your party stood for disrespect. You may stand as the Opposition leader and only member of the opposition, for we do still need an opposition, as no man is perfect.

Considering the circumstances of the present, these premises will be available for Government functions and visits until a suitable location can be found."

After the inauguration, they took a few hours to relax and celebrate before the serious work to come.

Several members of staff offered drinks to Autumn, but she had several reasons to turn them down. First, she was still on duty. Second, she had no desire for the stuff, or the feeling associated, and all she could think of was Chi and Tuan with their friends, and Son being upset when he found out.

One offer that she was interested in was from Masumi.

"I've heard from Koji, and now with all the gossip going around, I understand you are something of a sword enthusiast?" he asked.
"Koji told me you have a bit of a sword collection?" she said. "I would love to see it sometime, when I'm off duty. Perhaps a spar at that time."

"Perhaps you both would like to see a rather special blade from my collection." said the Governor General, smiling.


The Governor's manor must have a room for every purpose, as he lead the group to a room set up much like the dojo at the Family parade grounds.

The Governor General was smiling as he opened a beautiful weapon's case.

"Masumi, I hear you have a lot of weapons from all kinds of places, but do you have one like this?"

He pulled out a weapon that could have been a clone of Tuan's shotel.

"That's just like my brother's weapon," she said, beaming.

"Very obscure indeed, you say your brother has one of these?" Masumi said, handling the weapon which the Governor General passed to him.

"Go ahead, test it out," said the Governor General.

Masumi tested out the shotel in a few maneuvers before handing it back to the governor. He had the practiced approach of someone who had some experience with sword fighting.

"It's not easy to change your Way when you change your life. I still have the Path of my youth, when I was in the army," he said.

The Governor-General's staff was busy making room for an office for the Prime Minister at least. The rest of them would have to make do with keeping files at home until they found a new location.

After the celebrations died down, Prime Minister Kasai had many meetings, and Autumn had to be present for all of them as the PM's security. Finally she had her own meeting with him to discuss the future of the Minister security program.

"We need to start interviewing people, and eventually we will draw from a wide range of candidates, and develop a procedure to vet all of them, but we should start with just one group to make it easier on you."


What group of people would you like to interview first for Ministry Security positions?
You would be initially interviewing for members of PM Kasai's security detail, and members for an overall ministry security team, that would be additional numbers protecting the Governor's manor as well as future protectors of the new Government building.

Eventually you will be interviewing many people from all of these groups, but this first group is just your test case to work on establishing procedures and the pool from which your initial ministry candidates will be formed from.

[ ] Regular Army / Special Forces Veterans (non-Gunbatsu affiliated)

These are veterans who are either officially Minshuto party members, or Government has reason to believe they are not Gunbatsu sympathizers. You will still have to vet them, of course.

[ ] Girls' Army Veterans

These are veterans of the Girls Army who have served their term of duty. All members of the Girls Army were enlisted because they had potential to be Pathists, or already were Pathists. Most of these women are married, and many have families. Some of these women may want to join the Ministry security staff but face opposition from their husbands, and some find their priorities have changed, but as a whole, few of these Veterans have any affection for Gunbatsu, so there is an advantage in that aspect.

[ ] Concerned Civilians (non-Gunbatsu affiliated, 18-40 y.o.)

These are people who have never served in the military, and most of them are not Pathists, but some are. They are untrained, but either Minshuto party members or unlikely to be sympathetic to the Gunbatsu. This is the great body of people concerned about the injustices in the Military and their takeover of government, and willing to help.