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Daedalus
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Preface
This is my first ever Civ3 Short Story. It's based on some events that occured while I was playing as the Japanese. It centres on a series of battles that I had against the Chinese, with a serious Tech-disadvantage. New chapters might be a little slow coming as my net access is fairly intermittent, but hang in there- hopefully it'll all be worth it.
I
"Hirotomo Akira! You are worthless! You have dishonoured your family name with your actions!"
The rememberance still beat into the old ronin's heart like hammers.
"You are not worthy of sepukku. Your punishment will be to continue to live with the dishonour. You are lucky that we do not leave you for the enemy. Leave here now, and do not return."
A silent tear rolled down his face as he stared at the breaking dawn.
It had been 3 days since he had last eaten. Too proud to turn to banditry, Akira plied his services to sleazy merchants as a bodyguard. His current client had dismissed him 3 days ago, after finding him passed out, drunk at a nearby sake house.
Alcohol seemed to be the only way to dull his pain.
II
The flag of Tokugawa hung proudly over the city of Edo. His palace, towering over nearby buildings was a proud testament to the peaceful reign of the Shogun. However, inside the palace, there was little peace to be found.
A messenger had arrived in the great audience hall. "Tokugawa-sama, we have just received disturbing news from our spies in Beijing," he announced breathlessly.
Seated at his throne, Tokugawa Ieyasu seemed as still as a mountain. Not tall, balding and with a hint of a gut, Tokugawa was not imposing physically. Renowned as a great scholar, and an accomplished swordsman, he was the epitome of what defined a samurai.
With a raised eyebrow, Tokugawa gestured for the messenger to continue.
"Sire, our spies report that Chinese scientists have made a disturbing breakthrough in the field of mobile warfare. It seems that they have used their 'combustion engines' to power an armoured siege vehicle. This vehicle has great mobility, and carries cannon as armament. They are only a year away from putting these weapons into service!"
A collective gasp went through the Japanese court. One advisor cried out "Sire, how could we fight such a machine. Our muskets are primitive by comparison. While our Samurai are great warriors, they cannot match such power."
Tokugawa turned to his Science advisor, "How goes the research into these 'rifles' we acquired from the German barbarians?"
"Sire, not well. If China were to war on us tomorrow, we would be in desperate trouble. Even with the increased firepower that these weapons would give us, and with massed cannon, I fear the Chinese would roll over us. As it stands now, our samurai are a match for the Chinese cavalry, but for how long?"
All eyes in the audience chamber were on Tokugawa. This crisis could mean disaster for the Japanese, unless Tokugawa could find a solution.
After what seemed an eternity, Tokugawa spoke "The way will not be easy, but I can see our path through this. Convene my war council."
More to come...
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Daedalus
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Small update today- far too much typing in one day....
III
Honda Tadamatsu hated to leave his liege lord. Whilst he understood the necessity of his presence at the Persian capital for such important negotiations, he couldn't shake the sense of impending doom hanging over his homelands.
Honda marvelled at the technological wonders that greeted him, secretly wondering how Japan could be so far behind Persia and it's grinning idiot of a leader.
"Ah, Honda, so good to see you!" Xerxes was beaming, the way someone who holds all the cards only can. "Sorry about the delay, those pesky Iroquois have been harrassing my border guards again. Perhaps you could persuade your noble Tokugawa to help me deal with those primitives?"
Honda's face darkened, barely containing the hatred he had for the Persian leader, "So sorry, Mr. President, but I will have to consult with my lord before I can answer."
"What a pity, I do like your 'samurai'. They have such style."
Honda did not answer.
"Well, to the business at hand, eh?" Xerxes' face stiffened, as Honda sighed, 'at last' thought Honda. "I'm afraid that Persia simply cannot provide you with the weapons your Shogun requested. My Science minister believes you would use the technology to war on your lesser neighbours. We cannot forget how mercilessely you crushed Egypt."
Ashen-faced, Honda replied "Then, Japan must discontinue it's silk trade to your people. I'm sure the Germans would appreciate our product much more."
Xerxes dismissed this reference to his rival with a wave of the hand, "Very well. Thank you for coming, Honda. I do enjoy your visits. Perhaps next time you might care to witness some war games?"
Resisting the temptation to draw his killing sword and cut the grinning idiot in half, Honda said "Perhaps. Thank you for you hospitality, President Xerxes. I must hurry back to Japan to deliver the news."
Riding his horse away from Perseopolis, Honda could not help thinking that Japan's circumstances seem to be worsening by the minute.
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Daedalus
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IV
A small carrion bird picked at the mouldering corpse of some unidentifiable small mammal in the summer heat. The strong beak tugged at red flesh. Fat black flies buzzed lazily around the scene. Akira opened one eye and took in this cheery scene.
"Hirotomo-san!" A girl's voice, "Hirotomo-san! Where are you?"
Looking up from where he lay, he shouted, "Here!"
The young peasant girl turned toward him, and ran over to there burned out hut where he sheltered. "Hirotomo-san, our master has asked for you over an hour ago. He's very upset."
Sitting up, Akira put a hand to his waist, feeling for his swords. "Go tell him that I will be there in a moment. Run along, now."
Tanaka Hideo was a small time sake merchant in the city of Sekigahara, a well-populated town on the border with China, who had gotten involved in matters that he shouldn't have. Presently, the head of the local bandit gang stood brooding in his home. His name was Tangen, and he was a giant. Arms like tree-trunks, and an ugly face crisscrossed by scars. At his waist his wore a famous sword, taken from one of the local daimyo's hatamoto he had killed a year earlier. A smart man would not argue with this man.
"Tangen-sama, you must understand that times are lean. It's hard to sell very much sake when most of the nobles are away, doing Tokugawa's bidding in Egypt."
Tangen's face reddened "Well, merchant, that is a most serious problem. It means you will have to sacrifice some of your luxury to make your protection payment this month."
"But Tangen! I don't even have 20 koban!", Tanaka pleaded, "How could I pay you 30?"
"Find a way. You have till tomorrow." With that Tangen stormed out.
"Hirotomo! You are late!" Tanaka tried to hide his panic underneath his anger. Akira merely stared at him. Damn that fool Hirotomo! If only he were here ten minutes ago, he could have cut down that cursed Tangen. Now Tangen will be wary of an attempt on his life! Tanaka thought. "So you have nothing to say? Then, you will have no complaint when I ask you to kill a man for me!" Tanaka studied Akira's face, for even a hint of reaction. There was none.
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Daedalus
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V
Waiting patiently amongst the tall grass near the bandit camp, Tanaka's words played slowly through Akira's mind. "Kill Tangen, ronin. Do this for me and I'll give you 7 koban. That's a full third of the ransom he demanded of me. It's a large payment, because you will probably have to kill his followers to get to him. That should buy you plenty of sake, eh, ronin?" Akira knew he was being lied to regarding the amount, but even one koban was more than he had seen in a year.
The sun was slowly setting, and Akira continued to wait. He knew he would have to strike swiftly and stealthily to get out of the camp alive. Deep in Zen meditation, Akira could wait days if need be, though he knew that would not be the case tonight.
The moon was high in the night sky when Akira's chance arose. Tangen had entered his tent with two other bandits at dusk, and now the two had left. Quietly, standing to a crouch, Akira slowly made his way toward the tent. Keeping to the shadows, Akira paused at the entrance, listening. Hearing only the creaking of crickets, Akira made his move. Stepping through the flap while drawing his sword, Akira lunged to attack. Tangen nimbly rolled out of the way. "Filthly assassin!" Tangen hissed, "you cannot surprise me so easily." Suddenly, Tangen was on his feet, drawing his killing sword in an eyeblink. Composing himself, Akira took up a shallow fighting stance. Tangen and Akira circled slowly, trying to wait for an opportunity to strike. Tangen chuckled, "I bet that worthless merchant Tanaka sent you. I hope he paid you well." Akira stayed silent. He knew that Tangen's men would have heard the commotion and would be on their way that very moment. The two men stared at each other as if willing the other to burst into flame. Hearing the footsteps of his men outside his tent, Tangen glanced off to the side. Seizing the opportunity, Akira slashed downwards with his sword. Just in time, Tangen parried the blow. In the moment that, Tangen parried the blow, Akira's left hand pulled his wakizashi from it's sheath and slashed at Tangen's neck in one move. Tangen's eyes widened in surprise as he felt the swort sword open a cut on his neck. He raised his left hand to the spot and found no cut. In that moment, Tangen realised it was a feint with the blunt side of the short sword, but all too late. By the time Tangen thought to take up a guard position, Akira slashed again, separating his head from his shoulders.
Tangen's body dropped to the ground, now minus a head. Looking up from the carnage, Akira saw the two bandits burst through the tent opening.
The men reeled as they saw their leader's corpse on the ground. At that moment, Akira lunged with both swords in a flash of silver steel.
Last edited by Daedalus on 30-09-2002 at 16:14
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Daedalus
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Don't worry, I haven't stopped writing the story- I'm busy with another project on another forum, so I won't be able to write the next chapter till sometime next week.
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08-09-2002 21:10
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