**Author:** AZNCracka --- ### Chapter 1 “Taki! Your family’s on the Condor, and hell’s breaking loose all around us! We’ve got to get out of here, NOW!” Taki had to get up. He needed to move towards the aircraft. He and his family needed to leave this country… --- ¹こんにちは, 僕の名前は…待って、英語で… Hello, my name is Sato Takashi. I’m a native from Japan, near the now closed off Osaka Prefecture, in 2012. You’ll have to forgive me for starting out in Japanese, English is used mostly amongst coworkers and people who’ve moved from other countries…though that hasn’t happened recently, so English is still second language for me. My coworker, who is actually from America, told me to make record of my background, and I have quite the story. Lately, I’ve seen the efforts of the non-patriated coalition, and I‘m now contemplating the decision to join them, as my country and her allies struggle to maintain the peace after recent events. Right now, I’m at home recording this in the living room, all the while, I took day off from work to get break after what happened with my company’s partnership in Korea, and I was advised by my friend to create summary of events I experienced, to represent who I am in all of this, as well as to protect us from a potential attack from the incident that unfolded. Well, on that note, I suppose my teenage years is a good place to start, so here we go. ¹ こんにちは, 僕の名前は…待って、英語で… - “Hello, My name is…wait, in English” in Japanese <br> ### Chapter 2 As I graduated from high school and entered university, when tensions rose between the great superpowers of the world, The US, Russia, and China, attempted to get the lead in a never-ending political race, and resource struggles began to take hold in a frustrating way. Unrest, tension amongst the populace, and adjusting to nature’s wrath as the climate steadily increased. But we as a people did our best to just live our lives, until something unfortunate happened. I guess this is all conjecture, it’ll lead to when I really picked up on stuff. Don’t worry, this is all just the beginning. I graduated from Tokyo Denki University in 2035, majored in Computer Engineering and a minor in InfoTech. I figured the influx of cyber warfare and the growth of the information age would really open the market for people that were good with computers, and that was what I went for. People may have heard the stereotypes of harsh education in my country…that hasn’t changed…If anything, it just got worse. Sensei always made sure to remind us of the tensions of the power struggle with the neighbors out west, our government was in the talks of helping the Koreans, join forces with their politics. As a result, Korean was mandatory part of the curriculum, and I have at least small understanding of the language. Is that too analytical? Sorry, it’s in my nature. College wasn’t so bad. Friends, having fun, and travels were part of it also. It’s just making sure your future secure isn’t easy, especially in my homeland. And with all the disasters and tensions, happiness only comes as a fleeting grasp, and we need to be sure to take it as it comes along. <br> ### Chapter 3 That happiness could be found in the next couple months. First, it was in my job I landed a bit after graduation, by the end of the year. It was at a cyberdefense and defensive hardware manufacturer called ヤタガラインドッストーリ² , or Yatagara Industries. Really, the work wasn’t too grueling, and it paid well enough to start living on my own! Even then, I was still close by to my family, they were only 4 blocks away in prefecture. Made some really good friends with some coworkers, met an American named Lukas, he was there for extended business trip he told me. When I asked how long he’s been there, he told me, “Eh, about a couple months now. US is still trying to maintain itself and its economy to keep from falling to recession like Europe.” He mentions they outsource their workers to other countries to not only maintain good business, but to also keep good relations with them also. I guess that works. But while also meeting people from around the world, I also met a beautiful woman in the company, Her name was Misaki, and she was amongst the sales engineers in the company. One day, we got lunch after I was sending her computing codes for printing component parts, and eventually we started going out on the weekends to know each other more over the next year. Sure, I had some flings like that in school, but she was different. Unlike the other girls, she wasn’t afraid to try new things. I liked that about her. She was a keeper. I didn’t want to let her go. By end of summer 2036, she and I would move in together, Time moved really fast, but, you know, Japanese culture would remind us this is normal thing to do. ² ヤタガラインドッストーリ- Company name written in native letters. <br> ### Chapter 4 Around, クリスマス, our version of Christmas 2037, we went to Hokkaido for the holidays, all of family and friends. We stayed for a week at the inns near the northern tip of the country, got as far away from Osaka as possible, to both getaway from the tensions within our country, as well as just to get the time needed away from work, and just enjoy everyone’s company. The energy and timing felt so good, I made the bold decision to propose to Misaki. Sure, the blizzards were at their height, and the air was ice cold, but the feeling of her accepting my proposal to marriage made everything warm. Our friends and family were so happy too. I guess I didn’t go into detail with how things got to be here…but, it’s as they say, the rest is history. Yatagara gave us an extended trip since we missed the last holiday season, and it was worth it. Japan isn’t well known for its easy-going work culture, but I guess in the sector we worked in, it made sense. I was thankful. <br> ### Chapter 5 We got married later that summer; it was a beautiful day in May of 2037, at Toronomon Hills near Tokyo tower. With all the things happening around us, this was another happy day to remember. Wedding reception in the Hyatt rooftop, flight out to our honeymoon in Bangkok, and enjoy each other’s company. A month later, my love Misaki wasn’t feeling too good. When we went to the doctor, we found out she was pregnant with our first kid! We set some time after we got out of work to make a room for the incoming kid, we found out later, and revealed at a gender party, we were having a girl! We also tried to work extra hours to make ends meet, and be more properly prepared for when the time came, and she was born after the winter of the next year, on 19th March, 2038. We named her Akira, after one of mine and Misaki’s favorite anime movies growing up. We made sure to raise her as well as possible, despite everything that was happening around us. We also had a son a couple years after that, on 22nd January, 2040. We named him Ando, and we’d make sure, as well as with our daughter, that he’d have as good of a life as possible. As time went on, the tensions between the nations seemed to upset logistics and trade for other countries…However, an organization, which I now know, the No-Pats, would try to help whenever they were close by. Everything from the frequent earthquake and aftermath, to occasional volcanic eruption, they’d try provide relief to us when they came around. I heard about them offering relief effort to Philippine-jin after their horrific monsoon season this past summer, and it worked, somewhat. I just hope they’re not spreading their resources thin either…everyone needs all help they can get. <br> ### Chapter 6 12th of March in 2040…that was when the lights and internet went out, right? Yea…what’s the point of working on a computer if they couldn’t even turn on…Well, that’s not completely fair either. Most companies had backup generators, especially the hospitals and powerplants. Even then, logistics took a serious turn. We had to run backup generators just to keep our phones on, but without internet, they were just glowing paperweights. The government wouldn’t restore proper functionality to powerplants until a couple weeks later. Imagine if the feudal era was mixed with concrete buildings and non-connected electricity…it was pretty much like that. We stocked up on supplies, and stuck with each other throughout the whole ordeal. A few months later, besides all the earthquakes and the occasional water level swelling, the Osaka prefecture has a restored power grid. Prime Minister Hanzo said his governing body was investigating the source of the power failure, and doesn’t want to call out anyone and spark an incident with the wrong country, if it even was the doing of another country. Sure, we had the US and NATOs help, but we wouldn’t be the ones to take the fight to the enemy, if anyone ever figured it out. Osaka Prefecture, as a result of the disabled infrastructure and the chaos that happened after, the prefectures got sectioned off into different regions, and Osaka became the northern border of the south region of Japan. Korea and the Philippines are still our friends to the North and South, but we don’t know if we’ll be enough to work together. ### Chapter 7 Fast forward up until now, and we may now have power, but things seemed to have gotten worse for our situation. Turned out the Daesong data center in Songdo, South Korea experienced a data leak, and some of the data showed how each major company in the world was receiving its funding, and where they got their resources from. Unfortunately, Yatagara was part of the hack, and our government was directly protecting and endorsing their unethical practices. I couldn’t believe it – was I really helping a company that didn’t have the best interests for everyone? Misaka was more infuriated at the revelation, since she actually worked on the hardware they made. Right now, me and her are back home with our kids, and we plan to talk about the future, contemplating what we should do with our jobs, and what we plan to do if we wer----- <br> Just then, there were some furious knocks on the front door to the house. The person knocking was casting a shadow through the window, and motioned a wave to me to get the door. I briskly walked to the door, and opened it. “Oh my God, thank Christ you’re still here!” The person said as I opened the door. \*\*"Lukas-san? What’s going on?”\*\*³ \*\*“It’s happening now. Yatagara is coming to…keep things quiet.”\*\* \*\*“Huh? What do you mean?”\*\* \*\*“You remember the data breach that happened a few days ago at Daesong? Well, let’s just say that was the start of the end. Daesong leaked more than just your company and its stats, turns out it had hand it exposing everyone’s security measures, it disclosed important events up until the past couple years, and compromised the infrastructure of everyone’s personal information. Ever since that happened, there have been uproars of protest and rioting in the streets around the major cities, and it’s starting to get much worse here. Yatagara are going to try to step in to help the government to provide crowd control, and to protect their reputation.”\*\* Suddenly, we heard wailing of sirens move past our block, then some safety protocol blaring from the horns coming down our streets. \*\*“Listen, I may have come to know you as a co-worker from the company, but I’m actually a No-Pat, I’m a pilot of the MFS-05 Exodus. I was sent in undercover to discover and extract some data sets of where their firearm hardware was being distributed to, and I needed your help with figuring it out. But in our time that we’ve worked together, I want to help you guys, much like how you’ve helped me and some others.”\*\* \*\*“Lukas…This is…a lot to take in…”\*\* \*\*“I know it is, but we don’t have much more to explain time before they find everyone who worked at the company, and try to clean house. Listen, I’m here because I wanted to make sure I got to you before they did. But I’m also offering you guys a chance to leave and survive.”\*\* Takashi and Misaki both had their eyes on him, and didn’t interrupt. \*\*“We probably have another day or so before they and the cops decide to sweep this block, so if you want to ensure your family’s safety, I need an answer if you want to join me as No-Pats, right now.”\*\* In the living room, everyone looked at each other, while Akira was helping her brother in the other room. Then Takashi spoke up, on everyone’s behalf. \*\*“Funny you mention this as things are happening, we were actually talking about doing this, all of us. Looks like you helped make this decision easier, to choose, and to do.”\*\* Lukas nodded comprehendingly, and stood up. \*\*“Alright then, in that case, I’d start packing up your stuff you’ll want to take with you, I’ll get some of my other No-Pat colleagues to come here in the morning. And, whatever you do, DON’T go into work or the city! The riots are starting to happen as I speak. The TV bringing up the latest news practically confirmed what Lukas was saying to them. Alright, I’ll get prepped for tomorrow. Stay safe guys.”\*\* Takashi and Misaki saw their friend out of the house, and almost immediately, they started to get all their luggages and started looking for stuff they’d definitely want to bring with them, and packed. ³ \*\* - Denotes speaking in Japanese, if these aren’t shown, the written language, English, is being spoken and written. <br> ### Chapter 8 The early morning sun rose above the horizon, and a man of his word, Lukas was back in front of the Sato household. Lukas knocked on the door, and it wasn’t Takashi or Misaki the opened the door, instead it was little Akira. She had an innocent look to her as she opened the door, although her face grew an expression of confusion as she looked towards the holsters and sling of the weapons Lukas kept on him. He spoke up, “Hey…\*\*Akira-chan, ne?\*\* Is your dad around?” Akira turned around and yelled, “Mamaaa, papaaaa!” and ran to where they were in the kitchen, eating breakfast. Misaki and Takashi came back with Akira, with Misaki holding baby Ando in her arms. \*\*"Good morning, Lukas. We’re ready to go, we just needed something in us after the talk we had with everyone else here.”\*\* Lukas looked at Takashi after hearing what Misaki had to say, \*\*“Did they take the news ok?”\*\* Takashi responded. \*\*“They didn’t like it was so sudden, but they realize they can’t stay here either, so they’re packed also. Akira doesn’t mind as long as we’ll all be ok, and Ando is still a baby, he won’t know the difference.”\*\* \*\*“Understood. I’ll give you guys another 15 minutes to finish up, and we gotta go. I’ll help if it’ll make things quicker.”\*\* Misaki and Takashi look past Lucas briefly to see what type of transport they’d be getting to the airport in. Looked like it was a convoy of Toyota Corolla Crosses. \*\*“Fast and safe, and we won’t stand out. Very smart, Lukas."\*\* “That’s the idea. Let’s speak in English as well, you’ll be doing more of that when we get to where we need to go.” Ten minutes passed, and Takashi, Misaki, their two children, their parents, and Takashi’s sister, as well as Misaki’s brother, loaded up the bags, and piled into the cars. Lukas got into one car to drive, and Mackay got into the other car. As the doors closed, they all strapped in, and began the arduous journey through the outskirts of the city to get to the airport. ### Chapter 9 Kawachinagano was a few kilometers east of the city limits of Osaka, and thanks to the country’s quick acting, they were able to stave off the rising tides, and saved the city’s main logistics and infrastructure. This applied to other cities, though to varying degrees of intensity, as well as success. Traveling west into the city limits was rather easy, and any old fool would’ve not gone into a city in order to make their escape. Unfortunately, the two cars learned that the hard way as they made their way into the urban jungle. There was a lot of traffic leading in and out of the city, and also people walking around the surrounding buildings. Takashi figured that aside from the information leak, and the relative outrage, it was just another day. Not everyone worked for a secretly nefarious company, but the fact that the company is making sure to keep things silent, and were out to get Takashi and Misaki for knowing more than the average person, it made more of a stressful and pressing issue for them and their family to leave as soon as possible. Everything seemed rather normal when all of a sudden, an explosion erupted from a building overlooking the intersection. The shockwave shook the two cars as everyone took cover as shards of glass and debris rained down onto the street. People started to panic and run in all directions, and cars were now desperately starting to try and flee the immediate area, as well as the two cars they were in now. Another explosion rang out down the block, this time out from manholes underneath the street. At this point, Lukas and Mackay, as though in coordinated action, slammed on the gas of the two cars, and frantically got out of the intersection. “Webs, what the fuck is going on?” Jolted by the situation, Lukas contacted Mackay and he shouted. “Lukas, I think it’s a terror attack! Data leak is making people go nuts, hitting busy parts of the city, likely due to the Daesong hack!” “Get to the airport, now!” Mackay said, with heightening alert to the severity of the situation and urgency. He used his car to drive onto the sidewalk to get a move on, and the other car followed. Making sure not to hit anyone on the sidewalk, he then looked at Misaki, who was in the front passenger seat of his car, and told her to duck her head down in the seat, out of sight from the window, and told her to hide under some covers. Takashi, who was in the other car with Lukas, took out the gun Lukas gave him so that he can defend the cars as they raced to the other side of the city. However, Lukas didn’t think to consider what he was doing in front of his daughter, and she began to get scared. \*\*”Papa, what’s going on?”\*\* \*\*”Oh! Everything will be okay, Aki. Just stay down, you’re safe.”\*\* Akira listened to her dad, and did as she was told, not daring to question it. His daughter was safe, but he just hoped that Misaki and his family the other car was okay too. Misaki had her own firearm from their former workplace at the ready if she ever needed it, as she was given a Glock 57 Burst handgun as a gift from Yatagara for her efforts. Cars were fleeing in all directions, worried more attacks were likely to happen. They maneuvered onto sidewalks and oncoming lanes thru traffic. And as time went on, and as they got closer to the airport, they were seeing the emergency services, police, ambulances, and firetrucks, as well as the national guard, increase in presence as attack and destruction zones formed along the way. “Lukas, I suggest we not use the highway to avoid more traffic and accidents, as a detour, I suggest we stick to the outer rim of the city to reach the airport, over.” “It’s not the worst idea you’ve had, and I don’t know any alternatives…Let’s do this!” Lukas responded. Mackay looked at Misaki, with her baby in one hand, and her gun in the other…he was horrified at the sight, it made him think of others he helped that had the scared look to protect her children. He then thought as there was a clear section of road, turned to her, and said, “Hey, Misaki-san, give me the gun, I’ll protect everyone in here.” Misaki, though not trusting Mackay completely since they only just met, agreed, and handed the gun to him, holding her baby Ando tightly. They maneuvered through the chaos and panic down to Hakurazaki-Eki station, which was the last station, and landmark, before crossing the Kansai bridge to the airport. <br> ### Chapter 10 Upon reaching the station, Lukas and Mackay turned onto the road that lead the cars across the bridge. They both drove across and pulled up to the helipad area of the airport, where a lot of helicopters, new, civilian, and military craft alike, were taking off. Eventually the cars stopped, and Mackay and Lukas looked. There it was, the No-Pat Condor resting on the tarmac. Mackay looked and Lukas, and shouted, “The other helis are taking off to evac citizens, likely to get them to hospitals in the neighboring towns.” “Right. We’ll have to wait for the airspace to more or less be cleared before we get a chance to take off.” “Good idea, go get the Condor started up, I’ll help with getting everyone on board and their luggage secure.” Mackay agreed. “Alright everyone! It’s time to go, you see that aircraft? That’s our ride out of here, let’s get you strapped in for the ride out.” “Where are we going, sir?” Takashi’s mom asked. “We’re going back to our ship on in the bay, it’s called the Exodus, your son likely explained this to all of you already. It’s a safe ship, and you’re in good hands, don’t worry. Your son knows my colleague. It’ll be fine!” With no more hesitation, everyone unbuckled their seatbelts and piled out of the car. The trunks on both cars opened, and the bags spilled out onto the pavement. With full sized luggages, and a couple of carry-ons, the bags were packed towards the front of the personnel hold of the VTOL, and everyone was loaded into the seats. All except Takashi, who made sure that everyone else got out of the car and moved towards the Condor first, especially his wife, who was still holding their baby son in their hands. They were fortunate that he hadn’t cried during the whole ride through the chaos erupting around them. (It was possible since he was held so close to his mom’s chest, he heard her heartbeat over everything else.) However, Akira, who had been sitting next to her dad this whole time, refused to leave his side. Takashi looked down to his daughter, and yelled, \*\*“Aki, go to Lukas, it’s fine. You can trust him.”\*\* \*\*“Papa, I’m scared!”\*\* Akira screamed as tears formed on her face. \*\*“We need to go. We can’t stay here. I’m making sure everything we need is on the condor, get going!”\*\* Takashi, still trying to be brave for her, urged her to get to the Condor. Akira listened and let go, running to the rest of her family and Mackay, while Lukas, after starting up the Condor, ran back to Takashi, and made sure to check everything with him. “Tak, you good??” “Yea…I told her I needed to check something, but it’s really because I’m thinking of what I’m prepared to do after.” “You mean when we reach the ship? To become a No-Pat?” \*\*”Yeah\*\*, it was a big decision, but I hope things can get better.” Lukas nodded in understanding, and replied, ”With your help, it definitely can.” Suddenly an explosion rang out from above, and as they looked, they saw that a rocket shot out a military helicopter out from the sky, and the aircraft was spiraling back towards the tarmac…and even more pressing, towards their direction. The vehicle crashed violently and skid right behind the cars they used to reach the airport, and the combined pileup of vehicles exploded, sending the fireball and shockwave of shrapnel in the direction of Lukas and Takashi. Lukas, the military man he was, ducked for cover. He tried to pull for Takashi to do the same, but Takashi’s reaction wasn’t as quick, and was knocked unconscious to the ground. Misaki and Akira, witnessing what had just happened, screamed in horror. Akira jumped out of her seat, and ran towards the fireball and wreckage by her father. Lukas got up after the explosion, and raced to catch Akira before she got too close. “Wait here, Akira! Takashi!!” Akira, distraught with fear, refused to stay in one spot as her father lay motionless on the ground. She ran to her dad, tears falling down her cheeks. \*\*”PAPA! Get up, PLEASE!”\*\* Lukas put in some effort to shake Takashi awake as well. “Taki! Your family’s on the Condor, and hell’s breaking loose all around us! We’ve got to get out of here, NOW!” Taki had to get up. He needed to move towards the aircraft. He and his family needed to leave this country… From both Lukas Yelling, and Akira’s shaking, Taki was able to come to after a couple grueling minutes, and his eyes opened. Although slightly stunned, he was able to see the world around him, and his friend above him, with his daughter kneeled next to him, pushing. “Thank Fuck, you’re awake!” Lukas said seeing his friend wake up, and with an overwhelming sense of relief washed over him. He pulled Takashi away from the heat, and Akira fell on top of her dad and hugged him, tears still flowing. \*\*”Thanks, Papa We need to get out of here!"\*\* “She’s right, we need to leave. Let me help you get up, bro!” Lukas reaches his hand out to Takashi. In one arm, he held Akira, seeing how she was scared to have lost him in the most unnecessary way. This alone resolved Takashi to see where this path will lead: to make sure that not only his family can be safe, but the rest of the country can no longer suffer like it has, since he could remember. He then looked at Lukas, still with his arm stretched out, and grabbed it with a firm grip. Lifting him off the ground, Lukas had a small smile and as he lifted him over his shoulder, he saw the resolve in Takashi’s eyes as well. “Great to have you back up, No-Pat! The airspace is cleared, let’s head over now!” Lukas said as he looked back to the Condor. Mackay saw everyone on their two feet again, and frantically motioned them to get over to the Condor sharpish. \*\*“Yes, let’s go. No time to lose!”\*\* He looked at Akira, and she smiled back. He then took Lukas’ arm off of him, implying he was good to walk, and picked her up, carrying her as the three ran their way over to the Condor. Lukas helped them into their seats, and ran around to get into the pilot’s seat. After he closed the pilot-side and fuselage door, he glanced at Mackay, who was in the co-pilot seat, and gave a definitive nod they were ready to go. “Let’s stay low until we’re clear of the airport perimeter.” Mackay suggested. “We don’t want to be shot out of the sky like the other helicopter was.” “Agreed. \*\*Everyone, hold on! We’re taking off now!”\*\* With that, the condor increased its throttle to its engines, and took off from the helipad. Everyone in the hold held on as the condor retracted its landing gear and took off, leaving the deformed airport, and ruined city, behind. “Ship is 76 km southwest of the airport. We’ll be there in an hour… \*\*we’re safe now, everyone. Let the government and defensive military take care of what happened today.”\*\* Everyone on board had no choice but to accept these circumstances, of their city, their country, and their family. Takashi knew this, and the words Lukas mentioned before rang loudly in his mind. He knew what he would need to do next to ensure the future of his family, and his former country. “Lukas-san, about what you said before, needing my help…when we land, I need to ask you something…” <br> SUBJECT: TAKASHI SATO STATUS: ALIVE LOCATION: EXODUS LAST SEEN: ASSISTING RENDEZVOUS WITH SPS IMPÁVIDO IN SKARVIK PORT AWAITING FURTHER UPDATES