The bamboo-panelled doors of the Kusari Naval Forces Dojo swung open as a young man entered the chamber. Tall by Kusari standards, raven-haired like nearly all his fellow countrymen, and wirily, dexterously built, the young man moved with the habitual ease of the professional fighter pilot.
Surprised, the legless recruitment officer looked up from his sashimi as the young man gave him a short deferential bow. The former gentleman placed his chopsticks by his plate.
"Why do you wish to join the Kusari Naval Forces?"
"Sensei, I yearn for adventure and excitement. I have been stationed on the Battleship Matsumodo, back home in Hokkaido, ever since I graduated from the Kusari Naval Forces academy on New Tokyo - ostensibly to finalize my training. With all due respect, kyoshi, I find there remains little to be taught me by routine patrolling in the Kayo Cloud and trawling for wretched Golden Chrysanthemum. I wish to take the fight to the enemy. There is honor and glory to be won in Bretonia, and I intend to have my share of it."
"Oh, really? You seem quite sure of yourself, youngling."
The young man smirked. "Would you like to see my resume, kyoshi? I believe you'll find that my record supports me in that regard."
The recruitment officer waved the recruit down with a chubby hand. "No need, I'll see to that later. You said you come from Hokkaido?"
"Yes, kyoshi."
"Name?"
"Jun Sato."
"Station? The Battleship Matsumoto, correct?"
"Correct, and oh, what death-defying feats of bravery have I performed there!"
The legless man massaged his puffy cheeks, then shuffled through Jun Sato's papers. "Yes, yes, very good. I can see you're eager for more action. I must say, your past at the Academy is not without merit. Perhaps you'll be of use on the frontlines."
Bowing once more, Sato responded. "The frontlines, kyoshi? Why not Bretonia itself?"
"Oh, you want to become a strike raider?"
"A true warrior doesn't huddle behind barricades, sensei, (glancing cursorily at the unfortunate eunuch's polished desk). He strikes directly at the enemy! He doesn't skulk about the homeland, he defends it; and what better defense than swift, vengeful wrath?"
Now it was the recruitment officer's turn to smirk. Pity and, yes, some resentment were to be heard as he reprimanded the brash young man.
"An idealist, eh? A believer in the ancient and glorious code of bushido, like so many other young men that set out to wage war for Kusari and return in caskets, or not at all? Are you certain that this is your path? Will you be able to follow through with it should you choose it, youngling, proud and overconfident though you may be now?
Ah, it is useless trying to talk some sense into today's misguided youth, eh? Your application will be passed along to the proper authorities, of course, as I suppose it must be."
The officer's voice softened. "Merely remember this as you go, Sato-kun; the classroom has not prepared you for the stark reality of war, and neither, as you yourself have so eloquently told me, has service in Hokkaido. You'll learn quickly; everyone does. I did. I merely hope you'll live to make use of the knowledge you'll gain."
