Kasugai Hatusmi

[DeathsOverture]

An antimatter burst emanating from a mount on the phantom's Catamaran Kusari bomber streaked across space and slammed into the hull of the Aomori's Fury. In a seemingly instantaneous chain reaction, it was engulfed in smoke and flames. Kasugai cursed the Phantoms and their relentless killing! He began lashing out with his debilitators and his antimatter cannon, but his fury engulfed only himself. In his rage he let down his maneuvering and soon lost his shields. One of the phantoms took the opportunity and unleashed a flurry of missile salvos that rendered Kasugai's thrusters completely useless. A fighter slammed into the head of his Taiiden Bomber sending it into a lethal spin. Protective restraints activated and pulled Kasugai tight to his seat. With the blood rushing to his head, his neural net system automatically activated the gyroscope in his ship, which stopped the spinning and his engines. Kasugai tried to bring himself into consciousness. As he looked through the heads-up-display, the Catamaran slowly came into focus, and it was heading straight for him. Kasugai heard the familiar sound of the Antimatter cannon being fired. This one would not miss its target. A blinding flash of light. A deafening explosion.

Kasugai opened his eyes and threw aside his covers. His heart was pounding faster and louder than ever before. It was a dream. But the Phantom bomber was real... Kasugai had encountered the fiend multiple times. Each time, he was lucky to escape with his life. He sat up in his bed, which was soaked in his own sweat. His hands were shaking fiercely and his muscles were tense.

What was that? Was it a premonition?

Then he remembered his father. When he'd have nightmares, his father would rush in and calm him down. He'd say comforting things; sometimes about the irrelevance of dreams, other times about his mother, and even stories about himself. He'd softly rub Kasugai's back and put him back to sleep.

Kasugai activated his neural-net to check for any transmissions. To his surprise, he received summons from Security Supervisor Taro Katsuo. Kasugai regularly trained with Katsuo, who was an exceptional pilot. He was ten years older than Kasugai, and a high ranking officer; but they had become good friends. About seven hours ago, they had a competition to see who could deactivate the other's shield quickest. The loser had to buy the winner a drink in the bar. Kasugai lost, but it was for the best, as he had to go back on duty.

Out of exhaustion, the grasp on his PDA lightened, and it fell to the floor. The crash brought Kasugai to a state of semi-alertness. He heard his bunkmate, Sum Yungai, stirring in his bed. The poor officer worked a later shift than Kasugai himself. He'd probably just came in within the hour. Kasugai picked up his PDA to check the time, and realized he was to make his appearance in just over an hour. He slipped out of bed, quietly threw on some shorts and headed down the hall towards the washroom to make himself presentable.

---