Ultimatum

September 1st, 2002 - Tokyo - Yamato Empire

What was going on? The Westarians had never been on the best terms with the Empire, but sailing 50 ships right into Tokyo Harbour? It was completely unprecedented.

These thoughts, and many others, flew threw Yamato's head as she went towards the Harbour to greet the surprise guests. Her guards surrounded her, clearing a path through the chaos of shipgirls getting ready for a fight.

The Westarian flagship, or at least what Yamato assumed was the flagship, had pulled alongside the Imperial Pier, where Yamato's hull was moored. Quite a blatant sign of disrespect, and the Westarians knew it.

The flagship was a large heavy cruiser, with two triple turrets in the forward position, and one in the aft. The number '139' was painted on the grey metal of her bow.

The shipgirl, seeing Yamato's arrival, appeared to turn around, give herself a few words of encouragement, and hit her face a few times with her palms. She then turned back to Yamato, and saluted. 

"Request permission to leave the ship," she shouted, and, when Yamato nodded her approval, the woman jumped down onto the pier.

She was about Yamato's height, and had a lean build beneath her white uniform.  Her shoulder length brown hair had several blue stripes through it. 

When she was only a few paces away from Yamato, with Yahagi standing between them, she stood at attention and saluted again.

“Westarian Des Moines-class heavy cruiser Salem, commander of the 2nd Combat Strike Group and incorporated units.”

Her voice was nervous, which put Yamato on edge. Whatever Salem had come here for might have devastating consequences for both nations.

“What have you come here for?” Yamato said, trying to sound at ease, pushing down her concern, “I’m sure that you know what consequences you might face for sailing right into our harbour.”

Salem gave a nervous chuckle, a bead of sweat running down her her face.

“Believe me, this is not something that I want to be doing right now.”

Yamato could tell that Salem was telling the truth from the tone of her voice.

“Cut to the chase,” she said, her voice cold, “the sooner we can be done with this, the better.”

Salem looked around nervously, bobbing on her heels.

“Well, you see…” she began, her voice trailing off. She sighed, and spoke the words that had been troubling her.

“By the order of the Admiral of the Navy, New Jersey, I am to ensure that the unknown Builder is in Westarian custody by December 6th, by whatever means necessary.”

What? How had the Westarians found out about Hasegawa Kenji? 

No, forget that. More importantly, ‘whatever means necessary’? They were willing to end a hundred years of isolationism and invade the Empire just for one man?

She had underestimated Hasegawa’s value to other nations, and hadn’t put proper protection for him.

She was lost in thought, and Salem brought her back to reality.

“Empress Yamato, is something the matter?”

Yamato gave a rueful chuckle.

“Aside from your threat of war and the fleets in my capital and at Pearl Harbour, no, I don’t believe that there is anything.”

Salem looked away nervously. 

“I understand if you don’t give an immediate response. Our fleet will rest at anchor, and I’ll leave a destroyer here as a messenger.”

And as a spy, Yamato thought, but she didn’t say anything. 

From the way that Salem acted, she didn’t seem like she would start a war over Hasegawa, but Yamato couldn’t be sure. 

She watched as Salem returned to her hull and sailed out of the harbour. 

She knew that whatever happened, in order to ward off a Westarian invasion, she needed Hasegawa to create more shipgirls. She would also have to pull forces from Eastasia, and lessen the forces on the southern and northern borders.

Only one thing was sure: the existence of Hasegawa Kenji was changing the world for good or bad.