Sanada Isamu

June 2214 AD - Maebashi, Kozuke Prefecture, Kantodai

Nihondai Armed Forces Central Training Grounds at Mt. Akagi

"Set! Step and thrust! Defend! Riposte! Again, faster!"

The spearmen's dojo was hotter than usual today. A combination of the intensity of the training, lack of air conditioning, sweltering summer heat, and an ongoing drought made the air oppressive. Yet the martial artists in attendance, the best spearman in the NAF, didn't even think to complain. They had come from all over Japan to take part in a special week long training camp under arguably Japan's greatest modern day Master of the Spear, Sanada Isamu. 

He was an exacting teacher. Expecting even the most timid among them to give every ounce of strength to the exercises. This was day three of the six day camp and Isamu had increased the intensity dramatically yet the students continued on unabated. He didn't dislike their tenacity but it simply meant that he had to keep pushing them all week. Which meant he was going to be pushed as well.

"Captain, it's almost lunch time. Why don't we wrap up for now and let them clean up before the meal?" The dojo's Head Master asked Isamu as he wiped the sweat off his forehead with a towel.

Isamu nodded and ordered, "Okay everyone! That's enough for now. Line up!" The lines of students stopped engaging in sparring matches and lined up by rank. The highest ranking among them stepped forward and gave the customary end of class announcement. After everyone expressed thanks, bowed to one another, and then bowed to the Head Master, they exited the dojo. Isamu stayed behind to clean up and get ready for that afternoon's lesson.

"You know, you should eat too, Master Sanada." Head Master Baruso Ichinomiya said while chuckling. "You are far too young to be skipping meals. And besides, you should mingle with your students and get to know them more."

Isamu grimaced as he lifted a heavy training dummy and walked it across the dojo floor. Grunting, he replied, "I don't need to know them. We're only here for a week before we rejoin our units. It's best if I keep distance between myself and the men. That's standard policy. And also, I'm not skipping lunch. My adjutant will let me know when my meal is ready in my room." He picked up another dummy and moved it back to its original place next to the others.

"I'm surprised at how well you took to military life. Out of all my students who ended up in the NAF, I figured you would've quit by now. You've always hated rules and policies and restrictions. Yet, here you are as a Captain and one of the best spear trainers in the country. And a stickler for rules to boot!" Headmaster Baruso gave a hearty laugh that made even Ismau smile.

"For the record, I only hated your rules you old geezer." He jokingly retorted. The two men laughed heartily for a moment. The years of living together as master and student created an unshakeable bond. They reminisced for a moment while Ismau finished putting the dummies away. 

Soon enough, a young man in his early 20's appeared in the entryway and gave a deep bow. "Captain, your meal has been prepared and is on its way to your room." Isamu acknowledged him and gave the Head Master a pat on the shoulder before walking towards the door.

The dojo was part of a larger training complex for martial arts and other warrior crafts. Built into the slopes of the volcano Mt. Akagi, it was a mainstay of anyone wanting to practice the Sanada Arts. It was here in Maebashi that Yukimura Sanada and Date Masamune both signed the Nihondai Agreement that created the modern Japan. Sanada would govern the south and west (including  Kyushu and Shikoku). Date the east and north (and he could conquer Ezo without interference). The center was to be a cooperation zone between them. Naniwadai in the south, Tohokudai in the north, and Kantodai in the center. This was Japan. This was the Sanada's Japan.

Isamu made his way down a stone studded path down past the bathhouse to his quarters in the Sanada personnel building. It was an old appearance style building. Meaning, it was built in the old fashion of buildings from pre-Nihondai Japan yet it was made with modern materials and would last four times as long as buildings from yesteryear.

He may have been born into a branch family with so access to the seat of Sei-i Taishogun but he was a Sanada nonetheless. That came with several perks including the right to the best housing in facilities such as this. Normally, he would eschew any benefits from his family name. Not this week. He relished the privacy while here at his old home away from home. 

He waved his hand over the biometric scanner that opened his room. The door slid open and he stepped inside. It was a modest guest room with a private bathroom, desk and writing space, double bed, and a closet vanity. His midday meal sat steaming on a cart by the desk. Also on the cart was a small cylinder with a glowing blue ring around the top edge. A missive from High Command. Isamu grabbed the cylinder and placed it on his desk, tapped the top and sat down to begin eating his meal.

A green holographic mass began to grow from the space above the cylinder until it formed into the image of Major Sanada Yutaro, head of the NAF Special Forces Division 2, Isamu's Uncle and immediate superior. His image began to speak, "This is a classified message intended for a specific recipient. Please state your name, rank, and post."

Isamu swallowed a mouthful, coughed, and then said, "Captain Sanada Isamu, Special Forces Division 2, Ranger Battalion, Reserve, and the last bit's classified. Sorry, Major." When he was finished, Isamu looked at the hologram and could have sworn that the likeness of his uncle had smirked.

"Acknowledged, Ranger. You're being called in. This assignment will be an escort mission. The Energy Department is sending a survey team to Tibet and you're to accompany them. You'll be assigned a detachment from battalion. Ensure security at the survey site, keep the team safe while they perform their duties, and then ensure that the site is wiped clean before extract. Any questions?"

Isamu slurped up a noodle, wiped his mouth, and then asked, "Uh, yeah. How many are on the team and how many in my detachment? Also, Tibet? Isn't that a highly unstable region? What could our eggheads be looking for there?"

After a pause the image replied, "There are three survey team members, your detachment will consist of yourself and five other members, and that information is restricted to Clearance Level 3 and lower."

"Clearance Code: Tango-Echo-Sierra-Uniform-Romeo-Alpha-one-nine-four-three-ohm." Isamu droned the code as he had done several times before. A high pitched tone could be heard to confirm the code.

"Ranger, the site that the survey team will be exploring is said to be a vein that leads to the largest deposit of Rare Earth Metals ever discovered thus far. If we can control that vein, we'll have access to materials that other nations could only dream of. It is vital for the future of Nihondai. That is all for now. You leave in four days from Osaka. Dismissed."

The image shrank and faded away. Isamu gave a large sigh as he sank into his chair.

"What a pain..."