Rune Troopers: Self-Defense Forces Adventure - Chapter 1: Dispatch of the Fleet (Part 1)

It was cloudy and occasionally rainy in the city of Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, that day.

The weather was somewhat depressing for departure.

Hiroyuki Kuze, a member of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, and his men were lined up neatly on the edge of the destroyer, looking down on the Yokosuka base of the Maritime Self-Defense Force below them.

The destroyer’s deck was as high as a four-story building, providing a panoramic view of the people on the wharf.

A light drizzle caressed his cheeks.

He could hear the high-pitched voice of a female reporter from a TV station on the wharf.

“Hai! This is the Maritime Self-Defense Force Yokosuka base! The fleet has just departed! We are told it is for the purpose of International Cooperation, but in reality the fleet will be joining the United Nations Peacekeeping Force, or the so-called United Nations Forces!”

Kuze could clearly see that she was deliberately speaking with a tense tone.

The evening news would probably report on the ‘deployment’ of the Self-Defense Forces overseas, with some loud background music.

“The fleet that would sail consists of five vessels, including destroyers and auxiliary ships, protected by state-of-the-art Aegis Class Vessels of the Maritime Self-Defense Force. The Ground Self-Defense Force troops aboard the destroyers carry state-of-the-art tanks and combat helicopters, reminiscent of an “actual combat force,” unprecedented in past dispatches.”

A female reporter wearing a raincoat looked back at the fleet, which had just left shore, and directed it to the camera.

The Ibuki, a state-of-the-art Aegis Class Destroyer designed to intercept ballistic missiles, was designated as the flagship of the fleet, dispatched overseas by the Japan Self-Defense Forces. 

In the event that a ballistic missile, which may have been secretly exported by the DPRK, was launched by rebel forces in Africa, the IBUKI would be tasked with shooting it down in accordance with international law. 

The reporter took out a handheld flip book and explained the schematic diagram of the ballistic missile interceptor depicted on the flip book.

Then, with a nervous expression on her face, she explained the uniqueness of this deployment.

“It was said that the dispatch of the Aegis Class Ibuki had been planned by the government and the top echelons of the Ministry of Defense. It is…”

The reporter turned the flip book over to reveal a picture of the mobile ballistic missile launch system that the ‘DPRK’ had unveiled at last year’s military parade.

“The information stated that DPRK’s nuclear armament had entered the operational phase,” she said.

She lowered her hand and looked behind her at the back of the Aegis Class Vessel, which was heading out into the open sea.

“Aegis Class Destroyer with nuclear missile interceptor capability would be dispatched to support the African nation in intercepting ballistic missiles launched by rebel forces, should they be launched. 

This would allow Japan to demonstrate to the world that it possessed an effective means of defense against a nuclear attack. Hidden behind the shadow of International Cooperation, the Japanese government’s scheme was unrelated to the tense military situation in Far East Asia.”

The reporter’s voice was lost.

The land was moving away.

A realization began to dawn in Kuze’s mind that they were now on their way to a place that was not Japan. He also felt a strange mixture of elation and fear of something yet to be seen.

Kuze raised the eaves of his camouflage cap a little and looked for a certain face among the family members and others who had come to see them off at the wharf.

After a few moments, Kuze’s sincere and good-natured face, which would turn twenty-four this year, was clouded over, as was the sky.

Although young, he had a distinctive mark on his lapel, a straight line and a cherry blossom, indicating that he was a Senior Self-Defense Officer. He was a Third Class Lieutenant, the equivalent of a Second Lieutenant in NATO.

Such a young officer was looking for his girlfriend, who had broken up with him a few days before.

Even though they had broken up, he hoped that she would at least come to see him off.

However, it would be stranger if she came to see her ex-boyfriend off.

In the end, the expectation did not become reality.

The fact that he had hoped for it also meant that he was not ready to move on.

Disappointed, Kuze looked up at the sky.

It was only a light drizzle, but now it had started to rain heavily.

“Are you crying, Platoon Leader Kuze?”

Asked a young – or rather, childish-looking – new member of the unit standing next to him. The name “Ichinose” was embroidered above the breast pocket of his camouflage uniform.

He smiled meaningfully at Kuze, but for some reason, despite the fact that Kuze was his superior and his subordinate, the two hit it off. 

Kuze thought that perhaps it was because he could say what he thought without hesitation, and his bluntness was something that Kuze appreciated.

“I didn’t cry.”

To be honest, he was being stubborn.

“Oh, you’re lying, you were crying. Your girlfriend wasn’t there, was she?”

“Ex-girlfriend, you fool.”

“Even more so, you’re crying”

Like in a Hollywood movie, they embraced and kissed their lovers and whispered, “I hope you come back safely.”

I don’t seek such luxury.

I just wanted to believe that it was not extravagant for a Self-Defense Officer to want the person he wanted to protect to be by his side.

I wanted to complain that there could never be such a miserable “military man” who did not even have anyone to see him off.

Maybe she was right and I should have become a salaried employee of a decent company instead of choosing to become a Self-Defense Forces Officer when I graduated from the National Defense Academy.

She had waited until the very end to tell me, “A future as an SDF officer doesn’t suit you, my love.”

It was her implicit wish that I should think about our future together.

I was unaware of her wish.

What a mess, this me. ……

On the deck of the Destroyer, where it rained, Kuze was disgusted with himself.

“You know, …… an uncommitted man is only hated by his ex-girlfriend, right?”

“You’ll be assigned to a fixed three-month toilet-cleaning duty starting today.”

“It is an abuse of your authority.”

“Ah! Ichinose, look!”

Kuze pointed to a girl on the wharf. She was a girl in a high school uniform with twin-tail hair.

“Look, there she is. Your sister is worried about you.”

“Ah! Mina! I told you it was going to be alright.”

The crowd gradually turned from grains of rice to grains of sesame, and then disappeared completely beyond the horizon.

It was the same for those watching the fleet leave in the rain.

Reporters watched the fleet leave the port as it disappeared into the fog, and then they spoke the closing words: “The fleet will arrive in Africa in a few days.”

The fleet would arrive in Africa in about a month’s time. Upon arrival, the fleet would proceed with live ammunition exercises on land and at sea with other participating countries to deter the rebel forces. 

The Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) would be based in the rear of the U.S. forces and provide logistical support, mainly medical and provision of supplies.

This was how the Self-Defense Force’s UN peacekeeping force contingent left their home country.

No one could have predicted what awaited them.