Rune Troopers: Self-Defense Forces Adventure - Chapter 3: Shots Fired (Part 2)

Kuze and the others were running as fast as they could down the marble corridor. Kato blurted out in a dying manner, “It’s a little too much for the air-conditioned convoys.”

Kato was not dressed in a camouflage combat uniform like Kuze and the others, who were members of the Ground Self-Defense Force, but rather he was dressed in the pure white summer uniform of the Maritime Self-Defense Force for officers. All he carried was a bag containing a camera and a laptop computer.

“There is no such comfort in the GSDF! If you don’t want to die, run!” Kuze informed Kato, running with gun in hand as he shouted into the radio, “Tell the pilot to be on standby for takeoff as soon as we get back!”

“Yes, sir!”

“In the event of an emergency, you are authorized to use live ammunition, but make sure to use it only for self-defense and to ensure the safety of the target to be protected!” Kuze’s voice was strained. It was a necessary order, but in some cases it could be a big problem.

“Third Lieutenant Kuze, Third Lieutenant Kuze! Wait a minute…” Kato, as he said himself, did not seem to be in good physical shape, and was lagging behind Kuze and the others who were way ahead.

“Squad one and two, halt! Secure the perimeter!”

Twenty-one men stood guard, guns with safety off and on a three hundred and sixty-degree watch. Kato blocked Kuze’s tense expression with his hand as he tried to hurry him along. He did not call him off simply because he was running late.

“You better be careful! Dragons aren’t the only troop within the Imperial Army.”

“What do you mean?” Kuze asked Kato as if it were a simple question.

“I saw a huge black bird deboarding troops onto this castle. They are probably inside the castle as well. We could be attacked from anywhere, so it’s better to be prudent and on alert.” Kato’s judgment made Kuze think for a moment, and then he growled in affirmation.

“Commander Kato,” he continued.

“Hmm?”

“I’m sorry, but let’s be prepared for any eventuality. It’s for self-defense.” Kuze took out a 9mm pistol from his waist, which he carried for self-defense, and presented it to Kato. 

This pistol was used by all the officers of the JSDF and they were trained on how to use it. Kato should have been able to use it. After all, he too was a self-defense officer. 

Kuze thought it was simple but Kato shook his head in denial.

“You should carry it instead of me,” he replied. 

“In the Maritime Self-Defense Force, you may or may not fire one of these weapons once every few years. But I appreciate your concern, Lieutenant Kuze.”

“But…”

“Kyaaaa!” A scream sounded from somewhere. The Squad members involuntarily stiffened. Kuze, too, held his Type 89 rifle, pointing its muzzle downward with the safety off, ready to act.

“It was the scream of a girl.” At Kato’s words, Kuze nodded with sweat on his forehead with his mind in confusion.

What should we do? What should we decide? Do we save the person? What if we put ourselves in danger in order to save her? Do I order our men to use force against the threat?

“Third Lieutenant Kuze, your orders?” One of the young Squad Captains asked nervously, perhaps anticipating a battle. Kuze’s platoon consisted of young soldiers. Being a newly formed platoon, the average age lay in the early twenties.

They were full of blood and vigor. At worst, there was a danger that if cornered, they might fire indiscreetly.

What exactly was the enemy?

One of the sergeants, perhaps feeling uneasy about Kusz’s hesitation, asked for a clear standard. Kuze shook his head. It was a warning. 

“The rules of engagement are limited to self-defense only. In all other cases, you will follow my orders.” It was a model answer. But at the same time, it was so ambiguous that it sounded like a cop-out.

“I understand, sir.” Some of his subordinates were clearly not happy. After all, one couldn’t shoot without sacrificing someone. As with the SDF until now, the rule was based on the assumption that blood would be spilled in the field.

For Kuze, an ordinary officer in the field, this was a question that could not be answered no matter how much he thought about it. Regarding the standards for the use of weapons, the regulations stated that they were to be used within appropriate limits at the discretion of the Commander on field. 

In the end, this implied that the government and the upper echelons of the Ministry of Defense would not take responsibility, leaving all the blame to the ill-fated field Commanders like Kuze.

Kuze gritted his teeth. He was on the verge of making the best decision he could, but he would be held accountable anyway.

……

Kato suddenly placed his hand on Kuze’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “I may not have direct Command, but I’m in charge of this unit.” 

Kuze stared into the face of the marine officer.

“I will take full responsibility for your decision. So whichever you choose, don’t hesitate.”

“Commander Kato…” Kuze felt his shoulders lighten.

“Thank you…”

“Let’s get to the formalities after we get back alive.” Kuze understood that the weirdo next to him was not wearing the rank insignia of Chief of Staff as a joke. That alone was reassuring.

“All Squads, advance!”

“Yes sir!”

Kuze’s men held their guns in a tense state and began to advance slowly and gradually. They were advancing with the readiness to engage in battle at any moment, which was the close combat advancing formation.

“Screams can be heard from everywhere. It looks like the situation is terrible inside.” When Kuze answered.

A few figures came running out of the door near them.  Involuntarily, Kuze and his men were about to point their guns at him. But they stopped just in time.

It was because the figures were children. It was a good thing they had been training their dynamic vision in urban warfare training. 

There were three of them, and it was painful to see their faces pale with fear. All three were young, but Kuze noticed that the girl who seemed to be the oldest among them was the maid of honor who had taken care of the drinks earlier. He wondered if she remembered him, too.

“Oh, you are…!”

“Are you guys all right?” Kuze put down his gun and smiled.

His gentle smile brought relief to the girl, and she tearfully hugged the two children by her side. They both clung to her. Perhaps the girl had come this far while protecting them.

“They’ve all…been killed, all of them…” Kuze gasped at the words, not dead, but killed.

At any rate, he couldn’t leave them here.

“Come with us guys. I’ll make room on the helicopter so we can escape if necessary…” Just as Kuze said this and was about to extend his hand, a dull, uncomfortable thud sounded.

“Eh?”

The girl lost her balance and collapsed on the floor.

“What?” Kato shouted in surprise. Kuze couldn’t wrap his head around what had just happened.

“I got one.”

“You’re as good as ever, Ruid.” A low male voice, not the voice of a subordinate, much less his own, came from across the corridor.

The clattering of armor sounded as black figures approached them. Not just black. They were jet black.

“Onee-chan!!” The children screamed.

A group of about ten black figures approached them as if they were gods of death. Kuze came to his senses and shouted in a voice that sounded like a backwards one, “Stop! Stop!” 

With a snap, the men stopped as he had warned. But they did not look frightened. They did not stop because of the warning, but only because they were trying to get a good look at the humans in front of them.

The group of men, all clad in black, gave off a painful sense of murderous intent. In common, they all carried long swords at their waists, some with spears, others with bows and axes in their hands.

Because of the helmets covering their faces, it was impossible to tell if they were really human or not. The word “Black Knights” passed through the minds of even Kuze and the others, who had no idea who they were.

Kuze raised his voice to protect the children from them, who seemed to symbolize death.

“Stay away from those children!”

They did not look at each other and began to speak in low voices.

“What are they?” 

“Street performers from the castle?”

“I had heard that in some countries, arts and martial arts were combined.” 

Kuze got the impression that they were not interested in talking to them from the beginning. 

“Well, it doesn’t matter.”

“Oh, yes, that’s right. The order is…”

One of them, who had been holding a bow in his hand, pulled out the long sword at his waist, paying no heed to Kuze’s warning. The others also readied their weapons.

“Don’t let any of them leave the castle alive,” he ordered.

With a crack of their armors, they approached the children.

“You are trying to harm a non-combatant! This is a violation of the Geneva Convention! Stop this immediately!” Kuze gave them a desperate warning.

He raised the muzzle of his gun and aimed it squarely at the black armored men. He also placed his finger on the safety.