The Dragon and the Axe--Ch 01

Chapter 01: Celebration

Kayden Ackart’s wife almost lost her husband. Even now, each lightning flash and thunder boom reminded him of the muzzle-flashes and claps from autocannon fire. Each one could have killed him, leaving her a widow with a baby on the way. To think that he followed in his father’s footsteps when he  lived in his own mother’s womb--what went through his mind? How could a father-to-be still fight a war? Not want to quit and return home?

He shook his head, hanging it down just a little as he applauded with the rest of the crowd. Award, after award, after promotion, after award; Ackart clapped with the others around him, feeling the sting of both hands slapping each other. Even a smile hid his dead face when he looked back up, killed during the fight only a week before.

As lightning flashed through the vents from outside, the memories continued to flood in as if like rain that forever washed the planet Marduk during winter; washing over his mind and body, weighing them down. They evaporated when the firm hand of Davin Forsberg held his shoulder. He fought alongside Ackart during the battle, and the only person whose BattleMech survived.

Ackart missed his Panther; it had belonged to his father, and grandfather, and dated all the way back to the early years of the Succession Wars, one of the many conflicts that the Great Houses of the Inner Sphere still continue today. Ever since the Star League fell, each of the ruling Houses vied against each other, butchering themselves into a technological dark age where 'Mechs became heirlooms. Tragic, how war still remained the prime way to settle differences in 3039.

Suddenly, the man standing on stage yanked his attention . "For his courage, leadership, and service in the 22^nd Benjamin Regulars for protecting Junction City, Chu-i Kayden Ackart is awarded the Bushido Blade!"

Ackart stood and straightened his white, military-dress tunic. He made sure the belt sewn into it aligned perfectly with his black trousers, then side stepped out of the row of seats to get to the stage. The high orange collar made it hard for him to look down at his blood red boots to make sure they still had their shine, but too late now, no time to spit-wash the boots.

Each step he took to the stage came with the same applause he gave his peers. Why should they clap for someone who sent two people to their deaths, he asked himself. His silent reply: He saved hundreds more by protecting the capitol of Marduk. But there had to have been another way, another solution! When can sacrifice ever count as a solution to a problem?

Ackart held the same smile when Tai-sa--or Colonel by old Terran ranks--Akimoto pinned the small, red circle to the pocket on his tunic. With a thick, Japanese accent, and a polite and crisp bow, Akimoto said, "Well done, Chu-i." Despite his name printed on a small plastic tag just above the newly positioned metal, Akimoto still referred to him by his rank, a lieutenant. Is it really that hard to say Caucasian names, Tai-sa?

He returned the bow, properly, and moved along the row of standing company commanders. He bowed to each and every one, except the second-to-last Captain who extended a hand. Ackart grasped Tai-i Ken Shimazu's hand, who smiled back at him. "Congratulations!"

"Thank you, lord."

When Shimazu released Ackart’s hand, he said, "Please! Come see me after the ceremony."

"Yes, lord," Ackart said, biting his tongue not to say more, and moved off the stage and to his seat, hearing another name called up to the stage for all to admire.

"Why glum?" Forsberg asked in his Swedenese--a combination of Swedish and Japanese--accent. "You got Bushido Blade!"

Forsberg’s broken English and constant smiling face made it hard for Ackart to take the Swede seriously. "Shimazu wants to see me after the ceremony," Ackart said evenly as he clapped for the next awarded warrior. Shimazu hated everyone, it seemed, especially the non-Japanese. The xenophobic Tai-i’s voice, though cheerful in front of his commanders and peers, still held its sinister edge to Ackart.

"Oh." Forsberg looked up to the stage. "I know that not why, Kay."

Ackart grunted. He never believed in confiding in his subordinates, but perhaps this was an exception--especially since Forsberg had become as much of a friend as subordinate. "I still need to write the letters home."

Owen Hayami and Ryu Tsumetai had both died in the battle. He sent them to their deaths in order to protect a backwater-planet’s capitol city. A glorious death, one that would call them heroes. But Ackart still needed to write the letters to the MechWarriors’ families, telling them why he ordered their deaths.