• I finally had a chance to interview a survivor of the infamous Nippon "Relocation" campaign, a former Terran soldier, one of the few that agreed to speak openly. He looked very different from what I imagined him, he was rather old and worn, like a hand dogged book read frequently. He came in rather quietly, doing like all other veterans I've interviewed. A quick sweep of all available exits, assessing whether I was a threat, before finally sinking into a hard backed, plastic chair. I took note of it, he completely passed by the comfy Synth-leather chair perfectly positioned.

    "So, lets get this over with." His first words, and I could hear an underlying pain to them. I looked him over again, while his features were set in stone, if weathered, his eyes betrayed a deep pain. I had to shake myself from that view view before I could get back to my reporter stance. "Where were you born?"

    His laugh was rhuemy. "Earth. No, I wasn't some coddled Arcology kid. I grew up in Lower New York, outside the arcologies. I liked the rough life. Seemed more real than just frittering about in a dandy suit, didn't like the synthetic life style. "

    "Yeah, I was a punk. Drifted in between gangs. But, first chance I got, I enlisted in Aegis, you know, top PMC of the early Twenty Eighth. Anyway, worked that for a time, got caught up in the Russian Theocracy's dispute with Holy Germania. Nasty business, when an Earth bound nation declares war on one of the inner colonies without the means to get there. Ended up a massacre, good thing we were sided with Germania too, that little war ending Russia's stranglehold on "Religious Nut Jobs of the Year." Means the Outer Colony of Jerusalem finally went on a genocidal spree through the Outer Sphere. But nobody really cared about the Outer Sphere, you know? Bunch of colonies that we abandoned way back in the Twenty Third, still have the same level of tech, sans space flight. But, hey, I'm here to tell you about Nippon, right?"

    I nodded, and opened a new audio file. The other diversion would make interesting material later. He drew a deep breath before beginning anew. "So, by that time I was working freelance, picking and choosing my contracts. Got a bit of a reputation for getting out of sticky spots. Despite what you guys think at home, modern war is really about the individual soldier. But, so, see, I accept a six year contract with Terra, despite my dislike for their 'Humanities first colony outside Sol, our hearts are fire despite the entire fralling plane being under a sheet of ice'. But the pay was good, six trill for six years of work. That's better than most mercs make in a lifetime, and working freelance is like a death sentence once you can't pay for your equipment"

    "So, I get to the fralling planet. In the middle of the worst blizzard they've seen in centuries, so, conditions are a little nasty. Then I find out my contract extends to the then hush hush policy of wiping out small colonies to strip mine them. Yeah. Strip mine 'em 'till not a single living thing could survive. Turns the atmosphere to acid, or so I've heard. But, I didn't have an qualms. We were deniable assets, sent in to do the dirty work, yadda yadda yadaa. But, then I hear that we've been assigned to strip Nippon. Biggest Outer Sphere colony in existence, and one of the most backwards. See, the guys there, they don't use guns. They don't use machinery. They regard the armor left behind when they were abandoned as gifts from the gods. And you know what the god's speak? Common. Yeah, Common, whoda thunk, despite nearly every planet having it's own strain of Common, the Nipponese have gone back to speaking whatever the hell their language used to be called."

    "But, then I figure, 'The hell? It'll be like kicking an anthill.' Well, turns out the Terran's here have a grudge against 'em. 'Bout three hundred cycles ago, some soldiers went renegade and blew 'Relocation' fleet's flagship sky high, well, earth bound, mostly. Thing crashed, decapitated their high command for that mission, and they pulled out. We were being sent in as a centuries old clean up crew."

    I heard him sigh and creak back in his chair. "I'm tired. I'm taking your bed. Good night."