GWS-20

==Chapter 20 - The Epilogues==
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===Epilogue 1, Luthien, The Black Pearl and Golden Lion===
02/08/3047 Location – Imperial Palace, Luthien
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Luthien’s Imperial Palace loomed over the plains of Hokkaido. Integrated apartment and factory blocks of Tokaoguchi and Tokoname sprawled as far as the eye could in concentric arcs of concrete gray connected via rails of electrified steel and ribbons of asphalt as dark as the Obsidian Sea where LAW City and the Takashi Memorial Starport were built upon artificial islands. 
A nine story Shiro surrounded by rich gardens and vast open spaces of carefully cultivated trees towered over the walls where the Otomo stood guard. Battlemechs, tanks, and infantry in every uniform from across the Draconis Combine filled a vast plaza just outside while they waited for the new Coordinator’s first address.
Within the Castle the mood was somber. Takashi Kurita had been laid to rest in the Clan Tomb and the Chrysanthemum Throne stood vacant under the vigil of the white clad nuns of The Order of Five Pillars. Front and center before them stood Constance Kurita, The Keeper of House Honor. The stern Mistress of Ceremonies delivered a stirring and poetic eulogy of the late Coordinator and led the procession of appointment as dictated by the Dictum Honorium. 
She faced an assemblage of every member of the Kurita Clan that could travel to Luthien and many other nobles. Arranged in order of importance were The Gunji no Kanrei Theodore Kurita, 
All Four Prefecture Warlords, Senior Officers from the DCMS, DCA, and ISF, 
COMSTAR’s Precentor Dieron Tay Gromminger and Luthien Ashiko Kamari, 
Elected Prince Haakon Magnusson of the Free Rasalhague Republic,
Caliph Muhammed Al’Azami bin Algedi V
CEOs for Major Draconis Companies including Chandrasekhar and Mitchell Kurita,
Ambassadors from Atreus, St Ives, Canopus, and Alpheratz, then so many nobles that they couldn’t even kneel in the back of the cavernous Throne Room for lack of space.
Constance Kurita finished her eulogy and was given Takashi’s sword by his granddaughter and her understudy Omiko. She unsheathed the sword whose mirrored surface reflected the floodlight that threatened to overcome her pristine white garments. “For those that choose the sword there is no higher ambition than service to their Clan and the Draconis Combine. This artifact cannot be wielded by might alone, it requires a strong arm, stalwart heart, respect and understanding for our traditions, and a zeal for progress. Who here seeks the confirmation of those gathered for the authority and responsibility of Coordinator of the Draconis Combine?”
Theodore Kurita took a step forward followed closely by Isoroku. Both men stared down one another beneath the lights, their hands at their sides. Neither reached for the swords but nor was there doubt in the other’s Iaido if it came to that. 
The crowd held their breath for tense moments as they sweated under the lights.
Isoroku bowed with his hands centered as he took a step back from the throne. “Cousin, I would be honored if you would accept my oaths first.”
Theodore returned the bow in equal form though held it ever so slightly longer. “Brother, there is no other that I would put before you. Our bond remains as strong as our steel.”
A collective exhale overcame the crowd as Theodore ascended the stairs and exchanged his Katana for his father’s, holding it high to exaltation, and took his place upon the Celestial Throne to accept Oaths of Fealty of his subjects and curt diplomatic exchanges from the others.
Coordinator Theodore Kurita make his opening address to the Otomo and people of Luthien who picnicked in the gardens on a rare day off. The receiving banquet went without incident and included a range of ‘curious gourmet’ from throughout the Inner Sphere.
An aged Samurai presented himself to the Coordinator during the closing dark hours. Theodore acknowledged him from the high table, with his acknowledged sons, daughter, and wife beside him. “Tai-Sa Yorinaga-san, make your request.”
“Honored Coordinator, seeing Miya-chan reunited with Isoroku-sama has inspired me to seek retirement so that I may spend my remaining years with Akira-kun abroad.”
Theodore descended to the main floor and put his hands on the older Warrior who had inspired many within the Genyosha. 
“Tai-Sa Yorinaga-san, you have honorable served the Draconis Combine for many years.I encourage you to serve your family with an equal vigor for as long as you may live.You may leave whenever you choose with honor and a full pension befitting your rank.”
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===Epilogue 2, The Red Hand===
03/01/3047 Location – Coordinator’s Office, Imperial Palace, Luthien
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Coordinator Theodore Kurita had moved his father’s desk to the less ‘energetic’ (Feng Shui) position of facing the main door at a right angle due to the constant glare on his computer monitor. An electric kettle boiled behind him while he lifted the Imperial Chop to reams of paperwork. He stretched his fingers out on the desk, “I thought running the Capellan Colonies was hard.” 
He turned to his left at a suit of antique Samurai armor and pressed his round glasses upward, “This is murder on my old joints, Ken.”
His intercom buzzed, “Coordinator, your three o clock is here.”“Send him in. I need the break.”
Franklin Sakamoto entered with an Otomo at his back, “You may leave, Gujin.”
The Otomo bowed, “As you wish, Coordinator.” before leaving.
“Mister Sakamoto, would you like tea?”“I am honored but must politely decline your offer.”
Steaming water poured into the fine Capella cup on his desk, “Minoru has told me you seek my personal audience.” He flipped the sand clock beside it, “So, you have it until this tea is steeped.”
“I have a question that only you might be able to answer.”“Ask it then.”
“Did you send Ninyu to kill my mother and I?”, Franklin asked
“Why would I do such a thing?”
“To protect Tomoe’s children.”
The Coordinator leaned forward, “I would do anything to protect my children.”
“Clearly not since my mother died and I would have too if it weren’t for luck.”
“Franklin Sakamoto, I don’t know what you are insinuating, but if it is a threat to my family.Know it will be a short lived one.”
Their eyes locked and Franklin stepped forward to place his hands the opposite side of the desk, “Its twenty-eight years old todayFather.”
Theodore snapped back into his chair in shock, “And you have evidence.”“I do.”, Franklin told him
“Describe your mother to me.”, Theordore asked
Franklin described a woman with long wild brown hair and sparkling eyes, a hearty laugh, and mole on her left cheek. The boyhood remembrances brought a tear to his own.“Her name was Kathleen Palmer. She was an ISF Operative, although I didn’t know it at the time, or maybe I refused to acknowledge it. I was on Kagoshima at The Wisdom of the Dragon when we met.She disappeared after I graduated, I thought she moved on, had no idea that she bore a son,”
Theodore’s head bowed slightly, “and I’m sorry. I wouldn’t have wished harm on her or you.”
“Thank you. I didn’t want anything from you beyond that.I’m a simple man, I have no interest in politics or military endeavors. My life has enough drama without a Kurita tag on it.”
He turned to leave, “No. Thank You Franklin, for surviving; and saving Minoru on Hachiman.Will you at least write?”“I can do that. I’m working with Rashpur-Owens around Capella now, so it will be delayed a bit.”“Happy Birthday Son.I’ll send a card.”“Thank You, Father.”'', Franklin told him
Theodore sat for a long while as sand trickled down, “So much lost time.Subhash must have thought it was going to run out. He should have told me.I would have stopped him and I can’t forgive him.”
He triggered the intercom, “Find Ninyu Kerai Indrahar,” as he looked toward the Wakizashi on his Katana Kaze, “I have something to give him.”
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The following day Theodore reported to his father’s office in the early hours of the morning. A message from New Avalon was marked as high priority and circulated to the top of the Luthien HPG downlink. “First Prince, what are you planning?” 
He clicked the link and found the following Tanka.
Rat falls to the dark
Fox cries in sunny meadow
Black pearl shines brightly
If Lion seeks calm waters
Will The Dragon find new paths
“Will the Dragon find new paths?” 
Stacks of paperwork awaited him on the desk, filled with red ink and dire portents. 
A sharply dressed attendant with dark eyes appeared after he buzzed them, “Find me Osip Phan. Tell him I wish to arrange a meeting with the Chancellor.”
Theodore turned back to the windows where the grand expanse of black Luthien sprawled out in every direction. Factories that once thrived were idled, the streets were filled with desperation,. All of it because he had made the fateful choice to kill Focht and thus spurn Primus Waterly and COMSTARs Blessed Order. “We may have to First Prince Davion. There is no other choice. I've made sure of it.”
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===Epilogue 3, Cleaning Chambers===
07/08/3047 Location – Kozukappara Stockade, Kirei na Niwa
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tars sparkled above the faint lights of Dark Earth as Shugo Takeuchi Souta returned to the stockade, famous for being one of Urizen Kurita’s execution grounds, from his nightly ‘patrol’ of the Hanamachi District. The floodlights outside illuminated a white and blue Hatamoto-Hi Assault 'Mech kneeling beside the prison. He tried to reach his deputies on the radio, “What the hell is going on?”Despite the slaps only Static answered, “Stupid radio. I’ll have you fixed before daylight.”
As he neared the stockade the mech loomed even large, he saw that the Black Dragon on a Red Field of the DCMS was replaced with a White Tiger on a Blue Field. “Isoroku’s White Tigers? What are they doing here? I’m in compliance. Maybe they are here to reward me for handling those outlaws.I’ll have Genzo on the gallows by year’s end. Life’s just not easy for public servants like me.”
His stockade was filled with sounds of snoring, half-starved prisoners sleeping on the concrete floor. Souta ran the handled of his whip across the bars watching the panicked prisoners squirm even deeper in the shadows in order to not draw his eye. Smells of coarse hay and refuse filled his nostrils.“Workin’ on the Chain Gang.Workin’ ‘em till the last one falls.More work for the others,haulin’ ‘em out to the yard one last time.”
He reached the top of the blockhouse and saw a light was on in his office. “Who’s in my office? I’ll have ‘em flogged. No one intrudes on my property.”
The door opened to his chair facing outside and a stern White Tiger in their distinctive light blue Haori with white trimmed sleeves tied by a white cord, gray hakama, typically armor or cooling vest beneath, and a headband or Neurohelmet (imported from the world of New Kyoto) with the Kanji ‘Sincerity’ printed upon it. A Nakjima Laser Pistol was holstered Otomo Cavalry style alongside his Wakizashi.
“Why are you in my office?”
Their silent nod toward the chair drew Souta’s attention. The chair turned around to reveal a young woman dressed similar to the White Tiger but without the Haori. “I was just cleaning your pistols.”
“Why?”
She lifted it into the light while wiping it with a cloth within her gloves, “I want them to look good for your death tomorrow. I cannot join the White Tigers until I defeat someone in a duel. Unfortunately, I must give them twenty four hours to settle their affairs.”'
Laughter rose from the Shugo, “It’s a good jest. I’ll let it pass, young lady.”
Her eyes were still drawn up to the light, but she turned toward him. “You don’t recognize me. Is it because I’m not wearing Oshiroi, grown up, and dressed?”
“Who are you?” Souta paused for a moment, “Kanoka, is that you?” He looked toward the White Tiger, “Kashira help me arrest this woman! She is a terrorist.”
A gunshot rang out in the office. Shock overcame the Shugo as he looked down to see his blood spilling out onto his uniform. She stepped forward and leaned down as the light faded from his eyes, “It’s Miya Kurita now. I’ve been waiting six years for this. I couldn’t wait another day.”
Shugo Takeuchi’s death rattle rang out in their presence before another man stepped forward from the stockade. “Miya Kurita, huh? How will I explain this?”
She reached down and retrieved the Sheriff’s badge from his corpse while leaving the pistol behind, “He should have cleared the chamber before cleaning his gun, Genzo-san.”
They looked down on the bloody body as Shugo Ito Genzo flipped it over with his foot. “What a pity. Another senseless loss. He should have been more careful.”
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===Epilogue 4, Graeme’s Ambitions===
09/01/3047 Location – Sekikai, Shimonoseki
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Lord Graeme Kurita walked on edge as he entered his house within the secure gated neighborhood of Sekikai. His house was quiet, too quiet, but no alarms had been triggered. He raced to his five year old son Angus’ bedroom, found it empty, but retrieved the pistol within before hiding it in his pants. 
Graeme crept toward his bedroom checking every corner for corporal shadows, “Aunt Constance, If I had known you were coming. I would have asked Kaoru to prepare a banquet.”
His arm hairs stood upright as he sensed two presences in the shadows, “I sense you brought your understudy.”
A slightly muffled woman’s voice came from behind, “You shouldn’t have tried to kill my brother.”“I had plans for you, Omiko-chan, and Hohiro too. Once the AFFS killed Isoroku it would have been easy enough for me to make a claim if it weren’t for Miya and Franklin. I might have even succeeded.”
An older woman’s stern voice came from somewhere to his right, “You betrayed Sharilar Mori to ROM.”
“Turnabout is fair play, Obasan. Apparently, Terra is paradise, it’s an honor to be reassigned even for the Precentor Dieron.The Pillars wanted to be Primus and the Primus wanted a Coordinator.What happened to them?”
“It was quick. They felt nothing.”
He nodded to himself, “As Blake wills it, so it shall be done.” The pistol fired toward the shadows coming to send him to darkness.
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*Wiki Note: Final Entries to the story has concluded. Author continues to write in this universe.
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