Prologue part 2: Set in stone
The trip to Aftokrator and back was supposed to take about 2 months. 2 weeks to get there and 2 weeks to get back, with about a month left to scout the enemy, find the kidnapped people and get them out. Secondary objectives were issued such as gathering intel from the worlds we'd visit on the way as well as sabotaging several facilities in Aftokrator to slow down any retaliation from them, as well as a way of getting back at them.
Previous to our journey the strike team members were thought the written language of Aftokrator. While with our communicators we were able to understand other languages, we could not read or write. The journey itself was smooth and uneventful at first, until a couple of days before our arrival in Aftokrator. On our last pit stop before our destination we decided to take a short brake in order to make some preparations for the coming days. I was in the ship's reactor room, making sure that everything is in order when Jin stopped me for a chat.
The man in front of me had blue eyes and combed brown hair. He was wearing a blue Border uniform with the Tamakoma emblem on the upper part of his sleeves. He carried a laid-back demeanor while eating some rice crackers. As he approached me I hear him saying.
Jin: So how's work going on for my kouhai? Everything's in order?
Katsuro: Hmm, oh yeah! Fortunately the guys down in engineering made sure the ship's as sturdy as possible. I guess me being here is more of a formality as I did little more than help in powering the ship.
Jin: Now, now don't put yourself down like that. You not having to do anything means that things have been good to us until now.
Katsuro: Until now?
Jin: Yeah... Want a rice cracker?
Katsuro: Sure... so I take it you're not here to exchange pleasantries?
Jin: My oh my, seeing through me like that... I guess I've rubbed off onto you after all this time. But you're right something's about to happen, something bad.
Katsuro: So you've seen something with your foresight (Jin's side effect)?
Jin: Multiple outcomes to our mission.
Katsuro: And how bad are they?
Jin: Well in most of them we fail and many of us either die or get captured. Even in the few ones where we succeed, all we achieve is a pyrrhic victory. We barely save anyone and we still get massive casualties.
Katsuro: So what have the others said about your prediction?
Jin: I haven't told them. And I don't plan to either.
Katsuro: Why?
Jin: The'll either go ahead with the plan, despite the outcomes or abort the mission and head back with nothing to show for. If we do that the public backlash would make any other large rescue operations like this one be delayed by months if not years. By that time the chances to rescue anyone would be close to none.
Katsuro: So why tell me all this then.
Jin: Because there's one outcome I've seen where everyone gets out and the mission succeeds... Everyone but you.
Katsuro: So... I have to die for the mission to succeed?
Jin: Not die, but I don't see you with us on the ship in that outcome. Meaning you either get captured or find another way out.
Katsuro: Huh! So... what's the plan.
Jin: No hesitation out of you? We still have a bit of time before we have to make any definite decisions.
Katsuro: You already said this is the best outcome. And mulling over it will only make me hesitate more. So lets hear it!
Jin: Fine, here's how we can reach that outcome...
Katsuro: That's the plan? It's finicky at best!
Jin: I know, but seemingly it works!
Katsuro: Fine! But when we meet again you'll owe me a month's salary worth of rice crackers! I'll make you watch me eat each cracker.
Jin: Hahaha! That's my kouhai! And thanks... I know how much I'm asking of you.
Katsuro: Don't worry about it senpai! After all we both know, that fate is not set in stone.