Chapter 8

           Ritawasfamiliarwithcormorantfishing,atraditionalJapanesetechnique.Thefishermentieasnareatthebaseofthetrainedcormorant’sneckjusttightenoughtopreventitfromswallowinganyofthelargerfishitcatches,andthenplayoutenoughropetoenablethebirdtodiveintothewaterandfish.Oncethecormoranthasafish,thefishermenpullthebirdbackandmakeitspitoutitscatch.Ritafeltthatherrelationshiptothearmywasalotlikeacormorant’srelationshiptoafisherman.

           Ritawasinthearmybecausethatwashowshemadeherliving.HerjobwastogooutandkillMimicsandbringtheircorpsesbacktohermasters.Inreturn,theyprovidedherwitheverythingsheneededtoliveandtookcareoflife’slittleannoyanceswithouthereverhavingtoknowtheywerethere.Itwasagiveandtakerelationship,andinherminditwasfair.

           Ritatooknopleasureinthenotionofbeingthesavioroftheearth,butifthat’swhatthearmywanted,sobeit.Indarktimestheworldneededafigureforpeopletorallybehind.

           Japan’squarantinelinewasonthevergeofcollapse.IftheenemymanagedtobreakthroughatKotoiushi,Mimicswouldswarmtheindustrialcomplexonthemainisland.Withthecutting-edgefactoriesandtechnologiesJapanbroughttothetablelost,therewouldbeanestimated30percentdropintheeffectivenessoftheJacketstheyusedtowagethe

           war.TheramificationswouldbefeltthroughouttheUDF.

           Withoutsomeonetointerruptthetachyontransmissions,thebattlewouldneverend.