Ken

by on February 18, 2022 at 12:01 am
Posted In: Diaries

The Japanese Defense Force was not a fighting force. Yes, they could fight, and they defended Los Angeles from a great many threats before Yosemite, but true honor was found in deescalating a situation so that no fighting would be required to conclude it. Their units were painted with cute anime characters, or in parade colors that could not possibly be considered aggressive. They were cute and friendly, always seeking understanding and peace. For that was the height of honor in New Japan. Ken Banno trained with the JDF long before Yosemite, as many Japanese celebrities did to bolster JDF membership. His training was one of the reasons the Empress asked him, personally, to volunteer to fight in front of the public eye of all her people. He always sought to follow the JDF path, so when Charles started wearing business suits in the Hyades Cluster, Ken was very quick to echo him.

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Ken

by on February 17, 2022 at 12:01 am
Posted In: Diaries

I learned many strange and amazing things from Ken Banno over the years we fought together. The strangest was that he did not want to fight at all. He considered fighting to defend his home to be a loss of honor that he would have to redeem when his part of The War came to an end. He grew up in a culture that had foresworn war altogether, that taught that fighting was beyond the last choice of a rational and honorable man. But when the Empress called the survivors of her murdered city to set aside their honor and fight for the future, he was one who answered her call. He was one of their most famous citizens, and he became an example to all of them. Tens of thousands of New Japanese followed his example and volunteered to fight. It took him decades to overcome the shame he felt at having brought dishonor on so many of his people.

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Ken

by on February 16, 2022 at 12:01 am
Posted In: Diaries

I never thought that Ken Banno would end up flying off my wing. He was a worlds famous surfer from New Japan. I was a nobody from Northern Minnesota. But life is strange and he was an amazing person to have on my wing. Kenichi Banno was his full name, and he was a rarity in Los Angeles before Yosemite fell on it. He was a full-blooded Japanese raised up in the California-Surfer-New-Japanese fusion culture that dominated the city and its surroundings. He could Hang Ten on the waves in the morning and attend dinner with the Empress at night. All that changed after Yosemite turned his home into a water-filled crater, of course. It’s why he volunteered to serve. Though he was never as militant about his service as many of us were. And that was a good thing for all of us.

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Ken

by on February 15, 2022 at 12:01 am
Posted In: Diaries

I met Ken Banno in Texas, back when all us volunteers were going through our basic Marine training. He was just a small, Japanese guy when I first saw him. Yes, please don’t hate on me too much, I did not recognize him. In my defense, I never did follow surfer culture much. If he’d been a worlds famous singer I probably would have recognized him. But a surfer? It took me a while. Yes, I did know his public persona, and I fully recognized him on screen or holo, but no one expects a worlds famous Japanese celebrity surfer to show up in the middle of “Oh-My-God-Hot-and-Dry” Texas to go through Marine training. So yeah, it took me a while to recognize Buckaroo Banno walking around in our midst in the flesh. Go ahead. Sue me. I’m not perfect.

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Jay

by on February 14, 2022 at 12:01 am
Posted In: Diaries

Jay Lovato fights the Battle of Earth every day. He wakes up, he pulls his suit on, and he goes out to do battle with politicians and newsies who want to see the Cowboys cut out. He makes himself a living, breathing example of the Cowboys for the common Earthling. He reminds them all of the heroic actions we take every day to save worlds on the edge of civilization. Because of him, the politicians have never been able to disband us. We are still members of the American military, even if a step or three removed. Even my own crazy Cowboys are at least tolerated on Alliance worlds. And when people call for help, we can still fly in and help them without having to fight too many jurisdictional battles. Never forget the battle Jay Lovato fights every day to keep this true.

If you want to know more about Jay, go to http://jackofharts.substack.com

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