YUKIKAZE by CHŌHEI KAMBAYASHI

was met with applause, laughter, and catcalls.
    “Controlling these guys is kinda hard… Column, right! Forward, march! Boomerang Squadron, how about showing some gratitude for our replacements?”
    The dolls were taken up on the huge elevator to the surface, where they were bathed in sunlight for the first time.
    Rei came along as well. The dolls marched out toward the side of the receiving hangar at the base of the runway. And then one fell. Its arms and legs continued their marching motion even after it had fallen. The dolls coming up behind it began to fall as well.
    “No, no, no! Shit! All units, halt!”
    Upon the major’s order, the chaos instantly ceased. Booker sighed and then sat down on a toolbox.
    “Looks like we’ll have to cancel the march.”
    Rei, who had watched all this without a word, let out a sigh as painful as the major’s.
    “This world really is incomprehensible.”
    “Did you say something?”
    Rei shrugged his shoulders as he leaned against a power supply truck.
    “I’m talking about the hearing. I just don’t get the general’s attitude. And I don’t get why she’s on my ass all the time.”
    “It may not have been a Sylph or a JAM. I saw the pictures taken by your gun camera too, and although it looked like a Sylph, I can’t say for sure if it was one or not.”
    “What do you mean?” asked Rei, still brooding.
    “It’s possible it could have been a trespasser from Earth. A unit that entered the Passageway in violation of international law.”
    “Why would they do that? What could they possibly be after in this place?”
    “Look at this green land, this sweet air. If an Earth nation sent a spy plane, they couldn’t exactly complain about it being shot down. If it became public knowledge they’d have to face international censure. On the other hand, Faery isn’t a sovereign state, so if we make noise about shooting down a plane from Earth it would cause big trouble for us as well. We don’t know what the truth is. It probably was the JAM. You should just forget about it.”
    “I don’t understand at all.”
    “Don’t worry about it. Gimme a hand here. We need to get these dummies back up again.”
    “Sure. The thing is, this scar on my forehead from shooting down that unknown hasn’t gone away. And my partner is dead.”
    “How about this scar on my cheek? And everyone has to die sometime.”
    THE FAF METEOROLOGICAL Corps had forecast that the weather would worsen soon but should hold out for the ceremony. The guest of honor came through the Passageway and arrived at Faery Base. The sudden change of environment was probably hard on his old body, but the commandant was known for his love of pomp and circumstance and wasn’t about to let it get the better of him.
    Since Rei and Major Booker were in charge of preparations for the ceremony, they excused themselves from attendance and headed for the grassy field by the receiving hangar on the surface. Rei brought a portable broadcast monitor with him while Booker carried his hobby boomerang. The grass was soft and the air was warm. If you excused the lack of a blue sky, it was as perfect holiday weather as you could ask for. After dozing off for a bit, Rei was awakened by the major.
    “What?”
    “It’s about to start. Turn on the monitor.”
    “What…? Oh!” Rei sat up.
    The ceremony was apparently being held in the plaza near the control tower, far away from the field they were sitting in. The runway was huge. As they turned on the monitor, a recording of a military band playing the FAF march blared from it.
    “Looks like a long opening act has just finished. Okay then, now the review is starting.”
    The commandant of the Japanese air force walked out to the ghost troops, accompanied by a single Faery Air Force commissioned officer. He was a bantam of a man, walking with his chest puffed out, but did possess a certain dignity.
    “Okay, if this works, it all will have been worth it.”
    “Jack, that