Soul Drive: Ignition

Chapter 11: Oh Canada

In the dimly lit office of Ken Stark, a single ray of sunlight pierced through the blinds, slicing across the room and illuminating the cloud of dust dancing above his desk. Files upon files lay scattered in front of him, each one labeled with the names of Mach pilots. As Ken sifted through the papers, his fingers brushed against the edges, leaving streaks of ink on his fingertips.

"Damn," he muttered under his breath, leaning back in his chair. A memory surfaced in his mind – the day Mary, one of their brightest scientists, had mysteriously gone "missing." It was then that he received the Machs, a technology meant to be kept secret from the world. He knew deep down that Mary's disappearance couldn't have been a coincidence, and he'd been itching for an excuse to strike back at those responsible.

Ken's eyes narrowed, scanning the files before him. Two names caught his attention: Daiki Yamamoto and Osamu Kimura. Both were of Japanese descent, with connections to the country that would make it easy for them to blend in seamlessly. He opened their files, scrutinizing their pilot missions in the Machs and ensuring their vitals had remained stable during every use. A satisfied smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Marie," he called out, pressing a button on the intercom. "Get me Daiki Yamamoto and Osamu Kimura on the secure line."

"Of course, Mr. Stark," his secretary replied, her voice tinny through the speaker.

As he waited for the call to connect, Ken leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. He could feel the weight of responsibility bearing down on him. This mission was critical – they needed to seize the remaining Machs from Japan and bring them home. And he was putting all his faith in these two pilots.

"Mr. Stark?" Osamu's voice crackled through the intercom. "What can I do for you?"

"Osamu," Ken began, his tone firm and authoritative. "I've got an assignment for you. We need you to go undercover in Japan and fix the rogue Mach situation over there."

"Undercover?" Osamu's voice was a mix of surprise and excitement. "This sounds like quite the mission."

"I trust your investigative skills will lead you right to them," Ken replied, his fingers drumming on the surface of his desk.

"Understood, Mr. Stark," Osamu said, determination lacing his words. "I won't let you down."

"I know you won't," Ken replied, ending the call with a click. As he stared at the now silent intercom, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride swelling in his chest. He had chosen the right pilots, he was sure of it. And with Daiki and Osamu on the case, he knew they would succeed.

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Daiki's fingers paused on the antique doorknob, a relic from his childhood home in Japan. With a soft click, the door to his home office swung open, revealing a sanctuary of high-tech gadgetry amidst the warm wooden paneling. He brushed his hand over the biometric scanner, and the room sealed itself shut.

"Daiki Yamamoto, reporting in," he announced, his voice steady and confident. The muted hum of his computer booting up filled the air as the screen flickered to life, displaying Ken Stark's stern visage.

"Daiki," Ken began, his words weighted with seriousness, "you've been selected for a very special mission. Recent events have shown that the Japanese government cannot handle the Mach technology."

"Understood," Daiki replied, his dark eyes reflecting his determination. "What do you need me to do?"

"Your mission is to infiltrate the Japanese government, locate their remaining Machs, confiscate them, and return to Canada." Ken paused, his steely gaze boring into Daiki. "We need to collect the Machs and deal with the rogue elements quickly and quietly, since the world is already on edge."