Nekakami

The nekakami (meaning "Spirit Cats") are a secret group of assassins for hire. They are the premier spies and assassins of the Draconis Combine, masters of deceit and subterfuge. They are sometimes called nekogami, nekekami, or kekogami.

Overview[edit]

This mysterious group is widely known to the enemies of the Dragon. The roots of the society are lost in history but some rumors suggest that have existed continuously since the ninja of Terra's feudal Japanese empire. The first hard facts are from the early stages of the Draconis Combine. They normally operate groups of four to six, where every member is handpicked for a specific skill set, rounding out the overall talents of the group . These groups are known as Miharu No Seishin and the members consider themselves as Seishin ban.[citation needed] The nekakami are trained from intensively early childhood, more than the members of DEST. The ISF considers nekakami to be enemies of the state.[1]

The nekakami never surrendered. They hid their faces under hoods, and if one was wounded, activated some kind of flare who destroys his face. The nekakami were master of stealth and assassination. They have been known to gain access to even the most highly protected areas of the Combine, including Unity Palace. Their devotion to their cause is so great that if they are unable to fulfill the contract, they commit suicide.[2] When making contact with potential clients, they leave origami cats behind. These cats can be used to indicate acceptance of a contract, but sometimes are embossed with Japanese characters if more detailed information is required.[3]

Despite the suggestions about connections between the nekakami and the Black Dragons, the first are very loyal to the Combine and House Kurita, and are ready to defend both against any enemy.[4]

History[edit]

During the Amaris Civil War, Coordinator Minoru Kurita secretly provided Aleksandr Kerensky with covert assistance including nekakami. One notable example took place was on the Rim Worlds Republic world of Engadine, when the nekakami prevented a devastating chemical weapon attack against the Star League Defense Force. After the terrorists were slain in a single "night of death", the SLDF commander found a box with the head of the terrorist leader on her bedside table, along with a black origami cat.[5]

Theodore Kurita supposedly met with the nekakami during the Fourth Succession War, before reaching a pact with the organization during the 3030s. The nekakami and the yakuza reportedly played a significant role in gathering information for the Kurita heir during the War of 3039. In this conflict, nekakami operatives allegedly operated on both New Avalon and Tharkad gathering intelligence. The nekakami were also reportedly responsible for leaving an origami cat on the throne of Melissa Steiner-Davion on 12 July 3039, an act considered to be an open warning to former Archon Katrina Steiner, as it demonstrated their ability to penetrate the most secure building in the Lyran Commonwealth undetected.[6]

On 9 January 3040, a nekakami assassin tried to murder Coordinator Takashi Kurita. The assassination was ordered by a yakuza oyabun who incorrectly believed it to be the will of Theodore Kurita. Theodore rushed to his father's palace and killed the assassin. Some time later, when the Black Dragons attempted a coup on Luthien to depose and murder Theodore, some nekakami, disguised as ISF, helped Theodore's son, Franklin Sakamoto, protecting him and defeating the Dragons.[7]

After the rebirth of the Second Star League, Theodore Kurita secretly sent a group of four nekakami to join Task Force Serpent, answerable only to the commander of the task force. They were Kasugai Hatsumi, Honda Tan, Rumiko Fox, and Kieji Sendai.[8] During the Battle of Huntress they destroyed a Jaguar command center, and Hatsumi died in a sword duel against Smoke Jaguar Khan Lincoln Osis, after severely wounding him.[9]

The Nekakami were still active in the ilClan Era. The 12 June 3152, one sent by Yori Kurita killed New Samarkand Warlord Ryota Murakami, a loyalist to Kanrei Matsuhari Toranaga, to make sure Ryota didn't sent troops to the Dragon's Tongue, opposing Yori's orders. After fatally wounding Ryota, the assassin told him it was his duty to the Dragon.[10]

Career[edit]

  • Nekakami Childhood
  • Nekakami Aspirant (from age of ten to twenty) it takes normally five year of practice
  • Way of the Spirit Cats - during this time the specialization takes place and takes three years
  • Nekakami Special Training - that the final stages to reach the highest level within the Nekakami and last another three years [11]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ A Guide to Covert Ops, p. 101, "Nekakami Profile"
  2. ↑ Heir to the Dragon, p. 362
  3. ↑ Heir to the Dragon, pp. 305-306, 356
  4. ↑ A Guide to Covert Ops, p. 101
  5. ↑ Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1, p. 107 "The Rim Worlds Campaign - Black Cats Bring Good Luck?"
  6. ↑ Historical: War of 3039, p. 64 "Shadow Wars Black Cats"
  7. ↑ A Guide to Covert Ops, p. 101
  8. ↑ The Hunters, ch. 7
  9. ↑ Shadows of War, ch. 19
  10. ↑ The Damocles Sanction pp. 55-56
  11. ↑ A Guide to Covert Ops, pp. 19-21, "Nekakami Aspirant"

Bibliography[edit]

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