Claims:
Doctor Julian Diaz sat in his quarters below the deck of the Nicolas Cotoner. The cruiser was only about an hour away from its destination, a port south of Tokyo. The ship was the first of the Order's Mission to Japan, sent in advance of any major commitment. On the expedition were doctors, priests, and of course soldiers. The goal of this initial expedition was to establish a toehold in the area. The plan was simple: the cruiser would dock, and the soldiers would secure nearby warehouses. These warehouses would be converted into makeshift field hospitals, in order to treat the ill and wounded. After the establishment of this base, further missions would arrive in order to expand the Order's safe zone, and begin construction and operation of more advanced medical facilities.
A grand purpose, surely, but not the Order's only one. The clergy on board were here for one purpose: conversion. Diaz didn't entirely agree with that, nor did he like the presence of the recruiter the Fellowship had on board. Conversion was one thing, recruitment another. But the Mission to Japan had only been approved with many strings attached. Diaz had lobbied for a purely humanitarian mission, but the Order would only cooperate after heavy concessions.
A knock on the door sounded. Turning around, Diaz said "Come in."
"Are you ready to get to work doc? We're almost at the landing point now. Shouldn't take us too long to secure the immediate area." It was First Lieutenant Leonardo Marin, commander of the soldiers. Under his command were fifty men of the Knights Hospitaller, as well as the small Marine contingent on board and the Army detachment sent to supplement their ranks. "Don't worry, we're a decent sized force, don't think the Japanese would fire upon us, not with what we've come to do." He paused. "And if they do, well, we'll be able to handle it. Sorry about any additional work that would create."
He chuckled, causing Diaz to glare at him and open his mouth. Marin sighed and cut him off with "I know, doc, I know the mission. Just a bit of black humor before the op begins, you know?".
"Fine. Have you spoken with Father Tosto yet?"
"No, I've been avoiding it. Father Tosto is a good man, bless him, but he can be a bit... abrasive at times, particularly now, when he's seasick. But you're right, I must go speak with him, then go to my men. But before I forget..." He took off his pack and grabbed a package from it. "Here, this is for you."
Diaz took it and opened it. "It's a standard officer's kit. You may not be in the Order, but as head doctor, you'll be in nominal command of our ground forces in Japan, and I wanted to give my CO a little gift."
The box contained some assorted field gear including a map of the area and a knife with a compass, a bible, and a gleaming pistol with the Maltese cross embossed on the grip.
"With us on guard, you won't need it, but you'll thank me if worst comes to worst." Lieutenant Marin patted Diaz and left. "Remember that the next platoon will arrive in only a few days."
Pax Christi in regno Christi
OBSERVATION OF THE NORTH AMERICAN CONFLICT
The war in North America has shown to be an interesting example of modern ground warfare. For that reason, the Order of Malta has, with the consent of the PAU, decided to send military attaches to the Pan-American Union. These attaches will be embedded near the front in order to observe how modern warfare proceeds, and to discover any potential problems that may arise in the field. These attaches are strictly non-combatant.
-Grand Master De Luca