The 2nd Lieutenant's mech was old before he got to it and the only explanation that could be had for it still being in working order was the simple fact that it had never been part of any official roster with the DCMS but instead was one of the many that existed within the Yakuza ranks.  Then again it was just as likely that the DCMS wouldn't even have wanted the thing to tear down for parts since it wouldn't help them with anything except for museum pieces.  It was the product of an ancient pedigree.

He on the other hand was still quite young and while the family business was looked down upon by the proper court in the Draconis Combine that didn't stop him from attending Sun Zhang MechWarrior Academy and being put through its paces to break him or forge him into a good Mechwarrior for the Combine.  Graduation came and went and his name was neither on the list of graduates, dismissed or withdrawn.  He simply wasn't attending there anymore and had returned home to collect up the Wolverine that had been gaining rust for the last few centuries as far as he knew.  He then collected up a pair of troublemakers from his graduating class, the Kazhuro twins of Max and Maxine, who had according to their instructors spent more time making holo-vids than watching training roms and trying to do well in class...though why they would listen to him and join up with some mercenary unit when the Combine had such a hard on for hating them like ancient Japan disliked Ronin was anyone's guess.  Lastly he called upon an old family friend and the only one to have officially graduated from SZMA with honors, Miyazai Tatsuko.  Of the three it was Tatsuko that made the least sense to those that knew his family and his work ethic.  Regardless he turned down his commission in the DCMS and walked the long lonely road of Mercenary Ronin with his friend Nagamichi.