Hirosho Horatami sat by himself on one of the more decorative sofas in the hall leading to the Court Room. He had seen Shogun Myamoto racing down the halls to the bay. Hirosho had previously followed him into the docking bay, curious of the alarms and activity. As the honorable shogun listened to the information about the KNF vessel and Akuji's departure, Hirosho stood at the corner eavesdropping, while munching on a ripe apple. After Miyamoto left and Hirosho was done with his apple, the Daimyo paced the halls thinking to himself about the matters at hand. When about an hour had passed, he sat down, finally by himself. He watched as several Dragons roamed the hall, although most were asleep or tending to other issues and matters. Hirosho again thought about Akuji's unexpected leave while diving into sleep.
"He must have gone to see another women! No.. no.. Ah ha! The KNF pilot of the destroyed vessel outside contained a map to secret hidden treasures!... No... Gah... Stupid Hirosho! You're supposed to know these things! Hmm.. Perhaps a secret project, a surprise for the shogunate! Haha! I'll bet it's foreign currency of some sort! That Akuji... Always full of surprises. Surprises.. Oh that reminds me!..."
Two hours passed with a Daimyo sleeping on a sofa in the most public hallway in Kyoto. Finally, several Obans decided to pick him up and drag him to his quarters. Once inside, they lied him on his embellished mattress full of traditional Dragon inscriptions and decor.
With the Court in recess, Aki rises smoothly to her feet and waits until just about the last of those who were present have left. She paused at the doors to look back, taking note of the guards remaining and at least one Dragon in particular who seems to be talking to himself although he is too far away from her to make out anything he may be saying. She smiles ruefully as it might have been enlightening information to over hear if she were closer and now that the room was almost empty, shed be a bit more noticeable in her attempt to eaves drop on the Dragon. She turns and walks out, her mind moving onto several other things she desired to do.
Her first thought was about the Kiretsu on Kyoto now, most notably their leader whom she had a dislike for on several different levels. She lets her feet guide her back to the hanger bay where she is a bright spot against the drab backdrop of the huge open cavern that is most of the asteroid that is Kyoto. This time around shed brought a personal shuttle craft, one modified for her by several organizations friendly to the Chrysanthemums. She paused long enough to place her hand on a small scanner pad the lights up at her approach. While it scans her biometric data, she also inputs a code on the digital readout before it accepts her and opens both the shuttle boarding ramp and powered down its own small but effective self defenses. Entering the ship she turns and heads not to her personal cabin, but towards the back cargo bay. Aki makes sure that not even the shuttles crew is around to observe her when she made her way to the side of the cargo bay and pulled one of her hair pins out and inserted it into a tiny and almost unnoticeable hole. The ship reads the markings cleverly inscribed around the hair pin and released the locks on a hidden storage locker.
Aki looks into the hidden space and considers her next steps before making her selections. The first thing she pulled out was a plain gray carrying case and sets it to her left. Next she removed two thermal charges and tucks them away under her Obi, both to be used at a later time if she has the opportunity she would desire. She pulls out from under her Kimono a very small hold out pistol and placed it in the locker, and then replaces it with another pistol, only this one is larger and definitely more powerful. She adjusts the concealed holster so the heavier pistol is more comfortable and still remains as unnoticeable under the kimono as possible.
Another thought she quickly makes several more selections of gear needed for later, depositing them into a locking duffle bag that she pulled out of the storage locker. Its not long before she is satisfied that she has what shed need on such short notice and with such a rough and quickly planned idea. Taking out the hair pin causes the locker to close and seal up once more, again a part of the ship unnoticeable to anyone not aware of its existence. She picks up the carrying case and duffle back and deposits them into a small automatic loader and pulled its remote controller out of the charger, to which she tucks that inside of her kimono in a hidden pocket.
On her way forward, she pauses in her cabin to look herself over, making sure the stylish kimono remains both presentable and not to revealing that it would possibly offend the more conservative of the Dragons while at the same time being open and comfortable as well as hint at some of the well toned body of the woman who wears it. She also took a few moments to pull out a different kind of outfit and laid it out on her bed, ready for use when she needs to. Satisfied she is about as prepared as she could be on such short notice she departs her cabin and locked the door before leaving the shuttle, pausing again only long enough to secure the ship and reactivate its defenses.
With all done she looks around the hanger back, placing where every ship is at this current time, especially those of the Consortium and the Kiretsu in relation to where her shuttle is located. She also considers locations all around the cavern of the asteroid, a few looking like possible places for what she is planning. With those fixed in mind, she now leaves to find any Blood Dragon of sufficient rank to speak with, starting with the first one who looks like an Officer or even Higher rank that she finds
Speaking in a soft fluid tone and purely in Japanese and with a slight bow of courtesy, Konichiwa Honorable Dragon. One would like to know where she might find one of the Daimyo or possibly even a Shogun to discuss both business related to issues currently being placed before the Tai-Shogun and in regards to the possible need for one who works in the Shadows? She knows the last reference might be lost on the individual she is speaking to, but perhaps the Dragon would understand quiet well and know whom she should be seeking at this time. Straightening up from the bow, she waits for the Dragons response.
She frowns slightly upon hearing the Shogun Akuji is now missing in action, still, there was one more who may have time to listen to her, so she bows slightly to the Dragon Guard who provided her with the information. "Thank you for the information, this one shall see Shogun Myamoto as soon as possible before doing what she can to find your mission Shogun."
She turns gracefully in place and walks away with a slight sway that is in some ways enticing and in others a bit teasing. She pauses along the way at an info terminal to ask directions to Shogun Myamoto's office. Once she has that information loaded into a small data pad, she turns and begins making her way through Kyoto to the Shogun's office.
Once she finds the doors, and notes they are guarded by a pair of Blood Dragons, she steps up fully bfore them, "This one is requesting an audience with Shogun Myamoto."
Zetsumai led Misoraki through the tunnels to the set of rooms she and Kaiten had been given for their stay on Kyoto. The two of them had agreed that it would be best just to remain on the station, rather than ferry back and forth between it and the Syndicate's Storta, Brindisi, which was still in orbit around the asteroid. If all went according to plan, the destroyer would be leaving shortl anyway. They entered to find Kaiten pacing around the room while shouting into a comm headset. His face had such an incredulous look on it, coupled with his shouting and pacing, it was all fairly comical, and Zetsumai couldn't stop herself from smiling with amusement.
When he noticed them, Kaiten moved off towards one of the bedroom doors while covering the headset's microphone with his hand. "This may take awhile, go on without me." Then he shut the door behind him. Misoraki cocked her head to the side, "go on with what?" Zetsumai looked back at her. "With the main reason that Storta's in orbit. Come on, sit down, I've got something to show you." They both took a seat on the large sofa facing the room's video display. Zet pressed a few buttons on the remote and it turned on, displaying a list of photos on the datacard she had inserted earlier. Selecting the auto-play, a slideshow began. The pictures showed a Storta destroyer, much like the Brindisi, but this one showed signs of intense fighting, including a huge crater blasted into the armor plating covering the ship's topside.
"This" she began as the slideshow moved on towards photos of the ship's interior, "is the Consortium's old destroyer, the Hoshinokatana. We hadn't seen or heard from it for quite some time. We had assumed it had been destroyed until we stumbled across it a few days ago. It was drifting through the unprotected space outside the nebulae in Hokkaido. Exposure to the intense radiation, most of the ship's systems and wiring had been corroded, leaving them inoperable. A fair number of the rest we assume were destroyed during the battle."
Misoraki looked back at Zetsumai. "Crew?" Zet shook her head. "None." Her lieutenant raised an eyebrow. "Everyone died?" She shook her head a second time. "There was no crew to begin with." Zetsumai smiled. That smile she used everytime she had a diabolical little plan that meant hurting someone she didn't like. "And that's exactly why we're interested in it. You've never met her... Or rather, it, but I have. The Hoshinokatana is controlled by a self-aware artificial intelligence that calls itself Kathryn, or Kat for short. When we first recovered the ship, we couldn't talk to her. Like the rest of the computer system, she had been disabled by either the battle or the radiation exposure. We got a few of our transports together with the Megami and pulled it into the nebula, though we left it well out of range of regularly-traveled routes. We've started to replace the wiring and bringing the systems back to 'life' so-to-speak. We haven't gotten Kat back up and running yet, but we did get access to her backup memory module."
Misoraki spoke up, "you don't intend to let her take that warship back to the Consortium do you?"
Zetsumai laughed, "of course not. In fact, I don't think she wants to anyway. We took the memory module back to Matsuda and hooked it up to the ship's mainframe computer, to reconstruct the events. The radiation had hit it as well, so we got only sketchy images and a few audio samples, but the gist of what happened is there. It seems that Kat had decided to leave the Consortium, with her destroyer. They apparently attacked her in order to stop her. We have photos of the Consortium's Darak Ti being in combat against the Hoshinokatana. There isn't enough information to accurately recreate the battle, and it seems that whatever ships the Hoshinokatana took out or damaged were removed from the area afterwards, so we have no way of knowing their losses. However, I think it's safe to assume she won't be returning to them anytime soon. Some of our technical engineers are still working on her memory back at Matsuda, so they may find more."
"The point here is; she expressed a desire to leave the Consortium, and given the options of either going to the Outcasts, of whom she knows none, or working with us, I think she will choose the latter. The two of us have something of a history together, so that's a mark in our favor. Either way, that ship has to be destroyed, which means Valetta shipyard. That's where the Brindisi comes in. I've not revealed any of this to our hosts, they believe the Brindisi is here as a glorified transport, except for the Taishogun and Shogun Gok-li, who think it's here as a preventative weapon to make the Consortium think twice about trying anything, and to show the Syndicate's support for us. I also fed him a line about it being here to underline the importance of the discussion we had concerning the Consortium. While it was all true, I don't expect the Dragons to do anything about it. At best they will deny closer relations with the Consortium, at worst they will allow them full access to Kyoto. It'll present a problem in the future, but it can be dealt with in time."
"While normally we couldn't even think about using a destroyer, they are a serious drain on our resources, and they can't be used as a base or trade point like Matsuda. However, with the Hoshinokatana, crew would be unnecessary. Kat would be able to control it by herself. It would also need less supplies than one may originally expect. With little-to-no crew, food, water, oxygen, all that won't be needed. Fuel is about the only supply it would need, and we can get MOX from Bretonia easily enough. We already do for Matsuda. The other reason is that this destroyer, while retaining its combat ability, will be used mostly as a mobile headquarters and supply ship, as well as a mobile research laboratory. I plan to have Kat work on some Cardamine for us. Experiments to increase potency, fertilization, the works. I also heard from Kaiten that there may be something coming soon that will be of great importance to us, if we can get some samples."
"In the short term, it'll serve as our heavy weaponry against the Consortium, who still have two destroyers of their own. Kaiten," she flicked her eyes back towards the bedroom door he disappeared into, "may not be able to keep the Brindisi down here in Kusari, or use it as a support against the Consortium's destroyers. We'll know more about that in a day or two."
"Kat's departure from the Consortium offers a great opportunity for us, and I plan to take it. All we have to do is ensure the Consortium doesn't get its slimy palms on that destroyer or evidence of us having it until it's reached Valetta. Once there the Outcasts will be keeping it safe for us until it's ready. The arrangements with them have already been made. We also need to make sure the Blood Dragons don't learn of our using it, at least for now. I'm going to continue working on the diplomacy side of things here."
Zetsumai looked Misoraki straight in the eye. "Things may be about to get far worse than we originally planned. The Colonial Republic offered the Blood Dragons and ourselves, the Golden Chrysanthemums, a deal. I've also learned from one of the Elders themselves, that the Colonial Republic planned on creating a 'Tau Federation'. I don't know about the Blood Dragons, though I highly doubt they'd enter into something as foolish as that. I did hear from one of my contacts in the Gas Miners Guild that they were also invited to merge into this federation, but declined it on the basis that the Colonials had nothing of interest to offer them. The Elders, brain-rotted and poorly manipulative as usual, had seriously thought about accepting it. I had a bit of a talk with that Elder, and I think I got my message through; Suicide. But they also nearly accepted the Colonial's offer of neutrality, also a horrible decision for so many reasons. The rift between us is growing further and further apart." She shook her head. "It may finally be time to deal with this problem directly."
She leaned back on the sofa. "The Consortium has become their new favorite pet. Pampered, protected. With this hostility looming between those half-mans and us, it's quite possible the Elders will choose a side, and it won't be ours. You know as well as I the headaches we've caused them, and vice versa. If they find a chance to take us out, they'll take it." She smiled, "but, as usual, they'll be drastically overplaying their hand if they attempt it. We've taught them before not to take us lightly, so we shall see what they decide. Either way, we already have sworn assistance for us if that should come to pass. It may strike a fracture through our cause, but we'll mend it with time, and be far better off with ourselves in charge."
She returned her gaze to Misoraki. "So, now you know what's going on. I leave the choice of remaining and dealing with what's going on here, or going with the Brindisi to secure the Hoshinokatana and deliver it to Valetta, to you."
The door to the Taishogun's throne room barged open, Chiba is raging...With two swords with them, both pulled out. Chiba was ready to attack when needed.
"Chiba!" yelled the Taishogun.
"I need your help...NOW..." he snapped back.
Chiba pulled out a small datapad, and handed it to the Taishogun.
"Read this" he said.
It was a datapad, with Arisu Sachiko's resignation open.
The Taishogun was reading it, Chiba started talking.
"This is an issue... a BIG issue, this is an outrage...she has our equipment... our secrets... everything. This isn't over...I will...I will hunt her down..and kill her, but there is a problem with this, no one can interferr with my mission. I may also have to resign...laws will not stop me from killing her."
"I request to still use my ship, given to me by the blood dragons, and I'll need help with this, but I have to leave the rising suns... she will Die."
Chiba then sheaths his blades, waiting for a response.
Shogun Gok-Li ordered the Court Guard to lower its weapons - seeing Chiba's actions as an angry flourish rather than a serious threat to the Taishogun.
The Taishogun nodded after reading the letter.
"It is indeed the same message that was passed to the Taishogun."
"Chiba-san, if you have a trail to follow - then pursue it to the bitter end. If not, then I urge you to be patient, and do not follow blindly into a trap. If you have no leads, then wait until the traitor crawls out from under the rock she hides."
"In the meantime Chiba-san, if you wish to act as our Special Agent or Freelancer, I am authorising you to take your ship where you will, with our blessing. Remember though, you are a Dragon at heart - and the taishogun shall still hold you to the code of Honour!"
Araki Shibusiwa carefully inserted the laser welder and fused the two wires together. After carefully retracting it from the inner workings of the box she deactivated it and addressed her co-workers. "Alright, lets try it again." The room became a flurry of flipping switches, pressing buttons, and the tap tap tap of fingers on keyboards. This haste wasn't normal for her team, which was used to a much slower routine. However, the chance to work on a real, fully-functional, highly-advanced artificial intelligence's memory module wasn't something they were going to waste. Of course, the financial incentives had something to do with their speed as well. Zetsumai Keisotsu had promised to pay them very handsomely for quick work. Araki smiled.
Personally, she didn't much care who was in charge, Keisotsu or the Elders, so long as stuff got done. Keisotsu was definitely keeping them busy, though Araki didn't mind too much. She wasn't in a fighter getting shot at, and was being paid very well. She was content.
"Ready!" Someone shouted. Araki looked up at the display screen and the ultra-sharp, but distorted, kaleidoscopic video began to play. Almost immediately, she could tell they had fixed some of the video 'blackouts', though the procession was still nearly incomprehensible - A result of trying to compress the vast and complex memory of an AI into a two-dimensional video screen. Still, it was progress. She turned to one of the team members, the one controlling the computer system. "Have a copy of the most recent memories put on a datachip, then continue working. If you can, try to separate the different lines of thoughts to remove the distortion." A small beep sounded and Araki pulled out the datachip. "I'll go deliver this."
Ten minutes later, her shuttle took off from Battleship Matsuda's hanger, heading for Kyoto.
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