..... Sius stepped out of the auditorium where he had just given his speech on the court martialling of Aki Kimura. Angry at himself, he speedwalked back to his office. Half way through Sasha, Sius's apprentice, caught up with him and walked besides him.
"You know this is going to be a big mess... so why did you do it?"
"Because I had to. I didn't want to and I'm not happy about it. Being in my position also means having to do some things you don't want to and I had no choice. I recieved notes and visits from hundreds of officers and our relations with the Corsairs have become instable."
.....They walked silently until they reached the doors of Sius's office and stepped in. Chip, Sius's Personnal Assidtance Drone (PDA-62) hovered infront of them and projected an image.
"Sir, Admiral Kimura's Bastet has recieved word of the court-martialling. I fear basing on her history that she might do something rather... radical."
"Damnit Aki, don't be a fool...
Chip, link me to the Bastet, get me Kimura on the line!"
.....As Chip went about his business, Sasha activated on the alrge viewscreen the projection from the auditorium, where various Order and Corsair members spoke their thoughts on this matter. Sius and Sasha just watched.
"So what are you going to do now?" asked Sasha.
"Sir, I have found the message sent to Kimura, I think you should have a look at it."
.....Sius and Sasha looked at each other.
Patch it through Chip.
.....The viewscreen went from the auditorium to the message in word, sent to Kimura. Sius, Sasha, and Chip all read it, Chip keeping it in his memory.
"Arrest warrent?! What? I'm not arresting anyone, Sasha, find out who issued that! I want to know who wrote that message and what the hell is going on! Chip, copy any more messages sent to or from the Bastet and find that ship!"
Ten Hours Later
"Sir, we have found the Bastet. Scanners show she has made her way to... Kusari."
.....Sius stood by the large viewport out to the Toledoan sea of snow. By now they knew there would have been some sort of mutiny onboard that ship, and knowing Kimura's nature they expected her to do something radical.
"Chip, contact Seith. Tell him to move to Kimura's last known locations. If there indeed was a mutiny then there would have been a little fight onboard the Bastet and those on... "our" side would have jumped in pods. Kimura wouldn't have killed them. Let's get those men back and figure out what happened. Chip, record every finding.
Sasha... contact Captain Guisan onboard the Orillion, tell him to prepare the ship for a nice long trip and to get here a soon as possible.
.....Chip moved about the door while Sasha just looked with an open mouth at Sius.
"You can't be serious..."
"I'm not letting go of her this easily Sash. I'm not going to let anything go down here, nothing is going to tear this place apart. Now go, I have some things to do before the Orillion gets here.
.....Sasha stood there for a minute then walked out the door. Sius then took his seat behing the large desk and began a testimony to be sent to all high ranking Order Officers.
Fellow Agents,
as we know, recent events have befallen on us that have caused Admiral Aki Kimura to go... AWOL. Frankly, this has all gotten out of hand. We have not sent out any warrent for the arrest for Kimura, nor are we going to permanently remove her from her seat. Don't get me wrong, something may have to be done to resolve this issue with the Corsairs, but we're not letting to of Kimura this easily. She's helped the Order a great deal and is vital in it's well-being. Although rought and with a big mouth, I'm sure we can all asset to times when she's helped all of us out. As it stands, I've ordered the Orillion to prepare to go after Kimura. The last we heard from the Bastet was her location near Kusari and that's where I intend to go and find her. Let's just hope this will work out...
-Malacos out
...Sius closed the file and sent it out. He then stood up, turned towards the viewscreen and waited for the Orillion to arrive.
.....Damnit Aki, don't do anything stupid... you're better than this...
Commander Rand Seith was in his office, filling his last battle report and evalations of new officers when the emergency comm signal beeped. His voice was deep and warm...
"Computer, view the message."
The holo screen before Rand flickered for a moment, fixing the image.
Emergency Protocol Alpha. Code Red.
Commander Seith, you are ordered by Fleet Admiral Malacos to mobilize into Kusari space, tracing the Bastet under the command of Aki Kimura. Last known location of the Bastet is Tohoku, according to spy satellite scans and agent reports.
Your orders are to track down the Bastet until Orillion takes position within Kusari.
Rand was known to be a calm man, always thinking before acting. Even if he felt the urgent tone of Admiral's message, he didn't give a color. He poured himself a glass of water and looked at the small mirror in his office.
"Computer, send a voice message to Commander Matrim Cauthon. I will be taking command of his bridge on Thoth under orders from Fleet Admiral Malacos. Tell them to get ready to mobilize for Kusari space within 2 hours."
He heard the sent message notificiation sound and noded slowly. Rand walked out of his office, ordering one of the Lieutenants to forward his reports to the Admirallity and walked with pace towards Isis' hangar bay, only to take a shuttle to Toledo, where Thoth was preparing for departure.
"Just like the old smuggling days. We will play the cat, and will think like the mouse..." he muttered slowly...
..... Sius made his way to the large Toledoan docking pads on which the Orillion would arrive.
Chip, record a message right now and send it out, it's important.
.....Chip made an analogic sound and a small green light appeared on the side of his spherical body.
This is Admiral Malacos. It just came to my attention that many of us think Admiral Kimura has gone rogue. Now let me just say one thing. We have not yet declared the Bastet an open target, nor have we issued the arrest or capture of Kimura. I'd like to have her back in one piece without any shots fired from Order vessels to Order vessels. As it stands, I'm taking the Orillion and going to do my best to find out where she's gone starting with her last known location near Kusari.
Ophidian, your orders where to retrieve any pods dropped by the Bastet in which some Order agents are in, and try to find out where that ship could have gone but do not, I repeat, do not follow or venture into Kusari.
I'm sure someone will have gotten word of what's going on and might take advantage of it. Everyone, keep your guard up, especially against Bounty Hunter assaults. I'll report more once I find progress.
-Malacos out.
Alright Chip, send that our on all Order frequencies. And attach a note to the file to Sasha that he has temporary control over my offices until I get back. I also want you to take the Reliance and station it where ever the Bastet's last known coordinates where. We'll use you as a mid-way point for comms.
..... Chip stopped hovering next to Sius and turned towards the next shuttle headed out to Lisbon.