Akuji shoved Horatami roughly as he walked away, never did like his methods. Screwing at the pugs always worked better than hitting them with a cane.
He rubbed the sore spot on his head and took a seat by a large ornate bell.
Next to him was a pretty young girl, she wore the uniform of a Blood Dragon, but she didn't look quite as if she fitted in. Her pale skin and fair hair reflected the light of the chambers, making her seemingly glow. She was reading a book on flowers of Kusari, a twiddling a bookmark between two fingers.
"Yelling at them work much?" she asked innocently,
Akuji leaned over to kiss her lightly on the cheek, she smiled and looked him in the eyes.
"Not quite" he sighed, "Whelps still need alot of training, and that loud one is gonna get someone killed..."
"He'll learn" she replied,
Ashley gripped his hand and smiled again, placing a small pink flower in his palm.
"Still don't know where you get these from" Akuji said, examining the flower.
A group of veteran students strolled by, bowing slightly as they passed the couple, Akuji nodded his head to them, remembering each and every one of their experiences under his command.
He didn't know whether he would be chosen to take Otaru Egami's place, nor whether it would be the right position for him.
Hirosho Horatami was obviously trying something, possibly going for the same position, though Akuji doubted he knew about any of the news fully.
He sighed and admired the delicacy of the flower. Whatever happened he wouldn't change at all. Blood Dragons till the end he thought, smiling.
While Hirosho Horatami was continuing his stroll, mingling with the others, he pulled one of his other Roju followers too the side of the halls. The disbanded group then left the Imperial Court while the other Hirosho and the other talked.
(About a minute later)
"Now my dear friend, go on."
The other Roju bowed, and then scurried to the halls where Akuji was last seen. When he had arrived, the Roju spotted a group of Hattamotos and Rojus talking with several others. He approached them, got their attention, then began whispering to the group. About a minute later, the Roju that went to the group pointed at Akuji. When he did this, the group gasped, frowned, and shook their head in disappointment. The group left the area and could be heard whispering to the other blood dragons in the hall.
"Wonder what their deal is?" Akuji questioned, nodding to the group of Rojus,
"Not sure dear" Ashley replied, not looking up from her book,
Akuji cracked his knuckles and observed the ornamental piece opposite him.
It was a finely crafted golden statue of a dragon, a clock in it's roaring mouth. He mentally noted the time and made himself comfortable on the bench.
"Probably Horatami again, so sly" he sighed, "Never one for face-to-face confrontation..."
A rather macabre sight was soon spotted in Kyoto's storage room. A sculpture, made of twisted up parts of ships, in a strange spiral pattern akin to a DNA helix.
Upon closer inspection, the sculpture was revealed to be built from damaged ship parts, with serial numbers still on the sides. In the center of the sculpture, a skeletal human hand, still wearing part of a Naval Forces uniform and pilot's watch, and in it's hand was clutched a small metal cylinder.
The Cylinder bore strange hieroglyphics, which hinted at it's place of Origin.
[color=#FF6600]Taishogun: Eyes Only
The Object had been cleverly placed where it would be clearly noticed, a quite unorthodox yet direct message, and presumably something quite important...
Hirosho Horatami ran past the suspicious structure, past the halls, and into the Taishogun's presence.
"Taishogun!"
Hirosho bowed and kneeled before the Taishogun.
"I have most disturbing news, sensai... I wish to share it with you, but without the presence of others."
The Taishogun nodded, and everyone left the room except for his elite guard that always stood by him.
"Sensai.. your highness.. I was recently encountered by a CS vessel known as, "Interceptor.Shield" He informed me of.. disturbing news.. The GC, sensai, have been compromised. They cannot be trusted, for we do not know when one may be an Aoi Iseijin. Our procedures and regulations have protected us from becoming infested with those.. creatures. But, as they have none, they are gone. We cannot get close to them, we cannot dock on their bases, we MUST have strict regulations involving the interaction with the GC. To prove they are infested, i was recently tapped into by one of the GC. Me, and two of our brothers met with three GC sisters. They whispered to us.. they tried to trick us. And they did. We engaged them, i managed to destroy one of them so that the infestation would stop, but, my vessel was destroyed shortly afterward.... I suggest you talk to the Consortium. They are very wise. And if worst comes to worst, sensai, we should destroy the GC. That is, of course, if they become too much of a threat to us."
Hirosho Horatami stand up and opens the doors so that the room may be filled with people once more. He exited into the halls to meet with several others.
The Taishogun watched Horatami depart, and other members of the Court enter. He looked again at the small cylinder recently delivered by the Consortium, as part of their macarbe 'gift'. He raised a hand and spoke.
"The Taishogun is most displeased by what he has heard in recent days.
He now wishes to tell the Court that the Most Honourable Shogun Otaru Egami, has stepped aside from his command. The reason for this is mine alone to know.
I call upon the other Shoguns to attend this Court, where I shall appoint the next Shogun to stand before me.
The remaining Shoguns shall also call upon envoys from the Consortium and the Sisterhood to attend this Court - to respond to the allegation raised by Roju Horotami.
That is all."
And with that the Taishogun returned to His chambers, and the Court was cleared.
As Miyamoto and Sum-Gok-Li were discussing what actions to take next, a young Oban was stopped outside of the room by Sum's Guards. And was let through, with orders from The Taishogun.
"Come brother, speak your mind." - Miyamoto said to the young Dragon as he entered the room.
"Hai Sensei." - He replied and bowed slightly while looking towards the two Shoguns.
"The Taishogun wishes the Shoguns to attend the Court, His Greatness made a decision that must be heard by all."
"Hai, it may seem that The Taishogun has made his decision on who will be Shogun Otaru's successor. Come Gok-Li-sama, we must go at once."
Shogun Miyamoto departed and the young Oban was following him in his steps. As they were walking Miyamoto saw Daimyo Akuji sitting with a young beautiful girl. A powerful voice was heard.
"Come Akuji-san, The Taishogun requests our audience!" - Miyamoto yelled.
While Miyamoto was walking through the corridors he was wondering on what would happen next. Grim times are upon The Rising Sons. He entered the Imperial Court main room, with none inside but the guards and a Roju that was there to greet the Shogun. He handed The Taishogun's orders to Miyamoto, that The Chrysanthemums and The Consortium presence is required as well.
The Neith II arrived in the Chugoku system, laden with not only what was requested, but another, more interesting bit of information.
"Colonel, we're recieving an incoming transmission"
"Patch it through Ensign" replied Kell.
"This is Kyoto base to Order destroyer, state your purpose here" Kell turned to the view screen
"This is Colonel Kell Tainer of the Order, i'm here for an audience with the Taishogun"
"Ah, we have been expecting you, you are granted clearance to land"
Kell turned to ghost
"Take us in Ghost"
"Roger that sir"
[Post docking]
Kell stepped out of the airlock flanked by two of his officers, his wife, Colonel Rebecca Tainer and security chief, Commander Tatsuo Ishikawa.
As the Order Agents were ushered through the corridors, there were mixed reactions from the Dragons.
Some were curious, possibly having never seen the Order, or for that matter a foreigner. Others gave looks implying a slow and dishonourable death, others spat and muttered obscenities under their breath.
They were now in the Dragon's Den. There was no time for tours, they were to be brought before the Taishogun immediately, lest those Dragons with a grudge try and kill them outright.
Shogun Sum-Gok-Li was there to meet them at the entrance to the Court.
"The Taishogun shall address a number of matters today, you will be one of them. I hope for your sake you have brought what He has asked of you. If He is pleased then I expect your request will be granted."
"And if he is not pleased?" Asked Kell's wife.
The Shogun did not smile, merely entering the Court.
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