Captain Duran stood in front of his admiral , Mirage's pale skin looked even whiter in her official uniform as an Order Admiral and a member of the High Command , something she rarely wore. Taking a little time before speaking to his superior , Duran began talking , with a silent , yet clear voice -
" We are prepared to jump into the Nagano system , admiral. The cloaking device is stable. So far we have not been detected by any unwanted guests. "
As if she did not even notice his presence , Mirage continued to observe the view which unfolded in front of her eyes - Tekagi's Ark. Something she had only observed in photos , taken from reconnaissance groups.
" Have you scanned the Jump Hole ? Is it stable enough to support us ? " - She began with a clear tone.
" Yes , admiral. The hole is stable and secure , we are waiting for the order to jump thrue , ma'm. "
" Good , captain. Then you have your order. "
" Roger that , ma'm. "
Duran quickly left the admirals chamber and headed towards the command room. In front of him was the Jump Hole connecting this system with Nagano.
" Upload all available information about the "Nagano" system to the Aurora's navigation computer. I don't want any nasty surprises when we jump thrue. " - Duran voice was calm , yet demanding at the same time.
One of the officers responsible for the navigational logs turned towards the captain and quickly replied:
" There isn't much we know about Nagano , captain. However , we have no reason to suspect that it is in any way dangerous to us and the ship."
" Good , take us in then."
The Osiris slid into the system effortlessly. Still cloaked , by order of captain Duran the ship began an intensive scan of all objects nearby. After making sure that there nothing which can jepordise the mission , The Aurora de-cloaked.
The pure white ship began to emerge from its cloaking field , much like a snake changing its old skin for a new one. It was completely white , like a mirage in a desert. There where no weapons attached to it's hull and no weapons in general , were visible any where on it.
Moments after the Osiris emerged from it's cloak field , several AFA patrols detected it's presence and contacted it.
In response , admiral Mirage informed them of the invitation , given to her by the leader of the AFA , Ze'ev Barak.
" What actions do we take now , admiral? " - Duran turned to his superior.
" Well non , of course , we cannot simply dock with their station and we cannot come close to it with a ship , such as this. Now , it's their turn. We are in a foreign world now , gentlemen. I suggest we play by their rules. "
Ze'ev Barak was sitting in his sparse office on Shibukawa Depot in the Nagano system. He had been on this little base waiting for an important meeting with representatives of the Order High Command. There had been a bit of tension between his Farmers and the Order as of late, and Ze'ev was hoping this meeting would go a long way in mending those feelings. Barak was also waiting for the Representative of the Black Dragons. He was hoping with the Hogosha there, the three groups would be able to put aside the petty squabbling that had been going on, and start to focus more on the real threats to Kusari, the Nomads, the Wilde, and the Consortium.
One of Barak's staff walked into the Office. "Minister, we have received word the Representative of the Order have arrived in Nagano." Ze'ev looked up, "Invite them to make course for Shibukawa and moor with the base. Tell the Admiral that quarters have been made available on the station for her and her staff." With that, Ze'ev closed the file he was looking at, and proceeded to the Command center to await the Order ship.
Awaiting at emergency alert status, Ensign Ophidian wandered around the crew quarters nervously. He was known to be a responsible and "with a brain" kind of pilot which led Admiral Mirage to pick him for forming the escort wing of Aurora.
Just when he was thinking about how to protect the Aurora in an open system like Nagano if things went bad, he saw one of the CIC personnel passing by the corridor.
Ophidian: "Hey! Hey, I am talking to you" he shouted with a rather blund manner.
"You go and tell the Admiral that me and my wing are ready when she needs us, you got me?!"
"Y..Yes Sir!" The CIC cadet hastened his steps and hurried to the bridge. Only after a while he realized that it was merely an Ensign who ordered him to run for his errands and relaxed a bit. Though he decided to do it anyway, since there was something threatning in the man's voice...
Kumicho Hitomi Ryuu is relaxing in a private lounge on board the Black Dragon's casino flagship The Golden Dragon watching through a one way window into the casino below as some geisha dance for a small group of Kusari officials. He smiles as he sees them place their hands on the scanners yet again to transfer the credits for more dances.
"Kumicho", a small man in a black suit says as he opens the door to the lounge.
He is instantly stopped by two of the six enormous bodyguards Ryuu surrounds himself with ever since the Chrysanthemum attack on the ship.
"Let him pass. This had better be important Kobun."
"Father, I was sent up from the bridge to let you know the Order representatives are in Nagano."
Ryuu glares at the man as he walks over to him, "I know, they arrived a little over an hour ago, why was I not informed at that very moment?"
"Apologies Father, but we've been watching them for a while - we did not think...."
The Kobun is silenced as he is backhanded and knocked to the floor by Ryuu.
"You aren't paid to think." Ryuu growls as walks toward his desk.
The Kobun has a look of terror as he is dragged from the room by two of the guards.
"Should we toss him out an airlock Father?", the one eyed and scarred guard captain asks.
Ignoring him and walking behind his desk to a mirror on the wall Ryuu presses a small almost hidden button under the frame and the mirror fades away revealing the large computer system which it conceals. On the screen is a readout of the location of the Order vessel. He presses a few commands on the screen and a voice comes over the comm system.
"Yes Kumicho?"
"Captain, make for Kabukicho Depot and unload all of our guests. We have an appointment we need to get to."
"Understood Kumicho." Officers yelling orders can be heard from the bridge as the comm system closes with a barely audible beep.
An hour later the Golden Dragon is entering a docking sequence with Kabukicho Depot. Ryuu walks over to the window overlooking the Casino and swipes his hand over a console opening it. He presses on the console and a tone sounds as the entire casino shuts down.
"Apologies honored guests," he announces to the casino floor, "our entertainment for the evening will have to be cut short. We will need you all to disembark onto Kabukicho Depot immediately. Sorry for the inconvenience." He smiles as the mirrored window closes in front of him.
A handful of uncooperative guests are pulled away from gambling tables by the armed Black Dragons sweeping across the casino floor, and in less than an hour the ship is releasing it's mooring clamps and getting under way.
A tone sounds as the bridge captain sends a message up to Ryuu's lounge, "We are entering cruise speed Kumicho, may I have the coordinates of our destination?"
"Here they are Captain, make sure yours is the only pair of eyes that see these. I'm counting on your discretion."
Ryuu returns to his desk and sits down staring at fresh scars from the bomb that nearly killed him thinking to himself, the Order - this will be interesting.
" Admiral , we have received clearance to dock with the station. " - Duran quickly turned towards the officers under his command.
" Good , captain. I shall take my personal guards with me in the transport ship. During my absence , you will be in command of the "Aurora". " - Said Mirage and quickly headed towards the small launch bay in the Osiris.
" Yes , admiral! I want two wings to secure a perimeter around the ship. You are going to patrol on shifts. The wing leader of the first shift will be Ensign Ophidian , I've heard good things about that boy. The second , lieutenant Gonzalez. Your task is to secure a perimeter around the "Aurora" , no larger then two clicks , however you are to provide full assistance to the farmers ships that will , undoubtably be present. "
Located on the small launch bay was a simple transport ship , near it's entrance two armored men awaited the arrival of the Admiral. There faces where hidden behind what seemed to be a thick black helmet.
" Admiral , we have awaited your arrival! " - Said one of them , after a quick 'solute' towards his superior.
" Good , enter the transport. They are awaiting our arrival. "
The transport quickly reached the station. After a brief clearance from the depot , the transport quickly moored with the station.
The doors of ship quickly opened. The guards quickly left the transport , they looked around the docking bay. There where several members of the AFA movement present there and after a minute or two , Mirage also left the transport. She took her place between the two men , in their armored suits , both of them where at least 10 inches higher then the woman in the middle.
" Good evening , members of the Farmers Alliance. " - Two men in front of her noded.
" Admiral , we have been expecting your arrival. Please , the chambers which where prepared for you and your men are this way. " - One of them replied.
" Of course . Please , lead the way , we shall follow. "
The quarters that where prepared for her had everything Mirage needed to prepare herself for the meeting , not that she was not prepared already , but the hospitality of the farmers was impressive. Those where people who's leader not so long ago stated that every Order agent found on this or any other base belonging to the AFA , will be killed and she was about to meet that man , soon. She had never been in Kusari before , actually she had never felt so exposed and vulnerable. Usually she was the kind of person who gave orders from the safety and comfort of her Battleship. This was a nice opportunity for her to leave the safety of the command ship and enter a battle , face to face. Even if the battle was going to be fought by words instead of weapons. Her right arm ached , like a disturbing alarm clock telling her to take another white pill , which she did , not long after that. A white piece of cloth , long enough to hide her entire right arm , was covering Mirage's arm.
Outside the door , Mirage's two guards where standing on each side. A member of the AFA headed towards the admirals chamber and they stopped him immedietly.
" What is the reason for this visit , sir? " - One of them started.
" I'm here to inform the Order's representative , that the meeting will start in three hours. "
" Thank you for the information , sir. " - One of them said , with a mechanical voice behind the helmet.
" We shall inform the admiral of this ourselves. " - Continued the other.
Ensign Ophidian got his orders and launch clearance coming from Officer Duran and he was out in space within a matter of minutes. He was used to respond to emergency calls on Isis, due to the frequent visits of Keepers and Hunter ships.
Ophidian: "This is Ophidian, starting patrol, Alpha wing, I want you to stay behind the Aurora to be sure that her back is safe. I will take a position before the bridge to intercept any and all dangers."
Wingman: "Roger Alpha leader" replied the wingman. He didn't know who she was as Ophidian was assigned to Isis' fighter wing, and he knew that he was a guest on Aurora, even though they were sharing the same uniforms. It was an honor, to be chosen as a wing commander on another ship...
Ophidian took a position before the Aurora, facing towards the station and started to wait patiently, taking notice of every detail around the fleet. He didn't like surprises and he didn't respond well to surprises...
The three hours seemed like days for Mirage. There was little to do in the chambers prepared for her by the farmers. She was informed about the the time of the meeting and where it will take place by her guardians.
The admiral emerged from her quarters and the two armored men suddenly came to live. The trio soon found itself in front of a large , wooden door with armed guards in front of it. They allowed the admiral to pass , but her escort was left behind to guard the entrance.
The chamber , Mirage walked into was not too unnecessary large , but it was well ornamented and decorated with elements of Kusari tradition and life style. Mirage felt as do she had entered another world , such decorations where foreign to her.
There where men , standing on all corners of the room. Although she was not able to spot any sort of weaponry on them , Mirage thought they where there to protect their leader from anyone , including herself. In the middle of the room , was a large , round table which was closer to the floor and did not appear to have anything to sit on. There where , however , pillows set on the ground and all the men around the table where sitting on them.
Everyone's attention was pined on the newly arrived woman. Mirage quickly looked around and determined that she was the only women present in the entire room.
" Good evening , honored members of the Farmers Alliance and of the Hogosha. " - She said with a slight bow.
There where three empty pillows on the entire table , Mirage looked at the one closer to her and quickly said.
Ze'ev looked the Order Admiral up and down. Yet again they had sent him a female emissary. He had expected it, not that it made him very happy, but Ze'ev had already decided that the Kusari relation with the Order was more important than his personal feelings about these women. This one at least had not come in telling him how to be Kusari, this Order admiral, unlike the last, seemed to understand that she was the outsider coming to Kusari, and seemed like she understood that she didnt know everything about Kusari. Ze'ev stood at the end of the table.
"Of Course Admiral, we have been awaiting this meeting for some time. We have many things to discuss." With that Ze'ev walked to the other side of the table, and offered a hand to the Admiral to help her to the cushions around the table. A few eyebrows in the room raised. Returning to his spot at the table, Ze'ev sat, and began speaking.
"Admiral, welcome to Shibukawa Station, first off, if there is anything we can do to make your stay more comfortable, let us know, while you are here, you are our guests, and we shall afford you whatever hospitality is required." With that, Ze'ev tapped a panel on the wooden table and a control screen appeared. Tapping a few controls, a large screen appeared at the front of the table. "Admiral, we have several items of high importance to discuss here, and I think we ought to get right to business. To begin, I will lay out the items on the Farmers agenda for this meeting, along with the Black Dragons agenda and the Order agenda. Once we have our cards on the table, so to speak, we can begin to get down to the details of each item. The main issues of discussion for the AFA in this discussion are Order operations in Kusari, The threat from the Consortium, the re-occupation of Tekagi's Arch by unknown forces who seem similar to Der Wilde reported in Rhienland. I have also been asked by the Emperor himself to address the rise in Order operations in Kusari proper, because, as I am sure you can understand, he could not be present at this meeting. Those are the points of importance to the AFA in these talks." With that, Barak looked over to the representative of the Black Dragons, "Ryuu-san, would you care to speak next old friend?"
With that Barak took his seat again at the head of the wooden table.
It was a funny moment for Rand "Ophidian" Seith to hear his promotion while patrolling for Admiral Mirage.
Aurora CIC: "Ophidian, two things; One bad, one good. Which one you prefer first?"
Ophidian inhaled, he never liked this kind of conversations, it always ended up bad.
- "Tell me the good news, operations, over."
- " Congratulations Major."
Ophidian smiled for a brief second with agony, he knew that rank only meant more responsibilities and long sleepless hours. His promotion was a fast one but he didn't care, some stars over your shoulder wouldn't save you from turning into a stardust out here.
- "Thank you, the bad one is?"
- "You should check the jump hole, we have energy readings coming."
- "On my way, Ophidian out."
He mumbled a curse under his breath and started his cruise engines.
- "Escort wing, stay with Aurora, I will check out the jump hole. Whatever comes out, protect the ship and the Admiral. Out."
His ship started to drift towards the hole with haste...
After a brief flight, Ophidian made it to the JH and checked the readings over his console as well. There was nothing wrong with the charts. Whatever the source of that energy was, he couldn't find it.
- "This is Ophidian, there is nothing here CIC, are you sure with your signals, over." There was a slight feeling of boredom in his voice...
- "Roger that Major, we lost the trace as well, you may return to your inital post, over."
- "Affirmitive, Ophidian out."
Yet another comment with curses successfuly implemented within came from Ophidian while he started cruising back near Aurora.