Chiharu Medical Center

The doors to a lift heading up opened and Sune stepped in.

"There should be no long lasting physical effects from her experience. I recommend that you see about getting her to meet with a counselor to help her deal with the psychological aspects of her experience."

Sune pushed the button for level 3 when Takeyu stepped in, and the doors closed and the lift ascended smoothly. When the doors opened, it only took a moment to see which way her room was.

Sune walked down the hall until he arrived at her room, the door was closed so he gave it a gentle knock.

When Hanako approached Helen, she thought inwardly; What? Am I going to get a hug too? Most people think black panels mean a hug will result in a stab. Indeed, no hug, just shop-talk... and that suited Helen just fine.

"Taisa... it smells rotten." Helen stated simply as she heard the assessment. "While I was within the Matriarchy, I was able to gain a keen insight into the way the colonies functioned in regard to social behaviors, ideologies, and their state of vigilance... and they are quite vigilant, eyes always outwards." She started as she set out the pieces to the puzzle, moving them about in her mind. "It has been too long for the NMX to have been involved in the black-out, they would have already made their strike, or would not have bothered at all with a blackout, in favor of decimating the UOC's fleet capacity in a head-on battle. A direct confrontation allows the NMX to herd the UOC's assets together to make it all the easier to eliminate them, reducing the commitment needed to take the remainder of the colonies. This blackout leaves pockets of resistance, and places the UOC's assets on high-alert... that is entirely counter-intuitive to an NMX plot." Helen stated as the start of her assessment.

"As I said, I've grown to have an understanding of the people out there. They're a peace-loving lot, but they're nervous about it. Taiie is fresh in their minds, their manufacturing firms were putting out enough ordinance to supply their ranks twice over. They would have been prepared for a conventional communications blackout, it would have been an entirely foreseeable event and they would have had a contingency plan. I figure the blackout was likely intentional, maybe something executed by their own leadership to snap their populace into a state of alert, possibly to lure the NMX into some sort of baited trap." Helen looked thoughtful as she pressed her purple-clad lips together in thought, shaking her head. "Even if it were an internally executed blackout, it has gone on too long. It attracted our attention, thus our mission out there. I imagine, by now, the Lorath Matriarchy has also become involved and if anyone knows what has happened, it would be them. If you want to know what is going on for certain, I would suggest asking them. I could advise you on how to conduct such a communication for best results, ma'am."

"Though... back to the issue of the NMX fleet. No doubt they're preparing to hit a target out there. It is inevitable, considering Mitsuya, the E-7 outpost scuffle which I heard of through the LSDF, and the data we have regarding their fleet movements at Bizankro. It could be prudent to send another task-force, one with a direct confrontation in mind, which would be able to conduct defensive operations. Even if the UOC is apart from us, and even if the Lorath Matriarchy loathes us, they still hate the Mishhu more than us. If we help them defend against the Mishhu, it would likely encourage them both to devote their resources into the war, and considering our current situation, it could turn the tide favorably. At the very least, we could help them lift their blackout so they could see the NMX coming."

Helen's explanation was lengthy, but informative, at least she thought so. She wanted to make sure that every possible view on the topic was covered, and she wanted to make sure to provide the Taisa with a full scope of what the situation could be. Helen figured, it could be the difference between coming out of the situation sitting pretty, and coming out of the situation with a bloodied lip, and limping back to a star fortress... like they just did.

Chiharu Medical Center

Takeyu nodded at the response he got from Yaichiro, and was glad. "Thankful for that, and somewhat surprised really, heard to many horror tales of how slaves are sometimes treated," he shook his head and rode the elevator down with Sune.

When he exited, he followed Sune over to the door and looked at it.

Inside, Layven had just finished getting changed. She was wearing a light blue dress with a red cowl, a small light red hat sat on the edge of the bed. She didn't know who had sent her the dress, but honestly she didn't care, as it was better than the bloodied shirt and shorts she had been wearing the night before.

When the knock came, she stood up straighter. "Ummm, c-come in," she nervously said. Wondering if it was another doctor or a nurse who wanted to check in on her.

"Sorry to interject, but this is potentially very relevant. I designed a star-orbiting power generation station for the 5th XF's infrastructure before they defected and formed the UOC...If the NMX repurposed them and added stealth systems, it is possible it could power the kinds of stealth systems you're talking about. They must have moved one or made a new one at Mitsuya after I left."

Yaichiro added to the conversation, since it was such an important piece of data if true. Already the idea was turning his stomach -- not only because his devices might be aiding the enemy in subjugating the UOC, but also because they could have been used to wipe out the Task Force.

Manabu was surprised at the sudden embrace, eyes wide for a moment before he felt himself grin and accept the quick hug with joy. "I look forward to earning the distinction, Taisa!" With a salute, he watched her go for a moment, smiling to himself. A moment later and he was back on his way to the medical center.

Even with the shape his hand was in, which is to say decidedly un-hand like at best, being Yamataian afforded him certain luxuries: namely, that his body had done a fair job at knitting itself back together and he didn't necessarily need to rush, bleeding and bleating, to an emergency station. So, Manabu took the time to enjoy his walk about the star fortress, eyes everywhere and skirting over everyone. His pace was leisurely, not lazy, and always towards the med center.

Medical Center

Sune opened the door slowly, "Nayacesen-San, it is Jalen Sune from the Eucharis. I just came by to check on you as I promised. I brought you a visitor." he said as he entered the room. He stopped a few steps into the room. From where he stood Sune took a moment to observe Layven. "I see they gave you something nicer to wear than a hospital gown."

Cargo Area

Hanako gave Michael a smile and a thumbs up before returning to her conversation with SAINT officer and engineer.

"We will definitely need to go back into the UOC for further investigation," Hanako agreed. "We should test the stealth station hypothesis. As far as the blackout, I do not think the UOC or a UOC subfaction would have caused it themselves. We may be dealing with something more powerful. We need to visit Jiyuu next, to see what remains of the capital system. As for Lor, I would like to visit but it may not be prudent."

Medical Center

Layven cocked her head curiously to one side when she heard him say 'visitor' Who? she wondered and then blinked when Sune mentioned her clothing. She smiled and spun around in place, then stopped with her back partly toward Sune. “Well, hospital gown isn’t bad, better than what I was wearing before,” she smiled nervously.

She noticed someone behind Sune, a set of boots that got her attention, though she couldn’t see around him. “Who did you bring?” she asked curiously as she noticed motion behind him. Takeyu entered the room and walked around to the left side of Sune, he then stood there for a moment.

Layven’s eyes went wide when she saw him, though she couldn’t believe it at all. Her hands up to her mouth in shock, she stared for a moment as small tears appeared. “B-brother?” she asked and Takeyu knelt down and nodded his head.

She burst into a run, arms out and tears running off her face as she ran up and hugged him, the small tears turned into a more child-like cry, as Takeyu stood up and held his little sister. He placed his hand on her back, “I’m happy to see you too Lavvy,” he smiled as she cried into his shoulder.

He then turned toward Sune. “You’re free to stay if you want sir,” he offered.

"Taisa, then it seems we will be needing more ships to rebuild the task force." Helen spoke as her face carried an expression of thought. "I would suggest science ships to track down the stealth platforms, a hospital ship to possibly treat civilian and military personnel wounded during the blackout, and possibly some ships outfitted for logistics for the purpose of providing additional aid as a means of showing good will... of course ma'am, I would also suggest having some infantry transports available if the need arises to assert control over the situation."

"On the topic of the Lorath..." At this topic, Helen decided to be careful in her approach. It was a difficult matter to juggle the valid viewpoints of both sides of the diplomatic landscape, and with that juggling act, it produced a need to spin each side's view into an image that would appeal to the opposing side. "It would be possible to communicate with them with relative ease if communications are conducted with proper procedure in respect to their cultural habits, while also presenting our task force, and possibly yourself, in a favorable light."

"Taisa, ideally, it would be best to approach the Lorath in a manner which acknowledges their capacity to impact a combat theater or instill influence in a situation in general. Merely coming to them, stating that the Empire would appreciate their assistance in our conflict with the Mishhu would likely soften their attitude since it would be interpreted as a sign of mutual respect. When the Fifth Expeditionary Fleet approached the Lorath in such a capacity, it resulted in a strong rapport, enough so that the Lorath entrusted their society into the care of the fleet... and we all know where it went from there." Of course, Helen referred to the formation of the United Outer Colonies, with the Lorath Matriarchy so closely attached to them. "Simply put, they just don't like being told something, when they could be asked."

Helen figured that she explained the matter well enough, though, one thing did come to mind, and it did cause Helen to add one more bit of advice. "Furthermore, Taisa, if they do not seem receptive, I would recommend three words which would likely aid in future contact with the Matriarchy; 'I am sorry'. Who knows, it could go a long way, ma'am."

Medical Center

Sune smiled at seeing the reunion of Takeyu and his sister. It was the first real good thing that he had been part of since they left for UOC space. However, it was not long before part of him felt as though he was intruding on what should be a private moment.

Sune shook his head, "I thank you for the offer, Nayacesen-Heisho, but I do have some other errands to attend to. I am very glad to see your sister is doing better.

I do have this though for your sister." He said holding out a KS Card. "Something to help her out, it has 10,000 KS on it."