The dull rushing sound of the Star Fortress' environmental systems accentuated the silence that filled the sterile gray room. On one end of the large glossy black table sat Taisho Yui and two hand-picked SAINT officers. On the other, a handful of rescued crewmen from the scout ship that crashed on Viridian.
After a tremendously long silence, Yui finally asked, "So, it is worse than before?"
The crewmen nodded. "Overall losses are well over fifty percent. Many of the fleets have broken off to seek refuge. Taisho Uesu's plan is to fight toward their core. Our ship was on a mission to ask for assistance from old Yamatai," a chui explained.
Yui nodded solemnly. This wasn't the first communication ship that had been back and forth from Uesu's fleet to the Military sector, but this one was the first to make any requests. The relationship between Yui and her creator, Uesu, needed to be kept as secret as possible.
"Are you planning to send help?" another of the crewmen asked. "It may be difficult...for security reasons we do not know the fleet's coordinates, only ones for an extraction point...and we have already missed the deadline."
"I am not making any decisions just yet," Yui answered. She was disturbed by the sheer numbers involved here. Creating a secret fleet to assist Uesu was a monumental task. "Is he considering returning home to Yamatai?"
The soldiers were unsure. "There has been speculation and rumor."
Yui placed her hands on the table. "You are dismissed. Remember, this cannot be spoken of."
"We understand," the crewmen replied in unison, then left the room to return to their cabins.
The Taisho then stood up. "Get me Himiko."
- - -
"How could you not tell me you were in touch with him?!" Himiko demanded, livid.
Yui kept cool. "Public opinion of Uesu is low in many areas due to the Nepleslian rumor campaigns. If you knew, you would have had to lie about it. In any case, there's the possibility that he may return, and that the enemy will follow him."
"My father would never bring an enemy home. If it means staying out there to save us, he will," the Empress objected.
"In any case, we need to discreetly prepare for war," Yui said.
Himiko sighed.
- - -
Over the next week, work quietly began. Some ships in the depots were loaded with supplies. Fleets began increased exploration efforts and emplacement of sensor nets and defense systems. Construction units began carving out secret underground bunkers throughout the various planets of the empire. New batches of Nekovalkyrja soldiers were sent to training camps and recruiters for the Star Army started accepting more applications and calling back former soldiers.
Life continued as usual, but throughout the Star Army, there was a new, unexplained determination and uneasiness in the air.
After a tremendously long silence, Yui finally asked, "So, it is worse than before?"
The crewmen nodded. "Overall losses are well over fifty percent. Many of the fleets have broken off to seek refuge. Taisho Uesu's plan is to fight toward their core. Our ship was on a mission to ask for assistance from old Yamatai," a chui explained.
Yui nodded solemnly. This wasn't the first communication ship that had been back and forth from Uesu's fleet to the Military sector, but this one was the first to make any requests. The relationship between Yui and her creator, Uesu, needed to be kept as secret as possible.
"Are you planning to send help?" another of the crewmen asked. "It may be difficult...for security reasons we do not know the fleet's coordinates, only ones for an extraction point...and we have already missed the deadline."
"I am not making any decisions just yet," Yui answered. She was disturbed by the sheer numbers involved here. Creating a secret fleet to assist Uesu was a monumental task. "Is he considering returning home to Yamatai?"
The soldiers were unsure. "There has been speculation and rumor."
Yui placed her hands on the table. "You are dismissed. Remember, this cannot be spoken of."
"We understand," the crewmen replied in unison, then left the room to return to their cabins.
The Taisho then stood up. "Get me Himiko."
- - -
"How could you not tell me you were in touch with him?!" Himiko demanded, livid.
Yui kept cool. "Public opinion of Uesu is low in many areas due to the Nepleslian rumor campaigns. If you knew, you would have had to lie about it. In any case, there's the possibility that he may return, and that the enemy will follow him."
"My father would never bring an enemy home. If it means staying out there to save us, he will," the Empress objected.
"In any case, we need to discreetly prepare for war," Yui said.
Himiko sighed.
- - -
Over the next week, work quietly began. Some ships in the depots were loaded with supplies. Fleets began increased exploration efforts and emplacement of sensor nets and defense systems. Construction units began carving out secret underground bunkers throughout the various planets of the empire. New batches of Nekovalkyrja soldiers were sent to training camps and recruiters for the Star Army started accepting more applications and calling back former soldiers.
Life continued as usual, but throughout the Star Army, there was a new, unexplained determination and uneasiness in the air.
