Fred
Retired Staff
ON: YSS Miharu, in orbit of Yamatai
Miharu hovered in orbit of Yamatai, still held in the clutches of the Pelican. Things seemed all set up for Kotori and Sora to attend the meeting over in Kyoto and Kotori was now busy riffling through her closet for something to wear on her visit to Kyoto.
It'd be a shame not to doll myself up once I get to visit my homeworld, Kotori thought wryly as she pressed one of her mandarin dresses in front of her to help her decide what outfit she should take. Mother always tells me I look beautiful, so I might as well look the part.
A volumetric communication window opened up, showing Hinoto. The sprite eyed the dress Kotori was holding and then her silvery-gray eyes met the Taisa's golden ones. "Taisa, Taisho Yui sent word to most of the members of the Ketsurui clan that the meeting on Yamatai was left aside in favor of a teleconference."
Well, that settles things for Nyton heading in the heart of enemy territory, Kotori refrained from smirking to that thought. "Right now? Is Sora invited?"
"Ketsurui Sora was not, though she sent word to Yui-Taisho recently," The sprite answered. "The conference includes real-time volumetric information which should allow you to use the virtual reality chamber to interact with the rest of the participants to a degree. Should I set the VR chamber nearest to you to such use?"
"Please do," Kotori nodded and hooked the mandarin dress back on the suspender rack with the rest of her other dresses before she emerged from her walk-in closet. A teleconference was a strange approach considering how fast ships with hyperspace fold drives could go, but she figured some of the Ketsurui clan members still simply couldn't attend all in person.
The virtual reality chamber was actually the very next room to Kotori's while one headed down for the stairs leading to the wardroom, though it could be only accessed from the recreation room. Kotori walked in the chamber, fussing over her hair and her uniform a little before she said: "Alright Miharu. I'm ready."
The chamber turned dark and Miharu materialized a couch just behind Kotori that she quickly eased herself down in, especially seeing the other seated participants - Yui, Minori and Himiko - whom soon appeared. Hanako, transmitting from the Eucharis, appeared right after Kotori did.
"Hello," Hanako greeted the others and gave a bow to each as Kotori was wondering just how she would need to address Minori and Himiko, whom she had never met before.
"I've called this meeting to discuss the family's future plans so that we're all on the same page," Taisho Yui said, sparing Kotori the formalities.
"During the last few months there has been an extremely hurtful smear campaign against our family waged by our enemies. The public has been misinformed, thinking that Uesu created the plague, which was created by Dr. Shinichiro, creator of Eve and that Yamatai's government made the SMX, when it was the Dark Ones. Combined with idiocy on the part of the Freespacers and other factions, and the tendency for the masses to rebel against whoever is in power, this has created the UOC, which even now continues to steal officers from our military and work against us. It is of my personal opinion that, since we have the power, we should eradicate these traitors and set an example of them."
Kotori felt like fidgeting, though she restrained the impulse. My first time getting a glimpse of the workings of the clan, She joined both hands over her lap, one clutching the other. Don't talk yet; see what the others have to say first.
"While that is true," Empress Himiko replied to Yui, "I believe that in order to break the cycle of violence, we need to restore Yamatai's image as 'good' and show the other nations we are their friends rather than their enemies. To do this, we shall decrease our focus on military methods and instead work on showing goodwill and diplomacy."
"Dangerous factions are growing as a cause of our failure to crush them," Yui replied, "Such as the moronic Lorath, the foolish Freespacers, and the traitors and haters in the UOC."
"To collapse the other factions we must attack them at the root," Himiko said. "The root cause of their aggression is cultural, not military. When we build friendships instead of warships, we will be better off in the long run."
The bit about the Lorath was like a cattleprod to Kotori's mind. She discreetly lifted one hand. "May I speak?"
Himiko turned a cool appraising look on Kotori before making the barest of nods. "Go ahead, Kotori."
"I agree with the Empress," Kotori gratefully returned Himiko's nod and looked to Yui. "The friction and hate we face is in many ways something of our own making, most particularly in the way we seem fond of approaching most disputes with gunboat diplomacy. The first contact with the Lorath showed me this much and more, which makes it easy for me to understand why we could be hated. Much conflict could be averted simply by carrying ourselves with more dignity."
"There will be dark days ahead as the smaller factions try to take advantage of our weakness," Yui warned.
Kotori's back tensed. Grace under pressure, she admonished herself - picking up on the creed she had chosen for her vessel - and returned: "I am not talking about rolling over and exposing our throats. Politics and diplomacy is about dealing with people. The question is, do we yearn for fear or respect? Demands and enforcing those do little to gain goodwill and do much to provoke resentment and spite. In extending regard, patience and respect to others, we can create goodwill from our willingness to listen. This might return in others being more willing to respect what we have to say. In time, our opinion might become sought after, especially if we've shown before that we are willing to pay an ear to what others had to say and give them proper credence."
"It all has to do in how we deal with people," Kotori lifted one hand to toy a bit with one of her black furred ears. "Take the United Outer Colonies, for example. Yui-Taisho labels them as traitors... but I say they dont have to be traitors if we decide not to consider them as such. There are easy ways we can turn the whole situation of the independence to our advantage."
"How?" Hanako asked.
"It's really simple," a smile touched Kotori's lips. "We just need to approve of what they are doing. In their own line of thinking, they left their parents in order to strike out on their own just like any children do once they come of age. We can support them, extend to them our friendship, our assistance, our protection and promote trading their products."
Sensing that approach was receiving a lukewarm reception, Kotori continued with: "Think of it like keeping your friends close and your enemies closer, if you'd prefer. Besides, the Fifth Expeditionary Fleet was always apart from us; I think the separation actually changes very little except that now we know what they wish to stand for. Appart from outside appearances, we actually have lost very little as long as we play our hand right." Her eyes narrowed. "If we punish them, we will only give those whom hate us credibility and prove them right. It would really be much better for us to humor them."
Kotori's speech had the others think on her words for a moment, which surprised the younger adopted Ketsurui. "Does anyone have any questions about my policy?" Himiko asked, filling the silence.
There was an awkward pause - or at least it felt so to Kotori. She hazarded a question: "Yui-Taisho offered her own view of what we should do with the United Outer Colonies. What would your solution to that problem be?"
"We need to outdo them in every way," Himiko said flatly. "Let us show the people of all nations that Yamatai is better by making Yamatai a better place to live and work and adventure than anywhere else. The UOC will then likely rejoin us of its own accord."
"Self-improvement...a sort of Zen way of achieving victory," Hanako observed. "Once we achieve inner harmony..."
Kotori felt like cheering, but she could also see that Himiko still shared some of the uncomprisingness Yui showed in regard to the UOC. "...and you certainly don't need to make it a competition. We can do it for ourselves and give the Jiyuuians every opportunity they need to partake in it. Basically, as long as we don't burn down any bridges and keep our door open, there is still a chance they might still feel welcome at their parents house. It should be an honest incentive to be part of us while not preventing them to also be who they want."
"We should also try harder to educate people and dispel the myths about Yamatai's past," added Minori.
"I will be working on specific issues individually," Himiko said. "Feel free to contact me on any issues that arise."
"We will meet again sometime in the near future. Until then, this meeting is adjourned," Yui said abruptly. "Something has come up on my end. Let us get in touch again at another time."
The communication was terminated and they all vanished. Kotori was left in the dark. After a moment, she realized she had been holding her breath and she exhaled slowly before standing up and leaving the room.
END
Miharu hovered in orbit of Yamatai, still held in the clutches of the Pelican. Things seemed all set up for Kotori and Sora to attend the meeting over in Kyoto and Kotori was now busy riffling through her closet for something to wear on her visit to Kyoto.
It'd be a shame not to doll myself up once I get to visit my homeworld, Kotori thought wryly as she pressed one of her mandarin dresses in front of her to help her decide what outfit she should take. Mother always tells me I look beautiful, so I might as well look the part.
A volumetric communication window opened up, showing Hinoto. The sprite eyed the dress Kotori was holding and then her silvery-gray eyes met the Taisa's golden ones. "Taisa, Taisho Yui sent word to most of the members of the Ketsurui clan that the meeting on Yamatai was left aside in favor of a teleconference."
Well, that settles things for Nyton heading in the heart of enemy territory, Kotori refrained from smirking to that thought. "Right now? Is Sora invited?"
"Ketsurui Sora was not, though she sent word to Yui-Taisho recently," The sprite answered. "The conference includes real-time volumetric information which should allow you to use the virtual reality chamber to interact with the rest of the participants to a degree. Should I set the VR chamber nearest to you to such use?"
"Please do," Kotori nodded and hooked the mandarin dress back on the suspender rack with the rest of her other dresses before she emerged from her walk-in closet. A teleconference was a strange approach considering how fast ships with hyperspace fold drives could go, but she figured some of the Ketsurui clan members still simply couldn't attend all in person.
The virtual reality chamber was actually the very next room to Kotori's while one headed down for the stairs leading to the wardroom, though it could be only accessed from the recreation room. Kotori walked in the chamber, fussing over her hair and her uniform a little before she said: "Alright Miharu. I'm ready."
The chamber turned dark and Miharu materialized a couch just behind Kotori that she quickly eased herself down in, especially seeing the other seated participants - Yui, Minori and Himiko - whom soon appeared. Hanako, transmitting from the Eucharis, appeared right after Kotori did.
"Hello," Hanako greeted the others and gave a bow to each as Kotori was wondering just how she would need to address Minori and Himiko, whom she had never met before.
"I've called this meeting to discuss the family's future plans so that we're all on the same page," Taisho Yui said, sparing Kotori the formalities.
"During the last few months there has been an extremely hurtful smear campaign against our family waged by our enemies. The public has been misinformed, thinking that Uesu created the plague, which was created by Dr. Shinichiro, creator of Eve and that Yamatai's government made the SMX, when it was the Dark Ones. Combined with idiocy on the part of the Freespacers and other factions, and the tendency for the masses to rebel against whoever is in power, this has created the UOC, which even now continues to steal officers from our military and work against us. It is of my personal opinion that, since we have the power, we should eradicate these traitors and set an example of them."
Kotori felt like fidgeting, though she restrained the impulse. My first time getting a glimpse of the workings of the clan, She joined both hands over her lap, one clutching the other. Don't talk yet; see what the others have to say first.
"While that is true," Empress Himiko replied to Yui, "I believe that in order to break the cycle of violence, we need to restore Yamatai's image as 'good' and show the other nations we are their friends rather than their enemies. To do this, we shall decrease our focus on military methods and instead work on showing goodwill and diplomacy."
"Dangerous factions are growing as a cause of our failure to crush them," Yui replied, "Such as the moronic Lorath, the foolish Freespacers, and the traitors and haters in the UOC."
"To collapse the other factions we must attack them at the root," Himiko said. "The root cause of their aggression is cultural, not military. When we build friendships instead of warships, we will be better off in the long run."
The bit about the Lorath was like a cattleprod to Kotori's mind. She discreetly lifted one hand. "May I speak?"
Himiko turned a cool appraising look on Kotori before making the barest of nods. "Go ahead, Kotori."
"I agree with the Empress," Kotori gratefully returned Himiko's nod and looked to Yui. "The friction and hate we face is in many ways something of our own making, most particularly in the way we seem fond of approaching most disputes with gunboat diplomacy. The first contact with the Lorath showed me this much and more, which makes it easy for me to understand why we could be hated. Much conflict could be averted simply by carrying ourselves with more dignity."
"There will be dark days ahead as the smaller factions try to take advantage of our weakness," Yui warned.
Kotori's back tensed. Grace under pressure, she admonished herself - picking up on the creed she had chosen for her vessel - and returned: "I am not talking about rolling over and exposing our throats. Politics and diplomacy is about dealing with people. The question is, do we yearn for fear or respect? Demands and enforcing those do little to gain goodwill and do much to provoke resentment and spite. In extending regard, patience and respect to others, we can create goodwill from our willingness to listen. This might return in others being more willing to respect what we have to say. In time, our opinion might become sought after, especially if we've shown before that we are willing to pay an ear to what others had to say and give them proper credence."
"It all has to do in how we deal with people," Kotori lifted one hand to toy a bit with one of her black furred ears. "Take the United Outer Colonies, for example. Yui-Taisho labels them as traitors... but I say they dont have to be traitors if we decide not to consider them as such. There are easy ways we can turn the whole situation of the independence to our advantage."
"How?" Hanako asked.
"It's really simple," a smile touched Kotori's lips. "We just need to approve of what they are doing. In their own line of thinking, they left their parents in order to strike out on their own just like any children do once they come of age. We can support them, extend to them our friendship, our assistance, our protection and promote trading their products."
Sensing that approach was receiving a lukewarm reception, Kotori continued with: "Think of it like keeping your friends close and your enemies closer, if you'd prefer. Besides, the Fifth Expeditionary Fleet was always apart from us; I think the separation actually changes very little except that now we know what they wish to stand for. Appart from outside appearances, we actually have lost very little as long as we play our hand right." Her eyes narrowed. "If we punish them, we will only give those whom hate us credibility and prove them right. It would really be much better for us to humor them."
Kotori's speech had the others think on her words for a moment, which surprised the younger adopted Ketsurui. "Does anyone have any questions about my policy?" Himiko asked, filling the silence.
There was an awkward pause - or at least it felt so to Kotori. She hazarded a question: "Yui-Taisho offered her own view of what we should do with the United Outer Colonies. What would your solution to that problem be?"
"We need to outdo them in every way," Himiko said flatly. "Let us show the people of all nations that Yamatai is better by making Yamatai a better place to live and work and adventure than anywhere else. The UOC will then likely rejoin us of its own accord."
"Self-improvement...a sort of Zen way of achieving victory," Hanako observed. "Once we achieve inner harmony..."
Kotori felt like cheering, but she could also see that Himiko still shared some of the uncomprisingness Yui showed in regard to the UOC. "...and you certainly don't need to make it a competition. We can do it for ourselves and give the Jiyuuians every opportunity they need to partake in it. Basically, as long as we don't burn down any bridges and keep our door open, there is still a chance they might still feel welcome at their parents house. It should be an honest incentive to be part of us while not preventing them to also be who they want."
"We should also try harder to educate people and dispel the myths about Yamatai's past," added Minori.
"I will be working on specific issues individually," Himiko said. "Feel free to contact me on any issues that arise."
"We will meet again sometime in the near future. Until then, this meeting is adjourned," Yui said abruptly. "Something has come up on my end. Let us get in touch again at another time."
The communication was terminated and they all vanished. Kotori was left in the dark. After a moment, she realized she had been holding her breath and she exhaled slowly before standing up and leaving the room.
END
