RP: YSS Miharu Kyoto: Samurai House

"Hold on." Kotori closed her eyes and sighed. "We might be getting a little too far afield for our own benefit. Let's puzzle back over what we do know or else we might hatch conspiracy theories one after the other until evening..."

"I was given a NH-29 Signaler body when my NH-22M was close to expiring. After the soul transfer, Karl Sylvester did not purge the body. The body was taken out from the YSS Sakura without no one being the wiser and someone had the authority to server the ship's MEGAMI-IES from the universal PANTHEON node on Yamatai at the time."

"When SAINT made a mention of looking for volunteers for certain missions, I stepped forward on my own to participate. I wanted to get back at Black Spiral at the time. I was given an experimental vessel at the time which had been built at the Scorpio Secret research Base. The vessel, at that time, already included the container saying that it is spare hemosynthetic material but that we in fact suspect it to be my former NH-22M body, still alive in stasis with her mind in the same condition as when mine was imprinted."

"So far, Taisho Ketsurui Yui has proven - despite being an ambiguous sponsor of my current relatively self-governed assignment - to be a stout supporter... odds are that if I ask something of her within the bounds of reason that she will grant it. The same goes for Taisa Ketsurui Hanako. When I came into contact with SAINT's new Director-in-Chief, Motoyoshi Misato-Chujo, she too supported the assignment I had chosen and she is too new to really be involved in anything beforehand - I also bet that the separation of the UOC may prove problematic enough for her to be too busy to pay us much mind."

"The presence of the NH-22M in Miharu's cargo hold was unknown to us until revealed by Karl Sylvester. Star Army Logistics certainly had no idea; I doubt they would have had hidden it from me. SAINT was - before Motoyoshi-Chujo came up - apparently aware of my Signaler ability because I was confidently told that my ship did indeed pack counter-measure against hostile psions. It was only after investigation that we found out ourselves, given a few unusual cues around me. SAINT could have kept the secrecy for the same reason Karl Sylvester did: because spontaneity was perhaps more important than foreknowledge. He also revealed what we did not know beforehand: the presence of the NH-22M aboard Miharu."

"Such manipulative secrecy is unlike Karl Sylvester, but he does work for the Star Army Research Administration. SARA is known to having projects which are morally questionable and don't appeal to certain convictions we hold... but that may only show someone in the organization has an agenda of her own because there are too many holes in what we do know - this is too big to be just Karl. That doesn't necessarily make SARA or any other organization within the Empire an enemy. Caution, discretion and vigilance could be the order of the day before we stoop to paranoia."

"Also, copying a nekovalkyrja's mind when the previous body remains alive is illegal and yet it was done. We do not currently grasp the motive, but it must have been done for a good reason or else there would be little reason to bother. Karl also revealed that the NH-22M had been improved on, something which is rare because it is often less complicated to simply build a new body and soul-transfer. We assume there was a good reason for modifying her, to place her aboard and that there might have been an important reason why Karl Sylvester revealed the NH-22M's whereabout to us."

Kotori reopened her amber eyes, looking to Nyton and then Kôsuka. "Seeing how things are and the control we have over the situation, it might actually be better to maintain a status quo. My mission is against Eve - I probably should continue working towards that. My signaler reversal ability might come into play eventually - but there is little use in worrying about it before then. We've covered the issue of moving the NH-22M or waking her up but there seem to be many complications involved - considering that, maybe it was wise from those whom placed her there to keep her on Miharu; I'm considering leaving her there as she is."

She idly fingered the green-stained hem of her mandarin dress. "There is advantage in playing dumb and letting another think she is smarter than you. In time, more answers may reveal themselves."

Since when did Kôsuka's daughter get so crafty and smart? The Samurai was genuinely amazed! — Not fully convinced, but amazed.

Her daughter had been working with SAINT too long.

"I will not trust SARA," the Samurai said slowly, "but your analysis is logical and thought out. I allowed my emotions to carry my judgment away." She nodded her head. "I am sorry, daughter."

"There is no need for an apology," Kotori shook her head in turn. "Subjects difficult for all of us to cope with have turned up lately. Your composure, Mother, does the motto of my ship more justice than I've shown today."

Kotori let go of the hem of her garment and then looked in Kei's general direction a moment before adding. "As conjecture... I feel certain someone has an hidden agenda in all of this. We know enough to figure out that this person has ties to SARA, SAINT, possibly Black Spiral; that she has a potent network of informant at her disposal; access to administrative functions for PANTHEON; that she would know of me and finally that she would hold an authority equivalent to a rank above Taisa; that it is not clear wether that person is a benefactor or not."

She momentarily eyed Nyton as if she wanted to add something more, but seemed to think better about it. She instead turned back to her mother and asked: "How well trained are Kei and Yuri?"

Kôsuka narrowed her eyes. Her daughter, it felt, was not speaking all that was on her mind, despite the compliment. But caution had to be exercised. I am a Samurai, a sword, not an intelligence officer. Trust her!

"Kei guards us for many reasons." The Samurai nodded. "For a sixth child, she is exceptional. She specializes in hand-to-hand combat, and has beaten armed Mindy armors inside of her own unarmed Mindy. She is not Stealth Sentinel material, but she makes an excellent Spacy Samurai. Yuri is a Stealth Sentinel, but she lacks discipline. I trust Yuri with my life, but I trust Kei with my soul. She is my personal pupil."

"That's good," Kotori nodded as she rested her loosely balled up hands on her lap, "because I would like to have them come back with us to Miharu."

"Both of them?" Kôsuka frowned. "I do not believe I could excuse Yuri. She is not my student. Kei I can. It will be very good experience for her. Will she do? If you are in need of a stealth combatant, I will come with you."

Nyton removed the napkin from Kotori's legs after seeing that there was little use left for it. He then set it neatly next to the broken shards of the bowl and rested his hands on his own legs. He listened as Kotori proposed to recruit the young Samurai onboard, keeping his own thoughts on the matter quiet for the time being.

Kotori's chuckled briefly. "I'm in need of a couple more of solid fighters so you and Kei would certainly be welcome. As for Yuri's case... I'm a Ketsurui princess and probably outrank her instructor; all I really have to do is order it."

"If you are certain you require her ... I believe I can arrange it. At a small risk." The Samurai smirked a little. "Do you still require me, then?" Kôsuka wanted to go, of course, even if it meant being on a ship; she could see her daughter regularly again. But she did not want to impede the mission.

"Didn't I just say you'd be welcome?" Kotori smiled back. "It doesn't feel right to order my birth mother to serve my ship, so... that would have to be on a voluntary basis."

"Then please consider me a crewmember," Kôsuka said with a delighted smile. "Anything to be near my daughter."

A small noise could be heard outside -- it sounded like a sniffle. The Samurai looked at the thin door, her smile vanishing into a concerned frown. "Kei, what was that?"

"So sorry, honored teacher," Kei replied, sniffling via telepathy. "It is ... a very touching moment!"

Kôsuka's smile returned in a wry form. "Control yourself," she sent back. "Readjust if you must."

A much louder sniffle followed. "Yes honored teacher!" Kei replied.

The Samurai looked sidelong at Kotori, the smile not fading. "She is very empathetic," she said.

Nyton was unaware of the telepathic exchange so he could only guess at what was discussed. But he had picked up some cues via the audible sniffle outside and Kosuka's remarks. It was unnecessary to dwell on such and he instead focused more on the look of joy that Kosuka was radiating at being invited to join their crew.

"I am glad to have you aboard as well, Kosuka-san. While combat is unavoidable it will be a great relief to have you at our side." Nyton said before he looked over at Kotori. His face briefly drew a sort of smug 'I told you so.' "I would have to say that you have nothing to worry about, Kotori-sama." he said, alluding to their prior discussions. "At least regarding certain matters." he finished before resuming his normal expression.

Kotori answered Nyton's look with a half-lidded sidelong stare of her own before her eyes turned to Kôsuka's dull gold ones. "I suggest you make the most of what is left of the day to prepare and head on over to my vessel. We were only in port until we could run maintenance on our shipboard systems and were soon to resume our mission."

"I will do so," the Samurai said, nodding. "I could, perhaps, bring a Samurai armor with me, but I do not know what attention that would bring to the mission. What do you think?" She spoke to both of them, but the answer she wanted appeared to be Kotori's.

"From an Armor Team perspective I do not see a problem with that. It would be your call, your highness." Nyton offered, looking to Kotori.

"I agreed with Suzuka-Shosa earlier not to approve the use of a SARAH for another samurai on Miharu because we had limited space for supplies. Having to carry the spare parts and distinctive ammunitions for two types of power armor is already a lot," Kotori replied. "You'll have to settle for the Mindy Mark Twos and the Daisies we already have on board."

"Of course. A Mark Two, then." Kôsuka smiled at her daughter. "Is there anything else I should be aware of, before I begin to prepare?"

"I don't think so," Kotori replied with a slight shake of her head. "We'll wait until you are both ready to go."

The Samurai nodded. "Very good. We will be ready within two hours. Kei can escort you out, if you have more to do. If not, please stay. The gardens are -- "

Thunder roiled in the distance. A real storm was approaching.

"Hmph. Well. We can find a private place for you, certainly. Your sedan will not be returning, but there is an air shuttle waiting for you if you need it."

"That will do splendidly," Kotori nodded. "Thank you."