"So your opinion is that despite the apparent endorsement of sexuality in our culture, there is still reason to believe that crew may take offense at it. If I were to simply propose that Hinoto ask the entire crew for permission to draw art of them, I believe we would miss the greater point. I will keep that option out in the open, though."
Tom crossed his arms in thought.
"Mara thought nothing wrong of the information she shared with Hinoto. I am fairly certain that she would not have done so if she percieved it to be a problem. What should have been a squabble between sisters, instead has turned into a potentially much bigger problem."
He looked at Nyton calmly.
"Sir, why did you berate Hinoto so viciously? Couldn't this entire matter have been resolved without having to publicly embarrass her like that? I believe that a big part of why this has become such a problem is due to the aggressive nature of your reprimand. I could understand if Hinoto had done something serious like struck her sister in retaliation, or a superior, but the simple verbal sparring the two shared between sisters was met with a rather... sledgehammer-esque approach.
The fact that you made such a big deal out of what the two sprites considered simple teasing has now changed things considerably."
He blinked a few times.
"Now there are very serious morale considerations that must be faced. I'm afraid that this issue could drive a wedge between the sprite crew. The matter of personal privacy and freedom of expression is a very emotional one. If you are to mete justice against Hinoto, I believe you may actually condone some dangerous precedents."
He cleared his throat.
"First, the idea that anything Mara says is privy information in her databanks, something that can be used against crew members. Second, that it is OK for Mara to violate crew privacy and access Miharu's databanks for issues that are not security related. Any semblance of privacy that Miharu keeps to herself out of politeness is, as a result of this decision, fair game. As much as I like sex with the Shosa, I'd rather not have what positions I use with her brought against me in an obscenity trial."