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Senate: Defeated Proposal #76 - Military Decentralization Act

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Snapping the gum she chewed in her mouth as James lectured her, Aegis scowled in thought as she watched the senators prematurely vacate the floor. Once the troublemakers of the bunch were gone, Aegis stood up from her chair, threw her coat over her shoulders, then left the senate chamber.

As Aegis made her way back to her quarters, she consulted the Lorath Matriarchy's network over her neural link, finding a lovely bit of information which had been collected by the Harvesters outside of Hotaru. Looks like they stirred her from her roost... their own mistake."
 
It took for a few minutes before James wobbled into Roxanne's office. "Damn, you people have long legs," he gasped, before pausing a moment for breath.
 
Roxanne looked down at her legs -- she was only 155 cm tall -- and let out a belly laugh that shook her desk.

"DAMMIT OHARAN!" she shouted. "You talk SENSE! I love it. Do you realize how long it's been since anyone in power on Yamatai actually spoke sense? You're too much, James. Please, sit, drink! It'll put more luster in your feathers than you'll ever get at home. Fine stuff from Tange-Katsura. Mighty fine." She took a sip herself, sighing loudly. "Superior in every way to the typical Yamataian piss."
 


The Seijin no Umi and its escorts, along with the entire Mazu Battlegroup attached to the TF-50 arrived in the Yamatai system. Katsuko assumingly would have calmed down prior to arriving, but she had not. She had sat going over a list of the items in which she intended to present to the Senate.


Katsuko sat on the main bridge, which had been cleared of all but a single operations officer and Rina. She stared coldly ahead at the main volumetric screen with Yamatai centered within it. I have not set foot here since the day I left the War College...she observed quietly to herself. It always was too far from home. She grabbed the datapad off the console next to the chair. "Let's hope this does not waste our time any further than it already has. I would hate to see their spool of red tape further delay our offensive."

"Into the Lion's Den." Rina surmised with a grim look on her face. Politics, I'd prefer to stare down a Mishhuvurthyar with nothing but an NSP then politics. She thought to herself. "It is unfortunate Misato is indisposed, but...it cannot be helped given recent situations." The Shosho merely shrugged. "It is funny...I never once set foot on Yamatai."

"Unfortunately for us, fortunate for them." Seijin, prep the Xun Zi for launch and transmit the details of our arrival to Ayana Tange-Senator. "I thought of taking a vacation once, coming and seeing the home I bought here. While we are here we should have a team go down and pull everything inside of it. I will need furniture for my home on Jiyuu.

Outside of Katsuko's ship, a formation of eight Zahl-Class ships and an ISFB flew escort in addition to the sizable force which was from Katsuko's own fleet. Aboard the lead ship, the Commander in charge had made preparations to send down four soldiers in a Ferryman shuttle to serve as an escort for their senator which served on the planet below.


Rina heaved a sigh, closed her eyes, and rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Taisho, rather Katsuko... what we're planning could have serious repercussions." She now rubbed her chin a little. Politics were never Rina's thing. "What of the First Expeditionary Fleet ship serving under us? It would seem they're now tangled in politics they know nothing of."

Miyamae Kahori waited patiently and silently, listening to the others and staying out from underfoot. She was surprised she was chosen to come along, given that she'd been working behind the scenes and was the LAST person to argue politics...however, perhaps the Taisho was finding a new role for her, since her previous job seemed to have been assumed by Misato-Shosho.

Katsuko licked her lips, saying to Rina. "Your forgetting something my dear. We were ordered to colonize and set up fail safes for incase the empire fell. We have done nothing but what is ordered. They are angry because their politics fail to impress me. I report to Yui and only Yui, especially with the last set of orders that came that turned out to be false." Katsuko paused a moment, motioning towards the lift, "In all seriousness, I would not expect the ship serving beneath us to feel the impact of me defending my orders, or my fleet. I find flaw in pampered politicians which have not seen the trials of war, perhaps only thing most of these have suffered is a lack of goods and luxuries, a mighty shame that is. Most of these worlds spend their time sucking up resources and contribute very little, expecting the central government and the military to cater to them like bar maids in a tavern. Jiyuu isn't on the tit and it makes them mad my dear. It pisses them off that I don’t call home over spilled milk or a boo-boo on my knee."

"If we did as they asked, no one would have survived the destruction of Taiie or Lor...I certainly did not see anyone else evacuating the Lorath from their homeworld." Kahori spoke, in a more factual way than a spiteful one.

"Granted limited assistance was given during the destruction of Taiie." Rina said gruffly to Kahori. "Seems to me they've become...decadent in their hubris." She merely shrugged her shoulders again. "Politics were never my game. I'd as soon as bend a senator over my knee and paddle their backside then stand there and let them prattle on like bratty children."

"Politics was never my fancy either, but the people of our cluster wanted -- pleaded for the Bakufu. They wanted a group of people capable of defending them, and strong leadership. Our instantaneous polling on Jiyuu has us running between ninety-six and ninety-eight percent approval. So politics has to be the game for now." They rode in the lift a few moments, which opened up in the central passageway near one of the rear bays. Katsuko exited the lift ahead but kept talking. "I think what these Senators are worried about is job security. "

"That and what will happen should Chiharu forbid the SMX break through." Rina added as she stayed in step with Katsuko. "Well, who knows, perhaps things will...granted it maybe a long shot go well. If not then well, what can we do but play the hand that fate dealt us?" After a few moments Rina crinkled her nose. That and she wondered if leaving Jiyuu behind at that moment was prudent considering the SMX had been knocking at their doorstep only a short time ago. "We can but hope things will go in our favor or as the Nepleslian's say, 'break even'."

"I find it confusing. The role of an Expeditionary Fleet is to survive and maintain the race and government should the core government fail...but they criticize us for preparing for such an event. Do they expect us to wait until AFTER Yamatai falls to set up an internal governmental body?" Kahori asked.

Katsuko said worriedly, "I think the Senate is a representation of the state of the breaking heart of a people. I need not for things to go in our favor, I need them to go in favor for us actually surviving this war. If we do not set up external fail safes, and central Yamatai falls we will all die. They even if they rule it as illegal and wrong, will never change the truth. And the truth...awaits them." Katsuko was the first to board the modified Cougar shuttle, looking back to Kahori she said, "I am glad you could come along. Its that kind of view which I need chirping in my ear."

"Then let us get down to the politics." Rina replied as she boarded the shuttle next. The Shosho seated herself, hands in her lap after strapping in. "It still boggles the mind Taisho, a war nearly won, we had every advantage, we outmatched them, and the next thing we knew, we're now on our knees struggling under a great weight to survive." Rina crossed her arms in small disgust. "War is a double edged sword after all and it can work against you as surely as it can for you. And most of my knowledge pertains to just that."

"Perhaps the senators do not understand this..." Kahori said, but elaborated no further.

"Perhaps we have isolated the problem. Too much red tape and a over the top number of lazy constituents too busy chattering about who should get rights to what to focus on the mission at hand." The shuttle left the Seijin no Umi and headed towards Yamatai. "I am sending a message to Yui the moment we land. I have to hand-deliver something while I am here." Two Blackcoats emerged from the rear area of the shuttle holding a Zesuaiaum suitcase on queue.

Kahori raised an eyebrow in interest, but decided it was not her place to ask about the contents.

Rina just nodded. Truth be told when she had been asked to come she did so without question. And now, now was the time for it. "I have a question, you know me through and through Taisho, considering I have been serving under you the day I exited the tank so to speak. Just why did you ask me to come along over someone more...equipped for situations like this?" She asked as the Blackcoats emerged holding the suitcase.

Katsuko smiled widely. "I am not coming to Yamatai just to talk to the Senate...I am delivering the most critical piece of intelligence that we have gained since the day this war began." she paused, feeling a slight tremble as the shuttle descended through the atmosphere. "My time is too precious to solely devote it to arguing with these air heads. This way every head in the fleet that might have a squid whispering lies into it, thinks I came to just play poker with the bureaucrats."

"And you wanted protection. So, I am your shield, and quite possibly your sword then." Rina surmised with a little nod.” Honestly Katsuko, it is like bringing a bull into a china shop having me come. I am a patient woman, but if I have senators and bureaucrats hovering over me or you, they'll be cringing like most everyone on Hotaru when I so much as look at them." She just shook her head. "Never to simply enjoy my company is it?" She mused, and twiddled her thumbs idly for a moment.

"Perhaps Katsuko-sama wishes them to see a real soldier for once?" Kahori speculated...

"They have some real soldiers, they're simply to blind to that fact, or too dense to know how to use them effectively." Rina pointed out.

"Then perhaps a soldier who IS being used effectively." Kahori stated, a very small smile on her face.

The Xun Zi landed at the spaceport, and Katsuko said; "Let our words be like Kahori's usually are, well thought-out and careful." A transmission was sent to Yui as promised, the second they landed. Katsuko got up from her seat. We are all going to need therapy after this ladies. She chuckled heading to the airlock.

With me along the Senators might. Rina countered as she unstrapped herself from the seat and rose to her feet. I may pride myself on being classy, but this may be one of those rare moments I maybe otherwise. She ended airly.

Kahori was silent, datapad on her arm and following her Taisho. She wasn't sure how much use she would be, but if her objectivity would be useful, then it was the Taisho's to utilize.
 
The flagship of the First Expeditionary fleet, with escorts, arrived shortly thereafter...
 
-----
External Communication
Attention: Taisho Yui.

It has been too long since I seen you. It is a shame I have returned to Yamatai to defend the validity of me executing my orders in the fashion in which you gave them to me. It appears from what I have seen so far that the Senate feels we all must put our eggs into a single basket and abandon our fail-safes, our fall back points.

Anyway, I have some information for you harvested in combination by my intelligence agents and members of my command.

At least seeing you again and delivering this, will make this trip not so much of a waste of my time.

With love,
Taisho Motoyoshi Katsuko.
Commander 5th Expeditionary Fleet
Motoyoshi Bakufu.
-----
 
Ayana patiently waited in her office, making preparations to accommodate Katsuko and her aides for their arrival. With the help of her aide, Edana she was able to get both her paperwork, plan and the room in order.

She had also taken the time to freshly shower and make herself presentable for her Taisho. She pursed her lips together nervously as she received the Taisho's arrival plans. The word of the arrival of the First Expeditionary fleet's flagship had also put her on edge.

This was big, much bigger than she could've ever hoped to imagine in the days she toiled silently in the fields. In a way, she missed her farm- the sheer simplicity of the harvest. But it was time to reap something else that had borne fruit from months of neglect and disdain. Ayana only hoped that it would prove to be a hardier strain rather than something venomous.
 
>ON Senator Tange-Ayana's Office

Katsuko had requested that Rina and Kahori stay in the lobby while she went to see the Senator. Katsuko had not met the woman, yet was well aware of the contributions she as well as her sister had made to the fleet. PANTHEON chimed her arrival, announcing it to the Senator. Katsuko straightened her dress uniform, brushing away any imperfection from its surface and straightening the rows of medals and awards. She was uncomfortable, hiding it well beneath the cold gaze that met the various subordinates walking the halls. And to think, some people choose to be assigned to a desk here.

Ayana fussed at her appearance in the mirror hanging on the wall opposite of her office's door She pursed her lips together as she applied the last layer of light burgundy lipstick to her lips. She almost jumped when she received the alert. Her dark purple eyes darted towards the reflection of the door behind her before she turned, adjusting the hem of her dark skirt of her dress suit. The Taisho is almost here! She thought excitedly.


A few moments later Katsuko's white gloved hand rapped on the door twice, the silence as she pulled her hand away. This was a delicate situation; it required a lot of control on her part to just keep herself from visiting the other Senators and introducing them to the end of her NSP. Comfort was found however, that she had sent one of Misato's family to represent the cluster, knowing however extreme their way of life would be protected.

Ayana smiled despite her nervousness as she opened the door to her office t admit Katsuko. She stepped to the right of the doorway and bowed deeply to her Taisho, causing some of her lilac colored hair to fall in long strands on either side of her face- the rest was bound at the back of her head in a french twist. "Welcome back to Yamatai, Motoyoshi-dono," she said eloquently.

Katsuko forced a smile, saying in response; "I would be lying if I felt welcome. However it is an honor to finally meet you, I wish it was under better circumstances." Katsuko looked the young woman over the lilac colored hair was appealing, she enjoyed purple and all colors derived from it. Katsuko's blue hair was drawn back as usual in a tight pony-tail, today perhaps a little tighter than usual.

Ayana raised her head with a sad nod, "As do I. But you wouldn't have come here unless you felt compelled, so I must ask you- what do you wish for me to do to assist you?" She gestured Katsuko to a large red leather cushioned chair with a black lacquered wooden frame. "Please have a seat." She closed the door once the Taisho was away from the doorway and in no danger of being accidentally whacked with it.

Katsuko chewed on her lip a moment and settled into the chair with a sigh; "I just need to get in front of these people; get some sense into their thick skulls. As well as try and get this proposal even if modified put through in a way that preserves Jiyuu and our way of life." Katsuko paused, "We should probably give them a limited understanding of our recent operational successes; three battles won against the SMX, the building of the Ascendancy, the preparations for our strike on Bizranko." she leaned back in the chair, going over her list. "Our successful colonization of Jiyuu, the desire of the civilians to have the Bakufu as a provincial power in the region." Katsuko wanted to make sure her and Ayana were on the same page, so that they could unite under the scrutiny.

Ayana sat down in the chair beside Katsuko instead of behind the desk. She listened quietly and nodded in understanding. "They seem to greatly misunderstand our intentions as wells as, what it is that we're doing. They seem to think we want to severe all ties to the Central planets except for the money. It pains me that they honestly feel that we are being greedy and childish."

Katsuko let a rush of air leave her lips, "They can keep their money. We are self sufficient. We have our own mining facilities, Jiyuu based companies that make and produce everything we need. Last I checked I was sending back what they send...Save for mail and information." Katsuko rested back in the chair, looking over to Ayana. "Let's face it...They don't like it because their fingers aren't in the pot. Our intentions are simple, to continue our operational status; executing our orders creating a fail safe and fall back point to preseve the Empire, and to continue to give the squid a hammering every chance we get."

"Very true. they'd know this is they actually communicated with us more instead of continuing to ignore us... but neglect seems to be our ally on this front. How is the construction on Tokyo going? I get reports but I miss home," Ayana asked a little wistfully. She honestly felt out of sorts being here in this office working instead of at home overseeing projects like she felt she was supposed to. .

Katsuko said, "Well, they have begun working on the central buildings in Motoyoshi-cho. MFY and NovaCorp have setup a few small laboratories aside from that we are still concentrating on the transportation system." Katsuko smiled, seeing Ayana's interest in her home city. Katsuko said, "Communication is something I feel strongly should be limited, after that last series of false orders out of some over zealous Chujo I limit my contact to Yui." Katsuko handed a datapad over to Ayana, it had copies of various transmissions, operational reports. "I must even admit I have taken advantage of our visit here to deliver some intel to Yui, to avoid the communications system."

Ayana took the datapad carefully and skimmed the information, "Is there something bigger going on? I just heard that the flagship of the First XF arrived shortly after you did. I was admittedly caught off-guard by the proposal since we hadn't voiced our intentions for the Bakufu yet."

Katsuko said, "Well obviously we are not the only ones interested in not having all our eggs in one basket. After all, Hanako was the one who made the proposal." Katsuko put a hand on Ayana's lightly, "Yui probably came out of her own interests, plus I am delivering some info to her. My guess is she’s not about to hand her own fleet over to these politicians-no offense, either."


Ayana blushed lightly as she felt the warmth of Katsuko's hand over her own. She stared at the Taisho's eyes for a moment before looking away. "No offense taken, ma'am. I'm only in this to protect our new home.. Someone has to let our voice be heard. I would rather be home tending the farms our in the brewery than here in this over extravagant building."

Katsuko said, "We will have to work on some way for you to attend Senate proceedings without having to physically be here, maybe we can get some volumetric imaging tied into a communication; Tokyo needs you more that they do."

Ayana smiled brightly at the idea. "That would be lovely. I hate having to use a messenger to manage my business and personal affairs. I just hope that whatever we do doesn't negatively harm the ship that's assisting us from the First."


Katsuko grinned, "I doubt it...Yui has faith in me, we have known each other a long time and are both devoted to Yamatai, sadly it doesn't always mean catering to the business of politics. I would rather be back home, coordinating or offensive planning. I bet she too would be happy to be in the field rather than forced to answer to a bunch of pencil pushing babies."

Ayana returned the grinned and then frowned as an idea occurred to her. "Please be careful this trip. The incident on Hotaru with Misato has me concerned still. Someone take advantage of this to make an attempt on you, there might be more squid-loving traitors in our midst." she thought for a moment and clarified, “I worry that there are stronger wolves plotting against our flock and our Shepards."

Katsuko said, "I have a group of Blackcoats with us...I am confident in their skills. And as usual we have our contingencies in order; I can only hope it will be enough." Katsuko sat up and then got up out of the chair, "Call the Senate; I have limited time to speak to them, I have a fleet and an offensive operation that requires my attention."
 
Ayana waited a couple of minutes before sending a message to the other senators.


She looked wistfully at the bottle of wine that sat on the end table under the mirror for a moment before she walked quickly towards the Senate chambers once again. Her heels clicking softly against the marble of the corridor as she went.
 
Mayosaki sighed a little as she got the message, "Sorry... I've got to go. People are getting fussy. Arigato, I will." She cut the line and the conversation with her friend, and stood. Neko...

Shortly after she returned to her spot in the Senate hall, and sat down with a mummer of annoyance.
 
Attention: ShoSho Miyamae Kahori said:
I have finished meeting with Ayana, we are proceeding into the Senate chamber, if you two could please meet us there I would appreciate it. Lets get this over quickly so we can get back to Hotaru.

Katsuko followed Ayana to the Senate chamber.
 
The message arrived for Roxanne just as was she trying to close up her office for the day. It was getting late ... Katsuko really had rushed here. She'd received a report about one hell of a lot of ships up above Yamatai, but hell, she decided to come now?

Roxanne stood and called an aide to her. "Get me everything on this damn Taisho, and I want it in my head and on my console before I get there. Five minutes. Go."

The aide dashed to her own terminals while Roxanne made her way to the Senate floor. It was impossible to miss Katsuko's blue mane next to Ayana's purplish-colored hair ... she cut a slender, sneaky figure. But a fair amount of information reached Roxanne before she got to her console. Once there, she sat and waited for there to be some order to do something.
 
Some helpful informative data would appear in Katsuko's public file (which even at the level of Senator would all that would be availible); a history of colonization and exploration missions, her report on the prospect of colonizing the GE universe, a brief synopsis of her service as the Taisho of the Fifth Expeditionary Fleet at Taiie including a note on her assasination in YE 29, without of course any details connecting to Yuka, or to the classified 'Ichiro' incident. Also noted were her contributions to KFY. (Hummingbird CDC, Takumi ECC, and the D Upgrade to the Chiharu Flagship.)

Several recent entries had been made noting her revival, medical staff evaluations noting her capable of returning to duty, her reappointment as Taisho if the Fifth Expeditionary Fleet and a detailed account of her operational management of the colonization of Jiyuu. A brief mention hinted that the Fifth was soon to be launching an offensive against the SMX but did not provide any details due to the sensitivity of the information.

Connected to her file were details on the Bakufu were well explained and up-to-date, providing testament that they were the military and civilian provincial governmental body governing Jiyuu on a local level,information on the Motoyoshi Clan, some poll information both civilian and military noting the efficency of Katsuko's new administration, information on the ground breaking of Tokyo. Notes on their efforts to provide Yamatai with a fall back point by having their own mining, military contract, intelligence, and research resources including the fact that they have been sharing information with the First Expeditionary Fleet through their joint operations with the YSS Asamoya. The file stated that the Bakufu had been sending back supplies and funds sent from Yamatai so that other fleets in need of the resources could use them.

Recent information on the Hanabusa defection that was availible listed the investigation as open, the criminals detained and a note on the joint Fifth-SAINT operation that prevented the SMX from gaining access to the Takumi ECC design but were for the most part classified.

Any sensitive operational data, or high level access material was excluded for purposes of national security. All in all, the information painted Katsuko in a very neutral light, giving testiment to the harder descisions and operations of her command.

Katsuko awaited the other Senators, quietly standing beside Ayana.
 
Ayana stood silently beside Katsuko as they waited for the others to return. Her eyes followed Roxanne's entrance to her seat for a few moments before they returned to staring at the opposite wall in front of her. She felt awkward standing beside such a highly renowned and accomplished military leader.

She was still deciding after what she was told by Katsuko if she was acting as a wolf or a shepherdess trying to regather lost members of her flock.
 
Mayosaki also eyed Roxanne as she made her way to her seat, but unlike Ayana she spoke up after sitting upwards in her seat. "Roxanne... Do be polite. You, over all of us, summoned her here and she is here in rather surprising time. Just as a thought to keep in your head, Nyeh?" She would have spoke it telepathicly if she could, but she was Geshrin. Plus... Why keep secrets?

Unlike her fellows, the Warmaster world's voice didn't care for the summoned neko's file and associated data. She hadn't summoned her, she didn't really care of there doings. Well, to a point of course. And that point hasn't been crossed.
 
"I will be polite as it is warranted." Roxanne was oddly low-key at the moment, having digested all she could.
 
Rina soon arrived in her male's SAoY uniform. The Shosho kept her features neutral despite the distinct dislike of the situation. Politics were not her game, war, killing, maiming, blowing up and vaporizing her enemy to nothingness was. But, perhaps politics were a war and battleground of a different sort, and Rina was merely unaccustomed, or simply chose to not delve into it. She soon spotted Katsuko and Ayana, coming up to the two rather smoothly, cleared her throat, and in a calm tone of voice announced her presence.

"Taisho, Senator." She greeted before going silent, but not before bowing to Katsuko, and giving Ayana a nod.
 
Kahori followed Rina, and gave a bow to the Taisho and a nod to the senator, wordless. Now was not the time for her to speak...but that did not mean her mind was not active.

She scanned the room, getting a good look at the faces and a feel for the general atmosphere. It seemed to be confused by the Taisho's arrival, and more than a little hostile in places.
 
(Due to the fact that Katsuko’s absence from the Fleet is slowing down our progress. I have decided to push forwards with the assumption that all Senators are in the chamber.)



Time to get this over with…
She nodded towards Rina and headed towards the Senate floor, taking up position at the central podium. Simultaneously two of her Blackcoat guards followed, taking up position behind her, carrying the flag of Yamatai and the banner of the Bakufu.

Katsuko put down her datapad on the podium and PANTHEON lowered the lights. “Good Evening Senators, I would normally apologize for dragging you from your offices at such a late hour. But no such consideration can be extended; you brought me here and now I stand before you.” She paused; the logo of the Fifth Expeditionary Fleet was created in three dimensional volumetric imaging above her. “I have prepared for you a SitRep on my fleet and Jiyuu. Hopefully it will remove any concerns that you may have developed towards my administration or my fleet. I also will solidify Senator Ayana’s argument in support of the decentralization of our military forces as a preservative measure of the Empire. When I am finished, I will take any reasonable questions that you have, as long as they do not threaten the security of this Empire or my fleet’s operational situation.”

Katsuko was no stranger to long speeches, infact she had become known for them since her revival. She wanted to be sure that no stone would be left unturned, no accusation unanswered and above all--that the way of life on Jiyuu or in her fleet would be preserved.

“As you all know, the Fifth Expeditionary Fleet was overcome by the forces of the SMX at Taiie. At that point in time we were forced to change our operational objectives as that several million civilians were displaced, most of which became under the care of my fleet. “She paused, “Others were not so lucky, fleeing to surrounding allied worlds and Pisces station. On Pisces citizens of Jiyuu – citizens of this empire, were forced to live in less than habitable conditions; stuffed into corridors, storage bays and subjected to an illegal communications ban which prevented them from contacting their surviving kin.” The logo faded, and a picture of Pisces station formed, “Thankfully due to the combined efforts of my fleet and Taishio Irim these people were freed.” She tapped a control on the datapad. “I tell you this story, not to extract your sympathy, but to paint a picture that could very much become the future of your own citizens. It was at this point in time that the surviving Taiie civilian leaders decided that their fate was best placed in the hands of the military, and more specifically in the hands of my family; the Motoyoshi.”

She pointed back at the Flag of Jiyuu and the Motoyoshi Bakufu, “The outcome of the destruction of Taiie has forced us to be creative. I never imagined in a million years that I would become not only a Taisho, but the governmental leader of one of the colonies that my fleet settled—But it is so. The people of Jiyuu want the Bakufu; they want a military government capable of defending them, not just against the SMX; but against the all who would threaten their way of life.”


She shifted her stance slightly, “After Taiie goods and funds stopped flowing from Yamatai and the other fleets. We had no choice but to seek resources of our own and formulate our own intelligence, research, and resource acquisition branches. Without them we would have surely fallen to the Mishhu.” Katsuko smiled, “A sense of pride, of honor even has developed from the fruits of our labor. Even now that supply lines have been temporarily restored. The people of Jiyuu have decided that they would rather see aid from Yamatai be shipped to other fleets, those in need of it. It brings them a feeling of satisfaction, to know that they are not sucking resources from those who need it much more than they do.”

Her fist hit the podium lightly, “We have survived. We have excelled. We have completed and will continue to complete the objectives given to us by Taisho Yui; we have built colonies, we have built a home in the Yugumo Cluster capable of self sustaining incase that should, Chiharu forbid –The SMX overcome Yamatai. ” The image changed again, to the symbol of the Lorath Matriarchy.

“We have reached out, even at times when we could give no more, to the other citizens of this Empire. We aided the Lorath in their evacuation from Lor at a time when we had not even yet found Jiyuu, when we ourselves were still limping, and our hearts burdened by the grief of Taiie. Yet you…” her eyes fell on Roxanne. “You dare consider us to not have the life of this Empire within our hearts, within our minds every moment. It is those comfortable chairs you sit in Senators that we fight for…and fought, we have done.”

Her eyes moved off of Roxanne, looking to Ayana she continued. “Our last three encounters with the Mishhu have lead to victory, even now as we speak the Fifth prepares for an epic offensive against the Mishhu. The details of which I must spare you due to the operational sensitivity of the mission. But I have confidence that we will see victory again.”

Her smile faded into a frown. “It is not your funds, your goods which fuel us or sustain us. It is our own. It is not SAINT pulling in intelligence data from the front lines that is leading to my fleet’s successes, but our own intelligence branch. SAINT my dear senators has their hands full; as do all of our centralized branches.” She raised her hand slightly, “We must not invest our eggs within one basket. We have seen the cost of this with the attack on Nataria; our only depot crippled by the Mishhu. Can we afford to be blind to the fact that we are not gaining ground on this enemy? Can we afford to loose something that we have only one of?” she shook her head slightly. “No Senators, we cannot. We must make sure that we have plenty of backups, fall backs, and places in which we can go if our homes are destroyed.”

The volumetric image shifted to the logo of the Motoyoshi Bakufu. “The survivors of Taiie, those you left for dead have spoken. Even now they gather in the streets to support me as I stand here. They are worried that you are going to take away their way of life by turning down this proposal. Without our own researchers, without our own intelligence, we would have never survived.” She said pointedly “Do not take them away from us.”

She added a humbled point, “It is not without our own problems that we endure. I assure you, we do have our issues. Recently a group of traitors was discovered within our midst. Their leader has been killed, their members arrested. Their attempt to deliver sensitive schematics to the Mishhu failed.”

“With all this said, my dear Senators.” She began, “That I propose that if this proposal is not passed. That the Yugumo Cluster, Fifth Expeditionary Fleet and the Motoyoshi Bakufu be considered a special operational entity and be allowed to keep their operational mandates as they are, how they have been successful.” She added, “If passed however, I suggest that an amendment be made so that each fleet is required to create a branch devoted specifically to sharing information, goods and resources between the fleets as well as a non-physically positioned council upon which the Taishos of each fleet can represent and coordinate with their peers.”

The volumetric image shifted back to the Fifth’s logo. Katsuko said quietly. “I will field your questions now.”
 
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