Senate: Defeated Proposal #76 - Military Decentralization Act

Ayana stood behind Katsuko, still and silent as she watched the Taisho's back as she delivered her speech. The news of the protesters at home gave her a little more confidence in what she was here doing- making their voice heard, all she could really hope for is that others would hear and listen and grant them their freedom from the central government to continue to manage their own affairs.

Roxanne looked at her screen for a moment after Katsuko's speech finished, then stood.

"You've wasted your time, Taisho," Roxanne said plainly. "I imagine that for you to be able to create a separate government, seemingly under your control, that you had permission along the way to do so -- otherwise, you wouldn't be here. You'd be in chains."

She looked to her other senators. "We were asked to essentially decentralize our entire military, officially, without any stated reason as to why it would help to do so. We voted it down because it made no sense to us." Her gaze returned to the Taisho. "Your speech does not change that whatsoever.

"So, I must ask, if you have permission to create this feudal sub-empire, and have permission to rule over citizens on such an intimate level that even Yui-sama does not reach ... why the hell do you give a damn that we voted this down? You have your necessary authority, Taisho; you don't need us to affirm it."

Roxanne looked to Ayana for the briefest of seconds, then squared her eyes on Katsuko. "Go home to your loving citizenry and quit painting us as oppressive fools. We do the same thing you do now, Taisho -- act on behalf of our constituents."

She is either deaf or stupid. Katsuko thought to herself as she prepared to respond to Roxanne. She found it hard to believe that such an unresourceful person could be elected to represent the foundations of the Empire.

"I see you have failed to see my point Senator. I will be clearer." Katsuko picked the datapad up from the podium and tucked it under her arm. "We no longer can afford to have one depot, have one research entity, and have one intelligence entity. I want to see the other fleets have the same resources that have afforded my own their successes. The other fleets are suffering while their commanders sit waiting for goods or information that may or may not arrive from an overloaded centralized system that is falling apart under pressure."

Katsuko narrowed her gaze on Roxanne and stated bluntly, "The SMX are pushing forwards everyday, and the dismissal of this proposal quite possibly takes the swords out of the hands of my peers. It is my hope that you all will never face the horrors we have seen, the devastation of losing your homes and families to the unrelenting enemy at our doorstep."

Katsuko took a step back, shifting her gaze briefly to Ayana. "The Yugumo Cluster recalls their Senator to Jiyuu. She can attend any proceeding remotely from there, so she can resume her function as Governor." Katsuko paused a moment, adjusting her stance. "I will seek a veto to the decision on this proposal through Emperor Uesu and Taisho Yui. I have little confidence in this Senate's ability to handle the Empire in a state of war any longer."

Katsuko shook her head, looking at them "My heart feels great sorrow for the Empire, today. But I shall continue to fight for it, as long as I live." She stepped away from the podium. More questions or not, she was finished with them

Time to go, I would hate to say something I might regret later. Lets get back to the Seijin no Umi, I will have the other data delivered to Yui from there. She said to Rina, Kahori and Ayana telepathically as the two Blackcoats moved to follow her.

"What a righteous bitch!" Roxanne declared. "And with minimal knowledge of government to boot! You did not hear a word I said. The proposal was defeated; there's no veto to be had. Why you do not go to your Mistress for this instead of us is incomprehensible; if the 1st or 3rd XF wants what you've got, let them apply for it through the military. You don't speak for them, and we still do not know who even proposed this Act!"

Roxanne smirked at Katsuko. "And you run a government? Your staff must be amazingly talented."

Mayosaki glared evilily, darkly to Roxanne and stood, pointing to the woman. "Shut up. Keep your tongue. She than sat down again, patting out her dress pants a little before speaking. "Now then... Ladies. The 5th fleet is doing their job while fighting a war. They are doing what they are assigned to do, and if you attempt to stop this objective, you're treasonous."

She glared over to Roxanne again for a moment before clearing her throat, "However... I do not appreciate you considering Roxanne here as the image of all of us. This is not a subject for us to vote for, its for the fleet leads. However, my vote is no still. Why? Because we are in a war still, and changes in how things are run in the midst of a war you are losing isn't wise."

"However, the 5th are already semi-independent. Both physically and politically. A change there would be bad for us, thus they remain as they are, no? And of course, keep whatever projects they hold." She looked over to Katsuko for a moment, smirking a little. "Of course Ayana can go back. I'd fully support that, people need to be lead there by her."

"However... Militarily, I'd wish for the fleets to push into Mishhu space already and fight off this threat. The Neplesians and so on shouldn't be to difficult to recruit to help... Just say we'd assist them in their little civil war and they'd help us in the greater good. Now then."

She looked around a little for a brief moment, "But Katsuko... While yes, you are doing the fleet's assigned duty... I don't think having a small side branch off the empire, surrounded by Mishhu, will be much to keep the empire intact."

Ayana kept silent, feeling that the Taisho's voice on this matter exceeded her own in this regard. She bowed politely to the other Senators and started to follow Katsuko out, she had to go home- there was much work to be done there but yet, she felt compelled to say something to Roxanne. She paused and turned to face the Central planet's senator.

"I hope that one day, such bias won't harm the relationships between our systems, Senator. Perhaps, Mistress Yui might shed some light on the matter when she choses to grace us with her presence or whomever proposed the Act will voice their reasoning of why they felt the need for such a thing- as we voted in favor of it but had no input on it's proposal.

But I feel that if your mind is set so deadly in opposition to this notion then no matter how much we show you the truth of the matter, the more you will stand against us. Perhaps, you'll better understand one day when the Central Planets are more greatly effected by this war.

As the SMX press their advance and close in on all sides to 'cut the head of the snake'- you'll better understand why such a proposal was called for."

Roxanne, as usual, ignored the Senator from the Warmaster Worlds. She was essentially repeating what she'd already said, with some personal daggers here and there.

But Ayana she spoke to. Ayana was a woman Roxanne could respect.

"I am not in opposition to any notion of yours, Senator," Roxanne said slowly after Ayana was finished. "Nor am I blind to the truth of a war we are losing. But I will not be browbeaten and subjugated by a Taisho who has too much power for my liking. The destruction of Taiie and relocation to Jiyuu were horrible events, and the citizens of the Central Planets have extended all they could to assist in what little ways they can. But that does not translate into dissolving the core of our military."

She bowed deeply. "I will personally seek to bolster the efforts of the Central Planets to form citizen-level bonds with those of the Jiyuu cluster. A war is no excuse to ignore your neighbor." She rose. "Take care, Senator, and may the sea welcome you home."

"Thank you, Roxanne," Ayana offered the Central planet's Senator a warm smile as she returned the bowed. She turned with a smooth movement and calmly exited the chambers to catch up with Katsuko. Her heels clicked against the cool marble of the chamber's floor as she walked with calm, confident strides out of the room.

The doors closed behind her and concealed the Tange's look of relief as she hurried to catch up with the military personnel of the Fifth Expeditionary Fleet.

Rina stiffened a little despite her usual calm exterior. The Shosho was resisting the urge to lunge at Roxanne and beat the woman senseless. It seems I can add pretentious to the list of words for these senators. I don't see her out there fighting, instead she sits comfortably in her office I bet! The Shosho sent to both Katsuko and Kahori. If she were under my command, I'd have air locked her by now, or shoved her in an escape pod on the edges of Mishhuvurthyar territory to get a taste of what we have to deal with. Al these senators are good for are wasting time, resources, and holding up progress.

She kept her back stiff as she walked, face forward, facial features stony. To be perfectly honest she wanted to be home right now, spending time with her daughter.

Mayosaki shrugged a little to herslef and sat back in her chair, content on staying there for now. Damn Neko... Of course, Roxanne wasn't a Neko... And she was the main source of her annoyance, but oh well. She could make a good Neko.

I wish the Mishhu would just get some sense and purge Neplesia and all thats in between... Yamatai is right there, why don't they? Stupid squids... Of course, this wasn't real wishing... But just a internal question.

Don't die, Ayana... Would be the telepathic message if she had the capabilities.

Kahori sighed softly, irritated by the exchange...

Down, girl...we may have authority to do that to our subordinates, but some of these people are technically civilians. We can always use the blackcoats to covertly eliminate the traitor though... As for the others, at least some support the status quo, it seems.

I think the most disturbing point is that she represents the views of the central systems. Suddenly I understand -why- it is we are losing the war; seems resources are just the tip if the iceburg. Katsuko responded to her entourage of Admirals.

She is right about one thing however, I do have an amazing staff She smirked, heading out of the building towards the line up of military jeeps. Her believing I am stupid is perhaps to our advantage. I am sure you Tange will make sure that selected segements of her venemous remarks are played like advertising jingles in the media back home. I am sure that her promise for her constituants to form bonds with people in the cluster is empty, even if not I am sure I know what the general response will be.

Katsuko had failed to ever give direct open support to the Tange until that momment. Her meeting with the Senate had changed her mind on a lot of things. The realization that autonomy and sovereignty were probably going to be the most challenging topics facing Jiyuu in the next few years had become etched within her mind. They now not only had to safeguard themselves against SMX attack, but now the political ambitions of the very government that was supposed to be protecting them. Changes would need to be made on a large scale back home.

Getting into the jeep, her memory drifted back to the only time she had ever spent on Yamatai while attending the War College, seemed those days were simpler--least the way she looked upon them. She had climbed the ranks of the military under the direction of Yui and Irim. Perhaps she had become more like Irim; a Taisho commonly looked at for being devoted to her beliefs, even rumored to be a butcher -- something Katsuko had always viewed as Irim making tough decisions for the benefit of the empire.

The words of Corro Adlich had surfaced in her memories, his words were in reference to Akina's death, but now they applied to Yamatai. Sometimes, the best love we can have for someone is to remember them, but we have to let go and move on, keeping the memories which we cherish and learning those which we do not.

Only one item of business remained on Yamatai, to deliver to Yui the case with the information on the SMX Flagship (data gained from Yaichiro, as well as the sensor reports from Taiie, and info pulled from the battleship and carrier they had captured.), and other SMX intel. As much as she wanted to see her dear friend she had lost the desire to stay. She ordered the Xun Zi to be prepared for launch, the two Blackcoats with the case were sent in another shuttle to deliver the case to the 1st XF Flagship along with an apology that Katsuko could not deliver it personally, that she was needed back home.

(Since I know Wes is busy.)

Once all were in the Jeeps, they headed back towards the spaceport to catch their shuttle back to the Seijin no Umi.

Ayana followed quietly after Katsuko. Her aide, Edana had already packed what few possession her Senator had brought with her and was waiting for them at the jeeps.

"Tange-san, I have your things! Are you sure that you don't want to bring more of your spirits home?" Sheila asked excitedly.

Ayana shook her head 'no' and didn't comment further after climbing into one of the jeeps. I think Roxanne could use it more than I can. It's a difficult position to be the loudest voice of opposition. But... these are politics, no friends can really be made by being opinionated and outspoken- only casual acquaintances, she thought to herself with a remorseful smile as she watched the buildings disappear behind them through her skin vision.

Of that you can be sure Taisho Rina said referring to Roxanne's words. Who knows, maybe the loud mouth's words can serve our own purposes. Rina sighed and merely folded her arms over her chest.

I'm eager to get home, doubtless of the work ahead, I just want to see my daughter, and to see just what in the sweet name of Chiharu our friends from the First Expeditionary Fleet dug up at Yuukan. Last reports put them at doing battle with a large force. Gunships, scouts and a damned battleship! She snorted slightly and shook her head.

That and I'll give Misato a full accounting of our...excursion on Yamatai. She'd know how to better use that woman's words then I. Rina just took a deep breath and exhaled, feeling the tightness of her chest relax as she was driven further away from the Senator's building.

James remained silent during the presentation. When the Taisho left before he could ask his questions, the Phod jumped off his stool and strolled off, grumbling loudly about "uppity Taishos telling me how to do my job".

Katsuko remained quiet all the way back to the Seijin no Umi, along the way she had checked the various news feeds and had managed to keep her cool. As soon as her boots hit the deck her tune changed. She opened a comm line to the bridge.

"Taisa Ashuara, secure the ship and our escorts for hyperspace fold, get us the hell out of here and back home." It was obvious by her tone that she was angry, nothing could quite describe the level of fury she felt. Her fleet called useless, being accused of hording power, and even an accusation that the people of Jiyuu were under some kind of forced rule.

"I guess our skirmish groups in the passage between Katsuko's nebula and the creepy passage are wasting their time; without them, the SMX would have a super-highway from south to north." she noted sarcastically, "Since apparently we are useless to the war effort, I guess they wont mind if we don't goto Bizranko."

Of course she was not serious, but she was obviously not going to make it go unanswered. She headed towards the lift, saying to Ayana "Make sure the citizens of Jiyuu are able to deliver clearly that the Bakufu rule is not forced. Polls, interviews, whatever in the hell it takes. If however, they want something different make sure they say so now -- otherwise, keep that ignorant bitch the hell out of Jiyuuian business." Katsuko didn't leave time for answer; she just stepped into the lift, the doors closing behind her.

The Seijin no Umi and her escorting battlegroup entered hyperspace the second they were clear of Yamatai.

(5th XF players: Whoever posts back feel free to open a thread in our section.)

Mayosaki sighed a little and shook her head, rising from her chair and moving off without a sound save for that one sigh. If the Mishhu are stopped... Then we will just have a civil war on our hands, and undoubtedly the Neplesians will attack us as well... And if the Mishhu aren't stopped, then... We'll be dead. She growled a little to herself as she moved down the corridor to her office, And people wonder why the ability to create war machines on whim and revive the dead with little worry is BAD.

These thoughts were spurred during the senate meeting with the Taisho, she having nothing to really say to them other then to try and calm them down. Shaking her head to herself she moved into her office.

A rather cramped room, as Mayosaki kind of liked it. Desk in the center, etc etc. Office stuff, as well as various boxes and such for her things. She generally stayed in the office instead of returning home. She didn't like the commute.

Hopping into the cot she usually slept in, she settled down against the pillow and gripped a near by datapad after the cot stopped swinging. Privateers, thats right... I'll propose it sometime later.