Underlit by the volumetric table's cool glow that bled through their hot tea's steam rising up from where it'd been placed, Director Shida of Star Army Intelligence examined the images laid out before Yui's gathering with apparent interest. Of course, the old operative was well-versed on the information but knew to stay sharp-looking in front of the Taisho of the Star Army. They wore a white uniform today, too, for the same reason and reserved their preferred black panels for SAINT headquarters.
"My resources in-sector are still stretched thin," Shida admitted from behind crossed arms. Rebuilding the Star Army's shadowy scout ship fleet was going well after the Battle of Nataria. Replacing so many operatives and analysts lost to the ST corruption issue was quite another task. "But forward-deployed intelligence elements can be re-routed to this Glimmergold system in preparation for the Essai ploy and begin clandestine work to make the invasion simpler. Many
Yui 7 are within reach β far more than can be of use here in the Kikyo Sector. I will pull what can be spared to enact chaos upon the enemy's communications and sensor cores."
Shida uncrossed their arms and placed them on the table's edge, glancing at the hinomaru on their mug of tea for a brief moment. It was growing cold quickly. Still, they declined to take a sip for now.
"The First Fleet's YSS
Kaiyo II disrupted financial and commodities markets in the Interstellar Kingdom earlier this year," the spymaster added, not mentioning the more disgraceful elements of that mission wherein a member of the Imperial family had been captured. "Further intelligence reports indicate with some level of certainty that the Kuvexians' regular economic throughputs are still under stress. Fifty-thousand defenders will be a tough nut to crack but, based on our engagements in the Essia System and at Nataria, the Kuvexian force might break early if the risk outweighs what the various corporations and noble houses are willing to pay them.
"Glimmergold could be an exception, however," Shida said. "There's always the chance that these Kuvexians will be willing to die to save their coffers."