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Post by Hida Tetsuko on Jun 11, 2017 12:24:42 GMT 10
One the briefing is over, Tetsuko finds a private call booth and places a call to Kyuden Hida Prime. She marks the request as URGENT and in the subject line includes her own chop and the name "Sanyochu". Then she waits to see who will pick up her request.
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Post by emeralddragon on Jun 11, 2017 13:39:15 GMT 10
Given the battle, and the report sent by the Asako, and Tetsuko's status it is unsurprising that she got straight through.
Sadly, it was through to her mother,
"Tetsuko-san. Have you had rice today?"
There was a slight pause and she followed it with "I don't suppose this is a sign that you have seen sense?"
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Post by Hida Tetsuko on Jun 11, 2017 13:56:13 GMT 10
"Konichwa, Oka-san," Tetsuko said glibly. She knew what her mother was referring to, her betrothal that she had managed to put off. "I...have duties to perform, mother. How is is Nobu? And father?" She hoped that would change the subject, but it wasn't likely knowing her mother.
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Post by emeralddragon on Jun 12, 2017 14:48:11 GMT 10
"Your father is fine, and Nobu...Nobu is the same." A hint of sorrow touches her voice, before the determination she had before returned, "Which is why you need to come home. You have duties here, to prepare to become the head of the family when your father retires."
The fact that her father hadn't really been in charge of the family for years was beside the point. Hida Takemu was more interested in the war against Jigoku rather then actually running the family.
"You know that as a member of the Kuge the line must continue. With Nobu retired he will be heading to Koten as soon as he will be able, you will lead the family when your father's time has come, and must produce a heir."
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Post by Hida Tetsuko on Jun 12, 2017 15:01:41 GMT 10
Leading the family...producing an heir...these were things she knew she had to do but did they have to happen now? Not that she objected to marriage itself. She knew her betrothed Kaiu Kirito, knew he was perfectly amiable to take a back seat in whatever relationship they were going to have. But producing heirs, couldn't he do that part too? That would sideline her for a year from active duties, if not longer.
She sighed, she had put it off as long as possible. But after what had just happened, surely that was more important?
"I know my duties to the family, mother, and I intend to return to carry them out," Tetsuko said seriously. "But no doubt you have seen the reports by now? I have duties here well, duties that affect the whole Clan."
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Post by emeralddragon on Jun 12, 2017 19:28:44 GMT 10
"The report you issued was filled with concerns that the Kuni are looking into, locating and interviewing the other survivors of that battle to acquire numbers and other such additional information. However what the report did contain is that your platoon was destroyed in the battle. This is your first contact with the Clan since that report was sent, so I have to ask...who exactly issued these orders? And why are you obeying them? Your only duty at this point is to retrieve any weapon that can be found in the wreak of the Sanyochu and return them to Crab Lands. From the state of the ship according to your report their will be few, but their should be at least one."
She paused for a moment and said, "What could possibly be more important then that?"
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Post by Hida Tetsuko on Jun 12, 2017 20:13:58 GMT 10
"These are not orders, mother," Tetsuko explains, wishing she could feel more confident. "The Asako Inquisitors are talking of a Third Festering Pit. I feel that it is my duty as a Crab to be involved in this."
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Post by emeralddragon on Jun 12, 2017 21:41:21 GMT 10
There were many things that Hida Masako had expected from her daughter's mouth. However of all the things that could have come up she didn't expect that. The video froze and a look of conflict crossed Masako's face, as Duty to family conflicted with the Ancestoral Duty handed down by the Kami Hida. But only for a moment.
Hida-no-Kami's words were clear. The Duty of the Crab was clear. Tetsuko, through what had to be at this point the blessings of Goemon-no-Fortune, had found a more important Duty. After a long moment's silence Masako said a simple word, "Explain." She was not her mother in this moment...she was her Superior Officer.
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Post by Hida Tetsuko on Jun 12, 2017 22:00:36 GMT 10
Tetsuko explained all she knew as best she could. What the Asako Inquisitor had said, the Master of Void's involvement, then to her own pledge to serve as she knew she must. Then she waited for the reaction.
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Post by emeralddragon on Jun 13, 2017 1:22:38 GMT 10
Masako listens to all this news, stonefaced. Finally she said, her tone of voice angry, the annoyance of you finding another duty washed away by this news, "You are needed. The casual dismissal of the Silkworm is bad enough, clearly driven by political gains, is bad enough, but the fact that they did not see a need to inform us of this, and only through the will of the Fortunes did you find out is infuriating. The best case scenario is they aren't convinced, as an organization, about Asako-san's information. Whats more likely is they think we are incapable of dealing with this given the number of Kuni that died when, "The Seeker of that which is Hidden" was sacrificed to destroy the Seokga."
She falls silent, anger rolling off her, before spending a moment to compose herself. Finally she said, "In case its the first, I will see what can be done on our end to confirm Asako-san's theory. You are to make sure the Crab are not excluded from this. While the Phoenix are almost never malicious, their greatest sin is Pride. Especially the Isawa. I will speak with the Witch Hunters and see who is most appropriate for you to report any further information too. The Phoenix will need our help, regardless of what the Elemental Masters think they are capable of."
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Post by Hida Tetsuko on Jun 13, 2017 9:59:10 GMT 10
"I thought as much too, mother," said Tetsuko. "Knowing them, they will try and take all the credit."
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Post by emeralddragon on Jun 13, 2017 13:21:49 GMT 10
While still clearly angry, Masako sounds almost disappointed with what follows, "I had hoped they had moved past this. Their avoiding all conflict since the war of the Tao seemed to indicate that they had remembered their duty and resumed true Pacifism, and service to Tengoku. The Isawa will never change, for they still consider the bowing of Shiba-no-kami as a sign of the natural order of things, but the other families should know better." Shaking her head she brushes aside such thoughts, "I shall respect a further report in no more then 48 hours, Hida-san. The Crab fleet is not near IE 2635-d, so re-inforcements will not be forthcoming."
There is a moment of silence and then, barely audible Masako said, "Be carefuly, Tetsuko-chan." Her On was perfect and only her voice gave away concern. Then the tenderness was gone and the Crab returned. She bowed over the holocom, "Hida Prime, out."
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