Aeka Takayama's Story

Lord Tigris nodded and turned to his first officer. “Dispatch an inquisitor and a team of chosen to the site of the incident. If the heathens prove… uncooperative... then they have full authority to dispense justice and enact the L’takasa Protocols.”

“Yes, my lord. Sending requisition now.”

“Have them arrive a little early.” Tigris continued. “It’ll give us some extra insurance. In the meantime, contact the home fleet and have them on standby in case we require reinforcements.”

The admiral narrowed his eyes as the new alien ship entered the area. He tapped on his console, sending orders to the ship’s team of magi to begin scrying.

“If they attack, we will surround them like wolves.”

"Of course, we are here to make peace after all. You have my word that your borders will be respected as long as you do the same for us. If you wish to travel across our borders you may contact any Imperial in the system and request permission to travel. Your territory will be respected. If there are any more terms you would like to add, please feel free to say them all.” The Emperor spoke. He of course did not mind the leaving delegates, he was here for peace between the Imperium and the Mauhasinian Empire to focus on the greater threats that are attacking them.

Seki was rather surprised by the Emperor's response. She hadn't expected such a favorable answer. "If only your space marine commanders where as well mannered as you... We would have never needed such a meeting as this.."

Seki's ear and tail gave a little twitch as she considered her next words. "I believe it would be best to keep up the terms of the ceasefire for a few more months. Let heads cool on both sides.... then we can go to these terms... for both sides"

Seki let out a sigh and added one more thing staring right into the Emperor's eyes. Her eyes seemed to unnaturally darken as she spoke. "Only one other thing. Even when the ceasefire terms are replaced with the peace terms... No ship of the order known as Black Templars will be allowed in Mauhasinan Empire space. For no reason are Black Templars to ever enter my empire. For them to do so will be an act of war."

Seki leaned back in her seat letting the words sink in before saying. "Agree to this and I will consider our nations at peace."

The Emperor listened to the words and terms Seki had spoken. He washed of the compliment about manners before speaking. ”I hear your request, and I accept these terms. The chapter known as the Black Templar’s will never enter your space. I will send word to them after this meeting concludes.” The Imperium leader simply replied turning to Dorn with a simple nod.

”It will be done. I will oversee the chapter in person and return to our duties.” Dorn simply added.

Admiral Katamura checked her watch, the time continued to count down, seconds ticked by on the LCD face of the watch, the numerals changing with each passing moment.

There was a flicker of light, a sleek, yet angular shaped vessel winked in from the ether behind the formation of Taiyou ships, this vessel was distinct, in contrast to the brightly colored Taiyou warships, this vessel was dark in color, almost an iridescent gunmetal gray.

Six more strange vessels winked in formation around the alien vessel. These vessels each bore a rather large power signature, obscured by the flickering curtain of light that was their shields. The first vessel could be identified as an Aschen Vigiles class fast attack cruiser, while the six other vessels were identified as Aschen Empire Aegis class defense cruisers.

Commander Soban examined the readout carefully, leaning on the command console. "Aegis cruisers to assume defense formation around the Taiyou fleet, we'll provide rearguard support should this turn nasty."


Working in unison, the crew of the Ifriit began to execute the orders they had been given, as Clea leaned back up from where she was leaning.

"Ad Victoriam!" She called out.

Anquietas numerals counted down on a holographic interface in front of Commander Soban.

Lord Tigris ended the transmission from the Inquisitor and cupped his scraggly furred cheek in his pawed hand. He watched the Aschen ships carefully and pondered the situation. The Alliance had favorable relations with them in the past, but only Ha’Ari knew what state their political theater was in. How likely was it that this was the same empire they knew?

“Open a channel to the Taiyou.” He commanded.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Admiral Ayako.” He began. “As a courtesy, I am obliged to give you a status update on the operation. Our team of specialists, led by an elite Inquisitor, has made contact with the survivors of your countrymen - including the princess - and have neutralized the threat. I was informed that they are attempting to recover some sort of artifact for Her Highness. Presumably, you would know of what she speaks.”

Some time Later...

Slowly rising from the clouds, the Mizuho could now be seen on Taiyou scanners, it was readily apparent to Admiral Katamura, that the efforts of the Kroniktan Alliance had been successful, as only Princess Yukiko was capable of controlling that vessel.

A few transmissions were flitted back, and fourth.

The Mizuho was the first to vanish, shooting off into the limitless blackness of space.

The Kaze no Tani slowly began to bank as well, transmitting a message to the KA Fleet.

"We thank you for rescuing our Princess, when our Emperor returns, we will discuss further contact."

Once the Kaze no Tani finished it's banking, a window opened up in front of it, and it shot fourth into the ether, the Taiyou fleet leaving one by one, shooting off into the blackness of space.

With the diplomatic mission with the Mauhasinian Empire reaching its end, the Imperials were content with how things went. They had made a peace treaty with them which would at least improve relations between the two nations. Of course, things will not improve immediately, it could easily take years or even decades to fully patch things up between the two nations and even then not everyone will be content with peace. However, at the very least not everyone will be ready to go to war at the drop of a hair and another war would not help matters for the Imperium with the wars already still waging against their hated enemies.

Of course as the Empress left, there still remained the others that were gathered. Many had left during the course of this meeting to solve other troubles or were simply done with this and left almost like a petulant child. Whatever the case, there were still a few delegates left and if they wished to negotiate with the Imperium now was the chance now that most everything was complete.

Government Center, the towering structure loomed almost imposingly over the sleek, black limousine that carried two diplomatic flags on the front of the hood. One flag was the flag of the Shintenchi Shogunate, while the other was the flag of the Taiyou Empire of Greater Niihama.

The Limousine eventually came to a crawl, and then to a complete stop in front of the receiving area of the Government Center. As the Limousine came to a stop, a young man stepped out of the rear of the limousine, wearing traditional Taiyou attire, consisting of a simple Yukata, ornately fashioned with the Imperial broach, and ornate floral patterns all along the outfit.

The man opened the door, and allowed a young woman to emerge, she looked no older than her early twenties, and she bore a stark resemblance to a certain wanted criminal.

She was clad in a simple summer yukata as well, but this one was more ornately finished with the Imperial brooch, the golden chrysanthemum of the Taiyou Empire.

The Bald gentleman took a spot directly behind, and to the right of the young woman as she moved up the steps of the Government Center. There were many offices here, and she clasped a small piece of paper that instructed her how to find the right one. The man moved quickly, and opened the door for her as she stepped through.

She found the main security desk, and she slowly approached it, opening her mouth to speak with a thick accent.

"I am here to meet with the one who is in charge of your justice system, can you please direct me there?" The woman asked, her voice faint, somewhat soft and high pitched, easily drowned out in the din of the Government Center.

The officer at the security desk was young, a humanoid being with three horns emerging from the center of her forehead, her faintly blue tinged flesh mottled with yellow-green specks. Hra'iir Qaa Wssbem's particular species lacked natural hair in favor of reptilian like skin and exoskeletal features, which she knew made her an oddity among the human-dominant government here. She'd lived on Terra nearly her entire life, however, and she knew immediately the accent - Taiyou, representing an empire that had long been a relatively hostile power, if in recent times at least a mercifully distant one. Hra'iir Qaa did not recognize the young woman's face, though, or the imperial broach. Perhaps the Taiyou woman was attached to the consulate or embassy, a newer staffer sent on some ignominious mission to fulfill some bureaucratic dead-end. Some kind of mean hazing ritual. Every government office seemed to have one of its own, specially crafted to inflict maximal humiliation, but also a sense of twisted camaraderie.

"The Justice Ministry's central office is in the West Wing," Hra'iir Qaa said, her tone even-keeled and crisp. They'd all been trained to be consummate professionals, if nothing else. "Do you have an appointment with a specific person already? If so, I can call up and have your contact escort you to your meeting straightaway." She reached a hand out to the young woman. "You'll also need to provide identification, and step through the security scanners there." She indicated the setup, designed so that all visitors would be screened for weapons - of whatever kind - in an attempt to prevent a massacre or an assassination. Despite the pains the TNG had taken, however, this building too was a monument to death. "Once you clear security, I'll print a visitor's badge for you. Is this your first time visiting Government Center?"

The young woman nodded in response a moment before she turned to face the bald headed monk that was standing behind her. “Hokushin, can you retrieve my documents?” The woman asked politely, and the man said nothing, simply he reached into his yukata to produce a small silver lined clasping handbag, that the woman quickly opened to fish for her identification.

She nodded, and produced a small passport booklet, passing it to the strange individual across from her.

The passport book bore the seal of the Taiyou Empire, and was a dark crimson in color, however unlike the standard Taiyou passport, which bore the seal of the Empire, and was typically black, this one bore a yellow chrysanthemum, and was an obvious crimson, the Taiyou only issued these types of passports to royalty.

The name under the picture read in Taiyou script. “Her Imperial Highness, Princess Takayama Aeka Masako

“Yes, this is my first time here, I don’t really leave my home, but I was sent by my mother on a special errand.” The woman said respectfully with a brief nod of her head.

“I need to meet with someone who can arrange a visitation with the Drulovic.” The woman seemed to barely be able to pronounce the name, given the drastic linguistic differences. Once she finished speaking, she cast a glance to the scanners, both Aeka, and Hokushin were unarmed, those who served in the elite Mazoku unit tended to fight unarmed, given their incredible skill.

"Thank you," said Hra'iir Qaa, taking the passport before glancing down at the page. Taiyou royalty, then. You didn't see that every day. Belatedly, she added, "And welcome to Terra, your highness." She passed the documents under the scanner to verify their authenticity, a surprisingly straightforward process but one that had become necessitated by the proliferation of fake documents everywhere on Terra, and especially in Wing City. Once finished, she returned the passport to Aeka and motioned for her and the monk to step into the scanner. Once Aeka and Hokushin passed through without incident, she proffered a small map of the place. It of course did not include markers for more sensitive locations, but was meant for tourists and everyday citizens curious about the seat of power.

"It sounds like you don't have an appointment set already, so I'll just direct you to the West Wing. You'll find the Justice Ministry's offices on the top floor there. It's the third set of elevators on your right, then up to level eight." She gestured past the atrium down a long, wide corridor, brightly lit with floor to ceiling windows over ten meters tall, the ceiling ornately decorated with gold inlay and intricately designed reliefs. What could a Taiyou princess want with the ousted intelligence director? Hra'iir Qaa kept a neutral expression on her face, but wondered why the sudden interest. Even press attendance had begun to trickle off as the trial had worn on. And now that it was over... "I'm not sure if you'd need to speak to someone from the Department of Prisons, or someone from the Special Prosecutor's Office, but I'm sure they can help you there. If this is a diplomatic mission, though you'll want to stay here, in the main building, and head up to the Foreign Affairs Ministry."

The young Princess shook her head and smiled, this wasn’t exactly a diplomatic mission, but more a personal errand that her mother had requested she run, she had been given a small note, handwritten by Kendra Shaw to present to Drulovic, it was a simple note, written in Anquietas to be delivered by the young Takayama.

Hokushin had committed the directions to memory, and with his imposing stature, he seemed to tower over the Princess. “I think I will start with the special prosecutor, from there I can at least figure out the process, I hope they are available, I know the legal system can keep someone very busy.”

Aeka offered a polite bow, before she followed Hokushin to the elevators. While the bald monk exuded discipline, and power. He seemed to blend in, leading the young Princess with silence, up to level eight, where neither of the two exchanged a single word, rather, Aeka focused on the map.

Aeka quietly thought to herself, Kendra refused to leave the confines of the Taiyou Imperial Palace, the woman had night terrors, and was on constant guard, something that got even worse since Nobuo passed away, the thought made the young princess grimace as the elevator chimed. Hokushin took a step out, surveying the interior of the hall, before nodding.

“This way.” He said, leading.

“We should speak first to the Prosecutor, and then to the prisons department, through them we should be able to secure your visit.” Hokushin said, as he pushed the door open to the lobby of the Justice Ministry’s wing within the Government Center.

Aeka briefly looked to an aging poster of her mother, on a most wanted list posted on the wall. The resemblance was staggering between the two.

Hokushin paused for a moment. But would approach any available secretary.

“Excuse me.” The monk said with a bow. “I present a diplomatic envoy from the Taiyou Empire who wishes to speak to someone in charge of the Drulovic Case.”

Hokushin’s words were clear, and concise, he did not seem to have an accent.

Before the secretary - a young man with reddish-blonde hair and splotchy freckles covering most of his face - could figure out how to respond to the very traditionally attired Taiyou visitors, an inner door opened and the Attorney General of Terra interrupted. A mid-aged woman with a thin frame and long, dark brown hair swept over her shoulders, Netawatwees Olson immediately frowned upon hearing mention of the former intelligence director's name. "The case against the former TIB director is closed," she said, and then handed a stack of files to the secretary. "Can you take these up to Geraldine's office, Kevin?" He staggered under the weight of the files, cast a resentful look in his boss's direction, and headed for the door to the hall, clumsily opening it. "If you're seeking to lodge an additional complaint and press charges, that's down the hall. An investigator can take the complaint for you." Netawatwees rolled the chair Kevin had been sitting in back into place, and then called to one of the office doors hanging slightly ajar. "Executive meeting, upstairs, fifteen minutes. I'll see you there. Excuse me, I have to head out," she added, smiling apologetically at Aeka and her escort as she headed for the door Kevin had just gone through herself. "Unless it's urgent." And she prayed it was not. She already had Khayyam demanding a meeting, without even going through Vilhjálmsdóttir first. Azieb never would have allowed this.

Hokushin didn’t seem to respond, and Aeka was enamored with the poster, looking at the wanted criminals for the monk to really pull her off task.

With the sound of the inner doors opening up, and the Terran attorney general emerging, Aeka snapped to attention, and frowned at the hurried demeanor.

“His Majesty should have arranged a more formal decorum for this, rather than this impromptu visit.” Hokushin remarked, turning to Aeka.

“I was sent here by my mother, Kendra Shaw.” Aeka insisted before Netawatwees could step out of the lobby. “I am sure we can discuss matters further after your meeting, I apologize for the interruption, I was under the impression my brother had sent an advanced envoy.” The once delicate sounding voice had become more forceful, and regal.

She seemed to be slightly annoyed, and the use of her mother’s maiden name was purposeful as well. “It is quite urgent, we would not have traveled half way across the universe if it were not.” Aeka added, as Hokushin fell silent.

"What?" Netawatwees stopped short in her tracks, looking directly at Aeka as if seeing her for the first time. The resemblance was startling. "I apologize, I didn't receive any message in advance." She started to extend a hand, but remembering, slipped into a bow instead, the gesture conveying a fair amount of respect. "Netawatwees Olson, Attorney General. I have a few minutes before I need to be upstairs. Please." She gestured toward another door leading away from the receptionist's desk, where a small conference room offered seating for six, a slightly wilting potted plant in dire need of attention, and a view of the front parking lot, with spaces reserved only for the Prime Minister, Speaker of Parliament, and a few select Ministerial heads. "I heard you mention the former TIB director's name on your way in. Her criminal case went to trial, and she was convicted and sentenced last month. There's been no appeal filed, so there is no active case anymore. You may have seen it on the news already. So what can we do for you here?" Certainly, Aeka was not here to turn in her mother. And even if she somehow were, Netawatwees figured that Aeka would proffer that information on her own. More likely, Aeka was here to seek some kind of favor, and if it were anything what Netawatwees suspected, they'd have to decline, and refuse to help.

Aeka offered a deep bow in return, and Hokushin followed suit. “Takayama Aeka.” She replied, before she gestured to the man in the traditional outfit. “This is Hokushin, he is my guardian.”

The pair followed quickly to the conference room, where they could have a few moments to speak. “Yes.” Aeka replied in the affirmative. “My mother has been the source for much of the suffering, and bears her share of the blame, but understand she acted on orders from her government. But that is not why I am here.” The Princess explained. “As you know, Director Drulovic allowed my mother to go free, I understand that is part of why she has been imprisoned. Please understand though, my brother and I owe the director our lives, for our very existence is a result of the decisions she made that fateful night.” Aeka explained, her tone firm, yet respectful. She shifted one foot for the other, and cast a sidelong glance at Hokushin, who stood silently to the side.

“My mother fears you will arrest her, and will not leave Niihama, thus she has asked me to go in her place. I have come to deliver a message to the former TIB Director, and to meet with her, one last gesture of gratitude. Is this something that can be arranged? While i am not on official business for the Empire, and your decision would have no bearing on our two world’s relationship, my brother does not like it when our mother is upset.” Aeka added, somewhat cryptically.

Netawatwees poured water from the jug in the middle of the room into a set of glasses and set them on the table, one for each of the Taiyou visitors. "Yes, that's part of why Drulović was prosecuted." She pushed some of her hair over her shoulders, frowning. Netawatwees was politic enough not to mention that Aeka's mother was right to fear stepping foot on Terra. The daughter would not be responsible for the sins of her mother. "If you'd just like to visit her, you'd have to go through the prison. They'll have someone there. I don't have any involvement in the everyday affairs of any of Terra's prisons. They each have their own policies and procedures for visitation. Usually, an inmate will provide a list of family members and friends they'd like to be approved for regular visits. I think in special cases, people who aren't on an inmate's list can send a request for a visit. Those would go to the superintendent of the prison, so long as the inmate agrees to see the visitor. I can have someone in my office put you in contact with the superintendent." She sighed, looking directly at Aeka. "But you mentioned the Taiyou Empire as well, and that sounds like an issue for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, not for Justice."

Aeka shook her head, and frowned. “No, I am not here in an official capacity. I am here at the request of my mother. This affair does not concern my government, otherwise my brother would have made more formal arrangements.” The Princess smiled, and offered a brief bow.

“I thank you for your time, before we part ways, can I ask where she is being housed?” Aeka added.

Through it all, Hokushin remained silent, he nodded only slightly, Shaw coming to Terra and getting arrested would be an incident that neither party wanted to be involved in, He pondered the consequences for a moment.

Neither side wanted quarrel with the other.

“You know.” Aeka said, inclining her head. “For what assurances it may bring, confinement in a cell, or confinement in a palace, is confinement none the less, in all instances, my mother has surrendered her freedom, and lives a life of guilt, and isolation. Perhaps in this way, some modicum of justice has been served by the greater energy of the universe.” Aeka replied, offering one more respectful bow.

"I think Drulović is at Ĭtpraṽmår Prison," said Netawatwees. "I'll have one of my staff confirm and get that information to you, so you can reach out to the superintendent about requesting a special visit. If not through the embassy, though, do you have a different way you'd prefer to receive a message?" Her phone was already buzzing, no doubt with reminders about the meeting that was now less than ten minutes away. That, and probably reporters calling about the Mikkelson case still brewing. They should be calling Geraldine, but of course, they all believed it was Netawatwee's responsibility instead. "As for your mother," Netawatwees said, "I am sure you have more than fulfilled your obligations to her. While it may be that she feels she has faced justice in her own way, our court processes would not agree. We have our own obligations here too; I'm sure you understand." She did not speak unkindly, but she did not waver either. "Thank you for coming to visit, your highness. And - I'm sure you know, but if you do make it out to Ĭtpraṽmår, you should know it won't be ... well, it won't be a very nice place. I hope you've found a suitable hotel or guest house while here." Netawatwees returned the bow to Aeka. "If there's nothing else, I will need to be on my way."