Golanski listened, understanding, however defiant of Kunieda's accusations. "The Order serves neither starting or ceasing wars Aoi, you should know it by now." Admiral started pacing around the room, slowly. "We are not white knights, banishing evil where we see. We are the neccesary evil of Sirius that will extinguish threats to mankind. Both internal and external... and I already accepted the fact that I will be seen as a villain..." His sight became more hostile, but still calm and deliberate. "Those wars, Aoi, we cannot stop them. We can merely influence the outcome. That is why Kemwer exists. Ends justify the means."
Brian's expression became more grim as he hears Aoi's accusations and Golanski's response. "May I have permission to speak freely, sir?" The admiral waved towards the transmission, in way of issuing permission. "Allow your XO have a word on it."
Brian nodded. "Thank you sir," he paused his speech for a moment, coming up with thoughts. "I do share my CO's concerns. But there's more to it than what she said." Brian sighs. "Sir, I think the Order will become another Core that way. We've been working hard to prevent spreading alien technologies, yet now we spread our own advanced weaponry. It does seem hypocritical to me."
He made another pause, then continued: "I do understand the value of our alliances though, so I could probably live with that. What bothers me more is that the Order has become territorial. We've built our little empire in the Omicrons, trying to enforce regulations. Partly, that's the reason for our ongoing conflict with the Core."
Brian sighed again, thinking back to something. "Toledo has shown the flaws of that approach. We can't hope to protect a single planet from the jellies with our fleet. While we stay in Mu, we remain vulnerable. Meanwhile the jellies are roaming around Sirius."
He made one last pause before finishing his speech. "What I'm driving at is that we shouldn't let Akabat become the second Toledo. I think we should be more mobile, hitting the aliens where it hurts. We should stop playing empires and politics, as well as influencing wars. I'd expect that from the Core."
Grand Admiral, more than anything, was definitely more empathetic about Scott's complaint. "I actually have to give a point to agent Scott here. I did all I could to preserve The Order. There were few strategic options to employ... each more disastrous than the other." Sounding grim, attempting to convoy importance of the situation.
Kunieda walked away from the desk, "Ends never justify the means, admiral. If your method is wrong, then you are false. Acting like evil will do us no good. Public and civilian support is essential for our movement. If the civic awareness of our organisation continues to consider us as villains, who knows when they will put pressure on their governments to finish us off instead of our true natural enemies, the Nomads."
She sighed as she looked at Scott, "I believe Scott already made most things clear." she continued. "We're developing our own nomadic advanced weapons and hand them out to other groups to assist them in their wars."
"The Order is supposed to aid humans against alien threats and preserve them, not aid them to kill others and secure their own interest." she crossed her arms. "Which greatly contradicts the Order's ideals and true objectives."
She looked at Scott for a few moments. "While I don't fully share the same vision as Scott, but I agree with him to some extent. The Order's overly defensive status may eventually cause another Toledo crisis. Shikashi, we should not go fully offensive, as what Scott said. Rather, moderate between both offense and defense."
"To be honest, admiral," she walked back to the table. "I was quite disappointed when I received details regarding the Crusade you're preparing the Order for," she paused. "You should have learnt from the previous operations in that region."
"I did, Inquisitor," The admiral referred to her by rank, about to speak his own truths. "First crusade failed to follow after the initial success. That one happened before I even could fly a fighter. Second crusade, envisioned by Admiral Collister collapsed against immense fleets of the Kusari Naval Forces. Third, we almost accomplished our objectives and taken absolute minimum of casualties."
Golanski pointed at the map of Tohoku, hidden under a bunch of various papers. "Kusari is in state of civil war. Republic is likely to put up token resistance Tohoku in favor of engaging Imperialists in the east. Minimum forces, save from Nomads. I will call upon our allies to eliminate The Arch as a factor and resource-straining front it is for years now." He sounded confident and continued: "What would you do in my place, Aoi?"
"The problem is the civil war itself," she sighs slightly. "Kusari is weakened, the operation itself may cause swarms of Nomads and infected ships to respond to Tohoku and Kusari. The Republic is in a dire defensive state, the Naval Forces can barely defend themselves agains the Imperials in Kyushu, and the Dragons and Chrysanthemums in Hokkido and Honshu."
"Any Nomad incrusion in Kusari would probably cause the house to fall apart." she crosses her arms. "If I were in your place, Admiral." She pauses, then continues:"I would wait for the civil war to end, and seek cooperation with whatever emerges victorious. This is not a risk that I would put my own people in."
The Admiral supported his weight, placing his hands on the desk to lean bit closer. "Wait?" He could not fathom how long it could take to effectively see it ended. By that time, neither of them could be actually to see it. "Our successors successors may not be around to see them finish this fight on their own. By then, Nomads could even win and eradicate us." He shook his head.
"Republic, corrupt corporate facade so oblivious to the threat. Imperials, who for so long held back any of our attempts to remove Nomad influence from Kusari, despite obvious signs. Out of all, only Blood Dragons live up to what they preach. With them, we can do it."
One announcment appeared on his desk, holographic icon signaling that something requires his assistance. Quick movement of hands and fast-reading the content was enough for him to judge the situation. "OCV Osiris has arrived, Valkyrie aboard..."
"Maybe," Kunieda clearly gave a thought to what the Grand Admiral said, but she didn't sound convinced. "Or maybe we'd serve as the catalyst for Kusari's downfall by contributing to the dissent. The same goes for Rheinland." Aoi paused for a moment, making up her mind. "Admiral, what we're doing right now is furthering the agenda of the Nomads: a sector torn apart by internal conflicts, free for the taking."
"We always picked the sides. Then my precedessors went into very much sentiment as yours." The Admiral denied the wrongdoings. "Their inaction allowed Nomads to return. I am going to unscrew this mess." Kusari, Rheinland, they in fact were against Order from very beginning. It took years of dedication to build up network of allies and symphatizers. Time and hard choices whose side you're picking. His work culminated in few more places that The Order may call friendly. Not without an expense, but time will tell whether it pays off. "On other hand, I could have just handed all offensive Nomad tech to Rheinland's Buro, let them murder millions of both Libertonians and their own. Didn't you know? It was what they demanded." Ugly smile appeared on his lips. "Or buddy up with Kusari Naval Forces all those years ago. Let them do things their way, let them get all infested and launch another apocalypse upon Sirius. It would be the price of not listening to Dragon's words."
Aoi listened to what the Admiral had to say, having to give him credit for what he's done. "One of your 'predecessors' managed to get the Order on good terms with Liberty, gaining the support of President Jacobi herself. Then those who followed Orillion have squandered that potential by trying to become what the Order shouldn't have been."
Kunieda started speaking a bit faster and more determined. "You refused to give the Buro the offensive nomad tech, yet you deliver Kemwer munitions to Bundschuh and the Blood Dragons. You claimed that there was no other way in Kusari? I think that there's always a way."
She sighed, walking towards the table. "The Order has lost its balance, Admiral. It swings into one direction. To be honest, your 'unscrewing' might get us in the troubles worse than we started with." She continued, sounding resolute. "Perhaps it's time for you to let someone else figure out how to restore that balance."