Project: "Matsuda's Bloom" - A discovery to change everything.

[~Sisters of Light~]

CHUGOKU SYSTEM, SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER ARRIVAL OF THE SATSUMA

Due to the delicate character of the mission, Mi tried to establish a secure channel directly with Mito Shipyards. The attempt failed with her being unable to even locate Mito communication station. Mi frowned, she expected to have been hailed by Mito or a Blood Dragon patrol already. Which meant either the Satsuma emerged farther from the shipyard than she cared to be with the current condition of the Yacht, or the comm system was damaged during the jump. Or rather more damaged than it had already been: nothing on the vessel seemed to work normally. The prospect of being deaf without a proper transponder and negative friend/foe response - especially as the sensors weren't in better shape and the Satsuma was almost blind - made Mi belatedly realize she made a serious oversight. Immediately after the jump she should have ordered the only remaining Blossom to undock and be Satsuma's eyes and ears.

Better late than never, Hikari two was in space. Naturally, there were no objects within sensor range, however it was only a matter of a few minutes to match larger observed asteroids with the key reference ones to determine the current location. Indeed, the Satsuma wasn't far from the security zone of Mito Shipyards. As it turned out, Mito comm station was beyond reach of fighter’s comm system as well. Mi considered attempting to start Satsuma's engines and head directly to Mito. Once the vessel entered Mito security zone it would be detected, and she would be able to establish communication with Mito. But such course of action was bound to attract too much attention, the reason why simply activating Blossom's beacon was undesirable. It was Minako - the pilot of Hikari two - who suggested another plan. Her fighter could fly towards Mito security zone and once she could reach Mito comm station, she could relay communications between Mito and the Satsuma through Blossom's comm system.

Hikari two had just started to accelerate towards Mito when Minako's voice broke comm silence on the encrypted GC group channel. "Hostile contact, two o'clock!"

Nothing but Hikari two was on Satsuma's scanners yet.

"Battleship sized," Minako continued, her voice agitated. "closing fast... heading... in your direction! Adjusting course to intercept!"

Mi almost jumped up on the bridge. How could that even be? They were deep in friendly space! What could a lone fighter and defenseless Satsuma do against a battleship? They needed immediate assistance!

"Contact resolved to Order Osiris..." Minako reported, with a puzzled note in her voice. "Another contact... correction, contacts," she continued as more ships appeared on her sensors. "Wait a minute... it's Hana wing!" Minako exclaimed.

The newcomers started to decelerate when a male voice cut into the GC group channel. "This is OCV Svizra of The Order Black Fleet. Sent here by order of the Overwatch. Fighters, I advise you to maintain comm silence and dock at Citrus Alpha."

"Hana leader to..." there was a short pause before the woman continued on the same channel, "Citrus Alpha. Requesting docking permission."

Startled Mi looked at the approaching vessels on the sensors display. "Someone explain this! What's going on?" she asked.

"The Council of Elders sent us to assist our Sisters and Order agents," Hana leader said. "Rei-sama of the Council will be here shortly. We need to dock quickly and move Citrus Alpha."

Another Elder? Citrus Alpha? The Order? How did they even know?

"Wait a minute..." Mi said. "Move Citrus Alpha? Svizra... do you mean you are going to assist us moving to Mito?"

"Negative," was the answer. "Our strict orders are to escort you out of the system."

"Nani... but.." Mi started.

"Questions later. We know only on the need to know basis," the Order captain replied.

"Contact!" Minako interrupted. "It's... Amaririsu and Hana three!"

"Once we found you, I ordered Hana three to meet Amaririsu at the rendezvous coordinates and escort her to your location," Hana leader explained.

"I advise speeding up the docking," it was the Order captain again. "We are about to initiate the jumping sequence."

The jumping sequence? Another jump? What? Where? Mi was puzzled.

"Hana wing, you are cleared to dock," Mi said however.

Meanwhile the Osiris decelerated and gracefully positioned itself next to the Satsuma.

"This is Amaia Rei. I bring extra personnel and supplies," Amaririsu gave voice as the vessel approached close to the Satsuma. "We require external docking asap."

"Rei-sama, what does this all mean? How does the Council even know? Savannah?"

"Indeed it was Savannah who informed the Council," Rei confirmed.

"She's alive then!" Minako exclaimed.

"She is. Questions when I'm aboard. Maintain comm silence," Rei ordered.

While much smaller than unlucky Merchant's Luck, still Amaririsu had to dock to the Satsuma in the same way. Even as the personnel was disembarking and quickly assembled on Ainu cargo unloaded from Amaririsu, the Osiris started the jump sequence. The funnel shaped cloud of charged particles almost reached the little transport when Amaririsu disconnected from the Satsuma and sped up away from the cloud generated by OCV Svizra.

"So, what's going on?" Mi demanded once Rei stepped on the bridge. "Where are we going?"

"80%, we are ready for jump," the Order captain informed.

"Amaririsu, head back to Ainu, Hikari two, you are her escort. The rest, prepare for jump," Rei ordered on the group channel. She turned towards Mi. "We are heading deep into the Order territory. Once the jump is complete, we'll have to start the engines and follow Svizra to the Fort Carthage."

"But why? We are near Mito..." Mi sounded uncertain.

"The Council decided against Mito," Rei explained. "While Raitoningu was away, certain political tensions appeared. We don't want to leave the Satsuma in Chugoku at the moment."

"Ten seconds countdown," captain of OCV Svizra gave voice again. "Prepare for jump."

Just like that? Mi sighed, tears appeared in her eyes. If only it had worked like this the first time...

"Jump."


OMICRON EPSILON SYSTEM, NOT FAR FROM FORT CARTHAGE

The jump was smooth, a clear display of superiority of Order technology over civilian counterparts.

"Hana one, undock and escort us," Rei ordered on the group frequency. She continued, addressing the bridge. "Start the engines."

Engines were working fine but it was clear the powercore wouldn't hold the strain for long. Even the short acceleration phase resulted in its further degradation. For once, the way to Fort Carthage turned out uneventful. Once the deceleration phase was complete, the Order captain gave voice.

"We are approaching our final destination. You will be moored at position five. Order personnel will have to temporarily take over to guide you safely. Transmitting you the new comm frequency."

“Understood, Svizra, preparing to receive Order personnel,” Rei answered on the new frequency.

It was always a marvel to see true military at work. With utmost efficiency Order shuttles docked and transferred personnel. Several small drones attached to Satsuma’s hull. With assistance of their engines Order crew elegantly maneuvered ungainly and barely powered Satsuma to the correct mooring position.

Mi and Rei exchanged glances. They understood each other without a word: the Sisters had still much to learn.