Imperial Court of the Blood Dragon Shogunate

[Dab]

"What do you mean 'you're staying here'?!"

Zetsumai didn't turn from the video Araki had delivered, which she had playing on the room's video display. "Exactly what it means."

Araki was gesturing wildly. "I was paid to work on the AI memory module! Job done, contract over!"

Zetsumai calmly looked at her, her expression the same as if dealing with a child throwing a tantrum. "You like your assignment as a technician, don't you?"

"Yes..."

Zet's expression hardened. "Then you'll do as you're told, or I'll strip you from your station and have you put into the fighter corps."

Araki knew it was no idle threat... Zetsumai was notorious for dealing with disobedient subordinates harshly. She bowed her head in submission. "Hai Touji" she replied sullenly.

Zetsumai rose from the sofa and switched off the display, once again hiding her feelings and thoughts behind an expressionless facade. Her voice was surprisingly even. "In a few days, you will head to Valetta Shipyards. Once there, you will be under the command of Seijin Kureshiwa. You will no longer be working on the Matsuda. You will be given a new assignment.

Araki's eyes widened. What?! "B-But.. Alpha ma'am?"

Zetsumai crossed the room and started scribbling on a small notepad. "It will only be temporary. Your new lab will be coming back to Kusari with you."

This had Araki thoroughly puzzled. "Where will I be stationed once having returned?"

"Wherever your lab goes."

Uhh, what? "And my team?"

Zetsumai ripped the page she was writing on from the notepad and handed it to her. "They will be assigned a new supervisor. You will be working with the AI from now on."

Araki was shocked. "W-With the AI?"

Zet nodded. "Yes. Your experiments and duties will be made known to you later. The codes I just gave you will allow you to access the lab's computer system's administrative accounts. This account will not be accessible by the AI, and will be where you will keep all data related to the experiments you do, as well as any reports you write. The second code you see is an override command that will deactivate the AI in the case of an emergency." She looked Araki straight in the eye. "This AI is not of our construction. We cannot be sure of its loyalty. We must have methods of demanding its obedience. It will be under your charge."

Araki was dumbfounded. The opportunity to work on the AI was astonishing enough, but to be put in charge of the AI's post-reactivation projects was amazing. It wasn't a position Zetsumai would give to just anyone. Realizing the offer was a sign of trust in her skill and dedication, she bowed low. "Arigato Touji."

*** *** ***

Zetsumai nodded. This girl better live up to my expectations. Putting Araki in charge was a risk. There were other technicians and scientists who's loyalty was much less questionable, but their raw skill wasn't what Araki's was.

The intercom mounted on the wall beeped. "Ms. Keisotsu? You have a call. Shall we put it through?"

"Yes."

The intercom was silent for a moment.

*** *** ***

"We've located the ship. I've got my men attaching tow cables now. If everything goes as planned, we should be pulling it out of here within a few hours."

"Any sign of the Consortium or the Elder's drones so far?"

Kaiten began to shake his head, then remembered the comm unit she was using didn't display video. "No, none so far. The Consortium may be trying to avoid us after your attack on them the other night. A bomber and fighter crippling their new destroyer.. Imagine what a fully-armed warship with escorts can do. As far as I can tell, they don't know the location of the Hoshinokatana, so we won't need to worry about them until we pull it out of here."

"Just hurry, I want that ship out of Kusari as soon as possible. The Taishogun has just reopened the court for diplomatic discussions, so I may be unreachable for awhile. Also, I'll be sending someone to Valetta in a few days to work on the AI. Make sure none of the Maltan engineers touch it, I don't want them doing anything with that computer system that we don't know about."

The comm unit beeped, marking the transmission's termination.

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