Chijin looked up from reading the news about the ongoing war in the Omicrons between the Corsair remnants and the Hellfire Legion and its allies. He noticed that a few more strangers had entered the Perfect Blossom since his arrival. Very few KNF or KNT pilots frequented this place any more.
Since the Kusari Naval Traders had dropped their affiliation with IND and had begun to work under the auspices and direction of Kishiro Technologies, they did not seem to congregate here as they did in the past. There was still a clientele of independent traders, as well as the tough, experienced traders and Epsilon Wing pilots of the IND; but the KNT lads had taken to congregating at Nago Station in Tau 29, the staging point for the dangerous deuterium run; or at Yukawa Shipyards while their vessels were being repaired and resupplied.
His fellow KNF pilots usually got togther on the Matsumoto, since their redeployment to Hokkaido; or tended to visit the small, well-appointed bar on the Battleship Sado in their home system of Hiroshima.
Chijin was still drawn here out of habit; and because of lingering bittersweet memories. He recalled the happy evenings he had spent here in the company of Nadir-Taisho and Ambassador deLuna. He remembered becoming pleasantly drunk and discussing a possible future of peace and harmony among the Houses of the Sector. Those dreams had been smashed in an instant, on a faraway planet that was now merely a critical link in the supply chain for the ongoing war effort against Bretonia.
And then there were the rumors. Disturbing rumors about the untimely death of the Ambassador and her family on that strange planet. The rumors were even more raucous and damning on the Kiretsu bases of Shinjuku and Shinegawa.
Chijin still came here to the Perfect Blossom in an attempt to find the truth. He sought information from those outside the Imperial Fleet. He spoke with the occasional trader from Gran Canaria, especially the somewhat reclusive and mysterious TAZ clan. He wished to quiet the suspicions and the pains which troubled his mind regarding those tragic circumstances. To no avail.
Chijin sighed, and returned his gaze to the data panel imbedded in the table. The conflict with Bretonia had been strangely quiet lately. It almost seemed that both the SF and the KNF were content with an uneasy truce while their leaders waited to see what would result from the conflict in the Omicrons. However, he realized that new hostilities with Bretonia could erupt at any time. Captain Nebotuda was not one who would ignore the will of the Emperor and the interests of the Blue Lagoon for any length of time at all.
Their enemies to the north also seemed occupied with other agendas presently. That as well could change in the beat of a doves heart. Chijin was of the opinion that a warrior should not be concerned with the directions of political winds. He would much rather be faced with a known and direct threat to his homeland; one which he could respond to in familiar and sure fashion. And, the unknowns regarding their departed Ambassador only compounded his frustrations and uncertainties. He must know!
Just then, a familiar face entered the Perfect Blossom.
Simon-san! Please, join me for refreshment. It has been a long time. We have much to discuss.
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