Takahashi, Mikako

[Bakamono]

Isami surpressed his anger at his Shoshos reservations:
"Hai Taisho '€“ I know this source seems unreliable, but we cannot afford to ignore this scale of threat."
"Ignore!? I have not ignored this information Shosho, I have assessed and disregarded it. Do you think me stupid!"
"Eya, No Taisho : but the evidence...surely-"
"This 'evidence' is worth less than the word of a Chrysanthemum. Such numbers are ludicrous: no - E wing reports have satisfactorily placed Gallic forces behind a vast minefield, involved in their own civil war; they pose little threat to our current plans. Now rid yourself of this nonsense and prepare squadrons for redeployment."
"Hai sir, arigato" Takahashi bowed again, maintaing a facade of etiquette as she boiled beneath the skin and made her exit.

The Taisho had gone mad! that was the only way she could rationalise it. To ignore these images of the dread-fleet was ignorant to the point of madness. Commiting so many ships to the front at this time was tactical insanity: she had gone over the boards a thousand times; fearing she were stupid or mad herself, to miss something obvious. But Mikako saw no hidden potential that could make up for the deficit that would occur, civilians would be near helpless after any police were eliminated. She resolved to herself, she would not do it: she would not go to the front, nor order the units under her command. She would defy the Taisho and deal with the consequences upon his return.

Her mind spun back to her afternoon with Heihachiro as unthinkable scenarios played out and plans started to germinate.