"Respected Minister," Mikina said in a formal and calm fashion, "the First Empire continues to value the relationship between Rokkenjima and Tytor to the highest of regards, however, there is an internal matter which we have hoped to address without foreign complications. Due to the unpredictable nature of our adversary, however, incidents such as these could not have been accounted for and I convey the deepest apologies of the Imperial Palace for this incident. I cannot state much, as despite my requests for the relevant clearances they've been denied, but I believe I have the ability to paint a broad enough picture to remain within the constraints of my restrictions whilst being fully honest with you."

"I am certain you will recall the Shuttle Ensei disaster earlier this year. While it has not been publicly stated a source from within Imperial High Command issued a command to the shuttle, one reserved for unmanned operations when the safe re-entry of the Shuttle could not be ensured. We believe this source to be behind the present issue before us; the incident I mentioned is believed to be something done to break the spirit of the Empress, just as this situation is likely meant to cause the Empress distress with the added benefit of alienating a key ally and security partner of Rokkenjima. In a completely hypothetical situation, the Empress would likely find herself incapable of responding despite her wishes to; it would simply be beyond her means to do so due to present circumstances. It would likewise be necessary that the adversary believes they accomplished their goal, which is why a genuine response would be necessary on your part and why I might be precluded from intervening prior to your summons. On that matter I would naturally convey the regrets of both the Imperial Palace and myself, in what would be a  hypothetical scenario, of course."

She drew closer to Thatcher's desk, almost whispering, "the present challenge before the Empress is in many ways a matter of life or death, the future of Rokkenjiman democracy depends upon her success over this foe. I promise you once the immediate threat has passed your government will be briefed in full, but for now we cannot jeopardize our adversary learning that we're a step or two ahead of them so please, I know you are angry and you've every right to be, but please try to have a measure of patience if understanding is not possible; again, I understand. I don't know if Thomas knows yet, however, if you've a way to discreetly send a message to him, you'd be doing me a favour as relayed to me by a mutual friend I hold with the Empress. When she was informed that her account had been compromised and that was posted she nearly vomited, and became a shell of herself." Moving back from the desk she continued, "it is a most unfortunate affair we have before us, however, I have cleared the entirety of my schedule until we find a way forward that is mutually agreeable to both of our Governments," she concluded as she handed Thatcher a letter, "I have it on good authority that you may read it if you wish to."

---

Dear Thomas,

I don't have long so this will be brief and I don't know if my gambit will even work in getting to this to you so please bear with me here. I don't know what kind of connection you have at the moment so if you see a certain Instagram post I'm not even able to go on the internet right now, let alone pick up a phone, quite simply it wasn't me. From what I gathered from the chatter between security here my account was hacked and used ahead of a meeting I was set to have, not only to hurt you and I but to alienate the Throne from one of our closest allies, so while I can't do anything publicly I couldn't stomach you sitting there thinking there was any truth to that for a moment longer so I broke the rules a bit, trusting you to keep this to yourself, I might get a stern talking to but I promise I'll survive that. The next chance you get do listen to Roy Orbison's Sentimental and when you get back I'll be here waiting for you I promise and, hopefully, by that time I'll have defeated the enemy before me so we can share some care free moments together. Until then stay safe, and know just how sorry I am about all of this.

Yours always.

PS: Akira misses you, he won't leave your coat alone that you left behind and is currently snuggling up with it. If I get the clearance he'll be with me on the United States when we track your ship down for a visit. Be prepared for a loving tackle from him and the kisses to follow.

Prime Minister's Office, Tsargrad
May 4, 2024
8:59 AM

"Ambassador Hayata to see you, ma'am," the prime minister's secretary said, poking his head through the office door.

Thatcher looked up from the email she was composing and held up a forefinger to indicate that the secretary should wait before ushering the ambassador in.  The woman could stew for a bit.  Thatcher went back to her email.

In all, Thatcher had the ambassador wait a solid ten minutes before she closed her email, changed tabs to Instagram, and hit the intercom button.  "Show her in, please," she said.

The ambassador entered the office.  "Ambassador," Thatcher said by way of greeting, a grim look affixed upon her face, "Please sit."  She gestured to the chair positioned before her desk, the tone of her request suggesting command more than anything else.

Once the unfortunate diplomat was safely seated, Thatcher laid into her.  "So," she said, turning the computer monitor so as to have it visible to both women, her voice quivering slightly with barely suppressed anger, "So.  What the heck is going on here?  This time yesterday, Tytor and Rokkenjima were collectively enjoying a budding romance, a clear symbol of the ever-strengthening ties between our two nations.  And then I come into the office this morning to find this waiting for me.  Care to explain why this decision was made so abruptly, and without so much as a warning to my staff?  Do you have any idea how absurdly difficult things like this make my job?  Do you understand just how much of a PR disaster this is?  We have established channels for communicating these sorts of developments, for crying out loud!  It would have taken your government all of five minutes to use them.  So why, in the name of everything holy, was I not informed before this went live?"

HTMS Agility, Sea of Kyne
May 3, 2024
9:57 PM (local time)

"Mr. Waverly-Edwards?"

Thomas looked up from the sonar screen he was monitoring.  It wasn't his usual job, but he'd received permission to try his hand at some of the other systems that featured aboard one of His Majesty's frigates.  "Sir?" he said, standing to salute the first lieutenant.

"Cap'n's compliments, and he'd like to see you in his cabin at your convenience," the lieutenant said, returning the salute carelessly, "If you'd come with me?"

"Aye, sir," Thomas replied at once.  He stopped just long enough to motion the sonar operator whose station he'd been occupying back to the screen, and then followed his superior officer out of the room.

The captain's cabin was halfway down the ship from sonar, but Agility was small enough that the trip didn't take very long.  The lieutenant poked his head inside to inform the captain of Thomas's arrival, and then ushered him inside.

The captain was seated at his small desk directly opposite the door.  The desk was unusual for such a cramped ship, and it took up a much larger percentage of the cabin's floor space than was strictly comfortable, but the captain had insisted.

"Ah, Mr. Midshipman," the captain said as Thomas entered the small room, "Good, have a seat.  Coffee?"

"Uh, no thank you, sir," Thomas said, glancing at a clock on the wall as he took the proffered chair, "I just had some, er, about half an hour ago."

"Suit yourself," the captain said, pouring himself a cup from a pot that was plugged into the wall to his left.  "So, I don't suppose you know why I've asked you to come see me?"

"No, sir."

"I thought not.  You haven't been online at all in the last, oh, four hours, have you?"

"No, sir.  I didn't think there was wifi on board.  Security risk and all."

"Oh, there isn't.  I was just checking.  Heard from your girlfriend lately?"

"No, sir, not since we left port.  What is this about?"

"So.  I was just forwarded a message from High Command.  They asked me to alert you to... well, this."

The captain passed a sheet of paper across the desk to Thomas, who was surprised to see a print-off of an Instagram post by Asuna from four hours earlier.  He read it quickly.  Confused, he read it again, then twice more.  A dull weight landed in the pit of his stomach as the import of what he was reading hit him.  He looked up at his commanding officer, lost for words.

The two professional sailors looked at each other for a long moment.  Finally, the captain broke the silence.  "Heck of a 'Dear John' letter, isn't it?" he said quietly.

Thomas nodded mutely, not trusting himself to speak for the moment.  This didn't make any sense.  Last time he'd spoken to Asuna, there'd been no hint that their relationship was at all in danger.  He started to wonder if this was due to something he'd said or done, or if he was somehow deficient in any of a dozen different ways.  Feelings of inadequacy, of self-doubt began to well up inside him, and his right hand clenched involuntarily on the paper.

"Don't," the captain said, interrupting his internal self-castigation, "This sort of thing happens to the best of us.  If you beat yourself up over this, it won't help anyone, especially not you."

"It's not usually quite so... public, sir," Thomas replied, and was surprised at how steady his voice was, "I mean, it's not, is it?"

"No, usually not," the captain allowed, "Though in a ship this size, news generally spreads quickly.  I wanted to make sure you were the first to find out, so you don't get blindsided in the mess or something."

Thomas smiled weakly.  "Thank you, sir," he said.

"When does your watch end?" the captain asked, standing.

Thomas followed suit.  "Well, I have the evening watch, sir," he said, "So not until eight bells."

"Hm, so not for a couple more hours," the captain said thoughtfully, glancing at his wristwatch.

"Yes, sir," Thomas said.  There was a pause, long enough for Thomas to begin to grow uncomfortable.

"Well, carry on, Mr. Waverly-Edwards," the captain said at last, "You may return to your post.  Chin up, all right?  Show some of that Navy grit."

"Aye, aye, sir," Thomas replied, and recognizing his dismissal, he turned and left the cabin.  He could already tell it was going to be a long night.

"I am not a judge about Rokkenjiman privacy laws, or any laws passed in your country for that matter", Prime Minister Brdzeni Kvirkvelia replied, "as long as they do not openly target our nations, citizens, or own interests". He appreciated the directness of the envoy from Rokkenjima and although he was surprised by his early rhetorical aggressiveness, that didn't make him to lose his calculated smile. "Let's not enter in subjective considerations, as that will lead us nowhere", he continued. "But I am afraid you are wrong, Imperial Liaison, we couldn't care less about Rokkenjiman laws. We respect your nation's national sovereignty, indeed, and therefore they are merely your problem and, by extension, your citizens' problem, and not us".

"But first, excuse me the lack of courtesy, I almost forgot about it", the Prime Minister said as he pressured a dark button in the nearby glass table. Veriko immediately returned with a box, which was showed to the guest as he was offered a gift. "I am certain you have must gained yourself a reputation of a man of the world, allow me to offer something which has not probably reached the ears and tongues in the southern lands yet, despite entrepreneurial efforts in the last decades as I have been told. Our ancestral Kliavina, or as some exporters called it, plum brandy, is quite a mirror of our national character, blunt but colourful". As usual, Zurab accompanied the Prime Minister with a wide smile, while the minister remained silent. "Prepare two glasses in case our guest would like to try it, Veriko".

"Yes, Your Excellency", Veriko replied.

"As I was saying..." , the Prime Minister continued, "I would encourage to face your mission more as a diplomat and less as an Abstergo commercial representative. I have been warned, of course, that such difference may not always be clear, but I resist to believe that's the case. Indeed, it's only natural that you find confidence in their latest technological advances, they don't certainly go unnoticed, both here as in any country of the world. But I am convinced as well that my understanding is not wrong".

"About this important corporation, Abstergo, with their undeniable achievements either at the financial or at the technological level", he continued, "I can give you my word that I could not care less than I do as Prime Minister. My main concern right would be rather to reduce the misunderstanding and unnecessary tension between our governments. I am convinced that the last thing that Rokkenjima either wants or needs is having our nation as an adversary. I can say that the feeling can only be reciprocal, of course. For that reason, I offer you that we both immediately remove these series of sanctions and counter-actions that our governments have been forced, with or without reason, to throw at each other during this weeks of misunderstandings. After all, they do not serve to the interests and well-being of our nations, including the sanctions aimed against either Rokkenjima or Mktvartvelian companies".

"In relation to Abstergo, let's simply allow to take their own decisions", the Prime Minister added. "They are free to do business in this nation, in accordance to the law, if they wish as long as the additional actions aimed against our economy or our companies are removed. I simply recommend, in order to bury the hammer of the misunderstanding, that allow them to decide if they wish to fight against the ruling about one of their products and services, without interference with their other business activities or products they already had in the market, in the ordinary courts, as it is their legal right and of any company, either national or foreign, in the same situation. It may seen than they have certain misconceptions about our nation, from a legal and administrative point of view, but I am certain that such an important and well-governed corporations will not lack the best advice and the best lawyers that our nation has to offer, isn't it?".

Matilda wouldn't miss this opportunity to come herself, but she did bring the Owners of the 'Himmelsee Werke' and the owners of "Poseidon Warft" along with her. While to most non Uburzians, these companies made Airships and Fisherboats respectively, they where of course also the two large military providers inside the Empire.



"I'll hope to meet some of our contacts with smart wars. with Troyes and Kalasin we need to upgrade the empire with more modern tech, as much as i hate to admit, both of us can't provide it all."

Leonhard Himmel walked in his purple toga along the other two, before his competitor nodded:

"At least thanks to you Matilda and the Prince Regent most other Elder Senators see the necessity. Not to mention the whole topic for this meetup is equally important."

Richard Smutje gave Matilda a nod as the three then approached the currently unoccupied morelanders.


"Ah, Thompson!" former Admiral Mathilda Eidmeier laughed seeing him: "To bad you never let me bag you while i was still active."

Both of her companions groaned and shook their hand:

"You're as bad as Abertone's Emperor" they both groaned at their Speaker of the Elder Senate