The problem Emerson had was that it was somewhat suspicious that Alex didn't know there was something going on after all one, very much ill advised, press release in the previous seventy two hours had called all of Mundus's attention to the fact that not all was well at the heart of Rokkenjima. That said the odds of Alex being in any way involved in whatever they were up against was slim wasn't it? Well logically at least. "She's safe." Emerson said "But you know there are things that government officials can't say and this is one of those times. It's also the case that neither myself or Evanthe have the full picture, to get that I suggest you talk to Charlotte's favourite 'aunty' she can probably tell you what we can't and if she can't then she certainly has the means to point you to who can."
Rion raised an eyebrow at Kado "I'll let you know what we get off the laptop. The last thing I expect the IHC to do is anything to attract attention especially now that they've been alerted and we've been put on the defensive." she said "Getting the upper hand back isn't so easy when you lose the stealth advantage. We'll watch and wait and with a bit of luck we'll get something to go off. The stakes just got raised and we're going to have to call or raise soon. But best not to do that without all the cards and players. However it's not like we're completely out of options, how do you feel about ruses?"
The reason Rion was good at her job was that she had a true understanding of the maxim 'see the whole board' she'd known that to remove Kyoko from the line of succession in Rokkenjima was a bold move, a risky one and yet clearly one that had a reason it did do many things - it was a step towards isolating the Empress, it removed an experienced figure from the equation. But the question that hung over it was why? What leverage did these conspirators have over Kyoko to force her to take such a step? Well this was where
Mei came in, fresh off the heels of the annual Ambassadors forum in Valtheim, she was the newly appointed ambassador to Rokkenjima - a move that had been expected based on her having grown up as Kyoko's sister. Now though Mei found herself walking into what was politely put 'Kyoko's house' - Rishiri. As an ambassador the cloak and dagger shenanigans of Achkaerinese intelligence were not matters she usually found herself involved in, however her relationship with Kyoko was thought a suitable enough cover to ask the question and while people in the intelligence community may have been pulling their metaphorical hair out over the press release it did help, even if it helped far less than it hindered.
Knocking on the door she waited to be shown in, when she was she smiled "You don't call, you don't write, what did you go off into space and not tell anyone or hibernate or something?" Mei said cracking the joke before sighing as they sat down "Ok serious question and then we can do whatever. What does Groves have on you that forced you out?"
"And who do you think taught your mother how to make those lunches?" Serenity's voice carried into the room from the kitchen, Michelle had opened the door just before Asuna had spoken so the sound had carried "In case you're wondering that would be your grandfather."
"That'll mean she's making lunch then." Michelle said heading out of the room and straight down to the kitchen, a few moments later
Gemma walked in carrying a tray laid with food and drink, putting it on the table she closed the door and sat down to eat with Asuna. In the kitchen Michelle was splashing some water on her face, trying to think about everything she'd heard.
"That bad?" Serenity asked
"Somewhat." Michelle said "I think I know what the problem is but the root cause is a whole other ball game."
"Think you can help?" Serenity asked
"Yeah." Michelle said quietly as Gemma came back with an empty tray "Just got to figure out who I'm talking to, a girl with the weight of the world on her shoulders worrying about moral quandaries or this almost frightening persona spoiling for a fight."
"That's her Freya mask." Gemma whispered prompting an eyeroll from both Serenity and Michelle. "The moral quandaries girl is Asuna, the rest is her rather poor poker face."
After lunch it was time for a stroll in the garden, it wasn't a huge patch of greenery like in various palace grounds but it was decent, there was a small bit of decking, stone steps down to a swimming pool, a well kept amount of grass where Serenity's daughters were kicking a soccer ball around and then a very small orchard which was self contained within the grounds and from where you could look out at the lake and the small island, the latter was also part of the property. It was the orchard where Michelle and Asuna found themselves.
"We normally don't show this." Michelle said taking what looked like a leather wallet out of her pocket and opening it inside Asuna could see Michelle's ID but also behind where the badge was there was a
picture "It's called a heaven and hell picture, they're used to show the contrast between good and evil, light and dark etc." she took a breath "They mean different things to different people, to some they can be about redemption, to others the consequences of sin. But to the Justicar, and we all have one, they remind us of why we're called the Angels and Demons of Achkaerin, most of the time we're the angels we're the protectors, the shield but we also know there are times we need to step into the shadows time's we must do that which we cannot speak of and what we will likely never be forgiven for. We don't go eagerly into the dark, but we go willingly because we know it must be done, you wondered earlier about when we become evil, if you want to be arbitrary about it there are people right now on your side who have done that which would be considered evil, the key difference between them and you is their preparation, their training and that's true in the most basic of tasks you find yourself dealing with all those moral quandaries are largely created by the pressure and stress you feel because you've never been there you've not been prepared for it."
Taking a moment to look out at the lake Michelle smiled a little "I'll tell you a story from history to see if it makes more sense, the Achkaerinese civil war in the late 1600's early 1700's is known for a great many things most famously it's remembered for how it ended, sword on sword single combat between Djana Azurewind the future Empress and Caleb Elsif, eldest son of the traitor house but also consider this Caleb was the father of Djana's son, he was the man she loved, inside the great arena in Valtheim she cut him down and ended the war, she robbed her own son of a father and herself of a likely husband but that death saved thousands that would have died in pitched battle. Now the thing that sometimes gets forgotten is that Djana is the one who threw the gauntlet at the feet of Caleb's father and that he refused to pick it up so Caleb did. You see the catch twenty two? It's what's called the bad call situation, or to use the popular culture reference it's the Kobayashi Maru, there was no victory for Djana but she made her choice. I appreciate you're not in school anymore but a little homework for you, think about what that means." taking a breath she thought for a moment, which also gave Asuna the opportunity to absorb what she'd said
Putting her warrant card away Michelle looked at Asuna "There's a bit of folklore in Achkaerin, it goes like this 'The Empire will not fall while the brave raven watches over the Fox.' it's about the ravens that live in the Temple of the Brave but the funny thing about folklore is that it can take on new meaning as Justicars we all have callsigns mine's 'Shuffle' and my boss's is 'Raven' can you probably guess why she chose it." she said putting her hands on Asuna's shoulders and pivoting the Empress so she was looking at where Gemma was doing juggling tricks with a soccer ball, much to the amusement of Astrid and Lisa, "Gemma's is Karasu I think you know what that translates to, wonder why she chose that? What if we change the story? 'The Empire will not fall while the brave raven flies in the starry sky.' The old saying is a problem shared is a problem halved, Gemma's not just charged with your physical safety, she's charged with the protection of your immortal soul that's your mental and spiritual sides, that's what your Grand Maester says, she's your companion soul so perhaps it's time you let her in and stop treating her with contempt."
Michelle still had her hands on Asuna's shoulders as he nodded to Serenity who walked over "Now as for your moral quandaries, you spoke about obliterating a lot of people because they'd done harm but..."
"Much like your mother you couldn't see the whole board." Serenity said "I can't tell you no one would have died if you'd fired those missiles but I can tell you the death count wouldn't have been anywhere near what you're imagining, because I know that the moment those missiles were seen they'd have been intercepted why do you think I had a Specula class and the Northwind there? Could it be because I knew my niece was a first time commander in chief with no prior experience of anything like it?" she glanced at Michelle "No win scenario's?"
"We've talked about them." Michelle said
"Good." Serenity said giggling slightly before handing Asuna what looked like a diary "My great grandfather's diary from the late great war years of his reign... in short more homework." she sighed "I'm the world's biggest critic of your mother but I had her back when push came to shove and I'll have yours the same, but don't expect me to pull punches I'll tell you straight up what I think whether it be good or bad. "
"Now normally I'd say homework time and there's a lovely table over there in the fresh air for it." Michelle said she gently pushed Asuna past Serenity toward Gemma "But first I think there's someone you need to talk to."