7 Sins IC

[fibericon]

Spoiler: Takeo

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"No. You're still looking at it the wrong way. Just being in the presence of the angels causes synch ratio fluctuation. The only deliberate attempt they've made to alter yours was with the nephilim. As Sins are exposed to angels, their personalities change over time. Once you get past a certain threshold, you won't be on our side anymore. It's inevitable for all of you. You just happen to be sprinting there."

She brings up a new graph and tilts her head to the side.

"Though I suppose other branches have Sins getting there before you. Maybe."

Spoiler: Chloe

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That look seems to startle David out of his moping.

"Oh. I uh, I guess I kinda messed up there, huh? Sorry. Sorry."

He clears his throat and gets his guitar ready. It's a relatively easy song to follow. David sheds his typical restrained performance this time. In particular, his voice cracks when he reaches the first bridge.

He can't face you after the song. He sheepishly talks, almost to himself, as he puts his guitar in the corner.

"I never had a great relationship with my dad. My mom couldn't do much about it, either. Then when my parents got killed in a home invasion, I was left wishing I'd done something different. And now we've lost so many friends all at once, and I'll never be able to tell them how much they meant to me. And now you're getting deployed in Japan. At least Bonnie and Clyde are still here." His way of referring to Lust and Pride. "Anyway, sorry for wasting your time. I'll help you get packed up."

Spoiler: Xiren

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"It's yours. It always has been. We all get what we deserve... some of us just have to take it. Touch the life you want, Xiao Ren. Only then can you leave this place."

[Volthawk]

As Takeo realises what the engineer is saying, he doesn't like it. Not one bit. "So, let me get this straight. Every Sin in Babylon is inevitably going to end up no longer being themselves, and in service to the enemy they've been fighting all this time. We're all going to die, in spirit if not in body, and going out there and spending more time in the presence of the angels makes it worse. You have - Babylon has - known this, and...what? Said nothing? Just let us carry on doing what you need us to do without even having the slightest thought that we might want to know that our existence as we know it is at threat? What's the plan, then? Just use us for as long as you can and quietly get rid of us once we get close to turning? Is there a bullet waiting for me for when I stop being so loyal?" Takeo shakes his head. "I shouldn't be surprised, really. So much else has been kept from us, what's another secret? I mean, look at you. You clearly don't give a damn about any of us, but at least you have the...the...at least you show it!" He gives a resigned chuckle. "It makes this whole situation make more sense, though. Who cares about using child soldiers when they have an expirty date anyway? Just use them while they're fresh and loyal and if they get killed by the angels, who cares? Saves them doing it themselves. Well, thank you. You've been very informative. So I'm screwed no matter what, and everyone else is perfectly fine with that. Good to know where I stand." Takeo is quiet for a few moments before asking the most important question to him. "So...how long are we talking about here, for this to happen to me?"

[fibericon]

Spoiler: Takeo

Show

"You're not... ngh." Her eyes narrow. "We only figured this out when the nephilim showed up. That, and the autopsy, explained a lot we didn't previously understand. That's why I said the they tipped their hand. It's not worth worrying about. It shouldn't happen before the end of the war. And when the war ends, your exposure to angels will end."

She lets out a throaty sigh and takes off her glasses. After squeezing her eyes shut and pinching the bridge of her nose for a moment, she puts her glasses back on, and finally looks at you.

"What is it with you people demanding I care? Do you even understand what you're asking? You lose your objectivity the moment you start caring. That isn't science. God!"

She stands up and storms off to the coffee maker. After pouring herself a cup, she scowls at her reflection in the oily film on top.

"Bullets won't even work on you at that point anyway. We're just banking on the hypothesis that it won't last long enough to reach that point, because otherwise we're all dead. Either you breach terminal dogma or we nuke our own position to stop you. You probably have six more fights in you."

[Volthawk]

"Not worth worrying about? That's easy for you to say, you're not the one at risk. Six battles, huh..." Takeo sighs, seeing that how he feels is irrelevant to her. Okay. Focus on the practical. "So did the autopsies give any way of determining how far along I am as time goes on? Just in case your 'six battles' isn't accurate, I'd like to know how little I have left. Also...wouldn't it be better to move me out of here once I get that close? That way, there's time for Virtue intervention before I - no, whatever will come from me - gets back here again, if bullets won't work." Not that it would matter. He'd die before that point, one way or another.

[roko10]

"Really? I didn't know about that. Must've missed it in the original briefing," Ryall responded, before she takes on a more serious tone. "That Angel... she taunted me with how she touched you first before I could, and you said that she was responsible for crippling you, even though you said it happened in a traffic accident. That, plus how you said it was attracted to you after you got out of the AT Core... what's your connection with it?"

Realizing how grossly inappropriate her questions could be, Ryall hastily tacked on "It's okay if you don't want to answer, though! I don't want you to share anything more than you're comfortable with."

[velvetWing]

"Like I said earlier, you're half-right." Xiren reaches out and grabs hold of the third orb without a moment's hesitation. "I'm finally starting to understand. In this life, at least... You get what you take."

[fibericon]

Spoiler: Takeo

Show

Ichika furrows her brow.

"What? No. Time is irrelevant. Only angel exposure is relevant. Quit now and you'll be fine. If you're asking when that will happen, it's not something we can answer. No one can get close enough to study the Lamb. Even if we weren't killed in the approach, being nearby would be a death sentence."

She takes a sip of her coffee, but doesn't seem to enjoy it much.

"Some angels are worse than others. The elder was worse than the South China Sea monster. As was Harut. I'm just taking the average of all angels we've seen worldwide thus far."

Spoiler: Ryall

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"It's okay. I know it's a bit confusing. I blame Harut because she could have saved me and chose not to. Instead, she gave me an out of body experience, freezing time just before the accident. She offered me a choice: unfasten the seatbelt and die instantly, or do nothing and be crippled. I'm glad I wasn't deployed. I would have pushed for live capture, so that she could experience what I did."

Spoiler: Xiren

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When you come to in the now familiar Hospital room, a wrist strap pulls on a cord, activating the nurse call button. It doesn't take long for your new gossip buddy to arrive.

"Oh good, you're up. Everyone will be happy to hear it - you're the last to shake it off. Really high concentration of some unknown substance in your LCL. How are you feeling?"

[roko10]

"...I see," Ryall said after hearing Ren's words, expression glum. "I understand completely; I'm sure that the Angel behind my encounter could've also saved my parents or hell, everyone in the plane that I was in, but I guess they just have to be ****s about it, huh?" She laughs bitterly before continuing on. "Call me selfish, but part of me was hoping that I was the one responsible for killing the bastard, as revenge for whatever it did to you. It pissed me off when Carmen of all people was the one who killed it."

[Volthawk]

Takeo sighs. "Alright. I suppose I'll have to live with that vagueness. And just to be sure, the rest of my team isn't in the same amount of danger, right? Sure, they'll go through the same thing, just slow enough that they won't have to worry about it, right?"

[Elfbird]

It's harder for Chloe to throw herself into a song she's hearing for the first time as she sings it, but she still puts her heart into the words once she joins in.
She seems more relaxed afterward, and makes a note in her journal - both the song and the moment shared with David are things she wants to remember.

When she's done writing, she walks around in front of David and lightly touches his collarbone.

"You still carry them inside you. Tell them there how you feel. Sing for them. Music is something that crosses every border: especially the ones between people."

She withdraws her hand, then starts delegating tasks and returns to the clothes. Nearly done.
They can keep chatting while they work, and Chloe's good mood holds up.

"I'm sorry for being cross with you. It must be a shock to see me so discomposed, no? The truth is, I'm not handling this as well as I'd wish. Leaving America behind to move to a country I've never been to, in the care of people I do not know and sometimes struggle to understand, putting Jeannette through all of the same... Can you imagine what it will be like to attend school in a language she's barely begun to study, in a culture that's completely alien to her? Not to mention having been away from Marin for almost a week now..."

She sighs and shakes her head as if trying to get something off of herself.

"Ahaha, listen to me nattering on! Still, I'm grateful... Maybe it's only because we'll be parting soon that we can be open with each other like this?"

Something starts to feel off to her. The way she's whining so uncharacteristically... David just spilled his heart about his family situation and his grief and regrets. Wouldn't the Chloe she knows set everything aside to empathize and comfort him?

The truth that she's only half-aware of is that she's already said her own goodbyes and closed her heart. To David, to their fallen friends, even Marin is too distant for her to reach right now.

Her world begins and ends with Jeannette.

A part of her struggles to reopen her eyes. She doesn't want to be so selfish and distant!
...But what can she do?

That question weighing on her mind goes unanswered, and slowly disappears.

[Syless]

Nothing to do but wait. Two operations being executed in tandem. Hopefully both successes. Aoba needs something to pass the time.

She decides to reach out to Babylon-Saudi Arabia, seeking to work with them to recover the Copper Scroll- they're the ones with forces in the region. It's far out of Japan's jurisdiction, and it's important to all of them.

[velvetWing]

Xiren smiles warmly at her. "I feel good."

Strictly speaking, it's a lie. She feels like she got run over by a truck. Or maybe two. Sitting up hurts. Smiling hurts. Her limbs feel like jello. But none of that seems to matter so much right now. The storm in her mind is quiet. It feels as though every thought is being drawn together toward a single point of focus, like the edge of a knife. It's the same feeling she used to get when the Commander gave an order.

"Even better, now. If I'd known it'd be you, I'd have taken a few extra breaths of that Elder poison just to be sure."

[fibericon]

Spoiler: Ryall

Show

Ren tilts her head to the side, offering a look of curiosity. It soon melts into resigned sadness.

"Now why would you go and wish for a thing like that? It would make sense if it was for your own pride, but for my sake? Ryall... You need to understand that it's just not viable. If you kiss me, you might die. If you go past second base, I won't even notice. And I probably don't even look human to you. It wouldn't be fair to saddle you with such a worthless excuse for a girlfriend."

Spoiler: Takeo

Show

"Hypothetically, yes. Based on our current, limited understanding of the process. The situation is unfortunately compounded by the fact that most of you fight in melee. Melee fighters are at greater risk. AT specialists are at greater risk as well, for different reasons."

Spoiler: Aoba

Show

Your call is taken by B-SA's commander, Amir Hussein. He seems genuinely confused by your request.

"You're asking me to send troops into West Bank? An operation like this needs to be approved by Global, and even if I wanted to go around them, S2 isn't equipped to be there. It's been a war zone for a long time. The rapture... didn't help."

Spoiler: Xiren

Show

The nurse blushes a little and smiles.

"Well, I'm glad you're feeling well enough to say something like that. You'll be getting discharged soon. With any luck, you can even have a few minutes to relax before getting deployed again. I'd hate to see you back in here so soon. I mean, for injury or illness. You can come visit anytime."

She clears her throat, then checks a clipboard as an excuse to avert her gaze.

Spoiler: Chloe

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David follows your lead on packing, and soon manages to put the mask back on.

"I'm sure you'll both be fine. I hear there's an American deployed there already, so maybe that'll help if you get an overdose of Japan. Oh yeah - the commander hasn't brought it up yet, probably because he wants the new guy to do it, but apparently a Sin at another branch died in battle."

[roko10]

"It's... not like that," Ryall responded, taking Ren's hand and squeezing it reassuringly. "Listen, even if I can't do all these things with you, it doesn't really matter. To me, you're still important, and I just want to make you as happy as I can." She pauses for a bit, hesitating, before speaking up again.

"Still, if it bothers you that I can't touch you... I heard of a way that maybe permanently gives me immunity; a blood transfusion from you. I'm not sure if it works yet, but it's something I can do if you want me to."

[fibericon]

Spoiler: Ryall

Show

"Then show me you're serious and not just delusional about your own mortality. I asked Director Mashimo before to contact my parents, but with everything else going on, I'm sure it's the last thing on her mind. I'm not allowed to call out, because people finding out about me would cause a panic. My mother is Kazue Tanaka, and my father is Gendo Tanaka. I have a little sister named Momoko. We lived in Okayama before all of this. I can't give you any more to go off of, sorry. But before I let you possibly kill yourself for my sake, show me you want to be involved in my life beyond getting in my plugsuit."

It's bizarre to hear her sound assertive, let alone demand anything.

[roko10]

"But that's not- I don't want to- It's not-" Ryall protested, before stopping. "...Alright. I will find a way for you to contact your parents. That's a promise."

[velvetWing]

"I'd love to." Beaming, Xiren holds up a finger. "Or you could come visit me! They do let you out from time to time, right?"

[Elfbird]

David putting his mask back on helps Chloe do the same, but behind it she's still off-kilter. She has no idea how to respond to a conversation prompt about a stranger's death right now - it's not something she wants to hear about, when they're all still dealing with the deaths of their own friends and knowing that the Sloth she's replacing in Japan will probably go to replace that other dead Sin. So she doesn't. Awkward smalltalk about the American Sin in Japan - for what little they know about her - lapsing into even more awkward silence.

You should have let me leave you when we first said goodbye. A clean, bittersweet ending is better than... this.

Without conversation to distract them, they finish packing much more quickly than if it had just been Chloe and Jeannette working on it. The room is all but bare, the sisters' lives packed into four bulging suitcases. The only things left sitting out are their travel clothes for tomorrow, their cellphones and chargers, and Chloe's journal. The bedsheets belong to Babylon and will be collected after they leave, probably to be washed and put back for whoever comes in to replace the fallen and the absent.

I don't want it to end like this.

I want it to be over already.

I'm so tired, but I don't have time to waste. The Angels see to that.

Entertaining the idea of indulging her Sin - facing it directly, and deciding she doesn't want that - gives Chloe the resolve she needs to keep moving. She breathes a heavy sigh and stands up from the bed she'd been sitting on.

"I'm sorry, David. I showed you a weak side of myself and spoiled our goodbye. Thanks to your help, we have a bit of time before I need to get Jeannette to bed. Would you like to go somewhere? The memorial, or karaoke, or the mall? We could bring the children or just go by ourselves, if it's not too long."

[fibericon]

Spoiler: Ryall

Show

Ren settles, leaning back in her wheelchair and staring at her hands for a moment.

"I expect to be used." Ren says softly. "Guns of Liberty, Babylon, you, doesn't matter. Babylon is nicer about it. At least they appreciate me instead of trying to crush me into nothing. But I know I'm only here for what I can give them. I'll be relevant for a while. Then I won't. Then I'll be gone."

Spoiler: Xiren

Show

"Ah... um, sure! Okay! I have your release scheduled for tomorrow morning. You're still not totally healed up, but you don't need to be kept here. Just take it easy and you'll be fine. What are you into? Karaoke? No, wait, that's silly. I bet you have a professional voice."

As she flips through the papers on her clipboard to find your release date, you notice a request for an increase in the dosage for the painkillers Irina takes regularly to manage her hip. One of those pills would probably put you on your ass, and she's apparently already taking three to six a day.

Spoiler: Chloe

Show

David shrugs.

"It's only goodbye if you never get online. But yeah, we can go to the memorial."

He straps the guitar to his back and leads the way, taking you outside. Among the familiar faces is Kazuma and Grigory. With them are two people in US military uniform. You're not well versed in their ranking system, but you know the number of ribbons must indicate the significance of their service. One of the ribbons on the woman to Grigory's left causes David to practically stumble to attention and salute. She looks him up and down briefly before turning back to the memorial.

"At ease, cadet. You're not actually required to do that."

Grigory turns to the two of you. "Colonel Amelia Cartwright will be the new B-US commander. She earned the Medal of Honor in the post-rapture unrest in the Middle East."

"I'll head off the obvious question: Al Qaeda look like Care Bears compared to what we have out there right now. They hit our base, I hit back."

The glance David shoots you implies that "I hit back" might be the understatement of the century.

"Major Jeffery Brandt was also stationed there. He will be the new director in charge of Virtue tactics." Grigory continues.

"We've all lost a lot of friends." Jeffery chimes in, still taking in the memorial. "There are going to be a lot of new fish. Wilson, I expect you to step up before we send a bunch of green recruits to go fight an angel. Being the closest thing we have to a soldier who can pilot, you're going to have to help whip them into shape."

You might be getting out at just the right time - B-US is at a turning point, and it's hard to say if it's for the better.

[Syless]

"Then we'll go through global. Your forces are just closest, and this... this was important enough that someone gave their life for it. So I don't think we can afford to wait too long. I'll pull all the strings I can."

Aoba sighs. She finds herself idly wishing she was in charge of Babylon's global efforts. She's starting to think she could do a better job, at least if they could come up with a cure for sleep.

[fibericon]

Spoiler: Aoba

Show

"Our relationship with the surrounding area is... delicate. If we could ask America for help with this, it might go more smoothly, since they still have forces in the region. I will pull what strings I can as well. And Director Mashimo - watch what you say if you decide to contact Global."

You were provided with temporary access to the secure meeting room that Kazuma uses to speak with Global when he left. He had specifically told you to meet with them alone if you needed to do so.

[Syless]

After the call, Aoba sits quietly at her desk for a minute. Just one, it's all the time she can spare. Speaking to global is... a bit intimidating. She makes a call. "Irina. Could I speak with you in my office? I require your expertise."

[roko10]

Ryall shakes her head. "Ren, if this was about using you, me and the science team would've just shoved you back into the AT Core and use you as a cheap power boost for a knife. You're an actual person, not just a tool to be used and discarded. Trust me."

[fibericon]

Spoiler: In the shadows

Show

Irina finds her way to your office shortly after confirming. The other woman sits with a bit of effort. She sighs and sets her cane aside, staring at her lap for a moment before looking up.

"Apologies, Commander. My hip has been troublesome as of late. What can I do for you?"

"It's alright, Irina. I just find myself needing to place a call to Global to organize an effort that I can't exactly do alone... and I'm not sure what to expect. This is where your experience and knowledge comes in. I know Kazuma trusts you with everything."

"Ah." She takes a blister pack out of her coat pocket, pops out a pill, and swallows it dry. "One of those days. Alright. Everything I know is of course second hand. You will not see their faces or hear their voices. They all appear on screen as blank avatars, and use voice masking. There are thirteen in total, and Kazuma has no idea who any of them are."

"That sounds like the most intimidating thing since my thesis review board. My counterpart in Saudi Arabia indicated I should be careful what I say to them... what's the risk there?"

"The risk is that we don't know their motives or morals, but they are the backbone of the finances for all branches. Funding we get from elsewhere at times, yes, but they apparently founded Babylon, all without showing their faces once. If they can do that, how hard would it be to have a Sin assassinated? Or a director? In fact, that would be on the lower end of their power."

Aoba rubs her temple. "So we're indebted to a dozen faceless oligarchs who likely have their own motives behind all this."

"I am very concerned about the war. We aren't making progress. The only dead elder was the one to invade Japan - everything else was just an angel. But they keep throwing money at this. How did they learn of the Sins in the first place? A lot of information is missing."

"Well. They might have access to the sort of information that I want to try and get with an international operation... but I'm not sure what to disclose, if I should tell them what I think I've found, or just that I've obtained coordinates through Vatican infiltration that I want to check out..."

"I would go with the latter. We don't know what is there. But you should know that Kazuma has not reported the operation on Guns of Liberty, or the plan to assassinate the pope."

"...that says a great deal about how little to trust Global."

"I sometimes wonder if this is the correct approach, but I don't question my orders. This whole war is going to get worse before it gets better, and it won't be because of the angels. Hurry with your plans - I don't know how many they already know." She sighs and shakes her head. "I don't like it, sending a child to kill someone."

Aoba stays quiet. It was Kazuma's plan originally, but she's accelerating it... but how does she really feel? "...I don't either. But it has to be done, if the Pope truly is a Sin himself. During the Nephilim attack, we lost so many, and would have lost more if not for Ryall and Takeo's abilities. We need to cripple the Vatican while we can. Part of me wants to soften the target by getting someone to bomb the city into rubble, but the amount of damage that could be done... sorry. Do we have any alternatives to take the pope out, assuming power on the level of Ryall or god forbid, the Nephilim?"

"The other plan was to use the AT Drive, but now that we know it is powered by a tortured orphan and would leave the area with fallout, that is no longer an option. Very well. I hope it is a clean shot. Otherwise... Well, I suppose I don't have to tell you how badly that could go."

"I intend to have a team of S2 on hand to evacuate Ryall as soon as the shot is made. But on that note... do you have any contacts who might be able to assist in acquiring quieter weaponry? Ryall being discovered would be the worst-case scenario, so if you have connections..."

"Yes." She grimaces. "Russia developed a silent pistol. We have done a very good job of keeping it out of foreign hands. I could acquire one temporarily, but it can never be inspected by Japan. More recently, a long range rifle. Losing either would be unacceptable."

"I'm willing to agree to those terms. If Russia wishes to send an agent of their own to ensure their security and recovery, that would be acceptable as well. I don't care about mundane weapons past their relevance in the Angel conflict- and when we're talking small, that means the Vatican and the Vatican alone."

"Alright. I have calls to make. I suspect you do as well."

Aoba nods. "I do. I need to make myself presentable and place the call to Global. I'll make sure to tell them nothing that isn't immediately need-to-know."

-----

Save a single table and chair facing a large screen, the meeting room is largely empty and featureless. On the table is a remote control for the screen, which will presumably begin the call when activated.

Aoba's taken the time to change into her dress uniform, full formality. Presumably even if she can't see them, they can see her, and wants to present with as much authority as possible. She takes a deep breath, running through her script in her head, and places the call.

When the screen turns on, you see avatars appear, one by one. Each is labeled with a number, 1 through 13. When one speaks, a sound wave appears under the avatar to allow you to see which it is.

1: "Acting commander Aoba Mashimo. Please enlighten us as to the purpose of this meeting."

The voice is heavily masked, making it impossible to identify.

Extraordinarily creepy. "Honored leaders of Babylon Global. Recent efforts by our intelligence services have acquired a set of coordinates at the cost of an agent's life. However, these coordinates are in the West Bank, and any singular Babylon effort would be risky. I come to you to humbly request assistance in organizing a move to ascertain what is at these coordinates, and seize it to deny the Vatican whatever it may be."

6: "A Vatican counter operation? Interesting."
13: "Very interesting indeed. Especially considering that I don't remember approving it."
1: "While she might not have shown the caution to get it approved from the start, she at least showed the restraint to not involve a government."
3: "Hmm. West Bank, Vatican..."
4: "We will need something greater than the usual S2 fare. Tell us why you believe it worth such resources, bearing in mind that the region you wish to recon is pure chaos."

No wonder Irina had advised her to be cautious with what she'd said. Apparently they weren't as linked in as they'd like to think they were... Kazuma knew better than to share all of Aoba's plans. Or his own. "These coordinates were the last message from our agent, and the only bit of intel. Whatever is there, they felt it was worth their life to share. I take full responsibility for her death, and want to make sure it's not in vain. The Vatican, as paramilitary as they are, must be operating out of the region in some capacity themselves."

8: "The Vatican is believed to have ties to extremist groups in the area as well."
10: "Perhaps the new US commander can make herself useful for something."
1: "If this operation is approved."
4: "The Vatican has now directly attacked Babylon three times. Four if we're to believe preliminary reports from the Netherlands."
5: "Acting commander, do you have any further information that might influence the vote?"

Preliminary reports from the Netherlands. Akari may have succeeded. She needs to tilt the scale a bit more, though, they don't seem sold... but what's safe to say? "No additional information. But in light of the attacks, we must act as heavily as we can to stop future ones- we have lost too many, and we can't be purely reactive. The Nephilim attack alone shows they can't be left to their own devices- and if we don't act surgically, we may risk an incident like what happened with the JSDF without things remaining concealed. Which is to say, national forces may call for an open war, if we aren't seen to contain the threat ourselves."

3: "I will be more direct: what else aren't you telling us?"
7: "You, Nakamura, Nijima, Kuznetsov, you're all quite good at hiding your machinations. But sensors don't lie."
13: "Our sensors indicate angel activity inside the Babylon Japan base. Tell us why."
1: "Choose your answer carefully, Mashimo. The life it saves just might be yours."

Ren. They must be referring to Ren. They don't know about her... what would they do if they did? "Our Pride is the likely source of your detections. Our science team has been awakening her latent abilities, and she's gained the ability to manifest AT powers on a human scale. They were integral to defeating the Vatican Nephilim."

6: "I like this one."
9: "This certainly shows more initiative than we've been giving you credit for."
5: "Perhaps we can retire Nakamura."
1: "Not treating these creatures like human children shows you have the ability to lead your branch, but your promotion is a discussion for another time."

Aoba feels disgusting internally, but tries not to let it show. "Thank you, sirs."

1: "Let us put this matter to vote. In favor of deployment of Task Force 3 to West Bank?"

The members unanimously agree, though 12 hesitates.

1: "The deployment will take place at 2am local time tomorrow. Please present your coordinates."

Aoba transmits them. Minus the mention of 'Copper Scroll'.

1: "Contact us again at the same time tomorrow."
5: "Nakamura should be back by then. Do not include him."

The screen goes dark.

Spoiler: Ryall

Show

"I wish I could see what you see when you look at me. It must be wonderful, for you to say such things. My mirror shows a visage of death." She offers a sad smile. "Well, I suppose I may yet see it one day, if you're so hell bent on showing me."