Chapter 19: Front 11; Politics

Hoki once more found herself standing to attention in a hallway, resisting the urge to stretch away the strain in her body from such a long time spent in an uncomfortable chair.

 In the end the session had ebbed out for the better part of 2 hours - Combining that with the shocking scenes of the enemy attack, aswell as the sudden newfound pressure of a very close feeling mission and Hoki found herself feeling claustrophobic more than anything else.

Batty's group had of course made to leave the briefing room first, only to be stepped in-front of by the ever smug faced Louise and the almost ghostly Tabitha.

 Once most others had filed out, Hoki had quietly made her own way and now awaited Kolme who had approached Nate and his aides.

 A part of her wanted to say something to the man, to reprimand him for putting her on the spot like that but ultimately she had decided to let it go. Not because she thought it would end badly for her, if anything the opposite.

Commander Nate wasn't the worst for it but he could still be expected to act 'skittish' around her.
 Admittedly he was that way around alot of people but really she just didn't want to be seen as receiving any 'speical treatment'.
 In some fashion she pondered she might actually of been more upset over having her lineage highlighted in-front of the whole procession - More-so than not having been informed on what the meeting was going to be about.
 This time Kolme actually arrived quite promptly and seeing as they still had some time till their next engagement, he suggested they go in search of 'a proper breakfast', the long briefing session seemingly having drained Nilas severely.

Kolme for the most-part seemed almost lost to thought in a way Hoki was unfamiliar with seeing on the older man's worn face. They made their way through the somewhat broader but equally dull corridors of the ship's amenities area in relative silence.

"Something the matter Sir?"

"Hmmm? No, not exactly Hoki-Lass."
 'Lass' - Whatever else Kolme did, that much always stayed constant.
Whether he was acting clumsy and unpunctual or with surprising tact and poise - He never let his preference for addressing people informally fade.
 This was by no means unique to her, he addressed people he hadn't even been acquainted with in much this manner - With Commander Nate being the only real exception - But maybe that was the point.

She didn't hold it against them or anything but a twinge of disappointment always passed by her when Una or Sabban would continue to address her as 'Miss' and well, Scarlet made a point of using the word 'Princess'.
 But Kolme was different in that way.
 Even during the interview when she had first met him - Back when she still outranked him - He had never treated her as anything other then another colleague.
 Maybe it was just how he had been raised, or the fact he was older than almost anyone else aboard the ship, but whatever the case it was something she couldn't help but appreciate.

Kolme seemed to pick up on this quagmire of social contemplation as he spoke his next question;
 "You thinkin' about Nate or me?".

"Er what Sir?" She replied earnestly but then reconsidered what benefit there was to playing dumb.
 "It was just... well, the Commander is he?"

Kolme laughed lightly at this, "Ha, I can understand that al'right. 'Is he acting, playing at being dumb?' that kinda' thing 'igth?"
 He nodded as if to confirm his own comments; "People are tricky like that, I can't speak for 'da man obviously but in my experience he really is a grade A toss-head."

'...oh....'
 "But. And it's a big one, he's also one of the bravest men I've ever met, good under-pressure and loyal to a fault. Back when I was with the Tradech Flag-Fleet we came under attack, lost the escort cruiser that was my home and well I 'were in shock ya know?
 So last thing I expect ta' see is a group of lifeboats - Not from the destroyed ship but from the moon. We were fighting above the moon, guess I shoulda' mentioned that first eh?
 Well anyway the ship explodes and the Tradech, well 'she' were busy with her own problems.
So Nate just decides, unescorted, to launch some dinky boats into the middle of a battle-field to go rescue any survivors of the destroyed cruiser.
 First 'Order' I ever got from 'em was along the lines of--"

At this point Kolme's tone changed to one of a Nate impression;
 "'You over there in the G-MBT, I don't suppose you'd mind giving us a quick hand would you?' -- Well after that I thought he was insane! But the sort of insane I can respect if ya get my drift. That's Nate Novel for ya Lass."

Hoki thought on this for a few moments as they passed some other crew-members heading in the opposite direction of the winding corridors - Before presenting her next answer with Nate's almost 'character breaking' moments of intellect contrasted by downright idiocy, still fresh on her mind;
 "As um... Admirable as that is Sir, isn't he a little..."

Again Kolme kindly helped her out of her awkward position with his usual knowing grin.
 "Ai that's true to a degree I suppose. Than again it's just the way of these things.
 When you have a man like Nate, someone who won't hesitate to make a good judgement call in battle and who always looks out for those below 'im, what you then need as-well is someone who's the opposite.
 You saw it today, that Wally fella didn't say two words in that 'ole meeting, while the Commander herself couldn't stop yakkin'.
 You can be sure Lt.Wally took all the notes and listened the most careful of all 'us, sure but he ain't got the backbone to command by himself, while Batty sure as heck can't be all gun's blazing without Wally to back her up ya get me?"

It was Hoki's turn to nod in agreement, that did to be fair sound like a reasonable, if simple assessment of how a Captain and their First-Mate should function.
 "Then your saying Commander Nate needs someone more, ah, 'formal' to back him up?"

"Well it might not be that simple, Lt.Aurin does 'is best but before the Fluchtig he was an admin officer - Really ya need Emelia about to keep Nate in check. She's got that, 'Discipline' that Nate lacks.
 'Fraid there's only so much I can do about that in 'er place.
 Discipline ain't really my Mo."

"It's funny really." Kolme continued, seemingly rolling into a tangent;
 "In the stories and such, meetings always go one a' two ways right?
 Either everyone sits around respectful like, while some big wig give orders in a dramatic fashion as lights flicker and the excitin' music plays - Or ya get all the generals round some large table, laughing and smokin' evilly.
 Really though every meetin' I've ever seen is more like that today - People bickering and bartering even when there's important 'stuff ta' be discussed.
 Unless you got one person who can command the room, who everyone really respects, then I guess it's ta' be expected.
 I suppose it could be a coping thing. Ha or just bruised egos but I guess really Lass, a meeting of military types is no different to putin' a load of people who don't really like or know one another in a room for a few hours, an' seeing what 'appens.
 Don't matter if it's people or groups, we're none of us so simple as to fit one mould or other."

"I guess I'm no different--" Hoki stopped mid-sentence upon realising she was speaking aloud.
 Kolme only gave that same ever-knowing look.

"Hmmm what was that?" He grinned once more;
 "I suppose we all do a bit of that eh? Maybe, as a random example say, a teacher - Puts on a good front for all her colleagues and students but underneath ends up feelin' lonely in all that false solitude.
 Ah what am I saying, ignore my rand'm ramblings Lass."

Hoki didn't know how to respond as they rounded their way into the entrance to the canteen and made it up to the familiar opening in the wall at the end of the long room.

'I suppose having an 'abnormal' boss like Kolme could be worse.'

****

Having already eaten that morning Hoki chose more of a snack thsn anything of much substance, in contrast however Kolme ordered the largest breakfast available - Full of fried goods and overly crisp savouries.
 The tea they drank created a similar disparity;
Hoki had the usual blend from her homeland in her fine porcelain looking teapot - Kolme on the other hand opted for the sort of pot that looked to be as old as he was.
 The sort with so many dents in its outer metal casing as to make it hard to identify the thing's original shape.
 The type only useful for brewing that speical brand of over brewed sludge that Kolme loyally labelled 'Proper Tea'.
He was the only other person Hoki knew whom the Canteen kept a personal teapot for.

He differed greatly from her own father in that aspect, where 'The Hero of The East' had become a connoisseur in rare & expensive brews in the years following the war (as though in defiance of the crap they had to drink during wartime) - Kolme was seemingly still using the same brand as had been available to that very group of 'common soldiers', in the bleakest moments of The First War.

'Old habits must die hard for him.'

You are reading story UnderCurrent – Can You Break The Cycle at novel35.com

There was quiet for a bit as they tucked into their respective meals, the canteen itself being characteristically abandoned as was usual, with only a handful of other diners at that hour of the day.
 After a short time it struck Hoki once again that Kolme appeared to be lost deep in though.
A new consideration crossed her mind;

"Ah-hem, My apologies about the briefing Sir. I guess I wasn't much good of a vice-leader.
 First my fighting with Scarlet last week and then I might as-well not of been present for all the good I was, if you want to try have someone else be your second--"

Before Hoki could go any-further, Kolme laid down his cutlery with a raised eyebrow and interjected;
 "What are you goin' on about lass? Ain't nothin' wrong with how you acted."

"But Sir I--"

"Not your fault Nate forgot to send us the files, yet ya handled it like a pro. You even woke up on time which I can't exactly say myself now can I? No Hoki you did just fine."
 Kolme concluded before sighing heavily in a somewhat unbecoming fashion.
"It's this mission, I don't like da' smell of it."
 He finished without making eye-contact.

"The 'smell' sir? I'm not sure I follow..." Hoki added back earnestly.

Kolme sighed again though clearly more at the situation rather than at Hoki;
 "This whole thing reeks of politics. It'd be one thing for the enemy to be attacking our supply lines, heck that'd be normal but this is different.
 I mean a Casnel, really? For submarine duty? And whatever about this Camilion system thingy', using specifically a Troy class ship, well..."
 Kolme finished while half-heartedly stirring a teaspoon around his cup.

"You think this - 'submarine' is TSU propaganda Sir?"

"Ya maybe. 'Course not just that but I think it's a part of it.
 I need'nt tell you the similarities between this vessel and the Cheval-De-Troy do I?
 A single prototype Casnel, an experimental assault-vessel working autonomously.
Ha I bet there's even a Magi aboard to boot! All during a crucial tur'in point in the war when every country's trying to decide which side to pick goin' forward."

Hoki simply nodded in response, a similar line of thinking had crossed her mind but having a second person highlight it like this made it feel all the more plausible.

 The 'Cheval De Troy', the ship The States Union had created in the final year of The First War.
Backed into a corner as the Abhailen-Revolutionary-Forces continued to invade the continents of Bhaile, with their at the time advanced Vijaiks - TSU had thrown all it had left at one final project.

That project had been the Troy class vessels and the Casnels, both made using the newly refined metal 'Goibniu' or 'Maglite' colloquially speaking - And it had worked.

 The first Casnel had been near invincible, a destructive force that ripped it's way through the solar system like a comet through the stars, a young Magi-pilot at its helm.

 Magi - People born with innate powers, often minor to the point of inconsequence but in the right circumstance capably of becoming legendary warriors no matter the Era or technology.

 The Cheval De Troy had carried the Magi and their Casnel throughout a long journey, quelling enemies almost single handily all while boosting the moral of all who met them. Some called the combination heralds of God or the Sun or Divine Fate and 'Justice'.

But even a decade later Casnels were a rarity due to the expense involved in their creation, this applied even more so for the Troy class of vessels.
 It was said the Goibniu expended by just one of these ships could be spent on ten or more Casnels - This had lead to the line eventually being discontinued despite their remarkable efficiency, leaving only those already constructed in active service.

"So you think the enemy is using this to boost their own moral and convince the Nation-States not to side with IAFS?" Hoki posited.

Kolme laid a hand to his chin considering this, before reaching across the table to pick up the salt and pepper shakers.
 He lay the salt down horizontally, while placing the pepper on it's side pointing at the salt.

"I think it's more like this to be honest, The 'Curadh' with it's Casnel are TSU speical force's attempt at propaganda - However I also think that's what we're being used for too.
 IAFS beats this 'Reincarnated Cheval-De-Troy' and in doing so we prove that this 'Fate' element ain't on TSU's side.
 We say 'Hey our special Celtic-Class ship is just as good, why not rally around our custom Vijaiks.
 We'll keep you safe from those mean bullies', that kinda' thing.
 Essentially both sides are gambling on the Curadh, with us simply in the middle."

"That's certainly possible but is it all that important?" Hoki said.

"Good question lass.
 You could say it's normal political manoeuvring, not even complicated at that but than why not just send a fleet to guard the Clover eh? Up the security of the supply lines, launch some regular ambushes and so on.
 No instead they create a new 'autonomous group' to pursue these guys, in turn this 'mission' puts the Clover at risk if we feck it up - If 'da trackin' fails and the Curadh gets away, we'll also be putting more civilian lives at risk and who knows what else."

"Also--" Kolme's face by this point had taken on a harder expression, almost a down-right scowl;
 "-- People who want something to 'look good' tend to prioritize that over the people involved.
 I guess you could say I just don't like being used as a piece on a board of someone else's game, we've too little control over this.
 IAFS is already a mess, we all know that. A few dozens ships can't face an empire, we're all really just skirting around TSU's coat-tails. No countries want to rally to our flag publicly and Bayley Mechanics is more interested in branding than proper support.
 This feels like a corporate measure, a calculated gamble of risking the Clover and us in order to improve our image.
 This is the plan of a board of directors, bureaucrats - Not tacticians."
Kolme had nearly spat out the last few words, his face an absent-minded grimace.

There was silence for a bit as Kolme's long-winded rant came to an end.
 For not the first time that day Hoki felt she was being exposed to another side of her comrade, this time one she might rather of not seen.

Kolme's whole body language had tensed, even his accent seemed to harden into something nearly sinister, all over what seemed to Hoki to be a fairly rudimentary circumstance.

 It only took a few moments for Kolme to clearly pick up on this newfound stillness in the air and like the flip of switch his face and mannerisms returned to normal - "Ah there I go again Hoki-lass.
 Hahaha guess we can't sit round here gossiping all day ai? 'Bout time we got to the other 'meeting'.
 Scarlet's face is gonna' be a picture when she hears all these details. Heh...I just hope she doesn't break too much furniture..."

And just like the meeting before it, their bizarre morning brunch ended and the two began the short trip over to the hanger.
 They talked a little less on this trip but even when they did there was no more signs of this more cynical Kolme she had briefly glanced, and Hoki was left to simple contemplate the meaning behind his harsh words and speculation.

You can find story with these keywords: UnderCurrent – Can You Break The Cycle, Read UnderCurrent – Can You Break The Cycle, UnderCurrent – Can You Break The Cycle novel, UnderCurrent – Can You Break The Cycle book, UnderCurrent – Can You Break The Cycle story, UnderCurrent – Can You Break The Cycle full, UnderCurrent – Can You Break The Cycle Latest Chapter