Manor House, Outskirts of Ceres City
Capella
November 9, 3053
Despite the events of the previous evening, things are expected to be in good form and turned out for the arrival of Kasei’s honored guest. The heightened security added the night before is still in evidence and looks to have been added to. Everyone is requested to dress their best with Kato asking for those under his command to wear their dress Rangers uniforms with full awards. Asked he confesses he still doesn’t know who the guest is, but given his grandfather’s request, it is someone of note. It is getting to be later in the afternoon when all are asked to turn out, including the staff. Kasei himself opens the limo door for the new arrival. Out steps a man in his late 40s, well-built and clearly in fighting trim. Anyone who has spent any time studying the available military intelligence on the Confederation will recognize the man immediately – Ion Rush, House Master of Warrior House Immara, and by extension House Master of all Warrior Houses within the Confederation.
The soldiers and staff all stand a bit straighter, not wanting to bring dishonor upon Kasei Atayde or his house. Ion greets Kasei as an old friend and looking around nods in appreciation of the display, eyes lingering an extra moment or two on Kasei’s various guests. Ion’s security detail is all in House Immara uniforms and they join him as first he and Kasei then the other guests make their way back into the Manor House. Soldiers in House Immara uniforms supplement the already noticeable presence of the House Atayde guard.
That night there is a dinner in his honor and throughout the dinner Ion engages with Kasei. Otherwise, he seems content to observe and take in the rest of those present. This includes all of Kasei’s various guests as well as some of Kasei’s senior or most promising officers. The following day Ion can be seen out and about walking the courtyards and the gardens, generally observing, not really interacting with others. It is therefore a bit of a surprise to Kato when on the 11th he receives a request to join Ion in his grandfather’s study for a game of Weiqi. Kato arrives early but finds Ion already present, the board set up.
“Colonel Atayde,” Ion greets him and gestures to the chair on the other side of the board.
“House Master Rush,” Kato rejoins, taking his seat.
Ion gestures to the black stones piled to his right, offering Kato the opportunity to take it and go first. Kato smiles and picks up a black stone, but then picks up a white one, shakes them between his closed hands and offers two closed fists. “Your choice, House Master.” Ion nods and selects left which turns out to be the black stone which he places, and the game commences. The room is quiet as the two men battle back and forth for territory across the board. It is a surprisingly tight game, given the experience and skill Rush must have for his position and who by all measures is playing a good game. In the end, Rush does win but by a fairly narrow margin after the advantage of going first is factored in. He considers. “That is the best game I’ve had in quite a while. Your skill is good. Your instincts are better. You need to bring them into even greater harmony. It will make you an even more dangerous opponent.” Kato nods in response, “thank you.” The two lapse into silence before Rush shifts topics.
“What in your view is the greatest of the three principles?”
A different tact on the questions his examiners have been asking throughout the past couple of weeks. Kato takes a moment to examine the question before answering. “None of them. The three are in balance, one building on the next. In the end, the good of the people as represented by the State is what’s important. It is the duty of all to support it, even should that not be in the individual’s best interests, for only collectively will we succeed.”
Not quite the rote answer he may have expected, though if it surprised him, it didn’t show. “And the individual?”
“Where possible the individual should be permitted to live the life they choose and pursue their dreams and passions, provided that it is not to the State’s detriment.”
“And if the two are in conflict?”
“Then the individual should be given the opportunity to bring things back into harmony. Should they be unable to do that, the individual should remove themself from the State or if necessary, the State should remove them”
“How?”
“By whichever means are most appropriate.”
“Appropriate, not simply necessary or expedient?”
Kato shrugs slightly. “The manner of removal may itself be in service to the State, while the most expedient may not serve it as well.”
Ion considers for just a moment before replying, “appropriate may have greater upside and less downside than expedient, true. But expedient eliminates the threat to the State and the risk it poses. I find that to inherently be more ‘appropriate’.”
Kato bows his head slightly. “You have risen to be House Master of Imarra. Your wisdom and judgement have proven true to permit it. My path has led me here. We will see if my wisdom and judgement have also been proven true.”
“Indeed.”
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Topic: Operation INVESTITURE - "7. Honored Guest" (Read 309 times)