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[Hat]

Manor House, Outskirts of Ceres City & Ceres City
Capella
October 14 - 29, 3053

Early on the 14th, Kato and those Rangers who wish to go with him are shuttled down to the Ceres Metal Industries complex.  Kato was granted an appointment with the head of Ceres Metal Industries during his stay.  He was asked to invite any from his command who are interested in making use of the facilities to come and handle things personally.  Before leaving the estate you are informed that as Capella is the heart of the Confederation, the Han culture is dominant and many locals who are of fairer stock, wear black wigs to blend in.  Those who sport other hair colors are viewed as seeking attention or clearly foreigners.  Rangers who have something other than black hair are encouraged to wear a wig which will be provided, so as not to draw undo attention or offend local sensibilities.

The trip to Ceres is relatively short, and the reactions to Rangers spotting non-black hair color is as described.  After a formal meet and greet with the CEO, they are passed off to a vice president well versed in company and military history.  She explains that Ceres Metals was one of the first developers of BattleMech technology, a fact she expects many who are present to be aware of.  What they may not be aware of is that Ceres originally produced jumpships and dropships, though most of those manufacturing centers were in the original Terran Hegemony and the Amaris Civil War and early Succession Wars destroyed them.  Since then, Ceres Metal Industries has evolved into a massive manufacturer of civilian and military equipment with more than 500 facilities on over 100 worlds, producing all types of military hardware.  She continues providing interesting bits of history and information about the facilities as you move about and interact with some of the folks there.  The executives are polite, the engineers knowledgeable, and the security details attentive as the walking tour moves purposefully through the different buildings and showcases.  Time is set aside to sign up for space, with forms to fill out for the work to be done.  Once complete the group moves on to the Ceres City tour.

The city itself is a thriving metropolis, certainly not as large as some, but well developed and not showing signs of the predations of the various Successions Wars since the fall of the Star League.  It includes numerous stops at famous gardens, monuments highlighting the accomplishments of citizens and various sacrifices for the good of the Confederation.  Lunch is taken at a fine restaurant with a large private room holding all the participants.  The schedule is tight and so doesn’t permit wandering off or detours, though you are offered an opportunity to put in a request for other places you would like to see, and they will do their best to accommodate you.  Interactions with the citizenry in general is almost non-existent given the size and security presence of your group, citizens defer to your passage.  Though the tour certainly puts the city’s best foot forward, it is clear that not all is as well as it once was.  Defenses for the city have been improved over the past two decades, using up valuable space and resources that would have been devoted to other projects.  An acknowledgement that this once interior planet is now a border world, and vulnerable.

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Exploring the estate reveals that the grounds are covered with interlocking buildings and courtyards as well as a large garden on the east side.  The further north in the manor one goes, the more private the space is, with the furthest northern sections relegated to Kasei, Kato, and family.  Those spaces are not open to non-family members or close servants.  Some areas are reserved for more important guests, though in general the Rangers have the freedom to go where they please save for those areas that are restricted and under guard.  It is also not possible to leave the estate without a security detail to accompany the group, though otherwise within the walls of the estate, no security detail is required.

Klaus Breisacher for one spends a fair amount of time off the estate proper, sampling the local cuisine and following up on places highlighted by the tour of Ceres city.  He tours local gardens with those inclined to get out and stretch their legs with the minder translating between the group he is with and the horticulturalists.  Expressing an interest in native trees, he is provided descriptions and a list of places to go to view them, acquiring wood block samples of them to carve later.  Those who’ve visited Klaus in his quarters have seen numerous knives of different styles, each with a handle carved from one of the woods taken from the planet.

He along with others make periodic visits to Ceres to view progress on the work that’s being done.  Typically, this is followed by looking for local breweries.  It’s a good way to celebrate the work that’s going well or to salve the nerves for those whose work isn’t.  William Moon is one of Klaus’ regular companions, anxious to see how the work is going and eager to sample the various brews that Klaus is discovering.

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Kato is seen at multiple times over the next couple of weeks deep in conversation with individuals clearly members of the Zang shu zhe and Zang shu cheng branches of the Huang Di Yi Zhi.  The conversations are all in Mandarin and though the tenor of the discussions seem conversational, the astute realize the probing and interrogational nature of the talks.  At times Erin Mae is with them, and she receives at least as much attention in the discussions as Kato does.  Roughly halfway through one discussion period it is clear the questioning has gotten to her, and she begs off for a short break which the agents grant her.  Kato joins her and it is possible to eavesdrop on the conversation should you be so inclined.

“They ask the same questions over and over, differently perhaps, but often leading back to the same themes.  Why?  Haven’t I already answered them enough?”  She speaks in English, clearly upset.  “I’ve studied the philosophies, I’ve learned if not completely mastered the language, I understand the importance, I do!”

Kato’s words are calm and soothing.  “These examinations are common for those who are still in their studies. You”

“But when will I be DONE with the studies?!?” she snaps back, certainly outside her typical norms.

“After achieving your citizenship, the likelihood of an examination greatly decreases unless one gives them reason for an examination.”  He tries a slightly different tact, “Ài qī (beloved wife), they will see the truth of your spirit.  Fàng xīn (don’t worry), you have nothing to fear.  I too am being examined.  We’ll get through this together.”

His words calm her, and her voice is softer, “We won’t be here long enough for me to earn my citizenship.  What then?”

Kato considers.  “Well, you and the kids could stay.  We could catch up after the next contract or so.”

Erin Mae shakes her head. “No Kato.  We’re in this together.  We’ll find that opportunity later.”  He bows his head until his forehead rests against hers and they fall into silence.

Temporarily at loose ends the agents consider those others in the nearby area.  “Are any of you interested in discussions of philosophy?  It is an interesting and engaging way to pass the time.”

[Hat]

It's been more than a week since arrival and Kato excuses himself from his family and seeks out Kronwall after one of the meals.  "You seem more out of sort than usual Erik, and it's not because the Capellans are your sworn enemy.  What's on your mind?"

Kronwall sighs and attempts to relax.  Capella is a lot of ways environmentally like Rasalhague and it's feeling weird to be the one inside of the walls of power vs trying to remove them via improvised explosives.

 Some habits die awkwardly as he addresses Kato formally. "Colonel…er… Kato.  Maybe a bit that's not just the usual awkwardness of a new planet."

Kato gestures to the spot next to Kronwall and given the nod, sits.  "So, if not just a new planet, what is it?"

Kronwall tries to run his hand through where his hair used to be - it had been cut a few months back in solidary with another lance member who needed to shave his after bad head shot disrupted the neural connectors needed to be reseated - a tell he was trying to spool thoughts in his head.

"Listen, as far as I know myself and one other in Skaraborg are the only Rasalhauges in the company, maybe some of the newer support staff that I haven't met yet are ex-pats as well. I know we all have lost friends and loved ones to the damned Clans, hell, the memorial wall we painted on Uggla (Swedish for Owl) is proof of that."

Kato nods agreeing with the assessment and giving Erik the space and permission to continue.

"it's just extra painful when the place you nation you and your family helped even exist in the first place is now more or less exists only because Comstar says so."

Kronwall’s words certainly touch something in Kato, a flash of pain and a nod of understanding.

"We did.  And lost cause or not, raids against the Clans will likely continue and so represent future work."

"I'd like that if that happens.  I know it's difficult work and not everyone is up for it.  Our lighter elements... Would likely have a harder time of it which is a concern to me as well."

Kato stares off, though not at anything in particular.  "We'll get there at some point.  We need a bit of time to recover from all that.  And honestly, before we take one of those, I want to understand what happens to a unit that fails.  Are they trapped behind enemy lines?  Are they given safe passage off planet?  If so, at what price?"  He sighs.  "We've been building the Rangers into something.  Something solid.  I'm ok taking risks if folks are on board.  The Clans though?  They follow different rules that I don't yet understand, and I don't want to throw away all we've worked for until we have some idea what the rules are."

Kronwall furrows his brow for a brief moment, and motions Kato over to his office.  Office was a generous term.  It was a large storage room that had a pull-out sofa, two sawhorses and a door stacked on top for a desk.  "So....I've made some interesting friends over the years.  Somehow, I got into the good graces of someone at the LICs Bodians group back at Sanglamore.... Turns out he's been keeping the Turkina off the record as long as he got battle data from it occasionally and in return, he's sent me some Intel he's gathered."

Kronwall held his hands up reflectively "it's only battle rom and technical data -nothing operational.  I think the Lyrans are trying to get their own salvage running and we wrote the book on restoring Omnimechs.  In return we got this". Slowly taking his left hand into a thigh pocket, grabs a ruggedized data terminal.  "We have some Intel on our little invaders.  Mostly on the Wolves and Falcons on their practices for things like this.  Some good... Some not so good.  I think it's all going to play on how we handle ourselves in system.  That said if they have one of those monster armed jumpships all bets are off.”

"The only thing operationally they know about it is that it's a damn shop queen."

Kato looks at the RDT and nods.  "Happy to review whatever you've learned.  As I said, I expect we'll go back that way, just need a bit of a break first."

"Also, the LIC seems to think we own 13 Awesomes.  Honestly not sure how that's happened."

Kato actually laughs.  "You know, I used to have a lot of respect for MIIO and the LIC, but after what I've seen recently..."

"I think the LIC is incredibly dependent on where you're dealing with and how paranoid they are.   Never dealt with MIIO but met a lady once who claimed to be with DEST.  she was also very drunk."

"Well, you've dealt with them now after they tried to assassinate me and destroy the Rangers.  I think your assessment is correct though.  It depends on who within the organization you're dealing with."  He considers.  "I've told you my background before, right?  My identity and nation ripped away at age 13 and for more than 2 years trying to keep everything together while inside I was feeling as lost as a jumpship that misjumped?"

Kronwall offers Kato a chair which looks conspicuously like it was borrowed from the commissary. "This I haven't heard."

Kato accepts it and sits down.  "I grew up on Epsilon Eridani.  My family has strong and deep ties with the 4th Tau Ceti Lancers dating back to the Star League.  Anyway, Epsilon Eridani was a part of the Confederation up through the beginning of the 4th Succession War.  Back then I was a typical noble's son and underfoot with my relatives in the 4th learning what I could about the military, mercenaries and fighting all up to the ripe old age of 11.  It was late 3027, and I decided to start on my process to become a Capellan Citizen.  In the Confederation citizenship has to be earned.  It's not hard to do - spend some time in service to the State, but there are those to whom it's not important enough to be bothered with.  An idealist and precocious preteen I was going to start on it early.”

He chuckles briefly at his younger self.  "The 4th Succession War kicked off in 3028 and that caused a lot of worry for the adults and maybe a little for me, but really, what eleven-year-old worries about losing their planet?  I was on a mission."

"Then we hit 3029 and everything started falling apart.  The 4th was pulled off and members of my family evacuated including a lot of my extended family and my two older siblings.  The Confederation was so hard pressed with the war that reinforcements weren't coming.  Or at least that's what Ridzik claimed when he ripped away more than twenty star systems declaring us the 'Free Tikonov Republic.'  My identity and visions were all tied up in being a Capellan noble and citizen and in that moment, he ripped it all away."

Kato sighs and sits quietly for a moment.  "My world was falling apart.  My family was torn apart.  My younger siblings too young to grasp what was going on, and my parents busy trying to cope with their responsibilities and if they'd even still have those responsibilities in this new Republic.  I put on a brave face and told them to focus on my siblings and they were so grateful to have one less thing to have to worry about, they didn't realize it was all just a front."

"So, I buried myself in books for a time.  I read what I could of Ridzik - who by the way was the Strategic Military Director of the Confederation up to the moment he cut a deal with Hanse and betrayed the Confederation.  I tried to find solace in the principles of the Star League that so enamored and motivated my parents.  They're good, but they didn't grant thirteen-year-old me much comfort.  Then I went back and looked at the foundational Capellan Doctrines - The Korvin Doctrine, the Sarna Mandate and the Lorix Order.  They were neat, principled and spoke of duty and responsibility and provided a clarity on how to interact with the world."

"And so lost, fumbling and scared me, grasped the certainty, the duty, the clarity they provided.  I refocused my efforts on trying to help those who didn't want to be in the Free Tikonov Republic get back to the Confederation.  I had the free time of youth to help with paperwork and all.  My parents appreciated my dedication to the welfare of the citizens.  They really did care about them.  They humored my intent to still apply for Capellan Citizenship."

OOC: Conversation not finished, will be added to as the conversation continues.

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Throughout the latter half of October, Kato and family will be seen with Kasei.  Being with his grandson and his great grandchildren seems to loosen his restraints and Kasei is far less reserved.  The family time is typically glimpsed in the inner courtyard and so intermittent.  It is perhaps a balance to the examinations that the couple endure.  During one of these times when Erin Mae is carrying Dai Eiko and chasing after a laughing Kenji, Kato’s conversation with his grandfather can be heard carried on the breeze.

“She won’t stay,” Kato tells him.  “I didn’t expect her to, especially due in just a few months.  Were I also staying…”

“She wouldn’t have a reason to leave,” his grandfather finishes.  “I understand.  For your sake, moving on is better for the moment.  It is a mark in your favor that you are not trying to take control or build influence at this time.  Acceptance will come in time.  Importantly you have come and honored your parents pledge, but more than that, you do it faithfully.  This is not simply a duty put on you by the Confederation that you grudgingly follow.  It is a duty, but one you embrace.  In this, truth to self shall be your shield.  Your wife though… she is still conflicted.  The mind knows, but the spirit hesitates.  Take care, or you will be seeking a new wife.”

Both men stare in silence at the woman who has been Kato’s partner for nearly twenty years.

“I will find you suitable candidates as tutors for the children who can also serve to guide Erin Mae, especially when you are in the field and cannot be with her.  She is strong in spirit.  It will work.”  It is a bit unclear if the words are spoken with conviction to convince Kato or to convince himself.

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Portions of most days Kato spends getting to know the men and women who form the Atayde Guard, those from who he can recruit the core officers for his personal guard.  Former Midnight Lance’s Carey Fletcher is among them, and it would seem that at least one other of his current pilots is up for consideration as well as Sergeant Geta Milos is often present.  Speaking to him about his time with the Guard highlights the workout he’s getting through a combination of sword fighting, target practice, unarmed combat and running obstacle courses.  How much of that is required and how much is simply an opportunity to burn off energy is unclear.  In terms of recruiting, he seems to make at least some progress.  Most of the existing Atayde Guard will continue on with Kasei.  Seeking to understand what is permitted for one of Kato’s soon to be station indicates that he would be permitted up to a non-Mech regiment in strength, but it’s not close to that currently.

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It comes perhaps as a bit of a shock to Benton Mudd just over two weeks after arriving to see Lieutenant Zin Edward and a companion crossing the courtyard heading deeper into the estate.  As if aware of Benton’s eyes on him he glances over while walking and noticing the good Colonel’s stare nods briefly in acknowledgement before continuing on chatting in Mandarin.  The two disappear into the public hall and out of Benton’s line of sight.

[Hat]

OOC: All elements in the thread have been consolidated.  The only ones newer than January 8th are in purple.  That conversation is ongoing and will be added to in a new color.