James Doolittle sat in his study, a roaring fire blazing at his feet in a holographic fireplace, reading the various dispatches from Keiko Takeda that she had sent throughout the day. It was a lot to absorb. His daughter had nearly been killed at the Nebula Cup race, and he more than anyone wanted those responsible severely punished. But, as he read through the memos, he could see that things were – complicated. Jenny was in love. With a girl. Probably the same girl who interfered with the race and almost got her killed. Yet the young girl didn't know the consequences of her actions. And Keiko trusted the girl enough to leave her alone at Jenny's bungalow for the night. It was way beyond complicated. And it infuriated him that Jenny had been promised, against his wishes, by his older brother to a politician's son.
He and Robert had gone to school with Ted Coolph, but he was always wary of his brother's pal. There was something inherently slimy about him and his whole family. Robert seemed to espouse that kind of friendship, and as their lives veered in different directions, they stayed connected at the hip. When Ted's son Junigh was ten years old, and Jenny was six, Ted had commented on what a cute niece Robert had, and that set in motion Robert's promise to arrange their marriage. Because Robert was the eldest member of the family, James was obligated to acquiesce and allow the arrangement. It would be good for Hugh and Doolittle, Robert had explained. It would be easier to win contracts, and it would always be useful to have a family tie to the Galactic Department of Transportation, so James grudgingly agreed to it. But now he was regretting it.
He inherently knew that it was likely that Jenny's little friend would be expelled from Hakuoh for her involvement in the Nebula Cup disaster. She might even be brought up on criminal charges. He had always gotten a sick sense of enjoyment by subverting his older brother's schemes, and for his daughter's sake, he fully intended to foul up this particular scheme. The interference with the race had all the earmarks of his brother's deceitfulness, though he could not fathom why Robert would engage in such a dangerous enterprise that could have killed a bunch of little girls. The fact that the Queen's young daughter had participated in the race, and was one of the only two to actually finish was also troubling; to think that Robert would knowingly (even intentionally) endanger her as well. But he knew well of Robert's contempt for the Empire and its royalty. Deep down, he hoped that was as far as things went.
He had promised himself early on that he would never abuse his influence at Hakuoh as a major scholarship donor, but these were extraordinary circumstances. Despite his sense of honor, he felt obligated to ensure that this injustice did not stand. He had gone to school with most of the members of the Hakuoh Board of Regents, and some of them owed him favors. It was time to settle the books. He began reciting a letter, and dispatched it well ahead of the impending hearing in New Okuhama City.