Eternal City, Crystal Tokyo

Chapter 72

Arisugawa's Locket was busy, with the usual drunken ladies singing, drinking and sometimes reading. Or visiting upstairs. But over in one corner, a group of (somewhat) dignified women were drinking and talking.

"Welcome, newcomer," First Fang Za'tair raised a mug.

"Thank you," Veronica Aston-Martin smiled, the attractive black haired woman taking a seat at the circular table. The recently arrived ambassador from Midchild smiled as she said, "This was an unexpected invitation."

The table was full of diplomats, several of whom were rivals. Za'tair of the Khanite and her aide, H'nor, Loriyal of the Jurai, Gail Huff of the League, and Ly-lac of the Martian Amazons. All of them had mugs of beer at hand, along with trays of snacks.

"Your predecessor didn't get invited to these meetings," Gail admitted, her spiky red hair catching the light.

"Well, the locket doesn't allow men," Veronica noted.

"That and he wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer," Ly-lac noted frankly, the tall redhead looking amused.

Veronica let that pass. "So, what are we meeting about?" she asked.

Lori, the Jurai ambassador when Princess Ayeka wasn't around, smiled as the black haired woman said, "We get together to compare notes on our nations policies towards Crystal Tokyo and look for ways we can assist each other."

"Unofficially, of course," Za'tair added.

Veronica looked over at Ly-lac thoughtfully and asked, "I thought that Mars/Aqua were loyal to Earth?"

"I would happily die for Lady Mars," Ly-lac shrugged, "but we need to trade and be diplomatic with Earth's government. That ALWAYS makes things complicated."

"Point," Veronica conceded.

Veronica remembered reading about a dust up on Aqua involving an invasion of the Amazon's territory. The fallout was so bad for the attackers that several officials were fired and an Amazon was appointed ambassador to Earth. Her bosses had wondered if the Ranma, leader of the Mars Amazons, had triggered it all deliberately.

"Not that we'll discuss anything confidential here," Gail added a bit nervously.

"Of course," Veronica agreed, deadpan.

Veronica's assistant Nene came back from a visit to the bathroom and sat down with a cheery, "So, what did I miss?"

"Hey, Nene," Ly-lac smiled, "while the old folks talk, let's dance."

"Sure!" Nene beamed as the taller Amazon led her off.

"Ah, youth," Za'tair noted, though she wasn't THAT much older.

H'nor snorted.

"So, I think Crystal Tokyo was responsible for the attack on the planet Asgard," Gail announced a bit nervously.

"If so you'll never prove it," Lori observed.

Veronica innocently noted, "It was a pirate raid, was it not? And hadn't Asgard begun to attack it's neighbors?"

"If you believe that pirates just attacked them randomly, I have a bridge to sell you," Gail said to them wryly.

"Could have been Jurai too," Lori calmly noted. She added, "King Tenchi isn't exactly sneaky, but Queen Washu is."

"My Lord of the Khanite doesn't like this sort of subterfuge," Za'tair added, "which is exactly why he would use it to confuse his enemies."

Gail pouted, "Oh come on..."

"Not to be rude, but isn't that just how things are done in the League?" H'nor pounted out reasonably, the tawny furred catwoman smiling slightly.

"That's not quite fair," Gail said.

"Well, let's assume Lady Venus did do it," Veronica noted. Mind you she was fairly sure she HAD. But anyway... "Did she have any OTHER legal option? We all know what would have happened if she went through League courts."

"Either the judge or the prosecutor would be paid off," Lori shrugged, "or it would simply never go to trial."

"Not ALWAYS...," Gail tried to argue.

"Often enough. So no, I'm really not startled that someone took extra-legal action," Lori followed up calmly.

"If we're going to fight over this, I need more booze," Za'tair said, waving down a waitress. "Another bottle of wine for the humanoids, a pitcher of beer for me and H'nor."

"Yes ma'am!" the perky waitress beamed then hurried off.

"Crystal Tokyo and Venus will keep pulling this stuff until you get your house in order," Veronica shrugged, "and we both know that won't happen soon."

Gail just pouted and drank her drink.

"Ah, that was fun," Nene smiled as she returned with Ly-lac.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Ran Mizuno smiled wryly as she took the lift up to her apartment. As a member of the Hardsuit Corps she COULD just live in military barracks, but she liked having her own place. Plus, if she needed to go out as 'Sailor Ares' it was best to have some privacy.

A simple biometric scan opened the door, and Ran dropped her equipment bag by the door. "Computer. Messages?" she called.

"75 spam messages," computer reported.

"Delete them," Ran ordered.

"Two calls from your mothers," computer continued.

"Eeep. Play," Ran ordered.

The first message was the typical 'Why haven't you come around, etc etc.' one. Ran made a mental note to visit. The next started, "We were wondering how you planned to be in Usagi's wedding. They're doing some LOVELY bridesmaid's gowns..."

"Oh HELL no," Ran muttered and called Usagi.

"Ran-chan!" Usagi beamed. "I KNEW your Moms mentioning bridesmaids would get you calling me," she laughed.

"You are all EVIL," Ran sighed.

Usagi just laughed. "So, no dress?" she teased.

"No dress. I can do a tux, my military uniform or my hardsuit," Ran offered wryly.

"But I have a LOVELY hot pink number picked out...," Usagi teased.

"Oh hell no," Ran said dryly.

"Well, your uniform works," Usagi agreed cheerfully, "or a tux. You do look nummy in a suit."

"Thank goodness." Ran got a drink from her fridge then sat down as she asked, "How crazy is it up at the palace with you organizing this?"

"Oh god don't ask," Usagi laughed. "It's huge and getting worse."

"You could always elope," Ran suggested, not completely kidding.

"Don't say that around my Mom. She'd flip," Usagi laughed.

Ran sipped her drink and sighed in relief. "Well, if you need a break, I can go rescue you and Hotaru. We'll grab the others and do a night out."

"I thought you didn't LIKE Hotaru that much," Usagi noted.

"I think we've mostly resolved our differences," Ran shrugged.

The door chime rang, and Ran frowned. "Computer, who is it?" she asked.

"Ambassador to the Knanite, First Fang Za'tair," the computer replied.

"Sorry, Usagi, got company. Call you later?" Ran said as she headed to the door.

"Sure. Come up to the palace soon," Usagi added as she hung up.

Ran pressed the open switch, smiling slightly as the cat-woman came into view.

"You didn't turn up at the Locket," Za'tair scolded mildly.

"Work ran late," Ran admitted, "and I knew you had your meeting tonight, too."

Za'tair stepped closer, then they kissed lingeringly. "I missed you," Za'tair purred softly.

"Me too," Ran agreed and they kissed again.

To be continued...

Notes: The diplomat characters have all appeared before, other than Gail Huff of the League. Just wanted to have characters point out that while Venus is clever, others are aware of what she's been up to etc etc.

Yes, Ran said she was straight. People change. Ha.