Eternal City Crystal Tokyo

Chapter 77

Minako Aino was sitting alone in the office of the ambassador from theLeague of Non-Aligned Worlds, her expression calm but also oddly blank. She was early for her appointment, but waited there patiently.

"Terribly sorry," Gail Huff said apologetically. The redhead still looked somewhat ragged from the take over of the embassy.

"Thank you for seeing me," Minako calmly replied.

Gail replied a bit stiffly, "You did say it was urgent."

Minako just sat there, steadily looking at Gail.

"Yes?" Gail asked nervously.

"Why did you do it?" Minako asked flatly.

Gail stiffened slightly, involuntarily. "Do what?" she played dumb.

Minako's lips curled in a cold smile. "Hire mercenaries to seize your own Embassy and fake your own torture," she said.

"How dare you accuse me of...," Gail started.

"Shut up," Minako cut her off. "You contracted with Hammerlock, inc. The foot troops were kept in the dark, but we traced them and their boss cracked under questioning," Minako explained to her coldly.

Gail paled, practically confessing.

"Now we just have to decide what to do with you," Minako mused.

Without warning Gail swiftly reached into her desk, coming up with a pistol and pointing it right at Minako.

Before she could fire, Motoko Kusanagi shut down her optical camo and slapped the gun out of her hand.

"Oww!" Gail yelped in pain.

"That was very stupid," Minako noted. "Again: we know you did it. I want to know why." she told Gail flatly.

Gail slumped in her chair. "Political leverage," she admitted.

"Go on," Minako ordered.

"We were going to blame your government for the security failure," Gail said, "as well as letting me be injured." She sighed as she mused, "Ideally, we could wring some actual concessions from the Queen."

"Huh. A bit clumsy really, but it could have worked if you had covered your tracks better," Motoko noted.

"And if Princess Usagi and her friends hadn't come along and liberated the Embassy so damn quickly," Gail added resentfully. She waved a cast protected arm as she said, "I barely had time to fake my injuries."

Minako studied her calmly. "You know, I really don't care that you faked this," she said. She frowned, "But there were several Crystal Tokyo citizens working in your embassy. And your damned mercenaries killed them."

"That's what you care about?" Gail blurted.

Minako ignored that, "We're expelling you from the system, and revoking your ambassador-ship. All of this plot will be publicized." Flatly she continued, "If I could I'd press charges, but you have diplomatic immunity."

"I...," Gail relaxed just a bit.

"I would not run back to the League if I were you," Motoko advised.

Gail looked at her warily, "Why?"

"You clearly weren't in this on your own," Motoko noted, "whomever helped you will want someone to put the blame on. Plus your actual bosses will not be happy... I could imagine you just disappearing without a trace."

Gail went deathly pale.

"I hear the Khanite is nice this time of year," Minako offered as she and Motoko left, "and Jurai is always a option."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The nightly news covered it, of course. "Political insiders were shocked at being informed of Ambassador Hunt's actions. No statement has come from the League of Non-aligned Worlds, though certain planets have officially condemned her actions," Yuuki Konno reported.

"And Crystal Tokyo has officially expelled her?" her co-host asked.

"Yes. The former ambassador was last seen boarding her private transport and leaving the planet," Yuuki said.

"Do we know her destination?" he asked.

Yuuki shook her head, "She didn't file any travel plans."

"Change the channel," First Fang Za'tair called.

Obediently Minagi changed the channel, putting on a sports event, even as Arisugawa's Locket continued to be as busy as usual. Over at their usual table, several of the Ambassadors were meeting to discuss the situation.

Loriyal of Jurai sighed sadly, the elegantly dressed black haired woman noting, "I sort of liked her, too."

"She was an asshole," Za'tair said to them bluntly, "a charming one, but still a asshole."

Veronica Aston-Martin took a drink of her wine. "It's damned inconvenient, though," she said to them irritably.

"Oh?" Lori asked.

"It's going to be months before the League replaces her," Veronica pointed out, "and anyone having business with them is shit out of luck."

"Son of a bitch," Za'tair cursed, knowing the Khanite both did business there and had deals in the works.

"And there's no one to accept complaints about pirates and such in the League," Veronica added with a sigh.

"Oh dear," Lori sighed.

Za'tair took a long drink of her beer, sighing in satisfaction. "What do you think will happen to her?" she wondered casually.

"If she goes back to the League?" Veronica clarified. "She's as good as dead."

"Seriously?" Lori looked surprised.

"The League is a very rough and tumble place," Veronica pointed out, "and she embarrassed her superiors. Worse, she got caught and it was aired publicly."

"If she's smart, she'll run far and fast," Za'tair nodded a bit drunkenly.

Ran Mizuno made her way across the bar, coming up to their table as she asked, "Mind if I take my partner home?"

"Have fun you two," Veronica waved.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Early the next day, two figures were in the process of moving into an apartment on the outskirts of the city.

"Are you sure about this?" Anri Sonohara asked her lover. The attractive young woman was especially busty, which seemed to embarrass her.

The headless horsewoman Celty Sturluson typed on her communicator, "I think so. Most of our work comes from here, after all."

Anri had to concede that. Most of their jobs were for Lady Venus' covert agency, along with secure courier work.

Celty added, "Plus, it's safer."

Anri frowned. After they had been jumped by bastards wanting to steal her sword Saika, Celty had been a bit of a worry wart.

Before either of them could continue, there was a knock on the door. "Who knows we're here?" Anri asked.

"No one?" Celty replied.

Anri headed to the door, even as she readied herself to summon forth her sword. She opened it...

"Welcome to Crystal Tokyo!" Nadesico Kinomoto beamed.

"Hullo," Jun Fudoh waved.

"What," Anri blinked.

"Here. House warming gift," Nadesico handed her a gift basket.

Celty typed away, "How did you know we were here?"

"Lady Venus told me," Jun told her quietly while Anri showed Nadesico around the apartment.

"But we didn't tell her," Celty noted.

"This is Lady Venus we're talking about," Jun noted.

"Ah. Point."

A cheerfully chattering Nadesico followed Anri back to them. "Now that you're in town, you should come over to our place too," Nadesico beamed.

"No pressure," Jun added as Anri visibly shuddered at the thought.

"Thank you," Celty typed, "Let us take a few days to settle in first."

"Certainly!" Nadesico smiled, "Call us when you're ready."

"And if you need anything," Jun offered as they were leaving.

"I occasionally forget how nice Nadesico is," Celty noted once they were gone.

"I think she's softening up Jun too," Anri added.

To be continued...