Sunbloom simply nods, looking at Stormrage momentarily... Then addresses Ensign Cho once more, "If you could give us a brief time alone, Ensign Cho, it would be greatly appreciated." she says, slightly more authority in her tone, but still with it's pleasant overtone. Assuming she complies, Nelopaio waits until she is out of the room, then stands, her gaze fixed on the Teidar...
{There are two matters I wish to discuss with you, Sezon.} she sanzai's, the 'static' not so bad at this range, an undertone of seriousness to the thought, {As you have been under great strain during the last two days, I'll be somewhat lenient... But my concerns will be addressed, regardless. First, there is the issue of the blatant challenging of Mizol Parat Twilightsabers authority the other night.} she sends, surprisingly mild in its undertone, an understanding there, {I assume that it was merely immense fatigue talking, yes?}
Stormrage watches as the human women leave... again curious about their thoughts... and emotions on the sudden presence of so many 'human-like' females among their crew.
{I wonder if human females are territorial...?}, she ponders in silence.
When they are alone Stormrage moves closer.
But her expression and mental response to Sun Bloom's inquiry is one of puzzlement.
Her sanzai response is calm and her aura unagitated, {I'm not exactly sure I understand your meaning Sun Bloom. Teidar do not answer to Mizol. It is not a challenge to her overall mission directives to follow my orders from Torrai - Command. Personally, I think Twilight Saber is making excellent progress in dealing with the humans. And nothing I did ... or will do will jeapordize that... I assure you. But the absence of our Captain Copper Spear is a ... unfortunate development. Twilight Saber an I must discus that at some point.. but I think the matter is obvious..at least to me that YOU should take command of the overall mission... of course, in proper deference to Twilight Saber's authority in matters of Diplomacy. The chain of command must be addressed at some point since our Captain is likely going to remain unfit for duty until proper Loroi medical treatment can be obtained. }
There is calm power in her thoughts... whatever her private proclivities ... there is a controlled serene undercurrent of confidence... not defiance but a surety of their success.
Nelopaio waits through the answer, her expression neutrally unreadable... Letting a moment of silence fall into place before continuing, {You seem to be misinformed... First, you DO report to her, as the ranking diplomat on a diplomatic mission, regardless of your feelings in the matter, Sezon. I also report to her, regardless of mine. There will be no dissension in this matter. We cannot afford it.} she sends, the finality in the sending rock solid, tinged with a genuine concern for the crew and the mission. A moment later, her tone changes to be more informative, {As for your concerns of the chain of command itself, the chain of command takes care of itself, so there will be no confusion there. As the surviving, ranking officer of the Argent Fire, I'm now acting commander, which also encompasses all of the surviving Teidar, including yourself, as well as Soroin. This is how it was laid out to start with, long before either of us, and thus, is what takes place. Consequently, that makes YOU the first officer, and I need to be able to rely on that no matter what.} she continues, the tone dropping a few degrees to take on a cool undertone... Neither uncivil nor outright rude, but commanding in the purest sense, {Second, these orders from Torrai command. As the ranking officer of the Argent Fire, I'm hereby ordering you to disclose them. With the captain incapacitated, her responsibilities fall to me, which includes your actions in every way, shape, and form. Regardless of any assurance, or my trust in it, and you, lacking the knowledge needed to react to it could endanger myself, the crew, and the mission, which is unacceptable. I need to know.}
Storm sighs but there is not the hint of defiance merely weariness of being in a political struggle that is not of her making, {No. Teidar do not answer, report to, or are under the command of Mizol. Especially, when I have orders expressly specifying otherwise - albeit, limited to the concerns of Torrai Command. I am ... of course obliged to assist the Mizol in accomplishing her duties and deferring to her situational authority during diplomatic proceedings - I am expected to be cooperative which I have every intention to be for the sake of the mission... but I am not under her command. My feelings on the matter are inconsequential... I have orders. My feelings are I wish that Torrai Command and Mizol Intelligence would have left me OUT of this inner squabble of theirs! You are correct the dissension between them is counter-productive and unaffordable. I'm a Teider.. not a spy or saboteur!}
Storm listens and grimaces a little her emotions softening at next sending almost as if pitying her simple understanding of the situation, {I wish it were that simple Sun Bloom really. Have you pondered this... what happens if you are, as would naturally occur, take command of the mission and say in a weeks time Copper Spear awakes? She will obviously want her command back... naturally.. what if she does not agree with the issues that have been negotiated? She IS overall mission commander. There would be an argument and a un-united front presented to the Humans. It could cause issue with the negotiations in the future and uncertainty over what has already been negotiated. I know it is on the surface a 'diplomatic' mission within Mizol jurisdiction.. but we BOTH know its not that simple! Twilight Saber and Copper Spear did not get along well. It was Copper Spear's first serious command and Twilightsaber was always challenging her on her decisions. Drag YOU into the mix and things could get very much out of hand on this. It would have been far simpler if Torrai would have just placed a Commander in the Captaincy... instead they sent me with... questionable directives. Trust me I don't envy anyone at this point being in command of this mission.}
Storm listens to the request and gets a sour look on her face, {My orders were specifically not to reveal them to any other crew save the Captain. Which is totally the problem in this situation as Copper Spear knows what those directives were. Will you accept responsibility for removing Copper Spear from overall Command of the mission to replace her 'here and now' as Captain of the Argent Fire Crew? I agree in this case you Need to Know.. but you accept a great amount of responsibility and accountability for pulling rank to be made party to this... as then the directives become also your responsibility! Just keep in mind... you may assume command and as Captain order me to reveal my orders... I can only tell you what I know, but you still won't know everything! I have no idea what orders or additional secret directives Copper Spear was given. You don't think I'm the only one operating under unrevealed Torrai Command Directives do you? You take on a lot of responsibility to assume the captaincy... uninformed.}
...It's a momentary bit of amusement that crosses her mind, compounded with a headache, when she answers, {Sezon... Neither of us are in an enviable position. First, yes, I'm willing to stick my hand into the fire for you. I always am. I know what I'm asking, and I know what the consequences might mean for us both, but in this case, I need to know what these directives are, and what effect they may have... And normally, no, neither of us would report to a Mizol... But are you trained in diplomacy? I certainly am not. We all need to be in the same chain of command, Sezon, in these circumstances.} she sends, her tone softening in empathy...
She continues her sending, an earnestness in it, {We no longer have a ship to return to the Union. However much I may hate it, we're dependent on these humaniti to both return home, and do so successfully. That shuttle would never sustain us. It's not designed to. So, for the good of every one of our surviving sisters, we're playing good diplomats, weather we are or not... And to clarify, I'm hardly pulling rank... The moment she was incapacitated, her command falls to me, along with all the headaches and inter caste games she might have gotten caught up in. Am I up to the challenge? I'd like to think so. Do I want to be a party to this mess? No. But I don't have a choice, and I refuse to shy away from my duty.}
{As for assuming her command completely? I have to do just that, and I will. She might awaken tomorrow, or never. And our mission itself was ordered by the Emperor. Compared to that, the games of the Torrai and Mizol don't mean a damned thing, even if we do have to play them... I was you, not long ago. I was Unsheathed. I know risk, and I know what the price can be. If you burn, so do I. And think of me what you will for this... But she was not the only one who challenged the captain's orders. I was entirely against engaging that scout ship, given our mission, but whats done is done, and cannot be undone. All we are left with is what we can do.} she continues, a bit of bitterness, but also a kindred sensation entering her thought-speech.
{The simple answer is, yes, I will assume that responsibility. Yes, I understand that the captain may have additional directives. But so long as she remains insensate, she wont be carrying much of anything out, will she? And yes, I know I might well wind up answering to a lot of very displeased Torrai... In the end, little of that matters. Beyond all the games, and their implications, do you realize the implications for their race? Humaniti? Do you know what will happen if this mission fails to construct channels of communication? The anti-neutrality policy is clear. They wont survive. That is what pushes me into stepping into a position I do not want, right alongside carrying out our mission, Sezon. Do you understand me now?} she asks, every word spoken truthfully, with a resolve to it that speaks volumes of the one behind it.
Stormrage listens and slowly visibly relaxes her mental shields and emotions visibly settling the tension in her aura. Her expression one of relief... and mutual respect.
{You don't know how relieved I am to have someone to speak to who understands my prickly situation! Thank you for being understanding. So let's make this official for the crew and for the record... then I can fill you in on my ...'directives' so we can both get on with our tasks of making the best of this messed us situation!}