2023-10-21: Fierce Negotiation
- Log: 2023-10-21: Fierce Negotiation
- Cast: Sousuke Sagara, Teletha Testarossa, Sayla Mass, Kaname Chidori
- Where: Merida Island
- OOC - IC Date: 21 October 0097
- Summary: Sousuke, Tessa, Kaname and Sayla come to negotiate over the fate of Sousuke and AL- and everyone but the head of Intelligence seems to come away with what they want.
<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.
The Mithril Council meeting room is in session. Due to the unique nature of the request at hand, it does require approval from the higher ups throughout the organization. Teletha is here, representing the West Pacific Battle Group Tuatha de Danaan; the other three groups' COs are also in attendance, as well as Operations Chief Admiral Jerome Borda; Doctor Painrose, from Research, as well as some of his regional heads; and Intelligence's General Mayer Amit, and some of his regional heads. Lord Mallory is here, as well, presiding as ever.
General Amit, a balding man with deep-set eyes, scowls. The meeting has been going for some time now, and Sousuke Sagara has made his proposal: To transfer his contract, and control of the Arbalest, to the Shuffle Alliance's Clubs division directly. Some debate has played out, of course - Research has concerns, Borda has said he'd need to iron a few things out with Tessa and the Shuffle directorate...
Mayer Amit, though, is visibly steaming.
"Sergeant Sagara, do you have any idea how outrageous a proposal this is? Your own transfer might be one thing, but the Arbalest? A machine of that caliber can hardly be shuttled around carelessly!"
Sousuke Sagara stands tall, at attention - at ease, technically - and unruffled by the man's frustration. He's in full view of the holographic cameras that project his image to the other Mithril bases around the planet. "With all possible respect, General," Sousuke says, calm, "I am simply proposing a transfer of my contract to an allied body. The inclusion of the Arbalest seemed an obvious addition, considering its functionality requirements."
Amit scowls. "You realize this request is wildly out of line after your actions, don't you?"
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<Pose Tracker> Teletha Testarossa has posed.
Even with plans set in place, second and third plans as backup in case this one was unconditionally rejected, and the assured thoughts that yes, this would work...Tessa was still, as understandable for someone in league with proposing something as close to genuine blasphemy, nervous.
She's gotten good at not allowing that form of anxiety to enter her face. Prim, proper, and freshly dressed in her uniform for the occasion, staring down at the heads in turn. She was, after all, on the near-same level of the people around her at a young age. It was only...appropriate.
"And yet, he is the only one who can pilot the Arbalest, General Amit." The fact is stated simply enough, sitting in the chair that faced the holographic camera, broadcasting the group's image to the rest of Mithril's Heads.
She does stay silent afterwards. This is Sousuke's fight; Being the one to manage the proposal and sending out the suggested notice of transfer was one thing, but the heat was on Sousuke, not herself.
<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.
It's not just Mithril staff who are here today. The Shuffle Alliance has also had a representative present at this meeting. Sayla might be recently reinstated- but she is also one of the most senior members of the Alliance, in both experience and years spent.
And a little more controlled than sending, say, Domon Kasshu in to negotiate.
Sayla is dressed formally, in a black skirt suit with a long brown coat over it. Formality is not in the nature of the Shuffle Alliance- but Sayla's always been a bit more formal than everyone else.
She stood by as Sousuke had presented his case, but her eyes had been watching Amit Meyer like a hawk. She suspected he would be the biggest obstacle- but there's also a simmering resentment for the man under the surface.
"If I may, there's also a factor that is not being taken into account." This is the first time Sayla has spoken up since the negotiations started. "It is not just that Sergeant Sagara is the only soldier with the ability to pilot the Arbalest- he is the only one AL will allow to pilot the Arbalest." She makes a point of differentiating the young AI from the unit.
"It is the Shuffle Alliance's stance that the Super AI of the Arbalest, AL, is at least at the levels of a 3G Super AI- and not just sapient but sentient." The conversations in Tsutsujidai, the discussions AL has had with Leina and others. "He's young and still developing- little more than a child or teen himself- but nonetheless he is a person in his own right. His desire to remain with Mr Sagara should be taken into account."
Sayla's eyes narrow as she looks to Meyer. "Making people serve against their will is against the ethos of the Shuffle Alliance, and has been for the four thousand years we have existed." For once, she's glad for Alan's history lessons when she joined. "I believed it was something Mithril agreed with, when Lord Mallory approached us in 0094." She lets that sink in a bit, her attention still squarely on Meyer, before speaking again. "Ideally, AL would have a place at this hearing too."
<Pose Tracker> Kaname Chidori has posed.
Kaname Chidori stands near Sousuke, wearing something close to formal. (Really, it's just one of her nicer work outfits.) She's here not only in her capacity as a Heart, but also for Sousuke and AL's sakes, on a personal level. She's here to advocate for them.
She nods to the others, and exhales softly. "I've talked with AL myself, and seen him talk with Sousuke. They fight like they're married sometimes, but... as impossible as it seems, the Arbalest contains a thinking, sapient mind. You know what the Whispered are capable of, and the Arbalest was built by one. When AL was informed that his creator had died... something changed. I don't know what, but Bani Morauta built a dead man's switch into AL... one that changed AL fundamentally."
"I've seen AL's thought-maps in conversation, as well. they're an order of magnitude more complex than those of a normal Arm Slave's virtual intelligence, if not more."
She looks over to Amit. "The bottom line is that the Arbalest is keyed to one man, and none of us know how to change that, assuming it's even possible--and if it is, it would probably require removing AL from the Arbalest... and the knowledge of how to do *that* died with Bani Morauta, too. Your options are... Brick our only Lambda Driver-capable machine and kill AL in the process, rendering the Arbalest useless... lock AL up in a warehouse hoping somebody comes along who can figure out how to tune the Arbalest for someone else, leaving the Arbalest useless on a long-odds bet..."
"Or you allow us to transfer the Arbalest along with Sergeant Sagara."
<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.
Amit's jaw sets, eyes scanning across Teletha, Sayla, and Kaname especially as each speaks up in turn. He scoffs. "With your performance lately, we'd nearly written off the lambda driver anyway," he mutters.
Lord Mallory sits nearly beatifically, unruffled by the clear emotions at play. But still, he does pipe in here, saying, "Doctor Painrose, I'd like your analysis on these claims."
The Research Division lead smiles, friendly enough, and then fumbles a little for a tablet at his side. "Yes...the situation with the Arbalest and its assistance AI has been more than a little complicated. At this stage, we are classifying it as simultaneously its own Black Technology, as well as a component of Arbalest's specific Lambda Driver. You've all got access to these files, but as it's relevant: Per Nora Lemming's assessments and remaining data from Bani Morauta's work, a lambda driver consists of four systems. In no special order, the first is the core itself, an object approximately the size and dimensions of a small refrigerator containing nothing but light and crystal, which we're essentially unable to analyze; the second is the TAROS which ensconces the cockpit, which receives brainwave data from the pilot; the third is the artifical brain, which in the Arbalest appears to process data from both the pilot and the AI itself; and the fourth is the crystal lattice running through the entire skeleton of the machine. It's this last that has been optimized for Sergeant Sagara."
Painrose edges his glasses up his nose. "In strictest technicality, the Arbalest as a machine should work with any pilot, but as Miss Chidori indicates, we would be waiting on the off chance she or somebody else can reinitialize the system. Multiple attempts to perform standard reinitialization procedures have all failed. And, the AI operating hardware is a black box we cannot analyze safely at this time, so obviously it does not use any existing Super AI platforms."
Amit looks like he might cut him off, but Painrose continues: "But, obviously, given the nature of our work, an open mind and heart is a necessity. The data I have seen does suggest that if the AI callsigned as AL is not already self-determinative by legal and ethical standings, it's only a matter of time."
That verdict lingers in the room for some time. Borda bends his neck, turning a look on Amit, but all he does note, toward Amit, is that, "Remember, Mayer, makin' a man do work he wasn't happy with is how we all got here today, eh?"
Amit scoffs again, leaning down on his arms and squinting. "A soldier does things they find distasteful. And works with men they don't like, sometimes. I thought that was something we both knew very well, Jerome."
Sousuke straightens himself up to speak, and pipes in: "General. If you do find the terms disagreeable, I'm content to simply pay my termination fee, and tender my resignation. But I will not endure the current situation. And that would leave you with a dissatisfied AI and some deeply unimpressed allies."
Amit turns toward Sousuke like he thinks he can bully him. "You'll just walk?" he asks.
Sousuke's jaw hardens, and he takes a moment to rally himself, coughing into his fist as if to center his attention. "General..." His eyes flick to the other commanders present. "I don't remember agreeing to sell my soul to Mithril. And as it happens, AL's never been asked. I need to begin doing things my own way. I'm content to work with Mithril to continue piloting the Arbalest. I'll even continue providing information on the lambda driver, completely free of Mithril's dime. But I'll continue attending Jindai High School, and intend to continue with further schooling after. That's all."
"You..." Amit seethes, seeing red so deeply he forgets who else is watching him. "Watch your tone with me, Sergeant!"
Sousuke doesn't even flinch. "Sergeant? I'm just a mercenary, sir. Only a soldier for hire. You happen to have a pile of junk I like, so I'm offering to take it off your hands for you. I refuse to be ranked beneath you as your lap dog, General."
Amit snaps, "You PUNK!" but -- the air is cut by a chuckle from Lord Mallory. "L-Lord Mallory?"
"You've lost, General," Lord Mallory says, with some amusement. "This SRT Member has valuable skills, and has just offered to loan them to us for the princely sum of nothing at all. As Miss Chidori says, the Arbalest is useless to us without him, and as Dr. Mass suggests, preventing his motion makes of us the very things we despise. And besides, I believe Mr. Morauta would be most pleased to see his young creation continue to work with its favored partner. You've no more reason to be angry."
The older man turns his gaze around the room, before finally settling on Tessa, and the Shuffle Alliance reps. "Don't you agree, ladies and gentlemen?"
<Pose Tracker> Teletha Testarossa has posed.
It's encouraging to hear the results of AL's sorties on the battlefield. To hear the reclassification of AL and the actual explanation of these components by cleared personnel...Well, that was her element, more or less. Things easily processed and easily understood, even as the particular components of some of these things were Black Technology. There's even a bit of pride leaking out at that; It was her soldier who's been doing this, after all.
...There's the transient thought of self-autonomy. Will she have to start applying AL through the process of legalization? Super AI, Super AI...Ah, who in Mithril would know...Still, Doctor Painrose's assessment is a genuine step forward for Sousuke's case.
Still, to hear a man who once did everything without question, who once said that he was only a weapon and that there was zero chance of him being suited for civilian life, to merely be confused at the initial request to guard someone...
...It's oddly reassuring to hear him assert himself in front of the people who could dumpster him at a moment's notice.
"I have no disagreement with the proposed arrangement." As much as she wanted to celebrate, it isn't over until the Old Man Declares It So. So the saying goes. "If Sergeant Sagara wishes for this arrangement, I give my approval." It was already approved by her in writing, but semantics.
<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.
Sayla crosses her arms as Painrose speaks. A lot of the technical information is above her paygrade- it might be easy for Tessa or Kaname to understand, but there was a reason she had asked Alouette to consult with AL.
Still, Sayla frowns as Painrose explains the crystal lattice. "...It sounds like psychoframe." She says, just loud enough to be heard. She understood the technology a little- she had to to use the Hi-Nu.
Nanai probably wouldn't like that revelation.
Sayla's countenance shifts as Meyer talks about distasteful things. There's a an anger rising, even as her walls form up. A personal anger. "I'm familiar with your concept of distasteful things, General." There's her tone is ice cold and full of venom. "And I and the other survivors still bear the scars of the distasteful things you did to us in the One Year War. I have no intention of sitting idly by while you try to do the same to Mr Sagara. Nor will I should you try to do so with *any* of the Tuatha De Danaan's crew."
And then Sousuke states that he will simply walk, and Sayla smirks, ever so slightly- Only to see Amit start to rage to try and bully Sousuke. The young man stands firm, prepared to goad the General a little.
As Amit starts to cut loose, however... "Control yourself, General Meyer."
Sayla is not here as a subservient. She's an ally with equal standing- and she takes perhaps a little too much satisfaction in that.
Sayla nods, as Lord Mallory takes over the conversation. "I do. With your assent, Lord Mallory, I am prepared to action this transfer as soon as Mr Sagara is ready."
<Pose Tracker> Kaname Chidori has posed.
Kaname looks quite satisfied herself as Doctor Painrose confirms everything she just said... and she practically swells with pride at Sousuke, though she doesn't have much to say in addition. As General Amit starts to yell, she tenses, ready to... do. something. She's not sure what, but she's filled with anger well beyond what she ever feels for Sousuke, the sort that makes her genuinely want to strangle someone.
It's lucky that Lord Mallory intervenes when he does.
She simply smiles her sweetest smile and pulls out a folder, which she hands to Sayla. "This should have the paperwork you and the others need to get the process started."
<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.
Painrose pipes in toward Sayla, "Quite similar, Doctor, and we theorize there's a similar underlying mechanism. But the pilot optimization phenomenon we're seeing in the Arbalest goes beyond anything we see in conventional Psychoframe models, so we've got a technological missing link on our hands. Common, with Black Technology. I'm sure it'll drive your people as crazy as it drives me soon enough." He chuckles; that was a joke.
Amit steams, but can't say much. He does glare back at Sayla, venom working its way through his eyes. But he knows when he's beaten and scoffs, settling for a glare, rather than bite back. "Very well," he grunts.
"It's settled, then," Mallory says, and turns a look to Tessa and Sayla. With a certain wry companionableness, he notes, "Captain Testarossa, I can only imagine it's difficult to have such personalities under your command. I wish you luck with our two young men going forward, Doctor Mass." Including AL, apparently. "And you...Sousuke Sagara, correct?"
Sousuke straightens. "Yes, sir."
"I will make sure to remember your name," Lord Mallory says, and then straightens, looking around. "With that, our business is concluded. Farewell, all of you."
The holograms blink out, one at a time. Mallory first, Amit moments later. Borda stays long enough to flick the team a quiet thumbs up, and then his connection cuts as well.
Andrei Kalinin, having been in the back watching, steps over. As ever, his face is inscrutable, but he says with his pastorly rumble, "Satisfied?"
"Yes, sir," Sousuke says to the man who may as well be his father.
"You're behaving more like a man, now," Kalinin says, with something an inch closer to fondness than he's ever shown anyone else. He pats Sousuke on the shoulder, firmly. "I knew that you had it in you."
With that, he leaves, leaving Sousuke alone with the group actually in the room. His shoulders release just a bit of tension, still recovering from having to put his foot down so firmly against such fierce men.
<Pose Tracker> Teletha Testarossa has posed.
"Not at all." The simple response back to Lord Mallory. "My men and women are the best in the business, and I aim to keep it that way." The Colonel can only offer a smile with genuine pride at that.
But with the business concluded, she waits. Nodding towards Borda at his thumbsup, giving a mental nod of thanks to her surrogate Uncle. And to wait patiently for Kalilin to vacate the room.
...And she slumps down on the chair, sighing out. "...It worked. Congratulations, Sagara Sousuke. You're a free man once the paperwork is through." She's immediately dropping the formal designation!?
Ah, so much relief.
<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.
Sayla takes the folder from Kaname as she offers it, and nods with a smile. "Good work, Miss Chidori."
Sayla meets that glare, but says nothing more at this point. If the others have questions for her later, so be it. But she lways wondered what she'd do if she could stare this man in the eye. The hologram is good enough for now.
"I'm confident in them, Lord Mallory." Sayla responds, calmly.
But when everything is resolved, and they are alone, Sayla can feel the air of relief and the relax in tension. "You did well, Sousuke." She says, with a smile, moving to lean against the meeting table. "All of you did. It's not easy to face up against command like that."
She places the folder on the table, but doesn't push it to Sousuke yet. The dropping of the designation is noticed, and Sayla smiles. "I'd say there's cause for celebration, after this."
She leans back in her chair, looking at the three teenagers. "I hope this leads to easier times for all of you."
<Pose Tracker> Kaname Chidori has posed.
Kaname smiles--first, at Sayla, giving her a brief bow.
Once the cameras and projectors are off, her shoulders drop, and she seems to deflate. "Hhhh... off the record, I think I want to do very unpleasant things to General Amit," she growls under her breath, just loud enough that the others can hear her.
Then she smiles again, less perfectly, more genuinely, at the others. "I'm proud of you, Sousuke. I honestly can't say I've ever been more proud of you when you weren't saving my life!" She nods to Sayla. "I... really hope so, too. I'm sure it'll cause its own problems down the line, but... we'll deal with those as they come, right? Sousuke's making progress!"