Shinatose Izana

After the pilots took off to their mission, Izana found they had free time since, for once, they were not on the support and defense team kept on hand for any sortie. They decided now might be the perfect time to inquire with the mechanics about Nagate's garde unit, the Tsugumori. Izana's inquires brought them to the attention of Sasaki, the head of Toho Industries, the company currently in charge of repairing and developing the garde units and other weapons of Sidonia; which was both a good thing and a bad thing.

A good thing because if anyone could help, it'd be the head of Toho Industries.

A bad thing because Sasaki cut an imposing figure. Standing taller than most men, she was brash and too the point, and often would yell rather than speak. A habit likely developed on the production floors.

"Sasaki-san...,"Izana began to said with a bow.

"I haven't got time for formalities, cadet. I've got untis coming back here soon. And knows those pilots, those untites will need repairs. So speak up or get out of my way!"

"Yes, Sasaki-san," Izana nearly squeaked. "I am sorry to bother you. I was hoping I might inquire about any oddities with the Tsugumori. Obviously the unit isn't here but if there was records from it's last mission I could look over?"

"Records are kept with command. We didn't have to remove the comm unit though, got badly damaged. You're welcome to look it over, but that's all I've got. Everything else was scrapped or is out there likely getting damaged. These pilots never thing of us mere mechanics while they're out there fighting. Would it be too difficult -- Hitomi! WATCH THAT TORCH! YOU WANT TO BLOW US ALL UP?!? -- to try not to damage the units? I tell you..."

"If you could point me towards the comm unit?" Izana asked after nearly jumping out of their skin when Sasaki yelled.

"Over there," Sasaki said with a thumb jabbed over their shoulder. "Now, I've work to do."

Izana bowed, but the older woman had already dismissed Izana from her mind.

Izana was taking a break from the other students, drinking some tea in one of the little used courtyards of the academy. The sunlamps and climate control had set a nice temperate day and the area was peaceful, which Izana needed. The morale of the student body had plummeted after the last battle with the gauna and the disaster that occurred. And all any could seem to talk about was how Tanikaze failed the mission, costing several pilots their lives. There were even mutterings that he deserved to have his pilot status revoked.

Izana didn't believe the reports--they couldn't see Tanikaze making such a grievous error--but the record was clear and so they couldn't argue for their dear friend's character, as much as they may have wished. They just wished the whole situation would fade and things could go back to the way they had been before the fateful sortie.

Their thoughts were interrupted by a polite, and somewhat awkward, cough. Looking up, Izana found Yuhata. Great, just what the day needed. Schooling their features to a neutral cast, they greeted the younger cadet.

"I am sorry to bother you, Izana-san. I was wondering if you had any news on Tanikaze? I have tried calling him directly but he has not answered."

Caught somewhat off guard by Yuhatta's courtesy, Izana took a moment to answer. "I am sorry, I know very little. He was released from the hospital a few days ago, but I haven't seen him since. He has kept to his room." And no matter how often Izana knocked, he had yet to answer the door.

Yuhata deflated a little at this news, obviously worried. "May I join you?"

"Yes, please do," Izana replied, moving over on the bench to make room. "I must confess I am worried about him. I feel he has taken the deaths from the last sortie very personally."

"Not to mention these rumors. I don't care what the official record shows, Tanikaze is too competent to make such an error! Those deaths were not his fault!"

"I agree with you, but I fear Tanikazi does not feel that way. Especially in regards to Hoshijiro''s death. If only we had some proof!"

"I may be able to find some..." Yuhata said softly. And then at Izana's curious look, explained, "The assistant commander, Seii Ichirou, wishes me to take his place beside the Captain so that he may bring his experience to the other pilots."

"What?!?! That's wonderful. Congratulations."

"I haven't agreed."

Taken aback, Izana asked, "Why? I've seen your records. Your exam scores more than prove your ability! I have not seen such scores before."

"Thank you," Yuhata replied, bowing her head. Was that a bit of a blush? "But I wanted to follow in the steps of my brother. I wanted to be a pilot, to defend Sidonia as one of her knights!"

"I understand," Izana said before taking a sip of her matcha. "Your life is your own to decide. But it seems to me that your talents and effectiveness would be limited as a pilot. I do not mean you would be a poor pilot, quite the contrary, but you would only be controlling one garde unit as a pilot. As the assistant commander, you would be controlling as many garde units as the situation needed. To me, it seems that is the greater use."

Yuhata looked up at Izana's words and pondered them. Nodding and smiling, she said, "You are correct. I will agree. And with my command access, I can look into what really happened in the sortie. We can clear Tanikaze's name and restore his honor!"

"I will look where I can as well. I know many of the mechanics and might have access to information about the garde units that are not within the computer records."

The two looked at each other and realized they had gone from rivals to allies. A strange development.

"We must be cautious," Yuhata said and held up her pinkie for Izana to shake.

"And subtle. Tell no one but each other what we are doing, until we have evidence and bring it to Tanikaze." Izana agreed, wrapping a pinkie around Yuhata's and shaking. "Together."

"Together!"