It's abysmally primitive compared to the senshi glamor, it tries too hard to make the caster mundane that it makes them all the more noticeable, a Senshi could walk by someone in a trench coat, say 'hi' to you, and the person will remember that a weird girl in a trench coat came up to them and said 'hi', if someone with the Imperial glamour were to do the same thing, the person will remember that something incredibly boring approached them, said something and moved away from them somehow. I'd remember the second situation more than the first, that's for sure.
I think the obfuscation here might be more primitive, but do not discount its effectiveness.
As boring as it is, it is likely the person who has it is effectively invisible to anyone without very magically tuned senses, and even who does notice them, will probably forget about them because they are so boring.
Senshi glamour keeps their identity secret, but does not provide invisibility, so people will remember something happened, they just can't identify the senshi themselves without the glamour.
It's is better in most cases, but there are edge cases where it does work better, and either way it seems very effective at what it does.
If we did something bad enough that normally Japan would have to "deal with us" to appease other countries, they still could, say, force the Crystal Millennium LLC to close
It's not about doing "bad things". It's about a paramilitary taskforce comprised of Japanese citizens carrying out an unsanctioned strike within the British borders using special restricted equipment and abilities, and likely seizing objects, personnel and intel vital to national security. Even if all goes perfectly, with no collateral and such, this is still a political bomb. Sailor V's nationality is ambiguous enough for her to be considered a British vigilante, ie an internal matter for police to deal with. All Senshi acting together is a direct escalation to international level.
This is literally "we can drop a squad of superhuman unidentifiable combatants at any point of the world, and there's nothing you can do about it". It's not "our words are backed with nuclear weapons" , but it's close. I am fairly sure that this demonstration of might would be enough for Usagi's claim to sovereignty to be taken seriously.
Scotland Yard has said that it is unable to comment on ongoing investigations, but that there are high hopes for an end soon to the Memory Plague, what exactly Scotland Yard means by this is unknown.
"How soon are you thinking?" Minako asks, a thoughtful look on her face. "If it's any sooner than a week out, we might have trouble, but... If we are looking at two weeks out, then I bet I could get some spellblades in on it too."
Granted, getting the British government's permission wasn't explicitly part of the conversation, but in this particular case we haven't heard any objections.
Usagi simply nods, before turning to the other senshi. "Alright then. Mercury - They said that this Youma uses heat and doesn't handle the cold well. You take the basement, check to make sure that they haven't released the thing, and if worst comes to worst, you can always freeze it yourself and put it back." Sailor Mercury nods, a solemn look on her face.
"Jupiter," Sailor Moon says next, turning to the tallest of her Senshi. "There's a chance that if you are right, and the guy that you saw in the lobby is actually Yosuke, then they might be trying something on the officers there. You've got the best options for pinning people and handling crowds. Can I trust you to check that out and make sure that no one is hurt."
"Understood." Jupiter says, and Sailor Moon can feel the way that the air around the girl changes, no longer brimming with that staticy feeling, but instead feel just off, as if the air isn't moving the way that it's supposed to.
"Finally, Mars." The last of the Senshi gives her leader a smile, nodding. "Given V's... tendencies with the artifacts she's passed to us, there is all the chance in the world that there might be something dangerous among her gifts to the superintendent. You might not be able to tell what the different artifacts do, but if there is anyone that I trust to be able to figure out if something means people ill, it would be you."
The dark haired Senshi nods, giving Moon a sloppy salute. "Meanwhile, I'll be heading with Superintendent Natsuda to meet with the MCAT representative. If there is a second government organization dedicated to the study of magic, I'd like to get ahead of the Imperials and meet with them first. Hopefully. Alright girls, you've got your missions. Break." Turning, each of the Senshi quickly start to make their way down the halls, before Usagi turns back to the superintendent.
Next to Natsuda, Kimiko can't help but quietly whistle as she watches the Senshi move. She hates to say it, but other than the two other members of her own three man squad, the lightning policewoman has never gotten the same kind of response out of giving orders as Sailor Moon there did. A part of her is jealous, but she shoves that into the back of her head, next to the tiny bit of her that envies the sheer power that the Senshi have shown off before her in the past.
It isn't fair of her to compare the way that the rest of the Senshi act to her own people. Other than Rei, who knows how long the Senshi have been training and preparing for these kinds of missions. It is entirely possible that the rest of the Senshi have been spending years and years getting ready before revealing themselves.
Natsuda watches as the Senshi quickly throw together a plan, before executing it with barely more than a thought. It is a fascinating thing to watch, there is this strange dichotomy to it all. Most of the time the four seem to act as if they are on equal footing, more like friends than anything else. Then, like the flip of a switch, Sailor Moon stepped up, taking command of the situation and the other senshi as if the blonde haired girl has the inherent right to make these decisions.
There is something there, but Natsuda isn't sure what it is, or what it really means for the Senshi or her friend Sailor V. And that is the point where her thoughts continue to swing back to.
Where does Sailor V fit into this dynamic? Where were these Senshi a year ago when Sailor V was struggling against the Dark Agency here in Japan? Why wouldn't they have helped Sailor V if they had the ability to? Is there a reason that they didn't?
Did they leave Sailor V alone on purpose?
Natsuda tries to push the negative thoughts out of her mind, reminding herself of the way that Sailor Moon saved one of her cadets and an officer. That thought mollifies the woman, but not as much as she would have hoped. There has to be a reason why they didn't help her.
There just has to be.
At the same time, Kimiko's mind was filled with very different thoughts. Cadet Kawagawa... Officer Toshiro. They were nearly murdered, and there was nothing that Kimiko could do to help them. All the magic that she has access to was no more threat to this Imperial Ministry than water to a windshield. Struggling to fight the demons is one thing, those are actual monsters from another dimension that have come to invade the world, to consume and destroy everything in their path...
But the people of the Ministry are human. Given all the training that she has gone through, all the struggles and hard work that has gone into becoming the woman that she is now... All of that wasn't worth a thing in the long run. There has to be something that she can do, some way to get stronger so that she can fight the monsters that are becoming more and more common across the world.
Sailor Moon is completely unaware of the thoughts running through the minds of the women beside her, instead her own thoughts are focused on what happened down in the detainment cells. The way that the two men from the Imperial Ministry were willing to just kill off a member of the police, and of how they had access to an Oblivion Memory Seal.
Why?
How?
Is this simply a matter of the Imperials having managed to reverse engineer the spell? Or could it be that the Japanese Magical Government has ties to the Oblivion? Then of course, there is also the potential explanation that at least one of the two isn't really a member of the Imperial Ministry. After all the two men have been quite vocal about the fact that they work for the Imperial Ministry, but now that there is the appearance of something tied not to the Ministry, but to the Oblivion, that is called into question. Thus, Sailor Moon is now wondering if these men are who they say they are.
At the very least, they don't seem to be Youma, though Sailor Moon would have to hit the two with something to make sure, and even then... if they aren't Youma that doesn't really mean anything. After all, Jadeite had been willing to manipulate and use Pisard of the Dark Zone to try and push forward his own goals. So it is entirely possible that something of the same is happening here.
It could be that they are actually members of the Oblivion and they have been running around trying to make people think that the Japanese Magical Government is doing these horrible things. Or it could be that they themselves are under the control of the Oblivion to do these things and make the government look bad.
Or maybe it is the exact opposite. That Danbura and Yosuke are indeed members of the Imperial Ministry, but that they are trying to frame the Oblivion for the attack and their escape...
Why they would be doing that... Usagi isn't su-
Could it be that Danbura and Yosuke are trying to point all the fingers at the Imperial Ministry so that it draws the ire of the Senshi and the police and MCAT down on the Ministry instead of the two mages?
All together, Usagi isn't sure what the two men have been planning, or what they mean by it, but really that doesn't matter right now. Not when she is getting ready to meet with the representatives of this new organization, MCAT, that is supposed to be the Japanese Governments response to magic.
Which is... interesting just on the face of the fact that shouldn't that be the Imperial Ministry?
Regardless, the three women quickly make their way to the front of the building. It is only a minute or two before a long, black limousine rolls up to the front of the station. Kimiko raises an eyebrow as she looks back and forth at the vehicle that the representative has chosen to arrive in.
It definitely says something about the kind of person that they are meeting with, and Kimiko isn't sure that she likes what is being said. However, there isn't a butler or anything that exits from the front of the limo to open the back door, and instead the back of the limo is opened by the person inside.
The woman is petite, even shorter than Sailor Moon, with skin nearly as white as snow, and piercing golden eyes. The woman's hair is long, mostly white, but there are streaks of black throughout.
"Hello there Superintendent Sakurada." The woman says, her voice soft. "I am Acting Director Samui." The woman says, and the first thing that Sailor Moon notices is the way that the woman's breath fogs up as she speaks. It is way too warm out for breath to steam like that, unless the woman's body is broiling hot...
Or like Sailor Mercury when she gets irritated the exact opposite, after all, the woman's name is Samui, which just flat out the word for Cold.
"Acting Director?" Natsuda asks, looking the petite woman over.
The acting director nods, "While we are hard at work trying to develop technologies and... uh..." The woman pauses for a moment, trying to find a word for what she is trying to say. "Alternative measures, to deal with the Dark Kingdom and the other threats encroaching on our nation." Sailor Moon has a feeling that the word that Samui is looking for is 'Magic' though it is interesting that the woman is avoiding the word. "To be entire honest, MCAT is still running on the barest of skeleton crews. At the moment we have a grand total of fifty employees, and half of those are members of my clan, who are working for MCAT as a special favor to myself until we manage to reach a full staff."
The way that the woman just comes out and says that does a lot to calm Kimiko's worries, but there is a part of the woman that is still not exactly trusting, given the way that MCAT has been continually calling her over the last few days. "As such," Samui says, "The position of of Acting Director has fallen to me, as I have the most experience with the kinds of threats that are troubling the nation."
Natsuda glances back towards the police building for a moment, before she sighs. "As much as I would like to begin our meeting, I am afraid that at the moment, I cannot allow you in the building."
"Oh?" Samui says, her face blank, other than the way that she blinks three times, while tilting her head. "Why ever not?" She asks, somehow still managing to keep her tone perfectly flat, but there is a hint of a chill on the air.
"Yesterday, we managed to detain two individuals claiming to be part of some Japanese government branch that I've never heard of." Natsuda says, "The Imperial Ministry of Onogoro." For the first time in the entire conversation, Samui's face is no longer blank, the woman's brow furrowing for only a moment as she frowns, before the calm exterior slides back into place. "But they managed to escape their cells, and due to a lack of magical capabilities among my men, we have not been able to recapture them."
Samui blinks, "I see..." The woman says slowly, "That is... problematic."
"Problematic?" Kimiko asks, and Samui slowly nods.
"Yes." Samui says, "To put it as simply as I can... My clan aligning with the Japanese Government and MCAT is... considered Illegal under the laws of the Imperial Ministry. However, as the Imperial Ministry is not considered a part of the government by the Japanese Government, they have offered my clan asylum, and... additional boons for siding with them. May I ask what your plan for handling the Imperials is?"
Sailor Moon steps forward, and Samui's eyes glide over to her. "My name is Sailor Moon." The senshi says simply, "My team has been hunting down the Dark Kingdom's bases for the last two months. I came to speak with the Police today about trying to get some degree of recognition from the Japanese Government to avoid any kinds of complications that come with hunting down demons. Part of my team are on the premise now, searching for the two agents. We should have them captured before-" Usagi starts to say, before her communicator speaks up.
"Uhh... guys..." Sailor Jupiter's voice calls out, "I think I've got something here." The Senshi of thunder says, "There is some kind of weird magic going on in the lobby. I'm not finding anyone casting it, it's just... doing it on its own. Somehow." Each of the women around Sailor Moon glance down to the woman's wrist. "It's doing something to the officers here, making them angry and distrustful of the superintendent. I think they're planning on rushing the office and interrupting the meeting."
"Can't talk now." Mercury calls through the communicator. "Found Danbura." She says simply. "Things are a bit complicated, but I've got it handled."
"Well." Samui says, her tone flat, yet somehow... Sailor Moon can't help but feel that the woman is feeling... smug. "That does complicate things, but at the same time it simplifies things. If your people are controlled and planning on rushing your office, then it means that at least one of the agents is planning on going there as well. The Imperials don't trust anyone to do their jobs correctly without someone looking directly over their shoulders."
Sailor Moon snorts, "Well, given that Danbura and Yosuke are here because they couldn't manage to get the jump on my team, I can't say that the Imperials are wrong, they can't do their jobs correctly."
"You want to spring the trap?" Natsuda asks, looking to Samui. The acting director nods, before flourishing a hand towards the director, and creating some kind of flower... if Sailor Moon isn't incorrect, a Rose, made entirely out of ice.
"I do, and between the Demon hunters and myself, I swear I will keep you and your companion here safe." The actor director says.
Scowling a light, Kimiko raises a hand, allowing electricity to spark and dance across her fingers. "Don't worry, Acting Director, I can keep myself safe."
"You must be Miss Matsura," Samui says, "The woman who turned down our offer of employment. It is very nice to meet you."
Gritting her teeth for a moment, Kimiko does her best to try and avoid snapping at the woman, "It would be better," Kimiko admits, "If I was not recieving calls each morning asking me to reconsider the offer."
For all the Samui's face is blank, the way that the woman stops makes it clear that she didn't know about it, before she sighs, shaking her head. "I see... I believe I know the cause of that, and will make sure to stop that when I return to the base."
So between walking back to the base, and however long it takes to set off the trap, there is time for Usagi to speak with the acting director of MCAT, are there any topics that you want to speak about?
NOTE: Usagi doesn't actually know that the Doctor that took the Vajra is part of MCAT, so you can't just straight out ask for it back.
But still - What three things do you want to talk about?
[ ][Ask] Topic/ Question one
[ ][Ask] Topic/ Question two
[ ][Ask] Topic/ Question three
[X][Ask] So... besides Yuki-Onna, how much of the myths of modern Japan are true? We have contacts with a Shinto Exorcist, and he's mentioned other supernatural beings, but we're rather new to the modern magical community.
[X][Ask] Is there any way for us to make the Imperial Ministry back off from their efforts? At this point, the masquerade is failing anyway, and the Ministry is only getting people hurt.
[X][Ask] As acting director, would it be possible to meet up with your people in person at some point? Discuss cooperation, how to inform the public of magic safely, and maybe the return of one of our assets?
Things are going nicely.
Three questions, i suspect we can come up with atleast three hundred.
Probably best to focus on MCAT instead of onogoro for now.
How are they developing the technology?
What kind of technology are the developing?
Are they intending to spread this technology or outgrowths of it in the open?
So... MCAT is running on the barest of skeleton crews. And there is a schism in the magic side, with entire clans of beings siding with the mundane government over the magical ones. There's a revolution brewing, as sophonts can smell the Masquerade collapsing and the beginning of a new age. So far, I am liking what I am seeing. There are opportunities aplenty in snatching clans of magical beings for the New Silver Millenium. Especially with Naru being on our side.
The acting director nods, "While we are hard at work trying to develop technologies and... uh..." The woman pauses for a moment, trying to find a word for what she is trying to say. "Alternative measures, to deal with the Dark Kingdom and the other threats encroaching on our nation." Sailor Moon has a feeling that the word that Samui is looking for is 'Magic' though it is interesting that the woman is avoiding the word. "To be entire honest, MCAT is still running on the barest of skeleton crews. At the moment we have a grand total of fifty employees, and half of those are members of my clan, who are working for MCAT as a special favor to myself until we manage to reach a full staff."
The way that the woman just comes out and says that does a lot to calm Kimiko's worries, but there is a part of the woman that is still not exactly trusting, given the way that MCAT has been continually calling her over the last few days. "As such," Samui says, "The position of of Acting Director has fallen to me, as I have the most experience with the kinds of threats that are troubling the nation."
Interesting...
Looks like we possibly have a clan of yokai on the ground floor of MCAT, ant with them being extremely short-staffed and desperate for competent individuals, the acting director got her post due to her group literally being half of the organization...
And on top of it we are looking at the very real possibility of a civil war between the ministry and the mundane government, with the latter being relevant thanks to both 'defections' of whole clans and the rise of unexpected magical awakenings happening all over the place...
[X][Ask] What exactly is the Imperial Ministry, and how does it fit with the legitimate Japanese government?
[X][Ask] How is MCAT planning to operate moving forward?
[X][Ask] As acting director, would it be possible to meet up with your people in person at some point? Discuss cooperation, how to inform the public of magic safely, and maybe the return of one of our assets?
[X][Ask] How did your clan end up in MCAT, what boons did the government offer?
[X][Ask] What do you believe is the cause for Kimiko's harassment, if it is not on your orders?
The youkai presence kinda makes my questions about how would they even get started redundant, they probably have wizard equivalents already.
That also makes me somewhat more worried about the staff, they might actually be able to do something with it.
More capable of protecting it though, so Onogoro getting it is not as big of threat.
I don't think there is much point in trying to make peace with Onogoro, they do not seem like people who will accept reason, though i guess i could be wrong, still would rather not use precious questions on them.
[X][Ask] How are they developing the technology?
[X][Ask] Are they interested in discussing about cooperative projects in the future?
[X][Ask] What is the magical society in Japan like?
[][Ask] The inevitable collapse of the Masquerade, and the feasibility of getting the Imperial Ministry to accept this blatantly obvious fact.
[][Ask] The father of a rich person we convinced to buy a certain artifact was extorted into selling it by someone talking about national security. This artifact was historically the personal weapon of Zoicite, who is now a leader in the Dark Kingdom of the same rank as Jedite, and we'd convinced said rich person to acquire it to keep it from him. Attempt to report this possible crime/national security issue.
[][Ask] Future meetings
[X][Ask] The inevitable collapse of the Masquerade, and the feasibility of getting the Imperial Ministry to accept this blatantly obvious fact.
[X][Ask] The father of a rich person we convinced to buy a certain artifact was extorted into selling it by someone talking about national security. This artifact was historically the personal weapon of Zoicite, who is now a leader in the Dark Kingdom of the same rank as Jedite, and we'd convinced said rich person to acquire it to keep it from him. Attempt to report this possible crime/national security issue.
[X][Ask] Future meetings
I don't think there is much point in trying to make peace with Onogoro, they do not seem like people who will accept reason, though i guess i could be wrong.
Yeah, I suspect that eventually the mundane government and MCAT are going to request Senshi assistance for an Operation Resounding Infinity to deal with them.
I think we should reword the question as not to give up the fact the sailor scouts are new. Right now they think she's experienced and thus trusting her judgement. Keep up the illusion while getting answers.
Questions, I think, should at least start with tactical ones:
[X] [Ask] Question one: Connection between The Imperial Ministry of Onogoro and Knights of Oblivion.
[X][Ask] Topic two: MCAT's and legitimate Japanese government's position on the spread of magic and collapse of the Masquerade
[X][Ask] Topic three: MCAT's and the govermnent's position on independent operators and the limits of their ability to seize, keep and use dangerous powers and artifacts based on their unique circumstances
I think this is worded broadly enough, and this is about more than Vajra. More than Senshi even - Pretty Cures are agents of foreign non-human realms, equipped with weapons made in those realms. We need to know how much we have to hide, and how much would be accepted.
[X][Ask] How are they developing the technology?
[X][Ask] Are they interested in discussing about cooperative projects in the future?
[X][Ask] What is the magical society in Japan like?
I'm not sure if its been mentioned yet, but I'm getting some Harry Potter vibes about this Ministry and think they'll be just as reasonable. Which is not at all.
To which I say its very good that other groups are stepping forward to help out, also love the pic. I remember reading that manga a long time ago.
As for the questions, I think we should keep it limited in scope for now. We do have a situation at hand after all, might want to save anything lengthy for a later point in time.
[X][Ask] What can you tell us about the Ministry?
[X][Ask] The agents here set an officer to explode and used an oblivion seal. Are the agents acts in line with expectations?
[X][Ask] Given the magic perspective, can you tell us about MCAT's plans?
[X][Ask] What exactly is the Imperial Ministry, and how does it fit with the legitimate Japanese government?
[X][Ask] How is MCAT planning to operate moving forward?
[X][Ask] What do you believe is the cause for Kimiko's harassment, if it is not on your orders?
