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[color=Silver]	Once the Section Officer Iha Shumei had departed, leaving him to his reading. Looking down upon his task, he felt a strange sensation of melancholy when eyeing up the suspect on his datapad: [url=https://i.pinimg.com/originals/bc/7d/d8/bc7dd881228bc54b5cba72bdc6e1ab09.jpg]Iwata Honomi[/url], a previous ally to the National Security Force in its earliest of days. Its infancy had given birth to a respected and opportunistic operator, one who was keen to engage her morals and beliefs to their greatest extent. Takai himself had been a recruit to the NSF around the time of her rising influence, giving her a sort of instructor vibe to her position. Truth be told, Takai [i]had[/i] looked up to her during the formation of the NSF, finding Iwata's honest expertise to greatly inflict a deal of confidence upon those she surrounded herself with. Of course, books were easy to judge by their cover. Iwata truly didn't have it in her when things got rough, and one or two rough operations later she found herself begging for disassociation from the NSF immediately. The stress of battle took its toll on her, and made her decisions rash and irrational entirely. Unfortunate, it was. Takai felt himself rise above her anxieties at first, but several raids later he understood why she chose to leave. Things could be brutal in the underworld of NeoTokyo, and surely enough she'd seen the worst of it all. Before even encountering the Jinrai, she'd been involved in several raids on a human trafficking firm that shook her to the core. Understandably, of course. Takai knew that her mind wasn't ready and taking the step back was easily the best call she could've made. It was something to respect, not undermine. However, one issue with her relevance to that day irked him the wrong way entirely.

	Takai knew who Iwata Honomi [i]was[/i]. He also knew [i]what[/i] his contracted mission was to be. She was under investigation for potential dealings and partnership with the Jinrai, the very adversary she'd set out to break down. It didn't make sense on paper but the world was always full of surprises. Takai couldn't let his personal beliefs get in the way of an objective insight. If anything, she was innocent until proven guilty, yet if there was evidence against her case then she didn't have many options. Either accept arrest or surrender her life to the NSF Termination Process. The latter was definitely not a preferable alternative, but convincing someone who could be deep into the web of Jinrai formations would be far too difficult to ask for. Those who usually come confidently have a plan to themselves, whilst those who'd resist would likely fight their way out, hoping that either they die a death of glory or they break their potential captors before they can break them. Never was it simple; never was it easy.

	Sighing greatly, Takai stared at her profile with distaste. Of course, the same mug shot used for her old keycard. Why else would they not use it? Well, back then they actually [i]had[/i] keycards, before they quickly replaced them with a better identification system. He hoped deep down that it was a false alarm, one that was simply a routine checkup to ensure she never found her way into the clutches of her enemies. Takai knew that she'd been cleansed of ever working with the NSF on all records bar her own voice, which was a dangerous tool to let slip into the criminal underbelly of NeoTokyo. It wouldn't have been any surprise if she had designated agents watching her at all times, listening to every conversation she had and keeping a note of every individual she interacted with. With such a tight intelligence team at their disposal, testing it upon her would be an errand than an actual objective, just one with high stakes if she opened her secrets about the NSF's origins. Most of the information was likely useless due to the overhaul and updates given to the NSF in its entirety, but her word was still as dangerous as Takai's. Any advantage the Jinrai could get was acceptable and vice versa.

	Beneath the thoughts and musings of Takai laid a lowered guard. Someone took advantage of that immediately, with an unfamiliar voice suddenly ringing in his ears. Their [/color][color=blue][b]"HEY!"[/b][/color] [color=Silver]immediately caught Takai off guard, giving him a small shudder and turn. At first, he wasn't sure who'd given the abrupt and loud interjection of his thinking before he spotted the target. He remembered the profile picture, but not the name. Immediately, they gave their name. [i][b]Margo[/b][/i]. Takai didn't say anything at first, putting his datapad down onto the table and eyeing the individual up. The pitch-perfect premonition of their interception had him suspicious of who Margo was, but obviously being within the NSF Headquarters Takai had no reason to distrust the individual. It wasn't like he was searching for a reason to hate this Margo, it was more facing the premonitions of newfound friendships that had previously irked the Okinawan. At least in the modern day, Takai was far better at interacting with individuals, as cooperation led to some rather feisty and fiery connections that he'd sacrifice the whole world just to experience. Takai cleared his throat and rubbed his eyes, waking himself up a second time from the sudden heart attack Margo had given him.[/color]

[color=2EAC5F][b]"Margo, huh?"[/b][/color] [color=Silver]Resisting the urge to scold them for sneaking up on him, Takai reserved himself to compose a better first impression, giving a light-hearted smile to follow his introduction. Before long, Margo had already exposed her knowledge of Takai's moderate reputation. Surely, Margo was exaggerating it slightly, as Takai was no celebrity within the NSF, just a decent Operator who knew how to get by honestly. At first, his smile faded when Margo continued to talk.[/color] [color=2EAC5F][b]"Please don't call me G.I. Joe. We're not soldiers, after all..."[/b][/color]

[color=Silver]	Takai took a swig from a single flask he'd hinged onto his belt, having it filled with water at the least. Drinking was for another time of day, and another occasion. Besides, having the alcohol intake wouldn't exactly have been the smartest way to introduce himself to Margo. Dwelling upon how Margo had presented themselves, Takai took a minute to clear his throat a second time before returning to the conversation at hand. Sure, he did feel slightly bad for silently denying her immediate nickname. Honestly, however, she couldn't have chosen a worse one to use. Though in all honesty, it was all fun and games at the end of the day. Shame Takai hadn't exactly been in the mood for the games in the afternoon, only the evening and nights to follow when duty hadn't called him into action.[/color]

[color=2EAC5F][b]"Take care of you?"[/b][/color] [color=Silver]Before he could pursue what Margo had meant by that, a more familiar face had found its way into the conversation. Kazankova Bykov: Half-Russian, Half-American...all around dangerous individual. At least, she was dangerous in a way that Takai could get behind. Her intermission of the disfigured conversation Margo and Takai were having allowed for much less for Takai to dwell upon, giving him a leeway to plan his words carefully before fumbling around like an idiot. With what felt like a kind heart, Kaz questioned Takai's sleeping patterns as any casual conversation would go towards, giving him something to smile about once more. In truth, he'd actually slept pretty shit compared to previous nights, but it wasn't the worst of the worst.[/color] [color=2EAC5F][b]"Could be better, could be worse. Same as always. Honestly wish I had a bigger bed, comfier sheets and company to make it less like a rich man's prison cell."[/b][/color]

[color=Silver]	Kaz picked up on Margo's previous intrusion and felt a sort of tension shoot out immediately. Takai didn't want to be the judge and jury once more, but he felt the irritated attitude lurk in every word she shed upon the newblood of the NSF. Truth-be-told, it wasn't uncommon for the recruits to find themselves subject to minor social neglect and the watchful eye of their superiors, as Takai had himself experienced, but it wasn't always necessary. They were easy to pick on, but most of the advice given was always in good spirit. [i]Keep your head on, and keep your spirits up before someone else takes 'em.[/i] Something along those lines anyway. Takai frowned when Kaz commented on Margo's request to be taken care of. Kaz definitely had a point to what she meant. The NSF was indeed no safe environment for individuals, with death being less a nightmare and more a reality for those who strayed too far into the spider's web of crime and terror. Having a sturdy head on strong shoulders was definitely a requirement, at least mentally. The supposed [i]weak-minded[/i] were never really strong enough to get through the arbitrary conditions of the silent Shadow-War. That's why people like Iwata had to leave in the first place.

	Takai gently nudged Kaz with his elbow, as if to remind her that her attitude wasn't always going to get her through the NSF, or even the playing field, in one piece. He meant it in full kindness though. Alongside the slightly alluring Daiyu, Kaz was indeed someone Takai wanted to get to know better for the future of combat. They seemed efficient, if not reckless, in what they were told to do. Sometimes recklessness was welcomed to get through the bloodiness of the brutally honest campaign.[/color]

[color=2EAC5F][b]"Kaz, please. I get what you're [i]trying[/i] to say, but sometimes we do need a little pick-me-up."[/b][/color] [color=Silver]Turning to the trainwreck of a conversationalist that was Margo, Takai smiled politely and nodded.[/color] [color=2EAC5F][b]"I'm not going to babysit you, if that's what you are asking for. I'm an Operator, I'll point you in the right directions here and there, but it's not in my job description to make sure you get everything right. I suggest you learn that skill yourself or you might find yourself in a bit of a tough spot within the next few days."[/b][/color]

[color=Silver]	Overhead, the PA system announced a non-fatal casualty amidst training. Takai immediately lost his smile and stood up. He immediately packed his things, though not to go respond to the casualty itself. A quick curse or two beneath his breath, he turned to the two sat down on the table, announcing his disappointment in the revelation above him. Takai adjusted his hair and sleeves appropriately before configuring a few of his cybernetic muscle stabilisers within his neck. Finally, he returned his gaze to Kaz and Margo, before finally giving his thoughts.[/color]

[color=2EAC5F][b]"These operatives are sloppy and try too hard to prove themselves. I don't want to rely on some idiot who nearly gets himself killed in a training simulation, let alone when we are going out on the prowl for the Jinrai. Don't end up like them, please. I'm already stressed enough being told to look after a bunch of fucking clowns..."[/b][/color] [color=Silver]Without hesitation, Takai began to saunter towards the edge of the mess hall, towards the door and out into the main hallways once more. Time was slowly ticking away and he wanted to ensure that he had a decent amount of gear to conduct the investigation fairly and reliably before a verdict could be made on Iwata. Not only was the safety of the NSF on the line once more, but the life of Iwata herself was also resting on the squeeze of a trigger if she were so truly collaborating with the Jinrai. And so, Takai headed to the personal armouries to find his own equipment, though not before dialling an instantly memorised number into his communications device.[/color] [color=2EAC5F][b]"Shunsen here...Will depart in around fifteen minutes. Clearance..? Roger that, thanks. I'll call in my findings when it's over. Keep the suspect's overwatch team on standby just in case."[/b][/color]

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