[center][h1][color=silver]The Saturnian League[/color][/h1][/center]

[center][h3][i]Official Directorate Offices, Director's Room[/i][/h3][/center]

[hr]

...It had been a long day, especially in regards to the Senatorial Conference that had barely finished only about four hours ago. 

The usual debates and politicking had been present, yes, but those things she had been long accustomed to. What was more concerning was the reports of Legion movements and other suspicious activities within the Sol System itself, leading to the heaviest topic of the entire session: War. The air might as well have been as dense with tension as a stick of synthetic butter was thick, at least when the topic had finally been finally brought onto the floor. 

To no one's surprise, the palpable feeling of dread had swept in like a tide as the usually bickering and debating senators and their factions frankly turned into an eerie silence for about 10 minutes. It was an unpleasant thing to ponder on, but between the state of Earth  itself and the myriad of things going on the looming specter of internal conflict erupting within the system on a grander scale wasn't an utter impossibility either. It had to be prepared for, discussed, and talked of in order to ensure that the Republic and its people were prepared for the very worst. 

Preparations and standard readiness procedures had already been in effect for some months, but that paled in comparison to the potential issues that not continuing to move things along could carry as well. Being unready and unsteady in this day and age was suicidal, to be blunt, and already their ambassadorial/military orbital station around Ishtar was being relayed info to pass onto their allies. They would have to coordinate future preparations and adjustments to the usual trade schedule to accommodate all of this, but it wasn't a big issue...at least yet. Full-on war would be another thing entirely if, or perhaps [i]when[/i], it came along. 

[color=gold]"...Galina, how are preparations going for the operation?"[/color]

Director Marianne Sato sat there in her office, hands folded and elbows on her desk as she spoke to the soldier who stood on the other end of the comms. It was a secured and rather sophisticated communications link, one that only she and her protective unit were privy to and could tap into for communication back and forth. Its range and other specs remained...undisclosed, confidential even. Safe to say, however, it was crystal clear and could even stream video in real time between one location and another. 

The Volyudki on the other end seemed to chuckle for a moment, before her voice rang once again over the comms channel.  

[color=red]"Da, preparations are goink veri smooth Director Sato,"[/color] the soldier said, before pausing and clearning her throat. Was hard not to fall back on her accent here and there when she was relaxed, but even so she had pushed herself to speak more formally to put on the airs of a more proper leader, [color=red]"The squad is ready to deploy and scout out the Saturnian border towards Jupiter. We'll be aboard one of the usual scouting carriers, so we should be invisible amidst the usual crew and personnel aboard. We will report back if anything suspicious comes up, however."[/color]

Whew. 

[color=gold]"Noted. Continue the good work, but be cautious out in the field. If Europan or pirate ships intrude on our space, the Admiral should send the usual message and standard deterrence procedures. From there, if you feel any need to act or investigate I will trust in your judgement, Galina.

...Also, you might have left your shirt at my place last night."[/color]

A pause, and then a hearty laugh ringing out from the other end of the line. 

[color=red]"Hahaha!!! Keep it, dorogaya, may it keep you warm in these times-...

Oy, Kowalski, you keep laughing I wil toss your soggy ass out of the airlock!"[/color]

The Director could not help but chuckle in return. It was like a parent or an older sibling berating a small child. Except these children and parent were all deadly soldiers and members of one of the most highly elite Crack Squads in the League, implanted with top-end dark energy cybernetics and utilizing the best weaponry money could buy in League space. That was saying something. 

Even with the squad seemingly in such good spirits, however, the truth of the matter was that Marianne hoped they would find nothing out there. Nothing but empty space and silent border. The only reason she'd sent them out in the first place was to give her personal account of the status of the Jupiter/Europa border from the Saturnian side. Something to placate her nightly concerns, if naught else, about the state of things closer to home right now. 

For now, however, a large abandoned T-shirt back at her home and the reliability of the squad itself would have to suffice to soothe her nerves. 

It was all she had right now anyways.