The negotiate resource suppliers checked. Now Akagi's next target is find a base of operations, preferably somewhere within Imperium States. Many of them might argue, is establishing a base of operations is crucial of any kind of warfare.
However, The Fraternity already has a capital, in Royal Palace of Caledonia, managed by Nakajo Tomotaki. Akagi wanted a main base of Fraternity within Imperium States not under.
In contrast to the war or the Scavenger Zone the entire Imperium States are far more developed and liveable city. In fact, TYZ still is the largest city of the planet, with lavish lifestyle, prosperous, cultured and somewhat 'peaceful'. Economic stability within the great cities, and in some cases even enjoyable, assuming you aren't one of the persecuted minorities. Apart from that, still many Imperians, including moderate mutants considered the Imperium's colonies to be the most liveable, peaceful nation by comparison as The Imperium of Brittonia Empire covers between southern Chinese Confederacy's borders, continue to interfere their trades, lay claims on the Chinese resources of Northern desert, all the way unto borders of Sakha Republic, Russia in North and the few parts of Northern China, their sphere of influence expended all the way up to New Zealand and South Pacific islands.
Allegedly the southern pacific islands are where the big chunk of crude Fallen Stone is buried under the ocean. Many claimed because the Fallen Stones, Brittonia has invaded over Asia, firmly gripped over the Pacific Ocean, to control the uncultivated stones, set up dozens of Stone refinery facilities across the ocean. Provides a near-unlimited energy source. Distributes current energy source to Island-cities. To increase its glowing economy Brittonia build artificial island-city surround the Imperium States solely for maintaining its population of the country. The entire megacity which covers full portion of an man-made island-- vary in size from small islets reclaimed solely to support entire communities and cities. Early artificial islands included floating structures in still waters, or wooden or megalithic structures erected in shallow waters. Now it's the greatest source of income, governed independently as an Imperial Union Territory, serialized Wards or Settlements, unlike the subjugated imperial colonies.
"What's so special about Ward 9?"
Misaki inquired Akagi, in Aircraft's private chamber, distant themselves alone for a moment. Sogen piloted the Aircraft towards its current destination. Felt too tired and ailing, Akagi lay down a bit in Aircraft's bunker-like dormitory, with Misaki sit beside in a prim posture.
"We're going on a recruitment hunt. There's one type of variant-type I am looking for in ninth ward. Let me remind you there are two types of Island-city."
"Hmm-mm."
"One is bright and shiny: an interminable metropolis that twinkles with power systems, city lights, traffic landing beacons. Seen from orbit, Imperial Centre is a blaze of light and sparking colours, reminding some spacers of gemlike Fallen stones, after which this planet was named long ago. Next type is dark and grim: Like Caledonia itself, a sprawling urban city, its surface utterly infertile and covered with dark, towering spires of iron, colossal gothic cathedrals, ancient ruins, and masses of pilgrims come to the cradle of homeless mutants to pay taxes to the Brittonia police force. Its oceans have long since boiled away, and beneath the countless layers of metal and stone that have built up over the eons, A lifeless ball of rock. To this point I think it's bit of an exaggeration."
"What type of ward 9 is?"
"Hard to say, it's last island-city lies on far south. imperium military attempted to segregated the mutant suspects being part of Mutanic extremism to ghastly ghettos. A place where an undesirable racial minority is rounded up inside to keep them out of the majority's line of sight, ended up making it worse, starting a huge, the Imperium lost much resource, suppressed them coiled with frequent riot and mistrust. Now the fate Ward 9 is totally unknown"
30 minutes later—
After arriving the shore of Island-city, inhaled a sigh of disappointment the 9th ward fits neither of the type, in instead mixture of both. Big flashy building, vibrant of any metropolitan city which more than half of portion towering over the settlements, on the downside is the dark, disruptive ghetto and dysfunctional slums casting in the shadows. This Ninth Island-City described as most of the structures, especially in the ghetto borough are low-rise, no more than two or three stories high. Most buildings share a common architectural style, consisting of a simple facade with windows, overhangs, balconies which face toward the street, and a flat roof. Certain houses, however, exhibit more temple-like features, including slanted roofs and curved eaves as opposed to flat ones. Most buildings are dark or dull in exterior coloration, following a colour scheme based around grey. Interior coloration is generally more vibrant and often involves bright paint. The front windows of houses are small and rectangular.
Many of the minor roadways in Ninth Ghetto are narrow with small sidewalks; traffic and population often very light. Power lines typically hang above the roads. Some of the borough's buildings are separated by small alleys, though very few of these pathways have anything to feature. The Ninth Island-City has larger streets as well; these avenues are more prone to traffic, and trucks use them as primary roadways.
"You two stayed here. Mind the aircraft. We made a quick sweep."
"Fine."
"Where to?"
Misaki firmly ordered Sogen and Asumi, asked Akagi for direction.
"In a walking distance, there is a Cellar bordered between the layers," Provided with the information Akagi also added, "Cornwall said the meeting held in tennis court from 1.3 km north from the shore. Imperial Union Territory have lesser military activity but keep your eyes sharp. Let's go Misaki."
Walking into the slum area. Which was unusually deserted during evening.
"The meeting is held on downtown, in an abandoned tennis courts, I see no better than tiny convention hall formerly operated by the Imperium and located across the river from downtown Island City. The building's existence apparently hidden from much of the city's Imperial human populace, making it an ideal venue for the Mutant radical's revelation rally. If I be organiser of this meeting, put up a notice board; held exclusively for mutants by the Messianic revolutionary figure, such as myself."
Akagi remarked excitingly. Which Misaki sharply replied.
"Only valid if you think yourself as the messiah of the Mutant kind. Despite this ghetto is the borough residential neighbourhood in Island City Ninth Ward with a high population of low ranked mutants, they are some higher mutants hiding under their nose. I think."
"Heh. I agree. Unlike TYZ's ghettos, Island-City's ghetto where the Mutants were supposed to live. Ironically, it has been asserted that the original Mutanic ghettos were privileges, designed to protect mutants from unfriendly non-mutant citizens, provided by the local rulers, including walls and locked gates which were bitterly resented by the locals. Like all well-meaning attempts at segregation, the "special treatment" not only turned out to be not so special, but increased division and tension between communities. Tell me sweetie, by your description what's the difference between the those ranks."
"Humans, the civilized ones, at least, would call them mankind's murderers, a monster. A flesh-eating freak--
Idiots don't know, only a mutual requirement for flesh links higher Mutant to their distant and much more primitive Fallenborn cousins: Veryans, Kaunas, Vectors, eda, eda and the like. Mutants are, in fact, much more like humans than to those monstrous man-eaters. They only resemble us in appearance, but also share our intelligence and behavioural patterns. This means they do not squat in distant forest or hide in the shadows. On the contrary, they are particularly fond of cities, across the world, living in human civilization's heartlands.
Where they live out deceivingly normal lives. Even Brittonians and all their high-tech toys are not capable of recognizing them at once, for their technology remain perfectly motionless in the presence of higher Mutants. Yet all these similarities should not blind us to an essential difference: unlike men, higher Mutants are far from being immortal. Those who have faced them in combat and survived can be counted on one hand.
It is a human mercenary or Anti-mutant faction's good fortune that higher mutants are extremely rare – and not all are dangerous to humans. Though they do have a taste for Biotium, they do not need to consume it to survive. Some higher mutants have renounced feeding on humans altogether and do no harm to anyone unless provoked, but others give in to their desires. An Anti-mutant freelancer who braves fighting a higher Mutant must bear in mind that he faces a monster endowed with incredible strength, speed, endurance and super regenerative prowess, one able to manipulate men and Reredos creatures, transform their limbs into a deadly weapon. Unlike their more lesser Fallenborn cousins/equivalents, true higher mutants are notoriously difficult to distinguish from regular humans, we revealed our abilities at will, even amongst academics or other Fallenborn baffled when revealed. Mutant-Specialists gave the name Fallen Superiors to such beings, and while many tomes and books were written about the existence of the beings, the true nature and personality of higher Mutants varies greatly between varied individuals. However, most of the higher mutants do share some traits that makes them truly higher Mutants: incredible intelligence, physical attractiveness, have weakness to fire and most mainstream ways of extermination Etc."
"I am impressed! You seem well-informed. Being resourceful, I bet it's the trait you picked up in recent years."
"I am not finish!"
"Oh?"
"Because of the unique nature of each higher Mutants, each may show significantly different behavioural traits: Azimth Regis, another lieutenant of mine, a higher Mutant, a way stronger than other regular ones, show a more even-tempered personality and increased intelligence, and able to associate himself with humans. Others can do so to either a similar or lesser scale, rare individuals don't even associate themselves with humans. Some Mutants even show some form of respect to humans and other Reredos, acknowledging that the world that they occupy belong to other races, a trait that is shared amongst very few individuals. And publically don't call me 'sweetie'. being addressed as your darling mistress is disgraceful enough."
"..."
Akagi remain silent, or have being by Misaki's no nonsense, domineering attitude, mistakenly underestimated Misaki's prowess and she maintained her reputation for being a worldly, resourceful problem-solver.
From an early age, Misaki caught the eyes of many boys who wanted to become intimate with her. Many people try to get closer to her but they fail most of the time. Being callously turned down. That led many to believe she is, or appears to be--"Emotionless, distant or unfeeling, as if her heart were a block of ice. hostile to most people except her family and a few close friends; she ignores other people. A frigid bitch who thinks her shit doesn't stink and ignores men's advances and don't whines about everything. If you got an ice queen on your arm kick her out the door because you have no chance in hell of slipping the beef to this one. She rarely opens to others and has a cold demeanour. Someone who is not only very unsexual and unaffectionate, but also can be very cold to her prospective date during the date. Traits include: throwing around barbs even after it's funny and just being rude, vindictive and cruel." She's of course has no interest what they say or think.
But, perhaps it's for the first time, she felt wrongness of her harsh voice,
"I'm sorry."
Misaki said in soften tone.
"Hh? What for?"
"Uh-uh, never mind."
"You're weird. Sure, you don't have a bipolar?"
"I've been thinking the same question, Shinsuke. Anyway, you can call me whatever you want, forget everything I said previously, and you do know how to do a hand gesture to mark as a Mutant?"
"Yeah...."
He said vaguely, step forward at the doormen, raise one hand up, luminous crimson coloured spirals flow through his forearm. Misaki did the same the doorman let them in.
"What the...!?"
Entered and shocked that so-called meeting of mutants is nothing but an event for whiners, spilling how terrible everything is, and criticise Brittonia. How much the world of mutants sucked.