Sang the Setari

3. Fallout

"Well, I bet even the immovable Tsur Duncan is pissed about this," Nathan commented as we walked out of the meeting.

"How someone got around the communication blackout is beyond me," Kota said shaking his head.

Gabriel threw up his hands and exclaimed, "Right! I couldn't even fucking shop! I mean, what was that about?! Like my choices of shoes were going to somehow tip off someone that something happened on Muina?! Really?!!!"

"And why choose to share information with a pseudo-journalistic blog like The Inquest that is known for its conspiracy theories?" Kota added, ignoring Gabriel's rant.

"They could have physically hand wrote something, like I write in my journal," I suggested.

Kota stopped dead in his tracks, halting everyone. The others all joined him in staring at me in amazement.

"What?" I tensed in nervousness at the sudden attention.

"Trouble, you are fucking brilliant!"

"Huh?" I uttered.

"You just solved the mystery!" Luke declared. "Kota, quick...send a Council request looking for footage of anyone writing or drawing and who would have also been able to pass something on to outside sources, like in a supply transfer."

Kota replied, "That would be a lot of material to go through. However, it's worth a try. The illegal informant may out themselves eventually, especially if they keep feeding information. At least the peacekeepers will have some direction in their investigation." He looked back at me. "Good job, Ten."

I warmed at the compliment. Though, they were giving me too much credit. The only reason none of them thought of it was the lack of handwriting in Taren life. Everything was digitalized on the Interface. Gabriel drawing and some of the boys' efforts to mimic my coded journal were the rare examples of any Tarens using a pen or pencil that I had witnessed since arriving.

"One thing we definitely need to teach Sang is proper protocol," Nathan teased, tugging on the braid Gabriel had done for me earlier. 

"Ha! Yeah, I almost burst out laughing when she saluted with the wrong arm!"  Luke chortled.  "Did you see the way Tsur Davos' eyes bulged.  Thought the old man was going have a heart attack."

The Setari had been all lined up and acting like proper soldiers when Luke, Gabriel and I arrived.  They pulled me into the ranks with them and I tried imitating the others as well as I could and feeling ridiculous the entire time.  I still mostly felt like an imposter in my black nanosuit uniform.   

The Kalrani come into the program knowing all the military customs and courtesies.  KOTIS had schools established on each of the island cities where children as young as 9 Taren years started developing their talents.  At age 30 the top students are moved to KOTIS Command on Konna and enter the Kalrani. I was reading fairy tales when I was ten Earth years old, while the boys were already learning how to kill monsters.

"You did just fine, Sang," Kota said putting an arm around my shoulders.  "Though, I will make sure you are prepared for next time.  It's an oversight on my part that we haven't taught you those formalities yet.  You have mentioned that you don't feel like a 'real' Setari.  We need to rectify that."  He looked down at me with that warm emerald gaze. "You are one of us."

The meeting had not only been a scathing lecture on the consequences of information leaks.  It started with the rest of the Setari being fully briefed on the platform and 'security clearance' development on Muina.  Excitement had rippled through the assemblage, even as they firmly maintained their military bearing. Plans for the upcoming expedition were also presented and a new Rotation Schedule was outlined that included assignments on Muina.