Barbara
Akodo Katsuhiro, Taisa of the Lion clan and head of the garrison at Ryoko Owai had sent for two of the members of the embassy he needed for a particular set of missions. Akodo Sozen, diplomat and defense against the underhanded dealings of the city, and Ikoma Maeda, the one who was perhaps best familiar with the goings on of slightly different underhanded dealings within the city. He had a need for both of them, and for them to work together. So he sat there in the war room, maps splayed out across the table, and his scribe, Ikoma Kenshin sitting at a small table off in the corner working on some of the logistics as well as figuring out how to pay for everything. Just outside of a different shoji panel than the one they would enter through was a servant with tea being warmed up for the men. *We have much to do, and little time to do it in*
Donald
Ikoma Maeda walked through the garrison at his usual measured pace, fast enough to not draw attention but slow enough to digest the surrounding halls and map out the comings and goings of those around him. Having received a summons he came as fast as possible as duty demands it. Not being directly familiar with the Taisa he paused outside of the door taking in a quiet centring breath before stepping in.

Once in the room he began scanning it left to right checking the panels, servants, exits and maps. Only once this task was finished would he affix his gaze forward to Akodo Katsuhiro and give a small bow just deep enough to be considered polite.

**"Akodo-sama, thank you for waiting i came as soon as i received word. Given the maps have you some plan which you wish my service in?"**

He lightly gestures over the largest of maps on the table.
Barbara
"Ah, Ikoma-san, please come in." Katsuhiro gave him a respectful bow given their difference in rank, but this was his first time working with Ikoma, and he wanted to establish a good rapport, since they would be working together a lot in the coming weeks and months. He gestured for the man to sit, "I am indeed Akodo Katsuhiro, and this" He gestured with a nod of his head to the corner, "Is Ikoma Kenshin, my Karo." The gave Maeda a formal, but friendly smile and a slight bow of acknowledgement before he went back to work.

"He has been at my side since his gempuku, so you can trust him."

Akodo gestured at the maps in front of him, "Yes, I have been examinging the maps we have of the city. Our predecessors had made arrangements with the previous Governor, the now departed former Scorpion Governor, for us and the Crab clan to survey and repair the walls of the city. That may become relevent eventually, but not specifically what I am calling you in here for."

He gestured to the papers in front of him and picked one of them, "I have been reading through the files on the Lion stationed here in the city, and I came across some interesting skills you have. I believe that our embassy is a bit... Lacking... When it comes to the projection of strength and stability that one would expect from a Lion clan embassy. However, as this is a city controlled by an Imperial Governor, we are not going to build a castle here. I was hoping we could use some of your expertise to help with the defense of certain critical areas from a varity of.. Needs." *Some Nightingale floors, and perhaps some easy to errect barricades for the entrances* Akodo had summoned the man here to see what weaknesses he could find, and ideas he could come up with for defense.
Donald
He quickly returns Ikon Kenshin's bow before continuing.

**"Yes Akodo-sama I had made note of certain lacking on the way in, I had planned to bring it up in a more polite manner but this provided a reasonable point to mention. In particular most of the windows near the outer wall show a lot of faith in the honourable behaviour of others."**

He takes his seat sitting in a rather stuff posture indicating he is yet to become at ease in this situation. Gesturing around the map highlighting what he thinks are key details or weak locations

**"I shall assess these points. This task can be difficult to perform whilst maintaining decorum but rest assured I will do my best as will our enemies"**

He then began scanning Katsuhiro up and down assessing his dress and posture.

**"And of you, I may have to ask you some questions verging on the overly familiar, I mean nothing by it of course but our weakest points and weakest moments are often the most personal. Strictly for security I assure you, The glory and security of our clan means everything to me."**
Barbara
"As you say, it can be difficult while maintaining decorum. We cannot dress up the embassy as a fortress. Aside from making us look scared, it also could be taken as a slight to the ability of the Otomo family to maintain safety within the city. Therefore, rather than bars or reinforced windows as an example, we could perhaps brace critical ones shut from the inside. We cannot put up a gate to a castle over the entrance, but perhaps having some barricades we could... Store discretely out of site, but then bring out should we need to block cavalry, or line Ashigaru with spears behind, would be advantageous to have. We can also compensate by adjusting our watch positions and patrols."

Maeda's response gave Katsuhiro confidence that this was the right man for the job.

"When you have recommendations, put together a list of supplies and patrol changes and give it to Ikoma-san. He shall make the arrangements."

Akodo almost raised an eyebrow at Maeda's question, but information was a valuable resource and he understood that the man likely delt in it as currency. Plus, unlike the new staff that Akodo had brought with him, Maeda was not one of his.

"Go ahead, ask your questions."
Donald
**"You must consider that the security of this place extends outside it. Anywhere you go, anywhere i go and anywhere the staff go. If it may walk around in here with little to no question then it poses a risk. Should you have habits which you may not wish to share, consider them much more than you do now. If it involves others in any other way then you have an entrance to here. Finally those whom serve us within the building, Extend jin to them greatly. It is easy to look beyond them which may cause you to miss warning signs or worse an enemy walking right by"**

He pauses for a moment allowing his finger to casually hover above and trace an entrance route into the building.

**"You have my confidence as clan but in matters of security complete confidentiality. I have been enjoying some time out of the spotlight in the city and established a small footing but now i feel i must come to the fore some what more."**
Barbara
Akodo nodded along with Maeda's words, it was something that was already being investigated after their recent issues with document theft.

"You are correct, Ikoma-san, but for such things is why I have called 

Katsuhiro took another long sip of his tea, and then placed the small cup back on the table.

"I also have a few other things for you to look into. The former ambassador, and the former governor had made arrangements with the Lion and the Crab to assess and repair the walls of the city. I will hopefully be attending a meeting with the Imperial Governor soon to discuss this, but we have already received license to survey the walls. In addition to this work, I would like for you to assesss the many gates of the city, and specifically which could best be used for troop movement through the city, as well as which of the outer gates are the largest and *Most challenging to defend*. Perhaps they could make use of guard towers akin to what is found on the Kaiu wall. Specifically our task is to asses the city's ability to withstand a siege." He tapped his chin, "The bridges are also critical infrastructure to appraise."

Akodo paused for a long moment, "If you are to head to the fisherman's side, or the leatherworkers quarter, I would recommend not going alone. There have been incidents with the heimin that has caused them to become restless and they may take unlikely to a lone, roaming samurai. I would at minimum take Nikutai Matsu Kozue with you, if not one or two Ashigaru in addition."
Donald
**"I have yet to have the honour of meeting Akodo-san, I am keen to do so and receive his wisdom on these matters as someone of undoubted skill in the area"**

Maeda lifts his tea cup and swirls it gently, breathing in the smells of it before taking a small sip and savouring it.

**"Do we have any specific members of the Crab clan that we are to work with in this duty, I do so admire the craftsmanship of their clan. A second pair of eyes can always help as well as allowing inroads for us."**

He places his cup down and stares intently at the fisherman's side on the map.

**"This area is of my interest to quite a degree actually, Its current situation is undesirable however i believe a desirable look for it is not as far from the current state as many others would think. I thank you deeply for the advice on whom i should take with me when i inevitably visit"**
Barbara
Akodo finished his tea and set it down, glacing towards the door that still did not open. Something must be keeping Akodo-san, or else he left before Katsuhiro's message reached him. It is a shame, as the two of them were intended to work together on these missions. A task for another time.

"It seems Akodo-san has not be able to meet us, I shall try and brief him seperately so that you two can catch up at a later time. As to your question, unfortunatey there is not a large Crab representation in the city. I met a courtier by the name of Yasuki Umeo-san who seems very well connected. There was a Kaiu who was helping us with the wall at some point, but I cannot find a name mentioned in the reports. I shall give you a writ that will hopefully help you if you need to go to the Civil hall and get permission to show the Thunder Guard for your investigation. Further, if you need an introduction for your investigations into the underworld of the city, I belive that Kitsu Miu has a connection that may be of help. Due to the nature of this connection, I have not pried. Please handle this with the utmost discretion."

Ikoma Kenshin cleared his throat in the background, and Akodo Katsuhiro looked off into the distance for a moment before nodding his head.

"Do you have any other questions? I wish I could give you more specific order, but for now we are in the gathering intel stage."

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Donald
Standing up form his seat in a practiced manuever keeping his gaze towards the others in the room Maeda repeats his bow from earlier. 

**"No more questions Akodo-sama, You have provided more than enough information."** 

As he slid the writ into his hand he took a second just to assess it.

**"We have many unknowns infront of us and till we find out that which we do not know it is my duty to work on this. I shall endevour to make some in roads to the crab in the city as well as seek out Kitsu-san"**

One final repetition of the bow is given before Maeda turns around and quickly makes his exit with a purposeful stride. 

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