his hands behind his back—a gesture that looked unnatural for him—and waited patiently for a response.

"I'm fine," Minowara told him. "More water please."

"As you all know, this year's Liberty Day Parade is rapidly approaching," Diane West began. "With increased activity from the Fifth Estate, the need for enhanced security is greater now than it has been in the years since the Liberty Day Bombing. And, as such, I would put forward Initiative E; armored crowd control including, but not limited to, the presence of mechanized units. B.T.'s specifically."

As much as Minowara despised West, the sound of her voice seemed to help calm him. The tattooed man returned with another glass of chilled water for which Minowara thanked him si...

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