Taisho Yui sat in the cozy center chair of the starship GSS Yui, the destroyer named after its class which was in turned, named after her. It was somewhat amusing. She supposed it was hard to find heroes in this day, and through her work and improvements, she had become one. Still, she was still the same Yui she was before she joined the GSA. Maybe wiser, more controlled, but still the loving, caring warrior.

The GSS Yui had just finished its refit at a newly constructed shipyard over Kosame, supplies had also been sent up in the form of rations and foods. It wasn't the first time Yui had been on this ship. She had overseen it through the pioneering of the Yui command class. But now, she would be making it her primary vessel, and living on it. 

The ship's hallways were waist high in boxes; the ship filled and filled with extra foods, rations, and general supplies. One literally couldn't stand in the hallways, but had to scoot along the box tops close to the ceiling lights. It was time to go out into the void again.

Since Yui already had a preferred crew from the GSS Chino Yushi, this ship had not come with one, and thus was undermanned by about two-dozen people. The bridge, however, was fully staffed for the time being. Irim sat at the navigation station, her nose buried in a book from the ship's collection in the briefing room. Eris was sound asleep on the deactivated defensive systems control panel with her waist being straddled by the equally unconscious Hinosami. Hinosami's small body rested forward on Eris's chest.

The Taisho took a moment to just listen to Hinosami breathe. The girl was more of a daughter to her than most of her real daughters were, since they were off in schools or flying starships somewhere.

Lastly, there was Chusa Anri, who was at the fire control station, watching Yui intently, even as Yui was watching Hinosami. When the Taisho turned to face Anri, their eyes met and they both stared deep into each other for a long moment. Finally, Anri came over to Yui and gave the maternal captain a warm hug that lasted a good thirty seconds before the first officer returned to her station.

With that, Yui quietly spoke over the intercom to the engineering section. "Bring all systems online, prepare for TTD and CDD use."

A low hum blended into the sound of the environmental systems, then the rising pitches of systems coming online. In the nacelles, the rotary CDF coils began to spin on their electromagnetic axles, quickly turning into a blur of circular motion.

The ship lurched slightly as it detached from the orbital docking station, and floated free. The ion/graviton engines came to life, bringing the sharp arrowhead of a ship into motion. After a sufficient distance, the spatial distortion system went into action and the engines were shut off as the GSS Yui switched propulsion. Finally, in a flash of blue, the CDD engines activated and the ship went into FTL.

There were crew to pick up and places to explore. And a treaty that needed approval. 
It was late at night at the starship dock where Ritsurin was loading boxes of supplies aboard the GSS-Yui. "Oh man, security shouldn't be doing this kind of work,” he thought as he loaded the last of the boxes into the freezer storage. As he left the room, he feels the ship begin to move, "looks like she's leaving" he said to nobody particular. He takes the lift to exit the ship, and as the lift rises, he notices that the ship's no longer in the dock. 

He crawls toward the bridge over boxes of supplies he and his team had loaded several hours ago. His team was given a breather, Ritsurin decided to just finish the job alone. He hopes that the commander was on the bridge at the present time, he planned to tell her about this incident.

"Oh, this is REAL good" he fumed as he then decided to venture onto the bridge and report this to the starship commander. "Ms. Yui, excuse my intrusion, but this ship wasn't supposed to leave the docks yet, I'm now stuck on this ship." He hoped that she'd at least listen and possibly turn about and drop him off.
Taii Kimaiko walked with a clipped pace through her intelligence department. She wanted everything to be set for the Taisho's inspection tomorrow. Kimi had not been under Yui's command for long, but wanted to make a good impression. Kimi's sighed at her lack of staff and wondered when she would have the time to sleep
She heard a stranger's voice and headed towards it. As she made her way there, she saw a man crawl over some boxes and enter the bridge. She carefully followed, trying to not damage any of the supplies. Kimi entered the bridge and listened to him speak; ready to detain the stranger if necessary. He seemed to pose no threat, and the Taisho was completely capable of defending herself, but Kimi stood ready anyway.
"Taii Kimaiko reporting, ma'am."

Yui was relaxing in the command chair. It was even more plush and comfortable than the one on the GSS Chino Yushi. A somewhat newer ship, the GSS Yui was furnished extremely well in carpeting and furniture, even if there wasn't a lot of room on the small ship.

The Kessaku sisters were manning their consoles, when an odd-looking male slipped off the box tops and into the bridge. "Ms. Yui, excuse my intrusion, but this ship wasn't supposed to leave the docks yet...I'm stuck on this ship." the worried-looking guy informed her.

Yui looked him up and down, sizing him up. And then she spoke the words he was likely dreading or suspecting; "I suppose you are stuck, then." The taisho smiled amusedly. "Welcome aboard," her eyes went to the red rank on his red security uniform. "Sergeant."

At that moment, a blue-skinned catgirl of sorts slinked into the bridge behind the man. Yui recognized her from the personnel records. "Kimaiko." she grinned and the intelligence officer. "Welcome aboard to you as well. As you both know, I'm Taisho Yui. Don't let my rank scare you though, I'm just a regular captain to you guys for all practical purposes."

She smiled again, showing her fangs slightly, and continued. "We're somewhat undermanned at this time, so you people have your work cut out for you, especially you Kimaiko, since you're the only intelligence officer aboard besides myself. I've got another potential officer but until I can get him you're it."

"And you" she turned to the only male on the ship, "What are we to do with you?" 
Eliona Yakrian was in a good mood. She had just woken up from the longest rest she had enjoyed since her transfer from the GSS Hamasaki, three weeks ago.

As she entered the bridge she realized for the first time just how few crewmembers there were on the new ship. "It's probably because they can't fit any more people onboard with all these darn boxes" she thought to herself. She bid the Taisho a good morning and plopped into her seat with a sigh. It was going to be a longer day than usual.
"Elly!" Yui called out to her the other white-shirt, Chusa Eliona Yakrian. Elly had been in command of the Hamasaki for a while, and had been recently transferred to the GSS Yui so she could get the feel of a Yui-class starship. For the time being, she was one of the three commanders of the ship; the other two were the gentle, soft-spoken Anri, and of course, Yui herself.

"Well, since we're all here, I won’t have to call everyone to the briefing room." the Taisho addressed the brave crew of the small starship. "Our first mission is to track down a group of pirates. Part of the group has stolen a starship of potential allies and is using it as a base to further their raiding operations. We seek to capture the starship if possible, before the allies can destroy it. At the same time, and equally important, if not more so, we must locate the planetary bases of these pirates and take care of them."

"Since we don't have a medical or science officer at this time, we are also looking for a few more crewmembers. We might make a few stops to pick some up. Sorry about the boxes, they will go away once we are out here for a while and eat our way through them. We will start shortly by using the TTD and then we'll begin searching."

"While we're getting started, we should all become familiar with one another. Anything you want to ask me is fine...and I want to hear all about each of you as well. What do you like to do? Why are you here? We'll start out with me. My name is Yui--and you can call me by my name, I don't mind, so long as it stays on the ship--and I am here for the children. The expansion of the GSA allows children in it to live good lives, without poverty or starvation, without senseless violence or chaos. I'll usually be here on the bridge, in my nest..." she pointed to the alcove above the galley, to the rear of the bridge "...or in the ship's bath. I like to be read and write, and question things until I get to the truth."
As Elly sat listening to Yui, she relaxed. The conversation seemed to be going well enough. When the Taisho had finished Elly began. "I'm Eliona Yakrian although I'd prefer it if you'd please call me 'Elly'. I enjoy anything to do with weapons so if you have questions about armaments don't be afraid to ask". "I can usually be found either on the bridge, or in my Quarters. The only question I have is where is the Armory and Range, if we have a range?"

The question made Yui laugh lightheartedly. "The armory is the last room on the port side of the ship. "As for ranges, there's none of that here,” the older neko responded. "I'd prefer it if you didn't fire weapons inside our ship. It's you home, too. Your quarters are the forward ones on the port side."

Heram J. Wazu waited, Mechandrites twitching nervously as the pressure seals released around the docking arm of the small one-man shuttlecraft. All that was onboard included a set of data ports and a small navigational computer for piloting the ship. After leaving the planet he headed for the one place that would best fit his goals, the GSS Yui. He heard they still had an opening for science officer and was planning to apply for the job. The doors finally opened but instead of seeing a crew (or anything for that matter) he was greeted by a bunch of boxes! He was wondering what was going on when he noticed a crewmember squeezing through the small gap in the boxes. “Is their still a job opening?” he asked.

"Hrm? Oh good, I was wondering when that shuttle would show up. Now we can TTD out of here." said a blue-haired nekovalkyrja. It was Shikoko, one of the security sentries aboard the ship. But when the shuttle had docked, she was surprised to find the man in green inside. A science officer? The neko- at first looked confused, but then quickly gave the man a warm "Welcome aboard the GSS Yui!"

The security officer quickly showed the man to his quarters, which he had all to himself, since there were no medics or other scientists. They were not particularly big, with slanting ceilings that resulted from the bladelike hull design of the Yui class. Inside, there was a short desk and tiny stool with a cushion on top. The desk had a bright-looking lamp on top and all the drawers had great latches on them so stuff wouldn't go flying if the gravity went out. There were some cabinets for clothing and a curved bedlike sleeping area on the outside edge of the room that was made of foam and covered with blankets and pillows, freshly washed.

"The bridge is that way, and the meals are served in the briefing room." the sentry pointed to each. "If you get lost, find an access terminal (control panel) and press the map button. Enjoy your stay, sergeant." With that, Shikoko left Wazu to get settled in.

Elly weaved through the boxes to reach the armory. She had wanted to see what type of weapons the new ship had been equipped with. 

When she arrived she found the regular gun lockers. One was for sidearms and small automatics, another for High-Powered Sniper and Assault rifles, and the last one for Energy Weapons and Heavy Machine Guns. She then browsed the different types of Special Unit equipment and finally she realized the lack of explosives.

Ritsurin bowed to Taisho Yui and states: "forgive me, my name is Daijinshi Ritsurin, I was a security sentry at that last dock; I suppose I now work for you." He bowed to her again, turned and crawled off the bridge. He walked around the interior of the GSS Yui. It was the most impressive ship he'd ever seen. As he crawls through the halls, he quietly contemplates what he was going to do now. As he explores the ship, he came to notice that there wasn't another man on this ship anywhere; he began to get a little nervous, as the presence of females always did to him. He realizes that he is alone on a ship of nekovalkyrja.

He had heard from a co-worker that he worked with that the nekos were essentially biological weapons created by PNUgen and WickedArms. "If you run into one, my friend," he said "be careful not to irritate or make them mad, or you'll most likely regret it." That particular piece of advice seemed especially poignant at this juncture. He looks down at his claws, flexes his fingers and thinks about going back to Taisho Yui and asking her for a new assignment. He beats off that chain of thought as one of his ears perks/cocks to his right as he hears something, he stops and looks, and sees a couple of NH-7's walking by, he averts his eyes as not to draws attention to himself.

He returns to the bridge, and said, "Excuse me Taisho, but you asked 'what to do with you?' I have experience in matters of security, I can serve as a security officer aboard this ship." He looks intently into the Taisho's red eyes as if to say "accept my offer, and I'll be loyal to you until the end of my life." As he looks into her eyes, he realizes that if he made her angry, she could probably beat him into a bloody pulp. He inadvertently wiggles his ears as he awaits her answer.

"I have one more question, where am I going to sleep? This ship seems awfully small, and the nests are mostly taken."

Yui first answered Kimi. "Too cold? I quite disagree. The temperature in here is roughly eighty-two degrees Fahrenheit. Anything more and it would be unreasonably hot, and we must consider the other crew that is aboard. It must be very warm water on Albini." Yui almost continued to say 'no wonder our invading troops liked it so much' but she kept the thought to herself, as she didn't want to offend Kimi by bringing up feelings she had over the conquest of her world. The encryption of the NH-7's mind made any attempt to read her thoughts about as useless as staring at static on a screen. "Consider spending some time in the crew baths. I was planning on heading there soon, if you want to join me."

The Taisho then turned to Daijinshi Ritsurin. "One of your fellow security officers informed me that another male has arrived onboard, by the name of Heram Wazu. If you want to stay separate from the nekos, you can share the room on the forward port side with him. Otherwise, you can sleep with Shinami and her gang."

A call was transmitted from another universe, relayed to the ship. Yui stopped to answer it.

"Good Evening" an elfish man greeted her. "Please forgive me"

"Good evening to you as well, good sir."

"How do you do?"

"Fairly well, I am currently hunting raiders."

"Any luck? In which system?"

"Python Sector. No luck so far, but we have only just begun."

"As Fleet Admiral, you must have full responsibility?"

"I am the leader of my nation, until a new Emperor is selected."

"You are the empress?"

"I suppose. But I'm a captain of my ship, first and foremost."

"I could never cope with such responsibility... I believe you do a good job"

"I do what I can." Yui said. "It is my responsibility to keep the best interests of my people at heart, while I defend and expand our empire with new friendships and the occasional conquering."

"They haven't done mutiny yet...Conquering?"

"Yes, the annexation of worlds for our use."

"You implying anything?"

"I cannot say for certain, but with luck an additional four planets will become ours within the month, along with their large military, which will submit to us peacefully. I cannot discuss the matter more than that, given the uncertainty that still exist at this time. Intelligence predicts a large war beginning sometime very soon, that my forces will be involved with."

"The Micras planet is consisting of 20 nations...It would be hard." the elf scornfully warned.

"I am not referring to Micras." Yui said in slight annoyance.

"Very well then. How many planets do you have, milady?"

"I don't even know any more. Some of the ones we used to have have recently fallen to Nepleslian forces. We battle over them frequently these days. We have Albini, Geshrintall, and Qel'noran for certain, and a good hold on Ayenee Prime and Kennewes. The planets that are no longer ours are Nepleslia, and Damascia. The Nepleslian Spacy is holding them. Luckily, it is a giant civil war where both sides wish to keep civilian casualties to a minimum. All fighting is done in space."

"How many casualties?"

"In the military, hundreds of thousands...perhaps a million or two."

"That is sad. Cannot you settle your differences in a peaceful manner?"

"No, we cannot. They believe my species is nothing more than animated meat."

"That is racist!" the elf declared.

"They are bent on technology and humanity. We, on the other hand, believe in cloning and replacing the human race."

Suddenly it dawned on the elf that he didn't know what exactly Yui was. "What species are you?"

"Nekovalkyrja, model NH-7y5." Yui responded,

"And the GSA mostly consist of Nekovalkyrja people?"

"Yes, we do. The second largest population group is the Geshrin, genetically perfected humans."

For a few more minutes, the two conversed, mainly discussing elves. Finally, the conversation came to a cool ending. "I just wanted to know a bit more about the Grand Star Army. I thank you for your time." the Menelmacari bid her farewell.

"Of course, sir." She said.

After that, she headed for the ship's bath. Elly wasn't on the bridge so she put Anri in charge. "Chusa, you have the bridge."

Heram attached his mechandrites to the drive core and began to feel the ship as his body went limp. All sorts of data were being processed through his skull. He FELT the ships hull as he would his skin he felt the pulse of the power system like the pulse of his heart and he also felt the scratching sensation of a micrometer impact near the rear of the ship. After a recalibration of the engines a new list of repairs, a full review of the ships armaments and docking mechanisms he dove into the sensor data and began to gaze at the stars

It only took seconds before Yui-MEGAMI, the ship's computer, appeared in holographic form and punched the limp man in the face, giving Heram a bloody nose. She was obviously quite annoyed at the man and picks the things off the core, shutting and locking the impervium panel. After this, she stares Wazu down for a long moment, and finally says, "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

The computer's deceitfully normal-looking form, comprised of holograms and forcefields, looked like the Taisho, but with stark white hair, porcelain skin, and wearing a set of flowing white robes. Apparently he had violated her in some way. Obviously, the program had very real emotions.

As she walked out of the baths, Elly decided to visit Senteri. Senteri had been Elly's friend onboard the GSS Assassin. They had been two of the four survivors from the Assassin's destruction during the Battle of Kennewes. Elly and Senteri had become close friends in almost a day. 

She found Senteri humming a tune in her nest. When she saw Elly she gave a squeal of delight and beckoned her over. Elly was confused. She had never seen Senteri so happy. She was the type of person who was expressionless and extremely hard to read, it reminded her of Yui.

Irim scooted down the hallway passing a crewmember in a green uniform mumbling something about how a proper diagnostic was to be carried out without a mind machine interface. She also noticed a fresh cut on the man's face. Whenever Yui would return to her room she would find a data slate on her desk labeled Yui class type B

Dear Yui,

Here is a list of modifications that I would like your approval on before I begin work on them
1. Modified radiation sinks: This will be an 8-foot long unit mounted on the end of the GSS Yui. It will include a set of cooling rods to absorb heat radiation as well as a complex series of radiation sensors and emitters that will emit the inverse of whatever radiation detected emanating out of the ship that is not necessary for work i.e. broadcasts and scans. Another effect will be to emit a false space distortion reading that makes devises that scan for a warping in up to 5 dimensions will be negated This will allow the GSS Yui to achieve a 24% increase in it’s ability to remain undetected by both passive and active sensor scans.

2. Variable weapons and the grand white beam: By modifying the shields and variable weapons we should be able to use the variable weapons to boost the power of the grand white beam by firing them into the shield matrix and flinging the shots into the beam by using the shield system to alter the course of the discharge increasing the diameter of the beam by about 2.37. Note: this will also allow all variable weapons to increase their firing arcs by about 50% by warping the shots around the shield matrix

Heram J. Wazu

BLEEP! The communications noise chirps at T'Ver with irritating enthusiasm.

T'Ver, with studied patience cast a glance at the door, behind which her yeoman should have been intercepting her messages. She opened the channel and said, "Admiral T'Ver here."

Yui was just getting more and more amusingly unabashed with her bizarre calls at odd times. This time, Yui was making the transmission from what appeared to be her ships bath, a large multi-person tub filled with steamy hot water. It was the first time that T’Ver could see the tattoos on Yui's breasts. "Good evening, Admiral!" the vibrant cat-eared Taisho's perfect-skinned face smiled amicably.

T'Ver raised an eyebrow. "Is this a social call, Admiral?"

The markings had a corporate logo and a model and serial number. There was probably barcode somewhere else. Yui bobbed in the hot water in front of the waterproof laptop computer, her wet hair sticking to her head, almost black-looking. "Social?" she gave a quizzical look. "I wanted to discuss what the GSA is doing to help rid you of your--our--pirate problem."

"Please." T'Ver invited.

"While our new Migichinan-type ship of the Draesoneth class..." Yui was familiar with the design via the information she had hacked, although she didn't know if Stelam had actually told anyone about her admittance. "...searches for the KR-894 and the KRS Intercourse, we will be looking for the rest of the ships and their base of operations."

T'Ver tilted her head a centimeter. "That would be acceptable." She said in a typically Vuclan way.

"I also," Yui added, "have a few ideas on where they will strike next." She dipped under the bathwater for a moment, and came up and raised her arms over her head, applying some shampoo to her hair. Nekos didn't sweat and didn't have body odor at all, but they seemed to share a common instinctive desire for cleanliness, which must have been what inspired them to put public bath-rooms onboard their ships. It was interesting to note that Geshrin ships tended to situate the toilets in different rooms from baths, as the two hygienic functions weren't associated in their minds.

"You seem to know these pirates much better than we do, it seems. If you are willing, we would be ... grateful ... if you were to take care of them." T'Ver replied.

"And we will, in our own way. You see, the pirates, although their moral standards are somewhat frownable, are still useful. I intend to capture them if possible."

"Since we are still in negotiations about your status with the UFP, perhaps it would be best if you handled their justice, too. We might seem too lenient from your point of view."

"Lenient?" the Taisho looked at her oddly. "I was under the impression they were likely to be executed."

"The UFP does not employ execution in its justice system. However, we are aware that some cultures do, so the criminals of those cultures are usually turned over to their own people." T'Ver explained.

"Whereas I intend to reemploy them in tasks more suitable to the interests of the GSA, where their skills will serve them better. You know the GSA allows for slavery. The pirates may find themselves on the other side of the cage doors. Do you not see it as fitting?"

"It is not my place to judge the suitability of your correctional methods." T'Ver answered, evading the direct question.

"I see. How many combat capable ships are in spacedock right now?" Yui asked, as if it was of some importance. "And what is in your fleet yards?"

T'Ver raised both eyebrows. "That is information that is only given out to the highest Starfleet officers of this sector."

"Very well, I see you don't want to cooperate." the Taisho slyly observed, implying that T'Ver would be missing out on some vital information if the elf didn't answer.

T'Ver was immune to that kind of manipulation, having heard it from students and superior officers alike. "I not only will not, but cannot give you the information you desire." She said firmly.

"You're dooming yourself." Yui frowned disapprovingly.

"I am carrying out my oath of loyalty to Starfleet. There is some information I am not allowed to divulge, under ANY circumstances. This is our way." T'Ver countered.

"The method with prolongs the survival and welfare of you and your organization is logical, is it not? Give me the information I want, so that I may determine what you need. It is important, T’Ver. Without knowing this, the GSA cannot help you. I will find out through you or through other ways, but that would take longer, and its borrowed time for you as it is. Please help yourself by telling me."

T'Ver's eyes got cold. "I cannot. This conversation is ended, Admiral." She cut the channel and stared at it for some time. What kind of allies would demand secret information? Were they allies or enemies in disguise?

Yui growled at the screen. "Foolish!" she declared. She would have to use the intelligence network on the base to individually count all the ships and keep track of them. There just wasn't enough time, and not enough agents to do it. One moment T’Ver was asking for the GSA to take care of the pirates, and the next, she blatantly interfered in the process. Yui had long suspected the pirates would raid the Python Yards, but now she had no idea when, and it wouldn't do to have her fleet lurk around the station having ships bump into them. Damn! And of course there was that other war...

"There's another man on board? But, I didn't see one on my exploration of the ship." Ritsurin said with surprise. About sleeping quarters, the nekos aren't really that bad, I just get nervous around members of the opposite gender." Ritsu explained. "I honestly don't have any problems with them, other than the fact that I've always (99% of the time) been treated like dirt by women, or they've found my ears to be 'cute' and tried to fiddle with them which is really uncomfortable. Other guys are just uncomfortable around me, so I suppose I'll sleep with Shinami and her gang, it's not that big a deal."

Ritsu then turned to leave, nearly bumping into Kimi. "Oops sorry" he apologized and continued on to the armory to look around. As Ritsu reached the armory, climbing over boxes, he entered the room; said "hello" to Chusa Elly Yakrian and proceeded to have a look at the rifles and small sidearms, looking to possibly to replace his old small handgun. Finding none that caught his eye, he left and went to have a look at the briefing room, finding nobody in there due to lack of personnel. Ritsu continued to thoroughly map out the ship's design in his head in case of emergency.

After his walk (or crawl) through the ship, he decided to check out the crew baths, as there wasn't a big issue on that kind of privacy. Upon arrival in the baths, he removed his outer uniform and undershirt and slid into the baths and sat down and relaxed for a while, letting all the stress of the day flow away. "Ah.... man! This water feels good. I could stay in here all day, but I can't; ah well." While Ritsu was relaxing in the water, a neko he didn't recognize entered the baths. Mildly embarrassed Ritsu took a breath and sank to the bottom, acting as if to get his hair wet. He came back up, not looking at the neko, propped himself up on his elbows (but not quite getting out). Ritsu climbed out of the baths awhile afterwards

"I think I'll take another look at that armory." he mused after drying off and feeling refreshed, putting his uniform back on and starts crawling. Upon reaching the armory (again) Ritsu takes a look around and then looks at his current arm and decides to take a GP-1a along with a dual-prong electrified bayonet and flash suppressor/silencer. "I hope that this is okay, I feel more comfortable having a nice rifle with me." Ritsu considered. "I'll put it back if Yui tells me to." He straps the weapon to his back.

After leaving the room, he crawls over the boxes again, and heads for the security's crew quarters, picks an unused nest, and stows the unloaded weapon and a box of ammo in it. As he walks out, he says a polite "hello" to the neko Taitatsuko, whom he recognized from an earlier encounter.

He decides to head for the baths again just because it felt so good to relieve stress in that fashion. So, again he removed this outer uniform and undershirt and slides into the warm water, and propped himself up on his elbows and just relaxed for a while...

Yui returned to the bridge, where Irim whispers something in her ear. She then headed into the small office, taking a seat in a plush leather chair situated behind a stately looking desk. The small room's walls were decorated with burgundy paint and with pictures from various moments in her life, some directly from her memories. Picking up the note on her desk, she read it over.
Quote: 
 
Dear Yui,

Here is a list of modifications that I would like your approval on before I begin work on them
1. Modified radiation sinks: This will be an 8-foot long unit mounted on the end of the GSS Yui. It will include a set of cooling rods to absorb heat radiation as well as a complex series of radiation sensors and emitters that will emit the inverse of whatever radiation detected emanating out of the ship that is not necessary for work i.e. broadcasts and scans. Another effect will be to emit a false space distortion reading that makes devises that scan for a warping in up to 5 dimensions will be negated This will allow the GSS Yui to achieve a 24% increase in it’s ability to remain undetected by both passive and active sensor scans.

2. Variable weapons and the grand white beam: By modifying the shields and variable weapons we should be able to use the variable weapons to boost the power of the grand white beam by firing them into the shield matrix and flinging the shots into the beam by using the shield system to alter the course of the discharge increasing the diameter of the beam by about 2.37. Note: this will also allow all variable weapons to increase their firing arcs by about 50% by warping the shots around the shield matrix

Heram J. Wazu 
 

"Hmm," she mused. The suggestions were interesting, but she didn't really see what the point was. For the first one, the cloaking device on the ship already accounted for all that, and they could always TTD cloak. The second idea was odd as well. The variable weapons beams wouldn't be warped unless significant changes to the SD shields were made; changes tat would lower its effectiveness. And the output of the GWB was already total annihilation. The increased radius would be good were it not for the loss of use of the variable weapons, which were used to shoot down incoming missiles and fighters. Still, the ideas had potential, and she would be sure to see Wazu and discuss how they could be best used.

After thorough consideration, she walked back out onto the bridge. "Prepare to TTD jump. And get me Wazu. Make sure everyone is ready for battle."

The CDD of the GSS Yui came online, and in an instant the whole universe around the small ship changed. They were now in a tunnel of energy, hurtling through a swirl of bright blue through the quantum slipstream, achieving a speed thousands of times that of light.

On the outside of the ship, the doors to the variable weapons turrets slid open, and the torpedo tube doors opened as well, with the warheads sliding into position for rapid fire. The technicians were all up, hunkered around their reactors and systems, and all throughout the ship, the interior lights went red.

Anri sat in the fire control station, Irim at navigation, Eris at Defensive systems. Hinosami, the communications officer, was temporarily at the science station until Wazu came to the bridge, and Yui was in the pilot's pit.

Yui's voice came over the intercom, "All hands prepare for battle." 
Kimi was nearly to the doorway When Yui returned and called for battle stations. She really didn't know what she was supposed to do now. "I'm an Intel Officer!" she thought, "What good am I in a space fight?" Looking for an open spot, she took a seat near the sensor display. "At least this is something I know, " she mused quietly as she shivered from cold. Her gills were closed tightly against her sides to try and hold in the warmth, but it wasn't working to well and only hindered her breathing.

Truthfully, the prospect of battle somewhat frightened her, especially after the seeing the effects of the wars to capture her world. But this was now her duty, to serve under Yui, and the others. Her race had been conquered and most of her way of life destroyed, but she was first and foremost a soldier, as she had always been. Only now, she was fighting to protect all planets in the GSA, not only her own. And that was indeed a worthy cause. "Ready for scans Yui!"
Ritsu jumps out of the bath, dresses and dashes out the doors, seeing as the internal lights had come on, Ritsurin knew that meant to get ready for combat. As he dashes down the hallway toward the security quarters to get the weapon he had stowed there earlier, his eyes narrow as he wonders what the problem is. But, it wasn't the time to ask anyone.

He grabs the GP-1a from his nest he stowed it in, and says to himself "I may not be as good as the nekos, but now I can show what I can do. Let's ROCK!" Running on all fours over the boxes with the weapon strapped to his back, he makes it to the bridge.

"Yui, where do you want me?" he asked with all due respect, the will to fight rising within him, he anxiously awaits his task.
Before Yui could answer, the ship was rocked by a powerful shockwave. The crew had to hold on to their seats. Hinosami went flying and landed harshly on the deck after her small body bounced off the wall. Upon coming out of the slipstream, the ship was greeted by enemy fire from a Bellystabber class raider ship, which flies over the top of the GSS Yui. Energy blasts slung back and forth, creating flashes of light along the shield bubble. Anri took control of the variable weapons, which were configured as transphasic disruptor cannons, scoring a hit on the backside of the ship that had just passed overhead.

Flying into the middle of a large battle, with a large number of other GSA 1st fleet ships present, boxing in a group of pirates. There were some 20 pirate ships at all. Now that the GSA ship's sensors were locked on, their cloaking devices couldn't hide them. The pointy green ships were taking a horrible beating. Explosions and torpedo fire were everywhere. Yui jerked the ship to the side suddenly as a heavily damaged raider ship nearly hit the GSS Yui. The craft, trailing smoke, smashed into the frontier-class GSS Homyoin (GS-13), which didn't have the same agility. The larger ship's lower sections exploded into flame as the raider disintegrated on impact.

The Yui pulled behind one of the fleeing raider ships and unloaded six torpedoes into it, pulling down as the ship violently blew up into an orange fireball. GSS Rafu (GF-78) called in over the comm reporting a bad hit to the engines. The Yui swung by catching the Rafu's escape pods, quickly pulling them into the launch deck. The Rafu spiraled out of control into the murky depths of the huge gas giant nearby.

And over the massive gaseous planet, there drifted a singular circle of gray, a huge gateway that would allow travel into other universes. That was where the pirates had been coming from, obviously. In the midst of the battle, a large white ship raced for that gate, flanked by one of the raider ships. It was the KRS Intercourse.

Anri fired a few shots at the intercourse's engineering hull, causing a line of explosions to pock up the hull as the ship zoomed through the vacuum for the gate. The intercourse replied with a salvo of transphasic torpedoes. The Yui narrowly dodged them. The white ship headed through the gate, with its escort, while the Yui recovered.

Just then, the gate itself began to shimmer yellow, preparing to make a hyperspace jump to somewhere else in this universe. The pirates are mostly gone now, either through the gate or destroyed, as well as two ships that surrendered.

Yui was half tempted to follow them through the gate, but who knew what was on the other side. With a flash of golden light, it disappeared, leaving only the GSA ships in orbit. The Homyoin's crew's escape pods were picked up by the GSS Revelation.

"That was interesting." Yui commented from the pilot pit.
"Good day, Your Excellency" an elven hologram popped up. Hinosami sat in the communications station still nursing a bruised knee.

"I am not an excellency." the Taisho frowned slightly, looking up from her position in some sort of control pit. A wire was running into her neck.

"My apologies" Ric said bowing "I am sorry to disturb you"

The lighting was still red, as a battle had just concluded. Yui began to disentangle herself from the pilot's pit and its systems. "Well, what is it you desire?" the smooth-skinned woman asked.

Ric's hologram walked slowly towards the pit, with his hands behind his back. "It is about the Menelmacari Treaty. Your proposal is not valid in the Conclave". He took a deep breath, waiting for the reaction from the Admiral. "I am deeply sorry to inform this to you"

She was removed the wire from the port from the back of her neck, just as the lights of the ship went back to normal white. Crewmembers could be seen walking to and from behind her. "Is there any particular reason why?" 

Ric was rather surprised by the light change. He looked up and down to familiarize him with the new environment. "I'm afraid that in the Eyes of His Majesty the Elenaran, only citizens may propose laws and treaties." He paused. "I thought just like you, madam, that non citizens could propose laws and treaties, but apparently I was wrong."

"This 'path follower' of yours failed to present my treaty, but presented others posted after mine. I grew impatient and proposed it myself. Why can Archetype not propose it himself?" she demanded, standing up, actually passing through his hologram for a moment. "Or even you? You're a citizen are you not? Perhaps" she suggested, "Someone could claim sponsorship for it."

Ric jumped as he heard the Admiral's reaction. At last he said something: "This Path Follower is our Prefect of State. Anyway, he seemed to have "forgotten" about that treaty. And yes, admiral, the reason I came here was to ask for your permission to propose it legally before the Conclave."

"Did you even need to ask? Your country has an opportunity no other nation on Micras has. You will be able to look up at the stars knowing there are people up there protecting you. We will gradually give your nation technology as well; make things possible you have not even imagined. But someone has to make this treaty work, because this is where all that begins." Yui crossed her arms under her bosom. "You have your permission from me, sir Elf."

The elf smiled. He was quite unsure how to behave with this Nekovalkyrja. He never encountered them. He thought for himself that she had an odd temperament. He almost finished that though quickly, hoping she wasn't telepathic and he said calmly: "I thank you, admiral. The Worlds beyond the Stars will be respected and blessed. As well as the Grand Star Army". A funny thought crossed his mind: I wonder if she knows what Elenaran means...And he laughed for himself

The Fleet Admiral bowed slightly, and then gave a respectful "Good night, sir. The GSA will very much respect your world as well."

Ric bowed "Good night madam, and thank you once again." The hologram of Ric disappeared.
"BleepBloop" the incoming message sound chimed in, on the Star Base's operations center.

"This is Taisho Kitsurugi Yui of the Star Army command warship GSS Yui. I request permission to dock at Python Station."

"Permission Granted, Taisho. Please proceed to Space Doors two." Starbase Flight Ops replied.

"Please inform Admiral T'Ver of my arrival, and that we are serving Xiulurien-style Lasagna onboard the GSS Yui."

The message was passed on, and T’Ver allowed herself a tiny smirk as she read it. She was rather fond of Lasagna, and knew that this was an invitation that it would be impolite to refuse.

Yui figured the Vulcan would get the idea, and take the initiative to come aboard and work out some of the details of that treaty. She had had enough time in the pervasive pilot's pit today, and let the new MEGAMI AI computer system expertly bring the ship in. The ship slid in as perfectly as the dagger-like shape would allow it, careful to avoid any other traffic that could be present. Upon docking, a small gap in the sides opened on one side, allowing the brow to be extended to it.

T'Ver waited till the ship docked, then hailed Yui on her monitor.

She sat in the center chair. Just on a stray thought, she asked Anri "How many TQ torpedoes do we have remaining?" Her mind was still partially on the battle fought earlier today in the sector. She could still see the explosions and firefight in her mind. The fight itself wasn't as grating as the fact that much worse was to come. Anri looked to Yui with a soft, gentle expression, and quietly informed her there were 74. The fire control officer was always quiet and soft-spoken, and certainly loveable, although she loved all three Kessaku sisters in some form. As GSA captains did.

Young Hinosami, now wrapped in some bandages where she had impacted with the wall, nodded to Yui. "A call." And Yui nodded back, thus turned on the screen.

T'Ver appeared on her screen and with a tiny nod of her head spoke, "Greetings, Taisho. It is good to see you safe."

"Will you come aboard my ship? Let us discuss the treaty over good pasta." Yui asked.

T'Ver answered, "Treaty discussions are conducted by the ambassadors, Taisho, but I will be happy to answer any questions you might have. And, I cannot resist lasagna, illogical as that sounds."

"But I AM the ambassador to the federation, and you are the federation's ambassador to the GSA." Yui placed her fingers on her chin.

"I suppose I am, "T'Ver said. "We will look over the treaty, then. I will be there shortly."

Yui nodded, and ended the transmission. She then turned to Elly. "Chusa, have the technicians and sentries clear those boxes out of the hallways an much as possible. Try to get them all level and out of the starboard hall where the Admiral will be walking through. I know there's not enough time or room to move them all, but do the best you can. Anri, head back to the kitchen and check the oven, it should be ready soon. Kimaiko, help her make some desserts."

T'Ver knew that the ship had just returned from battle and bided her time to allow them to make preparations. After waiting about an hour, she ascended the ramp to the GSA ship and was escorted in by the guards at the portal.

The brow had been raised to the starboard side of the ship. A large black scoring mark could be seen on the Yui's nacelle on that side, where it had taken a plasma hit earlier. Actual damage, however, seemed minimal. The galley doors had been left open and the hallways had a pleasant smell of fresh-baked banana bread, pumpernickel bread, and, of course, the lasagna. "By Syada!" a sentry exclaimed, seemingly frustrated by T'ver's presence.

The sentry, whose name was Shikoko, led T'Ver into the briefing room, and left her there.

T'Ver raised an eyebrow. Apparently some of Yui's crew was not as accepting of her as the Taisho. 

After a moment, a concerned looking Taisho Yui entered the briefing room, sitting in the front row of seats, facing the main screen, and gesturing for T’Ver to sit in the one beside her. The seats had fold-out tables, and Yui deployed hers. "What took you so long? The lasagna was ready nearly an hour ago, Admiral." she frowned.

My apologies, Taisho, I assumed since you have just returned from battle, that you needed time to make things presentable for your guest. I have observed that your culture follows some of the politeness of a culture on Sol III. Perhaps I was mistaken." T'Ver bowed her head and then turned her attention to the matter at hand.

"Don't worry about it, this time. We've made a special Xiulurien cheese-and-spinach stuffed pasta shells with red sauce especially for you. Sit."

T’Ver sat and in her mind turned over the information she had studied from Sol's Japanese culture. These Nekovalkyrja used terms and writing from that culture, but their customs differed much.

Yui's first officer, the quiet and kindhearted Anri, appeared from a doorway, carrying a stack of plates running up one of her arms. Her smile to T’Ver was friendly and bright and almost unnaturally innocent looking for a nekovalkyrja. She tilted her body at an angle, and though expert balance, actually managed to slide them all off without using her hands.

"Thank you," T'Ver said with a gracious nod of her head.

The nekos had a different way of doing things, obviously. The officers were cooking and the medical people were enlisted. Even the doors were odd. They shut incredibly fast, obviously fatal to anyone who stood in the doorway too long. There was probably some reason behind this. Anri bent forward and planted a soft kiss on T'ver's cheek before bowing deeply to her and the Taisho, and leaving the two to converse.

"So," Yui began, after taking a sip of apple juice from her glass. She poured a glass of it for T’Ver as well. "What was wrong, in your view, with the treaty?"

"It was imprecise, Taisho. It left too much for misinterpretation." T’Ver stated.

"You've said that, though. I am looking for specific parts which you believe need clarification." Yui replied.

T'Ver placed a PADD before Yui. "Perhaps an example of a pending treaty would help to illustrate."

"What's so good about that treaty? It's more verbose, but it serves early the same function, plus a more military nature. And embassies. But do you really think a federation embassy is necessary?"

"Why do you object to a Federation Embassy?" T’Ver asked.

"...." Where would you put it?

"You DO have a homeworld, do you not?" T'Ver raised an eyebrow.

Yui looked at T’Ver as if the elf was being very presumptuous. "We do."

"That is where an embassy is usually placed, unless you have a cultural center closer by." T'Ver said.

"You may place an embassy on Kosame, but at this time, I cannot allow an embassy on our homeworld."

"Why is that, Taisho?" T'Ver asked, very curious now.

"First of all, that would mean letting in outsiders to our universe. It also means the distribution of the technology that makes such travel possible."

"You live in a parallel universe?" T’Ver asked, both eyebrows raised.

"Well, you didn't think we just came out of nowhere, did you?" Yui laughed.

"The galaxy is a big place, Taisho, much of it unexplored. It was reasonable to assume that you came from one of those areas we have not reached yet."

"No, we come from another universe, much of which is destroyed. We travel to other universes to seek out resources and knowledge." Yui nods, explaining.

"If your homeworld is indeed in a parallel universe, then the treaty between us must contain some provisions of protection of the barrier between our universes, of assurances that the fabric of both universes is not harmed, thus affecting both our timelines, and that extreme care shall be made not to interfere in the natural development of each others' universes." T’Ver said gravely.

Yui seemed pensive. "We have already interfered with the development of your universe. Our very existence here is unnatural to your timeline."

"Be aware, that we do have other refugees from another universe here, but they remain in their own system for the most part, and are developing a new life here." T’Ver explained.

"I'd find it disgusting if you would use that as an excuse to attack my people." the Taisho noted. "Your prime directives push you towards conflict in circumstances like these."

"Attack?" Your logic escapes me." T'Ver said.

"Some would say that since we 'do not belong' we must be driven out by any means." Yui clarified.

T'Ver blinked, the logic of the Neko Admiral confounding her. "I do not understand."

"I'm saying that your temporal operations people may try to restore the timeline that our presence here has altered."

"Indeed? Perhaps they see a threat that you insist is not there. The fact that you know about TimeOps says that you have been into our database." T'Ver stated calmly.

"In my own opinion, none of that future timeline stuff really matters. I would disband those units. Nothing but trouble results from those affairs. The point is, your people do not have the technology to enter my home realm, and we do not intend to give it to you. Maybe one day in the future. I didn't know if you were aware or not, but it was none other than myself who captured the contents of your database. I have studied you and your universe in depth."

"That is not the act of an ally, Taisho. We have not attempted to steal your technology nor hack into your database." T'Ver said.

"You do it to lesser species all the time." Yui justified.

"Explain your logic."

"We are studying you, T’Ver. And we are not your ally, T’Ver, until this treaty gets signed." she added. "THAT is why it is so important, mainly to you."

"So. You see us as inferior species and freely take what you want against our permission. You have the tactical advantage over us, and that makes you not an ally, but a threat to our very existence. You are, indeed a Trojan Horse, as the Terrans say. I do not see that you intend on peaceful relations at all, but to conquer us and take our resources." T'Ver rose from the table and pocketed her PADD.

"No, after our information gathering, we found we had much to learn. Don't walk away."

T'Ver looked with cold eyes at Yui. "Yes, you have much to learn, Taisho. Good night." T'Ver walked unerringly to the port and down the ramp.

"So be it." Yui frowned. ~Why can't these strange people understand?~
As Ritsurin was awaiting his orders, but before Yui could answer, the ship was rocked by a powerful shockwave. Before Ritsu could grab a hold of something or brace himself, he was thrown backward by the force of the shockwave and hit the wall behind him harshly, he felt something stab him from the front, "Impossible!" he thought as he coughed up blood.

He looked down and saw his own clawed hand imbedded in his chest. "Blasted razor sharp claws" he thought as he coughed up some more blood. He sank to the ground, while taking his hand out of his chest. As he hit the deck of the ship, he notices that it's becoming difficult to breathe and keeps coughing blood.

"I'm gonna die...No! If I wanted to die, I'd have done it while I was some unnamed, dirty street orphan" he said in a coughing sputters, Ritsu passes out form loss of blood." Now he wasn't normally telepathic, but as he passed out, he tried to send a telepathic call for help, but wasn't sure if anyone heard him or cared.
"Ritsurin?" Irim looked at the security officer bleeding on the floor. She wasn't happy. The officer grabbed Ritsu by the collar and dragged him to the medical bay, and began fixing him up. Although Yui was the actual surgeon of the ship, Irim had a very good knowledge of how the body worked through her hobby of torture. The fact that his species was unknown to her complicated things somewhat.

She was downright mean in conversation while she worked, commenting "You idiot. Yui was going to promote you, you know." as her blood-covered hands sewed some sutures in place and stopped the bleeding. She gave him a healing hemosynthetics injection to help speed his recovery.
Yui, still in her nest where she had moped all night, made a transmission to the GSS Kiyomizudera (GD-45), the command ship of the 5th Fleet, the other fleet in the Python sector. She leaned over screen, her face displaying a look of concern. "Chujo Wolf," she addressed the Fleet Admiral. "Prepare your fleet for battle. There are several potential conflicts brewing and we need to be ready when and if the time comes for us to fight. In the meantime, station your fleet wherever you see fit." 
"Admiral T'Ver, I find it difficult to map out some of your logic, but I must try. By now, in the old empire, we might even be at war, but this is MY army now I do not intend to have my people fighting and DYING nor the murder of your innocents because of my personal troubles with diplomacy. Please let us work out an agreeable alliance, so that our people can know and agree to what is expected of each." Yui's little interrupting image was perched in a comfortable command chair on T'Ver's screen. "If you want," Yui conceded, "I could send Anri instead of myself if you have negative feelings toward me. She is softer in her approach. But giving up the process of peace is unacceptable."

She stirred a steaming cup of green tea anxiously, not completely sure of herself or her goals, but determined to find her way. Yui was an expert in the fields of warfare, strategy, medicine, and mathematics. But the ability to relate to people had never been a strong point. T'Ver was cold, it seemed. Not emotionless like she should be, but almost vengeful in her mannerisms. In the meantime, Yui couldn't tell what the federation as a whole was thinking. There wasn't even a hint of gratitude for the pirate ships destroyed lately. What Yui didn't understand is why the starfleet Intel hadn't tried any recon missions against the GSA yet.

T'Ver sat for a time and pondered what she needed to say to this person, this child, who so desperately was trying to forge some kind of peace with a people she did not understand. "Taisho, one cannot enter peaceful negotiations with accusations of attack and demands. One must have a modicum of trust in order to proceed. One does not approach a future ally with a superior attitude. You want information from us, so you took it. We have not done the same to you. You are forcing a treaty on us, not negotiating a peace. The UFP does not demand or force treaties on its potential allies. Just the opposite. IF the other party is not truly seeking peace and cooperation then the UFP backs off from the talks."

"But backing out guarantees war!" Yui pleaded with exasperation. She had seen too much already and it was the last thing she wanted. "What do you want of us? If you want equality we will treat you as equals! I am treating you as an equal now, T’Ver! Please."

"Let us continue talks in two days. IN the meantime, look over the treaty I showed you and adjust your treaty accordingly. Understand that the UFP stands to loose more than you do if we cannot come to an agreement. And yet, should you annihilate us in war, you will be destroying the very thing you seek, independence, freedom to choose, the opportunity to learn a better way of life, the strength of diversity."

"Would it take the imprisonment of Anri and I for our research? Would that somehow make things better?" the Taisho's eyes shimmered with wetness.

"Imprisonment? I do not understand." T’Ver again was thrown off by this Neko's illogic.

"NO, mistress" Irim could be heard from somewhere off screen. "Don't give in to an unjust peace, which would only cause unhappiness. The federation has had their chance and thrown it into the gutter to be dissolved and faded with the forces of time. This elfoid @#$%& does not want to contribute in any way, and should be strapped to a table and flayed."

T'Ver's eyes flicked to the direction of the voice, and she instantly became alert. There was something terribly wrong here!

Yui nodded to Irim to show she heard and considered the comment, but did her best not to let Irim's somewhat cruel opinions stray her from her discourse. "Although unaware, we broke your law by taking the information on your computer. Many species seek vengeance for acts with violate their customs and written rules."

"If your revenge upon me is the price of freedom and prosperity for my people...then I would never put myself before my children." she explained.

T’Ver spoke softly, though not showing overt emotion. "Taisho Yui, we are in what we call a First Contact situation. There will be mistakes of protocol on both sides. While we are learning each other's customs, it would be illogical for either party to punish the other for lack of knowledge."

Irim was practically growling. "You are necessary Yui. No neko has the wisdom and leadership that you do. Don't suggest such things, Mistress. Let us strike before they prepare. We will take their ungrateful cultures and show them the true path of the stars!" the neko fanatically urged, her face slipping into the screen's view, glowing blue eyes narrowing at T’Ver in the background.

"For this understanding I am grateful." Yui bowed her head, somewhat relieved.

T’Ver eyed Irim. "Taisho, does this one speak the opinions of the majority of your people?"

Yui paused and looked at Irim for a moment, then turned back to T’Ver. "No, she expresses herself, as is her right."

"Does she lead others in her point of view?"

Irim pointed a three-foot-long butcher knife at T'Ver from behind Yui, and then dragged it across her own neck, spilling a bit of blood out in an exaggerated gesture.

"Where are you going with this? My people as a whole have voted to ally with the federation, not to attack." Yui spoke.

~ That is a dangerous one. She is not as under control as Yui would believe. She is going to cause much trouble for Yui's people.~ T'Ver noted. She pointed to behind Yui. "That one exhibits psychotic behavior. She would undo what you strive to build."

"Irim is a trusted and loved crewmember of mine, and she supports me." Yui replied. "Don't you, Irim-chan?" she asked the malicious one, who nodded in agreement. "See?" Yui indicated to T’Ver.

"Heh. Old people." giggled the short-statured Hinosami, one of the non-nekos aboard Yui's ship, making a joking reference to both Yui and T’Ver.

T’Ver gave a minuscule shrug. There was nothing she could do. If Yui could not see the danger lurking just under Irim's facade, then, all T'Ver could do is wait until the neko was totally out of control. Hopefully no one got killed in the process.

~How does green blood taste?~ Irim broadcasted over the whole station.

"I am needed elsewhere, Taisho. If you will excuse me?" T'Ver asked.

"Irim" Yui motioned the neko over. "Please prepare some cornbread for us. Eris is in the kitchen, and could use a hand." and Irim was sent off. "I hope we've left on better terms than the last time, Admiral. I think we've made some progress. Thank you and good night," Yui finished.

"Until our next meeting, then. "T’Ver nodded and cut the com.
"Thank you Irim, I appreciate this, I really do." Ritsurin said sitting up *winces*. "You don't have to be so mean about this, it's an accident, not a personal insult, and accidents happen. But, I am sorry if I have pulled you away from your duties." he said to the navigation officer that had fixed him up.

"And what do you mean Yui was going to promote me? I have done nothing worthy of a promotion." Ritsurin questioned "Heh, ow, you sound as if you hate me." Is there anything I can do to make it up to you? Well, get back to me if I can make it up." he shrugged slightly as he got his uniform back on and walks out of the Medical Bay. He heads to the security quarters so he can be alone for a minute or two possibly, and writes up a little letter to Taisho Yui.
It said:
" Taisho Yui,
You said that you were in this for the children, for that I must thank you and the entire GSA. If it wasn't for your actions many years ago, I probably still be some dirty, nameless orphan living in the streets. I owe the GSA my life and I intend to repay that debt"-GSA no Sergeant Daijinshi Ritsurin Security sentry GSS-Yui (GD-30)

After finishing his letter, he sends it to The Taisho's Nest via telekinetics (a trick learned at the Imperial Academy). He goes forth to the bridge, figuring that he needs to apologize to Taisho Yui for his weakness. Still recovering from his injury. He stoically reports to Yui for his next assignment, praying silently that she doesn't reprimand him (for that could be harsh indeed).
A tone signaled a message for Ritsu. It was Dr. Shinichiro of PNUgen Corporation. "How has your experience with the nekos been going?" The doctor asked.

"Interesting. That’s all I really have to say"

"That one Irim kind of strange though..."

"How so?" asked the doctor, raising a graying eyebrow.

"She just seems, I don't know, a little edgy maybe psychotic"

"Psychotic? How has she been acting lately...what has she done to make you think so?"

"Well it's just MY opinion, when I woke up from being unconscious she was chewing me out over something"

"Unconscious?" the corporate leader asked, confused.

"The ship ran into a battlefield almost immediately after TTD jump, and I got thrown against the back wall and impaled myself with my own claws *nervous chuckle*

Taking a sip of his dark coffee out of a mug with the PNUgen Corporation logo it, the doctor frowned. "Well of course she was annoyed with you." 

"I kind of guessed that"

"Some nekos, especially those who have been through testing processes have psychological problems, often a cruel streak. Eve was one of the prime examples of this. If you think that's what is going on, you can tell me about it."

"I don't know too much about Eve except that she made me an orphan while I was still young

"Keep an eye on her. You don't need to necessarily let the captain know either. Yui and I have had some run-ins in the past." he added. Upon hearing Ritsu's last comment, he was prompted to ask, "Where are you from?"

"I'm from a small planet, Earth, and my parents got killed in one of her terrorist attacks, at least that's what a soldier told me."

"My Katsrinel! You're from EARTH? You mean you're a goddess-damned nerimian?" he asked in disbelief. "Eve's never been to earth!"

"I must not have been here then, and I'm not a nerimian, I'm half-demon, half-human.

"Very strange" he commented, typing something on a computer. "Earth." he said. In the GSA's home universe, the place didn't even exist. Not least, not anymore.

"I'm a mystery even unto myself sir."

The doctor looked at Ritsu and raised an eyebrow. "Indeed."

"In any case, I'm here now, and that's what counts. My loyalty is the GSA."

"Of course." the doctor nodded. "Well, I've got lots of other ships to check on, so I'll be letting you go now. You know where to reach me."

"I'll do that...I'm enjoying it here, it's very interesting, that Yui is nice enough, I'm glad she's the taisho (or commander if appropriate) of this ship.

"She's good at a lot of things, but is not perfect.

"Nobody is."

"Good day." the man ended, and the transmission ended.
Ritsurin looked about for that scientist Heram Wazu. "Hey Wazu, you know a bit about tactical systems correct? I have an idea for a new piece of personnel equipment, meet me later in the briefing room to discuss this"
The communications noise woke up Talbert, who was halfway in dreamland. It was a transmission from the GSA ship in bay 2. Probably Taisho Yui.

Talbert read the transmission and he tapped the keys. The monitor in front of Yui activated and showed not T’Ver, but the face of a blue-skinned woman with snow-white hair pulled back into a bun, She wore the pips of a Marine Colonel.

Yui, wearing a pink set of loose pajamas and obviously in her 'nest' as the nekos called them, raised a green eyebrow at this unfamiliar person. "Hello."

"Admiral Yui I presume?" The woman asked officially.

The cat-eared admiral ran her hands over her perfectly smooth legs, causing the chevron-shaped slits over the heat exchangers to flare slightly. "You are correct. Who are you?"

"I am colonel Jenna Domina, Chief Intelligence Officer, Starbase Python." Jenna answered.

"An intelligence officer? What exactly do Starfleet intelligence officers do?" Yui inquired, temporarily putting her original purpose for calling aside. Yui was head of one of the two big intel agencies of the GSA, the Star Army Research Administration, which was responsible for the acquisition of new technologies.

"We collect information, Admiral." Jenna said in an even voice, neither friendly nor challenging.

"I see. What information is of the most interest to you? And how do you normally go about obtaining it?" Yui psuedo-interrogated.

Jenna sat back and tilted her head. A small smile came across her face. "Why did you try and call the Admiral?"

"A new treaty is drafted." Yui declared proudly.

"That is good, Admiral. I understand that Diplomacy is a new concept for you. It is a good sign that you are attempting to forge a treaty between the GSA and the UFP." Jenna said. "The UFP Ambassador will look over your treaty and discuss it with you."

Irim was hanging around, walking by occasionally in the background. She could be seen down on the bridge below Yui's tiny sleeping area, putting on her black robes and inserting a battery-magazine into a dangerous looking sort of energy weapon. "I can practically taste her!" the white-skinned Irim laughed in giddiness.

Jenna's eyes flicked to Irim, then back to Yui.

"That is good." Yui smiled, hoping that this treaty would be the one to lead both cultures into a new era of prosperity.

Jenna asked, "You do not seem surprised to have contacted me rather than T’Ver. Why is that?"

Yui was almost about to begin asking more questions, about the Migichinans and Starfleet intel, but decided not to in light of the strange offense these federation people seemed to take when information was requested of them. "T’Ver is undoubtedly busy." she responded.

"We have reason to believe T’Ver’s life in is danger, Admiral. All her incoming calls will be routed through my office, and she will be personally guarded at all times." Jenna explained.

"In danger?" Yui raised an eyebrow. "How so?" The other eyebrow came up and joined it before her eyes went back to a resting state, oddly cute.

"That information is classified. However, I wish to enlist the services of two of your most trusted people to aid in her personal defense. There shall be two guards with her at all times." Jenna said.

Irim, on the other hand, was stepping off the ship carrying a loaded rifle already, while Yui continued talking to the woman on her laptop. "I am already short on crew as it is, miss. But continue. I wish to hear your proposal."

Jenna said, "Fleet Admiral Holloway ordered me to assign the meanest guards I could find. I have heard that your Irim is ... diligent ... in her duties. Perhaps you can spare her for a shift each day. It would demonstrate to the UFP your willingness to aid us in our time of need."

~Hmm, a good task for Ritsurin?~ Yui pondered. She would probably promote the security officer after his next assignment.

"Irim is not a security sentry, Miss. She is a bridge officer. My sentries are Shinami, Shikoko, and Taitatsuko." Yui frowned. "Admittedly, she is extremely skilled. Irim served as a test weapon rather than a soldier during her early years, though."

"A weapon is just what we need. Irim and any other officer you wish to assign." Jenna said firmly, as if it were already decided.

"and Ritsurin." she added. Ritsurin was a half-demon of some sort that had become part of the crew when he was accidentally trapped aboard while loading cargo from a station in Tabidatsu orbit. "Would a non-weapon do to compliment her?"

“Yes it would. Each of your officers will team up with a Migichinan guard." Jenna explained.

Yui made a somewhat disgusted face for a moment.

"You have a problem, Admiral?"

"I distrust the Migichinans. They are seemingly all slaves of their weak goddess."

"Diversity is one of the attributes the UFP cherishes, Admiral. Freedom of religion is guaranteed in our statutes."

"They probably suggested the pairing up, too. All a ploy to study us like animals in a giant lab cage." she mumbled, and then sighed deeply.

Jenna refrained from saying that the Nekos were doing the same thing to the Federation.

"The Migichinans do not grant their people freedom of religion." Yui countered.

"Perhaps," Yui suggested, "My sentries could guard T’Ver part of the time, and the Migichinans could guard her during a different shift."

Jenna thought a minute, then nodded. "As you wish. Perhaps it is too soon for you to work with us AND the Migichinan."

"My ship will scan the Admiral's area for cloaked assassins. Is this permissible?" she asked, wanting to ensure this wasn't a setup of some sort.

"Yes." Jenna answered. "I would expect no less."
)"However, her personal privacy is not to be breached unless there is danger to her person. She DOES have a husband."

~Excellent~ Yui thought to herself. Not only would it catch whatever was lurking around, but also a good chance to soak up information on anything Technical T'Ver happened to walk by. "Tell me something, though...Why Irim? Irim is quite aggressive and I'm not sure how she'd react in a conflict, with regards to bystanders."

"You told T’Ver that Irim is a most trusted crewmember did you not? Did you misrepresent Irim?"

"No...I trust her. But I warn you, she is like a hammer. An excellent tool...so long as you are hitting nails."

~ Or planning an assassination Jenna thought. "All right, Admiral. Your team will take Delta shift tomorrow evening. That is midnight to 0600 Starbase time."

"Very well." Yui nodded. "You will be certain that T’Ver reviews the new treaty."

"T'Ver will no longer be negotiating the treaty. Our UFP ambassador T'Anna Veritas will be taking over that task. She will meet with you at the agreed on time. Good evening, Admiral." Jenna cut the connection, then frowned for a time at the dark monitor.

Yui poked her head out onto the bridge. If Ritsurin weren’t willing to do the job, then Eris would probably be a main candidate since the pair worked well together and Shinami's trio disliked being separated. Where WAS Irim, anyway?
It was almost time for the meeting with Daijinshi so he headed toward the briefing room being careful not to trip and fall over the many boxes littering the hallways. He finally reached the briefing room and sat down just as Daijinshi entered the room. “So what is this new idea!” Wazu said as he fumbled through his robes for a fresh data pad
Sgzyr finally crawled out of the escape pod that he had been in a meditative sleep since the heated battle with the pirates several days ago. He forcefully shoved the hatch open as the metal device just fell off with a forceful action, giving him the recognition that he was aboard some sort of spacecraft. Dried blood ran down his arms as he surveyed the interior of wherever he had been put into. Perhaps due to the incompetence of the crew or just a general lack of time, none of them had searched to find him. Scuttling around caused him severe pain as he reached a door, where its destination was unknown. He simply yelled “Medic!” once before collapsing back down onto the ground. Perhaps, somebody would find him this time.

"Huh?" Shikoko asked, hearing the hoarse call from the launch deck. Bounding over, she quickly realized that not all of the crew of the GSS Rafu had been able to get themselves out of the pods. It was a good thing the pods had not been jettisoned into space yet!

Yui was asleep and Irim was out and about on the space station. Unfortunately there was no medical officer onboard. Quickly gathering up the lizard like man, she brought home to the medbay and laid him gently down on the table there, checking his vital signs. She telepathically called for Shinami to be ready to get Yui if needed as she checked his wounds.

Irim was sitting at a shadowy table in the back of the bar. She had been with Eris earlier, and Eris had left to take their rifles back to the ship after security personnel had gotten into an argument with the two over carrying the weapons. Now, the white-skinned neko was seated on the red leather cushions of a seedy place with a glass and bottle of some sort of ale before her.

This wasn't Lia's usual taste in hangouts, but she wanted to avoid Stok for a while. Her white hair and lavender/purple-rimmed eyes were eye-catching and unusual in Terrans. She saw Delmar look in her direction. "May I sit here?" Liam asked, hoping she could avoid another confrontation with Delnar.

Irim seemed surprised. There was a moderate aura of evil that seemed to emanate from the cat-eared girl. "Oh...you may." she permitted, scooting over. The bottle next to her was actually empty. Sitting down revealed another two empty bottles on the seat, which Irim moved out of the way and onto the table. Only one glass was sitting on the table, and she seemed to be the only one there. That's a lot of alcohol.

"I am Ambassador Lia McFerren of the Electric." Lia politely introduced herself. Va'na curled up at her feet.

Rather than being violent and aggressive, as station rumor had made her out to be, Irim seemed almost depressed, taking this into account. "Hmm" she sighed, looking the woman up and down very slowly, blinking teary eyes in her somewhat drunken state. "I am...Irim."

"And this is Va'na," Lia nodded down at the little canine.

"Taii of the Star Army." she added, downing the last glass of alchohol with a sniffle. She looked at the thing. "?"

"Va'na is a security officer." Lia answered the unspoken question.

That only caused another odd look. "?"

"She is assisting me in keeping some people away from me, who'd seek to own me." Lia smiled ruefully.

"I speak." Va'na piped up.

Now that was something Irim could relate to. She was legal property of the GSA, in fact, and had been owned all her life. "Own you?" she asked, inebriated but intrigued.

"I'm a clone." Lia said. "Physically I don't have much strength and less endurance but mentally, I am worth quite a bit to certain parties. Some will go to any length to keep me as their property.

Irim shifted her position and Lia could hear something metal bang against the wooden frame of the seat. Under her black robe, Irim apparently had a 3-foot-long butcher knife on each hip for some reason. "A clone?" Irim asked, scooting closer with sudden interest. "It is strange that you are defective. My people destroy defective newborns. Your creators must have been short of resources, I imagine. I can provide you with a new body to replace that one if you so desire." Looking to the odd canine, she nodded a hello, unsure of how to react to it.

"I can't adapt to a new body, but I made a life for myself. My 'defects' weren't apparent to well after birth. My creator continued to work with what he had, which your right, wasn't much. Then he tried to dispose of me. I then proved my worth and now I am free to be a person." Lia replied. "Although Delnar over there doesn't think I have rights!" Lia nodded at the man.

"Ohm." Irim pondered in wonder. "Proved...worth?" What an interesting concept. Defective reborns were replaced without even thinking of their potential value. But in the GSA, new life was cheap and easily replaced. "Are you his creation?" she asked.

"Partially, yes. They stole eggs from females and created babies. My egg created ten clones. The other nine were strong and physically healthy but were not sentient. Creating clones the way I was created was extremely illegal. They had to keep the operation tiny to hide it. You cannot own sentient life forms in the Federation. That is against too many laws."

"Hmm, it is a part of the laws of the GSA that a creator owns his spawn for eight years, whether it be clone or natural." Irim explained.

"It is very different in the Federation. You are considered your own person with inalienable rights." Lia said. "It also prevents confusion as to who is a proper person and who is a toaster. That analogy comes in because there are sentient machines."

"I am like a machine, but organic..." Irim tilted her head. "Not everyone thinks nekos are anything more than that."

"Ignorance is still plentiful. But the difference between what can be owned and what cannot is the ability of the being to self determine. For example, you know you are not I. I know I am not you. Hence we are two self determining beings." Lia explained.

"What about a computer?" Irim asked, intrigued. "My ship has a computer which is quite intelligent."

"But does it think to itself 'I am therefore I am?' or question the meaning of it's own existence?" Lia pondered.

"I do not know." Irim frowned. "I wonder if she ponders my existence?"

"Those are the kinds of questions sentient beings ask themselves. I am not an expert in this field, but I do know I think about life."

"I'm afraid that the federation is just toying with the GSA, that they are biding their time and are unwilling to offer any friendship. They reject our fair offers of peace, but never make any offers of their own." Irim blurted out, her source of frustration revealed suddenly.

"I doubt it. They could be scared." Lia said. "Or perhaps see things differently than you. If two people see this differently from each other," Lia held up the candle in the middle of the table. "It can get confusing for both sides. For example, one sees it as a container of wax. The other can see it as something that burns. It does both, but both persons don't see that, or understand how it can be both things."

"Hmm" Irim looked at the candle. She saw it as a tool for playing with people, a light source, and a chemical reaction. But she saw Lia's point as well. Staring at the candle in some fascination, she asked Lia, "Do you think they will ever accept us?" her voice sounded discouraged.

"Yes. It takes time. Also, as you are much younger than the other person with which your trying to deal, and the fact that you were created for a purpose make your vision much more straightforward than the one whom you question. Also, when it comes to the Federation, you have more ideas and opinions than you have stars. It takes a good deal of sorting out to make sense of all that. And all of that needs to be taken into consideration when we discuss treaties." Lia explained. "Treaties are like star ships, you have to know where they will be going thirty years from now as well as where they are going today or you can run in to a proper mess in the future."

"I think they hate us." Irim sobbed.

Lia gently put her arm around the Neko. "No they don't hate you. Any more than you hate the candle. We do have a lot of pirates in this sector, so they cannot be as trusting as they would wish. Shhhh, now, if your doing guard duty on a hazardous mission, you must keep awake to make sure danger doesn't reach your fellows. Does that mean you hate the banana tree sitting to your right? No. But you do want to make sure the banana tree doesn't have any spiders in it that can, with out intention, harm or kill a delicate life form for which you took responsibility. That means viruses, bacteria, anything of danger." Lia's voice was soft.

"But...we have destroyed most of the pirates!" Irim suddenly snapped into an aggressive mode, growling and slamming her fist on the table hard enough that all the empty bottles fell over. "They didn't even thank us! ARGH!" the neko fumed.

"They didn't in a way you understood." Lia smiled. "The base commander is a Vulcan. For them it is not appropriate to show emotion. It is an insult to them and to the person they are interacting with."

Irim just looked at Lia funny for her remark, thinking it totally inane. "perplexing,"

"That it is. The elves have a good reason for what they do, for not showing their emotions openly." Lia said. "Emotions nearly destroyed their world."

Irim leaned forward and unexpectedly gave Lia a big kiss on the lips. "Thank you very much for being kind to me, sweet miss. My sister has just informed me of an injured crewman on my ship, which I shall help attend to. Please forgive me as I must go."

"If you need talk, just message me." Lia offered, seeing a soul in need of friendship.

She stood up, her straight dark green hair bouncing lightly with her movements. The black robes concealed her figure and contrasted against her snow-white complexion. With a light bow, she said "Farewell, Ambassador Lia, you have made a new friend today. Call me if you need anything at all." and hurried out to get back to the GSS Yui (GD-30).

Taisho Kitsurugi Yui sat in the command chair of the ship that had a name and class the same as her own (Yui). Buried deep in political affairs and management of the production of new GSA ships, she sat surrounded by displays and controls and data all around. Her face, although maintained in a semi-perfect state by her body, still managed to look old.

She and her ship were in docked in a space station in another universe, but her she had scattered scouts who recorded the battle, and she watched it as it replayed, overlooking the data on the NDI ships, and with equal interests, these newcomers. She didn't recognize them and was interested in finding out more.

Unfortunately, this was pretty much the only thing her scouts had reported in a long, long time. She was beginning to question if Chujo Zaitsev was doing anything. In fact, the Chujo had not even sent any messages. She was near to demoting the man, assuming he was still alive. She had switched out the third fleet's ships, even, since the chujo had never updated them.

Accessing the communications station herself (since Hinosami was sleeping in Yui's nest already), she sent the lost commander of the third fleet a message. "Report back to me regarding current situation." It was simple but would hopefully get the point across. The GSA was not an organization that was supposed to require admirals of one fleet managing another. Now that the GSA was the government, Yui was theoretically in charge, but she had always valued a GSA with independent fleets.

Chujo Wolf, on the other hand, seemed to be settling into his position as 5th Fleet commander as well, although not very active. With this latest development, it wouldn't do to have inefficient commanders, and Yui was still involved in negotiation and she didn't want to have to back her fleet out and loose her progress. In the mean time, the GSA was determined to produce ships as fast as possible. She needed eyes and ears.

"Well, here"-Ritsurin said as he slid the blueprint to the science officer, while hiding the completed prototype under the desk.(Something approx. 1 foot in length, with straps for attachment to the arm and hand, with a blue crystal in the center of a lightly built frame). "This is a forearm module, a personal force shield of sorts. It has 2 settings, narrow and broad; narrow shield for self-defense, broad shield for group defense and to serve as a possible blast shield in explosions if escape is not possible." Ritsurin explained.
"It is activated by the here-points to the dual fingers rings- pull the middle finger ring to activate the narrow shield, and the ring finger to activate the blast shield. It is powered by the ammo magazine of a GP-5, it may need more testing though, though my readouts indicate that the narrow shield works under rifle fire and sword attacks, the blast shield shows promise in deflecting the same attacks, but on a bigger field." He said.
"If you'll excuse me Wazu" He said as he received a request for his presence on the bridge.
He walks out of the briefing room and straps the prototype force shield module to his forearm. "You wanted me Yui?" he said as he entered the bridge.

Kimi slowly climbed over some of the boxes after the battle. Muttering under her breath, she made her way to her nest. She shoved a box across the hallway to open the hatch. No one was there at the moment. Glancing at the computer screen, she noticed a message for her.

She triggered it to open and a few words flashed across the screen.

"FOUND YOU."

Kimi mentally screamed as she passed out and slipped to the floor. The last thought she had before she sank into darkness was,

"He's coming...."

Chujo Viktor Zaitsev wandered silently through the hallways of the Yui craft. Glimmering emerald orbs swayed softly about the dimly lit place. He pondered significantly about his current problems and his own moral ethics. He could no longer understand or carry out the full extent of his operations in the Ayenee system as Admiral of the Third fleet. Eventually, he would come to a stop at the entrance to the Yui's personal chambers. With a deep, cautious breath Zaitsev slipped through the gliding open doors.

Eyes peeled to his superior who was at the time he arrived sitting comfortably within her quarters. Zaitsev gave a half-hearted salute, before abruptly blurting out the many thoughts that had swarmed through his mind over the last few weeks, his voice a raspy undetermined tone being his only reassurance. "Sorry to bother you so abruptly. However, I feel that it is an important issue that I bring. Yui, I've come to understand that I cannot properly focus on my goals in the Ayenee system. I find too close a relation between myself and the NDI and KIF. I feel my personal emotions may effect my actions taken while in Ayenee. I humbly request a reassignment."

Pausing, Zaitsev fell silent. His gaze was cast down to his boots in shame at the words he spoke. He cautiously on edge for Yui's response as he began to think about how abrupt and informal his sudden proposal had been.

"You wanted to see Yui?"

"Oh?" the Taisho asked. "Yes. Would you be willing to guard a federation ambassador?"

"Who?"

"Admiral T’Ver. I don't know if you know anything about her...she's an elfoid."

"I've heard of her Yes I'll do it"

"Excellent." Yui nodded. The first shift is tonight. If you're not available, I will send Eris or Shikoko. I'm still thinking about switching Irim for a sentry. I don't know why they chose her of all people...I mean, she really belongs on the bridge."

He brushed his headband out of his eyes. "They wanted Irim? I wonder why."

"Where do I need to meet this T'Ver?"

"I don't know, but she shouldn't be that hard to find." Yui replied.

"So I just need to keep an eye on her?"

"Yes. You'll be guarding her against assassins." Yui nodded.

"Any info on the possible assassins?"

"No. They haven't given us anything. But it is likely a shapeshifter."

"Oh great I hate those things"

"I have this,” he pointed to forearm shield. "The assassin won't duplicate it if I hide it"

Yui stood up from her desk. "Is that all, sergeant?"

"Yes ma'am"

As the two exited her office, she told him. "If you complete this assignment, I am planning on promoting you and giving you a bridge position. Is that ok?"

"That would be acceptable"

She smiled and climbed up from the bridge into her nest where Hinosami was sleeping already. "Good night, Ritsu."

"Good Night Yui"

Sitting down in her chair behind the desk in her small office, the sleepy Taisho gestured to him to close the door behind him and take a seat across from her.

"First, I'm very surprised you traveled all the way to this universe to get here. I'm equally surprised the starfleet people let your ship into the docking bays, with the current shaky political situation. But I am not surprised you are requesting a new assignment. Managing a fleet can be a grueling task,” she told him. They both knew from experience.

"Perhaps you would be suited, due to your experience with both the NDI and KIF, as an ambassador of sorts. I'm looking to strengthen our ties with the KIF and even the NDI. If you'd like, you can have a single ship rather than a fleet. That should be better, yes? I will assign you the GSS Shibata (GD-116). In it, you will travel between the KIF, NDI, and GSA and keep things running smoothly. Is that alright?"

Wazu was walking to the lab when he noticed a form sprawled out on the floor. He ran over to Kimi and drew his gun not knowing if intruders were on board or a variety of other scenarios that were brewing in his mind being as paranoid as he is. He reached down and checked her pulse NOTHING! She was dead. Just then Kimi woke up. “I’ve got to learn how to take a pulse,” He thought to himself. “What happened?” he asked her.

Hinosami, the communications officer, and Yui were both still sleeping together in their nest, so it was first officer Anri who answered the incoming call. With a gentle nature and a snow-white face, the smiling nekovalkyrja pleasantly grinned after switching the main viewscreen to display the transmission.

"Greetings!" Ric said smiling. "I would like to request a talk, if that is the right word with Admiral Kitsurugi. Is she available?"

"No, kind sir, she is at rest. But, I am authorized to speak on her behalf." Anri smiled, tilting her head slightly. Her ears were relaxed, as was she. The Chusa wore a white uniform, which tugged firmly to her soft and perfectly proportioned body. Something about her eyes seemed to sparkle radiantly.

"In that case, may I speak to you..." he paused and saw the rank on her uniform and continued at once "Chusa?"

"Yes," she grinned and nodded her head cheerfully.

This woman seemed very friendly, friendlier than the admiral herself, but of course he didn't mention it. He had before read the official biography of the Admiral and was quite terrified by the truths mentioned there: slaves, lovers, kills etc... Hopefully the Chusa here was a bit more... nice. "I am Richard Lyon of the Republican Imperium of Menelmacar. How do you do?" That was the worst thing he could say, but this woman just was so different, happier in some way. He thought over it and maybe the Admiral was hiding a dark secret. 

"I am Chusa Kessaku Anri, or as they say, Anri the Soft." She giggled slightly at the nickname. It was so appropriate, though. Somewhere along the line, Anri had chosen to be gentle and kind in all of her actions, and it really showed. Running a hand through her long wave and curls of her green hair, she smiles yet again, rendering him a GSA salute.

It was a beautiful day in Eressea, the small city where Ric lived. The sun was shining into Ric's office. "Ms. Kessaku, are you the acting Commanding Officer onboard this craft?" Ric still didn't know what to say. This was making him frustrated. He smiled though and gave Anri the traditional elvish salute. 

"Yes, I am, sir." she gave him a quizzical look, toying with her ear.

Ric looked away for a second. "Are you perhaps familiar with the Imperial menelmacari treaty with the Grand Star Army?" he turned at once seriously and gave her the diplomatic elvish look. "A majority of the voters like it, but the Government is not as happy about it."

"What is the problem, sir?" she asked, her shiny eyes widening, then shifting to a look of thoughtful concern.

"Two words, Chusa: Clause Two"

"...?" Anri didn't seem to see the problem, and her face showed her confusion.

"Excuse me for a minute or two, Chusa. I am trying to find it in my mess" The elf started to tidy his desk of thousand of papers

"'There! 'The Grand Star Army will not attack the Imperium of Menelmacar without special permission from the Imperium, and the Imperium agrees not to attack the Grand Star Army, without special permission from the GSA.' - That is what the Government doesn't like about it."

Her delicate-looking yet plump fingers stroked her pointy chin. Her hands were larger than that of a human, and had one less finger. They appeared to have retractable claws in them. She blushed slightly as he watched her, which revealed a pattern on her face, with thick pink lines from under her eyes and mouth running straight down, like war paint. The highlight faded as she composed herself. "But sometimes countries want parts of themselves ‘attacked’." she explained.

"The Government of the Imperium does not want to become attacked" Ric said at once ignorantly. "They are to proud. I personally agree that it is good to have peace forces if a civil war breaks out." 
"Then it is as simple as not asking us to fight in Menelmacar, good sir!" she nodded vigorously.

Ric almost smacked himself. "That is what the 'ayes' have been saying all the time... Besides what harm would it do to have it there?" 

"There can be none, unless your officials asked to commit assisted suicide using it. However, they would not need a treaty for that." she frowned, then smiled, saying, "I think perhaps people have not taken the time to think about it, sir!"

Ric laughed and said smiling: "Perhaps is it because they are humans." He soon realized it was a bad joke--a really bad joke. Too late now, Ric tried to shake it off by saying: "Whom will you send as your Ambassador to the Imperium?"

"Oh!" she exclaimed, unprepared for the question. "I...I don't know, sir!" she shrugged. "Are we required to send someone?"

Ric buried himself in his hands. He just did too many mistakes during this conversation. Once his head was free he said, "Of course not, Chusa, It was out of true curiosity."

"The whole concept of ambassadors and embassies is quite new to us." Anri quietly revealed. "I was worried because we didn't really have any to send."

"My apologies, Chusa. Forgive me for my confusing words. I really don't feel well today."

"That's because you've been poisoned." Anri nodded.

"WHAT!?" Ric shouted

When she couldn't hold it any longer she burst out in a fit of giggling and laughing. "Just kidding, sir!"

She stuck a pastel-pink tongue out at the man.

Ric smiled, but nothing more than that. "Don't do that again, Chusa. Please". Ric paused. "Are you sure that you are the XO of this ship?"

"The GSA does not have the position you call XO." she managed out, still cutely giggling a bit.

Ric sighed loudly.

"I am the first officer, which is the assistant to the ship captain, Mister Lyon sir." she smiled at him, wishing she could play with his ears.

"If she's the 1st officer I can only imagine how the rest of the crew is..." he muttered. “Is perhaps the Admiral available now" Ric said with a smile.

Anri frowned and made a sour face for a moment, like someone had given her a quart of sugarless drink mix. It was obvious no one wanted to wake the Taisho up.

"Perhaps she isn't available" Ric tried...

If he had not been in a conversation, he would have seen how quiet and reserved she usually was, despite her sudden charm and life while speaking. Just then, Yui popped out of her nest, wobbling out onto the bridge in just her thin underwear with a look at Anri, then to the viewscreen. The topless admiral raised an eyebrow and said, "Well, hello again."

"Oh hello" Ric bowed "Excuse me" he said nervously pointing at her...

Stretching out her tattooed body by flexing her arms over her head, her skin, inscribed with a model number and a corporate logo, is every bit a smooth as the porcelain-looking Anri, but in more human flesh tones rather than pure white. Yui didn't seem to mind at all. In fact, she told Anri "Thank you Anri-chan" and grabbed a laptop computer and activated it. Soon the little terminal took the place of the viewscreen and Yui was carrying his image around the ship. She ended up in the bath, neck-deep in steaming water.

Young Hinosami, the only Geshrin aboard, slipped into the pool with the admiral a few moments afterward, and so did Anri. Anri ducked down to her eyes and moved around like a prowling fish, chasing the giggling girl around the large tub in the background while Yui, keeping the moving water at the shoulder line, addressed Ric. "Is the treaty passed?"

"Not yet, Admiral. The Government of Menelmacar reserves themselves at clause number two"

Ric sat in his office seeing how the Admiral bathed. He was wondering why the GSA culture was more open...

T'Anna activated a link to the USS Yui.

Ric sat in his office seeing how the Admiral bathed. He was wondering why the GSA culture was more open...

The culture he was brought up with was strict - do this - do that. He was a child centuries ago... All things change

Yui scooted the message window over, and opened the channel, to be greeted by T'Anna. Hinosami and Anri were splashing in the bath behind her. "Hello T'Anna." Yui smiled, putting the chat on a three-way so they all could see each other. "It's been a long time."

"This," Yui pointed to the apropriate side of her side of the window on T'Anna's viewscreen, "Is the Delegate from Menelmacar, of the planet Micras."

"T'Anna, I don't think we had the pleasure of meeting before" Ric bowed.

T'Anna smiled her trademark smile, one designed to put everyone at ease, and to show off her own beauty. " When may we meet? I have been assigned to help you establish a working relationship with the UFP and perhaps to further discussions on the treaty." She thought they would be meeting in person in conference somewhere.

Ric smiled "That day is yet to come. I do hope we meet"

Still shoulder deep in the hot water, Yui smiled and grabbed a washcloth, running it over her legs while she waited for the two to make introductions. "You may come aboard now, T'Anna. Last time I forgot to make the time known and T'Ver showed up an hour after dinner." She grinned, opening a third window, and silently ordering a technician to make dinner using telepathy.

"I am on my way." T'Anna said. She cut the link and quickly made her way to the gate at which the GSA ship was docked. She showed her ID and was allowed up the ramp.

There was a momentary wall of water as Anri and Hinosami both bumped into Yui and pushed her under the surface. She came back up with her hair black-wet and her mouth in a straight line. Her eyes tracked around to the two playful crewladies and she grabbed them both and dunked them back in return. Yui let Hinosami up first, because the girl couldn't breathe underwater. When the link cut, Yui slid out of the bath and moved into the dressing room, stepping under the dryer (think of a large version of the hand dryer machines) and then dressing in a crisp white-paneled GSA uniform. Shikoko, the ship’s usher of sorts, invited T'Anna in and brought her to the bridge.

T'Anna bowed her head graciously as she entered the bridge. She took in the alien bridge, memorizing every detail, as was her custom when in any new place.

Yui was soon on the bridge. The main screen was left showing the view of Ric.

"Admiral... hello..." he said carefully

"I am Ambassador Dr. T'Anna Veritas." She nodded her head at the man on the screen.

Yui gestured to the Fire Control station, where the variable weapons turrets of the ship were operated. The control panel was green-toned, not unlike that of Federation ships, but without the curves in the buttons. She turned from T'Anna to the Delegate.

"Hello Mr. Lyon."

"Dr Veritas, pleasure to meet you"

"Mr. Lyons, are you the GSA ambassador?" T'Anna asked.

" Dr Veritas, I am from Menelmacar located in Micras."

"He is not of your universe." Yui explained. "Nor mine. He is the representative of a planet the GSA has recently placed bases on, south of his empire's southern section. It is a new world we are seeking to learn about. I have also been negotiating a treaty with Menelmacar as well as with the UFP."

T'Anna had a blank look on her face. She was not expecting the presence of an unknown delegate. Nor did she have a clue where this Menelmacar was.

"So, T'Anna..." Yui prompted the doctor to reveal the purpose of her visit.

Ric looked at them both. "I will gladly talk to you later about Menelmacar. Her history is too long to be described during a night"

"Just leave out the banana stuff." Yui chuckled, exchanging a look with Ric, obviously an inside joke of some sort.

"I have come to help you meet some of the requirements of consideration for a treaty between you and the UFP." T'Anna explained. "There is the issue of your residency here in Python fleet, and I was hoping we could discuss your setting up a permanent colony at Kosame."

Ric smiled. "I do not belong to the banana"

T'Anna looked down at her hands. Apparently they were having their own conversation, and she was intruding.

"Micras is a planet of about 20 nations, Dr veritas. I would be more than happy to give you some books about it."

"But Ambassador, We already have a thirty-thousand strong colony on Kosame." Yui objected. "Is that not enough to be worthy of being considered a homeworld in your universe?" took a seat in the operations control station, which was in the center rear of the bridge, close to both people.

"Actually, it is a very good start, Admiral. Now you need to set up a working government and assign an ambassador to Python Fleet.

Yui had heard rumors of the Federation possibly donating equipment such as orbital stations, and she didn't press the colony issue too hard because she wouldn't want to cancel out any notion of assistance. "Why do your people require ambassadors and embassies? I think the thought of a bit of your country in the heart of mine is inherently wrong. Why would we want to put our embassy on your world as well? You do not want a piece of us inside of you, do you?"

"If I may interfere, Admiral, my people are used to embassies. I can elaborate."

"I would understand if the countries the embassy were in guarded the embassies, but to have each country guard its own embassy is to only promote spying--a behavior I have been informed you society frowns upon. What is there to fear of indigenous security? That the guards would watch the embassy? Truly, if there is nothing to hide, then there is nothing to fear."

"Admiral, we are most comfortable in groups of specially selected diplomats to work out our agreements rather than being faced with a whole army or government. It is easier for us to establish friendly relations with few rather than many. Your ambassador will be your spokes person, one who everyone else in Council will get to know. This person will represent the needs of your people to the rest for the galactic community." T'Anna said.

"In that case, perhaps both the Federation and the Grand Start Army should join the Assembly of micronations"

Yui paused for a moment, and then spoke. "That seems well enough, but what of the embassies?" The Taisho wondered if that was a deliberate avoidance. Laughing amusedly, she said, "The federation is composed of member planets, not countries. The joining would be the other way around."

Yui blinked as the screen fizzled and then switched to a GSA display indicating the transmission was lost. "Hmm." she hummed. "There must be some transuniversal interference or something. That's alright, I'll catch him again later."

T'Anna waited to see if Yui was going to come back to the subject or wander off into another conversation.

Now with her full attention focused on T'Anna (who was the only person on the bridge beside herself), she shrugged and scratched behind her ears. "Where were we, doctor...Ah yes, we were discussing embassies, ambassadors, and their usefulness. I see why ambassadors can be good, but embassies, no."

"Actually, an embassy would not be necessary on your colony until it grows much larger. But I was more concerned that your colony move towards being a self-governed entity with which we can formalize relations. Embassies can be discussed later, when Kosame grows into a political entity of its own. The Migichinan have offered to help the UFP fund an orbital station from which you can conduct space traffic."

"Doctor, what are you saying? Kosame is part of the GSA, and its government will be of the GSA. Must it govern itself?"

Because of its distance from the GSA homeworld, it would, by necessity, need to have a local government. Of course its central government would remain on the homeworld, but Kosame is going to have to conduct many of its own affairs." T'Anna said.

Yui shifted in her seat, obviously most uncomfortable with the idea of Kosame actually running itself. The world was, right now, under her complete control, and setting up a government there only could cause that control to slip away.

T'Anna knowingly said, "Do you not think it is unsettling for your creators to give up control over Nekos? It is the same when a colony is formed so far away from the homeworld. It WILL change and eventually have different goals and ideals from the planet that spawned it."

Yui leaned forward. "No planet spawned Kosame. I did. The creators of the nekos have not 'given up' at all, either." She seemed both hurt and angry.

T'Anna leaned in and said emphatically, "Yes! Your homeworld carries the past with it, a past you do not want! This colony, Kosame, can be a new beginning for the Nekos. No creators, only freedom to live and prosper, to raise your children as you see fit, to enjoy the pleasures of leisure and of work!"

"I..." Yui started, then looked down for a moment, then back to T'Anna. "I can't give up Kosame to run itself, though. You assume that I work for a higher power, that I am breaking the bonds of my homeworld...but you are wrong, T'Anna. I am as high as it gets. There is no central government anymore, nothing to break free of."

You have others who are leaders. All of them do not have to be Nekos. Some can be sympathetic members of your planet who want to pioneer a new world.

"I am being crushed by my own dream, doctor," Yui told T'Anna, "but I can't let go because to do so would be to leave my children as mere tools. The Corporations want control and we can't stop them because without them, there is nothing for us...they make our ships and our guns and even the very bodies and souls we call our own!! How can I change things and keep my people alive and prosperous?"

You can use the resources of the Federation to build your ships. You can negotiate with PNU to build bodies. However, I think you will find nature's way of building bodies much more satisfying." T'Anna said.

"And," Yui added, "How do I even know who my people are?? I can't draw lines by species. There is no nature in a neko, T'Anna." Yui said, referring to the fact that nekos only came in females, and couldn't reproduce with each other.

The doctor smiled, "Neither can the Federation. Yet we prosper because of the diverse resources each species brings to the mix. You CAN do it. But it will take time and trust."

Why do you need Neko males? Technology can make males of a nearly compatible species compatible with your DNA. It is not a difficult process anymore."

"Why do humans still exist!" Yui cried out in exasperation. "Damn humans..." she began to cry.

T'Anna put a comforting hand on Yui's arm. "What is the matter?" She asked gently.

"People need to take control of their selves, and evolve. The humans just don't understand what it is to be a neko. We are treated as inferiors while we are superior. It's wrong. But it would be wrong to force a change as well."

"You would not be forcing, only allowing change." T'Anna said.

"This conflict destroys my will to live." Yui sobbed, unsure if T'Anna understood.

"You are afraid of the unknown, Yui. It is a universal emotion. You despair because it is new and you are young, and the responsibility you are saddled with is so great."

"But..." Yui looked up, her eyes filled with tears. "I can't...I must...oh Syada why?"

T'Anna hugged Yui and said comfortingly, "We are here to help you. You do not have to do it all alone. Because there are so few of you left, you must embrace diversity in order to survive. You have friends here now. We will help."

"Kosame" she whispered, sniffling. "Melanchol"

(Note: Syada is a mythical GSA battleship in Geshrintall orbit. It is said to be sentient and godly, and so a lot of GSA troops will use its name where humans might say god. Melanchol is Yui's home state, a rainy and cold land not unlike the climate of Kosame)

"What must the GSA do?" Yui groped for a direction to look in, politically speaking.

'Strengthen your colony at Kosame. Bring in your diverse people, those who are wise, those who have the drive to forge a new world. You have a sizable colony already. Organize them into political units. The UFP has a huge database of many kinds of governments. Model yours after what makes sense for your people." T'Anna answered.

The Taisho muttered something to the nature "It is good Irim isn't here now. I am so weak and pitiful, she'd cleave my face with an axe."

"Well, Irim has her own problems, too. Right now you are a leader with work to do. There is nothing wrong with talking to someone about your fears and insecurities. That is what a counselor is for. I do a fair amount of counseling in my profession." 

"What about now? The treaty...?" she wiped her eyes.

"The Treaty can wait. You need to get Kosame ready as a necessary first step towards formulating a lasting treaty. Meanwhile, we are your friends and your allies. We will not let your enemies harass you at Kosame."

"The GSA needs not your protection, doctor." Yui sort of snapped back. "We need the treaty. Both of us."

"Yes we do. We will continue to work on the details of the treaty. I will discuss your needs with the Fleet Admiral. We have an unwritten treaty right now, do you not see that? The UFP is donating resources to strengthen Kosame, and thusly your position here. You have to choose an ambassador who can reside at Starbase, so she can see to the negotiations."

"That's why I am here, T'Anna. There are no ambassadors. They are DEAD! Do you expect me to send a two-day-old clone to represent my whole nation? Why not consider Taii Hoshi Koigokoro your ambassador?! You seem overly concerned with slapping a title on someone, when then that's not what is important."

"What I see is a person who is trying to head an army and trying to administer governments on two worlds. You cannot do it all yourself." T'Anna said.

"But who else can?" Yui questioned, and then began to sing aloud for no apparent reason. "Freude, Schöner Götterfunken, Tochter aus Elysium, Wir betreten feuer-trunken, Himmlische, dein Heiligtum!" Yui recited quietly, "Deine Zauber binden wieder, Was die Mode streng geteilt; Alle Menschen werden Brüder, Wo dein sanfter Flügel weilt."

The first part she translated for T'Anna: " Joy, thou beauteous godly lightning, Daughter of Elysium..."

Yui smiled. "I will see to finding suitable leaders, but I won't put anyone in charge who cannot handle their position. I just lost the admiral of 3rd fleet."

T'Anna frowned, "Lost?"

"He resigned from his position because of personal difficulties. The pressure of the command was too great...I can empathize."

T'Anna just nodded, not knowing what the song had to do with a resigning admiral.

"It's hard enough to find commanders for fleets, let alone planets." Yui commented.

T'Anna rose from her seat. "We have covered enough for one day, Admiral. You have much to think about. And I have much to coordinate. Good evening." She bowed and excused herself.

Yui led her out, following her all the way to her out before turning back. She gave the woman a hug before T'Anna left. "Thank you," she smiled.

Ritsurin overheard the conversation between Yui and T'Anna (from a position down the hall). He walks onto the bridge. "Yui, never give up on your dreams, dreams are the one think that give people hope, dreams of a better future for example. If you hate humans, then you must hate me too, I am half after all." Ritsu said.

"Forgive me, for eavesdropping, but I was down the hall and heard that much of it." He said. He turned on his heel and walked back toward the security quarters and lay down in his nest.

As he went, Yui said. "I only hate the human society which can't accept reality."

Another simple text message from PNUgen, sent to GSS Kiyomizudera (GD-45) to be recorded and relayed to GSS Yui (GD-30)

"Yui, please fill me in on the happenings in the Python Sector so that I may decide on a course of action for the 5th fleet. Thank you.

Yui sent a brief message back to the Kiyomizudera (GD-45) to relay back to Wolf.

To: Chujo Jadg Wolf
From: Taisho Kitsurugi Yui

Situation has improved here in Python. I think the tension has dropped significantly. We have, however lost a fleet commander as Chujo Zaitsev has opted to step down for personal reasons. Commanding a fleet is difficult and I can see why he chose that way, but I can't afford myself that liberty. A lot depends on us. There has been a battle in the Ayenee system as well, but details are sketchy since we lack adequate intel operations there. Overall, I think Python will be a great place for us, the GSA, which will bring us comfort and prosperity in the future.

Good luck to you, and please return to the fifth soon.

As Ritsurin lay in his nest, he remembered what Yui had just said. He felt something he had not experienced in many long years, a strange pulling at his heart. As he thought about how down she sounded, and wished he knew of a better way to cheer her up, other than what he was about to do next.

~Yui, don't let the weight of your dreams crush you, stand up and bear it, because good dreams like yours CAN shape a better tomorrow. When I was young, I dreamt of simple survival, and now look at me. Don't forget that you have Shikoko, Shinami, Hinosami, Kimi, Elly, Irim and ...me; we all believe in you, don’t forget that.~ He sent to her telepathically.

"What are these feelings? I've never felt something like this before. It feels like a need, a desire; could it be love? NO! It can't, I wouldn't know love unless it punched me in the face. But still...I feel a need to be close to close to her." he thought. "Argh" he growled to himself.

"Hmph, it can't be that...imagine: a lowly security officer in love with the Taisho of the entire GSA?" he scoffed silently. "Even if these feelings are true, I must keep them to myself."

Ritsu sat up, stood up and took a walk around the ship. "Why am I feeling this?" he wondered. He knew that his feelings would get in trouble, yet he didn't know how to deal with them, and that prospect frightened him. He knew that his duty came before any of his own personal feelings, no matter how hard they pulled at him. Ritsurin walked to the baths, changed into his bathing suit, and got into the warm baths hoping that it would help him to compose himself.

An anonymous transmission punched into most frequencies, begging to relay its message. It was weak, not strong enough to interrupt any transmission in progress, but had just enough juice to catch the attention of anyone monitoring communications. At first, all that could be heard and seen was static, then a face appeared out of the electronic fuzz.
"This is the...scou-...-paw. Mayday, mayda-...power drain, engines down and...support failing. Estimated exit point is unknown. Plea-...render assistance if you hear thi-..."
The transmission repeated as if on a loop, then faded away. But a small ripple at the multi-dimensional level could be seen on sensors, it was both slowing down and coming closer.

Wazu stepped into the dimly lit room that was the science lab onboard of the GSS Yui. The green glow from a rack of computers and other experiments permeated the eerie twilight. He stepped over to one of the shelves and began to observe one of the more recent experiments. A clear container about one foot by 4 inches filled with suspension fluid had a small four legged creature growing in it made entirely out of nanomachines. Various wires and sensors were attached to the creature and ran out of the top of the container to a small set of computers located in the corner of the room. Wazu then walked over to the computer and checked the status of the experiment.

Wazu sighed, the creature would not be ready for another few weeks. He turned his back and went back to work on some of the other experiments. He failed to see the things red eyes open and start observing him work.

Sgzyr was walking down the hallway when he heard someone approaching from behind him. 
“Sgzyr!” Wazu said, “I heard you were looking for ways to increase your combat ability. Is this true?” 
“Yes, what exactly are you proposing?” Sgzyr asked
“Well, I am working on a new combat system that could boost your combat abilities to be on par with the NH-7’s maybe even more powerful.”
“So what is this new system?” He asked
“It is a series of chemical injections and energy therapy that will increase the conductivity of your neural pathways and the density of your mussel tissue.”
“Very well but if I feel threatened by any part of this I will quit,” He said with a grim determination.
“Ok then come to the shuttle bay in a hour for some preliminary tests and uh…bring a GP-12.”

One hour later…
Sgzyr was in the shuttle bay of the Yui dressed in a space suit holding a GP-12 taken from the armory onboard the ship. A small device that looked like a grenade launcher on an automated tripod was set up near the door. Wazu‘s voice crackled over the intercom in Sgzyr‘s helmet “I need to check your combat abilities now and compare them with the results. Once the doors open I will launch a series of target drones. This is a live fire exercise so I’m going to have to ask you to not shoot at the Yui!” With that the room depressurized and the doors opened. Three drones were launched out of the back of the ship and Sgzyr let lose raining a hail of energy rounds down range at the drones scoring several hits.

Yui came onto the bridge, and immediately asked what was going on. "Ritsurin? What's this about a distress call?" she questioned, replaying the signal.

"You say you relayed it? Why haven't the starbase people done anything, then?" Yui poured over the logs and figured out that no relay had been made. "What the hell?"

Taking a seat in the center chair, she began to guide the starship out of the dock. Soon the ship was free and approaching the Cat's Paw... 
Wazu was in the science lab with its green glow shimmering off of several mechanical arms loading chemicals from various containers into syringes then putting them on to a small tray on a desk beside him. Wazu picked up the tray and went off to the med lab where Sgzyr was waiting for him. When he walked into the medlab he found that Sgzyr was already there standing on the other side of the room. "Please lay down on the table and I’ll begin administering the injections,” Wazu instructed. With only a hint of hesitation Sgzyr got on to the lab table. Wazu then gave him a injection that put him to sleep He hooked up the med lab mechanical arms with the syringes as well as several bio-neural energy emitters and began the series of injections and energy therapy.

2 Hours Later, Sgzyr was lying down in his nest. The enhancement surgery still made him feel sore but he could feel his increased strength. Just then Wazu came in. “Do you want to try the tests now or wait for later?” “Sure,” Sgzyr replied, “Lets go.” In a few minutes Sgzyr was suited up and in the shuttle bay and the test was starting. “Sgzyr, Your total score for your first try was 328pts out of 1000 for shooting. In order to activate the Intensify system you need to focus on your target and the system should kick in automatically.” With that Wazu started the test launching several target drones into space. Sgzyr tried to focus on his target and Intensify kicked in. He had never felt such power! He could feel himself get stronger his vision became four times better he could even make out the tiny imperfections in the target drones. He didn’t even need to try to complete this test. Sgzyr, using only his left hand, fired three shots from the GP-12 scoring three prefect bull’s-eyes! “Interesting,” Wazu said, “maybe we should increase the difficulty?” Then the launcher then fired 10 target drones that moved in erratic patterns trying to dodge the shots. Sgzyr simply fired off another shot taking down another drone with a perfect hit. “Easy” he said to himself as he shot at the remaining drones
The thing watched Wazu enter the room. The container and suspension fluid was warping its vision but it soon adjusted its eyes to compensate. The creature then began to eat the sensors and absorb their raw materials. By now Wazu had collected the syringes and left. The creature then began to throw its minuscule body weight at the container slowly moving it toward the edge of the shelf. Off to the left the computer displayed these words: creature status: sentient

Seeing as he majorly screwed up with that distress call and he's not exactly on everyone's good side; Ritsurin decided to hole up in one of the empty rooms on the Yui. Ritsu decided to learn to control the demon blood that flowed through his veins. Normally when his blood broke or was released from it's constraints, Ritsurin flew into a psychotic frenzy, killing and destroying without remorse or fear; in such a state, he gave to thought to the consequences. But, on the ship, with so many crewmembers all crammed together, he could not afford to become totally psychotic. So Ritsurin decided to attempt to put his power under his control, not vice versa. 

But first, he needed to let everyone know not to come into the room with him or risk getting killed. "I'm going to have to do this; if I cannot learn to control my power everyone around me will be under nearly constant danger." He said to himself. "I'm going to do this or die trying" Ritsurin decided. Now he had a problem, how was he going to let everyone know not to mess with him for a while? Then he remembered that Yui gave an announcement to the entire crew over a PA-like system.

Ritsurin made his way to the bridge, knowing that Yui was most likely there. He stops and talks briefly to one of the other sentries in the security quarters, and continued on to the bridge. As he walked he slowly began to release a small portion of his blood. As the blood began to flow, he felt it trying to takeover, Ritsu stopped and took a minute to overpower the urge, but his eyes still turned from their normal amber color to a blue-green color, and the normally white colored area of his eyes turned into a blood red color. Ritsurin didn't realize it until he got to the bridge and also got a strange look from one of the bridge officers he didn't recognize.

He briefly spoke with Yui to ask her to give an announcement saying that he's going to lock himself into one of the empty rooms. "Yui, would you please tell everyone to avoid the empty room next to the Cold Storage? I'm going in there, and anyone who enters could be killed." Ritsurin told her.

Ritsurin then walked out of the bridge and straight to the room, once inside, he locked the door. And proceeded to release more of his demonic blood. He screamed once as the transformation began; his eyes were already red, so his claws got slightly longer and sharper, his hair changed to a flaming red and he started to lose his mind, Ritsurin tried to resist the dominating force, and almost succeeded, ALMOST. He screamed again, but this time it was slightly more bestial. He rages in the solitude of the empty room. After awhile, he finally exerted all of his energy and returned to his normal appearance (blonde hair, amber eyes etc.) and promptly fell asleep, he slept for half a day.

After he woke up, he again attempted to dominate the force that made him lose his mind. So he changed, and again he tried to resist the blood's dominating force. Ritsurin resisted valiantly and came closer to gaining control of it, but it got the better of him, and he again lost his mind and raged, exerted energy and fell asleep. This ritual continued for a while with Ritsurin gaining more control each time. On the last try, however, something strange happened; instead of gaining total control over his power, he transformed into a hybrid form (his true form if you will) he now has blonde hair with red highlights, blood red fingernail claws, reddish-orange eyes, and slightly more muscle mass.

He looked down and saw his new look; "Damn!  I wanted to control it, and now this, I hope that everyone will still recognize me." Ritsu said as he unlocked the door and went to the bridge. "I'm back, what did I miss?" he asked merrily.

The GSS Yui quickly decelerated near the spot where its top-of-the-line sensors had pinpointed the Cat's Paw. Yui's red-irised eyes scanned over the starfield on the screen before her, spotting the damaged vessel. She looked over to Eris, who was reading over the sensor readouts, with Wazu sitting next to her at the science station.

A flash heralded the arrival of a starship, igniting some distance from the GSS Yui's position. A ship emerged, small and dark. It was a dark navy blue craft with an insignia on the aft section consisting of a spear-like shape with a crescent behind it and a double-circle at the tip. The engine pod on the port side was dark, as was the exhaust vane in the rear. There were no lights visible. As it exited the rift, which closed with a ripple behind it, it slowly began to spin end over end, inertia carrying it along its trajectory. Something was definitely wrong.

"I'm pulling the ship up closer. Are there any signs of anything potentially harmful? Plasma emissions? Weapons?" Yui asked. Anri was ready at the fire control station, in case it was some sort of trap. Meanwhile, Hinosami gave Yui a look, silently requesting permission to hail the vessel. With a nod, Yui gave permission. "Cat's Paw, this is GSS Yui of the Grand Star Army. Can you hear us?"

"Yui, the ship has had a full power failure but I detect no harmful radiation or internal leaks"

"Have Shinami and the security crew prepare a boarding party." Yui commanded Anri. "It the meantime, Wazu, try to stabilize the ship with our graviton beam."

"OK" said Wazu. He then starts putting in commands on his computer terminal and the GSS Yui began to emit a blue beam that grappled to the rear of the Cats Paw moving it into a more stable pattern of movement.

As the ships are put onto a parallel trajectory with one another, Yui stood up. "Wazu. Meet me in the shuttlebay."

Wazu got up and followed Yui off the bridge

The ship slowed its rotation as the graviton beam played off its hull...then stabilizes and allowed itself to be pulled alongside the GSS Yui.

Yui entered the tiny shuttle, which held a maximum of five people. She took one of the two front seats, to pilot the craft. As the lights of the shuttle's control panels blinked on, the shuttle began to scoot forward onto the launch deck, where the door was sliding open in a garage-like manner. A forcefield kept the air in while the three security nekos crowed in the back. The door began to close and Shinami grabbed Wazu and helped him inside.

Before Wazu did anything else he checked the ammo in his pistol and steadied his shaking hand. He attached a flashlight to one of his mechandrites and prepared to explore the ship.

Once Wazu was aboard, the small shuttle left the Yui, and extended its sleek CDD engines. The craft, under Yui's control, soon was right next to the Cat's Paw. Yui looked over the hull for an entrance point.

A hatchway can be seen on the dorsal surface of the two-man craft, near the aft end, standard airlock mechanism. Another entry point could be the aft door, but that was normally used in an atmosphere...it would decompress the whole ship in space.

Wazu pointed to a hatch at the end of the craft

"Hmm." Yui raised a brow. She pulled the shuttle over to the hatch, lining up the hatch on the top of the shuttle with the ship's hatch.

Wazu moved over to the hatch on the shuttle preparing for docking

A hissing noise indicated that the two spacecraft had connected. The security nekos gathered around the hatch with their rifles ready, and then the hatch slid open, revealing the interior of the alien craft. Top to top docking was not unusual for GSA ships, and the nekos would easily have adjusted, should they had needed to...but the gravity of the ship was out.

Sergeant Shinami was the first to enter, her rifle's flashlight shining around.

The interior was dark except for a single panel on the ceiling that pulsated with a faint red light. Flashlights would be a good idea, it seemed. The set-up was simplistic, a bench running along the aft section the starboard side and a series of equipment lockers on the port side. Forward of those lay the cockpit, a single step below the main deck. One high-backed chair occupied the small area of the cockpit, surrounded by a horseshoe shaped console, two glove-like pockets on a portion of its dorsal surface directly in front of the pilot's chair. In the chair was the pilot.

Wazu followed closely. The sensory equipment on two of Wazu's mechandrites began to work over the ship while a data theft probe attached to his final mechandrite plugged into the computer and started to download any information he can find regarding what happened to the craft

The computer system was down too...in fact, it kept blinking "No Data" at whatever electronic probe Wazu would try. However, the starboard side had a small placard on it reading "The Cat's Paw...'It was theoretically impossible, so it wasn't my fault.' - Leon D.S. Geeste"

Wazu began to think things over in his mind, could the TTD have malfunctioned did this ship have a TTD what was impossible? What would disable the power? Being his paranoid self h