Samanthia
Inactive Member
Wet streets of Kyoto
She was drenched, like a cute red-headed rat. Antonia continued to walk along side Aikiko, slightly almost unnoticeable shivering. Nepliesia was a normal wet planet but then again she normally would have been wearing a trench coat or something. Hell She didn't even bring one with her on the ship. 'frack me straight to the core!'
Aikiko looked at Tony and couldn't help but smile. It was rare to have made a friend quickly as she did. "We can take a cab if you prefer?" Seeing how miserable Antonia was.
"No... But it seems I need to hit a store or something... I need a damned coat..." She looked exasperated. "Wasn't issued one when they shipped me out... Grrr...." She smacked herself into head thinking this all through, she should have asked for one at the purser's before she caught her shuttle out.
Aikiko took hers off, knowing that will probably make her get in trouble with the Shosho. "Here take mine." She held it out to her as they walked along. She Felt the rain soak into her dress uniform. She knowing that if the Shosho sees her now, Hanako would probably demote her so low that it would take eons to get back to the rank of Santo-Hei. But it was worth it for a battle buddy and a good friend.
With a warm smile Tony gently pushed Akikio's hand with the coat back at her. "Naw... I'll live, just have to hit a shop or something... plus ya'll's fancy uniform is getting all wet."
Aikiko snickered, "this get up? I feel so underdressed as it. You ought to see the Peacekeepers’ uniform. Looks hell a lot better than this does." She got the distant look. "That was comfortable in any weather." Shrugging a bit as it was turned down. "How about we shop there?" Pointing to a second hand shop that sold clothes and everything else.
"Works, things would be cheep there right?" Antonia smiled again, a hint of embarrassment crept across her face as she fought to hide it.
"I hope so..." Aikiko spoke as she headed for the store, pretending not to notice Tony's predicament. As she pushed the door open, some chimes tinkled above their head as they moved deeper into the crowded store full of clothes and coats and odds and ends. Seeing the prices, she smiled as she moved along the clothing as if she was shopping in a more luxurious clothing store.
Tony followed suit though she checked each coat and jacket's price before even looking at the item. She kept finding old field coats from Yamatia and even a few old Nepleasian coats from before the war. She wondered about poking at the different options even glancing at a few of the outer kimonos, she smiled at the thought of her looking like one of the kittens around here.
Akiko moved through the store, looking over the trench coats and other outfits that caught her eyes. Holding them to herself as she looks in the mirror as the store owner came out to see who was in the store.
The store owner eyes got wide at seeing the two soldiers in his shop. Then realized one was different than the Star Army Neko. "We no serve them here!" He pointed at Tony.
Aikiko growled at the proprietor and advanced on him. "She is a guest of the Star Army. If Shosho Ketsurui finds out that you failed to treat her guest And Crewmember...."
She was interrupted by the store proprietor, "Sooooo Sorry! I was mistaken! I will give discounts to you both! To such esteemed crew of the Ketsurui Family!" The proprietor motioned them to follow into the backroom where the better stuff was kept. "Come Come...Follow me!"
With a frown Tony hung the jacket back up that she had been looking at. She didn't need to take this kind of abuse. Shit if this is how the bulk of the Neko's around here acted, no wonder they weren't allowed on Neplieasia prime. She glanced over at Aikiko before turning and starting for the door. When the shopkeeper changed his tune she wasn't even sure she wasn't to spend the little bit of cash she had here.
"I don't know, I wouldn't want to taint your store here..." She glared at the shopkeeper for a moment.
The shopkeeper went pale at hearing that. "Please.... stay I meant no harm Miss Soldier!" He looked at Aikiko for help. But found her demeanor had changed into a more stoic pose of a police officer or a very upset Neko who could turn his shop into shambles. "You talk to friend, I'll even take the loss! I'll even get the missus to dry your clothes and give refreshments while you wait!" He was almost to tears at the response he was getting.
Aikiko spoke softly, "Unfortunately for you." She turned, letting the garment she was holding drop to the floor in her intimidating manner, letting the store keeper sweat a bit as she looked at Tony. "We stay or go?" She ignored the babbling storekeeper behind her.
With a shrug Tony was lost for what to do, if this was home she would have been within rights to demand a dual. Hell shooting the guy would have been a friendly warning not to be such a dick. But she was here on an exchange program, to bring the two worlds maybe a bit closer. She looked over at her new ally with a questioning expression.
Aikiko smiled a bit and turned to the storekeeper. "Bring a jacket that is in very good condition and similar to a Nepleslaian Army overcoat." She spoke sternly to the shopkeeper, waving him off from the other offers. She watched him practically run into the backroom.
She turned to Antonia. "I am ashamed to even be serving to protect these people of Yamatai. If this was the Outer Colonies, I'm sure things would be a lot better than this."
"It's ok, I guess, I know I'm the big scary outsider here." She forced a smile on her face. She wished she would have been alone for this, she could have walked away and never would have given it a second thought. Now though she was embarrassed that she caused such a scene. Tony was sure she just wanted to get back to the ship and then maybe some time at the range, unless there were going to be more issues like this.
Aikiko let Tony have her space and looked away to see the shop keeper come scurrying back with a very nice black-market Nepleslian Army Trench coat with it's logos and patches to the Nepleslaian Flagship that carried the Diplomats and Ambassadors. "I sell for 500 KS. But for you, Star Army. 100 KS." Holding it out in it this plastic dry cleaning bag to Aikiko.
Aikiko raised an eyebrow as it was obviously stolen from the drycleaners next door or the big fancy hotel that housed the diplomats and their entourage. Aikiko just shrugged and nodded at the storekeeper as she reached in the pouch that housed her pistol. She pulled the pistol out and switched it to her left hand. The shopkeeper eyes got big and round and started sweating as she reached back in the holster and pulled out her KS Card to pay for the Trench coat.
The storekeeper gave a wheeze of relief, taking the KS card and giving the trench coat to Tony, then scurried off with her card to finalize the purchase.
"No matter how much a dick he's being i can't let you pay for this coat." Tony whispered once the man left earshot. She really did like the coat, only officers normally had anything that jazzy, though she would have to gently remove the ship patch from the trenchcoat. She might be able to replace it if the Boss lady was nice enough to tell her where she could get one.
"Don't worry. Pay me back." Akiko spoke softly when the storekeeper came back with her card and receipt to sign for making it all legal. She took her card and pocketed it back in the holster next to her weapon which had been put back while the store keeper was gone. "Lets go" Putting her black coat back on as she moved to the exit of the store.
Tearing the plastic covering off, Tony flicked the coat over her shoulders, leaving her arms out of the sleeves. Once they were out of the store she smile, "This is nice though. Almost matches my hat!" She smiled and touched the brim of the Marine cap that didn't fit with the rest of her naval uniform. "So you wanted to try my pistol and rifle right?"
"Please. I'd love to." Aikiko smiled as they continued on their way back to the base. Now properly dressed for the weather, They could take their time and have a bit of fun. "Wanna get a taxi? Or walk the last five kilometers?" She glanced at Tony. She did look sharp now that she had the Trench coat.
"Let's take a taxi, I got to stop at the ship for my rifle, and I better grab a quick change of clothes. Thank you again for helping me out in there." She smiled before stepping out into the street in front of a taxi. It was the norm to get a Taxi driver's attention back home. Here though the driver slammed down on their brake pedal and came to a slamming stop.
"Look I found one." She smile as she smoke calmly.
Aikiko eyes widen at the suicide of Tony after she had just bought a nice trench coat for her. She closed her eyes at the screech of tires on the pavement, waiting to hear the thud of impact. She opened one eye to see if Tony looked okay as she had sounded. "Don't do that again. Please... you still owe me a hundred ks!" opening the door of the now stopped cab and getting in before the driver could back up and go around.
Sliding in next to Aikiko, Tony smiled, "Isn't that how you hail a cab here?" She leaned forward and told the driver to take them to the ship yards, the Eucharis slip. "It's that way at home. That or you shoot at their hoods. I wonder how you would survive there even if ya'll were allowed there." She giggled a bit as she leaned back and snuggled into the warm coat.
"No, there are places where cabs gather to wait for customers or you call for one to come and pick you up." Aikiko getting her racing heart back under control. She smiled at hearing Tony giggle. She pointed out to a curbside where there was a line of cabs parked under a sign that said "Reserved for Taxi cabs." "Just a few more meters and we’d be fine without trying to kill one self." She thought to herself ~~ if we had a dozen more like Tony, we'd kick arse on the NMX!~~ Seeing Tony snuggle into her new coat, made her feel warm inside.
With a shrug Tony smiled at Aikiko, "I guess that is why I need an escort, or there would have been a dead shop keep, and more shot up taxi hoods... What's next, no pizza and beer delivery?" she smiled and watched the city zip by.
Aikiko laughed at Tony's words as they relaxed together in the back seat. "Only if you have a place of residence here. But I am not sure if they deliver on the base." She looked for a pizza joint, but all she could see were Ramen shops of various sorts and little food stands under brightly colored umbrellas that forced people to walk around so their umbrellas wouldn't get caught or hit the food vender's. "Once we get to the base, we can get some food to eat on the way to the ship."
Ginning she looked at the neko, "Is that one of ya'll kitten things, having to eat all the time? We just came form that fancy food joint. Must be what powers ya'll a fission engine that runs off of thousands of pounds of food a day." She reached out of her coat and poked Aikiko's tummy, "Wonder if that is why there is never an over weight Nekos."
"No. we don't eat a lot. It just that we can convert a lot of stuff into the nutrients we need to sustain us." Aikiko looked thoughtful. "But then I hardly had to worry about food after I left the mines to become a Peacekeeper." She spoke softly, remembering the unpleasant times when she had to go scrounging for food while others ended up starving. "As for being overweight... I dunno. I've never seen a fat Neko either."
"Must be all that clean livin'. She smiled, "So you were a copper? I've met a few of those over the years." She smirked as she watched the gates of the base start rolling towards them. "Sounds like a good job, why D'ja join up if you had a cushy job like that?"
Aikiko demeanor hardened as she spoke coldly, "The <censored> NMX tore through our Peacekeeper's Ships like a hot knife through warm butter." She looked out the window as the cab stopped at the gate to the base. "At the time I had worked my way into the Peacekeepers Navel branch so my demolition skill help track down interplanetary terrorist who used bombs in the course of their crime. We couldn't hold back the tide of them. It was every ship for them-selves and the UOC begged to rejoin the Yamatai Star Empire. While those were on ships became privateers to stop the predation of pirates against legal shipping and commercial passenger’s lines. As the military was to busy to deal with them."
She looked at Tony. "Been out there till our ship finally couldn't support it self and the crew scattered to find their own way. I joined the best gig in town to use my skills for the betterment of the people."
"I see..." Tony became silent trying to come up with something to say... She thought back on the reasons she joined, her hand moved up to the brim of her hat again of its own accord. "I guess we all join for something like that don't we..." She was about to go on but they pulled up in front of the gate house and the guard was asking for Indents. Tony reached into her pocket and pulled out her Nepleslian card out and showed the guard, who looked at it and scanned it with a wand. With a nod the card was handed back and the Guard looked over at Aikiko.
Aikiko pulled hers out just incase, she reached over with her card so he could scan it. "I'm her escort." She told the guard before he could ask about that as he scanned her ID card. He glared at the driver and told him where to park his cab.
Military / Spaceport
Which was a few feet past the Guard shack where other cabs were parked waiting for fares. The cab driver nodded and moved to the cab parking area and parked. The cabdriver looked at Aikiko, "50 KS," Pointing to the meter.
Tony was quick as a rabbit this time, wiping out her DA card, it would be close to 100DA for her, but what ever... She even coded another 25 DA (12.5KS) for a tip. Climbing out, she thanked the driver. "I shouldn't be long, I just want to switch over to a dry shirt." She thumbed towards the open cargo bay.
Aikiko left the cab from her side and joined up with her as Tony was talking. "I need to change out of my dress uniform. Don't want to mess up my good uniform." She moved towards the open cargo bay of the Eucharis. She smiled widely as she sees the big container that contained her Mindy and few other crates that had the shipping logo from Fort Min also along side her duffel bag and footlocker. "Yes! My baby is here!" She ran ahead to the ship, smiling as she looked the crates over for shipping damages.
Aikiko kneeled next to her footlocker and opened it up and tossing back the lid. The contents were mixed with UOCPF Gear and Star Army Issue. She moved stuff around and pulled out a pistol case with UOCPF logo on it and another duty uniform with pants instead of a skirt. Stepping from view of the public, she changed into her work uniform. Stuffing her wet uniform into the footlocker and closing it.
Tony went to the wardroom and stripped her wet shirt off along with the undershirt. Tossing them into her bag she grabbed dry replacements along with her under shoulder sling and her Zen Arms .357 pistol. Grabbing a small gym bag she tossed the extra mags, and a few extra boxes of ammo for both her .357 and her HHG. Then she grabbed her rifle case. It was a simple aluminum case with out any adornments beyond a bumper sticker that read "This Mama is Packing."
With her new jacket draped again over her shoulders she came walking back into the cargo bay looking for Aikiko. "Ready?"
Aikiko put on the Peacekeeper holstered weapon along with her Star Army pistol. "Just about," Putting the case back in the open footlocker and closing the lid. "Now I am ready." She turned to face Tony. "Off to the ranges?" She took off to the motor pool to get a vehicle to drive to the ranges on the base. "Huh... you know how to drive?" She looked at Tony.
"Uhh yeah I do... but will they allow me here on this planet?" She smiled as she gently dropped her gym-bag and her rifle case in the back seat. "Or is it, I drive or we walk cause ya'll don't know how?"
Aikiko blushed softly as she kicked at the pavement. "I never learned how..." She looked into the window at the ignition. It was empty. "I'll have to bluff my way to get the keys for the vehicle." She looked around and spotted the Motor pool Office and took off for it. She entered and had to seriously fast-talk her way to get the vehicle. She gestured at Tony as the Motor Sergeant looked out the window at Tony and smirked. He handed her the keys to the vehicle and she signed off on the register for the vehicle. Soon she was coming back to the vehicle. She tossed the keys to Tony. "You drive." hurriedly got in the passenger seat.
With a huge grin Tony caught the keys and slide behind the wheel. "Next leave we get we got to remedy this, how the hell are we going to get back to the ship after a night of me drinking the leave planets dry?" Turning the engine over, Tony worked the gears and slammed the vehicle into reverse for a few feet before slamming the brakes and shifted, the car spun around and then shot off down the road. "Where To?"
Aikiko looked at Tony, "We bat our eyes and look all sweet and innocent. Letting the poor fool drive us to the ship." Grabbing the hand bar to brace herself as Tony took off. She spoke as she unfolded the map to look it over as she guided Tony to the indoor range. Soon after a few wrong turns that were easily corrected by doing some off-roading across some of the military residence's lawns. They arrived at the range as the rain turned into a gentle misting rain.
The Range was a simple layout at first glance. Big open area with a long run before a hardened Zesuaium back stop. But what made it much diffrent from the ones Tony had used as a kid was the fact that there was a energy shield keeping the weather out and the volumetric target systems. Each shaped target was scanned by sensor systems that would alert the shooter where on it they hit and over lay of a multi-shot pattern.
With a whistle Tony smiled, "Dang this is pretty sweet."
Aikiko was impressed also. "Yeah." Moving up to her selected lane, the volumetric system activated. A soft voice asked, "What type of weapons will you be using?" Aikiko drew out her weapon and showed it as she spoke. "Type-33 and Mugen Armories E1 Energy Pistol." After a pause, The voice spoke again, "Affirmative. You may begin to shoot at your discretion." Aikiko first shots with her right hand, hitting the bull's eye ring steadily. After about twenty to twenty-five shots at 70 meters, Aikiko switched to her left hand. "Record current target. New Target." She then fired about the same with her left hand. "Display both." The one target showed up with two different colors representing each of the targets. Both right hand and left hand shot groups were within the kill zone of center mass.
Watching the Neko work her pistol, Tony took out her Wesp. It took some doing and a few searches online before the range's AI figured out it was a real rifle. Once the AI was convinced She place her large oversized ear-pro on along with her yellow tinted shootin' glasses. Shaking her head and neck out she laid out and gently whispered for a humanoid siluete at 2500 meters as she flicked the bi-pod into place. Looking through her scope she knew she was showing off, a cold shot like this she would have normally only done 1500-2000 meters to warm up on. Breathing out she centered on the head just below where the nose would have been. with a smooth action she squeezed back on the trigger. A Loud blast filled the range. She hadn't heard that sound in a few weeks, damned space travel.
The screen popped up with a image of the target, the humanoid was hit right in the correct spot blowing through were the upper lip would have been right through the upper spinal cord or brain steam would have once lived.
Aikiko used to the more silent energy weapons, jumped at least two feet in the air, "What the faaa....?!" Looking over at Tony and then at the target. She whistled softly impressed with the shot that Tony did. "Warn me next time you shoot! Nice shot!" She yelled as her ears rang from the explosion Tony's rifle made. Her eyes wide, shaking her head to make the ringing stop. She would have to go get some ear protection. Or borrow Tony's. "How you guys prevent from going deaf after you fire that thing?" Still yelling as the ringing faded away.
Tony blushed as she pulled another pair of noise canceling ear-pro out of her gym bag. "These.. they only filter out the weapons fire, umm sorry I thought you Super Kitties could handle it or I would have offered... I have a pair of ear plugs for combat, but I hate using them out side. Plus I think these look cool..." She smiled before pulling the mag and safeing the rifle. "You wanna try?"
Aikiko nodded and at hearing Tony, her smile widen, "Hell ya!" She safes her type-33 and moved over to Tony. "Love to. What range?" As she waited for Tony to begin to instruct her, being with an unfamiliar weapon, she could easily swallow her pride and accept the instructions with good grace and interest.
"Well it's effective between 2000-3000 meters, but with practice and a good day you could hit out to 4000. As for the rest it's been sighted in with a click scale, one click on the knob is about 100 meters. Though first time up I would try for a tagger about 500 meters away." She smiled as she handed the rifle and the mag over to the Neko.
Aikiko listened to Tony, watching her closely as she showed her how to operate the weapon. She was smiling softly with a glint in her eyes. She took the weapon from Tony. She being careful to keep the muzzle from pointing at Tony. She treated the weapon as if it was loaded. Taking the magazine from her, she loaded the weapon as she seen Tony did. She got in the prone position behind the weapon with the butt against her shoulder. She aimed as she shifted a bit and then locked and loaded the first round. Getting comfortable, she aimed at the target center mass about the throat meeting the chest was her point of aim. She took up the slack, breathing steady till the natural pause in breathing, she squeezed off the shot. BANG!! She nearly dropped the rifle as she was once again surprised. The target screen popped up, showing the point of aim and where the projectile hit. The strike showed her blowing the poor target's heart out the back.
Aikiko cleared the weapon, catching the ejected round and released the magazine while bolt was still back. "That’s sweeeet!" She wanted to fire the weapon again. But this was Tony's rifle. Leaving the rifle propped on the bipod, she got up as she laid the loose round next to the magazine.
She was drenched, like a cute red-headed rat. Antonia continued to walk along side Aikiko, slightly almost unnoticeable shivering. Nepliesia was a normal wet planet but then again she normally would have been wearing a trench coat or something. Hell She didn't even bring one with her on the ship. 'frack me straight to the core!'
Aikiko looked at Tony and couldn't help but smile. It was rare to have made a friend quickly as she did. "We can take a cab if you prefer?" Seeing how miserable Antonia was.
"No... But it seems I need to hit a store or something... I need a damned coat..." She looked exasperated. "Wasn't issued one when they shipped me out... Grrr...." She smacked herself into head thinking this all through, she should have asked for one at the purser's before she caught her shuttle out.
Aikiko took hers off, knowing that will probably make her get in trouble with the Shosho. "Here take mine." She held it out to her as they walked along. She Felt the rain soak into her dress uniform. She knowing that if the Shosho sees her now, Hanako would probably demote her so low that it would take eons to get back to the rank of Santo-Hei. But it was worth it for a battle buddy and a good friend.
With a warm smile Tony gently pushed Akikio's hand with the coat back at her. "Naw... I'll live, just have to hit a shop or something... plus ya'll's fancy uniform is getting all wet."
Aikiko snickered, "this get up? I feel so underdressed as it. You ought to see the Peacekeepers’ uniform. Looks hell a lot better than this does." She got the distant look. "That was comfortable in any weather." Shrugging a bit as it was turned down. "How about we shop there?" Pointing to a second hand shop that sold clothes and everything else.
"Works, things would be cheep there right?" Antonia smiled again, a hint of embarrassment crept across her face as she fought to hide it.
"I hope so..." Aikiko spoke as she headed for the store, pretending not to notice Tony's predicament. As she pushed the door open, some chimes tinkled above their head as they moved deeper into the crowded store full of clothes and coats and odds and ends. Seeing the prices, she smiled as she moved along the clothing as if she was shopping in a more luxurious clothing store.
Tony followed suit though she checked each coat and jacket's price before even looking at the item. She kept finding old field coats from Yamatia and even a few old Nepleasian coats from before the war. She wondered about poking at the different options even glancing at a few of the outer kimonos, she smiled at the thought of her looking like one of the kittens around here.
Akiko moved through the store, looking over the trench coats and other outfits that caught her eyes. Holding them to herself as she looks in the mirror as the store owner came out to see who was in the store.
The store owner eyes got wide at seeing the two soldiers in his shop. Then realized one was different than the Star Army Neko. "We no serve them here!" He pointed at Tony.
Aikiko growled at the proprietor and advanced on him. "She is a guest of the Star Army. If Shosho Ketsurui finds out that you failed to treat her guest And Crewmember...."
She was interrupted by the store proprietor, "Sooooo Sorry! I was mistaken! I will give discounts to you both! To such esteemed crew of the Ketsurui Family!" The proprietor motioned them to follow into the backroom where the better stuff was kept. "Come Come...Follow me!"
With a frown Tony hung the jacket back up that she had been looking at. She didn't need to take this kind of abuse. Shit if this is how the bulk of the Neko's around here acted, no wonder they weren't allowed on Neplieasia prime. She glanced over at Aikiko before turning and starting for the door. When the shopkeeper changed his tune she wasn't even sure she wasn't to spend the little bit of cash she had here.
"I don't know, I wouldn't want to taint your store here..." She glared at the shopkeeper for a moment.
The shopkeeper went pale at hearing that. "Please.... stay I meant no harm Miss Soldier!" He looked at Aikiko for help. But found her demeanor had changed into a more stoic pose of a police officer or a very upset Neko who could turn his shop into shambles. "You talk to friend, I'll even take the loss! I'll even get the missus to dry your clothes and give refreshments while you wait!" He was almost to tears at the response he was getting.
Aikiko spoke softly, "Unfortunately for you." She turned, letting the garment she was holding drop to the floor in her intimidating manner, letting the store keeper sweat a bit as she looked at Tony. "We stay or go?" She ignored the babbling storekeeper behind her.
With a shrug Tony was lost for what to do, if this was home she would have been within rights to demand a dual. Hell shooting the guy would have been a friendly warning not to be such a dick. But she was here on an exchange program, to bring the two worlds maybe a bit closer. She looked over at her new ally with a questioning expression.
Aikiko smiled a bit and turned to the storekeeper. "Bring a jacket that is in very good condition and similar to a Nepleslaian Army overcoat." She spoke sternly to the shopkeeper, waving him off from the other offers. She watched him practically run into the backroom.
She turned to Antonia. "I am ashamed to even be serving to protect these people of Yamatai. If this was the Outer Colonies, I'm sure things would be a lot better than this."
"It's ok, I guess, I know I'm the big scary outsider here." She forced a smile on her face. She wished she would have been alone for this, she could have walked away and never would have given it a second thought. Now though she was embarrassed that she caused such a scene. Tony was sure she just wanted to get back to the ship and then maybe some time at the range, unless there were going to be more issues like this.
Aikiko let Tony have her space and looked away to see the shop keeper come scurrying back with a very nice black-market Nepleslian Army Trench coat with it's logos and patches to the Nepleslaian Flagship that carried the Diplomats and Ambassadors. "I sell for 500 KS. But for you, Star Army. 100 KS." Holding it out in it this plastic dry cleaning bag to Aikiko.
Aikiko raised an eyebrow as it was obviously stolen from the drycleaners next door or the big fancy hotel that housed the diplomats and their entourage. Aikiko just shrugged and nodded at the storekeeper as she reached in the pouch that housed her pistol. She pulled the pistol out and switched it to her left hand. The shopkeeper eyes got big and round and started sweating as she reached back in the holster and pulled out her KS Card to pay for the Trench coat.
The storekeeper gave a wheeze of relief, taking the KS card and giving the trench coat to Tony, then scurried off with her card to finalize the purchase.
"No matter how much a dick he's being i can't let you pay for this coat." Tony whispered once the man left earshot. She really did like the coat, only officers normally had anything that jazzy, though she would have to gently remove the ship patch from the trenchcoat. She might be able to replace it if the Boss lady was nice enough to tell her where she could get one.
"Don't worry. Pay me back." Akiko spoke softly when the storekeeper came back with her card and receipt to sign for making it all legal. She took her card and pocketed it back in the holster next to her weapon which had been put back while the store keeper was gone. "Lets go" Putting her black coat back on as she moved to the exit of the store.
Tearing the plastic covering off, Tony flicked the coat over her shoulders, leaving her arms out of the sleeves. Once they were out of the store she smile, "This is nice though. Almost matches my hat!" She smiled and touched the brim of the Marine cap that didn't fit with the rest of her naval uniform. "So you wanted to try my pistol and rifle right?"
"Please. I'd love to." Aikiko smiled as they continued on their way back to the base. Now properly dressed for the weather, They could take their time and have a bit of fun. "Wanna get a taxi? Or walk the last five kilometers?" She glanced at Tony. She did look sharp now that she had the Trench coat.
"Let's take a taxi, I got to stop at the ship for my rifle, and I better grab a quick change of clothes. Thank you again for helping me out in there." She smiled before stepping out into the street in front of a taxi. It was the norm to get a Taxi driver's attention back home. Here though the driver slammed down on their brake pedal and came to a slamming stop.
"Look I found one." She smile as she smoke calmly.
Aikiko eyes widen at the suicide of Tony after she had just bought a nice trench coat for her. She closed her eyes at the screech of tires on the pavement, waiting to hear the thud of impact. She opened one eye to see if Tony looked okay as she had sounded. "Don't do that again. Please... you still owe me a hundred ks!" opening the door of the now stopped cab and getting in before the driver could back up and go around.
Sliding in next to Aikiko, Tony smiled, "Isn't that how you hail a cab here?" She leaned forward and told the driver to take them to the ship yards, the Eucharis slip. "It's that way at home. That or you shoot at their hoods. I wonder how you would survive there even if ya'll were allowed there." She giggled a bit as she leaned back and snuggled into the warm coat.
"No, there are places where cabs gather to wait for customers or you call for one to come and pick you up." Aikiko getting her racing heart back under control. She smiled at hearing Tony giggle. She pointed out to a curbside where there was a line of cabs parked under a sign that said "Reserved for Taxi cabs." "Just a few more meters and we’d be fine without trying to kill one self." She thought to herself ~~ if we had a dozen more like Tony, we'd kick arse on the NMX!~~ Seeing Tony snuggle into her new coat, made her feel warm inside.
With a shrug Tony smiled at Aikiko, "I guess that is why I need an escort, or there would have been a dead shop keep, and more shot up taxi hoods... What's next, no pizza and beer delivery?" she smiled and watched the city zip by.
Aikiko laughed at Tony's words as they relaxed together in the back seat. "Only if you have a place of residence here. But I am not sure if they deliver on the base." She looked for a pizza joint, but all she could see were Ramen shops of various sorts and little food stands under brightly colored umbrellas that forced people to walk around so their umbrellas wouldn't get caught or hit the food vender's. "Once we get to the base, we can get some food to eat on the way to the ship."
Ginning she looked at the neko, "Is that one of ya'll kitten things, having to eat all the time? We just came form that fancy food joint. Must be what powers ya'll a fission engine that runs off of thousands of pounds of food a day." She reached out of her coat and poked Aikiko's tummy, "Wonder if that is why there is never an over weight Nekos."
"No. we don't eat a lot. It just that we can convert a lot of stuff into the nutrients we need to sustain us." Aikiko looked thoughtful. "But then I hardly had to worry about food after I left the mines to become a Peacekeeper." She spoke softly, remembering the unpleasant times when she had to go scrounging for food while others ended up starving. "As for being overweight... I dunno. I've never seen a fat Neko either."
"Must be all that clean livin'. She smiled, "So you were a copper? I've met a few of those over the years." She smirked as she watched the gates of the base start rolling towards them. "Sounds like a good job, why D'ja join up if you had a cushy job like that?"
Aikiko demeanor hardened as she spoke coldly, "The <censored> NMX tore through our Peacekeeper's Ships like a hot knife through warm butter." She looked out the window as the cab stopped at the gate to the base. "At the time I had worked my way into the Peacekeepers Navel branch so my demolition skill help track down interplanetary terrorist who used bombs in the course of their crime. We couldn't hold back the tide of them. It was every ship for them-selves and the UOC begged to rejoin the Yamatai Star Empire. While those were on ships became privateers to stop the predation of pirates against legal shipping and commercial passenger’s lines. As the military was to busy to deal with them."
She looked at Tony. "Been out there till our ship finally couldn't support it self and the crew scattered to find their own way. I joined the best gig in town to use my skills for the betterment of the people."
"I see..." Tony became silent trying to come up with something to say... She thought back on the reasons she joined, her hand moved up to the brim of her hat again of its own accord. "I guess we all join for something like that don't we..." She was about to go on but they pulled up in front of the gate house and the guard was asking for Indents. Tony reached into her pocket and pulled out her Nepleslian card out and showed the guard, who looked at it and scanned it with a wand. With a nod the card was handed back and the Guard looked over at Aikiko.
Aikiko pulled hers out just incase, she reached over with her card so he could scan it. "I'm her escort." She told the guard before he could ask about that as he scanned her ID card. He glared at the driver and told him where to park his cab.
Military / Spaceport
Which was a few feet past the Guard shack where other cabs were parked waiting for fares. The cab driver nodded and moved to the cab parking area and parked. The cabdriver looked at Aikiko, "50 KS," Pointing to the meter.
Tony was quick as a rabbit this time, wiping out her DA card, it would be close to 100DA for her, but what ever... She even coded another 25 DA (12.5KS) for a tip. Climbing out, she thanked the driver. "I shouldn't be long, I just want to switch over to a dry shirt." She thumbed towards the open cargo bay.
Aikiko left the cab from her side and joined up with her as Tony was talking. "I need to change out of my dress uniform. Don't want to mess up my good uniform." She moved towards the open cargo bay of the Eucharis. She smiled widely as she sees the big container that contained her Mindy and few other crates that had the shipping logo from Fort Min also along side her duffel bag and footlocker. "Yes! My baby is here!" She ran ahead to the ship, smiling as she looked the crates over for shipping damages.
Aikiko kneeled next to her footlocker and opened it up and tossing back the lid. The contents were mixed with UOCPF Gear and Star Army Issue. She moved stuff around and pulled out a pistol case with UOCPF logo on it and another duty uniform with pants instead of a skirt. Stepping from view of the public, she changed into her work uniform. Stuffing her wet uniform into the footlocker and closing it.
Tony went to the wardroom and stripped her wet shirt off along with the undershirt. Tossing them into her bag she grabbed dry replacements along with her under shoulder sling and her Zen Arms .357 pistol. Grabbing a small gym bag she tossed the extra mags, and a few extra boxes of ammo for both her .357 and her HHG. Then she grabbed her rifle case. It was a simple aluminum case with out any adornments beyond a bumper sticker that read "This Mama is Packing."
With her new jacket draped again over her shoulders she came walking back into the cargo bay looking for Aikiko. "Ready?"
Aikiko put on the Peacekeeper holstered weapon along with her Star Army pistol. "Just about," Putting the case back in the open footlocker and closing the lid. "Now I am ready." She turned to face Tony. "Off to the ranges?" She took off to the motor pool to get a vehicle to drive to the ranges on the base. "Huh... you know how to drive?" She looked at Tony.
"Uhh yeah I do... but will they allow me here on this planet?" She smiled as she gently dropped her gym-bag and her rifle case in the back seat. "Or is it, I drive or we walk cause ya'll don't know how?"
Aikiko blushed softly as she kicked at the pavement. "I never learned how..." She looked into the window at the ignition. It was empty. "I'll have to bluff my way to get the keys for the vehicle." She looked around and spotted the Motor pool Office and took off for it. She entered and had to seriously fast-talk her way to get the vehicle. She gestured at Tony as the Motor Sergeant looked out the window at Tony and smirked. He handed her the keys to the vehicle and she signed off on the register for the vehicle. Soon she was coming back to the vehicle. She tossed the keys to Tony. "You drive." hurriedly got in the passenger seat.
With a huge grin Tony caught the keys and slide behind the wheel. "Next leave we get we got to remedy this, how the hell are we going to get back to the ship after a night of me drinking the leave planets dry?" Turning the engine over, Tony worked the gears and slammed the vehicle into reverse for a few feet before slamming the brakes and shifted, the car spun around and then shot off down the road. "Where To?"
Aikiko looked at Tony, "We bat our eyes and look all sweet and innocent. Letting the poor fool drive us to the ship." Grabbing the hand bar to brace herself as Tony took off. She spoke as she unfolded the map to look it over as she guided Tony to the indoor range. Soon after a few wrong turns that were easily corrected by doing some off-roading across some of the military residence's lawns. They arrived at the range as the rain turned into a gentle misting rain.
The Range was a simple layout at first glance. Big open area with a long run before a hardened Zesuaium back stop. But what made it much diffrent from the ones Tony had used as a kid was the fact that there was a energy shield keeping the weather out and the volumetric target systems. Each shaped target was scanned by sensor systems that would alert the shooter where on it they hit and over lay of a multi-shot pattern.
With a whistle Tony smiled, "Dang this is pretty sweet."
Aikiko was impressed also. "Yeah." Moving up to her selected lane, the volumetric system activated. A soft voice asked, "What type of weapons will you be using?" Aikiko drew out her weapon and showed it as she spoke. "Type-33 and Mugen Armories E1 Energy Pistol." After a pause, The voice spoke again, "Affirmative. You may begin to shoot at your discretion." Aikiko first shots with her right hand, hitting the bull's eye ring steadily. After about twenty to twenty-five shots at 70 meters, Aikiko switched to her left hand. "Record current target. New Target." She then fired about the same with her left hand. "Display both." The one target showed up with two different colors representing each of the targets. Both right hand and left hand shot groups were within the kill zone of center mass.
Watching the Neko work her pistol, Tony took out her Wesp. It took some doing and a few searches online before the range's AI figured out it was a real rifle. Once the AI was convinced She place her large oversized ear-pro on along with her yellow tinted shootin' glasses. Shaking her head and neck out she laid out and gently whispered for a humanoid siluete at 2500 meters as she flicked the bi-pod into place. Looking through her scope she knew she was showing off, a cold shot like this she would have normally only done 1500-2000 meters to warm up on. Breathing out she centered on the head just below where the nose would have been. with a smooth action she squeezed back on the trigger. A Loud blast filled the range. She hadn't heard that sound in a few weeks, damned space travel.
The screen popped up with a image of the target, the humanoid was hit right in the correct spot blowing through were the upper lip would have been right through the upper spinal cord or brain steam would have once lived.
Aikiko used to the more silent energy weapons, jumped at least two feet in the air, "What the faaa....?!" Looking over at Tony and then at the target. She whistled softly impressed with the shot that Tony did. "Warn me next time you shoot! Nice shot!" She yelled as her ears rang from the explosion Tony's rifle made. Her eyes wide, shaking her head to make the ringing stop. She would have to go get some ear protection. Or borrow Tony's. "How you guys prevent from going deaf after you fire that thing?" Still yelling as the ringing faded away.
Tony blushed as she pulled another pair of noise canceling ear-pro out of her gym bag. "These.. they only filter out the weapons fire, umm sorry I thought you Super Kitties could handle it or I would have offered... I have a pair of ear plugs for combat, but I hate using them out side. Plus I think these look cool..." She smiled before pulling the mag and safeing the rifle. "You wanna try?"
Aikiko nodded and at hearing Tony, her smile widen, "Hell ya!" She safes her type-33 and moved over to Tony. "Love to. What range?" As she waited for Tony to begin to instruct her, being with an unfamiliar weapon, she could easily swallow her pride and accept the instructions with good grace and interest.
"Well it's effective between 2000-3000 meters, but with practice and a good day you could hit out to 4000. As for the rest it's been sighted in with a click scale, one click on the knob is about 100 meters. Though first time up I would try for a tagger about 500 meters away." She smiled as she handed the rifle and the mag over to the Neko.
Aikiko listened to Tony, watching her closely as she showed her how to operate the weapon. She was smiling softly with a glint in her eyes. She took the weapon from Tony. She being careful to keep the muzzle from pointing at Tony. She treated the weapon as if it was loaded. Taking the magazine from her, she loaded the weapon as she seen Tony did. She got in the prone position behind the weapon with the butt against her shoulder. She aimed as she shifted a bit and then locked and loaded the first round. Getting comfortable, she aimed at the target center mass about the throat meeting the chest was her point of aim. She took up the slack, breathing steady till the natural pause in breathing, she squeezed off the shot. BANG!! She nearly dropped the rifle as she was once again surprised. The target screen popped up, showing the point of aim and where the projectile hit. The strike showed her blowing the poor target's heart out the back.
Aikiko cleared the weapon, catching the ejected round and released the magazine while bolt was still back. "That’s sweeeet!" She wanted to fire the weapon again. But this was Tony's rifle. Leaving the rifle propped on the bipod, she got up as she laid the loose round next to the magazine.
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