[GSS Seigi, GSS Chiharu] The Saddest Day Kitsurugi Yui GSA Command 1st Expeditionary Fleet SARA - KFY Posts: 1437 (12/6/03 22:58) ezSupporter [GSS Seigi, GSS Chiharu] The Saddest Day ON> Ralfaris System In a tremendous flash of light, the three Iori Star Fortresses disappeared, headed elsewhere. Meanwhile, watching in stealth, an Elysian ship watched, and sent a message the Nariel's fleet. "Cue" "Is their 4th Fleet's computer network operational?" asked Nariel. Kai was sitting in the captain's seat of the Seigi, thinking about what he was going to do now. "Well, there's nothing I can do. It's out of my hands until I hear something official." He mused and sat up straight in the chair and looked over the bridge crew. There was so much to do, and so little time to do it in... "Intelligence indicates no. A rebellion of their ships occurred recently..." responded an archangel. "There seems to be no master unit in the 4th fleet's network." "Excellent." Nariel smirked. Kai looked over at the nekos manning the consoles. There were all there except Lavinia wasn't present. Figuring it was time she stopped fooling around he sent out an announcement. "Juni Taiensho, report to the bridge." His voice called over the speakers. He paused and gave it some thought... and decided to call Yuuko to the bridge as well. "Yuuko, please report to the bridge." He added. After a few moments a perky Lavinia entered the bridge. "Sir." She said, and knowing her duty, sat at her piloting chair and interfaced with the system, it was a bit new but she quickly got used to it. Kai sighed and absently watched a sensor console. An Elysian fleet of some 1,800 ships appeared over the Qel'noran Industrial Area of Ralfaris, and began attacking the ships of the fourth fleet with their superheavy weapons. Some ships were also taking out some of the planetary defense platforms over the QIS. Yuuko walked onto the bridge to find the entire thing filled up with holograms and tactical charts. The 4th Fleet was being ravaged. Kai almost leaped out of his seat when the elysian fleet flashed out in huge numbers on the sensor readouts. He rolled his eyes, this was the best day EVER..pish, yeah right. Kai quickly got on the communications from his console and sent a warning out to the ships of the first division; but with the tension high....he didn't know if they'd respond. "All ships of the 4th fleet 1st division, we have Elysians attacking. Take'em out." He ordered.. Missile batteries on the surface opened up and launched their complements of ender missiles as soon as the angel ships were detected. some 200 missiles were launched in the first wave, each one traveling at over 20,000c toward their targets. The other ISFB's in the 4th fleet started deploying their minion's. Most of the ships were still on high alert from the last angel threat so the response time was minimal. All of the smaller destroyers activated their CDD's and accelerated to combat speed. The Antaeus class battleships were little more than large targets at this range, they immediately TTDed to a safer distance to launch the rest of their missiles. "Shields up! Prepare for battle!" Kai ordered his own crew. Lavinia nodded and prepared to start evasive tactics. The Seigi's crews were quick to get into action, and in a matter off minutes, it's own Minions deployed. The missiles, designed to go light speed, disintegrated in the atmosphere before their CCDs even got the up to 1c. The ships of the fourth were already halfway gone by the time anyone saw it coming. There were ten times as many Elysian ships as the 4th had, and they had unleashed a devastating main gun attack as the battle began. Fast Attack frigates targeted the missile launch sites and began melting them with their nose beams. Meanwhile, the Orbital Defense Platforms deployed their cannons and began to return fire. Lavinia wasn't too familiar with the new AI program but needed to quickly adjust to be able to evade the shots fired at it. Yuuko looked to Kai, stammering, "I...is this it?" The Seigi found itself assigned to five battlecruisers, which all were firing their main guns in about five seconds. The holographic displays on the bridge of the Seigi were showing that this was completely a losing battle for the 4th fleet. They were totally outnumbered....Kai looked over at Yuuko. "Not for us. But I have a bad feeling we're severely outclassed here. "Send and emergency signal to the nearest friendly fleet." Kai said. "Sending!" Yuuko said. The Antaeus class battleships started to fire their missiles. They were aimed for the largest ships in the angel fleet, Several of the missiles went straight through several ships before detonating, making maximum use of their abilities. The surviving ships unleashed a long range torpedo barrage against the angel ships while the 1st division moved into the combat area from reserve. Swarms of minions descended on the angel fleet. their nearly 700 GWB's fired trying to take out as many ships as possible. The Seigi's Minions among them, its Ronin fighters were also being deployed to engage the enemy. "Let's provide what aid we can." Kai said, his eyes narrowing. His weapons officers were running the GWB's against the Elysian frigates as well from long range. The Elysian Fleet, knocked down to about 1600 ships, returning fire as they split into several groups. Some sort of new class of Elysian ships was breaking through the planetary defense system and headed for the surface. The Antaeus ships were rare, big targets and were dogpiled by groups of battlecruisers intent on taking them out. A hundred thousand CX-7 fighters seemed to counter the minions and Ronins. As the Seigi's pursuing battlecruisers opened fire, the ship was surrounded by a soft white light. Lavinia screamed and somehow pulled a nice evasive move and picked up speed, the superconductor railguns opening up to return fire. Kai swore. "Damn! I hate to say it, but let's get the hell out of here!" He barked. The ships TTD drives prepared to fire off to get them away from the pursuers. The Antaeus class battleships simply teleported away each time an angel battlecruiser got close enough to have any chance of hitting it. Their missiles continued to take a large toll on the Angel fleet from long range. The minions heavily outclassed the fighters and easily started taking them down with GWB and turret fire. Wazu and Wakizashi started to make passes against the ships heading for the planet. The anti-teleportation system kept the angel feet from getting to close so they had some time to slow down the angel advance. The Seigi's weaponry, punching some holes in the battleships that were trying to engage them. Lavinia snarled and tensed up evading the shots from them remembering her training, doing her best to keep one ship between her and another one. The corvettes and the Ronins fighting back against the attackers with fervor. The silhouette of the Seigi shimmered at its form eroded in the beams of the cruisers, which continued to tail it. The docking ring broke into shards, the fighter bays melted. The Seigi was in ruins and began to fall to the surface. "We've lost power!" Yuuko shrieked. The bridge was filled with smoke. The Minion's started to form a protective screen of ships between the majority of the angel fleet, backed up by fighters and Wakizashi while the Antaeus and Wazu's formed a perimeter around the attacking ships and started to pummel them with long range attacks. Ralfaris started to fire more missiles, letting them breach the atmosphere before the CDD systems activated. They made sure not to hit the planet. "DAMN!" Kai cursed. "We need to get the hell out of here and evacuate!" Kai ordered. Elysian ships began using their own systems to trap the Antaeus ships. The battleships found their TSDS systems malfunctioning...subspace charges were going off around them. The Seigi wasn't alone. Thousands of damaged ships and fighters began to fall from the sky like screaming comets. The Elysian weapons seemed to be every bit as effective as the Star Army's, and Minions were being swatted down as fast as the Elysian guns could find them. There were now only about 1000 Elysian ships remaining, sandwiched between the 4th Fleet's handful of remaining ships and the hundreds of thousands of orbital platforms that made up the temporary defense system. Yuuko nodded, checking her control panel. "YES!" she yelled. "My shuttle's still ok!" It was a miracle. "What a shame," the Seigi's new avatar softly sobbed. "Let's go then!" Kai said. "All the rest of you get to the escape. Yuuko..take the girl with you, please. Head back for the surface." Kai said and went over to his room to get Amaya and came out with a sleepy girl on his arm. "Keiko, take care of them." He said, getting a sad nod from the neko. Yuuko sent a message over the intercom, "All crew abandon ship immediately!" "I am so sorry WIES." Kai apologized to the AI, can we get this ship to land as safe as possible?" "Sir," Yuuko said as the gravity on the ship started to fail, "Don't you think she'd be better off with you?" The Antaeuses were far to valuable to let be destroyed. They teleported back to Geshrintall. The minion's were fairing fairly well. Their small size was deceptive. Damaged ships started to fall back for repairs from the few fleet tending units that made it out of the initial attack while the ground forces started to prepare for an attack. "Probably, I'm going to go with you instead of that original stupid idea of going down with the ship." Kai said fiercely. "Let's go to the Kitty." He said, scooping up the sleepy girl into his arms. "Right!" Yuuko crawled out into the hallway. The gravity was now pulling them toward the front of the ship. Kai's eyes glowed bright blue as he lifted Yuuko into a psionic field and used telekinetics to hurry them toward the bay...and then the ADN activated. "ACK!" Kai grunted. "WIES turn that thing off!" He said now fighting gravity to get himself and the person in his care on the move. "Sir." the computer did so. Kai's telekinetics came back in time to propel him, Amaya and Yuuko the rest of the way to the bay. Yuuko strapped in and headed out the melted bay door into the skies of Ralfaris, with the two passengers in the back. Kai breathed a sigh of relief. "I hope everyone else makes it." He commented. Lavinia and Ritsu had gotten a ride with another lucky pilot who had fled. "AHH!" Yuuko shrieked, dodging a Ronin that was headed back up. Elysian ships were now nearly to the surface. "Holy!" I hope they can hold them off." Kai commented. Yuuko's shuttle took a hit from a passing Elysian fighter. All around the shuttle were vapor trails form missiles and engines. "Hit!" Yuuko told herself. The shuttle was trailing smoke as it headed to the surface. Ground forces started firing at the angel ships although their weapons didn't take to heavy a toll on the ships. Several Ronins fell downward into the QIS buildings shields as the aerodynes started to make passes on the landing ships. Kai held Amaya to him protectively as the shuttle jolted. "Yuuko, can you land it somewhere safely?" The landing ships seemed to have the most (but not heaviest) weapons of any Elysian ship. As the beam eyes began popping off shots at any threatening objects in their range, thousands of white bouncy balls began pouring out of the ships onto the surface below. Each hit with a few bounces, before morphing into a humanoid figure. Seraphs. Yuuko nodded, lowering the landing gear of her smoking shuttle, and lining her course up with a street. QnSe forces were well dug in inside of the city while the LZ's of angel ships were pummeled by long range artillery. "You have any good weapons on this shuttle Yuuko?" Kai asked, sensing that they may need to defend themselves. The rioters had found better places to be... The seraphs began to spread out far and wide, largely shielded by the by the carriers that had dropped them off. The ships began to rise through the atmosphere again, mauling the orbital defenses from below with their beam cannons. The Elysian Fighter horde had air superiority now, and the Ronins had fallen back to guard key QIS structures. The seraphs began slipping into the sewers, the alleys, and various sneaky hiding places. Many of them changed their appearance to Qel'noran. There were still hundreds of Minions left and combined with the large force of Aerodynes the sky's above QIS remained contested. Seraphs were shot at almost as soon as they came in. Nearly every building was garrisoned and every street turned into a kill zone. The GSS Ketsurui Chiharu received a short, desperate message. "GSS Seigi, Mayday! Ralfaris being invaded!" "I hope help arrives soon." Kai murmured, now truly worried... Amaya placed her hand gently on Kai's shoulder and spoke to him softly, "I am sure help will arrive. You hardly expect your comrades to not answer at a time like this..." Taisho Ketsurui grimaced at the message as soon as it came in over the lines. "Alright folks, time to rock and roll! Izumi reroute the 1st fleet to assist and have the 2nd fleet reroute themselves to protect Geshrintall! Aya, get us back there NOW." The crew didn't reply but only did as they were ordered. The seraphs were not easy to kill, however. As they spread out through the QIS in hundred of thousands, they kicked over APCs, and killed QIS crews outright. They were invisible, after all. The ones who weren't were, of course, in QnSe uniforms. Some Seraphs were especially large this time. The GSS Ketsurui Chiharu activated its TDD and disappeared as it sped back towards Ralfaris space. Kai looked at Amaya and smiled...then his eyes began to glow bright blue as he formed and invisible aura around the ship to detect threats and spike their minds. After all, this was self defense. The Chiharu, arriving first, found it was the only GSA ship left on in Ralfaris space. There were roughly 700 Elysian ships remaining. Meanwhile, on the surface, Yuuko grabbed her ammo belts and rifles. Few APC's were lost. QnSe was starting to get pushed back from angel landing zones but they took plenty of Seraphs out along with them. The largest area's of angel troop concentration attracted the attention of columns of Sphinx tanks. Two columns made a push to retake one of the landing zones. Kai didn't say anything, the was totally focusing on the aura that extended out about 15 ft from the shuttles base. This was very, very taxing on him, this was a power seldom used. Keiko jumped off Yuuko's shoulder and walked over to Amaya. And jumped into her lap to help her if she needed it. The Taisho frowned knowing that this did not bode well but, she barked a command. "Ishida, open fire using the Legacy cannon." Ishida nodded and powered the cannon up and opening fire on the Elysian ships. Aya instinctively raised the ship's shields. Amaya wrapped her arms around Keiko and hugged her close while watching Kai, "Lets hope he doesn't tire himself with this effort Keiko." Keiko looked up slightly scared. "I hope so too." Keiko looked over at Yuuko. "Yuuko, could you please send another signal to any friendly ships? I think that's what Kai would have asked." A baker's dozen of Elysian battleships concentrated on the Chiharu. The beams surrounded the ship in an eerily soft white light. The legacy cannon fired, weakening the shield of the Yuumi to their breaking point... "Yes sir," Yuuko nodded. She sent a transmission to the nearby Nerimian ships. "Ralfaris being invaded. Any assistance would be appreciated." Since the message was from a mere shuttle, it was scratchy, weak, and distorted. Ketsurui Chiharu:: In the blink of an eye, the Ketsurui disappeared from the universe forever, as the rest of the first fleet arrived and opened fire on the Elysian ships using the various weapons arrays. "Damn it," Nariel cursed. Only 450 ECN ships remained. "Very well," said the commander of the lead vessel of the Nerimian squadron. "We will be there shortly..." The remaining vessels of the Nerimian squadron moved into relative close proximity to the Prometheus cruiser, who began to power her inter-phased drive. Space distorted as a fold bubble surrounded the twelve vessels. By the time it took the bubble to surround the vessels completely they were gone. Less than one minute later, the squadron was at Ralfaris, crewmembers racing to battle stations and VF pilots getting ready for launch. The enemy ship formation had already been identified and targeting solutions were being calculated. More waves of freshly synthed missiles started to come in from the now advancing Antaeus class ships. The Minions had been whittled down to a few hundred ships, much less than half of their original numbers, and the aerodyne squadrons were more than happy to see help coming in for their side. "FIRE!!" yelled the commander of the Prometheus, the mighty cruiser's main gun focusing on the lead ECN vessel and releasing an incredibly destructive blast of plasma energy at the enemy vessel. The other ships followed suit, even the Desperado frigate letting loose with its planet-shattering Stellar Converter cannon. The first fleet fought valiantly, being one of the most seasoned of the Star Army. The numbers of Elysian ships began to be whittled away even more. A battlecruiser exploded in the Desperado's face as the cannon blasted away. Yuuko burst into tears when she read the latest intel, screaming "Kai!!" Amaya looked at Yuuko, "What is it?" Kai was too busy concentrating on his shield, just in case. "The Chiharu! It's...it's gone!" Yuuko bawled. Keiko started to cry knowing Kai liked Chiharu Amaya walked over and placed a hand on Yuuko's shoulder, "I am truly sorry..." An Elysian Fast Attack Frigate's nose beam fired to pierce the desperado's upper hull. Several more swarmed around the Nerimians, while the bigger remaining ships fought tooth and nail against the 1st Fleet. The Nerimian squadron quickly began to maneuver, volleying its missiles towards the Elysian fleet. "The Desperado has lost its shields! 20 seconds before Zyro Shields are back online!" An energy beam struck the assault frigate's upper hull as layers of Xintium and Zanarium armor were liquefied by the blast, but didn't falter. "They're fighting just like the damn Jaaq'tah!" said one of the ship captains, each ship firing their beam turrets at the swarming frigates, launching and reloading missile tubes in order to deliver as much destructive energy to their foes as quickly as possible. The remaining ships of the 4th fleet started to pull back and reform themselves, out of the 4 battle groups they had they started with only 1 was able to be formed now. The ships started making faster than light runs against the angel ships near Ralfaris. The ground forces were starting to feel the effects of the seraph attack. Infantry had started to pull back further from angel landing zones. They had to rely on their comlinks to identify friend and foe, reducing their combat effectiveness. The columns of Sphinx tanks moved through the city largely unchallenged becoming mobile strong points for QnSe troops. The Elysian landing ships began to discreetly slip out of the anti-FTL fields, while above the remaining battlecruisers were creating fields of destruction with their main guns, serving more to keep the 1st Fleet back than to damage them. The seraphs stopped fighting and began to concentrate on blending into their surroundings. Sphinx's started to hunt the remaining seraphs while the call went in to bring out more APCs with the command modifications to try and clean up the seraphs before a significant amount of them were able to slip away. Very, very few of the seraphs were dead. The tanks just weren't equipped to follow an enemy that was not only invisible to the tanks, which had no sensors. They sought to return another time. Above, the last of the Elysian ships either escaped or were destroyed, leaving the Nerimian ships and the 1st Fleet victorious. The angel landing zones were quickly retaken and sweeps for seraphs started. Keiko wiped her tears and looked at Yuuko. "I think we need a new ship." She quipped, trying to lighten the atmosphere Amaya laughed, "I think you are right Keiko." "I feel sick." Yuuko groaned. "Casualty count?" asked the squadron commander. No vessels had been lost to combat, though the Desperado frigate suffered damage to its dorsal hull. Luckily, that could be repaired rather easily. The squadron itself had claimed nearly three dozen enemy vessels, including one of their capital ships -- that kill belonged to the Desperado. Keiko jumped off Amaya's lap and walked over to Yuuko. "What's wrong Yuuko?" She asked. "So many dead." Salvage corvettes began to leave their berths from the larger cruisers, seeking to collect portions of smashed enemy vessels for analysis. Keiko frowned and tried to hug Yuuko. "I know Yuuko...It was a total overrun...poor Chiharu..." Keiko said, starting to cry again. "At least maybe now the GSA will give us a little leeway.....we did help defend one of their planets......" More debris started to rain down from orbit as some of the larger wrecks started to enter the atmosphere. Very close to Yuuko and Keiko a small escape pod sized piece impacted and created a large crater. Keiko jumped and stealthed in fright then clung to Yuuko and reappeared. Amaya tore her eyes away from Yuuko and Keiko and calmly walked over to a small window and looked out, "A piece of debris landed outside... I am not sure what it is..." "These ruins will be a legacy to our brave nekos." Yuuko told Amaya. Kai started to waver, the use of power at this level and started to sway, his eyes bleeding back to a dim green. He promptly slumped into the seat, breathing hard. Amaya looked at Yuuko, "They all fought bravely, and they will be remembered as sacrificing thier lives for..." Her voice trailed off as she saw Kai slump over in his seat and she crossed the distance quickly and kneeled next to him, "Are you alright?" Keiko nodded. Then jumped off Yuuko and ran over to her master who was laying in a seat, resting and looked up at him, afraid he'd hurt himself. 15min later a flatbed truck and 3APC's approached the wreckage. "HEY THERE ARE PEOPLE OVER THERE!" one of the soldiers shouted as he dismounted from the APC. The squad’s medics hurried over to where Yuuko was as the flatbed started to recover the soul savior pod that had crashed nearby. "Who's in command?" GSS Crusader asked. "I'm....alright. Just…tired." Kai replied to Amaya. Amaya nodded, "Is there anything I can do?" Yuuko opened the shuttle's back door as she saw the APC approach them. Apparently one had spotted her through the windshield of the shuttle. She gave them a sad wave of her hand. The Nerimian squadron approached Ralfaris itself, hailing the GSA vessels in orbit asking if they could offer any further assistance. "Nerimian vessels, you're welcome to visit the planet if you'd like," the GSS Crusader (GD-203) offered the Nerimians. "By the goddess." Kai stood up, his eyes turning back to the normal green, he wavered a bit then regained his footing and stepped out and looked around and noticed the QnSe guys. Amaya followed behind Kai, standing behind him ready to help him if he needed her. QnSe responded to the hail from the Nerimian ship, "The main attack has been repulsed but Seraphs are blending into the city, we require additional ground forces to search the city." Kai turned to Yuuko as Keiko sat happily on his shoulder. "Yuuko, Please come along. " He said in a tired voice "My shuttle..." Yuuko weakly protested. Kai walked over and put a hand on Yuuko's shoulder. "You can fix it can't you?" He asked. The lead Lightning cruiser released two A5 Aerodyne transports from its forward berths, the two transports heading towards Ralfaris' atmosphere. The equivalent of a battalion of Marines were en route to the planet. A small welcome wagon of 8 APCs and 2 sphinx tanks were waiting for the Nerimian's at their LZ. The A5s queried QnSe on landing clearance and deployment zones. "Please head to the landing area just outside of QIS, a landing beacon has been deployed for you." one of the QnL public relations officers said. "I can fix it." Yuuko seemed to be in a sort of trance. "Poor, poor, Chiharu." Both A5s landed safely, letting their engines idle as four companies of Marines in Golem powered armor suits deployed. Out the back of each A5 came two GEV-17 LGEV-PCs, designed to facilitate rapid movement for the marines. (LGEV-PC = Light Ground Effect Vehicle - Personnel Carrier) "Yuuko...If you want to fix it, you should go ahead and repair it I suppose." Kai said and headed out to greet the QnSe guys. "Excuse me, but you wouldn't happen to have a working radio on you, would you?" "You have been given free range to scan the city as you'd like however the underground tunnels are off limits, So far they have not been penetrated by our forces." one of the officers in the APCs informed the Nerimians. Amaya followed close behind Kai, not wanting to leave him alone right now. The Lieutenant Colonel in charge was distinguished by the blood red Warhawk-class armor she wore. "I'm Lt. Colonel Madelyn Price, what ever you need finding, we'll find and kill. Just tell us the description of the target." "here is your target." the officer said as he transmitted what data they had on seraphs to the Nerimians. One of the soldiers was leaning against the side of the APC that Kai was approaching, "Ya sure, Its right in there." he said motioning to the APC's door. The data filtered through the SLICS network into the tactical computers of each suit. "Understood. Alright, boys, you heard 'em, MOVE OUT!" The marines responded with a resounding cry of "HOO-AH!" before breaking off into their component units. Two platoons manned the LGEV-PCs and moved out the fastest, while the others moved out using their jump jets to cover ground more quickly. There was a rifle seeming floating in midair, just over the top of an overturned APC some 400 meters away. It was pointed toward Price's neck; a small target, but not a difficult one for the Seraph. A quick calculation of wind speed, and then the trigger squeeze. Kai nodded and went to the door and got on the horn to any GSA ships. "This is Shôshô Ashigari of the Seigi. We are safely on Ralfaris, I request a pick up if possible." He sent. "Sir, this is the GSS Crusader. We've assumed command of the first. Not much of your fleet is left sir. Shall our destroyer retrieve you?" came a response to Kai. "If that's possible. I have 3 survivors with me, tell me have any escape pods of the Seigi been recovered?" He asked, hopeful The Antaeus battleships started to come back to Ralfaris to rebuild the fleet. Most were intact however GB-17 was missing the front half of the ship. A yellow-white field emerged from the point of impact of the round and Colonel Price immediately raised her SIAR, her sensors sweeping for signs of the target -- she found it! But before she could pull the trigger, the marines were already upon the target, using their wide array of sensors to detect, and then eliminate the target. The seraph was quite surprised and quickly darted through the rooftop it was on. A variety of round impacted as it squirted itself inside. The result was a very small seraph composed of the original one's remains. Colonel Price growled, "They shot at the wrong woman." And the marines were on the hunt.... a QnT APC was taking notes on the Golem's, this data would be most useful in the next few weeks. END JP Wes Tyler Kim Derran Jennifer GSA no Taisho Kitsurugi Yui Commander, Star Army 1st Expeditionary Fleet The sorrows of ignorance. Acara GSA Technician GSA 4th Fleet Posts: 423 (12/7/03 10:33) The sorrows of ignorance. Acara was still floating in the empty void with nothing but scrap metal for company. He had been blown out of the ship by the angel’s blast. After a while he came in contact with some of the shreds of a wrecked ship, and began to use the pieces to move around. Eventually he came across a GSA escape pod and clung to it and waited for another ship to pick him up. An hour passed and Acara began to worry about his friends. ~ Did they get out in time? What if they are gone, and the last thing I ever did was worry her………~ These worries plagued as he sat there. ~Is Keenara all right. Where will I go now?~ Then out of the blue he chuckled. ~If I keep this up I’m going to go insane.~ And with that he formed a ring around the pod and waited. Inside the pod Keenara sat there with three of her fellow medics worrying about just about everyone. “You know,” she said with a chuckle, “we had better get a raise when this is over, because I foresee some serious overtime coming our way.” There was a general laughter from the downhearted crew as the long wait continued. GSA Juni Acara Starship Chief Technician, GSS Seigi (GB-08) [Kitsurugi Star Fortress-Geshrintall]Seeing ghosts Ketsurui Chiharu GSA Command GSA 1st Fleet Posts: 26 (12/12/03 1:02) ezSupporter [Kitsurugi Star Fortress-Geshrintall]Seeing ghosts ON> Kitsurugi Star Fortress (GH-05) On the planet Geshrintall, Jones impatiently pulled a cloaked and "faceless" Shoki through the dormitories towards a private terminal, so that they might not be seen as they contacted the Taisho Kitsurugi Yui about this situation.. Yui held the little Chiharu figure in her hand. It was soft and limp, and reminded her of the void in the universe left by the premature death of Taisho Ketsurui Chiharu. Her tablet notebook popped up a window showing her caller's face. "Yes?" asked the Empress. "Mistress Yui, umm.. I am Sgt. Kevin Jones... I thought.. you might be interested in something that I've come across recently.." Kevin gently nudged Shoki so that the Empress could see her, and tugged down the woman's hood so that her face could be seen. Yui's dark green brows lifted in suprise. "Chi?" Kevin shook his head no. "Sadly, not Mistress. This is Shoki... Chiharu-dono encountered both myself and Shoki when she visted Ralfaris last.. but.. she feels that her appearence becoming that of the Taisho Ketsurui might have something to do with Chiharu's last deed being undone.." He paused for a moment and Shoki spoke in the silence. "I think that.. Mistress Chiharu wanted to end the war. And I wanted to know what I might be able to do to help bring that to pass." Kôgô-heika Yui seemed somewhat disappointed and turned away for a moment, pressing a loose fist against her lips. When she turned back, the lights of her cabin reflected furiously from her red eyes. With an understanding nod, she told Shoki. "I'm planning on launching a special project using SARA, KFY, and KES. We will find Elysia Novus. With the Grand Elysian Fleet destroyed, we may be able to take it fairly easily. Do you want to be there?" "If my presence there would mean that I would be able to assist in some way, then yes, I want to be there." Shoki nodded, her voice was soft and was there only a slight difference from her voice and the voice of the neko her face reflected.. Chi's voice was only a little bit higher than Shoki's. "My plan," Yui explained, "is to create and dispatch some twenty thousand Yui Recon-Scout destroyers across the galaxy to scout for planets. This will give us places to look rather that having us grope out in the dark." She paused for a moment. "Nariel won't be able to stop us without a fleet. We will remove the defenses and try for a peaceful occupation of Elysia Novus...we'll show kindness and generousity to the civilians, and with time, they will see us as liberators and friends, rather than heartless conquerors." Shoki nodded. "How might I be some assistance in this plan?" She pushed her hair back behind her ears as she watched Yui's face curiously. Jones remained silent behind Shoki, still unsettled by the fact that Shoki looked like Chiharu at the moment. "You could lead the process of assimilating Elysia. Or," Yui pondered, "perhaps you could take Chiharu's place?" Shoki thought over the idea of taking Chiharu's place, it would make sense to try that since she did wear the neko's face at the moment. "I could.. very easily take Chiharu's place.. appearence wise anyways... but I would need to know how she would act in certain situations." Jones grimaced hearing this idea but kept his mouth shut.. perhaps this is why Ishida had said that women are nothing but trouble, you'd do anything to keep them safe from harm or to make them happy. "There is a way. Perhaps you could become one side of an NH-X pair, with a restored Chiharu from the Yui as your partner. Your personalities, thoughts, and memories would be shared," Yui said to Shoki. "We could do that. But it'd be important to try to remember that it isn't really Chiharu, at least.. in your own heart..." Shoki paused, knowing that she might lose a portion of her own personality in this 'joining'. "Would I be going into a new body for this?" "It'd be very similar," Yui assured her. "I will do that then.. but I don't think that the restored 'Chi' will be enough like the real Chi to take her place.. how would Chiharu feel about having her ship and all of her crew die to only be brought back to find out that.. she is the only one who was brought back?" Shoki's softened, this was a sad thing to consider... how would Chiharu have reacted to such news? "I brought Aya and Kuru back, too," Yui corrected and paused for a moment. There was cute J-pop music playing softly in the background, probably coming from the tablet she was using. "I think she'll understand..." Yui paused, and her voice trembledl. "I love her so much." Tears began running down Yui's cheeks. "I know Yui-sama but I don't think that she'd take the news of how she died very well.. and I think that her sacrifice would be cheapened if she was brought back after the mourning of the nation has begun. I only wish to remain this appearence for as long as it is necessary to achieve her goals.. and hopefully.. not many of the GSA will see me... I'd prefer to be thought of as a ghost..." "I was thinking that you'd die...I mean Chiharu would be layed to rest after the war is over. Her return could be equally as inspiring." "I have lived many lives, so to die as Chiharu wouldn't.." Shoki paused as Jones jumped up, very upset now. "Come on now! Does Shoki really have to die for this to be pulled off? Wouldn't Chiharu dying a second time cause a resurgance of hatred towards the Elysians for taking her away a second time?" "Not Shoki. But you're right...I was thinking something peaceful, but it could be twisted by others into motivation for war." Kôgô-heika sniffled. "Where, then, will it end?" "It could just end with the joining of the two nations into one alliance... but you might need to covertly take out the fleet admiral of the fleet in order to make such peace possible. I've heard stories about that Nariel fellow." Jones continued to speak quickly, saying the first thing that came to mind. "Maybe.. with that bastard gone, the other Elysians will agree to the peace?" Shoki just stared at Jones in amazement... he's never been one for strategies. "He may have already lost his say when he lost his fleet," she pointed out. "I don't think the Elysians want to speak to me, though." "Perhaps.. there is some Elysian that would be willing to talk to Chiharu? Did she have anyone she trusted in the Elysian Fleets?" Jones was trying to figure out something to not get Shoki killed. "She was seeing an Arch-Angel just before she died. Apparently the two were...close." Shoki blinked at this bit of information, confused. "But I thought.. " Jones interupted Shoki's befuddlement. "Then perhaps we could get a hold of her then?" "Here's the location of the ECS Hope." Yui had KAMI send the data on Zemer's ship. JP by Wes Kim [GSS Seigi, Ralifaris] Escape Kitsune SAINT GSA 4th Fleet Posts: 41 (12/7/03 20:23) [GSS Seigi, Ralifaris] Escape Kitsune looked at Rikku with a slightly startled expression as they walked the hallway, "I think we better.." Kitsune began to say and Rikku nodded looking around and feeling the fear Kitsune felt, "We better get out of here." she replied as she grabbed her sisters hand as they rushed to the nearest escape pod. The fear rushed through Kitsune's body as she tried to get her sister to wait for the last few crew members to board. Rikku nodded and more and more members boarded until there was no more room in the pod, she ripped her hand away from Kitsune's and punched the release button. The doors slid shut and the pod ejected from the ship, Kitsune smiled wearily and looked at the other in the ship, some wore frightened faces from being separated from friends and family others seemed to be as calm as an everyday thing. Awhile later loud noises could be heard from entering the atmosphere of Ralifaris, then as soon as the loudness ended the pod crash landed into the barren desert, Kitsune and Rikku helped the others out before jumping out of the pod and landing on their feet and falling to their knees. Kitsune looked around emotionless, stared off before falling to the ground on her back, Rikku picked her up and into her lap smiling, "Its going to be okay Kitsune, I know, just hang on." she spoke softly rocking back and forth knowing her sister was in pain from the landing. A large purple bruise set upon Kitsune's forehead as a trickle of blood ran down it, she had passed out. Rikku ripped a piece of her t-shirt and wrapped it around Kitsune's wounded arm after removing a large shard of glass from it. Kitsune awoke to see her sisters face and a few survivors of the crash, but the rest dead inside the ship. She looked up to Rikku with false hope, Rikku, as if in understanding nodded and helped her up. Rikku smiled and figured they should get going and try to find others that may have landed nearby. Kitsune walked along side her until the both of them were too far to see the remains of the escape pod and the other wounded and dead. Soon it was dark and they had to rest and no shelter meant sleeping on the ground for the night, Rikku took off a layer of clothes and lay them on the ground, now wearing an under shirt and some shorts she sat Kitsune on the ground and walked off, comeing back with fire wood. A few hours later They sat comfortably next to the fire with their eyes shut, quietly as the breezes made the fire flicker in the star light. They fell asleep soon after still sitting in the same position. {ECN Thunderbolt] A survivor... Sain Elysian ECS Thunderbolt Posts: 40 (12/14/03 19:54) Reply {ECN Thunderbolt] A survivor... Sain had just finished up a routine physical on one of the technical plebians, just the normal practice: bandaging wounds, physical checkup, etc. He stretched his arms and wings and exited the medbay to have a look around; he'd been there for a little while working on a few small things. ~Everyday is always the same here.~ The brown-eyed elysian thought as his eyes travelled around the hallway. He shrugged and headed for the bridge to get any new orders. Mathias looked pensive, sitting in his chair as if pondering some dreaded decision or something. Both he and Kemitha had steaming glasses of hot chocolate nearby, and the the Paladin was sipping hers slowly. Her eyes caught Sain's entry and she made a look that said he was out of place. A plebian girl was quietly serving the mugs. Eyes cast downward, she kneeled with her tray in both hands. "Sir, ma'am, I mean not to intrude. But is there anything in specific you wanted me to do today?" He asked with a respectful tone, saluting both of the paladins. His eyes wandered to the plebian girl for a moment before returning to the archangel's. Mathias looked to Kemitha, asking a silent question. The archangel woman took her sweet time finishing her latest dose of cocoa before she answered. "I believe, we were expecting an arrival of a survivor?" "Ma'am?" Sain asked. For he had heard nothing of the sort, he supposed that of course he wouldn't be informed. But being quick of mind he figured out what she wanted. "You wish for me to greet this person?" "You?" Kemitha seemed disgusted, like he was some sort of scumbag creature. She wrinkled her nose at the concept. "You'll examine her...your task is to be a medic. She'll become my first officer at some point. The captain will transfer to a Avenger-class." Kemitha walked over to the plebian that was on her knees and exchanged her empty cup for a new one. "Yes ma'am." Sain replied, fluttering his wings a bit. "I understand." He nodded once and turned to depart to await this survivor's arrival. He knew that Kemitha didn't like him; he didn't really like her either, so it was mutual. The seraphs in the hall played a sparring game, playfully biting at one another and tumbling around outside the bridge. They seemed not to pay Sain much attention. Two more leaned against each other in front of the occupied cell were the corporate neko had been stuffed in for weeks now. Sain passed the holding cell and tried to look in on her as he passed. He headed for the boarding tube that someone had sent out, to go meet this new person. ~I wonder who this is?~ Sain thought as he walked through the tube toward the shuttle. Ingrid's form was obscured behind the translucent outer cell door. Kemitha and Mathias had left her alone most of the time, and she probably hadn't seen anyone in at least a week. JP Wes (Mathias, Kemitha) Jennifer (Alarielle) Tyler (Sain) ECN Guardian Sain Lian Medic, Thunderbolt [GSS Wicked / ECS Hope] A New Journey Kitsurugi Yui GSA Command 1st Expeditionary Fleet SARA - KFY Posts: 1451 (12/15/03 11:22) Reply ezSupporter [GSS Wicked / ECS Hope] A New Journey ON> GSS Wicked (GD-232) Yui was seated in a large, heavily cushioned armchair, the sort of elaborate contraption suited to wealthy captains and fit in only in mansions. The armrest had controls for the strong set of wheels beneath. On her lap sat Hinosami, the communcations officer. Irim was in the center of the Yui-class bridge, at her station, but her seat was backwards and she seemed to be staring at the pair in the mobile chair. Could she perhaps be envious of Hinosami? The defensive systems seat was usually left open, since the Wicked's Megami was entrusted to the involved tasks, and so Shoki had been allocated its comfort. This placed her near to Yui, whose fancy seat was positioned near the rear of the bridge. The Mistress quietly watched Shoki, thoughts bubbling like the fizz in a carbonated drink, while the girl on her lap was oblivious in her slumber. Shoki sat quietly, just waiting for them to arrive at the destination point so she could grant the real Chiharu's wish for peace. It felt ackward to be on the bridge of a ship, she had spent some time in the quarters waiting with the other members of the ground forces but never had she dreamed she'd be sitting on the bridge in a Taisho's uniform! It was all too amazing for her. She pushed her hair back behind her ears.. it felt weird to be like this and have it be real. The attention she was getting was unsettling... but her thoughts drifted towards poor Jones who was stuck on Geshrintall. The man had wanted to come but for the integrity of the mission, he had to remain planetside.. A short, childlike neko with small droopy ears and long, straight black hair approached Irim, leaned forward, and lightly put her hand on the Chujo's chest, whispering something in her ear, before quietly withdrawing back to her seat. Irim looked back to Yui, who must have noticed somehow, because all it took was a nod for the kôgô to understand. "We've arrived," she announced to Shoki. Their was a faint stirring as Hinosami shifted. Shoki nodded, taking a deep breathe as she closed her eyes.. this was going to be difficult.. she had to change the tone of her voice so that it'd match Chi's... "Right.. I guess we wait for the ECS Hope to show up and resist the urge to blow it up?" She tried to lighten the tension that seemed to be very evident on the bridge of this ship and sighed as she realised it was a bad attempt at a joke.. Yui's pained expression underscored the joke's inappropriateness. "What a terrible name for a ship," Zemer commented before answering Sayuri (the neko who touched Irim)'s hails. "Hello, Wicked, this is Hope," he began. It sounded like something out a religious text. "I'm going to attach my chute to your upper lift hatch, alright?" Irim nodded. Zemer spotted 'Chiharu' in the back of the picture and gave her a peaceful smile. Shoki offered a soft smile to Zemer and tensed up. This was it, no time for a dress rehersal, it was now or never... The fate of the war was in her hands, and this was the path that she had chosen for herself. It was liberating to have some control over your own destiny, so this is what Ishida had meant. The transmission ended, giving Shoki a few precious moments to build up her composure for the in-person encounter that wass inevitable. The Elysian Frigate gracefully moved over the Yui Scout and extended its boarding chute. It looked like sea creatures mating, perhaps, as the two ships merged. Zemer's voice came over the bridge intercoe once more, this time without the image. "I'm ready for her," he beckoned. Yui shifted her body, not wanting to miss her chance to meet this unique archangel for herself. Irim flashed Shoki some sort of mystery glare, as if to say that she'd better not disappoint Yui. Shoki rose from her chair and ignored the glare from Irim as she started towards the hatchway. She was terrified and excited all at once, she had never met an Elysian before either and now she had to pretend to be close to one.. this was going to be very tricky. Yui left Hinosami in the big red chair, and headed down the hallway with Shoki and Irim. Hopefully Zemer didn't have any fanatics onboard. Three admirals in one spot made quite a target. Seraphs were waiting in the lift shaft. The closest one offered a hand to Irim, who took a step back. Her hand was awfully close to her pistol. The holster was already unsnapped. Shoki smiled, despite her own terror of seeing the Seraphs. She had to keep a lock on her true emotions or else it'd be over, but having Chi's memories of what happened to her during her capture did not help ease her terror of the beings. Yui was nervous as well. She'd died multiple times at the hands of these creatures, and if this was a trick, she was going to get what she deserved for giving them her trust. With a surge of confidence, half real, half exagguration, she thrust forward her hands and the seraph in the lead yanked her up the lift shaft into the tube, throwing her to a second seraph who lifted her into the Hope. One of the seraphs made a soft, feminine "ehh" sort of noise. It was looking at Irim, whose hand was on her pistol grip by now. Shoki blinked at the disappearence of Yui and offered her hand to the Seraph as well. "I think it'll be okay Irim-san. They would've been more direct in an attack if they wanted to kill us." The seraphs threw Shoki upward like a plaything, and it was only a second or two before she, too, was aboard the Elysian ship, standing before the muscular archnagel that had fallen for Chi. Irim made some sort of rude, sarcastic remark about the Seraphs on Ralfaris being direct. Rather than take the offered help, she used her inertial field to rise on her own, all the while watching the seraphs like a hawk. It was clear she was very overprotective of Yui, as well as suspicious of the Elysians. "Hello Zemer." Shoki offered the Archangel a warm friendly smile in her Chi voice. She had managed to get her voice to the right pitch to sound identical to Chi and all it took was several hours of practice on her own as the memories were played back in her mind. His tall, strong body was clad in a thin white tunic over a formal-looking (but probably day-to-day) set of creased teal pants. The usual chain-mail was gone, as he considered himself more peacemaker than warrior now. Stepping forward, he made to give Chiharu a warm hug. "I missed you so much." Shoki returned the hug. "I promised you that I wouldn't die unless you killed me... it's nice to see you again too." She continued to smile and then pulled out of the hug and indicated Yui and Irim. "Zemerias Kariel meet Mistress Kitsurugi Yui and Taisho Kessaku Irim.." "It's Kiriel" Zemer looked at her oddly. She seemed somehow different. He shrugged it off as the natural effect of prolonged seperation. He was probably just remembering the hhe met, while she had changed slightly over time. Always up to speed on the GSA's leaders, he also subtly corrected Irim's rank. "Chujo Irim, Kôgô Yui" he bowed slightly to each of them. Shoki continued to smile despite the fact that she felt kinda stupid... great.. just great. She was afraid that she was going to screw this mission up before it even started. Zemer spent at least twenty seconds appraising Shoki before he looked to the two unexpected guest. His gaze and silence demanded an explanation, and so Yui told him, "I've heard so much good about you, Sir Kiriel," she started. "Zemer," the archangel interjected. "Zemer," Yui repeated, "I was hoping we could become acquainted."' Zemer looked at 'Chiharu' and to her. "We were going to leave immediately. I...don't suppose you'd want to come with us." He hoped not. One of his arms wrapped around Shoki's waist and rest on her belly. Shoki quietly watched the exchange between Yui and Zemer, she knew that that woman wanted to know why Chi had decided to love a Elysian as well. She leaned against Zemer with a soft smile still. "I would be honored to tag along, if you don't mind," Yui smiled. Irim looked like she had a strong objection. Shoki looked at Yui for a moment, unsure of what to do and looked to Irim. Zemer gave a lopsided attempt of a smile, polite, but clearly not very jubilant at the idea of Irim's ship following him around. "You're a newly-appointed empress. You undoubtably are far too busy," he suggested desperately. Yui frowned, but got an idea. "Alright. I'm going to send along a copy of myself to keep Chiharu company. An 8-inch neko." Basically, Yui was going to have her fourth daughter for Shoki's personal benefit. "I'll be back in a few minutes," she bowed out, going back down the chute into the Wicked. Irim followed, grateful. Shoki smiled brightly at Yui as the Empress spoke and then quickly left. "Everyone was really worried about me.. especially Yui-sama.." "I've never felt a loss like that before, except once, when my wife was taken from me." Zemer candidly told her. Shoki sighed, "I'm sorry to have scared you like that Zemer. I am glad that I could get to see you again, I was scared for a while there that I won't see the people that I loved again." "Are you hungry?" Zemer asked. "I'm not sure how long Yui's going to take, and I figured you might want something, since most nekos have overactive appetites." He poked her belly with the hand resting on it for emphasis. "Yes, I could do for a bite to eat." Shoki smiled again and chuckled softly at the poke. "Hey that tickles.." Zemer grinned and led her to the wardroom, where a few plebians scurried about, finishing setting the couple's places at a table. Todays breakfast was some sort of circular pastry, with a crossaint-like base. There wan't any glaze on it, but Shoki would discover, should she try it, that the insides with speckled with golden raisins and blueberries, as well as veins of a gooey honey cream. Shoki watched the smaller, frailer looking Elysians scurrying about curiously before she returned her attention to her lovesick host. "It figures that you would have this already planned in advance." She smiled brightly still. "You know me, Chi-ko," Zemer smiled. Didn't she? "Always trying to plan ahead and keep track of everything." "This all looks delicious.. I don't know what to try first.." Shoki felt ackward, she knew that the Plebians were starving and yet.. here she was sat before this delicious looking meal and she had to be comfortable about excepting it. Eyes downcast, one of the plebians brought Shoki her tall glass of cool milk. The skinny angel's small, almost decorative, puffy wings dangled out the back of her singular sheer white tunic. The plebian didn't speak, but her hands shook, betraying her intimidation. Another one was serving an identical glass to Zemer, who affection patted the girl on the back as she retreated into the kitchen. Like a pet. "I think if Irim had come aboard, they'd probably wet themselves at the slightest hint of disapproval," another archangel commented from across the mostly-empty room. He was finishing up his meal and two of the little helpers were carting off the reamins of the meal. One of them snuck a bite of half-eaten pastry on the way back to the kitchen. Chiharu hadn't known this one. Shoki gently took the glass from the poor girl and smiled softly before she spoke. "Thank you." She had tried to make her voice soft and friendly so that the girl wouldn't die of fright. She ate her meal politely and demurely, glad to have the food but still she felt guilty about it. The timid server nodded and then hurried away in a flurry of small steps. The unknown archangel walked out, leaving a box on his table. Was it a toy of some sort? A tip? Zemer gave a wide smile. "I asked the little ones to make something special for us." he noted. Shoki looked at the box curiously. "Oh, what is it?" This was just... too much for her too take. Zemer was just too sweet to her and it made her a bit concerned for her well-being but she continued to smile, her eyes shining brightly with excitement. "I don't know," Zemer shrugged. He got up and walked over to the box, opening it and peering inside briefly before setting it back where it was. "It's a set of undergarments and various clothing," he told her. "Probably a gift to the cook. It's always nice to give the little ones whatever we can to make their lives better." Shoki smiled brightly. "Perhaps with the treaty their lives will become better so that.. they will not need the help." It made her feel better to know that the box was for someone else. "Elysia has become pretty desperate lately. Even archangels are having trouble keeping a decent standard of life. We do the best we can to carry on and stay proud and strong despite our losses. The plebians are, for the most part, reduced to total dependence on us to take good care of them. Not everyone does, though." One of the plebians scurried off with the box after wiping the table clean. Shoki nodded. "I hope that your people will not be too proud to deny our assistance in the change." She smoothed her hair back behind her ears as she watched the Plebians work again. "I think that as long as the Star Empire doesn't try to force a cultural change, most Elysians will be more than willing to end this conflict and begin rebuilding," Zemer assured her. At that point a seraph brought in what appeared to be a miniature Yui dangling from its fingers, which were wrapped around the NH-12's tiny torso. Shoki shook her head. "There will not be. Oh!" She beamed at the little Yui, she was just adorable. "Most of my mental contents are in this new body. Mom--and I mean the creator of this version of myself--didn't give me the older memories and such though. That makes me Yui in personality, still." It was difficult to explain, though Zemer seemed catch most of it. "I'll stay by your side throughout this." Zemer seemed slightly jealous, and felt it necessary to note he would be, too. "I am thinking Chiaki is a good name for me," the mini-Yui pondered aloud. Shoki nodded. "So you're Chiaki then." She was grateful for the assistance and she smiled brightly at the minature Yui. "I suppose I am!" Chiaki grinned her tiny white dot of a smile. The seraph deposited her on the table. The doll-like neko was wearing a white kimono and red hakama, with a formal jacket decorated with the Kitsurugi crest, and a tiny sword on her hip. Very classic. Zemer commented, "These small nekos would be a great way to help the plebians not to fear the nekos once a peace treaty is arranged. They don't use a lot of electronics, so something they can see and touch and talk to would be perfect. The small size makes them far less imposing." Chiaki seemed to take it as a compliment, wondering if he'd let her play with the angel girls. Shoki's smile didn't fade, Chiaki just just precious. "You are so very cute Chiaki-chan. Glad to have you with me... but I guess since you're here, I guess that means we are free to go?" "We are. Zemer's first officer has already detatched the chute." Chiaki nodded. "To Elysia Novus, then," Zemer smiled at his love. "Right." Shoki smiled brightly and nodded to Chiaki and Zemer. She had to figure out how to argue her case to the Elysians now.. damn, why did this have to be so hard? "I guess we wait then?" JP by: Kim & Wes GSA no Taisho Kitsurugi Yui Commander, Star Army 1st Expeditionary Fleet {This was double-posted, I think. Couldn't hurt to throw it in. -Lin} [GSS Wicked / ECS Hope] A New Journey Kitsurugi Yui GSA Command 1st Expeditionary Fleet SARA - KFY Posts: 1451 (12/15/03 11:22) ezSupporter [GSS Wicked / ECS Hope] A New Journey ON> GSS Wicked (GD-232) Yui was seated in a large, heavily cushioned armchair, the sort of elaborate contraption suited to wealthy captains and fit in only in mansions. The armrest had controls for the strong set of wheels beneath. On her lap sat Hinosami, the communcations officer. Irim was in the center of the Yui-class bridge, at her station, but her seat was backwards and she seemed to be staring at the pair in the mobile chair. Could she perhaps be envious of Hinosami? The defensive systems seat was usually left open, since the Wicked's Megami was entrusted to the involved tasks, and so Shoki had been allocated its comfort. This placed her near to Yui, whose fancy seat was positioned near the rear of the bridge. The Mistress quietly watched Shoki, thoughts bubbling like the fizz in a carbonated drink, while the girl on her lap was oblivious in her slumber. Shoki sat quietly, just waiting for them to arrive at the destination point so she could grant the real Chiharu's wish for peace. It felt ackward to be on the bridge of a ship, she had spent some time in the quarters waiting with the other members of the ground forces but never had she dreamed she'd be sitting on the bridge in a Taisho's uniform! It was all too amazing for her. She pushed her hair back behind her ears.. it felt weird to be like this and have it be real. The attention she was getting was unsettling... but her thoughts drifted towards poor Jones who was stuck on Geshrintall. The man had wanted to come but for the integrity of the mission, he had to remain planetside.. A short, childlike neko with small droopy ears and long, straight black hair approached Irim, leaned forward, and lightly put her hand on the Chujo's chest, whispering something in her ear, before quietly withdrawing back to her seat. Irim looked back to Yui, who must have noticed somehow, because all it took was a nod for the kôgô to understand. "We've arrived," she announced to Shoki. Their was a faint stirring as Hinosami shifted. Shoki nodded, taking a deep breathe as she closed her eyes.. this was going to be difficult.. she had to change the tone of her voice so that it'd match Chi's... "Right.. I guess we wait for the ECS Hope to show up and resist the urge to blow it up?" She tried to lighten the tension that seemed to be very evident on the bridge of this ship and sighed as she realised it was a bad attempt at a joke.. Yui's pained expression underscored the joke's inappropriateness. "What a terrible name for a ship," Zemer commented before answering Sayuri (the neko who touched Irim)'s hails. "Hello, Wicked, this is Hope," he began. It sounded like something out a religious text. "I'm going to attach my chute to your upper lift hatch, alright?" Irim nodded. Zemer spotted 'Chiharu' in the back of the picture and gave her a peaceful smile. Shoki offered a soft smile to Zemer and tensed up. This was it, no time for a dress rehersal, it was now or never... The fate of the war was in her hands, and this was the path that she had chosen for herself. It was liberating to have some control over your own destiny, so this is what Ishida had meant. The transmission ended, giving Shoki a few precious moments to build up her composure for the in-person encounter that wass inevitable. The Elysian Frigate gracefully moved over the Yui Scout and extended its boarding chute. It looked like sea creatures mating, perhaps, as the two ships merged. Zemer's voice came over the bridge intercoe once more, this time without the image. "I'm ready for her," he beckoned. Yui shifted her body, not wanting to miss her chance to meet this unique archangel for herself. Irim flashed Shoki some sort of mystery glare, as if to say that she'd better not disappoint Yui. Shoki rose from her chair and ignored the glare from Irim as she started towards the hatchway. She was terrified and excited all at once, she had never met an Elysian before either and now she had to pretend to be close to one.. this was going to be very tricky. Yui left Hinosami in the big red chair, and headed down the hallway with Shoki and Irim. Hopefully Zemer didn't have any fanatics onboard. Three admirals in one spot made quite a target. Seraphs were waiting in the lift shaft. The closest one offered a hand to Irim, who took a step back. Her hand was awfully close to her pistol. The holster was already unsnapped. Shoki smiled, despite her own terror of seeing the Seraphs. She had to keep a lock on her true emotions or else it'd be over, but having Chi's memories of what happened to her during her capture did not help ease her terror of the beings. Yui was nervous as well. She'd died multiple times at the hands of these creatures, and if this was a trick, she was going to get what she deserved for giving them her trust. With a surge of confidence, half real, half exagguration, she thrust forward her hands and the seraph in the lead yanked her up the lift shaft into the tube, throwing her to a second seraph who lifted her into the Hope. One of the seraphs made a soft, feminine "ehh" sort of noise. It was looking at Irim, whose hand was on her pistol grip by now. Shoki blinked at the disappearence of Yui and offered her hand to the Seraph as well. "I think it'll be okay Irim-san. They would've been more direct in an attack if they wanted to kill us." The seraphs threw Shoki upward like a plaything, and it was only a second or two before she, too, was aboard the Elysian ship, standing before the muscular archnagel that had fallen for Chi. Irim made some sort of rude, sarcastic remark about the Seraphs on Ralfaris being direct. Rather than take the offered help, she used her inertial field to rise on her own, all the while watching the seraphs like a hawk. It was clear she was very overprotective of Yui, as well as suspicious of the Elysians. "Hello Zemer." Shoki offered the Archangel a warm friendly smile in her Chi voice. She had managed to get her voice to the right pitch to sound identical to Chi and all it took was several hours of practice on her own as the memories were played back in her mind. His tall, strong body was clad in a thin white tunic over a formal-looking (but probably day-to-day) set of creased teal pants. The usual chain-mail was gone, as he considered himself more peacemaker than warrior now. Stepping forward, he made to give Chiharu a warm hug. "I missed you so much." Shoki returned the hug. "I promised you that I wouldn't die unless you killed me... it's nice to see you again too." She continued to smile and then pulled out of the hug and indicated Yui and Irim. "Zemerias Kariel meet Mistress Kitsurugi Yui and Taisho Kessaku Irim.." "It's Kiriel" Zemer looked at her oddly. She seemed somehow different. He shrugged it off as the natural effect of prolonged seperation. He was probably just remembering the hhe met, while she had changed slightly over time. Always up to speed on the GSA's leaders, he also subtly corrected Irim's rank. "Chujo Irim, Kôgô Yui" he bowed slightly to each of them. Shoki continued to smile despite the fact that she felt kinda stupid... great.. just great. She was afraid that she was going to screw this mission up before it even started. Zemer spent at least twenty seconds appraising Shoki before he looked to the two unexpected guest. His gaze and silence demanded an explanation, and so Yui told him, "I've heard so much good about you, Sir Kiriel," she started. "Zemer," the archangel interjected. "Zemer," Yui repeated, "I was hoping we could become acquainted."' Zemer looked at 'Chiharu' and to her. "We were going to leave immediately. I...don't suppose you'd want to come with us." He hoped not. One of his arms wrapped around Shoki's waist and rest on her belly. Shoki quietly watched the exchange between Yui and Zemer, she knew that that woman wanted to know why Chi had decided to love a Elysian as well. She leaned against Zemer with a soft smile still. "I would be honored to tag along, if you don't mind," Yui smiled. Irim looked like she had a strong objection. Shoki looked at Yui for a moment, unsure of what to do and looked to Irim. Zemer gave a lopsided attempt of a smile, polite, but clearly not very jubilant at the idea of Irim's ship following him around. "You're a newly-appointed empress. You undoubtably are far too busy," he suggested desperately. Yui frowned, but got an idea. "Alright. I'm going to send along a copy of myself to keep Chiharu company. An 8-inch neko." Basically, Yui was going to have her fourth daughter for Shoki's personal benefit. "I'll be back in a few minutes," she bowed out, going back down the chute into the Wicked. Irim followed, grateful. Shoki smiled brightly at Yui as the Empress spoke and then quickly left. "Everyone was really worried about me.. especially Yui-sama.." "I've never felt a loss like that before, except once, when my wife was taken from me." Zemer candidly told her. Shoki sighed, "I'm sorry to have scared you like that Zemer. I am glad that I could get to see you again, I was scared for a while there that I won't see the people that I loved again." "Are you hungry?" Zemer asked. "I'm not sure how long Yui's going to take, and I figured you might want something, since most nekos have overactive appetites." He poked her belly with the hand resting on it for emphasis. "Yes, I could do for a bite to eat." Shoki smiled again and chuckled softly at the poke. "Hey that tickles.." Zemer grinned and led her to the wardroom, where a few plebians scurried about, finishing setting the couple's places at a table. Todays breakfast was some sort of circular pastry, with a crossaint-like base. There wan't any glaze on it, but Shoki would discover, should she try it, that the insides with speckled with golden raisins and blueberries, as well as veins of a gooey honey cream. Shoki watched the smaller, frailer looking Elysians scurrying about curiously before she returned her attention to her lovesick host. "It figures that you would have this already planned in advance." She smiled brightly still. "You know me, Chi-ko," Zemer smiled. Didn't she? "Always trying to plan ahead and keep track of everything." "This all looks delicious.. I don't know what to try first.." Shoki felt ackward, she knew that the Plebians were starving and yet.. here she was sat before this delicious looking meal and she had to be comfortable about excepting it. Eyes downcast, one of the plebians brought Shoki her tall glass of cool milk. The skinny angel's small, almost decorative, puffy wings dangled out the back of her singular sheer white tunic. The plebian didn't speak, but her hands shook, betraying her intimidation. Another one was serving an identical glass to Zemer, who affection patted the girl on the back as she retreated into the kitchen. Like a pet. "I think if Irim had come aboard, they'd probably wet themselves at the slightest hint of disapproval," another archangel commented from across the mostly-empty room. He was finishing up his meal and two of the little helpers were carting off the reamins of the meal. One of them snuck a bite of half-eaten pastry on the way back to the kitchen. Chiharu hadn't known this one. Shoki gently took the glass from the poor girl and smiled softly before she spoke. "Thank you." She had tried to make her voice soft and friendly so that the girl wouldn't die of fright. She ate her meal politely and demurely, glad to have the food but still she felt guilty about it. The timid server nodded and then hurried away in a flurry of small steps. The unknown archangel walked out, leaving a box on his table. Was it a toy of some sort? A tip? Zemer gave a wide smile. "I asked the little ones to make something special for us." he noted. Shoki looked at the box curiously. "Oh, what is it?" This was just... too much for her too take. Zemer was just too sweet to her and it made her a bit concerned for her well-being but she continued to smile, her eyes shining brightly with excitement. "I don't know," Zemer shrugged. He got up and walked over to the box, opening it and peering inside briefly before setting it back where it was. "It's a set of undergarments and various clothing," he told her. "Probably a gift to the cook. It's always nice to give the little ones whatever we can to make their lives better." Shoki smiled brightly. "Perhaps with the treaty their lives will become better so that.. they will not need the help." It made her feel better to know that the box was for someone else. "Elysia has become pretty desperate lately. Even archangels are having trouble keeping a decent standard of life. We do the best we can to carry on and stay proud and strong despite our losses. The plebians are, for the most part, reduced to total dependence on us to take good care of them. Not everyone does, though." One of the plebians scurried off with the box after wiping the table clean. Shoki nodded. "I hope that your people will not be too proud to deny our assistance in the change." She smoothed her hair back behind her ears as she watched the Plebians work again. "I think that as long as the Star Empire doesn't try to force a cultural change, most Elysians will be more than willing to end this conflict and begin rebuilding," Zemer assured her. At that point a seraph brought in what appeared to be a miniature Yui dangling from its fingers, which were wrapped around the NH-12's tiny torso. Shoki shook her head. "There will not be. Oh!" She beamed at the little Yui, she was just adorable. "Most of my mental contents are in this new body. Mom--and I mean the creator of this version of myself--didn't give me the older memories and such though. That makes me Yui in personality, still." It was difficult to explain, though Zemer seemed catch most of it. "I'll stay by your side throughout this." Zemer seemed slightly jealous, and felt it necessary to note he would be, too. "I am thinking Chiaki is a good name for me," the mini-Yui pondered aloud. Shoki nodded. "So you're Chiaki then." She was grateful for the assistance and she smiled brightly at the minature Yui. "I suppose I am!" Chiaki grinned her tiny white dot of a smile. The seraph deposited her on the table. The doll-like neko was wearing a white kimono and red hakama, with a formal jacket decorated with the Kitsurugi crest, and a tiny sword on her hip. Very classic. Zemer commented, "These small nekos would be a great way to help the plebians not to fear the nekos once a peace treaty is arranged. They don't use a lot of electronics, so something they can see and touch and talk to would be perfect. The small size makes them far less imposing." Chiaki seemed to take it as a compliment, wondering if he'd let her play with the angel girls. Shoki's smile didn't fade, Chiaki just just precious. "You are so very cute Chiaki-chan. Glad to have you with me... but I guess since you're here, I guess that means we are free to go?" "We are. Zemer's first officer has already detatched the chute." Chiaki nodded. "To Elysia Novus, then," Zemer smiled at his love. "Right." Shoki smiled brightly and nodded to Chiaki and Zemer. She had to figure out how to argue her case to the Elysians now.. damn, why did this have to be so hard? "I guess we wait then?" JP by: Kim & Wes GSA no Taisho Kitsurugi Yui Commander, Star Army 1st Expeditionary Fleet [ECS Thunderbolt] Reunions Alarielle Lunastar Archangel ECS Thunderbolt Posts: 3 (12/15/03 16:45) Reply [ECS Thunderbolt] Reunions Alarielle brushed her blonde hair out of her eyes and sighed as she realized the shuttle had finally docked with the Thunderbolt. ~I'll be treated to a dressing down I imagine~ she thought somewhat bitterly, how was she supposed to know it was a trap. She sighed once more and rose from her seat gracefully and walked out to the airlock, ~Might as well get it over with.~ As soon as she stepped foot on the Thunderbolt she stopped quickly and looked at the gentlemen waiting for her, "Sain? Is that you?" The young male Elysian turned to her from leaning against the wall. Sain sighed and opened and closed his wings once, showing their full 10' wingspan then folding back behind his back. As he turned, the light glinted off the black elysium mask covering his face around the left eye. He fixed his brown eyes on her and grunted. "How befitting. It seems every archangel knows me." He said with a slightly irratated hint to his voice. Sain clearly didn't recognize her, and it showed as he looked at her and saluted. Alarielle sighed, "It appears you do not remember me then... It has been a long time after all, I should not have expected any different I suppose." "But since you already know, it saves me the trouble of introducing myself. And such a lovely archangel like you wouldn't lower yourself to introducing yourself to me." Sain grinned, he was used to this. She smiled at him, "My name is Alarielle, does that help your memory at all?" Sain cupped his chin thoughtfully, the name did ring a bell, but it was from his distant past. He looked at her body, starting from the feet and moving up, not pausing on any one part then finally reached her eyes..those beautiful blue eyes.... "Alarielle?" he asked, his eyes widening somewhat, a grin slid over his face, making him look handsome again. She crossed the distance quickly, threw her arms around his neck and hugged him, "It has been far too long..." Sain drew back sharply, but submitted to letting her hug him; but he didn't know how to respond. "It has hasn't it?" He asked..sounding confused still. Alarielle noticed the lack of response and drew back, "What is wrong Sain? You seem confused..." He felt an odd warmth from her, his memories were starting to return after years of repression. "Nothing...nothing is wrong. It's just that the only time an archangel hugged me was so long ago...I believe I missed it..I missed you..I think." He said, then started to look ashamed.. "I'm sorry." She smiled, stroked her fingers down his cheek and looked up into his eyes lovingly, "I want you to tell me everything, what has happened to you?" "We can talk a little later, I'm supposed to examine you to make sure you're healthy, you're to be first officer soon." Sain said, looking back at her. "This way please." He said, gracefully indicating the direction to the medical bay. She sighed softly and followed him to the medical bay. ~Perhaps I have over estimated his regard for me~ she thought silently to herself as the smile fell from her face. She watched his back as she followed him, not paying attention to where she was going or anyone she was passing. Sain reached the door and let it slide open and stepped aside. "Ladies first." He said with a smile, her appearance was pleasing to the eye. She smiled at him as she passed and walked inside. She turned around and looked at him, "I guess we should get this over with." Sain nodded and walked over. "Please lay down on the bed here." he said, indicating a medical bed that looked fairly comfy. He blushed slightly, for reasons he didn't know or didn't understand. "And please open your top. (refering to the shirt)" Alarielle slowly undid the buttons on her shirt and laid down on the bed. She stared up at the ceiling and laughed, "Did I ever mention I hate doctors?" Sain chuckled, "the only thing bad about us is that we sometimes have cold hands." He gently touched her, feeling for internal injuries. She smiled as he touched her, "Well your hands are certainly cold." "I know." He smiled at her, being pleasant. "Well it seems you've broken a couple ribs." He said in a medical tone. She shrugged, "It's nothing, they barely hurt." She winced as he touched one and laughed, "Unless you touch them of course." "You're going to be fine." He said, "If it doesn't hurt much could you please roll onto your chest?" She smiled and rolled over quickly, "Now you can get my back cold as well." She laughed and looked at him from over her shoulder. He chuckled and rubbed his hands together to make them warm before he touched her. He avoided the broken ribs, having a good memory of where they were. He applied some dressing and a bandage to the cuts on her back, the worst one's seemed to be there. "Ok, I'm finished." Sain said. She got up and put her clothing back on, "So will I keep breathing for another year doc?" She asked him teasingly. Sain shook his head, making his long white hair dance. "No you're going to die within the next 4 hours." He struggled to stiffle a smile. He stood off to her side, his vest open with nothing under it, showing his muscular torso. A consciencious effort to please the female. She smiled, "Four hours longer than I expected." Alarielle reached out and touched his hand fondly, "At least I got to see you again." Sain looked at her and sat down next to her. "I remember you know Alarielle, you're the archangel that followed me around for a long time a couple years ago." He smiled at her. She smiled and put her hand on his and rested it there, "I'm glad you remember, you changed my life Sain, and for that I thank you. If for nothing else I needed to see you again to tell you that." She leaned over and kissed his cheek softly, "Why don't you tell me what happened to you? We have a little time..." Sain blushed and drew away putting his other hand to his cheek. "What do you want to know?" He asked. She sighed, "Everything... Perhaps you can start with what happened to you... Did someone do that to you?" Sain touched his mask.."This?" His face shifted into a hateful snarl. "A neko did this to me.." He said, putting his face in his hands. Alarielle leaned over and wrapped her arms around him and hugged him, not caring about the pain that it caused her side. "I..I am so sorry Sain..." He looked up at her, shocked. "You..you are?" He asked; amazed. He'd NEVER had an archangel say that to him...'' She nuzzled up against him offering him what comfort she could with her body, "I am sorry, so sorry I wasn't there, so sorry it happened and I could not prevent it." Sain blushed slightly, he kept doing that and it was annoying him that he couldn't figure out why. He awkwardly hugged her back, believing it was appropriate and that she wouldn't mind it. "It's ok, it was either that or.......have sex with her and I wasn't about to do that." Sain said. Alarielle kissed him on the cheek again, "They could not fix it or you did not want them to?" "It was a mark of shame. They wouldn't fix it so I learned how and did it myself." Sain said. She sighed, "God I am sorry." She stood up, her expression turned angry, "Why wasn't I there to stop it?!" She paced down the medical bay before stopping near the doorway. "Don't blame yourself, I got into the trouble myself and escaped on my own." Sain said. She sighed, "I should have followed you, back then. But my father would not permit it." "You're father would have killed me if I'd shown myself around there." Sain said. "Probably, but I am through worrying about what my father or anyone else thinks." She turned and smiled at him, "You changed me far more than I cared to admit, it took a few years for me to realize what had happened, but now I have." "Other than that, I've had it good, well at least better than the other plebians. I am read and write, speak intelligibly, and perform my duty." Sain said, looking at her. He thought she was stunningly beautiful.."What did I change?" He asked, wondering. She sighed, "Everything Sain, my entire outlook on life. My views on the class distinction within our people, my ideas of how I would like my life to be." Sain grinned slightly. "I'm glad I could help. Might I ask how you'd like it to be?" Alarielle smiled, "Happy, without this war, without the problems within our own people. And with someone I loved.... I will work for everything I want, I won't give up even though it may seem hopeless at times." He casually brushed a long white hair out of his face, he had grown stronger and a bit more muscular, and more handsome. He stretched his wings, showing her his full wingspan; "That sounds good...but it seems that there's no way to do it...." Sain said. She looked at him seriously, "Perhaps not yet. I will not give up on it though." "You can do it Alarielle." He said, nodding to her. She walked back over and looked up at him, "I truly did miss you, more than you can ever imagine." Sain sat down again looking at her. "I missed you too, I've been so lonely." Alarielle sat down next to him, "If you can stand my company you never need to be lonely again." "Stand your company?" He asked curious. She smiled and rested her head on his shoulder, "I...I love you Sain, I have since we knew each other so long ago. Nothing changed over the years, it never will." She stood up and walked over to look out a window at the stars, "One word from you will silence me forever on this subject." Sain was stunned...and absolutely speechless...He looked at her with his deep brown eyes, them filling with suppressed feelings. She stood there, her hands folded behind her back, "I imagine you need time with this..." Sain gently hugged her, but he still couldn't figure out why. His hands going through her hair, it was soft and silky... He started crying gently as years of repressed hardship and feelings surging back. She turned around and hugged him gently, "Why are you crying?" "Just so much has happened..without anyone who cared.. nobody to talk to..." He muttered. She buried her head into his shoulder, "I'll always be here..." Sain quickly recomposed himself; he turned a shade of red again but continued to hold her gently for a few more moments. "I don't know why I can't stop doing this..I'm sorry." He said, letting go and turning away, suddenly shy. She wrapped her arms around him from behind, "Don't treat me like you treat the other archangels Sain, treat me like a person. I do not want to be your superior." Sain chuckled. "But in public you are." She shrugged, "Then in public we can pretend, in private please say whatever you want to me, do whatever you want." "I...I just don't know what I want to do with you." He said looking at her. Alarielle sighed, "I know. It would be best if you thought this over carefully. You have my feelings..." Sain sighed contently and just continued to look at her, still at a loss for words. She leaned over and kissed him gently on the cheek, "I should probably report in. And it will give you time to think, unless you would like to come with me." He shook his head and smiled. "Of course I'll go with you, the captain is Paladin Mathias and Paladin Kemitha." He spit out Kemitha's name with a huge among of disgust. She smiled, "Well if you dislike her that much I'll put on my armour." "We have a mutual dislike." Sain said. Alarielle laughed, "Then I will really need my armour, I'm not appearing before her like this." "Wish I had something better." Sain chuckled, indeed, all he had was an open vest and baggy teal pants on. She shrugged, "Whatever you want, you may have. Just bill me." She smiled playfully. Sain nodded and waited for her to exit first. Alarielle exited the medical bay and walked to the quarters her things were placed in. When she arrived she proceeded to change into her chainmail. After she changed she looked at Sain, "Well now is better than never." JP Tyler (Sain) Jennifer (Alarielle) [Ralfaris, GSS Fortitude] A Falling Star Kitsurugi Yui GSA Command 1st Expeditionary Fleet SARA - KFY Posts: 1455 (12/16/03 21:08) ezSupporter [Ralfaris, GSS Fortitude] A Falling Star Her eyes darted back and forth nerviously, clutch onto the straps of her seat as the pod shot through the atmosphere. She could see nothing but ground, and couldn't really do to much about it "Damn it... Of all ways to die..." Just then, a sharp jerk let Sakura know that something was impeding her descent. The pod's parachute had deployed, a big, white circle of fabric above the pod. She'd been floating for days now, until the planet had finally caught up to the pod and pulled it in. For a while, it seemed as if she was going to drift in space forever. By some miracle, the planetary defense systems let her though. Did it mean that she'd been scanned and found "harmless?" Meanwhile, SAINT units recieve some interesting information from the Pantheon network. An Elyisan woman, not a seraph, in an escape pod, was headed down toward the desert surface of Ralfaris. Its arrival coordinatates were sent to the local GSA forces--but not to any Qel'noran Security units. She merely shook her head, gazing at the ground as it drew closer. Thankfully, it was not as fast as before. She hated being couped up in the pod, no real way to escape if something happened, nothing really to do. She sighed, giving her wings a flutter and hitting her fist against the control panel Kai was preparing to leave and go find the Seigi's escape pods and any others he could find. He adjusted his clothing, fixing the rank pin in its proper place on his black shirt. Keiko was sitting on the edge of the bed watching him "Where are you going?" She asked. "I'm going out to find our friends from the Seigi, I want you to stay here and keep an eye on Amaya." Kai said, looking at her out of the corner of his eye. "Yes Sir." the little neko said. Kai nodded and walked out of the room to see about getting a lift out to find them. Yuuko's shuttle was parked outside. She had apparently fixed it and made it back safely. Kai looked at his datapad, which he kept on his person in his cloak. ~An elysian woman?~ He thought and went to look for a ride; he punched the button to the elevator to go to the roof to see if there was an available ride. He soon got there and stepped out of the elevator and looked around and noticed Yuuko's shuttle and grinned. The flame-haired young man was relieved she was alright. "Hi Yuuko." "Just got a notice from Pantheon. An Elysian pod is coming down. I thought we'd seen the last of them." She let out a big grin. "Wanna go meet this Elysian?" looking around, she added, "Where's Keiko?" "I asked Keiko to stay behind and keep an eye on Amaya. I don't like the idea of leaving her alone in this building. But let's go find this lady." Kai said and hurried toward her. "Let's go!" He smiled. As soon as he was in, Yuuko shut the back door and the shuttle took off, racing to the pod's landing site. "Glad to see you're alright Yuuko." Kai said, settling into the copilots seat and strapped in. She sighed again, rubbing her temple. The pod has finally landed, and the blinding sun made her squint to see anything. She punched the side of the pod again "I'm in the middle of nowhere... no food, no water, in this, god-forsaken desert..." She wheeled around to punch again, but stopped, and sat against the side. "better conseve what little i got..." A QnSe fighter was already circling above the crashed pod when Yuuko and Kai arrived. the remainder of the 4th fleet had notifed the ground forces of the incoming pod and a single ship was dispatched to check things out. Apparently the Qelnorans had little intrest in the angel. "Stay where you are..." a loudspeaker on the outside of the fighter boomed. The sun had began to set and it would be nightime in the desert soon. "Stay where I am" she laughed, before she stood up and shouted at the fighter "Where am I going to go, anyway?" Kitsurugi Yui:: A hundred feet away, the Kitty (Yuuko's shuttle) made a near-silent landing. Yuuko had left the door to the cockpit open and twisted in her seat to talk to Kai, "Perhaps we should have...huh?" she turned to spot a fighter. Hadn't QnSe been disbanded yet? "The pod has yet to open," Yuuko observed. "I think so." Kai frowned. "We'd better go help her." "You mean detain? It's a Navy pod." Yuuko looked confused. "Either way. The first priority is to made sure she's ok." Kai said, standing up and facing the back door. Yuuko opened it, then removed her harnesses and began dressing in her gear, throwing on a vest and some ammo belts. Rifle in hand, she followed Kai out cautiously. The door shut behind them once the GSA soldiers were out. Kai was armed with only his sidearm and whip, but that was all he felt he needed. Kai silently walked over the distance toward the escape pod. She shook her head, looking around toward the fighter, the shuttle, and the soldiers. She raised her arms, knowing any fight would be futile Yuuko used a palm device to message the fighter above them, "GSA's handling this. Thanks for the help." Kai looked up at the fighter with a slight look of contempt; then over at the Elysian and grinned slightly. He started over toward the angel slowly. "Hello." He said to her. The fighter banked hard to the right and jetted off, It was needed elsewhere. Sakura tried to hide her grin. "Hi" she replied. Her white shirt was long, almost past her knees, she skirt was only slightly longer. It was green, and clung to her figure. She kept her arms raised in the air Kai nodded to her, walking right up to her, looking her over to assess her injuries. Kai performed a quick psionic search of her person to see if she had any weapons or other hazards on her. Yuuko, the rave-dancer, liked Sakura's fashion sense, and appraised the Elyisan's body. "She's cute," the short-starured neko grinned. "Look at her dark hair...she's very Geshrin-looking, if she didn't have those fluffy winglets." She shook her head. She was completely unarmed, and had seemingly nothing to hide. She kept her arms raised, and fluttered her wings "It's casue i'm half human" "She speaks Japanese!" Yuuko's eyes widened in suprise. "She does." Kai commented and looked at her in the eyes. "You may put your hands down miss...." He said, leaving it open. ~Interesting~ Kai commented to Yuuko. Mitsuragi lowered her arms, and streched "Ya know, i'm kinda glad someone showed up, it was getting pretty boring here." She shook her head, yawning. She didn't seem to mind anything that was happening, or had happened "No, she's wearing a translator device." Yuuko spotted the white clip-on earring, much to her disappointment. "She probably only speaks Seraphim, then. Kai, I'd like to search the pod." Kai turned to Yuuko slightly. " You may." Kai nodded to her. He then turned back to the elysian; "I am Shosho Kai Ashigari, and you are?" He introduced himself. "Sakura" she said, flatly. Her eyes seemed to dull from the childlike shine they had a moment ago, to a pale grey color Yuuko slung her rifle onto her shoulder and slipped past Sakura into the pod, and began to rummage around. There wasn't much in there. GSA escape pods carried survival kits and supplies, but this thing was empty. Emerging from the pod, Yuuko joined Kai at his side. "Sakura, eh? A good Geshrin name to match your good looks," Yuuko winked. ~It's nice she's got a translator device, makes things much easier.~ He thought. "Pleasure to meet you Ms. Sakura." Kai said. "What ship were you aboard when it got shot down?" He asked her. ~Find anything Yuuko?~ Kai asked the neko mentally. She merely shook her head "beats me. I was just assigned to it when this fiasco happened" ~Nope.~ "I think it'd be kind of cute if she was incomprehensible," giggled the neko girl. Kai winced. "I can imagine that's quite annoying." He said with a chuckle. ~Unfortunate.~ Kai replied to Yuuko. "Please come along with us Sakura." Kai said. She followed him, yawning again. Her hand covered her mouth, and she streched. Her wings fluttered again as she looked up at him Exhausted?" Kai grinned at her. "In here." He said indicating the backdoor of the shuttle. Sakura hurried through the door "so... what's exactually going to happen to me?" "Nothing to harsh if you are willing to share any information you may possess." Kai said, sitting down across from her. She shrugged "Go ahead, i'll tell you anything. I hate arrch-angels, probibly more then most anyone else I know" "Well then." Kai smiled. "Please tell me what you know." Kai was using his more familiar technique: being friendly. "Anything in paticular you want to know about?" Sakura asked. Yuuko hopped back in her seat, shut the back door to the shuttle, and set her armor, ammo, and rifles in the empty copilot seat. The craft lifted off of the ground. "Where to, Kai? Hmm...at some point you need to order a new starship." "About the computer systems if you know anything about it." Kai asked. ~Is there a GSA ship in orbit?~ He thought to Yuuko. "I know next to nothing about computer systems. Someone like me? You guys treat me better they the Arch-angels do" "Half-breeds are weird. They tend to dislike the archangels...most plebians are fine with them, so long as they're treated well," Yuuko said. "There's third fleet and first fleet ships up there." "Let's go to one of the first fleet ships. I'm sure we can find a good place for her until we get a new ship..that is if the captain does not mind." Kai said to Yuuko. "How do they treat you Sakura?" He asked her gently. "Ok. I'm looking for a big one," Yuuko nodded. "Arigato Yuuko." Kai said. "Well, since i'm half human, i'm treated less then a human. I was orphaned, so the Arch's decided i'm make a fun 'toy'..." One of Kai's eyebrows shot up. "They did what?" He asked, astonished. "I'm so sorry that happened to you." The shuttle headed up through the atmospheric ceiling towards one of the luxurious, but lesser-known Yuumi-class Battle Command Ships, the GSS Fortitude (GB-12), which was the command ship of the 4th Star Regiment, a veteran unit. She shook her head "You have no need to be sorry. You had nothing to do with it" "A toy?" Yuuko asked, wanting to know what Sakura meant. ~Which ship is this?~ Kai thought to Yuuko. "Nobody should EVER be treated that way Sakura." He said to the young woman. I disagree, Kai," Yuuko commented. "It's the GSS Fortitude." Kai looked at Yuuko. "Why is that?" He asked curiously. "Ok." he said in response to the name of the ship. "Well, some people like being toys, and some people are made to be toys. Others deserve it," Yuuko explained. Sakura sighed, looking down at her lap "Ya know that they treat captured neko's better then they treat most half breeds... They go out of their way to catch nekos... they make me sick. Power hungry sons of..." "Do you know why they want the nekos exactly?" Kai asked Sakura. ~But did she Yuuko? I think not.~ "Elysians know next to nothing about Nekos... They want to know everything about them... plus the arch's love to keep them as pets." Yuuko was getting irritated that Kai kept sending her telepathic comments instead of just talking. "You never said what you meant by toy, Sakura," she prompted. "I think they know more than you realize, from the reports I've seen." "Take rape, and make it worse..." Sakura said coldly, flatly. Yuuko was quiet. Kai closed his eyes and sighed. "There's not much worse than that." He commented. He turned slightly to Yuuko. "I think that's just horrible, wouldn't you agree?" Sakura swallowed hard, trying to keep her mind on something else. She bit her bottem lip tightly Yuuko made a face, "I guess so." "Sakura, please don't bite your lip like that, it'll bleed." Kai said. "Yuuko, what do the reports you've seen say about what they know?" Kai asked quickly, his mind racing for some reason. "We don't discuss SAINT reports in front of..." she paused, not wanting to say prisoners "...outsiders." Sakura Mitsuragi sighed, sinking into her chair. She shook her head trying to disband some memories. She pulled her knees close, hugging them tightly to her chest "Then we'll do it after we get to the Fortitude." Kai said. "Sakura, do you know anything about the seraphs? Please try and relax, I know it's hard for you to forget what happened to you; you're safe with us." Kai reassured the elysian. The Fortitude's large bay's easily engulfed the small shuttle, and within moments they were parked on the deck on of the battleship's shuttlebay. No one had come to greet them save a sprite in an orange skirt version of the neko uniform. "Nothing more then biological weapons. As you've seen, no hair, no real features. Just a beast, created to fight" Kai rose from his seat and opened the back door after noticing they were inside. "Anything else?" He asked as he waited outside the shuttle. Yuuko rotated her seat to the right, and looked back thorugh the cockpit doorway, "How long do you plan to stay, Kai?" "Powerful telepaths, powerful telekenetic abilties, they can absorb a hell of a lot of damage... Some can change their appearance at will" "Just long enough to get her set up, I want to get off that planet as soon as I can; but I don't want to leave Amaya or Keiko behind." Kai said. Sakura stood up, slowly moving out of the shuttle. She seemed to be filled with intimidation "Seraphs are annoying and dangerous, they're all over Ralfaris." He added. "It's ok Sakura, stay close to me. Nobody will harm you." Kai reassured the intimidated elysian and started toward the skirted sprite. "Who's the captain of this ship?" He asked the neko. The sprite neko had a rifle pointed at Sakura's heart, leaving a red dot on the Elysian at all times. "Chujo Kitsurugi Mayame," she answered. Mayame was one of the lesser-known Kitsurugi, made in another era, originally as an NH-2 at PNUgen. "Please, get the sight off of her. She poses no threat, she is unarmed and in my custody. May we speak with her?" Kai said with a chagrined look on his face. "I don't think targeting her does any harm," the sprite objected, keeping the red dot on Sakura's breast. "You may speak with the Chujo through the ship, or in her office." Kai Ashigari:: "I suppose not if you want to be that cautious and that's a good thing." Kai said. "Please in her office if she isn't too busy at the moment." He said. "This way," the sprite pointed with her free hand, which lit up with a fluorescent glow as she gestured. The wall panels of the hall also had directions for him, too. The neko followed them from a good ten feet back, constantly aimed at Sakura. Sakura's eyes focused on neko, her legs shaking slightly. Sakura's wings fluttered as she lowered her head Kai nodded and followed the wall panels in the corridor. He offered Sakura his arm to hold onto if she was scared. "I'm sorry about all this, but it's protocol on this ship it seems." Sakura followed him closely, shivering. She was barefoot, her feet making a soft slapping noise as she walked. She didn't want eye contact with anyone, so she kept her head lowered. She hugged his arm tightly as she shivered Kai walked throught he corridor, following the directions as the panels displayed them, heading for the Chujo's office. Luckily, most of the ship, once in the actual hallways, was carpeted with the typical navy blue flooring most Kitsurugi-built ships had, which was nicer was much nicer to walk on than the cold floor of the shuttlebay. The Chujo's office door was guarded by two sprites, who pointed their rifles at Sakura's head as soon as she was in their sight. From what Kai could see, this ship was a very strict, very military ship. Sakura loosened her grip on his arm, hoping she has not been any sort of a nusence to him since they had gotten here "Are you sure you want to bring her in there?" the neko from the shuttlebay asked. Kai didn't really like all this strictness, but it was the Kitsurugi's ship and he had to respect that. "No, I suppose not, please escort her to a suitable room. And do not harm her." Kai said as he paused in front of the door. "Move along!" the sentry ordered her. The walls of the ship showed the way to the brig. Sakura released his arm, stepping back before looking up at the neko. She knew that the neko had all the power to end her life right now, so she hurried along. Kai sighed, feeling bad for her. But he swallowed it and approached the door to the office. He bowed to the Chujo after he entered, a gesture of respect. "Ma'am." He said. She was led to a small, but comfortable cell with a large transparent impervium window (into the brig's central area, where a security officer sat) and a small door. Inside was a soft bed, a shower, and a toilet. Not a lot of privacy. END JP by Wes Tyler Sakura Zack [GSS Fortitude] Arranging a Stay Kitsurugi Yui GSA Command 1st Expeditionary Fleet SARA - KFY Posts: 1457 (12/17/03 18:18) ezSupporter [GSS Fortitude] Arranging a Stay ON> GSS Fortittude (GB-12); Captain's Office "I'm Chujo Mayame. I hear you're out of a startship for the time being," Mayame was an unusually big neko, obviously some sort of experimental model--she must have been ten to twelve feet tall, although all the proportions were correct. Shoulder-length green hair framed a fairly flat, oriental face. Kai nodded, "I am mi'lady. We got shot down in that last battle." He said. "I'm sure you know who I am." Kai chuckled slightly. Kai was thoroughly impressed by her size chose not to say anything. "Of course," Mayame nodded. After all, KAMI let her know pretty much anything unusual or interesting that went on. "How long," the Chujo asked, "Do to wish to stay?" Right to the point, she was very businesslike. "Only long enough to get a new Kitsurugi-class ship, if that is acceptable to you. But there's someone else I wish to have with me..a civilian under my care." Kai said, his eyes fixed on hers showing a inner fire of hope. "I know of her. She can stay, but she has to keep out of the way." Mayame ordered. "You have my word on it miss." Kai said, his tone respectful. "Would..it be possible to get an audience with the mistress Taisho?" Kai asked, unsure of this neko's relation to Yui. "Yui-chan is currently out past the frontier, returning from a...diplomatic mission," Mayame explained. "May I ask your relation to Kôgô Yui?" Kai asked, curious. "I'm her sister by creation. She was PNUgen 323, while I was 341. Mizuki was 340 and Eve was 325." Kai Ashigari:: "Very interesting..I didn't know she was related to Eve." Kai mused. "But what about that lone Elysian?" He asked. "The prisoner?" Mayame asked. "You can keep her here if you'd like. We'll have fun with her." Kai coughed once. "Please don't treat her too badly. She's only half-elysian and has been mistreated most of her life." Kai said. "We'll keep her comfy," Chujo Mayame assured him. Kai blushed slightly. "I know that erm..relations are common on the Kitsurugi ships, but I ask you not to do that to her." It may have seemed a bit strange, but Kai was the type of person to be concerned for a lot of people's wellbeing. Mayame seemed disappointed, as if that was a regular part of taking care of the prisoners. "Most of them like it." "I'll do you a favor in exchange." Kai offered. "But I can tell that she wouldn't." Mayame raised a curious eyebrow, "A favor? In exchange for what??" "For not...doing that to her." Kai said, still a bit red in the face. Mayame seemed somewhat amused. "Go on." "I just want to make sure she's not treated like that in any way, and I'm willing to perform one favor in exchange for her wellbeing." Kai said. Mayame didn't need anything in exchange for that, but since Kai was offering, she was intrigued to see what exactly he was willing to offer. "What could _you_ do for me?" she asked, showing a bit of a smirk. "Name it." He said. The Chujo seemed frustrated. The point was _he_ was supposed to offer something. Kai sensed her frustration and sighed. "Not a big deal. Forget I said a thing about a favor." Kai said, withdrawing the offer. He had gotten what he hoped for. "Okay." she said. Kai nodded to her and turned to leave the office to head back to the planet. JP by Wes Kai GSA no Taisho Kitsurugi Yui Commander, Star Army 1st Expeditionary Fleet [ECS Hope] Peace Revealed Ketsurui Chiharu GSA Command GSA 1st Fleet Posts: 29 (12/18/03 13:46) Reply ezSupporter [ECS Hope] Peace Revealed ON>> ECS Hope Shoki had just returned to her quarters after going before the Elysians and proposed peace between the GSA and them. Much to her delight, everything had gone well and the order was to go out to all ECS ship to cease fire.. She stood before a mirror and smiled softly, looking at Chi's face staring back at her. It was simply amazing that she had managed to pull this off right.. but she watched her features change slowly.. first the eyes.... the red disappeared in a slow glow of blue.. and then her face itself switched over to her own. Her hair was fun to watch as the blonde appeared in the roots and trickled down to the tips, bleaching away the dark brown. Zemer was staring, "Chiharu?" he stammered, at a loss. Shoki turned.. she hadn't noticed that Zemer was in the room with her. The brown was still streaking her hair as the change hadn't finished yet. "Zemerias..." Her voice was her own once again, a little bit lower than the one that made her sound identical to Chiharu... "I am.. very sorry." She paused, unsure of how to explain this to him. Nekos never ceased to amaze him. "Feeling reborn?" he asked, wondering, of course, why she had transformed. "Sorry?" "Taisho Ketsurui Chiharu was lost to us when her ship went to the aide of the 4th fleet outside of Ralfaris." She frowned, this was hard news for him to hear from her mouth as it was for Mistress Yui, she suspected. "I was asked.. by Chiharu's spirit to help bring about this peace she was trying so very hard to achieve.. and.. to do that.. she granted me her face." Zemer turned away, a swirling mix of anger and grief welling up inside of him. After a long pause, he asked, "She's gone forever?" It was hard to believe that, after all this, the only person he could ever love since his wife had been murdered, was taken from him, just as suddenly. "There is.. still a trace of her memory left on the GSS Yui but.. her spirit has joined the land of our ancestors." Shoki looked down for a moment as she looked back up at him. "I know this is hard to take.. it was not my intent to rub salt into this wound.. it was very difficult for Mistress Yui to look at me and not want me to be Chiharu. I can never replace her or her memory. I am... very sorry Zemerias.." "Who," Zemer asked, his eyes glinting with a distrustful fire, "are you?" He crossed his arms over his chest. "My name is Shoki, I am a member of the planetary forces for the Grand Star Army, stationed on Geshrintall.." Shoki pushed her not fully blonde hair back behind her ears as she watched his actions with bright blue eyes that seemed to glow with an eerie inner light. "I encountered Chiharu when she visted the surface of Ralfaris." "Seraphs," Zemer prompted. Two of the creatures, white, glistening, and vaguely humanoid, stretched out from the walls, entering the room. The pair approached Shoki, huge teeth-filled mouths grinning in what could very well be bloodlust. "You mean to tell me that this peace is based on a lie, a ploy by the Star Army? So at what point are Yui's ships coming here to Elysia Novus for our slaughter?" Shoki shrugged. "If you wish to kill me, than please do so yourself.. then at least Chi would've been able to keep her last promise to you." She looked at him and shook her head. "No, this is not based on a lie. Yui wants this peace as well because the war is what stole the woman she loved from her forever. She is not coming to slaughter your people. She wanted me to bring this peace as Chiharu because she felt that the Elysians would not listen to her because of her past history against your people. Chiharu sent a message to Yui after she met with you to tell her that she wanted peace for these nations." "How could we have enough hope that we fall for the same 'peace' offer twice in my lifetime?" Zemer asked himself. "Well, I'm tired of running. When your fleets come, I'm going to fight until I find myself in a quiet forest sitting with Chiharu...understand if I'm not easily convinced to trust the woman that just..." He couldn't even find a word for the deed. "I've no idea what to do with you...Shoki." he uttered her name like it was a dagger. "I just don't know." Shoki shook her head again, "Then you wait for something that will not come. So I guess you doubted Chiharu's desire for peace as well then." Shoki sighed. "Get a report of the GSA's actions right now, tell me.. are they standing down?" Zemer called over the intercom for the bridge. "What's the Star Army up to?" "No idea," came the reply. That was bad. "Killing me right now after all of this is not a good thing to do considering that I have no made no attempt to take your life or anyone else's so that you could possibly be justified in doubting our sincerity. Besides, do you think that I would've dropped my disguise so soon after this if we meant to slaughter you?" "I can't be here." Zemer said, and walked out, leaving her with the two seraphs, and Chiaki, who was sitting on Shoki's bed. Shoki looked to Chiaki as Zemer left. "It looks like I end up dying anyway Chiaki." She smiled despite herself and her situation at the little neko. "I just hope that Yui doesn't go to war despite this.. of course he's upset. He loved Chiharu too." Chiaki said, "Yui will have Elysia one way or another." The seraphs growled. "I just hope that Chiharu will have her final wish untainted. I doubt Yui would want to dishonor Chiharu's memory." Shoki sighed. "Down on your knees," ordered one of the seraphs. Ketsurui Chiharu:: Shoki looked at the Seraph. "No. I'd rather have you break my legs then to willing bend my knee to you." Her eyes narrowed, she knew this was stupid to act like this but she wasn't going to be bitched for no reason. "Oh, really?" the other seraph peered out of it black slits. Chiaki tried to desescalate the situation, "Chiharu..." she shook her head, "Shoki, please don't..." "No Chiaki. There is no reason for this. I am tired of being jerked around by people. I left this life behind when I followed Chi's suggestion to make something of my life than to let whomever impose on it! I would not ever be here if it weren't for the fact that this was for Chiharu, for Yui and the damn GSA!" Shoki stared at the Seraphs. "Just kill me and get it over with. It's what he means to do anyway." Shoki laughed. "I guess this is a side effect of having Chiharu's memories. I am willing to do stupid stuff than rather comply. She put up a fight when Zemer first met her. I guess I am more like Chi than I thought.." "Shoki, no!" Chiaki cried. Each seraph reached out to grab her shoulders and push her down. It was quick. "Put your hands behind your back," one of them ordered. They had some sort of tape rolls ready to tie her up with. Shoki laughed again. "Go to Hell." She looked to Chiaki as she was forced down onto the floor. "Sorry kiddo. I'd rather die by my own choice than by someone else's. Tell Yui I never did surrender." Slowly, Chiaki was scooting toward a small nightstand, where her blade, which looked like straight-razors. "Chiaki, don't get yourself killed too." "We have our orders, Neko," explained one of the seraphs, as if that would make her comply. "We're supposed to dump you..." "Like I said, just kill me then. It'd make a bigger impact than just tying me up and dumping me somewhere." Shoki struggled to free herself, knowing full well that they'd just help her out by hurting her more. One of the creatures sent a sharp kick at her belly, "Stop it." Chiaki was in jumping range of her blades. Shoki felt the wind get knocked out of her and she frowned seeing that Chiaki was trying to defend her. "Chiaki.. I guess I should've figured that the Yui in you wouldn't let you sit still.." The seraphs took the opportunity to wrap her arms against her torso with a thick, heavy tape. A block of if was slapped across her her lips. Chiaki stepped forward, only to be swatted down by a wad of tape. She was so small, she was stuck to it. "Shoki!" Shoki shook her head and just inwardly laughed at this situation. She could switch forms and get out of this.. but then.. what'd be the point? She'd be a sword with no one to wield her.. she thought this over, it'd really hurt but they'd probably be in shock for a little bit. She continued to think the idea through.. if she changed, then what? It'd be no effort for the Seraphs to just break the sword and what'd the point of it be? She wouldn't be able to defend herself.. she would.. just have to wait until she was left alone before she tried anything like that. One of the pair stuck Chiaki agaist Shoki's chest. Both of them then picked her up at hauled her down the hall. They ended up in the airlock. It was a little box, filled with glowing white light. The idea that she should've been scared struck Shoki as really funny. She'd just die and end up in another body one of these days, her spirit would always come back. It didn't really matter to her that it'd only take 20 years for her spirit to be reborn. When the door opened, the air didn't rush out, but rather IN. They were on Geshrintall! At that point the taped-up nekos were deposited on the grass. They were at Kitusrugi no Iori's gardens. Shoki blinked at this. And then it dawned on her that Yui wouldn't know her if she saw what she looked like right now. It was strangely funny if this was Zemer's intent. Perhaps Kevin would be able to identify her body if she was left here to die. The seraphs dropped a large cloth sign on her. "Let the dead rest, Yui" it read. Shoki couldn't read what the sign said.. but then again, she had no idea where they were either. She tried to free herself but, only managed to swirm about in the tape. Shoki could hear the sounds of the ship leaving, and felt warm sunlight as it left. Zemer, on board, gave a sad smile as his ship left Shoki in the gardens. He'd been going to have her thrown out into space, but then he'd thought better of it. His wife's spirit would have never forgiven him. It wasn't long before some of the white-and-red-garbed Kitsurugi sentries found Shoki and undid the tape. "Miss Chiaki," one of their liberators said, "We've been expecting you...but not like this!" Shoki stretched as she was freed from the tape. "I guess I'll go get a sword and commit seppaku on myself.." She stood up and looked for an exit. "Where am I?" Chiaki squealed. "I hope you're joking! You just aranged a peace treaty!!" "Sure as hell doesn't feel like it." Shoki sighed and shook her head. "Men are really troublesome.." "Indeed," Chiaki nodded, in typical Yui fashion. "I guess I'm of no use to you guys now. So that means I get to go back to the barracks again and wait around for a new war to come. Hurry up and wait." Shoki smirked a bit. "Unless the empress wants to deal with me now that I'm not Chiharu.." "Well, there's no rush. Why don't we take a vacation somewhere?" Chiaki suggested. Shoki grinned. "Oh? We? Are you going to stay with me even though the mission is over Chiaki?" She looked at the little neko curiously. "I guess we could. I just have to go check in with Jones so he doesn't have a heart attack." "Where else do I go, eh?" grinned the little princess. She turned to the sentries. "Can we get a ride to Central?" "You don't want to stay with your mother?" Shoki picked Chiaki up carefully, "I guess I can't refuse a princess, now can I?" She smiled softly, oh well at least she did bring about some sort of peace.. "Oh," Chiaki grinned. "I want to meet Jones, anyway." The sentries led the way to the motor pool. One of them carried the sign. "I suppose your host was upset?" she asked. "You might like him. He's a nice guy but he's a hopeless flirt." She followed the sentries, still carrying the little neko. "He's my best friend and he looks out for me." Shoki looked to the sentry carrying the sign. "Oh, I think he was having a hissy fit because I wasn't Chiharu afterall.." "That explains the message," commented the sentry with the sign. "It said to let the dead rest." "Yup. I guess it does." Shoki shook her head and chuckled. "Men, right?" "Yeah," everyone had a good laugh. Shoki grinned and wondered how Jones was doing. It had been a while since she was not with him. The only reason why he didn't sleep in the same bed as her was because she had told him no. Chiaki was about to offer to drive, but remembered she was only eight inches tall. Spotting her frustration, the sentry took it for concern for the property books. "Don't worry, it's a spare. You can keep this vehicle." Chiaki looked to Shoki. "Can you drive?" "I think so. Jones taught me how to drive." Shoki smiled and tried to remember what Jones had taught her about this. Chiaki hopped down Shoki's shirt and used the elastic of the woman's bra as a seat belt. She didn't want to fall out, and there wasn't really anything else to hold her tight. Shoki slid into the driver's seat and put on the seat belt, looking at the controls, thinking over to herself how to drive it. "Ok.. this goes here and I do this and..." She started the vehicle with a jump, hitting the gas hard and throwing herself back against the seat. The vehicle hopped over a bush, much to the dismay of the garden sentries, but was now speeding down the cobblestone roadway, silhouetting the small truck in the light of a setting sun. END> JP by Wes as Zemer, Seraphs, Chiaki Kim as Shoki ------------ "Courage is not the absence of fear but the refusal to surrender to it. Never Surrender." - GSA no Taisho Ketsurui Chiharu (YR3 - YR25) [GSS Fortitude] Dolls (unedited) Kitsurugi Yui GSA Command 1st Expeditionary Fleet SARA - KFY Posts: 1462 (12/18/03 23:32) ezSupporter [GSS Fortitude] Dolls (unedited) connected: ezChat version 0.54 Tasuki Uso:: hello Sakura Mitsuragi:: hallo Kitsurugi Yui:: Greetings. Tasuki Uso:: alright then, who wants to start? Sakura Mitsuragi:: I will Kitsurugi Yui:: Ok. Sakura Mitsuragi:: Sakura sat on her bed, glancing over at the guard. Her wings fluttered as she streched beore laying down. She hated small spaces, and this place gave her absolutely nothing to do. Mitsu Amaya joined Kitsurugi Yui:: "You're to be released soon," the sentry suddenly blurted, reading from her control panel. Sakura Mitsuragi:: Her head cocked, looking over at the sentry "O...k," she said, streching again. Her gave fixated on the celing, as she drifted into a gentile sleep Kitsurugi Yui:: Her sentry shrugged. "The Elysians have surrendered." Sakura Mitsuragi:: "You shouldn't judge a people on the actions of one ya know" Sakura retorted. She was only partially asleep Kitsurugi Yui:: "No, I mean that the Elysian Navy is disbanded," the neko told her. Sakura Mitsuragi:: Sakura sat up, intrigued "Oh? I thought their inflated ego's would have gotten in the way," Mitsu Amaya left Kitsurugi Yui:: "You're one of them," the neko reminded her. Sakura Mitsuragi:: "I really wouldn't care if you killed almost every last Elysian. Egotistical, power hungry bastards... I know there are some who aren't like that, but there are too many Archangels whom care only about themselves" Tasuki Uso:: (((I'm headingn to bed, my last two exams are tommarow so goodnight.)))) Tasuki Uso left Kitsurugi Yui:: (k) Kitsurugi Yui:: "I don't think you're thinking clearly," her sentry said. "You _are_ an elysian." Sakura Mitsuragi:: Sakura stuck her thumb up in the air "Good job! You can state the obvious!" Kitsurugi Yui:: "If you keeping acting crazy, I'm not going to let you out of there," the neko warned. Sakura Mitsuragi:: Sakura lowered her head, grumbling "My dad was right... it's better when I don't open my mouth..." Kitsurugi Yui:: The sentry shrugged, "It's more a matter of what you say, and how you say it." Kitsurugi Yui:: Rather than constantly argue, it made more sense to try and get a decent conversation going. Sakura Mitsuragi:: "I'm too much of a smart-ass for my own good" she said as she turned over on her bed Kitsurugi Yui:: "My name's Ryoshi," the sentry introduced herself. "Who're you?" Sakura Mitsuragi:: "Sakura... Sakura Mitsuragi" Kitsurugi Yui:: "It's a neko name," Ryoshi commented. Sakura Mitsuragi:: "it's nice" she said, streaching Kitsurugi Yui:: "What's you're job?" Sakura Mitsuragi:: "You should say unemployed." I spent most of my time as a thief, but then the ECN wanted me to be a spy. I agreed inturn for a pardon, but i tried to get captured, so here I am" Kitsurugi Yui:: "It's funny how it worked out," the neko softly laughed. "Now that the ECN is no longer at war with the GSA, where will you go?" Sakura Mitsuragi:: "Probibly back to thievary... nothing else I really CAN do," Kitsurugi Yui:: "That doesn't sound good. Can't you do something constructive or supportive?" asked Ryoshi. Sakura Mitsuragi:: "Like what? What could a stupid, wise ass..." she paused, shaking her head. Her mind flooded with memories, most of her father belittling her "..a stupid little whore like myself..." Kitsurugi Yui:: "You're a whore?" the neko sounded oddly interested. "I've done a little of that myself back when I worked on the planet." Sakura Mitsuragi:: Sakura slammed her fist against the wall, sitting up "That's all a woman's good for," she said, quoting her father. "My dad told me that when I was twelve... He called me his little slut, or his little whore. He always told me that i couldn't do anything, and that all I was good for was to be used as a fuckdoll for men" Kitsurugi Yui:: "I wouldn't confine myself to men, only," Ryoshi said, then slowly asked, "Your dad...used you as a fuck-doll?" Sakura Mitsuragi:: Sakura only nodded as she cried softly "Everynight... I though that when he hit me it wouldn't be any worse..." Kitsurugi Yui:: Ryoshi got up from her desk and opened the door to the small room, taking a seat on the bed next to Sakura. She began to run her hands through the half-Elysian's hair. "You'll be alright, Sakura," Ryoshi told her soothingly. "No one's going to hurt you now." Sakura Mitsuragi:: She cried still, shaking "You probibly don't know what it's like to pyray for death... to pray that you will die as soon as possible..." Sakura said, wiping away her tears Kitsurugi Yui:: Ryoshi leaned over and pressed herself against Sakura, whispering in her ear, "You won't have to anymore. Just be at peace." She held the crying girl in a warm embrace. Sakura Mitsuragi:: Sakura leaned over and hugged the Neko softly, her wings fluttering "Thank you, Ryoshi," Kitsurugi Yui:: "Maybe you could be the Star Army's fuck-doll," Ryoshi joked. "We treat our ladies well here." Sakura Mitsuragi:: Sakura looked up, a fient smile on her face "I might be a little too picky with my men to be a good fuck-doll" Kitsurugi Yui:: "Oh, I didn't say for the men!" the neko giggled. Sakura Mitsuragi:: Sakura blushes darkly Kitsurugi Yui:: Ryoshi squeezed Sakura's breasts from behind to emphasize her point. "Better than running around stealing stuff, I think." Sakura Mitsuragi:: She npds as she blushes darker, a gentle moan escaping her mouth "I, i might just like being a captive here" Sakura Mitsuragi:: night)) Kitsurugi Yui:: ( Going ? ) Sakura Mitsuragi:: i have to. good news is, tommarows friday. I'll be on... ALL NIGHT)) Kitsurugi Yui:: "Oh, you're free now...so it's your choice. Will you stick around?" Kitsurugi Yui:: ( Okay. Seen you then!" Sakura Mitsuragi:: "I'd love to" Sakura Mitsuragi:: (end/pause, whatever) Sakura Mitsuragi left Kitsurugi Yui:: ( I think Sakura just made a friend! ) Sortie 79: The Serpent's Grand Plan Is Revealed Derran Tyler Nerimian Defense Initiative Posts: 9 (12/19/03 13:22) Sortie 79: The Serpent's Grand Plan Is Revealed The Battle of Tau Ceti N.S.S. Misogi – 653rd Carrier Air Wing The Ramses-class strike carrier was regarded as one of the stealthiest vessels in the Confederation’s inventory, active countermeasures suite coupled with tens of thousands of tons of Zanarium stealth armor making the vessel extremely stealthy as it approached the icy fifth moon of Tau Ceti. In truth, nearly all Confederation vessels were stealthy by their simple design. It was very hard to find emissions from NDI vessels due to the nature of their primary propulsion systems, the gravimetric drive, which used superstrings and the peculiar characteristics of the zero-point field to ‘pull’ the vessel to its destination with amazing speed. In truth, finding a ship like the N.S.S. Misogi when it did not want to be find was an exercise in futility. Captain Nell Dalton understood this fact and kept her vessel on the speedy approach towards the icy moon, all of her fighter squadrons on alert status. The majority of these fighters were drone units, albeit regarded with ‘veteran’ and ‘elite’ status due to the extent of their operational capacity in this campaign alone. But she still had a demi-squadron of ultra-elite Human pilots in VF-32 mecha at her disposal, which would actually carry out the mission. The rest of her fighter compliment served to fly cover for the real pilots. “The defensive compliment around the moon is relatively light – by Jaaq’tah standards. It looks like we have a few Fatlusk carriers and Kranhkt destroyers and the standard array of defense installations surrounding the target package. Nothing we can’t handle, Cap’n,” said Lieutenant Orlando Blanco, the tactical action officer onboard the Misogi. Dalton took in all the information around her in the holographic screens which seemed to be rotating about her, feeding her the relevant information at will. “Launch strike wing,” she finally said in an even tone, the main screen before her shifting to the TO&E of the 653rd Carrier Air Wing. Status, ammunition, fuel, and sensor readings were available for each and every strike craft underneath her command. Thank God for SCRIBOL. The eight quick-launch bays of the carrier went active, catapulting one strike craft into the fray every three seconds. The first fighters to be sent out were XF-14C space superiority mecha, the most competent dogfighters in the fleet. They were designed primarily for fighting other enemy mecha, but had sufficient weapons capability to serve as strike fighters at the cost of sacrificing their medium-range missiles for heavier warhead missiles. After the XF-14s came the two squadrons of XB-29C strike bombers, large and heavily armed with a bristling array of guns and missiles that made enemy ship commanders quake with fear. Finally, the single squadron of XF-18 interceptors leapt from their launch rails, fanning out in two-fighter elements to serve as advance scouts and to serve as the first line of defense against enemy strike craft. Only six mecha remained onboard the strike carrier, those belonging to the VF-32 pilots, who were waiting patiently inside the cockpits of their highly advanced mecha, bringing themselves to a state of serenity before they leapt into the heat of battle. “ETA to target is at six minutes, Captain,” said the CAG officer, his eyes glowing with azure energy as he used his psionic abilities to tap into the air wing’s battle network, issuing a modicum of commands to the drone elements using his mind alone. “I believe we have the element of surprise on our side.” Less than a second after the CAG officer finished that statement, the threat warning receiver went off as the Misogi found itself being illuminated with active search radars from multiple ships in the Jaaq’tah fleet. “Recall fighters, Captain?” asked the CAG officer immediately. The strike carrier wasn’t a ship-of-the-line. Against these types of odds, it wouldn’t survive. “Negative. Our orders are to destroy the primary fleet beacon. Take evasive maneuvers. Instruct all strike craft to destroy their target and then high-tail it to the rendezvous point. If we time this just right, they’ll meet us there. Set course for extraction point B, now!” said Dalton forcefully. “Load missile tubes and power up main weapons.” The air group suddenly kicked it up a notch, going afterburner and accelerating at their highest levels to clear the road to pave the way for the strike elements of their unit. The enemy carriers went active, launching their Salamander II mecha to intercept the Misogi’s strike craft. “We have engaged the enemy, Captain.” The XF-18s swept through the first line of Salamander mecha like a typhoon, unloading their long-range cluster missiles into the enemy line with devastating results. Over 150 enemy mecha exploded in brilliant displays of orange, yellow, and black across a wide section of space, but this was something that could only be duplicated once. The XF-18s were out of long-range missiles. They quickly closed into their close-engagement range along with their XF-14 brethren, taking on the second wave with mixed results. The Jaaq’tah’s Salamander mecha was a very fast and agile mecha that could hold its own with the best of Confederate strike craft, using their primary beam weapons to deal extraordinary damage. “Squadron 1 has been totally destroyed, sir! Squadron 2 is at 70 percent,” said the CAG officer. “Strike Squadrons 1 and 2 remain intact…..they’re approaching their maximum missile range.” The Misogi was now racing at its top speed of .71c, firing off multiple volleys of anti-warship missiles to keep the approaching Jaaq’tah destroyers at bay. “Launch all remaining fighters, now,” said Dalton finally. With that, all six VF-32 mecha ripped from the bays of the mothership, blue-white fields of energy surrounding each nimble mecha as they accelerated towards relativistic velocities. “What are they doing?” asked Orlando, reading velocities from those six mecha that were far beyond the capabilities of the mecha. “They’ll tear themselves apart if they go any—“ Orlando stopped in mid-sentence as the mecha disappeared completely from his screens, then reappeared in the frigid atmosphere of the icy moon below. “What the hell?” Captain Dalton smiled. “The pilots are all powerful psions,” she explained. “Trained by the Vaishan to manipulate Psi to the point where they can perform spectacular techniques that would otherwise be impossible.” “I have visual on the target, Misogi tower,” said the squadron leader of the VF-32s over the battle network. “Two, Three, lay down disruption fields now!” Before the Jaaq’tah air defenses could react, fields of white-blue static swept across the ground and air, destroying equipment and literally fragging the minds of the Jaaq’tah personnel below and in mecha trying to intercept them. The squadron leader, Four, and Five continued on their path, fanning out in attack formation as twelve missiles launched from the wing-sheath missile systems. The missiles raced at their targets at hypersonic velocities, moving in wild zig-zag patterns that seemed like a hypnotizing dance, but in reality was just self-defensive maneuvering. “What the hell?!” said Three, a gray-white field starting to form around the Jaaq’tah fleet beacon a second before missile impact. The anti-matter reaction warheads released the equivalent of a 30 megaton blast each, shattering the monolithic structure. However, as the blast literally engulfed the surrounding area, along with the progressing blast wave, the dimensional fabric began to tear uncontrollably, outracing the speed of the VF-32s, taking them in. Back onboard the Misogi. “We’ve lost contact with all six!” said the CAG officer, feeling a tremendous psychic backlash throughout the battle network. “They’re gone! All of them!” Dalton frowned. “Recall all fighters!” “They won’t make it, sir,” replied Orlando. “They’re too far out and liable to be destroyed before they make it to us.” “Damnit! Spin up FTL drives 1 and 2!” A yellow light filled the bridge and the rest of the ship as the battle computer’s avatar sounded off: “Preparing for inter-phased jump in 4…..3…….2…….1….” The carrier was engulfed in a bright white light and then it was gone. The orphaned mecha continued to fight on, some of them going to their more suicidal tendencies and flying in the center of a large formation and then self-destructing, wiping out scores of enemy mecha along with them. “This is the N.S.S. Misogi reporting to Thirteenth Fleet Command…..our entire air group has been destroyed, but the target has been neutralized. Over,” said Captain Dalton with a solemn voice. “We read you, Misogi. Fall back to previous position and wait for transfer of new air group from the nearest M.O.B.I.L.E.” As the carrier dropped from hyperspace, in the midst of the Thirteenth Fleet, the CAG officer felt something strange. “They’re still alive….” Ralfaris – Grand Star Empire The space in a three AU area in the Ralfaris system suddenly became entirely unstable as half of a mammoth Durash dreadnought drifted through space helplessly. Bits and pieces of the Jaaq’tah fleet beacon remained as well, and among all this debris, six VF-32s remained intact, albeit damaged – two beyond repair. “Kerry, do you read me, over!” snapped Lieutenant Commander Clark Iovanna, the commander of the attack squadron. “Lewis, Nelson, Guerra, Sanders, Vickers!” “I read you, Commander,” said Zeke Sanders, looking over at the fighter of his wingman, Phillppe Guerra, who had been killed. “Guerra and Nelson didn’t make it.” “I’m here,” said Rachel Lewis. “But my engines are shot….where the hell are we? “No idea. This system isn’t on any of my navigational maps,” said Darren Vickers. “Commander?” “The fleet beacon must have been sending that dreadnought somewhere when we hit it. For some reason, only half of it got where it was going and we got brought with it,” said Clark firmly. “Our first orders of business are getting our mecha back operational and try and get in contact with allied command. How’s your life support? “It’s holding up. She’s a rugged plane, sir,” said Lewis. “See if you can initiate self repair, have your nanolathes reclaim energy and metal from some of the debris around here,” replied Clark. Clark ran a diagnostic check on his mecha. It was mostly fine, but the explosions had scrambled his computer and psionic amplification system. A quick reboot and recovery would bring them back online. Outside of that, his mecha was battle ready. So were Vickers and Sanders. Good, at least they could defend themselves if they were in hostile territory…. …But something told Clark Iovanna that he was in a bad situation… [Mega-JP] Too Close for Comfort (Ralfaris Attack) Kitsurugi Yui GSA Command 1st Expeditionary Fleet SARA - KFY Posts: 1465 (12/19/03 18:50) ezSupporter [Mega-JP] Too Close for Comfort (Ralfaris Attack) ON> Ralfaris System Lt. Commander Clark Iovanna's VF-32 was in its battloid configuration hovering over the damaged mecha belonging to Ensign Rachel Lewis, fingertips emitting an green stream of particles that swarmed around the damaged section of the mecha, regenerating the damaged materials. "That should do it, Ensign," said Clark, glancing over to the two other strike craft that were establishing a perimiter. The damaged hulk of the Jaaq'tah capital vessel had remained dormant for some time, the bodies of Jaaq'tah sailors drifting lifelessly into space. "Attention 4th and 1st Fleet Forces, this is Chujo Kitsurugi Mayame. Unknown objects have defolded at the following coordinates. Deploy mecha and engage hostiles. Ships spread out in standard multipurpose formation. Battleship Fortitude out," The command ship (by way of the destruction of the Chiharu sent out orders to its fleets. Thousands of tiny mecha poured from the fleet ships and headed for the wreckage. "Looks like whatever lives here is making a move," said Vickers, the XION system onboard his mecha extending his clairsentience outwards over several AUs radius. "And it seems like there's a helluva lot of 'em...." "We obviously can't fight them off, so get ready to make a run for it. "Zeke, try and get a transmission out to whoever it is, identify us as NDI pilots." Whatever the little mecha were, they were tiny. A little eight-foot, three-hundred pound ghost of a design. It didn't take but a few second before the things were on top of them. They must have had some sort of FTL drive built in. Just a moment after Vickers transmitted, he could see them visually. "Aye," said Zeke, using the standard communications array for using telepathy could be construed as a hostile act. "Mayday, mayday....Nerimian Defense Initiative distress code Zulu. Request assistance, over. I repeat, Nerimian Defense Initiative distress code Zulu. Two of our pilots are incapacitated, request assistance." Vicker's face appeared on Clark's screen. "....Hyperpulse....." Clark nodded, turning the head of his mecha towards the small mecha. "No bigger than Golems...." The swarm of itty-bitty mecha remained silent, but for a quick, "Acknoledged. Surrender to us." Lewis chimed in. "Those look like the same kind of mecha the GSA used in Tau Ceti....." "Surrender? What the hell are you talking about? We're friendlies....." "Resistance will be met with extreme discretion," the disembodied male voice warned. Clark's eyes brightened with a bit of azure as he looked across at the small mecha. "Duly noted. I wish to talk to your superior. We're not here to cause trouble, but we're not surrendering." "And we'd like to know where here is....." Vickers' mecha was practically engulfed by the little things, which attempted to latch onto him with their hands. The other five Nermian mecha found themselves in the same situation. Meanwhile, the unnatural voice responded to Clark. "You have intruded into the Ralfaris System." The small mecha would find themselves repulsed before they got within ten meters of the mecha by an intensely powerful barrier shield. "Back off, midgets. I'll strike a deal with you. You can escort us back to your base ship, but we keep our weapons -- albeit off-line." "You're to be taken to the Nerimian Cruiser in Ralfaris orbit," a female voice informed him. One of the pilots, perhaps. ".....Nerimian Cruiser?" said Clark with a bit of surprise. "There's an NDI ship here?" "You've got to be kidding me," said Vickers. "Didn't even show up on my IFF." "There are eleven," the pilot responded. Sanders used his own clairsentient abilities to scan the stars. "......It looks old.......a Lightning class......and what looks to be a whole squadron." Clark frowned. "Fine. You lead the way....." Clark's mecha converted to fighter mode along with the others. "Allow my LAMIA to take hold of you," the male voice insisted. "How many of you are there?" the pilot asked. "Fine......but don't get too frisky.....I just put a fresh new coat of paint on this....." said Clark, allowing a portion of his barrier shield to go down, but the PD lasers on dorsal and ventral surfaces seemed to follow the movement of the LAMIA. "There are four of us.......six if you count our fallen squadronmates....." said Vickers, issuing a telepathic command to the computers of the other fighters, which suddenly SCRAMed themselves, rendering themselves completely inoperable and unable to be reverse-engineered. The tiny mecha grabbed on, and there was brief flash of red light, and then a bright glow off of the planet's surface. Well...that didn't take long. After the short trip, the Lamia freed the fighters and floated away to give them some room. The formation of NDI ships was nearby. They seemed to have brought the two wrecked ones as well. Telepathic activity between the special forces pilots was somewhat heavy. If the GSA could hear it, they'd continue to hear the word 'hyperpulse' being repeated over and over. The four strike craft were engulfed in blue-white energy for a split second before they were before the starboard mecha bay of the Prometheus cruiser, which had the largest mecha accomodations of the ships here. Auto-landing systems took over the controls of the jets and they were guided safely into their 'cages'. Once onboard the cruiser, the four pilots dismounted their mecha, removing their sealed helmets and looking at the ship's crew. They looked at the patches on the arms to see the unit designations -- there were none. Clark immediately asked the Senior Petty Officer on duty. "Why is there an NDI contingent here?" The SPO responded: "We work for the GSA in exchange for something the CONSTRACOM wanted. We've already helped repel an invasion of this place. The question is....how did you get here?" The calm, male voice of KAMI had sent a message to the NDI squadron, "These belong to you." "What belongs to us?" said Sanders, wiping sweat from his brow. "And who the hell is that?" "This is Kami," the voice responded. "I just brought back six fighters of yours." Lt. Commander Clark Iovanna shook his head. "We need to get back to the Misogi immediately. We request immediate return to the Edo Fleet Star Fortress." "Yeah, we need to get back in the fight ASAP," chimed in Lewis, ready to get some revenge for her fallen comrades. Meanwhile, around the floating husk of the Durash dreadnought, small pieces of debris were spreading throughout space, actually accelerating at a good rate of speed away from ground zero. These pieces of debris were incredibly small, as not to be noticed unless placed upon very intense scrutiny. "KAMI, is it?" said Vickers with a smirk. "Could you patch us into NDI command at least?" Thousands upon thousands of LAMIA mecha were scouring the wreckage for enemy survivors. The debris didn't go unnoticed. KAMI knew it was a tactic of the Jaaq'tah to disguise drones as random rocks and scrap. Specifically designed for taking out just such an enemy, the Lamia were prompted to hunt escaping objects down and destroy them. The NDI wasn't equipped to handle KAMI's normal forms of communication, so a Yui-class was dispatched via TTD to Tau Ceti, where it requested a relay to command thorugh the forces there. A Tatsumaki vessel linked up with the Yui, lending its communications array hand-off to the forces inside Ralfaris. "This is Battle Force Tau Ceti Command, identify yourselves." "This is Lieutenant Commander Clark Iovanna, 653rd Naval Air Group. We're in this place called Ralfaris where there just happens to be NDI vessels. Request extraction." "How in the hell did you get to GSA territory, Lieutenant Commander? We have you listed as KIA 13 minutes ago along with the rest of your air group," replied the commander of the Star Fortress Edo. Meanwhile, the LAMIA were unloading subspace and anti-matter missles on any stray objects. They wouldn't allow a chance there could be a hidden beacon drone. "No idea, sir. When we fragged the Jaaq'tah fleet beacon, we got blasted here.....we lost two Hellstorms in the process......" Meanwhile, inside the wreckage (which was immense to say the least, at least the size of several GSA capital vessels), multiple portals opened, releasing a host of Salamander II mecha, Omino, and Parasite drones. The wreckage area quickly became a monstrous battle ground between LAMIA and Jaaq'tah strike craft. "......We'll get back to you, Commander. Discom," said the star fortress command abruptly. "What?" said Clark. "We need to get out of here!" "Attention Star Army," PANTHEON-C announced to every ship in the universe, instantaneously recieving KAMI's data on the attacks. "Please stay out of my designated combat area while I work." Omino-B drones began creating zones where LAMIA drone FTL drives would find themselves inoperable or at the very least, work at a highly-reduced efficiency. Omino-A drones began bringing Hermes A and B drones into the fray, which began orbiting entire squadrons of Salamander mecha like satellites, absorbing soliton beam blasts and releasing them back at the LAMIA mecha. This was quickly becoming a contested battlefield. Pantheon summoned the The Grand Provisional Fleet, numbering some 332,800 Ki-D3 Arashi-class destroyers and 52,296 Irim-class Assault ships, with a number of Yui Destroyers to support. Apparently the Lamia in the battle zone were to be sacrificed. The largest fleet ever built by the GSA was back out of the battle zone, charging its main guns. Back in Tau Ceti, DEIMOS had explained exactly what happened with Sortie 79 of the N.S.S. Misogi. When the fleet beacon was destroyed, it was in the middle of transmitting a Durash dreadnought into the GSA universe. The resulting explosion catapulted everything within a certain radius into the GSA universe, which included the portion of the Durash dreadnought and the squadron sent to destroy the beacon. "This is Star Fortress Edo, transmitting to the GSA command on Ralfaris -- The Jaaq'tah have discovered the location of your homeworlds." "Spirit of the mother!" Mayame exclaimed, enchanted by the sight of the automated fleet's size. Then, to Edo, "It seems doubtful." By this time, hunrdreds of thousands of Jaaq'tah strike craft had come onto the scene, separating into multiple strike groups. They would notice larger wormholes starting to be created within the battle zone, growing larger and larger as every second passed. Elsewhere, the Jaaq'tah were mounting an intense counterstrike against NDI fleet forces in Tau Ceti, seeking to beat back the Draconian Alliance and strike back against the mercenaries the NDI had sent upon them in the opening moments of the battle. A brilliant light made Ralfaris reflect light like the sun for a moment. Every bit of the battle zone was flooded with the combined beams of the automated fleet's bombardment. It was a brutal measure, but perhaps necessary. This fleet was like none before, in that every ship had a transposition cannon, making it the most lethal Star Army fleet ever. The amount of power unleashed here was simply unreal in its scale of magnitude and it seemed to spell doom for the Jaaq'tah strike team which had been dropped into action here -- or did it? The transposition cannon caused the space-time continuum of an area to collapse on itself, but with the presence of tens of thousands of Omino drones and their nested interdiction fields, the amount of destruction the Star Army wanted to unleash wasn't quite realized. In the midst of a sea of chaos, a 350,000 mile sphere of space remained intact, the Jaaq'tah strike force congregated there, and as a unit they moved, existing at one point for one moment and then in another the next moment, making 'jumps' that looked like teleportations throughout space. They weren't looking to fight the massive Star Army fleet that existed solely to kill them. Instead, they were making a path for Ralfaris itself. Saito Jian joined To put it simply, this was not a good day for the first fleet, almost all of the ships were still receiving crew and supplies from the planet and no commanding officer was present at the time. Corporate offices were scrambling the few Anteaus class battleships that were in the area to get them out of orbit and into some sort of defensive position so that their multitude of missiles could be used but ironically the planet's safety was solely in the hands of PANTHEON. The second wave of the attack came form the automated fleets as quickly as the first. Over a million soliton beams raced toward the battle zone, each aimed at some significant target, anything vaguely hostile. Another five million smaller beams crisscrossed them, coming from orbital drones of the planet's defense platforms. One way or another, PANTHEON intended to have them. The Arashi destroyers began to close the gap, in case they had to use their positron cannons. Derran Tyler:: The massed Jaaq'tah strike group broke off into five smaller, but still huge groups of strike craft and drones while the first massive portals began to yield entire battle groups of Jaaq'tah destroyers, frigates, and cruisers. By this time, some 10,000 Jaaq'tah vessels were in the Ralfaris system -- dwarfed by the GSA fleet forces, but not much longer if things continued at this rate. As the Provisional Star Army fleet started to unleash their soliton cannons, they met significantly increased success, but the sheer distance at which the weapons fired and the nature of space ensured that the vast majority of the mecha managed to evade the blasts. Still, other blasts were absorbed wholesale by Hermes drones, which orbited the groups like satelites along with the other types of drones. At this rate, they would be upon Ralfaris in 2 minutes. The massive Antaeus class battleships rotated on their axis's bringing their top missile banks to face the oncoming fleet. A horde of Ender missiles were then unleashed upon the Jaaqtah. The onboard CDD,s activated as well as the shields and soliton cutting beams. All of which traveled at nearly 90,000 times the speed of light covering the distance in almost no time at all. The majority of the 4th fleet ships were still attached to the ships and were being flung about as the ship brought its weapons to bear. "Shift soliton fire to mode B," Mayame ordered. This was the alternate energy mode that had been designed to overload the drones as they attempted to absorb the beams, something SARA had been saving in its sleeve for such a moment. The soliton fire was fast, only seconds between intervals. The automated ships shifted their fire to leave small open zones of space and began to teleport right into the midst of the battle and unload millions of missiles, torpedoes, and beal fire. Nothing like it had ever been seen before. There were now _billions_ of LAMIA units in the area, in a fabulous display of chaotic-looking tactical strikes on emerging vessels. Their subspace missiles, as designed, were seriously fucking up the wormholes. The PANTHEON system minimized fratricide as the 4th, 1st, and Provisional Fleets placed each other in the crossfire. The Jaaq'tah waded through the storm of fire, their numbers seeming to multiply as wormholes within the midst of the horde began to pour more Salamander mecha and drones into the fray. As the Ender missiles approached the Jaaq'tah formations, their CDDs suddenly went dead after they reached about 100,000 miles from their intended targets, quickly falling prey to the host of Omino drone interdiction fields (which made CDDs useless or near useless in their AOE) and massed PD fire, which destroyed the missiles before they could make an effect.. The first of the Jaaq'tah formations was approaching the planet's atmosphere. ETA: 45 seconds. The massed Star Army fleets were starting to rack up kill totals now as the time on target with their guns were starting to become shorter and shorter and not giving the Jaaq'tah time to react. As automated ships began to break into the midst of the Jaaq'tah formation, they were met with multiple detonations of aetheric flux weapons, which in themselves served to detonate a great deal of the missiles and torpedoes before they could make a lasting effect. LAMIA units and the Jaaq'tah engaged in tremendous feats of combat that would be remembered for years to come. But despite the losses the Jaaq'tah were taking, the advance continued. Jaaq'tah vessels deployed their own strike craft and drones, forming together and deciding to attack a single portion of the Star Army fleet to try and break a hole in their own formation, particle beams coupled with aether torpedoes blazing towards their targets. Missiles started to get shot down, However the PD fire wasn't nearly as effective as the Jaaq'tah would have hoped. The missiles continued on as the shields and soliton beams absorbed or destroyed the majority of the incoming fire. In addition to the massive payload the missiles carried they now were acting as mobile solition beam batteries. The Anteaus Battleships started firing more and more waves of missiles into the oncoming fleet as swarms of Minions started to form up just above the planet. "Pantheon, using the data from the wormholes, find out the TTD coordinates of the other end," Mayame ordered. The first Jaaq'tah formation, consisting of something in the number of 150,000 strike craft suddenly breached the upper atmosphere, the formation suddenly forming into a mammoth claw as a massive aqua-green colored beam emerged from a mass of nearly ten thousand Hermes drones, wide enough to engulf anything in a 2,500 mile diameter. The yield of the beam was simply attrocious, equivalent to the yield of a 600 gigaton fusion weapon upon impact. The energy came from energy absorbed from attacks from the Star Army fleet. It was itself aimed at one of Ralfaris' largest population centers. Tasuki Uso:: Ralfaris lit up like a star for several seconds. The massive shield generators of the planet absorbed the blast and a majority of the oncoming ships. The remainder were being cleaned up by the Minions which were making runs on the outer edges of the formation. The coordinates on the other end were nebulous to Pantheon, because the source of orgin could be any of nearly a million places inside the Jaaq'tah's vast empire. Their massive fleet beacon complexes were interlinked to a point, but there was no one 'definite' destination that was the source of orgin for the wormholes. They came from literally millions of locations inside the Jaaq'tah Empire. Mayame frowned. "Fortitude to local NDI forces, what are the Jaaq'tah homeworld defenses like?" The lead Prometheus cruiser captain responsed. "We have no idea. No one has ever been there to report." "Give us some place to counterattack, then?" Mayame asked. Better to have the battle on enemy turf. "No one I know of has ever been past Tau Ceti, but we do know that Beta Lyrae is the Crimson Fleet's HQ." The forces of the Star Army were making progress, their sheer firepower overwhelming the rear of the Jaaq'tah advance. Firing their transposition cannons strategically, each shot removing (besides any enemies in its path) a 5,000-mile wide strip of space to plant a wormhole. There was quickly becoming a very limited area for the drones to function in, which made it easier for the Arashi destroyers to hang around and wait for the next enemy to show up, ready to pound the shit out of it with positron cannons. The Jaaq'tah formations continued their descent until they met the enemy planetary defense shield, which was soon marauded by a barrage of aetheric flux warheads, which by their very nature tore through shields like butter. In a planetary atmosphere, their unleashing of the latent energies of the surrounding area had even more devastating effects, creating massive blast waves that swept across the landscape like a typhoon. The Jaaq'tah forces, battered, but certainly not beaten, had dared make their beachead on the Qel'Noran homeworld with such ferocity as to make the Elysian attack seem like a Sunday skirmish by comparison. The thousands upon thousands of planetary defense batteries opened up on the incoming ships. With the Jaaq'tah ships captured between the Minions' powerful weapons and the ground forces numerous guns and inhibitor fields which prevented them from bringing ships directly to the planet they were quickly reduced in numbers, blunting their attack. The majority of the factories and towers on the planet remained intact with layers of impervium blown off but the civilian areas did not fare so well. Hundreds of habitation facilities were simply wiped out. What remained were only a hand full of heavily armored entrances to the underground tunnels where the population had hidden once the planet was warned of an attack. The blast sent untold amounts of dirt and debris into the atmosphere in a slowly expanding cloud. Even if the planet was to survive it would be altered forever. The 1st Expeditionary Fleet and the 6th Star Fleet defolded suddenly in the vicinity of Beta Lyrae and unloaded maximum firepower on the habitable worlds of the systems. Surprise would be on their side. Hopefully this would distact the enemy's efforts by drawing attention away form Ralfaris. Within only a few seconds of firing, the ships disappeared again. Yui, among these ships, hoped for at minimum, revenge. From this point forward, the Jaaq'tah forces did nothing but try and wreak as much havoc as possible before they were eventually defeated. The Star Army would have to understand that to the Jaaq'tah, this was just a -raid-, not a full-scale attack. Jaaq'tah forces broke off into much smaller groups now, more regiment-sized units that now focused on specific tasks. Jaaq'tah forces had landed and simply attacked any target of opportunity, which included ground forces, defense batteries, factories, basically anything of importance. But by this point, it was just a matter of time before Ralfaris' defense forces would defeat the raid. The minimal units that did make it to the ground did little, The city was completely empty of people and important materials had already been moved to the lower areas. What they did find were thousands of automated weapons and drones that went deal with the ground forces. A transmission went to the entire GSA communications network, an automated message that seemed like it was generated by computer and not given by an actual person. "Do not interfere in our war with the Draconian Alliance again." And that was it. The raid was over. The Jaaq'tah considered all of these forces simply expendable. The Jaaq'tah didn't want a war with the Grand Star Army, but they had to send a message the only way they knew how. This was but a minute portion of their vast power. Nearly one million units had been deployed here today and it was nothing compared to what the Jaaq'tah could unleash upon its enemies. Hopefully, the GSA would learn that an all-out war with the Jaaq'tah was not in their interests and would terminate their dealings with the Draconian Alliance. Pantheon decided only the bridges of its ships should hear it, and thus it was so. "The shipyards must be trashed," Sakai Yuuko was noting, on the bridge of the GSS Fotitude when she heard it. "Ha! They're flailing at us!" she grinned. "Look at their ships fall. I hope they're satisfied with the number of soldier-lizards they sent to their death." The Jaaq'tah Emperor watched it all from the Imperial Palace on Sssla, his blood red eyes glaring at the display. "If they interfere again, we will break them. Let it be known to the Grand Emerald Fleet." "How many worlds will be sacrificed for someone's failure in politics?" Mayame asked absently. "Yui-chan, did you get what you wanted?" "I did," Yui nodded, on the bridge of the GSS Empire. "Beta Lyrae is out. You fought well today, sister." "Thank Anri." END JP Wes Derran Zack GSA no Taisho Kitsurugi Yui Commander, Star Army 1st Expeditionary Fleet [GSS Empire] Viewpoints Derran Tyler Nerimian Defense Initiative Posts: 11 (12/20/03 15:07) [GSS Empire] Viewpoints ON> Ralfaris Onboard the bridge of the lead Lightning cruiser of the Nerimian starship squadron currently stationed in Ralfaris (hereby referred to as the N.S.S. Lysander), a familar figure appeared adjacent the ship's captain. Donning the uniform of a senior military officer, the legendary General Cameron Blackblade simply came into being, using his immense psychoportive powers to bring him to this extrauniversal location. Legend of his exploits would certainly have even reached the far ends of the Grand Star Empire, as his leadership during the First Draconian War had led the Draconian Alliance to a stunning victory. Cameron's dark eyes looked at the world of Ralfaris, the smoke cloud from the battle the day before remaining, partially blocking out the view of the sun. Without so much as a word to anyone else, he made his presence known, his voice ringing out on communications frequencies throughout the GSA network. "This is Nerimian Confederation Defense Minister Cameron Blackblade, we have much to discuss, Grand Star Army." Blackblade was a fearsome figure to behold, towering over most men both in literal size and in simple attitude. That ice cold gaze was enough to shake the manliest of men from their high horse and Cameron reveled in the fact that he could break a man's will without so much as a word. His left hand always seemed to be clutching a traditional Japanese samurai sword, the very embodiment of his namesake - Blackblade. Pantheon set up the appropriate communications relay to the Empress. "This is Kitsurugi Yui, what can I do for you today?" It was visual feed, and Yui was seated in her office in a terrycloth robe, obviously pulled just from the pool-like bathtub of her ultraluxurious quarters aboard the flagship GSS Empire. "The attack on this world just hours ago surely informs your government of the severity of the Jaaq'tah menace to all civilized societies everywhere," said Cameron starting to go off on the standard righteous speech, but then he stopped himself. "But let's cut the bullshit. The Jaaq'tah have shown that they'll attack anyone who gets in their way of total domination of space. So let's make this real simple: Are you still with us in this fight or not?" "I left that matter for my people to decide," Yui told Cameron. "So far, the concensus supports you." "I want to know what -you- think," said Cameron with added emphasis. "Are you willing to lose lives in a war who's scope is far beyond any of us have ever witnessed?" Yui looked at him straightly, "I am." Cameron's eyes flared with azure energy for a moment as he glanced off to the side for a split second, then regaining focus. "If you join this fight......we must all fight as one collective unit. Regardless of what I think of your nation's culture and motives, the most important thing to me right now is defeating the Jaaq'tah once and for all. None of this double dealing, backstabbing nonsense. We fight together.....and if it comes to it.....we die together." "The Star Army never dies, Minister," Yui told him, "Certain Victory." "Then......we must discuss terms of a formal alliance," said Cameron assertively. A transmission was sent through Pantheon containing the text of a military alliance between the forces of the Draconian League Allied Forces and the Grand Star Army. The text of the treaty was relatively straightforward. Each side would come to each other's common defense in the event of attack and would join their forces under a unified allied commander, to be decided by joint committee later. Yui peered at holographic extra screen generated by her tablet computer, reading it over in scrutizing detail. "An allied commander?" she asked, putting out the first, and most major problem she had with it. "Yes...A supreme allied commander." "No," Yui shook her head, causing her wet bangs to sling a bit of water to her sides. She couldn't put the GSA totally in the hands of another nation. Totally unacceptable. "Pardon?" asked Cameron. "I can't put my forces under a commander that's not part of the Star Army," Yui stated. "You assume that we would put your forces in jeopardy needlessly?" asked Cameron. "You assume that I assume that?" Yui quipped. "I love my people too much to ask them to rely on the judgements of a stranger. You can," she added after a pause, "send us on missions, but they must come through me." "So now you question the competence of our admirals?" said Cameron, almost seeming to take offense. "But have it as you wish. Missions will filter down from our battle network to yours." "I don't question their competence, I question their prejudices. It's only natural to put some unfamiliar outsider in a hard spot, to do the dirty work. To put it bluntly, I think that my kind would be used as pawns and shields," Yui explained. "Feel that way if you wish," said Cameron. Yui probably had a point, but Cameron's personal view of the Star Army was that they were better suited supporting his own forces by opening up second and possibly third fronts. "Outside of the objection to the unified allied commander......any other objections?" "Oh?" Yui raised her brow at an off-screen holographic display. Momentarily, she switched the videoconference to show lizard-like man of some sort. "I'd like you to meet someone. Minister Blackblade, this is Emperor Cladoran the Fourth." Cameron responded in monotone voice. "Greetings, Emperor," said Cameron. Empress Yui gave the Emperor a smile and a nod, "Hello?" she checked to make sure the audio was working. The emperor seemed to be fiddling with a translator for a moment. Cladoran blinked momentairly as he scanned over the two people appeared on the ground infront of him. With a polite dip of his head to Yui and a hearty smile towards the other man, he began to speak. "My warmest welcomes to you both, may I ask what I have been called here for?" His body tensed for a moment before he went back to thinking. "We are discussing the prospects of an alliance between the Draconian League and the Grand Star Empire for the purposes of defeating the Jaaq'tah." "Are the Qel'noran up for the fight?" Yui asked, thoughtfully watching Cladoran. His body continued to stay relaxed as he had been thinking about that his people would be forced into another war, so soon was not what he had expected. "We shall have our revenge upon the people who attacked our homeworld. Blood must be shed for blood lost." Yui looked to Cameron. "There you have it. We're in for the long trip," she said coloquially. "May we move on to strategies, perhaps? We, of course, should discuss the overall plan." "Our overall plan is to strike and eliminate these five systems: Tau Ceti, Beta Lyrae, Iota Epsilon, Kitana, and the Jaaq'tah homeworld, Sssla," said Cameron, a holographic star map appearing. "The only problem is......the Jaaq'tah sector of space has some pecuilar characteristics about it that restrict FTL travel along very specific routes we call 'starlanes.' Not even our Vaishan comrades can teleport forces past the nexus in Tau Ceti, which is just their perimiter guard. In order to reach any other system, we need Tau Ceti and its starlanes -- hence why we've focused our first offensive there. Yui grinned deviously, "Preliminary attacks on Beta Lyrae are already underway. We hit during their assault on Ralfaris. Do you think I could use the GSA's TTD system to slip in the back door and establish a second front?" [GSS Fortitude, Ralfaris] To the Stars Kitsurugi Yui GSA Command 1st Expeditionary Fleet SARA - KFY Posts: 1475 (12/20/03 16:07) ezSupporter [GSS Fortitude, Ralfaris] To the Stars Kai was still on the GSS-Fortitude considering what to do. He needed to retrieve the Seigi crew, Keiko and Amaya. He stretched himself and looked around, having remembered the way to the fighter hangar. Kai started in that direction, reaching the doors after a few minutes and looked for Yuuko. "Yuuko?" He asked aloud. Yuuko popped her head out of her shuttle's open rear door. "Hello?" Kai smiled at her. "Yuuko, please take me back to the QnT building. I must retrieve both Keiko and Amaya, if she wants to leave that is." Kai said, walking toward her. "Yes sir," Yuuko nodded, and got back into the shuttle, folding her sleeping bag up and then strapping herself into her pilot seat. The girl had just woke up and was still in her undies. Kai politely stripped off his cloak and draped it over her shoulders, covering her gently after getting into the shuttle. Kai had waited for her to roll it up. "Here you go Yuuko." He said. Yuuko turned on the shuttle's systems, and in short order, the Kitty was heading back toward the surface. Kai sat in the back of the Kitty. "I hope everyone from the Seigi is safe." He mused. That had worried him for a while. Yuuko lead the shuttle over the scortched desert, much of which had been turned into glass by the heat of bombardment, headed to the Qel'noran Industrial area. They landed on the roof of the QnT building. Kai stepped out of the shuttle after opening the door, feeling them touch down and stood outside and waited for Yuuko. "Want to come or do you wish to stay here?" He asked Yuuko, allowing it to be her choice. She seemed busy with her tablet. "Staying here then Yuuko?" Kai asked and turned to head into the building. He needed to go find Amaya and Keiko, quickly; he believed. Yuuko told Kai she'd stay in the shuttle, "Yep." "Ok" Kai waved to the little neko and pushed the button to ride the elevator down to the floor he knew the room was at. He stepped on and rode down, reaching the level fairly quickly and went to the door and knocked at it. "hello." He said through it. Amaya walked over to the door, let Kai in and then leaned against the door frame, "Haven't forgotten about us after all I see... " She smiled at him playfully, "It's nice to see you again." "Kai!" Keiko laughed and pounced on him happily huggling his neck as best she could. "Sorry it took so long Amaya. I had to get a new ship, and I have something to askyou." He said, looking at her with a genuine softness in his brilliant green eyes. Amaya smiled, "What do you need to ask me Kai?" "If you'd willing to come with me up into space and serve in the GSA." Kai said, brushing a hair out of his eyes. Keiko was now sitting on his shoulder humming happily kicking her feet. Amaya's expression turned thoughtful as she walked from the door and took a seat on the couch. "I would love to Kai, but I have made a commitment to QIS that I feel I must also fulfil. I would love to find a way I can do both." "Hmm? What'd you commit?" He asked, sitting next to her on the couch. "I did tell them I would help them. Truthfully though the details of my assignment have not yet been revealed to me." Amaya sighed and looked over at Kai, "I would truly love to join the GSA with you, after everything that happened I do not want to be separated from you." "Well there's a protocol for that. You can work with them, but GSA comes first." Kai said with a chuckle, knowing that Irim made that up and it had worked out well. "Please Amaya?" The little NH-12S on his shouler asked, giving her puppy eyes. Sgzyr joined Amaya smiled at Keiko, "How can I refuse when Keiko asks so adorably?" Keiko smiled and kicked her feet excitedly and jumped over to Amaya and hugged her, rubbing affectionately, she had bonded with both of these two. Kai looked at her with a handsome smile. "I'm glad you want to come, but please, I'm in a bit of a hurry; do you have anything you need to bring?" Kai asked. Amaya hugged Keiko and stood up, "Just myself." Kai rose as well and offered her his arm in preparation to leave the room. "Consider yourself a member of the GSA." "Thanks for coming back for me Kai." Amaya said it softly as she linked her arm in his. "I wouldn't leave you behind, ever." Kai said and lead her out and to the elevator. "awww" Keiko said from Amaya's shoulder. "I think someone likes someone else here." She teased. Amaya looked at the neko, "You shush missy." Keiko giggled, "Look ait him blush." Indeed Kai was, his face turning red. Yuuko was waiting on the roof. She been practicing her holograpic clothing skills, creating the GSA skirt uniform she'd downloaded from the Fortitude's computer (Chiharu had left the skirt uniform to the first and second fleet as part of her legacy). Of course, she was actually not wearing anything. It felt kind of kinky. Amaya glanced over to Kai and then looked at Keiko, "Do you ever behave dear?" They soon reached the roof and Keiko giggled. "all the time, Kai likes me to be funny and adorable."Keiko said innocently. Kai looked over at Yuuko and turned red, catching her inbetween experiments. Keiko noticed too and whistled lewdly at Yuuko as they approached. Amaya looked at Yuuko and smiled before looking elsewhere to give her some sort of privacy. Yuuko lost her concentration and nearly lost the outfit entirely, covering herself with her hands before hopping into the shuttle. She emerged wearing the holographic uniform and Kai's fleet cloak, just in case something went wrong. She shot Kai a dirty look. Kai was looking elsewhere at the moment. Keiko was too, satisfied with herself while giggling "Ahem," Yuuko prompted. Amaya walked over to the shuttle and got inside. She made her way over to one of the seats and buckled herself in. "Gomen Nasai." Kai muttered as he got in and strapped in next to Amaya. Keiko jumped up onto Yuuko's shoulder and kissed her ear. "You're cute Yuuko." "Thanks," Yuuko couldn't help but grin at Keiko as she started the takeoff sequence. Keiko smiled back and playfully poked Yuuko. Amaya looked over at Kai and reached over and took his hand gently in hers, "I'm still not used to this flying thing..." Kai blushed gently and held her hand gently. "You'll get used to it, it's really quite exhilarating." He said. JP Wes Jenn Tyler GSA no Taisho Kitsurugi Yui Commander, Star Army 1st Expeditionary Fleet [GSS Celia, Ralfaris] Pick up Lavinia Taiensho GSA Starship Pilot GSA 4th Fleet Posts: 138 (12/20/03 18:25) [GSS Celia, Ralfaris] Pick up ON>GSA Landing area, Ralfaris It had been a while since the fall of the Seigi, and all the survivors had been collected up into the GSA landing area to await their pickups or reassignments. "Ahh man, it's good to be out of that desert isn't it?" Ritsu asked. Lavinia was sleeping leaning against him gently as they sat on a bench, safe under an overhang, watching the ships and shuttles. He turned to Rikku who (I assume is nearby waited for her pickup as well) was sitting nearby. Rikku yawned and fidgited for a momenttrying to gt comfortable, "Yea, you got that right." she looked up at the two with a slightly warm smile before looking at her sister who had again fallen asleep, her bandage had become quite red from the wound she had been given from the pod crash. She flinched and moved about in her sleep. Rikku smiled and brought her legs up to her chest and sighed, resting her chin on her knees. They hadn't been on the seigi for very long and already this type of thing happens. Must just be our luck. Rikku thought to herself Siaga looked up at Rikku with his big brown eyes, looking cute and licked her leg and curled up on her foot and fell asleep. "He seems to like you." Ritsu grinned at her. Lav purred in her sleep and cuddled against him closer, she had hemosythed a makeshift blanket and pulled it over her. "I know it's depressing being new and getting the ship destroyed. But they'll be here soon." Ritsu smiled at Rikku, offering comforting words. Rikku nodded and watched the pup for a moment, "I guess I should expect the unexpected, and get used to things being destroyed, heck, I should already be used to it." she spoke softly stareing at the pup at her feet. Just then a shuttle touched down not far from them, the backdoor opened smoothly and a green-haired nekos stepped out and looked over at them. "I am looking for Ms Kitsune Himora, Rikku Himora, Lavinia Taiensho and Mr. Ritsurin." she announced. Ritsu smoothly stood up and cradled the sleeping neko in his arms. "That's them now." He said and walked over. "Please get in, Chujo Ashigari sent me to retrieve the crew of the Seigi." The neko instructed. Ritsu nodded and strapped himself and Lav in, after calling: "Get the puppy will you?" Kitsune snapped awake as Rikku stood, she automaticly stood up and waited for Rikku. Rikku stood carefully not to disturb the pup as she picked him up into her arms. Kitsune swiftly walked ahead silently, Rikku walked slowly rocking the puppy back and forth slowly, strapping herself and the puppy, as Kitsune sat next to Rikku and sighed looking at her hands. The green-haired neko nodded to them and got into the pilot's seat and soon had the shuttle ready to take off and after that they were on their way back. "I'm taking you to the GSS-Celia, the Seigi's replacement." She offered offhandly. Lavinia was still outcold purring contently; Ritsu looked over at Kitsune. "Tired?" Kitsune shook her head quietly and looked at the puppy for a moment and smiled, "No not at all." she said seemingly refreshed by the short nap. "Well, looks like they've found you two a new home." He said. "I think it's time we leave and head back to geshrintall, Lav wants to settle down and have children." Ritsurin said, ruffling the purring nekos hair gently, making her snuggle against him. Kitsune smiled and looked at the two of them, "I'm glad you two are happy, you deserve to be. And I hope you live out a long, loving life." By this time Rikku was stareing at the pup warmly, and sighed "I'll miss you two, even if we..." kitsune interupted "Haven't known you for a long time" Rikku finished it "We will miss you." Ritsu laughed good-naturedly. "You two are funny, it's not like we're leaving forever, you're gonna be welcome to come visit." He was wondering why she was staring at the puppy. "Why are you looking at the wolf like that?" He asked. She blinked and smiled, "Hes just a cutey." she said smileing, "I'm a sucker for pups." she said smileing at Ritsu, Kitsune shook her head and smiled "Shes a crazy one is what she is." she said giggleing as she poked Rikku. "Would you believe I looked partially like that?" Ritsu asked offering her a recent picture of him and Lav. He had long dark hair with cute dog ears on his head instead of human or neko ears. She grinned and giggled, "Awwww, your just as cute as the puppy." she said still giggleing as she showed it to Kitsune, "Awwww he is a cutey" she said teasing him. Ritsu laughed. "You can keep that one, we have a few more." Ritsu looked sad apparently and suddenly. Rikku blinked at his expression, "Hey whats the matter?" she said as if she was the only one that noticed his expression "I see that picture and I get reminded that I was the last of that species." He shook his head. Just then the shuttle landed in the shuttle bay of the Celia and the neko hurried through and opened the door. "We're here." She announced proudly and stepped off. Ritsu shook his head and laughed again, unstrapping himself and Lav.. Kitsune stuck the picture in Rikku's back pocket and smiled, Rikku picked up the pup after unstrapping herself and made her way to the exit of the shuttle. She sighed and gracefully stepped out and onto the bay ground awaiting the others. Ritsu walked out and nodded to them; "Chujo Ashigari is a bit busy right now, but I'm to show you to your quarters." A MEGAMI sprite said, motioning to them. Rikku nodded and looked at Ritsu, wondering what she was to do with the pup. Kitsune followed straight after the MEGAMI sprite. Rikku strode through the bay after the two of them, still hopeing she wouldn't wake the pup as she did so. Ritsu followed them as the sprite showed them to their rooms. Apparently they were going to share the same nest. "Just settle him into the nest and he'll be fine." Ritsu said. Rikku nodded, she set the pup in a comfy spot and sat on the ground with a sigh. She was exhausted, and so was Kitsune, though Kitsune sat down and suprisingly fell asleep just as quick as she sat. Ritsu set Lav down and kissed her forehead gently, causing her to curl up and snuggle against Kitsune, out of old habit. "I'm going to talk with the captain." He said and silently left the room. Rikku nodded and leaned against Kitsune falling asleep doing so. Siaga woke up and jumped into the nest and curled up on the batch of warm nekos and went back to sleep. JP Tyler Tish GSA no Juni Lavinia Taiensho Chief Pilot, GSS Seigi (GB-08) [4th fleet, Ralfaris] Fire, Brimstone, and Reconstruction. Tasuki Uso Ship's Cook GSA 4th Fleet Posts: 899 (12/23/03 10:03) [4th fleet, Ralfaris] Fire, Brimstone, and Reconstruction. The massive doors to the underground tunnels opened once again to let the population of the Qelnoran industrial sector out into their ruined homes. As the millions of refuges left they were greeted by one of the rarest occurrences on the planet, rain. Their homes lay before them, flattened by the torpedo strike on the planet while the dust and sand in the sky continued to expand. In only a few more days it would cover the entire planet and drop temperatures worldwide. Qelnoran Construction had already started to rebuild the damaged area’s. hundreds of prefabricated structures were taken out of storage and placed in the various trucks and ships that would take them to where they would be needed while bulldozers started to clear out the ruined residential area. From space the ships of the 4th fleet could see the cloud expanding around the planet. But this was not to delay their work. The few prefabricated parts of the planetary ring were being moved into place by using their own drive systems as well as the help of thousands of fleet tending drones. All of the moon’s started rapidly building more of the ring to be put into place. The 4th fleet continued to receive crew from the planet. The population was now moved to war. With no homes, hordes of people came to be recruited. Over the next few days the fleet would be fully crewed and in need of even more ships marking the start of another major expansion for the fleet. GSA no Shoi, Uso Tasuki Head Cook, GSS Seigi (GB-07) [GSS Celia, GSS Fortitude, Ralfaris] Lost and Found Alexis Jaren GSA Command GSA 4th Fleet Posts: 150 (12/29/03 16:13) [GSS Celia, GSS Fortitude, Ralfaris] Lost and Found ON> Yuuko felt right at home on the bridge of the Integrated Strike Force Crusier. The bridge was the same design as the one on the GSS Yui, except that there was an additional control center below the main one, which hung over it like a balcony over a garden. The ship was in orbit over Ralfaris with the rest of the small group of ships that was the core of the newest fleet, the 3rd Expeditionary. Where would they go first? She wondered. Alexis slipped through the halls of the Star Army outpost on Ralfaris, expertly dodging people as they hurried by. The recent attack by the Jaaq'tah had occurred just after Tomoyo, Inari, Hikari, and Kyoshi were retrieved by a search party. And before that, Alexis had discovered that if Tomoyo allowed him, he could...well, for lack of a better term, "pilot" her body. Meanwhile, only Inari knew that Tomoyo was sharing with the shifter, they had told her after she questioned Tomoyo about the strange occurances (her glowing eyes, the sudden cold spell in the escape pod, etc.). But no one else knew about it at this point. ~Where are we going?~ asked Tomoyo. ~I need to get back to the Seigi, there are some personal belongings I left there. Some I don't want anyone disassembling.~ He arrived at the transport area and started looking for a vehicle he could borrow. "Excuse me? Can anyone take me to the Seigi crash site?" he asked, using Tomoyo's voice. Sakura yawned again, staring out of the brig. She streched, and rubbed her eyes as she desperatly wanted to wake up. She streched her wings, as scrawny as they are, and laid back against the wall Yuuko got up from her station and headed to the shuttlebay, where her lavender shuttle was parked among the the other 3 of its type that came with the cruiser. Strapping herself in, she had Megami open the bay doors. She headed toward the GSS Fortitude. "I'm heading there right now," A QnL officer said as he waved to Tomoyo, "I can take you there if you want." He had on the standard QnL uniform and a gasmask. The sky was filled with enough sand and dirt to block out the sun and going out unprotected was a bad idea. His ship was a large bulk transport that was being unloaded. Alexis smiled and bowed his head. "Thank you. When are you leaving?" "Good morning, Sakura," Ryoshi cooed to Sakura. The neko was on the cot with her. Sakura looked over at her, and jumped a bit, almost falling off the cot. "G, geez, You scared me" "In a few minutes," He said. He was waiting on the ground crew to finish unloading the stuff onboard. From the looks of it only a few crates remained, "So why are you heading to the Seigi?" he asked. The sentry gave wrapped her arm around Sakura's waist and gave it an affectionate squeeze. "I hear someone wants you as a crew member, if you're up for it...an exploration ship." "I left some personal items on board that I would like to get back." Alexis eyed the mask...maybe that would be a good idea to have...he patted Tomoyo's hips, where pockets would be on a male uniform, and frowned at not finding any. A skin-tight outfit like this didn't really allow for any. She poked Ryoshi's nose "Depends" she said as she hugged her back "Looking for something?" The QnL officer asked as the final crates finished unloading. "Yes. Those belongings." Amazing how often people didn't really listen to you, Alexis mused. He chuckled,"I didn't mean that, You just look like you lost something becuase you just searched your body." "An intel job," Ryoshi explained. "I'm transferring to this new ship, in Third Expeditionary, and I asked if you could come along. I know the communications chief, Yuuko, from our old assignments working in Central Uesureya as security sentries." "Oh, right...I was looking for something to serve as a dust mask. But I forgot that I didn't have any pockets. Um...would you happen to have a spare?" Alexis asked politely. Sakura smiled, and rubbed Ryoshi's head "I'd love to come along" she said as her wings flapped. He walked over to a nearby HCS terminal and pressed a few buttons. It synthed him a new dust mask and he tossed if over to her. "Here ya go," he said as he went to board his ship. In a few minutes Yuuko was aboard the Fortitude and moving to the brig. Ryoshi smiled when the short purple-haired neko arrived ,and introduced the two. "Yuuko, this is Sakura. Sakura, Yuuko." "Thank you!" Alexis draped the mask around her neck until she needed to use it and followed the Qel'noran aboard the ship. "May I know your name, sir?" she asked as she came inside. "Good to see you again Ryoshi," Yuuko nodded. She bowed respectfully "How do you do ma'am? It's a pleasure to meet you" "Diak," he replied. The ship had a small cockpit with 4 chairs, two for the pilots and two just behind those. The door out of the cockpit led to a large open area used to store stuff. He sat down in the pilots chair and pressed a few buttons to bring the ship's drives online and soon they were airborn. Yuuko returned the bow. "Shall we go?" she asked. "I'm ready" Sakura said with a giggle "It's not like I have anything to collect up" "Diak...nice to meet you." Alexis quickly took a seat in one of the rear chairs, hoping they were for the passengers if this ship carried any. Once they had left port, she looked outside...The shifter heard Tomoyo gasp in his mind and nodded slowly. "This planet will never be the same, will it? Remember what they said? That wasn't even a full-scale attack. I hope this war is ended quickly, before they can destroy a planet completely..." he murmered aloud. It was like Mount St. Helens multiplied, the dust was everywhere... Diak was general silent. A few minutes into the trip he reached over to one of the pannels and flicked a switch that turned on the external lights. This afforded them the ability to see a feet infront of them. Even with the powerful lights it was completely black. ""Transport 06 change your approch vector by..." The general incomprehensible babble of a control tower came in over a speaker. The pilot was paying attention but for the most part was letting the computer fly the ship. The ship started to decend and soon they came below the massive dust cloud. It was still dark and dusty but at least they could see the ground. A large shallow canyon was dug into the ground by the impact ending in a massive crater. A makeshift dome had been erected over the resting place of the ship and around it were a few wearhouses and living quarters. Inside of the impact canyon a small landing strip had been set up where other transports were being loaded. A few more moments and the ship was about to touch down. Yuuko and Ryoshi both nodded, and together with Sakura, they headed to the shuttle. Yuuko asked Sakura, while they were walking, "Will you be ok with living with nekos, Sakura?" Sakura nodded "I don't see why not. It sounds pretty fun" The short neko grinned and leaned over to whisper in Ryoshi's ear. Whatever she said made them both giggle. Sakura poked Ryoshi's nose "What was that?" Ryoshi grinned. "She wanted to know what you slept in." Yuuko pinched Ryoshi's butt in revenge and the security neko yelped, "AIEE!" The angel giggled, still in what she was captured in "You two certainly are playful" Alexis waited until the ship was on the ground before getting up and heading to the exit hatch. She pulled the mask up to cover her face before leaving the ship. Yuuko stepped into the shuttle's cockpit and Ryoshi strapped hersefl into the rear section. "Do you mind," Yuuko asked, "if we take a trip to the surface to pick up some of our people?" The outside area was fairly well lit even through the dust. Diak went to talk with another QnL officer as his ship was being loaded with crates. Sakura strapped herself in as well, "I don't mind at all," The shifter quickly headed to the Seigi and found the entrance, then made her way to the bridge and her former quarters...the shuttle was important, but she wanted to grab her satchel first. Yuuko's shuttle shot out of the bay and descended to into the dusty skies of the planet below, headed for the main Fleet Support base. Two SOSD drones from 1st Fleet escorted the shuttle as if headed below. Yuuko left the doorway to the cockpit open, so the two people in the back had a good view, but there wasn't much to see with all the dust in the air. Yuuko had to rely on her sensors more than her eyes. "FSB, this is Taii Sakai Yuuko. I'm looking for Ex-Seigi crew... can you tell me where the survivors are?" The Seigi was very different from what it once was. Most of the ship had been altered in some shap form or fashion. The pilots quarters had been removed completely. Everything that had been on the Seigi when it crashed was gone, moved to the wearhouses while the ship was being refited. While she was on the ship several QnSe guards were following her while a few engeneers were running around finishing up their work. The majority of the work on the Seigi itself had been completed and the workforce was elsewhere at the moment. "Oh, gotta stop by the medbay too..gotta grab my pad and the other stuff I had in my pockets," Alexis noted. "Wow, I left a lot here...did you leave anything?" Tomoyo thought a bit. ~I did! Acara's seedpod! We've got to go to my quarters...they're near the medbay, so we can go there before then.~ "Okay," answered the shifter, nearing the bridge. The AI gave Yuuko a quick listing of where all of the Seigi crew was including the neko's that were onboard fighters and minion's when the ship went down. Yuuko browsed over the list. "Hmm, Tomoyo's in the Seigi. Let's go there and pick her up." Ryoshi seemed to have a crush on her former prisoner. As Yuuko flew the couple around, Ryoshi took Sakura's hand in her own and began stroking it with her thumb. Sakura blushed a soft red, her wings fluttering a bit. "Hey...where is it?" Alexis arrived at her room and frowned when she saw there was nothing in it...everything, even the pillows in the nest, were gone. "Oh...I hope they didn't get rid of my body!" she exclaimed and rushed back to the exit. If they took everything, then maybe the shuttle and the seedpod were okay...but what would they do to a corpse? "Excuse me, but where have they put the dead?" she asked the next salvage-worker she saw. "And personal belongings too?" Yuuko was too distracted by flying to notice Ryoshi making moves on Sakura. Ryoshi keaned in closer to the girl, leaning her head on her shoulder, her lips pressing against Sakura's reddened cheek. Opening her mouth slightly, she licked at the half-angel's ear. "All the stuff that was on the ship has been moved to the warehouses to await transport to a storage area in QIS," The worker responded. Sakura blushed a darker red, closing her eyes as she felt Ryoshi's tongue. She turned her head a bit to look over at Ryoshi, still blushing "Including any dead?" Alexis asked. "They found one body, it was sent to the medical tent I think," he said Yuuko's familiar shuttle pulled up next to the ship Alexis had arrived on. Ryoshi french-kissed Sakura. Yuuko turned around just in time to catch it, and quickly looked forward again, not wishing to intrude. The small-statured pilot was more embarassed than Sakura. ~One body? So everyone got out!~ Tomoyo and Alexis thought at the same time. ~Yes!~ added Alexis, relieved that the damage was not as bad as it could have been. "Where might the med tent be?" "Its outside....somwhere, I gave up trying to find the other buildings after the attack." She blushed a crimson red as she felt Ryoshi's tongue press against her own. Her tongue moved a bit, rubbing against Ryoshi's in return Yuuko announced, "We're here." to the two kissing girls in the back. Ryoshi made a disappointed face, which quickly turned to a devilish grin. "Why don't you find Tomoyo. I'll stay with Sakura," she suggested. "Oh. Okay." Alexis started toward the nearest one, hopefully the medical one...there were a couple of devices that might allow QnS to access the Cat's Claw. What had posessed him to bring that ship in the first place? At least it had given him something to work on...Tomoyo noticed the shifter's agitation and tried to send a feeling of relaxation his direction...~It'll be okay. Stressing about something never did anything to help it, you can relax.~ Alexis smiled slightly, then nodded slightly. ~Thank you. I'll try.~ Arriving at the building, the shifter looked around to see if it was the right one. Sakura blushed darker, but nodded in agreement "Sounds like a plan to me" Fortunitly Alexis managed to find the medical tent on his first venture through the dust. Two layers of plastic flaps kept in mostly free of dust. The entire area looked polished and sterilised. Two medics were in the room and near the back a single body bag that was full. Yuuko reluctantly, after a long consideration, stepped out of the shuttle, and went into the Seigi, looking for Alexis. As soon as the rear door closed again, Ryoshi unstrapped herself from the side seat and sat across Sakura's knees facing her. Alexis approached the bodybag and slowly unsealed it. Inside lay a fairly charred body, but it wasn't stinking. The skin seemed to be dissolving on its own. Tomoyo shuddered. Alexis patted down the body, but found nothing in the pockets. "Stink," she muttered, then noticed something in the tray nearby. "There they are, good." As Yuuko entered she was tailed by two QnSe guards. "Where's Tomoyo?" Yuuko asked one of them. "Tomoyo?" The first one asked, "She means the Geshrin that came in here earlyer smart one," the other said sarcasticly as he checked with the computer, "Ya she is in the medical tent." Sakura blushed darker, and wrapped her arms around Ryoshi, drawing her into another kiss. "Mmm," Ryoshi was so into it. The holographic uniform on her disappeared, exposing her creamy-looking neko skin. Yuuko appeared at the entrance to the medical tent shortly. "Tomoyo?" The shifter quickly fingered through the stuff and then tried to figure out how to take it with her...she had no pockets. ~You could use your old jacket,~ Tomoyo suggested, but Alexis could feel that she didn't want to see that body again. But he took the suggestion anyway, closing their eyes so she wouldn't have to see it. ~Good idea,~ he said, then stuffed the pad, interface device, and a couple of other things into the jacket pockets before turning around and jumping. "Oh! Yuuko!" Sakura blushed darker, sliding her tongue against Ryoshi's, her hands rubbing her back softly. "Hey there! I was looking all over for you!" Yuuko smiled. "Oh, yeah." Alexis fumbled, folding the jacket over her arms in front of her. "I wanted to come back here to gather a few things. That's all." Ryoshi's hands slipped beneath Sakura's clothes and caressesed the mounds beneath, lustily pressing herself closer. (See this post for details of these relations) "I brought my shuttle. Do you want to come back to the GSS Celia?" Yuuko asked. "You could join the 3rd XF exploration mission." "Thank you, but I already have a ride to the Celia," Alexis said quietly. "And I still have some things in the warehouse to get together before I can go, I wouldn't want to make you wait." "You do?" Yuuko asked. "Oh..." Sakura moaned softly, feeling Ryoshi's hands beginnign to play "Ok. Do you know any other survivors that need a ride to the Celia?" Yuuko questioned, looking to make her journey here worthwhile. ~Tomoyo, what do I do?~ the shifter asked, a hint of nerves in his thought. ~You're doing fine,~ Tomoyo replied. ~Hey, we left the others at the outpost, maybe they would want a ride to the Celia!~ Alexis mentally smiled and relayed the suggestion to Yuuko. "Um...no, sorry...Oh! Wait, we...I mean, I left Inari, Hikari, and a man named Kyoshi at the GSA landing area, they might want a ride up," she said with a smile. "Okay!" Yuuko enthusiastically smiled, and headed back to her shuttle. Alexis smiled bigger and waved after Yuuko. "I'll see you there!" she called after the Neko. Then she turned toward the warehouse to search for the satchel and the Cat's Claw... Yuuko nodded and flashed her teeth in a grin as she left the tent. "Well it isn't one of ours...," Said the first QnT guy, "well ya... what is it then?" the other asked, the converssation continued for a while before they came to a conclution, "Lets open the door and find out." One of the scientists picked up a rather long metal stick and started poking at the door controls from a distance, "why are you doing that?" the other asked. "Because... it could be dangerous." Alexis quickly found the assault ship, it was in plain view. Smirking at the two QnT people poking at it with a stick, she got out the interface device from the jacket pocket and placed it on her temple. Tomoyo suddenly felt a rush of information leaving her brain...but nothing from her mind, it was all coming from Alexis. The craft, which was previously just sitting on the ground lopsided because of the angled-down nacelle on the left side, suddenly lifted into the air and started hovering a foot above the warehouse floor. ~Maybe they will think they did something now,~ Alexis thought to Tomoyo with a smirk. "What the?... why is the onbutton on the outside of the ship? that makes no sense..." The one with the stick remarked. The other sighed and let the man poke around. He started to poke at the underside of the ship and at the nacelles, trying to get other reactions from the ship. All they got were the strange halo effects as they pressed on the nano-armor...sometimes the nanites would stick to their fingers or the stick, but it would always evaporate if they pulled it away. Alexis decided to let them play a bit more, and started looking for the satchel. Poking the armor was like poking really firm gelatin covered with plastic wrap. "What are you doing?" "I'm trying to open the door..." The man with the stick said as he continued to poke at the ship. Great...almost everything was crated up to be shipped out. Hmm...Alexis went back to the two messing with the ship and tapped the one with the stick on the shoulder. "Do you guys have this stuff organized by any chance? I think something of mine is in there," she said politely. The with the stick kept poking while the other responded, "The Seigi was a real mess but we did our best to get all the personal items together. If your stuff is not listed on the inventory digitaly then try looking in that pile of stuff over there." he said as he pointed to a large field of stuff layed out in the center of the warehouse. "Where is the list?" the shifter replied. "Do you have a datapad? You can get the list from the computer if you do." He said. "Okay, thank you." Minutes later, after some searching and mistakes, Alexis found the satchel. But they couldn't find Acara's pod anywhere in the manifest. "Was there a sort of seed reported anywhere?" she called back to the stick-weilding scientists. "It would be fairly large." "Ya they found something like that somewhere on the ship and put it in some place..." The man with the stick said, "Try looking in the warehouse next to this one, I think they have the chief engener's body in there or something like that," The stickless man said. "Oh, okay. Thank you!" The Geshrin girl returned to the Cat's Claw and smiled sweetly at them as she climbed up on the left nacelle and dropped into a hatch that had suddenly opened on the top. "Thank you for your help and for taking care of my stuff," she said and disappeared into the compartment below. "HA! see! I told you that is how you open the door." The man with the stick said... ~Okay, I think we can pick up the pod later, I'm not sure you would have the clearence to get it out now,~ Alexis said as he set her hands on the control panel in front of them. The engines powered up, a slight rushing sound coming from the right nacelle as the APAD drive started. The holographic display in front of them showed the stick-weilder behind them, but he wouldn't be in any danger as long as he didn't move right...The craft rose higher, then slowly moved to the doorway of the warehouse. Yuuko was watching the activity inside her shuttle from outside the front window. Apparently the sentry was keeping the half-Elysian quite "occupied." She wasn't sure if she should interrupt. Finally, Yuuko walked over to the shuttle and used the control panel to open the rear door. Ryoshi turned and hopped up, flashing back into her uniform as the rear door to the shuttle began to open. She kicked a pair of panties behind one of Yuuko's dufflebags. Yuuko slowly stepped into the shuttle after the door opened, giving the two an amused and questioning look. Ryoshi tried to act casual. Sakura closed her legs and whispered to Ryoshi "I better get those back!" Yuuko raised an eyebrow and strapped herself in the pilot's seat. Shortly thereafter, the shuttle headed to the GSA landing site to pick up Hikari, Inari,and Kyoshi. END> JP: Wes - Yuuko and Ryoshi Zack - Qel'norans and AI Nick - Alexis and Tomoyo Solo - Sakura [GSS Hellkitten, GSS Celia] Reincarnation Dr Shinichiro Nobumoto PNUgen Corporation Posts: 273 (12/31/03 7:09) [GSS Hellkitten, GSS Celia] Reincarnation [GSS Hellkitten, GSS Celia] Reincarnation (29 Dec) ON> GSS Hellkitten ( GD-238 ) "This is the Jaaq'tah PD-2160-45 Zero-Point Energy Generator, or, as they call it, a Quintessant Conversion Unit," said a soft-speaking pale neko with a green-paneled uniform and a Chujo pin. This was Chujo Kessaku Anri of SARA and KES. Several experts from Kitsurugi Fleet Yards were present as well. Yui was onboard. The GSS Wicked and GSS Empire could be seen out the window. Empress Yui was inspecting some fo the salvage from the battle over Ralfaris. "And this?" "This," Anri presented another device, which seemed in pretty good shape, "is the core of a Femtotronic AI system, something like very much in my specialty area. It was interesting to see one of alien origin. Alexis pulled the Cat's Paw into the Celia's hanger after a little arguing with the hanger officer about who could bring a ship like that aboard. The first order of business to be taken care of was to let Yui know that the shifter Taisho was still alive, whatever his condition. Alexis exited the Cat's Claw and followed the maps to the bridge of the Celia. After gaining access to the comm system, the shifter sent a hail to Yui's ship, where ever she might be. "Yui here," the empress answered to Hinosami's tablet computer, opening a video link. Tomoyo's face appeared on the screen. "Greetings, Mistress Yui. I apologize for my appearance -- though not my host's -- but I am Taisho Alexis," she said. "I thought I should report in, as I may have been listed as killed in the demise of the Seigi." "...this armor seems to have properties..." Anri was explaining in the background, "...positronic cannon here is similar to..." "I am sorry if I have interrupted you at something," she added, noting the angle of the picture and what was happening in the background. Yui diverted her attention from the SARA commander for a moment, "Tomoyo? Alexis?" she seemed somewhat confused, "Taisho Jaren is inside you?" There was a slight blue glow and the girl's posture changed a bit as Tomoyo came to the front. "Yes, Mistress. I'm not sure how, but yes, he is in my body with me." She bowed slightly. "It is fully voluntary on my part, he hasn't harmed me at all." "I'm pleased to see he's alive," Yui smiled slightly, "We should get him a body, perhaps? Or are you enjoying him too much, Tomoyo-chan?" Yui poked fun at her. Tomoyo blushed slightly, but nodded. Her eyes flashed again as Alexis came back. "It has been interesting sharing like this, but I do need a separate body...I was planning on making one, one that I could use to gather myself together in, so to speak." In the back of their brain, Tomoyo felt a pang...it was almost like Alexis had been using her. Well, he had...but maybe she had hoped it was something else... "I see. Alexis, we can hemosynth one for you. You only have to choose what it's like." "You didn't take advantage of Tomoyo, did you?" asked Irim, who had been standing nearby. "Would you have?" Yui shot back Irim, knowing it would catch her off-guard. "No, I haven't, Irim," replied Alexis, as he considered Yui's offer. "I appreciate the offer, Yui, but how much would it cost to get a body made?" Irim's eyes shifted to her master, "I...might seek to explore something unfamiliar." she told Yui. Yui smiled, "You're a Taisho. It's on me." Alexis glanced at the pale Neko. "Just so you know, this wasn't 'unfamiliar'," he said, then looked back at Yui. "Thank you, Kôgô. I guess I'll take you up on that offer, then," he said with a smile. "Certainly," the Empress nodded. Yui suddenly proposed, "Alexis...would you be willing to take a new command? I have an Expeditionary Fleet being formed that will seek out new planets. I thought of you." "Sure...I'm honored," Alexis said. "How many ships are in it?" "Up to you, I suppose. At the moment, nine; a single ISFC battlegroup. Eventually, I will be adding some CICS and Horizon for colonization purposes." Making a mental note to research those classes, Alexis nodded and smiled. "Nine is fine right now. I'm glad you still see me fit for command despite my...shortcomings in my previous command," he said, apology in his voice. "I hope you won't be going into a coma again..." Yui frowned. "I hope so too...it was a fluke, something that I will hopefully be able to control next time now that I know what to look for," Alexis assured her. Yui nodded to Alexis. "The command ship is the GSS Celia." "Ah, good. That is where I am now," he replied with a smirk. "Um...I'd like to make a request. Is it possible to get an NH-7 body?" "Yes. Why not an NH-17?" "I have heard that the 7s were a better model in some respects. Of course, I haven't really been able to compare the stats as I haven't seen any for the 17...but I would like a 7." "Really? I suppose it could be arranged. The Megami there should be able to help you." "Thank you again, Kôgô." Alexis nodded slightly. "Are there any other orders before I go?" "If you have questions, feel free to come to me," Yui told him. "Will do. Good-bye, Yui." Alexis smiled once more and closed the channel, then headed to the medbay. Yui reminded herself to make up some sort of code of respect for herself and future rulers, which included not allowing people to hang up on her. Perhaps she shouldn't be accepting direct calls...Yuumi usually didn't, back when she was in power. Sometimes she missed, even envied, the grace and formality of her lost sister. ON> GSS Celia On the way there (thanks to the directions provided by the computer), Alexis turned his thoughts inward. ~Thank you very much for letting me stay with you. I appreciate it,~ he said to Tomoyo. Tomoyo smiled mentally, a little sad too. ~It was my honor to help, Taisho,~ she said. ~Maybe I can get a post here.~ Alexis nodded and smiled. ~Even if you aren't, we can keep in touch.~ They both fell silent as they arrived at the medbay. No medical officer was on board at the moment, though the doorway to the Chief Medical Officer’s personal office had already been labeled with Inari's full rank and name in anticipation of the neko's arrival. There was a sprite hanging around, laying prostrate on one of the beds, though, staring at the ceiling. Alexis found the sprite and waved. "Hi...I was wondering if you could help me," he said, then added with a smirk, "Are you busy?" The sprite seemed to be in a trance of some sort for a moment. After a short wait, she looked up from the bed and answered "I am here for you. What do you need?" The neko sprite swung her feet over the edge of the bed and sat upright, holographically dressing in a medical uniform. He nodded. "I'm Alexis Jaren, and I have a voucher for an NH-7 series body from the Empress. She said that this ship's Megami could help me." "One moment." The medical neko walked over to a side door and opened it, heading into a room filled with tubes for hemosynthesizing bodies. Striking the control panel with a series of quick, efficent taps, she started one up. "How long will the process take?" Alexis asked, remembering the time that it took to synth bodies for the lost crew on the Yui. "Not too long. What sort of body do you need?" "Um...an NH-7y or 7a would be good." "Any specific model number?" the sprite asked. "Physical characteristics?" "NH-7y5. As for appearance..." He thought for a second, then took out his datapad and brought up a picture that was a mixture of Chi and Nashi. "This would be good," he said. If he was going to be confined to a body, it might as well be a combination of the two Nekos he was closest to. The sprite began working on the body as its frame was being formed in the tube. The picture showed a Neko with smooth, medium brown hair cut to about an inch above her shoulder with the exception of a lock on her right side that just touched her chest. The face was half-asian, with round, soft features and wide almond eyes with bright red irises...almond from Chi and red and wide from Nashi. The child-Neko had always looked a little hyper, he thought with amusement. Hemosynth technology had really progressed in the last five years. The body was very quickly finished onc eall the deatils were worked out, and in just a few moments, the sprite was pulling the fresh, naked figure from the tube that spawned it. "Here you go, miss Tomoyo. What do you want for the mind?" "That's the thing...I'm Taisho Jaren in Tomoyo's body. It'll be my mind in there," he replied. "I see. I'll let Megami sort the two of you out. Over to the ST room, sir." "Actually, I think I can do that myself...Would the Neko accept a non-ST mind implantation? And I don't exactly have a soul, so that might not work anyway." "Megami feels she could do it," the sprite said. "She'll facilitate your entry by temporarily disabling some functions." "Alright..." Alexis shrugged. "I can either load myself through direct contact with the body or Meg could allow me to load to her then into the body...whichever would work best," he said. The sprite led Tomoyo to the limp NH-7. "Let's try direct contact, first." Alexis nodded and walked over to the body. Placing hands on the head, he tried to 'feel' around. His molecular sense was a bit dulled, since Tomoyo's body was not specialized for him...but he could feel the brain underneath. There was little electrical activity, only enough to keep the body alive, he supposed. He began the transfer, making copies first in case the Neko didn't accept it so he wouldn't lose anything. The mind divisions were already in place, Alexis could feel them as he started to sift in. The main division was open and waiting so he focused his transfer into that area. He would configure the mind later...After a couple minutes, the process was complete. As he released Tomoyo's body, she went limp and fell to the ground, her eyes rolling back into her head. The Neko on the table blinked, and quickly bent down to catch her. "Tomoyo!" she exclaimed. "Are you both alright?" asked the ship's Nekovalkyrja sprite, inspecting the two. The new Neko nodded curtly, but kept her attention on Tomoyo. "Her vitals are alright...I think it was because I left when she was in the background leaving no one in control," she said. "She should be alright, I hope." Tomoyo lay quiet but breathing softly. Her pulse was steady and strong. The Geshrin was very much alive but just unconscious. "A Geshrin seems so helpless, peaceful, and submissive when she sleeps," the sprite observed, "Not like nekos, which are always watching over themselves." Alexis picked Tomoyo up and carried her over to one of the beds, setting her down carefully. "She does," said the shifter, nodding slightly. She then looked down at herself and blinked, then retrieved the officer's jacket from the chair where she had set it when she came in and put it on. "Thank you for your help," she said, turning back to the sprite. Tomoyo muttered softly to herself but did not stir from her sleep. It had been a while since her mind was awake so it was slowly regaining coherence. ~Where am I?~ Her eyes fluttered under closed eyelids as she tried to open her eyes. In the crowded shuttlebay of the GSS Celia (which was now at full capacity with 2 extra Ki-T2 shuttles), Yuuko stepped out of her lavender shuttle, along with Hikari and Inari, then Kyoshi, leaving Ryoshi and Sakura behind (they appeared to be asleep). "Want to check out your new workspace and nest?" Yuuko suggested to Inari. Inari nodded to Yuuko, her voice had become softer now that the realization that her older sister had passed into the veil alongside Taisho Ketsurui. "Yes.. that would be wonderful. I want to start the funeral ritual for my sister's spirit as well as for Taisho Ketsurui." Inari smiled softly despite the sadness that crept into her eyes. "Of course," Yuuko nodded. She led the way to the medbay. "I hear Yui's building a shrine back on the capital world." Ryoshi was in the shuttle with Sakura. They both had been sleeping when it landed on the Celia. Inari followed Yuuko towards the medbay, her thoughts drifting off towards the teachings left in her memory by Akari. "I do not think that anyone will ever forget Taisho Ketsurui... but I wonder what Shoki's involvement in the situation was? Do you know, Miss Yuuko?" "I think she helped Chiharu's spirit find peace," Yuuko answered cryptically. Alexis looked down at the coat she wore and her eyes glowed...the fabric shimmered, then melted until it formed the usual GSE uniform, female version, over her naked body. Approving it with a smile, Alexis noted that the high body heat of this new body would make it a bit easier to begin his energy stockpile... Kyoshi and Hikari walked out of the shuttlebay, quietly speaking to one another. Hikari was concerned for Tomoyo but understood that something had happened in order to assist Taisa Jaren. Tomoyo's eyes finally opened and she looked up at the neko that looked like Chiharu. "Chiharu-dono?" Inari stopped for a moment and looked at Yuuko curiously. "She helped Chiharu's spirit find peace? That was a selfless thing that she most have done.." Yuuko walked into the medbay, stopping in the doorway to answer Inari, "She nearly died, due to...emotions." Alexis looked at Tomoyo and shook her head softly. "No, it's me, Alexis. How are you feeling?" JP by: Wes (Yui, Irim, Yuuko, Megami, Ryoshi) Nick (Alexis) Kim (Tomoyo, Inari) [GSS Celia] Reincarnation Pt 2: Adapting, & Heading Out Alexis Jaren GSA Command GSA 4th Fleet Posts: 153 (1/2/04 15:10) [GSS Celia] Reincarnation Pt 2: Adapting, & Heading Out ON> GSS Celia (GC-55) Alexis looked at Tomoyo and shook her head softly. "No, it's me, Alexis. How are you feeling?" She pulled a chair over to the Geshrin's bedside and sat down. "I...am my old self..." came a weak reply. Yuuko had just stepped into the medbay with Inari at her side. Inari didn't say much; she looked around her new workplace, reminded by common design features of how similar this place was to their old home, the GSS Yui. She almost expected Akari to pop out and say "Welcome Back!" But the increased space of the room only made the place seem more empty. Yuuko seemed pensive. "It's a good medical bay. You'll be right at home it no time, Inari-chan," she assured the medical officer. Alexis looked up as Inari and Yuuko came in. "Welcome to the Celia medbay, Inari," she said, smiling at them both. "Thank you," Inari managed a smile despite her lingering feelings. "What's with the name, Celia?" Yuuko commented offhandedly. Turning back to Tomoyo, the shifter patted her hand. "I think all you need is a bit of rest. Thank you for helping me," she said, before walking over to Inari and Yuuko. "Hmm?" Was that a question to her or Inari? or was it retorical? "I've been wondering that myself," the shifter said. Celia's Megami refrained from commenting in return, judging it to be a pointless and rhetorical question probably not directed at the ship. "I suppose Kai-san made it up," Yuuko shrugged. "I wish I knew what it meant...to him. Maybe a lover?" Tomoyo squeezed Alexis' hand softly, giving him a face of warm expression and looking into his eyes. "It was nothing," she said, "I was glad to be able to help." "Probably. Who knows." Alexis shrugged in response to the comment about the Celia's naming, then glanced down at Tomoyo's hand and then at her...his eyes were not orange anymore, but the same red as an experimental Neko. His face seemed to freeze, uncertainty flickering over his new features...he didn't know how to respond to that kind of attention. After an odd moment, though, he squeezed her hand in return and looked at Inari. "I am sorry to hear about Akari. She was a good crewmember, I'll always remember that. " "You're Alexis," Inari observed, looking for a confirmation. "She was...more than a crewmember." Alexis tilted his head. "Yep...how'd you know?" he asked, smiling slightly in curiosity. "We'll never forgot the valuable people that we've lost..." Yuuko said, "But let us forget this sadness and start fresh. We are here together not because we were assigned, but because we mutually volunteered to be together. We're friends. This will be a time for us to be happy and full of love!" Inari grinned at both Alexis and Yuuko's words. "How many crews are assembled of voluteers?" Alexis mused. "I suppose that'll mean we will be the best-crewed ship in this known universe, huh?" He smiled. "Seriously, Inari, how'd you know?" "Oh, she probably checked with the computer," Yuuko nudged Inari's side with her elbow, playfully unbalancing the doctor. Inari shook her head. "Something about you..." Alexis smirked. "Oookay, I guess I'll accept that." He looked at the door to the bay and then back down at Tomoyo. "I suppose I should be going to the bridge and getting us underway...I'll come back soon to check on you once that's done, Tomoyo," he said, smiling. To Yuuko, "Is there any way I could keep the Cat's Claw aboard? I was told my fighter wouldn't fit with all the other shuttles coming in." Hmm...with the Celia under his command, would he even use it? Arg, and the thing didn't really have any autopilot to speak of...how would he send it back? Tomoyo started to try to get up, but Inari moved to her side and pressed her back against the bed. "I have some tests..." "We could maybe store it in a cargo bay?" Yuuko suggested. Alexis thought that over..."Okay. That sounds good, I'll even open it up to store stuff in so there won't be as much that we have to leave out." "Okay. Megami-sama, can you take care of that on your own?" Yuuko asked the ceiling. "Yes, Yuuko," came the reply. Yuuko made a "V" gesture to Inari and headed for the door to the wide hallway. "You coming, Miss Alexis?" "Miss"...first time he had been called that as a Neko was when Chi came on board. "Fluffy," he murmered, then smiled. "Yeah," he said to Yuuko, then waved to Inari and Tomoyo. "See you two later!" The two girls waved back, "Don't get lost!" Inari smiled. Alexis already had been to the bridge, so she walked alongside Yuuko on the way there. "Are you going to be the comm officer on this trip?" she asked. "I thought you were transfering to SAINT." "I decided not to. It's a good job, being communcations officer. I can still help SAINT out without being an intel officer...I hear this fleet will be affiliated with SARA, mostly, since the territory is unknown," Yuuko replied. "I'm glad you decided to stay. One more familiar face," the shifter noted. "How many crew are on this ship, anyway?" "I don't know. It's not fully manned, I don't think," Yuuko admitted. "Megami-sama, could you answer?" "Oh. What would the full compliment be?" "One hundred and twenty," Megami answered immediately after Alexis stopped speaking. "Thank you, Megami." "It smells nice on this ship," Yuuko absently commented, stepping into a lift. "Like spring." Alexis followed her onto the lift, taking a short sniff...wow, this brain was noisy. Sensing the aim of the action, the Neko mind listed the components of the air in her head. Alexis shook her head sharply, but it only took a thought to shut it off, or at least tone the information flow down. "Wow, that was different. Usually it's my head in a computer, not a computer in my head," she commented. "Alexis-san?" Yuuko giggled, "I don't know how people live without it. It seems like it'd be like fumbling in the darkness." "Well...I always knew what I was smelling, or seeing or hearing, but it was me telling me what it was, not something else..." She frowned in a good-natured way at the smaller Neko. "Doesn't it get too noisey for you sometimes?" "No, never. I depend on it," Yuuko told her. The lift came to a halt at the bridge. "Oh." As they stepped out, Alexis scanned the room. It was pretty much like the Yui-class one. This should be easy to get used to, she thought. Yuuko's station was at the front of the bridge, the main screen just over where her head would be if she was seated there. She walked over to it, and hit a few buttons inside a panel on the armrest of the chair, then rolled it over to the operations station, which was his spot. "It's a good bridge. I'm familiar with it, although you know it better than I do." "Yeah," Alexis replied, seating herself at the Ops station and brought up the current ship status, checking the condition of the fleet, and what needed to be done before they could depart. The panel displayed the ship's stores, to include food, weapons, and even a sub-panel showing crew efficiency and health. There was a list of missions, which was, at the moment, blank. Everything seemed to be ready, though. There were only two crewmembers unaccounted for...a Henry Chen and his assistant. Alexis checked the ETA of their transport, the 3rd Exploratory would probably be able to meet the transport and depart after the two had come on board. "All systems look good, Taisho," Yuuko said, looking over the operations panel. "When do we get our rank pins? Supposedly I've been promoted to Chusa...by my adoptive sister, Miss Anri." Yuuko randomly asked. "I suppose we need a logo. I'd like something that symbolizes friendship and discovery, you know?" "I've been out of commission for a while so I don't know...but I'll check on that," Alexis said. Okay...wait, where were they supposed to be going? Hmm... "Megami, set course for unexplored space. Yuuko, please open a channel to the fleet," she said, looking toward the front of the bridge. "The channel is open. I am searching for a suitable path," answered the ship. Her avatar, a tall, nordic-looking woman with back-length white hair, steeped out onto the bridge, dressed in white stockings and a thin gray dress with an empty Star Army triangle on the sleeve. "This is Taisho Alexis Jaren to all ships in the 3rd Exploratory Fleet. Prepare to move out." "Expeditionary," Yuuko jabbed a finger at the captain's bosom. Nobody answered the transmission, because all the ships were either automated or attached to the Celia. Alexis smirked, reddened slightly, then corrected herself. "Third Expeditionary, my apologies.." "The fleet is ready," Megami told him. "We'll head to the galactic east, past a binary star, to the space beyond. It is unknown territory." "Mmm...plot a slight detour, to intercept the transport for those two new crew...we'll pick them up on the way out," said Alexis. "It is on our way, isn't it?" "It isn't," the Norse woman answered. "Shall we go north instead?" Of course it wouldn't be..."Fine. We can go North now, East later." "Yes sir. Moving." END> JP Wes - Yuuko, Tomoyo, Inari, Megami Nick - Alexis GSA no Taisho Jaren Alexis Commander, Third Expeditionary Fleet [Ralfaris] drinking buddies and luggage racks. Tasuki Uso Ship's Cook GSA 4th Fleet Posts: 914 (1/2/04 19:38) [Ralfaris] drinking buddies and luggage racks. ON> Ralfaris Civilian Landing field. After what seemed to be an inordinate amount of time in a small, cramped ship. Saito stepped out of the Civilian craft and looked around. "I think this is the place where all the action is." He mused aloud as he started to wander out of the area. He had gotten a lift to the planet with a traveling Geshrin who has going to a GSA ship in orbit and ruefully agreed to drop him off there. As he stepped out of the ship he was greeted by the infinitely large cloud of dust that had engulphed the planet. Even with his body's enhanced sight he could only make out a few meters in front of him. The only real light came from the landing beacons and from the spotlight they now used to locate buildings that was shining from right beside the door of the main complex. Saito adjusted his open chested kimono shirt and the sword in the sash around his waist before continuing on. "Odd sort of place this is.." His metallic silvery hair glinting like the edge of a sharp sword and rustling slightly in the light breeze, the young male neko idly strolled toward the door of the main building. Two Qelnorans rushed inside of the building from their craft with dust masks over their heads. The stuff was everywhere. He looked confused and followed the two Qel'Norans inside. "Hey, what's going on?” He tried to ask one of them. One of the Qelnorans had on a QnAg uniform, "All the corporate landing platforms are backed up," He said, "So we got stuck coming down to this one." "Why are the corporate landing platforms backed up?" Saito asked in a confused tone. He didn't know much about what was going on this planet; his curiosity had driven him here to find out. "Recruitment," The other said, "It seems that sense the Jaaq'tah showed up everyones itching for some payback, I hear that QnL is having a hard time finding ships to put everyone on." "Oh." Saito replied. "I suppose that's understandable; is there anything else to be done other than run around like bakas?" He smirked. "Were heading into QIS, your free to run around like a baka." The QnAg man said as him and his companion again hurried off outside after an APC pulled up and honked its horn. "Hey! Mind if I ride along?" Saito asked quickly, following them. They didn't seem to pay attention to the neko as they got onboard the APC although the door stayed open for him He grinned slightly as the thought of something to do entered his mind and he leapt inside after a moment and pulled the door shut. "Guess not." He commented as he sat down cross-legged. In a few moments the APC closed up its doors and headed out into the dust for QIS. "Is this place always so dusty?" Saito asked idly. "Ever sense the attack..." The Qelnoran replied. "It'll calm down after a while I think." Saito nodded. They both chuckled "What?" "The dust is here to stay. There is nowhere for it to go so it just continues to spread out all over the planet. Its going to be up there for many, many years. Saito frowned. "That sucks." "Ya... that is why a lot of people are leaving." The man said with a frown. "Um...there wouldn't happen to be many nekos around would there?" Saito asked hopefully. "There are, but most of the people are Qelnoran." "I guess that'd be right, this is the Qel'Noran homeworld." Saito laughed, brushing a hair out of his face. "Since I am one, I was hoping to find a couple like me." "I have never seen a neko male before..." The other commented, "little chance of finding another like that." "Well there are the NH-X's, The QnAg man commented. "I'm a custom order. I was originally owned by a woman." Saito said casually. "But I meant other nekos period." "Well..." "We are almost there," The driver interrupted, "Well there are a lot of them here and there." He said. Saito brightened up. "I hope I can meet a couple nice ones." The APC continued on for a little while and then stopped outside of the QnT tower. At which point the Qelnorans got off and headed inside. Saito jumped out as well and looked around. "Whoa." The tower stretched for as far as the eye could see, which here wasn't very far but the dust made a nice effect anyways. The Lobby of the building was packed with people. Most were joining up with the GSA or QnT. Saito yawned and wandered through the area, looking at the various faces of the people who were joining. Saito didn't have any intention of joining either one of them since he valued his free time. There were no neko's among the crowd. They were either already enlisted or already part of the company, in most cases both. Saito grimaced and looked around for a place to get a drink, the dust had made him thirsty. The recreation areas were off limits to civilians as were most of the tower, but a lookout area that had been set up before the dust was open to everyone. Saito headed for the observation area to have a look around. "Oh man. No place to get a drink for civilians? Shit that bites." The elevator took him directly to the observation floor, which looked out upon the city. From here you could only see some of the other towers but not the streets below. A few neko's and Qelnorans were also here. Saito grinned and nodded to one of the nekos. "Hi" He said as he looked at her out of the corner of his eye. The neko was talking with a Qelnoran at the time and bearly even noticed Saito, "Oh hello," she said before returning to her conversation. He shrugged idly and looked around at the tops of the other buildings. Saito sighed heavily; this wasn't all he had hoped for...too much dust. "Is there any rec areas in this huge building?" He asked a nearby qel'noran "Ya, The Qelnoran said without looking away from the window that had started its self-cleaning cycle, "But for security reasons its Corporate and Military personnel only, you might try checking out one of the local bars." He said. "I'll do just that. Thanks." Saito said and headed for the elevator. He hit the button to return to the ground level still in hopes of finding a friendly neko or two. The streets were filled with dust like always as he returned to them to seek out a bar Saito coughed out the dust a bit and walked through it, using his enhanced sight and smell to find the sight or odor of a bar. Saito got a nose-full of dust as he tried to smell out a bar. His body seemed to be covered in the stuff now. "Damn!" He swore out loud and snuffled the dust out as he looked, straining his sight to see through the dust. "I need a way to disperse this crap." He mused, thinking. Saito grinned and hemosynthed a pair of large wings with a metallic sheen to them and fanned the air in front of his, using his grav system to stay in one place while he tried to blow away the dust enough to try and spot a bar. All he managed to do is clear the air around him, however he did manage to see the neon sign of a bar off in the distance. Saito stopped his actions and dissolved the wings back into his body and walked toward the neon sign that he had seen. "At least that helped some." The bar had a rotating door, the inside was relatively dust free with many Qelnorans and Neko's sitting at the various tables. Saito coughed once as he entered, and brushed himself up, shaking the dust out of his hair. "Darn, whatta pain that dust is." he commented as his lavender eyes swept the room to view the patrons, his eyes also went to the bar to see if there were any open seats. There were 5 open seats at the bar out of 10 total. A group of four were clustered around a data pad while the 5th, a Neko, Sat off to the side a bit. Saito popped his neck and walked over to the bar and took a seat, closer to the neko off to one side. "Got any green tea with some mint?" He asked the bartender. The bartender took a few moments then brought him exactly what he asked for. "How much?" He asked, digging into the deep pocket in his hakama pants, the slits on the sides showing only black pants. His eyes looking over at the lone neko out of the corner of them. The bartender chuckled, "We don't really use KS around here." The neko off to his side was wearing baggy work pants and a white tank top. Infront of her was a datapad that had a hand drawn map of the tunnel system below Ralfaris. "Well what do you work in?" Saito asked. "And who is she?" He asked nodding his head toward the neko. "We don't really use money around here anymore..." He said, "And that is," "Uso," She interrupted. she took another drink from her glass and continued to look at the map in front of her. "Uso hmm?" Saito asked, how looking at her more, wanting to see more what she looked like. Uso looked like, Uso. She hadn’t changed much sense she was on the Yui other than her new outfit. She still had her long green ponytail and purple eyes, she hadn't even given much thought to changing her appearance. Saito sipped his drink and grinned, it tasted perfect. "Ms. Uso?" He asked a bit hesitantly. "What're ya lookin' at?" "Maps," She said as she motioned toward the datapad with her head. "Oh, of what?" He asked leaning back slightly and over at the datapad screen. "If I told you I'd have to kill you... painfully," She said with a slight laugh. "Wouldn't be the first time." Saito laughed back, slightly. "Cute woman like you. I wouldn't think you would, but that's the advantage." "Ah so you've died painfully before?" she asked with a slight chuckle. "Had to several times. To save my master." Saito said as he sipped his drink. "Whom were you sold to?" she asked. "She ordered my construction. I was a custom order, like you were." Saito said, looking at her with his lavender eyes. "Heh, I'm not exactly custom." She said. "violet eyes." Saito said. "I thought all custom orders had them." "Well technically I guess all custom orders would have them... unless they wanted a different eye color. In any case I'm just a standard store bought version," Uso said. "You must be talented then." He grinned at her. "My mistress wanted an exotic look so I've got this hair and eye color. I was meant to be a bodyguard and pleasure as well; I was treated well in return." Uso was busy looking at datapad she had put down on the bar. Beside her was some male neko asking questions. The bar was called Fate and it had been a popular hangout for QIS people to visit. It wasn't to crowded this time of day and the endless dust darkening the skies of Ralifaris were keeping the normal crowds from swarming the place. Sergei sighed slightly as he walked out of the restaurant he had been in. He was having a hard time finding work around this new planet.. He had the credentials to make a wonderful cook, but he just didn't know any of the local dishes. He shook his head and looked down the street, deciding that he would try one more place, then would head for the place he had been staying. He walked up to the door of the bar and walked in. He found a seat at the bar, setting his black duffel bag down at his feet and looking around. "You want anything?" The bartender asked Sergei as he sat down. The Qelnoran looked a head taller than everyone in the bar and his red scales were clean and shiny much unlike the rest of the people who had come in through the dust. Saito took an idle sip of the green tea and looked over at the newcomer, taking in his features instantly at a glance. The male neko looked down at himself and sighed, brushing off some residual dust. "Whatta drag this place is, I thought something better would have happened." He looked back to Uso; able to tell that she was the type of person who was in things for the thrill of it from her demeanor. Sergei smiled slightly to the person who had spoken to him. He rubbed a hand over his white ponytail to try and get the dust off, then responded . "I don't know...Do you have green tea?" He watched the Qelnoran, head canting to the side as he took in everything about the bartender's features. "Yep," He said as he turned around and got a can of the stuff, he poured it out into a glass and then brought it to Sergei, "Anything else?" he asked. Since she was small enough, Natsumi slipped into the bar easily. She got a few dirty looks from people since she was less than four feet tall. She mumbled something as she looked around, before she moved toward the bar. "You’re looking for excitement?" Uso asked as she looked over at him, "Try joining the military or the corporation, I'm sure they will give you something to do," She said with a chuckle. Saito yawned a bit and turned slightly and looked at the small neko with a perked eyebrow; his sensitive hearing having picked up her entry. "What the perks of it?" He asked Uso, now looking at her again. "Hello there Ms, I'll be with you in just a moment," the bartender said to the new arrival, assuming she was a neko youngling. "No, that's it." He responded and slowly took the glass and sipped its contents. He nodded his approval to the bartender, wondering just what good it would do. He began to look around the bar again, his amber eyes taking in the occupants, and sharp ears picked up bits of conversations. He was particularly interested in the people talking not far away. They were talking about the military, and some sort of "corporation." Natsumi nodded to the bartender, and yawned softly. She swished her tail a bit, the same color as her hair. She climbed up onto a bar stool and stretched, yawning softly The bartender walked over to the small neko, "Hello what can I do for you?" He asked, Uso turned a bit to face Saito and started talking, "Well you have a very good change of getting blown up in QnSe. After the attack New dawn has been able to recruit a lot more people and word has it they are planning on attacking Geshrintall sometime soon. As for the military it looks like the Qelnoran industrial sector will be home base for the 3rd XF, you can get with them and get lost out in the stars for all I care." Saito grinned, she amused him, at least the attitude did. "They won't get through Geshrintall's defenses. My homeworld is too tough to go down that easy." He said. "Feh, military aint my thing. What does the QnT do? I was there earlier." "I just want a drink... not to strong, but something that still packs a punch," Natsumi replied, looking up at him "please," she added to stay polite. Her tail swished more. She looked around the bar, her eyes scanning each person, before turning back to the bar. Uso chuckled, "Gesh's defenses won't do anything, these guys aren't going to attack directly and I have no faith in SAINT's (Star Army Intelligence) ability to stop them." Uso took another drink and then started again, "QnT is responsible for creating new technologies. They have quite a sizeable fleet now with he completion of the Seigi and the Genesis, you might want to join up with them sometime." She said. The bartender nodded to Natsumi and left, coming back a few moments later with some odd fizzing red drink. "Is that all?" He asked. Sergei smiled at the woman's seemingly fiery attitude. He set his tea on the bar and just watched her. He was starting to get interested in the Military she was talking about. He had heard of Geshrintall, and the weapons that they possessed. It seemed to him, that someone had told him that the entire populace of the planet was some sort of super weapon. He didn't believe that for a second, but it would still be interesting to go find out. But what really intrigued him was the mention of some 3rd XF, what could that be? Something space bound he would guess, from her mention of her companion's getting lost in the stars. "Yes, thank you" Natsumi replied, and picked up the drink, taking a quick, long drink. She put it down, and wiped her upper lip "Whatever you say. They may surprise even you ms cynic." Saito scoffed. Saito looked over at the bartender, "can I get 6 cans of soda?" He asked since the tender was there. He looked back at Uso; "QnT sounds interesting, but I'm not much for technology, I'm only a guardian." Saito said, fingering the golden hilt of the sword on his lap. "Oh ya I'm sure, you must be SOOOO good with that outdated sword of yours." Uso said as she took another drink. "And another thing," Uso turned to look at the person easdroping on her, "Its not polite to do that," She said. "Better than you are." Saito muttered. "Isn't my fault I was created this way." He said with a fire in his eyes. He grinned suddenly. "Maybe someone as brash as you are could show me a thing or two hmm? And leave the dog-guy alone, not his fault he has good hearing either." Sergei's eyes went wide as he quickly looked away from his eavesdropping. "Um...I'm sorry, Ma'am. I was just very interested in what you were saying....I hope that I didn't offend you, and I promise to not do it again." His voice trailed off, and in a show that he meant what he said, he took his duffel and his tea, and walked to a table at the other side of the bar. Natsumi peered over at Uso, her tail swishing about. She looked back at her drink, and twirled her finger along the rim. Uso got up from the bar and sat down next to the eacesdropper, completely ignoring the swordsman, ~So who do you work for?~ she asked telepathically. She looked back, watching Uso with interest. She sipped her drink and watched her, beginning to purr softly "That was a really dumb thing to do, Sergei, you've been on this planet for a who-" He stopped scolding himself as the woman walked over and sat before him. She spoke, but her lips never moved. He looked around, just to make sure there wasn't someone else who could have spoken, and finding no one, he looked back at her. "Well, um, I don't work for anyone at the moment.....I'm sort of just freelancing for now." Uso suddenly felt the pommel of the sword in her back. "That's not polite either ya know." He said as he capped it back into the sheath slowly. "I don't take being ignored too well, don't do it again." Saito said with an edge in his voice. He looked over at the small neko and smiled, ~Hello young one.~ He said telepathically. Natsumi's eyes darted up at Saito, a little timid ~h, hello~ she responded, her eyes moving to the floor ~He isn't playing dumb then...~ she thought to herself without even paying attention to the sword at her back, "It looks like I have the wrong person then. Excuse me," She said to the man as she turned in her chair and sythed a knife which she drove in to the hilt of the back of Saito's knee, "Its not a threat unless you have the intent to do harm." She said. He smiled softly at her, thinking she was but a a child, brushing a silver hair out of his face. ~you're a little young to be in here aren't you?~ Saito grinned as he quickly dissolved her knife into his body. "Thanks for the boost Uso." He said not looking at her as the wound closed. Bye then Uso was already looking back at her datapad, "So Mr. whoever, do you have any experience with maps?" she asked. ~I'm not that young... I'm 2, in fact~ Natsumi replied. Even if she thought it, it still reflected her timid nature ~Wow, you're older than I am.~ He chuckled with the thought. Sergei nodded slowly. "Some. I used to do a lot of hunting and backpacking back on my home planet. I was really good with finding my way, and finding what it was that I was looking for. And just for the information, It's Dimitriov....Sergei Dimitriov." He smiled and took a sip of his tea. A weak smile ran across Natsumi's face as she kicked her legs back and forth like a child. Natsumi's tail swished about, lifting her eyes to the small group Saito didn't like Uso's attitude much, he stood up and stretched a bit and looked over at the little neko. ~I'm Saito, and you are?~ He asked her silently. "Alright well then tell me what you make of this Mr. Dimitriov," Uso said as she slid the datapad across the table toward the man. On it was a hand drawn map of the tunnels below the city, The map was labled but seemed incorrect as it different tunnels that occupied the same space even though they didn't intersect, The primitive 3d rendering Uso had to accompany parts of the map showed that certain tunnels simply shouldn't exist there. ~N, Natsumi~ she said meekly. Her tail swished more as she sipped her drink Sergei pursed his lips as he looked at the map. "Well, what I would make of it is that it's some sort of tunnel system for a city. I would guess that it would be this city's, or one near by, or why else would you be studying it? As for what I think of it, I don't really know. I am not sure it's completely accurate, judging from these tunnels here." He pointed to some of the ones that were under ground impossible to withhold a tunnel. "And this," He pointed to one tunnel that started, stopped, started again, and then just seemed to disappear as if it never existed. Saito started heading for the door but paused close to Natsumi. "Nice to meet you kiddo." He grinned at her and ruffled her hair gently, a habit picked up in Tania. He started for the door and saw all the dust out there. "ugh, I don't wanna go out in that crap." He said to himself and turned and took a seat off to the side. "What if I told you that the map you are holding is 100% accurate within a few meters? Ontop of that..." Uso reached down to the holster around her waste and pulled out another Datapad, "Ontop of that this is the 'official' map of the underground tunnels," She slid the datapad over to him, most of the tunnels on Uso's map were not listed on the official one. Sergei nodded softly and looked between the two maps, noting the differences, but still listening to the woman. "Well, then I would say that this city has more intrigue than I thought. So this map," He held up her map. "is 100 percent accurate?" Natsumi stood up, giggling softly as she watched Saito. She finished her drink before hopping off the stool. Natsumi moved toward Saito, and stood in front of the chair next to him "Mind if I sit down?" "I've been down there myself," Uso reassured him. Saito sighed, his lavender eyes not leaving Uso as she explained the maps. He could hear her easily, but he also thought she was attractive as a neko. He looked up at the little neko who was talking to him. "Sure." He said and pushed a seat out with his foot. Natsumi sat down, looking up at him as she bit her lip. She lowered her head, sensing something was troubling him. Saito shifted his attention to Natsumi. "something wrong?" A small beep came from the Data pad that Sergei was holding, "Crap its time for me to go, You want to come along?" She asked him as she turned to look over at the bartender, "5 MORE FOR THE ROAD!" She practically yelled out across the bar. Natsumi smiled "I was gonna ask you the exact same thing." "Nothing's wrong with me. I'm just new around here." Saito smiled at her, the light dancing in his metallic looking hair. He nodded slowly. "I see. Well then I would have no reason to doubt what you have here. Why do you ask me? I'm just a wandering cook. I just arrived here on this planet about a week and a half ago." Sergei slowly took his glass up again, took a large gulp of his tea, then reset his amber eyes on the woman, awaiting her answer. When she said she had to go, he nodded. When the invitation to join her was presented, he snatched up his bag and was on his feet within seconds. "Sure." ~Leaving Uso? Mind if I tag along?~ he thought to the one who had yelled at the tender. "That makes two," Natsumi said before mumbling softly "We all start somewhere Natsumi." Saito grinned at her. Uso smiled and headed toward Saito, "Carry these," she said as she tossed him the cans of drinks that the bartender handed her, "Oh ya bring those maps Sergei!" Uso said as she headed out the door. Sergei nodded quickly and stuffed the maps into his duffel and ran after the woman with amazing speed. He had caught up to her in no time at all. "Well, I'm still waiting for my start... I need to get assigned somewhere first" Natsumi said "Need some help with those?" Saito grinned and got to his feet. He slid a drink into his satchel when she wasn't looking. "Nah, I'm outta here now that something's up. I'll see ya again sometime!" He said as he left after Uso. Natsumi nodded, looking down to her knees "Take care... I'll hold you to that..." ~I'm sure you will cutey~ He replied to her from outside barely hearing what she had said. Outside was a waiting Qelnoran Technologies APC, It was more heavily armed than the other 6 wheeled APC's used by QnSe and had a small group of soldiers sitting in the back with one officer outside, "Who are these people?" He asked Uso, "A Drinking buddy and luggage rack." she said, "I don't think that they...should..." He looked at Uso as she simply walked passed him and into the APC, "Funny Uso, you're carrying your own shit!" Saito said as he threw the drinks at her and got in. "Don't worry 'bout us, we're not too much trouble" He grinned at the qel'noran. "You carry them or we leave you here." She said flatly. "too late, I've drunk them all already." Saito teased, the cans he hit her with were empty, he'd created them on the spot, the real ones were in his bag. Uso gave him a dead serious look, she didn't care if they were fake or not. She was going to make him carry them anyways. Saito grinned and scooped them up, cutting his hand up badly, the mercury-silver blood dissolved the empty cans and absorbed them in a couple moments. "You can't make me do anything ya know, these drinks are mine now, thanks!" He laughed. END --------------------- JP Natsumi Tyler James Zack GSA no Shoi, Uso Tasuki Head Cook, GSS Seigi (GB-07) [GSS Celia] Innocents Aboard Henry Chen Posts: 20 (1/2/04 21:40) [GSS Celia] Innocents Aboard Henry admired the smooth chassis and sleek design of the Yui-class destroyer on the launch pad in front of him. “I can’t believe we are going to get to ride on this,” he commented to Shina. “Not exactly sir, I think they want us to piggy-back ride in that,” said Shina, pointing to the personnel pod attached to the top of the ship. As they stepped into the pod, Henry noticed that all of the passengers already aboard were standing up and looking at him. Sensing that Henry had no idea what was going on, Shina telepathically sent him a mental picture of his rank pin. She didn’t like doing this to him because telepathy had always caused Henry at least minor discomfort in the past. In this case, however, Henry appreciated the hint: he could only see ensign, cadet, and various red rank pins around him, which meant he was the highest-ranking officer in the pod for the duration of the ride. “Um, at ease,” Henry said as he sat down on an empty seat and buckled himself in. Shina sat down beside him, and almost immediately started conversations with the other passengers as they took their seats. The destroyer soon took off, heading for the Celia. The captain informed her passengers over the intercom that the ETA was 3.7 hours. Henry took a data pad out of his backpack and tried to read, but was soon alarmed by the fact that his name was coming up in the conversations around him. “… Why yes, Taii Chen was part of the PNUgen’s Epsilon Program. We’d spend entire days cooped up inside the computer labs. Huh? Yes! He really found and corrected that flaw in that 10 billion line program!” Apparently, Shina saw fit to entertain the rest of the passengers aboard the pod with the abridged version of the un-authorized biography of Henry Chen, scientist extraordinaire, and was being rewarded with ooo’s and ahh’s from her eager audience. Henry lightly tapped Shina on the shoulder. “Yes, sir?” “Shina, you know I don’t like it when you brag to people about me.” “But I’m only telling the truth, sir,” Shina gave him the puppy-eyes. “The truth is, a lot of people were in the Epsilon Program, people way smarter than me. The truth is, we were doing a favor for one of our professors by helping him proof-read his pet project, and I just happened to have gotten the section with the typo in it.” “He’s so humble, isn’t he?” Shina said as she turned around to her audience. The others nodded in agreement. “Oh for crying out loud, Shina, don’t make me order you to stop.” “Oh sir, at least let me tell them about your participation in the Triple Black Diamonds.” Audible gasps could be heard from her audience. “Look,” Henry realized that he would forever be plagued with questions if he kept quiet, so he might as well nip it in the bud, “the Triple Black Diamonds was just a normal student society. There were chapters in most of PNUgen’s educational facilities. We offered tutoring to classmates who were struggling in class.” “You forgot the mention, sir, the research projects done for SARA.” “They were no secret, but I wasn’t involved in them. But if they were secret, you’d be court-martialled by now.” That managed to spoil the mood for Shina and her audience. Henry suddenly found himself aboard a personnel pod full of skulking kids. Feeling that he had made his point, Henry picked up his data pad again and tried to resume reading. But he felt guilty. Shina had done nothing wrong, really. None of Henry’s activities were supposed to be kept secret, as he generally steered clear of cloak-and-dagger stuff when choosing research projects. And he technically never ordered Shina to stop. Her only crime, really, was being proud of him. Henry looked at his assistant. Chui Tanaka was sitting still on her seat and looking down idly at her lap. “All right, who wants to play a game of The First Colonists?” Henry said as he unbuckled his seatbelt, stood up, and took out his laptop from his backpack. Two Geshrin young men, both of them wearing red technician rank pins, timidly raised their hands. “What is this, pre-school? Do you want to play or not, soldiers?” Henry tried to channel the spirit of a drill-sergeant. “Sir, yes, sir!” responded the two young men. “Care to join us, ensign Tanaka?” “I would love to, sir,” said Shina as she smiled, knowing that this was Henry’s way of making a peace offering. “Good,” said Henry as he typed something on his laptop. A holographic, floating, miniature planet immediately appeared in front of him. “I’ll assume everyone already knows the rules. Let’s play.” The game was just about wrapped up when the ships of the 3rd Expeditionary Fleet slowly became visible through the personnel pod’s windows. Soon after, the Yui-class destroyer docked with the Celia. Henry breathed a sigh of relief as Shina and he stepped aboard the ship where they would be staying. The dizziness had already gone away, leaving a weird sensation that Henry could not quite name. After all those trips back to Neplesia, he was still not completely used to CDD travel, but at least he stopped throwing up every time. Then, Henry noticed an especially pale-faced Geshrin girl emerging from the destroyer, recognized her as a fellow passenger aboard the pod, and un-characteristically offered her a kind smile. “Still queasy, huh? Your first faster-than-c trip, am I right?” “Yes, sir,” the girl nodded. “Don’t worry about it. The first time is always the worst.” The girl smiled weakly. Meanwhile, Shina was busy chatting again with the other crew-members that were on the pod with them. This time, the topics were fairly mundane, much to Henry’s satisfaction. Sprite nekos soon showed up to show everyone to their rooms. Henry and Shina’s rooms were adjacent to each other’s, and were selected to be as close as possible to the science lab while still accommodating the needs of the other science officers. The rooms themselves were a bit Spartan compared to what Henry was used to back on Geshrintall, but Henry knew that GSA ships featured the most luxurious crew cabins among all the warships in history, with the possible exception of quarters of the archangels on Elysian ships. And since it was unlikely for Henry to sprout giant angel wings overnight, he considered himself lucky. Once Henry settled in, which consisted mostly of placing his laptop on the desk and throwing his backpack onto the floor, he went to check on Shina. Shina’s room was unlocked, so Henry politely tapped on the door twice to announce himself and went in. Inside, he found the catgirl had already changed into her pajamas, and was curled up in her nest with her teddy bear and fast asleep. Henry vaguely remembered Shina retrieving the bear from his backpack as they reached their rooms. He also found a note on the data pad lying beside her. *** Dear Henry, I was very tired from the trip, so I decided to turn in early. I left the door unlocked because I knew you’d want to check on me. Please lock it on your way out. Hugs and kisses, Shina *** Not wanting to disturb her, Henry gently placed the data pad on her desk, and tiptoed out of her room, taking care to lock the door behind him. He immediately saw the sprite neko that was about to activate the door chime to his room. “Hi,” said Henry, mainly to get the neko’s attention. “Good evening, sir. I am here to inform you that you and Chui Tanaka are to report for duty at the science lab at 0800 hours tomorrow, local time. I believe Megami wants you to double check the calibrations of the instruments, so bring your toolkit.” “Um, understood,” said Henry, always a bit intimidated by the computer-controlled nekos. “Also, here are your sidearms,” said the neko, handing Henry two pistols. ”Thanks,” said Henry as he received the weapons with both hands. The sprite neko suddenly paused, as if receiving new instructions from Megami. “I am also to inform you, sir, that you and Chui Tanaka are to report to the medical bay tomorrow, at 1800 hours, local time, for routine medical examinations and your weekly scheduled ST backups.” “I’ll try to remember that. Better have Megami put these appointments into Chui Tanaka’s memory banks, just in case. ” The neko nodded, and, deciding that the conversation was over, walked away and disappeared around a bend in the hallway. Henry stepped back inside his room and checked the local time on his laptop: 2200 hours. He carefully placed the pistols into a drawer under his desk and locked it, intending to retrieve them tomorrow. He then proceeded to direct the laptop to send the local time information into his cybernetic eye. An infrared beam, invisible to the human eye, shot up from a LED light on his laptop. Henry mentally set his cybernetic eye to IR mode, and looked directly into the beam. A small digital display immediately appeared in his field of vision, displaying the updated time. It was large enough to be easily readable but only came into focus when Henry turned his eyes at a downward angle, like someone reading his wristwatch. Henry mentally turned off the display and switched back into normal vision mode, and mused at the longevity and usefulness of such a primitive technology. A quick mental calculation revealed to him that, if he went to sleep now, he could get a good 9 hours of sleep before waking up at 0700 hours, leaving more than enough time to find the mess hall, eat a hearty breakfast with Shina, and show up at the science lab. This course of action would minimize the chances of screwing up on his first day on the job, which is almost never a good thing. And thus, Henry undressed down to his underwear and crawled into bed. The sheets and the pillow were soft, warm, and soothing. As he laid down, the memories of a 10-year-old boy, still sick from his first CDD journey, spending his first night on a new and strange planet, with parents that he barely knew, came drifting into his mind. What was that popular saying? “You’ve come a long way,” Henry murmured to himself, and felt faintly ridiculous. “Yes, but I know that the best things in my life is still ahead of me,” his murmur slowly went down to an inaudible whisper as he slowly drifted off to sleep, “and all the good stuff is still to come.” GSA no Taii Chen Henry Science Officer, GSS Celia [GSS Empire] Hônto no Kokoro, Kimi ni Kitsurugi Yui GSA Command 1st Expeditionary Fleet SARA - KFY Posts: 1499 (1/3/04 7:23) ezSupporter [GSS Empire] Hônto no Kokoro, Kimi ni Near Ralfaris, at the site of the destruction of the GSS Ketsurui Chiharu, the GSS Empire hung gloomily in space. Deep inside the ship, in a medical bay, Yui knelt in front of an unconscious Nekovalkyrja. It was Chiharu. The body lay on a soft blanket, surrounded by candles and incense and photos of her life. Yui was sobbing and pleading to the sleeping figure. "Hear me Chiharu! Please, please come back to me! I have tried to hold in my pain but I cannot any longer. I miss you. I need you! All my life I have been searching for a special person, a person for me. I admired you since we first met in the cold mountains of our old hometown, you were so wonderful, and you continued to earn my absolute trust and admiration with your grace and charm and the beauty of your mind. I must have you back, by my side. Too much weight is on my shoulders, but knowing you would be here to be with me and care for me and lend me your insight and wisdom would make it all so much more tolerable! I have had my scientists working on bringing you back ever since your sudden...It was never meant to be this way. Come back to me, please. I love you so much, I would give up anything and everything for you! I don't want to be alone! I have your memories, but your I need your spirit. If you can hear these prayers, please come into this body. It's yours. I know that this world can be harsh and frightening...but I am begging you, for my sake, please come back and be with me. You don't have to worry about politics or fleet command...I don't care about that, and I will NEVER, EVER put you in harm's way alone like I did before. It is my fault, and I seek your forgiveness, Chiharu. I love you, but I was so busy running the empire and the fleets that I didn't realize that you were the one for me, the one I always wanted by my side, and would be content to live with forever. Please, come back to me. If you can find it in your heart to do so, I promise I will make a life for us where we can be happy as a couple, forever. Use the bond between us to climb back to the living world." Yui was bawling, streams of tears now gushing from her eyes. "You were always strong Chiharu...Please, be strong again and come back to me! My pain, my love, my heart can serve as your beacon. Don't leave me to this intolerable loneliness. You mean the universe to me. There's so much left undone, so may things we can see and do and enjoy together." Finally, Yui couldn't stand it anymore and lurched forward, leaning over the brown-haired woman, and picking her up gently. She had to hold Chiharu. Cradling the limp body in her arms and rocking back and forth she prayed to the life-energy of the universe for a miracle. "Happiness...is being with the one you love." GSA no Taisho Kitsurugi Yui Commander, Star Army 1st Expeditionary Fleet [GSS Celia] Growing up? Kai Ashigari GSA Command GSA 4th Fleet Posts: 97 (1/3/04 14:53) [GSS Celia] Growing up? Kai had gotten Amaya to her room on the ship and was relaxing a bit after doing all that running around, collecting the crews and such. Keiko was asleep on his head as he walked through the ship, having a look at the interior of it. "What a week, nothing but running around. I need a break; but I should do see what's going on the bridge." He mused quietly and headed for the bridge. He liked the interior of the ship, plush, but not overdone, comfortable without being stuffy. He walked into the bridge and yawned as he looked around; he looked quite a bit different now with short hair. Yuuko and Alexis were seated side-by-side in front of the operations control panel. Both of the two nekos looked up as Kai walked in. "Hello, Kai," she said "Hi Yuuko, who's your friend?" Kai asked as he smiled at her. Keiko woke up at the mention of Yuuko and sat up on Kai's head and waved happily. "This is Taisho Jaren, back to guide the fleet," Yuuko expained. Alexis nodded to Kai and stood. "Oh?!" Kai said with a step back in shock. Then saluted the Taisho. "Welcome back...sir." He said. ~Wow, I thought he died in the crash~ Keiko muttered in Kai's mind. "Thank you. I'll be in my quarters," Alexis returned the salute before leaving them. Kai regained his composure. "I suppose I don't know everything." He chuckled. "Hi Yuuko!" Keiko chirped and leapt off Kai's head, using her anti-grav system to make her seemingly able to fly over to Yuuko in that one jump and landed in her hair with a giggle. "I think someone missed you Yuuko." Kai smiled as he walked over. There was a Norse-looking woman hanging out at the navigation control station who was watching Kai and Yuuko. Yuuko smiled as Keiko drifted over. Keiko slid down onto Yuuko's shoulder and gave her a tiny hug and kiss as she snuggled into her hair. Kai laughed good-naturedly; "It appears she's taken a liking to you." Kai felt eyes on him and looked up at the norse-looking woman. "Hello there." There was a Norse-looking woman hanging out at the navigation control station who was watching Kai and Yuuko. "Don't pull my hair, Keiko," Yuuko frowned. "Sorry." Keiko apologized. "Will you forgive me?" the little neko pouted. Kai laughed again and took a seat in the captain's chair and looked over at the new person, being himself Kai grinned and met her eyes. "hello there." "Good morning, Shôshô," responded the white-haired beauty. Kai nodded back to her, ~White hair....must be the computer's avatar.~ Kai thought as he looked at her. "What's your name?" He asked her. Keiko meanwhile was now sitting on Yuuko's shoulder kicking her little feet happily. "Yuuko, how have you been?" "I am Celia no Megami," the avatar responded, little diagrams moving around in her eyes. Yuuko smiled, "I've been busy. I feel...older." "That's good, what have you been up to? staying out of trouble I hope." Keiko teased. Kai was looking at the avatar, ~thought so~ He thought to himself. "This my be pointless to you Celia, but you're quite special to me, your name." "Flying the shuttle and picking up survivors, mostly," answered. "You need a break it sounds like to me." Keiko giggled. Celia didn't say anything, although she thought about asking Kai if he wanted to change her appearance. "I suppose this is a break. Megami is handling most of the communcations," Yuuko wistfully smiled. Keiko giggled. "That's good. Makes life easy doesn't it?" Kai looked over at Yuuko now; "Is there anything you wanted to do Yuuko?" "I'd like to set up a club onboard the ship," Yuuko admitted, "and...there's something else." "What's that Yuuko?" Kai asked her gently. Yuuko blushed,"I'm thinking about changing my appearance." "Oh?" Kai asked. "I see, at least I think I do." Kai chuckled as he looked at her. Keiko looked at Yuuko; "What doyou wanna change cutey?" "Well, I'm thinking about growing out my hair...and my boobs," Yuuko confessed, looking away in embarassment. Kai blushed, as was his usual response. "That's up to you Yuuko." Keiko giggled wickedly. "You have nice hair Yuuko, be happy, you're breasts are larger than mine." The little neko giggled. "Eh..." Yuuko sighed. "Well that's all up to you Yuuko, you're a cute young woman as you are. Remember what I told you a while back?" Kai asked with a sigh. He fed the rest to Keiko to repeat telepathically just for fun. Keiko poked Yuuko in the left breast. "It's what's in here that counts not what's covering it." She repeated dutifully. "I see. So you wouldn't mind?" she asked. "If you think it'll make you feel better about yourself you're welcome to change that." Kai smiled reassuringly at Yuuko. Keiko giggled; "Can I grow up too?" She asked. "I wanna be like Yuuko here." Keiko hugged the other neko again. "Thanks," Yuuko smiled warmly, "I was worried that others might think it was a bad idea." Kai looked at Keiko who had mentioned 'growing up' he knew she could go to being a NH-17S if she wanted too. Keiko pouted innocently; "She can grow up but I can't?" Yuuko looked at Keiko. "It's Kai's decision for now. When you're older, you can decide what you look like for yourself," she told the eight-inch girl. "That's 7 years off." Keiko pouted, just to be cute. Kai chuckled at the little girl; he was finding her amusing at this size. But privately thought she'd be cute when fully grown. "Well, then, I think I'll be headed to the medbay!" Yuuko grinned. "You can't do it yourself?" Kai asked, curious, standing up. "I'm off to take a bath." He said and walked out. "I think he likes you." Keiko giggled, being mischievous again. "Not without hurting myself, K..." she scowled as Kai walked out on her. "sounds painful." Keiko said for Kai, knowing he'd respond like that. "He's been under alot of stress lately Yuuko, he's sorry about that. I can tell." Yuuko shrugged, stood up, and headed out. "You have the bridge, Celia." JP Tyler (Keiko, Kai) Wes (Celia, Yuuko) GSA no Shôshô Kai Ashigari Commanding officer, GSS Seigi (GB-08)