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RP: YSS Asamoya Mission 2 Part Three, Into the Lion's Den

Soresu

Well-Known Member
ON> Kyoto, Yamatai

Eve sighed as she brushed her fingers along a bottle of chocolate milk. She didn't recognize any of the labels as her favourite brand and the patrons at the store seemed to flow around her, except small children who would pull at the thing her mother had either been crazy to put on her, or cared in the strange way the young soldier never understood. Her uniforms were still on the way, and she had protested profusely how the length of a tail would be any more use in combat but, She just laughed again..

Wearing a skirt brushing her knees and a pale green spaghetti top, something had kept her from discarding the old rank of the 4th War Fleet, it's scythe pinned in a gold blossom to her breast. Her hair had been let out a bit longer (and was just violet with one blue jagged streak over her bangs), but the more disturbing thing to her was the Neko ears. No, she wasn't used to them, what Geshrin should be and being able to hear so much was troublesome. And after all that, mom didn't even change my eyes. She thought, taking a bottle at random and finally closing the bank of refrigerators.

Yuriko, having left Midori to think on what she had told her of the rescue mission left her home. The Taii wished to get out, and enjoy being home, even if only for a few short hours. After all, this was the first time she'd been home in months, not since she had gone to the Empress' Palace and spoke to the then Emperor Uesu himself. Yuriko nudged Saito slightly as they continued down the street. "Do you not see anything you wish to buy? My treat."

Saito blinked a bit as he walked along, having hooked up with Yuriko after happily seeing Michiko at the temple. "No, not particularly, I don't see anything I'd really want and I'm not really too apt at shopping." He chuckled a bit and walked with her with little Kanako on his shoulder. "Where are yours by the way?"

"Mother scared Rikun straight again, Naora is asleep, Yuichi reading, and Tai said she'd rather commit seppuku then come out of the house wearing a kimono." Yuriko sighed a little, she herself was wearing one of a light sky blue. "I had to guilt her into wearing one in the house..."

Yamazaki had finished paying with her KS card, wiped down save a little extra her mother had given her, she was dead for too long. The girl her tail around her hips and the band of her skirt, determined not to get any more attention from simply existing than she did years before. She remembered nothing about going to the galactic frontier. Sipping at the chocolate milk the girl prodigy lingered by the exit of the store, bowing when she spotted Saito- at a distance anyway. Others were doing it and she had never met any samurai to know they were all female by a rule.

Yuriko stopped just outside of the store, and looked to Saito. "Saito-kun, I'm feeling a little parched. I've been dealing with Taishos, the Empress, and now the Nepleslian government all day; frankly I haven't had time to eat or drink anything. That and keeping my children in line. So I think I will duck in here and get something, would you care for anything?" She asked her bodyguard politely. "Or would you like something little one?" She asked Kanako.

Saito blinked when he saw Yamazaki bowing to him as well as the others and looked around and rubbed the back of his head, looking embarrassed. He glanced to Yuriko and nodded. "Sure I wouldn't mind a little mint iced tea if they have it." he said. Little Kanako bounced up and smiled down at her and nodded happily. "I want ice cream!" she giggled.

"Alright then, I'll be back in a moment" Yuriko told them both. The Taii then moved smoothly towards the shop entrance, her kimono not hindering her as she walked right past Yamazaki, and into the interior of the shop.

Saito had noticed the others around and sighed. "alright people you don't have to bow, come on now. It's embarrassing." He said to the people that were still doing it. Kanako floated from her roost in his hair and sat on his shoulder and giggled. "You're popular 'tou-san.."

Eve watched Saito warily, then the woman as she passed through the doors. Maybe she was the one he was protecting, Why didn't I ever get a dress..? She thought plainly, raising her eyes without thinking to glance between the pair, then over her shoulder at Yuriko, the tip of her tail twitching restlessly against her side. He did look like a solider, maybe he could answer her questions. The girl was in no hurry to go back home to feel like another one of Alaena's experiments.

"Hiii!" Kanako waved after noticing the girl looking over at them in that almost discreet fashion. The little youngling was always glad to greet new people and had spotted her repeatedly glancing over and the small twitch around her waist.

Yuriko walked over to a case, peered at the contents before opening the glass door. She reached inside, and pulled out a bottle of mint tea, and then a juice for herself. She then managed to find a small bar of ice cream, and even a small cake for herself. She seemed torn on what else to get Saito at the moment.

Yamazaki looked down and took a drink of her milk, her cheeks pinking slightly at being spotted by what she thought was an NH-12. I wonder if they still sell those. The girl thought, finding her feet taking her over towards Saito. She bumped into someone without noticing, a standard NH-29 and bowed in apology before tugging at her skirt and walking out to the pair. It was easy to see that something was wrong when she lifted her eyes to the pair, the right one held a sapphire, the other an emerald tint just in varying shades. The tail, though. She thought she had hidden it very well. "Uh..hi." She paused, looking at Saito from Kanako, "...ssssir?"

Saito smiled a bit seeing her heterochromatic eyes and nodded to her. "Hello there." He said as Kanako giggled, sitting on his shoulder kicking her little feet. "I saw you glancing over this way. Can I help you with something Ms?" he asked her politely. "You have pretty eyes!" the little girl giggled merrily.

"E-eeve." Her voice was still youthful, and close up about everything about her seemed entirely awkward despite her height she was..well young. "Thank you." She was soon staring at the ground, feeling her cheeks burn. It was making fun of her! "I was jus-st wondering if you were in t-too."

Reaching out a gentle hand, Saito laid it on her shoulder gently. "Don't be so nervous." He said gently to her. "and if I was into what?" the silver haired Neko asked her calmly.

Reaching out a gentle hand, Saito laid it on her shoulder gently. "Don't be so nervous." He said gently to her. "And if I was in what?" the silver haired neko asked her calmly.

Kanako just watched her, tilting her orange-haired head cutely.

Eve's corresponding arm flinched badly forward, she had to repress the instant reaction to strike at the man. "Sor-ry!" She apoligized, assuming everyone would have known it wasn't just a muscle spasm of some kind. She had raised her eyes to about his calves, but was very stiff under Saito's hand. "The ah-...army."

Saito just perked a brow and withdrew his hand, seeing as the supposedly comforting gesture was taken wrong. He'd seen her flinch forward through skinvision in his forearm and shook his head. "Oh no no I'm a civilian." He said. "I'm just here with my daughter here and Yuriko-chan. My name's Saito, what's yours?"

"NS-S4-95 YSS Mik-..oh uh wait. Let me do that again! Yamazaki, Eve. 1X-321-666-42." She replied hollowly, not looking up. "Oh with your wife. I thought she was a Ketsurui..." The girl looked at Kanako, and as if not understanding still asked, "Where'd you buy her? I a-halways wanted one."

"It's nice to meet you Yamazaki-san." Saito said with a smile and shook his head. "Oh no I'm not married, Yuriko is the person I was hired to protect." he said and blinked. "Oh I didn't buy Kanako! she's my actual daughter, genetically." He said. Kanako smiled at her lightly and floated over closer to her and looked at her closely in an innocent way.

Eve leaned back, her eyes watching Kanako's movements while she spoke to Saito. "O-oh.." She went a little pale, the colour draining from her cheeks. She didn't know she should be embarrassed, just that he corrected her and didn't strike her so everything was probably okay. "I do better on ships- or until it exploded I did okay." The girl sounded sad for a moment, and took a long, slow sip of her chocolate milk to keep her mouth from going on worse. So I can make an NH-12...I get it.

She didn't.

"Oh I'm sorry to hear that." Saito said. Kanako pouted at how she looked sad and smiled again. "It's ok ms Eve...don't be sad."

Yuriko soon paid for her goods, which she carried in her arms as she exited. The Taii looked at Eve a moment before she lifted up her arm full of snacks and drinks. "I have your tea, and also a bag of Ajigonomi for you, spicy of course. Kanako, you have an ice cream sandwich bar."

"Ohh thank you Yuriko." Saito said, accepting it from her and blinked. "Yuriko, this is Yamazaki Eve." he said to introduce them. Kanako squealed and took the ice cream and settled on Yuriko's head to eat it happily.

Yuriko blinked, her eyes going up to Kanako before looking to Eve.

The young girl's tail twitched again, she bit her lip on whatever she was going to say and fell silent, trying to keep her attention on the strange little spritish girl floating about. ..can I do that too..? She asked the youngling with a thought, very unintentionally. A week before by her figuring she was a Geshrin or really, whatever her mother and father had made her. She bowed when introduced, placing one hand over the other. Happy to hide her eyes from whomever the important woman was.

Yuriko's own eyes were not heterochromatic, but a deep shade of violet almost the color of amythest. "A pleasure to meet you...ano...you wear the rank pin of the Fourth Standard Fleet?" She asked, having stopped midway through having seen the pin.

"Fourth War Fleet.." That's what they told her when she joined, anyway. "They don't wear these n-now I saw it." Eve swallowed at the trip in her speech, "Most of them..." Her voice became empty, "...died."
Yuriko nodded. "Such are the costs of war." She said before sighing. "May I ask why you wear such a pin?"

sure you can, you're a 29 right? Just will yourself to float. Kanako said knowingly to her.

"So I won't forget." She replied, reaching up to brush a thumb across the insignia. "I guess..I'm in the fleet they transferred us to. The Expeditionary-oh there's more than the bad and good one now- the...First?" She asked herself, then nodded plainly. Like the girl was acting out a play of her own thought process, things were still a jumble in her mind and it took getting used to. Her entire body winced when Kanako spoke to her, but it had her staring eeriely at Yuriko finally. That was better than the ground, right?

"The First Expeditionary Fleet?" Yuriko asked. "I a part of the first xf." She said kindly.

A few more pieces clicked for the girl and she looked like she was afraid to say something. "Really..? I'm glad to hear that, Ma'am."

"I command the YSS Asamoya, I'm Taii Kakutama Yuriko. A pleasure to meet you." Yuriko introduced herself with a small bow.

Yamazaki winced again, bowing lower after an inappropriately long pause. Oh..I'll try later She thought back to the 'daughter' NH-12. "That's a pretty name, Ma'am."

"It's ok, you'll get it one day." Kanako giggled to Eve lightly, still enjoying her ice cream on top of Yuriko's head.

"Thank you." Yuriko said with a soft smile. "Have they assigned you to a ship as of yet, or are you still awaiting orders from Personnel Management?"

Eve's cheeks finally flushed again, that was a sore spot. "Well..yes. They said they were ssh-ort on officers so I could finally get promoted with someone who would take me but..." She looked back up, shaking her head. It wasn't the nice woman's problem, or the Samurai's.

"Well what's your specialty?" Saito asked her politely.

"Uh, well I did a lot of things.." Eve replied, ducking her head a moment. "I was supposed to be on the bridge but my assignments ended up in power armours to get me experience, that's what-..that's what they told me anyway. I was on Tami last we-..er, years ago." The young woman corrected herself, bowing slightly.

Yuriko merely nodded as she listened. "The bridge you say?" She asked, looking at the girl with an analytical eye. "What would've been your assignment there, or what were you trained for if I may ask?"

"Pilot, operations, or stand in command..I don't think I ever got on the bridge though." She replied, breathing a little harder. There was something she wasn't saying and it was written all over her face, lying never was her strong suit. "At least not for real."

Yuriko merely arched an eyebrow at the girl as she stood there, looking her in the eyes.

Kanako studied her face a bit from where she was, a bit of the ice cream falling and landing on Yuriko's nose as she did.

Yuriko twitched her nose, and brought out a handkerchef, she wiped at her nose then. "Be careful with your ice cream little one." She said kindly.

Eve cleared her throat, "No one wants me on their bridge. They said I was too young, but most of them were younger than me. I even got this..body and everything." The frustration she'd been enduring the last week had shown, she wasn't used to the gauntlet of officers all telling her the same thing. "They didn't care what I did at Tami."

"Well why not give her a chance?" Saito suggested to Yuriko, whispering to her for a moment.

Yuriko's ear twitched as Saito whispered into it. She pursed her lips as she called up Eve's personnel file. She was in need of another pilot, after Koharu departed. "Age is but a number. One's actions should be a major factor, but it would seem that is not the case in most instances."

The girl stared at the ground, hurriedly rubbing at her eyes. "I learned the new specs, it wasn't so hard with a mind like this." When she looked back up they were red, and a little moist but she'd maintained herself. Smiling nervously, "I wish you had been on the link to tell the others that, ma'am."

Yuriko surveyed the girl's personnel file, had taken note of the girl's accomplishment's, and her decidedly young age. She thought about this a moment before closing the file. "Well then, I am in need of a capable pilot, and member of my bridge crew. If you wish to join my vessel you may do so."

"Me..?" Eve pointed to herself dumbly, her tail begin batting a little. "Uh-, well..yes if you're sure ma'am." She finally smiled, it was strange like it didn't suit her. "I've felt so..strange with nothing to do for so long." So long, a week?

"In addition," Yuriko said soon after the girl quieted herself. "I will promote you to the rank of Shoi Kohosei due to your extensive records, and impeccable skills."

Yamazaki bowed as low as she could, spilling some of her milk on the ground. "Thank you ma'am!" Her heart beat a little faster in disbelief, and she waited to raise for a long moment. "I uh-I'll just-where should I report when my uniforms come in..?"

"I am currently awaiting permission to enter Nepleslian space, so we are stuck on Yamatai until then. However, my vessel will suffice." Yuriko told the girl. "You must familiarize yourself with the Asamoya, she is one of a kind."

“I'll go and see if they've come yet, then I need new things umn-it won't take me long I don't have any of my own things." Eve was excited, bursting and not noticing that her tail had unfurled from around her waist and was flicking at the tip. "Is there anywhere off limits when I get there? I'll do my best I promise!"

“The Asamoya has some experimental systems, but our MEGAMI will warn you if you should go near any off limit areas. Also, you do not have anything of your own dear?" Yuriko asked the girl, blinking.

"Uuuhhhhhhhh...." Eve looked down at herself, then at her new CO. "...I have this." Then she touched her outdated rank pin, "And this."

"Your new uniforms are on the way yes? And I will have a rank pin for you soon enough. Now, since you will be an officer, you will have officer's quarters. They are spacious, and quite comfy I am told from my previous pilot. If you wish, I can purchase somethings for you for your room. As a welcoming gift." She offered.

Eve rubbed at her cheek, willing the strange feeling there to go away then looked between Yuriko and Saito. "You'd really do that? I'll be careful not to break it! Ah..-uh. Yes please then.." Her voice cracked halfway into silence, and she put both arms at her side to fix her tail again. "I'm sure my uniforms came today. That's what the 'net said."

Saito and Kanako smiled to her and nodded. "Congratulations." Saito said to Eve. "And yeah, every deserves a chance to do what they're best at."

"Well then, did you have any place in particular you wished to shop at?" Yuriko asked Eve.

“No..I wouldn't really know where to go, ma'am." Eve admitted, bowing to Saito and his daughter to thank them for their congratulations. She was hoping that her commanding officer would know what to do, since she had been kind enough to offer her a posting.

"Well, I hear there is a small business that has some bed items." Yuriko said. "Star Pillows it is called I believe." The Taii added.

Down the road was a place with what looked to be a 6-7 year old girl playing outside the place, pushing a sign back and forth saying just that.

"Well, it would seem the place is just down the street." Yuriko said, a hand above her eyes as she peered down that way.

“Whatever might be best." Eve replied, hoping that answer would get her out of anymore questions. She had finished her milk, and turned to throw it into a recycling bin. It didn't hit the side, just fell into the center with the dull noise of hitting another plastic bottle inside.

Yuriko did just that after tossing the empty bottle in the same bin Eve dropped hers. The Taii then began walking towards the store.

The Asamoya's new pilot walked with her, letting Saito take the other side. "So..there are no more Mishhu anymore?" She asked, wondering if they knew better than she did about the state of the war that was fresh in her mind.

Yuriko felt someone patting her on the head, and turned around to find it was her mother, Yue. "Ano...mother, why are you here?" She asked. "What, I wanted to get out and have some fun, spotted you, and figured I'd come along for a bit." Yue said with a little shrug. Yuriko returned it before she spotted the little girl. Once they arrived, the Taii smiled at the girl. "Hello there little one, and what is your name?" She asked kindly, she did after all adore children.

My name's Yuriko!" She chirped and smiled at them. "Are you looking for something in specific? We have everything you could want for your beds and couches." she smiled and waved them in. Inside was a biiig floor space with various comfy looking beds, all things like that and even a plushie rack near the back with all sorts of little things in it. On one of them was an older looking man with long wild brown hair with a muscled barrel chest, something in his hair twitching as they came in.

Saito smiled at Yue as Kanako eeped at her hand, having finished her cone. "who're you?" the little youngling asked, surprised.


"I'm the mother of the person who's head you're sitting on." Yue told Kanako before eying the interior of the shop. Yuriko just smiled at the girl as she was shone inside. "Anything spring to mind you may want Eve?"

"Welcome." Ritsu said, slowly sitting up from where he was, rubbing a golden colored eye. He was an old vet from the original YSS Yui, having long sense retired. Sitting on the counter off to their left was a little boy with black hair and dog ears on his head twitching idly as he watched them with aggressive blue eyes.

Eve looked around, quiet as a mute while the others chatted on. She impassively looked around, to see if anything would catch her eyes between the other. "Umn, I guess not really ma'am. I don't know what to get." She put her hand down on a bedspread, pushing a little against the top of it.

Eve would almost instantly feel hos soft it was and could easily sink down a bit as it reacted with her body weight.

Kanako smiled at Yue and floated up looking her over. "I'm Kanako." she smiled

Yue however had caught sight of the boy, and looked dead at him. His aggressive stare locked with the enigmatic one of Yue's from behind her rose tinted sunglasses. "I'm Yue, dear." She told the youngling, not taking her eyes off of the boy.

Rath perked his ears forward a bit then flattened them, growling cutely at her.

Yue growled back, her own more imposing.

"Rath, stop that." Ritsu said in a rolling, veiled threat, making the boy back off. "Hmph." He said, crossing his arms. "Forgive him miss, he's always been like that, feel free to look around. If you find anything please let me know"

The strange girl wandered to the next bedding, and pressed down with both hands, gasping in surprise at it's response. Beds simply didn't feel like that! "What's..what's IN this? It must be really expensive.." Eve announced, talking to herself more than anything. "Uh-huh..?" She looked at Ritsu. "..yeah."

Yue took her sunglasses off, giving the boy a good long look into her blood red eyes, they'd seem feral, the eyes of a berserker. "Not a problem sir." She told Rath.

Rath seemed totally unintimidated by her, feeling confident being at home. He just sat so Yue wouldn't see his tail swishing back and forth in a relaxed way.

"Ano...who is the little boy?" Yuriko asked the small girl, leaning down to whisper in her ear. "He seems quite grumpy."

Yuriko giggled. "That's my twin brother, he has more demon blood than I do."

Eve's tail pointed straight back when she tripped at the edge of a bed, and fell face first into the fluff with an amusing, if attention drawing noise. "Nhhfhhffff!" She called, the violet waving back and forth until she could roll onto her back. "This feels funny.." She decided, panting lightly.

Yue just eyed him like a cat would a delicate morsel, before smirking, and looking away. "The boy has balls." She told Ritsu. "I see...my mother is a ano...demon blood?" Yuriko asked the girl curiously.

Ritsu chuckled, shrugging a bit. "He's always had slight aggression problems. though it makes for amusing times when he tries to attack holo projections." he said, making the boy huff and turn away. His eye still following Eve. "that's our new material for bedding, meant to provide maximum support and pressure point relief."

The girl smiled.

All of a sudden tentacles would wrap around Rath, and dragged him into Yue's waiting arms. He would be facing out, and then feel knuckles dig into his head, giving him a noogie. "Mean little pup aren't you?" She asked him as she continued. "Oh dear..."Yuriko said as she eyed her mother. "Mother is a berserker...and well they are usually gruff...seems she's taken a liking to your brother. "

Rath acked and acrobatically avoided the first couple his tail swishing madly. "lemme go dammit!" he growled and acked. "Gyaaaah stop that!"

Yuriko chuckled lightly. "Daddy's a berserker too." she said.

Sounds of protest would come from outside, a girl's voice grumbling, and a woman's cooing at the other voice. Soon Remi appeared with Yuriko's oldest daughter, Tai, still in her white and gold kimono with the red cherry blossoms printed on it. The girl huffed, grumbling darkly as she was scooted into the shop. Yue cackled and did it again before letting him go, and swatting him on the rump.

Eve sat straight up, shifting her eyes to the commotion. "Oh.." She said, putting her hands on her thighs. There was a slow crushing feeling inside of her, like she wasn't meant to see any of it for some reason. "Maybe..I should go check on those uniforms." She murmured to no one in particular, rubbing the material with her hips by swaying very lightly.

Yuriko then looked to Eve, smiling as she let the others go about their business. "They will be fine dear, come, let us pick out your bedding." She said, as she moved over to the girl.

Rath turned around in an instanta nd tackled Yue to teh ground with a forceful shoulder attack. "payback!" he smirked and grabbed Yue in a headlock and noogied her back.

"Hello." his sister said to Remi and Tai.

“Are you sure? I can just..uh-..hhnmn. Come back. Yes, come back." Eve slid from the bed, smoothing out her skirt with a few bats at the fabric. "Anyway I'm not sure what I want."

Tai just crossed her arms, looked away muttering about Remi. "Hello dear, we're with them." Remi said, pointing to Yue and the others. Yue however was now in a headlock. The woman grinned darkly. "Boy, you just screwed yourself." Yue said.

"You're fine dear, no need to be shy. After all, we will be seeing a lot of each other now." Yuriko told Eve before looking to Ritsu, and ignoring her mother. "Excuse me sir, could you help us?"

Rath blinked surprisingly innocently at her but poked her chest firmly. "impossible, my anatomy isnt' THAT big." He grinned. Ritsu glanced over at Yuriko. "Yes? whatcha need?" he asked.

The same tentacles as before snagged the boy, dangling him upside down now, Yue smirking, a fang showing as her eyes gleemed. "Young'un, that's if I let you keep it." She chided as Tai walked over, looking at Yue with a dour expression. "Grandmother, act your age." Tai said looking at Rath before sniffing. The girl was only about two and a half feet tall, her white and violet hair cut short. Like a boys. "Something for the young lady here, she cannot decide. Perhaps you could suggest something?" Yuriko asked.

Ritsu looked at her for a moment. "Well it depends what she prefer, firm or soft or really soft." He said. Rath squirmed and slashed at the tentacles with the claws on his fingers, not seeming afraid of the threat. But when Tai said something and got their attention, his black ears perked up again directed at her, probably looking cute, in a moment, the boy flushed dark and looked away.

Eve shrugged, looking up at Yuriko. There was no way she really could tell, after all. Normal was a standard issue bunk to the girl, she had an idea the softer material was..everything that they sold. The altercation that was erupting was still unsettling, she stayed only at the commander's assurance.

Too bad for Rath the tentacles were coated in iron. They gleamed dully. Yue looked down at Tai and snorted. "Girl, I've been dead for three years, I think I've earned some time to act this way." Tai sniffed again, looking Yue dead in the eyes. "You act like Rikun."She said flatly, knowing it was a low blow. Yue mean while went slack mouthed.

"The bed is queen sized..." Yuriko told Ritsu before looking to Eve. "Would you prefer something soft, or silky, or both?"

Rath hung there and snickered a bit at Yue, still blushing a bit himself.

Yue grumbled. "You really are that samurai's kid. Too bad whether you like it or not you have a little bit of me in you too." She said, smirking as she turned her attention to Rath. "Careful there boy, all the blood will rush to that head of yours, and is. Blushing huh?" She asked smugly. Tai just snorted.

"...both?" Eve replied, giving Yuriko a 'how should I know?' look.

Saito snickered lightly from outside. Rath squirmed a bit and did a sit up and held it for a few moments to keep the blood from rushing to his head too much. "What? I got a great view hanging upside down like that." He said, not wanting to say he though Tai was cute as that'd probably provoke Yue more.

Ritsu smirked a bit. "She can have that soft mattress and then pick out her own sheets and blankets as well as pillows." He said and brought over a few samples of material ranging from synthetic cotton to pure silk.

Yuriko looked to Eve. "Well, see if it is to your liking." She told the girl.

Yue gave Rath a predatory look. "Ya started blushing when my granddaughter came in runt. You're sweet on her aren't you?" She teased.

Rath's eye twitched and he crossed his arms. "You're too young to be a grandmother." He pointed out. "And what's wrong with me thinking she's cute." He asked in a defiant tone to Yue.

The Midshipman begin to brush her hands over each of the samples, sometimes holding one up to rub against her cheek. "This is nice." She motioned to the silk, "But thin and it might make you sweaty I don't know really.."

Yue pointed at Yuriko. "That's my daughter she's proof." She said before chuckling at Rath. "Her other mother, not my daughter is highly protective of her daughters. Last guy who pissed her off so I hear she gutted like a fish."

Yuriko patted Eve softly on the back. "Well Eve, you will have to get used to making decisions, you're an officer in training now." She said smiling softly.

Ritsu smiled at her. "silk's actually quite breathable and light so I doubt that." He said to Eve, glad to see she was enjoying how it felt. Rath crossed his arms swishing his furry tail. "I'm not a fish though so I'm not worried." he said. "But either way I'd never do that to a girl, it's just wrong."

"I don't..somehow think this is the same. Unless the crew will die on my fabric choices." Eve replied, freezing when she realized how flip she had been. "Ah-I'm sorry! This is ff-ine!" She pushed together a few samples, then picked one. A mostly silk blend, something that was designed to be all perks and no drawbacks.

Yuriko just laughed. "It is fine, no need to be so nervous, take your time, choose what you like, what makes you happy."

"Oh she'd likely skin you alive." Yue smirked. Tai just rolled her eyes. "If mother tried that I'd never forgive her." She said darkly.

Rath looked at her with defiant blue eyes still. "Can you let me go...I'm starting to feel light headed..." He whined a bit.

"Say please." Yue said. Tai looked at her grandmother darkly. "Oh all right." Yue sighed, turned the boy up right, and put him on the floor, her tentacles returning.

“Thank you." he said and stumbled a bit. Ritsu watched eve poking at the fabrics and paddings. "most of this stuff is actually handmade."

I don't know what that's supposed to mean. Eve thought with a frown, wringing her hands on the tail around her waist. She wanted it to be over, it wasn't decisions that bothered her just how she had so openly been snarky to the only officer in the fleet willing to give her anything close to a chance. She poked at the display, working between fabric samples and the little form. "I don't know what to do for colours." Finally the nerve was there to look back at the Asamoya's CO. "Would you help?"

Tai just rolled her eyes at Yue before walking past Rath, and towards her mother. Yuriko nodded. "Well, do you have a favorite color Eve?" She asked.

Saito, outside smirked at Yue and chuckled a bit; finding it amusing. "Having fun with the children?" He asked. Yue just snorted at Saito.

"Yeah I love you too Yue-sama." Saito sniggered a bit to her, teasing somewhat.

"Not really." Eve said glumly, never having been comfortable with the colour of her eyes, blue and green of any kind had struck out. More feminine colours had never entered into her life from bland, colorless or grey starbases to the camp, to another ship. "Well that looks neat." She pointed at Yuriko's eye, and kept pointing. "But I don't know really."

"Purple?" Ritsu asked and produced a bit of purple, refined silk for her to feel on her skin.

Yuriko blinked. "Violet?" She asked. "My eyes are violet dear."


"Violet, right I know but.." She pressed her fingers to the fabric. "That's not really the right colour, is it?" She made as if to grab her tail, to say, "Right like this!" But thought better of it after she felt the length, recalling the attention it drew and the children at the store who had pulled on it earlier.

Yuriko looked at it, and then to Ritsu. "Do you have anything in that shade?"

“Let me go check in the back." he said and headed off, whistling a bit as he checked.

Eve didn't think anyone would realize her bed was the colour of her commander's eyes, but it seemed like the safest thing for her to say. And...well they were kind of pretty. "Sorry it's such a trouble."

"It is quite alright." Yuriko told the girl. "Besides, your room will look lovely."

"I don't really know how to decorate." Yamazaki sighed, scratching at the side of her neck. She tried to think of the biggest room she could, and her sleeping in a bed that seemed small compared to it. Already downloading the specs she was cleared for on the Asamoya, she got a better idea for where the woman was talking about.

Ritsu soon returned, and said they did have the color in stock. Yuriko nodded at this. "Eve, would you like a full bedset? Blankets, sheets, pillows?" She listed these things off one by one.

"Okay." The Nekovalkryja nodded, she would probably agree to anything Yuriko suggested. There was no reason not to for the time being, and she did just happen to be smiling very slightly as she saw the stock Ritsu had retrieved.

Ritsu soon left to retrieve the nessesary things, leaving Yuriko there with Eve. "Enjoying yourself?" She asked kindly.

"What's that for?" She asked without answering, pointing at one of the racks she spied when they came in. "Ah-, uuun, yes ma'am. But I feel better not having to call and beg another commander too."

"I believe those are plushies on the rack." Yuriko told Eve as she examined it. "Well, I want you to feel at ease around me Eve, I won't bite." She smiled. "Besides, I think you will enjoy the Asamoya."

"Oh." Eve replied, eyeing them for a moment, "I bite, but only if I don't have knives left and they're not in armour. It worked on my instructor once but they got mad at me later." The girl obviously wasn't the most appropriate storyteller. "Really? Well, I like the shape..like a...razory. Razor..flower." Looking at the fabric she murmured, "That sounded prettier when I thought of it."

Yuriko just chuckled. "I once disobeyed an order from Taisho Irim and came out alive, and still with all my limbs attached. I had been ordered to hand over a ship and her crew immediately, I did not, and in the end convinced her it would be better not to use her standard tactics. The crew is now safely on Jiyuu, and the ship I believe is still in SAINT custody." Yuriko sighed a little as she sat on the bed. "Asamoya is a beautiful ship, and her name means 'Morning Mist'. I got to choose."

"I hope I'll just add to that luck, then." Eve replied, wondering how the crew would take her. Her commander seemed positive about it, and she owed the woman the benefit of the doubt. She was trying to impress her still, after all. Just like she had with Bowman..he was dead probably, she didn't have the heart to check who had made it off the assignment she had died on. If they sent her a ribbon for it the junior officer knew she wouldn't wear it, how shameful was it?

"I have faith that you will do just that, and become a fine officer." Yuriko said as Ritsu returned. He then moved over to the register. "Is there anything else you want Eve? A plushie perhaps?" She asked.

"P-...pick one for me." The girl mumbled, going in just that bold personal tenant Yuriko had been prodding at her about since they met. For the first time ever, Eve was looking forward to settling into her quarters, before it was just where she went when there was nothing else to do, or she had to, had to sleep.

Yuriko smiled, and walked over to the rack. The Taii surveyed what she saw, and finally picked something out. She then came back to Eve, holding a cute bunny plushie, pink in color, with a little flower sewn right by one floppy ear. "Will this do?" She asked, holding it out for her.

Eve looked around for the CO's family, then nodded rapidly at Yuriko, a little more of a smile coaxed to the edges of her lips. She wasn't like Bowman, that much she knew. It didn't look like a really bad thing either, and something about the bunny made her happy. "It's just that, right?" The weird girl thought to herself.

"Do you like it?" Yuriko asked.

"Yes..." The midshipmen replied with a hint of suspicion in her voice at first, "Would you get that for me?" Trying to keep her eyes from going back to the bunny. Her cheeks felt warm again, burning a little for some reason. "I'll have to visit the doctor when I get on board maybe I'm sick from changing bodies." She thought.

Yuriko just smiled. "Are you blushing?" The Taii asked as she handed Eve the bunny, and moved to the counter to pay. She swiped her money card through a reader, and soon had the bags in her hands. "Well then, ready to go?"

"Am I what? No-...I thought I was smiling." The new crew member replied, tucking the Bunny under her left arm so she could poke at the edge of her lips. "Right?" Not understanding that really, she knew the word 'blush' but that was about it it seemed. It was better that way, so the Samurai didn't see her carrying around her new prize. "I'm ready if you're sure nothing's wrong with me?"

"Blushing is normal." Yuriko told her. "We typically do so in moments of heightened emotion." She said before walking out the door. “Now, let us see you to your quarters." Yuriko added.
<END
 
ON: YSS Asamoya

With word finally received from Nepleslia, Yuriko ordered her crew to return to the ship. But now with a new addition to the crew. As the Taii boarded the ship, and proceeded to the bridge, she awaited Eve, and Miya to arrive as she began the prelaunch sequences and checks.

As she did so, the Taii also sent a message through a hyperspace comm line to Grand Admiral Corcyra, informing him of their departure and to look forward to their arrival soon. She also used her PANTHEON access to see if there was any public info on the man.

Eve fiddled with the triangle of her new rank pin, and took one last pensive breath before arriving on the bridge. She had gotten everything settled in time, but only that much and enough time to orient herself with the vessel. "I'm here." She bowed, and went to her station, slipping into the seat to let the SPINE interface connect. A gasp came from the girl, she still wasn't used to it however functional it was.

Midori had returned to her ship as well, silent now. She absently rubbed her stomach as she remembered the message and how the first her had acted. Had that really happened...that abomination truely hers?

The SPINE interface itself allowed the girl to control the Asamoya's systems as if they were her own. Data would churn into her mind, engine control, CDD systems, navigational data, astronavigation, star charts, the works. "I hope you have familiarized yourself with the Asamoya's systems?" Yuriko asked as she surveyed Corcyra's public information. The Taii smirked slightly at what she found before closing it and going shipwide. "Attenion crew, we will be departing within five minutes and begin our journey into Nepleslian space, to your stations."

Kessah looked extremely happy as she wandered into the bridge room, smiling almost giddily. She looked like she could be floating... Which could be a reality as a Yam, but she wasn't. Oddly, she had a large, red shiny apple in her hand, and she wandered over to Yuriko and presented the food to her captain, "Kerigan's offer of thanks." She spoke simply.

Datenshi wandered in after Kessah, smacking her upside the head. "No food on the bridge dumbass...You want me up here Yuriko? Or down in the bay?" She asked. Midori sat on her bridge, rubbing her stomach idly as she watched Reiko and Aoiko go about the pre-launch preperations.

"Greet our new crewman, Shoi Kohosei Yamazaki Eve." Yuriko gestured to the girl before looking at Kessah with a raised eyebrow.

"Ye-sss ma'am." Eve hissed, the flood of systems wasn't a problem, there was a feeling that came with it she didn't have settled yet. "I have been since I got the clearance." She replied, checking their course four more times one after the other, and bringing up the other systems.

Kessah kicked her leg out at Datenshi and set the apple down by Yuriko regardless, "Stop getting anal because Kerigan wouldn't let you come with." Kessah said to Datenshi before giving the newbie a wave. And then she settled in her station's chair... Not that she enjoyed sitting in it, but she was to pleased to care.

Tenshi just stepped back and out of the way with a small growl, glaring at Kessah a little. She had indeed been left out...

Eve turned and looked at Kessah, her eyes devoid of much. The scariest part was how similar she looked to the CO. She raised a hand, then looked back forward, drawing her tail into her lap. The violet appendage spasming before settling down. "Launch checks - nominal." She announced.

Kessah snickered over to 'Tenshi before giving Eve a glance again and then looking down to her console. She reminded her of someone so much it was kind of creepy. Oh well!

Yuriko's bodyguard was mysteriously absent from the bridge, where he'd usually be by her side. Fact of the matter was... he was asleep in a chair in the wardroom.


"Tenshi, please be nice to her, and...do not go after her for me? She is a special case. She may look older, but in reality she was transfered into that body from an ST, where she was only thirteen and a half in her previous Geshrin body." Yuriko informed her, before letting everyone else on the ship know too. "Eve?" Yuriko called, and looked at the girl before eying the apple suspiciously. "Please set course for the Fhasho system. I have our weapon systems locked out already."

"Only thirteen? Fuckkkkk..." Datenshi said aloud, looking down at the girl with a sigh before she shrugged. "Hey Eve, the name is Tenshi! So...Yuriko? Here or the bay?"


"Thanks. Ermmm...Anywhere in particular?" For her time on different ships, the bridges were still a mystery to her. Datenshi looked around a little bewildered.

"Well, Miya has not arrived on the bridge, so take her station, sensors and science ops." Yuriko pointed to the console.

Eve worked through the course even as she called, "Acknowledged." In a bit of a flat tone. After a few moments she was able to verify her plotting several times. "Set ma'am." Her awareness slowly became more one with the ship than of the ship.

Yuriko then informed Midori of their course, giving the woman the coordinates, and orders to keep her weapons offline.

Datenshi's ears twitched a little, giving Yuriko a dumb look for a moment before nodding and sitting at the station. Looking at the item like it was the inside of a Mishhu body, she opted not to touch anything.

Yuriko just snorted. "Tenshi, not into sensors and science?" She teased as she waited to get underway.

"Ohhhhh yes! Sensors get me so randy Yuriko I just loveeeee them!" Datenshi replied, the sarcasm in her voice so apparent a deaf person could hear it.

"Well dear, you're our eyes and ears until Miya arrives." Yuriko told Tenshi, smiling, one of her dainty fangs showing in the smile. She seemed to be highly amused.

The Asamoya left it's orbit, picking up speed as Eve adjusted to it's responses. She had cleared traffic in their path with the proper clearance, ensuring no problems in the busy system. In fact, she was a bit too fast on the drive but once they cleared the proper gravity well they ship engaged fold, the lines of hyperspace streaking by her outside. It didn't even pass in the pilot's mind that she was getting a perfect view of it. An ETA blipped up onto most idle displays. "En route, ma'am."

Yuriko sighed and got to her feet, nodding. "Very good Eve," She then walked over to the girl, and placed a hand on her shoulder. "So, what do you think of the Asamoya so far?" She asked, they had a little time to kill.

Eve winced straight up, jolted out of her reverie. Her tail hit the front edge of the console, illicting a little noise from the former Geshrin. Using one hand to rub at the sore spot, she nodded once. "Her speed is..pleasing. The controls are very smooth with this interface type. It's almost like being back in an armour."

Yuriko just smiled as she knelt down beside Eve. "Remember dear, there is no need to be shy around me, or the crew, you are one of us now, and we are like family."

Datenshi rolled her eyes, deciding to get back at Yuriko later on. Silently though she prayed that Miya would show up soon... Midori and her ship in the mean time silently shadowed Yuriko's ship, silent as usual on the bridge. At times it was a slight annoyance, so she idly began to play a game on a screen before her. Some old game she dug up called solitaire...

The pilot's pupils dilated then returned to normal while she brought herself back inside the bridge. "Did I do something wrong? I'm sorry.." Her voice toned down quietly. She was trying not to miss a step anywhere, as far as anyone else was concerned she had been two years outdated until some weeks before when her data was restored. Considering the girl had some centimeters on her CO, they looked eeriely similar in some ways to each other by whatever strange twist of fate the universe had decided on.

"You did nothing wrong Eve, by family I mean people who care about you." Yuriko smiled, and patted the girl's shoulder.

Miya rather hurriedly stepped onto the bridge and bowed quite low. "I apologise for my lateness!" she said. "I was just putting the finishing touches on the protostar report. It won't happen again." She turned to her sensor station and did a little start as she saw Datenshi.

"It is alright Miya, please come and meet our new pilot. Shoi Kohosei Yamazaki Eve." Yuriko said to Miya.

Alaena cares.. Eve thought to herself, not realizing she'd missed the point by calling her apparent mother by her first name. "Oh." She tried smiling, and did a little weakly. That warm feeling was returning to her cheeks again, and she felt like she did do something wrong anyway.

“Hey Miya! Your due down to the bay for your suit. I'm takin over your station hun." Datenshi said, leaning her head back over the chair to grin at Miya.

"Tenshi my dear, what is our ETA?" Yuriko asked.

Miya narrowed her eyes at Datenshi, playfully, before turning to bow low to Eve. "It is a great pleasure to meet you," she said with crisp formality and a wide smile.

"ETA is a while." Datenshi said. She seriously hadn't a clue how to find out...

"Thirty Minutes." Asamoya corrected Tenshi.

“Yea, what she said." Datenshi pointed up and nodded.

Resting her tail back across her lap, Eve bowed in her seat as best she could, so that most of the SPINE system stayed connected. "Uh-, right hello. It's my pleasure." Her voice was youthful, belying the fact she had about 10cm on most everyone aboard. Youthful, but and an overtly awkward introduction.

"Perhaps we could trade assignments for now, Datenshi-Heisho?" Miya offered with a little grin.

"Your gonna be the wing leader?" Datenshi asked, tilting her head a little as she watched Miya now.

Miya glanced over at the new pilot's tail, a curious look in her eye, but tried to avoid being caught staring. "I mean, I could take over from you right here," she said to Datenshi, pointing at the science console.

"Please do not be so obvious Miya, she is new, and very shy, if not slightly timid." Yuriko told the girl, her eyes staring at Eve's screen. Though in truth she was watching Tenshi and Miya through MEGAMI's eyes.

"So eager to get back to your console? But I got comfy here..." Datenshi said with a grin, settling back into the seat now.

"Let her Miya, she needs to know these things." Yuriko said. "Besides, I wish to see how well she does."

Miya flushed a little red. "I apologise," she said with another bow. "And alright, then. Should I head down to the armour bay for now?"

"You can be Tenshi's tutor, if she messes up, point it out. Once we are within five light years or so of our destination take over for her." Yuriko instructed.

"Ah! Alright, then." Miya nodded, and stood just behind and to the side of Datenshi.

Datenshi watched Yuriko and Miya with a shrug before turning back to the console. "First thing first, how do I find an ETA?"

"And feel free to be her task master." Yuriko informed Miya with a wink in the woman's direction.

Eve glided her fingers over the console out of habit, stopping when she worked with the link more and more, running through several simulations for orbital insertion based on Fhasho's known data. The horrible creatures she had fought were supposed to be gone, but she imagined what data they did have might be dated, so she kept the best one in queue to be changed when they would arrive. "Have you decided the form of the operation, ma'am?" The girl asked softly.

"Simple, this is a search and rescue." Yuriko told Eve.

The pilot's nose wrinkled. "What will we rescue her from? That would predicate mission details, I think ma'am.."

"I am hoping the SMX abandoned her when they left, that is if she is still alive." Yuriko said.

Midori sighed lightly as the window before her blinked and buzzed at having been completed. Midori let out a little sigh and switched the game over to Chess now.

"As long as there are none of the green ones." Eve replied without inflection in her voice.

"Bored?" Reiko asked as she yawned.

Aoiko was sitting up in perfect, prim posture in her own seat, once again with a novel resting on her knee.

"This." A volumetric display popped up in front of the station, displaying the Mishhuvurthyar 'Ripper' unit in engineering schematics, below a haunting full picture of the massive power armour amid an absolutely grisly scene on Tami years before, and some partial pictures during other engagements after that. "They move funny." Was all Eve had to say on it.

Miya raised one eyebrow at the schematic, and took a half-step back. "I hope those things aren't there, myself," she said, uneasily.

"Just a little. I have three games of Chess, a game of checkers, and some odd puzzle game up in front of me, plus I'm tracking the area around us." Midori said with a shrug and a sigh.

"Ermmm I think we made it Yuriko." Datenshi asked, tilting her head a little.

"Out of curiosity, Midori-sama," Aoiko said, glancing over, "do you play go?"

“Rippers?" Yuriko said, and snorted slightly. "I've fought them numerous times, and even got into a fist fight with one, of course I was in a Mindy mind you. They are tough opponents." She said before looking to Tenshi, and checking just to make sure. "Drop out of fold Eve."

Miya quickly looked back to the console, reading the screens and the information therein over 'Tenshi's shoulder.

Yamazaki's confirmation blipped at her, and as they hit the edge of the system, she brought the Asamoya out of hyperspace. "Just getting out now Ma'am. Really? Fist fight? That's not very smart."

"Close quarters combat was necessary unfortunately." Yuriko said briskly as she got to her feet, and moved back to her command chair. "Miya, take over for Tenshi."

"And remember, we're here as friends, so nothing suspicous." Yuriko reminded her sensors officer.

Miya nodded as she was about to sit down. "I'll keep my scans local, then!" she said.

As the Asamoya pulled out of hyperspace, numerous sensor signatures would come up. There were close to 30 vessels in system all together. Many were on patrol around the system, although the primary concentration were around the core terrestrial world in the system. Around it orbited 2 Shaika-class Assault Carriers, 4 Tolchok battlecruisers, and numerous escorts. As the Asamoya neared the system's core, it would receive a communications request from one of the Shaika-class vessels.

"I have never truly tried the game." She shrugged a little and watched Aoiko now. Midori tried to pull up a game for herself. Datenshi quickly evicted the station and made her way to the armor bay. "I'll wait for your word Yuriko!"

Eve nodded quietly, setting their course on what had been chosen as the 'least offensive' way to approach their objective. Straight for orbital insertion around that very planet, rather than at the fleet itself.

Miya quickly sent Yuriko a report on the welcoming fleet as she sat down. She made sure to only take surface detections of the ships, and instead turned the ship's sensors to the planet.

Aoiko kept one eye on her own console as she gestured at the board, placing a stone towards a corner. "It is not at all difficult to learn the basic principles," she said. "That can be done in five minutes. Games can, however, last for days... I am hardly that good, though. Hmm. Thirty have come to greet us."

Yuriko opened the waiting communication, making sure that the stealth settings on her ship were just enough to discourage in depth probing.

On the other side of the line was the formal face of Vladmirus Corcyra, dressed in full naval uniform, various medals and campaign ribbons adorning his chest. The dark-haired Nepleslian nodded towards the camera sending the message. "Welcome, Lieutenant, to the Democratic Imperium of Nepleslia. I do hope your journey was pleasant."

"Thank you for the welcome Grand Admiral, it was most pleasant. I must thank you for allowing myself, ship and our single escort into your people's space." Yuriko replied, she herself however was not bedecked in medals and campaign ribbons. Just a simple officer's uniform, and her Taii rank pin. Though she now wondered if her dress uniform would be preferable. "I know that by doing so you are putting trust in us, and I will endevour to make sure that trust is not misplaced."

Eve maintained their course at a steady clip, but a little slower than she normally would so they would underestimate cruising speed. We'll be on orbit presently. She sent to Yuriko, careful not to get too close to the Nepleslia's formation, their show of power.

"Thank you Eve." Yuriko told the girl.

He won the total respect and admiration of the alien admiral due to his impeccable, professional demeanor... Cause they talked just after he lost a bet and had to clean up and not act like a bum off the street.

It is no problem, Lieutenant. Assisting in fixing the relations that have been so strained as of late is one of our government's top priorities." Corcyra allowed a professional smile. "Now, I assume you would like to speak personally about your operation here? The Episcopus will be able to dock a shuttle, if you are so inclined."

Midori decided to remain silent for the moment until spoken too, her red eyes watching Corcyra closely.

"I also see this as a way of helping to mend our two people's relations, and yes. I would be happy to discuss our reasons for being here with you privately. I must inform you that my bodyguard will be accompanying me. Please do not be alarmed by seeing him with me Grand Admiral. Will you be ready to receive me in a few minutes?" Yuriko asked politely.

"Yes, we'll be ready when you are," Corcyra replied. As he did so, the front bay of his carrier slid open.

A private message was sent to Yuriko just then from Midori. Should I come along? She asked.

"Then I will be there momentarily sir. I look forward to our meeting." Yuriko said as she got to her feet. Yuriko returned the message Midori sent with a polite. 'No.'


Midori mentally nodded before prodding Aoiko with a window. It had a game of Go on the screen.

"Ah! I apologise." She considered the window, and placed a stone near one of the corners.

Soon after, Yuriko left the bridge, stopped by her quarters to retrieve a little something, and prodded her bodyguard awake. The Taii then made her way to the Fox T4 Shuttle, Aki already at the controls. When the two boarded, the hatch closed, and the shuttle lifted off, exiting the atmospheric shield, and made it's way towards the waiting carrier. As they approached, Aki requested for landing clearance.

Midori mimicked the move after considering it for a moment. She would watch Aoiko for a moment.

Reiko just yawned, bored. The samurai had nothing to do but watch as the shuttle neared the Shiaka carrier.

Aoiko set her novel down on the arm of her chair, turning most of her attention to the board. After a moment of consideration, she made another conservative edge move.

Eve stayed alert, as far as she was concerned they were on higher alert with such a large Nepleslian force around. Reading friendly or not. She fed a few more streams of data to her interface, knowing there was still a tension between the armies, they were on a very unique ship to make things worse as she saw it. Not paying attention, her tail shifted a little in her lap back and forth.

Midori took a moment before she did the same and simply mimicked Aoiko.

"Landing authorization granted. Proceed to level 12, slot 7," came the reply from the Nepleslian carrier. Red lights appeared on the indicated docking area, surrounded by docked Wolverine-class mechs and various fighters. Behind the docking ring were a number of Naval officers, as well as several marines to serve as escorts.

From behind Eve, close to her ear, she'd here a soft voice. "Ano..." The voice said, it was clearly female, more along the lines of a childs.

Aoiko narrowed one eye, considering. Then, with a little shrug, she made a bit more of an aggressive move to surround the pieces Midori was playing.

The shuttle did as it was told, slowly making its way into the bay. Aki then piloted it to the numbered slot, let the shuttle hover a moment, before descending down, extending the landing struts. There was a soft thump as the shuttle touched down, and the hatch opened. Yuriko, carrying her parcel, exited soon after Saito, her bodyguard did, the man remained quiet, stoic, eyes scanning.

The Taii also looked around, and spotted the Naval officers, and the marines;making a bee-line towards them. Holding the wooden box in her hands, she bowed to them. "I am Taii Kakutama Yuriko, I believe I am expected." She said formally, Saito behind her, being her shadow.

Midori blinked a little, tilting her head as she made a counter move, putting one piece in place to break the surrounding attempt.

The pilot jolted in her seat, near jumping out as she unholstered her NSP and spun her head around, eyes a little wide. The entire movement was fast, and fluid save the jump. Her tail stuck out when she turned sideways in the chair, eyes emotionless.

The NSP would be pointed at what seemed to be a little girl, with long green hair, a pale complexion, and large golden eyes. A finger in her mouth as she stared at the startled Eve. "Ano...did I scare the new lady?" She asked, blinked, tilted her head to the side, her ears twitched once or twice.

Aoiko immediately set a piece by her first, strengthening herself there nicely.

The officer at the fore of the group nodded to the woman, before flashing a quick salute. He wore the same blue uniform as Corcyra, although with far fewer decorations. The bars on his shoulders showed his rank as that of a Commander. "Welcome to the
NSS Episcopus. I am Commander Riley. The Grand Admiral has requested we escort you to the wardroom."

"Ah, of course. Please lead the way then Commander, if you would be so kind." Yuriko said politely, bowing to the man.
Sliding the pistol away, Eve turned around and synced herself back into SPINE. Smoothing out her tail as it laid back across her lap she didn't say a word, upset at herself for not realizing the other girl was probably fine to be there if no one else had said a thing for her getting that far.

The Commander nodded before turning and heading for a large doorway, the marines and other Navy boys parting to allow him, and the guests, through.

The girl then plopped herself down in Eve's lap, staring up at her, a wide smile on her face. She was only three feet tall, and appeared to be nine years of age."My name is Shii, new lady. What's your's?"

"Eve." The pilot replied, her voice toneless. "Why are you sitting there?" Her eyes focused on Shii, whose profile she had by that point. It hadn't occurred to her that her tail was against the girl, or probably a good way to get more attention like the pulling when she was walking around Kyoto..

"Shii wanted to say hello, and to say Eve has pretty eyes." Shii said, and suddenly squealed when she spotted the tail. Not a squeal of terror, but one of childish delight and innocence. "Ano...Eve lady has a tail!" She pointed.

"..you're being loud on the bridge." Eve shifted in place, trying to flit her tail from the seat over the side. She was doing that thing again. Blushing, she didn't like the attention to her eyes, a sore point she half expected to be teased about by older people. "And unm-hi Shii."

Shii gave Eve a hug around her middle before looking up at her. "Will Eve be Shii's friend?" She asked, her large golden eyes seeming to sparkle as she asked.

"Help." Eve called in a mild tone, her cheeks a dark pinkish red. The question put her off after that, though. "I..don't think I know how to do that." She admitted, feeling strange from the girl's attention.

Shii just blinked. "Ano...hasn't Eve ever had a friend?" She asked.

Miya glanced over her shoulder towards the pilot's seat, now quite interested in the goings-on.

"I fought with lots of people before." Eve replied, stumbling for an answer while she monitored her station through the SPINE.

Shii poked Eve's tummy. "Ano...but a friend is someone who is nice to the other person, who talks to them, plays with them and such. Akeno-kun told Shii so."

Should I just auto Yuriko and Reiko into the wardroom or...?


"Oh." Eve bit her bottom lip a little hard, it had tickled but she refrained from making a sound. "Then, no Shii." The pilot replied.

Moments later, Yuriko would find herself in the luxurious wardroom of the 2nd Assault Fleet's flagship. Corcyra was reading over several papers in front of his seat in the middle of one of the tables in the center of the room, the fleet XO next to him. They both looked up when the Yamataian Taii entered. "Lieutenant, welcome, welcome," Corcyra spoke, standing. "Please, take a seat."

Shii just looked very hurt, sniffled and nodded. Her eyes watery. The sprite just got off of Eve's lap, and floated away forlornly.

Miya tilted her head slightly as Shii left. "Not used to that sort of thing?" she asked Eve.

I meant no, I haven't had a friend. Eve thought impassively after the girl. "What..? No." The new addition to the crew admitted to Miya, placing both of her hands on the console in front of her with a soundless sigh.

"Awww Poor Shii! Come down to the bay hun." Datenshi's face popped up in front of Shii.

Yuriko smiled at the Grand Admiral as she sat. "Please sir, call me Yuriko." She said politely once seated. "Forgive me sir, but I read what public information there was on you, and while I am no good at making a white russian, I did bring this." She said, placing the medium sized wooden box on the table. It was elegantly carved, made of dark wood, lacquered to promote a sheen to it.

Shii just shook her head at Tenshi when she got the message from Eve. The girl returned, snuck up behind Eve, and plopped back in her lap. Staring up at her again innocently. "Ano...." She said, wiping at her nose cutely. "Does Eve want to be Shii's friend then?"

"K-...kay." Eve mumbled, ducking her head a little so she wouldn't feel so tall compared to the other girl. And probably so the others wouldn't hear either. The second surprise was better, she had heard it with her new ears, which were starting to feel more natural. Of course the colour was holding in her cheeks, the unbearable burning she couldn't put her finger on, even with the simple word.

Corcyra smiled. "Miss Yuriko, if that's what I think it is, it would seem that your skills at opening a diplomatic meeting are in very good shape." The admiral, although he certainly preferred the blend of vodka, milk, and kahlua that made up his favorite drink, he was still quite interested in rare alcoholic beverages. "Would you like the honors of opening it?"

"Don't mind if I do sir."Yuriko said, and opened the box. Inside was a somewhat dusty crystal bottle laying in a bed of purple velvet. She took it out, and placed it onto the table delicately. "Nepleslian Scotch, aged for sixty seven years. And I am told some of the finest available. I had only two bottles of this, and could only find two on the black market, the other I gave away as a parting gift to my XO. This one in way of opening our negotiations, and to simply share a nice drink. I must say I have never tasted this before, so I am eager to try it." She said, and then smiled softly. "Would you care to partake Grand Admiral, and...I am sorry, but I do not know your name sir." She said, looking to the XO.

"Nero Romani," replied the fleet XO with the Admiral's bars. He smiled to the young woman across the table. Corcyra spoke again after Romani had finished introducing himself. "I would love to try some. It's not every day one gets to sample such a treat." He looked around the table and clicked his tongue. "Damn, glasses... Nero, could you get some, please?" The XO abided, and disappeared for several moments before reappearing with three crystal glasses, setting them down in front of the two others present and himself.

Yuriko nodded, and opened the bottle up. She let it breathe a moment before pouring some into her own glass; making her way to both the Grand Admiral, and the Admiral's too. The Taii then closed the bottle, and sat back in her seat. Glass in hand, she swished the scotch around in the glass a little and sniffed at it. "To a fruitful discussion." She said, raised her glass, and then drank what she poured for herself. The woman closed her eyes, savoring the taste, and the fire of it as it went down before sighing contently.

The other two men both lifted their glasses as well before drinking. Corcyra nodded to himself once he had finished his drink. "Excellent, excellent." He put down the crystal, shuffled the papers before him, and then looked back to Yuriko, his face formal once more, although not hostile by any stretch. "Now then, down to business."

PAUSE
 
ON: YSS Asamoya

Once Yuriko had returned to the Asamoya, she made her way to the bridge. Rubbing at the bridge of her nose, the Taii seated herself in the command chair, and cleared her throat. "Eve, please prepare for fold again, follow the Nepleslians." She said before turning her attention elsewhere. "Tenshi, have our power armor team on alert." She said and then opened a channel to Corcyra.

"Gotcha." Came a short reply from Tenshi as she nodded, making sure the team was suited up.

"Midori, we're leaving, please be prepared to follow the Asamoya and the Nepleslians." Yuriko added.

"Already tracking." Midori replied in kind, making sure the Amaya had a firm lock on both ships. She was ready, her arms itching a little from being so close to Nepleslians.

Setting in a staggared delay to following the Nepleslians using the tracking data. She slipped more into the SPINE's interface, eyes glazing over. "Set ma'am."

"They were surprisingly civil, considering the overall feeling Neps have for us nekos..." Saito quipped a bit as he walked up behind Yuriko's command chair and leaned up against it lightly. His forearm braced on it as he looked over the bridge idly, still formally dressed all things considered.

Kessah sighed a little from her place at the console, thinking a little to herself. Nepleslia... With real ships, not just ships that automate themselves... Why didn't I go there... She hung her head briefly before sighing and staying quiet otherwise.

Although, Kessah added on, "Thats rather sterotypical there, Saito."

"Actually it's not, I've spent a fair amount of time with civilian Nepleslians." Saito grinned at Kessah.

"Grand Admiral, we are ready to depart whenever you are." Yuriko sent to the man.

"Yes... Like all Neko act exactly the same." Kessah responded, looking suddenly annoyed for a moment.

"Well...." Saito said, scratching his cheek with a finger. "Sometimes we do, but that's common to all species. I'm sure our good doctor would know more about it then I do."

"Very well, Lieutenant," Came Corcyra's reply. Moments later, the Episcopus and it's numerous escorts slipped out of normal space, their vogel drives propelling them away towards Hukka at some massive speed.

Yuriko rolled her eyes. "Guess my father being Nepleslian doesn't change my views then?" She asked Saito sweetly.

Kessah didn't respond. ... Damn... Arogant much...

Saito just went quiet at that, figuring he shouldn't dig a deeper grave than he already had.

Eve followed the Nepleslian ships on mark, shivering a little in her seat when the Asamoya folded. "Following, all reading green ma'am." She announced, still remarkably toneless.

Midori was quick to fold as well, following Yuriko and the Nepleslian ship. "Reiko, keep all weapon systems active and ready, understand?"

Reiko looked at Midori, puzzled. "You would be violating Yuriko's orders."

Kessah spoke in a oddly similar tone as Eve's, "All good on this end, too."

Midori grumbled a little. "Fine..." She didn't like being this close to Nepleslians, nor going into Mishhu territory, even if they had vacated that area.

"So tell me Grand Admiral, I know our two peoples are not the best of friends, I am sure my coming aboard your ship must've caused quite a stir for you." Yuriko pointed out as the Asamoya continued following the Grand Admiral's fleet.

Reiko just sighed."How're you doing Midori?" She asked, swivling her chair around to get a good look at the woman.

Corcyra replied promptly. "A bit of one. Luckily my men are professional enough to know not to cause a scene at the sight of someone they might not be the best of friends with."

Yuriko nodded at this. In complete understanding. "I understand. I am just happy that maybe they have seen our two peoples can be civil, and respectful to one another. I hope it will engrave itself into their minds, and maybe help along what yourself and I have started."

"Stressed..." Midori said, a general look of worry and even a touch of fear coming over her face. She really wasn't ready to come face-to-face with the apparent show of her failure...


Eve stayed connected to the SPINE system, half-listening to her CO talk to the Nepleslian. She was concerned with her duties first, but made sure she'd be able to review the data for later if she needed. Maybe the man had some sort of tell that would show up. Feeling better now that she wasn't in a strange spot with the 'Shii' girl, she could concentrate on their path, and keeping synched with the Nepleslians.

"Comes with the territory I suppose." Reiko said, not knowing why Midori was stressed.

"Indeed. It may be nice to take a break from the constant war and strife that's been the focus of this sector for so many years." Corcyra smiled. "I do hope relations come together soon."

"Mmmm..." Came a short reply from Midori as she sighed, racking her fingers through her hair for a moment.

"As do I sir, as do I." Yuriko agreed. "If it does, we'll have peace, and prosperity, and perhaps look to the future together. All we can do is but hope I suppose."

For however long it lasts, it'll be something to hope for. Saito thought at that. "Indeed, it'll give our children a ...quieter universe to live in." he added to them both.

"Try and relax." Reiko suggested.

Degan was in his room bored, as he usually was. "You know, for a front lines ship us PA jockeys have a lot of off time." Degan said to no one, as he usually did. Everyone in the ship already knew each other. Degan was kinda the new guy. Never really fit in on their personal talks, no enough experience to speak on military matters. And those two things alone seemed to be what made up 100% of their conversations. Degan got up. "I'll go see if the guys at the bridge need a floor swept or something." He grumbled to himself as he got off his bunk and walked towards the door.

"Indeed. We're approaching our egress point now, ETA for my fleet is one minute." Corcyra spoke over the comm line. "Now, remember Lieutenant, we're not fully deployed on the world yet."

Looking around at the bay, Datenshi growled and rolled her eyes, before keying up a window for Degan. With a rather sweet, even seductive expression on her face, she spoke to Degan. "Degannnn sweety dear? Can I ask you something?" Datenshi said aloud, her voice syrupy.

"Not to worry Sir, I have my team on standby." Yuriko assured him. "Eve, prepare to exit hyperfold in one minute. At that time, follow our friends."She said.

Degan's communicator began to ring. Taking it out of his pocket he looked at the name. It was Datenshi. "Hopefully she has something for me to do." He quickly straightened his collar and answered. "Degannnn sweety dear? Can I ask you something?" Degan perked up a little at her flowery language. "Of course you can, it would be my honor to answer you."

Eve nodded, as if anyone were looking at her. Dropping out of fold behind the Episcopus and her escorts, she called out, "Fold exit." When they arrived, still more a part of the ship than her own body thanks to the SPINE.

The Shaika, two Tolchoks, and the numerous DD4s punched a hole back into real space around two AU from the Hukka system's star before quickly activating their CDD drives, and propelling themselves towards the center of the system, and the target planet.

"WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!" Datenshi shouted into her helmet, right through the line into Degan's communicator. "I called for all pilots to the bay before we even hit warp!"

Midori keyed her ship to drop out of fold as well, shadowing the other two ships now.

Yuriko leaned her chin on an propped up arm as her ship continued to follow. "Grand Admiral, if I may ask, exactly what have you mapped out in the Hukka system?"

"We've got scans from the star to about 10 AU out. More once the Kantes are keyed into the full network. Why?" Corcyra responded.

"I'll be right there." Degan waited to see if she would say anything else and then clicked off his communicator. "Jeez, no one tells me anything around here." Degan said, shaking his head to get the ringing out of his ears. Giving a little kick to the ground he broke out into full run to the bay. Taking the quickest route he got there in record time. "Degan reporting for duty, ma'am," Degan said, saluting his superior officer.

"If we deply planetside, I'd suggest caution." Yuriko returned.

Corcyra raised an eyebrow. "Why might that be, Lieutenant?"

"Armor Degan Armor! Get in it!" Datenshi pointed twoards the armor and growled a little.

"Have you encountered automated defenses on any of the abandoned SMX worlds as of yet?" Yuriko asked him.

"Ma'am, yes ma'am." Degan said, snapping off a salute that lingered a split second longer then it should have. Getting to his armor and stripping off his uniform he got into his usual initializing routine, unlocking the reactor, movement control, everything up to weaponry. He would initialize that when he got the order to do so.

"I've gotten no reports of it, as of yet. But we have not entered several former SMX installations yet. Of course, they might just not have attacked us. Melisson did leave these worlds to us, Lieutenant." Corcyra leaned back in his chair. "We're arriving at Hukka now. Dropping CDD."

The Shoi Kohosei 'looked' at the planet, crossing her ankles and exhaling quietly. It was a good run for her to get used to the ship, but she thought it was a little slow by that point. Shii.. She sent to her only friend as far as she knew it. Where did you run to? "On course, ma'am."

"Melisson may have left you the worlds sir, but I have delt with her in the past." Yuriko explained. "Never take anything from her at face value is something I learned, the hardway." She said.

"We'll see, Yuriko. We'll see." Corcyra responded. As he did so, his vessel slid into orbit with its escorts.

Yuriko inwardly sighed. "Will you be deploying troops planet side sir?" She asked.

Corcyra nodded. "Yes. About one fifth are currently on the ground at the moment. Feel free to send your own troops down any time. I'll let my men know you're coming."

"I will be personally joining my own people." Yuriko told Corcyra before getting to her feet. The Taii then notified Tenshi to prep her Mindy 1H.

Eve's face scrunched a bit. She shouldn't do that..just like Bowman. Well, he was a bad pilot though. The girl reasoned with herself, keeping the easy orbit they were holding over the former Mishhu stronghold.

Tenshi was quick at her prep, getting everything ready for Yuriko in a few seconds or so. "What do you want us to do Taii-Yuriko?" Midori asked.

"On a former mishhu stronghold world, I'm going too." Saito said to accompany Yuriko.

"In your condition remain as you are." Yuriko informed Midori. "However, Reiko may come along." She said as she left the bridge.

Shii was sitting behind Eve's chair when the girl called. The sprite floated up, her ears twitching as she hugged Eve from behind, giggling.

"Hai..." Midori said with a small sigh, relieved she supposed to be able to be left back. She gave Reiko a nod though. "Go.

Reiko rose from her seat, hand on her sword as she departed the bridge swiftly.

"I saw you that time." Eve covered for herself tonelessly. "We'll be here for a little bit." The girl explained, pointing to the display of the planet, and the loose formation they were in.

"Ano...Shii knows, Shii is connected to big sister." Shii said.

Just as the teams were beginning to form up to head down to the planet, Akeno would walk onto the bridge, shaking his head lightly. "Shii, it's time to get back to your training." He said to her from the door.

"Me too." The girl nodded, though the ship wasn't her sister or anything like that. "We'll be able to pay attention-" Without looking to Akeno, she quieted.

"I come at a bad time?" the doctor asked.

Shii just looked at Akeno with large puppy dog eyes. She hung her head low. "I gotta go now..." She mumbled before floating out.

"I'd prefer her to stay with me for now, Masurao Juni." The strange girl nodded. She knew the crew manifest, of course. That was one of the first things she'd gone over. "I will send her along in a while, if you'd like to return to the medical facility."

He caught her for a moment and looked at her. "well it's not hurting anyone. So.. go ahead and spend time with Yamazaki-shoi ok Shii?" he smiled at her

Senior Chief Alexi Romanov dug the heels of his VOID armor into the ground of Hukka, the man puffing away on a cigar, his helmet still on, the smoke creating a haze inside. "Move your asses men, I want this area secured. Grand Admiral Corcyra's informed me we got some Yammies coming in, and to be on our best behavior. I will personally boot to ass anyone who so much as leers or cuts a remark at them. Am I understood?" He asked, his gravelly voice cutting into the helmets of the EARTHs, AIRs and WATERs under his command. He was expecting a few FIREs to be dropped soon to suppliment his forces. After his little speech, his men acknowledged, and the large man kicked a small pebble away from himselfbefore inhailing another drag on his cigar.

Shii squealed, and flew back to Eve like a bullet, latching herself to the girl.

Yuriko soon entered the power armor bay, seeing Tenshi and Degan already suited up, she herself shed her clothing, modesty asside as she then boarded her power armor. "We'll be working side by side with the Nepleslians Tenshi, so be on your best behavior my dear. Also Reiko is coming with us, we'll meet her planetside."

Akeno smiled at that and nodded to them both and headed off back to the medbay to prepare for possible injuries. Saito looked at Yuriko after they'd donned Mindy armors. "I hope there's no remaining remnants." He said and listend to waht she said.

Eve almost deflated when she was squeezed, quieting until she had a full breath again. "It's quiet here." She explained, like that were the only reason she wanted the sprite around. Hugs don't feel particularly bad.. The pilot thought. "Will the others do this to me too, Shii?" A question more out of caution from her.

"Oh come on now I'm always on my best behavior! Though if I'm really good, can I bring one back for the night?" Tenshi laughed a little and hip-nudged Yuriko after she had suited up.

Yuriko rolled her eyes inside of her suit. "Eve, you are in command until I return." She informed the girl.

"Ano...Yuriko-sama will. Shii does not know about the others." Shii said.

"See ya when we get back! I'll bring back a souvenir Kay?" She gave Eve a wink and a nod before she made her way to the door of the bay.

"Aye ma'am." Eve responded, linking into a few more systems so she'd be more aware of the ship, it's surroundings, and the progress below. The mind she had been given was an improvement, a grudging point to her 'mother'. She tilted her head curiously at Tenshi, just nodding a bit.

"Launch." Yuriko ordered.

Tenshi was out of the door before Yuriko even finished the order, her system up and running at full blast as she drifted off, waiting to form up.

Yuriko launched after Tenshi, she herself was making a bee-line for the planet, intent on getting started. Alexi chewed at the end of his cigar before radioing the Grand Admiral. "Sir, area is secured. We're awaiting our arrivals. What are your orders for when they arrive?" He asked.

Datenshi followed after Yuriko, forming up to her right side quickly as she left a beacon at Yuriko's left for Degan to form up at.

Saito would take off after Yuriko and Tenshi, following in their beeline ntoward the planet as well.

"Try not start any wars, Chief. Take them where ever they need to go," Corcyra responded to his subordinate.

"Aye sir, I'll keep you updated on the situation." Alexi said before directing his attention to the incoming Yamataian power armors.

"Launch." Degan got the order. His mindy shot out of the bay and into the black abyss. Quickly he formed up with Datenshi and Yuriko. "Whats the plan?"

"I am detecting a squadron of Nepleslian power armors waiting for us. Their commander has informed me he is to be our escort." Yuriko said as she saw Reiko streaking towards the surface before touching down next to one of the massive EARTHS.

"The plan is don't fuck anything up." Datenshi said in reply as she followed suit with Yuriko, touching down as she did.

"Wow that is a big armor." Saito said, seeing the EARTH as he settled down a few feet behind Yuriko. "Nice"

What was that..? Eve wondered, her eyes gaining a spare bit of focus so she could observe the bridge as well. A dedicated projection of mission progress blipped into reality.

The EARTH was massive, standing at twelve feet tall, and armed to the teeth. The power armor's thick armor plating evident as its pilot shuffled a little at the Sarah landing so close by.

As Yuriko touched down, Alexi stepped forward, and saluted. "Welcome to Hukka ma'am, we'll be your escorts. The Grand Admiral has instructed me to take you where ever you wish." Yuriko returned the salute before looking at the VOID armor. "Thank you. Could you please ask your orbiting ships to conduct a series of indepth scans of the planet?" She asked. "Of course." Alexi said before making the request.

The ships made some scans, and forwarded the results to both Corcyra and Alexi.

Alexi handed them over to Yuriko, on one of the more indepth ones an underground complex was detected. Most of it was caved in, likely as a failsafe measure for when the SMX pulled out, but a portion hadn't collapsed, and power seemed to still be on.

Yuriko frowned at what she saw before contacting the Grand Admiral. "It looks like you've found something sir, can we proceed?"

"Go ahead, Lieutenant." Came Corcyra's reply.

Tenshi was close at Yuriko's side, silently standing aside as she waited to see what was next

Yuriko gave her thanks before turning to Alexi. He'd been listening to. "Alright men, move your asses! We're goin underground, so if any of you are afraid of the dark tell me now so we can all have a laugh at your ass before shoving you down into the hole." Alexi roared before transfering the scans to his men.

Saito watched with his arms passively and chuckled slightly. "I suppose there might be somethin down there ne.." He said to Yuriko.

Shii prodded Eve. "Ano...what is wrong?" She asked curiously.

Datenshi snerked a little at the call the commander gave, grinning widely. She would pick him out if possible as she followed Yuriko.


"So, we just gonna stand around the whole damn day?" Kroth sighed, watching Private Second Class Jenkin's complaints displayed to him as a writhing, jagged green line on his HUD. "Shut the fuck up, Jenkins. You bitch more than a orphaned Geshrin." Getting the order to move, the Sergeant's WATER stood up and motioned for the lower enlisted ranks to get ready. "Don't fucking piss off these cats, you assholes. I'll fucking kill you assholes a second time after we get our shit fucked up by them."

"Roger that." Degan said over com. He flew at the wings. They were escorted to a secret base. "Alright men, move your asses! We're goin underground, so if any of you are afraid of the dark tell me now so we can all have a laugh at your ass before shoving you down into the hole." The man said. Degan nervously scratched at the nape of his neck.

Saito chuckled at that, shaking his head al ittle. "this' gonna be interesting.."

"I used to do that, when they didn't want me on the bridge." Eve explained. "I've not been in real command before." She whispered, hoping Miya wouldn't overhear them. That fact alone sharpened her level of alert for things going on in the operation.

Jenkins grunted, while maneuvering his WATER through the lines of Marines, towards the hole. "I'm gonna listen to some fucking My Aetherical Loving after this, you make me want to kill myself, sir." Jenkins brought his HPAR up and quickly moved into the hole, waving his weapon around inside, checking every nook and cranny along 50 feet inside the tunnel. "All clear!" Jenkins shouted over the platoon-level communications system, promptimg the stacked-up squad of Marines to enter the hole.

"Shut it Jenkins. It's likely the only one you'll ever see. Land formation or woman." Alexi snorted as he ordered his own squads to move in. The EARTHs managing to fit into the wide corridor. Yuriko looked to her armor team, and pointed at the hole. "Well, let's go." She said before hopping down.

"It's like Yuukan, I suppose this freaky interior is common for mishhu but it's still nasty to look at." Saito shared telepathically with Tenshi. "You've dealt with more than I have, what would be safe to expect?" He asked as well as he hopped down after Yuriko, seeming casual still as he rested a hand on the hilt of the swords he'd belted to the waist of the mindy.

Datenshi nodded and followed quickly after. She knew she shouldn't pipe in, but she did anyways. "Hey Jenkins, If you show all these big boys over here how brave you really are, this won't be the only whole you sink into tonight, deal?" Datenshi said over the channels so the others could hear her.

"What? Does that mean I get to fuck you, kitty?" Jenkins had neglected to switch to a private channel between him and Datenshi, instead saying that over the platoon-level communications network. "Jenkins! Are you seriously fucking thinking about getting pussy while on a mission?! Which shitty fucking squad did we pick your narrow ass out of?!" Kroth screamed at him, giving his SBR a quick once-over, in case anything was wrong with it.

Datenshi snickered a little and shook her head. "Why are the young ones always the stupid ones?" She asked Yuriko.

Alexi smacked Jenkins up side of his helmeted head. "Mission first, pussy later. You need your cherry popped anyways." The man chuckled before slots along the organic seeming walls opened. Small barrels issued forth, sensor systems scanning first the Nepleslian armors, then the Yamataian armors. They were automatically tagged as enemies, and the turrets opened fire on the Yamataians, rounds spewing forth in a deluge of fire.

"Ano...but Eve is now!" Shii pointed out.

"Aww hell!" Datenshi shouted out, opening fire on the turrets as she dodged to the side, hoping to get past the brunt of the open fire. Her targetting systems were dead on though, she only hoped her shots would slag them quickly.

"Shit!" Saito exclaimed, forming shields from the forearm projectors to block agaisnt the incoming rounds, reading their trajectories to better defend himself. "Looks like we're expected." He said and and shifted to attack, firing shots from the projectors at the turrets

The Marines responded to the new threat by immediately spacing themselves apart from each other as far as possible, so as not to present a juicy group for the barrels, and to avoid any cross-fire from the Yamataians. "Fuck!" Jenkins ducked as a few stray rounds flew past his head into the wall behind him. He, along with the other Marines, had been pumping rounds into the walls around them. "Can't you fucking kitties -SHOOT-, for fucks sake?!"

The initial rounds glanced off the armor plating of the turrets before one exploded, and then another. Alexi roared the command to fire, his own squad laying down a massive ammount of fire into the wall turrets. As the overwhelming fire of the Nepleslians, and Yamataians continued, floor mounted turrets activated, these however showed a build up in power, firing beams of deadly energy at them all now.

"OH, fuck me!" Jenkins cringed as his WATER's alarms screamed into his ears, showing the gradual degradation of shields that one would expect after being hit by energy beams. "You gonna put some fucking shields up for us, sir?!" Jenkins immediately fell back to the bulk of the squad as the Marines stacked up along parts of the walls where there were no turrets, each trying to pick off the floor turrets."

"That's right." The pilot nodded, paying attention to the chatter below. "I don't mind, though." She told the sprite. "I worry that the Nepleslian's methods are not suited to this sort of operation." Shii's presence didn't bother her like she thought it would. "I hope it ends well. I've seen bad things happen the first time someone else did this."

A moment later, two large plasma swept into the room, targetting two of the turrets, hoping to cause some rather devastating results. An IPG NOZH armor stood at the mouth of the cave, its plasma projectors working heavily. "Marines, how many times do we need to bail you out of trouble?" The Operator's voice was cold.

Datenshi growled as she saw the new turrets surface. She charged up her teleportation unit on her pack before she vanished, only to reappear next to the high energy turrets. With a growl she opened her energy currents to her suit's arms and pulled out two aether swords. She would do the clean up after the plasma shots, slashing into the turrets.

"Shut the fuck up, bitch." Kroth growled into the comm systems as the Marines continued their assault, each warranting a swift slap on the head from their buddies at each's suggestion to use grenades. "Nice fucking timing, IPG. You -always- get your kills from sneaking in unexpectedly?"

As Jenkins spoke, shields activated, however two EARTHS ambled forward, their RRW's in hand They charged as the two ID-SOL's closed the distance, allowing their shields to take the brunt of the assault as they brought their hammers down, smashing the floor turrets to bitsof smoking, and smoldering slag as the others were fried by the plasma beams. Alexi swore outloud when he spotted the NOZH. He held his tongue however.

Things were going well, as well as a guy afraid of the dark stuck in a shell with a bunch of psychopaths can really do well. However, it all went to shit quickly. He wasn't paying attention to the chatter, however the sudden firing of lasers in his general direction such got his attention. "Taii, permission to return fire." He wondered what good it would do. Shooting in an enclosed area when there we so many friendlies around was not the best of ideas.

"No need now." Yuriko said gruffly, her rapid fire beam cannons returning to their proper positions.

"And how would we protect the glorious Imperium if we simply poured fire into everything that moved?" The Operator disengaged his plasma projectors and stepped forward, the massive black armor standing almost as tall as the EARTH armors.

"Those turrets didn't open fire on us initially." Alexi said gruffly as the EARTHs turned about, RRW's in hand as they sized up the NOZH before going back to their positions within the squad.

"Damn, I always miss all the fun." Degan said sarcastically, adding in a finger snap to show even moremock disappointment. However, for the first time in a while, Degan felt safe. Even in the small tunnels with the crazy marines and automated defenses, it was something about solid ground, heavily armed soldiers and Datenshi and Yuriko near by that made Degan feel invincible.

Jenkins sent a burst from his HPAR into the last turret, watching it melt the turret into something inoperable. Lowering his HPAR, he just had to make this comment; "The fuck do you need permission to return fire for, man? You hesitate, YOU DEAD." This caused a chorus of different-pitched laughter to erupt from the Marines in the tunnel. "Jenkins, shut the fuck up." Kroth's WATER turned to the NOZH and turned back to the Marines. "Come talk to me when you 90 day wonders win a ground war on your own, IPG." Kroth, like most Marines, regarded the IPG as made up of civillians that had somehow skipped the boot camp that each of them attended. But a friendly rivalry was always for the best.

Reiko shouldered Degan as she stepped forward, standing beside Yuriko. Her helmeted head was staring dead at the NOZH. Unbeknowst to the Operator, she was a former SAINT operative. Ironically the two intelligence branches of their respective empire's standing in the same corridor now it seemed.

"The main thing is we survived with no casualties." Yuriko pipped up.

Degan clicked on his comm. "And then I end up accidentily shooting one of you or destroying a valueable piece of defensive equipment that mistook us for enemies? Not a chance." Degan shouldered his weapon as Reiko pushed past him.

The newly arrived Operator chuckled coldly. "We win more fights than you know, Sergeant Kroth. Oh, and may I ask how your genital rash is doing? You forgot to pick up your perscription last month, did you not?" The Operator smirked slightly behind his face plate. As it turned out, he loved accessing privledged information.

"It fucking -burns-, IPG. You should telly your mother to wash her snatch more often." The Sergeant grunted, Prick.

"Now why in the hell would IPG wanna know about what Kroth has on his crotch I wonder?" Alexi asked in mock curiousity before looking to his subbordinate.

"Ano...Akeno-san is Nepleslian, but he is nice." Shii told Eve.

"And maybe the Grand Admiral would like to know about several sites visited within the past several days by your interNEP accounts, Chief." Came the IPG agent's response.

"Oh would you boys stop waving your junk around in front of eachother and escort us ladies down into the base?" Datenshi said through the channels, her tone that of annoyance.

"DON'T INTERFERE WITH THE TALKS OF MEN, KITTY." Kroth screamed at her, angered by the Operator's revelation. "I dunno why the Grand Admiral would care, IPG. What with us Marines, y'know, on the ground and deployed all the time." Turning his WATER away from the NOZH, he walked down the line of Marines. "Let's move, guys." Jenkins smirked "I'll escort -my- junk into you, kitty." He nodded at Datenshi, continuing on down the hallway.

The Operator shot a glare at the Neko from the anonymity of his armor. Bastard Fallen. "Indeed." He then headed off behind the marines.

Alexi snorted before turning away. "Got nothing better to do then mess around like you are huh IPG?" He asked, his gravelly voice sounding slightly amused. "Besides, I am sure you jotted them down for personal use later." He added before following Kroth.

"Ouch. Good luck getting your just back man." Degan said. He knew Datenshi's wrath first hand and this guy was really asking to get beaten by a girl in front of his squad mates.

Datenshi's ears turned back at the shout before she muttered something about an aether sword and an ass or two into a dead channel. She just rolled her eyes at Jenkins, a picture of her doing so sent to his helmet as she followed the others.

Yuriko just rolled her eyes at them. "Honestly Tenshi, leave them be." She sent over a private com. However when the operative eyed Tenshi, Reiko had stepped right in front, her armor maybe shorter, but was no less impossing.

"Degan, another word out of you, and I'll toss you to the marines." Yuriko hissed.

"Hoooo, damn! You kitties are -kinky-! I'll store this bitch for later!" Jenkins chuckled, forwarding the image to the rest of the Marines.

"Hai hai, sorry Taii." Datenshi nodded a little and frowned. Getting a peak at Reiko covering her back, she sent the girl a quiet "Thank you."

Reiko just grunted as she continued on.

"He is?" Eve asked, trusting what her reports had said, but knowing she didn't have access to more in depth ones. She could listen in on what was happening, but most of what they were talking about went right over the soldier's head.

"Hai, he is." Shii said with a sharp nod.

Degan's only response was to click off his mic. Degan really thought if this was better then his old life, before the soul switch and everything. Yeah he was still kinda lonely but at least he could talk . . . and had people who would listen. Lately his assignment to this ship had been more and more constricting. He had some serious thinking to do.


The Operator, after a little bit of messing with the NOZH's built-in SecureNET node, quickly purged the picture file from the collective marines' armors, replacing it with the IPG insignia, along with the helpful piece of information 'We're Watching'. Attached was also a note:
IPG wrote:
"Keep your blood in your brains, not your pricks."

The Operator didn't say a word the whole time.

Alexi just chortled at the logo before continuing on down the long corridor. He opened a secure channel to Kroth then. "I have a hundred on him keeping it for himself."

"Well, those fuckers -do- torture people 'n shit, right? They gotta get their ideas from -somewhere-." Kroth replied.

"I'll remember." Eve promised, running a light diagnostic to ensure the ships systems were reading accurately to the indicators. "They haven't found her yet." She announced to Miya and Shii.
 
ON: YSS Asamoya

Alexi inhaled a long drag on his cigar, and exhaled. "I suppose you're right Kroth." He relented before looking at the organic seeming corridor. "Damned squids have to make such nasty looking shit?" He asked out loud. "Disgusting bastards."

"They may be disgusting, but they're mean. Besides, they may have taken it as a compliment." Yuriko quipped. Alexi just snorted as they continued on. Soon they came at a 'fork in the road' with two different passages on either side.

"Ano...mishhu are scary..."Shii mumbled before trying to bury herself into Eve.

Saito chuckled a little as he followed slightly behind Yuriko. "I agree, I keep thinking something is gonna come out of the wall and do somethin." He put in his two cents.

Eve looked to Shii and rested her chin over the top of the sprite's head, not sure what to do. "There are not a lot of them, and they're really slow even in big numbers." Deciding her tactical assessment would probably be the only way to help, really she just had no sense of a fear like that.

"So which way we goin, bitches?" Jenkins looked behind him, blowing a kiss at a random Yamataian. Kicking a random rock down the hallway, to see if it caused anyone to nervously fidget down there, Jenkins maneuvered the WATER to the right side, motioning for Kroth that he needed two people to help him.

Yuriko came up beside Jenkins, and cocked her head to the side. She spoke privately with Alexi a moment before continuing. "Jenkins is it? Let it be known the next time you call myself, or one of my companions bitches, I will personally shove my gauntleted fist up your ass, and pull out your spine. Either that or I'll douse you with pink kaserine, and send you back to Nepleslia, admist the women hungry men. By the way, your commander agrees with my suggestions on this." She said as she pointed to Alexi.

"Grand Admiral Corcyra wants this to go smoothly shit head, you're making things worse. So stop before I let her knock some sense into you then I'll have my way with you." Alexi said, warning him.

"Ano...one was on the ship before, and raped Nana-sama. Big sis came out and killed him. Only one on board now is Bob, but he is nice." Shii said.

Saito just watched the goings on and chuckled to himself, shaking his helmeted head. "The longer we wait the more time whatever's here gets to prepare, we should divide up into even numbered teams, best balancing out abilities and split up to cover more ground." He said.

"Sheesh. Someone woke up on the wrong side of the litter box." Jenkins shrugged, What're they gonna do, kick me out? I still got that amateur porn thing goin' on...hehe.. Jenkins then requested, again, two people to go down the right side of the tunnel with him.

An EARTH lumbered forward, as did another WATER, they stood behind Jenkins now.

Yuriko took a look a the NOZH then. "Excuse me, um sir? A word please?" She asked, the operator of the NOZH seemed to be high up, or important it looked like to her judging by the chatter between himself and the marines.

Jenkins looked behind him, a look of dismay apparent on his PA-covered face. "Please don't blow the place up, asshole.." He pointed to the EARTH, following it up by a thumbs-down. Bringing his HPAR up and ready, the Marine quickly entered the right side, sticking to the right wall, motioning for the other WATER to stick to the wall opposite of him, motioning for the EARTH to just follow far behind.

"Would you rather I snap your scrawny ass in half?" The ID-SOL in the EARTH asked, his RRW still in hand.

"I thought there was a computer error when I read about him in the ship files." Eve whispered, so she wouldn't dig her chin in Shii's hair. Taking yet another check on the local system readouts and keeping a good part of her attention also on the operation below, the girl relaxed in her chair, mostly due to the extra warmth and another thing that was too hard to pin down as a word.

The NOZH looked down to the substantially smaller armor housing the Yamataian woman. When he spoke, he had adopted a more formal manner than before. "Yes, Lieutenant?"

"Hey, hey, no need to get angry. We'll get you some food soon, fatty." Jenkins waved his HPAR from the middle of the tunnel to his right, covering his area of responsibility within the narrow hallway. "Sir, we've been making a lot of noise thanks to fatty in the back. I don't think we've got any assholes down the ways that want to kill us."

"So do you want a fuckin' cookie, then? Keep on going, I'm sending a fireteam to the left side." Picking 3 WATERs, Kroth took them and ran down the left side of the hallway, putting the rest of his squad with Alexi's. "Yammies gonna come on down and help us, or are we the designated meat shields this mission, sir?"

"Tell me, did you happen to notice some peculiar when those automated defenses activated?" Yuriko asked the Operator, assuming he'd been watching them the whole time. If he was anything like SAINT, then he surely had been from the start.

"I noticed that our men did not begin receiving fire until they attempted to stop the assault on your own soldiers," The Operator replied, still staunch and formal.

"Considering you are making noise too Jenkins, I assume you either scared them away with that voice of yours, or this place is abandoned as intel suggested."Alexi said. "Continue on, and report back with any findings."

Yuriko raised an armored finger. "Astute of you." She said politely. "I noticed the same. It would seem your men have been reclassified as hostiles. As such, don't you think that would mean a centralized security system?" The Taii asked.

"Tenshi, go with that Jenkins person please." Yuriko added before returning her attention to the IPG Operator.

"Possibly. I do not have experience regarding SMX installations," The Operator sounded slightly disappointed in himself about that fact, "It is possible it is a non-contained entity, as well. I am unsure whether or not any AI or computer core would actually exist, nor if it did, whether or not it would be readily accessible."

"No...Bob is a nice Mishhu, big sister says so." Shii said.

Saito watched the goings on dispassionately, watching how the pack of armors interacted. "Be careful you guys." he said to Jenkins and that team over the comm.

"Luckily for you I do have experience." Yuriko said. "The SMX have quantum computer systems, I believe they are techno organic in nature. As you can tell by the archetecture this could hold true for their technology. However, SMX would likely heavily guard their computer cores with Battle Pods, and armed personnel. But since they are no longer present it seems, security should be light if we only have automated turrets to worry about. Though we may encounter blast doors."

The Operator nodded. "They would present little problem. Would you have any idea as to where it might be?"

"I will try not to end him." Eve promised, not wanting the ship mad at her, since she felt like she understood it better than anyone inside of it. Much less for Shii herself, "Tanashiro-hei, still no changes?" She asked, to check on her really.

"Judging from the scans your vessels gave us...most of the complex is destroyed or caved in." Yuriko explained."However, there are two rooms it seems. One where Jenkins is heading down is about...twenty meters in diameter. I would suggest asking him what he sees."

Miya - who was sitting with her eyes closed over and her hands clasped behind her head - glanced over to Eve. "Who knows?" she said. "We aren't allowed to watch. Some intel stuff, informational security. I don't really understand it." She shrugged. "We're sensor-dead until the Nepleslians leave."

Tenshi still remained close by to Jenkins, silent now. She was in her operations mood now, and was making sure to focus.

"Very well." The Operator looked down the hall. "Private Jenkins, what's down there?" He looked back to Yuriko. "Do you have an idea as to what the other room may be?"

"Alexi to Grand Admiral Corcyra. Sir, it would seem this complex has automated defenses, at first they concentrated on the Yamataians until we opened fire. Now we're also hostiles. In addition, an IPG Operator is here." Alexi sent to Corcyra over a secure com.

"I am attempting to scan it with my AIES system now. It appears some kind of sensor jamming equipment is inplace, or it maybe countermeasures of the security system. Readings are becoming difficult even along the corridor Jenkins is going down now as well." Yuriko replied with a small frown.

"Fuck, nothing, sir. Just a bunch of fucking rocks 'n shi-oh, wait. There's a fucking door here." Jenkins sighed, as the EARTH behind him shook it's head.

"Understood, Chief. Keep us informed," Corcyra replied over the comm.

"There's a door there," the Operator said simply.

Datenshi silently wondered to herself if all neps needed to say fuck every other word? Or just this guy....

Maybe I shouldn't tell her. Eve decided. "We need to be ready. Something may still happen." The junior, junior noded, still entertaining Shii practically clinging to her.

The door was solid, and if Jenkins performed any kind of sensor scan, while there was now interferance, a possible guess at the thickness would be between two to four feet of Reinforced Durandium Alloy.

"This bitch is thicker than Fatty O'Cheeks at Club B-Squad down in Los Apagos, sir." Jenkins finished his little scan, turning towards the EARTH and WATER. "And that bitch was -fat-"

Behind Jenkins and the group a large floor mounted turret poped up.The barrel it had was not single, doubleor triple, but a quad barreled thing. The targetting systems automatically locked onto the nearest two targets, the other WATER, and Datenshi before opening fire.

"Well, do you have anything to cut through it Jenkins?" Alexi asked the man, unaware of the danger they were now in.

Datenshi growled loudly as she popped out of existence. She had been powering her teleport system for just this happening. A moment later she appeared overtop of the turret, her forearm projector blazing with Aetheric energy as she stabbed and sliced down into the turret below her.

As Tenshi did this, the turret managed to fire. A blazing lance of energy errupted out of the turret, striking the WATER square in the chest. Luckily it had its shields up in time, but the sheer recoil slammed the power armor into the door, causing its pilot to grunt, and curse loudly.

"What the fuck do I look like, man? I ain't one of those kitties with swords n' shit. I'm not gonna ruin my Cha-" Hearing activity behind him, Jenkins whirled around and aimed his HPAR at the middle of the turret, strafing off to the side to get ouf of it's kill direction, while the WATER attempted to follow.

"...You guys are such fucking spazzes." The EARTH-clad Marine with them calmly pointed to the Yamataian, then immediately pulled out it's RRW. Readying it's shields, the EARTH immediately ran over to the WATER and pulled it back up, the Marine using his PA's bulkiness to shield the WATER from the damaging attack.

The turret, cleaved in two sizzled, and popped, exploding and sending shrapnel everywhere.

Tenshi grunted as she felt the shockwave of the explosion. She curled herself up, trying to protect herself the best she could

"Jenkins report damn you, I heard and explosion!" Alexi shouted over the com.

"A fucking turret, sir! We're good, though." "Shit's really pretty." The pilot of the EARTH interrupted, sitting far away from and on top of a WATER. "Yeah. Real pretty, sir. You should see this shi-FUCK, SHRAPNEL." Jenkins ducked down and ran behind the EARTH. "One of the Yamataian's got it." The EARTH continued Jenkin's report.

The explosion would more the likely knock Tenshi either into a wall, or the ceiling, the shrapnel however sped in all directions, a large chunk would bounce off the EARTH's shields before clattering to the floor, all of its inertia spent. Close by Jenkins on the wall to his right, where he had previously been was a small, nasty piece of jagged metal sticking into the wall.

"Good, we need to get through that door." Alexi said after a few moments.

"What would you suggest?" Yuriko asked the Operator.

Datenshi bounced off a wall and fell in a heap. Laying there for a moment. The shot had sent her into the wall a little harder then she would have liked, but it was better then a piece of metal in her stomach. With a sigh she unfurled herself and stood up, shaky for a moment. She had slammed her head pretty hard.

"Plasma. A FIRE armor should do well, or my own suit should be capable," replied the Operator.

"Oh, no, for real?! I can't fucking wait for another piece of shrapnel comin-a-my way, sir!" Jenkins got up from behind the EARTH, who in turn got up off of the disgruntled WATER. "Did you really have to fucking SIT on me, man?!" The WATER flipped the EARTH off. "Hey fatty, you're going in first. I took point last fucking time." "You're a bitch-ass, Jenkin." The EARTH looked off to the side, seeing the Yamataian get up from being slammed into the wall.

"Medic needed at my coordinates. Possible blunt trauma on one of the Yammies." The EARTH reported over the main channel.

"I can probably use my projectors to carve through it probably. "Saito offered to the Yuriko and the Op. But heard what the EARTH said about Tenshi needing medical attention. "It'll be alright, give her a few minutes and she'll start to heal on her own if it's not too serious." He said calmly to the EARTH pilo tand switched to tenshi's armor to communicate with. "Tenshi, are you ok? How bad is it?"

"The FIRE I ordered is in route IPG." Alexi said as the power armor came up beside the chief. After a few quick words, the FIRE was off down the corridor Jenkins, and Tenshi had taken.

"Tenshi, do you need medical attention?" Yuriko asked as she watched the FIRE stomp past them.

"Cancel that, I'm fine. Just a little shaken." Datenshi stood straight and shook her head with a growl. "Remember boys, us girls are tougher then you think." With a laugh she shrugged off Saito. "I'm fine I'm fine, you forget I've been through worse!"

"Ano...what does Eve mean?" Shii asked, cocking her head to the side, ears twitching.

"that you have." Saito conceded with a chuckle. "And you boys." He said, shifting his voice to a feminine version of itself thanks to a voice changer. "she's right about that."

"Well, a lot of things but it's my name." Eve replied, not sure what sort of answer she was supposed to give. "Wouldn't big sister know?"

"Ano...Shii means what does Eve mean by being prepared." Shii said.

"Sir, that plasma gonna bring down the house in here, or what?" Jenkins asked Alexi, while listening to the coming footsteps of the FIRE1.

"Sir, we found another big-ass door." Kroth reported after several minutes, scanning the door as the three WATERs stacked up on the right side of it, anticipating his order to breach. "This fucker's too damn thick, guys. Fuck it." The WATERs then immediately loosened up and sat down, one even trying to smoke.

"The corridor should hold. But stay out of the FIRE's way." Alexi returned before cursing loudly at Kroth's report.

"Saito, could you lend Kroth a hand by cutting the door open?" Yuriko asked her bodyguard.

"In case something bad happens, Shii." Eve tried to smile. "That's why I have to pay extra attention in case they need our help from here somehow."

"I see..."Shii mumbled, and nodded.

"Roger that, sir." Jenkins replied to Alexi, in a rare moment of compliance. "Let's get the fuck out of this room, guys. The FIRE can bury himself if he wants." Attempting to leave the area, Jenkins was immediately grabbed by the EARTH and pulled back. "Just stay back, you pissy little bitch."

"Sure." He said and headed on down the hallway Kroth had gone down, floating quickly down there, arriving in a few minutes. "Alright you guys, give me a moment." he said and triggered the aether swords to form from the projector and punched the door hard to score penetration into the metal of it. One the blade was in on both sides, with a corkscrewing motion, he cut a nice sized hole in the door. It was big enough for all of them to get through and still use the door itself as cover if fired upon. Once it was done, he gave the hole a hard kick to smash it inward and strafed to the side and nodded to the WATER's.

Datenshi just shook her head and sighed, following the two.

"Good work, Yammie." Kroth immediately moved to the left side of the hole, with three WATERs stacked up behind him. Feeling the thud of a WATER's hand slap the back of his shoulder, Kroth immediately entered the room, waving his SBR from side to side and moving away from the hole, as the rest of the WATERs poured in to secure the room.

Datenshi muttered something about a Yam and a nep asshole, though she kept it strictly in a dead channel.

The FIRE meanwhile brought up both of its arms, the FEC's heating the magnetic barrels glowing before super heated plasma began to be emitted in rapid succession. Instantly the air in the vacinity grew hot as the projectiles slammed into the door, heating the metal as the FIRE continued its onslaught.

"Overall it would seem this operation is going quite nicely wouldn't you agree?" Yuriko asked the IPG Operator politely. As she stood at the fork in the road between the three corridors.

"Yuriko, do you want me to continue with this team?" Saito asked her over the comm.

"Yes, Reiko is accompanying you as well." Yuriko said.

True to Yuriko's word, Reiko was not too far behind.

In the center of the room a figure was suspended. A arm missing, part of her leg, the figure simply hung there pathetically. White hair rested on her shoulders and her eyes were closed. Of course the poor girl was nude, showing off her body, even the older model tattoo under her left breast, or atleast what was left after the skin had rehealed. She shivered every so often, some how still alive after being left along for so long. Around her a few bodies lay, mostly female as well. They hadn't made it though.

"It's going well enough, indeed. Al- excuse me..." The Operator stopped speaking for a moment, at least over public channels. "I must depart. My superiors require me elsewhere. Goodbye." The NOZH armor began to leave. As he did so, the marines would all notice a slight flicker in their HUDs as they were connected, along with their data feeds, into the IPG's SecureNET system. They wouldn't be able to make any use of it, of course.

"Fuck, cut her down!" One Marine immediately ran over to grab her legs, so that when the other Marine cut her free with his PLA, she would simply fall onto his shoulder, in a classic fireman's carry.

"Medic needed at my position, situation urgent. We've got a naked girl with no arm and part of her leg missing." The other Marine moved on to the rest of the bodies, using their blood or whatever to mark "KIA" on their foreheads.

Alexi snorted. IPG, always watching. Voyueristic bastards. He thought to himself before moving up beside Yuriko, the remainder of his platoon with him. "I'm requesting one now.Any other survivors?"

The body would be limp when cut down, though a soft squishiness to her midsection. A final parting gift from the Mishhu for the poor woman. Her white hair, done up in a now nearly loose braid would fall over her shoulder as she groaned softly.

"... Horrible." Saito said and walked carefully over toward the girl and turned his sensors on her to see how much internal damage was done and how she was alive. "Us nekos can heal her." He said, walking over to her, seeing her serial number meaning he could. "We have to get her to our medbay as soon as we can to remove those." Saito said, noticing the squish.

"Yuriko we got a survivor." he said telepathically to her.

Kroth nudged one body that remained unmarked, and seeing that it didn't respond, he bent down and used a sharp part of his armored glove to scratch "KIA" onto her forehead. "Negative, they're all fucked. I need the rest of my squad at my position immediately to get these bodies out of here."

Kroth's attention was immediately redirected to Saito. "What the fuck do you mean, 'remove those'?"

"Eggs you moron." Saito said, gently poking the girls midsection. "the impregnated her as a final insult."

With the poke to the stomach, the girl groaned a little more. The sound would be familiar to Saito, from someone he knew.

The Operator suddenly returned to Yuriko's side. "My superiors deemed it necessary for me to return, seeing as the operation seems to be nearing its close anyway." He then headed down towards Midori's position and the numerous marines.

"Well, that's just kinky..." Kroth watched as a WATER hurried down the hallway into the room, immediately removing his MED and performing internal and external scans.

"Well, this woman's not in too much trouble. Don't see any bleeding on her." The WATER looked up to Saito. "You'd better take her to the medbay, then. The most I can do here is give her some painkillers."

Saito's ears pricked and he began to shed his armor, getting out of the mindy soon enough and forming holograms over himself, his silvery mane of thick hair gleaming in the light. "Midori-nee-chan." he said and slid his hand with a finger nail and put a hand on her wounds gently, using his mercury colored blood to hemosynethically repair the damage it could, to just seal her wounds and get her body going so itcould heal on her own slowly.

Reiko stood in the cut door way, just standing there. Her armor heaved a little with her, her breathing heavy, eyes wide with horror. Inside a small, but vicous emotional war erupted. The samurai let out a low, throaty growl as she saw the first Midori, a literal wreck. Her anger began to boil over as she clutched at the wall, the metal shrieking as it was being squeezed.

As the Operator moved on their position, something came crashing down through an overhead airduct. The thing stood, humanoid in form, but appeared to be a skinny mass of rotting black flesh, its eyes were in their correct place, however the left one was more elevated, both were bloody looking, and the monstrosity had rows of razor sharp teeth in a lipless mouth, its hands seemed to be...blades.

The thing would find itself coming down towards a ceiling-pointed nerimium blade spewing lethal plasma. "What the hell?" The Operator exclaimed over his comm unit, caught mostly offguard by the horrible beast jumping him.

The first Midori's wounds were already sealed over, so the blood simply went to aiding her recovery now. The blood for lack of a better term, was sucked into the body like it was water, desperately going about healing her internal orgasn which by now, after all the abuse, were in worse shape then she was outside.

Saito was glad to do it, he usually had too much to use anyway and steadily supplied her with what she needed. "I can take care of her, you guys go make sure everyone's ok" He said to the nepleslians and glanced to Reiko. "I know it's hard for you to see, you should get back to Yuriko, Midori here will be ok." he said.

The wounds inflicted on the creature began to seal as it lept with inhuman speed in a zig zag pattern at the offending Operator, the blades dragging across the floor before coming in close and slashing with a long, sharp blade at the Nerimium blade of the NOZH armor.

The Midori laying before Saito greedily sucked in the blood, going to work still on the internal organs. She needed to heal herself internally before anything externally.

Reiko meanwhile let out a small shriek of rage at seeing the state of the first Midori. Images of her own Midori looking thusly flashing through her mind, of her children in the same condition. Then...the samurai went berserk pounding, kicking walls with ferocity, emitting blood curtling shrieks as she did so, her emotions finally breaking through to the surface.

Half the weapon fell away, cut by the bladed arms, prompting the Operator to move backwards quickly. The blade was still working, but was shorter, and the suit's NCS was already working on bringing it back to full strength. As he veered away, two beams of lethal plasma lanced from his shoulders towards his opponent.

"Hey, hey, what the fuck is up with her?" One of the Marines got up from checking on the casualties, a finger floating above the trigger of his SBR. "Stand down, Marine." Was the only response from Kroth, although he was getting a bit jumpy at Reiko's reaction, also.

The creature lept into the air, the plasma sizzling by as it latched onto the ceiling before kicking off, landing on the opposite side of the NOZH, emitting a ear splitting keen as it came back in.

"Shit. You guys, stay away from her, you get close to Reiko now she will kill you." Saito said, giving midori what he could safely, hearing the fighting. "...damn what's that it sounds like someone ran into something out there. "Whatever it is can you guys keep it from gettng in here?"

The Midori back on the Amaya watched the screen before her in horror, her fingers white knuckled on the now crumpled arm rest of her chair. She was locked on her former self before Reiko snapped. "Shit...Saito restrain her before she kills an ally now!" Midori was already calling up the MEGAMI of her ship, trying to see if there was a shut down code or a disable code for Reiko's Sarah that would also knock her out.

"Oh I'm sure that the raging fucking cat in the entrance will do that just fine." Kroth said this using a private channel with Saito, then opened a channel with the Marines in the general area. "Don't fucking let her get close, guys. Just hose that bitch down until she stops moving, if she attacks."

Saito nodded and gently released the first one and quickly redonned his armor and quickly moved to grab Reiko. "Reiko calm down. You have to." He said seriously to her, moving to grab her by the forearms and pin her tokeep her from hurting someone. "Calm down and listen." he said to her. "Yuriko, what's going on out there I hear fighting going on and we have a berserk reiko here." He said.

"Is anyone else thirsty?" Eve suddenly asked, not understanding why what the chaos told her would make her think of that. At the least, it would be over soon by her estimate unless the engagement turned against them.

The Operator was facing her far faster than any human's body could possibly allow, enabled by the muscle relaxants that ran through his arms, legs, and torso, pumped by the electrical currents shot into his heart. The plasma turned on her with him, and his other arm began belting out its own punishment, the plasma cannon letting out a withering hail of fire. "Enemy contact, unknown alignment or designation."

Kroth kept his SBR at the ready, and started circling to the left of Reiko with another Marine, while two circled to the right. "Sir, we got a berserk Yammie. Requesting permission to use EAGs to restrain her."

An order crackled over the Marines' comms. It was Corcyra "That's a negative, Marines. Only deploy force if she begins an attack on you. I don't want any incidents here."

"No!" Saito said to the nepleslians. "I can handle her, she's upset seeing our comrade like that, if you can block her view of it, it should help." He said to the WATERs. "Reiko I know you're upset, I am too, but you're going to do no good by losing it like this. We have to get her help and there's an enemy out there fighting with someone. Wouldn't you rather take out that threat so we can get Midori help she needs?" Saito said piercingly in surprising calm to Reiko telepathically.

Reiko slammed Saito into a wall shrieking still as she continued to rampage. The berserk samurai noticed Kroth and the other marines surrounding her now, and she growled in threat, crouching down, ready to pounce should they attempt anything.

"Denied, back off and let the Yammies handle her. She is in one of those damned samurai armors and could likely force feed your rifle to you." Alexi said as his men secured the center of the fork, Yuriko however was fratically trying to both ask Midori for assistance on this, and to calm Reiko.
.

PAUSE
 
(Told to post here by Tiffeh)

As the Asamoya got close to the border, they would detect the YSS Asuka waiting on the other side, for a Nepleslian escort...the Asuka detected her as well, and sent a hail...

"Hello Asamoya...how's your latest mission going?" Yaichiro asked...given that he was on a YSE vessel, alone, and in civilian clothing, they would likely realize he was not currently a UOC Peacekeeper...
 
"They say all good things have to come to a end... Well... Fuck them." - Some fellow

ON: YSS Asamoya

Yuriko received the message from the observation deck, the Taii sat her violin gently on her knee as she smiled slightly. "The mission was a success...however, the First Midori is being tended to by our doctors. She's suffered extensive trauma...However," The Tai lifted the violin again, intent on playing once more. "What brings you to the border?" She asked. "Eve, how far out is the Asuka from our current position?" Yuriko sent to her pilot.
Star Paul has joined the conference.


Despite the fact the Asuka's codes checked out, Eve was already calculating firing solutions on the Nozomi for fun in her head. .63 light years, ma'am. Are we supposed to know him? The girl replied quickly. She was on the bridge, passing time taking extra duties while Yuriko practiced.

"Rubber duck man..." Saito said from near Yuriko with a light chuckle. "I wonder if he's got it with him still..." He mused a bit and looked out the clear windows into space and then glanced to Yuriko.

"Yes my dear, he is a friend." Yuriko informed the girl as she played. The Taii giggled slightly, but maintained herself as she played. "You've not forgotten..."

"I wouldn't forget something as funny as that." Saito said. "It was pretty amusing to see a big bad officer with a little yellow ducky." he chuckled.

"Well...I've not decided on a final decision on who to give my allegiance to, the UOC or the Empire. I decided to head to Nepleslian space to sort things out without a voice being constantly in my ear...I originally bought a Yui 5 for this, but it wasn't ready in time, so they put the Asuka off duty and lent it to me...I believe it to be an incentive of sorts...and no, I haven't forgotten Midori-Ju...err...Shoi...oh...OH that...Gomen Nasai..." He said, blushing.

Aya was no one, she was just there her orange panels made her purpose fairly clear. She brought Yuriko a cup of tea, the blue haired sprite smiled as she handed the cup to the commanding officer. Aya was programed by Misato and left to tend to the needs of Yuriko in her absence.

He sounds unstable, should I send a boarding team? Eve chimed into Yuriko's head. It was obvious by that point she was listening to the communication. That was a matter of duty to the girl, just in case the unexpected were to happen. Or that's what she was going to say if someone asked her about it.

Yuriko tinged pink slightly. "Well...I've been pondering the same conundrum..." The Taii said as she blinked at the sprite...she'd never seen the sprite around before. The Taii took the tea, smiled faintly before speaking. "Oh my...I was just craving a cup of tea too...though I must say I've never seen you around before dear...are you new?" She asked before sipping. To make things more mind boggling it was her favorite tea too...

"Let him be little one, he's done no harm. I must thank you for pulling the extra shift..I rarely get to play anymore." Yuriko said in response to Eve.

Saito just relaxed back in one of the chairs and glanced over at the new sprite and perked a brow at her, the light shining off his hair. "Hmm?" he blinked at her. "I don't recognize her either.." he mused lightly but smiled at her.

It's fine, Asamoya talks to me. I can listen to you from here if I want. Eve replied, not realizing implications to getting along with the ship. Holding course, aye ma'am. The pilot was far more familiar with the systems by then, since she had time to use most of them. The bridge had been quiet since the party returned, and Shii went off for her training.

"...How is Midori-san now? Both of them, I mean...and has the first been updated on events?" he asked, relaxing a bit in the Co's seat.

Aya responded telepathically New...I suppose, I have been designed to serve you, as any sprite on board this ship ma'am. I was made well, my designer left out no detail -- she did better than MEGAMI could, but we wont tell her that. I think you know my creator, we will leave it at that. Aya nodded and said aloud, "Enjoy your tea, ma'am."

"I could venture a guess..." Yuriko said in response to Aya. "Thank you dear...it is quite good." She said before focusing on Yaichiro a moment. "The second Midori is with child...or children...the first is still in recovery. However long I do not know, but I trust my doctors." She said aloud as she spoke telepathically to Eve. "You're enjoying piloting the Asamoya no?" The Taii asked the Shoi Kohosei.

"I see...this is complicated, as they can't BOTH live the same life...can you let me know when the first Midori wakes?" He asked, obviously concerned...and please congratulate your Midori on her children..."

She's responsive, and keeps letting me win the killing game. Came her frustrated reply in Yuriko's mind. Like any child might complain about someone older than they were going easy on them. When she got tired of that game, she continued to track the Asuka's progress as it's commanding officer had a waffling crisis.

A communication would come up to Yuriko from the medical bay where the first Midori was being treated. "Yuriko-Taii? Our guest has stabilized and is in a hemosynthetic pod to complete her healing, but I'm afraid her mind is going to need a lot of time to come to grips." Akeno said over the system.

Kessah sighed briefly as she entered the bridge once again, looking over to Eve for a brief moment in thought. Although she didn't verbalize it at all, and instead of doing any greeting but a nod, she wandered over to the engineering station and pressed a few buttons to finish off her work. She had to fix a few things down in engineering.

"Of course I will. Now that I seemingly have you within arm's reach, would you care to board my ship? The whole reason we ever met was my needing your assistance in the first place...however happenstance didn't permit us to get down to business." Yuriko offered as Akeno spoke to her. The Taii heaved a sigh of relief. "Please do what you can." She told Akeno. "She's being nice Eve. Asamoya's taken on a SMX battleship head on and killed it without flinching."

"Shii down here is proving to be helpful in helping her calm down." Akeno reported. "She responds well to the little sprite."

"Well, I suppose, as I am still waiting on my escort...and i would like to see Midori afterward..." He said, nodding. "Alright, shall we dock then?"

"Shii is helping!" The small sprite's voice squealed.

"By all means, the Asuka should be small enough to use the dorsal airlock." Yuriko said. "Eve, please see to it?"

Eve opened her eyes, drawing her perception to spilt some in the room. She raised her hand from where it rested on the command chair, and regarded the engineer just as silently. When she looked forward again, the young officer slid forward in her chair, trying to appear closer to Kessah's stature. Aye ma'am. There are no configuration changes that would make it a problem. Opening up more connections, her mind returned to the ship. A signal went to the Asuka, giving Yaichiro a course to follow and docking procedures just in case he wasn't familiar with their ship class.

"yes you are Shii-chan." Akeno could be heard saying as he ruffled the sprite's hair affectionately.

He obeyed these instructions, and initiated the docking process on his end...son, they were joined.

"Permission to board, Taii?"

The small engineer looked over to Eve for a moment, Kessah looking the Neko over for a moment without saying a word before looking back to the engineering console and pressing two more buttons before walking away from the console again.

"Granted." Yuriko replied as she closed the line. The Taii stopped playing now, and wore a frown, her brow knitted together as she thought.

"Hmm? something wrong Yuriko?" Saito asked, walking over to her.

Yaichiro disembarked, still wearing civilian clothing...he waited for someone to arrive, or for the IES to provide directions as to where he needed to go from here.

"Bye.." Eve called after Kessah, looking at her with some interest she couldn't place. At the very least she was aware of their engineer's footsteps with her conspicuously large new ears. They still felt...alien to her. Considering what her mother had done there was an initial surprise to no one staring at her, but after she saw Bob it made more sense.

"Saito...would you follow me where ever I go?" Yuriko asked, looking up into his eyes.

MEGAMI made a volumetric arrow in front of Yaichiro's face, the arrow blinked as it began to move in the direction of the wardroom at the end of the hall.
Jo Midori has joined the conference.


"hmm?" Saito blinked at her at the sudden and odd question. "Of course I would Yuriko." He said to her and knelt down and caught her in a gentle, brotherly embrace and looked her in the eye.

Yaichiro followed the arrow toward the wardroom, adjusting his ascot before heading inside...

Kessah tilted her head to the side, and took a few steps to the exit for pausing again, speaking lightly as she looked to Eve, "I didn't say I was going, though..."

"Then...I won't feel guilty in asking you...would you go with me to the UOC?" Yuriko asked as the arrow Yaichiro was following would lead him through the large wardroom, and upwards to the Observation Deck. The deck was large, and filled the entire wardroom with the fragrance of flowers which he could see, flowers of many different species, including rare blue roses.

"Of course I would Yuriko." Saito said. "After all I am but a civilian in your employ. It may be my job but I want to stick with you Yuriko."he said and lightly poked her nose and smiled. "Don't worry."
Star Paul has joined the conference.


"Sugoi..." Yaichiro said, looking at the plants...he made sure to stay away from any lavender though. "This is even better than the Yugumo-class..."

"It sounded like you were." Eve replied, taking the time to disengage enough so she could swivel the chair to look at Kessah. It happened again, but she just pointed at nothing in particular on the bridge, "Stay then." Her voice sounded better than the Asamoya for some reason.

Kessah tilted her head gently to the side in slight confusion to Eve for a moment, wondering just what was going through the Neko's head...

The most spectacular thing Yaichiro would see was the large transparent Zesuaium dome over head of the Observation Deck. The dome showed a beautiful view of space. Not too far away was Yuriko and Saito sitting alone.

"Then I have no regrets...but I must inform my crew..." Yuriko said, the entire time she'd had a private channel open to Midori on the Amaya.

"I bet most will stay with you though." Saito said and glanced up , sensing Yaichiro's presence and blinked a bit. "We have a guest."

Yaichiro walked over to the pair, bowing to them as he approached. The Shosa may have been their superior by rank, but it was their ship, and he was off duty.

"Konbanwa...Thank you for letting me aboard. She truly is an impressive vessel."

A white haired nurse would be near Yaichiro's entrance to the deck. She was tending to a few flowers on the ground, mostly the blue roses which she seemed to handle with a level of reverence for the rare flowers.

Midori in the mean time, back on the Amaya, had already spoken with her crew. Sadly enough she was losing Aoiko, but she supposed it was for the best. Her and Reiko were often rather hostile with each other, so splitting them up would be for the best.

What was going through Eve's mind could have been anyone's guess, so she pointed back to the engineering station for a second try. "Unless you have something else to do." The girl reached up and tucked a bit of hair behind her ear, reaching for a good way to explain what she was thinking.

Kessah paused a moment and nodded gently, looking slightly confused for a brief moment, and then nodded. For a moment. Many moments in that exchange, although she wandered on over to the console again, looking over the read out. Something seemed off for some reason, but the engine could be on a different setting or something... Or just another quirk...

Yuriko's ears perked up as she heard Yaichiro. "Oh my yes...she is truly unique..." She said as she opened a private line to her crew. "Attention Crew...I have an important announcement...I wish I could say this face to face..but as it stands...right now I cannot bare it. By now you all must know of what has transpired at Halna, and what has also happened within the UOC... My faith...something I have held onto for so long for my Empire, and my fleet was utterly shaken, and tainted by these resent events... " She began as she smiled at Yaichiro. "Please, come, sit." Yuriko patted the couch she was sitting on. In the meantime she established a direct link to Asamoya. "Asamoya, initiate program Omega Three Dash Twelve." The Taii ordered, MEGAMI began to work.

Sumaru was there for that announcement on board the Amaya, and though it was a hard choice to make the young Yamitian believed he had a different purpose in this life. So, in a private conversation with his sensei he also told her that he would too be returning to the Star Army of Yamatai. With his decision he planned on speaking with Yuriko, there was many things he needed to thank her for.

"Hello again shosa, how's your little duck doing?" Saito smirked at Yai.

"It is fine, though I am a bit more...uncertain...I know of Halna, but have reasons to believe that Yamatai is nor beyond redemption...it's complicated, hence my being at the edge of Nepleslian space....I wonder how the first Midori will react though...the Empire is all she knows, correct?"

"What's that mean? Oh..the half-splitters." Eve looked to Kessah for an answer. The packet she'd made had informed her of what she needed to know, but that it would actually apply to her new home hadn't come to mind.

"She's been missing since the incident at Splorfin." Yuriko said in reply. "So it has been close to a year."

"My crew...it is with a heavy heart, but I simply cannot stay within an Empire that would commit an act of genocide so ruthlessly... And then to turn upon a fledgling nation only to be stopped by the words of the Empress... You all are entitled to your views, and your opinions, but my respect, my views, and my faith have been irrevocable tainted. So...I will be leaving the Yamatai Star Empire, and will start anew, with my family, with my business, and where bloodshed is but an alien concept now. The United Outer Colonies. I will not, and cannot ask you to join me, but I present you with the chance. You have all been with my through thick and thin, through hell and back, the thought of loosing you all is something I could not bare...but I will respect your choice if you so choose." She said before stopping and taking a breath. "Now would be appropriate. Is Aoiko taking command of the Amaya?" Yuriko asked Midori as Asamoya prompted for a password. "Yaichiro...would you like to go see her? Fuyu would escort you..." The Taii said, seemingly distracted. " Dream the impossible Dream," She began to input the code. "I believe she would like that...however, I think it would be best if she were taken to a proper facility where she maybe better treated for her mental trauma."

Midori sighed, looking around her ship bridge for a moment. She had just gotten her ship, her pride and joy, one of the many accomplishments in her life, and yet her she was, ready to hand it away and yet again be without a ship to command. She was beginning to believe in fate... "When should I come over Yuriko?" She asked, dropping the formal name now.

Kessah blinked a little to the message for a moment, a slight pause of 'Ah, damnit' in her mind. She then looked over to Eve, "... Basically... If you want to go to the United Outer Colonies or stay with the Empire." She paused, and then sent Yuriko a text message, "I'll go with you... It isn't like I planned on ~suddenly~ disappearing off of Star Army soon enough, anyway... Or something. But... Can I snag Asamoya? The AI and such, I mean."

Cherry, though, sent a message after a pause. And it was simple. "I am staying with the Empire." She was a ex-sprite... It was all she knew...

"That's a problem...she is an NH-27, and the UOC lacks such technology...and waking up in a Yamataian body...I do not know what that would do to her mind...but yes, I do want to see her."

Yaichiro said, in deep thought...

Sumaru was sitting in the wardroom of the Amaya, in deep thought over a cup of green tea. The events that were transpiring all around him were a tad overwhelming. But he had hope yet in the Yamataian Empire, after all Sora had some say in the future of the YSE didn't she? "A glimmering hope in such a dark time, maybe leaving isn't the way to cure this... but perhaps it must be treated from within..." He came to understand where he stood on the subject finally. Then as he went to take a drink of his strawberry sweetened green tea his attention was turned to a notification of a package arriving in his room from Yuriko. He rose to his feet and swiftly made his way to his quarters.

"Why would I want that? I don't even know what a Freespacer is. Aren't they..you know supposed to die if they get in the way?" Eve asked honestly, obviously hitting walls in trying to wrap her mind around the choice. She died fighting the war with the SMX, as far as she knew. The UOC was a name and a flag on the data feeds. "What do I do?"

Midori nodded lightly, scratching her arm rest one last time before she made her way to her room to gather her things. It wasn't much of course, her clothing and Reiko's, as well as her instruments and a pillow she deemed she was entitled to keep. It had the Star army logo, nothing more then a throw pillow, but she wanted. As she walked to the exit of the ship she pondered over the fact of if such a sentiment was selfish, but in light of recent events, she really didn't give a fuck.

Kessah shrugged gently, "You probably should stay in the Empire if you don't know... It isn't like you won't be able to, again. But still... It's your choice. I am personally going to the UOC." Kessah explained simply.

"Fuyu, please take him to see the First Midori." Yuriko said as she continued inputing the code. "To beat the unbeatable foe,"

"Simple did the SAoY find a perfectly valid reason to launch such a brutal attack?" A sprite with orange locks asked Eve from her position, the sprite was cleaning the seats, and was now scrubbing the tactical chair.

"I don't want to have to kill any of you." Eve frowned, watching Kessah's eyes with her own in definite confusion. When the sprite spoke, the girl queried Asamoya for her identification. "Tactically overwhelmed..that is-brutal. Brutal? No. All there is are after-action reports. Every story is different."

Fuyu stood and nodded, stretching a little as she stood. With her body build and the way she seemed to bore her stare into Yaichiro's heart, she almost looked like Blueberry from the Sakura. "If you will please follow me Shosha Yaichiro?"

He arrived inside the chambers that were designated his, Sumaru's baggage still lay packed by the bed. He had a habit of leaving his stuff packed since the downing of the first ship he served. That's when he spotted the package on the small desk in the room, with a affectionate smile he approached it and looked it over.

Kessah paused a moment, looking over to Eve slowly with a soft smile, "Eve... If UOC and Yamatai went to war, I will guarantee that the Yamatai empire would fall to a bloody ruin in a month." She seemed quite calm in saying this, "The universe, and Yamatai itself would destroy itself. Yamatai and the UOC are sisters, the same people. To eliminate the UOC would be, roughly, genocide. So... It won't happen, simply put."

He nodded, feeling some sense of familiarity...what was it called...nostalgia. he followed, bowing again to Yuriko before leaving.

Datenshi was down in the armor bay, sitting cross legged on the floor in front of her power armor. She had been thinking on the empire and everything since the attack at Halna. She couldn't help but wonder if she was cut out for the empire, or even for the UOC. She could just leave and drift, visiting different planets, screwing a person from each race, maybe even two or three... That was beside the point. She didn't know which way to go and it was tearing her up inside.

"You would be surprised what the YSE has done." The Sprite said. "The plague that wiped out the majority of the Nepleslians and Geshrin on Yamatai awhile back? PNUgen's and Uesu's doing. They blamed it on the Elysians it was only recently brought to light this was false."

The package was long and rectangular, and colored crimson. A gold bow was wrapped around it, and a small card attached. On the card was written. "For the Knight chasing his dreams, and defending his princess. -Yuriko" Inside he'd find a brand new katana, brightly polished, the blade reflecting the light of his room, dazzling the eye. The hilt was black with gold wire entwined along it, and even the guard was golden. The sheath was a rich, dark wood lagered and polished to a high sheen with intricate designs in silver.

Just behind Sumaru's second bag something was poking out from the side, something black and rounded at the tip.

"I wish to say one last thing to you my darling crew...you all are like family to me, and that is saying a lot from me... I love my family dearly, and as you are a part of it...I love you all as well... if this is goodbye to any of you...I only wish we can remain friends after this... but know no matter where you are, how far the gap between us, my heart will be with you all." Yuriko said finally as she received Kessah's message, she sent the girl a very polite, yet emotionally strained "wait" before finishing the pass phrase. "To strive with your last ounce of courage to reach the unreachable star." The moment this was finished, the link was established with the two probes in the distance, the probes she'd left behind so long ago.

Fuyu would lead Yaichiro down to the med bay where Midori rested. She was curled up in a chair next to her bed, hugging Shii to her chest as she seemed to zone out and leave the reality around her. It seemed that she was seeking somewhere that was pleasant for her.

The second Midori soon made her way onto the Asamoya, yawning a little. "Where should I put my things? And where is Reiko?" She asked Yuriko through a message.

"...Midori-Juni..." Yaichiro said softly, trying to get the Samurai's attention... "Do you...remember me?"

"Reiko is confined to a suite of enlisted quarters...she is very depressed." Yuriko said.

"Tactical analysis doesn't agree with you, why do you think so?" Eve asked Kessah, her expression a little worried. True, she felt better hearing something she understood, but no one else had given her the same conclusion. The ship was acting strange, so much of her attention now rested with the only person trying to engage her personally.

Apart from that, she could study the engineer's face with less distraction.

Midori's ears swiveled a little as she heard the voice, stirring a little as she began to remember the voice. A little moisture formed in her eyes as both ears locked on Yaichiro.

He slid the sword back into the sheath and tied it to his belt the way he had been taught by his sensei giving it much attention in silent ceremony, his old simple sword was then placed on the table and to it he bowed in a mute show of honor to its essence and what it represented. Then as he went to pack it into his open bag, the other one he had something poking out from the zipper. He eyed the object with a raised eyebrow, curious if it was something that perhaps another member of the Asamoya had left him as a more joke present, a flood of memories filling his head of his first day in service. But he was surprised to see what it was as he pulled it out.

Kessah kept her smile and calm face, "Because every sentient race in the universe will know finally the Yamatai empire are murders, capable of killing their own family." She paused, looking to Eve's face for a moment, "The UOC broke off because of this, among other things. The empire would break apart soon after as well. No matter what one thinks, it is all about the people of a nation."

Yaichiro entered the room, and sat down inside... "I can't imagine what you've been through since we parted ways on the Sakura,...but it's over...you're safe now...okay?"

The other Midori nodded a little and began to move towards the quarters where Reiko was. She was silent as she knocked on the door for Reiko to open it. She had her hands full after all.

Sumaru's present was nothing as elaborate as Yuriko's. A simple sword with a normal looking guard, circular in design, with a red rope tied just below the guard. A note on it read, "Though I wish I could teach you further, and even more so present you with a true sword...I give you this in it's stead. Wield this sword and bring it honor, for that is the greatest goal of a samurai. - Midori"

The Midori beside Yaichiro stirred a little more, hugging Shii just a touch more as tears began to stream slowly down her face. "Yai...Chi...Ro?" Her voice seemed weak, as if her vocal chords were weak.

"Yes, I'm here, Midori-Juni...I was moved around Yamataian space, and wound up all over, but I'm here now..." he said, softly to the tormented Samurai...

The door silently opened for Midori, and inside the room was dark... Reiko was sitting on the small twin-sized bed, her hair a mess, her shoulder's slumped, deathly silent like a ghost.

The signal traveled from probe to probe, eventually reaching its destination light years away. "Ma'am...we are receiving a sensor inquiry from one of the probes left by the Asamoya." Kiyoko got up from the command chair and walked to the edge of the forward platform on the Akuro III's bridge. A volumetric window opened and after a few seconds the message showed."To beat the unbeatable foe," Kiyoko nodded quietly, closing the window. "Patch me through to Chie Research Base...." A series of events were set in motion, a captured SMX scout left Chie entering hyperspace once it was clear of the base.

"But if that's true, why does it sound like she expects people to leave? And I've killed lots of things, does that make me bad too? They wouldn't want me." Eve kept coming to that conclusion, thinking of the war that had ended. She had the medal case in her quarters.

Midori entered the room, setting their things down softly before going to sit on the bed next to Reiko. After a moment, she put her arm around Reiko's shoulder slowly.

The Midori in the med bay let go of Shii slowly, before she began to move one arm out and around Yaichiro, shaking some as she let go of Shii. The lack of physical contact just then was threatening to spiral her down into her hellish nightmares again...

Kessah shook her head softly, "She doesn't expect people to leave, no. She doesn't, though, wish to separate from her friends... Even though she believes that going to the UOC is the right choice, personally. For her, of course." She paused a moment before sighing, "Almost everyone in Star Army has killed someone. They wouldn't look down on you for it, don't worry."

He lifted from the bag, feeling misty eyed from the whole ordeal the young Yamataian took a few unsteady breaths as he took the second blade and secured it as well to the same side his gift from Yuriko was tied. He finally had his own set of blades, he felt honored to receive them that as he tried to write a letter of thanks to both teachers in his life he failed to make out anything more than; "There are no words that can describe my thanks, so I only offer a thank-you for everything you have done for me. I look forward to a tomorrow where we will not have to part ways again, I can only hope my decision to support Sora can change the future not only for the Empire or the UOC but for everyone... -Hasegawa Sumaru." The simple text message was then sent to Midori and to Yuriko as well.

Reiko was just staring blankly at the floor, her body feeling slightly cold to the touch. Her eyes were slightly dimmed, lacking the luster they once had. The look on her face was one of some sadness and horror. She didn't even acknowledge Midori's presence.

The Midori beside Reiko pulled the girl into her body, hugging her closely. "I know it hurts...I know what you saw. When I first saw the message, everything flashed through my mind that I bet went through yours..." Midori's voice was soothing and soft.

The only convincing thing about going to the galactic east to Eve was that her 'mother' would probably disown her, she hoped. "So they don't care what, or who I am. Just like the captain, sort of?" What was clear is she was looking to Kessah for answers, because there was no one else to help find them with. "I don't have a lot of things though, what would I do?"

Yaichiro let her do as she wished, and gave her a hug...to both provide support, and prove he was real... "...Welcome back..."

Reiko dully responded by placing a cool hand on Midori's leg, and nodding slowly.

"Do what your heart tells you to?" The orange haired sprite said with a shrug.

Midori down in the bay shook as she clung to Yaichiro. Realizing he was a little bigger, she hugged him a little tighter, though nothing close to anything her real strength. She spoke up again in her weak voice. "Where is blue...And Sun?"

Midori with Reiko in the mean time snuggled into Reiko. "But you have to realize, this is the me you fell in love with, our children are safe, so am I. The Midori in the med bay fought with everything she had, and she survived...She isn't the most stable, but she survived. Now I need you to survive your nightmare. Survive it for me, and for our children..." She hugged Reiko a little tighter now.

Kessah blinked a little and shook her head, "If you have no reason to go to the UOC, then there is no reason to go." She said semi-simply. "Just... Stay, if you want." She paused, then shrugged, "Yuriko cares for all her crew, and so does the crew. Don't feel left unloved like some depressive person."

It did not take the scout long to get into position within the Bard Cluster, its phasing ability combined with the distortions within the cluster were more than enough to hide its position. The coordinates were transmitted back through the probe network. The single operator on the scout, waited for the Asamoya crew...

"I believe they are still with Hanako-Taisa on her new ship, the Eucharis...I have not returned since then...my technical skills got noticed, and...I was never really given the choice to return..." He said, a bit of regret in his voice.

Reiko just nodded slowly again and whimpered.


"Reiko, look at me." Midori cupped Reiko's chin, gently moving it so she could see the girl's eyes.

The Midori in the med bay seemed to stiffen at the mention of Hanako. "Hanako-sama...is ok?"

I get to keep my ribbons, and the things in my room right..? Eve interrupted Yuriko, shifting back to relax fully in the command chair. "Thank you." She told Kessah, not realizing she was smiling. It had taken the pilot some time to piece it together, and she felt more fragile than she knew was right during a shift. There was no helping it, despite Kessah's last warning there were bad feelings stirring in her.

Kessah nodded softly to Eve, her smile still present, "Glad to be of service... But now... I gotta go." She said light heartedly, giving a salute with two fingers before moving off bridge and away.

"She is just fine...I communicated with her just a few days ago, though briefly..." He did not mention the rumors that the same fate which met this Midori and her counterpart also happened to Hanako...it was too soon.

"Since the war with the SMX ended, she's been exploring and charting new star systems..."

"Yes dear...you get to keep them...if you wish to join us...please move the Asamoya to the appointed coordinates within ten minutes." Yuriko relayed the coordinates of the scout. "And do not be alarmed by what you see, do not do anything beyond moving the ship to those coordinates without my express permission."

"Yaichiro...I must ask you to take Midori with you." Yuriko said over a private comm to the man.

Yaichiro clinked, before replying with telepathy. ...I understand...you've chosen the UOC...I am certain you'll be happy there...I only ask one thing...please check in with my daughter for me, from time to time, should the two of us not wind up serving the same nation...

Eve's eyes darted to the sprite, and she tried very hard to look normal as she slid back against the SPINE interface. En route... The transmission even mentally was unsure, suspicious, and empty. The Asamoya started on course immediately, leaving her alone to think about what Yuriko had meant.

Midori shivered a little as she heard what Yaichiro said. "Would she take me back?" She asked weakly still, her voice showing the fear in her heart of being rejected for failure.

"I...of course Yaichiro. Please take care...I hope to correspond with you, and perhaps you could come visit." Yuriko sent back before she asked the sprites if they wished to stay or go.

Reiko slowly looked up at Midori, her eyes were dull, haunted looking.

Where Reiko's eyes were dead and lifeless looking, Midori's shone with vibrance and life. A small smile played across her face as she leaned in for a soft kiss. "You know, the children are due any day... Do you want them to see you like this?"

Reiko simply averted her gaze, now looking ashamed.

I will not abandon the UOC, but I will not abandon Yamatai either...with the UOC's cession, she is ripe for change...if the right people take action...I must decide if I can be such a person, and contribute to BOTH nations... "Midori...I've been told to take you with me...and you are an honorable woman who gave her all, and her friend. I don't see her not doing so. And if she doesn't, for whatever selfish reason, then I'll take care of you...okay? After I stop off at Nepleslia...we can go home."

The sprites began loading the T4 Fox Shuttle with the most precious of the crew's belongings...those that were going.

The moment Kessah arrived, she was rather quick about shooing the sprites in her room away. Actually, she kicked them. Which was awkward due to the size difference and that she was aiming for the ass, but oh well. Her possessions were small, mostly a few clothes and such, and of course a travel sack. It was a just incase thing.

Truthfully, it was the sack that usually held every single possession a Spacer if he or she was a job-switching type...

Aki exited the shuttle, having loaded a small box of books from Yuriko's personal store, including her violin, computer and flute Midori had given her.

"Good, your getting your respect back. Now once we are done, you are going to get a shower, and have a nice relaxing lounge with me, understand?" Midori said as she shooed Reiko a little. "Get changed and get your things ready to leave." Midori made a shooing motion to Reiko with a small smile.

"Midori, we're nearly to the pickup. I suggest you hurry." Yuriko sent.

"Home?" Midori asked, looking a little scared now. Home to her was the Sakura, space, her armor...And those things brought back a rush of memories. The waves of Mishhu, the supply depots, the beams of energy ripping through her, the edge of sunlight as she was dragged under ground.

"What of my sword..."Reiko said dully, looking at the blade laying on the bed.

Attention all hands. Standby for rendezvous. Eve stopped the ship outside of the bard cluster, clear of the FTL dead zone. Mark. Her voice echoed through the ship. They had come to a disturbingly precise halt at the location she had been given.

"...The Sakura may not be around anymore, but its spirit lives on in a new ship...or you can live on Yamatai if you want...you can do whatever you like, I have more than enough money to support you if you need it...millions...but I'm SURE Hanako-Taisa would really like to see you..." He said, still hugging back...he'd...never hugged Midori before. The closest he'd been to her was the sparring session...

"It's time to leave this ship for mine...are you ready?"

The sprites that chose to follow Yuriko, once finished loading immediately went to the med bays, and began uploading their minds into the computer of Yuriko's. Once done, their bodies began to deconsititute.



The 'Chie Assigned' SMX scout ship came back into phase infront of the Asamoya holding position there. "Asamoya hurry.....We need to get moving" the operator sent, as she watched her main viewer, the imaging sensors were all that worked in the Cluster. Giving them a perfect cover.

"They never said to return it did they? I'm taking mine, and a pillow to boot!" Midori brandished her Hinamori stylized pillow with a grin as she picked up her bags.

Tenshi had escorted Miya to the shuttle bay, smirking a little as she watched Yuriko. "I'm just going with you guys to get away from them. I guess It's time for me to live, so unless you got a better prospect for me then playin' drifter, make it before we get to wherever the hell we are goin'. Otherwise I think Imma bug out for a few years." Datenshi shrugged a little, her pack slung over her back and her pillows and blanket under arm. She had stolen a few more pillows then Midori.

Kessah paused as she exited the room, swearing softly to herself. Yuriko never gave her a answer on the AI thing. Maybe I could make a drone thing out of her... Or would that be degrading? ... Damnit. She sighed softly and shook her head.

The Midori in the bay nodded a little and began to stand. opting out of such an idea, she began to float, looking a little sad in her yukata. She clung to Yaichiro almost like a NH-12b, clinging to his arm weakly.

Yuriko was standing by the shuttle, having changed out of her uniform. The now ex-Taii wore civilian clothing, and had left her uniform in her suite folded neatly on the coffee table, rank pin on top. And a small note of her resigning.. "I have a clan forming, and a business empire to build you are more then welcome in both...and who knows what else our new beginnings may hold." Yuriko said to Tenshi, truely touched the woman was following her.

Kessah pretty much sprinted into the shuttle bay, stumbling to a stop, smiling over to the assembled as she fixed her sack on her shoulder, although said nothing and instead flicked a bang of her red hair off her forehead and off to the side. Of course... It slipped right back down.

Yuriko checked her computer and nodded, the sprite's minds had uploaded. "Everyone aboard please." She announced. "Eve dear, come along, we're going now, your things are on board."

Yaichiro also floated to make it easier on her, and began to move toward the Asuka...he hoped the Nozomi she'd fought to secure wouldn't frighten Midori...

"...I rebuilt this one after we saved it way back then, and eventually became her CO...so you needn't be afraid..." He said, heading toward it.

The blood in Eve's body burned hotter, and she quickly tried to get a targeting formula for the ship. The war was still real enough to her, every bloody part of it. No one really mentioned she had to be getting on a shuttle, it didn't take long for her to be sweating slightly, forcing a disengage from the SPINE the soldier hit the deck hard enough to make her cry out. Her bones would bruise for a short while later, and little tears clung in the corner of her eyes.

When she arrived at the bay, Eve was looking more off than normal, and limping just a little. "How can-you ask me to leave in that...thing?" Her voice was low, like she had just uttered her first curse in anger.

"Because, that thing was captured by the Fifth Expeditionary Fleet, and is being researched. It is hard Eve I know...but the very thing that once wreaked havoc upon our worlds is now our salvation." Yuriko said sadly. "Doing this is one of the hardest things I've ever done, but if I have to set foot on a SMX ship to see my children again and to be with my family, and to live a life of peace with them, then I would gladly." She said.

Midori's eyes were shut as she entered the Nozomi, shaking a little as she seemed to cling to Yaichiro even more.

'Tenshi just rolled her eyes and chuckled. "Me? In a buisness suit? Hah!" She chuckled a little as she stepped into the shuttle.

Midori wasn't far behind the red head, watching the girl with a roll of her eyes as well. Her instruments were in the cases and under arm as she strode into the ship with a bow of her head to Yuriko.

Kessah glanced behind her in concern to Eve, looking back over to Yuriko with a sigh, and then shrugged, another cheerful look on her face as her eyes had a twinkle in them, "The Asamoya was the three thousand and twenty fifth ship I have served on. I think." She paused, glancing down to the deck and giving it a gentle kick, "... I liked this ship, too. Even for a Yam ship... Put a lot of work into it..." Another pause, and then another shrug, "Bah! How far we've come, Mm? Right! Get into zee shuttah!" She grinned and marched inside said object of transportation.

Reiko soon appeared in civilian clothing. She had left her samurai uniform behind her sword on top. She no longer needed to carry the burden that the sword bore on her. The girl walked silently on board and seated herself.

Once they entered, they went to the bridge.

"Midori...think of the Asuka this way...I rebuilt her completely by my own hands...every bolt, every frame, every little piece is a safe haven for you...alright? She isn't the same ship she once was..."

The scout held position, waiting for the shuttle.

"Th-at's good for you but I'm leaving!" Eve replied, angry. Very angry. It was the only way she could force her words out. Like she was storming somewhere else, the pilot got onto the shuttle and paced almost in circles for what little room there was. "FINE!" She suddenly yelled, and plopped herself down in a seat after about half a minute of it.

Midori's grip on Yaichiro's arm seemed to loosen, but unfortunately only a little. She still seemed scared by the mere fact of being on a star ship again.

Midori took her seat, smiling at Reiko. Where Reiko's sword held nothing but bad memories, Midori's held memories of good times, of her friends and of the missions she fought in. Her sword, while she was not garbed in her samurai outfit, rested across her lap.

"...This is the Asuka. Requesting permission to undock." He said, sitting in the CO chair...

Yuriko meanwhile remained outside a moment longer and bid Akeno fair well, but told him the offer remained. Once she did this, tears in her eyes, her heart breaking she silently said her goodbyes to her ship, her home, only now realizing how attached she'd become to it. The very act of doing this was tearing her up inside...but she could no longer remain within the YSE...what it had done. As her final act, she granted permission for the Asuka to undock before walking up to the shuttle's hatch, looking back one last time, feeling emotion welling up inside before she entered, and closed the hatch. "Eve...take us to the scout." She said in a strained voice as she sat in her seat, body sagging slightly.

Kessah looked over to Yuriko from her seat, her sack in her lap. She frowned to her cappy-tan, shaking her head. This wouldn't do. Not to say she didn't fear a pang of sorrow for leaving some of her friends but... Well, lets be honest. Eighteen plus years of it makes it... Well, almost nothing. "C'mon, Yuriko... Cheer up." She said simply, "Chances are we'll see them eventually again if we want. This won't be the last time we see them."

Cherry sighed softly from her room, holding her head in her hands, covering her eyes with it. She didn't say goodbye to anyone. ... Maybe I really should have... For closure.. But she couldn't do it.

The Asuka disengaged, freeing itself of the Asamoya...

The Scout transmitted the approach data to the shuttle, waiting for it to land in the bay.

"...Midori...I have business on Nepleslia...will you be alright alone, or should I make an avatar to comfort you? You...can't follow me on Nepleslia..."

Eve sprang up, and went to the pilot's seat. She tapped the few controls she needed to with a very heavy hand and they sped out the short distance to what she hated most. Death cold and plain was waiting, waiting to take them to a name and a place. She sent a request for landing clearance, and when the signal transmitted back the shuttle went the final leg and landed in the unfamiliar place. "We're here." Everything still felt really warm, hurt, but hot anger she wasn't used to.

"Take us to our new home...."Yuriko told the scout's operator in a sad sounding voice.

The second the bay closed the scout folded,entering hyperspace and leaving the Bard Cluster behind. The trip to Jiyuu would not be long. The operator responded, saying in a quiet tone. "Yes, ma'am and...welcome to the United Outer Colonies. I am glad you all made it safely."

Kessah paused a moment, then tilted her head to the side, "... That was slightly anti-climatic." She announced quietly.

Yuriko just nodded dully as she sat in silence now.

THE END
 
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