• If you were supposed to get an email from the forum but didn't (e.g. to verify your account for registration), email Wes at [email protected] or talk to me on Discord for help. Sometimes the server hits our limit of emails we can send per hour.
  • Get in our Discord chat! Discord.gg/stararmy
  • 📅 February and March 2024 are YE 46.2 in the RP.

RP: YSS Eucharis [Post Mission 26] Talking Points

Zack

Inactive Member
Yamatai
9月 YE 38


Hanako,

I have been having a hard time scheduling some time to talk with you regarding the Rixx. Perhaps we could spend some time together during the break so we could talk shop?

- Wazu

Wazu had suggested they meet up at the only Sushi place he really knew, a small hole-in-the-wall establishment that was in downtown Kyoto. It had a private 'party room' in the back, and a few KS in the right hands would make sure they would not be disturbed while talking about something important like the Rixx.

He was hoping the quiet, wooden, styling of the area would appeal to Hanako, more to help ease his own out of place feelings than anything else. The human choosing to wear his older Nepleslian Military jacket as well, to help fill the room with the familiar.

Hanako arrived with Daniel Backer as her escort. She was dressed in her Star Army uniform.

"Mister Wazu," she greeted him with a nod.

Wazu would get up from his seat as Hanako entered the room, and it dawned on him that not only did he not know the proper honorific to use in this situation, but he didn't know the name of the soldier she brought along with her.

"Hanako, and ... I suppose I should ask your name? I apologize that I am not familiar with the full crew yet."

The back room of the Sushi place had a fairly spacious table in it, and for just a moment a hostess would join them, setting down a boat of Sushi in the center of the table containing a mix of familiar and house specialties ranging from the typical pieces of Tuna, to the more specialized 'Yui Roll' that had pieces of a green fruit, fish, and rice cut and rolled in such a way as to look like Yui's face when the roll was sliced. The woman quickly then opening a small red bottle of wine, and then clearing one of the places set at the table so the appropriate three settings were there.

"If you need anything else, just ring the bell!" She said quietly, giving a rushed bow before leaving the room and closing the door behind her.

"This is Becker-Hei, he is a technician from the Eucharis. He is here for my personal protection," Hanako explained. When she was out in the world, Hanako always went with a small security detail on account of her rank and fame. "Is there something on your mind?" Hanako asked.

"Nice to meet you Becker-Hei," Wazu replied, before turning his attention back to Hanako.

"I would like to go over the Rixxikor-Herpies-Sterilization plan with you. Since there is no point in continuing to develop it if the S-A-O-Y is not interested in deploying it. I also feel like I am having a hard time finding my place on board the ship. Your expectations are a bit of a mystery to me."

Wazu would turn his attention to Becker for a moment, wondering if he was there for physical protection, or just protection against some social awkwardness.

"Plus, there are some things that are difficult to talk about when the rest of the crew is around."

"I cannot really speak for the Star Army on that. I know biological warfare is not something the Star Army of Yamatai has a history in," Hanako replied. "I am not sure it is something in our character to do. Also I imagine Yui would want more details before answering."

"I do have a briefing ready regarding the weapon itself, deployment strategy, and possible geo-political impact." Wazu replied, taking his datapad out of his pocket and quickly pairing it with the projector in the table.

"The weapon itself is fairly straight-forward. The Rixx, like nearly every naturally occurring species, have viruses and bacteria infecting them and their reproductive cycle. The most widespread is their version of human herpies which spreads very easily due to its extremely low fatality rate. The plan is to hijack this virus and use it to deliver a payload that will render Rixxikor eggs inert." He explained, bringing up the first image on the display. "

View attachment 6809

"Rixxikor reproduction seems to involve Rixxikor adults laying eggs. Adults spray sperm into the air, and the lucky Rixxikor father ends up fertilizing eggs that end up in contact with his spray leading to more adult Rixxikor." Wazu said,

The second image would then display on the screen, floating above the center of the table.

View attachment 6810

"The R.H.S. virus would need to be administered to only a handful of Rixxikor. Eggs that this Rixxikor lay would be infertile. This Rixxikor would also still spray semen everywhere like how we saw on board their ship during earlier operations. In addition to infecting and rendering inert additional eggs, this spray would also infect Rixxikor that come in contact with it."

The next image would then display.

View attachment 6811

"We are also aware of the Rixxikor's movement habits, colony ships dropping off Rixxikor and returning to repair stations. There is a very high possibility of the infection being carried off any target world, and spreading rapidly. This is a non-fatal infection, so carriers would continue to carry and spread it as they go along."

View attachment 6812

Deployment could be conducted from high altitude using converted aresol canister bomb-droplets that are already designed and ready to use. SAoY gas grenades could also be quickly modified for deployment at close range. We could also consider adding a mister to Mindy exhaust to covertly deploy the agent on anything in proximity to a Mindy armor."

Wazu would pause for a moment, before moving on to his next point.

"There are concerns regarding using biological weapons, such as it being turned against yourself, however this is a very unique case that leverages the Rixxikor's own traits as much as it does a viral infection. A similar attack deployed against any other species simply wouldn't work, as it would have to be transmitted through one on one contact and would take decades to noticeably work its way through a population. On top of that every other species has medical technology that would easily reverse this infection in an individual. The reason no one has used such an attack against Nepleslia or Yamatai is because it wouldn't work.

Your next question might be 'what if the Kuvexians decide to assist the Rixxikor medically?'. I do assume that this is extremely likely, though not very important. I expect they would develop a cure quickly, but such a cure would be hard to administer Rixx to Rixx on a large scale. Regardless, we do expect that the virus will be eventually disabled either through a Rixxikor having an immunity and out-breeding the existing Rixxikor over the course of a decade or two. Or through Kuvexians working on a cure. Either way the goal of slowing Rixxikor reproduction and removing them as an attractive client species for the Kuvexians is achieved."

"In the short term, your own people may have the most negative reaction to the weapon due to their history with the great plague. Though conversely they also seem to be very accepting of the SAoY's own overreaches so I doubt that resistance at home will be very strong. Similarly, Nepleslia and the other powers in this sector all seem to have their own concerns. Their issues with Yamatai are larger in scale than the specifics of how you fight your enemies. The Rixxikor being inherently unpleasant also provides a considerable amount of 'look the other way' when it comes to objecting to this plan. Finally, the non-lethal nature of the plan should make it more appealing than possible alternatives to groups that would oppose such a weapon in the first place."

"I see. I would still need to confer with Taisho Yui. I will relay all of what you have told me to her," Hanako told Wazu. "You mentioned you were not sure about your role on the Eucharis..."

"As I understand it now, I am being directed to help with the Rixxikor problem. I am not certain if that is the only reason I am here, or if it is you that wants me here. In addition, I am not certain where or what I am supposed to be doing on the ship, as I do not feel comfortable just walking onto the bridge in any given situation due to not actually being a part of your military.

I could stay in the medical bay, and study the Rixxikor, though I feel I have plenty to offer to the other groups on your ship as well." He replied.

"I invited you because I wanted your opinions and expertise on dealing with the new threat the Kuvexians have brought to us. However, your presence on the ship is not mandatory. It is not may intention to hold you against your will. If you feel that you should leave, I understand and will not object," Hanako told Wazu.

"I said I would help you with your new threat, and I will." Wazu said, pausing for a moment as he thought about his next words carefully, "So, then... what is going on with you? Last time we met you seemed happier. Recently you have been more cold and detached. Normally on SAoY ships everyone has this sort of.... affection for their captain. On the Eucharis that feels... maybe strained is not the right word. Distant? Detached?"

"I get a sense that people come and go and that hanging on to them is only going to cause suffering. The last time I got close to someone, it was Sune and he left the Star Army and I could not follow him. I think I would accept affection if the right person came along, but there are only a limited number of people you meet when you spend most of your days on a small warship."

Wazu smiled just a bit, "That... letting go of things... is very much outside of my area of expertise."

Hanako let out a sigh.

"I am not going to pretend that I know how to make you feel better. But I do think the crew of your ship is picking up on it." Wazu's face would turn a bit more stoic, as it started to dawn on him just how much he had blundered into something so out of his depth.

He would reach for the bottle of wine on the table, "Would you like a drink?"

"Yes," Hanako nodded. She looked at it to see the brand and vintage.

"Becker?" Wazu would ask, picking up the bottle that their waitress had already uncorked for them and filling three glasses just a bit.

The wine itself was a Port produced on Yamatai with YE 32 listed on the label, the liquid itself was a deep red color, with a heavy feel to it on the tongue. The liquid was faintly fruity, sweet, and just a little bit bitter like you were drinking a red velvet cake. The high alcohol content was well hidden, no harsh taste on the tounge, the only hint that it was there would be the warm shivers that it created after swallowing.

Wazu would have a quick sip before continuing,

"Your command style these days is the spitting image of Yui's," he commented.

"Respectfully, I do not agree," Hanako hmphed. She sifted the wine around in her glass for a moment and then took her first sip.

"No thanks," said Becker.

"Short, authoritative answers. I already feel myself on edge or worried that I will disappoint. Yourself, like Yui, make it hard to get a read on what you are thinking or feeling..." Wazu let his words drift off a bit before continuing, "... You are in a position to matter inside of the Star Army of Yamatai. Even something as small as you having a bad day could have disastrous consequences for people. Your crew, Nepleslia, Spacers... there are plenty of people who are right to worry."

"I think that is a very insulting thing to day to me and to Yui. We are professionals. Our personal feelings on a particular day are not going to get in the way of us doing our jobs," Hanako frowned.

"Maybe your feelings should get in the way. The last round of operations and crew transfers give the impression that you prioritize your ship over your crew." Wazu replied, disheartened, but still pressing on.

"I prioritize the mission over the ship and the crew," said Hanako. "It is what the military does. It is not that I do not care, it is that we are serving a higher purpose which is to ensure the survival of Yamatai."

"That was the justification for attacking the spacers right?" Wazu asked firmly, setting his glass down, "I would like to save everyone, not just Yamatai. Building relationships is part of that, and right now the most complex one on the ship involves you."

"Justification?" Hanako scowled, "No, the survival of Yamatai was not threatened by the Freespacers. The threat was the Mishhuvurthyar. They messed with the Mishhuvurthyar so Yamatai gave them a beating as punishment. I did not have any personal feelings on the matter. Yui ordered me to lead the attack, so I did it. I refuse to feel guilty over it. There is no point."

"You do not think that the attack was overkill? That collateral damage was kept low?" Wazu asked, his tone shifting to be a bit more apologetic, "This is not like the Lorath, I am not just trying to distort things to stir up trouble. You are going to be put in a similar situation again, and I would rather see you push back a little on just who needs to die."

"Of course it was overkill," Hanako said. "It was intentionally conspicuous so that everyone had to take notice. Why are you dragging this up?"

"I am dragging this up, because I am trying to give you better options. I do not need you to feel guilty about the Spacer Genocide, but I do need you to understand that there were better ways of handling it. Ways that would not have resulted in making so many spacers devote time and energy to finding ways to destroy you and yours." Wazu replied, "... I think you are becoming a soldier in the same way Yui is, and I think you could be something better."

"Are you trying to get me to run for the office of Imperial Premier? Because I have a lot of people writing to me lately about that already," Hanako inquired.

"You certainly do have a following. Both inside of Yamatai and out... maybe larger than you realize... I certainly have heard rumors... but, I think it is clear you are on an upward career path. Premier, Admiralty... if you want either I am certain you will have it. I feel like if you remain detached you will end up trying to resolve things exactly like Yui would. You will be the professional soldier who destroys things. You certainly have a different background than Yui, and I think you may be better suited for the nuance and diplomacy that is required," he replied.
 
RPG-D RPGfix
Back
Top