11th Squadron Episode 3: Reunion

YE 33

The First Expeditionary Fleet was temporarily visiting Yamatai after a couple years in the Ketsurui Military Sector. After their blockade run, the fleet had investigated the remains of the UOC and then left to stop at home. The Empire was going through tough and uneasy times but not quite desperate. Food shortages seemed to the biggest problem facing the Empire.

The 11th Squadron had been active for a while, mostly engaging rather mundane solo missions. It was only recently that the squadron had a chance to reunite on the Yamataian homeworld.

It was just after the start of their shore leave that 11th Squadron's captains received a message from Taisho Yui telling them about the existence of a planet where human natives had been discovered...and how it was Yamatai's duty to rescue them from the NMX that had invaded their world. The first step was quietly setting up resources for an invasion. That's where the stealthy Plumeria gunships came in. After only a day on Yamatai, they would have to gather up components for an outpost and transport them to a "stepping stone" planet in the HX-2 system.

"Make the most of your time on Yamatai," Yui had said.

Re: Episode 3: Reunion

Taii Seth Larai found himself in a coffee shop, settled on a couch, nose buried in a book. Next to him sat some sweetened coffee drink, and his head nodded slowly to the beat of the music being played over the establishment's speakers. He seemed to be enjoying his quiet evening. he was, in his own way, making the most of the time, just as Yui's orders had specified. He couldn't go against orders, could he?"

******

The Chui, Rhiannon, found herself in the same Coffee shop as her captain, though she had poured a small amount of alcohol into her drink, and was relaxing her nerves more forcibly than the Taii was. She had been tasked with getting the supplies ready after their official leave period had ended, but, already, she was working on the problem, instead of relaxing. Apparently the thought of leaving something undone was such a grievance that she could not rest until the issue had been taken care of.

******

The Aegle's technician, and the only enlisted crewmember of the Plumeria's three-person crew, Faleen, was nowhere to be found. At least, as far as the two officers were concerned. She had rented herself an Airbike, and was enjoying the city by air, at high speed. She zoomed around, enjoying the feeling of not being cramped in the engineering plant of the YSS Aegle. This, to the Neko, was freedom. As she went, Faleen looked around for any of the other members of the 11'th squadron. Someone familiar to raise hell with might be fun.

Re: Episode 3: Reunion

Yamatai - Kyoto; Somewhere in the air over the city

'I can't believe you talked me into this!' Noda said to the Aegle's technician over internal communications, even her telepathic voice was excited as she gripped onto her own bike's handles for dear life. She had piloted a few things in her life, but mostly everything had some sort of artificial gravity or grav-defuser. This was pure unadulterated speed; she could actually feel air rushing over her small Yamataian body and her pulse pump with the release of adrenaline. It was so liberating, at this point the meek little ship op felt like she could do just about anything, anything at all. But before she could, she needed to keep this thing from crashing, and she took care to follow Faleen's lead.



Yamatai - Kyoto; The 'Cat's Chat' Coffee

The Captain of the skeleton crew'd YSS Asterope; Taii, Izuki Kameko, was traveling by hover-car with her XO seated beside her. The two were mulling over how dull their existence had been since their leave of the YSS Senbu. "Glorious position indeed," Izuki said with a disappointed scowl, "all we've accomplished since our assignment here is run-arounds and lackluster guard duties. I would have never thought that this would be where my career would lead me," the Yamataian said as she drove through the city.

"Maybe this time it'll be different," said the Chui. Kimi was uncharacteristically hopeful of this new assignment. Mostly not for her own sake though, but for that of her friend and Captain. She honestly did want better, since the two of them did come to this posting in hopes of a better future. She wanted to take her own mind off all of this, so when they were coming up on a nice little cafe, the Neko was quick to point it out. "Look over there, let's go in and grab something to smooth things over. It's on me," she offered.

The Kameko Clanner glanced over at the cafe and back to her XO, she sighed at first but nodded. "Maybe you're right... perhaps it'd be better to take the time to relax, as Yui-Taisho suggested," she said as she pulled the hover car into the parking. It didn't take long, and the two were out and on their way inside. Izuki grabbed her data pad, as something to keep her distracted.

But Kimi gently placed her hand over it. "Maybe you should try to let the work wait for tomorrow, I already compiled the supplies and done all the prep work while you were in your meetings with your family members. The ship will be ready for our launch. You should just take it easy for tonight. Let me handle it, I will do you no dishonor," she said smirking slightly, trying to lighten up the mood.

"Fine..." Izuki said lowering the pad down onto the seat and closing the door. "But you can't buy coffee," she said as she lead the way into the shop, "because you can buy the sake tonight." She smirked back, really the extent of her showing of pleasure. She didn't usually express her motives, or emotions unless she really trusted that individual. But that was all aside now, and there was something else to draw their attention. For as they went to order at the counter, they spotted their squad-mates sitting relaxed at one of the tables quietly off in to the side. Izuki offered a nod, but ordered their coffee before going to join them.

Kimi with a chai-late in hand and Izuki with a cold creamy green tea beverage with no whip-cream came to join Seth and Rhiannon. "Good evening Larai-san, Bell-san. Do you mind if we join you?" Izuki said with the politeness of a proper Yamataian lady. She waited with a calm expression, while Kimi made a friendly little wave with her fingertips from over the COs shoulder.

Re: Episode 3: Reunion

"Aah! There you are!" Faleen responded telepathically, looking behind her at the other ship's technician "Quit being a baby, Noda, we've barely even covered half the city this way, and the night won't last forever!" The Neko engineer pressed down on the controls, speeding her airbike up, before she dove it into the city's hovercar traffic. She apparently expected Noda to follow her near suicidal path.

******

"Good evening." Larai-taii returned, nodding his head as respectfully as his position allowed, while the Chui did likewise, tipping her mug to the newcomers.

"How are the preparations coming along?" Rhiannon asked, somewhat less formally than she should have, but they were on leave, so it was acceptable, even if the Taii did appear somewhat disapproving of the informality.