Yangfan
Inactive Member
YANGFAN
“Begin our approach to the hospital ship,” ordered Aurore. “Celia, assemble the necessary crew for our next objective, and check on the status of Itkatsu-Shosa.”
“Aye, sir,” replied the Celia.
Her voice then beamed down from the ceiling of the wardroom. “Itkatsu-Shosa, the Taisho was wandering if you had finished your meal yet... Hello, Jasmine.”
“Hello, ma'am,” replied a visibly nervous Jasmine.
The Celia then opened a ship-wide audio channel:
“Attention, all Celia crew, the following crewmen will report to deck 9, main shuttle bay, for mission briefing:”
“Ittô Heisho Sixthree Tangozulu.”
“Ittô Hei Nishizaki Kaori.”
“Ittô Hei Nishizaki Kaede.”
“Ittô Hei Leet Kilar.”
“Ittô Hei Woot Seneschal.”
“Santô Hei Zug Leonhart.”
“Santô Hei Aoki Orie.”
“Santô Hei Joachim Demaro.”
“You have 15 minutes to finish your current tasks. No additional equipment will be necessary for this mission. Again, the rally point is deck 9. That is all. Thank you.”
In the mean time, the main planet of the Ohara system was rapidly coming into view. Two major artificial structures could be seen in its orbit: the Ohara Star Fortress, and the YSS Freya's Heart.
IMP SYNDROME
Joey was glad to have made some new friends aboard his new home. Aoki Orie was rather eccentric, but she was intelligent and fun to be around (and, as he noted mentally, rather attractive). He had also managed to lose his anxiety with Zug Leonhart; after talking to him for a while, he realized that the two of them came from surprisingly similar walks of life, and that understanding had helped him relax.
The young Santou Hei had just finished a bowl of ramen noodles swimming in beef broth when an announcement was broadcasted across the ship. The message called for several enlisted crewmen, himself and his new friends included, to report for briefing.
"I'd better get going now," Joey said, promptly standing up. "I doubt it'll take long to reach the shuttle bay, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. I'll see you two up there!"
With a last glance and a wave back at Aoki and Zug, Joey walked quickly out of the mess hall and to the elevator. Stepping into the lift, he paused for a moment and looked back to see if his friends were following him; if they were keen on taking the lift with him, he didn't want to leave them behind.
KEL
Orie was pleased to notice that Zug didn't believe that the announcement had come from somebody in the ceiling this time... though, she noted in the back of her mind, she had recently been in the ceiling. Maybe he wasn't so absurd, thinking there were people up there.
As Joachim rushed off, she leapt to her feat to join him, the piece of toast she'd been slowly nibbling to death through the conversation still dangling from her mouth by a corner. She wasn't about to sit idle when there was work to be done, even if there was toast involved. Her first instinct was to leap into the nearest access tunnel and try crawling there... but then, remembering her confusion earlier, she decided to save stunts like that for when she'd gotten more familiar with the system. Besides, she had her suspicions that Zug might try following her, which could prove disastrous in the tight shafts.
Chasing after Joey down the hall, she issued a muffled shout. After she yanked the piece of toast out of her mouth, she said it again; this time, it was understandable as "Wait for me!" She ducked into the lift and stuffed the toast wrathfully in her mouth, apparently punishing it for its hindrance.
RATHMERE
Avaldamon Thulesius sat in the transport ship waiting silently as they came into Ohara system. He had his few belongings packed neatly beside him on the bench by the airlock to the shuttle storage. He brushed and nervously replaited his white hair, taking special care to make sure that it was straight.
He was slightly embarassed about being late on his first assignment, but his KES graduation had been planned just late enough that the YSS Celia left without him. His first jump had left him feeling rather alone and far from home, but he had expected that.
Avaldamon pulled out a small picture of his family from his uniform's pocket and looked at it as he waited for the Celia to be notified of his arrival. He was glad he had been assigned to the Celia. From what he had read recently, they seemed to be slightly short on technical sentries, which he was one. He just hoped that he could fit in easily with the crew.
YANGFAN
“Oh! Wait for Zug too!” said Zug as he shoved his spare rank pin into a pants pocket and took off after them. By the time he reached the lift, however, it was quite obvious that there was not enough room left in the lift to accommodate him. He couldn't possibly get inside without crushing Joachim and Orie. “Um, Zug will take the next lift,” he said with a resigned look on his face. The lift doors closed in front of him.
When Joachim and Orie reached the main shuttle bay, they saw that several crewmen had already arrived there before them. A silvery-haired Neko officer was quietly explaining something to a bald, muscular Yamataian red-shirt. Two other red-shirt Nekos stood at attention nearby. They appeared to be twins, and both of them had blazing red hair that matched the color of their uniforms.
Meanwhile, in an auxiliary shuttle bay, Avaldamon stepped out of the airlock and onto the deck of the ship.
“Greetings, Santô Hei Avaldamon Thulesius. Welcome aboard,” said a feminine voice emanating from the high ceiling. “Would you like directions to your room? If you hurry, you might be able to join your fellow tech sentries on a mission.”
IMP SYNDROME
"Sorry, Zug," Joey said, an apologetic expression on his face. "We'll be sure to fill you in when you get there. Deck nine, please, Chusa."
As the doors slid shut, the lift took off for the main shuttle bay, carrying Joey and Aoki with it. He felt bad for leaving Zug down there; for a while, he felt that he should've stepped out and allowed him access instead. He pondered over his guilt until the doors opened, and he walked out into the shuttle bay.
Most of the other requested crewmen had already arrived, and they all wore the same bright red-panel uniforms as Joey's own, save for a single Neko officer, who he assumed would be briefing them. After stepping into the room, he surveyed the others: both of the red-haired Neko twins and the enlisted Yamataian listening to the officer. Knowing that two other enlisted crewmen were not yet accounted for, he gave the twins some space, then walked to a spot that was in line with them and stood at attention, ready to receive his first orders.
ITKATSU KIYOKO
“I have, Celia-Chusa; does the Taisho wish for me to return to the bridge or proceed to where the cargo transfer will be taking place?” Kiyoko replied to the ship’s disembodied voice. The Neko rose from the seat she had occupied while she ate her food and turned to the brown-haired cook.
“Thank you for the meal; I hope to enjoy your cooking again sometime soon,” Kiyoko said pleasantly. Silently she pondered to herself on the cause of Jasmine’s uneasiness, whether it was caused by Celia herself, or the infamous Taisho, or something else entirely. For now though she decided to file it away in her memory - too little solid information, and too many uncertainties meant she would get nowhere. It was only her first day aboard the Celia after all; still early days for her to be gauging the crew’s mood and feelings with any accuracy.
YANGFAN
“Please return to the bridge, Itkatsu-Shosa. Branard-Taisho wishes to brief you personally,” said Celia.
Jasmine bowed to Kiyoko. “I'm glad you enjoyed it ma'am.”
It wasn't long before Zug hurried inside the shuttle bay, stopping next to Joachim and Orie. He looked expectantly at the Neko officer.
“Leet and Woot are running late, again,” said the silvery-haired Neko, turning slightly to look at the new arrivals. She wore a SAY uniform with silvery panels, and a Chusa rank pin.
“They'll make it on time, ma'am,” replied the bald Yamataian man. He wore a Ittô Heisho rank pin on his enlisted uniform.
“I know. Still, it is considered courteous to arrive a few minutes early,” replied the Neko officer.
Almost as if on cue, two young Yamataian men in red-paneled uniforms walked into the shuttle bay at a leisurely pace. They both leaned against one of the shuttles and looked around at the people already present.
“Ittô Hei Kilar, Ittô Hei Seneschal...” addressed the bald Yamataian man. “Stand up straight and fall into formation, damn it. You are setting a bad example for the newbies.”
“Aye, sir,” the two young men said in unison, walking up and standing at attention with the rest of the enlisted crew. “Sorry, sir,” added the brown-haired muscular one.
The bald Yamataian man scanned the small crowd of red-shirts, then turned to the Neko officer and bowed. “The crew you have ordered are assembled and ready for your inspection, ma'am.”
“Greetings,” the Neko officer addressed the enlisted crew with an authoritative voice. “For those of you who are new here and don't know me, I am Chusa Celia Megami, avatar of this ship's AI system. If you are not familiar with the avatar system, you may think of me as the ship's face to the crew. Standing besides me is Ittô Heisho Sixthree Tangozulu. While you may or may not report to another officer while you're on duty aboard this ship, your commanding officer during away missions will almost always be Ittô Heisho Tangozulu, so I suggest you learn to get along with him.”
Celia continued, “We have called you here today for a very simple mission: The medical supplies that we have just transported here via the Odori-class freighters need to be unloaded and moved to the proper cargo bays aboard the Jihi-class hospital ship NL-X3-11, also known as the Freya's Heart. We shall soon dock with the hospital ship, as will the Odori transport ships. Once docked, you will be directed to board the Freya's Heart and assist with the cargo transfer. The dock crew will provide you with detailed instructions once you arrive. Any questions?”
Zug timidly raised his hand.
“Yes, Santô Hei Leonhart?” asked Celia.
“Are you da lady in da ceiling, ma'am?”
Celia smiled, although there was also concern in her face. “I suppose you could say that, Santô Hei Leonhart... Does anyone else have a question?”
IMP SYNDROME
"You haven't missed much," Joey said quietly to Zug as he walked in and stood next to him. "We're just waiting for...Oh, here they come! Look sharp!"
Joey checked his posture as the Neko officer, wearing a Chusa rank pin, approached the group, calling out the two straggling Ittou Heis for their tardiness before addressing the entire assembly. Beside her was the bald Yamataian, who wore the rank of Ittou Heisho. Young Demaro blinked as the Chusa introduced herself as Megami Celia herself, the ship's avatar.
Joey was relatively calm throughout the quick briefing session, trying hard not to crack a smile at Zug's innocent question. He could not help but flinch, however, when he heard Megami say that it would be a simple mission; a few wise words from his father sprang into his mind from the depths of his long-term memories, words about simple missions and transporting cargo. Knowing that it would be best to raise his question - and tensions with it - than to be caught off-guard, he raised his own hand, then took a breath before asking his question.
"Chusa, exactly how sensitive is our cargo? That is...would the transported materials on board Freya's Heart be tempting enough to provoke an enemy attack?"
For the first time since enlisting, Joey was glad for his father's abundant experience and sage advice. He had once instructed his son never to expect any delivery run in the Star Army to be 'simple'; to always be prepared for hostile attempts on the cargo, especially while transporting sensitive materials. That knowledge had stayed with young Demaro, and the technician was glad for it.
KEL
Orie stood rigidly at attention through the briefing, her expression and posture so serious that it almost looked comedic. A Chusa rank pin was bad enough, but this was the ship's avatar. Orie suspected that it was a good idea to stay on the ship's good side when you worked on her innards for a living.
On the other hand, she had to contain herself at Celia's prompt for questions. There was so much stuff she still wanted to know about the ship, and who better to tell her than the ship itself? Fortunately, Zug and Joey interrupted--though she did make a mental note, upon hearing Zug's question, to explain the concept of an intercom to him.
“Begin our approach to the hospital ship,” ordered Aurore. “Celia, assemble the necessary crew for our next objective, and check on the status of Itkatsu-Shosa.”
“Aye, sir,” replied the Celia.
Her voice then beamed down from the ceiling of the wardroom. “Itkatsu-Shosa, the Taisho was wandering if you had finished your meal yet... Hello, Jasmine.”
“Hello, ma'am,” replied a visibly nervous Jasmine.
The Celia then opened a ship-wide audio channel:
“Attention, all Celia crew, the following crewmen will report to deck 9, main shuttle bay, for mission briefing:”
“Ittô Heisho Sixthree Tangozulu.”
“Ittô Hei Nishizaki Kaori.”
“Ittô Hei Nishizaki Kaede.”
“Ittô Hei Leet Kilar.”
“Ittô Hei Woot Seneschal.”
“Santô Hei Zug Leonhart.”
“Santô Hei Aoki Orie.”
“Santô Hei Joachim Demaro.”
“You have 15 minutes to finish your current tasks. No additional equipment will be necessary for this mission. Again, the rally point is deck 9. That is all. Thank you.”
In the mean time, the main planet of the Ohara system was rapidly coming into view. Two major artificial structures could be seen in its orbit: the Ohara Star Fortress, and the YSS Freya's Heart.
IMP SYNDROME
Joey was glad to have made some new friends aboard his new home. Aoki Orie was rather eccentric, but she was intelligent and fun to be around (and, as he noted mentally, rather attractive). He had also managed to lose his anxiety with Zug Leonhart; after talking to him for a while, he realized that the two of them came from surprisingly similar walks of life, and that understanding had helped him relax.
The young Santou Hei had just finished a bowl of ramen noodles swimming in beef broth when an announcement was broadcasted across the ship. The message called for several enlisted crewmen, himself and his new friends included, to report for briefing.
"I'd better get going now," Joey said, promptly standing up. "I doubt it'll take long to reach the shuttle bay, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. I'll see you two up there!"
With a last glance and a wave back at Aoki and Zug, Joey walked quickly out of the mess hall and to the elevator. Stepping into the lift, he paused for a moment and looked back to see if his friends were following him; if they were keen on taking the lift with him, he didn't want to leave them behind.
KEL
Orie was pleased to notice that Zug didn't believe that the announcement had come from somebody in the ceiling this time... though, she noted in the back of her mind, she had recently been in the ceiling. Maybe he wasn't so absurd, thinking there were people up there.
As Joachim rushed off, she leapt to her feat to join him, the piece of toast she'd been slowly nibbling to death through the conversation still dangling from her mouth by a corner. She wasn't about to sit idle when there was work to be done, even if there was toast involved. Her first instinct was to leap into the nearest access tunnel and try crawling there... but then, remembering her confusion earlier, she decided to save stunts like that for when she'd gotten more familiar with the system. Besides, she had her suspicions that Zug might try following her, which could prove disastrous in the tight shafts.
Chasing after Joey down the hall, she issued a muffled shout. After she yanked the piece of toast out of her mouth, she said it again; this time, it was understandable as "Wait for me!" She ducked into the lift and stuffed the toast wrathfully in her mouth, apparently punishing it for its hindrance.
RATHMERE
Avaldamon Thulesius sat in the transport ship waiting silently as they came into Ohara system. He had his few belongings packed neatly beside him on the bench by the airlock to the shuttle storage. He brushed and nervously replaited his white hair, taking special care to make sure that it was straight.
He was slightly embarassed about being late on his first assignment, but his KES graduation had been planned just late enough that the YSS Celia left without him. His first jump had left him feeling rather alone and far from home, but he had expected that.
Avaldamon pulled out a small picture of his family from his uniform's pocket and looked at it as he waited for the Celia to be notified of his arrival. He was glad he had been assigned to the Celia. From what he had read recently, they seemed to be slightly short on technical sentries, which he was one. He just hoped that he could fit in easily with the crew.
YANGFAN
“Oh! Wait for Zug too!” said Zug as he shoved his spare rank pin into a pants pocket and took off after them. By the time he reached the lift, however, it was quite obvious that there was not enough room left in the lift to accommodate him. He couldn't possibly get inside without crushing Joachim and Orie. “Um, Zug will take the next lift,” he said with a resigned look on his face. The lift doors closed in front of him.
When Joachim and Orie reached the main shuttle bay, they saw that several crewmen had already arrived there before them. A silvery-haired Neko officer was quietly explaining something to a bald, muscular Yamataian red-shirt. Two other red-shirt Nekos stood at attention nearby. They appeared to be twins, and both of them had blazing red hair that matched the color of their uniforms.
Meanwhile, in an auxiliary shuttle bay, Avaldamon stepped out of the airlock and onto the deck of the ship.
“Greetings, Santô Hei Avaldamon Thulesius. Welcome aboard,” said a feminine voice emanating from the high ceiling. “Would you like directions to your room? If you hurry, you might be able to join your fellow tech sentries on a mission.”
IMP SYNDROME
"Sorry, Zug," Joey said, an apologetic expression on his face. "We'll be sure to fill you in when you get there. Deck nine, please, Chusa."
As the doors slid shut, the lift took off for the main shuttle bay, carrying Joey and Aoki with it. He felt bad for leaving Zug down there; for a while, he felt that he should've stepped out and allowed him access instead. He pondered over his guilt until the doors opened, and he walked out into the shuttle bay.
Most of the other requested crewmen had already arrived, and they all wore the same bright red-panel uniforms as Joey's own, save for a single Neko officer, who he assumed would be briefing them. After stepping into the room, he surveyed the others: both of the red-haired Neko twins and the enlisted Yamataian listening to the officer. Knowing that two other enlisted crewmen were not yet accounted for, he gave the twins some space, then walked to a spot that was in line with them and stood at attention, ready to receive his first orders.
ITKATSU KIYOKO
“I have, Celia-Chusa; does the Taisho wish for me to return to the bridge or proceed to where the cargo transfer will be taking place?” Kiyoko replied to the ship’s disembodied voice. The Neko rose from the seat she had occupied while she ate her food and turned to the brown-haired cook.
“Thank you for the meal; I hope to enjoy your cooking again sometime soon,” Kiyoko said pleasantly. Silently she pondered to herself on the cause of Jasmine’s uneasiness, whether it was caused by Celia herself, or the infamous Taisho, or something else entirely. For now though she decided to file it away in her memory - too little solid information, and too many uncertainties meant she would get nowhere. It was only her first day aboard the Celia after all; still early days for her to be gauging the crew’s mood and feelings with any accuracy.
YANGFAN
“Please return to the bridge, Itkatsu-Shosa. Branard-Taisho wishes to brief you personally,” said Celia.
Jasmine bowed to Kiyoko. “I'm glad you enjoyed it ma'am.”
It wasn't long before Zug hurried inside the shuttle bay, stopping next to Joachim and Orie. He looked expectantly at the Neko officer.
“Leet and Woot are running late, again,” said the silvery-haired Neko, turning slightly to look at the new arrivals. She wore a SAY uniform with silvery panels, and a Chusa rank pin.
“They'll make it on time, ma'am,” replied the bald Yamataian man. He wore a Ittô Heisho rank pin on his enlisted uniform.
“I know. Still, it is considered courteous to arrive a few minutes early,” replied the Neko officer.
Almost as if on cue, two young Yamataian men in red-paneled uniforms walked into the shuttle bay at a leisurely pace. They both leaned against one of the shuttles and looked around at the people already present.
“Ittô Hei Kilar, Ittô Hei Seneschal...” addressed the bald Yamataian man. “Stand up straight and fall into formation, damn it. You are setting a bad example for the newbies.”
“Aye, sir,” the two young men said in unison, walking up and standing at attention with the rest of the enlisted crew. “Sorry, sir,” added the brown-haired muscular one.
The bald Yamataian man scanned the small crowd of red-shirts, then turned to the Neko officer and bowed. “The crew you have ordered are assembled and ready for your inspection, ma'am.”
“Greetings,” the Neko officer addressed the enlisted crew with an authoritative voice. “For those of you who are new here and don't know me, I am Chusa Celia Megami, avatar of this ship's AI system. If you are not familiar with the avatar system, you may think of me as the ship's face to the crew. Standing besides me is Ittô Heisho Sixthree Tangozulu. While you may or may not report to another officer while you're on duty aboard this ship, your commanding officer during away missions will almost always be Ittô Heisho Tangozulu, so I suggest you learn to get along with him.”
Celia continued, “We have called you here today for a very simple mission: The medical supplies that we have just transported here via the Odori-class freighters need to be unloaded and moved to the proper cargo bays aboard the Jihi-class hospital ship NL-X3-11, also known as the Freya's Heart. We shall soon dock with the hospital ship, as will the Odori transport ships. Once docked, you will be directed to board the Freya's Heart and assist with the cargo transfer. The dock crew will provide you with detailed instructions once you arrive. Any questions?”
Zug timidly raised his hand.
“Yes, Santô Hei Leonhart?” asked Celia.
“Are you da lady in da ceiling, ma'am?”
Celia smiled, although there was also concern in her face. “I suppose you could say that, Santô Hei Leonhart... Does anyone else have a question?”
IMP SYNDROME
"You haven't missed much," Joey said quietly to Zug as he walked in and stood next to him. "We're just waiting for...Oh, here they come! Look sharp!"
Joey checked his posture as the Neko officer, wearing a Chusa rank pin, approached the group, calling out the two straggling Ittou Heis for their tardiness before addressing the entire assembly. Beside her was the bald Yamataian, who wore the rank of Ittou Heisho. Young Demaro blinked as the Chusa introduced herself as Megami Celia herself, the ship's avatar.
Joey was relatively calm throughout the quick briefing session, trying hard not to crack a smile at Zug's innocent question. He could not help but flinch, however, when he heard Megami say that it would be a simple mission; a few wise words from his father sprang into his mind from the depths of his long-term memories, words about simple missions and transporting cargo. Knowing that it would be best to raise his question - and tensions with it - than to be caught off-guard, he raised his own hand, then took a breath before asking his question.
"Chusa, exactly how sensitive is our cargo? That is...would the transported materials on board Freya's Heart be tempting enough to provoke an enemy attack?"
For the first time since enlisting, Joey was glad for his father's abundant experience and sage advice. He had once instructed his son never to expect any delivery run in the Star Army to be 'simple'; to always be prepared for hostile attempts on the cargo, especially while transporting sensitive materials. That knowledge had stayed with young Demaro, and the technician was glad for it.
KEL
Orie stood rigidly at attention through the briefing, her expression and posture so serious that it almost looked comedic. A Chusa rank pin was bad enough, but this was the ship's avatar. Orie suspected that it was a good idea to stay on the ship's good side when you worked on her innards for a living.
On the other hand, she had to contain herself at Celia's prompt for questions. There was so much stuff she still wanted to know about the ship, and who better to tell her than the ship itself? Fortunately, Zug and Joey interrupted--though she did make a mental note, upon hearing Zug's question, to explain the concept of an intercom to him.
