RP: YSS Senbu Ep 00 - Prologue: Interviews and preparation

ON: Cosmos Star Fortress




The newly appointed captain of the YSS Senbu; Shizuka Endo paced back and forth on the busy deck as she over saw the loading of the ship's supplies. The blonde haired Shosa was gazing over a data pad with a pensive look on her tanned features, those amber eyes of hers seemed to question the information she was browsing over.

Nyoko had her orders to report; it was exciting she had never had orders to go to an actual ship before. The YSS Senbu, she had heard it was a large ship but nothing could compare when actually seeing such a sight, it was amazing her mouth gaping for just a moment before she shook her head to regain her composer. Come now she was going to be late if she stood there like a moron she had to find who she was suppose to be reporting to. Looking across the deck she spied the only personnel wearing officers’ white and hurried over. "Hayashi Nyoko, reporting for duty?" She was slightly unsure of herself with a smile and a salute.

Shizuka tapped the data pad in her hand once more and then nodded confidently. Then she looked up to the new Santo Hei, quickly giving her a once over apprising gaze with her hand closed under her chin. "You look healthy, hmmm..." The strange officer approached closer and took an open hand and tapped the back side against Nyoko's abs, feeling particularly happy with the results she nodded once more and offered the Santo Hei a big toothy smile. "If you’re going to be under my command, you need to be lean, mean and one helluva fighting machine. Let's head in, we can talk more privately over something to eat; I’ve been making sure these monkeys don’t scratch my power armors all morning, so I missed breakfast." The eccentric Captain headed up to the entrance ramp and made her way into the ship.

The cured assessment of her was weird, Nyoko never liked being poked and prodded and scrutinized especially by someone she did not know, also it tickled and she wanted to laugh but held back. Her captain, she had deduced by the way she was being protective of the armors, was different that was for sure, but at the same time she had something Nyoko could identify with, she was sensible and wanted the job done, and that was perfectly fine with her. She did not respond with words to her response but bowed in respect and followed behind her. This was going to be interesting for sure.

Shizuka led the Hei though the halls running alongside the massive main repair bay, from the clear zesuaium windows on their left they'd be able to see a large amount of the engineering team work away busily at setting up all the equipment and testing the ship's internal equipment. Then the two came up to the vertical zero-gravity passage, Shizuka stepped in and up she went she'd take the new recruit sixteen-decks before she'd head out another shorter hall and turn into the only operating wardroom at the moment. "Aoi-chan!" Shizuka quickly yelled out as soon as she arrived in the room.

Then out from the back in the kitchen poked a little eight-inch-tall sprite already armed with a large wok in one hand. "Yes Shosa?" The cute blue haired, blue eyed sprite answered as she smiled happily to see people in the wardroom.

"Cook something up for me and the Santo Hei, I'm really, really hungry." Shizuka said with a puppy eyed look towards the sprite. The sprite quickly nodded and then vanished into the kitchen. "Take a seat Nyoko-hei," The Captain said as she headed towards one of the tables scattered about in the wardroom, she gestured towards a seat then took the one across from it and placed her data pad on the table top.

Fallowing a few paces behind Shizuka, Nyoko walked quietly looking all around in taking in all the sights of all the work going on. So much activity it was exciting she could feel the energy around her and enter her, normally she would be in knots, however she could lose herself in the energy of the ship and it was calming to her that was until she entered the wardroom. She felt the knots come again she was alone with her Shosa, and next she would probably be asked questions. Nyoko waited for Shizuka to sit before taking her own seat across from her. What was it she was going to be asked?

Shizuka tapped her data pad once more and the screen was filled with an interesting file with the header; 'Pride Wing.' "Santo Hei, Hayashi Nyoko, I've reviewed your file with some interest... it appears that you are a capable pilot and fighter. I have an idea where I'd like to place you onboard my crew, but..." the Shosa paused as she leaned forward and interlaced her fingers in front of her face as she contemplated, "there’s much more you can learn from talking with a person then just reading over their file." Shizuka's almost beast like amber eyes starred long and hard at the girl for a little over a second, and then she nodded, seeming as if she had read right through to the girl's inner most thoughts just from her piercing gaze. Was she reading her mind? Of course not... but the messy haired Neko was quite versed with reading people's aptitude from their facial body language and fire in their eyes, or at least she thought she did. "Tell me Hayashi-Hei, what do you think of working with others?" Shizuka asked, she decided to start the questions out easy to relax the Santo Hei before she got into the more intense questions.

Working with others? What an odd question, but it was a start, and Nyoko responded keeping her answer simple "working with others? I like working with others."

"Given the choice, to save a fellow crew member in jeopardy or complete a mission. Which would you chose? " Shizuka raised a brow watching the Santo-Hei’s expressions closely.

The usual question of wither to save a life or complete the mission, and this was a tricky one to answer so many conditions and it’s not really a simple question either, Some missions are to save a crew and losing a fellow crew member to prevent the death of more crewmember. It was a matter of logic but this was a loaded question in either direction because what if the mission was just a simple grab of some cargo and a fellow crew member had lost their breathable air. You could simply complete the mission after, err she was over thinking this and she smiled lightly. "Well umm... I could not watch a crew fellow member die, but if completing the mission also involved saving more than just one life it would be hard to choose between them both." again she was over thinking again. She smiled, "if it was just a simple mission and I was not alone the crew member would have to come first. thats what I think atleast."

Shizuka's serious stare was dispelled with Nyoko's answer. She smiled kindly and then lifted her chin to rest on the back of her interlaced fingers. "Any mission can be returned to, no matter what anyone tells you. Machines can be repaired and weapons replaced, but crew are irreplaceable. I consider my crew, no matter what rank the most important part of this ship, even though I might not show it when someone scratches my ships paint." Shizuka tried to make the recruit laugh a bit and relax a bit more, Aoi quickly brought drinks to the table, and quietly offered the both of them some non-alcoholic carbonated berry cocktail juice. Then she disappeared back into the kitchen as swiftly as she had shown up.

Shizuka thanked the sprite with a small bow of her head and sipped at the contents happily. "That's all I needed to know, I gathered all I needed just by meeting you. I will have you posted you as a candidate to my special project, the Pride Wing; who will be lead wing for this ships’ mass of combat ready pilots. Do you think you could handle a responsibility like that? It’s not like you’d be leading the wing, but I can grantee you’d be seeing more action the rest of the ship, you seem like a trustworthy pilot to me. I’m sure with the result of our conversation, that the more I get to know about you the more I’ll like." The Captain took another drink of the tasty refreshment as she let the recruit answer.

She grinned with excitement, ‘Pride wing’ that sounds important and fun! She took a sip of her refreshment to help hide her exuberance. "Thank you Shosa, I hope I meet your expectations and exceed them, umm… thank you again." She was happy she even made it through the interview. "Is there anything else you need? Or..." she let her sentence drag on with purpose as if indicating she was still nervous and really wished to go at this point as to not ruin her trust the officer had already given her.

"You forget there's food being made for you." Shizuka said with a giggle as she finished off the drink and was sure to order another one from Aoi through WIES, the ship's centralized computer. Then almost as if on cue, the cute blue little sprite came out with two plates full of beef and mushroom stir-fry and bowls of steamed white rice. The captain almost drooled over the sight of such amazing food, but she caught herself and kept from devouring the plate along with its contents.
Of course the food, how could she have forgotten? "Oh of course, hah, would not what that to go to waste!" She sat there still as the food arrived, that’s when she realized she was hungry as well, such good looking food, she waited politely for Shizuka to start before starting on her own.

Shizuka ate and then once they were finished the meal she assigned the Recruit her room. She was designated to port enlisted room #19-1; which was the first room on the all enlisted female deck. Then after she saw the Hei off to her room, the Captain returned to making sure the dock monkeys didn't break anything.




END

Re: Cosmos Star Fortress: Dinner and a interview!

ON: Cosmos Star Fortress




The morning and noon loading procedures went smoothly. The YSS Senbu was still docked, however, a ship of that magnitude which carried so much for supplies was not simply ready in a few hours. The deck was busy, people going back and forth of all respective professions but there was only one officer there; it was easy to spot Shizuka Endo as she followed closely to the crates passing back and forth and would yell over the commotion at someone for nearly coming close to scratching the paint of either her armors or ship. She seemed pretty protective over her machinery.

New orders. During his time as a technician, Nicholas Saiga had grown to enjoy receiving them; it had almost become his favorite part of being in the Star Army. It was always a pleasant and exciting experience, far removed from the dangers and oh-so-thrilling action of war and throughout his tenure in the military, the young Geshrin had received his fair share of new orders. More than most from what he figured. This time was no different – the journey from Yamatai to Cosmos Star Fortress had been enjoyable because of all the stations and planetary bases that he’d been routed through, if nothing else. Seeing new places and ships was part of the excitement, and now, as he approached the YSS Senbu with his duffel bag slung over his shoulder, that excitement was at its apex.

She was an Anri-class DSRV, and while not as massive as the Yūgumo or Destiny, still impressed Nicholas. As most Star Army ships, the Senbu was of elegant visual aesthetic with its sweeping curves and elegantly placed sensor blisters. Being assigned to another, rear-echelon support ship far-off and away from a fight pleased him. He’d been happy with his assignment to the Goban for the same reason, but with the Mishhuvurthyar gone, the Geshrin didn’t expect a repeat of the unexpected action he’d seen during his tour aboard that ship.

Noticing only one officer among the bustling mass of enlisted technicians and soldiers, Nicholas diverted his course towards her. He weaved through the busy personnel as best he could, avoiding getting in their way with all of his effort. He’d had to stop a few times as large loads of arms and equipment passed by him, and had to re-locate his target amidst the ever-moving swarm of workers, but eventually he reached his destination.

“I am Nicholas Saiga, reporting as ordered” he said, bowing deeply to the Nekovalkyrja officer. “Do you know where I could find this ship’s commanding officer or somebody who has the authority to receive me?”

She returned the bow with a half upper body bow. "That'd be me, Shizuka Endo, your new Shosa. I'm glad you could make it so promptly, let's head in. I have a few questions for you and I'm sure your dying to see the inside of the ship." She said in a very commonly cheerful tone before she raised a hand and gestured for him to follow her up the ramp leading into the ship.

The Geshrin nodded, falling into step behind the Shosa. “I’m sure she is just as impressive on the inside as she is from out here,” he said in acknowledgment of her words. He wondered what questions she’d ask him, every captain was different in how, or if, they interviewed their new crew. Ozaki had given him Nepleslian whiskey, while Bard hadn’t met with him at all, and Motoyoshi had held a group meeting with several other newly assigned people so Nicholas, understandably, didn’t know what to expect form this newly-acquainted officer.

Shizuka lead Nicholas though the halls running alongside the massive main repair bay, from the clear zesuaium windows on their left they'd be able to see a large amount of the engineering team work away busily at setting up all the equipment and testing the ship's internal equipment. No matter where they went it was obvious this ship already had loads of crew members on board. The CO led him up a few decks and then through a short hallway and into what looked to be a smaller more intricate wardroom. "Take a seat Saiga-heisho." The captain gestured to a table to which she took the seat across from, placing her data pad down as she sat.

“As you command, Endo-shosa,” Nicholas replied before taking a seat at the table. The ship was unlike any of the others he had been assigned to before. From what he’d been able to read about the Anri-class was minimal, but what he had seen, combined with actually witnessing some of the work that happened inside its hull, gave him a unique impression. Everyone he’d seen so far had been doing something. On other large ships he’d served on, if people were not at their posts, they were off duty. Here, technicians moved around the vessel with a purpose and resolve he hadn’t seen before. Such was the experience on a ship full of engineers – technical soldiers like him – he supposed. “You mentioned that you had some questions, for me, Shosa?”

"Yes, I like to learn a little about every member of my ship, and every single person you saw on our way here has sat through an interview, in one form or the next. Plus I've been looking over your record with quite some interest; you've had an impressive career up to this point. So I may have a special offer for you too, in regards to placement. But first would you like something to drink?" She offered as she was already listing off her order via WIES in her head.

“Ah,” Nicholas began, pausing as he resisted the temptation to ask for some kind of liquor. “Just water. Yes, water would be fine,” he finally said with a smile. He was glad that this Neko, apparently, showed an interest in getting to know everyone who served on her ship. It was comforting to know that she, at least in a very small way, would be empathically connected to each of the soldiers she was responsible for. “As for my career, I don’t know how impressive it really is,” he said modestly, momentarily breaking eye-contact with the Shosa, “but thank you for your confidence in my record.”

A few seconds later a small blue sprite came out with their drinks on a tray and placed them on the table. "Thank you Aoi-chan." The captain said to the sprite, which just bowed to both of them and quickly disappeared back into the kitchen. "Well, let's hope you have some confidence in your skills as well." She said happily before taking a sip at the fizzy redish-pink contents of her glass. "So, first question; how do you feel about working closely with others?" She seemed to be just using the question as a way of making the Heisho relax as she eased him into the harder ones.

Nicholas smiled again after giving a gesture of thanks to the sprite, this time more genuinely, “Yes. I am very confident in my ability at what I do. One of the best, Endo-shosa.” He wasn’t one to be pompous or arrogant, most of the time, but every once in a while, he couldn’t help himself. The Geshrin Heicho glanced at his glass of water for a few moments, still grinning as he contemplated his answer. When he looked back up at his new commander, his smile was gone as he replied, “As a member of the Star Army, it is my duty to work with others in almost everything I do. Having been in combat, I know the importance of being able to trust your compatriots and get on well with them, even if you barely know them. So, in far less words, I suppose that I just feel that working with others is part of the job.”

Her face brightened up in a very pleased grin, like that of a lion. "Good, I'll need someone like you for my project. You just said the magic words to skip the rest of the questions and go right to the last one, this one is the most important to me as a CO and as a person." With the serious tone of her words she interlaced her fingers and took a moment gazing deeply into his eyes, with a piercing stare. The ferocity of her personality should be a little clearer now. "Given the choice, to save a fellow crew member in jeopardy or complete a mission. Which would you choose?" She watched and listened carefully to his words, it almost as if she was reading straight through to his soul.

He didn’t like the question very much at all, but tried to keep the dissatisfaction off of his face. Nicholas took a sip of his water, then returned Shizuka’s fiery gaze with his own, far more mundane stare. It all depended upon the situation, he thought to himself, whether the crewmember in jeopardy was able to be saved, but more importantly whether they were a Neko or not. He was not a racist man, far less so than the majority of the Saiga family, and even ignoring the family’s distaste for the Neko, the principles that he had been taught dictated that duty towards the Empire be respected above all else. Anything less would be dishonorable.

“Well, Endo-shosa,” he replied, still at a loss for what he could say. The Geshrin knew he couldn’t say something like what he’d just thought to this woman, no matter how much he believed it. He would not lie to her, but he could not be totally honest with her either. Such disrespect would shame him. “I would choose to save the life of one of my fellow crew members over the completion of a mission,” he finally said. “While death in the service of our great Empire is a very honorable deed, every member her Star Army can better serve the nation with their experiences intact. The preservation of every life, where it can be saved, is important,” he finished, cringing inside as every word he spoke dripped with sincere intent. “This is assuming that both the mission and the saving of one’s life are mutually exclusive things, though.”

She lowered her eye lids for a moment and nodded. It was hard to discern how she felt about his answer, but after a long lingering second, her intense expression faded and her eyes drifted open with a smile on her face. "Good, I'm glad you feel that way. As a commanding officer, many have thought in the past that the goals of such administration are always the mission first. But I believe that every man and woman in the Star Army is important, no matter their roles, and their lives come first before anything else. Missions can be returned to, and equipment replaced or repaired. We're here in a ship that functions on that very principal. So with that said, I welcome you to the staff of the YSS Senbu, and I offer you a position on my bridge as mission ops. You will be in charge of keeping my special project, the Senbu’s lead armor division; the Pride Wing, up to date as well as communicating with the ship’s intel on our mission statuses. This wing will be the most active, and prestigious, as they will be carrying out most of our missions. Do you think you could handle such a responsibility like that? "

“I can,” Nicholas said confidently. In all of the assignments he’d been given as a communications technician he, ironically, had never really done something like this. It was a great pleasure to him, finally being able to what he was trained to do as his main duty, and it was obvious on his face that he felt this way. “Thank you for the honor, Endo-shosa.”

"Once we finish gathering our crew and shove off, I will be starting the re-training of this wing, as of course I want them to be able to lead this ship's considerable amount of armors into battle valiantly and readily. I will call upon you then, so I can see you in action as well. Other than that, you've impressed me with your interview Nicholas-heisho, I'm glad to have you aboard." She said with a confidant nod before finishing off her glass. "Now are there any questions you have for me?" She asked lifting a hand to her chin.

“For now, I only to ask where my quarters are, Shosa,” the Heisho replied. Of course he did have other questions that he wanted to ask her; there was something about Shizuka Endo’s odd manner and appearance that intrigued the young Geshrin, but that interest could wait. He could get to know his new commander when things were less hectic and the ship had settled into its routines. “I look forward to serving you to my fullest,” he finished.

"Enlisted male quarters; 10-1. Go rest up and unpack your things, hopefully we'll have the wardroom for that deck up and running soon, so you can enjoy some supper before we head out." Shizuka nodded once more then started to stand up slowly.

Nicholas followed suit, standing up from his seat before bowing. “Thank you, Shosa,” he said, remaining bowed as he waited for his captain to leave, then himself making finding his way to his quarters to get settled in.

She returned the bow and off she went, to oversee various aspects of her ship as they were almost in the finishing stages now, and the excitement was high in the air.




END

Re: Cosmos Star Fortress: Interviews and preparation

ON: Cosmos Star Fortress




Shizuka oversaw the last of the loading from the outside of the massive Anri-class ship, with a smirk pulling up on the corner of her lips she interlaced her fingers and extended her arms out. "It's go time..." She said excitedly to no one in particular. The Captain was beginning to feel her anxiety rise, after all... today was the day they'd be heading out. That's when her data pad came alive, there was a new mail alert. She quickly snatched up the portable terminal and eyed over the text. Her first mission was a simple one, the Senbu was ordered to locate, secure, and repair the missing YSS Takemitsu. The Shosa's smirk grew into a grin; with her amber eyes heading upwards she took one last admiring look at her ship.

Mizu glanced out the small window from the compact fuselage of the shuttle she arrived on, a few docking bays from where the YSS Senbu was finishing its preparations. She seemed a bit overanxious to finally meet the Captain and not have to go over e-mails about the details. Stepping out of the shuttle with little over seven other personnel, Mizu made her way down the corridor with everything she was going to need with her on the departure. Thoughts flooded her eager imagination as she came upon the entrance to the YSS Senbu’s loading bay. Stepping through, Mizu had been taken back by the sight of the Anri-Class ship. Shaking her awe, she scanned her surroundings while moving closer. No one seemed to have the appearance of the 'Captain' per say. Mizu sighed, in the corner of her right eye she caught glimpse of a woman with a grin on her face, and she smiled herself. As she approached the woman she called out to her in a calm manner, "Uhmm… excuse me, Ma'am? I'm looking for the captain of this vessel... do you know where she might happen to be?" Mizu set her things down and saluted, before having the woman face her.

The blonde haired Neko turned to face the recruit. Still excitedly grinning, she placed both of her hands on the Yamataian's shoulders and patted her twice. "That'd be me, welcome to the YSS Senbu. You’re the pilot I sent for, right?" She said skipping over normal procedure completely for the moment, she had her first mission and her ship was loaded and primed. She was a little too excited to be formal right now.

Trying to maintain a salute with your commanding officer patting your shoulders was a little more then awkward, but she nodded all the same. Letting her arm fall to her side, she spoke softly. "Yes, you requested a pilot. Here I am, and that…" She glanced to the Senbu with glee before continuing. "...That must be the glorious Senbu." There was a sparkling gleam in her eyes as she looked over starting at the stern and looked up the side to the bow.

Indeed, but all the same the CO was quite pleased with the Hei's response. Shizuka then released the girl and crossed her arms over her chest and took one last long look at the ship. "So we're shipping off in a few minutes. Normally I'd stand here and give you a long interview but, like battle, you must be versatile. I only have one question for you Pilot, in a situation where someone in this crew was in a life-threatening situation and you could save them, or complete our mission. What would you do?" The lion-ish in nature Neko said in a very serious tone as she turned to face the new recruit.

Mizu's expression seemed to tighten slightly. She thought back to a time in school when something similar was asked amongst a group of friends in a different situation. She answered the same, but with obvious difference but still maintaining the same, heart placed into the words. She saluted as she always had before answering an officer. "Captain, no disrespect, but if I were to choose the life of a crewman over that of any mission, I would most likely disobey orders until I saw fit the crewman in danger was safe. I've held my own policy: no one gets left behind." After she finished answering, her expression eased a bit.

Shizuka smiled and nodded at her. "Your orders follow those very same values, any mission can be returned to, remember that and you’ll go far on this ship. Welcome to the Senbu."




PAUSE