Akina plodded alongside the Admiral, slightly behind the other woman. She noted various crew dodging out of their way in the corridor, while they made their way to an unknown destination.
"I bet you didn't expect getting this kind of assignment right out of the Academy, did you?" she motioned towards the lift to allow Akina to go first, the polished metal sign next to the lift said -Flight Control Bridge L1- Katsuko figured that they might as well start there considering it was the closest command area to the bay where she had arrived.
The Shosa hefted one of her bags higher on her shoulder before getting in the lift. "Yes, kanchou..I guess you could say I wasn't exactly the most senior officer at the War College." The new Yamataian had noticed the sign, and figured she'd dump her things off somewhere later.
Katsuko grinned saying "What does that matter? I seen their records, sounded boring..." they would ride the lift up to the flight control bridge, it was fairly quiet a few communications officers giving orders to Mindy pilots out on patrol in the fleet. "Anyway this is the flight control bridge, it can get hectic during conflicts and such. This is where I was thinking about putting that new Shoi I was taking to in the bay on for her first training rotation. I am sure you are familiar with everything here..."
Akina nodded. "That's correct. I saw the manifest. Here or on a smaller ship in the command fleet would suit her adequately, I'm certain." she pointed at the communication operators. Even supervising that during some chaotic training, perhaps?" she asked, finally noticing she was slightly taller than her commander. "Will you be here," she asked, pointing a heavy arm up to the command level of the bridge. "...or at the flag bridge?"
"Perhaps, I think she's a bit loose in the area of discipline, wasn't thrilled with her listening to our conversation. Flag officers generally discuss things that are really none of the business of the crew." Katsuko said "I try to be everywhere, and wherever I am not I expect you or one of the other higher ranking officers to be. I generally find myself between the Main Bridge and the Flag Bridge...mostly the Flag bridge lately with the current situation of things." she paused adding to describe that situation "The fifth is enrolled in a program to evaluate the need to upgrade the vessels assigned to it. Already I have prepared a list of upgrades for the Chiharu Class and the Yuumi Battleships as requested by Taisho Yui."
The new XO was beginning to feel better already. Ah, someone who believes in the military institute! Great! At the very least the junior officers wouldn't feel the need to become to buddy-buddy with me either. She thought with a grin. "I'll be where I need to, ma'am." she said curtly, examining the bridge crew while continuing. "Will we be testing the new modifications, or running tests to determine what is appropriate?"
"As long as it doesn't require me turning around and heading for a dry dock at Yamatai..." she chuckled, motioning towards the lift "I try to make my visits to command short, otherwise it is time wasted..save maybe for shopping in Kyoto." she waited for Akina to enter ahead of her.
Shimizu entered the lift again, nodding in agreement. "It was nice in what little free time I had at War College to poke around..as it were. I'd not been to the capital until then." she said ahead of herself, unable to turn her neck, instead turning around completely in the lift.
A sigh left the Captain's lips as the lift doors closed "I hear we are starting to make some head-way in the war with SMX, or so say the few communications I get from back home. Something worth celebrating I am sure." she paused then commented once again "You served with the 34th before attending the Academy, I am sure the picture was painted a bit different then..?"
The red-haired officer paused a moment before replying. "Ah, unfortunately I was already at the War College when they sent the 34th to Usho. What's left of the original crew told me what they could. Some losses, but good progress. We were on patrol near the Wazu Nebula with a moderate fleet when they ambushed us. It was within a week or two after I was able to go to Yamatai. Of course, before I left, ma'am, the mood was bleak. Most of us were certain death could drop out of hyperspace at any moment. " she finally finished, exhaling loudly.
Katsuko shook her head "I got assigned to someone's great idea of going to another galaxy to seek support." a second passed "We started the process of colonizing one of the systems, one minute all was well. The next, super sized bugs were puking up anti-matter bombs and huge flies were trying to rip holes into the hull of the Namiko. Not anything like the SMX, but same result nonetheless."
"I'm sure they'll be in a rude awakening if they attack us, none-the-less. SMX activity and tactics are standard study as I'm sure you're aware." she almost added "..at the war college." but was beginning to tire of saying that. "I must have been stationed somewhere else then, ma'am." she finished, listening to the hum of the lift for a moment.
The lift opened and Katsuko went out first this time, saying as she did "I doubt the bugs will ever come to this universe, anyway, Lets skip a bit of the tour and get you to your quarters so that you can unload some of that stuff."
"That would be wonderful." Akina grunted, following her out of the lift. I almost thought I was going to have to serve a shift like this...she thought coyly.
A few moments later they were in another lift headed towards the habitat levels where the officer quarters was. the door hissed open to the left of the massive doors to Katsuko's own suite (Marked with ‘本吉勝子'). The XO's quarters were smaller of course, but still relatively large in comparison to other vessels in the fleet. Katsuko pointed to the doors next to her own "100-B1, that's yours." she would wait for Akina before barging into her future home.
Finally happy to almost be free of her burden, Akina nodded to Katsuko before tapping the panel just below the display that read ‘清水明菜' (Shimizu, Akina). A feeling of excitement rose from within her again.
Katsuko began, "Right next to mine, figure it will suit you. I took the liberty of having it decorated, thought it would be nice." the door opened. The XO's quarters were two floors, the door opened up into a living area with a white couch, holo viewer and a rather interesting curvy desk. Further in a stair lead up to the bath-house which had two hot pools and a shower and the rather large bedroom with a walk in closet. Several trinkets around; a painting of Yamatai from space, a vase of flowers, and on the desk a wrapped box with a bow from Katsuko. Akina broke her cool demeanor for a moment.
"Great Mish-" she exclaimed, nearly choking on nothing. I-I could fit my war college barrack wing in this place! she thought. Coughing once more, the Shosa carefully set her violin case against the end of the couch, before dumping her other bags on the end of the couch unceremoniously. "This is amazing!" she declared, smoothing out her skirt and slowly turning around once, before facing Katsuko in the hall, beaming.
"Glad you like it...I wanted you to be comfortable" she smiled warmly clapping her hands together. A glint of joy within her silver eyes. "It is all yours. No annoying bunk mates, save for me next door. There's an access door between our upper levels, should you need anything."
Akina looked over her shoulder towards the stairs, before turning back. "Really? My, this is nice." she replied less ecstatically. She would have to remind herself to rummage through everything later. "It's more than I could have hoped for, thank you kanchou."
"There is a little something in the box, its for you..."
"Oh, my." replied Shimizu simply. She hadn't quite had time to take everything in, but there it was on the desk, as loud as daylight. "I have no choice but to accept, do I?" she laughed, albeit still a bit nervously. Smoothing out her uniform again absently, she stepped to the desk. "Would you like to have a seat, Admiral?" she asked, motioning to the couch. Akina stared at the box right after asking, sarcastically wondering when she would fall over dead to balance out how well things were going.
The other Yamataian stepped in, and proceeded to sit on the couch, lounging rather comfortably. Folding her legs over one another, she took out a hair elastic and bunched her blue strands into a tail, and proceeded to tie it. Motioning to the open box, she saying, "Well I could keep it, but I bought it for you...paid an arm and a leg for it on the Asari (the horizon ship in the fleet)." She paused a moment "Just relax Akina, I'm not going to allow such formalities especially away from the crew..Katsuko will do."
"I wouldn't presume to try something so....fresh in front of the crew, of course." the XO replied with a half-grin, half-smile. "What darling ribbon! I don't think I've ever been given a gift before!" she exclaimed in spite of herself. Slowly untying the pink bow and setting it aside, she eagerly pulled the top off and set it with the bow on the desk, peering into it. Inside the box was a small 5 inch tall teddy bear, its blue fur plush and a pink ribbon around it's neck. Nearly identical to the one Katsuko was given as a gift from a friend before she left for her mission with the Namiko, except for a small amount of writing on the tag which read "Akina, may you enjoy your first and hopefully best assignment of your new career" Shimizu choked a happy sob back (which was quite visible), before snatching up the bear an nuzzling it greedily for a quarter of a minute, before hugging it to her chest. "Thank you, Katsuko!" she reddened. "I'll do my best!"
"Your welcome..." she paused a minute yawning "I was going to go up to the bridge, but since we are both scheduled for tomorrow morning we can finish the tour then." she lounged back on the couch looking around "Hrmm...After your shift tomorrow you should try and get to the Asari, get something to decorate these arrangements a bit more."
"Oh, of course!" she replied, clutching her new bear. "That would be fine, of course." Akina was starting to feel fatigued a bit herself. "Maybe I'll have my things put away by then." she added hopefully. Is there a preferred command uniform style, or whichever I feel like?" she inquired tilting her head and flashing a slightly mysterious smile at Katsuko for a moment.
Oh how she wanted to say skirt, but she needed to keep herself from at least that for now "Anything you choose, something comfortable as long as it is with code." the smile, was returned in the same coy manner.
"I see. That's all I had, Katsuko." the XO said quietly. She looked to the double doors at her main entrance, then to the stairs to the second level. "Please, use whichever exit you'd like. I'm not sure what you could need from me, but the door should always be open for you." she added, continually clutching her new friend. "I will see you on the bridge in the morning, unless I get lost in here. Is there anything else?" she smiled, re-straightening her posture.
A sigh left Katsuko's lips, wanted words left submerged "I will see you in the morning Akina, 0700 for breakfast in the briefing room and then to the bridge." she rose from the couch and smiled, exiting out the way she had come, saying as she did "My door too is always open..." Akina's eyes followed the form of her new commander out of the quarters, until the doors had closed on the empty hall.
"I bet you didn't expect getting this kind of assignment right out of the Academy, did you?" she motioned towards the lift to allow Akina to go first, the polished metal sign next to the lift said -Flight Control Bridge L1- Katsuko figured that they might as well start there considering it was the closest command area to the bay where she had arrived.
The Shosa hefted one of her bags higher on her shoulder before getting in the lift. "Yes, kanchou..I guess you could say I wasn't exactly the most senior officer at the War College." The new Yamataian had noticed the sign, and figured she'd dump her things off somewhere later.
Katsuko grinned saying "What does that matter? I seen their records, sounded boring..." they would ride the lift up to the flight control bridge, it was fairly quiet a few communications officers giving orders to Mindy pilots out on patrol in the fleet. "Anyway this is the flight control bridge, it can get hectic during conflicts and such. This is where I was thinking about putting that new Shoi I was taking to in the bay on for her first training rotation. I am sure you are familiar with everything here..."
Akina nodded. "That's correct. I saw the manifest. Here or on a smaller ship in the command fleet would suit her adequately, I'm certain." she pointed at the communication operators. Even supervising that during some chaotic training, perhaps?" she asked, finally noticing she was slightly taller than her commander. "Will you be here," she asked, pointing a heavy arm up to the command level of the bridge. "...or at the flag bridge?"
"Perhaps, I think she's a bit loose in the area of discipline, wasn't thrilled with her listening to our conversation. Flag officers generally discuss things that are really none of the business of the crew." Katsuko said "I try to be everywhere, and wherever I am not I expect you or one of the other higher ranking officers to be. I generally find myself between the Main Bridge and the Flag Bridge...mostly the Flag bridge lately with the current situation of things." she paused adding to describe that situation "The fifth is enrolled in a program to evaluate the need to upgrade the vessels assigned to it. Already I have prepared a list of upgrades for the Chiharu Class and the Yuumi Battleships as requested by Taisho Yui."
The new XO was beginning to feel better already. Ah, someone who believes in the military institute! Great! At the very least the junior officers wouldn't feel the need to become to buddy-buddy with me either. She thought with a grin. "I'll be where I need to, ma'am." she said curtly, examining the bridge crew while continuing. "Will we be testing the new modifications, or running tests to determine what is appropriate?"
"As long as it doesn't require me turning around and heading for a dry dock at Yamatai..." she chuckled, motioning towards the lift "I try to make my visits to command short, otherwise it is time wasted..save maybe for shopping in Kyoto." she waited for Akina to enter ahead of her.
Shimizu entered the lift again, nodding in agreement. "It was nice in what little free time I had at War College to poke around..as it were. I'd not been to the capital until then." she said ahead of herself, unable to turn her neck, instead turning around completely in the lift.
A sigh left the Captain's lips as the lift doors closed "I hear we are starting to make some head-way in the war with SMX, or so say the few communications I get from back home. Something worth celebrating I am sure." she paused then commented once again "You served with the 34th before attending the Academy, I am sure the picture was painted a bit different then..?"
The red-haired officer paused a moment before replying. "Ah, unfortunately I was already at the War College when they sent the 34th to Usho. What's left of the original crew told me what they could. Some losses, but good progress. We were on patrol near the Wazu Nebula with a moderate fleet when they ambushed us. It was within a week or two after I was able to go to Yamatai. Of course, before I left, ma'am, the mood was bleak. Most of us were certain death could drop out of hyperspace at any moment. " she finally finished, exhaling loudly.
Katsuko shook her head "I got assigned to someone's great idea of going to another galaxy to seek support." a second passed "We started the process of colonizing one of the systems, one minute all was well. The next, super sized bugs were puking up anti-matter bombs and huge flies were trying to rip holes into the hull of the Namiko. Not anything like the SMX, but same result nonetheless."
"I'm sure they'll be in a rude awakening if they attack us, none-the-less. SMX activity and tactics are standard study as I'm sure you're aware." she almost added "..at the war college." but was beginning to tire of saying that. "I must have been stationed somewhere else then, ma'am." she finished, listening to the hum of the lift for a moment.
The lift opened and Katsuko went out first this time, saying as she did "I doubt the bugs will ever come to this universe, anyway, Lets skip a bit of the tour and get you to your quarters so that you can unload some of that stuff."
"That would be wonderful." Akina grunted, following her out of the lift. I almost thought I was going to have to serve a shift like this...she thought coyly.
A few moments later they were in another lift headed towards the habitat levels where the officer quarters was. the door hissed open to the left of the massive doors to Katsuko's own suite (Marked with ‘本吉勝子'). The XO's quarters were smaller of course, but still relatively large in comparison to other vessels in the fleet. Katsuko pointed to the doors next to her own "100-B1, that's yours." she would wait for Akina before barging into her future home.
Finally happy to almost be free of her burden, Akina nodded to Katsuko before tapping the panel just below the display that read ‘清水明菜' (Shimizu, Akina). A feeling of excitement rose from within her again.
Katsuko began, "Right next to mine, figure it will suit you. I took the liberty of having it decorated, thought it would be nice." the door opened. The XO's quarters were two floors, the door opened up into a living area with a white couch, holo viewer and a rather interesting curvy desk. Further in a stair lead up to the bath-house which had two hot pools and a shower and the rather large bedroom with a walk in closet. Several trinkets around; a painting of Yamatai from space, a vase of flowers, and on the desk a wrapped box with a bow from Katsuko. Akina broke her cool demeanor for a moment.
"Great Mish-" she exclaimed, nearly choking on nothing. I-I could fit my war college barrack wing in this place! she thought. Coughing once more, the Shosa carefully set her violin case against the end of the couch, before dumping her other bags on the end of the couch unceremoniously. "This is amazing!" she declared, smoothing out her skirt and slowly turning around once, before facing Katsuko in the hall, beaming.
"Glad you like it...I wanted you to be comfortable" she smiled warmly clapping her hands together. A glint of joy within her silver eyes. "It is all yours. No annoying bunk mates, save for me next door. There's an access door between our upper levels, should you need anything."
Akina looked over her shoulder towards the stairs, before turning back. "Really? My, this is nice." she replied less ecstatically. She would have to remind herself to rummage through everything later. "It's more than I could have hoped for, thank you kanchou."
"There is a little something in the box, its for you..."
"Oh, my." replied Shimizu simply. She hadn't quite had time to take everything in, but there it was on the desk, as loud as daylight. "I have no choice but to accept, do I?" she laughed, albeit still a bit nervously. Smoothing out her uniform again absently, she stepped to the desk. "Would you like to have a seat, Admiral?" she asked, motioning to the couch. Akina stared at the box right after asking, sarcastically wondering when she would fall over dead to balance out how well things were going.
The other Yamataian stepped in, and proceeded to sit on the couch, lounging rather comfortably. Folding her legs over one another, she took out a hair elastic and bunched her blue strands into a tail, and proceeded to tie it. Motioning to the open box, she saying, "Well I could keep it, but I bought it for you...paid an arm and a leg for it on the Asari (the horizon ship in the fleet)." She paused a moment "Just relax Akina, I'm not going to allow such formalities especially away from the crew..Katsuko will do."
"I wouldn't presume to try something so....fresh in front of the crew, of course." the XO replied with a half-grin, half-smile. "What darling ribbon! I don't think I've ever been given a gift before!" she exclaimed in spite of herself. Slowly untying the pink bow and setting it aside, she eagerly pulled the top off and set it with the bow on the desk, peering into it. Inside the box was a small 5 inch tall teddy bear, its blue fur plush and a pink ribbon around it's neck. Nearly identical to the one Katsuko was given as a gift from a friend before she left for her mission with the Namiko, except for a small amount of writing on the tag which read "Akina, may you enjoy your first and hopefully best assignment of your new career" Shimizu choked a happy sob back (which was quite visible), before snatching up the bear an nuzzling it greedily for a quarter of a minute, before hugging it to her chest. "Thank you, Katsuko!" she reddened. "I'll do my best!"
"Your welcome..." she paused a minute yawning "I was going to go up to the bridge, but since we are both scheduled for tomorrow morning we can finish the tour then." she lounged back on the couch looking around "Hrmm...After your shift tomorrow you should try and get to the Asari, get something to decorate these arrangements a bit more."
"Oh, of course!" she replied, clutching her new bear. "That would be fine, of course." Akina was starting to feel fatigued a bit herself. "Maybe I'll have my things put away by then." she added hopefully. Is there a preferred command uniform style, or whichever I feel like?" she inquired tilting her head and flashing a slightly mysterious smile at Katsuko for a moment.
Oh how she wanted to say skirt, but she needed to keep herself from at least that for now "Anything you choose, something comfortable as long as it is with code." the smile, was returned in the same coy manner.
"I see. That's all I had, Katsuko." the XO said quietly. She looked to the double doors at her main entrance, then to the stairs to the second level. "Please, use whichever exit you'd like. I'm not sure what you could need from me, but the door should always be open for you." she added, continually clutching her new friend. "I will see you on the bridge in the morning, unless I get lost in here. Is there anything else?" she smiled, re-straightening her posture.
A sigh left Katsuko's lips, wanted words left submerged "I will see you in the morning Akina, 0700 for breakfast in the briefing room and then to the bridge." she rose from the couch and smiled, exiting out the way she had come, saying as she did "My door too is always open..." Akina's eyes followed the form of her new commander out of the quarters, until the doors had closed on the empty hall.
