The officer's mess was finally cleared of activity by 1746hrs, as the last non-essential personnel cleared, having just set up a single chair on the floor to the side of the tables, to the respective right and forward up the wall from the head table. There sat a slender blue case, and music stand with some sheets placed on it. Officers from around the fleet and aboard the Akuro had already mostly arrived, and were chatting idly in various groups. The line at the bartender was at five or so, and the two makeshift waitresses wandered among the officers in the reception area with various cheese like appetizers on large silver plates. Light classical music played in the background, and the ambient lighting was pleasantly low.
On the officer's level, the first officer had changed quickly, and made her way to the Captain's bedroom through the shared door between them. She had forgotten all of her makeup on Yamatai, which wasn't much to begin with. Akina sighed heavily as she stared back into the vanity she was sitting in front of. Katsuko was styling her hair, another thing she'd had no idea what to do with before the event. "Well..at least they can't complain if we're late, right Ka-chan?" the Yamataian joked, wrinkling her white jeweled nose stud, to make sure it would twinkle in the bright light.
Leigh has joined the conference.
"Ma'am this is Taii Ami...I tried to relieve Shosa Yoshike but she's refusing to leave the bridge. Says something about not wanting to attend." A sigh left Katsuko's lips as she responded "She is excused...Ami just go down to the Flight Control Bridge and get that equipment inventory done. Motoyoshi out.." she tapped the small button next to her mirror and continued to put her hair up, locking it into place with her fancy sticks. She said without turning "Yea, but we have to at least try to be on time. You almost ready?" she inquired. Meanwhile on the Bridge Shosa Yoshike began to go about the normal command operations of the shift...Reports that the Confidence had arrived were now on her datapad and she began to compute the scans which the Shosho had ordered.
"Ugh..no! I don't know what to do with my hair." she complained, as she finished applying some base taken off of the counter. "I don't know any really elegant way to do my face, either..help me Ka-chan?" her eyes drifted to the Admiral's via the mirror.
She stood up and said "Fine Fine...we have to be quick with it..." she motioned at her makeup and said "Just some blush and eye shadow will do ‘ya...as for your hair...I can take care of that..." she motioned Aki to sit in the chair. The AI interrupted "ShoSho I remind you of your event in the Officer's Mess" Kat responded "We are getting there...shut up KAMI" she was obviously getting frustrated as that they were now close to being late.
Bishop had entered the Dining Hall five minutes early, he had opted to wait for his bunkmate Lucias but he had told him to go on ahead, It was quite the formal looking event, Had better be on my best behavior then he thought happily to himself as he took a few more steps inside to get his bearings about the room, he found where he and the rest of Delta wing were to sit close by the head table but waited until a few more of his wing mates showed up before taking a place there, instead he headed towards the bar, but would wait until the commander would show up until getting himself a drink, in the mean time he tried to mingle with the officers
Jaq took the long walk to the dinning hall, bypassing the lifts. Slowly adjusting all the small bits on his dress uniform. he was relatively nervous about the whole thing, mostly because he thought there might be a grog there and he hadn't have good memories of grogs of days past. When Jaq finally arrived at the hall he was awe-stricken to see all the officers there. As he surveyed the room he noticed that the Shosho wasn't there yet. He also found the table at which delta wing was to sit and was surprised to see that it was so close to the front, this had to mean that delta wing was in for something special, at least in his mind.
Stupid neko. She's going to make me tear what little hair I have out. Corro thought to himself as he entered into the dining hall. He was starting to get rather flush after the heated exchange. A drink would only worsen things. But maybe just one would calm the nerves. The Nepleslian casually tried to fade into the back wall while loosening his collar. He caught one of the waitresses and took a piece of the cheese like food from the tray. Inspecting it with his own culinary eye he cracked a smile and happily chomped down on the morsel. At least the food is up to par.
Jaq thought to him self while walking over to the bar "Baring asking every one in this room who is in delta wing I'm stuck as-to who the hell are my wing-mates...." Jaq asked the bartender for a cup of coffee when he finally got to the front of the line, he didn't want any alcohol just incase he got called on something for the grog.
Turning around to face whoever had asked the question he found himself facing a man a little larger then himself and a little older then himself, "Delta Wing?" Bishop asked, "Speak of the devil I guess," he joked offering his hand to who was obviously a new addition to the wing "Name's Bishop Kuroi," he said, signaling to bartender with his other hand for a drink The Neko shrugged, and handed the Enlisted man a recently dispensed white wine, in a tall crystal glass.
"Well then that answers my question where all the delta wing people are." Jaq reached out and shook Bishops hand. "Well my names Jaq Draco and it's nice to meet a new wing mate!"
Corro sighed a brief breath of relief and composed himself. Retightening his collar he stepped back in the midst of the party. He tried to ignore most of the officers, giving them quick salutes when he met their gaze. Slowly he pushed over to the bar and made his way into the line that was forming. A hard drink should but away some bad feelings right now. Perhaps even help me warm up to people. Corro noticed Bishop ahead of him, at the bar. Leaving the line Corro moved to join his squad mate. "Kuroi." Corro said curtly and nodded to him, ignoring Jaq for the moment.
"Is this a member of delta wing also" said Jaq as he looked at the Nepleslian man walking over and talking to Bishop.
"Heh yeah, of course where are my manners," Bishop said taking a quick sip of the wine the bartender had passed him "Corro this a new addition to the Wing," he explained turning his head towards Jaq, his brow furrowed, "Jaq Draco you said it was?" he asked
"Quite so. What is this gentleman's name?" Jaq inquired looking at man that had walked over.
The officers in the mess began eyeing the immaculately set tables as the candles at all nine tables and the head table were lit by a handful of kitchen staff. Meanwhile, Akina quickly finished applying the blush she borrowed from Katsuko. "That's nice.." she said, setting down the applicator brush into it's case. Shimizu smiled but didn't move her head, watching the other work quickly. "I don't feel so bad now, at least we get to go together!" came a cheery outburst.
It was minutes until Katsuko had all the sticks in Akina's hair, hers took three of them to hold the elaborate ponytail up. Katsuko looked at Aki through the mirror "There...Now don't forget I had Santo Hei Kia put our civy clothes in Briefing room one so we can head over to the Asari once this is done. We have to hit up the sales before they find out they will be becoming a colony right away." She smiled, Aki was looking marvelous, so much so that she had to subdue to urge to cancel the dinner. Smoothing out her white paneled skirt dress uniform she said "You look beautiful...Now can we go?"
"This is Corro Adlich, Jaq" Bishop said with a polite nod towards Corro, "Me, him and Mayuko flew the war games with Alpha squad a little earlier today," Bishop told Jaq proudly, then turned to Corro, "Say where is Mayuko anyways? Didn't you mumble something about bunking with her after the mission?" he asked.
"Santo Hei Adlich." Corro responded plainly and offered his right hand out to Jaq. "And don't mention that name to me right now." Corro added as he looked toward Bishop with a hint of annoyance in his facial expression.
Jaq returned the hand shake, but paused as soon as he touched Corro's hand. "It's metal... interesting. how pray-tell did you acquire this little thing?"
"An unfortunate accident several years back." Corro replied to Jaq and released from the handshake rather quickly. He turned from his two teammates to approach the bar. A very hard drink would be good now. Corro groaned in his mind. Waiting for his turn in line Corro stepped up to the bar. "Miss, I'll take the hardest drink you are able to mix, please." Corro asked the bartender with sincerity and a smile. He was soon given a short round glass, filled with a swirling blue concoction.
Akina winked in the mirror at Katsuko as she stood. "All right! Let's go Ka-chan." she commented, pecking her lover on the cheek, then looking both her own form and the other officer in the mirror. She clicked off the light and walked with the Admiral as they descended the stairs through the cavernous main area of the quarters. Soon they were in a lift that would shortly place them near the Officer's Galley. The hour was quickly passing it's halfway point.
In the lift Katsuko smiled looking at Akina, meanwhile she hiked up her skirt an extra quarter inch above regulation. "Much better...can't go ruining all those rumors..." It was obvious that Katsuko had little heed for the opinions of her social life, after all it was not like she had a superior within even two systems. She leaned forwards and planted a kiss on Akina's lips just before the lift doors opening into the corridor leading to the Officer's Mess. The security detail getting an eyeful of the rampant rumors that had began the day before, rumor no more...just proven fact.
Jaq raised his brow after Corro pulled his hand away. "Ohh.... That wasn't the right line of questioning was it?" he asked, looking to Bishop for an answer.
Bishop shrugged and took another sip of his drink, then leaned in a bit and whispered "Maybe a little personal for an icebreaker I Guess," then adding "Though he seems to be a little to high strung for his own good,"
"Well then" Jaq said to bishop, "I have to remember to apologize if he comes back..." Jaq then thought to him self ' way to go Jaq... the second wing mate you meet you offend... smooth move'. Looking back at bishop he blurted out " So when do we get to sit down?!"
Akina licked her lips before glaring at the slack-jawed sentries with a harsh gaze. She was certainly glad she had borrowed the blush a bit earlier. "All right, here we go!" she added, staying behind the Admiral and just to her right, raising the hem of her skirt uniform about half as much as the woman in front of her had. Maybe they won't think anything is wrong this way.. she thought, concerned for the other officers. "KAMI, have the other officers arrived?" she asked. "Yes, the head table will be seated at your signal." came the curt reply. The voice was very cute, thanks to Katsuko, but Akina still decided she would need to tinker with it later. She caught up to the right side of the Shosho as they entered the doors to the officer's mess.
"Well this is a good sign," Bishop quickly whispered as Katsuko and the first officer entered, one of the officers shouted "ShoSho on deck," and Bishop stood at attention
The flight aboard the Allegra was surprisingly short. Murasaki Aoiko had barely had the time to skim over the technical manuals relating to her new position on the Akuro before the transport was docked. She carefully smoothed out the lines on her dress whites as she glanced over her orders again. "Do hope this is appropriate,â€