RP: 5th XF Mission 004-02 Finishing the Puzzle (Alpha Shift)

Jatsu's narrow-eyed glare at his console was broken by the Taisa's words. "Ah, shift's over?" he asked, looking at his replacement. "Well, good luck." He stood up and started to walk out, but cautiously slowed down as he approached the door. He stopped and waited until it was open, then quickly walked through and into the lift. He pushed the button for the floor his room was on, then noticing that he was the only person in the lift said, "Freya, don't even think about dropping me off somewhere else. The Taisa's expecting me, I'd hate to think what she'd do to you if she found out you were responsible for any delay." Damnit, why the hell didn't I specify not to play any tricks on me? he thought.

Akina was already communicating with the galley as she stopped by her quarters to fix her hair. Just..ah. That's better. the Taisa thought, setting her brush down. She had left it long, but during the shift it had frazzled a bit. Within five minutes she was out the door and on her way. They were already setting a larger table up in anticipation, and pulling a few operations officers to fill seats, several from Alpha Shift, and the others from the alert armor wings that had just been taken off standby. With a brisk walk Shimizu sat at the empty table, having a back and forth with the Nekovalkryja in the kitchen about the meal.

Jatsu meanwhile, arrived to his own deck, amidst the bustle of the enlistees changing shifts.

Jatsu ran to his room, weaving between the people in the hall. He entered his room and untied his hair when Freya announced, "Crewman Kimura, you have a message from the Yukika." What the hell's a Yukika? he thought as he brought up a window to find out. Upon seeing the word 'Nozomi,' he quickly closed the window and groaned. Probably something about the smugglers...why the hell are they sending it to me? "Alright, let me see it," he said while brushing his hair.

"To Kimura Jatsu," he read aloud, "... ... ...you need to learn how to read more than just the kanji in your name." He closed the window, thinking, Damnit, I'm off duty now, and I don't have time for this. If it was important, they'd have sent it to the bridge instead of directly to me. "Freya, have an english translation of this ready by the time I get back from dinner." He tied his hair back into its usual ponytail and went out the door. He quickly arrived and nervously looked around. Oh shit, big table...where do I sit? Upon seeing the Taisa, he snapped into a deep bow.

"It's dinner, not a court-martial. Now sit down." the captain pointed to the chair at her right, acknowledging the officers arriving after Kimura had. "At any rate, there's a few things on the menu this evening, you all should order now, before too many drinks arrived. I've little in the way of official business this evening." she noted, pausing as the choice of wines were announced. Dinner was to be either alfredo with a choice of meat and cheese, or the sashimi being prepared in the back.

Jatsu stood up straight. "Ah, right." Right next to her? Do I really deserve such an important seat? he thought as he walked to the chair. He sat down, and when an attendant walked over to him he placed his order, "I'll have a tea with extra sugar and the sashimi. No squid, please." Okay, Jatsu...this is your chance to make a good impression. Although, you must have already made a pretty good one to even be here...in any case, don't screw it up, he thought to himself.

Akina had ordered the alfredo with crab, and a thick cheese sauce. With the wine being distributed, the captain picked up her riseling, not caring much that it wasn't a port for toasting. "Mr. Kimura here carried my specifications as per the changes you've no doubt noticed with our KAMI. His input was well used, Freya appreciates the work I'm sure. To Mr. Kimura." she raised her glass, the other officers following suit. "Here here." they offered, before the joined drank.

"Yes, I am quite pleased as well." Freya chimed in, her voice gone just as quickly.

"As for other business, I've nothing much this evening. Expect moving orders from up top soon." Akina finished.

Jatsu's eyes widened in suprise for a second. He looked around the table after the toast, then rather simply stated, "Thank you." Maybe now they'll recognize that I'm the best programmer here, he thought. He took a sip of his tea to conceal his grin, then looked toward his CO as his face relaxed. "Taisa, I don't really think what I did warranted a toast," he said quietly, "I volunteered because I enjoy AI programming." Although what he said was basically true, his inflated ego definitely appreciated the praise.

"You're right I could have done it myself easily enough, or gotten one of those ops officers, but it is good to discover a bit of extra training in my trainees. Regardless, hats off to Mr. Kimura despite his objections." Akina thought it was rather admirably the man would say something like that at all but was intent on letting a spot at the table keep him squirming a little bit to see if he realized where he was. Dinner was set before them, the Akuro's Captain clearly wasn't in the mood for a salad before the meal that evening as the table's selections were promptly set before them.

"Itadakimasu." the officers said in a flat tone, before eating. Akina took up her fork, and began to stir and twirl through her pasta. "Oh, did any new first officer names grab you, miss Saegusa?"

"No ma'am, no one of Taii rank or higher I'd reccomend at this time, but I'm still reviewing a large pile." the operations officer across from Jatsu replied. As Shimizu Taisa enjoyed the first few bites of her meal, the conversation splintered at a few spots, sliding into a little less taxing event filled with idle chatter about what sounded like operations mostly.

Jatsu looked down at the table, slightly embarrased that his quiet objection had been made public. "Itadakimasu," he said with the others, then picked up his chopsticks and started eating.

Wow, we still don't have an XO? Jatsu thought after hearing the Taisa's question. As the answer was given, he looked up at Saegusa for a second and wondered, If the Taisa values her input so much, why not make her the first officer? She apparently doesn't have anyone else in mind. He picked up a slice of salmon and put it in his mouth, Oh well, it's not my decision to make.

His eyes glanced around the table as the officers talked amongst themselves. Damn...two days working on the bridge, and I still don't know anyone. He looked down at a slice of yellowtail, then slowly brought it up to his mouth. What the hell am I doing here?

Shimizu furrowed her brow together in mid-bite, halfway through her plate already. She finished it and set down her fork for a moment, taking a few sips of her wine before calling up the bravo shift commander on her link. Set course for Taiie III orbital insertion, inform the command group to return after they escort us to the planet's gravity well. Proceed at 1/4 power, directly to mooring SA-Nav 6548 under the station's control. the woman smiled, unable to keep how pleased she was in check.

Aye captain, changing course as specified. came the curt response.

"Well, it seems as if our refit will happen sooner than planned. The reassignments alone will just about kill the personnel center, but I'm sure Freya can handle most of it."

Jatsu blinked. "Refit? Reassignments?" He picked up another slice of salmon and started to eat it, waiting for some elaboration.

"Mmmn, yes. The Akuro is due for an overhaul. Motoyoshi Taisho is in charge of the uniform Chiharu refit program, the others will get the same refit, just our turn." Akina noted, picking up her fork again to spear some bits of crab with more noodles. "Virtually the entire crew is going on temporary assignment, which is easier with how many wings we have. The real trouble is the other personnel, but personnel assures me we'll be ready to ship you all off by the time we arrive to our mooring near the star base."

Jatsu grinned. "Seems like my accommodations are constantly changing. Got moved out of my first room after it was exposed to space, this morning my roommate suddenly left...now I have to move somewhere else for a bit, then come back?" He quickly ate a slice of tuna. "Ah well, I guess it's a small price to pay for an upgrade."

"Welcome to the army, soldier." Akina replied plainly. "Anyway, I'm having us crawl there so we can finish our dinner in peace. After all, the rest of the command group is trying to eat too."

Jatsu nodded and went back to eating. Shit, it's going to be harder to find Aoiko now that everyone's being shuffled around. I hope I can find her before we get shipped out, just in case we're assigned to different places. Damnit, I need to get out of here, he thought, starting to eat faster.

Akina listened idly to the chatter of the other officers as they buzzed about what they'd be doing, comparing assignments as they were relayed to them privately. When she finished, the redheaded Yamataian sat back in her seat, nursing her second glass of wine. "Well, at least Freya will stay the same."

Jatsu shoveled the last pieces of sashimi into his mouth, then quickly finished off the last of his tea. "Gochisousamadeshita." A window with his reassignment information popped up in front of him when he finished, which he quickly read and dismissed. Yukika? Where have I heard that befo...goddamnit, I still need to read that message, too. He quickly looked toward the Taisa, then back at his empty plate. Damnit, damnit, damnit...need to think of a way out of here without being offensive.

"I finished that translation a long time ago dear, you can thank me later." an additional line of text read with the soldier's orders. "Well, I suppose we all have some packing to do? Mr. Kimura, perhaps you will join us again when the Akuro is not as you remember it." she offered, setting down her wine glass with only a bit left. "Good evening, captain." a few of the officers offered as she got up.

Damnit, how the hell can I...huh? Jatsu looked up at the Taisa. "Ah, yes, ma'am. I'd be honored. Thank you." He bowed, then walked out and sped up his pace as he headed toward his room. "Freya, please...can you tell me the current location of Murasaki Aoiko?"

"Your little girlfriend is on a little Nozomi, the Yukika, my dear Mr. Kimura." the KAMI replied quickly and evenly. Other officers were beginning to shuffle to and from the galley before the massive flagship were to be moored. Akina was already smiling, so her reaction to the ship's humor was well masked. "You're all dismissed of course." she added, looking in high spirits.

Jatsu stopped dead in his tracks, his face turned completely red and his mouth hung open. "Fr...Freya! You bitch! When I get back from the Yukika, I'm going to...wait, what?" As he realized she was on the ship that sent him the message, the ship he had just been temporarily assigned to, he immediately started running to his room again with a quick, "Thanks, Freya." As he entered his room, out of breath, he panted, "Freya...translated message...window..."

Dear Jatsu,

Please accept my sincerest apologies, and I hope that I did not cause you any worry with my sudden absence. I was not given much warning; promoted, and I was transferred away from the Akuro. However, I will try to find the strength to bare your children properly when we next meet.

On that note, I would like to invite you to dinner on the Hikari. If this is of interest to you, please write back to me.
Yours always,
Aoi.

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"I said you could thank me later. The captain has increased the group's speed into orbit. We should be arriving at Taii III within the half hour, crewman."

Jatsu sat on his bed and held the window with both his hands as he read it. His face quickly jerked back in shock as he finished the first paragraph. Children? Woah, that's a bit...wait, she's a neko, though...how... He shook off the surprise, then finished reading. She loves me... He stood up, covering his mouth with his hand. "She loves me..." He fell to his knees, looked up at the ceiling, and shouted, "She loves me!" He got back to his feet, completely elated. Okay, time to pack! Don't want to waste any time!