Aoiko, having set her trunks just inside the door of her second new room in the day, adjusted her uniform in the mirror before walking round to the bridge. She sighed as she settled back into her seat, glancing around the room. My command now, mmm? she thought to herself as she waited for the rest of her staff to arrive.
Jatsu qucikly changed into his dress uniform, then headed down the halls for the bridge. Damnit, I hope I have enough time for this AI, he thought.
Roger cycled the bridge doors and stepped in without much of either pomp or circumstance. This was about the sixth time he'd been through those doors, and really, the whole "grandeur of the bridge" thing was highly overrated, in his opinion. "Cadet," he greeted the CO with, saluting and then flicking his eyes around. Hm. Wonder where loverboy sits on duty...
Hikomaru stood up from the deck, finishing arranging his thoughts. His demeanor was for now aimed towards the military operations on the Yukika. Raising his wakizashi saya, which he carefully cleaned prior to come to the deck, he mumbled - " Well... pretty much whatever... i got duties to do, so ill be on it. At its best. Yosha!" . - He ended his own monologue taking his leave from the deck, and rushing towards the bridge.
Aoiko nodded at the three crew members as they each entered the bridge in turn. "Kimura, Hikomaru, Kard. All here? Excellent." She pulled herself to her feet and called up a holographic screen beside herself. "Please let me explain precisely what we will be doing here. Within two days, we will be inspected by Taisho Motoyoshi Katsuko and her staff. However, we do not know precisely when she will arrive, so I would like everyone at top performance until then. Very well?"
"Within two days, eh?" Jatsu asked. The left side of his mouth moved up into a smirk, "Is there anything specific that needs to be done other than giving MEGAMI some personality?" The other side of his moth then raised, forming a somewhat mischievous grin, "Or will we have a bit of free time?"
"Pshh," Roger exhaled, elbowing Jatsu. "Not that kind of top performance. And does it really have to be a snap inspection? It's not like I can chrome the tailpipes day after day to make 'em look good. Engines get kind of dirty no matter what you do to them." He shrugged. "Yahhwell. I'll do what I can."
"My duties here are restraint to any incoming event that could harm the crew. Even though, i'll be doing studies of the information we already have about the Murf system, as well coordinating operations with you ma'am in any eventual case of emergency. Being said that, i'd have a lot of work to do, so i'll be unlikely taking a free time."
"Giving the AI a proper personality is something I would like to see done as soon as possible," Aoiko said, nodding to Jatsu. "And yes, please, do what you can, Kard-san. From what you told me earlier, you and your staff have everything in hand downstairs. Excellent, Hikomaru-san. Murf may be dangerous, so I would like us to be prepared. Which brings me to my next point..." She gestured to the screen, and it flickered to life with an image of an asteroid belt. "Our first mission there will be to perform a detailed scan of this area, for two reasons - first, to assess the mining possibilities, and second, to secure the area from both possible Nepleslian rivals, pirates, or Mishhuvurthyar."
Aww, what about free time? Jatsu thought. This is already my second shift today...and I haven't had a moment alone with Aoi since finding out she loves me... "With your assistance, ma'am, I should have it done within the hour. I can handle the programming easily, but require your input for the personality."
"Oh? Yes, that is true, I definetly have things downstairs in ha-" ... wait a minute, did she just counter-zing me? Damn, she's good."-nd. Yeah. Hm. Anyway, if we happen to run avast yon pirates, what arrrrrrrrrrrre we going to do? I'm afraid we're fresh out of M-789 Timbers, Shivering, Personal."
The geshrin kept his semblance of seriousness, entirely focused about the conversation. He added in a firm tone -"Indeed ma'am, what really worries me is not finding mining spots, even though we will find crashing asteroids at high speeds, speeds that can crush a power armor in a blink; or extremely poisonous gases or flammables, which make us think about what kind of ammo we're going to use. What really worries me, is the mishu..."
"If we should run across the latter two of the above three," Aoiko calmly said to Roger, "I will say something to the effect of, 'Hikomaru-san, please make those ships not be there,' and he will fire torpedoes until this goal is accomplished. Ne, Hikomaru-san? That ought to mitigate the dangers of explosive gasses." She tilted her head slightly towards the tactical operator before turning back to Jatsu. "This will be perfectly acceptable. I will, of course, take any reccomendations as to names or personalities. Also..." She glanced to Hikomaru. "We lack well-trained and experienced power-armour pilots, as you may know. Will you have any difficulties securing the ship in case of boarding of any sort?"
Jatsu smiled. "Okay, then. So...shall we start after this briefing?" He turned to Roger. "You do know that we found pirates a couple light years from Murf a few hours ago, right? Half our Nozomi were sent to capture them..."
"Wait, what?" Roger looked over at Jatsu, then at Aoiko. "Is this true? How did I miss that? Son of a cannon..." He perked up for a second. "Ah, sir, if you don't mind me adding, I used to be a member... well sort of, of the 17th Power Armor Wing. Hell, I fixed enough of the damn things, I can certainly pilot one, and I'd say I'm a pretty good shot as well. If it comes down to blows, sir, I'd like you to consider me for a role in that as well. I haven't got any love for Nep raiders, or pirates"
"Most certainly not. We're on an exploration mission, so we will avoid the frontal assault. Defense-wise, we are capable of holding enemy forces from the distance. Dificulties may arise, but acting swift at the very moment is the key. And we are ready for that in this moment." He lowered his head for a second. "And yes, i am afraid we only count with few pilots..."
Jatsu nodded to Roger. "Yup. Hell, I was the one that detected them and forwarded the deployment orders..."
Aoiko raised an eyebrow slightly to Hikomaru, then nodded. "Very well, I will trust your judgement. I hope that you will have the Yukika as secure as she can be before the inspection. Kard-san," she said as she turned to the engineer, "You have been exemplary thus far. Keep doing what you have been doing." She nodded to Jatsu, finally, as she settled into her seat. "And we may begin right away. You have your orders, but first, does anyone have anything to say in regards to our MEGAMI?"
Well, as long as she's not a bitch like some other AI I know, I don't care all that much," Jatsu said. "I guess it would be best to design something the Taisho would like, but I have no idea what that might be."
"Tch!" Roger gave a shrug. "Can't argue with the boss. I'll have her running cleaner than a whistle by the time the Taisho comes through." Something the Taisho would like, eh? Well, there's an obvious answer to that one, but I don't think making an ethereal version of Akina would fly... "You think she'll ask about the engine trouble?"
Hikomaru saluted to Aioko - "Count with it, ma'am." Then he turned his glance to Jatsu, which obviosly was the man in charge of the MEGAMI "Well, i can give you an idea... think of the ship's name, and you will have a nice AI. But then again, im just a soldier".
Aoiko tilted her head slightly. "A... Bitch?" she asked quizically. "What, precisely, do you mean by that? And 'Yukika' refers to snow..." She raised her eyebrows toward Hikomaru. "I am not sure if any of you wish to work with a computer that's 'frigid,' mmm?" Looking up to Roger, Aoiko continued, "I do not believe she would. It was a very minor incident, and is likely expected from a ship just coming into service."
Jatsu looked down at the floor. "Erm...I can't really give out details. She's pretty good for the most part, but sometimes acts in a way I'd prefer she didn't." He looked back up, then added, "Also, naming the AI after the ship is rather boring. Taisa Shimizu refused to let Freya be named Akuro."
"Phew, that's a relief. It doesn't look good to have something bust on you, minor or expected or not. Snow eh?" Roger clapped a hand on Jatsu. "Here we go, Jatsu, how about a lonely, sad looking girl in the middle of a snowy scene? I can't imagine anyone else making someone who looks like that."
"Well, actually ma'am" Hikomaru addressed himself again towards Aoiko "I refered to it because of the "snowflower... frigid, yet gentle. Beautiful along the monotone landscape, the snow - the space -, making itself a way of light by its own beauty. A flower that sings with every sunshine, even the merciless clouds is not often that they keep the sky clear. And after all, is a strong warrior, which still stands powerful against the storms... that's what i tried to say..."
Aoiko pointed directly at Hikomaru, and looked to Jatsu. "That," she said flatly. "I want that."
Jatsu looked at Aoiko. "Oh, uhm...okay, then."
"... or we could go with that. Sure, that sounds good." Roger nodded.
Hikomaru smirked "I would be honored to have an AI like that". He stared the floor again, holding his jaw with his left hand "A name... a name..."
Aoiko glanced around the assembled staff. "I have no preferences," she said. "Anyone?"
Jatsu shrugged. "Well, I guess I could let MEGAMI choose her name the same way Freya chose hers..."
Roger raised an eyebrow. "How exactly was that, anyway?"
"Give her a comprehensive list of names, and have her choose one at random. Computer randomization isn't truly random, after all."
"And she chose Freya?" Roger asked. "Weird. Well, I guess that would work. I personally think we ought to at least narrow down the list a bit before we do that though, lest we end up with a MEGAMI we have to refer to as Bob. Not that I would mind personally, but I think the amusement would wear off for the lot of you."
Hikomaru sighed at the very moment Roger finished his observation "...indeed..."
Jatsu sighed. "Well, the namelists would obviously be limited to female names..."
"Well thanks, Jatsu. Personally, I think we should stick to uncommon names. That way it's clear and evident when we're calling upon the MEGAMI."
Hikomaru grasped his wakizashi hilt, and narrowed his glance "Well, in my opinion i think it should be a according her personality, even though, it has to be sticky enough for every crewman to like it. But alas, nothing that can fit her well comes from my mind..."
Aoiko leaned back in her chair slightly. "I was not aware that it was even possible to allow an artificial intelligence to choose a name for herself. If we cannot decide on something, that sounds like the best course of action."
Jatsu stretched. "Well, the two of us can figure it out after we get the personality in. No point in keeping everyone else standing around here."
"Fair enough. I should probably get back to the engines and make sure noone broke anything." Yet...
Hikomaru stepped forward. "I do concur ma'am. I'd wish to start with my duties as soon as possible".
"I would desire to participate in the refinement of the AI system," Suika said to Roger, "I believe most of the items where cataloged before I had to report to the hangar."
Aoiko nodded. "You do have the appropriate background, Sogo-san. Very well. If Kimura-san has no objections..? you may both attend the monitor room straightaway."
Jatsu glared at Suika, then looked toward Aoiko. "...well, if you say so, ma'am." Goddamnit...so much for some time alone...
Rog peered over at the multitude of expressions going across Jatsu's face and grimaced slightly. Ahh, I see. He gave Jatsu a hearty backslap and muttered under his breath. "Them's the breaks, guy. Keep persevering and you'll get your chance." Then, in a normal voice, "Good luck on your end, Kimura." And with that, he gave a nod and headed out to the engine room anew.
Hikomaru saluted to Aoiko "Well, if you excuse me ma'am, ill be on my way. Ill be checking over my power armor for the moment, but ill be right back to start my studies about Murf system" he turned back and headed again to the deck he was a moment ago.
"Thank you for allowing me to participate in this, Captain," Suika said, "and I look forward to helping make this ship a complete unit."
