RP: 5th XF Mission 006: The Finale [All 5th XF Players]

"No, no, you're right, this really isn't the time for wisecracks. It's just more proof of what I said earlier." He sighed and leaned back in his chair, gazing at the ceiling. "What... what are we going to do now, captain?"

Jatsu shook his head. "What are you talking about? You're not the bastard...I'm the one who stopped talking to the man who saved my life...I'm the one who completely underestimated the intelligence of a true hero." He looked at the floor and sighed. "Speaking of watering, where's that damn flask?"

Roger reached out with his right hand and gave Jatsu the flask which had been passed around recently. "Here. I don't know how much is left; between me, the admiral, and me again, we seemed to have emptied a good bit of it." He settled back again. "Who was the guy who saved your life?"

Jatsu took the flask and tilted his head back. Three seconds later, he coughed lightly and handed it back. "Yeah, it's empty. Thanks." He exhaled deeply, then put his arm around Aoiko's shoulder.

"Jaq Draco. My first day here, when my arm was blasted off. He pretty much dragged me to medbay." He leaned his head on Aoiko and sighed. "Last time I saw him was the leave after that, and I ended up paying more attention to my computer, my roommate, and the cute Neko I worked with."

Roger set the returned flask down in front of him and spun it slowly. "I knew Jaq a little better just from my involvement in the 17th, but not that much better, truth be told. I never knew he dragged you out of the fire though; that was before I got here, and he never said as much." He stopped the spinning flask and turned to Jatsu. "But concerning what you're worried about, considering your computer is your job, that "cute Neko" is now your commanding officer, and your roommate just gave you the last drops of his own flask of whiskey in sympathy, I think your focus at that time on these things was okay... but if that doesn't sate you, maybe you should consider saying a few things yourself at the memorial." He simply touched the flask now, idly running his fingers over it. "Let those fine bastards know that they didn't die in vain or die forgotten. That's the best we can do for them now."

A long unexpected meeting

Mayumi said to Kiyoko "Why don't you try talking to some of Kat's closer crew?â€

Elsewhere in the Akuro II...

The Star Army Personnel officer sorted through what remained of the data on Corro Aldich.

He was unmarried and an expatriate. His ties home to Nepleslia had been severed complete. All his belongings were on his ship at the time of his death. It was as if he was being erased without anything being left behind.

The officer eventually found the next of kin and Corro's Will. Everything was dictated back to his mother and father. The only thing that they would be receiving unfortunately would be what remained in his funds.

With a short sigh the personnel officer brought up the standard letter for reporting a deceased soldier. Filling in the necessary portions with names and dates.

Dear Sir or Madam,

I regretfully write to inform you of the death of your son, Corro Adlich, Taisa. Your son was stationed aboard the YSS-Namiko when it was destroyed in combat. It is a sad day whenever the Star Army loses dedicated soldiers like your son. According to his will the following personal effects are to be sent to you:

-11,000 KS of personal wealth

We are aware that we cannot replace your son with his personal effects. Let us remember him with fondness and good times. Our sympathies go out to you and yours.

Click to expand...

After a few minutes before Kiyoko came in Caine had returned to his seat next to Cam and sighed leaning forward and interlacing his fingers to rest his chin on them and just watched the other officers. He still felt hurt and empty inside, and the tough front he was trying to put up wasn't really helping him feel better; the only thing that'd heal these wounds would be time and a chance to relax.

"Hmm?" he purred to himself and looked over at her, perking a brow some, the newcomers apperance was striking but he coulnd't put his finger on who it was. He'd only seen Katsuko once or twice before and wasn't putting the math together at th emoment with the haze in his mind's eye.

Camellia looked over when Caine returned and, after watching him for a moment, moved to pat his shoulder, but shyed away at the last second when he murmered and looked over somewhere.

"..." Camellia looked at Caine, then withdrew her arm and looked at her lightly clenched hand for a second before putting it back on her lap.

Having caught Cam's movement out of the corner of his eye, Caine turned and looked at her again. "Something wrong Cam?" he asked, taking note of her expression.

The preperations for the funeral had gone well. Though everyone was not in the best of spirits, they did their duty to honor their lost comrades. Kazuhiko, admittedly, was proud to see the work the hangar crews had done without any order.

The Shôshô was compiling a speech in her mind as best she could. Directions of the speech ranged from somber to slightly more celebratory, in the sense that the Taisho had led a great life.

Those left ash in her mouth. Kazuhiko knew morale was not only low due to the Taisho's death. Word had spread fast about the destruction of the YSS Namiko and nearly every other ship in the group. As Kazuhiko walked from the funeral site to where the Chujo had summoned her to, she could see it in every crewmember -- fear.

It disgusted her. Nekovalkyrja should not know fear. They were engineered to be warmaidens, bringing the righteous anger of the Empire down to the hearts of their enemies. They had the best equipment, the finest weapons, the sleekest vessels. No force in the galaxy could match the might of Yamatai.

Yet they were bested by a numerically superior force; Kazuhiko was sure of that. Surprise was likely an element as well. Those were things that were hard to best depending on the situation. Kazuhiko wanted to see the estimated casualty figures on the SMX side.

No matter. The ideas rolling in her head seemed to stop at the same place -- the troops needed to remember that the spirit of their beloved Taisho was now in each of them, and they must know what that can do for them.

Kazuhiko nodded to herself as she returned to the Taisho's former quarters. She bowed as she entered. "Preperations are complete, Chujo."

Mayumi nodded "Excellent. I have finished up here.â€

"Hm?" Kazuhiko turned and noticed the small box with her name on it. She picked it up; it was an odd weight with something heavy at the bottom.

The Taisho barely knew me and yet I am given some of her personal effects? Kazuhiko looked back to the Chujo and bowed, having heard her statement.

"We will return to normal when we are face to face with those who destroyed the Namiko, Chujo," Kazuhiko said lowly, her fangs readily apparent. "I personally would enjoy delivering the Empire's righteous vengeance onto their slimy heads."

Caught by suprise, Camellia blushed some and shook her head sharply. "N-no. It's nothing." She said, forcing a weak smile across her lips.

Caine nodded and smiled a bit before resting a hand on her shoulder and rubbing it gently. "You know ifyou have a problem you can talk to me about it." he said quietly. "We gotta stick together right?"

Introductions

Kiyoko took a deep breath, looking away from the Taisa towards Caine. She said lowly "I am Motoyoshi Kiyoko, Taii. Daughter of the late Taisho Motoyoshi" She noted to herself that this group of officers was definitely unique; her mother had forged a comradery between those who served beneath her. She awaited their reactions, her hands folded in front of her.

A Day to Remember

Mayumi commented, "The Mishhu can only be dealt with through action, I consider killing them diplomatic...Its us communicating with them that we will not tolerate actions against the empire.â€

Jatsu looked up at Roger with a weak smile. "Yeah...I guess you have a point." He leaned back and sighed. "I'll consider it...but I have no idea what I could possibly say."

A window popped up in front of him, which he quickly read and closed. He put his head back on Aoiko's shoulder and closed his eyes. Why? Why did she leave something to me? I don't deserve- His train of thought was cut off by the Neko that entered the room. He looked up at her, then opened his mouth in surprise as she introduced herself. The Taisho had a daughter? He turned his head, burying his face in Aoiko's arm. I barely knew anything about her, yet I was included in her final wishes? A lone tear slightly moistened Aoiko's sleeve. Why?

Kazuhiko blinked. Meet someone? Who, a chaplain from the Temple of Chiharu? She nodded as the box was taken from her and sent toward her quarters.

"Yes Chujo." Kazuhiko caught up with the other woman, dark brown hair remaining mostly close to her head. I hope this person is worth the time. I could be re-examining the preperations.

"Stick together..." Camellia mimiced as she lowered her gaze and though. "Caine, I'm not staying with this ship." She said after a second. "I'm not staying with this fleet." she continued, "I'm going to leave."

The young Thaxarian had been up for Hours before the alarm went off however had not quite flocked to the call as other's did before gathering his things together and then walking outside his soon to be empty quarters. He would have jumped up and ran with the flock had it been before the Taiie no Iori, however the alarm still brought back haunting memories of the Lamia that hunted him back on the Iori.

He arrived a bit too late to find the Taisho had been shot, The alarm was like a bell, chiming to the rhythm of another's death. He was a bit late however still arrived to pay some respects before the inevitable funeral would take place. He sighed as he walked slowly toward his quarters, and entering without any delay to search for his formal uniform for what would come later and checked to make sure nothing was wrong with it.

He took these few moment's to reflect, he had finally pulled out of more of his withdrawal however still suffered from it less severely and now was very Shy and Socially inactive. It had been quite a while since he had talked to other people out of fear and now felt himself unable to communicate with others feeling the inadequacy complex had returned.

He had taken longer to heal after hearing of Corro's death, a Comrade he had known since the Taiie No Iori and now he was dead, his former Commanding officer was who knows where. He began doubting himself whether he had actually been there or not but always reaffirmed this doubt with the Zesuaimum katana from the Akuro I, after it punctured his stomach. He took a moment to look at that large scar the blade gave him. rubbed it a bit before sliding his shirt down once more and thinking of what he could do while he waited for something to occur that would lead him to know when the uneral would start, not too keen on leaving at that particular moment.