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

04:00 hrs, Four Hours until the Ceremony

Kiyoko quietly observed the reactions; a deep breath was taken not in relief but in annoyance. Great idea, maybe I should stand here like an idiot. Her gaze shifted across the Taisa, and the cadets. She bowed swiftly saying nothing as she distanced herself. Her chin inclined slightly as she headed towards the door, only for it to open to reveal the Chujo and Shôshô.

Hoping maybe it would jolt the Taisa and the group of cadets she said loudly "Flag Officers on deck...â€

((OOC: *pokes those who aren't posting* what's wrong people?))

Caine jolted at the loud pronouncment and stood and bowed to them both. "I see so what's who she reminds me of." he thought looking over at Kiyoko. But settled back down into the chair for a moment and sighed after they'd said to return to quarters. "So...that's the late Taisho's daughter. hm." he thought looking her over from head to toe where he could see and sighed some.

At least this meeting had helping bring him out of his funk a little. But got up and went to exit the room silently and paused next to Mayumi and Kiyoko and said via encrypted telepathy. I'm sorry about your loss too, it's truly unfortunate that such a wonderful person met such an end, it wasn't really fair. He said to Kiyoko and lightly put a hand on her shoulder to offer comfort before exiting the room and heading back to his quarters.

((ooc: man this is awkward, especially with nobody else posting >.<))

Kiyoko smiled slightly as the Shoi passed her, responding lightly Thank you, kind words are always welcome. But I must admit...I am growing tired of hearing about death and tragedy. We all must look forward; I know my mother would have wanted it that way. She paused briefly and inquired Will you be returning to Yamatai after the ceremony? If so I could arrange your transport with the Chujo and myself?

Kiyoko spite her other conversation intently as Aoiko and the others left, awaiting the Shôshô and Chujo to be done with her.

(Just post around Leigh for now, shes had some things occur OOC that will have her not able to post for a while, so we will continue until the end as needed.)

Caine paused and looked at her, his bright blues looking into hers and slowly let out the first smile he'd gotten since the incident. Well yes I am returning home on Yamatai to see my mother and three sisters. he replied to her and smirked a little. In response to her comment about the death and tragedy Caine could only nod again in agreement. But yeah, I would very much appreciate a ride back to Yamatai with yourself and the Chujo, in fact I'd be honored to share a ride back with you. He smiled again, trying to lighten the atmosphere. Subconsciously he reached up to lightly touched the golden earring on his left ear.

(Ugh, sorry, had to go home, and and come back and go home again, and deal with a few things.)

A blurred realization later, Roger realized he'd been blankly sitting at the table, not even responding to the various stimuli around him. Ugh, the Nepleslian Fine Reserve Single Malt must have hit harder than I thought. Or maybe I just wasn't ready for it. He swung his head about to look at the people who'd recently come into the room. Eh? Why does that one girl look familiar? He stood, somewhat shakily at the announcement of her identity. Oh. Wait... OH.

He walked slowly over to the Taii, unsure what to say. "Ah... wow. I didn't know the Admiral had a daughter... but what am I saying... I'm Roger Kard, one of the bridge crew. Your mother was an incredible woman, Kikiyo."

Camellia followed Caine, she was fairly quiet and kept her head lowered as she passed the Chujo and Shôshô. Muttering soft excuse mes and giving slight, quick bows as she left the room for her quarters.

"Daughter?" Kazuhiko's words could be interpreted as little other than surprise. She hadn't expected a daughter. "It is ... a pleasure to meet you, Moto -- Kiyoko." She felt a little forward, but the awkwardness of names was too much. She managed a weak bow.

The Shôshô then looked to Mayumi. "I do not know what to say, Chujo ... she is much like her parents." It wasn't the brightest thing she could have said, but nothing else fit. "I am at a loss. To know the Taisho's spirit lives on in another is heartening news."

Kiyoko nodded to Roger, and then returned her attention to the Shôshô. She forced herself to smile and say "Thank you, Shôshô, a pleasure to meet you.â€

Despite being in the hanger bay opposite the coming ceremonies, it was still alive and busy. Shuttles land constantly with various important personnel from around the 5th. Kylie's and LAMIA power armors flew by outside on more frequent patrol routes, due to the heighten security.

Creighton sulked around his shuttlecraft, inspecting in over and over again. With the rear ramp deployed he would circle the shuttle, enter and then exit it. It was more the depressing feel to the entire ship that was getting to him. Everyone looked so somber and unhappy.

You'd think this entire ship was dead. He stopped himself after the thought. Cursing inside for not respecting the others feelings. He felt sad from the loss of the Taisho, but he didn't want to show it.

Sighing deeply the young Nepleslian sat down on the ramp watching the shuttles come and leave. He didn't want to be here. Too much...

Caine sighed looking over the small crowd assembled and left for his quarters to prepare for the services that were coming. I wouldn't be for a while so he caught a short nap to try and stave off the stress and sorrow he still held deep inside. He knew it'd last a while but at least it didn't sting as much anymore as he got up and went outside and headed toward the starboard shuttle bay and walked in looking around some. He was in formal uniform, the whole nineyards too. "Well I suppose this is the last time I'll see this shuttle by for a while after this." he said to himself

Eventually the young, rather lightly confused and aggrivated Thaxarian paced about his neatly kept room, finding himself restlessly cramped in the room. He felt his Thaxarian instincts driving him up a wall, being crammed in such a confined room was picking at him slowly, before he rushed to the door however pulling away quickly, he wouldn't do much better out there either without something to focus on. At that moment he saw the book and grabbed it quickly and headed for the door.

Shortly before opening the door he heard shuffling and footsteps outside towards a general direction, the ceremony must be starting. He assumed before quickly and carefully stripping from his normal uniform and slipping into the clean and neatly kept white formal uniform and patting it down before grabbing his litterature, it was a soft cover old paper back form of text, rather than a conventional datapad.

Ryuuza then exited his quarter's and headed towards Starboard Armor Bay for the Ceremoney, slowly as he read his book.

Kiyoko arrived in the port armor bay (Starboard Bay has been adapted for the ceremony), finding Creighton looking at his shuttle. She smiled widely "It hasn't gained any new features since the last time you looked at it. You ready?â€

Creighton looked up from his seat on the ramp. "Oh, yes." He quickly responded and stood up. Staggering a bit from the blood rushing from his head.

"Urgh, I wouldn't hope anything was added to this. It's not mine technically." Creighton responded. He was not getting Kiyoko's joke; his sense of humor was far off. He turned and retrieved a formal officer's cap from a seat inside the shuttle. He placed it on his head, pulling the brim down almost to his eyes.

"Is it me or does this all seem..." Creighton's thoughts stopped as he looked at the late Taisho's daughter. "Nevermind, I'm thinking out loud again." Creighton stepped out of the shuttle after keying it to lock up after him.

"I'm ready, though I'd rather not be." The Nepleslian murmured as he adjusted the cap so that the brim stayed just above his eyes, hiding them for the most part.

Caine looked over at Kiyoko and nodded to her in greeting, he didn't like to have to face the funeral but he had no real choice and sighed a bit and stretched some. "I'm going to say a few words about Karou, it's the least I can do but what can I really say.." he muttered to himself.

Kiyoko looked over at Caine commented "How sweet." She gave Crieghton a brief glance "No need to finish the sentence, I think I have said the same thing to myself about a hundred times since I got here.â€

Camellia walked slowly down the corrider towards her room. She felt numb inside, having already exaused herself of tears and sadness, to a word, she felt hollow, empty... She chouldn't explain it, she just felt like parts of her were missing. This revelation made her feel like crying again, but she was spent. So she walked, silently and slowly...

"Hmm?" Caine looked over at her and blushed, he didn't think he'd said that aloud and went over closer a bit. "Well I hope it isn't either, I'm not one for funerals, they're too depressing." he said. "And I don't think we really have all that time for it to be too overly lengthy." Caine said, blushing still a bit; touching the golden earring again, that nervous habit again.

"But Like I said before ma'am, I'll be going back to yamatai as well, I didn't now if you'd heard me before." he said. "but I'm currently a bit stumpe don what to say about her though..."

"Don't matter how long it is. Still sad, plain as day." Creighton responded at the rear of the trio. He sounded flat and tired. But it was very hard to read his face, especially with the cap shadowing his eyes.

The Nepleslian went silent realizing he might have killed the mood. "Sorry. Not good at times like these." He responded simply. He stuck his hands into his uniform's pockets. "Just keep wishin the good times would come back."

He retreated a bit from his two companions and began to whistle a soft tune as they waited outside the hanger entrance.

Roger appeared in the bay, his dress whites continuing to show the machine presses intially put into them when manufactured. His panel color may have changed, but truth be told, the uniform was used just as little. Stored away in his various pockets were several flasks; in his preparations, he'd lost count, especially since he had stopped after every flask to sample a portion of them. He debated writing out what he was going to say, but truth was, when he tried to, he just couldn't form the words. Besides, it just wouldn't be... real, he thought.

He moved into the bay proper and milled about, looking at the various pictures of the Admiral placed in memory of her. God, her eyes... even in a picture, the look like they could bore right through me, through anything I said... He stood near the front, his hands idly rotating the model of the Namiko which had appeared in his room.

It was 07:00 by the time Kazuhiko reached the armor bay. She looked out over everything from the far entrance, to get a feel for what had been done.

The most noticeable aspect were the long, thin, shimmering banners hanging from the ceiling and coming down to about 4 meters above the deck. Each was made from silk brought from Taiie IV and dyed the blood red color of Yui's Medallion -- Kazuhiko wanted this to be a funeral, but she also wanted the pride of each soldier to be raised from the experience. This was not a time to feel pity or sadness.

Only one banner was colored differently -- that above of the ceremonial coffin of the Taisho. It was a deep blue, much like her hair. Each banner had the hummingbird of the Fifth imprinted in the middle.

Mindy armors from the Akuro II lined the walls, of course, but in about half an hour the armors would leave their racks and instead file along the back and sides of the bay with arms linked and heads hung. Pilots would be primarily from the New Anisa, to symbolize their loss yet their ability to stand united.

The ceremonial coffins were at the front of the bay, the forcefields allowing a clear view of Taiie and space. There was only one small podium, in the middle of all the coffins. Yamatai flags were draped over each coffin save the Taisho's, who had a flag of the 5th XF over it instead. Taiie self-defense forces had requested a presence as well, considering how hard the Taisho had fought for them, so four of their blue and white Hoplite fighters would also be present inside the armor bay in intermediate mode.

Standing room only was expected, so chairs had been done away with. Kazuhiko hoped there would be enough room to bow. Akuro IIarmors would designate where to be for the ceremony, and everyone would be able to see. SANDRA had already set up its camera and recording equipment, so the ceremony could be broadcast later.

The only touch that was left the small bonsai tree. It was on a table by itself just in front of the podium, on display for everyone to see. Kazuhiko was glad when a few technicians had come forward to prune and care for the tree before it was on display. She would somehow get it to that wench Suzuka later.

Kazuhiko nodded. It was a bit bare-bones, but the care put into the banners and flags was as it should be -- impeccable. She rubbed her head, then walked slowly over to a corner of the bay. She opened an image panel and spoke quietly to it, figuring there was no better place to keep her speech.