RP: YSS Yuurei [Mission 1: Enlightenment] Ep. 1:A Stop at Vicky & Briefing

We find ourselves, at times, to be at a loss to fully appreciate our circumstances. It is generally only when we are forced to change, that we truly see the harlot on the other side of the mirror, or the unsightly stain of blood on our uniforms. Change is coming again, another layer of makeup, wont suffice. Time to change, break the mirror, change the circumstances.

Click to expand...

>>ON Vicky, SAINT Command Subterranean Base.
OrderYuurei Crew) Me, Chris, Ex (YC-28) Doc, FM, Tiff

Misato lead Sayuri and Camellia through the halls of the underground fortress, Creighton had been assigned to gathering the necessary weapons and supplies they would need for their mission having already been briefed earlier. Down the hall from her office, past a guard station manned by three 'Snowy Nekos" they entered a small conference room with a round table. Upon Misato's entry PANTHEON activated the lights. "Alright, you two grab the seats to my left and right...We will be meeting with the crew from YC-28 to discuss our next mission. Information about the ship and her crew is available on your screens." She motioned to the laptop-like station at each of the places at the table.

Camellia was readjusting the SAINT uniform she was given, for a utopia, the Star Army of Yamatai sure did have itchy clothes. When they arrived at the briefing room, she was busily trying to pin her old 5th fleet rank badge to her shirt while half listening and following. When Misato mentioned others, Cam's head raised slightly, then she just nodded slightly and took her seat to the right.

“Hai." Sayuri nodded and silently took her seat to the left of Misato. She wondered why they were going to meet with the crew of the notorious YC-28, but with all the possible reasons that came to mind, decided she would simply wait until the meeting before making any assumptions. Regardless, she couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive about the situation at hand.

Meanwhile above ground, an Okii-Neko stealth shuttle touched down upon the snow-littered landing pad. Oddly enough, this same shuttle touched down upon this very same landing pad not too long ago. From behind the shuttle, three individuals stepped out... they were the crew of the YC-28.

Helen looked about the landing pad and released a sigh. "I hate this place, too damned cold. Let’s clear ourselves with the sentries and get ourselves inside." Helen instructed as she made her way across the landing pad and made her way in the direction of a group of 'Snowy Nekos' which stood guard nearby. "And Hoshiko... don't throw that snowball at the guard." Helen did not even have to look to know what the girl was up to

The uniform didn't fit Alphonse quite as well as it used to, but there was no denying that he looked better in black than white. The glasses he borrowed were a poor substitute for his own, and the new Type 30 NSP was a needlessly crippled version of the Type 28, but at least the computer generously allowed him to use a Third Expeditionary rank pin. Santo Juni...how humiliating. He kept the rear guard, glad that the uniform hid that collar.


Hoshiko followed at Helen's. Her blonde hair spiked now for the meeting she watched the others and everything around her through her skin vision. She was in her operative mood and in a rather upset mood. She hadn't had her cookies and she was a little pissy. At her left side rested her knife which she drummed her fingers on, her right side holding her gun. Her gaze was narrowed down in a soft scowl.

Misato sat at the head of the table, with Camellia at her right and Sayuri to her left. She said, leaning back in the chair. "When we are done here I suggest ensuring that any personal items you may need get to the ship, it is going to be a little while before we are able to benefit from luxuries again. I took the liberty of loading that wine you two picked out at Pisces before we left the station.” She grinned mischievously. Vicky's PANTIES AI alerted Misato to the fact that the shuttle from YC-28 had arrived. She said quietly to herself. Time to see what Ms. Klien is made of... The two Snowy Nekos nodded to Helen and motioned towards the open doors which lead into the complex.

Camellia didn't know much about this Helen person, or her ship for that matter. From the way the other two were acting, though this looked to be an interesting meeting.

"Of course, Misato-sama." Sayuri replied politely, pondering what items she might want to pick up once this meeting was concluded. A few books, a new bonsai tree and some other small things to occupy her might do, though she wondered if other, more practical items might be necessary.

Helen directed her two crew-mates to follow with a mere gesture of her hand as she strode into the base complex. As soon as she was inside, she took a moment to shake the snow off and little more before she made her way through the base complex, only pausing to ask the base computer where the meeting was to be conducted. "Alphonse, I only want you to speak when spoken to. Hoshiko, you have the leash on him as well." As Helen gave her instructions, they closed in on the door to the conference room and arrived. Helen had the base computer alert the occupants of the room of her presance before she entered with her crew mates in tow. "Taii Helen Klein, reporting as ordered." She stated as she stood at attention.

Alphonse gave a salute in immediate response to the Taii's, eyes searching the room and the three other operatives from behind the clear glass. He felt...uncomfortable. It had been a long time since he was in such a position; a soldier, let alone one of such a low rank.

Hoshiko followed the salute, opting not to speak. The introductions would be Helen's part. For her part though, Hoshiko took a look over the occupants of the room, smirking inwardly as she imagined them in doll dresses playing with Lilium.

Misato rose from her seat and said, "I am glad you could make it Taii. Please let me introduce my crew." she motioned to Sayuri. "Motoyoshi Sayuri, Chusa...my Sensor Specialist." she then motioned to Cam, "Camellia Sarri, my operations officer." She said as she sat down. "My executive officer, Mr. Marks is busy attending to things for our mission so he is unable to join us." She felt no need to introduce herself, as the director of SAINT she expected them to know who it was they were deal with, and how to properly address her. She smiled, "And who have you brought along?" She already knew, having pulled their files prior to inviting the YC-28 to Vicky.

Camellia nodded to the assembled agents when her name was mentioned, but remained silent and in her seat.

Sayuri stood up from her chair and gave a gentle bow to the newcomers, though not one as pronounced as if she was introducing herself to a superior officer.

Helen gave a bow when addressed. "Director Black Nova, I have brought Itto Juni Hisae Hoshiko, my close quarters and tactical combat expert, and Santo Juni Maximilian Alphonse, my technical specialist."

Alphonse said nothing, gaze settling on the director...Motoyoshi, huh? The empire now under control of the command structure of the Fifth...it was all, admittedly, a lot to take in for the engineer, asleep as he was for the better part of a year. Much had happened, and the repercussions were still to be determined.

Hoshiko gave another bow but otherwise remained silent. Her eyes seemed to focus on Misato for the moment before shifting over to Camellia. A whisper of a grin formed over her face, imagining a rather sweet looking tea party. The grin was gone in an instant though as she slid back into her professional mindset.

Misato smiled, giving a nod to Hoshiko, and then to the former Senator. She said. "Have a seat so we can get started." Misato started her intended briefing, tired of the official motions. "We are going to have to get used to sitting at a table together...I am ordering the temporary merger of our two crews. The YC-28 personnel, including you Helen will join us on the Yuurei for a special mission." A volumetric projection came to being over the table, a map of local space to the southwest of Yamatai.

Camellia stayed silent, though she caught the momentary look Hoshiko gave her, her exposed eyebrow perked as she though on the neko's intentions.

Sayuri sat down, noticing that very little attention was being paid to her. The science officer didn't particularly care, as her duties were more important to her than being 'noticed' by the members of a dysfunctional SAINT crew.

What are we doing that will have to do with the Ketsurui Military Sector? Helen asked herself as she looked at the display. "Yes Director Black Nova, we will adjust as needed to accommodate you and your crew and do our part in the mission to ensure it is a success."

The map tracked north and a little east, centering on the Bufarks Debris Cloud and the other former Dark One Territories. "As we all know, the SMX has made its retreat from known space. Since their disappearance I have had some of our scouting divisions looking into possible ways they could of left, who and what they left behind, and other details not really prudent to this initial briefing." The laptop-like screens in front of the seating places scrolled with information. "Sensor data initially showed that there was little, if anything out of the ordinary with what we were finding." she paused, sighing. "Abandoned worlds, abandoned bases...ghosts of what our enemy had to live, or die for." Their screens went blank, and the three ships on the map disappeared. "All of it, every ounce of data that had not been sent yet, every ship...gone, just like the SMX." A circle encompassed two systems Bufarks and Nougfran. "Our mission is going to be to try and find our ships, and to find out where the SMX have gone, what they left behind, and try to get a better picture of what is to come, in a year’s time, as Melisson has threatened."

Camellia watched and listened to Misato, this was not the kind of thing she liked. Absolute unknown, the great darkness that continuously lurks just outside the realm of understanding. She was getting excited, but again a mincing though. Though going to find the missing ships was a commendable mission, which did not sound like a job for SAINT. "Ma'am," Camellia said, "might I ask a question?"

Misato nodded "Sure..."

"What information do we have from the ships that disappeared?" She asked. There were questions here.

Misato said, "Aside from the empty worlds they explored towards the Ketsurui Military Sector, and their trail leading up to Bufarks...nothing substantial enough to indicate what happened." Misato paused, leaning further back in her chair, "Those ships had a very specific mission, to find out information about the SMX evacuation and find clues as to what we should be expecting in a years time, when the destruction that Melisson has promised us is due." Misato justified. "The data we are going to be after could hold the intelligence we need to give our nation a chance of survival."

"So..." Camellia responded as she turned to look at the table. "They found something though. Something big." Camellia mused, "if three ships just suddenly vanish, what's there to stop our ship from doing the same?" She asked. "You're willing to sacrifice a third crew to find out what happened around that planet."


"It stands to reason," Alphonse interjected, "that we are better trained and equipped to handle unexpected incidents, than your average fleet crew. As well, the Empire can easily stand the loss of a single ship and a small crew, if need be." His eyes darted to Camellia, to emphasize his meaning.

Misato said, "I am willing to sacrifice every life at my disposal, if it means that our Empire will survive."

Sayuri now turned to face Misato, her yellow eyes glinting with a sense of importance in what she wanted to say. Her attention was piqued and she felt this would be a good time to place her requests, while everything was being planned. "Misato-sama, if I may... I would like access to the information on any and all Mishhu vessels I am cleared to view. Sensors and battle data are priorities,...as well as the files on specific substystems, specifically shields, stealth, quintessent power sources and weapons." The pink-haired Motoyoshi paused for a moment, before directing her attention to the SAINT crew. "To my understanding, you've encountered and even captured several vessels, so I would ask that you turn over your data directly to me."

Camellia's eye met with Alphonse, a flash of anger traced over her face at his words, but soon after, she regained her composure.

Misato said, "I have downloaded the information that Chie Research Base in the Yugumo Cluster pulled on the ships they captured, I will have it sent to your station on the Yuurei's bridge when we get back to the ship." Misato smiled at Sayuri.

"Arigatou Misato-sama. I'll be sure to review all of it extensively." Sayuri replied, her own expression brightening a little from her usual stony composure. "Actually, I'd like to start on it ASAP, as we'll not have that much time. Would it be acceptable for me to leave the meeting?"

Misato nodded to Sayuri, "You are dismissed."

"Ms. Misato," Camellia said as she continued to sorta stare/glare at Alphonse. "I think this meeting is adjourned." She said with a small frown. "That man says we're over qualified for the job, so we should get on it right away."

Sayuri stood up from her seat, bowed again and headed out the door. The thought of being away from a friendly port worried her for a little bit, so she began thinking on what she might have to do. If the Neko was lucky and had a bit of spare time, she might be able to order the extra items she wanted before the Yuurei had to leave.

"Director Black Nova, if I may be so bold. I would like to request a time be set aside for you and I to discuss crew affairs and mission planning." Helen asked as she stood with her crew still. She hated these situations, she hated being told when to leave, and most of all, she hated mystery missions.

Misato nodded, "No problem, Why don't you let your crew get back to the YC-28 and start transferring your things over to the Yuurei. We can have a chat as I take care of some business." She turned saying to Camellia. "You can go give them a hand. A good chance to get to know our new crew members." She said "Dismissed." Staying seated, she looked to Helen, but would remain quiet until all had left.

Camellia closed her eyes and nodded to Misato. Shortly after, she stood from her chair and walked to the door, opening it and motioning for the other members of YC-28 to leave ahead of her.

Hoshiko remained where she was, intending to ask Misato a favor. "If I may ask a favor Ma'am?" She would wait until the others had left to ask, If Misato granted her the chance.

Helen held up her hand and made a dismissive gesture to her crew members. "You're dismissed, Hoshiko... please take it out to the hallway. Alphonse, I want you to check with Sumomo, ask about the container with your possessions in it."

Alphonse quickly took the offered exit, looking to Helen and pushing his glasses back up. "You do think of everything, don't you?" And with that, he left for the shuttle.

Misato looked at Hoshiko, raising a brow. "What favor?"

“May I please stay in Taii Klein's room with her?" Hoshiko asked with a rather straight face.

Misato rolled her eyes, "Your sleeping arrangements are your own business...But you will be assigned a room, even if you sleep somewhere else."

Helen could not help but to betray herself with a smile, a genuine smile which spoke volumes. She gave a look to Hoshiko which was a combination of affection and telling her to get going.

"Arigatou Chujo Motoyoshi." Hoshiko replied, bowing at the waist before she straightened. "I will take my leave now." After another bow of the head, Hoshiko turned and exited the room before Helen.

"I will see you after we are moved, Black Nova." Helen gave a bow to her superior before she turned and left, following along with Hoshiko. When out in the hallway, Helen gave her a pat on the head, somehow not messing up her hair.

Three Black Plumeria Class Gunships streaked past the YSS Yuurei seconds before disappearing, their fold systems taking them into hyperspace. Several cargo ships were entering the system and were being boarded by SAINT personnel, every container was inspected, before they could be sent to the surface or to the fleet of black hulled ships in orbit.

Cargo containers were being loaded onto the Yuurei, they traveled down the lift and into the cargo hold. Food, and other goods arranged by Creighton were finally reaching their destination. The expected length of deployment was uncertain so he ensured the ship would be fully stocked.

Misato had returned to the ship, stopping at her quarters to change out of her uniform into a pair of black boy-shorts with the SAINT symbol on them, with a black T-shirt with the old flag of the Motoyoshi Bakufu on it. She walked out of her suite, her bare feet loving the feel of the purple carpet. Hardly in professional attire to be on the bridge. The Chujo, never had a strong sense of such things, typical of her Motoyoshi mentors.

The bridge lights were dimmed, in night mode, most of the crew was busy elsewhere, obtaining what little they could in terms of sleep, doing research for their coming mission. She slipped into the command chair, the SPINE interface providing her with the connection needed. A series of volumetric screens opened above the desk, as she began to look over the various maps and data for the upcoming mission.

For the majority of the day, Helen's activities mostly consisted of; packing, unpacking, loading, unloading, and large quantities of worry. Throughout the time of moving equipment and belongings from the YC-28 to the Yuurei, Helen could not help but to feel a sense of confusion and foreboding about the upcoming mission at hand. She felt her anxiety ever since stepping into the conference room, and now she had to do something to alleviate that overwhelming uncertainty. Helen's voice came from the rear of the bridge, the tone was humble yet firm. "Helen Klein, requesting permission to step aboard your bridge, Blacknova."

Misato looked away from her work and said "Permission granted, consider it an ongoing invitation..." The cloud of volumetric screens closed, and the command chair swiveled, so that Misato was facing the rear of the bridge. "All unpacked Helen?" There was something to be said, about the quiet peacefulness of the bridge in night mode, the lights dimmed, the image of Vicky swirling below on the main viewer.

"Thank you, Director." Helen stated in acknowledgment before she stepped onto the bridge. This carpet is nice... She could not help but to think as she stepped onto the bridge's deck, soon following her thought, she could not help but to feel slightly more anxious but for different reasons than before as she looked at, and looked over, her superior. "Negative ma'am, I've finished moving the equipment from the YC-28, however

I have not managed to get to moving all of my belongings yet." It was apparent to any watchful eye that Helen was forcing herself to remain on her toes in the presence of Blacknova. It was a matter of being in the presence of a superior which deserved the respect... and not to mention, there were traditions which were unshakable, traditions ingrained by serving under Uesu as a director for some time.

Misato nodded, "I can send a few sprites from the surface to assist you, if you want?" Misato, got up from the command chair, and walked over the Helen.

"There is no need for that Blacknova, ma'am." Helen's gaze moved with Misato's approach. "I have more sprites than I know what to do with as it stands. The issue is having to make shuttle trips to move the items, since the Ayame-Class is unable to make ground landings."

"Yuurei....Proceed to the YC-28 and initiate docking procedures" The voice of the Yuurei's AI, a child-like ambient voice responded. "At your command.." The Yuurei began to close on the YC-28, preparing for coupling. Misato said, "Problem solved..."

"Thank you, ma'am." Helen gave a sort of bowing nod in thanks. "That will make the task much easier to complete..." Helen seemed to become distracted in thought. You came here for a reason Helen, spit it out. Helen's mind stated to itself as Helen fumbled silently to find the right words to say. "Director Blacknova, requesting permission to speak on the mission and ask of details about this assignment, ma'am."

Misato smiled darkly, "As long as you stop calling me ma'am, I am not some base rat stuck at a desk for the rest of my career. Black Nova, or Nova will suffice." Misato sat back down in the command chair, and turned to face the Systems and Safety Management station, were she gestured for Helen to have a seat. "What is on your mind?"

Helen let out a soft breath to release some of her anxiety as she moved to the indicated position and took a seat. "I wanted to ask some questions about the mission itself. I also wanted to ask some general questions about the assignment and work out details. First and foremost, I wanted to know why my crew was selected for this mission. Only the other day I was being chastised by Taisho Yui."

Misato sighed, "I guess I will answer, the last of the two first." Misato reclined comfortably in the command chair. "I will not deny, you have not exactly amounted to much the way the cards settled. You served under a different Empire, in a different Empire, one where Uesu called the shots...sadly now the shots that were called are now the very wounds gaping in the Empire. One way or another your associated with things like Nepleslia Prime..." Misato paused a moment and said bluntly, "This was an alternative that allows you to be associated with something else, something that won't land you on the chopping block as bureaucrats go about passing blame, rather than solving problems."

Helen frowned slightly and gave a nod. "Permission to speak freely in relation to the former director and affiliated Ketsurui clan members?"

Misato said "No need, there is nothing that you can say that will have any impact here. While usually I promote my crew to be free with their tongue, I really would rather not hear the next version of the blame symphony. We all have our jobs to do. Yours just happened to change, change being something that either makes or breaks us." Misato was sympathetic, but she did not care for the blame pointing, it was the job of politicians, it kept them busy so she and those like her could do their jobs.

"Understood. I just wanted to say, I feel as an operative and as an individual in the Empire, that our objectives will be better served by having you as the director of SAINT, and the Empress in the throne. So now that I know why I am here, I can now serve the empire with confidence." Helen did actually look visibly more relaxed as she began to appreciate the kind of officer Blacknova was. Helen's relaxed state could be visibly see

n in her shoulders as they loosened slightly, and the line of her jaw which became less pronounced as she released the tension which she usually exerted there.

"So, about our mission?" Misato took the compliment quietly, Yuurei interrupted briefly "Dock procedure complete, Chujo." Misato responded, "Thank you Yuurei." She returned her attentions to Helen, evaluating the woman as she spoke.

"Helen to Sumomo, have the sprites begin directly loading the Yuurei with the remaining personal items and equipment." Helen silently ordered as the Yuurei's computer informed them of the docking procedure completion. "About the mission... Blacknova, what kind of situation are we looking at? Have any other ships investigated the area since the SMX withdrawal and do we have any information which we can use as a lead?"

Misato said quietly "I have no idea what we should expect, aside from the three ships that are missing no one has ventured into that region. The only data we have is that something happened, that has caused those three ships to disappear near the Bufarks Debris Cloud. Our long ranged sensor scans as of yet have been unable to turn up anything, short of the usual emptiness of space." Misato...

...ran her tongue over her lips to wet them. "We will proceed with caution, hopefully we will be able to uncover something useful. As SAINT, we should not expect the intel to be already there, it is up to us to piece things together."

A look of contemplation was on Helen's face before she looked relaxed once more. "I feel that we'll be able to manage this mission, unless any external influences try to interfere. That brings me to our next issue, what of the Nepleslians? They have taken claim to the majority of the SMX's old holdings. How will we be conducting our investigation in relation to those systems?"

Misato said shaking her head slightly. "Hopefully we will be able to avoid entering their space, however if it is required we will face that when the time comes. If we require it we will have to make it work, and be creative if the need arises."

A grin crossed Helen's purple painted lips. "We could just ask nicely?" She suggested half jokingly, half serious as she thought of the situation.

Misato chuckled, "Or we can send them naked pictures...we both know there is only enough blood to run one of their thick heads at a time."


"Mmm, true enough. Maybe if we send them nice enough pictures they'd do us the favor of fainting and letting us pass?" Helen joined in with the chuckle as she then let her mind wander to Misato's current clothing, and a blush crossed her cheeks as she let her chuckle die out.

"So...you like that chair?" Misato asked, motioning to the Systems and Safety Station where Helen had sat down for their conversation. "If you do,the position is yours...I believe Mr Alphonse will best find himself suited for engineering. Any idea what function your other crewman will be best suited?"

Helen took in a breath as she turned to face the console. "Damage control and interior defense... I'm no engineer, but give me a minute and a MEGAMI link and I can be one. I'll take the position since I will be able to keep in touch with Alphonse in Engineering at this position." Helen turned her seat to face Misato again. "Hoshiko will be best suited to in-ship combat operations and planetary missions. However, she can be trained for other tasks. Blacknova, as you know, I've been working with a small crew; we're all rather prepared to take any role which we're needed to take, so long as we maintain our ties to each other, and know it is for the good of the mission."

Misato knew there was limited stations on the bridge, Creighton would now have to stand, not so bad for an executive officer, he had to oversee everything anyway. "She can handle communications and mission operations...we may need her planetary specialties should we end up on solid ground."

A nod was Helen's reply as she toyed with the idea in her mind of Hoshiko handling communications. "I think she'll be up for the task."

Cargo Hold Secure, Black Nova The Yurrei notified the Chujo as the cargo lift brought the last of the containers into the bay. Misato opened a volumetric window and called up the ship's manifest. The list scrolled through as she checked it in comparison to her order, once she was satisfied everything was there she said. "Tell Vicky Logistics Thank-you and inform control we are getting underway once my engineer gives the green."

She activated ship-wide communications. "Camellia and Sayuri to the bridge to begin pre-flight sequence." She turned to Helen. "I suggest you make sure the rest of your things are on board."

Misato left the command chair and headed to engineering to meet with Alphonse-Juni, she never bothered to go get her uniform on, feeling comfortable to meet with the engineer casually.

The Yuurei notified Alphonse. "Santo Juni, the Chujo is on her way to meet you in engineering." The notification served little purpose, because Misato was already standing next to the fold drive near the main passageway.

After her meeting with 'Blacknova', Helen had made her way to her assigned quarters where she began to unpack her things from the YC-28 which were carried over. A good portion of the items were personal belongings which served no practical purpose, however, a sizable portion of items were also from the YC-28's cargo hold and armory.

Despite having faith in her Empire, Helen also had a large sum of faith invested in being prepared. Ammunition, weapons, body armor... she hoped it would not have to be put to use, but she also knew it was better to have and not need, than to need and not have. Helen also made it a point to make a stop by the fabrication bay and put in some orders to have some additional items created, and not all items in mind were for work.

After unloading her packed items, Helen went about organizing her quarters to best suit her preferences... and be able to accommodate both herself and Hoshiko comfortably. Helen decided to exercise some foresight as she ordered a small chair and table be made, along with storage case for knives and other bladed weapons. "Well, I hope Hoshiko will be comfortable... I wonder what she is up to. Hrm... and what of Alphonse?" Helen asked herself, silently checking up on Alphonse's position utilizing the collar which was nestled against the man's neck. "Oh, of course, an engineer is in engineering... only obvious."

>>ON YSS YUUREI
Main Engineering: Misato and Alphonse

It was good that Helen was so thorough. Alphonse felt far more comfortable with his own glasses, his bandana tied around a belt loop for easy access. The Type 30 had been replaced with his Xaser sidearm, which made him more confident in his ability to defend himself. Despite this, the information he had the time to gather was...somewhat unsettling. Even so, as Black Nova arrived, Alphonse quickly turned to face her, from his vantage point in front of the aether reactor. "Motoyoshi-Chujo," he stated simply, looking at her from behind the lenses.

Misato unfolded her arms, a unidentifiable smile upon her lips it deceived the darkness that lurked in her eyes, the slinking careful walk towards him. "So, Looks like you landed yourself a lucky break...the only engineer on this ship, lands you as its Chief Engineer." she paused, leaning against the back of one of the railings. "This promises to be a very different job from your last...no?"

"I've had a lot of jobs, Motoyoshi-Chujo," Alphonse said simply, listening to the hum of the converters. He wore his uniform jacket open over a thin grey turtleneck, the high collar hiding the thrall Helen had over him. "The circumstances of my employment aside, I have been chosen to serve the Empire as part of one of its most important organizations." He seemed unphased by her lack of uniform, choosing instead to focus on business.

Misato smirked, sizing the man up. "Well you will come to find that I will be relying on you far more than, what would normally be expected." She paused, giving the engine room a look over. "I have little trust in the vessel itself, I believe that our fate will be determined by ourselves. Your ability to keep things running will be key to that, ensuring that our equipment doesn't fail us." She crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "That possibly makes you one of the most important people on this ship..." she said in finally "Usually I would be able to threaten your life if you failed me, but if you do fail me, none of us will be around to pass the blame."

"In a way, I suppose, that's not too far off from my job in the Senate." Alphonse gave a slight smirk, before returning to the reactor. "If it is my role to keep this vessel in top form then I accept it and will do my utmost. May I speak freely on my opinion of the Plumeria Class?"

Misato giggled, "Sure, I did not design it, neither did my family..." she leaned back against the rail a little harder.”Just remember, this ship, is going to between you and the cold of space. Wouldn't want to jinx it...”

"The class is over-engineered. What little true improvements it offers would be more easily integrated into the existing Sakura space-frames." Alphonse stepped forward to the reactor and took a scanner from nearby, examining the power flow levels. "A measly two torpedoes aren't going to give you a strategic advantage, and weapons pods are outdated. The interiors are too large for the ship's role as, essentially, an aether shock array with engines." He paused, and waved around his scanner dismissively. "And of course, a shuttle bay that can't fit shuttles properly. They should be ashamed."

Misato just shook her head, "Well we will have to manage now won't we?" she ordered MEGAMI to release Chief Engineer access to Alphonse. "You will notice, I arranged for some extras to be thrown in...Check your cargo manifest. Not to mention, I am sure there will be a few things along the way to help us out."

A brief check confirmed Misato's words. "You're right, Chujo...these will be very useful. Particularly the Custodian - I'm sure, if you know my political history, you know where I stand on what kinds of soldiers should be mass produced." Alphonse paused, and removed his glasses. "Tell me, you know of the Senate's attempt to block the Species Restriction Act, correct?”

“I am familiar; I at the time was devoted to some other more pressing matters...Why?" Misato wondered what significance it had to the custodian.

"I've never supported the concept of the Nekovalkyrja. To mass produce weapons is one thing. War is something that is, at times, required. But to mass produce weapons that can change their opinions...that can rebel, that is something else entirely. The Species Restriction Act...a failed attempt at censuring a poor decision by a major member of the military, which devastated the command structure of the Third Expeditionary. However...wait” Alphonse drew his sidearm, the modifications performed on the iconic NovaCorp weapon obvious to Misato's eyes. "MEGAMI, can you provide volumetric targets for me and the Chujo?"

Misato raised a brow. "Why are you creating targets?" She drew her NSP, looking at him with a questioning expression on her face.

"I'm out of practice and feel like relieving stress," Alphonse explained simply, raising his pistol and enabling the digital interface sight. Targeting information popped onto his glass display as the targets formed, and he took aim, firing a shot at the first. "The main issue was that of military interference in the Senate. I felt, at the time, it would be more politically advantageous to bring the public's attention to two things...the political infighting of the fleets, and the influence the military had on the senate, beyond even the most visible signs of it." He turned to the next target and fired once more, steadying the pistol with both hands. "It didn't pay off, obviously."

Misato fired a single shot, hitting two targets as they crossed each other. "That depends, it may have paid off...just a little late." She smiled, taking out another target. "The new Empress has separated the power of the senate and the military...Not to mention, has been rather stringent in oversight of such politics." She laughed lightly, stating, "Of course I am a little biased. Being of the Motoyoshi Clan..."

“The flow of power is interesting, to say the least. Useu's decision, at the time, may have seemed expedient - accelerating the upgrade to Geshrin by forcing the population to adapt or die. But he couldn't have conceivably hid that fact forever." Alphonse's shots were slow and practiced, utilizing the targeting telemetry to get perfect shots whenever possible. "My decision forced Henry Chen to retire - while I don't regret what I did, lost a good commander."

“Commanders come, commanders go...." Misato changed her stance, firing in a wide arc a series of shots from the Type 28, landing one by one square in the center of the target. "Your history lesson is intriguing...Far more interesting than anything I have heard from an engineer in a long time."

I've been around before the Empire was formed, simply a thought in the mind of the burgeoning Ketsurui family." Alphonse changed his firing style, being quicker with his shots and using a one-handed grip - hitting several targets in succession. "My family was once somewhat powerful, before this era, but it was at the price of corruption and fragmentation. Yamatai is the best thing that happened to humanity - we went from a loose association, always infighting amongst factions, to a powerful single race."

Misato holstered her weapon. “Unity that serving on this ship, you may have to test to its fullest." Misato said to Alphonse. "Understand something, as the director of SAINT; I am prepared to protect the empire, even from itself..." She said to him in confidence. "We have come a long way, from those loose associations...but our future is still uncertain...it is with that, we in SAINT must be concerned with."

One last target was hit and then Alphonse holstered his own as well. "The future is never certain, I've found. I believe it might be prudent to prepare the ship in whatever ways we can before we venture into the unknown - as you've said, we will have to manage."

Misato smiled, saying "I am heading back up to the bridge to go over pre-flight with the rest of the crew. I suggest you get to work. We cannot accomplish anything in orbit around Vicky." She headed back towards the main passageway. She came to a stop just short of the door. "One last thing..." she paused, taking a breath. "Welcome aboard...Chief." The door opened and then closed behind her as she headed back up towards the bridge.

Alphonse allowed himself a rare moment of selfless pride at that, grinning widely. This position, at the very least, would be more useful and entertaining than that of his old machine shop...and at that, he took his bandana from his belt loop and tied it around his forehead. "Let's get to work."

Hearing the order, Sayuri left her own room and walked apace to the Yuurei's bridge to get to her station. She had a small sort of smile on her delicate features, not particularly happy, but amused, or contented. Using what little spare time she had between research, small-scale simulations and the necessities, all to get herself up to speed on Mishhu systems. Not to say that field experience wasn't better, or that the pink-haired NH-29 saw herself as some sort of expert on the enemy's technology. There were obviously veteran engineers, SARA scientists and of course, PANTHEON, at much higher levels of understanding than her, but the Neko felt that she would be able deal with problems as they came. She hoped.

The young Motoyoshi was particularly glad with her new acquisitions, including a collapsible bo staff and a bonsai tree that sat now stood proudly on her nightstand. The books on tactics and law would be invaluable, but they'd have to be attended to later, between missions. It would be a terribly idiotic idea to distract herself during a SAINT operation.

Sayuri entered the bridge and sat down at her station awaiting Misato and Camellia's arrival. So I suppose this is our first real mission, after the failure at Pisces. But that wasn't anyone's fault, except maybe the person who caused the Sky Marshal to leave. However that, once again, is only another unfortunate failing to be held against the Ketsurui. The assault on Halna has embittered things further, and created a divide in the thoughts of the people and naturally, obliged Robert Davis to return home.

Things are connected, like the circuitry of a well-engineered machine or the chaotic morass of neurons that composes the human brain. Nothing is completely separate from the rest of the universe, as I've come to understand. Maybe someday, they will as well... She thought to herself, adjusting her glasses again as she rested her eyes for a moment.

Camellia was in her quarters unpacking clothes and items when her communicator beeped and announced in a small voice that she has five new News updates. Taking a moment to pop her communicators volumetric window, she was greeted with several news articles and video feeds about an apparent military altercation near the Halna moon. This piqued her interest, but she was currently busy and saved the articles and made a hotlink to auto-save all related news feeds.

After that, she quickly read the cargo manifest, and noticed a sever lack of CC weaponry. After a quick PATHENON query, she managed to come up with a small assortment of hand to hand range weapons and added them to the delivery manifest. After she finished her manifest update, she received her summons to the bridge. She was slightly nervous, this was the first time she got to fly an actual ship. After a quick clothing change into what looked like a Black paneled YSE uniform, plus her old Rank pin.

After a second to look herself over in the mirror, she left her quarters and headed for the bridge.

Engineering in the Plumeria class was well designed, if nothing else, the ship likely being built around the massive aether reactor that provided the power for the ship to use its blade and swipe down poorly-spread fleets. News scrolled down the display in front of Alphonse's eyes as he did a run of the capacitors - he needed all the spares he could get, if his concept were to be put into execution.

The Empire was at a crossroads. Military strength was not enough to maintain a strong, unified populace - a fact seemingly lost on the Ketsurui. The losses in the Mishhu War were not due to superior strength or tactics on their part, but military incompetence on Yamatai's side. Despite his love of the Empire, Alphonse could not help but think that Yui's nature, as the prototype Nekovalkyrja unit, meant that she had mental defects that caused such incompetent actions.

Indeed, though the Empire, now, was in terms of its military and territory stronger than ever before, in terms of the confidence in the government and command structure it had never been worse off. It reminded him of nothing more than the infighting that so dominated the distant past.

In hindsight, it all began with Pisces. The project was one that could bring the great governments together, increase trade, becoming a symbol of the enduring strength of Yamatai. Instead they crewed the station with unknowns, constantly pushed back construction, filled the station before even the AI was installed, and then used it to store refugees it was unable to handle.

Even now, with the Motoyoshi clan taking control, missteps were evident. Halna. An attack, ill-concieved, that was even now making waves throughout known space. The massive, wanton strike, led by that ignorant oligarchal servant Ketsurui Hanako, emboldened the enemies of Yamatai and weakened the confidence in the military.

It was always the military, wasn't it? Civilian life in Yamatai was comfortable and mostly free of dissent - except for that dissent sown by the military's actions. Even the Black Spiral was once a section of SAINT, and the Mishhu were a product of the PNUgen labs. In many ways, the action of the military was without oversight - even by the part of the reigning Empress, who seemed unable to put a proper leash on Yui.

If the Empire was to survive, it needed strength. Missteps like these would only lead to ruin, and humanity would once again be plunged into war with itself.

-

Having finished the capacitor check, of both those running and the spares, Alphonse went to the cargo bay to get one of the cargo containers from YC-28 - these parts, hopefully, would do. The unmarked container was taken to the armory; the engineer, specializing in weapons, expected to find weapons of recent Ketsurui make - none of which were worth the metals they were cast from. The Type 30 machinegun was a weapon from the earliest days of warfare, the Type 30 NSP was hopelessly crippled and ergonomically unsound, and the GP-12B was an inferior version of an admittedly well-made weapon

What he found was...surprising, to say the least.

Not a Type 30 in sight, and the armory was packed with an eclectic selection of weapons, many of which he was unfamiliar with. It seemed almost overcapacity, come to think of it.

A cursory glance told him that most of the weapons were not of Ketsurui make, and even the Ketsurui weapons were of relatively rare make - the Aether Gatling Rifle, rarely used despite its obvious utility; the Type 28, perhaps the best NSP produced; a plasma rifle that was rarely deployed, the Type 29 NSP point defense weapon, and the GP-12A, the superior version of the rifle. Perhaps the best selection that could have been assembled.

There were several NovaCorp weapons as well - which made sense, given the Motoyoshi's association with the Nova Corporation. The Heavy Assault Rifle, a weapon that was unwieldly yet was the best of the Xaser class; his beloved Xaser pistol, and the Electrolaser Rifle, a relatively unique weapon that was nevertheless adaptable and powerful. These would all be good choices in emergency situations, and the rifle-class weapons outperformed the GP-12A in all important categories.

For some reason, there were Nepleslian weapons as well - strange, that the military would support the economy of their fiercest rival. He recognized the short-slide Zen .45 Compact - even now still one of the best chemical-action pistols - but the others required a computer lookup. 'Styrling', a civilian company that filled the vacuum NAM left behind; a pity that they did so, since NAM's equipment was universally top of the line. The Ripshot compared favorably to the old Zen Arms 10mm machine pistol, although he didn't like the unorthodox ergonomics. The Longbolt seemed a poor choice, but sniper weapons produced by the modern corporations were never all that great. The Shot 12 was a good choice, though - shotguns had fallen out of favor, but were always useful in close combat situations.

The Lorath weapons puzzled Alphonse until he recalled the situation - when he was frozen, their technological capability was much lower than it was today. Given the foreign design of some of the weapons, they had been getting technology from outside sources - but clearly, they had been developing technology from sources other than human contractors. At the very least, their weapons were sound - the "My'hyz" rifle outperformed the old GP-1, the "M'Cel" grenade launcher was a truly innovative weapon even by Yamataian standards, and their Combined Particle Cannon seemed almost frighteningly effective.

Of course, given that they had much conflict with the old Ketsurui dynasty, it would be natural that they support the 5th and the Motoyoshi - but even so, Alphonse doubted that their population would make the distinction as clearly as their government had. Another mistake, the subjugation of a race in such a crude matter, and the diplomatic disasters that followed.

Perhaps more interesting were the other weapons of Lorath make, under the banner of 'Stalwart Defense Industries'. He had come here to fit digital sights to the weapons, but in this case it was useless - all of them had the sights installed. The 'Stalwart Special' seemed somewhat wasteful, shooting two shots instead of a single one for no apparent tactical gain; even so, the lightweight linear weapon seemed to set the stage for similar weapons. After all, the only one he could think of before the Special was the Emrys models, which were all exceedingly poor performers. The 'Stalwart Enforcer' fared much better, utilizing a new method of ammunition storage to create a 50-shot solid-ammo pistol - in fact, given its action, it was almost a miniaturized linear weapon.

Looking to his parts and his tools, Alphonse set up a table and took out the first Type 28. He could be here a while...might as well get comfortable.

-

Alphonse said:

Attention, crew of the YSS Yuurei. This message is to inform you that I have taken the liberty of installing digital interface sights to your weapons in the armory.

These sights utilize small cameras and tracking programs to enhance accuracy and target acquisition, and have several modes of vision. They have capability to interface with standard head displays and NH series psionic communications. On that note, I should inform Sarri-chui that I have a visor display for her, given that, as far as I know, she has no glasses display; and being a Geshrin she cannot use telepathic communications.

Use these sights or don't, but the option is there. If you have personal weapons you would like me to fit sights to, come see me and I will do so.

As well, I believe our ship is not stealthy enough for our mission profile - namely, its aether reactor's output is too high. I have a theory on how to reduce our aether profile, but it involves some...risks. Risks you may not want to take.

I will discuss this with another time; for now, I will be in Engineering.

Santo Juni Maximillian Alphonse
Chief Engineer, YSS Yuurei

Click to expand...

YSS Yuurei - Helen's Quarters (Unofficially Helen & Hoshiko's Quarters)

Metallic and plastic cargo containers were piled into a corner of the quarters as Helen went about organizing what was moved into the room. Furnishings, clothing, bedspreads, weapons, ammunition, private devices of amusement. Despite the sizable quantity of items, Helen somehow was finding a way to sort it all out.

Hoshiko filed in shortly after with her few totes. She had maybe three, one of which was filled with Lilium, her travel case, and her clothing. The other was one box filled with weaponry for Hoshiko, and the other with clothing. The girl could travel sparingly when she wanted too. She would wait though for Helen to finish, sitting silently on the bed as she seemed to brood.

Of course, Helen was not able to finish, not with her adoptive daughter sitting about seemingly brooding. "My dear Hoshiko... what is wrong?" Helen asked as she sat down beside the woman which seemed to be a mere girl in comparison to Helen.

"I don't like our leader..." She said a little depressed. "Or the one that left early. They don't seem to like me much..." She said again a little depressed as she fiddled with her hands in her lap.

"I'll let you in on a little secret, she don't like anyone much." Helen explained as she placed her hand upon both of Hoshiko's. "Rumor has it, she was quite ruthless rising up in the ranks of the 5th. Empress Katsuko made her our new Director for a reason... and you don't become Director of SAINT by being nice."


"She could still be a little nicer....I don't even think they would want to come to a cookie and tea party." Hoshiko seemed a little depressed by the thought.

Helen frowned lightly at the thought, it did indeed seem unlikely. "Maybe if we show her that we're good SAINT operatives, and show that we can be valued as more than tools for her job at hand, maybe she'll have tea and cookies with us. Does that sound good?"

"Haii..." Hoshiko just nodded a little, fiddling with her thumbs in her lap again as she leaned against Helen.

Helen put her arm around Hoshiko and held her close as she caressed the back of her head. "Don't worry, no matter what, Mama is here for you."

"Thank you Helen-sama..." Hoshiko said with a soft purr. She was still having trouble actually calling Helen mother.

"Can Mama do anything to make her precious Hoshiko feel better?" Helen asked as she continued to caress Hoshiko. She was fond of the girl-in-a-woman's-body and felt every bit of the importance of being considered as a mother to her.

Hoshiko shook her head a little, simply staying against Helen for a short while. After a few moments though, her breathing evened out and she was asleep.

"MEGAMI, set a thirty minute timer. When the time elapses, wake Hoshiko and inform her it is her duty shift." Helen continued to caress and hold Hoshiko for a short while, until she was absolutely sure she was asleep. She then laid Hoshiko down upon the bed and put a blanket over her. Have a good nap. Helen thought to herself as she left a note for Hoshiko, stating that she'd be back soon, she had to go and greet a newcomer.


ON: Ke-T2-1c Okii-Neko Aeroshuttle En Route to Vicky

The aeroshuttle had made it's departure from the safety of Hanako's world not long ago, and made it's quick yet careful progression to the Vicky system, where it's cargo would be delivered to the SAINT controlled system there.

"So, what brings you out this way?" A blue haired nekovalkryja asked the gloomy-looking neko seated beside her. She was assigned to working as a cargo handler, and she really didn't have any sense of not asking about where a SAINT crew member is headed.

Mitsu fidgeted her leg gently up and down, slightly antsy. All new people... Not saying much being she wasn't that old, but still. The black haired with lightning high lights glanced over to the Neko for a moment before giving her a slight smirk, "Thats classified." She replied coolly, "If I told you... I think I'd have to kill you, truthfully."

"Oh..." The blue haired nekovalkryja frowned as she found herself slammed into a conversational brick wall. "Well, you look anxious... I hope its nothing too dangerous."

Mitsu didn't say anything for a moment before shrugging gently, "Nervous mostly... But I don't think there is anything for me to worry about, Danger wise..." That was a lie. Anything could happen in her profession... She might have to assassinate the Empress for Chiaru's sake. You never know.

"Well, if you need any help relaxing, let me know." The neko smiled softly before patting Mitsu on the leg. She never did have much contact with people, she usually just handled cargo... the conversation opportunity was nice for the poor girl.

Mitsu tweaked a brow upwards to the girl and shook her head gently. While she had no qualms about it, it was usually a time consuming affair. "If we ever meet again by chance, I'll be sure to let you do so. But otherwise, I'm afraid I'll be fine for now."

"Oh okay... well, we won't be too long. The only long part of the trip is the minefield and skirting around the FTL dead zones." The sprite explained as she leaned back in the rather comfortable seat.

"Then I guess we won't get to be around to long, I suppose." The Neko spoke gently, nodding lightly. "I suppose, based on how you look, you don't get many people to speak to?"

The nekovalkryja frowned visibly before speaking. "Most cargo does not talk... well, unless it is a MEGAMI core or something of the sort, but they're not good for conversation."

Mitsu nodded gently, looking over to the sprite for a moment, "Well... Maybe you'll get a better job yet." She smiled gently, trying to reassure the nekovalkryja.

"My job is my job, I'm not complaining. It serves the Empire... just would be nice to have someone to talk to other than the pilot. She is such a stiff."

The SAINT operative nodded gently, "Such is our life, I guess. Is the pilot talkative, at least?" She glanced over to the cockpit for a moment.

"Not in the least, she is just happy flying whatever ship or shuttle we get assigned to." The blue haired neko replied as she closed her eyes in thought.

Mitsu got a thought she heard from a story of one of the other older SAINT operatives, "Well... Maybe you ought to give her the best piloting chair in the universe one day." She spoke mildly, wondering if the sprite would connect the dots of perversion.

"You know, funny you should mention that. I've tried doing that and she just don't enjoy it like most nekovalkryja do. She is just too caught up in piloting. Trust me, on a good run, there usually is a wet spot left on the seat." The neko let out a small laugh as she said this.

Mitsu chuckled gently and nodded, "I suppose everyone has their ways of getting satisfaction, Mm? At least you get the occasional person like me... Although I hope they have more ability to speak then me."

"Rare and far between." The neko sighed before she turned her head to look to Mitsu. "Shame we were not on a longer trip, talking to you is enjoyable."

Mitsu nodded gently and gave a bit of a shrug, Half wondering how far she was allowed to speak to this sprite. "Maybe you should try to ask for a different position, you never know what simply asking might get you."

"If every cargo handler asked to be moved to another position, who would move the cargo?" The sprite's lips moved into a smile. "Who would be the nekovalkryja to keep the passengers company as well?"

"Well, you never know. Maybe someone wants a solitary position like the one you are in now." Mitsu spoke coolly just as before, eyes boredly straying across the shuttle.

"Who knows? But I know I'm not going to bother... I do enjoy moving the cargo. Keeps me fit." The sprite raised her right arm and curled it. Her muscles bulged against the skin-tight material of her uniform... it was apparent that she had quite the arm.

Mitsu raised a brow a little, knowing the falsity of the statement but deciding to go along with it, smiling gently, "I'm sure you'll turn on many a person with your muscular form."

The sprite let out a giggle as she let her arm down. "Oh yes, many a man and lady shall swoon at my presence." She said in a joking tone. "Shame it don't seem to do a thing for you."

Meanwhile, a message came from the pilot. "We're progressing through the minefield now, we'll be at Vicky in less than half an hour."

The SAINT operative made a face for a moment before sighing and giving a nod. "Thank you." She called out to the pilot, glancing to the Neko and tweaking a brow. Now she wondered if there was something between the two. A plan. "Maybe it does." Mitsu spoke mysteriously.

"Oh? Like?" The sprite asked, a look of interest on her face as she looked to the passenger.

Mitsu kept a stone, plain face as part of the act, speaking in a similarly neutral tone, "Maybe I am in swoon, all wet and waiting for you to ravish me. Maybe not. You never know, and you can't take that risk now can you?" She wasn't, truthfully.

"I could, but I won't. It is not my place in the order of the universe's will to go about trying to reach into your uniform without an invitation." The sprite replied.

Mitsu kept her neutral tone, "Oh. Well, I suppose then it will have to be mine to do it it to you." She then moved her hands over to the sprite's chest in a groping fashion, but never actually touched, teasing.

"Such a tease." The sprite said in a near pout, but still seeming quite composed. "You know, you're welcome to if you want."

Mitsu fake rubbed her hands all over the sprite's body, notably the chest and the crotch region, keeping a inch or so away.

"Terrible tease, absolutely terrible..." The sprite said now with a much more obvious whine to her voice as she resisted the urge to lean into the hands which teased.

Mitsu's face remained stony, her eyes looking to the sprite's and observing. It was a rare research opportunity, and amusing for the SAINT operative. Briefly she moved her hands in closer to the sprite's breasts, stopping a CM before actually touching and moving away again.

The sprite actually began to squirm in her seat as she tried to keep herself composed. Her cheeks were bright with a blush as she tried to keep herself from leaping on her passenger. "Just go ahead... it would be fun."

Mitsu spoke in a deadpan tone, "Nah." And settled her hands flatly in her lap, sitting against her seat straightly. Oh how mean.

The sprite placed her hands in her lap and looked down in a somber way. "Well... okay..."

Mitsu allowed herself to lose her stony self a little, and she let out a gentle, playful giggle. But that was all.

The sprite let out a soft exhale as she resisted the urge to simply strip down where she sat and tend to the frustration which her passenger had caused.

Mitsu decided it was time to play a game with the sprite. Games were fun. The SAINT operative suddenly stood up from her seat and grinned down to the sprite before her body disappeared. Mitsu moved quickly to blind the sprite with her uniform top before ditching the rest of her closes in seconds. She was trained to do it, after all... Leaving her invisible. It was a racial plus.

"Hey wha--?!" The sprite quickly wrestled the top off of her head, then looked around. "Ah... holographic projection hide and seek?" The sprite asked rhetorically... she then stood up from her seat and she began to walk about with her arms outstretched, looking much like a zombie in the process. "Where oh where could you be?"

Mitsu curled herself up in a ball and followed behind the sprite just a inch off the floor of the shuttle, floating. She spoke loudly, so it'd give a bit of a echo and make her position unknown, "Well this is hardly fair, I'm in the nude."

"Hey, thats what makes it all the more fair." The sprite said as she wandered around with her arms outstretched... she then suddenly stopped and backed up quickly.

Mitsu was a Neko. She had faster reflexes to avoid that suddenly stop nonsense, especially when she was paying so much attention to the sprite. She darted backwards, then went upwards, laying herself out against the ceiling. And then she dipped her hand and poked the sprite in the neck from the back, as if she was behind her and not above.

The sprite let out a huff as she looked around, then she decided to not play fair as she reached under one of the seats and pulled out an emergency hemosynth container. She then depressed the trigger on it, and began to spray a very fine mist of liquid here and there, up and down, side to side.

Mitsu widened her eyes and barely moved back in time for the spray to get lightly on her breast, and she retreated over to the cockpit area, hiding in it as she brushed the fluid off her breast. Or at least attempted to, it was slightly annoying to get off. She glanced to the pilot as she did so, working quickly.

The pilot laughed lightly as she heard the softest sound of movement in her cockpit... she was at home in the machine after all. "Five seconds, then I'll tell her." The pilot whispered as she held her finger over the comm-line button.

Mitsu humphed lightly and swatted the pilot gently on the head as she floated her way out again, the fluid off her breast now for the most part. The tiniest bit remained, sure, but not enough to notice to rapidly. However, just to be safe, she hung in the air for the moment.

The sprite strode about, her eyes down. She knew she did not miss anywhere, so she began to figure out the situation... and so she looked for footprints, there were none. "Ah, floater." She said as she made her way in the direction of the cockpit.

Mitsu smirked a little and floated over the sprite's head gently, barely keeping away from the top of the sprite's head before lingering behind the sprite again.

The sprite wasn't too dull, she had a general idea of the tricks of the agent, so she quickly spun around and sprayed a random burst of the fluid from the container behind her.

Mitsu shut her eyes as she got a face full of the fluid, it getting her upper chest as well. She made a face of annoyance but didn't say anything, or move either.

"Gotcha." The sprite said as she looked to the outline of fluid which clung to Mitsu. She then gently poked the SAINT operatives breast to illustrate her point.

The SAINT operative in return grunted lightly and pressed her chest against the sprite's, rubbing off the fluid and giving the sprite so satisfaction, undoubtedly, "Guess who gets to clean it off, Mm?"

"I'll guess it's me?" The sprite asked as she smiled softly, she discarded the spray container and then grasped Mitsu's liquid coated chest in her hands.

Mitsu meeped softly as she was suddenly groped, her body voluntarily going into view again, "... Let's take a seat, then, yeah?" She spoke lightly with a smirk, gently floating back to where they were sitting. She certainly looked like she was growing a little with arousal. Slightly.

"Mmmkay." The sprite replied as she took a seat and looked to the naked SAINT operative. "So, you play a good game."

In return the other Neko smirked gently and nodded, "It was certainly a fun way to pass the time, and you've won... I suppose you get the spoils.' She spoke gently, then groped the sprite's breasts. She sent the pilot a telepathic message, "How long until we arrive?"

"Ten minutes." The pilot replied.

The sprite meanwhile let out a soft gasp at Mitsu's touch. The teasing earlier had really gotten to the neko, and now she was just glad to actually be touched instead of teased like before.

Mitsu leaned in and whispered gently into the sprite's ear, "We have ten minutes," She relayed and continued, "Being that you're such a good host, I'm going to have to ask you to strip. Quickly." She let the tip of her tongue touch the sprite's ear as she pinched toward the flush nubs on each of the other Neko's breasts before moving her entire body (And hands) away.

The sprite merely nodded, and then she began to strip quickly... ten minutes could be an eternity if used right.

Meanwhile, the shuttle closed in on the Vicky system, where it would be unloading it's cargo which was destined for the YSS Yuurei.




YC-28, docked with the YSS Yuurei. Vicky System

Not long after Helen had left her and Hoshiko's quarters aboard the Yuurei, Helen found herself back aboard the YC-28 to greet a newcomer in the ship's shuttle-bay. The shuttle had already landed, and Helen stood outside of the hatch with her hands clasped before her.

Mitsu has a slight smirk on her face as she exited the shuttle, fixing her shirt a little as she floated on out of it. Behind her would be the smell of sexual excitement, although she herself didn't receive anything of the likes. Touching down on the shuttle-bay deck quickly afterwards, she gave a quick and low bow to Helen, not saying a word.

Helen quirked her brow at Mitsu, then glanced behind her into the shuttle. "Been busy?"

"There was a sprite aboard the shuttle who had no other contact then the rather to herself pilot for a long time, ma'am." Mitsu began coolly, "Things escalated beyond talking somewhat quickly. I do apologize if that makes a bad first impression."

"No impression given at this time... however, we'll be going through the official motions now." Helen indicated before she took a breath and then spoke. "Joto Hei Mitsu Strand, welcome aboard the YC-28. I am Taii Helen Klein."

Mitsu nodded lightly, "Ma'am." She did another bow, although smaller this time, "It will be a pleasure working with you, ma'am." She kept her face neutral, for now.

"A pleasure to have you aboard, come with me. I'll explain our situation as we walk." Helen gave a small hand gesture to indicate that Mitsu should follow as she began to walk toward the shuttle bay exit.

Mitsu nodded gently once more and walked briskly at Helen's side, sort of. Just a bit behind, really. She stayed silent, obviously waiting for information.

Helen walked along at a steady pace as the pair made their way to the docking port where they would be able to cross over to the Yuurei. "Mitsu, the current situation is that the YC-28 crew has been ordered aboard the YSS Yuurei to function as additional crew. We will be working directly under our Director, Misaito Motoyoshi, most SAINT operatives know her simply as Black nova." Helen stopped at the lift which would take them between decks. "After you."

Mitsu nodded with politeness and stepped on the lift first, turning quickly, looking to Helen still. "May I ask what the mission is, Ma'am?" She never heard of Black Nova... although... She was only a handful of months old.

Helen stepped onto the lift and nodded at Mitsu's question. "Scouting in the former SMX held space. You can request the mission details from the Yuurei's MEGAMI. You'll also have to inquire about assigned quarters."

Mitsu nodded again, "Hai, Taii. How many crew-- SAINT ones, I mean, are on the YC-28, just to ask...?"

"Technically, all the sprites aboard function as members of SAINT. However... other than the sprites, our functional operations squad consists of four, including you." Helen frowned lightly. "We've had some losses due to transfers."

Mitsu frowned a little and nodded, "... Well... I suppose we won't, at least, get any operations of to much importance... No pressure..." She tried to make it sound better... Four other operatives? And the sprites, of course...

Helen let out a sigh, she already knew where the topic was going, at least in Mitsu's point of view. "Mitsu, tell me the proper size of a group for squad level operations."

Mitsu paused a moment. The answer didn't come to her head... So she made a educated guess, and it was a obvious one due to her hesitance. Did I learn this? I don't remember it at all... "Um... Six... Ma'am?"

"Four to eight individuals." Helen followed up. "We have enough operatives to form a functional squad, and we can supplement our numbers with sprites if need be. However, this will not be a concern, since we will be operating aboard the YSS Yuurei, and will be operating with the Director's crew."

Being that it didn't come to her mind at all, even with the answer, she tucked it away mentally. Apparently her tutors missed something... Oh well. Nothing too critical, and they focused on the critical.. "I assume this won't be permanent, though, Taii?" She spoke lightly, questionably really. Not that she had anything against operating with those on the YSS Yuurei, she was curious.

"I'm not entirely sure, to be honest. For now, simply operate as you usually would. I'm quite sure you will be able to adapt." Helen assured Mitsu as the lift came to a halt. Helen gave a gesture to Mitsu for her to go first.

Mitsu half wondered why she was the one going first, but kept that to herself. "Hai, ma'am. I will try. Or will, rather." She corrected herself a little so save some grace, exiting the lift all the while.

Helen exited behind Mitsu and then went about walking to the airlock. "For now though, I want you to work on settling into your assignment. Get to know your fellow cremates, and get to know how you'll fit in."

"Hai, Taii." Mitsu responded quickly, continuing to, of course, follow. I suppose it isn't to different from before...

Helen stopped at the airlock then keyed in the proper command to open the hatches which connected the Yuurei to the YC-28, she then began to cross over. "Have any questions?" Helen asked as she passed between ships.

Mitsu thought for a moment before sighing, deciding to ask even if it might seem slightly rude. "Hai... In your opinion... How are my fellow crew mates to be?"

Helen stepped foot onto the Yuurei, then took in a breath and let it out in a sigh as she looked up in thought. "Alphonse will be argumentative yet useful. Hoshiko will seem a little... odd, but she will come to treat you well so long as you treat me well. As for myself, I will be good to you, and I will make sure that you prosper under my command."

Mitsu couldn't help but smirk gently, speaking a inner thought, "I can't help but believe, Taii, that there is a slight amount of bias in your description. But thank you." That doesn't seem bad at all.

"There is some, yes. But is it really good to tell a new crew member she is stepping into a potential orgy-pit and a feud between a prisoner and his warden?" Helen spoke in an absolutely serious tone, but then broke into a smile. "I joke of course."

Mitsu shook her head gently, "No, I suppose not. Although... In the Star Army, even if it is SAINT... One expects the orgy-pits. Part of the reputation, apparently." She smiled lightly. She liked Helen.

"Then you just may fit in nicely... for now though, we shall part. I am expected on the bridge I assume. You can go ahead and find your quarters. I'll speak to the Director later and find out what you will be doing aboard this ship." Helen gave Mitsu a nod. "Dismissed, and welcome to my crew."

With a nod, and then another quick bow, Mitsu gave Helen a smile. "Thank you, Taii. Wait... Do you wish me to call you by rank, or by name...?" She blinked a little, not sure if she was suddenly making Helen uncomfortable by being so formal.
"Use what you feel comfortable with." Helen smiled softly. "I would like Helen though, I do prefer to be closer to my squad than most commanding officers." Helen could not help but to ponder if she'd be able to be called other things by this new recruit. The names 'Mistress' and 'Mommy' came to mind.

Mitsu in fact called her closer tutor Mistress, although that would only come to Helen's mind through profile digging or if Mitsu actually told her... So, maybe that idea wouldn't be to far off. "Very well, Helen. Thank you... Again."

"No problem at all, I'm here to help you as much as you are to help me." Helen gave Mitsu a final nod before she made her way to the bridge.

>>ON YSS Yuurei

Misato returned to the bridge, she walked immediately to the command chair. She still had not changed, and was still wearing the black boy-shorts with the SAINT logo and her Motoyoshi Bakufu T-shirt. To change would require eating up precious time. She opened an intraship comm with engineering. "Well Mr. Alphonse. Are we ready to leave orbit?" The Yuurei disconnected it's connection to the YC-28, and began to drift away from the other ship. A small volumetric image of the Yuurei appeared hovering over Misato's desk-like station as well as readouts from all the other stations on the bridge.

Alphonse was running simulations at the desk he had set up temporarily in engineering, watching as the power levels rose and dropped with each subsequent adjustment. He was back to the glasses now, the bandana safely tied about his belt loop as he looked to the comm. "All systems report as go, and MEGAMI reports that the ship is prepared for our journey. I suppose we'll see if they're right. Did you receive my earlier message?"

Camellia entered the bridge and nodded to Misato while she walked over to the pilot's chair. As she walked her communicator beeped sharply twice informing her of new messages. With deft precision, she grabbed it and opened it to see two small windows pop up, one informed her of her weapons arrival, and the other was from Alphonse informing her of a targeting visor her made for her. After closing the communicator, she put it back and got into her seat.

As Misato returned to the bridge, Helen was already at her post. The Taii was seated at the Safety and Monitoring station, watching over the comings and goings of those within the ship, and the status of the ship's systems. Silently Helen sent a message to her ship sending them best wishes and placing Sumomo in charge for the time being. After sending the message, Helen swiveled in her chair to face Misato.

"Excuse me, Blacknova. I recently have had another crew member which was intended for my ship come aboard. She requires an assignment."

"Sensors are online and set to passive. No unusual signatures detected." Sayuri said, reporting her status from her station. She had been the first to arrive, and most of that time was actually spent simply waiting and idly thinking on strange things.

Misato was not one for formalities or ranks, like many of the Motoyoshi, she had an expectation they would do their damn jobs and beyond. "Sayuri...Calculate a hyperspace fold resolution that puts us just outside of the Bufarks Debris Cloud and send it to Camellia for execution at your ready." She examined the readouts. "Helen, Have that green back report to Alphonse in Engineering and run a diagnostic on the CFS, I want it operating at full power the second we re-emerge into real-space. Cam, take us to the edge of the system, while you are waiting on that fold solution." Misato watched the readouts, awaiting her orders to be executed.

"Yes Ma'am." Camellia said as she sat in her chair and looked at the two sticks in front of her. Taking a second to draw a steady breath, Camellia placed her hands on the control sticks and drummed her fingers on them for another second. She read about these in the flight manual she studied. One was for lateral, the other vertical, she also felt the buttons she read up on too. Taking a further second for another breath, she gripped the left stick tightly and tilted them both to the right, making the ship take a long slow starboard climb out of the planet's atmosphere. When they cleared the ionosphere, she straightened out and headed directly for the outer rim.

As Misato ordered, Helen sent orders to Mitsu for her to report to engineering and assist Alphonse in running a diagnostic on the CFS. Helen was also sure to include orders for Mitsu to download the information needed for her to function well in an assistant engineer role for the time being. "Orders have been given to her, and her personnel file has been forwarded to your inbox, Blacknova." Helen stated then she turned to her console and returned to monitoring the ship.

Sayuri began to furiously work out the numbers, doing her best to plot a proper location for the Yuurei's Hyperspace Fold target. She avoided any sections filled with debris, as the exit would be entirely fatal, but didn't want to place the ship to far away and in the open. After a minute, she settled on a small recess in the cloud devoid of particles, and bordered by the husk of a burnt out Mishhu gunship. Ideally, this would be a position they could maneuver from, and access the objective quickly from. "Plotted. Forwarding to Camellia. Please verify it to ensure that it doesn't place you in a position unfavorable to your tactical methodology." The pink-haired Neko said, sending the file over.

Should the current one be disapproved, Sayuri could always forward another, more tame position she had in reserve. This one would place them at the edge of the cloud and away from any potential danger.

Misato said to Helen. "Disconnect us from the PANTHEON. Have MEGAMI prompt you once every twenty four hours for a one hour reconnect for download only." Misato looked at the transferred hyperspace fold solution, she reviewed anything they passed back and forth, just for her own sake. "Sayuri, I want passive scans the moment we arrive at our destination. Those ships disappeared near this place, I don't want any surprises."

Alphonse continued the simulations and noted the message informing him of the assignment of another crewmember to his department. An NH-29S with little experience...he had his doubts, but another hand was always needed in Engineering and he wasn't about to judge.

Mitsu wasn't one to say No to orders, even if her exploration of the vessel had been cut short. Always need time for recreational exploration when you're shy about it. After a request to MEGAMI and about thirty seconds of flight later, the NH-29S floated inside the engineering bay, landing quickly after and bowing to Alphonse.

Hoshiko remained silent as she eyed the console before her. Using a connection to MEGAMI, she made sure to keep up on her station, though her mind was elsewhere for the moment. She was mulling over her current crew members. Sure, her other crew hadn't liked her at the start, but she wasn't one of the lowest members of the crew, nor did she have the head of SAINT watching her moves...

Camellia was keeping her sticks steady when a volumetric window popped into existence off to her left side. It was Sayuri's plotted course. After giving it a sharp look and checking to see if she's plotted the most efficient route, Cam nodded and looked over her shoulder. "I'll take this route Sayuri!" She said with a smile and then turned back to amend the FTL drives with the course corrections.

Helen gave a nod to Black Nova when her orders were given. "Aye, will sever communication lines and set up download routines now. Implementing controlled communication black-out." With that, Helen went about placing the proper commands to cut off the Yuurei from the rest of the Empire, and the Empire from the Yuurei. Now, they were truly alone, except for every twenty-four hours for one hour. "We're 'alone' now." Helen stated as she checked the comm-lines to make sure there was no communication in or out.

Misato turned to Sayuri, "Time until real space?"

"1179 seconds, and counting." Sayuri replied, before adjusting her glasses. "Almost twenty minutes."

Alphonse looked to the new arrival through his glasses, staring her down as he sized her up. At least the title wouldn't be simply a formality anymore. "Strand-hei. You will be reporting to me from now on, so I suggest you get comfortable. For your first assignment, I want you to check that the positron flow is stable."

Mitsu paused for a long moment as her brain accessed the newly downloaded files, still becoming familiarized with them. A window popped up in front of her and she looked to it, "... It is stable." She said after a moment of hesitation.

Misato raised a brow, "Helen, see what you can do about Yuurei getting some sprites to get some tea and breakfast delivered up to the bridge..." She said to Camellia and Sayrui, "Good flying, lets hope your course doesn't land us in the middle of an asteroid, one scratch, and I will make you go outside and buff it smooth." Misato joked, mulling over statistics being generated by MEGAMI on the ship's status.

"Some tea does sound good right now. Would you like some cookies as well?" Helen asked Black Nova as she opened up a in-ship comm line to the sprite quarters and began issuing a sort of order and request mixed together. Tea, eggs, sausage, toast, a pitcher of orange juice, a cup of milk for Hoshiko, and some cookies for Hoshiko, more if Misato wanted some.

Misato shook her head, "Oh no...I seen enough of what a group of Yamataian males did to cookies on Hotaru, I will stick to the normal breakfast."

"I'm not even going to ask." Helen shook her head slightly as she finalized the order to the sprites.

Camellia looked over her shoulder to Helen, "I'll have an omelet, some lightly roasted ham, and some toast and black coffee, please." She said with a smile that was half covered by her choice of hair cut.

"The MEGAMI can't measure fractional flow deregulations. The current value is highly irregular; admittedly I'm not familiar with this ship, but small deregulations can grow." Alphonse tapped a volumetric pad as he spoke. “Report back with your findings and send them to me." It was more of a test than an actual order; but it was a concern nonetheless, particularly with the strain that could be put on the antimatter flow if his modifications came to fruition.

Helen suppressed a sigh as she added to the order, she hated amending orders.

Mitsu paused again before nodding; part of her was being irked at having this assignment. She was a operative... Not... Not a engineer. But she did so as ordered, glancing about for a moment before wandering in that direction.

Misato sat going over some details she had downloaded prior to disconnecting from PANTHEON, as usual the number of volumetric windows open in front of her was growing. "Sayuri, so what do you think about Kat getting hitched?" She had been dying to ask her fellow Motoyoshi since she boarded the ship.

"I am glad for Katsuko-sama in that she is able to be with someone, but I'm am not in a position to think much of it, Misato-sama." Sayuri shrugged, unsure really of what so say. She was certainly content to see the leader of the Motoyoshi Clan find some sort of happiness, but felt that her opinion of it really didn't matter. "However, I would like to note that there are curious conventions surrounding her lover, Shimizu Akina. The selection and establishment of her title seems to have been troublesome for the Imperial Court." She said in a slightly analytical manner, nodding sagely. Socio-political conventions were always fascinating things for the pink-haired Neko.

As the two Motoyoshi spoke, a rather shapely sprite came in carrying a large silver tray. On it were two pots, one with coffee, the other tea. There was also a serving platter that was covered, plates, forks, knifes, and napkin. As she walked, her cranberry red hair bounced due to it being lightly curled. "Breakfast has arrived." She announced, making her presence known.

Misato nodded, "I know little of this Shimizu character, I at this point am still undecided if I like it. Time will tell I suppose." Breakfast arrived. Conversation went on through breakfast, Misato was happy the crew were beginning to interact, after all the Yuurei was to be their home for a while. When the meal was over, Misato ordered the mess be cleaned away.

MEGAMI alerted Sayuri, "Ten seconds to real space emergence."

"Eight seconds to realspace emergence, Misato-sama." Sayuri said, keeping the numbers proper for the time she spoke them.

Helen silently grumbled to herself about the sprite failing to bring her orange juice. She soon worked past that bit of aggravation as she focused her attention to her console.

The Yuurei emerged into real-space, at first it seemed everything was fine, the main viewer flickered to the real image. Clouds of debris were expected, but there was something else, like walls of glass reflecting back upon them. To the eye it appeared that there were other Yuurei. Sayuri's sensor station would alight with a cloud of information, none of it making any sense, reflections, distortions, tears within the fabric of space far beyond anything conventional weaponry could afford.

Camellia would feel the joysticks shudder, then the ship shook. The ship's CFS was drawing more and more power, the dimensional rifts and fields in the system churned and twisted, pulling apart the fields that nestled the Yuurei, the strain becoming more and more. The CFS drawing more and more power from the Aether generators, Alphonse would notice as not the generator but the capacitors began to heat, smoking and smoldering as were stressed to their limits. The ship shook again the lights flickering.

Misato said "What the hell... Answers people... Answers!!!" chunks of blown apart planets, asteroids, fragments of SMX ships whirled themselves at the ship slamming into it cutting gouges in the Yamataium plating. More and more the CFS pulled for more power to try and sustain itself, the Yuurei was being drawn deeper into the system, the controls frozen.

"I suggest cutting CFS and CDD power!" Helen exclaimed as she assessed the in-ship situation. "The energy put out by the CFS and CDD may be creating an effect in conjunction with the disrupted space outside. Uesu's fleet primarally consisted of ships with transposition weaponry, the space outside may not have healed and it may be reacting to the power output and the CDD influencing the already damaged dimensional fabric." Helen was no scientist, but she has seen what a transposition cannon could do, she had been in the service long enough to know it well.

"Strand-hei, cut off the capacitor flow! Switch to the antimatter reactors!" Smoke was filling Engineering and it was getting dangerous; Alphonse quickly retreated and looked for a containment suit. "Bridge, this is Alphonse. I can't get an accurate reading on the aether flow and we have coolant all over the floors. Automatic shutdown sequences have failed!" The only choice was a manual shutdown. As a pressure cap hit Alphonse's uniform, he quickly remembered to get a containment suit on as fast as he could.

Mitsu worked quickly, attempting do as Alphonse ordered her to do, the information running through her brain quickly, only seeming vaguely familiar to her in the end. But she still could do it, albeit there was a slight controlled panic as the unfamiliar room had went to hell in moments.

Hoshiko snapped alert as she heard the sudden going-ons on the bridge, her station coming alive as she started to do scans, seeing if there were any communications coming off from the objects. They would need to know if the things were communicating after all...Ontop of that, Hoshiko made sure the sprites in the ship were aware of the current situation, should they need any help.

Camellia tried her best to attempt evasive maneuvers from the debris flying at them, but the Yuurei was far larger then a powered armor, and she kept on getting hit. "Ma'am, orders?" She asked as she was swing her control sticks about like she was playing a video game. "I'm not really good at evasive moves with a star ship, so a little help would be great."

"Fascinating! It's almost as if this sector of space is alive." Sayuri exclaimed, rather frustrated with her situation at the sensors post. "Don't bother with the Taii's guesses. Transposition cannon damage doesn't affect regions of this magnitude... like this. While similar to the well-documented effects the 'Legacy Cannon" is notorious for, this region is much more chaotic, and the rips in space/time are more extensive. Scale is another issue. This cloud is at least three light-years in diameter."

"I suggest we cut power to non-essential systems, CDD and STL propulsion and increase the CFS's power output as needed. We're going to need shielding up until we reach deeper into this zone. Keep all reactors online so we don't strain any one single system too badly."

It was too late to weigh Helen or Sayrui's suggestions. The effect seemed to compound with each passing second, the ship bucked hard as it was torn forwards into the dimensional fields in the system. They spanned outwards the entire circumference of the system, a spiral pattern visible only with sight upon the viewer. "Holy shiiitt!!!" The volumetric model of the Yuurei blinked red, the port nacelle went dark, it’s shell ripped open and some of its components vented into space behind the ship. "Hurry up Alphonse!!!!" The flow shutdown, but the computer connections to the AM generators in the cargo bay had dislodged from their conduit with all the shaking. The ship's lights flickered, and switched to their red light backups as its emergency batteries were all that was powering the ship. MEGAMI shutdown and rebooted in ACS mode to conserve power. But the manual shutdown of the generator worked. The CFS fields collapsed, and the ship stopped. Smoke fumed from fried control circuits.

Alphonse coughed through the smoke, looking at the panel...the ship was, for the moment, safe, but everything had been blown. "Bridge. We've lost most of our capacitors. AM reactors are down, and I don't know when they'll be back online. The aether reactor...it's been shut down, but the damage is severe. What's the situation up there?"

Mitsu rubbed her slightly singed wrist lightly, looking around the smoke filled room wearily. She floated upward, so she was no longer touching the floor, just as a safety precaution, and called softly, "... Should we exit the engineering bay?" She asked, looking in Alphonse's general direction.

A little shocked by the sudden stop, Hoshiko was still looking around the bridge, waiting for orders and making sure that the sprites were in constant contact with the bridge, calling in what they were doing. "Should I have some sprites move to engineering Ma'am?" Hoshiko asked.

Camellia lowered her arms from guarding her face as she stared at her station, the control panel was a complete mess, the left control stick was dangling from the station and some of the readout glass had exploded, tearing up Camellia's right sleeve some. "Well Con's dead." She said, picking up the detached control stick and letting it drop to emphasize her point.

Misato said standing up from her chair. "We hit some dimensional disturbances, apparently some kind of remnants from when the system was obliterated. Everyone okay down there?" She nodded in affirmation to Hoshiko. "Things are pretty smashed up, up here..." She tried to access MEGAMI through SPINE, but there was no connection in ACS mode. She tapped a few keys on the control panel. She sighed with frustration. "We seem to have stopped moving though." The main viewer, somehow maintained power enough to keep a weak volumetric image projected. "Why didn't the AM reactors come online?"

"Sensors are down, as is just about everything on the ship." Sayuri asked, pulling her face up from the cracked display screen. As well as small cut and abrasion across the right side of her forehead, she'd managed to break her glasses. Removing them, she quickly replaced them with a pair from on of the pockets of her bodysuit uniform.

"From what I can tell the connection between MEGAMI and the reactors have been damaged," Alphonse reported, leading Mitsu out of engineering as he floated above the chemical spills. "Engineering is in no condition for use, however. We'll try to assess the damage down here, but...this is impossible. The magnitude of the disturbances we'd have to encounter for this kind of damage would be enormous. We'd have detected it by now and this entire area of space would be a deadzone."

Mitsu was quite glad to get out of the engineering bay, and she 'sat' cross-legged in the air still, looking to Alphonse to see what to do next, completely silent. She did look a little shaken, though.

Misato said quietly looking at the main viewer, seeing the static spiral-like pattern to the rips in space. "Legacy cannons couldn't of done this...the pattern is too irregular." she thought for a few moments. "Mr.Alphonse, try to get up to the cargo bay and see about getting those AM generators online." She said to Hoshiko, "Take two Sprites, get suited up, and begin an internal inspection of the ship, we need to make sure we do not have any breaches." She said to Camellia and Sayuri, "You two get one of those portable aether generators up here, and try to get full power to the visual screen. At least then we can look with our eyes and try to get a better understanding of what we have flown into." She said to Helen. "We are headed down to the Armor bay, we are going to try and get a look outside."

Hoshiko hadn't be paying attention to the console before her. She had been within herself, communicating through MEGAMI with her mind. As she slowly allowed herself to come back out, the front of her body had shards of glass embedded in her. With a small shiver of pleasure, Hoshiko looked down to her thighs which had become blackened from a burst of smoke from the bottom of the pannel.

She absorbed the glass into herself with another shiver before nodding to Misato. "Hai, excuse me." Hoshiko said with a small nod before hopping up and heading out to do as told.

Helen stood up from her seat and took a breath. She hated the smell of cooked Yamataian equipment, she then noticed Hoshiko. "You okay over there Hoshi?" She asked as she looked to her 'daughter' with a raised brow.

"You heard the woman, Strand-hei. First priority is getting power back online. Engineering is, for the moment, off limits to the crew; it's too dangerous." Alphonse thought of activating the Custodian - probably because of a phonetic similarity, but he might stand a better chance of cleaning up. "Seal off the room, we've got a rad leak."

Misato followed Helen, saying as they left "Unexpected circumstances and we are less than an hour out...Gotta love the Star Army." She laughed, as they headed down the passageway towards the Armor Bay.

Helen noted that Hoshiko had mostly recovered when she left the bridge, then she moved with Misato to the armor bay. "Mmm, I hear you on that one. Unknown anomaly to boot, nothing boring about that at all. We have any sensor equipment we could mount to our armors?" Helen asked, hopeful that there was some sort of technological miracle which came to pass which the Director had access to.

"Something tells me... more equipment is not our friend in this situation..." She shook her head as she navigated the dark passage.

Alphonse pushed his glasses to his face. A mess, an utter mess, and a mystery - but more importantly, the ship had fallen apart. It was now his job to pick up the pieces. "The time is 1200 now. Given the power we have remaining... we have five hours."

>PAUSE

Mitsu looked over to Alphonse, raising a black haired brow to the man, ... How dramatic of him... She thought to herself before tilting her head a few degrees to the left, "Five hours until what, exactly? Don't we have environmental suits for air supplies... And then escape pods for anything else we need that they keep in it? ... And what about whatever damaged us?" She questioned in bulk, obviously curious about the rules of the challenge they faced.

"If we escape, the mission is a failure," Alphonse stated to Mitsu, considering his options as he scrolled through data. "And due to the disturbances here, rescue attempts are almost certainly doomed to fail as well. There are more concerns than simply the air - there is gravity failure and radiation to concern with, if power fails."

"Continue to do as you're ordered. I require equipment from the armor bay."

Mitsu blinked, "The mission would not be a failure. We would have found out a cause of the disappearances. We would need to continue, but escape isn't failure." She pointed out before bowing and going on her way to get the stuff.

Mission 1 Continues....

"Camellia-san. Let's get on it right away." Sayuri said, standing up from her seat and retrieving the NSP from her holster. There wasn't any particular reason for her doings this, other than the ingrained notion of hundreds of crewmen losing their lives because they hadn't drawn in time. Even if there wasn't anything remotely hostile on this ship, it was better to be safe, than sorry.

Camellia stood from her station lazily as she noticed Sayuri drawing her piece. "How now, that's not needed where we're going." Camellia said with a slight frown as she walked over to the Neko with her arms raised and hand held behind her head. "You think the generator's going to not want to come, or something?"

It had not been long since Misato and Helen had made their way to the armor bay, where they would now be found preparing to deploy into the abyss. Helen herself was in the process of switching her Kylie's component load out to be best suited to the deployment at hand.

"Seems like whatever is out there dislikes something about our ships... or technology. What do you think?" Helen asked as she snapped on a battery-pack to one of the ports on the back of her Kylie to go along with the shield and teleport modules which took the remaining ports. The weapon load-out Helen chose was a modest one, the standard mini-missiles, the shoulder rail gun, and a Ke-M4-W2901 LASR-SLAG, along with the standard forearm aether projectors. Modest... in the Empire's terms of armament.

Misato said, after getting into her black and purple custom Mindy 1H holding the helmet in her hands before her. "It seemed to get worse when we were using CFS, it might be recommended that we proceed with alternate forms of propulsion and keep our energy output as low as possible. To end up disabled like a ship in one of these things would be a coffin." She locked the helmet down and into place, waiting for Helen.

Sayuri's expression narrowed, but relaxed as she breathed a small sigh of relief. "Ano, this whole situation has me a little on edge. I was completely caught off guard, and I've never been in something like this." The Neko explained, placing the sidearm back into her holster, but resting her hand on the grip. "But that would be me, and everyone else on the ship, ne?"

"Well, yeah." Cam said, her arms still raised. "But, you have to remember, that all in their place." She said, lowering one arm to wag her finger. "Just because the ship go pulled somewhere it shouldn't be, doesn't mean there are beasties out there who want to eat our tender brain meats." She quipped as she walked past Sayuri.

Mitsu found her job... Difficult. To say the least. She wasn't a engineer, but her worked seemed satisfactory. If it wasn't... Then... It couldn't be the end of the world, right? ... Radiation tends to kill people... She scratched her head in the stereotypical fashion for a moment. If he came back, then she'd show her work and he would tell her what was what. This kind of thing hadn't gotten downloaded...

Alphonse didn't think of much but the job as he floated through the corridors toward the armor bay. The damage was severe, but main power was the priority - once they got that back, the time limit would be eliminated. Five hours left before power failed. "MEGAMI, are you still capable of uploading information?"

Yuurei did not respond, as that she had rebooted in ACS mode, but there was no power getting to any points that could be utilized to reach her yet.

"That'd be a no." Alphonse flipped open his communicator. "Strand-hei, can you do programming on IES-based systems?

Helen let out a sigh. "We'll be going with the gravitic drive then, huh?" As she spoke, she removed her uniform, stripping out of it to prepare to climb into the Mindy. "Outline our objectives for the deployment while I get situated in my armor." Helen was stripped naked, and soon she climbed into her Kylie. By the time Misato would finish speaking, she would be ready to deploy. Helen did not like to keep people waiting, especially while the ship around them slowly died.

Misato worked with the AIES to disable most of the non-essential systems of the armor, not wanting to have the same issue the ship had. She kept life support, her auxiliary engines, radio communications and the imaging arrays active and powered down all weapons except for the Countermeasure Augmentation Pods on her thigh hard points. She turned on the external mic. "Our goal will be to get a look at the external hull for any damage, and to get a visual on what is going on around us. Stay within twenty meters of the ship and of each other at all times.." Once Helen was ready, Misato headed out of the bay, thankfully the forcefield was still in place due to the battery power.

"I'd just prefer not to be a character in one of the horror stories that officers tell their rookies." Sayuri answered, as she stepped into the hallway. The lights were still a bit dim for her, so the Motoyoshi drew out her NSP once again and switched the flashlight on. "I guess I have an excuse to use it now."

Camellia gave the Neko a sideways glance, though what the neko saw was just the bangs she let drape over her eye. "Yours is a jittery bunch." She said with a slight frown, "I guess it comes with being so young." She said with a shrug as they walked on down the dimly lit hallway.

Mitsu paused a moment thoughtfully before answering Alphonse via communicator, "... I'm sorry, but absolutely nothing." She said simply, feeling slightly down now at... Being useless.

"Then after sealing engineering, find someone who is." Alphonse said simply. The hardware should be simple enough to implement...if I can get to it.

Helen followed behind Misato to leave the ship. Not only did she follow in direction, but she allow followed suit in keeping her power armor's power systems down to a bare minimum of function to reduce power output. "Just like running a stealth mission, but we're hiding from some sort of energy anomaly... quite fun." Helen transmitted in a sarcastic tone. "Where should we start?" Helen asked as she used her own built-in gravity manipulation to move her Kylie to look at the ship as they floated out of it. "At least it's just a Plumeria... not much hull to cover."

When they emerged, Misato checked her different imaging arrays, a knot grew in her stomach as she looked above them. "Holy shit...." Above them were giant mirror-like distortions within them were distorted reflections as she zoomed out she could see the reflections of hundreds of ships, hundreds of SMX ships. The ships themselves were not there, but their images left within the distortions...All around them were these strange phenomenon, in the distance an asteroid drifted, being shredded by one of the distortions in slow motion, likely a piece of a planet left over after Uesu destroyed the system. "The more I look at this the more I am convinced there is more going on here than the damage left behind by one of our fleets..."

"I couldn't really answer you, Camellia-san, but in a way, we do have a lot less to lose than natural-born species. I've only been alive for about two years now." Sayuri replied, before cracking a slight smile. "But that hasn't stopped me from reaching Chusa, and outranking you. Not that rank seems to matter all that much on this ship."

Camellia let out a fairly hearty laugh at what Sayuri said. "Rank, what good is it really?" She asked as she kept on walking, "I lead squads when I was still a grunt, hell, my biggest mission had me as a wing commander and I was just a cadet." She laughed again. "Rank."

Mitsu paused a moment, again. Hesitantly, she spoke into the communicator again, "... But I don't know this ship at all, or her crew. I am not to complain but... I would be the least efficient to carry out that task." She spoke almost completely neutral tone.

"Measure of how much they want to keep you away from the field, most of the time." Sayuri said wryly, making an amused, but slightly bitter expression. She glanced back at the taller Geshrin, finding it increasingly hard to keep a smile down. "A right turn to the cargo hold, correct?"


"We all have our tasks, Strand-hei. Put your doubt aside - we don't have time for it." Alphonse didn't know if this would work - but no good engineer would ever admit doubt in their plans. The concept was simple - connect the reactor to a salvaged PA computer. But without the right program, no matter how well the interface worked, it would be little better than decoration. "Don't spend time worrying about whether you can do it, just do it. That's an order."

Outside of the ship, Helen turned to face the rather chaotic mess which was splashed out in the space before her and Misato. "Its defiantly a space-time distortion of some sort... I'm thankful for Zesuaium hulls right about now. The kinetic stress exerted must be enough to crack solid durandium like a twig." Helen sighed as she looked at the twisted mirror of SMX gone by. "Well, the hull is not going to examine itself. Well, least not with MEGAMI off line."

Inwardly, Helen was quite troubled by what was outside of the ship, even more so as she moved above the 'horizon' of the Plumeria's topside and saw that they had already passed through something which looked just like what was on the other side of the ship. "Looks like it spirals or radiates outwards..." Helen commented as she returned her gaze to the hull, searching for defects or damage.

"Stinking mother of..." Creighton rambled off as he fought his way out of the armory where he had been working and napping on and off. His whole body ached from the thrashing the flying crates gave him. He must have blacked out, his internal clock seemed off tempo.

Struggling up, the Yamataian pulled himself over to the console on the door leading into the passageway. Trying to use it failed to produce results. Grunting with displeasure, Creighton opened up the console and activated the door's emergency release. As the latches seemed to click off, the officer cursed at himself for carelessness. "Had there been a breach in the passageway, I'd be dead." He rattled off to himself, sounding like a mentoring officer instructing the enlisted. Unsure of just how to proceed, he returned his gaze to the piles of gear now strewn about the armory. Spying the AMES suits, Creighton decided it would be prudent to put one on.

Again struggling with his aching body to slip the suit on, Creighton shuffled about in the armory. Once dressed and helmeted, he exited into the passageway. Scanning the walls he thought back to the boring emergency tests he had to go through at Kyoto. Keying in his radio frequencies for the suit's comm system, Creighton tried to find any of the crew. "I wasn't aware it had become fashionable to crash expensive military hardware into things." He quipped on a burst transmission, hoping people would respond.

Mission 1 Continues

All had been quiet since the power went out; radiation levels in engineering were rising because the Pu-238 RTGs were damaged. Camellia and Sayuri worked to get the portable aether generators to the bridge to power the main viewer and the visual imaging array. Alphonse and Mitsu had recovered a AIES unit from the armor bay and were heading back to the Cargo hold to try and get the matter-antimatter reactor on-line. Hoshiko worked with the sprites to seal blast shutters and secure the internal areas. Outside Helen and Misato worked to inspect the outer hull, and take a look at what was around them. It was evident the distortions were not caused from the destruction Uesu brought to Bufarks, but something else...the spirals of distortions were like mirrors, the frozen likeness of a massive SMX fleet caught within them, but there was no explanation for any of it.

Another image was forming, the rough outline of a Plumeria, the Yuurei looking back at them from one of the distortion bands that swept close to the ship. Their place in it all was being etched, as the things that had come before.

Camellia followed along behind Sayuri, her arms still above her head. "You sure you got that?" She asked to Sayuri, who was carrying the aether generator alone, since she was a neko, and Camellia wasn't. "I'd help, really, but I have these spindly little non-nekovalkyrja girly arms."

Sayuri sighed quietly, and glanced back at Cam. "I'm not that strong. As an NH-29, my abilities are likely around the same as an athletic Nepleslian or Geshrin." She said, trying to explain her capabilities. "The gravity manipulation is what's making this more or less easy."

Creighton cautious moved down the darkened hallway. Not hearing a response to his comment meant something was wrong. With a degree of haste he made his way to the cargo lift near the armory. Reaching the inoperative console, Creighton began going through the measures to gain emergency access to the lift. Grunting as he did so, he began to think he might have crack a rib or something similar during the tumble. "You know if this turns out to be a nasty joke, I am really going to have problems with this ship." He commented into the radio once again, hoping for a response.

It was a rather simple matter to retrieve the helmet of one of the unused PAs in the armor bay; and it would be a very simple matter for Alphonse to jury-rig an interface link. The program would be a problem...he could try to write up something, but his programming skills were rudimentary at best, and any mistake could lead to total reactor failure. He counted down the time in his head...4 hours and 30 minutes until total reactor failure.

Mitsu looked over to Alphonse, being the one actually, you know, lugging around the some what heavy object of the helmet to the bay. Her efforts were, for the most part, a failure. But then again, she only found three sprites with her random looking around. On her back was a sack randomly found, slung over her shoulder filled with the other necessities for their task-of-the-day-to-save-the-day.

Hoshiko was watching the few sprites she was with, wondering how they could be so lifeless. She hadn't seen any joking, any playing, nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing like the YC-28. She missed salt and pepper...

As the crew within the ship went about preventing the Yuurei from exploding from the inside. Helen and Misato went about preventing destruction from the outside as they surveyed the exterior of the ship.

"Remind me to send a note to the Kessaku and Ketsurui. This little ship looks real good even though it went through that..." Helen spoke to Misato through her built in communications and not the comm-line of the power armor. Helen gently moved over the hull of the ship as she spoke, her gaze surveying each plate to check for breaches and abnormalities which just did not belong. However, she did make sure to remain close to Misato as ordered.

Misato looked over the port nacelle, the outer hull had been ruptured and the field coils had melted and parts of the assembly were missing. She said to Helen over radio, "Good...except for this." She pointed to the nacelle. "We need to get back into stable space either to repair that...better have Alphonse check the gravimetric drive, we are going to need it." Just as she finished saying it, AIES brought movement to her attention on one of her imaging scanners, she looked up and saw something moving, something different from everything else in the field, she tried to zoom in on it but at this distance it was nothing but a blurred blob of green. "I don't think we are alone Helen..." the blob disappeared passing over one of the bands, she lost it in the debris field.

Camellia shrugged. "Well, that further makes it hard for me to help." She said still following behind Sayuri, "I lack all those bells and whistles you Nekos have."

"That doesn't mean you couldn't kill me or any other Neko. A gun is the ultimate equalizer." Sayuri replied, hoisting the generator across the final few feet into the bridge room. "Even my NH-27 kin can be put down with a sufficiently potent weapon."

Frowning, Creighton triggered the emergency latch and began pulling on the now released door. Opening carefully, he got a better view of the darkened pit. Approving of its state the Yamataian slowly began to climb down to the fabrication and cargo bay level. With any luck he would make a straight shot then to engineering in hopes of assessing any damage. Climbing carefully, Creighton knew he couldn't afford to slip up here.

Alphonse noted his comm vibrating; someone was calling. According to the screen, Creighton Marks - the signal was weak, but could be boosted. He popped open the comm and answered. "This is Alphonse, sir. Your communicator seems to have been damaged."

Mitsu looked over to Alphonse questionably, although didn't say anything. Instead, she briefly took the moment to adjust the helmet between her hands... It was beginning to slip, and her fingertips were losing their tacky grip for a moment.

Above the Yuurei what was once a green blob slowly took shape, a modular bulbous triangular shape, and another shape grew larger as they moved into view. There was weapons fire between the two ships, they appeared to be engaged in combat. A subspace-encased positron blast shattered one of the large asteroids. Obviously whatever they were they could move within the outer edges of the field, and were serious about their intent on destroying each other. As of yet, nothing indicated they seen the Yuurei.

Helen quickly snapped her gaze in the direction indicated by her AIES as well. "Green... Think it is a Mishhu?" Helen asked, and was soon proven correct as the subspace encased particle blast flashed in the distance, washing the Yuurei and the two power armor in the light from the explosion. "Orders?" Helen asked as she looked to Misato.

Hoshiko blinked, tilting her head a little as she saw a small flash just outside of the veiwport in the ward room. She had been checking the area to make note of anything that needed to be fixed and had caught the flash. Instantly both Helen and Misato had the video in front of them. "I think there is something out there."

"Placing the shot before they kill you is the major problem." Camellia said while looking aside, "anyway, go a topic that we can talk about that doesn't involve messily killing something?"

Misato responded to Hoshiko, "Not sure, but get to the bridge -- we have company. Tell Alphonse to get that goddamn generator on line." Misato said to Helen, "They do not seem to see us, but lets get inside." Misato headed for the armor bay.

"Gomen. I've always been very interested by pointlessly rhetorical things." Sayuri replied, setting the generator down. She crouched to check for a power cable and a place to insert it, before glancing back up at Camelia. "Contact Misato-sama and tell her we should have everything under control momentarily." The Neko told the older, but lower-ranked officer as she connected the generator with the systems on the bridge. Hopefully, they would have all the electronics up and running quickly.

Sighing in relief for signs of life, Creighton responded back to Alphonse. "Great, not only do I have a defective ship, but a defective survival suit. What's our status?" Creighton had just come down on top of the cargo lift and was preparing to cue its emergency latches so he could climb in and out of it. "I'm about to move out of the cargo lift and into the Fab bay." He grunted again as the emergency latch wouldn't budge for a moment. With another surge in force the Yamataian got it and prepared to open the panel.

----

Meanwhile...
"Drop out of hyperspace...and keep us clear of the distortions." Angelica ordered, the massive Shlarvasseroth Flagship emerged into real space with its escorts. A wing of Vurfrapurl Gunships split off from the flagship, engaging another group of Xianthrafruglu and a Battleship. There was now several hundred ships locked in combat around the field. The massive Flagship began to fire its Aetheric Beam Quills, pounding into the field of gunships . So far, the Yuurei was not seen.

----

"Strand-hei and I are headed toward the cargo bay to jump start the antimatter reactor. Can you program IES-based systems? We can't jump start the ship without a proper reactor control program." Alphonse was all-business as usual, as he stood in front of the cargo bay door, taking the helmet from Mitsu. "You go in first, assess the damage and begin hooking up the interface cables. I'll follow."

Mitsu nodded to Alphonse and gripped the sack filled with the various stuff tightly before floating upwards two inches off the ground, just in case, and opening the door to the cargo bay. And so she floated it, looking about for a moment. It seemed... Well... Fine. Blinking in surprise, she quietly slipped the sack off her shoulder and opened it, speaking as she attempted to bring the knowledge to her head, "It's fine in here..."

"Alright, you go first and I'll keep an eye on them and let you know if there is incoming." Helen replied to Misato as she kept her gaze fixed upon the green masses overhead and the dazzling criss-crosses of light. Even as she watched, she was able to skim along the hull of the Yuurei, keeping close to Misato on their return trip back into the ship. "Wait... do you think they'll spot us if Alphonse manages to get power back on line?"

"I...eh....I doubt it, the distortion field is likely to be as disruptive to their sensors as ours." She watched as the massive numbers of ships engaged each other, she said to Helen as they entered the armor bay. "We best let everyone else know."

When Sayuri hooked the portable aether generator into the bridge controls at her station it activated the main viewer and the imaging array, it showed the fire fight going on in the distance above them; the massive SMX flagship and its escort locked in combat with another group of SMX ships.

Camellia looked up suddenly at the firefight going on outside the ship. After a moment of stunned, silent blinking, she smirked. "Man, wish I had some popcorn and a beer handy."

"Hai. On my way to the bridge." Hoshiko nodded lightly, directing the sprites to follow and fill stations until the others returned as she relayed the message over to Alphonse. "We need to get moving, Misato says get the damned generator running." Hoshiko sent to Alphonse as she entered the bridge. "I'm here ma'am, what do you need me to do?" Hoshiko slipped into her station.

"Right then, IES programming? Piece of cake." Creighton commented to Alphonse as he pulled himself into the cargo lift. Hitting the floor with a thud and rolling with the falling momentum. "Urgh, I'll move into the cargo bay from Fab. Let me know if it's clear." With that said he forced the cargo lift doors open. The darkened Fabrication Area met his gaze and slowly but surely, Creighton moved towards the entrance of the cargo bay.

"Engineering is clear, si...just a moment." Damned call answer. Alphonse took the message from Hoshiko, frowning. "We're in the cargo bay right now. Marks-chui is going to assist us. We will have it up within an hour...what's your status?"

"There is a fight going on outside, seems like a large scale conflict, so we need to get going now. Can you speed up the repair?" Hoshiko asked as she waited orders from Misato.

As soon as Helen entered the armor bay with Misato she was in the process of removing her power armor. She didn't even take time to bother with picking up her actual clothing and putting it on, instead she opted to project false-clothing upon herself. However, she did go about putting on her gun belt. "To the bridge I assume?" Helen asked Misato as she slipped out of the armor and worked on getting her belt on, all while hovering mid air.

Misato rushed to get out of her armor, she said; "Yea, lets get back up there." Once out she reached for the clothing she had brought down with her, the boy-shorts and t-shirt. She still had not managed to get into a uniform.

One sensor operator somewhere on the SMX flagship noticed the black shadow glistening off one of the distortions, the mishhu zoomed in on the Yuurei that sat disabled in the distortion field. She relayed the information to Angelica and the second in command of the fleet, on one of their new gunships."Yamatai HU HU HU....Mmmm so vulnerable."

The Fabrication Bay was eerily silent to Creighton as he made his was through it. With his eyes slowly adjusting to the darkness he proceeded with exceptional care. There were many items in the bay that could easily end his career, again. He paused for a moment, listening for any new noises and allowed his eyes more time to adjust. Creighton sighed loudly and sat down into a squat. He was beginning to feel very anxious, but he couldn't place a finger on the reason why.

"Tell me what to do, Camellia-sama. I'll use my SPINE interface." Sayuri replied, proceeding to unzip her uniform so that she could make contact with the interface system unhindered. "Etto... is it even working?"

The interface systems were still off line...There was 'nobody' home on the other end of Sayuri's connection.

Hoshiko was watching the others and at the same time, her console which was sadly enough still totaled. With a small grumble she began to look around to see if maybe there was any way she could interface. She still had her SLICS ports, and no SPINE unit installed nor her body converted, so she wasn't to sure if she would even be able to interface.

Mitsu paused with her connecting of the various cables and the likes, almost done. Her head had a moment of fogginess. "... I must check in with a Doctor later..." She shook her head again, and then continued, "... I believe I am finished."

Alphonse had, in the meantime, cracked open the Mindy head and was currently fiddling around with several cables and connectors with a borrowed mini tool. He smirked a bit as he mentally read through the EULA for Kessaku-based computer systems, proudly violating it as blatantly as possible. "Yes, that will do nicely," Alphonse said, his demeanor...cheerful. Sleeves were rolled up, bandanna was tied to his head, glasses nowhere to be seen

Misato sprinted to the bridge, arriving still wearing her boy-shorts and t-shirt - now was obviously not a time to change. She issued to those present on the bridge.."What is our status?"

A small girl sat on the bridge of the gunship in question...having come here with her mistress with promises of carnage. The girl had been bored...so dreadfully bored before today...now she sat in her chair, a human sized doll clutched in her arms, silver hair spilling down her shoulders in ringlets contrasting her black almost maid like outfit. The girl stroked the hair of the doll who's lips were twisted into a ghastly scream of pain... If anyone knew of just how they were made...they'd know why. With the incoming information of a Yamataian ship...one seemingly crippled by the distortions she grinned, her rows of dainty fang-like teeth showing as a sadistic gleam came to her violet eyes. She promptly called the flagship, "Angelica...." She began in a child's voice when one wants something... "Can I destroy that ship...plllleeeeeaaaaaassssseeeee?" Camille asked, clutching her gruesome doll to her chest. Camille wouldn't normally have asked if she were on her own...but Angelica kept a short leash with her...and Camille was always prim and proper when it came to the woman.

Creighton steadied his breath and nerves from the sudden bout of anxiety as he made the rest of the way to the cargo bay entrance. Again going through the motions of access, he made a door for himself and slipped into the room. "Alphonse, I'm in the bay. Now what is it that needs my expertise?" He asked over the radio, not sure where the engineer was in the bay. He paced around a few crates looking for anyone as he waited.

"Well, ma'am," Camellia started after looking up from watching Sayuri, "we regained enough power in the bridge to see our messy end coming at us." She finished by pointing to the viewer and the incoming Mishhu ship.

Sayuri zipped her uniform back up and sighed. "They know we're here. And they know we're still alive, thanks to the signature from the backup generator." Things were looking a little grim, and the Neko had great difficulty concealing the fact that this troubled her.

Hoshiko was silent as she watched the view screen of the Mishhu ship that had spotted them. Oddly enough she felt calm, not really phased all to much as she waited. She would stealth, to hopefully cause at least some damage, when the Mishhu either boarded or brought them in.

Mitsu nodded to Alphonse and then took a steps to stand by him, watching him work curiously without making a noise, waiting for him to give her a new task or not. She didn't known what was not to far away... Why would only expect any Mishhu, after all?

"Just in time," Alphonse said, sweaty and smiling, grabbing the cables that Mitsu had set up and plugging them to strategic locations on the exposed circuitry. "Here. The wireless interface should allow you to inject code. Contract violation, but I don't think Kessaku will mind. We need to get that reactor on line to restore power to the ship."

Misato sighed, tapping her chin for a few seconds. "Alright, we are not going to sit here and just take it..." She said to Hoshiko, "You, Camellia and Helen get down to the armory. Bring what you can up here to the bridge as quickly as possible." she picked up her communicator and opened up a comm signal to Alphonse. "Chief we are either dead or going to be boarded, get what you can done but get back up here ASAP. If you see Creighton tell him to get to the bridge." She said to Sayuri, "I want that portable Aether generator rigged up so we can detonate it if need be, think you can do that?"

Camille pouted slightly at being denied...though she did as she was told, and put her doll into a small storage locker close by. She'd rigged it with a refrigeration unit to preserve her toy. As she shuffled back to her seat, Camille remembered what she had to do next. "Switch from Quintessent Energy to Anti-matter, lower shields and go in with our gravimetric propulsion only." She ordered her bridge crew in a somewhat dull sounding voice. The Mishhu leaped to obey...not wanting to set off the girl and have her take out her wrath upon them. The gunship listed to the side as it broke away from the fleet, and began to make its way through the distortions. The enigmatic gunship...one that had previously not been seen by the Yamataians but on one or two occasions was making its way towards them like a predator about to prey on a wounded animal... "When we're in range...ready the graviton beam projectors...and no one is to go over and play with them. If any of you do, I'll make you into one of my new toys." She said sweetly as the Mishhu obeyed. "Yesssss mistressss...." They hissed in near unison.

Creighton moved quickly up to Alphonse and Mitsu and was within inches of kneeling down when Creighton heard the Alphonse's communicator go off. He gave a wary look to the two crew members before straining himself to stand again. With a frown Creighton began to gather himself. "Well the programming shouldn't be too hard, remember the basics and you should be fine." With that said, he turned and began to move as fast as he could back down the path he had just tread. "If you run into something ask me over the comm." He called back as he made his way back towards the Fab Bay. Shi- go figure we get in over our heads. Gods, what could we possibly have run into.

Camellia saluted to Misato. "Yes, ma'am." She dropped her arm, "one doomed defense coming up."

"Easily, Misato-sama, and I think I might be able to give it a telepathic trigger. Yours or mine?" Sayuri answered, as she turned to Camellia. "We'll have a backup plan. Of the most effective sort."

Hoshiko nodded, still rather silent as she stood and exited her chair before leaving the room quickly. For some reason she wasn't feeling scared or nervous or anything. Though now she was reminded of why she hated being on a ship so much. She was better suited for stealth missions, for missions planet side where she had a target, not for star ship battles. Just at the door she waited for Helen and Camellia so they could head down to the armory.

Helen gave a nod to Misato, she was glad to have something to do. The situation at hand was a terrible mess, and she already knew that most of what she would be doing in the armory would be moot in the event of the SMX actually firing. However, Helen also knew that if they were going to be boarded, it would be good to put up a fight before dying.

As Helen made her way down to the armory, she began to give orders to Hoshiko and Camellia. "We're to primarily arm for in-ship combat, with out of ship combat as a secondary role. I want weapons that will be able to crack Mishhu skulls and disable power armor, not weapons that will put holes in our hull. Understood?" Helen was moving at enough of a pace to be already half way to the armory before she was done speaking... time was against them after all, and she expected the others to keep up.

Alphonse's face restored its usual seriousness as he watched the officer run off. It was all he could do to keep from yelling at a superior officer. Ordering Mitsu to stay behind and do what she could (much to her chagrin), Alphonse put his glasses back on and ran off to the bridge, gripping his communicator. "This is Alphonse. What's our status?"

"We are likely to be boarded the SMX have spotted us and are inbound." The ship rocked as it was locked in the grasp of the gunship's graviton projectors. "Arm your self...and get yourself to the bridge...Power is going to have to wait." Misato braced herself against the command console. My trigger... she replied to Sayuri, a grim look on her face as she grabbed her sidearm out of one of the drawers.

The gunship's graviton projectors had locked onto the Yuurei, the gunships image reflected off of the distortions as it worked. "And now to take it back to Angelica." Camille said somewhat tiredly as she yawned and pawed at her eyes. The gunship's engines increased power with the added weight as it began to move out, the Yuurei in tow. She did wonder what Angelica had in store for them however...maybe she'd get a new doll out of it...this brought a cruel smile to her pale pink lips.

Angelica prepared for her guests, a massive grapel-like extension emerged from the underside of the SMX Flagship, a docking mechanism that was specifically designed to mate with ships regardless of their willingness. Meanwhile on the Yuurei Misato awaited the orders she had given to be executed, Sayuri had completed rigging the Aether generator to respond to Misato's telepathic signal.

Camille just sighed in boredom as she sat in her chair, her legs dangling down the front, not exactly long enough to reach the floor. Her gunship plowed through the distortions, running on its alternate power source, and under STL power. The girl briefly wondered what Angelica had in mind for these...Yamataians. Maybe she'd give her one to play with! This brought a smile to the girl's lips as she licked at them. However, upon seeing the umbilical extension emerge from Angelica's flagship, she could only eagerly think of what was to come as the gunship began angling the Yuurei up to be attached.

The task given to Helen and the other two officers assigned was simple, an armory run. Helen, Hoshiko, and Camellia made their return from the armory with bags slung over their shoulders containing various small arms, and Helen herself carried a NovaCorp Heavy Assault rifle and LASR-SLAG in her hands. "We grabbed what would best be suited for in-ship combat Misato." Helen stated as she stepped onto the bridge and set down the weapons which were in her hands.

Upon inspection of the haul, it would be found that the group had brought up a pair of GP-12A rifles, four 'M'Cel' grenade launchers, a KE-M6-W2901, a pair of KE-M4-W2901, a trio of 'My'hyz' assault rifles, a pair of bags loaded to the brim with ammunition, and enough environmental suits for everyone.

Hoshiko sighed a little as she looked at the environmental suits and the weaponry. She had her side arm at her side, as well as her knife, yet she was already looking at the grenade launcher as a possible weapon to pick up and run with. Otherwise she was going to use the GP-12A rifle. She didn't much like the situation regardless. She wasn't suited for ship-to-ship combat.

Creighton plowed through what areas of the ship he could access as he made his way up to the bridge as per Misato's orders. "When will I realize I'm a lover, not a fighter..." Creighton mused to himself as he sprinted down a corridor. He made a quick direction change before regaining his speed. He was now within sight of the bridge and quickly finished off the last of the gap. Stopping to catch his breath at the door, he massaged his neck and looked about at those present. With a nod he spoke, "So do we have any plans for escape. Or just the inevitable onslaught?"

Camellia followed along behind Helen and Hoshiko, Helen has grabbed all the guns that weren't locked down with a higher level lock out, and as such, Cam was forced to break into a crate she personally ordered, and handily filled a satchel with all the weapons within, which were mostly Melee. "I couldn't get as much as Klein-san, but I got some last resort weapons from my personal stash."

Alphonse had taken some time coming to the bridge, having to assist Mitsu over the comm as she attempted to handle the power situation herself. Lacking the proper expertise and expecting imminent boarding, Alphonse ordered her up to the bridge as well. He wasn't sure how much time was left anymore, but there wasn't enough time to make dealing with the SMX anything but a futile endeavor.

As he went up, he straightened his bandanna and glasses, looking toward the other officers and drawing his Xaser from its holster. "If the SMX are here, this space must be in flux. We are, most likely, either in a sub dimension of our own universe...or another universe entirely."

Mitsu entered the bridge not too terribly long after Alphonse, she really hurried up with it, although this didn't show on her appearance. Looking down to the weapons and the likes, she tilted her head for a moment, and then spoke in a soft tone, as if there was no worry in her voice at all, "I'll take whatever is left, I guess..." She was a newbie, after all.

Misato was about to respond to Creighton as the ship was caught by the umbilical put out by the SMX Flagship, the claw like extensions grabbed along the edges of the ship, the central pad slammed against the dorsal hatch at the top of the cargo elevator and two positron drills began to cut into the hull. The ship shuddered as it was being opened like a tin can. Simultaneously all the Type 29 Communicators on board began to indicate an incoming call. Misato looked down at her communicator on the desk-like central station, and reached for it but did not open it yet.

Camille's gunship released the Yuurei, shutting off its graviton beam projectors. Seeing the Yuurei being ripped open forcibly Camille couldn't help but let out a 'Squee' of delight as she ordered her gunship to dock with the flagship. Once this was completed, she opened the cold storage locker, and grabbed her 'doll', and skipped off the bridge, and onto the flagship.

"One ring it's a wrong number, two rings its a lady with cold feet, three rings its a lady wanting something, four rings its a lady wanting something really bad, and five rings means they're really desperate..." Helen muttered as she grabbed a LASR-SLAG and 'My'hyz' service rifle with under barrel grenade launcher. She also set aside an amount of ammunition and took a defensive position at her assigned bridge location.

Hoshiko looked down to the communicator just after picking up both the service rifle and the grenade launcher. With a blink she looked to Misato to see if she would answer it, then Helen, then to the others. Seeing no action, Hoshiko opted to do it herself. Walking to her station she bent down and picked up the communicator. "Hello?" Was her simple answer.

"Well now, it's not polite to leave the line hanging." Creighton said as he held onto a console to steady himself though the ship's shuddering. Watching Hoshiko take the communication, the Yamataian waited with bated breath for words of encouragement. Reaching into the interior of his suit he retrieved a medication capsule and cautiously popped the top as he watched the scene on the bridge.

Camellia was silently sorting through her duffel, picking one thing up then placing it back down, not really paying any mind to the current problem, one of the items was, strangely enough, a fairly large looking Gothic mace. Giving the item small look over, she slid something into the handle of it and then placed it back into the bag.

While tooling over with her items, Camellia drew a pistol from the bag and remembered something. "Oh, Alphonse, You said something before about targeting goggles for me."

Alphonse tapped his glasses in thought. "If you want them, I'm afraid that they're not in the best of condition. They're in engineering. But..." He retrieved, with his free hand, another pair of glasses, very similar to his own. "You can use these."

Mitsu floated upwards about half a inch the very moment the ship gave a shake, and looked over to Misato, and then Hoshiko in regards to the communicators. Silently, and still floating, she upholstered her side arm, just in case...

"Hello..." A sweet feminine voice responded to Hoshiko, Angelica said "This is Angelica...I am what your scientists would label as a Type-Eight Mishhuvurthyar, I am currently in command of the SMX Fleet which has captured your starship. Could you kindly identify yourself?" A loud crash rang through the ship as the outer hatch fell down the cargo lift shaft. One by one, the exoskeletal features casted shadows on the sides of the shaft, tentacles streaming out behind them. Ten Mishhu poured into the ship. Then something unexpected transpired, the lights came on and the sounds of consoles activating filled the bridge, one of the Mishhu had plugged a cable from the Flagship into one of the open ports down in the cargo bay.

Misato opened her own communicator, tapping into the same frequency as Hoshiko was on. She listened and waited, motioning the rest of those on the bridge to follow suit.

Camille simply hummed happily as she skipped onto the bridge of the flagship, doll in hand. Though she remembered what Angelica had said about keeping it out for too long... Pouting she shuffled over to a small locker area on the bridge and put her dolly inside, turning the temperature within the locker down low enough to preserve her ghastly doll.

Hoshiko looked to Misato for a moment as if to ask if she should tell the truth or what.

Helen reached to her communicator which was clipped to her belt, a few quick taps of her thumb and she was then listening to the conversation, all while aiming her Heavy Assault Rifle at the nearest bridge entrance.

Misato gave a nod "Tell her who we are, it is obvious she already knows."

"This is the YSS Yuurei, Hisae Hoshiko speaking. Greetings Angelica, may I know the cause for your visit?" Hoshiko asked in a rather childish tone, as if she were a kid answering the phone for a parent.

Frowning, Creighton keyed his own communicator in to listen. As he eavesdropped he moved over to the pile of weapons they had brought up to the bridge. Picking at the items with a look of disapproval, Creighton eventually decided upon one of the M'Cel grenade launchers. As he listened to the conversation between Angelica and Hoshiko, he checked the weapon over and began to load up with as much ammo as he could.

Camellia watched and frowned at Hoshiko. 'This is not the way to deal with these things.' she though as she looked at her comm, then did the same as the others.

As the bridge lights were restored, Alphonse had the good thinking to check with the MEGAMI for the reason - not that it wasn't obvious, as he flipped open his comm. "The Mishhu ship has shared its power with us...and internal sensors show ten boarders approaching. That's all the information I have, right now."

Angelica replied, "I have given your ship power, so you can derive I am not going to kill you; I would like to establish that you will come unarmed so that we may exchange pleasantries..." Misato meanwhile had tapped a few keys on the now operational central console, a damage report and a volumetric image of the Yuurei opened above the table, there was more damage than she had anticipated. She gave a little nod to Hoshiko. They were in no condition to make it out of this alive unless they complied for the time.


"Of course, we would be more then willing to come over for a visit. We will be over shortly. Is there anything else that you wished to say before we end our conversation?" Hoshiko asked, playing the part of the good little child being polite and such over the phone.

Helen watched the internal situation on her own console as well. Stress damages, energy discharge damages, at least three hours of work... She keyed in her thoughts into her console and routed the data to Misato's station, along with a small attachment sating her advisement that a back-up plan should be formulated.

Mitsu listened silently through her communicator at the conversation, still having yet to take one of the larger weapons on the floor. She had a calm expression though, and looked over to Misato curiously.

Camille shuffled her way over to Angelica, her lips firmly in a pout now. She elected to stand by Angelica, her ears swiveling about slightly subconsciously.

Alphonse wasn't so interested in the damage - the ship was robust enough to survive even in this condition as long as main power was available. The real concern to him was simple - where were they? And how would they escape? Data flowed down his lenses as he interfaced with the science stations, attempting to puzzle out the issue.

Angelica said bluntly, "If a single member of my crew is harmed; you will be destroyed." The transmission ended. Misato said quietly. "We keep things set up here..." she motioned towards the rigged portable aether generator. She sent back to Helen that in this situation it would be best to improvise that plan when they knew what was going to be available to them when they got to where they were going.

Mitsu continued to look toward Misato, and spoke in a calm, yet curious tone, "Should we still prepare to engage them, or no?"
"Misato," Alphonse interjected, the data flow leaving his display. "I was wrong. We have not left normal space at all - but then, why are the SMX here, and why have we not seen them before?"

A sigh came from Helen as she thumbed the safety on her weapon to the safe position. Again, a blind situation... sometimes she wondered why she accepted field assignments in the first place. "Mitsu, its obvious that we should hold our fire. We're in no position to put up a fight, considering any fight we put up would be on their power, not ours."

Camille meanwhile looked up at Angelica, emitted a small cute sound before she hovered up towards her. The girl then smiled sweetly, and placed her arms around Angelica as much as she could in a loving daughterly way.

Mitsu nodded simply over to Helen and spoke in the same tone, "It's why I asked, ma'am." She then drawn her side arm, but stayed afloat.

Holstering the M'Cel in his back belt, Creighton made a low grumble. The situation was bad, more so because they were not aware of the intentions of the boarders. Looking to Misato he started to speak with a very serious tone. "You think one of us should go out and see what they are up to? Maybe, we can get more info out of them than the apparent leader."

Hoshiko let out a small sigh and hung up the communicator before placing her weapons back in the pile. She went ahead and left her pistol and knife in her seat though, they were hers and she wanted to keep it that way. Afterwards she went ahead and joined the others to wait and leave.

"Unarmed... it makes the situation seem so much more grim." Helen commented as she caressed her finger tips over the butt of her sidearm. "I personally suggest a pair go. One to observe, one to regulate the observer and prevent any sort of tampering."

"We can't be sure what they have in store, sir," Alphonse said, looking toward Chreighton. They have advanced their technology while we have been away." Bringing up a volumetric recording of the unknown Mishhu gunship, Alphonse pointed to its bow. "It integrates what appears to be a Sakura's aether shock cannon, as well as a transposition array. If they've built these, then...I wouldn't want to find out what else they've been building."

Camellia sighed and dropped her duffel bag off at her station, along side that, she also placed her combat knife, standard sidearm and it's spare batteries. "And into the den of lions we go, with but our faith and a loincloth to guard us." She stated as she crossed her arms.

The corridor access to the bridge opened, two Mishhu came through the door and came to a stop hovering on either side of it. "HUHUHU....come with us." Misato said to Creighton, "Somehow I think we should follow them." she smirked, laying her Type 30 NSP down on her command chair. "Alright people., weapons are left here, lets follow these...'handsome' gentlemen and see what it is they want." she chuckled, "We all stick together, we have more of a chance that way."

Hoshiko gave a silent nod as she walked up just behind Misato, ready to leave. Since she had spoken to them, her earlier idea of stealthing herself was kind of out the window now...

Mitsu panned her view over to the Mishhu after a short jolt of fright at their sudden entrance, but she took her weapon and gently flung it into the pile of assorted weapons, and moved over to the two Mishhu with a stone expression that she forced on herself instead of the fearful one, no less afloat.

Helen set aside her sidearm and let out a small chuckle. "Camellia, some of us don't even have a loincloth." Helen took her position somewhere near Misato and Hoshiko.

Camellia followed along behind the lot. Alphonse gave her a set of sighters, but she never got a chance to even look at them. So, taking a moment to flick her drape of hair up, she slid the glasses on.

"Feh..." Creighton half-sighed, half-chuckled as Misato gave out the order. Reaching behind he tossed the grenade launcher to the ground and relieved himself of the ammo. Creighton waited from most of the crew to move towards the Mishhu before he himself moved in. Sighing, Creighton shook his head and watched the two boarders intently.

More Mishhu entered the Yuurei hauling equipment and other items. MEGAMI was still off line, as Misato and the others were lead towards the cargo shaft they would note that the Mishhu appeared to be conducting repairs to the ship. Several pods and shuttles moved outside of the ship, bringing materials from the flagship to begin patching the holes in the ship's hull. Interesting... Misato noted to them all telepathically.
Alphonse reluctantly placed his sidearm at the engineering station for later retrieval, removing his bandanna and tying it to his belt loop. He didn't like being without a weapon - never did, really - but orders were orders.

"Maybe Alphonse was right... we could be in an alternate universe. Maybe they're not going to rape us, and instead they're going to wait till the third date?" Helen stated as she looked at the Mishhu which were in the process of repairing the Yuurei.

Mitsu spoke in the same telepathic median to the others, "Maybe they plan on using the ship for covert activities... Or, of course, are being genuinely kind." The prospect, due to all the information forced in her head to spawn a immediate hatred toward Mishhu by the empire, seemed absolutely alien to her but... Possible.

Jabbing Alphonse slightly with an elbow, Camellia looked at his while still wearing the sighting glasses. "Hey, Al, how do these work?"

Can't be good news. Creighton thought back. From his point of view, they were fixing the ship so that the SMX could use it as a spy vessel and insert its own into Yamataian territory. What are the odds of survival now? I'm not much of a gambler but from what I know the house always wins.

"Well," Alphonse began to explain, lifting his own glasses off, "normally they work by telepathic comm. But since you're a Geshrin, you have to key in - it's as simple as pressing the button on the end of the frames at the same time as the red button on the digital sight. Pressing the blue button keys in the target."

Once they were all at the bottom of the cargo lift shaft, the tentacles of the two Mishhu twirled around them, tightly yet not maliciously, they ascended into the pink fleshy interior of the Flagship.