Outside...
Jackson muttered a "thank you" to the driver of the transport as he stepped out of the vehicle and out onto the tarmac. The bright sun above bathed him in its gentle warmth, while a light breeze flowed through his hair. Within a few hours, he would likely never feel that sensation again, at least for a long while. He slung his duffel over his shoulder and slowly walked towards the hulking form of the Eucharis, in awe of its smooth curves, guns, and the chaos of the dockworkers loading supplies. He'd gone through all of the training, been in the military all this time, but now, finally, the reality of things were starting to dawn on him. This ship was going to be his home for months on end, on a mission he may or may not come back alive from.
The higher ups had shipped him here just a few days before, in anticipation of the Eucharis' departure. He'd had very limited time to enjoy the comforts of this beautiful place. He had checked and rechecked his things, making sure none were missing. He'd polished his shoes and cleaned his duty uniform, which he wore now as he came aboard. And lastly, he'd made a call to his family. His father, of course, was grumpy as ever. His mother and sister were delighted to hear about his first assignment, but saddened that he'd had no time to come visit in person. And then there was Isaac and his brother Grant, who were just starting second grade. They'd just told him all about their new gizmos they'd gotten for the holidays, and even asked (well, begged was the better term) him to bring them on board one day and let them fly the ship. He smiled when remembering that last part. Kids...
Just outside the wardroom...
Somehow, while daydreaming, his body had moved on autopilot, putting him right outside the wardroom. He knew the ship mostly well by now, having studied its layout before arriving.
On the other side of this door was the wardroom, where he knew that Ketsurui Hanako- he had to remember to put the last name first- would be waiting for him. He went through the final checks, being hellbent on making a good first impression. He made sure that the fur on his ears and tail were smooth. He looked down at his shoes, making sure they were shined and even. Last, he picked a thread from the red panel of his uniform and stood up straight.
The door hissed open, and sure enough, there was the Shosho, waiting at a table. Jackson stepped forward, making sure to maintain his composure. He stopped in front of the table.
"Shosho Ketsurui," said he. "Santo Hei Howard, reporting for duty, ma'am." he announced, standing rigid and saluting. He inwardly cringed, and his ears twitched slightly; he may have gotten the order of name and title mixed up... again... but she seemed like a pleasant woman, so hopefully she would just correct him and move on without incident, unlike some of the drill sergeants from training.