RP: YSS Eucharis [Mission 27, Part 4] The Sleeping Giant (YE 39)

Medical

The disappointment in Hanako's voice was the final crushing blow to the snowy haired executive officer. The crew did not like her, did not accept her as the executive officer of the ship, would not follow her orders and now Hanako had fallen into the group that did not approve of Natsumi as well. She could feel her composure near to slipping. She wanted to cry, but forced herself to not, at least until Hanako was gone, the medic was gone. She wrapped herself in a towel and silently left medical and went to the showers, which were mercifully empty.

Natsumi turned on the hot water and let it pour over her as she sobbed, burying her face in her hands as the hot water washed the residue of hemosynth off of her shuddering body.

Eventually, slowly, her tears run out, physically unable to cry any longer, though her body shuddered with heaving, ragged breaths, she turned the water off, dried herself and dressed in a clean uniform.


Bridge

Natsumi, cleaned, dried and utterly depressed, stepped into the command center, rubbing her red eyes with her sleeve, she composed herself as best as she could and silently went to the command chair, looking at it for a moment, she turned away and instead sat behind the auxiliary station instead, surrounding herself with volumetric windows showing the status of the ship and the preparing away team.

"I have the bridge" she announced in a subdued voice to the others manning the command center, along with a wireless transmission conveying the same to the Shosho.

Eucharis

Wazu had finished his run, showered off, and redressed... just in time to have his datapad beep with Natsumi's message.

Wazu would quickly type up his own.

"I take it you've been patched up? Do you have some time to talk?"

Armor Bay

Junko relaxed fractionally, but kept to herself as Hanako passed. As soon as the shosho did, she indulged in looking back over to Freyja, albeit furtively. It was hard to tell how much was pragmatism and how much was extended teasing. Third option was taking the opportunity to do both, which was... more likely, now that she thought about it.

She took the opportunity to slip into her suit before she made a scene out of herself. Climbed up, slid into the open collar and popped on her helmet. Shrugged off the rack and went to the weapon locker. Plasma sabers and a single ASBR this mission. Honestly, she'd need to get some practice in a sim with dual wielding before she tried it out in the wild.

Opened a one-to-one with Tsuguka.

"You've served here longer. How often does the Shosho get her boots dirty?"

PA Bay

Tsuguka simply stood statuesque, mildly observing the silent actions of Candon, and then Hanako herself. It was then that a certain creeping of cold sensations came upon her, and she was left wondering where the ghost had flown in from...

"Out of seven sorties, this is only the second time I have had the pleasure of accompanying her." Her voice responded to Junko diplomatically, through the telepathy transformed the pacing into a more carefully paced whisper than the younger soldier would have been used to. It probably helped that the other time was literally off the record. "I wouldn't worry, through. Our recent sparing proved to me her skills have not faded."

An icon?... Yes, Masumi. Tsuguka responded with her own chibified icon, every bit as gruff as the real thing. Perhaps a little clinical of a response, but apt...

PA Bay

Freyja's eyes followed Hanako carefully. She realized that she was coming with them this time. Her inner fangirl squealed with excitement. She turned around and retrieved the bodysuit and stockings she dropped, stepping into the stockings. She pulled them up, then put her legs in the suit and slid the suit up over her bare blue butt. The presence of a legend was quite a morale boost. Freyja was concerned about Natsumi-Taii though. Did she not come because of what happened last time or was it something else?

She considered asking the Shosho where Natsumi was. Maybe I'll just ask Natsu myself when I get back from the mission, she thought. she thought. It wouldn't help anyone to ask right now.

The surge of excitement brought on by the Shosho came back. She zipped up her bodysuit and nodded. Everything was in the right place. She looked over at Junko in her armor, reluctantly deciding she had teased her enough. Freyja floated up and lowered herself into her Mindy. It felt good to be heading out again. She had something to prove this time and she was determined not to let anyone down.

The eager Neko pulled on her helmet and locked it into place. She had opted for the same loadout as last time with one exception. Her SOCK was in a special scabbard attached to the Mindy's chest. Freyja picked up her ABSR and connected it to her armor. She hoped the briefing would put an emphasis on the brief part.

Wardroom >> Power Armor Bay

"Yeah, let's go," Saiga said in agreement with Takumi as he stood and walked out and toward the power armor bay. A quick message to Tsuguka informing her to assemble everyone for briefing was sent while he walked, though he was sure the captain's presence had already tipped her off.

He wasn't hesitant about Hanako's presence in the same way that the junior science officer was — Hanako coming along would increase their chances of success many times over — but thought the decision was somewhat reckless. Natsumi's injury during the previous day's sortie was tragic in itself, so an increased possibility of losing the Shosho herself today was unimaginable if not for the fact it was happening.

Who would stop her, anyway?

Soon enough, Saiga arrived at the armor bay with Shoi Higashi (hopefully) in tow and headed over to where his Mindy 4 was kept.

"You can get started if you'd like, Toyoe-san," he told Tsuguka when he passed by her. "Unless you're not up for it, in which case I'll only be a moment.

"Mission's the same as it was last time we spoke — all but for what isn't," the SAINT added, nodding in Hanako's direction.

Power Armor Bay

Sealing the helmet of her Mindy, Noriko couldn't help but narrow her eyes. Already, she had heard of several things being wrong, and more recently, witnessed a lack of discipline amongst the crew. Nevermind that she herself delayed just a little. The Shôshô herself didn't seem to mind, but now? The newest Neko couldn't help but feel that all was not well, even though she was initially skeptical. The officer in charge wasn't giving the briefing himself, and was delegating the task not to a junior officer, but a non-commissioned officer. Tsuguka, specifically. Noriko was of the mind that bending the rules was acceptable so long as increased efficiency was safely reached, but this rule bending? The white haired Neko couldn't quite put a finger on it, but it felt odd, to say the least.

She just hoped that this was all nothing more than a bad feeling.

Power Armor Bay

Masumi's glance around the bay after receiving that delightful chibi of Tsuguka alerted her to something. She zoomed in her helmet on the sinister narrowing of eyes. Spooked, she took a step back and soon found herself with the back of her body now pressing nearer the shuttle bay. She stopped moving and stopped looking at the now-fully suited Neko.

Shaken, she spread out her fingers and then balled them into fists. Wide-eyes swept the bay once more before she looked towards the ground in front of where the Shôshô now looked at her armor. When she saw footsteps there, she would know the Shôshô was suited.

Power Armor Bay

Welp! It seemed like the away team was situated! Jax hopped down from his crate and stretched. It was time to retreat back to fabrication and do what he did best-

DING!

Raising an eyebrow, he looked down at his communicator...

..And saw that he himself had been assigned to the away team as a "combat engineer".

'..........ssssssssshhhhhhhit.'

Sighing, he turned right back around and began stripping off his coveralls, leaving him in a pair of workout shorts and t-shirt. Luckily, he hadn't touched his Mindy since the last mission, so it still had the same attachments. Backpack filled with plastic explosives, gauss cannon, rifle mount, and missile pods on the legs. Basically, ready to tear up any heavily-armored robots.

Jax climbed inside and closed the hatch, slowly lumbering to the assembly area.

Power Armor Bay >>>>> Eucharis

Bronzi nodded at his kid and silently observed the team assemble. It was some how less exciting then it was on his first sorte with the team. Before they were energetic, chaotic, ready to go out and kill everything. Now it seem they were dour most of them. The mechanic Sura kept looking and flick her tail at did not seem happy. That Icy boot was doing a good job of hiding it but it was a subtle thing to look for, and a twinge of fear did change a persons step. Or at least that was what Bronzi assumed. He looked at her and gave her a soft nod "Yes." as if to say "Go with that feeling."

Sura eyed Jaxon noting he did not look at all happy about having to suit up. She studied him as he went about the process of assembling. Then she vanished into the hulk of the Heirophant to continue its modifications. Right now she was just setting up the additional brackets for Wazu to add more data pads, which tedious, would make her life easier then cleaning adhesive off of the technicians console every time they went out on a mission.

Bronzi exited the Power armor bay and ventured off into the ship. It would not take him long to track Wazu down. He smelled of science and sadness which was very distinct from the clean sterile smell that the Neko and yamatians had. He would say anything, he just followed Wazu to where ever he was going, Wazu would hear Bronzi's heavy breathing and foot steps.

Bridge

Having taken the Starship Operations chair, looking over his shoulder at the exec for a moment. She never seemed subdued the few times he had seen her, and something just seemed off. She seemed so different that usual, and his own quietness from being only a cadet amongst a group of regulars gave him plenty of chances to observe.

She gave a silent thought to himself before sending over a message over visual telepathy, "Everything alright Yamashiro-Taii?" He gave a quick half smile to her before looking back to his console to resume his checks and monitoring.

PA Bay

Tsuguka grunted, giving Saiga a rather discontented look behind her featureless silver faceplate, but organised her thoughts to prepare a new briefing none the less. If she didn't, that would be confirming that they weren't 'up to the task', a phrasing which the red neko could not internally tolerate.

"Very well." A steely bow, followed by moving to a more central location within the room, with her back to the largest hatchway. "Everyone, please begin finalizing your armaments. You will begin receiving orders shortly."

"Jackson-Heisho, I assume your assistance was directly requested? My squad will be performing direct support and technical assistance, so stick with me, please."

No authority to make the lights blink yellow, nor make giant volumetric 'PREPARE FOR BOARDING ACTION' signs. Hell, she didn't even have a full order of battle. Yet again, it was time to improvise.

TO; Command Squad FROM; Nito Heisho Tsuguka said:

Would Santo Hei Tan Ann Pan, Mister Bronzi and Mister Wazu please report to the power armor bay, if you have been previously ordered or requested? I am beginning the briefing now, though I will make a recording of previously stated information available momentarily. Thank you.

Click to expand...

Done. Now, talking about the actual plan. Tsuguka felt so flat over the last failed motivational speech that she wasn't even going to try embellishing it this time.

"Okay. Here are your orders. We are going to repeat the mission with the same objectives as last time, namely the covert exploration and examination of the large alien space station. The approach this time, however, will be made towards one of the damaged sectors where enemy detection systems will be less functional." A measured pace, allowing those around them to absorb the information. "No one is to directly engage Rixxikor or enemy robotics elements, until either you are ordered directly to do so, or you are fired upon yourself. This is in the interest of avoiding their swarming instinct. Stealth may be necessary until we can confirm their dispersion."

"Are there any questions?"

Power Armor Bay

Hanako raised her hand. "I was planning on using the expiring old rations from the cargo bay as a distraction. I could get Sohyun from the Tomoyo to drop them off in a location away from the armor team's entry point. This would probably draw the Rixxikor to the location of the food, hopefully leaving us with only the defense robots to worry about."

YSS Eucharis, PA Bay

"I like it," Candon replied approvingly, stepping off the armor rack wearing all hut his helmet, "I've been thinking about the last encounter. They seemed awfully desperate to get our rations. I suspect that they may be starving, or at least hungry. The SAoY is organized enough to avoid starvation in space, but the Rixxicor- well, I think we have a considerable advantage here."

The odd fractured piece of Candon's personality was terrified by the act of joining a conversation with Hanako, though the same figment of his imagination that represented the fragmentation of his code had also suggested that he try seducing the admiral for selfish gain just years earlier as he lay in a puddle of his own shattered skeleton and thus was no longer a viable source of intuition to follow. He would say what he meant before any audience, even the ones that mattered most. The extremist that was Candon had his place in the Star Army of Yamatai and that place was the field of battle, engaged in glorious combat with the enemies of his mighty empire.
Like he even cared…

"I've given the last sortie great thought. And have come to a conclusion," he continued gravely, looking to the members of the infantry team, "we aren't here to instigate problems with the Rixxicor. I'll dare say we should work with them towards a common goal… if anyone here- anyone murders another non-aggressive Rixxicor I solemnly vow that I will personally end your life in the field and dub you a traitor to the Empire. So keep that in mind when we see them again, and set the safety- you know, that little toggle switch on all of our rifles- yeah, use those. I know it's the polar opposite of everything I do but please, do not emulate me. I am not a role model."

He turned to the leader he swore to protect, "by the way, Shôshô, I have three antimatter shells with me, just give the word and I'll make a new tunnel."

Bronzi's tailing of Wazu ended and he did an about face the moment he was requested to return to the power armor bay.

He appeared as requested and stood off to the side silently observing some of what was being said. Bronzi would naturally allow Wazu to decide what their course of action was.

Bronzi soon found his Gaze resting on the Red Neko.

He wasn't sure what to make of her. But she did catch some fire for him on the mission before....

Bridge

Natsumi was burying herself in work, letting her duties and examining every detail of the ship's operations and all the sensor data from the artificial planet below attempt to distract her from her emotions. She blinked as the unexpected wireless transmission came through from Takao.

"I'm fine" she replied automatically, flatly.

Wazu frowned.

He was not thrilled with the idea of heading back down to the planet. Even less so without Natsumi around. He couldn't help but wish he had a detachment of NDI marines, they were as by the book as could be... he also wished he still had some white tear, that sweet, wine like combat stimulant from their power armor.

Plus he needed to have that chat with Natsumi...

And then there was the Rixx plan, and dealing witht his ground mission, and the increasing pile of things he couldn't quite seem to get completed.

And there was Jax. Jax had what he needed.

Wazu would head past Bronzi and over to where Jackson had suited up.

"Jax, do you have any more of those floating flashlights?"

YSS Eucharis - Engineering

Becker was running a diagnostic on the ship's power lines to the combined field projectors while Cherry sprawled herself all over the entrance portal to the lower sensor dish.

"Becker," Cherry suddenly sat up and grinned. "Show me your dick. Pull your cock out." She pulled out her communicator.

"Okay, anything to help a friend," he chuckled. It look him a moment to get rid of his belt and then he unzipped and pushed his pants down around his knees.

The sound of a camera shutter followed, and soon Cherry was moving around the redheaded man getting photos from different angles. Finally, she simply said "thanks."

"You're welcome," Becker grinned, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. He fixed his uniform and went back to work.

- - -

YSS Eucharis - Armor Bay

Hanako undressed completely and then slipped into the soft, snug interior of her new Mindy 4. The armored suit fit her like a glove; the new armors were custom made for each soldier. She left the helmet off for now as everyone was still getting ready. She didn't see a need for a huge amount of loadout so she stuck with a single Ke-M2-W2913 aether rifle and the standard leg mini-missiles.

Power Armor Bay

Tsuguka just paused and blinked, a little weirded out by her superior raising her hand like a school girl. It wasn't like they had to.

"How do you intend to have this payload deployed, ma'am?" A cautious tone, but managing to restrain a stutter. "I do not mean to question your plan, as it does indeed sound advantageous, but... I worry that it may put YSS Tomoyo's shuttle team in danger. I don't think the bugs will discriminate between them and us."

Perhaps it was typical that Tsuguka was immediately considering an assault burger van, but they would have felt wrong saying nothing. Too bad gravity didn't work in space, or they could have just done an air drop. Unless...

"Actually, do you remember that shuttle insertion plan I had from a while back, Shosho?" Punching into her palm with great enthusiasm, the faceplate suddenly became transparent, as if to make the cumbersome deployment of her random motivation all the more obvious. Her elongated fangs were bared with amusement. "If the shuttle uses inertia to simply drop-scatter the crates from a distance without making actual contact, I'm sure the Rixx will venture out to collect it for themselves. It would also take them more time to do so. What do you think?"

PA Bay

Junko slowly turned her head to Candon at his particularly incensed way of reminding them about their safeties. Part of her wondered what crawled up his ass and died. Didn't recall him getting that worked up about it until now. Whatever the case, it was more inflammatory than informative.

"Opening fresh wounds is bad for morale, sir." She drawled, cold and lifeless, by way of one-to-one comm squirt. Then she closed the connection immediately after. This wasn't going to be a debate. Especially since he'd have to know how that'd be taken.

She glanced over to Freyja, to gauge her response and gave her a small nod. Even if she had been at fault, at least it came from a desire to protect. Which was more than she could say for some people she'd served with.

And then came the actual mission parameters themselves.

"Ma'am, you mentioned in the last debrief the Planets computer was stuck in a boot cycle. Do you want us to repair any critical equipment, sabotage them?" Junko spoke up. In short, was this planet an asset to be seized, or a liability?