RP: YSS Miharu Mission 3 Prelude: Rise; you better shine

Re: Mission 3: The sound of machina

After taking a moment so listen to all what the man had to say and found the fancy lining in his reserved manner of speech. "You are much too modest Claymere-San, though you speak not of youthful notions and dreams like me. Your reasonings are very ornate in them selves, which to me makes them no less elegant." Sumaru said to Nyton as he found himself coming to find the Nepleslian man quite chivalrous, and a pleasant person to be around even in his distant demure.

Sumaru felt something close to just how he felt, only hidden in reserved tones and words of a tactician. "And again, we come to another similarity between us. Like you believe in the lord of whom you serve, I believe in Sora. I wish to see an empire that she would shape, with her kind heart and benevolence. I guess this fact makes us kin in the wish for a better Empire, doesn't it." He smiled, and nodded once. But instead of leaving room to make Ketsurui comparisons in futures of the empire, Sumaru pressed on in conversation.

Nyton said:

"Don't let her decision to take away your Samurai status dishearten you. I believe you have endured much to arrive here. Continue to do so and you may yet resume your duties. After all, a Nepleslian does not earn the rank of a Shoi during the Species Restriction Act without working hard."

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That meant the only topic left in Nyton's statement to comment on was Kotori's orders. "That is still a complex situation yet, you see Claymere-San, once one becomes samurai they are samurai for as long as they exist there is no status to it. If she truly follows through with her orders to lay down my soul, my sword. Then I can only assume that she knows that once a lord has no use for a samurai, that samurai is to assume that there is no more reason for their existence... the ritual of seppuku is the common way of removing ones self." Sumaru said, his voice carrying an uncommon sort of calmness when talking about killing their self. Not in the sense that he wanted it, but that he was not afraid of death, and understood and embraced the duties and traditions of what he was.

Re: Mission 3: The sound of machina

Kôsuka returned to the wardroom just as dessert was being served — a light vanilla-flavored flan. She ignored it, eyes searching for Sumaru. She saw him atop the observation deck; he was talking to Nyton, and she breathed out slowly. She returned to her quarters, leaving Kei and Yuri to fend for themselves.

* * *

"I understand, Tom. I will see you later tonight." The executive officer did her best to not sigh, and helped Hinoto serve the flan. She smiled at everyone, as she usually did, and did not frown when she looked at Sanjuro.

Re: Mission 3: The sound of machina

Nyton looked at Sumaru, surprised not at his calm demeanor but at the apparent acceptance of his fate. "I see. Well while I am not about to criticize the decision you have made about the path you choose to follow I have to venture to say that if you are as devoted to protecting Sora-sama as you say, I would find that very hard to do if you are dead." Nyton then said.

Assuming his thinking pose, Nyton continued. "You would have a better chance of protecting her by leaving the ship and continuing your career elsewhere. At least then the possibility of your paths crossing again still exists. I would rather you not die needlessly and you can do so without compromising your honor."

Re: Mission 3: The sound of machina

Yoroko said:

"Anou.....Kurohoshi-Juni, is Ketsurui-Taisa usually that...distant? Doesn't she want dessert? It sounds like it will be delicious and I'm sure whoever made it did a good job..."

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Masako looked up from her thoughts to glance at Yoroko inquisitively before nodding towards the pilot. "I like to think of it as a command distance that is the Taisa's style of command. There to lead, but allowing a distance so that her crew can better function." Masako explained telepathically. "Better than a leader who micro-manages you and looks over your shoulder all the time in my opinion. Ketsurui-Taisa is willing to give input on a situation if you go to her, but you'd be better off going through the chain of command before doing such. The Chain of Command is pretty important on the Miharu."

Masako paused as she placed her index finger upon her lips and looked at the ceiling in thought. Figurative distance of her commanding officer aside, the upcoming mission would definitely prove most difficult. Masako didn't really have very much experience when it came to missions of stealth, well...as much experience as she liked. It was true she had done something along those lines when the Miharu had been trapped after Taiie. But she had been out their alone then and stealth was always a better course of action when alone. How well would a team be able to accomplish a stealth mission? How well would this team be able to accomplish it?

She made mental notes of who she had under her command. Asher was...a tender subject in her mind. Though still disappointed in him, she couldn't allow bias to affect her judgment. He was able to survive in a derelict vessel for long enough...maybe he could work a stealth mission just fine. Both Kai and Yuril were new, straight from training...they would be difficult to imagine in a stealth mission. The two samurai trainees...were probably trained in stealth tactics (Masako didn't really know since she knew nothing of samurai training), but were likely in experienced in a mission such as this. Then again, who was really experienced in a mission like this? Masako had never seen a commanding officer with such a tenacity for subterfuge. Masako had never really worked on ships other than standard combat ships either until the YSS Miharu.

The young Kurohoshi barely noted the dessert placed in front of her as she glanced over to witness Kôsuka enter the wardroom again. It was hard to tell, but something seemed off about the senior Samurai. Masako frowned as she then watched the CO's mother disappear towards the crew quarters again. The Warrant Officer decided against even pondering thoughts on what had gone on between the Taisa and the Samurai, probably dealing with Sumaru.

That thought caused her to glance towards Nyton and the male Nekovalkryja, observing the two for a moment. Masako didn't like to admit it, but she too felt a certain bias against a male Nekovalkryja. It seemed foreign, if not coming close to blasphemous. No...I can't think like that! Masako thought as she sternly looked at the flan in front of her with her arms crossed under her breasts.

Prejudices won't help on the battlefield, she continued to berate herself. I know nothing of samurai other than they are the protectors of the Ketsurui Clan. If the Taisho accepted him, then it was her decision to make. Just as it is Ketsurui-Taisa and Sora-san's decision dealing with Samurai. I am not of their clan nor am I a Samurai. My thoughts should be towards keeping my team and comrades alive....but still...I can't help but feel sorry for those two, Masako thought as she looked to Kei and Yuri. They're definitely in the thick of it.

Re: Mission 3: The sound of machina

Yoroko took a bite of the flan, and sucked on it as she thought about what Masako had said. Yoroko felt that maybe a captain that had a closer relationship with the crew might be good, but at the same time the chain of command was important. After a few more seconds Yoroko swallowed the piece of flan and began to eat more as she shifted her thoughts.

Yoroko looked at Asher again, unable to read what he was thinking, he had been quiet all throughout dinner, something that worried Yoroko. Yoroko's eyes hovered on the Yamataian briefly before she turned her head back toward the table. As Yoroko stared at her Flan, she remembered that she still had Miharu holding all of the articles and excerpts concerning the seperation of the 5th XF from Yamatai. Yoroko organized them mentally so that she could read them in some kind of order later when something struck her.

Volumetric screens are created by Femtomachines! Yoroko thought excitedly as her mind followed a short path of logic to her next conclusion, Those are basically everywhere, if we could have them just send their location data back to Miharu at a more constant rate then we would be able to monitor anyone moving anywhere inside the ship! Yoroko's face brightened considerably as she thought this, and the Hei snapped her head up to face Yukari. "Anou, Suzuka-Shosa." Yoroko said quietly trying to make herself speak softly and slowly, "Is it possible to increase the data transmission rate for the femtomachines that create Volumetric screens?" Yoroko didn't know a lot about the nodol system, she only knew a few things about how it operated, but after that she was a fish outside of water.

Re: Mission 3: The sound of machina

Yukari had just returned the empty tray she had served the flan on. She returned to the table and spoke to Yoroko from Ichigo's seat, as she had left to return to engineering.

"Increase the data transmission rate ... I do not know if that is possible." Yukari was perplexed, and asked Yoroko why she wanted to know.

Re: Mission 3: The sound of machina

MoonMan said:

"What I meant to ask you was that if you feel that our current medical staff is...adequate. Adequate for what the ship requires, and on an individual basis. Do you have any personal opinions?"

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The young Ketsurui took a moment to think over Sanjuro's question. She mentally appraised her numbers and what she knew based on her experience from serving about her previous ships. "I do feel that our staffing is adequate for our needs as a crew. Most ships are only rated for one or two medical officers with ship generated sprites filling in other necessary holes in the ship's roster."

Sora paused for a moment and pushed her hands together in front of her before tapping her lips with her two pointer fingers. She stared at the empty space in front of her before she looked back at Sanjuro. "For the needs of the ship, we're more than fine with the three of us. We only have two ST alcoves so there's no reasonable way to make the back-up process any faster except to encourage more frequent back-ups on an individual basis but that's a given.

But I think we should try to work with our crew as best as we can on an individual basis to give people individual time for counseling and check-ups as needed but we have access to our crew at almost all hours so it wouldn't be too hard to pull someone aside to talk to them for an hour or so on alternating days and times to give them the individual attention that they need. We have to do what we can to help morale but I think we'll be fine with who we have.

What were your own concerns on this matter, Ashitaka-hei?"

Re: Mission 3: The sound of machina

Nyton watched Sumaru think for a while before he decided to excuse himself. "Just think about it for a while. You don't need to make any hasty decisions. I'll be around." Nyton then said as he began walking out of the Observation Deck.

His course then shifted back down to the Ward Room. Eyeing the remaining partakers of the meal he wondered if Kosuka had finished her discussion with Kotori yet. "Miharu, Kosuka-san's current location please."

"Kosuka-Juni has returned to her quarters, Claymere Shoi." came the Miharu's helpful response. A small volumetric window showing the location of the quarters she had chosen then popped up in front of him.

"Thank you Miharu." he said and turned off to find Kosuka. His curiousity was piqued on many matters, not all of them concerning Sumaru's fate. He moved at a quick pace until he reached his destination. Once there he stopped, unsure how to proceed. "Miharu, please alert Kosuka-Juni to my presence and that if she is not occupied I would like to speak to her."

Re: Mission 3: The sound of machina

Kôsuka sat in her quarters, Port Enlisted No. 2, on the floor. She sat lotus style, eyes closed, ignoring anything around her.

She couldn't ignore the inquiry from Nyton, however.

"Yes, I will see him, Miharu."

Re: Mission 3: The sound of machina

"Kosuka-Juni is available, Claymere-Shoi. You may enter." Miharu informed.

With a slight nod Nyton then stepped through the entrance and spotted Kosuka in what appeared to be a meditation of sorts. He walked up to her, stopping in front of her by a few paces. "Excuse my interruption." he then said in Yamataian. "I was hoping I could speak to you before I see if Kotori-sama requires anything."

Re: Mission 3: The sound of machina

"We know that there are femtomachines all around us that can be used to create volumetric projections." Yoroko said after taking another bite of the flan, "When they're active," A volumetric projection suddenly opened to the side of Yoroko's face, "they transmit and receive information at a high rate of speed from Miharu. This information includes position, as well as various other things that allow the creation of the volumetric windows.

While they are idle I bet they still transmit this information, but in a much less constant manner, if we could increase this rate temporarily, we could utilize it as a ship wide tracking system. We'd be able to track anyone's movements completely." Yoroko of course was referencing the simulation where it was quite difficult to fight the black mindies due to the lack of knowledge about their location.

"We would just need to assign the femtomachines to float in a specific pattern or zone and when their location is changed by another object's movement, such as an enemy power armor, then Miharu would know." As Yoroko finished speaking she closed the volumetric window that she had called up and bit into her flan with a thoughtful look on her face. "Assuming it works of course."

Re: Mission 3: The sound of machina

Sanjuro contemplated Sora's reply, mulling it over as he prodded his utterly unappetizing dessert with his utensil. It took him a while to return an answer to his superior, turning back to Sora with his usual stolid gaze.

"Perhaps you are right. With you, the sprites and myself handling the medical processes, we should be prepared for the circumstances we might encounter."

Re: Mission 3: The sound of machina

Sora watched Sanjuro's face curiously. "If you have concerns about our staffing, I would love to hear them so we can better address them and see about what we can more pro-actively do to improve the situation," she said with a friendly smile.

"I would also like to hear any suggestions you would have in what you'd like to see happen with our little corner of the ship in general. Since it's just myself and you, it'll make things easier if we work out any communication issues ahead of time."

Re: Mission 3: The sound of machina

Yukari stopped short of planting the tray of flan in Sanjuro's face. She had not even made the flan and he was making her angry.

Her attention narrowed to Yoroko as she presented her argument. "Hmm ... " Yukari said. "I ... I do not know if it would work. It is certainly possible. Instruct Miharu to attempt it among the crew for the rest of the evening, and I will review the results tonight."

* * *

Kôsuka did not look at Nyton, but invited him to sit as well. "Your Yamataian is good," she said in that language. "You can use Nepleslian, if it is more comfortable. I am not so stringent with speaking."

Re: Mission 3: The sound of machina

"Thank you." Nyton replied in Nepleslian and neither specifically referring to Kosuka's compliment or invitation to sit. He then began to speak while sitting down in a cross legged position in front of her. "I was curious to know how your discussion with Kotori-sama went. I wondered if the brief discussion I had with Sumaru-Juni would provide any beneficial insight."

Re: Mission 3: The sound of machina

Yoroko nodded in confirmation before addressing Miharu telepathically, "Miharu, could you set up a way to monitor the femtomachines locations? I just need you to monitor if they are moved by external forces from where they would normally be. If there are any femtomachines that are moved by an external force, would you track the force throughout the Miharu and record the movement and forward the results to Suzuka-Shosa as well as myself, if it's feasible?" Yoroko asked as she finished up the flan in front of her.

"Anou...Kurohoshi-Juni, when does the evening shift begin exactly?" Yoroko hadn't worked on the bridge much during the Miharu's last outing, having spent a considerable amount of time in the armor and fighter training sims instead, and thus was unsure of how long each shift was and when they began.

Re: Mission 3: The sound of machina

Miyoko stayed at the table as people began to filter out. Between heading to the bridge early and dessert, her choice was clear. Besides, she didn't need to worry as long as Masako remained in the wardroom. She quietly snagged a few more desserts than she was due--all those people who left early obviously didn't want them, right?--as she watched the conversation idly, twiddling a spoon in her hand.

Re: Mission 3: The sound of machina

"It can be done. Older alarm systems worked in such a way," Miharu replied to Yoroko. "If I may, though, I'd personally would defeat such attempts by using the power armor's AIES to force administrative priviledges on the nearby femtomachines and have them refrain from triggering an alarm. If I am not ready to specifically counter that, the intruders could still get by undetected. They're pros, after all."

Re: Mission 3: The sound of machina

"What happened," Kôsuka replied in Nepleslian, "was a private conversation between a Samurai and a princess of the ruling clan. Kotori might say more."

Re: Mission 3: The sound of machina

Damn. Nyton thought to himself. "Fair enough. I had hoped I could gain some intel on her mood before I checked in on her. Old habits." he said before letting out a breath. "Well this was not what I expected to happen upon your arrival aboard the Miharu. I had hoped for something a lot less confrontational." he said while looking off uncomfortably. "I am not familiar with all of the Samurai customs. Sumaru mentioned that if he had his sword taken from him then he would lose his purpose for existance and have to commit ritual suicide. Is that true?"