Kikyô Star System, in orbit of Yamatai
YSS Miharu NJ-X1-00, Wardroom
Breakfast was settling in the stomachs of Miharu's crew by the time Yukari arrived at the wardroom. She and Miyoko had quickly consumed their meals. Now it was a matter of waiting.
She'd awoken early for the interviews, and was properly outfitted in a clean skirt uniform with her Type 28B at her side and her datapad clutched in her hand. Her hair was put up in the requisite bun for such official matters, and she was pondering questions while she waiting for Miyoko to join her, so they could reach the base quickly and interview the candidates.
Miyoko was running just a few minutes late (not particularly a new occurence), and was walking a bit more quickly than usual when she arrived. She'd worn both her Alicia band and her collar for the occasion, going the rather opposite route of Yukari by taking the time off ship as a chance to relax her uniform a little. The band looked a little odd, set to match the collar's brushed metal texture, but then Miyoko had never been a fashion expert. She dipped a bow to Yukari upon arriving. "Sorry for my tardiness, Shosa."
Yukari smiled brightly upon seeing the collar and headband, rather liking them on Miyoko anyway. Yukari was even less of a fashionista. "It is fine," she said. "We will not be long at the base anyway." The two quickly made their way to the shuttle bay, and within twenty minutes were waiting inside of a particularly cramped conference room on a starbase with dim lights, a small table with perhaps six chairs, and a fuzzy, sound-killing wall. Yukari frowned at the arrangement.
Miyoko was rather less disturbed, but then, she'd spent the better part of her life being shuffled between spartan space stations. "Do you know how many we're supposed to interview today and their professions?"
"Two," Yukari said. "Both are young and mostly inexperienced. One is a sniper, the other an technical sentry."
Two jobs I know nothing about... oh well. Miyoko supposed she didn't need to be a subject matter expert just to interview somebody, but it would at least make it easier... or more interesting. "Would it be inappropriate to use examples from our recent missions in the interview without details, or would that still be breaching security?"
Yukari nodded. "Examples will be prudent. We must relieve some of the sprite crew from fighting and engineer work, so it will be good to inform them what could be ahead of them."
Miyoko nodded along with the statement. "Well then, I'm ready to begin when you are."
"Our starting depends on our first interviewee," Yukari said, experimentally trying to lean back in the chair she was sitting in. She was greeted with firm resistance. "She should arrive soon."
"What's the old saying, 90% waiting and 10% mind-numbing terror?" Miyoko was rather fond of the waiting parts, though, as she aptly demonstrated by slumping her shoulders over the back of the chair to stretch out.
Yukari tried leaning back again. "The Star Army does not always follow that rule, but I believe you are right." She nearly lost her balance, but quickly corrected and decided to just sit straight.
Nearly as soon as Yukari mentioned her imminent arrival, Tsuya stepped through the doorway, dressed in her uniform and unarmed. Though she was at attention and walked briskly, there was still a bit of nervousness in her demeanor. She bowed deeply to the two seated women. "Greetings, Shosa, Saito-heisho. My apologies for my tardiness; I got lost."
Miyoko's days of relaxation were at an end. Reluctantly, the Yamataian slid back down to a seated position and inspected the applicant. Under any other circumstances, she might try to have a little fun by harassing the Hei for tardiness... as it was, she'd look a bit stupid doing that when she'd just made a similar apology to Yukari half an hour ago. She nodded acknowledgement to the woman, hoping Yukari would do all the introductory work.
Yukari stood and bowed to the Neko with a smile. "Yamada-Hei. It is a pleasure to meet you. Please sit down, and we will start immediately." She gestured to an open seat next to her, directly across from Miyoko.
Tsuya walked quickly over to the chair and sat, rather stiffly, her hands folded in her lap. She bowed her head to the two again. "A pleasure to meet you both as well."
Another attempt to lean back in the short-backed black office chair ended in failure. She did not frown in front of the Hei, but her smile tightened. "You are a technical sentry, with an affinity for power armor. Is that correct?"
"Correct, Shosa." The sentry's eyes got a bit bigger as she saw Yukari's change of expression.
"What suits and configurations do you have experience with?" Miyoko sat up a little as she joined in the questioning, only reluctantly.
Tsuya bowed her head apologetically to he superior officer. "My only experience so far has been at Educational Facility One, where I piloted a Daisy."
Miyoko nodded. "Any noteworthy simulator experience... particularly in boarding combat scenarios?"
"I recently participated in a simulated raid on a facility with Nagamira-hei, and I was placed in a simulator to familiarize myself with the Daisy's controls before they let me actually pilot one... but no ship-to-ship combat. I am sorry, Saito-heisho."
Yukari's smile returned to normal. "You are young, Hei-san; you will improve with time." She looked down at her datapad. "Tell me, what are your feelings about the Empire?"
Tsuya blinked. "The Empire is my home. I want to protect and serve it, just as any other nekovalkyrja, and advance its goals in the galaxy."
"Have you read foreign news reports about the Empire? Perhaps in your time between training and coursework? Or spoken to other Nepleslian students?" The questions seemed innocent enough if Yukari's tone was any indication.
"No, Shosa." The sentry looked increasingly confused.
Yukari took a few seconds to tap at her datapad. "What do you know of SAINT, Hei-san?"
Miyoko had to sort of restrain herself from grimacing, both from the line of questioning and the tech sentry's answer. Pulling politics in an interview situation was just <i>mean</i>.
"It is the... intelligence division... they are very skilled, and only accept the best." Tsuya's face just kept falling.
Miyoko switched to encrypted telepathy with Yukari. Well, she at least isn't very opinionated... or is very good at pretending not to be. Out loud, she contued questioning. "On your engineering experience, are there any subsystems you'd consider yourself particularly adept with?"
Tsuya brightened somewhat once the interview swung back into her areas of expertise and away from things she was almost certain would get her killed, discharged, or worse if she happened to say the wrong thing. "I am good at maintenance of power armor, and on a starship, communications systems and a bit of weaponry."
Yukari kept her face down and at her datapad while she replied telepathically. "She is so young, but it is hard to be sure. We do not know how much indoctrination occurs in the EF system. But she does not appear threatened by our telepathy, which is good." "Are there weapons you feel any affinity to? Rifles, explosives, or other categories?"
The tech sentry's face spread in a slow grin. "Explosives. ...but I am also a fairly good shot with a pistol."
More tapping at the datapad. "No such affinity is listed on your profile. Is this a recent development, or do you remain untrained?"
"A recent development, yes. I found great use for them in the simulation I was in."
"I see." Yukari's fingers danced on the lower part of the pad. "You were involved in a recent incident with a director at EF1, according to your file. He struck you and berated you for not testing the boundaries of a simulation. Can you explain your feelings about this incident?"
Tsuya's lips pressed into a thin line. "It made me extremely angry. I was not aware a simple simulation for, or what I thought was for, the purpose of testing my and Nagamira-hei's combat skills was so very important to test the boundaries of that it would warrant violence from aborderline-voyeuristic, Yamataian simulation director."
Miyoko frowned, glancing between Yukari and Tsuya. "Do you care to explain? I'm not sure I understand. He wanted you to try acting outside of the boundaries of the simulation to win?"
"To be honest, Saito-heisho, I am not sure exactly what he wanted. He did not explain himself very well. At the beginning of the simulation, we were given orders to eliminate everyone within the building. The men were armed, and they had at least one suit of power armor. I was not sure what else we could have done."
Tsuya bowed her head a bit. "I apologize for my folly. I clearly must have missed something important in the simulation."
Yukari shook her head. "I am not familiar with how the EF educational system operates. You do not need to apologize to us." "She is headstrong, it appears." Yukari noted that in her official comments of the interview.
It will give Claymere-Taii something to do... Miyoko was only partly joking. "What was your reaction to his actions?" Frankly, she was asking half out of curiosity by this point.
"I told him what my other courses of action could have been."
Yukari nodded, and the questioning switched again. "Did you get along well with your classmates, Hei-san?"
Tsuya paused for a moment. "...as well as could be expected. I am... shy."
"You felt comfortable among them?"
"As much as I feel comfortable with anyone else, Shosa."
Yukari's eyes narrowed a bit. "But you were not close with them."
"...not... particularly, no..."
Yukari nodded. "Why the Miharu?"
"I was interested in the prototype aspect of the ship and the potential for combat, and the secrecy of the missions made me very curious."
Miyoko nodded thoughtfully at that. "... I have one last question."
"I see," Yukari said. Her green eyes went to Miyoko and nodded. "Please, Heisho."
Miyoko paused before continuing, speaking a bit carefully. "A hypothetical combat situation. The Miharu is to engage a Nozomi with a strong complement of Mindy power armors outnumbering our own. It is decided that we will propel an asteroid into the ship's power armor hangar to disrupt their launch enough for detachments to take out the ship's control center and detain or destroy the power armor pilots individually. ... what would you see your role in such a situation as?"
Tsuya steepled her fingers in front of her face, thinking for a moment. "I would board the Nozomi and attempt to disable as many power armors as possible."
Miyoko nodded. "So you'd be involved with the assault on the hanger bay?"
"Yes. Unless I was needed somewhere else."
It took a few moments for Miyoko to consider that. "Are there any specific reasons you'd choose that role?"
"I enjoy combat. Danger makes me feel alive, Saito-heisho."
Miyoko let out a bit of a snort, speaking dryly in response. "Well, you'll find no shortage of it with us... I have no further questions, Shosa."
"Thank you, Heisho," Yukari said. "Hei-san, you noted we are a part of clandestine operations. What have you heard of them?"
Tsuya smiled. "Nothing. That is why I was curious."
"We hunt sisters, Hei-san." Yukari let that sink in. "We hunt sisters who have betrayed us."
The tech sentry's brow furrowed. "...betrayed? How?"
Yukari paused, but committed to an open telepathic communication for Miyoko and Tsuya's benefit. "IES System, please blackout this room. Do not record this room in any way for the next 10 minutes. Authorization as follows." The rest of the transmission was encrypted. Yukari then spoke. "Do you know who Eve is, Hei?"
Tsuya shook her head.
"One of our original mothers," Yukari said. "One of the first Nekovalkyrja. But she is a criminal, a conspirator and murderer. She plots the demise of the Empire, and helps reveal all of its ugliness and flaws as she does so. We hunt her and her traitorous sisters and offspring."
"... That sounds like quite a noble pursuit to me, Shosa. Why is this so secret?"
"Because our methods are not always in the interest of the Empire, and because we are not on the IES network. We are a lone butterfly in the vastness of space, and we have no moral compass but our own." Yukari spoke almost matter-of-factly. "Many of our crew have seen and felt much in our time. We know the Empire is not perfect, and at times we see the logic of what Eve plans."
The tech sentry nodded slowly. "I am still young, but I am always interested in... expanding my horizons. I would enjoy the new perspective Miharu would give me."
"We are not interested in perspective." Yukari leaned forward some. "We are a family aboard Miharu, Hei-san. We have to be, in order to survive. If you are not willing to join our family, and see our mission to the end, then this interview must end now."
"I am interested, Shosa. Did something I said make you think otherwise?"
Yukari was taken aback. The Neko was headstrong. She pivoted. "Being shy makes it very difficult to be part of a family, Hei-san. And you are young still. I want you to fully understand what we must do — no one wants to kill a sister, especially in the lukewarm blood of a mission, but we do so, and afterward, we lean upon each other to cope."
Tsuya looked slightly hurt. "...I am shy now, Shosa, but that does not mean I wish to stay that way. I want to be part of a family." She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment.
Miyoko remained silent through this, curiously--analytically--watching the enlistee's reactions. She wasn't always the biggest believer in Yukari's family theory, particularly when she was feeling cynical, so it seemed more productive than making sarcastic comments.
"You are willing then, to do things that are not so simple as killing Mishhuvurthyar. Or pushing our borders out into the stars." Yukari leaned back. "You might question our motives at times, and question your own. That is normal, but you must be aware it could happen. And that it will not be easy to do."
"Yes. I understand."
Yukari looked at Tsuya closely. "Your director recommended we not bring you onto our vessel. He stated you are not always accepting of authority, though his use of it is questionable. If you are ready to join us, then I welcome you to the YSS Miharu. Yamada Tsuya-Hei." Yukari stood, and gave the Hei a small bow.
Tsuya stood as well, bowing deeply to Yukari and Miyoko. "Thank you, Shosa. I am ready to join you, and I am grateful for your acceptance."
Miyoko rose along with Yukari, though she was uncertain whether to bow or not. In the end, it elicited a shallow one from her. "... though I'd warn you that problems with authority do lead to difficulties, so some practice in holding your tongue might be a good thing. Whether or not you're right." Perhaps not the most welcoming statement, but she'd seen enough interactions between Leutre and Nyton to know it would help her in the long run.
The tech sentry closed her eyes for a moment. "...my apologies to both of you if I was rude or hostile during this interview."
Yukari rose from her bow, jaw firm as she spoke. "Apologies are not necessary, Hei-san. Only improvement. You will be under the command of Kurohoshi Masako-Juni and her Black Knights armor wing, once you have proven yourself worthy of midnight panels. Until that time you will remain a tech sentry wearing red panels." She paused. "But you appear eager for a battle. That is good. We need that perspective aboard the Miharu."
"Yes, Shosa. I will do my best to prove myself, and I will rise to whatever occasion is presented to me."
"You are free to leave, Hei-san. Gather your things; instructions will be transmitted to your communicator on where we are docked. Thank you for your time." Yukari smiled an easy, pleased smile.
Miyoko added, "When you report to the medbay for your backup, there are usually several books on the desk that you should feel free to peruse while you wait. Some of the medical stuff have been neglecting to point that out recently."
"I will be sure to do so, then. Thank you for interviewing me, Shosa, Saito-heisho. I hope to see the both of you again soon." Miharu's newest recruit bowed deeply once more to the two nekos, then turned on her heel and walked briskly out, looking slightly more confident than she had when she walked in.
Yukari sighed slightly, after the door closed, then looked to Miyoko. "Your thoughts?"
Miyoko shrugged. "As you pointed out, headstrong and individualistic. She could show a strong ability to think independently in battle and be very valuable... or she could butt heads with a superior officer for a few weeks like Veressis-hei. I'd be rather interested in knowing just what happened with this instructor who struck her. Other than that, she seems inexperienced but eager, which I'd expect in a Nekovalkyrja on her first assignment."
"Mm ... " Yukari brought up the report in a volumetric window for Miyoko to read. "His report suggests she did not live up to the true challenge, which was to question her orders and attempt to 'beat the scenario her own way.' He had sensed her individualism and attempted to test it, but one can not expect a soldier to go beyond their orders without some hint or clue, at the least." Yukari brought up the instructor's image, frowning. "And previous students have alleged he is a lecherous man. I am not surprised by her reactions, even if they suggest a lack of respect for authority."
Miyoko slid the window over to inspect the contents. "Well, that, and questioning one's orders in a simulation and doing so in reality seem to me to be two entirely different situations. ... so she followed her orders to the letter despite them being questionable? I suppose that could be a positive trait in this line of work."
"Yes," Yukari said. "Though Kurohoshi-Juni is not deeply experienced with that kind of personnel, save for herself. The Hei could be a test of her ability to lead when we cannot afford it." Yukari sighed much more heavily, rubbing her right upper arm. "But we need soldiers. Our sprites are most focused on engineering, being birthed from the ship."
"Given the situation of the one record we have of her acting up, I'd recommend to wait and see what actions she takes on the ship. With no full record of what happened with the instructor and what you've said about his students' comments on him, I'm not particularly inclined to take his opinion of anything at face value." Miyoko gave a dismissive shrug and closed the window. "I'm sure my records prior to the Miharu aren't pretty."
"Yes," Yukari said. "The director's report is tainted, despite matching assumptions about the Hei. Perhaps she will become better aboard Miharu." She rubbed her arm again, then looked to Miyoko. "The next one I wish to interview alone, Heisho-san. As a sniper, I want to inquire specifically about her skills."
"Ah." Miyoko didn't see the particular need to interview the next candidate alone, but then, she didn't know much about sniping. Perhaps duels to the death were involved with the initiation or something. "I'll wait outside of the conference room, then."
"Actually ... I wanted to ask you something else." Yukari brought up a small map. "Contact the director at EF1 and ask him about both candidates."
A chance to go out and about planetside, even if it was on official business--Miyoko was starting to like the sound of this. "Is there any particular information you'd like?"
"What you can find about their combat expertise." Yukari put the datapad on the table. "We must be certain both are capable soldiers, especially in planet-based combat. I believe he will speak on their personalities as well, which will be beneficial, but we must know about their combat prowess."
Miyoko nodded and took the map. "It may take a while to get there... are you sure that the interview will take that long?"
Yukari shook her head. "Going there face-to-face will not be beneficial, and could expose you to elements of PANTHEON that are hostile. Go through the starbase's communication system, using this code — " Yukari showed it to her on her datapad " — and interview him from a distance."
"... ah." Miyoko couldn't allow herself to slump outwardly, so she did it in her mind. Dirt's overrated anyway... "Hai, Shosa. How would you like the results?"
"Keep them on a datapad that is secured. Do not connect to PANTHEON with it. We must remain cautious." Yukari smiled. "Do not let him leer at you, however."
"I got my recommended monthly allowance of leering from the medical officer we contacted earlier. I'll be sure to inform him that I'm near my limit." Miyoko bowed to the XO again. "I'll try to have the results for you after the second interview. Hopefully, it proves fruitful."
"Mm. Good luck, Heisho-san."
END
YSS Miharu NJ-X1-00, Wardroom
Breakfast was settling in the stomachs of Miharu's crew by the time Yukari arrived at the wardroom. She and Miyoko had quickly consumed their meals. Now it was a matter of waiting.
She'd awoken early for the interviews, and was properly outfitted in a clean skirt uniform with her Type 28B at her side and her datapad clutched in her hand. Her hair was put up in the requisite bun for such official matters, and she was pondering questions while she waiting for Miyoko to join her, so they could reach the base quickly and interview the candidates.
Miyoko was running just a few minutes late (not particularly a new occurence), and was walking a bit more quickly than usual when she arrived. She'd worn both her Alicia band and her collar for the occasion, going the rather opposite route of Yukari by taking the time off ship as a chance to relax her uniform a little. The band looked a little odd, set to match the collar's brushed metal texture, but then Miyoko had never been a fashion expert. She dipped a bow to Yukari upon arriving. "Sorry for my tardiness, Shosa."
Yukari smiled brightly upon seeing the collar and headband, rather liking them on Miyoko anyway. Yukari was even less of a fashionista. "It is fine," she said. "We will not be long at the base anyway." The two quickly made their way to the shuttle bay, and within twenty minutes were waiting inside of a particularly cramped conference room on a starbase with dim lights, a small table with perhaps six chairs, and a fuzzy, sound-killing wall. Yukari frowned at the arrangement.
Miyoko was rather less disturbed, but then, she'd spent the better part of her life being shuffled between spartan space stations. "Do you know how many we're supposed to interview today and their professions?"
"Two," Yukari said. "Both are young and mostly inexperienced. One is a sniper, the other an technical sentry."
Two jobs I know nothing about... oh well. Miyoko supposed she didn't need to be a subject matter expert just to interview somebody, but it would at least make it easier... or more interesting. "Would it be inappropriate to use examples from our recent missions in the interview without details, or would that still be breaching security?"
Yukari nodded. "Examples will be prudent. We must relieve some of the sprite crew from fighting and engineer work, so it will be good to inform them what could be ahead of them."
Miyoko nodded along with the statement. "Well then, I'm ready to begin when you are."
"Our starting depends on our first interviewee," Yukari said, experimentally trying to lean back in the chair she was sitting in. She was greeted with firm resistance. "She should arrive soon."
"What's the old saying, 90% waiting and 10% mind-numbing terror?" Miyoko was rather fond of the waiting parts, though, as she aptly demonstrated by slumping her shoulders over the back of the chair to stretch out.
Yukari tried leaning back again. "The Star Army does not always follow that rule, but I believe you are right." She nearly lost her balance, but quickly corrected and decided to just sit straight.
Nearly as soon as Yukari mentioned her imminent arrival, Tsuya stepped through the doorway, dressed in her uniform and unarmed. Though she was at attention and walked briskly, there was still a bit of nervousness in her demeanor. She bowed deeply to the two seated women. "Greetings, Shosa, Saito-heisho. My apologies for my tardiness; I got lost."
Miyoko's days of relaxation were at an end. Reluctantly, the Yamataian slid back down to a seated position and inspected the applicant. Under any other circumstances, she might try to have a little fun by harassing the Hei for tardiness... as it was, she'd look a bit stupid doing that when she'd just made a similar apology to Yukari half an hour ago. She nodded acknowledgement to the woman, hoping Yukari would do all the introductory work.
Yukari stood and bowed to the Neko with a smile. "Yamada-Hei. It is a pleasure to meet you. Please sit down, and we will start immediately." She gestured to an open seat next to her, directly across from Miyoko.
Tsuya walked quickly over to the chair and sat, rather stiffly, her hands folded in her lap. She bowed her head to the two again. "A pleasure to meet you both as well."
Another attempt to lean back in the short-backed black office chair ended in failure. She did not frown in front of the Hei, but her smile tightened. "You are a technical sentry, with an affinity for power armor. Is that correct?"
"Correct, Shosa." The sentry's eyes got a bit bigger as she saw Yukari's change of expression.
"What suits and configurations do you have experience with?" Miyoko sat up a little as she joined in the questioning, only reluctantly.
Tsuya bowed her head apologetically to he superior officer. "My only experience so far has been at Educational Facility One, where I piloted a Daisy."
Miyoko nodded. "Any noteworthy simulator experience... particularly in boarding combat scenarios?"
"I recently participated in a simulated raid on a facility with Nagamira-hei, and I was placed in a simulator to familiarize myself with the Daisy's controls before they let me actually pilot one... but no ship-to-ship combat. I am sorry, Saito-heisho."
Yukari's smile returned to normal. "You are young, Hei-san; you will improve with time." She looked down at her datapad. "Tell me, what are your feelings about the Empire?"
Tsuya blinked. "The Empire is my home. I want to protect and serve it, just as any other nekovalkyrja, and advance its goals in the galaxy."
"Have you read foreign news reports about the Empire? Perhaps in your time between training and coursework? Or spoken to other Nepleslian students?" The questions seemed innocent enough if Yukari's tone was any indication.
"No, Shosa." The sentry looked increasingly confused.
Yukari took a few seconds to tap at her datapad. "What do you know of SAINT, Hei-san?"
Miyoko had to sort of restrain herself from grimacing, both from the line of questioning and the tech sentry's answer. Pulling politics in an interview situation was just <i>mean</i>.
"It is the... intelligence division... they are very skilled, and only accept the best." Tsuya's face just kept falling.
Miyoko switched to encrypted telepathy with Yukari. Well, she at least isn't very opinionated... or is very good at pretending not to be. Out loud, she contued questioning. "On your engineering experience, are there any subsystems you'd consider yourself particularly adept with?"
Tsuya brightened somewhat once the interview swung back into her areas of expertise and away from things she was almost certain would get her killed, discharged, or worse if she happened to say the wrong thing. "I am good at maintenance of power armor, and on a starship, communications systems and a bit of weaponry."
Yukari kept her face down and at her datapad while she replied telepathically. "She is so young, but it is hard to be sure. We do not know how much indoctrination occurs in the EF system. But she does not appear threatened by our telepathy, which is good." "Are there weapons you feel any affinity to? Rifles, explosives, or other categories?"
The tech sentry's face spread in a slow grin. "Explosives. ...but I am also a fairly good shot with a pistol."
More tapping at the datapad. "No such affinity is listed on your profile. Is this a recent development, or do you remain untrained?"
"A recent development, yes. I found great use for them in the simulation I was in."
"I see." Yukari's fingers danced on the lower part of the pad. "You were involved in a recent incident with a director at EF1, according to your file. He struck you and berated you for not testing the boundaries of a simulation. Can you explain your feelings about this incident?"
Tsuya's lips pressed into a thin line. "It made me extremely angry. I was not aware a simple simulation for, or what I thought was for, the purpose of testing my and Nagamira-hei's combat skills was so very important to test the boundaries of that it would warrant violence from aborderline-voyeuristic, Yamataian simulation director."
Miyoko frowned, glancing between Yukari and Tsuya. "Do you care to explain? I'm not sure I understand. He wanted you to try acting outside of the boundaries of the simulation to win?"
"To be honest, Saito-heisho, I am not sure exactly what he wanted. He did not explain himself very well. At the beginning of the simulation, we were given orders to eliminate everyone within the building. The men were armed, and they had at least one suit of power armor. I was not sure what else we could have done."
Tsuya bowed her head a bit. "I apologize for my folly. I clearly must have missed something important in the simulation."
Yukari shook her head. "I am not familiar with how the EF educational system operates. You do not need to apologize to us." "She is headstrong, it appears." Yukari noted that in her official comments of the interview.
It will give Claymere-Taii something to do... Miyoko was only partly joking. "What was your reaction to his actions?" Frankly, she was asking half out of curiosity by this point.
"I told him what my other courses of action could have been."
Yukari nodded, and the questioning switched again. "Did you get along well with your classmates, Hei-san?"
Tsuya paused for a moment. "...as well as could be expected. I am... shy."
"You felt comfortable among them?"
"As much as I feel comfortable with anyone else, Shosa."
Yukari's eyes narrowed a bit. "But you were not close with them."
"...not... particularly, no..."
Yukari nodded. "Why the Miharu?"
"I was interested in the prototype aspect of the ship and the potential for combat, and the secrecy of the missions made me very curious."
Miyoko nodded thoughtfully at that. "... I have one last question."
"I see," Yukari said. Her green eyes went to Miyoko and nodded. "Please, Heisho."
Miyoko paused before continuing, speaking a bit carefully. "A hypothetical combat situation. The Miharu is to engage a Nozomi with a strong complement of Mindy power armors outnumbering our own. It is decided that we will propel an asteroid into the ship's power armor hangar to disrupt their launch enough for detachments to take out the ship's control center and detain or destroy the power armor pilots individually. ... what would you see your role in such a situation as?"
Tsuya steepled her fingers in front of her face, thinking for a moment. "I would board the Nozomi and attempt to disable as many power armors as possible."
Miyoko nodded. "So you'd be involved with the assault on the hanger bay?"
"Yes. Unless I was needed somewhere else."
It took a few moments for Miyoko to consider that. "Are there any specific reasons you'd choose that role?"
"I enjoy combat. Danger makes me feel alive, Saito-heisho."
Miyoko let out a bit of a snort, speaking dryly in response. "Well, you'll find no shortage of it with us... I have no further questions, Shosa."
"Thank you, Heisho," Yukari said. "Hei-san, you noted we are a part of clandestine operations. What have you heard of them?"
Tsuya smiled. "Nothing. That is why I was curious."
"We hunt sisters, Hei-san." Yukari let that sink in. "We hunt sisters who have betrayed us."
The tech sentry's brow furrowed. "...betrayed? How?"
Yukari paused, but committed to an open telepathic communication for Miyoko and Tsuya's benefit. "IES System, please blackout this room. Do not record this room in any way for the next 10 minutes. Authorization as follows." The rest of the transmission was encrypted. Yukari then spoke. "Do you know who Eve is, Hei?"
Tsuya shook her head.
"One of our original mothers," Yukari said. "One of the first Nekovalkyrja. But she is a criminal, a conspirator and murderer. She plots the demise of the Empire, and helps reveal all of its ugliness and flaws as she does so. We hunt her and her traitorous sisters and offspring."
"... That sounds like quite a noble pursuit to me, Shosa. Why is this so secret?"
"Because our methods are not always in the interest of the Empire, and because we are not on the IES network. We are a lone butterfly in the vastness of space, and we have no moral compass but our own." Yukari spoke almost matter-of-factly. "Many of our crew have seen and felt much in our time. We know the Empire is not perfect, and at times we see the logic of what Eve plans."
The tech sentry nodded slowly. "I am still young, but I am always interested in... expanding my horizons. I would enjoy the new perspective Miharu would give me."
"We are not interested in perspective." Yukari leaned forward some. "We are a family aboard Miharu, Hei-san. We have to be, in order to survive. If you are not willing to join our family, and see our mission to the end, then this interview must end now."
"I am interested, Shosa. Did something I said make you think otherwise?"
Yukari was taken aback. The Neko was headstrong. She pivoted. "Being shy makes it very difficult to be part of a family, Hei-san. And you are young still. I want you to fully understand what we must do — no one wants to kill a sister, especially in the lukewarm blood of a mission, but we do so, and afterward, we lean upon each other to cope."
Tsuya looked slightly hurt. "...I am shy now, Shosa, but that does not mean I wish to stay that way. I want to be part of a family." She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment.
Miyoko remained silent through this, curiously--analytically--watching the enlistee's reactions. She wasn't always the biggest believer in Yukari's family theory, particularly when she was feeling cynical, so it seemed more productive than making sarcastic comments.
"You are willing then, to do things that are not so simple as killing Mishhuvurthyar. Or pushing our borders out into the stars." Yukari leaned back. "You might question our motives at times, and question your own. That is normal, but you must be aware it could happen. And that it will not be easy to do."
"Yes. I understand."
Yukari looked at Tsuya closely. "Your director recommended we not bring you onto our vessel. He stated you are not always accepting of authority, though his use of it is questionable. If you are ready to join us, then I welcome you to the YSS Miharu. Yamada Tsuya-Hei." Yukari stood, and gave the Hei a small bow.
Tsuya stood as well, bowing deeply to Yukari and Miyoko. "Thank you, Shosa. I am ready to join you, and I am grateful for your acceptance."
Miyoko rose along with Yukari, though she was uncertain whether to bow or not. In the end, it elicited a shallow one from her. "... though I'd warn you that problems with authority do lead to difficulties, so some practice in holding your tongue might be a good thing. Whether or not you're right." Perhaps not the most welcoming statement, but she'd seen enough interactions between Leutre and Nyton to know it would help her in the long run.
The tech sentry closed her eyes for a moment. "...my apologies to both of you if I was rude or hostile during this interview."
Yukari rose from her bow, jaw firm as she spoke. "Apologies are not necessary, Hei-san. Only improvement. You will be under the command of Kurohoshi Masako-Juni and her Black Knights armor wing, once you have proven yourself worthy of midnight panels. Until that time you will remain a tech sentry wearing red panels." She paused. "But you appear eager for a battle. That is good. We need that perspective aboard the Miharu."
"Yes, Shosa. I will do my best to prove myself, and I will rise to whatever occasion is presented to me."
"You are free to leave, Hei-san. Gather your things; instructions will be transmitted to your communicator on where we are docked. Thank you for your time." Yukari smiled an easy, pleased smile.
Miyoko added, "When you report to the medbay for your backup, there are usually several books on the desk that you should feel free to peruse while you wait. Some of the medical stuff have been neglecting to point that out recently."
"I will be sure to do so, then. Thank you for interviewing me, Shosa, Saito-heisho. I hope to see the both of you again soon." Miharu's newest recruit bowed deeply once more to the two nekos, then turned on her heel and walked briskly out, looking slightly more confident than she had when she walked in.
Yukari sighed slightly, after the door closed, then looked to Miyoko. "Your thoughts?"
Miyoko shrugged. "As you pointed out, headstrong and individualistic. She could show a strong ability to think independently in battle and be very valuable... or she could butt heads with a superior officer for a few weeks like Veressis-hei. I'd be rather interested in knowing just what happened with this instructor who struck her. Other than that, she seems inexperienced but eager, which I'd expect in a Nekovalkyrja on her first assignment."
"Mm ... " Yukari brought up the report in a volumetric window for Miyoko to read. "His report suggests she did not live up to the true challenge, which was to question her orders and attempt to 'beat the scenario her own way.' He had sensed her individualism and attempted to test it, but one can not expect a soldier to go beyond their orders without some hint or clue, at the least." Yukari brought up the instructor's image, frowning. "And previous students have alleged he is a lecherous man. I am not surprised by her reactions, even if they suggest a lack of respect for authority."
Miyoko slid the window over to inspect the contents. "Well, that, and questioning one's orders in a simulation and doing so in reality seem to me to be two entirely different situations. ... so she followed her orders to the letter despite them being questionable? I suppose that could be a positive trait in this line of work."
"Yes," Yukari said. "Though Kurohoshi-Juni is not deeply experienced with that kind of personnel, save for herself. The Hei could be a test of her ability to lead when we cannot afford it." Yukari sighed much more heavily, rubbing her right upper arm. "But we need soldiers. Our sprites are most focused on engineering, being birthed from the ship."
"Given the situation of the one record we have of her acting up, I'd recommend to wait and see what actions she takes on the ship. With no full record of what happened with the instructor and what you've said about his students' comments on him, I'm not particularly inclined to take his opinion of anything at face value." Miyoko gave a dismissive shrug and closed the window. "I'm sure my records prior to the Miharu aren't pretty."
"Yes," Yukari said. "The director's report is tainted, despite matching assumptions about the Hei. Perhaps she will become better aboard Miharu." She rubbed her arm again, then looked to Miyoko. "The next one I wish to interview alone, Heisho-san. As a sniper, I want to inquire specifically about her skills."
"Ah." Miyoko didn't see the particular need to interview the next candidate alone, but then, she didn't know much about sniping. Perhaps duels to the death were involved with the initiation or something. "I'll wait outside of the conference room, then."
"Actually ... I wanted to ask you something else." Yukari brought up a small map. "Contact the director at EF1 and ask him about both candidates."
A chance to go out and about planetside, even if it was on official business--Miyoko was starting to like the sound of this. "Is there any particular information you'd like?"
"What you can find about their combat expertise." Yukari put the datapad on the table. "We must be certain both are capable soldiers, especially in planet-based combat. I believe he will speak on their personalities as well, which will be beneficial, but we must know about their combat prowess."
Miyoko nodded and took the map. "It may take a while to get there... are you sure that the interview will take that long?"
Yukari shook her head. "Going there face-to-face will not be beneficial, and could expose you to elements of PANTHEON that are hostile. Go through the starbase's communication system, using this code — " Yukari showed it to her on her datapad " — and interview him from a distance."
"... ah." Miyoko couldn't allow herself to slump outwardly, so she did it in her mind. Dirt's overrated anyway... "Hai, Shosa. How would you like the results?"
"Keep them on a datapad that is secured. Do not connect to PANTHEON with it. We must remain cautious." Yukari smiled. "Do not let him leer at you, however."
"I got my recommended monthly allowance of leering from the medical officer we contacted earlier. I'll be sure to inform him that I'm near my limit." Miyoko bowed to the XO again. "I'll try to have the results for you after the second interview. Hopefully, it proves fruitful."
"Mm. Good luck, Heisho-san."
END
