RP: YSS Miharu Mission 5, Aftermath (8th day)

"... Huh... Woulda' been a little mo' settlin' to a'heard that a few days ago." went Rolf, his face showing a solid deadpan. The more he thought about it, the more of an angry realization he came to. "Aw, what the hell iff'n that wass' tha' case, then wass' tha' whole point a sayin' y'gotta kill clones when y'done wit'm, huh? Thass' juss' unsettlin'! Argh!" Rolf threw his hands up in the air, letting them fall carelessly to his sides again. He sighed, at let himself stew on that one for a few minutes. That also meant Rolf was out of ammo. He had nothing much more to say, except for perhaps one thing.

"Say, I know the Mishhu's got that whole huge beef wit' Yamatai ova' 'dat whole mess a bein' abandoned n'all, but uh... What was you plannin' t'do once y'knocked us ova'? I know all tha' otha' nations was too busy t'botha wit' tha' Mishhu last I checked, but I'm pretty sure they'd get their shit togetha' on ya once they saw ya bring down tha' biggest an tha' baddest, yeah?"

@Rolf:

The look Melisson's red eyes gave Rolf was very critical. "You should already know. I would've taken hold of the fleet's minds long enough to bring them to a place where nekovalkyrja live free from the influence of any master - Mishhuvurthyar and human alike."

"I would've left the free nekovalkyrja take them in and rehabilitate them after their long absence. The Fleet's members would in turn provide their new home with the means to defend themselves and assuredly remain separate from any other Empire which could threaten to assimilate them."

"Ultimately, they could've integrated the Mishhuvurthyar from the SMX amongst their ranks, finally offering my tortured offpsrings a true place amongst their kind. They could've confronted the NMX and freed the nekovalkyrja there from slavery. This True Nekovalkyrja Empire could've have had the power to repel the NMX and their corrupt Umbral warmasters in order to save humanity."

"And blowin' up stars, and massacrin' our fleets wass' way a savin' humanity? Kinda' hard t'see y'train a'logic there," was Rolf's answer to her. The soldier tilted is head to the side, before splaying out his hands if directing a movie scene. "Tell me then, y'whole plan iss' juss' t'pull Nekos out from unda' the empire juss' so they could fight tha' Umbra'? Y'really got a lotta' what-ifs up in there, dependin' whether or not they go with your plans."

The Hei folded his hands over.

"But you don't seem tha' type t'leave holes in a plan, so I guess it wass' gunna' happen one or tha' otha. Though, iff'n y'wanted t'bring down Yamatai, why didn'cha juss' round up some a'tha otha' nations? Nepleslia's always lookin' like they been eyin' a way t'trip us up, an'tha' Lorath is pretty sore 'bout that whole moon-droppin' business. I mean, didn't you even negotiate wit' Nepleslia once?"

"I see," Yui said. "Their equipment, including their bodies, will be ten years old next year...so we will need to begin upgrades. I think the loyalty issue could be fixed during their mind transfers. Real loyalty is earned, not programmed, and it is what I want. Today's Nekovalkyrja are not robots. In any case, I am glad that you did not let the power intoxicate you and that you chose to return, Kotori. Yamatai has seen more than its fair share of breakway factions. The collapsed UOC is taking a huge amount of our nation's resources to clean up after and Nepleslia continues to remain a thorn in our side with their unsigned treaty and meddling. I mean no disrespect against you, but I have no desire to deal with a Kotori Empire as well," Yui smiled. "As for the fleet, do you have an interest in commanding one? Fleets are smaller these days and these surviving ships will probably be grouped into several of them."

@Rolf:

"Those questions again?" Melisson scowled. "The frame of reference is that a people that has its social mores heavily based on competition and self-determination balanced against that of others is not led by the weak or the meek. If they are lead, it is by leaders whom have proven their strength and trusted to have the cunning to use the lives under them well. It's even more important when those leaders go for 'eccentric' decisions and that they expect their followers to go along, rather than defy their authority."

"The Mishhuvurthyar fought a war following what I call the Doctrine of Retribution. The point was taking revenge on humankind for having mistreated their creations and their neighbors, but it wasn't to make humankind extinct - just very sorry."

"But some of my kind would rather have seen humankind destroyed. They gave my doctrine a time limit, after which another would take over for which humankind would be treated as vermin to be annihilated."

"I dislike you, but not that much. There's no point in punishing your race if none remain alive to learn from it. So, when time started to run out I involved myself into the first mishhuvurthyar war and had the Mishhu give me a command. It would be my starting point to convince them that they should let me lead them, rather than any other soldiers."

"For that to happen, I had to earn their admiration; the kind of regard which would have them want me to lead them. To do that, I had to make it possible for them to kill under me better than under anyone else."

"When I obtained that respect, it allowed me to order them to 'stop fighting', and they did. When I called a truce to negociate, my merits made them willing to trust me despite my doing what must have seemed like the unthinkable. If I could have had the people at the sham conference Yamatai held at Pisces station to arrange for Yamatai to make it look like they surrendered and that they looked repentant enough to make restitution, it would have bought peace."

"The Mishhuvurthyar would have left you alone, moved on from fighting, and with the Doctrine of Retribution a success, the other leaders amongst my kind that wanted you all to die would have been thwarted. You would certainly not have been at war with the NMX as you are now."

@With Yui:

Kotori let the matter of how Yui intended to tackle the issue of the Second Draconian Fleet's survivors be. She was uncomfortable with how Yui appeared close to refer to the people as equipment, but her comments on 'real loyalty' at least appeased Kotori as to Yui's heart being at the right place in that matter.

The subject was anyhow too touchy for Kotori to harangue over. She was already very fortunate of Yui's tolerance and understanding the threat Kotori posed her just as much as to where the loyalties of the fleet's survivors was presently. In her present position of superiority, Yui could've very well ordered her samurai bodyguards to lop off her head and be done with it.

As for the chance for fleet command...

"With all due respect, Mistress Taisho," Kotori began humbly. "I am not presently looking forward to having any command. I lost Miharu, and the heartache of that loss makes me reluctant to just replace her out of hand. I understand you wish to show support, but I do not feel ready for that."

"The same applies to being at the head of a fleet, though there's added rationale to that. For starters, I am still a relatively young commanding officer who'se experience centers in the operations of a single ship, largely independent of other fleet operations. That freedom has a price: my familiarity and experience at dealing with things at fleet level is minimal."

"Also, I'm an unknown. My career has had very little visiblity, and my being propelled out of nowhere to command a fleet would surely involve trust issues on the part of the soldiers I'd have under their command. I'm green regarding fleet management; they'd have good reason to wish for someone more seasoned - especially considering how the war is going against the NMX."

"I will tell you when I am ready to take a new command," Kotori assured her. "In the meantime, though, there are things I would like to have that you have the power to grant."

"You will not be unknown for long," Yui told Kotori. "I have put a word in already with the Empress to ensure your name is never forgotten. And you will all get your medals. Tell me about your requests."

While Yui and Kotori were speaking, Hanako took the opportunity to drag a large computer cable from the Eucharis' docking area to a connection port on the Hoshi side of the airlock. Hoshi's CIES was now connected to a MEGAMI unit again, but this time it was Charisma, the AI from the YSS Sakura.

Next, Hanako accessed the computer and asked it to dump a full copy of its files into the Eucharis memory banks. Hanako had always liked AIs and the Miharu's and Hoshi's were of interest to her. Perhaps, like the Sakura's AI, the Hoshi would travel to future ships and continue her story.

"This is enough of a uniform," Yuzuki said, simply, though she did seem deflated beneath her elder's rebuke. It was a very small thing, removing her helmet - the Shosa's helmet, actually - and placing it upon her knees, over the rifle, but she did it anyway while some of the tension faded from the air. Head bare, Yuzuki ran a gauntleted hand through her russet hair, which was now too long to manage unbound but still too short to tie, and sighed.

"You're right," she stated, for the second time in under ten minutes, "Of course."

She crossed her legs, one over the other, and sat back abruptly against the bulkhead. The zesu armor made a peculiar 'clunk' sound. She folded her arms. The weapon and helmet balanced precariously, but she was paying attention to them and they did not fall.

"You're right," Yuzuki repeated, somewhat frustrated, "You're right. You're very right. I feel real stupid, right now, for even trying."

In a very Nyton-like gesture of visual thought, she unfolded an arm and pierced the air with an upturned finger.

"But, I still don't agree that we're out of danger. The information we found in Melisson's cabin was very specific; there is nobody we can trust at home or abroad. Nobody, and nowhere! We're going back to Yamatai, sure, but I've never been there. You know it isn't home; it's just another battlefield where you can't see who's holding guns!"

"Huh." nodded Rolf at that explanation. "Makes sense. So y'were juss' tryin' t'teach us a lesson' 'bout handlin' the Neko and Mishhu tha' way we did, or somethin'." The Malifarian shrugged his arms some of the concepts flying over his head. "Iffin' thass' tha' case, then why'd y'spare us so many times even when we were so hellbent on takin' you down? I mean, y'got your views and we wanna' live, an' all 'dat, an thass' juss' seems t'contradict wit' some of tha' things you was talkin' 'bout."

He placed his gauntlet on his chin, rubbing his jawline.

"Aw, whatever," Rolf shook his head laid back on the floor as he himself gave up, "Not like it matta's, yeah? Our lives is past us and we are where we is."

The Malifarian crossed his legs.

"So, any regrets, or are ya feelin' pretty good right now?"

Tom had bowed deeply to the superiors who were quickly joining in on the meeting and had kept himself politely quiet, his arms clasped behind his back as he listened to the ongoing conversation.

The talk of fixing loyalty and mind transfers left a sour feeling in his stomach, and he couldn't help the glance he gave to Yukari.

Tom knew his place in this room, and it made him uncomfortable, despite the accolades being tossed around.

Sune had watched Hanako's body language when Melisson had been mentioned. For a moment he was concerned about how she would react, but was relieved when she decided to leave the immediate area and start the preparations for the data transfer he followed her, helping to bring the cable. While he left her to handle the actual IT aspects of the task, he sent a message to the assembled away team on the Eucharis.

Wes said:

While Yui and Kotori were speaking, Hanako took the opportunity to drag a large computer cable from the Eucharis' docking area to a connection port on the Hoshi side of the airlock. Hoshi's CIES was now connected to a MEGAMI unit again, but this time it was Charisma, the AI from the YSS Sakura.

Next, Hanako accessed the computer and asked it to dump a full copy of its files into the Eucharis memory banks.

Click to expand...

Miyoko frowned at the indication that the Hoshi's banks were being copied... Kotori had approved the secure transfer, so it wasn't unexpected, but it was still uncomfortable to contemplate too thoroughly. It was also something that wouldn't be allowed with an organic mind, Rolf notwithstanding. "It looks like you're going to be a very popular girl for the near future," she remarked dryly to the ship's AI.

"Let me be transparent here for a second, Kotori," Yui suddenly and very seriously told the Taisa. "What you have done here is amazing...and I don't even think I can express myself about how I feel...though I haven't been able to express myself in some time now. What I mean to say is that, being a leader, I am expected to distance myself from emotions and stay cool no matter what the circumstances. My feelings about Eve are something I am going to have to work out on my own time, after all this is done...and I would be lying to you if I told you my mind was completely here. That's the nature of the NH-23. Our mind is in the 'cloud' not in our bodies..."

Yui grinned with satisfaction. "In fact, your successful rescue of the fleet and the attack on Nataria have together ignited the fuse on what will be an explosive battle for the Yamataian homeworld itself. Even now, the NMX are folding into the Yamatai system to attack. However, it is a trap. They are not aware that we, with this fleet, will outnumber them."

The veteran Taisho gave Kotori a pat on the shoulder. "So for that I both thank you and I apologize. I do not mean to see ungrateful or to rush this. Now then...you still haven't told me your requests."

Meanwhile, Hanako had finished with the technical stuff and was feeling a little agitated due to her hatred toward Melisson and from overhearing that Yamatai was under attack. She turned to look at Sune.

Tom said:

The talk of fixing loyalty and mind transfers left a sour feeling in his stomach, and he couldn't help the glance he gave to Yukari.

Tom knew his place in this room, and it made him uncomfortable, despite the accolades being tossed around.

Click to expand...

Seeing people from Yukari's past was jarring her focus at that moment. Hanako-hime-sama appeared as pretty and bright-faced as she ever did. It made Yukari rub her covered right arm and flatten her ears forward. She winced, too.

Yukari was not a fresh cadet eager to please her officers and show herself as a worthwhile addition to a crew. The Hime-sama is a Shosho ... and I am a Goddess of the Lost. How is that possible? Yukari made herself believe she was on another track of sorts, as any other explanation came up woefully short.

Hearing Yui speak of those Lost as needing to be forcefully found was not surprising, but Yukari bit her bottom lip to keep herself from opening her mouth. To the Star Army, Nekovalkyrja still were tools. Neko were weapons of war, just sentient ones. At least she wanted to win their loyalty in some meaningful fashion; Yukari could not say she did that. It still raised the hair on her ears to hear them spoken of that way.

No matter. Yukari, reconnected to SANDRA, saw the article about Goumon being renamed to, she assumed, Kotori. A name representing purity and justice replacing the name that meant torture. Yui, warrior-poet.

She stiffened to remain at attention, then looked sidelong enough to see Tom. She didn't dare use telepathy; the Mistress-Taisho probably could decode it with nary a thought.

She smiled. She couldn't help it. Just a smile, with a twinkle in her eye. She was glad to be able to have eyes on him at all, even with the strange situation they were in.

Yui said:

"...You see, your successful rescue of the fleet here and the attack on Nataria you made to protect yourself have together ignited the fuse on what will be an explosive battle for the Yamataian homeworld itself. Even now, the NMX are folding into the Yamatai system to attack. However, it is a trap. They are not aware that we, with this fleet, will outnumber them."

Click to expand...

The blood drained from Yukari's face, and her smile vanished into an expression of horror.

The NMX? Above Yamatai? And they were here, standing and speaking of requests?

Ralt! Port Xenn! Malifar!

HOME!

Yukari wrung her hands behind her back and bit her lower lip again. Why were they chatting about? They had to leave! The fleet had to be organized! Attack preparations had to be made! She knew the commanders and their XOs, she could get the fleet organized in moments, then they could spirit away to Yamatai and stop the NMX before there was bloodshed. Perhaps force a surrender. Something had to be done, something had to be done now! There was no time to wait!

People were going to die. Innocents! Sisters!

Yukari let up off her lip before she bit through it, but her hands were red from her squeezing them. She desperately looked to the Taisa, pleading to at least let her go, to get something done, to prepare — to save their home.

Nyton remained stoic as he listened to the Mistress Taisho. So far everything had gone as he hoped. Yui was listening and had both congratulatory and rewarding words. Even Hanako was here to witness Kotori's moment of glory. While he doubted she held any malice toward his friend from their captivity he wanted to be certain that she knew who it was who brought her this moment of retribution.

It was satisfying to hear the praises for their hard work and the pride/relief he felt was immense. He kept this to himself allowing neither glance to crew member or grin of satisfaction. Doing so helped to keep his vigilance. After all they were now in the presence of 'outsiders' and among those outsiders could be the agents of Kikyo. Natural paranoia was at work.

Unfortunately the news of an impending invasion of Yamatai did not bode well. At this Nyton finally looked directly at Yui and then to Kotori. While the Samurai training center was a fairly safe place it would likely be up to Kosuka and the other instructors to take the lead in its defense.

Tom's eyes widened in shock at the information relayed by Yui. A rush of heat overtook his body, beads of sweat forming on his head from the stress he suddenly felt.

The Taisho seemed supremely confident in announcing what Tom thought was the worst disaster, what they had fought to avoid all this time.

Yamatai, their homeworld, was under attack.

And it was their fault.

He blinked away tears that were forming in his eyes.

What was the point? Everything they did, everything they had sacrificed, all to start another war.

So many things flashed in his mind: the safety of his family, his home in Ralt. Was it possibie that everything that tied him to Yamatai would be destroyed? Was this his reward?

It was a horror beyond comprehension, and all he could do was stand there and hope he would awaken from what was rapidly spiralling into a nightmare.

@Yui:

Kotori's mouth went dry, her ears erect in alarm and her amber eyes widened.

Her thoughts were not too much unlike Tom's. Yui was making a gamble with the homeworld, and it was her actions that had been the trigger. Yui saw it as a golden opportunity. Kotori was horrified by it.

She bit down the urge to protest. It was too late for that. What Kotori could now was to make sure Yui's gamble succeeded. She had to guarantee victory. It was the only way now.

"Everything I wanted to ask was made trivial by what is now happening," Kotori said, hot fury in her amber eyes. She was so very upset, but she struggled to manage her anger into drive instead. "Give me command of the Second Draconian Fleet until this is over. For now, they'll be more comfortable with me, and Suzuka-Shosa as my aide. We'll get the job done."

"Once the data transfer is over, I'll order Hoshi back to the Mokuren. If you'll allow me, I can assume command from there. You'll be able to return to your shuttle and fly back to your flagship."

@Rolf:

"Regrets? No," Melisson returned a half-lidded look to Rolf. "Humankind tends to be shortsighted and incapable of truly handling their losses due to lack of foresight."

"I, on the other hand, would not have exposed myself to risk if I was not capable of accepting the outcomes resulting from it. Whether I won or lost the conflict, I would still have what I wanted."

@Armor Bay:

"Life is dangerous. Everyone faces risks. All have cause to fear the unknown," Hinoto replied to Yuzuki. "That is not our lot alone. Our stakes have been higher, but we have not be an exclusive exception amongst our kind."

"Our elders speak of peace and home, but we have been under that pressure - the necessity of being problem solvers at whatever odds - for as long as we can remember. We are of the Miharu, and that is what we are. But Miharu's motto was 'Grace under Pressure'. We need to live up to it as well if we are to have a valued place in that bigger society we'll soon become part of."

"Perhaps one way to think of it is this: What better gift can I give you than to let you turn this war around?" Yui asked Kotori. "Very well. You are given the acting rank of Taisho. Your orders are to defend Yamatai. Trap the Mishhuvurthyar fleets in the system and destroy them. Eight days ago you faced the biggest fight of your life. Today, it is Yamatai's turn to face its test. I could not be more proud of the officers under my command. Kotori, Hanako, Suzuka, Claymere, all of your crews. I am confident in you."

With that, Yui gave a bow to the Miharu crew, gave Hanako a squeeze, and made her way back to the Eucharis where a docked shuttle was waiting to take her to the flagship.

Hanako turned to Kotori and gave her a long hug. "I missed you," she told Kotori. "I want you to know that before we go into battle again. And as for Melisson...I think I will want to see her."

Kotori returned the hug firmly. The going ons had her feeling harried and a bit out of sorts, but she allowed herself to take some solace in her adoptive sister's arms. In their promise for a return to things set right.

"I know," she softly assured Hanako. She understood. Those two words would have to fill in for all that Kotori wanted to say to Hanako. It was cruel to meet like that, not having time to come to terms with each other. Kotori struggled to say more than could be meaningful to say in the short time they had, but the words did not come.

When they finally pulled away, Kotori looked both grim and resolute. The expression in her amber eyes was a dire one. "We must not tarry. I wish you well, Ketsurui-Shosho."

Rolf sat up, his interest piqued in that last little line. The Malifarian's eye glowed with curiosity, with a genuine, childish face that betrayed his manly exterior. He hadn't changed much, despite everything he had been put through. The misery, the loss, and the battles all left scars on his psyche, the same ones Melisson had a front-row seat for when she invaded his mind. Despite all of those marring scars, he was no less Asher than he was Rolf, with the exception of those rare moment in where he wasn't a complete psycho. What changed him less were the scars, and more the people he had considered a family aboard that ship contained only in memory.

He brought his knees up, resting his forearms over them, and then planting his chin on that.

"An wass' that, Melisson?" asked Rolf, that intrigue printed on his face, "What did you want outta' all this, barrin' all tha' mess 'bout politics, rites, n'retributions."

Melisson's answer was almost ridiculous in its simplicity.

"Understanding."