RP: YSS Eucharis [Post Mission 26] Skeletons and Spooks (YE 38)

Wardroom

Natsumi, finished with all of her duties on the bridge, finally arrived at the wardroom where all the others were gathered, enjoying food and conversation. She helped herself to a plate and a drink, smiling as she took in the scent of the deliscious food that had been prepared for them, then found herself a seat.

She was late to the gathering and did not know what the current conversation was about, so the snowy haired nekovalkyrja kept herself out of it and just enjoyed her food as the others talked around her. Anyways, she had some flight training to scedule for Tugs and needed to get the flight plans filed with base air control, something she did wirelessly as she eat.

Wardroom

The tall red form of Tsuguka followed Natsumi into the galley. Thoughts of acting cold around their snowy-haired pilot were only amplified when she progressed in between the two groups of crew members now having a heart-to-heart. What in the heck did they miss?

Bought time by thumbing her communicator. Browsing shuttle options. Nothing she couldn't do inside of her head, but maybe nobody would talk to her if she acted busy... Yes, nearly four years in, and further research on this personality thing was still needed.

Took a seat next to Shiho and Mehitabel, eyes still fixed on the little volumetric display, back as straight as an steel ingot.

"Calidius-Hei. Can you order yourself a MCAS during our downtime, please?" It wasn't spoken like an order, at least. "You don't have to get weapons or anything. I just want to improve your level of safety for future actions... It's not standard issue, so the Shosho might let you paint it whatever color you like. Who knows."

Is this what they call being a 'third wheel'?... Too late now. She's committed to the mission.

Keep staring at that communicator, Tsuguka. They can't tell you are nervous. No way.

"Santo Hei Shiho Ishii, how's morale?"

Finger Point of Doom

Straightening up once Shiho leaned away from her, Bel promptly raised a hand to her chest when the neko pointed right at her! Even if it was their commander doing the interrupting, it still left her in suspense at the true meaning behind the point. Her reaction was a little more obvious, shoulders jerking up at the surprise appearance of the Admiral when, having left the bridge moments before she was fully aware Hanako was behind her.

"Ah, Ishii-hei does have a point, Shosho," Bel turned in place, trying not to whack her dining companion in the process meant she didn't get as far as actually facing Hanako, "Certainly you have a home already? Although, provided housing would make furnishing it a lot easier..."

"O-Oh, well!" she whispered back, letting her hands go back to their eating utensils. While some nekos may have already made short work of their mean, the Elysian was only feeling more hungry. Her face looked pensive staring down at the beef, "I will try to be a bastion of calm, then."

It certainly continued to be a notable lunchtime! To the best of her recollection, since the imposing, redder, neko had saved her life by telling her to put on Chasan-hei's armor they hadn't exchanged another word. Whether or not Tsuguka phrased it as a command or not, Bel's reaction was to sit stiffly at attention and nod.

"Yes, Toyoe-hei, thank you," she said formally, eyebrows coming together a little. It wasn't any use to act afraid, she tried to keep up with the conversation without revealing the sudden flare of excitement at being tacitly authorized to draw weapons, "I had a similar thought, but I appreciate your concern. As for... Painting it? Is that, common?"

Wardroom

Saiga-chusa surveyed the room when he finally arrived, having split off from Hanako for a few moments to take the long way around the Eucharis. He already knew how many unrecognizable soldiers to expect from what reading the ship's roster had told him. Still, he enjoyed examining new faces as he went over to say hello to Lime and grab a plate.

"Adorable. Compact," crossed the SAINT officer's mind as his eyes connected with Junko's for a split second when she saw him enter.

She sat with that Nepleslian who'd once made a fool of Morioka-taisho, not something he'd ever forget after serving on her staff, and another blue-skinned Neko.

"Could be useful," he imagined when he saw Freyja's tail.

Saiga had met the Elysian in passing on the bridge already. The red Neko, Tsuguka, too. Mehitabel seemed like a refined sort of woman at first glance, but was now consorting with the ship's pair of perverts.

"Hentai. Ecchi," the tall officer noted in regard to Tsu and Shiho, recalling the letter they'd received. Of course he'd seen it. He was a Chusa from Star Army Intelligence and was now assigned to turn Hanako's armor team into special operators, after all. From what he remembered of his days as Task Force Lantern's intel liaison, Akemi-chan was an alright girl—or guy, as it apparently was now—but anyone who was friends with them was undoubtedly corrupt. "Typical Neko," he figured, smiling at the thought as he neared where the food was.

He ultimately couldn't find his favorite cook in the Star Army here, though. She must've been back in the kitchen, or something. So he got some of Lime's biscuits with pot roast and then made his way over to where the First Officer was silently eating.

"I'm going to sit here. Hope that's okay, Natsu-taii," he told her as he put his plate on the table and placed his Type 34 bracelet down to act as a volumetric workstation, too. Saiga assumed it'd be a good place to send off a few quick messages, especially to the ship's resident black panel, oblivious to the fact she was doing just that sort of work herself.

Wardroom

The Shosho went over to Mehitabel next. "I have a house on Hanako's World by the vineyard I own; however, I almost never see it because the Eucharis is almost always deployed for missions. With the new war starting up, I do not see that changing in the near future."

"There is a call for volunteers to go rescue some aliens called the Vekimen," Hanako noted out loud, as she got a notification. "If anyone wants to help with that, they want you as soon as possible. There's only a short time before they depart. If anyone wants to go on that side mission, I can spare you up until the year-end festival. At that point, we need to have everyone back here for the next mission."

She turned back to Bel. "We should do the promotion ceremony immediately instead of waiting, so that anyone leaving on the side mission will be able to carry their elevated rank with them. Shall we?"

Candon looked up from his meal. It wouldn't take too long for the rest of his plans for shore leave. "I'm in," he responded to Hanako's announcement.
He would need to move quickly to get his armor repaired in time.

Mess Hall

"Oh... That is, unfortunate, but it makes sense..." she said apologetically. It would make sense to have some sort of home away from home, she thought, but it was entirely probable given Eucharis' history that the admiral had been kept busy enough to abrogate that need. After all, there were perfectly satisfactory Captain's quarters onboard.

Finishing up the last remains of her lunch, Bel was about to quietly extricate herself and return to the stack of dockyard authorizations, requests, etc. that were required to smooth the way for the repair work. The Vekimen business was interesting but there wasn't much call for administrative personnel on military raids or search and rescue missions. At least, not more then one or two that the assigned ships could provide organically. Hanako returned before then, however, leaving her on the bench with Shiho.

"Oh! Yes ma'am, I'm ready if everyone else is!" Mehitabel chirped brightly, probably not least because her own name was on the promotion list, "I've already got the chevrons and stripes ordered from Alterations and Embroidery. Not to mention pay deposit slips for everyone... Should be in their accounts already, but they send the verification to the ship anyway."

Wardroom

While she listened to Wazu, Freyja wolfed down the rest of her meal. She felt bad for the man. In a way, she could relate to what he was saying. All she knew was warfare. It was essentially her reason for existing at all, just like the rest of her sisters. Junko’s words made her feel a little better about her performance. “Should you do something just because you’re good at it? Maybe you should try doing something you enjoy for a change, even if you’re not very good at it.” She suggested, sneaking a glance at Junko.

The feeling of Junko’s hand in hers sent tingles down her spine. She felt a wave of comfort flowing from the smaller Nekovalkyrja. Then Wazu asked her a question she was utterly unprepared for. Junko was quicker to respond. Freyja’s cheeks turned a deeper shade of blue. “H-how did you.. Is it that obvious?” She said, looking away shyly.

The feeling of Junko’s hand only made her nervousness intensify. She turned to Junko and looked into her eyes. “Junko-chan.. Will you spend the holiday with me? I have an idea for costumes we can wear. We can go to dinner somewhere nice, and maybe.. Stay in a hotel..” Her voice was almost a whisper as she finished speaking. The intensity of the situation got to her and she looked away, fearfully awaiting a response.

Mess Hall

Natsumi glanced up as Saiga announced his intentions and settles into the chair across from her.

"You are more than welcome to" she replied with a warm smile as she watched him for a moment with her big crimson eyes, then picked up her drink and took a sip. "How are you liking being back on the Eucharis, so far?" she asked, deciding to strike up small talk.

That said, though, her ears twitched and her eyes wandered to the Shosho as she heard Hanako mention promotions and a mission to rescue an alien species she had never heard of before.

Wardroom

"It's great," Saiga said back, an idle smile to match Natsumi's tugging up at the corners of his mouth while he worked. "I've called many ships in the Star Army home.

"But the Eucharis surely has a very memorable quality to her," he added. The Chusa briefly glanced up to see Natsumi's face through the volumetric window projecting from his Type 34 bracelet. Her red stare and snow-white mane showed easily through the turquoise holographic screen between them, leaving him with a vivid image of her face after he returned his focus to the message draft in front of him. Geshrin couldn't multitask as well as other NH-series lifeforms and he'd been alive long enough to have gotten over feeling rude while splitting his attention.

"Perhaps it's the crew," Saiga continued while the XO's ears quivered. "I've certainly never had a First Officer like you under me, Natsu-taii," he was saying just before his cheeks got a little red. "Eeto... Hanako-shosho is lucky to have you with her—and the others too, of course."

Wardroom

"Kill a parasite for me," Hanako told Candon, completely serious. She had a vendetta against the things for the way she had been hurt by them in the past. Hanako found herself frustrated by the fact the Mishhuvurthyar were still a threat even after two wars to defeat them, but something in her also knew the uncomfortable reality that they were never really going away and that some day they would probably show up for a third wave of invasions, hopefully after the Kuvexian War was finished, however long that was.

She stood and went to the wardroom's telephone and dialed the intercom. "Attention Eucharis crew, I have decided to commence with a promotion ceremony immediately. Report outside the ship in duty uniforms in five minutes."

Wardroom

"Looks like we're going to have to continue later," Bel said hastily, looking between Tsuguka and Shiho with a rapidity connected no doubt to entering 'the clerking place'. When the Admiral had said to anticipate a ceremony, she had, truthfully, been anticipating a longer turnaround then this. Sliding her tray along the table, Bel prepared to dash for the front to return it.

"Want me to grab your hat or anything, Ishii-hei?" she asked before fleeing, "I have to go back to the sleeping module to grab my own."

She directed her attention across the wardroom, raising her voice, "Hasegawa-hei! Yuuki-hei! I'm going back to quarters, want me to bring anything back for you?"

Wardroom

Natsumi smiled at Saiga as he spoke. Though she also blushed a little at his choice of words. "T-thank you" she said. "I just hope I serve Shosho Hanako well" she added and sipped her drink quickly, then listened as Hanako spoke, issuing orders to report in uniform over the ship's intercomm.

"Well, glad my best uniform jacket is freshly pressed" Natsumi commented to Saiga and stood up. "See you outside" she saif with a grin and took her dishes back to be cleaned. Then she went to her cabin, chsnging into her number one uniform coat and her peaked cap.

Natsumi then made her way outside to wait for the others.

YSS Eucharis

Masumi had wandered in a haze back to the Eucharis after playing video games to her heart's content. Her Neko ears pricked at the announcement only as she arrived inside and she tore through the passageways to Cabin 6 with incautiousness. She took the appropriate amount of time to get her duty uniform fully put together, being sure everything was in order, and went outside of the ship, standing at attention.

The night's endeavors to get over her inabilities of the past hadn't appeased her haunted mind. She stood, waiting with a calm exterior, while inside the events of the battle flashed in her mind's eye with added vibrance.

Wardroom -> Genetically Engineered Navel Gazing -> Landing Ramp

Tsuguka wasted no time jolting upright after Hanako had made the declaration, but still ended up wasting effort by individually bowing to her Shosho, Ishii-hei, and the rapidly exiting Mehitabel-hei. They were technically three different types of encounters, and thus all required a separate formal conclusion.

Her body didn't cease standing to attention even when she was out of the wardroom, and employing the fastest shower routine possible. The red catgirl's new shorter hairstyle was much easier to dry, leading to a reaffirmation of her decision to cut it, but looking at her now slightly more masculine visage in the mirror made her feel like she had disturbed some kind of ritual. It was all a ritual at this point, and her perfectly pressed dress uniform nothing less than a relic. It just felt wrong, now, somehow... Subverting the original design template...

Tights rolled up muscular legs, blue beret perfectly angled into that subtle little point, shoes glossed to a mirror finish. It felt right to stand in. Would having it as the regular uniform make it less special? Tsuguka just held her hands to her epaulettes, mimicking a girlish pose... Still didn't help with the hair looking boyish. If she got any more muscular, it might be time to start wearing pants.

An loud and aggressive grunt of agitation. She loved protocol, and she loved practicality. But now she was tormented by not following an impractical protocol.

Hard-light braided pigtails where the answer. But it didn't solve the annoyed face.

Heading down the landing ramp, everything just melted into the back of her mind, resetting into serious business mode. Mission face. Protocol is followed.

The ex-Orochi squad members had better be well recognised for their continued service. That was only good protocol, too.

Natsumi had beaten Tsuguka onto the parade ground again. Considering she came across as lackadaisical, it took major preparation to look that perfect on such short notice. Piloting the ship was an action that the red neko rarely had an option to watch the fluffball pilot perform, so it was an interesting consideration that the rather more girlish person was obviously made a Taii for a good reason.

<<Wardroom>>

Junko's cheeks lit up, literally and figuratively. The smile was a tiny thing, not as obvious as her reddening face. She felt like she could leap up and shout right now. Then thanking Wazu for giving the two of them a push.

"Y-yes!" She almost squeaked. "I-I'd like that very much." She tried for in a more normal register.

Freyja had asked her out! Small, insignificant Junko meant enough to be asked out. She'd never care if she was the only person in her heart. Just so long she had a place in it, that'd be enough.

She almost didn't hear Hanako calling them to be ready for a ceremony.

"Ah, we should... get in uniform." Junko sighed. She really didn't want to let go just yet.

She gave Freyja an affectionate cheek rub, not unlike how she'd done it a few times herself, before she allowed herself to disconnect.

<<Landing Ramp>>

Junko was down the ramp in time, thankfully. She gave herself a second look over, just to be sure. Dress skirt wasn't her favorite article, but that could be said for anything that wasn't power armor. She wondered if she could get her Mindy in this skirt.

"Tsuguka-Hei." She bowed her head respectfully.

Landing Ramp

Mehitabel bounced down the ramp with full hands; there were flashes of red and green under plastic in one, a box that rattled slightly in the other. She had hastily put on her black overcoat, fixed her hair, and put on her (slightly rumpled) cap. Regarding the already assembling crew with with a warm smile, Bel took her place at the end of the ramp to wait for their commanding officer to appear.

Wardroom

Saiga remained seated and followed Natsumi with his eyes for a second as she shuffled out with the rest upon Hanako's order. He stuck to writing messages at his makeshift workstation awhile, not in any rush due to the fact he was wearing a rather fresh duty uniform under his coat. If not for the XO saying she'd see him there, he might have considered skipping the ceremony altogether; the crew had shared the experience without him. But he'd go along to honor them nonetheless.

Eventually satisfied with the clerical progress he'd made—and, more importantly, with Lime's ever-delicious pot roast—Saiga would stand and go join the people grouping up outside. The overcoat he'd arrived to the Eucharis in was discarded onto his chair, since he intended to return to the wardroom soon. He snatched his white officer's cap from the seat beside him and put it on. It was now doubly out of regulation, with its internal frame removed to give it that elite "crusher" look combined with his lack of command status aboard this ship. But it'd have to do for now. Saiga thought it looked pretty smart paired with his SAINT black, anyway.

Hangar Bay

Hanako emerged from the ship in her fancy Class A Type 35 uniform. Her eyes went straight to the new white hat in the area. "Saiga: As you are not the CO or First Officer of the ship, I must ask you to remove the white cover from your cap," she softly told the SAINT officer after walking over to him. "Bel, Natsumi, please join me for the presentation of the ranks. Everyone else, please form up."

Hangar

With a quick nod, Yamashiro Natsumi moved over to Hanako's side to assist with handing out the promotions. She was excited to see who in the crew were about to be raised up a rank and could not wait to congratulate them on their well earned promotions.