RP: YSS Eucharis [Pre Mission 26] Getting Settled In (YE 38)

Wardroom

Freyja ate her food quickly, trying to quiet her roaring stomach as fast as possible. She listened intently to Tsuguka’s wisdom about relationships. The way Tsuguka initially thought was nothing like Freyja’s philosophy. She thought to connect to others emotionally could only make the team stronger as a whole. Caring for others was one of her biggest strengths.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Tsuguka mentioning a martial arts curriculum. She waited for her to finish talking before piping up. “Tsuguka-hei, I would like to learn from you as well. I don’t have much experience with close-quarters combat. I’m afraid I wouldn’t be much use outside of a Mindy.”

Victory’s message was surprising. Hanako had ordered things for them? That was odd, although this was the Eucharis, she reminded herself, not a defensive fleet like she was used to. Everyone needed to be well-eqd because backup wouldn’t be readily available.

Just as she put the last bite of gyoza in her mouth, Shiho suggested that she hook up with Junko. Her cheeks turned almost purple again. “W-what? Junko and I?” Suddenly she looked at Junko closely. No way, Junko wasn’t interested in her like that. Was she? She thought back on Junko’s words and actions. “Junko-san..” Freyja began, until she noticed the redness on the embarrassed Neko’s face.

Not wanting to make Junko anymore uncomfortable, she just laughed and played dumb. “Shiho-chan is such a jokester.” In her head, Freyja was panicking. She has been giving me signals and I didn’t even notice! How cruel she must think me after everything I said about Hanako! The blue Neko resolved to discuss things with Junko in private later.

Now that she thought about it, Junko was adorable and sweet. Tsuguka’s voice brought her back to reality. “Yes, Tsuguka-hei, that’s a great idea. Junko and I can show you our wrestling moves on each other and you can evaluate us.” She said, giving Junko a playful wink.

YSS Eucharis - Wardroom

Sigurd had just finished unpacking his stuff when Victory's announcement sounded via the intercom.
New equipment. Nice! They couldn't have given us the new toys when we all entered the ship, could they? Well... the powers that be...
He just left his cabin turning towards the cargo bay when he felt his stomach growl.
Lunch first he decided and changed his way towards the wardroom to grab some fresh gyoza.

Having received his portion of gyoza from Mango Sigurd looked for a place to sit and saw his scientist colleague sitting there with her food almost finished. He decided that he might as well get in touch with her now since they would have to work together soon anyway. Didn't she address me down in the cargo bay earlier? he wondered. He couldn't quite remember since he had his mind full of this mind backup stuff.

"Hello there! I'm Sigurd. Do you mind if I sit down?" he asked pointing at the chair next to Masumi.

XO's Cabin

Natsumi watched Sigurd go, making a few mental notes as to what she needed to let Hansko know about his choice to not have a mental backup done.

She set her officers peaked cap back atop her head and departed her cabin just as Victory made the announcement about new boots and other supplies. She had no issue waiting on getting those, as they would be delivered later anyways.


Wardroom

The snowy haired neko slipped into the wardroom compartment, her red eyes darting about, taking note that the bulk of the crew was there, enjoying a meal and each others company.

She smiled to the red infantry neko, who seemed to be on her way out as she passed,

"Good day," Tsuguka" she greeted warmly, then went over to the buffet and filled a tall glass with chocolate milk. Drink aquired, Natsumi settled herself down at an empty table and opened up a series of volumetric windows, accessing the reports she needed to go through before getting on eith the rest of her duties.

YSS Eucharis
Wardroom

"Sigurd?" Masumi said with a lilt to her voice. "Oshiro Masumi. You can, of course, sit down. I would like to know from you how you would like to see us work together as scientists. There are certain things that make sense doing alone and other duties we will have to accomplish cooperatively. What do you see those two things being?"

YSS Eucharis - Wardroom

Sigurd sat down and took a bite or two before answering.
"Well, I'd say there'll be only a few duties we'll actually be doing alone. Apart from each other, yes, but still together most of the time. Like one of us being on away mission but in contact with the other watching from the bridge. Also projects brought back to the ship for further study we'll mostly be doing together."
He took another bite and a sip of coffee.
"Who does what will largely depend on our specializations, I'd say. I, for instance, am a physicist with specialization in astrophysics and cosmology so the science station at the bridge would be my natural occupation. I do, however, also have some hands-on experience with the Rixxikor" - some aversion was contained in that word - "so I may well be on away mission when they are concerned. Which, unfortunately, is just too likely."
Sigurd took another sip of coffee before asking: "Anyway, what would your specialization be? Do you prefer certain duties?"

YSS Eucharis
Wardroom

Oshiro Masumi promptly said, "You see, I was trained as a general scientist for the Star Army. I have no specialty as all areas are well within my capabilities."

After a moment's pause, she looked directly as Sigurd and said, "I wonder what it would be like to be a human and get bachelor degrees in the sciences, but I didn't go through that same process. I don't know which I would like more, but I liked my training as a general scientist. I did train in certain fields. I just listed them off a moment ago but I can do it now for you, too, but it is a pretty comprehensive list."

The things she could do, the things she had learned, and the things she wanted to experiment and test and learn some more about were all factors in her decision on how to answer his second question, but she knew that the decision was not hers.

After a brief silence between the two of them, she said, "I do not prefer certain duties, I want to do all that the ship needs of me."

As an aside, she said, "Hanako communicated to me to be suited for power armor, whereas she has not given you the same such order, to my knowledge. Those orders of hers tell me that she plans to have me see the action. That may be me being presumptuous, but it is what I think."

<<Wardroom to Cargo Bay>>

Junko took the veteran soldiers departure to be as good a signal to go as any. She just ducked out and followed behind without a word. Still glowing like a light bulb, only second to her superior in redness. At least now she was certain she could speak without coming out as a squeak.

"Tsuguka-Hei, can I ask a question?" Junko piped up, hoping to take her mind off the previous topic. "Did you use to be a Daisy operator? The shield was more a Daisy tool, I thought. That and the aether sabers. Way I was trained, most Mindy combat is done at range, if you hit anyone in melee the idea was to go back into range."

Fleeing with Free Stuff:

Shiho had left after but a second, but she felt she could understand something of the situation. Tsuguka seemed baffled, Freyja had nothing but disbelief, while Junko? Junko seemed to have imploded from a simple off-hand implication. Maybe something was going on there, but it certainly wasn't Tsuguka's direct attention. Oh no. That look... Shiho was right, Tsuguka didn't have a subtle bone in her body. If there was something going on here, Tsuguka seemed to be just one more unwitting pawn. Willing perhaps, but not aware of it.

Hm...

The must curious about it all was Junko. Junko seemed utterly shocked, but didn't get defensive. Something was going on there... Something Junko wouldn't object to. Embarassed but not objecting. Shiho had asked if Tsuguka was suggesting they get together. Junko was shocked but not objecting. Shiho had said she thought they could be cute... Junko shocked but not objecting. Interes-- Ugh, she was right next to them in the sleeper modules. If they spent all night being all lovey dovey it could be annoying... Then again Freyja was burning the candle at both ends for Hanako, so... Hm. If Junko got mopey it could be a problem.

Way to go Shiho. You've made Junko sad!

Once she got to the front of the line to get her new things, Shiho quietly gave over her sizing. Taking one of the larger sets of clothing, with big boots and standard sized knife. Shiho moved on.

These new uniforms were nice. The old one was just her underwear and a t-shirt for exercising in, but this jacket seemed really comfortable. And it fit really well, and wouldn't put attention on her shoulders... Star Army came through every once in a whi-- Shiho's ears twitched. She could hear Junko asking a question to Tsuguka... There was too much heat from that question on her still, better get out of there.

By the time the others got to the stall for their new boots, knives and uniforms, Shiho was already floating away. Taking a roundabout route to get back to her sleeper module and change... After lunch came training, so that meant you had to change to that new uniform. And she wanted to see the rest of the ship, anyway. No rules broken here! Ha!

Shiho didn't really click on to the idea that she was acting extremely suspicious.

Wardroom -> Cargo Bay

Tsuguka narrowed her eyes at Freyja's comment for a moment, unsure if she was supposed to be detecting a humorous exchange or not. Having them show off some hand-to-hand moves, and then become evaluated on their aptitude, was the exact series of events she was hoping to achieve. Still, the neko didn't want to throw the blue one off, not whilst they were being proactive...

"If that is what your goal is... I expect top effort." A responsive nod, standing stern with her eyes closed thoughtfully, arms crossed at her back. "Providing equipment and guidance will be my duty. Hopefully your specialisms will become clearer, under heightened exertion and prolonged physical contact."

There. No way could be construed as anything dirty.

"Taii Yamashiro!" An unexpected visitor. Didn't seem them much off of the bridge. Tsuguka bowed deeply, befitting someone of Natsumi's rank, before beginning to make her way back towards the zero-G shaft once more. "Let me know if you need assistance. If you'll excuse this abscondance, however, now is the most opportune moment for acquiring new equipment."

No foot-dragging when protocol demanded it, despite the fact that Natsumi had never really cared in the past. But that wasn't the point. Utilizing the rule set was simply how Tsuguka operated. Nobody had ever handed her a book on how to act normal, but if she had one, damn straight she'd be following that to the letter too.

Junko seemed to follow her. That was okay. Their questions were pretty efficient, so it felt like some good could come of it. They did seem a little... rosy cheeked, perhaps, but...

"Your basic task as a member of the Orochi squad was effectively long-range attack and pursuit, right?" They were still standing stiffly at attention, despite flying downwards. "I've used both, and never particularly specialized. The Eucharis engages in many investigations within alien facilities, and sometimes subversive activities, where exact enemies are not always clearly defined. Sometimes being able to take a hit, before your own counter-attack, is necessary. Fortunately the Mindy 4 is considerably more durable overall, and covers both bases."

"Also... The lack of manpower means that every loss is felt." The expression was blank, but internally, she was just wondering if Taharial still had that hand-written list... "If you can imagine that situation. In comparison to your carrier-based background, I mean."

Shiho floated past them, new kit in hand. For somebody who acted to lackadaisical, they certainly seemed to get on top of the situation quickly... Definitely had to give them a good putting through their paces in the gym.

Line wasn't too long by the time they got to the hand-out table. Tsuguka took one of everything, and made a point of trying on the jika-tabi boots, off to one side, then and there. Their form-fitting nature seemed to go well with her glossy blue pilot bodysuit.

"What do you think, Santo Hei Junko? Think it is worth setting up an official uniform standard for stand-by pilots?" A genuinely concerned glance, hands on robust oversized hips. "I keep hearing this phase 'In Yamatai, tight is right!' but... Seems more like a materials cost cutting measure to me, sometimes, I swear."

Bridge -> Wardroom

After ensuring the file had transferred over to her captain, Belle quietly withdrew. It was almost inevitable that there would be a near scrum, even with such a small crew, near the issuing table down in the cargo bay. Thus she had decided that since everything would still be there for pick up later, it would be better to see if she could scrape up any breakfast from the wardroom before they switched over to working on lunch. While that wouldn't be a tragedy, she reflected on the typical Yamataian early morning menu, fruit or something to perk her up would help.

Carefully navigating the ship's passages with the attentiveness born of someone who had little to no experience with low gravity, Belle dropped down towards the wardroom with her near-flightless wings extended slightly. She was surprised to see a deep red/brown neko coming from the opposite direction. Holding out a hand, she waved downward excitedly at one of 'her' recruits. Sounding far too chipper, the slender Elysian moved back to give the neko space, "Ishii-hei! Good morning!"

YSS Eucharis - Wardroom

Of course, she's a neko. Fresh from training most likely.

"Well, I'm sure you'll find a field of interest for deeper studies in time" Sigurd said, then took another few bites of the gyoza.
"And our duties are more the officers' decision anyway, I guess" he murmured. "Speaking of power armor: I guess I should see if they have a spare for me too. If so I'll have some programming to do since I lack a SPINE implant."

Then he got on with his meal. After all it wouldn't eat itself by itself.

Junko nodded with Tsuguka's estimation. Orochi was fairly large scale combat oriented. Several squads had been involved with the assault on the Krampus. She'd trained for single squad scenarios like this before, of course, but drills and reality were separate beasts entirely.

She remembered the approach, under cover of fighter squadrons. Screams, someone dying in an instant. Icons winking out in the distance, too quick for them to even do that. Hurtling for the starship ahead, powerless to do anything about it.

Never again.

"I think the Type 31 works fine as it is. It can bunch if your sloppy, but thats on the wearer. Never worn the Type 22, so I can't really compare them fairly. Belt isn't necessary, though, what with the butt pack."

She tried out the tabi boots as well. Seemed comfy, like a pair of sturdy slippers. Knife looked good, too, now she had her hands on it. Gave it a few spins, testing its weight and balance.

"Hm, gram heavier on the back end. But yeah, if you want us all in 22s, I wouldn't complain. After a point, though, only thing it really provides is modesty. We'd be just as effective going in the suits without anything."

YSS Sakishima
Wardroom

"Thank you, Sigurd," Masumi said, "I enjoy everything the sciences has to offer at the moment and I'm happy I can manage everything that my commanding officers need of me as a scientist."

Sigurd was looking to get some power armor himself and would be leaving soon, so she clasped her hands in front of her and looked pointedly at him, "Well, Sigurd, I look forward to working with you and will surely pick up all that I can about astrophysics and cosmology from you to compound on what I do know. Thank you for the opportunity to work closely with you."

Wardroom to Cargo Bay

Taharial stood up gracefully and made her way towards the Cargo Bay to pick up some stuff that she may need and after she would go to the Med Labs to start work on the prep for the newbies and also to hang the memorial up that she has spent to make that she could put more names on for everyone who had left them in a way from the ship, but only those who deserved it. She smiled as she made her way to the Cargo Bay but didn't talk to anyone, there was still that ancestral sword she got from her mother, she didn't know what to do with but there were a few of the crew that could use it better than her, but it may also help with relations even if it is just a little bit between the species.

When she got to the Cargo Bay she saw the knifes and picked one up "Hmm looks great for cutting into the armour to get a better area to help people trapped in armour." She grabs one and puts it to her belt as she then heads to the Med Lab so she can sort out everything that she wanted to do in there, She sents up the small memorial with all the names of the lost and then slowly got stuff ready for inspections. She smiles when it was all ready and yawns lightly as she asks the MEGAMI to call out to all the new crew members for tests and mind banking.

Oh hay Feathers:

In as much as Shiho was preoccupied, her mood so far had elevated from a dosage of dumplings. No longer depressed or possibly hungover, she looked along the passageway and saw what might be a welcome sight: Feathers! That one Elysian who seemed alright... The night was mostly a blur, but she remembered liking... She should really remember her name. Uuuugh. Oh well, not like she needed to always address her by name.

Of course, this general attitude of being quite pleased to see her but conflicted internally carried to Shiho's expression. And then Shiho's halfway moving to salute, then remembering the Elysian was no higher rank than her. Half going to wave, then realising it was too late. She settled for meeting Mehitabel's raised waving hand with her own: Delivering a high five with a good 45% of Shiho's full strength behind it, one that would leave the Elysian's hand tingling from the impact.

"Good to see you, Mehitabel." Shiho retorted, a huge smile on her face.

...Mehitabel! That was it! The high five was now as much about celebration as it was about greeting Feathers... Mehitabel was a mouthful. No wonder it slipped Shiho's mind.

"I have training now. Not sure what's going on for bridge crew, but we should meet up next meal period or free time." ...And then it was announced that new crew had to report for testings and backups. "Or we can head to that together. Whichever's good."

Mid-Corridor High-Five Impact Zone

Belle did her best to try and make her finger flexing unobtrusive as she worked out the tingle left by a fierce neko high five. Shiho's expression had been concerning, to say the least. You usually didn't see that kind of look on the face of someone who was happy to see you after all. Her brain had already started to rack itself for something in the haze of the previous night to fix the blame on, cheery smile faltering.

"That's me! Although, the Admiral has taken to calling me 'Belle', which I gather is somewhat easier on the tongue?" she offers to ease the difficulty of remembering and pronouncing her name. Her own happiness returned in force to match Shiho's. This whole 'making friends' business was a great deal easier then she'd been lead to be after all! Granted, almost everyone other then the Shosho that she'd spent much time with hadn't even been born when the Elysian Wars happened... It was enough to inspire confidence, however, that she would find acceptance in the Star Army at-large, no matter what they'd said.

"Checking out in the new power armor and drills?" Belle asks curiously! She had an academic interest in armor operations of course, what soldier didn't? The practical aspects were more swiftly hindered by the fact that Yamatai didn't make its famous MINDY series in a version compatible with her physique. Or that unarmored she couldn't handle most of the serious weapons in the Eucharis' arsenal. Bragging about how good a pistol shot she was felt like it was definitely a good way to get laughed at by an infantry trooper, so she nodded studiously through her slight flush.

Her head tilted towards the overhead speakers a little, catching the same notice Shiho heard. Belle coughed into her fist, wings fluffing in what Shiho might be starting to pick up on as a nervous tic. "I did have a recent backup, but after the last few days it couldn't hurt to have one that was more up to date," she agrees, stifling a giggle.

Wardroom to Cargo Bay

Freyja got up from her seat at the table and hurried to put her plate with the dirty dishes. She ended up being the last of the Infantry to head out to pick up the new goodies. That was unusual for her, but she had been thrown off by the realization that Junko might be attracted to her. The minimal reaction to her playful wink confused her as well. She hurried to the Cargo Bay, passing the Elysian medic as she entered. A cold chill went down her spine as the earlier threat played in her mind. The idea that this woman would be in control of her survival scared her more than a Nightmare-type.

She greeted Victory with a warm smile at the table as she collected the ninja shoes, exercise uniform, poncho, and a knife. The knife instantly went into her belt. Freyja tucked the rest of the haul under her arm and bowed slightly to Victory before heading out. The message to report for backup nearly caused her to flee in terror. Spotting Mehitabel and Shiho chatting in the corridor, she quickened her pace to catch up to them. No way she was going there by herself.

Anywhere besides the ship, she would have teased the Elysian about their first meeting. Instead, she simply smiled and greeted her. "Hello, Callidius-hei! It's good to see you. I see you ran into the gyoza savior." She said with a gesture at Shiho. "If you don't mind, I want to come with you." After a pause, she leaned in close to Belle and whispered. "The medic is insane. Please don't leave me alone with her."

YSS Eucharis, Cabin 6

Candon arrived in the cabin that was no longer solely His. He already knew who his new roomie would be and he was still kicking himself for giving his cabin number to someone who might possibly be an undercover shrink. He dropped the subject in his mind seeing it was already done, he would focus on the positive aspects, that being he now shared a cabin with his wingcat.

He sat gently on the edge of his bed as he replaced his boots with a new jika-tabi boots. They were lighter, quieter, and in Candon's opinion more comfortable. Of course there wasn't as much protection for his toes as the good, old-fashioned boots but realistically if something broke on the starship the health of his feet would be the least of his concerns.

Cargo Bay

"Jumping out of the Mindy mid-mission whilst it's still covered in contaminants... That's the only reason why I started wearing one..." Tsuguka just looked at the ceiling for a moment, hands on the small of her back, before shrugging and meeting Junko's gaze again. Sometimes she just had to accept when her preference for uniformity was in itself inefficient. "But I guess you are right about just using the Type 31 uniform, if we really had to."

Gripping the interior of the boots between her toes felt weird. A bit like wearing geta at one of those cultural festivals. The knife was okay. Blade was nice, but she couldn't quite figure out what kind of weapon the bayonet ring was supposed to attach to.

Activity on the MEGAMI. Taharial asking for physical exams. Considering it seemed to be the one task that the fey Elysian managed to complete exactly on schedule every time, Tsuguka could have sworn her girlfriend took some kind of weird pleasure in scaring the newcomers.

"Red-Fluff-Hei is checking out the new talent, then..." A strange smile, the crimson neko's slightly elongated fangs visible behind pursed lips. That dark glint in her eyes was back again, rough this time it may well have been quite intentional. "I would suggest not sitting on the stretcher with the restraining straps. She gets carried away sometimes."

Bring it, medbay:

"Belle is nice, but I'd rather call you by your name if that's what you want to be called." Shiho said rather easily, shrugging her broad shoulders and scritching the inside of an elongated fuzzy ear. There was little or no formality about the big terracotta neko, at least not around Mehitabel, if anything she seemed a bit too at ease for someone of her station. Then again, maybe she was just that comfortable around the Elysian?

Then Freyja came along, calling her the gyoza savior. Oh dear, was this going to remain a thing?

"We've done the fittings, but the only combat's been between the other new girls and Tsuguka on the way to the buffet..." Shiho admitted. The mere act of doing so made her feel a little glad she'd made the transfer. Compared to Orochi, the Eucharis really was a pleasure cruise if they got away with that sort of thing. "The new suits are really tight, and a little uncomfortable. We all have to get naked to wear them comfortably."

Shiho shook her head a little, clearly a bit bemused by that. That and the medic thing. She had no idea where people got the idea the medic was insane, but she'd read up enough to know that there was clear cut rules for what would fly in that scenario. Shiho had looked it up a while ago when trying to work out the exact point she could get away with striking another enlisted soldier. She gave Freyja a (she hoped) reassuring pat on the head, then threw her powerful arms around the shoulders of both ladies. In Mehitabel's case it was at least partially because she seemed to have some trouble in the zero-g corridors.

"I'll take you both to the medbay, don't worry. Can even hold your hand for injections, or provide cover fire for a daring escape should things go bad."