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RP: United Outer Colonies [Prelude] Beyond these crowded shores...

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Kenoki took a deep shuddering breath to steady herself, “I’ll be fine.” She looked at Sukai, “Cadet Kenoki Hirahara. You should probably get to the hanger and tell them I might be a little late, but don’t tell them why.” The problem with Natsuko was her problem anyway, she didn’t need anybody else butting in. With that Kenoki left her food and set off in search of a place to find a clean shirt and change in private.

She found what she was looking for, a laundry room just a short ways up the hall. Opening the door, she found it dark inside and she assumed unoccupied. She stepped in and fumbled along the walls for the light switch, then flipped it on. The light revealed that the room was in fact occupied, by none other than a sleeping Natsuko.

Kenoki was surprised first, angry next. Quietly she closed the door and approached the sleeping Neko, unsure if she’d shout to wake her up or just kick her. But Kenoki stopped. She could see by the dampness on Natsuko’s uniform and the redness around her eyes that the Neko had been crying short moments ago.

And with that revelation, Kenoki let her anger go. Her shoulders fell slightly. She considered waking Natsuko but decided against it and went about her business as quietly as possible.

Kenoki started with her Jacket, trying carfuly to slip it off without dripping any of the natto onto her pants, which were luckily still clean. Unfortunately this effort resulted in some of the natto spilling inside her jacket and into her undershirt and bra. Dejectedly she looked down at the purple tank top style undershirt, wanting to curse but afraid to do so out loud which might awaken Natsuko. Kenoki sighed quietly, then reluctantly slipped of her undershirt. She started to unfasten her bra but paused at a sound from Natsuko. Kenoki waited to make sure that it wasn’t some sign of the Neko waking up, but so no further evidence of wakefulness. Kenoki finished undoing her bra and took it off.

She took the discarded clothing to one of the many washing machines in the room and placed them inside. Reading the instructions on the machine labels to make sure she had all the settings right then pressed the “Start” button. The Machine emitted a loud BEEEP suddenly that caused Kenoki to stumble back with a startled “Yipe!”
 
Kenoki's "Yipe" stirred Natsuko out of her slumber. "Mmmeh?" Natsuko mumbled as she started to stir. When Natsuko's eyes opened she saw Kenoki's back as well as the washers and dryers. I'm in the laundry room? the neko thought groggily. It slowly donned upon Natsuko just why Kenoki was in the laundry room as well. Slowly the neko pulled herself up and walked up quietly behind Kenoki. "Ano...Hirahara-san," Natsuko spoke softly and gently tapped Kenoki with a slightly tacky finger, "What I did earlier was...." Natsuko couldn't seem to find the words to describe how she felt about what she had done, instead she bowed deeply to Kenoki. "Sumimasen." Natsuko said before standing back up. "Please let me try and make it up to you."
 
Watching as Kenoki walked out, Sukai frowned, arms folded in a pose of thought. Odd tensions on this ship. Remembering his orders with a start, he paused to take a few more bites from his sandwich and then threw out the remaining scraps, hurrying out the door toward the hangar. Wherever that was.

Walking quickly, he soon oriented himself properly and walked into the hangar, finding there the Lieutenant apparently in the middle of conversation. Sukai stopped in the doorway and looked around; the room was no strange sight to him, rather like the hangar bays he'd spent so much time around. Unsure of what to do, he stepped to the side and leaned against the wall, waiting.
 
Kenoki blinked at Natsuko’s sudden apology. She felt awkward, Who’s really at fault here? Sure, she threw food at me, but I upset her somehow first, didn’t I? Kenoki scratched her head in frustration trying to figure it all out, finally she gave up.

That was just when she realized she was still topless in the laundry room. “Uh… you wouldn’t happen to have a clean shirt handy, would you?”
 
"Un." Natsuko nodded her head before tossing Kenoki her jacket, "Here, you can wear this until we get back to the bunk room." Natsuko said before leading Kenoki out of the room and to the bunk.

As the pair walked into the bunk area, Natsuko commanded the lights to turn on. Quickly the Cadet crossed over to her bunk and pulled out one of her spare light purple undershirts. "Here you go." Natsuko said plainly, trying to be nice to Kenoki, even if every ounce of her screamed run away, don't get close. I hope it fits... Natsuko thought as she looked at Kenoki's profile trying to decide if it would be too tight or a comfortable fit. "Anou....we should probably hurry....I'd imagine that Stryker-Juni. Dammit, Lieutenant Stryker will want us in the armor bay soon." Natsuko said, still not quite used to the rank change.
 
David left Ai to sulk for the time being and walked over to Ashlyn and ruffled her hair a little softened the expression on his face. "Well my dear we all get a Tenshi until otherwise noted. We are leaving soon to escort the ships loaded with refugee supplies." David looked over to the new arrival leaning against the wall. "So is this your first mission... Sukai is it?"
 
Sukai snapped to attention at being addressed, saluting his superior. "Yes sir, Andoru Sukai. This is my first mission." Remembering the message from the mess hall, he added, "Also, sir, Cadet Kenoki Hirahara wished me to inform you that she may be somewhat late." He shifted uneasily.
 
Kenoki found Natsuko’s jacket to be uncomfortably small, a problem compounded by the fact that her bra was presently in a washing machine. But she didn’t complain as she followed Natsuko to the bunk. Given Natsuko’s behavior to this point, Kenoki wasn’t willing to risk what might happen if she brought up the issue of boob comparison.

Luckily the undershirt was stretchy and fit more comfortably, it was also doing a good job of keeping Kenoki’s bust contained. Handing Natsuko’s jacket back, she said “I wouldn’t worry so much about the rank thing. I mean you knew Stryker before right? He’s probably having more trouble with you and Ai being cadets now.” Kenoki hooked her arm around Natsuko’s and started pulling, “Come on, there’s work to be done, and don’t worry about before. I mean, how are we supposed to spread peace if we can’t get along with each other, right?”
 
"Un." Natsuko said as she zipped up her back before tossing it back on her bed. "Let's get going." she said before shutting out the lights and leading Kenoki out of the room. There is no peace without conflict. Natsuko thought as she and Kenoki headed toward the Armor Bay.

***************

As Natsuko entered the armor bay she caught sight of Ai leaning against the wall in solitude, and decided to join her. "You ok?" Natsuko asked silently after she thumped down beside Ai. Natsuko looked over at Ai and wondered how long she would be able to stay here. How long before one of them died?
 
Ai turned to Natsuko, after having ignored David. A brief pause as Ai actually contemplated on how she was before nodding. "More or less." She sighed, before sending another message. "We're both really unlucky, huh?"

Since they were in practically the same situation, Ai guessed that they could at least relate in their horrible feelings and possible help each other out a bit. She immediately thought her after thought in that logic was stupid and regretted having 'said' that to Natsuko.
 
Natsuko didn't respond immediately, instead she stared blankly at the wall as she sat next to Ai. "Mmm," Natsuko responded telepathically, "You know....the Elysians don't believe in luck, Ai-chan. They believe in some kind of higher power. If that's the truth, I hate him."

Natsuko sat there for a few more seconds before looking back to Ai, "Sumimasen, you didn't need to hear that. We just have to roll with the punches Ai-chan, no matter how much they hurt." Some inner part of Natsuko still warned her to get away from Ai, to distance herself so that when Ai was gone too it wouldn't hurt.
 
Kenoki chose just that moment to step up to her team-mates. She had walked with Natsuko into the hanger but hung back to give Natsuko a private moment. A moment she figured was up by now. “Damn you two are depressing!” She broke into a broad smile, “Come on Blue Team, we’re here now, we might as well enjoy it for as long as we can!”
 
Ai was about to reply, but was interrupted by Kenoki's sudden intrusion, causing Ai to give a pathetic chuckle. Turning back to Natsuko, she replied, "I do suppose you and Kenoki-san is right. We really should cheer up," before standing up. She put on a fake smile, before offering her hand to help Natsuko up.
 
Natsuko hesitated before taking Ai's extended hand. Once wouldn't hurt right? the neko thought as she stood. "Ai-chan....if you're not happy....don't fake it." Natsuko said as she looked toward David, Ashlyn, and the Andoru. "Shall we?" Natsuko said to Ai and Kenoki before starting toward David. "Blue Team is good to go, Lieutenant Stryker." Natsuko said as she butted into the conversation between Andoru and David.
 
Ashlyn made quick work of getting into her armour, though she made sure she had the space loadout on even if anyone who joined her could hear her grumbling about the suit being a loud, obvious engineering disaster that took her expertise and more or less put it into the HCLS pipes sort to speak.

Set here, how long'll the run be? Stryker was asked.
 
David gave a nod to Sukai, "At ease pilot. You will have some experience by the end of the day." Then returned to his armour as the others entered the small bay. He started to don his armour while responding to both Natsuko and Ashlyn. "Don your armours for we have only a scant few minutes before we leave."
 
Natsuko stripped down and slid into a nearby Tenshi. When she first turned on the armor, it felt so...different to her. I guess this is how life will be from now on. the neko thought as she extended her armored hand and felt the 'weight' of the Tenshi. For the first time, Natsuko felt like she was wearing armor, instead of becoming one with an armor.
 
Kenoki muttered, “We can cross vast distances, bend space and time, yet we have to get naked to pilot our machines…” She examined the row of Tenshis, pausing to look over each then moving on to the next. Finally she stopped at one that looked no different from the others, Kenoki silently nodded at something only she could see. She stepped closer to her chosen armour and gently laid a hand on its shoulder, and smiled.

She undressed awkwardly, trying to keep as much of her private self private as she could. Finally she enclosed herself in the Tenshi and felt it come alive around her. It was different from her training as a Neko, she had been given some cursory training when she enlisted with the peacekeepers, but the sensation of the armour around her was mixed with something new, the excitement, the feeling of strength and responsibility. Yes, the weight was a mantle, power and the burden to use it well. “Be my strength, and I’ll be your heart.”

Kenoki started flexing her joints, starting with her fingers, then her arms finally moving into a full fighter’s stance. She practiced a few punches and kicks, getting a feel for the Tenshi’s power assisted movement. When she had finished, the stood at ease, activated the external com and said, “Ready.”
 
Ai's expression turned glum at Natsuko's reply. Ai didn't say anything in return though. She followed the other's lead, stripping and 'put on' a Tenshi.

As the Tenshi no Yoru armor activated, Ai took note of a difference as the others had. To her, there wasn't the same satisfaction of combining that the Mindy's had had with SPINE. It was just... different.

Maybe she should've just stayed in Yamtai. Not only would that lovely high of connecting with an armor be back, but she could also be with Galar. She sighed. It was a bit late now since Ai could really only return as a traitor at this point, that is if she could even get back at all.

She mentally smacked herself for thinking such thoughts. Focus on the present. What's done is done. One can only move forward. She silently gave herself a rather cheesy pep-talk.
 
After the rest of the squad donned their armours the Chouteisha Squadron arrived at the planet. As the relief ship started down into the atmosphere two escorts edged in after them while the rest stayed in orbit to protect the others. The relief ships were heading for a small refugee camp that had sprung up in one of the many cities that were heavily damaged as a result of the civil war. As the cargo ships landed a large number of refugees came out of the camp to greet the new arrivals while other stayed back because of fear that these new comers might be there for other reasons. Since the escorts could not fly it was necessary for them to remain hovering 20 meters off the ground.

David stepped up to the opened bay doors and looked back at the squad. "since the ship can't touch down we are going to have to jump out of the ship and use our thrusters to get back on." David ordered the ship to dip down slightly to shorten the distance between ship and ground. "We are here to defend the supply ships and, if the need arises, the refugees. Any questions?"
 
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