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[PROLOGUE] Manning The Illustrious

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The Starcrosser's Cafe was open for its first night of business, with its many civilian chefs frantically working to make sure everything was perfect. Tonight there was a huge selection of foods available, the best the galaxy had to offer...and everything was on the house; each crew member was allowed to pick one free appetizer, one free entree, and one free dessert. Wine was also available for free for this special night, and breads were always included.

The cafe itself was classy and classic in design, with plush leather booth seating, finely polished wooden tables, and various nautical-themed decorations like model boats, oars, nets, and anchors mounted on dark wood-paneled walls.

 
"Welcome Aboard, Sakiyurai-hei." Kail greeted the newcomer, bowing gently. "Alright. Let us be off for the evening. I will guide you to the Cafe, Just leave your bags here, they will be in your rooms when you get to them after dinner." Kail turned around, and walked off, not checking whether or not anyone was following her. She did not mind, if worst came to worst, they could simply ask the ship where they needed to go.
 
Faye had left Onyx in the meeting hall since it seemed that no-one was going to arrive, especially since some sort of dinner was going on. The Neko's stomach growled idly, causing a frown to form on her delicate face. "Oh, quiet, you. You'll get yours soon enough," she mumbled to herself.. or rather, her empty stomach. The Intelligence Specialist left her bag in the care of the sprite was used the ship's AI as a guide to the Cafe.

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It didn't take Faye long to find her way to the Cafe. She hadn't seen too many people along the way, besides a few sprites meandering around, going about their business with the ship. The somewhat older Neko looked over the Cafe's menu for the evening. I think I'll have... hm... Biscuits, Lemonade, maybe some White Wine a little later tonight, Crab Cakes, and... Mmm... definitely some of those berries. were her thoughts as she looked around for someone to give her order to.
 
Shin groaned as he followed the rest of the wing, dropping his bags in the hangar. His head seemed to constantly look at the ground for the entire time, arms almost limp at his sides. The realization that not one, but two of his former comrades from the Senbu had left him somewhat paralyzed by shock and fear. "Why here? Is this my punishment? To be tortured by those two catgirls for all eternity?" The Itto Hei sighed loudly, bringing a hand up to cradle his face, mind streaming over all the ways his life could be made hell for the duration of his assignment to the Illustrious

"I think that tonight is just going to be the first in a long string of Bad Things that will lead to my eventual demise." Shin muttered to himself as he resigned himself to hi f ate, following behind the rest of Onyx Squadron, trying to prevent himself from falling to the temptation of gazing at the body of any of the females in the wing, lest he be beaten to a bloody pulp. Again.
 
Sakaki accepted Masako's warm greeting, "It is good to see you again Masako," the Neko said in a private mental message. Then after hearing Masako's reply and the commander heading to leave. Sakaki left behind her baggage only keeping her sword as she walked toward the cafe.

"As a warrior, I always wanted to be in the front lines," Sakaki answered Masako's question on the way to the cafe, "did you have the same idea Masako?"
 
Kouta followed along just behind the group, already wondering what he would eat and whether he wanted to nab a red wine -- if they were indeed serving it to mere Enlisted like him -- or try to start up conversations with his new squadron mates.

Why not both? He thought.

Then he thought of how he was going to approach Nekki Shin.

As long as he doesn't pull lip on me again, I'll let it alone. With that in mind, he continued following the group. He'd make his real introduction at the table.
 
Masako left her baggage with Sakaki's, leaning up against it as they followed the commander toward the galley. "Well I was just taking a bit of a break but was getting tired of waiting so I tried to find a ship that was going out again." she said. "So I guess you could say that." she smiled at her and replied.

"It is. I missed you Sakaki-chan~ she telepathically said in a teasing tone of voice. "So did you just get here too?"
 
It was a ways down to Deck 12's Cafe, but Kail led the group deftly towards it, never once pausing or asking directions. As a Juni it was her job to know where everything on the ship was, as well as to lead her squadron as well as possible. The Blue-haired Neko opened the door into the buzzing cafe, already full of people, and asked a busboy for a table for the group, which she was promptly granted. Guiding the group to the table, she sat them down and said "I might as well join you." Before everyone was a Menu for the evening.

 
Kouta took a seat at a corner, and looked through the Menu.

It took him all of fifteen seconds to decide.

Hush Puppies, Lemonade (he had decided not to chance Wine,) and a Funky City Steak.

Armed with his order, he looked around the table.

After a moment, he said "The Illustrious is massive. I wonder how many Fighters -- heck, Pilots -- it carries."

He shifted in thought, "I don't think anyone before now has gotten into anything quite like it. What do you guys think about it?"
 
Shin took a seat at the edge of table, after letting the three nekos sit down. Looking at the menu, it took him even less time to decide than Kouta (Cola, Rum and Raisin Rolls, Coconut Shrimp, and crab cakes." Slightly turning his head to look at the Santo-Hei, he smiled at him.

"My previous assignment, along with Ushimo-Hei and Sakiyurai-Hei, was on the YSS Senbu. It was an Anri-Class, and was pretty big. Compared to that, the Lusty doesn't seem that impressive." Leaning back in his seat, the Yamataian looked at Sakaki, smiling briefly. "Ushimo-Hei, why don't we share a dessert together?"
 
Sakaki nodded her head in Masako's question before entering the cafe. Upon arriving at the table, she removed her sword and propped it on her seat, making sure the seat was neither across from Shin or next to him. This meant she was sitting across from the other Yamataian. The Neko then gazed at the menu with her yellow eyes, noticing her assortment of food wasn't there, Maybe they are serving rare food today? Crab cakes? Are they... do they... She began having a mental image also of Hush Puppies before they were food rolling in Raisin, then before she began feeling embarrassed put the menu down and decided on Tea and Fried Calamari.

"Tarrim-Juni," began Ushimo-hei's question while ignoring Shin, "How long have you been piloting fighter craft?"
 
Kouta had to stop himself from laughing in Nekki Shin's face. He waited to see if the Neko would answer Shin's question, and satisfied that she was indeed ignoring the man, he proceeded with the conversation.

"Uhh... This Sharie-Class Battlecruiser named the Illustrious has nearly twice the length of any Anri."

Kouta began playing with the spoon from his silverware, moving it around with his fingers.

"I think that makes this ship pretty big."
 
"Fukui-Hei Is correct there, Shin-Hei." Kail confirmed, before quietly ordering Biscuits, Red wine, the Tilapia, and cheesecake. She waited a few moments before answering Sakaki, somewhat embarrassedly. "I've been flying fighters for about six weeks, unless you count simulators, in which case I've been flying around twelve. My previous profession was a Powered Armor instructor, but with my Armor of choice being phased out of space use, I was asked to return to active duty and lead a fighter squadron." She looked away for a few moments, cursing silently her inability to be more than passable at fighters, before continuing " However, it is nice to be off of a planet and on a ship again, and I feel like I can serve the empire more directly in this capacity."
 
Shin shrugged as he was corrected, and listened in as everyone talked about their experience with Fighters. Waiting to make sure that he wouldn't be interrupting anyone, the vermillion-banged pilot spoke up.

"I recieved training in both Star Fighters and Powered Armors, though due to my height, I could only pilot Daisies. Thanks to a bureaucratic mix-up, I was assigned to a space combat wing on the Senbu, where I..." Shin paused as he trailed off, looking at the table in front of him, "I messed up there. That mistake is what gave Ushimo-Hei and Sakiyurai-Hei such a virulent disgust of my person. I'm here to be a pilot now, and I plan on making up for my past sins on this vessel." Looking up from the table, Shin's face was hard and straight, glancing at his wingmates.
 
Masako gleefully accompanied them into the cafe and sat down nearby and ordering straight up once she saw the menu: Rum and Raisin rolls, Sweetened Ice Tea, Boneless Buffalo chicken strips, the Strip Steak done medium rare and a dessert of one big bowl of chocolate ice cream sans the nuts. "You know Shin, if you weren't such a dumbass back on the Senbu and trying to impress everyone you wouldn't have ended up where you did." She said candidly. "Try not to do it again this time. I was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt at first but you managed to irritate even me." The blonde neko said befoer turning to the others and humming to herself.

"I'm here because I was bored and accepted the transfer. That and I do like me a good fight." She said. "Old friends being here is the benefit."
 
A small shuttle rapidly approached the Illustrious and circled the cruiser several times before moving in to dock. Once the shuttle had docked it dropped off its cargo before lifting back off and speeding away from the ship. The cargo, a short, slender woman with light brown hair tucked behind her ears. After being dropped off by the shuttle she had stepped out into the docking bay, set her bags down, and looked around at her new home. She smiled brightly and picked up her bags before heading towards the center of the ship.

Not quite sure where to go the woman wandered the corridors until she found a terminal which she quickly approached and entered in a few commands. After giving it a moment to process the woman noted that many of the crew were at the restaurant on board the ship. She pulled up a map of the ship, which she downloaded to her comm for future use, and quickly memorized the path of travel.

After walking across the ship, making a few wrong turns which resulted in her backtracking, the woman arrived at the Starcrosser's Cafe. She set her bags outside the cafe, figuring she wouldn't need them inside, and stepped through the doors. Once inside her eyes scanned across the room, trying to locate the ranking officer. Seeing a Taisa patch across the room the woman quickly head in that direction. Once she was close enough to introduce herself she bowed deeply before taking a step forward. "Santo Hei Yaeko Munkata reporting sir. Just assigned here after a brief period of inactivity prior to which I was at Fort Ready for training."
 
"Okay," said Taisa Sydney. "Welcome aboard. You'll be handling communications for Onyx squadron I believe."
 
The Service in the Cafe was surprisingly fast. Already, waiters and waitresses began bringing in people's orders, asking them how they were doing and informing them that they could ask for service at any time. The Civilian staff was working doubletime to try and impress the military personnel on board the illustrious, and very glad they were able to contribute to the war, even if they couldn't fight. Their battlefield was the kitchen and the seating area, and the least they could do was make the soldiers' lives comfortable.
 
Yaeko smiled to the Taisa before bowing and making her way to an empty table. She tried to act as serious as possible to try and impress her colleagues. As she sat down she picked up the menu and searched through it, deciding what she wanted. When a nice looking waiter cam and asked her for her order she smiled brightly at him before saying, "Can I get a glass of white wine and coconut shrimp to start with? Then can I get the 10oz steak with a side of biscuits and cheesecake with strawberries for dessert?" She handed the waiter her menu and thanked him as the waiter turned and walked away.

When the waiter returned with her appetizer and wine she quickly ate the shrimp, finishing the entire platter. She then slowly sipped her wine as she waited for the rest of the meal. As she did this she looked around the room, trying to get a feel for the people she would be working with.
 
"I understand, Tarrim-Juni," replied Sakaki without sign of weakness that is her inner soul burning up in embarrassment, "I myself am a Mindy pilot myself, and was a close combat expert which, unfortunately, makes this job highly unlikely for me. I hope to learn from you as much as I can, Sensei."

She then remained silent while Kouta mumbled something about the ship's size. The Neko wondered if the Yamataian also piloted a Daisy considering all the men she keeps running into are taller than she is. Hopefully he will not succumb to the level of idiocy of the worm, I will have to see later if he is a warrior during training, she wondered still waiting for the food.

Ignoring Shin while smiling a little at Masako's comment, she noticed a rosy cheek girl asking the Taisa something then sitting down to order some food. The Neko pilot lost track of her however when food came around their table, and possible conversation changing shape.
 
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