RP: YSS Resurgence Resurgence of Yamatai - Mission 1: Homeworld

Taisho Ketsurui Hanako came through one of the doors and joined the Resurgence crew. She had wavy teal hair and big golden eyes and dressed in a Type 35 uniform with almost a catalogue of medals on it. "I heard you were going to be visiting, so I came over to give you a tour," she explained. "I used to live in the palace as a servant to Emperor Uesu and Empress Ayame during their reign, before I was given the YSS Nozomi. This is the Red Room, a room built to celebrate the Star Army's victory in the battle of Ayenee Capital City in the Chaos Hive War. It was the first major battle the Star Army and our Nekovalkyrja fought."

Majime thought about the ship's mission. It was all about asking the right questions. She needed to set an example. "What has changed in the Empress Palace the Kuvexian War?" she asked Taisho Hanako. "Also, what is there to do here?"

"I am probably not the best person to answer that. I spent almost the entire war on the front lines rather than here. I can still show you around though and perhaps we can find some changes," Hanako offered. "As for things to do. You can look around and see where Yamatai's Empress lives, test your skills against the samurai, or perhaps visit the Nekovalkyrja development lab."

"All battles, hmm," Cheilith said, considering what the musician had to say. Then Hanako arrived, and Cheilith gave her a small wave. While Cheilith knew she was a Taisho, the two's uniforms were different as it was possible to be as Cheilith hadn't even formally been awarded the Glimmergold award yet. Hanako was one of a few people that Cheilith had slotted into 'friend'. Due to the adventure they had shared during her visit to Cheilith's batch and coming with her to open her first salvage crate. It hadn't been a big important one to the Star Army, but it had been important to Cheilith and she was glad to share that connection. Yet, Cheilith was unsure where the line between formal and friend really was.

When Hanako told them about the battle, Cheilith looked back up and considered the mural in its historical context. "Cool." She said to no one in particular. Cheilith considered the three options that Hanako gave her. Seeing the development lab was probably the best place for finding something that the Empress would want to know but didn't. However, Cheilith really wanted to see the conference room with the throne and possibly fight a Samurai. She knew she would get her ass handed to her, but just fighting one would be an honor. Cheilith took a long time to think. "I'd like to see that development lab, and fight a Samurai, but I guess we can't explore all of the palace in one day. What do you want to do Beat Bug?" She asked Kwabba-an.

@hyralt

Russ had been following along with the rest of the crew both stunned and awed as they went through the palace. For a person born as a commoner in the void the whole planet side experience was always a weird feeling. For him he felt at home with his boots on the deck plate of a ship. Adding in the fact he was meeting a lot of VIPs Russ couldn't help but been silenced. He had survived both Nataria and Glimmergold but here out of his element he was abit shocked into quietness.

Despite this he was enjoying the view and history of the palace. Though not one for history exactly he was enjoying seeing history and the works before him. A reminder of the storied and history they had protected and a place for some to come home too. As Russ stay closed to the end of the group he was enjoying the tour despite his nervousness.

Red Room --> Samurai Wing/Quarters/Dojo place

Of course, Doofus found nothing. Jax expected as much. With a sigh, he glanced around, and saw none other than his old commander, Hanako. He gave her a small smile and a wave. Whether she saw it or not wasn't that big of a deal. They'd spoken for a while just before he'd rejoined, and he was glad to see she was still doing well.

Jax didn't really want to go on a tour. Again, he wasn't much of a history buff, and he was very much used to insane luxury. Thankfully, Hanako added some alternatives. He mulled them over for a minute. Empress' quarters? Nah. That'd feel kind of weird, especially if he wasn't invited by the resident themselves. He'd feel really unsettled if a rando came into his penthouse in Kyoto and started gawking at his dining room.

Development lab? Tempting. He was kind of curious to see what sort of tech they had stashed down there. It wasn't really his field of expertise, but it'd be cool to see.

Jax would have selected that, were it not for the third option: test yourself against the samurai. Something about it really stuck out to him. Not that he was a career fighter, but he did have an appreciation for swordsmanship and more antiquated fighting styles, though he prefered the Nepleslian tradition more than Yamataian. No, the real reason that option resonated with him so strongly was an old memory.

Hashimoto Umeshu, his first love, had been a samurai. Not a full-fledged samurai, though, since she'd washed out of the program midway. But despite her humiliation she'd still been dedicated to the lifestyle. Disciplined, soft-spoken, and fierce. Then, without so much as a note, she'd disappeared from his life overnight, never to be heard from again. But if there was one thing besides her beauty that Jax remembered, it was her love of her code, and her chosen way of life. Though Jax had been endeared by her tales from the Samurai House, he'd never really quite understood her enthusiasm, at least until he himself had begun to take up the knightly tradition. More as a hobby, but still, he sort of understood the whole idea of a code.

So, the lion man found himself walking, following the signs, with a sword on his back and a golden dragon riding on his shoulder, dressed as an officer of the Star Army. To the samurai dojo and a certain ass-beating. All out of curiosity sparked by an old flame.

Did jax have a problem? He didn't know. Maybe he'd ask Dr. Takahashi the next time he visited her office.

'I really hope I'm going the right direction, otherwise this whole "cinematic walk down memory lane" is going to turn really awkward.' he grumbled internally to himself. As if on que, Doofus the drake began trying to lick his own ear with his long tongue, really destroying any sort of image of coolness Jax had been trying to cultivate with his manly pining.

'...Damn it.'

Having been transferred over to the YSS Resurgence from the YSS Kasuga after the battle, Eun Kyung was ready to return to the simpler life of being a bridge bunny on a gunship. But she absolutely did not expect she would be meeting the Empress face to face let alone be given access to the Imperial Palace. She was completely out of her element here.

But she was a professional officer if nothing else. So she kept her body from showing the nervousness that she was feeling being in the place. Given the list of options to explore.

As nervous as she was, she didn't fancy learning more about the Empress' living conditions. She would likely just die of excitement. Battling a Ketsurui Samurai really didn't sit well since that was a guaranteed ass getting kicked. She was a Cartography specialist, not a grunt. So that really only left the Neko Development Lab. She would have expected that to be someplace else.

Hojo-taii nodded along enthusiastically as Hanako spoke, wide-eyed from seeing the famous former gunship captain in the flesh. She wasn't necessarily agreeing with any one of the things Hanako presented to them so much as all of them and the chance to get shown around by the golden-eyed Ketsurui. First the Empress and a fleet admiral before, and now the Taisho Hanako? The thick stack of award ribbons the admiral wore dazzled Kagura almost as much as anything else so far; there were few soldiers in the entire Star Army with who'd gained as many honors.

What a lucky start to her assignment as a first officer, Kagura imagined, to take in the delights here at the palace.

Any questions she had would come later once they'd moved on to somewhere else. For now, Kagura would remain amazed with Hanako and at the splendor of everything in the Red Room. She knew the story of the Chaos Hive War well enough from military history studies that all officers were expected to learn, but had become really lost in her imagination examining the grand scene laid out on this chamber's walls before Hanako arrived.

Although the young Taii knew the horrors of war firsthand — and so recently from her experiences during the Battle of Glimmergold — she still found herself awestruck thinking of the deeds commemorated here in the Red Room while she examined them with great intent. She'd let all of the grand explosions and golden reliefs of Neko and Geshrin soldiers come to life in her mind as they vanquished their foes in the ruins of Ayenee Capital City before, thankfully, finding herself snapped back to reality with Hanako's arrival.

Wherever they went next mattered little to Kagura. She could catch a wave out of Malifar or go wrestle in some seedy Central Uesureyan fight bar any day of the week. Getting to explore the Empress' Palace in Class A's, though, was something hardly any Neko not named "Ketsurui" got to experience even once in their lifetimes. So Hojo-taii intended to make the most of it.

Kozakura had been dutifully standing near the front of the formation, recording everything in some ridiculously high definition video and audio thanks to the aid of her drone Maru. So all of the questions, the fidgeting, and yes even Kwabba-an's 'eep' was recorded for posterity. Though she she was somewhat enamored with the Empress, she become lost in thought and well to be honest was too busy looking around the palace so much so that she forgot she could ask questions herself. By the time she felt ready to do so it seemed as though they were already moving on.

As the taisho explained what there was to do in the palace, Kozakura's long ears perked up at the mention of testing your skills against the Samurai. She was nearly an eighth year student in her chosen sword style, and definitely wanted to pit her skills against those considered the best. To try them against those her television shows had romanticized and made fantasy of. Finally Kozakura spoke up, she wasn't going to let this opportunity pass her by like she had with speaking to the Empress. "Will we be visiting all the options or is it up to each of us to choose?"

"I would like you do decide as group and then I can lead the way," Hanako explained to Kozakura and the group. She then stopped to look at Pidole, who as staring at her with a worried expression still on her face. The two made eye contact for several quiet seconds and then Hanako tilted her head at Pidole before resuming. As soon as Hanako turned her attention away, the beetle's face poked out of Pidole's sweater's neck again to look out at the fancy surroundings. Pidole immediately rotated to try to keep her little friend out of Jax's sight only to find herself spinning in circles because Jax had slipped away.

"I'm happy you're here. We'll just have a quick look around and then head out into the city, I think," captain Majime told Hanako. "I know you're busy don't want to take too much of your time. Also, I am very excited to start planning our tour of the sector."

"That sounds lovely. I really enjoy visiting new worlds as well," Hanako replied.

"Can we get a photo together?" Kalena asked. "People sometimes say I look like you and I want a side-by-side comparison," she laughed. "Plus I think you're cool. I want to be a starship captain someday with my own Plumeria or Fuji."

"That is wonderful! Of course!" Hanako smiled. Gabriela pulled out her communicator and snapped a photo of the two smiling, then they switched and Gabby got her photo too.

Cassie elbowed fellow infantry soldier Chelith softly and whispered, "This is either going to be the sweetest mission in Star Army history or the most awkward," the anthro giggled. "It's gonna be like a big road trip!"

- - -

Meanwhile, Jax found a shrine room with a white marble floor and red carpet in the middle, with dozens wooden tablets on shelves on the wall, each with a name on it. There were two samurai in the room, identical except for the 'war paint' markings on their faces. "Can I help you?" one of them asked.

Kwabba-an watched as a woman with light blue hair joined them and started speaking. No, she realized the woman's hair transitioned through a continuous gradient to light purple. This woman's voice did not spark any memories in Kwabba-an's mind, but something nagged at her suggesting that she knew of this person. It was bothersome to feel this vague notion of familiarity without being able to identify why. Thankfully, the black-haired woman next to Kwabba-an spoke and the ant musician had something to take her mind off of the nagging sensation.

"I'd like to see that development lab, and fight a Samurai, but I guess we can't explore all of the palace in one day. What do you want to do Beat Bug?"

The insectoid considered her options. She was relatively certain that an average Nekovalkyrja could easily defeat her in a fight, let alone these "samurai." Kwabba-an had gathered through context clues that these samurai were dedicated to protecting the Empress and were likely better trained than anyone in the art of combat. That option ruled out, she considered what exploring the palace would be like and her mind turned to the ceiling mural whose exquisite detail was enough to make her head spin. Not wanting to spend the rest of the day in a state of perpetual vertigo, she thought about the final option of visiting the Nekovalkyrja development lab. This appealed to her, although she was sure the details would be as dizzying as the mural. Kwabba-an herself had been developed in a lab, though she hadn't been designed for a particular purpose. Her parents were not of the same species and had to turn to science to procreate with each other. If she was able to see how Nekovalkyrja were developed, it might give her some insight into what her parents went through.

"I would," she began before the words caught in her throat. The effort involved in speaking frustrated her almost the point of tears. Just then, the sound of a voice she knew well helped her relax. She closed her eyes and listened as Kozakura spoke.

"Will we be visiting all the options or is it up to each of us to choose?"

When the blue and purple gradient-haired woman spoke again, Kwabba-an listened carefully and picked up that they would have to decide as a group. This changed Kwabba-an's mind on the subject, and she managed to speak quietly.

"I will be happy with the decision of the group."

Shrine Room

Aw, nuts.

Jax hadn't expected to run into samurai so soon. He'd been trying to imagine how it was going to go, and think up an appropriate greeting an everything so he wouldn't look like a dope. Did samurai have ranks? Were they his superior? Did he outrank them? So many questions he didn't know the answers to that would probably make this less awkward. He'd probably learned about it in officer school, somewhere, but after coming face to face with two of the famed Ketsuri warriors, and remembering what just one of them could do with the swords at their hip, Jax found his mind going blank.

'Do something! Fast!'

"Uh... Hi."

'...Genius.'

Jax cleared his throat, and tried again.

"Uh... I mean... Hello, I'm Jackson Howard-Chui, of the YSS Resurgence. Our mission, ordered by the Empress herself, is to survey and take stock of the Kikyo Sector in the aftermath of the war. Our first location is the palace itself. Hanako-Taisho suggested that some of us visit the samurai. I guess to... uh... learn about them."

'...Better... I guess...?'

Jax had left out the part about challenging one of them to a sparring match. That had been intentional. Just why in the hell had he thought coming here was a good idea?!

"...I... Uh...-" Jax found himself lost for words, feeling just a tad nervous. This didn't look like a dojo. For all he knew, he'd just stepped into the super-secret-samurai-temple and was about to be killed to keep the location secret. And once again, he reminded himself that the two women before him had really sharp swords, and really knew how to use them. Jax made sure to not even think about touching his sword. Oddly enough, his mind started to fixate on a very odd question. At least, he thought it was odd given the circumstances. But how to approach it...?

Oh, screw it. He'd survived this long by the seat of his pants. He scratched the back of his head and smiled nervously, his pointed ears flattening and his tail lashing about.

"Sorry, I've been away from Yamatai for like the last five years or so. Haven't really been keeping up with the news or anything. Am I supposed to salute you...? Uh... Bow? I'm really trying to follow etiquette here and that's never been my strong suite."

Unspoken were the words "please don't slice me into sashimi". He'd been thinking all those badass thoughts on the walk here, but when faced with the real deal he felt like a Santo Hei again.

Beside him, Doofus just looked from his owner, to the samurai, then back to his owner. He didn't know what was going on, but he was just so happy to be here!

The Palace
Are we still at the red room?

Sticking close to the group, and fairly quiet, was an Elysian of unusual size - small, in fact. Aradia Sivins was somewhat overwhelmed by the drastic changes of her situation recently, from being freshly-printed in a medical facility here in Kyoto, to being bundled up in a standard - outdated, mind you, on account of short stock from the recent Battle of Glimmergold - Type 35 Uniform. Then again, the fact that they had one that fit the four-foot-quarter bundle of plumage and energy was surprising at all. It wasn't even that much long after that she was told she'd be meeting literally the Empress herself. Considering she had no idea what had caused her demise - as well as being unaware that she was, in fact, still alive, but lost in the deepest of space - it almost seemed like the univers was either trying to mock her, or pity her. She didn't feel like she'd enjoy either answer, either.

Luckily, a quick trip to the requisitions depot solved her... Uniform and technology issues. The rest she'd have to get from scratch again... Damn, and she'd just packed that new lingerie before she'd left... Never got a chance to wear it. It wasn't limited edition but it was... Pricey! Oh right, tours. Tours, not outfits. It didn't help that a lot of this stuff was so... Old, though. Sure, the craftsmanship was incredible but other artists have also made cooler, newer things - and some are even interactable thanks to the magic of virtual reality!

Oh, well. At least she'll get back to a Fuji soon. And then, back to the frontier! Eventually...

Hanako led the Resurgence crew down the hallway, which had lush blue carpet floors, elaborate chandeliers on the ceilings, and paintings on the walls mostly of pretty women but also some of notable historical figures and events. It was a bit of a mishmash, honestly, like whoever designed the palace didn't have a clear plan in mind nor did its decorators. It was one of the first buildings built in Kyoto, and seemingly had been built in a rush. It wasn't a bad building, and was rather artistic looking, but it was kind of a jumble of different things and parts of it were simply excessive. The way that it was divided into various wings that were each their own little world, and rooms that had unique themes also worked against a unified concept. So when Hanako led them around the palace every room and section seemed to bring something new and random.

There was massive swimming pool that none of the Resurgence crew could enter because its "Taisa or above" rank restriction, steaming baths with obscene golden statues leaning over them, Himiko's caverous throne room, ornate wood-lined conference rooms with heads mounted on the walls, and suddenly they were underground in a completely different place that looked like it was a star fortress interior. White and gray halls with shiny paneled walls and transparent Zesuaium windows on the floors with tubes and wires and machinery visible though them. In this basement under the palace there was the familiar hum of power systems and environmental systems, and Hanako eventually brought them to a huge, Colosseum-like room where the sides were lined with multiple levels of clear tubes containing Nekovalkyrja. Way down below, scattered figures in lab coats occasionally walked through.

"After PNUgen's fall for its involvement with the Mishhuvurthyar, the Ketsurui took over development of the Nekovalkyrja project out of necessity," Hanako explained. "This is part of a lab complex where a lot of the development work takes place. During the Kuvexian war, the scientists here developed a lot of security patches that kept our people safe from repeated biowarfare attacks on Nekovalkyra minds and bodies."

Kwabba-an followed the gradient-haired woman who guided them through the palace. The insectoid didn't even acknowledge the portraits, but every painting of an event caught her eye and, if it had a high level of detail, made her dizzy. She envisioned herself taking part in whatever was depicted and imagined what each of her senses would feel, but most of all she fantasized about what it sounded like. In her head, the roar of gunfire and weapons clashing was a piece of accompanying music that the artwork was sorely lacking.

As they continued, Kwabba-an began to notice the seemingly incongruous nature of the adjoining rooms and it made her smile. She stopped paying attention to the details and started trying to take them in as a whole. She considered each room in the context of the order in which this gradient-haired woman was presenting them. Was there some hidden meaning to the concepts that seemed so incompatibly juxtaposed? Was it actually a deliberate attempt by the designer? Or perhaps by the guide? Or was it just that whoever was in charge simply designed and decorated each room in whatever way occurred to them at the time? If so, was it possible to unravel some part of their mind through analysis?

When they came upon the Nekovalkyrja development colosseum, all prior thoughts dropped from her mind as Kwabba-an began to stare agape at the tubes and the nekos within. She felt her heart swell in her chest as she wondered if she had been grown in a similar way. She envisaged her parents holding one another and watching her develop in a tube. Then she closed her eyes and listened to the thrum of the machinery and wondered if for her it was prenatally familiar.

Sanda followed towards the back of the group. She took more notice of the entrances, exits and windows in the building than she did the actual artwork. She snorted with she saw the sign "Taisa or above". Officers spent way to much time relaxing than doing their job. She didn't want to become an officer, too much paper work, not enough time in the field. Although she wouldn't mind commanding her own recon team one day. And lets be honest, there were some nice perks to being an officer.

As they neared the research and neko labs, Sanda hung farther back. Nekos were a little bit of a touchy subject with Sanda. She didn't know exactly how she felt about them. Sure she had served with several through out her years and had fought beside others. But she didn't really like to think about where they came from. Better to wait out in the hall than go inside and get freaked out by all the lab equipment. She found a place to sit outside the lab and eased down into it. She rubbed her shoulder gently with her good arm. She was definitely going to get it replaced with a bionic one. This slow recovery was killing her.

Kozakura felt a slight wave of disappointment wash over her as she was told that wouldn't get to do all three, and she figured most of the crew had no desire to visit the Samurai. However being the professional that she was she simply ignored her feelings and continued to get footage for her next minor broadcast. As they walked the halls and past the paintings her drone swiveled occasionally to get a close up of one or another. She herself had little opinion on the design or construction of the building, save for wondering if her mothers had worked upon its construction team. She was unsure of when exactly they had begun to help with the rebuilding effort.

As they neared the Neko development lab she had Maru return to her so she could shut the drone down and place it within its storage container. This area was probably going to be somewhat classified after all. Her eyes caught Sanda ditching the group and she had half a mind to confront her about it but in the end figured that the woman was probably tired what with her injuries and all. Though speaking of injuries, she glanced to Kwabba-an with worry. How was she doing? Kozakura felt like asking but the gradiant haired officer was still speaking and it would be rude to interrupt.

Majime walked around the circular lab a little, looking at the Nekovalkyrja bodies in the tubes. There was actually a spare for Yui in one of them. "The Taisho!" she exclaimed.

"The Empire has to ensure continuity of government so there are backups for all of the Yamataian leadership," Hanako explained. "After the Empress declared that the Nekovalkyrja were a species and not equipment, most of the development program moved from making new models of Nekovalkyrja to making updates to the existing models to make them a forever-Nekovalkyrja and to protect them from engineered threats. The Kuvexians had a great deal of technical and biological engineering expertise at their disposal."

Kwabba-an was startled somewhat when someone spoke. She opened her eyes and looked around, trying to find the source of the voice. She saw the gradient-haired woman talking and she listened in carefully. The Nekovalkyrja were considered equipment at some point? The insectoid looked down and away. Would she have been considered equipment since she was manufactured? Or was there enough of a biological component in her creation that she would have been a species even under the old rules?

Cheilith looked on amazed at the copy of Yui ready to go. Cheilith wondered what it would be like to be transfered like that.

"They were trying to hack us the whole time," Pidole speculated aloud.

"That is correct," Hanako nodded.

Kwabba-an heard a new speaker and turned to see the girl with the cute beetle pet under her sweater. Was she a neko? She didn't look like one, but the insectoid knew there was a certain amount of physical variation within their species.

Cheilith never knew any of this and so listened in wide eyed facination. Then again, she was still less then a year old so everything was new and amazing to her.

"In the battle of Yamatai, the Kuvexians managed to corrupt most of the mental backup data throughout the Empire. Since then we have had to make new copies for everyone," Hanako added.

Kwabba-an thought for a while about Nekovalkyrja before a question occurred to her. She looked up at the gradient-haired woman and wanted desperately to simply ask it, but she felt her chest tighten at the thought. She closed her eyes and hummed quietly under her breath until she felt relaxed enough to speak.

"Do Nekovalkyrja..." Kwabba-an began, but then trailed off and felt herself starting to blush with embarrasment. Then she furrowed her brow in determination and pressed on. "Do they combine genes with one another? Or is that up to the designers?"

"Are you talking about sex?" Cassie grinned.

"I...I suppose so," Kwabba-an wanted to hide, but did her best to stay calm.

"Nekovalkyrja are capable of asexual reproduction, just as much as we can take on genes from donors. Dependent on the race of the donor will determine just what we produce." The blonde that had been a silent ghost for most of the tour so far finally spoke up. Hoshiko's blue eyes wandered left and right throughout the room before they settled bak on Kwabba-an.

"My mother was my only genetic donor, though for my original body it was a little different." She admitted as she missed her NH-27 body.

Kwabba-an breathed a little easier once the conversation turned to answer the question rather than asking more of her. She hadn't, in fact, been asking about sex. Her own parents had combined their genes without it, and she was curious if new Nekovalkyrja were created in a similar way.

Kim Eun-Kyung just listened to the others, not really having anything to contribute for the moment. She just stood in the back of the group, looking around curiously.

"So where will your crew go first?" Hanako asked Majime and her crew.

Majime laughed, "Well, our ship is still in the shipyard, so I think we will take the train or shuttles around Yamatai for a little bit and practice exploring before we get out into deep, scary space."

"Ah, maybe we'll go through Ternifac again!" Gabriela grinned. "By the way, does the ship have a medic yet?"

"No," Majime yet. "Do you have a recommendation?"

"Yes, Poppy Pink," Gabriela told Majime with an eager grin.

Kwabba-an perked up as her hometown of Ternifac was mentioned, then she started to feel sad as she remembered how much she missed her parents. She hadn't had a chance to go back home since she shipped out for training and looked forward to going back.

"Okay, what about recommendations for places to visit?" Majime asked everyone.

"The Jhuniata Desert seems like an interesting place to explore. Read there are a lot of wrecks and beautiful scenery there." Eun-Kyung suggested as ordered.

"It sounds hot," Kalena noted with a bemused grin. "Say, even though the Resurgence isn't finished, we could probably get our shuttles for the ship, right?"

Pidole had her face up against the glass of one of the Nekovalkyrja tubes and was staring into it, inspecting the occupant.

"I don't see why not," Majime told Kalena. "Are you eager to get in the pilot seat?"

Kalena nodded.

"Anyone else have suggestions to add to the list?" Majime said.

Kwabba-an listened to each voice in turn until they began to feel familiar to her and she felt herself relaxing.

"I would like to visit Nepleslia," the insectoid suggested. "I understand they have an interesting music scene."

"Hey," said Cassie. "If we want to visit someplace really hot and unknown we should go to Hell."

"Hell?" Gabriela blinked.

"Think about it," Cassie said. "It's the place the Elysians and Taisho Yui fought over when she was young. It's got demons and catacombs."

"Sounds kind of claustrophobic," Gabriela noted. Not that she considered herself particularly prone to that.

"Catacombs have good acoustics," Kwabba-an pointed out with an expression of interest on her face. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the red-haired technician with the beetle pressing her face up against a neko tube. She tilted her head, then walked over and pressed her ear up against the same tube, wondering if she could hear a heartbeat. There was none.

"We could also look at Black Sands? Lots of cool millitary stuff there." Chilith suggested absently as she still was trying to take in and understand everything she was seeing.

"I will look into getting you this medic," Taisho Hanako offered.

Pidole spun around. "With the captain's permission I would also like to request a science specialist, Kawa Euikoshi."

Hanako and Majime both nodded. "I like the sound of Black Sands," Majime told Cheilith.

Chielith grinned at her idea being approved of.

"I love beaches," Kalena grinned. "The more nude the better!"

Kwabba-an giggled at the sudden suggestion of nude beaches.

"I think going West does offer us the chance to see some little-known cities, the caverns of Hell, and Black Sand in one trip. That sounds like a plan is starting to form," Majime said.

"Oh man, I gotta shit, where's the litterbox around here?" Cassie asked Hanako suddenly.

Hanako put her hand over her mouth in shock and to avoid laughing. "Ah, if you follow me," she said, disappearing with Cassie into a side hall.

Majime just stared at Pidole and Pidole started back at her.

Kalena shrugged in an exaggurated fashion.

Kwabba-an hummed the tune of "On Through the Portal to Fight" softly as everyone started staring at each other.

"On through the portal to fight..." Cheilith started to sing softly as she tried to figure out what a display with a slice of genetic code on it meant and was actually for.

Kwabba-an smiled widely and listened as someone else sang. Actually, she thought that she recognized the singing voice. Was it the black-haired woman who had talked to her at Glimmergold?

Cheilith wasn't a great singer, not a musician, but good enough to follow the tune and hit the right notes. "O sisters, let's fly on..."

"This is why the Star Army has officers and enlisted and why some people are in the infantry for a reason," Kalena told Gabriela.

Gabriela smiled politely. "I do not recommend swearing in front of the Taisho," she simply said. She paused to listen to the singing.

Kwabba-an walked closer to the singing and joined in, harmonizing with the black-haired woman. "Thinking all about our guiding light, O Empress of Yamatai Won't you safeguard my flight."

"Oh hi there Kwabba, I think this is a device for checking the integrity of a genetic sequence against a known code. No idea what that's used for though." Chelith said, distracted by the appearance of the person she had been unconciously harmonizing with.

Kwabba-an looked at the display and made no attempt to hide her confusion as she quite obviously couldn't even begin to understand what she was looking at. She turned to the black-haired woman, smiled, and nodded.

Hanako returned after a moment to find singing. "Fascinating."

"I think we are on our way to the train station after this," Majime told Hanako.

"Ever eager," the Ketsurui raised her teal eyebrows. "I will show you the way once your infantry catboy returns."

Before they left, Cheilith came up to Hanako, "I wish you could come with us on this adventure." She said wistfully, as to a friend rather then as to a Taisho.


(OOC: JP by Wes, @hyralt @Soban @SageShooter and @demibear )

Just as Majime had said, Kagura likewise thought going to Black Sands sounded good. The first officer had never had the pleasure of visiting the Test Range or any of the bases housed there, but had made it out to Ash Bay a few times when her leave lined up with opportune swells off the coast and the gnarly waves to be caught on those days. She was sure there'd be no time for surfing during the Resurgence crew's official Star Army trip. Nonetheless, Hojo-taii could get excited for the idea of a visit to the shadowy base that had loomed off in the distance the last time she was out on the Bay. All she knew about it was that SAINT trained their people there and that experimental power armors were sometimes spotted zipping up in the skies over those darkened volcanic beaches. Getting to be inside its perimeter would be a treat.

Their present visit to the Neko lab had been interesting all by itself, though. Between seeing Yui's spare body sleeping in a tube alongside all of the other high-biotech equipment and getting to learn a little about her own species firsthand — beyond what basics she'd been taught in Star Army training; she wasn't a scientist or anything — Kagura found herself wondering how this cool day could get any cooler. Still, she kept her mind on her duties and toward the future.

"Where to, Captain?" Hojo-taii asked when Majime said they were going to the train station next. "If you haven't already made arrangements, I'll send a message ahead to make sure there are seats for everyone."

Majime thought about it and replied: "We can take the train North to Pagoda no Uesu, then on to Ketsurui no Iori, and visit the cold North up to the Temple of the Frozen Maiden. From there we will will take the rail West to some of the Nepleslian cities like Francesa, Zen, Desoto, Drake, and Whitmon. We can pick up some guns there. We'll loop around the coast to Demonopolis, the Temple of the Flames, and Mount Death and the caverns of Hell. Finally we'll stop at Black Sands and the Central Fleet Depot on the way out and get supplies for our ship, which should hopefully be ready by then. Does that sound okay? Also, before we go, we should stick around a few days and attend the Victory Day Celebration!"

Sanda joined the rejoined the group as they exited the Neko labs. Her shoulder still hurt, but the brief rest had done her good. She had also come to a decision. She was going to get her shoulder replaced with a bionic one. Sanda had always been a quick healer, but she had done way to much damage to her shoulder. Her ears perked up at the news that they were going to visit some of the more Nepleslian cities. Now that excited her.

Kwabba-an turned away from the monitor and towards the discussion taking place between the captain, first mate, and the gradient-haired woman. She heard mention of a train station but also staying until Victory Day. Knowing that this was still several days from now, she wondered if they were still going to a train now or if they were indeed sticking around for a few days. Reflecting on her disastrous attempts at making conversation, she was in no hurry to ask for clarification and simply assumed that she would be given orders soon enough. As her interest in dropping eaves waned, the musician's eyes and ears scanned her crewmates until she saw Kozakura and smiled.

"I am !Kwabba-an Ternifac-xuralkhi," the insectoid turned back to the black-haired woman and bowed slightly as she pronounced her name with a click sound on the first consonant. "You may call me Kwabba if it pleases you. It would please me if we found time to sing together again."