RP: YSS Resurgence Resurgence of Yamatai - Mission 10: Lost Souls

YE 45.8

Medical Lab

Cheilith slid onto the table, she smiled at the pink haired medic. "So, where do you want to start?" She asked.

"I'd like to measure your height and your mass on my scale," Poppy told Cheilith. "For accuracy, no footwear. Please remove your uniform as well."

"Sounds like a plan," Cheilith said slipping back off the table and stepping on the scale.

Poppy leaned in close as she adjusted the old-school scale's counterweight, taking Cheilith's measurements. She didn't write them down, she just beamed the information to the file automatically using her Minkan brain's networking capabilities. She also measured Cheilith's height and her waist size with a tape measure.

Cheilith weighed the same she usually did, 45 kilograms, her height was 157.5 cm. "Hopefully, the cooking hasn't done me in." She joked.

"I hear we're lucky to have an experienced Phodian chef now," Poppy commented.

"Yeah, like no offense to our other cooks, but he's really stepped up the grub game." Cheilith responded.

"Okay, I have a question, it says in your file you're a vat-made Nekovalkyrja from Nataria, but you don't look like one or have a name like one. What's the story with the human ears? I didn't think they made those unless you are Hanako or something," Poppy inquired. "No offense intended."

Cheilith cocked her head, thinking about the question. "No offense taken. It's my name? Human ears are an uncommon option, because well minikins, but it's a standard option. I've never really thought about it. What does my name sound like?"

"Yeah, usually they are like Sakuya, or Namiko, or Signy or Freya," Poppy shrugged. "I dunno, it sounds like one of those names from the people who live under Mount Death on Yamatai. There's not a lot of Yamataian names ending in -ith. So you didn't pick the human ears, they're original?"

"Yep, and so is my name. There are a few other people in the army with the same name as me, but I don't know anything about them. I'm pretty standard, an average Neko in a lot of respects. When I was younger, I tried to diffrentiate myself. Started a salvage buisness, did a food truck for a while. A lot of stuff." Cheilith told the medic.

"Okay, next I want to get a DNA recording and do a checkup on your vitals and do some tests on your blood. Rather than draw any I can use this portable medical scanner to inject some diagnostic nanomachines and they'll send back everything I want to know. Alright?"

Cheilith beared her arm for Poppy to inject the nanomachines. "So you mentioned Mount Death, I don't know much about it. Do you?"

"Okay, so you know Kyoto, the mega-city, right? North of there is Pagoda no Uesu and Ketsurui no Iori, and those are near the Ice Queen Mountains, where they make all that sake. If you follow the mountain range to the West there's volcanoes, which give Black Sands its name. The SAINT base. The biggest of these is Mount Death, it's a huge volcano, one of the largest on the planet. And throughout the mountains are extensive lava tunnels, huge cave systems, and ancient mines and catacombs. Down in them there is a civilization of so-called demons that live in an underground region the surfacers call Hell. Back when the Elysians lived on floating isles over Yamatai's surface, they tried to invade Hell for resources, which started the First Elysian War. The demons who are left mostly keep to themselves these days," Poppy explained. "Some of the earliest Nekovalkyrja were created to fight in the Elysian Wars," she added.

"Huh, like I've read the histories, but I've never really thought about them much. Were you alive back then?"

"When the Fourth Elysian War started I was just a kid," Poppy told Cheilith, injecting the nanomachines via hypospray. "The third one started before I was born, in YE 16, while I wasn't born until YE 18. The Fourth one was from YE 23 to YE 25 so I would have been 5 to 7 years old. I lived a pretty shelted life growing up in the university town of Tania. My dad said I’d be a scientist because of my insatiable need to understand the world."

"I was born in 42 just in time to fight at Glimmergold. So three or so years, my contract renewal should be coming up soon. Your almost ten times my age, we've seen so much happen in the last few years, you must have seen so much more." Cheilith said thoughtfully.

"Do you remember any of your simulated life from before you were activated?" Poppy asked. Supposedly Nekovalkyrja lived in a simulation until adulthood but most of them didn't seem to remember much of it, despite them universally retaining all the life and combat skills they'd learned during it.

"Yhea, I don't remember it very well, lots of caves and swords and fighting. I eventually got to the shooting and flying a mindy sorts of parts of it. But those feel like a dream or something. I know they weren't real and they don't feel real, at least to me. More like they are someone else's memories that I just watched like a movie. Yours are real organic memories, mine are implanted." Cheilith explained, wondering if the mountain in the memories was Mount Death.

"Your readings look good," Poppy said, looking at her PMS-1. "Time for a backup of your mind. There's the Type 30 Mental Backup and Storage Unit. Since the Third Battle of Nataria I've been keeping offline backups to prevent them from being corrupted like the Kuvexians did.This backup will be stored in an encrypted format solely in isolated offline storage with a physical encryption device key stored in my safe. It will not be connected to the network and will not be scanned without a warrant. Citizens of the YSE are limited to 3 backup copies by law. You have the option to request a deletion of your backup file at any time. Do you understand these rights and consent to the procedure?"

Cheilith laid back into the mental backup and storage unit. "I do." She said, slightly nervious about the shock and wondering if she would wake up for the first time learning that she had died.

Poppy checked all the settings for the scanner system and then started. There was a buzzing sensation in Cheilth's head as her "ghost" was copied to the secure storage unit. The brain was incredibly complex but Nekovalkyrja minds were some of the easiest to make exact copies of because all the files were organized in a computer-like way. After a few minutes, Poppy said, "done!" and gave Cheilith a smile. "If something happens to you, we can now whip up a replacement body using your DNA and put this copy of your mind into it, making a new you."

Somehow the small shock always seemed a bit more painful than the last time. "Yhea, I'll just lose all of the memories I've made since my last backup. I haven't died yet, so I don't know what that's like."

"Are you about to get out of the Star Army?" Poppy asked. "It says you're not marked for automatic re-enlistment and if you were born in YE 42 that means you get out in YE 45."

Cheilith nodded thoughtfully, sitting up on the bed. "I wanted to think about it. I said I didn't want automatic reinlistment because I was young, the war was over, and well, I wasn't sure I wanted to stay in. Now, well there is a war on and I've grown to like the crew and everyone. I'll probably reenlist this time around, but if the war ends and I have to go serve somewhere else where I don't know anyone, I'll probably let it end. Perhaps see what I can do with a small ship of my own or something."

"Why not talk to the captain about a re-enlistment ceremony? That could be a good excuse to have some fun for a special occassion," Poppy suggested. "Also, it's not uncommon for soldiers to get a promotion when re-enlisting."

"That could be fun, I've been to a couple but never thought about having one myself. I guess I've never been as patriotic as most. There was this one time when I got some Star Army equipment as salvage and the Taisho who was observing me didn't really like it, but I kept it anyway. But it does sound like fun to have party."

"You ever been out on the ship's hull? That would be a cool place to do it." the pink-haired doctor grinned. "Also, that's it for the standard part of the checkup," she told Cheilith. "Have you been feeling well? Any questions or concerns?"

"Yeah, that does seem like a cool place for a party. I don't really have any questions right now, but I should probably talk to the Captain and see what he thinks." Cheilith smiled at Poppy.

"Do you still have that truck, by the way?" Poppy wondered.

"Yhea, it sits in storage or parking at the spaceport most of the time though. I keep pretty much all my stuff not on the ship in it and live on the ship." Cheilith said with a nod.

"Trying to save money or something? I suppose you could sign up for one of those free microapartments, though most of them don't have free parking, I suppose. What about when the ship is getting repaired and we all get kicked off, like those times earlier this year?" Poppy asked. "Let me know if I'm being too nosy," she added apologetically.

"Not really, it's just I like to live on the move. I wake up and can be on a beach or at a party, or wherever really. I lived out of the truck, it's one of those old boxy ones so I installed a bed and used the gym for all of the other stuff." Cheilith explained.

Poppy nodded, looking at Cheilith with those bright green eyes of hers. "Oh, I know the type. Well, if you need anything just let me know! Thanks for coming by! Last time was right before the machine moon Samurr...who knows what we'll get up to by the next checkup!"

= = =
OOC: JP by Wes and Soban

Yuri sat in the quiet hum of the Medical Bay, surrounded by the sterile scent of antiseptics and the soft glow of medical monitors. The hum of the ship's systems resonated through the walls as she leaned back in her chair, reviewing the notes she had taken on the crew's medical issues. Each report contained crucial information that would help her prioritize treatments and ensure the well-being of the crew.

However, one particular absence on her list weighed on her mind—her mother, Yayoi, a Jôtô Heisho ranked Ranger. Yuri had diligently recorded the status of the crew, noting who had undergone mental backups to ensure a swift recovery in the event of death. Yet, Yayoi's name remained conspicuously absent from that section of her notes.

Worry etched across Yuri's expression as she considered the implications. The absence of her mother's backup entry raised questions and concern in her pure-hearted Nekovalkyrja mind. She wondered if Yayoi was unaware of the necessity to update her mental backup or if there was some other reason for the delay.

With a determined sigh, Yuri decided to take action. She straightened in her chair and reached for her communication device to contact her mother directly. It was crucial to ensure that all crew members, including someone as significant as Yayoi, were appropriately prepared for any potential risks they might face during their mission.

"mommy, this is Yuri. I've noticed you haven't updated your mental backup in the Medical Bay records. It's essential for your safety, especially considering the nature of our mission. Please make your way to the Medical Bay at your earliest convenience. I'll be here to assist you."

Yuri's message carried a mix of concern and professionalism, reflecting her dual roles as a caring daughter and a dedicated medic on the Starship YSS Resurgence. She hoped that her diligence also made Poppy-sempai pleased as well.

YE 45.8

Central Uesureya, Yamatai

As noon drew near, a fierce storm blew through the area of the Central Fleet Depot, bringing torrents of rain down outside the Resurgence's hangar. Even inside the ship the crew could hear the rumbles of thunder from outside. Earlier that morning the captain, Aoba Kuranosuke, had given the order for everyone to get "squared away" and handle any personal business they needed to handle before the ship left on its next mission, including things like making mental backups and checkups in the medical lab, seeing the new personnel clerk, and handling any affairs they had on the planet. Once that was done, they were free to take shore leave.

Crew Cabins

Zanven was in his room alone for the time, his roommate must have taken a moment to catch up with his other friendly workers on the ship which left the pilot alone in the room for a bit to catch up on whatever was needed. However he was not catching up on any sleep, building any models, or researching more ships and fighters...no he was trying to do his own work on why he coughed up blood in this NEW body of his...

two days before he returned to the main ship he coughed up while piloting a transport for a research team to a planet that was being investigated. While coughing up may not sound like a big deal, coughing up blood however, was totally a change in what he was going through. During that time though since he was finishing up a mission, he didn't make any conflict or an issue with what was going on. Now since he had orders to get checked out and backed up in the lab...he was about to find out what happened to himself during his time away. As he looked at the screen though there was a flash and then a brutal roar and he couched once more as blood splashed down upon the desk. He looked at it disgusted and sighed before setting up a time and getting ready.

Yayoi silently watched the thunderstorm on a screen, inside the ship, before she finally decided to follow her daughter's medical request, and made her way towards the Medical Bay, where Poppy, or Yuri would mental backing herself up.

Medical Lab

Yuri smiled to herself as she got her work done, before turning. "Poppy-Sempai, i think i am done with my duties I've been given, and I've alerted those who needed to get mentally backed up, like Mom, i mean Joto heisho Yayoi. I hope she's on her way." Yuri said with a traditional Yuri-style smile.

"Are you asking to be excused?" Dr. Poppy asked Yuri.

Yuri shook her head "noo, just letting you know, what i had accomplished so far, Sempai!" She said. "though, i probably should get my own mental back up done too. But i can wait until the more higher ranked do so." she said.

"Go ahead and do it now," Poppy said, "I think most of the crew has and if you want to go exploring I can finish things up here," the pink-haired doctor said. Having recently been enlisted herself she wanted to be the type of officer that took care of her subordinates.

Yuri smiled and nodded her head at how kind Poppy was, and then proceeded to do the required medical things on herself.

Zanven soon showed up as there wasn't a huge line and because he was going to get seen about what was going on first. He took a seat on one of the beds and waited a few moments as memory backups were made and check-ups were cleared out.

"Hello Zanven," Dr. Pink waved. "What can I do for you?" she asked him, her new white coat trailing behind her as she went over to him.

Zanven saw Dr. Pink and smiled as he looked at her. "Good to see you again Dr. Pink. I am getting checked up on because while on my last mission away from the ship I uh...well I coughed up blood and I have no idea why, and I would rather not risk anyone's life here if I was piloting and I coughed up more." He said rather plainly.

"Let's get you under a scanner," Poppy suggested. She got him on an automated triage bed, which was a little weird looking because it had four disembodied arms hanging down from the middle of it. It gave him an injection of medical nanomachines to diagnose the issue and also gave him an X-ray and an ultrasound scan to look for abnormalities. While this was happening Poppy asked, "Did you have any contact with any aliens lately? Any exposure to radiation? Any warnings from your body's onboard operating system? Did you eat or inhale anything dangerous?"

Zanven followed forth as he got ready for the scans he was going to receive. He was not really in any bad situation to ask why but he knew when asking to be checked...you got checked. After getting initially set up and as they walked over he was asked about exposure, to radiation and contact with aliens. Asked about his onboard OS, and if he ate or inhaled anything wrong. Zanven answered accordingly. "I'm disallowed to tell exactly of the mission without the word from the captain...however, exposure is yes, contact is yes, I didn't eat ANYTHING that was supposed to be an exposed issue or a dangerous inhalation. My body's OS however gave a warning once, but after a rest the warning was gone. So I'm ready for whatever needs to be done." He said as he stood there, ready to do what was next.

"So..." Poppy squinted at her computer pad, "This basically never happens to a Minkan, but I'm seeing a growth here. I can surgically remove it, blast it with energy, or target it with nanomachines, but basically I'd like to get rid of it then run diagnostics on your body. It's very unusual...I've never heard of a Minkan with cancer before. Let me put it this way: Don't ask me to go to a casino with you. But, don't worry, I'm going to make sure you're alright."

Hangar Bay

Sanda stood by the open hanger bay doors watching the fierce storm rage outside. She had always loved thunder storms. They had been the inspiration for her tattoos. According to her parents, there had been a huge thunderstorm when she was born which inspired them to give her the name: Sanda.

Cheilith watched the storm with Sanda. "Do you think it will clear soon?" She asked.

"I hope not. I could stand here and watch the storm for hours." Sanda said still staring out at the storm. "I'm very tempted to go out into it."

"Why just watch it?" Mineko asked as she walked up, eyes fixed on the wash of greys and blues that rolled around in their playground in the sky. Her smile betrayed a more playful nature than her focused gaze, though. "When you could be in it. Our Mindy need field diagnostics, don't they?"

"We could, perhaps a bit of sparring with some aether swords for a bit of clash. It would be pretty cool. Like the finale of an anime or something." Cheilith offered.

"Sounds like fun but the Mindy would just get in the way. I'll be honest, first time I ever wished I was a neko with your fancy flying ability. I'd fly right into the heart of that storm." Sanda said wishfully.

"I hear they have levitation belts. Or... if you want a really authentic experience, I could carry you." Cheilith offered. It was a terribly idea, but it could be fun.

Mineko wanted to be able to tell Sanda that the Nepleslian wasn't missing out, but she couldn't. To the SAINT analyst, there were few things better than free flying. She stayed quiet and impassive as Cheilith offered ideas, content to watch the weather and imagine Sanda flying in the darkest parts of it.

"Levitation belts? We got some around?" Sanda asked excitedly.

Before them, the sky lit up with a flash of distant lightning whose reflection could be seen on the rain soaked runways and transportation roads. The thunderbolt itself was a pinprick of contained light while everything else, the trees and buildings and starships, were momentarily lit up by the lightning.

"Sure, it's safety equipment for non-flyers like you and Separa'Shan and the like." Cheilith said, moving over to a box and digging through it. She finally came up with a bright yellow safety belt looking thing. "Ah, here it is. The civilian ones look nicer though." She said, handing it to Sanda.

"Oh yeah..." Sanda said as she took the belt and fastened it around her waist. She turned it on, floated off the ground. "Oh Yeah." She spend about 10 mins familiarizing herself with the belt in the safety of the hanger. Naturally she was super excited to head out into the storm but she was smart enough to make sure she knew what she was doing before heading out. "OH YEAH!" She yelled as she took off out into the storm.

"Look forward to finally working alongside you," Mineko said on the ground to Cheilith before giving a two fingered salute and kicking off. She knew Sanda's call-sign was Thunder and wanted to let her head the pack and have the most fun for that reason, so she pulled away a bit, making short loops and dives with her body rather than bulleting towards the clouds themselves. The water pelted the analyst like quills pelted at her, but the sting was nice and the feeling of the once cold water melting on her face and warming was odd, but fun to experience.

Mineko's face has burst into a smile, not that anyone was around to see it. Something about being out in the sky alone made the loneliness she normally felt comfortable. Like she should be feeling it, rather than the strange unease it gave her when she was in a crowded room. With wide spread arms she continued to pivot and turn, taking in it all.

Cheilith joined Sanda and Mineko in the cloud, enjoying the feel of the rain on her skin and the electric feel of energy all around them.

Out in the storm, Sanda couldn't stop laughing. It was like a dream come true. Using the levitation belt she moved up into the clouds where the lighting was lighting up the sky. It was cold up there and her hair was drenched and hanging flopping like a wet mop behind her. She could also feel her body tingle as the air was electrified. It was amazing. With ever flash of lighting and ever thunderclap she would woop at the top of her lungs. "This is amazing!" She sent telepathically to Cheilith and Mineko.

Cheilith smiled, "Do you think we unleashed a monster?" She asked Mineko.

"The opposite," Mineko giggled in response, then asked Sanda, "Think your body can withstand going inside like you said? If not, Poppy can revive you without crisp marks, I'm sure!" In all honesty, Mineko didn't even know if a Neko could survive getting struck by lightning midair—it would be best to avoid that happening to any of them. But she did want to go in further where the rain wouldn't just tickle at her skin.

Sanda just laughed again. "If I die in there no reason to bring me back. My soul would become the lightning. But don't worry about that. Me and lightning have an understanding." She head deeper into the clouds where the lighting was cracking all around her. Her hair began to stand on end, despite the heaviness of the rain.

"I'm starting to see your point, Cheilith!" Mineko laughed in response.

"Just so long as she doesn't try to ride the lightning, we should be fine. I hope." Cheilith said humorously.

Yoshiro's Mother's place

Yoshiro had arrived and he got out of the truck. He got Trowa stuff out of the truck and then he got his stuff out. He walked to the door and knocked on the door. "Just a minute, Yoshiro. I'll be right there." His mother said and he stood there shaking with anticipation. He hugged his mother and introduced Trowa. "Mom, this is Trowa, he is my commanding officer on board the Resurgence. One of the best, if I do say so myself" Yoshiro said proudly

Trowa bowed to Yoshiro's mom. "It is an honor to meet you ma'am. Yoshiro speaks very highly of you." Trowa chuckled. "I used to be his XO aboard the YSS Aeon. Now I'm just an officer on the Resurgence."

"Yoshiro says good things about you too. My name is Maya. It is an honor to meet you, too" Maya said and bowed in return. "Thanks to you and my son the evil creatures that killed my husband have been driven away." Maya said with a sad smile.

"Yes. You can be assured that the enemies of Yamatai have been driven far away from here. We are now driving them farther away and hunting the last of them down." Trowa didn't mention that their enemy was well entrenched and scattered all over the stars and it would be a long and bloody fight to finally remove them from the galaxy but he didn't want to overly worry the poor woman. She had been through enough with the loss of her husband.

"Thank you mister Trowa. Have you eaten yet?" Maya asked She had prepared dinner for the three of them when she had heard of Yoshiro's shore leave.

"No ma'am I haven't. I would be honored to join you." Trowa said. "My own family is traveling here and will hopefully be here in a few days." Trowa added as he followed Maya inside.

"Come on in then. Time to eat and talk." Maya said and led the duo to the kitchen table. His brother Sho and his sister showed up to greet Trowa. "Hello Mister Trowa sir." Sho said "I am Sho and this is my sister Aoi. She is a bit shy so she doesn't talk much around new people." There was Hamburg steak and Rice for dinner. Yoshiro got his Shosa a plate and served him some food.

"It is my pleasure to meet both of you." Trowa replied to Yoshiro's siblings. "Not to worry. My own daughter likes to act shy as well when she meets new people. But she warms up pretty quickly."

"Okay, do you serve on a ship? Do you like to fly the ship?" Sho started with the questions already and they had barely started dinner. "Do you like the power armors? Do you like to fight bad guys?" He was so happy that he got to meet an awesome person like Trowa.

"I certainly do. Although the higher in rank I get the less actual flying I do but yes I can fly the ship. I can make a Plumeria gunship stand up and dance." Trowa said proudly.

"I didn't think that starships could dance. Can you actually make them dance?" Sho asked while he had his mouth full. Aoi just looked away. She was the shy one after all and she didn't know that much about the military and stuff that her brother was interested in.

"Oh yes." Trowa said as he tucked into his own food. "I've danced around NMX cruisers and Kuvexian starships."

"Whoa. that is so cool" Sho said. "bet you beat up a lot of bad guys but my big bro gets more, I am sure of that." Sho and Aoi were proud of their big brother and you could hear the pride in Sho's voice.

= = =


JP END

Charaa, Wes, Ame, Cowboy, Soban, Zanven, Yoshiro

Zanven listened to the doctor as he could tell there was a sound of surprise, but he did not bring up a word. Then Poppy continued as a growth was given light and Zanven remembered landing on that alien planet after the mission as they waited for a rendezvous because of a mishap that caused him to have to land for a moment to see about the ship being repaired. The planet was an unknown area of operation and taking a walk was...dumb, but it was still done even in the end. Doc Pop continued to speak about how to go through with a procedure to remove the growth. Calling it unusual, and pointing out Minkan with cancer was...not usually a thing so it was quite...alarming. To finish up, a smile spread across his face when he was told not to take the doctor with him to a casino, that right there was overheard even over the final piece that the growth would be removed and he would be made sure to be left alright.

"So does that mean before my next backup is made...this has to be done right? You got time, or we letting some of the good special mechanics just remove it for you. Either way, I just want to make sure that you are not entirely booked up for a time when the captain is telling us to get ready as we will likely be leaving soon yeah?" He asked while also calming down from the chuckle so he didn't cough up blood again. "Where was the growth located at least so I know if I am about to go bald or perhaps have a new scar somewhere obvious if you do not mind me asking?"

YE 45.8
YSS Resurgence
Central Fleet Depot, Central Uesureya, Yamatai
1400Y


Medical Lab

After what seemed to be a few hours, Yayoi had finally arrived, after her daughter contacted her, and reminded her that she had yet to mentally back herself up. As she entered she nodded her head to her daughter, and to the Chief Medical Officer Poppy.

Poppy was in the surgical room, still carefully working on Zanven to fix his bizarre cancer to remove it and ensure it had no way of returning. This involved a lot of custom nanomachines that were essentially going through his body's cells one by one, aided by the ship's computer. Most of the time she spend hunched over a glowing computer screen while ocassionally giving Zanvan a reassuring rub on the arm as he was connected to a bunch of hemosynth machines via tubes.

Zanven laid there and did nothing, knowing that the doctor needed to have the time to work on him. He just smiled to reassure that he was in a good mood.

"So are you still seeing Sakuko?" Poppy asked Zanven, making small talk. "I noticed she seems to have a thing for her fellow shuttle flyer."

Zanven heard the question and he gave a smirk. "I miss Sakuko in all honesty...haven't seen her since I left and even when I returned...". He started out as Poppy continued that Sakuko has a thing for the fellow shuttle flyer. "Well...I hope you mean me in that one, because I have to honestly make another move than just kissing her or spending a day or a few hours with her when I am back from a mission. Besides I happen to be a shuttle pilot anymore instead of a fighter pilot." He laughed as he remembered he now piloted a suit of power armor as well.

"It is because you are both busy? Or is it because it's not that serious?" the pink-haired doctor inquired. "You know, I always pegged Sakuko as an introvert so maybe she doesn't come out of her shell that easily."

Zanven listenend for a few more moments and was silent for a few minutes before he finally spoke once again. "Honestly I think it has been because we have both been busy and don't know how to pull away from that. Knowing that You pegged her as an introvert does work unless at a party though...I do remember the first time we really had a moment." He smiled widely and he then sighed. He was in thought now of how to progress once the operation and backup was over.

Yuri being the diligent and helpful girl that she was hoped not to disturb Poppy for her important work. So she quietly indicated that her mother should remain quiet as she guided her to where Yayoi needed to step, and used the training Poppy had given her, with regards to mental backups. Yuri hoped that her work didnt disturb Poppy, as she began activating the machines responsible for mental backups.

Yayoi remained silent as she always had, giving Yuri an odd look as if asking her, really? before she moved to where she needed to go, and waited for the machine to complete her mental backup. Her eyes shifted towards Zanven and Poppy as the question was asked.

After a while, Yuri suddenly piped up "and your done, mom! you're all backed up!" Yuri said with a tone that expressed the great relief she had. Yayoi nodded her head, and began moving to the doors, but momentarily stopped. "Excellent work.. Yuri" as a proper way of commending her daughter's work. Before she left the Medical Lab, leaving Yuri thrilled, not only for her mother's words of praise but also of a job well done. She marked Yayoi off her list, "there we go!" she said before turning to Poppy and Zanwen. "hey, Poppy-sempai, i'd like to get something to eat, I've finished mentally backing up my mother, but still have others on the list," Yuri reported.

"Of course," Poppy replied over her shoulder, remaining at Zanven's side. She turned back to Zanven and said, "I think you're almost in the clear. Maybe afterward, you would like to get some food as well? We could go out and find a restaurant. As long as Sakuko doesn't think it's a date," she added with a little laugh.

Yuri smiled and nodded she knew some of the great places to go if they wanted to ask, and skipped out.

Hearing the two of them for a moment Zanven remained silent but he was happy to hear the offer and upon hearing that the project was nearly done the man smiled and nodded with a smile. "I'll gladly accept that, especially if we can get Sakuko to join in with us...I will...sort things out publicly if I can rather than just in the elevator of the ship.". He said before wincing a bit.

"Okay," Poppy said, making a 'not bad' face for a moment. "She's welcome to come. What do you mean sort things out?" Poppy asked, while she finished up with the treatment, and, looking satisfied, began unhooking him from the machines. She placed gauze and some silk tape over the nanomachine entry ports. "Hold pressure for a few minutes," she told him. "Your body should seal and heal them up shortly."

"What I mean is that I want to make things official to well...us and anyone that thinks or talks about it.". He spoke softly as he was given further instruction and he then did as he was told as Dr. Poppy pointed out the seal and healing to which he nodded. "That is awesome
news to hear, and I thank you immensely for helping...I know cancer is not normal especially in space and among my people, but still." He soon got silent as he didn't know how to continue his thanks."

"And you sure you didn't make out in a radioactive reactor tube, or fall asleep on the Resurgence's long range radio antenna or something?" Poppy jokingly asked. "No Polonium tea or anything?"

Zanven laughed rather audibly as he made sure to look at the doctor. "I can't really explain it as it was a just a mission when this first developed...that is all...not because of the resurgence though." He said with a stern look on his face as he continued to apply pressure.

"Okay, then! I'll get Sakuko and let's meet in the cargo bay in ten, alright?" Poppy asked Zanven.

"I assume you already took a backup as well then?" Zanven said as he looked at Dr. Poppy for a moment as he turned to put his legs over the side of the table.

"Yes!"

Cabin 5

Yayoi returned to her room "huh, my daughter mentally backed me up, that was awkward" she said as she prepared to leave the ship to check on her Bar, while the ship was docked.

Hangar Bay

After what felt like hours Sanda returned to the Resurgence. She was soaked to the bone. It had been cold up in the clouds where the lightning was the strongest but she hadn't noticed. She had been so high on adrinaline. She could litteraly feel the electic current out there. It had been amazing. One of the best things she'd ever done in her life. She shivered a little as she rang water out of her hair.

"Sanda, did you hear about the giant rats?" Cassie asked. "I heard the catacombs under our hangar lead to a techno-maze, and that they're full of mutant creatures left over from PNUgen experments," the catgirl grinned.

Majnun found herself walking through the hangar bay on a break from sorting out administrative tasks for awards when she gasped sharply. "Giant rats?!" her steps ground to a screeching halt next to Cassie, looking over her curiously. "Has anyone looked into this?" the Iromakuanhe inquired.

"Sssoundsss iinnteressstingg." Sanda teeth chattered uncontrolably. "Weee ssshould cccchhhheck it outtt laatteerr."

"You good?" Mineko asked Sanda as she herself wiped some of the rain off of her arm. "Let's get warmed up, eh?"

Majnun's brow raised slightly at the chattering sound emanating from Sanda's teeth. "I am no doctor, but I would have to agree. Let's get you somewhere warm!"

Sanda nodded. "Sssiiii." Her whole body was shivering. "Jussstt need to gggett out of thessse wet ccclothesss. Anyone havvve a tttowel?"

"Towel's in the onsen," Mineko said.

Sanda perked up. A dip in the hot onsen would for sure warm her up. "Ok. That sssoundsss gggood."

"I thought Kalena had that place claimed as her second cabin," Cassie joked, remarking on how much time Kalena spent in the onsen.

Onsen

Sanda headed for the Onsen. She got out of her wet clothes and quickly showered. The heat from the Onsen was already making her feel better, as did the quick shower. With a towel wrapped around her hair to dry it and another one around her body Sanda headed for hot steamy water.

Already there in a semi state of conciousness, Erika sat in the water. Her body was submerged beneath the cloudy water from just above her bust, and her head was crained back. Her pink cat eared head phones were cupped over her ears. Her silver hair splayed out across the damp stones like tentrils.

"Aaaaa...." Sanda eased into the hot water. Her shivering had stopped and she was just soaking in the warmth. She saw Erika already in wearing her pink cat eared head phones and smiled.

Erika felt the disturbance of Sanda's entry ripple accross the surface, causing her to look up and open her eyes at the ranger, quite puffy from having almost fallen asleep. "Oh hey" she said sitting up, removing her head phones.

"I feel like Poppy must," Mineko said as she relaxed in the warmth of the onsen. "Guiding you out of the cold like your nurse. All good from here, Thunder? Hey Erika." She was edging towards a changing stall where she wrapped a towel around her clothes and took them off from under it.

"Hey Mineko." Erika said lazily, throwing up a friendly peace sign at the analyst.

Majnun headed towards the stalls where everyone seemed to be changing and slipped into one by herself. Without a care in the world she removed her clothing, wrapping herself into a towel afterwards. Then quietly went out to sit with the others so as not to disturb their conversations.

"I am in heaven." Sanda asurred Mineko. She reached up into the towel wrapped around her head and pulled out a small flask that had a lightning bolt engraved on it. She took sip from it then slipped it back into her towel.

"All of you coming in at once? Feel like I missed out on something." Erika said, watching each of the women emerge from the changing rooms.

Majnun's hands came up as if to depict the rodents size. "We are hiding from giant rats under the hangar, unless I missed something" she said resting her hands back under the water wiggling her fingers about mesmerized at how the water felt.

"You don't have to worry about the Giant Rats under the hangar." Erika said knowingly "Its the Rodents of Unusual Size you need to look out for. Subtile but important difference."

"We had a little outing in the clouds," Mineko said to Erika, looking over her bare shoulder as she did.

"Si. ¡Fue increíble!" Sanda said with great enthuseasum. "We'll have to do it again sometime." Sanda took note of the Iromakuanhe. "I don't think we've really had a chance to meet properly outside of the Wardroom earlier today. I'm Sanda Hoshi. Nice to have you as part of the crew."

"Really? Shame I missed out." Erika sighed

"It'd feel a shame to start lying to you now, so I won't tell you it wasn't amazing. But now I want to see about flying a snowstorm!" Mineko said the last word with more enthusiasm as she showered down her body and then tiptoed across the wooden floor towards the hot pool.

"I'll play hookie from studies next time and join you." The operative replied with a fatiuged smile.

Majnun looked up from her fingers dancing in the water, simultaneously halting their dance. Turning her head to Sanda, Majnun offered a friendly smile,"It is a pleasure to meet you Sanda Hoshi! I am Majnun Zanjabil, thanks for the warm welcome. If I may ask, what caused you to nearly become a popsicle?" she inquired innocently.

Sanda laughed. "I went out to dance in the lightning storm. I don't know why I'm so attracted to them." Sanda had a look of mock confusion on her face. A face that also had a lightning bolt tattoo down one eye and lightning tattoos running across her whole body.

"I've not looked up my specs recently, but as a rule I don't think the human body, modified or not, is rated for flight through an electrical storm." Erika said with a raised eyebrow. "Did anyone get zapped?"

"We're Neko, we can do anythiiing. As for Sanda, she's got plot armor around lightning. She said it's like being cradled in her birthplace. Word for word." Propping herself up on the edge of the pool with her towel still wrapped around her, Mineko let her legs dangle in while sheleaned over, getting her fingers into the hot water with a look of relief. Spotting Sanda's flask, she pricked her fingers and asked, "Willing to share?"

"I am sure it has nothing to do with the magnificent lightning bolt tattoo," Majnun responded with a smile. Erika's words drew her attention briefly, "I would have to agree. If someone did get zapped they are likely either with Poppy or we will hear about it in a safety briefing soon." she mused. When Majnun heard Mineko's inquiry about the flask her eyes flicked towards it curiously.

Sanda laughed and pulled out her flask again and handed it to Mineko. "Something like that." She agreed. The tattooed Ranger then asked Majnun. "So what brought you to the Resurgence?"

Majnun thought for a moment, "After training I received orders to serve onboard the Resurgence as my first command. Sorry that I cannot offer a more adventurous explanation." she said with a shrug.

Sanda shrugged unfazed. "Well then, I guess what made you join the Star Army?"

Majnun looked up momentarily as if in thought, "I love adventure and I wanted to do something different than what everyone else around me was doing. Though sometimes I do miss the action." she mused somewhat absentmindedly thinking of her past work with fighting and explosives.

Sanda smiled. "Well, you'll see plenty of action on the Res. We're always getting into fights." She took the flask back from Mineko and offered it to Majnun.

"Why become a clerk, then?" Mineko asked after her quick sip, "And not keep up fighting? Also, Erika, what were you studying?"

"More advanced cybersecurity concepts." Erika replied. "We were lucky last mission, old bunkers using old protocols. They had a module on AI assisted breaching."

"You're going to be a better analyst than me sooner than later," Mineko said with a cheeky grin.

"Heh," Erika chuckled "Some how I doubt that."

Sanda smiled. "Well, you'll see plenty of action on the Res. We're always getting into fights." She took the flask back from Mineko and offered it to Majnun.

"Oh my" Majnun's eyes lit up when she mentioned the action the Resurgence saw. Moments later they subsequently darked imagining all the paperwork that would create, though not necessarily for her. Politefully declining the flask she explained, "I am such a lightweight, I am afraid one sip would have me dancing in the storm myself." Then the looked to Mineko, "I kind of fell in love with the work honestly and I was not so sure how my knowledge would transfer over to combat tech in Yamatai. Though I do still keep up my training with martial arts in my down time." she responded,

Sanda again shrugged, not at all offended and took anothe sip herself. The rum taisted so good.

"I'll take a bit if she won't, Ranger." Erika held her hand out.

Sanda smiled and extended the flask to her other bunk mate. "Salud."

"So, why a clerk then?" Mineko reiterated to Majnun as she dipped her towel-covered body lower intothe warmth of the onsen. Steam pooled off of her shoulders as she closed her eyes, revelling in the sensation.

Majnun's eyes blinked slowly feeling as if this repeated questioning from Mineko was becoming more of a formal questioning as the analyst had now asked her twice. "I think I might need to be getting back to work, it was a pleasure to meet you all" she responded slipping out to get dressed.

Yoshiro's Mother's Place

Sho was playing with his toys after dinner. "Do you explore or anything Trowa-san?" He asked, wondering if they did anything beside fighting.

Trowa sipped the coffee that Yoshiro's mom and brought him. "Well when your brother and I were both assigned to the Aeon we did quite a bit of exploring. Although, come to think of it, we've done a good bit of exploiring aboard the Res as well. Just most of the time we keep finding new fights."

"That must have been cool to do some exploring and do something besides fighting though."Shou said, imagining what it would be like. Aoi, meanwhile was working on a drawing since she had little interest in talking about the subject matter at hand.

Trowa smiled. "Yes exploring is a very interesting. Although being a Nepleslian born, I like the fighting."

"I have something for you Sho. I think you will like it." Yoshiro said as he grabbed the model he had built and gave it to him. "Whoa, a custom Lamia!" Sho said and smiled, flying his mech around the room. Laughing and having fun, he ran around the room pretending to fight evil aliens and "mean people", as he imagined. "Thanks Big bro! I love it!" Sho said and hugged him

"You a big fan of Mechs I take it?" Trowa asked, smiling to see how much Yoshi's brother thought of him.

"Yes, and when I get older I want to join the Star Army like my big brother." Sho said to Trowa.
"It seems like a cool job and I want to be able to help people like my brother." He continued to fly his mech around the room. Fighting his imaginary enemies and protecting people, he was having fun.

"Would you want to be infantry like your brother or a mech pilot?" Trowa sipped his coffee just enjoying watching the kids play.

"I don't know yet. I am little right now but when I get older like my big brother I want to do whatever I can to help my people to defend themselves." Sho said. "I want to help Yamatai and honor my father who died protecting us." A tear formed in his eyes as he thought about his dad.

Trowa nodded. "If you're a fan of Mechs, you should see the one I aquired recently." Trowa pulled out a data slate and showed a picture of a mech. "It's a prototype that the SA was working on. Somehow it got lost at the Battle of Glimmergold and was collected by the Last Chance Salvage company. I got it when I signed up to get some random salvage."

"Whoa, cool! That is awesome!"He shouted. "I want that one." He was joking of course but he still thought it was awesome. Aoi came up and shyly handed Trowa a drawing that she was working on and it was a picture of Trowa and Yoshiro working on their ship together. It was a crude drawing as her drawing skills were not great.

Trowa smiled lovingly at the drawling. It reminded him of the drawlings Elanor Aeon, his daughter, draws him. "It is beautiful." He said, with complete honesty.

Aoi smiled shyly and bowed to Trowa and then went back to whatever she decided she was going to do. Meanwhile, Sho was studying the picture that Trowa, in awe at what he was looking at.

"Maybe we'll have time to go and see it in person. I've got it down being overhauled so that I can acutally use it. Needs some upgrades and what not. If I can find time to head over there we'll go see it." Trowa said casually.

"Really, sir? I got to ask my mom first but that would be cool!" Sho said and look to his mother and before he even asked, his mother said yes. "Just be careful, okay Sho? And try not to get too excited okay?" Maya said. Sho was ecstatic and hugged his mother. Maya smiled and went back to finish cleaning up from dinner.

Trowa turned to Yoshio. "You've got a wonderful family Yosh."

"Yeah, I do. This is why that I joined the Star Army, to protect this kind of thing for everyone" Yoshiro said and smiled. "Aoi and Sho are the best things that ever happened to me. It turned my life around." He sipped his coffee and relaxed.

"What about a sweet heart?" Trowa asked. "A young man your age has got to be sweet on somebody."

"I don't have anyone that I think of like that, yet. I am not sure that my job allows for a relationship or anything." Yoshiro said with a sigh. "With what happened in my past, I do come with some baggage, besides."

Trowa raised an eyebrow at the young man. That had to be some of the weakest excuses he had heard of. "Yosh, everyone comes with baggage. No one is perfect. Not even my wife." He chuckled to himself. "Also you have as much time as you allow yourself to have. True we're gone a lot with our duties, but we get a lot of leave. Especially with how often we have to come back to get the ship fixed. Haha."

"I'll think about it. I do see some of the ladies in town looking at me. Makes me smile."Yoshiro said.

"I'm sure if we asked your mom she'd give you a list of several nice girls around that you could ask out." Trowa teased. "And don't worry. If you had a terrible date, you just hop back on the ship."

Yoshiro blushes at the thought that his mother would have a list of prospective girlfriends but he was happy that his mother could possibly help him in his love life or lack there of. "I guess we could but we need to put a limit on what she does. I get this feeling if she hears this conversation she is going to go overboard." Yoshiro said with a laugh. He was starting to feel good about this whole relationship thing.

"Fair enough." Trowa laughed holding up his mug to toast Yoshiro.

= = =

JP END

Charaa, Wes, Ame, Cowboy, Soban, Zanven, Yoshiro, Sunny D, Nakshatra

YSS Resurgence - Onsen

After Majnun had left, Mineko splashed a bit of water towards Sanda, "How come you got a line of questioning in but I get a cold shoulder?" She shook her head out, piercing her eyes through the fog of the onsen. "You know, though, I've been on the Resrgence for this whole year and that's the first time I got the impression someone doesn't like me. I guess it sounds like I'm griping, but really I'm thankful that the crew has been so warm and welcoming that it's not common to wonder if someone likes me or not." She turned to smile at Sanda, then Erika. "Thanks for making it feel like that for me."

YSS Resurgence - Onsen

Majnun overheard the analyst's words as she stepped towards the dressing area with a clearly confused expression on her face. She felt that anyone would react that way towards someone asking them the same question twice in the same instance, though she mused about the woman's wellbeing. Perhaps there was more going on underneath the analyst's surface that she just was not ready to share with a newly arrived member of the crew. While she wanted to respond to reassure Mineko that there was no hard feelings, she felt that this was not the right time. Slipping her clothes back on she paused for a moment casting a concerned look over to the crew briefly. Maybe this was not the right place for her after all, she made note that she might need to talk with the chain of command about her concerns.

Onsen

Sanda looked at Mineko with a straight face. "Because your an intelligence analyst. She probably thinks your interrogating her. Whereas I, as everyone knows, am such a friendly, compassionate, open, invit... haha." she couldn't keep a straight face any longer and burst out laughing. Sanda was a very reserved person who didn't warm to new people quickly. Usually it took a few missions to prove you were loyal and dedicated to the Star Army before Sanda opened up to people.

At Mineko's complements Sanda smiled. "Has it really been that long? My my how time flies. I won't worry too much about it. She's new. She'll warm up to us." Sanda sank a little lower in the water, closing her eyes and just taking it in. With her eyes closed she could still see the after images of the lightning strikes she had been out in. "I mean we didn't hit it off right away either, you know?" Sanda stated, her eyes still shut. "Takes a little while for some people."

Sanda opened one eye to look at Mineko. "Come to think of it, I don't think I ever asked you why you became an intelligence analyst. Why did you become an intelligence analyst?"

YSS Resurgence - Onsen

"You don't give yourself enough credit. I remember when Erika and I were talking to you about going berserker mode on the Mishhu last mission. You were pretty much all of those things. Maybe you're just slow to warm, but you're definitely friendly and open and inviting when you've gotten to know someone. Spending a year in a cabin with someone could do that to a person. Or half of one in Erika's case."

"Analyst? Me? The easy answer is someone close to me thought it would be a good idea." Mineko said to Sanda's question. Her blueish red eyes quickly slid to Erika, "Stella. I wonder if you'd like her. She noticed my long answer, which is that I like putting things together and solving mysteries, if I can." She looked at the little green maple tree in the corner behind the pool after saying that, pensively. She was leaving the mystery that her life had started with unsaid.

"I like putting everything we know up against what we don't and seeing what I can figure out. Having such and such information and coming to a conclusion and hopefully being right. It's kind of difficult to do out in the field so I asked the captain to be on the ship for our next mission. I'll be in your ears helping with mission operator duties, as well. But it feels like everything opens up to me when I'm working at one of the Resurgence's bridge consoles sifting through whatever I can find surrounding the issue at hand."

"Like with the Seelies!" Her eyes brightened and she pointed to Sanda and she looked at her excitedly. "That was, I don't know. Maybe I want to say 'euphoric' because I'm floating in warm water after being out in the rain, which is truly euphoric. Whoever's idea it was to come in here, smart one."

YE 45.8
Central Uesureya, Yamatai
YSS Resurgence, Hangar Bay

A new face made her way into the hangar block, seemingly out of nowhere after having appeared from the rather unfortunate bad weather outside. She let out an exasperated sigh as she slid an absolutely drenched umbrella into a small collection bin near the entrance. She unbuttoned her new, yet heavily 'battle damaged' type 32 coat, which had so valiantly fought off the relentless barrage of falling dihydrogen monoxide the female had been subjected to in her journey from the transport to the hangar bay, keeping her uniform relatively unharmed (though, her bag had not been so lucky...). Unfortunately for her though, the coat did not cover her entire body... She looked behind as she extended a pair of rather large sponges attached to her back, which had unfortunately taken a considerable amount of water. As fun as elysian wings were, they were evidently not big fans of rain. Knowing she wouldn't be able to sit down and dry them off in the middle of a starship hangar, the Elysian bit the figurative bullet and moved further inside, attempting to distract herself from her drenched wings. Fortunately for her, the sight of the Fuji-Class gunship sitting proudly inside the hangar bay was one hell of a distraction.

Her eyes trailing along the hull of the YSS Resurgence, the Elysian briefly stopped in place as she took in the gunships mighty presence. Pictures and models did not do the Fuji class justice- they were much more majestic in person. After just a moment of admiration, the Elysian continued walking towards the cargo ramp of the of the vessel which was to be her new home. Once right outside the resurgence's cargo bay, the Elysian decided to completely remove her drenched coat, shoving it straight into her bag after some level of neat folding. Not only would it just get in the way now, but it looked like it had been through a water park. Fixing up her type 35 duty uniform just a little, (and perhaps with an attempt to straighten out her drenched feathers, not that it was going to help her out much at this point), the female pressed her new communicator gently to report in.

"Santo Hei Chiheisen Takahashi to Taisa Aoba, reporting in for duty"
Chiheisen briefly spoke into the communicator, standing by near the cargo ramp as she awaited further instructions...

YE 45.8
Central Uesureya, Yamatai
YSS Resurgence, Hangar Bay

As Takahashi entered the hangar bay she could see a pair of technicians using a crane to place huge, thick, and heavy heavy pieces of armor onto the ship's frame. It looked like they were close to being finished. The ship's hull, unlike the standard light blue-gray color of most Star Army ships, was painted in the patriotic colors of the Yamatai Star Empire's flag, as if it was expected to appear in an air show or parade, but the battle scars and replacement panels with newer paint told another story: this was a combat vessel that was seeing war first-hand when it went out into space.

One of the infantry soldiers on guard duty introduced himself to Takahashi. "Afternoon! Colby Wando," he said, offering a handshake. "We could use some new fighters. The away team has been in some pretty tough fights lately, including running into the Mishhuvurthyar more than once. It's good to have you join us. You can enter the ship through the cargo loading ramp over there. Beryl is in the cargo bay and she can help you get settled in and meet the captain."

"Permission to board is granted," Aoba's voice replied on the communicator.

YSS Resurgence - Hangar

Chiheisen's head turned towards Colby as he approached, the Elysians gaze snapping away from her wrist mounted communicator to the infantry man's extended hand. She hesitated momentarily before finally accepting the handshake, giving Colby a courteous nod. Chiheisen didn't seem like she was too keen on conversing, the Elysian turning towards the boarding ramp to the Fuji-class starship in front of her. She began to walk towards and onto the boarding ramp, her destination being the inside of the cargo bay! "Understood Wando-Hei. Thank you." She nodded towards the Ittô Hei, before turning back to her destination and continuing her journey up the Resurgences cargo bay. Her eyes were once again distracted by the technological marvel that was the Fuji Class she was boarding.

YSS Resurgence - Cargo Bay

The Elysian stepped inside the cargo bay as she curiously took in the vessels grandeur, still evidently very distracted by her new surroundings. Once she had regained her bearings inside the cargo bay, the Elysian's eyes scanned the multiple people working on repairs and moving things around her, searching for Beryl, the person that Colby had instructed her to contact. But it was only a moment until Chiheisen realized the inherent flaw in her strategy, something she had completely forgotten to ask the Minkan that had greeted her.

She had no fucking idea who Beryl was...

YSS Resurgence - Cargo Bay

Beryl was scanning pallets of foods and other supplies when Chiheisen came in. She was a curvy and pale woman with bright and vivid sea green hair and big teal green eyes. Thankfully the bright orange color panels on Beryl's uniform made her easy to spot as one of the ship's Unit Supply Specialists who were responsible for the ship's stores and connections with the Star Army's vast logistics network. When Chiheisen came aboard, Beryl came over and helped her with her soggy bags.

"Good afternoon, I'm Jôtô Heisho Beryl Leyton, I've assigned you Cabin 8 on Deck 4. It's in the main area for enlisted personnel. Let me help you get your things stowed. I can also issue you anything you need, such an exploration suit or MINDY power armor if there's not a custom-fitted Elysian one already on the way for you."

YSS Resurgence - Cargo Bay

Chiheisen's gaze fixed on the incoming Supply Specialists bright orange uniform, silently thankful that she didn't have to go through the rather embarrassing ordeal of returning and asking the Minkan from before... She offered the Jôtô Heisho a bow as she approached, and was about to go on to identify herself- interrupted by Beryl who seemed to be already privy of such information. The Elysian simply made a mental note of the information provided, as she could always simply ask the ships MEGAMI if she ended up forgetting. She seemed to hesitantly accept the Heisho's help with carrying the drenched bags, still continuing to carry one herself.

"Understood. I don't believe I have an Elysian fitted MINDY requisitioned just yet- so it would be helpful to procure one. I did not have the time to do so- I was only made aware recently that the Resurgence was undergoing repairs in Kyoto, and that I was assigned to it"

YSS Resurgence - Cargo Bay

There was a brief pause as Beryl did something in her head. "I've started the order for it. See if you can catch Dr. Poppy before she leaves the medical lab; you'll want a full 3D body scan to send in for the Mindy's custom fitting. It's customary to get a mental backup and DNA records anyway, in case you die in the field. Follow me."

Deck 4

After ascending to the next deck via a lift, the two came to a complex of crew cabins plus showers, a head (toilets), and a laundry room. It was right across from main engineering according to the labels on the big sliding doors. "These are the enlisted cabins. Right now you have cabin 8 to yourself, but that will probably change soon. Beryl opened the cabinet door to reveal a clean-looking and somewhat compact crew cabin with four bunkbeds, foot lockers, and wall lockers, and a desk and a chair in it. The beds each had a folded set of sheets and regal blue blankets and a pillow on them. "The medical lab is on this deck, forward of these crew cabins."

Deck 4

Chiheisens eye's seemed to still dart around the hallways as she still took in her new surroundings... She seemed to at the very least snap out of it once Beryl began to provide information about the deck, and about where she should head to next. The Elysian peeked into the room once the cargo specialist opened the door, inspecting its neat interior... She stepped inside, the loner inside of her overjoyed at the fact that she was alone in the cabin for the time being. It also meant she had first pickings on which bed she was going to claim in the cabin. Chiheisen stepped inside and put down her bags inside, next to one of the bottom bunk beds for the time being. She would have plenty of time to unpack her stuff later, but for the time being, there were more pressing matters.

"Ill head to medical to get those measurements taken then.. but first..." She hesitated, before extending one of her wings inside the room to its full wingspan, or atleast, as much as she could without slamming into the wall. Although some time had passed since her misadventures out in the rain- her feathers were still pretty soaked, and it was starting to get to her. "Is there someplace i can get these dried off..." The Santo-hei didnt seem very enthusiastic at the prospect of asking for help, but she wasnt going to show up and get scanned looking like a wet sponge...

YSS Resurgence - Onsen

"Sometimes people are like oil and water." Erika said, her head craned back against the stones of the pool, and her eyes closed. "So long as you can work together, you don't need to be friends."

She then lazily lent forwards and cast a sideways glance at Sanda. "And you, Thunder? Since we're all sharing, what made you want to join the infantry and become a Ranger? To be honest I don't imagine you doing anything else, aside from maybe a Florist for some strange reason." Erika said, placing a finger to her chin.

Onsen

Sanda had temporarily gotten out of the water to readjust the towel around her hair. She had another towel wrapped around her body, the lightning bolts shooting down her arms and long legs seemed to stand out more that usual. Either they had become supercharged in the storm or the water was heating them up as well. Sanda rolled her eyes at Erika. "Is that because I keep a flower pot in my room? Brilliant deduction there, SAINT." Sanda teased. She splashed some water at Erika as she slid back into the warm water herself.

At first Sanda just sat in the water and protested that she had shared her story so many times everyone had surely heard it and had grown tired of hearing about the troublesome youth who joined the Star Army. But it seemed like most of those present had not heard the story before so Sanda gave a slightly condensed version. Basically she had been a wild youth separated from her parents at a very young age and raised by her sister. She had been mad at the universe and unwilling to listen to anyone. Right around her 18th birthday, she had been running with a gang but hadn't been blooded to it yet. On her initiation night, she attacked Trowa and gotten her butt kicked. Instead of turning her in, Trowa had challenged her to join the Star Army. She had and had done pretty well. Her drill instructor told her she had a natural talent for stealth and recommended her for Ranger school as soon as she graduated. She excelled there, graduating top 3 in her class.

"If I had to do something other than combat... " Sanda thought a moment. "I'd probably be a cook. I've always loved cooking, especially with my sister, Estrella."

Onsen

Yayoi Asakura was silent as she made her way to the starship YSS Resurgence's Onsen. She thought that joining the other crew members including the woman she thought of as sister and thus, auntie to her daughter Yuri. Silently barely acknowleding the other crew members she passed in the halls, before finally she entered the onsen area and prepared to enter.

As Yayoi entered the onsen area of the starship YSS Resurgence, she was greeted by the soothing atmosphere of the Japanese-style hot spring. The air was filled with a gentle mist, and the soft sound of trickling water echoed through the space. The room was adorned with traditional Japanese decorations, creating a serene and tranquil ambiance.

Yayoi's footsteps were muffled on the smooth, heated tiles as she approached the changing area. She exchanged silent nods with a few crew members who were also preparing to enjoy the onsen. The camaraderie among the crew was palpable, even in the quiet nods and smiles they shared.

Choosing a spot to change, Yayoi efficiently undressed and wrapped herself in a provided towel. The anticipation of the warm onsen waters was a welcomed comfort, and the familiarity of this ritual provided a sense of grounding for her. She tied her hair back, securing it away from the water, before making her way toward the edge of the onsen.

As she descended into the steaming water, a sigh of relief escaped her lips. The heat embraced her, and she felt the tension in her muscles gradually melt away. The onsen was a sanctuary—a place for relaxation and contemplation. Yayoi closed her eyes, allowing the serenity of the moment to envelop her.

The other crew members in the onsen engaged in hushed conversations, enjoying the therapeutic warmth and camaraderie that extended beyond the confines of duty. Yayoi's mind drifted, reflecting on the challenges and triumphs they had faced together. The Sanda, the woman she considered a sister and auntie to her daughter was nearby, sharing in this quiet moment of respite.

In the tranquil waters of the onsen, Yayoi found solace—a temporary escape from the demands of their interstellar journey. As the minutes passed, she let herself be enveloped by the peaceful ambiance, of the YSS Resurgence.

YSS Resurgence - Onsen

"Yeah," Mineko had shrugged at Erika's oil and water comment. "It's a crying shame. Gotta remind myself I've only got the energy to try to be friends with the people that also want to try." Staying her reflexive want to be friends with everybody, Mineko dropped down lower into the water. She tried to convince herself of what she and Erika had said as she let her attention fall on Sanda and her chaotic initiation into the Star Army. She sunk lower and lower until her knees were touching the bottom of the pool. Her whole body felt the squeezing warmth of the water as her head and dark purple hair all bundled into a double bun poked out of the water.

"They noticed your natural inclinations for sneaking, huh? Weird to think that if you had joined up just a few years later when the MOS was no more, you might have become SAINT instead of going the Ranger route," Mineko said as she jutted her jaw above water. She thought of how there were not a lot of non-asset ships with more than an analyst and operative on board. "Then we all probably wouldn't have met."

"I think I'd still rather you be wearing black panels than yellow, though!" She added with a laugh. "You're too important to have out there in the field, Thunder— I don't care how good your cooking is!"