YSS Battle of Ayenee Capital City ("The BACC")
Hangar 1
It was true, Fuyuko had expected to run a deck team when she’d originally been assigned to the 5th Expeditionary Fleet. It was also true that she’d worried about being promoted away from the more hands on Deck Boss side of her MOS. She’d initially come to accept that she’d be one of the senior FCOs on the
Resurrection. Not on the deck, but still in the action. She could live with that. Then the flag was transferred to
Battle of Ayenee Capital City along with a handpicked slue of Ketsurui-Motoyoshi-Taisho's officers. Much to her horror, Fuyuko found her name on the list, not listed as a Deck Officer or even a Tower Officer. Unless they were planning on dropping a Shosa on her or something, she was it. She was the Chief Flight Control Officer, The Air Boss. New responsibilities without the rank to go align with them it seemed. Something about throwing a pity party while living in a
damn castle didn’t sit right with her, though. Instead she’d spent the last few months ensconced in her temporary quarters at Jiyuu-jō enrolling herself in remote classes on leadership and organization and familarizing herself with the new vessel and its requirements. By the time they were ready to cast off, she had submitted a list of equipment and personnel requests as long as her leg. Reading personnel records, requesting officers and NCOs she’d worked with in the 2xF.
The day had finally come, she sat aboard the Taisho’s personal shuttle allowing herself to pretend she hadn’t become part of the woman’s retinue. The lushly appointed VIP Fukuro wasn’t the only craft in the BACC’s congested airspace. The
Logistics Wing was firing on all cylinders today bringing personnel and equipment from across the Empire. Fuyuko had been monitoring their operations from her datapad for most of the flight. The glass of single malt whisky neat in her other hand was just another perk of flying Star Army First Class. As the shuttle touched down in Hangar 1 with a barely perceptible hiss, she downed her drink and joined the cue of disembarking senior officers.
The vertigo she’d kept at bay for months hit her full force as she surveyed the red panels swarming the shuttle. Those were her troops. So was that gray paneled Shio directing a team of orange paneled logistics specialists. Over their heads she could see the Super Kawarimes of the
17th, Pathfinder Squadron, still sporting their livery from when the
Resurrection was the flag. She’d have to get that changed.
She would have to get that changed. As her booted foot hit the deck, the reality that everything in this hangar, and in all the hangars had become her responsibility fully settled onto her shoulders.
Stepping away from the disembarking VIPs, she waved over the soldiers who weren’t engaged in pressing duties. To make up for her short stature, she floated up a bit. Addressing her little group she said,
“Hey, crew I’m Matsumoto-Chui, the new Air Boss on station.” She paused surveying the faces of the assembled crowd for some sort of reassurance. She made eye contact with a gray paneled Minkan Chui. He didn’t seem very impressed that a woman the same rank as him had been placed so far above him.
You and me both, buddy. “I suck at speeches, so I’m not gonna make one. Or any big promises. Just know, none of you would be here if you didn’t know your shit. The same goes for anybody else joining you. Looking around, it looks like you’ve all been kicking ass, and once ops tempo picks up, we’ll have even more ass to kick. Ganbatte ne!”
Dropping back to the ground, she stuck around and mingled for a little. This might be one of her only chances to leave a good impression on her enlisted. Overseeing a department numbering in the thousands, even understaffed, she doubted she’d get many opportunities to talk directly to the rank and file.