RP Transuniversal Ops - The Interview

By Wes and Andrew. To finish what we started prior!

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Cheol was struck by the presence of Taisho Ketsurui-Shinjuku Hanako as she approached him at the recruiting station. Her aura exuded authority and grace, leaving no doubt in Cheol's mind tht she was a person of immense importance. As she introduced herself, Cheol felt a mix of excitement and nervousness but managed to maintain his composure. He stood up from his seat, offering a respectful bow before replying, "It's an honor to meet you, Taisho Ketsurui-Shinjuku Hanako. I'm Cheol Eitan, former Kryso of the MERN and the new Aestaesys of Tsenlan, and that is right, I'm deeply interested in serving in the Star Army." He couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and determination as he spoke those words.

Cheol's eyes briefly scanned the recruiting station, taking in the impressive surroundings. The projections of historical figures and the sleek, modern design of the facility spoke volumes about the importance and prestige of the Star Army. It was clear to him that this was an organization where he could make a meaningful contribution. With a polite smile, he continued, "I've been following the Star Army's activities and achievements for quite some time. The dedication and valor of its personnel have inspired me, and I'm eager to be a part of this noble cause." Cheol's voice conveyed his genuine enthusiasm as he awaited further guidance from the Taisho.

Hanako gave Cheol a warm smile. "I am pleased to meet you. In the Star Army, we consider MERN personnel to be old allies and fellow veterans. Despite this, I am not intimately familiar with the MERN terminiology. What is a Kryso?" she asked, curiously.

"I believe it would be a Shosho of Taisho to you, an Admiral of a fleet. Our structure was slightly different than yours -- before everything fell apart anyway," he answered. Cheol then explained, "A lot of my time was spent inspecting crew performance, and administrative work until the war with the Craethel escalated and my fleet was sent to the front lines." He was oddly a little nervous to him the Star Army of Yamatai until his move to Tsenlan was something he had only read about.

"It sounds like you are someone with a great deal of expertise and experience then as well as leadership skills. Tell me, how many years has your military career spanned thus far? Do you have any war stories to share or moments you'll remember fondly? I am eager to learn more about you and how it worked in your military compared to the Star Army," Hanako said. "Say, do you want to talk about it over some tea in my office?"

Cheol listened carefully to what the Taisho had to ask. He took a moment to try and convert the Norian calendar into the Yamataian calendar so he could best approximate the years. He nodded and stood up, "Tea would be wonderful, so lead the way." he said as he thought back through his years of service. He would follow her, but began to answer her questions. "I went to Defense Education School in YE 26 shortly after I was adopted by the Eitan Ysi. I was very young and determined to impress my new family," he explained. He would wait though until they were settled again before he would finish.

Hanako showed Cheol out of the waiting area and through the Uesureyan Fortress's historic corridors to an office with wood paneled walls and hardwood flooring with the shapes of Star Army starships inlaid into it. A large desk was located at one end in front of a thousand-year-old fireplace (a rarity on Yamatai and especially in Kyoto). In the corners were flags of Yamatai present and historical, and the walls were covered in photos and plaques of soldiers who had given their lives for Yamatai so they and their sacrifice could always be remembered by whoever commanded the Personnel division. Hanako had an electric kettle on marble-topped buffet table on the other side, and she got it going, the room quickly filling with a soft bubbling sound as the water began to boil. "I was adopted, too," she told Cheol. "Yui used me as a servant at first, but she eventually took me into the Ketsurui Clan and later freed me and gave me a career in the Star Army. After that I had to earn my own way to ship captain and beyond. Were you born naturally?"

Cheol looked around the office as they entered, he took just a quick moment to look at the pictures on the walls, but his eyes were immediately drawn toward the old fireplace, he was kind of surprise to see something that looked that antique as that his experience with Yamatai to date had been exploring places that felt very new. He would wait for her to invite him to sit, so he stood as she made the tea. "I was born naturally.." he said with careful consideration, the fact he felt he could be honest with her about his origins showed his comfort, "My father had been someone important in the government, but he had other priorities and left. My mother died violently during the Umarian Wars. When I was adopted by the Eitans the military became an even larger extension of that family." He then decided to continue with what she had previously asked, "During the end of the 3rd Umarian War, there were very few actually schooled officers that were suitable for command. It opened opportunites and pushed me to do even better to get promoted." He glanced downward for a second, "From that war, to the void wars and then the Craethel War I served in the military. Coming to Yamatai brought me my first taste of civilian life in many years, but I find I miss the military life." He noted she had asked about his war stories before and said, "I have a specific event that helped define my military career, if you would like to hear it?" he offered.
No

"It sounds like you've been in the military almost your entire adult life, as I have," Hanako observed. "Of course, I'd love to hear it," Hanako told him. She gestured towards a large, comfortable looking antique chair that had leather upholstery and some sort of furry animal pelt blanket on it. "Please feel free to sit," she said, pulling up a TV dinner tray next to the chair. She poured the now-boiling water into a clear glass teapot with a small pile of tea leaves in a basket inside.


Cheol sat down where he was invited to sit, when he sat down he was kind of taken aback by how comfortable the chair was. He had found high ranking people from his own culture to be rather spartan at times, and this was a welcomed difference. The smell of the tea was wonderful, unlike a majority of his kind he neither wore nostril filters or any other kind of sensory device other than sunscreen. "During the early days of the Craethel War, I was put in command of our 3rd Expeditionary Fleet, part of the 1st Imperial Armada. We were losing very badly, the Craethel had superior technology and unlike any enemy before them, they were not fighting for territory or to subjugate us..they wanted our extermination and nothing more or less." he explained the setting for what would be the most impactful event of his career, "Our fleet was positioned near Lorenz, one of the more populated capital worlds of what was then the Continuum/Minatu Empire, and we knew the Craethel were coming, our long range recon drones and outposts seen their hulks as they moved toward our area of influence." he looked to Hanako, intensity in his eyes and then continued, "I was used to winning, maybe too used to it. Rather than to end up like those who defended Aelantia, I had my fleet take on civilians, I remember every corner of the ship had someone sitting, standing or laying in it. Well, the Craethel came as we had predicted and they massacured Lorenz. We held them off as long as we could before we were forced to retreat." He adjusted his posture, "It felt like for days, there no where to go. Food became scarce,there was no depots to restock at. We thought we were all going to die. Just before it felt like we were going to hit the end, I had been staring at the starmap thinking about what had happened, and I remembered a system that we had mapped after the Void Wars, development never managed to happen there but the planet in that system supported life." he relaxed a little in the chair.

"When we found food and water there, I remember how those civilians reacted, how grateful they were that we had saved them. It made me understand more than ever before, why we did what we did. I think for me, that was the moment that my life choice to join the military seemed like something worthwhile," he finished his story and waited ot see what should say.

"I know what you mean," Hanako said. "I took on the positions of Director of Star Army Personnel and ran for Premier because it meant being able to help the most people. That is the essence of what we do...to be strong so that when action is needed to protect what is important, we have the ability to do so. Preparation is more than just stockpiles of weapons or fleets of starships, but in making a force of people who know who to handle any situtation, who are wise enough to know what to do, and trained enough to make smart decisions when faced with the horror of war or anything else that comes. When your civilization was falling to the attacks, you made the decision to save and protect as many people as you could. I think your heart is in the right place," she told Cheol. She handed him a tea cup and saucer and poured some of the freshly-brewed tea into it for him. "Sugar?" she offered.

Cheol was rather satisfied that Hanako and he both viewed war the way they did. Too many of his own people had become so used to it, that the concept of peace had left them behind. "It appears your heart is in the right place as well, it is honorable that you seek to help your people," he commented, and then held his right hand up and shook his head, "No thank you, just the tea is fine."

Hanako nodded. "I just hope there is someone great to hand this office to when my term is up," she laughed. "I essentially have two more than full time jobs now and it is exhausting," she admitted. "Lately the Star Army has been heading out to explore the greater Kagami Galaxy to find and fight the Mishhuvurthyar before they grow stronger, but also because we do not want to put all our eggs in one pasket in the Kikyo Sector after seeing some of what threats are out there. Where do you see yourself in the Star Army, in terms of role?"


Cheol knew of the war that the Star Army was engaged in, it had not deterred him at all from making this step. As a Senator he too had a second full time job and could appreciate how exhausted that Hanako must be. He said, "I had something in mind, but I know that the war with the Mishhuvurthyar is the top priority right now," he said then took a sip of the tea that she had made, "I know that the Star Army operates a base in Ayenee and likely has operations in other universes. Being from another universe myself, I wanted to offer myself as someone who is capable of working in such operations." He was careful with his words when he considered the rest of what he had to say, "I also know with the fact our home nation survived, that its likely that home is something that the Star Army will want to understand as well, especially as they begin to move into this universe as well. However, I am open to go where you need me, Taisho. Where the Star Army needs me, the people of Tsenlan and I are indebted to you." Cheol was not like his adopted siblings, he had always been very humble but wished to do whatever he could to help people.

"Honestly, that sounds great to me. We could use someone of your expertise in such a role," Hanako said. "We'll of course send you through officer training to learn the ways of the Star Army, but I am willing to recognize your rank and make you a Star Army equivalent."

Cheol nodded his head in affirmation and said, "That is more than I could ever ask for, I look forward to learning your ways and to make a difference in Yamatai. I want to be apart of the great organization that saved both me, and the people I represent. Am I still able to be a Senator while serving?" He was curious about the last part, unsure of what Yamatai's rules were.

"To a future of cooperation...working as protectors," Hanako toasted him with her teacup. "Yes, you can."

He toasted her back ith his own teacup, "To the future of the Empire."