YE45.2: 1 DAY AGO - FORT VICTORY, YAMATAI
Excited steps pattered around the hardwood floor as the short-statured Neko rushed to pack her bags. It was happening! It was
finally happening! She was assigned to an official starship within the prestigious Star Army! And not just her, but Annelise was going to be there as well. As she traversed the house and gathered her things, she packed them away as quick as she could, then onto the next! At one point she hurriedly maneuvered around her mom, who was trying to do a final load of laundry.
In a mix of surprise and frustration, Annelise reactively lifted the basket over her daughter’s head. A flighty ”sorry” sounded from the Specialist as she disappeared around the corner. Strixdottir took a moment to collect herself. She was simply excited, that’s all. It was her first big assignment since she was born. And being assigned to a ship was no small matter. A small smile appeared on the stoic Nekovalkyrja’s face. And her smile only softened as she threw the last load in and answered any questions sent her way.
An odd feeling struck her… She should’ve been excited as well, right? She should‘ve been as energized and fueled as her daughter. There was no mistaking that she was honored by the orders given to them. So why didn’t she match her daughters energy? Why didn’t she feel the same way? On a worse note, why did she feel the stark opposite?
YE45.2: 32 HOURS AGO - YSS KOUN
Dread. That was it.
Where Vera surged and bounced around with relentless excitement, Annelise stood stiff with anticipation. Her rich, green gaze glued themselves to the impressive exterior of the YSS Koun. The starship was like others she’d boarded before, especially during her time at the War College. A memory that should’ve been old and tucked away, instead fresh on her mind like it was yesterday. Arms hung limply against her sides, cold fingers rubbing against their own palms to procure some feeling. She felt her breathing constrict in every inhale, and her eyebrows slowly cinched together. But the worst part of it all was having no grounds for her dread at all! Where was it coming from, and why was it so ominous-
”Annelise?” Vera held onto the sleeve of her mother’s jacket, her upbeat energy falling. She didn’t realize her mom would have a different reaction than she. Annelise flinched and snapped her eyes downward, locking onto Vera’s crystal blue irises. All her muscles relaxed and she breathed regularly again.
”Forgive me,” she began. “It was more daunting than I realized.”
”Oh, right,” Vera pondered, bringing a hand to her lips. “Technically, this is your first big mission too.“
”Yes,” Annelise hung onto that reply longer than anticipated. Green eyes trailed up to the hull of the ship as her voice faded away. She forced herself to close her eyes and take a deep breath, looking down again as Vera hugged her arm reassuringly. “We’ll be fine. All we have to do is follow orders.”
”Right!” Vera’s cheery disposition returned in an instant, and it brought a grateful smile to her mother’s face. She was so grateful her daughter would be joining her on this new adventure.
YE45.2: PRESENT - YSS KOUN: TAIIE NEBULA
Annelise and Vera arrived and stood at attention when Chusa Belmont called the crew into the wardroom. He was dressed as any proper Chusa would be: professionally, pristinely, proficiently. His commanding presence and confident demeanor immediately garnered respect from Strixdottir, and Annesdottir locked onto him with anticipatory wonder. When everyone arrived Alastair began to speak.
He welcomed the newest members of the crew by thanking them for joining. Annelise nodded subtly while Vera beamed with a giant grin. Next, he alighted the crew to the honest reality of the situation. They were traversing into the unknown, and they didn’t know how it was going to turn out. Annelise appreciated that. He encouraged the crew to read up on the Nebula they headed towards, as well as any files provided by fellow starships. He warned that enemies likely abounded, and to stay sharply aware of the possible dangers in their midst. Another understanding nod exuded from the 33A. This was a good sign. A calm and commanding presence, but one which didn’t sugarcoat the situation either. A healthy balance. Annelise could see the two of them working well together.
Finally, he instructed his crew to suit up according to their preferences. He recommended a well-rounded kit, to be prepared for any instance. That was the same path of logic Annelise decided on. Her rigid frame relaxed, ever slightly. Yes. They
were going to work well together. Unexpectedly, he opened up the floor to anyone else who wished to speak. Something Annelise was not prepared for. She remained deathly quiet, chancing brief glances at her new crew-mates. Would any of them speak up?
Intuition had her drop her gaze down, to the side. Vera stood at attention, like her mother, but she looked like she would burst at the seams. Annelise wasn’t sure if she was listening properly. She would follow up with her later, once they were dismissed. But as she formulated her monologue, Vera couldn’t help but speak up.
”Sorry!” she exclaimed. She bounced up and down a couple times, her giant space buns bouncing just as much. “I’m so excited! Thank you so much for having us!”