OK, a couple of days (very eventful days for Kiku) have passed. (@_@_@_@_@_@) It's morning, when you all traditionally get togvther for breakfast in the officer's mess. what are you doing? (and the rest of us were sitting around doing nothing?) OK, what were you doing, keika? It's just that Kiku's had multiple minis with me so i know what happened to her. (I don't know, I've got no idea what's been going on, so I'll just say relearning how to Karasu and watching for the Slythe to do something stupid.) OK. Hilde, what have you been up to? * Hilde eating waffles with her two cans of Notcoke(tm) * Nova 's been in the gym and combat training area a lot during her free time over the last several days. (probably engaged in another videogame) None of you saw Kiku yesterday, and there have been rumors flying around the base that something terrible has happened to her. (Oh no! She's been turned into...a chocolate Easter bunny!) (=n_n=) OK, it's morning and breakfast time. The mess is open and the waffles, hotcakes and scrambled eggs aee nice and hot. * Nova grabs her usual fair and sits at her usual spot at the usual table. * Hilde already seated and eating (So talkative!) I'll wait until Keika's connected again. (Well there's one person's excuse) (What's your excuse, miss Cheery Videogamer? ^_~) (Mouth is full) (Yes, we're quiet. We lost RDM. ^_^;) (Shhhh, quiet or the Lurking Things will come) (That would explain why it got so quite) (You'd be surprised. ^_~) OK, is Kiku there yet? or Keika? (I made an entrance, but after I disconected ^^;) (Re-make your entrance, please) * Keika makes her entrance into the mess, at her usual time in her usual manner and in her usual uniform, what is unusual is that she's not the last one today. (OMG!) (Kiku, you're not there until you tell me you are.) (I know. I think she deserves to be a little slow just this once. ^_^;) * Karasu does the usual glancing around and if Keika is surprised at the shortage of pilots she doesn't show it. "Anybody seen Kiku?" (Sure - anyways, why not rest - I'm sure the enemy will attack at any moment since we're all eating and relaxing now.) (*snicker*) * Keika goes to get in line for hotcakes. * Hilde takes another bite while she waits for someone to answer (Sadly, you're waiting on Nova. ^_~) * Keika exits the line with hotcakes and juice and goes for a seat at the table. * Jex is now known as Jexless * Nova responds, "Kiku was in the gym shower room two afternoons ago." ( =D ) (Yay! Thank you, Nova. You spoke. Have a cookie.) (She's happy to help!) * Hilde blinks then attempts to reword her question "Has anyone seen Kiku recently?" She's alive, and breathing... I can't give you much more than that. "Ooookay" *returns to eating her waffles* * Kiku walks into the mess hall, oddly late. In what is also a definite change of pace for her, she's wearing a dark green dress that completely covers her arms and legs and even goes right up against her neck. She's got Haguro today and slowly shuffles to the food-line. She's not looking at _anyone_. * Karasu is looking at Kiku though and turning his head from side to side to so he can see with both eyes. * Hilde watches Kiku as she eats, not saying anything, just observing * Keika reaches up and pulls Karasu's beak down. * Nova responds, "Nova has not." (recently ; ) ) (sorry - Nova's not much of a conversationalist =) ) * Kiku filters her way through the line and pins Haguro under her arm as she carries her food over to the table with everyone there. She sits down quietly and once seated says, quietly, "Morning." "Morning" * Kiku sounds a little hoarse, maybe. She puts Haguro on the table and nods slightly at Hilde's reply. * Keika contines to eat and occasionaly drag Karasu's attention away from Kiku's plushie. "Decided to rejoin the living today?" * Nova eyes Kiku's plushie and says, "Butterfly." "I've missed something again, I see" * Kiku looks up at Nova and smiles weakly. "Yes." She then looks between Keika and Hilde. "I... needed some time." She looks down at her food and pokes herself up a forkful of eggs to eat. * Nova goes back to eatting. * Hilde nods slowly * Keika eats dry pancakes with a knife and fork. "Take all you need." * Kiku nods slightly, has another bite, then says, "Are... people talking about me again?" Suddenly the door to the mess opens and Kei walks in, heading towards the food line. This is odd because Kei usually has her own breakfast elsewhere. Yes, evedently you've been kidnapped and held for rasome. * Kiku blinks and lets out a slight giggle. "That's just silly." She smiles a little at it for a second, then resumes eating. * Hilde pikupikus I know, but that was one of the rumors. * Kiku still isn't looking up. She's eating fairly regularly. Well, at least nobody kidnapped her _stomach_. * Karasu looks up at Kei. * Kiku slowly stops eating and says quietly, but loud enough the table can hear her, "Kei is here." And here's the number three suspect. * Hilde eats and nods, apparently lost Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. You hear Kei's sharp shoes clicking towards your table. * Kiku takes a deep and obvious breath before trying to continue Keika's conversation, "Who was number two?" * Karasu looks at Kiku. I was. Tap. Tap. Tap. * Kiku laughs a little again. "People sure have funny memories..." * Hilde turns to see who's tapping up to the table Quite, it's almost as if they don't trust me to keep my word. Kei reaches the table. "Hello, laides." she says with a politeness that m,anages to be warm and icy at the same time. "May I join you for breakfast?" She is holding a tray that is laden with food. (What's her offical rank again?) Major. (Mrrowl.) I wouldn't dream of stopping you Major. * Karasu gestures with a wing at an empty seat. "All right, then." Kei sits down. * Nova says, "There is an open seat," since apparently Kei didn't see it ( =) ) She sets down her flatware. "I undertsand there have been some -- inquiries -- about the prisoner." * Kiku smiles a little towards Kei and says with curiosity, "How has Araki been doing, anyway?" She is both the youngest and highest ranking one we've caught yet, curiosity is natural. "Needless to say, we are trying to keep Araki-san's existence a secret. Still, she has given us a great deal of useful information. The C.O. and I have been trying to figure out how to best make her comfrtoable on the base without causing her existence to be known to the general public." "Well you could call her a defector instead of a prisoner. Just sounds better to me since we didn't exactly capture her" I've been told that the Slythe have technology, or at least techniques for appearing human. Their use should make your job easier. * Kiku nods along a little at Hilde and Keika's statements. She's not shying away from looking at Kei, though, as she talks. "unfortunately Akari has no access to that technology. Unless she can come up with something, her appearance will still be that of a Slythe." What became of that used by the Slythe that attacked us at the mall? "We still haven't been able to figure out exactly how that works. Apparently they use some sort of highly vcompact energy source that we can't replciate." "And Araki, while very interesting, is not a technician." Replicating the technology is not what is needed, using it to cover her appearance is. "And therein lies the problem. Without that power source, we cannot use the technology. Nor can we adapt it to use our power sources." "Did the ball have anything?" "The ball had many interesting things. But such a battery was not one of them." "Crud. You'd think something that big would have its own survival kit" Have you been able to find where they were staying in Tokyo? They should have the recharge unit there. "It was built specifically to PREVENT the survival of the pilot." "Oh" *sweatdrops* "Forgot about that" "The Slythe expected the pilot to destruct when threatened with defeeat." * Kiku shivers and says as she makes a small gesture, "Horrible." "As for the hotel, we were unable to trace where the assassins at the mall had been staying. If we had known, a few hotel managers would have faced charges." "Now, as I understand it, one of you has been having a problem. I would like to see if I can help." Perhaps you should ask them a bit more enthusiasticaly. Kei raises an eyebrow in Kiku's direction. * Kiku smiles very slightly at her and then looks down at her plate, getting a little more food. * Nova eats quietly. Well, I, for one, wish to know what you have learned from all the prisoners we have taken. * Hilde eats and listens * Kiku takes a forkfull of food and puts it in her mouth and closes her eyes. * Karasu starts to preen, and anybody who cares to look will notice that it doesn't have grass or dirt sticking to it today. * Kiku slowly tries to get another forkfull of food. She opens her eyes slightly when her first few pancake stab miss so she can succeed. * Keika continues. "If you would rather not speak about such things here, I suggest we move to a more secure location." 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Kiku (2d6) and gets 7. * Kiku opens her eyes normally and chews on her food. She seemed to be a little teary but that's gone now. * Karasu switches wings and continues to preen. * Kiku looks down at her food and shoves it away, grabbing up Haguro instead. She mumbles a little distractedly, "Guess I wasn't quite that hungry." * Karasu straightens out and flips its wings before looking over Kiku. * Hilde finishes eating Try to finish, it's unusual for them to give us this much time. * Keika goes back to her hotcakes. * Hilde chugs her second soda * Kiku lets out a weak chuckle but hugs Haguro tighter. "Don't think I can." * Keika shrugs without dislodging Karasu and finishes chewing before replying. "So be it." You see Katsu and another male officer walking into the mess. * Hilde finishes drinking "Well look who's here" * Kiku nods a little and then blinks at Hilde. "Who?" * Karasu croaks. "Katsu!" * Hilde points descreetly over in Katsu's direction and nods * Keika sighs. "I am begining to regret getting that fixed." * Kiku blinks a few times and shivers before looking over at Keika. "F--fixed?" Kei suddenly leaps to her feet. "He's here? Damn!" * Karasu whips its head around to look at Kei. Katsu walks up to the table with a tray in hand. He is looking Kei square in the eye. Would you like some help Kei? "I'm \fine." she says. * Kiku blinks a few times at both of them. "Is there something I can do fro you, Leituenant?" Kei says. Katsu frowns. * Nova continues to go about her eatting expressionlessly. * Kiku swallows and says, possibly helpfully, "Kei was just telling us about Araki..." "The pieces ebing to fall into place," he says. "I know you're my surperior officer, and that you knew Kiku before I did, but that doesn't give you the right to play games with our lives." "Eeeh?" * Karasu looks up at Kei. Kei responds with an icy smile. "And what if I am? Kiku was mine before she was yours. Is it my fault that she's still so young that she's a priosner of her own hormones?" If you would be so kind as to take your lover quarrl outside, I would appreciate being able to finish my breakfast before the people I'm being paid to fight show up. * Kiku looks at them both with a look of confusion and, when Keika says what she just said, blushes slightly. "What fight? Katsu is too intelligent to strike a superior physically. He just doesn't want to face the fact that he's lost. You had your chance, Lieutenant. Now it's my turn." She sets down her tray, turns around and leaves. * Hilde looks back and forth between them, obviously confused * Nova silently watchs Kei leave the table. * Karasu tilts its head sideways as it watches Kei leave. * Keika picks up her glass and drinks juice. Katsu fumes. "Damn! That woman is too damn much!" You are just now figuring that out Katsu? * Kiku watches Kei leave too, then swallows and turns to look at the angry Katsu. "I missed something again" * Karasu glances at Hilde. Don't worry about that. * Kiku slowly develops a frown. Katsu looks over at Kiku. "I wish that hadn't happened in front of you, dear. I know yolu have strong ties to her, and I'm not going to ask you to give them up. But even if you're a psi yourself, if you let someone play with your mind who knows what will happen? Hell, what's already happened?" * Karasu looks down at Keika's meal. * Kiku blinks a few times at him before saying, "Kei... Kei and I need to work together with the Slythe, Katsu." * Keika sets her glass back down and eats hotcakes. * Hilde looks up and around * Hilde checks her watch "I know. But please watch yourself. who knows what she can put in your head if you let her?" * Hilde shakes her watch and checks it again "Hmmmm" * Kiku nods slowly and asks. "Are... are you going to eat?" * Keika sets her fork down. "There is a time and place for most things Katsu. This is neither for the conversation you are trying to have. Either talk about something different or leave." Katsu clears his throat. "I apolgoize, ladies. Acting before i was thinking, it appears. Anyway, we've almost finished taking apart that type 72 you captured. We've found some very intersting stuff." "You took it apart?" *teary-eyed* * Keika smiles slightly. "There wouldn't happen to be a small power cell buried in there would there?" "No such luck, but we did learn a great deal about the way the Slythe build their mecha. Unfortunately the Type 72 has so much internal explosives that it's much too dangerous for us to fly." * Kiku doesn't start eating again, but she does seem to be getting an absent, thoughtful look. Then remove them. I'm sure that some of the Slythe would appreciate our returning them. "Can't do it without completely taking apart the mecha. And we don't think it'll fly when we put it back together." "We have the explosives set aside. We're keeping them under heavy guard, in case someone gets the wrong idea." Then practice on the other mecha I shot down first. At that moment the Major walks into the mess hall. "Katsu, good timing my running into you. We've been offered the use of a new experimental prototype. I was wondering of you could give it a good once-over." (The NPCs are busy!) The Major then smiles at Keika. "Sorry to pout an end to the conversation, but R.H.I.P., you know." * Kiku blinks and shakes her head clear of whatever thoughts were involved. Katsu nods, sends a reassuring smile in Kiku's direction, and heads to the hangar. he never even got to touch his breakfast. * Keika shrugs. "These things happen. Who do you intend to pilot?" * Hilde waves * Kiku giggles weakly at Hilde. "They're bringing in a test pilot in a few days. In the meanwhile, we haven't planned any offensive operations and the Slythe seem to be lying low. we're trying to develop a plan for an offensive operation to take the pressure off the base, but that won't be for about a week." I understood that they haven't been bringing their ships in close enough for us to do such a thing since Nova shot one down. "Which brings me to the point. How would you ladies fancy a trip into space?" "We need to build a big ground emplaced ion turret like they had on the snow planet in that one movie" * Kiku looks between Keika and the Major and then gets wide eyes. "Can Hikari do that?" "Space?! Would I!?!" * Hilde practically jumps to her feet Hikari may not need to, and I would expect a raise in my pay to reflect the increased dangers that would bring. * Nova silently wonders why some people suddenly seem excited. "In Katsu makes some modifications, Hikari can be rendered spaceworthy. So can all your mecha. The point is we're building a ship to carry your force into space. We've detected that most of the Slyhte's coordination of their attacks on Earth seem to be coming from a station that's hanging around the L-5 LaGrange Point. Destroy that and their forces scattered on Earth will be unable to communicate or receive new orders." (Nova lives!) (Yay!) "Hell, if we can knock that thing out we might even be able to force them to reconsider their attack on us entirely." I somewhat doubt that, but we shall find out. * Hilde developes a starry eyed look * Kiku gets a slight frown and nods with Keika, adding quietly, "Me too..." * Nova looks at Hilde and then goes back to eatting. "So what we need for you in to prepare yourselves for space. We're going to be having a crash astronaut training program here so you'll be able to handle things like acceleration and microgravity." Perhaps the capture instead of the destruction of their relay and ships would be more in our interests. (she took somethin with her) "If you can do it, that would be good too. But for now, your job is to prepare for the trip. The carrier craft will be arriving in three days, and we launch in seven." * Hilde thumbs up "Easy! I went to Space Camp in America when I was ten!" (HA.) How many will be supporting us? "We'll be taking most fo the technicians, and of course we'll have specialists to control the carrier. But we need a communciations officer who speaks Slythe. Kiku, do you thinik the defector you secured can be persuauded to assist us?" "Are we gonna have trained tactical airmen in nifty cool starfighters supporting us in battle?" "We don't really have any "nifty cool starfighters", as you call them. It'll be you and the new pilot against whatever the Slythe throw at you." * Kiku replies, "Araki? It... it would be hard for her." She swallows, then adds, "I think the Slythe consider her already dead and she's female..." "With weapons support from the carrier, of course." "Aw nuts! We could try? "Can you try, Kiku? Perhaps there is something you can offer her that will make it worth her while." "Oh well, maybe I can get those mods I want for my robot approved before this happens" *grins* (Ha! I'm precog! Take that, poses!) (But yeah. She can try. She said so. ^^;) "Well, that about covers it. Report to the gym at 0930 hours to begin your training. That's all." (Time now?) 0900. We have just eaten, perhaps some time to digest before you make us all exocise? (And with that, since I need to get some real food into my system....) "No problem, Most of the first day is "book training" anyway." (Commercial break?) * Nova stands, salutes, and says, "Orders Acknowledged, Sir!" (End session) (Awwww) * Kiku smiles nervously. "Oh, good... I was worried I'd have to change..." (Yeah. We'll pick it up next week at this time if that's OK.)