The next few days go by filled with training and briefings. Captain Kurata has been trying very hard to get you ready for space, while katsu and his team work just as hard preparing your mecha. On the fourth day, you are driven to where the Adventure sits waiting for launch. (So we're supposed to be, like, packed and stuff?) The Adventure is huge, even by the standard you are used to. "Take a good look at her, ladies.' Captain lkurata says. "This may be the last time you see her from the outside. You know everything you need to know, and we'll be launching tomorrow. We'll be assembling right here at 1000 hours tomorrow morning. For the rest of today, your time is yours." * Karasu looks over the ship and whistles. * Kula watches over the ship analytically. * Hilde looks "I didn't know the Japanese space administration made cruise ships" "I suggest you pakc up your kits and get everything you're going to need. but remember that, even though it looks huge on the otuside, spcae is going to be at a premium once you're aboard. Choose what you're taking carefully." * Kiku is there in a blue dress and says, "It's certainly big! I wonder how much it cost." * Karasu then leaps off from Keika's shoulder and starts to circle the ship. It's gotten much better at and came nowhere close to hitting the ground this time. A great deal more than they're paying us. "I believe she cost sveen hundred trillion yen. Plus another five hundred billion to train and equip her crew." * Kiku smiles a little. "Yeah... and more than I have on my own, too." * Nova seems as about as interested as if it were an everyday car - that is to say practically no interest what so ever. "And all i see of that money is a JDSF paycheck with hjazardous duty pay. Such is a soldier'slot." 2d6 * Kula nods appreciatively. "Fine craftsmanship." 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Kiku (2d6) and gets 10. There are worse lots in life, at the very least they do pay you. * Kiku nods a little. (So, how about a description of the great ship Adventure) (~/o The greatest Adventure, is what lies ahead...) Kuarta smiles at that. "Perhaps. I did get to meet all you pretty ladies." the he takes keika aside. "Speaking of which, I didn't make plans for my last dinner groundside before the mission. Care to joinme for a steak?" * Kula watches over the ship, scribbling down various notes. Kiku, you cellphone rings. * Kiku glances over at Kurata/Keika, smiles a little, and looks over towards Nova, Hilde, and Kula. "So... um--ah!" * Keika raises her arm and Karasu lands gracefully on it. "I would be honored, but I hope you will understand if we are suddenly interupted." * Kiku fumbles for her cellphone and picks it up. "Kiku here?" "Kiku-chan, it's Katsu. I just got my orders to ship with you tomorrow to maintain the mecha. I have the night off, would you like to join me for dinner? To make up for what happened last time?" Kurata smiles benevolently. "I'll understand. I'm a soldier too, not just an astronaut. I've had to scramble in the middle of dinner more than my share of times in this war." 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Keika (2d6-4) and gets 2. * Kiku looks down at the ground, still holding the phone to her ear. "I... okay." * Karasu looks at Kurata with one eye and then the other. You should try having breakfast around here some time. Kurata has a lean, msucular look to him that his unfirom accentautes. His hair is short and black, and he has a nice face. he looks like he has potential. * Kula watches Karasu curiously. On the phione, Katsu says "great! Do you want to eat in one of the restaurants, or would home vooking be more appealing before a space flight?" * Karasu twists its neck around to look at Kula, and then blinks and goes back to looking at Kurata. (What time is it?) * Nova replies, "No," to the dinner request, turns away, and goes to prepare her gear. (1300 hours) (... Oh, plenty of time.) * Kiku says, after a second, "Um... home cooking, okay?" * Hilde watches a butterfly katsu says "Great! I'll cooks us up a nice dinner. See you at 1700!" And here I was thinking that a final group dinner would be... entertaining. * Kula smiles slightly. * Kiku nods and blushes at Keika as she hangs up. "I... um, have a lot of things to... talk to people about." An uncomfortable look comes across her face. Kurata smiles. "Don't worry, keika-sin. You'll all get back in one piece if I and my crew have anything to say about it." How old is this ship? * Keika turns to face Kiku. "I know, that is part of what I was expecting the entertainment to be." * Kiku 's eyes widen. "She was finished about five months ago. We've only had a chance for one test flight, but she's sound. She'll get you to L-5 and she'll get you back. She also has a poitn defense system for self-defense if the need arises." * Kula nods. * Kula returns to looking at Karasu. "How did you acquire that fascinating bird?" But if you wish to keep it all to yourself, who am I to stop you? * Kiku then looks down. "That's not what..." she shakes her head. "I need to go." She looks around a bit. "I... I'll see you all." * Kiku pads off slowly. In the same direction as Nova, oddly, but then again, Nova was going back to the rooms. * Keika gives a full shrug and unsettles Karasu. "Then I will wish you luck." She then turns to to Kula. "It is a long story, but for now I have to pack and prepair for dinner." * Kula nods. "Alright, then." * Karasu bobs its head at Kula and then gets carried off by Keika heading out. Mysteriously in the direction she needs to go in to do the things she said. (Hilde and Kula! Dinner and gaming!) (C'mon, Hilde, you can do it!) * Kula looks at the ship some more, and glances at Hilde. "Wonderful ship, isn't she?" * Hilde nods "Hmmmm" "I suppose we should go get packing. Need help?" Oh, yes please... I'm still feeling a bit weak from the trip over... * Kula walks along! * Hilde follows alongside "You must forgive me. I'm not really good at socializing" Neither am I... probably one of those things I inherited from my grandmother... "Ah. I just never really had many friends growing up" * Kula nods slowly. ("So... wanna play DDR?") What do you like to do...? "Oh, nothing much. I got a bunch of videogame systems that keep my occupied" Nova, you get to your room. what will you do? * Kula nods... (She plans to pack stuff) (Nova and I just split into #db2. ^^;) * Hilde clasps her hands behind her head as she walks "What are you into?" 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Keika (2d6-3) and gets 5. I like games, mostly strategy... chess and such. I guess I also have a fascination with ships and old military stuff... Do you have any of those kinds of games? * Hilde smiles "I got a few war games you might like to try" * Kula smiles quietly. "Alright" "'Urban Theater 4' is interesting. The object is to occupy cities using military vehicles. I bought it for the time period options and the mechs you get in the 2500AD scenarios" * Kula follows along and listens! "Stratego 3000 is another fun one if you like world conquest" "I don't play it all that often since the stages take like a day to finish" Oh? * Kula seems interested at the prospect "It has alot of bookkeeping work. It's turn based on huge maps that represent entire countries. In Manual Mode you can control everything down to each and every tank, man, and helicopter. I prefer Auto Mode where the computer handles each division and I just take the role of the general and give orders" * Kula nods. "You gotta be careful in Auto Mode, however, cuz the computer sometimes makes silly decisions like giving out too many rations to units that are already stocked" "I made a mistake when I first said I use Auto only. Good players who want to get things done but don't want to spend hours on each unit swap between the two modes" * Kula nods * Hilde looks over "I'm not boring you, am I?" Oh, no. I enjoy hearing about this. Oh okay (You're still outside by the hangers right?) (They were walking.) "One game I really like is 'World Mercenary'. You get to create your own character from the ground up, take jobs from various countries, and finish the jobs how you want to. You get a huge range of weapons and gear plus every single vehicle you run into is driveable. All this plus online or offline play options" * Kula nods. That sounds interesting... Think we have time to try part of a short game? And how is co-operative play? "Its pretty good as long as you're not the type that backs tanks over people" *grins* * Kula smiles a bit. * Hilde reaches her room and opens the door. Inside is a bed on one end and a TV set with a mass of cords connected to it * Kula heads on over! "Its not the cleanest place. We'll go through one mission before I have to decide which one of these systems to disconnect and take along" Alright... * Kula looks them over. * Hilde has collected all the current popular game systems which totals to six plastic box devices plugged to the TV set. There is a series of cardboard boxes heaped with DVD-style cases * Kula looks over all the things curiously, reading and such (Don't make me name them, please. It's hard to come up with the names of all these fictional games off the top of my head ^^;) ( Heh. I don't plan on it ) Which shall we start with? "Hmmmm. World Merc?" * Kula nods. "ALright" * Hilde pops the disk in and loads 'er up (Ever get the feeling like you're stalling for the GM? ^^;) (Ha.) (Nah. You're having social time.) (Relish in it. It'll never happen again. You're going TO SPACE.) * Hilde hands a controller to Kula ( hey, it's not like we'll never be coming back ) * Kula accepts it! "Okay, now go to 'New Mercenary' then you can go about making your character. Or if you just want to go to the game, pick one of the defaults" * Kula nods, and makes one! * Hilde picks up her controller and waits for Kula to finish designing her character * Kula finishes! Her character seems historically-inspired, though kinda obscure "Alright" *selects her already saved character. A tan skinned muscular woman in fatigues with swipes of black camo paint under her eyes* * Hilde yawns and checks her watch while the game loads, even though its less than a minute * Hilde begins the mission which starts out with a briefing describing how the players have to pick up a VIP from the local embassy and escort him across town to city hall for a press conference. "Okay, you wanna drive or should I?" You go ahead.. * Kula just observes little details * Hilde moves her character into the car "Now your guy can get in on the passenger side" * Kula fiddles a bit, and gets in! * Hilde drives the car to the embassy. The VIP says something about needing to be on time and a small timer appears. Hilde frowns "I hate timed missions" "Oh well" *presses down on a button and makes the car peel out at a speed higher than what should be legal * Kula frowns, and spends some time fiddling over minute things with equipment * Hilde drives for not more than ten seconds or so when a pair of army jeeps come out of an alley as they pass and begin shooting at the car "Return fire! Return fire!" Alarms go off all over the officer's living quarters section. * Hilde hits pause and looks up "Uh oh!" * Kula blinks, and stops. She heads off for that direction * Hilde follows, closing and locking the door to her room behind her Ok, everyone is at the front of Nova's door in time to see Nova being led away in handcuffs by MPs. * Kula blinks. "Wh-what's going on here?" "What the hell?" A few monets later stretcher-bearers carry a wrapped-up body away. * Karasu looks back over Keikas shoulder. That is what I would like to know. * Kiku is being held by an MP, and is covered in blood. Pretty much all of the front of her body. She's trying to get free from his hands. "No! Let me go! Let me GO!" * Hilde runs up to Kiku "What the hell happened here?" * Keika sighs. "You should do as she says. Her ... mother was just killed before her eyes, you don't want an angry telepath running around do you? We have enough problems with the Slythe." The sergeant of the MPs walks up to you. "Ladies, I'm really sorry about this. Captain Kei Amamura's been killed, apparently by lt. Nova Ares. We've got the suspect in custody. There's really nothing more to see here." * Kula blinks, and backs off respectfully. * Hilde steps back and clenches her fists "Did anyone hear what happened, or see anything?" All I heard were the alarms going off... "Same here" * Kiku continues trying to get free, and says through tears, "That's right! I'm a telepath! I'm Kiku Eriko! Let me go! Or I'll crush you all! LET ME GO DAMMIT." I was testing the space modifications to Hirameku when there was some sudden interferance, then a gun shot. "Get her to the infrimary NOW! Sedate her if you have to!" "Slythe!" (MC roll on the stupid MP.) (Kiku's just sorta lost it. @_@) That is all I know. Now, take Kiku to her mother before any of us do anything else regretable. (He's wearing a shield, as are all his men.) (She gonna go Akira on him>) (Ah.) (Well, then, lots of bloody thrashing until they knock her out!) (2 effective body on strength isn't going to get her free short of a crit success.) Kiku, you feel a needle prick in your arm and soon everyhting goes black. * Kiku slumps in the MP's arms! KO. MP wins! * Keika tilts her head back for a moment and then straightens up and asks the MP directly. "When do you expect her to wake up?" Kiku's unconscious body is loaded intoa jeep and driven away. The Mp sergeant turns to the three of you. "Nobody is going to be allowed to enter these quarters until we finish investigating the crime scnee. You'd best go back about your bsuiness. I'll see to it you're called if we need you." * Kula shivers. What... what happened here, exactly? (Man, those MPs are the best at stonewalling.) (yup) * Keika snorts and walks away. OK, that about wraps things up from now. We'll pick it up from here next time.