YAF !nmVOHsTRd. 2008/05/28 (Wed) 18:04 No. 9115 ▼ File 121199787617.jpg - (4.43KB, 320x240 , Seraphim320x240.jpg)
After putting on your uniform, you direct your steps to the main elevator. Though GTD Hakurei is not a big ship (what is a Hecate compared to Collossus?), it still takes much time to get to the bridge from your cabin.
Entering the lift, you see some of the employees, minding their own business. Fortunate people, they. Not having to worry about a sudden sortie when enjoying their leisure time, not having to spend at least 20 hours in space per week... There's a girl with bunny ears, carrying a large carboard box entering the elevator. Rabbit ears? You've seen her before... Though yeah, rabbit ears are a strange fetish. There is also a purple-haired girl with a book leaning against the wall.
Women, huh? In Vega, they told you women are not allowed in military. And now, here on GTD Hakurei, it appears that most of the staff is female.
Another country, another traditions, huh?
When you're finally on the main deck, making your way to the briefing room, someone pats your shulder.
"Ah, it's you, Kaguya."
"Hello!" With a beaming smile, she greets you by hitting your back. "You late too?"
"Was reading my magazine when suddenly Mokou called me. You?"
"Absorbed in playing games. You know, the newest The Elder Scrolls is just toooooo~" she waves her arms "Good! The graphics are amazing, and the world... The scenario! Awww, I want to go back and play more!"
Throughout these last months, you've spent considerable amounts of time with Kaguya, enough to know what Elder Scrolls is, despite your usual dislike for video games. Hell, some of them were even enjoyable... Especially the space-sim ones.
"Still hooked up on it, huh? What level?"
"I'm still exploring the world, not levelling much..."
"I see. Do it at your own pace, as they used to say in Vega."
"Says the one who wants to rush in as soon as possible."
"That's how I am."
Finally, the two of you each the briefing room. Walking inside, you see that Mokou, General Reimu and the rest of your squadmates are already here. Reimu has her arms crossed on her chest, tapping her fingers on her forearm impatiently. Vice-commander Marisa seems to be talking about something animatedly with Field-Op Morichika.
"Late as always."
Reimu speaks up in irritated tone.
"Not my fault I always get informed last."
"Hey, Reimu~!"
Kaguya casually enters the room, waving her arm at Reimu and Mokou.
"Kaguya, we're on duty. You could at least show some respect."
"What are you talking about, we're friends, aren't we?"
"We're on duty, so shut the hell up already!"
"Alright, now that we're all here, take a look at the holograpgh."
Reimu sits at the round table in the middle of the room and taps some buttons on the side panel. Blue-ish light fills the room. A 3d image of an unknown thing appears in the air above the table.
"Do you know what it is?"
"Uhh..." damn, as much as you'd like to shine and impress the General, you have no idea what it is.
"It's a... uh..." Vice-Commander seems lost too.
"Alright. There's no way you could know. None of you have fought in Second Great War after all."
Letters around the image blink and swird around, probably displaying more and more data about the object.
"It's some sort of a stationary device, isn't it?"
Reimu clicks her fingers. "Exactly. As expected from Kourin."
"Field Operations Officer Morichika, if you will."
"Kourin. Alright, it's a stationary device of unknown origin, set up in this sector not long ago. Well, at first we thought it's another comm satelite set up by some company, but it turns out there are no records of any work of that kind in this system."
"So, basically, it could be an illegal deal, right?"
"That's right, Marisa. The weird thing is, our scanners picked up a signal characteristical for devices of shivan origin."
Everyone but you gasps at the same moment. Shivans? But they weren't seen since the Capella incident...
"Shivan? Reimu, are you sure?"
"I am, Marisa. My parents fought in Second War, I know what Shivans are about. Now listen. We're sending out a wing to investigate it. Mokou, Kaguya and greenhorn."
"I'm not a greenhorn anymore. I've been serving here for three months, don't you remember, General Hakurei?"
"Greenhorn." Reimu repeats.
"Greenhorn." Now Marisa
"He's greenhorn." Kourin?
"Greenhorn, right?" Not you, Mokou!
"Greenhorn~!" Kaguyaaaaa!
"Then it is settled. You are greenhorn. Now, let me continue." Reimu turns back to the holographic image. "You are to approach the target, scan it, examine what kind of signal does it emit, and destroy it."
"Destroy?" you ask "Just like that? Without any inve--"
"There were no records about any device like this in this sector. Even if it's harmless, the only right course of action would be to destroy it. Just in case." Huh. The ways of GTVA... "Well then, you've got your orders, now get up and roll ou--"
BEEP BEEP BEEP
A communicator on the wall sounds up.
"Gee, I sure hate those things."
Reimu walks up to the device and presses a button. And image of a blonde girl appears on the display.
"Yes? What is it, Alice?"
"Reimu. A hit-and-run attack on the starboard. Uknown IFF, no hails, went into subspace before we were able to retaliate."
"What? Again?"
Huh, so it has happened before?
"Alice, listen, power up the AAA cannons and be ready to fire. Tell Cirno and squad to stay sharp."
The girl on the display bows.
"Acknowledged. It will be done."
A hit-and-run attack and escape into subspace...
"General." you step up to Reimu "May I suggest something?"
"Go ahead."
"If they've escaped into subspace, we can easily track their origins. I want to humbly ask for a permission to--"
"You've got your own orders, greenhorn."
Aw, sharp. General Reimu is sharp! Though she acts all friendly with female squad, you and other men have been suffering her harsh treatment ever since your assignment. From what other pilots said, she's been like this since forever.
"With all due respect, that task can be done by practically anyone. Tracking someone in subspace and pursuing... That's what real professionals should be doing."
She frowns.
"Listen, greenhorn. I gave you your orders. I will deal with those raids myself if there's a need. Now I need you to investigate that satelite, not to track some insignificiant pests."
"Reimu, he's right." Mokou speaks up "They have confirmed our position. That means they're probably going to return in greater force. Those continuous raids could be just them confirming that we're still here."
"She speaks truth! Give her booze!"
Marisa sounds her approval.
Reimu palms her face.
"Alright, I got it. Damn, and I'm the commander here... Change of plans! Alpha wing, track the unknown fighters, discover their origins, then come back and report."
"And if their forces are weak?"
"Permission to shoot on sight."
"Yay!" Kaguya cheers.
Damn, what a staff this ship has...