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‘With the injuries you’ve gone through,’ Akashi begins crisply, nodding every time your knees almost met your – considerably smaller – gut. ‘I’m surprised that you didn’t bet on yourself turning out to be a vegetable when you hit the hospital.’

‘First few days were insane.’ You almost shiver at the memory. ‘I thought I was going to die.’

‘I thought you were going to go insane.’

That, too, would have been a distinct possibility, given how they’d practically pumped you full of Fairy’s Tears.

‘You need to know that you’re more than lucky to be functioning as well as you are.’ Akashi gestures for you to get up. ‘What you went through – whatever you went through – for anyone that didn’t have access to the tech and magic that the fairies and the Admiralty do… and as your medical officer, I have to emphasize with emphasis that you don’t take it for granted. You may look spic-and-span now, but your body – and the Fata Aqueous concentrate – is still fixing you up the best it can, but it’ll only help you if you help yourself.’ She bites her lip as you cross your legs – she gestures for you to bring your arm closer to her. ‘This kind of rapid conversion of your body’s available resources is insane as is. You may be a Commander, but your body – and your mind – is under insane stress. You may not feel it, but…’

‘You calling me a special case?’

Akashi presses against the rough Kantai Steel of your new prosthetic. You don’t why she’d bother to – you could move it just fine as it was, even if it did seem a little… heavier than the one Musashi had ripped away from your person. It was a little smoother in design, but as far as aesthetics went this one was more streamlined than the last one.

‘No problems with the link… and no, I’m not calling you a special case. As a Commander, your compatibility and attunement to KanMusu healing techniques is decent enough that whatever we can’t fully heal… we can make up.’ She answers knowledgably. ‘Still, I wouldn’t stretch the boundaries more than you already have.’

It’s only for a moment, but you do catch a glimpse of Akashi’s worried gaze.

‘I think I got the message.’ You nod. ‘Five buckets of vomit, bleeding gums and going deaf for 6 hours is enough for me.’

Akashi giggles.

‘Still… I think that the fact that we’re just down to aching muscles is a good thing. Your health should be back in your hands in a few days.’ She leans back. ‘Till then, though, I suggest the same thing any self-respecting medic would.’

‘That would be…?’

‘Eat your fruits and vegetables, soldier.’

You snort. As if they would give you anything else in this building.

>‘I’m good to go, then?’
>‘How’s everyone back at base?’
>‘The Admiralty's been awfully quiet.’
>‘Where’s Musashi?’
>‘Do you mind if I… have some alone time?’
>Write-In

>>865066
>‘Where’s Musashi?’

>>865066
>‘How’s everyone back at base?’

>>865066
>‘Do you mind if I… have some alone time?’

>>865066
‘How’s everyone back at base?’

>>865066
>>‘How’s everyone back at base?’

>>865063
>‘Where’s Musashi?

>>865066
>>‘How’s everyone back at base?’

>>865066
>>‘The Admiralty's been awfully quiet.’
Poi~

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'How’s everyone back at base?’

The last time you’d asked, Akashi had shoved a thermostat into your mouth and dumped a whole bottle of concentrate into your veins. You couldn’t bring it up again until now… mostly because you’d been puking blue and purple into buckets and crying for mercy.

‘Well, your lackey – that bald guy, he wants to see you as soon as you get back. Something about whatever the district has been up to.’ She frowns, lifting your arm up and giving it a good once-over. ‘I haven’t checked on your barracks, but I assume that everyone’s doing just fine without you… but I do think you better start coming up with excuses as to why you’ve been absent from duty for almost two weeks. I don’t think that they’re buying into the whole business trip excuse.’

‘Business trip?’ You question incredulously.

‘The Admiral’s taken the liberty to put in an alibi for you, but frankly, I don’t think anyone in your Division buys it. Least of all Nagato.’ You almost grimace at that; Akashi goes on, ‘I don’t think I’d ever seen her argue with the Admiral like that since she and Mutsu…’ She chuckles a little, shaking her head. ‘Well, whatever it is, you better get those gears churning, Commander – because you’re going to have to find something to say… about all – you know – about all this.’

‘The new arm?’

‘The new everything.’ She gestures to all of you, a familiar fire in her eyes. ‘You drop off the map, come back with a lot of stubble – please start shaving, by the way – a new arm, twenty-five pounds lighter with a Super Dreadnaught in tow that you, for some reason, synthesized a Kantai Steel arm wholly attuned to you as a patch on her core – !’ As you open your mouth to interrupt you close it at her glare. You didn’t want to risk an extended stay. ‘Which would have killed you if you didn’t somehow luck out; do you really think that any single one of your Division members are going to just take your return without so much as an upturned nose at any of those developments?’

She ends it all with a smile. You take the opportunity to think about what you say next; you very much liked staying alive.

‘You’re angry aren’t you?’

‘Seething.’

‘Are you angry at me?’

‘Mostly.’

‘I apologize.’ ‘Even if I don’t know what I’m apologizing for.’

‘Yokosuka’s been put under a scrutinizing eye lately.’ She lets out a heavy sigh. ‘Whatever you did, it’s got the whole circuit abuzz. Not in the good way, either. The Admiral seems to be handling it as well as he can, but it doesn’t look like any of us are going to get off with just a slap on the wrist this time.’

>‘I’m good to go, then?’
>‘The Admiralty's been awfully quiet.’
>‘Where’s Musashi?’
>‘Do you mind if I… have some alone time?’
>Write-In

>>865216
>>‘Where’s Musashi?’
locate Sushi

>>865216
>‘Where’s Musashi?>>865216

>>865216
>‘Where’s Musashi?’

>>865216
>>‘Where’s Musashi?’

>>865216
>>‘Do you mind if I… have some alone time?’

>>865216
>>‘Where’s Musashi?’

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‘Where’s Musashi?’ You look around, as if expecting her to pop up. ‘I haven’t seen her since last night.’

Akashi avoids your gaze, biting her lip.

‘She’s with her sister.’

So that was why.

‘How is she?’ You inquire further, expecting the worst.

‘She’s stable. Breathing and talking, but as as she is… I’m not sure if she’s able to operate in the field again.’ Akashi lets out, getting to her feet and cursing. ‘Whatever happened to her, the trauma to her core was so intense that all the Fairies and I could do was patch up and close it up again. We can’t get anything to fit in or pull any remnants out – everything in there was so… broken.’

‘Broken?’

Akashi runs a hand through her hair – this was apparently a sensitive topic for her.

‘A KanMusu’s core is more than just a place where we attune gear and synchronize MagiTek. It’s a gateway for almost everything that makes us. Think of it as…’ She scrunches her nose, struggling with the terminology, ‘as a soul of sorts. Only one that you can – with sufficient knowledge – modify and change on a conventional level.’ She draws a circle in the air with both her hands. ‘Damage to a KanMusu core isn’t uncommon – when going up against Onis and Princesses, a certain amount of wear and tear to it is considered acceptable due to the spiritual defense field that it manifests.’ She stretches her palms towards you. ‘If you’ve ever been caught up in a Sphere of Influence, you’ll know what I mean.’

You do. It was like bathing in fire.

‘Yamato’s core… it was forcefully ripped apart. Whatever she went through, her core isn’t accepting any more tampering – for better or for worse.’ She sighs again, resignedly. ‘We tried, but… the most we could do is restore the base. Everything else was just shut out to us… and if we open the core again, I’m afraid it’d just…’

She curses, baring her teeth and rubbing the back of her neck.

‘I’ve never seen anything like it.’ She laughs mirthlessly.

‘I was able to bond with Musashi.’ You speak before you can think it through. ‘If I can get Yamato into my Stream, too, maybe – ?’

‘Impossible.’ She shakes her head. ‘The problem with Yamato’s core is that it’s shutting everything out. She may look all right, but someone – or something – forced itself into her and ripped everything it could out. Triggering a pathway at this point… I don’t think anyone can. It has to be from her.’ She lets out that humorless laugh again. ‘Besides, you’re already bonded to one Super Dreadnought.’

She tries to give you a comforting smile, but it just looks so… resigned.

‘I think, for now… you should just give her some space.'

You nod.

>‘Am I good to go?’
>‘The Admiralty making noise?’
>‘Do you mind if I have some alone time?’
>Write-In

>>865379
>>‘The Admiralty making noise?’

>>865379
>‘The Admiralty making noise?’

>>865379
>‘Do you mind if I have some alone time?’

>>865379
>>‘Do you mind if I have some alone time?’

>>865379
>>‘The Admiralty making noise?’

>>865379
>>‘The Admiralty making noise?’

>>865379
>>‘Am I good to go?’

>>865379
>‘Do you mind if I have some alone time?’

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‘The Admiralty making any noise?’

‘I’m surprised no one’s lodged in a complaint at this point.’ Akashi replies dryly, raising your prosthetic and giving one of the Kantai Steel plates a light press. ‘The Admiralty’s going all over the place. I don’t want to know the rest of the details, but whatever you did to get Yamato and Musashi back, they’re torn between wanting to throw you into the sea… and giving you your own base.’ She gives you a wide grin. ‘In their defense, I can actually sympathize with them in that context.’

You don’t hold it against Akashi.

‘So what’s been going on?’

‘The Court of Admirals wants you removed from duty and thrown into the public court – your business trip over the border was without the authorization of any approving body. The Lords are in an uproar over some diplomatic issue with Haszad from what I’ve heard from Goya… and their eyes are on you and the base for something to throw to the wolves.’ She answers crisply, giving your underarm a pat and frowning. She pulls your arm in her direction, running her fingers over the screws by your elbow joint.

‘Why am I not surprised?’ You grimace, grumbling lightly. After what you did, you were surprised that they hadn’t hired someone to off you quietly.

They must have needed Commanders more desperately than ever.

‘I’m not sure just what you did – and again, I don’t want to know – but they’re deliberating on this something bad. One of the agreements that The Admiralty had with the world’s militaries was a treaty that said that they wouldn’t cross over into each other’s territories. Your little detour’s set that agreement back and now they’re arguing whether or not you did it on a rogue whim or if The Admiralty had a hand in it.’

‘We didn’t do – !’

She points a finger aggressively in your direction, glaring hotly.

‘Shut it. Don’t tell me – I’m just your medic and my concern… is to get you up and running enough for duty.’ She turns back to your arm, rolling it to the side and biting her lip. You feel a little more uncomfortable now. ‘Goya’s got me on watch as it is, I don’t need to give her a legitimate reason to come bury my sorry behind.’ She grumbles audibly, twisting your arm – painfully. ‘I think we’re lucky that the information’s clogged up enough that no one on public record has a legitimate clue as to what’s going on – and I think, in my opinion, that’s the best anyone can hope for.’

‘Why are the Lords involved in this?’ You grunt. Forget The Senator – Akashi was going to rip your arm out of its socket at this rate.

‘Because they’re in charge of the country, Commander.’ She answers almost mockingly. ‘This isn't what would classify as typical Admiralty business.’

She grips your ribs tightly. You hear cracking sound.

‘Ow!’

>‘So I’m good to go?’
>‘Can I have some alone time?’
>Write-In

Sorry, folks, I have to get ready for prayers. See you in a few hours, yeah?

>>865564
>>‘So I’m good to go?’

>>865568
No problem

>>865564
>>‘So I’m good to go?’

>>865564
>>‘Can I have some alone time?’

>>865564
>>‘Can I have some alone time?’

>>865564
>‘Can I have some alone time?’

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‘So, I’m good to go?’ You roll your shoulder as soon as Akashi lets go of it – she must’ve done something, because you don’t feel that the knots in there are as bunch up as they had been before.

She crosses her arms, bending over with a scowl.

‘You weren’t listening to a thing I was saying just now, were you?’

‘I got the part where you said I was spic-and-span.’ You answer tentatively. Truth be told, you had been listening – but amidst the jumble of words, something was lost in translation. ‘Am I ready to get back on duty?’

Akashi draws herself back, tapping the floor impatiently as she looks away from you and racks her brain for an answer. You actually feel a little bit under the weather – mostly from the fatigue and the sore muscles – but otherwise, you were definitely in a much better place than you had been when you were admitted; not to mention just how much agony you had been in when they’d dropped you into the hospital’s reluctant hands. Akashi had – surprisingly – been on hand within a few hours with her fairies and gear to get you back the way things were. In comparison to how you were knocked out for the whole duration of your first operation under her skilful fingers, you distinctly remember her worried and determined face as she worked to bring your organs back into functioning capacity.

She had been right that luck didn’t begin to factor just how much fortune you’d struck coming out of this two weeks after on your two feet. Akashi had been just as responsible – perhaps even more – to thank for being able to walk and talk right now.

‘I’d like to put you under observation… but I think that, at this point…’ she grumbles, a reluctance to her tone, ‘I think we can do it on-base.’ Her shoulders slump and she gathers the lab coat – probably a rental from one of the other staff members of the hospital – before gesturing for you to follow. ‘I’ll go and fill out the discharge notice for you and Yamato.’ It stumps you a little that Yamato was a patient in the hospital as much as you were. ‘

The both of you exit the rehab room make your way through the crowded hospital. Compared to how scarce it was when you were usually conscious – which was usually around the evenings – there were many more people around. The PA system crackled as it announced names, but neither you nor Akashi pay it any attention as you make your way to the elevator – miraculously empty – and head upwards to your room.

You pass Yamato’s room on the 5th level, getting off at the 7th floor’s ward.

Akashi splits off from you, probably to fill out the discharge notice. You make your way to your room and open the door.

‘Good afternoon, Commander.’ And old lady in a kimono bows as you enter.

She seemed familiar…

>‘Good afternoon, ma’am.’ (Play it cool)
>‘Have we met before?’ (Inquire)
>‘I believe this is my room, ma’am.’ (Stern)
>Write-In

>>865952
>>‘Good afternoon, ma’am.’ (Play it cool)
I feel like we should play things as close to the vest as possible until we're clear of most of the Court's scrutiny.

>>865952
>>‘Good afternoon, ma’am.’ (Play it cool)

>>865952
>>‘Good afternoon, ma’am.’ (Play it cool)

>>865952
>‘Good afternoon, ma’am.’ (Play it cool)>>865952

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Awkwardly, you bow in return, a little puzzled. You had expected Musashi or some from the Admiralty to be seated in one of the room’s chairs… and most certainly not a stern-looking old lady that could have passed as your grandmother. The lines of her face showed age – but more striking than that was that they showed strength. Her eyes pierce you with a stern yet… somehow calm and controlled manner, as if she was sizing you up from the get-go. Her cheeks sagged and she was about a head shorter than you, a set of glasses perched on her nose that was probably older than you, with thick, slightly curly grey hair and large ears with a flat nose.

You’d met her somewhere before – you’re sure of it. You just can’t remember when… or where.

‘Good afternoon, ma’am.’ You bow again, for some reason feeling intimidated form the get-go. ‘Are you… here to see me?’

‘Observant,’ she quips, smirking slightly as she sizes you up and down, ‘if a little messy for my liking. Is this what passes for Commander material nowadays?’

You automatically straighten the singlet and the track bottoms the best you can, afraid of anymore scrutiny. She smiles disarmingly – but you’d seen that dangerous upturn of the lips often enough from your elders to know that it was merely satisfaction of a warning that was heeded. You drop into your most rigid military stance, afraid to move at all. It feels that you are being inspected formally by someone of rank more than you are by an old lady with her snide remarks.

‘I’m sorry, I – !’ You stop yourself, trying to gather what dignity you had left the best you could. You felt a little inappropriate, but that wasn’t an excuse for you to start folding over yourself just yet. ‘You’re here to see me, right? Whatever you think I’m responsible for.’

‘What I know you’re responsible for.’ She corrects you with an icy, yet somehow bemused tone, seating herself down and folding her hands on her knee. ‘It’s not everyday that you hear one of the Admiralty’s ilk crossing The Union’s borders and causing an international incident.’

You turn a little red, but find yourself on guard. Someone who knew those details wasn’t someone to play around. Still, you find that the best way to approach this was to be direct.

‘Have we met before… ma’am.’

‘That we have, young man.’ She gives a nod – it’s almost solemn, you find. ‘Under more favorable conditions, I assure you. It was a few weeks ago – at the MASH in Yokosuka.’

It hits you, finally.

‘Oh. Um… I’m sorry, we weren’t formally introduced.’

‘I know exactly who you are, young man.’ She gives a grandmotherly – albeit guarded – smile. ‘I don’t think, however, that we I am a Former Admiral of Yokosuka Base… The Admiralty's First Admiral.’

>‘An honor to meet you, ma’am.’ (Respectful)
>‘I’m supposed to… be scared now? (Defiant)
>Write-In

>>866171
>‘An honor to meet you, ma’am.’ (Respectful)

>>866171
>>‘An honor to meet you, ma’am.’ (Respectful)

>>866171
>‘An honor to meet you, ma’am.’ (Respectful)

>>866171
‘An honor to meet you, ma’am.’ (Respectful)

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You find yourself dumbfounded. The First Admiral was an old lady that could have passed for your great-grandmother? It was almost surreal – your history on The Admiralty may have been fuzzy, but you distinctly remember the fictional series having a very male and very – in as close a definition you can bring it to – cool, musclebound male as The First Admiral. You thought that the fiction – while exaggerated – would be close to the reality, but seeing the little old lady before you… and the sheer steel in the edge of her voice has you very much doubting your previous knowledge of The Admiralty’s background.

To be fair, though, you don’t think a little old lady who looked like she was on the other side of 80 would have been good for propaganda towards the masses in recruiting drives.

‘Uh, um, an honor to meet you ma’am.’ You bow respectfully, feeling a little out of your element right now.

‘I’m sure.’ She raises an eyebrow at you, gesturing for you to take the seat across from hers. ‘Please, Commander, have a seat.’

‘The Admiralty sent you to…’ the chair creaks under your weight, trying to get ahold of the conversation, ‘interrogate me?’

‘No.’ She answers, folding her fingers and regarding your curiously. That had been a surprise – why else would she be here, then, if it wasn’t to grill you as The Grand Lieutenant and The Court Representative had. ‘In fact, they were very reluctant to have me involved in this matter until I learned that it was my base whose name that you and the rest of those whippersnappers have chosen to sully.’

You open your mouth to – apologize, come to the defense of your decision, anything at all – but find yourself silenced by another stern glare. You keep yourself from speaking out of turn, leaning forwards to listen to any more words she had to say.

‘There’s no need for excuses. That’s not what I’m here for.’ She says it sincerely; the words somehow allow you to ease your guard. ‘I trust that you’re in a better condition than you were when they flew you in?’

‘I’m surprised that you’re walking after all that… but I suppose that we’ve never really had a Commander suffer through injuries as intense as you have, have we, young man?’

Turning red, you briefly wonder if it was in a report that you had taken a Senator in hand-to-hand combat hyped up on KanMusu MagiTek… before deciding that it probably was, only a little more elegantly-worded.

‘I… I don’t go out of my way to choose trouble.’ You scratch the back of your head,

‘That I have a hard time believing.’

You say nothing

‘Commander. I want you to be… frank with me. As much as you can.’

Her eyes flash. Briefly.

You nod.

‘Why did you think the lives of two KanMusu was in any way worth this risk when The Admiralty had already decided they were not?’

>Write-In

>>866254
I could say all about not leaving them behind or retrieving important war assets but... I did it as a favor, for a friend.

>>866254
>we will not abandon our comrades and, most importantly, i made a promise

Considering just how hard a Write-In is, I'll give you guys an extra 15 minutes on top of that 25 so you can convey what you want to The First Admiral.

>>866258
This is the honest truth.

>>866259
this

>>866254
the admiralty may have decided that it was more expedient and convenient to abandon those 2 rather than take the potential risk and fallout of doing what is proper and just.

i may be just a rookie and inexperienced man but i know that abandoning them is not the right thing to do.

we entrusted the kanmusu to protect us in our darkest hour and they have always risen to that challenge even if it means paying the ultimate price, a price they pay still to this very day.

it would be dishonorable for us to abandon them just because it is more convenient to do so. to callously abandon our comrades just because it is easy is not right, it is not proper and it must never be done if we can prevent it.

lastly, and the most important reason of all, i made a goddamn promise that i will do everything i can to bring those back even if it costs me my life....and it nearly did

>>866254
I made a promise to a friend. I don't like breaking promises, especialy if it involves the lives of my friends. Call me a fool if you wish, but I'd rather be an honest fool than a heartless bastard.

>>866254
>"They deserved to come home."
Really, guys? Swearing in front of the old lady admiral? I get that she's probably heard it all before, but have some tact.

>>866254
Had some more time to think about this write-in.


"First off, ma'am, they're not just Kanmusu. They're people. They laugh, cry, eat, sleep and dream like any of us humans. To that end they have given more than some of us humans. To me, I believe that makes them human just as you and I. They may be my subordinates but they are among some of the best friends I have ever had. To betray their hope and trust would be akin to breaking an oath.

"I'll admit to being a fool and I'll gladly be an honest fool over a being a heartless coward. It was a Kanmusu that held her hand out to help me when I thought I would be dead and if a Kanmusu comes to me for help, I will gladly reach out to help her.

"To answer your question as a whole: I'm not the Admiralty. I'm not a renegade wannabe Rambo out to cause problems. The girls have asked for my help and in return I do what needs to be done for them because at the end of the day they're all that we as humanity have to protect us from the Abyssals."

>>866454
this works

>>866506
I may have channeled some of Big Boss's Peace Walker-era ideals there. Y'know, the whole "we fight not for money or for politics but for the sake of soldiers" or in this case for the sake of the Kanmusu.

>>866531
thats pretty much what we are all saying

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‘Ma’am, if I may be so bold?’

The First Admiral regards you coolly; her gaze is still scrutinizing – still very much as piercing as it had been before, only now locked and set on your features. A nervousness comes upon you unlike any feeling before – a feeling of stage fright that seems to come upon you like a parasite and keeping you tied to the chair. Still, you had a duty to answer her queries for now, and the best you could answer them was by being honest and direct. You don’t think she would appreciate you beating around the bush or outright lying about your motives.

‘I didn’t go into Haszad for the sake of the Admiralty.’ Try as you might, the shakiness in your voice doesn’t peter out as much as you want it to. You almost wince as you realize that you must sound like a teenager confessing a misdeed instead of a man giving his statement from his end of a case; you gather a little more firmness, a little more confidence, and will yourself to finish the best that you can. ‘I did it so I could retrieve two scared, dying girls and bring them home.’

Her stern glare doesn’t falter one bit. She is thoroughly unconvinced by your approach.

‘What gave the impetus for this sudden desire to act like a hero?’ She sneers, raising her chin with eyes clouded by disdain. ‘To disregard rules and regulations – to nearly cause an international conflict for the sake of two lives that your superiors had deemed expendable in the name of the greater good?’ She delivers the cutting remark well enough that you find yourself taken by surprise at the accusation. ‘Far be it from the policy of The Court of Admirals to be a patron of wastage, young man, but why would you conspire to violate an unspoken order – and the grand rule of jurisdiction in the name of two lives? Well then, Commander?’

You don’t answer.

‘I’ve seen the report. You traded the lives of two men – two otherwise uninvolved soldiers – and the careers of two more,’ your lips thin as you realize that she is referring to Blueblood and Stomper, ‘for their lives. How do you justify the cost that you have made?’

The answer to this, much to your own surprise… arrives upon your tongue almost instantly.

‘I don’t put a weight on the lives of the ones that passed on. I find myself impressed that they would take that risk just so that others may live. I don’t know if they had to die… maybe they could have…’ You shake your head. That wasn’t important; not right now. ‘It’s easy to just say that they knew the risks, but I can’t say what their lives are worth – if I put myself in that place, Admiral, I won’t be able to look at anyone else, KanMusu or human, the same. What are we going to use to define just how much worth someone has?’

You get to your feet, Stomper and Blueblood's features; the eyes of the men you had killed with your own hands; they seem to mash into one memory.

TBC

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‘I stand by what I said that I didn’t think through on the terms before choosing to participate in the operation, but I did it knowing that we might have failed… and that it would have been a better way to die saving a life than to live with the fact that we let two just die without doing anything.’ You ball your fists tightly.

She regards you neutrally, raising to her feet. She doesn’t seem convinced one bit.

‘A risk that you have taken to such an extent that The Court of Admirals is on its bended knee with The Lords.’ She chastises you sharply. ‘Do you even feel any remorse for what you did? The lives you took that night in the name of what you believed was right, Commander? You risked not just – and did not only lose – the careers and lives of the men under you that night but that of the reputation and the integrity of The Admiralty, exposing the vulnerability of the organization, almost giving The Union everything they wanted on a silver platter. This is more than just recklessness, Commander. This is selfishness.’

She raises her chin again, narrowing her eyes.

‘What do you have to say about that?’

You remember when Musashi put her hand over yours, saying one word over and over again: thank you.

‘That I’ll gladly accept the labels that you have for me. I did what I set to do and I’ll live with whatever The Court of Admirals, The Submarine, The Grand Lieutenant are going to throw my way!’ You say it evenly, steadily, without force or notion. They’re words that you can speak from the heart. ‘Yamato and Musashi… I haven’t known them that long, but I know for a fact they wouldn’t hesitate for a single second to come running after a voice calling out for help! You know that they’d come running – and they’d do it even if it costs them a leg, an eye or a comrade, just to keep you safe!’

It wasn’t just about Yamato and Musashi anymore. Nagato; Kaga; Takao; every single one of them in your Division would do so without regard to their own safety… that The Admiralty would tell you that they weren’t deserving of your own life on the line was preposterous.

‘KanMusu are entities summoned to protect humanity; their first instinct is to put their lives on the line for us. We are not to them what they are to us.’

You look her dead in the eye, your conviction firm under the weight of her challenge.

‘If we can’t do the same for them; if we can’t protect those who’d do it for us in a heartbeat…’

You glare right at her, defiant.

‘How the Hell is humanity worth saving in the first place?’

She laughs loudly.

‘Now that, Commander, is an answer I can accept.’ She sits down, genuinely smiling. ‘Houshou was a little vague on the details when it came to you.’

>‘What’s this about?’
>‘You’re… not angry at me?’
>‘Houshou?’
>Write-In

>>866709
>>‘You’re… not angry at me?’

>>866709
>>‘Houshou?’
She's the Admiral who taught Houshou how to play guitar, isn't she?

>>866709
>>‘Houshou?’

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>>866709
>>‘Houshou?’

>>866709
>‘Houshou?’

>>866724
1st generation Admiral and 1st generation Carrier, highly probable.

>>866709
>‘Houshou?’

>>866709
>‘Houshou?’

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‘Houshou?’ You blink. ‘You know Houshou?’

She regards you with a flat look.

‘She wasn’t wrong about how dim you were, however.’ She grumbles. ‘Houshou – and Kongou – were the first two KanMusu summoned, and thus the first KanMusu to be put into my hands by the Shamans. Back then, the Shamans were scouring every continent they could trying to find someone that could accommodate the KanMusu mentally… and it was harder back then because not everyone was deemed compatible or stable enough to keep their Stream connected without risk of insanity or death. Times were a lot harder… and talent search usually involved you putting your life on the line. I was lucky that my link with Houshou was stable enough for us to begin operations. She’s a good girl,’ she sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose, ‘if a little bit more… promiscuous than I would have liked her to be.’ A stern look forms from her wrinkles as she rests against the chair. ‘Did she tell you about the time that I chased out her two boyfriends from my house? My grandson had to hold me back from knocking their blocks off.’

‘Boyfriends?’ As far as you knew, Houshou never had boyfriends but –

‘I’m using that term very liberally.’ She answers dryly.

You decide not to correct her on that issue.

‘You don’t have to beat around the bush with me, though, Commander.’ She grimaces, shaking her head. ‘I know how Houshou is – her condition is unfortunate, but I can’t let her be used so easily by men that would so easily drop her after getting their fill. You understand that much?’

‘Clearly, ma’am.’ You give her your most assuring node.

The troubled look doesn’t leave The First Admiral’s features.

‘She is a puzzling young woman – yes, Commander, I see her in the same mold as I would my own – but very prone to following her whims instead of thinking. She’s more instinctual than most – I’m both thankful and frustrated by that measure of her – and she’s as natural as leaders come… but she is a headache on her most moderate days.’ You suppress your snicker zt that comment that best you can. ‘I believe you understand what I mean by that.’

‘Very much so, ma’am.’ You nod again.

The First Admiral adopts her stern look again, fixing it upon you as she straightens herself.

‘Far from it for me to interject on the needs of the Carrier Types, I do have to ask you one thing when it comes to her – more for your benefit than mine or hers.’

‘Yes?’

‘Please do not underestimate her.’

You frown. That sounded more like a warning.

>‘So what was this meeting about? I don’t think The Admiralty sent you hear to agree with me.’
>‘Is The Court going to pursue me further in this case?’
>‘What’s Taiyouga’s – and The Admiralty’s position now?’
>‘Do you have anything to tell me about Kongou?’
>‘So there’s nothing else, I’m assuming?’
>Write-In

>>868438
>>‘So what was this meeting about? I don’t think The Admiralty sent you hear to agree with me.’

>>868438
>>‘So what was this meeting about? I don’t think The Admiralty sent you hear to agree with me.’

>>868438
>>‘So what was this meeting about? I don’t think The Admiralty sent you hear to agree with me.’

>>868438
>>‘So what was this meeting about? I don’t think The Admiralty sent you hear to agree with me.’

>>868438
>>‘So what was this meeting about? I don’t think The Admiralty sent you hear to agree with me.’

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‘So what is this about then, Ma’am?’ You scratch the back of your head, trying to get back on topic. You didn’t feel the threatening aura from her any longer – and you certainly didn’t expect her to be as open as this after tearing into you the first few minutes into this meeting. ‘I don’t think The Admiralty – or The Court – sent you here to agree with me.’

She chuckles in a bemused manner.

‘I’m much too old to be dabble in the dealings of you whippersnappers and I do not represent them on an official basis. I came here to see just what you were thinking going across Taiyouga’s borders.’ She fixes her gaze onto you. ‘Commander, as much as I value the lives of those that would give them for us, I must still impress upon you the seriousness of these actions.’ She certainly did with that grilling she gave you just now. ‘This isn’t just the violation of The Admiralty’s agreement with the standing governments of the world, but your actions have given the world the impression that they aren’t just in this for humanity, but as an independent entity with its own agenda.’

‘Aren’t we?’ You frown. As far as you know, there wasn’t anyone in the world that the Admiralty answered to outside the League of Nations; and with the oceans as they are…

‘Commander.’ The First Admiral snaps you out of your thoughts. ‘The Admiralty, regardless of what you think does have the best interest of humanity at heart. The organization is in a pitiful state compared to how it was two months ago. They are all but crippled; but they must also remain a beacon for humanity to stand again the Abyssal threat. Your actions still amount to a violation of international regulation – I don’t think a slap on the wrist is going to do this time.’

You let out a heavy sigh. It was only a matter of time, you supposed…

‘I’m in it now, aren’t I?’

‘Not so long as you remain valuable.’ She answers, much to your surprise. ‘As luck would have it, Musashi has arrived at your side – there aren’t many people with the ability to synchronize themselves with a Super Dreadnought without going insane or dying. If you can demonstrate the ability to rein and maintain that hold of influence or friendship – I believe that they’d regard you as… indispensable.’

Somehow, knowing that your career and well-being hinged on your connection with Musashi going well didn’t seem as comforting as it seemed on paper.

‘At least until I either die or go crazy, right?’

‘Such is the nature of war.’ She nods grimly. ‘I can’t help you outside of this suggestion. Even my words have their limits nowadays, I’m afraid.’

>‘Is The Court going to pursue me further in this case?’
>‘What’s Taiyouga’s – and The Admiralty’s position now?’
>‘Do you have anything to tell me about Kongou?’
>‘So there’s nothing else, I’m assuming?’
>Write-In

>>868736
>>‘What’s Taiyouga’s – and The Admiralty’s position now?’

>>868736
>>‘What’s Taiyouga’s – and The Admiralty’s position now?’

>>868736
>>‘What’s Taiyouga’s – and The Admiralty’s position now?’

>>868736
>>‘Is The Court going to pursue me further in this case?’

better ask as much as we can, information is ammunition/knowledge is power etc

>>868736
>>‘What’s Taiyouga’s – and The Admiralty’s position now?’

I'm tempted to ask about kongou, but business first. Also, i wonder if she has any embarrassing stories about the Admiral when he was a fresh recruit.

>>868767
She's well past 80 with a background as a Clan Matriarch. The Admiral is a former Naval Engineer and pushing 60.

>>868736
>>‘What’s Taiyouga’s – and The Admiralty’s position now?’

File: Yup They're Intense.gif (9 KB, 361x217)

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‘What’re the positions of Taiyouga and the Admiralty now?’ You inquire.

If there had been any developments since you were hospitalized, no one had bothered to tell you. The Vice-Admiral was called away almost immediately and the most that you’d heard from The Admiral of the goings-on had been second-hand from Akashi.

‘Considering that this is an international incident, they must be trying to maneuver something. Or at the very least have something in mind.’

‘The legislation rules that your crossing the border is an intent of aggression on the behalf of the Taiyouga government. The Union, of course, aren’t taking that standing up or sitting down – they’re going right for the jaw with it.’ She says divulges, crisply and steadily. ‘The Lords are doing the best that they can and the bureaucrats are maneuvering – and delaying – the best they can. Currently, there is no endgame, but there is a holding action to keep either side from progressing with any legal issue. For now, it seems, that will have to suffice.’

‘What if it doesn’t?’

‘Then there is war.’

‘What?!’ You balk. War? In this climate? When humanity was on death’s door? Were they insane?

‘Commander, you led a team of specialist operatives into unsanctioned territory with the intent of retrieving assets that The Union claim as what they rightly own. The only thing that The Admiralty and Taiyouga are able to do to defend themselves is to use the implication of the black site’s denial of existence against The Union.’ She explains, only serving to make you feel even more guilty. ‘Regardless of how we look, Haszad’s Senate is still working under the thumb of the popular vote. That a black site exists and went unsanctioned by the public and the Senators of Haszad will not stand in their domain. Not when democracy rules it to be so.’

‘So we’re using red tape to hamper both ourselves and them?’ You frown.

‘Stalling action is the only prudent method to take here.’ She nods. ‘To be aggressive would drive both sides to more dire options and we’ll be fighting on more than one front.’

‘I… didn’t know it’d be so severe.’

‘It is not any fault of yours… for the most part, anyway.’ The First Admiral shakes her head. ‘The move for their return should have been done better, quicker… and the circumstances that led to them could have been thoroughly avoided if they had not decided to be fools and play with forces outside their realm of understanding.’

She sighs, grumbling under her breath.

‘However, what is done is done… the most that we can do right now is hope for the best and do our part; like we always have.’

>‘Is The Court going to pursue me further in this case?’
>‘Do you have anything to tell me about Kongou?’
>‘So there’s nothing else, I’m assuming?’
>Write-In

>>868980
>>‘Do you have anything to tell me about Kongou?’

>>868980
>>‘Is The Court going to pursue me further in this case?’
I wouldn't put it beyond them to make things more difficult for everyone on the base.

>>868980
>‘Is The Court going to pursue me further in this case?’

>>868980
>>‘Is The Court going to pursue me further in this case?’

>>868980
>>‘Is The Court going to pursue me further in this case?’

I have a lunch date. Be back in a few hours.

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‘Is The Court going to pursue me further in this case?’

Your main concern – in regards to yourself, anyway – is on the fact that The Admiralty would still have a bone to pick with you. Regardless of your contribution, you did not know if it would suffice to keep their fingers out of your pie. The Grand Lieutenant had been very succinct with what awaited you if you screwed up again… and despite taking down a man made of Kantai Steel and muscle, you really didn’t relish coming under his scrutiny.

The First Admiral gives you an understanding glance.

‘From my understanding, they don’t have a foot to stand on in regards to the blame game. The authorization of the operation was carried out by one of the Counts – if anything, it has already spilled over into the realm of legality over that of an internal affair’ She looks thoughtful. ‘The Count of Tohno’s motivations, due to his not being part of the Admiralty are not their concern. Make no mistake, however, that your involvement in this affair is very black and white. What has changed, however, is that your value as a Commander, with the success of the mission has increased.’ There is an upturn of her lips – if only slight. ‘Musashi’s return to the fold has given you leeway you wouldn’t have otherwise had.’

You frown, interlacing your fingers as you try to digest what she had just said.

‘So they want to kill me… but they’d feel really bad about it?’

‘That’s about the size of it.’ She nods – there is no humor in her voice in affirming you ‘Your success – as marginal as it is – has enable The Admiralty to relay their groundwork in regards to their approach with The Abyssals; they can’t say it out loud, but bringing Musashi back into the fold – even if Yamato is out of commission – has given them impetus to push forward with a bolder defensive stratagem.’ You fidget as she adopts a grandmotherly tone of reassurance. ‘The good comes with the bad, of course, and you have to be treated as a liability until they are sure of your status as a reliable fallback – you have still, effectively, violated international edicts. Your only defense is your claim to The Admiralty – regardless of what The Union says about your actions and you being a national of Taiyouga, The Admiralty is effectively your employer… and due to them being part of a joint task force with no national affiliation on paper…’

‘I’m untouchable.’ You finish for her.

‘Not in so many words,’ you turn a little red at her stern gaze, ‘but as long as you serve The Admiralty, they cannot press the issue aside from the usual rumblings of pens and paper. The most they’ll probably do is have you stand and speak.’

‘But they are angry with me.’

‘Oh, they are livid.’

>‘Do you have anything to tell me about Kongou?’
>‘Would you mind telling me about yourself?’
>‘Nothing else?’
>Write-In

>>870087
>‘Would you mind telling me about yourself?’

>>870087
>Write-In

"What... what should I do next?" (Seek advice)

>>870095
>>870096
Coin flipped. Commencing write-up.

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‘What do you think I should do now?’

She lets out a light cackle, making you feel a little embarrassed.

‘Commander, you are a grown man.’ You make a sound at the back of your throat, feeling embarrassed at the light jibe. ‘I believe that you’ve left the aspect of having a pair of apron strings tied to you a long time ago.’

You bite your lip, cheeks red – she lets out a sigh, defeated and compliant.

‘Very well.’ She reluctantly begins – you turn your ears the best you can. ‘My advice to you is the same advice I’ve given my children and grandchildren – to be honest with yourself through your actions. There is no point in living a life where a lie is all you’re trying to keep up; where the image holds more value than that of what it hides, you won’t only not be able to live with yourself, but neither do others. You are as unorthodox as Commanders come – and even more confounding as far as men go. I cannot ascertain my own curiosity on if your stance is noble or if it is selfish, but as long as you are honest with the cost – the price that you pay for your actions – there is nothing more that I can advise to you.’

‘You’re telling me to just do what I want to?’ You frown – that did sound like the message she was trying to get through.

‘Yes.’ She nods again, surprising you. ‘If you are prepared to understand that the world will push back.’

A grimace escapes your features; you lean back and run your hand through your hair.

‘You sound like an old boss of mine.’

You see a brief upturn of her lips.

‘It is imperative to understand that you are neither a cog in the machine nor are you an almighty being that will always get what they want. There are times that you will have to compromise – belief, action – but never lie to yourself thinking that there is never a price to pay, be it for your own benefit or for others.’ She bows her head slightly. ‘The Admiralty may move against you or it may not, through your actions. No one can say that things are set as they are… and even within The Admiralty there are things that move by their own hand instead of others. Be very careful, Commander, of what you say and do.’

‘Constant vigilance.’

‘Admiral.’

The both of you turn to the doorway to see a blonde foreigner, clad in what looked like a formal hakama. Her features are sharp, striking and youthful, despite the maturity in her icy blue eyes to go with the air of proud regality. She’s about the height of Takao, but with a smaller, lither build that even you could make out from that hakama she wore.

Your eye throbs.

She was a KanMusu.

‘Ah, yes.’ The First Admiral gets to her feet. ‘Commander, this is Bismarck.’

>‘Pleased to meet you.’
>‘You’re a KanMusu under her command?’
>‘You’re from the Admiralty?’
>Write-In

>>870145
>‘Pleased to meet you.’

>>870145
>>‘Pleased to meet you.’

>>870145
>‘Pleased to meet you.’

>>870145
>‘Pleased to meet you.’

>>870145
>‘Pleased to meet you.’

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‘Pleased to, um, meet you.’ You hold out a hand for her take… which she does, firmly.

‘Yokosuka First Division Commander, I presume?’ She nods crisply. If it weren’t for the lack of common features, you would have assumed that she and The First Admiral were somehow related judging by the frown and the formal tone that she takes; still, it didn’t seem like there was an active dislike of your person emanating from her, which you took as a plus.

‘You presume correctly.’ You try to inject some humor into your reply, but all that it gets you is another formal bow and her motioning past you and to

‘Admiral, there is a transport on the way to take us back to Akina.’ Bismarck spares you a glance – with intent you’re not quite sure of – before turning back to The First Admiral; her tone reminds you a lot of Ooyodo’s. ‘The Court of Admirals was adamant that you negotiate with the Shamans alongside The Court Representatives tonight. They wouldn’t take no for an answer.

‘No one wants to hear from an old crone like me until they know they’re in the deep end.’ She cackles loudly, throwing you a smirk over Bismarck’s shoulder. ‘Isn’t that right, Commander?’

You sheepishly turn away. There was more than an inkling of truth to her words.

‘Admiral.’ Bismarck takes a more insistent tone.

The First Admiral sighs, before laughing softly once more.

‘All right, I get it,’ The First Admiral moves past her and bowing in apology. You mirror the action clumsily. ‘I am sorry to leave you so quickly, Commander, but it would seem that I have more urgent matters to attend to at the moment. I hope you heed my advice…’ She continues warmly and encouragingly, ‘and remain vigilant. These are trying times, even if they don’t feel like it.’

She makes her way past the doorway and into the corridor, giving you a salute.

‘Care for them as they do you, Commander.’

You nod, returning the salute.

Turning around… and almost stumble into Bismarck, who was clutching t

‘I think what you did took a lot of courage.’ She utters softly, dropping into a sudden, awkward bow. ‘Thank you for… going back for them, sir. Not many would.’

Before you can reply, she rushes right out the door, following her Admiral.

Feeling a smile creep onto your face, you motion to gather what little you have – the complimentary fruit basket being at the top of your priorities. A knock on the door catches your attention… and you come face-to-face with a relaxed-looking Musashi, leaning against the door frame.

‘Hey, Commander, Akashi told me that we’re moving back to Yokosuka. Need any help?’

You raise the fruit basket. Pretty much the only thing worth taking back.

>‘So what have you been up to?’
>‘How’s Yamato?’
>‘The First Admiral was here just now. Would you believe it?’
>‘Have The Admiralty spoken to you since we got here?’
>Write-In

>>870207
>>‘Have The Admiralty spoken to you since we got here?’

>>870207
>‘Have The Admiralty spoken to you since we got here?’

>>870207
>‘Have The Admiralty spoken to you since we got here?’

>>870207
>‘The First Admiral was here just now. Would you believe it?’

>>870207

>>870207
>Turning around… and almost stumble into Bismarck, who was clutching t
You're missing a bit of text here, Mechanic.

>>‘The First Admiral was here just now. Would you believe it?’

>>870223
>>‘The First Admiral was here just now. Would you believe it?’

>>870207
>‘The First Admiral was here just now. Would you believe it?’

>>870207
Turning around… and almost stumble into Bismarck, who was clutching t


Continued in:

clutching the First Admiral's furisode, which she had so callously left behind.

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‘The First Admiral was here just now.’ You can’t help but let your enthusiasm gush as Musashi regarded you with a curious glance. ‘Would you believe it? Did you know she’s a she?’

She doesn’t say anything, walking right up to you… and placing a hand on your forehead, her orange eyes scrutinizing you as much as The First Admiral had before. She makes a sound from the back of her throat, as though trying to discern something from, this odd maneuver. Confused, you lock a questioning gaze with her, thoughts running along the lines of just why she had a hand on your forehead?

‘Are you still ill?’ She inquires, further puzzling you. ‘I can go and ask Akashi if she’d let you stay a few more days to get your brain cooled down a little more.’

You take her hand with your prosthetic, cradling the basket of fruits in your arm. Musashi’s eyes dance with glee at the frown your lips form.

‘Get off.’ You grouse as her mouth widens into a full-blown grin of amusement, regarding you with a teasing gaze as she placed her hands on her hips and leaning over. When she wanted to get into motion for a tease, as you’d learned in the last two weeks with her as your companion, she definitely would do so. ‘I just didn’t know The First Admiral was a woman – I always assumed that she’d be one of those grizzled old dudes or one of those musclebound action heroes that they showed in the – !’

You stop yourself, turning away as she doubles over in laughter… serving only to raise the embarrassment you felt building up in your belly.

‘You thought that she’d be like that macho Admiral from the TV Show, didn’t you?’ She relieves herself of her glasses, wiping away a tear. ‘That is hilarious. You actually believed that was real?’

While not malicious, you didn’t feel entirely comfortable that one of The Admiralty’s most deadly assets was finding amusement in your skewed misconceptions and assumptions of The First Admiral’s attributes. You try to comfort yourself with the fact that anyone could have fallen for the trick of propaganda, but it’s a small comfort.

‘I know that much is fake!’ You huff, crossing your arms petulantly, the fruit basket swinging in your grip. ‘I just didn’t know she’d be so… proper.’

‘She’s a tough old broad. Must come with being a mom or something.’ Musashi nods in agreement. ‘Don’t let her age fool you, though – she’ll kick your ass when push comes to shove… and she’s a Hell of a taskmaster when you get down to it.’ She adopts a fond smile right after. ‘She always lent an ear to anyone who had something to say – human or KanMusu – never judged us for being more… human.’

‘That definitely comes with being a mom.’

Musashi smacks you playfully on the shoulder, grinning.

>‘How’s Yamato?’
>‘What’ve you been up to?’
>‘Have The Admiralty spoken to you since we got here?’
>Write-In

>>870305
>>‘Have The Admiralty spoken to you since we got here?’

>>870305
>>‘Have The Admiralty spoken to you since we got here?’

>>870305
>>‘Have The Admiralty spoken to you since we got here?’

>>870305
>‘Have The Admiralty spoken to you since we got here?’

>>870305
>>‘What’ve you been up to?’

>>870305
>‘What’ve you been up to?’

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‘Have The Admiralty spoken with you at all since we got here?’

Musashi leans against the room’s wall, crossing her arms and looking thoughtful.

‘They did ask a few questions… but mostly about the mission that led to our capture.’ Musashi answers tentatively, adopting a grim expression. ‘They didn’t ask a thing about what happened in Haszad… which means that they’re either looking to launch a formal inquiry – maybe send in a Submarine…’ you grimace as you realize you hadn’t told her of the Submarine already at Yokosuka. ‘or bring you – or all of us – to HQ for punishment. I can’t read The Admiralty… but I know that they’re not going to just let us go – or your and The Vice-Admiral – with all the ruckus you raised.’

It really would be a surprisingly forgiving move by The Admiralty if they would do so, in your opinion. However, you also recognize that Musashi was probably correct in the assumption that there would be no way you would get out of this unscathed by the legislation. The First Admiral may have told you that the bureaucracy would keep their hands tied… but you find it hard to believe that there wasn’t a judgment being cooked out by some legislative body to offer you up like some pig for the slaughter. Your mood now a lot more somber than before… you turn to Musashi.

‘The First Admiral… she told me that you’re pretty much all that stands between me and a the bars of a cell.’ You sigh loudly, rubbing the back of your neck. Musashi raises her head, showing off a bemused grin.

‘Nice to know that I have some leverage on you, Commander.’ She cover her mouth as she giggles. ‘Maybe you can take me on a date one of these days?’

You sputter, struggling for wards.

‘Just kidding.’ She answers in a sing-song voice. ‘Still… I don’t think either of us – or Yamato – have heard the end of this; The Admiralty’s not one to push something as big as your case – and mine – aside without so much as a whisper. They have something planned for us, but whatever it is that they have, I don’t think anyone can tell aside from the The Court Representatives or The Court of Admirals itself.’ She nods smugly. ‘I guess me forcing my way into your Stream turned out to be a blessing in disguise, huh?’

You mumble under your breath, your opinions mixed on that particular development. Yamato hadn’t moved to bite a metaphysical manifestation of The Vice-Admiral off as Musashi’s had.

‘They should seriously advertise you warning label as propaganda.’ You point a finger in her direction ‘Be warned: may rip your soul apart in extreme conditions – proceed at own discretion.’

She puts a hand over her heart, offended.

‘You’re saying that as though a high stress condition is a daily occurrence with me.’

‘You blew up a playground.’

‘All right. Hourly.’

>‘How’s Yamato?’
>‘What have you been up to?’
>Write-In

>>870418
>>‘What have you been up to?’

>>870418
>‘What have you been up to?’

>>870418
>>‘What have you been up to?’

>>870418
Write-in: "Just a heads up, we already have a Submarine observing us."

>>870418
>>‘How’s Yamato?’
There's probably a way to get Yamato out of her coma; I'm betting on something like the Encephalon Dive from Xenosaga.

>>870450
I don't think it's a coma. From what we've heard, she's awake and talking. I think she just can't sortie or connect to a stream or equip gear anymore.

>>870459
it a coma to call it something, shes shut to the world, she wants nothing to do with it

or the damage is plain to severe

>>870450
>>870459
>>870459
Not really a textbook definition of a coma but it's basically a subconscious desire to not get involved due to a traumatic injury-- so basically PTSD.

>>870418
>‘What have you been up to?’

>>870418
>>‘What have you been up to?’

>>870418
>>‘What have you been up to?’

File: musashi mechanics.png (1.26 MB, 1746x6614)

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Screencap from the Discord for ya'll that don't use it

>>874336
Could I get a link to the Discord?

File: musashi mechanics.png (1.87 MB, 1746x10000)

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>>874352
https://discord.gg/SunGq

Also, fixed the screencap

>>874371
Thanks.

>>874371
I foresee overly generous amounts of salt as the Dice Gods of /qst/ tend to taketh before it even giveth.

Mechanic: Rollplay vs Roleplay, please be less of the former and more of the latter.

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And some more screencaps

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Not sure if this has been posted before, but posting anyway

>>874464
say what? no bully the dd

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please protect her smile, she's been through a lot

also, our life depends on it, so make her happy guys!

>>874386
I run this like I do as a DM/GM. There's no use if the whole thing was a roleplay session. Combat and checks will be roll dependent.

Session will begin in 55 minutes. Forgive me for the abrupt cutoff sessions. Things have had a tendency to pop up for the duration of this weekend.

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‘What have you been up to since this morning?’ You move across from her, clutching the basket again and ready to move out.

‘The usual.’ She shrugs nonchalantly, making a light pout with her lips and crossing her arms again. She rolls her shoulders, continuing, ‘I went to talk with Yamato… and I went to test out my new gear again.’

It’s your turn to frown now – it had been two weeks since she’d ripped the Steel off of you and she still felt uncomfortable using it. You thought that she’d become used to whatever changes that had occurred in her usual base gear systems; then again, maybe it had been her fault, after all – she was the one who had forced the connection and used you as her own personal health shake… in so many words. You give her an upturn of your nose, regarding her flatly.

‘You mean the Kantai Steel prosthetic your core converted into a patchwork layer.’ You taste the roof of your mouth, wondering how you had managed to say that without so much as a stutter. Musashi nods, rolling her own shoulder and letting out a small whine to convey her discomfort. ‘Still having trouble with it? I would’ve thought that you’d get the kinks out of it by now.’ A thought strikes you – maybe you could use that to help her. ‘I remember Nachi complaining about new gear and how it’s incompatible before I left… maybe it’s the same issue?’

‘New gear’s always a little awkward to use when they’re put on the first few times… they’re new, so it does make sense for it to take a while to get used to.’ Musashi makes a light jab and pumps her fist and elbows, letting out a dissatisfied noise. ‘It doesn’t apply to the base of our gear installation.’ She scowls, placing her hands on her hips. ‘No offense, Commander, but I think that you put a little too much of your intent into that piece of hardware.’ She gives her stomach a light pat. ‘It totally feels like you’re still inside me.’

Your ears turn red.

‘Can you at least use different terminology when you talk about that, please?’ You bring your new prosthetic to your forehead, giving it a light rub. ‘People are going to get the wrong idea… and I don’t think I can afford that in this kind of – ?’

She snorts loudly, turning up her nose at you and cutting you off. You feel your annoyance building up as you regard the newest addition to your list of subordinates.

‘You humans and your fancy-schmancy terminology.’ She says the word in a low sarcastic drawl, putting in air quotes for emphasis. ‘That’s why you guys can’t get your points across or anything. You’re so stuck trying to be proper you can’t say what’s on your mind! It’s easy – I like you and you like me. We’re in this together, right?’

She holds up her hand, palm open, in anticipation.

>Indulge her
>‘I’m still your Commander, you know?’
>‘Well, we humans have our quirks.’ (Leave her hanging)
>Write-In

>>875324
>>Indulge her

never leave anyone hanging

>>875324
>Indulge her

>>875324
>‘Well, we humans have our quirks.’ (Leave her hanging)

>>875324
>Indulge her

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Your palms meet – or rather, your prosthetic meets her flesh and blood hand – with a hearty and loud smack. Musashi, amused by your enthusiasm, which you conclude was probably unusual for a figure of direct of authority, smiles wider and gives your hand a thorough squeeze; although, being made of Kantai Steel meant that while you could feel the grip… it ultimately didn’t mean any pain from her end. It only served to cement her place as one of the more boisterous personalities that you had under your command.

‘You don’t have to worry about a thing, Commander.’ She takes a warm tone as she pulls her hand away. Musashi surprises you further with quick, respectful bow – turning the situation from one of a casual exchange to one with a sense of hierarchy. ‘I’ll stick it out with you.’ Her language is crude, but that warm gaze of hers – that reminded you a little of Nagato’s lovely ones – tells you more than what her words say. ‘So you just do you job… and I’ll take care of the rest of the details, all right?’

You begin to nod, letting out a defeated sound… before stopping yourself mid-bob, frowning as you regard Musashi.

‘Hang on, Musashi…’ You bring your hand to your forehead, trying to gather your thoughts. Your flesh-and-blood hand slides to the bridge of your nose and you give her a questioning look. ‘I’m the Commander.’ It felt a little awkward saying it like that, but you feel as though it’s something that you have to press on with. ‘It’s supposed to be me saying that you should be the one doing your job and that I’ll be the one taking care of the finer details.’

She only smirks at you in response… at least, that’s what you think before she makes the motion of walking right across the room and slinging her arm around your neck like you were bosom buddies from college. You don’t exactly mind; despite all her boisterous declarations she was probably one of the better conversation-makers you had the privilege of chatting with.

That, of course compounded with the fact that Musashi was easy on the eyes somehow had you making concessions of just what you couldn’t and could let her get away with for the duration of your stay. Mostly to preserve your temperance, but also because… you have to admit that even you sometimes could fall to the charms of women when you let your guard down enough.

‘We’re in this together, Commander.’ She takes a kind tone. ‘I don’t mind pulling on your slack whenever you need it. KanMusu’s honor.’

You both share a smile.

‘Commander, you ready?’

Akashi enters through the doorway, amused by the sight of the both of you, arms slung over each other’s necks with dopey grins.

‘Oh, shall I lock the door on my way out.’

>‘I’m not falling for it, Akashi.’ (Snappy)
>‘It’s just a friendly chat.’ (Denial)
>‘You ready to go, then?’ (Redirect)
>Write-In

>>875393
>‘You ready to go, then?’ (Redirect)

>>875393
>>Write-In
"I got room for one more, Akashi." (Tease)

We have one arm over Musashi's shoulder, what's another arm over Akashi's shoulder worth?

>>875393
>‘You ready to go, then?’ (Redirect)

>>875393
>‘You ready to go, then?’ (Redirect)

>>875393
>>>Write-In
>"I got room for one more, Akashi." (Tease)

>>875393
>>Write-In
"I got room for one more, Akashi." (Tease)

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‘You ready to go, then?’ You roll your shoulder as Musashi snickers, detaching herself from you with a bemused look.

‘Just about.’ Akashi says enigmatically, pursing her lips as she gestures for you to follow her. ‘Come on.’

The hallway is scarce; a few nurses and orderlies move out of the way as Akashi takes the head of your little troop, checking things off with her pad as the both of you make your way from the ward towards then elevator. She hits a button, before turning towards you with a reluctant… and slightly nervous expression.

‘Yamato’s going to be released under your barracks with Musashi.’

‘What?’ Before you can continue with a line of questioning, the elevator doors open – Akashi moves right in with you following right after. Musashi brings up the rear, her expression strangely stoic. ‘The Vice-Admiral’s the one who reactivated her.’ You clarify, confused at the sudden development. ‘Why would she be released into my care?’

‘The Admiralty decided it would be more beneficial on the whole for the Super Dreadnoughts to remain within each other’s immediate vicinities.’ She looks apologetic, looking up towards you and biting her lip. ‘I was going to tell you yesterday, but I tried to double-check with The Vice-Admiral, but he looks to be in agreement with the development as much as The Court is. Yamato’s not battle-ready, so it – !’

‘Hang on.’ You cut in aggressively, making her let out a heavy sigh. ‘Akashi, this doesn’t make any sense. Why would they entrust me with both Super Dreadnoughts – no offense, Musashi. They know for a fact that I can barely handle one – again, no offense, Musashi – why would they pass up on The Vice-Admiral’s eligibility for another KanMusu to put both under my command?’ The doors ring and the three of you step out. ‘It’s weird, don’t you think?’

‘Musashi is the only one assigned to you.’ Akashi clarifies impatiently as you take your strides with her, not looking ahead. You can hear some people telling you to watch where you were walking. ‘Yamato will be observed and assigned to your barracks until development… develops,’ she coughs into her fist, her cheeks red, ‘and they can have the opportunity to reassign her to another Division or Base.’ You open your mouth to say something, growing confused with this new tidbit of news. You didn’t expect to be piled with more responsibility after the fiasco across the border. ‘I endorsed the decision.’ She looks apologetic. ‘You at least won’t push her around and Musashi… she needs…’

She trails off, looking away.

‘Akashi…’

‘Akashi? Musashi?’

You were in Yamato’s ward.

‘Commander.’ She drops into a formal bow the best she can.

>‘Akashi, a word.’ (Continue talk with Akashi)
>‘Yamato.’ (Return formality)
>‘How’re you doing?’ (Casual)
>Write-In

>>875487
>>‘Yamato.’ (Return formality)

>>875487
>‘Akashi, a word.’ (Continue talk with Akashi)
Explanations, now. Or soon. Going in blind with little to no information has screwed us over too many times.

>>875487
>‘Akashi, a word.’ (Continue talk with Akashi)

>>875487
>>‘Yamato.’ (Return formality)

>>875487
>‘Akashi, a word.’ (Continue talk with Akashi)
Probably better to listen to the doctor.

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‘Akashi, a word.’

For the first time since you met her, Akashi looks a wreck. You couldn’t blame her – it wasn’t even half an hour ago that she was cutting off the idea of your establishment of a Stream with Yamato… and she’d done a complete turn of the decision by placing this on your lap. The both of you exit the ward, leaving a confused pair of Super Dreadnoughts in your wake. The both of you were back in the hallway now, with her using the pad as a sort-of-shield against whatever onslaught that she probably thought you could cook up. You frown at the action – you weren’t angry; you were confused.

She takes the initiative, shooting out a hand to your arm and looking up at you with pleading eyes.

‘Look, just here me – !’

‘Akashi, twenty minutes ago you told me that it was a horrible idea to have Yamato anywhere near my brain.’

‘I know what I said but please hear me out.’ She says quickly – almost too quickly for you to make out the words properly. You let out a sigh and cross your arms, motioning for her to continue. ‘It’s true that Yamato isn’t battle-ready and that I said that it’s a bad idea… but The Admiralty wants to get her back in the saddle as quickly as they want but not by the capacity that she’s able to. Medically – give me a moment – and by your standards of health, she’s fine. She can run, she can laugh, but her core is much too traumatized to try anything immediate; The Admiralty doesn’t care about that – their only concern is her fighting capacity. I don’t trust – !’

‘The Admiralty already has me in their bad books. How did you think they’d answer?’ You growl, incredulous.

‘I gave a very convincing argument as The KanMusu Repair and Maintenance Unit.’ She says so seriously; enough that you run your hand through your hair on the fact that she had the gall to pull that here. ‘I don’t think there’s anywhere better to do that than Yokosuka… even if it means that there’ll only be more eyes on us.’ She gives you an apologetic look. ‘Commander, if she’s assigned to anyone else… away from Musashi, from her friends, familiar faces, she is not going to recover.’

Tears gather at the corner of her eyes, shocking you.

‘It’s horrible… what they did to her, what happened. It’s not something I can heal – it doesn’t want to open up. Her core is shut and it’s not letting anyone in. Not a blowtorch and not magic. I am begging you, sir. You’re one of the few humans I know that won’t push her enough to pull the wounds open again… and my only hope in this.’

She takes a step back… and drops into a steep bow.

>‘Why not anyone else? The Admiral? Vice-Admiral?’
>‘I can’t. I’m sorry.’ (Decline to the proposition)
>‘She’s just going to be in the same capacity as Iowa, right? A guest?’ (Agree)
>Write-In

>>875540
>‘She’s just going to be in the same capacity as Iowa, right? A guest?’ (Agree)

>>875540
>‘She’s just going to be in the same capacity as Iowa, right? A guest?’ (Agree)

>>875540
>Write-In
'Fuck the Admiralty! Kanmusu are people, not tools!" *sigh of resignation*
>‘She’s just going to be in the same capacity as Iowa, right? A guest?’ (Agree)

>>875540
>>‘She’s just going to be in the same capacity as Iowa, right? A guest?’ (Agree)

I don't think she'd be a guest though, more like an invalid until she's medically cleared for combat.

>>875540
>>‘She’s just going to be in the same capacity as Iowa, right? A guest?’ (Agree)

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‘She’s just going to be in the same capacity as Iowa, right? A guest?’ You bite out, crossing your arms. You feel like you’re being suckered into ‘By your recommendation… she is not going to be instated by an assignment capacity or a degree of formality to my Division, correct?’

‘Not until I can give my solemn approval.’ She bites her lip, her eyes even more pleading than before… if that were possible. ‘I can try to get the Shamans to try again, but until I’m sure that it’s safe to proceed… that it won’t be a danger to her life, she will not be put under an operational capacity or formally assigned to your Division outside of being there as a temporary tenant by my recommendation.’ She stumbles over her words, going over them faster than she normally would to fortify her position on the matter.

She didn’t have to – you’d agreed as soon as she’d started sniffling.

‘Akashi.’ You raise a hand, trying to look as stern as you can. You hope your new stubble would come in handy in doing so… even if you had decided on it, that didn’t mean you had to look like a pushover giving in. ‘I’ll agree to the assignment of Yamato to my barracks. No other promises, however.’ You add the last part quickly… before deciding that it wasn’t quite the finish that you wanted to put on your words. ‘I want you to promise me that you’ll look into this the best you can. As cruel as it sounds… we do need her back to fighting capacity as quickly as we can manage, but as her medic, I’ll trust your judgment on the pace we’re to set this at.’

‘Of course, Commander.’ She drops into a quick bow.

She gives you a swift peck on the cheek, before pulling back… and disappearing into the ward, leaving you behind, stunned. Try as you might, you can’t keep the smile off your face as you enter to see Musashi and Yamato chatting animatedly, Akashi explaining the situation to the both of them. The two Super Dreadnoughts share a look – and Musashi squeezes her sister’s hand, approving of the change.

‘I’ll be in you care, sir.’ Yamato bows the best she can. ‘I hope I don’t get in the – !’

‘NAGATO, WE ARE IN A HOSPITAL, YOUNG LADY!’

You spin around to see your Sub-Commander, eyes wide in disbelief, pale and haggard as she steps through the doorway towards your small group. Behind her, The Admiral emerges, clutching his chest and muttering under his breath as he leans against the door frame.

Nagato seems dead to the world as she stumbles towards you – towards all of you, her eyes lined with tears and her lips trembling… before your eyes meet and she tries to gather herself the best she can, saluting wrongly and her headgear tilting to the side.

‘Sir.’ She sniffles.

>‘Hello, Nagato.’ (Casual)
>‘Sub-Commander.’ (Formal)
>‘I think that the three of you have a lot of catching up to do.’ [Commander withdraws coolly]
>Write-In

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>>875605
>‘I think that the three of you have a lot of catching up to do.’ [Commander withdraws coolly]

>>875605
>‘I think that the three of you have a lot of catching up to do.’ [Commander withdraws coolly]

>875605

>'Kept you waiting huh?'

>>875605
>‘I think that the three of you have a lot of catching up to do.’ [Commander withdraws coolly]

>>875605
‘Hello, Nagato.’ (Casual)

>>875605
>>‘I think that the three of you have a lot of catching up to do.’ [Commander withdraws coolly]
nb4 walking into a IV drip stand, tripping over a power cable, bashing knee against a medical trolley, and falling head first into a wastebin.

>>875487
I vote to take Yamato in as our Daughteru

>>875645
But a BB can't be a DD unless you have those age-pills from Negima.

>>875605
Write-In: "Kept you waiting, huh?"

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>>875645
She is a grown woman, anon

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>>875645

>>875605

changing >>875642
to >>875650 and >>875628

[DESIRE TO CHANNEL BIG BOSS INTENSIFIES]

>>875658
I do not accept vote changes.

>>875650
changing >>875627
to this >>875650

>>875661
Even when a write-in sounds cooler or better?

>>875605
>'Kept you waiting huh?'

>>875669
Please refer to my rules in similar cases past. I encourage discussion and deliberation BEFORE the votes are made. If you wanted to put it in, you should have thought about the suggestions of other Questers/Players prior to keying in your entry. I don't mind write-ins and encourage them, but I do not allow changing of votes.

>>875605
>Write in-"Kept you waiting, huh?"

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‘I think that the three of you have a lot of catching up to do.’ You say quietly, walking past Nagato… and placing a hand on the shoulder. ‘I’ll be outside.’ You offer Nagato one last smile. ‘Yamato’s a little fragile, so… try not to tear her in half, all right.’ You say it in a joking tone, making your way towards the nodding Admiral in the corridor. He was out of his usual cap and suit, instead opting for a loud shirt with a tropical pattern on it to go with a pair of tan slacks.

He gives you a casual wave and an approving nod… and the both of you withdraw from the scene, through the large doorway and into the wide hallway where the hustle and bustle of the nurses and the doctors invaded your senses. The Admiral doesn’t elect to go inside either, putting an arm around you and guiding you out of the doorway, lest you invite a lot more trouble from the already-annoyed staff members of the hospital. You throw a glance back at the trio, where a nervous and guilty-looking Musashi had raised her hands as if to fend off an assault… and Yamato was throwing confused looks between the both of them, her expression one of bewilderment.

‘Hey, Nagato, ah… sorry we didn’t tell you where we – ?’

It happens so quickly. Nagato somehow tackles the both of them, falling into a blubbing mess. Musashi struggles against the grip… and you worry about Yamato’s health as she pushes against your Sub-Commander in a vain attempt to free themselves from her hold. You fight down a chuckle as Musashi pleads with Nagato, who absolutely refuses to even budge a single inch… before patting her on the back. You feel a tug at the back of your head as Musashi’s emotions, so well-guarded behind her upfront demeanor, let loose… and she weeps into Nagato’s shoulder as Yamato returns the hug, all three of them holding on to one another as if afraid that they’d be torn from one another again.

‘The Admiralty’s not happy with us one bit.’ The Admiral solemnly begins. The trio had begun chatting… although you couldn’t make heads or tails of whatever it was that they were talking about, as fast as they were talking. ‘We’re not going to be able to pull something like this again without facing a firing squad; we’ve done hurt them more than The Abyssal Assault did. We’ve showed them just how hard we’re willing to push when they stop… The Court, The Grand Lieutenant, they’re not going to take this standing down.’

He sighs heavily, placing his hands behind his back. Yamato says something that has Nagato gasping and Musashi grimacing.

‘That’ll mean more inquiries, more hearings… I’m not going to lie about just how much Hell they’re going to drop on us since they’re not able to give us a pair of cement shoes.’

You see Yamato gasping and turning red.

‘Don’t worry on that little detail, Admiral.’

Nagato smiles brightly as Musashi pouts.

‘They're worth it.’

END DAY 40

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>>875769

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It was the early hours of the morning and you already had your first issue before you as the Yokosuka First Division Commander. Admittedly, Nagato – and whoever Fusou was – had done a good job micromanaging your tasks when you were away, but even they couldn’t have foreseen this issue. Before you were several pyjama-clad barrack denizens, each of them either clutching a pillow, a blanket… or in the case of Iowa, clad in a camisole and panties and looking as thought she’d rather be anywhere but here.

Denizens which, for reasons owing to horrible plumbing and a lack of signature on your behalf for two weeks due to your absence, signature and the lack of foresight on the part of the maintenance crew, had the place effectively turned into some con-artist’s dream. There were reports of bad wiring in ROOM 6 and ROOM 7 while ROOM 8 was suffering from some sort of really bad fungus underneath the floorboards.

‘All right,’ you repeat yourself, lifting up a piece of paper and reading from it, your chin resting on the desk, ‘I apologize for my absence,’ for some reason Murakumo and Tenryuu take the opportunity to let out playful boos… with Iowa, of course, joining in right after, ‘but did anyone here at all put in a request or tried to schedule a change or a call for maintenance while I was gone? Nagato? Tenryuu?’

‘We did.’ Kaga lets out with a sigh, leaning against the door frame. ‘But no one’s come. We tried to ask your attendants… and they tried to do something about it but the maintenance crew didn’t listen to them either. They kept asking for you to sign it off… even after we marched up right to the office with Ooyodo, all they kept pointing to was the maintenance schedule and how you were meant to sign it.’

‘I even tried to get those two wads,’ you recognize that LEIA, now speaking, is referring to her boyfriend and his friend, ‘to try and do something but it was the same thing; it said that you were the one with all the say. I was too scared to go straight to The Admiral so I asked Houshou-san to do it.’

Houshou mumbles something under her breath, throwing a light glare at LEIA.

‘Well… we have two extra now, anyway…’

Yamato and Musashi, with Nagato beside them, for some reason, give a wave to the whole room.

‘I see you boiled down the fat and turned up the charm.’ Nachi quips, grinning widely.

The whole room – save for Samidare and Yamato – at least let out an amused chuckle. Nagato spares you an apologetic glance as her laugh escapes jer.

You smack your head against the surface of your desk. It was just too early for this.

‘All right, let’s get the rooms sorted.’

>Assign rooms (See Base Tab in Documents for current arrangements; Max of 3 to a room)

And while you guys decide the new room arrangements, I'm going to bed.

So I'm thinking we clean out one of those storage rooms if they're serviceable as bedrooms.

Yamato and Musashi should bunk together.

We should ask if Nachi, Takao or Leia have preferences on who they'd like to stay with.

Shigure's either going to have to move in with someone else or we give her roommates.

>>876107
Can't clean out the storage rooms, because cleaning them out would be require resources, like paying to clear the rooms in an XCOM base.

>>876113
Has that ever been confirmed though? Or is it just more wild speculation from the Discord?

Hashed out a plan over in the Discord.

1: Kaga, Commander, Shigu
2: Storage
3: Tenryuu, Iowa, Nachi
4: Yamato, Musashi, Nagato
5: Sami, Murakumo, LEIA
6: ?(Bad wiring)
7: ?(Bad wiring)
8: ?(Fungus)
9: Houshou, Takao
10: Storage

LEIA gets to be an older sister type to Sami and Kumo, all three BB friends get to be together, and Shiggy moves in because she's the least awkward person we could have move in with us.

>>876120
If they could be cleared out on a whim, we would've done it already sometime in the past 20+ threads.

>>876131
So just more speculation and assumptions, okay. Good to know.

>>876131
this

>>875908
This
>>876131


>>876135
See me in Melty instead of being all passive agressive.

>>876135
You know you're welcome to join in. Here's a never expiring link: https://discord.gg/DXsehSp

>>876131
This.

>>876131
I second this

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>>876135
Also, answer from MECH

Rolled 7, 5, 2, 7, 8 = 29 (5d8)

testing the DG favor

Rolled 6, 7, 8, 5, 7 = 33 (5d8)

>>877796
Well I rolled double 99s in another thread, so let's see if my luck's changed

Rolled 4, 8, 8, 3, 7 = 30 (5d8)

>>877842

Session is a go. Tallying the votes for your room arrangements...

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You grunt as you force the last of the mattresses through the door. Takao gives an appreciative bow as she begins to pick up her things – extra changes of clothes, satchels and the like – before moving pass you. Rubbing your wrist, you instinctively step forward upon hearing footsteps; LEIA carrying her things into her new room. Nagato and Musashi chat outside their hallway… and you notice the both of them giving you odd glances, smirking ever-so-slightly, but visible enough under the dim hall lights. Yamato is very passive, leaning against the wall next to Shigure as the latter regales her with tales of one thing or the other.

Pinching the bridge of your nose and giving it a good rub, you fight down a groan as the fatigue begins to harangue you a lot more persistently than it had before, demanding you to rest. Despite your lack of stamina, however, you definitely didn’t feel sleepy. It was a bit of a conundrum, so you settle with just lying still and sliding yourself along the wall to the floor, letting out a pleasured grunt as you crane your neck back. Giving your shoulder a squeeze with your prosthetic, you realize that you could definitely do with a massage right about now; everyone still looked busy enough to be moving their things here and there… and, much to your annoyance, had done away with spoiling you with any attention.

For a while, the shuffle of sleeping bags, make-do mattresses, blankets, bags and pillows is all that keeps you up until finally… your mind catches up with your body and you feel yourself drifting off. The logical part of your brain argues to get up and just make your way back to your room – Kaga would probably just throw a blanket over you and let you snore… until you realize that she definitely wouldn’t; you had to move some of the furniture around to accommodate for Shigure’s mattress. Rubbing the back of your neck, you feel your eyelids growing heavier… and the dragging sensation at the back of your head as you slowly…

You are hopeless.

You wake up in a familiar apartment complex, the smell of instant ramen reaching your nose as you realize that you were at the dining table…

The Princess, no – Nee-san – sits across from you, tapping her massive clawed hands on the surface of the table, regarding you with what only could have been annoyance. You lean back in your chair, regarding her coolly.

You are going to wake up with a massive headache. I am not fixing it.

>‘So… is this a hostile takeover or what?’ (Suspicious)
>‘I never did thank you for helping me back there.’ (Thankful; Sincere)
>‘I remember killing you. Mind filling me on the details before you eat my brain?’ (Snark)
>‘You talk first? I talk first?’ (Joke)
>Write-In

>>878223
>>‘I never did thank you for helping me back there.’ (Thankful; Sincere)
time to begin the Stockhoming

>>878223
>>‘I remember killing you. Mind filling me on the details before you eat my brain?’ (Snark)

>>878223
>>‘So… is this a hostile takeover or what?’ (Suspicious)

>>878223
>>‘So… is this a hostile takeover or what?’ (Suspicious)

>>878223
>‘I never did thank you for helping me back there.’ (Thankful; Sincere)

>>878223
>>‘I never did thank you for helping me back there.’ (Thankful; Sincere)

>>878223
>‘I never did thank you for helping me back there.’ (Thankful; Sincere)

>>878223
>‘I never did thank you for helping me back there.’ (Thankful; Sincere)

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You think that you might want to call out to Kaga, but you don’t feel her… and she seems a lot more preoccupied in figuring out how to use the chopsticks with her massive claws than she is trying to tear you in half or divulge any information. Still, it wouldn’t do you any good to bring your guard down – the last time you remembered doing so had you throne into a life and death battle that you were barely able to escape from. However, it would also be rude of you to not at least acknowledge that whatever her reasons, she had a hand in keeping you alive back there… and you weren’t raised to be of the rude folk, so…

‘I never did thank you for helping me back there.’ You reluctantly let out, pulling on your collar and looking away. You glance around the room, wondering just where this landscape had come from – you don’t remember being in a place this fancy enough to conjure it up. ‘So, um… thanks, I guess.’

You are much too reckless for my liking. Even on the seas, I was a being of tactical renown – now I am reduced to use you as sustenance and a tether of survival, lest I be lost to The Depths. None of the ones under my command would have thought a grain of what you have… and I do not wish to be rid of myself just yet. Or ever.

You rub the back of your neck – you can tell that she was trying to be intimidating, really, but the fact that she was fishing for her chopsticks at the end of every sentence made it very hard for you to take her seriously. Never mind the fact that she had tried to eliminate you, only to be pulled underneath the raging torrent of your Stream weeks ago; that seemed like a distant memory now.

‘I think I figured that out.’ You nod, intertwining your fingers and setting them on the table. ‘It’s an if I die, you die so I have to keep you alive thing, right?’

I am hardly what you would – by notion – what you call alive. My physical form has likely disintegrated into The Depths by now… or consumed by those wishing to take the next level in the evolutionary hierarchy. What is left of my essence has been crushed underneath the power of that KanMusu’s Stream… what you see now is only an echo – what you humans call… a backup plan.

The chopsticks clatter onto the floor, making her let out a heavy sigh and reach down. She brings them both up, staring at them as though they were vile, undignified tools.

I am an echo of a dead being… my fate tied to yours, for better or worse, at your complete mercy.

Her chopsticks clatter onto the floor again.

She slams her head against the table, making a whining sound, giving up with the endeavor.

I fucking give up.

>Comfort her
>Interrogate her
>Demand her to leave
>Do nothing
>Write-In

>>878873
>>Comfort her
i am intrigued by the implications of this choice

>>878873
>>Comfort her
While it worries me. I too am fascinated by what might happen.

>>878873
>>Comfort her

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‘Let me help you with that.’ You say honestly, pushing the chair you were seated on right back and making your way towards her. You pick up the chopsticks on the floor, before frowning ‘Can’t believe you can’t take out something that you know you can’t handle.’

You walk towards the kitchen counter – which is a lot more spacious than you remembered from last time, pulling out a drawer and… revealing a whole drawer full of chopsticks. You open another one, once again revealing more chopsticks; you mutter under your breath and look up at the grimacing face of the woman you once called Nee-san, who hands are folded over her lap, her shoulder slumped and her body leaning slightly forwards.

I am not a fool. To delve any further into you would have what is left of me gone; as weakened as I am, I don’t wish to fully leave this plane of existence just yet. It was hard enough to conjure this space… I did not wish to push my boundaries anymore than I already have – for my sake more than yours, I assure you.

‘Yeah, yeah.’ You take out a pair of chopsticks from the drawer and slam it shut, annoyed at the tone that she had taken. You walk to the table and pull a chair, seating yourself down and picking her bowl of ramen up. It’s hotter than you imagine… but for some reason or other you don’t feel pain at all; The Princess backs away slightly as you raise the bowl and chopsticks to her mouth, picking up several strands ‘Open your mouth.’

The soup flicks onto your nose and cheek as she messily slurps the noodles. Droplets of soup litter her pink lips as she awkwardly begins to chew – it must take at least a minute before she finally swallows… and lets out an awkward burp followed by a squeaky hiccup.

She looks thoughtful for a moment… before nodding in approval.

Acceptable.

‘So, if we could get to – !’

More sustenance. Words later.

She opens her mouth expectantly… and with a sigh, you begin feeding her like a mother bird would her chick, depositing hot ramen noodles into her gaping maw as she – to your understanding – cheerfully and enthusiastically savors her meal. It was an odd sight for you, seeing an Abyssal that must have massacred millions and razed cities, happily eating as though it was her first meal in eons.

‘How did you get this meal going anyway? Is there a gas man around or something?’

I do not understand what you mean. You think of sustenance so often, it isn’t hard to piggy back on these thoughts to manifest them here.

You set down the meal. She lets out a grunt.

You have questions… I believe this is the appropriate juncture to ask them.

>‘What is this place?’
>‘How did you survive?’
>‘Just what are you, then?
>‘How did you end up dead?’
>‘I want to know more about The Abyssals.’
>Write-In

>>878968
>>‘How did you survive?’
this is the main question here

>>878968
>>‘How did you survive?’

>>878968
>>‘How did you survive?’

>>878970
But she just told us!?

>>878968
>Abyssal knowledge

>>878968
>‘How did you survive?

>>878968
>>‘I want to know more about The Abyssals.’

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‘So how did you survive? Takao saw your corpse. You were… dead.’ You remember seeing her organs – as unnatural and mind-numbing as the sight was… you didn’t wish to recall it, but you couldn’t help but bring it up now.

Our kind, once we reach a threshold of power, a plateau of achievement, are able to conserve our life energies and to the point where our physical for and our spiritual form are separated by a thin barrier. In comparison to you humans, who have millions upon millions of degrees of separation between your cores and your true selves… a dishonesty of the senses molded to feel the sensibilities of the individual rather than a collective.

‘You lost me.’

For you, the Shaman’s Champions, the link between your being and your physical form is thin… but thicker than we would like. There are dozens of layers, thousands of hallways before you can reach the true being you are within – we, The Royal Emissaries, have stripped away all that has us be… until I has become we. Where our outer selves and cores have no difference.

‘Again, not following.’

Her shoulders slump as she lets out a whine.

You know that postal system thing you have? Imagine every time something breaks someone on the other end send you a replacement, even if you don’t tell them you broke that thing.

‘You piggybacked on my Stream – unguarded – so you could use me as a conduit to restore yourself.’ You make a disgusted noise, glaring at her.

She seems satisfied enough to continue.

I am a consciousness designed to ensure the continued survival and possible propagation of my old self. I had hoped to use you or one of the Champions to restore myself to form… but it would seem that none of you are powerful or steady enough to accommodate for my sheer power.

‘You don’t look so tough to me right now.’ You smirk, leaning in. She glares at you – you can feel the fires of her rage from where you’re seated… but it’s not hot enough to devour you.

D – Do not mock me, Commander. What you see now is a mere trace of what I once was; I am not even a millionth of the strength I was when I perished… and not even a thousandth of what I was when you threw my remaining shell into that Champion’s torrent.

‘All Princesses can do this?’

It is one of the steps in evolution, yes. But I am no longer able to.

‘Why do I have an inkling that that’s a big fat lie?’

Because doubt’s got you this far in life. Why stop now?

You open your mouth… and close it again, grumbling.

>‘What is this place?’
>‘Just what are you, then?’
>‘How did you end up dead?’
>‘I want to know more about The Abyssals.’
>Write-In

>>879078
>>‘I want to know more about The Abyssals.’

>>879078
>>‘How did you end up dead?’

>>879078
>>‘Just what are you, then?’
>desire to know more

>>879078
>>‘How did you end up dead?’

>>879078
>‘I want to know more about The Abyssals.’

>>879078
How did you end up dead?

Prayer time, guys, be back in an hour or two.

>>879078
>>‘I want to know more about The Abyssals.’
Information please, that'll be your rent for the month for living in my head.

>>879078
>‘I want to know more about The Abyssals.’

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>>879078
>‘I want to know more about The Abyssals.’

>>879078
>‘I want to know more about The Abyssals.’

Neesan a cute.

Rolled 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 = 27 (5d8)

test bump and roll

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‘What can you tell me about your kind?’ She lifts her head to meet your gaze, her blood-red eyes glinting oddly. ‘The Abyssals.’

She raises a curious eyebrow in your direction, prompting you to continue.

‘We’ve been fighting you for fifteen years and know next to nothing about you except that for some odd reason, you want to either tears us in half… or drag us to the bottom of the ocean or whatever.’ You run your tongue over your front teeth, wondering how to best go on. ‘I’m not telling you I’m in this to play goody-two-shoes, but I want to know at least what and why you’re doing this to us. Fifteen years we’ve been trying to push you back to wherever you came… without knowing the why – so if you’re really hear at my mercy, then you’ll have it. But I want to know.’

Silence reigns between the both of you for a good while. She peers at you, curiously still, before bursting in laughter… frightening and shocking you. Her laugh isn’t melodious; it is harsh, rough – like crashing waves upon the cliffs, roaring. She ceases as soon as she sees your discomfort, shaking her head and placing her hand on the table, grinning dangerously.

So that’s what you call us. How childish… to use a human term. Still, if it serves its purpose, then…

She looks thoughtful for a moment, tapping her chin with her massive claw… and casually shrugging right after.

We do not know why. It is ingrained in our very core, our being… to despise you and loathe you. To show disdain for your lack of one-ness as a species, fighting against the very laws of survival and evolution… it seems innate, bred and pushed. Even now, sitting with you… I feel a sense of… hatred for you. I cannot understand why… nor do I care to.

You can’t believe your ears.

‘You hate me and you don’t care why you want to drag me to the bottom of the sea… just that you want to.’ Her gaze towards you remains neutral… prompting you to push a little bit more. ‘You never thought to question it?’

Do you question why your kind needs breath and food to live? I do not expect you to understand… or comprehend the why of our hatred – our disgust – for your race; the ones above the sea. It’s a pointless endeavor – to tell me, to tell us – to question our hatred for you… it is as natural to us, to me, as it is for the lowers to dream of ascension, even if it means to rebel and consume. Such as is their limited understanding of our kind.

‘Lowers to – ?’ You make a disgusted noise, trying to comprehend what it is ‘Wait, you’re saying Abyssals actually eat, as in, chew and swallow?’ A feeling of dread comes over you. ‘Us? Humans?’

She taps her fingers on the table, looking thoughtful.

TBC

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I cannot remember the practice in detail. I’m but a facsimile of my former self… and thus whatever knowledge I have is incomplete and limited. However, as this space operates under your rules as much as mine… there is little I can do but indulge you.

She laughs… but it’s more of someone had realized that they had lost a battle and was delirious at its end more than out of humor.

It is not unheard of for the lowers to cannibalize one another to gain evolutionary enlightenment… but there is so much that forced assimilation can do or hope to achieve. To realize a level of oneness and insignificance of all action but to serve the purpose of our being is not so easily acquired by the devouring of kin… it is only through true realization that a higher phase into the oneness that is eternity can be reached. All those below only see The Royal Emissaries as the end to their quest… while we have only reached but the cusp of The Will’s.

‘Will’s final wish?’ You raise your hand – flesh and blood – and make a face. ‘I’m sorry, but what – ?’

The Will that drives us to do what we do. It is the call from your very bones that incites our disdain and hatred for your species – for your race. I believe… it is the closest to what I can describe as our calling – as you hunt for food to live. We are fueled by our desire for you – and to be rid of you. In our spirits and bones, we are pushed and driven to be what you say are monsters… and what we see as but our role in this existence.

‘That’s kind of fatalistic, don’t you think?’

It is not our place to wonder why.

That definitely sounded fatalistic. You press on – something tugs at the back of your head… your whole body in fact, as you desperately try to understand them. A Will? Instinct?

‘You kill children and people who have nothing to do with you… and you don’t care about it in the least?’ You snarl, despite yourself. ‘That you do what you do just because?’

To your surprise, she only nods. A brief flash in her eyes has you thinking that there might be an apology – a sorry word begging to be out, but it glasses over… and you see The Princess turning to the window, a sad smile on her face.

It is our way. You see your friends and your superiors and see what you call companions – belonging. I see flesh and spirits – a sum total whose individuality I am driven to loathe as you are to breathe.

‘Is that all you feel?’

Yes.

‘Then why help me?’ You bite your lip, still thinking of the day you were thrusted into this role.

She straightens herself.

Because I am not ready to leave this world, Commander.

>‘What else can you tell me?’
>‘What is this place?’
>‘What are you, then?’
>‘How were you defeated?’
>Write-In

>>882225
>>‘How were you defeated?’

>>882225
>>‘How were you defeated?’

>>882225
>>‘How were you defeated?’

>>882225
>‘How were you defeated?’

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‘How did you end up like that, anyway?’ You continue with the questions, getting up from the table and moving towards the kitchen counter. You felt a little uncomfortable after the last bout – you needed to stretch yourself a little; besides, a bowl left like that would have rankled you something fierce if it didn’t find a sink for it soon. ‘We don’t have a record of having beaten you in public – I would’ve thought your corpse would’ve made a Hell of a celebration, especially after the ass-kicking you gave us.’

She shakes her head as you dump the bowl into the sink… eyeing her in confusion before once more taking your place across from the white-haired being.

I do not remember.

‘You’re kidding me.’ You give her a flat look, leaning back, neck over the chair and letting out a grunt. It would seem that in this mind scape, ‘You don’t remember what got you into this mess in the first place?’

Again, she shakes her head.

I do not. I do remember that it was painful… and there were shadows that struck at me – full of lust and fury… and they did something; something that separated me from my plane into yours – that severed the link of what you would call a regeneration; rebirth, over and over again. Dying is a relative term – to drift out of this world and and into the void and the depths and to be back again can be considered it, but every time I came back, I could feel it, this form, being devoured. Being torn asunder and unable to come back. That’s all there is to it.

‘Do you recognize what came at you?’ You bring your head closer, eying her like a hawk. ‘Anything? If it was a… weapon, a person, a – a monster or whatever it was?’

She shakes her head.

I did not recognize its aura or presence. It felt as though they were being masked by the sea – by the sky above – but they were quick… and little by little I felt my connection between the planes being ripped apart, as though I…

She raises her gaze to the ceiling, a hum escaping her lips.

To be cast down as the New Birth was… a humiliation beyond that any Emissary can recover from. Is this what you call… ego, Commander? It’s no wonder why we despise you so much – for something as counter to the mechanics of the universe such as this to exist; it is a wall that hinders your progress. Where ascension awaits, stagnation becomes the clear choice for a race refusing to accept its role in the world… and I am bound to you. My brother

She says the word with mirth, laughing cruelly – mostly at herself – and covering her face with her gigantic clawed hand. She weeps now, openly – you can feel her disgust, her rage…

You don’t know what to say.

>‘You’re here permanently, then?’
>‘What is this place?’
>‘You’re just an Echo, then?’
>Turn away
>Write-In