>>478975
>Leave it closed and deliver it
It'd be best to not pry too much into Fingers' business.

>>478975
>>Leave it closed and deliver it

>>478975
>>Leave it closed and deliver it

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You grimace, deciding that it’s nothing to worry about – Fingers isn’t the type you would pin down to put a viral explosive in an envelope, thick and heavy as it is. A blaring whistle makes your stagger slightly; you clutch your ear and frown, turning to the source of it. You see a few more Imperial Army trucks, big, threatening and escorted by jogging soldiers – not MPs – real, true blue soldiers, clutching rifles and batons.

The site of it is surreal, but maybe later, you reason, you could ask around what they had arrived in Yokosuka for; you had a few things on your plate right now. You see a few of the staff members peaking out of their work tents, giving them apprehensive looks, but nothing more. One of the soldiers’ eyes meet yours as the truck passes you by and he – no, she – gives you a curt nod of acknowledgment before the convoy passes you by completely.

You give one last look at the convoy going past the bend, entering the restaurant.

A man enters your immediate view. He is a little shorter than you wish small shoulders and bow-bent legs – and much older. By a glance you can tell that he has about twenty years on you, with grey wisps of hair protruding out of an otherwise messy and blond shock of hair and a stare that betrayed years of strife and toil. His face seems to be contorted into a permanent frown with a small, yet deep, indented cut on his lips and a hunch forward that looks like a failed attempt at looming that had not left out of pure habit.

He regards you neutrally, setting down a pot on one of the tables. He had been polishing them, it would seem, before you’d entered the shop and the small stack on the ordering counter states that he’d probably been at it since before you’d cracked an eye open.

‘Yo, what’ll it be, handsome?’ He growls, although you don’t feel any malicious intent for it.

He polishes a utensil in his hand, that stony gaze not faltering, not even for a moment.

‘Um, oh, I’m just here to look around.’ You hurriedly say, reflexively feeling the envelope in your pocket.

‘Look around?’ He barks in laughter, smirking as he focuses on the ladle in his hand, giving it a good wipe, up and down. ‘This ain’t a museum, boy-o.’

You turn a little red. You hadn’t been caught red-handed, but it did feel a little patronizing to have someone observe you like he did. You’d had your fair share of authoritative figures around you, and you feel a chill of familiarity in mannerism from him that reminds you too much of the head of a kitchen staff with a very short fuse.

Bad memories, at times, could be useful so as not to repeat the experience.

‘I’m actually here to,’ you hesitate, wondering what to say next.

>Ask who he is
>Lie (Write-In)
>Give him the letter Ends Task
>Deliver the letter discretely Ends Task
>Write-In

>>479071
>>Ask who he is
Also, maybe ask for a plate of scrambled eggs or something. It is still near breakfast time, right? We shouldn't annoy Chef Ramsay too much though.

>>479071
>Deliver the letter discretely Ends Task

>>479071
>Deliver the letter discretely Ends Task

>>479071
>>Deliver the letter discretely Ends Task

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‘Actually, I was looking for Irako or Mamiya.’ You manage, hands in your pockets and scooting over to the counter. ‘I wanted to see them about something.’

The middle-aged man looks thoughtful, picking up another pot and giving it a good wipe.

‘Well, they’re at their quarters if you want to see them.’ He mentions casually, frowning as he rubs the surface of the pot even harder – apparently some stains tested the patience of people more than others. You could relate, after all, having been part of the kitchen staff in your day. ‘If I may ask, what do you want to see them for, anyway?’

You cross your arms, giving a good-natured twinge of your lips.

‘I think that’s getting a little personal if you’re going to pry it that hard.’

He lets out a loud bark of laughter, setting down the pot he had been rubbing down. You don’t want to admit it, but with the lack of light – for whatever reason he had not elected to turn on the lighting – even with his diminutive size, hits him for you as a sinister figure. In your thoughts he looks the part of a goblin shuffling in the twilight, even with that squashed nose and the large pots and utensils in his hand.

You’d argue it made him seem more like it, in fact. It takes you some time to deduce just how you can drop Fingers’s letter off without him noticing – you couldn’t just take it out and put it in the slot. You have an inkling that the color of the envelope and its length would raise too many questions, and you promised Fingers you’d deliver it without anyone noticing.

You spy a small basket – a mail basket – with several pieces of messily folded paper inside. Perhaps you could drop it off in there? The man shoots you a smirk, making you smile back nervously.

He honestly reminds you too much of a goblin – or a troll, even if he did seem like a decent enough, albeit intimidating sort of person.

‘You’re right.’ He walks right up to you, handing out a hand for you to shake – which you do. ‘My manners – I’m the Specialist Chef; used to be assigned to the Admiralty’s HQ.’ He nods to your badge. ‘You’re one of the Commanders, if I hazard a guess?’

‘Yeah.’ You chuckle, leaning back on the counter has he turns away.

With haste and precision, you make your move.

You drop the letter into the basket, and he is none the wiser as he pulls up a chair from one of the tables set, sitting down.

He regards you coolly as he does so. You find yourself sweating – he reminds you too much of your time as a kitchen beaner and the shadows don’t flatter him at all.

‘So that means that you’re that guy that wanted to learn how to cook for the KanMusu, would that be right?’

‘Oh,’ you simply say, leaning against the counter. ‘Yeah, I – !’

‘You sure that this is the kind of thing you want to waste your time with?’ He chuckles. ‘You have a boatload of things to do, yeah?’

>Write-In

>>479091
>"I made a promise to the girls. My division, I mean."

Might as well keep it simple.

>>479092
Yeah. Casserole and the word best also comes to my mind.

>>479092
We aint the kind of guy that backs on his word
plus it would make shigure happy

>>479098
>>479112
I hope it makes our whole division happy.
Wouldn't it be wild if it made the submarine so happy that she became more loyal to us than her real commander?

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‘I promised I’d make them something as a reward.’ You admit, reminiscing to when you had had that conversation with Shigure – it seemed like so long ago. You prop yourself up against the counter, admitting how much of a fallacy it had been on your part in hindsight. ‘I didn’t know KanMusu were so different.’

‘You know that they only taste one flavor, right?’

He moves to the wall, still guarded by the shadows. He may be short, but it still irks you just how uncanny he is in comparison with the way he carries the conversation with you; the imp and goblin comparisons don’t leave – neither does that scowl.

The lights come on, and dim as the are, you find yourself a little thankful.

‘Yeah, salt.’ You say crisply, you cross your arms – more annoyed with yourself now than you are with his inquisitive prods. Maybe it really is just you – as far as him being judgmental went, you do admit as someone who had been in the business yourself it was a stupid declaration. ‘I get it.’

He rubs his hands with a piece of cloth, making his way to you and sitting on a table, regarding you almost lazily.

‘So you said you’d fix a meal for them and not know that particular tidbit?’ He says in a tired tone – it reminds you a lot of a father scolding a child and you can’t help but shrink, despite your size advantage and your age. ‘Would it be a reach to call you the type to leap before you look?’

You grimace, looking to your knees. You’d been part of the food service industry once – and that kind of accusation echoed more closely with you than any other comparison that he could have brought up. It is a professional observation against an inelegant action and was judged as such.

‘I wouldn’t.’ You laugh, despite yourself.

The Chef brings a hand to his chin, grumbling as the table he leans against creaks.

‘Do you even know what Tanaka Salt is?’

‘It’s a liquid – and apparently the only thing strong enough to get something out of the KanMusu.’ Your answer is immediate; textbook.

He nods. You feel a swell of pride develop in your chest, despite yourself.

‘You’re part right: it comes in both liquid and solid forms, depending on what the KanMusu want to put into their meals.’

You remember the packets of crystals you had seen in the supply crate the day before yesterday, carried in by Takao and the rest.

‘Oh, right.’ You mimic his motions, biting your lip. ‘You mean those little rock crystals?’

‘You’ve seen them.’ He smirks, crossing his own arms and letting a chortle escape. ‘Hell to use in a pan – leaves a lot of scratches. Most of us take the easy way out and just rub it into something and bake.’

‘It’s that easy, huh?’ You grow a little wide-eyed – you’d expected something a little more complicated.

‘You wish, rookie.’ He points a finger in your direction, still letting out that laugh.

TBC

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‘Huh?’ You throw him a confused look – your understanding had been apparent; it did seem rather easy; which part of it garnered such a reaction?

‘The taste spread is uneven – you need to get it all over and you need the taste to stay that way. The experts dip it into the liquid, but in its pure form its dangerous in itself.’ His finger jabs in your direction, his lips tinged in a smug smirk.

‘Why?’

‘If I throw Tanaka Salt in liquid form into your eyes you can go blind.’ He says it as though it is the most obvious thing from his words. ‘It’s worse than hot oil.’

‘Speaking from experience?’

‘Speaking as someone who’s been down that road before. It’s not like cooking for people.’ He says, almost grimly, raising a hand and sighing.

‘So if I’m going to make the casserole, do I need Tanaka Salt in liquid or solid crystals?’ You try to process the information – as much as you can, anyway. It did seem rather more complicated than the first few lines he’d uttered seemed to imply. ‘The whole thing’s confusing as butt to me.’

‘It is for anyone looking to start out.’ He raises a finger to you again, nodding sagely in your direction. ‘Mamiya said that you wanted a few pointers, but since we’re not going to have time until next week… ah, what the hey, I can give you a few pointers – and the secret is in the water.’

At least now, you feel you’re getting somewhere.

‘The water?’

‘The water.’ He repeats, making a motion of raising a cup and pouring with his right hand. ‘Never drop more than a mugful into half a gallon or you can kill the flavor, and certain types of meat – fish, chicken, beef they all take the Tanaka Salt in in different ways.’ He frowns. ‘What kind of casserole are you planning to make, anyway?’

‘Chicken.’

‘Then it depends on the kind of heating you’re going to be using.’ He says simply, looking thoughtful. ‘Microwaves are right out; as is an open fire.’

‘Why?’

‘Because Tanaka Salt crystallizes at extreme heat. It also needs some water to keep it cool enough when its spread across the meat.’ He says matter-of-factly.

‘So am I supposed to be doing this with the crystal or the liquid?’

‘It’s a step by step process, Rook.’ He chuckles. ‘I believe that doing is better than telling. Besides,’ ‘I think my shift is about to begin.’

As soon as he finishes, the flaps rustle – you turn to see Irako and Mamiya, clad in trench coats a few sizes too big.

‘Commander!’

Mamiya and Irako walk up to you as the Chef makes his way out back.

‘Good morning, sir. Have you had breakfast?’

‘The kitchen’s not open yet, but we’d be happy to make you something to eat!’

4/5
>Stay CONSUMES ACTION
>TASK: Investigate the Attacks
>Look for KanMusu
>Seek out Officers/Staff
>District Management
>Write-In

>>479123
>>Look for KanMusu (Shigure)
We haven't spoken to her in a while.

>>479124
Also she got some mantenimance or new equipment
it whould be a good idea to just ask her

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‘I don’t think I have the time.’ You admit. Even with the designation of rest and relaxation – you didn’t feel like you’d had enough of either the last few days. ‘It’s my last day of R&R and frankly… it doesn’t really feel like it.’ Between the odd jobs you’d found yourself in and being on the front lines and keeping vigilant, you really didn’t. ‘I have a bunch of things on my plate.’

Mamiya gives you an apologetic look, smiling lop-sidedly.

‘Oh, I’m sorry.’ Irako stands on her tip-toes, taking off the trench coat. ‘Are you sure that – !’

‘Oi, Boss.’

‘What’s – ?’

You turn around – thankfully, you’d had enough practice with Samidare and her ball to develop quick enough reflexes to grab the tin foil bag that you’d been tossed. You hold it up with your mechanical arm. It’s soft, rather squashed and most of all, warm.

The chef gestures with his head from behind the counter.

‘Something for you to munch on if you don’t decide to go to the mess hall.’ He really does look like a large goblin, if a little more cheerful than you’d thought before. ‘It’d reflect poorly on us as an establishment if we let the Commander go outside starving, right?’

‘Thank you.’ You say sincerely.

‘No problems.’

With a mock salute, he’s back into the pantry, leaving you with the two KanMusu.

‘Commander, you’re going to be here for Open Mic Night?’ Irako asks – you hadn’t thought about it, really – and you’re not sure if you want to go with everything that’d been going on.

‘I don’t know. Depends if I’m breathing at that point in time or not, frankly.’ You reply honestly.

Irako giggles.

‘Always with the jokes.’

‘Well, a bunch of your crew are taking part tonight – it’d be a shame if you didn’t at least come over to cheer them on.’ Mamiya tries to persuade you.

‘I’ll try, but really – no promises.’

You’re not sure how long you chatted with them– or rather, how long before you’d found yourself caught in their snare, but by the time you’re out, the sun is at least shining through the clouds. You open the wrap… and spy a familiar sight.

‘Banana burritos.’ You sigh. ‘Would’ve never guessed.'

Something hits you.

Shigure.

‘Good morning, sir!’

Several burly MPs in a disciplined file, approach you with a salute. You almost drop your burrito at their sudden appearance.

‘Good morning, gentlemen.’

‘Banana burritos?’ One of them looks inquisitively at your meal.

‘Banana burritos.’ You hold up a wrap. ‘Want one?’

They all shake their heads, two of them looking at you as if you’d just declared yourself dying before throwing a salute and going off. Rather hurriedly, you might add.

You frown as you take your first bite - there was nothing wrong with banana burritos.

>Walk back to the barracks.
>Wait for a buggy

>>479154
>>Walk back to the barracks.
We should probably get the exercise. Plus we may see something interesting along the way.

>>479154
>Walk back to the barracks.

>>479154
>>Walk back to the barracks.

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You decide to forgo the wait for a buggy. It was still quite early – and you didn’t know if they would be running at this time. The growing bustle catches your attention; around you you see several members of the volunteer staff and the maintenance crew begin pouring out of nooks and crannies, hoisting whatever it is they needed to keep doing whatever they had been tasked to do. You yourself have a few pieces of business to settle today – and given that you thankfully had the full day to do such things, you tell yourself to hop to it.

The world didn’t wait for anyone.

‘Excuse me, sir.’

You duck out of the way – several of the maintenance crew hoist what looks like a heavy-looking cable. Miraculously, you see that none of them are as dirty or as unkempt as they would be after a whole morning’s worth of hard labor – the state you’d usually catch them in – and the smell of soot and gas didn’t linger at all. It’s a little bit alien; you’d grown used to the smell hitting your nose when they went to work.

‘Sir, excuse me.’

Again, you duck out of the way. This time by several men clad in overalls, carrying what looked like a steel pylon wrapped in chains – or held together in chains, you couldn’t tell – trailed by a few of the Imperial Army soldiers that you had seen before; a whole different group of them. You wonder what they could be doing here but elect to not bother – you had enough on your plate as it is; if you could do any more, it’d have to be after you sorted things out.

It did seem suspicious, though. If they were a relief effort, they should and would have been here weeks ago.

You walk back up the street and past the corner; there are a few of the army trucks lined up on one side of the road with a few men chatting among themselves. You give them a quick glance to confirm, again, that they are part of the Imperial Army, but don’t approach them. You cross the street to the other side, continuing your walk in-land as you see several members of the maintenance crew, the volunteer staff and MPs begin the morning shift.

It really did look like the whole town had just started its morning stretch.

Looking over the sea, you don’t notice where you’re walking, immediately bumping into the person in front of you.

‘Could you look where you’re going?’

You look to see a bull of a man – and by bull of a man you meant bull of a man – nose ring, mohawk and size to go with it. You wonder for a moment if he’s one of yours, before you realize that he is, in fact, clad in army uniform.

‘Excuse me.’ You apologize, moving out of his way.

The both of your eyes meet – if for a brief moment.

‘Stinkin’ monster ranchers.’ He mutters.

You stop in your tracks.

>‘What did you just say?’ (Confront him)
>Ignore him, get back to the barracks

>>479192
>‘What did you just say?’ (Confront him)

>>479192
>>‘What did you just say?’ (Confront him)
we are trucking ripping that nose ring out if this ends in a fight

File: Can You Repeat That.jpg (31 KB, 300x300)

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My, my, it would seem that there are just so many against you, aren’t there?

You would have ignored him usually – your hide was always thicker, but you just knew just what and who he had referred to. Your defensive reflex extended to just you and you alone, but you’d seen just about enough of abuse – direct or indirect – of what the KanMusu had gone through to decide that if there had ever been a straw, it had long since been dropped.

‘Excuse me.’ You call out, turning around.

Immediately, the large man turns around – it looks more like the world turns around him. He may have been large, but… well, right now you think that whatever estimates you had on his size, they had probably been understated. He is a massive specimen; you’re not sure if he’s a bulk or a powerhouse. You’re not even sure if he ate his prey alive and spat out the bones with a smile, but right now you you find that it definitely is too late to take back the tone you’d called him out at.

‘Yeah, what?’

He must have been at least 6 and a half feet tall, by your estimates. The massive muscles underneath the long sleeves of his top ripple visibly – even if they are covered. You don’t back down; as unwise as it was to give in to your temper, you feel at least a sense of pride for the mark on your chest and for the ones under your command.

As one of the soldiers on the front line, you feel – and this is in addition to your over-protective tendencies for your crew – a need to at least straighten the record in regards to the perception of just what the KanMusu under your command are.

There is one thing for sure, though: monsters, they are not, and neither are you their rancher.

‘I believe you said something.’

You take a bite – a gulp, really – of the burrito, swallowing it in one go. It’s not really to look intimidating on your part; you’re just really of the thought that if you were going to get into a fight this early in the morn, you might as well do so with a stomach half-full.

‘Something?’ He pokes a finger into his nostril, chuckling and taking a step towards you. ‘What’s that something?’

He’s barely a foot away from you now, sneering at you from his lofty height; you have to crane your neck to slightly graze his chin.

‘I think you very well know what you just said.’

For others, his grin might have been enough to send people running.

For you, though, it just gave you another list of things you didn’t like about him – and you’d barely known him 90 seconds.

Come on, come on...

>‘It’s not Monster Rancher. It’s Commander.’ (Correct him)
>‘So are you the prototype or the finished product?’ (Insult him)
>‘I know a few Officers wouldn’t be pleased that you’d started an altercation.’ (Threaten him)
>‘You’re not worth it.’ (Leave, head to the barracks)
>Write-In

>>479249
one its Commander
2 since your soo into ranchers i guse il have to drage you back to your owner and inform him one of his cows got lost

>>479253
or say didnt know that we had to start useing cows and somehow this one thinks it can talk

>>479253
I'm sorry, I don't understand what you're trying to convey.

>>479265
insulting him
tellhim the name is commander
and that he is a cow

>>479275
All right, I understand.

People wondering why you have a Sub inspecting your butts? I present to you why. Can't your fuse cool with the choices.

>>479279
now i dont understand what your own about?
something about the sub?

>>479249
>‘It’s not Monster Rancher. It’s Commander.’ (Correct him)
Don't guys. Just don't.

>>479296
but i want to pull that nose ring out

>>479298
Cause that will go over soooooo well.

>>479302
deal with that latter
i got a filling if we dont stop him her he will turn u latter doing shit that and people will talk

>>479249
>‘It’s not Monster Rancher. It’s Commander.’ (Correct him)
Lets not have Akashi mad at us right now.

>>479305
We've already have put ourselves on a watch list for our actions. Enough so they sent a sub to keep us on watch. Starting more fights is just going to make our difficult life even harder, as stuff like this equates to the sub staying around longer and everyone being miserable.

>>479312
mea
and it looks like im getting out voted any ways

>>479249
Correct him

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Not knowing the odds and just rushing in; It is a marvelous feeling.

You’re spurred on.

By some unknown force, some desire that clouts reason and logic, you don’t see any problem going up against this mountain of a man. You don’t find anything wrong with instigating the conflict, to press on and push until all the buttons are clicked and the switches are whirring, it comes over you, this haze, this grit that makes you stand your ground against the odds with no heed for the consequences.

The words threaten to leave your lips, the sneer hitting your nose before you can do much else about it. Your feet are planted and your neck cranes upwards to meet his eyes with your own good one. You don’t back down, not an inch, where the wise would be discrete and the logical would flee, you throw your caution to the wind.

That is, until you catch yourself.

You remember Takao, the Submarine to be assigned, everything that had happened because you’d refused to stay your hand; how you’d always played for the worst of choices when not thinking – or over-thinking. You go over him again – he’s just a big dumb lummox – at least to you, he is; but he’s also a big dumb lummox that happened to be part of the Imperial Army.

Keeping yourself calm, you bring yourself back to level ground. This wasn’t a fight you wanted to start or finish; this wasn’t one you wanted to win or lose. This was just something that, for right now, something that you did not want and couldn’t spare the trouble for.

‘It’s not Monster Rancher.’ You say coolly – his gaze is unflinching, just as much as yours is. ‘It’s Division Commander.’

He smirks, turning away.

‘Whatever.’ Is the last word he utters, walking down the road as if nothing had occurred.

Coward

No, you tell yourself, it just wasn’t worth the trouble – not at all.

You continue to make your way down the street, seeing a few new sites. There is a clear lack of debris along most of the pavement – while the roads had been cleared before, the pavements had always been upturned for weeks. You hadn’t noticed on your way down from the barracks before, but it really did seem that, right now, at least, things are definitely looking like they would be on a steady road to recovery.

You pass between a pair of talking soldiers.

‘So this is what we are now? The damn soup kitchen with weapons training on the side?’

‘Hey, it’s good work.’

‘Yeah, more than those yucks managed. Buncha pretenders if you ask me. Ten years? Really?’

You turn around to see them already on their way.

‘Commander.’

You turn around to see Shigure, clad in what looked like a sailor’s uniform, slacks and all.

‘Good morning.’ She gives a respectful, albeit rushed, bow.

>Write-In

>>479330
>"How have things been? We haven't really had a chance to speak in a while."

>>479330
She's gone through the upgrade by now, correct? We should ask if it went well.

>>479338
This

Unless i got i wrong the abyssal remant gets rollin' whenever we go agression
this isnt a dont be agresiv guises post

all i say is that we should be choosy on we go full bore
i cant imagine what the remant can do but it cant be good for us or our troops

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I'm thinking we go to the Admiral or Nagato sometime, ask what the hell the Army is doing here.

And if we ever get in a fight between Admiralty and Army, I think we should cool our heels and play peacemaker. We're already in enough hot water as is, and being an aggressive moron is why the Admiralty's watching us.

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‘Good morning, Shigure.’

Shigure gives you, for some reason, yet another bow. She straightens up again almost mechanically, her figure almost prone in this state. You realize that, since the talk in the Prep Dock, you hadn’t really given her much of a glance over; as much as you want to admit that it’s because the time frame just didn’t give you a good enough span of time to do so, you realize it’s also because that she – of all things – just seemed so disconnected.

Even with the hypocrisy of your so-called authority on social relations you really don’t feel like getting close to her is possible – or wise.

But what were you if not a bundle of contradictions?

‘I was just about to go and see you, actually.’ You open up the wrap, taking out another banana burrito to munch on. You indicate her wear with a small smile. ‘Nice get-up.’

‘Oh?’ She cocks her head to one side, furrowing her brow.

Shigure had not forgone the usual black that had seemed to make up the most of her wardrobe, but her manner of dress had definitely taken a turn for the worst compared to what she usually donned. Baggy slacks that look like your grandparents could have worn on any day; a sailor’s uniform that most definitely seemed that it was dragged out of a bargain bin from a thrift shop and her red scarf – that you had usually seen on her – had disappeared in favor of a strangely clashing and glaring blue bow that was definitely made out of nylon.

As dangerous as she was on paper as per the report, she looked like a fashion accident more than a rebellious death machine.

‘Is there a purpose to you seeking me out, sir?’ She brings you back to attention.

You let out a chuckle – mostly at how horrible the sheen of her nylon scarf looked.

‘I’m actually thinking if I have grounds to court-martial you for poking me in the ribs, believe it or not.’

She looks genuinely worried now.

‘Hey, I’m just joking.’ You raise your hands to keep her hands, foil wrap and all. She immediately loosens in mannerism, but her lips break into a scrunch that showed her displeasure. ‘Would you mind walking with me for a bit?’

She looks up to you with her sky-blue eyes.

‘I have tasks that need attention, sir.’

‘You probably do – what do you get up to, usually?’ You set the tin foil wrap on the cement railing, regarding Shigure with a neutral gaze. ‘Other than avoid people, I mean.’

Although, you supposed that you could have toned down the accusation a little bit there. Shigure immediately shrinks – she looks as though she’s cowed, looking downcast. You wonder if you had said too much;

‘I try.’ She says quietly.

>‘Do you mind if I walk you to your post?’ (Walk with her to her post)
>‘Let’s play hooky for a bit.’ (Convince her to accompany you)
>‘I just want to ask how things are.’ (Talk with her here)

>>479857
>‘Let’s play hooky for a bit.’ (Convince her to accompany you)

>>479857
>>‘Do you mind if I walk you to your post?’ (Walk with her to her post)

>>479857
>‘Do you mind if I walk you to your post?’ (Walk with her to her post)
No need to get her in trouble because of us.

>>479857
>‘Do you mind if I walk you to your post?’ (Walk with her to her post)

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‘I know you probably think your best work’s done solo, but… would you mind if I accompanied you on your errand?’ It sounds a bit more awkward than you’d intended to let out, but at least – you hope, anyway – you got the point across without making it seem too brazen.

‘Eh?’ Shigure grows slightly wide-eyed, very much confused at your request.

‘It’s just,’ you fight down the embarrassment – you felt like a senior talking down to a junior – and address it the best you can, letting out a breath hitched by burrito, ‘I don’t think I’ve gone out of my way to get to know you particularly well. I’d like to make amends for that as best I can today.’

Shigure’s gaze doesn’t falter. She still looks up at you – right into your one good eye – with an expectant expression. Apparently that hadn’t been enough for her to relieve the reluctance; you can hear the curses building up at the back of your thoughts as you try to gather a course that would have her at least tolerate your attempt at opening communication with her.

‘As your Commander.’ The words are a little heavy on your part – but they are the only surefire words you can manage with the distinct possibly of acceptance, as authoritative as it is.

She immediately drops into a professional stance, bowing respectfully. It hadn’t been how you hoped things would go, but at least you got yourself to the starting line without a hitch; or, at least that’s what you presume.

‘Of course.’

The both of you walk across the street, turning down at a junction instead of going straight towards the Command tent. It hits you for a moment that this is the way headed towards the plaza – if the red buildings in the distance are anything to tell. There’s an awkward silence and a slow pace until, after several long moments and a turn on a few still-damaged corners, you decide to break it.

‘Not headed towards Command?’ You ask, wolfing down the last of your burrito.

You didn’t care much for the looks that the MPs had given you: good food on the frontlines is still good food.

‘I’m not posted there.’ She answers simply.

You don’t know how to pursue it. As awkward as you are with going one-to-one with Shigure, you do at least feel that you shouldn’t push too much to get her to chat; the most natural you’d seen her was when you were on the couch and she and Samidare had found a kinship in poking at your exhausted corpse.

Despite yourself, you smile at the memory. It had been a little funny, if one thought of it well enough.

‘Commander, were you really a cook before you were a Commander?’

You blink in surprise, stopping in your tracks. Shigure’s sudden inquisitiveness into your life gives you pause; as much as you’d expected her to take her time, you definitely hadn’t expected her opening salvo to be one that pertained to your life before you’d donned the fatigues.

TBC

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‘Eh?’ You stumble slightly, so aback are you at the query. ‘Yeah, I was. Worked in a bunch of places that offered me a job – I was a cook for most of that time.’

Shigure’s brow furrows again, confused with where you’d taken the

‘Most of that time?’

‘Well, sometimes you really can’t be choosy about what you do in a restaurant – or a hotel, for that matter.’ You sigh – the memory of your previous work station hadn’t been something you’d hoped that anyone would be curious of. ‘Money’s hard to come by, and if you say the wrong word, a place’d sooner toss you out on the street than hear some sass from your mouth.’

You feel a weight on your mind; there’s yelling, insults, profane language tossed left and right and a punch right where it hurt. You uncomfortably crush the tin foil in your hand, your teeth gritting as you recall it all at once.

‘Sass?’

‘Backtalk.’ You explain. ‘Being rude.'

The both of you continue walking. This was a lot harder on you than you thought it’d be.

‘Is that why you became a Commander?’ Shigure continues ‘Because you couldn’t be a cook anymore?’

You want to tell her that it’s because you didn’t want to be one anymore, but… it wouldn’t be the whole truth; a mere fragment of the bigger picture.

‘No.’ You fiddle with the strap of your eyepatch – it grew a sudden discomforting aspect to it in the moments the conversation began. ‘I joined because I thought…’

Protect their smile so they can protect your livelihoods

‘I thought at least, for once in my life I could make a difference.’

That hadn’t been the whole truth, either.

‘Sometimes you tell yourself – this is where I wanna be, where I want to go and then things just… just don’t work out.’ You practically growl out, recalling the jeers, the struggles, everything. ‘You tell yourself a bunch of things, saying that you’re going to make your next big break or something but…’

You smack yourself – almost painfully – right in the head with your prosthetic. You catch yourself before you go on a tangent; the last thing you wanted anyone – let alone Shigure – to think was that you were a neurotic nut-case.

‘Eh, listen to me ramble.’ You chuckle – it’s not quite honest on your part, either.

‘That isn’t a very noble cause.’ Shigure frowns, not letting go of the conversation piece.

Well, you did want her to talk.

‘Well, blame the posters.’ You chuckle – they did have good posters. ‘The Admiralty can make a person do things, sometimes. Propaganda and machismo are powerful forces.’ You smirk, hopping ahead of her. ‘With girls like you, it’s almost a certainty you’d have guys thinking you’re weak and frail.’

'How mean.' She frowns.

You can't help but smirk.

>Keep teasing her
>Let her keep leading the conversation
>Take charge of the conversation (Specify topic)
>Write-In

>>480261
>Keep teasing her
doesnt look like she can hold a conversation by herself

>Protect their smile so they can protect your livelihoods
id be happy just with the smiles, you shoddy, weird, bodyless abyss voice

>>480261
>>Keep teasing her

>>480261
CORRECTION
Shigure’s brow furrows again, confused with where you’d taken the

TO

Shigure’s brow furrows again; you don't need to be a mind-reader to tell she can't quite follow where you're taking the conversation.

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‘Well, you have to admit, Shigure, from a distance, you do look like a typical middle school girl.’ You put your hands behind your head, marching ahead with a teasing grin on your features. ‘With little height you might even pass for a middle school senior, no?’

You throw a glance back – Shigure may have been diminutive, but she looked the absolute picture of restrained fury. You have to check yourself that you are, after all, her Commander – and that she wouldn’t harm you no matter what – and go on, the teasing grin on your features turning into a teasing smirk; you reasoned that the more you could draw out of her, the better it would be in the long run.

A small part of you is, however, convinced that the step you’d taken it in is definitely not the step any reasonable person would want to take with a sentient weapon of occult origins with enough firepower to level a whole block in a torrent of rage.

Shigure glares right at you. Apparently the jibe about her being a visual none-threat was one that was a little closer to home than you would have pegged for someone that carried a caliber of performance and deadly fortitude on the battlefield – and, despite all reason, you reveled in it.

She may have been bred for war, but all you see is a girl sensitive about how she looked.

‘Commander shouldn’t say those things…’

You don’t feel a chill down your spine. Shigure’s threat only swells your desire to eat at her demeanor even more – your smirk vanishes in an instant, and with your hands in your pockets you twirl around almost lazily, your one good eye dancing with absolute glee. She doesn’t smile, her mouth scrunched in a scowl and her gaze very much one of fury.

Crossing your arms, you throw her a wink.

‘I didn’t think you were so sensitive about your size.’ Shigure’s eyes widen again – the fury is gone, replaced by shock. ‘You’re at least not as short as Ikazuchi and the others – that’s saying something, right?’

You chuckle – this time, very much at her expense. It’s a brazen, more mean attack on her sensitivities, but you really just can’t help it.

Shigure had left herself so open to it that there had been nothing in you to hold you back from pouncing.

‘Commander…’ Shigure begins in a warning tone – she doesn’t hide it very well; she’s very much upset.

‘Now, now, Shigure, I’m just sharing with you my observations of you.’ You chortle, closing the distance and flicking her forehead in a friendly gesture. ‘You’re deceptively harmless-looking, I mean, in comparison to the other KanMusu – except maybe Samidare – you don’t peg me as the intimidating type.’ You look down on her. ‘Maybe a sundress could – !’

Laughter rings at the back of your head.

You stop.

Shigure’s shoulders quiver.

‘Eh?’

>Write-In

>>480562
i.. im sorry? shigure? i meant that not only you are a great fighter, if not THE best, but you are also cute, you know?

>>480562
>"Sorry, Shigure. I really didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I guess I thought I could use humor to kind of break the ice with you, but I took it too far. I really just want to get to know you better."

>>480614
Maybe not the last part...
IMO, straighten up and tell her that you were wondering how the new gear was coming along on her.
Duno if we should mention back-head cackle..

I find it funny how anons here forget so quickly that our guy is pretty inept at conversations for the most part and is rather fucked in the head on top of it.

You can't trust simple options like the tease option in this quest.

>>480562
This>>480727

>>480766
I don't feel it's very incharacter to be that mature with fucking up. Either it's
>SO SORRY please forgive me
or go the long route and mention it off hand towards the end of the convo, after some compliments and how the upgrade was meant to make her a better ace in our pocket yadayada.

>>480727
Supporting

>>480766
Well he can apparently banter with the other Division members like Kaga and Tenryuu. Which is what I'm guessing kinda screwed it up here, since Shiggy apparently can't take it.

And I'm guessing that Red Text is pushing us into doing stupid things, instead of the Commander being completely fucked in the head.

>>480790
the red text is, i think, some abyssal remain, running comentary and pissing us off for a take over

>>480855
I wonder if it'd be metagaming to try and get us on the track to discovering what Red Text is, like ask Hiei or the VA about Abyssal takeovers. We know that Princesses invade the Stream, and it was implied that takeovers have happened before, so I'm wondering if we can ask them further about that, whether Princesses can linger and the like.

>>480911
im with you but we better be carefull, a wrong person to ask or bad sugestion and we are geting ourselves a new fancy straightjacket, if not a bullet

>>480928
We could always ask Kaga if she can detect anything lingering in our stream. She seems to pretty much be the go-to authority when it comes to stream stuff.

>>480940
could "jump" to her, so no probing the stream

>>480940
We could ask, but in-character we have nothing to suspect that Red Text even exists. My suggestion was meant to at least give the Commander an inkling about the thing's existence.

>>480967
I'm sure she could sense it without jumping into our stream. I mean, she was able to sense the first incident from miles away. I'd be willing to assume this is much weaker, something like a remanent of the Princess' intrusion, assuming it's even connected with the Princess at all.

For all we know, it might just be a manifestation of our negative emotions that gained power from the quickening or something.

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>>481014
>might just be a manifestation of our negative emotions that gained power from the quickening or something

>I am a Shadow, the true self...

>>481014
not saing you aint right, but we should proceed with caution, it misght be actually just a annoying voice, or it could dump all military knowledge we got to the abyssals

i just advocate caution
>>481041
know the shipgirls have someone MORE psicologicaly broken than them! goodie

>>481003
The red text is characterised as an echo of thought and intent.

Even I don't know what it is. All I know is that it's pushing you and raking away at you. Is it good? Is it bad? Is it just you?

Why ask me? I'm along for the ride as much as you are.

>>481762
Huh. I guess the red text made me think further into it because it sort of came out of nowhere.

Also, the teasing seemed to go from relatively innocent to kind of malicious pretty quickly, which seemed a little out of character to me. I mean, I get that the Commander has some issues, but it doesn't seem like him to go that far, with a division member no less.

>>481996
The commander is kinda all over the place at times. Pretty jarring at times too.

Whether that is intentional or not, I honestly can't tell.

>>482546
such is the nature of this site.

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Why don’t you go on?

‘How mean, Commander…’

Shigure looks tearful, an unexpected

You stop, rubbing the back of your head. You’d pushed a lot more than you’d intended to – you’d figured to just stop at a few ribs, not drag her so far with your jibes that she’d go from purple with rage to a

Why had you gone that far, you wonder?

‘Yeah, that was mean of me, Shigure.’ You don’t offer her a smile; your shoulders slump – but a thought does hit you, and as dirty as it is, you decide to at least use it to mend what you can. ‘It hurts, right, calling people names and making fun of what they don’t like about themselves?’

Manipulative. Opportunistic.

‘Ho?’ Shigure looks up at you again – she’s no longer tearful, but you can tell that she’s still apprehensive and reluctant to be anywhere near you, at least until you can explain yourself.

You don’t, of course; you try to do one better.

‘You feel hurt because we’re not friends, Shigure.’

‘F – Friends aren’t like that!’ She stutters, calling you out straight away; you have to hand it to her, she could be a lot more eagle-eyed and quicker on her feet than you would have normally given her credit for. ‘Y – You – !’

‘It’s called ribbing.’ You chide – you keep up the facade of superiority; as twisted as it is, you try to steer her into a direction. ‘There’s a saying that goes something like: treat friendship like a ball, because it won’t crack – treat it like glass and it’ll go to pieces.’

You can hear it now, you know – your own voice, cackling, giving yourself a pat on the back.

‘That’s not – !’

‘Shigure, I know I made fun of you and I hurt your feelings.’ You feel like kicking yourself at the back of your head – you remind yourself too much of a smarmy, bastard, the way you’d taken the conversation. ‘But I think that’s my fault for assuming too much – I thought, well, I thought we were friends.’

‘Commander,’ she chides, hands on her hips. You smile – at least she’d gone in the direction you’d hoped her to go in, ‘I don’t under…’

She kee

‘So we… make fun of each other?’

‘Of course.’ You say with a huff. ‘We wouldn’t be friends if we couldn’t call each other short or fat once in a while.’

You pause, re-thinking your statement.

‘Well, maybe not the way I pulled it, anyway.’ You clarify – you had gone a little over with the ribbing – and a lot more malicious than you’d intended it to be. ‘That’s going a little too far.’

‘Hm.’

Shigure walks to your side… and gives you a light punch in the foream.

‘You’re a really Shitty Commander.

You’re taken a little aback by the insult, but with that disarming grin...

You supposed you could let it slide.

‘Shorty.’

‘Oi!’

Not.

>Let her take the conversation
>Take over

>>482977
Well done commander
>let her take the conversation

also sod off voice, we are good, bad at pepole, but good

>>482977
>Let her take the conversation

>>482977
>>Let her take the conversation
now we are going to get called fat and poked all the time

>>482977
>>Let her take the conversation

>She kee
>from purple with rage to a
What were the sentences gonna be?

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The both of you trade barbs for about fifteen minutes. In your exchange, you don’t talk anything of work, not of your fellow Division members. Shigure talks of the neighborhood, how her room needs a good cleaning, how it’s smaller than her last posting but somehow not as bad (You can’t fathom why she’d have this train of thought).

You find yourselves in what used to be the residential borough of the town – you’re familiar enough with this part, of course, having been placed in one of the converted dorms; the place that was the former base was probably just another half an hour’s worth of maneuvering if the landmark of the abandoned shoplots was anything to go by.

As you take your first steps on the hill, Shigure speaks again.

‘Do you think we can do it?’

‘Win the war?’ You look to her, frowning.

‘No.’ Shigure shakes her head – you can’t read her expression, blank and forward as it is. ‘I mean, pick ourselves back up again.’

‘I don’t get what you’re asking.’

‘The Admiralty has doubts.’

You stop in your tracks, biting your lip. That would have been a confidence-killer for anyone on the frontlines. It was one thing for you to have a bad case of doubt, but for the Admiralty? The Court of Admirals and your superiors? How could Shigure have thought of it – for that matter, how could she have known?

‘You’re telling me that as though I can read minds.’ You try to keep it diplomatic, finding a hitch in your throat. ‘I can’t tell what people can and can’t do, you know?’

Shigure’s answer is a grimace that somehow manages to be mischievous and offensive.

‘I believe that the Commander is too modest about that capacity of his person.’ She raises a finger, pointing it upwards like a lecturer making a point. ‘You’ve shown a remarkable skill at at least reading our Squaddies – don’t you think it could apply to your views on our superiors in the court?’

‘Going a little heavy on your end, Shigure.’ Your shoulders slump.

‘It’s a curiosity.’ She corrects you of your assumption for her statement, putting her hands behind her back and hopping ahead of you. ‘Commander’s shown an input that has at times proved credible.’

Her grimace changes into in an inquisitive smile as she does so.

‘Even if, at times, he has shown a horrible follow-up to an otherwise brilliant start.’

That was a jibe, if anything ever was.

‘I think we’re taking the vitriol a little too far here.’ You grimace yourself.

It doesn’t seem to deter her, though, not one bit.

‘So, what do you think? Do you think we can get ourselves up again?’

‘I…’

>‘That’s a pretty good question, really.’ (Redirect)
>‘I don’t know.’ (Unsure response)
>‘All we can do is try, even if it doesn’t seem like it.’ (Negative response)
>‘I have to believe we can.’ (Positive response)
>Write-In

>>483083
The first one is meant to be deleted.

The second one is supposed to end with a "- !" indicating an interruption.

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>>483095
>>‘I have to believe we can.’ (Positive response)
Damn right we can! We're gonna kick some Abyssal ass!

Just to confirm before I proceed.

You guys want this to feel like you want this to feel more like the frontlines, right?

>>483101
Yeah, though with the Admiralty's recent victories, I could see things getting less frontline-y soon.

As a player, I'm tentatively optimistic about the way the war is going, compared to how it was going a week ago, you know? It seems like we're making progress.

>>483095
>i think we can, but it will be a long, hard road to take.
Positibe but realist

>>483095
>>i think we can, but it will be a long, hard road to take.

>>483101
Will the ops be like the princess ops?
To say an objective a map an us commandin' the girls, right?
Id like that

>>483106
>Optimistic
Oh, dear, how frightful. That must change soon, yes it must.

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>>483127

>>483127
Inb4 twin bb fleet shitstorm ops

is the sub going to come with us?

>>483127
Also, this is totally unrelated to questing, but what are your thoughts on Konami turning Metal Gear into a zombie survival shooter game?

>>483147
is that what the new one is about? wtf thats out of no where

>>483153
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3hjRKGrC40

It won't... stop... hurting...

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>>483158
make it stop!!!!
but way would they do this?

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‘It’s hard to tell.’ You admit – it never struck you to doubt the progress of the war effort, even with everything that had happened – and as the words, leave your mouth you find a twinge of uneasiness.

‘Maizuru is nothing but ruins now.’ Shigure mentions detachedly.

The name did sound familiar.

‘Maizuru?’

‘One of the three bases.’ Shigure holds up three fingers before closing one. ‘Yokosuka and Ominato are the only ones that are left standing.’

‘Yeah, I think I heard Hiei tell me that.’ You sigh – facing the reality of it makes your stomach do somersaults; almost three weeks down the road and you still can’t fathom how one assault had left your base and the township the least affected of the three.

‘We’re down to just about 50 percent of our remaining forces – and we’ve stretched out our defenses and resources.’ Shigure goes on, almost robotically – you’re reminded of Ooyodo for a moment.

There is no answer that leaves your lips. The Admiralty having doubts; the state of Yokosuka; the decimation of Maizuru as per Hiei’s words; the fact that you of all people are given the responsibility to assist in the push in ending this war, one way or another. The question lingers – and the answer remains blank.

It isn’t until you reach the top of the hill under the shade of a dead tree that Shigure asks again.

‘Can we, then? Get back to the way things were, at least?’

Turning to her, you do the best you can – and you don’t know whether it’s to erase her doubts or yours.

‘I think we can.’

The both of you share a grimace, standing in the unclouded sun.

‘A very apprehensive answer, Commander?’ She averts her eyes from you, focusing on her feet. ‘Is there doubt?’

‘Always.’

Shigure nods – that had been as honest as you had been the whole morning.

‘It might be a little arrogant, but remember that I’m one of the boys in charge – it’s going to fall down to me at one point or the other to make a call. If you can believe in that, I commend you.’

You both laugh – there is no humor in it. It’s merely a comfort between two people.

‘That is very self-centered.’

‘That being said, though,’ you smile at her again, wryly. ‘I can’t say I don’t believe we’re going to be able to get things back up to speed. It’s not my job to dwell on the consequences of a failure – but to keep myself from failing, to keep the team from failing.’

‘A psychologically defensive stratagem.’ She grins – it’s like a wolf baring its fangs to you.

‘Right now, though, I think the only thing that’s on my mind is to take it one day at a time.’

You feel the need to add something.

‘That, and to make sure my Squadrons get home alive.’

You look down to a busy-looking facility on the other side of the hill. You’d never seen that before.

>‘Is that where you’re posted?’
>‘What is that?’
>Keep silent rest of the way
>Write-In

>>483166
>>‘What is that?’

>>483166
>>‘Is that where you’re posted?’

>>483166
>‘What is that?’

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‘What is that?’ You overlook the facility from uphill.

‘The supply depot for the materials used to maintain and engineer KanMusu weaponry.’ She answers swiftly. ‘It used to be an automotive factory, but since the war… it was leased by the Admiralty to continue operations without so much need for logistics.’

You give it a once over. Compared to the rest of the town, it looked… unscathed, except for maybe a crater or two and a part of the surrounding fence that looked brand new. Even from a distance, you see the glow fairy magic being put to work. Forklifts and crew members that wore beige overalls looking relatively cleaner compared to the dirtier brethren working on the town.

‘I’m surprised that it isn’t hit badly.’ You voice; it really looked just like a normal factory.

‘It was overlooked, thankfully, by the attacking forces.’ Shigure explains as the both of you walk downhill. ‘The factory was deserted at the time – most of the crew stationed here at the time took leave inland.’ She bites her lip, looking straight at the ‘That, along with the fact that it isn’t as close to the coast as the town.’

‘So this is where the MagiTek does its work?’ You inquire; you’d been curious about where the magic happened for quite some time; the most you got were the explanations back during your tryouts.

‘The MagiTek doesn’t work here, sir.’ Shigure shakes her head. ‘This is where the second phase prior to attunement is mostly done.’ She gives you a smile, looking cheerful at the exposition of the site. ‘The fairies and the crew do general assembly of the components before the calibration is made to specify for the needs of each KanMusu. We’re all different, after all.’

Shigure hums, producing a small badge from a pocket of her slacks.

‘I’m assigned as a test pilot.’ She cheerfully hops in front of you,. ‘I even have a badge!’

‘The Admiral looks over this?’ You question again.

‘No. They report directly to the Admiralty – the Admiral usually hands in a note if he wants anything done.’ She hurriedly adds after. ‘You can’t, of course.’

‘Looks like a fifteen minute walk.’ You observe. ‘Why don’t you call for a buggy?’

Everything changes.

‘Shigure?’

‘I don’t want to get in a buggy ever again… never…’ Her eyes glaze over, looking deader than ever. ‘It is evil, you know?’ She turns stark white, muttering. ‘That man.’

‘The Old Man?’

‘He skirts between death and life as though it is a playground, Commander – there is no concept of order to his turning of the wheel.’ She hugs herself. ‘I will not put myself on that front ever again.’

She continues to mutter, moving forward without you.

‘Shigure?’

You frown.

‘Oi.’

Honestly.

3/5
>Go with Shigure CONSUMES ACTION
>TASK: Investigate the Attacks
>Look for KanMusu
>Seek out Officers/Staff
>District Management
>Write-In

>>483233
>>Look for KanMusu (Nagato)

>>483233
>>Go with Shigure CONSUMES ACTION

>>483233
we may as well see what's up with Nagato. we haven't really visited her on one of our days off anyway. plus she can probably tell us if anybody in particular wants to see us.

>>483233
>continue with Investigation
Or maybe talk with nagato or the admiral bout the impurrial army being on site

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Watching the muttering Shigure walk towards the factory, swaying back and forth and muttering what was either a prayer or a ward, you decide that it would be a better decision to make your way through the day doing something else. It’s not as though you didn’t enjoy being around Shigure, not at all, but you’re not quite sure that you wanted to be around her anymore than she could tolerate you for.

You brush several tiny twigs from your hair – they’d probably fallen on you when you’d passed by the tree at the top of the hill, and decide to make it back. You stop in your tracks as the sound of blaring truck horns hits your ear, passing by on a road some distance away from the hill, heading towards the hill. Again, you recognize that they’re the trucks of the Imperial Army. The insignia of the red hibiscus is recognizable, even from here.

Your curiosity overtakes and you decide before any other course you could take for the day, you’d at least have to solve just why the Imperial Army had decided to show up now of all times – especially after the argument at the meeting on District Management those two weeks ago, you didn’t think that they would want to be involved at all.

Why hadn’t they been here from the start if they could have?

A name strikes you – Nagato – maybe she could answer questions on their involvement. Despite the Vice-Admiral’s rank, Nagato explicitly worked with him more closely than others, and with the Admiral being such a busy figure – with the Army in-town, it would probably be even more so – you elect to find out from her instead.

With a turn on the heel, you march back down into the mostly-ruined buildings of the township.

Out from one side of the road – you’d elected to take the winding one downhill instead of the straight shot upwards – you find a perfect view of Teitan High, barely a stone’s throw away – you even see a…

There is someone on top of the building.

It is hard for you to make out just who it is, but even from this distance you see a large hat – a sun hat with a white brim, wide and white, just as much as the… dress?

It is a woman.

Then, she is gone.

You think nothing of it – there were civilians here and there and everywhere – it would have probably just been one of them that had elected to use the place as somewhere to go. It isn’t as if there is much else to do, really, with the town in this shape. You enter a small place that looks like it used to be a small park, and make your way to the residences, confident that this would be an agreeable shortcut

An hour later, maybe a little more, you wonder whether to curse your luck or berate yourself for your lack of a sense of direction.

You’re standing in the middle of the field that is very much familiar – Samidare had elected to play football around here during afternoons.

Grumbling, you’re thankful at least, that for now you have better bearings.

TBC

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You’re grumbling as you end up in front of the Command Tent, now bustling with activity. It is nearing the afternoon about now and you see several new faces. For one, there are several men in green and brown – the colors of the Imperial Army to go with the Straps of Non-Aggression (which you are thankful for) or the SONA, which meant that they aren’t at least here on military business… purely military matters, anyway.

So what in the world would make them mobilize if they weren’t under the direct call of the chain of command? Their presence here – along with the straps – meant that this had been a direct act of intervention by a local Lord.

You feel an uneasy turn of the stomach – the more you looked into it the more the implications didn’t feel right – and make your way past them. Several of the men, loaded with rifles and the like, are seated on crates and boxes, giving you the eye as you get to the flaps of the Command Tent. You enter to see it almost void of the usual personnel; the Admiral and Vice-Admiral aren’t around, strangely enough and neither are the gaggle of fairies you’d occasionally see floating by.

There are a few men and women working on the apparatus for the display, but that’s all there is of them.

‘I don’t see any written authorization that gives you a single iota of permission to barge in on the operations that this Base’s Divisions, Forces and Departments are to perform – and as I am not of a recognizable rank or stature by the rules, I am not authorized to give it to you either.’

You hear Nagato’s voice – steady and authoritative as always – from her makeshift cubicle.

Making your way there, you stumble upon a sharply-dressed young man. He looks about your age, with a beret on his head as well as height about equal to yours. The major difference between both of you is apparent, though – he has a stiff, learned and sharp set of features to go with a shock of brown hair. His face is very much – and loathe for you to admit – handsome in the same way that it made girls fawn.

You, of course, aren’t jealous.

‘Authority or not, the Lord has assigned us to restore order and law to this city.’ He says gruffly – even his voice sounded a lot more convincing than yours – not breaking his stance as he continues to address Nagato. ‘We’re not here to interfere with your operations; how many times do I have to clarify we can’t help you unless you allow us to do so?’

‘The Lord assigned you here.’ Nagato says crisply, crossing her arms in defiance. ‘ As much as I’m thankful for the save, Major, I don’t see how it’s in any way how our operation dictation is of relevance to you.’

‘It’s just to make sure we don’t get in each other’s way.’

‘I’m sure it is.’ Nagato growls.

>Announce your arrival
>Keep listening
>Write-In

>>483320
>>Announce your arrival

>>483320
>Keep listening

>>483320
>Keep listening

>>483320
>>Keep listening

>>483320
>>Announce your arrival

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‘For all the complaining you do about desk work being a jockey’s job, you sure do make a big deal about it.’ The Major points out – you want to leap out and deny him, but you keep your calm.

Nagato is right now, after all, performing her duties as an aide to the Admiral. It would be wise to jump right in and take the reins; you did not want to risk a chewing out of indelible proportions.

‘Only when the intent is unclear and the permission is not even delegated through me.’ Nagato mentions, leaning over the table and meeting the man eye-to-eye – neither back off; there’s a tension in the air you find too familiar during Takao’s own verbal dance during the conference weeks ago.

You definitely know not to leap in now.

‘You have access to the current schedule.’ He violently slaps a stack of folders on the corner of her table. ‘I do not require anything else other than the maintenance crew’s and the MP schedules so you can synergize.’

She doesn’t look like she would have any of it, however.

‘And as I have replied, as much as I would like to help you, Major, there are two problems – the first of which is that I do not have the written authority to pass the information on to you, sensitive or not; if you’re going to think of me as anything right now, think of me as a secretary. I’m a go-to and not the on you are to make demands of.’

Nagato practically growls the statement, baring her teeth as a lioness would a rival.

‘Secondly, on my continuous demand, you have failed to show the proper credentials to even give me the slightest bit of leverage of trust in you in regards to the passing of the information itself.’ Nagato gestures with her hand, barking out the orders in a tone you find very familiar to the Admiral’s chastising one. ‘I don’t know how you do things in the army, but this isn’t how we do it here.’

‘We came here to help on the orders of the Lord.’ The man insists, gesturing with his own hands. ‘On paper and in practice, that is – !’

‘You should know that there’s only one law I abide by.’

The Major lets out a sigh, taking off his beret.

‘You know that’s not what I mean, Sub-Commander.’

‘We’ve been going at this for an hour, and I don’t think we’ll be going anywhere with it.’ Nagato looks away, finding ‘In any case, you’ll have to wait for someone of authority to – !’

She finally notices you, dropping into a rigid salute.

‘Commander!’

You walk into her cubicle, offering your own in return.

>‘What’s the Imperial Army doing here?’ (Inquire on their presence)
>‘I caught the argument. What’s going on?’ (Inquire on the source of the discussion)
>‘I was wondering if I could pry you away for a while, Nagato.’ (Talk to Nagato personally)
>’If I’m interrupting, I can leave.’ (Leave)
>Write-In

>>483342
>>483350
>>483353
>>483510
>>483539
Is anyone else getting Connection Error when trying to post? Been at it for 2 frickin' hours.

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>>483546
>>‘I caught the argument. What’s going on?’ (Inquire on the source of the discussion)

>>483553
No Connection Error here.

Also, the Army symbol's like this?

>>483546
Inqyre on army precence

>>483546
>‘What’s the Imperial Army doing here?’ (Inquire on their presence)

>>483546
>>‘What’s the Imperial Army doing here?’ (Inquire on their presence)

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‘Major, is it?’

‘Yes.’ The Major frowns, curiously gazing from your waist to your insignia, then back to your face. The frown doesn’t leave as he curiously inquires, ‘You would be – ?’

‘Yokosuka 1st Division Commander.’ You introduce yourself, mimicking his tone as he had addressed Nagato. There was no sense that you couldn’t follow the example, at least. ‘Honored to meet you… sir.’

His eyes widen.

‘You were here for the defense of Yokosuka?’ He asks, that frown deepening even further, if possible.

You shake your head.

‘No, I was… I was recently recruited into the fold.’ You admit – you don’t mention that you’d been recruited precisely because you’d been the last of the applicants standing… and that you were one of the ones that’d been sent on his way home after a botched attempt at impressing the proctors. ‘If you’re going to go by tenure, Nagato has the edge on me.’

Your attempt at humor goes unnoticed. The Major merely turns to Nagato with a raised eyebrow, then right back to you with a slightly more scrunched set of lips.

‘I see.’

Your thoughts turn to the presence of the Imperial Army and the soldiers that had been seen since the morn arrived. You quickly get to the point, adopting a more rigid stance and wiping yourself of any anxiety – or at least, you try your best. You felt a little inadequate compared to the man in front of you – so disciplined and steady – and you feel like you owe him a better impression of discipline.

‘What is the Imperial Army doing here?’ You inquire, this time taking from memory the Admiral’s tone. You hope it doesn’t seem too aggressive. ‘You’re not here on an order of mobilization, so why…?’

He hesitates. You pat yourself on the back mentally at this reaction; it may not mean much, but your ego demanded a flexing.

‘The Lord has called for assistance in bringing Yokosuka back to order.’ He answer steadily. Your eyes widen in surprise – The Lord had given an order for a relief effort? ‘A few platoons have been sent here to assist in relief efforts as well as to… assist the Admiralty with whatever it is that is needed.’

Nagato snorts, catching your attention and his.

‘I believe that you’re leaving out the part where the Lord thinks of us as an incompetent annoyance in the wake of the attack and the death of its last Mayor.’ She lets out – her eyes don’t meet yours or his – she’s very much focused on a list she’d produced and set on the table.

‘He didn’t say that.’ The Major replies defensively.

Nagato looks up from her file, giving him a flat look.

‘At least he didn’t, in so many words.’ He reluctantly admits, turning back to you. ‘We were sent here on orders to assist with relief efforts – even if we can’t help you take down the Abyssal threat – !’

He hesitates again.

‘At least we can help get these people back on their feet.’

TBC

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‘Why weren’t you sent here in the first place, then?’ You practically call him out, discipline be damned. ‘I highly doubt it takes almost three weeks to give a go-ahead on relief efforts.’ You accuse, pointing a finger right at him. ‘I remember the response back when the war began.’

It makes you angry that with all the veiled accusations of the Admiralty’s competency – of yours and the Base’s – that he had the gall to say it after almost 3 weeks of non-action.

It grates on you.

‘Well, for one, we don’t boast the manpower anymore,’ he replies, taking an offensive stance. ‘as you may know. After the Admiralty took over as the head of the war effort most of the Armed Forces were given a backseat. Our recruitment numbers aren’t even a dent compared to what they used to be.’

‘Can’t be that bad.’ You dismiss with a swipe of your hand.

‘I made Major in a year.’ He says in a flat tone. You blink. You’d thought he was some sort of prodigy – he looked about your age. ‘I haven’t even been in a live combat situation.’

You recall your own circumstance; the recruitment of your person; how you’d botched your first combat situation and barely got out by the skin of your teeth; the trouble you’d brought upon your Division with your reckless antics among other things.

At least he hadn’t been given the opportunity to get his team decimated – that was more than what could be said of you.

‘I…’ Your shoulders slump, looking away. ‘I think I can relate to that.’

The atmosphere of the tent lightens. However, you still feel that the crux of the matter had gone unaddressed.

‘That still doesn’t answer why it took so long for you to organize a relief effort.’ You rally yourself, rounding on him. You point a thumb to the side, frowning. ‘You’re pulling my leg if it takes three weeks to sign off on a go-ahead. I haven’t even been part of this dig that long and I know that’s not the whole story.’

‘The Lord required some convincing.’

‘Convincing?’ Nagato’s voice is the one that sounds this time.

‘The Acting Mayor of Yokosuka filed a non-compliance order and an overstepping of jurisdictions.’ You almost let out a groan at the words. ‘He was very specific on the nature of the transgression and the risks that the Admiralty had taken in regards to its… responsibilities in restoring the town.’

You and Nagato share a look.

‘Of course he did.’

‘The dossier arranged that you had propped a deal with several wanted criminals in maintaining the peace of the town – or what remained of it and were making a power play.’

‘The Lord believed him?’ You say, almost timidly.

‘There was also a report from the Admiralty that supported such a claim.’ You wince at that. ‘Thus, forcing the hand of the Lord to bring in the Imperial Army as a relief unit.’

You look to Nagato, who only offers a pitiful smile this time.

‘Urgh.’

>‘I caught the argument. What’s going on?’ (Inquire on the source of the discussion)
>‘I was wondering if I could pry you away for a while, Nagato.’ (Talk to Nagato personally)
>’If I’m interrupting, I can leave.’ (Leave)
>Write-In

>>483769
>>483782
>>483785
You guys want Consequences? Here they are, Questers!

>>483785
>‘I caught the argument. What’s going on?’ (Inquire on the source of the discussion)
I feel kind of bad for anyone whose orders put them at odds with Nagato.

>>483791
>>‘I caught the argument. What’s going on?’ (Inquire on the source of the discussion)

>>483791
The only thing I'm weirded out about right now is that a Major is only in charge of several platoons.

>>483806
He's not the only one.

Because he's the youngest they gave him the unenviable task of dealing with the red tape. There are other Majors, but this is The Major. If you were a Senpai in a lazy military culture you'd hoist it over, too.

>>483827
We should tell the Major about how the Deputy Mayor has tried to pull several illegal things as well, and that the Major should take everything he says with a grain of salt.

>>483785
>‘I caught the argument. What’s going on?’ (Inquire on the source of the discussion)
if i got it right, hes pretty much us, army edition

i gotta know him better, and what his orders entail down the last coma before opening the door, so to say

>>483841
also that, but we might want to keep close to the chest if something

>>483842
>>483849
Either way, if he turns out to be an okay person, we should invite him to the open mic night and introduce him to Zuikaku. After all, having a friend in the Army could prove very helpful at some point.

>>483827
>If you were a Senpai in a lazy military culture you'd hoist it over, too
So I'm guessing Army!VA is kind of a dick?

>>483859
a friend on the army would be a MASSIVE boon, still we have to know him first

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>>483864
>Army!VA
He's probably a colonel.

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‘I caught the argument earlier.’ You admit – Nagato smiles kindly; it’s a boon to you that she’d understood your tendencies in your time together. ‘I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but it would’ve been rude for me to jump in like that.’

‘It’s nothing you could help – !’ He stops, wide-eyed. There’s some thought going on in there, you find. ‘Wait, you are an Officer, right?’

‘I suppose I am.’ You reluctantly admit. You hadn’t even been on the roll as long as some smudges of ink, but it was a truth to your identity. ‘Only been on the job for a – !’

He bows, almost knocking into you at the sudden jerking movement.

‘I’d like your permission to synchronize the schedules of the Admiralty and the Army relief unit.’

‘I don’t think I got that.’ You frown, wondering what he’d babbled on about. ‘You want me to…?’

He quickly adopts a rigid stance. The formality of it makes you feel uneasy – and a little inadequate in comparison – this man is a military runt through and through, right to his bones, you find.

‘As it stands, we’re not able to access some of the areas that have fallen under the designation and task for the Admiralty. We’re not able to synchronize our relief efforts as much as we can – the sooner that we can line up our schedules, the better we can – !’

Nagato lets out an annoyed sound, catching your attentions again.

‘I’m telling you that the only people with the authority to give that information outside of Admiralty hands – right into the ones of the Army, even – are the Vice-Admiral and the Admiral… and maybe the acting Quartermaster if you’re looking for a fight.’

No, you definitely did not feel like dealing with Yuubari.

You’d take on the Admiral and the Vice-Admiral in a 2-for-1 in lieu of a brawl with her.

‘I don’t have the authority to divulge the information.’ She brings a hand to her head. ‘We’ve had this conversation for the last hour. Coming back to the same point isn’t going to have me release the documents for eyes other than those that belong to ranked Admiralty staff.’

‘We won’t be able to concert our efforts otherwise.’

‘I understand,’ Nagato bites a lip, looking very much sympathetic. ‘but as a man of the uniform you need to understand that we have procedure as well. If a document or file went out to public, even a small one… it’d lead to more than breaches. People could know where the patrols are run – who is in charge of the supply exchange.’

Nagato puts her hands on her hips.

‘Regardless of intent, what you’re asking for, Major, is sensitive information.’ She sighs. ‘I’m sorry. I cannot help you.’ She turns to you. ‘Commander.’

‘Sir, if you would?’

>Convince Nagato to hand over the documents (Roll a 1d6 each)
>‘I’ll ask for permission, Major.’ ACCEPT TASK
>‘Nagato’s right. We have protocol to adhere to.’ DECLINE TASK

>>483933
>‘I’ll ask for permission, Major.’ ACCEPT TASK

>>483933
>‘I’ll ask for permission, Major.’ ACCEPT TASK
A) it will help the town witch is GREAT
B) we might have a contact on the army
C)we might get a friend in a roughly similar situation

sounds good

>>483933
>‘I’ll ask for permission, Major.’ ACCEPT TASK

>>483933
>‘I’ll ask for permission, Major.’ ACCEPT TASK
>>

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‘Nagato, do I have permission to hand the documents over?’ You inquire – it’s best to confirm on your part if you would be able to do it here instead of going all around town running errands.

‘You’re not of rank, sir.’ Nagato repeats – there’s a bar of irritation in her voice, but at least she doesn’t sound fed up. ‘Nor do you report to the corresponding department in charge of the patrols and the logistics.’

‘That’d be Yuubari and the Admiral or Vice-Admiral, right?’ You inquire again; it’d be loathe of you to make a mistake with your points for reference.

‘Yes.’ She answers with a nod. ‘Although, I do suggest that you consider just how much paperwork this is going to have end up on my desk as result of the shift.’

Nagato grimaces – you feel a little sorry for her; maybe under that proud, hardened exterior there really was someone who just wanted a day off. You give her an apologetic smile – even if Nagato was reluctant to hand over the reins to you in regards to the case… she wasn’t very obstructive as much as she was just doing her job. She is a beast of protocol as much as the Major right next to you.

You give her an assuring smile. If it ever got too high a stack, you could always spare a day to dish out the ink.

‘I have complete confidence in your ability to handle it.’

You really do… and does she know it.

‘You damn well better, sir.’

Your good eye spares a look to the Major and you immediately assume a professional stance. You don’t buy it, either, mind.

‘Miss Nagato.’ You cough into a closed fist, indicating for her to continue.

‘Any of the corresponding signatures will do on the slip for the sharing of information.’ She slaps the pile of folders next to her – that must be the stack of the synergy points for the work forces stationed. ‘I know you’re looking to avoid Yuubari, but I suggest that if you’re planning to go through with this that you actually see her first.’

‘Nagato…’ You feel a tightened sphincter coming along.

You’d thrashed her place of operations. You don’t think she’d be happy to even catch your scent on the breeze as of the last 24 hours – not unless she had a rope and a stick.

‘You might get the approval from the Admiral, but if Yuubari doesn’t know more work’s headed her way and chances upon even a millimeter of increase in paperwork…’

You imagine pictures. Really, really, vivid images.

‘I don’t think the threat of banishment is going to keep her from making your tenure miserable.’

‘She doesn’t like me.’

‘That,’ she chuckles with a smirk, ‘is your issue.’

‘I didn’t know the fraternization laws were so lax in the Admiralty.’ The Major remarks, catching both your attentions. ‘It is merely an observation.’

May it stay that way.

>‘May I pry you away for a while, Nagato?’ (Talk to her personally)
>‘I think I’ll take my leave.’ (Leave)
>Write-In

>>484088
>‘May I pry you away for a while, Nagato?’ (Talk to her personally)

>>484088
>‘I think I’ll take my leave.’ (Leave)

>>484088
>>‘May I pry you away for a while, Nagato?’ (Talk to her personally)

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>>484088
>>‘I think I’ll take my leave.’ (Leave)

Redid the world map from several weeks back, is it worse or better?

>>484088
>what kind of relief are you to bring, major?
we have to compensate nagato when we are done, IF we survive

>>484088
>‘May I pry you away for a while, Nagato?’ (Talk to her personally)
We DID come to talk to her in the first place.

>>484088
>‘I think I’ll take my leave.’ (Leave)

>>484154
About why the army is here, which we have now learned about.

>>484162
There were other reasons to see her though. Like seeing if any division members wanted to see us or anything.

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‘Nagato, would you mind if I pried you away from your desk for a while?’

Nagato’s expression turns to one of surprise. The Major looks to you, then her and back again – you’re unsure of the look he takes as he says his goodbyes and thank yous, but you don’t pay attention to it. Not at all – although, you do get the sinking feeling that your tone had taken a more personal, pleading quality to it. That, along with your semi-flirtatious statements to her in the previous conversation… wouldn’t have left people comfortable as observers.

‘I appreciate it again, Commander.’ Is the last word he says, probably bolting it out before he assumed what could only be the breaking of regs.

Frankly, you don’t care right now – you just wanted to talk to Nagato.

The KanMusu in question hesitates slightly, looking to the piles of paper on the desk then back to you… before rising and making her way around the desk with a neutral gaze. Surprisingly, she leads you out of the Command Tent and right outside.

The next thing you know, you’re in the Prep Dock, watching the workers begin their work on the RAY for the day. Nagato leans over the railing, not making a sound, waiting for you to make the first move.

‘I’m sorry if I over-stepped my bounds.’ You apologize – you wonder if any other Officer of the military would have just thrown the book at you for such an interruption.

‘Don’t be.’ She plays with her hair, draping it all to one side as she regards you with a kind, almost motherly smile. ‘I kind of forget at times that even I need a break.’

‘Even you?’ You joke – if there was ever an eternal power supply, you would suspect its essence to be based on Nagato’s.

‘Takao told me that she wanted to put her relationship with you on hold.’

You feel an uncomfortable itch under your eyepatch.

‘Oh.’

‘You couldn’t have taken it well.’

‘That’s what you think of me?’

She raises an eyebrow at you.

‘You threw a fit when she sat on the Vice-Admiral’s lap and smashed a table on a mobster’s face.’ Nagato jokes, wearing a half-smirk. ‘I think I have a little bit of prior evidence to indicate that you wouldn’t have just counted to ten and chalked it off.’

You hadn’t. In fact, you’d turned the room on the left side of the dock upside down in a rage. You’d given a little more leverage to yourself in that aspect before, but right now… you really don’t know if you could discount yourself as the most stable; everything had happened so quickly, so fast and it just seemed like it went to pieces as though it’d never been.

‘It’s a break.’ You shake off the thought, frowning. ‘She didn’t dump me.’

Nagato reaches out, putting her hand on your shoulder.

‘Hey,’ she utters softly, her red eyes shimmering, ‘I’m not just your Sub-Commander, you know?’

>Play tough
>Confide
>Redirect (Specify)
>Write-In

How do you guys like this side of Nagato?

Too... weird?

>>484142
Pretty good, but America should be a little more C-shaped if you're planning for accuracy - and Australia much bigger. But really - good effort.

>>484221
>Confide

>>484227
It's alright. I still personally prefer her more serious attitude she is more known for, but it's not like it's a jarring thing when push comes to shove.

>>484227
>>484227
i think is right, shes got a hard exterior for fighting and duties, and a not-quite explored soft looking interior
i like it myself

>>484221
>>Confide

Next time we see the major we should ask him to clarify that he his here to help with relief efforts in the town and bit just to serve the acting mayor.

>>484221
>Confide
try not to cry
cry lots
we know we someone says lets haev a brake there pretty much breaking up with us
noo
time for group sex in the shower

>>484221
>>Confide

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>>484292
>acting mayor
You mean Deputy Mayor, right?

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‘It’s not about Takao’s decision.’ You admit heavily.

No, at least, it’s not mostly about what Takao had decided to do.

Mostly, it was about how you wish it could have gone. You didn’t so much as mind her deciding to take the decision – in her words, it is, after all, a break; it was that everything that had led up to it was entirely and unequivocally in line with a chain that led back to you and your actions. You wish that you had done things differently, anticipated things more accurately, chosen other ways, but your nature – your inexperience had led to the circumstances.

It frustrated you more than any stream of jibes; that you could actually see the line leading right back to where you had – without unambiguity or hesitation and lack of better words – screwed up.

‘I don’t think they chose the best man for the job.’ You let out, almost groaning, clutching your head. It is a heavy admission, and you loathed the idea of going through another pity party with you as the spotlight. ‘Takao may not have said it, but she damn well knows I’m the one who brought in the inquiry.’

You run a hand over your face, annoyed with yourself.

‘I agree.’

Giving her a flat look, you let loose a wry snort.

‘Thank you for your honesty, Sub-Commander.’

‘What will you do, then?’

You grab onto the railing, eying the working crew down below. You spy one of them staring at you before going back to the moment – probably one of those that had been responsible for cleaning up after you’d decimated the room – and several fairies that pile out from one of the hatches on the side of the RAY. You let it stew for a moment – other than just take the days as they came, you really didn’t have anything else.

‘The SS is sent because of me – and so’s the Imperial Army, somewhat.’ You’re loathe to admit the latter, but your antagonizing of the Deputy Mayor – no matter how much he had deserved it – had made him drastic; you only hope that this would only be the one course he’d set. ‘I’m going to put a better hold on things the next time an issue comes up – I can’t risk heaping…’

‘Paperwork on my desk?’ Nagato finishes for you wryly, picking up where you’d trailed off.

‘Nagato.’ You give her a look; she looks very much smug. ‘I’m serious.’

‘Good.’ She answers simply. ‘Now you know just how far the consequences span as a man of rank.’

‘Weren’t you the one that told me to just do things my way and whatever happens, happens?’

‘It is life.’ Nagato nods, humming slightly. ‘But at least now you’ve come to terms that you’re more than just a man we shove like a battery into a black box, no?’

You blink. She could let it loose when she wanted.

>‘How are you holding up?’
>‘You’re not going Takao’s route?’
>‘What’s your agenda for the day?’
>Write-In

>>485521
>>‘How are you holding up?’

>>485521
>>‘How are you holding up?’

>>485521
>how are holding up?

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‘How are you holding up?’ You inquire.

‘Best as I can.’ She answers simply, letting out a grunt and turns, leaning on her back against the railing.

‘You don’t blame me for the Submarine being assigned?’

‘People don’t expect what comes of their actions.’ It’s a friendly snipe, as close to home as it hits – you can’t help but grimace at it, though. ‘I think you know that enough for me not to repeat it to you like a broken record.’

‘It’s nice that recent knowledge becomes immediately applicable.’ You hum, trying not to laugh, despite yourself. ‘No wonder they have a saying about hindsight.’

Nagato chortles, her shoulders shaking. Her eyes, though, they look very distant – away and thoughtful. You’d never struck her for the melancholic type, active and to-the-fore as she was and always would be in conduct, but she doesn’t look like she’s all there. You’d been genuinely – if only slightly – concerned at her well-being, especially with her performing duties for you and the Admiral, a desk jockey at two tables. As much as Nagato seemed suited for the job, you really didn’t see how she would enjoy it.

Personally, it isn’t so much the stacks of paperwork that bothered you – it’s the fact that there’d been more than a dozen loops to even get one piece of paper signed. You almost growl at the memory of your first day behind the desk; even with two attendants, it’d been more than a chore.

It felt like taking a surprise pop quiz where the teacher would change the topic every turn of the page.

‘But… yes, I suppose I’m doing all right.’ Nagato brings you back from reality – she doesn’t sound anything like it, though. ‘I’m coping, if that’s anything.

She bites her lip, looking away.

Silence uncomfortably looms between the both of you. Maybe she wasn’t quite doing all right as she’d put a front for – you’d always worn your heart on your sleeve, and Nagato… you don’t really know where she’d placed it; as upfront as she is, to you, she’s still a bit of an enigma.

You can barely connect the woman behind the desk and the loving presence between the sheets.

‘They still haven’t given me a straight answer.’ Nagato bites out – there’s an edge to her voice, a frustration and a breath of impatience. ‘It’s been weeks.’

‘An answer about what?’

‘Yamato. Musashi.’ You blink – the names seem familiar, but they don’t ring any particular bells. ‘My friends from Ominato… they’re still classed as MIA.’

‘Wouldn’t that be an answer?’

She glares at you, harshly. You wish you could take that back.

‘I don’t know anything. Not where they went. Not which Op they were assigned to…’

You take a step back as you hear the sound of creaking metal.

‘Nothing.’

>‘Maybe I can look into it for you.’ ACCEPT TASK
>‘I hope you get a straight answer soon. DECLINE TASK

>>485544
>>‘Maybe I can look into it for you.’ ACCEPT TASK
I smell a conspiracy. If they were killed in action, they'd be listed as KIA by now.

>>485544
>‘Maybe I can look into it for you.’

I have a possible idea as to why. But it's fairly grim.

>>485547
What do you think happened? I have a notion about what kind of thing might've happened to them, but nothing solid.

Whatever it is, it's bad, and we're probably gonna cross some really unsavory people during our investigation.

>>485544
>>485544
>acept task
im completly incapable of saying no to our troops
If thats gonna get us kill, ill acept it

>>485549
Like that is a new one
plus we are still noire up our necks with the atack to our boys
being a commander is darker work than i though

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>>485555
Yeah. Our bosses seem to all be into some shady shit. I'd even be willing to bet the Admiral has some skeletons in his closet. It certainly makes it hard to trust our superiors, but that's just how it is. It certainly makes becoming Punished Commander seem more reasonable by the day.

Also, nice quads.

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‘Maybe I can look into it for you.’ You offer.

Nagato gives you a look of incredulity, her mouth open like a fish’s.

‘You?’

You take offense to that. Her tone may have been neutral, but her face said otherwise. There was something resembling an amalgamation of disbelief at your statement – as if you’d declared you could could fly to the moon and back – and a restrained quality to her features, clearly holding back from spouting any more than that one word.

‘What’s with that face?’ You take offense to it, as subtle as it is.

‘Sir, I’ve been sending inquiries for weeks now.’ Nagato sighs, tiredly and angrily, bringing a hand to her head, rubbing her temples. ‘Is there anything to suggest on your part that you could do better?’

‘None; you’re better than me in almost every way.’ You smirk at her – Nagato sputters for a bit, before joining your amusement with a chortle. ‘But two heads are more than one, and if I can stick my nose in for a random Major and Fingers, you know that I’d stick my nose in for you.’

Her look of incredulity returns – once more, apprehension strikes you. It had been the truth – no agenda or angle – if you could offer help to those two, what would keep you from at least lending some time to your Sub-Commander?

‘That’s probably the most romantic you’ve been since we’ve met.’

You glare at her, thoroughly offended.

‘I resent that.’ You sigh, leaning further over the railing, your cheeks a little more red than you’d like. ‘I’ve been plenty romantic. I’m just… not really good at reading girls.’

Considering the fact you’d barely graduated from singledom, it really isn’t much to say.

‘Girls, huh?’ Nagato covers her mouth, giggling.

‘Hm?’

‘Nothing.’ She quickly changes the subject. ‘Are you going to be heading to Mamiya’s tonight?’

‘It actually depends on if I have time. It may be my last day of R&R but it sure doesn’t feel like it.’ You sigh. It really didn’t. ‘I have a ton of things to do… and tomorrow it’s back on active duty – for whatever measure of active we take, anyway.’

Nagato rolls her eyes, hitting you in the forearm.

You talk for a while, mostly about mundane things; you don't even bring up the Submarine's impending arrival or anything to come - the most you chatter about work is Samidare's reluctance to change shifts. It's at least twenty minutes when Nagato decides she’d been gone long enough.

‘I better get going.’

‘Yeah. So should I.'

‘And Commander?’

She gives you a quick peck on the cheek.

‘Don’t beat yourself up. We all start out as screw-ups.’

She leaves with a skip in her step, leaving you to your thoughts…

‘Hey, are you calling me a screw-up, Nagato? Nagato!’

2/5
>TASK: See Command about Nagato’s Inquiry
>TASK: Investigate the Attacks
>Look for KanMusu
>Seek out Officers/Staff
>District Management
>Write-In

>>485569
Seeing command directly about Nagato's request seems like somewhat of a dead end, but I think somebody else might be able to at least point us in the right direction...

>Look for the Vice Admiral

>>485569
Investigate attacks
we should look at it before the sub get here and put their noses everywhere

>>485575
I don't really see why the sub would try to interfere with our investigation into the attacks. I mean, we're not breaking any rules that I'm aware of. Who knows, helping us with detective work might be something worthwhile we get out of this whole deal, especially considering her skillset.

>>485578
They come stright from the council of admirals to see if we are "a bad boy" even if our boys are legit now i can easly look bad
a commander helping crooks! Thats bad
plus the subs sound awfully sadistic
i just want that the sub comes and goes without any kind of real or imaginable dirt
plain caution

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You can hardly believe that it’d been more than four hours since you’d stepped out of the barracks – it was already past noon. At least that’s what the clock you spy through the window of the center where you’d dropped your tantrum indicates. You peer over the railing to see that some of the crew had taken to start their lunch early – you couldn’t hold it against them; by the way things had gone at a glance, they’d probably more than fulfilled their work quota for the time being.

Pushing off the railing, you make your way past the doors of the Prep Dock, where you see several more Imperial Army soldiers taking their place among the maintenance crew and the MPs. The way they had placed themselves, you entertain the thought that they had more in common with props than they would people, stiff and hawk-eyed as they are.

It’s not a concern for you, though – with barely half a day to go, you decide to at least continue with your investigation into the attacks on your men. Fingers had been kind of enough to indicate where the attacks had taken place and you remember the vague number of suspects that you had garnered in the interview with the victims.

You almost reflexively dodge an incoming pylon, hoisted by a rather short collection of maintenance crew members, none of them bothering to give you an apology to make up that they’d almost caught you in the shoulder. You frown, wondering if you should call out, but decide that considering that you’d dropped into thought in the middle of the doorway, elect to instead move out of the way.

Doing so, you ignore the mutterings of the two MPs guarding the doorway.

‘Look, all I’m saying is if that’s what’s happening to them, they kinda deserve it.’ You overhear, looking to your left to see several men eating their lunch under a tent, using crates and boxes as table and chairs – the same gruel and broth that you’d been served before. ‘I mean, they’re criminals, right? The only reason they even bothered to join up with us is because they get better fed.’

‘Well, look what’s happened – the Army’s rolling in and nosing in because of what went down, wouldn’t you – ?’

‘I heard it was an old lady that beat them up. Friggin’ embarrassing if you ask me.’

‘No way? Seriously?’

‘I think it’s the one they brought in yesterday.’

‘Hah!’

You don’t bother to listen to the rest of the conversation. Fingers had been right, as was the Old Lady – the rumors really did make it out for more than it actually was… or at least, you hoped it was merely an exaggeration.

The vague possibility that the Old Lady had actually told the truth and beat them up for food was beyond… pathetic.

You decide your next course of action.

>Talk to the MPs
>Find the Stragglers
>Investigate the alleged alley
>Interrogate Old Lady

>>485591
>Talk to the MPs
>Find the Stragglers
>Investigate the alleged alley
>Interrogate Old Lady
>Write-In

>>485591
>>Talk to the MPs

>>485609
Aye.

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You make your way upstreet, passing by the gym – the shutters going up meant that the Trainer was probably already at work inside. You don’t stop to take a gander, your mind is very much focused on meeting up with the MPs that had been patrolling the so-called alley that served as a sort of unofficial bottleneck between the beachfront establishments – or what was left of them, anyway – and to ask them just what had occurred there.

That meant heading to Military Police Operations Command.

So far, you had a set of rather contradictory clues.

Namely – and the most unlikely of them being that the culprit that had allegedly, by her own words, done the deed. As trained and as much as an authority that she had been for the children, you find it hard to believe that she had so much as the ability to take down 2 of your men, let alone 4. Plus, you don’t think your men would straight away accuse the MPs without credence. The bad blood did still linger between the two factions, especially considering that even prior to the fiasco which had them transfer their loyalty to you, they’d been a rowdy bunch.

You didn’t need further proof than the fiasco at the MASH on the day to support the claim.

‘Good afternoon, sir!’ An MP salutes, coming into your immediate view.

You come face-to-face with a blue-and-white tent, surrounded by nothing but pavement. If it hadn’t been a recently-cleared warzone, you don’t think that it would have looked out of place as a general campsite’s supply tent. It’s large – only slightly smaller than the Command Tent. None of the maintenance crew are scene and there is very much a stark contrast between the tent, dull in color as it is, compared to the rest of the tents that surrounded it.

It looked brand new and clean – even the Command Tent had a few patches here and there. This one, though – it looked as close to pristine as you could get. If you didn’t know any better, you would have suspected it had probably just been put up and fresh from the shelves.

You give the MP a salute in return, crossing the road to do so.

So this was MP Operations Command. You can’t help but concede an approving nod.

Making your way past a few of the MPs, you push the flaps of the door open.

Inside, you find yourself even more impressed.

Compared to the mess of the Command tent, cluttered with files, cables and apparatus and the scenes of fairies arguing and shoving each other and how much more a mess and the chaotic bloom that had been Teitan, the MPOC looked how you would imagine an office would look like – in fact, you’d argue that the layout had the City Hall beat on sheer order and reference.

Black and white with neat tables and portable fans powered by a single generator, it looked less like a mobile police tent and more like a business lobby.

TBC

File: Head of MP Operations.jpg (56 KB, 704x480)

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In the center, you see a familiar face, scribbling amid the quiet of the MP office behind a desk with stacks of paper arranged into neat IN and OUT box compartments, side-by-side.

‘Ooyodo?’ You approach her table, frowning. You hadn’t expected her to be here, not at all. She doesn’t look up from her task, tapping but not writing on this new set of files she’d produced from the IN box. ‘Ooyodo?’ You try again.

She ignores you, her face scrunched as she ponders the next few written lines to be produced upon the document before her. You open your mouth to say something and catch her attention, but a niggling feeling at the back of your head snaps the words right back – a survival instinct telling you that it wouldn’t be the best of times to interrupt her.

First smart thing you’ve done your whole life.

You stand like a statue for a good few minutes… until Ooyodo sighs, putting a large cross on the file and depositing it into the OUT box, before looking up to you – again, with that smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes.

‘Good afternoon, Commander.’ She greets, getting to her feet and offering a small curtsy. ‘It has been a while.’

‘Hey, Ooyodo.’ You frown, looking around. ‘You’re in charge of the MPs?’

She takes off her glasses, polishing them with a handkerchief.

‘I am merely covering as the Head of my Department, Commander.’ She explains. ‘I am not taking a direct supervisory role nor do I foresee the changes and discipline of the unit.’ You frown, not getting what she’d tried to convey. ‘If there is anything you would like to think of me as, a logical comparison would be an executive unit instead of a director.’

That you definitely did not understand.

‘I… all right.’ You say tentatively – she hadn’t lost her capacity for the technical in the weeks you’d been absent from each other’s company. ‘So you’re not in charge then?’

‘I am.’ She nods.

‘So if I need to ask about anything at all about the MP schedule and patrol routes, it’d be from you, right?’

‘No.’ She shakes her head.

You let out a sigh, beginning to feel the ire building up.

‘You mind making it a little more clear for me, please?’

‘If you are looking for the one supervising the day-to-day activities and scheduling of the MPs, Commander, he is currently out to – !’

‘Behind you.’

‘Afternoon, Ooyodo – !’ comes a cheerful voice. ‘Oh, sh – !’

A young man, barely older than you, breaks into an immediate salute, shirtless and as dirty as the maintenance crew. Sandy blonde hair, tanned skin. A jaw women would trip themselves over.

‘Commander, sir! Head of the Yokosuka MP Operations, sir!’ The man clumsily salutes. ‘I’m sorry for my lack of proper dress, sir – ! I just got back from sorting a scuffle out.’

‘Must have been quite a brawl.’ You nod.

His grin says it all.

>Write-In

>>485670
Ask for the shedules. Also mention our own history with brawling.

>>485705
Maybe don't ask for the schedule yet, but rather talka bit about brawling, does he have other men that likes it, fish a little before asking for schedule. Ofcourse mention that you've discovered the pleasure and displeasure of placing yourself in Akashi's care.

>>485670
>>485719
Supporting this.

File: HEY GUYS GUESS WHAT I AM NOW.gif (113 KB, 610x431)

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‘I’d like to ask for the patrol schedules for the MPs doing the evening shift, if that’s all right with you.’

He shifts the remaining strap of his tank top, shooting you a bemused look.

‘No, that is most definitely not all right with me.’ He says in a tone you find bereft of discipline and full of playfulness – a lack of seriousness is inherent in his body language, and he puts his hands on hips, smugly looking down on you from his – now you notice – slightly greater height.

You find a small beacon of ire begin to light up within you, but no push for punishment or malice like there had been with Hiei and in the aftermath of Takao’s declaration of a cooldown period between the both of you. You actually feel like kicking him or hitting him – there is just a quality to his features that made him unapproachable for you on a personal level; it could have been the body language, the way he moved or the lightness he had made of your request.

To be fair, it could have been all three at the same time – he just plain annoyed you right now.

‘I’m running an investigation.’ You declare softly, putting your hands in your pockets – irritating he might be, but as the head of the MPs and their operations, his cooperation was still essential to your investigation: you’d loathe to go around asking them one by one where’d they been. ‘I’d greatly appreciate it if you’d share the information of the schedules with me.’

He doesn’t budge an inch, but the smug look on his face is gone, replaced by an unamused stare and the crossing of his arms. His body language practically dares you to say more; you stay your words… and of course, yourself. If you march out, you’d look the righteous fool and you would lose your only chance to gain a lead on the whole affair.

‘Uh-huh.’ He says, almost bored; you feel a heat in your throat as his eyes break away from you, turning to Ooyodo with an irritating low whistle leaving his lips.

‘I’m serious, Chief.’ You growl, again, barely keeping your cool.

He immediately turns his attention to you. He looks confused, his brows furrowing, muttering a word under his breath over and over again. You feel yourself calm down as he looks thoughtful, patting yourself on the back as you feel yourself progressing with this pitiful excuse of an idiot. At least, that’s what you think of it.

‘Chief? That’s got a good ring to it.’ He smiles widely, turning to the whole tent and spreading his arms wide – almost knocking you over. ‘Hey, guys, from now on, I’m Chief!’

The inhabitants of the tent stop in their tracks and their tasks, turning their gaze to you and him.

‘Up yours, Pervert.’ One older man makes a rude gesture with his hand.

‘Eat a sock, Loudmouth.’ Another grizzled man practically spits, walking past you.

You blink, a little underwhelmed.

‘They don’t like you very much, do they?’ You point out crisply.

TBC

>>486029
we REALLY have to improve our ralation with the crew

‘Eh, it’s a work in progress.’ He grins, putting an arm around you – a gesture you do not appreciate. ‘Why don’t you step into my office – we’ll discuss this all civil-like, eh, sir?’

His office turns out to be a cluttered desk – the only cluttered desk – on the tent. There are files stacked as high as a length of a ruler, a stamp that really should have been put away and pens that made the character of a very rude word. That, along with what seemed to be several reports unprofessionally handled – there are oil stains on them.

‘So, you’re asking me to pass you the information pertaining to the patrol schedules of my men.’ He folds his fingers, chuckling as he leans forward. ‘Any reason you’d be hopping out of that realm of breasts and ass to do the dirty work?’

‘Excuse me?’ You frown – you have inkling at what he was pointing

‘Aw, come on, you don’t have to hide it from me – no real full-blooded male’s going to resist diving into any of those little numbers.’ He leans over, giving your shoulder a good slap with his open palm. ‘Come on, Cap, share – it’s between us men, anyway.’

By some miracle, you hold back what would have been a messy sputter and a red face to go with it. You gaze into his sparkling, eager eyes, seeing the odd collection of crow’s feet here and there – he had a little age on you, despite his youthful demeanor. Which only served to confuse you with the lack of immaturity. You’d go as far to say that even you would have a better handle… not by much, but you would.

‘Those little numbers happen to be humanity’s first and last bastion against the Abyssals.’ You collect yourself, glaring right at him. ‘I’d appreciate it if you’d treat them with a little more respect than y – !’

A realization strikes you – this man, he…

‘You’re attracted to KanMusu?’ Your eye practically pops open in disbelief – on site, there hadn’t been many that would have admitted it.

‘Do penguins give birth?’

‘No?’ You give him a look – is he serious with this – ?

‘Seriously?’

‘Penguins lay eggs.’

He gasps, wide-eyed, pushing you out of the way rather rudely.

‘Ooyodo, did you know penguins laid eggs?’ He alls out.

‘I do not care, Operation Head.’

‘Look… Chief.’ You try to steer him - as impossible as it sounds. ‘I’d appreciate it if you’d get back on topic. If you’d be so kind as to lend me the dossier for the patrols, I can get on with my assignment.’

‘Of course, Commander.’ He pulls a chair, dropping and propping his legs on the table, making several pens hit the ground. ‘In return...’

He trails off, grinning.

His expression changes.

‘Please get me the panties of Battleship Nagato.’

What?

>‘If that’s… what it takes.’ ACCEPT TASK
>‘Ooyodo, I’d like you to relieve this man of his position.’ DECLINE TASK

>>486183
forget martial court, that WILL get us killed, both of us
still
>‘If that’s… what it takes.’ ACCEPT TASK

>>486183
>‘Ooyodo, I’d like you to relieve this man of his position.’ DECLINE TASK
How about no.

Shit hard choice...
that instant hate-like relationship.
is he mindgaming us so he can get us for fraternising w/ subordinates?

>>486183
>‘Ooyodo, I’d like you to relieve this man of his position.’ DECLINE TASK
We want he's help, but not enough to piss off Nagato.

Make sure you guys think this through, okay?

Also, that announcement I wanted to make was that I'll be getting a new ISP so I can do my work properly. Currently, what I have has been frustrating and been affecting my ability to post consistently.

So next week - there might be a hiatus.

>>486302
he might be the humor guy that the quest lacked, thats just my opinion tho

I'm thinking it might be a good idea to at least ASK Nagato first. For all we know, she might not mind missing a single pair of panties. Especially if it's for a good cause.

>>486183
>‘Ooyodo, I’d like you to relieve this man of his position.’ DECLINE TASK

>>486183
>>‘If that’s… what it takes.’ ACCEPT TASK
but intesed of us getting her pantsy what if we could get you a date or something with her in

>>486183
>>‘Ooyodo, I’d like you to relieve this man of his position.’ DECLINE TASK

>>486183
I dont fancy dead by battleship
>Refuse

>>487850
could offer to have him come to the mic night like a date, and if his lucky she could give him her pantsy?

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>>487863
>Letting that creep near any of our girls

No.

>>487866
mybe he wont so creepy if he gets to chance? idk

Tell the major if he wants to stick his head in the lion's mouth, he can do so all on his lonesome!

>>487866
We could always let him near Zuikaku, though her and Kaga may get angry at us.

And there's got to be SOME reason he's the head MP, even if the other MPs don't like him.

>>488119
I suspect nepotism
son or buds with someone up there

or mayve hes actualy a ultra cop when serious or some shit

>>486183
>‘Ooyodo, I’d like you to relieve this man of his position.’ DECLINE TASK
Definitly no.

while we wait and what not a resume on investigation:
-our boys attacked while using shortcuts outside the controled area ("ruined town")
-our boys are ex-thugs, so whoever atacked has to be pretty strong
-he was not seen or heard and attacked by the back, it can be supposed it just one person

thats the facts i managed to catch so far

it could be a disgrunted MP (as they dont have us in good eyes, and are strong enough), a town citizen (can be strong enough, and vengence is one hell of a motive) or a hired thug (theorie goes from the yakuza or the slimeball major who tried to fuck with us)

i think i got it right

I forget is Mech taking a break? and how long has it been since planefag ran a damn thread? Is he going to pull another SW on us again?

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>>502524
He's apparently getting his ISP changed, so there may be a break for about a week. And apparently Planefag's busy with real life, and hasn't run a thread since early June.

>>502529
feels longer than it has been.

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So anybody got anything to shitpost/discuss? We still got like a week before this thread gets archived.

>>502542
not really. been a slow week on 4chan for me really. /pol/ has been slow for any other news besides the race. browsing a spooky innawoods thread on /k/ right now.

So who do you guys think the woman we keep seeing in the distance is? I think she might be the submarine, sent to do some early surveillance on us.

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>>502553
>It is hard for you to make out just who it is, but even from this distance you see a large hat – a sun hat with a white brim, wide and white, just as much as the… dress?

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>>502563
I knew it. The Abyssals are still in our head.

>>502548
Should I post some innawoods caps or no?

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>>502583
I guess you shouldn't. This is a KanColle after all, not a innawoods thread.

>>502566
As far as the QM has stated, even he doesn't know what it is. Which means it's either bad planning or he's lying to us. I believe it's the latter. Pic related.

>>502590
Never trust a Chinese man, especially not a business man.
Got a story saved about how they cost an anon a good chunk of money from his business.

>>502592
Why not link the post instead?

>>502595
got it from a thread a while back. not from the innawoods thread.

>>502595
but here's one. hope i did the crosspost right.
>>>31086821
>>>31086994
>>>31086939

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>>502592
I fail to see how the trustworthiness of the Chinese is related to anything in this quest. Am I missing something here?

>>502603
damnnit
>>>/k/31086821
>>>/k/31086994
>>>/k/31086939

>>502605
Well we don't know the status of global relations in this world is like right now, so best to be prepared.
That and I said never trust a Chinese businessman. Brutal practitioners they are.

>>502610
I think QM mentioned that Japan was fairly isolated, with all air travel getting shot down and all sea travel requiring heavy escort.

Though considering this Japan is connected to the rest of Asia by a peninsula, the supply and communications problem shouldn't be so bad.

>>502610
>>502619
Mech hasn't even hinted that the Not!Chinese give a single, solitary fuck about Not!Japan. For all we know, they might be closer to Russians than Chinese, hell, they might be Swedes for all we know.

>>502621
He's stated that much of Asia and the Middle East is under the control of one massive Sino-Muslim bloc. And he said that Russians are just one of many minorities that exist in that bloc. I remember lamenting that there would be no chance of the Second Pacific Squadron coming back.

>>502627
Duly noted.

Also, how do you anons think the Submarine will act? I'm thinking she'll either be cold and emotionally predatory, or disarmingly nice. I could see her trying to act nice to get people to slip up and accidentally say things they shouldn't, but at the same time, I'm not sure since they mostly hunt down "rogue" KanMusu. Either way, I feel like she's going to be a real snake in the grass.