KNOWN UTILIZATION OF TIMING

[keep_your_dignity]

1 - [Alhambra, inside]

[So, today is Kagura's free day. What is she doing, you might wonder? Relaxing and kicking back, perhaps?

Well, you might find her in front of a table, with one of her subordinates, his mistletoe flying around and biting her nails, on the other side - and a chess board in the middle. By the time you approach, though, the robot moves an enormous hand and (since those huge fingers cant pick up a piece) slides forward a piece with one finger]

CHECKMATE.

[Both young man and fairy humanoid go "Awwwwwwww", but they seem pretty resigned as they sigh, get up, and have a brief conversation with Kagura that goes to the tune of "We'll totally beat you next time, Major!" "IN YOUR DREAMS, MIZUKI" before leaving.

Want to approach as Kagura begins tidying up?]

2 - [Alhambra, outside fields]

[You can also find her at one point on the outside of the base, in the practice fields, with two long boxes near her and holding a pair of long, uneven, lumpy, unwieldily-shaped metal things that could, if looked at with a crooked eye, be said to vaguely resemble swords. They are very clearly not real weapons of any sort, though.

She seems to be trying to turn and swipe with the things, even if the obvious unbalancedness of the things makes it visibly more difficult, slicing the air, readjusting, and slicing again, time and again and again with robotic stubbornness.

Are you curious enough to ask what the hell she is doing?]

3 - [Only for those who are going to come argue with the brass about things like Leos. That means, Leos, anyone except you :P.]

[Another thing she did, though very few people know this one, is send a message to the Commander of Unity very early in the morning, that read like this:]

"I would like to speak to the commander or an appointed representative at his earliest convenience, about matters that regard the operational efficiency and continued psychological health of some Unity Group operatives. Thank you.

Kagura, Executor Major.
Graveyard Liaison"

[And so, at some point during the day she gets a confirmation and heads towards the main Unity offices with her unnaturally brisk step. Are you one of the people there to support her about this?

(OOC: Mods asked to keep this third prompt to one thread. So please do that.)]

Comments

3

[glorystargo]

So it has come to this, Major. I feel the same way, as a team leader and an experienced combatant - so you won't have to talk to the Commander alone. I have your back. I left the two others out of this though. Last thing we need is Toby making stupid jo...

[Someone approaches.]


Hello, Chief, Major. You're not leaving me behind, are you?


...


Don't worry about me, I'll behave.

Re: 3

[genericbiggerbrother]

"For what's it's worth, Major." Yancy says, walking alongside the senior Glory Stars. "Me and Raleigh are with you too. We'll try not to talk out of turn."

[genericprotagonist]

Might not be able to make any promises if command says something stupid.

[Raleigh has a small smile at that but it seems to straighten out into neutrality at the situation.]

[ugyuuya]

[Yuuya notices the procession and approaches and salutes the higher ranking officers while acknowledging the others in the procession.]

Major, Captain, permission to speak freely?

[Yuuya waits for a moment for permission before continuing.]

I'm pretty sure this is about Leos and the, questionable track record he has established mostly behaviorally but also with his performance in combat. Before you speak with the upper echelons of the organization I want to speak up on his behalf. He chose this for himself and while it was not under the best of conditions it is something he has continued to pursue. His abilities are raw and his discipline lacking but there is a talent there and if we just flat remove him from the roster it will very likely break what little sanity he is hanging on to still.

Combat is stressful particularly so against BETA and we have developed treatments to alleviate and control those conditions. Stella has already begun the process of beginning those therapies and simulator training will help to cement those lessons. I can agree to restricted sorties to active combat missions but instead of removing him from the cockpit entirely pending therapy results perhaps it would be best to begin a structured training regimen instead? He never got basic training like most of us did but I'm sure we all remember it well enough to pound the most important lessons into him?

I won't keep you any longer but please at least take that into consideration. Thank you for your time.

[Yuuya makes a small bow towards the Major before returning to his normal course of duties.]

[glorystargo]

He's talented, I give you that. No, I never doubted it in the first place.

But the kid needs help. Professional help. We're all soldiers here Lieutenant - me, you, your flight. We are not trained psychologists, and that's who he needs to talk to. Is there even one on the base?



This said, I agree he could use a training regimen. Especially with the way his "handler" does things. Thanks for your words, appreciate it.

[ugyuuya]

Captain, do you really believe with the BETA, aliens, and all manner of other enemies that we wouldn't have appropriate psychological support?

At the very least there are the personnel who help moderate and control the systems and drug injectors inherent to the TSF piloting who are qualified to do initial evaluation and treatment. I the meantime if more comprehensive treatment is needed the appropriate personnel can be requisitioned.

[majestic_keiki]

Regardless, he needs therapy rather than continuing to face combat. He was deeply traumatized even before he came here.

Re: 2

[ugyuuya]

[Yuuya is running in his PT uniform when he notices the Major swinging the metal objects.]

Good afternoon Major. What brings you out here today? It seems unusual for you to be out here given the lack of benefit that any physical training would provide.

Have you decided that your normal ranged options are insufficient and decided to try for some sort of melee option for battle? If so it is an unusual choice. [Yuuya makes the last comment as his eyes shift towards the metal objects Kagura is swinging.]

[keep_your_dignity]

I HAVE BEEN FOR YEARS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, AN EXPERIMENTAL WEAPONS TESTER, BRIDGES. WHICH IS A LOT LESS OF A FUCKING PAIN THAN BEING AN OFFICER, LET ME TELL YOU. I DEAL PLENTY WITH MELEE WEAPONS.

[Another slice. Those things seem weighted really clumsily, and Kagura needs to correct her slice midway, but she's clearly starting to get the hang of it]

THESE ARE NOT REAL WEAPONS. JUST THE PRACTICE STICKS WEIGHTED TO ACT LIKE THE REAL THING.

[ugyuuya]

Really? I wouldn't have pegged you as a test pilot yourself Major. I don't think we'd be able to have an appropriate spar between just the two of us but perhaps the exogear or even a match between units might not be out of place sometime in the future. I'm still somewhat of a beginner when it comes to any sort of melee combat but it is something that recent events have inspired an interest in.

[keep_your_dignity]

I WOULD NOT BE USING THESE NEW WEAPONS IN A PRACTICE BOUT ANYWAY, BRIDGES.

FOR ONE, YOUR UNIT LEADER WOULD BE ALL UP IN MY ASS FOR TURNING YOUR SHINY NEW UNIT INTO IKEA FURNITURE AND I REALLY DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THAT.

[ugyuuya]

Really? What is it that they do that makes you so confident that such an ending would likely be the case Major?

[keep_your_dignity]

ACCORDING TO THE NOTES THE LAB PEOPLE GAVE ME, THEY BASICALLY DISINTEGRATE METAL ON CONTACT. SO THEY CUT THROUGH MOST KNOWN METALS LIKE A HOT KNIFE IN BUTTER WITH NO UNINTENDED SPLASH DAMAGE.

THEY ARE DESIGNED TO AID IN PRAYER MUTILATION. NOT USEFUL AGAINST SHIT LIKE BETA, THOUGH.

[ugyuuya]

Then perhaps a match against a TSF wouldn't be as one sided as you think. The machines are constructed with advanced carbon materials and all armor plates are coated with an anti-laser coating to give pilots a much needed edge against LASER class BETA.

The blades and most of the assault cannons are made from the same materials though I guess you could block the bullets well enough with the sabers. Just a thought though Major so I won't try to force you into it.

1

[dolorous_sensei]

You play chess, major?

[keep_your_dignity]

NO, THIS IS JUST A MODEL.

WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK.

[dolorous_sensei]

Of course you do. Why would I think otherwise. All high ranking officers practically have to play chess, so they could desensitize themselves toward throwing pawns away in the battlefield...

[keep_your_dignity]

SCHMERTZ, YOU CLEARLY MISSED YOUR CALLING IN LIFE.

2

[abugslife]

I did not know you practice melee combat, major. You always showed a preference for filling the air with vast amounts of ordnance, instead.

[keep_your_dignity]

I WOULD EXPECT YOU OF ALL PEOPLE WOULD KNOW ONE OF THE BASIC MAXIMS OF A SOLDIER, GENERAL.

[abugslife]

Of course I do. But since many warriors on Earth seem to completely forsake either ranged or melee combat and focus entirely on the other, I was not sure if these basic maxims are really so basic here.

Those are certainly not real weapons you are swinging, though. Early test prototypes?

[keep_your_dignity]

PRACTICE STICKS. IF THESE XANTHEZ SABERS DO WHAT THE RECEIPT SAYS THEY DO, CALIBRATING FOR THEIR PHYSICS BEFORE HANDLING THEM IS JUST COMMON SENSE.

[abugslife]

And what exactly are they supposed to do?

[keep_your_dignity]

I DON'T REALLY GET THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT, SO HERE'S THE CLIFF'S NOTES VERSION. THESE THINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO BASICALLY DISINTEGRATE METAL. AT THE POINT OF CONTACT, WHOOM, EVERY ATOM FOR HIMSELF.

YOU MIGHT NOTICE THE CRATES ARE WOODEN. THIS IS NOT BECAUSE GRAVEYARD HAS A THING FOR REDNECK DECOR.

[abugslife]

And here I thought it is symbolic. Graveyards are known for containing a lot of wooden coffins, after all.