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

[genericbiggerbrother]

"Rangers Beckett and Beckett at your service, Commander Antov." Yancy says quietly. "We're here to express support for what Major Kagua has to say."

[genericprotagonist]

The Major's got a couple of things she's gotta say, and from what we're hearing it's pretty big.

[srwu_mods]

"I was afraid it'd be about Leos Klein..." The commander sighs.

"Ah, I mean. By all means, continue. I am listening."

[keep_your_dignity]

I WILL BE CANDID, SIR. IN HIS CURRENT CONDITION, KLEIN IS NOT FIT FOR THE TYPE OF OPERATIONS UNITY CONDUCTS. HE SUFFERS FROM SEVERE POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, WHICH HAS BEEN TRIGGERED SEVERAL TIMES ALREADY. HE IS A SEVERE RISK LIABILITY TO HIMSELF AND ANY SQUAD HE IS MADE A PART OF, AND A DRAIN ON MORALE.

SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS BEFORE WE HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, SIR.

[Kagura, being a professional, does not break into what should be done until asked to continue, of course. She's not an anime protagonist!]

[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.

[keep_your_dignity]

DON'T PUT MUCH FAITH IN ANTI LASER COATINGS, BRIDGES. [Another slice. Kagura seems to be getting the hang of the things now] MUCH LESS AGAINST ANYTHING NOT SPECIFICALLY ENERGY-BASED. ALL COATING USUALLY DOES IS SAVE YOUR PAINT FROM SHOTS THAT WOULD HAVE SCRATCHED IT, BUT IF SOMETHING WAS GOING TO GET THROUGH CLEAN, IT WILL DO SO ANYWAY.

OF COURSE, ALL THESE THINGS WOULD DO IF THE INNARDS ARE FULLY CARBON-BASED IS PEEL YOUR UNIT'S EXTERNAL PLATES LIKE AN ORANGE WITHOUT DEALING ANY REAL SYSTEM DAMAGE TO THE INSIDE MECHANISMS, THEN.

GREAT WAY TO MAKE THE BOTH OF US LOOK LIKE IDIOTS, WOULDN'T IT.

[srwu_mods]

"Is it really that serious?" Antov looks around the faces of the gathered. There's no need to say anything.

"It is, isn't it..."

He rests his elbows on the desk, a gesture usually used by plotting masterminds, but those masterminds do not have a habit of sighing in dejection, unlike him.

"You see, Klein was attached to Unity Group as part of a deal between us... well, more like between our higher-ups, and Progtech. I can't just send him back, because that will break the deal."

"Besides I checked on his backstory. He has nowhere else to go. I know we're not a charity organisation, but..."

[keep_your_dignity]

THEN GET HIM PSYCHIATRIC AND MEDICAL SUPPORT, SIR. AS FAR AS I KNOW SEVERAL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT HAVE STRONG MEDICAL BRANCHES.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS EXPENSIVE. BUT, SIR, IN THE LONG RUN, GETTING HIM A SPECIALIST AND APPROPRIATE MEDICATION IS GOING TO BE CHEAPER THAN THE ALTERNATIVE. BECAUSE THE ALTERNATIVE IS GOING TO BE THAT HE FREAKS OUT MID-MISSION AT SOME POINT AND GETS A SQUAD OF UNITY MECHS TOTALED AND YOUR PILOTS KILLED.

[srwu_mods]

"This is not about money!"

"... Alright. Let's do what you suggest Major. Everyone will be better off with it in the long run, won't they?"

Well, that was simple. The question is though, did the commander-in-chief see the logic behind your arguments... or is he just completely spineless?

[majestic_keiki]

And you'll make sure he's off the duty roster until his condition improves, right?

[abugslife]

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

[keep_your_dignity]

I SEE YOU HAVE A SOLDIER'S ABILITY FOR HUMOUR, TOO, GENERAL.

[Which is to say, none at all]

[srwu_mods]

"Of course..."

[keep_your_dignity]

VERY GOOD. AND WHILE WE'RE ON THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, SIR.

BEYOND THE SPECIALIST FOR KLEIN, I WANTED TO SUGGEST THE ASSIGNMENT OF AT LEAST ONE COUNSELOR PER MAIN UNITY BASE. AND I WOULD REALLY SUGGEST A MINIMUM OF THREE. [Seeing this, Kagura continues, because the major is definitely not above pressing for advantage when weakness is perceived]

KLEIN IS THE MOST VISIBLE CASE, SIR, BUT I CAN SEE WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO NEED SOME HELP WITH SETTLING INTO THIS. UNITY IS TAKING IN INCREASINGLY MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN TRAINED, TO BE SOLDIERS OR TO DEAL WITH THE KIND OF STRANGENESS UNITY MUST DEAL WITH. AND WHEN PERSONNEL IS SHAPED BY NECESSITY RATHER THAN CHOICE, THERE'S ALWAYS FRAYED PSYCHES TO SPARE SOON. EXECUTORS KNOW THIS FROM EXPERIENCE.

[genericbiggerbrother]

"If it helps, we've got a lot of Neuro-Psych specialists on staff at the PPDC, Sir." Yancy adds. "We could try bringing them over for consultation–heck, you could try recruiting help from the other sponsor organizations of the U.G. too."

[majestic_keiki]

That's great news, I look forward to hearing about his treatment and progress. [Clearly Kei wasn't going to just plain let the commander off the hook like that.] And, yes, more effort training and preparing people without a military background would be good. The sponsor organizations might know somebody like Yancy said.

[abugslife]

I see I am met with an impenetrably tough audience.

In any case, that sounds like a rather amazing weapon. If upscaled to a mecha size, it shall easily work against most of our enemies. Are there any ways to defend against it that you know of? Or drawbacks?

[keep_your_dignity]

WELL, MAIN THING IS THAT AGAINST ANYTHING NONMETALLIC THEY'RE JUST REALLY FUCKING IMPRACTICAL BLUDGEONS.

ALSO, APPARENTLY ATTEMPTS TO MAKE THEM BIGGER PROVED UNSTABLE.

[abugslife]

I can tell just by looking. Balanced and swift weapons, they are not.

[Says the one who uses freakin' khopeshes.]

No upscaling, then? That is disappointing. But I suppose that using them to level the field for warriors who do not have the luxury of being 40 cubits tall is still an accomplishment.

[keep_your_dignity]

I THINK I CAN MAKE THEM SWIFT ENOUGH, DON'T WORRY. BUT THAT'S THE POINT OF THESE STICKS. THE XANTHEZ SABERS DON'T GIVE TWO SHITS ABOUT YOUR USUAL LAWS OF MOMENTUM, SO I HAVE TO PRACTICE WITH THINGS WEIGHTED TO ACT ROUGHLY LIKE THEM.

[To punctuate her words, Kagura does a quick whirl of moves, putting out a six hit combo while only stumbling almost imperceptibly in the finisher. She clearly gets the hang of things quickly]

HONESTLY, FOR THE KIND OF SHIT GRAVEYARD DEALS WITH, MECHS WERE DEEMED DEAD WEIGHT ANYWAY. PRAYERS PUT OUT SO MUCH THREE-DIMENSIONAL FIRE THAT DODGING BETWEEN THE STREAMS IS PLAIN BETTER THAN TRYING TO STAY OUT OF THEIR CONE OF FIRE OR TANK THEM.

I'M PRETTY MUCH THE ONLY EXECUTOR THAT EVEN HAS ANY KIND OF UNIT LARGER THAN A POWER ARMOR, AND EVEN THEN I DON'T USE IT MUCH.

[abugslife]

It takes a special kind of power to prefer fighting without a giant mech ten times your size. Very few people on Earth possess such power, and even fewer on Geb, but it seems Graveyard managed to gather a lot of them regardless.

The unit you speak of. What is it?

[keep_your_dignity]

GRAVEYARD EMPLOYS ALL SORTS OF ODDBALLS. AS LONG AS THEY CAN BE USEFUL. IT'S NOT LIKE THE PEOPLE WITH POWERS ARE THE WEIRDEST PART OF THE JOB, GENERAL. [One-two-three slash]

AND THAT UNIT I HAVE IS A SOFT OF REMOTE DRONE SKIFF. DETAILS CLASSIFIED. CODENAME ECLIPTIC CHARIOT. [Twirl, dual cross. Kagura is trying more complex maneuvers as an experiment as she speaks]

[abugslife]

It must have been business as usual for you when you transferred to Unity Group, then.

What are the odds we are going to see the chariot in action anytime soon?