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

[srwu_mods]

[I'm just going to assume that everyone who wanted to be in this thread posted already.]

"Yes? Please come in."

The door to the Commander-in-Chief's office opens.

"You wanted to talk to me, Major... Kagura...?"

He looks around the gathered crowd with a surprised gaze.

[keep_your_dignity]

ABOUT MY GROWING CONCERNS OVER THE PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH OF SOME OF THE PEOPLE RECRUITED FOR THE UNITY GROUP, YES. I WILL NOT TAKE UP MUCH OF YOUR TIME, COMMANDER ANTOV.

AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THE CROWD. PEOPLE FROM VARIOUS OTHER ASSOCIATE ORGANIZATIONS SEEM TO SHARE SOME OF MY CONCERNS AND WISHED TO BE PRESENT AS WELL.

[majestic_keiki]

Yes. It's about Leos. He's not fit for duty as a soldier and trying to do so anyway is clearly bad for him.

[glorystargo]

Hello, commander.

[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!]

[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?

[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.