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+--- Thread: Impermanence (/showthread.php?tid=162286)
Impermanence - Chrysalis - 06-25-2018
Hikone's hangar B. Ever busy with traffic, both domestic and foreign, was especially tightly packed today. Goods moved to and from the station's storage, and ships making pit stops before setting out or returning from the borderworlds tied the traffic into a knot. Buzzing of loader machinery and hundreds of voices seemed to merge into one indistinct rumble, echoing against the hangar walls.
One one side, a loader bot malfunctioned and was being repaired by a team of mechanics working with feverish speed. Replacing and welding components like they've done it a thousand times already. On the other, a rather fat dock master was arguing with the crew of a Chrysanthemum freighter over a supposed attempt of unloading their Cardamine on the station's premises. Above it all, in the work office, behind a large one way mirror glass, the station's administrator - Watanabe Hirotada, observed the whole scene with an outwardly stoic calm.
Hands crossed, his eyes drifted all over the hangar bay spreading below him, to each person and each developing situation. He didn't appear perturbed in any way, rather, his face was painted with a silent acceptance of how things operate. Not that it wasn't nerve wracking to him; He was simply used to it by now. His equanimity was well rehearsed. Worries were delegated to a more distant part of the mind.
"Scheduled arrival - B5 - Kiku - 6 - Fifteen minutes." - An automated AI message played on a speaker behind him. He turned his head towards the sound, but retained his position as he listened. The announcement played out one more time, he turned his head back at the scene below to see most problems resolving and traffic resuming as planned. Hirotada smiled and straightened his suit.
One one side, a loader bot malfunctioned and was being repaired by a team of mechanics working with feverish speed. Replacing and welding components like they've done it a thousand times already. On the other, a rather fat dock master was arguing with the crew of a Chrysanthemum freighter over a supposed attempt of unloading their Cardamine on the station's premises. Above it all, in the work office, behind a large one way mirror glass, the station's administrator - Watanabe Hirotada, observed the whole scene with an outwardly stoic calm.
Hands crossed, his eyes drifted all over the hangar bay spreading below him, to each person and each developing situation. He didn't appear perturbed in any way, rather, his face was painted with a silent acceptance of how things operate. Not that it wasn't nerve wracking to him; He was simply used to it by now. His equanimity was well rehearsed. Worries were delegated to a more distant part of the mind.
"Scheduled arrival - B5 - Kiku - 6 - Fifteen minutes." - An automated AI message played on a speaker behind him. He turned his head towards the sound, but retained his position as he listened. The announcement played out one more time, he turned his head back at the scene below to see most problems resolving and traffic resuming as planned. Hirotada smiled and straightened his suit.
RE: Impermanence - Imperium - 06-25-2018
The silence of space was calming. Inbound on her Sutinga, Akiko Miku, took in the peace and quiet to which she was so attuned. She chose to bring her personal ship, rather than something flying the Blood Dragon colours. Given what she was here for, it seemed fitting. She also didn't want to be seen waving around the banner of Asai, it was slowly becoming a very disrespected name.
Kusari had its problems, but it was beautiful, that much can't be denied. It made the long journey feel short as the day's end, before long she found herself being hailed by the base that loomed silently in the clouds. The exterior didn't accurately represent the bustling chaos contained within, but that would become apparent soon enough. The moment Akiko was in range, the hail was heard.
Simple enough.
Easy and stress free. Ideal. She navigated her ship inside the hangar and touched down on the landing pad. The station was significantly larger than the outside suggested. As Akiko touched down, the sound of air releasing, and atmospheric pressure synchronising, filled the ship. The moment the process was done, she made her way through the ship, and down towards the staircase out into the spacious hangar.
Kusari had its problems, but it was beautiful, that much can't be denied. It made the long journey feel short as the day's end, before long she found herself being hailed by the base that loomed silently in the clouds. The exterior didn't accurately represent the bustling chaos contained within, but that would become apparent soon enough. The moment Akiko was in range, the hail was heard.
"Attention unknown ship. You have entered restricted space. Please state your name and intentions here."
Simple enough.
"This is Akiko Miku, of the Blood Dragons. Ship Designation: Kiku-6. I am here for an audience with Daimyo Watanabe."
"Received Kiku 6, you are expected. Please proceed to docking bay B.
"Received Kiku 6, you are expected. Please proceed to docking bay B.
Easy and stress free. Ideal. She navigated her ship inside the hangar and touched down on the landing pad. The station was significantly larger than the outside suggested. As Akiko touched down, the sound of air releasing, and atmospheric pressure synchronising, filled the ship. The moment the process was done, she made her way through the ship, and down towards the staircase out into the spacious hangar.
RE: Impermanence - Chrysalis - 06-28-2018
Several people from the crowd nearest to Akiko stopped and looked at her as she emerged from the ship. They held that stance for a short while, out of simple curiosity, but quickly resumed on their way. There was no entourage, no official greeting, no one approaching as far as the eye could see. Nothing except a small, gold-colored floating orb, seemingly defying the laws of gravity, and moving in what seemed to be her general direction.
Deftly maneuvering around the crowds, it sped up and slowed down, going up and down, backwards and forwards - slowly making progress towards its destination. Stopping in front of Akiko, it levitated and swayed in silence for a few moments. Now being closer, Akiko could make out an intricate decorative design on its outer shell. Traditional Kusari-styled carvings decorated every inch of it, and a red glowing ring encompassed its circumference. Suddenly, however, it beeped and launched a holographic scanning beam, locking onto her face and flashing for a few seconds, without any prior warning.
Having completed whatever it was doing, it beeped again, and its glowing ring turned green.
And without further ado, it started floating towards the direction of an elevator, presumably leading towards the office. Next to the elevator's entrance, stood an honor guard, clad in red power armor. The guard scrutinized the newcomer and the drone for some time as they approached, but moved aside as the elevator door opened on the drone's approach. The way to the upper levels and the office was now open.
Deftly maneuvering around the crowds, it sped up and slowed down, going up and down, backwards and forwards - slowly making progress towards its destination. Stopping in front of Akiko, it levitated and swayed in silence for a few moments. Now being closer, Akiko could make out an intricate decorative design on its outer shell. Traditional Kusari-styled carvings decorated every inch of it, and a red glowing ring encompassed its circumference. Suddenly, however, it beeped and launched a holographic scanning beam, locking onto her face and flashing for a few seconds, without any prior warning.
Having completed whatever it was doing, it beeped again, and its glowing ring turned green.
"Identity confirmed!" It proclaimed in a synthetic, but very human-like and enthusiastic female voice. "Konnichiwa, Miku-san!"
The floating droid performed what looked like a back flip in midair. "Watanabe-dono is expecting you in his office. Please, follow me!"
The floating droid performed what looked like a back flip in midair. "Watanabe-dono is expecting you in his office. Please, follow me!"
And without further ado, it started floating towards the direction of an elevator, presumably leading towards the office. Next to the elevator's entrance, stood an honor guard, clad in red power armor. The guard scrutinized the newcomer and the drone for some time as they approached, but moved aside as the elevator door opened on the drone's approach. The way to the upper levels and the office was now open.
RE: Impermanence - Imperium - 06-28-2018
Akiko approached the doorway in to see Daimyo Watanabe with his back turned, his attention and gaze still focused on the scape below. Akiko made her way in, trying to be relatively silent and not disturbing the peaceful scene she was walking into; and seemingly failing at her attempts. She was by no means silent on her approach but at least the intention was there.
She did her best to sound graceful in her speech, however, her nerves and timid nature were visible to any keen-eyed observer. It wasn't a particularly well thought out facade. As soon as she had finished making her own introduction, the weird droid zipped away, most likely to perform another errand. All the while, Daimyo Watanabe remained stationary and looking down below.
"Konbanwa, Daimyo. I have arrived."
She did her best to sound graceful in her speech, however, her nerves and timid nature were visible to any keen-eyed observer. It wasn't a particularly well thought out facade. As soon as she had finished making her own introduction, the weird droid zipped away, most likely to perform another errand. All the while, Daimyo Watanabe remained stationary and looking down below.
RE: Impermanence - Chrysalis - 06-29-2018
Upon hearing the voice, Hirotada turned around. He regarded his guest for a moment, then offered a respectful nod in her direction. He noticed her demeanor, but wasn't overly scrutinizing. First appearances, after all, can be deceptive.
He chuckled in a lighthearted manner after this self-depreciating joke. Though his office was by no means luxurious, but rather spartan in its set-up, it was well-proportioned and spacious. Perhaps larger than the average New Tokyo apartment. His flat desk was on the opposite side of the room with two chairs, one on each side, an end table, but not much else in way of furniture. The walls were likewise bare, with the exception of two paintings of still nature, and an ancestral kami shrine carved into one wall - incense sticks burning over the offerings inside of it.
Hirotada made his way towards his chair and sat down. He rearranged the few items on his desk into a position that pleased him, and then looked at his guest.
He straightened up completely in his seat, placed his hands over the table and lifted his chin in expectation of the answer.
"Welcome." He said in his usual, deep baritone voice. "I apologize in advance if the comforts of this station are below of what you are accustomed to. I'm afraid the amenities here pale in comparison to my ancestral estate. But we all make sacrifices, don't we?"
He chuckled in a lighthearted manner after this self-depreciating joke. Though his office was by no means luxurious, but rather spartan in its set-up, it was well-proportioned and spacious. Perhaps larger than the average New Tokyo apartment. His flat desk was on the opposite side of the room with two chairs, one on each side, an end table, but not much else in way of furniture. The walls were likewise bare, with the exception of two paintings of still nature, and an ancestral kami shrine carved into one wall - incense sticks burning over the offerings inside of it.
Hirotada made his way towards his chair and sat down. He rearranged the few items on his desk into a position that pleased him, and then looked at his guest.
"Please." He motioned with his hand towards the guest chair opposite of him. "Make yourself comfortable." He paused for a moment. "Akiko Miku, of the Asai clan. How is my esteemed colleague, Daimyo Asai these days?"
He straightened up completely in his seat, placed his hands over the table and lifted his chin in expectation of the answer.
RE: Impermanence - Imperium - 07-02-2018
Akiko gracefully took her seat, taking the time to ensure she was comfortable in place. Upon hearing the question she did feel rather awkward, it was not an easy question to answer, given what Daimyo Asai was known for.
Quite evidently, Akiko was beating around the bush. Seemingly attempting to avoid talking about him directly. Some of his policies were outright sexist and made her blood boil.
"Erhm... Daimyo Asai has been making a lot of changes since he came into power. He likes things to be a bit more.. erhm.. traditional. I wouldn't really know to a great extent. I mostly work by myself on Sendai, but even that is less frequent these days. I spend a lot of time away as my work doesn't really require an active presence."
Quite evidently, Akiko was beating around the bush. Seemingly attempting to avoid talking about him directly. Some of his policies were outright sexist and made her blood boil.
"The frequent changes in leadership have been confusing, to say the least. At least things are stable here it seems. I have high hopes, so once again, thank you for permitting me here."
Akiko left a genuine smile on her face, staring back at the Daimyo before her. She was more overjoyed to be here than she was letting off, however.
RE: Impermanence - Chrysalis - 07-03-2018
He noticed the hidden resentment. Hirotada was neither a conservative, nor a progressive, but rather a fusion of both. He believed in the validity of tradition, but also that it should be supplanted by a healthy dose of new ideas; As long as they improve upon what came before. He attributed complete aversion to conservative thought to folly of youth; So he dropped the subject, before truly moving into it.
He leaned onto the table with his arms, and tented his hands into a steeple.
"As do I. High hopes, or more bluntly -- optimism, is a rare but sorely needed quality these days." He inhaled deeply and relaxed his demeanor somewhat. "If the information provided to me in the communication archives is correct, you've come to us to learn the principles of stealth and infiltration, correct?"
"Might I ask what you intend to accomplish with such skills?"
"Might I ask what you intend to accomplish with such skills?"
He leaned onto the table with his arms, and tented his hands into a steeple.
RE: Impermanence - Imperium - 07-04-2018
Akiko paused. She didn't utter a word as she thought to herself, unsure of how much she was meant to actually say. Ultimately, what was to be lost by hiding it? He was helping her after all!
Breifly she got distracted, transfixed on the right choice of words. This simple mishap was a perfect snapshot at how easy it was for her to become distracted.
While explaining her plan, Akiko felt rather proud, even struggling to hide a minor grin that had crept onto her small little face. Fitting.
He could see the dread on her face at the mere thought of it. Almost all of her days were spent in isolation and self study, no training in combat or espionage.
She realised she had gone off on somewhat of a tangent. It was ironic how someone who was, on the whole, shy and withdrawn, can talk so much. It suddenly hit her again after saying all that - how much of that was she supposed to say!?
"I.. I was tasked personally by Heung-sama, after he saw my work on the Sendai Archives, to create some... umm..." With a break mid-sentence, she began muttering to herself.
"No that won't work, wouldn't make sense."
"No that won't work, wouldn't make sense."
Breifly she got distracted, transfixed on the right choice of words. This simple mishap was a perfect snapshot at how easy it was for her to become distracted.
"Ok, lets try it this way. Are you familiar with Osumi Station? It's one of the main spaceborne training facilities for the police, here in Kusari. Heung asked me to find a way to persuade some of the officers to change sides, as it were. He bestowed a lot of creative freedom for this, and I thought the best way for this to be done was to infiltrate the station, and install a communication router, of my own design, into the control centre."
While explaining her plan, Akiko felt rather proud, even struggling to hide a minor grin that had crept onto her small little face. Fitting.
"In simple terms, this would allow us to route our own transmissions through the Kusari network, giving us the ability to send media and propaganda to locations all over Kusari, including the station itself. These are things anyone could pick up, but it would give us limitless coverage. This would be all well and good... until he said he wanted me to personally install the equipment."
He could see the dread on her face at the mere thought of it. Almost all of her days were spent in isolation and self study, no training in combat or espionage.
"I am not exactly trained when it comes to this... to say the least. The closest I've ever got to this was back when I used to sneak around in one of the ship dealers with my old best friend, on New Tokyo. This is in a whole other league."
She realised she had gone off on somewhat of a tangent. It was ironic how someone who was, on the whole, shy and withdrawn, can talk so much. It suddenly hit her again after saying all that - how much of that was she supposed to say!?
"Erhm.. I don't know if I was supposed to say all that. Err, well. In any case, I have a lot to learn for this mission, but I guess there is some personal curiosity in there as well. I do wish to learn from someone will skill and experience. I've never as so much as been in a fight, so my skills in the self defence department are rather lacklustre as well."
RE: Impermanence - Chrysalis - 07-18-2018
As she went on, Hirotada couldn't help but wonder why Heung would designate someone so obviously inexperienced, for a mission that seemed so implicitly risky. Even downright dangerous. He looked down to his table for a few moments, his eyes drifted from side to side as he examined what she had said. He had a healthy dose of respect for the Shogun's representative, so he consigned to believe he'd seen something in her, that was to him, as of yet -- not obvious. A potential that deserves to be developed.
Hirotada turned his eyes away from Akiko. A yellow holographic interface emerged from the flat surface of the table, rising into a 3D form over it. Hirotada manipulated the interface with the palm of his right hand, bringing up a form of sorts, already filled, but waiting for approval. He looked back to his guest, his hand still hovering over the interface.
"Hai." He proclaimed as she finished. "The curiosity will serve you well."
"Our dojos, though modest, are operated by some of the finest specialists in the Blood Dragons. We've always prided ourselves on quality above quantity. Honing one weapon to resemble perfection and wielding it well, is far superior to dime-a-dozen armaments carried by cannon fodder." He paused as his face assumed an expression akin to that of barely contained pride. A smirk emerged on his face, before disappearing back into his resting expression. "We can provide you this. Though I suspect it will take some time."
"Our dojos, though modest, are operated by some of the finest specialists in the Blood Dragons. We've always prided ourselves on quality above quantity. Honing one weapon to resemble perfection and wielding it well, is far superior to dime-a-dozen armaments carried by cannon fodder." He paused as his face assumed an expression akin to that of barely contained pride. A smirk emerged on his face, before disappearing back into his resting expression. "We can provide you this. Though I suspect it will take some time."
Hirotada turned his eyes away from Akiko. A yellow holographic interface emerged from the flat surface of the table, rising into a 3D form over it. Hirotada manipulated the interface with the palm of his right hand, bringing up a form of sorts, already filled, but waiting for approval. He looked back to his guest, his hand still hovering over the interface.
"Can you take the time and make the commitment?"
RE: Impermanence - Imperium - 07-19-2018
Akiko paused, again. She wasn't going to have cold feet, but this sort of question when phrased in this way almost feels like it's intended to cause feelings of doubt deep inside. Once her brain has processed the query in it's entirety, she looked right at the Daimyo before and gave a silent nod in response. That silence wasn't to remain however, it was promptly broken as she voiced her own feelings and concerns.
Akiko finished. She exhaled. That is not something she thought she'd say, least of all to the most venerated Daimyo in the Blood Dragons. She could still feel her own heart rate drawing her attention, despite trying her best not to show any form of weakness; failing in the process.
"I am willing to work for this, but I will admit I am a little bit worried. I don't know if I can meet expectations. My skill and passion lays in technology - ships, and engines, and such. I'm.. I..." Akiko sat there, struggling to put her thoughts to words. She paused and took a breath in, taking time to collect herself. "I'm no killer, no murderer. I'm not someone who was born to kill and sneak around like a ninja of old. I fear that if prompted to do so, I would fall short, and endanger my brothers."
Akiko finished. She exhaled. That is not something she thought she'd say, least of all to the most venerated Daimyo in the Blood Dragons. She could still feel her own heart rate drawing her attention, despite trying her best not to show any form of weakness; failing in the process.