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Flowers of the Forest - Nodoka Hanamura - 05-31-2024
// This roleplay is open to join upon request, upon the condition that your characters knew the 'deceased' or know Mieko. Submit requests in DM.
Kieya Woods, Planet Gran Canaria, Omega-48 System
May 22nd, 834 AS - 11:30 Local Time
OCS Abdicant Seraphine Memorial Site
May 22nd, 834 AS - 11:30 Local Time
OCS Abdicant Seraphine Memorial Site
![[Image: nnHrrfc.png]](https://imgur.com/nnHrrfc.png)
"Eyes forward, pilot. For the waypoint has yet to light.
Consider your armament, your shields, your equipment, before you depart, for the waypoint has yet to light.
Break free from the docking ring, and witness the stars and nebulae abound before you, for the waypoint has yet to light.
Enter formation, plot the course, then wait for the jump hole to align, for the waypoint has yet to light.
Pay attention, pilot. For those who have gone before you, now call for you to join them.
The waypoint is now alight."
- The Fallen Freelancer's Creed, anonymous poet, ~710 AS
The skies of Gran Canaria's vast northern alpine reaches was clear and blue - a reprieve from weeks of snowstorms that battered the Kieya Woods, among countless other parts of the region, whilst the more temperate climates at the equator were in the midst of the occasional monsoon. The scene was elegant, and the memorial placed down, even more so. An array of pointed obelisks make a curved echelon before the edge of a hilltop's slightly steep descent. A clearing of grass had been made earlier, by those who had assembled the obelisks in the early morn. Snow and cold winds would be impending in the later hours, but upon this hill, overlooking the valley below, nearby a small log cabin - there was a calm, as if it were ordained by entities beyond the comprehension of this technological world.
As time passes, ships nearby arrive to the site, landing in a nearby clearing, closer to the cabin, ships of all kinds, it seems - bearing sigils from far and wide - Auxesians and Freelancers. Zoners and Libertonians. Even a Blood dragon's Gitano and a Gallic freighter would be among the ships approaching. At the site itself, photos of the deceased, shown by a holographic projector upon the obelisks. Memories of the crew of the OCS Abdicant Seraphine and her fleet - a crew of nearly 4,000. Mieko, and those who had left after the destruction of FOB Maehara by the GMG, were all that remained of the Ouroboros.
At the site, Mieko stands before the obelisks, and reviews the plaque before it.
In remembrance of the 3,895 souls of the OCS Abdicant Seraphine Carrier Battlegroup
Gone but never forgotten - sons and daughters - brothers and sisters - lovers.. and the loved.
May they all rest in peace, and guide us to a brighter future.
Gone but never forgotten - sons and daughters - brothers and sisters - lovers.. and the loved.
May they all rest in peace, and guide us to a brighter future.
As she examines the plaque, Mieko is approached by a Technocrat, one of the Temple of Eirene. The faith was one of a collective of eccentric gnostics, who believed in Eirene - a meta-deity that was the embodiment of knowledge and wisdom, and was among the many inner groups within the Auxesian technocracy. The young woman is adorned in a digital mask, not too different from Leviathan's, but a sea of black, lighting up pink as her voice emits from it, covering her face. She and her kind were in attendance at the request of one of Mieko's superiors, who had consulted with a chaplain of the Eirenic faith on the matter - all of which, were adorned in ceremonial robes.
"My child, you still mourn, I see." the priestess says, as she places a hand upon Mieko's shoulder. The girl was for the first time in a while, back in her old kimono dress and clothing.. more out of remembrance than anything - turning around to see the Priestess, light still glowing upon her face. "Yes.. seeing Hanamura.. my sister.. the others.. how I left them behind to do my duty.. it tears at me, Priestess Elise."
The Priestess looks briefly into the distance, before speaking. "What you are about to do.. is a tribute to their memory. The knowledge and experiences they endowed upon you, upon all of us. She and all of them.. are one with Eirene in the Pleroma, my child. They are freed from the burdens of this material world. As will we all, some day. And when that joyous day comes, you too will be among Eirene."
The preaching of Elise warms Mieko a bit, but she is still left regretful of what happened. Of course - she was the one sent back to Sirius to keep an eye on things.. but after they never returned, she just.. lost hope. The warm smile she once bore rarely manifested itself. It seemed only Leviathan, now that Mieko had made amends, could even come close to coaxing it out of her - the world around her frozen body crumbled - the Roi had fallen, with the Natio not far behind. The once prominent Hellfire Legion, reduced to shambles, now reliant on Auxesia to prop it up and back into life once more as Xenos encroach upon both them and Liberty - Bretonia, broken and beaten after the war, with a smouldering Leeds and millions of war dead to show for it. The faces she knew, for the most part, were either dead or lost to the void. Vex Upsilon, Mei Ayasato, Marisa Kita, Mia Farrugia, Kyu Akibara, and countless, countless others - gone. This world was, even with all of the compassion Auxesia's lower echelons, and even one of its' founders - could muster for her, hollow and alien.
It was a burdensome feeling - a feeling she wished would come to an end - and there again, the suicidal ideation resumes, but she realizes just as it is to begin.. it would be an insult to all of them, the faces staring at her upon the obelisks, especially Hanamura's - if she were to take her own life here. But in the end, Mieko swallows her grief. She rights herself, wiping away the tears. "Thank you.. Priestess. If you could please.. allow me to consort with the guests." Mieko asks of Elise, as she turns towards the pathway leading to the memorial site, to greet those attending.
One of the first, was a familiar libertonian, adorned in what would be standard issue Auxesian initiate attire, but instead, is all black, bearing the emblem of Prometheus. The brown-haired man approaches her, the nametag upon his uniform reading Struikas.
"MIeko." He says, looking to her with a gentle smile. The man barely knew her, having met twice beforehand, once to sell an old ship to Prometheus that belonged to Hanamura. "Good to see you, hun." He continues, offering a gentle hug. Mieko obliges, returning it, the warm embrace of the older man assuaging her grief. "So.. do you mind if you take me to the memorial? I'd like to pay respects before the ceremony."
Mieko breaks her silence. "Yes, Andrew." She says to him, before he calmly objects. "Just call me Struikas, Mieko." he says to her, as the two approach the memorial site. The man looks over the countless names and faces of the souls aboard. He kneels down. "Y'know.. I actually knew about you guys a long time before we met. Back at West Point, when the whole Core-Order-Zoner mess was going on in 824 - guncam footage of the mess out there was really a hot commodity, and.. as much as some of my men were ogling Nodoka.. I.. kinda respected her. She was no-nonsense, gave a damn about her home, and just wanted to keep those people safe.. even if everyone else was twisting her arm whilst she was in the midst of it. She earned my respect as a captain. Frankly.. She kind of was the reason I turned to the Legion. She and I.. kinda had that thing in common.. our home wasn't what we thought it was. And we're sick of seeing it like that. It's just a shame Kusari's gonna still be as fucked as it has been. If It weren't for what happened not gonna lie.. I probably would have joined up with you guys after I left the Navy. But.. well, I just gave up on life for a while." he elucidates to Mieko, before looking out towards her cabin.
"I remember you telling me.. at the bar. How you wanted to kill yourself after all this. I've seen my fair share of it in the Navy, especially in the darker parts of the war with Gallia. Woke up one night by my night officer that my adjutant FCO had shot himself in his quarters, after his parents who were on a transport from visiting family in Leeds got blasted to bits by the MRG. Between that and the hell we saw every day, the man couldn't take it anymore. It's horrible."
Mieko simply nods in the affirmative.
"Me and Sarrah were torn by it. But we went into battle regardless. And we engaged the Gunboat that did it, the Billancourt. Fired the main batteries at the fucker, called to engineering and CIC, engineering commit battleshort on the main bus, CIC target the Billancourt - for Johansson. On that last word alone, seconds later Sarrah, my FCO - saw the main combat bus battleshort light go off - and she just wailed into the gaul like no tomorrow. First two shots, shields popped. Followed by all guns, primaries and secondaries. The bastards didn't last 30 seconds. Pretty sure if this was Terra we'd have men on the deck firing rifles and RPGs, and chucking grenades at the fucking thing. It's one thing to kill our men. It's another to have them taken from us because of your monstrous deeds." he continues. "Hanamura and the rest of them didn't die in vain. They died trying to fight for Kusari. Their fight is over now, Mieko. It died with them - but they themselves - just like Johansson. They live on through us."
Mieko's eyes run wet once more with tears, as she looks to the stoic former admiral.
"If you ever need anyone to lean on. You can count on me." he says, only for Mieko to rush to him once more, Struikas reaffirming her as he holds her tightly. "Life won't wait for you. It's hard. But we all have to move on. But moving on doesn't mean leaving them behind." he continues, calming Mieko with gentle rubs upon her back. Moments later, the two break the embrace.
"Thank you, Struikas. For your words, and support." She says, managing to break a slight smile through the surface.
"You're welcome. Go tend to the others. I'll find my seat and we can talk more after." He says, giving a nod and pat on the back before he goes to his seat. Mieko returns to rear of the ceremony's seating, towards the entrance to the grass clearing, awaiting the rest of the guests.
RE: [SEMI-PUBLIC RP] Flowers of the Forest - Nodoka Hanamura - 06-13-2024
Another Libertonian, seemingly of Hispanic descent, makes his way up the way to the site. He seems to be accompanied by a woman and their young daughter. Mieko doesn't recognize them, but the man seemingly does, as he greets her.
"Are you Honya?" He asks of her.
Mieko answers in the negative. "I don't go by that moniker anymore, sir. Who are you? This is a restricted ceremony." she says, not harshly, but rather out of concern.
"Maybe this will remind you, if you can remember it -- It's like they say. War is hell."
The man's words fall hollow for a moment, until a quick check of long-term memory comes back with a valid return. He was one of the Lane Hackers that had aided her, Hanamura and Jae-un in the midst of a brief spat betwixt the Liberty Navy and LSF in 823.
"Mr. Martinez?" Mieko asks of the man.
"Assassin, Fernando Martinez. Retired." he answers with a chuckle. "I wanted to come by on behalf of my old flight lead, give our squad's condolences. What do you go by these days?"
"Mieko."
"I see.. I remember seeing all sorts of crazy news about you guys, first out in the Omicrons two years later running that Freeport, and then later you show up wanting to blast the Kusari state a new one... Is it really true? She was a Terran?" He says as his wife takes their daughter into the field to play, the two walking up to the memorial.
"Yes, she was. First Generation Kusari. Kishiro had retained her as part of some sort of state-sanctioned program."
"Leave it to the corpos to disregard the value of human life. Say what you will about us hackers, but at least we had something resembling a moral compass. Though you're a Kishiro AI, aren't you? Wonder why she bought you and your 'sister' if she had just been stabbed in the back by 'em."
"I'm a prototype. I was created by them but.. lost aboard a Starflier-class personal shuttle that was later resold to Hanamura-sensei." Mieko corrects. "We.. originally were going to turn her in after she turned against the state and started a fuss over it.. but realizing what had happened.. we turned against the Keisatsu-cho... even killed one of their inspectors with fire from a plasma weapon as they were in EVA."
Fernando grimaces at the idea. "Mierda. That's brutal. Like, corpos and pigs are shitheads, but.. man, I wouldn't have the heart to do that... Thackeray and his guys, maybe.. but not me."
"It was my sister's doing."
"Yeah, I remember her, always saw her posting on /ew/ - you could tell it was her because she was always the one stirring up shit. I don't do that shit anymore, though. After she left, place felt a little less like a place to shoot the shit about the weird crap that happened out there in the Omicrons, Omegas and Sigmas, and more a place for Core and Order dipshits to yell at each other."
"I take it you aren't fond of them either?"
"Core's corpos. I hate their guts, even with them coming from BHG roots. Order.. fuck, it's been downhill ever since Golanski had that little 'witness me' moment. I laughed my ass off seeing him shout that, only to fuck over his buddies. Was a meme on /ew/ for months, full on remixes of his voice to music and shit."
Mieko gets a bit of a chuckle out, from her once depressed demeanor. "I always thought him a fool, but that moment was one made me forget the grave reality of his rule over the Overwatch."
Fernando grasps from a messenger bag carried with him, a assortment of flowers, with a note affixed to them.
Given with love from the Lane Hackers Mactan Cell 9th Trade Lane Attack Squadron 'KERNEL PANIC' (818-829)
Brothers and sisters of the twin snakes, may you rest in peace.
Brothers and sisters of the twin snakes, may you rest in peace.
"So.. I've been meaning to ask." Fernando asks her. "Why now? It's been almost 10 years since they left."
Mieko answers him concisely. "I've been frozen for about that long. The ship was expected to return to Sirius by way of Tau-44."
"44, huh? Don't think the Crayterians would be keen on seeing you guys what with your guys' ties to Auxesia. At least these days."
"We were.. flying by the edges of our seats, trying to keep things going.. I still feel that I should have told Hanamura-sensei that our plans needed more time in the oven."
"Yeaaah.. we Hackers didn't come up outta the blue like we were at our height. You guys really suffered from that star burning twice as bright lasts half as long shit."
Mieko simply answers with a nod.
"If it's anything worth a damn, she and them died doing their damndest. With us hackers, that's our creed. If you're not social engineering some Ageira goon into giving us backdoor access into their VLAN and running a RCE to escalate access, all the while the LSF's N3SA is waiting to trace our asses back to Mactan and find an excuse to fuck us - then you're not living, Mieko. Do or do not, there's no try - an old Terran flick taught me that one." Fernando answers, giving her a smile. The man's words seem to help her a bit.
"You're right."
"And I think in their final moments - they probably thought about you. All those good times, even the one with my ass." he says with a laugh, as Mieko's eyes well up slightly.
Fernando turns her as the two stand before the memorial. "If you need anything - give me a call. I'll try to wrestle the squad back together and help you out if you need it."
For once, Mieko's smile seems to return. "Thank you, but.." she says to him, wondering why he of all people, a man he only met once, is willing to go so far for her. ".. Why all this?"
"The Hackers and the Ouroboros are kindred. We both saw the problems with our home. It's just that we saught to exploit it, and in turn start change much like the pentesters of old - poke around and get the big fuckers to change the tune.. and then poke around again - even if we profit from it. You all wanted to be the ones to change that tune. Not our cup of tea - but commendable regardless." he says to her, patting her on the back. "Besides, I remember a saying that comes from that neck of the woods out in Delta. Space is vast and friends are few and far between. And after losing alot of your friends, It wouldn't hurt to at least be willing to be one for ya."
Mieko nods in the affirmative. "Yes. Thank you, Fernando."
"Not a problem. Also, if you ever need new software, or need some work done, hit me up. I can get you the retiree's discount on stuff from Mactan." He goes to rejoin with his wife and daughter. Mieko meanwhile, is taken aback by who she sees approach the aisle, almost like a ghost.
Her somewhat short stature, bright skin, and robin-light blue hair are unmistakable to Mieko, even after all these years. The woman wore a dark suit and skirt, and underneath, low-denier pantyhose, completed by black pumps.
"Mei-san..? Is.. is that you?" Mieko says, approaching her, walking down the alley.
The girl answers in the affirmative. "It's been a while, hasn't it Honya-chan?" she says to her. The girl Mieko and the others had scrambled to liberate after fleeing the Blood Dragons, Ayasato Mei - in the flesh, after all these years.
Mei had been rescued by Ouroboros, shortly before the Seraphine's departure for the Taus, years ago. She was in her late 20s, somewhat physically older than Mieko, but still retaining that youthful look. Whilst she turned down Hanamura's offer to join the ranks of Ouroboros - she eventually followed in Nodoka's footsteps, entering into Zoner society - with little else to lose.
Mieko proceeds to hug Mei tightly, squeezing herself against her as tears rush down her eyes, crying. She wasn't Hanamura.. but she was happy to see Mei again - another piece of the past, a close friend - back to the present. "Mei-chan.. It's... it's been such a long time.." she says, between bouts of bawling into the girl's chest. Mei was understanding, given the time that had passed. She gently pulls Mieko off of her, looking at her. "It really has. I'm so sorry about Nodoka and Bride.. and Alexei.. and everyone.." she says to Mieko, before continuing. "The Zoner Defense Reserves said they got a message from you for a flyby or something? Once that went out, word spread you were back - none of us really ever had a proper ceremony for her and the others, given everything."
Mieko is comforted by Mei's words a bit, and manages to calm down. "Are you.. a Zoner?"
"Yeah. I mean.. I couldn't go back to Kusari, Blood Dragons were mad at me because they thought I was helping recruit people to Ouroboros, Police want me in a jail cell.. The GC.. man, the GC are something else I want no part of.. I kinda understood where Nodoka was back when she left with you and Bride -- So I did what she did - ran off to Freeport 10, got an apartment there, and just.. lived, taking on escort contracts for OSI."
Mieko listens to Mei's story, wanting to know what all happened. "After the war ended, I visited Gallia for a bit, and then went back to 10, met a few people I spend my time with these days, fellow former Dragons, GC - who kinda just.. gave up."
Mei stops for a moment before her mood becomes a bit dour. "Though to be honest, I did miss you guys. Spending time with you all was always a blast, and it's a shame that she's gone." she says, looking to Hanamura's visage at the memorial.
"So.. what do you do these days?" Mei asks of Mieko.
"I'm an Initiate with the Auxesian Technocracy - directly reporting to Leviathan."
"Oooh.. that big spooky guy.. I guess he's the only choice you had, or..?" Mei says, concerned.
"Well, truth be told, alot of the people I know are either missing or dead.. Marisa-san, Vex-kun, Ezrael-san, all of them. Leviathan and Firmitas, two of Auxesia's finest - were the only ones who answered my call for help - to give me purpose in life again.. and the former only after I.. profusely.. deeply apologized for a gross transgression against the Gammu."
Mei listens on, rubbing Mieko's back as she talks.
"I see. Well.. if that ever goes south Mieko-chan.. you could always roll with us. OSI is always looking for contractors, and me and a few of my friends go out once a month on long hauls, which tend to be fun." Mei says to Mieko, offering a genuine helping hand.
"It's the least I could do for getting me out of that mess all those years ago, alive." she continues.
Mieko nods in the affirmative. "Thank you, Mei.."
Mei and Mieko head towards the memorial, once again repeating the cycle. Mei's eyes immediately look to Hanamura, amongst the faces in the center of the holographic display, her picture prominent, among the likes of Alexei, Jae-un, Setsuna. Mei reaches out to the image, placing her hand upon the image of Nodoka. Her demeanor has shifted, now that she is witness to the one woman who held them all together.
"I'm sorry. I knew.. I knew you loved me and I.. If I had known this was going to happen I'd.. I'd have at least taken you up on it. I'm sorry I blamed you for what happened.. my foolishness back then.. It wouldn't change or bring you back but.. I'm sorry. Please rest peacefully, Nodo-chan." she says, wistfully, as Mieko returns the favor from earlier, calming her with rubbing of her shoulders and back. Mei wells up somewhat, turning to Mieko, and crying into her shoulder. Mieko does much of the same, holding her old friend tightly.
Moments pass, grief is shared, and tears stain them both. Moments later, Mieko notices a Gallic man step forth, a rifle upon his back, in Council combat regallia, aged over the years - as the two girls start to come back to a presentable state. She turns to the man, who introduces himself.
"Mademoiselle Iekahara. I am Jean-luc Rosnay, one of a group known as the Council Remnant Honor Guard. Your missive on the neural net regarding Mademoiselle Hanamura, and those of Ouroboros - reached me personally and I wished to offer the Guard's condolences and wishes to commemorate her and the others' lives with a three-volley salute. Her service to the people's pursuit for liberty, no matter its' size, played a part in shifting the future of our house ever closer to true freedom from the Roi."
Mieko would bow to him. "Thank you Monsieur Rosnay. Pour honneur, patrie, valeur, et liberte." she says to him, issuing her gratitude for their presence. The man heads back down the lane, towards his team, all adorned in similar attire. Mei looks to Mieko, and speaks up again. "I'll.. I'll go ahead and find a seat. I know you probably are needing to prepare things. Don't be a stranger, Mieko-chan."
Mei retreats amongst the rows of seats, as families of the deceased come and go to pay respects. Mieko greets some of them, issuing her condolences, and chatting amongst them to pass the time before the ceremony begins.