Meet-n-Greet

[cityship]

After being released from stasis, having the slime removed from their bodies and clothed in the creepy, pulsing leaf-suit that everyone wore, and being taken to the Weapons & Possessions lockers to collect their belongings, the new arrivals would find themselves standing in the Observation Deck. Round windows lined the fleshy walls, revealing the bright display of lights that was inter-dimensional travel. They would also discover that there were people--members of the command staff and crew that had woken earlier--waiting for them.

Comments

[not-prncss-tldr.livejournal.com]

"None of us can entirely, Admiral. However here is the gist of it." And Lafiel gives her what is generally known as the lowdown. She realizes this all must sound completely ridiculous. Certainly she can hardly believe she's saying these things herself. The words sound clumsy and stupid to her.

[bored-admiral.livejournal.com]

Spoor takes in a deep breath and then lets it out in a soft, almost condescending sigh. She is not going to lose her temper. Not here, not in public, and certainly not in front of an Abriel. She rubs her forehead slightly instead, "...let me see if I have this correct, Deca-Commander Abriel. We have been transported by some unknown power to a living ship with an advanced artificial intelligence in order to... serve as its own version of the Space Forces?"

She twitches her other hand slightly, grasping the hilt of her commander's sword - the equipment room gave her that, along with a pistol (she has no idea why, she last fired one in training) and her clyuno.

[not-prncss-tldr.livejournal.com]

"Essentially yes, Admiral. We are conscripts." Lafiel experiences the momentary urge to get out of there. Benej has been known to lash out when she doesn't get her way, and as an Abriel, the family that has been their rivals since the pre-empire era, she would be a prime target. Yet she does not. Deserting a fellow star forces officer would be far too shameful.

[bored-admiral.livejournal.com]

"...and we are expected to simply go along with the needs and desires of some machine?"

She snarls, "This is completely intolerable!! I'm supposed to be rebuilding my fleet, not wasting my time! A fleet that was heavily mauled on your request I may add, Deca-Commander. All of my precious little ships..."

Which really has nothing to do with the situation, but saying it makes her feel better.

[not-prncss-tldr.livejournal.com]

For a fraction of a second Lafiel looks intensely pained. That's twice in two days she's reminded of that. Her mask of composure snaps back into place soon enough though.

She's not going to engage Spoor about the battle at Lobnas Sord. Perhaps her sense of duty can be appealed to first. "Admiral, it is my understanding that if the mission of this ship fails, there will not be an Abh Empire left to defend."

[bored-admiral.livejournal.com]

That fraction of a second is enough to make Admiral Spoor feel vaguely self-satisfied. She raised a brow instead, "Oh? And how is that going to happen?"

[not-prncss-tldr.livejournal.com]

Lafiel briefly explains about the Ohm, how both Abh and UMK are screwed if they get to their dimension. "Or at least we are old."

[bored-admiral.livejournal.com]

"Well, if that's truly the case..." Spoor's eyes drift shut for a moment, one foot tapping against the ground, "...then it would be incredibly remiss of me not to defend the Empire. "

[not-prncss-tldr.livejournal.com]

Success? Lafiel hopes so. "I am glad we are in agreement, Admiral."

[bored-admiral.livejournal.com]

"Besides, it will be better than sitting around just waiting to go home..."