Star-gazing

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=~=~=~=Location: Inside the Samurai - Heavily modified Pellaeon-class Imperial Star Destroyer, currently traversing Infinity

~==~==~Dramatis Personae:

Bridge Crew:

Commanding Officer : My self
Executive Officer : Hannibal Lecter, MD
Weapons Officer : Teletha Testarossa
Launch Officer : Lisa Hayes
Tactics Officer : Lacus Clyne

CIC (Combat Information Center)

LO: [taps screens] There we have it. We're expecting definite supplies by mid-June and another, a probable, tomorrow.

CO: Lisa, you don't have to hide that frown. I know that my decision to put the Samurai on the edge, right between Life and Death is grating on your nerves.

TO: I'm of two minds here, Taichou. The Samurai's capabilities are beyond question and I can easily see that such a course of action isn't suicidal. However, we've need to consider the station supplying us and the ships that we're going to interact with.

XO: That we've just re-established a source of supply is a relief. That the source is tenuously connected, as are those that we've just contacted, is something to seriously consider.

AI: As of now, the tender ship Ciel's crew is of mixed opinions. Some of her people are awed and approving of the Samurai's capabilities. Of course there are some that are put-off by some of our crew's hyper-active personalities.

WO: [sighs] Anna, you do tend to unsettle others with your precocious and lively nature

CO: Well, there's joie de vivre for you. For an AI, she captures the essence of the character she's based on. [shrugs] Besides, the Samurai's crew loves her. That's the only thing worth considering.

XO: That you're adding more females to our crew leads to more people being enamored with Anna. [waves with his left hand to produce a hologram of diagrams and lists] We've got Nanoha Takamichi, Fate T. Harlaown and Yagami Hayate arriving the moment their posts and responsibilities are finalized. [smiles in gentle praise while reaching down to carry ANNA] You're a cute devilishly endearing munchkin, are you not?

AI: [smiles back] And that's why you love me, right, Uncle?

CO: [smiles] That she totally loves you for who you are just makes you warm, doesn't it? [settles into my chair and gazes out with steel and resolution] If the Ciel's crew doesn't like Anna then they don't. We do have to cooperate with the Ciel so we'll keep Anna away from them. It would limit our exposure but the possibility of surprising others to gain the upper hand during critical moments has risen exponentially.

LO: And are we going to do as you plan with our resources, Captain [raises an eyebrow with disapproval shining from her brown eyes]?

CO: Yes, we will [waits for Ms. Hayes' eyes to glare in annoyance]. [smirks teasingly] But since you've objected to it since I've voiced it, I'll modify it to accommodate your proposed fail-safe programs.

WO: [smiles in reproval] You shouldn't tease her so, Taichou. Her concern for the Samurai is well-placed. At any rate, we're still considering the addition of the Fairlions and their pilots, Sheryl Nome, Ranka Lee and Latooni Subota. I've uninstalled MAGENTA from the Strike Rouge's frame and moved her into a portable interface so we can easily transfer the OS from one mobile suit to another.

CO: Then, it's settled. We're good to go. [pats Anna's left hand that she placed on my right shoulder] We'll keep you hidden, little angel. Doctor Lecter, please continue to assist Ms. Hayes with the Ciel and the second tender ship until we sortie. Tessa, continue drilling our troops and pass on recommendations for those who'd be great additions to the Samurai's roster. Lacus, coordinate with Tessa and produce the battle plans that we'll be needing.

Upheavals and recovery

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=~=~=~=Location: Inside the Samurai - Heavily modified Pellaeon-class Imperial Star Destroyer, currently traversing Infinity

~==~==~Dramatis Personae:

Bridge Crew:

Commanding Officer : My self

Executive Officer : Hannibal Lecter, MD

Weapons Officer : Teletha Testarossa

Launch Officer : Lisa Hayes

Tactics Officer : Lacus Clyne

  CIC (Combat Information Center)

CO: [peruses the clipboard held at the left hand] You've seen the changes in the Roster, Ms. Hayes?

LO: [taps the holograms in front of her] Command of the Attack mobile suit squad has been handed to newly-commissioned Liutenant Drizzt Do'urden as per your orders and will sortie in the modified 00 Gundam christened "Dawnbringer" and it's supporting mobile armor 0 raiser will be slaved to the 00 Gundam's controls.

TO: Lady Pendragon has been removed from the post?

XO: Our captain has decided that since Ms. Pendragon has no mobile suit that will fully complement her capabilities, it would be best if we were to replace her with someone who has a mobile suit that does.

CO: [shrugs] Besides, she's a competent swordswoman. She's still one of ours. She'll be using the available time teaching weapon-based martial arts to those who're interested of those who're in the units that use melee weapons.

LO: There's also the fact that we've had to severe our relations with our pecuniary supplier [pecks at the holograms in irritation]. They're the stupidest bunch of morons that I've ever met [fumes]! They knew that the Samurai brings more than its fair share of kills but they still thought badly of it because we do better than they did. Now, we're almost dead in the water thanks to those envious Neanderthals! 

TO: [taps at her own holograms] Such an event has placed the Samurai at dangerous levels of dependency. We've need to find another pecuniary source within the week if we hope to continue as we are. Putting most of our crew into stasis chambers has helped but we can't do that for long.

WO: [plays with her braid while she picks through her own displays] We can maintain our functional status for another week before we have to put 80% of the Samurai's systems into hibernation. [frowns in concentration] We do expect some resources in the form of the severance package from them, but Lecter-sensei advised that it would be wise not to depend on such.

CO: [looks on at bemused contemplation] Truth be told, if it weren't excessive, I'd have pointed our positron cannons at those dirt-bags. One less problem for the universe to handle, is what I think.

 XO: [puts a hand over my left shoulder] We're capable and others recognize our ability. We've much to face, but we've our resources to meet adversity. [looks toward the stars outside the Samurai] Talga vassternich, was it not, Captain?

CO: [exhales in quiet determination] Yes, those were the words that I've chosen to live by.