~ Perfect Blossom Tea Room ~

[Malaclypse 666]

Takemono and Chijin sat alone in the Officer's Lounge of the Blossom.

They waited.

They had responded to a Roll Call issued by the Imperial Council.

They waited.

The fate of Kusari might hang in the balance.

Who would answer the call?

They waited.

---

[Malaclypse 666]

Two boisterous young pilots walked into the Blossom. They were laughing and jostling each other as they approached the Officer's section.

"So, you were waiting for us?" one of the young men said with a haughty tone to his voice.

Takemono raised an eyebrow, and looked slyly at Chijin. He then spoke to the two men.

"Those appear to be brand new uniforms, young sirs. If you expect to be wearing them long, I suggest you stand at attention and improve your attitude when addressing superior officers. Report!"

The startled pilots immediately became sober. "Sensei! I am sorry! I am Ito Yamato. My companion is Masurao. We have only today been recruited by the Captain of the Hitoya Maru in New York. We were assisted at the Nagumo by Commander Kilo. We beg your forgiveness if we have offended!"

"Very well! I am Lieutenant Takemono. And this other officer is Captain Chijin, the acting commander of all KNF Forces. You are fortunate that Cmdr. Kilo told us to expect you. However, he did not tell us to expect such brash young recruits. Chijin Sensei, what shall we do with them?"

Chijin stared at Yamato and Masurao for a long moment. "Why, we will buy them a sake, of course. Anyone brave enough to face the formidable foes of Kusari should be toasted. And then, we will instruct them a bit in the protocols of the KNF. Better we do it than have their fellow fighter pilots beat it into them, eh, Takemono-san?"

"Hai, Sensei! At ease, you two. Be seated. And welcome to the ranks of the Emperor's Blades."

---

[Malaclypse 666]

A young Ensign scurried into the Tea Room. He was all business as he took a very official looking rice paper scroll and affixed it to the Bulletin Board in the Tea Room's entryway.

He stepped back and looked at his alignment. Satisfied, he scurried out again without a word.

Several of the patrons walked over to see what had been posted.

Pilots!

The KNF is looking for disciplined and honorable pilots to serve the Blue Lagoon!

To begin your Service for the Emperor, you will be supplied with a state-of-the-art Fighter.

You will serve to protect the Citizens of Kusari, and to defend it against aggressors.

You will also be called to confront the Bretonian foes.

You will have no shortage of Glory and Honor, should you survive.

Apply here! You will be contacted by a KNF Officer for further details and instructions.

Bo Sun Gen, Captain, Recruiting, KNF and KNT.

---

[jammi]

Masurao walked into the tea room cautiously, he had remembered
his last time there and was keeping a eye out of senior officers-
and some good drinks of course. He was primarily in search of a
experienced wingman to aid him in his training though. He sat down in
one of the alcoves and waited.

---

News article library, feedback and content requests.

[Malaclypse 666]

A short, roly-poly man came into the blossom. He sighted the young officer sitting alone, and decided to engage him in conversation. As he approached the alcove the Ensign nervously sprang to attention.

"Calm yourself, young one. While I am a Captain, you will notice that our insignia are slightly different. I am Bo Sun Gen of the KNT. I also am charged with recruiting new members for both divisions when in command of the [KNF]Hitoya_Maru. What is your name, my son?"

"I am Masurao, Sensei! It is an honor to meet the famous Wascal Wabbit. I have heard tales of you, Sensei."

"And, I am sure they are all overblown lies, Masurao. I gained that name from my efforts to teach our KNT Traders the best routes and tactics to evade our enemies the SF. They are good traders, but we also rely heavily on our KNT escorts.

"In fact, Ensign, I wish you had been at my side this night in Colorado. You could have greatly aided me against a pirate attacker!"

"Truly, Captain? What happened?" asked, Masurao.

"Ah, we had just recently commissioned a "new" Hitoya Maru in California Minor. It was decided by Command to trade our Prison Liner for a smaller and more agile Armored Transport. Our armour and shields were refitted to the new vessel, but our weapons complement was still below par.

"We had proceeded to Pueblo Station, in order to negotiate for some high level pulse turrets, to replace the small Stunpulse turrets mounted with our transport turrets. Our forward guns as well were below standard.. two Advanced Stunpulse guns.

"We contracted a mission with Ageira which took us near the Liberty Battleship Rio Grande. Just as we left the trade lane there, a Taiidan Bomber with a strange callsign, "Beavis", demanded one million credits, or our deaths. Of course, I answered him with our limited batteries, and attempted to continue on our assignment for Ageira."

"But, Captain Bo, I have heard that the Taiidan Bomber is a formidable craft! Were you not in great danger?"

"As it turned out, Ensign, the pilot was not up to his vessel. After a few first indecisive volleys, I decided to continue towards our mission waypoint at cruise speed; but this brash pirate persisted in following. We were to terminate a single Lane Hacker pilot, and attempted to do so; but as you know, the Armored Transport is not exactly a fighter, and the "Beavis" ship continued to eat at our shields even as we tried to complete our mission."

Masurao looked dubious. "So, you were forced to engage multiple targets at once, Captain?"

"Yes, Masurao-san." Bo motioned to the barmaid for two more Tsingtsao beers. "Eventually, however, we were forced to leave the mission area in failure, and to engage the pirate singly. I placed our craft in turret mode, and began to maneuver by thrusting and reversing our engines, to avoid the Nova Cannons of the Bomber. His four Purple Goddess chainguns did not do much damage to our shields, but he was able to expend our shield repair units after awhile with those blasted Novas!"

"So your weapons were outmatched by his?" asked Masurao, in awe.

"Surprisingly not, Ensign. Our gunners were able to remove his shields quite often as well, even with the weak Stunpulse turrets; and the extreme range of our transport turrets forced him to stay at distance, allowing our shields to regenerate. Several times, our tail gunners were able to damage his hull as well. And, I do not know if the pirate was familiar with the tactic of gliding on thrusters after killing the main engines; but our crew used it to great advantage. We would also use reverse thrusters at time to keep his attack off balance.

"Eventually, both of our vessels had expended all repair reserves. the Hitoya's hull was down 30%; but the Beavis had lost over half his hull to our transport turrets. The final outcome will never be known, however. I received an emergency transmission from HQ ((damn doorbell rang)), and we set course at full cruise towards Planet Denver, the pirate in hot pursuit. Having no CD's, I merely apologized for disengaging, and we saluted each other.

"Had you been there in your Chimaera as escort, my new friend, I believe the engagement would have had a very different ending. Your agile fighter would have given us the advantage."

Masurao still looked somewhat glum. "Perhaps you are right, Sensei; but I am still lacking in training and combat experience, and I grow impatient to fly with other KNF veterans."

"You will meet your Brother pilots soon, Ensign," Bo reassured the young man. "Their duties cover many things and many parsecs of space; but eventually they all come here to refresh themselves and talk together. They will teach you what you need to know."

Masurao finally smiled at the older man. "I am sure they will, Captain Bo. Forgive my youthful exuberance, and allow me to buy the next round of this delicious beer."

---

[Malaclypse 666]

Message to: Manager, Perfect Blossom
Comm ID: Chijin

Sir,

Please ensure ample stocks of Tsingtsao, Veranda Blue Sapphire, Sake and other liqours for all our new recruits.

I imagine they will be extremely thirsty after completing indocrination.

We have many new Ensigns. Make them welcome, please.

Regards,
Chijin.

[ooc] All members are welcome to post here in character. Have fun! [/ooc]

---

[ghostcat]

A rather vague looking man wandered through the door and into an alcove.

"Why am I here again?" he mutters to himself.

Shrugging, he turns to order some sake.

---

........Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;..........But when the blast of war blows in our ears,.....
........Or close the wall up with our English dead...........................Then imitate the action of the tiger;.................
........In peace there's nothing so becomes a man........................Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,.........
........As modest stillness and humility:........................................Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage!....

Dasher

"Another popup faction. Great. What's wrong with my popup blocker?" - Denelo
"Oh come on, slow and steady doesn't win any races, fast and steady does."

Back, if I can get this thing working!

[Malaclypse 666]

A rather vague looking man wandered through the door and into an alcove.

"Why am I here again?" he mutters to himself.

Shrugging, he turns to order some sake.

The pert Kusaran barmaid batted her perfectly-shaped and blued almond eyes at the pilot.

"Perhaps, Sensei, because your name is on that new Roster?" She pointed to the Bulletin Board:

KNF Faction Status

"Sometimes I wonder about you KNF Warriors." she shook her head and giggled. "How do you find your own arses to place them in the cockpits?"

---

[ghostcat]

Yawning, he comments "Hmm, I guess my name is on there after all"


"perhaps I should actually patrol for once"

A few hours after that, the man walks through the bathroom door, comes back, walks into the supply closet, then finally manages to find the exit.



OOC: Anyone that flies with me knows what I'm talking about ^.^

---

........Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;..........But when the blast of war blows in our ears,.....
........Or close the wall up with our English dead...........................Then imitate the action of the tiger;.................
........In peace there's nothing so becomes a man........................Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,.........
........As modest stillness and humility:........................................Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage!....

Dasher

"Another popup faction. Great. What's wrong with my popup blocker?" - Denelo
"Oh come on, slow and steady doesn't win any races, fast and steady does."

Back, if I can get this thing working!

[Malaclypse 666]

Yawning, he comments "Hmm, I guess my name is on there after all"
"perhaps I should actually patrol for once"

A few hours after that, the man walks through the bathroom door, comes back, walks into the supply closet, then finally manages to find the exit.
OOC: Anyone that flies with me knows what I'm talking about ^.^

((Snarf! Gurgle! Is that any example for the new recruits?? Roar!))

---