Kiyohime

[Levenna]

1:27 A.M, 15th July, 829 A.S.
Naval Destroyer IKN Kiyohime

The Kiyohime drifted past Kure Shipyard at half impulse as the crew tested the various ship's systems one more time, ensuring that they would not fail at any point during their time out on patrol. Course had been set for the gap in the minefield surrounding the shipyard that served as the entrance, and all systems so far had reported green. The vessel's new second-in-command, Lieutenant Commander Nakamura Hina, stood on the bridge as a stand in for Matsuda for the moment. The bridge was abuzz with activity, a dozen or so people darting in and out as the ship readied to go to full impulse and begin its patrol proper.

A door at the back of the bridge opened, as Captain Matsuda exited her quarters, giving a small smile and head bow to her executive officer as she did so. "I take it all is well?" she asked with an air of expectation and an aura of command around her as she came to stand next to her XO, both on a raised platform close to the back of the bridge, close to the captain's chair. Matsuda was not terribly imposing in height, standing at only 5ft5in compared to her XOs 5ft10in, but she practically radiated experience. She was in her element in command of a destroyer and it showed as she visually inspected the bridge from her vantage point, knowing every nook and cranny like the back of her hand, every station and its purpose and, most importantly to her, every individual that manned them.

The Lieutenant Commander's eye caught on Matsuda as she exited her quarters, returning her head bow with one of her own as she took a moment to look out of the bridge glass, of the imposing minefield ahead and the slim gap they were soon to pass through. She continued idly looking in this direction as she took a moment to respond to Matsuda's query. "Hai, Matsuda-sama. All systems have reported back green so far. The crew are tired from a lack of rest but they're young and eager as they have been ever since we first received the ship." Nakamura paused now, diverting her eyes back to Matsuda who herself was still inspecting the bridge. "Ichika, is everything alright? It's unlike you to not be present on the bridge while the ship slips its moorings."

Matsuda glanced at Nakamura, losing her smile but giving a quick nod in response. "Hai. I simply required a little medication. A simple headache, that is all." Before she could elaborate any further, a call from engineering rang across the bridge, confirming the ship was ready to move away from the shipyard. Matsuda's chest filled with pride as she gave the nod to her helm. The hum of the Takeda's power core increased in pitch just slightly as power was routed to the engines and the Kiyohime moved away. The ship's systems held stable as minutes passed, and once well clear of the minefield, the order was given for the Kiyohime to accelerate to cruise speed with a course set for Shinjuku station. Kusari had been quiet lately, with little activity reported since Kiyohime's skirmish with the Blood Dragons the previous day, and as a result little was expected beyond the routine.

It was only a few minutes before the Destroyer came upon Shinjuku station; the customary request for identification coming through some fifteen kilometers from the station, playing out across the bridge;

"Incoming capital-class vessel, this is Shinjuku station, please state your ID and designation."

Already expecting the query, Matsuda, now sitting in her captain's chair with her XO attending a console to her left, opened the channel and responded with the requested details. "Shinjuku, this is Naval Destroyer IKN Kiyohime. We've just set out for patrol from Kure shipyard after repairs. Do you have any updates for us?"

"Please stand by Kiyohime, we're just authenticating now... it won't be a moment... You seem to be clear. Not much to report today, though a few traders bound from Shikoku have been murmuring about some kind of instability there. It doesn't seem to be anything major."

Matsuda's eyebrow raised at the mention of trouble, though she knew from experience that traders tended to be a skittish lot. "Instability" could mean anything from a mild solar storm to a full blown terrorist attack. "We'll bear that in mind, Shinjuku. Thank you for the information."

Matsuda stood up once more now, and began to pace a little out of boredom. She always struggled with the quiet patrols; she preferred the action, oddly enough. It was something to keep her engaged, the knowledge that her life and those of her crew hung in the balance. She found it inspired her to make the best decisions she could. For now, though, she felt that she may as well follow the one lead she had, and ordered the helm to set a course to cruise down the lane towards New Tokyo, though not to use the lane itself. She furthermore ordered the communication's officer listen in on local channels to see if anything of interest was being picked up, to which he responded that there was nothing yet out of the ordinary.

Ichika's mind began to wander once more. After over a decade of a near constant wartime state of readiness, it felt almost unnatural for Kusari to be so peaceful. First Bretonia, then Gallia, then the Republic of Kusari, Ichika had spent most of her military career commanding and being commanded on or close to the frontline. It wasn't quite the same with peacetime patrols. Even in home territory during conflict, often an upspike in activity by the Dragons would follow, ever trying to worm their way in to the heart of Kusari, or the outcasts and their thralls.. no. Perhaps it was best not to think of the outcasts. At least not for now. It was something of a rabbit hole Ichika preferred to avoid whenever possible, but could never quite escape.

"Headache still bothering you, Matsuda-sama?"

Ichika snapped back to reality as her head turned to face her XO, who seemed to look at her with expectation of a reply. Ichika pushed out a convincing smile as she nodded slowly. "I am fine, Nakamura-san. There is nothing to be concerned about." Ichika got out as she once again oriented herself with her surroundings. The Kiyohime was approaching New Tokyo now, traditionally one of the busiest junctions in Kusari, and today that seemed to hold true. Little traffic came from the Shikoku gate however trade was clearly bustling in the area. It was at this moment, however, that a badly scorched "Orca" Bounty Hunter gunboat emerged from the Shikoku lane. Immediately, Matsuda's head snapped to the comms console. "Sub-lieutenant, can you get a hold of that vessel?" It only took a moment for him to reply that the vessel was impossible to get a hold of, but that an emergency signal was on repeat, stating that they had lost communications and were requesting an emergency dock. "See to it that they get what they need." Matsuda's order was barked, ignoring her dislike of freelancers and bounty hunters as she spun on her heel to face the other side of the bridge. "Helm, take us down the trade lane to the Shikoku gate. Use the lane this time, we can't afford to leave it for trade traffic, we need to respond quickly to whatever caused that."

The helmswoman, Lt. Kato Chiyoko, one of the many members of the bridge crew who had served aboard the Kagoshima, glanced back at Matsuda with a stern look in her eye. "Matsuda-sama, we do not know what we may find, are you sure we shouldn't contact command for reinforcements first?"

Ichika glanced back quickly and decisively, "Most patrols will have just come off their rotation; Naval Forces will be stretched until their replacements are in space. We can handle anything in Shikoku I'm sure." She responded without a hint of doubt in her voice, perhaps even overconfidence. Nonetheless, Chiyoko clearly placed her trust in her captain as she piloted the destroyer towards the lane. The ring pylons lit up as the lane burst in to life, the destroyer entering moments later and rapidly picking up speed. Unexpectedly, however, a rattle seemed to begin to permeate throughout the ship, growing ever louder as the ship approached its maximum speed in-lane of 2.5km/s. Looks of concern were shared across the bridge as Matsuda's brow furrowed; throughout nineteen years of service she had never heard anything quite like this from a ship. She had not time to wonder what the source might be though, as the Kiyohime began to drift in the lane, seconds before the constant din of the power core shut off entirely as electrical crackles could be heard in the walls of the bridge and, seemingly, throughout the entire ship.

The great destroyer fell out of the lane entirely now as the lights briefly flickered on the bridge before emergency power kicked in, thankfully powering the inertial dampeners bringing the Kiyohime to a rapid, entirely unceremonious stop at the fifth trade lane ring from New Tokyo, just under halfway between the planet and the Shikoku gate. A sense of vertigo briefly made itself known in Matuda's stomach as she was forced to brace herself against her captain's chair with her hand. After the great vessel halted, she brought her other hand up to her face, massaging her temples as she let out a groan. "Status report..." she managed to get out as she once again came to her senses.

Lt. Cmdr. Nakamura let out a cough as she glanced at a console in front of her. "Diagnostic shows that interaction with the trade lane somehow put excess strain on several of the ship's power couplings while leaving others completely without load, leading to the ones under duress blowing out and leaving us dead in the water. The power core and engines are offline.. it's a simple but time consuming repair, Captain. We're practically defenceless, even firing a full pulse salvo would likely blow the few remaining couplings and even the emergency power wouldn't be able to be routed to where it's needed. Systems like life support would be rendered offline."

Matsuda sighed as she fell back into her chair. "Tell engineering to replace enough couplings to get the cruise engines working reliably.. We're heading back to Kure as quickly as we can. How was this not spotted during the pre-patrol diagnostics?"

Lieutenant Suzuki, the ship's now-relieved former executive officer, reassigned to Matsuda's staff, spoke, holding his usual unnerving smile as he addressed Matsuda. "Kiyohime has never had to interact with a tradelane, Matsuda-san. I hear she was completed quite quickly, perhaps the engineers at Kure overlooked a bit of circuitry here and there. I believe I will go to engineering to ensure everything is going.. as intended." After speaking, he turned around from his position at one of the bridge's command & control stations, and swiftly exited the bridge with purpose under the gaze of Matsuda, who was more than a little curious as to how Suzuki would happen to know about the details of Kiyohime's construction, not files typically accessible by officers of his meagre rank.

Nonetheless, Matsuda could not afford to wonder about the source of the information, nor did she particularly care where Lt. Suzuki went at this moment in time, so long as it was not in her way. She was instead about to begin issuing orders once more as one of the crew at the sensor readout turned to her. "Captain, there's another ship coming down the tradelane. Roughly gunboat size, no IFF yet as the sensor suite is operating on limited power."

"Very well." Matsuda responded as she looked thoughtful for a moment, her chin dipping to her chest, before she looked back with decisiveness. Chances were that this was another bounty hunter, or a naval patrol returning from Shikoku, and they could at least provide context as to what was going on in the system, and best case scenario could hasten Kiyohime's repairs. "Signal them to leave the trade lane under the authority of the Kusari Naval Forces. Do not give any further detail until we know their IFF."

The signal was sent, and the unknown vessel seemingly obliged, leaving the lane approximately ten kilometres from Kiyohime's position. The entire bridge crew was riveted to the bridge's heads up display projected across the glass separating them from the void as the gunboat approached closer and the ship's computer attempted to match the gunboat to any known database. It only took a few moments, however, for Matsuda's heart to sink, and for the bridge's lighting to dim to its battle mode as the computer identified the incoming gunboat as a Condor of the Golden Chrysanthemums. Matsuda had to stave off panic as the severity of the situation settled in her mind. Ordinarily such a gunboat would hardly be a threat to a Takeda, however without meaningful defensive firepower there was every chance that they could simply pick apart the Kiyohime at their leisure. Thinking quickly, Matsuda uttered the first idea that came to mind; "Open a communications channel, we have to buy time."

The channel was opened, and on the screen appeared a woman wearing a deceptively innocent smile, with white hair tied neatly in to a traditional pair of buns while the rest flowed free. Her grey eyes seemed to fix on Matsuda as she cocked her head and allowed herself to show a look of puzzlement. "What exactly is a ship of this size doing out here? Not an everyday thing for warships to wait in the middle of a trade lane."

Matsuda stood up from her chair as she brought herself to a parade rest, standing tall with her feet at shoulder width, and her hands resting comfortably behind her back. "It is hardly customary for naval warships to give updates of their status to a terrorist." She wouldn't show it, but Matsuda's hands were trembling ever so slightly. Not since the ambush of the Kagoshima had she felt quite so vulnerable. She quietly thanked whatever deity existed for the fact that emergency power was maintaining their shields, and thus at least a basic appearance of functionality, though they would not recharge if disabled.

The Chrysanthemum's smile widened somewhat as she raised an eyebrow. "You're stationary at a rather odd angle. So. What's a warship doing in the middle of a trade lane?"

Matsuda exhaled, calming herself, as she replied in a steady, firm voice. "That's not for you to know. Now what are you here for, vulture? Here to attempt to scrap us for parts?"

The Chrysanthemum's head tilted back as she deliberately feigned looking thoughtful for a moment. "I was just passing by. Looking for the occasional hauler, you know? I expected the lane to be disrupted when I saw a warship on scanners, I was surprised it wasn't, and here I am now."

Matsuda's eyebrow arched as the Chrysanthemum spoke, not out of curiosity for what she was saying, but instead out of a suspicion that they did not know of the Kiyohime's disabled state. In near-desperation, Matsuda decided to bluff. "And you did not run at the sight of a heavier warship? I heard Chrysanthemums had a death wish but I had no clue it was to this extent."

The Chrysanthemum gave a far less innocent, far more disturbing smile this time. "Do I look like the kind of person who would run? I have destroyed scores of Takeda-classes, yours would be no different."

As she spoke, the Condor came in ever closer to the Kiyohime, seemingly testing the ship. As it closed ever further, even to just a single kilometer away, Matsuda began to sweat; the gambit would soon be up. Desperate to give as much time as possible for the Kiyohime's repairs, Matsuda attempted to continue the conversation. "Such petty pride is meaningless when you have served long enough. You must be young. Now, kindly refrain from moving so close or you will be fired upon."

Matsuda immediately regretted her last sentence as it drew the Chrysanthemum's attention to the fact she had yet to be fired upon. Her eyes lit up with realisation as her mind connected the many dots of the situation. "You haven't activated your point defences. You're a sitting duck!"

Ichika's heart sank as she took a moment to look all around the bridge. Every person carried the same expression; that of being resigned to their fate. The Chrysanthemum dipped her chin and chuckled slightly, the expressions of the Kiyohime's crew had proven her right and she knew it. Matsuda let out a sigh, still holding herself upright in her parade rest, trying to keep what pride and dignity she had left intact. Through gritted teeth, she responded. "Kindly.. move away.. from our vessel. We are not as toothless as you might think." She shot a desperate glance towards Hina, her executive officer, who after a brief moment understood what Matsuda wanted; something only possible through an intimate understanding gained through years of service.

The Chrysanthemum did not take long to respond in her by now distinct and vexing playful tone. "Or what? You'll shoot us with the guns that aren't operational?"

At Matsuda's quick nod towards her XO, a single pulse cannon shot rang out, finding its mark on the Condor which was now just half a kilometer away, exploding against its shields in a flash of light. More audible electrical crackles sounded throughout the ship, though no other systems seemed to fail. A wide eyed Nakamura looked back at Matsuda, shakily nodding that no further subsystems had been knocked offline by the shot, though it was evident by her expression that such a trick should not be pulled again.

The gunboat quickly lurched away from the Kiyohime upon receiving the hit, activating its afterburner to open a gap, her captain going wide eyed at the prospect of being engaged so suddenly and unexpectedly. Her seeming panic seemed to rapidly calm though as no follow-up shots came, and she began to process the last few seconds. "That ship doesn't sound healthy. Mind if I inquire as to why a Naval Ship would be in this state in... the middle of bloody nowhere?"

Matsuda had by this point had her sorrow and panic replaced by contempt for the Chrysanthemum. She did not take kindly to being toyed with as a cat does with a mouse. She despised the feeling of helplessness. Such feelings coalesced in to next sentence as she let the venom slip in to her voice as she growled. "If you are to dispose of us, get it over with and spare me the agony of this conversation."

The woman's trademark innocent smile once again returned to her lips. "If my intent was to dispose of you, I would have begun the process already."

Murmurs spread around the bridge of the Kiyohime as Matsuda's mouth hung agape for just a moment before she regained her composure. "And just what exactly is your intent?"

"Just hover by. You know, make sure nobody hurts you?" She responded with a chuckle.

Matsuda narrowed her eyes. It was nigh impossible to tell how genuine the Chrysanthemum was being, but for now at least Ichika and, more importantly her crew, still stood due to her benevolence. Nonetheless, she hardly liked the lack of a straight answer; the Kiyohime was in the service of the Kusari government and therefore a sworn enemy of the Chrysanthemums, hardly an organisation known for their honour. Matsuda's eyes remained narrow as she spoke slowly and cautiously. "Stop toying with me. What do you want?"

The Chrysanthemum's eyebrow raised as she leaned back in her chair, still chuckling to herself. "Why the curiosity? Worried someone will report about the lone destroyer hanging out with a Chrysanthemum?"

Matsuda's chest puffed as she felt her temper rise, her pride would not allow the implication of her spending her time with a Chrysanthemum to slip by without issue. "I am Captain Matsuda Ichika of the Kusari Naval Forces. I would never be known to associate with terrorists such as yourself."

"Well fancy meeting you, Matsuda-san. I am Shireigiku Hinohara Yuuko and I've been flying the Hoshihokori since I can remember myself flying a ship." Hinohara spoke, as she rested her chin on her fist, seemingly quite comfortable in the presence of the disabled destroyer.

"A lifetime addict and terrorist. How charming" Matsuda drawled sarcastically, before fixing Yuuko with a spiteful stare. "You never answered my question. What do you want?"

"Not a lifetime addict; I was not born on Malta. To answer your question however, it is to satisfy my curiosity. You've already piqued my interest more than any other naval officer I've met, combined." Hinohara replied simply, at least seemingly so.

The answer sent Matsuda's mind racing; she had acted with nothing but rightful disdain towards the terrorist. She failed to see how that could ever come across as "interesting." Before she had a chance to reply, however, two fighters and a bomber exited the trade lane from the direction of New Tokyo carrying Naval Forces IFFs. Matsuda breathed a sigh of relief, the sooner she could be out of this situation, the better.

Yuuko diverted her eyes from the video screen as she saw the new scanner contacts. "Well, it seems that you no longer need my protection, Matsuda-san. I believe we will be preparing to leave. Do take care of this one, little fighters. Her engines broke, I shot her a little too hard." she chuckled as she spoke once more, as the gunboat retreated towards the tradelane.

Matsuda was taken aback; had the Chrysanthemum just covered for her? It did not matter. The fighters took position around the Kiyohime as the gunboat retreated, it was clear that they had no intention to chase and instead would assist the Kiyohime back to drydock. "Right.. a destroyer disabled by a gunboat.. I hope we never have to rely on this baka for reinforcement.." one of them said, practically dripping with sarcasm.

"You would be lucky." Matsuda replied coldly. She had little patience for this kind of naval officer; rookie pilots who had yet to respect the capabilities of their peers or, more importantly, their opponents. But, nonetheless, at least for now she had them to thank for her survival and that of the Kiyohime, and they could soon return to Kure for proper repairs. The Chrysanthemum was not far from her mind, however. She was an honourless terrorist, and yet she had held her fire against a valuable prize. The source of her apparent interest in Matsuda however remained a mystery. Ichika's first thoughts were that she did not know or care of its origin yet something about that thought felt untrue. For now, though, her job was to ensure her ship's repair. Now was not the time to brood over what may have passed or what was yet to occur. Matsuda looked around at the bridge, with the few rookies in the bridge crew wide eyed at their fortunate escape, and the more jaded members simply giving each other looks of acknowledgement at a lucky break. For Matsuda, she simply hoped to guide her crew once more back to safety. At that moment, nothing else mattered.