Military Democracy

[ShadowAngel]

Mishiro Usui
Third Engineer

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Usui was a relatively new part of the Klaxon's crew; a young Zoner who got caught up in the conflict between Liberty and her people. Usui was an aspiring and peace-seeking individual, perhaps somewhat too passionate in the cause at times. Proving to be an invaluable asset to the Zoners' war against the Nomads, Usui was held at high respect among her people and was a highly decorated captain for her twenty-eight years of age.

She commanded a standard Aquilon-class battleship, the Hope's Bastion, and a standard Condor-class gunboat, the Wayward Warden. Commissioned at 826 A.S., the Hope's Bastion was a top-of-the-line battleship for it's time and with Usui being placed as her commanding officer the battleship and her crew saw great successes in the war against the Nomads in the deepest of Omicrons.

In a dreadful twist of fate, the Aquilon-class Mishiro was in command of would take part in a mission taking her - among other Zoner forces - into Omicron Major. Sources report the disappearance of the Zoner battlegroup, with the only direct information available on the matter being mere rumors. With all data on the events strictly classified, what remained were the captain's memories of what had happened.

Suffering severe mental issues and heartbroken after having lost her significant other, Usui was relieved of her duties and at 828 A.S. was moved to Bethlehem Station in the Pennsylvania system which she'd call home from now on.

During an unforeseen turn of events, Mishiro's peaceful life aboard Bethlehem would see it's end when Liberty waged war on the Zoners. Being caught up in a conflict she did not wish to be part of, a young Usui tried to reason with Liberty's armed forces - to no avail.

Word eventually reached Mishiro about the Insurgency and their cause, and about how Veracruz is about to be taken over by Liberty's forces. Rumors spoke of a ship in dire need of help, with dwindling personnel and even more dwindling supplies. The young Zoner knew that her peaceful life aboard Bethlehem has ended and it is only a matter of time before Liberty's forces repeat what they did to Veracruz against her people.

With not many options left on where to go, Mishiro followed up in those rumors and retreated towards Rheinland - the place the Klaxon was told to be at. It took quite the effort, but she managed to get in touch with the ship's command and was eventually accepted among the crew.

For the last two years - and at thirty-two years of age -, Usui has been spending her life aboard the battleship, her knowledge granting her the position of third engineer by now.

"A s-s-strange few years it has b-bee-been... Indeed," Mishiro's stuttering voice echoed from the very back of the open room, "while we-we-we haven't been through that much to-to-tog... Together... yet, I can safely say you all have m-m-made m-m-me feel like home aboard here, and that-... That is something I v-va-v-value beyond what I can d-des-d-... Describe w-with words."

Mishiro had made it to the conference room along with everyone else - for the very first time. Having not been in touch with the ship's entire history leading up to this point, it was obvious that the weight of such an option was one too heavy for her to lift. Regardless, she appreciated the value her word had and did not intend to dishonor the shelter that had been provided to her.

"I-... I have to agree w-w-with everyone that's sp-... Spoken before me. The Klaxon is m-m-more than just a s-sh-ship. It-... It is an i-id-idea. We-... We represent th-those that h-h-have been let down b-by-by the Houses and b-b-betrayed by the v-v-very people they considered... Their friends."

A pause followed, as Mishiro would avert her gaze towards her feet and the ground beneath them, clearly being embarrassed by all of the attention averted towards her as she spoke.

"Leaving f-f-f... For the Omi-... Omicrons would mean we're giving up our-... Our ideals. It-... It would mean that th-... Th-... They won." Mishiro sighed, once again lifting her head and looking towards the board and what was written on it. "I... I don't know much about the P-... P-Pla-... Platform. I-... I don't know much a-... About Rheinland in general. B-B-... But if that's our... Our only option to c-... Continue with our i-... Ideals... Then... I-... I think w-w-we should go with it."

"My v-v-vote goes t-t-to the Platform," Mishiro said while making eye contact with her commanding officer for not more than just a few moments, before falling in silence again.