For SRWUG@, Later on

[armored_mother]

[1]

[Another day on the Chalice and another arrival. You can see a Britannian Transport dropping off several suits of powered armor along with some tough looking people that were clearly their operators.]

Alright boys and girls! Hustle up! We're here to get some work done so you better be on your best behavior or I'll put you on your rears! Got it?

[There were grins and laughs all around, but none of them showed any disrespect, it was more of an ease of familiarity with the brash woman. She turns to see you looking at them, she grins and walks over.]

You could always take a picture you know. It'll last longer.

[She's certainly... bigger... up close.]

Major Cora Anderson. The boys call me Ursa.

[There's a hand offered to you to shake.]



[2]



[Cora's at the mess hall, reading a letter while sipping some tea. Yes. A tough woman like her is fond of her Tea. She's Britannian, what do you expect?]

Oi, think I got some left to share. You up for a little?

[She's offering you a drink, raising a battered tin mug at your direction and then motioning to the seat opposite her.]


[3]



[The battle seems to have come inside the Chalice! Corridors have become firing lanes and enemy troops are rushing throughout!]

Keep your heads down!

[There's a mechanical whirr as a large armored figure unleashes a literal hailstorm of metal down corridor.]

You holding up alright over there?!

[Despite being over a speaker the utter concern in her voice was ever-present. The kind of voice of a person who's used to looking out for others.]


[4]



What.... what the heck am I looking at?

[It seems that Cora has stumbled upon something beyond her comprehension. Maybe its something you're used to, maybe its just mindbogglingly ridiculous to you as well.... maybe its just plain weird.]

[Whatever it is, Cora just has this expression that she's trying to keep it together but the seams are barely holding. Try to calm her down?]

Comments

[link_to_revival]

[Gah. The 501st was bad enough... but now even MORE Britannians were onboard. And if any of them came to the conclusion that Lynn was more than just a simple mechanic...]

Maya Landale.

[Same pseudonym she'd been using ever since she'd come onboard.]

I-if you'll excuse me, I need to be getting back to work though.

[armored_mother]

Ah come on, us girls gotta stick together.

[She's putting a hand on your shoulder 'Maya'.]

Besides... you're a mechanic right? We may as well get along since you'll be taking care of the gear!

[link_to_revival]

[Lynn shudders from the feeling. This is the closest she's been to a Britannian officer like this in years... and she has a very strong feeling that if this kept up it was going to end in her being arrested or killed.

[... Not that dying was something she didn't want, but not in this kind of way!]

T-that depends though... I-I'm much better with large robots than powered armored.

[armored_mother]

Damn... that's right. Didn't think that part through.

[She seems to scowl a little now, pulling that hand away and pinching at the bridge of her nose before glaring up at the ceiling.]

...Hey you alright? You look kinda pale.

3

[leftjoker]

I'll be fine! [damnit, again? Where were these creeps coming from?! As Double fires the Trigger Magnum into the enemy formartion, the curving bullets moving to attack the enemy behind cover, he looks to the Dullahan unit.] My sister has reached the infirmary with the others, all that's left is pushing these bastards out!

[armored_mother]

Got it... you think they'll be alright- AH! YOUSONOVA-

[She's shifting her position as a shot ricocheted off her helmet. It didn't do much damage but the shock caught her off guard. She catches herself mid-stumble, kneels and fires the cannon on the Dullahan's back into the crowd - their cover now sporting a large hole.]

Damnit, where do you Elevens get your awesome toys! God knows I could use bullets like those!

[leftjoker]

The people of Fuuso get all of the best toys! [TORIGA! MAKUSHIMUM DORIVU!] TRIGGER FULL BURST! [the wave of danmakudakkabullets flies through the hole made by the Powered Armor and absolutely slaughters the enemy ranks.]

You gonna be alright, over there?

[armored_mother]

Its fine... a little dent won't get me down.. I'm just lucky they didn't throw anything heavier...

[She takes a shuddering breath and opens up the helmet, giving Shou a barefaced grin.]

Besides... I've been in worse spots than this.

[leftjoker]

[Shou smiles in turn behind his mask.] We need to push forward right now. What's the situation with your team?

[armored_mother]

[The helmet's back into place as she looks down the corridor.]

Barely holding on. A couple of them had to pull back. Just how many bodies did we have tossed at us...

[2]

[tookthepill]

Tea?

[ Blink, blink. He nods. ]

Umm, sure. I haven't had any good tea since I left Brittania.

[ The fact that she's also Brittanian escapes him. He's... had a pretty sheltered life. He subconsciously looks over his shoulder, knowing a certain AI was watching, and sat down across from her. ]

[armored_mother]

[She gives Caulder an easygoing grin as she pours him a cup. Her usual easygoing grin softening into a more motherly smile.]

Here. Careful though. It's a little hot.

[She looks over to the direction that the boy seems to be glancing at.]

Man... kids are dating a lot younger these days...

[tookthepill]

[ He looks down at the cup, holding it, but not drinking it. The steam alone is making the top of his lip sweat. ]

Thanks.



[ What he hears next makes him blush, hiding the lower half of his face behind the cup. The steam nearly scalds the tip of his nose. ]

W-We aren't--! ... well.. ALICE and I haven't gone on a date. [ That's what dating means, right? Literally going on a date? ]

[armored_mother]

So you're in a relationship but haven't even went out yet?

Jeez...

You should ask her out you know... make her feel appreciated.

She'd probably love that with how much attention she's paying you right now.

[tookthepill]

[ S-SHIT, she's right! And with how often he asks about his conversations, particularly those girls... y-yeah. He should. ]

B-But we aren't supposed to make port for another month! I-I don't even know what's out there, or what to do, or--

[armored_mother]

Aaaah! Don't want to hear it...

[She's going to poke you on the forehead. Gently]

If you don't know, then follow your instincts. If those aren't any good... well.

You could always ask her what she wants to for a date.

But you gotta remember this. Dates are about spending time with the person you love and showing them how much you care.

You can't go wrong if you keep that in your head.

[tookthepill]

B-But the world is dangerous! A-And--!

[ He's freaking out, looking back. ]

A-A-A-And she's--! W-Where would I even--

[ Wait. Just ask her? ]



... she'd like that, wouldn't she?

[armored_mother]

[Takes a quick look at ALICE before replying.]

Yep. She looks like the type.

[girlfriend_dot_exe]

[Guess who's now silently floating in the air just behind Clauder.]

[tookthepill]

[ Even though ALICE really only appears as a hologram, he still has an odd way of being able to tell when she's nearby. Maybe he's just trained himself to listen for the telltale, near-silent humming of the hologram projector, but as she floats nearby, he looks back towards her, and offers a shy, awkward smile. ]

O-Okay. I will.

4

[gift_of_magus]

[The weirdly dressed girl doesn't look up from her work, which is a bunch of crazy glowing runes spinning around in the air.]

A inter-dimensional search function for machines meeting a certain set of parameters.

I'd suggest you look away.

[armored_mother]

I... Ugck... Hngk...

[Cora manages to pull her eyes away from the runes... and proceeds puke hard onto the floor. Magic Google hurt her brain a LOT.]

Whose- *HACK* brilliant idea was to put that where people can bloody see it?!

[She's covering her eyes and pointing blindly at the general direction of the runes.]

[gift_of_magus]

I don't need to explain myself to you. Just know that this was the best location for this activity.

[The girl keeps working at her weird light display.]

[armored_mother]

... Best loca- You mean you did this?!

[Cora's going to stop covering her eyes to yell at Eibon... unfortunately she catches a glance off to the side at the runes and.... well lets just say that puddle of chuke is going to get a little bigger.]

[gift_of_magus]

No, this bizarre array of lights was always here, and I simply started manning it today.

...Hm. Unexpected.

[She waves her hands, and the lights dismiss themselves. Eibon turns to see the woman who was watching her.]

Your soul is weak. Staying here will be quite dangerous for your sanity.

[armored_mother]

Pardon your English. What did you just tell me?

[Her tone was strained - and a little hoarse as well.]

My what is weak?

[gift_of_magus]

Your soul. It is weak. Exposure to a rarely met portion of the foes of this vessel will likely shred your sanity and leave you a gibbering, empty shell of a woman.

The wisest course of action would be for you to leave.

[armored_mother]

Yeah- No.

I've got orders to take care of and a deal to keep. I'm not going to bail out just because some half-pint told me I might have my brains leak out of my ears if I meet some creepy guys!

[She's looking PRETTY unhappy at your explanation.]

[gift_of_magus]

Yes...I suppose that attitude is to be expected from the people this ship draws.

I can help you strengthen it, if you so desire. Though the process of doing so is...not pleasant.

[armored_mother]

Hey, I didn't join the military for pleasantries.

[She's thinking on it... no brain melting for her. She's in.]

So... what are you gonna have to do anyway?

[gift_of_magus]

Well.

Basically, I would have to perform the same sort of violation of your psyche that an enemy sorcerer might, taking care to stop just short of completely destroying you.

It would feel almost infinitely worse than that search function...that was not a spell designed to fight. Nor was it directed at you, I must add.

[armored_mother]

...

Shit...

[Oh well. No guts no glory.]

This isn't going to end with me tearing a goat in half with my bare hands is it?

[gift_of_magus]

The possibility exists.

1

[kamen_rider_psx]

[And there's Gentarou taking Cora's hand... and performing his handshake.]

Gentarou Kisaragi. The man who's going to befriend the world!

[And as he says that, he thumps his chest near his heart, then points to Cora.]

Re: 1

[armored_mother]

[Cora paused after recieving the handshake, and then the speech and the point. Then she just has this amused smile on her face and pats Gen on the shoulder.]

Kid... Gentarou ... I'm saying that right?

[She gives her own spin on Gen's handshake right back at him. It's a little faster and a mite bit rougher... But still. The feeling was there.]

Wish you luck on that. God knows a lot of people in the world could use a good friend.

Re: 1

[kamen_rider_psx]

[Gen can't help but blink at the fact that she returned the handshake. Rougher or not, she did it right and that's what counts.]

Yeah, and I'd say I'm doing pretty good on that. Got this ship here and all...! Well, except for one... but, I'm working on that!

Re: 1

[armored_mother]

Heh, there's always one thing that gets really tough. But you got a good head on your shoulders, you'll get that thing done... Er... Whatever it is...

[She let's out a chuckle.]

I've got a couple of things I need to do too.

Re: 1

[kamen_rider_psx]

...and that is? Can't be too bad, is it?

Re: 1

[armored_mother]

Just gotta keep my end of a deal and hope I'm still alive at the end of it. That's all.