2022-11-14: She Hates Us

• Cast: Rena Lancaster, Lilith Aiden
• Where: Republic of Zeon, Federation Military Base
• Date: U.C. 0096 11 14
• Summary: Rena opens up to Lilith about JOSH-A and Yuliana Dispersal. Lilith pieces clues together.

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<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

Rena Lancaster is in Side 3; she reported there after recent events, where a Triple Zero attack led to no small amount of destruction. Just yesterday, she also had a rather unpleasant encounter with Zoltan Akkanen. She is in one of the military bases of the Republic of Zeon, now. She has gotten off duty.

Word reached Lilith about an earlier battle, though.

At JOSH-A, Rena showed a great deal of hesitation. It came through the ranks -- something a couple of Londo Bell captains mentioned. Given everything that happened at that terrible battle, it might be expected...

...except an attentive eye caught when the slip in performance happened. It was after an encrypted tightbeam from Yuliana Dispersal.

Right now, Rena is in her temporary quarters, lying back on the bed. She has a black tank top on, and the white pants that come with her Londo Bell uniform. She looks up at the ceiling, idly, just resting without sleeping. But, her room is open for guests.

<Pose Tracker> Lilith Aiden has posed.

The Gwennangorn was around for the battle of Zum. While they did not personally participate, one of the ship's pilots did.

Lilith has been on clean-up and security duty, and for now, has stopped at a military base. Two reasons: she needs to get off her ship occasionally for her own health, and she heard of a frightening rumor. A pilot she knows got a tightband from another pilot she knows, and somehow it caused a slip in performance?

Both of them might need help.

A series of short knocks hit Rena's door. "Lieutenant Lancaster, it's Captain Lilith Aiden, Gwennangorn. Do you have a bit to talk? You're not in trouble." She accentuates the last part, and her vibes feel genuine. After all, someone might worry about it after the rumors...

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

"Ah--yes, please enter, ma'am!"

Rena's response is automatic. She likes Lilith -- from the times they met, she seems professional and smart. She feels a little relief to hear that she isn't in trouble, though. She sits up on her bed, then, with a smooth motion.

Rena presses a button and the automated door slides open with a hiss, the door sliding into the wall. Rena smiles at her, bringing her hand to her forehead in a quick salute.

"What can I do for you, Captain?"

<Pose Tracker> Lilith Aiden has posed.

Lilith enters, nodding at the salute to signal at-ease, and takes a brief look around. She's in her own casual uniform, large burn scar on her forehead visible with her hair up. "Sorry if you were in the middle of rest. I heard about what happened at JOSH-A."

This may seem like 'she's going to scold her anyways', but she's sympathetic. After all, she herself takes some blame, in her head, for Torrington. "I'm gonna be frank. What a fucking bloodbath. I can't get clear answers on what happened, but it's not your fault. But even so, I'm going to pry. I've heard rumors you got a tightband from REA Captain Dispersal and it clouded your judgment. I'm not your captain or squad-mate - but I thought that might make it easier to talk about, too. What happened? Is everything okay?"

Lilith doesn't assume Yuliana did anything wrong, yet. But the woman DOES have a temper. She might need to talk to her personally, give the void some advice on how to rein it in.

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

"Ah... yeah. That was a rough fight," Rena says, her finger scratching at her cheek. She hesitates for a second, then her eyes are briefly on Lilith's. She smiles, after a moment, though it's tired. It's not her fault, but it's hard to not feel responsible somehow. She should have had an idea of what might happen.

And, of course, there's what Yuliana said to her. Both there... and before.

She swallows -- then she tenses for a moment.

She hesitates, her eyes breaking from Lilith's. She weighs it in her mind. She doesn't, quite, answer. Yet.

"Do... do you know Captain Dispersal well, Captain?"

<Pose Tracker> Lilith Aiden has posed.

"No, I don't." Lilith responds, softly, noticing the tenseness and hesitation. "She was on my ship after Torrington, and we had a somewhat-pleasant discussion, even if she...made someone cry on accident. We've met once before, when she was younger, but other than that...she seems like she has potential, if anger issues that need correction. She's becoming friends with Lieutenant Stirner, as well. Her...aura is odd for a Newttype, and I can't speak for Alma, but it's sometimes comforting to have a break from the noise."

"Why? If you're afraid of something getting back to her...please believe in me."

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

"I don't think it was an accident," Rena says. She swallows, glancing away from a moment. It's a cruel thing to say, and Rena knows it. She doesn't think it's a lie, either, and she doesn't walk it back.

She hesitates a moment.

She is younger than Lilith. A lot of the time, Rena acts the part of a professional younger soldier; cheerful, upbeat, and dutiful. It slips here, her expression more withdrawn, and her eyes on the ground for a moment. "She... learned that I'm a spacenoid. And a Newtype," she adds. "And--ah--I'm... originally from Zeon. I changed my last name."

She keeps her voice quiet. "My mother was involved with Neo-Zeon, in the first war. She found that out, and--some personal information about me. And she's... shown what she really thinks." She looks up at Lilith. "She hates us, Captain. She played at not just long enough to get me to let my guard down."

<Pose Tracker> Lilith Aiden has posed.

Lilith takes the presented information with a calm yet worried lens. "She hates us? As in...Newtypes? Myself and Alma are Newtypes - if what you say is true, that implies she's manipulating-"

Lilith shouldn't jump to conclusions. But Rena may momentarily feel rage coming off her, not targeted at the younger pilot.

"This is a serious accusation...but I'm inclined to believe you. You have no reason to lie about it. I don't judge you for you or your mother, but I know Dispersal dislikes Zeon immensely - so this is believable."

"Did she use that personal information at JOSH-A?"

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

Rena blinks, when she feels the rage come off her. It surprises her -- but not after she thinks about it for a moment. Alma and Lilith are involved; she heard about that. She even thought, sometimes, that it was like a model for what she and Eight could be like. Some day.

She looks down, before she nods. "She... did, yeah. Just... said some things she knew would get under my skin." Rena doesn't specify what, but...

It's one thing to admit this. It's another to admit that she is a Coordinator. After JOSH-A, that is a dangerous admission.

"She talked to me, before. She said she struggled with being angry. That she wanted to become a better person, but it was hard, sometimes," Rena says. "And I was wary, but... I believed her. But--it was... it was something she used to get a little information from me, then she looked into where I came from."

Rena shakes her head. "And then it was just... poking at it, just doing things to make me hesitate. Or hurt me. Because she hates Newtypes," Rena says. "She hates what we represent, I guess, and... if she can hurt us, she thinks it proves something. So she'll use us, to that end."

<Pose Tracker> Lilith Aiden has posed.

Lilith doesn't pry into her past. Instead, she focuses on the present. "She can't feel us...due to her 'aura'. It's like a void. Perhaps it brings her spite...god." She flinches, thinking this over.

"There's nothing we can do at the moment except be vigilant. Without solid proof, no one will believe us, and even if they did, the REA isn't going to do anything unless it's damning enough to their image. For now, keep safe. I'll make sure Alma is protected - and your name won't come up."

"Do you need anything, Lancaster? Is there anything I can do for you?" Lilith asks, with a compassionate tone. She got the younger woman to reveal something that was hurting her. The least she can do is help mend it.

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

"Yeah. I... I wondered about that aura," Rena says. She nods at Lilith, and smiles a little when she does.

"Thanks. Just... keep an eye on Alma, okay? I've only talked to her a little, but she's really nice. I wouldn't want her to get caught up in this, like I did." She smiles a little, before she looks down.

"Ah, if... you can keep it quiet, I'd appreciate it," she says. "And--um--I guess... I'm kind of bad at asking for help or something that'd make me feel better." She laughs. "Eight tells me I should focus on myself more."

She looks up. "I appreciate the offer. And... the fact you cared enough to ask helps on its own, Captain."

<Pose Tracker> Lilith Aiden has posed.

"Of course." Lilith says in regards to keeping it quiet and keeping an eye on Alma both. Pieces still appear to be clicking in her brain - the way she treated Mineva, the way she acted at Torrington...perhaps even Alma riskign her for her - no, that's ridiculous.

"Take care, then. I should be returning back to the Gwennangorn, we have some appointments to make. Any time you stop by, you'll be safe." A nod, and then, she parts.

With rage in her heart and determination in her mind.