2022-07-31: Captain's Hospitality
- Cast: Suberoa Zinnerman, Tsugumi Saionji
- Where: The Garencieres (Asteroid Base Palau)
- Date: U.C. 0096 07 31
- Summary: Two veteran captains meet and discuss their young guests, and the potential of those guests meeting to spiral into an Incident.
<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.
The difference between the Endra-class and the Garencieres docked together is astounding - a combat vessel the latter is very much not, though its cargo hold is retrofitted to carry its mobile suit squad, and the crew aboard it relate to each other in a much more casual context. Perhaps the only person aboard with a sense of professionalism is its captain, a Zeon lieutenant by the name of Suberoa Zinnerman, who has today arranged a meeting with the captain of the other ship, in the guerilla freighter's mess.
Gilboa Sant is in the kitchen, making do with the freighter's limited resources - while he's still making stew, it will at least be a /nice/ stew rather than the usual 'on mission' fare they contend with. Zinnerman is seated at the central table of the mess, reviewing reports from the recent engagements the freighter has been supporting.
<Pose Tracker> Tsugumi Saionji has posed.
The One Year War produced a lot of pilots and events with names or titles that still resonate today, seventeen years later. Heroes and Villains alike, miraculous victories and hard-fought battles. This trend continued into the 0080s that followed, during the Delaz Fleet conflict, and then the AEUG, and the Neo-Zeon War. As technology has continued to advance, the reliance upon a single ace pilot's skills or even a cadre of aces has become less and less feasible in regard to war policy. But the reputations remain, even if now more as pop-cultural refernece or urban legend than something one expects to meet on the battlefield if one is especially unlucky.
Tsugumi Saionji is one of those.
Known less by her name than her sobriquet, the so-called 'Specter of Axis' is still one of the lesser known aces, largely because concrete information about her has never been available to the Federation. In fact, even being a person, let alone a woman, is largely unknown even to the forces of Zeon.
This is no accident. Careful steps were taken to keep the Specter alive as a cautionary tale, for the psychological warfare value, and as protection for Tsugumi's remaining family. After all, the Titans hunted down and killed her partner after the Delaz Fleet, forcing her into the AEUG. Why should she ever expose herself to that kind of loss again?
So, though the identity of the 'Specter of Axis' may still be a mystery to many, thought of more as the manifestation of the souls of Zeon soldiers murdered by the Federation than a person, one veteran to another, Tsugumi and Suberoa should have no trouble identifying each other as old-hands. Even if one of the two is only thirty years old. She attends dinner in her formal officer's attire, with blue, black, and gold color scheme for her jacket, hat, skirt, and shoes. The insignia of a Commander is visible on shoulders, jacket, and hat alike when she enters the mess hall. She also seems to have taken the time to wear eyeliner and black lipstick, but that's more habit than anything after all these years.
Those intense, beetle-black eyes scan until the Captain of one ship sees the Captain of the other and then, after standing at the table, she asks, "May I be seated, Captain?" Even if Suberoa is a Leiutenant, he is Captain of this ship. And even though Tsugumi is a Commander, the Zeon she served is long gone, and she now commands only her PMC and those Sleeves personnel whom Full Frontal has allowed her to command. So, politeness, respect, and formality are the order of the day.
<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.
Another contrast - Zinnerman has the professional soldier's bearing that most of his fellows on the Garencieres lack, save perhaps Flaste Schole and Gilboa Sant, but nobody aboard the ship wears Zeon uniform or symbols of rank, and the captain is no exception, dressed for all the world as a civilian captain in a green jumpsuit matching his ship's livery that does little to flatter his weight and an olive-brown greatcoat that, frankly, suits him much better.
He stands as Tsugumi approaches - that his ship mostly doesn't stand on ceremony is no excuse to not greet a fellow captain properly, especially one as storied a veteran as the Spectre of Axis. "Captain Saionji. A pleasure to meet you at last." He offers his hand to shake before they are seated. "Welcome aboard the Garencieres. We aren't much, but you're welcome here."
Once seated, Gilboa brings over two bowls of stew. "Ship's compliments, ma'am," the team's ace pilot says with a smile to Tsugumi before he retreats back behind the kitchen counter.
<Pose Tracker> Tsugumi Saionji has posed.
Tsugumi removes her hat and holds it under her arm as she extends her hand to shake Suberoa's hand. "I am pleased to accept the invitation. I have heard much of you as well." Once she is seated, Tsugumi looks to Gilboa and nods herhead in acknowledgement and thanks. Once it's just Saionji and Zinnerman again, she places her hat in her lap, not immediately digging in but instead observing the reports that the other officer was looking over. "My crew aboard the Mithra is unloading rations, replacement parts, medical supplies, and other cargo as we speak. I hope that you and your crew will find a use for them." The Mithra is not a carrier, and DEFINITELY not a 'combat deck', but it has a considerable hangar bay, with both units for its own crew and to resupply the ZAFT forces currently assaulting the Earth Sphere. "We also have a few extra Geara Zulu if you would like them."
Speaking business over dinner is perhaps not the best etiquette, but she wants to affirm her support for the Sleeves' cause. She came out of retirement for this. Carefully but smoothly, the mercenary commander takes up the utensils provided (in this case, likely just a spoon, since it's stew) and helps herself to a spoonful once her host has had his own first bite. She doesn't swallow immediately, truly tasting the meal. Then, she nods her head slightly in approval before sending it down the hatch.
<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.
Gilboa hides the obvious relief he feels at his meal passing muster by looking through the rest of the kitchen's supplies, while Zinnerman nods. "We've... had to sacrifice a couple mobile suits recently to achieve our goals, replacement Geara Zulus would be most appreciated."
He takes a spoonful of stew himself. "So, I hear you've been retired for a long while, Captain. How has that been?"
<Pose Tracker> Tsugumi Saionji has posed.
Putting the spoon down while she speaks, and nodding in acknowledgement on the Mobile Suits matter, Tsugumi answers the question. "I have been running a PMC not unlike your own. The Crescents. Perhaps you have heard of us? We are smaller in number than we once were, and many faces are different now... And younger. I was contacted by a scientist working with the Sleeves and asked to join forces. So I and the rest of the Crescents are, thus, at your disposal if you have any matters that need tending to." After a pause to allow Suberoa to respond, so that she can hear if there's any special requests for supplies, additional manpower, sharing intelligence, and similar, Tsugumi will broach the subject she has been leading up to.
"It appears that the younger among our respective crews have decided to accompany each other during this period where our ships are docked with each other. Yours, Mister Links, had high praise for you."
<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.
"Banagher..." Zinnerman smiles, despite himself, when the young man is mentioned. "Technically he's a guest of the ship rather than officially on the crew. We're helping him get his bearings before he decides what to do with his life." No need to mention the Laplace conspiracy the boy is caught up in, or the strange and terrible Gundam that's equally a part of the mystery, unless Tsugumi brings it up. "But he's a good kid, even if maybe he's a little naive. Who among your crew has he reached out to?"
<Pose Tracker> Tsugumi Saionji has posed.
Hmmmm. The Garancieres acting as... A jobs program? Counseling? Not what Tsugumi was expecting. However... "It is interesting that you described him as a guest. As a matter of fact, the girl in question is more of a guest aboard the Mithra than a crew member as well. Though my ship is just a waypoint for her and her handler as they head to Earth, for the moment, I am their host." Tsugumi takes another spoonful of stew, not blowing on it to cool it or anything like that. She just eats it hot and as-is, then puts down her spoon again when she's done.
The raven-haired woman leans one elbow on the edge of the table, definitely not considered 'polite manners' but it doesn't appear her dinner companion is much for those anyway. Resting her chin on the backs of her elegant, pale fingers, Saionji looks Zinnerman in the eye. "She is a rather spirited girl with a fiery temper to match her fiery hair. It seems her name is 'Puru Ten'."
<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.
That specific terminology... A chill goes down Zinnerman's spine and he sits up, intently. "Another survivor of that project..." And she's still calling herself Ten, he mentally notes, even as he thinks about what Banagher must intend to happen. "What's her handler like?"
Worry lights in his eyes, as he thinks of Marida Cruz and what her reaction will be. "One of my crew is... from the same place."
<Pose Tracker> Tsugumi Saionji has posed.
Seeing the recognition in Zinnerman's eyes is all the confirmation that Tsugumi needs. Instead of answering right away, she picks up the spoon again, and uses it to stir the steaming stew, looking down as she does so. "He... They... Are an individual called Doctor Salamedes. They are the one who goaded me out of retirement with the promise of support for my own team's objectives. I would rather not lose any more of them to the Federation, you see." She takes the time to consider her next words, as well as the fact that there's another of these girls here on the Garancieres, while she chews her stew. Once she has swallowed, she puts the spoon back down in the bowl, but doesn't let go of it this time.
Looking up, she answers with a question. "Do you believe in the existence of Newtypes?"
<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.
Tsugumi's choice of words is not lost on Zinnerman either. He frowns. "I'm... not sure what I /believe/, but I do know that Toto's project wasn't conjured out of thin air. Quantum Brainwave Technology and the ability to manipulate it is an observable phenomenon now, but the philosophical angle... I don't know that I have any thoughts on that, except that it's known that these abilities can emerge naturally just as surely as they can be deliberately cultivated in an unwilling subject. Why do you ask?"
<Pose Tracker> Tsugumi Saionji has posed.
Tsugumi nods. It gets even dicier to discuss from here on. "The Doctor, at least, asserts very strongly that Newtypes exist. I am unclear what definition of the term they are operating under, but they have suggested I may be one. I am not knowledgeable about the activities at the Newtype Labs. I was operating in a different theater of combat. But I have become aware of... Impressions and intent beyond the combat instincts I have honed. Salamedes themself has a very *distinct* presence, with a direct, observable effect on multiple individuals simultaneously. Mister Links may have such too, though very much weaker."
Closing her eyes, Tsugumi again carefully considers her words. "If Newtypes, by some definition, exist, with sensory abilities beyond the ken of a normal human, I am likely not much better than said 'normal' humans, and I still see myself as just a normal human. I cannot substantiate my 'feelings' and 'intuitions' in any way." She opens her eyes, lined in black, and says, "Mister Links and Doctor Salamedes, by this same definition, are likely on the most extreme end of the scale, or will be. And I do not wish to speak ill of an ally, but the two of them nearly came to blows within thirty seconds of meeting on the Mithra's bridge."
Tsugumi lifts the spoon again, waits, and says, "Please consider what kind of person Links is, in your analysis of what kind of person Ten's handler is." Then more hot, delicious stew is being savored.
<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.
"The language you use to describe this... Salamedes is telling on its own. You do not trust them." And Banagher nearly fought them, too. Zinnerman nods. "I understand - You're paying me a Captain's courtesy. I will speak to Banagher and get his assessment of things too. Do you have any plan in place for what to do about them?" The likelihood that Ten is being mistreated by this doctor is extremely possible to Zinnerman's mind.
He takes another sip of his own stew, deep in thought from this news. It's different from a war-footing situation; this is a situation that will have feedback across his crew and needs to be taken in hand before it explodes. "Thank you, Captain Saionji."
<Pose Tracker> Tsugumi Saionji has posed.
Tsugumi shakes her head. "Not within my command structure, and Crescent is still reliant upon the resources that Salamedes is providing, as much as I am displeased with that fact. I am not even sure where the Doctor found the girl. All I know is that they are headed to Earth, supposedly to reunite Ten with her sisters. Links was suggesting that Ten and the girl in your keep meet, but that is something for you and her to decide. None of the individuals involved are on my payroll."
She sighs a bit as she sets down the spoon again, taking any napkin given and using it to dap at her lips. "I have done a great many things out of necessity that I am not proud of. Permitting the mistreatment of children is one that I am glad to say is not one of my failings. I may be a failure as a parent and a partner, but I refuse to be a failure as a human being."
There is still stew left in the bowl as Tsugumi stands up, but enough of it is gone that it won't have been a waste. Putting her hat back on her head, and adjusting it by the back and the brim so that it sits properly, she replies, "It was my pleasure. Thank you for the invitation, and my compliments to your chef, Captain Zinnerman."
<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.
"On that we can agree, Captain Saionji. I understand the position you're in and appreciate the warning you're giving me." He stands up as she leaves the table, glancing to Gilboa. "Post a shipwide alert to keep track of Doctor Salamedes if they come aboard." The ace/cook nods, already starting the process of doing that, when a com comes through from the bridge from Flaste Schole.
"Captain. Mister Links is asking for you. It sounds urgent."
"I'm on my way, Flaste." Sighing, Zinnerman covers his own bowl of stew. "Keep this warm for me, Sant. Sounds like things are getting complicated again." He turns and leaves the mess, heading up to the bridge.