2024-02-21: Unstructured Interview
- Log: 2024-02-21
- Cast: Eight Orlodhari, Kikka Kobayashi
- Where: Eight Orlodhari's Office
- OOC - IC Date: August 0098
- Summary: Following the violent dissolution of the Shuffle Alliance, still wishing to make a difference Eight Orlodhari welcomes Kikka Kobayashi into Terminal.
<Pose Tracker> Eight Orlodhari has posed.
The building that makes up the MDF's main office is still new; mostly concrete, it's a sturdy thing of multiple stories, with a nice formal sign out front and a number of offices within. The windows within look out on the colony in progress, especially those on the twelvth floor, which is where Eight Orlodhari's office is.
Inquiring into a position in intelligence could lead someone to an application and a chance at an interview. When it's Kikka Kobayashi, though, it leads somewhat more directly to being referred to the Admiral's office. She didn't have to scramble to find examples of Kikka's writing; she's familiar!
So, the receptionist beeps into the office, "Miss Kobayashi is here, Admiral. Shall I send her in?"
"Please do."
Eight is in uniform in her office--a white jacket, teal pants, golden rank insignia. She has a hat, but she's not wearing it at the moment.
When Kikka comes in, Eight stands to greet her. "Welcome, Miss Kobayashi." Handshake? She'll offer one, anyway.
"I have to say I'm a little surprised to see you!"
<Pose Tracker> Kikka Kobayashi has posed.
The Shuffle Alliance, in every sense of the word except for those coalition of fighters led by Domon Kasshu, is gone. Between all the attacks at the end of July, it's hard to say what the final nail in the coffin was... but with the 'Toy Box' allegedly sunk and Merida Island lost, it's clear operations couldn't continue anymore.
But Kikka hasn't forgotten the last thing Sayla said in her message announcing the disbandment. Continuing the fight elsewhere... after letting everyone she could actually reach know she was safe - she made plans to do exactly that.
Magallanica isn't hard to reach though, and she's pleased how quickly she was put in touch with the Admiral for a follow-up regarding her application. Still, after everything that just happened, it's hard not to be nervous...
Kikka dresses similarly professional, favouring a suit jacket for meetings like these... and finally it's time. "Admiral Orlodhari," Kikka greets the slightly older woman with a smile, taking her hand for a quick, breezy handshake. "Ha... it is a little surprising to come to the defense forces with a literature degree, isn't it?" She's aware she's a lot more well known for her writing talent - you're supposed to be secretive about intelligence! But there's no hiding why she's here.
"I'll be frank. I'm here because I want to find my own way to make a difference." She explains. "And when it comes down to it... in the current climate of things, it's your people I trust to see that through." And it's not empty flattery - she's seen what Eight has done for Magallanica while she was helping Mineva as part of the Shuffles - she's even met some of her crew.
"Haha... sorry! That was probably a pretty intense introduction, huh? A lot's happened lately, you see... but it's so very nice to meet you." She smiles, tapping a pen against her cheek. "So... hmm, where should we start?"
<Pose Tracker> Eight Orlodhari has posed.
There's no ambush, as it happens. Just the regular reasons for nerves. But Eight smiles anyway, and there's no particular sign of her Cyber-Newtype strength in a handshake; she isn't the type to hand-crush.
"Yes," Eight agrees--but then Kikka decides to come out with it, and Eight listens. She makes eye contact, if Kikka doesn't look away, studying her expression as she says it. Their people....
Eight of course is aware that Kikka's met some of her people. And she's aware of...
"Not a problem. I don't mind intense--I'd rather know how to set the tone." A pause. "It's nice to meet you, too. And I take it a lot happening lately includes the reports of a lot of violent activity of late."
A pause. "Well, we start by taking a seat," she suggests, and gestures to the chair in front of her desk. "From there..."
"I take it that you don't just want to make a difference in Magallanica--though make no mistake, our work does help the colony remain safe."
"But if you're here to work in 'intelligence', I'm going to guess that you're interested in our work beyond our own borders. Is that right?"
<Pose Tracker> Kikka Kobayashi has posed.
Eight must certainly be strong, Kikka thinks - but she's more thinking of mental fortitude, being someone right around her age with this much responsibility. There's nothing unusual about the handshake.
Eye contact is important to maintain in a job interview, Kai Shiden told her over the phone on her way here. But she can tell Eight is studying her... ahh, what if she says the wrong thing?
"Oh, yeah, that makes sense," she nods, when Eight says it's just a way of setting the tone. And Eight herself sets the tone by bringing up that violent activity across the Earth Sphere. "Right. It all happened on the same time, same day, and left defenders spread thin. Their agendas didn't appear to align, but there's no way something like that wasn't coordinated, don't you think?" She may not be able to give away the game just yet - but she certainly can put the pieces on the board.
Eight lets her take a seat then, and she gratefully accepts. "Well... don't get me wrong. I want to help Magallanica, too." She first corrects. "It's a colony builder, but you've also been using it as a place for refugees of war to stay. Something like that... would've been nothing less than a godsend back during the One Year War." She twists that trusty pen in her hand, before placing it back down. "I'd like to keep using my skills to keep a place like this safe."
"But you're right that it's not my only concern. The Bloody Valentine War is over and Laplace's Box has been opened... therefore, the Three Ships Alliance has stood down. Correct?" She asks, merely rhetorically, of course. "But no matter how promising NUNE seems... there's still gotta be someone to keep a watchful eye over conflict." Just like the Shuffle Alliance did. "If that's what you're getting at, then I'm interested."
<Pose Tracker> Eight Orlodhari has posed.
Eight seems to bear up all right under the significant responsibilities she's taken. But then, she has help; she would be the first to say that it takes a lot of people to run a ship, let alone an organization.
"Mm-hm," Eight answers. "I admit I don't know all the details of what they were after... But I'm sure they were after something. And I've seen a number of reports of what's happened after."
Plus, of course, Kikka showing up.
She smiles, at that 'don't get me wrong.' "I'm glad to hear it," she says. "I couldn't accept someone who doesn't care at least a little about what we're doing here." The One Year War... For sure. "The Earth Sphere as a whole is important, but so is 'home.'"
And for her, it is.
She nods, at the leading question. "That's exactly what I'm getting at. The Alliance finished its work--successfully, I would say. But indeed, we need people around to ensure NUNE keeps that 'promise', and to act if it doesn't. As well, we have a long way to go before humanity is at peace with itself. That's something important to me, as well."
"...So; I know your qualifications. They're in your application. I know your intentions, if what you say is what you intend."
"So my main further question is... Are you willing to keep our secrets? We have a lot of operatives who'd be endangered if people knew what they were up to. Not all our work is strictly within the lines."
"...I have a feeling it wouldn't be the first time you'd done so, though."
<Pose Tracker> Kikka Kobayashi has posed.
"Whatever it is they were after, they got it," Kikka confirms. "You could say that's why I came here." She adds. "Ahh, I'm sorry for being so vague... there's just people I don't want to put in any further danger," she admits, moving on.
"It'd be pretty heartless, for sure..." Kikka nods. "It's important to protect like this, while also making sure the people who sought it out are happy. An iron fist won't do, so I guess that's where intelligence comes in." She smiles.
Home... "I've had many homes, since I was little. I treasure them all in different ways... maybe Magallanica will become yet another place I can call home." She can tell somehow - it's probably the exact same way for Eight.
Kikka's glad she was on the right track there... she agrees that the Alliance seemed to accomplish most of the practical goals it was established towards. "Exactly. In a world like this, just 'waiting and seeing' isn't going to cut it, I don't think."
Eight also expresses a desire for humanity to be at peace with itself... Kikka nods. "The way things are right now, humanity isn't quite at peace even if there isn't any war. It sounds pretty lofty, but I'd like to be able to bring people together like that too. Heck, people still think 'Newtype' just means ace pilot!"
An important question... can she keep a secret? "I am," Kikka confirms. "I know you're asking for a lot, though. It takes more effort than people think to be that perfectly careful. Still... I appreciate you putting that much trust in me," she smiles, just slightly. Not the first time... "That so? You might just be right. But... I'll do my best."
"Well, while we're at it, I'd like to field a few more questions." Kikka meets Eight for eye contact again. "If I work under your organization, will I still be able to visit my family? They're in the OCU. It's not NUNE, so I'm sure it'll be fine... but I'd like to know your policy."
<Pose Tracker> Eight Orlodhari has posed.
"I see," Eight answers, and shakes her head. "You're not the first person to need to be vague, to protect others. I don't need to know everything."
Intelligence! "Yes," Eight agrees. And homes... Eight agrees there, too. "I hope so. It's become that for me, though I had a bit of a crash course in it--I couldn't take the twins on the ship when they were still so young as they were." She can now, but now she's busy with this for a while.
"It sure won't."
"They do. You might imagine I have a special interest here--Cyber-Newtype, mother of two half-Zentradi. I do. But I hope all of our differences can be a strength, rather than a point of division."
And... yes. "I am," Eight says, asking a lot. "And there will be some checks done. But personally, you pass my gut test."
She'll do her best. But more questions? Eight doesn't shy away. "You will. We don't make a policy of restricting the movements of our members--on active conflict footing that might change for combatants temporarily, but even then there would be exceptions. I've done a lot of visiting to the OCU lately myself."
A pause. "Even in NUNE would be fine... If more dangerous, for reasons that aren't really our work. NUNE isn't going to trust us much."
<Pose Tracker> Kikka Kobayashi has posed.
"Yeah. It doesn't feel good to lie or omit things, but sometimes it's just necessary, right?" Is the extent of Kikka's thoughts of clouding the truth to protect others. She does hope Sayla's doing okay right now...
It's not just home for Eight either, it's home for her two children as well... "Ooh, twins, huh? I heard, but now that we've met, I should probably give you my 'congratulations'. Take good care of them, okay?" She smiles.
A special interest in seeing the differences among humanity resolved into strengths... Kikka nods. "Exactly. It doesn't come up all that often, but I'm actually a Newtype myself. But I'd rather see abilities like that as a point of connection. My awakening happened to save someone I cared about... and guide him back home." She looks away for a brief moment.
"Means a lot," She says, of passing Eight's personal test. "As for the background checks... well, I should probably start preparing for those. It's probably less intimidating than it sounds, right?"
Looks like Eight's organization doesn't restrict movement as long as there's no war footing... that's pretty relieving to hear. "Oh, that's great! Ever been to the Mt. Fuji area? I lived there for a long time... it's really beautiful." Such a question is mere coincidence, of course - Kikka has no affiliation with the Photon Power Labs and has only ever seen its heroes on local TV.
<Pose Tracker> Eight Orlodhari has posed.
"Yes," Eight agrees with that. She doesn't much like deception either, but has found it's necessary.
"Thank you," Eight says warmly of the congratulations. "I'm doing my best. They're actually here in the building; they aren't quite old enough for me to feel comfortable leaving them behind even for eight hours, just yet. But soon I'll have to work separately..."
But that is what it is. "I see," she says. "...I agree. I am; my husband isn't. Mine... Well. Mine wasn't for any good reasons," she says, and shakes her head.
She's interested in what Kikka hopes of that--but she doesn't pry into her business. Is that person still around?
But, "It's definitely less intimidating than it sounds. You probably won't notice anything unless you have people set up to contact you when you're asked about."
"I have!" Eight answers of Mt. Fuji, and smiles. "It's lovely. Mountains are something I didn't get to see, really, growing up--I grew up in the colonies. Winter Wonderland, to be specific."
"So seeing Earth for what it is is... beautiful. Definitely a little strange, though."
<Pose Tracker> Kikka Kobayashi has posed.
"I see..." Kikka nods... they of course must be very young. "You've probably already looked into getting someone to babysit them, huh? Be careful... having a couple of kids on a ship sure can be a lot." She would know, she was the terror of the White Base.
Eight says her own awakening wasn't for such a good reason... well, she did say she was a Cyber-Newtype. Kikka gives her a frowned nod of understanding. "Sorry to hear. But yeah... we're all more than the titles we are given, is what I was trying to say." As for whether that person is still around... you could say something like that. The name of Amuro Ray is more of a legend these days, even though he is just as real a person as anyone.
"Got it! That's pretty reassuring to hear." Kikka nods, about the background checks. Her contact with her former allies, now, is supposed to be more low-key, at least.
"Yeah, it just goes like... on and on forever, huh?" Kikka says of Mt. Fuji. "Hard to believe people have actually climbed that thing and lived to write the tale." Eight says she was really from the colonies, and mentions Winter Wonderland. Kikka vaguely remembers it as some sort of tourist trap... but it must have been home for Eight. "Yeah, I was actually born in the colonies, too. Green Noa, in Side 7." A colony destroyed in the One Year War. "I was pretty young, so I don't actually remember much about it. But when people ask me if I'm a spacenoid or an earthnoid... I have to tell them 'both!'" She laughs.
"Beautiful and strange... you could say that." Kikka nods. "You have to take the beautiful and the strange both together, I think. Just like in people."
<Pose Tracker> Eight Orlodhari has posed.
"Mm-hm. We have someone looking after them now, and I'm interviewing candidates to bring on the ship." A nod. "Leina's told me a lot about that... But it's not totally foreign; the Ra Mari II is used to hosting families, though not many anymore, now that we have Magallanica."
"Thanks," Eight says. More than titles--and of course, it would be Amuro Ray. "You said it well, I think."
A smile. "Good. Glad to reassure."
But from there, Eight listens of Mt. Fuji. "I think I'd like to, one day. Maybe I'll have the chance."
It's definitely a tourist trap. Still is, luckily. Unlike some colonies.
"Oh, is that so?" Eight wonders, and grins. "That's the kind of thing I'd like to hear more often," she says, of being both.
"...Yes."
"Well, Miss Kobayashi. It may be premature to say this but..."
"Welcome to the Terminal project."