Maiden Voyage of the OCS Hwanin

High Priestess Sung smiles slighty, making no sounds, then connects with Kaori mind to mind. Kaori's face doesn't change, even though only the two of them are in the meditation room.

<<You are to be one of the guests on the maiden voyage of the OCS Hwanin.>>

<< I am honoured, Seonsaengnim.>>

<<Make sure you take notes or record what you can so you can bring back a full report.

<<I will.>>

<<I believe the Empress is going to be there also.>>

Kaori Jo steps off the pad into OCS Hwanin's transporter room. She bows to Admiral Kim, who is waiting. "Myeong Mai be with you. I have the honour to represent the Myeong Gai Order today."

Shae Kim: "An honor to have you aboard."

The Admiral guides her into the briefing room, where the Empress is seated.

[15:12] Kaori Jo (Kaori Takeda) smiles at the two plants that decorate the room, and automatically checks their leaves for signs of dehydration or overwatering. They're good, so far. The Empress is there, too, so Kaori bows again and repeats, "Myeong Mai be with you, Imperial Majesty."

Empress Yun-Hee: looks around for moment, appearing like she maybe a bit nervous. then looks forward, listening quietly

Kaori smiles again and takes a seat opposite but not directly across from the Empress. "A little fancier than the heavy cruiser we sold Captain Gama," she says to the Admiral.

Shae Kim: " The maiden voyage is about to begin. The is the flagship on it first mission to monitor the border of the Empire."

Kaori looks out of the large viewports, which look towards the flagship's stern. "Is the border judged to be the greatest source of danger?" she asks.

Shae Kim: "What we are going to find out."

Empress Yun-Hee: says, a little jittery, "You know, the first time this ship was built it was destroyed by what is believed to be multiple bombs"

Kaori grins at Yun-Hee, abandoning imperial protocol for the moment. "The work of destroying the first ship was done by Captain Kahn and her crew. If she's ever captured, you'll be able to ask about the exact method."

Empress Yun-Hee: "Yes, also I wonder how Admiral Merc is knowing the ship she was suppose to have is now Admiral Shae Kim's ship?"

"Mercedes Verne believes she has a lot of reasons to be displeased with the new facts of federation and empire," Kaori says. "And if she and Kahn decide to ignore the fact that they hate each other and work together, that will become a very large problem."

Empress Yun-Hee: Nods, then looks away, saying nothing.

The admiral steps out, to follow up on some ship or fleet business, or perhaps just to greet another arrival.

Kaori lets her mind stretch out throughout the ship. Pleased and surprised, after months among mostly women, she notices an almost natural percentage of male-flavoured minds. Unintentionally, as she's looking for empathic rather than telepathic impressions, she catches a stray thought which turns out to be the Empress's - Kahn is part of it, but the black market is a larger though tightly connected part. A little embarrassed, Kaori closes her telepathic ears - but can't help but wonder, given history, if Yun-Hee's own ties to the black market were of the profitable kind.

She takes a breath. "How are you, Empress?" she asks. "You appear to be dealing with - all of this - remarkably well, on the surface where people can see."

The Empress says, "I keep thinking about Kahn and Merc, and what they could do together."

"That shows you have some good sense," Kaori says.

Empress Yun-Hee: "I was told or suggested that I should strip Admiral Merc of her title if she does not return to Cyhnon soon and explain her actions."

Kaori considers. "I think Admiral Merc may be a little surprised she hasn't been stripped of it already. She must know that we've found out Kahn was rescued by her. The fact that she hasn't delivered Kahn to Imperial security means she's decided to step very far out of the proper line of duty. She's bound to have allies - former Cyhnon Space Corps - both within and outside of Orenji Space Corps."

Empress Yun-Hee: stands and heads for the door to see what is happening on the bridge. Kaori follows at a respectful distance.

"Empress on the bridge!" some junior officer shouts. Those who aren't engaged in some uninterruptable task stand and salute.

Empress Yun-Hee smiles, still getting use to the formalities of being an Empress. She nods slowly in response

The admiral emerges from the lift.

Empress Yun-Hee: "Admiral, how long before we reach the border of the Empire?"

Shae Kim checks the board "I'd say about 15 minutes."

Kaori's startled - then remembers the briefing notes: the ship can create its own jump points, like a travelling jump gate, so is not limited to hypervelocities.

Hwanin Computer: calibration is locked and normal, diagnostic underway.

The comm crackles. A voice recognizable as Gama's says, "ISS Janky to OCS Hwanin requesting permission to approach."

Shae Kim: "Permission granted. to approach OCS Hwanin."

Gama: "Thank you OCS Hwanin."

The admiral sits back as the bridge crew coordinates Hwanin's path with Janky's, then jockey the smaller ship into position on the carrier deck. Finally Kim says, "Landing complete Welcome aboard."

Gama: "Thank you, Admiral. I bring good tidings."

Kim goes down to the carrier deck to accompany the search and retrieval specialist up to the bridge.

Gama: "Princess." She salutes.

The Empress frowns at Gama, then looks for Kaori.

Gama: "And Kaori. Oh I beg your pardon. Empress."

Empress Yun-Hee: "Yes that is better. Just know I don't forget insults very easily."

Kaori practices her impassive expression. "Captain Gama. It's interesting to see you here, aboard Hwanin."

Gama: "1000 pardons Empress. My memory isn't what it used to be."

Empress Yun-Hee: "Maybe Kaori can help you with that. I heard she collects memories"

Gama looks at Kaori and smiles.

Kaoricocks a cautioning eyebrow at the Empress, and smiles sedately back at Gama.

Shae Kim checks the ship's position as she re-takes her station: "Approaching the border now."

OCS Hwanin Computer: diagnostic complete, sensors are functioning normally.

OCS Hwanin Computer: deflectors activated.

Shae Kim: "There is something out there on the sensors." She checks the screen. "Visual."

Gama turns her attention towards the view screen and the swirling green anomaly that seems to have taken position uncomfortably close to Hwanin's bow.

Empress Yun-Hee: thinks to herself should we go to battle stations... get ready to blow it up she thinks. thoughts she whispers slightly out loud

Kaori feels the weight of emotion that comes with the faint whisper. She steps a little closer to Yun Hee. She breathes out calm...her telepathy so far has been rated only at level 6, but some of her calm may radiate enough to help the young Empress keep her public cool.

Shae Kim: "Shields up - red alert."

Gama watches the Admiral at work.

Empress Yun-Hee calms down some as she watches the admiral more closely.

Shae Kim studies the screen. " Magnify the object."

Empress Yun-Hee also watches She finds herself thinking the object looks like what her father belched up when they were on Synthgia for the meeting with Baroness Ling.

Kaori catches the image of John, and smothers a grin. Evidently he hasn't completely lost his liking for strong liquor since achieving parenthood. She shifts a bit, the better to see the spinning green orb.

Shae Kim, looking over the screen, says, "Seems there is a transmission coming from the object."

Empress Yun-Hee: "I hope it is a nice greeting."

Kaori stretches to find out whether she can perceive any minds.

Suddenly the orb seems to - squeeze. A small ship bursts out of it, hovers for a moment with its bow towards Hwanin's mass, and as suddenly is gone.

Sensors continue to scan the area and the ship continues to detect a faint signal that repeats, then fades as the orb leaves Hwanin's path.

Kaori shakes her head. "No living minds in the object, Admiral, or at least none that I have the skill to detect."

Shae Kim: "Computer, anything on the translation?"

OCS Hwanin Computer: Translation of the message is 'We are unity. Unity is your destiny. Resist is Chaos."

Empress Yun-Hee: "Now what does that mean?"

"We are unity - that's the same message we received aboard Magellan from the mystery ship. And I've heard it somewhere else..." Kaori frowns, trying to remember. "From a person whose mind I couldn't sense. That bounty hunter who wanted your business, Empress -"

Empress Yun-Hee feels a real a sense of fear around her when she hears what Kaori says.

A junior at the navigation station says, "The object has left sensor range."

Empress Yun-Hee: "I am going to set an reward of 500K credits for anyone who can bring back information that identifies who and what we are dealing with that keeps sending these cryptic messages. What does it mean? Who is responsible?"

OCS Hwanin Computer: insufficient sensor data.

"Hmmm." Unsurprisingly, Gama's interest is aroused.

"It may be a hunt worth more than 500K," Kaori says. "The mystery ship captured one of Kahn's - a ship crewed by several tens of thousands of droids. If they're connected, it's both dangerous and possibly important to the Empire's economy."

Shae Kim: "Seems that is the excitement for this patrol. Well, keep a long range scan of the sector to see if there is more to find in the area."

Empress Yun-Hee turns around and moves quickly to the ready room. wanting to get her mind on something else. She whispers, "I will have the regent lead this investigation."

Kaori watches the door close behind Yun-Hee, wondering if she should follow, but steps closer to the viewscreen instead.

Gama studies the faces of the bridge team.

"I'm interested in the lack of detectable minds," Kaori says, "especially in combination with the pirating of so many droids."

Gama: "That is an interesting question Kaori."

Kaori Jshrugs slightly. "I could wish to have a really powerful telepath on hand next time the message is heard. Admiral, I believe Captain Maggie gave you her recording of the mystery ship - image, sounds, sensor readings? That ship we saw briefly - maybe compare their close images and readings?"

Shae Kim: " I will check the computer. I do not think the information has been uploaded to Hwanin."

Kaori sighs. "Well, we can do it when we get back..."

Gama envies the advanced systems on this ship.

..Kaori catches the flash of envy from Gama, and refrains from responding to it - Gama seems to do well at tracking with no advanced systems at all.

Kaori steps towards the screen as the admiral replays today's recordings, stopping the vid when it reaches the closest view of the small ship and zooming in on its viewport.

Shae Kim: "That is the clearest image of the magnification on the ship."

"One person - or apparent person - on its bridge," Kaori murmurs.

Gama suddenly remembers that Kaori is an empath and she tries to shield her thoughts with emotions of only wanting to be helpful to the empress. "I wonder if it's a warship...."

Kaori steps closer to study the figure within the image. A dash of green resolves into a sensor visor, a patch of straight-edged darkness into heavy bangs. "That's - we need to show the Empress for confirmation, but I think that's Zani at the controls. The bounty hunter I mentioned." She turns to face the admiral. "If it's the same person, she was within ten feet of the Empress less than a month ago. Baronness Touson was going to do a security background check. I don't know what the results were."

Shae Kim: "That is most curious."

Kaori walks quickly to the door of the briefing room. "Empress? We need you."

Empress Yun-Hee: "I am busy."

Kaori opens the door anyway. Yun-Hee is seated, motionless. It is very noticeable that Yun-Hee is in deep thought and appears a little shaken.

Kaori speaks, gently but firmly. "Empress, we have an image of the small craft's pilot - not the best, but it seems to be someone you may recognize."

Empress Yun-Hee: "Bring me the picture. I can look at it in here."

Kaori turns and calls to the Admiral, "The Empress wishes you to send the picture of the pilot to the screen in here."

Shae Kim passes an rder to the comms officer, follows Kaori into the room, and closes the door. A moment later, the anomaly video starts playing on the wall screen.

Kaori gestures to Yun Hee. "You'll have to stand close, I think, Empress, to see the image well enough."

The feeling of being shaken is still paramount in the Empress's mind. "I will have the Regent look into this"

Kaori approaches Yun-Hee a little more closely than protocol recommends. "May I give you a hug?" she says quietly - quite daring, but Yun-Hee's need for some concrete kind of caring reassurance seems strong.

Empress Yun-Hee: acts as if she did not hear Kaori, but stands and steps, however unwillingly, towards the screen.

Well, Kaori's not a subject of the empire, but a free citizen of the Commonwealth of Genji. She puts a gentle hand on Yun-Hee's shoulder, and channels all the calm and reassurance she can.

Shae Kim has stopped the playback on the viewport and is slowly zooming in and centring on the greyed-out image of the pilot. She adjusts for colour. Gradually the image grows and clarifies.

Empress Yun-Hee: "I think it is becoming clearer" Another moment, and Yun-Hee says, "She does look familiar. Maybe she is the one who came to the audience requesting to be hired as one of the bounty hunters for the Empire."

"Zani. Yes, that's what I think, too."

Empress Yun-Hee repeats the name: "Zani."

"Did the Baronness get more information about her?"

Empress Yun-Hee: "I will have to check with the Baroness but I will have the Regent lead the investigation."

Kaori nods as Yun-Hee slips away from her hand and returns to the table. "That makes good sense, Empress."

"I will go find me cabin and get some rest. I think I will sleep until we get back to Cyhnon." Yun-Hee stands up, then exits the room quickly.

Kaori folds her hands and stands quietly, looking at the admiral. "Do you agree that there's reason for concern about this person?"

Shae Kim: " I do agree."

Kaori leans on the back of a chair. "So - the list of threats to the new empire, and empress, keeps growing. I've counted at least half a dozen. I'm sure you've counted more, Admiral."

A familiar mind is hovering outside the door. Kaori opens it and looks out. Gama's there.

Gama looks questioningly at Kaori.

Kaori finds herself smiling. Gama never feels non-sly, but there's a less self-focused emotion pushing slyness aside at the moment. She steps back from the doorway, gesturing to invite Gama inside.

Gama: "Oh yes, I bear tidings regarding the refugee fleet."

Shae Kim: " Oh do tell."

"They are preparing to depart Gamma 5. With the apparent blessing of the Council, but not with the blessings of Lord Baine. We have arranged for them to pass through several other systems, including one Black Wing system prior to reaching your systems."

Shae Kim muses, "Oh Blackwing. That sounds grim."

"Yes," Gama says, "but. he has been somewhat helpful from time to time. There are systems on a direct fuel saving route. Therefore, we found it necessary to ask for their permission. And surprisingly, they granted it."

Shae Kim: "That is great."

With a slight return of slyness, Gama adds, "Also, I hope to be of service to the Empress. In the future." There's the sly smile. "For a modest remuneration."

Shae Kim: "I do think the court looks forward to your service."

Kaori nods at the screen. "There's someone you might want to watch for, then. She's known as Zani. Presents herself as a bounty hunter. And you've seen her ship.The Palace will have a clearer image of her on file. And Alice Illios will be able to tell you exactly what weaponry she carries as a matter of habit." She pauses. "And...either she has some sort of mental shield, or she may be nonhuman. Appearances notwithstanding."

Gama looks hard at the image. "An android perhaps..."

Shae Kim affirms, "There are rumors of synths."

Gama: "What are those?"

Shae Kim: " I think during the AI war long ago ...nipple necks. But that is only rumour."

Kaori shakes her head. "As I said - I could wish for a strong and experienced telepath to be on hand next time she surfaces. There wasn't a glimmer of feeling from her when we met at the palace, and I was less than a meter away. I'm not the strongest empath, and barely a beginner at telepathy - but I should have felt something." She refrains from mentioning that as a telepath she's already tested at Level 6..."beginner" isn't synonymous with "weak," but it's information best kept private.

Gama nods. "Well it was nice seeing all of you again. With your permission, Admiral, i will take my leave. Thanks for the lift." She heads towards the carrier bay, with a good week cut off her journey to meet the refugee fleet, thanks to OCS Hwanin's built-in jump gate capabilities.