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Apr. 14th, 2016 01:12 pm Feel free to leave a comment here. Comments will be screened and I am allowing anonymous comments as well.
"Salutations" Prologue
Feb. 24th, 2016 11:11 am[OOC: This is pure headcanon, though there is nothing in canon to contradict it.]
Izana sat eating a late dinner and trying not to think of Nagate. Food always made them think of their missing friend, given he was the only person aboard Sidonia who needed to eat more than once a week. A wistful smile pulled at their lips at remembering the sounds his stomach often made but it quickly fell.
He wasn't just missing, he was gone. Sidonia would not turn back for him and everyday he was left farther behind. Just another life lost to the tragedies of the gauna attack.
Sighing, Izana took a bit of tsukemono (pickled vegetables) and looked about the house they shared with their Grandmother. They hadn't seen their grandmother in nearly a week now, not since before the attack. Izana knew she was okay though--a quick call the day after the attack had confirmed that--she'd just been busy with the reconstruction and other command staff duties. Like processing the dead.
A tear threatened. Izana knew they should be strong, many had lost more than her, but that did nothing to comfort them. So much death. It was all so overwhelming.
But there was still one life out there. One death that hadn't happened yet. One "death" that could be reversed. Sidonia couldn't turn around. It was not agile. It could not alter its inertia without more devastation to the internal structures or without the risk of slowing enough to allow any other gauna to catch them, but garde units were agile. They could fly back.
Izana froze, their chopsticks before their lips, shocked at the thought.
A garde unit could fly back to Nagate's last know position and return to Sidonia. That's what they were designed for. But how far would a unit have to travel? Too far for one unit. What if more than one unity linked? Often units would link to boost both their speed and their range after all.
Frantic, they quickly cleared the dishes and pulled out their datapad, linking to their grandmother's database for the most recent intel on this region of space and Nagate's last know position and speed. Izana would figure out how to get Nagate back. It wasn't right that the only warrior living on Sidonia who'd killed a gauna should be lost to space.
Izana sat eating a late dinner and trying not to think of Nagate. Food always made them think of their missing friend, given he was the only person aboard Sidonia who needed to eat more than once a week. A wistful smile pulled at their lips at remembering the sounds his stomach often made but it quickly fell.
He wasn't just missing, he was gone. Sidonia would not turn back for him and everyday he was left farther behind. Just another life lost to the tragedies of the gauna attack.
Sighing, Izana took a bit of tsukemono (pickled vegetables) and looked about the house they shared with their Grandmother. They hadn't seen their grandmother in nearly a week now, not since before the attack. Izana knew she was okay though--a quick call the day after the attack had confirmed that--she'd just been busy with the reconstruction and other command staff duties. Like processing the dead.
A tear threatened. Izana knew they should be strong, many had lost more than her, but that did nothing to comfort them. So much death. It was all so overwhelming.
But there was still one life out there. One death that hadn't happened yet. One "death" that could be reversed. Sidonia couldn't turn around. It was not agile. It could not alter its inertia without more devastation to the internal structures or without the risk of slowing enough to allow any other gauna to catch them, but garde units were agile. They could fly back.
Izana froze, their chopsticks before their lips, shocked at the thought.
A garde unit could fly back to Nagate's last know position and return to Sidonia. That's what they were designed for. But how far would a unit have to travel? Too far for one unit. What if more than one unity linked? Often units would link to boost both their speed and their range after all.
Frantic, they quickly cleared the dishes and pulled out their datapad, linking to their grandmother's database for the most recent intel on this region of space and Nagate's last know position and speed. Izana would figure out how to get Nagate back. It wasn't right that the only warrior living on Sidonia who'd killed a gauna should be lost to space.
Izana leans forward in their seat anxiously listening to the broadcast of Akai's team and the sortie to eliminate gauna 487 with all the other pilot cadets. They sat in one of the lecture rooms, all watching the live video feed and the audio transmissions as the team first engages the gauna. Everything was going perfecting. They first used their Heigus Particle Cannons to reduce the ena (the rapidly regenerating false body of the gauna) and expose the core (the true body of the gauna) thus allowing the team to kill the gauna and end its threat to Sidonia.
Their maneuvers were perfect, synchronized and flawless. Within 30 seconds of engagement, the core was exposed and Akai was closing in to strike with the kabizashi (the only weapon that could penetrate a gauna's core), when there was suddenly screaming over the comm.
Collectively, all the cadets drew in their breath, watching and listening with horror as it all fell apart. Akai was the first to fall, pierced and captured by tentacles formed by the gauna's ena. Momose lost control then, forgetting the mission and screaming for the gauna to give back her finance.
More shots were fired, both from the garde unit's Heugus cannons and their railguns, but Izana could only hear the wet sound of Akai's death.They covered their mouth, suddenly sick.
Midorikawa and Kashiwade (Izana couldn't help remembering them joking about how they were going to beat the gauna) try to salvage the mission and pull Momose back, but within a minute all pilots were dead.
Stunned, Izana's gaze flicks to Midorikawa's younger sister,Yuhata wasn't it?. They couldn't help but feel sorry for her lose. For all their loses. But the battle wasn't over yet.
"Fire the heavy mass cannon now!" The Captain orders, coolly, over the bridge's comm.
"Roger. The target's gauna 487. Prepare the heavy mass cannons." The Commander's Aid replies before the combat feed is cut out.
The cadets turn to look at each other, stunned from the battle and confused as to why the feed was cut. Izana stands to look for Nagate when an announcement cuts through all the speakers throughout Sidonia:
Action erupts around the room and before the call to fasten gravity belts is spoken, every cadet is making their way out of the room to the nearest safety rails. Izana is pulled along with them, though they try to shove and push to make their own way and not be pulled along. The cadets don't panic, but it is a near thing.
The first rails Izana comes across are already dangerously full and so they continue, stooping to help another cadet who has fallen regain their feet. It takes more effort than it should, which makes them realize the gravity is shifting. Based on the axis, and the vibrations through the floor, Izana is stunned to realize Sidonia is accelerating, and at a diagonal at that. This is bad, very bad. Sidonia's artificial gravity is rated to only work for 1G of acceleration and at the perpendicular, not diagonal! As the floor of the hallway starts to rise and become an incline, their fears are confirmed.
"Nagate!" They shout out as they spot him. "This way!"
He comes running over and they make their way to another safety rail, but it is crowded. The pitch of the floor is only rising and Izana has to fight down panic. "Over here!" She hears someone call out. Looking over, it's Hoshijiro and she's at a smaller safety railing that still has room! Izana grabs Nagate's arm and pulls him along. It's like running up a hill now and Izana's breath is becoming labored, but they make it to the safety rail. Izana hooks their belt but Nagate seems to be having trouble until Hoshijiro slaps his hands away and releases the catch.
The gravity plane shifts and all three fall towards the window at the end of the hall, their belt catching their fall and yanking the air from their lungs. Another cadet isn't so lucky. He falls around a corner, hitting his head, and tumbles down the hall to fall into the central cavity of Sidonia. Despite themself, Izana tries to reach out to catch him, getting a fingernail torn as he is knocks their hand in his flailing.
Their maneuvers were perfect, synchronized and flawless. Within 30 seconds of engagement, the core was exposed and Akai was closing in to strike with the kabizashi (the only weapon that could penetrate a gauna's core), when there was suddenly screaming over the comm.
Collectively, all the cadets drew in their breath, watching and listening with horror as it all fell apart. Akai was the first to fall, pierced and captured by tentacles formed by the gauna's ena. Momose lost control then, forgetting the mission and screaming for the gauna to give back her finance.
More shots were fired, both from the garde unit's Heugus cannons and their railguns, but Izana could only hear the wet sound of Akai's death.They covered their mouth, suddenly sick.
Midorikawa and Kashiwade (Izana couldn't help remembering them joking about how they were going to beat the gauna) try to salvage the mission and pull Momose back, but within a minute all pilots were dead.
Stunned, Izana's gaze flicks to Midorikawa's younger sister,Yuhata wasn't it?. They couldn't help but feel sorry for her lose. For all their loses. But the battle wasn't over yet.
"Fire the heavy mass cannon now!" The Captain orders, coolly, over the bridge's comm.
"Roger. The target's gauna 487. Prepare the heavy mass cannons." The Commander's Aid replies before the combat feed is cut out.
The cadets turn to look at each other, stunned from the battle and confused as to why the feed was cut. Izana stands to look for Nagate when an announcement cuts through all the speakers throughout Sidonia:
This is an anti-gravity alert. This is an anti-gravity alert.
Sidonia will undergo emergency acceleration.
All hands, fasten your gravity belts to a railing and prepare for acceleration.
Once again....
Sidonia will undergo emergency acceleration.
All hands, fasten your gravity belts to a railing and prepare for acceleration.
Once again....
Action erupts around the room and before the call to fasten gravity belts is spoken, every cadet is making their way out of the room to the nearest safety rails. Izana is pulled along with them, though they try to shove and push to make their own way and not be pulled along. The cadets don't panic, but it is a near thing.
The first rails Izana comes across are already dangerously full and so they continue, stooping to help another cadet who has fallen regain their feet. It takes more effort than it should, which makes them realize the gravity is shifting. Based on the axis, and the vibrations through the floor, Izana is stunned to realize Sidonia is accelerating, and at a diagonal at that. This is bad, very bad. Sidonia's artificial gravity is rated to only work for 1G of acceleration and at the perpendicular, not diagonal! As the floor of the hallway starts to rise and become an incline, their fears are confirmed.
"Nagate!" They shout out as they spot him. "This way!"
He comes running over and they make their way to another safety rail, but it is crowded. The pitch of the floor is only rising and Izana has to fight down panic. "Over here!" She hears someone call out. Looking over, it's Hoshijiro and she's at a smaller safety railing that still has room! Izana grabs Nagate's arm and pulls him along. It's like running up a hill now and Izana's breath is becoming labored, but they make it to the safety rail. Izana hooks their belt but Nagate seems to be having trouble until Hoshijiro slaps his hands away and releases the catch.
The gravity plane shifts and all three fall towards the window at the end of the hall, their belt catching their fall and yanking the air from their lungs. Another cadet isn't so lucky. He falls around a corner, hitting his head, and tumbles down the hall to fall into the central cavity of Sidonia. Despite themself, Izana tries to reach out to catch him, getting a fingernail torn as he is knocks their hand in his flailing.
"Glory" prt 02
Dec. 9th, 2015 12:08 pm[OOC: I messed up my previous write up for Glory part 02. Please ignore it in favor of this one. Thanks.]
Later after everyone is treated, and Hiyama and Hoshijiro have left, Nagate decided to rest for a bit. Still concerned and touched by his defending them, Izana decided to stay and read while he slept. Merely in case he needed help or further medical attention of course. Picking up their datapad, they set to reading, occasionally glancing to ensure Nagate was alright; at least until a knock sounded and the door opened. Expecting Hiyama, Izana didn't bother to stand but looked up, only to see Mochikuni Akai, star pilot and four time winner of the Garde Duels.
Iznana immediately stood, cheeks flaming in embarrassment, but Akai waved her off. "It that Nagate Tanikaze sleeping there?" He asked with a grin.
Izana nodded and turned to try and shake their friend awake. "Nagate! Nagate!"
"Don't bother waking him," Akai said quickly, though likely he didn't need to. Nagate was out cold. Akai tilted his head to the side, seeming to recognize Izana. "Aren't you one of the cadets that was on the extraction mission also?"
"Yes, Sir!" They said with a salute. "Shinatose Izana!"
"Me and my team, we're going to the sea tomorrow and we were hoping he could join us. Would you mind extending our invitation for me? Once he's awake"
"Wow!" Izana replied, unable to hide their enthusiasm, having always wanted to see Sidonia's marine section. "Yes, yes. Of course." They added with a slight bow.
"You can come too." Akai added, with a smile for Izana's somewhat restrained enthusiasm.
"What? Do you really mean it? Wow, thank you!"
Izana managed to wait, keeping their composure for a full three minutes after Akai closed the door before leaping in the air, arms raised, and squealing in excitement.
Later after everyone is treated, and Hiyama and Hoshijiro have left, Nagate decided to rest for a bit. Still concerned and touched by his defending them, Izana decided to stay and read while he slept. Merely in case he needed help or further medical attention of course. Picking up their datapad, they set to reading, occasionally glancing to ensure Nagate was alright; at least until a knock sounded and the door opened. Expecting Hiyama, Izana didn't bother to stand but looked up, only to see Mochikuni Akai, star pilot and four time winner of the Garde Duels.
Iznana immediately stood, cheeks flaming in embarrassment, but Akai waved her off. "It that Nagate Tanikaze sleeping there?" He asked with a grin.
Izana nodded and turned to try and shake their friend awake. "Nagate! Nagate!"
"Don't bother waking him," Akai said quickly, though likely he didn't need to. Nagate was out cold. Akai tilted his head to the side, seeming to recognize Izana. "Aren't you one of the cadets that was on the extraction mission also?"
"Yes, Sir!" They said with a salute. "Shinatose Izana!"
"Me and my team, we're going to the sea tomorrow and we were hoping he could join us. Would you mind extending our invitation for me? Once he's awake"
"Wow!" Izana replied, unable to hide their enthusiasm, having always wanted to see Sidonia's marine section. "Yes, yes. Of course." They added with a slight bow.
"You can come too." Akai added, with a smile for Izana's somewhat restrained enthusiasm.
"What? Do you really mean it? Wow, thank you!"
Izana managed to wait, keeping their composure for a full three minutes after Akai closed the door before leaping in the air, arms raised, and squealing in excitement.
"Glory" prt 02-Redacted
Sep. 24th, 2015 12:28 pm[OOC: And I have this completely wrong. Scrubbing and moving forward, please forget you ever saw this.]
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
"Glory", part 01
Aug. 14th, 2015 01:19 pmIzana closed the door to Nagate's dorm and sagged against the wall with a sigh. They couldn't help feeling upset that neither Nagate nor Hoshijiro had volunteered to go and get the Dorm Mother, Hiyama, despite the fact Izana's leg was injured; the stick from the candied apple still stuck in their thigh.
Okay, yes Izana had volunteered but Hoshijiro wasn't even injured and while Nagate was injured, it was his shoulder. Instead, Izana was the one to go and limp to find the Dorm Mother because the other two were spending too much time staring at each other.
It wasn't fair and it wasn't how Izana had wanted the Gravity Festival to end.
Still, Nagate did rush to defend them when Kunato knocked Izana over and caused their injury. And then rushing into a fight to punish Kunato for his harsh words and disregard for Izana's person. They still couldn't believe Kunato's cruelty. Ignoring the stick piercing their thigh was bad enough but calling all of them 'demihumans' for daring to question his actions. Of course, Nagate didn't prove to be a very good fighter and Kunato pulled his shoulder, tear muscles and nearly dislocating it.
No, this was not how Izana had wished to the Gravity Festival to have been at all. Bad enough that Nagate seemed to only want to spent time with hoshijiro. Oh well, the bandages weren't going to come to them and sighing wasn't going to summon them either.
Pushing themselves off the wall, Izana limped their way to the office of the Dorm Mother, Miyama.
Okay, yes Izana had volunteered but Hoshijiro wasn't even injured and while Nagate was injured, it was his shoulder. Instead, Izana was the one to go and limp to find the Dorm Mother because the other two were spending too much time staring at each other.
It wasn't fair and it wasn't how Izana had wanted the Gravity Festival to end.
Still, Nagate did rush to defend them when Kunato knocked Izana over and caused their injury. And then rushing into a fight to punish Kunato for his harsh words and disregard for Izana's person. They still couldn't believe Kunato's cruelty. Ignoring the stick piercing their thigh was bad enough but calling all of them 'demihumans' for daring to question his actions. Of course, Nagate didn't prove to be a very good fighter and Kunato pulled his shoulder, tear muscles and nearly dislocating it.
No, this was not how Izana had wished to the Gravity Festival to have been at all. Bad enough that Nagate seemed to only want to spent time with hoshijiro. Oh well, the bandages weren't going to come to them and sighing wasn't going to summon them either.
Pushing themselves off the wall, Izana limped their way to the office of the Dorm Mother, Miyama.
Ep 02 - Oblivion: Yamano's funeral
Jun. 24th, 2015 01:48 pmOutside the funeral...
"Do not be fooled! Can't you see we're being lied to?The Gauna have not really re-emerged!" The old man is shouting as he waves a sign which bares pictures of the several past captains of Sidonia. The pictures span several centuries and reads, 'Immortal Council controlling Sidonia! These are all the same person!'
"Shut up and show some gratitude. Apologize to the pilots!" A workman yells back.
"You fool. You are being tricked. Throw down your weapons! The military must call off this state of war immediately! The gauna have not reemerged. The fallen pilots are just a hoax."
"Do not be fooled! Can't you see we're being lied to?The Gauna have not really re-emerged!" The old man is shouting as he waves a sign which bares pictures of the several past captains of Sidonia. The pictures span several centuries and reads, 'Immortal Council controlling Sidonia! These are all the same person!'
"Shut up and show some gratitude. Apologize to the pilots!" A workman yells back.
"You fool. You are being tricked. Throw down your weapons! The military must call off this state of war immediately! The gauna have not reemerged. The fallen pilots are just a hoax."
Inside, all garde pilots and pilot cadets, as well as other military personal, are lined up to pay their respects. At the podium below the large print of Yamano Eiko, Captain Kobayashi stands and regards the ranks, her face hidden beneath a mask.
"Yamano Eiko's death should be mourned." She calls out. "However, we will not let her sacrifice go to waste. A Gauna Cluster has entered our warning sector. The gauna once again have threatened us. We cannot communicate with the gauna. The only way to protect humanity is with unconditional force. I have much faith in your dedication as well as your resolve. Dismissed."
In the ranks, Izana keeps their face impassive and calm, as is proper, but their eyes betray their worry as they look about and find themself wondering whom will be the next to die.
S1.01: Commencement, Epilouge
Jun. 18th, 2015 09:06 amDaisuki entered the changing room singing their favorite hit from the dance floors, followed a moment later by Rui, who was nodding along to Daisuki's beautiful voice. Rui went off to their locker to get out of their skin suit, while Daisuki was changing from a tracksuit.
Both thought they were alone until Daisuki happened to glance into the showers and spotted Izana standing there idly rubbing a washcloth along their arm and staring off at nothing. The shower had long since timed out, or Izana had turned off the water. Daisuki really had no way of knowing and it didn't matter anyway.
"Izana?" They asked, concern growing. When Izana didn't reply, they dropped everything and ran to them. Grabbing Izana's arm, Daisuki felt how cold they were and called out to Rui, "Bring a towel!"
Izana barely reacted.
"Iza-chan, what's the matter? It's okay, We're here now." Daisuki soothed as she wrapped Izana in a hug, gently rubbing their arms to bring warmth back. Rui was quickly there with several towels and began to wrap Izana. Once Izana was covered, they lead them to a bench, each taking a side to get Izana warm. They had no idea how long Izana had been in the shower and were very worried.
Eventually, Izana blinked as if awaking and looked about. "Daisuki? Rui? When did you come in?"
"Oh, Iza-chan, you had us worried. We're been here holding you for several minutes now. What happened?"
"I..." Izana started to say but then remembered all Gauna encounters are classified. "I'm sorry, it's classified." They said, their voice still a bit withdrawn.
Daisuki and Rui both knew what that likely meant and both looked at each other in fear before turning their attention back to Izana. "No one is here and we promise not to gossip. Tell us."
Izana held their gaze for a solid minute before tears streamed down their cheek. "I didn't do anything to save her," they began and proceeded to outline the entire battle. "The worse thing is...the worse thing is, I'm happy it wasn't me." They whispered once they were done.
"Oh honey, of course you're happy to be alive. Come. Get dressed."
"What? Why?"
"We are going out to the entertainment district."
"That does not seem right." Izana said, more than a little scandalized.
"Silly Iza-chan, we are going to honor that bitch Yamano. I don't think any of us liked her very much, but she deserves a wake."
"DAISUKI!" Izana chastised.
"What? A very wise sage once said, 'The living deserve respect but the dead only truth'. Or something like that. Come on. Food first, than we'll see what we will find to give the proper Yamano all the respect we can give her."
"I don't need food. I ate the day before."
"Silly, Izana," Rui replied with a snort. "We will be drinking and that always works better with a solid foundation of food in your belly."
Both thought they were alone until Daisuki happened to glance into the showers and spotted Izana standing there idly rubbing a washcloth along their arm and staring off at nothing. The shower had long since timed out, or Izana had turned off the water. Daisuki really had no way of knowing and it didn't matter anyway.
"Izana?" They asked, concern growing. When Izana didn't reply, they dropped everything and ran to them. Grabbing Izana's arm, Daisuki felt how cold they were and called out to Rui, "Bring a towel!"
Izana barely reacted.
"Iza-chan, what's the matter? It's okay, We're here now." Daisuki soothed as she wrapped Izana in a hug, gently rubbing their arms to bring warmth back. Rui was quickly there with several towels and began to wrap Izana. Once Izana was covered, they lead them to a bench, each taking a side to get Izana warm. They had no idea how long Izana had been in the shower and were very worried.
Eventually, Izana blinked as if awaking and looked about. "Daisuki? Rui? When did you come in?"
"Oh, Iza-chan, you had us worried. We're been here holding you for several minutes now. What happened?"
"I..." Izana started to say but then remembered all Gauna encounters are classified. "I'm sorry, it's classified." They said, their voice still a bit withdrawn.
Daisuki and Rui both knew what that likely meant and both looked at each other in fear before turning their attention back to Izana. "No one is here and we promise not to gossip. Tell us."
Izana held their gaze for a solid minute before tears streamed down their cheek. "I didn't do anything to save her," they began and proceeded to outline the entire battle. "The worse thing is...the worse thing is, I'm happy it wasn't me." They whispered once they were done.
"Oh honey, of course you're happy to be alive. Come. Get dressed."
"What? Why?"
"We are going out to the entertainment district."
"That does not seem right." Izana said, more than a little scandalized.
"Silly Iza-chan, we are going to honor that bitch Yamano. I don't think any of us liked her very much, but she deserves a wake."
"DAISUKI!" Izana chastised.
"What? A very wise sage once said, 'The living deserve respect but the dead only truth'. Or something like that. Come on. Food first, than we'll see what we will find to give the proper Yamano all the respect we can give her."
"I don't need food. I ate the day before."
"Silly, Izana," Rui replied with a snort. "We will be drinking and that always works better with a solid foundation of food in your belly."
S1.01: Commencement, 03 of 03
Jun. 17th, 2015 09:11 amAfter reading the official memo, Izana went in search of Nagate, eventually finding him cleaning an empty classroom.
"Nagate-san, they've announced the latest cadet organization and we are within the same disivision." Izana said by way of greeting. Nagate stopped sweeping and stared at them blankly. "That means we may be paired together in the same unit for drills or practice sorties. In fact, we are on call right now."
"Oh. That's great," Nagate said with a smile.
"We must shake hands now," Izana said, holding out their right hand for Nagate to clasp.
"What is this for?" Nagate asked staring at their hands.
"There is a saying that squad mates who've never touched each other will get into an accident." As they shook hands, Izana spotted Yamano walking in the hall outside and called out, "Oh, Yamano! You're in our division aren't you? We might be paired together, so let's shake hands to be safe."
"That's just a dumb superstition," Yamano replied with barely a pause before continuing down the hall and away from them. "I'm gonna pass."
"Yamano is always like that," Izana said with a sigh as they watched Yamano walking away from the doorway. "Well, let's go put on our skin suits." Izana knew some experience with the suits would do Nagate some good as being introduced to the biological catheter right before your first sortie would not be good.
"What?" Nagate replied.
"Just follow me."
"Nagate-san, they've announced the latest cadet organization and we are within the same disivision." Izana said by way of greeting. Nagate stopped sweeping and stared at them blankly. "That means we may be paired together in the same unit for drills or practice sorties. In fact, we are on call right now."
"Oh. That's great," Nagate said with a smile.
"We must shake hands now," Izana said, holding out their right hand for Nagate to clasp.
"What is this for?" Nagate asked staring at their hands.
"There is a saying that squad mates who've never touched each other will get into an accident." As they shook hands, Izana spotted Yamano walking in the hall outside and called out, "Oh, Yamano! You're in our division aren't you? We might be paired together, so let's shake hands to be safe."
"That's just a dumb superstition," Yamano replied with barely a pause before continuing down the hall and away from them. "I'm gonna pass."
"Yamano is always like that," Izana said with a sigh as they watched Yamano walking away from the doorway. "Well, let's go put on our skin suits." Izana knew some experience with the suits would do Nagate some good as being introduced to the biological catheter right before your first sortie would not be good.
"What?" Nagate replied.
"Just follow me."
S1.01: Commencement, 02 of 03
Jun. 16th, 2015 08:28 amAnother day, another training exercise. Izana was in the changing room and waiting for the organic catheter of their skinsuit to withdraw. Today they shared the room with the only other intersexed pilots currently training at the Academy; Mitsukawa Daisuki, Kameyama Rui, and Shioya Masumi.
"So Izana, I heard you saw that underdweller and even made friends with him. What's that all about?" Rui asks as they stretched their arms. Stiff from a workout, they were just getting themselves ready for a shower, but there was gossip to be had.
"I don't know there is much to tell. His name is Tanikaze Nagate and he says he's always lived underground with his grandfather. I can believe it because he was quite smelly and his only clothing was an old vacuum suit; the kind worn before skinsuits." Izana replied as they pulled off their skinsuit and hung it within their locker. "He acts funny, too."
"How do you mean?" Daisuki asked through a curtain of black hair as they tied up their boots. Their classes and examines were over and so they were getting ready for a night on the town.
"Well, he didn't know I was bigender. In fact, he didn't even know about the other genders. And in class, he said 'Hello, everyone' when told to introduce himself," Izana explained with a little laugh, which they quickly covered with their hand so as to not be rude.
"How immature," Masumi murmured from behind their notebook. As usual, they were studying. "Why didn't he just wait for the class to respond as is proper?"
"I don't know. I also don't understand why he was enrolled in the Garde Pilot Cadet program. I asked him if he had some special ability, but he denied having any special skill or ability. He even scored lowest when he tried one of the Garde simulators. He seems nice enough, but I just don't understand why he's in the Garde Pilot program since it's so hard to get in. What makes him so special?"
"I think someone is showing a lot of attention to a mysterious new boy," Daisuki teased. "Is he pretty at least?"
"It's not that!" Izana exclaimed, a bit embarrassed. Nagate was appealing but that wasn't the point. "I just don't want an innocent person to get hurt or other pilots to be in danger because he isn't up to the task."
"Of course dear," Daisuki replied with a knowing grin which sent the others snickering and Izana blushing.
"So Izana, I heard you saw that underdweller and even made friends with him. What's that all about?" Rui asks as they stretched their arms. Stiff from a workout, they were just getting themselves ready for a shower, but there was gossip to be had.
"I don't know there is much to tell. His name is Tanikaze Nagate and he says he's always lived underground with his grandfather. I can believe it because he was quite smelly and his only clothing was an old vacuum suit; the kind worn before skinsuits." Izana replied as they pulled off their skinsuit and hung it within their locker. "He acts funny, too."
"How do you mean?" Daisuki asked through a curtain of black hair as they tied up their boots. Their classes and examines were over and so they were getting ready for a night on the town.
"Well, he didn't know I was bigender. In fact, he didn't even know about the other genders. And in class, he said 'Hello, everyone' when told to introduce himself," Izana explained with a little laugh, which they quickly covered with their hand so as to not be rude.
"How immature," Masumi murmured from behind their notebook. As usual, they were studying. "Why didn't he just wait for the class to respond as is proper?"
"I don't know. I also don't understand why he was enrolled in the Garde Pilot Cadet program. I asked him if he had some special ability, but he denied having any special skill or ability. He even scored lowest when he tried one of the Garde simulators. He seems nice enough, but I just don't understand why he's in the Garde Pilot program since it's so hard to get in. What makes him so special?"
"I think someone is showing a lot of attention to a mysterious new boy," Daisuki teased. "Is he pretty at least?"
"It's not that!" Izana exclaimed, a bit embarrassed. Nagate was appealing but that wasn't the point. "I just don't want an innocent person to get hurt or other pilots to be in danger because he isn't up to the task."
"Of course dear," Daisuki replied with a knowing grin which sent the others snickering and Izana blushing.
S1.01: Commencement, 01 of 03
Jun. 15th, 2015 11:58 amIzana's thoughts of their performance were interrupted as they were leaving the bigender changing room and heard talking outside in the corridor. Spotting three of the Honoka sisters and Yamano Eiko walking towards them and talking, Izana paused to gauge what the other cadets were talking about.
"So is he dead or something?" En, the "eldest" of the Honoka sisters asked. Being clones born in batches of eleven, the Honoka sisters typically decided who was the oldest and youngest of each batch. It made things easier.
Ren, the sister with the most fighting spirit, answered her. "No, he survived. They arrested him, then sent him to the hospital."
"He slammed into a poke, flew ten meters, and he's still alive?" Hou, the "youngest" of the sisters, asked.
"He broke into the rice factory, didn't he?" Ren added. "That's scary."
Intrigued by the mystery, Izana couldn't keep quiet any longer and walked quickly to catch up to the group. "Hold on, what are you talking about?"
"About the underdweller," Ren answered, with a smile of welcome.
"Underdweller?" Izana repeated with a hint of wonder.
"Yeah right," Yamano said, taking on airs of superiority as always. She was a year above the other cadets but still. "That's just a stupid urban legend."
"It's been a thousand years since the city was founded," Izana mused out loud. As the group talked, they left the changing areas and were making their way towards the outside of the Garde Pilot Cadet Academy; plastic and steel walls replaced by worn concrete. "They say the tunnels under the base are so confusing that if you get lost in them, you'll never get out."
Yamano sniffed and rolled her eyes. "That's what we call an urban legend."
"Then let's go see if it's true or not." En suggested with an adventurous smile.
"What?" Everyone but Yamano replied in unison.
"So is he dead or something?" En, the "eldest" of the Honoka sisters asked. Being clones born in batches of eleven, the Honoka sisters typically decided who was the oldest and youngest of each batch. It made things easier.
Ren, the sister with the most fighting spirit, answered her. "No, he survived. They arrested him, then sent him to the hospital."
"He slammed into a poke, flew ten meters, and he's still alive?" Hou, the "youngest" of the sisters, asked.
"He broke into the rice factory, didn't he?" Ren added. "That's scary."
Intrigued by the mystery, Izana couldn't keep quiet any longer and walked quickly to catch up to the group. "Hold on, what are you talking about?"
"About the underdweller," Ren answered, with a smile of welcome.
"Underdweller?" Izana repeated with a hint of wonder.
"Yeah right," Yamano said, taking on airs of superiority as always. She was a year above the other cadets but still. "That's just a stupid urban legend."
"It's been a thousand years since the city was founded," Izana mused out loud. As the group talked, they left the changing areas and were making their way towards the outside of the Garde Pilot Cadet Academy; plastic and steel walls replaced by worn concrete. "They say the tunnels under the base are so confusing that if you get lost in them, you'll never get out."
Yamano sniffed and rolled her eyes. "That's what we call an urban legend."
"Then let's go see if it's true or not." En suggested with an adventurous smile.
"What?" Everyone but Yamano replied in unison.
"You know which hospital he's in, right Ren?"
"Yes," Ren said, beginning to feel the excitement of it.
Yamano stopped about half-way across the causeway before the Tsugumori in its place of honor as the first garde unit to kill a gauna. She turned to face them, her superior look in full force. "Well, I'm going to pass this time. I have my test soon."
Stung by Yamano's superior airs, Izana muttered, "Yamano always has to be the diligent student."
Stung in return, Yamano yells out, "We're in the middle of a war! You all know it's our duty as cadets to become pilots as soon as possible so that we're fully prepared to defend Sidonia when called upon! And just look at you!" The four other cadets' look of shock made Yamano pause for a moment, before she spun on her heel with a sound of disgust. "Ugh."
Discovering the simulators
May. 22nd, 2015 01:29 pmIzana has been exploring more of Milliways and is now exploring the inside features the Guide mentions. They decide they would like to see this garage, and the vehicles within, and so go in search of the elevator; which they find easy enough. As they are waiting for the elevator car to arrive, they hear a door click open and see the light outside it flicker.
Curious and cautious due to the darkness of the room, they push open the door to see what's inside. The room is dark and smells dusty and stagnate. Steeling themselves for some sort of monster, they fumble about the wall by the door for a light switch, finding one more by accident than intent. They gasp once the shapes are revealed to be large booths in many different forms. They see boxes, rectangles, spheres, and domes. Poking their head within the doorway of a few of them, Izana suspects these are simulators and when they come across the familiar ferrocrete rectangle of a garde simulator, they know they are.
Of course, some of the simulators make little sense to them. Like the table with the yellow dot with the smiling face and pink bow, or the upright one with the spinning nob, but there are likely many types of vehicles to fight with.
They stand there in the dust and wonder if the machines work. Only one thing for it. Time to clean. Besides, all this dust on machines designed to help people fight to defend isn't respectful.
Curious and cautious due to the darkness of the room, they push open the door to see what's inside. The room is dark and smells dusty and stagnate. Steeling themselves for some sort of monster, they fumble about the wall by the door for a light switch, finding one more by accident than intent. They gasp once the shapes are revealed to be large booths in many different forms. They see boxes, rectangles, spheres, and domes. Poking their head within the doorway of a few of them, Izana suspects these are simulators and when they come across the familiar ferrocrete rectangle of a garde simulator, they know they are.
Of course, some of the simulators make little sense to them. Like the table with the yellow dot with the smiling face and pink bow, or the upright one with the spinning nob, but there are likely many types of vehicles to fight with.
They stand there in the dust and wonder if the machines work. Only one thing for it. Time to clean. Besides, all this dust on machines designed to help people fight to defend isn't respectful.
A mote in an infinite ocean
May. 8th, 2015 01:00 pmToday was the test that made or broke garde pilot cadets. No one ever knew if they would make it or not. It wasn't a test based on aptitude or skill, it wasn't a test you could study for. It was a test that you either passed or failed, and it all depended on some internal quality you didn't know you had until you faced the test.
Today, Shinatose Izana's class was to take the space survival aptitude evaluation.
Izana knew all the protocols. Knew the pace with which to ration the water and food. Knew how often to photosynthesize. Knew how the evaluation would be given. It was simple. The cadet was towed out in an older garde, forward of Sidonia's trajectory, and then the cadet was to eject out into open space. A week later, they would be picked up.
More often than not, cadets simply continued the program or dropped out. Psychological evaluations weeded out those who would suffer mental breakdowns floating in space with nothing around them for a week, but enough made it past even that screening that the cadets always worried if they would be one that came back screaming that the void was going to devour them.
The force of the garde's take off pushed Izana back into the seat of their garde and the present. Once clear of Sidonia, they initiated a clasp formation, the grapplers of the two, large, human-like gardes joining, and then they ignited their thrusters. Thirty minutes later, they reversed their thrust to slow their forward momentum.
"Garde pilot cadet 291, you are cleared for emergency ejection."
"Hah," Izana confirmed and triggered the ejection. The canopy burst open and they were launched into space, their skin suit maintaining pressure and oxygen levels until the backpack triggered and the emergency lifebubble burst forth and formed around Izana. The rotation of the bubble spun wildly for a few rotations (in one of which she saw the garde wave a farewell at them through the viewport before engaging thrusters again to return to Sidonia), before stabilizing procedures began. Slowly, the micro-thrusters reduced the bubbles spin and the rotation became more controlled, allowing Izana a good, less dizzying look at open space.
They had expected to fear it, but instead they respected it. It was amazing and beautiful, and, yes, dangerous, but it simply was. It didn't hate them, it didn't want them dead. It didn't even think of them.
Another rotation brought Sidonia into view, much reduced due to Izana's distance from it, and Izana gasped. It seemed so fragile from out here and so far away. It made Izana want to protect it all the more.
A week later, a garde unit returned to collect Izana. As the lifebubble rotated, the view port came into view and Izana waved hello before fogging the clear duroplastic and drawing a happy cat face, waving its own paw in welcome.
Today, Shinatose Izana's class was to take the space survival aptitude evaluation.
Izana knew all the protocols. Knew the pace with which to ration the water and food. Knew how often to photosynthesize. Knew how the evaluation would be given. It was simple. The cadet was towed out in an older garde, forward of Sidonia's trajectory, and then the cadet was to eject out into open space. A week later, they would be picked up.
More often than not, cadets simply continued the program or dropped out. Psychological evaluations weeded out those who would suffer mental breakdowns floating in space with nothing around them for a week, but enough made it past even that screening that the cadets always worried if they would be one that came back screaming that the void was going to devour them.
The force of the garde's take off pushed Izana back into the seat of their garde and the present. Once clear of Sidonia, they initiated a clasp formation, the grapplers of the two, large, human-like gardes joining, and then they ignited their thrusters. Thirty minutes later, they reversed their thrust to slow their forward momentum.
"Garde pilot cadet 291, you are cleared for emergency ejection."
"Hah," Izana confirmed and triggered the ejection. The canopy burst open and they were launched into space, their skin suit maintaining pressure and oxygen levels until the backpack triggered and the emergency lifebubble burst forth and formed around Izana. The rotation of the bubble spun wildly for a few rotations (in one of which she saw the garde wave a farewell at them through the viewport before engaging thrusters again to return to Sidonia), before stabilizing procedures began. Slowly, the micro-thrusters reduced the bubbles spin and the rotation became more controlled, allowing Izana a good, less dizzying look at open space.
They had expected to fear it, but instead they respected it. It was amazing and beautiful, and, yes, dangerous, but it simply was. It didn't hate them, it didn't want them dead. It didn't even think of them.
Another rotation brought Sidonia into view, much reduced due to Izana's distance from it, and Izana gasped. It seemed so fragile from out here and so far away. It made Izana want to protect it all the more.
A week later, a garde unit returned to collect Izana. As the lifebubble rotated, the view port came into view and Izana waved hello before fogging the clear duroplastic and drawing a happy cat face, waving its own paw in welcome.
On Izana's sex and gender
Apr. 9th, 2015 09:20 amIzana Shinatose is a genetically engineered human and is of a sex that has both male and female characteristics.
As per canon:
From the Anime
You're probably wondering which one, right? Am I a boy or a girl? I'm neither one. I guess you didn't know, living underground, but there are genders besides male and female now. It doesn't matter who my partner is for conception. When I chose one, my body changes on it's own.
From the Manga
I'm neither. I think you would't know, being underground and all. But recently there have been other genders besides male and female. It doesn't matter if you're partnered up with a male or female for procreation. And even if you don't have a partner, it's possible to reproduce your own clone through asexual reproduction.
( Vague and minor spoiler… )
As per canon:
From the Anime
You're probably wondering which one, right? Am I a boy or a girl? I'm neither one. I guess you didn't know, living underground, but there are genders besides male and female now. It doesn't matter who my partner is for conception. When I chose one, my body changes on it's own.
From the Manga
I'm neither. I think you would't know, being underground and all. But recently there have been other genders besides male and female. It doesn't matter if you're partnered up with a male or female for procreation. And even if you don't have a partner, it's possible to reproduce your own clone through asexual reproduction.
( Vague and minor spoiler… )
