Eh, what do you mean?
In the Alliance, regulations prohibit both sexes to serve in the same vessel. So I came from a ship where my subordinates and superior officers were all female.
Ehhh... I never knew the Alliance did things that way.
Such measures were adopted to enforce discipline.
Does it work?
Heh. Somewhat.
Anyways, I can't believe this resort station! It's so awesome!
The Lydia's one of the biggest resort space stations in Alliance space. With over 100 acres of beach and forest, it's the ideal place for a vacation! Just another one of the Alliance's cutting edge technologies!
Hey, the Commander's been gone for a long time. You don't suppose she finally cracked? Maybe she's hiding inside a cove somewhere, pretending to give orders to a bunch of hermit crabs...
Hi girls, we're back with the BBQ Grill :3
W-wow.
W-who's that babe with you Captain?!
Uuuu.... I just can't win them.
Ah, just someone I know in high school. Pretty isn't she?
Attention all hands. It has come to my attention that the Captain wishes to see us rested up for the battles to come. While it is my desire to run a tight ship... sometimes exceptions must be made for the good of the crew.
Uwah... it's really her.
Lighten up a bit, would ya?
AHEM. LET'S CRACK OPEN THIS BOTTLE ALREADY AND GET THIS OVER WITH!
Ooooahhh!!
Eh.. I should chat up with Ava. Maybe she's loosened up a bit...
I see you've brought some booze. How's it taste?
The crew's been calling these Vanguard Shots. 'Melts through the armor of any Cruiser' they say. Want some?
Uhh... Sure. *takes a swig*
As powerful as advertised?
Normally, I'd say it tastes like the Sunrider's coolant. But being on the beach with pretty girls in swimsuits makes everything better.
Hmph. We shouldn't be here...
Not again, senpai... Look, our crew isn't exactly military material. A reckless freelancer, two kids, and a nympho disqualified medical professional... Only you and that boy is actually fit for military service. So I gotta play it loose a bit.
You have a point. You know, you've grown since those days. You're becoming quite a leader.
Well, I learned from the best.
No. I'm afraid I was never cut out to be a Captain. I haven't changed as much as you have. You remember those days? All the members of the student council left me, one by one. On day one, we had over a dozen members. But week after week, people disappeared - people who were enthusiastic and had ideas when they first joined. I think I never had much capacity to inspire others, I'm afraid.
Well, you still had me. I stayed till you graduated. (For entirely different reasons, of course.)
Yes. Yes you did.
(Come on, Senpai~) I really liked working under you, you know...
Ava poured another shot and swigged it down.
(She's a tough woman...) Sigh.
Who's that girl you used to have a crush on back in those days?
Eh?
She was the only thing you talked about during our second year.
I... uh, I have no idea whom you could be referring to.
Alice was she? Or Hana? The one with golden hair.
O-oh! Right. Hana. (Haha, another one of those made up stories I gave her)
How'd that end up after I left?
... ... I uh.. I don't want to talk about it.
Ha hah. What's the matter? She broke your heart?
(More like didn't exist...)
Funny, you blew past those two PACT Carriers like they weren't even there - now you're all flustered and tight-lipped over an adolescent romance. I'm almost ashamed to look at you.
(Uuugh..) Senpai, you're drunk...
I know you, Steve. You always did have a weak spot for cute little things...
Hnnnghhh...w-what the fuck, Ava?
And I'm not just referring to the anime you have set as your desktop background.
Oh for fuck's sake, Ava. That's kid stuff...
Hmph. Well, go chat with the rest of the girls. I'm off to the bathroom.
(Goddamit, that went totally the wrong direction! DAMN!) Hey, Icari! Boy! What's up?
What are you two arguing about here?
Oh nothing, the soldier boy and I were just comparing our kill counts from the last battle. Turns out she only took down a measly six kills! Hah!
Except three of those ships were carriers containing over a hundred ryders! So if you count all the ryders which were destroyed inside the ships, I got over 300!
Heh, so now you've taken up wrecking poor defenseless ryders sleeping inside their motherships, huh?
Ladies... c'mon now. You both did very well during the battle. There's no need to fight. But really, you saw what the Sunrider did, right? *makes hand motions* Whoosh! Short Range Warp! Quantum Torpedoes, point blank! Two down! Warp again! Zooom! Vanguard Cannon! Blammmo! Three dead ryders and three badly damaged Cruisers. Now wasn't that awesome or what?
This is a comparison between two ryders' performance, Captain. Putting the Sunrider on equal footing with a ryder's battlefield contribution? How unfair!
Yeah. Buzz off, turbodweeb. We're having a good discussion here till you stepped in.
Uhhhh, okay. (...so much hate.) Maybe I should approach the lonely ones...
Wow. I never knew you had such talent, Sola.
... Captain. You give too much credit. My hands are merely steadier than most.
So...what are you making?
The imperial palace at Far Port.
(Whee.) Nice.
During my time, Far Port was a bustling trade world. It was where I was born.
Oh? You weren't born on Ryuvia Prime?
No. I... rarely spent time at the Palace, but I still remember it vividly. I remember being swept away with wonder upon seeing the palace for the first time. It was a feeling which I will remember for the rest of my life.
(For the first time??? Hey wait a second...) Sola, you're not actually a princes of Ryuvia, are you?
Ah?
As I recall, when we first met, the talbur did not glow for you - but Asaga.
... It is as you say.
(!!!) Then who are you really?
Ahaha.
(I didn't expect her to laugh it off.)
You ask such silly questions, Captain. I am Sola.
(Ehhhhh... it was a serious question.) I won't ask if you won't answer.
...Captain, the galaxy of mine was a different place. A sad place.
(Tsk. I'm not trying to depress you...) Hey. Try this.
Hm?
It's a sesame ball. A popular food on Cera.
A ball?
It's crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Also, it has red bean paste as its filling.
The merchants often carried exotic foods at the bazaar... And yet, I have never heard of this sesame ball... Perhaps I could give it a try...
Well? Is it good?
Mmm...
Come join us at the mess hall more often. Don't eat at the corner by yourself anymore. You're part of the team now, Sola. Doesn't matter who you are, or what timeline you're from.
Captain. You are... kind. But now I must go back. To my castle.
Okay. Have fun! I'll be grilling dinner soon, be sure to drop by the grill later, okay?
Mm.