Tuna in the Brine (PM to join)

[rinji]

The nightmare was over. It was going to take them a long time to fix even a fraction of the damage to the base, so basically all of the marines were given different assignments while only a few of them were set in place to watch after the island in a different position of the main city. Chio was given orders to Logue Town, a very famous base for obvious reasons. While he was somewhat excited, he was also somewhat worried. Having to uproot on a whim was mentally exhausting for him. He was praised by the other Marines for repelling the one who blew up their base, but he received no benefits for doing so.

He continued his detail on the ship, tightening up the sails and tying them onto the loops that held them. The wind was very harsh that day, while that did increase their speed, their sails were not indestructible, and they could snap at any moment if they were left up there the entire time.

Then he went down to the other trainees that he was placed in charge, they were ones that had just gotten out of their initial training, and Chio was made into their supervisor for one reason or the other. They seemed to be doing their jobs pretty well. It was obvious that it was all just simple grunt work. Swabbing the deck, sweeping, and fishing for provisions, even though there was more than enough rations on the ship to feed the whole crew.

This ship was one of many that were sent from different bases to retrieve refugees from the explosion on the island. There were not enough ships in the initial send-off, and this ship was sent in at the last minute, deviating from its original course. Luckily, there was plenty of room with only ten crewmates on board. So there was plenty of elbow room with only ten trainees and five petty-officers added for a full crew of twenty five.

Petty-officer Yattez approached Chio.

"You look a little bored, Chio." He said, Yattez was one of the few members of the Marines that called him by his first name. Usually it was recruit Runagai.

"Yeah, now I see what you feel like when you're watching us work with that checklist of yours." Chio grinned at Yattez, who laughed.

"You'd better watch it, that latrine needs a good scrub at some point." They both had a good laugh. Then it turned out that both of them were caught gazing off into the sea.

"This was Captain Howell's ship wasn't it?" Chio said, and Yattez nodded.

"Why?" He looked at him, and Chio shook his head.

"Well it's just strange that now Captain Howell is actually on this ship now." Chio took a drink from his water bottle. He had heard certain different things about the Captain, and when he learned that he was boarding one of Howell's ships, he began to worry. Still, he patted Yattez on the shoulder and went back down to the crew assigned under him. He supposed they were going to be on this ship for a while, he might as well formally meet them.

[Masta Deltron]

The sound of boots and work was echoing down the main hallway of the ship. A certain afro-haired woman was in her quarters trying to keep busy during a boring trip. For Jazzy Love was finally going to be finally recognized for her expertise. Well, at least that is what she thought when she got orders to Louge Town. A base that was known for various reasons, but she was more excited for something else. She would see her older cousin there Adel Masaru. This made her anxious because it had been a while since they last talked. She was sitting on the floor with a gun in pieces. “And...go!” she said. With great speed she began to put the gun together with ease. Some of the other female marines watched as she did this with lighting speed. “Done!”

“Wow a new record!” One of the female marines flashed the stop-watch and Jazzy just brushed her shoulder off. “I told you didn't I?” The fun was over however it was time for everyone to get on deck for duty. Every one just began to put their coats on and move towards the door. Jazzy looked over her weapons and began to strap up. The sounds of her white heels echoed down the hallway as she made her way to the deck. Her detail was weapons maintenance, granted it was full of guys she was just as good if not better when it came to handling a wrench. Jazz grabbed her tool box and slung it over her shoulder.

Her body swayed back and forth while she made her way down the deck. Some of the men on board looked but made sure not to stare, Jazz was not a fan of that. She was a woman not some piece of eye candy, and she made that known by beating some chump to a pulp for looking at her butt for too long.

“Your late Love!” Juan was one of Jazz's close friends on the ship that treated her like one of the guys. He was working on a cannon that was having issues with the gunpowder intake causing it to shoot duds. “Shut up I am right on time.” Juan just chuckled as he prodded around in the cannon before the black powder shot up in his face. “Well that’s a good look for you Juan.” He wiped the black powder off before throwing the towel at her. “Yea yea, by the way have you met the new Captain? I think his name was Howell.”

Jazz shrugged and just polished cannon next Juan, “Nope don't know him don't care. Besides we are just hitchin a ride to Logue Town anyways why should we care?”

“Well maybe he could put in a good word for you for that promotion.”

“Pass.”

Juan just laughed and went back to work on the cannon. “Well suit yourself, when you do meet him try not to be too mean.”

“I can't promise too much darlin.”

[rinji]

Chio went inside the main hall of the ship. He gave his greetings to his peers with a simple nod, making sure they were all doing their jobs, but not being over critical. He noticed some of them were having a contest to see how fast someone can take apart a gun and put it back together. He smiled at this, remembering some of his trainees in basic training doing the same thing when the Drill Instructor wasn't around. He knew these guys were off duty for the moment so he didn't butt in, he wasn't particularly good with firearms.

"Hey, Juan, you need some help with that cannon?" He said as he came up to the particularly polished weapon.

"Nah, Runagai, I got this. It'll be battle ready in no time. What you think?" He said, wiping the ash and dust from his face.

"Damn good workmanship, Juan. Maybe you can polish up the gun rack next." Chio said, with a small chuckle. Juan laughed a little, returning to his work.

"Not in my jurisdiction."

Chio kept going until he came to Jazzy and stood at parade rest.

"Ma'am." He said, looking toward the other seamen in the hall. "Did you need me for anything, Chief... Jazzy?" Chio said, somewhat confused on what her preferred title was.

"Hey!" They all heard a voice shout at the entrance, seeing Petty Officer Jere. "What are you doing? These are government property, and they are not toys!" He approached the females that were still contesting themselves with taking apart the rifles. "How about we make you all go on shift and all of you do CLI's on all of the rifles and pistols on the ship? Yeah, I think that's a good idea!"

Chio's blood boiled. The wear on rifles happened over extreme amounts of time, and there were plenty of times that these young ladies already cleaned and lubed all of their weapons. This guy was clearly exerting his limited extent of power. He was merely a seaman in training, so he held his tongue as he should. But he was ready to kick this guy up side the head.

[Deleted]

He had a mop in hand, a dank, matty clump of what could have easily been a beautiful tuft upon the back of a fluffy sheep at the base of a rotting stick. He had been very deliberate to not actually get any work done, simply swilling the mop in the same spot every few seconds to give a subtle, manageable yet effect illusion that he was a useful or beneficial part of the of the ship's shift of trainees. This was Henry's only perogative. He had been quickly and abruptly introduced to his direct superior, before being handed his duty, more specifically his mop and bucket before he began discussing with a checklisting officer.

Henry tilted his mop a little, so that he could peruse the two superiors talking for a little. Their conversation was as Henry expected; idle and nonpertinent. He had to know it wouldn't be that easy to come across the wrong conversation at the right time. He decided to try and listen in to catch names, places, dates, anything he could use for later. Henry paused for a brief moment at the mention of a Captain Howell.

<Residing officer, this Captain Howell? And he's moving a little irregularly as well... He's a good place to start. Then again, he's a captain. Trouble him could be branded as treason. I'll need a diversion, something I can phaze against. Misdirection.> he ruminated, flopping the mop against the grained planks before shifting across to another portion of the deck as not to seem suspicious. Henry's superior delved further into the ship. Henry glanced around, noting who was looking where. Henry suavly sleuthed back with mop in hand. He kept to the edge of the ship, hugging the railing until he came level with the steps. He took one last look for prying eyes, only to find a silently perusing seagull perched at the portside of the ship sporadically ruffling it's damp crooked beak against its illgroomed feathers.

Henry tipped his hat and shuffled low against the ground into the stair case. He didn't venture more than a few steps, knowing how rickety and conspicuous deck staircases could be. He slid himelf through two steps and dropped to the lower deck in a crouch behind a few mid-station cargo barrels. Two registered crew walk past, deep in idle conversation. Henry peered out, swivelling his trainee cap so the bill did not petrude passed the cylindrical wooden containers. His eyes were drawn in the direction of conversation, or heated discussion. It sounded as if an official had been maddened over one issue or the other.

Henry reflected on how unispired his induction to the ship had been, how low key and bland his experience had been thus far and whether all marine ships were so dreary and morbid. Henry moved into the janitor's closet on the opposite side of the hallway as the officers filed past in order to get a look at who was coming by.