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Attention, Region Six. A draft is scheduled to commence on August 25th for five days following. Your location will be the West Central Ocean, en route to Kano Harbour via three ships. Choose a suitable captain for each, and the pilots will be programmed to follow your orders. Don't waste my time with incompetence, either. Put in charge only those who deserve it.
These are the residents who have been selected to participate.
[As usual, the list posted HERE is offered in text form, sans the mun names.]
Your mission is to protect the cargo ship above all else. Within three days you will reach your destination. Opposition numbers, rank, and skill are impossible to predict, however, their equipment often prevents them from attacking at night. Remain on guard, but take advantage of the respite you may receive by night. Upon reaching the harbour, the cargo will be unloaded. You are to continue protecting it until it is safely out of range of their attacks. I would advise against swimming unless you want to die.
For those of you who were involved in the last draft, I have only one thing to say: your performance was acceptable.
Over and out.
[Once again, the commandant will not reply to anything but draft-related questions or particularly inspiring comments, so if you're looking for a response, be sure to give her something worth answering!]
[written]
Though I feel I would be best able to do my duty in my accustomed role do not think that I would refuse to do my part out of spite if any man were chosen over me. There is more at stake than petty pride. I would have it known that I would be honoured to serve under a man of such experience as yourself.
[written]
We are both greatly suited for command, as your rank indicates. I would not think of begrudging you command, and I hope you will take it as no insult that I put my name either with or opposing yours, as there are more ships than one to command. My pride is inconsequential and can easily be put aside for the sake of our orders and protecting those less accustomed to what we are likely to face.
I will consider it an honour to serve under or alongside you, Admiral.
[written]
[written]
[written]
[written]
[He writes, helpfully and obliviously]
I would advise you to consult it. Otherwise give me your name and I shall check myself.
[written]
[ voice ]
She is not liking the feeling she is getting from this at all.]
I see that you two are both in some kind of military, and that you each recognize that the other's suited for the job but... I don't know you. And I don't know your worlds. So if you're both volunteering for command, I'd feel a lot better if I knew what, exactly, that would mean on your ships. And I think that would help all of us make our decisions.
[ voice ]
[ voice ]
In the Southern Water Tribe, whoever is most suited for the job has that job. [Not quite so in the Northern Water Tribe. It is her opinion (formed by her brother) that Hahn was an idiot. So she does understand how things can be done differently due to politics and connections.] We don't have I know it's not that way in most militaries I've run into at home, or here, so it's good to hear a vote of confidence from someone who's served under him.
[ voice ]
[ voice ]
Of course, Miss. You are... quite right to ask.
Taking command of a vessel, especially under this nature of orders, would mean that every life on board is, were command given to me, my responsibility. Success would be a concerted effort, failure a reflection of my inability. I will expect, particularly in combat, my orders to be obeyed, but those orders will be given for the good of the ship, crew, and mission.
[ voice ]
Point of clarification, however:]
And what do you see is your mission, in this case?
[ voice ]
Our orders are to protect the cargo ship.
[ voice ]
That's what they wanted them to do, yes. But they're the captors. They do not have her loyalty. For Katara? The mission is to bring as many people back safely as possible. To survive. To find a way home. Not to do what the Malnosso say.]
I heard the Commandant.
[She knows what it's like to have the call of a fight in you. She's a warrior. Sometimes it frightens her how alive she feels in battle. But this isn't their home. And their goals aren't hers.
...but she's not going to say so under the Commandant's nose. Maybe he isn't either? She's been here long enough to know that what you say or don't say makes very little difference, but in this case she's still waiting to hear about Toph. And she isn't going to take chances.]
Thank you for answering my question.
[ voice ]
Of course, Miss.
[ voice ]
It's Katara.
[ voice ]
I believe we've spoken before.
You will be part of this business, then? [He is not pleased about young women being in on this, damn it, but Archie explained long ago that there was nothing to be done about it.
Not yet.]
[ voice ]
[...and just once before, probably, due to the fact that she still hasn't hounded him into dropping the 'miss.' He'll probably get a pass on this due to current circumstances, but it... may not last long.]
It's not the first time. [It hasn't been the first time for... a long time.] At least this time we'll be at sea.
[ voice ]
[It's strange, to find himself agreeing with so young-sounding a girl. But a task at sea...
That, he can manage. That, he knows how to deal with. Much else... Well. He'd be a fish out of water.]
[ voice ]
Have you fought against the Third Party before?
[She's not asking this as part of her official evaluation - that's done now. This is as a warrior to another warrior, she wants to know if he knows what to expect, and if he doesn't, how she can help him to prepare. She believes it's his first time on the draft, but... there's always the battle dome. There's a distinct danger for ships when the attacks come from the sky - there's no where to hide.]
[ voice ]
A friend and shipmate of mine-- Lieutenant Archie Kennedy-- has. [It's a poor substitute, but he'll get what he can from Archie. And anyone else who's willing to offer him information.]
[ voice ]
[She does not LIKE that place.]
[ voice ]