Realizing how inane she was being, she shook her head as she admitted that the clothing that she had on wasn't bothering her. Skirts and low heels were accepted optional choices for those who wanted to wear them, and were not allowed for duties outside of the sort that weren't harmed by them. One could push papers, or be a yeoman in a skirt, but as soon as an engine needed fixing, or a battle happened, any girl showing her legs off had to have no choice in the matter. And she'd chosen to dress this way.
She knew what was bothering her though. A summons from the newly formed military command was not something that she could ignore, since she was a military officer. Having joined since she saw the need, she knew that she had to follow orders. This wasn't quite like her command back on her system of origin, but then, she didn't want to face that sort of situation again. If nothing else, she was rather pleased that doing an impression of orange jello was no longer in her future. That sort of existence was something that she truly didn't want to face.
Plus, if she was going to be able to even get permanent custody of anyone, she was going to have to get a steady job, and this was what she knew.
So, when she was shown in to the office of the officer that she'd been told to report to, she straightened her back, and didn't allow the turmoil that she was feeling to show. "Major Misato Katsuragi, reporting as ordered."
"Sit down, Katsuragi," the heavily mustached man behind the desk told her, pushing up the half glasses up higher on his nose as she did as he asked. "My name is Kojima, and I suppose that you'll want to know why you were told to come here."
"I'll have to admit that, sir. I was working in helping out operations, and I got a communication telling me to report to you."
"It is really simple. You're being transferred, I think you already knew that."
She leaned back, and crossed her long legs. "To your command, sir?"
"No. My job is just to tell you about it before I head off myself."
"Oh?"
"It's really quite simple. You're being sent to one of our defense bases. We have them around the city, with a couple of small stations in orbit."
"The ones for the combat craft?"
"Yes, and you'll be at one for some of our smaller vehicles, like fighters and mechs."
"Will I be a control officer there?"
"You'll be commanding there," he told her, raising his brows up into his high forehead.
"I'll be a base commander?"
"Exactly. According to your record, on your planet of origin, you were a tactically skilled officer, and were good at commanding the base you were assigned to."
"You do know what went on there."
"According to what they let out, you were under the command of someone who was out for himself, but weren't involved yourself. That is all we need to know. You stayed clean, and that's what we need."
"I hope that's true," Misato sighed, taking a deep breath.
"Remember, you thought of doing what you could. It was your boss who did it to you."
"Yes, sir. But..."
"I hope that you're not refusing the posting, Major."
"I'm not. It's just that I wonder what I'll be working with. Mechs? Fighters? Both?"
"You'll find out when you get there."
"Sir?"
"Major, it's in the orders. Take them, and remember, we're still figuring this damned mess out. Soon, we'll have elves flying mobile suits, and have cybernetic trolls. But before then, we have to have everything set up."
"Understood, sir."
Kojima handed over a datapad, and nodded at her. "Now, take these and report to your new posting."
"Yes, sir."
"Oh, and Katsuragi?"
"Sir?" she asked, as she turned from where she'd been walking to the door.
"You didn't ask about her."
"Who are you talking about?"
"Ritsuko Akagi."
"I don't have to."
"Or could it be that you don't want to?"
"I'm sorry if I sound rude, but that's my business, sir."
"Didn't mean to step on your toes, Major," he replied. "I just thought that you'd want to know how her efforts to become an upstanding citizen are coming."
"Thanks for the concern, but I don't want to."
"That's your prerogative," the higher ranking officer told her.
"I'm not about to reconsider it."
"That's what I thought that you might say."
"Sir."
"Dismissed."
Giving him a curt nod, she strode out of the office, and headed off with her new orders, while:
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(Posted Sun, 07 Aug 2005 06:59)
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