Scanning...

Probable detected by [COBRA DANE] @ 22:17:05 GMT @ .082 degrees/horizon, est. slant range 16,215,034m.

Interrogating bogey...

Identifier code for ROCINATE-01 received by [MILSTAR-03 UHF] @ 22:17:38 GMT. Attempting contact...

Link established.

>EXIT NODE: DSCS-III-04
>TIGHTBEAM 28.27GHZ @ 153mbps
>ROCINATE-01 initial ping: 4/4 packets verified.

Authentication complete - telemetry datalink begun at 22:18:17 GMT:

>ALT: 7,215,430m
>VEL: 7,594m/s
>APOGEE: 406,318,314m
>PERIGEE: 42,354m
>ΔV: 692.45 m/s (approx)

ROCINATE-01 systems standing by for commands.

>Possible commands include, but are not limited to:

[ ] Battlespace SITREP
[ ] Spacecraft stores
[ ] Crew status
[ ] Ground stations status
[ ] Cargo status
[ ] Other (please specify):

So. New thread. I was gonna write a lot hating the new image, but what-the-fuck-ever, let's move on.

To more waiting around, I guess.
------

[x] Look for real food, no way that abomination the "good doctor" gave was actually food everyone within ate; never mind the stereotypes on "hospital food".

…That was some real bullshit, what she just pulled; I can’t believe any self-respecting doctor would have an ass like that. Be an ass like that. Sure, it was all in good fun except for that part where I was coerced into obligatory contractual labor, and the part where a man’s hunger is no joke, but I can understand that; I can be sympathetic. A private hospital like this, ritzy and generous all at once, it probably needs to take advantage of any fiscally-sound opportunities it can get. I get that!

There’s just one little thing I can’t quite wrap my mind around: why am I still sitting here in this sort of situation? Like hell I’ll just politely wait around and starve.

With the faint groaning of – couldn’t be springs could it, I mean the bed’s a bit too thin for springs – something and the soft clap of bare feet onto cold tile, I’m standing confidently on my own two legs again for the first time in… too long. Deep breaths now, in and out – breathe in, good; breathe out – no nausea, no vertigo, and no loss of balance. The world doesn’t feel as though it’s been tilted on its side.

One step… Two steps, three steps…

The only discomfort is the steady throb in my hand, dull pain echoing across the empty space where my finger used to be; but it’s fine, that doesn’t even throw me off-balance. There’s no jagged electric feeling crawling across my spine, a sweet and smoky scent in the air, and no crooked trees for monsters to hide behind – I could get used to this, I think.

Hold on, what was that second thing?

I take a good, long whiff – that hearty sort of sniff where you close your eyes and tilt your head back as if trying to absorb the essence of the scent. I immediately feel somew

Where are we?

What? Oh, haven’t the foggiest, my dear. But then, regaining consciousness somewhere strange is nothing new, hmm?

This time is different. There’s a breeze.

Oh, so there is. It’s wonderful. Where do you suppose we are?

I just asked you that. You’re the one with control.

So you did. Right, just a moment.

I open one pair of eyes, then the other. Several blurry seconds later, they adjust to the light. We seem to be on our side, else gravity isn’t working here. The sky is blue, the clouds wispy. All around are tall, tube-like plants. The ground is…

Ah…

What? Something wrong?

You might say our landing was less than soft. Those plants are sturdier than they look. Needless to say, there looks to be quite a bit of blood. At least our lungs still work. I ought to be able to get this plant we landed on out of us.

Well get on it! We’re wasting daylight here.

So harsh. Here we go then. One. Two.

I wrench the offending spike free from our chest in a decidedly gory fashion. The sharp increase in pain has me doubling over for a minute while I wait for it to pass. It may have been rather unwise to preempt my countdown like that. Missive’s temper feels rather short at the moment and that will have only made things worse. Still, pain does the body good.

Ow, jeez. You would think that.

Now then, we can move freely. It would be prudent to get the lay of the land while daylight still favors us.

What’s that thing over there?

The offending “that” seems to be a battered chunk of metal plating. While I cannot make out any identifying marks, it most likely came from one of the exterminators.

Getting the jump on one of them while they’re injured would make things much easier.

Well it's been a while since I've wanted to write something and after many ideas this one won out. For the most part it's meant to be a semi-serious story. In terms of updates I'm not really sure how often I will be getting around to this but I will attempt to keep it regular. Originally I had intended to draw something for each of the updates but I've decided against that and will instead do for the ones that I deem important.

Overall the main goal is for both the readers and I to enjoy creating this tale together.

----

Vividly, memories are being called one by one. Segments of senses assorted seemingly random come together creating short windows of the past. Childhood, family gatherings, accomplishments, and even seemingly pointless events like eating out one night, they merge together to flow through your mind. Each of them as real as the next, visions and sensations that one could easily lose themselves in. Yes, it would be nice if one could live on dreams and in the past.

However, these feelings are short lived as reality slowly creeps its way back in. Those reminiscent senses fade and are replaced with new ones. The candle on the desk in front of you flickers, illuminating your vision to a dull red as it hides behinds the lids of your eyes. The nostalgic smell of home that is rarely visited is accompanied by the soft chirps of the insects emanating from outside the room.

You open your eyes and are reminded by the sight of scattered pieces of paper covered with ink brushed lines. They belonged to your father, each sheet contained designs that were created for his line of work. Both complex and simple clothes sketches are surrounded by various notes and patterns. They are legible and understandable enough thanks to the fact you had been working under his guidance.

A familiar feeling you had recently gained looms over your body once more; it has been a few days since your father passed away. While not a talkative person, he was able to give you the life style you have today. You were given the ability to live as you see fit and to work as an artisan. Another memory flashes before you, one that you may never forget.

"

// DAY ONE //

The situation is critical.

You’ve been hiding from the German troopers for- how long it has been? Hours? Days? Weeks? You cannot tell; all you know is that you’re the only surviving member of a Soviet division assigned to defend an outpost that had been killed by German artilleries. All you know is that you’re supposed to hold the line until reinforcements arrive, yet your Commissar has ordered you to retreat to Headquarters seconds before a piece of shell obliterated him.

It just does not make any sense.

You, the cream of the Motherland, the best there is, is supposed to hold the line until the last blood is spilt. You, who strongly believe in nationalism and have vowed to defend your homeland to your last breath, cannot accept the idea of retreating without giving out any fight. Yet you assume that your division leader knew things better than you are. A bitter fact to digest, but you have no time to cuss over it as the sound of stomping marches is fast approaching.

You notice that the cave you’re in seems to go deeper than you previously thought. Curious at the anomaly you slowly venture in, taking great care of not notifying the troopers outside. The deeper you go the further you are from the entrance, but you aren’t daunted. It may connect to underground tunnel network, and the prospect of meeting your comrades is enthralling.

You see a spot of light at the end of the passage. You’re excited at the sight, but you are also aware of the possibilities of traps set up by the Germans. So you have your weapon locked and loaded and you march slowly towards the light. As you approach the light, you swear you could hear the giggling voice of a woman; so vague but it was clear for your ear to pick up. You pay very little attention to it as your distance becomes closer.

You finally make your way out. Instead of fellow comrades you’re so hoping to be reunited with, or showering rains of hot lead fired from German bunkers, you find yourself standing next to a river facing what looks like a bamboo forest.

A bamboo forest.

A bamboo forest?

How in the name of Motherland, you ask, you can end up in such pla

The First Genso-Lunar War.

The very first encounter between youkai and lunarians is shrouded in mystery. But now, after more than 1000 years, a portion of the truth behind it has been revealed. After the publishing of Hieda no Akyuu's update of her Gensokyo Chronicles, in which the First Genso-Lunar War was briefly mentioned, I used powers and my sources to further delve into this obscure period of the history of youkai. Following my newshound's instinct, I searched for more and more details, cross-checking and corroborating tiny bits of information, pulling from minuscule and hidden threads.

There was a reason for my obession. The roots of the war lie in the invasion Yukari Yakumo led against the Lunarians. After somehow amassing a whole army of blood-thirsty and rowdy youkai, the Witch of the Boundaries modified the boundary between truth and falsehood, and plunged into the moon's reflection on the lake's surface.

Although the might of the combined forces of oni, tengu and kappa was astounding, they still couldn't fight against the Moon's dominion over the youkai's biggest weaknesses: science and exorcism. Yukari's army retreated to Earth after being crushed by the Lunarian's advanced weaponry and spiritual magic, and because of this humilliating defeat, youkai learned not to attack anything outside their territory.

This, of course, can be found in any history book written by youkai, or even in Hieda's Gensokyo Chronicles. But I noticed a strange similarity in the materials I gathered. There were several accounts about a warrior, all followed by the title "Astral Knight".

She is the woman I seek.

This mysterious knight fought across the Moon's surface at the youkai's side, and disappeared from history after the war ended. She was a lone warrior who inspired both fear and admiration on her enemies and allies alike.

But most of the information I found was incomplete. Still, I was intrigued. My newshound's instinct seldom betrays me, and I was certain I would find something interesti

Killing time with this story. Kinda want to see where this'll lead so ya.

The Sun burns your face.
Despite the screen over the view port, the light shining through is still strong enough to wake you up from your slumber. For the past few weeks the Sun has scalded your unprotected face every morning as you slept aboard the Guillotine; the newest military satellite orbiting Earth for 5 years now. As the sole crew member remaining on the space station during a staff transition it’s up to you to maintain the station until the next shuttle is sent up in a week. It’s been long and tiresome being the only person aboard the orbiting cannon but you’ve managed to keep everything in perfect working condition. You’re looking forward to finally getting some actual company instead of the video transmissions the people on Earth keep sending you.

You grab one of the many handles adorning the interior of the station and propel yourself out of your sleeping quarters. First things first, you check the overall status of the satellite and run an internal diagnostics check on life support systems. Going through the procedures isn’t hard at all; it’s just that going through them for weeks has started to wear at your mental state. You’re tired; it’s a comfort knowing that a week after the replacements arrive you yourself finally get to return to Earth for some nice R&R. Drifting into the dining module, you prepare a simple meal of cereal and milk.

It’s awfully quiet in here.

The silence is unsettling. Normally, you would have a partner assisting you with the daily routines and maintenance of the station. However, unforeseen circumstances forced the rest of the crew to return to Earth. Trying to distract yourself from it, you play a bit with the milk in your bowl; it’s been a while since you could relax a bit and you figure unwinding even a little might help you from going insane from the isolation. As you form shapes with it you suddenly remember.

Oh shit! A solar storm is going to happen today!

Rushing to the main dashboard, you check the time. It’s 7:54 A.M. now; t

The sky was especially beautiful tonight, she thought. As of lately, the black canvas she was so used to see felt alien to her. An old friend was missing in the picture, and in its place there stood a stranger, bigger, brighter and more colorful, yet it lacked the elegance and beauty the missing friend had. He knew that, technically, it was the same dark sky he saw every other night, but nonetheless he often found himself losing his gaze into the black firmament.

“Still, it’s not the same without it,” she muttered to himself.

She knew perfectly where it was, but she had to remind herself every time she looked above. It was all too surreal for her to swallow, yet there she was, standing where no human, fairy or youkai ever went until now.

“Ah, there you are, Konka!” a familiar voice brought her back to reality. “I’ve been looking for you for a while. Shoulda figured that you’d be staring at the stars again.”

The speaker approached from behind and patted her back with a little too much strength for Konka’s liking. In a reflex move, the woman brought her hand to the hilt of his sword instantaneously and prepared to draw, but she cut the motion short when she saw her friend’s face.

“Whoa whoa whoa, it’s me, Seita!” The young man took a step back and lifted his hands in a submissive manner, yet he still had that ever present smile of amusement painted in his face.

“By Ibuki’s gourd, man, we’re in a war zone here!” Konka let out a deep breath and relaxed her tensed muscles. “Don’t sneak up on me like that ever again.”

“Sneak up? Me? Hah, that’s a good one,” chuckled Seita. “You know we oni aren’t exactly the stealthiest ones. It’s your fault for letting your guard down.”

Konka looked down in slight embarrassment and self-disdain, for she knew Seita was completely right. Considering the place they were, she shouldn’t be getting distracted so much as not to hear her boisterous friend’s steps from at least half a mile away. This kind of distractions could very well mean the difference between life and death. And dying wasn’t on Konka’s plans at the current moment.

“Come on,

The Gensokyo star system is a quiet backwater at the fringes of the galaxy, with only one charted faster-than-light route connecting it to civilized space. Poor prospects for colonization and a lack of strategic resources in the systems beyond make the Gensokyo system an unlikely place for future development. Nominally part of human space, the local administration is for most intents and purposes an independent entity. While the largest colony in the system, located on the marginally habitable (and most habitable in the system) planet Gensokyo Prime, is almost entirely human, various youkai who can handle more extreme living conditions have made various parts of the system their home. Everyone gets along, or at the least is civil enough to avoid open conflict, with everybody else for the most part.

The harvest moon festival, a tradition dating from a time when agriculture suffered from quaint restrictions such as seasons, is fast approaching. By happy coincidence the moon of Gensokyo Prime will be full as well, something that has worked up human and youkai alike into a state of excitement. It is at such a time that a certain private investigator receives a visit from a mysterious client, starting a chain of events that would forever change the Gensokyo system…



Character Select:
[ ] Reimu Hakurei
A former shrine maiden in a time when shrine maidens are viewed as cosplayers rather than spiritual guardians, she now supplements her nigh-non-existent donations with freelance private eye work to support herself.
Special skill: Youkai extermination – improves odds in shootouts and brawls versus youkai.

[ ] Marisa Kirisame:
A former fighter pilot who was dishonourably discharged for insubordination, theft and smuggling soon after the War ended, she now makes a living as a freelance private eye.
Special skill: Ace pilot – improves odds in spacecar chases.

[ ] Sakura Izayoi:
A former employee of the giant defense corporation SDM who left for health reasons, she took the relatively less stressful job of freelance private eye while nursing her health in the unpolluted air of Gensokyo Prime.
Special skill: Time manipulation – slows down time

>>22071

The real update will be posted after this, so please wait. And no, this is not an April Fool joke.