Lessons Learned and Rising from Failure
17 Feb 2016Jubei Himura
Feb. 16, 3302I have been shamed. The bitter taste of defeat still lingers as I arrive back to Shajn. My eyes are low and narrowed as I pass through the doors of The Chapterhouse. Comrades' faces are a blur as I pass by on my way to my quarters.
I'm angry. Really angry.
I let out a shout of rage as I punch the wall. The metal of the wall gives and forms a deep impression of my fist. As I pull my fist back to smash the wall again I see the monitor flicker with a message from Endincite: 'We need to talk about the mission.' Growling, I make my way to his office and as I enter, I see that smug little smirk on his face.
"So, you got your ass kicked hm? I told you that you can't just fly there and interdict him without worrying about his grunts swarming you." He loves to rub it in. "But oh no, Jubei of the Hattori clan can take on anything! Suck it up princess, our work isn't done yet."
"You got a point to make, or are you just going to monologue about how you 'told me so'?" I throw it back at him.
"Yeah. The mission wasn't a total failure. Thanks to you recording and transmitting the back-and-forth between you and that corrupted piece-of-shit Neary, we were able to prove his intentions and he now has an Imperial warrant out for his capture" he says as he shows me the Imperial decree. "Dead or alive."
"Glad everyone's happy." I grudgingly say. At least I was useful. "Are we good? I have to talk to the Bank an-"
"Get a new ship?" he cuts in with a smile. "Are you in need of some cash then, young man?"
"Shut up." I start to laugh. "I'm older than you."
"Fine, old man. I think you need your damn pills." he doesn't flinch when I hit his arm. "Hey, don't punch anyone at the bank. We don't need another incident like Noxa's bar fight."
I laugh as I leave Endincite's office. Jerk. I wanted to be pissed off. Oh well, off to the bank for a temporary loan.
* * * * * *
Walking onto the bridge of my new Fer-De-Lance, I find myself hesitant to sit in the pilot's chair. I have to do things differently. I need to use a different dog-fighting style then just "get in close and tank until the enemy explodes". Perhaps my choice of outfitting isn't then best either.
I open a channel to Carthage and speak with my brothers in the Legion. They have plenty to say and I learn a great deal about silent running and effective outfitting. With the better weapons and equipment installed, I decide to rename my new FDL to "Shin-Tenchu" and bless it with some sake on it's bow (as is customary) before I board for take-off.
As I place my HF Katana it's stand beside my seat, I find my grip tightening on the handle. I can still hear what that bastard Neary said to me as he rammed my previous ship...
"I like you kid, you got balls for comin' out here by yourself. Even better is that you got some fight in ya! That's why I'm not going to shoot your escape pod. Come find me when you got a new ship and we'll fight for real! First in ships, then man to man!"
I jump into the pilot's seat and blast off, boosting through the mail-slot.
I'll find you Neary... and we will fight. The Empire will serve it's justice...
... after I have served mine.