Neko Girl Cultural Exchange (Catsfern and Las Palmeras only)

[Catsfern]

In Las Palmeras
Oldhall giggled a bit "Tepka's just telling me a bit more about herself, and a bit about the two of you in your relationship. I was gushing about how cute you two were, and wanted to find out more. Speaking of which I don't think I've heard the full story of how you two met."

[Las Palmeras]

In Las Palmeras
The two thought about the question, Tepka answered first, "It will sound even more horrendously lovey-dovey, we met at around the age of 14 or 15. At a school: Charles was sent to inspect a Girl's Etiquette School as there was a dance between the upper-crust girls and the boys from his Academy. It was a Christmas event. I wasn't in either school, I was there as a servant."

The Crown Prince continued, "Tepka was this lovely little thing in a maid's outfit, if she's small now, she was smaller then. Perhaps that is why Some of my classmates were being very cross to her, rowdy jokes, though people always play with fire when doing that. They were stuffing her inside a . Personally, I don't remember why I decided to butt in but I gut into a scuffle with them bullies and drove them away. Later on, my parents received a letter of notification but in the meantime, I was just glad to have rescued my Dulcinea. The thanks I received was less than desired."

Tajique flatly stated: "I bit his arm; I assumed he was one of my attackers." Charles now had a smile on his face. "She was incredibly taken aback by it, quite remorseful, so we both went to the school's infirmary. It was a very slow evening as none of the staff were around." Tepka interjected once more: "It was a holiday, after all."

The Prince said: "Oh yes. Well, eh, the point is that Tepka treated me to my little wounds, nothing too serious."

Tepka shared her version: "I wiped some blood off his nose with a napkin, I cleaned up the bite mark I inflicted. He had a few bruises here and there, there was one on his lip...and he shamelessly told me that I could make it feel better by kissing his boo-boo. I got a bit vexed and told him I wasn't his mother and he just laughed it off and claimed it was a joke."

[Catsfern]

In Las Palmeras
Oldhall let out a slight laugh. "well Prince at least you tried to be flirty, but yeah Tepka you were right this whole story is just too classic a romance. I'm just imagining the look on those bullies face the moment the Crown Prince himself butt in to get them to cut their shit."

Morgan then chimed in "Tepka you said that there was some blood on the crown princes nose correct, I'm guessing from a wound caused by the same people who were harassing you. If that's the cause I imagine that could be considered an assault against the crown prince, a rather serious offence I would imagine."

[Las Palmeras]

In Las Palmeras
Charles chortled and shook his head and a little; "That's quite an over-reaction to a schoolyard scuffle. Everyone gets in those or has heard of them and I think pursuing legal action would've caused more scandal than good. Besides, I thought the event was a builder of character, if not at least a cautionary tale on why being outnumbered is never good...though I won." Charles mentioned the last fact with some sense of pride.

Tepka only rolled her eyes, "Charles had run-ins with the law when he was younger. His friends were delinquents. That was the least of his parents' worries. Even after the Prince turned into a fine upstanding citizen and he went into Law Enforcement as a career choice, working on comfy desk assignments, he nonetheless found trouble."

Charles, half-seriously, defended himself: "I only got shot at once."

[Catsfern]

In Las Palmeras
Morgan smirked a bit. "I see, so the Crown Prince is something of a trouble maker, especially in his younger years. I also have to ask how you wound up getting sot at with a desk job. Was it a targeted attack on the royal family, or was it an attack on the organization you were part of?

[Las Palmeras]

In Las Palmeras
Charles stroked the nape of his neck. Ever straightforward, Tajique answered, "It was an administrative shift after Charles roughed up a paparazzo that inadvertently blew the identity of somebody under his protection. Charles was untouchable. It is what made him so valuable to the Bureau of Public Safety, unfortunately, he also stuck out like a sore thumb because of his status...a law had to be made that made it illegal for the press to follow around agents on the job, including the Prince, naturally. The witness he protected wasn't so lucky."

Genuinely remorseful or saddened, the Crown Prince added, "It's my great failure. I should've foreseen it...I should've had somebody else escort her." Then he cleared his throat, "But, eh, it gave me a chance not to repeat the same errors in the Overseas Autonomous Territories." Tajique snapped: "He was supposed to get an easy administrative job with the Bureau Office there, but there was a high-profile case that sprung up there and all agents were called to help. Charles was asked to serve as a security detail to a key witness to some money laundering operation." Charles smiled again, "Maybe you'll meet them tomorrow." Tajique only rolled her eyes, "I hope you don't mind the smell of sea-salt."

[Catsfern]

In Las Palmeras

Morgan nodded and scratched his neck. "I see, you seem to have done some rather important work Crown Prince" at this point he yawned and checked the time. "Well crown prince It has been nice to learn more, but it is getting rather late. I do d=believe we should continue this tomorrow."

Oldhall seemed a bit tired as well and nodded. "Yeah, Not to be rude, but I could afford to get to bed soon."

[Las Palmeras]

In Las Palmeras
Charles was a little dumbfounded, "What?" Tepka muttered, "well look how time flies."

Slightly nonchalantly, the Prince stated, "If the two of you are that tired, I see no reason why you can't occupy the guest bedrooms. It would be more expedient than driving you back to the hotel, and it might make tomorrow's trip to the marina more expedient". Tepka only sighed, "The trip to the theater house must be cancelled then if we're visiting...her." Tajique then changed the topic, "follow me then. I'll lead you to your rooms."

[Catsfern]

In Las Palmeras
Oldhall and Morgan followed the crown prince. Oldhall was right behind the prince and seemed a bit interested. "A marina huh, you know somebody there crown prince?"

Morgan added. "Ms. Tajique certainly seemed to imply so, a possible fling of your past perhaps, or a past associate"

[Las Palmeras]

In Las Palmeras
Charles chuckled a little while Tajique seemed unamused, though she always looked that way. As the Prince led his guests down halls with more arched stone roofs that revealed barebones walls which only had electric lamps to the side or overhead, he continued: "Oh the individual working near there is a lot more than a fling. I met her on my assignment in the Caribbean." Tepka only muttered, "I'd consider her a would-be second wife if that were legal for him, a modern day maîtresse-en-titre."

The Prince defended himself, "There is some meaning to tomorrow's venture though. The Prime Minister informed me of the interest you had in diving technologies and oceanic exploration. He tells me that your people lack a bit of praxis in that regard; we have more experience, but less impressive toys. And Ife just so happens to work in a platform and undersea habitat. She's a bit of a researcher in certain concepts that may catch your people's interest and which they may do better than us considering the technology Catsfern has at hand."

Tepka interjected: "Ife is a venture capitalist who likes the ocean a bit too much. But she's a bright and mindful person. Or maybe Charles just wants to show her off in a swimsuit. I don't know." Charles only mumbled, "Nobody will get wet tomorrow." Tepka made one final statement, "I don't mind Ife at all." Unamused, she turned to the visitors, "I just don't like the smell of brine and I get seasick easily. You two will be alone with the Crown Prince tomorrow."

The group reached some oak doors at the corner of a passage. Tajique waved towards the doors, "Those are your separate rooms; each have a sizeable mattress, the latest television set with the newfangled remote sets, windows looking towards the cloister, etcetera." Charles finally said, "Good night and don't hesitate call room service if you need anything, or wander around and do it yourself, the help will guide you regardless."

[Catsfern]

in Las Palmeras
Morgan and Oldhall both walked into their rooms. Morgan turned to the prince as he entered his room. "Well I certainly look forward to seeing the marina tomorrow then. Speaking with an expert will be helpful for understanding your nations experience with deep sea investigation." He then entered the room and closes the door."

Oldhall on the other hand turned to Tepka "Too, bad we wont be seeing each other tomorrow, but I'll keep an eye on the prince for ya" She too then entered her room.

Both went to bed rather quickly afterwards, and didn't need any assistance throughout the night.

[Las Palmeras]

In Catsfern
For Takiri García, the new day bought with it the prospect of seeing the destructive capabilities of the future's ordnance. She had brushed her teeth and had bathed very quickly, eating toast and sipping on coffee while getting up in between to restlessly move her camera to it's respective box as well as a small reel that fit in her hand and was placed in a small container. For the event, she picked a simple short-sleeved white-collared shirt, some shorts and go-go boots...expecting some physical effort be taken but probably not too much.

Then she turned on the flat screen to pass the time, same as the previous day, albeit with a little less interest.


In Las Palmeras
The light of the morning was just barely shining off the horizon when a buzzer informed Morgan and Oldhall that their rest was over, seven hours had passed since they had gone to bed. Some minutes were given to them to get ready or perhaps use the showers and restrooms near their respective quarters, but by the time that they were guided, Charles was waiting in the same black car as the other day, along with his little shadow, Tepka Tajique, whom was holding what looked like a large basket.

The tall and thin monarch waved, "I hope you're both rested, we need to get to our destination." His maid informed the guests, "Breakfast will be served en-route. I don't know what it'll be."

[Catsfern]

In Catsfern
At exactly 9:30 that morning President Eden arrived and knocked on Garcia's door. Instead of his usual suit and tie he was dressed in a set of light green army fatigues with a matching peaked officers cap. When Garcia opened the door he smiled and greeted her. "Good morning Ms. Garcia, You ready to get going?"

In Las Palmeras
After the alarms went off Morgan and Oldhall woke up and got ready for the day, the two then went out to the car to meet the prince and Tepka.

Morgan nodded to the prince "Good morning crown prince, and good morning Ms. Tajique. I'm perfectly fine with just about anything for breakfast, though if were going so soon I'm guessing the Marina may be a bit of a drive away."

Oldhall still seemed a bit groggy "Morning Tepka, morning crown prince." She then yawned "If it is a drive yet I hope you don't mind if I fall asleep on the way."

[Las Palmeras]

In Catsfern
García smiled and slung her gear to her hip while striding with Catsfern's most important man, "Yes, I'm ready, right as rain Mr. President." Looking at his garb, she asked, "This review will be quite ceremonious, won't it?"

In Las Palmeras
The Crown Prince nodded at Morgan's comment, "Very well, your guess is as good as mine as we hired somebody to sail us to the location. My old man took his little yacht with him, even if he doesn't like it." As per Nancy's commentary, Charles and Tepka only nodded, perhaps not wanting to burst her bubble in a drive that lasted a mere 15 minutes thanks to minimal traffic.

They reached their destination, the marina of Tamanshan Bay, it's clear blue hues and whitish-yellow shore colored shore now brightly colored by the light of early morning, though rows of palm trees showed up every now and then. As they moved down a hill and into the shore, piers with white boats near them and larger boats among a protective barrier could be seen. Their assigned boat looked like either a cheap yacht or a luxurious ferry and Tepka accompanied them to the wooden boardwalk, only to stop and hand remind the Prince that he was forgetting the basket. His maid stated, "It's lunch, not breakfast though. Baguette sandwiches and berry wine, I believe." With that being said, Tajique formally bowed at the Crown Prince and his guests before they set sail.

[Catsfern]

In Catsfern
President Eden lead arcia down to the car as the two of the chatted. "Oh this get up, it's more a formality than anything else. If iIm going to an army base I may as well look the part. Though my role as president makes me both the highest ranking political and military figure in the nation I try to give the two roles a bit of separation. So when people see me dressed like this they know I'm attending to military related duties."

In Las Palmeras
As they approached the boat Morgan slightly inspected it. "This reminds me of one of the coastal ferries you can take for group pleasure tours on the Catsfernian coats in the Mediterranean. I grew up in Hitalia near the coast and got to ride on one a few times"

Oldhall meanwhile was a bit more concerned with the lunch. "Berry wine on a boat certainly sounds classy, I'm looking forward to that."

[Las Palmeras]

In Catsfern
García mused, "Oh, so something similar to what the royals do sometimes. I suppose getting into the role probably helps." She put on her seat-belt, remembering that back at home, the appliance was a fairly recent safety standard. As the they drove off, García thought over what she might see. "I'm guessing the future doesn't have any ray guns? Ehehehe."

In Las Palmeras
Charles laughed a little, "Still asleep, Miss Oldhall? That wine will be for mid-day. Though I guess a sip or two won't hurt." He also took note of Morgan's commentary, replying "If Hitalia is the place I think it is, you may feel at home where we're going. The sea-floor around the Home Island is even shallower than the one in the Mediterranean."

As the Prince led them in, both Morgan and Oldhall would realize interior of the ship looked like a small and modest hotel, if said establishments had large rectangular windows that revealed moving waves. Charles gestured at the Catsfernians to sit in the opposite end of a red bench he was sitting in, a table in the middle while picking up a small paper. "Apparently, there's no freedom of choice here, there's no small buffet on the other side of the hall. The schedule says we'll have a 'Continental Breakfast'...the damn things are light despite the imposing name." Behind him, the view was soothing and the climate was even more gentile, even as the shore became thinner and thinner over the horizon. Surely enough, shortly after the trio had sat down and they were given small plates of fresh fruit, toast, tiny pastries and mugs of coffee.

Whatever chit-chat could be spared would be lengthy, they were still an hour and a half or more from them to get to their surprising destination.

[Catsfern]

In Catsfern
"well, were working on it, but we're yet to develop anything one would describe as practical. We have a few high powered lasers that cause rapid heating and cooling of a target to expand and contract it to break something, but they're big and use a lot of power and just aren't that portable. We Do have fairly advanced laser guidance systems, and lasers that can disable an ICBM."

In Las Palmeras
Oldhall quickly drank the coffee without adding sugar or cream, and she seemed much more awake afterwards. "God I needed that, sorry if I was a bit off I am not a morning person and need the first cup of coffee."

Morgan meanwhile began eating his breakfast as well "Indeed "continental" always did seem like an oversell to me. Their portions always seem rather modest, but they do leave me full and mostly satisfied, so I can't complain too much."

[Las Palmeras]

In Catsfern
Takiri García tilted her head slightly, surprised that the President took her joking comment seriously, though it revealed information pertinent to Catsfern's actual capacities. As a result, she continued with the conversation, "I'd say. I can't imagine how something with such a power demand can fit in your hand."

In Las Palmeras
The Crown Prince nodded at both remarks, and looked outside. Though they moved around the ship and chatted a bit more about their morning routines, there was no end in sight to the endless waters. Finally, after more than an hour, the boat stopped: on the distance, the trio's final destination looked a bit unimpressive at a first glance. On the surface, the research structure looked like a simple platform, made of an amalgamation of concrete and metal, with a sole boxy cabin in the center that had an antenna sticking out in the center, though it looked far too small to be an oil rig and the sea was so shallow, a mere 15 to 20 meters, that the sandy white-colored floor could be seen through mostly clear hues of aquamarine and topaz-like seawater.

The individual described by Tepka as the Prince's mistress (not an uncommon domestic arrangement or practice in the isle) greeted them, also Tohorinese; however, at about 1.6 meters tall, she was well over a head taller than Tepka, considerably more curvaceous and dark-skinned, perhaps accentuated even more by the fact they dyed their hair a blonde with a shade, a bit messy. Dressed in a striped shirt and some worn khaki pants, the figure was considerably more informal than Tajique and ran up to hug Charles, then the two kissed each-other on the cheeks. If the Catsfernians had seen other people around the country or had watched television, they'd have recognized this was the standard greeting between people of opposite sexes. Though if the Mediterranean was anything like it was in Catsfern, maybe Morgan would't be surprised at all...Then the pair kissed on the lips, something that wasn't part of the regular greeting.

Charles turned to his guests, "This is Ife García, a common surname, I know. I believe the person in your shoes is another García." Quick to greet, Ife repeated the standard with Morgan and then with Oldhall. The woman grinned, "You two are the foreigners interested in the sea's bounties, yes?"

[Catsfern]

In Catsfern
"Indeed, currently the best prospect for high energy laser weaponry is something akin to anti-tank guns or artillery. something large and mostly stationary, but with high damage output. That being said one sci-fi weapon we have made fairly man portable are magnetic gauss rifles, though those require an extra battery backpack to be man portable."

In Las Palmeras
Morgan smiles and shook Ife's hand. "Indeed Ms. Garcia, Catsfern hasn't invested many resources into exploring the sea, so We were hoping to look to your people for a sort of starting point."

Oldhall meanwhile was looking Ife up and down. then after her greeting with Morgan she introduced herself as well. "Ife you said your name was, you know you look a lot like an old co star of mine."

[Las Palmeras]

In Catsfern
Takiri García asked, "Are chemical propellents now inefficient or is the accelerator a special use thing?" She also briefly looked around to see the window, immediately and embarrassingly remembering she doesn't know the city so she wouldn't know.

In Las Palmeras
Ife García gleamed at Morgan's reply, turning towards what looked like a scuttle hatch in the center of the platform, "you won't be disappointed". She began screwing it open when Charles began to help, turning it a bit faster. As they were spinning, Ife lifted her view towards Nancy Oldhall and asked in a sing-song tone, "I remind you of an old co-worker? What line of work?"

[Catsfern]

In Catsfern
"Right now magnetic weapons like gauss rifles and railguns are being developed mostly just because they're really cool and pretty intimidating. Though there Is some practicality to the weapons, railguns have some extreme penetrative power against armor and a much higher range than conventional rounds, thus making the good candidates for battleships and tanks. In Fact there has been talk recently of changing around some battleship designs to accommodate onboard railguns. the plans are done and seem viable, but we're yet to actually produce it."

As the two chatted they began to exit the city and get into the countryside, though they were going in pretty much the opposite direction as they were yesterday

In Las Palmeras
Oldhall followed the two and kept her eyes on Ife as the two spun. "I'm an actress back in Catsfern, and you look a lot like another actress I used to do some work with. Her name was Gloria if I remember correctly, but it's been a while."

[Las Palmeras]

In Catsfern
García looked genuinely puzzled, "Battleships? With big bore cannons and all that?! In my world, nobody uses those anymore. Everyone who can is investing more in guided missiles. Why, some five years ago, the relative obsolescence of the range of those weapons was proven in a war between the USSR and the Japanese Empire. It didn't matter if the Japanese had big battleships that could fire guns at over 50 kilometers if the Russians just fired standoff missiles at them." Then she paused, "But I guess things developed differently here."

In Las Palmeras
Ife, oblivious to Oldhall's interest or gaze, simply trailed on "How neat! Movies! My parents always used to take me to the cinema to watch Errol Flynn's swashbuckler movies. I think that's how I got interested in the sea." The hatch was opened and Charles lifted it by pushing the wheel up. She continued, "I'd ask my guests to go first but I need to guide you all in, so I'll go first."

[Catsfern]

In Catsfern
"We understand the value of long range guided missiles as well, and out battleships are outfitted with those as too, but us Catsfernians also just really like really big cannons, so we kept them around. This gives our battleships the practical advantages of guided missiles, and the intimidation factor of being able to unleash a full salvo into a target if we wanted."

In Las Palmeras
Morgan and oldgall followed her and Morgan put the focus of the conversation back onto the sea. "So these are a sort of submerged research capsule then? I hope they aren't too claustrophobic inside."

[Las Palmeras]

In Catsfern
García left that discussion there, "Well, if you have the resources to spare, I guess. You mentoned lasers and trackers so I'm sure that you've got decent anti-missile screens I can only dream of."


In Las Palmeras
Garcia chortled, "It's not a spacey place at all, but it's not unbearably small. But you are right, this is a submerged research station made up of several connected capsules. " She slid down the ladder in the hatch and briefly looked up to see Nancy looking down, Ife thought that she seemed curious enough. When the others were down too, she continued, "Heh, it reminds me of those toy homes built for guinea pigs and hamsters, it's a shame I didn't tidy up before but it's also a good thing the rest of the Institute's staff are away on New Year's leave, otherwise it'd be more crowded. I volunteered to be maintenance for this place: Marine-Lab."

The base was essentially made up of four metal cylinders 4 meters in diameter and 18 meters in length, all united by tubes to a spherical port in the center that served as entry to the surface. That was the place the four were standing in.

[Catsfern]

In Catsfern
In the distance a large complex of buildings could be seen in a large fenced off field. Large semicircular clusters of buildings dotted the landscape with roads connecting them to each other. the faint distant explosions could be heard as well as with a trail of smoke from the ground. "Ah I see they're doing artillery drills at the moment, I should take you out to the artillery range too."

In Las Palmeras
Morgan looked around the base and examined it. "I don't think I would have thought of that comparison it does seem rather apt. I'm guessing you must be rather fond of your work if you volunteered to stay."

Oldhall took a look around as well. "Yeah hamster tubes feel about right, how do you get supplies down in here, do you just have to carry them down the ladder or do you have some sort of access port down here."