Neko Girl Cultural Exchange (Catsfern and Las Palmeras only)

[Catsfern]

In Catsfern
The general laughed a bit "Id hardly say these belong in a petting zoo either, but no the rest of what I'll show you today isn't as cute as bees and puppies, but It will be a whole lot cooler" As he says this the general continues to almost play with the bees, moving his hands around to guide them.

In Las Palmeras
Oldhal stepped out of the shower as the prince brought up lunch and followed to the living area. "Oh good lunch, this is exactly what I need after a swim like that, what kind of sandwiches did Tepka pack for us?"

Morgan meanwhile sat at the table and continued talking with Ife "Ah yes I suppose I forgot to take into account the gender imbalance here, that does make the female crew make much more sense, typically a crew like this in Catsfern would be mixed gender."

[Las Palmeras]

In Catsfern
Takiri replied, a bit cheerily: "Yeah, Mr. Eden says I'll go shoot things today and see vehicles, I think."

In Las Palmeras
Charles looked through the content of the food, "It looks like a mix of cured cold cuts and tuna, bags of chips, fruit and that berry wine you were eager to try out."

Meanwhile Ife shook her head, indicating that it wasn't the way in Las Palmeras: "I can't say the same thing for managers and overseers, but some specific jobs and military work has to remain sex-segregated. Studies and mock-battles show that men get more emotionally distressed seeing women in danger. Evolutionary shrinks think it has something to do with men protecting potential mates, cultural analysts think it has more to do with chivalry or something like that, but it lowers battlefield effectivity. Not to mention unwanted pregnancies. Frontline units and Army Grunts are all women because of it. The Navy is segregated but for other reasons." After Ife paused for a beat, she continued, "Here it just has to do more with unwanted affairs. "

[Catsfern]

In Catsfern
"Oh yes, you'll definitely get the chance to shoot some of our guns, we've prepared the entire CSW series for you to try out on the range, as far as vehicles are concerned you should check out our rocket trucks."

In Las Palmeras
Oldhall looked excided "Oh yeah that berry wine, where's the cups I want to try some of that first."

Morgan meanwhile nodded, I do suppose that is also a concern, but In Catsfern society doesn't really care much about what happens when you leave men and women alone together, so long as work is still getting done effectively the government doesn't really care if the personnel are having relations with each other. we do make sure contraceptives are easily available though.

[Las Palmeras]

In Catsfern
García mused, "I have to admit, it's my first time seeing machinery so close up. I've been to war-zones, but my job is a bit sanitized. We journalists get herded into supposedly safe zones sometimes. And most of the fights I've seen don't involve big machinery."

In Las Palmeras
"Very well." As Charles uncorked the bottle, Ife began passing simple glass cups. Nothing particularly elegant. The Prince poured for his guests. The reddish substance had a more acidic taste than regular wine made from grapes and it left a sweeter after-taste, closer to cranberry, but not quite the same. It was also weaker than regular wine in terms of alcohol content. Charles also put the basket in the center, "Everyone should pick what they want."

While she was moving the tableware around, Ife blinked a little and simultaneously continued the conversation with the diplomat, "Oh the Pill. It's a new technology, still not approved by the powers that be in whatever ministry sets standards for food and drugs. Or the Clergy."

[Catsfern]

In Catsfern
"Well this is a bit more of a controlled environment compared to a war zone, here you don't have that risk or other people shooting at you. That means you can get real up close and personal with the equipment."

In Las Palmeras
Oldhall grabbed one of the tuna sandwiches "Was Tepka the one who chose this wine?, she's got really good taste if she did."

Morgan grabbed one of the cold cut sandwiches ."Ah yes the contrastive pill is quite popular in Catsfern, There's several verities for women as well as men."

[Las Palmeras]

In Catsfern
García thought for a second what that might mean, namely, times for lengthy demonstrations free of unforeseen surprises. She nodded at Greene, "Yes. Ehhh, it's good to know that there's no risk of getting intentionally blown up or shot at". They may have remembered the somewhat tense atmosphere of Aden.

In Las Palmeras
Ife briefly thought about Morgan's commentary but didn't have a proper response to their surprise, she thought that maybe the older man was mistaken and said nothing more to avoid awkwardness. Erstwhile, Charles didn't really know if Tajique chose the wine, the handiwork with the cold cuts showed that they definitely prepared the food. As Charles was about to say that he didn't know, it was Ife that responded: "I don't think so. Tepka likes another brand."

[Catsfern]

In Catsfern
The general had led them through the room but was now heading back towards the door. "If you want to you're free to take pictures inside of here as well, get some of these fancy bees on camera. then we can move on to the gun range."

In Las Palmeras
Morgan let out a slight cough as he ate then wiped his mouth. "That all aside I do admire just how much you seem to enjoy your job. There's an old saying in Catsfern "If you love your job, you don't work a day in your life" or something like that."

Oldhall meanwhile had also sat down with her sandwich. "So ive heard a good bit about the princes relationship with Tepka, but what's the story between you two?"

[Las Palmeras]

In Catsfern
"Oh, it's fine. Knowing how the Army is skittish around biological weapons and how grainy this camera can be, I'd rather save some reels for larger hardware." After a beat, García added, "Thanks though."

In Las Palmeras
After nodding at Morgan, Ife stopped to ponder Oldhall's question. Though the diver didn't reveal any nervousness in her face, she played around with her hands and two opposite fingers were touching each-other, with a slight tremble, they poke up: "I was in some legal troubles before, Charlie was assigned to protect me. He was untouchable, nobody would dare touch nobility...but...ehhh, certain people were still after me even if Charles did his best to stick to me like glue. We pretended to be a couple without doing couple things. But then, uhh, well..."

The Crown Prince explained, "It was quite the stressful situation and we both persistently felt the need to relieve ourselves, call it releasing some stress, if you will. I don't know how other people would celebrate being alive after being persistently trailed, even shot at in two occasions."

Ife babbled on, "Maybe it's not the most healthy way to start a relationship, but we have come to trust and care for each-other outside of the bedroom." The Prince sipped from the glass and added nonchalantly, "We're just really damn good at it." Ife smiled, "I also operate the computing devices on the base. Back in my old home I had a job with computers and magnetic tape too...that's how I got into trouble. My IBMs accidentally registered irregularities in some casino's checks and balances."

[Catsfern]

In Catsfern
"To the range then" The general lead the group out of the bee room and had them all leave their bee keeper suits behind. They then all got back into the jeep and drove a ways away from most of the buildings to a large field where a shooting range had been set up in front of a long artificial ridge. There was a small building about every kilometer that served as ammo storage and a had restroom, besides these buildings there we sometime trenches dug into the ground, sometimes long tables with shade set up, and sometimes just open range. The jeep stopped at a building that had tables set up where they were met by a few soldiers in the same combat gear as earlier prepping weapons. the general got out of the jeep first and picked up one of the rifles. "This Is the CSR-1 the most basic service weapon in the Catsfernian armed forces, Once you get your camera set up I'll have you fire this one first"

In Las Palmeras
Morgan nodded. "I do recall hearing a bit about this story yesterday from the Crown Prince, so that's how you play into things Ife. I'm guessing the casinos weren't particularly happy about the discrepancies in their funds and decided to target you. Fortunately for us those days seem to be long passed."

Oldhall drank a bit more of the wine. "The Crown Prince seems to have a knack for protecting people doesn't he."

[Las Palmeras]

In Catsfern
Once García settled the camera, they looked at the CSR-1. Beforehand, they wouldn't have expected to find a long arm with wooden build in the future. However the Catsfernians had proven themselves to like antiquated aesthetics even if they didn't always respond to maximizing efficiency. Not that it looked like a bad weapon. It actually reminded her of the MAS 49/56 used back home or a FAL-patterned weapon at a surface level, some variants had wooden handguards as far as she was aware. The sight assembly and the flash suppressor seemed familiar enough...but the fire selector looked awfully similar to the one in the infamous Soviet AK. It was all around, a strange-looking firearm.

Takiri García didn't have to worry about fire selectors with the MAS during her Civil Service days, after all, it only shot in semi-automatic. It was a different story with the CSR-1, and she imagined alternating fire modes would be awkward for people with small thumbs. Then again, the weapon offered more rounds than whatever she knew.

The correspondent nonetheless assumed a firing posture and maintained trigger safety, showing they knew had to operate firearms. "Ok. What's the target?"

In Las Palmeras

Ife and Charles responded at once, laughing slightly "Tepka says it's called getting into trouble."

[Catsfern]

In Catsfern
The general flipped a switch on the small building next to the table and several wooden targets wearing what looked to be old bulletproof vests started to pop up and down in front of the ridge. "Go ahead and aim at for the vests as you shoot."

In Las Palmeras
Morgan let out a small laugh. "Well I suppose that's certainly one way of putting it. I must say prince when I first met you I hadn't expected you to be something of the scrappy type, but it is somewhat admirable."

Oldhall now on her third cup of wine smiled widely. "I can tell once the public back home finds out about you they're gonna like you"

[Las Palmeras]

In Catsfern
Takiri thumbed on the big selector, she thought it was too heavy for her tastes. The lever went down regardless with a clack. She heard that noise several times around the Congo and in Aden, very similar to the AK. She inadvertently fired a burst at first, apparently because she set the lever down entirely. The weapon kicked like a mule and the bullets didn't hit anything. After chuckling in nervousness, she turned the selector half way and fired it semi-automatically. The first two shots didn't hit anything either but it allowed her to bead the right measurement by the third try...which struck the center of a target. García let out a small cheer and squinted her eyes to see the bullet's effects.

In Las Palmeras
Charles grinned, "I get that a lot." Then he paused, a little confused, along with Ife. The latter raised stare and said "Like who? Charlie or me?"

[Catsfern]

In Catsfern
The general laughed a bit. "The ol girl kicks hard don't she. Looks like you adjusted pretty quick though, much faster than most recruits at least. Looks like you hit the vest pretty good though, you got a hole in through the front but it doesn't look like it cam out the back."

In Las Palmeras

Oldhall scratched her neck and laughed awkwardly "Oh sorry I was talking about the prince, Catsfernians like the scrappy and romantic type, so he'd probably be a big hit. I can also imagine you being popular too Ife, especially with your physique, then Tepka's got a good personality going for her as well. God I just keep thinking about making this all a show back home and the more info I get the more ideas I have."

[Las Palmeras]

In Catsfern
Takiri smiled like a kid, "I did? Hah. I'm not too rusty from Civil Service after all." After a pause they added, "What's the measurement of the bullets?"

In Las Palmeras
Charles had expected a reply like that, he was popular among the Tohorinese working class for the very same reasons, roughly speaking. It was the upper-crust Europeans he had to contend with. He laughed a little, "Heart, mind and soul you cold say...though I don't know who's who." In contrast, Ife was slightly flustered at such a straightforward reply..."Hah...thanks."

[Catsfern]

Catsfern
Catsfernian service rifles are chambered in Catsfernian Army Special, they're 12 millimeters at the base, but taper to 8 Millimeters with an overall length of 60 millimeters".

In las Palmeras
Morgan chuckled a bit "Ms. Oldhall does seem to be rather interested in you and the people you surround yourself with crown prince, perhaps one of the things we could add to a possible trade deal is the rights to use your likeness in Catsfernian media. Oldhall seems to she can make rather popular characters based on you all."

[Las Palmeras]

In Catsfern
"Well, that explains the recoil." After a beat, they peered and admired the handiwork inflicted onto the vest, "And the hole as well. So...what's next?"

In Las Palmeras
The Prince's face was a little surprised, "I can't see a reason why it can't happen. The obstacle to this however would be my Father, you'll have to bring it up with him...protocol over the Crown and it's image, all that." Personally Charles had no reason to oppose it, he'd been planning on doing a similar action in time should the Crown crumble, but primarily because the general populace didn't know of the Catsfernians.

Ife herself was slightly confused over where the strangers came from, as she wasn't fully informed of the situation, but downplayed any doubts they might have.

[Catsfern]

In Catsfern
"Well how about we move on to some specialty weapons like this one" The general grabs a large gun off the ground and places it on the table in front of Garcia. "this is the CLMG-1 our primary machine gun"

In Las Palmeras
Morgan finished his sandwich and wiped his mouth. "well that can all be sorted out in the future then, for now is there anything else you have to show us Ife?"

[Las Palmeras]

In Catsfern
The weapon seemed even stranger. The sights reminded Takiri of reflector sights commonly seen on planes, larger cannons or naval artillery...but definitely not on small arms, even if the CLMG-1 wasn't exactly. The feat reflected positively on Catsfern's technological capacities, to say the very least. For the role that was described to her, the correspondent was used to seeing the FM 24/29, which was, redundantly, simpler. García nonetheless took hold of the synthetic grip, also an uncommon feature where she was from and clenched it. The weapon fired a burst which seemed to be illuminated.

In Las Palmeras
Ife nodded, "Just some visual representation of things I've mentioned previously." They reached for a spherical-like metallic clump on a counter, the object didn't look particularly pretty. It was coarse-looking, not shiny and coal-like: "This is metal ore."

[Catsfern]

In Catsfern
"That gun there fires the same Catsfernian Army Special round that the CSR-1 fires, but at a much higher rate and fed by a 250 round belt, There's also a larger 500 round belt box available, but they're not standard issue. We also have a heavy machine gun, but that fires a round about twice the size and is usually only used on armored vehicles"

In Las Palmeras
"Morgan examined it and gently took it from Ife's hand. "I see, I remember that you mentioned that there was some sort of mining aspect to your research, what metal is this ore for? copper, iron, titanium?"

[Las Palmeras]

In Catsfern
At first, García felt some temptation to ask why a 500-round box was created if the one with half the capacity was the standardized version, but they didn't press the issue. Inferring that maybe the General was talking about a trial version or some kind of commercial variant. Instead they continued, "Yeah, the burst was real powerful." They tried it again, the shots went off mark, despite the tracing color. After eying the targets they tried it, a bit closer, but the weapon was a bit harder to control. The little correspondent finally scored in the 4th try.

In Las Palmeras
Ife briefly got up and got a map from a drawer, musing in a slightly sing-song tone, "It depends on the area it's extracted from. This one has iron in it but others can have metals like cobalt, copper or gold if there's enough sulfides. We care more about it being used in electronic components than currency." Pausing for a second, the Prince added: "There's a craze for submarines, lately, as the PM has told you."

[Catsfern]

In Catsfern
"Don't feel bad about it taking you a few tries to actually start hitting accurately with this thing, she's a beast that's for sure and it can be a bit tricky to dial it in. Even I struggle with it from time to time. Oh, why don"t you give the attached grenade launcher a try' The general grabs a 40mm grenade from an ammo box under the table and sets it down next to Garcia.

In Las Palmeras
Morgan continued to inspect the iron ore carefully. "Yes the PM did seem rather enthusiastic about the matter too. Catsfern had developed long range submarines powered by an on board nuclear generator, but they're almost exclusively for military use and aren't really outfitted for research"

[Las Palmeras]

In Catsfern
Takiri García smiled and uttered a little hyena-like chuckle, patting the nape of their neck with a now freed hand. "I wasn't taught to use grenade launchers in the Civil Service. The mechanism is a bit different at home. I'll, eh, need a demonstration."

In Las Palmeras
Charles took over, almost as if he knew more of the military matter. "Our first nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine is expected to be commissioned a few years from now, but Ife is referring to submersibles, to use a better term." Ife shrugged, "Yeah. That's it." The Prince said something else, a bit surprised, "I expected your people knew a bit more about the seafloor."

[Catsfern]

In Catsfern
The general grabbed a second CLMG-1 from the shelter and set it down next to Garcia. he then grabbed the tube of the grenade launcher and slid it forward opening it up so he could then slide in the 40mm grenade. after doing so he closed tube tube again and leaned the gun back in its bipod on the rear edge of the table. he then reached forward with his left hand and pulled the trigger on the launcher sending the grenade down range. "you want to lean it back on the edge of the table like this so that it's stable and you geed a good arch on your grenade."

In Las Palmeras
Morgan set the piece of ore down "Catsfernian research funding has always gone to what the government feels is most practical and beneficial. The Catsfernian government hasn't seen much real practical benefit in deep sea exploration aside from nuclear submarines, so no we haven't looked very much into this field"

[Las Palmeras]

In Catsfern
García reproduced the man's movements as best as she could, small fingers putting the copper-colored fat round into the squat tube, locking it, then lifting the gun in an angle. A thumping noise followed a dull explosion in the range's distance that hit on mark. She smiled again, revealing those very large canines: "It's like a potato gun."

In Las Palmeras
Morgan had issued a concise answer. Having remembered the map of all the land that Catsfern possessed, Charles soon found it easy to imagine why ocean exploration would seem impractical to a Catsfernian...they had resources to spare. "I suppose you are correct. Our island has few strategic resources of it's own and it desires as much independence from the outside world when convenient. Even if the search for these resources can seem a bit unorthodox. Though I guess, the Tohorinese islanders have always been driven to the sea."

The Prince was pensive for a second, considering that the PM was a Navy man, that Tajique's great-grandfather was the esteemed Rear Admiral of a family with hundreds of years of naval tradition, that Ife was a diver and that Charles' own family had gotten rich by making shipyards in the island...maybe he said an understatement.

[Catsfern]

In Catsfern
"certainly sounds like one when you fire it, some would say that a grenade launcher on a LMG is impractical, but it has it's uses, and only costs us about an extra 15 septims per gun"

In Las Palmeras
"Catsfern as occasionally put funding towards more unorthodox methods or recourse extraction, that how we wound up with our vat agriculture once the tech was developed, but I suppose none of us had thought too much to look under the waves. However, with meeting with you may cause a sea change so to speak."