Inside Rigel,

A few days had passed since their departure from Earth, and Zephyr had found himself lying on his bed, lost in thought about the upcoming week-long journey to their Forward Operating Base in Aourus. The absence of any stops along the way only added to his concern, as he still lacked a solid plan for reclaiming Prospecta from the alien adversaries.

It was crucial to devise a strategic plan to ensure his crew's safety and impress the admirals. Every decision he made could mean the difference between victory and defeat, and the pressure was mounting.

With little real combat experience to draw upon, Zephyr's knowledge of battles was primarily based on what he had learned in the academy. Coming up with a strategy that could impress the admirals seemed like an insurmountable task.

"Haah, what do I do?" Zephyr sighed in frustration, feeling the heavy burden of responsibility thrust upon him.

He found himself in a precarious position, caught between the desire to make his mother proud after confidently declaring his ideas at the UN meeting and the daunting realization that he wasn't fully prepared to turn those ideas into a concrete plan. It was like being stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Just as he was feeling overwhelmed, a sudden idea struck him. "Wait a minute," he thought, "Even if Ayame and I lack combat experience, the rest of the crew are seasoned veterans. They must have some idea of what to do." Feeling a glimmer of hope, he sought assistance from his more experienced crew members.

With newfound determination, he got up from his bed and headed to the cafeteria, where the crew was dining hoping to find them on break.

But just as he walked into the cafeteria, he saw Mariya holding Hui Ling by her collar, glaring at her and shouting profanities.

"Hey! Hey! Stop! What are you two doing?" Zephyr quickly ran towards the table and separated the two with a little effort.

Mariya wasn’t the type to quickly lose her temper, so whatever Hui Ling had said must have been incredibly degrading to her. Nonetheless, this constant animosity between them posed a significant issue and could jeopardise the mission.

Turning to Mariya, Zephyr inquired, "Can you explain what happened here?"

Hui Ling attempted to interject, but Zephyr cut her off, saying, "I'll speak with you later, Hui Ling. For now, remain silent!"

After a while, Mariya managed to compose herself and began, "That bába, she told me that the only reason I got selected was because of my father's influence in the Russian Government and that I don't deserve to be inside the Phalcon. She implied that I'm just a privileged brat."

Zephyr couldn't help but facepalm upon hearing Hui Ling's words. Even though he had known Mariya for just a week, he understood how much she despised being told she was undeserving of her achievements and hated any slander directed towards her family.

Realizing that Hui Ling had crossed a line, he mustered his resolve and humbly said while bowing, "I apologize on her behalf, Captain Mariya. Please overlook this incident once."

Mariya, feeling flustered by Zephyr's apology, shouted back, "Why are you apologising? It's not your fault! If anything, it should be Hui Ling apologising, not you, Kapitan!"

Zephyr shook his head firmly and replied, "No, it's my fault for not understanding the underlying issues between the two of you, thus it falls on me to apologise for everything that occurred here."

Seeing that Zephyr wouldn't back down, Mariya let out a sigh and reluctantly accepted, "Fine, I accept your apology, Captain. But I would prefer it if you wouldn't behave like this in front of the crew," pointing out the rather public setting of the cafeteria.

The crew in the cafeteria glanced at the unfolding argument with modest interest, but most continued with their meals as if trying to ignore the brewing conflict. A few exchanged quick glances at Mariya and Hui Ling, unsure whether to intervene or let them sort it out on their own only being relieved only when Zephyr arrived.

Understanding Mariya's concern, Zephyr nodded and then turned to Hui Ling sternly, stating, "Corporal Hui Ling, you are to accompany me to my office for a much-needed discussion about your attitude."

Hui Ling didn't try to argue and dejectedly nodded, following Zephyr as he walked out of the cafeteria.

As they walked through the ship's corridors, Zephyr noticed Hui Ling gazing out of the windows with a melancholic expression, which caught his attention.

They soon reached Zephyr's office, its walls adorned with framed commendations and a large star map of the galaxy. The soft hum of the spaceship's engines could be faintly heard in the background, indicating the gradual movement of the ship through the vastness of space.

A large mahogany desk dominated the room, with papers and holographic displays neatly arranged upon it. Zephyr gestured for Hui Ling to take a seat in one of the plush leather chairs facing the desk. The space between them felt heavy with unresolved emotions as they began their conversation.

Zephyr’s shoulders slumped in a lack of energy as he asked Hui Ling sternly, "So, why do you keep clashing with Mariya?"

Hui Ling remained silent, staring at the wooden desk and avoiding eye contact with him.

Zephyr shook his head in frustration and continued, "Hui Ling, if you don't speak up, we may have to remove you from the mission until this issue is resolved. Your behaviour towards a superior officer was inappropriate, regardless of her casual approach to rank and file."

Hearing Zephyr's words, her expression grew even more sullen, and she finally spoke softly, "I don't like that woman. She took my position!"

Zephyr stood up from his seat, his frustration evident as he exclaimed, "Not liking someone is no reason to insult them. The decision for Mariya to become the Vanguard was made by Ambassador Luna, not her. So, what's the point of blaming Mariya? Even then, it doesn't give you the right to insult her and her family to her face. If you wanted to change the decision so bad, you could have impressed everyone with your skills."

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Hui Ling's face flushed with anger as Zephyr berated her, and she couldn't hold back her rage any longer. Standing up, she shouted, "Get off your high horse! You think I don't know how you became Captain? You're the last person who should be preaching about impressing others with skills."

Before Zephyr could respond, Ayame stormed into the room, absolutely livid. Without a moment's hesitation, she slapped Hui Ling hard across the right cheek and yelled, "How dare you say such things to Zephyr! Do you have any idea how hard he worked to become an officer at such a young age? The days and nights he sacrificed just to be accepted into the academy? Who do you think you are to speak to him like that!"

"Hui Ling enraged, pounced on Ayame, and the argument swiftly descended into a brawl. Grappling each other, they rolled across the floor, their faces contorted with anger and pain.

"Let me go!" Ayame screamed, struggling to break free from Hui Ling's grasp as she tried kicking her in futility.

"Go to Hell, you privileged bitch!" Hui Ling snarled in response, landing a punch on Ayame's face.

Seeing an opportunity she landed a hard blow to Hui Ling's stomach, causing her to cough out in pain.

Witnessing the sudden escalation, Zephyr swiftly leapt over his desk, determined to separate the two. However, it proved to be a difficult task, as they continued to scream obscenities and grapple with each other.

"Stop, both of you!" Zephyr's voice boomed, his exasperation evident. He had never expected such a chaotic turn of events.

Zephyr's loud voice startled both Hui Ling and Ayame, prompting them to stop their fighting. Their faces were scratched, and Hui Ling's jacket was visibly torn near her abdomen from the scuffle, while Ayame had a slight bruise from Hui Ling's punch.

Realising the gravity of the situation and not wanting news of this brawl to spread among the crew, Zephyr knew he had to act quickly. He was aware that aside from Mariya, the only other person who knew about Hui Ling's abrasive behaviour was Karl.

Grabbing his datapad, Zephyr swiftly called for Karl, urgently seeking his help. "Karl, come to my office immediately. I need your assistance," he said, hoping Karl would arrive promptly to help defuse the situation and keep it under wraps.

As Karl rushed into the room, his eyes widened in astonishment at the sight before him. "Holy Shit, what happened here?" he exclaimed, clearly taken aback by the state of the two girls.

Zephyr, looking weary and exasperated, didn't waste time explaining. "Take both of them to the sick bay immediately. Make sure they receive proper treatment and ensure they don't engage in any more fights!"

Karl, realizing the urgency, nodded resolutely, his mind already formulating a plan. "Understood! Follow me, Ms Hui Ling and Lieutenant Ayame," he declared firmly, leading the two feuding girls out of the office.

…

As Ayame left the room, she felt a twinge of guilt for burdening Zephyr with even more work. She knew he was having trouble sleeping with the weight of planning the assault, and her intervention might have made things worse. But when she heard Hui Ling insulting him, she couldn't hold back and ended up slapping Hui Ling.

"Why did I have to go and make the situation worse?" Ayame regretted her actions, berating herself for adding to the tension.

As they walked through the ship's corridors, the atmosphere was tense. Curious glances from crew members followed the unusual sight, sensing the storm of emotions swirling around the trio.

Ayame glanced at Hui Ling, who appeared visibly depressed about the incident. It seemed even she hadn't anticipated the issue to escalate to this extent.

With a mopey tread, they soon arrived at the sick bay, where Ayame's family friend and long-time acquaintance, Dr Mitsuki Sanada, came rushing in, deeply worried about her well-being.

"My child, what on earth happened to you, how did you end up injured?" she asked, her heart heavy with concern over Ayame's current condition.

With a soft voice, Ayame hesitated before replying, "It's nothing, really. I just had a disagreement with a friend of mine."

Hearing the word "friend," Hui Ling's attention was piqued, and she glanced at Ayame with surprise, silently musing, "Even after what I did, she still considers me a friend."

For Hui Ling, who had never experienced true friendship before due to her unique circumstances, an inexplicable emotion stirred within her, a feeling she could not fathom.

Once Mitsuki finished expertly tending to Ayame's injuries, she approached Hui Ling, who braced herself for a scolding. However, much to her astonishment, the doctor enveloped her in a warm embrace, leaving her utterly bewildered.

Mitsuki gently released Hui Ling from the embrace and gazed directly into her eyes, speaking with an endearing tone, "My dear, no matter what transpires between you two, you girls shouldn't be fighting. After all, you are comrades, serving together. If you don't look after each other, who will?"

Ayame's heart swelled with affection as she looked at the elegant, black-haired lady in her late 40s, her mind drifting back to the cherished memories of her childhood with Mitsuki, her mother, and her father.

As Mitsuki finished tending to Hui Ling, she turned to both of them with a determined expression and insisted, "Now, both of you, apologise to each other!"

Surprisingly, Hui Ling mustered the courage to step forward. Her hands were nervously tucked behind her back as she approached Ayame. She softly spoke with a hint of shyness, "I may have overstepped my boundaries. Would you find it in yourself to please forgive me?"

Hearing those heartfelt words, Ayame's face lit up with joy. She enveloped Hui Ling in a warm embrace and replied cheerfully, "Of course, I never really wanted to hit you in the first place, and I also may have let my anger get the best of me."

Touched by Ayame's gesture, Hui Ling's eyes were welled up with tears, and she hugged her back tightly, whispering, "Thank you! Thank you so much!"

With the situation finally resolved, Mitsuki let out a sigh of relief. However, unbeknownst to the girls, the astute doctor had secretly captured the heartwarming scene on a datapad near her desk in the sick bay.

Mitsuki whispered to the datapad in a hushed tone, "See, I told you they never truly hated each other, and you were worrying so much!"

Zephyr's tense shoulders eased, and a small smile appeared on his face. He realised that perhaps he had been overly concerned about the animosity between Hui Ling and the rest of the team. Ayame's intervention had shed light on a deeper truth – Hui Ling wasn't filled with hate but loneliness.

It all seemed so clear now. Hui Ling's behaviour had been a coping mechanism to shield herself from forming connections.

"Yes, yes, you were right, and I was wrong, but nonetheless, this wouldn't have been possible without you. Thank you, Aunt Mitsuki," Zephyr expressed his heartfelt gratitude to her.

Mitsuki couldn't help but snicker at his response. "If only you were this good at understanding other's feelings!" she teased playfully.

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Zephyr shouted back in mock annoyance, but it was too late; the call had already disconnected.

With one issue finally resolved, Zephyr acknowledged the bigger challenge of formulating a war plan that still lay ahead.

He knew he needed to consult with the experienced veteran officers onboard, but that could wait until the morning. The day's fiasco had taken a toll on him, and he was in desperate need of rest.

Slipping out of his uniform and into more comfortable attire, Zephyr settled onto his bed. The fatigue that had weighed heavily on him seemed to dissipate as he lay down, feeling the tension of the day slowly lift from his shoulders.

As he let sleep embrace him, Zephyr's gaze drifted towards the bluish-white ceiling. At that moment, he found solace in knowing he had a capable crew by his side. The soft hum of the ship's engines provided a comforting lullaby, gently guiding him into a peaceful slumber.

…

TBC