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Interlude

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A soft knocking echoes throughout the room - Hoki Bachika stands up from her desk, making her way quickly over - Unlocking the door and, with a somewhat surprised smile, welcomes Una O' Conchabhair into her room, "Ah Una, good to see you."

Beckoning to a chair for Una to sit on, Hoki quickly grabs a flask and some cups. Carrying these back, she pours herself and Una a cup each, "Apologies if it's not the warmest; I brewed it a short time ago."

Shaking her head, Una happily sipped. "No, it tastes good."

"Really? Well that's good then. It seems we both had quite busy days today," Hoki replied with a tired sigh. Receiving a raised eyebrow from Una, she continued, "Oh, I've been asked to take over as acting second in command of the squad. The Fluchtig is meeting up with some other ships tomorrow, so our squad needed a second representative."

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"That's great Miss Hoki! I'm sure you'll make a great sub-leader," Una said back earnestly.

"Ah, you really think so, Una? I'm not so sure about that myself. I fear I lack the experience for such a role. Oh, but that's enough of that, how about you? I hear you passed the simulation course today; very well done."

Una shied back a little, Hoki frowned, "Una, is something wrong?"

"Well... i-its ah, its nothing really just... I don't know. I was so happy to pass the simulations, but then I thought about it some more and really, it's not enough, is it? I can't keep up with the rest of you when I struggle so much against something like that, can I..."

Hoki paused, then put on the smile she always had when talking to students; "Now that's no way to think about it. You are making rapid progress; you'll catch up to the rest of us in no time."

Una broke eye contact, staring down into her lukewarm tea, "Maybe..."

The two women sat quietly, trying their best to smile for one another, the pressures of an unclear tomorrow quickly mounting....