Voting is open
Lieutenant Arisukawa Haruna

Balance Stats
❁ • Work / Life • ❁
❁ • ❁ Warrior / Princess ❁ • ❁
❁ • ❁ Radical / Respectable ❁ • ❁


Tactical Stats
Gunnery 0, Navigation +2, Command +2, Technology -4, Personal -2, Strategy +3

Stress: 3


PLEASE READ THE QUEST RULES BELOW

You collectively vote on the actions of Arisukawa Haruna, the first woman to serve openly in the Imperial Akitsukuni Navy.

This quest is set in a universe which is much like our own circa 1910, but with different politics, cultural norms, and ideas about gender and sexuality, as well as some unusual and advanced technology in places.

We are using this quest to explore themes like breaking the glass ceiling, divergent outlooks on gender and sexuality, colonialism and imperialism, and the place of royalty.

Content Warning
This quest goes some dark places.

There is violence, often explicit, often unfair, often against undeserving targets.

There are not always good options forward. The protagonist is not necessarily a good person.

There is implied content and discussion of sexual harassment and assault.

This is a world where people are often racist, sexist, queerphobic bigots. Sometimes, even the PC and the people they are friends with.

Voting Rules

We will tell you if write-in votes are allowed. If we do not say that write-ins are allowed, they are not. This is to prevent people from unrealistically hedging their bets.

You may proposal other options in a non-vote format, subject to approval, on non write-in votes.

We will tell you when a vote allows approved voting. If we don't say the answer is no, pick an option. We like making people commit.

Discussions makes the GM feel fuzzy.

Game Rules
When we ask you for a roll, roll 3d6. You are aiming to roll equal or under the value of your stat. If you succeed, Haruna gets through the situation with no real difficulties. If you roll above the target value, Haruna will still succeed, but this success will cost her something or add a complication.

Whenever Haruna loses something or faces hardship from a botched roll, she takes Stress. The more Stress Haruna has, the more the job and the circumstances she's in will get to her, and it'll be reflected in the narrative. Haruna must be kept under 10 Stress: if she reaches 10 Stress, she will suffer a breakdown and the results will not be great for her.

Haruna loses stress by taking time for herself, by making meaningful progress on her dreams, and by kissing tall, beautiful women.

Meta Rules
Author commentary is in italics so you know it's not story stuff.

Please don't complain about the system or the fact we have to roll dice. We've heard it before, we've heard it a thousand times across multiple quests. We're not going to change it, and it wears at our fucking souls.

Just going "oh noooo" or "Fish RNGesus Why!" is fun and fine. Complaining at length because you didn't get what you want less so.

If you have a question, tag both @open_sketchbook and @Artificial Girl. If you only tag one of us, you will be ignored. Seriously, we both write this quest.

And yes this is an alt-history type setting with openly gay and trans people, ahistoric medicine, and weird politics. Just... deal, please?

This quest employs a special system called Snippet Votes. Please read this post for more information.
 
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[X] Just wanted to see the old Academy stomping grounds again. It's been so long! (Get in good with an admiral!)

Getting an admiral on-side is never a bad thing.
 
[X] Just wanted to see the old Academy stomping grounds again. It's been so long! (Get in good with an admiral!)

We can further examine the problem once we have a further measure of this guy.
 
[X] I'm concerned about the other cadets following behind me, after an incident with Cadet Kurasaki Aya during the trip on the Myogi.
 
9-4: Young People These Days
[X] Just wanted to see the old Academy stomping grounds again. It's been so long! (Get in good with an admiral!)

"Ah, well…" Being polite would probably ingratiate you more than simply saying 'I think your female cadets are getting less attention than I'd like.' Maybe if you came to it from a more round-about way or addressed something else first would be best? Besides, it had been a while since you'd been at the Academy, so it wasn't a lie to say this.

"It's been a while since I've been here, and I guess I was feeling a little nostalgic," you admitted, putting on a self-deprecating smile.

"You're too young to be nostalgic," chided Fukunaga with a chuckle. "Wait until you're old and withered like me! Soon enough I'll be spending all my time in my garden and bouncing grandchildren on my knee, then I can be properly nostalgic."

"Surely not, sir," you said. "Are you retiring sometime soon?"

"Mm. Not this year, too much to do, but probably the next, unless something incredibly stupid happens."

"Like us getting into another war?" you guessed.

"Oh, far be it from me to question the political aspect," he said demurely over the rim of his coffee cup. "But unexpected foreign adventures are one of the things that might keep me in the job a little longer. If only because then they'll need all the younger hot-heads to run battleship squadrons instead of grooming cadets." He chuckled softly.

"I do plan to leave this place better than I found it, which I think is the ideal of every teacher. To help their students become the standard bearers of a better future." He settled his coffee cup onto its saucer. "You're one of the brighter standard bearers that I've had the pleasure of graduating in recent years. What have they got you up to now that you're back on home soil?"

Oh. Oh no.

Now you had to admit that you were a layabout. Fuck. Shit.

"I'm still between orders," you said, smiling. "I think they don't quite know what to do with me at the moment, especially with the war scare."

"Is that so?" He tilted his head, sounding surprised."That won't do. Maybe I'll ring up Captain Tomita over at the Admiralty. He's in the personnel section and I'm certain he'd be just as surprised to hear someone like you is sitting around twiddling her thumbs," the admiral mused. "We'll get you back to work in no time, I'm sure."

"Ah, that's very kind of you sir," you said with an internal grimace. What kind of favor was he going to want from the family for this? Or was there something else going on that he thought he might need you for?

"But shouldn't I wait for my orders to come like anyone else? I don't have any way of repaying your kindness…"

"Nonsense. There's nothing to repay. Getting a promising young officer back to work is its own reward." The fancy clock against one wall began to chime gently and he glanced at it, then reached onto his pocket for a pocket watch to double check the time.

"Ah. I'm afraid I can't spend any more time chit-chatting, as much as I'd like to. I have a meeting with the heads of department about next year's curriculum to go over…" He smiled. "The work is never done! But it was lovely to see you, Lieutenant-Commander. Feel free to take your time with your coffee before you go. And please, if you need any advice, be sure to let me know. I've been around long enough to know a thing or two," he added with a wink and got to his feet, leaving his empty coffee cup behind.

"Thank you, sir," you said, getting to your feet as well. "I will." You bowed slightly, waited for him to leave the room, then sat back down to finish the rest of the excellent coffee.

This had gone better than expected! Even if you'd totally missed out on your chance to talk to him about Kurasaki for the moment, maybe you'd have another chance later on. He had said to write or call.

---

Whoever Captain Tomita was, they were evidently eager to have you at their disposal, because not three days later your orders arrived at your doorstep. It wasn't the letter from Aiko you were desperately anticipating (or, better, her actual arrival), but you tore open the envelope perhaps a bit too eagerly regardless. You'd devolved to the point of skimming some of Aiko's textbooks for something to read; at this point, you'd take whatever they had. Hell, you'd take another transport or a supply ship if it meant you got to do something again.

Her Majesty's Imperial Navy Staff hereby orders and requires LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER ARISUKAWA HARUNA to report to IMPERIAL ADMIRALTY HEADQUARTERS in TOKEI no later than 0930 HRS OCTOBER 20TH, 1912 to be assigned to:
[ ] The Naval Logistics Design & Procurement Board: Subcommittee on the 20th Century Future Sailor Program​
[ ] The Light Utility Motor Boat Design & Procurement Commission: Next-Generation Outboard Selection Group​
[ ] The Electronic Communication Modernization Commission; Committee for Standardization of Manual Telecommunications Equipment​
[ ] The Naval Ordnance Design & Procurement Board Subcommittee for Anti-Aircraft Ordnance: Commission for Consultation and Decisions Regarding New Mount for Anti-Aircraft Purposes​
Short update but please enjoy it.
 
[X] The Electronic Communication Modernization Commission; Committee for Standardization of Manual Telecommunications Equipment

I like this one because half our job would be running back to Aiko to double-check if the committee's notes are actually scientifically literate
 
[X] The Electronic Communication Modernization Commission; Committee for Standardization of Manual Telecommunications Equipment

Initiating nepotism parameters

Is it nepotism if they actually do have valuable insights to contribute to a project?
 
[X] The Naval Logistics Design & Procurement Board: Subcommittee on the 20th Century Future Sailor Program

LOGISTICS REIGNS SUPREME!
 
[X] The Electronic Communication Modernization Commission; Committee for Standardization of Manual Telecommunications Equipment
 
[X] The Naval Ordnance Design & Procurement Board Subcommittee for Anti-Aircraft Ordnance: Commission for Consultation and Decisions Regarding New Mount for Anti-Aircraft Purposes

Probably the least useful of the postings, but how can I say no to indulging her rants about airplanes
 
[X] The Naval Ordnance Design & Procurement Board Subcommittee for Anti-Aircraft Ordnance: Commission for Consultation and Decisions Regarding New Mount for Anti-Aircraft Purposes

Am I the only one that thinks all of these are hmm sidelining us a bit?
 
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[X] The Electronic Communication Modernization Commission; Committee for Standardization of Manual Telecommunications Equipment
 
[X] The Naval Ordnance Design & Procurement Board Subcommittee for Anti-Aircraft Ordnance: Commission for Consultation and Decisions Regarding New Mount for Anti-Aircraft Purpose

Am I the only one that thinks all of these are hmm sidelining us a bit?

Staff postings are a big feather in her cap for someone as early in her career as Haruna!
 
These are all amazing choices with their own drawbacks.
[ ] The Naval Logistics Design & Procurement Board: Subcommittee on the 20th Century Future Sailor Program
Obviously something Haruna cares deeply about, but whether the committee actually matters politically, and then whether she has more than a token involvement is another matter entirely.

[ ] The Light Utility Motor Boat Design & Procurement Commission: Next-Generation Outboard Selection Group
Something that Haruna has direct experience with and can speak to with authority. Also, little to no relevance towards any of the social issues she cares about, but I'd guess one of the easiest things to influence?

[ ] The Electronic Communication Modernization Commission; Committee for Standardization of Manual Telecommunications Equipment
Love this for that Aiko aspect obvs. However, Haruna will be totally out of her depth personally.

[x] The Naval Ordnance Design & Procurement Board Subcommittee for Anti-Aircraft Ordnance: Commission for Consultation and Decisions Regarding New Mount for Anti-Aircraft Purposes
I feel like this would make Haruna actually engage with modern aircraft capabilities? Also… opportunity to visit a certain aircraft manufacturer..? I've gotta go with this personally, though… maybe it could convince Haruna that plane good actually?
 
[X] The Naval Logistics Design & Procurement Board: Subcommittee on the 20th Century Future Sailor Program

Love this for that Aiko aspect obvs. However, Haruna will be totally out of her depth personally.
She'd be out of her depth on the technical details, but she's not the engineer assigned to actually build the thing, so that's not that much of a problem.

Her role on the comission would be more stuff like "is 50 kg a reasonable weight for a portable radio " and "does our naval radio need to function in humid environments". You know, operational details rather than engineering.
 
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[X] The Electronic Communication Modernization Commission; Committee for Standardization of Manual Telecommunications Equipment
 
[X] The Electronic Communication Modernization Commission; Committee for Standardization of Manual Telecommunications Equipment
 
[x] The Naval Ordnance Design & Procurement Board Subcommittee for Anti-Aircraft Ordnance: Commission for Consultation and Decisions Regarding New Mount for Anti-Aircraft Purposes

I view this posting as somewhere to gain subject matter expertise rather than provide it. First staff posting after all. That said, she's run gun crews in combat more recently than any of the more senior committee members will have so she should have some insight into what matters when operating the proposed mounts.

Combat aircraft are developing faster than in the RW, AA expertise will only get more valuable.
 
Staff postings are a big feather in her cap for someone as early in her career as Haruna!
Yeah, it's one thing to be skippering a boat or captaining a ship, but the prestige of getting to help decide how things are going to be done on a fleetwide scale later is massive, especially if your voice actually makes a positive difference and the contribution is properly attributed to you instead of your supervisor.

Actual command, you maintain readiness in times of piece, patrol and perhaps see a fight or two in times of war, either living or dying in the process. Working as a central staff officer and committee member? You're involved in things that will directly matter for decades, and you have a nearly unlimited ability to be cursed by or praised by future generations of sailors.
 
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