fh_trips | The Crown Princess - Monday [Cabins and Lido Deck]

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spring break 2009: crown princess cruise

The Crown Princess - Monday [Cabins and Lido Deck]

It was a beautiful day in the Caribbean! The sun was bright in the cloudless sky, casting no shadows on the open section of the Lido deck: Sunbathers beware. Luckily, the Horizon Court offered umbrellas at some tables for the sun shy.

Near the pools were large lettered signs discouraging guests from diving or jumping into the water due to the lack of depth.

[OOC: Cabin Listing | Ship/Shore Post | Cabins Thread | Pool & Bars | Terrace]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"That's about what it is with our military just with different ranks and no ninjas," he said lightly. "At least, none that I know of. We could probably do with some ninjas."

She grinned. "Ninjas ought to be everywhere--and I wasn't putting your military down, no way, I just don't know much of anything 'bout it."

"Oh no, I didn't think you were," he said and waved a hand. "Not at all. It sounds a little more regimented than what you describe. That has its pros and cons."

"We're in the same teams at least 'til all of the members are Chuunin, after that, it depends on the individuals within the teams--if they want to stick with their squad, if they want to go into a more specialized field, or head into ANBU. And Jounin are much more likely to be moved around at will because they're supposed to be able to be the best at adapting to whomever they're working with," she explained. "So it gives you a good bit of time to get to know how to work with them, and it creates a solid baseline of what your team is good for, you know? I mean, there's powerhouse teams, ones that a better at sabotage, espionage, tracking..."

Ino shrugged a bit. "We've got to obey orders, and get the mission done no matter what, but other than that we're allowed a lot more leeway in how, and what we do."

"Wow," Lee said after she'd finished. "I can hear a lot of similarities to the military what with the specializations and the ranks. Some units are really free, especially the stealth guys that have to move around, get behind enemy lines but the straight pilots and cavalry are very regimented in that they've got about one overall objective, of course."

That got a slightly uncertain nod. "We're not, I don't think, really meant for wars in the sense to loads of people all in one place? Our wars tend to be more guerrilla-style. Too much individuality, and not all fighting styles ought to be anywhere near the same place at the same time."

"A lesson a good many leader could learn," he said and laughed ruefully. "My dad's a commander so I hear a lot about this. Some people want a full force frontal assault so they leave vital areas weakly guarded and if that assault doesn't work, we're frakking screwed."

Ino made a face at that. "I mean, I'm no commander, but even I know that's dumb. Front assaults look impressive, but they're totally not always the best route."

"Well, most commanders are blowhards only interested in showing how much power they have," he said. "All will tremble at their feet."

"...your commanders are a bit different than ours," she decided, after a long moment of staring.

"Yeah, I'm not surprised," he said. "We haven't been at war in a long, long time. My father says their complacent now."

She looked rueful. "Two major wars, an invasion, and an attack by a demonic force of nature--that's all that's happened in the last, like, thirty-five years or so. Not counting usual missions for clients. I think anyone who was complacent would die pretty quick."

"Big cultural differences," he said and half smiled. "Our last war was...I hadn't even been born yet. And there was a truce called. Since then, the military has just been sort of a figurehead, really."

That got a bit of a shudder.

"That'd be so boring, I think," Ino said. "Which, I mean, it's kinda awesome that your economy can support that, but ours really couldn't. We need the money we bring in, it's the backbone of our village."

"Well, I should clarify, it's a figurehead in the terms of fighting," he said. "There's still humanitarian aid missions and minor skirmishes. I don't think those'll ever stop."

"...humanitarian aid missions?"

Did not often happen in her world unless someone paid them.

"Yeah, recovery from natural disasters is the big one," he said. "Um, there's also...food drops, supply drops, that sort of thing."

"Oh." Er. "I'm guessing you guys don't need to wait for a client to pay you, right?"

Admittedly, sometimes they helped out before the mission was official contracted for, but...

"No," he said and shook his head. "Nope, the military falls under the government and the government's...well, I don't know if they're obligated because I don't know politics that well but they're almost required to send aid to citizens in need in mass numbers like that."

"We've got a treaty with the Fird Lord?" she said, though she didn't sound certain. "But we still get paid for it, like a usual mission."

"Our military gets paid but we'd get paid whether there was a war or peace,' he said. "It's considered a government job so people go to work from nine to five or what have you and go home and then do it again the next morning.

Ino was just, yeah, ow.

"...a nine to five job," she repeated.

He laughed and said, "I'm trying to compare it to your setup and that's what it sounds like. People have days off, leave, things like that. Me joining the military would be the equivalent of becoming a lawyer. It'd be my job, my career. Of course it's not literally nine to five but it's the best way I can explain it."

"That's so weird," she marveled. "I mean, for us, a mission could come at any time, and we've got to get up and just go for however long it is. And they're... it's more of a lifestyle, I think? Though that sounds long? We're always 'on duty' so to speak?"

"Yeah, I think our military could be considered always on duty but if they were on leave, they'd have to be activated or something," he explained. "In my galaxy, wars usually start with a sudden battle but the decision to actually declare war is a governmental process that can take some time. That allows for everyone who might be needed to be activated whether they're on leave or even retired. So, I guess it's a job where I'm from and it can become your lifestyle but it doesn't have to."

The Crown Princess - Monday [Cabins and Lido Deck]

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