Chapter Text
03:30 am, Korea Standard Time
Communal head 3-124-4-L of the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)
As cool as it sounds to fly on an aircraft carrier, there are times that Mina is genuinely wishing she was assigned to a land-based “expeditionary” squadron instead - when she is not deployed on a carrier and living in the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, she and Sana can at least have their own bathroom - “head” in Navy jargon - in the room they live in, but onboard a carrier, junior officers like her have to share the heads with dozens of other officers, as their stateroom only have enough space for a tiny sink. (To be fair, only the carrier’s captain and XO have their own heads, so she is not the only one who has to suffer.)
“Hey Minari, Satang, how’s your second flight op? Is it fun?” Momo asks the pair from another shower as she rinses.
“Even worse than our first. Other than dodging SAMs and AAAs, this time we were almost shot down by a MiG-29.” Squeezing her travel-size QV gentle wash, Mina answers the Supply Corps officer, “Thank god that missile malfunctioned.”
“Well, at least you two are fighting in the front lines and getting huge medals.” Momo says with envy, “I heard the CAG is giving you two a Silver Star.”
“He said he would nominate us for a Silver Star - no guarantees. Hell, he even told us it would most likely be downgraded to another Distinguished Flying Cross.” Mina quickly corrects Momo. The LTJG has never been a glory-seeking officer, and she couldn’t care less about what medals she will get - if she gets a Silver Star, of course she’s happy with it; but if she can only get a DFC, then so be it.
“Yeah, right now I just want Kim IV to surrender ASAP, so we can all go home - and why the fuck there’s no hot water all in a sudden?! ” Sana punches the nozzle in frustration while being sprayed with ice-cold water. After a seven hour combat mission, all she wants is a hot and relaxing shower before going to bed, but apparently that is an unreasonable request.
“I guess even the ship doesn’t want to give you a hot shower!” Momo bursts into laughter. It’s true that nuclear-powered ships like Ronald Reagan will have a higher supply of hot water thanks to the nuclear reactors, but like a lot of things in the Navy, it is not guaranteed.
“Actually Momoring, that’s a good thing - if there’s no hot water, then there’s zero incentive for her to stay there any longer than she must!” Mina also joins Momo and teases her EWO. It’s hardly a secret that Sana loves to take very long baths, but Mina will never forget that insane incident when they were still living at MCAS Iwakuni: after her EWO stayed inside the bathroom for two hours and she hasn't heard anything from inside, she decided to give it a check, only to find out it was locked; by the time Mina broke into the bathroom, her EWO was already lying unconscious on the floor. (When the squadron’s flight surgeon later asked Sana why on earth she ended up lying unconscious in a bathroom , of all places, she said she had a very long bath, but when she was done and left the shower, she felt a bit dizzy and fainted.)
“Oh come on you two, that’s not funny!” Sana is not happy with the less-than-sympathetic responses from Momo and Mina, “Does yours still have hot water?”
“Don’t worry Satang, mine is still having hot water - for now.” Mina turns off the nozzle, puts on her towel and opens the shower certain, “And I’m done anyway, so feel free to try mine instead.”