>>22237729
[x] No

Very definitely not.

>>22237729
[x] No.
[x] I'm not sure how aware you are of the candidates, but let me put it this way: We're lucky no one's died yet.

>>22237729
>[ ] No
"They're as ready as I could make them in two weeks, but that frankly wasn't enough time."

>>22237729

This >>22237975

Two weeks isn't enough to whip this group into combat effectiveness.

The answer comes easy. "No," you answer immediately and firmly.

MacArthur blinks. "Explain."

"Two weeks, Sir. Two. That's fourteen days at most to learn how to operate and fight in a piece of equipment only one person's had a successful combat mission in, and we won't even be fighting battles like that again. Maybe we'd be alright if I had a group of geniuses to work with, but you've handed me what amounts to the bottom of the barrel. They're not ready, Sir, and to be frank, with all the mental issues and random explosions, we're lucky they're still alive." Your words are calm, as though there weren't a problem in the world. You told the truth. What else could you do?

General MacArthur nods, processing the information. "Better than I expected, then."

Now it's your turn to blink. "Excuse me, Sir?"

"You've got a raw deal, Chief. There's no bullshiting you there. It was all I could do to pry those subs away from their posts. You got those girls because no one else wanted them too badly." He lights up his pipe, giving it a few puffs. "I half expected this whole project to be a complete and total flop. But you," he points with his pipe, "are sitting here, telling me these girls have had two weeks of practice and haven't broken down. You're something else, Chief."

"What? But sir, it's a complete mess! It's just luck that they're still going!"

"In my experience, Chief, people tend to make their own luck."

You shake your head. "Sir, I—"

>>22238179
What an asshole (or being very historically accurate)

>>22238207
Can't it be both?

"Not another word, Chief. I'm giving you some praise. Whether you feel it's deserved or not, it'd be damned smart to accept it. Military bigwigs get annoyed when their compliments aren't warmly taken." MacArthur stares through you for a moment, thinking, before snapping back. "You've done a good job, Chief. It's getting time to send your mermaids into action."

"Mermaids, Sir?"

"Shorter than 'Witch Submersible Operator,' Chief." He puffs his pipe again. "You and your girls are going to get some combat experience real soon. But first..." He pulls out a small box, tossing it across the littered desk to you.

Picking it up, you open it. A gold oak leaf shines in the light.

"Just the work insignia, something about supply shortages or some damned thing. I don't expect you'll have very many occasions to miss the proper insignia on your dress uniform while you wait," MacArthur comments.

"You mean-?"

"Consider yourself promoted, Lt. Commander."

[ ] Sir, I couldn't!
[ ] Yes, Sir.

>>22238179
Thank our staff Rae and Yetta have been godsends through this whole thing.

Also, mention that our dear Martian, Socks is learning english.

>>22238301
[x] Yes, sir.

we boss cookie now

>>22238301
>[ ] Yes, Sir.

>>22238301

[X] Yes, sir.

>>22238312

Oh yes...we couldn't have done this without Rae and Yetta.

>>22238286
I meant to say "and" instead of "or"

[x] Yes, sir.

>>22238301
[x] Yes, Sir.
But all, dejected and shit.

>>22238301
"Yes sir"

But also militarily appropriate, "How the fuck are you going to make this stick I'm a fucking CPO!"

>>22238301
[x] Yes, Sir.
"I'd like it to be noted that progress would have been impossible without my training staff, especially Rae Caldwell, Miranda Kellos, and Henrieta Falkowska."

>>22238510
This. If we are going to make a meteoric rise, we need our girls to come with.

>>22238510

This.

Also casually me ntion about Socks learning about life on Earth and shit like him being contacted by enemy forces.

"Y-yes, Sir..." you answer distractedly.

"Something the matter, Lt. Cmdr?"

"I, uh...Sir, you do realize that I had a lot of help with things? Lt. Kellos, Sub-Lt. Falkowska, Lt. Caulders, they all are hugely responsible for what I've, um, accomplished here."

MacArthur smiles. "They did it all of their own volition? You had no part in shaping what they did for you?"

"Well, I'm not saying that, Sir..."

"They already look to you for leadership, right?"

He's kind of right. On this whole training deal, they were to expressly follow your lead, but even before that they were letting you step forward. They defer to you.

"I'm right, aren't I?" MacArthur says, smiling. "If you want to keep that up out there, you need a promotion. Would you feel comfortable being ordered by, say, Lt. Ogawa?"

You look at your feet.

"Now you get to keep ordering. Smile, dammit! I haven't seen someone so disappointed to be promoted since I handed Victor his own insignia."

"...Sir, I'm enlisted! Isn't someone going to take issue with bumping me up to O-4?" you ask.

"There aren't many people over my head that can bitch, especially about the promotion of such a...capable Witch. I admit, it'll be a lot easier to hold on to that if you prove yourself out there." He puffs. "Let me handle whatever outcry comes my way. I've gotten used to handling complaints, Lt. Cmdr. Damn, that's more annoying to say than Chief. Always a tradeoff, I suppose."

>>22238692
Well he could always call us Cookie.

>>22238780
No, that's reserved only for Yetta, Odessa, Rae, Miranda, Socks, maybe Alice and Victor.

You pick up the insignia, inspecting it closely. Lieutenant Commander Cleona Kuykendall. You've spent most of your career shunning the officers, now you are one. War is a hell of a thing.

"Doctor Wackett! Doctor Waccket!!" the General yells.

"Yes?" Alice answers, opening the door.

"Fetch me Lts. Kellos and Caulders. Sub-Lieutenant Falkowska, too, please. Victor, please step back inside."

Some time later, everyone is sitting around Alice's desk. Rae gives you a look when she spots your gold oak leaf, nudging Miranda. Their eyes widen before nodding in congratulations.

"Who are we missing? We're missing someone..." the General asks. "The Martian! Get him in here, too."

"Right away!" Alice hops over next door to fetch Socks.

"Alright. It's time for you all to come back into the world at large," MacArthur begins. "There's been strange Martian activity across the theater, units starting to work together more cohesively as they strike at our positions. We've lost Jayapura again and been pushed back about twenty miles east. Otherwise the line's been unchanged; most attacks have just been sporadic and disorienting. Some of the boys on my staff think this means the Martians are out of steam. I don't think so, but we're going to act all the same." He conjures a map, pointing out the major locations. "We'll be making a push on the southern part of the island, clearing out the Martian forces. In order to do that, we need to make sure they don't get anything to work with."

>>22238891


"How do we do that, Sir?" Rae asks.

"I'm getting to that, Lieutenant. Look here." He points to a small river on the southern coast of the island. It sneaks up into the west side of the central bulge. "The Martians, for whatever reason, have set up a forward supply distribution point of some kind here. It's a bit of a ways up river, but still supplied by sea. Latest reports show that they send supplies by way of cargo ship every 6 days or so. It leaves from Indonesia here," he points, "and travels this route."

"You want us to sink it?" you ask.

"Yes, but not out at sea. If they lose those supplies, it'll hurt, but they'll just send another ship with better escort this time. No, I want you to jam that river."

"Jam it? Sir, I don't understand."

"The river's shallow enough that, should you manage to sink it, they'll have one hell of a time clearing the route. The base will be effectively useless while we advance. Their forces won't be getting as many extra bullets or rockets or whatever to chuck our way. Hopefully we'll have the base by the time they clear the wreck and resume normal operations."

You tilt your head. "That's all fine and dandy, Sir, but we're still not done with training here."

MacArthur nods. "You've got a day left here. After that, I'm having all of you sent back to Brisbane to hook up with your new boats. You'll leave the day after."

[ ] Is Socks coming too?
[ ] So soon?

>>22238901
Is Socks coming too?

He's already made up his minds, asking isn't going to get us more time.

>>22238901
[x] Is Socks coming too?
Not much other reason for having Socks sit in on this meeting.

>>22238901
[x] Is Socks coming too?
I hope this is a night op, just for Odessa time.

[x] Is Socks coming too?

I'm thinking his help might make this doable

>>22238901
>[ ] Is Socks coming too?

"What about Socks?" you ask. Even as well as he's been coming along, the idea of leaving him alone is...uncomfortable.

"Socks? Who the—" MacArthur asks as Socks raises a tentacle. "Oh. Right. The Martian. You can't take him on missions, if that's what you're asking, Chi-Lieutenant Commander. He's the most valuable asset we've got. Risking him in combat would be absurd." MacArthur shakes his head. "We can't afford to lose him."

You nod. "Yes, but..."

"You're the only one that can talk to him well, right? Socks, was it? Can you understand me?"

"Eye under stand sum," he responds in disjointed English.

"Just what we needed, a Martian Scientist that can understand us. Well, there you are. He'll be fire, Lt. Cmdr."

[ ] He must join us at Brisbane.
[ ] Very well, Sir.

>>22239171
[] Very well sir.

As much as we love Socks he needs to be safe.

>>22239171
[x] He must join us at Brisbane.
I don't trust him not to screw something up while we're gone. He's a bit of a doofus.

>>22239171
[x] Very well, Sir.
"May I recommend increased security, sir? The Martians have been trying to attempting to contact him recently, possibly as a prelude to attempting to recapture him."

>>22239171
>He'll be fire

Socks is not for BBQ.

>>22239261
Not yet.

File: 1356579875454.gif-(2.93 MB, 344x261, 1355416028476.gif)

>>22239287

>>22239351
I feel no remorse. Fuck that character and her hair.

>>22239365
N-not even with her hair down in the last episode? D:

>>22239365
[insert very easy joke about 'how he hates that girl yet likes Perrine' here]

"...Very well, Sir."

[Does this mean we will be unable to see each other for some time, Cleona?] Socks' thoughts join your own.

[That...that's right, Socks. For a little bit, at least. I have to be there with you to meet with your friend, remember?] That phone call floats up to the front of your mind. It's a frightening proposition (deliberately meeting with an enemy always is), but it also means you'll have to be with Socks again. Right?

"Sir, what about that meeting with Socks' friend?"

"Ah, that's right. Victor gave me a brief over it. Absolutely out of the question. We are not risking him."

[ ] Protest
[ ] Accept

>>22239412
Protest under grounds of him likely trying to go by himself anyways. And likely not wanting to help if forcibly sequestered.

File: 1356580344908.jpg-(124 KB, 768x1024, outrage.jpg)

>>22239412
[x] Protest

Aw hayll naw.

>>22239412

Protest. The other one could have useful intel!

>>22239412
[x] Protest
Protest on the grounds that due to Martian telepathy, the commando already knows where Socks is; he even called the switchboard at the base already, and knew our phone number.
If we don't meet him, then he'll simply sneak in with his psionic camouflage and kidnap Socks.

>>22239412
[x] Compromise
Maybe Cookie can go in his place? Martian mind meld for the win!

"But sir! You don't understand! He called us. If they want to deal with Socks, they can do it at any time. They know where he is, they know how to talk to him. If I go with him to meet this friend, then at least I can be there and maybe take care of whatever threat there might be, to say nothing of the potential gains of another Martian joining us!"

To Alice's annoyance, MacArthur puffs his pipe once more. "Joining us? Did he say anything about joining us? As far as I'm aware, he just wants to talk."

"And what else would he have to say?"

"That's my point. If he's not defecting, why would he want to talk?"

"…"

"There's a good reason for not meeting with this Martian."

"...If you don't let me go with Socks, he's liable to head out on his own, and I doubt you'll be able to stop him. Not without seriously harming him and losing all benefits from keeping him around."

MacArthur's eyes narrow. "If I don't have a reason to keep him around, Lieutenant Commander, then I won't keep him around."

[ ] Do that, and you'll have an AWOL Witch, one you need.
[ ] ...I'm sorry, Sir.

>>22239723
[x] ...I'm sorry, Sir.
The best we can do is have them increase security, and hope that the Martian commandos can't get to Socks.

>>22239723
...I understand Sir. But still fuck you.

Again, my military decorum speak isn't that great.

>>22239723
[x] ...I'm sorry, Sir.
What a stupid asshole. But after that stunt with ordering us to shoot Socks to prove our loyalty, it's pretty clear that the other option will not go down well.

>>22239723
[x] Fine. Sir.

"...I'm sorry, Sir." Dammit. He's a General, you can't forget that. Dammit!

"Frustrated, are we, Lieutenant Commander Kuykendall?" Damn him, if only you could punch him right now... "For you to get what you want, then I need to get what I want."

You blink. "Sir? What—"

"Doctor!" MacArthur interrupts. "How's the progress on those engines?"

"Oh, um, we've pretty much figured out exactly how to replicate them, we just need to adapt our own assembly lines. We'll need top of the line equipment but..."

MacArthur makes it clear that he doesn't want to speak for the rest of the meeting. Time passes as he discusses boring material and procedures with Alice and Victor, occasionally asking for input from you and your friends. As he finally wraps up the meeting, you breathe a sigh of relief.

"What a meeting..." Rae says as you part ways with the General and Victor. "It's enough to make you feel bad for the guy, huh?" She gestures to Victor.

"Yes, it really does," agrees Miranda.

"But anyway, Cleo! Big promotion! How about that?" Rae asks excitedly.

[ ] I never asked for this.
[ ] I know, right?

[x] I never asked for this.

>>22240038
[x] I never asked for this.

File: 1356583153587.jpg-(51 KB, 400x300, I_85a2f0_2607182[1].jpg)

>>22240038

>>22240038
I never asked for this.

You look away. "It's not like I asked for this..." A sudden thud on your back threatens to knock you over.

"What are you moping about!? You've done great!" Rae says with a smile, her hand moving up to your shoulder. "Come on, let's go get some food and celebrate!"

"...I'm tired of those eggs, Rae."

"Oh, they've certainly stopped serving breakfast by now, Cleona," Miranda reminds you. "MacArthur had a lot to say."

"Besides, I know where to get the good stuff." There's a glint in Rae's eye.

You shrug. "I guess we could always use more celebrations. You coming, Yetta?"

Yetta's head pops out of her book. "Huh? Oh, yes."

"Then let's going!" Rae exclaims, leading the way. She takes you just a little bit down the hall. You've never been in these rooms...

"Rae, are we allowed in here?" you ask.

"Officer's privilege." Rae busts into the room. The sound of cooking food fills your ears, the smell filling your nostrils. Mass food preparation items fill the room, cooks running about. "Oh, Tooooom!" Rae calls, scanning the bustling room.

You see a blur of movement by one of the doors for just a moment. Then it's gone.

[ ] I saw something over there!
[ ] You'll have no part of this.

>>22240294
[x] You'll have no part of this.

>>22240294
[x] I saw something over there!
It could be something important. Like martian commandos. Or our meal ticket escaping.

>>22240294
You'll have no part of this.

We are not in the mood for shenanigans.

[x] I saw something over there!

I think it's something important

>>22240294
[x] I saw something over there!

Let us investigate!

>Voting late
>God dammit

Poor Tom deserves a break and you're in no mood for these antics. "I'll wait in the cafeteria, Rae."

"Alright..." she says, scanning. "Where'd he go...?"

You, Miranda, and Yetta leave Rae to her search, taking a seat at a table. It's just before lunch time and the trainees are just starting to head in.

"Hey, Miranda, Yetta, what'd you guys have them do while we had to deal with MacArthur?" you ask.

"Told them to free swim. I warned them they still have a final test to do, though, so they better practice," Miranda replies.

"Do you think they did?"

Yetta nods enthusiastically.

"They're getting a little paranoid of us now, you know," Miranda explains. "It's a good thing for now, but I hope they'll trust us when the time comes."

"Mmm..." you acknowledge. There they go. Ogawa, Odessa, Boser, Harton, Wooding...and they do look rather worn out. As they approach the food line, commotion breaks out behind the counter. You groan. "Is that...?"

"I'm afraid so..." Miranda sighs.

"Come on! It's a celebration!"

"No! I can't get away with that!"

"Sure you can! I won't tell anyone!"

"Let me go!"

CRASH. Rae topples onto Tom, knocking over some (thankfully) empty trays and crashing into some carts. You can hear groans of pain.

[ ] Check it out
[ ] Ignore and call over <insert trainee>

>>22240666
Check it out.
"Rae, either sleep with him or stop flirting, its getting annoying."

File: 1356585698011.png-(29 KB, 243x313, 1353705977591.png)

>>22240666
[x] Check it out

Is Tom's hand going to be placed somewhere that'll cause MISUNDERSTANDINGS? Is this gonna be just like my chinese girl cartoons?

>>22240700
this

>>22240700
second

You hop out of your seat, rushing to the scene. Several workers start cleaning up the outer fringes of the mess, but keep clear of the crazy Witch and her victim. Rae rubs the back of her head, laying on top of a very distressed Tom.

"Get...get off me!"

"Hey...you know...usually guys don't say that..."

Tom shoves her.

"You didn't have to do that!" Rae whines, her butt hitting the floor.

"Hey, Rae, either get a room or stop flirting with the poor boy, you're killing him."

"F-Flirting!? I'm not flirting with him, Cleo!"

"Then what are you doing?"

"I'm just..." Rae picks herself up off the ground. "I'm trying to get us some celebratory food!"

"She's trying to snatch all the desert for herself!" Tom accuses. Quickly, he tries to rush back into the kitchen. "Hirkk!" Rae catches him by the collar, bringing him back down to the floor.

>>22241056
"You get us some food, Tom!"

"I can't!!!"

"Rae. Rae. Rae! Calm down. It's fine, alright? We can just eat normally," you say, trying to calm her down.

"B-but!" Rae looks at you with pleading eyes.

"No buts. Come on, Rae. You're making a commotion."

Rae looks around, spotting all the pairs of eyes watching her. Slowly, her face grows red. "...I didn't mean to, um...I'm sorry..." she mumbles quietly, releasing Tom and heading out from around the counters. She almost seems to shrink as she comes around to your side.

"There. That's better." You put an arm around her shoulder.

Odessa taps you on the shoulder. "Um...Cookie," she whispers, "What celebration is she talking about?"

[ ] Oh, nothing.
[ ] I got promoted. To Lieutenant Commander.

[x] I got promoted. To Lieutenant Commander.

>>22241061
I got promoted to Lieutenant Commander.
Sighs and signs of not quite enjoying it yet required.

>>22241061
[x] I got promoted.

>>22241061
[x] we boss cookie now

>Odessa calls us Cookie in front of everyone else
Doushio~

>>22241061
[x] I got promoted. To Lieutenant Commander.

You shift uncomfortably. "I, um...I got promoted."

Odessa's eyes widen in surprise, taking in the news. "That...that's great! You're now...um...what is it? A Senior Chief Petty Officer?"

"Uh...no. I'm now, um, a...." you say, trailing off.

"A what?"

"Lieutenant Commander."

"An officer!? Cookie, how-? That's great!" she says, practically jumping with joy for you. "You should get something special!"

"But I don't feel like I should even have this promotion, Odessa."

"But you have it! That's great! Mr. Food Server, can I have some extra cookies? I can? Thank you! Here, Cookie, have these!" Odessa, just like that, snatches a few extra cookies for you.

"Wha? How did she...?" Rae mumbles from somewhere behind you.

"I, er, thanks, Odessa. Would you like to sit with us?"

Odessa looks back at the other trainees. "Oh, um...sorry, they wanted to discuss something today. Maybe some other time." She gives you a guilty look.

"Don't worry about me," you say, nodding.

"Bye, Cookie!"

"See you." You turn to Rae. "No 'she called you Cookie!' comments?"

"...I don't get it. Why can she just ask for more food and I can't get zilch?"

[ ] Because she's adorable
[ ] Let's prep for our transfer back to Brisbane

[x] Because she's adorable

It's the truth, and compare it with Rae's.... less elegant methods....

>>22241277
[x]Because she's adorable.

I kinda wanna rag on Rae some more, but lets be nice.

>>22241277
[x] Because she's adorable
Because she's cute, and she knows how to use it. Subconsciously.

>>22241277
[x] Because she's adorable

>>22241277
[x] Because she's adorable

Rae, you are not kawaii.

>>22241277
>[ ] Because she's adorable
>[ ] Let's prep for our transfer back to Brisbane
State the first, and begin on the second before allowing time for discussion.

>>22241277

[ ] Because she's adorable

She is.

Man, Rae is gonna be crushed that nobody thinks she's cute enough to give extra cookies to.

Maybe we can give her a little extra cookie, if you know what I mean.

"Becauh she if adorafle," you say as you munch on a cookie.

"What!? Aren't I attractive?"

You swallow. "I said 'adorable,' not 'attractive,' Rae. She's a young girl with cute mannerisms. You don't stand a chance in comparison, not the way you've been going about things."

Rae holds her hands out. "But I'm a Witch! I'm cute, right!?"

"Mmmhmm..."

"Right!?"

"Mmm."

"Cleo, come on! Tell me, I'm adorable, right!?"

"Mmm."

"Cleo!!!"

You grab a tray of food, fending off Rae's questions. For the rest of the meal, she asks and asks and asks. Unfortunately for her, you're not about to touch that beehive; by the time the day is done, she still doesn't know if you think she's cute or not.

But you know what you need to do with those trainees. With a moment to yourself, you slip into your office. You probe about, fetching a file. "Final Examination." These girls still have issues, but if they can perform decently with them, then they can put off fixing those issues for now. You open the file, browsing your preparations. The Final Examination amounts to a mock battle in a bigger playing field than the pool, Instructors vs. Trainees. They just need to destroy a "flag" to pass. The question is, what twist should you pull on them to make it more...serious? "Live" ammunition? Somehow disguise yourselves as telebots and don't tell them? Or something else entirely?

>What do you write down?

>>22241485
Tell them their objective. Then, switch the teams. We must destroy the flag, they must defend it.

>>22241498
I like this, I like this a lot.

>>22241485
Hang overhead the pool and drop stuff in there. Say they're telebots, and if they so much as brush one, they're dead.

>>22241498
Darkened pool, simulate dusk, fill the lower reaches with ink to simulate deep-ocean.

>>22241532
Have people throwing in something to use as mock-depth charges from small boats - Perhaps some sort of training grenade?

>>22241545
Tranq rounds, coupled with an emergency float-pack - If you're tranqu'ed, you're out, if someone activated your float-pack, you count as Wounded and recovered, and count as a bonus for that side.

Halfway through the match have the defeated persons re-enter on one side as enemy reinforcements.

>>22241575
The trainees must also roll.

>>22241498
I WOULD support this, except it runs counter to what we're trying to teach them.
>>22241485
Pick one person from each team, and make them a POW. The POW's task is to escape and cause chaos for their captors.

>>22241575
>tranquilize recruits
>in water exercise
>putting people to sleep in a pool

This is a HORRIBLE idea.

>>22241735
...and it's still better than what will happen if they fuck up in an actual mission. Make sure they understand this.

>>22241803
I think that you should NOT kill recruits in training missions. That would ruin morale and reduce your squad size.

If you must, use rubber darts or something and if someone gets hit, take them out.

You write down several ideas. Telling them their objective and then swapping teams last minute would put a nice spin on things, but you're not sure if that'd be appropriate as a test or exercise, given what kind of missions you're likely to go on. Dropping things in the pool they have to avoid might work, but are kind of bland and don't do much unless they're large in number...Darkening the waters or running at night in the ocean would be a decent and useful twist. Forcing people knocked out to re-enter battle on the opposite side seems neat, but brings into question conflicting interests with the trainees and threatens to finish the battle very quickly. Using a "POW" on each side that teams have to contain while keeping mindful of the greater objective...runs a little contrary to the goals of the program, but might be useful in teaching situational awareness, multitasking, and dealing with the unexpected.

>>22241876


You sigh. They're interesting ideas, but whether or not you should use them...you'll go over it with the others tomorrow morning. The trainees will have the morning off while you prepare and battle in the evening. If you can, you'd like to catch a plane out to Brisbane in the morning to carry your stuff and do this in some open water. Maybe you'll think up something new in the meantime.

You look over what you did today. Promoted, argued with MacArthur (Sorry, Socks, looks like there's a promise that might not be kept...), Rae fooling around with Tom...Tom. Your brother Tom. You wonder how he's doing. There was a lot of action in the Pacific Northwest, where he was assigned. Every day, you imagine, fighting some unearthly machine, never knowing if it might be his last...

And now you're about to get back into it too. One day remains in trainingland. After that?

It's back to war.

NEXT TIME ON SUBMERSIBLE WITCHES: GRADUATION
WEDNESDAY, 8PM EST

>>22241885
Good quest Kotters.

>>22241901
Thanks. Have a good night, man.

File: 1356592444049.jpg-(120 KB, 500x500, 1355275050868.jpg)

>>22241885
>Tom mentioned

best character whoever writes him must be a genius