>>33765118
>[] It wasn't worth risking an accident over.

>>33765118
>[X] I was under orders to not push the fight.
>[X] It wasn't worth risking an accident over.

>>33765118
>[] It wasn't worth risking an accident over.

>>33765118
>[] I was under orders to not push the fight.
>[] It wasn't worth risking an accident over.

>>33765118
>[x] I was under orders to not push the fight.

>>33765118
>[] It wasn't worth risking an accident over.

>>33765118
>[x] It wasn't worth risking an accident over.

>>33765118
>[] It wasn't worth risking an accident over.
Sure, it was an order, but we can't deny the fact we're avoiding unnecessary injuries here

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>>33765118

[X] It wasn't worth risking an accident over.

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1.19 MB GIF

>>33765118
>Didn't want to embarrass you is all

>>33765118
>[*] I was under orders to not push the fight.

Iz troo

>>33765118
>[] It wasn't worth risking an accident over.

>>33765118
[] I was under orders to not push the fight.
[] It wasn't worth risking an accident over.

>>33765118
>[x] I was under orders to not push the fight.

>>33765118
>[x] I was under orders to not push the fight.
No hurting the little witch's feelings

>>33765118
>[] It wasn't worth risking an accident over.

>>33765118
>[] It wasn't worth risking an accident over.

Don't push it up the chain and the responsibility off us.

We choose not to.

>>33765118
>[] It wasn't worth risking an accident over.

Ultimately, it was her freaking physics-raping powers that spurred our decision.

>>33765118
[X] It wasn't worth risking an accident over.
Nothing but the truth.

>>33765266
Can she handle the truth?!

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>>33765118
>[] It wasn't worth risking an accident ove- why are you naked like that outside the showers?

>>33765118
>[x] Didn't want to embarrass you is all. but really, It wasn't worth risking an accident over.

>>33765284
If she can handle the Gs then she can handle the truth.

>>33765118
[] I was under orders to not push the fight.

>>33765308
She don't give a damn, because she's stoic as nagato

>>33765118
>The source turns out to be Natalya, sitting on a changing bench with a towel wrapped around her, her clothes in a pile on the tile floor, and a locker hanging open.

>>33765308
this

>>33765118
>[] It wasn't worth risking an accident over.

I'm with >>33765251 , we made the call in the end. If we didn't have combat duty breathing down our neck though ...

>>33765313
Jack Nicholson would be proud then

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEjxx7vr9TA

>>33765308
I'd think that Frank, the only man in a unit full of magical ladies who don't wear pants in combat, would be pretty comfortable with at least partial female nudity by this point in time. He woulda had an aneurysm otherwise

Either we are going to gain another little sister or we are going to be stab and they'll never find the body.

>>33765118
>[] It wasn't worth risking an accident over.
and >>33765308

>>33765387
>another little sister
I wonder what Brigitte would think of this...

>>33765387
or another fan

>>33765407

>voodoo doll stabbing intensifies

On a tangentially-related note, Fronk should really ask Joe for some advice with the whole potential polygamy thing sometime

>>33765422
Wait... Brigitte is yandere? All she ever wanted was to be our little sister

>>33765422
She's just jealous fronk gets a lot of them

>>33765422
>Brigette sells Konstantina all her voodoo dolls
IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW

>>33765456
>All she ever wanted was to be our little sister

singular

There can only be one little sister

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>>33765466
That would be unpleasant, but I'm curious to see where this theory goes...

>>33765118
>[x] All-out aerial duel with a Soviet super-witch? Do YOU want to deal with a jealous Stalinka?

>>33765472
Pillowfight deathmatch for the chance to be fronk's little sister.

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>>33765466
That explains so much.

>>33765501
The pillows are stuffed with bricks.

>>33765501
Well now we know what they'll be doing when we're in Paris.

>>33765520

What.

>>33765487
>Konnie-chan fights it out with Nat-chan after going all-out with fronk
I like it. I LIKE IT.
>>33765501
Hm. Kinky.

>>33765501
Merlin wins. Merlin gets MEAN about pillowfights.

>>33765527
Barin would be all covered in fluff when we come back.
It all sounds too good to be true

>>33765118
>It wasn't worth risking an accident over
Plus >>33765487

>>33765539
>merlin in pyjamas on top of a pile of other ladies, holding a bloody pillow and wearing sinister opaque glasses

>>33765118
Seconding
>>33765487

Comedy gold not to mention. Plus we dig her to see how she reacts to being compared to Stalinka.

>>33765585
"Fronk, I have never prayed to you before. I have no tongue for it. No one, not even you, will remember if we were good witches or bad. Why we fought, or why we died. All that matters is that two stood against many. That's what's important! Cuteness pleases you, Fronk... so grant me one request. Grant me little sister status! And if you do not listen, then to HECK with you!"

>>33765644
That's.. That's deep man. Sauceplzkthx?

>>33765644
...And So I Pray, Unlimited Little Sister Works!!

>>33765678
>Brigette
Conan praying to Crom.

>>33765702
I am the warhead of my Sidewinder
Wyvern is my body and witch magic is my blood
I have created over a thousand modifications
Unknown to matrons, Nor known to frank
Have withstood hunger to attach many Agiles
Yet, these hands will never hold anything lewd
So as I get tone, unlimited missile locks.

>>33765678
Conan the Barbarian.

>>33765726
Oh man, I haven't seen that dude in ages.
I gotta find me some of those Arnie Conan films again...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5lTDFm84pQ

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[] It wasn't worth risking an accident over.

You elect to not comment on her state of undress- noting that she's got several not-quite faded surgical scars.

“It wasn't worth risking an accident over.” You say with a shrug.

She looks at you for a moment, not blinking. Kid's kind of creepy. “You are allowed that amount of freedom?”

You nod. “Of course. Especially in a training environment, the safety of my crew and my plane come first.”

She pauses, then nods slightly at this, accepting it. “I will shower now. We will talk more when I am done.”

You barely have time to turn around before she stands up- you saw her hand reaching up to pull the towel off, and she's way, way too damn young to be looking at. Had it been Brigitte, maybe...

You shake the thought out of your head and gear down, putting your equipment in your locker and making sure it's locked- not that you don't trust Natalya, but you don't know her.

You're able to take two steps out of the life support shop towards the baths with a towel draped over your arm and a clean change of clothes in hand before Brigette greets you, her uniform on and a pistol belted to her hip- which can't be comfortable, given her distinct lack of pants.

“Baron.” She greets smoothly. “I be 'havin words with ya, if ya not busy.”

[] I was just headed to the baths, if you want to walk with me.
[] I was just headed to the baths, can it wait?

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While we wait for the thread to update, here's a blast from the past.

>>33766248
>[] I was just headed to the baths, can it wait?

>>33766248
>[] I was just headed to the baths, if you want to walk with me.

>>33766248
>[] I was just headed to the baths, if you want to walk with me.

walk and talk~

>>33766248
>[] I was just headed to the baths, if you want to walk with me.
Her senses. THEY TINGLED.

>>33766248
>[] I was just headed to the baths, can it wait?

>>33766248
>[] I was just headed to the baths, if you want to walk with me.

>>33766248
>[x] I was just headed to the baths, if you want to walk with me.

>>33766248
>[x] I was just headed to the baths, if you want to walk with me.

Walk and talk. She'll want to send someone with us to Paris, won't she?

>>33766248
[x] I was just headed to the baths, if you want to walk with me.

Brigette is almost always business. She's not going to try and do some silly shit just to get our attention.

>>33766248
>[] I was just headed to the baths, if you want to walk with me.

>>33766248
[X] I was just headed to the baths, if you want to walk with me.
I think by this point Frank would be reaching DGAF territory regarding females' clothing or lack thereof.

>>33766301
She's calling dibs on a third ticket out

>>33766248
>[] I was just headed to the baths, if you want to walk with me.

Need to know what to pick up for her in Paris.

>>33766325
Indeed, we do need to go shopping for the girls again and once more distribute PRESENTS

We totally need to buy Ice a sheer white nightie, Katya a transparent black babydoll and Slider a single large flannel shirt.

>>33766359
Seconded. SECONDED SO HARD, IT"S THROUGH THE ROOF.

>>33766359
SHOPPING

WE MUST GO SHOPPING

We could buy Brigitte a reproduction SOG Scuba/Demo if we find a good cutlery shop

>>33766359

Do they sell guns in france?

>>33766406
Yep, though you need to be a resident and have a permit which requires some paperwork hoops to jump through, but they are pretty gun friendly for a country thats not murka

>>33766248

[X] I was just headed to the baths, if you want to walk with me.

>>33766398
>SOG scuba for Maman
>moar voodoo stabbing

>>33766406
Is this for our good ol boss or Wendy?

>>33766424

Just wondering if it was possible to pick up a piece for ice.

>>33766427
For the boss

>>33766427
Wendy, though I doubt we can get a good replacement rifle for her there

>>33766442
>Just wondering if it was possible to pick up a piece for ice.
She's already got her Grandma's Garand, she's set for dakka

>>33766442
>Implying she needs one now with her fuckoff-powerful SUPERGARAND

>>33766454
She wouldn't trade Tessa for anything else, I reckon.
I wonder if they sell accessories for bullpup rifles though.

>>33766442
A flintlock. For class.

>>33766470

Just as a present, I was thinking. Something like a period piece.

>>33766490
>Land of the wild FAMAS

Of course they sell bulpup accs.

>>33766492
I say again, flintlock.
Or one of those rifles carried by Napoleon's GRAND ARMY into MOSCOW.

>>33766492
Then we need to get something appropriate for all the girls

>>33766501
New Sights then. IR sights.

>>33766517

Katya got that very expensive chess set previously.

>>33766517
>An appropriate period piece for everybody
Lingerie notwithstanding, that sounds like a plan

>>33766522
Have Merlin make them magic-detection sught like on the plane.

>>33766532
She'll be on a date with us, so we can buy her something as memorabilia of our time together instead.

We should wait until the date itself unfolds.

>>33766517
A dildo based on Frank's own penis/

but serious, those racy romance novels she likes, buy the box set

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>>33766559
>MFW Magic-detecting sights

>>33766517
Alcohol for everyone. Problem solved.

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Russian Flintlock Officer's Pistol for ice

>>33766599
Take two, just in case duel

>>33766599
Antique flintlocks are expensive.... and a bit out of our league

>>33766542
Indeed, though what should we get for the girls?

Something oldschool and MURIKAN for Slider? An old Colt Navy replica that fires .44mag?

Something like a master artificer engraved Tokarev in something like 5.7 for Katya

I'm drawing a blank on what to get for Ice though, whats a good mix of American and Russian firearms design?

>>33766660
Guns are expensive though

>>33766660
Yeah, mixed heritage weapons from either side of the curtain seem rare.

>>33766674
Yeah, and do you have any idea how much cash you build up at wartime hazard pay rates?

Though probably not a lot for Frank cause murika can't pay shit for its troops

Since it's France why not buy them some practical clothing?

>>33766696

Corsets and garter belts

>>33766696
Beret, for the lulz

Alternately, Rosalie help thread!

>>33766694
I think getting Ice more those romance novels she likes.

I really wished we kept our nerve about the sexy lingerie thing

>>33766685
The Arsenal Strike 1 comes to mind, but thats a Russian/Italian combination and essentially a fixed barrel evolution of the Glock design.

>>33766707
WIth french maid accessories?

We ever gonna get Ice that collar?

>>33766724
We need to go deeper then.
Maybe specialist firearms craftsmen?

>>33766727

and butt plug tails

>>33766739
After the war is over and the vast majority of the world is a burning mess.

>>33766721
All the more reason to pick something up for everyone now. Can't be picking favorites you know.

>>33766707
>>33766727
>>33766739
Fund it!

>>33766721
>I really wished we kept our nerve about the sexy lingerie thing
Indeed, well now its much more appropriate to be getting them some, and theres going to be plenty in Paris.

Nah.

The more interesting present is the:

This ticket allows the holder to have Fronk do one thing

Present one to each girl and watch each go nuts and watch the shenanigans.

>>33766755
If they have familiars, it would be redundant.

Plain anal plugs would be enough.

wouldn't humanoid animals be a legitimate and acceptable fetish in the witches world?

>>33766786
That is utterly hilarious.

We should do that too.

>>33766786
>>33766800
Suddenly, golden ticket. Frank Wonka anyone?

>>33766786
>>33766800
Throw it in with the bought presents. Show our classiness in meeting *all* their desires.

>>33766795
Frank can plug their asses with his dick.

>>33766817
>>33766821

We'll call it 'Ticket to Fronk'

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[x] I was just headed to the baths, if you want to walk with me.

“I was just headed to the baths, if you want to walk with me.” You offer, and she nods.

“I know ye be 'goin to Paris with dat Katya, and I don't be havin no problem wit dat no.” She starts. “I be willin to share.” She laughs when you look over at her sharply.

“I be meanin' to tell ya, I did be axin de legion to call in a favor dey be owin me, dem and de national police RAID unit. You both be taken well care of dere in France. But dat mean dat if you be thinkin you bein followed, you maybe do. Don worry, dey take good care of ya, like ya one of dem.” She says, and you nod, touched by the move on her part. “if dey don't, I be pain dem a visit.”

You're touched by the gesture, and say as much. Brigitte laughs it off. “Baron, it be my job to make sure dat no ting on de ground be killin ya. I maybe be talkin funny to de rest of you oui, but I make sure my job be done correct. You no be dyin wit you boots on maman eart, I be tellin ya dat.

You nod, standing by the changing room door- the room is empty, and the lack of towels means the bath is too, though you wouldn't put it past Brigette to follow you in anyway, so you wait.

“Dat be all. I be makin sure no one comes in on ya, oui. C'eptin maybe meself. “ She grins at you.

[] We'd attract a crowd anyway, I think.
[] Well, I appreciate you looking out for us.

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>>33766786

>>33766830
>Ticket to Fronk
This can only end well.
finally, breakfast in bed scene, go!

>>33766835
>[] Well, I appreciate you looking out for us.
Frank's too much of a doof to go for the other one, we all know it.

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>>33766835

[X] Well, I appreciate you looking out for us.

>>33766835
>We'd attract a crowd anyway, I think.

>>33766835
>[x] We'd attract a crowd anyway, I think.

>>33766835
>[] We'd attract a crowd anyway, I think.

>>33766835
>[] We'd attract a crowd anyway, I think.

>>33766835
>[x] We'd attract a crowd anyway, I think.
I'm surprised we aren't already attracting a crowd.

>>33766835
>[] Well, I appreciate you looking out for us.
Never enough gratitude for one thread. Never enough.

>>33766835
[X] Well, I appreciate you looking out for us.
>You no be dyin wit you boots on maman eart,
Well she's got that right. Frank's fate is to go out in the sky.

>>33766835
>[] Well, I appreciate you looking out for us.

>>33766835
>[] Well, I appreciate you looking out for us.

>>33766835
>[] We'd attract a crowd anyway, I think.

>>33766835
>[] Well, I appreciate you looking out for us.

>>33766835
>[x] We'd attract a crowd anyway, I think.

>>33766835
>[x] Well, I appreciate you looking out for us.

>>33766835
>[x] We'd attract a crowd anyway, I think.
Delicious Brown Witch Best Witch

>>33766835
>[] Well, I appreciate you looking out for us.
I see what you're doing Ghost. Trying to steal us away from best witch
>>33766786
This is brilliant

>>33766835
>[x] We'd attract a crowd anyway, I think.
>But I appreciate you looking out for us too.

>>33766835
>[x] We'd attract a crowd anyway, I think.

>>33766993
Why would he be trying to steal us away from Brigitte with Brigitte?

>>33766993

Janice is the best witch.

After that it's probably... IDK. the twins?

>>33766835
>[] We'd attract a crowd anyway, I think.

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>>33767016
>>33767018
Heretics the both of ye

>>33767035
Shush anon, Slider shall be in the harem so no need to get your panties in a twist.

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>>33767018
>The twins

>>33767054
I'll accept a harem if it doesn't include Katya.

>>33767097
That ain't no harem, and if your going to be that way, then I'll accept a harem if it doesn't include Slider.

>>33767097
Oh for fucks sake, don't start this shit again Feelthy.

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>>33767127
>>33767097
stop this now before it gets more out of hand

>>33767097
sigh... just when things were going smooth someone had to try and shit it up.

on to better topics, SHOPPING

what other things should we get the girls while we're in Paris?

>>33767154
I propose baguettes and bagels for Mrs. Georgette.
And something like a sabre for Katsumi.

>>33767167
>And something like a sabre for Katsumi.
But then Jessica is going to want one.....

Shit, we need to get something to pacify Jessica with.

>>33767167
Georgette could probably make better bread than the people we were buying from.

>>33767187
Jessica needs a French Lover. I kid.

In all seriousness, the kid needs french coffee beans.

>>33767187
Get her some Irish coffee.

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[x] We'd attract a crowd anyway, I think.

You grin and shrug. “We'd attract a crowd anyway, I think.” You say, and she laughs.

“Dat be true, oui.” She says. “Maybe we better be waitin till later. I tink some of de other girls be wantin in too, maybe you and me be showin dem what it be about.”

You laugh at the concept- not that you mind it at all- and step into the changing room, closing the door behind you.

The bath is unoccupied, though you're careful to take a spot out of view of Power's hidey hole- in the blind spot almost directly beneath it.

After relaxing for a minute, you frown, adjusting yourself in the bath on the hewn rock bench under the water, allowing the mineral water of the hot springs to wash up over your shoulders- you'd fall asleep if you could, but you'd be worried about sliding the rest of the way into the water- or waking up with the bath more occupied.

Of course, you suppose, depending on who else was in here, maybe that wouldn't be so bad.

>>33767215
inb4 NEXT TIME ON SW89

>>33767215
That was a rather short ending...

>>33767215


>Dat shirt
Don't give em ideas like that boss.
Thanks for the run anyway.

>>33767244
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo3F6ekuYug
already there!

And that's it for the night!

bit of a long run, and much slower than I wanted it to be- sorry about that. Kept getting sidetracked. in other news, FTL is that weird combination of completely, mind-blowingly rage inducing and strangely addicting. weird how that works, but I've beat it now, so sorry about that.

Anyway, as always, hope you enjoyed, sorry about the archive fuckup, though i guess that could be worse. hahaha

as always, we'll be back next week at the same time! till then guys, if you need me, check the twitter or hit me up on IRC (though I'm not always on on the IRC, so if i don't answer, don't take it personally)

Till next time guys, cheers!

>>33767275
Again boss, thanks for the run.
PARIS!! YESSHH

>>33767275
Thanks for the run.

>>33767256

Sorry. Really tired, got like, maybe 4 hours of sleep last night. Actually going to bed here right after i get done with this post.

>>33767275
Thanks for the thread Ghost

>>33767275
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo3F6ekuYug
next time on STRIKERS 89

>>33767292
I understand though I'm surprised stalker didn't show up before or after, I mean this is one of her companions with with Russains.

And he dead girl wants to talk more

>>33767322
Tis a good sign, I reckon

Always good to have a really deadpan lady around.

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>>33767275
Thanks for the run man. Surprised you kept it going this late haha!

>FTL
man, fuck drones. The drone ship is SHIT

>>33767275
>playing roguelike between posts

If we're going to start a videogame confession, then I'll have to admit I was playing candies while waiting for the posts

>>33767352
If it wasn't obvious, I was on a Metal Slug anthology and Aero fighters run while waitin

>>33767275
Good run, Ghost! Wish we'd fought Natalya for a bit longer but them's the breaks.

So I've got nothing, but another writefag that some folks on the IRC know as Dante41 finished a chapter of Prune Barge Shuffle, and he's asked me to post it for him in tonight's thread. PBS deals with events in the SWQ era, and is #boattalk personified. I think it's breddy good. Dump to follow.

>>33767433
>PBS
throwback...tuesday?

>>33767433
*PBS Session 14*

*Later in the Afternoon, January 2, 1943*


What had started as the Second Battle of Gangut degenerated into an desperate uncoordinated brawl. Admiral Berustov had lost all semblance of controlling the flow of battle, and everyone taking part knew it. The Soviet battlelines devolved into disorganized mobs of similarly-sized ships, all trying to cover each other in the face of fierce Martian opposition. The American ships were fairing slightly better, but only because they numbered only three vessels:the California and the two American destroyers which had gravitated to protect their larger charge.

"What the HELL is going on?!" demanded Admiral Lee as he tried to make sense of the battle plot being supplied by the radar striker. "This is supposed to be an 'elite' Navy of the Soviet Union! They're the only ones with the goddamn Order of the Red Banner! Why aren't they acting like deserve they it?!"

"Berustov!" shouted Captain Stone over one of the California's salvos. "He took over after the last admiral got killed during the initial Martian invasion! He obviously wasn't the right man for the job!"

"Oh, OBVIOUSLY!" Admiral Lee somehow managed to give his shout a sarcastic tone. "I swear, I should have neve-"

The radar striker's eyes went wide and he hurriedly updated the plot.

"-so, THAT is where Baker went!" The admiral jabbed a finger at the new target. "He used that squall to break contact and move inside the fleet! Cocky son of a bitch, isn't he?"

"Maybe, maybe not," growled Captain Stone. "This is the sixth time I've seen a Martian ship use that little trick over the past year. I know we're not fighting the same squid over and over. Which means-"

"More proof the Martians have a vastly superior knowledge of how radar works. Great."

***

>>33767477
Dreadnaught "Baker"'s sudden reappearance made the battle that much worse for Admiral Berustov and his flagship. Dreadnaughts "Able" and "Charlie" had maintained their fire while their third had broken in, and there were at least twenty of the little gunboats the Martians had fallen in love with running around throwing their thumper-mortars wherever they could. The result was a beautiful environment for the commander of "Baker": he found himself in perfect range for his masers to work to their maximum effect on the three heavy human warships, and for the moment the human fleet was totally out of position to stop him. He selected the one that seemed to be in overall charge of the human force and opened fire.

The effects were immediate. The misting defenses on the Oktyabrskaya Revolutsiya did their job valiantly, but they were only barely holding against two maser systems. Under the withering gaze of a third at point-blank range, they began to falter. The bow portion of the system failed first, and for the first time in the battle the masers of a Martian dreadnaught were able to go to work melting the main armor belt of a human battleship.

***

"Sir, the October Revolution is in a bad place!"

Captain Stone rushed to one of the tiny viewing slits in the conning tower. He could barely see the ship through the small slits and the smoke , but he only needed one glance to tell that it was true. "You're damn right about that! The bow is already starting to melt! God help him when he tries to turn... and the guns in the forward turret are starting to slag and droop! I hope that they-GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY!" The gun crew had read Captain Stone's mind: they tried to fire a salvo before the words were out of his mouth. The shells had predictably lodged themselves fast and forced a backfire into the turret.

>>33767500
As Captain Stone watched the flames lick out of the turret from every possible opening, he silently prayed that the men inside had at least died instantly.

"Do you think they'll manage to flood the magazines in time?" asked Admiral Lee as he joined the captain at the viewslit.

"Well, if they don't blow up in the next thirty seconds, we'll know one way or the other," he replied darkly. He stared out the slit for a heartbeat more before he cursed under his breath.

"Is our misting system at maximum? Good. Mr. Mackintosh, take her in! Cut across the enemy's bows and try and draw their fire!"

"Yes sir! Helm, hard left rudder!"

"Captain?"

"I'm not going to stand idly by and let the squids kill a human warship, Admiral. I don't care who it belongs to."

***

The commander of "Baker" frowned, as much as a Martian could. One of the human heavy warships was rapidly changing course; apparently wheeling around to try and protect the flagship heavy. This was grossly out of line with how this particular faction of humans had been observed to operate. Still quasi-frowning, he toggled a zoom function in his forward cameras and set them to inspect the problem warship. It took him less than a second to notice the Bear Republic flag.

“Forty-Four...” he whispered before finding his voice. “Fucking Forty-Four! What in all the Gods' names is IT doing HERE?!”

“Warship Forty-Four?” replied the security officer. “Impossible. PsyOps reported that they sank it over 10 cycles ago.”

“Well I guess they didn't do a very good job, BECAUSE IT IS RIGHT THERE SHOOTING AT US AT THIS VERY INSTANT!”

“M-m-maybe they have several of them?” offered the radar operator. “Perhaps they are using a brother-ship to double for it after its loss? All they would have to do is find a new flag and paint a new number on it. Surely they would want to hide its destruction...”

>>33767433
Hey feelthy is there a pastebin for the rest of PBS? I remember reading it as it came, but then at some point past part 10 I though "I'll come back and read this part later" and then never did because I couldn't remember which thread it was. In any case it's been so long that I've completely forgotten everything that was going on.

>>33767518
“If they could do that, the possibility also exists that our brothers in PsyOps hit one of those same brother-ships INSTEAD of fucking Forty-Four! Gods, do I have to do all the thinking around here?!”

He threw a sustenance mug across the bridge for effect; the rest of the bridge crew instinctively flinched at the loud noise.

“Signal the rest of the force: shift targets and focus all firepower on Warship Forty-Four,” he growled as he sank back into his command pod. “If PsyOps can't sink the thrice-damned thing, *I* will.”

***

Things were heating up for the California. All three dreadnaughts had stopped firing on the Oktyabrskaya Revolutsiya in favor of the American ship, while her own 14-inch main battery hammered them back harder than they could give. Salvo by salvo, shell by shell, the California began to turn the tide. “Able” was holding at distance and “Baker” was still trying to drive in hard, but “Charlie” decided he had enough and turned to make for a nearby squall. This was the chance the human fleet was waiting for, and the battleship Marat jumped on it. With a quick turn, it brought all its guns to bear on the fleeing dreadnaught and began to rain death on it exclusively.

However, while the California's misting system was much better maintained and better operating condition than the Oktyabrskaya Revolutsiya's, it was still only designed to protect the hull against maser attacks at range. It was only a matter of time before one got through at such a short distance.

As it turned out, that one beam didn't hit the armor belt; it breached the area of high humidity right above the misters. And it did when one of the California's casemate 5-inch guns was pointed at the perfect reciprocal angle, right as they were ramming a fresh shell home; the 5-inch high-explosive warhead cooked off when it was only half-in the breech. The results were immediate and catastrophic.

***

>>33767532
There is, and I'll post it after the dump, assuming nobody else does it right away.

>>33767544
“I think we got their attention this time, sir!”

“I believe you're right, Mr. Mackintosh!” yelled Captain Stone. “Bring her 'round again! We've got 'Charlie' on the run! Let's unmask our forward turrets and give 'Baker' anot-” He never finished his sentence. Before he could say another word, an explosion rocked the ship, and the conning tower erupted into chaos. “-what in Hell was THAT?!”

He didn't have to wait long for his damage control personnel to come up with an answer. “Fire in the port casemate, sir!” shouted one of them as he tried to maneuver a copy of the California's damage control plan around the cramped conning tower. “Some squid asshole got a lucky shot and set off the ready-loading ammunition!”

“What about the magazines?”

“Last thing we heard from the ensign in command of the #2 gun was that he ordered them flooded,” cut in the gunnery officer. “We haven't been able to contact him since.”

Captain Stone cursed. “God damn it all! What about the state of the fire?”

“The fire teams are responding, but it was completely out of control before we could get in position; ammunition makes for wonderful fuel,” darkly replied the damage control officer. “What's worse,” he jabbed at the massive open galley between the port and starboard casemates. “I don't know if we can stop it before it spreads to the other side, sir!”

Captain Stone stared at the diagram for a second longer. “If we lose both casemates, we lose all ability to shoot back at these goddamn gunboats!”

“And our anti-aircraft capability, sir! The 5-inch AA crews can only stay at their stations for a little while longer before their ammunition runs out and the heat forces them to abandon their guns.”

>>33767580
“Then thank God the air has been clear of the Martian swarms today,” added in Admiral Lee. “Captain, it is my professional opinion that you need to evacuate those starboard guns now. We can replace the guns; trained veteran crews are harder to come by.”

Captain Stone breathed hard. “Alright. Evacuate the starboard casemate, and secure al-” Once again, he was cut off by another explosion. Everyone in the conning tower knew what it meant. “Get them out of there! I don't care if they have to cut a hole in the deck, just do it! AND FLOOD THOSE MAGAZINES!”

***

It was too much for a Soviet destroyer captain to handle. He had been racing towards the Oktyabrskaya Revolutsiya as fast as his engines could carry him ever since the one dreadnaught had managed to break into the fleet. He watched helplessly as his flagship (and his admiral!) was pummeled and slagged by the heathen Martian invaders, trading shots with the damned little gunboats the whole way. Now, almost dead ahead, he spotted a dark shape slowly materializing out of the mist the Martian masers were generating. 'And it's on fire!', he noted with glee. 'The admiral managed to at least damage this one!'

“Come right!” he shouted as he picked up a voice tube. “Torpedoes! Fire a full spread to port on my mark!” 'At the very least', he thought, 'if we lose one of our precious battleships, I will be able to finish this bitch off and make the squids pay in kind!' “FIRE!”

The torpedoes lept out of their launchers and raced towards the dark ship. The captain willed his fish on in the names of Marx, Lenin and Stalin, urging them to strike true...until the dark ship started to become more and more defined: A tall cage mast. Two sets of superimposed turrets. A graceful clipper bow.

>>33767593
He had just shot torpedoes at the American battleship.

'And they will never see them coming...' he realized with horror. The captain bolted for the bridge wing and started screaming at his crew to get off any kind of warning with a single motion.

***

“Mr. Mackintosh! Come right and take her into the wind!” ordered Captain Stone. “We can't control the fires with smoke eve-”

At that moment, it seemed like the whole ship jumped ten feet into the air. The sounds of explosions and rending metal filled the conning tower as everyone was thrown to the deck. For a moment, the ship was stunned.

***

Baker's commander practically jumped with glee as he watched the two towers of water crash back down. “HA! Suck on THAT, you unkillable whoresons!” He noted with even more enthusiasm that the much suspected human command node, a large metal cylinder that for some reason had its own misting system above the rest of the ship's hull, was starting to sink lower and lower into the range of his masers. He altered his targeting commands and keyed a flight of gunboats to press in an attack.

***


“What in the Hell...” groaned Admiral Lee while he dragged himself from the floor.

“Torpedo impact!” shouted the damage control officer as the deck began to take on a noticeable tilt. “No...two of them! One hit forward, one aft! No word on damage, but the Engine Room has stopped responding to the sound-powered system!”

“Sickbay reports it is filled beyond capacity-”

“Port anti-aircraft batteries are being forced off from the heat-”

“The radar room is reporting those last hits concussed the system out of commission! We're blind!”

>>33767615
As each report came in, Captain Stone's face went whiter and whiter. His ship was dying before his very eyes.

“Oh, to HELL with this!” he roared, making sure to avoid Admiral Lee's gaze. “Enough is enough! I'm not letting the squids sink my ship like this; signal our destroyers, we're pulling out!”

Before Mackintosh could even voice an acknowledgment, a patch of the port side of the conning tower began to glow red. Time seemed to stop as that patch suddenly flashed white and then puddled into molten slag. Nobody had any time to react or get out of the way; two men right next to the patch were disintegrated instantly, while a poor doomed soul shrieked in agony as his face melted off his skull.

“MASER! GET BACK! GET BACK YO-” roared Admiral Lee. However, over the screams of the dying officer and the freezing Baltic wind, a whistling sound grew louder and louder. Before anyone could turn to run for the bulkhead door, the Thumper shell impacted right outside the melted hole. The roar of an explosion filled the air, and Lieutenant Mackintosh's world went white.

------------

And that's it for Session 14 of PBS! Dante would probably appreciate feedback if you've read this (and anything else he's worked on) so lay it on him here and I'll relay it to him. He's on a cruise going round the world, so it'll be a bit for the next update, but he says he's back in the game now.

His pastebin: http://pastebin.com/u/dante41