The three paired aircraft are parked along the front of the line- Muninn still conspicuous by her lack of paint. Next to her is a Marine Wyvern, the uniform three-color camouflage pattern they share giving it away more than the black "USMC" lettering on the tailfins. You frown at that- something must have changed, because you recognize the other fighter- the one with the red wing. You wonder what happened there- though you doubt you'll have to wait long for an explanation, because you can see two wyvern teams chatting next to the Marine aircraft.

You blink as you recognize the witches- you know all but one. Lotus stands next to the marine pilot you saw what seems to have been months ago, while Spears, her arms crossed, stands on his other side. Lotus smiles as she recognizes you and waves furiously, getting heads to turn to look.

Kyou smiles thinly. "It appears you made an excellent impression on her, as well." She says, though she adjusts where she's heading so it's clear you'll be joining the other pilots.

[] Lotus is just like that.
[] Probably. I can have that effect.

>>3888124
>[X] Lotus is just like that.

>>3888124
>[x] Lotus is just like that.

>>3888124
>[X] Lotus is just like that.

>>3888124
>[] Lotus is just like that.

ok, votes called!

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[x] Lotus is just like that.

You shrug with a small grin. "Lotus is just like that." You respond as you walk over, getting a nod from the other navy crew.

"So the ghost prince does exist!" The pilot exclaims, laughing. "Morning, Lieutenant." He says, shaking your head as you start to salute. "Don't do that, we don't salute each other. Commander Julian Garro."

The commander is average height, though he's built about like one of your offensive linebackers- dude must be in the gym religiously, you think. His head looks to be completely shaved, which you're told isn't uncommon, especially for older VDNI crews.

You nod, instead taking the offered handshake. "Lieutenant Morgan Laroux-Bishop."

He laughs again. "We've been discussing if you really existed, or if you were one of Merlin's AI creations and that fighter was just an outsized drone." He says, before a slight cough interrupts him. "Sorry. El-tee, this is my better half."

The witch, in contrast, is fairly small- shorter than either Kyou or Wendy, though she's built like a marathon runner- there doesn't seem to be much spare meat on her at all. "Captain Sasha Garro." She says, nodding at you as you shake her hand. "And this is Captain Danielle Peterson, she's our valkyrie driver."

"We've met." Danielle says with a slight smile. "What's up, eltee? You headed to the Pacific too?"

You nod. "Yeah. Captain, Commanders, this is my systems operator, the imperial princess, Sho-sa Kyou, and our valkyrie pilot, Captain Wendy Maloney."

Julian grins. "I feel a little outranked, now." He says.

Kyou smiles. "Please, don't." She responds. "It is all informal here, yes?"

His grin gets a little wider. "Thankfully." He responds.

There's a slight cough off to the side, and he turns. "It's just not my morning, is it? Sorry." He says with a shake of his head. "Lieutenant, this is Lieutenant Ulysses Sorensen, USMC and-"

"We've met. Hi Morgan!" Lotus says brightly. "It's a good thing I got to keep the flight suit, huh!"

"What's up killer?" Spears says, stepping forward to shake your hand- she looks pretty comfortable in her flight suit, you note.

"So you just know everyone, too?" Garro asks, laughing. "You sure you're not one of Merlin's creations?"

[] We haven't been entirely sequestered, no.
[] Not entirely sure, no.

>>3888189
>[X] We haven't been entirely sequestered, no.

>>3888189
>[] Not entirely sure, no.

>>3888189
>[x] Not entirely sure, no.

>>3888189
>[X] Not entirely sure, no.

>>3888189
>[X] We haven't been entirely sequestered, no.

Ok, votes called! Sorry about that, had to step over to the house to make dinner!

>>3888189
>[] Not entirely sure, no.

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[x] Not entirely sure, no.

You smile a bit. "Not entirely sure, no." You respond.

Garro laughs. "Well, there's treaties against designer witches, but I don't think anyone thought about designer pilots!" He says. "Course, if you are, then at least it's Merlin, so you'd be a quality product, right?"

You nod. "Assuming that's the case." You say. Of course, you know better- even if Merlin had designs on that sort of field, you kind of doubt maman would have agreed to be part of it- she might have, had she been convinced of the necessity for the sake of the US, but Frank probably would have refused regardless.

"So you're the ones that stole Wendy, huh?" Sasha asks. Kyou smiles and nods.

"We had the great fortune of being able to convince her to join us." She says.

Sasha smiles. "Or at least the ones that got to her first." She responds.

"Kinda starting to feel like second place over here." Danielle says- Sasha winces and turns.

"Sorry." She says, then smiles. "It works out for us, though. I don't think there's an ADIZ network on earth that could stop us now."

"Second place isn't so bad anyway!" Lotus says, causing everyone to look over at her. "I mean, it's Morgan passing me over that gave me the chance to team up with Uly!"

"And me." Spears says with that lopsided grin. "But I don't think the corps would have let me end up with a squid anyway. No offense."

Garro laughs. "Frankly I'm shocked they let a wyvern go to try it out anyway. Normally they'd have insisted on having the program integrated with them after we'd tested it."

Spears shrugs. "It just means I get to show the boot the ropes." She says. "Deck tour's gonna be interesting though. They canceled all of our Atlantic ships. Same for you, killer?" She asks, looking over at you.

Kyou answers for you, nodding. "Yes. We have three American and two Imperial carriers that we will be operating off of for the next six weeks." She says, paraphrasing your orders- six weeks is approximate and preliminary- you may be aboard for the better part of a year. You'd thought of the stories of the wyvern crew that, according to rumor and legend, didn't set foot on dry land for over two years.

"Imperial carriers?" Julian asks, then blinks. "Oh, right. I guess that makes sense, huh? You looking forward to it, El-tee?"

[] Should be interesting.
[] Just another carrier to me.

>>3888295
>[X] Should be interesting.

>>3888295
>[x] Should be interesting.

>>3888295
>[] Should be interesting.

>>3888295
>[] Just another carrier to me.

>>3888295
>[X] Should be interesting.

Ok, votes called!

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[x] Should be interesting.

"Should be interesting." You say, allowing that it might- Kyou's status aside, of course, it's a well-known fact that IJN carriers are significantly different from their USN counterparts. While the two navies regularly cross-deck train and routinely swap procedures and techniques, the IJN is still considered the premier carrier striking force on earth- though these days, the distinction is usually down to 'which side the analyst likes more'.

Sasha nods. "Yeah, it should be fun for all of you." She says. "I did a couple months cross-decked on the Soryuu right before they retired her. It was interesting."

Kyou smiles. "I remember going to her decommissioning ceremony. I'm glad they managed to preserve her. Are you also bound for a ship in the Pacific?"

Sasha shakes her head. "We're headed for the Regan, in the SCS." She says. "That puts four of us on three decks there."

"Plus you two." Julian says, indicating you and Sorensen, who, to this point, has been pretty quiet. "And whoever else is out of here. It's weird enough pulling drakes from carnival, so someone's worried about something."

"If you'd pay attention to the news, you'd know." Sasha scolds him.

"What, the Chinese?" He says, and she nods. He shrugs. "I mean, I know, but I didn't think it was that serious."

Sasha is about to respond, but she's cut off by the arrival of the ground crew cart. With your own crews already dispersing to your carriers, it's the base chief and one of the officers from ops. The chief doesn't salute, the officer- an ensign- does. "Mornin, ladies, gentlemen." The chief says, and you all return the greeting. "They chased me out here with the ensign here to hand off your orders packets and give you the go-ahead. Saddle up cos you're the first birds out this morning. Good hunting."

1/2

Everyone nods and gives him some version of a thanks- You'd wondered why they were standing around, but this kind of explains it. You've got your own orders packet, of course, secured in your flight bag alongside your helmet.

The nine of you part ways, you, Kyou and Wendy heading back towards Muninn, with you carrying both your and Kyou's seabags, and Wendy carrying hers. You'd have carried it- tried to, really- but she refused to allow it, and even briefly argued with you about carrying Kyou's. There's a couple ordinance crew near Muninn, waiting for you to get your bags in the cargo pod installed in the forward centerline bay, so they can close it up and get on with their day.

"Are you alright, Wendy?" Kyou asks, looking over at the older witch, who's wearing a focused, if slightly concerned expression.

Wendy blinks, then nods and smiles very lightly. "O-oh. Yes, quite." She says, after a second's hesitation. "It's just been quite some time since I last flew off a carrier deck, and I've only done it a few times in a valkyrie." She says. "And this is my first experience with a mind-impulse unit network such as this one."

Kyou smiles. "It isn't anywhere near as traumatic as our first link, I assure you." She says- it's something that you had been worried about. Part of the idea with Valkyrie is that it's made available fleet-wide- and so the workup process is a little different. She'll be joining the net with her AI already present and able to help prevent any kind of issues. At least, that's Merlin's prediction.

Kyou starts up the ladder to the cockpit as you do a walk-around- though, with as long as you've been on the ground, you don't expect to find anything out of place, and don't. Frankly, Muninn still looks brand new- other than the slight heat discoloration on her engine exhaust petals.

Wendy's already mounted her Valkyrie by the time you get done with the walkaround- you can see her going through her control surface checks. You drop into your seat and pull your helmet on without looking back, hitting the uplink as you strap in.

"Welcome back." Muninn- again with a female avatar- says, somewhat sardonically. A maid sits near her, smiling pleasantly. "So I see I have a new partner in crime and someone else to watch after."

[] Glad to see you're attentive.
[] Mostly. How difficult is it going to be for you to handle this?

>>3888397
>[] Glad to see you're attentive. How difficult is it going to be for you to handle this?

>>3888397
>[X] Glad to see you're attentive. How difficult is it going to be for you to handle this?

>>3888397
[X] Glad to see you're attentive. How difficult is it going to be for you to handle this?

>>3888397
>[x] Glad to see you're attentive.

ok, votes called!

>>3888295
>Kinda starting to feel like second place over here
it was more like third, really

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[x] Glad to see you're attentive. How difficult is it going to be for you to handle this?

"Glad to see you're attentive." You respond, flicking through your few checks mentally- of course, everything is green and right where it's supposed to be. You catch hints of Merlin here and there- little ghosts and markers she's left behind, as if advertising her presence. "How difficult is it going to be for you to handle this?"

"This?" Muninn scoffs. "Not at all. I've already received an update for working with an assistant AI, and for managing three humans in a network. Barely even taxes one core."

You nod, working through engine start- there's not much for you to do as the crew pulls the blocks- all you have to do during this part of the process is set the throttles according to Kyou's directions, then cut them back to idle. Muninn's already run through your control surface checks, and she's already making sure all the sensors in both aircraft are tied into a mini-net.

"We're clear to roll." Kyou calls, shortly after the Garro's aircraft, trailed by Danielle's Valkyrie, crosses in front of you.

"We'll lead, follow us to the runway, Wendy." You call, and get a brief mic-blip in return- Wendy apparently believing that the best kind of wingman is the kind that talks as little as possible.

You trail Danielle's valkyrie out to the runway, where you hold as she taxis around to the lead position, just in front and to the left of the Garro's aircraft. They sit for a minute before you see the afterburner flare out of their exhausts and they start rolling at the same instant, both lifting before they're halfway down the runway and making a gentle, climbing turn west and out to sea.

You only have to wait another minute or so for the tower to clear you to go out onto the runway yourself and wait, with Wendy doing the same as Danielle did and pushing around to your front.

1/2

"We're cleared for takeoff." Kyou says from the back, excitement only evident in her voice now that you've known her for a while.

You nod, pushing the throttles forward into the afterburner range and releasing the brakes, noting that Wendy matched your timing flawlessly- a clear indication she's tied into the MIU network. You know she's there, of course- you can sense her about the same as you can Kyou- but it's a relief to see the system working like it's supposed to.

"Take heading two six nine and climb to angels fifteen." Kyou relays from control- it's a heading that should keep you away from most of the air traffic in the region, as well as below the usual altitude of the jumbos.

You repeat the instructions back to her as you lift, waiting for- and not being disappointed- by the little excited noise she makes as you haul back on the stick and the wyvern jumps into the sky. Wendy, for her part, drops slowly back and crosses over the top of Muninn, adopting a traditional wingman's position, above, behind, and to the right of your fighter.

"We're rendezvousing with the Roosevelt about halfway to Hawaii." Kyou calls. "slightly over two hours at supercruise, about sixteen hundred miles."

You nod, looking back over your shoulder at Wendy's valkyrie.

Kyou reads your intent pretty quickly. "How are you, Wendy?" She asks.

"This is... " Wendy pauses. "Rather different." She says, after a second. "Not difficult or even as uncomfortable as I thought it should be. I'm rather glad you asked me to fly with you now. I'm still unsure how you process this much information so quickly." She continues. "Is there some secret to it?"

[] Your ship's AI should start learning what to give you and what's a waste of time.
[] We're networked, you could just get Kyou to set it up for you now.

>>3888477
>[x] Your ship's AI should start learning what to give you and what's a waste of time.

And that's going to be it for the night, gents! I've been slacking a little on the whole welding thing, so I'm trying to give myself enough time to wake up in the morning to get some booth time in, haha!

I'm hoping the update pace was a little better tonight, tried a few things differently regarding background noise and that kind of thing, so let me know if that works out better for you guys. the one long period there was me getting a late dinner, haha!

anyway, gents, that's all for the evening, so till tomorrow, cheers!

>>3888477
>[X] Your ship's AI should start learning what to give you and what's a waste of time.

>>3888477
>[] Your ship's AI should start learning what to give you and what's a waste of time. Though, we are networked, so you could just get Kyou to set it up for you now. Your choice on how you want to handle it.

>>3888477
>[X] Your ship's AI should start learning what to give you and what's a waste of time.

>>3888483
Definitely feel like it was going much smoother tonight.

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>>3888483
Thanks for the run boss.

>>3888477
>[x] Your ship's AI should start learning what to give you and what's a waste of time.

>>3888483
Thanks for the run Ghost! The pace tonight was pretty great

>>3888477
>[X] Your ship's AI should start learning what to give you and what's a waste of time.

>>3888477
>[x] Your ship's AI should start learning what to give you and what's a waste of time.
>[X] We're networked, you could just get Kyou to set it up for you now.

Both options are viable I feel so voting both.

Ok, votes called!

As a warning, I'm scheduled both days this weekend, so we may end up with a shorter run Saturday. If we do, I might run a little bit Sunday to make up for it!

>>3888477
>[] Your ship's AI should start learning what to give you and what's a waste of time.

>>3889308
d'oh, forgetting to update got me again.

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[x] Your ship's AI should start learning what to give you and what's a waste of time.

"Your ship's AI should start learning what to give you." You respond, trying to remember about how long it took Muninn to really get it down to the essentials and leave out all the rest.

"If you wish, I can assist you." Kyou says from behind you. "My own settings are tailored for my pilot's needs, but we can easily determine what you wish to have available."

"I-I think I can manage, for now." Wendy responds, hesitatingly. "Tessa is helping a great deal. This does take some adjustment though."

"She's not lying." Kyou says to you over your private net. "That fighter... I am unsure how she did it, but your Aunt packed it with complimentary sensors. With one we are able to arrange our sensor systems to cover a much greater area of sky easily."

"Or we can double down our existing coverage in the short range band." Muninn offers. "With your plan, we'd be able to detect threats out to four hundred miles easily on our own systems, possibly a bit further on larger targets. If we layer our detection, I don't think it would be possible to sneak past us at all, which could be an advantage."

"We already have the enhanced Wells system." Kyou points out.

"That's just a specialty detector to counter active camouflage." Muninn says. "What I'm talking about is limited omnipotence." She pauses. "At least, inside a hundred eighty mile radius, give or take."

"Is this a configuration we need to determine now?" Kyou asks. "And what's it's resistance to losing an aircraft?"

Muninn shrugs. "It's a setting, but we'll need to spin off the programming for it. I'd estimate about six hours, plus test time. It's not something we'd want to do in combat."

"I'll leave the decision to Morgan." Kyou says. "Though, I will caution, Wendy will also be using the settings. Whatever we decide to go with, she will also be forced to use."

"I don't mind." Wendy says from her own cockpit. "I'm still learning our capabilities, it may be best if you decide for me anyway."

[] Go with Kyou's plan- the range will let us control a much wider battlespace
[] Use Muninn's suggestion- anything an AI describes as 'limited omnipotence' has to be pretty amazing.

>>3889348
>[X] Go with Kyou's plan- the range will let us control a much wider battlespace

>>3889348
>[x] Use Muninn's suggestion- anything an AI describes as 'limited omnipotence' has to be pretty amazing.

You mean omniscience, don't you?

>>3889348
>[x] Go with Kyou's plan- the range will let us control a much wider battlespace

>>3889348
>[X] Use Muninn's suggestion- anything an AI describes as 'limited omnipotence' has to be pretty amazing.

It actually meshes rather well with Kyou's tendency to push for close range combat.

>>3889348
>[] Go with Kyou's plan- the range will let us control a much wider battlespace

>>3889348
>[X] Use Muninn's suggestion- anything an AI describes as 'limited omnipotence' has to be pretty amazing.

>>3889348
>[] Use Muninn's suggestion- anything an AI describes as 'limited omnipotence' has to be pretty amazing.

Ok, votes called!

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[x] Use Muninn's suggestion- anything an AI describes as 'limited omnipotence' has to be pretty amazing.

While you do like Kyou's idea- that kind of range is usually the reserve of AWACS and ships- it makes less sense for your fighting style. One thing bothers you about the setup, though.

"You mean Omniscience." You say, and Muninn smiles.

"What?" She asks. "You think you'll lack a smite button?"

Wendy giggles a bit at that, though Kyou is silent for a second- though you can vaguely feel her amusement.

"I'll start the necessary work." Muninn says. "It should be ready for us by tomorrow."

"It does make a great deal of sense." Kyou says, after a moment. "We are less a warlord leading her troops and far more a single champion of the army."

"Like a knight?" Wendy, still listening in, asks.

"Or a Samurai." Kyou responds. "I think either is fitting."

Your sensors scramble a bit as Muninn works- some of them develop a bit of lag, while others refine down- though out here, over a calm ocean, there's not much to test it on. You're outside the usual air transport corridors to Hawaii, and even the patrol aircraft from the Roosevelt are too far away to detect via anything other than their transponder links back to the carrier group and then to you.

The carrier's escort group is fairly small- just one Burke, no Tico, and a pair of the troubled LCSs as escorts, and a fleet support ship- one of the military sealift command operated fast supply ships. They appear at extreme range on your radar first as Kyou coordinates your landing permission- flight operations are ongoing, but you've got plenty of fuel.

You have Wendy set down first, tracking her down to the carrier with multiple systems as Muninn works on her solutions. Wendy snags a clean three-wire, though you're not sure if that's an indicator of a lot of practice on carriers or a legacy of her time as a race pilot. Some of the turns required on those circuits are very precise and demanding.

There's a small crowd on deck as you land, catching the two-wire. The celebrity could go to your head, you know- though part of you wonders if that's you or Kyou feeling it. You decide it's you- she'd already be plenty used to it.

Wendy's already deplaning as you're guided to a spot forward of the island, Muninn helpfully noting that you're parked within inches of the Wyvern as you begin shutting down. As you step out, you notice Wendy already waiting on the deck, looking a little uncomfortable in her flight suit. Not that you're surprised- she never was very comfortable with people, and probably less so knowing most of the deck crew is probably doing more than a little fantasizing. You position yourself to cover her at least a bit as the CAG- a witch, you note, despite her wearing a full set of NWUs, including the pants- walks over.

1/2

"Welcome aboard!" She says brightly. "You're Lieutenant Laroux-Bishop?"

You nod.

"Good to meet you! Let's get down to the office and we can chat real quick." She says. "One of the crew will get your seabags down to your quarters. We've got you in a spare junior officer's berth, four racks. They indicated to us you were to be kept all together?"

"We have no preferences." Kyou responds for you, getting a shrug.

"Well, that's what they told us, so that's how it's gonna be." The CAG says, opening the hatch in the island and stepping inside. You hold it for a minute, letting Kyou and Wendy go first, before you step in and close it behind you. "How is Carnival?" She asks, conversationally. "I try to make it back, but didn't get the chance this year. You guys fly against the recruits at all?"

"Sadly, no." Kyou says. "We were largely grounded for the work necessary for the Valkyrie program."

"I see." the CAG says, opening the door to her office and waving you in. "Go in, have a seat."

You nod, stepping in and finding a red leather loveseat along the back wall, along with two simple chairs in front of a small desk. She's been here a while, you note- long enough that she's got some things inside to break up the monotony of the gray walls, a potted plant in each corner and a small display case in a corner with several model aircraft.

The CAG closes the office door and steps around the desk. "Take a seat, however you want." She says, as she sits in her chair. You take one of the seats in front of her desk, as does Kyou- Wendy takes the loveseat, setting her hands on her lap.

"What do you know about the situation in the south china sea?" She asks, and you blink.

[] Not much. It's tense, but no one wants to shoot first.
[] Has something else happened? there was that near-miss yesterday.

>>3889487
>[X] Not much. It's tense, but no one wants to shoot first.

>>3889487
>[x] Not much. It's tense, but no one wants to shoot first.

>>3889487
>[] Not much. It's tense, but no one wants to shoot first.

>>3889487
>[] Not much. It's tense, but no one wants to shoot first.

>>3889487
>[X] Has something else happened? There was that near-miss yesterday.

ok, gents, votes called!

And I'm sorry about this, but I have an essay due before midnight my time that I really gotta knock out, so this is gonna be the last update for the evening.

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[x] Not much. It's tense, but no one wants to shoot first.

"Not much." You admit. "It's tense, but no one wants to shoot first."

She nods. "That's accurate enough. In the event it gets hotter, we've been directed to push you forward to a dispersal base in Japan. We're going to keep you flying patrols, but you'll be doing so with tanks fitted."

"What is the liklihood that will be required?" Kyou asks. The CAG shakes her head.

"I'm not sure." She admits. "our orders haven't changed, we're still headed to pearl to link up with the rest of our strike group and then to the Philippine sea."

You nod, looking over your shoulder at Wendy. She has a slight frown on her face, but otherwise hasn't reacted. "If we're sent forward from here, will we be flying with a self-defense load?" You ask.

The CAG smiles. "You'll be flying with a fifty percent load regardless." She says. "Admiral Wells was nice enough to send us details of your aircraft's payload before we sailed, so we're ready for you. You ever fired an SM-3 out of that thing?"

"Only in testing." Kyou admits.

"Good. Then we can at least claim that. We brought a few target drones up for you to test on, the Admiral was pretty explicit she wanted that done." the CAG says, then leans back. "Anything for me?"

You can't really think of anything- you're not exactly sure you like the berthing arrangements, but at the same time it's hard to see what other options were available. You also have to admit it makes sense- Wendy rates a berth of her own, of course, but with you as a group, it's hard to justify placing her elsewhere on the ship. Rumors have said most carriers would be getting a couple berths converted for Wyvern crews- meaning larger racks, capable of sleeping two people- but it's been nothing more than a rumor since before you entered flight school.

[] How will we be assigned flights? We were folded in with squadrons aboard our Atlantic ships.
[] Have there been any other changes to our schedule because of the china sea?
[] Other (Write in!)

And that's going to be it for the night! I know it's early and all, but I have to get this essay done, haha! My grade is probably already pretty dicey as is, and I don't think I can afford to ignore these things!

So that's it for the evening, but, like usual, I'll be kind of around to answer any questions or concerns you guys might have! Otherwise, till tomorrow gents, cheers!

>>3889608
>[] How will we be assigned flights? We were folded in with squadrons aboard our Atlantic ships.

>>3889608
>[X] How will we be assigned flights? We were folded in with squadrons aboard our Atlantic ships.

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>>3889608
>[X] How will we be assigned flights? We were folded in with squadrons aboard our Atlantic ships.

>>3889610
Thanks for the run boss.

>>3889608
>[] How will we be assigned flights? We were folded in with squadrons aboard our Atlantic ships.

>>3889608
>[x] How will we be assigned flights? We were folded in with squadrons aboard our Atlantic ships.

>>3889610
Thanks for the run Ghost!

>>3889608
>[X] How will we be assigned flights? We were folded in with squadrons aboard our Atlantic ships.

>>3889608
>[] How will we be assigned flights? We were folded in with squadrons aboard our Atlantic ships.

ok gents, votes called! Sorry about the delay, haha!

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[x] How will we be assigned flights? We were folded in with squadrons aboard our Atlantic ships.

"How will we be assigned flights?" You ask. "We were folding in with squadrons aboard our Atlantic ships."

The CAG grins. "Except for, I hear, over Iraq."

"We were technically attached to their witch squadron for that sortie." Kyou says.

"Well, either way, that's what we're going to do here." The CAG responds. "I've already talked with the commander of the tophatters, you'll be sitting in with their briefings. They're a Tomcat unit, so their mission profile here at sea is close enough to yours to work."

You nod, as does Kyou.

"But we need to know what you can do." The CAG says, leaning forward. "We're used to Wyverns, we've hosted a few in the last year or two. What can you tell me about this new arrangement?"

"The Valkyrie?" Kyou asks, and the other woman nods.

"Is that what it's called?" She asks, then nods. "Yes, then. What can you tell me?"

[] Honestly, not much ma'am. We haven't had much of a chance to familiarize ourselves yet.
[] Only what's in the briefing packet, ma'am.

>>3891498
>[X] Only what's in the briefing packet, ma'am.

>>3891498
>[X] Only what's in the briefing packet, ma'am.

Half the reason we're out here is to test this stuff out.

>>3891498
>[x] Honestly, not much ma'am. We haven't had much of a chance to familiarize ourselves yet.

>>3891498
>[X] Only what's in the briefing packet, ma'am.

>>3891498
>[] Only what's in the briefing packet, ma'am.

>>3891498
>[X] Only what's in the briefing packet, ma'am.

ok, votes called!

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>>3891568
Nyan Nyan

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[x] Only what's in the briefing packet, ma'am.

"Only what's in the briefing packet, ma'am." You say. "Part of the purpose of this is to get field data from the paired teams."

She nods. "The mother of dragons must be pretty worried if she's not pushing through a multi-month test cycle." She says, thinking aloud. "Especially if she's forward basing herself as well."

You suppress a shrug- Merlin could easily either be worried about the prospect of war or excited about the potential for her newest creation- or both. Either way, of course, appearances have never mattered too much to her, in most instances- she does what she feels like she needs to or whatever her latest project demands without concern for how it may look to other people.

"Either way." She says, after a moment. "You'll have the target drones out here, and in the mean time you can help fill patrol rotations. I'll have someone come up and get you to your berth."

You nod, standing alongside Kyou. Wendy, behind you, stands as well. "Glad to have you aboard." The CAG says, then nods to the door. "You can wait out in the passageway."

You nod again, stepping out into the passage way behind Wendy and Kyou, and closing the door behind you. Kyou looks over at you, but a slight shake of her head indicates you should wait to say anything. It's fair enough, you think- the door was awful thin and while you don't think the CAG is going to be real bothered by your opinions of her, it still doesn't do well to openly discuss that sort of thing.

Your guide is along fairly quickly- he blinks and salutes in a hurry when he reads Wendy's rank. She returns it quickly with a soft smile- dependency issues aside, she's not exactly bad with people or absentminded like Merlin is.

Your berth, located under the island, is one of the rooms normally reserved for junior officers. Two sets of two-tier racks sit along one end, along with four desks and a small attached head. Kyou rapidly claims one of the bottom racks, directing Wendy to put her bag on the other- leaving one of the two top racks for you. She smiles as she does so. "The commander seems an interesting sort." She says. "I look forward to working with her."

Wendy nods, hesitating a bit. "I-if you don't mind, I'd like to change." She says, getting a blink from Kyou.

"You're aware you do not have to ask our permission, yes?" your backseater asks. Wendy blinks again.

"W-well, of course." She says. "But I didn't want to occupy the head if one of you needed it first."

You shake your head. "Go ahead, Wendy." You say.

Kyou shakes her head, reaching across her chest with her left arm to the closure across her right side, unlatching the locking zipper there and pulling it down. "She is going to need some work." She says.

You nod, trying not to be too distracted by Kyou pulling off her own flight suit. You're not too successful.

I'm actually stop here for the week, gents! We've hit a pretty good point to stop, so I think it'd be a little silly to keep going!

No real news here for us, so just as usual I'll be around to field questions or comments, but otherwise gents, Cheers!

>>3891760
Morgan is a very closet pervert, it's kinda funny.
>>3891763
Thanks for running GhostDiva.

>>3891763
Thanks for the run boss.

>>3891763
ThAnks for running!

>>3891763
Thanks for the run Ghost!

>>3891769
To be fair, Kyou's not exactly being subtle either.

>>3891925
What would happen if they would let out their bottled up lewdness in a single night?

>>3891925
She sure isn't, though she must sort of know he kinda likes it considering the mindlink and how they very soon started sharing beds.

>>3892179
Speaking of sharing beds...
So Ghost, have we lewded the Princess yet, or has it just been chaste cuddles?

A mystery that you will ahve to solve for yourself in your dreams :p
Or we have to wait for the usual recap at the end, stating how many kids come out of it.

>>3894094
Look I'm just gonna put it out there.
Tempting each other and resisting the temptation despite smoldering glances in either direction.

Is the EPITOME of classy lewdness.

>>3895119
Do they even sell or supply condoms aboard a IJN carrier ? I guess not unless they were expecting Wyvern crews long beforehand.

>>3894077

Patience my friend! Patience! Haha!

>>3896363

I'm sure you'd be able to get some from the ship's doc.. if you were to need them, anyway. Haha!

>>3896363
>Condoms

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>>3897897
Protection is still required for very safe and innocent sex, anon.
Always remember to be responsible!

>>3897897
Yes, just like gloves for handholding.

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>>3897908
>>3898170
>Not going full ultra lewd
Shameful.

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>>3898351
>thinking that a simple factor of responsibility and protection cannot make it ultra lewd as well
Baby making sex is where shit gets maximum lewd and cuddles you faggot, and that is only allowed if with consent by both parties.

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>>3898401
>consent by both parties.
Niggah if you think there's gonna be consent from both parties with this hypothetical you've got another thing coming.

>>3898425
*there isn't
Fuck you keyboard.

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Ok guys, really sorry for the late start today. Company over *again* and, of course, living in a bachelor pad with all the neat retro shit makes my room the defacto 'chill' spot, haha. Not a big deal, but kinda annoying when you're doing work on a half dozen paintball guns! We'll make up for it later in the weekend, Maybe a longer run tomorrow? We'll see how everything shakes out!

=============================================

The Roosevelt's ordinance crew- assisted by the chief, now clad in one of the brown vests of an aircraft captain- made sure you were loaded with the 'real playboy shit' in her words. Two SM-2 block III missiles, loaded VLS Cells, along with two of the brand-new SM-6 systems, modified for air launch by the removal of their booster. Eight quad-packed ESSMs occupy the last two VLS tubes, with eight of the newest 'evolved' sidewinders in the FAST packs and your centerline bays occupied by AMRAAMS and, in the aft bay, a pair of the almost antique AIM-64D. Despite the CAG's warning, only your one and four external stations are fitted with external tanks- two and three remain clear, allowing your FAST packs to be fired without issues.

Even the gun's loads are the newest loads- Each one carrying one drum of the newest mixed metal penetrator rounds and another of 'smart' high explosive incendiary rounds.

Coming as it does after a simple breifing, detailing you to sitting alert for the Roosevelt's Tomcat patrols, it seems like overkill- even discounting Wendy's payload, which, while much less extensive, is no less deadly for it. It's easy to forget that the .50 caliber machine guns mounted in her aircraft are still roughly equivalent to a conventional 25mm weapon system, and even the smaller .30s are plenty dangerous to aircraft.

That all said, here off of Hawaii- in roughly the same region as the IJN carriers on December 7, 1941, it all seems fairly unnecessary. Even if you're ordered to divert to a dispersal field in Japan while in the air, it's not like the firepower would be needed to cross the ocean- and you'd rather have extra tanks fitted in the internal bays for the trip anyway. While you're more limited by Wendy's endurance now, even the valkyrie can refuel mid-air, and it's little turbojets are more than capable of pushing it to supercruise, even without her enhancing them.

Your thoughts are interrupted by the CAG stepping into the 'ready shack'- a room kept open for pilots not sitting alert-5, but who need to be available to get into the air within a few minutes of an alert. She's accompanied by the commander of VFA-14 walks down with her. You stand up, but she shakes her head and motions for you to sit back down.

1/2

"We've got a problem, and you're the solution." She says, crossing to the front of the space. It's a simple sentance, but it gets your attention pretty quickly.

"Problem?" Kyou asks.

She nods. "What do you know about the ASAT program?"

You frown. You're aware of the program- despite it's cancellation in 1988, before the war, the air force used it a couple of times to knock out soviet satellites. Even though those launches were successful, the program was again canceled postwar, after the UN defense council convinced the major powers that littering the near Earth orbit tracks with debris and junk was a great way to degrade the EDF's ability to do it's job. There's rumors it was never truely canned, of course- and there's always the extreme range/altitude systems these days that can probably do the same thing- but for the most part the program is considered a flop.

[] It was a flop. We never needed ASAT and we've got better now anyway.
[] It was proven, but it's outmoded anymore anyway.

>>3901411
>[] It was proven, but it's outmoded anymore anyway.

>>3901411
>[X] It was proven, but it's outmoded anymore anyway.

>>3901411
>[] It was proven, but it's outmoded anymore anyway.

>>3901411
>[x] It was proven, but it's outmoded anymore anyway.

ok, votes called!

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[x] It was proven, but it's outmoded anymore anyway.

You frown. "It was a proven system, but it's outmoded anymore anyway." You say.

The CAG nods. "Yep. Of course, we've got newer systems that can do the job, and the North American defense installations at Chandelier and Stonehenge-Dakota and Stonehenge-Alabama that can easily do the same thing. But so can the SM-3."

Kyou frowns, looking over at you- you nod.

"Last night, at about zero-three local, the Air Force launched a local region observatory aboard an Atlas five rocket. The launch was successful, but the satellite is nonfunctional." The CAG says. "We've received urgent directions to engage and destroy the satellite in orbit as it crosses over us."

Kyou frowns. "For an observatory?" She asks. "Can it not just burn up on reentry?"

The CAG shakes her head. "NASA and the air force project that it's orbit makes it a threat to other satellites in polar orbits, and because it's not responding to commands, it's too risky to leave it up there." She says. "And either way, this is a good opportunity to test your ability to launch SM-3s at low-orbit targets with command guidance from ground and airborne sources."

Kyou nods. "Will this count as a kill?"

The CAG smiles. "I thought you might ask that. As this is still considered a friendly asset, no. You're scuttling it, not actually killing it." She shrugs. "Sorry about that."

Kyou looks over at you, a little displeasure showing on her face, but she doesn't say anything.

"When do we need to launch?" You ask.

The CAG looks at her watch. "Twenty minutes. You'll need to do a max performance zoom climb up to your ceiling once you're off the deck, then adopt a southern heading. Because we can't automate the launch, you'll also have to pull the trigger- your aircraft's AI should be able to do the calculations for a best chance to intercept launch. You'll use both SM-3s you have loaded, they want to assure a kill."

Kyou frowns again. "Does that not introduce the risk of creating a larger debris cloud?" She asks.

The CAG shrugs. "I wouldn't know, I'm not well versed in orbital mechanics." She says. "Once you launch, you'll recover at JB Pearl-Hickam."

"Back on land so quickly?" Kyou asks.

"It's temporary. We'll be in port tomorrow anyway, so there's no point in tanking you to have you recover aboard if they need you to push forward to the SCS. Hickam's capable of supporting your aircraft, and if you do have to deploy, they'll be able to get you in the air just fine." She says. "Your AI should have the full mission data uploaded and ready to go when you board, any questions for me?"

[] No, Ma'am.
[] Yes, Ma'am. (Write in!)

>>3901512
>[X] No, Ma'am.

>>3901512
>[] No, Ma'am.
Seems perfectly crystal clear.

>>3901512
>[x] No, Ma'am.

ok, votes called!

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[x] No, Ma'am.

You shake your head. "No, Ma'am." You say, and she nods.

"Good. You'll have alert five from Tophatter tomcats, and you'll be flying as loaded." She says. "That's it, dismissed."

You nod, standing and suppressing the urge to salute- you're uncovered and so is the CAG- but you let her open the hatch and step out first, following behind and onto the flight deck.

Even without flight ops- they've been suspended to get you and Wendy airborne- the deck isn't a quiet place by any means. Muninn has already been towed into a spot just behind the bow cat, with Wendy's Valkyrie right next to it. Kyou looks over at the older witch. "Will this be your first catapult launch?" She asks.

Wendy nods, a little nervously. "Yes." She says, hesitantly. "I feel as if I know how, however." She frowns at the admission. "I'm not quite sure how."

Kyou smiles. "Because we have them." She says, indicating herself and you. "Your AI-"

"Tessa." Wendy corrects, with a very slight smile.

Kyou nods. "Tessa should be able to guide you easily, as she is networked with Muninn."

Wendy nods, but you cross the rest of the distance to the waiting aircraft too quickly to have any further conversation. Wendy ducks beneath the Valkyrie while Kyou heads up the ladder to the cockpit and you do an abbreviated walk-around. Satisfied as much as possible that Muninn is in top shape, you climb up and start getting strapped in, hitting the MIU link as you tighten down the last strap holding you to the ejection seat.

Once hooked up, Muninn starts to push both the mission data and all other relevant information to you. "Wendy's ceiling is similar to ours, though she may face some control issues above ninety thousand feet." She says. "The valkyrie is rated for exoatmosphere, but as we are not carrying the booster equipment, achieving it is impossible for her."

"It won't be necessary anyway." Muninn points out. "If we launch anywhere above eighty thousand, we've given the SM-6 more Delta-V than it would have had from a surface launch, and they can do ASAT interceptions from surface ships just fine."

"Which does beg the question why we've been assigned the mission." Kyou says. "Volleying two missiles from high altitude seems rather overkill, even for an untested launch platform. Especially considering the target is little more than a solar system observatory."

[] I'm sure it's not just a solar system observatory.
[] It's also a test launch for us. Makes sense to ensure a kill and get launch data for us.

>>3901581
>[X] I'm sure it's not just a solar system observatory.
This setting has elements of Ace Combat, everything that is said to be completely normal is actually batshit insane deep down.

>>3901581
>[x] It's also a test launch for us. Makes sense to ensure a kill and get launch data for us.

>>3901588
>[] I'm sure it's not just a solar system observatory.
I'm starting to have this gut feeling that things are a bit more complex than they appear...

>>3901581
>[X] I'm sure it's not just a solar system observatory.

>>3901588
There's a few possibilities on top of AC shenanigans, might be classified equipment onboard or they just want the debris in the way of red spy sats.

Though, I wonder if like in ACZ, there's mirrors in orbit for Excalibur to use since there's one in Europe.

>>3901581
>[] I'm sure it's not just a solar system observatory.

Ok, votes called!

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[x] I'm sure it's not just a solar system observatory.

"I'm sure it's not just a solar system observatory." You respond, wheeling Muninn into place and cutting the throttles to idle as the cat crew hooks you up. Wendy will go first, of course- you'll generate a lot more wake turbulence, but she's only going to be in the air a second or two before you go.

"It would seem so." Kyou says. "Though the possibility of us ever knowing the real story seems rather limited."

You nod, knowing she'll see it- she can see around the sides of your ejection seat easily enough. You're aware enough of government secrets- at least, what they look like. It's always kind of been funny to you- the government will happily classify things, but they rarely seem to concoct a convincing lie. At least usually, anyway. Maman taught you that much- when they really, really want to make sure no one knows about something, either they'll never talk about it or have a real convincing story.

You push the thoughts aside as the shooter clears the front nosewheel and gets in position to the side of your aircraft. It takes only a second to confirm you're set for a cat launch as you gradually advance the throttle up to military power- you don't need full afterburner to get off the deck, though you may end up using it regardless for the zoom climb- you know you can go to full WEP as well, though you're a little hesitant to do so.

You look out your port side to the shooter, flashing a thumbs up and a salute before settling back a bit in the ejection seat. Wendy goes a second before you do, crossing in front of your fighter and beginning to climb straight off the deck just as the ejection seat rides up and slaps the back of your helmet in the sudden acceleration.

You feel the radars tracking you from the ships as you point your nose skyward and punch it up through Afterburner into full war emergency power, redlining your turbines and breaking the speed of sound easily. Normally, you know, G-forces would be crushing you back into your seat, but you hardly feel them- maybe half or less what you'd expect as you watch your altimeter's readout blur as you climb to ceiling. In theory, the wyvern can be fit for exoatmospheric operations- Rumors say that Chance-Vought even proposed it as a fast turnaround alternative to the Space Shuttle in the 90s. Of course, due to the cost, the proposal was rejected- and the UN Defense force was denied permission to acquire three squadrons outfit for near earth operations.

Wendy trails behind a little- though not as much as you'd expected. Eventually, even you start bleeding speed at around a hundred thousand feet and start to level off, dropping out of WEP and into conventional power regimes.

1/2

Up here the fighter behaves a bit oddly- slippery, you'd say. The air's too thin for you to slow down too much, Muninn warns- your stall speed is fairly high, and the wyvern, despite all it's other advantages and cutting edge technology, wasn't built to fly this high up for long.

"Target on networked sensors." Kyou calls. "Launch point is two minutes out at this heading and speed."

You nod, pulling up the SM-3s on your weapons selector and binding them to your trigger with a thought- Muninn does the grunt work there, but it's nothing hard, barely a thought for the AI. "Remember, volley two." Kyou warns. "Half-second delay."

You nod again, noting that Muninn's dropped a tracking box around the defunct satellite, along with speed, mass, and altitude- which you note is dropping reasonably quickly, at least, by the way it looks to you. Kyou sees it too- you can feel her confusion, though she doesn't say anything about it, instead watching her own screens.

"Launch in five." Kyou warns. "Five, four, three, two, one, now!"

You squeeze the trigger deliberately- despite the fact that it's little more than a trigger linked to a microswitch that tells the computer the fire signal is sent, maman drilled into you that it's too easy to snatch the trigger and wreck your shot from an early age and now it's pure muscle memory. You can feel the first missile kick clear of the VLS tube behind you a split second before the second follows it, arching up and over your canopy towards their intercept.

"Weapons away!" You call- there's no brevity code for what you just did yet, though it's clearly going to be a fox code at some point. Muninn helpfully assists Kyou in tracking the missiles as they spear skyward, arrowing in at the intercept point Muninn projects onto your helmet display.

There's a bright flash as the missiles intercept the satellite- bright enough that Muninn, detecting it, polarizes out your visor, tinting it enough that the flash doesn't have the possibility of burning afterimages onto your eyes. "Good intercept. Target destroyed, three hundred seventy three miles downrange at one hundred twenty miles altitude." Kyou calls. "Ground stations tracking limited debris, keep us clear of the indicated airspace."

Kyou cuts to the interplane- broadcast on a tightbeam only to Wendy's aircraft via the MIU net. "Was that-?"She asks.

"I was in Poland." Wendy responds. "I- " She hesitates. "I don't think we should talk about it. They'll tell us if we need to know."

You push Muninn into a shallow dive, noting that, at your height and speed, you'll be over Hickam in less than a half hour. "If it was- that." Kyou responds. "Then clearly we weren't given the whole story."

[] EDF and US warheads are supposed to be failsafe. They only go off if the detonators trigger, and those are locked. It wasn't that.
[] Wendy's right. We'll find out if we need to know.
[] It is really strange that it did that. Something's going on, for sure.

And I'm going to call it here for the night!

I don't expect any issues tomorrow, and we may start a bit early to make up for the late start today. Sunday I'm supposed to put in out at the field, so we'll see what happens there, and I'll keep you posted.

So till tomorrow gents, Cheers! I'll be around to field questions or comments as usual!

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>>3901727
>[X] EDF and US warheads are supposed to be failsafe. They only go off if the detonators trigger, and those are locked. It wasn't that.

SWBMs from Ace Combat confirmed

>>3901731
Thanks for the run boss.

>>3901727
>[X] EDF and US warheads are supposed to be failsafe. They only go off if the detonators trigger, and those are locked. It wasn't that.
Ha, so it was V2s.
Buddy time.

>>3901727
>[x] EDF and US warheads are supposed to be failsafe. They only go off if the detonators trigger, and those are locked. It wasn't that.

>>3901731
Thanks for the run Ghost!

>>3901727
>[] EDF and US warheads are supposed to be failsafe. They only go off if the detonators trigger, and those are locked. It wasn't that.

>>3901727
>[X] EDF and US warheads are supposed to be failsafe. They only go off if the detonators trigger, and those are locked. It wasn't that.
Nuclear weapons don't really want to detonate. Unless the implosion charge detonates correctly, you're not gonna get that big blast. Shooting one down will turn it into a dirty explosion, not a nuclear one. SWBM warheads now available...?

>>3901727
>[X] EDF and US warheads are supposed to be failsafe. They only go off if the detonators trigger, and those are locked. It wasn't that.

>>3901727
>[X] EDF and US warheads are supposed to be failsafe. They only go off if the detonators trigger, and those are locked. It wasn't that.

>>3901727
>[] EDF and US warheads are supposed to be failsafe. They only go off if the detonators trigger, and those are locked. It wasn't that.

>>3901727
>[] EDF and US warheads are supposed to be failsafe. They only go off if the detonators trigger, and those are locked. It wasn't that.
What's happening brahs
Did Beijing hook up with the ayylmaos

>>3902178
I don't think it's Beijing, I think it was a US weapons satellite that lost control.

However, Beijing hooking up with the Ayys is not out of the question (if any of the aliens are left), seeing as a certain mustachioed Soviet dictator did much the same in the original '89, IIRC... That's just not what happened here...

>>3902250

Speaking of Aliens, is it wrong that I want to have HellCow show up?

>>3902325
No, Hellcow is best cow.

>>3902325
>>3902734
Hellcow shall always remain our Lord and Saviour

>>3902325
>>3902779
However, now that I think about it, I do remember a line about witches at Castle Barin (or however it's spelled) being haunted at night by mysterious hissing sounds at night, although I can't remember whether that line was the musings of an anon or the words of Ghost, so Hellcow may be confirmed to be around still.

ok gents, votes called! I'll have to head over to the house for dinner here in a bit, but I'm going to shoot for at least one update before then!

>>3902250
Using ASAT weapons is a really really bad idea.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Chinese_anti-satellite_missile_test
https://room.eu.com/news/debris-from-indias-asat-test-worse-than-predicted

>>3903140
Well yeah, but not having them is even worse because lol Rods from God.

>>3902972
Nyan Nyan

>>3902972
Nyan Nyan

>>3902972
Nihao Nyan~!

>>3902972
Gorgeous!

>>3902972
Gorgeous, delicious

>>3902972
Deculture!

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[x] EDF and US warheads are supposed to be failsafe. They only go off if the detonators trigger, and those are locked. It wasn't that.

You shake your head, reviewing the information Muninn has- while you're no expert, you do know a few things about nuclear weapons- how their detonation creates all kinds of identifying electromagnetic signatures. Muninn didn't detect any of them- just a small, fast gamma burst with a wildly different pattern than the observed ones from the wartime detonations of Stalin's wall.

"EDF and US warheads are supposed to be failsafe." You point out- you have to trigger their detonation sequence in the right order, and they're fairly insensitive, at that. "They only go off if the detonators trigger, and those are locked. It wasn't that."

Kyou doesn't respond and Wendy won't- though you can detect both witch's doubts through the link. The information still doesn't quite add up though. Even if you accept that the US is putting warheads in orbit- which isn't exactly an unheard of concept, the UN maintains a half-dozen 'weapons stations' in orbit, meant to at least blunt any invasion- there's no reason to disguise that sort of thing, unless it's being done in direct opposition to the UN. And even then, you think, it's not like anyone puts much stock in them anymore anyway.

The rest of the flight to Hawaii is quiet- Kyou is burying herself in the sensor data, and Wendy doesn't seem to feel the need to talk much. Crossing the island from the north, you get a great, panoramic look at the bases and the city of Honolulu. The battleship museums- Arizona to the south, Missouri to the north- occupy the old battleship row, bookends to the Martian war. The Arizona was made famous by her gallant charge to rescue the IJN carriers of the striking force- and the final surrender terms for the Japanese hives were signed aboard the Missouri. It's said that the Missouri's presence, along with that of the Japanese Yamato-class superbattleships, was what convinced the USSR to withdraw from the islands they'd 'protected' during the war- the Japanese were more than willing to go to war over them, and even the USSR would have struggled in a war against both America and the Japanese at the time.

1/2

Joint base Pearl-Hickam is a massive facility- encompassing both the Hickam air force base and the Pearl Harbor Navy Station, and currently home to both it's USAF inhabitants and one of the ultra-rare UNDF squadrons, kept in their own annex nearby. Flying in distinct variants of the newest Soviet fighter, the Su-57, there's only about eight squadrons left.

Landing behind Wendy, you're directed to a nearby hangar, where you're instructed to shut down. Climbing out of Muninn, you're greeted by an airforce three-star and a small security element.

"Welcome to Hickam, Lieutenant." He says, nodding as you salute. "Come with me."

You look over at Kyou- she shrugs, moving a bit closer to you. Wendy joins you as you follow the general to a small briefing room in what you assume is operations- it's a welcome change from the heat.

The door closes. "First," The general says. "Excellent work on that intercept. Cheyenne mountain tracked it all the way from launch, your first shot came within a meter of the target object, your second within about three." He frowns. "However, there's been an indication that there was an unusual event on intercept. Did you see or detect anything odd?"

Kyou looks over at you, confusion plain on her face.

It's a bit odd, but you're on guard from the question. The simple fact is, this could either be a lead-in to let you know that you didn't, in fact, see anything, or it could be a genuine issue.

[] Yessir. There was a bright flash and a gamma-ray burst.
[] Not that we saw, sir.

>>3903235
Haha, it worked!

>>3903241
>[] Yessir. There was a bright flash and a gamma-ray burst.

>>3903241
>[] Yessir. There was a bright flash and a gamma-ray burst.

>>3903241
>[X] Yessir. There was a bright flash and a gamma-ray burst.

>Su-57's are being used by the U.N.
Also in case anyone missed the new NATO codename for them is Felon

>>3903242
I posted the vote call, and then got called to dinner like, a minute later, and then got suckered into watching part of the 'canes game, haha!

>>3903241
>Yessir. There was a bright flash and a gamma-ray burst.

>>3903241
>[X] Yessir. There was a bright flash and a gamma-ray burst.

>>3903241
[X] Yessir. There was a bright flash and a gamma-ray burst.

ok, votes called!

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[x] Yessir. There was a bright flash and a gamma-ray burst.

You nod. "Yessir." You respond- if it is a lead-in, then it's really just part of the game, and there's no point in trying to remain quiet. If it's not, and there genuinely was an issue, then remaining silent could lead to far worse trouble down the road. "There was a bright flash and a gamma-ray burst."

"Consistent with a nuclear detonation?" He prompts, and you shake your head again.

"Based on the observed records available to us, no sir." You respond.

He nods. "We'll need to pull a copy of the dataset from the intercept." He says, thinking for a second. "Keep yourself on post for now, we'll get you set up in temporary quarters for the night." He pauses. "All three of you need to stay together, right?"

Kyou nods. "We've been directed to for the duration of the trials period." She says- not exactly a lie, it's certainly a creative interpretation of what the Roosevelt's CAG told you.

"I figured." He says, not sounding too surprised. "You're Merlin's pet drake crew, aren't you? She planning to show up?"

"The admiral didn't inform us of her plans." Kyou smoothly offers.

"Shame, I'd have liked to have gotten to talk to her again. Someone needs to hire someone to follow her around and take notes." He says, shaking his head. "Her ideas on the future of air combat alone could fill a damn book." He pauses and shakes his head again. "Well, whatever. You're dismissed for now." He says.

You stand again, waiting to leave until after he's had a chance to step out of the room.

"S-so what do we do now?" Wendy asks.

Kyou grins. "We look to my fearless pilot for direction." She says.

[] Let's go grab chow, since we're confined to base anyway.
[] Let's get that data from Muninn for them first.
[] Let's get that room and get cleaned up.

>>3903472
>[x] Let's go grab chow, since we're confined to base anyway.

>>3903472
>[X] Let's get that data from Muninn for them first.

>>3903472
>[X] Let's get that data from Muninn for them first.

The three star wanted the data, might as well hand it off first before wandering off to the chow hall.

>>3903472
>[x] Let's get that data from Muninn for them first.

ok gents, votes called! This'll be the last one for the night, I have to go in tomorrow. I've got some other news to give you a heads up on as well., but I can do that after the update.

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[x] Let's get that data from Muninn for them first, I'm sure someone here knows what we'll need to do.

"We'll get that data from Muninn for them first." You state. Work first, you feel, then you can take care of personal matters, like food and getting cleaned up. You'd be worried about clothes, but you know Kyou, at least, makes sure to keep a T-shirt and a pair of shorts in her flight bag. It's not much, of course, but it does mean her choices aren't 'wear the flight suit or go naked around quarters'. You wonder if Wendy's done the same- and mentally scold yourself for letting your mind wander a bit at the implications.

Muninn's been towed to a spot on the pad, occupying a space near a group of air force king raptors. The ground crew must have some experience with Wyverns- and you note that even Wendy's Valkyrie has been towed into place, the umbilical snaking up from a hatch in the pavement. There's a security element posted near the aircraft, of course- they watch you approach, and move to intercept you as it becomes clear the wyvern is yours.

"Afternoon ladies, sir." One of them says. "This your aircraft?"

You nod- it's a silly question.

"The intel nerds are trying to pull some data off it's computers." He says. "You wait a couple minutes, I can let you go up."

Kyou smiles, thinly. "Have they ever pulled data off a wyvern flight computer?" She asks.

The airforce troop shakes his head. "I don't know, ma'am. But they said no one else can go up there till they're done."

Kyou frowns- but you nod. You'll wait, just to make sure you're not really needed. You wouldn't put it past Muninn to be a brat about this and refuse just to refuse- a trait, you're sure, she got from Kyou.

It turns out to be unnecessary- the 'intel nerds' are able to get what they need using a laptop and walk past you, shooting you a slightly sour look as they do so. However, it ends up being fortunate- you're able to watch a pair of the UN Su-57s taxi past on their way out- you can see the pilot's head's swivel to take a look at Muninn as they roll by.

You turn to leave, but you're intercepted by another Humvee pulling up. You don't recognize the officer who steps out- but you do recognize the other person, almost instantly.

Maman.

She's got her game face on- there's no smiles, no hugs- nothing embarassing, which you figure she'd do just because. "Lieutenant." The officer says- maman stands back out of the way.

"Sir." You respond- you can't salute, you're uncovered and outside, but you stiffen to attention anyway.

"Don' worry none, Major." Maman says before he can respond. "I be handlin dis."

The major- his mouth opening to respond, stops and nods once, before retreating back into the humvee. Maman looks over her shoulder at it and smiles- it's a plastic, fake smile, one that says 'I'm being nice but we both know I don't have to be'. "You don' have to wait for me, non." She says to the driver. "I be along in time. Wan to talk to my boy some, oui?"

The driver nods and the humvee pulls off.

"Morgan Laroux." She says, her smile finally softening. "I see ya be starting ta live up to de Bishop side o your blood."

[] Write in response!

Ok gents, a bit of news!

So I have to go to work tomorrow, but I've also picked up a seasonal, part time thing at a family friend's Christmas tree lot. Pays fairly well, but I already know for a fact that Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, I'm going to want to come home, take aspirin, and sleep, haha. I'm considering chopping us down to shorter runs for the duration of the job, like, maybe going to wed-thurs runs, at least till the new year. We'll see how it pans out, but what would you guys think about just going to a two-day midweek run? would that work out?

Anyway gents, we're going to finish this run up tomorrow, but as always, I'll be around to field questions or comments if there are any! If not gents, till tomorrow, cheers!

>>3903603
>Complete stone face: "I don' know what you be talkin' bout, Maman."

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>>3903603
>[X] Complete stone face: "I don' know what you be talkin' bout, Maman."

>>3903614
That sounds fine. Thanks for the run boss.
Also, isn't Ice's Carrier in Hawaii as well? Or did it get deployed?

>>3903603
>>[X] Complete stone face: "I don' know what you be talkin' bout, Maman.

Insert as heavy an accent as possible with dear old maman!

>>3903603
>>3903617
this

>>3903614
2 days is better than no days, as long as your running I'm happy

>>3903603
Has Anyone Really Been Far Even as Decided to Use Even Go Want to do Look More Like?

>>3903603

"I didn't do it, nobody saw me do it, you can't prove anything."

>>3903603
>I didn't realize special operations could be this cold.

>>3903603
>[x] Ignore her remark, tell Wendy who the new arrival is and introduce Wendy
Don't leave your wingmate in the dark/

>>3903614
Be careful, considering with the possible side effects of prolonged aspirin use.

>>3903603
>>>[X] Complete stone face: "I don' know what you be talkin' bout, Maman.

Then perhaps a turn to Wendy to redirect (I won’t even attempt to write it accented properly):

“You remember Commander Maloney Maman? As I remember your stories I wouldn’t be here without her saving father’s ass a time or two. Commander...you will recall my mother of course.”

So the US in this setting is putting antimatter weapons into space, that's cool.

>>3904209
>>3904222
Wendy knows who she is guys, remember '89 was a thing, and Maman was with our unit for the latter half of the war.

>>3903603
>Complete stone face: "I don' know what you be talkin' bout, Maman."

lol

Ok gents, probably just 1-2 updates this evening to get to a good stopping point for the week. Votes called!

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[] Write in response!

Maman's grinning more than a little bit- kind of like the c at that just caught the canary. Not that you'd have expected anything else from her.

Of course, you're more than a little used to this, too. "I don know what you be talkin bout, maman." you respond, keeping your face completely neutral.

If anything, her grin gets wider. "your papa would have said de same ting." She responds.
You pause- you should have seen that one coming, you think.

"Dey tellin me dat you be de one doin de shootdown today." She says, motioning for you to follow her as Kyou looks at you. You nod.

"Oui, maman."

She nods. "I don need ta be tellin ya dat you probably not be told what you saw." She says, almost conversationally- though the tone of her voice also carries a distinct impression that you're being told not only that you won't know, but that you don't need to be asking, either.

"I also don need ta be tellin ya dat you be attractin de wrong kinds o attention." She continues- you see Kyou stiffen a bit at that.

"Why's dat?" You ask, and your maman looks back at you- but her eyes flick to Kyou and Wendy. "More den de navy be interested in dis arrangement, oui."

You grimace- you'd had some worries, but not enough that you'd given much thought to them.

Maman shrugs. "Don't be too bothered none." She says after a second. "Dey know ya be off limits an even if you do like your papa, pushing do no be a good idea, non." She pauses. "We talk about it at dinner dis evening, oui?"

"If we're still present here." Kyou supplies. "We're under orders to proceed to Japan on alert."

Maman nods. "Oui, I know." She says with a grin back to your crewmate. "But dat don't mean ya be not havin dinner with maman an her guests."

"Guests?" You ask, suddenly worried. Knowing Maman, it could be almost anyone.

She nods. "Oui." She answers. "People dat ok wid owing maman a favor for it." She responds. you wince- that means witches, almost certainly. Regardless of who you are, you're still far too low in rank to be interesting to anyone but the most hopeful of senior officers- someone hoping to replicate Admiral Nixon's relationship with your father.

"I hope they are willing to accept our presence as well." Kyou states. "Regardless of anything else, I don't feel our orders allow us to be separated."

Maman nods. "Oui, I'm sure dey be intrested to meet you as well." She says, then smiles. "An who wouldn't wan to meet de Wonderful Wendy!"

Wendy blushes a bit at the use of her nickname, earned on the air racing circuit. "I-I don't think that's entirely necessary..." She says, drawing a bit closer to you and Kyou.

Kyou shakes her head. "No. You must come as well." She says. "You are our wingmate, afterall."

Wendy blinks at the order- it can't be anything but- but nods.

It's going to be an interesting dinner, you realize. And Maman's going to owe you- regardless of what she thinks.

Ok, s orry about that guys! Realized had a bit of homework to knock out, so I wanted to get that done before midnight, haha!

That's it for the week though! I don't really have any news for anyone, so I'll leave off and say as usual that I'll be around a bit to field questions or comments, but otherwise, till next time gents, cheers!

>>3905132
Thanks for the run Ghost!

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>>3905132
Thanks for the run boss.

>>3905129
>filename
A bit worried for Morgan's psyche, yet at the same time very supportive for it.

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I can't help but picture Wendy's AI, Tessa, as looking a certain way...

>>3905259
A bit fitting for her.
Also watch out because Morgan's Wyvern in the future might be sporting some bluish aura later on...

>>3905259
You are truly a man of culture. I named my car that for the very same reason.

>>3905129
Technically this means Morgan has a dinner date with Kyou and Wendy.

Technically.

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>>3905397
>not naming your car after the real best girl
Your loss.

Archive up.

>>3905419

And Maman by that logic. I think. Haha!

>>3906157
Nah. Dinner with your madre is never a date. Ever.

>>3906411
Unless you're a Japanese Hentai Protagonist

>>3905578
>t. Kurz
Mao is still preddy good though.
>>3906467
Luckily we are half French and American.

Just got caught up. Man, it is totally strange to see everyone using 'el-tee', I get it all the time at work but I still wasnt expecting to see it so pervasive in a quest.

>>3908540
Welcome! Did you also read the original Strike Witches '89?

>>3908570
Yea, as well as the tank one and pararescue spinoffs and a little bit of the ww2 orginal.

>>3908579
Haha wow, you're totally prepared.

>>3908584
I will admit I have a little more fondness for the pararescue quest simply because someone's got to represent the air force.

>>3908588
Fair enough. Still always good to have more readers who've read/participated in the original.

>>3908540
I'm only a little bit /k but its nice to have a military quest written by someone with a decent amount of knowledge about it.

I am sort of actually curious as to how the Witch Sisterhoods work. Since that really hasn't been explained in detail.

>>3909875
Hardcore Lesbian Orgies, mostly.

>>3909616
Nah, there is not nearly enough paperwork.