Kyou, Mori and Wendy all finish their AARs and leave after about an hour- you've got yours done and submitted at about the same time, though you elected to stay behind and read the news from the 'states. Things are gearing up there for the election, which seems to be the biggest news overall, with the war hardly even getting a side column. There's an article that sticks out though- someone, the JCS or maybe even the secdef- is ordering the USAF to shutter their superfighter program and convert to drakes.

That's fairly big news, though there's not much about it on the news site- barely six paragraphs, three of which are some air force three-star disagreeing with the decision in the strongest possible public terms. Frankly, it's hardly surprising to you that it's finally happened- there's fewer Excals than there are drakes at this point, and the thing just isn't as capable in a fight. It's got no AI and it's a single place bird- the workload on the pilot in any sort of fight is immense compared to what you have to manage. Even in terms of pure performance it's outclassed by you, at least- and any drake with a speed talent. The article concludes that the phase out will be one for one, and that vought has already spun up a line making an air force wyvern without the reinforced landing gear for carrier operations.

There's a knock on the door and you look up- Kyou and the others must have closed it when they left. "Enter." You say, nodding as Merlin steps in, smiling.

"Anything interesting?" She asks, taking a seat in the chair across from your desk.

"Air force is losing the excals and transitioning to drakes." You respond.

Merlin nods. "I'd wondered when that would finally happen." She says. "They insisted they didn't need or want drakes, but the Excalibur was always lockheed's answer to the wyvern. It never was as good though, especially not once we moved away from the first generation VDNI over to MIU equipped aircraft."

"Lot of money to sit in the desert." You point out, and she smiles again, shaking her head.

"They'll go to NASA." She says. "the X-planes division there has wanted their own superfighters for years, and they've got the plant to modify anything they get however they want. The Excalibur is almost perfect for them since there's no AI and no MIU in it."

You nod, finishing the article and closing the webpage.

[] How do you think it'll affect the fleet expansion on our side?
[] Any news about our sortie?
[] Ready to go? I'm done here.

>>[] Any news about our sortie?

>>4885448
>[x] How do you think it'll affect the fleet expansion on our side?
If they're devoting a few lines to making AF birds won't that slow down the production of the Navy variant?

>>4885448
>[x] Any news about our sortie?

>>4885458
They could simply include the tailhook and related equipment to make the Air Force variant carrier capable. Then there wouldn’t be any difference. That’s basically how F35 was supposed to work (just removing the tailhook for the AF variant), though we all know how that worked out in reality as the AF, Navy, and Marines design diverged.

>>4885448
>[X] Any news about our sortie?

ok, votes called!

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[x] Any news about our sortie?

"Any news about our sortie?" You ask.

She shakes her head. "Not really." She responds. "Just a thank you note from the IJA and the apology that they couldn't get the PLAN ships that had surrendered. They've started operations to push into Seoul and Incheon, but other than that they haven't said anything."

"What about the fandances?"

"PLANAF, probably." Merlin responds. "Lovelace has been looking into it, but he says he's having some trouble operating in CCP datanets lately. They've deployed a lot of counterintrusion programs recently and he's been having to adapt to them."

You nod. "That's only the second time we've seen them."

Merlin smiles. "I know." She says. "Morgan I've been following the information just as much as you have, remember. I don't just do my science work."

You frown, and she laughs. "There's more to me than just the absent minded professor."

"I see." You say as she crosses her legs and starts bobbing one heel, still smiling.

"But I haven't heard anything yet that you haven't." She says. "After we get my gym stuff I'm going to go down to the hangar, I want to take a look at those powerplants. They shouldn't need a rebuild this soon, something else is happening."

You blink. "They're old and were reactivated from storage. Couldn't that be it?"

Merlin shakes her head. "Bradley's team built them to my specs." She responds. "And they were stored in a climate controlled dry hangar after flight tests. They shouldn't be exhibiting any kind of issues for another thousand flight hours at least, even running in war emergency power." She smiles. "You're apparently just too much for them."

[] Kyou, more like.
[] Must run in the family.

>>4885618
>Write in for both? ‘Cause it’s probably both. Something like: “Between Kyou’s genes and mine it’s a miracle they haven’t exploded yet.”

>>4885618
>[X] Kyou, more like.

>>4885618
>[x] Must run in the family.

>>4885618
>[X] Kyou, more like.

>>4885618
>[X] Kyou, more like.

>>4885618
>[] Must run in the family

>>4885618
>[x] Must run in the family.

>>4885618
>[x] Kyou, more like.
She's made of power crack

ok gents, votes called!

As a heads up, while I've got my sleep schedule fixed, it's fixed early- I was up at 05 this morning, haha. So this'll be our last update for the evening. Depending on what happens with the interview tomorrow we may be changing schedules anyway, we'll see how that shakes out.

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[x] Kyou, more like.

"Kyou, more like." You respond, shaking your head.

She nods. "Probably. They were designed for what your father and I could do to equipment, then overbuilt to handle at least twenty percent beyond what we were able to max existing equipment out at. But I'm no superwitch at least not like she is, and if your mother and I are right, what you're able to do to and for a witch will be much stronger than what your father was able to manage." She smiles. "What I'd give to get a chance to fly with you and see if she's right." She says with a laugh.

You shrug. "Say it loud enough around Kyou and she'll start trying to make it happen."

Merlin laughs. "That's more of a rebuild than we can manage here." She says. "Even if I used the old plug system and we installed the interface for that, we're running out of space in Muninn's hull, and converting him over to the mothballed four place wyvern isn't something we can handle without a return to factory."

"Which is out of the question." You supply, and she nods.

"The navy won't allow it, at least not with the war on." She agrees. "That's a much more major rebuild, especially since we'd have to move over everything currently installed. Though it might be interesting to see what would happen with more witches powering yellowstone..." She trails off, thinking, then shakes her head- she'll devote more than a little time to the thought when she's able, but for now she doesn't want to get sidetracked.

"And Kyou might have problems with the idea." You add.

She nods. "I think so too." She says, smiling again. "Besides, that airframe is designed for four places and isn't equipped with an MIU or rigged for an AI. And all the computers are about twenty years out of date."

She's trying to talk herself out of it, you can tell- now that the thought's in her head, she's going to at least devote some thought to the concept. Frankly, you're not sure you're all that enthusiastic about it- you vaguely remember the four place drake, and it's issues- it was noticeably larger, a few tons heavier, and while it didn't give up much in it's performance, would be a bear to manage on a carrier deck.

"After we get a chance to get my gym things, I want to go over the Yellowstone's performance, too." Merlin says. "I think we can get much better out of it with a slight redesign."

[] It's already insane, how much better can you get it?
[] Let's go get your gym gear then. Kyou will never forgive me if she learns I delayed improvements to that thing.

And that's going to be it for the night!

No news here that I haven't already said- keep in mind we may be changing schedules to accommodate work, assuming I pick up there. We'll see what happens- it's supposed to be part time, but who knows anymore, right? Haha.

Anyway, that's it for the night. I probably won't be on much longer tonight, but I'll be up pretty early in the morning if the pattern so far holds, haha! Anyway, till tomorrow gents, cheers!

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>>4885730
>[X] Let's go get your gym gear then. Kyou will never forgive me if she learns I delayed improvements to that thing.

>>4885735
Thanks for the run boss.

>>4885730
>[x] Let's go get your gym gear then. Kyou will never forgive me if she learns I delayed improvements to that thing.

>>4885735
Thanks for the run Ghost!

>>4885730
>[] Let's go get your gym gear then. Kyou will never forgive me if she learns I delayed improvements to that thing.

>>4885730
>[X] Let's go get your gym gear then. Kyou will never forgive me if she learns I delayed improvements to that thing.

>>4885730
>[] Let's go get your gym gear then. Kyou will never forgive me if she learns I delayed improvements to that thing.

>>4885730
>[] It's already insane, how much better can you get it?

>>4885730
>[x] Let's go get your gym gear then. Kyou will never forgive me if she learns I delayed improvements to that thing.

>>4885730
>[] Let's go get your gym gear then. Kyou will never forgive me if she learns I delayed improvements to that thing.

Catte is already learned to the ways of the husbando

ok gents, votes called!

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[x] Let's go get your gym gear then. Kyou will never forgive me if she learns I delayed improvements to that thing.

You frown, then sigh. "Let's go get your gym gear then." You say, and she smiles. "Kyou will never forgive me if she learns I delayed improvements to that thing."

Merlin laughs. "Did you already send a request to talk to Tosa?" She asks.

You nod. "With my morning Emails." You say, double checking- you'd handled it as almost routine, honestly. There'd been a short message in your inbox from the army's headquarters, just seeking information on if they should pull her from combat duty and return her to the home islands long enough to meet with you or not. You'd told them you'd like to speak with her- and there's no response yet, which, you imagine, means they're busy arranging the fastest transport they can get to get her back here.

"Good." Merlin says, nodding. "I don't know much about her, but Lovelace should be dumping a full briefing on my computer by this afternoon."

"You're interested too?" You ask- you're starting to feel a little pressured towards this witch.

Merlin shakes her head. "No, I'm having him do that for all the potentials." She says, then smiles. "I'll have to live with them too, right? I want to know everything about them, including the things that aren't on their service jackets."

"Isn't that a little creepy?" You ask, powering off your computer. It'll auto-shutoff after five minutes of inactivity- and of course, Tessa or Muninn can remotely shut it down as well, and are supposed to make sure it's not on after you leave the office, but it's still your responsibility to do.

Besides, it's a little too easy to start leaning on the two AIs to handle everything- you're not paranoid, but you played more than a few games involving a rampant AI as an antagonist.

Merlin laughs as you stand up. "Creepy would be pulling her complete physical records, the Japanese military takes front, back and side nudes for identification if necessary." She says.

You blink. "They do?"

She nods. "It's in case of catastrophic injury or death involving significant damage to the remains." She says. "That way there's enough record of identifying marks that as long as there's something, they can reference it against an image."

"That seems flimsy these days." You respond.

1/2

She laughs. "That's why they're phasing out the practice." She says. "The IJN hasn't required it in almost six years, the IJA is ending it this year. They've got more than enough ability now to use DNA in remaining tissue that they don't need it, though there's some argument that DNA takes longer and that in a mass casualty case, they'd still need the older records for speed."

"If they're losing that many witches all at once, they've got bigger problems." You point out, and Merlin nods again. She's eager to be going, you note- already out in the hallway.

"That's the counterargument." She responds. "And there's plenty of cases where a witch was buried or cremated without being identified right away, especially during the warring states era. Most shrines will have something dedicated to a witch of theirs that didn't come home."

"how many were never identified?" You ask, morbidly curious. Maman always insisted that, in the event a witch died in the line of duty, it was always known who she was and what happened- there just aren't enough witches in any given place for it to not be that way.

"I'm not sure." Merlin says, frowning. "It can't be that many though. Their coven would know, if just because they were missing. So where are we going? I think there's a sporting goods store in town."

[] We'll just go to the NEX, it's not like we're going to need a lot.
[] Yeah, we can go there, I need new running shoes anyway.

>>4887108
>[x] Yeah, we can go there, I need new running shoes anyway.

Get her the good shit

>>4887108
>[X] Yeah, we can go there, I need new running shoes anyway.

>>4887108
>[x] Yeah, we can go there, I need new running shoes anyway.

>>4887108
>[] Yeah, we can go there, I need new running shoes anyway.

>>4887108
>[X] Yeah, we can go there, I need new running shoes anyway.

Ok, votes called! I'm going to have to cut us short after this update gents- I was up pretty early and didn't sleep real well to begin with, so I'm dozing off over here, haha!

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[x] Yeah, we can go there, I need new running shoes anyway.

You nod, looking at your watch- you'll have to change out of uniform, which makes it seem like a waste of effort to have put the thing on in the first place. The two of you head back to quarters- Merlin, also in uniform, will also have to change- and you've got to admit it feels almost cavernous with just the two of you there. Merlin heads to her room to change- though you can't help but note she doesn't bother to close the door as you head up the stairs.

You change quickly, heading back downstairs to find Merlin waiting by the door. She's not bareleg, which is unusual enough to note, though the shorts she opted for ride up high enough she's close to it. "So how do you pick out gym clothes?" She asks as you step into the entryway. The security guards on duty don't even look up as you step out to head to the car- there's a government owned vehicle provided right now, though Kyou is making noise about getting a car or two for the house. Of course, you'll have to have yours shipped over too, but that'll have to wait.

"You don't know?" You ask. Generally it's not much of a process- though you get the feeling that she intends for it to become one today.

"I always just wore whatever the navy issued." She responds.

"Even when you were with the company?" You ask, and she shrugs.

"I didn't really run much then." She says, having the good manners to sound at least a little guilty about the fact.

"So how did you stay in shape?" You ask.

She shrugs. "Magic?" She supplies, and you shake your head. "It worked well enough and vought didn't have PT tests. Plus your dad and I used to go on shorter runs, that helped."

"I don't think Mori plans to take it easy on you." You say. "You sure you want to do this?"

She nods. "There's no reason I shouldn't do the same things everyone else in the household is." She says. "I can't really be part of it if I'm not doing anything, right?"

"I'm sure Kyou would make an exception." You point out.

She laughs. "Probably." She agrees, nodding. "But she might also give me a dress code like she has for Wendy, and I'm not sure about that."

You look over at her and she flushes a little. "I'm not!" She insists. "I mean, it's probably not so bad, but thighhighs always get itchy. Besides. She's supposed to be my apprentice. I can't let her just tell me what to do like that. "

[] Sounds like an excuse, to me. At least, Wendy seems to really enjoy it.
[] Inside the household, does that rule really apply? And outside the household she doesn't have any kind of dress code.

>>4887349
[x] Inside the household, does that rule really apply? And outside the household she doesn't have any kind of dress code.

>>4887349
>[] Inside the household, does that rule really apply? And outside the household she doesn't have any kind of dress code.

And again, I'm going to call it there for the evening gents. I was up really early today- 04- and didn't sleep well at all last night, so I'm beat.

I did get offered that little part time job. I don't really know what kind of schedule it's on, though I'm expecting it will mean we'll be running a split couple days- probably dropping to 2 days a week and running mon-wed. I'm planning on taking up streaming on Friday, but if that doesn't really work out then we may run mon-wed-fri. Not sure yet, not sure what kind of schedule I'm looking at, but It shouldn't be much more than 20 hours a week I'd assume, if that. We'll see what happens.

Otherwise, gents, that's it for the evening! I won't be around anymore tonight, I'm headed straight to the sack, but I'll probably be up early again if there's any questions or comments! Other than that, till tomorrow gents, cheers!

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>>4887349
>[X] Inside the household, does that rule really apply? And outside the household she doesn't have any kind of dress code.

>>4887364
Thanks for the run boss.

>>4887349
>[] Inside the household, does that rule really apply? And outside the household she doesn't have any kind of dress code.

>>4887349
>[] Sounds like an excuse, to me. At least, Wendy seems to really enjoy it.

Hornycatte

>>4887349
>[x] Inside the household, does that rule really apply? And outside the household she doesn't have any kind of dress code.

Merlin, we both know full well that you *want* to be told what to do.

You naughty MILF, you.

>>4887349
>[x] Inside the household, does that rule really apply? And outside the household she doesn't have any kind of dress code.

>>4887364
Thanks for the run Ghost and grats on the job!

>>4887349
>[] Inside the household, does that rule really apply? And outside the household she doesn't have any kind of dress code.

Ok gents, votes called! sorry about the late start!

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[x] Inside the household, does that rule really apply? And outside the household she doesn't have any kind of dress code.

You look at her over the top of the car. "Inside the household does that rule really apply though?"

She pauses in the act of getting in, and frowns. "Well, so long as no one really talked about it... I guess not?" She says.

You nod, getting in and closing the door as she does the same on the passenger side. "And outside the household, she doesn't really have any kind of dress code."

"I guess it wouldn't be so bad if someone told me I had to wear certain things around the house." Merlin admits, blushing more than a little. "I just don't think it should be Kyou."

"I see." You respond in, you realize, a very Kyou-like way. The hint is impossible to miss- not that she's been particularly subtle the last week or so anyway.

[] Isn't that giving up a bit too much control, though?
[] We can arrange something, then, when we get back.
[] We'll talk about that later.

>>4889044
>[x] We can arrange something, then, when we get back.

Merlin doesn't want to have to worry about things she doesn't care about it seems

>>4889044
>[x] We can arrange something, then, when we get back.

>>4889044
>[X] We can arrange something, then, when we get back.

>>4889044
>[X] We can arrange something, then, when we get back.

>>4889044
>[X] We can arrange something, then, when we get back.

ok, votes called!

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[x] We can arrange something, then, when we get back.

"We can arrange something, then, when we get back." You say, after considering the statement for a minute or two- and you're glad, as you do, that you've got enough self control to not picture some of you more... extreme.. ideas for too long.

Merlin's blush goes almost purple. "W-we can?" She asks.

"If that's what you wanted." You answer. Frankly, you're not entirely sure you're having this conversation at all- but, again, you've got to revert to things Maman told you. In this case, why question something like this as it happens? Enjoy it while you can.

She nods, but doesn't say anything.

"When we get home, then." You say, putting a cap to the odd- and quick- conversation.

She nods again, but remains quiet- though it takes most of the drive for her blush to fade. "S-so we're just here for gym clothes, right?" She asks.

"And new running shoes for me." You confirm- your pair is starting to get worn out. That's another of Maman's truisms- never run on worn out shoes for longer than necessary, it's a good way to mess up your knees later in life, especially with the half-marathons you find yourself running every other day when Kyou leads.

The store, common to many in the area, wouldn't be too out of place stateside, the fairly large population of US military personnel and their dependent families, along with civilian contractors and their families, and the general 'westernization' of Japan since the war meaning that they do enough business to stay open in places like this. Of course, it would stick out in the more metropolitan areas- it's simply too big to exist in most of the cities.

Stepping inside, you look around to find... exactly what you expected, honestly. Sporting goods, mostly- again, nothing that would be out of place in the states, though the firearms counter is missing, of course. "So what all will I need?" Merlin asks.

"You know what you'll need." You respond. "Couple sets of work out clothes, maybe some new shoes too."

"Socks?" Merlin asks, and you shrug.

"If you need them, I guess." you say. "Ankle socks would be a good idea."

She nods. "So should we get your shoes first?" She asks.

"No, we'll do that last." you say. "So if we need to get you some, we don't backtrack."

"Oh." She says, then blinks and nods. "That does make more sense."

The two of you head over towards the women's section. "So what should I get?" Merlin asks.

[] Didn't you just ask that?
[] Start with a couple shirts and then we'll figure out pants.

>>4889236
>[X] Start with a couple shirts and then we'll figure out pants.

>>4889236
>[x] Start with a couple shirts and then we'll figure out pants.

>>4889236
>[] Start with a couple shirts and then we'll figure out pants.

>>4889236
>[X] Start with a couple shirts and then we'll figure out pants.

ok, votes called! This'll probably be our last update for the week!

>>4889236
>[] Start with a couple shirts and then we'll figure out pants

merlin being a helluva sub

she gonna start calling Morgan master soon? or daddy?

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[x] Start with a couple shirts and then we'll figure out pants.

"Start with a couple shirts, and then we'll figure out pants." You direct, and she nods.

"Ok!" She says, walking in among the racks. "Anything I should look for?"

"Something lightweight and comfortable." You respond. "and get a couple."

She nods again, eventually getting about four light cotton shirts. "Do these look good?"

"They look fine, yeah." You say- they're probably going to fit her a little more tightly than you'd normally suggest, but Kyou's and Wendy's shirts do too- though both prefer tank tops most of the time, assuming they even bother with a shirt over a sports bra.

She goes for those next- getting a couple Nike sports bras from a table. "You probably won't need more than two or three." You point out. "Wendy usually does laundry every other day anyway to keep the load sizes manageable."

She nods. "She does all the laundry?"

"Yeah." You respond. It's one of the things in the house you just accept- Wendy does the laundry and most of the cleaning. There's almost never dirty clothes at all, either- you find your hamper usually empty and your clothes folded and put away almost every day. How she makes time for it, you're not sure, and just figure it's part of her mysterious domestic powers.
She picks out another couple tank tops and grabs a pack of ankle socks, nodding when you offer to carry some of it. Nothing here is particularly racy, you figure- it's all exactly what she'll want in the gym and, honestly, you're kind of impressed she's not gone for anything more revealing or tigher fitting. You're revising your opinion of what her plans are- maybe she was serious about getting into shape.

And then she starts asking about yoga pants versus training shorts and you find your revised opinion thrown out.

And that's going to be it for the week! I know things were pretty slow this week, and after last week that's not much good. The up side is I have myself on a reasonable sleep pattern finally, so that shouldn't come up again.


The bad news is I'll be starting a little BS part time here on Sunday. I don't know what kind of schedule I'll have, but I'm hoping it'll just be Tuesday-Thursday-Sunday. If it is, we'll run Monday and Wednesday and add a couple extra hours per run to try and cover for the lost day. Whatever happens, I'll post something on twitter about what the schedule is changing to.

Otherwise, gents, that's it for the week! I'll be around, both here and in the discord all weekend to answer any questions or comments, but otherwise gents, till next week, cheers!

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>>4889399
Thanks for the run boss.

>>4889399
Thanks for the run Ghost!

>>4889399
thanks for running

There's something I find cute about Morgan being paranoid about AIs through video games.

>>4889399
Thanks for running!

Not sure what's going on here, but I see planes, witches and big gay energy therefore I am sold.

Ohhhh, shit. It's Strike Witches, isn't it.

>>4893162

SLIGHTLY LESS GAY, STILL PRETTY LEWD

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>>4893162

Wonder what Mouse's opinion on this would be.

https://twitter.com/planefag/status/1410583973059870722