>>20882723

[x] Go over some of those student profiles again

>>20882723
Lets see who we are dealing with

>>20882723
[x] Go over some of those student profiles again

File: 1348704331140.jpg-(610 KB, 1500x843, enjoy your F35.jpg)

>>20882723
YEAH! Underwater Boatwitches!

[x] Go over some of those student profiles again
What are we looking at here - Any highlights? We going to have any troublemakers?

>>20882723
[x ] Go over some of those student profiles again

we'd probably better learn who we're dealing with here.

File: 1348704430988.png-(518 KB, 861x532, ssubwitches-cropped.png)

You struggle with your papers for a few moments, trying to track down those profiles you were given. They're pretty standard fair, a photo with name, rank, service, age, and a brief bio. Overall you recall the group being rather young and...unimpressive. If you had to guess, MacArthur might have managed to press the Navy into cutting up two of its subs, but not into giving him good witches to man them. That only makes your job harder.

Ah, there they are. You quickly snatch the profiles out from the bottom of a stack, making sure not to knock it over. As you skim the profiles again, you don't find anything that you missed. They're a bit of a mixed bunch, mostly from the USN or RAN with one witch from the IJN and RN each. Marks aren't that spectacular and several seem to have a bit of an attitude.

As you go through them, though, one name catches your eye. Natsumi Ogawa. You knew an Ogawa, back on the Tullibee's ill-fated cruise. You didn't get along well with her, but Rae seemed to mesh with her. From the looks of it, though, she's probably dead. Her name was...Harumi. Harumi Ogawa.

[ ] Read further.
[ ] It's time to get out there.

>>20882848
>[x] Read further.
This might be trouble.

>>20882848

[x] It's time to get out there. We can't exactly be late on the first day.

File: 1348704757234.jpg-(Spoiler Image, 308 KB, 875x1287)

>>20882848
I think you need to introduce a real waifu kotters

>>20882916
Why would she ever get wet?

File: 1348704854778.jpg-(32 KB, 414x599, MrUBoatHimself.jpg)

>>20882916
Yes please - We require a proper waifu.

>>20882848

[x ] Read further.

But we need to not be late either. Can't afford to make a bad impression this early in the game.

>>20882916
no, boner.. She's not real!

>>20882848
>[ ] Read further.

File: 1348705384500.jpg-(53 KB, 460x640, 1346882361733.jpg)

>>20882949
It's ok, everybody knows germans make the best pantsless girls

File: 1348705433192.png-(92 KB, 1000x820, test-logo.png)

You decide this merits further investigation. You read the document a little more closely. Natsumi Ogawa, Sub-Lieutenant in the Imperial Japanese Navy. Her magical ability is about average. She's young (though not the youngest) at only 16. She's relatively new to the service, only one tour of duty previously. Still, her record isn't vacant or negative. Some valiant action when her carrier got hit, helping with repairs. Her recent performance, however, seems to have dropped sharply...that'd explain why a Navy Flier is being used in some backwater program the Brass don't like. In the margins someone's scribbled a little bit of info: not sociable, very intimidating. Great.

You glance at her portrait. Her expression is serious, with sharp eyes. Her hair is dark, cut in what Rae once said was a Hime Cut. Hmm. They say a picture's worth a thousand words, but you feel like you'd need several million to get a feel for this Witch.

As you set down the profile, you're not quite sure how much you're looking forward to meeting this Natsumi Ogawa. Natsumi's document lands on top of Odessa Rothrock's. Your head aches; you recall that this girl was a particularly bad performer.

[ ] Refresh how bad.
[ ] Now's as good a time as any to start.
[ ] Other.

File: 1348705577681.jpg-(23 KB, 320x240, typicalsubwitch.jpg)

>>20883038
>[x] Refresh how bad.

>>20883038
>[ ] Refresh how bad.
GET ON WITH IT, KOTTERS

>>20883038
[ ] Now's as good a time as any to start.
THE DAY'S AWASTIN'

>>20883038

[x] Refresh how bad

Oh god, what did they give us.

Unless we needed to START soon.

In which case

[x] Now's As good a time as any.

>>20883169

seconding this. Unless we need to start soon, we need to see how bad this is. it is "I can work with this" bad, or is it "oh god all these kids are gonna die' bad?

File: 1348706385691.png-(245 KB, 1000x700, too-lewd-for-SuWQ.png)

Still a bit apprehensive about meeting this group, you pick up Odessa's profile. Odessa Rothrock. Able Seamen in the Royal Australian Navy. Her magical ability seems to be rather substandard. Though young at 15, she's still not the youngest in the bunch (damn the war). Apparently she'd been sent out on a tour of duty previously but had it cut short after a series of very unfortunate accidents. Crashing into the deck, knocking a sailor overboard, accidental explosion as a result of misapplied magic...even spontaneous combustion of a magical engine. That helpful writer has written on her margin too: lacks confidence, has heart. Helpful.

She sounds like a walking trainwreck. You take a look at her photo. Her expression betrays her nervousness, eyes looking slightly away from the camera. Her light hair brushes her shoulders, touching her crisp uniform. Well, at least she keeps herself groomed.

You're about to set her profile down as well when Rae walks in.

"Still shuffling through those damned profiles?" she asks. "I know you're nervous, but come on, Cleo."

[ ] Sorry, I just don't feel qualified.
[ ] You're right, I'm being silly.
[ ] Other.

>>20883232

[x] You're right, I'm being silly. But let's keep Odessa away from anything flammable on her first day anyways, m'kay?

>>20883232
>[ ] Sorry, I just don't feel qualified.
Can we at least get names for the others?

>>20883232

[x] Sorry, I just don't feel qualified.

>>20883232
[x] Sorry, I just don't feel qualified.
Because, like, we're totally not.

>>20883232

[X] You're right, I'm just being silly.

gotta think positive

You look down at the floor. "Sorry," you mutter, "I guess I just don't feel qualified for this."

"What?" Rae takes a step towards you. "Are you kidding? Cleo, you've spent much more time with the Substriker than any of us. Hell, you were the one teaching us how to use them back at Pearl."

"But you'd all already used-"

"But nothing! Consider this: you used it for the longest mission in a Substriker ever, reaching depths I still can't believe and evading some serious shit. You've got the combat experience, you've got the technical experience. C'mon, Cleo. It's time to get out there, and stop hiding in here!"

You're not hiding, you want to tell her. But you don't. She's right. No matter how you feel, the fact of the matter is that you're the most qualified for this. "Thanks, Rae," you say. "I just..." you begin, but relent. "I'm glad you guys will be helping."

Rae smiles. "Yeah, don't sweat the small stuff. You keep your eye on the big picture, alright?"

"Right."

>>20883718


Rae leaves the office and you follow. The group of witches watches as you emerge, following you as you come 'round the side of the pool. You recognize Odessa Rothrock, doing her best to both avoid looking at you and not look like she's not paying attention. You also recognize Natsumi Ogawa, her eyes driving knives into your chest as you walk. The others fall somewhere in between. They're all wearing the skin-tight dry suits they'll need for today. You wish they looked more eager.

Giving them one last look over, you begin. "Welcome to Subwitching 101. I'm Chief Kuykendall and I'll be in charge of your training for the next two weeks."

They stay silent, waiting. How do you want to approach this?

[ ] Rough and tough
[ ] Professional
[ ] Kind and reassuring
[ ] Other

>>20883725

Professional. Leave the yelling and death threats and knife-hand bullshit for boots. these kids may be a buncha black sheep, but they're still active duty.

but they don't need any touchy-feely crap either. We go too soft and they're dead, sure as sure.

>>20883725
[x] Professional

>>20883725
Like a pro.

>>20883725

[x] Professional

We'll be kind and reassuring once they need it, and not one moment before.

>>20883725

[x] Professional

File: 1348709150547.jpg-(108 KB, 500x708, ed7b1af30507a9d28ef6ea07e(...).jpg)

You guys need better pictures

>>20883725
[ ] Professional

File: 1348709331262.jpg-(92 KB, 601x800, 1225939287213.jpg)

sub girls lol

>>20883790
But >>20883232 is clearly the best picture ever.

File: 1348709404484.jpg-(165 KB, 1200x994, 1213160173153.jpg)

>>20883790

You're not some instructor at boot camp, and you're not their mothers, either. You're here to be their instructor, and it's your job to make sure they learn what they need to learn.

"Many of you have not heard of the Substriker. It's understandable, but General MacArthur feels it will soon be a valuable weapon against the Martians." You gauge their reaction. Nothing serious. You keep going. "I will be overseeing the majority of your training, but the knitty gritty will be handled by my fellow Subwitches." You gesture to your fellows, who introduce themselves in turn.

"I am Lt. Caulders. I'll handle weapons prep and various maneuvers, in addition to odds and ends as Chief Kuykendall sees fit."

"I...I'm Sub-Lieutenant Falkowska. I'll be instructing you on... equipment handling, maintenance, and also odds and ends."

"I'm Lt. Kellos. I'll be teaching you how to properly communicate with both your mother submarine and fellow subwitches."

You nod, pleased, when one witch raises her hand. Do you take her question?

[ ] This isn't the time for questions.
[ ] Yes? State your name.

>>20883843

[x] Yes? State your name.

>>20883843
[x] Yes? State your name.

>>20883843
>[x] Yes? State your name.

>>20883843
"What's your name, witch?"

"Yes? State your name, please."

The witch puts her hand down. "Lt. Jg. Clare Harton, USN. I have a question about Sub-Lieutenant Falkowska's area of...responsibility?"

Lt. Jg. Clare Harton...Clare Harton...oh. Right. You can't remember much from her profile, other than her age. 14. Dear Christ, they're giving you children to train. You turn to Yetta. "Would you like to take this, Sub-Lieutenant Falkowska?"

Yetta gives a nervous nod.

"Sub-Lieutenant Falkowska," Harton begins, "you said we were going to be instructed on equipment handling and maintenance?"

Yetta nods.

"Don't we have crews and stuff for that?"

Yetta stumbles with her words. "U-um, you won't be fixing the engines or...or anything, if that's what you're asking."

"No, but still. Don't we have other people to take care of the equipment for us?"

"N-no. Your equipment is yours to use and care for..."

"But we usually have people to take care of our Strikers for us!"

"Um.."

[ ] Step in.
[ ] Yetta needs to stand on her own here.
[ ] Other.

>>20884015
Give Yetta a minute, step in if necessary.

File: 1348710353549.jpg-(29 KB, 220x170, subwitchesquestthegame.jpg)

>>20884015
>[x] Yetta needs to stand on her own here.
Don't undermine her authority.

>>20884015

Step in. Poor form to let an instructor flounder- instructors need to know Everything about their subject- or at least, act like they do.

>>20884015
[ ] Step in.
but after she is done

File: 1348710589633.jpg-(424 KB, 600x800, jet set shirley.jpg)

>>20884038
but tftd is a horrible mutation of an otherwise great game

>>20884098
Exactly.

>>20884015
[x] Other.
Give Yetta some sort of confidence-boosting gesture.

>>20884114
Like a kiss?

>>20884172
Not in front of the students.

Yetta collects her thoughts, taking a deep breath. She's about to begin speaking again when Harton asks her another question.

"Why don't we have support crews? Is this program really going to do anything?"

That's beyond her area and getting into dangerous territory. You step in.

"Lt. Jg. Clare Harton," you address, "if you have doubts about this program, you're free to leave and explain to your superiors why you're disobeying orders. If you're lucky, you'll be able to argue your case with General MacArthur himself."

Harton's eyes go wide. "I didn't mean-"

"Otherwise, please try to stay on topic and give your instructors a chance to answer you before moving on. Lt. Falkowska?" you ask, giving Yetta another chance on the floor.

"Yes. The reason why you will be learning about basic upkeep is in part due to the...lack of maintenance crews. There isn't an established support infrastructure for the Substriker yet. The other reason...is to teach you to respect your equipment and...its capabilities. If you treat it right, you will survive better," she manages.

"Thank you, Ma'am," Harton says, apparently satisfied. Yetta gives you a look and you give her a reassuring smile. She did rather well, once you got Harton to stop going on and on.

"Any other questions?" you ask. There are none. "Well then, let's get started. Lt. Falkowska, if you would?"

"Yes, thank you, Cl-Chief Kuykendall." Yetta steps forward to take charge of the group, beginning her instruction with the basic layout of the Substriker and how to wear the thing. The rest of you head off towards your office. You catch a glimpse of Alice entering the test pool room as you do.

[ ] Talk with Rae and Miranda
[ ] See what Alice is up to
[ ] Other

>>20884285
>[ ] See what Alice is up to
She always seems so lonely.

>>20884285
[x] Talk with Rae and Miranda
OH GOD HELP ME THE PAPERWORK IS ALIVE
And we already know what Alice is doing. She is doing science.

>>20884285
>[x] See what Alice is up to

"You guys going to be alright?" you ask Rae and Miranda.

"Yeah, no problem," Rae answers. Miranda nods in agreement.

"Alright. Be back in a bit," you say, and break off towards the entrance to the pool. Alice is wearing her typical scientist getup, hair tied back in a bun and glasses adorning her face. She's scribbling furiously on her clipboard, watching Yetta's and the group's actions intently. In fact, she doesn't seem to notice you as you approach.

You decide to sneak up behind her. You've never actually seen her clipboard, and if you can pick up some sort of organizational tips from her, you might be able to get that desk clear for once. Besides, you're dying to see what she's always scribbling. You get behind her and try to peek over her shoulder...

"O-oh, Cleona!" she says as you just barely alert her to your presence. "What are you doing?" Alice pulls her clipboard close to her chest too quickly for you to see anything.

"Oh, you know, just...the usual."

[ ] How about you, Alice?
[ ] Aren't you supposed to be working on those engines?
[ ] Other

>>20884285

[x] Talk with Rae and Miranda

Alternatively, find socks and do more lewd things to him.

>>20884428
"Oh, you know, just...the usual."
How unlike Alice.

>>20884428
>[ ] How about you, Alice?

>>20884428

[x] How about you, Alice?

>>20884428
[x] How about you, Alice?

"How about you, Alice? What are you up to today?"

Alice blinks. "Oh, just...checking up on how things are going."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah!"

You don't believe it for a second. "From afar."

"Yes."

"Where you can barely hear what's going on."

"Uh-huh."

"And not asking us how it's all going."

"Y...yes."

"Come on, Alice. What are you doing here? What are you scribbling on your clipboard?"

Alice looks like she wants to keep deflecting your questions, but then relents. "Look, I really am here to check up on things. I just...I don't want to interrupt. I'm taking some notes, seeing how my creation here is actually being treated by witches."

You nod. That sounds acceptable, but... "And?"

"W-what do you mean, and?"

"If that was all, wouldn't you get closer?"

"...I also wanted to watch them."

Oh yeah. Alice...can't use strikers. You look away. You know how much she'd love to give them a whirl, just once. Oh hell, what if she was doodling herself using a pair to zoom through the water? You decide to back off.

"Oh. Well, feel free. You were a major part of their creation. I'm fine with you watching the first real class of new Subwitches."

"Thanks, Cleona."

And then you hear a loud explosion coming from the pool.

[ ] Just ignore it, just ignore it...
[ ] What the hell was that?
[ ] Other

>>20884719
>[x] What the hell was that?
THAT BETTER BE A TRAINING DEPTH CHARGE NOTHING BETTER BE BROKEN THAT GEAR IS EXPENSIVE DAMMIT

>>20884719
[x] Other
Ask Alice about that stability of the new design. Is it resistant to spontaneous explosions?

>>20884719
>[ ] What the hell was that?
"WHO TOUCHED THE RED BUTTON THAT SAYS 'DON'T TOUCH'?"

It may be for the best that Alice is here.

>>20884719
[x]What the hell?

File: 1348714146404.jpg-(142 KB, 800x627, 1143996076091.jpg)

>>20884719

[x] Was that a depth charge?

"What the hell was that?" you both say in unison. Alice seems to be genuinely bewildered, but you have a sneaking suspicion that the cause was...

"S-Seaman Rothrock!" Yetta yells.

Oh boy.

You rush over, Alice close behind. A puff of smoke rises from the pool, but won't be for much longer; Odessa Rothrock, the first witch in the pool today, is starting to sink...and holy hell, she might not know how to swim.

"Help!" she cries, her voice muffled by the helmet. Well, at least she won't drown...unless that bang screwed up the oxygen tank.

"Yetta, help me!" you call, and she nods. Knocking off your shoes, you leap into the pool. It's pleasantly cool, but you have no time to savor the water. With several powerful strokes, you meet Yetta at Odessa's sinking form. With a nod, you both dive under the water, grabbing Odessa by her side.

She panics, twisting every which way. Yetta loses her grip as you try to bring Odessa back to the surface. You can hear Odessa yelling through her helmet, utterly terrified of the deep pool. You grit your teeth and secure your grip and begin kicking. Hard.

Yetta manages to rejoin you, and finally, panting, you manage to drag Odessa to the side of the pool. The scared girl has stopped thrashing, but now her body is completely limp. Through the helmet, you can see her eyes are shut tight.

[ ] Take her aside and talk
[ ] Let Yetta try to handle this
[ ] Other

>>20885006
"What the HELL just happened?"

>>20885006
>[x] Take her aside and talk
"You okay?"
"How many fingers?"
etc.
"What happened?"

>>20885006

[x] Take her aside and talk.

Yetta looks petrified. You'd better take care of this.

"It's alright, Yetta. I'll take care of her," you say. The look of relief on Yetta's face in incredible. Probably a wise decision.

You and Alice quickly extract her from the Substriker. She shivers from the ordeal, but otherwise makes no movements as you do. Alice takes the Substriker to the side, trying to examine it as you attempt to get Odessa on her feet.

"C'mon now, Rothrock, you're safe now. Get on up," you say softly, but she just doesn't even try to support her own weight. "Come on, Odessa. Here, it's alright," you say, and she finally begins to stand up. Carefully, you guide her to your office, where it's a bit warmer. Once inside, you grab a towel and toss it to her. Slowly, she dries off her hands, feet, suit, and face. You gesture towards one of your seats, and she sits down.

Time passes.

[ ] How are you feeling?
[ ] Equipment blow up on you often?
[ ] What did you do?
[ ] Other

>>20885350

>[x] Other

"Tell me what happened."

>[x] How are you feeling?
Then
>[x] Other

"Tell me what happened."

>>20885350 this >>20885370

>>20885393
Yes.

You wish you had a mug of coffee to sip, or something to offer Odessa. You don't have much more than some kind words.

"How are you feeling?" you ask, testing the waters.

"…"

"You alright now?"

"...No," she says quietly.

You give her a moment before proceeding. "What's wrong?"

Silence.

"Well, if you can't say...can you at least tell me what happened?"

"...What always happens."

"Always happens?" you ask. You know her record has several incidents, but always?

"Whatever I do. It just...it ends up like this," she mutters.

"What do you mean?"

"I...I put on the Substriker. I hop into the water. I turn the engine, and then...boom. Or I try to put out a fire, and I lose my grip and knock someone overboard."

"I see. But that's just two-"

"Or I try to bake a cake for my sister's birthday and start a fire. Or I try to fly a pair of Strikers and crash them into the runway. Or I try to catch...catch my cat out of a tree, and I knock it into the street, where..."

"Odessa."

"Or I-"

"ODESSA."

"W-what?"

[ ] Calm down.
[ ] Those aren't your fault.
[ ] Other.

>>20885840
>[ ] Calm down.
I want to say it's not her fault, but... I don't know.

>>20885840
[x] Calm down.
Being too eager to do something without thinking things through can lead to accidents.
Let's go over what exactly happened, step by step.

>>20885840
>[x] Calm down.
Looks like we've got some control issues. Personal training?

>>20885840

[x] Calm down.

I wonder if this is a legitimate magical effect that we can exploit somehow.

>>20885840
[x]Calm down

One step at a time.

>>20885863

>Let's go over what exactly happened, step by step.

yes, this.

"Just..just calm down. Don't...tear yourself apart, alright? Just breathe." As she does so, you try to process all this. Alright, so her...bad luck, if you can call it that, isn't limited to her service record or magical attempts. From the sounds of it, she's...damn, what do you even call this? Chronic Catastrophe Syndrome?

And you can't even be sure it's not her fault. She's the only consistent factor in everything she's listed so far.

"So...this has been going on for awhile, then? This whole..."

"Curse?" she offers surprisingly quickly.

"Well, if that's what you want to call it," you say as you shrug.

"...Yes. It...I think it runs in the family. My mom always had bad luck, and she said her mom did too...I think they also said our family was exiled here, too, when Australia was a penal colony."

This is unbelievable. Can a family really be so consistently a punching bag? Alice chooses this exact moment to barge in. She starts to say something, but notices the heavy atmosphere.

"Yes, Alice?" you ask.

"Well, I took a look at the Substriker."

"And?"

"Nothing serious, just a bizarre blowback in the engine. It's in perfect working order. She should be able to hop back in and get swimming at any time."

[ ] "See? You didn't ruin anything. There's no curse."
[ ] "Thank you, Alice." Begin to investigate this curse.
[ ] Other.

>>20885996
[X] "Thank you, Alice." Begin to investigate this curse.

First option seems like a bad idea.

>>20885996
>[x] "Thank you, Alice." Begin to investigate this curse.
This warrents further investigation. Let's go outside and play magic-catch with rocks.

>>20885996
[x] "Thank you, Alice." Begin to investigate this curse.
Calling it a curse might sound silly, but this IS magical pantsless girls we're talking about. It might be real.
Until we get it sorted she stays out of the strikers.

>>20885996
[x] "Thank you, Alice." Begin to investigate this curse.
There's fucking MAGIC in this world; we can't dismiss curses, unless Witch Academia says there's no such thing as curses.

>>20885996
>[ ] "Thank you, Alice." Begin to investigate this curse.

>>20886068
Cleona wouldn't know; she didn't properly attend academy

>>20886092
Do we know anyone who did, who we can ask?

>>20885996
>[ ] "Thank you, Alice." Begin to investigate this curse
One of the witches properly attended academy, didn't they?

You nod. "Thank you, Alice."

"Yeah, no problem. I'll just...leave them outside your door, alright?"

"Yeah, that's fine."

Alice exits. Through the window you can see Rae and Miranda talk to her worriedly before watching your office door. Looks like they're just as concerned about the accident as everyone else.

You turn your attention back to Odessa. "Do you mind if I try to...figure out what's going on?"

Odessa shakes her head.

"Alright. It runs in your family? Have they ever talked about a cause, an event?"

"No, they just, well. My mom always said not to expect anything, because life doesn't like the Rothrocks. Try our best, but expect the worst."

You scramble through your drawers, trying to find a damned mug for your coffee pot in the corner. Alice must have taken the one from earlier this morning, but there should be...Aha. A pair, shoved behind some notebooks. You bring them out. Odessa watches curiously as you go to fill them.

"So, Odessa. Think you can trust me?"

>>20886312


"Hmm?"

"Let's say I try to figure out what's going on, resolve your 'curse.'" You set aside the first mug, now full, and begin filling the second with lukewarm coffee. "Could you trust me to try? Could you trust me to help you?"

She stays silent as you finish filling up the second mug. You walk over and offer it to her.

"...Yes," she answers, and grasps the mug. She takes a long drink, then sets it aside. She's managed to down it in one go.

"Alright. I'll see what I can find. And hey, chin up. You just drank coffee and set aside a mug without spilling it everywhere or breaking the mug. See? You're not all misfortune." You take a sip of your own mug, tasting the coff-

"Oop!" you yelp in surprise. You just suddenly lost your grip, barely catching it in time, but some of the coffee spills onto your wet uniform. Oh well, it was already going to need some help anyway...

"Hahaha," Odessa laughs quietly.

"Well, you see? Sometimes things happen to everyone. Don't think about it too hard, alright?"

"Alright."

"Now get out there and try to think a little more positively. Doesn't do you any good to tear yourself up."

"Thank you, Cookie," she says softly.

"Cookie?"

"Oh, no, I mean, um, Chief Cook-er, um..."

You laugh. "Kuykendall."

"Thank you, Chief Kuykendall."

"You're welcome." Man, what a start to the next two weeks.

NEXT TIME ON SUBMERSIBLE WITCHES: MORE TRAINING, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WANT. OR MAGICAL INVESTIGATIONS.

Friday, 8 PM EST

File: 1348720973902.jpg-(23 KB, 400x266, guy in submarine pulling (...).jpg)

>>20886317

Thank you kotters.

>>20886335
>exactly_what_it_says_on_the_tin.png

You're welcome.

How the hell do you pronounce "Kuykendall" any way?

File: 1348721437292.png-(64 KB, 185x190, butt.png)

>>20886411
...

>>20886411
I've been thinking it like "Kooy-ken-dall"

Y'know, like it's spelled.

>>20886411
Cookie