In the back, Merlin's been playing with her new toys all flight. Her initial glee hasn't worn off completely, but your E-2C support is somewhat dampening her mood. “Nothing.” she says. “And sea eye's not seeing anything either, or we'd have heard about it.”

“Great.” you mutter.

You're up here alone, discounting your RIO, who's too immersed in her electronics to talk, and sea eye, who's keeping quiet and monitoring her own radar. You've been stargazing, and working to get used to your new bird as much as possible- they weren't kidding when they said there had been upgrades.

You flick your radio to outbound. “Siren, any word from our girl?” Even the controller in the CIC down on the carrier sounds bored. “Negative, spellcaster.” You toggle your mic back to your interplane circuit. “Damnit.”

“Relax, boss.” Merlin says. “Could be plenty of reasons why she's late.”

“Yeah.” You respond. “And most of them bad.”

“Spellcaster, Spellcaster. This is Poseidon. Ya still on, son?” Your wingman- well, former wingman, he'd developed engine trouble and been forced to land hours ago- calls from the carrier.

“Yessir. Not many other places to go” You respond.

“True enough son. Listen, we're going to send up the tanker, but you're going to have to land at Chitose. We've already cleared it with the IJAF, so they'll be expecting you.” He pauses, and you can almost hear the gears in his head turning. “Listen, son. Our guys on the ground there said she took off on time, so.. she should have already been on deck here. We've got no idea what's going on, but she's somewhere in the air. We're going to keep you up as long as we can, understood?”

“Yes sir” you say. “At least it's a decent night”

“Maybe for you. It's turning..” He's cut off. By another, excited voice.

“Spellcaster, Spellcaster. Sea eye. Got something. Single bogey, headed zero niner zero at angels eight, pushing eight hundred knots. Range is about two hundred miles.”

“That's our girl” You observe to yourself, turning to meet her head to head and nudging your own throttles forward. “Damn, she's hauling ass though. Got it.”

“Siren, we got her.” You hear Merlin relay. “She's headed zero niner zero, two hundred miles, airspeed eight hundred knots.”

“Spellcaster, siren has your bogey.” Well, that's a relief.

“Hey 'hound, we've got her on radar.” Merlin says. “Should be on your display now.”

You look down, and sure enough, there she is- a single radar contact, alphanumerics denoting her airspeed, altitude and heading.

“Spellcaster, additional bogies! Heavy group, hot! Four bogies in the group! Heading zero niner zero, airspeed eight hundred fifty knots and accelerating! Angels ten!”

“Spellcaster” You hear Nixon cut back in. “Don't let them splash that witch. We're getting the rest of your squadron in the air and we've gone to general quarters down here, but do not let them get her, is that clear?”

[] “Clear, sir. They ain't gonna touch her.”
[] “Sir, it's one on Four. Those odds are a little tight.”

[x] “Clear, sir. They ain't gonna touch her.”

It might be a bit much, but I have faith in the plane and Merlin's support, especially the latter

[x] “Clear, sir. They ain't gonna touch her.”

Is this even a choice?

File: 1349226612732.jpg-(124 KB, 800x533, HOOYAY!!.jpg)

[] “Clear, sir. They ain't gonna touch her.”
Time to go save the day! (And the gloriously non-red sanyaspawn!)
ALSO
One on four? HA! We have 4 AMRAAMs and the most awesomest weapons officer to put them on target! They won't know what hit em!

File: 1349226709299.jpg-(62 KB, 1000x750, StealthTomcat.jpg)

>>20966070

[X] “Clear, sir. They ain't gonna touch her.”

Let's do this, guys: http://endlessvideo.com/watch?v=NMA6WL6VLY4

>>20966070
[X] “Clear, sir. They ain't gonna touch her.”

"Merlin, we've got a job to do and a witch to keep safe from four bogeys.

But the difference between us and them is that I've got you, and you've got me, with both of us in the same bird nothing can stop us."

>>20966181
Also, I forgot to add:
Ghost, sorry to hear about the death and thank you much for still deciding to run Strikers89 tonight!

>>20966181

And don't forget we also have 4 Sidewinders for close encounters.

>>20966070
>[] “Clear, sir. They ain't gonna touch her.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X4ID6Yn4Sw

>>20966070
[X] “Clear, sir. They ain't gonna touch her.”

And then shit starts exploding.

>>20966070
[] “Clear, sir. They ain't gonna touch her.”

>>20966249
And guns for closer encounters.

>[x] “Clear, sir. They ain't gonna touch her.”
Lets splash the sob's.

>>20966070
>[] “Clear, sir. They ain't gonna touch her.”

we topgun. we munch ruskies for breakfast

>>20966070
[x] “Clear, sir. They ain't gonna touch her.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXQ_8e63wmE

It's time.

>>20966070
[x] “Clear, sir. They ain't gonna touch her.”
We don't necessarily have to shoot them, just be annoying.
Besides, we're piloting an experimental prototype, there's no way we can lose to a bunch of grunt units!

>>20966070

200 miles out, huh? And our defector's pursuit is right on her ass. What's our present speed? We may need to go supersonic to get there in time, guys.

File: 1349228591988.png-(486 KB, 800x600, bandits!.png)

Personally, for music, i suggest http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=9xr7V0B53ZM&NR=1
but that's just what I'm listening to.

==

[x] “Clear, sir. They ain't gonna touch her.”

“Crystal, sir. They ain't laying a finger on her.” You respond.

“I'm trying to get a replacement bird, son. If I can get in the air, believe me, I will.” You hear him say. “Good hunting.”

“Warh... Frank we've got a problem. Sea eye might not see it, but there's not four bogies out there. There's four pairs. Eight bogies.” Merlin says, her voice shaking. “I..”

She's cut off by your radar warning receiver screaming it's tone into your headphones. You react instantly, slamming your throttles forward to their stops and sending your bird screaming for the deck.

Normally, in your birds, you get an afterburner pressure that slowly builds. In THIS bird, it's a brutal kick that slams you back into your ejection seat and keeps you there as both of the brand new engines are unleashed.

“Missiles! Two of them launched on us!” Merlin cries. “Jamming's up, dropping countermeasures!”

“Merlin, lock those fuckers up.” You growl. “No one shoots that commie shit at us and gets to live.”

You twist the cat into a vicious snap turn as Merlin dumps chaff and flares into the sky. “Siren, we've got eight, repeat eight bandits up here! Sure would be good to see a friendly face or two!” you call, one eye glued to the MFDs in front of you. At this range, it's hard to tell, but it looks like those long range shots are going for your chaff cloud a few miles back and a few thousand feet above you, now. At least your radar warning receiver has shut up.

(1/2)

“Spellcaster, this is Mafia” a new voice announces. “We've got additional radar contacts going feet wet from Siberia. Relaying”

“Jesus, it's getting crowded up here.” you mutter. One of your MFDs flicks over to the radar picture being generated by mafia- the USS Chicago, and you see, they weren't kidding. An additional four contacts are leaving the soviet coast, making tracks for your airspace.

“They're in range for a missile shot!” Merlin yells, excitement in her voice. “AMRAAMS on your trigger!”

“Missiles! Evade!” She cries a split second later

“Damnit!” You roar. “Siren We're totally defensive up here! Where's our support goddamnit?”

“Ice is supersonic, be there in 30 seconds” Ice's voice, still calm cuts across your radio.

“Move yo ass!” you yell, making visual contact on the bandits. “Tally ho! Eight, repeat eight flankers tailing one witch! I'm taking 'em down my left side!”

Their formation scatters, some breaking away from the pack, some staying tied onto the witch.

[] Get the ones on the witch! She's the mission!
[] Get the ones that broke off! They're the bigger threat to us!

>>20966070

[x] "Clear, sir. They ain't gonna touch her."

Dos Gringos has a song for this occasion:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGKJAKx979I

>>20966761
>[] Get the ones on the witch! She's the mission!
[] Get the ones on the witch! She's the mission!

[x] Get the ones on the witch! She's the mission!

We're only secondary to that objective and harder targets compared to her.

>>20966761
[x] Get the ones on the witch! She's the mission!
They shot first, huh?

File: 1349228781800.jpg-(151 KB, 1200x750, earasensha_035.jpg)

>>20966761

[x] Get the ones on the witch! She's the mission!

>>20966761

[X] Get the ones on the witch! She's the mission!

If we clear her six, then she can help us until the cavalry arrives.

>>20966761
[X] Get the ones on the witch! She's the mission!

They're more predictable, and our goal is to keep the witch up. Everything else is secondary. Get missiles in the air with Merlin guiding them.

>>20966761
>[] Get the ones on the witch! She's the mission!

>>20966761
>USS Chicago
my pacfleeet bros

Also, Flankers, why don't we shoot down multiple targets, the F-14EX combined with our RIO should be able to take down 3 at once, before they can get a steady lock on us.

>>20966761
>[] Get the ones on the witch! She's the mission!
>[] Get the ones that broke off! They're the bigger threat to us!
Can we multy lock?

File: 1349229066575.jpg-(34 KB, 800x600, 800px-Slovak_Air_Force_Mi(...).jpg)

also what are we up to. Fulcrums?

>>20966878

We only have 4 AMRAAMs.

>>20966892

And 4 Sidewinders...plus a full load of bullets for our gun.

File: 1349229211920.jpg-(789 KB, 2710x1800, Su-27_05.jpg)

>>20966885
or Flankers

>>20966885

We're fighting EIGHT Flanker-C's.

>>20966905

Sure, but the AMRAAMs are the only ones that we can use at BVR.

>>20966934

Right. We can burn down 4 Flankers with AMRAAMS and use the Sidewinders when we close.

>>20966916
the flanker-c flew before 31 december '89?

we still fucked though

>>20966985

As far as I know. Ghost said Su-30 in the IRC.

>>20966985
Not really, we can handle it long enough to get support (where the fuck are the F-15s from Alaska anyway, or Japan's F-15s, or their F-X (this contunity is odd since japan still has a military, and should be producing its own fightercraft)

[x] Get the ones on the witch! She's the mission!

Hope you've got a lot of juice back there, Merlin.

>>20966985

We can handle this in our stealth-coated custom 'Cat until Ice and the others arrive. Just fire up those AMRAAMs, have Merlin do her sparkly shit, and Fox Three!

File: 1349230145541.jpg-(59 KB, 400x313, Sparrow, not an AMRAAM, b(...).jpg)

[x] Get the ones on the witch! She's the mission!

“Comin around! Merlin, get ready.” You yell, standing your bird on it's wing and yanking back on your stick. The new cat responds superbly, bringing her nose around in a tight circle and swinging the ass wide- a bit like drifting a car, you think

The speed of the chase has led them outside range for a tail-aspect sidewinder shot... but you've got a hard radar lock, and enough AMRAAMS to get the job done.

“Fox three, fox three!” You crow, dropping a pair of AMRAAMS into the air. They take off, their rocket motors flaring a bright blue flame as they scorch a brilliant afterimage across the sky.

“Guiding” Merlin whispers from the back

You're rewarded seconds later with a pair of intense flashes on the tiny aircraft ahead of you, and two of the flankers tumble from the sky, one missing most of it's right wing, the other looking like a huge animal chewed on it's aft quarter for a while. One pilot ejects from the bird without a wing- the other splashes into the sea.

“Splash two bandits!” You call. “They never even saw it coming”

(1/2)

“Warhound move! You've got bandits coming around!” Ice cries. “Get outta there!”

“Mafia has your bandits.” You hear the damnably calm voice from the Chicago say. “Give me one long DF hold.”

You comply without thought, holding open your outbound mic.

“Mafia's launching” He says, then, a half second later “Birds away”

One of the flankers coming around on your six disappears, swatted from the sky by the RIM-66 shot by the Chicago. The other executes a brutal snap-turn, rolling away from the missile tearing across the sky at it and defeating the shot. However, it also throws him well away from your six, leaving you free to engage the last two flankers on the witch.

[] Close in, hit 'em with a heater shot! You'll have range for a sidewinder in a few seconds
[] No time to waste, gotta clear her tail. Shoot the last pair of AMRAAMs

>>20967137
[X] Close in, hit 'em with a heater shot! You'll have range for a sidewinder in a few seconds

I'd rather not be out of AMRAAMs if at all possible. We've got Merlin so the range on the sidewinders is longer than the bogeys will expect.

>>20967137
[x] No time to waste, gotta clear her tail. Shoot the last pair of AMRAAMs

Fox Three!

>>20967137
Give 'em the last AMRAAMs. We are knife fighting now anyways.

>>20967137

[X] No time to waste, gotta clear her tail. Shoot the last pair of AMRAAMs.

FOX THREE, FOX THREE! Then switch to Sidewinders and get ready for more. Have Merlin keep an eye on our six; we don't want the other 4 Flankers sneaking up on us while we're busy clearing the defector's tail.

[X] Close in, hit 'em with a heater shot! You'll have range for a sidewinder in a few seconds

>>20967137
>[] No time to waste, gotta clear her tail. Shoot the last pair of AMRAAMs

itt we are going 'medieval' again after this

[] No time to waste, gotta clear her tail. Shoot the last pair of AMRAAMs

A few seconds is a loooooong time in the air. Wipe the smug smirks off their faces, then get ready to go full medieval on anyone else!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4C5EsK1cpiw

>hoplrea Please
Yup, hop to it, please!

>>20967137
>RIM-66
wait a second, if this is the cruiser, it doesn't exist, right now the Chicago name is a Los Angles fast attack!

>>20967155

You might have a point. Merlin doubled the range of a Phoenix we fired once before. IF she can do the same thing with Sidewinders (normal range about 20 mi), we can nail her pursuit with that and save our last two AMRAAMs (normal range 30-40 knots) just in case the Russkies launch reinforcements before our help arrives.

>>20967137
[x] No time to waste, gotta clear her tail. Shoot the last pair of AMRAAMs

>>20967277
Chicago was a heavy cruiser. She was broken up in 89 I think.

>>20967285
Too bad most of the people voting aren't thinking of such things and I wouldn't be surprised if something came up requiring those missiles right afterwards.

>>20967289
Chicago was decomed in 80, which means name wise it was sent to the fast boat in 84 when IT was commissioned in 86!

>>20967285

That's the bleeding edge of their range; also, you probably need to be closer to get an actual lock (especially in this weather) since they're IR-guided.

>>20967333
This is assuming something didn't change.

>>20967334

You have a very good point there, so my previous vote for AMRAAMs stands.

from >>20967187

File: 1349231195852.jpg-(348 KB, 1425x1131, USS Chicago 04011117.jpg)

>>20967333
>>20967277
CG-11 was reactivated as an AEGIS testbed in the place of the Norton Sound, and was modernized extensively in 1979-1981.

Also, SWQU.

>>20967333

It's safe to assume that history has been slightly adjusted.

It's more than likely that Chicago was refitted again rather than being shuffled out, as evidenced by the rim-66s instead of the 24s.

>>20967361
but the boat would be obsolete as fuck, Ticonderoga and Burkes would be planned to replace as many of the old Baltimore and Albany classes as possible.

>>20967289
Decomissioned 1980. Held in reserve until 89, sold for scrap in 91.

>>20967387
So?
I can say the same thing about the battleships, but when we ran low on cruisers, we pulled them out.

If it can lob missiles and float, we'll use it. This is cold war after all.

File: 1349231361471.png-(123 KB, 1000x700, Full of surprises, this o(...).png)

[x] No time to waste, gotta clear her tail. Shoot the last pair of AMRAAMs

These soviets seem oddly obsessed, you think. Their RWRs have to be practically deafening them, and they're still dead-set on killing this witch. Or something- you're really not sure why they haven't shot yet.

But you don't intend to give them a chance to.

“Fox three! Fox three!” You spit your last two AMRAAMS, each guided by your bird's powerful radar set.

And your RIO.

One AMRAAM strikes a half second before the other- the first physically striking the target before exploding, tearing away the right rear quarter of the aircraft and sending it tumbling out of control. The second shot detonates below the target, causing it to lurch in the air, thick black smoke pouring from it's critically damaged engines. It dives away, apparently still in controlled flight, but, as you watch, it never recovers from it's dive, slamming into the sea at mach 2+.

“Splash three and four!” You cackle over the radio.

“Warhound, there's a flanker to your 3! he's firing!” Ice yells.

You've got time to snap your head to the right and see the twinkling light from the front of the hostile bird.

No time to react- all you can do is squeeze your eyes shut as if, somehow, that will prevent the shells from hitting you.

You don't feel them impact- somehow, you know that's bad. Opening one eye cautiously, you're shocked to see a brilliant, multi-hued shield off your right wing- one far, far larger than you've ever seen before.
“Huh.” you hear Merlin say. “That's new”

[] That fucker shot at me! Get im!
[] Merlin... wait, that was you?

>>20967409
[X] That fucker shot at me! Get im!

Except without the harsh language, we're supposed to be a good role model for Merlin.
"Merlin, I owe you another slice of cake."

>>20967409
[x] That fucker shot at me! Get im!
Also, Merlin, once again you are the best RIO ever.
I mean god damn.

>>20967405
but they are screaming metal deathraps that were decommed and replaced by burkes (and later on functionally by GNs)

>>20967409

[X] That fucker shot at me! Get 'im!

After we're clear, follow up with:

[X] Merlin... wait, that was you?

File: 1349231638031.jpg-(100 KB, 1024x768, 1208307389178.jpg)

>>20967409

Holy shit, we've got witch shields; we're unstoppable.

ahahaha, let's wreck that Russian's whole fucking universe.

[] That fucker shot at me! Get im!
Questions come after we kill the commie bastards!
(We're gonna have to dig deep for Merlin once this is over... Just getting her more of Santa's cake won't cut it anymore!)

>>20967409
We can absolutely under no circumstances allow Merlin to be reassigned or otherwise taken away from us.

[X] That fucker shot at me! Get 'im!
After we're clear, follow up with:
[X] Merlin... wait, that was you

This might lead into more questions though.

>[x] That fucker shot at me! Get im!

Priorities. We are under fire now, we can ask questions later.

>>20967471

Seconded. Frank owes this socially-awkward little wondergirl his life.

File: 1349231832760.jpg-(37 KB, 550x377, naval_f22.jpg)

Also, would this be an accurate depiction of our current bird?

>>20967409
joke theory, we have the new Boeing Magical Drive System MDS-11 installed, which enables fighters to act as a giant manual striker system. we magic now.

>>20967409
>[] Merlin... wait, that was you?
NO ONE MUST KNOW OR WE LOSE ADORABLE RIO

>>20967519

Gonna be hard to keep a lid on this. I think Ice saw it.

>>20967528
Bribe ice with santa's cake?

>>20967446

yeah this

>>20967528
We will talk to Ice about it in a manner that is remarkably calm and professional for us because this is some serious shit.

>>20967435
>screaming metal deathtraps

Please. The were decommed IRL because they were old, and the Ticos were cheaper to operate and more effective with the AEGIS system.

This Chicago has apparently had an AEGIS system added to it, greatly improving its combat effectiveness.

File: 1349232167966.jpg-(Spoiler Image, 39 KB, 328x512)

>>20967540

>Fronk and Merlin's faces when

>>20967562
This makes me wonder what would happen if one of the Iowas was refitted with AEGIS, and maybe a shitload of VLS tubes instead of the rear turret.

Also, guys, I think we only need one more kill for Ace in a Day status.

Guys, it might not just be Merlin. War hound is probably a Gnome right? Merlin is Witch that working though a machine being wielded by Gnome. They might be amplifying each other.

File: 1349232785293.jpg-(85 KB, 800x600, Black and red seems to fit.jpg)

[x] That fucker shot at me! Get im!

You've got plenty of questions. Questions which need to find answers, and soon.

But right now, the inquisitive part of your brain is set fully to the 'off' position. Not standby, but totally off. The parts of your brain that all your fury and aggression stem from are cranking overtime, though.

That ratfucking bastard shot at you. Not at your aircraft, which you can see and is totally legitimate, but at you. He was trying to kill you, not just remove you from the fight.

You tend to take that kind of thing personally.

You've already set your selector switch over to 'guns' and turned as tight as possible to gain the fucker's tail. You's climbing and in burners, the long plumes of fire an inviting IR target, but that's too easy.

And not nearly the kind of payback you intend to dish out.

You're on him in less than a second- your new engines roaring like dying suns, sucking fuel at an incredible rate, and eating up thousands of cubic of air a second. And you know, deep down, they're not even pushing their stride- your avionics suite limiting their power because your airframe would tear itself apart if those engines were allowed to be fully unleashed.

He's good, no doubt, almost to par and beyond of the instructors you were so recently facing. But he's not quite as good as they are, and now you've got the better ship, no questions about it.

You drag your gunsight pipper across his aircraft, stern to nose, finger on the trigger hard enough your knuckles are turning white.

20mm PGU-28B rounds, traveling at nearly a kilometer a second smash into the bandit, walking from between the twin tails, across the broad back of the aircraft, through the cockpit, and across the nose, leaving a line of destruction in their wake.

The red stain on the inside of the canopy glass leaves no doubt as to the fate of the pilot.

“Splash fucking Five” You snarl, leveling out and looking around. “Merlin, you see anything?”

“Negative. Scope's clear boss.” She says. “Hey warhound”

“Yeah?”

“We're aces, now”

[] That we are, Merlin. Celebrate!
[] We'll rub it in on deck, Merlin. Let's see if we can talk to our defector.

>>20967720
>[] That we are, Merlin. Celebrate!
Can modern planes do snap rolls?

[x] That fucker shot at me! Get im!

>>20967720
[x] We'll rub it in on deck, Merlin. Let's see if we can talk to our defector.

but nicer and with more HELL YEAH MERLIN

>>20967713
BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRT!!!

>>20967710

You're correct, my friend. 5 kills = Ace in a Day. Ice is gonna be pissed...

>>20967711
it was heavily hinted early on when Merlin talked about Frank getting a plane to do some rather impossible things (and hearing about it from the plane itself)

[x] That we are, Merlin. Celebrate!

Let's have this moment.

>>20967699
Not worth it. The trade-off for the 16 inch turret is too much. Either go all the way, or not. The Galvestons were extremely overloaded and crowded for what they were, and the Bostons were more effective as a gun platform than they ever were as a missile cruiser.

>>20967720

[x] That we are, Merlin. You are the best RIO ever, by the way. Was that you with the shields?

>>20967720
[X] We'll rub it in on deck, Merlin. Let's see if we can talk to our defector.

"Yes we are Merlin, we'll have a chance to celebrate once we've landed. For now let's talk to the girl who made this all possible."

>>20967720
>[] We'll rub it in on deck, Merlin. Let's see if we can talk to our defector.
It'll wait.

[x] That we are, Merlin. You are the best RIO ever, by the way. Was that you with the shields?

>>20967720
>Fronk intentionally going for guns to put rounds into the cockpit

...uh, guys? I think there's still a residue from last-night's thread. I mean, it's not as bad as popping his chute, but DAMN.

>>20967732
I'll second this. We need to do both, but while staying on task. Our goal is to get that witch safely to GLORIOUS FREEDOM.

>>20967781
He tried to do it to us first.

>>20967781
>>Fronk intentionally going for guns to put rounds into the cockpit
>...uh, guys? I think there's still a residue from last-night's thread

Hey, that fucker tried to do it to us and our adorable RIO first, he absolutely deserved what he got.

>>20967720

[X] We'll rub it in on deck, Merlin. Let's see if we can talk to our defector.

"And Sam: you are the best RIO in the Navy. You are awesome, girl!"

>>20967730

You mean an aileron roll (aka victory roll)? I don't know; I guess it could, but let's not for right now. We want to look good in Dick Nixon's eyes.

[x] That we are, Merlin. You are the best RIO ever, by the way. Was that you with the shields?

>>20967781
This wasn't a prank, it was an attempt to kill Frank and Merlin. BIG DIFFERENCE.

>>20967409

>[X] That we are, Merlin. Celebrate!

And then we contact our defector.

>>20967835
Yes, because we're dogfighting. He had a side-profile on us; not good enough for IR, and Merlin's jamming preventing AAR.

And really, if we're going to take every single enemy aircraft trying to kill us personally, we're gonna have a looooong career.

>>20967860
Better than a short one, eh?

>>20967866
Meant it in the sense that it's going to drag on and on, not necessarily that we're gonna go for 20.

File: 1349234744923.jpg-(195 KB, 342x800, Consequences, never the s(...).jpg)

[x] We'll rub it in on deck, Merlin. Let's see if we can talk to our defector.

“Indeed we are” you say, letting the tension flow out of you. Shit, that felt like hours. A fast glance at your watch says, no, it was a couple minutes. Four, at most. The sun isn't even up.

Jesus.

“Sssssooooooo, Merlin” You say. Cutting back your throttle and scanning for the defector. She's a few miles out, and it looks like Ice is forming up with her. You make a gentle turn, moving to join on them.

“Y...yeah?”

“What was with that shield?”

“oh.. I... I... I don't know. I s-s-saw him shooting, and I th...thought we were dead and I just... just reacted”

“Without a focus or any of that weird crap they stick in strikers?”

“I don't know!” she wails. “I.. .I don't know how I did it!”

“It's fine, it's fine.” You say soothingly. “You saved our asses.”

“I... I guess” she says, quietly.

(1/2)

“And I'm telling Santa about it. He's going to give you, like, all the cake. Forever”

“No he won't! Really?” That cake, man. She just flipped from scared of what she did to happy about cake in a nth of a second. “You think?”

You have to laugh. “Of course.”

“I can't eat all that cake! Can you imagine how fat I'd get?” She says, and you have to laugh at the mental image.

“We'll see when we get stateside. Let's see if we can talk to our defector”

“Mmmk. We're pretty low on gas, and all that afterburner didn't help. They haven't said flight ops are closed yet, but... “ Merlin trails off. The weather down there is fairly shitty.

“Hey Ice” you call, forming up slightly above and behind your defector. “She say anything?”

“Wanted to talk to you” Ice says. “I'm getting her on our freq now. Wait one.”

A brief burst of static over your radio is followed by a hesitant, tired voice. “Is... is this American pilot of black aircraft?”

“Warhound, at your service” You say, trying to sound dashing.

“I... did not think anyone was coming. I... thank you”

[] Just following orders.
[] No problem.

No problemo

>>20968064
[x] Just following orders.

Nixon might be listening, be professional.

[x] No problem.

While it's true we were following orders, but I'd imagine there's real concern too.

who knows if this will lead into super waifu wars

>>20968064
[x] No problem.
Were these guys supposed to be any good? Cos there was like, a million of them, and they lost. Kinda sad, actually.

[x] No problem.

>>20968064

[x] No problem.

>>20968064
[X] No problem.

"Professional knight in shining armor at your service. Ma'am, it was my pleasure to help."

>>20968098
>1989
>Good Soviet anything

Uhh yea no.

>>20968064
>No Problemo

It's what we do, ma'am.

[] No problem.
This, it was no trouble at all!

>>20968064

[x] Anytime, my Russian friend.

>>20968064
Nae problemo

File: 1349236252303.jpg-(46 KB, 606x480, you could go with this......jpg)

[x] No problem.

“Of course” You say laughing lightly. “We weren't going to tell you we'd be here then leave you hanging”

“Mother always said that Americans were like that. They would not leave you behind” She says. “I...I have been flying for hours. I was trying to lose them over land, but they found me again. I.. I thought I was dead.”

“It wouldn't have been a proper dramatic rescue without a damsel in distress.” you quip.

“I... still, thank you” She says. “Where are we to land? I am very tired, I do not know how much farther I can fly”

“Son” Nixon cuts back in on a different channel. “If you can get her to land here, that would be best. The Japanese would like a chance to talk to her if you land at one of their bases.”

You've heard stories they can be pretty brutal, but you're sure Nixon wouldn't allow that... would he?

“You can still land here, but it'll be pretty hairy, it's kind of rough. The witches should have no trouble, but you might.” He pauses. “But at least there'd be no Japanese intel guys waiting to take our defector into 'protective custody' or whatever they'd call it.”

“We need to make the call soon, Frank” Merlin says. You hear her tapping the fuel readouts. “We're pretty much on vapor anyway”

“if it's not one thing, it's another” you sigh. “Ice, you got any ideas?”

“She and I can land on the sara, and you can make for a Japanese airbase.” She says. “I don't know if you'd be able to make it though”

“I... I wish to stay with pilot” The Russian says.

“Well, there it is, then” Ice says. “make the call, warhound”

[] Carrier. You can pull this shit off.
[] Japanese base. It's farther, but the landing is far easier.
[] Have them land on the sara, you'll make for a land base. The Russian will have to deal with it.

>>20968358
>[] Carrier. You can pull this shit off.
Pilot

>>20968358
>[] Carrier. You can pull this shit off.
Seriously we just ace'd in a day we got this shit.

>>20968358
[X] Carrier. You can pull this shit off.

We got this. This thing is beyond top of the line, bleeding edge hardware, we could land it on a tugboat.

>>20968358
Carrier.

We are a goddamn naval aviator we can land on a goddamn carrier.

>>20968358
>>[] Have them land on the sara, you'll make for a land base. The Russian will have to deal with it.

Land in Jap-land. I say no to carrier landings in high seas.

>>20968358
[x] Carrier. You can pull this shit off.
>Navy pilot
>choosing base over carrier
>ever
LaughingSeahawks,jpg

>>20968358
[X] Carrier. You can pull this shit off.

Good lord, we can do this in our SLEEP! We gotta one-up the Nips, and our bird isn't even hurt at all, thanks to the AMAZING MERLIN!!

>>20968358
>[] Carrier. You can pull this shit off.
We did it on fire, missing most of our wing. This ain't shit.

>>20968358
>[] Carrier. You can pull this shit off.

if needed we'll GNOME us to it

>>20968358

>[x] Carrier. You can pull this shit off.

This is naval aviation 101

>[x] Carrier. You can pull this shit off.

Lets do this. It's gonna be tough, but we're skilled enough to at least give it a try. And we'll be damned before we let the Japanese get their "greeters" to the witch we just rescued.

File: 1349238219315.jpg-(222 KB, 760x500, You wish it was that easy(...).jpg)

[x] Carrier. You can pull this shit off.

You consider, briefly, going for the nice, long, stable runway at a land base. You could make it, you know, flying at altitude for maximum endurance.

But fuck that. You're a naval goddamn aviator, you land on fucking carriers.

“We’re headed for the sara” you say. “if it looks too hairy, I'll recover at a base.”

“Warhound, if it's too hairy for you to land, you'll have to ditch. There's no way you could make it to a base.” Ice says.

“Oh ye of little faith” you respond, turning gently and lining up with the battlegroup.

“Poseidon, this is Spellcaster flight. We're coming in on the Sara, sir”

“Allright son, if you're sure.” Nixon says. “I'll have 'em clear the deck and get the crash crews ready.”

“I get no respect” you say, sighing.

“You'll see what I mean when you get below the cloud deck, son” Nixon says, a slight chuckle in his voice.

He isn't kidding. The sea of Japan is being whipped into a frenzy by the remnants of that typhoon that hit a day or two back- They're rolling around pretty badly, but it's still manageable. Still, your bird shudders and bounces in the turbulent air. This is rapidly becoming the most daunting landing you've ever rolled in on.

1/3

“Ok, Ice, you and... say, what is your name anyway, ma'am?” you say.

“Katya.” she says.

“Ok, Katya. You and Ice go in first, then... “

“No. We will stay airborne and provide cover for you.”

You have to laugh. “You've been airborne well past your limits. I've got a while left in me. Go ahead and set down, ok?”

“Nyet. I will provide cover and wait.”

You sigh. “Frank, we've gotta land this thing. We are way low on gas” Merlin says.

“Fine Katya. We'll do this your way. Ice, you mind staying up with her?” You ask.

“No Problem. Just don't crash” She says.

“What is it with everybody thinking I'm going to crash?” You mutter.

To be fair, the landing is easily your worst- fourth wire, and there's one heart-stopping moment when you can feel your bird skidding along the rain-soaked flight deck. When you've come to a stop, you're directed to shutdown and deplane almost immediately- instead of parking your bird on the deck, they're going to run it down to the hangar right away.

2/3

In between popping your canopy seals and exiting your aircraft, your legs give out- a combination of sitting too long and the adrenaline finally clearing your system. Your crew chief, Fred, catches you, propping you up. The grin beneath his mustache isn't mischievous, as usual, just happy. “Glad to have you back, sir” he has to yell to be heard above the storm and the scream of the girls strikers as they land.“I guess I get to paint kill marks on your bird, huh?”

“I guess you do, Fred. I guess you do” You yell back, tiredly.

Fred motions over to two of your ground crew, who help you and Merlin to the squadron ready room. Slider's in there, sipping a cup of coffee, and she shoots you a look of undisguised envy when you enter.

The best you can do is return a tired grin. Ice and Katya next- Ice accepting a cup of coffee from Slider, whom she glares at briefly, before sitting in her chair. Katya sits on the other side of you from Merlin.

Nixon enters, along with Captain Blackwell, the chip's commander and about a squad of marines.

“Well, son” Nixon says, motioning for one of the marines to close the door. “that was some damn fine work.”

[] Thank you, sir.
[] would have been easier if your bird hadn't shat out on you, sir

>>20968782
>[] Thank you, sir.

>>20968782

[x] Thank you, sir.

>>20968782
[x] Thank you, sir.

>>20968782
[X] would have been easier if your bird hadn't shat out on you, sir

Man, we could have been flying wingman to Richard Nixon...

>>20968782
>>[] would have been easier if your bird hadn't shat out on you, sir
Was pretty sketchy there for a minute. Getting our bros some kills might keep the gnome sniffers off of us.

[x] Thank you, sir.

>>20968782
[x] would have been easier if your bird hadn't shat out on you, sir

>>20968782
>[] Thank you, sir.
Much as I might want to vote for the other

>>20968782
[x] Thank you, sir.
Credit also goes to da Merlin, who makes all our missile hit!

[x] Thank you, sir.

>>20969033

Yeah, this.

"I couldn't have done it without my RIO, she saved both of our asses up there with that shield trick."

>>20969130
DO NOT MENTION THAT SHIT IN FRONT OF NIXON

>>20968782
>Ice accepting a cup of coffee from Slider, whom she glares at briefly

SOMEONE got caught trying to haul some witches up a flag pole.

File: 1349240408967.jpg-(329 KB, 800x571, This one's on the midway,(...).jpg)

[x] Thank you, sir.

“Thank you sir” you say, suppressing a yawn. “To be fair, though, I had help”

Nixon grins. “Well, going over the radar tracks, we've confirmed that you got five. The Chicago got two, and your squadron leader got the other five.”

You look at Ice, who shrugs.

“Yes, sir” You say. “But I meant my RIO sir. She deserves credit for four of those kills, she set it up, I just pulled the trigger.”

Nixon frowns a bit. “If you say so, son. The captain wanted to speak with her later, by the way. See to it that it happens.”

The slight frown fades, and he goes on “This hasn't blown up yet, but the Battlegroup is going to make best speed for Pearl. In the mean time, The captain and I both feel that the Russian...”

“Katya, sir” you say, cringing when you interrupt the man by reflex.

He smiles. “Katya, is it? Lovely name. Anyway, we feel it'd be best if you stuck with her.”

The captain smirks. “You need to get her squared away and down to see the intel boys as soon as possible. Grab chow after that.” Nixon continues. “Make sure she doesn’t go anywhere without you or your CO, understood son?”

[] Got it, sir.
[] Can we grab some chow and rack time first, sir? We're all pretty beat.

>>20969155

Why not? For all we know, he was expecting this to happen. Besides that, I can't see any reason why he'd object.

>>20969215
[X] Got it, sir.

We obey orders, even if they mean we don't get our afternoon nap.

>>20969215
>[] Got it, sir.
We can last a little longer.

>>20969215
[x] Got it, sir.

One does not push his luck when dealing with CINCPAC.

>>20969215

[x] Got it, sir.

[X] Can we grab some chow and rack time first, sir? We're all pretty beat.

Katya can't exactly answer questions for the spooks if she passes out from lack of energy/ general exhaustion. Woman has clearly over extended herself getting here. I think Nixon will understand.

>>20969215
[x] Got it, sir.
Did we get a coffee? We need a coffee. Slider, coffee please.
Also how did thing with the flags go?

>>20969215
>[] Can we grab some chow and rack time first, sir? We're all pretty beat.

[X] Can we grab some chow and rack time first, sir? We're all pretty beat.

Some time to gather up our thoughts would be good.

File: 1349241341079.jpg-(59 KB, 300x300, P4708_lg.jpg)

>>20969215
>2 kills

Awwww yeaaah.

File: 1349242126585.jpg-(115 KB, 600x1000, Hope she's not in trouble.jpg)

[x] Got it, sir.

“Aye, sir” You say. “I could use some coffee though.”

Nixon laughs. “I'm actually surprised you didn't drain the pot when you came in the room, son.”

Slider hands you a cup of coffee, handing another to Merlin who accepts it gratefully.

“That's it, son. If you have any problems, you know where to find me, but I expect you to be able to handle this yourself.” Nixon says, making for the hatch.

“Yes, sir” you say.

“Lieutenant Wells, I need to talk to you” Captain Blackwell calls. Merlin looks at you. “You'd better get those things the admiral wanted you to do done” she says. “I'll see you in a bit.”

“Yeah...” you say, not really sure if you're comfortable leaving your RIO alone. “Hey, one second.”

“Hey Slider. Can ya do me a favor?” You say. She may be completely insane, but she's the most protective person of the squadron you've ever met. You'd be hard pressed to find a better person to make sure your RIO isn't mistreated.

Plus, Slider's insane enough to not give a fuck about things like 'rank'. That might help.

“You want me to make sure Merlin's ok and nothing happens, right?” She says, sounding bored.

“Y...Yeah. That's creepy.” You say, taking a step away from her. She grins. “Nah. You're just predictable. Remember she's a big girl. But I'll stick with her anyway.”

“Thanks slider. Hey how did...”

“Don't ask.” she cuts you off.

“Right... Right.”

Katya, in the mean time, is asleep in the chair. She was a hell of a lot more tired than the rest of you- she must have been, to be able to fall asleep that fast.

[] Wake her up, get her down to talk to the intel boys.
[] Man, she ain't gonna be any use to them like this. Get her in a rack, let her get some sleep.

[x] Man, she ain't gonna be any use to them like this. Get her in a rack, let her get some sleep.

I hope Merlin'll be alright.... and that Slider doesn't do anything too insane.

We should let her sleep more for one better PR.

>>20969575
[x] Wake her up, get her down to talk to the intel boys.
Orders is orders. Get some coffee into her.

>>20969575
>[] Man, she ain't gonna be any use to them like this. Get her in a rack, let her get some sleep.
They can wait a little longer.

>>20969575
[x] Man, she ain't gonna be any use to them like this. Get her in a rack, let her get some sleep.

Our defector being TOTALLY out of it would be *really* useful to the intel boys. She needs sleep. Nixon will understand that it's not us, it's her.

>>20969575
Wake her up quickly, get her a pile of coffee. Then let her nap for a bit until it kicks in.

>>20969575
>[] Man, she ain't gonna be any use to them like this. Get her in a rack, let her get some sleep.

>>20969575

[x] Wake her up, get her down to talk to the intel boys.

>>20969575
>[X] Wake her up, get her down to talk to the intel boys.
I'd really rather not have another flight sneak up on us.

>>20969785
No reason to wake up some poor girl and drag her to get grilled right away and I doubt Frank and Merlin will be called to fly any time soon. For one there's the matter of refueling/repairs.

File: 1349243676022.jpg-(304 KB, 600x806, Meanwhile, in Moscow.jpg)

[x] Man, she ain't gonna be any use to them like this. Get her in a rack, let her get some sleep.

You make a snap judgment call- not at all influenced by your dislike of spooks.

No sir, not at all.
You nudge her once or twice- she stirs, but won't wake up.

Sighing, you pick her up, carrying her out of the room as Merlin, with Slider in close attendance, talk to the captain. None of the three of them seem out of sorts, though you know Merlin's got to be every ounce as tired as you.

You deposit the sleeping defector in one of the bottom racks- one of the ones that's usually unoccupied in a witch squadron bay.

The coffee helps, and you could really use a shower, but you're bone tired as well. You've got an excuse, you think- you've been flying since going wheels up at NAS Miramar. You have to chuckle about that. You probably hold the new record for longest intercept mission ever flown- halfway across the world, practically. Wheels up in California, across the pacific, and into a dogfight before landing on the Saratoga. You're almost scared of what your crew chief is going to say.

You climb into the top rack, barely pausing to take off your boots.

You'll just rest a while, then head down to see the spooks. Yeah, that's a good plan.

Just a few hours, maybe.

Your head hits the pillow and you're out like a light.

>>20969844
guys
srsly

And that's it for the evening.

Hope you guys had fun, and with any luck, we should be able to return next Tuesday with our next thread.

thanks, as always, for not hanging me up by my toes for my terrible mechanical grasp of english- I have only the US public school system to thank, there.

I'm kidding, of course.

I'll be clarifying some things later, as I dig through my notes (Like the Chicago and why she was around and not decommissioned) but i need to get food first.

>>20969844

Ah man, we should have asked somebody to keep an eye on us, in case our Russian friend decides to go for a walk if she wakes up before we do.

File: 1349244083872.jpg-(189 KB, 566x800, 1340815050915.jpg)

>>20969886
Thank you Ghost Division.

>>20969886
>I have only the US public school system to thank, there.
I pity you, and all those like you.
Thanks for running this.