>>21275517
Tell him what we've been up to. The Tullibee, the research facility. Make sure we aren't adding anything that's classified, though. And tell him to stay alive.

>>21275517

Well... things are quiet here, for the moment. I've got a job teaching new recruits. I hope this letter finds you alright.

Inb4 Panz- wait... he doesn't read this...

>>21275517

Well, I'm not dead. Just thought I'd clear that up. It hasn't been all sunshine and roses for me, but I'm not on the sharp end of the stick at the moment. They have me teaching.

>>21275617
u wot m8

File: 1351124974422.jpg-(450 KB, 1117x735, 1348709196495.jpg)

You buckle down, trying to sort your thoughts into a somewhat coherent letter:

Dear Tom,

How've you been? You'll be happy to know that I'm not quite dead yet, though the Martians have been doing their damnedest. Been through a lot of stuff, seen and done things the brass probably wouldn't like me to tell you. Suffice to say I've made quite a few friends and had good reasons for taking so long to write.

A few of your letters might still be on their way here, so I guess I can't really comment much on anything that happened recently to you. Sounds like you've had quite the party so far, though; don't get yourself killed in those metal deathtraps you call tanks. I hate to say it, but stick close to your witchy friends; they tend to survive a lot longer.

They've got me out in Oz for now, training a bunch of witches in using some new equipment. It's not easy and we're on a tight timetable, but it seems to be doing alright for now. It's nice not being in the thick of it again.

Keep writing me, I do want to know what you're up to. Hopefully your mail will keep catching up to me, now that things have settled down. Shame they don't have sibling duty for witches, I'd love to have you around. Take care of yourself, Tom.

Love, Cleo

–

Well. That's about the most writing you've done in months. You give it a quick look over. Satisfied, you get it in an envelope, ready to mail.

[ ] Get it mailed.
[ ] You've still got a form to finish...
[ ] Other.

>>21275844

[x] You've still got a form to finish.

For that matter, how DO we explain what happened.

[x] Get it mailed.

>>21275844
[x] You've still got a form to finish...
We'll probably be dropping them off at the same place anyway. Or nearby, at least.

>>21275844
Finish form-filling.

>>21275844
[x] Finish form

Don't want to get distracted while we're out and forget.

>>21275957

That's a good point. Intra base mail probably gets handles in the same place as inter base mail.

File: 1351126259680.jpg-(108 KB, 500x708, 1348709150547.jpg)

You move on to the next item on your agenda: that damned incident report. You place the report in front of you, clearing a space on your desk. Yep, generic incident report. Now, how to word it...

This morning, at around 0830 local time, a call was received at the phone bank inside the facility. According to Socks, this caller was a Martian that was aboard the Harbinger.

You scratch your head. Why, that sounds plain silly when you put it that way. Still, it is what happened...

After some quick verification involving psionics, the caller, a Martian known to Socks, informed him that he wished to meet. Conditions have changed on the Harbinger, which may have prompted this call. As for how the Martian gained access to a telephone or knew which number to dial, no information was made known. Socks has expressed an interest in meeting with this Martian. It could indeed prove to be a fruitful encounter. Consider this both an incident report and a formal request to meet with this Martian in the future.

...Well, that should at least get across everything that needs to be known. You finish filling out the boring details and sign the report, you get up from your desk. Grabbing your letter to Tom, you walk outside just as Yetta blows a whistle. Oh. It's break time.

[ ] How's it going, Yetta?
[ ] Head off to mail your items.
[ ] Other.

[x] Head off to mail your items.
-[x]Try inviting Yetta to walk with you

>>21276230

[x] How's it going, Yetta?

We might have missed something while we were writing.

>>21276230
[x] How's it going Yetta

Poland moe~

>>21276230
[x] How's it going, Yetta?
Wanna go post some mail with me ifyaknowhatimean?

>>21276230
>[ ] How's it going, Yetta?
We plainly need more Yetta.

>>21276317

"But... I haven't written any letters lately~"

>>21276379

"Oh? I'll just have to help you... pen one then."

>>21276511

"Oh, but I left all my pens in my room! We'll have to go get one!"

File: 1351127618520.jpg-(35 KB, 150x150, 1330214053738.jpg)

>>21276317
>>21276379
>>21276511

Why would we convince Yetta to write a letter?

File: 1351127783886.jpg-(158 KB, 1131x1600, 1350447466358.jpg)

You watch the eight trainees clamber out of the pool, removing their Substrikers for the short break period. The fifteen minute break is designed to give them a breather, let them grab a quick snack, socialize, maybe use the bathroom, before heading back in for another two hours of instruction. Of course, that means the instructors get a fifteen minute break too. Yetta takes the chance to sit back in a chair and read a book. Quickly engrossed, she doesn't seem to notice you approach.

"How's it going, Yetta?" you ask.

"O-oh! Cleona!" she greets, startled. "Well enough, though a few witches don't seem very keen on maintaining their own equipment..."

Clare Harton immediately comes to mind. Yeah, she'd definitely have issues maintaining her own stuff... "Well, they'll have to learn it if they don't want to get in serious trouble with the Brass. How about yourself?"

"What?"

"Yourself, Yetta. How are you doing?"

Yetta thinks for several seconds. "Um...I guess well enough...I've had more time to do things I like."

You nod. Not much time for fun when you're on the run. Now that you've had a chance to settle down, though, life's gotten a smidge easier. You glance at the book Yetta's reading. The Hobbit, the front reads. Never heard of it.

[ ] You like reading?
[ ] You been getting along with the trainees?
[ ] Other.

>>21276588

They're not really...

Because it's always good to keep in touch.

>>21276633
[x] You like reading?

I hear Bilbo's awesome.

>>21276633
[x] You been getting along with the trainees?

[x] You like reading?

>>21276633
>[x] You like reading?
"What's a Hobbit?"

>>21276674
Stupid fat hobbitses...

>>21276633
[x] You like reading?

File: 1351128678026.png-(692 KB, 1000x901, test-logo2-bright.png)

Huh. Yetta never really struck you as the literary type. "You like reading?" you ask.

"Yes! I just love books, they're so..." Yetta trails off as she stares through you.

"...Yetta? You there?"

"Oh! Sorry. I got a little distracted."

You eye the cover of the book. A simplistic but sophisticated dragon is drawn on it, along with several symbols and patterns. "What's a Hobbit?"

Yetta blinks. "How do you know about Hobbits?"

You gesture to the book in her hands. "I can read, Yetta."

Yetta blushes in embarrassment. "Oh, of course! I didn't mean to—I mean, I—" The poor girl looks about ready to fall over.

"It's ok, I get it. So, what's a Hobbit?"

"They're small creatures!"

"Like a mouse?"

"No no no no, they're like people. They're just short. And they have big feet."

These "Hobbits" have to be the most ridiculous looking creatures out there, if your imagination is serving you right.

Yetta continues. "They like to eat a lot, and they live in holes, and they don't like adventure, except for this one," she points to a page you can't see, "who says he doesn't like adventure but ends up kind of liking adventure along the way when he gets dragged on one." Yetta's eyes almost twinkle with passion.

[ ] Sounds like quite the character...
[ ] Tell me more
[ ] Other

>>21276847
>[ ] Sounds like quite the character...

[x] Sounds like quite the character...

>>21276847

[x] Sounds like quite the character?

Also, I wonder how she's feeling about her adventures as a witch thus far?

>>21276847
[x] Sounds like quite the character...

File: 1351129890741.jpg-(1.33 MB, 1400x1400, 1290908407108.jpg)

"Sounds like quite the character..." you comment, trying to escape the impending trap.

"He is! He's accompanied by 12 dwarves—"

"Like a dwarf dwarf?"

"Um, they're like small people, but stockier and thicker. They have beards and axes and..." Yetta slows down as she realizes she's losing you. "It's a good book! You should read it sometime..." Her enthusiasm drains away as she realizes several of the trainees are watching her curiously. What could possibly engage their timid instructor so completely, they must be wondering. "Um..." With nothing else to say, Yetta retreats behind The Hobbit, frantically trying to lose herself in the story before the end of the break.

You glance back at those onlookers. Elizabeth Boser watches with her perpetual scowl. Next to her, Harumi Ogawa, her face ever frozen in unreadable professionalism. You suddenly wish you had a copy of The Hobbit to hide behind as well.

[ ] Engage Boser
[ ] Engage Ogawa
[ ] Mail your items.

>>21277047

[x] Mail your items.

But first, SALUTE, and counter salute. Tis only proper to follow the courtesies, is it not?

>>21277047
[x] SURPRISE DRILLS FOR EVERYONE

DROP AND PUSH LADIES HOW YOU GONNA LAUNCH TORPEDOES WITH THOSE PUNY ARMS

[x] Mail your items.

>>21277047
[x] Mail items

We can call Boser into our office later. Ogawa doesn't have any outstanding problems. No need to make a scene.

>>21277047
>[ ] Mail your items.
we can talk to the others later

>>21277047
[x] Mail your items.
We need that report sent off to MacArthur.
THEN we'll engage Boser and tell her how everything bad that happens to her in her career is her own fault.

File: 1351130929801.jpg-(59 KB, 428x600, 1247782498795.jpg)

Ignoring them as best you can, you leave the pool room. If you remember correctly, the mail room is across the hall from the cafeteria, on your right as you walk down. You pop your head in to make sure as you arrive, lamenting the lack of signs on the doors. Seems like a rather typical mail room, a self-service mail box mounted on the east wall. You step inside, intending to make a quick delivery before returning to your office to rest when suddenly—

"Ah, Chief Kuykendall. How are you?" Victor, MacArthur's aide, spots you as you take your first step. He seems much more confident than usual, a bright smile on his face and a hop to his step as you approaches.

"Oh, Victor. Didn't expect to find you here."

"I've been assigned here for the duration of training period! Taking a break from the chaotic cluster that is military administration, though don't tell the General that! Technically I'm here to assist you and your fellow instructors should you need to contact General MacArthur and the others."

[ ] Why am I only finding this out now?
[ ] Then I've got a job for you.
[ ] Other.

[x] Why am I only finding this out now?

>>21277249
[x] Then I've got a job for you.

>>21277249
[x] Then I've got a job for you.
This is a perfect opportunity to tell Victor directly about the incident, and get the information to MacArthur faster.

>>21277249
Why am I only finding this out now? I've got a job for you.

>>21277249

[x] Then I've got a job for you.

I was going to file an incident report, but somehow, a general incident form didn't quiiiiiiite cover what happened.

...this'll take a while. Have you been to the cafeteria yet?

File: 1351132108276.png-(40 KB, 656x507, 1349931366431.png)

"Then I've got a job for you," you say.

"Huh?" Victor looks taken aback.

You roll your eyes. Did he really expect to not have to do anything? "Got a very interesting phone call this morning. Surprisingly you guys didn't have a form for it, so I filled a general incident form. I figure you might have a better idea of where it needs to go, though."

Victor raises an eyebrow. "A phone call? Surely it's not something that needs to be forwarded to the General..."

"It was a Martian, Victor. How often do we get phone calls from Martians?"

"...I think we better sit down for this."

You nod in agreement. "Let's head to the cafeteria," you suggest as you drop off your letter.

Stepping across the hall, the two of you take seats in the largely vacant cafeteria. Only an odd engineer is here, pecking at some snacks as he reads the paper. Your seats are as opposite him as possible.

"So what's this about a Martian?" Victor asks, confused.

"We were down at the phone bank this morning. Phone rings, I get Socks to pick it up. It's a Martian on the other end."

"Are you kidding? You think a Martian just picked up a phone somewhere and called a secret research facility?"

"I don't think so, I know so. They were speaking in Martian. Both of them."

Concern grows on Victor's face. "What did it want?"

>>21277448


"To meet with Socks."

"And what did you do?"

"I told Socks I'd see about getting permission."

His expression becomes distressed. "Permission! Permission! You want to get permission for our only friendly Martian to meet with the enemy! Oh dear lord, Chief, do you know what you're asking? What if this is just a trap? What if Socks is trying to return to his people?"

[ ] I'd go with him, of course.
[ ] I trust Socks with my life.
[ ] Other.

>>21277249

Has Victor been... inappropriately familiar with Cookie?

Is Socks gonna havta choke a bitch?

>>21277458

[x] I'd go with him of course.

...no, I meant to the meeting dammit. The meeting. Get that look of your face.

[x] I trust Socks with my life. He's not gonna run off on us.

>>21277458
I trust Socks, but it could be a trap. That's why we need to protect him.

>>21277458
[x] I'd go with him

We can't leave our darling Socks alone~

>>21277490

Uh huh. Turn our backs on all of humanity to get cut up in some lab? I don't think so.

>>21277501
Man, you have some weird fetishes.

[x] I'd go with him, of course.
[x] I trust Socks with my life.

>>21277506

Don't go bringing my fetishes into it. Just because I like being restrained and helple-

You saw nothing.

File: 1351133030416.png-(245 KB, 1000x700, too-lewd-for-SuWQ.png)

"I'd go with him, of course."

Victor's eyes widen almost comically in response.

"No, no, not like that! I'd go with him to the meeting! Socks isn't trying to reunite with the Martians. I know he isn't."

"How can you be sure, Chief?"

"Our minds are linked in ways you can't grasp, Victor. No one can unless they experience it themselves. I trust him with my life."

Victor takes a few moments to calm down, deep in thought. Then, slowly, he speaks. "Do you have the general incident form on you?"

You nod, sliding the envelope to him. He opens it, spending a minute or two to read your brief report.

"...You do realize that you're supposed to write a lot more than this?" he asks, pointing to the brief paragraph.

You shrug. "I'm not a pencil pusher, Victor. I turn a wrench for a living, or I used to, anyway."

Victor sighs. "Well, if you're that convinced, I can try talking to MacArthur for you. I can't promise anything; I think it's a ludicrous idea and have a feeling MacArthur will too. Still, the Harbinger is an unstable element. You said this Martian was from the Harbinger?"

You nod.

"Maybe we can use it to our advantage...aw, hell. I'm not strategic planner." He glances at your report again. "Mind if I rewrite this, make it proper?"

[ ] Go wild.
[ ] Let me vet it.
[ ] Other.

>>21277627

[x] Go Wild

Eh, he's the guy who knows the system.

>>21277627
[x] Go wild.
But make sure he puts his signature on it so people don't get the wrong idea. Cookie's a strong independent witch who don't need no bureaucracy!

>>21277662

Bureaucracy makes the navy go round mate. She totally do need it. She may not think that it is, but that how it be.

>>21277627
[x] Let me vet it

>>21277696

I believe you mean "She may not think that it be, but it do"

File: 1351134875878.jpg-(138 KB, 800x608, 1348717794847.jpg)

Victor's up in the thick of military bureaucracy. He could easily speed things along and navigate the red tape, if only you trust him to actually give your report a fair chance. He's already said he doesn't believe it's a good idea...but you can't see him being insidious enough to do something like that. He's an aide; if he spun things, he'd either be higher up on the food chain or shipped off to the front lines somewhere.

"Yeah, sure, go wild. Just don't mess it up, alright? I'm trusting you here."

Victor nods. "Don't worry. I've had to file enough reports and requests I don't agree with already." He sighs. "I'm just an aide, not a strategist. My opinion doesn't and shouldn't count."

You put your hand on his shoulder. "Hey, your opinion always counts. Recognizing when to defer is a good skill, though."

Victor chuckles. "My entire job description is 'defer,' Chief. Well, better get started."

You give him a salute as he leaves. Victor's return salute is slow in coming, not used to being saluted to. With that, the cafeteria is empty, other than that engineer lazing about. What do you do?

[ ] Take a break.
[ ] Find Miranda.
[ ] Deal with some unruly trainees.
[ ] Other.

>>21278063
[x] Deal with unruly trainees

Boser's lustful gaze is flattering and all, but she needs to cut that shit out.

>>21278063
>[ ] Deal with some unruly trainees.
shamfrul disprays must be punished

[x] Deal with unruly trainees

>>21278063
[x] Deal with some unruly trainees.
>>21278099
>>21278128
Maybe we should try just being nice to her? Or at least polite.
From what's in her file, it is pretty obvious that she has some sort of issue with authority figures. That's a pretty big problem, considering she's in the military. I suggest we ask her what she thinks is the reason for her assignment here; we might have to correct her.

>>21278063
>[x] Enforce Discipline

>>21278063

[x] Can't we see what Miranda's doing instead of being a hardass?

>>21278235
>dealing with our subordinate's issues in order to shape them into a competent unit to prevent their horrible painful deaths
>being a hardass
Small price to pay.

>>21278264

Fine, but we damn well better not halfass it, OR go off half cocked.

They might have good reasons for being terrible. Maybe.

Al. I ask is we give them one chance.

>>21278289
We're not going to be a hardass to all of them, just the ones that need it, like Boser.
I mean, Rothrock doesn't need discipline, she just needs to operate only at night.

That's another thing I think we should look at, how many of our witches have nocturnal familiars? We really should put together a night-op team.

>>21278289
Don't worry, we will employ the full amount of ass and cock.

File: 1351136411308.jpg-(165 KB, 1200x994, 1348709404484.jpg)

Your brief talk with Yetta comes back to mind. Or rather, the aftermath, Ogawa and Boser staring. What is it with those two? Honestly you can't nail Ogawa with anything; you've already talked to her about her disproportionate self-moderation and she's been helpful, if cold, since. Boser, however, seems to have some sort of issue with authority. Either that, or she's rather specifically targeting you and Yetta. Whatever Ogawa's got going on, she seems to be in control for now. Boser...not so much.

And that could be deadly in combat.

You head back down the hall towards the pool room. The trainees are out of the water, being shown specific parts of their Substrikers that will need to be meticulously taken care of. You approach the group, carefully coming up behind Lt. Boser. With a nod to Yetta, you put your hand on Boser's shoulder.

"Lt. Boser," you address.

"Yes?" she yips, startled.

"I would like to speak to you privately."

"Of course, Chief Kuykendall."

You lead her into your office. As you plop down in your chair, you gesture to the only clear chair opposite you. Boser takes it. You take several moments to try and track down her profile. Your papers moved about, you're still not sure exactly where you just put it again...

"Trouble finding things, Chief?" Boser asks. The tone is innocent enough, but the smile on her face is suspicious.

[ ] Why, volunteering to clean up?
[ ] Just letting you stew.
[ ] Other.

>>21278430

[x] Other.

"Interesting question... lieutenant."

Carry on as if she never asked.

>>21278470
Seconding this.
Remember how it looked like someone broke into our office and messed around with our reports?
Let's give Boser just enough rope to hang her with.

>>21278430
[x] Other.
"The damned paperwork is alive, Boser. The others don't believe me but they're always in the pool.
But that's okay. When these stacks turn on us, they'll be safe. I'll make sure of that."
Do you really want to mess with a crazy person, Boser?

>>21278521

HAHAHA OH GOD.... I don't want to second this, but...

Please don't let me vote for this kodders.

kodders pls

>>21278521
Does she really want to take orders from a crazy person? We're trying to get rid of her authority issues, not make them worse.

>>21278578

It's a shiny red button. It appeals to the child in me. I know it's a bad idea to press it, but part of me wants to love it, and hug it, and take it come with me, and cuddle it forever.

>>21278605
Go to bed Lennie

>>21278430
>[ ] Why, volunteering to clean up?
this one tends to shut people up

>>21278470
>>21278507
This.

>>21278430
G'day Kotters, stopping in whilst work is quiet.
>[x]Other
"The damned paperwork is alive, Boser. The others don't believe me but they're always in the pool.
But that's okay. When these stacks turn on us, they'll be safe. I'll make sure of that."
Do you really want to mess with a crazy person, Boser?

Dead Serious-"Do you have a problem with me, lieutenant? I am your training officer adn teh person in charge of training your sorry arse int eh operation of hte substriker so that you don't go out there, screw up horribly, die, and get your crew and your ship killed as well. Are we perfectly clear, lieutenant?"
>>Red Button. MUST. PUSH. BIG. RED. BUTTON!

>>21278650

Tell me about the rabbits George, tell me about the rabbits.

File: 1351138235924.jpg-(23 KB, 400x266, givin_her_all_shes_got_capn.jpg)

You slowly pause, the shuffling of papers gently quieting down. With careful, deliberate movements, you turn your head (and only your head) to face Lt. Boser.

"Interesting question, Lieutenant, interesting question..."

With that, you reverse your movements and resume searching for the documents. Boser has no further contributions while you search.

"Ah, here it is." You retrieve the profile, skimming it again. RN, Lt. Elizabeth Boser, gets worked up over nothing, etc. etc. Just a brief refresher and reference document. You set it down dramatically in the middle of your desk, leaning over with your hands interwoven.

"How has training been treating you, Lieutenant?" you ask innocently.

Boser shifts uncomfortably. "Um, fine..."

You nod. "Any particular reason why you're so irritated?"

"What? I'm not—"

"Don't bullshit me, Lt. Boser. I'm enlisted, not an officer. I don't live in the lofty world of pleasant witchery. I've seen enough to recognize that something's going on, and my little margin fairy knows it too," you say, tapping her profile. "Spit it out."

"I don't have an issue! I'm perfectly fine!" Boser says angrily.

Apparently she doesn't realize the irony of her statement. What do you say?

>>21278862
"Apparently you don't realize the irony of your statement."
I'm so fucking creative, I should write speeches.

>>21278862

"...are you familiar with a literary concept called Irony? I'm sure Yetta could explain it better than I could, if you need a refresher."

>>21278773
G'afternoon. Enjoying the only SWQU quest set in your country?

>>21278862
"Oh really, lieutenant?
"And that outburst was just the latest in a long line of you being insufferable and caustic, the reason why no one wants to have to deal with you even with a war for the survival of our species going on, and why you've been sent here to, the people that you've constantly pissed off hope, your death.
"Consider your next words with exceptional care, lieutenant."

>>21278862

"You would rather piss up a rope than act pleasantly. And believe me, it's harder for witches to do that than men."

>>21278901
You've got the setting at Oakey. That place is a shit hole (Currently the home of Army Aviation, back then it was nothing iirc). You bombed Brisbane, my hometown.

But yeah, loving the quest.

>>21278913
this so much this. We are a Chief, we eat junior officers like her for breakfast.

File: 1351138789550.jpg-(16 KB, 400x303, 124019710332.jpg)

>>21278948
>You bombed Brisbane, my hometown.

Pfftahahaha

>>21278967

This man speaks wisdom. It may be time to chew her up and spit her out.

>>21278948
>bombing Brisbane

Well, at least this way Darwin won't feel so alone.

>>21278862
"Apparently, every one of your many, MANY former commanding officers disagrees.
Look, I'm not here to be your friend. If you don't like me, fine, I don't give a fuck. I AM here to train you in use of the Substriker against an enemy that seeks nothing more than complete and total annihilation of the human race.
If I can't do that without you subverting the authority of your superiors at every opportubity, well... I'd threaten to transfer you somewhere else, but at this point I doubt anyone would take you.
I'll probably just have you confined to quarters until someone notices I'm deploying one less witch than I've been assigned."

>>21278967
>>21278995
Now, now. It shouldn't be said with any bile or bite or anger.
Just cold, analytical logic as we list every single fault that she has, every previous posting and how everyone there was finally relieved that she was gone.
How everything that goes wrong for her, is her own fault (unlike Odessa, who just happened to draw the short straw in the familiar lottery).

>>21279029
>opportubity
>b
fuck

>>21279043

Hmm... Coolly explain how fucked she is? Then reach out a hand?

Maybe probe a little more first?

Alright so she's a delinquent and a fuckup but should we be going all out bitchhammer right off the bat?

Where's she from, what's her family history, how'd she do in the academy, why is she such a bitch?

>>21279098
>>21279106
How about ask her then, if she has no problem, why she has such terrible reviews from ALL of her previous postings?

At least Odessa tried and worked hard, in spite of her curse. And she admitted she had a problem, even if she misdiagnosed it.

But Boser doesn't recognize that she has a problem, even after all this time, and she's going to get her unit killed at this rate.

File: 1351139617160.jpg-(5 KB, 226x251, 12401974267.jpg)

"I don't know who you think you're fooling, Lieutenant. Ever hear of Irony? If not, you can go ask Instructor Falkowska about it as soon as you get your head out of your ass. Look at you. You have no issues? You're fine? Then tell me why every time I see you, you're scowling. You're menacing. You're. Just. Angry. What the hell are you so mad about? Why are you so determined to piss me off by drive-by animosity?"

"I—"

"Do you understand, Lieutenant? We're at War, here. This isn't a playground. It's War. Fucking. War. You mess up, you piss someone off so they're not there, you ruin the team dynamic, and it's either you or your fellows in a body bag if you're lucky. Do you fucking get it?"

"I'm just—"

"I ASKED IF YOU GET IT, LIEUTENANT?"

Boser doesn't respond.

"If you don't, then fine. I'll have you shipped out of here, back to being juggled between commands where people don't want to deal with you. You can shuffle about until you get hit in the crossfire or the war ends. Or you can shape the fuck up, get over yourself and whatever issues you supposedly don't have, and learn how to fucking fight so your friends and colleagues leave their blood on your hands."

"…"

"You going to say something, Lieutenant?"

"...I don't have friends."

Oh for the love of christ.

>>21279188


"You don't have friends? You ever stop and wonder why? Maybe when you were a child you were just unpopular, but you're a god damned witch. You have friends by default. And what do you do? You chase them off with a scowl and a growl, and you have the nerves to complain that you don't have friends? I'll be your god damned friend, Boser, as soon as you stop with the bullshit!"

"…"

"You going to just sit there and wait for me to ship you out? Or are you going to shape up and get back out there?"

"...May I return to training, Chief Instructor?"

You nod. Elizabeth Boser, Lieutenant, gives you a salute and leaves before you can do anything more.

What a day.

NEXT TIME ON SUBWITCHES: MORE BULLSHIT, MORE TRAINING, MORE...AW FUCK IT. FRIDAY, 8PM EST.

>>21279196
Odessa x Boser

It practically writes itself.

>>21279196
>>21279188
That was......amazing.
>golfclap.jpeg

>>21279196
We should have slammed a set of transfer orders, fully filled out and only needing our signature, down on the desk.
Or maybe a set of resignation papers for Boser to sign.

>>21279188
>>21279196
Goddamnit guys. Now we're just like all her other superiors.

>>21279188
>don't leave

Fucking typos.

[...what is this called Cleona?] Socks asked as he hefted the spiky ovoid in one tentacle, the spray of green leaves pointing towards the ground. [It looks similar to some martian projectiles.]

[That’s a pineapple Socks. I suppose you COULD throw it, but that would be a waste of what’s inside.]

[Really? Is it... good?]

[I think you’ll like it. Toss it here.]

Cleo caught the fruit and set it on the cutting board. With few quick strokes of her knife, she had its yellow interior exposed. She and Socks each reached out with their minds, deepening their psychic link. She lifted a sliver of fruit to her mouth, and ever so slowly bit down.

A flood of flavor rushed from her mouth and down their link. Socks leaned back, tentacle-tips aquiver. His eyes drifted half shut, and as Cleo swallowed, one tentacle began to lazily coil.

After a moment he shook himself and his eyes reopened. [Cleona, that flavor was... incredible. You say it was called a pine-apple?]

[Yep. A pineapple. They grow a ton of them in Hawaii.]

[Can we have another bite?]

Cleo smiled and rested a hand on the tentacle that was slowly working itself into a knot. [Of course.]

With a grin Cleo sent her other hand stealing down to grab a piece of pineapple, hiding the motion by leaning forwards slightly. Without any warning, she stealthily slid a yellow sliver into her mouth and bit down. The sudden rush of sensation caused Socks to stiffen before slumping back against the lab bench.

With the link as intense as it was, Cleo couldn’t stop herself from reaching up to clutch her head when something hard slid off that bench and bounced off Socks’ head.

The clipboard rattled as it settled to the floor.

>>21279229
>witches
>resign

laughingconscriptionofficers.jpg

>>21279196
PERFECT Chief Petty Officer to a brand new Lt.
Welcome aboard MY ship, with MY rules, and MY crew. Pull your officer head out of the clouds, we've got work to do.

>>21279229

ANd use them later, after she relents and wants back in.

"Is that your signature on that form, Lt?"

"I.."

"IS THAT YOUR SIGNATURE?"

"...yes"

*pause*

"doesn't look like it to me."

Rubbing at her head, Cleo reached out and picked it up. [I think that’s Alice’s clipboard. Huh, I thought she carried this thing everywhere.]

Socks gently probed the spot where the hard wood had caromed off his skull. [Evidently not,] he said, as something halfway between a wince and a shrug filtered through the link.

[I wonder what she keeps in here anyways? She’s always writing in it, and she pulled that deck of cards out of nowhere...]

Cleo started to flip through the papers pinned to the board then stopped, seeing her name written next to three numbers, all of which were enclosed in a swirl of ink. She cocked her head... and then narrowed her eyes.

[Hey Socks, do you have a tape measure handy?]

[Certainly, Cleona] Socks said, reaching one tentacle up over the top of the table they were sitting next to, while another rubbed at the sore spot on his head. He groped about for a moment, then grabbed a flexible tape with regular markings. He handed it over to Cleo, who quickly wrapped it around her chest and pulled it snug.

[Er... what is this marking in inches]

[I’m not quite sure. If we deepen the link again, I can get a better idea of the size of these... inches as compared to our measurements.]

[Of course,] Cleo said, feeling the flow of information from Socks’ sensorium quicken. His head was still tender, but the sting was abating rapidly.

[Approximately 36 of your inches.]

[Dammit, I thought so. Wackett’s got my MEASUREMENTS in here.]

[Doesn’t she need those to design equipment for you?]

[Well maybe, but that doesn’t explain the heart she drew around them.]

>>21279244
>superiors

We're enlisted, she's commissioned.

>>21279247
First strawberries, now a pineapple. Where are they getting all this fresh exotic fruit from?

>>21279291
Check your privilege, witch scum.

>>21279251
Would you have preferred our gun and "Do you realize how much of a fuck-up you are, lieutenant? Give just how much of a drain on the military that you've been, and how much you currently endanger the entire Sub Striker Program, I would be doing the war effort a service by shooting you."

Because, has Boser even seen combat? Has she even been deployed to the front lines?
If not, yeah, she is a real screw-up, given how starved for Witches the military is.

With the link in its current state, Socks needed no explanation. He knew the significance of that particular symbol to Cleona’s culture. It floated into his awareness as it floated into hers, just as he felt the flush of embarrassment climbing her cheeks.

[I wonder what else she has in here,] Cleo thought, something of a ragged edge entering her thoughts. She began rapidly flipping through the pages of the clipboard.

[Cleona, are you sure you wish to do this?]

[Damn right I’m sure, now whrk-] Confronted by the sketch in front of her, her thoughts approximated the sound of a heart freezing, then being fed through a woodchipper. By no coincidence whatsoever, that roughly mirrored the state of her emotions.

Aaaaand that's all you get here, sorry. If you want to read the REST, you'll need to check the thread at http://tofusaur.us/res/2750.html

>>21279286
As a non-military person, how does that work, anyway?
She's technically above us in rank, but we're the Chief Instructor here. Does that mean that we outrank her while we're on the base? Or only when it pertains directly to training?

>>21279312
>Suggest one dumb thing
>WELL WOULD YOU PREFER SOMETHING EVEN DUMBER????

How about just telling her to shape up because she has no other viable option without waving silly papers or sidearms around. Because holy shit what kind of military are you familiar with where doing that would be remotely acceptable behavior for anyone, much less an enlisted instructor towards an officer?

>>21279347
You are a horrible pathetic disgusting excuse of a person.
But at least it isn't coma NTR jesus fuck

>>21279442
That wasn't NTR. It was rape. There is a difference.

>>21279454
It was both.

>>21279351
It means she listens to us or we go through the proper channels in the chain of command and she gets the reaming of a LIFETIME because you NEVER disrespect senior enlisted unless you are some prick deskjockey flag officer.

>>21279466
NTR requires consent in some form. A person in a coma can't consent, unless you're implying she checked the "use my body for sexual release while I'm in a coma" box on the medical form.

>>21279442
That one was pretty hot, though. Bit disappointed that in two fapfics Cookie still hasn't taken it in the butt.

>>21279513
Sounds like you have a new homework project.

>>21279493
Everyone checks that box. It's a fun box.

>>21279570

...only if you label it "Fun"

Oh, what's this? Do I want to have fun? Of course I do.