It's the break day, the only extended moment of rest everyone's getting before MacArthur expects everyone (including those poor trainees) to be ready for combat. It may be only 7:40 in the morning, but the day feels like it's already slipping by. You've a lot to do. As Socks enters the cafeteria with Victor by his side, you wave them over.

What do you do?
[ ] Start with Ogawa
[ ] Fix Boser
[ ] Update with Alice
[ ] Check in with Rae
[ ] Other

[x] Fix Boser

We help Boser we get respect points with Ogawa. Is there anyone we can talk to that might understand her?

[x] Start with Ogawa

>>21476909
[x] Other
Ask Victor to dig into Boser's and Ogawa's pasts, since he's already on his way over to our table, and he's MacArthur's aide so he should have the clout to get things done.
This project is MacArthur's pet project; if he wants it to work, we need to try to patch up Boser and Ogawa enough that they won't get the team killed on their first sortie; not getting themselves killed is a secondary concern.

>>21476939
This. We need to get her on a more even keel.

[Good morning, Cleona,] Socks greets as he joins your group, turning quite a few heads in the room.

[Morning, Socks,] you reply.

"Heya, Socks!" Rae exclaims. "How you been?"

"Eye have ben well, Ray," he replies in slow, awkward English.

Rae's eyes widen. "What!? Cleo, when did you teach him to talk?"

You shrug. "Been teaching him for a while, now. Just...keep it slow and simple if you want a response." You decide not to tell her you're helping a little bit just by being around to hear it. Her look of amazement is a fun thing to see.

"So, Chief," Victor begins, taking a spot between Socks and the majority of the room, "How've things been going?"

You rest your head on a hand. "Not that well, actually."

"Oh?"

"Don't worry about it, Victor. It's my problem."

"Don't be like that, Chief! If I can help, I'd be glad to!" Victor's positively beaming. Being off MacArthur's leash seems to be doing him some good.

"Well...it's with Lt. Boser."

Victor nods. "Lt. Elizabeth Boser. Royal Navy, as I recall. Tends to make issues out of nothing and get worked up, as I recall."

"Uh, yeah, actually. I gave her a big chewing out for her crap, but..." you say, gesturing behind him, "...you can see what that got me."

Victor turns to look. Boser stares at her food, barely touching it. Occasionally she stirs a bowl with a spoon. "...I see. Yeah, that's probably not the best way to go about it. She's a bit sensitive."

[ ] How do you know so much?
[ ] What do you recommend I do?
[ ] Other

[x] What do you recommend I do?

>>21477199
[x] What do you recommend I do?

Victor-sensei is wise master. We must heed his words.

>>21477199
[x]what do you recommend

They clearly have experience dealing with her.

>>21477199
[x] What do you recommend I do?
[x] Teach me, Master Victor! I'm ready!
Being the aide to a general must have given him a lot of experience dealing with people.

>>21477199

[X] what do you recommend?

Victor is totally our margin faerie, isn't he?

File: 1352341206644.jpg-(158 KB, 1131x1600, 1350447466358.jpg)

"Then what do you recommend, Victor?"

Victor shrugs. "I'm no good with people, Chief. I'm just an observer," he says, stealing a piece of toast from your plate. "If you need backgrounds or info, I'm your man, but advice..."

You furrow your brow. "Wait, how does that even make sense? You know Boser, right?"

"I know about her, Chief. I don't know her." He takes a moment to take a bite out of your toast. "If you really need something, maybe you can try being nice and understanding, I guess."

"Hey!" Rae yells, interrupting. "That was Cleo's!" She points to the partially-eaten toast.

"The Chief seems fine with it," Victor responds. "Besides. I outrank all of you."

"That doesn't mean...!" Rae argues, their attention now turning to the finer points of food ownership. You're left to sit and wonder. Can anyone else really help you with this?

[ ] Probably.
[ ] No, this is your problem.
[ ] Other.

>>21477682
>dude ate our half-eaten toast

I-I-Indirect kiss....

>>21477682

[X] Probably

I just don't know who? Alice.... maybe, or.... Socks? How is he with interpersonal relations?

We aren't giving up though.

>>21477682
[x] No, this is your problem.
Okay guys, can we try my 'be nice to Boser' plan this time?

>>21477682
We've got... Odessa. She's pretty nervous and stuff. Maybe she can try making friends with Boser? It seems like it would be best not to further involve Ogawa, lest her opinion of us drop even more (assuming she's still willing to deal with us).

[x] Probably.

Considering all things she could use whatever help she can get; Cleona isn't a trained leader.

>>21477718
I don't think we screwed up that badly with Ogawa.

>>21477759
No, but she sure got pissy as hell when we merely SUGGESTED that she could do something to help. If she didn't want to help then, she sure as hell doesn't want to now.

>>21477682
[x] Maybe, but at this point it is our job and we have to do it.

>>21477682
[x] Probably.
Having Victor dig up Boser's past and why Ogawa got transferred out here is still something we should get done.
And then we can talk with Miranda and Yetta about those two, since they're the ones that have actually worked with them during the past week.

>>21477717
No. Maybe if you articulated your plan beyond "be nice" then it might merit more consideration.

>>21477714
An outsider's veiw on the situation might be enlightening. Or it might be funny. Either way, we win.

>>21477691
Too lewd

>>21477773
I think she ran off to avoid showing weakness, not something more lingering

>>21477880
I never said that's why she ran away...

>>21477682
>Probably
Solicit help from Rae at least. We have got two trainees to unfuck in short order.

hurry the fuck up kotters.

>>21477880

She didn't run away because we suggested she could help. And she is right, we didn't handle that well.

Is cleona a virgin?

There's gotta some way you can get some help. Maybe Harton knows a bit about Boser, the lazy witch. Rae could provide some moral support. At the very least, you should see what Victor's got on Boser.

"...hate about male officers!" Rae says.

Victor shrugs. "Hey, you can't pretend you witches don't get special treatment, you know. You guys get away with stuff as El-Tees that I can't at Commander."

"You're a Commander!? And you have to stoop to taking a girl's toast?"

"Well, if it's such a big deal, I can just get another slice for—"

"Ahem," you say, purposefully clearing your throat.

"—not the point!" Rae continues.

"Well, what's the point, then?"

"You don't just take toast from someone without asking!"

"Chief, do you mi—"

"It's too late now!" Rae interrupts.

"Why? I can ask to make this incident ok, then I'll just ask in the future."

"Victor!"

[ ] Keep trying.
[ ] Give up.
[ ] Other

>>21478057

[ ] Keep Trying
[ ] By yelling

>>21478057
[x] Give up.

WE GOT SHIT TO DO.

>>21478057

[X] keep trying

Iiiiiiiiiiits juuuuuuuust toooooast

File: 1352343104534.gif-(2.11 MB, 300x169, Stole Your Strawberry.gif)

>>21478057
[x] Keep trying.
God, Rae, it's just toast, not a strawberry.

>>21478057
[x] Keep trying.

>Cleona
>Giving up

[x] Keep trying.

>>21478057
[x] Keep trying.
"OI. SHADDUP."

>>21478088
This. We need help. And they need to shut up.

>>21478057
[x] keep trying.
Whistle. Loudly.

>>21478123
>>21478172
>>21478145
Let's not attract more attention on us. We're in the cafeteria with Boser and Ogawa, remember?

...This is ridiculous. Why are they so intent on bickering? "Hey, Victor, Rae."

"—not a big deal!"

"First thing I see when I get back is you lounging in—"

"The lounge?" Victor offers, lounging back in his chair.

"...Yes, the lounge..."

You roll your eyes. "Guys."

"So what's up with me lounging in the lounge?

"Guys."

"Well, I..."

"Guys."

"Are you implying—"

"GUYS!" you yell, drawing the attention of your table and a few confused engineers.

"What?" Victor and Rae reply in unison.

"...Look, I need some help dealing with Boser," you say.

Victor shrugs for the umpteenth time. "I already said I can't offer much advice."

Rae nods. "Yeah, that's understandable...but do you really want my help?"

"Victor, if you can get me all you've got on Boser, I might be able to get my own 'advice.""

Victor raises a hand to his chin. "...That's quite a bit. You might have trouble getting through it all...I'll get you a decent summary, how's that?"

You nod. "Thanks."

As for Rae...

[ ] Of course I want your help.
[ ] Why are you hesitant?
[ ] Other

>>21478057
>Keep trying

Grope his arse.

>>21478354

[ ] Of Course I want your help
[ ] Now grope his butt.

>>21478360
Grope both their asses, then move our hands forward.

>>21478354
[x] Why so hesitant?

>>21478354
[x] Why are you hesitant?

>>21478354
[x] I need your help

>>21478354
[X]Why so hesitant?

After all, she didn't go in as enlisted, she should at least have SOME officer training.

[X]Why so hesitant?

>>21478435
I'm not sure she got much training beyond "basic witch stuff"

>>21478354
>Why so ser- hesitant?

"You actually have officer training for shit like this, right?"

>>21478354
[x] Of course I want your help.
[x] Why are you hesitant?

>>21478354
>Why are you hesitant
If she feels she is likely to blow it, perhaps trying to get some more training in for the rookies might be good.

You turn to Rae. "Why're you so hesitant, Rae?"

Rae looks away, scratching her head. "Well...I'm just not that great at dealing with people, you know?"

Eh? You give Rae a careful look. Looking off to the side, she suddenly seems very vulnerable. Her shoulders are scrunched forward, arms crossed nervously. She shifts slightly in her seat, as if remembering something uncomfortable. "Rae, what's up?" you ask. "You always seem pretty good with people to me."

"That's because I know them, Cleo. I know you. I know Yetta. I know Miranda, Socks, Victor, and the like. Maybe not very well, but I know them."

[ ] Could you try anyway?
[ ] What about those people at the bar?
[ ] Other

>>21478822
Well you still have time to get to know the trainees

[x] What about those people at the bar?
[x]Could you try anyways?

>>21478822
[x] Other

"Gotta get to know the trainees anyways. We're gonna be with them for a while. Better sooner than later."

>>21478822
[x] Could you try anyway?
At least with Ogawa. Rae deployed with her sister, maybe they can talk.

>>21478822

[X] What about those people at the bar?


Waaaaaaait. We need to get the cadets DRUNK together.

>>21478914
This cannot possibly end badly.

>>21478822
[x] Could you try anyway?
Rae might be able to talk with Ogawa since she seemed to be friends with Ogawa's sister.

[ ] Try anyway.

She's going to be teaching them again soon now that she's not off on our errand. She needs to get caught up on the whole 'knowing her students' thing.

"Well, could you try anyway?" you plead. "After this week is over, you're probably going to be working with these trainees. Might as well get to know them now."

Rae sighs. "I guess you're right..." She seems rather unsure of her commitment.

"It'll be fine, Rae. Boser's in a worse way than whatever you've got going on, probably," you reassure her. "If I'd stopped for half a second, I'd have realized that and wouldn't need your help, but..."

Rae cracks a smile. "But you messed up, right? This is my chance to do something better than Cleona Kuykendall."

You blink. "What? I don't—"

"I'm kidding, Cleo. It's alright." She wraps an arm around your shoulder. "Even if I did think that, I'd still help you all the way. There's a war to win, remember?"

Yep. A war. And if you don't get things sorted, these trainees...

"I'll go ahead and get started," Victor announces. He gets up, nodding to your group. "Been fun, ladies, but now it's time for Vic to get to work!" His walk has a determined air to it as he exits the cafeteria.

"Man, he's really been different since I got back," Rae notes.

"Yeah, I think it's the 'senior officer on base' effect."

Rae nods. "So, you planning on talking to Boser right now?"

[ ] Nah, give it a little more time.
[ ] Sure, why not?
[ ] Other

>>21479219
[x] Sure, why not?

Time is the one thing we do not have.

Well that and compassion, but what we lack in compassion we make up for in lack of compassion.

>>21479219
[x] Sure, why not?

>>21479219
>[ ] Other
Let's let Victor do his magic first. We need a good idea of what we're getting into before we try for that. I think if we're going to work on any of the trainees, we should try to talk to Ogawa first and let other people handle Boser. We should be letting other people handle Boser anyway; after that first encounter it's going to take a lot of time and effort to get her to reconsider her perception of us, and we need to budget our time and effort effectively.

>>21479219
>Sure, why not
We aren't getting any younger.

>>21479219
Wait for Vic's data, first.

Work over Ogawa.

>>21479219
[x] Other
Wait for Vic to get us his summary.

>>21479219
Ogawa

[x] Nah, give it a little more time.

You shake your head. "Nah, we need to give it a little more time. No sense in asking Victor for info if we just plunge in anyway."

Rae breathes a sigh of relief. "Great. This wasn't something I wanted to deal with so early in the morning." She grabs a piece of toast off of Yetta's plate. "Here, to make up for Victor," she offers.

"...Didn't you just scold Victor over that?" you ask, eying it hungrily.

"Hey, Yetta, is it alright if I have your toast?"

"Sure..." she replies absentmindedly, turning yet another page in her book.

"Thanks!" Rae turns back to you. "Still got a problem?"

A tentacle darts out and wraps itself around the toast. Socks takes it out of Rae's hand, examining it.

"Hey!" Rae complains.

You laugh. "That's what you get for not asking first."

[This does not taste very good, Cleona,] Socks notes.

[ ] Let me try it.
[ ] That's because you have no butter.
[ ] Other.

[x] That's because you have no butter.

>>21479562
>[ ] Other.

Obvs he needs to put strawberry jam on it. We should feed him more random food to see what he can actually taste.

>>21479562
[x] That's because you have no butter.

>>21479562
[x] Other.
"That's because you have no strawberry jam."

>>21479562
>[x] That's because you have no butter.

Butter or jam. Slimy tentacles or sticky tentacles. Tough choice.

>>21479562

[X] That's because you need jam dear. Let me show you~

>>21479719
Why not both? If they get sticky, we can lick them clean. Then it'll be slippery~

>>21479593
>>21479610
>>21479665
>>21479678
>>21479720
... and now I want toast...
However I have blackberry jam myself.

>>21479745
Blackberry jam.
>KING OF JAMS

>>21479745
>>21479869
And my toaster set off the fire alarm. Apparently the alarm and I are different in our tastes. I like my toast actually *toasted*.

>>21479869
Blackberry is ok, but I like raspberry.

>>21479943
>HEATHEN

>>21479931

And your alarm likes it not on fire.

[That's because it's got no topping, Socks. Usually we put some butter or jam on it to make it taste better.]

You sense confusion. [Why would you eat something that requires additional flavoring? Would you not instead opt for a food that naturally tastes good?]

You shrug. [That's just the way it is. Besides, it really is nice when you coat it with something. Here,] you say, grabbing a butterknife and some butter. [You can start with this.] You gesture for the piece of toast.

"Cleo, you really need to finish teaching him English. You two always seem to be having great conversations and I can't get in on any of them," Rae pouts.

"Well, they're usually just questions about our culture, really," you say, buttering the slice that Socks has provided for you. [Here, try it now.]

Socks takes a bite out of the buttered toast. You sense a slightly more satisfactory response. [This has been improved, but the taste is...strange...]

[Well, want to know what it's like for me?]

[That would be a most educational experience, Cleona.]

You take the slice back from Socks and take a bite as you deepen your link. The warm, buttery goodness of a slice of toast washes over you and positively topples Socks.

[Cleona! This....this is another dangerous item. I must...I should ask you not to consume it in the future....]

>>21480146

[Socks, I'm not giving up buttered toast.]

[...I honestly do not think I want you to give it up either. I am just worried that I shall be addicted to such delicacies—]

"Hey, Cleo, try this!" Rae says, handing you a slice with jam on it. "You guys are taste testing or something, right?"

"Huh? How—" you begin.

"Socks is practically writhing when you take a bite. Even I can put two and two together," she says with a grin.

[Here, try another topping,] you tell Socks as you accept Rae's addition. The taste of blackberry jam on toasted bread is exquisite, taking Socks even more than the butter.

[This is incredible! Cleona, I should focus my efforts on a method to provide such tastes to all my people. If they only knew what was here, they might lay down their arms and join you at the dinner table!]

You chuckle. [Wouldn't that just be great?]

A crash from your side breaks your train of thought. You turn to the noise. Miranda, shocked, sits in front of a broken glass.

"I-I'm so sorry," she apologizes to those around her. "I didn't mean to..."

[ ] Help her clean up
[ ] You alright?
[ ] Other

>>21480156
[X] Help her clean up while asking if

>>21480156
[x] You alright?
Then
[x] Help her clean up

>>21480188
Also if we happen to cut our selves it be an learning experience about weather/how martins feel pain.

>>21480156
[x] Help her clean up
[x] You alright?

>>21480210
We always have weather, whether we like it or not.

>>21480156
[X] are you alright

Is... is Miranda jealous? And socks' reaction~

>>21480156
[x] Help her

ruh roh. Looks like the unit is finally starting to fall apart.

You quickly run and grab some napkins, soaking up the spilled grape juice. "Rae, get a rag for the glass!"

Rae nods. "On it!" She runs into the kitchen.

"Miranda, are you alright? Got any glass anywhere?" You hope she's alright...

"I'm sorry, I was just—I didn't—No, I didn't get cut..." she sputters, apologetic and worried.

"Good. Here, we should toss your plate in case any glass got in your food..." You hand Miranda's plate to one of the engineers who rushed over to help. With a nod, he takes the plate back to the kitchen as well.

Miranda sits uselessly as you and several others manage to clean up her mess. All she could say during your cleanup was apology after apology. Rae, with a rag, carefully collects all the glass shards. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Miranda says to her.

"Don't worry about it! It's an accident, glass is fragile stuff!" she says, getting the last of it.

As Miranda calms down, the cafeteria returns to normal. Several people leave, a few familiar faces waving to you and the others as they exit. Miranda just sits with her clothes drenched in grape juice, looking down.

[ ] Go get yourself cleaned up, Miranda.
[ ] Is anything wrong?
[ ] Other

>>21480487
[x]Is anything wrong?
And maybe offer to go help her get cleaned up while she talks

>>21480487
[x] Is anything wrong?

I TOLD YOU. I TOLD YOU ABOUT THEM BOTTLED UP EMOTIONS.

>>21480487
[x] Is anything wrong?
She was there for us when we needed it, we're here for her now.

>>21480487
[x]Is anything wrong?
[x]Lewd
Are you, perhaps, jealous? Perhaps you would like a cookie?

>>21480487
[x] Is anything wrong?
'You alright, Miranda?'

[x] Is anything wrong?

>>21480487
[x] Is anything wrong?

Miranda stares at her feet, her posture slumped and tired. Cautiously, you put a hand on Miranda's shoulder. "Hey," you begin, "are you alright?"

Miranda jerks at your words, as if being brought back to reality. Still, she doesn't turn to face you. "O-Oh, sorry. I've just been...distracted, is all."

"By what?"

Miranda doesn't answer.

"Miranda?"

"...I'm sorry, Cleona. I just...I'm letting my mind wander. Just...give me something useful to do and I'll be fine, alright?" She smiles weakly, finally looking at you. Her face seems worn, her eyes tired. Her words seem to come just a beat too slow. Her entire person seems just slightly off. What happened to orderly Miranda, in charge and doing what she needs to do?

"Miranda, it looks to me you need time to rest," you offer. "Maybe I could take over your teaching for a bit—"

"No!" she interrupts. "No, that's...that'd be too selfish of me. I'll do my work, Cleona, don't worry about it." Again, she flashes that weak smile.

[ ] Press the issue
[ ] Back off
[ ] Other

>>21480901
[x] Press the issue

ERRYONE FALLING APART. If we can't help one of our best friends here, we can't help anyone.

>>21480901
[x] Press the issue
Nuh uh. Burying yourself in work is a one-way trip to the looney bin.

>>21480901
I can imagine what it'll be like when McArthur shows up.
"Everyone is falling apart because emotions. If you send them out, they'll probably all die without doing anything useful."

>>21480901
Pick her up, carry her to her room, tuck her into bed.

Chief Cookie is taking charge.

>>21480901
[x] Other
Take her to her room, then
[x] Press the issue

[x] Other
Take her to her room, then
[x] Press the issue

You look at her. It's obvious she's in no condition to keep working. Not like this. "Miranda, you look like a wreck. You sure you don't want a break?"

Miranda closes her eyes. "I'm sure..."

"Then let's at least get you out of those clothes, you're soaked." Her uniform is ruined, purple juice soaked deep into the fibers. "Come one, let's get to your rack."

Guiding Miranda down the halls, you enter the living section of the facility. Numerous rooms line the hallway, each housing about two to four people. Fortunately, they're much larger and nicer than typical military fare, featuring actual mattresses, a desk, and a table and chairs. You enter Miranda's rack, shared with Yetta. As you look around, you're awed by the sheer cleanliness of the room.

"Wow, you guys really keep this place nice and neat," you comment.

Miranda nods. "Happy room, happy life."

From there, you help Miranda out of her grape uniform, dry her off, and get her changed. She's silent through most of it, not really responding to your attempts at conversation. As she sits on her bed, you take a seat opposite her, on Yetta's.

"So, what's been bugging you?"

"I'm fine, Cleona," she deflects.

[ ] Dammit, Miranda!
[ ] I'm here, you know.
[ ] Other.

>>21481169
[x] DAMN IT MIRANDA

Something like "I DO have eyes, y'know."

>>21481169
>[x]Dammit!
"Nobody on this base is fine. I'll start with my newest problem: Everyone isn't fine, and it's my job to try to help them, but I can't because they all keep saying they're fine up until they have a breakdown. So, if it's anything at all I could possibly help with, or get you someone who can help with, please tell me. It is why I am here."

>>21481169
[x] Other.
"Lies, Miranda. You are bad at them."

>>21481169
[x] I'm here, you know.

It's obvious she's a mess. Even if we need to beat answers out of her, we damn well need those answers.

Time for some waterboarding.

>>21481220
what he said

>>21481169
>Dammit, Miranda
Miranda, you are hardly able to stand up strait. PLEASE tell me what has put you in this state?

"Dammit, Miranda!" You can't take all this shit. Everyone breaking apart in front of you. You fucked up Boser. You shattered Ogawa. Now Miranda's losing it. It's just not fair. You're a damned Chief Petty Officer. You turn a wrench for a living. Or, you suppose, you also bomb alien supersubs.

You don't do psych evals and put people on a couch.

"W-what?" Miranda asks, shocked.

"I can't have you like this. I can't have you, dead witch walking, breaking glasses and flooding yourself with work. Miranda, please, I can't do this."

"C-Cleona, what—"

"Look at Boser, Miranda. Look at Ogawa. Look what I've done. That's me trying to help. That's what I did. I can't have you like this, Miranda, because I'll just do it to you, too!" It hurts, feeling this way. Your core is afraid. You're in a situation you've never had before, trying to tend to these witches. You're under pressure, a week left in training. You're responsible for the well-being and training of everyone.

And it hurts.

>>21481525


"I—I didn't mean to—"

And now you're throwing it on to Miranda. All that worry. All that responsibility. Here she is, physically affected by something, and you're dumping your worries on her.

"No...no, I'm sorry, Miranda."

Her face fills with confusion.

"I...We're all under pressure. I'm sorry I let it get to me. I'm sorry I tried to put it on you."

Miranda tries to say something, but the words don't come.

"I'm here for you, Miranda. I haven't done a great job with others so far, but...I want to try. I want to help you. You want to deny it, fine. But if you want to talk..." Your fists clench as you realize how terrible your situation is, as you feel it in your bones. It's only Miranda's soft touch that helps you release your grip.

She looks at you, putting aside her own troubles. Then she wraps her arms around you.

And you both cry.

NEXT TIME ON SUBWITCHES: KOTTERS GETS SOME SLEEP
WEDNESDAY, 8PM EST

General Claire Lee Chennault, CO of the the American Volunteer Group in China, was not one happy man.

On his table was the memo. President Eisenhower, bless his soul. Being part of the USAF meant supplies. And freshly-trained MEN. This would usually bring some joy to a commander, but logistics usually caught up soon enough.

Then there was the issue of getting them there. Aliens had already surrounded the newly-forged 14th Air Corps and the only way to ferry anything in was through the Himalayas. And that was, on a good day, a suicide mission.

Beside the memo was yet another report from General Stilwell. This one was about trying to secure a land route for supplies. While it didn’t look too bad on paper, he remembered what that entailed and the environment it would be in.

“A supply line through the jungle, Stilwell, what the hell.” he muttered disapprovingly.

And in his hands was a request for an escort for the witch training cadre that was going to arrive in a week's time. Fucking Sparklebitches, he thought to himself. He was sick and tired of looking through the daily stack of incident reports. These he had come to accept and dread. It didn't make the task any more pleasant.

"Thought they could handle a little jaunt through The Hump," he grimly mused. He was quite aware of the strain witches handled in combat missions. And The Hump, he remembered sadly, was no cakewalk.

As he was busy in thought and anger, his adjutant rapped at his door.

“Come in.”

“...Sir? There’s a man who says he would like to see you. Says you personally wrote to him.”

“Well, that’s rare. Bring him in.”

“Yes sir.”

>>21481532
I wonder if the amount of things going wrong is a sign of how the rest of the armed forces and god regards MacArthur.

The visitor was sitting comfortably in front of him. A faint murmur of recognition struck him. He remembered writing a letter a few months back, but...

“And just who the HELL are you?” Something was forming in his mind, but his cerebellum was being flooded with white-hot RAGE right now.

“Mr Chennau- I mean, General Chennault, sir! Wing Commander Witold Urbanowicz, formerly of the Polish Air Attaché!”

SPANG. Everything clicked into place. Oh yes, that letter.

“Urbanowi- Oh. Glad you could answer my friendly request. I’ve heard of you. That was some insane flying in England.”

“That’s some high praise, sir.”

“No, Witold, It really was some insane flying. Some of the British boys here were at the Battle of Britain. They’ve seen you zip into formations with nary a care and shooting up everything that had wings and a Nazi swastika and come out with nary a scratch.”

“Yeah, I guess that’d explain why my Spitfire was always the first to be ready.”

“So, Witold, I hear you were a trainer before the war?”

“In Poland, yes. Though for a while, I was part of an exchange group that tr-”

“The Virtuti Militari, Silver Cross, for your exploits in the Battle of Britain and Poland. And also for the evacuation of the Witches in Poland.”

The wily Pole cracked a smile. “So you know.”

“Anyway, Witold, I’ve a massive headache of a deployment. I believe you have an idea of how tough to manage a mixed-gender air force, especially when they are barely out of their teens and trying to murder one another?”

“If you’re talking about the witches, sir, then I think I know how hard it is.”

“Good. You’ve been assigned to the 75th Fighter Squadron, 23rd Fighter Group. Officially, you'll report to Major Tex Hill. Your real assignment, though, is to train the damned Witches of the 77th Squadron. And our Chinese recruits when possible.”

“Wha-”

“And you’ll be the liaison between the witches and the men, that is, me.”

“Sir, this is kinda a bit much for me.”

“You’ll do fine. The training cadre is gonna come in a few days to help you.”

“Will I get to fly?”

“In due time.”

“Thank you, sir. I’ll get to... work.”

As the British Triple Ace walked away, the good general could finally let out a sigh of relief and let himself smile. He still had ninety-nine problems to sort out, but the witch situation was, as of right now, not one of them.

“Sir?” His adjutant interrupted.

“Yes, what is it now?”

“Generalissimo Chiang would like to know the status of the training.”

“Tell the Generalissimo that I’ve just sent my best man to handle the training of his more troublesome elements. I expect that training will go smoothly.”

“The... guest?”

“The Generalissimo doesn’t need to know that.”

“I’ll get on it right away, sir.”

>>21481611
The poor sod, he has now idea what he is going to be thrown into.

By the way nice writing but could you slip a few discriptions in? I would like to get an Idea of what everything/everyone looks like.