>>22362187


"Oh, did you want some of that spam instead?" Rae says with a smirk.

"Don't tempt me."

"So, what're you up to?" She takes a seat next to you, ignoring the cold dock.

"Just trying to find something to pass the time." A cool breeze makes you shiver.

"So you're sitting all the way out here? There's a small lounge on base we're welcome to, you know."

You shrug. "We'll be out here soon anyway, right? How are the preparations going?"

"About done. They were stringing up the last nets when I checked half an hour ago."

Good. What better way to take advantage of a few more days than to set up a real challenge for the oddballs that will soon be under your command? With the extra time, the Final Examination has become something of a pet project for all four of you. Surprisingly, Rae took a big interest in its design; you always took her for something of a laggard regarding actual work. Officers keep surprising you, it seems.

Rae tosses the last bite of her sandwich in the air, catching it with expert grace. "Shall we get ourselves ready?" she asks, wiping a crumb off her face.

[ ] I'll catch up, I want to watch the work on the sub for a bit.
[ ] Let's check on the test area first.
[ ] We should see how the trainees are doing first.


---

Archives here: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=SubWQ
IRC here: #swq on irc.rizon.net

>>22362187
[x] Touch fluffy tail

[x] We should see how the trainees are doing first.

>>22362213
Test area

>>22362213
[x] We should see how the trainees are doing first.

gotta check out dem goils

>>22362213
[x] Let's check on the test area first.
Make sure it's all ready for the Final Exam.

>>22362213
[x] We should see how the trainees are doing first.
Wonder how bad Boser's gotten.

>>22362213
>[X] Let's check on the test area first.

File: 1357178666527.jpg-(18 KB, 330x225, fosu03.jpg)

"I'd feel better if we checked on the girls, first." You stand up, brushing off any dirt that might have hitched a ride, and extend a to Rae. "Shall we?"

Rae takes your hand, grinning. "Going to go see if they hate us yet?"

You give her a pained look. "Them? Hate me? Never!" Rae gives you a punch on the arm for your trouble.

"You broke two of them! If anyone's got any hate headed their way, it's you!"

You lower your eyes. "Yeah, I guess you're right." You start walking to the lounge, your feet on autopilot.

"Hey," Rae says as she catches your shoulder, "I'm only joking, alright? We got a messed up bunch to start with; you've done a damned fine job with what you were given."

She's right. You ought to be prouder of your work. It got you a promotion straight to Officer ranks, after all. Managing a smile, you take her hand off your shoulder. "I know. C'mon, we don't have all day."

She studies you for a moment before backing down, sighing. "Well, I guess I can't do much for you here. I'll get you something nice before we ship out. Look forward to it!"

You groan.

"What?" Rae demands, following you out of the dock.

"Your last 'something nice' made a scene in front of an entire base's personnel."

"That was a celebration, not something nice!!"

"Your idea of celebration is just another mess to clean up!"

Rae argues happily for the rest of the walk.

File: 1357179067667.png-(158 KB, 1000x700, Odessa_Rothrock.png)

>>22362882
The two of you hear laughter as you approach. Rae glances at you. Laughter? You both bolt to the window, peeking inside. The trainees are inside, eating some food, playing cards, and sitting about. Not exactly what you'd like to see from a military standpoint given how close the examination is, but...at least they're getting along and bonding.

"Hey, is that Boser?" Rae asks, pointing to the couch. A sullen-looking girl holds a small cup of coffee in her hands, slouched over and resting her arms on her knees. Odessa turns to her and says something, a smile on her face. Boser... "Hey, she smiled!"

Rae's right. It was small and only for a moment, but dammit, Boser smiled! You break out in a massive grin. "I told you it'd work!"

"Hey, look!" Rae turns your attention back inside. Odessa walks back to the percolator, obscuring it as she tries to get another cup. She fiddles with it, somehow looking a little lost, when a column of hot water erupts from the device.

[ ] Odessa!
[ ] Sit and watch.

>>22363034

[x] Sit and watch.

Much as I want to rush in and save the cutewitch, I think her buddies have it.

>>22363034
[x] Sit and watch.
We don't want them finding out we're peeking in on them, as much as I want to go and check on Odessa.

>>22363034
I AM SLAPSTICK
I HATE THE LIGHT

I. AM. BATMOE

>>22363034
[x] Sit and watch.
Okay, so, during daytime ops, we're gonna have to come up with something for her to do that seems important, but really isn't. Because I'm sure if we ask her to just sit in her room and do nothing, her bunk will collapse or something.

>>22363034
>[X] Sit and watch.
This sort of shit happens to her all the time. Nothing to shout about.

>>22363034

[X] Sit and watch.

>>22363181
Batmoe is the strongest moe.

File: 1357180742144.png-(1.19 MB, 1000x639, 3f585117f6d6290904451f1b8(...).png)

You dart for the door, but Rae crabs your collar. "Guh!" you blurt, falling as your shirt strangles you. "What was that for!?" you ask, rubbing your bottom. "The ground's not exactly soft, you know!"

"Hold on! Look!" Rae points back inside, her eyes never having left Odessa.

You oblige against your better judgment, peering at the chaos. Surprisingly, Odessa is dry; she must have leapt back in time. The column of boiling water seems to have disappeared and the whole room is looking at her. Slowly, she starts chuckling nervously. The rest of the room breaks out into laughs as well, patting her on the back and asking if she's alright. A minute later, she again attempts the percolator, this time with Boser at her side. With a little direction, Odessa gets a small cup of coffee and hands it to Boser. The melancholy witch takes it, setting her now empty cup on the table. This time, the slight smile on her face stays.

"Are you alright, Cleo?" Rae asks, concerned. She tilts her head and leans forward, examining you closely.

"Uh, what? Yeah, I'm fine..." You pick your jaw up from the ground. "That...that was unexpected."

"Well, if they're all like that all the time, I think we can stop being mean and uncaring instructors to them soon."

You nod. "Perfect timing; we won't be instructors much longer."

"Speaking of which, you ready?"

[ ] Yeah, let's round up the trainees.
[ ] Let's get there before the group and look things over.

>>22363608
[x] Let's get there before the group and look things over.

Gotta do responsible stuff n shit.

[x] Let's get there before the group and look things over.

Better be sure and let them have a few moments more.

>>22363608
[x] Lewd

>>22363608

[x] Let's get there before the group and look things over.

Surprise them! They won't know where we are, or who is where.

>>22363608

[X] Let's get there before the group and look things over.

>>22363608
[x] Let's get there before the group and look things over.

>>22363685
What would that even do in this situation?

>>22363608
[x] Let's get there before the group and look things over.
Gotta make sure that the course is properly prepared.

>>22363770

Hide and watch the trainees changing?

>>22363779
I like this. Let's do this.

File: 1357182501505.jpg-(75 KB, 600x399, woman-running-at-sunset.jpg)

"Of course. Race you there?"

Rae puts on a devilish grin. "You really think you can beat me?"

You answer by dashing to the road.

"H-Hey, that's not fair!" she yells, dashing after you.

"All's fair in love and war!"

"Is that a confession?"

"It's a declaration of war!" You dart down the road, dodging several carts, sailors, dockhands, and vehicles traveling down to the ships. You keep your destination in mind: the temporary lockers next to the testing pier. "You still back there, Rae?" you taunt.

There's no response. Huh. Did you pull that far ahead? You turn back to look. Rae's not there!

"Too slow!" she yells from in front.

"Huh!?" You watch as Rae swoops in from between two stacks of crates, taking a shortcut that places her firmly in front. The back of her head taunts you as she maintains her lead all the way to the lockers.

"So...heh...how was that?" Rae pants.

"How was...what?"

"Losing!"

[ ] It sucked.
[ ] Beat her to the water.

[x] Beat her to the water.

>>22364234
[x] It sucked.

>>22364234
[x] It sucked
Let her have her victory.

>>22364234

[x] Beat her to the water.

Perhaps telling her it sucked to lure her into a false sense of security?

[X] Beat her to the water

>>22364234
>[x] Beat her to the water.
That picture...

>>22364234
[x] it sucked

File: 1357184763696.jpg-(352 KB, 566x1426, northern-diver-br-n002-br(...).jpg)

Losing? You never said where the race ends! You're still in this, but you must be...careful. Acting naturally, you shrug and walk into the locker room...then lock it. Perfect. You bolt into action, stripping yourself of your uniform (it's odd, seeing that new rank there) and slipping into your drysuit.

"Hey!" Rae yells, banging on the door. "Let me in!"

"Occupied!" you shout back, zipping up your suit with a shiver. You really wish they'd cover up your back. You grab your substriker, sling it around your back, tighten up all the straps, button the buttons, clasp the clasps, and hook the hooks. With it firmly attached, you put the leg units under your arm and hold the helmet with your other.

It's time to emerge.

You unlock the door, letting it swing wide open as the resistance suddenly disappears. Rae falls backwards, caught off guard. "You'll know what it's like to lose personally!" you taunt, tossing the helmet on your head and adjusting it

"But I beat you here!"

"Not to the water!" You thrust your legs into the units and tip over the edge, diving into the ocean water. It's cool, but your suit keeps the water from chilling you. You drift for a ways, testing to make sure you didn't break anything in your rush. When it all checks out, you resurface

"Not fair!" Rae shouts, her head sticking out from behind the locker room door. You chuckle as her frustrated face disappears and the door shuts with a slam. Well. With victory unarguably yours, it's time to check things out

You head back under the waves, flipping your helmet light on. The light scatters in the agitated harbor, only illuminating the next 20 feet or so. It's not shallow here, but it's still a lot shallower than the open ocean you're used to. Hmm. The test area should be close by...

"...hear me? Over." Your radio set clicks with the sound of another familiar voice. "Again, Cleona, do you hear me? Over."

"Miranda! I didn't know you were here already," you say to your microphone.

"Of course I am; someone has to make sure preparations are going smoothly. Where were you two?" Miranda's voice seems more steady, more confident than before. Being busy with purposeful work might have helped.

"Having lunch, checking on the trainees, you know. The usual."

"Well, the area's ready. The divers finished placing the last nets about ten minutes ago."

You nod, even though she can't see it. "How about the tinted helmets?"

"Ready and waiting."

"Trip flares? Bells?"

"Yes."

"Metal box and switch?"

File: 1357185666261.png-(1.34 MB, 2000x1000, ssubwitches.png)

>>22365237


"Of course, though that's not what it is." You can almost hear Miranda rolling her eyes. The "wrecked" boat the trainees would be infiltrating amounted to effectively a plain metal box, but she insists on calling it a sunken ship. Inside is a switch that starts a timer. The trainees have to flip it then escape within five minutes, all without getting "killed" or detected. Littering the area are all sorts of nets and traps. If the trainees set off any flares, they're instantly "killed" and will be escorted out of the area. Ring any bells, and you and the other instructors will know where to go. If the trainees don't manage to escape before the 5 minute timer hits zero, a bunch of floodlights go on and they're "killed in the explosion."

"Mind if I take a look?"

"Not at all. They're to your left."

With Miranda's guidance, you find the outer net marking the boundary between "in game" and "out of game." Obviously, exiting the area before the escape results in a loss. You follow it around to the starting point where Miranda and Yetta are waiting. They float lazily, suspended by their neutral buoyancy.

"Well," you ask, "are you all ready?"

"Not me!" Rae radios in from above as the other two nod.

"I already know that," you tease.

"Hmph. Hey, the trainees are here."

[ ] Give them a long overview and answer questions.
[ ] Brief briefing and hop to it!

>>22365255
[x] Give them a long overview and answer questions.

Let's do this the right way.

[x] Give them a long overview and answer questions.

Might as well make them as prepared as they can be.

>>22365255
[x] Give them a long overview and answer questions.
We will, of course, 'forget' certain details, for a fully authentic The Intel Was Wrong experience.

>>22365255
[x] Give them a long overview and answer questions.

>>22365255

[x] A long overview and answer questions.

We want to test them, but we don't want them to fail.

Let's set them up with the tools they need to succeed.

File: 1357187048811.jpg-(236 KB, 1280x852, 1280px-US_Navy_110608-N-K(...).jpg)

"Alright, I'm on my way up." You give Miranda and Yetta a nod, then drift on over to the edge of the pier. You grasp the rails serving as a ladder and hoist yourself up a bit. It takes a bit of effort with the leg units on, but you manage with some help from Rae.

"Alright," you begin after getting the group of girls organized. "Your mission is simple. Down in that water is a 'wreck.' In that wreck, there's a switch that we're pretending is a bomb. You're to work together to flip it. Once you've set that switch, you've about five minutes to get out of the boundary net before the 'bomb' explodes. Any questions?"

You resist the urge to groan. Karina Wooding raises her hand. "Sounds simple!" she comments in a sure voice. "What obstacles are we going to face?"

"Nets attached to bells. You ring them, you get points off. We've got several flares set up too; trip their wire and they'll go off. If we see a flare, you've been 'killed' and will be removed."

Next to raise her hand is Clare Harton. "Do we have a time limit?"

"Sooner rather than later. Take too long and you all fail."

>>22365692
Edwina Hakes raises her hand next. "There's...there's no actual bomb, is there?"

"I have not prepared an actual bomb." The poor girl looks terrified. Oh well; she needs to get used to the real dangers soon.

"What if something goes wrong?" Odessa does a good job of hiding her worry, but you can still tell she's thinking about her spontaneous accidents.

"Nothing's going to go wrong, and we'll be watching anyway."

"I was under the impression the instructors would be taking an active role in the exercise." A sharp voice turns your head. It's Ogawa, her gaze much less severe than usual.

"We will be overseeing things and letting everyone know if they've been 'killed' and can no longer participate."

"Then why do we need our weapons?"

"You're not going to be doing any missions unarmed, are you? Get used to carrying them around, though today you're still loaded with training rounds. Anything else?"

The trainees are silent.

"Good. Let's get started."

>>22365812
The trainees head into the locker room to get ready, leaving you and Rae alone. "So, you think they'll make it?" she asks.

You shrug. "I hope so. They can't seriously think there's not going to be anything coming after them, can they?"

"Never say never. Go ahead and hop back in, I'll get them going."

"Thanks." You take Rae's offer and jump back in the cold water, rejoining Yetta and Miranda.

You didn't tell them, but the instructors will be participating. Miranda hands you a torpedo launcher and spear gun. Any trainee hit will be sent back to the beginning to navigate the web of nets. You won't be going after anyone ringing bells at first, but sooner or later you'll be hunting them down. It's kind of exciting planning a sneak attack. With the dimmed visors, the trainees will have a harder time seeing that you're engaging them.

"I'm still not sure about this," Miranda says.

"Well, they need to prepare for the unexpected. Besides, this is war. They should always expect the enemy. Besides, we're being good sports, right? If we get hit, we're out. For good, actually."

"I suppose..."

That leaves the question of when to start your attack.

[ ] Chokepoint them as they exit the web of nets
[ ] Wait until they're in the "minefield" of flares and bells
[ ] Trap them when they set the bomb

>>22365820

[x] Minefield

Wait until they're in the middle of the minefield. Then CHAOS SHALL REIGN!

AHAHAHAHA!

Seriously though, we can probably surprise them for maximum effect there. It would be most effective in the "killing them" sense to hit them at the chokepoint, but the goal is to test their skills, and "not getting shot when you go through a hole" isn't necessarily the primary skill we want them to take from this exercise.

We want them to dodge and evade, being hard targets while not hitting any of the environmental hazards we've placed around them. Force them to use their maneuvering skills to the utmost.

>>22365820
[x] Trap them when they set the bomb
Gotta get out in 5 minutes while under fire.

>>22365820
[x] Wait until they're in the "minefield" of flares and bells
Make sure we pick someone who'll be a good sport about it.

[x] Wait until they're in the "minefield" of flares and bells

>>22365820
[x] Trap them when they set the bomb
There's got to be something new on the way out rather than them just retracing their steps.

>>22365820
[x] Wait until they're in the "minefield" of flares and bells

LET THE BODIES HIT THE FLOOR

>>22365953

Speaking of being good sports, do we warn them over the radios (after we attack them, perhaps)?

"Attention trainees. The area has been infiltrated by martian telebots disguised as your instructors. They must be trying to stop you from setting off the bomb!"

[x] Mines

Also, do let them know that they're supposed to consider the instructors to be enemies when we engage them.

>>22366030
I think we should give them that much.
Maybe an "Estimated contact in 30 seconds!" or something.

>>22366030
That doesn't sound fun at all!

>>22366030
That would probably prevent a fair bit of post-test bitching. Maybe with an additional admonition that they won't get that much warning in a real mission.

>>22366030
No. It's not an ambush if we warn them. We already told them about the traps and stuff which they wouldn't know about in a real mission.

>>22366030
>>22366073

I kinda like the idea of one of the instructors playing the role of the announcer from tf2.

>>22366030
Get Miranda to give them about 2 seconds warning.
And of course, don't give our buddies any warning either.

>>22366100

Well, we can certainly warn them after the chaos has died down a bit.

I just like the idea of making it more than a mission to flip a switch inna box.

A daring infiltration mission! With humanform telebots dogging their every step! AND EXPLOSIONS.

File: 1357189705390.jpg-(18 KB, 450x230, JillHeinerth_BermudaDeep_(...).jpg)

You wait, hanging low to the seafloor with the two other instructors. Rae's somewhere by the entrance to the "arena," guiding the trainees in. You can see the faint light of their helmets as they maneuver.

"...there's an emergency, then signal and we'll cancel the test. Understand what that means; only signal if you absolutely need assistance and cannot handle yourself," Rae warns them over the radio.

"Understood," they respond. It's all very faint and smeared with static; water doesn't like normal radio. Even magic radio sets have difficulty; only a radio witch such as yourself can send or receive signals through long underwater distances.

"Alright, you may begin."

Your heart begins to beat faster, adrenaline beginning to flood your veins. Calm down, you tell yourself. It's just a test, and you're not even being examined. Damn, you wish you had Socks to talk to. You fiddle with the mechanism on your torpedo launcher to calm your nerves. It doesn't work nearly as well as you wish.

"Watch the nets! If this was real, you'd be dead the moment you mess with them!"

"Your foot is in my face, can't see a damned thing!"

"Move forward, make sure nothing is jutting out as you pass through."

"Next net's pretty long, still trying to find the hole..."

"Are we almost out?"

>>22366541
Their chatter keeps you from calming down. They're going to be here. You're going to hit them. They might not make it. What if they get tangled in a net and their oxygen hose gets ripped? What if they twist and hit a rock, shattering their helmet? What if-

<Are you okay?> a voice in your head asks as you feel a hand grip your wrist.

<Oh, yeah, just...excited,> you answer. Miranda squeezes gently. It's been so long, you'd forgotten that Socks wasn't the only one who could speak with you.

<Me too,> she says. Your heat slows a bit and you manage to stop messing with your launcher. Knowing someone's feeling like you are...it's great not being alone.

"Here! Found the last hole!"

"Watch out, I can already see the flare setups."

"There's a lot of them..."

"Help, I'm stuck!"

"Rothrock, I believe I warned you."

You turn to Yetta, then to Miranda. They both look back at you, ready. Slowly, they crawl away from you, shutting off their dim lights. You do the same, blending in with the aquatic plants.

>>22366541
>still trying to find the hole...

First time, huh?

>>22366757


"Here, careful. This net's attached to a bunch of those flares."

"Bastards...there's no way they'd use a wall of mines."

"They can hear you, you know."

"This isn't a problem! Just over here! Come along!"

WHOOOSH!

"I TOLD YOU!"

"But I thought I didn't touch it!"

"Seaman Karina Wooding, you are dead. Surface and return to the entrance. Seaman Odessa Rothrock and Lt. Jg. Clare Harton, you are caught in the explosion. Return as well."

"Awwww, Karin, I told youuuuuuu..."

The trainees stop and watch as the trio surface. Miranda and Yetta are waiting on you to make the first strike....

[ ] Now!
[ ] They're still not that deep in the field.

[x] They're still not that deep in the field.

>>22366774

[x] They're still not that deep in the field.

I want CHAOS. CHAAAAAAOS.

>>22366774
[x] They're still not that deep in the field.

Good things come to those who wait.

>>22366774
[x] They're still not that deep in the field.

>>22366774
[x] They're still not that deep in the field.

>>22366774
[x] They're still not that deep in the field.

Gotta let them get in deep... just how Cookie likes it.

Not yet. No martian would be stupid enough to fire now. Rather, you'd rather not have these trainees learn to hope their enemy is incompetent. You stay your finger, choking back the adrenaline-pumped desire to fire. They come closer, closer, closer...

"Wait for us!"

"We're coming back!"

"In real missions, you would not be coming back. We will proceed without you."

"Awww..."

They sweep forward, carefully watching the small currents that threaten to move them into the mines. Their lights sweep over your position, but they take no notice of you. You hope it's because they're too focused on avoiding the traps to try and pick you out from the plants and not them thinking you're not a threat. It wouldn't sit right with you if they saw you but "knew" you weren't a threat.

"Hold on!"

"What?"

"Do you see that?"

"No mines over there."

"Yeah, I know, but look. Does that look like...?"

"A torpedo launcher?"

Lights that used to sweep over you now focus on you. You can feel the weight of that light bearing down on you. Wait any longer and...

"Ambush!" you yell over the radio. You swing your launcher up and fire at two stationary witches. They freeze, caught off guard. As you quickly flee from your position, the torpedo hits one square in the belly before bouncing off and hitting her companion.

File: 1357191876589.jpg-(450 KB, 1117x735, 1348709196495.jpg)

>>22367136
"What was that!?"

"Ambush! Ambush!"

"That looked like Crumble's striker!"

"She's not alone! Move!"

"Where'd that torpedo come from!?"

"Watch out, that's a-!"

WHOOSH!

You duck behind a large rock, letting the chaos settle slightly.

<How'd you do?> you ask Miranda.

<I missed, but she ran into a mine.>

<Hah. Well, hopefully they've learned about situational awareness...>

"Lt. Joanna Jordon, Seaman Isabel Hall, Lt. Jg. Edwina Hakes, you are dead. Resurface and return to the entrance. "

This time the trainees don't waste any time watching their comrades surface. The two survivors dart from place to place, sweeping the area for any hint of you or the other instructors. Who's left? Natsumi Ogawa and Elizabeth Boser. Interesting.

[ ] Lay low
[ ] Make a more active defense of the wreck

>>22367306
[x] Lay low

>>22367306
[x] Lay low

GOTS TA BE SNEAKY.

>Ogawa and Boser left

This should be interesting.

>>22367306

>Crumble

...They gave us a NEW nickname.

Somehow this one doesn't feel as affectionate as cookie.

>>22367306

[x] Lay low!

SNEAKY SNEAKY

>>22367306
If this was in it to win it territory, I'd say to lay low. As it is, we should stay in-scenario and
>[X] Make a more active defense of the wreck.

>>22367422

You make a good point, but I think we can ambush them again, see if they catch us at it this time.

>>22367306
[x] Make a more active defense of the wreck
To better simulate an alert being sounded and active defenses coming online.

>>22367510

Hmmm... Okay, You've got me convinced. Changing my vote of sneaky sneaky to active defense.

File: 1357192745574.jpg-(165 KB, 1200x994, 1348709404484.jpg)

You can't take many chances if you want to stick around. Ogawa's borderline good at her job, and Boser...well, she's shown a very interesting turn about in performance. There's a reason why they're the only ones still up...and the first group of casualties are going to be showing up soon.

"Be careful, they can hear our communications," Ogawa warns.

"Yes," Boser acknowledges flatly.

You do your best to shrink behind your rock, keeping a watch on light sources. They sweep to and fro, searching. The radio goes silent. You can't hear anything but your panting and the beating of your heart. You should reload. Yes. Reload. Slowly and carefully, you reach at your belt, extracting a minitorpedo to replace the one you fired. Slowly (so slowly!) you lift it to the barrel of your launcher and slide it in.

Clunk!

"There!"

The sound of two torpedoes launching cracks through the water.

[ ] Bolt
[ ] Stay

>>22367556
[x] Stay

>>22367556
[x] Bolt

>>22367556

[x] Stay

>>22367556
[x] Stay

File: 1357193669447.jpg-(23 KB, 400x266, givin_her_all_shes_got_capn.jpg)

You freeze in place, only twisting your head to try and spot the torpedoes. You didn't see Ogawa or Boser. They couldn't possibly have fired on you if you can't see them, right? You're gambling your participation to keep your hidden position.

"Miss! Switch to speargun!" Ogawa orders.

"Switching."

"If you can't hit, make her move!"

"Aaaaah!" Yetta screams. You imagine her trying to twist and dart, moving to avoid the spears-

SWOOSH!

"Yetta, you set off a mine! You're out."

You breathe a sigh of relief. Still, now you're down one, and Yetta's not coming back into the battle.

"We're back!" Karina Wooding announces.

"Good job informing the enemy," Ogawa says, annoyed.

"Oh, sorry. We'll get them anyway, though!"

Now there's five of them. If you fire now you might take out a few...

[ ] Attack
[ ] Hold
[ ] Retreat

>>22367820
[x] Attack

>>22367820

[ ] ATTACK

>>22367820
[x] Attack
Ogawa's got a point. Wooding's got to learn when to keep her mouth shut.

>>22367886
Or we teach them codephrases.
Air and land Witches can communicate by shouting at each other, and the enemy is unlikely to hear them, while we have to use radio that can be intercepted. Yet another handicap we get with subs.

>>22367820

[x] AMBUSH

by which I mean hold, for a little longer.

>>22367920
The radio doesn't even go that far; most of the time you can't communicate, and when you can, it can be intercepted.

>>22367920

Did we ever teach them sign language for when the radios are out, or when it's time for strict emissions control?

Because that seems like the kinda thing that we should teach them.

Hell, Cookie's enlisted, she should at least know semaphore.

>>22367820
[x] Attack

GIT EM

The reinforcements probably aren't ready to snap-fire their weapons and Ogawa and Boser probably haven't reloaded yet. If you're going to strike, now's the time. You rush out from behind your rock, quickly locating them and taking aim...

"Get your weapon ready, they're not playing around."

"Fine, fine..."

"S-sorry..."

"Yawn..."

There! You fire, aiming at the center-most witch. You quickly dart back towards the wreck as your torpedo rushes out, tearing through the water towards its target.

"There she is! Fire!"

"Aaah! Look out!"

The five figures scramble, retaliating with torpedoes of their own. Three of them are fired at where you are, not where you're going, so you don't have to worry about them, but two lead you reasonably. You don't have enough time to come to a stop and dodge them!

[ ] Dart left!
[ ] Move right!

>>22368130
move towards them and dodge at the last moment.

>>22368130

[x] Dart left!

It has the word dart in it! It must be more of a change!

>>22368130
[x] Dart left!

>>22368130
[x] Dart left

REMEMBER THE FIVE D'S OF SUBWITCHING. DODGE, DUCK, DART AND COOKIE'S TITS.

>>22368170
Two of those don't even start with D. I think.

>>22368170
Took me a second, then laughed.

>>22368130
[x] Dart left!

>>22368170

Oh god, you're awesome.

>>22368130
I caught up!
DART.

>>22368170
I never knew she had a pair of D's.

>>22368372
Of course she does. They're Cookie's cookies.

File: 1357195620310.jpg-(516 KB, 1000x707, 30854431.jpg)

You dart to the left!...and just barely avoid colliding with a tripwire. It passes an inch away from your helmet, nearly catching on your launcher and leg units as you glide by. Your heart stops as you realize how close to self-elimination you just came. Ogawa and Boser really have this "control where your enemy goes" thing down well...

"Switch!" Ogawa orders, letting loose a much faster spear. The others do the same.

<Miranda, now!> you yell desperately as you frantically swim away from the mine.

<Got it!> Out of the corner of your eye, you spot a torpedo launch, catching the group unaware. You watch it for a moment before a bright light and SWOOSH block your view.

"Hah! Got her!"

"Wait, where's the announcement? Lt. Caulders, did we get her?"

The next second is agonizing.

"No, Lt. Cmdr. Kukyendall cleared the blast radius."

"Damn! We'll get her, just let me reloAAAAAouch!"

"Seaman Karina Wooding, you are dead. Resurface and return to the entrance."

"Again!?" Wooding grumbles, leaving the pack.

[ ] Retreat into cover
[ ] Switch to speargun and try again

File: 1357195627568.jpg-(48 KB, 425x264, web-cookie.jpg)

>>22368401
Oh you...

>>22368428
[x] Switch to speargun and try again

[x] Retreat into cover

>>22368428
Cover, but switch to speargun as we go.

>>22368428

[ ] Retreat.

BRAVE COMMANDER COOKIE, SHE RAN AWAY BRAVELY

>>22368428
[x] Retreat into cover

Resume sneakiness. Shooting twice in a row while visible would be dumb.

>>22368428
[x] Retreat into cover
Now we see if they concentrate on taking us out, or if they remember the mission.

While the sudden strike catches the trainees off guard and the rush of the flare still partially obscures you, you decide it's a good idea to try and find some cover. You can't go back to your rock; the trainees are drifting closer and closer to it. Where can you go? You drop to the floor, skimming the tops of the plants as you search for a suitable location.

<They're on me!> Miranda exclaims. <They're not going to let me get away...>

<Damn. Do what you can!>

<Alright...>

You grit your teeth. Really? Being taken out so soon? Well, you suppose you've already eliminated seven trainees as a group...but you'd have liked to do more. Your eyes flick from side to side, scanning. You just need somewhere big enough to hide you, but where? There's no more rocks out here at the far side of the minefield and the plant life is giving way to sand.

<I'm out of torpedoes!> Miranda cries.

This is ridiculous! You've become the hunted, not the hunter! Cover, cover, cover! There! The wreck! You can hide behind the box. You propel yourself behind it, reloading.

<Aaah!>

"Miranda, you're out too," Rae announces.

"Hmph," Ogawa says smugly.

How can you turn this around? Do you even want to? Thoughts race through your head.

[ ] Sniper mode
[ ] Trap mode
[ ] Set the bomb yourself

>>22368738
[x] Trap mode

>>22368738
[x] Trap mode

The hunter who became the hunted shall once more become the hunter.

>>22368738

[ ] GROPE MODE

REMEMBER THE BASICS OF SUBWITCHING, COOKIE. DUCK, DODGE, DART AND YOUR COOKIES.

[x] Trap mode

I think Cookie should be proud of herself as she turned the two most broken down witches into possible badasses.

>>22368792
Settle down, son, we already had those jokes.

>>22368738

[x] Trapu modu!

>>22368796

And quite possibly lesbian lovers.

>>22368796

She should, but when they're badasses out to get you... it feels like less of an achievement.

File: 1357196907535.jpg-(150 KB, 436x416, forbidden-love.jpg)

>>22368828

>>22368828
Most definitely lesbian lovers. They ARE still witches, after all.

>>22368828

Just because they're witches doesn't mean they're having sex with each other!

They could be having sex with any number of OTHER witches.

>>22368858
You say that like there aren't straight witches.

File: 1357196987499.png-(42 KB, 327x221, yes.png)

>>22368828

File: 1357197073303.png-(5 KB, 105x150, 1356412216432.png)

>>22368881
>straight witches

You disgust me.

>>22368738
[x] Trap mode
Can't let them get too smug.

>>22368908

WHY DOES EVERYONE FORGET ABOUT THE BISEXUALS! THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH WANTING A BIT OF VARIETY!

They're going to get you. There's no way they're not; they can just cycle through over and over again. The question is...how many can you take out before they take you out? How can you take them out in a way that they'll learn from? It's all play right now, but so far only Ogawa and Boser haven't been hit.

Hmm. Sounds like it's high time to change that. The wreck is beyond the minefield, but that's not to say there aren't any mines. They're just at a much lower density, easily avoided. The trainees are still stuck in the middle of it, forced to carefully avoid them while keeping an eye out for you. You've got time.

Carefully, you approach a mine. They're a simple contraption. The flares have an oxidizer in them and are water tight, letting them trigger even while submerged. A thin wire is connected to the igniter on one end and a buoy on the other, drawing it taut. Nudging it is enough to trip the igniter, setting the flare off and "killing" you.

You pull out your combat knife, ruining its blade to cut through the thin wire some way towards the surface. You make sure to pull down on the buoy so as to not trip the flare, a difficult task when you're nearly neutrally buoyant to be sure. Yes! It comes free without eliminating you. That would have been embarrassing.

>>22369188
You dig up the flare and carry it to the wreck. There are two entrances to it, one on the side facing the trainees and one opposite that side. You wrap the wire through two bars on either side of the entrance (probably put there to help get in and out), letting the flare dangle precariously an inch or so above the floor. The wire now crosses the entrance and it's thin enough that, should they try to enter without careful examination....Woosh! There goes an entire group.

"Is that her?"

"Nah, just the shadows."

"Keep an eye out."

"Of course!"

The radio floods with activity; the rest of the trainees must have caught up. Your trap carefully laid, you circle to the side, hoping to catch their flank when they trigger the mine. You sit tight, knowing that your cover isn't perfect; you're relying on being so far off the path that they won't see you.

"Are we all through?" asks Ogawa.

"Yes," Boser answers.

"Everyone take a side. Watch for the Lt. Cmdr., don't let her get another one of you."

"Yes, ma'am," the others reply. Man, Ogawa's really got them organized.

The group timidly approaches the wreck, scanning. To your delight, you see them rush to the box, taking positions at the upper edge and sides of it as they watch out for you. The only trainees not so close are...Ogawa, Boser, and Odessa. They're on the far edge of the circle they've formed, scanning behind the group.

"Set the switch," Ogawa orders.

"Sure thing!" Wooding's confident as ever.

>>22369234


SWOOSH!

"Um...everyone but Ogawa, Boser, and Rothrock? You're eliminated. Resurface and return to the entrance."

"Don't bother coming back! You'll just have to escape!" Ogawa's voice caries an angry edge to it. "I thought the wreck wasn't to be mined!?"

"It wasn't mined," Rae answers.

"Understood," Ogawa replies, her voice suddenly calm. Dammit, she recovered a lot more quickly than you expected. You watch her carefully. She seems to float about, thinking. She motions with her hands in nonsensical ways, frustrated. Still, they never stray too far from her launcher. The time to fire has come and gone...suddenly her helmet light swings directly to your position.

[ ] Fire
[ ] Get the hell out.

>>22369245

[x] Bug Ouuuuuuuut

>>22369245
[x] Fire

[x] Get the hell out.

I think the excercise is practically over.

>>22369245
[x] Fire

Man. I think Ogawa and Boser need to get promoted after this.

Ogawa needs to get HELLA promoted.

>>22369327
I think they may be fit in due time for subswitch commanders

>>22369245

[ ] OUT

Registering a vote from IRC by a dialup user:

[x] Fire

Alright, I need sleep tonight. Next vote is a tiebreaker.

>>22369245
[x] Fire and get the hell out

>>22369245
[x] Fire

>>22369539
Roger.

"Now!" Ogawa yells. You oblige. Your launcher already aimed a the stationary witch, you pull the trigger. The minitorpedo lurches towards her, traveling painstakingly slow through the thick medium. The distance is simply too much! All Ogawa needs to do is move-

And then something hits your side. Hard.

"Sorry, Cleo, that's it. You're out."

What? You look at your side; a training spear lies next to you. Further on you spot Boser; she must have moved around when you were paying attention to Ogawa, but how did they coordinate? Shit, wait! Those hand motions! When did they work out a code? Turning your gaze back to Ogawa, you see her drift slightly to the right, out of the torpedo's path. Damn.

"Alright, let's hit the switch-"

Suddenly, a torpedo drops on Ogawa's head.

"Lt. Ogawa, you're ou-Guh!" Rae stops mid-sentence, clutching her side as she drifts above the arena. In her hand is a freshly-fired torpedo launcher.

"You're out, Lt. Caulders!" Yetta cries, waving her spear gun in victory.

"Dammit! Alright, looks like you guys got all the instructors now..." Rae whines.

Ogawa throws her launcher at the ground in frustration. "Flip it and get out," she says angrily, heading for the surface.

>>22369663

I'm so proud. They did it and didn't die for real.

>>22369746
Not all of them have reached the surface yet. Give it time.

An hour later, all twelve of you are sitting in the lounge, recovering from the day's events. The trainees talk in hushed tones, their eyes occasionally stealing glances at your group of instructors. You flip through some notes on the battle. Eliminations: 132. Untouched Survivors: 1. Damn. That doesn't look good; there were only 8 trainees. Your group took out enough of them to eliminate them more than one and a half times over. Still, the fact that Boser managed to make it without once being touched (and that Ogawa nearly did) says a lot.

"Well," you say, hushing the chatter, "you all managed to set the bomb and escape within the allotted time."

They don't cheer or even smile.

"However, there were 13 eliminations-"

"That wasn't fair! You didn't tell us you'd be firing!" Hakes protests.

"It was an instructor vs. trainee exercise designed to test your abilities in a simulated mission. There are always enemies and unexpected difficulties."

"I was under the impression that Lt. Caulders was a noncombatant," Ogawa comments.

"Lt. Caulders was an instructor. Just because she didn't seem threatening doesn't mean she wasn't an enemy."

"...You may want to keep that in mind regarding your alien," she says under her breath.

>>22369839
For some reason, that thought shakes you. You know Socks better than anyone else. He's not a threat. But....what if? You clear the thought from your head. "Perhaps, Lt. Ogawa. Nevertheless, this is a meeting regarding your performance as a group today." You take a breath, resetting. "Only one of you managed to get through it without being eliminated. Congratulations, Lt. Boser. That said, your performance indicates that in a real battle, you're much too eager and naïve. The enemy will always be about, trying to eliminate you. They won't be using training rounds."

Most of the trainees look dejected, preparing to accept their fate.

"You all have passed. Congratulations."

And the room erupts into cheers. You just hope they'll learn from this in time for the mission.

NEXT TIME ON SUBWITCHES: MISSION START
WEDNESDAY, 8PM EST

We'll be starting the next part of the quest, so there may be some changes here and there. Thanks for reading!

>>22369839

Oh god. 13. Not 132

>>22369849

Can... can we show some pride in them now? I think they need it.

And we can start BONDING with our new minions!

>>22369856

M-M-M-M-MULTI KILL!

>>22369881

WICKED SICK!

>>22369856
Uh.

They were very determined.

>>22369908

Did they try to clear the mines the soviet way?

File: 1357201235504.jpg-(5 KB, 148x150, lost.jpg)

>>22369926
You've lost me.

>>22369967
THROW MORE SLUTS AT IT

>>22369967
March disposable troops onto the minefield. When they stop blowing up, mines are cleared.

>>22370001
>>22370003
Seems inefficient.

>>22370026
We have sluts to spare.

>>22370712
Why are there so many SWQ spinoffs? It seems like the only quest that has spinoffs at all.

>>22370712
Welcome to thread 40. Enjoy your stay.