"Not great, but not the worst either." He says. "I'm directed to start generating you for sorties over Syria and Northern Iraq. Normally, I'd be deploying you solo, but I'm not going to take that risk with you, so You'll be strictly flying as number two in strike ops for my tomcats and marines. You have any problem with that?"

"No, sir." You and Kyou both respond at the same time. He nods.

"Good. I'm not going to lie, I've got orders to get you combat time, but unless I have an aircraft come up unavailable, you're entirely surplus. For now, I'm going to have you start sitting in on package briefings in the morning and for the evening strikes, and you can sit cold alert or fly CAP till I have space to work you in. I'm not sending you into northern Iraq or eastern Syria on your first ops."

You nod again.

"Glad you understand." He says, his expression softening somewhat. "It's nothing against either of you. But there's too many people stateside that think it looks great for drakes to be dropping iron or enforcing no fly zones as soon as they graduate. You're here for how long?"

"We weren't told, sir." Kyou answers.

"Figures." He says. "That means it's on us to determine when you're ready to move on. If I had my way, we wouldn't keep you around, but I don't. Alright. You two sit down, I'll have someone come up to get you acquainted with the ship, and then we'll see about getting you in to at least sit in on a strike breifing. Any problems?"

[] None, sir.
[] All due respect, sir, I think we're able to tackle some of the strike tasking.

>>3646137
>[X] None, sir.

>>3646137
[] None, sir.

>>3646137
>[x] All due respect, sir, I think we're able to tackle some of the strike tasking.
May as well put the sensor suite to good use

>>3646137
[] None, sir.

We're still early in, let's not go jumping at the bit just yet. Let's show we can actually follow orders like a good boy.

>>3646137
>None, sir.

>>3646137
>[] None, sir.

Let's see how the Awoo takes it

>>3646137
>[x] All due respect, sir, I think we're able to tackle some of the strike tasking.
Aw Ghost, if only you lived in my city. I would have gotten you a job.

>>3646242
(My city being in the eastern half of the Netherlands)

Ok, votes called!

>>3646137
>[X] None, sir.

Let's not push the reasonable officer right off the bat. The guy is doing his best to look out for the newbie crew and he's not going to do a last minute shuffle of crews to slot us in when it's not really needed.

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[] None, sir.

"None, sir." You say, and Kyou nods from next to you.

"Good. some of your kind like to complain we don't start sending them to drop JDAMs on day one." He says with a nod. "Stay here, I'll have someone come up to get you and give you a quick tour."

He pulls the phone from it's cradle on his desk and punches in a couple numbers, and before too long, a marine knocks at the open hatch. The CAG looks up and nods at the young man. "Show these two around, lieutenant." He orders. "Just the basics, don't bother taking them up into marine country or the witch's den." Chow hall, hangar deck, medical and that shit."

"Yessir." The marine responds, looking over at you as you stand.

"That's all. Dismissed." The CAG says, and the marine nods, stepping back outside of the office.

"Welcome aboard Lieutenant- ah..?" He says, as you step out into the passageway behind him.

"Laroux-Bishop." You respond.

"Oh, no shit?" He says, surprised. "Wow. Well, nice to meet you. I'll show you around. Most of the time the witches keep forward, but don't be surprised if they come back to introduce themselves, especially if it gets around who you are."

"I take it many of them are interested in meeting the son of the legendary Frank Bishop?" Kyou asks. The marine laughs.

"That and most of them know one of the Bishop girls or other." He says as he walks. "Chow hall is down this passageway, up by the living spaces. Chow line is open twenty-four seven, but it fills up most of the day. We run staggered chow aboard, but for a flight crew your chow schedule is gonna get determined by your flight schedule. We've got a couple night strike teams aboard that eat morning chow at twenty-two." He shrugs.

"Are specific aircraft usually assigned specific time blocks?" Kyou asks. The marine nods.

"Usually. The Air Boss likes to keep it pretty fixed, and he keeps the witches split up pretty well across the other squadrons. We've got a half dozen aboard, they're wing, not navy."

"You are an aviator as well, then?" Kyou asks, and the marine nods.

"Hornets, yes ma'am." He says. "We fly most of the southern and coastal packages, the 'cats do anything out east or over Iraq. Most of our stuff goes in in the daylight, the cat crews fly mostly at night. There's four witches that fly with us, two that usually go up with the cats."

"What kind of threats have you encountered?"

The marine shakes his head. "Not much of anything. Fleet pasted their SAMs pretty good in the early weeks, we're really the only ones flying. the Turks occasionally will fly a strike into the north against the Kurds when they think we're not looking, and there's a handful of Soviet birds at the government base at el abaud, but they bug out when they see us."

[] What about ISIS?
[] So there's no threats out there?

>>3646681
>[X] What about ISIS?

No sign of hostile sparkles?

>>3646681
>[X] What about ISIS?

>>3646681
>[x] So there's no threats out there?

>there's a handful of Soviet birds at the government base at el abaud
Stalinka-spawn soon

>>3646681
>[] What about ISIS?

>>3646681
>[] What about ISIS?
First mission, enemy witches, 100%.

>>3646681
>[] What about ISIS?

>>3646681
>[x] What about ISIS?

>>3646681
>[x] So there's no threats out there?

Ok, votes called!

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[x] What about ISIS?

"What about ISIS?" You ask.

The marine shakes his head. "Nah, they're just targets. There's been rumors that they had some witches that had joined up, but no one's seen any and that rumor has been around since we got here." He snorts. "Shit, it was around before we were here. If they've got some sparkles, they're keeping them the fuck away from us."

"The news indicated they had captured or seized many SAM systems from Syria and the Iraqi government." Kyou says.

"They did, but we bombed the bajesus out of them, ma'am." The lieutenant responds. "But that was before we were on station. They may have a few systems in north Iraq, still, but for the most part Syria is clear. Occasionally you'll see a Syrian government jet or witch, but they're like the reds and bug out as soon as they see us."

"Medical's over here, with dental." The marine says. "There's always a corpsman on staff, the docs are in during working hours unless we're at general quarters. They'll hand out rubbers like they're candy, otherwise you'd better be bleeding to death or missing a limb. Dental's better about it, but who wants to go to the dentist?" He shrugs.

"And what about the Migs?" Kyou asks.

He shakes his head. "They've still got them, but no one knows where, and they can barely fly them anyway. The Iraqi air force claimed they shot one down, but they can't confirm or provide any evidence, so?" He shrugs. "If they are out there, it's like a half dozen ex-Syrian Mig-23s, plus maybe a handful of former Iraqi jets."

He stops in a passageway, flattening himself against a bulkhead as another pair of pilots in flight gear, squeeze by. "Don't let it fool you, ops tempo is really high." He says. "We're mostly trying to cover the Kurds in the north, but we hit government targets on the west coast as well. We're seeing more and more ex soviet stuff, shit they're offloading that didn't get expended during the war or sold off to help rebuild the economy back in the Ninteys. None of it's major, ya know, couple APCs here, a tank there, that sort of shit. ISIS seems to steal about three quarters of it off them."

"Are they still expanding?" Kyou asks.

"Hard to tell from here, ma'am." He responds. "They don't try a lot of the same shit they were doing, we don't see big road convoys or movement anymore, but they're still hitting everyone they can just as hard as they always have. They're still taking territory in Iraq, but they've been stopped in Syria." He shakes his head. "Course, with the new president coming in, who knows. We may have a MEUSOC on the ground this time next year."

"Maybe." Kyou says.

"The squadron ready rooms are back that way." The marine says, gesturing down a passageway. "They're one the deck above your cabin. Sounded like you'll be spending most of your time up there or in your cabin. Hangar deck is up above that." He stops. "Any questions?"

[] I think we're good.
[] yeah actually. (Write in)

>>3647022
>[] I think we're good.

>>3647022
>[] yeah actually. (Write in)
There a rec room? Cantina?

>>3647022
>[X] I think we're good.

>>3647022
>[x] I think we're good.

[x] yeah actually. (Write in)
How long you guys been under way?

Ok, votes called! This will be our last for the night, I think.

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>>3647022

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[x] I think we're good.

"I think we're good." You say.

The marine nods, then checks his watch. "If the CAG wants you sitting in on briefings, ours is in about four hours, we'll be running packages into the area around Idlib and Latakia."

You nod, but Kyou responds. "Thank you lieutenant." She says. "We will see you then."

"Four hours?" You ask. Kyou shrugs. "We could spend the time with our aircraft." She says. "Or in our cabin."

You shake your head. "I don't think Munin needs any more attention." The flight down, Munin- this time presenting as a young, albino boy with a black cloth over his eyes- managed to become bored somewhere over Iceland. You almost wonder about the programming that goes into the AIs- they're capable of focusing, like when you were briefly tagged by a Soviet over the horizon search radar on the leg of your flight. While Muninn warned you- and immediately began countermeasures- and soon as you'd lost the radar warning, he'd gone back to complaining. It reminds you of your sisters, actually- the worst parts of Anastasia and Lindsay combined. Too smart, easily bored, and very vocal.

Kyou smiles. "Surely it is not that bad." She says. "We were both told they would behave like this as they developed their personalities."

You nod. "But just because I understand it doesn't mean I feel like putting up with it." You point out.

Kyou laughs. "It is good to see that you can become frustrated." She says. "I had worried you weren't quite human, even now. So if not the aircraft, what do you believe we should do until those briefings?"

[] Let's go get chow, and we can go from there.
[] What would we even do with Muninn?
[] Do you want to go meet your counterparts now, get that over with?

Ok guys, that's going to be it for the night! We'll be back again tomorrow, maybe a little later than 18 EST because I've got a couple things to do, but I'm hoping to have them knocked out before that. Till then guys, cheers!

>>3647155
>[] Let's go get chow, and we can go from there.

>>3647155
>Let's go get chow, and we can go from there.
Food solves everything.

>>3647155
9S?

>>3647155
>[X] Let's go get chow, and we can go from there.

>>3647158
Thanks for the run boss.

>>3647155
>[x] Let's go get chow, and we can go from there.

>>3647155
>[x] Let's go get chow, and we can go from there.

>>3647158
Thanks for the run Ghost

>>3647155
>[x] Do you want to go meet your counterparts now, get that over with?
Normally I would say get food, but this possibly gets us ammunition against our sisters.

>>3647155
>[] Do you want to go meet your counterparts now, get that over with?

>>3647155
>[] Let's go get chow, and we can go from there.
>>3647166
looks like

>>3647155
>[] Do you want to go meet your counterparts now, get that over with?

>>3647155

[] Let's go get chow, and we can go from there.

Never pass up the chance for a hot meal.

>>3647155
>[x] Do you want to go meet your counterparts now, get that over with?

>>3646681
>some of your kind like to complain we don't start sending them to drop JDAMs on day one
Why?
JDAM is boring.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ0EVXaaXug

>>3647155
>{x] Do you want to go meet your counterparts now, get that over with?

>>3647155
>[] Do you want to go meet your counterparts now, get that over with?

>>3647155
>[] Let's go get chow, and we can go from there.
food is good

>>3647155
>[] Do you want to go meet your counterparts now, get that over with?

OBLIGATORY BUTT SNIFFING

>>3647155
>[x] Let's go get chow, and we can go from there.
I like food.

>>3647155
>[] Let's go get chow, and we can go from there.

Ok, votes called!

>>3647166

It totally is. Muninn has patrician taste

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[x] Let's go get chow, and we can go from there.

"Let's go get chow, and we can figure it out from there." You say, turning to head back down the passageway towards the chow hall. Kyou nods, falling into step near you- the passageway is too narrow for her to walk next to you, but you manage well enough.

"It is a little disappointing we're to be held back." She says. "I had hoped to be involved in combat sorties quickly."

You shrug. "Makes sense. We didn't hit many ground targets together."

"But all of your other missions involved striking ground targets." Kyou points out. "And it sounds as if the risk is low."

"To us." You point out. "But if there's guys on the ground, they're going to want the best they can get above them, and we're still new enough to make mistakes."

"For strikes?" Kyou asks. "Perhaps for close support, but simple strike missions I feel are well within our capabilities. And without experience there is no way for us to improve."

You nod- She's got a point there, though you're of the opinion that maybe a week or three flying wingman will do you good- it'll let you gain experience without really giving you a chance to screw things up.

The galley isn't quite empty, but it's far from full, too. You slide through line quickly, Kyou quietly following you, and you find a seat out of the way in the back corner.

"Aboard a Japanese carrier," Kyou says, "We would be expected to dine in the officer's mess." She says, looking around- while you're sure distinctions exist here as well, it doesn't appear anyone worries about them- you see officers that rank you eating at the same table as enlisted.

"Is that because of IJN restrictions, or because of your title?" You ask- not too long ago, you'd have been worried about insulting her with the question, though you now know she doesn't mind explaining the social ramifications of her position to you- she enjoys it, in fact. It's a sign that you're both interested in learning and that you won't be a drag on any goals she has post-service.

"Both." Kyou admits. "My brother and father may occasionally elect to eat with the lower enlisted, but generally myself or my sister would be expected to dine with the officer class." She pauses. "I'm sure you can imagine why that would be. However, I would still be expected to do so, though with the understanding that my pilot would accompany me."

"Of course," She continues. "We cannot expect any combat time from any IJN carriers. The most they are involved in is occasionally assisting in anti-piracy operations in the Malacca Strait and Java sea."

You're about to respond when the PA cuts in, ordering you- by name- back to the CAG's office. Kyou looks over at you as you stand. "Perhaps we are to see combat after all?"

[] Doubt it.
[] Guess we'll see

>>3649145
>[X] Guess we'll see

>>3649145
>[x] Guess we'll see

>>3649145
>[x] Guess we'll see

>>3649145
>[X] Guess we'll see

>>3649145
>[] Guess we'll see

>>3649145
>Guess we'll see

>>3649145
>[] Guess we'll see

>>3649145
>[x] Guess we'll see
Hmmmm, I am curious to see what this is about.

Ok, votes called!

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[x] Guess we'll see

You shrug. "Guess we'll see."

You and Kyou make your way back to the CAG's office, only occasionally having to pause to get direction.

Inside, the CAG is on the phone, and looks less than happy. He looks up and waves you inside, indicating you should stand near the bulkhead while he talks- though he hangs up a few seconds after you enter. "Change of plans." He says. "You're escorting my witches into northern Iraq. we just had a flight of echocats ambushed by witches. One of my birds went down, the other's doing a forced recovery at King Khalid. You're flying top cover for an Army SF unit."

You nod.

"Get your asses geared up and to the squadron ready room. I'd rather send a pair of cats, but if there's witches now, they're only going to get shot up. Get moving."

You nod- and you find yourself chasing Kyou at a dead sprint to the ready locker where your gear is stored. You change into your flight suit quickly at the same time she changes into hers, behind you- and you make it to the breifing room less than ten minutes after the CAG summoned you.

Inside, there's about four witches, all of them seated in the front row. One of them gets up- and then pauses when she sees Kyou and the wyvern patch on the shoulder of your flight suit. "You're the drake crew?" She asks. Kyou nods.

"Never seen you before." She says. "You new?"

[] Yeah.
[] This is our first live op.

>>3649644
>[X] Yeah.

>>3649644
>[x] Yeah.
While honesty is great let's not let on we're THAT green.

>>3649644
>[X] Yeah.

>>3649644
>[] This is our first live op.

>>3649644
>[x] Yeah

>>3649644
>[x] Yeah.

Yeet thyself, wench

>>3649644
>[x] Yeah.
Well I was right. Witches first flight.

>>3649644
>[x] Yeah.
Yeah

>>3649644
>[] Yeah.

>>3649644
>[] Yeah.

>>3649644
>[X] Yeah.

>>3649644
>[X] Yeah.

>>3649644
>[x] Yeah.

>>3649644
>[] Yeah.

Ghost? You still alive?

Ok, vote closed! Sorry about that, ahaha. Was trying to figure out internet for the shop. Long story.

>>3649145
>Officers eating with enlisted

What kind of bullshit is this? In ten years I saw exactly three officers go out of their way to eat in the galley when they weren't chasing an admiral.

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[x] Yeah.

You nod- she's not wearing rank pins, so you don't know if she ranks you or not, but it's a pretty good bet that she does. "Yeah." You respond.

"Thought so. I'm Captain Savannah Swett, USMC." She says. She's marginally taller than you, putting her about at the same height as Kyou, and she wears her brown hair long.

"Lieutenant Morgan Laroux-Bishop." You respond, saluting. She blinks in surprise, and waves the salute off.

"So you're him, huh?" She asks, looking over at Kyou. "That makes you-"

"Sho-sa Kyou, IJN." Kyou says. "Are you of relation to the Martian war ace?"

The marine witch nods. "My grandfather." She says, looking over her shoulder at the other Marine witches, all of them looking in your direction while not leaving their seats- you're by far the most junior officer in the room, you notice.

She's about to say something else, but the CAG and the ship's skipper take that moment to sweep into the ready room. You snap to attention at the same time as Kyou and Captain Swett, with the rest of the witches doing the same. You don't salute- you're not covered- but Kyou fires off an IJN salute all the same.

"At ease, take your seats." The CAG says.

"What's going on, sir?" Savannah asks, gesturing to the witches there. "We only just got some sack time after the last one."

"Badger flight got bounced by at least four witches over Kirkuk." He says, flatly. "Lights!"

The lights in the room dim, and a projector warms up, with a map of Iraq- one pulled straight off google, it looks like. "Badger one went down in the area, the Army's already got a team of green berets cycled up to go in and pull the crew out. Badger two took hits, they're recovering at King Khalid if they can make it, but they're probably putting down at Baghdad or Taqaddum." He says. "The Air force will be operating in the area as well, but be alert for anything. Badger was able to relay that the witches that hit them didn't appear at all until they were firing, so we're projecting some kind of stealth talent."

"Captain Swett, I want you to take at least one other witch with Lieutenant Laroux flying as your steelwing escort. You're to provide a BARCAP for the rescue operation and support for the CSAR team as necessary. Lieutenant, you're flying interdiction for the witches and support as necessary. Captain Swett is flight lead for this one. Clear?"

[] Clear, sir.
[] All due respect to the captain, sir, but if she and her girls are tired, It may be better to leave them back here. We can handle it if the air force is putting planes up as well.

>>3649947
>[] Clear, sir.

>>3649947
>[x] Clear, sir.

Oh shit ISIS witches.

>>3649947
>[X] Clear, sir.

>>3649947
>[X] Clear, sir.

I'd rather not undermine the sparkles when they all outrank us.

>>3649947
>[] Clear, sir.

>>3649947
>[x] Clear, sir.

>so we're projecting some kind of stealth talent
Hopefully we'll be able to spot them with the sensor pods

>>3649947

>[x] Clear, sir.

Everyone in this room has more combat time than us AND outranks us.

>>3649947
>[x] Clear, sir.

>>3649947
>[] Clear, sir.

>>3649947
>[x] Clear, sir.
We NEED to ensure those pilots get out, even if we have to go strafing with the 40mms. We all know what happened the last time ISIS got their hands on a pilot.

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>>3649952
ISIS isn't what we have to worry about

>>3649947
>[x] Clear, sir.

>>3649947
>[x] Clear, sir.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJjcCGGv4HE
Fukkin Hell brain what were you thinking?

>>3650015
>Not https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kVdCaczLE8
Absolutely plebian.

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>>3650032
Nigger that's a end of the quest song. You pop that shit early and it'll lose value.
So no u the pleb.

>>3649947
>[x] Clear, sir.

alles klar

>>3650057
YOU DOUBLE PLEB
THIS IS OBVIOUSLY THE END OF QUEST SONG. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80XAJKqRU9k

WITH THIS BEING THE EPILOGUE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2atlpj7AGXU

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>>3650057

>>3649947
>[] Clear, sir.

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>>3650080
>>3650084
>Not just waiting for when the end threads come to post it so it becomes pure art.
You're not just a triple pleb, but you're also a nugget too!

Ok, votes called. I'm hoping that when I move either up into the apartment the folks are putting in above the shop (dare I live my dream?) or out again, the distractions will stop, haha!

>>3650102
Ghost just weld together 1:24 scale tomcats and sell them as toys.

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>>3650095
I DIDN'T START THIS WAR BUT I'LL FINISH IT.
CAN YOU SEE ANY WAIFUS FROM HERE? WHAT HAS WAIFUS EVER GIVEN US?

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>>3650118
>WHAT HAS WAIFUS EVER GIVEN US?
That's simple, to give us rightful belkan clay and nice High G Turns to jerk off to. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adNtVPmcC4Y

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[x] Clear, sir.

"Clear, sir." You say, along with a short chorus of echos from the witches.

"That's all." The CAG says- the captain has stayed silent the entire time. "Lieutenant, we'll have your bird loaded up for you. Mixed bag, we'll be including the wing pylons for this as well."

You nod.

"Eventually you'll have to sort package loading yourself, but we don't have the time." He continues. "We're moving your fighter to the flight deck for weapons loading now, you'll launch in about twenty minutes."

"Aye, sir." You respond.

"Major? He's all yours." He says, addressing Captain Swett.

"Major?" Kyou asks. The other witch nods.

"Yeah. Give me a second. Summer? You're with me. You two go get some damn sleep." She says, addressing her witches. "And I mean it this time. Ria, that means you leave that damn shooter of yours alone and actually sleep. I swear to god if I get back and find out you didn't-"

"I'm too damn tired to do a thing with him." The targeted witch says, defensively. "Hell I only just got back a couple hours ago."

"Fine. Now go get some food and get some shut eye." The captain says, and watches the two other witches leave. "Ok, sorry. Yes, Major. It's something the squids do aboard- each ship only has one captain, so they address us as if we're one rank higher. That the old man didn't during the briefing shows how rattled he was." She says. "Ok, here's how we're gonna do this. I know you remember your close support classes from the pipeline. That's what I want you doing. If we're up against stealthwitches, I don't want them getting the drop on us without a drake right there to pulp them or chase them right the hell off, got it?"

You nod.

"Good. Stick close and if we get in the shit, be ready to roll in and cover us." She says. "And before I forget, Lieutenant, this is First Lieutenant Summer Spears. Spears?"

"Nice to meet ya, el tee." The other witch says. "You're not as tall as Cassie made you out to be."

[] You know Cass?
[] She probably oversold me some.

And that's it for the night guys! Can't really think of anything here, so till tomorrow, cheers!

>>3650180
>She probably oversold me some.

>>3650180
>[] She probably oversold me some.
What kind of description does she give to Morgan I wonder.

>>3650180
>[x] She probably oversold me some.

>>3650181
Thanks for the run Ghost!

>>3650180
>[x] She probably oversold me some.

>>3650180
>[X] She probably oversold me some.

>>3650181
Thanks for the run boss.

>>3650180
>[x] She probably oversold me some.

Describing people as bronzed greek gods tends to overblow people's mental images somewhat.

>>3650180
>[] She probably oversold me some.

>>3650180
>[x] She probably oversold me some.
Oh darlin sister of us, stop trying to shill us like we're the next disney blockbuster.

>>3650180
>[] She probably oversold me some.

>>3650180
>[x] She probably oversold me some.

>>3650180
>[x] She probably oversold me some.

>>3650180
>[] She probably oversold me some.

>>3650180
>[X] She probably oversold me some.

>>3650181
Thanks for the run!

>>3650180
>[] She probably oversold me some.

>>3650186
[Spoiler]Height, weight, eye color, and (assumed) dick size[/spoiler]

>>3652085
>assumed
>implying that Cass hasn't at least once "accidentally burst in on us in the shower
You are giving best Snek too much credit anon.

>>3652113
>best
I figure frustration anime rules apply here. She's probably tried that numerous times, but Morgan is already dressed, or mysteriously not in there, or one of the others interiors her and then it's too late.

Maybe she's tried commando night ops, but Morgan has deftly evaded for years.

>>3650180
>[x] You know Cass?
Curious. Who is this?

Ok, votes called! Sorry about that, family dinner. You know how it goes! Also, just to clarify

>>3652151
Cass is well-informed about all things Morgan.

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>>3652534
>Cass is well-informed about all things Morgan.

>>3652534
Including his burning passion for her?

NYAN NYAN

>>3652905
nyan nyan

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>>3652905

A bunch of guys were posting music for the quest.

Found something that leads back to the old Top Gun roots.

https://youtu.be/N3fjWTyLBPw

Fear the Bones - 07:55 is my fav but Lion and the Sun - 24:56 might be more appropriate for our current mission.

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[x] She probably oversold me some.

"She probably oversold me some." You say with a slight smile.

Spears smiles and nods. "Yeah, probably."

"Chat after we get back." Swett orders, striding over to the ready room hatch and pulling it open. "Laroux? Get yourselves up to your bird."

You nod, following her out, with Spears following behind you. For a minute you walk together down the passageway, though you split away from her at the ladderwell to the hangar deck- she and Spears continue down the passage to the forward areas to gather their personal gear and weapons, while you and Kyou climb up into the hangar.

There's a lot of activity here, and you'd have gotten lost if not for one of the carrier's crew waving you over to an elevator, currently lifting an echocat up to the flight deck. "Over here, sir!" the bluejacket yells, waving you over. He holds it for a second before signaling over to the operator, who sends it on the way up to the deck. "You're the drake crew?" He yells over the noise topside- a hornet is landing as the elevator pulls level with the deck, and even with the island between you and the fighter, the scream of it's turbines is overwhelming.

You nod, and he points to your fighter, sitting nearby. The pylons are installed, hung off her wings with the mixed T rack aboard- An AMRAAM sits below a pair of sidewinders, separated by just enough vertical space to prevent the sidewinder's rocket motor from damaging the longer range missile as it launches. Inboard of those, two of the large 'stealthy' external tanks sit-

The brown shirt is a young looking guy- you make him to be no older than you, which is odd, given his position as a petty officer- he must be put together to make rank so quickly. He looks back over his shoulder as you walk up and nods, walking over to clap you on the back and pull your head down a bit to shelter from the noise. It doesn't help much. "Good to see you, sir!" He yells over the din. "She's fuelled up and ready to go! Mixed load, AMRAAMS and sidewinders on the pylons, fuel inboard. You'll have to ditch the tanks to use your FAST packs, they're loaded with agiles. We've got Eight One-seventy-sixes on your forward bay, and clusters aft, four of those."

"VLS?" Kyou asks, and the man nods.

1/2

"That too. Quad pack nintey-fives in all six bays. You've got mixed ammo in the cannons too, two hundred rounds each combined effects and MMPs." He looks back over his shoulder as someone else yells. "Ok, good to go sir! good luck up there!"

You nod, grabbing the ladder and sweeping your arm around as Kyou goes around you to climb up- you don't waste time on propriety this time, going up right behind her and noting that the witch suit rides VERY tight indeed.

Once you drop into the cockpit, you handle your personal tasks as Kyou hits the canopy closure and you start flip your helmet on, hitting the uplink as you start to roll.

"I have mission information as soon as you're ready." Muninn says, forming in your head, again, as a raven. "and I've been working with Teddy on the information. There's not a lot on the net yet about it. ISIS is claiming they brought down two American fighters and captured the crews."

You roll to the forward port catapult, lining up as the crew clears the area, pulling to a stop on the direction of the yellow-shirted aircraft handling officer.

"Captured both crews?" Kyou asks.

"They're lying." Muninn responds matter-of-factly. "Intercepted radio traffic indicates that the crew of Badger One is still in the area, but they're unable to find them. The army's sending in a team of green berets, supplemented with air force pararescue jumpers. More worrying is that Badger never saw the witches that hit them until they were already under fire."

"My reaction times should be more than sufficient to ensure the same does not happen to us." Kyou says, confidently.

[] I'd still rather not find out. Muninn do you have any kind of countermeasures?
[] We're gonna find out either way, I guess.

>>3652962
>[] I'd still rather not find out. Muninn do you have any kind of countermeasures?
Time to fly.

>>3652962
>[x] I'd still rather not find out. Muninn do you have any kind of countermeasures?
While I'm confident that Kyou has the shield power to entirely negate anything short of a Stonehenge railgun shot, not getting hit is always preferable.

[x] I'd still rather not find out. Muninn do you have any kind of countermeasures?

That pride is gonna bite Kyou in the ass one day.

>>3652962
>[X] I'd still rather not find out. Muninn do you have any kind of countermeasures?

>>3652962
>[x] I'd still rather not find out. Muninn do you have any kind of countermeasures?

>>3652962
>[x] I'd still rather not find out. Muninn do you have any kind of countermeasures?
I like that you're so confident Kyou but please be careful Awoo.

>>3652962
>[x] I'd still rather not find out. Muninn do you have any kind of countermeasures?

>>3652935
Personally I like Reckless as a theme for Kyou, and as a bonus it relates to Top Gun.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wxy7HQ53Rnk
http://kkdowning.net/steelmill/The%20Fuel%20of%20the%20Furnace/reckless/

>>3652962
>[X] I'd still rather not find out. Muninn do you have any kind of countermeasures?

Ok, votes called!

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[x] I'd still rather not find out. Muninn do you have any kind of countermeasures?

"I'd still rather not find out." You say, engaging the wheel brakes and bumping to a stop, keeping one eye on the yellow jacket to the side as his crew fits the breakaway link and nudges the catapult forward to the tow bar on your nose gear. "Muninn, do you have any kind of countermeasures?"

"Just the usual anti-stealth suite." The bird responds. Off to your right, the crew is mounting the 'sled'- a wheeled platform, designed for witches in strikers to get a boost off the carrier deck. Officially, most witches launch via sled, stating that it saves them a noticeable amount of effort over a traditional self-powered launch, but unofficially, you know it's not the most popular way to get into the air, at least according to your sisters. Most witches undertaking shorter flights opt instead for a self-powered launch.

Still, you see Spears and Swett, both in E-model tomcat strikers, glide their way forward and up the ramp to the sled. Spears carries a shotgun- you can't make out the exact model initially, Muninn identifies it as a Winchester model 1200 riot gun. It looks well maintained from here, though- even though the bayonet, riding in an ancient leather sheath at her hip, gives away it's age.

Swett, meanwhile, carries an M27 IAR. She strikes you as being professional- she and Tabitha would get along, you think. You blink the musing away as Kyou speaks up. "All checks came back green." She says. "All weapons are safed, self-diagnostics report no faults."

You nod, looking off to your left at the shooter, who now has control of your aircraft's launch. He goes through his own series of checks, making sure everyone is clear of the catapult track- and the path of your fighter- before instructing you to run up to full afterburners. You do so, signaling back you're ready to go with a thumbs-up and a salute, then you adjust yourself quickly, leaning back into the seat.

The breakaway link lets go, hurtling you down the carrier deck and into the air in under a second. "Hunter one-three airborne." Kyou calls from the back as you execute a roll and retract the gear, mentally confirming it's up and locked. "Gear is up and locked, systems are green across the board. I have full connectivity, all weapons showing live and safed.” She says over the intercom- standard cross-checking of the aircraft's systems. "Turn to heading zero-four-zero and climb to angels ten."

You nod, banking the fighter around and climbing to the north as the two witches join on you in formation- both of them above and ahead of you. You'll climb above them once you start to get nearer to the coast, into a covering position.

"The hell are those hatches on you?" Swett asks. "I've never seen that before. Some kind of new toy? The rumors about you and Sammy Wells true?"

[] I doubt they are.
[] What rumors.

>>3653429
>[X] I doubt they are.

>>3653429
>[X] I doubt they are.

Play it cool.

>>3653429
>[x] What rumors.

Let's not point out that we have an idea what she might be talking about.

>>3653429
>[x] What rumors.
Could be a few different things

>>3653429
>[x] I doubt they are.
I look forward to being able to test out these toys.

>>3653429
>[X] What rumors.

>>3653429
>[] I doubt they are.

>>3653429
>[x] I doubt they are.

>>3653429
>[X] What rumors.
Now I'm curious what rumors are going around outside of the family.

>>3653429
>>3653455
[x] What rumors.
Also I'm changing my vote because >>3653450
makes a good point, let's not let on about this.

>>3653429
>[] I doubt they are.

>>3653429
[X] What rumors.

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>>3653429
>[] What rumors.
oh no

>>3653429
>[] What rumors.

>>3653429
>[x] What rumors.
Lurk mode re-activate.

>>3653429
>[x] What rumors.

Ok, votes called!

nyan nyan

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[x] What rumors.

You can feel Muninn's amusement as you blink at the statement. "What rumors?"

"You don't know? Oh man." Swett says. "Well, sorry to be the one to break it to you, but the rumor in the fleet is you and her are an item. Like, hardcore. Honestly I'm surprised you haven't run into it before now."

"Flight school is it's own world." You respond as answer. "And Miramar seems pretty divorced from the rest of the fleet too."

"Miramar is a party." Spears says. "Shame we're gonna miss carnival this year. I hear there's a new marine drake there too."

"Anyway, yeah. Hell, we all thought it was an open secret anyway." She says.

"I don't see how such a rumor could travel so quickly." Kyou says from the back. "We were only at Miramar for a few weeks."

"It goes before that. Probably when you hit flight school." Spears says. "I remember hearing about it a year or two back. I mean, look, I don't give a shit either way if you are, ya know? Honestly at this point you ask any girl in fleet and they'll tell you she can have all the toys she wants if it keeps her happy and making crazy shit."

"Doesn't matter right now." Swett says ending the conversation as you close in on the coastline. "Three, take spacing."

"Three." You respond, climbing above the witches and dropping back by about a thousand yards.

"Hunter flight, feet dry." Swett calls. "Keep your heads on a swivel, this is a free-fire area."

You nod, feeling Muninn start to push your awareness out- you can feel the radars in the area, but they seem distant and weak. "The sites at Latakia are friendly." Swett says for you. "We've got effective control of the air here. The Russians won't engage us, but they might send up a fighter or witch to shadow us."

You nod, watching the ground slide by below you. There's small columns of smoke rising here and there- combat is intermittent in most areas, but consistent over the remains of the country. Off in the distance- maybe eighty or a hundred miles away, someone's laying down a pretty heavy rocket barrage- no telling who's shooting at whom.

The tension seems to rachet up as you cross over the land- the northeastern part of the nation is more or less owned by Kurdish forces- friendlies, in your case- who are constantly fighting with ISIS over Al Hasakah. Currently the Kurds own it, but it's changed hands a couple times since the beginning of the year already.

"Once we're in Iraqi airspace, we're in ISIS territory." Swett calls. "Safeties off. You good back there, Gladiator three?"

You can feel your heartrate spike for a second- and then settle back down to your usual resting rate. "We're more than ready." Kyou responds for you. "Arming weapons now."

And that's gonna be it for me for the week! I'm sorry about the speed of updates- kinda busy around here. So as for news, We're building a shop in the backyard- and the folks have decided they want a studio apartment upstairs. So I'll be moving up there in a few weeks, I think. Haha.

Other than that, I don't think I have any news! Once I move (Well, for all the move it is) I'm going to work at getting back to the old hour at max I used to try to maintain for updates. We'll see how it goes though! Till next week though, guys, I'll be around to field questions or comments, but otherwise, cheers!

>>3653791
Thanks for the run Ghost!

>>3653791
Thanks for the run boss.

>>3653791
Thanks for the run!

>>3653429
What are echocats, btw ?

>>3654238
Upgraded latest version of F-14 tomcats, technically F-14E's, in this timeline the tomcat's service life was extended and they were upgraded heavily in the war with the soviets and afterwards.

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Not gonna lie, kinda hoping our callsign ends up being "Raven", then we can use this as our tail art.

>>3655901
I like the tail art, but prefer the callsign "Yellow Fever", although obv that is never going to be it.

>>3657856
What about Nevermore? And I'm struggling to come up with what Kyou's callsign would be. Okamihime maybe? Or maybe Redcap.

>>3657856
>>3657902
The raven is the bird, not us, also nevermore is just about the shittest name you could ever ask for. Something more befitting to Morgan would be Stiletto or Scalpel or something that fits his more thoughtful/planned temperment.

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>>3657902
Yeah, Raven doesn't really fit us IMO with how scary we're gonna be in combat plus everything else that's been said.

Well, that, and it's the protag art in that certain flight game filled with F-104 variants that actually managed to take off in the AU IIRC. We'd totally get called out on that...

Anyways.
>We're expected to both be the second coming of Fronk and Merlin
>Maman stated we'd burn like the sun and eclipse Fronk and Merlin
>Kyou's got a flaming shield
>We're going to be noticed by raining FIRE with the VLS
>Not wanting to hear the panicked Chinese comm chatter screaming about the Fenghuang

Just let PHOENIX happen, anon

Callsigns for the both of us individually are still up for debate though like >>3657952 said. I got nothing so far...

>>3658112
>doesn't really fit us IMO with how scary we're gonna be in combat
Isnt a raven a corpse eater, picking battlefields clean ? What about Tengu as a callsign, or any other raven/crow demon ?

>>3658961
Thing is that we don't get to pick our callsign. Tradition dicates that our callsign is picked for us by our squadron mates. Actually kinda surprising that we don't have one by this point, since most guys would have one by the end of flight school.

>>3658999
Probably something like Specter or Ghost given that he's the kid of the Queen Spook and the Revenant.

>>3658999
Can either be retconned or saying that this timeline has different traditions for assigning callsigns

>>3658999
That's more down to the nature of the Wyvern pipeline- you don't have a squadron anymore, once you get past selection and on into training. Had Morgan been an F-14 driver, he'd have had one.

>>3660320
So then are wyvern callsigns for wyvern drivers who join the program straight out of flight school decided by the Wyvern community at large? Do they have like a forum or something?

>>3660355
Either by the drake community at large or by the aviators during the deck tour, yes.

>>3660456
"Breeder"

>>3660481
That means our tail art is going to be very...hmmm, I like it.

>>3660481
That would be amazingly trolly.

>>3661495
The only tail we should be showing off on our plane is Cass'.

>>3661990
Either that, or "MILF Hunter" given how there seem to be significant rumors going around about Morgan and Merlin

>>3662147
The Japanese will name him 'Riajuu'...

"Riajuu, eject the Princess and explode!!!"

>>3667748
I wonder if the counterculture will develop the same way if Japan was never broken by western power. Or if japan would have the same contemporary social issue like neet and hikkikomori if shit like mandatory military service is probably going to be a thing in a Japan without article 9

Hey guys, sorry for this, lotta things going on right now- might have a line on a job. Paintball field, if you can believe that, haha. No thread tonight, but we'll have a make up Saturday.

>>3668132
Congratulations ! (on the line)

>>3668132
Congrats on the potential job! Hope you get it.

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Ok, guys! Sorry about yesterday, I had to get some of my gear out of storage and get it squared away. As it turns out, two of my mask lenses had started to delaminate, which I've never heard of before, let alone seen happen, so that was fun. Also I had an 68/45 with a crack running clean through the epoxy layer down to the fiber wrap with about 3k still in it. That was cool- kinda like finding a live hand grenade with the pin out and the spoon held on with loose tape, haha! But, got most of that sorted, so I'm going to head up to the field Saturday to talk to my old boss and hopefully be able to pick back up- I worked there for close onto a decade, on and off. It does mean we may start late Saturday, but I'm hoping not.

Other than that, I don't really have any news. The outbuilding (officially, now) is coming along nicely. We shouldn't have any interruption when I move out there, but I'm not too sure yet. The folks are having cable and internet run out there, but apparently there's issue with the power? We'll see, of course, and I'll keep you up to date the best I can.

=================================================================================

The skies over Kirkuk seem almost completely deserted to the busy airspace over the southwestern United States. There's a lot of combat aircraft- you've been joined on station by at least a squadron's worth of fighters and a pair of air force witches. Still, it feels tense- badger was only hit just under an hour ago, and while the second aircraft of the flight has, just in the last minute or two, landed safely at al taqaddum- a joint IRAF and US military base south of Habbaniyah. It's got a pretty significant Army and air force presence, and while the F-14E is certainly not an aircraft that they're going to be familiar with, it's safe there, almost moreso than it would be anywhere else in the country.

"Wonder if they realize they fucked up?" Spears muses over the squadron-level net as you come around in a wide bank, getting a good look at the rest of the American air power here- there's at least eight king raptors, joined by a half-dozen F-35s and a pair of F-16s, and of course the other pair of witches, now separated from you by about ten miles- they're to your south, flying with the F-16s. You have to admit- it's a fairly impressive show of force, everything considered.

"They probably think they scored a victory." Swett says, finishing up your formation's lazy turn and guiding you back to the south in a broad racetrack pattern. "We'll see more of them before this is over."

"Yeah." Spears agrees, tossing a glance back over her shoulder at your fighter. "Makes me fucking nervous though. Feel like someone's watching me. And not in the fun way."

1/2

You know exactly what she means- you feel it too. Even up here, and through the MUI, you can't shake the feeling that, down below, someone's watching you. There's no warnings, of course- and you're beyond the effective reach of the antiaircraft guns ISIS is known to posses- but someone down there is keeping an eye on you. It's a crawling feeling between your shoulder blades- and one that your maman, in dead seriousness, told you to respect and pay attention to when it happens. She was always careful to explain that sort of thing- that your intuition should always be trusted when it spoke to you. It wasn't like the other things, not like the tea, or the poultice you know how to make, or any of a half-dozen little trinkets and charms and things you know how to do- but it's a natural thing. everyone's got it, she said, and the people that listen to it are usually the ones that become legends.

That spoke to you, of course- you live in the shadow of two of them, after all.

"Yeah, I'm getting that feeling too." Swett responds. "What about you, killer?" She calls back to you. "How's your nose?"

[] I agree with Spears. Something stinks.
[] Someone's watching us, but there's way too much in the air for them to try anything.

>>3670736
>I agree with Spears. Something stinks.

>>3670736
>[x] I agree with Spears. Something stinks.
I'm with the witch on this one. Everything about this is just WRONG.

>>3670736
>[x] I agree with Spears. Something stinks.

Gnomey-sense tingling

>>3670736
>[X] I agree with Spears. Something stinks.

>>3670736
>[] I agree with Spears. Something stinks.

SMELLS LIKE DENMARK, BOSS

>>3670736
>[x] I agree with Spears. Something stinks.

>>3670736
>[X] I agree with Spears. Something stinks.

This feels like a setup, I get the feeling that something unexpected and nasty is about to get dropped on us.

So uh, anyone enter the Danger Zone in the last few hours?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ade7YuZYk6M

Ok, votes called!

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[x] I agree with Spears. Something stinks.

"I agree with Spears." You say, mentally double-checking your weapons load. "Something stinks."

"Alright. I'm going to get with everyone else in the airspace and see if they feel the same. Get your countermeasures suite up, Spears, take separation." Swett orders.

"Bringing countermeasures online now." Kyou says from the back. "I've also begun transferring fuel out of the external tanks and topping off our internal reserves. The local datanet is almost nonexistant, but I've patched in with the king raptors. There should be an AWACS on station in the next few minutes."
You and Spears separate from Swett a bit as you all notch the speed up a bit- you want to keep yourself in a position where you don't have to slow down to turn, without also being able to provide instant cover for the two witches you're flying with. "Guns armed." Kyou warns. "And on your trigger. If you unlock the VLS to me, I'll be able to provide support as I did on our trial flight."

[] Done- it paid off last time.
[] Not here, not with live munitions.

>>3671129
>[X] Done- it paid off last time.

>>3670730
>"Feel like someone's watching me. And not in the fun way."

Lewd

>>3671129
>[x] Done- it paid off last time.

>>3671129
>[] Not here, not with live munitions.

We don't have any actual targets yet.

>>3671129
>[x] Done- it paid off last time.
Showing we trust the princess iz important.

>>3671129
>[x] Done, but make sure to double-check your targets.

>>3671129
>[X] Not here, not with live munitions.

Too many friendlies, it's not a great time to have an itchy trigger finger.

>>3671129
>>3671165
+1

>>3671165
Do we really need to remind her?

>>3671129
>[X] Done- it paid off last time.

Let's not doubt our partner right before combat.

>>3671129
>[] Done- it paid off last time.
Two sets of reflexes against a fleeting target. The only worry I can see is ammunition wastage, and we have way more missiles than threats they can put in the air.

>>3671129
>[x] Done- it paid off last time.

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>>3671129
>[x] Done- it paid off last time.
A split second is all it takes in combat, especially true for an enemy that apparently likes to use ambush tactics.

>>3671210
It also might take some of her focus off sensors that we'll need against their stealth abilities. That being said I guess we have Munin for that.

Ok, votes called!

>>3671181
Eh, I figure better safe than sorry. Maybe I'm just paranoid though.

>>3671357
Paranoia there. She shouldn't be able to lock on to friendlies without an IFF override.

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[x] Done- it paid off last time.

"Done." You say- you don't have to manually unlock the weapons this time, Muninn handles that, copying control authority over the weapons in the VLS tubes to Kyou's station as well.

"This place always creeps me the fuck out." Spears says- you can't help but notice she's brought her shotgun to a low ready- instead of hanging by it's sling across her chest, she's got it tucked up against her shoulder, ready to be swung into action as soon as a target presents itself. "Did a tour with second tanks a couple years ago. Everyone's super fucking friendly and eager to talk about Allah with you when they're not trying to hit your unit with a fucking RPG." She shakes her head. "Fuck this place, man."

"Easy, marine." Swett says. "Talon is turning in now. Three Airforce Ospreys. Let's get in a little closer to them." She banks and dives, shedding altitude and bringing you in 'close' to the rescue aircraft. You're close enough that you can see the load masters drop ropes out of the side doors and the rear ramps and the army troops slide down to the ground. Purple smoke floats skyward from the roof badger-1 has taken refuge on- the rescue aircraft deposit their troops nearby. Part of you notes how empty the street is- Maman always told you that was a bad sign.

You can feel the fire-control systems going live below you as Swett calls a warning- SAMS in the air. Talon reacts to the call- two of the ospreys, the last of the army troops already clear of the ropes, slamming their tilt-rotors down and clawing for distance and altitude as they dump flare and chaff in an effort to defeat the man-portable systems fired at them. The radios instantly go berserk- calls for defensive maneuvers, SAM warnings, calls for target positions, warnings of additional SAMS in the air. Muninn, thankfully, handles most of it for you, tuning out everything that's not relevant.

There's a brief shudder as Kyou cries her own warning- "Witches! Above us!" She calls, her shield bursting into existence and contemptuously defeating the opening fire of the quartet of witches that seem to shimmer into existence above you. "They are so weak! What a pathetic challenge." She laughs. "Let us destroy them!"

1/2

"Three!" Swett calls,from ahead of you. Her rifle already up and spitting lead at the hostile witches as she rolls onto her back and fires backwards at them while Spears swings her legs down into a hard stop, boosting in the opposite direction and gathering speed again. "Get your ass over the city and cover Talon. Spears and I have these bitches!"

You can hear Kyou start to protest, but she cuts it off. "We are already in position and better suited to destroy them!" She says to you over the intercom. "Let the air force handle the air to ground work. We cannot allow these witches to escape!"

She's got a point, to some extent- at least two of the air force witches are equipped with the infamous A-10 strikers- and the modified M134 that's a built-in system of the strikers. Both of them are making south-north gun runs in the city, their weapons chewing up buildings. The F-16s have also turned in- you make out small diameter bombs slung under both of their wings.

The hostile witches begin to shimmer and fade again as Swett and Spears arrow in- and, if not for a pair of agiles that blast themselves out of your VLS and into the witches, fired by Kyou. "They cannot escape if we press the attack now!"

[] Kyou's right- they'd have a numerical advantage over our witches and the air force has the ground covered.
[] Swett is right- we've got to cover Talon.

>>3671653
>[X] Swett is right- we've got to cover Talon.

Those Ospreys are sitting ducks until they can get the hell out of here. We need to cover them.

>>3671653
>[] Swett is right- we've got to cover Talon.

>>3671653
>[x] Swett is right- we've got to cover Talon.
No questioning flight lead while we are still a Rookie

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>>3671653
>[x] Swett is right- we've got to cover Talon

There's something fishy about all of this the more I look at it.
We have a massive quantitive and qualitive advantage over their air units, including no less than a dozen datalinked 5th gen fighters and a Drake.
And yet the enemy witches attacked anyways. This isn't just opportunistic attacking either since they fired right at the Wyvern, opportunism would be going after someone on the flanks, inciting a panic.
Something tells me they're a diversion.

>>3671653
>[x] Swett is right- we've got to cover Talon.

>>3671653
>[X] Swett is right- we've got to cover Talon.
Much as I'd like to get stuck in, the Towelheads are probably planning something nasty. They're zealots and blood-thirty idiots, not retards.

>>3671653
>[x] Swett is right- we've got to cover Talon.

>>3671653
>[] Swett is right- we've got to cover Talon.
We can lodge our opinions later when everything's done, but right now, >>3671684
is right. Even if we're the super-pilot, we're a rookie.

>>3671653
>[x] Swett is right- we've got to cover Talon.

>>3671653
>[X] Swett is right- we've got to cover Talon.

>>3671653
>[X] Swett is right- we've got to cover Talon.

>>3671653
>[x] Swett is right- we've got to cover Talon.

>>3671653
>[] Swett is right- we've got to cover Talon.

We don't know if that quartet is all they have. We also need to follow orders, as we're brand fucking new, bottom of the totem pole, fresh out of type training. Once we get some time in we can start telling witches that they're making mistakes.

Ok, votes called!

>>3671865
nyan nyan

>>3671865
Ghost fell asleep, didn't he.

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>>3672116
Time to break out the brown girls with hips pics again...

>>3672116
he was drinking jack with M16a1 chan

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Ghost is ded, post crab raves.

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>>3672134
Do you one better

>>3672115
nihao nyan

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>>3672121
Two more just in case

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>>3672152

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[x] Swett is right- we've got to cover Talon.

Despite Kyou's protest, you peel away from the hostile witches as the two marines push into a close range dogfight with them, screaming out of the sky as Muninn begins tracking every single source of ground fire reaching up out of the city. You can taste Kyou's bitter displeasure in the back of your head, strong enough to be felt through even an MIU link- had this been VDNI you'd have second-guessed your compliance with Swett's orders.

"Most of the ground fire I'm tracking is small caliber." Muninn notes. "There's a few sources of twenty-three and fifty-seven millimeter fire, but rate of fire and shot pattern indicates that it's from twin mounts. Deadly to helicopters and the ospreys, not particularly dangerous to fast moving aircraft."

"If we destroy them it should allow talon a clear path to escape through." Kyou says, her voice level and professional. "Though the air force already seems to have it well in hand."

She's not wrong- even now, the two A-10 witches are working some poor mudfoot's positions off near the airport with their guns, their runs spaced out so that after the leader rolls off, her wingmate is already putting lead down on a parallel track. The F-16s are doing something similar nearby- while they're higher up, covered by a pair of king raptors, they're using the SDBs they're carrying to hit specific positions in the city.

"I'm tracking thirty total sources of antiaircraft fire at twenty-three and fifty-seven milimeter. Twenty six appear to be ZU-twenty-three-two gun platforms, four appear to be ZSU-fifty-seven-two guns." Munin notes. "I'm also tracking one one hundred millimeter antiaircraft gun at the airport."

Unsure of what to do- the ground targets that are close enough to the ground team to be a threat are already being engaged, and any attempt to join in the attack would cause trouble through simple crowding- while your AGM-176s are designed for precision work, the air force aircraft's attack patterns leave little opening for you to strike any of the targets that are being designated by the ground team.

1/3

Effectively sidelined, you adopt a racetrack near the waiting ospreys, who have pulled away from the city and the fight- Still near enough to swoop in when the team reports they have badger, but far enough away that the AA in the city doesn't have range to engage. They're not alone here, either- there's a pair of the King Raptors covering them.

You're barely through your first turn when Swett and Spears rejoin on you- both looking frustrated. "They bugged out." Swett says. "Pushed open a gap and disappeared."

"I've never seen a talent like that one." Spears adds. "I've heard about a pair of twins that could do it during the war, but that took both of them, working together."

"Do you believe they're gone?" Kyou asks.

"They were running pretty hard to come back around." Spears notes. "I think they were after a kill on one of the so-called invincible dragons, or maybe one of us and after you smelled them out, they didn't want to stick around to play anymore."

"They had no way of knowing we were here." Kyou points out. "And shooting down a tomcat is a major propaganda win for them, regardless."

"The take home is that they're probably going to have closed the airspace to two ship strikes." Swett says, banking around as Talon ground makes the call- they've got badger in hand. Pickup is almost anticlimactic- the osprey pilots, in a display of excellent skill, set their aircraft down, one at a time, on the rooftop, each loading part of the team, and then speed away, pushing south and east, away from the airport. Your small formation loiters for a few minutes, then pushes south as well- neither witch wants to try for the carrier after their dogfight.

2/3

"Ah, taq." Spears opines as you approach the air base. "Wonder how much it's changed since I was here last?"

"Probably not much. We'll go in first, Laroux, you land behind us." Swett orders as the ospreys do a vertical landing on the pad.

The pavement here is the same as it is anywhere- though you're guided to a place in a hardened aircraft shelter by an army humvee with an M2 on the roof and the soldiers in kevlar helmets instead of the ear protectors back at Miramar. Once inside you spool down while the support crew hook up a ground power umbilical- you're surprised they have one here.

Swett and Spears meet you on the ground- Spears doing a double take at Kyou as she drops down next to you. "Not too bad up there." Swett says. "I appreciate you listening."

"They would not have escaped if we had been allowed to engage them." Kyou says with a frown.

Swett looks over at her. "Maybe not. But I'd rather have made sure talon had cover than have gotten kills on them."

"They were displaying highly unusual abilities." Kyou counters. "Capturing or killing one may have revealed a way to counter them."

"And how do you think that was gonna happen?" Swett asks. "You think Talon would have been able to do that in a hostile city without witches?"

Kyou shrugs. "It is academic anyway." She responds. "They escaped, we did nothing valuable. Our time was wasted."

"Ya know," Spears offers, diplomatically. "If they hadn't shot at you first, I'm pretty sure they'd have gotten one of us." She says. "So there's that at least. And holy god that shield."

Kyou looks at her- you can tell she's more than a little angry at the two marine witches. "I do not wish to discuss it any further." She says, after a moment. "Perhaps we should find our sleeping arrangements- "

"You're looking at them." Swett says, taking in the shelter with a sweep of her arm. "We're going to overnight here, then back to the carrier in the morning. We'll have army guards posted, and they'll bring you a change of clothes. The army's going to bring in some field cots for us, but this is it."

Kyou nods stiffly, looking over at you. "I am hungry." She says. "Perhaps we should find something to eat?"

"You do that." Swett says. "I'll be here."

"I'll go with." Spears offers. "I think I still remember where the chow hall is. If you don't mind the company, that is." She gives you a lopsided smile. "I won't pull rank or anything though."

Kyou shrugs. "I leave the decision to Morgan." She says.

[] We don't mind.
[] I think it'd be better if we didn't.

That one got away from me a bit! haha. As you have no doubt guessed, that's gonna be our stopping point for the evening- I still have to get dinner, which is rather a bit tricker than it was at the apartment! I'll be around a bit to field questions or comments, but otherwise, gents, till tomorrow, cheers!

>>3672170


[] We don't mind

>>3672170
>[x] I think it'd be better if we didn't.
It's obvious that Kyou wants to let off steam.

By ' opening a gap' are the ISIS witches just dropping into invisibility, or outright teleporting?

>>3672181
I agree, but we'll have one of them with us no matter which option we pick. Might as well feed the Awoo.

>>3672170
>[] We don't mind.
Kyou. Calm down. Actually getting those guys out was the priority, not downing unknown hostiles. No risking the mission, and with it the lives of aircrew and rescue personnel, because you wanna shoot something.

>>3672170
>[x] We don't mind.

>>3672170
>[X] We don't mind.
>>3672172
Thanks for the run boss.

>>3672182
From the sounds of things, invisibility.

>>3672170
>[X] We don't mind.

>>3672170
>[x] We don't mind.

>>3672170
>[x] We don't mind.

>>3672172
Thanks for the run Ghost!

>>3672188
This is about one of them coming along, nothing else.

>>3672170
>[] I think it'd be better if we didn't.

>>3672170
>[] I think it'd be better if we didn't.

>>3672170
>[] We don't mind.

>>3672170
>[x] I think it'd be better if we didn't.

>>3672170
>[X] I think it'd be better if we didn't.

>>3672170
>[x] We don't mind.

>[X] I think it'd be better if we didn't.

>>3672170
>[X] We don't mind.

>>3672170
>[x] We don't mind.

>>3672170
>[x] I think it'd be better if we didn't.
>>3672191
It was already covered though. We circled around while extraction succeeded and the witch intercept notably failed. The reality is that the strikers receive and process a fraction of the data that we do. Beyond rank formalities, it seems generally wasteful for a drake to receive orders from strikers. We were effectively held back so the marine witches could get in a pissing match with their opposition. This should absolutely go in our report.

>>3673250
Or, it was not pissing match, and rather we got legit bounced by an unexpectedly capable threat, and our commanding officer wanted us to ensure that the reason we even came here actually succeeded.

>>3673250
its less a pissing match and more the fact that strikers don't really have a lot of active combat experience with drakes in the current day, so they fall back to tradition, with them commanding, instead of looking to the future and adapting.

>>3673323
>>3673334
Idk. Pissing contest is the first thought that comes to mind when her tactical justification is, "Spears and I have these bitches!" When they got... zero of them. Sending us away when they were outnumbered and the ground situation was handled was the wrong call. They misallocated assets and, most importantly, they failed. They don't have the hardware to be second-guessing a preferred target from Kyou.

>>3673388
Very true, because they don't have near-peer combat experience, but just telling them YOU FAILED doesn't actually help them learn and improve.