You come out of the punishing break turn with all four of the witches that split off to engage you pouring fire at you- Kyou's shield, it's hemispherical shape covering the front of your fighter and an angry, intense red-orange stabs itself into reality, absorbing all the punishment they can throw. Behind you, she laughs, a wild, fierce thing. "Is this all?!" She asks the witches in front of you as they break away as you cut through the heart of their formation, too close even for guns. The four of them scatter away, not sticking close to their wingmates-

"Got my hands full over here for a minute." Spears calls. "Taq's scrambling their girls, we'll have reinforcements in fifteen!"

"As if we will require it!" Kyou responds on the interplane. "If we pursue them now we could destroy them while they are disorganized!"

"Spears could probably use help." Muninn points out. "Two on one isn't easy for most people and having her nearby means we'd have support."

[] Muninn's right- We get Spears out of her engagement, then we've got an advantage.
[] Kyou's right- Spears is fine and if we go for quick kills we'll reduce the numbers of guns shooting at us.

>>3730818

[] Muninn's right- We get Spears out of her engagement, then we've got an advantage.

>>3730818
>[x] Muninn's right- We get Spears out of her engagement, then we've got an advantage.

>>3730818
>[X] Kyou's right- Spears is fine and if we go for quick kills we'll reduce the numbers of guns shooting at us.

>>3730818
>[x] Muninn's right- We get Spears out of her engagement, then we've got an advantage.
The AI is right. This could go very sour for Spears in a hurry if anything goes wrong.

>>3730818
>[] Muninn's right- We get Spears out of her engagement, then we've got an advantage.

Ok, votes called!

>>3730818
>[x] Muninn's right- We get Spears out of her engagement, then we've got an advantage.
We don't want a downed witch. Kyou has the shields to straight-up tank railgun rounds from a whiskey lancer, so our chances of survival should be through the roof.

>>3730818
[] Kyou's right- Spears is fine and if we go for quick kills we'll reduce the numbers of guns shooting at us.

We're here to eliminate a threat, they'll run for it while we're distracted. They're not going to wait for us to team up. Spears is a vet and can handle herself.

>>3730880
It doesn't do us much good if she gets shot down though. Nobody has experience fighting against straight up invisibility, and two witches can play the hit and run game all day long on a lone witch.

>>3730892
Spears has seen some shit.

It's moot now anyway, but y'all got to start listening to Kyou at least once in a while, or we're going to have a breakdown.

>>3730979
True, though we do let her have the missiles.

File: You suspect that Kyou has(...).jpg (181 KB, 850x1504)

181 KB JPG

[x] Muninn's right- We get Spears out of her engagement, then we've got an advantage.

You agree with Muninn, turning into Spears' fight with the other two witches. While, to your eye, the two witches engaging her aren't the best trained- they don't really seem to be working together very well.

Spears, for her part, appears to be holding her own- her strikers, based on marine Hornets, are more than a match for the older sets the two ISIS witches seem to have, and while you don't think she's got your sisters skill with a shotgun- all of the snakes are some sort of weird shotgun savant- she's clearly a combat vet in closer fights, and responds to the ISIS witches with aggression- charging the closer of the two, using her shield do deflect the fire from the girl's rifle as she arrows in on the surprised witch, her shotgun already voicing it's response.

The two witches are locked almost immediately on several sensors- infrared, radar, and laser- and you can already see the optimal attack paths against them. Spears seems to have her target well in hand, while the other looks to be pushing to separate- no doubt in an effort to engage her camo again and disappear.

"We have a firing solution." Kyou calls. "However she may defeat our missiles, and the range is extreme for our cannon, even with my assistance."

[] It's too far for guns- Use missiles!
[] Go for guns- Missiles are too easy to defeat!

>>3731010
Get that bitch a missile. Bitches love missiles.

Or something to that effect?

>>3731042
>[x] It's too far for guns- Use missiles!
I’m not sure this is the best option but the Agile is supposed to be a good missile and they’re in older strikers.

File: [gunfighting intensifies].png (1.82 MB, 1231x1166)

1.82 MB PNG

>>3731042
>[x] Go for guns- Missiles are too easy to defeat!

>>3731042
[] Go for guns- Missiles are too easy to defeat!

>>3731042
>[X] Go for guns- Missiles are too easy to defeat!

>>3731042
>[x] It's too far for guns- Use missiles!
Chuck missile quick.

>>3731042
>[] It's too far for guns- Use missiles!

Keep her busy as we close

>>3731042
>[X] It's too far for guns- Use missiles!

ok, votes called!

>>3731042
>Using missiles on a stealth witch

Come on anons, this is prime guns time.

File: Muninn forms an interesti(...).png (1.83 MB, 1920x1080)

1.83 MB PNG

[x] It's too far for guns- Use missiles!

You bank on the witch being too busy focusing on Spears to pay attention to you, and ripple a pair of sidewinders and a pair of conventional agiles at her.

The quartet of missiles- two flying in on a straight trajectory, the others climbing for a top-down attack- hold their lock as she starts to fade, her camouflage re-engaging. "Guns!" Kyou calls. "Force her to go defensive!"

You hit the toggle and send a short burst her way- it works, kind of. Her camouflage doesn't re-engage, but she flips over to see the sidewinders coming in, bringing up her rifle to engage the missiles. Of course, that leaves her vulnerable to the agiles- as you'd intended. Still, she shoots down the sidewinders- and looks up at the last second, shifting her shield to take both the agiles on it. The first missile visibly weakens it, and the second defeats it, her shield shattering into a million glittering fragments that fade rapidly out of existence.

"She is defenseless! Press our advantage!" Kyou calls from behind you.

You send another burst of gunfire at her, though she rolls around it, proving she's not entirely inexperienced- though at this point she's running west, away from both the group of four that tried to engage you and the one that Spears is currently engaged with- though, flicking your attention back towards her, she seems to have it well in hand, slamming another slug into the shield of the witch facing her.

''The other four bogies are coming around to re-engage!" Muninn warns. "If you break off this one now we can engage them from a better position."

"Let them come." Kyou says, dismissively. "They aren't capable of defeating my shield. We must press our advantage against our current prey!"

[] She's right- if you break off now, this one could re-engage at her leisure.
[] Muninn is right- we let this one go, we get better position on the other four.

>>3731364
>[x] She's right- if you break off now, this one could re-engage at her leisure.

>>3731364
>She's right- if you break off now, this one could re-engage at her leisure.

>>3731364
>[X] She's right- if you break off now, this one could re-engage at her leisure.

>>3731364
>[] She's right- if you break off now, this one could re-engage at her leisure.

Sorry about that guys, had some technical difficulties here. Seems to have been sorted out, couldn't post for about an hour there though.

We'll run a make-up session this weekend, though keep in mind Saturday, at least, will be a bit short, just because of work Sunday morning (Assuming there is work.) But tomorrow should be normal, I may try to start a bit early to help make up for the pacing here. Sorry about that again! Either way, till tomorrow guys, cheers!

>>3731379
Thanks for the run Ghost!

>>3731379
Thanks for the run boss.

>>3731364
>[x] She's right- if you break off now, this one could re-engage at her leisure.
Let’s get ‘er! Kyou’s shield is basically unbreakable against this kind of chump change.

>>3731364
>[] She's right- if you break off now, this one could re-engage at her leisure.

>>3731364
>[] She's right- if you break off now, this one could re-engage at her leisure.

>>3731364
>[X] She's right- if you break off now, this one could re-engage at her leisure.

>>3731364
>[x] She's right- if you break off now, this one could re-engage at her leisure.

>>3731364
>[] Muninn is right- we let this one go, we get better position on the other four.

So what's publicly known about Konstantina's daughter (and our likely half-sister none of the family have met)?

Ok, votes closed! I'd hoped to get started a bit earlier than this, but I've been cleaning gear off and pulling shit out of storage to sort it all day, haha.

File: Kyou sounds utterly uncon(...).jpg (462 KB, 800x1130)

462 KB JPG

[x] She's right- if you break off now, this one could re-engage at her leisure.

Kyou is right and you know it- if you break off now, you're giving this one a chance to come back around and reengage from a better position- and given the difficulty in tracking them when they're cloaked, that might be all she needs. Better, you think, to deal with the problem now.

For her part the witch in front of you is pouring on the coals, trying to outrun you- which, unless she's an incredibly strong speed talent, isn't going to happen, you think. Generally, defense for witches against a wyvern is get in a turning knife fight- they can still outmaneuver you, and if she stuck close enough she could, in theory, at least keep herself out of the arc of your guns.

Of course, that would have meant going head-to-head for her, which is probably a pretty scary concept- You have a lot more frontal firepower than she can bring to bear, magic or no, and you're willing to bet even without Kyou, you cannon would have defeated her shield before her rifle would have been able to defeat yours.

She's jerking around in an evasive pattern- enough that you're having trouble getting a solid firing solution, when Muninn pipes up. "If you want, I can program a burst of shells to airburst near her and attempt to concuss her or hit her with shrapnel." She says. "It decreases our odds of a clean hit, but increases the odds of us putting her out of the fight."

"Or I can enhance the shells." Kyou responds. "I doubt very much she would be able to survive then, regardless of if they burst near her or on her. It may mean my shield is marginally weaker momentarily though."

You growl in frustration as the witch yanks herself out of your gunsight lead once again.

[] Have Muninn do it- it's unlikely the grunts will be able to make pickup, but it puts her out of the fight.
[] Have Kyou juice the guns- You need this witch out of commission right now and don't really care if she survives it.
[] Have them both go for it- You'd rather not kill her if you can avoid it, and Kyou can probably have those shells concuss the hell out of this witch.

>>3732947
>[x] Have Kyou juice the guns- You need this witch out of commission right now and don't really care if she survives it.

No reason to just knock her out if the grunts aren't going to be able to grab her. Doubly so since she's flying for ISIS or at least someone wanting to make it look like they are.

>>3732947
>[x] Have Kyou juice the guns- You need this witch out of commission right now and don't really care if she survives it.

>>3732947
>[X] Have Kyou juice the guns- You need this witch out of commission right now and don't really care if she survives it.
RIP AND TEAR

>>3732947
>[X] Have Kyou juice the guns- You need this witch out of commission right now and don't really care if she survives it.

>>3732947
>[] Have Kyou juice the guns- You need this witch out of commission right now and don't really care if she survives it.

They'd crucify us if given the chance. They can't escape.

>>3732947
>[] Have Kyou juice the guns- You need this witch out of commission right now and don't really care if she survives it.

>>3732947
>[x] Have Kyou juice the guns- You need this witch out of commission right now and don't really care if she survives it.
No time for prisoners right now.

Ok, votes called!

File: Clearly capable, but she'(...).jpg (119 KB, 850x1262)

119 KB JPG

[x] Have Kyou juice the guns- You need this witch out of commission right now and don't really care if she survives it.

"Do it, Kyou." You order, pulling the fighter around again as the witch pushes herself through an almost ninety degree instantaneous turn- punishing, even for a witch- though, at this range, it's not as effective as it would be in close. It still necessitates a snap turn- one that provides you a solution for a split second.

Muninn saw it coming and warned you before it happened- and pulling the trigger was almost a reflex. Your twin forty millimeter cannons hammer out twenty or so shells in the half-second burst- nowhere near as many as the original cannons on the wyvern would have, though at these ranges, 25mm shells would struggle to hit.

Your larger cannons have no such issues, the proximity fuzed shells bursting, painfully bright, around the fleeing witch, and she falls like a puppet with it's strings cut, suddenly going limp as she does so. You see one enhanced HEI-T shell clip one of her strikers as it sputters, detonating and ripping the winglet off, punching shrapnel into the unit. "Splash one!" Kyou calls as you break away, looking for the remaining four.

You find them as Kyou's shield flashes into existence, intercepting rifle fire clearly meant for your forward fuselage- meant for you, personally. Kyou laughs as it does, clearly enjoying herself- though, at least this time you note, she doesn't yell a challenge they can't hear.

For their part, the witches here don't seem too bothered you just shot down- and probably killed, you think- one of their comrades, and instead seem determined to break through Kyou's shield. "Hang on, killer!" Spears calls- you note that her opponent is nowhere to be seen, but an IR smear across the night sky, like a trail of blood, marks someone's uncontrolled descent- she's gotten her witch, too.

"Hang on?" Kyou asks you, laughing. "Does she not realize who we are?"

"Considering we hardly have any time in fleet, let alone a name, I'd guess no." Muninn observes, sounding rather detached. "If she joins on us, it will be easier to engage these witches on our terms. Standard practice is for a witch to cover our blind spots and reinforce our shields when she needs to."

"She won't need to." Kyou responds. "Waiting for her is dangerous and risks her being injured or killed in an uneven fight. We should drive at their most capable and destroy them now, while we have the chance!"

"She's safer flying cover for us." Muninn corrects. "She's covered by your shields and concealed by our fuselage."

[] Wait for Spears- there's no way she's up to engaging in a fight without going to pair tactics.
[] Go for the kill- they're not going to want to stay and fight if they're losing friends this fast.

>>3733215
[×]Go for the kill- they're not going to want to stay and fight if they're losing friends this fast.

>>3733215
>[X] Go for the kill- they're not going to want to stay and fight if they're losing friends this fast.

>>3733215
>[x] Wait for Spears- there's no way she's up to engaging in a fight without going to pair tactics.

>>3733215
>[x] Wait for Spears- there's no way she's up to engaging in a fight without going to pair tactics.

Not going to risk Spears.

>>3733215
>[X] Go for the kill- they're not going to want to stay and fight if they're losing friends this fast.
Let's see if we can splatter them quick.

What's the range on the Gauss 40s? How far outside of normal gun-range can the guns reach accurately?

>>3733215
>[] Wait for Spears- there's no way she's up to engaging in a fight without going to pair tactics.

>>3733215
>[x] Wait for Spears- there's no way she's up to engaging in a fight without going to pair tactics.
If we group up we have a higher chance of getting more of them when they inevitably do a runner

>>3733215
>[X] Wait for Spears- there's no way she's up to engaging in a fight without going to pair tactics.

>>3733215
>[] Wait for Spears- there's no way she's up to engaging in a fight without going to pair tactics.

ok, votes called!

File: For her, the nickname 'de(...).jpg (150 KB, 850x1489)

150 KB JPG

[x] Wait for Spears- there's no way she's up to engaging in a fight without going to pair tactics.

You pull into a tight defensive turn, breaking clear of the fire pattern of the witches for a second- long enough to roll under them and begin to separate, closing in on Spears.

For her part, she doesn't look tired- though she did suffer at least a few rounds that got through her shield- there's a rip down the side of her tactical vest, and one of her strikers appears to have taken a few hits in the winglet and the stabilizer. There's also an ugly red gouge across her upper arm that's weeping blood- not enough for you to worry, but she's going to need to get it looked at sooner, rather than later. Still, she looks alert and more than aware- her eyes are still bright and hard, a distinct green glow behind them as she loads her shotgun and racks a shell home.

"Been a while since I fought with someone at my back like this." She says, sliding into her spot- just above and behind your cockpit, almost close enough to touch with her hand. "Surprised they're still here. Usually they bug out when they start taking casualties."

These witches don't seem too interested in fleeing, though- they're formed up into a rough arrowhead, with shields overlapped and guns forward. Head-to-head like this, their intent is clear- defeat your shield through overwhelming firepower and gun you down in the merge.

Their leader- flying the only mig-29 units you've seen, their former Iraqi airforce insignia crudely blacked out and covered over with an ISIS flag- there's also several kill markers, you note- including the more-or-less international broken broom symbol of witch kills. Her PK looks a little battered- probably, you think, like most of their equipment- but it seems to fire just fine, the barrel starting to glow faintly as she pours an unbroken line of bullets into Kyou's shield. The shield appears completely impervious- it doesn't even flicker as the rounds hammer into it, deflecting off or simply disintegrating as they encounter the wall of energy.

"Call it, devil." Spears says. "We go straight in they're gonna have better angles, but we can probably get one of them in the merge. You wanna go to a turning fight I'll cover your back."

[] Go straight in- let's see how this ISIS leader likes her chances against our guns.
[] Mix them up in a turning fight- they're poorly trained, at least, and in a close fight they're not going to be able to bug out as easily.

>>3733391
>Go straight in- let's see how this ISIS leader likes her chances against our guns.

>>3733391
>[x] Go straight in- let's see how this ISIS leader likes her chances against our guns.

>>3733391
>[] Go straight in- let's see how this ISIS leader likes her chances against our guns.

>>3733391
>[X] Go straight in- let's see how this ISIS leader likes her chances against our guns.

>>3733391
>[] Go straight in- let's see how this ISIS leader likes her chances against our guns.

Something's already awry. They haven't run, they somehow have a -29 they've managed not to use for years, and not to mention suddenly a squadron of witches.

I don't think they're poorly trained. Let's prove it.

>>3733391
>[] Go straight in- let's see how this ISIS leader likes her chances against our guns.
Abuse the OP shields and the snowflake supercannons!

>>3733391
>[] Go straight in- let's see how this ISIS leader likes her chances against our guns.

>>3733391
>[x] Mix them up in a turning fight- they're poorly trained, at least, and in a close fight they're not going to be able to bug out as easily.

Ok, votes called!

File: Bloodthirsty, yes, but sh(...).jpg (155 KB, 850x1511)

155 KB JPG

[x] Go straight in- let's see how this ISIS leader likes her chances against our guns.

With their lead bringing them head-to-head, you take up their challenge- the ranges on your guns are long enough that, even with the extreme range their lead can engage at, you're able to answer fairly quickly.

Your return fire slams into the overlapped shields of the formation, breaking through one before they sweep past, their fire slackening as Spears puts a shot into one from her position behind you- but they don't break to engage, instead continuing to separate, their camouflage engaging as you come around in a sharp bank.

"They're escaping!" Kyou exclaims, her voice carrying frustration. "Are they so cowardly?"

"They see our reinforcements." Spears corrects. "They're only a couple minutes out."

"I'm tracking them as best I can." Muninn says. "I can provide firing solutions, but clearly if we engage, they'll know their little trick isn't good anymore, and I can't guarantee we'd get all of them. I suggest we shadow them back to their base."

"That is foolishness." Kyou says. "They cannot hide from us, we should destroy them now and have done with it."

"If this isn't all of them, following them could lead us to their base of operations." Muninn points out.

"If they don't see us tracking them." Kyou says.

"Either way you wanna call it, devil." Spears says. "But if we stay up much longer it's gonna be a hell of a slog back to the carrier for me."

[] Track them as long as possible, see if you can nail down their base of operations.
[] Engage them again- Kyou is right.
[] Track them till the airforce gets here and hand it off to them- King Raptors have a similar sensor package as us, Muninn can show them the configuration to track the ISIS witches and they can do it.

>>3733610
>[x] Track them till the airforce gets here and hand it off to them- King Raptors have a similar sensor package as us, Muninn can show them the configuration to track the ISIS witches and they can do it.

>>3733610
>[X] Track them till the airforce gets here and hand it off to them- King Raptors have a similar sensor package as us, Muninn can show them the configuration to track the ISIS witches and they can do it.

>>3733610
>[x] Track them till the airforce gets here and hand it off to them- King Raptors have a similar sensor package as us, Muninn can show them the configuration to track the ISIS witches and they can do it.

If we get a shot at them, take it.

>>3733610
>[] Track them till the airforce gets here and hand it off to them- King Raptors have a similar sensor package as us, Muninn can show them the configuration to track the ISIS witches and they can do it.

>>3733610
>[x] Engage them again- Kyou is right.

Without their trick they won't risk coming up again.

Mission accomplished. Skies are clear for lesser aircraft again.

>>3733610
>[x] Engage them again- Kyou is right.

>>3733610
>>3733627
Actually I think I'm gonna switch to:
>[x] Engage them again- Kyou is right.

>>3733610
>[×]Engage them again- Kyou is right.

>>3733610
>[] Track them till the airforce gets here and hand it off to them- King Raptors have a similar sensor package as us, Muninn can show them the configuration to track the ISIS witches and they can do it.

>>3733610
>[X] Engage them again- Kyou is right.

>>3733610
>[X] Track them till the airforce gets here and hand it off to them- King Raptors have a similar sensor package as us, Muninn can show them the configuration to track the ISIS witches and they can do it.
Killing them is a tactical win. Tracking them to their base could be a strategic victory.

>>3733610
>[×] Engage them again- Kyou is right.

Letting get away is not an option.

>>3733690
Or we could kill/brutally maim them all right now, and let the interrogators at GITMO sort them out.

ok, votes called! This will probably be the last update for the evening.

>>3733697
Finding their rat-hole means finding their equipment and documents if the army can take the place quickly enough. Getting a hold of that could tell us where the hell those witches and their stealth tech came from. Like I said, strategic victory.

or it could be a tie vote by my count. haha! Ten minute tiebreaker period!

>>3733610
Lurker powers activate!

Engage them again- Kyou is right.

>>3733610
>Track them till the airforce gets here and hand it off to them- King Raptors have a similar sensor package as us, Muninn can show them the configuration to track the ISIS witches and they can do it.

>>3733710
The same thing is accomplished if the MARSOC witches capture one of the bitches we shoot/shot down alive.

>>3733610
>Engage them again- Kyou is right.

>>3733723
We use paper to hold information because it's a much more reliable storage medium than people's tongues.

>>3733733
Nah nah, see it's not about them telling us things that are written down, it's about them telling where their base is so we can raid it, which accomplishes the same thing as tracking them AND takes them out of the air space. Plus, what's to say this is the only squad of invisio-witches they have?

ok, votes called. again. haha!

>>3733746
I don't think you understand how interrogation works...

>>3733746
Why do you think you'll actually get reliable information in a timely manner? You're taking the time to ask someone for directions that they don't want to tell you and can lie about.

>>3733763
It takes time? Questions get asked "nicely" and need to be confirmed by other sources? It's not a pleasant experience?

>>3733790
So why charge in with a tired wing-woman to capture or kill those witches for a lengthy, time-consuming interrogation when there's fresh planes nearby with sensors good enough to track the witches to their base, where they can then blast them to meatchunks when the witches try to land, and direct ground troops to move in and capture the base?

Risking our wing-woman while there's a safer, saner alternative isn't gonna win any good-will with anyone.

>>3733817
Because I absolutely believe Spears can handle it, because it's insult to the United States, the Navy and us if we let them escape, because I want to personally put them down, because if we put them down and interrogate them it functionally accomplishes the same thing +/- a week and a half maybe, because putting them down opens the airspace back, and because fuck those witches and anyone who joins up with ISIS?

There's a lot of reasons really.

How did Isis, managed to convince witches to join them?

Do they wear Burkahs during manuevres?

File: She's not lying when she (...).jpg (109 KB, 850x1202)

109 KB JPG

[x] Engage them again- Kyou is right.

Kyou is right- most of the intel you're going to get is going to have to come out of any prisoners the MARSOC team grabbed, and chasing them is reliant on them not noticing you- which doesn't seem very likely, if they've already made your reinforcements. You come around in a wide bank, trying to retain as much airspeed as possible. Spears sticks with you- she doesn't look tired, of course, but that doesn't mean anything, and you know you'll have to keep the engagement short regardless. If she can't make the carrier, you'll have to divert south, and you're reasonably sure the commander at Taqqaddum wouldn't be too happy to see you again.

"Candy's diverting to try and grab the witches we splashed." Spears says. "They'll be coming around from the south. If we bounce those bitches again, it means Candy's team is gonna have a bit more time on the deck to do their thing."

"And perhaps additional prisoners." Kyou points out. You look back in time to see Spears shrug.

"Maybe, but it's not a priority." She responds. "We shook them, but we're leaving with a fuck of a lot more questions than answers."

You're far enough back that they're out of range for anything but AMRAAMS- which can't fire on the partial solution your sensors can provide. Instead you have to push to close the distance- though once you're in range, Kyou ripples four more of your modified Agiles at them, the missiles arcing up before flattening out their trajectories to adopt a pursuit profile.

The trailing witch seems to see them coming- she drops out of formation to pivot in place, firing back at the missiles as they come into range. Agiles, of course, are witchkillers- they're designed for this kind of work, and show off both their evasive programming and armor as they all select the lone witch as their target. She manages to down one before her shield flashes into being, absorbing the next two. You blink as you see it- the missiles don't detonate, they simply disappear, almost as if they'd flown into a displacement pocket. Still, it shatters like a normal shield, you note.

Of course, that leaves the third- it detonates early, before the shield has completely dissipated, but it still sends her flying backwards, her strikers sputtering out and dying as she falls. "Splash two!" Kyou calls- you're not so sure it's a kill though. "Do you still have the others, Muninn?"

"They're out of my range." The AI responds. "I've vectored our reinforcements towards them and passed on the sensor settings, but I don't think we'll find them again."

"Candy's team made pickup." Spears says. "I'm having them divert here."

"Excellent." Kyou responds. "I would like to talk to that witch about her shield. Assuming she survived."

1/2

You loiter for a few minutes while the two Ospreys swoop in- you can't imagine they're happy about this, but at the same time, this is the kind of thing they do, according to your mother. "They've got 'er." Spears says, after a second- you watch the team, with four tank witches and the same number of marine operators- hustle back aboard their Ospreys. You cover them on the way out of the airspace, too, though that doesn't take long.

Spears hangs off the tow bar the entire way back to the carrier- and her landing is wobbly, at best. Still, she taxis to her rack, still sitting just forward of the island, and disengages her strikers as you pull into your spot next to her, following the aircraft handler.

Spears looks more tired than you feel, and her wounds have crusted over. She gives you a lopsided half-grin as you walk over after disembarking. "I've had worse." She says, then grimaces. "Much worse. Don't worry, I'll go see the doc."

Kyou, climbing down behind you, nods. "I feel we would be negligent in our duty if we did not walk with you."

"Walk?" Spears laughs, looking over your shoulder. "They're gonna bring up a stretcher."

"Are you that gravely injured?" Kyou asks, concerned.

Spears shakes her head. "Naw, but dinged up enough and tired enough that they'll wheel me down. It's happened before. You two good to go talk to the old man, or do you want to wait for me? He's gonna want to hear what happened as soon as possible, but he'll keep if you ain't comfortable doing it."

Kyou looks over at you.

[] We'll do it, yeah. We've got a pretty good idea of what happened.
[] We'd rather wait for you. We didn't have communications with the ground team like you did.

>>3733863
>[] We'd rather wait for you. We didn't have communications with the ground team like you did.

>>3733863
>[x] We'd rather wait for you. We didn't have communications with the ground team like you did.

And that's it for the night! Ran a bit long, haha, but I was kinda hoping to make it to about this point, and really, long runs are on me anyway, haha!

Bit of news- I'm 'on call' saturday. Since I was arguing 'steady hours' means it's a 'real enough' job and those just went out the window, I'll be looking for a part time again. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted, right? Haha.

Anyway, that's enough outta me. I'll be around a bit to field questions or comments, but otherwise, till tomorrow gents, cheers!

>>3733863
>[x] We'll do it, yeah. We've got a pretty good idea of what happened.

Spears can fill in the rest afterwards.

>>3733863
>[X] We'd rather wait for you. We didn't have communications with the ground team like you did.

>>3733869
Thanks for the run boss.

>>3733863
>[] We'd rather wait for you. We didn't have communications with the ground team like you did.

>>3733863
>[×] We'd rather wait for you. We didn't have communications with the ground team like you did.

Let's at least take some responsibility for her and try to act like a team player.

>>3733863
>[x] We'd rather wait for you. We didn't have communications with the ground team like you did.

>>3733869
Thanks for the run Ghost!

>>3733863
>[] We'd rather wait for you. We didn't have communications with the ground team like you did.

>>3733863
>[X] We'd rather wait for you. We didn't have communications with the ground team like you did.
I like the idea of sticking as a team.

We're with you, Ghost

>>3733863
>[X] We'd rather wait for you. We didn't have communications with the ground team like you did.

>>3733863
>[X] We'd rather wait for you. We didn't have communications with the ground team like you did.

>>3733863
>[x] We'd rather wait for you. We didn't have communications with the ground team like you did.

Ok gents! votes called!

Only a half hour late, too! haha!

File: Spears' general attitude (...).jpg (139 KB, 600x404)

139 KB JPG

[x] We'd rather wait for you. We didn't have communications with the ground team like you did.

You shake your head. "We'd rather wait for you." You say, causing Spears to nod- and then grimace again. "We didn't have communications with the ground team like you did."

"Fair enough." She says. She sighs. "Mind giving me a hand up? I wanna at least be standing when they show up."

Kyou looks over at you dubiously. "Are you certain that is wise?" She asks. "Forgive my directness, but you appear to be injured."

Spears grins. "I am. Pretty bad, too." She admits. "But I'll be fine."

Kyou frowns. "I feel as if instead of having a calm discussion we should be seeking the crash team."

Spears' grin gets wider. "If I was any other witch, maybe, but I've made a career out of getting shot to shit and pushing through. This is nothing."

You look over your shoulder at the medical team coming at a run out of the island, a folding stretcher between them. They're joined by what you assume is a marine corpsman- which makes some rough kind of sense, you guess- Spears is a marine.

"Ah," Spears says as they close in. "There's my limo. Help me up, will ya?"

Kyou looks over at you and nods- not so much giving an order as agreeing- you should help, if for no other reason than this odd witch was the first person to fly your wing in combat- and, seemingly, the first to put trust in you without talking about expectations.

You walk over as s he stands- displaying another injury you'd missed on her upper thigh, where a bullet gouged a furrow through the meat of her thigh without, fortunately, penetrating too much- the track is wide, but relatively shallow. An additional wound oozes blood from beneath her tactical vest, which shows at least one puncture through the soft armor. She gives that lopsided grin again as you notice. "Like I said, I've had worse." She says, gingerly descending the striker rack and leaning her weight on your side, wrapping a free arm around your shoulders to help support her. She's thankfully light- you suspect you could have carried her with ease, but you get that this is a pride thing for her, and being on her feet is important.

1/2

"Thanks." She says as the medical team arrives, two of the medics reaching out to take Spears off your shoulder. "I ought to be out in a day." She says as she lays down on the stretcher and a doc pulls the release tab for her armor, disconnecting the two halves of the vest. Under it, you see she's taken at least three hits- any one of which would be life threatening. She frowns as the medics go to work. "I'll see ya in the morning." She says, looking past them- her eyes are still hard and bright, and show no signs of the physical trauma- and they're certainly not the eyes of someone in shock. "Unless ya wanna come down and visit. It gets boring down there." She grins as the medics lift the stretcher and start walking quickly away.

Kyou walks over to join you- you note that your side is wet- probably with Spears' blood, you think.

"An odd witch." Kyou remarks. "I find myself rather liking her."

[] "I'm not sure what to make of her still.
[] Yeah, she doesn't seem so bad.
[] I'm not sure I do.

>>3735530
>[] Yeah, she doesn't seem so bad.

>>3735530
>[] Yeah, she doesn't seem so bad.

>>3735530
>[x] Yeah, she doesn't seem so bad.

>>3735530
>[X] Yeah, she doesn't seem so bad.

>>3735530
>[X] Yeah, she doesn't seem so bad.

>>3735530
>[] Yeah, she doesn't seem so bad.

I think I'm being dumb and paranoid but I feel like her shield is not working too well.

Ok, votes called!

>>3735681
She was facing 5-on-1 odds for a bit there, and brought it down to 4-on-1. Spears seemed pretty tough to me, unless I misread.

>>3735735
2 to 1, the other 4 scattered after going for us.

>>3735744
It also wasn't for too long either

>>3735744
This was also in the dark versus invisio-witches, so the stealth kinda evens the odds a bit.

File: For her it's only slightl(...).jpg (700 KB, 850x1487)

700 KB JPG

[x] Yeah, she doesn't seem so bad.

You nod. "Yeah, she doesn't seem so bad." You say.

"Still," Kyou says, walking past you- leading the way back into the ship and down to the life support shop, where you'll turn in your flight gear. "We must be cautious she's only attempting to get closer to us due to our parentage and position. I do not think this is the case, but it is something we should be aware of."

You shake your head. "I don't get that impression."

Kyou smiles back at you over her shoulder. "Nor do I. I have found most people of that nature are all too ready to let their intentions show. I think she is... " She pauses for a second, struggling for words. "As the marines say, a junkie. She not only revels in combat, but it is as a drug for her. She wishes to get close to us, because, as has been pointed out to us many times, Wyverns see combat very frequently." She shrugs. "To be one of our favorites would mean more to her than squadron service."

You nod. "Not to mention Merlin."

"Indeed." Kyou says, agreeing. "Our connection- that is, your connection- to her is a matter of common knowledge- and rumor, it seems." She stops, looking back at you. "They are just rumors currently, yes? I am sure they are, but it occurs to me that I have never directly asked you."

[] Of course they're just rumors.
[] Well, mostly.

File: Chika slaps someone with (...).gif (1.24 MB, 640x360)

1.24 MB GIF

>>3735800
>[X] Of course they're just rumors.
can we not?

>>3735800
>Of course they're just rumors.

>>3735800
>[] Of course they're just rumors.

>>3735800
>[X] Of course they're just rumors.

File: ......png (133 KB, 374x535)

133 KB PNG

>>3735800
>[] Of course they're just rumors.
With a very obvious pokerface.

>>3735800
>[x] Well, mostly.

>>3735800
>[x] Of course they're just rumors.

>>3735800
>[x] Of course they're just rumors.

>They are just rumors currently, yes?
We are in fact not an item. Currently.

>>3735800
>[X] Of course they're just rumors.

>>3735800
>[x] Well, mostly.
I'm sure there is some truth to them. There always is.

ok, votes called!

>>3735800
>[] Of course they're just rumors.

File: Probably more educated on(...).jpg (847 KB, 1200x1650)

847 KB JPG

[x] Of course they're just rumors.

"Of course they're just rumors." You respond, keeping any heat out of your voice- Kyou's been around you and Merlin enough that she probably saw your aunt spill spaghetti all over once or twice- it's common enough, anyway.

Kyou nods. "I had assumed so, but felt it prudent to ask. It wouldn't do to attempt to insert myself into an existing relationship." She says with a bit of a faint grin. "Regardless, I'll drop the subject. What do you think of our opponents?"

"The ISIS witches?" You ask, and she nods.

You shrug. "About what I expected."

She nods again. "Their skill was certainly lacking, but their ideology isn't going to attract many witches, if any at all. It does beg the question what they were doing there at all, however. From what I understand they believe in a sect of the religion that is closer to that of Iran than the rest of the Muslim world."

You nod- most Islamic nations are pretty consistent on their interpretation of their tenets- witches are all given their powers as an extension of Allah's will, and as such, regardless of their actions and allegiances, needed Islam to both understand and better fill their role in things. ISIS, and to some extent, the Iranian interpretation is far more hardline- witches are created things, gifted to the war efforts of powerful leaders by Allah, to serve as he deems fit.

Of course, that's not most people's take on it- indeed, ISIS is pretty roundly denounced by... well, everyone.

"Their equipment appeared to be predominantly former Iraqi stock." Kyou remarks. "But that doesn't necessarily mean it was seized from Iraqi stocks. The former Iraqi air force flew much of their inventory to Iran at the beginning of hostilities. I am anxious to hear what the ground team was able to learn. Perhaps, after we turn in our equipment, we should visit Spears in the medical bay?"

[] I think we ought to leave her alone for a while. She got pretty beat up.
[] Well, she did say we could visit if we wanted. Maybe that's not a bad idea.

>>3736009
>[x] Well, she did say we could visit if we wanted. Maybe that's not a bad idea.

>>3736009
>[X] Well, she did say we could visit if we wanted. Maybe that's not a bad idea.

>>3736009
>[] Well, she did say we could visit if we wanted. Maybe that's not a bad idea.

>>3736009
>[x] Well, she did say we could visit if we wanted. Maybe that's not a bad idea.

>>3736009
>[] Well, she did say we could visit if we wanted. Maybe that's not a bad idea.

ok, votes called!

File: The fact that you haven't(...).jpg (192 KB, 342x800)

192 KB JPG

[x] Well, she did say we could visit if we wanted. Maybe that's not a bad idea.

You nod. "She did say we could visit if we wanted. Maybe that's not a bad idea." You say as you turn into the life support shop, placing your helmet bag and survival vest on the stainless steel counter. The rating behind the counter takes them, though he blinks at the blood on your flight suit.

"You ok sir?" He asks, and you nod.

"It's not mine." You respond.

He frowns. "Either way, you can just hand that one in and we'll dispose of it, get you a new one." He says, and you nod again.

You and Kyou both change quickly- you into a clean flight suit, her into a duty uniform. As she hands in her helmet, the rating turns it over, then frowns. "Ma'am, if you want, we can go ahead and alter your helmet and flight suit for your familiar." He says.

Kyou nods. "That would be amazing. The helmet, in particular, is quite uncomfortable. Though I must ask, how long will these modifications take? I cannot afford to be without equipment long."

The rating shakes his head. "Not long ma'am. Probably about sixteen hours, we'll start right away." He says, then grins. "They got wise about six years back, most of these things are designed to be modified pretty easily to accommodate familiars, even the pain in the butt ones like birds." He says. "The suit's a bit different, but canine or feline familiars are fairly easy."

Kyou nods. "Excellent. Will I be required here?"

He nods. "Just for a couple minutes. We gotta get dimensions for the base of your familiar's tail and the space we'll have to open for ears. Takes about five minutes."

"We could do that now." Kyou says. "If it is such a short time."

The rating shrugs, then grabs a steel ruler and a tape measure. "Sure thing, if you don't mind." He says.

Kyou summons her familiar with that muted pop you're so accustomed to, the massive triangular ears and bushy tail emerging from... wherever it is they remain when they're not summoned. You're not sure- and, as far as you're aware, no one really is. Familiars, like a lot about witch's powers, are still largely a mystery, even after a couple thousand years of research.

1/3 (haha)

True to the sailor's word, it only takes a few minutes to get the measurements he needs to make the alterations, and before long you find yourself heading down to the sick bay. Inside you're met by the marine corpsman you saw earlier- he doesn't say anything, but nods to you and points in the direction of Spears, occupying a curtained-off bed near the end of the ward.

She's awake when you walk up, though she looks much worse off. Still, she smiles when she sees you. "Hey." She says, her eyes flicking first over you, then Kyou.

"Are- " Kyou pauses. "You said you were not gravely injured." She says, after a second. "If this is that, then I am afraid to see what your definition of serious wounds are."

Spears' chest heaves a couple times, and she grimaces- she's laughing, or, at least, trying to. The grin re-asserts itself quickly. "It's fine. I'm stable and I'll be out in the morning."

Kyou frowns. "Heal witch?" She asks. "If there was a talent aboard, why did they not greet you on the flight deck? this seems a waste of resources."

Spears shakes her head. "Living dead girl." She says. "I look like hammered shit cos I had to dismiss my familiar, and my talent was holding me together. After I get some sleep, I can heal it myself. It's just bad now cos of the flight out and back. If we could have recovered at Taq I wouldn't have even needed this."

Kyou blinks, then looks over at you- you shrug. Traditional talents- even odd ones, like this- aren't very common among the witches of the bayou. There are talents, to be sure, but most witches there tend to be like your maman- good a whole lot of things, but truly talented in nothing specific.

"It's why I wanna fly out of a squadron." Spears says, still talking to Kyou. "Witch squadrons all work together, using their talents to keep each other alive. I'm not much good at that, but I can get the most shot-up piece of shit home."

Kyou nods. "I believe I understand." She says, noncommittally- she knows neither of you can give a hard answer yet. "But we had come down to ask about the witches we fought."

"What about 'em?" Spears asks. "Terrorist slime. Shame we didn't get them all."

"Indeed." Kyou says with another nod. "But we were hoping perhaps you could provide insight as to their origins?"

Spears frowns. "Why would I be able to?" She asks.

"You were in contact with the ground team." Kyou says. "We had hoped perhaps they had some recovered some information."

Spears shakes her head- rubbing it against the pillow. "Nothing they told me, not yet." She says. "No way of knowing yet. People do stupid shit when faith is involved, even when it's one like that. Bitches want to be the right hand of some extremist warlord, shit like that. Seen it before."

"You sound rather dismissive of them." Kyou says.

2/3

Spears shrugs a bit, then grimaces some more. "Yeah, probably. They've never been much in a straight fight, you just saw that. Every time they stand and fight they get their asses kicked, so they always do this hit and fade shit. Set off an IED behind the lead element in a convoy, who cares if it's a vee or a witch. Harass you with sniper fire, looking for a chink in your defenses to put a bullet in your throat. They're cowards, who cares who they are or why they're there?"

"I see." Kyou says, leaning back. "I cannot say I disagree, but I always find it better to understand my foe, the better to defeat them."

Spears smiles. "Maybe. That's why you're a leader and I'm not. I came up from the Tanks. Sleeping in the mud and sand with the grunts gives you a different outlook than having a carrier to come back to every night." She shrugs. "Better to let someone else call the signals and just focus on pullin the trigger."

Kyou nods, then smiles at the witch. "You were a good leader this night." She says, and Spears' lopsided grin comes back.

"Ya think? I wanted you to call the shots anyway." She says, shaking her head. "Naw. That's why I gotta get out of this squadron. They're looking at me as an XO and there's no way I'm cut out for it." She says. "I'm just a career witch that got a bit too far too fast."

"We have gotten off topic." Kyou says.

Spears laughs a bit, then grimaces again- though at least this time you can hear the laughter. "I guess, yeah. Sorry for that. I don't have any intel yet about them, haven't heard from Candy yet, and probably won't till tomorrow morning."

Kyou nods, looking over her shoulder as the duty doc checks the wall clock and starts towards you. "It seems it is time to leave." She says. "if you like, we can return in the morning."

Spears nods. "Yeah, that'd be good." She pauses for a second. "You hear anything from Admiral Wells yet?"

[] We haven't talked with her yet.
[] Not yet, no.

And I'm gonna call it for the night there guys! haha!

So I'm 'on call' today for work, which most likely means I'm not going in. This means we should be able to finish out the make-up day here like normal, but we'll see what happens. I'll let you guys know.

Either way, that's all for this evening! haha. So I'll be around a bit to field questions or comments, but otherwise, gents, cheers!

>>3736290
>[x] Not yet, no.

File: R-101_Delphinus.jpg (210 KB, 1280x720)

210 KB JPG

>>3736290
>[X] Not yet, no.

>>3736298
Thanks for the run boss.

>>3736290
>[] Not yet, no.

>>3736290
>[] Not yet, no.
So she's a regenerater, like Nippa, that's pretty good. She does seem like a solid wingmate for us, not needing to worry quite so much about intensity of combat, because she'll be much more likely to make it home than anyone else, barring of course instant death.

>>3736290
>[x] We haven't talked with her yet.

>"Living dead girl." She says. "I look like hammered shit cos I had to dismiss my familiar, and my talent was holding me together. After I get some sleep, I can heal it myself.
Figured her talent had something to do with resilience

>>3736298
Thanks for the run Ghost!

>>3736290
>[] Not yet, no.

>>3736290
>[X] Not yet, no.

>>3736290
>[] We haven't talked with her yet.

Votes called! On time, for once, too!

File: Probably working two step(...).png (475 KB, 877x1239)

475 KB PNG

[x] Not yet, no.

"Not yet, no." You respond.

"Damn." Spears says, though the grin stays on her face as she does. "And here I'd hoped she was going to call as soon as she heard my name."

You smile back- it's delivered as a bit of a self-effacing joke on her part- though there's more than a little hope there too.

"I suspect we'll have a message from her when we return to quarters." Kyou offers. "She is very involved with Wyvern crews, and so will no doubt be anxious to hear our report on the flight."

Spears nods. "I get it. Hey, I'm gettin pretty tired, so I'm gonna go to sleep here."

You nod, just as the doc reaches you, standing up. "See ya in the morning then?" She asks- Kyou nods for you both.

"Of course. Sleep well." Kyou says, turning to walk out of the sick bay.

You follow her out, nodding at the doc as you pass.

"An unusual talent." Kyou remarks as you make your way back to your cabin- the CAG knows you're aboard, and while normally you'd go to a mission debrief right away, Muninn will have uploaded the combat logs as soon as the ship's umbilical was attached when you shut down. It's also a privileged extended Wyvern crews- a holdover from the VDNI days, where mental strain was such that most crews were barely able to deliver mission debriefings due to fatigue. The MIU system prevents that, of course, but the navy has been slow to change the rules.

You nod, agreeing with her. "I can see it's use, of course, though I think she is incorrect in her assessment. A leader who is that tenacious and difficult to shoot down would be an incredible asset for any team she was part of."

"Or one who's well shielded?" You ask, and Kyou looks back with a faint smile.

"And trained by the finest tutors in schools of leadership in and out of combat." She says. "One of the few times I took advantage of my status." She pauses. "Regardless, it would seem her hesitation is because of perceived, rather than real, limitations in her performance."

You nod again.

"Which leaves us in a dilemma." Kyou says. "She very clearly wishes to continue to fly with us, but I feel as if we may be depriving others of a leader with true genius later."

[] It's far too early to make any kind of decision anyway, though.
[] Maybe, but on our wing she stands to do a lot more good.
[] True, and I'm sure We'll meet others who want the job.

>>3738122
>[] Maybe, but on our wing she stands to do a lot more good.

>>3738122
>[x] It's far too early to make any kind of decision anyway, though.

>>3738122
>[×] Maybe, but on our wing she stands to do a lot more good.

>>3738122
>[X] Maybe, but on our wing she stands to do a lot more good.

>>3738122
>[X] It's far too early to make any kind of decision anyway, though.

>>3738122
>[x] It's far too early to make any kind of decision anyway, though.

>>3738122
>[] It's far too early to make any kind of decision anyway, though.

>>3738122
>[x] Maybe, but on our wing she stands to do a lot more good.
I like Spears.

>>3738122
>[×] Maybe, but on our wing she stands to do a lot more good.

Spears is best marine already.

Hey guys, I'm going to run to get something to eat, so the vote is gonna stay up a little long.

>>3738122
>[×] Maybe, but on our wing she stands to do a lot more good.

>>3738122
>[] It's far too early to make any kind of decision anyway, though.

>>3738122
>[X] It's far too early to make any kind of decision anyway, though.

>>3738122
>[x] It's far too early to make any kind of decision anyway, though.

Ok, I'm home! haha. Line was a little longer than I thought, and there was an accident too. Thankfully it wasn't a fatality accident, the local police like closing off the road for a few hundred yards in either direction for those.

Votes called!

File: Famed postwar for her car(...).jpg (57 KB, 326x797)

57 KB JPG

[x] It's far too early to make any kind of decision anyway, though.

While you agree- though you do think that Spears stands to do much more good overall flying on your wing- you also think it's far too early to make any kind of decision, even a preliminary one. "It's far too early to make any kind of decision anyway, though." You say. "She's a marine, she'll deal with a bad situation for a while longer."

Kyou nods. "I agree. My concern is that she allows the situation to dictate her actions to her more than she otherwise should. If she is selected for a leadership position- or not removed from her current position, I worry that she will eventually do something foolish because of her own thoughts on the matter."

You shrug. "We can't save everyone." You point out- a truism your mother had to teach you after one youthful spring, when a dog you'd found on the road- still alive then- didn't make it through the night. The lesson had clashed with what you'd learned at your father's home- death itself could be cheated, if only under exacting circumstances. You know all too well the story of your adopted sisters, or Wendy Maloney.

Kyou nods. "I am aware." She says, opening the hatch into your small cabin and stepping inside, letting you close it behind yourself. "But if we're in a position to do so, should we not be making every effort to try?"

You shrug. "If we don't do more harm by trying." You say. That was a lesson you'd formed after hearing Wendy's story- while her treatment by the RAF was certainly abusive, she effectively can't go home again, and, if it weren't for Tabitha, would effectively be an orphan witch- one without a coven. You note, however, that the times you've met her, she's seemed perfectly happy- if a bit eager to please- and doesn't ever talk about the UK, much less returning there.

Kyou frowns. "I see your point. Either way, I agree with your assessment. It is too early to make any kind of decision, regardless of how much I may want to. I find myself wondering what kind of companion she would make during our career."

You shrug. "She wouldn't be like we are. They could reassign her, by the sounds of it." You point out. "It's unofficial, they said."

Kyou nods, then smiles. "Of course. Though do you think Merlin intends to leave it that way?"

[] Fair point. Probably not.
[] I'm not sure she pays much attention to that kind of thing.

>>3738428
>[x] Fair point. Probably not.

>>3738428
>[X] Fair point. Probably not.

>>3738428
>[x] I'm not sure she pays much attention to that kind of thing.

I doubt she actually cares.

>>3738428
>[] Fair point. Probably not.

>Not grabbing Living Dead witch with combat experience and a fucking amazing talent when given the chance.

I'm disappointed with all of you.

>>3738428
>[X] I'm not sure she pays much attention to that kind of thing.

>>3738428
>[] Fair point. Probably not.

>>3738469
I doubt its the final vote on the matter

>>3738428
>[] Fair point. Probably not.

File: 1423630835143.png (438 KB, 919x453)

438 KB PNG

>>3738484
I hope not but
>Not seizing that opportunity when given the chance
>Mfw

ok, votes called!

File: Normally not the kind of (...).jpg (111 KB, 600x1000)

111 KB JPG

[x] Fair point. Probably not.

You think for a minute, then nod. "Fair point. Probably not." You admit.

Kyou nods, taking a seat on her rack and pulling off her shoes and socks. "It strikes me that her goals and methods may not always be as easy to predict as we feel they are."

You shrug. "Maybe. I mean, she's right up there with Tesla."

"Or beyond him, even." Kyou says, undoing the buttons on her uniform jacket and pulling it off, revealing her green undershirt. She leans back on her rack and looks up at the ceiling for a second. "It is difficult to imagine why, however."

You shrug. "Could just be preference." You say. "She likes the idea of people that fly and fight together their entire career." You turn and key the short password for your laptop in. "And there's a waiting email from her." You say after a second- it's been sent to your .mil account, which indicates it's official business. All it is is a few short sentences, instructing you to give her a video call as soon as you receive it. "Well, we can ask." you say, pulling out your card reader and slotting your common access card in.

"Ah. I had wondered if she intended to contact us." Kyou says, standing up and crossing the short distance between your desk and her bunk in a few steps, standing behind you for a second, before bending down to put her head next to yours as you pull up Skype. You glance over at her as the call gets patched through. "You can bring over a chair, if you want." You point out. "I can move."

"This is acceptable." Kyou says, her eyes not leaving the screen. "I have been sitting enough already today."

There's some chop as the call picks up- Merlin blinks for a second at it, then frowns. "Hang on." She says. "Lag." There's a longer pause, then she speaks again. "There. Sorry, I had to recode us, we're official now though. Satellites were being fussy."

You nod.

"They tell me you got bounced by ISIS witches." She says. "Tell me about it."

[] Focus on the equipment aspect- that's probably what she's after.
[] Tell her about their numbers and training- she wants a debrief, it sounds like.

>>3738669
>[] Focus on the equipment aspect- that's probably what she's after.
>[] Tell her about their numbers and training- she wants a debrief, it sounds like.
Both, to present the full picture.

>>3738669
>[x] Focus on the equipment aspect- that's probably what she's after.
>[x] Tell her about their numbers and training- she wants a debrief, it sounds like.

Makes sense to do both

>>3738669
>[] Focus on the equipment aspect- that's probably what she's after.
>[] Tell her about their numbers and training- she wants a debrief, it sounds like.
>[] Name drop Spears.

>>3738669
>>3738686
This, whenever it seems like a good opportunity.

>>3738669
>>[] Focus on the equipment aspect- that's probably what she's after.
>>[] Tell her about their numbers and training- she wants a debrief, it sounds like.
>>[] Name drop Spears.

>>3738669
>[] Focus on the equipment aspect- that's probably what she's after.
>[] Tell her about their numbers and training- she wants a debrief, it sounds like.
>[] Name drop Spears.

>>3738669
>>3738686
I'll back this. We should probably mention we either didn't down the stealth talent or it's something else they're using for camo.

>>3738669
>>3738686
This

>>3738686
I'll also get behind this, mention her strong performance.

Nyan nyan

sorry about that guys. Stepped out for a minute, ended up dozing off on the bench outside.

File: Assuming, of course, He's(...).jpg (153 KB, 850x1433)

153 KB JPG

You go through the fight in detail, pausing only occasionally to clarify on a point or to let Kyou expand on another. Merlin frowns when you get to the ISIS witches' active camouflage, though she doesn't interrupt. She nods when you finish. "I see. So they had the ability to cloak as a unit?"

Kyou nods. "Yes ma'am." She says. "Muninn was able to devise a rudimentary way to defeat it, but it rendered the majority of our sensors incapable of detecting them."

"I have a solution for that." Merlin says. "But installing it will mean you have to come back to Miramar for a few days. It may be better to wait until after you've finished your Atlantic decks."

"That seems rather fast." Kyou notes.

Merlin nods. "It's something I built during the war. There's a few sets of podded sensors that we built in the mid nineties. I'll have to flash their programming to get them updated, but that shouldn't take long at all. We can discuss it while you're here between oceans."

"Also, we wanted to mention the witch we flew with." Kyou says- and you nod. "Her name is Spears, she's a USMC lieutenant."

Merlin nods. "I'm familiar with the name. What did you think of her?"

"We were impressed." Kyou says, and Merlin smiles. "She seems competent with her skills, and was able to dispatch her opponent easily enough."

"She's got a colorful history." Merlin says, looking away from her webcam at her other monitor- where you assume she's pulled up Spears' record. "multiple decorations though, Silver star with a repeat, purple heart with repeats, Navy cross with a repeat."

"She will probably receive another Purple heart from this flight." Kyou says. "Her injuries seemed rather extensive, but she insisted they were nothing."

Merlin nods. "She's a regenerative talent. Uncommon, but not unheard of. Records indicate she doesn't accept an award of the purple heart unless her injures are life-threatening to her. That speaks pretty well of her. She's also brought back strikers that were inoperable afterwards."

"She mentioned she'd like onboard with your program." You say. "It sounds like she's uncomfortable with leadership roles."

1/2

"I can see why she would be." Merlin says, still reading. "But I could use another witch. Danielle is putting the flight aspect through it's paces well, and I'm bringing in an old friend to really test it, but I do want someone who knows something about ground combat as well. Is she comfortable being plugged?"

Kyou shrugs. "We didn't ask her, but I cannot imagine she wouldn't be." She says. "She strikes us as one who lives for combat and doesn't wish distractions."

"I see. I'll send an inquiry, tell her to have her things ready to go." Merlin says, reaching over to type something out. "It's going to drop her unit below strength."

"That may be for the best." Kyou says. "Their leader is rather new, and Spears paints a rather dim picture of them."

"I see." Merlin says. "Well, that was supposed to be why they were in the eastern med, but if they're not coming together as a unit it's better to get them out of there and reassess them." She pauses. "But that's not my job. I'm just pulling Spears."

You and Kyou both nod.

"Alright. I'll have vought ship over the pods, I may end up refitting a few aircraft for them." She says. "You can get them refit if you want while you're here."

You nod. "That sounds good to us."

"I think that's it." Merlin says. "Spears should have her orders in the next few hours." Your 'aunt' pauses for a second. "Don't send too many witches my way, though. I can probably get one or two more, but that's it. I've already got all my prototypes here. As is I'm only taking Spears because Cassiopeia retracted her request."

You blink at that. "She did?"

Merlin nods. "Said she planned on finishing out her cruise on the Kaga, then she'd come back."

"Huh." You say, looking over at Kyou, who has a faint grin on her face.

"Alright. You two take care, I'll see you in a few weeks." Merlin says- then cuts the call.

"It would seem my beloved little brother has found himself a girlfriend afterall." Kyou says, her grin getting wider as she stands up. "I cannot imagine many people will be happy at it being your half-sister however."

You nod- though you're far more worried that he has no idea what he's getting himself into.

And that's it for the week! Sorry about that delay there, I kinda nodded off outside stargazing. Well, for a given value of the word- there's a lot of light pollution in suburbia- makes me miss Olympia where I could drive east past the mountains and get some legit dark skies, haha!

So as a reminder, this is the last week where I don't have work or school for sure- I'mm going back to the part time job hunt Monday, just because the field isn't sustainable- I guess I knew it wasn't going to be, but I'd let hope get the better of me there, haha! I'll keep you guys informed about what's up there.

Anyway gents, that's all I've got for now! I'll be around to field questions or comments, but otherwise, till next week, cheers!

>>3738934
thanks for running boss

File: F-22_Phoenix.png (1.37 MB, 1366x768)

1.37 MB PNG

>>3738934
Thanks for the run boss.

>We're gonna go back to Miramar
Will the Carnival still be going on?

>>3738934
Thanks for the run Ghost!

>>3738930
>Cass
Clever girl

So, bit of bad news, gents. My computer may have just bricked itself. And by that I mean the antivirus may have broken windows. Gonna try to fix it, but if I can't it may mean the run's being delayed a bit, haha! Sorry for the bad news.

>>3747371
Nothing you could do anything about or see coming. Had a bit of a fight with the last Windows update myself, eventually got it to work.

>>3747371
working as intended; windows 10 is malware.

Well, the good news is I was able to find the USB -> SATA adapter I needed to try and pull data off the HDDs in the old computer and onto the laptop to continue.

The bad news is I can't get it to work. The HDD will *not* read, regardless of what tricks I try. I have a couple more up my sleeve, but no promises. Assuming it is gone... well, everything is gone, up to about the end of 89. I have paper notes, of course, but my own archives of threads is gone, along with any images I'd pulled for use with the quest. Needless to say, it's a bit of a blow.

So for right now, at least till I can recover something- or start rebuilding (thankfully, other than the nighttime wyvern picture, nothing was anything I can't find on pixiv again), we're on hold. I'm not going to say Hiatus, last time I said that we never came back. I'm *hoping* to be able to get back up to speed pretty fast, but I've no kind of ETA on when I'll be able to get rolling again, and I'm sorry. Being broke is crap, haha.

So, I'll be around to answer questions and comments as best I can, but otherwise, gents, Y'all be good till we can get back going again. Not easy to say that, haha.

>>3748563
How have you been enjoying the GFL/Va-11 Hall-A collab?

I've liked it very, very much.

File: f[1].png (9 KB, 512x512)

9 KB PNG

>>3748563
F

>>3748615
It's pretty alright! I haven't played much today (For... obvious reasons, hah.) But I still need to clear last rain in the world and then farm fragments (And the drop dolls).

>>3748628
Yeah, I know. I screwed up, shoulda had more backups, and I rate a fail on this. Especially since the *same thing* happened when I was running 89. the only reason things weren't catastrophic back then was I had enough in the bank to go buy a new computer off top.

I have the laptop now, but because I wasn't being as careful about my archiving efforts, well...

>>3748563
We'll be here once you get things back rolling Ghost. Hopefully you'll be able to recover something off of the drive.

Asked this twice now, but apparently I missed the q&a period both times, so I'll ask a third time.

What's PUBLICLY known about Konstantina Stalinka's daughter at this time (she who is suspected to be Frankspawn, but never confirmed)?

>>3748962
Oh man I'm sorry! I must have missed the question.

Publicly, not much is known about her, to be honest. She's a graduate of the Moscow academy of witches, and assigned to the southeastern asia region. Most pictures of her are at least a year out of date, and she's got the same build as her mother, but lighter hair and Blue eyes. It's claimed she's about as powerful.

The hair and eyes thing, along with a couple facial features she's got that are different than her mother fuels speculation that she's a designer baby based on Konstantina and Frank, but there's absolutely no proof for that at all.

>>3749020
And now I'm imagining the story evolving in such a way that she has to:

1. Fly alongside Morgan
2. Publicly be acknowledged as one of Frank's daughters
3. End up attending a Bishop family reunion, with her mother in tow (Morgan's making De Chile)

Eh, idle thoughts.

>>3749041
Probably, haha. Legit admission she's Frankspawn would be political... well, dynamite doesn't quite cover how explosive (and damaging) it would be.

File: 1217424728360.jpg (115 KB, 375x500)

115 KB JPG

>>3748563
if you got your data drive by shucking an external drive (a common cost-saving measure in $current_decade) don't forget it won't spin up when there's 3.3V on SATA power connector pins 1,2,3. so tape over them or use a molex->sata power adaptor that omits 3.3V

>>3749636
Oh, it's spinning up fine- I can hear it (It's a WD Blue). The issue is whenever I attempt to access it via the laptop, the laptop's file explorer freezes. Ditto drive management. I can't boot the laptop with the old HDD connected and on- it'll boot fine, then just go to a black screen with a cursor. I tried booting it through another computer (but couldn't remember the password and don't have a live USB handy)

Honestly it's beyond me- once we got to the "Hooking it to the laptop doesn't work" stage it got beyond my abilities with computers, haha. I'll be spending most of this week and on into the next re-archiving everything I can and working on notes on paper- I had a bunch of stuff I wanted to go back and write down, but didn't (Which is part of why last night was so bad)

>>3748809
>I screwed up, shoulda had more backups, and I rate a fail on this.
Windows 10 will always find a way to ruin your day, best you can do is have a USB stick plugged in at all times and save the most crucial stuff on it.

>>3749181
Forgive my political newbness, but why would it be such a shitstorm if Frank is publicly acknowledged as her father?

>>3750178
It's one thing to have an affair with a fellow American witch.

It's another to have an (apparent) affair with an enemy Soviet witch.

Since we're on hiatus for the rest of the week Archive Up.

>>3749869
Here's a link to what Strikers related art I have, I think I might be missing two or three things but not sure what. There is also some screen caps and some SWQ related art that made its way in there as well.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/z53z6r1i0rxflfi/AAALepH2sEGASERk__A9UIEva?dl=0

>>3750812
>https://www.dropbox.com/sh/z53z6r1i0rxflfi/AAALepH2sEGASERk__A9UIEva?dl=0

You, sir, are a scholar and a gentleman. Thanks for this. I was afraid it was all gone.

>>3749869
Sounds like a problem I had with my desktop a few months ago. Turned on fine, showed startup screen fine, black afterwards. Turned out my SSD gave up the ghost, and that's where Windows was installed. Replaced the SSD and reinstalled Windows, and it worked fine. Not sure if that's the issue you have, though.

>>3750303
What are you talking about? Konstantina was part of Putin's faction, who were allied with NATO during WW3. Has politics changed enough that they're now considered the enemy?

>>3751113
Soviets are never allies. Just occasionally enemies of enemies.

>>3751000
"gave up the ghost"
that sounds suspiciously very german...

>>3751113

Honestly they were never really allies per se- co belligerents at best- but the real issue is that the various superwitch programs were... not too well received once they came into the light. An admission that soviet scientists engineered a superwitch using Bishop genes would be a pretty big deal, especially considering the number of times they've denied such activity.

>>3754115
Ah, but what if Konstantina's daughter were conceived the natural way?

>>3754364
Then the Bishop family will have a very long talk with Comrade Stork.

>>3754708
I always assumed Frank's lovers allowed Konstantina a single night with Frank immediately post-war, and that's where her daughter came from (though given all the jokes we made about Comrade Stork in relation to Konstantina's understanding of where babies come from, actual instruction on the mechanics of sex might have been involved the deed was done).

idk if its been asked before... but what happened to Jake Bishop? is he even alive? did he survive the war? is he ok?

>>3754754
The harem end was truly the worst part of 89, and screw the fanfic writers for helping enable that shit.

>>3755979
Not really?

>>3755979
It does allow for a easy sequel with a lot of the supporting cast already accounted for. And don't say fighter pilots don't sleep around, given the chance.

>>3754364
I'd think that would be pretty big news as well- probably not politically, but for sure in the popular culture spaces. Frank's whole... situation... isn't always very highly thought of, and the revelation he'd fathered a second child out of wedlock- and that with a Soviet witch- would be a pretty major scandal.

>>3755979
Being fair it does seem to be, by far, the most divisive element of 89.

>>3759183
That doesn't make it any less dumb. It's wish fulfillment for sad virgins, and it affects how the characters are written down the line.

Harem casts are NEVER good. They might be good LOOKING, but as far being well WRITTEN is concerned, they are as deep as a puddle in the Rub' al Khali during August. No matter what the individual characterization each person has, it all ultimately becomes secondary to get that dick, and suddenly any conflicts between the characters just get resolved because all that matters is that they get that dick, and it don't matter that they have to share it. All of the effort put into making them seem smart, tough, funny, depressed, "perfect", and flawed just goes out the window, because they just have a quick fuckin' meeting to decide "hey lets just share" "cool" fuck YOU FeelthyFuckshit for even bothering to cater to this trash.

And then the weebs to rush to defend this trash as "polyamory" inevitably pop up, despite their fat asses never having been in a relationship of any sort, much less a polyamorous one. It's bad news all around, and the best part of this quest has been Ghost smartly dancing as far around this shit as is possible for the MC being the product of the fourth wheel of the harem.

>>3760266
>despite their fat asses never having been in a relationship of any sort
Your credibility went out the window when you started spouting this off-topic gibberish. I am neither fat, nor have I never been in a relationship. I am in favor of monogamy, but the points in >>3759183 are still valid. Fucking around yes, having several partners at the same time, no.

File: images.jpg (44 KB, 249x172)

44 KB JPG

>>3760266
>despite their fat asses never having been in a relationship of any sort,

So some news. I think we're good to get back rolling tomorrow, gents, but I may do a sidequest sort of thing as I'm still trying to re-archive all the old threads and get an image library rebuilt. The dropbox link was amazing, and I cannot thank you enough for that, all it looks like is gone gone are some of mangafag's things and some old Psychomoto lewds.

Either way, I think we'll have a run tomorrow, but we may be visiting another character for it.

>>3767052
Any hints? Witch or Pilot or none of those?