Stateside, the president has pledged the full support of the US, and initiated a call up of the national guard and reserves- along with deploying the DRF, or divisional ready force, of the 82nd airborne forward to Japan. The third marine division is also slated to join them, though they'll be sailing from their base on Guam with the Roosevelt's group in about a day and a half. The airforce is already moving some of their ready units to bases in Japan- most of the wing at Mountain home is headed for Misawa, along with four of the USAF's superfighters. There's also another pair of wyverns headed in theater- Muninn got the warning via the AI's own private network. Neither of them are valkyrie units, but, along with additional drakes being sent into the south china sea, they represent a large part of the fleet.

The Kaga and her sister ship are busy as you land back aboard her- they're doling out strikes, mostly in smaller groups, across the front. The deck is mostly clear right now. There's a couple of the IJN's modernized Aichi B10s- modified, license-built versions of the Blackburn Buccaneer parked forward of the island, and a pair of IJN tomcats behind it, but other than that, the deck is clear of aircraft.

You're directed to the elevator as soon as you land, and by the time you're headed into the ship, Muninn's already on the way down to the hangar deck- indicating you're not going out again right away. Still, you head for the ready room- the crew knows you're back aboard, of course, and Merlin will be there, along with your liasion officer. It's kind of nice having your aunt aboard, you think- even if it is unusual to be directly under her. Vaguely, you wonder what happened to the marine officer who'd indicated he was your handler.

Merlin's in the briefing room along with the ship's matron and the IJN liasion. The two witches look over as you enter, and Merlin nods. "Good, Cass is here. Cass, the ship's matron wanted to have a word."

Cass nods, walking out of the room with the Japanese witch.

2/3
(Oops)

"Have a seat." Merlin orders the three of you. "I'm glad the flight out went smoothly." She starts. "I don't know if we could have handled any major emergency there. We've got enough problems, and the IJA and IJN want you back in action as soon as possible. We've agreed to limit you to no more than eighteen hours of flying time a day, unless the situation demands more. That should mean no more than four sorties a day, though it may mean less."

You nod as she pulls up a broad overview of the Peninsula. "I'm sure you're aware of the situation on the ground, so I'll skip the detail. Imperial navy command has three priority assignments they want you on as soon as you're available. I've got a high priority strike against Chongjin. There's satellite evidence the Chinese intend to operate missile boats out of the port there, and at least one S-400 system has gone up, limiting IJN aircraft in the area. The second is a deep penetration raid against Incheon, where the majority of their reinforcements and shipping is headed. It's extensively defended by both on and offshore systems, and nothing but a wyvern could pull it off. Lastly, two of the witches listed MIA in the opening attack made contact via the IJN's rescue net. They're trapped behind enemy lines in the vicinity of Jangjin. The IJN is organizing a CSAR effort now, but they want you to go in and create a hole in the Chinese air coverage and draw any fighters away from the recovery effort.

[] We'll take Chongjin.
[] We'll do the Incheon strike.
[] We'll assist the CSAR effort.

>>4037523
>[X] We'll assist the CSAR effort.

>>4037523
>[X] We'll do the Incheon strike.
We have VLS cells, so we could do some serious damage alone.

>>4037523
>[x] We'll take Chongjin.

>>4037520
>Aichi B10s- modified, license-built versions of the Blackburn Buccaneer

Weird flex but I approve.

>It's kind of nice having your aunt aboard, you think- even if it is unusual to be directly under her.

*snrk*

>>4037523
>[x] We'll assist the CSAR effort.
This is to my tastes

>>4037523
>[×] We'll assist the CSAR effort.

>>4037523
>[] We'll assist the CSAR effort.

Ok, votes called!

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[x] We'll assist the CSAR effort.

"We'll assist the CSAR effort." You say, reasoning that's probably the most time-critical of the three.

Merlin nods, looking over at the IJN liasion, who heads to the phone mounted to the bulkhead and dials it out- no doubt letting the Japanese command know where you're going.

"There's not a lot of intel on threats in that area, but it's close to where your targets were last night, so you can expect a similar mix of PLAAF and captured KDF aircraft and ground targets. As far as we know, there's no S-400 complexes in range of the operational area other than the one in Chongjin, and the mountains will degrade any SAM's ability to engage, other than short range systems. The majority of your opposition should come from PLAAF and captured KDF fighters."

"Will we be expected to directly escort the recovery elements?" Kyou asks, and Merlin shakes her head.

"They'll be escorted by helicopter gunships of their own to engage any ground targets." She says. "Your primary mission is to open and hold the airspace for the duration of the rescue effort, and then ensure the Chinese can't attempt to engage the rescue aircraft as they exit the area."

"And the S-400 system?" Wendy asks. S-400s are major issues- especially to relatively slow targets like helicopters.

1/2

"The IJN's plan is to hit the site with a cruise missile attack and saturate the area." Merlin responds. "They'd hoped to be able to use a precision strike via a wyvern to hit it and the docks, and they may still want you to hit the dockyards there after this, but that S-400 has to go, and they're willing to let the air force do it."

Kyou frowns. "That will cause significant collateral damage. The air force has always planned to saturate S-400 sites with air launched weapons and have always done so expecting the Chinese will have heavy short range defenses in place to engage any attack."

Merlin nods. "We haven't been informed how the air force intends to destroy the target, but they'll be launching their strike soon." She says. "We'll need to get your aircraft uploaded and ready to fly. I've got a weapons selection list, if you'd like to use that, or you can change it to suit yourself."

She pulls it up as a display on the screen. She suggests loading four VLS with quad pack AAM-4s, while the last two cells would retain their current Python-5 systems. your FAST would remain loaded with Python-5s, while your centerline bays would each have AAM-4s as well. It'd be a combined load of twenty eight AAM-4s with a further sixteen python missiles, plus four hundred rounds in each of your guns.

"We can rearrange any weapons station you want, but I advise against mounting external weapons stations." Merlin says. "We're not entirely sure about the threat environment, and there may be other long range SAM systems in the area."

You nod, thinking. The AAM-4s are more than capable medium range systems, and they pythons, you know, are the easy equal of the newer sidewinders, fitting somewhere between the AIM-9 and AIM-95 in terms of capability. The proposed setup, would give you plenty of ability to interdict from longer ranges, but does you leave you somewhat lighter on dogfighting missiles than you'd like- against witches, you'd only have enough for about eight salvos, and that's assuming you didn't have to use any against aircraft to that point.

[] Fly as-is.
[] Change out weapons. (Write in suggested load. VLS can handle quad AAM-4, or python-5. FAST can handle 4 Python or 3 AAM-4 each. Centerline bays can handle 6 missiles of either type.)

>>4037688
>[×] Fly as-is.

>>4037688
>[X] Fly as-is.

as an aside, gents, I was going to post the load sheet, but it got ate in the HDD crash last year, and I don't have a replacement. I'll work on one here quickly, I'm sorry for not having one here.

>>4037688
>[x] Change out weapons.
I dont' suppose the ship has a spare pair of HARMs or something we can load p in case there really is some asshole S-400 sitting on a mountaintop?

If so, can we get 'em loaded in the centreline?


If not, then consider me A-OK with
>[X] Fly as-is.

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>>4037688
>[x] Change out weapons.
Swap one of the centerline bays for more Pythons, it'll an give us even 22-22 mix.

To be fair however I can see the extra AAM-4s coming in handy

>>4037696
This one? Don't think we have an updated one for the VLS.

>>4037710
yeah, that one. We don't yet, but I've been meaning to make one. I prefer to let you guys sort your load yourselves rather than do it like this with preset stuff.

ok, votes called!

I plan to get an updated load sheet for you gents before next run, haha!

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[x] Fly as-is.

"We'll fly with that." You say, and Merlin nods.

"Ok. Wendy, you'll have six Pythons." She says, turning to the older witch, who nods.

"Based on their reports, both witches are injured, but not badly." Merlin says, going back to the situation. "They also claim they've got intel they can't let go over open air, so the navy's put a high priority on their recovery. You'll be loaded and in the air as soon as possible." She pauses. "Further, until the recover helicopters have completely exited korean airspace, you need to stay with them. Don't pursue targets of opportunity during this operation."

You nod- it makes sense, though you can't imagine Kyou is going to be very happy about that restriction.

"That's all." Merlin says. "Any questions?"

"Do we know who the two witches are?" Kyou asks.

Merlin hesitates. "The IJN hasn't released that information to me yet." She says. "All they'll say is they were some of the girls assigned to the twelfth wing in northern Korea, and have been listed as MIA since the initial invasion."

Kyou nods. "I am sure we'll have their identities after this operation. Will they be recovering aboard the Kaga?"

Merlin nods. "The CSAR team will be launching from the Akagi, but will recover aboard the Kaga. They'll be transferred back to Japan from here."

"Excellent." Kyou says. "That was my only concern, thank you."

"Is that it? Morgan, any questions?"

[] None.
[] Yes. (Write-in)

>>4037797
>[X] Yes. (Write-in)

Any intel on if enemy witches have been sent to hunt them down? They could be...problematic for the CSAR team.

>>4037797
>[x] None.

>>4037797
>[X] None.

>>4037797
>>4037803
This

ok, votes called. Yes, I know it's a tie.

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"None here." You say, looking over at Wendy, who blinks.

"Do we have any information about hostile witches?" She asks.

Merlin shakes her head. "None currently. The Chinese appear to have withdrawn most of their witches after your shootdown of that Mainrig last night. We're not sure if that's in response to you killing the AWACS aircraft, or if there are other reasons." She says. "Regardless, unless they've got witches specifically hunting these two, we don't think there should be any present. If there are, you'll have to respond."

You nod.

"If that's it, you're dismissed. Launch in thirty minutes." She says. She smiles as you stand up. "And I'll have a surprise for you when you get back."

"A surprise?" Kyou asks, and Merlin nods.

"Something I've been working on for a few years. I finally got it worked out, so we'll be trying it out." She says. "If it works, I think it's going to change the public opinion on AIs."

"I wasn't aware opinion on them was poor." Kyou says, tilting her head a little.

Merlin shakes her head. "It's not." She says, with a smile. "But most people don't view them as important to their day to day life, or even anything that they'll interact with. This should change that, if it works."

"What of work on the aircraft?" Kyou asks.

Merlin shrugs. "I've got some ideas after reviewing the data your AIs held, but I'll have to look at it a little longer." She pauses, then shakes her head. "Honestly, it's hard to do anything other than small iterative work for you so far."

"Is that so?" Kyou asks, and Merlin nods.

"Yes. I don't have enough data to start work on anything that will really offer you any new capabilities, just improve what you already have. I can do that, of course, we have a fairly large budget set aside for just that kind of thing with all the wyverns, but at this point there's a backlog and I can't jump the line too much." She says. "I do have a few ideas, but I'll need to talk to you a bit more before I can be sure it would work."

Kyou looks over at you, and you nod. "That would be fine." She says, speaking for all of you- obviously, it's not exactly an issue, as Merlin is using the last of the three berths in the Imperial cabins, so it's not like she doesn't have ready access to you all.

1/2

She leaves the ready room and Kyou indicates to you and Wendy that you shouldn't. "We'll eat in here." She says, nodding towards the back of the room, where a couple tables sit, along with a pair of coolers loaded with food. "During war footing, the galley crew will keep food in the squadron ready rooms for the pilots standing at ready or on sorties." She says.

You nod, and the three of you eat quickly- the food, perhaps in keeping with what you've come to expect so far, is western- sandwiches and bottled drinks.

"Was there a possibility you'd have known these witches?" Wendy asks Kyou as you eat.

Kyou pauses, then shakes her head. "It's unlikely, but it's possible I'd know of their families." She says. "At least one of the missing witches was from a powerful family, and recovering her safely is important to their support."

She pauses. "Similarly, I know at least one of the missing witches was considered extremely capable, and I'd like to make sure she's able to return to duty. Should she be alive, I'm considering suggesting her to Merlin for duty with the valkyrie."

"You are?" Wendy asks. "To replace me?"

Kyou looks over at you. "Wendy, please. Don't be ridiculous." She says. "Even were I to ever wish to, I doubt Morgan would allow it."

[] Nope. Sorry Wendy. You're stuck forever now.
[] I mean, if You wanted to leave, Wendy, we'd see, but otherwise I doubt we'd even look.

Ok gents, sorry about the delay there. Got sidetracked- probably ought to stop downing three mmonsters at a whack here. But the mix is so good though, haha!

Yeah, I'll quit. Haha.

Anyway, that's it for the evening. I'll be around to field questions or comments if there are any, otherwise gents, till tomorrow, cheers!

>>4037968
>[x] I mean, if You wanted to leave, Wendy, we'd see, but otherwise There's no way in hell we're ever letting you go. Ever.

>>4037968
Like, *if* Wendy ever really, really wanted to leave, we'd honestly have to let her go her own way but anything short of that... >[X] Nope. Sorry Wendy. You're stuck forever now.

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>>4037968
>[X] I mean, if You wanted to leave, Wendy, we'd see, but otherwise I doubt we'd even look.

>>4037969
Thanks for the run boss.

>>4037968
Jockingly
>[] Nope. Sorry Wendy. You're stuck forever now.
seriously
>[] I mean, if You wanted to leave, Wendy, we'd see, but otherwise I doubt we'd even look.

>>4037968
>[] Nope. Sorry Wendy. You're stuck forever now.

FOREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEVER!

>>4037968
>[x] Nope. Sorry Wendy. You're stuck forever now.

"You're basically married to us now anyway. May as well move into our room too, come to think of it."

>>4037968
>[X] I mean, if You wanted to leave, Wendy, we'd see, but otherwise I doubt we'd even look.

>>4037968
>>4038002
^This

>>4038040
Lewd

>>4037968
>[x] Nope. Sorry Wendy. You're stuck forever now.

But I would give her the choice if she really did want to leave us so IDK. Emphasis on the "You're here forever" rather than the 'unless'.

>>4037968
>[x] Nope. Sorry Wendy. You're stuck forever now.

>>4037969
Thanks for the run Ghost!

>>4037968
>[×] Nope. Sorry Wendy. You're stuck forever now.

>>4038057
Of course it's lewd. Wendy probably had her ear pressed hard to the wall the entire time Morgan was having powerful bloody claw-filled wolf sex all night.

Whether she likes it or not she's surrounded by ultra lewd as long as she's with Kyou and Morgan.

>>4038210
>claw-filled wolf sex all night
More like tons of cuddling filled with hand-holding, fluffy tail touching, and headpats.

>>4038213
Well, probably, but Morgan *also* woke up this morning with a bunch of new bruises and literal bleeding claw marks running down his back, sooooo....

>>4038218
Kyou is quite rough, so do both of them just fight for the top position?

>>4037968
>[X] I mean, if You wanted to leave, Wendy, we'd see, but otherwise I doubt we'd even look.

>>4038219

HARDCORE MUTUAL AWOOING

>>4038218
Maybe that is just the ships' cat sneaking in at nighttime.

>>4038623
I think Morgan counts as the ship's cat at this point, given his mom's genes.

Ok gents, votes called!

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[x] Nope. Sorry Wendy. You're stuck forever now.

You shake your head. "Nope." You respond, taking a bite of the sandwich. "Sorry Wendy, you're stuck here forever now."

"And this is the last we'll speak of it." Kyou says. "We will be keeping you for the duration of our active service and beyond, if at all possible. You will not be replaced, and this is not negotiable or for debate."

Wendy blinks at the forcefulness of the statement- but a tiny smile tugs at the corners of her mouth. "Yes, mum." She says simply, and Kyou nods.
"Excellent. If you wish, we can discuss the details later." She says. "But for now, no more of this. You will not be replaced."

The rest of your quick meal is taken in silence- though you do occasionally catch Wendy having to arrest a smile. You're not honestly sure where the worry about replacement comes from- other than her prior concerns about being able to keep up with Kyou and yourself as you grew more competent. Still, that seems flimsy for what appears to be a real fear of hers- and you know that, while her time in the RAF was hellish, ever since she met your father and VF-3, she's been well taken care of and treated as part of the family.

Still, she seems far more content as the three of you leave the ready room, headed for the flight deck. Happier, to some degree- it's not hard to tell with Wendy. Well, not as hard as it is with some people, you amend- she hides some things well, but she's rarely able to cover it when she's really, truly happy. Kyou's forcefulness there was probably the reassurance she was after, you think. So far, you haven't known Kyou to make a proclamation like that without fully meaning it. Of course, that means you're involved as well- not that it particularly bothers you to have to back Kyou's word.

Muninn and Tessa sit on the flight deck, in the ready position forward of the island. Muninn's bay doors sit open, the Blue-painted IJN missiles inside all accounted for. Your walkaround inspection doesn't reveal anything unusual either- Muninn looks as operational as the first day you saw it.

You climb the ladder and Kyou starts the process of buttoning up as soon as you're in your ejection seat, opening an intercom only channel. "Was I too harsh?" She asks. "If I was I fully intend to apologize, but I was getting rather tired of her concerns about being replaced."

[] I think you said exactly what she needed to hear.
[] Maybe a bit, but it was getting a little old.

>>4039228
>[x] I think you said exactly what she needed to hear.

>>4039228
>[x] I think you said exactly what she needed to hear.

You made her day. Maybe even the week.

>>4039228
>[X] I think you said exactly what she needed to hear.

>>4039228
>[x] I think you said exactly what she needed to hear.

>>4039228
>[x] I think you said exactly what she needed to hear.

>>4039228
Wendy needs some forceful Kyou loving

Ok, votes called.

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[x] I think you said exactly what she needed to hear.

"I think you said exactly what she needed to hear." You respond, rapidly cross checking with Muninn against the startup checklist. Kyou hasn't missed anything, of course- she wouldn't as she's aided by the AI as well- but you still have to cross check. Once that's done, Kyou starts up your number one engine- the port side turbine- and you can see the incoming power via the umbilical line drop as your onboard generators take the load. Once your number two turbine is turning, the crew unhooks the lines and you're free to start rolling, following the directions of the deck crew to the catapult.

"The CSAR team already took off, we'll be passing them in flight." Muninn says. "Two MH-53M+, callsign Dragon. They've got an escort of Gunships that lifted at the same time. The IJAAF is projecting their strike package will reach their primary launch point in approximately twenty minutes, I estimate eighteen."

"Where will that put us?" Kyou asks.

"Well inside the threat range of the S-400." Muninn says. "I'm not anticipating it being a major danger at that range, but be aware if they've got the 40N6E missiles, they're reportedly accurate against targets flying in terrain."

"Reported by the soviets themselves." Kyou responds. "It's more difficult to say what it's abilities truly are against small fast targets at that range."

Muninn agrees, but doesn't respond verbally as the catapult hurls you off the deck and into the air. "Gear up and locked." Kyou calls.

"We should bait them into firing at us." Kyou says, after a second in the air as you punch into supercruise- you don't want to arrive too early, but you do want all the attention in the area on yourself- not looking for the rescue choppers of Dragon. "If they do so, they'll be unable to engage dragon entirely."

"Unless the claims of multiple target engagement are true." Muninn points out. "Dragon's flight plan is to stay below the tops of the mountains, so they should be covered against long range engagement radar like that. The bigger concern to them is going to be guns and short range systems, but that's why they have gunship escort."

"What of aircraft?" Kyou asks.

"Unknown." Muninn responds, flashing the intel report as it stands through your display. "There were three airbases in the region at Jangjin, Sondok, and Riwon. Jangjin was a combined KDF and IJAAF base, but the tenant Japanese unit was listed lost in combat around fourteen yesterday. No word about the KDF units at any of the bases, but we know Jangjin was hit early on with air strikes and cruise missiles."

1/2

"There's also the airbase at Wonsan." Kyou points out. "That's only a hundred thirty five kilometers from the operation area, and we know it's occupied."

"Our best options are either to remain off the coast until Dragon is ready to enter the airspace and make our attack then on any Combat patrols they have in the air to draw attention. That's probably the best way of doing thing because it means they won't have an air defense alert up when Dragon crosses the coast. The other way is to punch into the airspace now and get all their attention focused on us, and do as much damage to their fighter corps as possible," Munnin says. "The biggest advantage of doing it that way is it will give us a good look at their alert systems and data networks, but it means everything's going to be lit up and looking when Dragon gets there."

"I prefer the first plan." Kyou says. "Additional risk to Dragon is unacceptable in this instance, we must do as much as possible to ensure they are able to carry out their mission successfully."

[] Then that's what we'll do.
[] Getting a look at their net is worth the risk. We'll go in.

>>4039431
>[X] Then that's what we'll do.

>>4039431
>[X] Then that's what we'll do.
The data will be valuable but we don't have the luxury of doing what's needed to obtain it with our mission profile.

>>4039431
>[] Then that's what we'll do.

>>4039431
>[] Then that's what we'll do.

PROFESSIONAL CAT

>>4039431
>[x] Then that's what we'll do.

>>4039431
>[x] Then that's what we'll do.

>>4039431
>[X] Then that's what we'll do.

Ok, votes called!

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[x] Then that's what we'll do.

"We'll do that." You say, slowing down and dropping a few thousand feet lower- there's a few large search radars up, including one at Wonsan, but they'll have trouble picking you out at this height, especially through Muninn's active defenses. An attentive operator can pick up the difference- it takes a talent like Danielle to render a wyvern truly invisible to radar- but at extreme ranges like this, Muninn isn't even really challenged.

That changes as you close in on the coast and the IJAAF attack goes in. Saturation is right- they launched from over five hundred kilometers away, outside the range of even the longest range systems available to the S-400. Close to twenty missiles were tasked to the attack, lifted by a squadron of reserve phantoms of the IJAAF- about the closest they'd want to get to contested airspace, you think.

The first missiles start hitting as you cross the coast along with the choppers of Dragon team- the choppers dropping till their landing gear almost skids along the songchon river as they power towards the pickup point. It's an incredible display of skill on their part- those chopper pilots are pushing their birds for all they're worth, thundering along the river less than ten feet up, according to Muninn, at their maximum airspeed.

There's fewer hostile aircraft up than you expected- you've got passive radar contact on a pair of J-10s, probably a combat air patrol, headed towards Wonsan- probably on the southern leg of a CAP circuit. Further north, there's the first hints of a response to the IJAAF attack- at least a dozen aircraft, probably more, detected at the extreme limits of it's range by an E-767. They're too far from you to be a threat, at least right now- but Dragon's close to fifteen minutes from their pickup zone, and the northern aircraft could easily divert in that time.

Part of you wishes for the old days of prop planes- they'd be too far away to worry about if they couldn't go supersonic.

You squelch the thought viciously and focus on what's at hand. The S-400 search radar is gone- either down or destroyed, you're not sure. the J-10s are the most immediate threat to both yourself and Dragon- though they're unlikely to see the choppers, masked by terrain as they are. There's a few other aircraft in the region- though given their altitude, headings, and speed, you make them for transports- Y-20s or Il-76s, most likely, moving solo and in pairs. Hitting them may do some damage, and it'll almost certainly attract attention- but you know the J-10s are going to be the biggest immediate threat.

[] Hit the closest transports- they'll have to vector at least those J-10s at you if you do, and you can pick a fight that way
[] Hit the J-10s- they're the closest threats, and they'll have to scramble the ready fighters if their CAP is gone.

>>4039645
>[X] Hit the closest transports- they'll have to vector at least those J-10s at you if you do, and you can pick a fight that way

>>4039645
>[X] Hit the J-10s- they're the closest threats, and they'll have to scramble the ready fighters if their CAP is gone.

Destroy the most immediate threats. The Transports can't do shit.

>>4039645
>[X] Hit the J-10s- they're the closest threats, and they'll have to scramble the ready fighters if their CAP is gone.

We can toy with our food after we get rid of our competition.

>>4039645
>[x] Hit the J-10s- they're the closest threats, and they'll have to scramble the ready fighters if their CAP is gone.

>>4039645
>[] Hit the J-10s- they're the closest threats, and they'll have to scramble the ready fighters if their CAP is gone.

>>4039645
>[] Hit the J-10s- they're the closest threats, and they'll have to scramble the ready fighters if their CAP is gone.

>>4039671
Damnit, now I'm imagining Morgan's cat heritage coming through and him playing with his prey/cat toys/kyou/morgan/merlin

ok, votes closed!

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[x] Hit the J-10s- they're the closest threats, and they'll have to scramble the ready fighters if their CAP is gone.

You pull Muninn into a hard bank, bringing yourself around into the rear quarter of the J-10s. You haven't radiated yet- though they'll get a warning in a second, either as you lock them with your radar or launch the AAM-4s in a maddog configuration, letting the missile use it's own active radar hunt it's target.

You're in visual range of the airfield at Sondok- there's a few thin tracers of smoke still rising from the base, indicating it, too, was hit in the early waves- and Muninn points out the wreckage of KDF fighters, caught on the pad, though it looks like at least some of them got airborne. There's not enough wreckage there to account for the base's entire compliment of fighters- no more than four or five are left down there, and the runway's been hit by several cratering weapons.

You decide to go active- the tell-tale signature of a Wyvern's radar is sure to attract attention as you send an AAM-4 at each of the J-10s. To their credit, the Chinese pilots don't hesitate, each breaking away in snap turn and diving for the deck, dumping chaff into the air behind them. Muninn isn't fooled- and the AAM-4s, still riding your radar data, aren't either. Still, one misses- the J-10 pilot hurling his aircraft into a punishing break turn, causing the missile to overshoot and lose track. The other isn't as lucky- you can't see the missile hit, just the puff of smoke and the fireball on the ground as the fighter crashes.

"We just kicked the hornet's nest." Muninn remarks. "Fighters launching from Wonsan, Riwan, and Kaechon. Those transports are getting vectored to their nearest air bases, judging by their turns. The remaining firebird is turning to engage."

"They must have been sitting on the pad with their engines on." Kyou states- she's right, but there's no way that an entire air base's compliment could be doing that. These launches will probably be it for a few minutes, while the other aircrews rush for their birds and try to get off the ground. "Clearly, our raid last night shook them. Dragon?"

"Ten minutes." Muninn responds. That's nearly a lifetime in this sort of fight- literally a lifetime, for some pilots, you think. This J-10 pilot is brave, no doubt- but he's hopelessly outclassed and even with his radar hunting for you, he's not going to get a beyond visual range shot- not through Muninn's ECM, anyway.

1/2

"Plenty of time." Kyou says as you send another AAM-4 from your centerline bay at the J-10. He sees it coming instantly, of course, but he barely has time to react as the missile's rocket engine carries it in at close to five times the speed of sound- he elects to just punch out, though he's braver than you are in doing so. That close to a missile impact, if he doesn't get hit by shrapnel, you'd be surprised. Still, he's got a better chance in the air than he did in the fighter- the AAM-4 detonates in front of and slightly below the fighter, demolishing the forward fuselage and cockpit, and it tumbles out of control instantly, slamming into the ground below after a fairly short fall.

"Active radars in the air!" Kyou warns. "Signature matches J-10s from Kaechon, FC-31s from Wonsan and F-4s from Riwon."

"Phantoms?" You ask.

"Yes. The KDF unit there was one of the last operating an F-4 variant. They've been heavily modernized, and may have AAM-4s of their own."

The FC-31s are the closest, easily and the most immediate threat- though you know Wonsan is defended by at the very least short range SAMs, and, most likely, guns as well. The Phantoms out of Riwan, to the north, are dangerous because they'll be able to pincer you. While they're not particularly dangerous in close, they're still respectably fast and can launch entirely capable BVR weaponry on their own. The J-10s out of Kaechon are almost an afterthought- over a hundred kilometers away, they're probably there to cover the base while the rest of the fighters there scramble.

[] Detach Wendy to tackle the phantoms out of Riwan, you'll remain here and kill anything trying to take off out of Wonsan.
[] Have Wendy stay here and sit on Wonsan while you head north to slaughter any idiot stupid enough to try to bring a Phantom up against you.
[] Stay here with Wendy and let them come to you- as long as you're threatening their base at Wonsan they'll have to send fighters at you

ANd that's gonna be it for the night!

I still have to do this stupid ass icebreaker post for class, haha- man I hate this retarded shit. Oh well. And I still didn't get a PP-19 in the last drop event. I'm starting to think she's a myth.

Anyway, that's it for the night gents. I'll be around a little to field questions or comments, but otherwise, till tomorrow, cheers!

>>4039802
>[] Stay here with Wendy and let them come to you- as long as you're threatening their base at Wonsan they'll have to send fighters at you

>>4039802
>[] Stay here with Wendy and let them come to you- as long as you're threatening their base at Wonsan they'll have to send fighters at you

>>4039802
>[X] Stay here with Wendy and let them come to you- as long as you're threatening their base at Wonsan they'll have to send fighters at you

CATBOY LORD OF THE ROUND TABLE

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>>4039802
>[X] Detach Wendy to tackle the phantoms out of Riwan, you'll remain here and kill anything trying to take off out of Wonsan.

>>4039806
Thanks for the run boss.

>>4039802
>[x] Detach Wendy to tackle the phantoms out of Riwan, you'll remain here and kill anything trying to take off out of Wonsan.

>>4039802
>[X] Stay here with Wendy and let them come to you- as long as you're threatening their base at Wonsan they'll have to send fighters at you

>>4039806
Does Kyou howl like a wolf when Morgan makes her come?

>>4039856

Hardcore. Mutual. Awooing.

>>4039802
>[] Detach Wendy to tackle the phantoms out of Riwan, you'll remain here and kill anything trying to take off out of Wonsan.

thanks for running ghost

>>4039802
>[x] Detach Wendy to tackle the phantoms out of Riwan, you'll remain here and kill anything trying to take off out of Wonsan.

>>4039802
>[x] Detach Wendy to tackle the phantoms out of Riwan, you'll remain here and kill anything trying to take off out of Wonsan.

>>4039802
>[] Stay here with Wendy and let them come to you- as long as you're threatening their base at Wonsan they'll have to send fighters at you

WELCOME TO THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH

Ok, votes called!

Or I could have miscounted and we could have a tie! haha!

>>4039802
[X] Stay here with Wendy and let them come to you- as long as you're threatening their base at Wonsan they'll have to send fighters at you

"Welcome to the Round Table."

>>4039802
>[] Stay here with Wendy and let them come to you- as long as you're threatening their base at Wonsan they'll have to send fighters at you

Alright, that's our tiebreaker! thanks guys!

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[x] Stay here with Wendy and let them come to you- as long as you're threatening their base at Wonsan they'll have to send fighters at you

You decide to stay there- you're in a great position to threaten Wonsan airbase, and they've got to respond- which makes it less likely they'll react to Dragon as they try to respond to you.

Wonsan's radars go from search to fire control fairly quickly- though they're struggling to get any kind of workable lock on you, thanks to Muninn. You're thankful they're the only major base in the area, and their Japanese weapon systems are all, apparently, gone- the only western fire-control Muninn registers is for a frankly antiquated MIM-23 Hawk system inherited from the Japanese- at over sixty years old, it's as close to no threat as it's possible for a SAM to get to you.

The FC-31s, clearly, are anxious to stay out of range, both diving away as you track the phantoms and J-10s- none of the three groups seem anxious to attack, with the J-10s and Phantoms both turning to orbit near their airbases, waiting, you suspect, for the rest of their squadronmates to get airborne. The FC-31s, for their part, appear to be doing the same.

"There's a regional air defense alert up." Muninn warns. "Additional fighters launching from at least six other airbases, mix of Chinese and KDF aircraft."

"They do seem to be able to operate a great deal of KDF equipment easily." Kyou remarks somewhat darkly. "I'd never suspected that the Koreans would be this willing to invite a war to hasten the withdrawal."

You don't comment, instead watching the aircraft counts Muninn's tracking climb. More phantoms launch from Riwon airbase, till there's a half dozen in the air, before they vector towards you, while the J-10s seem to climb out of Wonsan without end- their launch drill may be better, or they may have been more prepared for this kind of thing, but within five minutes, there's at least sixteen airborne. Wonsan itself, a larger base, is able to launch it's compliment more rapidly than either of the other bases, FC-31s joined in the air by F-20s before forming into wing of twenty three fighters and arrowing towards you in the high subsonic speed. Given the distances involved, that's nothing- seconds, at most, before they cross into AAM-4 range.

[] Alpha strike with the AAM-4s- hit as many as you can now!
[] Down some of the fighters from Wonsan- if you do too much damage too fast they may stop sending aircraft at you
[] Let them get close- they may be more willing to pile into a dogfight than sending reinforcements into a losing fight.

>>4041302
>[] Let them get close- they may be more willing to pile into a dogfight than sending reinforcements into a losing fight.

>>4041302
>[] Alpha strike with the AAM-4s- hit as many as you can now!

>>4041302
>[x] Alpha strike with the AAM-4s- hit as many as you can now!
Sometimes you just need a Missile Massacre.

>>4041302
>[] Let them get close- they may be more willing to pile into a dogfight than sending reinforcements into a losing fight.

>>4041302
>[X] Alpha strike with the AAM-4s- hit as many as you can now!

>>4041302
>[X] Down some of the fighters from Wonsan- if you do too much damage too fast they may stop sending aircraft at you

We're here to taunt them by dangling obvious bait in front of them. Gotta make it look enticing and get the blood running. It wouldn't do the mission any good if they get convinced to fuck off and run into the CSAR team.

>>4041302
>[] Down some of the fighters from Wonsan- if you do too much damage too fast they may stop sending aircraft at you

>>4041302
>[x] Down some of the fighters from Wonsan- if you do too much damage too fast they may stop sending aircraft at you
>>4041351
We should taunt them on open comms

ok, votes called!

...on a two way tie! tiebreaker between

[] Alpha strike with the AAM-4s- hit as many as you can now!

and

[] Down some of the fighters from Wonsan- if you do too much damage too fast they may stop sending aircraft at you

>>4041302
>[x] Down some of the fighters from Wonsan- if you do too much damage too fast they may stop sending aircraft at you

Master Bait

>>4041302
>[X] Down some of the fighters from Wonsan- if you do too much damage too fast they may stop sending aircraft at you

Ok, tie broke, thanks gents!

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[x] Down some of the fighters from Wonsan- if you do too much damage too fast they may stop sending aircraft at you

You turn into the group from Wonsan- Muninn marks them as fourteen FC-31s and nine tigersharks, with the formations separated by a little under a mile.

You almost feel bad for whoever's manning the former KDF jets- while the most modern tigershark versions were built in the late 90s, they're still a lightweight, low cost fighter, meant entirely for export to countries that either couldn't or didn't want to pay for F-16s or F-18s.

You task some AAM-4s to the group- targeting the leading FC-31s and the trail element of the tigersharks with a little under half of your remaining medium-range missiles, and rapidly rippling them into the air- two each for four FC-31s and one each to three Tigersharks. You only task two from your VLS cells, preferring instead to empty your centerline bay. A line of missiles almost a mile long stretches away from your fighter, the rotary launched missiles following eerily similar lines before engaging their targets separately, their seeker heads going active seconds after launch.

The effect on the formation is instant- the pilots scatter, a cloud of chaff and flare appearing as most of them dive away, breaking hard to attempt to get the seekerheads to drop their lock.

One of the FC-31s even manages to pull it off, escaping under the missile's tracking. THe other three- along with the Tigersharks- don't. The F-20s never really stood a chance, and even the best pilots would have been hopelessly outmatched here. You can't see ejection seats- or parachutes- from here without looking for them, but the three fighters disappearing off your screen is proof enough they're gone.

You're into the merge a second later- they didn't get a chance for their own missile salvo in response. The FC-31s are all uniformly painted in the four-tone camouflage pattern seen on eastern fleet aircraft- this is a squadron from the south china sea, probably, while the F-20s have the single color light gray fighter scheme the KDF inherited from the imperial military. The FC-31s split into wing pairs as they engage, with the tigersharks doing the same- all trying to get you constantly turning in a roiling dogfight.

It doesn't work well for them- Wendy claims her first kills on a pair of -31s, her nose guns hitting with a force closer to tank main guns, utterly destroying two of them as they flash across her front. Kyou's shield absorbs a few stray rounds from a tigershark that, improbably, got a short burst from a deflection angle, but you're unable to return the favor, rolling away from a pair of FC-31s as they slice past you, their guns flashing.

[] Have Wendy break and engage- no sense in trying to maintain formation in this mess!
[] Have Wendy watch your back- this is too confused to split up in.

I want to apologize about the slow updates today gents, I've got a monster headache that's kicking my ass. Trying to push through it to finish, though!

>>4041499
>[] Have Wendy break and engage- no sense in trying to maintain formation in this mess!

>>4041499
>[x] Have Wendy watch your back- this is too confused to split up in.

>>4041499
>[x] Have Wendy break and engage- no sense in trying to maintain formation in this mess!

Let Wendy work her magic

Just don't mention pineapple

>>4041499
>[X] Have Wendy break and engage- no sense in trying to maintain formation in this mess!

>>4041499
>[] Have Wendy watch your back- this is too confused to split up in.

>>4041499
>[X] Have Wendy break and engage- no sense in trying to maintain formation in this mess!

Let her make some breathing room.

>>4041499
>[x] Have Wendy break and engage- no sense in trying to maintain formation in this mess!

ok, votes called!

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[x] Have Wendy break and engage- no sense in trying to maintain formation in this mess!

"Wendy, break and engage!" You call- in this twisting mess, keeping her on your wing is more of a danger to both of you, and both of you, and Wendy's more than good enough to cause easily as much damage to the hostile aircraft as you will, if not more.

She sends a blip of acknowledgment through the net, not wasting time with a verbal response, and splits off, powering the valkyrie through a tight diameter Immelmann, reversing direction away from you instantly and complicating the fight for your opponents- there's two of you now, twisting through the air. Muninn pushes an update to you a split second later- Wendy's reversal let her splash a FC-31 pair that had been coming around in an effort to get behind you. She's latched onto a pair of F-20s- it's almost like she's playing with them for a second before she destroys one with the .30cal machine guns mounted above the .50s in her fighter- the rifle-sized rounds packing the same relative energy as a conventional 20mm cannon shell.

With almost half their number down, you look at Dragon's ETA- they're about three minutes from their pickup point- then you'll have to keep them covered as they exit Korean airspace. That you're able to think about that while also weaving Muninn around an F-20 to send a short burst of cannon shells at the lone survivor that got away from Wendy is a sign of just how powerful the MIU is, you know.

The hostile fighters don't appear to be panicking, the way you'd have expected so far- then again, it's possible they also know they can't really get away, and if they punch out they'll be recovered by friendly forces. Still- ejecting in the middle of a furball is far from the safest thing for a pilot, even if there's a couple of pilots dangling beneath silk canopies in the air here.

You pull Muninn around through a brutal half kulbit, chopping the throttles to idle and initiating a tailslide as you do- slipping under an FC-31 that's trying to come around on you and sending a short burst into it's belly- the fighter lurches in the sky, then rolls over, belching ugly flame and black smoke from the damage. The pilot punches out a second later, unable to regain control of the wreck.

1/2

With less than half their number remaining, the remaining fighters seem to lose all heart for the fight- first the FC-31s start to split away, their pilots getting their aircraft low and punching the throttles, trying to separate from the fight, while the F-20s stay in for a second longer- a second too long, in the case of one, who falls to Wendy's guns.

You check your internal timepeice, surprised to find that it's taken about nintey seconds from the merge to now. The J-10s are still a little over ten minutes out, at their current speed and heading, with the phantoms slightly closer- and their flight path will bring them near Dragon's, so they'll probably have to be dealt with. There's still hostile fighters here, of course- but they're shattered formations, running for bases away from here. Staying on them would mean the incoming reinforcements you can see- and any you can't- will be coming here, of course, and means that neither of the other groups has a chance to break away.

[] Stay on the fighters here with Wendy- they can't afford to give you a shot at Wonsan and they know it.
[] Leave Wendy here, break off to take out the Phantoms.
[] Send Wendy to destroy the Phantoms, You'll go for those J-10s.
[] Break off- you've done more than enough damage, and you'd rather be a little closer to Dragon team.

I'm going to extend to tomorrow gents, probably do a short run after class to try and finish out. I'd planned to do that tonight, but this headache is wrecking me- it's taking effort to just read words, haha!

So, till tomorrow gents, cheers!

>>4041646
>Mixed .30s and .50s
What year is this, 1936?

>>4041652
>[x] Send Wendy to destroy the Phantoms, You'll go for those J-10s.

Make the bricks go away, please, Wendy.

>>4041652
>[] Send Wendy to destroy the Phantoms, You'll go for those J-10s.

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>>4041652
>[X] Send Wendy to destroy the Phantoms, You'll go for those J-10s.

>>4041653
Thanks for the run boss.

>>4041652
>[x] Send Wendy to destroy the Phantoms, You'll go for those J-10s.

>>4041652
>[x] Send Wendy to destroy the Phantoms, You'll go for those J-10s.

>>4041653
Thanks for the run Ghost!

>>4041652
>[X] Leave Wendy here, break off to take out the Phantoms.

Can't leave Dragon unguarded.

>>4041652
>[x] Leave Wendy here, break off to take out the Phantoms.
Wendy has this in the bag.

>>4041652
>[] Send Wendy to destroy the Phantoms, You'll go for those J-10s.

>>4041654
considering the size of the Valk combined with a witches natural abilities to make gun stronk, as was mentioned with the .30's being as powerful as 20mm's, having 30's and 50's makes a lot more sense than bigger guns, you can stuff more ammo into a smaller package for the same effect.

>>4041960
The logic makes sense but yeah it *does* kinda make it feel like she's flying a P-26 at first glance too

>>4041652
Here >>4041712
Changing my vote to
>[x] Leave Wendy here, break off to take out the Phantoms.

Might just be second guessing things though.

ok gents, votes called. Really want to wrap up the run tonight, but I'm really beat- I didn't sleep for shit all last night, so I'm kinda zombified over here. It's ok, I've pushed through worse, so let's get this going!

>>4043504
METAL CAN LIQUID: MONSTERS OF THE PATRIOTS

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[x] Send Wendy to destroy the Phantoms, You'll go for those J-10s.

"Wendy, let these guys go." You order. "Get those Phantoms before they've got a chance to see Dragon. We're going for the J-10s."

Wendy blips a confirmation through the MIU net and breaks to the north, punching her small fighter into mach 2 long before she's out of sight. It's not quite inertialess- but it's damn close, you note. That's a few long tiers above what Wendy's supposed to be able to do- either her concerns were well founded, or Merlin worked some real magic with the Valkyrie that's set to change the balance of power in combat again.

The active radar on the J-10s cuts out as you angle towards them- while there's an air defense alert up, it seems that the PLAAF isn't anxious to deal with another slaughter like the ones it suffered at your hands yesterday. Still, even though they go quiet and dive for the mountains, they don't break away- perhaps banking on their ability to terrain mask to bring them in range without facing your weapons. Had muninn been of an earlier generation- and never upgraded- it might have worked that way, too.

Instead, as they close within AAM-4 range, you look at your remaining payload- you've not even touched your stock of Python missiles, and with fourteen AAM-4s left in the tubes, you're still better armed than any other wyvern is, at least without the wing pylons mounted. They begin reacting defensively as Muninn's fire control radar spikes them- breaking away from a fight they want no part of. You still send shots at four of them paired missiles for each, emptying two of your VLS cells in the process. With only 8 medium range missiles left, you're feeling a little low on ammunition- despite the fact that that's a maximum load for most air superiority fighters.

None of the four survive- and their destruction puts an end to any chance that J-10 squadron was going to make an effort to engage. A quick check on Wendy shows she did better- none of the phantoms escaped her. It's also, as clearly as anything, a display of her skill- she doesn't like showing off, but her results are never short of impressive, it seems.

1/2

The rest of the time is tense- you keep expecting fandances or witches- or both- but the Chinese aircraft seem reluctant to enter the airspace here. Contact with the datanet shows that that's a local issue- down south, there's still heavy fighting as they continue to push the IJA and KDF back, though their advance has slowed somewhat from yesterday.

Dragon keeps communications with you limited- they inform you that they're on the way back out with the package- their term for the two witches- and not much else. You imagine it's far more tense inside the helicopters, though- they lack the twin advantages of a datanet and their own powerful suite of sensors, so the only warning they'd get about fighters targeting them is a radar warning receiver screaming in their ears.

You and Wendy reform behind them, staying between Dragon and Korea the entire way back to the Kaga. You land before the big choppers- they'll shut down flight operations while they're on deck, so they'll only remain briefly.

Kyou's out of Merlin in a hurry, rushing over to meet the two witches as they're helped across the flight deck- the ship's doctors being more than anxious to get them off their feet and get a look at them. While they weren't missing that long, they've been behind hostile lines for the better part of a day and a half- and both of them have seen combat.

Wendy joins you as you follow behind Kyou- though she stops after one of the doctors notices her and says something that you don't quite catch. Still, she bows slightly, then turns back to you.

"Good news?" You ask.

"I don't know." She responds. "Come, let's see your aunt. We can talk to them later."

Wendy looks over at you and you shrug as Kyou turns, leading the way back into the ship as the elevator crew pulls Muninn back down into the hangar deck. It's a reminder that you still don't quite know Kyou as well as you'd like to- though you know something's bothering her.

And that's going to be it for the week! We'd have been done yesterday, but for that splitting headache- I can't tell if the really weak one I have now is the last remnants of it or a different one from any of a dozen possible causes, haha! Sorry about the whole thing, I know that's a really poor showing on my part.

Anyway gents, I'll be on till next Monday occasionally to field questions or comments, but otherwise, till then, cheers!

>>4043724
Thanks for the run Ghost!

>>4043724
thanks for running Ghost

>>4043720
>Kyou's out of Merlin in a hurry
oi Freud, get outta here

>>4043764
Typo, of course- I blame being really, really tired, haha. Not sleep deprived yet, but i will be if I have problems sleeping again tonight.

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>>4043724
Thanks for the run boss.

Why do I get the feeling the intel these two have is gonna coincide with what the Soviet super witch "surrendered" for?

>>4043724
Thanks Ghost, good luck with the headache

>>4043776
Take a lukewarm or cold shower, it helps.

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Ok, sorry about the late start tonight gents! I had to do some work outside- bury a couple cables run from the house to the shop. And it's raining, but I'd put it off all weekend, so I wanted to get it done today- took a lot longer than I'd anticipated! Other than that, no news today!

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

You find Merlin in the ready room- more accurately, Kyou finds her there, you were just following your crewmate. The princess seems... agitated, though you're not sure how or why, exactly- you won, and by the looks of it, the two rescued witches weren't too badly injured.

Merlin nods at you as you enter, then looks over at the liaison officer, who closes the door leading into the passageway.

"Welcome back." Merlin says. "We've already received mission data from your aircraft, so we won't bother with unnecessary details, since we already know what happened." She smiles. "AI confirmed kills on six J-10s, four FC-31s, and four tigersharks, while Wendy got four FC-31s, two tigersharks, and eight phantoms."

You nod- that about tallies with your own mental count.

"Anything you've noticed up there?"

"They are overeager to throw their aircraft away." Kyou states flatly. "Even an airforce like the Chinese cannot absorb losses like this for long, and yet they still rise to meet us in the air."

Merlin looks a little uncomfortable, but nods. "I actually have something here that may help with that." She says, turning to look at a vertical glass cylinder and clears her throat. "Lovelace?"

You recognize it as it flashes on- a somewhat cruder, larger version of it has occupied part of her desk in her workshop at Chance for years. It's an AI persona tank- one that allows them to project their avatar outside an aircraft or screen as a full 3d image. This one is smaller, significantly so- about the size of a shoebox instead of a refrigerator- but looks more refined. There's a glossy black dome on top of the tank, though you can't see any kind of power cable. Her earlier prototype, you know, has an industrial cable linking it back to a transformer. The tanks themselves don't actually use that much power, you know, but the AIs do, especially when not 'sleeping'- or running at reduced levels.

The avatar that blinks on in the tank is- well, not what you expected, to be blunt, but you're not really sure what you expected. It looks like a late teens to early twenties androgyne- one wearing a headband with rainbow colored fox ears and a clipped-on rainbow fox tail.

1/2

"You called me?" It asks, then giggles as it sees you. "Oh look! new Fwiends!"

"Lovelace, we were interested in the data you can share about the PLAAF's actions thus far." Merlin says. The AI blinks and nods.

"Oh, work fiwst then pway?" It says. "What did you want to know? I've already accessed the crew database, and they're cleared into anything in theater we have."

"The Chinese are throwing away aircraft against us." Kyou says. "Why?"

The AI frowns. "Our best guess is that they're attempting to build a combat profile of you. How you move, how you fight. We've seen the same in the south china sea as well, though not to the same scale. However, when you shot down that KJ-2000, it sparked a lot of communications traffic, all very heavily encrypted. I'm still working on breaking it."

"That seems incredibly wasteful." Kyou responds with a frown. "Even China doesn't have bottomless reserves."

The AI nods. "That's true. We're still looking into why they're willing to waste this many aircraft and pilots to do so, but we think it's got to do with one or other of their supposed dragonkiller programs. I'm sorry, I don't have anything else I can tell you at this time."

"That's fine." Merlin says. "Are you staying or leaving?"

"You mean I can stawy? the AI says, looking exicted. "I can talk with birdy's crew?"

Merlin frowns. "Perhaps not right now." She says.

"Oh. Okaaaay." The AI says, pouting for a second before the tank switches off.

Merlin smiles. "Lovelace probably thinks he'll be clever and leave the audio and camera on, but they're both wired to the projectors. If there's no avatar, there's no sensors." She says.

"That answered almost nothing." Kyou says. "What do they hope to gain by knowing how we fight? Even with that knowledge they cannot hope to counter it."

Merlin shakes her head. "For now, we don't know." She responds. "Lovelace is one of a few AIs that work with the intelligence community. If he doesn't know, then no one on our side does, yet."

"Hmph. I cannot help but feel as if we're in a trap already. We win every fight, but in so doing we allow them to build this profile of us for unknown reasons." Kyou says. "This flies in the face of everything we should do, right Morgan?"

[] It is a bit unsettling. They might have known Maman's name and face, but never how or where or when she worked.
[] It doesn't matter. The soviets knew dad and aunt merlin on sight and never countered them.

>>4052543
>[] It is a bit unsettling. They might have known Maman's name and face, but never how or where or when she worked.

Also, I see what Muninn meant about "the weirdo from the NSA cluster"

>>4052543
>[x] It is a bit unsettling. They might have known Maman's name and face, but never how or where or when she worked.

Oh god, I suddenly feel so much more sorry for Muninn. He should stay nearer to Kaga and Tess, where it's safe(?).

>>4052543
>[X] It doesn't matter. The soviets knew dad and aunt merlin on sight and never countered them.

>>4052543
>[x] It is a bit unsettling. They might have known Maman's name and face, but never how or where or when she worked.

>>4052543
>[X] It is a bit unsettling. They might have known Maman's name and face, but never how or where or when she worked.

ok, votes called!

>>4052543
That fucking furfag AI is what's unsettling here, I tell you hwat

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I-Is that an UwU AI?

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[x] It is a bit unsettling. They might have known Maman's name and face, but never how or where or when she worked.

"It is a bit unsettling." You admit with a nod. "They might have known Maman's name and face, but they never knew how or where or when she worked."

Merlin nods. "I understand," She says, "And the IJN command agrees with me that for now, your team will be held in reserve. It means conventional crews will have a bit more to do, at least until the reinforcement wyverns arrive, but unfortunately we can't let them build this kind of profile on you."

"How long does this mean we'll be grounded?" Kyou asks.

Merlin shakes her head. "You're not grounded. But you won't be flying combat sorties, at least not without it being an emergency for now. That also gives me a chance to dig into the combat data for anything I can improve."

"Are you able to make such improvements aboard the Kaga, or will we be required to fly elsewhere for heavier work?" Kyou asks.

"The Kaga's outfit to handle almost anything I can do in the field short of a major airframe rebuild." Merlin says. "And I can have components delivered on demand, the Imperial Navy has been very easy to work with. And because the security arrangements between our countries are the way they are, we won't have to worry about that either."

Kyou nods. "I can think of no improvements to Muninn currently, Morgan, can you think of anything?"

[] Not right now, no.
[] There's a few things about our weapons I'd like to discuss, yeah.
[] There's some engine improvements I can think of, yeah.
[] There's some sensor improvements that would be nice.
[] Is there any way to make Muninn and Tessa more powerful?

>>4052677
>[x] Not right now, no.
Nothing comes to mind

>>4052677
>[] Not right now, no.

New Maman art, nice.

>>4052677
>[X] Not right now, no.

>>4052677
>[x] Not right now, no.

>>4052677
>[X] Not right now, no.
>>4052674
That's an oddly specific filename

>>4052677
>[x] Not right now, no.
>>4052705
It's what happened in that one DLC mission in SRW X.

>>4052677
>[x] Fluffy Dice to hang in the cockpit

>>4052677
>>4052730
This. it made me chuckle.

>>4052677
>[] There's a few things about our weapons I'd like to discuss, yeah.
make mini casaba howitzer missiles

ok, votes called!

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[x] Not right now, no.

You shake your head. "Not right now, no." You say, looking over at Wendy. "Anything on your side, Wendy?"

She, too, shakes her head. "Not at all." She says, then smiles. "I'm quite happy with Tessa, exactly how she is."

Merlin nods. "Keep in mind what I told you during our test phase, Wendy." She says. "Any changes, let me know."

Wendy nods.

"Good. The last point I have is the IJN has expressed interest in Valkyrie, and I've been cleared to release the last prototype to them for testing and evaluation." Merlin says. "They don't have a candidate, and they've asked for your help in selecting one."

Kyou frowns. "We will not allow Wendy to leave for another team to do this." She says, shooting a glance over at the older witch. "We're decided on this point. Wendy will not be leaving our team."

Merlin shakes her head. "The IJN wants to embed four to six witches here on the Kaga, and have them fly with you on missions for a while. They won't be in an MIU link, they'll be operating IJN strikers for the duration, and they're not assigned to the USN or anything."

Kyou frowns. "I am still deeply suspicious of this." She says. "It is not the way things are typically done."

[] If Kyou's suspicious, I am too. What's the catch?
[] As long as they understand that their witch will not replace Wendy.

>>4052877
>[x] If Kyou's suspicious, I am too. What's the catch?

>>4052877
>[X] If Kyou's suspicious, I am too. What's the catch?

IT BEGINS AGAIN

>>4052877
>[] If Kyou's suspicious, I am too. What's the catch?

>>4052877
>[x] If Kyou's suspicious, I am too. What's the catch?

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>>4052877
>[x] If Kyou's suspicious, I am too. What's the catch?

Ok, votes called!

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[x] If Kyou's suspicious, I am too. What's the catch?

"So what's the catch?" You ask.

"We'd have to modify your mission profile and availability." Merlin responds. "And you may be asked to undertake some missions without Wendy with some of these witches, so you can observe them a bit more, and make a better recommendation."

Kyou frowns. "I am not comfortable with that." She says. "I have already become habituated to being able to place absolute faith in Wendy, I do not wish to have to worry about a wingmate again."

"I understand, but it would be nice to have her available here to help." Merlin responds with a nod. "But, as I made clear to both the IJN and USN, Wendy's status as your wingmate is up to you, ultimatley. In fact," She smiles lightly, "The USN recognizes that, as part of an MIU link, Wendy can't really be reassigned."

Wendy blinks. "I- I can't?" She asks, and Merlin shakes her head.

"As far as the US Navy is concerned, you now form an integral and inseparable part of the Wyvern Muninn combat team." she says. "So you're basically stuck, as far as the Navy's concerned. You can't be reassigned except in the case where you're rendered medically incapable of continuing duty."

Wendy blinks again, and then nods.

"Which also means, of course, my mother cannot steal her." Kyou says, looking a little more thoughtful. "So is is not possible for her to have any potential IJN valkyrie put in Wendy's place while Wendy is detached to perform other tasks?"

Merlin shakes her head. "So far as we're concerned, it's one Valkyrie to one Wyvern. That may change as the system reaches production status, but right now I've only got four units, plus another eight under construction. And with Wendy indicated as a vital part of the combat team, she can't be reassigned."

"So under these restrictions, all that would happen would be she may be asked to remain on the carrier for a mission occasionally during this process?" Kyou asks, and Merlin nods.

"Yes, exactly." She says. "And I'd have plenty for her to do here as well. I could use the help."

Kyou looks over at you. "As long as these rules are understood, I can think of no reason to refuse, can you?" She says. "We will keep Wendy, and that was my primary concern."

[] I think so, yeah. We're fine so long as we all understand Wendy isn't going anywhere.
[] No, I don't think so. I don't trust this setup at all.

And that's going to be it for the night from me! I know we got started late, but we're at a pretty good stopping point, and I have some further notes to work on for the quest- stuff we'll encounter going forward and all.

As usual gents, I'll be around to field questions or comments if there are any, and if not, till tomorrow, cheers!

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>>4053144
>[X] I think so, yeah. We're fine so long as we all understand Wendy isn't going anywhere.

>>4053153
Thanks for the run boss.

>>4053144
>[] I think so, yeah. We're fine so long as we all understand Wendy isn't going anywhere.

"As long as *they* understand that we're starting a tab for when they ask us to leave our Right Arm at home."

>>4053144
>[x] I think so, yeah. We're fine so long as we all understand Wendy isn't going anywhere.

Nobody's taking wendy away. Ever.

She should probably start considering moving into the main bed, at this rate.

>>4053144
>[x] I think so, yeah. We're fine so long as we all understand Wendy isn't going anywhere.

So what's Wndy's reaction going to be to the fact that she can't be thrown away or replaced, ever, and she has nice people who'll stay with her forever now?

>>4053144
>[x] I think so, yeah. We're fine so long as we all understand Wendy isn't going anywhere.

>>4053153
Thanks for the run Ghost!

>>4053144
>[] I think so, yeah. We're fine so long as we all understand Wendy isn't going anywhere.

>>4053213
Well I suppose if she was holding out hope of having kids, she's got a pretty limited daddy pool now.

>>4053144
>[x] I think so, yeah. We're fine so long as we all understand Wendy isn't going anywhere.
>>4053153
Cheers Ghost

>>4053144
Wait, hang on.

Did we just accidentally 4d chess Wendy into getting the maid-for-life position she always wanted?

>>4053144
>[x] I think so, yeah. We're fine so long as we all understand Wendy isn't going anywhere.

I’m actually kind of glad that Wendy is our Valkyrie now instead of one of the others. I feel like their more forward personalities would have made this a real shit show back when Momma Awoo brought it up the first time.

>>4053509
Wendy is a good girl.

Ok gents, votes called!

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[x] I think so, yeah. We're fine so long as we all understand Wendy isn't going anywhere.

"I think so, yeah." You say with a nod. "We're fine so long as we all understand Wendy isn't going anywhere."

Merlin nods. "I'll make sure that's communicated." She confirms.

"How long do you imagine it will be before a Wyvern team begins to have more than one valkyrie?" Kyou asks.

Merlin frowns, thinking. "I'm not sure." she says. "If we were rated for full scale construction, probably twenty four to thirty six months, if not more, depending. I'm expecting the imperial navy to push for license construction of Wyverns and Valkyries." She pauses. "If that's approved, I expect no more than eight to ten months."

"And this is considered acceptable with the restrictions of an MIU net?" Kyou asks. "It hardly seems to be something any matron would approve of."

Merlin shakes her head. "They didn't approve of Wyverns at first, either." She responds. "They'll come around, I'm sure."

Kyou pauses, then nods. "Very well. So we're to be limited in our combat missions?"

"For now." Merlin says. "You'll remain based here, though you may be flying back to Japan from time to time as availability allows."

"And you'll remain aboard?" Kyou asks. Merlin nods again.

"Yes. I won't be going anywhere either." She says. "However, if that's all, you're dismissed."

That gets at least a small smile out of Kyou, who stands. "Morgan, Wendy and I will be returning to the cabins. I suspect she has some things she wishes to discuss about her recently confirmed status."

Wendy nods, looking a little embarrassed.

"If you wish, you can remain with your aunt to talk technical details of our fighter." Kyou continues. "I'd dearly love to be able to as well, but duty cares not for personal desire."

[] No, I think I'd better come with. This is pretty important.
[] If you'd rather have the time alone, sure.

>>4054385
>[X] If you'd rather have the time alone, sure.

>>4054385
>[] If you'd rather have the time alone, sure.

>>4054385
>[] If you'd rather have the time alone, sure.

PERSONAL AWOOING

>>4054385
>[] If you'd rather have the time alone, sure.

>>4054385
>[x] If you'd rather have the time alone, sure.

let the girls have their talk

>>4054385
>[x] If you'd rather have the time alone, sure.

> but duty cares not for personal desire.

Oh I bet there's going to be a *lot* of "personal desire" involved in their talk

>>4054385
>[x] No, I think I'd better come with. This is pretty important.

Ok, votes called!

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[x] If you'd rather have the time alone, sure.

You shrug. "If you'd rather have the time alone, sure." You say.

Kyou nods. "Thank you." She says, then smiles. "I feel as if you've had an advantage in that you've been able to know our teammate your entire life, whereas I have only just met her. I want a chance to explain my behavior to her, and while I'm sure your presence would be welcome, I am not so sure it would be entirely helpful. Let's return to the cabins, Wendy, we have things to discuss."

Wendy stands fairly quickly- you can't place the emotion you see on her face, but it's not one you've seen before. If anything, you think, she looks excited- and happy. "Of course mum." she says, following Kyou out of the ready room, leaving you and Merlin alone with the IJN liaison.

Merlin looks over at the man and nods. "Ensign, you're dismissed." She says, her Japanese still heavily accented. The young officer nods and steps out of the room- he's only really required to be present for official business- and even then, only really to act as a relay between IJN command and Merlin. She lets him leave before motioning for you to follow her, talking as you stand.

"How has Muninn been doing?" Merlin asks. "I have his logs, of course, but I mean your opinion. Is everything alright with your plane?"

"If there wasn't, do you think I would have told you I can't think of an improvement?" You say with a light smile.

Merlin pauses, then laughs. "It's easy to forget you're not just a pilot like your father sometimes. I'm sorry." She says- Frank is as educated as you are, of course, but while you're field of study was aerospace engineering, due in no small part to Merlin's influence, his is an arts degree. She's still got far more than either of you, of course- with multiple doctorates, all in technical fields, Merlin's name is already being spoken of alongside Tesla's and Newton's.

"I do have some ideas of my own" She says, leading you, perhaps predictably, down to the hangar deck. "And if we're removing you from combat, at least without it being emergency circumstances, we can use Muninn to help the Japanese set up their depot-level facilities."

You frown. "How so?"

"Part of the draw to the program is the ability of a team to modify their fighter to perform in their specialty field better," Merlin explains- something you always knew, of course. "We're set up to do it at NAS Miramar and MCAS Cherry Point, but they don't have any kind of basing for it."

1/2

"And Muninn can help how?" You ask.

"Ideally, it would mean we could fold in IJN techs with your crew for higher-level work." Merlin says. "Aboard the Kaga it's a bit different, since we can handle most of the major work, but on land it functions differently."

You nod- the Kaga and her sister ships in the class are superbly outfit for aircraft handling and maintenance, to the point where Merlin has already said she'll be able to handle anything major aboard ship. "So what we'd do is any major changes, we'd head back to where they're going to set up their Wyvern base, and do them there." She says. "It'd also give us a chance to show them how we do aircraft handling and Wyvern basing requirements."

You shrug as you enter the hangar deck. It's mostly empty, other than Muninn and Tessa, parked near the aftmost elevator. Merlin's ground cart is linked to Muninn's computer access ports, and the power umbilical lines snake behind the fighter's wing and up to it's box, mounted overhead.

"You combat data is impressive." Merlin says, motioning to the ground cart. "I've spent a couple hours linked in already, reviewing it. I'm anxious to take a look at this latest set."

[] Anything you can tell me about it?
[] Do you think that AI was onto something, then?

>>4054603
>[x] Anything you can tell me about it?

Are Morgan and Merlin going to MIU in with the cart together like some kind of digital hotbox?

>>4054603
>[x] Anything you can tell me about it?

>>4054603
>[X] Anything you can tell me about it?

>>4054603
>[x] Anything you can tell me about it?

>>4054603
>[] Anything you can tell me about it?

Ok, votes called!

>>4054646
Hey Ghost, it's almost the 1yr anniversary of the Reboot. You gonna do anything special?

>>4054663
Gay Kyou x Wendy sex?

>>4054663
>>4054683

Mindlink lewds?

>>4054695
Hot steamy AI fucking?

>>4054683
>>4054695
>>4054699
It's all lewd. Why must you be this way.

>>4054729
Have you seen Merlin's hips?

>>4054729
>>4054750
Have you seen *Wendy's* hips?

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[x] Anything you can tell me about it?

"Anything you can tell me about it?" You ask.

"Not much that I'm sure you haven't already guessed." she says with a light shrug. "You're about where we expect in terms of pilot development, maybe a bit ahead of the curve. Kyou's powerful, maybe moreso than we really anticipated, but allowing her to really transfer that kind of power is going to require a much different system, and right now all I have is theory work on that kind of thing."

You nod- though you're surprised to learn Kyou's that much more powerful than you'd known. "How much is she being limited by the existing interface?"

Merlin frowns as she thinks. "It's hard to put an exact estimate on this sort of thing, especially since so far she's not really been tested that heavily. But I'd say that she's not going to be able to really use more than half her strength as-is."

"And Wendy?"

Merlin's frown deepens. "Wendy's combat data is the strangest thing." She says. "I always knew she was good, at least since Poland. And she burnt out a pair of strikers flying with your father and I there, too. I mean, they were old and abused, but burning out strikers is a sign of a top tier witch."

She sighs and shrugs. "But Wendy never appeared that strong. Top quarter, maybe, but not top percentile like you'd expect of a girl that can push enough power to strikers to burn them out. But with Valkyrie, she's showing hints of straying into superwitch territory."

You blink- up till just recently, that was a very, very exclusive title, reserved fro either Natalya or her Soviet predecessor.

"The problem is, that kind of thing isn't really possible." She says. "Wendy's talent may have been suppressed or even ignored for years by the RAF, but her intake reports and testing were standardized with every other witch from the UK in her class. And Valkyrie can't amplify to nearly that extent." She sighs, then looks at you accusatorily. "What is it with you and your father, Morgan? Why are you two like this?"

[] I have no idea what you mean, Auntie.
[] Just lucky like that, I guess.

>>4054769
>[] I have no idea what you mean, Auntie. But what's the possibility of this being brought on by being in an MIU link with a potential Superwitch?

>>4054769
>[x] Just lucky like that, I guess.

>>4054769
>[] I have no idea what you mean, Auntie.

When in doubt, Deny, Deny, Deny

>>4054769
>[x] I have no idea what you mean, Auntie.

"And we can't blame it on Voodoo fever dreams this time either."

>>4054769
>[X] I have no idea what you mean, Auntie.
At some point we should probably remember to bring up the Witch we encounter while escorting The Tu-95 that one time.

>>4054769
>[X] Just lucky like that, I guess.

Raw Sexual Magnetism, perhaps. Makes any nearby witches perform at 150% out of a subconscious desire to get in our pants.

>>4054769
>[X] Just lucky like that, I guess.

>>4054769
>[x] I have no idea what you mean, Auntie.

>>4054769
>inb4 it's some 'power of love' thing like in Kyou's japanese animes

Ok, votes closed!

>>4054769
Man.

With hips like that it is an absolute travesty that Wendy hasn't been knocked up yet.

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[x] I have no idea what you mean, Auntie.

You shake your head. "I have no idea what you mean, Auntie." You say.

"Of course you'd say that." She responds. "I'm pretty sure Frank did, more than once."

You shrug. "Do you mean your talent's interaction with him?" You ask. "Was that ever proven?"

She shakes her head. "No, it wasn't." She says. "But that's not the point! there's always strangeness around you and your dad where witches are concerned. How quickly did Wendy agree to fly your wing?"

"How long has Wendy known me?" You respond. "If it had been you and dad, you know she'd have been just as willing, maybe more. And if you'd told her the same things Kyou has-"

Merlin shakes her head. "Wendy could have come back to active service any time she wanted. Ice asked her to come back more than once." She says. "She came back because it was you."

"Tabitha probably asked her to come back as XO or CAG or something." You say, frowning. "Wendy's a follower, not a leader. Kyou recognized that early on, and that's why Wendy's happy with us."

"Wendy's happy with you because Kyou is so possessive and you're not trying to insist she be allowed to make her own decisions." Merlin responds. "But that's not the point and it's getting hard to ignore that you've got three witches living in close proximity to you and at least two of them are in superwitch territory."

"Hard to ignore for who?" You ask.

"Me, first of all." Merlin says. "If this is something we're seeing because of you, not only would it go a long way in confirming our suspicions about Frank, but it would mean that it's hereditary. That it's a talent, a legitimate male talent."

"But we know those exist." You protest. "The Youngs- "

"The Youngs are a fringe case, and no one's ever proven anything." She cuts you off. "I'll drop it for now, but it's something I want you to remember."

You shrug and nod.

"Good. Now," She says, smiling. "Do you want to hear about what I've been working on for Muninn and Wendy?"

[] Absolutely.
[] I think we should probably not leave Kyou and Wendy alone too long.

And that's going to be it for the night from me! Don't really have much news here for you gents, haha! gonna go eat and grab a drink and watch the rest of this randomizer race.

As usual, I'll be around a bit to answer questions or comments, but otherwise, till tomorrow gents, cheers!

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>>4054945
>[X] Absolutely.

>>4054946
Thanks for the run boss.

>>4054945
>[x] Absolutely.

>>4054946
Thanks for the run Ghost!

>>4054945
>[] Absolutely.

>>4054945
>Absolutely.

>>4054945
>[] Absolutely.

SANTA MERLIN BROUGHT PRESENTS!

>>4054945
>[x] Absolutely.
"Maid Outfits?"

>>4054945
>[X] Absolewdly.

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>>4054946
See you next time, boss.

>>4054945
>[x] Absolutely.

Oh yes, please enlighten me on the new toys you're making.

ok, votes called!

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[x] Absolutely.

You nod. "Absolutely." You say, getting a happy smile in return.

"Oh good!" She says. "First, I've been thinking about weapons."

"You usually do." You respond with a grin.

"I was a RIO back when we were still called that." She says, pouting a little. "Weapons and sensors are my thing."

You laugh. "Just teasing, auntie."

"Well, I got to thinking about how your VLS allows for missile launch in all aspects, but the FAST packs and centerline bays don't." She says, the frowns. "Well, not really. The VLS is superior because it allows a missile to retain more energy if launched on an off-bore axis, but it's not quite as good for the longer ranged weapons, because they have to expend energy to vector more than they do with traditional launch. It hasn't appeared to matter much, but it might, and that bothers me. With the SM twos and ESSM missiles it's not such a big deal, they were designed to launch from a cell like that to begin with. With the AMRAAMs and the Japanese AAM fours, though, it does affect their performance. "

You nod.

"So what I've been thinking of doing is either converting the cells to work with full sized missiles, so SM sixes and that sort of thing, or just writing it off and optimizing your aircraft for dogfighting entirely by converting the FAST packs to launch on a nintey degree off bore trajectory."

"How much will that matter?" You ask.

"Well, according to combat logs from Muninn, not much yet. It's only been a concern with marginal shots triggered by Kyou, and she's been pretty good about not doing it very often." She says. "But you haven't faced any of the Chinese superfighters yet, other than those four early model Fandances, and only a handful of witches. In a knife fight with them, that sort of energy difference may be a big deal."

You nod. "So is this a complex conversion?"

She shakes her head. "No, it's pretty simple, hardly any fabrication work or anything. Mostly software. It's just for the FAST packs, of course, I can't get the centerline bays to do the same thing right now, but I've got an idea for that too. Well," She frowns. "A couple of ideas, but I'm not sure how well you'll like them."

"Have you ever had a bad idea?" You ask.

She pauses. "A couple." She says, after a minute. "But these aren't minor projects. Well," she pauses, then shakes her head. "No, nevermind. they're not minor projects at all. I'd be more comfortable with them after the reinforcement wyverns are in theater and folded in to operations and we can remove you from flight for long enough to do it."

You quirk an eyebrow and she blushes.

"The modifications!" She protests. "I mean the modifications!"

[] We can worry about that later, I think we should just convert the FAST packs like you suggested.
[] It can all wait till we're back on land and can get Muninn opened up.

>>4056163
>[x] We can worry about that later, I think we should just convert the FAST packs like you suggested.

"We should *do it* as soon as possible, clearly"

>>4056163
>[X] We can worry about that later, I think we should just convert the FAST packs like you suggested.

>>4056163
>[] It can all wait till we're back on land and can get Muninn opened up.

"We can *do it* all at once."

>>4056163
>[x] We can worry about that later, I think we should just convert the FAST packs like you suggested.

Naturally, we need to keep teasing the shit out of aunt merlin with 'do it' innuendo.

>>4056163
>[x] We can worry about that later, I think we should just convert the FAST packs like you suggested.
With added teasing

>>4056163
>[] We can worry about that later, I think we should just convert the FAST packs like you suggested.

>>4056163
>[x] We can worry about that later, I think we should just convert the FAST packs like you suggested.

I don't think it'll matter. We have a ridiculous amount of missiles.

>>4056163
>[x] It can all wait till we're back on land and can get Muninn opened up.

>>4056163
>[X] We can worry about that later, I think we should just convert the FAST packs like you suggested.

>>4056179
Put pictures of Shea LaBeouf saying "do it" in her room? No wait, better, photoshop Morgan's face on them.

ok, votes called!

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[x] We can worry about that later, I think we should just convert the FAST packs like you suggested.

You shake your head. "We can worry about doing it all later." You say with a smirk- her blush gets significantly deeper. "I think we should just convert the FAST packs like you suggested."

She nods, though her blush takes a minute to start disappearing.

"So what about the rest of the work?" you ask.

"W-well-" She takes a breath and lets it out. "I want to talk to Kyou and Wendy about improving their interface systems and allowing them to push more energy into the aircraft. I've also got some ideas about a comprehensive weapon system overhaul that would give you a lot more firepower, but it would also force you to specialize more than you are. And I'm going to push a hardware upgrade on Muninn and Tessa."

"Hardware upgrade? Do they need that?"

She shakes her head. "It's just network security equipment, mostly." She says. "Along with some improved equipment for the MIU network."

You nod.

"But going by your combat data, you're perfect." She says- and hastily continues when she sees the smile on your face, her blush coming back. "The guns are functioning perfectly, and I think that if we can improve Kyou's ability to distribute power throughout the airframe, they should get even better."

"So the major weapons improvements are going to be in our ordinance, not in our guns?"

She nods. "Mostly. I've got a prototype installation of an improved electromagnetic launcher, I'm calling it a linear cannon, but it's large and takes up the entire centerline bay for it's equipment, and it's not podded like existing EMLs."

"Linear cannon?" You ask, being vaguely aware of something along those lines in one of her 'mech games.

She nods. "It's impressive, I'll show you what I can later."

[] Anything else?
[] Well, want to started?

>>4056368
>[X] Anything else?

>>4056368
>[] Well, want to started?

>>4056368
>[X] Anything else?

I like this Teased Merlin

>>4056368
>[x] Anything else?

>>4056368
>[x] Well, want to started?

Seems you missed a word there, Ghost.

>>4056368
>[x] Well, want to started?

>>4056395
Teased Merlin: A MILF denied her Cake

>>4056368
>[] Anything else?

>>4056409
I did!

Don't worry, it's implied it's teasing somehow or other. haha!

Votes called!

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[x] Anything else?

"Anything else?" You say, grinning- you stop yourself from saying the rest of what you're thinking, but you're pretty sure she infers it just fine- her blush comes back full force.

"I- ah- uh," She says, then shakes her head. "Right now I think that's all until we can talk to Wendy and Kyou."

"Kyou will approve either way, I think." You say. "And you know Wendy isn't going to question either of us."

Merlin blinks, clearly not sure if you're talking about aircraft modifications or something else- as you intended. "Still, we'll need to talk with them." She says, her blush fading as she decides you're talking about the aircraft.

You nod, looking up at Muninn. Merlin turns to look at him too. "We'll have to get him painted, too, of course." She says. "We can't leave a naked pilot- Naked Jet! Naked Jet!" She stops. "I meant naked jet. We can't leave a naked jet on a carrier like this."

You nod again, deciding to let that one go- there's an art to this kind of thing, and you really don't want to take it too far- at least, you think, you don't think you want to take it too far. Instead, you start thinking about how you'd want it painted- you're honestly not sure. Kyou's mentioned more than once that she has an idea or two, but she's never told you what they are.

"D-do you have any ideas on what kind of paint scheme you'd like?" Merlin asks, trying to focus again.

[] Not yet, but Kyou does.
[] I have a couple ideas, but nothing concrete.

>>4056495
>[X] I have a couple ideas, but nothing concrete.

>>4056495
>[] I have a couple ideas, but nothing concrete.

>>4056495
>[] I have a couple ideas, but nothing concrete.

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>>4056495
>[] I have a couple ideas, but nothing concrete.

The time that I had these done for has come!

>>4056495
>[x] I have a couple ideas, but nothing concrete.

>>4056495
>[x] Not yet, but Kyou does.

I honestly didn't care for the schemes that were brought up until now.

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>>4056510

>>4056495
>[x] I have a couple ideas, but nothing concrete.

>>4056495
>[] I have a couple ideas, but nothing concrete.

Remember, we promised bird-son that s/he could have a say!

>>4056495
>[x] I have a couple ideas, but nothing concrete.

Muninn wanted a say in the matter, though personally I like the idea of a classic polished metal finish (which I know would have to be painted on, still fine tho) with noseart.

>>4056514
I'm liking the whole blackbird vibe, meshes well with the whole 'can't touch this' thing we've got going on with Kyou as our backseater

>>4056495


[] Not yet, but Kyou does.

Old school D Day stripes could be fun on a vintage camo scheme.

Its a shame one of the other Wyverns already has a vantablack/subblack painjob

Ok, votes called!

>>4056495
>"D-do you have any ideas on what kind of paint scheme you'd like?" Merlin asks, trying to focus again.

>inb4 she's imagining herself on the Wyvern as nude noseart