You're escorted by the pair of IJN canidates- both of whom are operating F-14J+ strikers, the imperial navy's front line striker models, based on their indigenous tomcat variants. Kyou's been keeping an eye on them- and she's found nothing to be unhappy about with their technical skills so far. Of course, you've only been testing your new electronic gear, trying to note the differences in what you used to be able to do and what you can do now. Your defensive ECM is almost nonexistant, now- every ship in the fleet was able to achieve and maintain missile lock- though none were able to make more than one simulated launch before suffering massive simulated cascade failures in their onboard control systems. Muninn sourly reported that was Lovelace's doing- he was almost instantly able to intrude into their computer systems and within a few seconds of their locks, he was in nearly total control of their entire integrated operating networks. Even the Kaga herself wasn't able to defeat the lockdown he'd held on the test ships- indeed, her crew had to simulate shutting off all external communications equipment in order to keep control of the carrier. Of course, at the end of the short test phase, everything was back to normal- at least, technically. You're sure Lovelace just ruffled more than a few feathers, displaying how he was able to punch past mil-spec computer defenses to render a couple of destroyers and a cruiser completely dead in the water. Had they actually been hostile, you've no doubt he could have done far worse- triggering every halon system in the ships, for example.

"New contacts. Bearing zero-seven-eight, range four-five-zero miles." Kyou warns.

"That's the Roosevelt and her battlegroup." Tessa informs you. "They're escorting the 1st MEF into theater. We've already got communications from them waiting for us aboard the Kaga."

"Anybody aboard?" You ask.

"They've got two additional Wyvern combat teams aboard." Muninn notes. "Corsair and Revenge."

"That's five of us in the north," Kyou notes. "I was under the impression the majority of the remaining Wyvern teams would be deploying into the south China sea area?"

[] Something big must be up. That MEF moved fast to be here this quickly.
[] Guess we'll see.

>>4179602
>[X] Something big must be up. That MEF moved fast to be here this quickly.

>>4179602
>[x] Something big must be up. That MEF moved fast to be here this quickly.

>>4179602
>[] Something big must be up. That MEF moved fast to be here this quickly.

>>4179602
>[x] Something big must be up.

And not just Morgan's Dick

ok, votes called!

Got a thunderstorm rolling through, so if I disappear for a spell, that's why. Nice to have the storm season back!

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[x] Something big must be up. That MEF moved fast to be here this quickly.

"Something big must be up." You note, checking their position- sure enough, there's at least twenty plus ships, steaming through the Tsugaru strait- more than enough, you note, to account for a carrier battlegroup and a full MEF's compliment of sealift ships. "That MEF moved fast to be here."

Muninn does the rough math for you- they must have broken more than one record for time from mobilization to arrival time in a combat zone- even the famed Iceland liberation took over a week from notice to landings, and that was one of the fastest movements during the war.

"Certainly something we'll be involved with." Kyou says, confidently. "I doubt they'd deploy such a major force without our assistance."

"With five teams in the region, they may not need us." Tessa notes. "Doctrine would indicate that five teams is significantly more than should be deployed over any landing force."

"Regardless, we're clearly the best suited to such a mission." Kyou declares- you can feel her eagerness to get back into combat. It's overwhelming, infectious. Fortunately, it's also something you're prepared to handle- the same emotional mess is one you're used to from as far back as middle school, when you started playing school sports. You meet her infectious energy with your own icy calm- you'll do what you're ordered to do, you figure. Still, it's hard to not feel a little desire to finish up the tests here- they're effectively done anyway- and head back to the Kaga to see what the American group commander sent.

"How close to finished are you?" You ask Lovelace, turning Muninn north.

"Awmost done!" He responds, happily. "Aww swystems nawminal!"

"Aboard this aircraft, you are to speak normally." Kyou orders.

"Aww. Ok. I'm mostly done, all I need to check are my long range systems." He says.

"How much longer will that take?" You ask.

"Between five and ten minutes. I'll probably use one of the ships of the Roosevelt's battlegroup as a test target, since they're about at the limit of my operating range. If you can hold about this range, I should be able to get a full systems check. If you want to close to about three hundred miles, I can perform it faster, but it won't be as comprehensive."

[] We'll hold off at this range, then.
[] We'll close the range, I want this done quickly.
[] We're going to return to the Kaga- do what you can while we head back.

>>4179815
>[x] We'll hold off at this range, then.

>>4179815
>[X] We'll hold off at this range, then.

>>4179815
>[x] We'll hold off at this range, then.

>>4179815
>[] We'll hold off at this range, then.

>>4179815
>[x] We'll hold off at this range, then.
Ten minutes is kinda nothing.

Ok, votes called! Gonna go grab food real quick!

>>4179944
>Grab food quick

What did Ghost grab; a full Manchu Han Imperial Feast?

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[x] We'll hold off at this range, then.

"We'll hold off at this range." You say, pulling Muninn off to the West a bit to maintain range at about this distance.
Lovelace doesn't respond- instead your outgoing data spikes and drops off as he launches his intrusion routines- his word for what he does, not yours- and begins running through them. It's kind of scary how he can do it- as near as you can tell, he can bounce himself off of nearly any telecom satellite or receiver on Earth. You're sure most of what he can actually do is classified- but being able to move through any communications system on the planet is impressive, so far as you know. Most AIs are limited to either dedicated communications systems- or in the case of many, like Wyvern intelligences, just specialized, hardwired systems.

"I wonder how useful this deal will prove to be." Kyou says to you. "It's difficult to argue his effectiveness, but I still feel as if trading our defensive electronics for his presence may prove to have been rather hasty."

"I still have mine, mum." Wendy points out. "And as long as Admiral Wells is about, it's possible she could devise something to allow me to assist you."

"Possibly, though I'd prefer to look into different options." Kyou responds. "We still have our air launched decoys, of course, but I would prefer not to have to rely on them in the case of infrared and electro-optical systems."

You don't respond, instead watching your distance- and noting that the ships are moving, it looks, to join on the Kaga's battlegroup. It'll swell the size of the battlegroup to almost forty ships- impossible to miss and probably a fairly tempting target for any Chinese antiship efforts, if it wasn't already. There's reports that there's longer-range bombers being based at captured airfields in the west of the occupied peninsula- and it's a well known fact the Chinese have bought huge stockpiles of Soviet munitions and equipment. While the 90s were rough on the USSR- and the aughts weren't much better, they've largely been able to keep their economy running on UNEDF and Chinese purchases- the EDF operates more Felons than Soviet front line aviation, reportedly.

"Tests done." Lovelace announces, his face appearing on one of the MFDs on your console. It's odd for an AI to communicate like that- but he seems to prefer it. Part of you wonders about that- he seemed overjoyed at the ability to join a Wyvern team, but because he's been keeping himself separate from the MIU, he's much more like Merlin than anyone else. You know she's engaged with the MIU before- while Muninn is on the ground- but all that's ever left are hints of her presence. Still, there's enough of those that you don't wonder if she's leaving them on purpose.

1/2

You push the thought aside with a little resistance- your aunt is a popular subject of thought among at least two of the other minds sharing the fighter- and turn for the Kaga, while Kyou makes the radio calls to the carrier. There's no packages in the air right now- just a couple navy combat air patrols up near the coast and another few near the battle group. The front's more or less stable, and the Chinese have started to slow down and consolidate their holdings, putting most of the occupied territory under some family named Kim.

You set down on the Kaga first- though it's only by a few seconds as the witches come in for a VTOL landing near the bow, and Wendy hardly even needs the wire as she sets down on the deck. You pull to a stop just aft of the island, with Wendy directed in next to you, and she deplanes at about the same time you do, with the IJN witches gliding over, their strikers still engaged. Their racks are belowdecks, in the hangar, still- they'll ride the aircraft lift down and then dismount.

Kyou tells them to meet you in the ready room you've kind of co-opted- it's not yours, of course- you don't have one- but the unit it belongs to has already asked Kyou for something to keep in there, as a marker that you use it as well- She's brought it up to you, since your Combat patch hasn't arrived yet, but it will fairly soon. You don't get to design them yourself- they're navy approved designs- but You both think an extra one would be fitting for the unit.

Merlin's waiting inside as you enter the ready room, and she smiles, gesturing for you to take a seat. "Did everything go well?" She asks as the three AIs flash to live in the tanks."

"Evwyting went gweat!" Lovelace says- causing Kyou to wince. Clearly, the AI feels no need to speak normally in here- either that or he 'forgets' her constant order to speak normally around her.

"Muninn?"

The AI shrugs- she's displaying as a female, again. "Everything was where it was supposed to be," She says. "AI cores all work correctly and are linked in, but I'll run my own tests when he leaves."

"Awwwwww, birby" Lovelace responds, looking hurt.

Merlin, however, laughs. "Give me your test report on that later, then." She says. "Tessa?"

"Everything appeared to be linked in correctly and functionally normally." the last AI says. "Links between the third core set and the rest of the MIU network is limited, but I suspect that was intentional?"

Merlin nods. "Morgan?"

Everything on the flight seemed to be in order- the fighter felt fine, of course- you expected nothing less, though. You didn't test weapons, and from what you saw, Lovelace's abilities were a formidable asset- providing you control them.

[] Lovelace integrated well, but how does the chain of command work there?
[] I'm not sure I'm thrilled about the loss of our ECM gear.

>>4180392
>[x] Lovelace integrated well, but how does the chain of command work there?

That's gonna be it for the night, gents- sorry about that delay. I've been rocking a pretty gnarly headache for the last couple days- pollen season jacks me up but good- and so I was trying to get rid of it by laying down for a spell.

then I fell asleep. Go me.

Anyway, we'll be back tomorrow a little earlier than I've been managing- we'll call votes at 1800 EST and I'm planning to be writing by then. I'll be around a bit between now and then to field questions or comments if there are any!

Anyway gents, till tomorrow, Cheers!

>>4180392
>[X] Lovelace integrated well, but how does the chain of command work there?

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>>4180402
Thanks for the run boss.

>>4180392
>[X] Lovelace integrated well, but how does the chain of command work there?

>>4180392
>[x] Lovelace integrated well, but how does the chain of command work there?

>>4180392
>[] Lovelace integrated well, but how does the chain of command work there?

MUNINN'S LIVE-IN BOYFRIEND

>>4180392
>[] Lovelace integrated well, but how does the chain of command work there?
>Also hopefully someday get our ECM gear back?

>>4180392
>[] I'm not sure I'm thrilled about the loss of our ECM gear.
As much as I enjoy the ability to Shutdown the enemy like we can, I'm not sure it's worth the loss of our ECM.

>>4180392
>[x] I'm not sure I'm thrilled about the loss of our ECM gear.
Yeah, I'm starting to realize that we're more than a little naked up there now.

>>4180392
>[X] I'm not sure I'm thrilled about the loss of our ECM gear.
I hate the way Lovelace speaks and also feel that the loss of our ECM gear makes us a liability. That said, having an almost unbeatable EW package in todays networked warfare? Sounds good.

>>4180392
>[X] I'm not sure I'm thrilled about the loss of our ECM gear.

>>4180392
>[] Lovelace integrated well, but how does the chain of command work there?

>>4180392
>[x] I'm not sure I'm thrilled about the loss of our ECM gear.

Ok, votes called!

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[x] Lovelace integrated well, but how does the chain of command work there?

"Lovelace integrated well, but how does the chain of command work?" You ask. "Is he part of the crew?"

Merlin frowns. "Technically, no." She says. "He's a mission specialist with overlapping goals in almost every instance."

"So we cannot order him to do anything." Kyou states.

Merlin shakes her head. "Yes and no. Once you're in the air, it reverts to the usual rules concerning Wyvern combat teams, and the pilot has control of the element and everything involved with it. However, aboard ship or on land, he's not required to follow any orders."

"But I have other work." Lovelace says. "So I can't aways be awound!"

"But you will be for sorties." Merlin says, and the AI nods.

"Of course. I've had it cleared with my handlers that I'll be unavailable immediately before, during, and after any sorties." He says, reaching down to adjust one of the rainbow-striped socks on his legs. "They're saying that if this works well enough, they may start work on a successor to take over for me, and allow me to join an aircraft full time."

Merlin nods. "We can discuss that later." She says- though she sounds interested by the prospect. "Kyou?"

Your partner shrugs. "All systems functioned normally. I have some concerns over our defensive options, but very few. I am sure, should it be necessary, I can shield us from any munitions."

"We can also mount jamming pods, if we think it's going to be necessary." Merlin points out. "But it's getting less and less likley you're going to need them."

[] Why?
[] We may not need them, but we still want the capability.

>>4181684
>[X] Why?

>>4181684
>[x] Why?

>>4181684
>[X] Why?

I am going to hazard a guess and say that we got a big mission coming up.

>>4181684
>[x] Why?

>>4181684
>[] Why?

Ok, votes called!

>inb4 Merlin goes up as our backseater once to test/install new witch-based ECM

>inb4 her MILF ass is too big to fit in the flightsuit

>Cue Kyou and Wendy having to literally shoehorn her into it

>inb4 this induces Morganboner

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[x] Why?

"Why?" You ask- that seems like an odd thing to say, especially considering the threats over Korea are bound to be evolving- and increasing.

"Wyvern teams are considered specialist assets." Merlin says- you nod, you knew that. "The navy employs them in specific mission roles- and you're not considered to be an electronic warfare asset the same way other crews are, so missions requiring significant electronic defenses and countermeasures won't be ones you're tasked with."

"If that's the case, what are we considered?" Kyou asks.

Merlin shakes her head. "We're not in a position where any specialty has really been reached." She says. "We're removing ones that you're clearly unsuited for, but that's still just the first part of the process."

"I see." Kyou says, looking over at you- you shrug lightly.

"Well, either way," Merlin says. "The commander of the navy task force now transiting into the sea of Japan will be meeting his counterpart from the Kaga's battlegroup. They've got the entirety of one MEF aboard, and the marines are our first major land combat assistance to the Japanese in Korea." She says. "He'll probably want to meet you as well- you were the first American in combat over Korea, and your combat data has already gone out to the wyvern fleet."

"Our data cannot be that helpful to the rest of them, though." Kyou notes. "We have Wendy, afterall, I am far more capable than most witches."

Merlin shrugs. "It can't hurt." She notes. "At the very least it's a threat picture for them. However, with additional Wyverns in theater, it does mean that you can be reassigned to other fronts, if necessary."

Kyou frowns, looking over at you. "How likely is that?" She asks.

1/2

Merlin shakes her head. "Right now, not." She responds. "There's close to eight teams in the south china sea, with another four en route. But that brings me to my next point. The One MEF will be executing a landing to recapture the city of Wonsan and the surrounding countryside." She says. "Before that can happen, though, we'll be launching several strikes against targets all over the peninsula." She brings up a map on the projector, and you lean forward.

"There's three primary targets right now." She says. "The docks at Incheon are the first. Satellite imagery indicates the Chinese are using the docks are one of their primary logistics points in the southern half of the Korean peninsula. We want to do as much damage as possible to them to interrupt these supply lines."

"Second is the Gimpo airport. It housed an IJAAF annex and we know the Chinese are basing most of their long range, antiship assets there. While they haven't got enough there to threaten the fleet at present, an attack there would cripple any ability they had to attack shipping in the sea of Japan for the forseeable future."

"Third and last for now is this." Merlin says- and the map redirects itself to a satellite image of Wonju. "the Japanese military, working with KDF troops, has determined the Chinese are basing a number of their forward-based witch assets at the former KDF Wonju airbase. We want to disrupt that base as much a possible, and put as many of them out of action as possible."

You nod. "Are these all for us?"

Merlin shakes her head. "You've got second pick, the remaining two missions will go to other wyverns." She says. "These aren't time critical yet, but the more targets we can knock out, the better odds the marines will be facing, going ashore."

[] Tell us more about the Incheon strike.
[] We want to hear about the Gimpo airport mission.
[] The Wonju strike sounds like it's our kind of job.

>>4181942
>[X] The Wonju strike sounds like it's our kind of job.

>>4181942
>[X] The Wonju strike sounds like it's our kind of job.
I want to fight enemy witches but

[X] Tell us more about the Incheon strike.

Last time we were pointed at Chinese Logistics we messed it up nice and good.

>>4181942
>[X] Tell us more about the Incheon strike.

>>4181942
>[x] We want to hear about the Gimpo airport mission.

I don't think witches are a huge threat on a strategic level, plus Incheon is close. Us taking the airport out would make the Incheon strike easier.

>>4181942
>[x] Tell us more about the Incheon strike.

>>4181942
>[] The Wonju strike sounds like it's our kind of job.

>>4181942
>Us taking the airport out would make the Incheon strike easier.
Given that the MEF is coming with wyvern teams and
>"You've got second pick, the remaining two missions will go to other wyverns."
It sounds like these strikes will be happening around the same time. So it won't have as much an effect as you're expecting.

>>4181942
>[X] We want to hear about the Gimpo airport mission.

>[x]Tell us more about the Incheon strike.
always go for the logistics, because that is waht wins wars. we kill their logi lines, the PLAs ability to contest japanese and US forces in the peninsula will be drastically reduced, maybe neven for their witches

>>4181942
>[x] Tell us more about the Incheon strike.

Logistics!

Ok, votes called!

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[x] Tell us more about the Incheon strike.

"Tell us more about the Incheon strike." You say, and she nods- her familiar appearing with that muted pop as she uses her power to manipulate the display screen, which pulls down into a tighter view of the Incheon docks- where you can see a few transports clearly offloading supplies and equipment still, while the narrower form of a warship sits at anchor nearby.

"Incheon handles at least three large freighters a day, sailing from Chinese ports on the other side of the yellow sea." She says. "Sometimes more, the most we've seen so far is five ships there. There's at least four being loaded now, so we're timing your strike to be able to attack them as well. Our goal is to do as much damage as possible to the port itself, which means hitting the infrastructure there."

She pulls the display out to wider view. "Primary targets are going to be the fuel terminal here, on the south end, and the freight docks here, five miles north. Defenses in the area are unknown for sure, but we know that a type 054A frigate has been anchored at least a mile to the west, near the Incheon bridge, and the PLAAF and KPLAF have based units at both Incheon airport and the former KDA annex at Gimpo. We expect the Gimpo attack to draw some of them off, but you can expect mixed air defenses. We don't expect them to have any witches that far to the rear, though."

Kyou nods, then frowns. "Though, given the ranges involved, it wouldn't be impossible to see some flying in from other posts."

Merlin frowns. "It's a possibility, but with multiple strikes, we think their attention is going to be split. One thing to remember is that even though you'll be flying your sortie at the same time as three other Wyvern teams, you'll all be operating independently, with your own missions. They'll support you if you need it, but don't expect any of them to be able to hit any of your targets." She says.

Kyou nods. "Very well." She says.

"That's it." Merlin says. "When you're planning your load, remember we've got the EML system aboard, and that's capable of doing significant damage to ships easily. It's not very suitable for destroying buildings or area targets, though."

Kyou nods.

"You'll go wheels up at twenty three hundred, I'll need your load plan by fifteen." She says. "That's in about three hours. After that I want you resting, along with whoever's got your wing."

You nod at that. "Are we limited to just two of us?" You ask.

Merlin shakes her head. "No, but keep in mind that this is on the far side of the peninsula, and the closest recovery field is two hundred miles to the south at Busan. You'll be deep into occupied territory on this one."

You nod- the ranges involved would make it a stretch for either of the witches.

"Any other questions?" Merlin asks.

[] None here.
[] Yes (Write in!)

and that's going to be it for the night! I kind of goofed- and by goofed, I mean lost my unit list for each pack, so I had to go back and look up the ones we'd know about going in, haha! Not really sure where it got to, either- I must have written it down in a different notebook, which is kinda strange. Maybe I dreamed it? Who knows.

Anyway, that's it for the evening. I'm going to go grab a shower, but I'll be on for another little bit to handle any questions or comments that you guys want to ask. Otherwise, till tomorrow, gents, cheers!

>>4182451
>[x] None here.

>>4182458
Thanks for the run Ghost!

>>4182451
>[] None here.

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>>4182451
>[X] None here.

>>4182458
Thanks for the run boss.

>>4182451
>[x] None here.

>>4182451
>[x] None here.
Time to break more logistics! We're gonna get a very interesting nickname from the Chinese at this rate with this kind of work.

>>4179602
MEF ?

>>4183373
Marine Expeditionary Force

Sorry about the late call here guys, votes called!

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[x] None here.

You shake your head- questions you may end up having, you know, can be covered by Muninn or Tessa- both of whom will get the full mission details and be able to pass the data to you. It's one of the quirks of the navy- in theory, the MIU makes briefings like this totally obsolete- yet, here you are. All the information you need- target, threat assessment, routes and weather- are all right there by the time you're climbing into the cockpit, and everything's up to the second- sometimes, it's better than even the intel shops have, because the AI can pull it realtime and keep it updated at the same pace.

Still, tradition is tradition- you suppose that even if fully AI-controlled aircraft become a thing, they'll still have ready rooms and traditional briefings.

"Alright then." Merlin says, nodding. "Get your load plan sorted out, and get it to me so I can get the crew uploading weapons. You'll be limited to IJN ords except for the EML, if you want to take it. We're low on shells for your cannons, but not critically yet."

You nod, standing as she dismisses you.

"You two, come with us." Kyou commands the two imperial witches- they both nod and follow without responding, as you're sure Kyou expected them to.

"What are you thinking?" Kyou asks. "I feel Merlin would not have mentioned the EML unless she thought it important for the targets set out for us."

"She wouldn't have." Wendy confirms. "Seeing them in action, I'm sure she felt that would be the best way to deal with the frigate, at least."

"And any other ships present." Kyou says, nodding. "Though it's value against things like the fuel terminal will be far more limited, even assuming we can cause secondary detonations with the storage tanks."

"And assuming we want to." You say. "That's a lot of collateral damage."

She nods. "Yes, but at the same time, the fuel terminal is separated from the larger part of the city by a few miles distance, and denying them the facilities there is sure to put a major strain on their fuel supplies at the front."

1/2

"A few miles won't matter if the whole thing goes up." Wendy points out.

"Those tanks are designed for saftey." Kyou responds. "Even if they do all go, they won't all explode at once unless we hit them all at the same time. It may require several runs in order to ensure they're all destroyed, but it may also be our best chance to cripple their forces."

"Short of just directly engaging them." You say- she smiles grimly.

"Yes." She responds. "Of course, if were allowed to set our own targets, I'm sure we could decimate their forces in quick order. However, we currently lack such freedoms. Regardless, we will need a weapons load. I suggest using external hardpoints for additional munitions, so we can do as much damage to their shipping and supplies at the port as possible."

"That will destroy our stealth." You point out, unsure if you want to do that- you can sling a lot of iron on external hard points, but it also means that, without your ECM, almost anything will be able to see you coming.

Kyou nods. "Yes, but we have that AI to handle intrusion for us now- what good is it for them to see us if they cannot engage us regardless?" She asks.

You frown- she's got a point, but you're still not sold.

[] I don't like it, but you're right- we'll mount the External pylons.
[] I'd still rather not bank on him yet. We don't know how he's going to perform in action.

>>4183997
>[X] I don't like it, but you're right- we'll mount the External pylons.

>>4183997
>[x] I'd still rather not bank on him yet. We don't know how he's going to perform in action.

>>4183997
>[] I don't like it, but you're right- we'll mount the External pylons.

>>4183997
>[x] I don't like it, but you're right- we'll mount the External pylons.
As much as I don't like the way he talks I trust that he'll be capable.

>>4183997
>[X] I don't like it, but you're right- we'll mount the External pylons.

Hey gents, got another gnarly thunderstorm blowing through. Gonna be a good storm season, this keeps up, but I may drop offline as a result. Sorry in advance if I do!

>>4183997
>[x] I'd still rather not bank on him yet. We don't know how he's going to perform in action.

ok, votes called!

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[x] I don't like it, but you're right- we'll mount the External pylons.

You frown- but nod. "I don't like it, but you're right." You admit, getting a slightly satisfied smile out of Kyou.

"Excellent. With them mounted, I feel we can afford to fit the Electromagnetic launcher and it's power packs in our ventral bays, and still have room for sufficient air to air weaponry to handle any threat we may encounter." She says, thinking. "it would allow us to carry either thirty six bombs or eighteen cluster weapons, plus the EML and twenty four air to air missiles in the VLS cells."

"Remember we can also load VLS capable antiship missiles." You note, thinking. While the EML is more or less ideal for destroying smaller surface ships- and most other things, really- the system is incredibly destructive, but ammunition limits mean it's not as viable against larger targets or area threats. "From the sounds of the briefing, there's going to be fewer air targets for us to engage, and the extra range means we can hit targets out in the yellow sea, as well."

"We can do the same if we're willing to extend our attack area." Kyou points out. "We'll have the ability to hit targets of opportunity again, and a more mixed payload would enable us to do so more easily. I suggest running AAM-4s in four cells, Pythons in the remaining two, the EML in our ventral locations and a full external load with twelve five hundred pound bombs and twelve mixed target cluster munitions."

You nod- she's got a point. While antiship missiles have a longer range than the EML would, you can easily cover the difference by flying closer- especially if you get a target of opportunity after you've hit the docks. Even before then, you think- it's not like ships are especially quick moving, compared to aircraft.

"If I may, that would leave our air to air load somewhat light." Wendy points out. "Tessa and I can carry extra, of course, but I suggest loading at least two external racks with additional missiles."

Kyou frowns- but nods. "I see the argument." She says. "But I feel it's unnecessary. A full EML load is equal to twenty shots with the cannon, which would provide us more than sufficent additional antiaircraft weaponry."

[] Run Kyou's suggestion, then. (24 AAMs in the VLS, EML in the centerline and nacelles, six external bomb racks.)
[] Wendy makes a good point. (24 AAMs in the VLS, EML centerline and nacelles, four external bomb racks, two external missile racks with 1 AAM-4 and 2 Python-5 each)

>>4184221
>[] Wendy makes a good point. (24 AAMs in the VLS, EML centerline and nacelles, four external bomb racks, two external missile racks with 1 AAM-4 and 2 Python-5 each)

Nice solid balance

>>4184221
>[X] Run Kyou's suggestion, then. (24 AAMs in the VLS, EML in the centerline and nacelles, six external bomb racks.)

>>4184221
>[x] Run Kyou's suggestion, then. (24 AAMs in the VLS, EML in the centerline and nacelles, six external bomb racks.)
Munnin Team: Makes Supply Dead Goodest.

>>4184221
>[X] Run Kyou's suggestion, then. (24 AAMs in the VLS, EML in the centerline and nacelles, six external bomb racks.)
Don't we still have the FAST pack for more missiles on top of this?

>>4184221
>[x] Run Kyou's suggestion, then. (24 AAMs in the VLS, EML in the centerline and nacelles, six external bomb racks.)

Ok, votes called!

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[x] Run Kyou's suggestion, then. (24 AAMs in the VLS, EML in the centerline and nacelles, six external bomb racks.)

"We'll run Kyou's suggestion." You say, getting a nod out of both of the witches- the two IJN additions to your little group don't seem to have any input yet. Of course, they shouldn't- if either of them comes along, it'll be their first combat flight with a wyvern. You hope they're up to the challenge- though you do have to admit their training would indicate they are.

"Excellent." Kyou says, nodding.
"Next question is how do we plan to get to the target area?" Wendy asks. "Crossing the peninsula directly means a much shorter trip, and I'm sure the Sho-sa and Dai-i would appreciate not flying several hundred extra miles."

Kyou shrugs. "It may be more prudent to leave them aboard." She says- you catch the flicker of a frown out of the Sho-sa. "Crossing the entirety of Korea means we'll surely be detected, and while I'm certain we can defeat anything they use against us, I'd rather not invite the entirety of their air defense network to engage us."

"But going around to the south almost doubles the distance we have to travel." Wendy points out. "And the Chinese are almost certain to have additional forces around Mokpo."

Kyou frowns, but nods. "This is true." She says, reviewing the map. "It may be better to go straight across, then."

"We'll also have the advantage of the other wyvern teams in the area." Wendy points out. "They'll not have the ability to go around, so we'll be able to support each other."

"Regardless, the decision is Morgan's." Kyou says, looking at you. "Will we cut across Korea, or go to the south?"

[] We'll take the southern route, staying out to sea. They won't expect an attack from that direction.
[] We'll use the shorter route across the peninsula. We'll be able to include the Dai-i and Sho-sa that way.

>>4184512
>[X] We'll use the shorter route across the peninsula. We'll be able to include the Dai-i and Sho-sa that way.

>>4184512
>[x] We'll use the shorter route across the peninsula. We'll be able to include the Dai-i and Sho-sa that way.

>>4184512
>[x] We'll use the shorter route across the peninsula. We'll be able to include the Dai-i and Sho-sa that way.

Shit will probably go pear-shaped either way and i'd rather have support on hand.

Plus who knows if we get spotted by a naval radar crossing the sea or something.

>>4184512
>[x] We'll take the southern route, staying out to sea. They won't expect an attack from that direction.

Might be able to hit a few more ships that way.

>>4184512
>[X] We'll use the shorter route across the peninsula. We'll be able to include the Dai-i and Sho-sa that way.

>>4184512
>[X] We'll use the shorter route across the peninsula. We'll be able to include the Dai-i and Sho-sa that way.

Ok, votes called. This'll be the last update for the week!

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[x] We'll use the shorter route across the peninsula. We'll be able to include the Dai-i and Sho-sa that way.

"We'll use the shorter route." You say, looking over at the Imperial Japanese witches. "That means you two are in."

They both nod, and you note the Sho-sa looks fairly pleased.

"That's it, then?" Wendy asks, and Kyou glances at you before nodding.

"I believe so." Kyou says. "I can think of nothing else. Sho-sa, Dai-i, you will meet us in the ready room an hour before launch. You'll be flying as a pair along with us, Wendy will remain on our wing for the time being. We can go over any other details then."

They both nod, salute, and leave. Kyou watches them go breifly before turning to Wendy. "Wendy, will you run our paperwork to the Admiral?"

Wendy smiles. "Of course mum." She says- there's not much actual paperwork involved anymore, but she takes the few papers in hand and steps out. Kyou nods and turns to smile at you. "And now, we start an enforced rest period." She says. "I cannot see how resting will be an option. We have sat idle for long enough that it's both unnecessary and difficult to even consider."

"Is that a hint?" You ask. Kyou smiles.

"I am of the opinion hints such as that are silly." She responds. "Why should I bother when we both know the other so well by now?"

"Point." You respond.

"Besides, we will need to spend time with Wendy. I'm sure she would be rather put off if we were to be in our room when she returned."

"And we need chow." You point out.

"Exactly." Kyou says, smiling. "I find myself wondering if another man would have said the same, or if he merely would have attempted to convince me that food could wait."

You shrug. "I wouldn't have had to work hard at it." you point out.

Her smile gets wider. "Perhaps not." She says. "Still, I'm not entirely disappointed you chose not to."

"Wouldn't have been nice to Wendy, right?"

"Wendy could wait." Kyou points out.

You frown at her delivery of that- it sounds less a case of Wendy could wait for you two and more a case of Wendy can come later. Kyou merely smiles again at the glance you shoot her way- you're not sure if you want to warn Wendy, laugh, or cry.

And that's it for the week!

Got called away by a friend in new york (State, not city) to chat there. hard to multitask, haha! They're doing fine, but they were looking for advice on a gun purchase. They're a bit worried about the goings on, so they're getting into the market for a gun for their house. I don't NY gun law all that well, but I tried to point them to a shotgun or an AR- in my mind, pistols work real well in this scenario. I'm sure there's plenty of people who disagree, haha!

I'll be around on and off till next week to handle questions or comments if there are any, but otherwise gents, till next time, cheers!

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>>4184776
Thanks for the run boss.

>>4184776
Thanks for the run Ghost!

>>4184771
Wendy is for lewds

>>4184849
>>4184771
Yeah i'm fairly sure wendy hasn't magically failed to notice the HARDCORE FUCKING going on right next door every night.

>>4184856
Hmm is there magic that can cancel out sound ?

>>4186705
There is, yes. And like most things witchy, most witches know a little of it, because it does have applications in a lot of areas.

Ice, notably, is either really bad at it or never learned it- classes on minor magics weren't included in the Annapolis curriculum till postwar.

>>4187535
>Ice, notably, is either really bad at it or never learned it

Are you sure it isn't her subtly messing with Rachel and Katya by deliberately 'forgetting' how to do the spell?

>>4188195
Nah. Ice is too easily embarrassed to really go for that sort of thing.

>>4189410

That's more amusing than it should be.

Quick update, gents. I'm going to have to postpone till tomorrow- I didn't put my notes down in the right place and now I can't find the bleeding things. We'll run till Thursday this week to make up for the delay!

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Alright! So sorry about yesterday. I, in a dumbshit error, prepared my notes in a different notebook- instead of using the one I usually keep at my desk, I used the one that typically lives in my field bag. Of course, I didn't think to look in there at all, all that's got is wind drift calculations and range estimations from the ranges I get out to. Well, and the 11 general orders and the articles of the code of conduct. Neither of which I need anymore, of course, but they're printed on the inside covers, haha! Anyway, got that all sorted out, and while I can't promise it won't happen again, at least I'll know where to look if it does!

We'll run till Thursday to make up for it, possibly longer, depending on how the week's run goes and where we get to!

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

"It's crazy as shit how much boom these birds can sling, sir." The crew chief says from her place next to Muninn. "We've got sixteen AAM fours, eight Python fives, twenty four five hundred pound GPs, six cluster units, and that bigass railgun loaded centerline. with the power packs stowed in your nacelle bays." She says. "The bitch of it is you've got to pull the tabs on the VLS ords before you load them, and there's damn near no way to double check outside your ship's AI."

"Good thing he's good at his job." You say, and the chief grins.

"Who you tellin, sir?" She says with a laugh. "Boy might be a damn mess, but he knows his shit. Both guns are loaded with combine effects rounds. That's high-ex, frag, and incendiary with a tungsten-DU penetrator. Some genius they got working must make a lot of money cooking up these things, cos there's a list as long as my damn arm for shells now, and they're making more."

"Forty millimeter is a versitile round." Kyou points out. "Our aircraft is hardly the only thing to mount them."

"Nah. There's two more fleet drakes that have converted over, I hear." The chief says. "They're looking at mounting them as light weapons aboard ships now too, at least the big ones that keep a witch on crew."

You nod- the conversation is interesting, maybe, but not enough so that you're paying much attention as the elevator pulls level with the flight deck. Contrary to USN regulations, the IJN prefers that air crews travel with their aircraft from the hangar deck to the flight deck- why, you're not sure, but it means you're kind of jammed onto the aircraft elevator with both Muninn and Tessa chained to the tiedown points, and yourself, Kyou, Wendy, the chief, and parts of the crew riding it up with you. They'll release the tiedowns and move Muninn and Tessa off the elevator once it's locked and the guard retracted.

1/2

You're met on the flight deck by the Japanese witches, both of whom are bareleg and in their flight gear, minus their strikers. They'll run out off the waist cat- they don't need the catapult launch, of course, but to go at the same time as you and Wendy, they'll have to be off your flight path due to wake turbulence- Muninn isn't a small aircraft, and moving as fast as he does, it can lead to pretty significant disruption of airflow.

This is the first time you've had to see either witch in their combat gear. The Sho-sa carries the army's still-ubiquitous type 89 rifle. Even with the IJA's purchase of several thousand Polish MSBS Grot rifles as a 'stop gap', the cold-war era rifle is still, by far, the most common rifle among the IJA- only the paratroopers and some mechanized infantry units were reequipped. It's not surprising- Tabitha, your mother says, fought the war with an old, wood-stocked M14, as did your aunt Jessica, who still maintains the rifle as part of her personal armory- a fact which, you're told, drives the palace armorer insane.

You doubt that, of course. The M14 saw significant export use and remains popular as a marksman's weapon to this day, and the ammunition is both common and plentiful.

More eye-catching is the large glaive-like polearm she carries in her right hand. She smiles when you notice it, though she doesn't say anything. It's not unusual for witches- especially Japanese witches- to carry melee weapons like that, you know- and Maman and you both carry tomahawks that were hand-forged for you by a master smith. You're not sure who, of course- Maman had yours done as a favor owed her, and would only say the man that forged it was present when you graduated at Annapolis, his presence being his payment for the exquisite weapon. Still, the large polearm seems almost ungainly- it's taller than she is, and you can't imagine trying to carry it or clamp it to a striker in combat. Regardless, though, she has it, so she must know how to handle it.

The dai-i, for her part, looks kind of understated, compared to the other witch. her combat top is IJA pattern camo and tan, and she wears a fairly standard plate carrier over that, magazines stacked across her front for the HK416 she carries. If anything, she looks out of place only for the fact that she's bareleg- anywhere else, she'd be almost a perfect recruiting poster for the Imperial forces.

Kyou nods to both of them. "You are both prepared for the mission?" She asks, and both of them nod.

"Excellent. Mount your strikers, we will be in the air shortly." Both of them salute and turn for their striker racks, currently tied down in front of the island. Kyou watches them go for a second, then turns to you. "Are you comfortable with their addition to our flight?" She asks. "If you'd prefer, I can focus on issuing orders in the air."

[] We should be fine.
[] Yeah, I'd rather have less to worry about. You can manage them for the flight.

>>4195414
>[X] We should be fine.

>>4195414
>[] We should be fine.

>>4195414
>[] We should be fine.

>>4195414
>[x] We should be fine.

>>4195414
>[x] Yeah, I'd rather have less to worry about. You can manage them for the flight.

>>4195414 #
>[X] Yeah, I'd rather have less to worry about. You can manage them for the flight.

>>4195414
>[x]We should be fine.
We are flight lead so it’s kinda our job.

ok, votes called!

So if we end up doing a Wild Weasel mission, will that turn this into Shrike Witches Quest?

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[x] We should be fine.

"We should be fine." You respond, watching the two witches for another second before turning back to Muninn as the crews start pulling streamers from the weapons hung beneath his wings and doing their own final checks before flight.

Kyou nods. "Very well. Though bear in mind I was prepared to perform as a combat leader, and am well equipped for the challenge, should you need me to deal with it." She says, then smiles. "Of course, I cannot believe the one given son of the mother of night was not similarly prepared."

You shrug. You were prepared, although you doubt it was nearly as formally- or comprehensively- as Kyou's own education on that front. You know, both through what she's told you and what you've picked up, that Kyou's own education was heavily based on much more feudal ideals- she was taught how to lead people in combat, and things like strategy and tactics were both taught to her by the best the Empire had available to it. Most of your own education on that subject came via sports- football, mostly. Maman had you read heavily- you didn't mind so much, since you always liked reading anyway, but her 'summer reading' could get difficult to complete- seems like she'd always assign one or two books more than you could get through in your time at the Bishop household. Regardless, Sun Tzu, Clausewitz, and Young are all old companions by now, along with Rommel, Patton, Von Luck, Townsend, and a half dozen others. To her credit, maman didn't favor any one particular field of military leadership- you read books by everything from tank commanders to aces, commandos to ship captains.

[] Not as formally, but yes.
[] Probably not really.

>>4195615
>[X] Not as formally, but yes.

>>4195615
>[x] Not as formally, but yes.

>>4195615
>Not as formally, but yes.

>>4195615
>[x] Not as formally, but yes.

>>4195615
>[] Not as formally, but yes.

"I do a mean O-Line."

ok, votes called!

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[x] Not as formally, but yes.

"Not as formally." You say, nodding. "But yes."

Kyou smiles. "I had assumed as much." She says, looking at the ladder up to the cockpit. "We will have to discuss this later."

You nod as she starts up the ladder and you begin your walkaround check, nodding as one of the IJN crew holds up two handfulls of 'remove before flight' streamers- you count fifty four, accounting for every piece of ordinance on the aircraft, plus the three blue tags that hold the safety interlocks open on the EML and it's two supplemental packs. The walkaround finds nothing out of the ordinary, and you start up the ladder a few minutes later. Wendy's already aboard her aircraft, and both witches have mounted their strikers, but haven't detached from the racks. You note that Yuki's got that polearm of hers clamped to a carrier across her back- which makes the most sense, you guess. You wonder, briefly, how she'll adapt to a valkyrie, since there's no place on one to carry that kind of thing.

The preflight checks are all already done by the time you climb into the cockpit- Muninn can handle most of them himself, of course, beyond checking to make sure switches are set in the correct positions, and adjusting them if they're not. There's not many of them, of course- most of the 'hard' controls left on the fighter are mounted to your throttle and control stick, with the forward console taken up by MFDs and a simple mechanical backups- a compass and attitude display, among others. You'd asked Merlin about them once, and she just shrugged. You think it's more a throwback to the F-14 she started her career in, the modern versions of which also still have similar instruments, a legacy of it's 1960s design.

1/2

You're rolling a second later, with Muninn tracking the imperial witches as they decouple from their striker racks and glide to the waist launch position, just forward of the catapults and the deck crew raise the blast deflectors. They pause as the deck crew gets you spotted for launch and rigged to go- with this much weight, you'll have to plug in the blowers to get off the deck with enough airspeed. At least you won't have to use WEP, you think- under normal peacetime conditions, war emergency power is banned from use on launch except in extreme circumstances- like a catapult failure.

Once in the air, the two witches join on you and Wendy in a very loose- and very Japanese- formation. Imperial doctrine wants witches to stay farther away from fighters- and focus on engaging hostile witches more than carving a swathe through hostile fighters. It leaves their fighters free to engage hostile fighters without worrying about witches- sort of an inversion of US doctrine, which uses fighters to interdict a battlespace and witches to do the majority of the work.

Of course, with a Wyvern, that goes out the window- typically, witches who fly with drakes do so explicitly to watch the wyvern's back against hostile witches and to help keep things fluid. With the MIU and AI, you can react to the chaos of a dogfight better than any other system yet devised- which a witch will thrive in. With these two, you're not sure though- you already have Wendy to watch your back, and she's just as capable on her own.

[] Have the two witches fly together for the time being- see how they fly when they're not following a superfighter.
[] Split the witches up and have one cover you while the other flies with Wendy, so you can get a better read on how they fly and fight.

>>4195942
>[X] Split the witches up and have one cover you while the other flies with Wendy, so you can get a better read on how they fly and fight.

>>4195942
>[X] Split the witches up and have one cover you while the other flies with Wendy, so you can get a better read on how they fly and fight.

>>4195942
>[x] Split the witches up and have one cover you while the other flies with Wendy, so you can get a better read on how they fly and fight.

It's supposed to be cross training and evaluation, right?

>>4195942
>[x] Split the witches up and have one cover you while the other flies with Wendy, so you can get a better read on how they fly and fight.

Ok, votes called! this'll be our last update for the evening, I think.

>>4195942
>[x] Have the two witches fly together for the time being- see how they fly when they're not following a superfighter.

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[x] Split the witches up and have one cover you while the other flies with Wendy, so you can get a better read on how they fly and fight.

"Wendy, I'm going to have one of them fly your wing as a second element." You call over to your wingmate. "I want you to keep an eye on how she flies and fights.

Wendy clicks her mic once- a response she doesn't really need to make, since the MIU facilitates communication much better than a radio, but old habits die hard. You blink as you realize she knows this- and sticks to her old ways anyway. That you know she knows this is a sign of the MIU between
aircraft not functioning much different from the one in the Wyvern.

That of course leaves you a minute to look at which one will take Wendy's wing. While you don't doubt her ability, you know Wendy's not much of a leader- and even with Kyou's authority backing her, you're not sure she's going to be able to rein in either of the witches if they start to get carried away. Still, her assessment is going to carry a lot of weight- she's going to know, better than you even, what a witch in her position needs to be doing, how they need to fly and fight.

[] Have Yuki fly Wendy's wing- if she gets carried away, then it's a sign she doesn't belong in the program anyway
[] Have Hosiko pair up with Wendy- you'd rather there not be any issues on the first flight as a group.

>>4196131
>[x] Have Hosiko pair up with Wendy- you'd rather there not be any issues on the first flight as a group.

And that's going to be it for the night, gents!

Shopping around a bit for my next rifle build- gonna pump my presidential funbux right back into the economy, haha! Torn between .224valk and 6.5grendel, though. Might just skip it and finish the warhams army- or get that airbrush! haha. Either way, it's just window shopping, haven't seen the money yet.

Anyway gents, as usual I'll be around for any questions or comments, but otherwise, till tomorrow, cheers!

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>>4196131
>[X] Have Yuki fly Wendy's wing- if she gets carried away, then it's a sign she doesn't belong in the program anyway

>>4196146
Thanks for the run boss.

>>4196131
>[X] Have Hosiko pair up with Wendy- you'd rather there not be any issues on the first flight as a group.

>>4196131
>[x] Have Hosiko pair up with Wendy- you'd rather there not be any issues on the first flight as a group.

Start Wendy's leader training on easy.

>>4195408
>and the articles of the code of conduct
For what, the range ?

>>4196131
>[x] Have Hosiko pair up with Wendy- you'd rather there not be any issues on the first flight as a group.

>>4196131
>you know Wendy's not much of a leader-
Cause being lack of training OR her submissive nature/lack of talent ?

>>4196131
>[] Have Hosiko pair up with Wendy- you'd rather there not be any issues on the first flight as a group.

>>4196131
>[x] Have Yuki fly Wendy's wing- if she gets carried away, then it's a sign she doesn't belong in the program anyway

>>4196161
the marine corps, haha. It's one of the little three color knowledges we were issued in boot, I've found it fits pretty well in range bags.

>>4196200
Mostly the second. She's been through all the schools relevant to her rank, but she's a very poor leader- too afraid to make decisions that might make other people unhappy.

>>4196131
>[x] Have Hosiko pair up with Wendy- you'd rather there not be any issues on the first flight as a group.

>>4196146
Thanks for the run Ghost!

>>4196131
>[] Have Hosiko pair up with Wendy- you'd rather there not be any issues on the first flight as a group.

>>4196131
>[x] Have Hosiko pair up with Wendy- you'd rather there not be any issues on the first flight as a group.

>>4196131
>[] Have Hosiko pair up with Wendy- you'd rather there not be any issues on the first flight as a group.

Yeeeah, keep the crazy on the short leash

Alright gents! votes called!

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>>4197284
Nyan nyan~!

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>>4197460
Sorry! got pulled away to discuss where my presidential funbux are going. I'm thinking a 6.5Grendel build!

-------------------------------------------------------------

[x] Have Hosiko pair up with Wendy- you'd rather there not be any issues on the first flight as a group.

"Dai-i, take Commander Maloney's wing. Sho-sa, you're with us." You command. You don't want Wendy to be overwhelmed with an unruly wingmate- and of the two of them, the IJA witch is far more likely, you think, to cause that kind of problem. You have to wonder at that, though, as you speed-review what you know of her- it's incredibly unlikely the IJA would have sent a flawed witch for you to up or down check for high-visibility, cutting edge program like this.

Both witches respond with a short affirmative, splitting apart to join on your and Wendy's wings. You can feel Wendy's nervousness at the move- she's not confident she can even be the lead in a wing element, regardless of her experience. Still, she doesn't complain- she's nervous, but she'll try it.

You review the situation on the ground as you close on the coast. The lines are more or less stable, with both sides digging in where they are. There's some speculation the Chinese lead elements are exhausted and are holding on for replacement- even with their overwhelming success, they did take losses, sometimes significant ones, and Japanese and Korean air power- backed by you and the other Wyverns in the area- is having a major effect on the Chinese military's ability to function in the open. Their air power, in particular, has been suffering badly- while you still have the unquestioned lead in air combat kills, combined claims are still in the hundreds. While the PLAAF's strength has largely been a matter of question, you're pretty sure not even they can absorb losses like that on a single front without showing it.

1/2

You flash over the Korean coast right as the net starts reporting the first strikes going in up north. The timing is designed to pull as many Chinese assets into the north before the three strikes in the south hit- and the northern targets are critical defensive ones if there's any hope of them contesting a full MEF hitting the beaches.

Still, you drop low as the air defense network starts coming online- and you're only a little surprised when Lovelace pops up.

"Uwu, I see why birby likes dis so much." He says, then smiles and does a little pirouette. "it's so pwetty up here." Then his expression changes- it's honestly a little frightening as his whole face shifts. "I see they've lit up several data networks. Do you want me to begin disrupting them? I don't want to spread my self out too much, or get too deep inside without knowing them yet, but I'll be more than happy to do some test penetrations and if everything looks good I'll dive in."

[] Yes. Hit them now- see if you can't delay and disrupt their response. It may mean we can hit the targets areas without them being warned.
[] Wait a little bit- I want you available when we hit the target area so you can help us do the most damage possible.

>>4197506
>[X] Yes. Hit them now- see if you can't delay and disrupt their response. It may mean we can hit the targets areas without them being warned.

>>4197506
>[X] Wait a little bit- I want you available when we hit the target area so you can help us do the most damage possible.

>>4197506
>[x] Yes. Hit them now- see if you can't delay and disrupt their response. It may mean we can hit the targets areas without them being warned.

>>4197506
>[X] Wait a little bit- I want you available when we hit the target area so you can help us do the most damage possible.

>>4197506
>[x] Yes. Hit them now- see if you can't delay and disrupt their response. It may mean we can hit the targets areas without them being warned.

PENETRATION

>>4197506
>[x] Yes. Hit them now- see if you can't delay and disrupt their response. It may mean we can hit the targets areas without them being warned.

We might get some intel out of this too.

>>4197506
>[] Yes. Hit them now- see if you can't delay and disrupt their response. It may mean we can hit the targets areas without them being warned.

FLY FREE, MY LITTLE WINGED TRAP-MONKEY

Ok, votes called!

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[x] Yes. Hit them now- see if you can't delay and disrupt their response. It may mean we can hit the targets areas without them being warned.

"Yes." You say- you're not sure if it's an order or not, to be honest- he has no military rank or standing. "Hit them now, see if you can't delay and disrupt their response."

"Off I go~" He singsongs- then disappears.

"I was wondering when he planned to leave." Muninn says. "He's not a combat intelligence, so he's going to do things a little differently."

"Are you beginning to soften towards him?" Kyou asks as your speed creeps up and the mountaintops creep a bit closer to your underside- you'd like to terrain mask in them completely, especially now without your ECM equipment, but you're trying to remain aware of the witch's endurance limits- turning and weaving around the mountains probably isn't going to leave them in good shape to return to the Kaga.

Muninn shakes his head. "No, but that doesn't mean I don't respect him." He says. "I mean, I don't like him, he's a weirdo that wants to get way too close for comfort, but he's amazing at what he does."

"He's nothing but cordial and pleasant to me." Tessa notes.

"That's because he isn't interested in anything that doesn't sleeve as male." Muninn responds. "He wants to be your friend, but he wants to share processes with me."

1/2

"Regardless, we are over hostile territory. Focus." Kyou interrupts the conversation. "What is our first target point?"

You think about it. You know for sure there's a Type 054A frigate inside the harbor area, which is dangerous, especially given it's capability to direct fighters and other defenses in the area- not to mention it's 32 surface to air missiles. You'd be stupid to assume that was the only surface defense in the area- at the very least, they'll have short range tactical systems in the area, you're sure- and probably guns as well. The Fuel terminal, to the south, is the most immediate target- while there are others on the coast they occupy, hitting this one will reduce their ability to ship fuel across the yellow sea by about a quarter, all told. The problem, of course, is one of collateral damage- the simple fact is, that's a lot of fuels and natural gas being stored, and when those explode, they tend to explode big. While this is all occupied territory, you're positive it's not all abandoned- and there are a lot of apartments within a few miles of the place, across the water.

Hitting the port in the north means there won't be any sort of collateral damage- but you can't do nearly as much damage there, either. Even holing and sinking some of the transport ships at the dock will only slow them down for however long it takes for them to clear the hulks- and even then, there's simply no way to shut down everything there. Still, while you can't put it completely out of commission, you can do an awful lot of damage, and at least interrupt the flow of supplies to the front.

[] Hit the fuel terminal first- you've already been hitting their fuel supplies, and cutting their ability to bring in fuel will hurt more.
[] You're not comfortable with that level of collateral damage- focus on the docks more.

>>4197707
>[X] Hit the fuel terminal first- you've already been hitting their fuel supplies, and cutting their ability to bring in fuel will hurt more.

>>4197707
>[x] Hit the fuel terminal first- you've already been hitting their fuel supplies, and cutting their ability to bring in fuel will hurt more.

Should've gone inna woods.

>>4197707
>[X] Hit the fuel terminal first- you've already been hitting their fuel supplies, and cutting their ability to bring in fuel will hurt more.

>>4197707
>[] Hit the fuel terminal first- you've already been hitting their fuel supplies, and cutting their ability to bring in fuel will hurt more.

>>4197707
>[] Hit the fuel terminal first- you've already been hitting their fuel supplies, and cutting their ability to bring in fuel will hurt more.

ok, votes called!

>>4197707
>[x] Hit the fuel terminal first- you've already been hitting their fuel supplies, and cutting their ability to bring in fuel will hurt more.
Then smoke the frigate with the EML

Did ghost fall asleep again?

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[x] Hit the fuel terminal first- you've already been hitting their fuel supplies, and cutting their ability to bring in fuel will hurt more.

"We'll go for the LNG terminal." You say, dismissing your concerns about collateral damage- you had discussed it earlier, and while some is inevitable, it's not like the whole terminal will go up all at once anyway. LNG tanks like that are designed for safety- no one wants to compete with the Halifax explosion.

You skirt around the south side of Seoul as Muninn tracks the alerts- they're fragmentary and disjointed, with some bases launching and some radars shifting their search patterns, but many more still sitting at lowered readiness- including Gimpo, you notice. That is, at least, till the datanet lights up with tracks as the wyvern tasked with the attack on the base there starts it's strikes. Muninn gives you their mission load- they'd opted for internal carriage of multiple runway cratering bombs and anti-airfield cluster munitions. With no external pylons, the airfield radar didn't see them until it was far too late- and because of Lovelace's disruption of their command and communications network, their aircraft were sitting on the ground.

You line up on the LNG terminal, checking Muninn's minimum safe release height- it's a couple thousand feet up, because he's projecting at least two of the big tanks to blow, and he's wanting several thousand yards separation between you and the targets by the time your bombs hit. It's minimum projected safe- but it leaves you more than high enough that the frigate will see you. Nothing to be done for it- you can't release your bombs lower than that and you can't use the EML to hit the tanks- you'd rather not have a fireball that big right in your line of flight.

1/2

Muninn picks out threats as you streak over Ansan- there's not many near the terminal itself, surprisingly, though the frigate's signature looms as an outsized presence on your sensors, it's crew starting to realize there's an attack going on- their radars, already running, are beginning to search, and Muninn warns that, with the pylons fit, they'll see you in a few seconds- probably just as you hit your release point.

Of course, you're flying a bit heavy- with two extra witches, you have more options. You consider detaching Wendy and her wingmate to attack the frigate now- they probably can't sink it, but their guns will do plenty of damage to the virtually unarmored warship. You could just order them to break and attack. Wendy's an old hand at this afterall, and knows what to look for- and what will do the most damage. She's not loaded for air to ground, but that won't matter too much against soft targets. Of course, you could just have her stick on your wing- it's an extra layer of defense, even if the frigate starts launching, and it means you're not all spread out if fighters start showing up in any strength.

[] Have Wendy break and attack- do as much damage as possible, cause a ruckus.
[] Have Wendy attack the frigate- it's the single biggest defense the harbor area has, and even if they can't kill it, they can certainly cripple it.
[] Keep Wendy on your wing- you don't want to get split up just yet, just in case.

>>4197860
No. To my eternal shame, I got carried away on about a dozen tabs looking at rifle parts and magazines and ammunition and such- my presidential funbux hit my account today. Entirely too carried away, and I'm sorry. Pretty bad focus- I recall being better at this, once upon a time! I'll have it sorted out by tomorrow- I don't like ending in the middle of combat, if at all possible.

Unless, of course, something big develops in the story!

Anyway, that's it for the night gents. II'll stick around some to answer questions or address concerns, if anyone has any, otherwise, till tomorrow, cheers!

>>4197865
>[x] Keep Wendy on your wing- you don't want to get split up just yet, just in case.

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>>4197865
>[X] Have Wendy break and attack- do as much damage as possible, cause a ruckus.
Be a shame to not railgun the frigate...

>>4197870
Thanks for the run boss.

>>4197865
>[] Have Wendy break and attack- do as much damage as possible, cause a ruckus.

Muninn has the BEEG GAHN, so we should be hitting the frigate

>>4197865
>[x] Keep Wendy on your wing- you don't want to get split up just yet, just in case.

Wingdy

>>4197865
>[x] Have Wendy attack the frigate- it's the single biggest defense the harbor area has, and even if they can't kill it, they can certainly cripple it.

>>4197865
>[X] Have Wendy break and attack- do as much damage as possible, cause a ruckus.

>>4197865
>[X] Have Wendy break and attack- do as much damage as possible, cause a ruckus.

Hey gents, be a bit of a start delay tonight, folks dropped a last minute welding project in my lap, haha!

That took longer than expected, sorry gents! I hate trying to fix lawn furniture, the metal's always super thin and always rusted to shit, haha! Anyway, votes called! We may run an extra night as a make up because we're starting so late tonight.

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>>4199178

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[x] Have Wendy break and attack- do as much damage as possible, cause a ruckus.

"Break and attack." You order Wendy- the MIU makes it so that's really all you have to say, she already knows your intention with the order. You want her and Dai-i Kurita to cause a ruckus- mill about, do damage to targets as they can. Given the attack on Gimpo as well, it'll confuse the already disorganized defenses- while there distance between you and Wendy won't be that much, it'll be enough that one response can't handle both of you.

She splits off as you enter your run- you hear Kyou order the Sho-sa to get above your aircraft as you toggle the release on your payload of mark 82 bombs. It's standard- a witch's shield can stop shrapnel, but the shockwaves from large explosions can still knock them around some. You've heard of cases in the Soviet war- and the Martian war, before that- where witches were badly concussed by a shockwave, even though their shield stopped everything else. It turns out to be a good idea- the first of the LNG tanks goes up as the bombs impact, and another three go up right after from bomb strikes. Muninn shudders in the passing shock- and warns you that you're going to want to clear the airspace, before the rest of the tanks start blowing. There's a massive fire raging down there already- well beyond the ability of the safety systems in place to fight.

"Those tankers are going to attempt to escape." Kyou warns, pulling the two Chinese fuel tankers into your awareness- while both have taken minor damage from the explosions, neither is badly enough damaged to render them incapable of putting to sea. You wonder how much fuel they're carrying- anything they offloaded by now is as good as gone.

"Wendy's getting major secondary explosions on her targets." Muninn notes. "ammunition, we think."

"The frigate is tracking!" Kyou warns. "I have tracking radars up, they'll have us fixed for fire control shortly. If we are going to deal with them, we'll have to do so before they can launch, our countermeasures cannot deal with them at this range."

"Aircraft scrambling." Tessa warns. "Multiple bogies from Osan and Seosan. Gimpo strike package is exiting the airspace to join Wonju, we'll be the last out."

"If we engage the fighters now, we'll have to deal with that frigate." Kyou warns.

"I can handle the fighters, lead." your wingmate says, her voice... hungry, for lack of a better term. "If you'll allow me, I can engage them and free you to attack the ship."

[] Do it- Detach your wingmate to hit the fighters coming up and stall them so you can kill that frigate.
[] Negative- let them get in closer so you can get more of them in the furball
[] Have Wendy tackle the fighters- You'd rather not split up further, but you have to deal with them now, before they start to organize.

>>4199325
>[x] Do it- Detach your wingmate to hit the fighters coming up and stall them so you can kill that frigate.

Divide and conquer might be dangerous here but we need to kill that frigate. I wonder if the Railgun can lunch through it end to end?

>>4199325
>[x] Do it- Detach your wingmate to hit the fighters coming up and stall them so you can kill that frigate.

>>4199325
>[X] Do it- Detach your wingmate to hit the fighters coming up and stall them so you can kill that frigate.

>>4199325
>[] Do it- Detach your wingmate to hit the fighters coming up and stall them so you can kill that frigate.

>>4199325
>[] Do it- Detach your wingmate to hit the fighters coming up and stall them so you can kill that frigate.

>>4199325
>[x] Do it- Detach your wingmate to hit the fighters coming up and stall them so you can kill that frigate.

>>4199325
>[X] Have Wendy tackle the fighters- You'd rather not split up further, but you have to deal with them now, before they start to organize.

Ok, votes called!

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[x] Do it- Detach your wingmate to hit the fighters coming up and stall them so you can kill that frigate.

"Do it." You order your wingmate- and she rockets past you, accelerating away and pulling that glaive from it's scabbard mount on her back and slinging her rifle. You wonder about that- but you don't say anything, instead having Muninn devote a portion of his sensors and ability to tracking her. given the distance involved, you'll only be able to see her with the longer distance optical systems aboard- though you'll still have a datalink with her electronics.

Instead you roll in on the frigate, selecting the EML system on your weapons display and sitting through the short cycle up period. The weapon system is semi-integrated with the Wyvern, and fires through a 'barrel' that runs from the front partition of the centerline bay to a port just forward of the starboard intake. You can see the frigate already moving as you bring Muninn around- at just over eight miles distant, the frigate had been on the north side of Muuido island, it's radars and weapons standing guard over the Incheon airport. It's a poor use of the frigate, in your opinion- and hints at problems within the Chinese war machine.

It's managed to get moving by the time you've closed to within six miles, it's CODAG propulsion no doubt redlining as the sea behind it churns- it's at an angle that shadows it's primary dual purpose gun, but that hardly matters for it's VLS weapons, and leaves at least one of the midships CIWS systems able to engage. The weapon- marked as a type 1130 30mm system- isn't much of a threat to you, even if you were inside it's range. While it can deliver an impressive rate of fire- and sustain it for almost fifteen seconds- it's ability to engage and destroy a wyvern is minimal, as are most surface guns. They just don't have the range or tracking ability.

Against an EML, it's entirely worthless- you line up the target pip and pull the trigger just as Kyou calls a fire-control radar lock on you. The hypervelocity round- traveling at about thirty times the speed of sound- crosses the intervening distance in less than a heartbeat, punching through the frigate at an angle, the sheer kinetic energy involved causing a massive explosion as the shell impacts just aft of the CIWS mount, travelling diagonally through the ship and out through the hull near the waterline, ripping open an exit about the size of a family car as it does so.

1/2

The ship lurches in the water as it's hit, the force of the impact shoving it sideways in the water. It also knocks the radars offline- and destroys the CWIS mount on this side.

"She's dead in the water." Muninn calls as you streak over the stricken frigate. "But she's in no danger of sinking. Chinese response is picking up, I've got datanet warnings on additional aircraft taking off, and several air search and SAM radars are coming up across the peninsula. The other teams in the airspace are calling mission success, but they're hitting secondary targets of opportunity now."

"How does the initial assessment of our mission appear?" Kyou asks the AI as you look back over your shoulder at the frigate- she's not listing, but both of her stacks have gone cold, and she's drifting now. That shot probably knocked their engines offline- but given where you hit, you didn't damage them.

"The LNG terminal is gone." Muninn states, flatly. "Wendy and Dai-i Kurita also were able to destroy several tons of offloaded supplies, most probably ammunition, medical supplies, and food."

"We should remain and destroy that frigate." Kyou says. "it may not be critical, but there is no reason to leave it alive."

[] We're mission accomplished, and I'd rather get out of here before their response shows up.
[] I agree. One or two more EML hits should do it.

>>4199503
>[x] I agree. One or two more EML hits should do it.
If the other teams are mopping up secondaries, we should too.

>>4199503
>[X] I agree. One or two more EML hits should do it.

>>4199503
>[x]We're mission accomplished, and I'd rather get out of here before their response shows up.

What about the Fuel Tankers? The Frigate is out of this war, isn't it?

>>4199503
>[] I agree. One or two more EML hits should do it.
Finish the frigate, then pop the two tankers on the way out.

>>4199503
>[] I agree. One or two more EML hits should do it.
Let's create some artificial reefs.

>>4199503
>[x] We're mission accomplished, and I'd rather get out of here before their response shows up.

>>4199503
>[] I agree. One or two more EML hits should do it.
put a dart through the CIC

ok, votes called! I know it's getting late, but I think we can get in one more update here.

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[x] I agree. One or two more EML hits should do it.

You nod- she can't see it, but she'll know you agree with her assessment. The frigate isn't a kill- yet- and even though it's crippled, it's certainly not a total loss. It may not be, even if you do sink it here, you think. The water's pretty shallow, afterall, and while the PLAAN isn't noted for their technical skills, you're sure salvaging a shallow water wreck isn't outside their capability.

You come around, passing over Incheon airport as you do so. The gigantic international airport isn't seeing any civilian traffic, of course- though Muninn marks over two dozen airliners, all jammed in among the terminals, while the smoking wrecks of a couple strategic transports burn on the pad- Wendy was here already. The damage is fairly limited, all told- there's some aircraft here that will almost certainly fly again- but your target was the shipping dock, not the airport, and any damage here is just a bonus.

Approaching from the other side, you notice that the frigate's CIWS mount on this side doesn't track at all as you close- indicative of a complete power failure. Even her emergency generator must be offline- and will no doubt remain offline as you trigger the EML again, the crack of the round leaving the tube audible even over the howl of the turbofans behind you and through the sound dampening helmet on your head.

The round- about the size of an 8oz can- spears through the frigate's starboard side, and an explosion of debris and shrapnel exits out of the port side. Already dead in the water, as you scream overhead of the frigate and start turning for your third pass, you see her crew beginning to abandon the ship, going over the sides into the water. That's probably a sign the ship's as good as done for- you know that, for any other faults they may have, the Chinese aren't cowards.

Coming around again, you approach from almost directly aft- and enter a shallow dive before triggering the EML again. The cannon is almost silent- it's pure electromagnetic energy, amplified by Kyou's power. The shell hits the crippled ship aft of her funnel- and punches through her bottom, holing her fatally below the waterline.

"She's done." Muninn confirms. "No power and her crew's abandoning ship. Water won't come up over her mast, but she's out of the war regardless."

1/2

"Command." The sho-sa cuts in. "Additional Chinese fighters are vectoring in. Instructions?"

You do a quick review- the LNG terminal is gone, and the docks badly damaged. Your strike even managed to do some damage to the transports at Incheon and sink a frigate- good enough, you think. "Rejoin on us. We're RTB."

"Understood. I am disengaging." She responds- you'd been ready for a fight over it, with muninn still tracking aircraft to your south, but she does as she's told and moves to rejoin you as you streak to the east, exiting the airspace.

The Chinese command network still seems disjointed- though you're seeing increased response in both numbers and effectiveness as you pass to the south of Wonju. A sudden spike in radar activity over the peninsula is marked by Lovelace's pleased face appearing on your MFD. "That was fun!" He coos, his smile large and- as near as you can tell- genuine. "But they'll un-fucksy-wucksy their network soon. I got lots of intwesting informatwion though!"

You nod, focusing instead on leaving the Korean airspace before someone sees you- while you're more than capable of handling any aircraft they send, you'd rather not deal with them right now. It's a relief when you're out over the sea of japan again- despite their hold over the peninsula, the Chinese aren't operating much over the water.

The touchdown on the Kaga is almost anticlimactic- though you can feel Kyou's pleased excitement at the successful mission, you feel vaguely uneasy. You didn't encounter any aircraft, and hardly any defenses, and while Lovelace explains some of that, you're hesitant to give him all the credit.

Kyou's smile on deplaning, however, makes you push those thoughts aside. Her restraint is excellent, you know- but you also know how to read her perfectly now. She looks at the other witches as they join you, then nods at Wendy. "Let us give our reports to the admiral, and then we will retire to our cabins." She says to you. "Sho-sa, Dai-i, we would be appreciative if you would present yourselves at the imperial cabins for the evening meal. We have much to discuss."

She turns to walk off toward the ready room, the two witches in tow- and you and Wendy behind them. ."That went quite well." Wendy remarks. "Though I do wonder which of us will be able to use that fabulous shower first upon our return."

Knowing Kyou's thoughts the way you do, you're almost worried it's less a matter of 'who uses it first' and more of 'how many use it at once'.

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>>4199685
>Knowing Kyou's thoughts the way you do, you're almost worried it's less a matter of 'who uses it first' and more of 'how many use it at once'.
>shower sex

And that's it for the week!

So I know that my pacing has been *really* bad the last few months. Missed start times, really slow updates, the works. I think I know why, and I'll be working on that, but I wanted to thank you guys for being patient with me on this one. I'm not calling a hiatus or break or anything like that, just- thanks. It means a lot that you gents are still around and reading.

With that said, that's it for the week! I'll be around on and off till next week to answer questions or comments, but otherwise, till next week, gents, cheers!

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>>4199694
Thanks for the run boss.

>>4199694
Thanks for running.

>>4199685
>'how many use it at once'.

noice.jpg

>>4199694
Thanks for the run Ghost!

>>4199685
>shower threesome with THICC Wendy

awww yeeeeeee

>>4199694
thanks for running

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>>4199693

It certainly makes you wonder what Kyou is thinking when she knows that we know what she's thinking.

Not gonna lie, I think I want our ECM back, "Locked up by Radar" was a phrase of which variations were FAR too many for my comfort.

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Havings slowpoke shitty shitscribble.

>>4201440
WIDER

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>>4201440
Wait, shit. I feex. Maybe.

>>4199827
What do you think she's thinking? She's operating with information on you, as well...

>>4201440
>>4202655

That is ADORABLE. I love the UAC shirt, too!

>>4199694
>"Though I do wonder which of us will be able to use that fabulous shower first upon our return."
You can make up for with with a threesome shower scene.

hey gents, sorry about the late notice here, but we'll be starting the run tomorrow. I've got some monster shooting pains on my left side, and I'm not really sure what's causing it, but my usual painkillers aren't knocking it back. Kinda hard to concentrate, haha! I'm gonna try laying down and catching a short nap or something and seeing if that kills it.

>>4207473
There's a monster that's shooting pains into your side? Just kill the fucker, why you letting it do that?


Get well soon Ghost.

>>4208152
Haha! Well, I didn't sleep for shit- up most of the night, trying to find a way to stretch it out enough to stop hurting long enough to drop off, and that didn't happen. The good news is I did manage to stretch it out pretty well, so it's basically just a dull ache now. I'm gonna be spending most of the morning at the range, and I'll be trying to catch a nap after that, but we'll be running tonight!