Mostly.

Kyou nods as she takes a seat at the small table. "That went far better than I was afraid it might." She says. "Of course, I expect her opinion on the matter may be somewhat different."

"Doubt it." You say, taking a seat yourself. "Muninn, Tessa."

The two AIs flash on in their tanks, Muninn sleeving as a woman with white hair and a blindfold covering her eyes, while Tessa appears as she usually does, looking entirely unperturbed. "Updates?"

Tessa shakes her head. "Nothing." She says.

"Strikes were going in all night along the coast from Kosong to Sinchang and as far inland as Sangsong, Yodok, and Sinpyong. They reported limited opposition, with the IJN losing one F-14 over Onjong-ri and the USAF losing a strike eagle near Kosan." Muninn reports. "Reported Chinese air losses are limited, with the primary losses occurring among former KDF units. Mostly F-20s and F-4s"

"Any further information on Chinese or turncoat Korean air defense assets?" Kyou asks.

"Nothing currently." Tessa responds. "The task force will be delivering a pre-landing tomahawk strike on a few priority targets, and those will have observers along to mark any source of defensive fires."

"Are our aircraft loaded?" Kyou asks.

Muninn shakes her head. "Not yet. Our VLS cells are loaded, along with the FAST packs and the centerline bays, but we're waiting on the wing pylons still. Guns are both loaded though. We're estimating forty five minutes to finish loading."

You nod.

"We're also being rotated off the line after the landing." Tessa says. "Orders came in last night."

[] Already?
[] Any way to bounce them and stay on a little longer?
[] We expected as much. Where are we going.

>>4400617
>[X] We expected as much. Where are we going.

>>4400617
>[x] Already?

>>4400617
>[x] We expected as much. Where are we going.

>>4400617
>[] We expected as much. Where are we going.

>>4400617
>[] We expected as much. Where are we going.

Busy catte

ok, votes called!

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[x] We expected as much. Where are we going.

"We expected as much." You say. "Where are we going?"

"Miramar." Tessa says.

Kyou blinks. "Not Japan?"

"Japan is considered forward basing, we've already been at the front for three months." Muninn says. "We're due to cycle back to Miramar for comprehensive overhaul and updates."

"I had hoped to be able to return home." Kyou says. "If for no other reason than to sleep in my rooms again. "

Muninn shrugs. "We only relay the orders. Admiral Wells could probably arrange that, but she's probably anxious to get stateside as well."

Kyou shakes her head. "No, that's not necessary. I had assumed the imperial military would prefer we remain in Japan, to assist with their own selection and training."

"They're planning to do that at Miramar." Tessa responds. "They'll be moving most of our equipment, along with their fighter and the majority of our team after we've landed. We'll be turned around for a ferry flight as soon as we're on the deck here."

"I see." Kyou says, frowning. "So we should have personal effects packed?"

"Prepping for a ferry is bottom priority." Muninn says. "So you'd have been notified on landing."

Kyou looks over as Wendy emerges from the bedroom, still blinking and her short hair still a mess. She yawns and smiles a bit blearily. "I'm afraid I slept in a little." Wendy says.

You shake your head. "We were up early."

"Did you sleep well?" Kyou asks.

Wendy nods. "Oh yes, quite." She says, still smiling. "Though I feel as though I should be able to sleep another several hours. Ah well."

"There's coffee." Kyou says.

"And tea." you add.

Wendy nods. "Tea for me, please." She says. "I need to freshen up and get into flight gear."

You and Kyou both nod, and Wendy retreats, briefly, into the bedroom before emerging again to walk into the head, where she closes the door as she changes.

"Do you think she realized she was only wearing a shirt?" Kyou asks you, smiling.

[] She's not the kind to miss details, no matter how jacked up she's feeling.
[] Probably not. I'm hoping she's still got he head on straight.

>>4400738
>[X] Probably not. I'm hoping she's still got he head on straight.

>>4400738
[X] She's not the kind to miss details, no matter how jacked up she's feeling
Happy Wendy, Soft Wendy, Little ball of Floof.

>>4400738
>[x] She's not the kind to miss details, no matter how jacked up she's feeling.

>>4400738
>[] She's not the kind to miss details, no matter how jacked up she's feeling.

>>4400738
>[x] Probably not. I'm hoping she's still got her head on straight.

There may be a bit of an adjustment period

>>4400738
>[x] She's not the kind to miss details, no matter how jacked up she's feeling.

>Sleepy Pantsless Wendy

*Nice*

>>4400738
>[] She's not the kind to miss details, no matter how jacked up she's feeling.

Pet the Wendy

ok, votes called!

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[x] She's not the kind to miss details, no matter how jacked up she's feeling.

You shake your head. "She's not the kind to miss details, no matter how jacked up she's feeling." You respond.

"So that was on purpose?" Kyou asks, with a smile. "And I was worried she didn't want this sort of arrangement."

You shrug. "If so, she didn't act like it."

Kyou smiles. "No, that's true." She says, then shrugs. "A pity there's not enough time to do anything further this morning."

You shake your head, walking over to the coffee pot and pouring two cups, and turning the water down a little so it doesn't boil quite so hard. "A pity." You agree dryly.

Kyou's smile gets a bit wider. "Don't act as if you disapprove." She says, somewhat teasingly. "It appeared as if you were entirely enjoying things."

You're about to respond when Wendy steps out of the head, clad in her flight suit and looking almost as if nothing has changed- he hair is under control and the vaguely delirious look is gone from her face. Her smile, though, is entirely different- while she looks just fine, her smile gives away her thoughts entirely- it's genuine and practically glittering. "Don't get up." She says. "I'll fetch the tea for myself."

You nod, sitting.

"We've been ordered to return to the United States after this sortie." Kyou says as Wendy makes her tea.

"California?" Wendy asks, and Kyou nods.

"Yes, Miramar."

"Ah. I had assumed we'd be returning to Japan. Do our orders say what changed their mind?"

"Japan is considered a forward basing mum." Tessa says. "So a return to Miramar after ninety days was required."

Wendy frowns. "It doesn't seem as if it's been nearly that long." She says, taking a seat. "Perhaps I've just not been paying attention."

1/2

"It does seem to have gone by quickly." Kyou agrees. "Thought it means that Merlin should have a much easier time working on our aircraft."

"It would be rather nice to not be aboard ship for some time." Wendy says. "Somewhat less cramped, I imagine." She adds the last with a light smile.

Kyou laughs. "I imagine it will get more cramped. I cannot believe we won't be asked to review our possible guard wingmates while we're in Miramar."

Tessa nods. "That's what the communications we received indicated." She says. "At this time the IJN intends to do the majority of their standing-up process at Miramar, to take advantage of American equipment and base facilities there."

Kyou nods. "So we can expect a parade of navy, army, and airforce brass." She says. She shakes her head, and sips her coffee. "Regardless. It will be nice to be able to relax on the beach some."

You nod, agreeing, and look over at the wall clock. You've got a little over thirty minutes before you need to head down to the life support shop and get the rest of your gear on. You're not hungry yet- but, just like on a morning before a big game, you know you need to eat.

[] Let's go get chow, we wait any longer we'll have to do without.
[] Breakfast is bad luck- do either Tessa or Muninn know anything else about you heading back to the US?

>>4400938
>[X] Let's go get chow, we wait any longer we'll have to do without.

>>4400938
>[] Let's go get chow, we wait any longer we'll have to do without.

>>4400938
>[] Let's go get chow, we wait any longer we'll have to do without.

>>4400938
>[] Let's go get chow, we wait any longer we'll have to do without.

>>4400938
>[x] Let's go get chow, we wait any longer we'll have to do without.

I hope we run into Merlin.

I want to see her face when she sees Wendy's new glow.

>>4400946
Merlin, hell

Returning to Miramar means A) beach episode and B) opportunity for the entire family to dogpile them.

*Everyone's* going to know that Wendy finally got some McLovin'.

>>4400938
>[] Let's go get chow, we wait any longer we'll have to do without.

>>4400938
>[] Let's go get chow, we wait any longer we'll have to do without.

You're an idiot if you think Kyou is going to give you time to eat after the flight

>>4400938
>[x] Let's go get chow, we wait any longer we'll have to do without.

>>4400961
...Kyou's going to get bored and turn the in-flight refuelling on the trip home into some kind of weird sex game, isn't she?

Ok, votes called! This'll probably be our last update for the night!

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[x] Let's go get chow, we wait any longer we'll have to do without.

"Let's go grab chow." You say, standing up and downing the rest of your coffee- you'll probably get another cup in the mess, but for now it's enough to get you moving and shake all the last little bits of sleep loose.

Kyou nods, standing to follow you, and Wendy stands a second later, unable to finish her tea the same way you did your coffee- she brings it along with her as she follows you and Kyou down to the officer's mess.

"I do hope we didn't disturb Miss Wells." Wendy remarks as you make your way through the ship. You're not the only ones up and moving- even though they're not going to be directly over the landing beaches, the IJN will be putting in air strikes and providing CAP flights to the south, helping to isolate the area. The IJA has also been reinforcing as much as possible, and are planning to start a push either at the same time or a few hours after the landings, to split the PLA's response as much as possible.

"I doubt we would have." Kyou responds. "If anything I imagine she didn't return to the cabins until we were asleep anyway."

Wendy pauses, thinking about that, then nods. "I imagine you're quite right." She says. "I also imagine it shan't be much of a problem once we return to California."

Kyou shakes her head. "I don't think it will be." She says.

You hit the officer's mess about the same time as several other pilots- most of the aircrews aboard ship will be flying this morning, with a bare handful left aboard to cycle up for the fleet's CAP flights. aboard the other carrier, you know, there's a similar scene going on, and you imagine it's pretty much the same aboard the USN task force nearby. You briefly think about the marine grunts about to go ashore- while they're doing so under an incredible firepower umbrella, they're still going to be down there, on the ground, with more than a few guns pointed their direction. You shove the thought away quickly- maman always maintained it wasn't a good idea to worry about things like that, and focus on your job.

Kyou and Wendy both seem perfectly at ease though, talking about your prospective guard wingmate.

"California is just as good a place as any to meet her, I think." Wendy says to Kyou as you start listening to the conversation. "If for no other reason than it will be easier for us all to adjust to each other there, with fewer people attempting to intrude."

"I wouldn't be sure." Kyou says, looking over at you. "Morgan's family seems incredibly interested in his doings and the company he keeps."

[] Expect Maman. Sure as sure, she's gonna be around at least once.
[] I'm worried about my sisters appearing, but most of them should be at the front by then.

And that's going to be it for the night! sorry about that long delay there, I've been shooting for about an hour long update cycle all night, so that wasn't quite in. I'll work a little harder at it tomorrow night, and we're still angling for 1800 EST start times, even though I guess that's just about dinnertime here, haha.

Anyway, that's it for the evening. I'll be on a little while longer, but not too terrible much, I'm trying to not screw up my sleep pattern in the one week off of school here, haha! Otherwise gents, till tomorrow, Cheers!

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>>4401129
>[X] I'm worried about my sisters appearing, but most of them should be at the front by then.

>>4401133
Thanks for the run boss.

>>4401129
>[] Expect Maman. Sure as sure, she's gonna be around at least once.

Plus that means kyou will get to visit with her sister

Who has hopefully experienced the full glory of America.

And is probably plotting something absurd with Morgan's little sister

>>4401129
>[X] Expect Maman. Sure as sure, she's gonna be around at least once.

>>4401129
>[x] I'm worried about my sisters appearing, but most of them should be at the front by then.

We say this, but obviously Frank is going to have nothing better to do in his semi-retirement than to embarrass his son in front of his new girlfriend

>>4401129
>[] Expect Maman. Sure as sure, she's gonna be around at least once.
>[] I'm worried about my sisters appearing, but most of them should be at the front by then.

>>4401129
>[] Expect Maman. Sure as sure, she's gonna be around at least once.

>>4401129
>[] Expect Maman. Sure as sure, she's gonna be around at least once.

Doting cat-mother dotes

Ok gents, votes called!

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[x] Expect Maman. Sure as sure, she's gonna be around at least once.

You nod. "Expect Maman." You say, looking at the breakfast- Steak and eggs, predictably. The tradition started sometime in the martian war, you know, but it's long since spread everywhere- aircrews going into combat get steak and eggs. You're not sure how or why it started, though you're reasonably sure it came up at least once in flight school, there towards the end of advanced flight when you were about to go over to type training. "Sure as sure, she's gonna be around at least once."

"I do hope she won't mind our..." Wendy pauses, looking for the right word. "Entanglement?"

Kyou laughs. "Entanglement?"

Wendy shrugs. "It does all seem rather messy." She says, with a very faint smile.

[] Doubt it. Maman's been suggesting it for years.
[] Probably not. She doesn't really have room to talk.
[] Maybe. She could have just been joking the last ten years or so.

>>4402163
>[X] Doubt it. Maman's been suggesting it for years.

>>4402163
>[x] Doubt it. Maman's been suggesting it for years. Besides, She doesn't really have room to talk.

>>4402163
>[] Probably not. She doesn't really have room to talk.

CAT-SON IS CATTY (AND OBSERVANT)

>>4402163
>[X] Doubt it. Maman's been suggesting it for years.

>>4402163
>[] Doubt it. Maman's been suggesting it for years.

You fools, the Witching folk are going to want to know who else Maman suggested shacking up with.

THE MERLIN LUST WILL BE EXPOSED, AND KYOU WILL GET THE SCENT. SHE WILL *KILL US WITH NOOKIE*

>>4402163
>[x] Probably not. She doesn't really have room to talk.

>>4402190
She already knows

>>4402163
>[x] Doubt it. Maman's been suggesting it for years. Besides, She doesn't really have room to talk.

Ok, votes called!

>>4402199
>>4402190
Kyou Knows

Whether Wendy does or not is another matter.

>>4402163
>[X] Doubt it. Maman's been suggesting it for years.

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[x] Doubt it. Maman's been suggesting it for years. Besides, She doesn't really have room to talk.


You shake your head. "Doubt it." You say, slicing open an egg yolk to dip your steak in. "Maman's been suggesting it for years."

"S-she has?" Wendy asks, sounding shocked. "I can't imagine-"

You nod. "Yeah, for years. Probably since I turned eighteen." You say. "And besides, she doesn't really have room to talk anyway."

Kyou smiles at that. "Your mother's exploits are something of a popular rumor."

You shrug- her exploits, typically, weren't something she really let you and Liz know about, either. Occasionally there'd be a new boyfriend or girlfriend, but it wasn't an endless parade of them, and as you got older, they got less and less frequent. Personally you've always felt she just valued her freedom more than anything- and was attempting to get you to see things the same way. Of course, Maman's as calculating as they come, too, you know. You're proof of that.

"Well it is nice to know we shouldn't have to worry on that front." Wendy says.

"My family will have little to say." Kyou confidently declares. "It's well within my rights to form my immediate household however I decide, and tradition is well established on the subject."

"I hope Hohiro doesn't feel that way." You say. "Cass isn't the type to share."

Kyou shrugs. "If he were, he would be well inside his rights to do so as well. But I don't believe he is. My brother's physical frailty would prevent him from gaining much from a similar arrangement, and having met her, I imagine Cassiopeia is quite too much as is."

Wendy laughs at that, and even you have to crack a smile- Cass and Hohiro are a bit of an odd couple, and not one you'd have ever expected to see.

You finish breakfast fairly quickly, the three of you depositing your trays on the return counter and heading to the life support shop, where you pull your flight gear from the control cage and finish the process of getting ready for flight. For you it's more complicated than it is for the witches- you've got to pull on a G-suit, then a survival and rescue vest on overtop of that, then make sure they all fit correctly by cinching down the straps. Your helmet in the flight bag is last, with the bag also containing a hardcopy of the preflight checklists for Muninn. Mostly redundant, they're still a piece of required equipment- at least, according to the navy.

1/2

From there you head to the hangar. Most of the other stops you'd have made- places like the weather shop, intel shop, all of that- are rendered unnecessary by Muninn and Tessa, both of whom will be collecting data more or less constantly. By the time the Kaga knows it, you will too.

The hangar deck is much more empty than usual, with the fighters down here all being checked over by the crews and getting weapons uploaded. All save for a single tomcat that looks like it suffered pretty severe damage somewhere. The days of just tossing a bent bird overboard are long gone- the IJN model of the tomcats cost somewhere in the neighborhood of twenty-six million dollars apiece. It'll probably be rigged for a ferry flight- even if they have to fix the gear and flaps and manually lock the wings forward.
Kyou and Wendy split off as you do a walkaround inspection, checking the weapons fit to the mounted wing pylons and the open FAST pack doors before crawling underneath to take a look at the weapons on their rotary racks in the centerline bays. Everything looks in order, you think- you're just finishing up as the crew comes up with one of the small aircraft tugs used in the hangar, ready to move Muninn and Tessa to the elevator.

It's not quite dawn as you pull level with the flight deck, just in time to see the search and rescue helicopter lifting off the deck. The plane guard is already up, of course- you're not the first aircraft off the deck today, and they'll be there most of the morning as the sorties launch.

Kyou starts up the ladder as you do a last-second check of things. Nothing's out of order, though, and you head up the ladder shortly after her.

Once you're in and settled, with your helmet on and the MIU link active, Muninn pops up. "Our primary ingress route will be from the east of Wonsan." She says, pulling up a map on the MFD and highlighting it. "We can go in High or Low, but our timing is more or less fixed to be arriving just as the landing craft are on their final thousand yards."

"If we go in high, we'll be in better position to engage any hostile aircraft." Wendy points out.

"But going in low would make a much more direct statement of our presence." Kyou responds. "And it gives us a better chance to engage any last second threats to the landing troops."

[] We'll go in high to deal with any Chinese aircraft.
[] We'll go in low to deal with any beach defenses they've got in place.

>>4402376
>[X] We'll go in high to deal with any Chinese aircraft.

>>4402376
>[x] We'll go in high to deal with any Chinese aircraft.

Air is what we loaded for and our primary business.

We'll address ground threats only as requested.

>>4402376
>[X] We'll go in high to deal with any Chinese aircraft.
We're already loaded for air-to-air action.

>>4402376
> [] We'll go in high to deal with any Chinese aircraft.

Everyone will be *thoroughly* aware of our presence once the entire enemy air force explodes

>>4402376
>[] We'll go in high to deal with any Chinese aircraft.

>>4402376
>Wendy goes high to while we swing low. Stay close enough to quick react incase the other is needed.

>>4402376
>[x] We'll go in low to deal with any beach defenses they've got in place.

Ok, votes called!

I'm sorry gents, I'm going to have to call it here. IDK what's up, but all of a sudden I'm lightheaded as hell and kinda sick. I'm gonna take some asprin, down a gatorade, and lay down for a bit, hopefully it'll go away. We'll run a make up day to cover for it.

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>>4402468
Alrighty, thanks for the run boss.

>>4402468
no worries bro, take care of yourself, don't go dying from the rona

>>4402468

F

>>4402474
>>4402475
>>4402549

Sorry about that, gents. IDK what that was, though I do have an idea. Pretty sure I've got some kinda food allergy- used to be a pizza place that I'd order from that the same thing would happen. Not sure what it is, but it's brutal enough that I can't really ignore it when it happens.

>>4403219

Might wanna get that looked at ghost.

Don't want to one day hear you choked to death in the back of a Domino's.

We lose too many good guys that way.

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[x] We'll go in high to deal with any Chinese aircraft.

"We'll go in high." You say, hitting the canopy toggle. The clear synthetic drops into place with a slight hydraulic hiss, and then your ears pop as Muninn pressurizes the cockpit against the seals. Kyou, behind you, is running the usual communications checks- making sure the backup radio systems function, checking the availability of the data network, and works to tie you in with the USN datanet.

Meanwhile, you speed-review the list of the forces tasked to the landings. Besides the USMC Lightning squadron, there's a pair of navy tomcat squadrons and a navy lightning squadron, plus marine Cobra helicopters in the air. The actual landing forces have an array of equipment- two GPACs, four LCACs, and of course the marine's own amphibious fighting vehicles. They'll be deploying from multiple assault ships in the first wave, with the equivalent of an MEU going ashore at first, with the remainder following on.

Kyou completes the checks as you check the other wyverns assigned to the landing. Wyvern team Invincible- that'd be Lotus' crew- has the actual landing beaches, and are assigned to close support tasks. They're loaded mostly air-to-ground, you note, though that hardly surprises you. Danielle's team is here too- Wyvern team Raider. They're tasked with SEAD work again, with their aircraft carrying the wyvern EWAR package and a brace of AGM-88Es. Wyvernn teams Corsair and Revenge are also both assigned to the landing, though they won't be in the air till later- they'll be replacing you and Invincible on station and acting as the immediate reserve force.

Kyou gets your attention with a quick mic check, and you go through the startup procedures, with both jets starting up smoothly and settling near their cutoff/idle power setting without any trouble. The chief makes her own final check before backing off to where you can see her and the assistant chief, both holding up a double handful of removed weapon streamers. "I count seventy. Seven-Zero." You announce over the ground communications line, and the chief nods, handing the rest of the streamers off before saluting as you start your roll.

Wendy lines up on the starboard catapult while you roll to the portside cat, following the crew's signals before bumping to a stop on the hash mark. "We've got an audience." Kyou calls. "Looks like most of the ship's command staff is on the observation platform."

1/2

"Not everyday you get to launch the next Saito landing strike." Wendy remarks.

"I don't see this as being quite that emotional." Kyou says. "We're hardly beginning the liberation of the home islands. Merely setting things right for our allies."

You don't join in, instead watching the shooter go through his dance- they'll send Wendy first, of course, but only by a second or two- the turbulence she'll throw is far too little to be worried about, especially in a wyvern.

"The marines' first wave is loaded now." Muninn notes. "Aircraft are launching from the task force ships."

You save your response as the crew sends Wendy off the deck, her light fighter starting to rotate up as the nosewheel leaves the deck. You have just enough time to return your shooter's salute before you're gone too, the sudden acceleration shoving you back into the ejection seat. You pull the nose of your fighter up and execute a pair of rolls to bleed energy off, cutting the throttles back out of the afterburner regime. "Gear is up and locked, board is green." Kyou calls. "I have full connectivity on all elements, weapons are stowed and safed. Master arm is off."

"Two." Wendy responds, settling into position off your wing. "This is all rather exciting, isn't it?"

Kyou laughs. "It's a good opportunity to show them what we can do on the attack." She responds. "A pity we're due to cycle out as soon as we're done."

"But it's an excellent chance to do work we know needs to be done." Wendy points out. "And I'm quite looking forward to being on solid ground again."

"What about you, Morgan?" Kyou asks. "Are you, too, looking forward to returning to the US? Perhaps we should examine the possibility of getting land there, as well, if we will be spending so much time there."

[] One thing at a time.
[] It'll be nice to get stateside for a bit, yeah.
[] I'd rather stay at the front.

>>4403764
>[X] It'll be nice to get stateside for a bit, yeah.

>>4403764
>[x] One thing at a time.

Jesus Kyou, *Slow Down*

>>4403764
>[] It'll be nice to get stateside for a bit, yeah. I hear Montana's nice.

>>4403764
>[X] It'll be nice to get stateside for a bit, yeah

>>4403764
>[] It'll be nice to get stateside for a bit, yeah.

Might need to find a house and land package that comes with, like, a dozen bedrooms, if Frank's place is any indication

>>4403764
>[x] It'll be nice to get stateside for a bit, yeah.

ok, votes called!

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[x] It'll be nice to get stateside for a bit, yeah.

"It'll be nice to get stateside for a bit, yeah." You admit. Mostly, you think, it's the food- you're getting sick of IJN chow. Healthy it might be, at least, for a given value of the word, and you're sure it's far from the worst food ever, but it's not as good as you can make, you know.

"There they are." Muninn says, cutting into the conversation. She highlights the initial wave of landing craft, led by two GPACs- Gun platform, Air cushion. Behind them comes the rest of the landing force, the Cobra attack helicopters above and behind them. Further back still you can see the Lightnings of VMFA-235 lifting off the deck of their ship, as well as the finger-four formations of navy Tomcats and lightnings. You bank onto heading to their south, taking a slightly different vector than they are- you'll do an initial sweep of the airspace above the beach, of course, but there doesn't seem to be anything there- the airspace is being monitored both by a hawkeye and, of course, the immensely powerful radar sets aboard the AEGIS cruiser Shiloh and the destroyers Higgins, O'kane, and Daniel Inouye. Their VLS cells aren't available to you- yet- but they're close enough to provide SAM coverage over the beach with their longest ranged systems. Of course, there's also the airforce jets on the way- a pair of B-1Rs, callsign 'Quickdraw' loaded with over a hundred AIM-120Ds. Each.

You streak over the beach at angels fifteen, noting how empty it seems- the beach selected is lined with hotels and tourist accommodations, and is less than a mile from the airport. The airport, too, looks deserted as you look down at it- there's a few aircraft, no doubt abandoned hulks- but hardly any activity.

The relative quietness of the airspace lets you watch a modern marine landing in it's fullness- the buildings, you note, apparently weren't entirely abandoned, as rocket trials slash down from some of them at the pair of GPACs as they thunder ashore. One of them even finds it's mark, a small explosion blossoming against the armored hull of the gun platform. That was a mistake, you think somewhat sardonically as the GPAC returns fire with two of it's four podded GAU-12 cannons, sending 80 30mm HEI shells into the offending building a second.

1/2

Muninn tallies the small arms return fire as the two GPACs devastate the forward defenses with their cannons. Built on a heavily modified LCAC platform, the gun platforms were an outgrowth of lessons learned in '89, especially in Iceland, where the marine corps determined that utterly overwhelming firepower was necessary in the opening minutes of an opposed landing. They'd acquired the airforce's entire stock of 30mm gun pods and mated them to the LCAC platform, uparmoring it as much as possible and removing the ability to carry troops or equipment, then loaded it with ammunition. The resulting GPAC, you have to admit, is plenty impressive- an unbroken hurricane of shells pours from the two hovercraft as the LCACs arrive to disgorge a platoon of Abrams while the AAVs crawl ashore.

You push inland to take up station about ten miles further in as the Marines clear the beach, the LCACs backing out for their next run as the marine helos arrive. There's more defenses in the town, it looks like- Muninn and Kyou are both sweeping it with your powerful sensor suite as you cross overhead, marking Chinese-built MBTs and IFVs in hidden fighting positions. Not much antiaircraft, though, you note- a few antiquated type 85 guns are all you see.

"It is eerily poorly defended." Kyou remarks. "Rather disappointing."

"I can't imagine they intend to simply surrender the landing beach with this little effort." Wendy says. "There must be something."

"We can always relay a call to Lovelace." Tessa notes. "While Muninn won't approve of her boyfriend being here, I'm sure his help would be welcome."

"I'd really rather not." Muninn says. "He's where he belongs. Somewhere not here. Besides, it's going to be hard for him to relay wirelessley, especially if we have to engage while he's doing it."

[] Call him up. He's the best tool we've got for this kind of thing.
[] Don't worry about it. He's probably already busy in the AO anyway.

>>4403943
>[X] Call him up. He's the best tool we've got for this kind of thing.

>>4403943
>[] Don't worry about it. He's probably already busy in the AO anyway.

>>4403943
>[x] Don't worry about it. He's probably already busy in the AO anyway.

The idea of Lovelace actually being Muninn's boyfriend is intensely amusing to me.

>>4403943
>[] Don't worry about it. He's probably already busy in the AO anyway.

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>>4403943
>[x] Call him up. He's the best tool we've got for this kind of thing.

ok, votes called!

>>4403943
>[] Call him up. He's the best tool we've got for this kind of thing.

It's nukes, isn't it? We're going to get nuked.

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[x] Don't worry about it. He's probably already busy in the AO anyway.

"Don't worry about it." You respond- feeling a surge of relief from Muninn as you do. "He's probably already busy in the AO anyway."

"Most likely." Tessa admits. "Though it would be quite nice to be able to monitor their command networks. The mere fact that there are no aircraft here is somewhat disturbing."

"It's possible the preliminary sorties did their job." Kyou points out, sounding only a little disappointed. "Even the PLAAF's reserves of pilots and aircraft aren't bottomless."

You loiter for about another minute, watching as first the marine lightnings arrive along with the rest of the wyverns- you briefly think about Danielle and her crew, who are probably about to be bored to tears waiting for surface threats. "Radar contact!" Kyou calls, snapping you back to now. You look down at the MFD- the contact is flying high, but it's evaded contact till now- it's only about eighty miles out from you, coming in from the north west. That means it's probably out of china- and the fact that it's managed to stay off radar till now indicates it's probably either got good countermeasures, given all the radars covering this airspace, or there's a witch aboard.

Or both.

"Attempting to identify." Muninn remarks as the radar picks up at least a dozen additional contacts.

"They're slow." Kyou remarks as you pull around to intercept them well away from the landing beach. "Subsonic. And far too high. There's something wrong, here."

"I feel as if I should recognize this." Wendy says. "Perhaps they have a version of the Soviet flying carriers?"

"It's massive enough." Muninn says. "But the infrared doesn't match a jet-powered craft."

[] It's still our responsibility. We're engaging.
[] There's something strange here. Punch a call back to the Kaga, get Merlin on net.

>>4404027
>[X] There's something strange here. Punch a call back to the Kaga, get Merlin on net.

>>4404027
>[x] There's something strange here. Punch a call back to the Kaga, get Merlin on net.

Oh Boy here we go

>>4404027
[X] It's still our responsibility. We're engaging.

Let's get some visuals on this so we have the most info possible to maybe give to Merlin in a call later.

>>4404027
>[] It's still our responsibility. We're engaging.

>>4404027
>[x] There's something strange here. Punch a call back to the Kaga, get Merlin on net.

>>4404027
>[x] There's something strange here. Punch a call back to the Kaga, get Merlin on net.

More info is always good. Last time Frank went haring off after unknown contacts he almost got nuked for his troubles.

ok, votes called! This'll probably be the last update for the night!

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[x] There's something strange here. Punch a call back to the Kaga, get Merlin on net.

You frown. At their closure rate, you've got a few minutes- and you're not even sure they know you're here yet. There's been no radar warning, and while that doesn't mean anything- forward-looking IRST would be able to pick you out, as would any number of passive systems- it does mean you've got some options. "There's something strange here." You say, half to yourself. "Punch a call back to the Kaga, get Merlin on the net."

Kyou's response is muted, but a second later Merlin's voice comes across the radio. "What do you have?" She asks- straight to business.

"Unknown contact." Kyou responds- it's her job to handle the air to ground communications, including in this case. "Data package on it's way to you now."

There's a pause as it's transmitted over the net, while you keep one eye on the oncoming group- they're still closing, and still subsonic. As high and slow as they are there's got to be something else- you'd almost bet on a larger, faster group coming in low, among the mountains.

"That's-" Merlin pauses. "I'm not sure." She says.

You blink, but it's Kyou that speaks. "What?"

"If memory serves, that's close to the same radar and infrared signature we saw over megalith." Merlin says. "But it's not the same, this looks different, too."

"It's a soviet dead man's hand aircraft?" Kyou asks.

"If I had to guess, I'd say yes, but I'm not sure." Merlin responds. "If you engage, be careful. I'll have the air force scramble the B-1Ws as well."

"If we don't engage, they'll have free reign over the landing zones." Kyou says. "We don't have a choice."

"If it is another one of those.... things" Wendy says, "We're ill equipped to handle it."

"We have plenty of firepower." Kyou responds. "And no one else has any more significant weaponry than we do. It is our duty to engage."

"How long till those Whiskey lancers are on station?" You ask.

"At least ten minutes." Kyou responds. "If they scramble now, and vector in at maximum sprint speed, maybe slightly less."

"At their rate of closure, they'll be able to see us in about four, and over the landing beaches in eight." Wendy warns.

[] We can slow them down with what we've got on board, at least.
[] There's no point in engaging if we can't kill them.

And that's it for the night!

Remember we're running a make-up day tomorrow to cover for me having to duck out early last night, but IDK how long it'll be. Guess it'll depend on if we get to a good stopping point or not, haha.

Anyway, that's it from me though, so till tomorrow gents, cheers!

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>>4404117
>[X] We can slow them down with what we've got on board, at least.

>>4404118
Thanks for the run boss.

>>4404117
>[x] We can slow them down with what we've got on board, at least.

Then we have to hold the line.

And whoever was antsy about the railguns being pushed hard was right, it seems.

>>4404117
>[x] We can slow them down with what we've got on board, at least.

Let's see if we can't make the B-1W's jobs easier.

>>4404117
>[] We can slow them down with what we've got on board, at least.

I don't think there was ever any question of us engaging or not, ghost

This shit (and delicious soft Wendy) is what we're here for

>>4404117
>[x] We can slow them down with what we've got on board, at least.

>>4404117
>[x] We can slow them down with what we've got on board, at least.
While the Forties aren't pure EMLs I wager with Kyou boosting them they'll be able to do some damage

>>4404118
Thanks for the run Ghost!

Never not taking the EML forever now got it.

>>4404150
And if it's not too late it might be a good idea to give Lovelace a call and see if he can fuck with it.

>>4404152
agreed.
>>4404117
[] We can slow them down with what we've got on board, at least.
wonder if we can distract it? keep it busy trying to pop us long enough that the Cavalry can arrive?

>>4404117
>[] We can slow them down with what we've got on board, at least.

Ok, votes called!

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[x] We can slow them down with what we've got on board, at least.

"We can slow them down with what we've got on board." You say, pulling Muninn into a hard, climbing turn, trying to get above the target group.

Wendy merely clicks her mic once, staying glued to your wing as you close on the Chinese group.

At about thirty miles their radars suddenly light up- which is more than enough for Muninn and Tessa to confirm that the smaller contacts are a squadron of early-model Fandances. That's unusual as well- early models are known for not being a match at all for Wyverns, and while a full squadron of them is a threat, it's certainly not something you'd need to be worried about.

The bigger threat is the Dead man's hand- there's no real name or designation for the Soviet made scorched earth aircraft, and up till now there wasn't even any proof that more than the one your father and Merlin shot down over Megalith wasn't the only one of it's kind. Plenty of circumstantial evidence, of course, but no hard proof till now. "Muninn, pull up any information you can on the fight over Megalith." You order, reviewing the important points.

It's heavily shielded, heavily armored, and the one your father faced had a search and fire control radar that was able to pick him up over a hundred ten miles away- and engage with hypervelocity 50mm cannon at that range as well. Closer in it mounted dozens of soviet 14.7mm guns, most of them twin turrets located along the flanks and rear of the aircraft. A minor threat at best to you, you know.

Still, the fact that this thing only just now is starting to wake up, as you cross within twenty miles, is a tell that something's wrong with it- by now it should be engaging already.

"Sir Morgan, you remember-"

"It has witches aboard to power it's weapons and defenses. I know, Wendy." You say, thinking. There's not much known about the systems- and the three witches in the one over Megalith disappeared shortly after the end of the war into the depths of the soviet witch coven. You don't see any options though- you have to destroy this thing before it gets over the landing beaches.

"I may be able to help." Tessa says. "Our intrusion suites aren't nearly as comprehensive as Lovelace's, of course, but the control AI aboard those craft is notoriously simplistic. If an opening presents itself, it may be possible to hijack the craft and redirect it to a landing site of our choice."

"Should probably leave that to me." Muninn says. "I've got the spare cores for it, you don't."

[] If we get an opening, but don't go for it without me confirming.
[] As soon as you see an opening, go for it.
[] No, I need your attention here.

>>4405197
>[X] As soon as you see an opening, go for it.

>>4405197
>[x] As soon as you see an opening, go for it.

Let the bird work

>>4405197
>[x] As soon as you see an opening, go for it.

>>4405197
>[] As soon as you see an opening, go for it.

Ok, votes called!

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[x] As soon as you see an opening, go for it.

"As soon as you see an opening, go for it." You order. Both AIs confirm- working in tandem, the two of them have enough processing power between them to easily class as one of the handful of super AIs- like Lovelace. You're pretty sure, though, that whatever his primary processors are, they're miles ahead of even the units buried in the Wyvern.

"The escorts are dropping back. Cowards." Kyou calls at the same time multiple contacts begin to separate from the corpsebird- You'll have to think up a better name later, but that's what you're calling it for now. Kyou calls the warning as they begin to arrow in towards you, the massive aircraft plowing on, seemingly oblivious to your presence.
You make about two dozen drones as they push into the merge- Muninn rapidly attempting to build a look at them. None of them is supersonic, at least not yet, and based on their size, neither AI thinks they're capable of it. They're clearly also very shortrange drones, which explains the massive mothership, though you'd have thought that it would have carried more drones.

Still, there's enough of them that it's impossible to evade all of them- Kyou's shield flares to life like a miniature sun as Wendy takes out two of the drones instantly, breaking away to attack them independently. "This is their answer to us?" Kyou asks, sounding disgusted. "This is hardly worthy of our attention."

"My apOlogiES, Little DraGoN" A thick, evil voice says in your head. "nOT evEryThiNG is aS it SeeMS" And a blinding pain shoots through your skull. Distantly, You can hear Kyou and Wendy both under a similar attack.

And that's it for the week! I know it's cutting a bit early, but with this just being a make-up day, I figured we just needed to get to where we were gonna cut it off anyway, haha! Besides, I didn't want to end us in the middle of things...

Anyway gents, as usual I'll be around to field any questions or comments over the weekend and on till next thread, but otherwise, till then, cheers!

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>>4405364
Thanks for the run boss.

>>4405364
Thanks for the run Ghost!

Sneaky Chinese shitters.

>>4405364
thanks for running

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Alright gents, sorry about the late start! Ended up sleeping through my alarm this morning, so I missed class, haha... ah, getting old is hell. Oh well!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

It feels almost like someone or something is hammering a pair of railroad spikes in through your temples- it's bad enough it causes your eyes to water and your vision to blur out. You can feel your heart rate spike hard as a bolt of panic runs through you- an emotion as unwelcome as it is unfamiliar.

It proves somewhat... slippery though, as you attempt to clamp down on it and concentrate on flying and fighting your aircraft, almost like something else is trying to prevent you from doing so. Exactly like that, in fact.

You've still got enough presence of mind- more than enough, really, to pull Muninn around in an evasive break, getting yourself and your fighter away from the gunsights of the drones. Kyou's shield is still out there, but it's guttering and flickering like a dying star- she's facing the same sort of mental attack you are.

You're fortunate, you think, in that you've been hurt worse- you played the last ten minutes of a state championship game with a concussion, a couple of snapped ribs, and three broken fingers on your left hand. If the backup QB- a friend of yours- hadn't been carried off the field after having both knees blown out of socket, you'd have never come back in, but, you felt, you had to- and you'd be able to recover over the weekend. You've heard it said that kids like you- children of witches- have a much higher pain tolerance in general, and a different take on what is and isn't a major injury. It changes your outlook on life when mommy really can make it all better with a kiss. In the event, you lost- giving up an interception that turned into a field goal in the last four minutes that your team never was able to recover from, and you spent the better part of the next week doing homework from your bed, sipping tea and listening to classic rock on 95.7 out of New Orleans.

Well, listening to that and Maman tell you how stupid that was- she can fix injuries, but not you getting your fool self killed over a game. At least she'd known to blame you, and not your coach, who knew you were hurt, but not how bad. You'd managed to hide it pretty well, you think.

Out beyond your own head, you can feel panic and confusion from Kyou and, very vaguely- much more faintly than you should- Wendy. That worries you a little- a bit of doubt that suddenly blossoms into an almost overwhelming need to check on your wingmate through whatever means you can. You quell it by reminding yourself she's a vet- one of the best to come out of the 89 war, and you have your own problems.

[] You're Brigitte Laroux's son- Calm, intelligent, and lethal to a fault.
[] You're Frank Bishop's son- Instinctual, loyal, and utterly deadly in your element.

>>4410972
>[X] You're Brigitte Laroux's son- Calm, intelligent, and lethal to a fault.

>>4410972
>[] You're Brigitte Laroux's son- Calm, intelligent, and lethal to a fault.

>>4410972
>[] You're Brigitte Laroux's son- Calm, intelligent, and lethal to a fault.

PILOT USES CAT MODE! IT'S SUPER EFFECTIVE!

>>4410972
>You're Brigitte Laroux's son- Calm, intelligent, and lethal to a fault.

>>4410972
>[x] You're Frank Bishop's son- Instinctual, loyal, and utterly deadly in your element.

>>4410972
>[X] You're Brigitte Laroux's son- Calm, intelligent, and lethal to a fault.

ok, votes called!

>>4410972
>[x] You're Brigitte Laroux's son- Calm, intelligent, and lethal to a fault.

Cat

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[x] You're Brigitte Laroux's son- Calm, intelligent, and lethal to a fault.

First, you tell yourself through thoughts that are a little muddled and confused, you need to get a handle on the panic that's sliding it's way through your skull. That it's an attack is a given- Muninn, while busy, has still given you that information. It's enough to work with, anyway.

It does seem easier to clamp down on as the pain starts to fade, seeming to fall away from your head as your vision returns to normal. Blinking away the water in your eyes, you evade one of the Chinese UCAVs that had gone head-to-head with you, rolling over the top and noting that Kyou's shield- weak though it may seem right now- is still easily able to absorb the fire coming from the drone.

The panic you felt, briefly, seems to want to re-assert itself, but it's unable to- panic, you know, is worse than useless- it gets people hurt and killed by driving them to do stupid things. In all things, calm must win out. You're also smart enough to know that Muninn's helping guide the aircraft, and while she does have authority, she doesn't have enough to override your control inputs. It doesn't start to fade like it should after you've got it locked down, but you can afford to ignore it for a while now.

Kyou starts improving, too, you know- though your contact with Wendy is still frustratingly weak, you know she's at least alive, and Tessa is still functional. You can still see her, of course- she's defensive, but very clearly still fighting, and the count of drones is a bit shorter than you remember it being- it looks like she's gotten at least one more. Of course, above you, the corpsebird plods on, seeming to be almost comically slow.

1/2

"I've got it." Muninn intones as the last of the pain flees your skull and the panic you'd just gotten under control dies a whimpering death. "Bastard intrusion AI-" She appears on one of the MFDs in your cockpit. "That was an intrusion and disruption AI." She says. "Tessa and I have had to shut down a lot of outside communications links for the time being. It's relaying off the corpsebird."

"That was incredibly unpleasant." Kyou says, sounding a little out of breath. "Is Wendy alright?"

"Tessa is dealing with the intrusion in the MIU while I'm launching my own attack." Muninn responds, smiling viciously. "It wasn't ready for two AIs, let alone for me to have twice the computing power of my siblings."

You're distracted momentarily by one of the drones diving in at you- and plowing right into Kyou's shield, which reforms a solid, angry crimson. It simply vaporizes against the wall of energy- there's not even debris left. They're not coordinated at all, you notice- that's got to be Muninn's doing.

"The AI also controlled the drones." Muninn confirms. "Since I've launched a counterattack, it's having to spend all of it's efforts dealing with that. "

"Are you able to influence the corpsebird at all?" Kyou asks.

"I might be, but I'd like to disable the AI first." Muninn says. "It's being piggybacked, like Lovelace sometimes does with us. I'm trying to disable it's communications links back to it's source and- " She blinks.

"And what?"

"And it's done." She says. "The drones are on automatic, but we'll have to disable the corpsebird manually. I can't do anything, the control AI in there isn't linked to any kind of communications systems I can get at. It's defensive systems are going to be live, now, too-"

She's interrupted by Kyou's shields absorbing a burst of fire from the massive ship- you can see the forward turrets engaging targets out over the landing beaches as well. You hope it's not successful, but you don't have the datanet.

[] Leave Wendy to handle the drones- you've gotta hit the corpsebird now
[] Help Wendy finish the drones first- they'll go quick and then you can both hit the corpsebird.

>>4411158
>[X] Leave Wendy to handle the drones- you've gotta hit the corpsebird now

I mean, the most lethal creature in the world is a small wild cat from South Africa so this ain't bad.

>>4411158
>[X] Leave Wendy to handle the drones- you've gotta hit the corpsebird now

>>4411158
>[x] Leave Wendy to handle the drones- you've gotta hit the corpsebird now

Time is of the essence. Lots of smaller targets are more suited to wendy's lighter guns anyway.

>>4411158
>[x] Help Wendy finish the drones first- they'll go quick and then you can both hit the corpsebird.

>>4411158
>[] Leave Wendy to handle the drones- you've gotta hit the corpsebird now

>>4411158
>[] Help Wendy finish the drones first- they'll go quick and then you can both hit the corpsebird.

CLEAN YOUR PLATE

Ok, votes called!

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[x] Leave Wendy to handle the drones- you've gotta hit the corpsebird now

"We're going after the corpsebird." You call, breaking away from the remaining drones and leaving them to Wendy. Muninn probably relayed the call- Wendy doesn't try to follow you up, instead destroying another drone with her machine guns.

As you close, the corpsebird definitely takes more interest in you- you can see the massive main turrets slowly turning to bring their guns to bear. Muninn shudders as you pass through the wake turbulence of the massive aircraft, it's six engine pods beating the air into a frenzy.

The rear two turrets open fire at the same time, paired cannons spitting four streams of tracers at you- though they're too close, and their ability to track you is too limited for them to be much of a threat. Still, they don't look like what Muninn is telling you they should. These look more like AK-630 mounts than the original 50mm weapons the craft had- capable and dangerous CIWS, for sure, but not the original weapons for sure. You're even close enough for the point defense mounts- which are capable of tracking you- to engage. Their bullets patter off Kyou's shield like rain, and pose her about as much of a threat.

"That thing is very heavily armored." Kyou warns. "And it's wing roots and engine pods are covered by multiple point defense emplacements."

You frown, looking it over. The thing is clearly designed to take pretty horrific damage and keep flying- knocking out a couple engines won't do it, and it's got very clear armor on all six engine pods. The wing roots look more vulnerable- but you're not sure even dropping a wing is going to kill this thing.

[] Go for the engines on one side- it'll slow down if it loses them, at least.
[] Try to knock off a wing- it can't have that much reserve lift.
[] Hit it as best you can all over- you already know you probably can't kill it, but you can hurt it at least.

That's gonna be it from me for the night! After sleeping in so badly this morning I'm trying to rack out earlier- preferably before midnight, haha.

I'll be around a little, but probably not too much before the run tomorrow. So till then, gents, Cheers!

>>4411345
>[X] Try to knock off a wing- it can't have that much reserve lift.

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>>4411347
Thanks for the run boss.

>>4411345
>[] Try to knock off a wing- it can't have that much reserve lift.

>>4411345
>[] Try to knock off a wing- it can't have that much reserve lift.

>>4411345
>Try to knock off a wing- it can't have that much reserve lift.

>>4411345
>[] Try to knock off a wing- it can't have that much reserve lift.

CAT INSTINCTS ACTIVATE!

>>4411345
Are the engines wing-mounted or in the fuselage?

>>4411345
>[x] Try to knock off a wing- it can't have that much reserve lift.

Lesson learned, EML is coming with us on all our sorties. Wendy will have to pick up the slack on dealing with fighters.

>>4411449
Yep. That's my take away too. EML. Always and forever.

>>4411345
>[] Try to knock off a wing- it can't have that much reserve lift.
thanks for running ghost

>>4411449
EML True Waifu.

>>4411345
>[x] Go for the engines on one side- it'll slow down if it loses them, at least.

Ok, votes called!

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[x] Try to knock off a wing- it can't have that much reserve lift.

You have to try something, of course- even if the intrusion AI is gone, that thing is still more than capable of wreaking havoc on the landing marines. Going after the engine pods is a nonstarter you realize- you'd have to expend a lot of ammunition just to get through the armor, assuming Muninn's projections are correct. Even then, you're not sure you can disable one- you're assuming, based on what you know, that they're probably incredibly durable, and probably can absorb a lot of punishment before failing.

That leaves the wing root as your only real hope of disabling the thing before it gets in place over the landing beaches. Even then, by the looks of it, it'll be able to stay airborne- or, at least, it's not just going to fall out of the sky completely uncontrolled. Still, though, that area is defended by multiple turrets and the armor there looks heavy as well- you're starting to regret not bringing the EML.

"I cannot tell how heavy that aircraft's armor is." Kyou says- you can practically feel her frowning through the link at that- "But I believe if we were to attack using our armor penetrating rounds, we should be able to defeat it. Regardless of how thick it is, it appears to be little more than armor steel."

"That brings us in range of the defensive guns, though." Muninn points out. "If we volley the pythons on the rails and FAST packs, it should be enough."

"Assuming the armor is no thicker than a few inches or of poor quality." Kyou responds. "The defensive guns are of no concern, I can easily defeat them."

"Either way, we have to make the call now." Muninn responds. "The B-1W flight won't be on station for another four minutes."

[] attack with guns- Kyou's right, it's your best chance.
[] Attack with missiles- Muninn's right, you're still a little too shaky to be getting in close.

Gents, that's is gonna be our only update tonight. Long story short I slept very, VERY badly last night, to include a couple times where I'm pretty sure I puked a little in my sleep. Fun times. (not really) We'll run on Friday if necessary to make up for it. You can probably tell by how long that update took that I'm pretty out of it.

I'll be around a little, but right now I'm going to go lay down and see about catching up on my backlog a bit. I have to be up in the morning still, haha.

anyway, till tomorrow gents, cheers!

>>4412608
>attack with guns- Kyou's right, it's your best chance.

>>4412608
>[] attack with guns- Kyou's right, it's your best chance.
Kyou boostin' the guns I assume.

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>>4412608
>[X] attack with guns- Kyou's right, it's your best chance.

>>4412612
Thanks for the run boss.

>>4412608
>[x] Por Que No Los Dos?

Volley all the missiles while lining up for the gun run.

Maximum damage.

>>4412608
>>4412644
This isn't actually a bad idea. I'll go for this if they're not mutually exclusive. If they are, my vote for the gun run stands, only thing we have that might do the damage necessary.

>>4412608
>>4412644

+1 for both

maybe dump leftover missiles into it on the way out of the run too, exploit any holes the cannons have opened up in the armour, BTech-style

>>4412608
>[] attack with guns- Kyou's right, it's your best chance.
>[] Attack with missiles- Muninn's right, you're still a little too shaky to be getting in close.
This is the point where we go "Fire EVERYTHING"

>>4412608
>[x] attack with guns- Kyou's right, it's your best chance.
Following up with missiles like >>4412702 points out might be a good idea if the guns aren't enough.

Gonna be a bit of a late start this evening, gents. Maus is in town for the weekend so we're gonna hang out a bit. I swear we'll get this thread finished this week though!

>>4414145
Tell him to finish Tonk Witches

Ok, I'm home, haha. We'll get at least one update in tonight! Sorry to do this to you guys after last night!

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[x] Attack with both- Guns, then missiles.

Assessing the threat, you realize that even if you have to expend every round in the airframe to do it, knocking this thing out of the sky takes priority. There's no way the alert Wyvern teams haven't been scrambled, you realize- you're still semi-dark and off the datanet, so there's a very real chance they think you've been downed. Muninn can't exactly reestablish communications links right now, either- until he can confirm that hostile AI isn't a threat anymore, which won't happen till either the corpsebird is down or you've knocked out the relay antennas. Since you don't actually know where the antennas are, that really just leaves you one option.

"We're going in with guns first." You decree, pulling Muninn up and through a turn- you'll have to attack the corpsebird from below, you know. It's simply got too many defensive weapons on it's dorsal surface to really get at it from that angle.

"Tessa's reporting that they're cleaning up the remainder of the drones, but the escorts have left the area." Muninn calls.

"That's one less thing to bother us, then." Kyou states. "I am prepared."

The massive aircraft seems to know what your plan is- both the ventral turrets that have an angle on you are already turned in your direction, and they begin firing at almost the same time as you. From here, though, their shells- 30mm, Muninn says, confirming they're either AK-630s or copies of the Soviet CIWS system- barely have the range to hit you, and most of them fall behind as the corpsebird's tracking software struggles to keep them pointed at you. That's an interesting weakness, and one you file away mentally. It makes sense, of course- those turrets were probably designed to trade fire with martian dreadnoughts, not track fast-moving fighters like yours.

Your own rounds, very evidently heavily enhanced by Kyou's magic as they head downrange, manifest as two streams of almost ultraviolet-colored fireballs, their dispersion cones spreading them out along the target area. A few go into the fuselage, and a few others deviate into the inside engine, though it appears to not notice the cannon shells. You're doing damage, though- a change in the airflow behind it indicates the massive propellers have had to change pitch, and a small puff of black smoke escapes from the exhausts as it changes power settings.

1/2

You have to abort the run before you get too close, with the turrets seeming to draw on bottomless magazines. You don't think you did much damage, honestly- even with Kyou's magic boosting them, your shells were just too small to make much difference.

Switching to missiles with a thought, it proves trivially easy to lock on- the corpsebird, for all it's impressive defenses, was apparently never fit with electronic countermeasures of any sort. Muninn's reset their seekers on the fly, allowing them to operate in a beam-riding mode made possible by the distributed sensor packages in your airframe.

"Hathcock flight reports two minutes to engagement range." Muninn says. "I'll be guiding the shots, I can't release our communications lockdown."

"We will have it dead by then." Kyou states, confidently.

You're not so sure- but, at a little over five miles, you begin volleying missiles out. Again, Kyou's enhancement to them is more than apparent, each missile's rocket motor appearing as a painfully bright star in the sky as each missile powers away from your fighter at much higher speeds and acceleration rates than they ought to. The defensive guns on the corpsebird don't have much chance to engage before the targeted area is enveloped in detonations, missiles slamming into the engine pod and wing all along it's length.

"We're red on ammunition." Kyou warns as the last missiles leave the rails- the FAST mounted pythons. "Guns only."

The corpsebird, for all the fire you've sent it's way, is still pushing on, though thick black smoke is trailing from the two inboard engine pods on the wing, and you can see structure through the holes in the root- not that it appears to matter much, as it's still there. Still, you've hurt it- badly, by the looks of things.

"One more pass." Kyou says. "We can still destroy this monster!"

"We're down to the last hundred rounds of MMP rounds." You respond. "It's APEX after that."

"What good is ammunition if we don't expend it?" She asks. "It's wounded, we can kill it!"

[] She's right. One more pass!
[] Hathcock flight is almost here- we'll share credit.

>>4414568
>[] She's right. One more pass!

>>4414568
>[X] She's right. One more pass!

>>4414568
>She's right. One more pass!

>>4414568
>[x] She's right. One more pass!

Wolf girl is hungry for her meal.

>>4414568
>[] She's right. One more pass!

>>4414568
>[x] Hathcock flight is almost here- we'll share credit.

>>4414568
>[x] She's right. One more pass!

Finish the kill

Ok, votes called!

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[x] She's right. One more pass!

"One more pass." You agree, checking your triggers with a thought. Muninn's already switched them over to guns, having read both your intent and the fact that you're empty of missiles. You think about for a second- you just expended the firepower almost equivalent to a frigate's on this thing and it's still in the air. Merlin, you know, is going to have a field day with the combat data- and she's going to expect you to have input.

You line back up on an a run, approaching from below still- most of the damage is down here, afterall. You push a little closer than last time before opening fire again, the turrets again returning fire as you target the wing root. You can see the flash and spark of impacting shells as your revolver cannons empty out their magazines- Muninn switches you over to the APEX rounds as the last of the mixed metal penetrator rounds leaves the bins, but you've little hope they'll be able to penetrate any armor they encounter. Even accounting for deformity, it looks to be at least four inches thick in most places.

Again, the shells hit among the inboard engine pod and along the wing root- and again, as you bank away, the wing remains attached, seemingly firmly.

"It's on fire!" Kyou calls, and you look back over your shoulder. She's right- plain as day, flames lick from something there along the wing's trailing edge, near the root, and the inboard engine pod has stopped, the propeller, it's blades easily as big as Muninn, spinning to a halt. They don't feather out, either- you probably severed most of the control linkages with the missile attack, you realise.

The fire burns for another second before a titanic detonation rips through the side of the craft, blowing out one of the main turrets. The other one on this side goes slack as the corpsebird begins a slow bank to the left, smoke now pouring from it's ruptured hull. "It's descending!" Kyou calls, sounding elated. "We've done it!"

"Major infrared spikes in the inboard engine pods." Muninn says. "It's got at least three major internal fires."

You don't respond as you watch the massive zombie aircraft- that's all you can think of it as, now- start to bank more and more steeply as it loses power from it's portside engines. You must have either destroyed or disabled it's internal firefighting gear, you realize- there's no way they'd leave so clear a vulnerability in something designed to fight martians.

"There it goes!" Kyou says as it's bank passes critical and it loses the lift from it's long, thin wings. It begins sliding out of the sky as another massive explosion happens, another magazine going up in the internal fires that must be raging.

1/2

It crashes into the ground about four miles outside Kang di ri, it's massive bulk plowing into the ground and gouging a great furrow into the fields to the southeast of the base, where the highway enters the mountains.

You check your ammunition load with a thought, banking away as Muninn and Kyou rapidly re-establish the MIU link with Wendy and Tessa- there's a flood of emotion, mostly relief, as Wendy rejoins on your wing. Tessa, on the other hand, exudes a sense of smug correctness- she doesn't say anything, of course, and probably won't, but you know she's thinking it pretty hard.

"Wendy, what's your status?" Kyou asks- she knows, of course, via the MIU that Wendy's in better shape than you are, with better than half her guns' ammunition remaining.

"Green, mum." Wendy responds.

"There's no further Chinese air assets in the area. Hathcock flight is on station, and our relief is here." Kyou calls- the pair of wyverns pass by you in formation, both of them banking to cross behind you.

"Good kill, dragonslayer." One of them- you don't know who, you've never heard that voice before- calls. "We've got the airspace."

"We're RTB." Kyou calls, and you vector out, passing over the city of Wonsan as you do so. There's still fighting down there- Muninn marks more than one wrecked Abrams and a few destroyed marine LAV-25s and AAVs.

The flight back seems almost uneventful- Wendy lands first, her handling slightly wobbly from here. You suppose yours isn't much better, and you catch the third wire, the sudden deceleration jerking you to a stop against your straps.

You resist the urge to rest in your ejection seat though as you're guided to a stop on deck. They won't be dropping Muninn into the hangar, not with you flying back off so soon, but you've got to be out of the way for now while operations are going on. They'll need to refuel you, too, and upload ammunition for self-defense on the way back to the US.

Kyou smiles at you from her seat as you climb out of the cockpit. "That was a challenge." She says, looking pleased- if a bit tired and red in the eyes. "It is good to finally have something worth our attention."

[] I guess they're done pulling their punches.
[] Didn't seem much of a challenge. Just an ammunition check.

And that's going to be it for the night! Remember we'll be running a make up day tomorrow because of yesterday, and we may extend into Saturday if it's necessary.

But otherwise, till tomorrow gents, I'll be in the discord! Till then, cheers!

>>4414742
>[x] I guess they're done pulling their punches.

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>>4414742
>[X] I guess they're done pulling their punches.

>>4414744
Thanks for the run boss.

>>4414742
>[] I guess they're done pulling their punches.

>>4414742
>[x] I guess they're done pulling their punches.

>>4414744
Thanks for the run Ghost!

>>4414742
>[X] I guess they're done pulling their punches.

>>4414742
>[] I guess they're done pulling their punches.

>>4414742
>[] I guess they're done pulling their punches.

"You *do* realize they just threw a battleship at us, right?"

ok, votes called! Might be a short run tonight!

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[x] I guess they're done pulling their punches.

You nod. "I guess they're done pulling their punches."

Kyou's smile becomes a little more pronounced. "such a wonderfully understated way of viewing it." She says, disengaging her harness straps and standing up, stretching as she does so. "That was a flying autonomous battleship. We are now only the second aircrew to destroy one, and we did so without any special weaponry."

You don't respond, instead descending the ladder and stepping off on the deck, shooting a look over at Tessa as Wendy disembarks. She looks about the same as Kyou does- there's visible redness to her eyes, but she doesn't look like she's feeling any effects otherwise. Kyou, dropping down next to you, looks over at the older witch, then at you. "I suspect admiral Wells will be interested in our personal opinions on it." She says. "Especially with your status as one of the few who have studied them in any depth."

You nod. "Probably." You respond. "Wendy's probably more valuable though, she's the only person on earth to have killed two of them."

Kyou nods as Wendy starts over to join you- normally, you'd have walked over to her, since you were first out, but both you and she know that it's somewhat important that Kyou still appears to be in charge, at least on the ground.

Wendy nods as she walks over, joining you. She doesn't say anything, though, and Kyou frowns. "Are you injured?" Kyou asks her.

Wendy shakes her head. "No, mum." She says- though her voice is strained.

Kyou frowns- then her face softens and she nods. "I see. If it would be preferable, I will have Morgan escort you to the cabins. I wish to speak to Admiral Wells, but she can wait to speak to you."

Wendy pauses. "I should be able to find my way back alone." She says, after a minute. Kyou shakes her head.

"That doesn't mean I expect you to. Morgan, what do you think?"

[] Yeah, let's go. Merlin's going to have us back at Miramar soon enough anyway.
[] Better we talk to Merlin now. She's going to want to know what's going on as soon as possible.

>>4415828
>[X] Better we talk to Merlin now. She's going to want to know what's going on as soon as possible.

>>4415828
>[] Yeah, let's go. Merlin's going to have us back at Miramar soon enough anyway.

>>4415828
>[X] Yeah, let's go. Merlin's going to have us back at Miramar soon enough anyway.

>>4415828
>[x] Yeah, let's go. Merlin's going to have us back at Miramar soon enough anyway.

>>4415828
>[] Better we talk to Merlin now. She's going to want to know what's going on as soon as possible.

All of us

>>4415828
>[] Yeah, let's go. Merlin's going to have us back at Miramar soon enough anyway.

>>4415828
>[x] Better we talk to Merlin now. She's going to want to know what's going on as soon as possible.

ok, votes called!

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[x] Yeah, let's go. Merlin's going to have us back at Miramar soon enough anyway.

You nod. Merlin, you know, isn't going to complain at having to wait for human input- she'll be pouring over the AI's logs and all the technical data anyway, and odds are she'll be leaving the Kaga ahead of you anyway. "Let's go, Wendy." You say, motioning for her to follow you. "Merlin's going to have us back at Miramar soon enough anyway."

To your surprise, Wendy doesn't protest at all- merely nodding and falling into step slightly behind you. You can tell she's enormously bothered by something- even her ability to maintain a stiff upper lip has it's limits, you know, and her emotional status is probably already all kinds of messed up. It'll settle, you know, but for now you'll have to be a little careful.

You walk back to the cabins in silence, and stepping in, you find them dark and quiet- Cass hasn't moved into the now-empty third room, and Merlin, you know, isn't going to be in here either, instead spending her time in whatever room she's managed to acquire as her shipboard office.

You usher Wendy in, then close the hatch and hit the lights- she's already making her way to the couch, sitting heavily in it and leaning her head back. "That was incredibly unpleasant." She says, after a moment.

You nod, agreeing. "Not much fun at all. You ok?"

"I believe i will be." She responds. "I'd- " She stops. "They'll think less of me once it becomes known we three are a thing, but I was terrified I'd lost Kyou and you." She says.

"Whatever else it was designed to do, that AI was intruding in the MIU." You say. "Probably trying to get us off balance."

"I'm afraid to say it rather worked." She says. "It's not much of an admission that I feel rather wobbly."

1/2

You frown. "Still?"

She looks back over at you with a somewhat sad smile. "I'm afraid I have rather a lot of vulnerabilities in that regard." She says. "Moreso now than ever."

"I see." You say. "Well, I'd suggest taking a shower and changing, but I don't know when we'll be wheels up again."

She nods. "Sadly." She agrees. "Perhaps a spot of tea? In light of us being unable to do much else."

You shrug. "I'll make it." You say, since you're already standing. "Though Kyou might disagree about being unable to do anything else."

Wendy laughs lightly. "I suspect she might have. And I'm rather ashamed to admit it wouldn't be difficult at all to convince me." She pauses. "Though I think, were we to decide it were what we wished to do, we should wait till after we've sat and had some tea?"

"Sounds like a plan." You agree, taking a seat. "Starting to feel better?"

"Somewhat." She admits. "The attack-" She pauses. "I know I promised to never bring the topic up again, but I feel this warrants it. I rather thought, the entire time, I wasn't good enough for you- and that all your reassurances to the contrary were out of a misplaced sense of duty or obligation to me." She says, then shakes her head. "And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't convince myself of the truth."

You nod.

"And when Tessa and Muninn were forced to disable the MIU... " She trails off for a second. "I'd thought I'd lost you both."

You pause, looking back at the witch- you know that, the best thing you can do right now, is give her a hug- there's a lot of emotional support in a simple action like that. You turn the stove off- just in case this takes a lot longer than you're guessing- and cross the room, sitting down next to Wendy and enfolding her in a hug.

Your maman used to mock your father a little, claiming that he used simple, direct actions like this far, far too quickly- and that occasionally his willingness to comfort someone else put him in a bad place. Sometimes, she maintained, it was better to let people work through things on their own- lest an entire squadron of witches be put out of action for the loss of one pilot.

In this case though, you've got to agree that it's the best choice there is- it lets Wendy cry into your shoulder, letting her unbottle a lot of emotion you know she's been keeping inside. You suspect, though, that one of maman's other maxim's is going to hold true, as well- if you're comforting a crying witch, there's a very good chance it's going to advance well past a mere hug.

Though, given the witch in question, you can't say you mind.

And that's going to be it for the week! Sorry about The two days this week things weren't going quite to plan- still not sure what happened Wednesday, to be honest. Feel fine now though, so it's nothing I plan to bother a doc over.

Anyway, as always, I'll be around over the weekend to handle questions or comments, and of course I'm in the discord or the old SWQ IRC channel, if anyone feels like hitting me up in person! Otherwise gents, till next week, cheers!

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>>4415961
Thanks for the run boss.

>>4415961
Thanks for the run Ghost!

Thanks for the run!

>>4415961
thanks for running