>>4612257
>Might as well try to be friendly, engage Andromeda in casual conversation

>>4612257
>Might as well try to be friendly, engage Andromeda in casual conversation.

File: AWACS.png (145 KB, 994x530)

145 KB PNG

<< AWACS “Andromeda” >>
<< I’m not being too casual, am I … sir? >>

Despite her steady tone, there is an odd, skittish pace to her speech.

>Casually inform her that she probably out-ranks you on paper
>Joke that she sounds so scattered that she’d probably show up on RADAR
>Bluntly inform her that she isn’t
>Cut to the chase and tell her you find it odd that there would be an AWACS assigned to a singular aircraft
>Write-In

>>4612276
>Casually inform her that she probably out-ranks you on paper

>>4612276
>Casually inform her that she probably out-ranks you on paper

File: AWACS 2.jpg (99 KB, 970x533)

99 KB JPG

AWACS “Andromeda”
<< I’ll be expecting a salute from you when we finally land, then. >>

>Keep silent
>Nonchalantly tell her that that would merely be protocol
>Point out that her accent strikes you as not quite pure Orleasian
>Ask her why you weren’t able to encounter her or the AWACS crew back at the base
>Tease her that she sounds a tad more animated than the usual AWACS
>Write-In

>>4612300
>Nonchalantly tell her that that would merely be protocol

>>4612300
>>Ask her why you weren’t able to encounter her or the AWACS crew back at the base

>>4612300
>Ask her why you weren’t able to encounter her or the AWACS crew back at the base

File: AWACS 3.jpg (175 KB, 2200x1080)

175 KB JPG

Garm 04 Flight Intelligence, Elaine
<< It is quite unprofessional that prior introductions weren’t made. >>

That’s why you’d asked in the first place. While it had been unexpected to have an AWACS be assigned to you at all (what with this mission being a low-key ground engagement assigned to a singular fighter), the fact that there were no prior introductions and a mere note from the base commander (some grumpy administrative type who name ultimately eluded proper commitment to memory) just before take-off and nothing so much as a greeting or a chat over rations had positively irked you. As reckless as the flight data jotted down read of your tendencies as a flyer, you rather liked all available information pertaining to operations be finalized prior to launch rather than having to suddenly make do with a head hovering over your shoulder.

Still … it was what it was, and you could hardly fault the AWACS unit itself for the unexpected attachment.

AWACS “Andromeda
<< It’s not as though we planned to do a night run, either. All I know was that there was some kind of mix-up from the top down and we were the only ones operating with something more than a skeleton crew. Maybe it would’ve benefited the both of us if we’d just turned in a fuel and maintenance report in error. Could’ve saved you the frustrations, too. >>

>Reiterate that you don’t particularly mind idle conversation at times like this.
>Apologize; say that you didn’t mean it like that.
>Join in on her frustrations against the bureaucratic arm of the military.
>Ask her where her accent is from, as it doesn’t sound purely Orleasian.
>Request radio silence; keep communication to updates only.
>Write-In

>>4612347
>Join in on her frustrations against the bureaucratic arm of the military.

They take terrible care of their slaves

>>4612347
>Join in on her frustrations against the bureaucratic arm of the military.

File: Elaine, the F-15 AI.jpg (175 KB, 850x1133)

175 KB JPG

AWACS “Andromeda”
<< Hey now, that’s the chair you’re speaking about. >>

Her amusement is one of non-verbal agreement, however. It’s almost hilarious for you, too; to know that the human disposition for the intricacies and complications that make up the monstrous bulk of bureaucracy and administration ran so deeply that the shared hatred made so common a bridge. While there were indeed, protocols to follow, you felt as though the bulk of it was put in so as to make complications the responsibility of peons rather than those that initiated those complications in the first place. It’s not that much of a stretch for you to imagine that the debacle had been the result of some desk jockey that forgot to sign off on a schedule and lacked the cranial capacity to properly deal with the circumstance of their fuck-up.

Then again, without those fuck-ups there would be little opportunity for the normal human beings to bond over them.

AWACS “Andromeda”
<< It’s both terrifying and a relief to know that there’s no organization on the planet that’s immune to human error. >>

You concur.

Elaine’s avatar gives a small, agreeable nod. Unsurprising, given the fact that she’d probably been privy to quite a few rants between the suits and the coats from her perch in the primary server and processing facilities.

AWACS “Andromeda”
<< You should be used to having to operate outside of the set parameters, though: “improvise, adapt, overcome” and all that … >>

You shrug, tilting your head to the right. There was no need to deny that, either. Once you got used to having to rotate yourself around unexpected developments, all that came out of it by the twentieth iteration was a grumble, nod and the occasional hot words.

But grumble you did.

You level Elaine’s attitude, accelerating a little more but otherwise keeping the F-15’s vector as direct as you can manage. Below you, the white alpine slopes that mark the effective no man’s land between the Orleasian Kingdom and the beginnings of Augustovian land, just over the horizon and beyond the valley. You don’t need more than a moment to realize why the malcontents had elected to use this region as a possible supply line. The valley itself was highly defensible … and any large airstrike would be hamstrung with the mountain ranges surrounding it.

AWACS “Andromeda”
<< Hey, I hope that you don’t mind if I’m chatting your ears off, but a lot of the folk here are operating on some … intel and, uh … just wondering: you are flying one of Amaterasu’s artificial intelligence modules, right? >>

>Lie to them
>Request radio silence; keep communication to updates only
>Ask Elaine to say hello
>Question what’s it to her
>Be dismissive of the inquiry
>Answer in the positive
>Write-In

>>4612469
>>Write-In
introduce elaine and tell how much she means to you

>>4612469
>Lie to them.
Were we ever told if this was a secret project, or at least obfuscated at all?
This seems like a lead in to the AWACS letting someone know we're coming, or collating all of the data they can get on the flight to sell it off to interested parties later.

>>4612469
>Write-In
>Espouse the virtues of the best wife

Also, flying inside the valley, nice!

>>4612477
Supporting

>>4612483
But this is very is very much the same I suppose?

File: I Am An Advanced AI Pleas(...).png (150 KB, 406x148)

150 KB PNG

Garm 04 Flight Intelligence “Elaine”
<< You don’t have to be so descriptive, you know … >>

Elaine’s form is bashful; her eyes stare up with an almost-human quality, the flicker of the projection’s frame-rate only further emphasizing the utter realism of the emotion that she simulates. Despite having no need or sense for touch, Elaine rubs her shoulders, partly-hugging herself as she leans over slightly, the physics of her virtual world allowing her thick hair to list towards one side, clearly affected by your brief spiel extolling your regard and trust in her. Had you gone overboard? Perhaps … but considering that you’d effectively shared air-time simulated and practical with her with such consistency over the last few years when some pilots switched squadrons at the start of a new rotational calendar or so, you feel that your regard was not totally that of personal preference. She is your partner, your comrade … and if men could trust their lives to those that shared their fox-holes and rations, you see no reason to put an exception in her case.

AWACS “Andromeda”
<< You make it sound like it’s your wing-man more than a flight aid. >>

The snort of amusement is crisp, dry.

You prompt Elaine to take her stand. She obliges.

Garm 04 Flight Intelligence “Elaine”
<< A pleasure to make your acquaintance, AWACS Andromeda. >>

AWACS “Andromeda”
<< Is that … the AI? >>

Garm 04 Flight Intelligence “Elaine”
<< I am. >>

AWACS Andromeda doesn’t reply. An odd silence dominates the channels for a good while; long enough that Elaine spins around to give you a look of confusion, accompanied by a bewildered shrug. You yourself crease your brows, sharing in her confusion. Had that been all there was—

AWACS “Andromeda”
<< Do you understand what I am saying? >>

You roll your eyes as you hear the robotic recital of the inquiry, pinching your brows as you keep the F-15’s attitude even, Elaine’s form covering her mouth in amusement as she tries her best to maintain order.

Garm 04 Flight Intelligence “Elaine”
<< You don’t have to talk like that, you know? I don’t have exabytes of slang analysis and prompts for nothing. >>

Another silence overtakes the comms, although … you do hear the rustle of some sort of struggle from the other end, accompanied by what sounds like a mix of static and restrained whispers.

AWACS “Andromeda”
<< I apologize. I do … I didn’t think that … wow, you can actually … respond to human input? >>

Elaine hangs her head as she shoots you with a desperate look, her eyes wide as she clearly implores you to save her …

>Allow Elaine to suffer
>Save Elaine from further questioning
>Write-In

>>4612763
>>Save Elaine from further questioning

>>4612763
>>Allow Elaine to suffer

>>4612763
>Save Elaine from further questioning

>>4612763
>>Allow Elaine to suffer
I kinda wanna see this

>>4612763
>Allow Elaine to suffer
must bulli the AI by proxy

>>4612763
>Save Elaine from further questioning

>>4612775
>>4612838
>>4612849
Supporting.

>>4612763
>>Allow Elaine to suffer

>>4612763
>>Save Elaine from further questioning

>>4612763
>Allow Elaine to suffer

Only the best relationships are built upon BULLI

Show of hands: who's alive?

>>4613492
Still alive buddy

>>4613492
Yo

>>4613492
Yo buddy

File: Time To Earn Our Pay.jpg (84 KB, 1280x720)

84 KB JPG

At the very most, ten minutes had passed.

For Elaine, however, it probably might have—and likely did, given her status as an AI—felt like ten hours. You ease yourself past the slopes, keeping your thruster output at as manageable a pace as you can, keeping an eye out for the enemy as you amuse yourself with the sight of Elaine fielding questions from a most curious audience.

Garm 04 Flight Intelligence “Elaine”
<< My capabilities in such vocations would be extremely limited; my programming doesn’t include the capacity to adapt incompatible functions. The most I’m able to do is access a word processor and type things up, but you could argue that that’s merely an extension of my understanding of my own limits. Not that there haven’t been attempts, of course … but unless I’m properly given access and the adequate drivers to execute and run programs in relation to specific tasks, no. In a nut-shell, there is no singular possibility of me accessing a volatile Cordium processing plant and triggering the end of the world. >>

She sounds like a bored teacher reading off the sheet of a logic response matrix; it’s the most mechanical that you’ve seen her since your first meeting. Elaine’s arms are crossed as she puts up the show of an engaging intelligence, her eyes silently begging for you to put an end to this misery; a mercy you do not grant.

AWACS “Andromeda”
<< All right, all right, uh … last question, for real: are you really good at chess? >>

Elaine looks like she’s about to cry.

Garm 04 Flight Intelligence “Elaine”
<< No. >>

AWACS “Andromeda”
<< Really? I thought all computers loved playing chess. >>

The Flight Intelligence Module makes a small, restrained squeak as she bows her head, rubbing her temples … despite having no bio-chemical prompts to have a migraine or headache in the first place.

Garm 04 Flight Intelligence “Elaine”
<< No, we don’t. If you’re inquiring specifically as to my preferences, I would rather go for a round of poker than set up a chess board. >>

AWACS “Andromeda”
<< You mean … you can not like chess? >>

Elaine buries her face in her hands, the display flickering slightly as if to highlight her irritation.

Garm 04 Flight Intelligence “Elaine”
<< Yes. As I said: they’re called preferences. We all have them. Even me. >>

AWACS “Andromeda”
<< I see. That’s … >>

The lock-on alert goes off.

Elaine had never worn such relief in her life.

No bogeys on your RADAR, no heat signature … which only meant that some SAMS had an alert vector on you, but not proper line of sight for a launch.

Garm 04 Flight Intelligence “Elaine”
<< Time to earn our pay, partner! >>

Is the partner said with anger or enthusiasm

Roll for Initiative (DC: 3)
>Use PSYCO (+5)? (1d20)
>Use Hunting+Engagement (+6)? (1d20)

>>4613537
It's said in the same way Yami Yugi/Pharaoh Atem says it to Yugi. With an emphasis on AIBO!

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>4613538
>Use Hunting+Engagement (+6)? (1d20)

Lets see how on the ball we are. Can't fail but might look more awesome with a better roll.

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>4613538
>Use Hunting+Engagement (+6)? (1d20)

>>4613538
>Use Hunting+Engagement (+6)? (1d20)
Just caught up with this quest. It's good stuff.

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>4613538
I swear there were dice when I posted.

File: Starting Attack Run.png (880 KB, 786x584)

880 KB PNG

AWACS “Andromeda”
<< I have readings! Putting ‘em up! >>

The engines let out a high-pitched whine as the midnight sky shakes with thunder. Glancing up top and finding nothing, you dive closer past the alpine peaks of the valley, motioning the ailerons and pushing the F-15 over, your view shifting between the organic clump of trees and muddy grass, the dark white of the mountain slopes and the shimmering clouds pierced by moonlight. Accelerating further, you make an inverted run at a stall-teasing altitude, less than hundreds of feet from the bedrock and the trees below. The alert shrieks louder and louder as you jet past the crags of the mountains and the cliff-side of the valley’s saddle trails, the indention of man-made sites apparent even from here.

Hazard Malcontent
<< Enemy craft sighted … get off your lazy asses, you twigs! Man those guns! >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< Wh-Wuh? >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< The L-SAMs and AA Guns should have been set-up hours ago! Where the fuck is everyone? >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< Private, you better not have been doing what I think you’ve been doing! >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< Sound the … what do you mean we’re out of batteries? >>

Elaine snorts, placing her hands on her hips.

Garm 04 Flight Intelligence “Elaine
<< Seventeen targets identified: eight AA Guns, three SAMs, six L-SAMs and a whole lot of movement. Looks like we really did have the drop on them. >>

CURRENT TARGET LIST:
>8 AA (Ground)*
>3 SAM (Ground)*
>6 L-SAM (Ground)*

>Roll for Hunting (+3) (DC: 4)
>Roll for Engagement (+3) (DC: 4)

*>Ground Targets: As most ground targets are stationary/slow relative to your plane, both Hunting and Engagement will result in immediate elimination of those targets. Pick your targets from the list and roll. Some planes have multi-lock capabilities and can eliminate more than one at a time at a pass.

This is your current character card:
>>4585252 for reference if you don't know what/how you can do things.

>>4613559
Thank you. Hope you enjoy yourself here.

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>4613566
>Target 2 SAMs
>Roll for Engagement (+3) (DC: 4)

Time for Elaine to show off with her mutlilock.

go after the L-SAMs and SAMs first?

>>4613574
AA guns and L-SAMs seem to be down currently implying that the SAM are currently the only threat.

File: ee.jpg (52 KB, 500x500)

52 KB JPG

Rolled 2 (1d20)

Roll for EAGLE EYE

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>4613576

>>4613573
>>4613574
Just come to a decision soon. And it's THREE targets. 1+2.

>>4613578
I say take out all 3 SAMs then.

>>4613581
seconded

>>4613581
Supporting.

>>4613578
>>4613581
Supporting

File: AA Gun.png (137 KB, 425x271)

137 KB PNG

Garm 04 Flight Intelligence “Elaine”
<< Fox Three! Fox Three! >

You light up three spots in one run: the cliff face of the valley, the edge of the stream and the top of a trail. Three great fireballs erupt where guns stood, their crews perishing in your pass.

AWACS “Andromeda”
<< Bingo! >>

Climbing up and rolling the craft back into a successive run, you find your greed and enthusiasm punished with a hard lock, prompting you to pull right out of range. You let out a harrumph as you peer at the top of the canopy and find the AA arrays in position, blasting away as you tease the tip of the F-15’s nose and decelerate, feeling the sheer force of Gs assaulting your shoulder and bladder with every second you keep the controls in position … before making a break for the mountain face, the alert shrieking in your ear. The air-frames hold, as do the wings, but going in at this angle, this close, was pushing your luck. There wasn’t much to do here to avoid missiles outside of testing their range and velocity. Any stall this close risked hitting the mountains before a recovery could get in … and the lack of flat ground marked less advantages for you to work by.

Valleys always cramped your style: in a literal sense more than figuratively.

Hazard Malcontent
<< I see ‘em, sir! >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< Not paying you to do plane-spotting, Private! I want that jet scrapped yesterday! >>

The alert rings.

>EVASION REVERSAL (Roll against GM, GM Roll-8, 1d20)
>EVASION (DC: 4)

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>4613617
>EVASION REVERSAL (Roll against GM, GM Roll-8, 1d20)

This is heavily in our favor. A -8 penalty versus a +6 bonus. We need a 7 or better to beat even a 20 from Mechanic.

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>4613617
>EVASION REVERSAL (Roll against GM, GM Roll-8, 1d20)

REMEMBER EVERYONE, once you meet the average or the average is good, don't roll.

See now with the roll just made no one else should roll holy shit

Sorry for posting again, but serious don't roll it's mathematically impossible for mechanic to beat this

>>4613625
>This is heavily in our favor. A -8 penalty versus a +6 bonus. We need a 7 or better to beat even a 20 from Mechanic.
>rolls a 7
lol

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>4613625
>>4613632
Let's see if fortune favors Mech.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the +6 isn't for the evasion reversal right?

File: FOX THREE.jpg (236 KB, 2048x1365)

236 KB JPG

>>4613643
>CHOOSE TARGETS

CURRENT TARGET LIST:
>8 AA (Ground)
>6 L-SAM (Ground)

>>4613650
>6 L-SAM (Ground)

>>4613655
Your multi-lock only allows you to pick up to three, mate.

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>4613650
3, right? Half of the L-SAMs with engagement.
did I do this right

>>4613660
I'll support that.

>>4613650
>>4613660
Supporting

File: Going In For The KIll.png (207 KB, 1280x720)

207 KB PNG

The river, shallow as it is, practically parts as you give the thrusters all they’re worth, the darkness of the night, the light of the moon and the rivers melding into a dizzying amalgamation of shadows with every tick of your instruments. The alerts ring in your ears, but at half a landing off the ground as you are, the L-SAMs lock-on capabilities can’t register you outside of the initial lock. Teasing the air-frame’s limits this far down, you find the stall warnings already telling you what you already know should you even hit the brakes in a dead-to-top-speed trick.

Hazard Malcontent
<< I can’t see him. Are the sensors malfunctioning? >>

Your teeth rattle as the display turns red.

Hazard Malcontent
<< Thunder? Is that a storm approaching? >>

You pull back, as hard as you can.

Hazard Malcontent
<< What the … >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< He just .. popped up from the ground! >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< I don’t want commentary, Corporal! I want that plane an incident report! >>

The F-15 rotates … nose first.

Garm 04 Flight Intelligence “Elaine”
<< Tone acquired! Fox Three! >>

You unleash a cluster of three, the missiles diving for the L-SAMs as raptors would their quarry. Plumes of red and yellow light the night further as you roll into a more stable attitude … decelerating slightly to catch your breath, before hitting the thrusters to escape the criss-cross of shells clamoring for a taste at vengeance. Sounds of panic and disarray dictate the comms as you climb up and over the valley before banking in for another pass.

Hazard Malcontent
<< Put out those fires, damn it! Do I have to do everything myself? >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< We can’t get a bead on the enemy fighter, sir! It’s just too fast! >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< I wouldn’t have guessed. Move aside … all remaining troops: get to the transports. We’ll keep this bastard off you for as long as we can. >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< Sir, the choppers; the trucks … even if we managed to load them up … >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< I don’t want excuses, Corporal. Now get out of here. That’s an order. >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< With all due respect, Captain Ismail … this gun needs at least two people to keep firing. >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< Heh … is that right? >>

The valley comes into view again.

AWACS “Andromeda”
<< I’m registering multiple birds hot. Looks like they’re taking to the skies, Garm Four. >>

>Target the transport cluster
>Concentrate on the active hostiles
>Write-In

>>4613828
>Concentrate on the active hostiles
It will take time for them to load the transports.

>>4613828
>>Target the transport cluster
Need to wipe out the trash so they don't regroup

>>4613828
>>Concentrate on the active hostiles

>>4613828
>Concentrate on the active hostiles

>>4613834
I'm pretty certain that is classified as a war crime.

>>4613893
yes and? We Merc route baby :3

>>4613828
>Target the transport cluster
If I interpret correctly our primary mission is to fuck up the ground forces, and if we focus on the bogeys they could well scatter and escape. We'll have some time before they get here to blow things up.

>>4613828
>Concentrate on the active hostiles

>>4613828
>>Target the transport cluster

>>4613896
No, we are not. We are not an independent merc. We are currently flying a nations property and that nation is currently only letting us out of confinement due to our usefulness.

War Crimes are a very good way to end up back in Jail.

Mechanic was also laughing evilly in Discord when posting this. This is a trap that can easily lead to a game over and Mechanic does a fair amount of those in his games.

>>4614014
When you talk about warcrimes do you mean specifically what that poster wanted to do or targeting the transports in general? Our mission is to intercept the ground forces, and as far as I understand it they are enemy combatants and thus legitimate targets unless there's something I'm missing?

>>4613828
>>Concentrate on the active hostiles

Mech here. Running in an hour. I did leave two options, but I'm not surprised that no one here looked at both options and went "Maybe this is a good time for a write-in".

File: 1607390045291.jpg (234 KB, 572x572)

234 KB JPG

Is this game using the simplified planes & mercs system from the Ace Combat games from, last year?

>>4614497
In a way, but the consequences of your approach are not so much people's impressions of you. They'll be apparent in another way.

File: Attack Run 2.jpg (37 KB, 606x641)

37 KB JPG

Hazard Malcontent
<< Enemy plane spotted, sir! He’s going for another shot! >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< I have eyes, Corporal. Guns up. If I see an inch of clear sky, I’m docking your pay! >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< Yes, sir! >>

CURRENT TARGET LIST
>4 Mi-26 [x]
>4 Land Transports (Ground) [x]
>8 AA (Ground)

>Roll for Hunting (+3) (DC:4)
>Roll for Engagement (+3) (DC:4)

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>4614578
Target 3 AA (Ground)
>Roll for Hunting (+3) (DC:4)

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>4614578
>>Roll for Hunting (+3) (DC:4)
>target 3 AA

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>4614578
>>Roll for Engagement (+3) (DC:4)
Guys no need to hunt here, take them out quick and clean. Don't play with your prey

>>4614595
Ground Targets have different rules: >>4613566

>>4614604
Ah my bad

File: Wonder Squadron.jpg (89 KB, 1024x683)

89 KB JPG

Maneuvering yourself between lines of AA fire is made harder with the valley giving you so little room for error. You grumble as you juke and climb, dive and spin, careful so as to not unwittingly slam into the side of the mountain or go nose-first into the collection of trees below. The IFF displays the remaining ground forces clearly, but the trees and the goblet-like terrain make for a terrible combination to display your abilities to their utmost potential. You curse as you force yourself into another diagonal climb, the guns, already beady little targets, falling out of your sight as your speed proves to hamstring your efforts at a clean sweep of your current set of targets.

Elaine
<< You have to give credit to them for fighting to the last. >>

You could, but that wasn’t what you were here to do. Feeling your teeth rattle, you spin yourself out of engagement, ascending right out of the valley before slowing down and rolling over, making a right dive for the hostiles, who had attempted to engage again.

Vertically … gravity was an enemy and ally.

Their bullets don’t reach you.

You stick the trigger, launching another salvo and lighting up the trees and the slopes, Elaine’s engines roaring like a wrathful demon, the thunder of your arrival and judgment sounding off the fallen into oblivion. You pull back up as the lines of rapid-fire ammunition sing through the skies again, your latest effort doing little to deter them from continuing in this futile endeavor.

You were given orders. You would fulfill them.

AWACS “Andromeda”
<< Garm Four, I have fast-movers coming in. >>

????
<< This is Wonder Squadron. Captain Ismail, status report. >>

SU-25s. Harriers.

Hazard Malcontent
<< Captain … Captain Ismail is dead. We’re the only ones left. The rest of the force is on the way out of the conflict zone. >>

A sound akin to spiteful spit echoes on the general band.

Wonder Squadron
<< Acknowledged. >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< I guess we’re getting what we paid for, huh? Damn mercenaries … >>

Wonder Squadron
<< Tags up, IDs blanked. It’s only one fighter. F-15. >>

You look turn west-ward, catching an eye of the inbound fighters, specks of dust flying between the rays of moonlight shining through the clouds. The alert goes off within seconds; you climb up again, this time past the peaks and with a nose for the cloud-line. Daring you may have been, but stupid you weren’t.

Hazard Malcontent
<< Get that bastard. >>

Wonder Squadron, Wonder 1
<< Received. Wonder Squadron … engage. >>

>>4614649
Roll for Initiative (DC: 5)
>Use PSYCO (+5)? (1d20)
>Use Hunting+Engagement (+6)? (1d20)

I'm listening to this as I type, so maybe it'll get you guys in the mood, too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN74PMk4IBQ

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>4614653
>Use Hunting+Engagement (+6)? (1d20)

Remember, don't screw the average

Oh wow, no one else roll holy shit

>>4614649
>Use Hunting+Engagement (+6) (1d20)

>>4614658
Good habit but not necessary due to our successful Prologue mission kill. We win Initiative even with a 1.

>>4614663
Yes, but this way you get to style on them with 25

File: frogfoot.jpg (195 KB, 1188x1553)

195 KB JPG

It’s a dance.

The Harriers are more maneuverable, more agile than your F-15’s off-the-line counterparts. In test situations, the Harrier was ahead by the hairs that mattered; even a jockey like you knew of the infamous “three for every one” training exercise. Despite the smaller pay-load, the Harriers capabilities as a dog-fighter allowed it carry well enough above and beyond its weight class … and watching the two Harriers climb up and burst around to cut you off from preying on the Frogfoots, you find yourself thankful for the fact that your F-15 had cut those particular hairs off. Banking and diving, you circle the mis-match, keeping an eye on the SU-25 below and the one peeling to your right for a clean shot, shifting your weight on the pedals as you spare a glance eleven o’clock high. One of the Harriers makes an aggressive turn, making an attempt at aligning you with a quick solution at the third quarter of the revolution. You hit the brakes, throwing him off his mark, climbing briefly before stalling yourself to keep the second from carving you open with a shot.

In a one-on-one, perhaps you would be reading your last rites.

But you knew well enough that they wouldn’t dare risking notching their own wingmen.

Elaine
<< Wizard, they’re pushing you in! If they catch us out … >>

You wouldn’t let them.

The Harriers are baited into a climb, the Frogfoots splitting with their failure.

Wonder Squadron, Wonder 1
<< He’s good. Stick on your man, Wonders. Don’t let him pick you off! >>

>ROLL FOR HUNTING (+3) (DC:5)
>ROLL FOR ENGAGEMENT (+3) (DC: 7)

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>4614692
>ROLL FOR ENGAGEMENT (+3) (DC: 7)
Just need to roll an average of 4.

>>4614692
>ROLL FOR ENGAGEMENT (+3) (DC: 7)

>>4614694
ok

File: Wonder 1.jpg (66 KB, 1280x720)

66 KB JPG

You roll, chaining it into a successive bank as one of the Frogfoots steers itself in a bid to catch you mid-change. It’s a gamble that they only make on the assumption of your aggression to match theirs … a mistake that confident pilots made all too often. The textbook and the classroom bore little resemblance to reality. The mistake of those stepping into the cockpit for the first time was adhering to the rigidity of engagement protocols and practices.

Elaine
<< He’s rolling, Wizard! >>

The survivors … saw mirrors.

Elaine
<< I have tone! >>

You pull the trigger.

AWACS “Andromeda”
<< Fox Two! Fox Two! >>

The explosion takes most of the fuselage; the SU-25’s rear and body erupt, one wing turning into mere debris and whatever that had been left intact at the mercy of gravity and physics, spiraling into the peaks down below. Pulling up and splitting your course again, you double back and give the RADAR another read, the relish that comes with your victory disappearing with the enemy fighters rolling around again to peg you back for the kill.

AWACS “Andromeda”
<< Splash one fast-mover! >>

Elaine
<< They’re coming around again, Wizard! Eight o’clock low and one o’clock high! Simulations all over again! >>

Wonder Squadron, Wonder 1
<< Damn it … don’t get baited into climbs and rolls. This pilot knows what he’s doing. >>

Elaine
<< Seven o’clock low, Wizard! They’re coming in close! >>

Roll for Initiative (DC: 5)
>Use PSYCO (+5)? (1d20)
>Use Hunting+Engagement (+6)? (1d20)

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>4614755
>Use Hunting+Engagement (+6)? (1d20)

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>4614755
>Use Hunting+Engagement (+6)?

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>4614755
>>Use Hunting+Engagement (+6)? (1d20)

File: One Crazy Pilot.jpg (51 KB, 512x309)

51 KB JPG

Elaine takes care of what you’re too slow to manage.

Then again, you’re quite confident that what you can’t manage is what a typical flight instructor would pick you apart at the bones for allowing to happen in the first place. The F-15’s systems compensate as you bank into a dive, circling around and accelerating as the curve spirals into a climb, bursting out of any attempt at pursuit. The Harriers are in a good state: their engines are bursting with energy and their pilots are eager to milk the planes for all they’re worth. Another half-helix and you’re shifting positions again, a keen eye out for the remaining Frogfoot so it doesn’t take the opportunity to cash-in on any lapses in awareness. The mountain peaks and the clouds amalgamate with every adjustment, every sharp shift in attitude and altitude, Elaine’s systems adapt, compensate and predict.

And she does so beautifully.

Elaine
<< They’re trying to push us down below. The Frogfoot’s catching us on the next dive if we’re doubling back in, partner. >>

You glance upward, catching a glimpse of the Harrier as it rolls into your four o’clock before shifting to your three with a zig-zag from your side, rolling right back and allowing its partner to go take the lead.

Wonder Squadron, Wonder 2
<< He’s breaking off left! >>

The second Harrier’s too aggressive.

Wonder Squadron, Wonder 1
<< He’s going for a reset! >>

You aren’t.

That he falls for that assumption, however … gives you time to execute your true intentions.

The Harriers cross a second too early.

Wonder Squadron, Wonder 1
<< We’re off! Five o’clock high! >>

You practically swallow your tongue … but it’s nothing that you aren’t already used to.

Wonder Squadron, Wonder 2
<< That bastard … he actually risked a stall at a full dive at this altitude? >>

>ROLL FOR HUNTING (+3) (DC:5)
>ROLL FOR ENGAGEMENT (+3) (DC: 7)

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>4614894
>ROLL FOR ENGAGEMENT (+3) (DC: 7)

No need to understand the enemy, take him down

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>4614894
>ROLL FOR ENGAGEMENT (+3) (DC: 7)

>>4614898
>>4614899
You can choose to activate Multi-Lock if you'd like. Just reminding you folks that you have this ability, but you have to also roll the Limiter after, as usual, seeing as these are air-to-air targets. Or you can just leave things as they are and pick them off one at a time.

>>4614926
Let’s go for the multi lock

>>4614894
>>ROLL FOR ENGAGEMENT (+3) (DC: 7
Yeah let's go for a multilock

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>4615013
i knew i was forgetting something from this morning. signal inside school is just dog shit

>>4615544
haaaaaa, you know i had a feeling about this roll holy shit

Now that I think about it, I should really give Multi-Lock a nerf or ramp up the enemy count to make it more relevant.

>>4615956
lets see how it works for a bit and if we're steamrolling then up the enemy count

File: kablooey.jpg (161 KB, 685x300)

161 KB JPG

Tracking multiple targets going in different directions is a chore and a half, but having pushed two of them back up and steering one into the corner of your HUD, it’s nonetheless … manageable. Pulling and rolling against the wind, you crack past the peaks in a move out of sheer greed. Elaine, so in tune with your habits, keeps the plane from flipping out from sheer force, the cold winds shearing the gaps between the fins and the ailerons with every nanosecond you crack past the ridges. The strain on the engines would have put any other aircraft in a stall, but for Elaine—and for you—this is but another chance to re-align pre-determined sets among the hundreds of opportunities to line around. The Harriers begin to break off at the sound of your warnings; the stress report turns orange, warning you of the sheer stress that the chassis is under to satisfy this desire of yours.

The reticles turn blue.

Elaine
<< Tone acquired! >>

You hit the afterburners for all they’re worth.

The trigger comes off at the first chance you get.

Elaine
<< Garm Four, Fox Three! >>

The Harriers, the closest targets relative to your position, are the first to fall, erupting violently upon impact: one takes it right in the fuselage, flashing brightly and bursting into shards, mere pieces of the craft it once formed; the other loses a wing and its left side, having attempted to perform a split-second roll and bank to keep the missile from tagging it directly, but misjudged the cue and turn, effectively clipping itself in an evasive turn. The Harrier spirals into the mountain face, having turned so closely in their attempt at escape. There is no second explosion, but there is no parachute either: the plane practically slams its tail in a semi-spiral, splitting in half upon impact, the corpse of the once proud flyer staring its half-smashed nose upward to the sky, now mere bent scrap. The Frogfoot’s evasion does not come: not at this range. It takes the AMRAAM head on, as it only could at a position that horizontal, the only thing that remains of it molten metal and a second, dark rose-like plume that shines briefly in the sky.

Elaine
<< That makes four. >>

The crackles of the comms returns, shaking you from your slightly nauseated state.

Maybe you could go into it a little too much at times …

AWACS “Andromeda”
<< Holy mother of … fast movers down, Garm Four. Don’t see any reinforcements. >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< Mercenaries. The only thing they know how to do right is count their money. >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< We have to leave. Quickly! We can still make the grey zone … >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< We won’t make it. They couldn't even buy us the time. >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< Corporal, you are the only one that’s left now! What will you have us do? >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< I … >>

You hear a beep.

AWACS “Andromeda”
<< They’re making a break for the border, Garm Four. Doesn't look like they have much fight left in them. >>

>Go after the remaining hostiles
>Target the escaping transport cluster
>Write-In

>>4617206
>>Write-In
>open a line to the rebels and demand they surrender

>>4617208
going for this

>>4617208
>supporting

>>4617208
If they surrender, how exactly will we arrest them? We don't have ground forces.

>>4617208
I suppose I can support this though I wonder how we'll take them prisoner but I'll uh, support I guess.

File: Under Fire.jpg (537 KB, 1200x774)

537 KB JPG

Hazard Malcontent
<< What? >>

Garm 04 Flight Intelligence, Elaine
<< W-Wizard? >>

AWACS “Andromeda”
<< Hang on … what? >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< This is … this has to be a joke! >>

>Reinforce your position
>Shut down lines, prepare to attack
>Write-In

>>4617221
>>Reinforce your position

>>4617221
>Reinforce your position

>>4617221
>Reinforce your position
DOUBLE DOWN

>>4617221
>>Shut down lines, prepare to attack

>>4612268
https://i.4cdn.org/sci/1611344194853s.jpg

File: my men are dead, my capta(...).jpg (73 KB, 800x533)

73 KB JPG

AWACS “Andromeda”
<< Hang on, are you even … are you even authorized to make that call? >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< I … you expect me to tell the men to lay down their arms and … that’s it? >>

Garm 04 Flight Intelligence, “Elaine”
<< Wizard, this isn’t … >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< I don’t believe you. You hunt us down like dogs and now you just … >>

He makes a tortured, frustrated sound.

>Be patient and diplomatic with the Corporal, air out terms (namely that you have more missiles than they do transports)
>Shut down communications, get back to the mission
>Write-In

>>4617247
>Be patient and diplomatic with the Corporal, air out terms (namely that you have more missiles than they do transports)

>>4617247
>>Write-In
Say that they have five seconds or they die

>>4617247
>Write-In
Well, we could go back to shooting you.

>>4617247
>>Be patient and diplomatic with the Corporal, air out terms (namely that you have more missiles than they do transports)

File: Surrender.png (3.76 MB, 2062x1266)

3.76 MB PNG

Hazard Malcontent
<< You would expect me to cow to such threats? >>

You emphasize that your position is made from a vantage point hat holds every advantage over his, and that this conversation would not be happening at all if it had been meant as a threat.

What you offer are mere terms, nothing more, nothing less.

Hazard Malcontent
<< I … >>

There’s a brief span of silence.

Elaine looks up towards you, her expression half-incredulous, half-expectant. You can feel the neural feedback from the recent input tickling the insides of your skull, like a colony of ants performing a ritual dance. You hadn’t expected her to have such stimulation to a verbal exchange … but that only accentuates the mystery as to what truly prompted the AIs to enter such states of calculation and consideration; you’d never had to fly a mission that allowed you to dictate terms in this manner … or any manner, but for some reason—one that you cannot fathom for yourself—you feel as though you owed them one last chance at mercy.

It is what you, in the end, give.

Making a pass by the mountains, you glance downward to find the specks of trained AA guns, raised towards the sky but not firing.

One light blinks out of existence.

Hazard Malcontent
<< We … we surrender. All forces … stand down. >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< Corporal, how can we just … >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< There is no point. Even if we made a dash for the grey zone, they’d pick most us off before we crossed the border. Our cause is lost. >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< What of the main force, then? Call them in! Colonel Burke still stands! >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< The base, the main force … is gone. They must have carried out the raid moments prior to this attack. Colonel Burke did not respond, so we can only conclude that the worst has happened. >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< But The Great General’s Dictation … >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< He is dead, my friend. Our duty … is to the living. >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< No … No, I won’t allow it! I live, I die … and will live again in his name! >>

Hazard Malcontent
<< You fool! >>

You hear a loud crack … of gun-fire.

Hazard Malcontent
<< You fool … >>

A frustrated hiss sounds over the comms.

Hazard Malcontent
<< Bind our wrists and ankles, soldier, but bind them tightly. >>

AWACS “Andromeda”
<< For our claws are sharp … and our legs still have life. >>

You hear a melancholic sigh from the AWACS as she finishes the sentence.

A small chuckle escapes you as you make a pass over the inactive AA guns, cruising through the valley, your hands at ease on the throttle and stick as Elaine wrinkles her nose, appearing to be in deep thought.

AWACS “Andromeda”
<< It’s a commendable sentiment, Garm Four, but you do know that someone’s going to need to fill up a whole lot of paperwork to process this little … incident, right? >>

>Write-In

>>4617276
>Let her know that you'll handle it.
>sweat at the pain in your wrist you know you will be feeling from stacks

>>4617276
>You mean for shooting down the Wonderbreads? Merc quality assurance questionnaires are always a pain.

Joking aside supporting >>4617281.

>>4617281
sounds like a fair reply, supporting.

>>4617281
Supporting

File: Confused.gif (1.11 MB, 400x338)

1.11 MB GIF

AWACS “Andromeda”
<< Well, I’m going to have to ring up the Guard for this one. You, Mr. Diplomat, are on watch until I get a confirmation. Try not to fall asleep at the controls, will you? >>

You roger that.

Garm 04 Flight Intelligence, “Elaine”
<< Wizard … do you mind if I ask you something? >>

>Write-In

>>4617712
>Go ahead?

>>4617712
>ask her what's up

File: It's night time but hey.jpg (34 KB, 680x469)

34 KB JPG

Her processor must be going through the same motions her avatar translated into body language.

Garm 04 Flight Intelligence, “Elaine”
<< Why? >>

>Pretend not to know what she’s getting at
>Refuse to give her an answer
>Write-In

>>4617757
>>Write-In
>because they deserved a chance to surrender and hopefully find a way to atone and strive for the change they want to see without violence

>>4617757
>Because it is my job to teach you to think outside the box and that is way outside the box.

>>4617757
>Write-in
>War is not all about making your enemies die for the simple sake of killing them - it is a means to an end, and needless deaths are a tragedy rather than a necessity. Both I and they knew that and I gave them a chance to live because, at the end of the day, our enemies are still people too. A little creative thinking can go far when you do the unexpected.

>>4617757
>>Write-In
Wanted them to give them a choice an unwinnable fight and die or surrender and live to tell the tale and plus have you thought of that possibility elaine you need to think outside of the box thats the one thing that humans have an advantage against you and the other ais

>>4617782
I can get behind this, though I think we should comment on the one that took his own life.

>>4617757
>>Pretend not to know what she’s getting at
at first then
>>Write-In
>Why not?

Running in a sec. Hang tight.

File: AIs can't eat but wth.jpg (177 KB, 850x942)

177 KB JPG

She adopts a thoughtful pose, stroking her chin.

Garm 04 Flight Intelligence, Elaine
<< I won’t pretend that I get what you’re trying to convey at the get-go. You mind if I take this through background processing and storage? >>

>Allow her to do so as she is to learn from you anyway; she can adjudge whether it is worth keeping for herself
>Deny her the chance to do so as it is irrelevant to her ultimate purpose
>Write-In

>>4618468
>>Allow her to do so as she is to learn from you anyway; she can adjudge whether it is worth keeping for herself
She needs to know

>>4618468
>>Allow her to do so as she is to learn from you anyway; she can adjudge whether it is worth keeping for herself

>>4618468
>Allow her to do so as she is to learn from you anyway; she can adjudge whether it is worth keeping for herself

>>4618468
>Allow her to do so as she is to learn from you anyway; she can adjudge whether it is worth keeping for herself
I predict a very unanimous vote

>>4618468
>Allow her to do so as she is to learn from you anyway; she can adjudge whether it is worth keeping for herself

>>4618468
>>Allow her to do so as she is to learn from you anyway; she can adjudge whether it is worth keeping for herself

File: Pshaw.jpg (56 KB, 495x384)

56 KB JPG

Her contemplative look remains, but there is an odd … connection that forms in your allowance in this regard. Letting out a sigh, you undo your oxygen mask, taking in the deep, synthetic scent of the cockpit and cured leather as you lean back and switch the avionics over to Elaine, declaring your desire for a brief span of shut-eye.

Garm 04 Flight Intelligence, “Elaine”
<< Stamina’s always been your weakest point. >>

You point out that you take in between 6 to 8 Gs with her around. Your stamina matters little when it comes to the sheer laws of physics.

Garm 04 Flight Intelligence, “Elaine”
<< Go to bed already, you big baby … but if I see ground fire, I’m rolling you right out of your seat. Don’t expect me to clean up the end results of your lack of good judgment. >>

You proceed to point out that you picked her out among the others.

Elaine responds by spiraling towards the cloud-line at 7 Gs.

CHAPTER COMPLETE

File: MISSION COMPLETE.jpg (16 KB, 700x483)

16 KB JPG

===================
EXPERIENCE SCREEN
===================

CURRENT EXP HELD: 28
Evasion Lv. 3 (20 to next level)
-Feint (You can choose to roll against the GM [1d20] instead of the DC for the EVASION phase [Not Evasion Reversal])

Hunting Lv. 3 (20 to next level)
-Eagle Eye (If successful during your first Initiative of the mission, roll 1d20 against the GM. Deal one phase of damage/take one kill, then proceed through the mission as normal)

Engagement Lv. 3 (20 to next level)
-Textbook (+1 to Engagement roll after if the initial Initiative roll of the encounter was a failure)

F-15 “Elaine”

PSYCO LEVEL: 6 (10 to Next Level)
Modifiers: +5 on activation
Limit DC: 10
>Acrobat Lv. 1 (+1 to Evasion)
>Multi-Lock Lv. 1 (May lock up to 2 extra targets)
>Relentless Lv. 2 (May roll again if Hunting/Initiative fails at DC-1)
>Vengeance Lv. 1 (After a failed evasion or evasion reversal, may roll a 1d20, DC:16 at Lv. 1; kill attacking enemy(s))

>ALLOCATE YOUR EXPERIENCE POINTS

>>4618697
Level up >Engagement

>>4618697
>level up Evasion

>>4618697
level up hunting

File: ditzy of a doo.png (51 KB, 360x450)

51 KB PNG

>>4618718
>>4618724
>>4618736
That's a ditzy of a doo, I tell ya hwat.

>>4618697
I’ll break the tie, level up evasion

Did we not plan ahead with our skill points already?

>>4619875
>/qst/
>planning ahead
pick one

>>4613893
No, logistics personnel are lawful combatants and fleeing =/= surrendering.

File: RTB.jpg (19 KB, 600x347)

19 KB JPG

============================
EXPERIENCE SCREEN (UPDATED)
============================

CURRENT EXP HELD: 8
Evasion Lv. 4 (30 to next level)
-Feint (You can choose to roll against the GM [1d20] instead of the DC for the EVASION phase [Not Evasion Reversal])

Hunting Lv. 3 (20 to next level)
-Eagle Eye (If successful during your first Initiative of the mission, roll 1d20 against the GM. Deal one phase of damage/take one kill, then proceed through the mission as normal)

Engagement Lv. 3 (20 to next level)
-Textbook (+1 to Engagement roll after if the initial Initiative roll of the encounter was a failure)

F-15 “Elaine”

PSYCO LEVEL: 6 (10 to Next Level)
Modifiers: +5 on activation
Limit DC: 10
>Acrobat Lv. 1 (+1 to Evasion)
>Multi-Lock Lv. 1 (May lock up to 2 extra targets)
>Relentless Lv. 2 (May roll again if Hunting/Initiative fails at DC-1)
>Vengeance Lv. 1 (After a failed evasion or evasion reversal, may roll a 1d20, DC:16 at Lv. 1; kill attacking enemy(s))

CONFIRM?

>>4620125
>yes

>>4620125
[Y]

>>4619875
We just need to avoid raising any skills above 9 before we decide which one to raise to 14/15.

If we are careful we can max out at 15/9/9 or 14/10/9.

>>4620125
>yes

>>4620125
fine

File: Flight Lead Solo.jpg (44 KB, 240x313)

44 KB JPG

Your fingers are more numb by the last squeeze of ink than they are climbing at 10 Gs … but the last of the processing is over and done with with the clatter of your pen against the battered plastic table. The stack of paperwork stands high and mighty, but is otherwise defeated through your perseverance. Stretching your arms over your head, you give your ribs a good scratch before peering out the poor excuse of a window out into the field, trying your best to ignore the musty scent of your afforded quarters … and finding yourself very impatient to return to the testing grounds back south.

All that was left was to deliver the three foot stack and—

There’s a knock on the door.

‘You in there, buddy?’

>Write-In

>>4620261
>open the door and greet him

>>4620264
Supporting

>>4620264
I vote for this.

Also please for my sanity QM at least work-in what the winning option is in your posts. I find it hard to track when reading through archives with lots of write-ins.

File: I Thought This Was Funny.png (215 KB, 960x553)

215 KB PNG

The first thing that Solo does as you open the door is peer over your shoulder.

The second thing that he does is let out an appreciative whistle.

‘You actually managed to get through all that?’

>Recount your experiences as a test pilot gave your wrists ample resistance, especially with the coats being on your back more than others
>Communicate your fatigue in getting the task done
>Get to the point and ask him what he’s here for
>Write-In

>>4620282
>>Recount your experiences as a test pilot gave your wrists ample resistance, especially with the coats being on your back more than others

>>4620282
>Recount your experiences as a test pilot gave your wrists ample resistance, especially with the coats being on your back more than others

>>4620282
>Recount your experiences as a test pilot gave your wrists ample resistance, especially with the coats being on your back more than others

>>4620282
>pic
it's not funny, Omega 11 bailing out so much killed the storyteller boy's parents and dog
>>Recount your experiences as a test pilot gave your wrists ample resistance, especially with the coats being on your back more than others

>>4620282
>Recount your experiences as a test pilot gave your wrists ample resistance, especially with the coats being on your back more than others

File: AI hologram.jpg (6 KB, 243x208)

6 KB JPG

Solo shakes his head, letting out a laugh that’s a little louder than you would have expected.

‘Ain’t that the truth,’ he comments, crossing his arms across his chest. ‘I’ve seen the files. You make up at least a third of all the test reports.’

>Shrug and tell him that it was only natural; you were, after all, the most effective AI driver.
>Comment and ask if what he saw there was what made him pick you up.
>Point out that he didn’t come around to just make small talk
>Write-In

>>4620308
>Do you want me to introduce you to your witchy new WSO/Co-Pilot?

>>4620308
>Write-In
"I heard you were having some trouble with your VX, something to do with the A.I, want some help with that?"

‘Kind of hard to do without the plane being here, isn’t it?’

You clarify that you’d merely put the offer on the table for him to take at his convenience. It’s quite obvious that it would be impossible to do so hundreds of miles away from the other party.

‘In any case, I just thought that you’d finally make the decision to join the rest of the squad for dinner. The slop they serve out here’s a lot better than the one they have at the serve, so … maybe that’ll give you some incentive to actually make that crawl across to the cafeteria instead of eating in, you know?’

Solo’s wording is awkward … but you do get the implication well enough.

Still, it didn't seem like a formal command.

>Join them
>Decline their company [END INTERLUDE]
>Write-In

>>4620377
>Join them

>>4620377
>>Decline their company [END INTERLUDE]

>>4620377
>>Join them

>>4620377
>>Join them

>>4620377
>Join them

>>4620377
>>Write-In
Ask him to introduce the ai on his plane first then go to dinner

>>4620557
We are not at home base (where that Ai equipped plane) he flew here with a standard F-15.

>>4620619
fuck should not read then write in when im tired

>>4620377
>>Join them

File: Not Eating This.jpg (5 KB, 161x186)

5 KB JPG

‘I’m probably a monster for saying this, but between sacrificing the functionality of my wrist filling out post-mission administrative forms and supplementary encounter prompt reports and the lives of a hundred-odd terrorists, I’d rather put up with a half-inch stack of the former than the two-foot tall processing details that come from the latter,’ Random remarks, his voice thick as another quarter of his sandwich drops past his throat. ‘Never thought that I’d meet a mercenary that’d voluntarily put half his day away to sort through the log of an arrest hand-over.’

Random’s accompanying look is one of both respectful awe, incredulity and disapproval. You merely shrug in response to his comment, unwilling to contest to the opinion. You’d just finished recounting the tale of your first official assignment under the Orleasian flag, as prompted by the woman sitting across and to the right of the six-seat table, who was now poking at the pudding that laid on top of her sad excuse of a salad with a spork … which, you now realize, was probably meant to be island sauce.

‘I believe that the peacekeeper squadrons have more reason to be irritated,’ Sensei replies, still poking at her meal, ‘after all, the question of their detainment and the logistics of Hazard’s remnants probably wasn’t something they expected to arrive so quickly … or at all.’

Ransom turns to his WSO, raising an eyebrow.

‘You’re agreeing with me, then?’

‘No, I’m just saying that your sympathies aren’t wholly correct in where they should be,’ Sensei responds, stabbing her spork into the pudding-cum-dressing … and finding the whole thing lift off the salad as though it was a complete, solid object. ‘However, on the counter-point … I say that the less lives that we have to waste in this clean-up, the better.’

Solo, sitting right next to you, sounds a small hum of agreement as he gives a nod of approval.

The cafeteria was bare.

The tables are neatly arranged and the support staff lined the counter and the glass, but it was mostly empty. No posters, no pictures, no tributes to the monarchy … or even a corny slogan for morale to adorn its grey-green walls; no officers heckling their subordinates, no soldiers having a laugh about their latest trials of the day outside of your own group … it honestly feels more like a hospital cafeteria after visiting hours than it does a mess hall.

‘I don’t think this was thawed right,’ Sensei observes, giving her spork a wiggle and causing the jello-like substance it had been stabbed into to wiggle.

‘They just resumed operations three days ago,’ Solo replies nonchalantly as he bites into what looks like a biscuit but smells like medium-well ground beef. ‘It’s not like they’d be able to roll out the 5-star dining cart on such short notice.’

File: Ransomformal.jpg (100 KB, 1280x720)

100 KB JPG

Sensei gives a reluctant not, sticking her tongue out to give the thing in her hands a taste … before setting it back down on her salad and pushing it away.

Above you, the only working television in the hall rambles about how men were inherently sexual predators or some nonsense of the mark.

‘Why aren’t we going into town again?’ Ransom laments, biting into his sandwich. ‘We have the slips, right?’

‘Because the Base Commander doesn’t want to lend us one of the jeeps and the nearest town is a six mile hike over hills and a river with wilderness in between,’ Solo responds, ‘but you have my blessing if you want to chance that; heard there are wolves and cougars in the area, too.’

‘Cougars? All the way out here? This is practically wine country, Captain.’

‘I’m not stopping you.’

‘Why won’t the Base Commander lend us one of the jeeps?’

‘Something-something paperwork, something-something jurisdiction,’ Ransom shrugs, bobbing his head. ‘He’s probably holding a grudge for being activated. He’s got that look: probably a cushy administrative type that just collected checks and signed forms, got promoted through the retirement and transfer of superiors … and now actually has to do some work. He probably doesn’t even know who General Hazard is.’

Sensei turns her head slightly, peering at you with dancing blue eyes.

‘Well, Wizard? Do you know who General Hazard is?’

>Give her the complete dissertation on General Dalen Van Hazard, the self-proclaimed Embodiment of Rebellion
>Shrug and tell her that you never bothered to get into the politics of a conflict, but that you are aware of his identity and his status as an alleged war criminal
>Ask her to refresh your memory
>Write-In

>>4621957
>Shrug and tell her that you never bothered to get into the politics of a conflict, but that you are aware of his identity and his status as an alleged war criminal.

>>4621957
>Shrug and tell her that you never bothered to get into the politics of a conflict, but that you are aware of his identity and his status as an alleged war criminal

>>4621957
>>Give her the complete dissertation on General Dalen Van Hazard, the self-proclaimed Embodiment of Rebellion

>>4621957
>Give her the complete dissertation on General Dalen Van Hazard, the self-proclaimed Embodiment of Rebellion

File: Sorry we didn't mean to k(...).jpg (528 KB, 832x1024)

528 KB JPG

‘The winner’s war criminal is the loser’s martyr,’ Solo comments, taking a sip from his milk carton. ‘Not that I can claim to be any less fuzzy with the details, either, but he had to be something to get a following that’s strong enough to hold these sort of things after being dead and buried.’

‘Say the right things and people will put their necks on train tracks for you,’ Ransom remarks, setting the half-sandwich back upon his plate. ‘With the way the people were divvying up the region, it just made sense that people would gravitate to the one person who actually had the means to back it up.’

Sensei smirks, her hair falling forwards slightly as her cool blue eyes regards Ransom with an odd quality of mischief. ‘I’m sure that that endorsement’s one that the House of Excellus really regrets making.’

Ransom’s expression turns bitter at the remark.

You wonder what Corsican merchant nobles have to do with it.

‘Not as much as you’d think.’

‘He must have had something to him that appealed beyond mere words and promises,’ Solo posits, shrugging as he takes a sip of tea from his tall glass … and promptly winces before setting it back down. ‘Not that I particularly care to explore it, of course. As far history cares, he’s the one that came up short when it came down to it. The only thing that makes it a mystery at all is how the living still abide by the philosophy of one that’s dead and buried and without anything to show for it.’

Sensei folds her arms across her chest, placing her elbows upon the table as

‘You can say that for all religious figures, can’t you, sir?’

Solo snorts, letting out a shrug, appearing to concede the point.

‘You can probably argue that people just wanted stability, I guess,’ Ransom offers, rubbing his neck. ‘A brutal dictatorship clocking on efficiency and cruelty is preferable to chaos and wastage in the terms of the public trust for the sake of the threads of peace.’

An awkward silence comes over the table … before Sensei throws her head back, laughing so loudly that the kitchen staffers throw your table odd looks. Solo, despite being your Captain and in total command of the conduct and discipline of the present Squadron members, shakes his head in exasperation as he wears a wry smile, but does nothing else.

‘I would have expected that sort of reaction from Kitten or Wight, not you.’

Sensei snorts as she regains her composure.

‘I think everyone here can appreciate the complete irony of you …’

Then she trails off, as if remembering something … before turning to you and wearing an apologetic look.

‘I’m sorry, Wizard,’ said Sensei, definitely sounding it. ‘We didn’t mean to keep you locked out.’

‘That would have been counter-intuitive to this exercise,’ Solo remarks.

Sensei, to her credit, does have the decency to look embarrassed.

>>4621957
>>Give her the complete dissertation on General Dalen Van Hazard, the self-proclaimed Embodiment of Rebellion

>Tell them not to think much of it as you’re just glad to finally get properly acquainted with them
>Ask who Kitten and Wight are
>Continue with the topic of the deceased General Hazard
>Ask how Solo and Ransom can even bite their food
>Shrug indifferently
>Write-In

>>4622371
>>Tell them not to think much of it as you’re just glad to finally get properly acquainted with them

>>4622371
>Tell them not to think much of it as you’re just glad to finally get properly acquainted with them

>>4622371
>>Ask who Kitten and Wight are
Time for some lore

>>4622371
>Ask who Kitten and Wight are

Time to hear about the other members of the squadron

>>4622371
>>Ask who Kitten and Wight are

>>4622371
>>Ask who Kitten and Wight are

File: It was never a game Claudia.jpg (347 KB, 3743x3454)

347 KB JPG

‘Garms Eight and Six,’ Ransom answers tightly. ‘They should be back on base by now; they were on leave to attend Kitten’s sister’s wedding or something like that.’

‘Kitten’s older brother is marrying Scarface’s cousin,’ Sensei clarifies. ‘Wight and T-Bone went as their plus-ones.’

>Inquire into the identities of Scarface and T-Bone
>Leave it at that
>Write-In

>>4622692
>>Inquire into the identities of Scarface and T-Bone
im curious

>>4622692
>Lets make a deal, you guys tell me about all the members of our squadron and I will tell you about all our AIs? I doubt you would know which plane I was talking about If I used the name Fiona.

>>4622692
Supporting >>4622711

>>4622711
Supporting this

File: Ransom 5.jpg (24 KB, 300x300)

24 KB JPG

Ransom looks thoughtful, holding up his fingers on his right hand and tapping them with his left.

‘Scarface; Wight; T-Bone; Kitten. That’s all of them, … unless we’ve gotten new assignments in the last thirty-six hours.’

The Captain takes another swig from his milk carton.

‘You’ll be meeting them soon enough, anyway. We’re due out by sixteen-hundred tomorrow.’

>Write-In

>>4622939
>nod and ask Solo if he checked the expiration date on that milk
always check your milk bois, least you drink some nice chunks

>>4622939
>List the names of the AIs

>>4622964
>>4622945
Why not both?

>>4622945
>>4622964
I vote for both because why not

File: Planes.png (5 KB, 169x300)

5 KB PNG

They already knew about Tessa and Elaine. So you list the rest of them.

Priscilla. Violet. Talia. Florence. Alpha.

Victoria.

‘Wait … Alpha?’

You emphasize that the names were selected by the AIs themselves and however they chose them was their own personal business. That being said … Alpha was probably appropriate, all things considered.

After all, she was the first working prototype, in more ways than one.

‘And you’ve flown them all?’

>Write-In

>>4623063
>Yes, all 11.

>>4623063
>I've flown all 11 but I had the best score with Elaine.

>>4623063
>>Write-In
Yes all 11 and of them and some of the others test pilots tried flying with other ais but some were incompatible due the pilots not working with the ais or the ais outright rejected them for multiple reasons either for being a dickhead the pilots or straight up creepy or they could not handle how the ais would fly

>>4623063
>Yup
oh boy, the chimera

File: F-16.jpg (49 KB, 1120x840)

49 KB JPG

You try not to blanket your explanations too much.

To your audience’s credit, they’re not bored by the fifth sentence you dole out. While you weren’t able to go into the excruciating technicalities of each fighter’s AI, you do at least manage to detail the degree of responsiveness that each AI appeared to have with their designated pilots and how the technicians and engineers adjudged compatibility. You recall the dozen and a half that made up the crop of the initial testing batch and how they dwindled as the months passed and the AIs began fashioning themselves into proper identities of their own, incorporating and executing data as they cycled through their test pilots. You’re not sure how the men and women of Amaterasu managed to tabulate compatibility matrices into discernible numbers, but do that they did … and the more unique those numbers became, the more fascinated they grew with you and the others. By the time you were cleared for your first demonstration, you’d been carved down to seven.

By the time you were in the air on official assignment … five of you remained.

‘You and Tessa really hit it off, huh?’ Ransom recounts. ‘And Alpha … sounds really robotic compared to the rest.’

She would be … considering she was the practical origin point for the whole program.

‘It’s amazing how the AIs were able to both adapt to the strengths of their plane’s designs while also using pilot input to shore up their shortcomings.’

You make a point to emphasize that engineering probably had as much to do with their capabilities as much as their own innate learning processes. Tessa’s frame, for example, wouldn’t have otherwise been able to bear a flat drop recovery without all the technological innovations that made such acrobatic movements possible; the F-14, by design, was a power player, not one built for finesse. Neither would Alpha have been such an effective platform for multi-role operations without the tweaks to her output that Amaterasu had deemed so grossly necessary.

‘So the F-16 handles the best, right?’

You nod, but that was only by virtue of general consensus … and being specialized in tight turns and the effective equivalent of an aerial bar-fight. Personally, you prefer the power that comes with the F-15 to shift between offensive and defensive positions in practical combat: Elaine herself serves as a decent middle-ground to compensate, even if she was built for out-lasting more than out-gunning.

Pilots lived and died on stray bullets more than they did missiles of intention.

Ransom shakes his head in amusement.

‘You know … for its faults, I wouldn’t have thought that the Chimera would have ended up spawning a program built around those same shortcomings. No, I would have not.’

>Remark that you’d like to at least get to know something of your new Squadmates before you turn in
>Observe that the Squadron seems a mite more casual than you initially expected; they’re only marginally more formal than Symphony Squadron
>Finish up your meal and turn in for an early night
>Write-In

>>4623161
>Remark that you’d like to at least get to know something of your new Squadmates before you turn in

>>4623163
>>Remark that you’d like to at least get to know something of your new Squadmates before you turn in

>>4623163
>>Remark that you’d like to at least get to know something of your new Squadmates before you turn in

>>4623163
>>Remark that you’d like to at least get to know something of your new Squadmates before you turn in

I paid RM 119.00 for a phone charger and RM 23.00 for a new cable. Of all the God damn things to catch fire it's the thing that costs almost triple what it would on the mainland.

File: What Would You Like To Know.png (67 KB, 272x288)

67 KB PNG

‘What would you like to know?’

>Something about Solo
>Something about Sensei
>Something about Ransom
>Something about one of the others
>Write-In

>>4623394
>>Something about Sensei

>>4623394
>Something about Solo
Yo, buddy.

This is actually a pretty important decision now that you've finally brought it up, so choose wisely.

>>4623394
>>Something about Solo

>>4623394
>Something about Solo.