"I don't know. Maybe. Just wait for-" Her head snaps around, hand reaching for the pistol on her hip as the door to the room slams open and a plainclothes trooper steps through, followed by Admiral Nixon and one of his staff officers and another man, one dressed in a soviet colonel's uniform. Both the girls grab onto you as soon as he walks through the door, though he's alone and, even after looking at them, is either too distracted to care about them or doesn't recognize them.

Brigitte arrests the move and snaps to attention, while you mirror it by long reflex- Nixon waves a tired hand. "Sit down, kids." He says, sounding harried, and looks at Brigitte. "How long till Wells is on the ground?"

"She's already on post, sir." Brigitte says- her clear English confusing Nixon for a second. "My girls will meet her and bring her here, no problem."

"Good." He nods. "Good, good. Bishop, this is Colonel Andrei Glovenko, Soviet air force. He's one of the officers we've been working with as part of the peace process. Andy, this is Frank Bishop."

The colonel nods at you, recognizing the name, though he doesn't say anything.

Nixon looks at you and shakes his head, running a hand back through his close-cropped grey hair. "This is a bad one, son. Real bad."

[] What's going on, sir?
[] We can handle it, Sir. Just let us know what we're doing.

>>42893379
[X] What's going on, sir?

>>42893379
>[] What's going on, sir?

>>42893379
>[] We can handle it, Sir. Just let us know what we're doing.
Brigitte without her accent sounds weird...

>>42893379
>[] What's going on, sir?

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Havings shitty shitscribble.

>>42893379
>[] What's going on, sir?

>>42893379
>[] What's going on, sir?

>>42893379
>[] What's going on, sir?

"So, Sir. What kind of world sundering abomination has Stalin unleashed?"

>>42893379
>[] What's going on, sir?

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>>42893379
>[x] What's going on, sir?
Sure as hell doesn't sound like the same shit as normal.
>her accent falling away at the end of her sentence
This is really, really worrying then.

Best night of the week!

>>42893433
Nice.

Also lewd.

>>42893379
>[] What's going on, sir?

>>42893379
>[] What's going on, sir?
>Brigette without an accent
shit really has gone pear-shaped

>>42893379
>[x] What's going on, sir?
Time for unexpected developments!

>>42893379
>[x] We can handle it, Sir. Just let us know what we're doing.

serious mode Brigitte with sans-accent.

We chose... poorly.

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[x] What's going on, sir?

"What's going on, sir?" You ask, and he shakes his head.

"Give it a minute, Lieutenant commander." He says. "Wait for Wells, I don't want to have to say this all twice."

You nod, hugging both Stasya and Lilya a little closer to you- LIlya is shuddering slightly and Stasya feels about as tense as a coiled spring- It's probably GLovenko's uniform, you decide. You stay like that for a second before the door opens again and Merlin and Sakamoto walk in, their flight gear still on.

Nixon nods as soon as they step in the room. "Good. Brigitte, dog that hatch and stand in front of it."

He takes a second to look at Sakamoto and your girls, then shakes his head. "This is all classified beyond black, People. I hear you even thought of breathing a word of it to anyone outside this room, your life turns into a hell of supermax cells and courtrooms, clear?"

You nod, along with the girls and everyone else.

"Ok. Here's what's going on. Andy?" He says, and the Soviet colonel nods and steps forward.

"Approximately an hour ago, I received a priority call from Comrade Premier Putin." He says, his English only lightly accented- less so than Katya's, even. "His troops have secured the Kremlin and the rest of the government buildings in Moscow, and have effectively gained control of the nation from the Politboro and Comrade Stalin." He pauses.

"Stalin was killed in the fighting at the palace of the soviets." He says, matter-of-factually. "This triggered deadman's hand systems unknown to us- Stalin's Hammer and Stalin's Shield. Stalin's Hammer is a computer command designed to lock down the megalith installation and launch Megalith's weapons at targets around the globe. Stalin's Shield is an airborne weapons platform designed to prevent any attempt to stop this."

1/2

"He's not telling the whole story, kids." Nixon says- as soon as he starts talking, the Soviet Colonel steps away from the podium. "The whole system was designed independent of the UNEDF. There's no way to stop it, and it only needs a handful of loyalists to enact. Megalith isn't responding to shutdown signals from Geneva."

"Do we have a target list?" You ask.

"Not yet, but there's more than enough warheads in Megalith to wipe us all out. Some of them were designed to do just that- sow enough radiation in the atmosphere that earth would be uninhabitable to everything but the cockroaches." He says.

"So hit it with arkbird?" You say. He shakes his head.

"Not an option. The Shield was designed to shut down any attempt at attacking Megalith. We don't know a lot about it, but it was designed to fly, and probably fight, forever."

Glovenko nods. "We're attempting to track down information about the Shield, but most data on it seems to have been lost when directorate sixty wiped out their computerized records. Paper records may still exist, but it will take time to find them. We have already lost several squadrons of our best remaining pilots and witches attempting to breech the airspace."

"Son," Nixon says, looking back at you. "I don't want to ask you this, I know you have your kids and everything now, but we need you to go in and shut that flying fortress down so we can get people in to stop Megalith- or bomb it into rubble."

[] So you want me to go in blind against something apparently designed to kill anything that gets close to Megalith and shoot it down so we can blow up or disable the UNEDF's biggest weapons installation? Sounds like my kinda job, where's our jet.
[] That sounds like a suicide mission, sir, there's no way I'm doing that blind and without support.

>>42894131
>Okay

>>42894131
>[x] So you want me to go in blind against something apparently designed to kill anything that gets close to Megalith and shoot it down so we can blow up or disable the UNEDF's biggest weapons installation? Sounds like my kinda job, where's our jet.
We're fucked either way. Let's just hope that there's enough of us left to fill an urn.

>>42894131
>[X] So you want me to go in blind against something apparently designed to kill anything that gets close to Megalith and shoot it down so we can blow up or disable the UNEDF's biggest weapons installation? Sounds like my kinda job, where's our jet.

>>42894131
"Yes, sir. What do we have for support? How many of us are going up against it?"

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>>42894104
>This triggered deadman's hand systems unknown to us
Didn't Stalin love western movies? He must of loved Dr. Strangelove...
>>42894131
>[x] So you want me to go in blind against something apparently designed to kill anything that gets close to Megalith and shoot it down so we can blow up or disable the UNEDF's biggest weapons installation? Sounds like my kinda job, where's our jet.
Damned if you do, damned if you don't but we NEED support to do it.

Any chance we can deorbit satellites to give targets to the shield longshot I know ? Perhaps fire all the ballistic missiles we can at it too? Launch everything? If we can overwhelm the shield with targets it'll be far easier to kill it, i.e. The Dance of the Vampires.

>>42894214
I like this. Respond in the affirmative, but ask about support assets as well

>>42894131
Here >>42894324
Changing to this >>42894214
It's better and cuts the bullshit.

Also I'm guessing the shield and the computers at Megalith are hardened to protect against EMP's? We wouldn't need to get close to detonate a nuke near it, just high above it.

>>42894131
[x] So you want me to go in blind against something apparently designed to kill anything that gets close to Megalith and shoot it down so we can blow up or disable the UNEDF's biggest weapons installation? Sounds like my kinda job, where's our jet.

Bring your shit to me, last boss.

>>42894131
>>42894214
Seconding

>>42894131
>[] So you want me to go in blind against something apparently designed to kill anything that gets close to Megalith and shoot it down so we can blow up or disable the UNEDF's biggest weapons installation? Sounds like my kinda job, where's our jet.

>>42894131
>Other
"Yes, sir. What do we have for support? How many of us are going up against it?"

Alright SWQ '89 is back!....well now this is a load off of my mind, I'm glad you didn't go with the "Merlin gets kidnapped by Stalin's forces and brainwashed" plot Diva.

>>42894131
>"Not an option. The Shield was designed to shut down any attempt at attacking Megalith. We don't know a lot about it, but it was designed to fly, and probably fight, forever."
I suppose that includes boots on the ground knocking out Megalith? Don't suppose Chandelier or Stonehenge can target it either.

At any rate, its time to leave our legacy with Katya and Slider too.

oh god SW89 really close to end now

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[x] So you want me to go in blind against something apparently designed to kill anything that gets close to Megalith and shoot it down so we can blow up or disable the UNEDF's biggest weapons installation? Sounds like my kinda job, where's our jet.

"So you want me to go in blind against something apparently designed to kill anything that gets close to Megalith and shoot it down so we can go blow up or disable the UNEDF's biggest weapons installation?" You ask, leaning back in your chair and crossing your arms.

Nixon nods. "Listen, son-"

"Sounds like my kinda job, where's our jet." You finish with a grin.

He shakes his head. "Listen, son," He repeats, "I wouldn't be asking you if we thought we had another option with the same chance of working. Right now, we don't. And we're pulling every string we've got to give you every chance we can-"

"What kind of support are we getting?" Merlin asks.

"We've got one set of prototype strikers ready to go based on your work, Lieutenant." He says. "Your latest work, I mean."

You look back at Merlin as she frowns. "The Valkyrie?"

"That's it's name?" Nixon asks, then nods. "But, yes. that. That's it, just one set. Your wyvern isn't up for this one, but the air force has a plane they're letting us borrow from Boeing's Black Gnomes. Mission planning is on you, the soviet air force will be providing regional BARCAP and letting us fly tankers and support aircraft into their airspace."

"The wyvern's down?" You ask. "Sir, if this is this urgent, we probably don't have time to familiarize with a new airframe-"

He shakes his head. "Don't worry about that part, son, they say you'll be fine. It was designed for teams like yours from the word go. It's in the hangar out there."

"So how's it loaded?" You ask.

"Weapons are already fitted- trust me son, this some real star-wars type stuff. Support assets are already rolling." He says, looking at his watch.

"Who's on his wing?" Slider asks.

"I think that's up to him, isn't it?" Nixon responds. "We've only got one Valkyrie, Bishop, this is a two-element flight. The soviets are willing to put up two of their best as well, but that's all we can risk in the battlespace until the shield is gone."

> Which witch do you bring with you?

>>42895019
>Katya

do we actually know who the best combat witch is amongst our group? All waifuing aside, a furball's a furball

>>42895019
>Slider

She's slippery as they come. We never got to see it at Barin because she was sandbagging us.

I can't remember, is Katya a Night Witch? Having a spotter might be useful.

>>42895093
Off the top of my head I recall that Katya's good for magical endurance, but Ice has got that fuck-off ancestral nugget, right?
>>42895019
Ice

>>42895019
>Wendy
She won't need time to familiarize with new strikers and she can keep up with us.

>but that's all we can risk in the battlespace until the shield is gone
So no chance at giving the shield too many targets to deal with?

>>42895019
>Wendy

>>42895019
>The bestest combat witch, whoever that might be.

Reminder to the Waifu-fags. There's a good chance the partner dies. It's a trope.

>>42895019
>Black Gnomes
I KNOW WHERE YOUNG WENT!
> Which witch do you bring with you?
Konnie, because:
>A)
Like fuck am I gonna risk any of our wifes getting killed on such a high risk mission.
>B)
Konnie is a good enough witch to keep up with us during combat.
>C)
She has the magic reserves and reflexes to keep herself safe while we do crazy shit.

>>42895019
>Wendy

You what, going with >>42895124 if only so she can stick it to the RAF Witches.

>>42895019
> Wendy

>>42895169
I gonna bet two of russian best they mentiomed are konnie and nutella.

>>42895019
Gonna say Slider. She's always had a better head on her shoulders than the rest of the Squadron.

>>42895124
>>42895153
>>42895170
>>42895187
Was Wendy's special ability really the ability to not get sick when acclimating to a new set of Strikers?

>>42895284
That and she's a fucking wizkid in the air, seriously was underappreciated by the RAF

>>42895019
While I don't like trusting units from outside NATO, >>42895169 makes a good enough point that I'll support him. We need someone to easily keep up with us and Konnie fits the bill.

>>42895284
I mostly just want her to redeem her family's name.

>>42895284
Yes and she's a damn good witch. In this situation she is literally best girl.

>>42895284
She's also the one able to stick with us the closest through sheer guts.

>>42895416
Though she's just as liable to kill herself through doing so as Frank is
>>42895019
>Ice or Wendy

>>42895451
True.

However this whole thing screams "Ghost want's to give us a chance to fuck up and kill somebody" so whoever we pick is gonna be in danger.

>>42895470
Nearly every time we've gone into combat someone could have died. Several characters have been close to dying, Ghost said so awhile ago. All it takes is us fucking up.

>>42895019
>Wendy

>>42895520
I know. It's just this one has big red blinking signs that say "Someone might die anon" with another set that includes "Including Frank!"

>>42895019
Wendy

>>42895550
And guess what? WE HAVE DIED (canonically), Ice just brought us back via magic.

>>42895593
Yes again.

However this one promises a bit more permanence than that.

>>42895019
>We've only got one Valkyrie, Bishop, this is a two-element flight. The soviets are willing to put up two of their best as well, but that's all we can risk in the battlespace until the shield is gone."


INB4 its Stalinka


Also is anyone else sad we didn't fight Robo-Stalin and his army bunker filled with brain dead witches?

>>42895618
Not particularly.

I would've voted to leave that to Bridgette.

>>42895593
She also nearly killed her ability to use magic, if not just outright killed herself.

>>42895618
>INB4 its Stalinka
Nope, she's on Putin's side.

Hence why two anons have voted for bringing her with us.

>>42895647
I think that's what he meant, that their two best included Stalinka.

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> Which witch do you bring with you?

"I want Wendy in that striker." You say, causing Slider to look over at you sharply. Nixon nods and gestures to one of his guard staff, who takes off at a sprint for the nearest phone- he'll call it in and get Wendy up here.

You shrug. "She's got the quickest and most mild striker sickness of all of you, and she stuck with me over Poland that time." You say.

Slider doesn't look sold, but nods. "Fine. But if she lets something happen to you..."

You scoff. "Yeah, like that's a thing that's ever going to happen."

"What about us, Papa?" Stasya asks. "We could help."

You shake your head. "It doesn't sound like it this time Stasya. I don't want you to get hurt, ok?"

She frowns. "But what if you get hurt?"

You shake your head. "Won't happen." You say, flatly. "But I am going to need you and Lilya to watch Rachel for me, ok? Stay here with her and keep her company till I get back."

Stasya frowns even more deeply, then nods. "Ok papa. If you say so." She doesn't sound too convinced.

"We'll try and give you support- space command has agreed to deorbit junk satellites to give the shield something to shoot at, but we don't know if it'll do any good. We're not sure what kind of control system it's got." Nixon says. "Life support will meet you in the hangar, Brigitte will drive you over."

1/2

"Anything else I need to know?" You ask.

He shakes his head. "We're issuing recall on Leftenant Maloney now. She'll be here as soon as transport can get her."

"Ice will probably be coming too, then." Slider warns you. "Maybe Katya."

"I know." You say, nodding.

"She's not going to be happy."

"She can deal with it. Baron, we need to get moving." Brigitte says, butting into the conversation.

You nod, standing up. Slider and the girls do too- and stop short when Brigitte holds out a hand. "Just the Baron and the little one." She says. "I'll-"

She pauses. "If you have something to say, you might want to say it now."

> do you have something to say?

>>42896171

I love you all. See you after this is over.

>>42896171

"Tell you when I get back~" Give her a kiss. Kiss the kids for luck too.

>>42896200
Goddammit that's a Death Flag right there!

>>42896171
Hug the girls.
"I'll be back."

>>42896219
Can you think of anything appropriate that's not?

<<All units, preparations for battle are complete>>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzS_ucqdNdY

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>>42896159
>space command has agreed to deorbit junk satellites to give the shield something to shoot at, but we don't know if it'll do any good. We're not sure what kind of control system it's got.
Hope it helps a bit.

>>42896171
>"I love you."

I wanted something witty, but you can't go wrong with the classics.

>>42896202
>>42896171
Sure second this.

>>42896234
"I could use those three 'favors' again" + Cheeky grin.

>>42896171
"I'll be back."

>>42896200
>>42896171

>>42896171
"I love you all, we'll look at acreage when I get back. Doesn't matter where we choose, as long as its with all of you."

>>42896171
So Brigitte, what's with the sudden loss of accent?

>>42896360

Her accent goes away completely when shes stressed~

>>42896171
I'll be right back, won't even know i'm gone."

so, how many more threads until epilogue?
Got a WIP with SW89+tank resident brownies and wondered if i can made it.

>>42896171
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.

>>42896171
Something like this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um5Cn5eHsGo

>>42896171
"Just another day at the office. See you when I get back hon."

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1Qkzj5bStU

It's been a wild ride...

>>42896219

Literally anything we could say is a Death Flag at this point!

Alone with minimal support against a Superweapon, truly Frank has become an Ace Combat protagonist.

>>42896416
I'd guess unless we start having longer threads we've got 3-4 maybe and at the rate we've been going that's about six weeks since someone doesn't want Ghost to run every week.

>>42896171
Kiss Slider, Stasya, and Lilya.
"I'll be back."

>>42896510
It's truly time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCcTMviUKWY

It's time for us to dance with the angels!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhdNjzX4waA

>>42896547
Wait with this, that would make Wendy PJ and that would mean:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U1NjH6kwkc

>>42896621
Bro, we have our own shields, we don't need Wendy to act as one for us.

Let's play Space Oddity when we do this.

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>>42896621
>Forgetting that this is the Megalith
>Not going maximum REX TREMEDAE MAJESTATIS

Alright real talk time, what music are we playing for that final fight? Yes I know all the ace combat being posted but that's pretty much a copout because it's really fucking good and it's ace combat.

>>42896686
There's only one song I can think of that would be better than Ace Combat music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxC8bWQcuAY

>>42896670
Save it for the actual mission

>>42896686
Two steps from hell skyworld, and ace combat stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq2ANOkfsIA

>>42896753
Good taste on the Two Steps from Hell, though I prefer To Glory.

>>42896686
How about this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_GdMMO_I6I

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> do you have something to say?

You pause at the door, looking at Slider, then Stasya and Lilya. The girls have already both claimed one of Slider's hands, and all three of them are looking at you- watching you leave. You smile. "I love all of you. I'll be back before you know it, ok?" The girls both nod- Slider looks a bit choked up. First you've ever seen her like that.

"Baron." Brigitte prompts, and you follow her out of the door.

There's an open topped Humvee waiting for you outside, Brigitte hops into the driver's side, having lost her strikers- but not her rifle- somewhere along the way. "You going to be ok, Baron?" She asks.

"Sure." You say, nodding. "I've fought worse."

"It doesn't sound like it." She responds, and you drive the rest of the way in silence.

The hangar is heavily guarded, but the troops outside let the three of you in without a second glance, recognizing Brigitte- and probably you, you realize. Inside is the biggest plane you've seen in a while, one that looks like a medium bomber. It squats on main gear with ten wheels- a paired nosewheel emerges from a boom jutting like a lower jaw out from under the cockpit, while the fuselage gears each have four wheels. A pair of massive, massive turbofans sit widely spaced underneath an almost flat V-tail and broad, polyhedral wings. Your keen eyes make out the lines of internal weapons bays, but there's no external ordinance- everything is clean. A gun port sits to the side of, and just below, the canopy- which to your eyes looks a bit short for a two-place fighter.

1/2

>>42896939

>XFA-27

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

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>>42896964
>XFA-27
Do you even Fenrir?

"What the hell is this thing?" You ask.

"I don't know what it's called." Brigitte responds, tossing a black duffel bag at you. "There's your flight gear, and they said there was a letter for you from the guys that built it. Wells, yours is over there-" She points at a 'changing booth'- a few pieces of plywood nailed together to offer some kind of privacy. "Baron, you can change in the one next to her."

The flight suit is different- it feels heavier, with tubes of somekind running inside the fabric. The inner surface feels like a fleece, the outside, you're not sure. Fire retardant, you hope. There's armor plates in key locations, and a heavy neck gorget that the helmet looks like it locks into. You note the helmet's got VDNI uplink jacks, same as yours.

It takes you a minute to change- you step out to see Merlin wrapped in a poncho liner. "Hers doesn't cover as much skin as it ought to." Brigitte explains.

Merlin, blushing furiously, nods. "W-want me to get started on preflights?" She asks. "My feet are getting cold..."

[] Go for it.
[] I don't know, Merlin, maybe you should help with the walkaround inspection first.

>>42896994
>[] Go for it.

>>42896994
>[] I don't know, Merlin, maybe you should help with the walkaround inspection first.
Also, Frank kinda get a lesser deal compared to Mobius one. Mobius One get a squadron, Frank only get three witches.
I know situation demanded this, but still...

>>42896994
>[] Go for it.

>>42896994
>[] I don't know, Merlin, maybe you should help with the walkaround inspection first.

>>42896994
>[] I don't know, Merlin, maybe you should help with the walkaround inspection first.

>>42896994
>[] Go for it.
We'll do the walk around while she fires the bird up.

We'll get in the air quicker that way.

>>42896994
>[] Go for it.

Whatever happens, give Brigitte a hug before we wheels up as well.

>>42896994
>[] I don't know, Merlin, maybe you should help with the walkaround inspection first.

Tease her and then >
[] Go for it.

>>42896994
>[] Go for it.

>>42896994
>[] Go for it.

>>42896939
>Fenrir
It's been a long time. You planned this didn't ya Ghost?
>>42896994
>[x] Go for it.
Go ahead kiddo.

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>>42896994
Is this the beginning of Skintight pilot suits?

>>42897319
Ghost raising the Ante
Ball is in Merc's court

>>42897335
If it happen, its better courtesy of grateful Babylon.
So will it Gundam style or Muv-luv style?

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>>42897319
>>42897335
>>42897355
Or take another route and have glowing bits around the suit. Including parts of the inner thigh (like airstrip lights at night to guide a plane to landing)

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>>42897406
Well, that can be quite lewd...

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>>42897406
>>42897511

Or knowing ghost it might just look like this.

quick, post Merlin lewfkjklfdh.hj`

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[x] Go for it.

You nod. "Yeah, go for it. I'll do a walkaround inspection and be up in a few."

Merlin nods and makes for the stairwell- you look over, purely by chance, in time to see her hand the poncho liner back to Brigitte before dropping out of sight behind the canopy somewhere.

Brigitte was right- there's no way she should be showing off that much skin. At least all the sword training is doing her figure good, though.

You don't see anything out of the ordinary as you do your walkaround, though you'd be hard pressed to tell if something wasn't glaringly obvious. For a second you wish you had the wyvern- you're a lot more familiar with it, and you'd be able to tell. You do pause for a second on the aft end of the jet, looking up at the massive, massive exhausts of the jets, and their thrust vectoring equipment.

"You good, baron?" Brigitte asks as you finish the inspection, noting the guns on the aircraft are a paired set. You nod.

"Everything looks like it should, I guess." You say.

She nods. "Bon. Good. You want to climb on up here? I'll help you strap in."

The front office sits underneath a bubble canopy all it's own- you look around for Merlin for a second before Brigitte realizes what you're searching for and points to a flush hatch located behind the canopy. "She's in there." She says. "Armored capsule, she's probably still getting situated. It's got the best connection a witch could want, but it's not like wearing strikers."

"Uh huh." You say, raising an eyebrow. "Something I should know about?"

1/3?

"Ask when you get back." She says, looking over her shoulder at the sound of rotor blades. "That's going to be Wendy. Get in, she'll have her own help."

You nod, dropping down into the relatively featureless cockpit. there's some basic flight controls, but it's very clear the fighter was designed to use VDNI almost exclusively.

Brigitte helps you get all the harness straps in place and tightened down, waiting for your thumbs up before leaning back and looking at you. "You're either one of the bravest people I've met or a damnfool." She says, after a second. "You know what's at stake here, right?"

"The world, I'm sure." You answer, sounding kind of bored- you have to work at it to be this nonchalant though.

She smiles, just slightly, and gives a very light, very short laugh. "Ah, baron. I should have tried harder with you. You do a girl good." She leans in and gives you a very intense, if short, kiss. "What could have been...." She whispers smokily before withdrawing, the smile dropping off her face. "Good to go?"

You nod with a thumbs up and hit the VDNI switch as she steps off the ladder and away from the canopy as it drops.

"Frank?" Merlin asks, her voice seeming to pop into being in your mind.

"I'm here. You started?" You respond.

2/4

"Mhmm. It's- ahh. It's different in here." She says. "The VDNI is much more advanced. I haven't got everything warmed up yet, though, it'll be a few minutes. There's no preflight checks for you though, just check the flaps and stabs and that's it. I can't see outside yet."

You do so, checking flaps on both sides- good, and the stabilizers on both sides- also good. The big fighter beneath you seems to growl with potential energy as it's systems warm up.

"Ok, that's all the low end things." Merlin says, as you report flaps and stabs are good. "I'm going to start up the avionics suite and weapons and nav computers. Standby..."

The world flares around you as the fighter disappears, the sensors embedded in it's surfaces suddenly being able to deliver their input via the avionics suite into your brain through the VDNI jacks. A warming rumble in your chest mirrors the turbine's start up as cold systems are brought to life from the APU cart outside. You can see Wendy being helped into the Valkyrie, looking nervously over at your fighter for a second as it's metal shell closes around her.

"R-Radio check?" She asks, a second later.

"Got you, Wendy." You tell her, wishing you could give her a thumbs up or something- you can't, but you have faith in her.

"S-Sir Bishop? What's going on?" She asks, sounding confused and a bit frightened. "They couldn't tell me what was happening."

"The usual, Wendy." You respond. "We're off to save the world again."

"Ah." She says, sounding more confidant. "You're sure you want me along?"

"I asked for you by name." You confirm. "We're the only ones who can do this. You ready?"

She pauses for a second, before her 'Valkyrie' starts rolling, looking like a miniature fighter all on it's own as it taxis. Wendy must be laying down inside it, you realize. That's gotta be a bit unnerving for someone used to rolling upright on a taxi.

3/4

"As long as you've got lead, I'll follow, sir." She says, a second after your first jet screams into life. "Miss Tabitha made me promise to keep you safe."

"You think you're going to need to?" You ask.

"It made her feel better." She says, kind of answering and kind of not. "I'm holding on the tarmac. I'll roll behind you."

Your second turbine starts up a second later- the chock blocks are removed and you're rolling, the Fenrir seemingly eager to get into the air.

"We got a callsign for this one?" You ask the tower, surprised when Nixon comes back.

"You sure do, son." He says. "Eagle. Good luck, switch to AWACS control when you're airborne."

He can't see you nod as you unleash the Fenrir for the first time and feel it rocket forward. "E-ahhhh. Easy Frank. I'm still getting used to thisssss" Merlin squeals from the back.

You can't help but wonder why she still feels embarrassed.

>>42897552
JESUS CHRIST THIS IS A BLUE BOARD ANON

saved

>>42896994
>[x] Go for it.

protect little sisteru's dignity from prying eyes

also we better get her back in one piece
she has a boyfriend to go home to, not to mention our own wives.

because damnit ghost, we're not ending this on a bittersweet note.

WE
ARE
NOT

>Ah, baron. I should have tried harder with you.

NOT FOR LACK OF EFFORT http://pastebin.com/ryQr8Cnc

>>42898082
I get the feeling that this plane is more lewd than the wyvern

>>42898096
>JESUS CHRIST THIS IS A BLUE BOARD ANON

but its sfw~

>>42898014
>The front office sits underneath a bubble canopy all it's own- you look around for Merlin for a second before Brigitte realizes what you're searching for and points to a flush hatch located behind the canopy. "She's in there." She says. "Armored capsule, she's probably still getting situated. It's got the best connection a witch could want, but it's not like wearing strikers."

Oooo.

Connection.

Singular.

No wonder she squealed when Fronk went too fast.

And that's it for the night!

Ok, so, for those of you who don't keep track on the twitter, this week is midterms. I plan to be spending a lot of extra time in the labs working on our projects, so that means I won't have as much time to set up the thread. It means almost none, really. We'll still shoot for sunday, of course, but don't count on a run.

Other than that, I can't see us having many more than 3-4 threads to go, counting the 'post-game' thread where we kinda get to see everyone after the whole thing's over. You'll know when it's the last thread, but... Well. Before christmas, it looks like. Maybe before Thanksgiving. Been a hell of a run, huh? haha. Anyway, we're not there yet though! no time for rain.

But that's it for the night, I hope you guys enjoyed the run. Till next time gents, cheers!

Guys, I just want you to know, it has been one hell of a ride.

Whatever happens now, it doesn't matter. It was good -- damn good. Thanks Ghost, for giving us something amazing.

But damnit, we are not ending this on a bittersweet note. Hear this Anons, we're bringing everyone home alive. Frank, Merlin, Wendy. Ice, Slider, Katnyan, the Sharktwins, Mav, Young, Goose... everyone. We're bringing them home alive.

>>42898136
cheers, Ghost.

Good luck with your Midterms.

>>42898136
Thanks for running bro. I'm gonna miss this quest when it's gone.

>>42898136
Cheers, boss

So~ how much of that rev is going right to Merlin?

>>42898136
Thanks for running boss and good luck on midterms.

>>42898136
Thanks Ghostman!

Been here since day one, I'll miss it when it's gone.

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>>42898136
See ya next time, Ghost.

>>42897319
Probably

>>42898223
No worries! Once this is finished Diva will go to KOC to write Musashi lewds.

>>42898136
Godspeed, gentlemen
https://youtube.com/watch?v=Se0QvuQy6NM

>>42898048
>"The world, I'm sure." You answer, sounding kind of bored- you have to work at it to be this nonchalant though.
That's fucking Bond level shit right there.
>>42898082
>"We got a callsign for this one?" You ask the tower, surprised when Nixon comes back.
>"You sure do, son." He says. "Eagle. Good luck, switch to AWACS control when you're airborne."
This is really it, damn.
>>42898136
Good run as always Ghost! Good luck on the midterms.
>Before christmas, it looks like.
Really tempting faith there.

>>42898245
i still hoping Ghost will find time for SW89 sequel, though realistically i shouldn't put my hope too high.

>>42898272
A friend and I tried to make one.....crossed with Infinite Stratos.....he couldn't keep going due to RL and neither could I.

Anyone have a transparent image of the quest logo?

>>42898272
Once this and Ace Combat Quest are over, someone else will rise to deliver crazy pilot shenanigans, as it should be.

>>42898386

Planefag

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>>42898136
Thanks for the run dude, sad to see this ending soon.

>>42898245

I'm already involved with KCQ in the background, and I don't write lewds.

If I did, I'm sure they'd be of my ultra-awesome self-insert and Musashi though! hahahahaha.

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1.81 MB PNG

have a shitty manip for the final battle

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>>42898066
>She pauses for a second, before her 'Valkyrie' starts rolling, looking like a miniature fighter all on it's own as it taxis
So Wendy's basicly in something like this then?

>>42898386
We still can count on Merc for another pilot shenanigans quest.

>>42898342
The idea still sounds great nevertheless.

>>42898451
<<Here comes the snow>>

>>42898451
Time to bite the deadman's hand off.

Wish the last bunch of threads hadn't been so unreliable. That constant stream of SW89 was incredible. Kept your head in it.

I'm glad to have been here with it all though. I'm already feeling bad that it'll soon be over.

>>42898455
>The idea still sounds great nevertheless.
Yeah, plot wise Merlin would be praised/despised by the hardline Matrons for her advancement of non-striker tech and strikers, Tabane would have a reason for being batshit insane(rabbit familiar was killed), Laura would be Hessler's "daughter", and Cahr wouldn't ahve be some woobie that everyone loves.

>>42898702

Me too. Honestly, If it weren't for how school was scheduled, we'd have been able to keep up the way we were.

>>42898832
Yeah, that takes priority, unfortunately. At least it spins out the last arc.

>>42898832
Just as long as the lack of schedule and delays don't make you speed up the pacing and rush the ending because damnit I want more of this quest!

>>42898832
As long as the pacing keeps as it was, I'm fine.

Do hope for that squeal but let's see when we get there.

>>42898136
It's gonna be weird as hell to not have SW89 to look forward to every week
break a leg on your midterms

>>42898832
Thanks so much for writing this quest, it's literally something great to have every week/month for the past few years. I'll miss it and hope to see your next work soon, even if your new career butcher your update speed to once every month or something.

Good luck on your midterms and RIP flashdrive.

>>42898136
Thanks Ghost. Been a hell of a ride thus far, hope you keep at it.