The wyvern line isn't empty by any means- a mixed crew is working on bringing the Japanese wyvern up, though you see mostly the light coveralls of IJN ground crew there, instead of the darker blue of the NWUs. Your own crew is limited to the chief and a few others necessary for flight ops- most of the rest no doubt enjoying a fairly easy time right now.

"Good to be gettin back in the air, huh sir?" the chief asks. "Lemme tell you, them engines were some bullshit to get fit in there. That's what caused mosta the delay time. That and rerunning all the lines around that cannon and getting the nose gear moved over about a foot."

You nod. "Glad you got it done." you respond.

"Shit." She says, then grins. "Couple things. One, your nose gear is off-center now. They tell me it shouldn't affect steering too much, but they tell me a lot of things. We're gonna have to recert on cat launches at San Clemente, but the admiral said we'll be doin that later. Two, those monsters back there eat about as much gas as your OG ones did, but they've got a few other tricks. The admiral said she wanted to go over all that with you when you got back, but to keep them out of the afterburner range till she's had a chance to. Last, there's a lot of high power types roamin around." She says, looking over at Kyou. "Some of 'em asking after the wolf princess. Just be aware they may be here when you get back and lookin to talk."

Kyou nods. "Thank you for the warning, chief." She says, and the chief smiles.

"Shit, ain't gotta thank me, ma'am. I'd expect anyone to give me a heads up if they were lookin for me, too. Speaking of, once we get you situated, I'm gonna hand you off to my number two and go back to helpin with the asian dragon over there."

"Is there a problem with it?" Kyou asks, and the chief shakes her head.

"Naw, but there's about four of us fleet drake types helping and it's a good time to sit back and watch guys who've been doin this shit for fifteen-twenty years scratch their heads at it." She says with a grin. "Good chance to get caught up on my coffee drinkin. They owe me for the time aboard. Anything you need to know before you get going?" She asks. "Wartime rules of flight, you've got a self-defense load aboard, I'm sure you done saw it. Two sidewinders, two AMRAAMs, FAST packs. Nothing in your VLS, your guns are both half loaded. Mixed load in the big gun there. Full fuel load, all the rest." She shrugs.

[] I think we're good chief, thanks.
[] Write in!

>>4587405
>[X] I think we're good chief, thanks.

>>4587405
>[] Write in!

How is the IJN Drake spin-up going?

>>4587405
>[] I think we're good chief, thanks.

>>4587405
>[] I think we're good chief, thanks.
Sounds like a fine plan

>>4587405
>[x] I think we're good chief, thanks.

>>4587405
>[] Write in!
How is the IJN Drake spin-up going?

Color me curious as well.

>>4587405
>[x] I think we're good chief, thanks.

>>4587405
>[x] I think we're good chief, thanks.

We need to tell Muninn he/she's put on weight

>>4587405
>[X] I think we're good chief, thanks.

>>4587405
>[x] I think we're good chief, thanks.

Ok, votes called!

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[x] I think we're good chief, thanks.

You're vaguely interested in the Japanese drake's spin up- you can see at least one of the two witches sitting there in the back office of the jet, talking with one of the IJN ground crew. You wonder when the pilots are going to show up- it has to be soon, you think.

Kyou heads up the ladder right ahead of you- you still wait for her to get seated before heading up, though- while staring at her backside is hardly an issue anymore for you personally, appearances are still important, you think. Especially with this much Imperial brass floating around the base- you'd hate to give them the impression she allows you that kind of freedom.

Even if, you think a little sardonically, she encourages precisely that.

Once up, you go through the prestart checklists quickly after settling your helmet on your head and connecting it's umbillicals. You don't activate the MIU uplink right away, preferring to go through your own prestart routines first. Once they're done, though, you activate the uplink, feeling the slight push as the helmet's jacks plug into the links at the back of your neck. It's something you didn't really realize you missed as it activates, Kyou's presence comforting and familiar as Muninn mutters something, as if you woke her up.

"Oh. My. God." Muninn says, frowning. "I am never going to hear the end of the ass jokes, now."

[] I'm sure you'll manage.
[] Just tell them this is what peak performance looks like.

>>4587479
>[X] Just tell them this is what peak performance looks like.

>>4587479
>[x] Just tell them this is what peak performance looks like.

>>4587479
>[x] Just tell them this is what peak performance looks like.

sass

>>4587479
>Just tell them this is what peak performance looks like.

>>4587479
>[x] Just tell them this is what peak performance looks like.

In what universe would we ever *not* pick this

ok, votes called!

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[x] Just tell them this is what peak performance looks like.

"Just tell them this is what peak performance looks like." You say, grinning slightly. You can feel Kyou's smile in the back of your head as Muninn pouts a little.

"Easy for you to say." Muninn says. "You're not the one that's going to hear about down with the thiccness, and badonkadonks."

"You should also be markedly faster than any of your siblings." Kyou points out. "As well as able to reach much greater operating altitudes." she pauses. "And, I trust you aren't speaking poorly of that sort of appearance. Wendy would be most disappointed if you were."

Muninn frowns, but doesn't respond.

Because of the activity on the ground, you have to wait for a tug to pull you away from the pad before you can start up the jets, using the internal starters. They make a much deeper whine that turns into a dull roar as they spin up, the indicators settling into their green bands as the crew holds up the streamers from your weapons- you count five red bands, one of them attached to a large plug. With a quick confirmation of the count, the chief's second salutes and you start rolling.

"It is interesting they've provided a decommissioned cruiser for our tests." Kyou remarks. "And rather a shame we weren't able to get Wendy and Mori in the air for these. Has there been any word about potential weapons refits for them?"

"Not yet." Muninn responds. "Our minimum take off power should be about fifty percent on the throttle setting. I've got the specs for these new engines uploaded and-" the AI pauses, frowning in your mind. "It should be interesting when we can really cut loose with them. For now I've been ordered to tell you to limit their thrust output to no more than three quarters max dry rating, and to not use either afterburner or War emergency."

1/2

"We were informed as well." Kyou responds. "Is there a problem?"

"Do you think there would be?" Muninn responds. "Samantha Wells spent the entire time working on me hands-on. If there's any sort of problem it's not with the installation."

Kyou frowns. "She's distracted." she says. "But I do agree that it's unlikely she'd make any sort of mistake so basic. We're cleared onto runway two-four romeo, hold for clearance."

"Two four romeo." You repeat, rolling Muninn onto the longer of the base's two main runways.

"China lake is launching their target drone." Muninn calls. "The admiral wants us to engage it with the cannon at about eight miles, she wants a look at it's firing impact on us more than with it does to the target. The tico is a different story, we're to hit it, loiter long enough for a damage assessment to happen then hit it again."

"How long are we to loiter for the damage assessment?" Kyou asks.

"Not sure." Muninn responds. "There'll be two ships standing about three miles off, so we'll make our run parallel to them. That will give us broadside shots both times. They may ask to reposition so we can make a run on length, as well."

"Four shots?" Kyou asks.

"At least." Muninn respoonds. "This isn't so much for us as it is for them. Yellowstone is being looked at as a potential shipboard weapon. So they want to know what it'll do to a major surface combatant. They're planning to tow the ex-Tico back into the bay if it survives."

[] Given it's range, that's a little surprising.
[] With what we know, they can't expect it to survive.

>>4587558
>[X] With what we know, they can't expect it to survive.

>>4587558
>[] Given it's range, that's a little surprising.

>>4587558
>[x] With what we know, they can't expect it to survive.

>>4587558
>[] Given it's range, that's a little surprising.

A PD railgun, of sorts?

>>4587558
>[x] Given it's range, that's a little surprising.

>>4587558
>[X] Given it's range, that's a little surprising.

>>4587558
>[] Given it's range, that's a little surprising.

Sounds like the USN wants an air-carrier-killer...or an Anti-Superwitch weapon.

ok, votes called!

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[x] Given it's range, that's a little surprising.

"Given it's range, that's a little surprising." You say, frowning as you line up on the runway.

"Short range terminal defense?" Muninn suggest.

You nod slightly. It's a possibility, you guess- and the navy's always been paranoid about ship defenses against witches, and a weapon like this one is certainly more than enough to handle any sort of threat it can be brought to bear against.

"We're clear for takeoff." Kyou calls, cutting the conversation short. "Climb to angels six off the runway and proceed west."

You confirm with a thought and release the brakes, your roll starting quickly and rapidly accelerating, even at the relatively low throttle setting. You've clearly got much more power to spare now, with Muninn's nosewheel coming off the pavement at about the same point it usually does. Kyou's excitement hammers through the link as you bank away from the runway with a quick snap- she missed flying as much as you did evidently.

"Gear is up and locked." Kyou calls- the verbal communications unnecessary between the two of you, but required for the flight data recording, which can't record anything shared over the MIU- not that you can share much specific over it, but still. "Systems are green across the board, I have good connection on all elements, all weapons are stowed and safed."

You head west, passing north of San Diego on your way out to the ocean range where the former Ticonderoga is waiting, anchored in the relatively shallower water a few miles off San Clemente island. "We're supposed to hit the target drone first, then wait for clearance to engage the former tico." Muninn says, displaying the two targets for you on one of the MFD screens. "They want us to hit the target drone so any fragments travel west and into the ocean, no one's sure how far a slug fragment can carry, but we're projecting well over twenty miles."

"How long until the drone arrives?" Kyou asks.

"Ten minutes." Muninn says, flashing up a tracking map of the target aircraft, a long-retired USAF F-16, flying south from the naval weapons station. "I'm broadcasting telemetry and flight data back to Admiral Wells and Tessa, how does everything feel?"

So far it's difficult to tell a difference- but, you remind yourself, you've not been cleared to really test the new engines, and while you're keeping them in a much lower power band than you're used to, so far other than that, they seem to be much the same.

[] "Can't tell yet."
[] "About how it should."

>>4587650
>[X] "Can't tell yet."

>>4587650
>[] "Can't tell yet."

>>4587650
>[X] "Can't tell yet."

>>4587650
>[x] "Can't tell yet."

>>4587650
>[] "Can't tell yet."

Ok, votes called!

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[x] "Can't tell yet."

You shake your head. "Can't tell yet." You respond. You're sure you'll get a chance to really cut loose at some point- probably out over the NTTR- but right now all you can tell is that the fighter is heavier, but that doesn't seem to be mattering much with what you're able to do. You are eager to test it over the Nevada range- you think you'll be much faster, but you're not sure about how much maneuverability you're giving up for it.

You adopt a racetrack holding pattern over the target range while waiting for the drone, giving you and Kyou and Muninn all a chance to check everything out- after major work, you want to be certain everything is working correctly. For the most part, though, it's on Kyou and Muninn- you watch as they test the fighter's systems, cross-checking against historical norms, satisfying themselves that everything is running where it needs to be. It's almost an afterthought when Muninn announces the target drone has entered the engagement envelope and you can attack it at any time.

It's a little odd, saddling up on it for a gun attack a little under eight miles out, but the HUD and targeting software Muninn's been given for the weapon both act like any other gunsight you've ever had on an aircraft, with a lead indicator and a target point- from this angle, dead astern of the drone, there's almost no lead- and with the incredible speed of the slug, virtually no need to account for drop.

"Weapons armed, linear cannon is hot." Kyou calls as you hit the master arm switch on the console in front of you, indicating the cannon is linked to the trigger on the side mounted stick. "Downrange is clear, engage at will."

You nod, holding fire for another half second to line up marginally better- then pull the trigger.

The cannon lets out a screaming roar, a sort of high pitched howl somewhere between a massive explosion and hurricane winds, and an orange-hot, glowing streak rips across the sky, it's end punctuated by a spectacular explosion as it impacts the target drone and virtually disintegrates it, leaving no wreckage much bigger than a breadbox.

"Wow." Kyou breathes. "Uh... Target well struck, stay clear of it to allow debris to clear. Muninn, you got that?"

"Yeah." Muninn says, sounding clearly impressed. "Target hit in the fuselage, just aft of the port wing root. Telemetry and ballistic data coming up now."

"Everything here looks good. All systems still green, no faults or warnings on the board." Kyou says, sounding a little out of breath- excited by just how destructive the new cannon really is.

"Control is fine." You respond, pulling Muninn through a few S-turns just to make sure.

"Take heading zero-nine-zero and go into a racetrack at the marked nav point." Kyou orders, relaying from the ground control center. "That was spectacular." She says over the intercom. "I feel as if we've made the right decision."

[] Too late to go back now anyway.
[] I think so too, yeah.

And that's gonna be it for the night! That last update ran a little long, sorry about that- I'd run into the house to get something to eat before everyone else went to bed, and got shanghaied to help look for something. haha!

Anyway, that's it for the night, but as usual I'll be around a little while to answer questions or comments either here or in the discord if there are any. Otherwise gents, till tomorrow, cheers!

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>>4587740
>[X] I think so too, yeah.

>>4587743
Thanks for the run boss.

>>4587740
>[] I think so too, yeah.

"Awoo likes *BIG GUN*"

>>4587740
>[x] I think so too, yeah.

>>4587743
Thanks for the run Ghost!

>>4587740
>[x] I think so too, yeah.

Dragonslayer just got their Excalibur

>>4587740
>[] Too late to go back now anyway.

>>4587740
>[] I think so too, yeah.

>>4587740
>[x] I think so too, yeah.

>>4587740
>[] I think so too, yeah.

>>4587743
thanks for running Ghost

>>4587740
>[x] I think so too, yeah.

>>4587740
>[x] I think so too, yeah.
>>4587746
And something tells me we haven’t even begun to see what this thing can do. That was just a shot at a target drone with a standard slug. I can’t wait to see what the Saturnite rounds do to the old Tico. And if we can punch stem to stern.

>>4587740
>[X] I think so too, yeah.

>>4587740
>[X] I think so too, yeah.

Ok gents, votes called!

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[x] I think so too, yeah.

"I think so too, yeah." You say, slightly awed by the weapon's one showing so far. You're not convinced anymore that even the old Tico is going to provide much in the way of a challenge for the gun- like almost every major surface combatant left on earth, they're almost unarmored, with little more than splinter protection over some critical areas. You're not sure how much good armor will really do, of course, but you're almost positive that you'll be testing against armored targets sooner rather than later.

Still, this test isn't so much for you as it is for the navy anyway. Yellowstone may be a preproduction flying prototype, but if it proves promising- and you think it will- the USN won't be the only ones looking at molten metal railguns. The Soviets are already considered to be only slightly behind the US in electromagnetic launchers afterall, with their griffon weapon systems an evolution of the war-era EMLs that equipped some fandances. Knowing what kind of damage a weapon like this can do to a ship is probably pretty high up their list of concerns- especially given that, after this, you're sure that Lotus and Ulysses won't be the only other crew looking at getting their hands on one.

You reach your anchor point quickly, adopting a long racetrack pattern with the designated navigational point roughly in the center. You only have to hold for a few minutes as the crews do their final checks aboard the target hulk and withdraw, having closed every watertight hatch and prepared the ship, as best they can, for the attack.

"One run, single shot only." Kyou relays. "Take heading Two four zero, target should be at twenty miles scant."

"Two four zero, twenty miles scant." You respond- so it's nineteen and some change, you think, right before Muninn corrects you with the exact distance, noting the relatively close presence of the support ships. There's more than you thought there would be- four, all standing about four miles off. Further off there's an instrumentation ship and, nearby the island, is a larger ship Muninn tags as the Jason- a repair ship that's been in service about forever. Your run will keep them behind and to the side of your actual attack, which is good- they're closer than you'd like, but they're eager to be able to get aboard after your attack run to check out the damage.

1/2

You adopt a fairly standard gun attack angle as you close, finally triggering the cannon with a conventional shell at a little over three miles distant. The world-ending roar of the gun doesn't seem quite as loud this time, prepared for it as you were, and you don't get much of a chance to see the damage yourself as you fly over the stricken hulk, banking up and away, but Muninn relays.

"Assessment teams inbound." She notes. "But her keel is bent, at the very least. Slug hit just forward of the superstructure, had this been for real we'd have gutted her forward works and disabled her forward gun and missiles at least. She's down by the bow already, but with everything sealed she should remain afloat." Muninn preens a bit. "And every AI pulling data is already jealous of our smite button."

"It is rather powerful." Kyou remarks. "We're to return to our holding point for further instruction."

You end up holding for almost half an hour before they clear you for the next run- this time specifying a saturnite round be used.

"I wonder if this will make the navy reconsider it's stance on not replacing the majority of the combat air fleet with wyverns." Kyou muses as you turn inbound for your second attack. "It seems we're going to make every other form of attack obsolescent."

[] I don't think so. We might have a smite button, but we still can't be everywhere at once.
[] Maybe. It makes me wonder what next-gen wyverns are going to look like out of the factory.

>>4588550
>[X] I don't think so. We might have a smite button, but we still can't be everywhere at once.

>>4588550
>[] Maybe. It makes me wonder what next-gen wyverns are going to look like out of the factory.

>>4588550
>[x] I don't think so. We might have a smite button, but we still can't be everywhere at once.

>>4588550
>[X] I don't think so. We might have a smite button, but we still can't be everywhere at once.

>>4588550
>[] Maybe. It makes me wonder what next-gen wyverns are going to look like out of the factory.

Forward-Looking Infrared Catte

>>4588550
>[x] I don't think so. We might have a smite button, but we still can't be everywhere at once.

We have got to be hellishly expensive

>>4588550
>[x] I don't think so. We might have a smite button, but we still can't be everywhere at once.

We are very much an Ace Custom bird with a massively oversized magical powerplant that can run this stuff.

>>4588550
>[] I don't think so. We might have a smite button, but we still can't be everywhere at once.

Seeing that we still cost at least as much as a few fully loaded frigates. they wont make a 100 of them

Alright, votes called!

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[x] I don't think so. We might have a smite button, but we still can't be everywhere at once.

"I don't think so." You respond, noting that the ammunition was loaded in accordance with the flight profile- so there's a saturnite round loaded in the thing right now, but no way to select ammunition types at all. You're not sure if that's an oversight or not, considering that the saturnite rounds you do have represent all the ones currently available. "We might have a smite button, but we still can't be everywhere at once."

"True." Kyou responds. "Though I feel as if we may be able to make a reasonable attempt given our new powerplants. Take a repeat heading and attack profile." She finishes, and you nod, pulling Muninn off your more or less southeast heading to come around to the west, headed back out to sea.

You get a better look at the old Tico as you approach. Her bow is bent off the centerline noticeably- Muninn puts it at about six degrees off center, facing in towards the impact point. Her forward gun turret and the twin-arm launcher are both gone, and the lower half of her boxlike superstructure is peppered with holes on the impact side, all radiating out from the point where the slug made contact with her hull. It's not too bad on this side, but Muninn's projections show that everything in the ship in a rough conical shape from that point would have been mangled beyond recognition- you've effectively gutted the forward compartments of the old ship. As a double ender she'd still be combat capable- barely- but she'd fighting with backup equipment, for the most part.

"Cleared hot." Kyou calls as you pass over the support group, and you pull the trigger, sending a neon blue streak through the sky as the superheated saturnite leaves the barrel, causing a brief shudder as it disrupts the air in front of you. Same as before, you don't really get to see the damage very well, pulling up and away as Muninn relays the initial report.

"That-" She pauses. "Initial report is the slug impacted just aft of the helicopter deck near the waterline. Everything aft of the pad is gone, some wreckage remaining. Crews reporting signs of fire aboard the hulk, firefighting ships preparing to move in."

Kyou feels shocked. "Muninn, repeat that. Did you say everything aft of the helicopter pad was destroyed?"

"Initial reports." Muninn repeats. "range sonar is picking up sounds consistent with sinking debris. Fire now confirmed on the helicopter deck, she's leveling out lower in the water."

"I cannot help but wonder how much internal damage the shot must have done." Kyou says, then pauses as a call comes up from range control.

1/2

"Muninn, Muninn." The controller calls, his voice crisp over the radio. Well, you think, it should be- the range, like the NTTR or Ft. Irwin, is heavily wired and designed for this kind of thing. "Damage control reporting from target hulk that it's not gonna make it back if you get another hit in. It may not anyway. We're done with you for now, we'll have reports posted to your box as soon as they're available."

"Muninn copies, range." Kyou responds. "Muninn is RTB."

You get one last pass over the wrecked ship, noting the presence now of two oceangoing tugs, both towing massive flotation drums- no doubt they intend to secure the hulk to them in order to prevent her sinking. Considering the fire you can see already burning aboard, you can't help but wish them luck- frankly, the old ship looks beyond saving.

The flight back to Miramar is fairly quiet- Kyou clamping down a little on her excited energy, but it's still infectious, even to you. By the time you land, you feel ready to run a couple dozen miles to burn some of it off.

You're directed to shut down away from the pad, and an aircraft tug tows you back to your spot. There's more activity here- more than a little evidently waiting for you. They might be in Working uniforms, you note, but the presence of staff gives away the ranks- flag officers, at least. Merlin, you're a little disappointed to note, isn't among them. At least one is waiting to talk to you, you can tell, the rest you're less sure of. Flag ranks tend to be attracted to wyverns- especially ones that may harbor political ambitions later.

The chief and one of her crew push an access ladder up to Muninn's nose as the rest of the crew starts their immediate postflight routine, blocking the wheels of the fighter and attaching the ground power umbilical lines. You're out of your seat first, pausing on the ladder to help Kyou out of the cockpit and letting her down the stairs first.

"Musta been a good flight, sir." The chief says. "Admiral Wells is over in the hangar."

"She is?" Kyou asks, sounding surprised. "Unusual for her to not be here."

"Phone call." the chief responds. "She's over in my office taking it. Personal, I think, she said she'd be back out. We're supposed to start the postflight inspection as soon as we can, though, so if you don't have anything for me, I wanna get started. We might get outta here at a decent time if we don't get interrupted too damn much."

[] Anything we can do, or should we just stay out of the way?
[] Did the admiral say anything about needing to talk to us?

>>4588626
>[X] Anything we can do, or should we just stay out of the way?

>>4588626
>[x] Did the admiral say anything about needing to talk to us?

>>4588626
>[] Did the admiral say anything about needing to talk to us?

>>4588626
>[x] Anything we can do, or should we just stay out of the way?

>>4588626
>[x] Did the admiral say anything about needing to talk to us?

We have a goddamn battleship cannon

>>4588626
>[X] Anything we can do, or should we just stay out of the way?

>>4588626
>[] Did the admiral say anything about needing to talk to us?

>>4588626
>[] Anything we can do, or should we just stay out of the way?

AROOOOOOOO

Looks like it's still a tie vote gents, so I'm gonna go grab a snack and we'll do a ten minute tiebreaker!

>>4588626
Here >>4588637 changing my vote
>[x] Anything we can do, or should we just stay out of the way?

>>4588686
alright, thanks! tie broken, votes called!

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[x] Anything we can do, or should we just stay out of the way?

"Anything we can do, or should we just stay out of the way?" You ask, and the chief shakes her head and smiles.

"Now just what do you think you're gonna be able to do running around in flight gear?" She asks, still smiling. "Naw, You'd prolly just get in the way. We got this. We've gotta do structural and engine mount inspections after this anyway, and I'm sure the admiral plans to talk your ear off once she's done on the phone."

You nod. "Most likely. If you're sure there's nothing we can help with, we'll get out of your way."

The chief nods. "I'm sure." She says. "And if you stick around too damn long you're gonna attract attention." She looks back over at the Japanese drake- where you note at least one of the IJN officers has seen Kyou and is talking with someone else. "See what I mean?"

Kyou laughs. "An excellent point, chief." She says. "We'll be off then."

The two of you walk off just in time, it seems- the IJN officers looked just about ready to head over, but with you walking away, they stop and turn back to the Japanese drake. You can see Dr. Hayashi nearby as well, discussing something with another admiral. You honestly wonder how many there can be, with this many here, it almost seems like the majority of the general staff has flown over to look over the IJN's newest toy.

"I'm eager to discuss things with the admiral after our flight." Kyou admits as you walk back to ops. "I had some thoughts as we were flying."

[] Such as?
[] Let's get geared down and back in quarters first.

>>4588708
>[X] Such as?

>>4588708
>[x] Such as?

>>4588708
>[] Such as?

ok, votes called!

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[x] Such as?

"Such as?" you prompt as the two of you step inside the operations building.

"I feel with the power of that cannon, we'd be foolish to not attempt to maximize our use of it." She responds. "The primary limiting factor with it's use is it's power draw, as is typical for that sort of weapon. It may be possible to store the necessary equipment for additional shots in our remaining internal bays, leaving only the VLS cells for missiles."

You frown. "That's giving up a lot of missiles for cannon shots, though." You say. "And we don't know how many more rounds can be worked into the existing magazine, it was designed with twelve in mind."

She nods. "Yes, though I doubt that's going to prove much of a problem for Merlin, should we suggest it." She says. "Another option would be to see if more support can be woven in from the existing web in Muninn, to stretch the existing energy farther by supplementing more with my own power. It would be well within my ability to manage."

"You do have limits, you know." You point out.

She nods again. "Of course." She says with a smile. "But two things are true. One is that we have not encountered them yet. Simply put, Muninn currently draws enough energy that a normal witch would be hard pressed to simply maintain the systems during a shuttle flight. As you can tell, this has no ill effect on me."

"Yet." You say.

"Yet." She admits. "Which leads to my second point. Even were I to push myself to my utter limit, I am sure that my attentive and capable household would be well able to see to my needs until I recovered."

"Provided it didn't happen mid fight." You point out.

She nods. "Yes, such would be the danger. However, it's also not likely to be a sudden thing. As with any case, magical fatigue isn't sudden, and one can feel it building up. While all witches feel it significantly worse after dismissing their familiar and letting go, it's unlikely that I wouldn't be able to provide some warning."

[] Let's wait to talk to Merlin and see if she has any ideas.
[] I think you're right about the remaining conventional bays, let's see if that's possible.
[] You have a point about the magic thing, let's see if that's something we can do.
[] I think we're fine as it is, let's just work with what we've got for now.

>>4588746
>[] Let's wait to talk to Merlin and see if she has any ideas

>>4588746
>[X] You have a point about the magic thing, let's see if that's something we can do.

>>4588746
>[x] Let's wait to talk to Merlin and see if she has any ideas.

Let's hear all the options before jumping on one or another.

>>4588746
>[] Let's wait to talk to Merlin and see if she has any ideas.

>>4588746
>[x] Let's wait to talk to Merlin and see if she has any ideas.
>[x] You have a point about the magic thing, let's see if that's something we can do.

would want a combo of these two if possible

ok, votes called!

>>4588746
>[x] You have a point about the magic thing, let's see if that's something we can do.

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[x] Let's wait to talk to Merlin and see if she has any ideas.

You frown, thinking, then shake your head. "Let's talk to Merlin and see if she has any ideas." You say.

Kyou nods. "She may be able to suggest refinements to one of mine." She says. "Or perhaps already has something that would make them pointless."

You nod. "It's a possibility." You say, pausing by the stairs as a small group of witches heads in the opposite direction. They're chatting with each other- you don't recognize any of them, but most of them give you and Kyou more than a passing glance as they head by, seeming to recognize the two of you. All of them are in bareleg versions of a regular flight suit, but none of them have airframe patches on- they're not sterile, since all of them wear wings and other insignia, but they're not assigned anywhere.

Kyou smiles once they're past. "The first group of trainees." She says, nodding. "I'd wondered how soon they'd be moving to flight training. Your sister's instructors must have taken your assessment to heart, for her to not be here."

You nod, feeling almost guilty as the witches step around a corner and disappear. "She'd have gotten dropped if she'd made it to flight with that attitude." You say, and Kyou nods.

"I'd never question your judgment in such matters," She says, then shakes her head. "Perhaps the blow of not being among the first in her class to continue on to flight training will be the shock she needs to reassess herself. If so, she would not be the first, I'm sure."

Your response is cut off by the appearance of another witch- Captain Carnegie, no less. She steps around the corner and nods to the two of you as she approaches, headed down to the locker room herself, no doubt. "Morning, Kyou." She says, and nods to you. "Morgan."

"Remilia." Kyou returns with a slight smile. It's not quite the plastic, public one she uses for people she has to deal with, but doesn't care about, but it's far more professional than personal.

1/2

"Word has it you two just about shot the old tico in half." Remilia says. "That that monster cannon they were installing all month?"

"Has it been that long?" Kyou asks, frowning.

Remilia shrugs. "Three weeks, I guess."

"Ah. Well, I'm surprised word traveled so quickly. There were no other aircraft in the area." Kyou says.

"No, but I've got eyes and ears." Remilia says, then shakes her head. "It's things like that that sell the drake so hard." She chuckles. "If it was about five years ago, I'd make a play for one after hearing about that."

"You're no older than I." Kyou points out. "And I've still got almost the entire service commitment myself. And Wendy is certainly older than both of us."

"Been flying strikers too long to want to sit backseat to anyone anymore." the aggressor captain corrects her, then shrugs. "We'll see where they go with that valkyrie thing though. Anyway, I've got a flight, so I can't chat."

You and Kyou still walk with her downstairs into the cool locker rooms. "Has there been any word about your packet?" Kyou asks as you walk. The other witch shakes her head.

"Selection board is up to their eyeballs in it, they claim." Remilia responds. "Guess we'll see what happens, sounds like I'm not the only one that put in for it."

Kyou nods as you reach the doors for your locker room. The two of them are still chatting as you head inside, taking a quick shower and changing into a working uniform before stepping out carrying your controlled gear in a flight bag with your harness and G-suit thrown over your shoulder. You don't have to wait too long for Kyou, who steps out a few minutes later, evidently having showered as well- her hair is still a little wet.

"Interesting that so many witches dismiss the wyvern so easily, but are drawn to valkyrie." She remarks as you head back up the stairs. "I wonder if many of them have the impression that they retain the broad freedom they posses as striker operators while flying it?"

[] Might be a rude surprise if they do.
[] We give Wendy a lot of tactical freedom, to be fair.

>>4588804
>[] Might be a rude surprise if they do.

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

Couple of things here! First, to >>4588772 I'm sorry for missing your vote, I called them and then started to write pretty quickly after that and didn't re-check the thread. I think there's enough interest though to make sure that Morgan brings the idea up if Kyou doesn't when you talk with Merlin later.

Second, I had a question about the way I'm trying to break things up. I'm still shooting for about an hour long update time, but that can lead to obvious filler votes like >>4588708. Would you gents prefer if I skipped those in favor of longer updates with better options, or continue shooting for the hour long update time? I know that vote was less than an hour, of course, but we've had fillers pop up on longer cycles as well, and so I'd like to know what you gents think.

Other than that, I have nothing else, haha! So till tomorrow gents, cheers!

>>4588804
[] Might be a rude surprise if they do.

>>4588804
>[] Might be a rude surprise if they do.

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>>4588804
>[X] We give Wendy a lot of tactical freedom, to be fair.

>>4588807
Thanks for the run boss.
Current update pace seems good.

>>4588804
>[] We give Wendy a lot of tactical freedom, to be fair.
thanks for running Ghost

>>4588804
>[x] We give Wendy a lot of tactical freedom, to be fair.

>>4588807
Thanks for the run Ghost! No worries about missing the vote and in regards to pacing the current speed with filler votes occasionally works fine.

>>4588804
>[x] We give Wendy a lot of tactical freedom, to be fair.
>>4588807
Current pace feels fine to me. I like the fillers cause they build out everything. As long as we arent getting too much filler and I think it will all be good.

>>4588803

[X] We give Wendy a lot of tactical freedom, to be fair.

Pace seems ok to me

>>4588803
>[x] We give Wendy a lot of sexual freedom, to be fair.

>>4588804
>[] We give Wendy a lot of tactical freedom, to be fair.

>>4588804
>[X] We give Wendy a lot of tactical freedom, to be fair.

>>4588804
>[X] Might be a rude surprise if they do.

Wendy's the exception because she doesn't have to worry about enemy fighters breaking Kyou's shield.

Ok, votes called! I'm going to go grab some dinner real quick, then we'll get going!

Just as a heads up, though, it is new year's eve... and that means fireworks. It's kinda rainy and cold and shitty here, so I'm hoping that keeps it down, but we'll see how it goes. I may end up calling early and running make up if needed tomorrow.

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[x] We give Wendy a lot of tactical freedom, to be fair.

"We give Wendy a lot of tactical freedom, to be fair." You point out.

Kyou nods. "Yes, but she also surpasses us easily in experience and expertise in that field." She responds. "And there is little fear of an enemy being able to truly threaten us through my ability. The same cannot be assumed to be true of other teams."

You nod, agreeing with what she's saying. "We can't take them all though, you know." You point out. "Some of them are going to have to learn they won't have the same freedom the hard way."

Kyou smiles. "And I had so hoped." She says, then laughs. "No, I believe that, should the navy prefer us to expand to four craft, that will be our limit. As it stands, I believe my household is almost where I wish it to be. Perhaps one close technical advisor, and then, as I said, if the navy requires, one more wingmate. No more than that, though."

"That's still quite a few." You point out, and she nods.

"No more than would be expected." She responds. "My grandfather has many more advisors than that, though he prefers to live alone, and has for some years. My father, of course, is utterly devoted to my mother, but he also has many advisors, some of whom could be called close friends. My brother-" She pauses, frowning. "My brother is less known to me, but I would be surprised if he and your sister didn't find themselves approached by at least one witch of the Imperial coven."

"I wonder how Cass is gonna handle that?" You muse out loud.

"I don't know her so well as you." Kyou says. "Though I expect my silver-tongued brother can convince her to agree to whatever his wish is on the subject."

[] Cass is notoriously hardheaded, though. He'll probably be in for more of a fight than he thinks.
[] Cass grew up with three moms. I doubt she's going to have too much of a problem with that idea.

>>4589563
>[X] Cass grew up with three moms. I doubt she's going to have too much of a problem with that idea.

>>4589563
>[] Cass grew up with three moms. I doubt she's going to have too much of a problem with that idea.

>>4589563
>[] Cass grew up with three moms. I doubt she's going to have too much of a problem with that idea.

>>4589563
>[x] Cass is notoriously hardheaded, though. He'll probably be in for more of a fight than he thinks.

>>4589563
>[X] Cass grew up with three moms. I doubt she's going to have too much of a problem with that idea.

>>4589563
>[x] Cass is notoriously hardheaded, though. He'll probably be in for more of a fight than he thinks.

>>4589563
>[] Cass grew up with three moms. I doubt she's going to have too much of a problem with that idea.

The real question is if Hohiro is for it~

ok, votes called!

>>4589595
And that's actually a good question. He might we'll be a one woman man and that's the end of it. Not EVERYONE is going to jump headfirst onto the harem train.

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[x] Cass grew up with three moms. I doubt she's going to have too much of a problem with that idea.

You shrug. "Cass grew up with three moms." You point out. "I doubt she's going to have too much of a problem with that idea."

Kyou laughs. "Who says it will not be my brother attempting to talk her out of anyone else becoming involved in their relationship?" She says. "He has ever been aware of his physical limitations, and I'm certain a woman like your sister is already more than he can handle."

"Also possible." You say, nodding. "But I still can't see her being much of an advisor. Unless he's worried about softball or soccer."

"He did always have a place in his heart for baseball." Kyou smiles. "Regardless, I expect we'll be able to see firsthand when we return to Japan."

You nod. That can't be long in coming now, though it does seem as if China is on the back foot now- almost half of the Korean peninsula has been 'liberated' since the landings, and though Seoul and Pyongyang both remain occupied, the PLA seems to be reluctant to fight, preferring to retreat in the face of IJA and US attacks. It's a very curious turn of events, and one that's got a lot of talking heads confused- less than a month ago, the Imperial military and the elements of the US military in the theater were both hard-pressed to hold onto what they had. Most of them suspect a trap- you can't say you disagree.

The two of you turn your flight gear in to the support shop, stepping back into the hall to find a runner- one of Merlin's staff, you think, waiting. "Sorry about this, sir, ma'am." He says. "Admiral Wells wanted to see you up in her office as soon as possible."

1/2

Kyou frowns. "Is it urgent?" She asks.

"It's not an emergency, but as soon as you're available." He says.

Kyou nods. "We'll be right up." She says, and the man turns to walk off. You follow not too far behind him, heading up to Merlin's office. It seems to almost always be in a state of being packed up or unpacked- you never can tell if the plan is to leave her here, or move her off to the actual Wyvern admin center up at NAS Alameda. She's working on the computer when you step into the office, and nods to both of you.

"One second, sorry." She says, frowning as she leans in closer to the monitor. "Go ahead and close the door, please."

You nod, closing it on your way in and taking a seat next to Kyou in one of the chairs sitting in front of her desk. She frowns for a second, the light off her monitor reflecting off her glasses for a second, then she shakes her head with a deepening of her frown and exits whatever she was looking at. "How did it go?" She asks.

Kyou smiles. "Better that Morgan tells you, for I feel the most proper response is to kiss you." She says.

That gets a very faint blush, and a very faint smile out of Merlin. "I-if you insist." She says, then looks over at you. "Morgan?"

[] Auntie, I will personally hand feed you cake till the end of your days for that gun.
[] It's incredibly effective. We did crippling damage to the tico in two rounds, and it disintegrated the target drone.
[] Kyou's right, auntie. You'd better be careful or she's going to take you home and never let you leave again.

>>4589622
>[X] Kyou's right, auntie. You'd better be careful or she's going to take you home and never let you leave again.

Ere we go.

>>4589622
>[] Auntie, I will personally hand feed you cake till the end of your days for that gun.

>>4589622
>[X] It's incredibly effective. We did crippling damage to the tico in two rounds, and it disintegrated the target drone.

>>4589622
[] Auntie, I will personally hand feed you cake till the end of your days for that gun.

>>4589622
>[x] Auntie, I will personally hand feed you cake till the end of your days for that gun.

>>4589622
>[] Auntie, I will personally hand feed you cake till the end of your days for that gun.

>>4589622
>[x] Auntie, I will personally hand feed you cake till the end of your days for that gun.

>>4589622
>[] Kyou's right, auntie. You'd better be careful or she's going to take you home and never let you leave again.

>>4589622
>[] Auntie, I will personally hand feed you cake till the end of your days for that gun.

When you're good, you're good.

ok, votes called!

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[x] Auntie, I will personally hand feed you cake till the end of your days for that gun.

You smile with a nod. "Auntie, I will personally hand feed you cake till the end of your days for that gun." You say- her blush gets a little more pronounced.

"C-cake?" She asks, and you nod.

"Every day you want it." You confirm.

"I-I take it you were both happy with the cannon's performance, then?" She asks, blinking.

You and Kyou both nod. "Absolutely." Kyou responds for you both. "It's my hope we'll be able to test it against a hardened target soon, to see it's capabilities against something like mars, but in our test firings I found no flaw with it. Morgan?"

You nod. "What Kyou said." You respond. "It's got good enough range, and it's laser accurate at the ranges we tested, and it does more damage than anything else we've seen."

Merlin nods. "I've got the preliminary reports already." She says. "They're not sure they'll be able to save the target hulk, the damage is that severe."

"They looked prepared for it." Kyou says. "Was there a significant amount of damage we didn't see?"

Merlin nods again. "The force of the slug hitting split a lot of hull seams and over pressure caused the bottom to give out in several places." She says. "In a real world situation, it's likely you'd have been able to destroy the ship with one shot, especially if you'd have hit amidships instead of on the ends. In this test, the ship had been rigged with everything sealed and locked in a way it wouldn't be, and it had no fuel or ammunition aboard."

"We were discussing ways to increase our ammunition load for it." Kyou says. "It's impressive enough we feel giving up additional weapons bay space may be acceptable."

Merlin nods. "If you'd like, we can discuss that this evening? I plan to take Morgan up on his offer of cake."

Kyou shrugs. "If that's preferable." She says. "But if that's the case, should we prepare a place for you to sleep?"

Merlin laughs, but blushes a little more. "Maybe." She says. "All hours cake is tempting."

Kyou smiles. "As it should be." She says.

"So, before we get carried away about me moving in, I wanted to discuss the engines." Merlin says. "part of the reason I didn't want you going into the higher power bands was that they can operate as dual-cycle jets." She says.

You frown.

[] Dual cycle? So they were for orbital jets?
[] There's no way we can pack oxidizer for them, though, right?

>>4589692
>[X] Dual cycle? So they were for orbital jets?

>>4589692
>[] There's no way we can pack oxidizer for them, though, right?

[Electrosphere Intensifies]

>>4589692
>[] There's no way we can pack oxidizer for them, though, right?

Just wait until she comes up with hammerspace oxidizer tanks...

>>4589692
>[] Dual cycle? So they were for orbital jets?

>>4589692
>[] There's no way we can pack oxidizer for them, though, right?

Oh nooooooooooooooooooooooooo

>>4589692
>[x] There's no way we can pack oxidizer for them, though, right?

>>4589692
>[] There's no way we can pack oxidizer for them, though, right?

>>4589692
>[X] There's no way we can pack oxidizer for them, though, right?

Ok, votes called!

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[x] There's no way we can pack oxidizer for them, though, right?

"There's no way we can pack oxidizer for them, though, right?" You ask.

Merlin shakes her head. "Not really, but sort of." She says. "Those engines were originally developed alongside the airframe they originally went in as part of the tender for the EDF's newest fighter requirement. The original specifications required us to provide a fighter that was capable of SSTO flight and limited combat in very low orbit, along with being able to return and land under it's own power if needed."

"Quite impressive, if possible." Kyou remarks.

Merlin nods. "We built one stripped down mockup, I still have the hull, and four engines for it. You've got two, the other two we're refurbishing as spares now. The EDF ended up selecting their version of the felon, so our work went into storage."

"Oxidizer?" You prompt, and she nods.

"Right, sorry. So the idea was that these needed to be able to get a combat loaded wyvern into orbit without requiring a booster like we already have, and then power it for orbital maneuvers and allow it to return, again under it's own power. There's really no room in a wyvern hull for oxidizer tanks for all that though, so we had to use a compromise solution. We can't fix oxidizer tanks internally, but we can plumb hard points for tanks. With two oxidizer tanks you should be able to get into very low orbit, with four I think you could achieve orbit fairly easily."

"So it's special mission equipment?" Kyou asks.

Merlin nods. "But that's why I wanted to make sure you knew to stay out of afterburner and emergency power settings, because they're still configured to convert to closed cycle operation in emergency power." She says. "That's how they were rigged for testing, and we haven't finished converting them yet. It won't take long, maybe the rest of the day, if I don't get interrupted again."

"Is it anything we can assist with?" Kyou asks, looking over at you. "We'd be more than willing-"

"Not really." Merlin says, shaking her head. "I'm sorry, it's just- " She shakes her head again. "A lot of things are happening and I'm getting distracted sometimes."

Kyou nods. "We understand." She says, then smiles. "Perhaps our offer to let you move in to have access to cake wouldn't be so strange afterall. At least then you'd not need to concern yourself with household issues or your meals."

1/2

Merlin smiles. "Maybe." She says, blushing a little again- then blinks. "Once we've got the engines converted over, we'll have you up on another test flight. We've got some armor sections they shipped back from the Mars you got over Korea, and we'll be testing against those in the NTTR." You recognize that- she's keeping the subject on the technical issues because she's uncomfortable talking about the personal ones- and you know her well enough to know it's because she's strongly considering taking Kyou's offer. Maman must have undersold her information, you realize- things weren't 'developing' in so much as they'd already 'developed'- for all you know, it may have already all finalized and she's coordinating moving her things here. But with no way of knowing for sure, you don't exactly want to ask, either- especially not here in her office.

You and Kyou both nod.

"That's all." Merlin says. "So I should be over for dinner?"

"Of course." Kyou responds, then pauses as she stands. "And if it would help, we will gladly make space for you in our quarters."

Merlin nods. "I'll think about it." She says. "Thank you, both." It's a dismissal and you and Kyou both take it as such, stepping out of the office and heading down the hall.

"I don't want to say it, but we may need to intervene." Kyou says. "She is distracted to the point of it becoming an issue."

[] She'll let us know when it's a problem. Till then, we do just like we are.
[] You're right, I think this has gotten bad enough.
[] I'm not going to say anything till I've made a few phone calls.

>>4589728
>[X] She'll let us know when it's a problem. Till then, we do just like we are.

>>4589728
>[] I'm not going to say anything till I've made a few phone calls.

Scheming Catte

>>4589728
>[x] I'm not going to say anything till I've made a few phone calls.

>>4589725
[] I'm not going to say anything till I've made a few phone calls

She's still hanging together so it's not emergency intervention time, but I agree we need to start gathering info for if things do devolve to that point. Not to mention get some outside viewpoints on how much support or 'support' we need to provide.

>>4589728
>[] I'm not going to say anything till I've made a few phone calls.

>>4589728
>[] I'm not going to say anything till I've made a few phone calls.

>>4589728
>[x] She'll let us know when it's a problem. Till then, we do just like we are.

>>4589728
>[] I'm not going to say anything till I've made a few phone calls.

catte doesn't act without certainy

Ok, votes called! This will probably be our last for the week- and last for the year, haha!

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[x] I'm not going to say anything till I've made a few phone calls.

You shake your head. It's clear enough that it's gotten to a point where you'll have to do something- if not now, then soon- but you don't want to make any kind of move without being certain. "I'm not going to say anything till I've made a few phone calls." You respond.

Kyou nods. "Forgive me for not telling you sooner, but her marriage is-" she pauses. "Having severe difficulty, and neither of them seem interested in making any attempt to save it."

"I know." You say. "Maman visited."

"She did?" Kyou looks surprised. "I wasn't aware. She told you?"

You nod. "It sounds like I may have not gotten the full story though. I didn't think it was quite this bad yet."

"I'm surprised it hasn't gotten worse yet." Kyou responds. "What Wendy told me of them must be true, in that they never were truly in love."

"Wendy feels guilty over the whole thing." You say. "She blames herself for helping them get together."

"Of course she would." Kyou says, frowning. "Wendy also regrets not making a move on you much earlier, she tells me. And regrets many other things besides. She is completely happy, but fears she lost far too much time." She grins. "Which may explain why she is as energetic as she is-"

"It might." You say, not quite distracted. "But we've got a problem, potentially."

Kyou shakes her head. "I see it as an opportunity." She says. "We cannot save the world, but we can certainly create beneficial arrangements for those around us."

"Maybe. Let me make my calls." You say as the two of you exit ops. "I don't want to agree to anything without knowing exactly what's going on and where everyone stands."

"I had expected as much." Kyou says, then smiles. "I intend to offer Wendy's services to her, should it not be necessary for us to act quite so forcefully as to bring her into the household. Wendy has already agreed, and while I wish to have her around at all times, she is uniquely suited to what would be asked."

You nod- that's fair, you think.

"Of course, You know what my preference is." Kyou finishes. "but, as ever, I trust your judgment in these matters."

That's the part that worries you, honestly- not for the first time you wonder how things would have turned out if you had followed Maman's path and gone into special warfare.

And that's going to be it for the week! We're actually at a really good stopping point, I think, putting us in a great place for next week's run.

Not much to say here after that, though! as always, I'll be around, both here and in the discord, to chat or answer any questions or comments anyone has. Otherwise, gents, till next week, happy new year and cheers!

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>>4589775
Thanks for the run boss, happy new year.

>>4589775
Thanks for the run Ghost and happy new year!

>>4589775
thanks for running Ghost

>>4589775
Thanks for the run and Happy New Year!

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Sorry for the late start tonight gents- I got called away to make dinner about 1730, and just finished eating. Pretty good stuff, but the timing, as usual in my case, was off, haha!

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

You are Wendy La- you have to stop yourself and remember that, no, you're still Wendy Maloney, and Lady Kyou and Morgan are both out of the house for the day, testing the latest weapon systems installed on their fighter. For your part, you're only a little mortified they were up and out before you'd woken up, having no duty today yourself, other than that assigned you by the lady Kyou. Specifically, you're to keep an eye on Mori, the newest member of your little family, and make sure she's doing alright.

You're not quite sure what yet to make of the imperial guard. Lady Kyou seems to have no problem with her presence, but, as Morgan often points out, lady Kyou rarely seems to have a problem with the presence of beautiful people. Part of you, the part that's rapidly disappearing, wonders then why she's so readily accepted you, but you've also learned not to question her or Morgan's decisions in that regard, and just accept them. To be fair, it's not been a problem thus far, and you are quite happy with everything.

For her part, the poor dear is still laid up. It's one of the things that can happen- even with access to healing talents, the human body was never designed for this sort of thing, and so she's so sore she can barely move, the implants wreaking temporary havoc as her body adjusts to her altered nervous system. It's a fleeting thing, usually lasting no more than a day, according to the doctors, and a recorded symptom, one that's known to occur in especially physically fit individuals. The lady Kyou left strict instruction to you that Mori was to rest, however, and you intend to make sure they're carried out- despite your instinct to make sure there's tea and perhaps a light breakfast for her, as you're sure she'll be up soon.

1/2

In the meantime, you can busy yourself with tidying up around quarters, you think. You've already had a light breakfast yourself- Morgan, thoughtful man he is, made extra and made sure it was set aside for you. Not for the first time you think on just how fortunate you are- you couldn't have imagined this as your future even six months ago. Now, of course, you can't see any future that isn't this- not least because the lady Kyou has been so insistent that you're a part of her household for the rest of time, now. It's a slightly warm feeling, honestly, one that makes you glad that, for all your earlier insecurity, you agreed to it.

You've just finished making the bed when you hear the sounds of movement out in the living room. Placing the last pillow back in it's spot you step out to find Mori groggily looking around, rubbing the back of her neck and wincing. Her familiar pops out a second later, the blue glow indicating she's using her healing talent, however minor, to try and help alleviate the soreness- and a frown gives away her failure at it.

[] That won't help, I'm afraid. Would you like some tea?
[] It's rather unpleasant, I know. It should go away quickly though. Breakfast?

>>4595494
>[X] It's rather unpleasant, I know. It should go away quickly though. Breakfast?

>>4595494
>[x] It's rather unpleasant, I know. It should go away quickly though. Breakfast?

>>4595494
>[X] It's rather unpleasant, I know. It should go away quickly though. Breakfast?

>>4595494
>[] That won't help, I'm afraid. Would you like some tea?

Matron Wendy is the best.

>>4595494
>[x] It's rather unpleasant, I know. It should go away quickly though. Breakfast?

>You are Wendy La-
HNNNNNNNNNGGGGHHHHHHH

>>4595494
>[x] It's rather unpleasant, I know. It should go away quickly though. Breakfast?

>>4595494
>[x] That won't help, I'm afraid. Would you like some tea?

>You are Wendy La- you have to stop yourself and remember that, no, you're still Wendy Maloney
For now

>>4595494
>[] That won't help, I'm afraid. Would you like some tea?

Tea is probably easier on her post-surgery than food

>>4595494
>[X] It's rather unpleasant, I know. It should go away quickly though. Breakfast?

ok, votes called!

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[x] It's rather unpleasant, I know. It should go away quickly though. Breakfast?

You smile sympathetically. While it's not one of the side effects you experienced- you, the doctors said, got off remarkably lightly, with almost no other effects, just some minor tenderness around the implant when it was installed. "It's rather unpleasant, I know." You say, nodding. "It should go away quickly though. Breakfast?"

"If you're offering." The other witch responds, and you nod.

"Please, make yourself comfortable." You say, noting that the new witch is somewhat taller than you. She nods, heading to the living room as you go into the kitchen, mindful of her peculiar diet. She stretches some on the floor, trying to work out the soreness- not that it's going to really work, you know, having listened in on the doctor's explanation. It's a neurological thing, not a muscular-skeletal one, meaning that it's not going to just stretch out. A guilty part of you, though, doesn't mind watching at all as she sits on the floor, just visible over the couch, and extends on leg to grab her foot.

"So-ahh, damn." She says, as she does so, wincing. "The princess and her pilot are out for the day?"

You nod. "The morning, at least." You say.

"Is that usual?" She asks, shaking her head gingerly. "That didn't help at all."

"Not entirely, no." You respond. You're grounded for the time being, as Merlin and the young miss Spears use your valkyrie units to examine weapon possibilities with some of the armor witch's rifles sent over from the Marine base, camp Pendleton. "But very little seems to be usual for us thus far, other than having guests for dinner and being held back."

Mori smirks. "A fact I'm sure doesn't sit well with her highness."

"Not at all." You say, smiling. "She's rather eager to be back at the front."

The tan witch nods, finally leaving the floor with another wince and taking a seat on the couch. "They call her the wolf princess back home." She says. "Not surprised to hear she's every bit the fire breather they said her father and the emperor were."

"She does rather enjoy combat." You respond. "How many eggs, or do you prefer to not have them?"

"Four." She says. "Eggs and milk and things are fine, I just don't eat meat."

"I see." You say. "Health considerations?"

1/2

"And moral ones." She responds. "It would be a little strange to eat rabbit stew, given my familiar."

You laugh lightly. "I imagine it would be." You say, cracking the eggs into the pan and making a mental note you'll have to get more sometime today- you prefer to keep Morgan's kitchen and pantry well-stocked, and the lady Kyou has made it abundantly clear you're to have full access to her purse to do so. While she's not in line for the throne- and is only a Sho-sa in the imperial navy- her accounts are more than adequate to the task. You've got your own accounts, of course- and they're not inconsiderable, though they seem entirely superfluous in light of hers- but Kyou insisted that she pay for all expenses her household incurs.

It's quiet for a minute, and you flip the eggs, plating them up with some sliced tomato and beans, also heated quickly. You've not much else to offer, really, since she doesn't eat meat- sausage and bacon, sadly, are right out. You take the plate, along with a cup of coffee for her and one of tea for you, and head out to the living room, where she's stretched out on the couch. She nods her thanks and sits up, wincing again as she does so, setting the plate on the coffee table in front of her. You step back into the kitchen to bring out the cream and sugar, setting them down in front of her- she takes her coffee heavily sugared, as does Kyou, but with little cream.

"When are we expecting them back?" She asks.

"I'm not quite certain." You respond. "Doubtless the flying test will take no more than a few hours, three, I should say, at the most, but then they'll probably discuss things with miss Wells-"

"The admiral." Mori asks, and you nod.

"We don't often use rank between ourselves." You say, explaining. "Only if there are others about."

"I see." Mori says, then frowns. "And the princess is interested in bringing her into the household as well?"

[] It would seem so, yes.
[] We've quite a lot of history with her.

>>4595585
>[X] We've quite a lot of history with her.

>>4595585
>[x] It would seem so, yes. We've also got quite a lot of history with her which makes matters... complex.

>>4595585
>[x] It would seem so, yes.

>>4595585
Id honestly like a combo of this. Essentially go
>[x] It would seem so, yes.
~but
>[x] We've quite a lot of history with her.

>>4595585
>[x] We've quite a lot of history with her.

>>4595585
>>4595588
+1

>>4595585
>[] We've quite a lot of history with her.

ok, votes called!

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[] It would seem so, yes.
[] We've quite a lot of history with her.

You nod. "It would seem so, yes." You respond, thinking about it. While you've no complaints in that direction- you actually kind of wonder what it would be like, honestly, with more than a little interest- you also feel it's not really your place to become involved in the ongoing 'discussion' between the lady Kyou and Morgan on the subject, either, your own history with her notwithstanding. You're sure that whatever decision they make will be the right one. "However, we've quite a lot of history with her, and that complicates matters."

"I see." Mori says, frowning. "And the American navy is ok with this?"

You shrug. "The Americans, I've found, are entirely willing to allow their witches to do whatever they please, so long as it's not a direct threat to their government." You respond. "Despite their fragmented nature, the American covens hold a great deal of political power."

Mori nods. "So allowing the princess to seduce the mother of dragons is no problem?"

You smile. "So long as Morgan is involved, no." You say. "And I'm sure they view it as unlikely that, even should she succeed, the lady Kyou would prevent miss Wells from doing as she pleased. Perhaps require her to share her work with the imperial government as well, at worst."

Mori frowns slightly. "I'd heard the American covens had more than a little interest in him, and I might be required to see to potential problems arising from American wiches and- " she pauses. "That's funny?"

You shake your head with a smile. "That's no concern." You respond. "Morgan is nothing if not his mother's son, and quite paranoid about just that sort of thing. Any witch attempting that sort of thing would find herself shut out rather quickly. Besides, the link hardly allows for it."

1/2

"I see." She repeats, her frown still present. "So how many does the princess plan to take for her household?" She asks. "That would make five?"

You nod. "She's been quite adamant that six is her limit, and I think Morgan intends to hold her to it." You say.

"Six?" Mori asks, and you nod. "That's... more than I'd like."

"Security issues?" You ask.

She nods again. "No disrespect to the princess, and I'm sure she has her reasons, but that's a lot of space for someone to become compromised in." She says. "And with six people, that close to her at all times-"

You nod. "You'd be worried about a betrayal?" You ask.

"Yeah." She says. "but you're smiling again."

"That would be quite difficult, at best." You say, after a minute- you can't really see it as even being possible. "The link doesn't prevent free will, of course, but- " You frown, trying to think of how to describe it. "I cannot imagine anyone in it attempting to harm anyone else in it." You eventually say.

"Maybe not, but that's still a concern." She says. "I mean, even if you can't see how, it's possible."

[] I rather doubt it is. You'll understand better after our first few flights.
[] Even if it were, I rather doubt it should be much of a concern considering both her and yourself and Morgan.

>>4595639
>[X] I rather doubt it is. You'll understand better after our first few flights.

>>4595639
>[x] I rather doubt it is. You'll understand better after our first few flights.

>>4595639
>[] I rather doubt it is. You'll understand better after our first few flights.

>>4595639
>[x] I rather doubt it is. You'll understand better after our first few flights.

Kyou wasn't joking about it being a straight-up marriage

>>4595639
>[] Even if it were, I rather doubt it should be much of a concern considering both her and yourself and Morgan.

>>4595639
>[] I rather doubt it is. You'll understand better after our first few flights.

>>4595639
>[] I rather doubt it is. You'll understand better after our first few flights.

ok, votes called!

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[x] I rather doubt it is. You'll understand better after our first few flights.

You smile. "I rather doubt it is." You say, shaking your head. "You'll understand better after our first few flights."

"The MIU is really that strong?" She asks. She doesn't sound bothered, or even really concerned- just professionally interested. "There's a lot of powerful people that wouldn't mind getting rid of even part of the imperial family."

You nod. "if not significantly moreso." You say. "I doubt that anyone in it could ever bear to harm another."

"Huh." She says, then smiles. "I think I'll be still be keeping an eye on the princess and anyone she intends to bring into her household."

You laugh, nodding again. "Which will keep you quite busy for the time, I imagine." You say. "More coffee?"

She shakes her head. "I get jittery after two cups." She says, then looks around. "So do you keep the house for the princess?"

You smile a little. "It's nothing she assigned me, but yes." You say, then pause, frowning slightly. "I felt it best if I saw to it that things ran smoothly here for her. So I keep the quarters clean, keep the pantry stocked, that manner of thing."

She nods, then frowns again. "Man, this is killing me." She says. "How long am I going to be this sore? I can't get to the gym like this."

"No more than a day." You say, picking up her plates for her and taking them into the kitchen. "Though lady Kyou was quite insistent that you rest and recover today."

"Huh." Mori says, then smiles. "Well, I'm sworn to follow her instructions unless she'd order me to allow her to come to harm. Do you have anything I can do, or should I just sit here?"

[] I'm quite happy just to have the company, don't get up.
[] I'd planned to run to get groceries, if you'd like to come along.

>>4595689
>[X] I'd planned to run to get groceries, if you'd like to come along.

>>4595689
>[] I'd planned to run to get groceries, if you'd like to come along.

>>4595689
>[] I'd planned to run to get groceries, if you'd like to come along.

Bodyguard X Maid Slice Of Life Hoooooo

>>4595689
>[x] I'd planned to run to get groceries, if you'd like to come along.

Girls' day out shopping

>>4595689
>[x] I'd planned to run to get groceries, if you'd like to come along.

>>4595689
>[] I'd planned to run to get groceries, if you'd like to come along.

Good chance for Wendy to nut out which Vegetables and other foods Mori likes so Morgan has more to work with

>>4595689
>[x] I'd planned to run to get groceries, if you'd like to come along.

>>4595689
>[] I'd planned to run to get groceries, if you'd like to come along.

ok, votes called!

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[x] I'd planned to run to get groceries, if you'd like to come along.

"I'd planned to run and get groceries, if you'd like to come along." You say. You'll have to change, of course- you're dressed, but hardly in a way suitable to go out into public, in a pair of, frankly, ancient USN sweat pants and one of Morgan's old undershrits. You're a little surprised the shirt fits as well as it does- of course, on the lady Kyou they're entirely tent-like, on you they're more form-fitting. One of the curiosities of his you've learned to not question.

Mori nods with a grimace. "Maybe some walking would help loosen me up." She says. "This is awful."

"Were Morgan here, I'd suggest asking for some of the herbal tea he prepares." You say.

"Herbal tea?" Mori asks, and you nod.

"You know of Morgan's mother, the Matron Brigitte Laroux?" you ask. Mori nods.

"The mother of night." She responds.

"Just so." You say. You still have trouble reconciling the awe and fear some people hold the woman in with your own image of her- smiling, fun-loving and rather carefree. She made more than one pass at you postwar too- something that, in retrospect, you regret not taking advantage of. Well, you regretted it at one time, not as much anymore, though you do wonder what it would have been like. Certainly, if Morgan is any indication, you'd have had nothing to complain about. You shake your head to clear it a little- allowing your mind to occasionally wander is perfectly fine, and Kyou encourages it a little, but it's rather rude during a conversation.

"She's of a tradition that still puts great stock in use of herbal remedies and charms as foci for magic." You explain. "A witch of their coven will often use a herbal tea or a poultice or ointment to allow her magic to heal. For whatever reason, Brigitte taught Morgan how to prepare those remedies and charms."

"And they work?" Mori asks, clearly shocked. "How?"

"They do work, but neither myself nor the lady Kyou can say how." You say. "We suspect they simply tap into our own abilities and guide them towards specific ends."

Mori frowns. "Which should be impossible without you knowing." She says.

1/2

You nod. "Very much so, yes." You admit. "But there's many secrets that coven refuses to part with, and both of us suspect that it's known to them. Morgan tells us that any witch raised in the same area would be able to prepare them better than he, but-" You shrug.

"I see." Mori says. She stands up, stretching again and arching her back with her hands folded above her head. "Well, let me go get dressed." She pads back into her bedroom, closing the door.

You do the same, changing into a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. You're not exactly sure where the shirt came from, nor do you recognize the logo of the company on the front. You've never heard of Union Aerospace Corporation, and at this point you're reasonably sure you would have. Vaguely you wonder if it's one of miss Wells'- and if it is, why it was present and folded in the closet. If it were hers, it would explain why it's as tight as is- you shrug. You'll only be out for a little bit, you tell yourself.

More properly attired, you step back out into the living room and slip on a pair of shoes, only waiting a minute for Mori, who steps out while tying back her hair. She nods as she pulls on her shoes. "So the princess didn't assign the task of running the house to you? You just started doing it?" She asks.

You nod. "It felt the most natural way to contribute." You explain as you ride the elevator down.

"So what will happen if the princess really does start bringing other people in to her household?" She asks.

[] I'm not quite certain what you mean.
[] Oh, I'm sure they'll find their own way to contribute. It's remarkably easy to do, frankly.

>>4595775
>[X] Oh, I'm sure they'll find their own way to contribute. It's remarkably easy to do, frankly.

>>4595775
>[X] Oh, I'm sure they'll find their own way to contribute. It's remarkably easy to do, frankly.

>>4595775
>[x] Oh, I'm sure they'll find their own way to contribute. It's remarkably easy to do, frankly.

>>4595775
>[] Oh, I'm sure they'll find their own way to contribute. It's remarkably easy to do, frankly.

>>4595775
>[x] Oh, I'm sure they'll find their own way to contribute. It's remarkably easy to do, frankly.

>>4595775
>[x] I'm not quite certain what you mean.

>>4595775
>[] Oh, I'm sure they'll find their own way to contribute. It's remarkably easy to do, frankly.

>>4595775
>[] Oh, I'm sure they'll find their own way to contribute. It's remarkably easy to do, frankly.

>>4595775
>[] Oh, I'm sure they'll find their own way to contribute. It's remarkably easy to do, frankly.

"Food. Eye candy. Belly rubs. Things that explode."

ok, votes called! this'll probably be our last for the evening!

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[x] Oh, I'm sure they'll find their own way to contribute. It's remarkably easy to do, frankly.

"Oh," You respond, smiling. "I'm sure they'll find their own way to contribute. It's remarkably easy to do, frankly."

"It is?" Mori asks, and you nod.

"Oh, quite." You say. "No one told me that I should take to handling the many little things about the house, I simply did. It's all worked out quite well. Morgan does the majority of the cooking, and buys a great deal of the specialty groceries we need, while I handle some of the cooking he doesn't do, and buy most of the staples and things we go through quickly, such as milk and eggs, some fresh produce, that manner of thing."

"I see." Mori says. "So you do most of the produce shopping?"

You laugh. "I'm to assume you're rather interested in that?" You say.

She nods, frowning. "They're already telling stories about Morgan's ability to cook in the imperial palace. He's definitely converted the Princess Mizuki to his camp. But I've always been just as happy with simple things. Fresh produce is a big deal for me, though."

You nod. That doesn't surprise you too much- most witches take at least some aspects of their familiar on, and to find out that a witch with a rabbit familiar should have a great affinity for fresh fruit and veg is no great shock.

The two of you head out of the building, not commenting on the lingering eyes of the marines on duty at the desk. It's kind of one of the unspoken things- they're going to look, and while you may not necessarily appreciate it, you also know that they know they're not going to get to touch. It used to bother you a great deal more, but you've found now it hardly registers- except, of course, when it's Kyou or Morgan doing it. The thought makes you very faintly giddy- you fight it back down, aware that fantasizing now is poor manners, at best.

"This base is far larger than most of the ones I'm used to." Mori remarks as you step out into the warm morning. You can hear the sound of jets out on the flight line, but they're not wyverns- all of which have a very distinct roar to them in flight, a sort of high pitched whine imparted by the energy their engines draw from their witch. Each is unique, you're told, and you're sure you could pick out Muninn, should they return while you're outside.

1/2

You nod. "It's quite large, but not the largest base by far." You say. "But it's home to the majority of our kind while they're on this coast."

"By our kind, you mean witches?" Mori asks. You shake your head.

"Wvyern teams." You correct her. "It's sort of the unofficial home for most of us, though some teams reside at NAS Oceana, on the east coast. And of course, we can travel extensively, so most of us don't keep many household or personal effects."

Mori nods. "They warned me about that." She says. "It's why I packed so lightly."

"The three of us all keep about the same number of things. No more than can be loaded in a duffle bag." You explain. "Though lady Kyou has told us that most of our belongings will be moved to the eastern palace in the imperial palace grounds, as soon as that can be arranged."

"They told me that too." Mori says, then laughs a little. "Pretty big move up from my little apartment."

You laugh as well. "Mine too." You say, then shake your head. "I suspect that's going to be true of most of us, though."

"Probably." She agrees, looking over towards the flight line at a pair of tomcats- you can recognize them by sound- lifts off, both banking off to the north as they clear the runway. "Though isn't Admiral Wells well off?"

"Quite well off." You say, nodding. "Financially speaking, at any rate."

She doesn't say anything, perhaps catching onto your meaning as the two of you walk over to the commissary. The cold air inside momentarily fights with the warm outside as the glass doors slide open, and you take a cart after showing your ID to the employee at the desk. Mori follows suit.

"You lead, I'll follow." She says. "Guess I'll need to learn my way around here, in case the princess wants to come buy groceries."

[] She prefers to leave that to Morgan or myself.
[] You think she might be attacked here? Seems rather unlikely to me.

And that's gonna be it for the evening!

I know I'd said I don't wanna get too carried away with sidequests, but I had this one sitting back, and thought now would be a good time to run it. Wendy is a fun character to work with, and she seems pretty well liked, haha!

Anyway, that's it for the evening. I'll be around a bit to answer questions or comments if there are any, either here or in the discord, but otherwise gents, till tomorrow, cheers!

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>>4595859
>[X] You think she might be attacked here? Seems rather unlikely to me.

>>4595861
Thanks for the run boss.

>>4595859
>[] You think she might be attacked here? Seems rather unlikely to me.

>>4595859
>[X] She prefers to leave that to Morgan or myself.

>>4595859
>[] She prefers to leave that to Morgan or myself.

she's not really the "groceries" type

>>4595859
>[] She prefers to leave that to Morgan or myself.

>>4595859
>[x] She prefers to leave that to Morgan or myself.

>>4595861
Thanks for the run Ghost!
Wendy quest is a nice surprise

>>4595859
>[x] She prefers to leave that to Morgan or myself.
Somehow my mental image of Kyou shopping is like letting a six-year-old do it.

>>4595859
>[] She prefers to leave that to Morgan or myself.

Let's face it, our Awoo is hardly domestic.

>>4595859
>[x] She prefers to leave that to Morgan or myself.

>>4595859
>[x] She prefers to leave that to Morgan or myself.

>>4595859
>[X] She prefers to leave that to Morgan or myself.
>>4595861
Thanks for the run!

ok, votes called!

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[x] She prefers to leave that to Morgan or myself.

You smile- Mori's concern is a sign of her professionalism, you're sure, but it's also more than a little misplaced in this instance. "She prefers to leave that to Morgan or myself." You respond.

The other witch pauses, then nods. "I should have expected as much." She says. "It is a little hard picturing the wolf princess as being domestic."

You laugh a little- she's not wrong, you do have quite a bit of trouble picturing Kyou as handling the domestic tasks you and Morgan seem to have split between you. You wonder how Mori is going to alter that arrangement. She doesn't exactly seem the domestic type herself, you think, but at the same time, she appears at least a little more interested in the day to day workings of Kyou's rapidly expanding household.

"Of course, no one expected the son of Nyx to be as capable a cook as he is, either." She continues, shaking her head. "It's a topic of great discussion that his mother had to be sent to fetch him from the training area during his survival and evasion training."

You laugh, nodding. Matron Brigitte has, of course, told you the whole story. She seemed more amused by the whole affair than usual, though you imagine a great deal of that was pride as well- according to what you've heard, the whole thing had to be hushed up, for fear it would prompt other students to attempt the same feat.

[] Morgan is nothing if not surprising.
[] He is a rather talented young man, isn't he?

>>4596539
>[x] He is a rather talented young man, isn't he?

>>4596539
>[X] He is a rather talented young man, isn't he?

>>4596539
>[] He is a rather talented young man, isn't he?

IN BED

>>4596539
>[x] He is a rather talented young man, isn't he?

>>4596539
>[X] He is a rather talented young man, isn't he?

>>4596539
>[] He is a rather talented young man, isn't he?

THIRST (BUT I LIKE THAT)

>>4596539
>[X] He is a rather talented young man, isn't he?

>>4596539
>[] He is a rather talented young man, isn't he?

ok, votes called!

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[x] He is a rather talented young man, isn't he?

You smile, only keeping down a light blush with effort. "He is a rather talented young man, isn't he?" You say.

Mori nods. "Of course, but that was expected." She responds. "However, it is surprising to find out just how many skills he possesses. One wouldn't expect him to have such an interest in cooking, for example, on reading of his exploits during training."

You nod. "Most people see him only as the son of Brigitte Laroux, or Frank Bishop. Perhaps both. It means they overlook a great many things about him that make him who he is. Most people only hear about his being exempted from SERE without hearing about how Brigitte is of the opinion he was playing with the cadre the entire time."

"Playing with them?" Mori asks. "Forgive me for asking, but aren't they all very highly trained specialists?"

"Within their field." You respond. You avoided SERE for the same reason many witches of your generation did- by the time you were 18 and legally able to go, you'd already been a decorated veteran for a few years, with enough name recognition that it made the trip functionally impossible. You know that Tabitha has passed it, and Frank, of course, but few of the rest of the family has.

"What did he do?" She asks, sounding a little confused. "Even superbly skilled, the training element includes witches, does it not?"

You nod. "Of course. Very skilled ones, too. I've met a few of them, wonderful girls, if perhaps a bit overconfident."

She frowns. "So Morgan was able to not only evade capture by these instructors, but he was actively toying with them?" She asks.

You nod again. "To hear Brigitte tell it, yes." You say. "According to her, their worst mistake was approving the use of less lethal munitions in their effort to bring him in. After a near miss, he apparently turned quite malicious. Never to the point of actually harming any of the instructors after him, but frequently making it very clear he easily could have. They allowed the situation to persist for three days before calling in Brigitte." You laugh, remembering Brigitte's description of arriving- and of collecting Morgan within twenty minutes of setting out, bringing in a remarkably clean, fresh-faced young man and making it abundantly clear she'd not be helping them again, should they persist in this nonsense.

She shakes her head. "So if he does decide to harm the princess, there's little anyone can do to stop him?" She asks.

You laugh again, and she looks over, frowning.

[] That sort of thing is quite impossible.
[] I imagine she's well enough defended regardless.

>>4596588
>[X] That sort of thing is quite impossible.

>>4596588
>[x] That sort of thing is quite impossible.

>>4596588
>[] That sort of thing is quite impossible.

>>4596588
>[X] That sort of thing is quite impossible.

>>4596588
>[] I imagine she's well enough defended regardless.

Remember, Big Awoo is *Big*

>>4596588
>[x] That sort of thing is quite impossible.

>>4596588
>[] That sort of thing is quite impossible.

If Morgan ever turned villain, Kyou would be happily tucked in the back seat laughing like a maniac along with him.

>>4596588
>[] That sort of thing is quite impossible.

>>4596588
>[x] That sort of thing is quite impossible.

Just gotta make sure Mori doesn't mistake wild clawing Awoo-lewds for an actual murder attempt

ok, votes called!

Foreshadowing of Morgan going Le Fay?

>>4596639
more liek Morgan Le Gay

amirite

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[x] That sort of thing is quite impossible.

"That sort of thing is quite impossible." You say, still laughing a little. "You'll have to excuse the poor description, but the bond the MIU creates between it's members is-" you frown, looking for the correct words. "I've heard it described as a never ending honeymoon, and while I cannot speak to the truthfulness of that, having never been married, I imagine someone should be so lucky. Morgan and I would do anything for Kyou, or she for us." You shrug. "As I said, you'll understand better once you're on this side of things."

"I see." Mori says. "You understand my concern though?"

You laugh. "Of course. From where you sit, such a thing is entirely a valid and reasonable concern. I'm sure there are people who would make sure someone is quite well taken care of, should they be willing to act as the assassin's dagger."

She nods. "Exactly. I mean, I trust what you're saying, but.." She shrugs.

"But without knowing first hand what it's like, it's difficult to imagine?" You prompt, and she nods again. You shake your head. "It's why they're so concerned about making sure you know what you're agreeing to. I cannot imagine life without them, now. It is comforting in many ways, but there's little choice involved once you decide to agree. No possibility of leaving, not that you'd ever want to."

She nods. "I talked some with an American mental doctor, before my surgery. It strikes me as odd that there's so few willing to go through with it. That kind of relationship, I felt sure, would be a draw to many."

[] I'm sure it would be, if it were widely available.
[] I think it's the utter commitment it requires. Most prefer a way out, should it be necessary.

>>4596662
>[] I think it's the utter commitment it requires. Most prefer a way out, should it be necessary.

>>4596662
>[X] I'm sure it would be, if it were widely available.

>>4596662
>[] I think it's the utter commitment it requires. Most prefer a way out, should it be necessary.

>>4596662
>[x] I think it's the utter commitment it requires. Most prefer a way out, should it be necessary.
Commitment's a difficult thing.

>>4596659
With who, though.

>>4596662
>[] I'm sure it would be, if it were widely available.

>>4596662
>[] I think it's the utter commitment it requires. Most prefer a way out, should it be necessary.

>>4596662
>[x] I think it's the utter commitment it requires. Most prefer a way out, should it be necessary.

>>4596672
>Commitment's a difficult thing.

Well, and I'm sure the notion of "What if the board got it wrong?" is a Real Fear, for both sides. Imagine if some absolute nutter managed to hide it, and now you're brain married to them.

>>4596662
>[] I think it's the utter commitment it requires. Most prefer a way out, should it be necessary.

>>4596693
Phrased like this ye

>>4596662
>[X] I think it's the utter commitment it requires. Most prefer a way out, should it be necessary.

ok, votes called!

>>4596662
>[x] I think it's the utter commitment it requires. Most prefer a way out, should it be necessary.

I think the thought that they can't back out if they make a fuck up is the major tripping point.

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[x] I think it's the utter commitment it requires. Most prefer a way out, should it be necessary.

"I think it's the utter commitment it requires." You say, noting that, as you've been talking, your shopping cart has gotten quite full. It's just staples, of course- nothing like what Morgan's trips to the farmer's markets or whole foods produces- but it's all things you go through astonishingly rapidly in the house. "Most people prefer a way out, should it be necessary."

"I guess it could be a little scary." Mori admits. "But it's not much different than any other kind of matchmaking."

"If rather more concrete." You agree. "The navy is incredibly eager to make sure that all the matches they allow are correct, however, which may also limit the value of the system. It would hardly do for someone to agree to it in a rush to find out the person they're linked to is someone they can barely tolerate."

She nods. "I do remember a very intensive screening period before they had us all confined to the base." She says, thinking. "And the American naval doctor was more intense than I'd have expected."

You nod. "The navy is terrified, overall, of a poor match." You explain. "Which is why they put so much effort into preventing it. But even then, it's possible that a crew may not come together as we have. I'm sure they told you that they were always available to talk?"

Mori nods. "They were all very sure to leave their office and mobile and home numbers with me." She says, smiling. "Almost like some of the men back home."

You laugh. "Well, to different ends I'm sure." You say.

"Probably." She agrees, looking around as you enter the produce section of the building. You always like coming here second to last, just before you get any frozen foods you'll be needing to get- and you'll be needing to replace the ice cream, at least. "They have a pretty good selection here." She notes.

[] It's fairly good, but Morgan typically gets the produce from farmer's markets in the area.
[] Feel free to add anything you want to the cart, lady Kyou made it quite clear we're to get what we want.

>>4596743
>[] Feel free to add anything you want to the cart, lady Kyou made it quite clear we're to get what we want. If you find anything missing or unsatisfactory, Morgan also makes trips to the Farmer's Market regularly.

>>4596743
>[X] It's fairly good, but Morgan typically gets the produce from farmer's markets in the area.
>[X] Feel free to add anything you want to the cart, lady Kyou made it quite clear we're to get what we want.

>>4596743
>>4596747
dis

>>4596743
>[] Feel free to add anything you want to the cart, lady Kyou made it quite clear we're to get what we want.

>>4596743
>[X] It's fairly good, but Morgan typically gets the produce from farmer's markets in the area.

>>4596743
>[] It's fairly good, but Morgan typically gets the produce from farmer's markets in the area.

Proud Doggo

>>4596743
>[X] It's fairly good, but Morgan typically gets the produce from farmer's markets in the area.

ok, votes called!

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[x] It's fairly good, but Morgan typically gets the produce from farmer's markets in the area.
[x] Feel free to add anything you want to the cart, lady Kyou made it quite clear we're to get what we want.

"It's fairly good." You say, nodding as she inspects the carrots. "But Morgan typically gets the produce from the farmer's markets in the area. Still, feel free to add anything you want to the care, lady Kyou made it quite clear we're to get what we want."

Mori nods, grabbing several carrots and adding them to the cart, followed in short order by apples, pears, strawberries, celery and cucumbers. "if it's a problem for him to cook separately for me, I can handle it." She offers as you both head back towards the frozen goods. "I've gotten pretty good at it."

You shake your head. "I rather doubt it will be." You say. "If anything I suspect he'll view you as an interesting challenge."

She laughs. "I've been called that before, too." She says. "Though not about my eating habits."

That gets a smile. "I can imagine." You respond. "The young miss Spears, one of the other valkyrie operators, has similar stories. She served in the Marine's armored battalions prior to becoming a striker operator."

"She was in Iraq?" Mori asks, and you nod.

"To the best of my knowledge, yes." You say. "I know she flew with Morgan and the lady Kyou before valkyries had joined the fleet, but she flew before that with a marine squadron, and was in the tanks before that."

"I've seen their combat report, then." Mori says. "It didn't explain anything about her though, just that she was a regenerative talent and they were able to assist in the capture of a few ISIS witches."

"From what I gather, it's rather similar to yours." You say. "She served with the infantry as an attached asset for a time, then crossed into flight after events in the desert. I'm afraid I don't know much more than that, though she may be a more common dinner companion for us than she has been of late."

"Does the princess often host dinners?" Mori asks.

You frown. She often invites guests over, with Merlin, for example, dining with you practically every night. Merlin is something of an odd case though, still occasionally sleeping over. At least, judging by the presence of her shirt in the closet she does, though you can't be certain of that. As for hosting dinners though, so far it's only been once, a few nights ago when the crew of WCT Invincible was over. You hope she does make them regular guests at the table- you rather found yourself enjoying their company.

[] It's somewhat complicated. She doesn't often have guests, but we can almost always count on miss Wells' presence.
[] Not regularly, but that may change.