[http://pastebin.com/PPDZZZfn]
[19:32:57] * Oxford changes topic to 'Watch the Skies! Volunteer for Auxiliary Early-Warning Duty!'
[19:36:28] <~Oxford> Dawn breaks early over St. Cheswhick's Academy, cutting through the thin layer of light fog in bright golden beams. The light streams through the girls' dormitory window, rousing them just slightly before the familiar tolling of the dorm-mother's bell.
[19:38:45] <Joslyn> "Hnng…" Joslyn rubs her eys, doing her best to ignore the bags that seem to have appeared from staying up almost all of last night thinking up plans for their mission. It was a lot harder than she'd thought, and it showed.
[19:40:59] <~Oxford> One room contains the three members of Cheswhick flight, in their usual quarters. The room next door quarters Durnhurst and Bruinham flights, for four girls total.
[19:41:37] <Joslyn> "Hey Kate…Els. you two up?"
[19:42:00] * Elsa doesnt notice the sun going up, she hugs her pillow as she sleeps with a silly smile on her face. The girl's wings twitch once in a while. She's also drooling quite a bit.
[19:42:20] <Caitlin> Caitlin leans up in bed and stretches to help herself wake up. She lets out a big yawn, "Ahhhhhhhh… Yes, I'm awake."
[19:44:50] * Joslyn yawns and tries to stretch but would much rather go back to bed. But she can't. "Today's the day, you know…"
[19:45:12] * Aerendis woke up at least an hour before sunrise, as she had become accustomed to in her old unit. As soon as the first rays of sun shine through the window, she gives up staring at the wall and begins getting ready for the day. First on her agenda is getting dressed. She finds her new outfit, a bit offput by how…fancy and clean it is. Despite her missing arm, she gets dressed
[19:45:12] * Aerendis with…acceptable speed.
[19:45:13] * Elsa mumbles something into her pillow and giggles, while asleep of course.
[19:45:35] <~Oxford> The bell begins to ring, and the muffled grumbles of their fellow classmates can be heard as they get ready for another day of school. Westfield, however, made it clear that he had plans for this morning, so it's safe to assume they're excused from class today.
[19:45:42] * Aerendis finishes up by folding up the unused left sleeve and pinning it to the shirt to make sure it doesn't flop around loosly.
[19:47:11] * Flaurentine has spent her time keeping to herself, close to approaching Ærendis but pulling back at the last second. Considering her condition, she's been wary of being out in public and has chosen a more "convenient" way to leave the room and meet the others. Of course, she's done so by spending as much of her spare time as possible mapping out the lesser-used rooms' distances from the dorm and not porting into wide-open spaces.
[19:47:13] * Elsa opens her eyes and yawns loudly, stretching all of her limbs (orange wings included), "I hate that bell." She says rubbing her eyes."
[19:49:49] <Joslyn> "I know Els. Not like we have any choice…today's the make-or-break for us." Joslyn sighs as she starts shedding her pajamas and gets in to her uniform, taking care to attach the bars denoting her as 1st Lieutenant to her shoulders.
[19:50:14] <Caitlin> "Is it really, Joslyn? It feels so sudden." Caitlin frowns slightly.
[19:51:36] * Elsa slowly and lazily does the same with her uniform, "Its something big so maybe, dunno, lots of magic is going to get thrown around." She yawns yet again and she struggles to get her wings into the back holes she cut and sew back together for fitting her wings through.
[19:51:53] <Joslyn> "You don't have to remind me. But this guy is arguably the highest-profile target Albea has that isn't an enemy general. And if we don't pull it off, there's going to be hell to pay."
[19:53:32] * Aerendis frowns as she looks around the room just a bit. Now that she's ready, she honestly doesn't have much idea where to go. She decides to try and find one of the squad she's a part of…After a moment, she decides on Flaurentine. She heads out.
[19:54:08] <Elsa> "Oh yeah…guided bomb guy." SHe keeps struggling with her shirt, a feather or two fall to her bedsheets, "Well…yeah."
[19:55:07] <Caitlin> "…I only hope Westfield's plan is well crafted and this ends quickly."
[19:55:44] <~Oxford> Meanwhile, Paige is up and dressed, but Madison is still snuggled deep under her covers. The older girl crawls onto her wingmate's bed and bounces up and down gently, punctuating each bounce with a cheerful poke. "Wake. Up. Wake. Up. Wake-up wake-up waycup!"
[19:56:16] <Joslyn> "I hope he has a plan, because I've got nothing that'll do anything."
[19:56:16] * Flaurentine spends her time outside somewhere, taking in the sights before it's time for the mission. So despite being unfamiliar to most of the students she leans against a wall outside.
[19:57:33] * Elsa finishes dressing up in her uniform and drapes the heavy coat over her back, she doesn't even bother buttoning it, theres not going to be many people walking around the hallways, nor they will be staying for long anyways.
[19:59:44] <Caitlin> Caitlin quickly dresses, herself. She always keeps her clothes nice and neat… Though that probably won't matter much once they transform. "I can't say that I'm not nervous for this one."
[20:00:01] <~Oxford> Aerendis finds the hallways already starting to empty of students, as they head to breakfast. Flaurentine is nowhere in sight, but she knows the room next door has three of the other girls.
[20:00:39] * Elsa finishes putting on her shoes and steps outside their shared room. "I'm hungry, some breakfast would be nice." She knocks on the other girl's door.
[20:00:43] <Joslyn> "If you weren't nervous, I'd assume something was wrong with you Kate."
[20:02:23] * Aerendis heads to that room, in that case.
[20:02:44] <~Oxford> The door Elsa knocks on bursts open - swinging inward, fortunately. Paige emerges with a smile, dragging Madison behind her by the cuff of the younger girl's blazer. "Morning!" greets Paige warmly.
[20:03:09] <Caitlin> Caitlin hesitates, unsure of how exactly to take that. She gives a stiff nod, "I suppose."
[20:03:45] * Elsa is a bit shocked as the door is swung from her mid-knock, she stares at Madison for a second or two before finally saying, "Want to get some breakfast?"
[20:04:44] <Joslyn> "yeah, that'd be helpful - no use trying to kill someone on an empty stomach, right?" Despite the semi-obvious attempt to joke, Joslyn doesn't sound all that funny.
[20:05:21] <~Oxford> Paige nods quickly, and Madison mumbles something about coffee.
[20:06:23] <Caitlin> "Ah, good morning you two." Caitlin's the last one over to meet with Padison.
[20:07:43] <~Oxford> Paige greets her, but then pauses. "Oh, hey, where'd Flauri go?" she asks, cocking her head to one side.
[20:08:06] <Elsa> "Lets just hope they left some food for us…no idea where she is."
[20:08:53] <Joslyn> "Knowing her, she's gonna pop out at some random time. Seems to be a hobby of hers - in any case she knows where the mess hall is. Follow me." Joslyn stands up and leads the newcomers to the food.
[20:10:41] * Elsa begins heading to the mess hall and motions everyone to follow, even Arendis if she's around.
[20:11:57] <~Oxford> Breakfast is well underway, the long tables bustling as girls from 6th grade to 12th eat and chatter amongst themselves. Joslyn finds a quiet spot at the end of the hall.
[20:12:23] <Joslyn> "So…can I make one thing clear here?"
[20:12:33] <Caitlin> "Please do."
[20:14:08] * Aerendis follows the others wordlessly after they walk past her to talk to Paige and Madison.
[20:14:38] <Joslyn> "As it stands now, I'm a First Lieutenant and your immediate commanding officer. This does not mean that I am better, stronger, or smarter than any of you, just that I was picked to run this operation. Make sure I don't forget that, okay?"
[20:14:57] * Elsa quickly heads to get some food and promtly ignores Joslyn's speech.
[20:15:51] <Caitlin> Caitlin raises her hand, just like in class, but refrains from interrupting Joslyn.
[20:16:06] <Joslyn> "…yeah Kate?"
[20:16:11] <~Oxford> Breakfast is a bit more spartan than usual - hot oatmeal with raisins and toast. They've arrived too late to get butter, it seems - the school has been doling it out in smaller quantities of late.
[20:17:33] * Aerendis listens to Joslyn's statement and then nods. "I'll make sure you don't forget that, Lieutenant."
[20:18:44] <Caitlin> "I don't believe this speech is strictly necessary, Joslyn. Please don't take this as disrespectful, but if at all possible, I believe we'd all prefer not to talk about this."
[20:19:28] <Caitlin> Oatmeal? That'll do, Caitlin likes oatmeal, so she gets some. Who doesn't like oatmeal? It's great. Deal with it haters.
[20:19:56] <Joslyn> "…yeah, that was probably a bit over the top, wasn't it? just treat me how you have been doing so and I'll be fine. Sorry." Ærendis' comment is noted and responded to with a smile.
[20:20:38] * Aerendis looks back at Joslyn's smile with a decidedly neutral expression and begins eating, gladly eating it all in record time. She's had worse meals. Often.
[20:20:46] <~Oxford> Paige digs in, only half-listening to Joslyn. "Mm, yeah, that's cool. I don't really mind getting passed up for the promotion."
[20:21:36] * Elsa munches along, "I don't care either way, its just not doing stupid things and working as a team out there, nothing too difficult."
[20:22:20] <Joslyn> "Don't worry, If we pull this off, I think all you all are going to be up for one." Joslyn shrugs as she scoops her last bites of oatmeal.
[20:22:47] <Joslyn> "..f'course, if we screw it up, don't count on being asked to do anything other than suicide missions…"
[20:23:49] <~Oxford> Madison, having disappeared from the table while nobody was looking, returns with a steaming cup of coffee. "Hrawwmn? What was that about suicide missions?" she asks, blinking sleep from her eyes.
[20:23:51] <Elsa> "Well, when we come back I was planning on doing a nice celebration…My powers are useful for some pretty nice things.."
[20:24:35] <Joslyn> "Let's focus on the mission at hand, first."
[20:24:46] <Caitlin> "But… Elsa, aren't there regulations on fireworks?"
[20:25:18] <Elsa> "Not fireworks…you'll see." She then goes back to munching her breakfast.
[20:25:50] * Aerendis finishes eating and begins tinkering with her right sleeve, getting a bit irritated that it won't stay on right. She considers asking someone to get new shirts without right sleeves. She looks to the girl to her right and asks. "Excuse me, can you help me with this…?"
[20:28:36] <Caitlin> Caitlin turns to Aerendis, "Oh, would you like for me to help adjust your sleeve?" Best not to make any sudden movements, but Caitlin is happy to help.
[20:30:13] <Joslyn> "I can probably find a needle and thread if it'd help."
[20:33:02] <~Oxford> Madison finishes her coffee and fidgets with her blazer, realizing the bottom buttons aren't lined up right. After righting it, she looks up. "Ah… are we supposed to report to someone, or…?"
[20:33:29] <Joslyn> "Major Westfield, probably. I can lead you to his office if you're all done."
[20:35:38] <~Oxford> "Wellll, I'm done, but if you guys are finishing up… I mean, I can wait…"
[20:38:41] * Aerendis nods at Caitlin, smiling a bit. "Yes, I'd ap-…appre…l-like that…Caitlin, right?"
[20:40:58] <Caitlin> Caitlin smiles and nods politely, "Yes, Caitlin's my name, but I suppose if you prefer some nickname that would be acceptable." She reaches over to set the sleeve in place properly for her, "Is this alright, Miss Aerendis?"
[20:42:47] <Aerendis> "Yes. Thanks, Caitlin. I…like it. No, that word doesn't work there…U-Uhmm…Thanks." Ærendis says, looking down at Caitlin's work.
[20:45:42] <~Oxford> Paige nods to Joslyn, leaning across Madison to grab a slice of badly-burned toast. "Yeah, Reik said he'd probably want to give us a brief before the mission. Er, not in so few words, though…"
[20:45:51] <Caitlin> "That's good. Please don't hesitate to ask if you have similar troubles in the future. I also wouldn't mind helping you study if you feel like you have catching up to do in any subject; our teams meet up relatively often, after all."
[20:46:19] * Joslyn stands up and leads the girls to Westifield's Office
[20:46:19] * Elsa looks at the Paigison and sighs, "Yeah, there is something you should know before we go out there…try and steer clear of my first attack if there are lots of enemies."
[20:47:01] * Flaurentine has probably showed up for the meeting by now, after having spent a peaceful time alone. Just maybe!
[20:49:26] <~Oxford> The Durnhurst girls take a moment to realize Joslyn has left, but they hurry to follow her to the office. "H-hey, wait up!"
[20:49:57] * Elsa didn't notice Joslyn leave either, "Hey!"
[20:50:12] <Aerendis> "I'd…like that, Caitlin. I haven't really been to a school since I was very young so…I think i'll have to catch up a lot."
[20:50:21] <Elsa> "Don't just leave without saying anything."
[20:50:38] <Joslyn> "Oh, sorry." Joslyn lets the others catch up
[20:52:19] <Caitlin> "You can definitely count on Flauri, as well. She's far more reliable than she would have you believe. I'm happy to help you learn what you've missed, though. Education's very important, you know!" Caitlin nods emphatically, "…Ah, they left without us. We should catch up." As the resident expert, she leads the way!
[20:52:46] <~Oxford> They're already at the thick wooden door to Westfield's office by the time everyone is assembled. There are voices from inside, indicating that several people are already present.
[20:53:14] * Aerendis quickly follows after Caitlin! "Ah, yes. I was looking for her earlier, but I couldn't find her. I hope to ask her questions when we aren't busy…"
[20:53:19] <Elsa> "So…should we knock?"
[20:53:38] <Joslyn> "Yeah…might be a good idea."
[20:55:26] <Caitlin> "Her ability to… teleport means she can be very hard to find sometimes, but I'm sure she has a reason."
[20:55:50] <Elsa> "She'll show up, she always does."
[20:55:55] <Flaurentine> "Ex… cuse me…" A small voice comes from a corner where it totally seemed like nobody was at before. Standing there is timid little Flaurentine, of course, dressed for the occasion. "Um… I'm… here actually. Let's try our best today." It's easy to tell she's had issues focusing because of the small cough that follows, but she tries her best to stifle it.
[20:57:28] <Elsa> "See?"
[20:57:28] * Aerendis turns to face Flauri. "Oh! I didn't see you, I apologize. I'm…my vision isn't as good as it used to be." she admits, before continuing. "Do you mind showing me around once we're done with all this, Flaurentine?"
[20:58:41] * Elsa shrugs and knocks loudly on the door.
[20:58:53] * Flaurentine gives a quick apologetic gesture, the permanent blush on her face ever-showing as she even looks a bit flustered. "N-No, I'm the one who's sorry! I wanted to look at the school Miss Caitlin and the others attend… I should've asked first. But ah… I'd love to." Her face is now alight with a smile.
[20:58:59] <Flaurentine> .. Cough.
[21:00:44] <~Oxford> The voices inside the office go silent, and after a moment the door swings slowly open. Major Reiker holds the knob, glaring malevolently at the girls. Except for Madison & Paige, who get something that at least attempts to be a smile.
[21:00:59] * Aerendis smiles in return to Flauri, glad to be getting along with some of the other girls already. Well, as close to 'getting along' as she knows. However, as Elsa knocks on the door, she quickly steels herself, preparing for the inevitably uncomfortable meeting with the Officers.
[21:01:05] * Elsa glares right back, what the hell is his problem?
[21:01:35] * Aerendis stares at Reiker, still put-off by last night.
[21:01:50] <Elsa> "Reporting for briefing…sir." She says quietly.
[21:02:00] <Caitlin> Caitlin avoids looking directly at Reiker; he greatly unnerves her.
[21:03:04] <Joslyn> "I assume we have a location for the doctor?"
[21:03:31] * Flaurentine gives Reiker a nod with a smile. Only her eyes show discomfort, and that's only a small percentage of her face because she's not an anime character. Is she? She might be! Regardless, her presence seems to fade as she quietly slips in behind the others.
[21:05:59] <~Oxford> "Ahem," says Westfield, holding up a hand to stop the seven girls from filing in. "I see everyone's here? We're a bit crowded, and I've slides prepared, so let's us the classroom across the hall, shall we?"
[21:06:34] * Joslyn stays silent as she lets the others head to hte classroom before going in herself.
[21:07:41] * Elsa goes to the classroom quickly, Reiker's gaze is really bad, not to mention the bloody bastard peppered everyone with gravel just last night.
[21:07:41] <~Oxford> In addition to Reiker and Westfield, Donalds is also present, corncob pipe jutting out from beneath his brushy salt-and-pepper mustache. The old officer's eyes twinkle a bit when he sees Flaurentine at the back of the group.
[21:08:42] * Flaurentine is a bit different, as her own eyes SPARKLE… but then get a guilty look in them that's just terrible to look at. While she's pleased to see him, she still keeps to herself and takes a seat as the others do, provided seating's arranged.
[21:09:13] * Aerendis quickly files into the classroom, stealing the seat next to Flaurentine.
[21:09:17] <Caitlin> Caitlin seats herself as far from Reiker as reasonably possible. What a jerk.
[21:09:42] <~Oxford> The classroom is smaller than most, more geared for tutoring or leading small group studies. The chairs all face toward the projector screen, and Westfield flips off the lights and starts up the slide machine as they take their seats.
[21:10:13] <~Oxford> He flips to the first slide: A grainy black-and-white photograph of an elderly man in a white lab coat.
[21:11:38] <Joslyn> "Our Target?"
[21:11:46] * Elsa assumes her traditional 'almost sleeping during lectures' pose merely out of habit but is quite awake.
[21:12:26] * Flaurentine watches attentively. She doesn't even bother to look to the side, that'd be rude!
[21:12:48] <~Oxford> "Dr. Viktor Tereshkova. One of Novgoraad's top weapons designers. Every area where the Novs are ahead of us, this man is responsible."
[21:14:03] <Elsa> "Except magic, right?"
[21:15:44] <~Oxford> Westfield nods. "But among those advances, the Argus-2 Pulse Bomb." He flips the slide, and two of the weapons, partially disassembled, appear on the screen, in what looks like a lab of some sort. "Cheswhick Flight managed to capture two specimens, which we've been analyzing."
[21:15:56] <Caitlin> "…Surely even magic must be based in science, though…" Caitlin speaks softly, not actually wishing to initiate such a debate.
[21:17:43] <~Oxford> He flips the slide again, revealing what in theory looks like a graph of some sort. The science of it is quite beyond the girls, though Caitlin might be able to make sense of it with a trip to the library.
[21:18:33] <Flaurentine> "W…" Flauri whispers the beginning of a sentence but shakes her head, going back to staring at the slides but with more worry than anything else now. Being responsible for disarming and recovering them, she already feels it may be her fault for uncovering something horrible.
[21:19:33] <~Oxford> "Analyzing the chemical composition of the particulate matter extracted from… er, at any rate, we traced bombs to a launch site, here." Another click of the slide machine reveals a map showing portions of the Gaulian coastline.
[21:21:38] <~Oxford> "This allowed us to establish an intelligence presence in the proper area, yeilding…" Westfield has been a teacher (or at least, a fake one) long enough to know when he's losing a class. "Essentially, Intelligence has figured out when Tereshkova will be visiting the facility."
[21:21:54] <Elsa> "So, we go there and raid the place."
[21:24:30] <~Oxford> Westfield nods. "Precisely, Warrant. We strike at 1200 noon, as the Target is observing the launch of the latest model of pulse bomb." The slide flicks to aerial photographs of the launch facility: several large hangers, a half-dozen launch rails, and what look like AA-emplacements.
[21:24:38] <Joslyn> "Raiding the place might be too obvious. The idea is to take care of Tereshkova without anyone knowing it was us."
[21:25:42] <Joslyn> But in that case, should we try to disarm or otherwise incapacitate the new pulse bombs before they get shot?"
[21:27:05] <~Oxford> Reiker clears his throat loudly, but Westfield ignores him. "Correct. Stealth is a secondary concern, here; your main objective is to neutralize the Doctor, the new-model bombs, and any research personnel present, in that order."
[21:28:49] <Flaurentine> "Understood, Sir." Flauri still doesn't speak loudly. "Ah… should I, um… monitor his location from a distance?" As if showing off her power, little Flauri makes a mock-motion of clapping her hands together. She tries to be humble and unintrusive about it though.
[21:29:35] * Elsa gulps, wow this might be really big, better get the ball rolling quickly.
[21:29:38] <~Oxford> He gestures to a small, square building at the corner of the facility with his swagger stick, tapping the screen lightly. "This is where we suspect the Doctor will be, along with his staff. AAA is located here, here, and here," he adds, pointing to each in turn, "and the pulse bombs are stored here. Any questions before I continue?"
[21:30:19] <Joslyn> "How are we getting in and out? Is Flauri going to teleport us in nd out, or are we gonna have to fly in?"
[21:30:24] <Elsa> "So we can burn the whole place to the ground then?"
[21:31:36] <Caitlin> "They haven't got any reason to expect us, do they?" Did she just glance at Reiker?
[21:32:58] <Flaurentine> "Ah… I… I could do that… um, I'll do what I'm told." Infiniblush. In truth she just wants to not do something WRONG.
[21:33:09] <~Oxford> Westfield turns to each girl in turn. "Not to be blunt, Warrant Elsa, but yes - everything in the facility is considered a target. However, the Intelligence folks would be very much appreciative if we could retrieve any documents or notes from the research building, so don't destroy that unless you don't have a choice."
[21:36:07] <Elsa> "Alright, got it."
[21:36:58] <~Oxford> "Warrant Parnocus: Because of the somewhat… 'erratic' nature of Warrant Flamenca's powers, we will be flying in. The distance is great enough that flying transformed the entire way may over-tax your Focus Pendants, so infil and exfil will be by modified bomber. A Model-4 'Avalanche' will carry you in range of the target and loiter nearby until you finish the mission."
[21:37:51] <Joslyn> "So it takes us to the drop point and we just jump out?"
[21:37:59] * Flaurentine gives a downcast look straight to the ground. "I… understand. Ah, um…" Shuffling around in her seat, Flauri raises her hand politely to be called on.
[21:38:38] <Elsa> "I…guess that makes sense…we can fly and all."
[21:38:43] <~Oxford> "Which brings me to Warrant Flamenca: Because of your role as combat-support, you will accompany the bomber and remain nearby to provide escort while the others carry out the mission. You'll coordinate everything from there."
[21:38:55] * Flaurentine lowers her hand and nods. "Understood."
[21:41:52] <Joslyn> "Don't worry Flauri. We'll make sure it's smooth sailing for you."
[21:42:09] <~Oxford> "And thus, Warrant O'Connell: While they should have no idea we're coming at the moment, we can't prevent them from spotting us mid-flight. Even if they do, however, they won't know our intended target or mission profile - a lone bomber looks more like surrveillance than an raiding party."
[21:42:13] <Elsa> "Its going to be as easy as making a pie."
[21:43:46] <Flaurentine> "Please… don't, um, worry about me. I-It's my job to make sure it goes well for you! I promise I'll do the best I can."
[21:43:49] <~Oxford> "One can hope," Westfield says, nodding. "Ahm, any other questions? Warrant Højgaard? Mitchell? Doyle?" The Durnhurst girls shake their heads silently.
[21:47:13] * Elsa waits for them to be ushered into the bomber and for the begining of the mission.
[21:47:46] <Joslyn> "I…assume we're only going to have this one chance to take this shot, yes?"
[21:48:51] <~Oxford> Westfield snaps his stick back down on the table and flicks on the lights. "Exactly. Once Tereshkova knows he's a target, we can't count on him showing his face again this close to Albaea. We only get one chance to do this right."
[21:50:25] <Joslyn> "…and if he somehow anticipates our arrival?" Joslyn glances at Reiker but only just.
[21:51:46] <~Oxford> He passes a brown folder to each girl. "These contain more aerial photographs; familiarize yourself with the layout en route. If he anticipates our attack - well, then he won't be there. And you could be walking right into a trap."
[21:53:13] * Elsa opens the folder and begins reading it…well she'll have more than enough time when they get into the plane, she promptly stops reading and closes the folder.
[21:54:55] * Flaurentine does the same, increasing in nervousness by the second. Well, at least the first part. Flauri looks over every detail she's allowed to in the time she's given, forcibly memorizing all of it. When you have traumatic amnesia you kind of learn to try to memorize everything all the time, really!
[21:55:22] * Aerendis nods as she takes the folder. "Ah, yes. Well, I wouldn't worry about it, myself…Traps like this are easy to spoil."
[21:56:15] <~Oxford> "You're to meet me in the parking lot at 0800; half an hour from now. From there, we'll travel to the airfield." Westfield clasps his hands behind his back. "Dismissed!"
[21:59:09] <Flaurentine> A salute, albeit still a nervous one. "Y… Yes, Sir." Even if she'll be separate from the others during the mission, which she's terrified by… well, Flauri is still Flauri.
[22:00:49] <Caitlin> Caitlin looks at it and seems to grow progessively confused. After a few minutes of intense staring at the folder, she turns to Flauri, "I… Ah… Is yours in a different language, too…?" She points to the text she received. It's in regular Albaean.
[22:01:16] <Joslyn> "…oh dear. I'll help you figure it out Kate."
[22:01:31] <Flaurentine> "Different? Ah… I-I don't see what you…" Flauri just stares at it, baffled.
[22:01:50] <Joslyn> "I-it's fine. I'll have it taken care of."
[22:03:00] * Elsa casully yawns, looks like its going to be a long day, and knowing their luck the bomber is probably going to be attacked mid-flight.
[22:03:08] <Caitlin> "…I don't recognize any of this. It's gibberish. They aren't even letters. I mean, look at this." Caitlin seems extremely frustrated as she points to the word the.
[22:03:16] <Flaurentine> "Are you sure? I'm worried about…" After a lengthy, worried stare she accepts defeat. "… Okay. I-I apologize."
[22:03:28] <~Oxford> Westfield excuses himself from the room, followed by Major Donalds, who is having a hushed conversation with him. After a short wait, Reiker rises stiffly and makes for the exit.
[22:03:46] <Joslyn> "Kate. Magic. word salad. I'll help you through it."
[22:03:49] * Aerendis stares, watching Caitlin. She's confused, wasn't this the girl that offered to help her study…?
[22:04:44] * Elsa looks at Cait confused…well it sometimes happens. Maybe Jos is right, magic can sometimes fumble things up…a lot.
[22:05:43] * Flaurentine gives Donalds a salute on his way out, even if he doesn't see it. Westfield as well of course.
[22:06:16] <Caitlin> Caitlin huffs and turns bright red, extremely embarrassed to look like such an idiot not half an hour after offering to help Aerendis. "I-I… This isn't normal, Miss Aerendis! I-it's just a magic flare up, please don't get the wrong idea!" Arghhhhhhhhhhhh. "…Well, would you mind reading to me then, Joslyn?"
[22:06:48] <~Oxford> Paige looks inquisitively at the small knot of girls, vaguely intrigued for a moment until she realizes Reiker has left as well. Then she hops up with a start and rushes after him. Madison watches her go and starts to follow, but pauses at the doorway and walks back toward the others slowly.
[22:07:12] <Joslyn> "Yeah. I'll read it to you on the flight over. just make sure to let me know when they change back."
[22:07:35] * Elsa looks at Madison, "Heya."
[22:07:43] * Aerendis frowns. "I-I…I apologize, Caitlin. I'm confused by Albaean text as well…" she says, sorry to have maid Caitlin feel badly.
[22:08:28] <~Oxford> "Um… hey…" Madison bites her lower lip and looks off to one side. "Erm, I wanted to let you guys know…"
[22:08:52] <Joslyn> "Everything okay?"
[22:09:57] <~Oxford> Madison shrugs weakly, a bit embarassed. "Not really. I um… don't think our COs get along very well…"
[22:10:04] <Caitlin> "Please don't be upset, but Albaean and literature are my strongest subjects. Something's just… malfunctioning in my brain right now." Caitlin nods to Joslyn with a quiet thanks.
[22:10:40] <Elsa> "Yeah, I noticed that too, you got any idea why?" SHe turns over to the other girls.
[22:11:10] <Joslyn> "Bad blood from the past, I think he said. I'd leave it to them. or is there something more to it?"
[22:11:31] * Aerendis frowns. "He looks at me strangely. Reiker, that is. I don't like him."
[22:12:26] * Flaurentine continues reading her folder, studying intently. It's almost as if she's not even there.
[22:14:00] <~Oxford> "Well, I tried to ask him, but that's about all I got. Something about their army days together." She tugs at the bottom edge of her jacket with both hands. "I wouldn't take it personally, Ms. Aerendis. He spent a long time fighting against the insurgents in Cimbria, so he's probably… got bad memories of that."
[22:15:11] * Aerendis frowns. "…I…see."
[22:15:47] <~Oxford> "Um, but that's not what I wanted to tell you. Yesterday, before bed, he said something odd."
[22:15:49] <Elsa> "Do you think Reiker will tryo to do something…no offense but he seems like really angry man to me."
[22:16:07] <Joslyn> "Don't take it personally Æren…oh? what'd he say Madison?"
[22:18:12] <~Oxford> "Ah… yeah, he gets really… frustrated, sometimes. But he's really nice!" she says, earnestly but not completely believably.
[22:20:17] <~Oxford> "But last night, Paige mentioned one of the Cheswhick girls - I'm sorry, I forget who - and he got this look in his eye." She bites her lower lip again. "And he said, 'She's irrelevant; I'm going to ruin her'."
[22:21:05] <~Oxford> "I-it was really out of character!" Madison continues quickly, gulping. "But that's what he said. He's been so stressed over this mission."
[22:21:45] <Joslyn> "…" Joslyn has a sinking feeling as to who that person was. "Can you promise me something?"
[22:22:10] <~Oxford> "Ahm? Yeah, I guess…" Madison looks at her shoes.
[22:22:23] <Elsa> "Yeah, I bet." She says flatly, "We can never have something good happen to us."
[22:23:23] <Joslyn> "Stick to the mission. Eliminate the doctor, steal any research we can find, and make sure there aren't any witnesses."
[22:23:59] <Joslyn> "If I see anyone, and I mean ANYONE, trying to sabotage this mission, I will take you down with me if I must. is that clear?"
[22:24:24] <~Oxford> "Yeah, of course." She nods. "After that, we'll be off of combat for a while. Maj. Reik's getting reassigned for a bit." She smiles.
[22:24:56] <~Oxford> "He said he had to be the prosecutor for some kinda court-martial or something."
[22:25:16] <Joslyn> "This just keeps getting better and better…" Joslyn sighs.
[22:25:47] <Elsa> "You got to be bloody kidding me." Sge yells out angrily and looks upwards, "Not funny!"6[22:27:01] * Aerendis frowns grimly. In her mind she has no doubt that the man was talking about her. It all fits together in her head.
[22:28:05] <Caitlin> Caitlin leans over to Ærendis and reassuringly whispers, "You go to the wrong school, Miss Ærendis. He wasn't talking about you."
[22:31:42] <~Oxford> Madison cocks her head to one side, smiling obliviously at the thought of getting her CO to a less stressful post. "Anyway, it'll all be fine after this mission, right? I'm gonna go get ready; see you guys later!"
[22:33:10] * Joslyn waits until she's out of earshot before sighing heavily. 1"I wish it was gonna be fine…"
[22:33:20] <~Oxford> With that, she walks out of the classroom, a light spring in her step, leaving the five girls behind to sort out the mess they're in.
[22:33:35] <~Oxford> /session
[nope]
- Oxford has changed the topic to: CAUTION: Do Not Stand on Bomb Bay Doors
- Celeste is now known as Caitlin
- Elsa is kneeling down on the cargo bay floor with one hand outsretched on its surface, a look of focus on her face. Suddenly the metal beneath her hand changes slightly and it quickly spreads throughout the whole plane, all in all it only looks like a lot of tiny runes engraved every possible metallic surface. "Okay, done."
<Oxford> The trip to the airfield passed in tense silence, everyone's minds on the mission ahead. When the two cars, driven by Majs. Donalds and Westfield, arrived at the single dirt airstrip, the converted bomber was already through its pre-flight and ready to taxi. After hastily introducing the bomber crew, their COs loaded the seven girls into the makeshift passenger compartment in the bomb bay, and the cumbersome craft lumbered forward,
<Oxford> taking off.
- Blaxploitation is now known as Aerendis
- Elsa sits back down and relaxes a bit, "That should hold for a few days" She sighs.
<Oxford> A quick glance reveals the other girls sharing the cramped compartment with her. The sound of the engines is a constant roar, but conversation should be possible above the din.
- Aerendis sits, obviously nervous. She's never been in a plane before. However, she tries her best to put on a brave face, looking forawrd to seeing what she can do.
<Caitlin> Caitlin WOULD have a book with her, but due to the mysterious(?) condition temporarily disabling her ability to read, she hadn't bothered bringing one. How unfortunate.
<Flaurentine> Little Flauri keeps to herself, adjusting a headset if provided- and considering what her mission's going to end up being, it's be silly if there WASN'T one. Of course, keeping to herself equates to scribbling in her tiny flipbook and being an overall tiny presence, wearing her usual blush in silence.
- Joslyn (ten.tsacmoc.ni.1dsh.803974AB-xus|mrahC#ten.tsacmoc.ni.1dsh.803974AB-xus|mrahC) has joined #WorldWarBurst
<Elsa> "Well this should be easy, they're not going to spot us until we're almost on top of them, right?"
<Joslyn> "…" Joslyn stays silent though her face is full of worry.
<Flaurentine> "I… I hope so. A-And if they do, I'll be there, so… um, maybe they'll just think they're dreaming and ignore it when you disappear?" Flauri's absolutely terrible idea gets followed with a miniature giggle, but she shuts up afterward. Faking confidence really just doesn't work, going by her face's redness.
- Elsa just waits for everyone to get settled down on the plane.
- Caitlin has quit (NickServ (GHOST command used by Eloise))
- Eloise (ten.tsacmoc.li.1dsh.3F963A12-xus|b#ten.tsacmoc.li.1dsh.3F963A12-xus|b) has joined #WorldWarBurst
- Eloise is now known as Caitlin
<Joslyn> "…can I have everyone's attention for a minute?"
<Elsa> She looks at the others, hoping- oh an announcement.
- Flaurentine gives a slow nod, but doesn't stop scribbling.
- Aerendis grimaces and looks over at Joslyn. She mutters "Ugh…What now…?"
<Joslyn> "I have reason to believe that our mission has been compromised. The novs anticipate our arrival."
- Caitlin has quit (NickServ (GHOST command used by Eloise))
- Eloise (ten.tsacmoc.li.1dsh.3F963A12-xus|b#ten.tsacmoc.li.1dsh.3F963A12-xus|b) has joined #WorldWarBurst
- Eloise is now known as Caitlin
<Elsa> "Huh, why? No one know about this, right?"
- Celeste (moc.wzvym.081-861-661-bus.3AC71123-xus|suessydrab#moc.wzvym.081-861-661-bus.3AC71123-xus|suessydrab) has joined #WorldWarBurst
<Joslyn> "Except Majors Westfield, Donalds, and Reiker. The latter of which wants Elsa dead and me discharged."
<Flaurentine> "R… Really? W-Well, once we get closer I'm planning to make sure there aren't any enemies nearby, but still…"
<Caitlin> "I don't want to make rash assumptions about the superior officers, but his motivations are… quite suspect."
<Aerendis> "I thought he seemed like a worthless punk. Even moreso than most officers. No matter, i'm sure I'm good enough to off-balance whatever thing he has stacked against you all. Adding a new vector can unbalance any offensive."
<Oxford> Through the small round windows in the fuselage, the sky is an endless blue for as far as the eye can see. The weather is unexpectedly balmy; one last day of fall before winter settles in for good.
- Elsa looks at Paige and Maddison, then back at Joslyn, "I mean, he has a stick the size of a building up his butt, but that doesn't mean he's a bad guy, right?"
<Joslyn> "If this mission goes south, I'm the one holding the bag, and Reiker gets Paige promoted to replace me. Then it'll be easy to get Elsa discharged without any of our testimony."
<Caitlin> "He most definitely holds a grudge of some sort against Westfield. The matter may be separate and he may be able to put it aside for this mission, but I don't want to lie and say it doesn't make me nervous."
- Elsa would like to point out Paige and Madison are right here but can't figure out how to do it discretely.
<Joslyn> "Ærendis is right - we need to avert their expectations. Until we have visual confirmation of the Doctor, we're going for intel only. We don't want anyone to know we were even here."
<Oxford> Madison and Paige sit a short distance away, but the engine noise ensures that anyone not looking at the speaker will have a tough time understanding their words.
<Flaurentine> "It isn't very nice to say things like that… but…" A small nod. It's not like she can disagree, despite being mostly uninvolved here. At last Flaurentine of all of them is the one who shoots an apologetic look toward Madaige.
- Elsa sighs, "As long as we get this done we'll be fine either way, nothing to worry about." SHe leans back onto her seat.
<Joslyn> "Just don't let anyone see you until we know the target is there. If the Doctor is out, we'll all get thrown in the brig for taking out civilians."
<Oxford> The in-plane radio crackles through their headphones, and the terse voice of the co-pilot comes through: "15 minutes to target."
<Elsa> "Wait, what? Civilians? thats a military base, right?"
<Joslyn> "Supposedly. But if they're expecting us…it'd be amazing propaganda against Albea."
<Elsa> "And how are supposed to know the doc is there without being seen?"
<Aerendis> "I don't think it's possible. We'll just have to try. If you want, i've had experience in not being seen."
<Flaurentine> "Understood." As if talking to herself, Flauri mumbles a word out and closes her eyes, toning out the others and the engine as well to focus on the sound outside. Some minor claps and touching her hands to the plane's walls occur within the next fifteen minutes or so, releasing a stable sonar to at least sense anything in the air between them and the base.
<Joslyn> "Alright. I'll trust you then. There was something I wanted to talk to you about."
- Joslyn pulls Aerendis aside. "I thought it only fair to tell you - I have to give the credit for killing the captain of that ship to Elsa. I'm sorry."
- Caitlin has quit (NickServ (GHOST command used by Eloise))
- Eloise (ten.tsacmoc.li.1dsh.3F963A12-xus|b#ten.tsacmoc.li.1dsh.3F963A12-xus|b) has joined #WorldWarBurst
<Oxford> With a creak, the hatch of the bomb bay swings open, and a man in a full-body flight suit crouches through. "You girls okay in here?" asks the bombardier.
- Eloise is now known as Caitlin
<Caitlin> "Yes, Sir. We're doing fine, thank you." Caitlin nods politely.
<Joslyn> "I…I know that it's not fair, but…all five of us are at risk of being thrown out if my report has you in combat - the math doesn't add up."
- Joslyn nods off-handedly, still trying to apologize to Ærendis.
<Oxford> Flaurentine 'sees' a possible target, at about 3 o'clock of their current position. The bomber is banking towards it, ready to drop its cargo.
<Oxford> "Roight then, line up on the gangway and wait for my single," shouts the airman, making sure he has everyone's attention.
- Elsa lines up to be first as always of course, but she turns to Joslyn, "So whats the plan here? Charge in as usual?"
<Flaurentine> "One…" … But it's nobody they're not expecting. The token loli - oh goddamnit Æ, okay fine the "almost littlest" - closes her eyes tighter and puts a little more focus in. If Joslyn was actually right for once and they really WERE being anticipated, it could spell trouble for them… one more try.
<Oxford> The narrow catwalk he gestures toward is a thin path over the bomb bay, where the crew can walk when they need to get from fore to aft.
<Caitlin> Caitlin falls into line after Elsa. She takes a deep breath, "Good luck, everybody."
<Joslyn> "Don't do anything to draw attention to us until we're on the ground. Flauri, if we need to get out quick, I'll need you at your best okay?"
<Flaurentine> "Ah!" She snaps out of her concentration after one last scan, bringing a hand to her head in a very-expected motion. "Y-Yes, ma'am. I'll be sure you're not in danger."
- Elsa lines up to drop as soon as she's told to, "Flauri, keep your ears open alright?"
<Flaurentine> "I-I'll do my best."
- Aerendis frowns at Joslyn. "It doesn't matter what the report says. Reports only matter to Officers. I shot that Captain in the head, and that's what matters. But what matters now is doing this job, so i'm done talking."
<Oxford> "30 seconds," reports the co-pilot crisply, "opening bomb bay." The bombardier steadies himself on the hatchway as the bay doors swing out and down, revealing the turquiose waves racing past a dizzying distance below.
<Joslyn> "That works. We all know what happened, and if that works for you…then let's do our best, okay?"
<Oxford> The wind whistles through the compartment, carrying their words away with it. But the co-pilot, through the headset, is just as clear as ever: "On-target - jump, jump, jump!"
- Elsa sighs and reminds herself to fly low which she will do as soon as the hatch opens.
- Elsa jumps!
- Joslyn jumps into the air, waiting until she's about 100 feet above the waves before allowing herself to be consumed by her steely magic.
<Elsa> With a flash of orange light and a loud fwoosh sound she transforms and sticks close to the ocean waves.
- Aerendis jumps out, with only a second's worth of worry or contemplation. A lot like pullign a trigger.
<Caitlin> Caitlin methodically transforms before she jumps. Best not to take an unnecessary risk.
- Aerendis transforms when she gets close to the water, follwoing Joslyn and Elsa's example.
- Flaurentine disappears… or doesn't. Of course jumping isn't necessary when you can be anywhere at any time, that's silly.
- Elsa quickly flies towards the coast, "So what direction were we heading again?"
<Joslyn> "Heading 120, about four clicks out. Look for the giant fences and big-ass bombs."
<Flaurentine> "O-Okay," she says to herself, taking a deep breath before crackling onto the radio. "This is Criss-Cross! Should… um…" Oops, there it starts, "Should I relay clearer directions, Jester?"
<Elsa> "Uh, I'll just find it and start setting things on fire, see if you find the doctor."
<Joslyn> "Negative! You and Ærendis are the best shots for the actual hit. Keep weapons safe until we know he's there!"
<Aerendis> "Never let the enemy know you're there until you need to, Idiot." she says, directing it at Elsa.
<Flaurentine> "Understood. I'll try to pinpoint his location- until then please stay safe, o-okay?" Clap.
<Caitlin> "We really shouldn't fight amongst ourselves, please. This is going to be a difficult enough task as it is."
- Elsa quickly dives into the trees and floats at around branch level as she nears the base.
<Oxford> Paige and Madison follow the group out, keeping tight to one another. Across the clear blue waves, a series of low metal buildings are clearly visible just inland of a golden sand beach.
<Oxford> Flaurentine struggles for a moment to make sense of what she's hearing: a low thrum like that of the bomber, but moving above and behind her craft-
<Joslyn> "Remember - until we get a visual on the doctor, we're sticking to recon only. Weapons safe, okay?"
<Oxford> "AH HA HA! Nice of you to join us, witches!"
<Flaurentine> The radio sizzles back on.. wait that doesn't work. Still! "O-Oh no! I think I hear something! It's not the doctor b-"
<Elsa> "Yeah, We've been found. Time to raid."
<Joslyn> "Dammit! Scrub the raid, open fire on that fighter!"
<Oxford> From their position on the coastline, the formation of six girls sees three faint black specks suddenly drop out of the glare of the sun and dive toward the base, growing larger by the second.
<Flaurentine> "I'm very sorry! It wasn't there before, it's like it…" Actually it's like she just can't use her radar well, but this isn't a time to admit that!
<Caitlin> "…Should we consider splitting up?"
<Elsa> "Shit there's more of them, time to split!" She says without changing her heading.
<Oxford> From the shore, a shout in a foreign tongue rings out, and artillery crews rush to yank camo covers from their guns. Four 88mm Flaks rotate toward the sky, scanning for targets.
<Joslyn> "Jester, Immursturm, Locomotion, go after those cannons! Bookworm, Aer, we're going after that fighter!"
- Flaurentine goes back to silence on the radio while she 'hears' all these things showing up, which unfortunately for her doesn't end up providing more than what the other see. For the most part.
<Elsa> "Aye Aye." She says before darting off, leaving a trail of fire in her wake.
<Flaurentine> "Ah.. I-Iron Maiden, I wa…" What a silly time to waste radio space with loli-babble, right? "… Nevermind. I'll provide support if it becomes too dangerous and make sure the doctor doesn't escape." Every sonar she has goes to doing just that, now, or at least most of them.
<Aerendis> "If you say so." she responds, turning to face the direction of the fighter, readying her pistol. She's not exactly experienced in air-to-air combat, so she hesitates a bit.
<Caitlin> "…Alright. Everyone please stay in contact." Caitlin veers off to follow Aerendis and Joslyn. She holds onto her pen tightly while she struggles to figure out the most efficient words to write.
- Elsa goes to where the doctor is supposed to be at and spews out a gout of flame from her torch, the fires make makeshift impassable walls but do not harm any of the buildings.
<Joslyn> "Criss-cross, you're the only defense we have on that plane - we're all in big trouble if it gets shot down, so make sure to keep it from getting hit!
- Oxford has changed the topic to: Elsa->Aerendis->Caitlin->Welkin->Joslyn->Paige->Madison->88s->Flaurentine
- Joslyn has quit (Quit: <Cleff>: "Stealing is fun. It's like treasure hunting but you get to screw over people you don't like." )
- Joslyn (ten.tsacmoc.ni.1dsh.803974AB-xus|mrahC#ten.tsacmoc.ni.1dsh.803974AB-xus|mrahC) has joined #WorldWarBurst
- Aerendis focuses as she stares at the sleek, Oddly shaped Fighter inbound. She decides to try something other than shooting. She's magical now, afterall. But before that, she needs to get closer. She rockets upwards towards the fighters.
<Caitlin> Caitlin follows Aerendis' lead; this guy's proven troublesome in the past, and it'd be best to neutralize him as a threat first.
<Oxford> The nimble interceptor turns to meet them, it's pilot cackling as he comes. "Now! Now I shall have my revenge! FOR MEROVIN!"
<Oxford> His fighter streaks past the ascending girls, and they instinctively turn their heads as he passes - just in time to see the white-hot flash of his flare going off.
<Elsa> "Paige, Madison! Go look for the doc! I'll keep a lookout!"
<Flaurentine> "I see a… n-no! Close your eyes!" The air distorts with the plane little Flauri rides in as the source, making MAGIC happen. No really, that's it.
<Oxford> Aerendis catches the flash full-on, but Flaurentine's quick intervention saves Caitlin in the nick of time. The two heavy fighters behind Capt. Merovin follow his dive, each one lining up on one of the two girls and opening fire.
<Caitlin> "W-wha-oh! Thanks, Flauri, that was close!"
<Flaurentine> "I… I'm very sorry, I was hoping I could get everyone out of harm's way…"
<Oxford> The twin-engine fighter's cannons bark a quick burst at Caitlin, who takes the volley dead-center, tumbling around her center of mass from the impact.
<Caitlin> "Ggg-gah! …This is going to be one of those missions."
- Joslyn shields her eyes from the flare, having tasted them before. She's quickly in position, a pair of large pistols in her hands.
<Oxford> Paige turns toward Joslyn as the younger girl takes flight. "Where you want us, El-Tee?"
<Joslyn> "Take out those flak cannons! it's a furball up here, those AA guns are fair game for you!"
<Oxford> "Roger, wilco!" she replies appreciatively, swooping down toward the artillery battery below. Madison follows, tight on her tail.
<Oxford> They alight in the midst of the battery, attacks flying in all directions, but from the air it's hard to pick out the details. The guns, however, still seem to be on-line: they fire off in pairs, so closely coordinated the four guns sound like only two.
<Oxford> The shells streak skyward, whistling through the air with lethal intent. They're fitted with the new proximity fuses, exploding at the exact point of closest approach and showering Caitlin and Aerendis with shell fragments.
<Caitlin> "Ouch! Are you alright, Aerendis?" Caitlin fails to write up a defense fast enough, shielding herself with nothing more than her arms, but fortunately not taking any serious damage from the attack. However, she's about halfway to her limit already.
- Elsa decides to walk right up the the building where the doctor is supposed to be at, walking through the flame curtain, its her flames, they won't hurt her. She boldly moves through the main entrance, hell, she's taken aircraft fire, she can take small arms even better.
- Joslyn gets in range of the experimental fighter and focuses herself. This frog has been the bane of their squadron for weeks now - it's time to put an end to it. Steel appears from all over her, before coating the entire plane in the stuff.
<Oxford> "GRAH!" shouts the enemy ace as his thin-skinned fighter crumples around him. "You Albaean witches killed my father, and I'll not die a'fore I've taken one of you with me!"
<Joslyn> "So that's what this is about? well don't worry, you'll see him soon enough."
- Aerendis speeds up, watching the odd craft. She grits her teeth and focuses, trying to force her magic to do something other than make her bullets do more damage, trying to emit waves of…something at the pilot!
- Oxford has changed the topic to: Joslyn->Aerendis->Elsa->Welks->Caitlin->Paige->Madison->88s->Flaurentine
<Oxford> For a moment, it seems nothing has happened… and then a soft sobbing comes in over the radio. "I just… you girls…" Capt. Merovin manages slowly, "you remind me so much of my little sister… I promised her I'd be a better brother, but then…but then…!"
- Caitlin has quit (Quit: fwash)
- Celeste is now known as Caitlin
<Oxford> As Elsa watches the research building, her sorcerous flames crackle and lap at the building's metal walls. Nobody emerges from the doors; the scene is eerily peaceful, despite the distant sounds of battle.
- Elsa keeps walking forward, maybe she'll be able to capture the professor, that will be better than killing him, right?
<Elsa> Easy as pie
- Elsa doesn't let her defenses down though
<Oxford> The door swings easily open, revealing a wide corridor that doubles as a receiving area. A balding man in a lab coat appears briefly, but retreats around the corner of an adjoining hall before Elsa can react.
- Elsa ru-no wait she flies after him, though not as fast as to lose track of things, The guy in the picture was bald wasn't he?
<Oxford> The agile Gaulian fighter makes an impossibly tight loop and angles in on Joslyn, but the pilot's tear-filled eyes betray him, and his attack arcs harmlessly below her, tracers sizzling as they hit the water. "After my father's death, I lost the chance to ever see her again!" he howls, despair quickly turning to anger once more.
<Caitlin> Caitlin slips in on his six and etches the word "Hole" onto his craft wherever she can. Maybe the hole in his heart inspired the attack, who knows.
<Oxford> With a keening whistle, the interceptor begins to pull itself apart, fuselage peeling back in chunks and disappearing into the ever-growing emptiness where Caitlin's pen touched. The captain turns in his cockpit to she the plane disappearing behind him, and with a shout of dismay throws open the canopy and bails out.
<Joslyn> "Splash one, splash one! Good shot bookworm!" Joslyn is thankful that he's been dealt with - hopefully that'll cause the other two to flee?
<Oxford> On the shore below, one of the mighty flak guns bursts into flames as its misfires, sending debris scattering among the guncrews. "Scratch mudspike!" comes Paige's triumphant reply.
<Caitlin> Caitlin decides not to correct Joslyn on her usage of the term shot, instead settling for a nod from a ways away, "Thanks, Joslyn. Don't forget to watch the others."
<Oxford> The other guns frantically adjust their aim, sending three shells upward toward the airborne girls, indifferent to the friendly fighters still in the area.
<Oxford> Caitlin and Aerendis, learning from last time, dodge nimbly out of the path of the shells, but Joslyn is caught looking. A hail of inch-long shards scatter off her armor, but a few find the gaps, and she feels a warm trickle of blood ozze down her side.
<Joslyn> it's nothing she can't fix. "Aer, Bookworm, take care of those other planes. If they run, don't pursue! Jester, Immursturm, what's your status?"
<Elsa> "I'm looking for the doc, I think I might be able to capture him. He can't escape."
<Oxford> The girls glance around quickly for the other two fighters, but they're nowhere to be seen - until an explosion sounds from high above. Turning, they see the Albaea bomber, converted to carry them into battle, tumbling from the sky. Even as they watch, the crew desperately crawls from the gaping wounds in its side as they try to escape.
<Joslyn> "Okay. take him out if you have visuals, otherwise keep the fire to yourself."
<Oxford> One man - the bombardier, perhaps - is too late; his parachute catches fire as he jumps, and the man plummets screaming into the ocean below.
<Joslyn> "Criss-cross, jump! get out of there!"
- Oxford has changed the topic to: Caitlin->Elsa->Aerendis->Fighters->Joslyn->Paige->Madison->88s->???
<Caitlin> Caitlin tries to close in on one of the fighters to scribble "Heat" on them!
<Oxford> The fighter glows red, paint peeling off to reveal the shiny metal beneath. Rivets spit and pop, shooting off as they expand.
- Elsa continues to chase baldy
<Oxford> Meanwhile, in the building below, Elsa races down the hallways, intent on finding the cornered scientist. The hallway opens onto three doors: two right and one left. Baldy freezes with his hand on the left door, mouth agape in horror as Elsa speeds toward him with inhuman grace.
- Elsa slows down a bit, trying to recognize the man, nope not him. She decides to blast all three doors open at the same time with a blast of raw magical force, like that time at the scchool's basement
<Elsa> of course blasting through the man thats holding the left door
- Elsa puts a bit more force than she wanteed to…actually a lot more…whoops
<Oxford> The doors - and walls - of the corridor blast outward in all directions. The scientists vaporises so quickly he can't even scream. In the wreckage of the blast, an elderly man in a lab coat cowers in the far corner of the ruined lab, fumbling with his glasses.
- Elsa steps forward to the old man, trying to to determine whether it is the man from the pictures.
- Elsa walks forward confidently and flame begins spurting outwards from her eyes for a few seconds before they normalize and her irises' colors are ever changing with the colors of flickering flame, giving them an unearthly glow. She grabs the man by his coat and starts dragging him back out the exit.
<Elsa> "Jester here, I'm capturing the target." She looks down at the man, "If he tries to resist I'm burning him to a crisp."
<Oxford> The old man babbles in Novgoraadi, struggling ineffectually in her grasp. Shreds of paper fall like leaves in autumn in the wake of the explosion.
- Elsa stick a finger right in front of his face and makes a tiny ball of fire to threathen him.
<Joslyn> "Jester, our orders aren't to capture - liquidate at your convenience."
<Elsa> "It'll look on your report, right? Maybe guys back home can ask him questions in all sorts of interesting ways"
<Joslyn> "Stop kidding around, Elsa! He's not gonna give us anything. just burn him and be done with it so I don't have to come down there!"
- Aerendis is about the fire a few shots into one of the fighters when she notices the chute of the Ace fighter she helped take down. Being good at prioritizing targets, she holsters her pistol and bolts straight at him, intending to catch him and knock him senseless at the same time.
- Elsa sighs as she steps outside the building and pins the man to the ground with one hand and summons one of the hottest fireballs she's made, "I'm sorry, but we gotta do this, at least I'll make it painless." She says before shoving it onto his face, instantly burning away flesh away and parts of his brain along with it almost instantly.
<Oxford> The stout Gaulian doesn't even have time to react; she scoops his unconscious body into her arms without issue.
<Oxford> Elsa's victim slumps lifeless against the wall, a thin stream of smoke rising from the remains of his head. The stench is unbearable, even for Elsa.
- Joslyn makes sure that Flauri got out of the caripace of the bomber before heading off to deal with the pulse bombs.
- Elsa steps back and kneels on the ground, heaving but trying to hold it after trying to get far enough away she can swear she can barely smell it, even from flying upwards. Actualyl the altitude makes the feeling worse and she vomits onto the ground below. "Ugh done, never doing it like that again."
<Oxford> Paige and Madison continue to zip in and out among the artillery pieces, and another of the guns goes down, its barrel hacked to pieces.
<Elsa> "THe doc is dead. Objective complete."
<Joslyn> "Good. now help me take care of these missiles!"
<Oxford> The final two guns focus their shots on Caitlin, knowing they might not get another chance. The shells arc gracefully upward on smooth, unhurried trajectories.
<Oxford> She dodges easily, and the two 88mm flaks are ripped apart before they can reload. The base's resistance collapses. Joslyn stalks among the rows of hangars, destroying each in turn with quick, efficient strikes. Caitlin flies down toward the wrecked bomber, searching for Flaurentine, while Aerendis meets Elsa by the ruined research station. In time Joslyn joins them, her destructive work completed to her satisfaction.
<Elsa> "See Jos? Nothing to worry about."
<Aerendis> "I captured the man in the odd plane. I hope that's alright." she says, carrying him over her shoulder with her left arm.
<Oxford> The Gaulian stirs, but does not awake.
<Joslyn> "Him, we might be able to get some information from. The only issue is how we're getting back…the bomber's down, and we really don't have enough energy to get back to Albea - I don't, at least."
<Elsa> "Well I could try flying back, they said that the pendants would overheat but y'know."
<Oxford> The ruins of the laboratory smoke softly, sending tendrils of gray into the pure blue sky. Papers flutter down on all sides, finally coming to rest after the battle.
<Joslyn> "If we could find a plane…I might be able to get it airborne…"
- Elsa looks around confused, "So…Jos can you look for the papers we need while I go out and look for a plane? I'm not really sure what I'm looking for."
<Joslyn> "I'll try, at least…" Jos does her best to pick out important-looking words.
- Elsa flies off looking for a plane on one of the hangars.
<Oxford> Joslyn gathers a few very technical-looking diagrams and charts, but what catches her eye is a frame overturned on the old man's desk. Propping it up, she finds a grainy photograph.
<Joslyn> "Hello…what's this?"
- Aerendis sighs and drops the fighter ace on the ground, tired of carrying him. She then kicks him in the side as she draws her pistol.
<Oxford> It looks at first like some sort of class photograph - a gaggle of middle-school-age girls arrayed in a double row, shorter girls in front. But something about them - their crisp uniforms, their somber expressions, and the stern-looking officers flanking them on either side - seem to suggest a more martial purpose.
<Joslyn> "Hmm…" that seems bad. She'll pocket that as she returns to the group. "Hey elsa, any luck?"
<Oxford> "Hr…hrm?" Welks Merovin comes to with a faint grunt, his eyes immediately scanning the area and latching onto the girl's pistol.
<Aerendis> "Oh. He's awake." she says. "Don't move or i'll ventilate you. Until further notice you're a prisoner of the Albaean Air Force."
- Elsa finds a rickety old, and frankly crappy boat, she checks around to make sure that theres no one inside. If its empt she goes back to where the others are.
<Oxford> A small fishing vessel, to be specific. The weathered boards are gray with age and sea-spray, but it should be able to manage a short trip across the strait to Albaea.
<Oxford> Welks flinches a bit but nods in understanding, keeping his hands clearly visible.
- Elsa goes back to the intel capture room, "Well theres a fishing boat there, we might be able to make it back home."
<Joslyn> "That'll work, I suppose. Now then…" Joslyn turns to welks. "we're not completely unreasonable, and I really dislike the sight of blood. so do please stay calm, and then maybe we'll see what we can do about your future."
- Aerendis turns to face Joslyn. "I should hope that the credit for his capture goes to ME this time."
<Joslyn> "It will, Ærendis. I swear on it."
<Oxford> As Aerendis turns from the captured prisoner to head for the boat, something odd catches her eye. Dr. Tereshkova's headless corpse seems to have something clutched in his fist - a scrap of paper, from what she can see.
<Aerendis> "Joslyn. Stop for a moment and take my gun."
<Joslyn> "O…kay?" Joslyn does so, ensuring that the safety is on.
<Aerendis> "Keep it trained on him. If he tries anything, aim for his legs. Preferably somewhere that won't hit an artery. We want him detained, not bleeding out." she says, before hurrying to retrieve the interesting piece of paper.
<Joslyn> "Ah, worse comes to worse I can fix him…by the way Kate, you doing okay?"
<Oxford> It takes a bit of effort to pry the dead man's fingers apart, but once she does, she sees that it isn't a piece of paper, but a photograph, creased and crumpled by the elderly scientist's deathgrip. When she unfolds it, she sees that it contains the picture of a young girl, about 12 or 13, in a crisply-pressed military uniform of some kind.
<Aerendis> "How sad. War loves to do this sort of thing" she says to herself in a detatched tone of voice in her native language. She returns to the others and holds it out to Joslyn. "I'll trade you."
- Joslyn does so. "Safety's on, by the way." The photo is even more somber. "This…this can't be good. If it's what I think it is."
- Aerendis instantly flips the safety off.
<Oxford> On the back of the photograph, in blocky Novgoraadi script, a short line of text reads: "Zhanya Tereshkova, luokka '35"
<Oxford> /session
[nope]
- Oxford has changed the topic to: "Danger! Stand Clear of Launch Rails when Argus Bombs are On-Station."
<Oxford> The sun is high in the clear, cloudless sky as Caitlin skims just above the waves. Behind her, the research facility smokes gently in the distance, where her comrades are wrapping up their operation, gathering intelligence and prisoners. Caitlin has larger concerns, however, as she races toward the spot where their transport/bomber went down. Her friend Flaurentine was on board when it crashed.
<Caitlin> Worry is plain upon her face as she pushes herself to get there as fast as possible; if the wreckage is apparent, she moves in to investigate, otherwise it's time to write Track Flaurentine on the very water beneath her.
<Joslyn> "…" Joslyn is just staring at the photos, looking at the sky with a worried gaze.
- Elsa is busy waiting for Joslyn on the boat as she finishes up, guarding the prisoner.
- Aerendis still has her gun trained on the captured pilot, waiting for the others to get on the boat.
<Joslyn> "…Bookworm, any joy on Criss-cross?"
<Oxford> A few twisted pieces of metal twinkle beneath the waves as Caitlin reaches the crash site. Cushions and other flotsam are floating in a large, roughly circular area of ocean, though the densest portion is a fairly obviously where the main fuselage went into the water.
- Treebag has quit (Ping timeout)
<Oxford> -a
<Caitlin> …Actually, scratch that, too. It's time for Track Flaurentine to create a wave to lead the way to the lost timid girl down there, not worth wasting time!
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<Caitlin> Vwooosh! A big bubble of air appears in the water and zooms down into the depths after Flaurentine with Caitlin chasing close behind.
<Joslyn> "…" Joslyn stares out into the ocean. She's still kind of out of it.
- Elsa tries to find a way to start the boat, its really simple since its likely the fisherman left the keys in there, right?
<Oxford> The bubble reaches what looks like the center part of the fuselage, containing the same bomb bay the girls jumped from less than a half hour earlier. Through the crystal-clear water, Caitlin sees the bubble stop, wavering one way and then the other before popping with a disappointed burp.
<Joslyn> "…anything?"
<Oxford> A flash of color catches her eye. Caught on the jagged edge of a torn section of hull is a single hair ribbon, drifting gently with the current.
- Caitlin has quit (NickServ (GHOST command used by Eloise))
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- Eloise is now known as Caitlin
<Caitlin> Caitlin would answer Joslyn, but she's too busy diving underwater and all that. She moves up to investigate the ribbon first, and then the center of the fuselage.
<Oxford> Elsa, meanwhile, finds the keys without problem, sitting right next to the captain's chair.
- Aerendis twirls her gun around a bit in thought, always ready to fill the pilot with lead in case he tries something. "I hope that girl didn't get herself killed. That would ruin the success of this mission…"
<Joslyn> "Seeing as she's your wingman, it'd ruin your mission success as well." Joslyn frowns.
- Elsa sits down on captain's chair and tries the keys, it shouldn't be THAT hard to get this thing moving, and in the right direction to boot!
<Oxford> The ribbon is unmistakably Flaurentine's. It is torn about two-thirds of the way down, and has darker, reddish-brown splotches toward the ripped end. Searching the rest of the fuselage yields no other signs of Flaurentine's presence.
<Joslyn> "Don't take off yet, Elsa! We still need to find Flauri and the bomber crew!"
<Oxford> Elsa starts the fishing boat up, no problem. Though the hull looks fairly rough, the peeling paint and warped deckboards conceal an engine that runs smoothly and quietly.
<Elsa> "Yeah, I know, thats why I'm going to move the boat to where they are."
<Elsa> "Duuuhhh~" She says mockingly
<Joslyn> "right…" Joslyn sighs and looks at Paige and Madison. "you two are okay, right?"
<Aerendis> "I don't think the bomber crew made it. They're even less resiliant than Miss Flaurentine."
- Elsa makes sure that the boat is untied before making it move and makes her way towards where Caitlin and presumably Flaurentine is.
<Caitlin> Air. That's gonna be a problem. Time to do magic. Caitlin's massive quill pen is a little unwieldy for making a note on yourself, but she still manages to write out Amphibious on her arm; she quickly undergoes a transformation wherein she develops gills, webbing, and a slightly green complexion. Caitlin gets back to searching for Flaurentine, looking in the hull for any further signs.
<Oxford> Paige nods happily. "All good; we went two-and-two, between us. How'd you guys do?"
<Aerendis> "I captured this man." Ærendis says, nodding at the Pilot whose name she can't recall.
<Joslyn> "The doc's dead, the bombs are disabled, and Ærendis snagged an enemy ace as a POW. Of course, he did shoot up our transport…and if Flauri didn't make it out…"
<Oxford> Caitlin, in her newly-webbed form, finds a thoroughly-soaked radio set - the same style that she herself wears. The headset is snapped in half, as though it suffered a heavy blow. What happened to the girl who was wearing it is unclear.
<Elsa> "All in a good's day work, now lets get going and find Flauri."
<Joslyn> "Kate probably is beat suited for that - metal and water don't mix well…"
<Caitlin> Displeasure is evident on Caitlin's face. Broken headset, ripped ribbon… Either she teleported away, got captured, or she's probably drowning down there. Whether the 2nd or 3rd option is worse, she's not entirely sure, but Caitlin continues to swim deeper in search of Flaurentine, though she looks around for any sign of survivors or an enemy ship that might have her aboard.
<Oxford> Elsa has a good idea where the plane went down, and with the other girls on board, there's little reason to remain at the smoking ruins of the research base. Gaulian reinforcements could arrive at any time.
<Oxford> As Caitlin swims deeper, she finds the nose of the plane about a hundred feet further out to sea. The body of the pilot is still strapped in at his seat; it seems he was killed or wounded the initial attack, and could not bail out. No signs of Flaurentine, anywhere.
- Elsa aims the boat in the general direction of the wreck and gets going and waits for Caitlin to surface.
<Caitlin> Well, looks like he's not pleasant company to chat with. An extremely worried Caitlin swims back to the surface to see if the others found anything. She tries speaking into her headset, unsure if it'll still function, "…Hello? Ah, can you read me? I've thoroughly searched underwater in the wreckage. I've located Flauri's headset and ribbon, but no signs of her current location or
<Caitlin> body…"
<Elsa> Really theres not much else to do
<Joslyn> "…Come back, bookworm? Sounded like you found a rib and a patient?"
<Caitlin> "…Oh no, is my voice saying different things than my brain again?"
<Oxford> Caitlin surfaces in time to see Elsa and the other girls approaching in the boat. The aging fishing vessel draws alongside, and Paige and Madison crowd the railing to help Caitlin up out of the water.
<Joslyn> "…it doesn't look like rain…"
<Joslyn> "Oh, what did you say? Couldn't hear you clearly over the static." Joslyn takes off the radio set as Kate gets aboard.
<Caitlin> Caitlin is… really clammy when they help her out of the water. She also has gills on her neck plus webbed fingers and toes, go figure. "No Flauri. Just her headset and ribbon. Did you find anything?" She holds up the evidence.
<Elsa> "Nothing around here." She looks around.
<Joslyn> "…something, yeah. Let's get home, though you…may want to undo that if you can. Looking like 3 years younger is bad enough…"
<Caitlin> "…Oh. My apologies." Caitlin detransforms, her robes and quill pen disappearing and being replaced with her regular uniform. Of course, she still looks like a 13 year old fishgirl. Woops.
<Joslyn> "…you can't undo the other thing?"
<Caitlin> "I… assumed it'd go away when I turned my magic off."
<Joslyn> "…Apparently not." Joslyn frowns. "Sorry if it sounds rude but…do you think you could try shutting it off? It's kind of unsettling."
<Oxford> Madison pushes into the conversation, fists clenched, though more from frustration than anger. "Who cares if…!" She quiets suddenly as she realizes people are looking at her. "Er…I meant, don't we have other stuff to worry about…?"
<Joslyn> "Way too much to worry about. But we can't just make the Albean shore appear out of nowhere."
<Joslyn> "Just calm down, we're going as fast as we can without a plane." hang on a minute…
<Caitlin> Caitlin folds her arms and gives Joslyn a hurt glare and speaks in a bitingly cold manner, "I'm sorry for disgusting you with something I can't control. I will endeavor to improve my behavior in the future. Now, maybe we should be concerning ourselves with Miss Flaurentine's disappearance?"
<Elsa> "So what directions was home again?"
<Joslyn> "Until we can find evidence to the contrary, we have to assume she teleported out. You said you didn't see any sign of her, right?"
<Oxford> Paige steps forward to stand next to Madison. " What kind of wingmates are you, anyway? We can't just abandon Flaur out here."
<Joslyn> "If she's even here."
<Caitlin> "I told you already!" Caitlin holds up the damaged headset and bloodstained ribbon.
<Joslyn> "I saw! And given what this asshole did to that plane, that kind of damage seems about right!"
<Oxford> "She has to be SOMEWHERE!" Paige insists. "Maybe if we wait for her…" The older girl grimaces as tears bead up in the corners of her eyes. She looks quickly toward shore, where several military-style trucks are pulling into the research base.
<Elsa> "Ok, so how do we look for her? We don't have much time, and my powers aren't too good for this."
<Joslyn> "What part of 'teleporter' are you not understanding?!?"
<Aerendis> "We should leave. We've done our due part in looking for her. People dissapearing in war isn't rare."
- Aerendis nods to herself. "If she teleported away, she'll get back to use eventually. If not, she'd have drowned by now. It's that simple."
<Oxford> Madison looks at Aerendis with shock. "You don't mean… do you think she's…?"
- Joslyn nods "If she's dead, staying here won't do anything. If she's stuck ashore, she'll warp away from any pursuers. If she's not here, we can't find her around."
<Caitlin> Caitlin would probably be tearing up right now, too, but her modified eyes (to let her see underwater, obviously! Probably some kind of nictitating membrane) don't quite function like that.
<Elsa> "Last time she dissapeared she went all the way accross the sea
<Elsa> "
<Joslyn> "…besides. She's Hispalian. There's a good chance she'd be able to sneak through a gualian squadron."
<Aerendis> "Yes. Now let's go."
- Elsa makes the boat move faster, but still doesn't look hapy about it, "I hope she's all right wherever she is."
<Joslyn> "There's nothing we can do here except trust her abilities. They've surprised us before, we have to hope she can do it again."
<Oxford> Paige gives the lieutenant a sour look and mumbles something about leaving no man behind as she turns to go pout on the bow of the ship. Madison hurries over to try and calm her down.
- Elsa moves north…west? "Now, to which direction was home again?"
- Joslyn sits down near a rail and turns to Elsa and points her in the right direction before addressing Caitlin. "What's wrong?"
- Aerendis frowns. "No Man Left behind? Really? Did I see you trying to save the pilot or the crewmen of that Bomber? I understand wanting to save your friend, but don't use 'No Man Left Behind' as a detraction against the Lieutenant doing her job for once!"
<Caitlin> Caitlin folds her arms and simply says, "Nothing I haven't already mentioned."
<Oxford> "We weren't the ones s'posed to be watching that bomber!" shoots back Paige, before Madison can stop her. "What do you care, anyway; we're all just Albs to you, aren't we, Cimbo?"
<Joslyn> "…you probably think I shouldn't be running away from this…but Flauri's done this before! And I can't justify risking all of our lives on the hunch that Flauri didn't or couldn't get out!"
<Oxford> Northeast, actually. There are a few rough maps laying around the bridge, though it takes Elsa a while to make sense of them. With time, though, the fishing boat is on it's way back to Albaea.
<Aerendis> "No. I don't give a crap about what country you're from. You're my comrades in arms. But I've seen plenty of my friends and comrades die horribly and the only reason i'm alive now is because I kept doing my jobinstead of pouting about it!"
<Joslyn> "B-besides…we can't afford to give Reiker any more ammo." Joslyn hushes as she adds that line.
<Caitlin> "I'll go back and keep looking in the water, then. They won't notice me and she could be injured. What if her pendant broke?"
<Joslyn> "And how are you going to get back?"
<Elsa> "I don't think its like last time. She wouldn't do that again."
<Caitlin> "I'll fly myself."
<Joslyn> "Didn't you hear the Major? It's too long a flight to make without burning yourself out!"
<Joslyn> "Look, I know you're upset. I am too. But it's my job to keep as many of us as safe as possible."
<Oxford> The shore is already fading from sight, and the waves around them lap at the sides of the ship. The peaceful scene is marred only by the tendrils of smoke still rising from the horizon behind the boat.
<Joslyn> "And I can't let you risk your hide sitting here with no means of communication, an almost spent pendant, and a random hunch that a teleporter decided not to teleport!"
<Caitlin> Caitlin closes her eyes and gives a defeated whisper, "That's not fair…"
<Joslyn> "If she didn't have a history of being able to pop out at the most opportune time, I'd think twice. But…" Joslyn rubs her eyes. "We have to hope she made it - besides, if she didn't bail out then you would have found her with the plane, right?"
<Joslyn> "Now please…turn off the green? We don't need anyone thinking you're stuck like that."
<Caitlin> "Fine… I told you, I tried."
<Joslyn> "You tried turning off your pendant. Try using your magic to reverse whatever you did." Joslyn hushes her voice again. "If you're stuck looking like that, Reiker's gonna have you thrown in that research facility in a heartbeat."
- Aerendis finally untransforms, going back to her school uniform, though she still carries her pistol. It's not magically enhanced anymore, but it'll still kill someone. She then sits opposite the pilot and stares at him oddly. If undisturbed, she does this for the rest of the trip.
<Oxford> --——
- Elsa is too busy driving the boat, god help them if they end up in a place with stone reefs.
- Aerendis is still staring wordlessly at the Pilot.
<Oxford> It is nightfall by the time Elsa guides the fishing boat back to Bougnetsport. The seas remained calm for the entire trip, though there was a worrying moment when they weren't sure they'd gone the right direction along the coast.
<Caitlin> Caitlin's covered in an assortment of words mean to change her back to normal. Mammal, human, land-dweller… None of them had much effect.
<Caitlin> At least, not until the last minute when she seemed to transform back to normal all at once. Magic. Go figure.
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- Joslyn let's out a heavy sigh of relief as Caitlin returns to normal. That woulda been embarrassing
<Fires> Elsa is very happy and surprised she managed to land the boat, and briefly wonders why they weren't shot down by the Albean forces since you know fishing boat from another country.
- Elsa has quit (Ping timeout)
- Fires is now known as Elsa
- Aerendis stands up and walks over to the Pilot. After a moment of akward silence, she says. "…We're getting off soon. Get up, okay?"
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<Oxford> A few dockhands wave the old ship in towards a spare pier, somewhat surprised by its all-female crew. Lucky indeed that the girls remembered to lower the Gaulia colors before they reached Albaea.
- Elsa makes sure the boat is tied to the pier and well, contacts base on the radio, "Hello? This is Jester anyone home?"
<Oxford> "Jester, Echo Whiskey: Good to hear your voice. What's your location, Flight?"
- Aerendis fidgits a bit as she waits for him to respond.
<Joslyn> "We're on the coast, got a PoW with us. But…has there been any sign of Criss-cross?"
<Elsa> "WE're at hthe Harbor."
<Oxford> The stout Gaulia nods gruffly as he rises to his feet. He stumbles a bit as he stands, feet caught in a fishing net.
<Oxford> +n
- Aerendis frowns for a moment, before kneeling down and attempting to pull his foot out of the net. She doesn't want him to trip and drown in the water. He's…Her POW, afterall.
<Oxford> "Negative, Iron Maiden. Criss-Cross has not checked in."
<Joslyn> "…dammit." Joslyn mutters to herself. Her radio was broke, of course she can't check in. "Well, then we have a problem."
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- elsa is now known as Elsa
<Joslyn> "But can you get the Major and some MPs over here?"
<Oxford> "…thanks," says Merovin, somewhat reluctantly. He allows himself to be led out on deck.
<Oxford> "Roger, Iron Maiden. Cheswhick Actual is en route." Through Lt. Stranahan's crisp professionalism is the barest hint of worry.
<Joslyn> "…Ærendis? Mind if I ask your prisoner a question?"
<Aerendis> "I don't want you to fall over and drown. I captured you, afterall…" she says to him as she leads him out. "…I'm Ærendis, by the way. Ærendis Højgaard. What was your na-…Ugh. Fine, Lieutenant." she says as she is interrupted.
<Joslyn> "Roger that, Echo. Iron maiden out."
<Joslyn> To the pilot, Joslyn shows the picture she found of novgaardi girls in military uniforms, much like their own. "Did you know anything about this?"
<Oxford> Cpt. Merovin looks down at Joslyn with faint disdain. "Welks Merovin. Captain, Free Sachsen Air Force." He pauses before adding, "no serial number, sorry."
- Aerendis nods when he introduces himself. "Very professional."
<Joslyn> "And the fact that the Horde appears to be trying to emulate us doesn't mean anything?"
- Elsa snaps her fingers and a lighter flame pops out "I'm not sure hes going to tell us anything."
<Oxford> He raises an eyebrow an smiles tiredly. "Welks Merovin. Captain, Free Sachsen Air Force." His accent seems especially mocking right now.
<Caitlin> Caitlin whispers into Joslyn's ear, "…Should I… try to magically compel him to speak honestly?"
- Aerendis nods at Elsa. "It's standard procedure. Name, Rank, and Serial Number…"
<Joslyn> "…maybe some soul searching will help gather his thoughts." Joslyn gives Kate a look.
<Caitlin> Another whisper, "I could try reading his mind or just writing truth on him…" Caitlin's compunctions about invasion of privacy seem a little looser when directed towards this particular jerk.
- Elsa looks around waiting for the others to arrive, her eyes glowing slightly on in the dark.}
<Joslyn> "The first sounds like the safer option - maybe not the most useful, but safer."
- Aerendis frowns. "I don't think this is the right time. Can we wait until we get him detained, at least?" she says.
<Joslyn> "OpSec is still a priority."
<Oxford> Merovin shifts a bit on deck and, if nobody stops him, leans against the railing with an exhausted look on his face.
- Joslyn won't stop him but keeps an eye on him to make sure he doesn't try jumping.
<Caitlin> Caitlin, meanwhile, steals a glance at his eyes and attempts to look even deeper into his braaaaaaaaain.
- Elsa approaches the mand and grabs him by the neck of shirt and tosses him back to the middle of the boat. "Don't even think about that buddy"
<Joslyn> "…was that really necessary?"
<Elsa> "Maybe, it just made me feel a bit better."
<Aerendis> "Don't do that!" Aerendis snaps at Elsa. "He's MY prisoner, I can handle him by myself!"
<Elsa> 7me rolls her eyes and goes back to waiting for the others.
- Aerendis looks up at Merovin and says "You can lean against the railing if you want, I guess…"
<Oxford> Caitlin peers deep into his eyes and sees: "-ateenongelukkigesituatieikmijbinnenAchzalmijnwraaknooitvolledigzijn-"
<Caitlin> Caitlin is quick to write this down as she sees it and whispers again, "I'm… going to need a translator…"
<Oxford> From the dock, one pair of headlights pierce the gathering darkness, followed by a second. Major Westfield's black sedan rolls swiftly into view.
<Joslyn> "Major might know someone…" Joslyn closes her eyes and looks over to Ærendis. "think you could use these?"
<Joslyn> Apparently Joslyn's powers include the ability to summon handcuffs out of nowhere.
- Aerendis nods and takes the handcuffs. She looks at Merovin and asks "Will you hold out your hands for me?"
<Joslyn> It would be easier if Jos would let go of the handcuffs first.
- Aerendis doesn't quite take them, then, but she still asks Merovin.
- Aerendis waits for a moment before glaring at Joslyn. She attempts to pull them away from her.
- Joslyn attempts to pull the other way. It takes a few moments for the two to finally get the cuffs torn off.
<Oxford> The Gaulian pilot looks at her for a moment, and then extends his hands. He gives Aerendis a distant smile.
<Joslyn> "Sorry. That happens, sometimes."
- Aerendis can't help but lose the scowling, glaring expression in return. She puts the handcuffs on as deftly as she can with only one, non-dominant hand at her disposal. As in, she fumbles with it a bit, though she manages to get it eventually. "…There."
- Joslyn heads over to the Major's Sedan, unsure of how to put things, exactly.
<Joslyn> "…Someone knew we were coming."
<Oxford> "Ladies! Report!" comes a voice from down on the dock. Major Westfield approaches the boat at a jog, wearing a heavy wool coat and his officer's cap.
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<Joslyn> "Target was neutralized, but our transport was shot down by this man. Which leaves Warrant Flamenca…well…" Joslyn trails off.
<Joslyn> "We aren't sure."
- Aerendis grabs Merovin by the hand and starts leading him onto the dock.
<Elsa> "She must have teleported to safety, we looked for her but, we didnt find her."
<Caitlin> "We found her ribbon and headset, though!"
<Oxford> Major Donalds comes jogging up before Westfield can respond, moving with athletic ease despite his size. "What happened? Where's Flauri?" he demands as he reaches the boat.
<Joslyn> "…We don't know. Sir."
<Joslyn> "Currently we assume she teleported to safety once the bomber was shot down…"
<Aerendis> "The Plane got shot down. She was in it. We searched the wreckage but we had to leave before the facility's reinforcements found us." says Aerendis as she walks over to them, gripping the Gaulian Pilot's hand firmly.
<Joslyn> "Caitlin swore that Flauri wasn't among the wreckage, though."
<Oxford> Merovin allows himself to be led off the boat, towed by the one-armed Cimbrian. Major Donalds rushes over to Caitlin, desperate for more details. "Did you see her teleport? Find any trace of her?"
<Caitlin> "I turned into an amphibious hybrid and thoroughly examined the wreckage."
<Joslyn> "Located part of her hair ribbon, and her radio receiver - broken."
<Caitlin> "Only a ribbon and headset. I swam way down deep and found the plane, plus checked all the wreckage. I searched everywhere in the vicinity… Please don't be upset… She certainly teleported out…" Caitlin's voice slowly shifts from strong and confident to unstable and anxious.
<Joslyn> "If she could teleport the two of you all the way to Hispalia…I'm sure she could make it out of harm's way…"
<Aerendis> "On the other hand, we completed all the objectives - And I captured this man. His name is Captain Welks Merovin."
<Joslyn> "There is something else, though…I'll tell you in private."
<Oxford> The big Major sniffs loudly, his greying mustache shifted under his nose. "Certainly. Flauri's a professional, she knows how to take care of her…" He trails off, unable to mask the hollowness of his words.
<Joslyn> "…we'll find her, Sir."
- Aerendis frowns. "To be frank, sir; She survived a direct hit by a Naval gun. I don't think a plane crash would kill her, expecially when she had the chance to teleport away."
<Elsa> "I'm sure she's alright sir, she's tougher than she looks."
<Oxford> Westfield takes a step forward and inspects Merovin closely. "We'll have to have him transferred to Headquarters, but in the meantime I'll arrange a room for holding him at the academy." He takes him by the upper arm and leads him toward the car, expecting them to follow.
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- Joslyn does so, taking the passenger seat if Welks isn't being stowed there.
- Aerendis doesn't let go of Merovin's hand "Excuse me, Sir. Can I escort him…? As you can see, i've been doing a good job so far."
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- Elsa follows Westfield back to the car "We got lots of data into the boat though"
<Oxford> "If that's fine with your CO, then, Warrant Højgaard," replies Westfield, releasing Merovin's arm. He leans over to Donalds, who is still staring out across the harbor, and whispers something in the big man's ear. Donalds straightens, nods once distractedly, and heads back toward his own car.
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<Joslyn> "…" Joslyn takes one more look at the sky. "Black clouds…"
<Oxford> A third car enters the docks, hearse-black and tires squealing. Major Reiker emerges, in cripsp full dress uniform.
- Aerendis walks over to Donalds "Sir? Is it alright if I escort Captain Merovin?"
- Elsa looks at the car unpleasantly.
<Elsa> Reiker's car
<Oxford> "What? Oh, um, yes, yes of course. I'm sorry, Rendi; why don't you debrief with Cheswhick again tonight. I have some… I need to… ah…"
<Aerendis> "Thank you sir. And…Like I said, I'm convinced she'll be fine." she says, before leading Merovin to a car.
<Joslyn> Well, so much for getting any satisfaction out of this mission. She'll do her best to avoid his gaze, however futile an effort that is.
<Oxford> Maj. Reiker takes a few brisk steps forward and nods once as Paige and Madison trot out to greet him. He says something to each of them that's too quiet to hear, and they both beam.
<Oxford> They retreat back into his car, Madison giving the Cheswhick girls a quick, embarassed wave before she closes the door.
<Joslyn> "…" Joslyn sighs again. Sure, they did their job…but she's scared of what's coming up.
- Aerendis helps Merovin into the correct vehicle and then sits down next to him. "There. I'm sorry about the others treating you a bit rudely."
<Joslyn> "Is there anything else, or can we start preparing for Elsa's trial defense?"
<Oxford> Westfield, meanwhile, makes sure everyone is seated before starting up the car. He talks as the drive back up to the academy. "First things first. Dr. Tereshkova is dead?"
<Caitlin> Caitlin quietly reminds Joslyn about the translation needed.
<Joslyn> "Elsa?"
- Elsa doesnt even want to see Reiker right now, "Burned his face off, as ordered."
<Elsa> "I can still smell him on me" she says with a disgusted look on her face.
<Joslyn> "I checked him during my sweep after the fact. He's gone."
<Oxford> "And the facility? Those prototypes?" He seems unconcerned by Elsa's side-comment.
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<Joslyn> "I made sure to put lots of holes in those bombs."
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<Joslyn> "Pretty sure they ignited in Elsa's firestorm, but they're inoperable anyway."
<Oxford> "Excellent. You said some intelligence was retrieved?"
<Joslyn> "Yeah - and this is where things start going downhill." Joslyn hands over the photographs.
- Aerendis looks up at Merovin curiously. "Do you speak any other languages besides Albaean?"
<Elsa> "Its in the boat."
- Joslyn holds up the papers Elsa filched. "I made sure to grab them."
<Oxford> Westfield spares them a quick glance, but returns his eyes to the road. "Sorry; Lt., what am I looking at?"
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<Joslyn> "If it's what I think it is…then you're looking at the next group of enemy fighters."
<Oxford> "Enemy-!" He looks back again, quickly, staring a little longer this time. "It might be nothing. They have military academies in Novgoraad, same as here…" His tone is thoughtful, yet dismayed.
<Joslyn> "…You really believe that, sir?"
<Elsa> "THe doctor also was holding a picture, but I think thats just his grandaughter."
<Aerendis> "The Doctor had it. Either he had involvement in some sort of…us replica, or…That's just hi- Yes. What Elsa said."
<Oxford> "Is his granddaughter in the first photograph? Same uniform?" Westfield shakes his head, worry etched on his face. "Our estimates put them at least five years behind us in Focus Pendant development…"
- Joslyn looks at the two pictures. How close do they look?
<Elsa> "I don't know, but I think we can build those bombs with all the things we got, right?"
<Joslyn> "…Stranahan had hers when she served in Cimbria - seven years ago. That means…"
<Oxford> The photographs are grainy, but there's no doubt: Tereshkova's granddaughter is there, second row, third from the left.
<Oxford> Westfield nods at Joslyn's implication. "We knew this day would come. Still…"
<Joslyn> "She's in the group shot. And by your estimates, they already would have a mk I."
<Caitlin> "We're going to destroy BOTH nations. Ourselves and the enemy."
<Joslyn> "Why do you say that, Kate?"
- Elsa looks at Cait confused.
<Oxford> Westfield frowns at Caitlin through the rear-view mirror, but says nothing. The car is getting close to St. Cheswhick's, now: the old monastery's walls loom on the hilltop overlooking the bay.
<Caitlin> "We're playing tag with them. Back and forth taking turns running ahead and catching up. One child can already kill how many people? One bomb? Both sides are simply going to get better and better at war until everything is destroyed or people use their heads and settle for a stalemate to avoid…"
<Joslyn> "One side'll have to gain a decisive edge somewhere. The mk II just might be it."
- Elsa just looks at them, "I'm susre we'll win soon, right?"
<Caitlin> "And then the other will unveil THEIR new edge and we'll go back and forth until nothing is left." Caitlin grows visibly frustrated as she struggles with how neutralizing such a threat is even possible; mutually assured destruction, more or less, but even that's no guarantee. Especially if they think their edge is decisive enough to risk it. It might not be at that stage yet… But that's what she's afraid of it leading to.
<Oxford> Westfield remains silent as he pulls the parking brake and turns off the car's engine. The Academy is before them: their home of solid stone, emptier now by one. Westfield turns to the girls as he gets out of the car.
<Joslyn> "So in short, war sucks. We knew that already. We just need one or two battles to turn the tide of the war."
<Caitlin> "This isn't the old historical wars. The idea that war never changes is ridiculous. Getting shot 'sucks', having a quarter of your nation obliterated by a superbomb you raced against the enemy to build first is worse than that, and there are certainly countless equally bad outcomes."
<Aerendis> "Whining about it won't do anything."
- Aerendis then helps Merovin out of the car.
<Joslyn> "Then we need to make a decisive ending strike before it gets to that."
- Elsa gets out of the car and says nothing, "Ummm, sir, when's my trial?" SHe asks nervously.
<Oxford> "Warrants," says Westfield, holding up his hands to cut the conversation short, "we have a lot to discuss, but you're all clearly exhausted. You've done well today; the Empire thanks you. I promise, the moment we get word of Warrant Flamenca's wherabouts, I'll make sure we're first to volunteer for her extraction."
<Oxford> "As you said, however, Warrant Elsa's court-martial is scheduled for next Monday. I apologize for the limited time to prepare, but I've gotten us taken off the combat roster for the time being. If you have any questions about the process, feel free to ask," he holds up his hands again, quickly, and adds, "later. Right now, you all need your rest."
<Caitlin> Caitlin closes her mouth; she's whipped herself up into one of her passionate moments on a matter she considers vitally important… But in her eyes, the others just don't understand. Caitlin considers that exactly why she needs to write her book, to expose another layer of the war. The threats she envisions may or may not be realistic, but in her mind, this is just another step towards that spiral.
<Joslyn> "…" Joslyn nods and with a lazy salute makes for her dorm room.
<Aerendis> "Excuse me! Sir! Where should I bring Captain Merovin?"
<Elsa> "Damn it, so soon" She looks dejected as she makes way to the mess hall, damn she's hungry. However she doesn't forget to go back to her usual clothes.
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<Oxford> Westfield is already heading back toward his office, his mind on the MIA paperwork he knows Lucas is in no shape to do. He stops himself at Aerendis' question, thinking a moment. "Gag him and lock him in your room, I think," he says off-handedly, before continuing onward. "Someone will be here to get him by morning."
- Aerendis nods, honestly a bit sad that her Prisoner will be taken to some far way HQ so soon. But, still, she leads Merovin to her room.
<Oxford> The floors of St. Cheswhick's Academy are empty, the walls bare. The warm breakfast they shared in the refectory this morning is already a distant memory, nearly forgotten. And when Aerendis gets back to her room, she's greeted by an extra bunk that has never seemed more empty.
<Oxford> /session
[nope]
- Aerendis leads Merovin into her room, hoping that she might be alone in here tonight.
<Oxford> The door to Aerendis' borrowed dormitory closes with a faint thud of wood on stone. The captured enemy pilot, Welks Merovin, Captain of the Free Sachsen Air Force, helps himself to a seat on a nearby bunk. Her bunk, she recognizes immediately.
<Oxford> He sits silently, hands still cuffed in front of him.
- Aerendis stares a bit, surprised that he chose that bed…still, she tries to check if there is a way to lock her door, or keep him from trying to escape using it during the night if he somehow escapes his cuffs.
<Oxford> The locks, being of a fairly old-fashioned design, are simple bolts. Turning the bolt from either side of the door requires a key, which fortunately she's been provided with.
- Aerendis locks the door and then attempts to find a place to hide the key.
<Oxford> Hiding the key will be tough with the Gaulian watching her. His eyes follow her bemusedly around the room as she paces, key in hand.
- Aerendis frowns for a moment, her brow furrowing in concentration…before she has an idea. She puts the key on an end-table and then walks over to her bunk, sitting down next to Merovin. "Erm…Can I see your hands again, Captain Merovin?"
<Oxford> He raises an eyebrow, but nods. "Of course," he says, presenting his hands, palms up, to the girl.
- Aerendis unlocks the cuff on one of his wrists…and then locks it on her own wrist. Content that it will stay on, she nods. "There. Now you can't try and sneak away without me noticing, even if i'm asleep!"
<Oxford> The stout man looks at her incredulously for a moment before a slight smile forms on his weather-beaten face. "That is…one solution, I suppose."
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- Aerendis smiles, nodding. "So…" Aerendis says weakly, desperately trying to think of something to talk about with the Captured Pilot.
<Oxford> He sits quietly on the bed, the cuffed hand resting on the blanket between them, awkwardly out to one side. After a moment passes, he takes pity on the young girl. "You are… not Albaean?" he begins cautiously.
<Aerendis> She nods. "Oh…Yes, i'm from Cimbria. I came to Albaea only a few days ago, as part of a refugee schooling program…"
<Oxford> "Ah…" He nods, as though she's only confirmed what he expected all along. "Your injuries are the result of…unrest?"
- Aerendis looks at her feet for a moment, considering what to say…but after a moment, she realizes she doesn't want to lie to him. "I was…I was a member of a resistance movement…"
<Oxford> That, on the other hand, catches him off-guard. "You fought in the resistance? Against the occupation force?"
- Aerendis blushes just a bit. "…Y-Yes…"
<Oxford> He laughs out loud. It's a shocked, surprised laugh; the kind that follows an absurd realization. "You and I… we are not so different, I think."
- Aerendis looks up at Welk's face, a bit confused. "What do you mean…?
<Oxford> The older man smiles sadly and leans back on the bed, supporting himself on his uncuffed arm. "All my life, I followed my father's dream. A free Sachsen, no longer under Gaulian rule. Yet here I am, fighting on behalf of Gaulia. Just like you, you see?"
- Aerendis nods a bit. "I suppose. I…never met my parents. At least I don't remember them. I was in the resistance movement because they took me in. It was better than the orphanage, I heard some of the others my age say…"
<Oxford> He nods. "And yet here you are, fighting for your former oppressors. They ah… they don't know, do they? About your past?"
- Aerendis shakes her head vehemently. "No! I…I was wounded, and found myself in a refugee hospital. When they asked me why I was there I…lied, of course, and due to my age they found me suitable for this exchange program."
<Oxford> Merovin nods sagely, clearly sympathizing. "It is… somewhat more complicated for me. A shame; in another life, perhaps we would have been allies."
- Aerendis forces a bit of a smile. "W-Well…I guess it's good I captured you then, right…? Now we don't have to shoot at each other anymore" she says, inching a bit closer to him.
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<Oxford> "It's true. I'd promised myself I would bring down one of Albaea's witches. Almost got one, too, but… In the end, it seems I've failed." He shrugs sheepishly. "Lucky for you, I suppose. Lucky for me I didn't get killed trying, either."
- Aerendis blushes a bit more. "Y-Yes…I'm glad you're okay, too. You seem like a nice person. I just wish…I wish they didn't have to relocate you in the morning"
<Oxford> "It is mercy enough that I have been given tonight. The laws of war tend not to cover mercenaries in their conventions; I won't have the same protections that most POWs get." He sighs resignedly.
- Aerendis looks a bit worried. "W-What…? Well, I'll do my best to make sure they treat you well! I won't let them do anything bad to you, Welks!"
<Oxford> He chuckles at her use of his first name, but rolls his head toward her and regards the girl from the corner of his eye. "Much obliged, though there is little that can be done about it. I don't believe I caught your name, by the way."
<Aerendis> "Oh…I'm Ærendis Højgaard."
<Aerendis> "But…I'm one of these Witches, and i'm the one who caught you, so i'm sure I'll be able to do something…!"
<Oxford> "Ærendis, then." He lays down fully on the bed, putting his free hand behind his head. "I am glad to have met you, Ærendis. I do not expect I am long for this world, however."
<Aerendis> "I…What do you mean, Welks…?" she asks, confused, obviously a bit worried.
<Oxford> He sighs sadly. "I have killed… many men. Many of your Albaean comrades. And as I am not a member of the military… the penalty for murder is death, is it not?"
<Aerendis> I..! I'll…do my best to make sure that doesn't happen. If they intend to…I won't let them. It's not fair."
<Oxford> "Heh. But war is not fair; did you not say as much on the boat?" He starts to undo his boots, taking a while to get them off with only one arm.
- Aerendis tries to move in unison with him, to allow him the use of his cuffed hand. "…Well, this is differant.
<Oxford> He shakes his head. "Idealism… I was like that, once. When my father led his rebellion, I followed him. I believed our cause would succeed because it was just and right."
- Aerendis frowns a bit. "I don't…I don't think it's idealism. I just…I like you…"
<Oxford> He laughs dryly. "That, likewise, will not help." The captured pilot shakes his head and stifles a yawn. "Enemies make poor friends, and while you yet serve Albaea, we will remain foes."
- Aerendis sighs raggedly. "You don't have to say it like that…"
<Oxford> Captain Merovin turns his head on the bed to look up at her, a bit regrettfully. "Nevertheless. If we met in the air, one on one, I would do my best to shoot you down. And you would do the same."
<Aerendis> "Well…Yes. But only so I could catch you again…"
<Oxford> Welks chuckles, teasingly. "So eager to keep me locked up? Tell me," he continues, smile fading, "why do you fight for them? Albaea is as much Cimbria's enemy as it is Sachsen's."
<Aerendis> "…They offered me a chance to…do something. After I was wounded like this, I would have been…useless at my old job…They've offered me a new vocation, a new life, so they can't be that bad…"
<Oxford> "They're only using your skills. As all governments use all soldiers, perhaps…" He stares silently at the ceiling for a moment before going on. "Is a new life so valuable to you? That you would sell your very soul to get it?"
<Aerendis> "…I'd rather fight for my enemy than be useless."
<Oxford> He nods, understanding. "Perhaps that is the more realistic position. But I…" He frowns. "In my heart, I think I'm still an idealist. Still fighting for a losing cause, as long as it's one I believe in."
<Aerendis> "…I didn't have anything to fight for. I don't have a sibling waiting for me in Cimbria. Even…even my best friend, my spotter…she was killed at the…at the same time I lost my arm and my eye. I didn't have any reason to stay"
<Oxford> He nods, slowly. "My younger sister is a hostage, in Gaulia. They're keeping her to ensure my loyalty. But…even if they weren't… I've been given a chance to get revenge on the nation that betrayed my father's dream. Were I a free man, I would still fly against Albaea."
<Oxford> "But you," he continues, "you've forgiven the men who killed your spotter, even accepted their patronage. It's very…pragmatic. Mature."
- Aerendis smiles a bit at the compliment. "Well…It's not like I could do much about it anymore." she sighs. "It's not fair what the Gaulians are doing to your sister, either."
<Oxford> He kicks his legs up onto the bed and stretches out, arm still attached firmly to the Cimbrian girl. "What did we say about war and fairness, now?"
- Disconnected (Connection reset by peer).
- Now talking on #WorldWarBurst
- Topic for #WorldWarBurst is: Semester Finals are just a month away! Start preparing now: join a Study Group!
- Topic for #WorldWarBurst set by Oxford at Tue Mar 06 22:21:55 2012
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<Oxford> He kicks his legs up onto the bed and stretches out, arm still attached firmly to the Cimbrian girl. "What did we say about war and fairness, now?"
- Aerendis sighs quietly and nods. "I know. Sorry." she replies, as she watches him lay down a bit. "I…I hope you don't mind, but I think we'll have to sleep in the same bunk tonight. Because of the cuffs, and all."
<Oxford> He raises both eyebrows at her and chuckles as he pulls the rough wool blanket back and slides underneath. "Indeed. I would normally offer to sit by the bedside, but today has been…tiring. I haven't been shot down in quiet some time. And besides, these handcuffs were your idea."
- Aerendis blushes a bit. "Well, it's for safety!" she says, before attempting to lay down next to him. "I-I…I'd just sit down next to the bed also, but i'm tired too. Being a witch is t-tiring and such…"
<Oxford> Once she's settled, Merovin leans over and turns off the light. They lie there for a while, wrapped in the warm darkness of the dorm room. The captured pilot lets out a contented sigh. After a short pause, he asks, in a frank voice: "So, the handcuffs… was this your plan all along?"
<Oxford> /session