[X] Buy gifts for everyone, family and you comrades, then go back. Times goes to 2:00 PM
-[X] general list: Candy and chocolate for the younger kids. Tea, coffee, and maybe a small bit of alcohol for the older girls. All good-quality stuff.
[X] Buy gifts for everyone, family and you comrades, then go back. Times goes to 2:00 PM
-[X] general list: Candy and chocolate for the younger kids. Tea, coffee, and maybe a small bit of alcohol for the older girls. All good-quality stuff.
You exit the building, putting your B.A.R. under your trench coat and on your back. Once you kinda concealed the weapon, you scan around the area that you're in. Kids are throwing snowballs at one another, teenagers huddle together and chatting, people being busy like it's peace time, but there's a certain gloom over the adults.
You go walk in a random direction while making sure that you have all your items on you. Gotta watch for pickpockets. You swear that you see some thieves snatch the wallets of people right in front of you. Then you notice that you're walking among rich folk, Look at all the sparkles they have, Sergeant!
When you get the chance, you move off in a different direction away from the group of rich folk, too bad there's a kid try to stalk you. You stop for a moment as the people ahead of you do the same. The boy behind you makes contact with your back and you hear his head smacks right on the butt-stock of your B.A.R. Good thing it's on safe and not in battery or that would have been bad.
You turn to see the shrimp rubbing his nose and your eyes meet his. The kid immediately bolts in the opposite direction, pushing through the crowd of people. Gotta admit, he's quick for a thief.
Finding nothing stolen, you eventually move on and find yourself in, probably, a commercial district with various stores all over. Huh, guess I should get something for the family. Hopefully, my money's good here.
After going in each store one by one, you pick up:
Dad gets a box of cigars, hell, even if he doesn't smoke them, he'll probably find a use for them, maybe trade 'em or something.
Mom, uh, guess I'll get her some fancy fabrics since she's does sewing.
My 2 little sisters, they should be 16 and 17 later this year, scarfs with pretty patterns.
My twin 1 month younger brother, (weird shit happened during our conception, he got born 1 month later with no problems) wait, didn't he joined up, ah, I forgot. Well, at the minimum a post card, oh yeah, and a Swiss army knife.
You get it all packaged up and send it off back to the States. With any luck, the family still has the same address for mail back in California when they were traveling.
You're still rich, no surprise, even more so since the stores had minor discounts for soldiers. Guess I'll spend it on the girls. You walk some more and eventually, enter a bakery. Inside, it's partial packed with almost entirely of girls but you note one thing, Maho?
You survey the store to see girls wearing different uniforms all around. Witches? Tankers? Ship girls? Shit, is this store famous? The door behind you slams back into place, which causes a lot of people to stare at your direction. It only takes a few seconds before some of the girls start to position themselves in a military fashion. Maho turns to see you due to the commotion and does the same as the others, you swear that she'd salute you right now.
"As you were." You calmly state and nod to them. The girls go back to what they were doing but they keep an eye on you, you know that they're whispering to each other. You move through the crowd and act naturally by looking at the different types of pastries. Maho nonchalantly comes to your side and stares at the same pastries as you.
It takes her a while to say something, but she does. "Sergeant."
"Yeah?"
"You made it out."
You turn your head to her and nod. "That I did. Was everything fine after I left?"
"Yes. We pulled back once we ran out of ammo for our main cannon. Then we waited for orders, that took some time but we got them. We were told to come back to London. Now, here I am, waiting." She still has her eyes on the tarts, Is she hungry? Or is she choosing not to look me in the eye? It's extremely faint but you hear the sound of a stomach rumbling. Well, that's my answer.
"Hey, Cadet. I'm going get something, you want anything?" When she turns to you, you see that there's stars in her eyes.
---
---
Let's see, cake, a variety of tarts, cookies, British sweets, M&M's (lucky me), Hersey bars for everyone, different tea packets, 4 tiny teddy bears (bonus from purchases), a bottle of Vodka and a bottle of some French wine. You count the items in your various bags, making sure you aren't forgetting anything. You move some of the more sensitive items to your backpack and pack the rest up.
You stand up and look over to Maho, who's holding onto her own bag of food while nibbling on some danish. She pretty much just followed you without saying a word the entire time, weird but at least it wan't bothersome. You check the time on your watch, Not late but accounting the travel time, eh.
"Cadet." Maho finishes her meal in one last bite and looks over to you. "I'm going back to my base. Okay?" She nods. "Alright then, I'll see ya around." You look away from Maho to view the area around you, trying to find signs that would lead you to the train station.
"Tell Miho I said hi." You look back to Maho to see that she's already walking amidst the crowds.
---
---
You're back at base after taking the train back to Folkstone, then hoofing it the castle by foot. It took some time but nothing bad happened during the trip, all in all, an okay time. You didn't see anyone on your way to your room, Guess they're in the playroom.
You drop off your gear and with present in hand, you go to the living room. You're not even close to the entrance but you can hear the girls inside.
Chester: "Alright, 20!"
Houshou: "21." You hear the sound of a table being smacked and the ringing of tableware.
Chester: "Lulu, why do you hate your older sister!?"
Tenryuu: "Oi, at least you get 20."
Blackjack?
Yukari: "And Broadway is mine!"
Saori: "Yukari, you traitor!"
Hibiki: "Excellent play."
Yuudachi: "Okay. Fubuki, your turn."
Fubuki: "Okay and..." *dice roll*
Lucchini: "♪Jail♪!"
Yuudachi: "Isn't that the 3rd time this game-poi?"
Fubuki: *meek crying*
Monopoly.
The door's open so you head inside. Seems like most of the girls are here doing various activities. Before you manage to look around, you hear Mio's voice.
"Oh, Sergeant. You're back. How's the trip?" You turn to see Mio sitting at a desk, across from her is Minna still wearing your poncho. Mio gestures you to sit down but you decline.
"I got some goods. So overall, pretty good." You move towards the two and surprisingly, see that Minna's asleep. "What's with her?"
"Ah, I manage to convince her to take a nap. She's been doing paperwork ever since she got back."
"Huh, guess I won't get my poncho back anytime soon. Here." You fish out a chocolate bar and give it her.
She tilts her puzzled head at the gift. "Choko? What's this for?"
You shrug. "I felt like giving. Just take the thing, I don't really want to explain myself." Sakamoto smiles and nods so you place a bar in front of the Commander.
"Sensei!"
"Sergeant!"
"Welcome back!"
Here comes the welcoming committee.
---
---
So, the gift giving went off without major incidents barring the fact that the small destroyers almost toppled you, but at least no one was hurt and/or got into an embarrassing situation. You made sure to pass on Maho's hi to Miho when you pass out the presents, but you couldn't tell if she was happy or sad. Houshou quickly made sure that the liquor was in a secure place, away from the minors.
So what do? ~2 PM -> 6 PM (4 hours)
[] Stay in the living room to... (Stay here for the rest of the day)
-[] Play blackjack & drink tea with Houshou, Northampton, Chester, Louisville, Tenryuu and Tatsuta. Discussion Topics (up to 3) write-in. (if not the you just hang out with them)
-[] Hang out with the Monopoly players. Akatsuki, Ikazuchi, Inazuma, Hibiki(P), Yuudachi(P), Fubuki(P), Saori(P), Yukari(P), Lucchinni(P). Topics (3) write-in.
-[] Hang out with Mio, Minna (who'll wake up eventually), and Miho. Topics (3) write-in
-[] Study group, practically everyone else (Mutsuki, Kisaragi, Hana, Perrine, Miyafuji, Lynette, Barkhorn, Hartmann, Eila, Yeager. Minus Sanya, Shigure and Mako) is here doing some studying, books, magazine, whatever. Topic (1) write-in plus you get to choose a skill that get's +1.5
-[] Free action. Give teddy bears to 4 people.
H[] More blueprints, 88%, 1d5 (If you do 4 hours, I'll do an auto-complete)
H[] Skill training
H[] Write-in
[X] Stay in the living room to... (Stay here for the rest of the day)
-[X] Study group, practically everyone else (Mutsuki, Kisaragi, Hana, Perrine, Miyafuji, Lynette, Barkhorn, Hartmann, Eila, Yeager. Minus Sanya and Mako) is here doing some studying, books, magazine, whatever. Topic (1) write-in plus you get to choose a skill that get's +1.5
-[X] Magic +1.5
-[X] Free action. Give teddy bears to 4 people.
--[X] Miyafuji
You're still rich, no surprise, even more so since the stores had minor discounts for soldiers. Guess I'll spend it on the girls. You walk some more and eventually, enter a bakery. Inside, it's partial packed with almost entirely of girls but you note one thing, Maho?
he door behind you slams back into place, which causes a lot of people to stare at your direction. It only takes a few seconds before some of the girls start to position themselves in a military fashion. Maho turns to see you due to the commotion and does the same as the others, you swear that she'd salute you right now.
She still has her eyes on the tarts, Is she hungry? Or is she choosing not to look me in the eye? It's extremely faint but you hear the sound of a stomach rumbling. Well, that's my answer.
Given canon Maho's very formal and socially ignorant personality, I'm not sure she'd use 'hi' over something like, 'Please send Miho my best regards'. But I take it you've got a good reason for her casualness here.
[X] Stay in the living room to... (Stay here for the rest of the day)
-[X] Study group, practically everyone else (Mutsuki, Kisaragi, Hana, Perrine, Miyafuji, Lynette, Barkhorn, Hartmann, Eila, Yeager. Minus Sanya and Mako) is here doing some studying, books, magazine, whatever. Topic (1) write-in plus you get to choose a skill that get's +1.5
-[X] Magic +1.5
-[X] Free action. Give teddy bears to 4 people.
--[X] Miyafuji, Miho, Fubuki, and Mio.
I want to finish off the blueprints while we can. Is there any reason we can't hang out in the living room and finish them at the same time? Or would that be too distracting? Or are we supposed to be keeping it secret?
I want to finish off the blueprints while we can. Is there any reason we can't hang out in the living room and finish them at the same time? Or would that be too distracting? Or are we supposed to be keeping it secret?
Alright then. I don't think that working on the blueprints would win as a vote, so I'll go for the current vote.
[X] Stay in the living room to... (Stay here for the rest of the day)
-[X] Study group, practically everyone else (Mutsuki, Kisaragi, Hana, Perrine, Miyafuji, Lynette, Barkhorn, Hartmann, Eila, Yeager. Minus Sanya and Mako) is here doing some studying, books, magazine, whatever. Topic (1) write-in plus you get to choose a skill that get's +1.5
-[X] Magic +1.5
-[X] Free action. Give teddy bears to 4 people.
--[X] Miyafuji, Miho, Fubuki, and Mio.
[X] Stay in the living room to... (Stay here for the rest of the day)
-[X] Study group, practically everyone else (Mutsuki, Kisaragi, Hana, Perrine, Miyafuji, Lynette, Barkhorn, Hartmann, Eila, Yeager. Minus Sanya and Mako) is here doing some studying, books, magazine, whatever. Topic (1) write-in plus you get to choose a skill that get's +1.5
-[X] Magic +1.5
-[X] Free action. Give teddy bears to 4 people.
--[X] Miyafuji, Miho, Fubuki, and Mio.
lets get some socialization in, we've been a recluse working since we arrived
[X] Stay in the living room to... (Stay here for the rest of the day)
-[X] Study group, practically everyone else (Mutsuki, Kisaragi, Hana, Perrine, Miyafuji, Lynette, Barkhorn, Hartmann, Eila, Yeager. Minus Sanya, Shigure and Mako) is here doing some studying, books, magazine, whatever. Topic (1) write-in plus you get to choose a skill that get's +1.5
-[X] Magic +1.5
-[X] Free action. Give teddy bears to 4 people.
--[X] Miyafuji, Miho, Fubuki, and Mio.
You head up to the second floor to see the girls there are engrossed in their studying. Let's see what do they have to read. As you pass by you get glimpses of what they're reading.
Mutsuki and Kisaragi are reading something about boats. Hana has a book with images of sniper crosshairs when you passed by. Perrine's probably reading a letter, judging by the handwriting and the fact that it's in French. Lynette is helping Miyafuji read a book on dog fighting, at least you think it is. Barkhorn's reading something in German. Hartmann has a book over her face so you're assuming she's napping. Eila's reading a newspaper that on the front page has Maho and her Tiger crew. Well, that's something to look into. Yeager's eating the chocolate you'd given out while eyeing a magazine on Strikers.
You look at a bookcase filled with books and magazine in different languages. Well, at least there's something for aspiring academics. You fish out a book pertaining to magic and seat yourself on an empty couch. As you read, you get little bits from everyone when they speak loud enough.
---
Tenryuu: "Hit me!"
Tatsuta: "Tenryuu, are your sure? You already have 20."
Tenryuu: "Hampton, hit me... Yes, 21!"
Chester: "Sis, do you hate me too?"
N.Hampton: "You normally hit when you need to stay, or do the opposite."
Louisville: "What made you think staying on 14 was a good idea?"
---
Yuudachi: "Fubuki, you don't have enough money to get out of jail-poi."
Saori: "4 times, that's frightening."
Fubuki: "Bwah!" *Thud*
Inazuma: "It's okay, Fubuki! Here have some cookies."
Lucchini: "My turn!"
---
You eventually shut out the noise and focus on the book. Let's see, magic is believed to have been around ever since man was born. Blah, blah, blah, uh, Witches were not able to utilize magic until roughly the 1,000's but that's considered false after series of different research studies. Historians believe some magic users realize magic came from themselves but it wasn't until the 1,700's that the idea of people really using magic came to fruition. More history, nothing to note.
You skip a few pages ahead to see if there's anything else note worthy. Timelines blah, Witches, fancy diagrams and pictures. No mention of males, interesting but not surprising. You close the book and get up to swap it with a different one.
Before you do, Yeager calls out to you. "Yo! Read anything interesting?"
You put the book back on the shelve and shake your head. "Nothing that I can use."
Hana lowers her book and looks up at you. "Is there a specific book you're looking for?"
You casually shrug. "Not really. Just anything useful on magic." You see that a few of the girls turn to your direction while others just look back at their books.
From the corner of your eye, Barkhorn gets up from her seat and approaches you. "Magic? Why's that?"
You turn to her and fold your arms, thinking of a good response. "Just to brush up my knowledge, which I admit isn't really much. Well, Scientia potentia est, right?"
Miyafuji and most of the others have confused faces when you utter the Latin phrase while Barkhorn nods in agreement. "I see. Then I recommend Helmet Egger's latest article on magic from last year. Here." She picks up a life magazine and gives it to you. "It's in English and I learned much from reading it. I think it's about 5 pages now."
You take a skim of it and nod. "Thanks, Lieutenant."
Before you take your seat, Mutsuki raises her hand. "Um Sensei, what did you say before?"
Yoshika does the same. "Me too. I didn't undersand."
You take the opportunity to take a seat with the girls, picking an empty chair across from the girls. "Okay, I'll explain it. What I said was in Latin, so it wasn't English, don't panic. Its translation is 'Knowledge is power' or close enough to it."
"Then, can Sensei make us more powerful?" Kisaragi asks in a lighthearted voice as she twirls her hair.
I can take a guess to what I'm going to do next.
---
---
After tutoring Mutsuki, Kisaragi, Miyafuji and Bishop, you manage to read up on the article about magic. You learn a good deal about Witches, nothing on males though, seems like there's nothing useful on that subject.
During supper, you hand out the small teddy bears to Miyafuji, Miho, Fubuki, and Mio. All of them but Mio are pleasantly happy for the additional gift and some of the others girls express their jealously affectionately. Sakamoto still takes the souvenir but shows a bit of puzzlement on her face, not like you were expecting much out of her but really, confusion?
Well with that done, you just sit by yourself again and listen in to everyone. Seems like Houshou was the winner in the Blackjack game and that the girls almost bet the chocolate that you gave.
In Monopoly, the dropouts in order were Fubuki, Akiyama, Yuudachi, Lucchini. In the end, Saori and Hibiki had to make do with a tie or else the game would have taken too long.
After dinner you went to your room can did maintenance on all of your weapons before going to sleep.
---
January 16th, 1943.
---
You woke up at 5:00 AM and do your routine but your body was on alert. Trouble's afoot. You confirm that your weapons are ready for war and work on your blueprints in the mean time.
2d5, 3,3. 88+6=94%
Breakfast time came and everything was normal until the sirens went off. Everyone was told to head to the hanger for the briefing. There, Commander Wilcke explained the situation, beating around the bush at times but you understood what was going on.
North of Calais, there were radar contacts believed to be Abyssal forces. Allied forces couldn't determine if they were the humanoid or the warships so they want a scouting group. The thing is, they only want it to be consisted of 6 ship girls. Additional assets would be deployed after more intelligence is acquired from the scouts.
Brass just really want to see what ship girls can do.
When the Witches and ships heard the clause, they got very upset, Understatement, Sergeant. Either way, this is Houshou's operation, so she's in charge. So far, she's managed to compose the task units into 2 groups.
Unit 1: Tenryuu, Tatsuta, Akatsuki, Ikazuchi, Inazuma, and Hibiki. (2 light cruisers, 4 destroyers.)
Unit 2: Houshou, Fubuki, Mutsuki, Kisaragi, Shigure, and Yuudachi.(1 light carrier, 5 destroyers.)
When asked why Houshou didn't place the American Heavy Cruisers, she replied that they're not under her command. Even if they volunteered she doesn't wish to be responsible for them. Right now, she and Tenryuu are arguing on who should be the scouting party.
Chime in?
[] No
[] Yes
-[] Side with Tenryuu
-[] Side with Houshou
What do you do? [] Try to calm down the girls that are extremely pissed or very scared. [] Stand down, this isn't your fight and you sure as hell don't know what you can do. [] America doesn't not quit in the face of an adversary. Plan A.
-[] Ask if the Heavy Cruisers want in.
[] Write-in
Magic at 25. (You're not going to get bonuses every time.)
Choose a minor upgrade, or not.
[] Nah (Save it to get a major one)
[] Get 1 SPECIAL point
[] Fairy Speak - You now understand language of the Fairies. You already knew what yours are saying but now you can speak to others.
[] Minor Defense boost (Shield boost)
[] Minor Offense boost (Currently, you have no way to use magic offensively, so if chosen, it goes in the safe.)
You eventually shut out the noise and focus on the book. Let's see, magic is believed to have been around ever since man was born. Blah, blah, blah, uh, Witches were not able to utilize magic until roughly the 1,000's but that's considered false after series of different research studies. Historians believe some magic users realize magic came from themselves but it wasn't until the 1,700's that the idea of people really using magic came to fruition. More history, nothing to note.
You turn to her and fold your arms, thinking of a good response. "Just to brush up my knowledge, which I admit isn't really much. Well, Scientia potentia est, right?"
"I see. Then I recommend Helmet Egger's latest article on magic from last year. Here." She picks up a life magazine and gives it to you. "It's in English and I learned much from reading it. I think it's about 5 pages now."
You take the opportunity to take a seat with the girls, picking an empty chair across from the girls. "Okay, I'll explain it. What I said was in Latin, so it wasn't English, don't panic. Its translation is 'Knowledge is power' or close enough to it."
"Then, can Sensei make us more powerful?" Kisaragi asks in a lighthearted voice as she twirls her hair.
You woke up at 5:00 AM and do your routine but your body was on alert. Trouble's afoot. You confirm that your weapons are ready for war and work on your blueprints in the mean time.
North of Calais, there were radar contacts believed to be Abyssal forces. Allied forces couldn't determine if they were the humanoid or the warships so they want a scouting group. The thing is, they only want it to be consisted of 6 ship girls. Additional assets would be deployed after more intelligence is acquired from the scouts.
Wait, is John technically the highest ranking United States officer here? Even though he's Army and not Navy, does he have any actual authority over the Heavy Cruisers?
No. He is not the highest ranking officer on account of him not actually being an officer, but rather an enlisted man. I have no idea what rank USN shipgirls are, much less heavy cruisers.
Nothing official. A 'joint' or 'unified' chain command with multiple service branches involved would need to have been established ahead of time.
Now, John can discreetly say to the Northhamptons, 'maybe you three should join them out there from the get-go', but then he'd just be giving his unsolicited opinion to superiors(?) in a different branch.
I thought he was a Second Lieutenant now? Didn't he receive that promotion when he joined the OSS? Or has he not actually joined officially and received that promotion yet?
So again, I don't know much about how the military works, but aren't promotions usually considered effective immediately? Even if the paperwork hasn't been processed completely, shouldn't he have something to identify his new rank? Especially with what amounts to a battlefield promotion? Or am I confusing military fiction with fact again?
Depends. My knowledge of this aspect is more from modern sources, but from what I'm familar with, it's not 'official' unless you're wearing the proper rank.
Yes. It's called an insignia. There has been nothing in-story establishing John as taking off the arrows of a Sargent and putting on the Gold bar of a 2ndLT. When shopping, his inner voice even called him 'Sargent', so there's in-story evidence that his rank's still the same. If he doesn't have the insignia, he better have some paperwork saying he's an 2ndLT, and if he shows said papers to a 'superior', there'll be a bit of time taken to get the document verified by higher-ups. No paperwork, no insignia, means John's not that rank. You can get court-marshaled or issued a demerit for not wearing the proper rank, or impersonating an officer.
Officially, still a Sergeant. If you want to know why, remember this is the 1940s so paperwork takes time to process. That and Browning is being transferred from the Army to the OSS. So in modern ways, think of it as you're an Army special forces then the CIA picks you up, the Army wouldn't always be happy about that.
Officially, still a Sergeant. If you want to know why, remember this is the 1940s so paperwork takes time to process. That and Browning is being transferred from the Army to the OSS. So in modern ways, think of it as you're an Army special forces then the CIA picks you up, the Army wouldn't always be happy about that.
Unit 1: Tenryuu, Tatsuta, Akatsuki, Ikazuchi, Inazuma, and Hibiki. (2 light cruisers, 4 destroyers.)
