Kantai Collection Quest: Pacific Strike 36

>>We were originally built to fight humans, so I'm not bothered.

>>We were originally built to fight humans, so I'm not bothered.
The ships she fought back then were basically of human targets as well, since they were crewed by humans, so this is not that different. Besides, the Navy provides plenty of artillery support as well, which specifically meant targeting humans or human-based installations.

>I'm not too keen on fighting humans... but we have a job to do. And I'll do it.

Kinda splitting the difference, but it's my take on how she'd feel.

>>We were originally built to fight humans, so I'm not bothered.
Arr, tis a right fine keelhauling in thar future.

>>We were originally built to fight humans, so I'm not bothered.

Why is Ontario getting in on the action? Unless they're both Hoel?

Hoel and Woel.

"Well, were originally built to fight humans." You shrug. "So I'm not bothered."

"Good to hear." Portland sighs. "Still, never did like doing shady ops like this."

"What, this isn't the first time?" You raise an eyebrow suspiciously.

"Well, even though everybody's united against the Abyssals, humans will be humans, and they'll try to find a way to get a step ahead of everyone else." Portland instinctively moves to adjust her glasses before remembering she's not even wearing them. She hesitates and gives you a brief but shy look wondering if you had caught that.

"Uh huh. Guess it was too optimistic to think it would be all rainbows and sunshine, huh?" You sigh.

"You two ready?" San Francisco grumbles, clearly unhappy.

"Jeez what crawled up your bilge pump tonight?" You retort.

"I'm sober." San Francisco groans as if she was suffering from a terminal illness.

"This is an important mission, so everybody needs to be clear minded!" Enterprise tuts. "San Fran, I know how you like taking up the bottle to take off the edge, but we can't afford you making mistakes!"

(cont)

"Mistakes are all I'm good for." San Fran rolls her eyes. "Just one drink! Enough for a buzz!"

"No, San Fran." Janice crosses her arms, indicating she wouldn't budge on the matter. "You need to learn to operate without that poison!"

You had to admit, it was a bit funny seeing San Fran actually being subservient to another ship, but, well, she was talking back to a carrier, and not just a regular carrier. This was motherfucking ENTERPRISE. Who could talk back to a legendary ship like that?

"I see you girls are all lively tonight." The Captain mutters as he steps into the well deck. "You've all memorized the plan?"

"I'll provide air cover and reconnaissance." Enterprise says matter of factly.

"I'll interdict any Argie reinforcements that will try to come in." San Francisco nods.

"I will perform shore bombardment to clear a path for STRIKE-1 and draw enemy attention." Portland explains.

"And you, Hoel?" The Captain asks you as if he was quizzing you.

>Stay close to Enterprise as an escort.
>Support San Fran in fighting the Argie navy.
>Support Portland at shore bombardment.
>Other

>>Stay close to Enterprise as an escort.

>>Support San Fran in fighting the Argie navy.
You dun did it again merc

If we had a camera, we could totally make a completely METAL album cover for a Death Metal band.

>Support San Fran in fighting the Argie navy.

>Janice crosses her arms

>Stay close to Enterprise as an escort.

>>Stay close to Enterprise as an escort.
Hey merc, I think ya called Enterprise Janice a couple times there.

>>Stay close to Enterprise as an escort.

Welp.

>Support Portland at shore bombardment.

Distracted by the Enterprise's aft, right?

As if her aft is anything worth looking at

>>Stay close to Enterprise as an escort.
Carriers do not just sail into ANY waters unescorted.

"I'm escorting Enterprise." You say. Despite all intelligence saying that Argentina's navy was practically a joke by modern standards, they still had teeth, especially since they were operating on their own home turf. Post-Abyssal mobilization also mean they were operating a lot of surplus American and European equipment in order to bolster against attacks from Antarctic Abyssals. Argentina was expected to deploy a number of newly built patrol ships and submarines, as well as loaned American aircraft and frigates.

And Enterprise was still just a simple carrier girl. Sure, her air wing was incredibly potent, but in the end her own actual offensive and defensive abilities were poor. If she were caught in the open, even a regular patrol boat stood a chance of sinking her.

"Good." The Captain nods. "STRIKE-1 will be in the air in one hour. As you know, our girls are being held in a secure Argentinian naval facility, so Portland, you'll have your work cut out for you rolling back their defenses."

"I can do it, sir." Portland assures him.

"Hoel, you'll be Enterprise's only support in the immediate area. Keep a close eye on her."

"That's what I'm built for!" You grin.

"Well, it seems we're all ready, aren't we?" Mallory says cheerfully.

"What's HE doing here?" San Fran narrows her eyes.

"Merely observing. One of our ships is involved in all this, after all."

"Just leave it." Portland quickly leaps in, gently pushing San Fran towards the well deck's exit. "Let's go."

"Well now, Hoel, are we ready to go?" Enterprise asks you sweetly.

>Yeah, let's go!
>Actually, there's something I want to take care of first. (specify)
>Other

>>Yeah, let's go!

>Yeah, let's go!
>Make Abyssal noises

>Yeah, let's go!

>Yeah, let's go!

Time to fight like an Abyssal.

>>Yeah, let's go!

>Yeah, let's go!

>Yeah, let's go!

>Make Abyssal noises

>"Join us! You could be beautiful!"

"Cthulhu fhtagn!"

"Yeah! Let's go!" You nod in excitement.

"All right, all right!" Enterprise chuckles as she pats you on the head. For some reason that felt REALLY good coming from her! "Come along, then!"

Both you and Enterprise give a last farewell wave to the Captain and the well deck crew as you all finally steam out into the night. Your black rigs immediately melt into the darkness, and of course, like the rest of the fleet, you keep all of your running lights off. Up ahead, Portland and San Francisco were already spearheading the way, though they were far enough that you couldn't get a clear visual on them. Well, you could've easily spotted them with your radar, but the Admiral and Captain had specifically cautioned you against that. Despite the Argies not being particularly advanced, there was still the possibility they could detect your radar emissions and get tipped off to your location.

"Hmmmm, it's been a while since I've done night operations." Enterprise sighs. "Have you had to do any of those, Hoel?"

"Just few night patrols, both now and then." You shrug. "I heard a bit about the night battles early on, though."

"I see, I see...." Enterprise nods as she stares off into the darkness.

>Having second thoughts about this?
>Worried about San Fran?
>Stay silent.
>Other

>Worried about San Fran?

>>Worried about San Fran?

>Worried about San Fran?

>Worried about San Fran?

Worried about San Fran?

>Stay silent.

>Having second thoughts about this?

>>Worried about San Fran?

>>Having second thoughts about this?

"Worried about San Fran?" You ask, skating up alongside Enterprise.

"I suppose I am." Enterprise admits. "You know how she is. She's never liked night battles."

"Yeah, I know what went down between her and Atlanta." You nod. "Honestly, night fighting in general was a shit show. Wish we had all this cool nightvision shit back then!"

"I know she says she can handle it, but honestly, I'm certain she's just posturing." Enterprise shakes her head, her long brown hair shimmering in the moonlight. "Did you know that she always operates alone at night?"

"No, but I can see why she'd want to." You frown.

"An Abyssal submarine or air attack squadron would be all it takes to do her in." Enterprise sighs. "But the stubborn girl just never accepts help."

"Are you just worried about San Fran in particular or something?" You raise an eyebrow.

"Of course not." Enterprise gives you a wry smile that can barely be seen in the darkness and pats you on the head again. "I'm worried about EVERY ship in the fleet. Including you!"

>That's kinda sweet.
>Including Hornet?
>Other

>>Including Hornet?

>Including Hornet?

>>Including Hornet?

>That's kinda sweet.

>>Including Hornet?

>>That's kinda sweet.

*Cue D'aww*

"Including Hornet?" You ask.

Enterprise goes quiet, and all you hear is the soft rolling of the waves and the hiss of the wind as it blows past you.

Shit, what do you do now? You get the feeling that said something you shouldn't have.

>Sorry, I shouldn't have asked.
>Hornet is your weakness, huh?
>Other

>>Sorry, I shouldn't have asked.

>Sorry, I shouldn't have asked.

>>Sorry, I shouldn't have asked.

>>Sorry, I shouldn't have asked.

Now is not the time for Bullying.

>Sorry, I shouldn't have asked.

>>Sorry, I shouldn't have asked.

>Sorry i shouldn't have asked.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have asked." You say a bit meekly. No point pressing this issue during a mission. "Okay, I think we're at the launch point."

"That we are." Enterprise nods, regaining a bit of her composure. "All right, Portland and San Fran should still be heading for their positions, but that doesn't mean we can't do a bit of recon, can we?"

You then see Enterprise begin to slow down a bit so she can begin launching her planes. You see her take out her signature Garand rifle. However, instead of firing it normally, she instead screws a suppressor onto the barrel. You suppose that it was her way of launching her night fighters.With the suppressor placed securely on the barrel, she takes aim into the sky and fires off the entire clip. The suppressor masks the normal crack of the gunshots into soft puffs, almost inaudible over the rolling of the waves.

There isn't even the signature flash as the bullets transform into planes. You just watch as the vague silhouettes of Hellcats disappear into the night sky, the only evidence of their presence being the brief disappearance of stars in the sky as they passed under them.

"And off they go." Enterprise smiles. "Hoel, perhaps you so go about and set up a perimeter? I think I can handle things here for the moment.

Huh, well, she did have a point. Heading out and away from Enterprise would give both you and her better advance warning of threats, and that would allow you to start using your radar without immediately giving away her position. Then again, heading away so far from Enterprise meant you wouldn't be able to support her as quickly if something slipped past you...

>Head out to scout for potential threats.
>Stick close to Enterprise.
>Other

>>Head out to scout for potential threats.

>Head out to scout for potential threats.

>Stick close to Enterprise.

>Head out to scout for potential threats.

>>Head out to scout for potential threats.

Sad still no Woel recently...

Soon, user. Soon we will see her in a Maid outfit!

That or having to be the cavalry as she holds the line by herself.

>>Stick close to Enterprise.
Almost forgot to vote

Take plenty of pics and spread them amoungst those in the know.
>Head out to scout for potential threats.

"Roger that, E!" You salute sharply, even though you're not sure if Enterprise saw the gesture or not in the darkness and steam off a bit closer to the shore. Just over the horizon, you could see the coast of Argentina, illuminated by the occasional light. You figure this close to Antarctica, most of the lights were merely just navigational aids or by extremely brave residents who not only decided to stay on the coasts, but advertise their locations.

You can also see a particularly large cluster of lights, which should be the facility the other shipgirls were being held at. Indeed, you could see smaller searchlights on the water from patrol boats as they scoured the water for threats.

Well, that's probably something you should be doing, too. You could go active and use your radar and sonar to search your immediate area, but that would be sure to attract attention to yourself. Or, you could rely on your passive sensing options, which basically meant using your hydrophones and optics to try and spy any potential threats. Far less risk of detection, but your own detection would naturally be limited.

>Go active.
>Go passive.
>Other

>>Go passive.

ACTIVE DESTROYER-HIME NOISES!

>Go passive.

>>Go passive.

>>Go passive.

>Go passive.

>>Go passive

>Go passive.

>go passive

Rolled 19, 2, 6 = 27 (3d20)

You decide to stay passive. No sense in giving away your position right now. With one last glance at the twinkling lights on shore, you take a deep breath and try to focus on your hydrophones, slowing down enough so that your own engines wouldn't deafen you.

>Roll 1d20

Rolled 5 (1d20)

Rolled 2 (1d20)

Rolled 20 (1d20)

And what the hell do we see?

Based Armchair is based!

Oh thank fuck, I believe the phrase is "Time for Snow!"

We hear the colour of enterprise's panties.

Is this the fabled Snow from ACQ and CIMQ?!

Dohoho!

Do you want to bank the crit for a FATE POINT? You currently have 3!

>Y
>N

>N

>N
This time it's important.

>N
Three fate points is plenty, if we ever need more than that in one thread we are truly cursed.

>N

>N

>>N

>N

Rolled 8 (1d20)

Let's see! Rolling!

Rolled 7 (1d20)

wasn't a 1 so...