Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/7884769.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Graphic_Depictions_Of_Violence, Major_Character_Death, Underage
  Category:
      F/F
  Fandom:
      Strike_Witches
  Relationship:
      Lynette_Bishop/OC
  Character:
      Original_Female_Character(s), Original_Male_Character(s), Original
      Characters, Lynette_Bishop, Miyafuji_Yoshika, Francesca_Lucchini,
      Charlotte_E._Yeager, Perrine_H._Clostermann, Minna-Dietlinde_Wilcke,
      Sakamoto_Mio, Eila_Ilmatar_Juutilainen, Sanya_V._Litvyak, Gertrud
      Barkhorn, Erica_Hartmann
  Additional Tags:
      Spy_-_Freeform, War, World_War_II, Alternate_Universe_-_World_War_II,
      Alien_Invasion, Alternate_Universe_-_Alien_Invasion, Aliens, Alien
      Technology, Witches, Magic, Magic-Users, Alternate_Universe_-_Magic,
      Conspiracy, Romance, Action_&_Romance, Action, Action/Adventure, Horror,
      Psychological_Horror, Alternate_Universe_-_Horror, haunted, Haunted_past,
      Ghosts, Alternate_Universe_-_Ghosts, Lesbian_Character, POV_Lesbian
      Character, Lesbian_Sex
  Stats:
      Published: 2016-08-27 Updated: 2017-04-29 Chapters: 4/? Words: 19357
****** The Witch Spy ******
by SWSWWAD
Summary
     Something is happening in the shadows and as the war continues with
     the Neuroi it has the potential to do serious harm to humanity. Who
     ever is in the shadows is good leaving little clues about their
     plans. All that is know is that their first move will be made in
     Britannia at the base of the 501st Joint Fight Wing.
***** The Mission *****
The forest is so dark that I can't see the trees until they are inches from my
face, my clothes are torn from catching on branches of the trees I narrowly
avoid running into. All I can hear is my breathing and footsteps as I run
through the forest. Something is chasing me, it's only just behind me, I can
hear whatever it loudly slam's its feet into the ground, snapping every branch
and crunching every leaf as it relentlessly pursues me. I can hear it breathing
sounding more like a beast then a human and feel its hot breath on the top of
my head and feel it travel down my back. I can't see whatever is chasing me,
every time I look back over my shoulder all I see is a darkness darker than
anyone could imagine, I somehow know out of instinct that whatever is chasing
me can't be good, that it will hurt me and will most likely kill me if it
catches up and that no matter what I mustn't let it catch me. Please god let me
escape, don't let whatever it is catch up to me.
I don't know what I am doing here in the wood or how I could have got here in
the first place. I live in Swindon by the train tracks and factory's, a world
away from the vast forest I'm running through now, I haven't been to the woods
since I was a child and my family spent the day at Lydiard Park for a picnic
but even the small woods around Lydiard House aren't as big or thick as the
forest I'm running through right now. I don't know why I'm being chased because
I normally behave myself, I do lie and steal as part of my job but it's all for
the greater good or so I'm told. I work for Her Majesty's Security Service or
more commonly known MI5 but my enemy's the Neuroi, the great threat that
threatens to destroy my homeland and has already conquered most of Europe, the
Neuroi don't breath or chase they just slowly float and blast anyone in their
path with powerful beams. The Neuroi can't be chasing me. So what is?
As I continue to run through the endless wood I get more and more out of breath
and as my tiredness raise so does my fear as I begin to realise I can't run for
much longer. My training has made me fit and I know from experience that I can
run for miles and not feel tired but this run through the dark forest is
pushing me to the limit. My pursuer stays in step with me never falling behind
and keeping a relentless stream of hot breath blowing down my back and on to
the back of my head. Whatever's chasing me doesn't seem tired at all as its
breath has stayed steady and consistent throughout the pursuit, it seems to be
taunting me staying just behind me but never letting me see it and just
waiting, waiting for me to tire myself out so I won't fight back, won't be able
to escape it and be left completely defenceless. As I come to that realisation
my fear level doubles and fear starts to become all that drives me on, it's
given me a sudden burst of energy that I desperately needed. Hopefully it's all
I will need to escape this forest and whatever is chasing me.
I run and run but can't seem to find a way out of the woods or shake my
pursuer, the forest is starting to look like they can be endless as I can see
no clearing through the trees, all I can see is darkness, darkness and trees
that appear out of nowhere threatening to block my escape without warning. I
can't keep running for much longer, I can barely breathe, sweat floods my eyes
making it hard to see and my legs feel like they weigh a tone. Every step now
feels like it will kill me and every root or lump on the ground threatens to
trip me. I know if I go down I won't be getting back up, that thought begins to
terrify me, falling and finding myself at the mercy of whatever monster is
chasing me. In the meantime whatever is chasing me stays close and never seems
to fall a single step behind, it's waiting for me to fall, waiting for its time
to strike. Why doesn't it just kill me already? It's just following me not
doing anything and the waiting for it to strike, the waiting for it to finish
me of is just unbearable. What's it waiting for? Why can't it just end it? Put
me out of my misery and end this. This is just torture, the worst kind of
torture as it eats away at my mind and fills me with terror. Every step I take
is pure agony as my muscles burn and feel like they weigh as much as my
families safe does, I can't breathe as my lungs feel like they are on fire and
my legs no longer seem solid, they feel more like jelly then bone and flesh.
I somehow manage to keep going though, I don't know how I found the energy to
keep on running but I do, it could be from the fear or it could be from unknown
strength within me that keep me moving but somehow I still am able to run. But
it doesn't last long, my foot gets caught under a tree root invisible to me in
the darkness of the forest and I land face first on the ground getting a mouth
full of dirt. I try to get up but all the strength I once possessed has left my
body, I'm so weak right now I can't even spit the dirt out of my mouth. I can't
even lift my arm so getting back up on my feet would take a miracle. As I lay
on the ground gasping for air to fill my burning lungs and an iron taste forms
in my mouth, I must be bleeding as I can think of no other way that taste could
have entered my mouth. I'm so exhausted that I forgotten about the beast
chasing me, that is until I feel its breath on top of me but now I can smells
it, it smells of blood and rotten flesh and it is so disgusting that it makes
me want to puck only I no longer have the energy to do so. I squeeze my eyes
shut and wait for death to take me unable to do anything to prevent it at this
point.
"Tracy" The beast calls to me only it doesn't sound like a beast at all, it
sounds human and familiar. The voice is one I've heard before, I can't put my
finger on it but I know I've heard that voice before. The voice is sweat,
gentle and makes me feel warm and safe, but I can't my guard down knowing it
could only be a ruse by the beast to do the impossible and make me an even more
easier prey. "Tracy Phillips" I know that voice and it's sounding more and more
familiar by the second, where have I heard this voice before? A hand lightly
and gently grips my shoulder before it softly shakes it. The hand it feels so
small and it's so gentle that I start to doubt that the owner of the hand can
do me any real harm. "Please look at me Tracy" The voice begs and the voice is
so sweat and innocent that I can't bring myself to refuse its request. I slowly
roll over winching as my muscles complain by sending waves of pain throughout
my body, even doing something as simple as rolling over to lay on my back
proves to be a real effort. God I'm so perfetic and weak right now. I slowly
open my eyes to see a little girl who looks to be five at the most wearing only
a white night gown too big for her with the end rolled up to stop it dragging
on the floor. The girls face is expressionless, her mouth is closed not smiling
or frowning, her eyes are as dark as the forest around her but her pale white
skin seems to be glowing in the darkness giving of some sort of light. "Can you
help me now?"
"…" I open my mouth but no words come out. Now that I see the girl and hear her
voice asking me that question I remember who she is. "You…You…You"
"Yes it's me" The girl says sounding more menacing as her dress starts to turn
red, blood red.
"You… You should be dead" I finally manage to say putting all my remaining
energy to force those words out of my throat. As soon as those words leave my
mouth I have to cover my noise, the seem of blood and rotten flesh, the smell
of death becomes so overwhelmingly strong that I think the smell alone may kill
me. "I saw you die"
"Oh I am" The girl replies as her skin turns grey and her veins turn black as
if ink has started to flow through them. "And you will join me soon enough!"
The girl suddenly screams as she jumps onto my chest opening her mouth to reel
a black void inside. "It's what you deserve!"
===============================================================================
I suddenly wake up not in the forest but in my bed. Sweat covers my body and my
blanket is tightly knotted around my legs, my heart is pounding my chest so
hard that I wouldn't be surprised if I've broken a rib and when I place my hand
on top of my chest over where my heart is it feels like someone is punching my
hand from within my chest. I slowly calm down after a few deep breath, my
mother would always make me do this when I needed calming down and so far it
hasn't failed to calm me down yet, it was just a nightmare and I'm safe and
sound in my bedroom. Why did I have that dream now? It's been nearly a year
since I last dreamt that dream, I used to dream it every night back then. I
slowly look around my room as I continue the breathing exercise to calm myself
down, I know it was just a dream but I have to make sure that the girl isn't
here in my room. I need to know that I really am awake in my real room and not
still in a nightmare. It has happened before, I wake up and calm down thinking
I'm awake and safe only to find the girl in my room, have her charge at me and
only then do I finally awaken for real just as she tackles my body screaming
bloody murder.
Looking around the room I see nothing, the only things in the room apart from
myself are a small bed damp with my sweat and a small stack of oak drawers. Out
of the window I see the sun raising and with its light I scan the rest of my
room see no sign of the girl, I let out a sigh of relief. I can't face that
girl not after what I've done to her, I've done something horrible and
something I am not proud off to her. There's no point in going back to sleep
since the sun is already up so I might as well get up myself, I don't think I'd
be able to sleep any way after that nightmare. I stumble into the bath room and
over to the sink leaning on it for support, I never did have good balance in
the morning. I run the cold water letting it run over my hands using its
coldness to wake myself up, I then splash the water over my face to wash away
the sweat looking up in the mirror once I'm done. My green eyes shine like
emeralds, my lightly tanned skin looks perfect except for the dark bags under
my eyes and a small burn scar on my forehead that I received as a child is
clearly visible. My long brown hair is in a mess and lays in damp tangles over
my face, shoulders and down my back.
Knock. Knock. "Hello Captain Phillips are you awake?" A male voice ask through
the door, his voice is deep and I know exactly who it belongs to, Colonel Lee
English my commanding officer. What could he possibly what at this ungodly
hour.
"Yes sir" I reply turning off the water tamp so I can hear him better, I hope
he doesn't come in I don't want anyone to see what a mess I am right now. "I'm
not decent right now do you mind if we speak through the door?"
"Not at all" He answers not sounding like he doesn't mind at all in his voice.
"I'm just here to tell you to meet me in my office in half an hour"
"Ok I'll be there" I tell him starting to wonder what would have come up to
cause him to come to my room at such an early time of the day but I know not to
ask him, I know he would just tell me something like "I'll tell you when you
get to my office"
"I'll see you in half an hour than" He says walking off without giving me a
chance to say goodbye.
I stumble over to the shower still not awake or balanced enough to call my
movement just then walking and switch on the shower. The water here always
takes a few moments to warm up so I use the time to strip naked. I take off my
thin blue nightgown that has several flowers on the front and back, I don't
wear any underwear when I sleep so it only takes me second a to relieve myself
of my clothes. I just stand here naked waiting for the water to warm up enough
to make it bearable to stand under, I hate being naked as I always get self-
conscious about my body, my thighs always seem to be too fat and my breasts, my
breast I never think are ok. They not small but most of the girls in my school
had bigger breast then me especially this on girl Lynnette Bishop or Lynne as
she prefers to be called who earned the envy of every girl by having the
biggest rack in school. I haven't seen Lynne since I left to join the military
after the Neuroi first appeared, I hope she's alright and not involved in this
terrible war as I can remember her as a nice quiet girl who was a bit shy but
would always help anyone in need, she doesn't belong in this war. I first met
Lynne when I was twelve and we quickly become good friends. We were inseparable
at school constantly spend nights together at each other's homes. I would give
anything to relive those time's as I've never been as happy as I was back then.
Finally the water is warm enough for me to step under and I quickly get in the
shower, the water feels so nice as it hits my skin and tinkles down my body
warming my naked flesh and in an instant all my worries about my problems with
my body vanish. It would be good if all my problems would vanish when I step
under a warm shower but the world doesn't work like that and I'll have to face
each and every one of my problems one day. Now my mind wonders back to the
Colonel and why he wants me to meet him in his office this early in the
morning. It can't be to do with the Neuroi because MI6 deals with them when
they are on foreign soil and MI5 deals with them only when they are in
Britannia. It can't be the Neuroi as they haven't attacked us since last Friday
or did they, could they have lunched a surprise attack using stealth units so
that we couldn't detect them until it was too late. I really don't know what
the Colonel wants as since joining MI5 just over a year and a half ago I've
only done two missions, when I was still in the RAF we would do two missions a
week and in the eight months I was with my RAF squadron I've managed to kill
sixty four Neuroi. But since joining MI5 apart from those two missions I've
only done paper work run messages from one officer to another officer.
I step out of the shower once all of the sweat has been washed away from my
body and dry myself with a hard white towel, once done I walk into my room
picking up my nightgown on the way and once back in my room I throw my
nightgown into a dirty clothes basket by my door and open my drawers to get out
my uniform. As soon as I put on my uniform I quickly put my boats on and look
into the bath room mirror, standing in my room I can see my entire body and I'm
satisfied that every things ok, my green uniform has all its buttons done up
and in the right holes, I was really embarrassed when I got that wrong last
month, there's no stains, tears or creases on it, my legs are bare as I'm a
witch and witches uniforms don't include any trousers or skirts, it used to
embarrass me walking around like this but after a month it  just felt natural
to do so. I have a cap on my desk next to a picture of my family but I don't
need to put it on until I leave my room, what I really need to do right now is
brush my hair as it is still in a mess and then brush my teeth.
===============================================================================
Thirty minutes later I'm entering Colonel Lee's office, inside I find four men
lined up one side of the desk and the Colonel sat on the other. All of them
watch me enter and one of them a shorter younger man compared to the rest at
the end of the line gets a little too much of a stare as I see him eye my chest
and bare legs, luckily the older man next to him catches his stare as well and
slaps him on the back of the head before scolding him. I really hope he wasn't
undressing me with his eyes just now. I shut the door behind me and take my
place at the end of the line of four men thankfully at the opposite end of the
man who got an eye full of me. I take a quick look at the Colonel and see a
large folder on his desk, a brown envelope, a large bag of money and two
uniforms. I was about to ask what was happening when another man enters the
room, he is old and starting to loss his grey hair, his uniform and insignia on
his shoulder show he is a Major. The men in the line with me instantly salutes
him so I do the same, I don't know who his man is but looking at everyone and
everything in the room I believe all of us will be going on a mission and he's
most likely going to be in charge.
"At ease" The Major says after her returns the salute.
"Take your place in line Major and I'll begin" Colonel Lee tells him and the
Major joins us in the line taking his place next to me. "Before I begin I need
all of you to read and sign these"
He pulls out a stack of papers and hands them to the Major who takes one and
passes it on to me and I take one and pass the rest on and so one. I begin to
read through the paper and instantly know what it is as I've has to get
civilians to sign this very piece of paper before, it's a Non-disclosure
agreement so whatever is about to happen is going to be classified and we are
about to be told something that's meant to be kept secret. I get a chill down
my spine and feel excited at the same, I don't know if I should be scared or
excited about being involved in something like this. I quickly read through the
paper feeling a nervous chill go down my spine as I read the part about being
executed for treason if I breach this agreement but my excitement of being part
of this over powers my fear and when it's time we take turns leaning on the
desk to sign it I do it without hesitation. Once done we retake our positions
in the line and wait for the Colonel to check our signatures are on the paper.
"Ok now what I'm about to say must be spoken to anyone apart from those of us
in this room, if you tell any on what is about to be said then as you just read
you will be court marshalled executed for treason" The Colonel again tells us
again sending a chill down my spine, I don't know why something like this gets
me excited but it does. "At two o'clock yesterday afternoon a commination was
intercepted, we couldn't trace it or figure out who sent it and to whom it was
sent to but we could decrypt it" The Colonel pauses a moment picking up a piece
of paper which most likely has the message on it. "It reads "501st Joint
Fighter Wings base seems to be the best location to make our move" This message
was not sent over any military or civilian channels and we check with command
and asked other nations but they are just as clueless about this as we are. We
believe that it has something to with a letter delivered to H.Q last week which
says. "A rouge group is growing in strength and will soon make a move" Again we
don't know who sent the letter but both these messages combined is a threat we
can't ignore"
"I take it that's where we come in" The man who stared at me says getting
another slap in the head by the same man as before.
"Yes it is where you come in" The Colonel replies picking up the brown envelope
and opening it. "Our orders are to survey the 501st Joint Fight Wings base and
be on the lookout for any sign of trouble, Captain Phillips, Sargent Barnett
step forward" I step forward along with the young man who stared at me still
rubbing his head from his recent blow. "You two will infiltrate the base,
Captain Phillips you will be a new member joining the 501st and Sargent Barnett
you will be a mechanic. Also you two will be posing a cousins who has been
separated by this war and have not seen each other in years, the 501st
commander Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke forbids contact on the base between the
mechanics and witches this story will make you interactions with each other
less suspicion"
"What will the rest of us be doing sir" The Major asks.
"I'm getting to that" The Colonel replies picking up and passing one of the
uniforms on his desk to me and then passing the other to Sargent Barnett. "You
two will be keeping an eye on the witches and base personal. Sargent Barnett
since it would be hard for Captain Phillips to leave the base you will act as
messenger between the two of you and the others now take you new uniforms and
get back in line"
"Yes sir" Both Sargent Barnett and I say in unison as we pick up our new
uniforms before retaking our places in the line.
"Sargent Osborne and Lieutenant Lawrence you will be keeping the base under
surveillance from a distance" The Colonel continues his briefing. "Major
Robinson will be in charge of the mission"
"Sir is there any more information about what we should lookout for" The Major
asks taking a step forward. "We could easily miss something if we don't know to
lookout for it"
"Unfortunately no" The Colonel answers picking up the two messages and handing
them to the Major. "We don't know who we are up against, their numbers and how
they will do what they are doing. All we know is that they are going to make
their first move at the 501st Joint Fighter Wings base so you will have to be
extra vigilant and lookout for anything suspicious"
"Understood sir" The Major replies stepping back in line with the two messages
still in his hands.
"A truck will be waiting to take Major Robinson, Sargent Osborne and Lieutenant
Lawrence to a safe house in a town near the 501st base and Captain Phillips,
Sargent Barnett I suggest you two get changed quickly as a plane will be ready
to take to the base in ten minutes" Colonel English says bring the briefing to
the end. "Major Robinson, Sargent Barnett" The Colonel says handing them a thin
brown envelope each which he takes out of his desk. "Inside is the address for
the safe house, memorise it now as those envelopes won't be leaving my office"
"Yes sir" Both men reply opening the envelope and looking at its contents with
such intensity I swear they could burn a hole through the envelope. Once done
they hand the envelopes back to the Colonel.
"One more thing don't let anyone on the base or in the town know about this we
don't know who we can trust" The Colonel says as he lights the envelopes
containing the address of the safe house on fire. "Dismissed and good luck"
With that we all leave the office, me and Sargent Barnett holding our new
uniforms and Major Robinson carrying the two messages, the big folder and the
large bag of money. Sargent Barnett and I head for our rooms to change and the
other three head straight for the truck awaiting them. I can barely contain my
excitement as I walk to my room barely stopping myself from running, this my
first mission my first real mission since joining MI5. The other missions I've
been on I was only the support but this time I'm playing a key role in the
mission. I hope my excitement wasn't too obvious to the others as I don't want
them to think as me as some little kid, I'm already several years younger than
the other being only fifteen years old myself well Sargent Barnett being the
next youngest looks like he's in his early twenties. I have to show them I'm
not some little kid and I can get the job done as it's the only way I can get
to be part of more missions like this.
 
 
***** The Strike Witches *****
The plane ride is short only an hour-long flight but it is as boring as hell.
The only good thing about this flight is that on board I'm reunited with my old
Striker from my time in the RAF Ultramarine Spitfire Mk IX which still has a
picture of the Britannia Shorthair cat that happens to be my familiar. It was
painted by a girl in my last squad who loved to paint and painted everyone's
familiars on their Striker Unit's, boy did she get into trouble for it when the
base Commander found out though. I thought I would have died from fright when I
listened to him shouting at her and I'm sure the girl wet herself. Her
punishment ended up being an exhausting task, she had to dig a hole in a nearby
field and then fill it back in twice a day for a week. The hole had to be the
length of the shovel in depth and width making her punishment last on average
twelve hours a day, by the end of her punishment the poor girl's hands were
covered in blisters preventing her from painting for nearly a month which was
far worse for her than her punishment ever was. I hated our base commander ever
since that which lead to several arguments, eventually I took the first
transfer I was offered and joined MI5, mainly so I wouldn't kill the bastard.
Also, on-board I find myself face to face with the prototype gun I was given
when I first joined MI5 but only fired once outside of target practice. A new
variant of the Vickers K machine gun, this new variant has the same rate of
fire and range as the old version but it has better accuracy and is more
reliable being less likely to jam up in combat. Also, a nice new feature they
improved the weapons stock and lowed its recoil making it easier to fire and
more accurate to fire fully automatically. I really like this gun for that
reason mainly as my shoulders hurt a lot less when fire it then when I did
during my time in the RAF firing my Bren light machine gun.
 
At least we are coming in to land at the base now I think I would go crazy if I
had to stay in here for another hour. Sargent Barnett hasn't said a word this
entire flight, he's just sat opposite me drawing something which I hope is not
me naked while he hums quietly to himself. The only other two people on this
plane are the pilots but they haven't left the cockpit since they got in the
plane. Apart from mine and Sargent Barnett's privet and military issued
equipment and clothing, my Striker and weapon there is food supplies for the
base and ammunition for the 501st. Outside the plane the days been nice and
sunny but unfortunately, it's also a cloudy day meaning I can't see anything
but white fluffy clouds out the window only getting slight glimpse of green in
tiny gapes through the clouds. All in all, this has been a very peaceful but an
equally boring quiet flight, at least we are finally here, at least I'm about
to get of this plane before I die from boredom. The plane finally touches down
on the runway and comes to a halt. Taking a quick peak out of the planes window
I see that there are several witches clasped on the runway panting for breath
looking in my direction will an eye patched women with a katana sheath on her
hips and red haired women are stood side by side ready to great me and Sargent
Barnett. The eye patched women look like she is from Fuso and the red haired
looks European, they both have the same blank expression on their faces meaning
I can't tell much about them apart from their appearance. Seconds after the
plane comes to a halt one of the pilot for the first time since they boarded
the plane leave the cockpit and open the door at the rear of the plane before
turning to us and gesturing for us to leave the plane, I don't think the pilots
like me or Sargent Barnett that much and can't wait for us to get off their
plane.
 
"You must be Captain Tracy Phillips our new member" The red head says as I step
out of the plane. "I'm Lieutenant Colonel Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke"
 
"And I'm Major Sakamoto" The eye patched women tells me looking me over from
head to toe as if I was some prized mutt.
 
"It's nice to meet you both ma'am's" I reply with a salute after I set my feet
down on the runway. "Captain Tracy Phillips reporting for duty"
 
"You don't have to sault anyone in this squadron Tracy and please just call me
Minna" Minna tells me with a warm bright smile and I immediately lower my hand,
her smile fills me with warmth and I can't help but return her smile.
 
"You don't have to salute me but I still expect you to call me Major Sakamoto
or just Major" Major Sakamoto says in an authoritative tone, if they hadn't of
just told me their ranks I would have thought Major Sakamoto was in charge and
Minna was her second.
 
"Now then follow me and I'll introduce you to the unit" Minna says still warmly
smiling. "Major would you see to the unloading of the supplies and our new
mechanic please"
 
"I'll get it done quickly" Major Sakamoto replies looking over to the panting
witches on the runway still trying to catch their breaths, now that I'm off the
plan I can see that there are three of them there two Europeans and another
Fuso witch who laid face down on a familiar looking girl's chest there's
something familiar about that girl. "I’m not done with those three yet"
 
"Give them some time to recover I don't want them passing out any time soon"
Minna tells her before walking off towards the trio of exhausted girls. She
doesn't need to tell me to follow her as I already know that's what I'm meant
to do, I want to get a better look at one of those girl's anyway because she
looks very familiar and I know I've seen her somewhere before, if I can get a
better look at her then maybe I can place a name to her face. Once we approach
the trio they seem to notice us and try to stand but the best they can manage
with their tired and most likely aching bodies is to sit up. A blond-haired
girl with glass tries to stand but her arms give out from under her and she
lands face first onto the runway, the other two don't even attempt to stand
learning from the blonde’s mistake. "Girl's I want you to meet someone" Minna
cheerful says as we stop near them and she pulls me in front of her. "This is
our new member"
 
"Oh, hi I'm Captain Tracy Phillips from the Britannian Royal Air Force" I say
and just as the words leave my mouth the girl I thought looked so familiar
looks up and I get a good clear look at her face, now I know who she is. She
has light brown hair in a braid down her back which has become a mess from
whatever these three were doing prior to my arrival and her blue eyes that look
like the sky light up when she sees me like she recognizes me too. "Lynne"
 
"Tracy" Lynne responds but her tired barely audible voice can barely count as a
reply, its only just a whisper. What happened to those three to make them so
tired that they can't even speak?
 
"Do you two already know each other?" Minna asks looking at Lynne then me then
to Lynne again before returning her gaze to me.
 
"Yes, we went to school together" I answer knowing full well that Lynne
wouldn't be able to answer in her current state. "And by the way what happened
to these three because looking at you now makes me think this appears to be a
daily occurrence?"
 
"It is the Major training them hard to get them ready for the fight" She
replies causing me to gulp knowing that I may be like them tomorrow. "Now back
to the introductions the Fuso girl is Sargent Yoshika Miyafuji"
 
"It's nice" Yoshika says between breaths. "To meet you"
 
"And the Gallian girl is Lieutenant Perrine H. Clostermann" Minna says pointing
to the girl who just moments ago landed face first on the runway and is now
sitting up leaning against a wall. Her nose is bleeding from the impact it took
hitting the runway, her blood is dripping down her face and onto her uniform,
the tissue she's got is barely stopping the blood pouring out of her nose and
is already soaked in blood.
 
"It's a pleasure to meet you" Perrine says wiping gravel and blood off her face
with her free hand while the other presses the blood-stained tissue to her
nose.
 
"It's good to see you again Lynne" I reply to the greetings. "It's nice to meet
you too as well and I hope we will all get along"
 
"Let's leave these girls to rest before the Major resumes her training and
introduce you to everyone else" Minna says turning to face me still with a warm
smile on her face which still makes me smile back. "Two more of the squad
should be in the hanger right now so follow me and I'll take you there"
 
Minna leads me into a large hanger that doesn't seem to have a door, the
ceiling is so high that I can barely see the lights up there and the room is
nice and spacious. Along one wall is a line of paint ball guns for several
types of machineguns, anti-tank guns, sub machineguns and rifles from all over
the worlds, along the other are tools and spare parts for the striker units and
along the back wall are a line of Striker Units in there stands with a tall
girl working on one while another younger girl watches from a distance laying
on top of a blanket looking like she could fall asleep at any minute. The
taller and clearly older girl has long hair the colour of honey and as we
approach she turns around to face us revelling a pair blue eyes slightly darker
than Lynne's and her boobs, her boobs are larger than I thought humanly
possible. The tall girl stands up as we near putting down her tools and taking
of a pair oil stain gloves, I'm guessing she is from Liberion by look of her
uniform.
 
"Shirley, Lucchini I got someone here I'd like you both to meet" Minna says and
the tall Liberion steps forward towards me she must be a foot taller than me at
least.
 
"I'm Captain Tracy Phillips" I say extending my hand to her "From the
Britannian RAF"
 
"Nice to meet you I'm Captain Charlotte E. Yeager and I'm from Liberion but you
can call me Shirley" She replies tightly gripping my hand so tight that it
feels like she might crush it. But I don't let the slight crushing pain in my
hand to show on my face and squeeze her hand back just as hard. She starts to
laugh for some reason when we let go, it's not a mean laugh and more of a
giggle really but I don't think it is something mean meant to insult me.
"You've got a nice strong hand shake there I can't remember the last time
someone gave me as good as they got with one of my hand shakes" She
congratulates me with a slap on the back that nearly causes me to fall over. "I
think well get along just fine"
 
"Shirley where did Lucchini go I could have sworn I saw her when we entered?"
Minna asks and I follow both their stares to the blanket I saw the young girl
sat on minutes ago only to find it empty.
 
"I don't know she was…" Shirley begun to answer when I suddenly feel a small
pair of arms wrap around me, a small flat chest press against my back and a
pair of hand begin to grope me.
 
"Ahh!" I yell out as quickly grab the hand groping me and I spin around to find
the young girl from the blanket with a grin on her face. The girl has black
hair, lime coloured eyes and doesn't look to be older then twelve. "Why did you
do that?"
 
"I was just measuring…" The girl suddenly stops talking and starts to shake as
she turns to face Minna, when I look at Minna I see her still smiling but this
time instead of warmth I feel dread behind her smile, I can't believe her warm
smile could change so quickly.
 
"Is that anyway to greet someone?" Minna asks and even her voice now is
sounding scarier to hear and makes me shiver. The girl shakes her head, poor
kid she is probable too scared to form words in her mouth let alone speak them.
"Now introduce yourself propyl to our new member"
 
"I'm Francesca Lucchini from Romagna" The girl says her voice filled with
terror and her body shaking like a leaf. "It's nice to meet you"
 
"It's nice to meet you too" I reply before the girl runs off and hides behind
Shirley.
 
"Well we will get going now to find the other I'll see you two at dinner" Minna
says before turning once again to face me only this time her warm smile has
returned making me smile once again. "Come Tracy lets go introduce you to the
others"
 
"I'm right behind you" I reply before Minna leads on heading for a double door
at the back of the hanger. Once through the double door I'm immediately
impressed by what I see, this place looks more like a palace for the Royal
Family than a military base. Statues, paints and vases of flowers line walls
and the floor is covered in an expensive looking carpet.
 
"So how long have you known Lynne for?" Minna asks as we walk down the
corridor.
 
"Several years" I answer. "We both didn't know anyone when we first started
school and were left by ourselves at break and lunch time. We started sitting
next to each other and talking eventually becoming friends and helping each
other out, Lynne would help me study and tutor me while I made her look good in
P.E. I'm surprised to see her here though I never thought she would have joined
the military"
 
"She's a nice girl and her sniping skills are unrivalled" Minna comments. "But
to be honest I would have thought she would never have joined the military ever
if I was in your position, it's the same with Lucchini and Yoshika those three
seem too kind and nice to be soldiers. The others have their reasons to fight
or are natural born soldiers. Lynne is determined to fight and protect hers and
your homeland, I think if the Neuroi weren't at Britannia's doorstep she
wouldn't have enlisted"
 
Minna leads me through the corridors and up the stairs, this whole place is a
palace and I can't believe my mission involves me staying in such a place, I
feel like the luckiest person who has ever lived to be assigned to such a
place. The upstairs is just as luxurious as the down stairs but the view out of
the windows is the perfect most beautiful view I've ever seen of the Channel.
This base is so big that I'm surprised only the members of the 501st sleep here
as you could probably fit an entire army possible two in here and still have
plenty of room free. But we don't stay on this floor for too long and Minna
leads me up yet another stair case two more floors until we finally come out
into a corridor that has oak doors as for as the eye can see along the walls of
the corridor. But one door is open and shouting can be heard from within,
whoever is shouting sounds strict and stubborn but I can't hear whatever is
being said in reply, all I can tell is that it's annoying whoever is shouting.
Minna leads me straight to the open door where the shout is coming from and
into a pigsty, everywhere you look here is piles of clothes, food wrappers and
books littering the floor. Stood amongst the mess is a girl with hair as brown
as chocolate in two pig tails and wearing a Karlsland air force uniform, she's
stood with her hands on her hips looking annoyed and frustrated as she glares
at a pair of legs buried under a blanket in the middle of the mess on the
floor.
 
"Trude, Erica I have someone I'd like you to meet" Minna says after knocking on
the oak wood door getting at least the chocolate haired girl's attention,
whoever the legs belong to doesn't seem to acknowledge us in anyway.
 
"Who is it?" The chocolate haired girl asked spinning around to see us.
 
"I'm Captain Tracy Phillips from the RAF and I'll be part of 501st Joint
Fighter Wing starting today" I answer stepping over a pile of clothes extending
a hand towards her.
 
"I'm Captain Gertrude Barkhorn from the Karlsland air force and that's Erica
Hartmann also from Karlsland but I don't think she will be greeting you
herself" The chocolate haired girl says before turning back to the pair of
legs. "Hartmann get up and introduce yourself!"
 
"I'll do it in ten minutes" A voice mumbles through the blanket in reply
causing Barkhorn to clench her fists in frustration.
 
"Ten minutes my ass now get up!" Barkhorn yells pulling the blanket off of the
legs reviling a short blonde girl wearing nothing but her underwear trying to
block out the light by tightly clenching her eyes shut, she must be Erica.
"Come on Hartmann look at the first impression you are making right now!"
 
"Twenty more minutes" Erica mumbles as she rolls over onto her stomach and
buries her face under a white shirt laying on the floor. "Maybe thirty"
 
"No way now get up right now!" Barkhorn demands ripping the shirt from Erica's
face.
 
"Fine forty minutes" Erica replies quickly finding another shirt to replace the
one Barkhorn just took.
 
"I think we will be going now" Minna says backing up to the door, I don't think
she likes walking into this room as she keeps tiptoeing around like the mess on
the floor will bite her if she touches it. "Tracy and Erica will have to be
introduced later"
 
I follow Minna out of the room and back into the hall where she leads me to the
other end of the corridor.
 
"Is Erica always like that?" I ask as we walk.
 
"She's lazy and messy but she's also one of the best witches in this unit
destroying more Neuroi than most of the other of our squad members combined"
Minna answers as we around the corner at the end of the hall. "I only wish she
was not as messy as she is, I don't mind her laziness but I saw a rat running
around in her room once"
 
I don't say anything feeling creeped out by the images of rats running over my
feet while I was in that room I surprised that Barkhorn doesn't seem to mind
the treat of rats at all, when I finally was about to speak again and reply to
that a pair of girls emerge from one of the rooms. One of the girl's looks
young and sweat but she is half asleep being supported by another slightly
older looking girl who looks like she doesn't mind helping the sleepy girl. The
sleepy girl has short silver hair that sparkles and green eyes which she can
barely keep open, her skin looks so soft and pale that it tells me right away
that she is a night witch. The sleepy girl is only in her underwear like Erica
but she has a blanket draped over her shoulders most likely by the other girl.
The other girl is taller than the sleepy one with long very light brown hair
and purple eyes, she's wearing a light blue uniform and has her arm around the
sleepy girl stopping her from falling to the ground. The awake girl notices us
and looks me over from head to toe sizing me up for some reason.
 
"I take it Sanya ended up in your room again" Minna says as we approach the
girls.
 
"Yes, she did" The awake girl replies shifting her stance slightly to better
support her sleepy friend who looks like she could fall asleep and fall over
any minute now. "Is this the recruit you said would be joining us?"
 
"Yes, this is Captain Tracy Phillips from the Britannian Royal Air Force" Minna
answers gesturing towards me.
 
"It's nice to meet you two" I say having the awake girl look me over again for
some reason.
 
"I'm Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen it's nice to meet you too" The awake girl finally
replies after sizing me up. "And this is Aleksandra Vladimirovna Litvyak or
Sanya" Eila says looking at the sleepy girl who just started to rest her sleepy
head on Eila's shoulder. "She does night patrols so you'll hardly see her but
she has a habit of walking into and sleeping in other people’s rooms when she
returns from patrol"
 
"You should get Sanya into her bed and get to know our new member later" Minna
suggests and Eila nods helping Sanya to her room which is only next door to
Eila's. "Now that's everyone in the squad so follow me to my office and I'll
get started on the paper work we need to fill out to make you and official
member of the 501st Joint Fighter Wing"
 
Minna leads me up another flight of stairs climbing another three floors until
we step into another long corridor with yet more oak doors lining the walls as
far as the eye can see, forget two armies staying here you could probable fit
the entire Britannian armed forces in here with room to spare. Minna leads me
to the end of the corridor where a large oak door slightly thicker and bigger
than the others with a door handle polished to a point where I can see my
reflection in it. When Minna opens the door, and lets me in I see a large desk
at the far side of the room in front of a tall, wide window which must give an
amazing view of the outside world. Bookshelf's, filing cabinets and maps line
the other two walls. On the desk already waiting and ready for us are several
forms and an ink and quill as well as a telephone. Minna and I both sit at her
desk and go through the forms and once my name, rank, age and nationality is
written on the forms its nearly lunch time so we go down to join everyone
except Sanya in the dining hall for lunch.
 
The dining hall is just as posh and luxurious as the rest of the base, the room
is large with a wooden table long enough for every one of the squad to sit down
at, large window's give a lovely view of the bases grounds which look more like
a palace garden a military base and a kitchen with everything a chief could
ever want is at the far end of the room. Everyone is there already apart from
Sanya who must still be asleep and Erica might as well not be here as she's
asleep also with her head on the table laying in a small pool of her own drool.
Everyone smiles at me as I take a spare seat at the end of the table next to
the blond girl Perrine I think her name was, well not everyone is exactly
smiling at me, Major Sakamoto only nods and Eila still seems to only be staring
at me. Lynne and Yoshika are just exiting the kitchen when I take my seat
carrying a tray each with a pile of sandwiches piled on top, once they place
them on the table Lynne quickly runs back into the kitchen and returns with
another tray with a cup of tea for everyone and a glass of water for me on top
which with the help of Yoshika places in front of us. I'm glad Lynne remembered
how hyper tea makes me and that I don't drink it otherwise I would have felt it
a bit rude to refuse the cup. Once they take their seats everyone starts to eat
taking sandwiches from one of the two trays on the table.
 
"Don't you want any tea Tracy?" Minna asks as we begin to eat.
 
"I don't drink tea or coffee" I answer as I garb a sandwich from the tray.
"I'll be up all week if I do"
 
"Do you and Lynne know each other because she had the water already poured for
you like she knew you don't drink tea or coffee already?" Shirley asks and I
reply telling her what I old Minna earlier about going to school with Lynne and
only getting to know each other by having no other friends. "I see so you've
known each other for years"
 
"Yep" I reply with a nod and Lucchini suddenly climbs onto Shirley's lap
knocking the sandwich from Shirley's hand in the process.
 
"So, was Lynne always been that big?" Lucchini asks excitedly as points to
Lynne's chest, Lynne instantly goes bright red upon hearing this and crosses
her arms over her chest trying to hide her two mountains and protect them from
the stares everyone is giving them.
 
"I knew her before puberty so no" I answer hopping my response doesn't
embarrass Lynne too much, one of the many things that hasn't seemed to change
about Lynne is that she is still easily embarrassed.
 
"So how did she get them that big?" Lucchini asks leaning closer to me so she
won't miss one bit of my reply. I have a feeling she wants breasts like Lynne's
and Shirley's one day.
 
"I don't know" I answer and in an instant her head drops and she slowly makes
her way back to her seat having her hopes dashed by learning there's no great
secret to having a large chest.
 
The rest of the meal passes by in a blur but a pleasant one, everyone seems
nice and ask me a lot of questions even though it makes me feel like I'm some
new toy. Most of the question aren't about be me though, everyone seems to be
very interested in my and Lynne's past and Lynne starts to answer some of the
questions thankfully giving me a quick respite from the questioning. We told
them about our school life which everyone was interested in comparing our
school life to their own and sharing laughs at our mistakes. Sakamoto and
Barkhorn on the other hand seemed more interested in my military career though
and lost interest when the subject switched from sports to academics. I tell
them about my sixty-four Neuroi kills and other battles I had with our enemy, I
tell them about my old squad and have to make up lies about what I did over the
last year and a half because I can' tell them I'm with MI5. Thankfully when I
joined MI5 they taught me how to lie and I convince everyone my made-up story
was true. I tell them I was injured and in hospital for the last year and a
half in a coma making a mental note to ask Major Robinson to forge me some
documents later to back up my claim if they get suspicious. After the meal,
Minna pulls me and Lynne aside to speak with us, Lynne's acting nervous and if
I remember the look in her eyes right then I am guessing it's because she
thinks she's in trouble. Me well I'm not nervous at all knowing I can't be in
trouble because I haven't done anything wrong, Lynne really needs to learn how
to not get so nervous all the time and how to relax.
 
"Can I speak to you two?" Minna asks pointing to me and Lynne as everyone
starts to leave. Lynne and I both wait for the room to empty and Minna to begin
to talk, Lynne is fiddling nervously with her hands while Minna and I is stood
as still as statues while we wait. Finally, the room empties and Minna begins.
"Since you two know each other Lynne do you mind giving Tracy a tour round the
base?"
 
"No I don't mind" Lynne replies with a small smile.
 
"Also, there's a small problem with your room Tracy" Minna tells me. "A water
pipe burst last night and your room won't be ready for a few days so would you
two mind sharing a room till then?"
 
"No I don't mind" I answer turning to face Lynne. "Is it ok with you?"
 
"I'm ok with it" Lynne replies before I turn back to Minna.
 
"Good now that's settled I'll leave you two alone tour the base and catch up"
Minna says before walking off leaving us two by ourselves.
***** The Tour *****
Lynne begins the tour by showing me around the ground floor of the base where
the hanger, storage rooms, kitchen and dining hall are before taking me up
floor by floor. The second floor is not currently being used right now so we
just skip it, the third floor has a library, a library this base has a library,
a lounge, bathhouse built in a Fuso style and a sauna. The fourth floor is
where everyone sleeps and apart for me and Lynne everyone has their own rooms.
The fifth and sixth floors are just used for storage right now and the seventh
floor is the command floor where Minna's office, the radar room, archive and
communication room are and is the busiest part of the base with people walking
from room to room carry papers. The next level up is the top of the base where
you can even see the occupied coast of Gallia and for miles in every direction.
 
"The view up here is lovely" I say leaning over the railing and gazing out over
the channel.
 
"It sure is" Lynne replies joining me at the railing. "So, what have you been
doing since I last saw you?"
 
"Fighting the Neuroi" I answer still leaning over the railing. "I was part of
the Isle of Wight Detachment Group with you sister until a year until a half
ago when I was transferred to the Ark Royal and protected the Atlantic Convoys,
getting put in a coma and now I'm a member of your squad"
 
"My sister mentioned you in the letters she sent me but she never really said
anything other than that you are ok or you killed another Neuroi" Lynne tells
me.
 
"Well you sister had limited paper to write to you and I bet there was a lot
more than me she wanted to talk about" I say looking over to Lynne and catch
her smiling at my comment.
 
"She did" Lynne says looking over the channel smiling. "She would always tell
me how she was, how the war was going and the adventures she had"
 
"I have a feeling most of them was made up" I comment letting out a quick
giggle remembering Wilma and the tails she would tell me and Lynne when we were
in school. "You sister could be a published author if she wanted"
 
"Yeah she could" Lynne replies also giggling. "I always thought the story in
one of her letters about her saving you from a Neuroi trap was made up"
 
"It was" I tell her. "I was the one that saved her with the help of Laura"
 
A small brown haired girl joins us walking up behind us as I say that, when I
turn around and get a better look at the girl I see it's Yoshika the young Fuso
girl who I first saw struggling to recover and last saw exiting the dining
hall. She is smiling taking a quick look at the view and then a close look at
both Lynne and I as if trying to decide whether to join us.
 
"Do you mind if I join you?" Yoshika asks smiling as she switches her gaze from
Lynne to me then back again.
 
"Of course, you can join us Yoshika" Lynne replies in her usual cheerful voice
as she returns Yoshika's smile.
 
"I would love for you to join us" I say and in an instant, she turns her smile
towards me.
 
"I'm Yoshika Miyafuji" Yoshika says bowing her head. "I know Minna told you my
name but I was too tired to induce myself properly"
 
"I'm Tracy Philips" I reply with a smile as she raises her head. "It's nice to
meet you"
 
"So, shell we continue the tour" Lynne asks.
 
"What have you got left to see?" Yoshika then asks me but before I can answer
Lynne answers for me, I'm grateful as I have no idea what I was going to say, I
know what I've seen but I have no idea what I have left to see.
 
"I've shown her around the inside of the base so it's only the outside left"
Lynne answers for me.
 
With that Lynne leads me ad Yoshika back down the stairs all the way to the
ground level where we exit through the main entrance. The main entrance is a
massive improvement from hanger door I entered the building from originally
with a large grand staircase, big vases filled with beautiful flowers filling
the room with their equally as beautiful scents and a pair of statues stand by
the main door guarding it with shields and spears their hands from any threat.
A red carpet covers the floor making me feel like a movie star, who ever owned
this castle in the past must have been the riches person in the world, even the
large double doors looks expensive, strong and impressive with flowers, trees
and birds engraved into its wood. Hanging down from the ceiling is a shiny gold
chandelier polished to the point that it sparkles and the ceiling from which it
hangs looks perfectly clean without a cobweb in any corner, I'm not really
surprised as this whole castle is perfectly cleaned and I don't think that any
dust will dare to settle anywhere in this castle.
 
Outside of the castle is just as beautiful and impressive as the insides, as
Lynne and Yoshika lead me outside the smell from all the flowers instantly hit
my nose as a cooling breeze blows into my face and it isn't long before I see
the souse of the beautiful scents my nose is picking up on. There's a single
stone path leading away from the entrance and on ever side of the path is a
filled of flowers, I can see every colour that exists in the world right now
and I've don't think I've smelled anything as good as this before. To my left I
see the Channel and if I look hard enough then I can just about make out Gallia
in the distance, to my right is the green fields and hedge rows of the
Britannian countryside with crops and livestock filling most of the fields. I
hear a roar above me and I look up to see two witches flying high above me in
what appears to be a mock battle, I can hear the quiet pops of the guns as they
shoot pain at each other and hear the roars of their engines as they accelerate
away from each other. It looks like a good battle as every move one makes the
other quickly counters and returns the favour only for her attack to be
countered is well.
 
Finally, one of the girls gets an edge on the other and fires apparently
hitting her, the girl hit then does something I never expected her to do or
have ever seen done before by anyone. The girl holds her chest as if she has
been shot for real and dives down towards the ground as if she has real been
shot down. The two girls were originally so high up that I couldn't see
anything of them over then a small spec up there in the sky but now the girl
pretending to be hit and falling to the ground if getting close enough for me
to make out more detail. She has blond hair that is waving in the wind of her
fall, her eyes shine brightly blue and her lips have formed a smile as she
plummets to the ground. If I can remember her name correctly I believe its
Erica Hartmann, yes Erica Hartmann the girl who was asleep in a mountain of
rubbish and dirty clothes that wouldn't wake up even when Barkhorn was
threatening her. She lands not that far away pulling up just before she hits
the ground and takes off her Striker Unit, she turns to face Lynne, Yoshika and
I smiling with the front of her shirt covered in paint from at least five or
six good direct hits. I look u at the sound of approaching engines and see her
opponent is or was Barkhorn and she is coming towards us looking annoyed.
 
"What do you think you were doing Hartmann?" Barkhorn yells as she stops and
hoers just above Erica. "Pretending to be injured is not going to get you out
of training so put you Striker Unit back on right now"
 
"But I'm tired and thirsty" Erica moans like a child in response and lay down
with her back on the grass and flowers causing Barkhorn to clench her fist in
frustration. "I'll be back up there in ten maybe thirty minutes"
 
"No" Barkhorn replies flying closer to Erica who's now closed her eyes and
looking relaxed, I have no idea how she could be this relaxed with an angry,
annoyed and frustrated Barkhorn hovering closer to her. "If let you rest right
now you will waste all the training time we have now get up"
 
"Are they always like this" I lean over and quietly as Lynne not wanting
Barkhorn to turn her wrath on me.
 
"Yes, Erica is lazy which annoys Barkhorn and Erica seems to do this just to
tease Barkhorn some of the times" Lynne answers me in just a quiet voice as I
just used to mean only me can hear. "We should carry on with the tour and leave
them alone to sort it out"
 
Lynne carries on the tour taking us through the garden and the further away we
get from the arguing Karlslander's the less we hear them and the more peaceful
the garden becomes, we can only hear the occasion shout from Barkhorn now as no
doubt Erica is saying some unreasonable time. We follow the stone path further
until we reach the firing range. The range is just like the one at my old base
with firing positions set up and targets down range for us to aim at. The range
has everything it need no more no less, I was expecting it to look like the
castle does with flowers and statues but it looks just like a firing range
should, I guess whoever built the castle didn't build the range. The targets
down range are concert and behind them is a thick concert wall and dirt mound
to stop any bullet from leaving the range. The area is clean and tidy like the
rest of the base with no bullet casing, fallen leaf’s or branches on the range.
 
"This place hardly looks used" I say as I look around the range.
 
"I don't use it but everyone else does" Lynne tells me. "My Boys anti-tank
rifle has a long range and because I'm a sniper Major Sakamoto has me practice
shooting off the edge of the runway to hit a target far out to sea"
 
"I'm surprised you could even fire that rifle" I reply smiling at Lynne feeling
proud that she could do something I couldn't while I rub my shoulder
remembering the times when I had to fire a Boys anti-tank rifle. "When I tried
to fire one of those rifles it would hurt my shoulder with its recoil"
 
"My sister gave me tips to minimise the effect the recoil has on me" Lynne
says. "She's been shooting a Boys anti-tank rifle for as long as I can
remember"
 
"Lynne is your sister in military too?" Yoshika asks speaking up for the first
time since joining us.
 
"Yes" Lynne answers turning to face Yoshika. "She's a Sergeant also and is
currently in the Isle of Wight Detachment Group but she's starting to lose her
magic so I don't think she will stay in the air force for much longer"
 
"This range has a good view at least" I say trying to lighten the mood as the
news of Lynne's sister losing her magic threatens to dampen everyone's sprites.
I'm not lying though, the view of the sunset from the firing range really is
lovely. "Time sure has flown by today"
 
"Oh, no we haven't started dinner" Yoshika says in a panic.
 
"Don't worry we can get dinner started now" Lynne replies in a calmer voice.
"If we hurry then we can still make it in time" They were about to run off when
Lynne stops and turns to me. "Will you be alright on your own?"
 
"Yeah I'll be fine" I tell her. "You two should go and cook before you have an
angry mob of hungry witches to deal with"
 
"Ok I'll see you at dinner" Lynne says before running off after Yoshika.
 
I watch Lynne run off until she's out of sight and then slowly start to make my
way back to the base, I think I'll head to hanger and check on my Striker and
gun, making sure who ever unloaded them didn't damage them. The view of the
setting sun keeps me occupies during the walk back to the base and is the main
reason why I'm walking so slowly and taking so long to walk back. It's the most
beautiful orange and the way it reflects on the water is just so perfect that I
can't possible put what I am seeing into words, the only word that comes to
mind is beautiful. I make my way slowly down the stone path, slowly through the
flowers and into the base, it is only when the walls of the base block my view
of the perfect sun set that I start to walk at a normal speed and look where I
was going, I swear it was a miracle that I didn't walk into someone or thing on
my way here. The base is a lot darker than before now and lights are slowly
starting to flicker into life and dimly light up the warm. The castle looks
slightly creepier now with large dark shadows in every corner and they all make
me shiver and remember my dream.
 
I walk to the hanger remarkable without getting lost or making a single wrong
turn along the way, inside I spot Shirley still working on her Striker and
Lucchini asleep high up on a beam laid on top of her blanket. Shirley doesn't
even notice me enter too busy working on her Striker to notice anything
happening around and while Lucchini, Lucchini is fast asleep so even if a
Neuroi walk in here right now I doubt these two would even notice. I walk past
Shirley who's humming a tune happily to herself as she works and head straight
to my Strike which is now at the end of the others. I look it over and can't
find any scratches or marks to indicate damage and move on to check my weapon
happy that my Strike is undamaged. I find my weapon easily among the other
guns, being a prototype my machine gun stands out amongst them. I look it over
again seeing no scratches or marks to indicate damage so I decide to open it up
to check on its insides, I would have done the same with my Striker but I will
have no idea what I would have to look for, my machine gun on the other hand is
a different story, I know a lot about the insides of guns.
 
"What are you doing?" A voice asks as I put my gun back together nearly making
me jump out of my skin and drop my gun to the ground. I turn around to see
Barkhorn stood behind me with her hands on her hips. Shirley's still humming
away to herself oblivious to what's going on around her.
 
"I'm just checking my weapon in case it was damaged being transported here" I
reply feeling like a nervous little kid in trouble with their parents. "But it
looks like it's in perfect condition"
 
"Well it's a soldier's job to maintain their equipment so I guess you aren't
doing anything wrong by checking it over" Barkhorn says in a confident voice.
"By the way what type of gun is that? I've never seen one like it before"
 
"It's a prototype for a new variant Vickers K machine gun" I answer. "It's more
accurate and reliable than the current model making it deadlier against the
Neuroi"
 
"Well that's good" Barkhorn says in a voice that doesn't scare me as much as
the last one. "Anyway, you both should wash your hands and I know you can hear
me Yeager so grab Lucchini and wash your hands dinners about to be served"
 
"Yeah yeah I'll be there once I'm done modifying my Striker" Shirley replies
not stopping what she's doing or even looking away from what she's doing.
 
"Well we are not waiting for you again so get washed up and to the dining hall
soon or you'll be eating whatever we're having cold" Barkhorn warns her before
turning back to me. "The same goes to you"
 
"Where can I wash up" I ask looking at my hands and examining all the grace
that is now coating them.
 
"There's a bathroom just down the hall seconded door on the right" Barkhorn
answers before she walks off.
 
"Thanks" I call out after her as she leaves the hanger.
 
I place my gun back in its spot and quickly follow her words and walk straight
into the bathroom to wash my hands. When I run the tap the water quickly warms
up and with the help of soap my hands quickly become sparkling. The warmth of
the water and the feeling of it running over my hands removing all the grease
and dirt from my skin feels amazing and don't want to pull my hands out from
under its warmth but the loud painful grumble in my stomach forces me to. I
walk out of the bathroom just as Shirley and Lucchini enter, Shirley is covered
in oil, grease and everything else that goes into making a Striker work,
Lucchini on the other hand looks completely clean other than a bit of drool on
her chin from her nap. They both seem happy as they enter smiling and Lucchini
is giggling about something, they smile at me as they enter and I return the
smile before walking off towards the dining hall. When I enter the dining hall
I find that everyone but Shirley and Lucchini are already here and Lynne and
Yoshika are just starting to place plates in front of everyone filled of food.
 
I take a seat at the end of the table next to Perrine just as Lynne places a
plate of food in front of me giving me a smile as she does so. Looking down at
my plate I'm guessing it must be Fuso food, I've never seen or eating Fuso food
before so this will be a new experience and I'm curious about how it will
taste. Shirley and Lucchini enter the room as soon as Lynne and Yoshika set the
last plate of food on the table before sitting down herself. As soon as
everyone is seated everyone digs in, I'm a little hesitant at first slowly
picking up my food with my fork and bringing it to my mouth. I'm curious about
what it will taste like but at the same time I'm dreading tasting it in case I
don't like it, in case I make myself look rude and spit the food out all over
the table in front of everyone. I open my mouth and take the first bite of Fuso
food in my life and when I take that first piece of food into my mouth it
explodes into a sea of flavours that makes my mouth happy.
 
"Is the food alright Tracy?" I look up to find Yoshika watching me, she was
probable watching me the whole time to see if I like her countries cuisine.
 
"Yes, it's delicious" I answer bring a smile to her face before she starts to
eat herself. The rest of the meal goes by in flash just like this day and
before I know it everyone's finished eating and leaving. Only Yoshika, Lynne,
Minna and I remain in the room, Yoshika and Lynne are collecting the dishes to
wash up and Minna who's walking towards me.
 
"You clothe and personal belongings have been placed in Lynne's room" Minna
tells me. "Also, you have training with Yoshika, Lynne and Perrine tomorrow,
Major Sakamoto will be the instructor so I suggest you get a good night's
sleep"
 
"Yes ma'am" I reply. "Everyone in Britannia is aware of the Major's training
routine"
 
"Well I don't think it's as bad of the rumours say it is" Minna tells me. "But
you will still need a good night's sleep to get through it, goodnight"
 
"Goodnight" I say back as she leaves the room. I walk into the kitchen picking
up the last of the plates as I go and find Yoshika and Lynne washing a mountain
of pots, pans and plates. "Need a hand with that?"
 
"Yes, if it's no bother" Lynne replies as she takes some of the plates from me.
"Can you dry up as we wash?"
 
"Sure" I say placing my plates down next to where she places hers and grabbing
a towel.
 
We wash dishes for an hour until everyone last one of them is so clean they
could be used as mirrors and by the time we put them away its time for bed. We
walk for our rooms together, Yoshika's room turns out to be right next to
Lynne's, she tells me to knock if I need anything and then we say our good
nights before entering our rooms. Lynne's room is nice and spacious with a
large double bed that will be more than enough room for the two of us, several
draws and a large wooden wardrobe that looks like it can hold everyone's
clothes. My bag of clothes has been left in the centre of the room looking
completely out of place so I move it into the corner of the room, Lynne offers
to give me some space in her draws and wardrobe but I refuse saying that I'll
have my own room soon enough so it will be easier if I don't unpack. So, with
that we get changed into our night wear, Lynne's wearing a cream coloured
nightgown that seems too tight around her chest like it could burst open at any
minute, while I put on a green coloured nightgown that fits me perfectly. We
crawl into bed as soon as we change and Lynne pulls the blanket up to our
chins, it feels like fore ever since Lynne and I have been this close. We used
to have sleep overs all the time and sleeping shoulder to shoulder with Lynne
has always made me feel safe.
 
"It feels like forever since we been together like this" Lynne say's as if she
read my mind.
 
"Yeah but I remember ever your dad or mine bursting in to yell at us to go to
sleep the most" I reply laughing at the memory of our parents bursting in on us
and we pretend to sleep struggling to stop our giggles. "They never did go
through with their threats to stop us having sleep overs"
 
"I think they were too tired to remember because it was five in the morning for
most of those occasions" Lynne tells me and I look over managing to make out a
smile on her lips through the darkness. "While speaking of tiredness we should
get some sleep as we will need every bit of energy for Major Sakamoto's
training tomorrow"
 
"Good night Lynne" I say before letting out a yawn.
 
"Good night Tracy" Lynne replies and before long she's sound asleep, I can't
fall asleep as quick as Lynne just did but with Lynne's warmth next to me I
feel safe and fall peacefully into slumber seconds later. If the rumours about
Major Sakamoto's training are true then I will probably be just like Lynne and
out like a light every time my head hits the pillow.
===============================================================================
 
                                 Lynne's POV  
===============================================================================
 
Tracy falls asleep within seconds of her head hitting the pillow, I close my
eyes and start try to join her but the feeling of warmth, her warmth something
I haven't felt in a long time and something I missed so much join the army.
Feeling her warm body lying next to me makes me feel so safe and happy that I
wish morning will never come so we can stay like this forever. We used to do
this every weekend, I would spend a night at her house one week and the next
night she would spend the night at mine. Those nights were some of the best
nights of my life, we would stay up as late as we could, talking, eating sweets
and chocolate, reading books and telling stories, those night are night I wish
and would give anything to repeat. If it wasn't for the war and the Neuroi then
we would still be having those nights. I roll onto my side and look at Tracy,
her face looks so peaceful when she sleeps, it always has, she is breathing
steadily and looks completely at peace like she doesn't have a problem in the
world. I wish I could be at peace like her.
 
"Goodnight Tracy" I whisper quietly so I don't wake her up moments before I
join her in slumber.
===============================================================================
 
                              Sargent Barnett POV
 
===============================================================================
 
"Noble this Trojan come in" I call over the radio, I need to make my report and
I'm already half an hour late.
 
"This Noble we read you Trojan" A voice replies quickly, it takes them less
than a second to reply after I finished talking. "Transmit code Trojan"
 
"That which sees all wins all" I say given the voice the code I was giving.
 
"Code confirmed Trojan send your report" The voice tells me.
 
"Infiltration successful both parties in place" I reply.
 
"Good proceed as ordered Noble out" The voice says before disappearing.
***** The Power *****
                                  Tracy's POV
 
===============================================================================
 
I wake up to a dark room, I can no longer feel Lynne's warmth beside me and
when I roll over to face where Lynne should be laying I see nothing but the
darkness of an empty room. I sit up to look around the rest of the room to find
anything as far as I know in its place and wrapped in darkness, I look out of
the window hopping to see the sun raising over the horizon to light up this
darkness but I only see more darkness. Bang. Bang. Bang. Three loud bangs echo
through the halls nearly making me jump out of my skin, look to the door and
find it shut. Bang. Bang. Bang. Three more bangs echo through the halls. I must
go see what the banging is, I don't want to but something is drawing me towards
the bang, some powerful unseen force wants me to find what's coursing them.
Bang. Bang. Bang. Three more bangs much closer now ring out as I grip the door
handle, they so powerful that I feel the door handle vibrate in my hand with
each bang. I immediately drop the door handle a back away from the door as my
heart skips a beat. I want to just crawl under the covers again but that unseen
energy has a strong grip on me and I can't resist it, I walk to the door and
open it up as fast as I can knowing that the slower I open it the more scared I
would become.
 
As soon as the doors open I jump into the corridor to find it pitch-black and
something wet and slippery covering the floor. I look down the corridor in both
directions but see nothing, to my right darkness, to my left more darkness and
now a horrible rotten smell getting stronger by the second fills the corridor.
Bang. Bang. Bang. Three more bangs ring out to my right, they are louder, more
violent and a lot closer than before. I look to my right and see the lights on
the walls light up one by one moving away from me into the distance. They light
up the area right to the other end of the corridor and when they light up a
figure at the end my heart skips a beat. The figure is small, wearing a blood
soaked white nightgown with blood dripping off her body onto the floor, it is
now I realise what has caused the floor to be wet and slippery, I look down to
see the floor covered in dark red blood which now covers my feet in a thick wet
layer of red. When I look back up my eye's lock with the girl's eye's that are
still darker then black and her stare fills me with dread and terror. Her lips
turn up into a smile as if she can sense my growing fear and my entire body
starts to shake. Why is she doing this to me? Why appear before me when I'm
sure she knows I can't face her after what I did?
 
The girl slowly walks towards me and every time she passes a light bulb it
smashes leaving nothing but darkness behind her to match her eyes. Her pace is
slow and steady as if she's savouring the moment and enjoying my fear. I move
my shaking hand to the door knob hopping to let myself back into Lynne's room
before the girl reaches me, but when I manage to find the door knob I find that
Lynne's door is locked. I try backing up but my back hits a wall, a concert
wall that wasn't their moments ago and traps me with the girl who carries on
her slow advance towards. I'm shaking so much now that I can hear the floor
start to vibrate and my breath, I can't seem to catch my breath no matter how
hard or much I breathe. My legs give out from under me and I fall to the ground
getting covered in blood that splashes up from the puddle I landed in. The girl
gets closer and closer never slowing or speeding up her advance and her smile
never leaves her face for a second. The rotten smell is now making me gag, oh
god it smells so bad, it's the girl, the rotten smell is coming from her and
with every step she takes the smell gets a lot worse. I think I'm going to be
sick. First seeing that girl, a girl from a past I'm not proud of and now blood
covered floors and a rotten smell that's only getting worse. I real do think
I'm…
 
"Your perfetic Tracy" The girl say's as she stops right in front of me and I
finally do throw up, her breath is so bad, it's like something literally died
in her mouth. "Just look at you, actually puking in fear"
 
I look up at her, even though she's small I still have to look up at her sat on
the floor like I am. "P… Please just… Just leave me alone… Please" I beg in
fear of my life as I do my best not to break eye contact with the girl and
vomit again. "Please"
 
"Why should I do that?" The girl replies as she draws a mace with razor sharp
spikes and a heavy, strong looking ball where the spikes attach too. What is
she going to do with…? Wait she's going to… Please don't use… Oh god please,
please god don't let her hit me with that thing. She raises the mace above her
head and I'm left speechless at the sight of the deadly weapon baring down on
me that I can't move, can't speak or do anything to protect myself from the
painful blow soon to strike me for my past mistakes. "It's what you deserve!"
 
"Noooooo!" I scream myself awake with. I lay still on the bed too afraid to
look around in case I see the girl with the mace again preparing to finish me
off. I slowly work up the courage to look around though and after a deep breath
I sit up and scan the room to find it empty and through the window I can see
the sun start to raise. I look around and can't spot any sing of Lynne, I
wonder where she could be. "Lynne"
 
"Yes" I hear Lynne's voice reply through the door. What is she doing up and
about so early? "Can you open the door for me I have my hands full?"
 
"Yeah I am coming" I tell her as I stretch myself out before getting to my
feet. "So, what are you doing so early in the morning?"
 
"It's a surprise I show you when you open the door" Lynne answer as I open the
door and in an instant I know something is wrong, Lynne isn't holding anything
in her hand and she isn't lazy enough to not be bothered to open a door. "Thank
you"
 
"Um Lynne I thought you said you had your hands fall" I say as Lynne steps into
the room closing the door behind her. "So, what's the surprise?"
 
"This" Lynne replies not in her own voice but in the voice of the girl how
haunts my dreams, I watch in horror as Lynne turns into the little girl and her
cloths become blood soaked. Lynne or the little girl or whoever this is then
pulls out a giant spiked mace at least twice as big as the one before and
raises it above their head, as they bring the mace down whoever it is screams.
"It's what you deserve!"
===============================================================================
 
I wake up covered in a cold sweat and wrapped in Lynne's arms who's looking at
me with a worried concerned look on her face. I can't breathe, my lungs refuse
to fill with air no matter how much I breathe, my hands won't stop shaking and
I'm sure my whole body would be shaking uncontrollably if it wasn't for Lynne
holding me. Lynne just remains silent as she holds me, she knows I don't need
words of comfort to calm me down just her hugging me along with my mother's
calm breathing technique. Its ok I just need to calm down, I breathe in and out
reminding myself it was just a dream and that the girl can't hurt me. It's not
that I don't deserve what she does to me in my nightmares, like she says I do
deserve it after what I did to her, I deserve everything she does or is going
to do to me. I don't think anything can absolve me of the sins of my past, they
will haunt me till the day I day and probably for all eternity in the
afterlife.
 
"Tracy, are you ok?" Lynne asks in a quiet sweet calming voice as she continues
to hold me.
 
"Yeah" I reply in as steady of a voice as I can muster. "I'm fine it was just a
bad dream"
 
"Do you want to talk about it?" Lynne says as she realises me from her warm
comforting embrace.
 
"I can't even if I wanted to" I tell her, I know speaking about things like
this can help but I can't because of the event. I look at Lynne to see her
expression is now one of mixed confusion and concern. "It's about a classified
mission that happened a year ago so I can't talk about it"
 
"Oh well ok but I'm here for you if you want to talk" Lynne says placing a hand
on my shoulder.
 
"I know" I reply with a weak smile "You've been there for me ever since we met"
 
"Well I think you helped me a lot more then I helped you" Lynne says looking
down and removing her hand from my shoulder.
 
"Are you kidding me, without you I would have failed school if it wasn't for
you" I tell her making her blush. "So how long have we got till the Major
starts torturing us?"
 
"About an hour and a half but first I have to help Yoshika make breakfast"
Lynne answers as she gets up off the bed. "Do you want to help us?"
 
"Sure" I say as I also get up.
 
Lynne and I quickly change me into a military uniform and Lynne into her school
uniform and leave the room, we head straight to the kitchen and find Yoshika
already their getting stuff prepped for cooking. She's so busy with her head
buried deep inside a cupboard looking for something that she doesn't notice we
enter, it isn't until we are right behind her and Lynne taps her shoulder that
she finally realises that we are present. Yoshika jumps from the gentle tap and
hits her head on the cupboard, when she finally emerges from the cupboard she's
rubbing a small lump on her head. Lynne immediately lowers her head ashamed
about causing her friends injury as the lump of Yoshika's head grows and
reddens. Meanwhile I walk over to the freeze picking up a cup on my way and
scrape some ice into the glass, once I got enough ice I walk over to Yoshika
and hand her the glass.
 
"Here hold this to the lump" I tell her as I hand her the glass full of ice
which she takes with a smile and presses it straight away on her lump. "Are you
alright?"
 
"I'm fine" Yoshika says in a reassuring voice. "And thank you for the cup of
ice"
 
"I'm sorry Yoshika I didn't mean for you to get hurt" Lynne quickly says
keeping her head bowed mimicking the way people in Fuso apologise.
 
"It's ok really I'm fine" Yoshika replies putting on a warm smile as Lynne
raises her head.
 
"So, what's for breakfast?" I ask stirring the conversation away from Yoshika's
lump on her head.
 
"Scrambled eggs on toast" Yoshika answers pointing to the eggs on the side.
"Those eggs need to be eaten soon"
 
"Sounds good I'll get started on the eggs Tracy can you start to make the
toast?" Lynne says instantly snapping out of her forgiving self.
 
"I'm on it" I reply picking up a loaf of bread and quickly spotting a bread
knife to slice it with.
 
"Yoshika, can you get the milk out for me" Lynne request and Yoshika instantly
complies opening the fridge she's stood next to.
 
Half an hour later everyone is present even though both Sanya and Erica are
half a sleep much to the annoyance of Barkhorn, she's constantly pulling
Erica's ear every time the girl falls asleep and to the delight of Eila who
seems over joyed with Sanya's head resting on her shoulder. We sever up
breakfast together with Yoshika only having the use of one hand since she's
still holding the cup of ice which is mostly water now to her head, the lump is
still visible getting a reaction from Barkhorn, Minna and Major Sakamoto,
everyone else is too tired to pay attention enough to notice. No one is very
talkative this morning as most can barely keep their eyes open for thirty
seconds, Barkhorn, Minna and Major Sakamoto are the only ones other than
myself, Lynne and Yoshika who are wide awake. But Barkhorn is too busy nagging
Erica, Major Sakamoto isn't looking at anyone just her food and Minna hasn't
said a word other than good morning to everyone as they enter. Lynne's too shy
to start a conversation in a group this size and always has been for as long as
I've known her, Yoshika is having enough trouble eating with only one hand and
myself, well I don't really feel comfortable around these girls yet despite the
warm friendly welcome they gave me on my arrival. But thankfully the silence
doesn't last long but the thing that breaks the silence isn't something to be
thankful for, it's the air raid alarm that breaks the silence alerting us to
the Neuroi heading our way. Minna takes a good look around the room but seems
disappointed in the fact that most of us are still half asleep but finally she
does speak or rather shout of the sound of the air raid alarm.
 
"Trude, Erica, Lynne and Tracy prepare to take off and intercept the enemy,
Major you in command of them!" Minna orders and all the said names stand up,
I'm surprised to see Erica jump after seeing her sleep through all Barkhorn's
nagging. "I'll be here trying to wake everyone up to give you some back up!"
 
"You heard the commander move out!" Sakamoto shouts pointing towards the door.
 
"Yes ma'am!" We all shout back as we start to run for the door.
 
"Miyafuji fill several buckets with cold water and bring them to me!" I hear
Minna order as I leave the room, is she going to throw water over everyone like
I'm imagining right now.
 
We run into the hanger and grab our guns along with some ammo as quickly as
humanly possible, what few maintains workers were present in the hanger rush to
open the giant steel doors letting in the cold morning breeze. We mount our
Striker Units just as the door fully opens and start our engine, the ears and
tail of a Britannia Shorthair cat my familiar appear on me as the engine starts
up and a magic circle glows below me. Sakamoto fly's a bit forward and a first
I thought she was going to lead us out to battle but instead she fly's in front
of me and lobs a small object gently into my hands. I look at the object in my
hands carefully, it's blue with the 501st Joint Fighter Wings insignia on it
and it's tiny. I know what it is in an instant, it's a special radio us witches
use powered by magic much smaller and lighter than any other radio around, I've
used one since the first day I enrolled in the RAF so I quickly and
effortlessly put it in my ear.
 
"Alright everyone the Neuroi is heading for our base and is currently straight
south from us, ten kilometres away and closing" Major Sakamoto tells us as she
flies into a position where each of us can easily see her. "Barkhorn, Hartmann,
and Tracy you three will take the lead well Lynne and I stay back and provide
support until I locate the core"
 
"Yes ma'am" We all instantly reply without missing a beat and take off into the
cold morning sky.
 
Once in the air we take up our formation, Barkhorn, Erica and I take up a V
formation with Barkhorn at the point, me on the right and Erica on the left.
Behind up Lynne and Major Sakamoto fly side by side leaving about fifty meter
in-between us and them. The sky is so beautiful its almost unimaginable as we
fly through it, blue sky's little clouds and those few are white and fluffy,
sparkling blue sea below and we took off early enough to see the sun rise.
Seagulls have already taken flight and fly alongside us enjoying the perfect
sky alongside us. It would have been a perfect time for flying if it wasn't for
the fact that the reason we are flying is to stop a Neuroi, I could kill it
single handily for ruining such a perfect morning for flying. That bloody
Neuroi destroying such an occasion for flight, I swear I will end it for this,
mark my words Neuroi you are going down.
 
We fly for another minute until I know we are close to the Neuroi. I didn't
need the Major or anyone else to tell me we are close to the bloody thing, the
Seagulls already told me. They flow off in every direction acting as if
something evil and dangerous was close, their sense for danger is something I
trust so I ready myself for battle. Just then out of a cloud a head of us a
Neuroi dives down out of it screeching and ready for a fight. The Neuroi isn't
that big, it's long and thin with two sets of wings that form an X halfway down
its body. At the end of each wing is a sphere with a red patch facing us and on
the nose of the Neuroi is another red patch, at the rear of the Neuroi are
eight cubes each with a red patch facing outwards. This thing doesn't look so
tough.
 
"Barkhorn's group…" Major Sakamoto begun to order but the eight cubes break off
the Neuroi becoming Drones and five more Drones drop out of the cloud to join
the fight, these Drones are also cubed shaped like the ones that broke off the
Neuroi. "Barkhorn's group engage at will, Lynnette cover me while I find the
core"
 
"Yes ma'am" We all reply before Erica and I join Barkhorn in a charge on the
Neuroi.
 
The Drones match our charge with a charge of their own only they go in laser
blazing, it takes us a few more seconds of charging while blocking and evading
incoming beams before the Drones come in range of our weapons. As soon as the
enemies in range we open fire without a second’s delay bringing down three
Drones one each in our opening shots, but the remaining ten take evasive
actions and avoid our bullets. The Drones are surprising fast and agile as the
charge towards us dodging the hail of lead we send their way. This fight has
just gotten a lot tougher.
 
We continue to charge at each other firing and dodging shots as we go not one
of us scoring a single hit on the others. We are barely ten meters apart now
but still we all manage to avoid being hit, five meters still no hit man we are
getting to close for comfort, one meter away finally I get a sight I am hopping
for as a Neuroi Drone enters my sights filling it completely. I pull the
trigger without hesitation sending a burst of bullets into the invader that rip
straight through its body shattering it into a shower of shinny pieces. We pass
each other by and loop round for another charge, I quickly take the time to
count the enemy Drones, there's eight left so that means someone else got one…
a loud band rips through the sky quickly followed by another Drone shattering I
look up to see Lynne and Major Sakamoto flying high above us and the Drone's,
Lynne's aiming her anti-tank rifle which now has a smoky barrel and a bright
purple light is emitting from the Major's eye.
 
"Listen up the larger Neuroi is just a decoy the cores in one of the cubes but
I can't locate it here, can anyone see another group of Cubes?" Major Sakamoto
informs as but I don't have time to look as my group approach the Neuroi bring
one down thanks to Barkhorn in rout and another three as we pass. Lynne and
Sakamoto take out another Drone each as the pass us by leaving only two cubes
left. "Dammit the cores not here"
 
"Th… S… Comman… Ni… S any…One" Minna's voice says in says over a static filled
radio barely getting through. "The… Ba… Tow…Nee… Up"
 
"What is she saying?" Erica asks as she fires bringing down a cube with a well-
aimed shot from Lynne finishing off the other cube.
 
"Everyone return to base it's under attack from a tower" Major Sakamoto orders
just as I come to the same conclusion, that tower would explain the bad radio
reception. We fly flat out pushing our Strikers to the limit to return to and
defend the base, those sneaky Neuroi using a decoy to weaken our defences. When
did they become so smart? But we don't get far into our return trip until an
enemy I forgot about dives down in front of us causing us all to stop and block
a barrage of beams sent straight at us. It's the thin Neuroi that transferred
those cube Drones and acted as a decoy, now its blocking our path and stopping
us from helping our fellow squad mates. "Take it out quickly we need to get
back"
 
"Tracy, Erica follow me" Barkhorn orders as she charges straight towards the
enemy blocking our path.
 
We fire every bullet we have into the bloody thing and I must say hearing that
clicking sound you gun makes when it's empty is sickening. Erica and I pull
away from the Neuroi when we hear that clicking to reload but Barkhorn carries
on her charge switch her grip to hold the barrels of her guns before she glows
a bright white, her weapons also glow that bright white colour as she speeds up
and heads straight for the Neuroi. She slams her weapons into the top of the
Neuroi with great straight, causing dust pieces of Neuroi to shoot off in every
direction. So, super strength that's her ability. As Barkhorn pulls away she
twists round taking a Panzerfaust of her back and firing it at the Neuroi,
combining this with her first attack she cuts the Neuroi in half. The rear half
shatters but the front half with the X wings remains intact and quickly fire
five beams at Barkhorn which she barely manages to block in time with her
shield. A loud band followed by one of the spears at the end of the wing
exploding, I can tell by the loud gun shot that that was Lynne's handy work.
Erica and I now reloaded dive down on the Neuroi before it can recover and with
one final attack we blow the bastard from the sky and the Neuroi shatters just
before it hits the water.
 
"This isn't the time to celebrate ladies we need to help the base" Sakamoto
says as she starts once again to head for home.
 
When the base comes into sight I can see several fires have broken out, there's
a large hole in the middle of the runway but most chillingly of all the sights
there is the Neuroi tower spraying that shiny stuff that blocks radar and radio
signals in all directions. The tower is huge about the same size as the base
but only has one red patch to shot from, but from watching this thing that one
red patch has a high rate of fire spitting out beam after beam with barely a
second in-between. The tower looks like it has thick armour and looking above
the tower I see every one of the 501st except for Sanya who's probably too
tired in the sky preparing an attack. As we continue our approach I watch them
dive down in two groups on the tower, group one Minna, Shirley and Lucchini
takes one side while Yoshika, Eila and Perrine take the other. I can see
several white lines appear in the towers armour but those wounds completely
heal in seconds, dam that thing has fast regeneration too. We join in on the
attack just as the wounds heal concentrating our fire on one spot near the top
of the two and being awarded when a large hole is blown through the Neuroi, but
when we turn back around to once again face the and attack again I see the
wound we inflect is nearly healed and I watch helplessly as the tower quickly
repairs itself.
 
"Good to see you guys could join us" Shirley says as we all regroup above the
tower where it can't shoot us.
 
"Major I need you to find the core" Minna quickly says taking command of the
situation. "That tower has thick skin and a fast regeneration rate meaning we
are wasting our ammo right now until you can find the core"
 
"I get right on it, Lynnette, Miyafuji cover me" Sakamoto replies flying off
with Lynne and Yoshika close behind.
 
"Everyone else keep the towers attention on us and away from the base" Minna
orders as the tower starts to destroy the cars and trucks parked outside the
castle. "Trude, Erica, Tracy and Perrine get down low and attack the tower,
everyone else follow me and we will attack from above"
 
"Yes ma'am" Everyone replies as I follow Barkhorn in a dive down to the earth.
 
We pull up just inches above the ground and speed up to charge the tower. We
wait until we are close to open fire wanting to make every bullet count, it
isn't until we are a few meters away from the tower we open fire, Barkhorn with
her dual MG's cuts a small triangle out of the tower that shatters on the
ground while all Erica and I can do is. Perrine, I can't see what damage she
dealt the Neuroi but I'm guessing it's like the damage Erica and I inflected.
As we pull out I can hear Minna's group begun to open fire, we level off above
the tower to assess the damage we dealt but are disappointed. All the damage we
inflected has healed apart from Barkhorn's which we watch rapidly heal, we
watch every bullet hole Minna's group made into the top of the tower close one
after another. The tower doesn't even flinch and we fail to get it to even look
our way, instead it fires at a fuel truck causing it to explode in a massive
fire ball and fill the sky with thick nocuous smoke that completely blocks out
the sun. These things unstoppable. Just as I think that a loud bang rips
through the sky, a bullet tears through the smoke and smashes into the top of
the Neuroi and flying down through the newly created hole in the smoke with the
sunlight making the look like angles are Major Sakamoto, Yoshika and Lynne.
 
"Everyone the cores behind the red patch concentrate you fire there" Major
Sakamoto says as the smoke closes the hole behind them once again blocking out
the sun.
 
"You heard the Major Strike Witches attack" Minna quickly orders not letting a
single second pass after the Major's last words.
 
We all attack head on guns blazing but now we do have the Neuroi's attention
and it shoots beam after beam at us. The incoming fire is too intense that we
can't advance, we can't fire our weapon and we can't do anything but put up our
shields and hope they hold. The only thing I can think of doing is something I
really wish I don't have to do, it leaves me exhausted and I normally blackout
after using it but it looks like I have no choice. Another beam hits my shield
I don't know whether it's because I'm tired or the beam has become more
powerful but it pushes me back several meters. I don't have time to think a
decided it's now or never, if I wait any longer we will all be dead. Dammit I
have no choice but to do it. I concentrate and activate my ability waiting tile
after the next beam hits me to do so.
 
My body glows a bright golden colour and time freezes completely, can see every
beam is completely still all the witches are motionless still holding up their
shields. Everything is silent and still, the only thing I can hear is the roar
of my Striker Unit as I hover in place. Looking at the devastation around me
it's haunting to be hear when it's so quiet. But I can't waste time looking
around already I'm starting to feel tired so I must move quickly. I fly up to
the Neuroi towers red patch positioning myself next to the red patch but
slightly off to the side so I won't be in the line of fire. I must unfreeze
time to shoot this thing, my bare hands and bladed weapons will work in this
frozen time but guns and engines are to complete with their moving parts to
work, my Striker Unit is an exception because it powered by magic but anything
else with a moving component won't work in this state. I'm starting to fade in
and out of consciousness now and my magic is running low so I only have on shot
at this. With deep breath, I unfreeze time and quickly fire every bullet I have
loaded into my gun at the red patch. I don't get to see the results as my
vision blurs and I drop out of the sky, I feel my Striker Unit detach and fall
of my legs. I know falling to the ground and most likely to my death should
scare me but right now I'm too tired to care what happens to me. All I want to
do is sleep. I give in to my exhaustion and close my eyes fading into darkness
as I plummet from the sky.
 
"Tracy!" I hear Lynne scream as I finally full into unconsciousness.
===============================================================================
 
                                  Lynne's POV
===============================================================================
 
"Tracy!" I scream as I dive towards my friend who's falling and unconscious. I
dive down as fast as I could and barely get to her in time, I only just catch
her in time pulling up inches above the water. "Tracy, are you ok?"
 
"Lynne what's wrong with her?" Yoshika ask flying beside me.
 
"She's unconscious" I tell her hopping it won't get as bad as last time, she's
older and much stronger now, it can't get as bad as it was last time. Can it?
 
"Lynne take Tracy to the medical ward" Minna suddenly orders appearing out of
nowhere at my side. "Yoshika go with her"
 
"Yes ma'am" We both reply in unison and fall her order without a moments delay.
Please be alright Tracy.
===============================================================================
                              Sargent Barnett POV
===============================================================================
 
"Noble this is Trojan come in we have a problem" I say over the radio, I saw
Lynne run past me carrying an unconscious Tracy in her arms I knew I had to
report this right away. I sneak away at the first chance I got and switched on
the radio.
 
"This is Noble what's wrong Trojan?" The voice replies after a few seconds of
silence. "You’re not meant to check in for several hours, please transmit your
code"
 
"That which sees all wins all" I tell him. "Tracy's injured Noble"
 
"Carry on as normal Trojan" The voice replies and I can hardly belie what I am
hearing. We have a man down and nothing's being done about it.
 
"Yes sir" I reply knowing from experience that arguing will only lead to
trouble.
 
"Good Noble out" The voice says before static fills the air.
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