Strike Witch story, takes place after season 2, does not include the movie. This was my idea of a season 3, will be at least 4 parts, and I had planned up to 12, but RL has a way of interfering. Yes, there are yuri, or lesbian couples in the story, Sanya and Eila for sure, Yoshika and Lynette, and a hint of Mio and Minna. Hope you enjoy.
501st Defends Fuso
by rizon72
Part 1: Prelude to Terror
Yoshika Miyafuji walked alongside her friend Michiko as they walked back home from school. Things had changed in the past couple of months since that last battle with the Neuroi. In that battle, she lost her magical ability. The knowledge hurt, but she also knew that her actions helped destroy a Neuroi hive, thereby freeing Romagna from Neuroi invasion. The destruction of a second hive made her a legend, and enhanced the 501st legend as well. It had felt good to be part of something that made such a difference. Something she did not know until returning back to Fuso, to a hero's welcome. Now everyone seemed to know her name.
She yawned as they walked a bit further on. She felt tired recently. She had got a good night's sleep so she should not be so sleepy. That line of thinking caused her come concern that she might be getting sick.
"You all right Yoshika?" Michiko asked, seeing her friend yawn for the third time in the past couple of minutes.
"Yeah, fine," Yoshika replied, giving her friend a smile.
"Grandpa!" Michiko said, a moment later seeing her grandpa's tractor come up the path. Yoshika felt slightly relieved at seeing the ride knowing she did not have to walk all the way home. She hopped up sitting beside Michiko taking in the scenery.
They turned along the hill which allowed them to look out upon the harbor. She frowned slightly at seeing a familiar sight in the harbor, the Yamato.
"Oh wow, look at that battleship," Michiko said, in awe at the size of the ship.
"That can't be the Yamato," Yoshika said, wondering if her eyes were deceiving her or not. Michiko's grandpa came to her rescue.
"No it not, that's the Musashi, the Yamato's sister ship," he said. "It arrived only today. "There are ships coming in from all over the world for a big conference. The carrier Zuikaku is coming in tomorrow, as well as a carrier from Britannia, a battleship from Romagna, Karlsland and Liberion. Don't know where they are docking though, this harbor isn't big enough for them all."
"That's so exciting," Yoshika said, excited upon hearing the news. She wondered if Major Sakamoto was still at the base. The Major had lots of experience in fighting the Neuroi that could be valuable, despite losing her magical ability as well. The one thing that Yoshika had learned in her time in the military, the superiors, for whatever reason, did not like relying on the witches to fight the Neuroi.
Maybe that was the reason for the meeting. They were trying to find a new way to fight the Neuroi. Yoshika still wondered what the Neuroi had tried to tell her in Britannia.
"Do you think anyone you know will be onboard those ships?" Michiko asked, redirecting Yoshika's thoughts.
"Hmm, I doubt it," Yoshika replied. Maybe Commander Minna, but the others probably not. She still heard from the others, especially Lynn, and Sanya. She really hoped that Lynette was doing well, the last letter mentioned some mission that would take her away from Britannia. She found that she missed her friend at times despite having come home.
"Well, I see the Zuikaku is arriving early though," Michiko's grandpa said.
Yoshika looked out at sea where she could see several ships slowly approaching the harbor. The distinctive shape of a carrier in the middle of the group was easy to see. She looked up at the sound of planes flying overhead.
She closed her eyes for a moment remembering herself flying along feeling the wind whip around her as she soared in the air like a bird. The ability to use the Striker Units had come easily to her even from her first attempt when she had been on board the Akagi. She knew that actually controlling it had taken a bit longer to master.
The continued, around a hill blocking the harbor from sight before stopping at Yoshika's house.
"Ah, here we are Yoshika," Michiko's grandpa said.
"Thank you," Yoshika said, to him hopping off the back. "See you tomorrow Michiko."
"Don't forget your homework Yoshika," Michiko said.
"Oh, right," Yoshika said, having already forgotten. She sighed with that knowledge before heading towards the house. "Mom, grandma, I'm home," Yoshika said, as she entered the house. She stopped at the sound of a Striker Unit, turning, saw a witch making her way down to land in the road. Yoshika blinked, wondering if the witch had made a wrong turn somewhere.
"Um, hi, I'm looking for Yoshika Miyafuji," the witch said.
"I'm Yoshika," Yoshika replied, watching as the witch appeared to be in awe of her before remembering why she was there.
"I'm Meia, of the 524th, I have a letter for you," she said, holding an envelope out for Yoshika.
She took the letter from Meia seeing her name on the envelope. She wondered which of her friends sent her the letter. She quickly opened the letter even as her brain began to recognize the writing. She stopped and turned the envelope back over this time recognizing the writing.
"Again?" she whispered. Another letter from her father, but this time the letter seemed much thicker than normal. "Mom! Grandma!" she yelled, out one more still looking at the letter.
"Yoshika, what's wrong dear?" her mother asked, walking up beside Yoshika taking a moment to realize a witch was nearby looking very confused.
Yoshika held out the letter in shaking hands for her mother to see, watching her mother look at the letter also realizing who sent it. They both looked at each other in disbelief.
"Another one?" her mother said, who looked at the doorway where an older woman stood looking on.
"Y-yeah," Yoshika said, suddenly feeling very tired. She could not understand how tired she suddenly felt. She looked up at her mother who had a strange look on her face before everything simple went black.
"Oh dear," her mother said, catching Yoshika as the older woman came up as well. "I think the shock finally pushed her over the edge."
"Yes, not unexpected," the older woman said.
"No, perhaps this is for the best," Yoshika's mother said.
"Um, I didn't do anything did I," a timid voice said from the witch, Meia.
"No my dear," Yoshika's grandmother said. "While this is a surprise we've expected this for a while now."
"Oh, okay," Meia replied obviously relieved.
"I don't suppose you know where this letter came from," Yoshika's mother asked. The mystery of the letters was something she wondered about. Was her husband out there still alive, or someone's sick idea of a joke? She really wanted to know the answer to that.
"I'm sorry ma'am, but it just appeared at our headquarters, we're moving out later today to Africa so we were cleaning house. It could have been there a while though," Meia said.
"I see, thank you," Yoshika's mother replied. "Can I ask you one more favor; is Major Sakamoto still on the base?"
"Yes ma'am," Meia replied.
"Do you think you could contact her and ask her to come here to Yoshika's house? It's a trip for us to come down there with all our patients, and tell her that we received another letter from Doctor Miyafuji, that's important," Yoshika's mother asked.
"No problem ma'am," Meia said, taking off and heading towards the base.
Yoshika's mother looked towards her mom before they walked into the house.
"So, what does this mean?" the older woman asked, looking at the letter.
"I have no idea," the reply came back. "I only hope that Major Sakamoto might have some information about this," she replied, before looking down at Yoshika on the bed. "Do you suppose we should have told her that her powers would come back one day?"
"Perhaps, but she is young and impatient, and she might even have tried to force it. We did not know when this would happen. Her power is strong, which makes it hard to predict," the elder woman said. "I feel she will be resting for a while, at least until sometime tomorrow."
"Yes, I suppose so," Yoshika's mother replied softly, brushing some hair away from Yoshika's eyes. There was enough going on right now that had no answers. Maybe they would get some answers soon.
Major Mio Sakamoto turned around seeing a witch land on the runway and then head on over to where she was standing. Mio looked closely noticing what squadron wing the witch was a part of, the 524th and that they were about to head out later today.
"Major Sakamoto," the witch said.
"Yes," Mio replied, walking towards the witch.
"Lieutenant Meia ma'am, I was asked to relay a message to you," Meia stated. "I delivered a letter to Yoshika Miyafuji and she fainted but her mother wished that you visit them over this letter."
Mio looked at Meia when she heard the fact that Yoshika fainted. "Did her mother seem concerned?"
"Huh, um, not really," Meia replied, taken aback by the question.
"Good," Mio stated. "What was in the letter that they would have asked for me?"
"I don't know ma'am, though, if I recall, the mother did say something about another one. Something about Doctor Miyafuji," Meia said.
"All right, head on back to your squad, they are probably almost ready to move out," Mio said. She watched the witch fly off before thinking about the fact another letter from the doctor was delivered to Yoshika. Things were very strange indeed for such mysterious messages.
"Colonel," Mio said, walking across the hangar to where several men stood working. One of them jumped up.
"What is it major?" he asked.
"I need a jeep and a driver, there's something important that has come up," Mio said.
"Um, a-all right," he said.
Minutes later Mio sat quietly in the jeep headed to Yoshika's house. Was it possible Yoshika had received another letter from her father? The question seemed impossible to Mio yet she had to know. She also wanted to know, if the fainting connected with Yoshika regaining her magic.
She stepped out of the jeep after it stopped, giving instructions for the driver to stay there, before heading over to the door and knocking. After a few seconds the door opened revealing an older woman with some slight resemblance to Yoshika. Mio knew the two had met once before.
"Ma'am, Major Sakamoto, you asked to see me," Mio said. "Something about a letter, that might be from your husband, Doctor Miyafuji?"
"Yes major, please come in," the woman said, allowing Mio to enter the small first room. The woman disappeared into another room before returning and handing Mio a letter.
She quickly opened it up flipping through the pages not really able to make much of it. She knew enough to know that it did not appear to be a Striker Unit. She would give it to intelligence and see what they could make of it.
"Is Miyafuji here?" Mio asked, hoping that she was not intruding in on anything.
"She sleeping, and will probably be out for a while," Yoshika's mother replied.
"I see," Mio replied, looking at the woman before going on. "She's recovering you mean."
"Yes," an older woman said. "You know something about that?"
"Yeah, you might say so," Mio said. "I went though that not long ago to recover my magic."
"You still fly into combat, isn't that dangerous?" the older woman asked, with a knowing glance at the major.
Mio laughed at that before replying. "No, I only scout, I have strong magic that allows me to see incredible distances. I can stay a safe distance away from the battle and still find the core, which helps tremendously in fighting the Neuroi. I also help train new witches for combat."
They fell silent for a few moments and Mio glanced down at the letter.
"So, why now?" Mio asked, not really expecting an answer.
"Is something going on with the Neuroi?"
"Nothing, actually everything been unusually quiet, even the attacks have stopped lately," Mio said. She tried to think of anything that might explain why the letter was so late. All strike wings were finally being replenished to full strength and new strike witch squadrons coming into commission. "I know the peace won't last though."
"I wish it would," the older woman said.
Mio had to agree, but they still knew so little about the Neuroi and why they were there, or where they came from. As long as one hive remained on Earth, they had not won the war.
"Yoshika will be worry she missed you."
"I know, but who knows how long she will be out. Her magical power is tremendous," Mio replied seeing the two women agree. Mio also wondered if they would need Yoshika's abilities once more. The previous two letters had sent the girl into combat.
Perhaps she could talk to Commander Minna, she knew the commander was coming with the arriving Britannia fleet to help out with the conference. She would represent the witches and Mio could think of no other witch to do so.
"I'll give this to intelligence and see if they can get anything from it, but for now, I better get back to base," Mio replied not saying the letter made her feel uneasy now.
Mio glanced down at the letter from Doctor Miyafuji to his daughter. She looked over the pages of technical documents but still had no idea what it might be. She looked at the harbor seeing several new ships now docked which did not surprise her at all. With the leaders meeting in Fuso warships were used to transport them. The leaders were actually safer in the warships than flying through the air especially considering the Neuroi did not like to go across vast distances of water.
She saluted the guard as they entered the base before quickly making her way to intelligence. Inside the building things were uncomfortably quiet as several heads turned as she walked in.
"Major, what can we do for you?" one officer asked, walking up to her.
"I have some new information and was hoping you might be able to figure it out," Mio replied. She handed him the letter watching as he flipped through the pages and waving another man over who looked over the pages before turning back to Mio.
"Where did you get this?" the officer asked.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," Mio replied. "What is it?"
"Technical blueprints for a new weapon, using magic of course," the other man replied.
Mio nodded, not surprised that it used magic. "Anything else?"
"Hmm," the man said, scanning though the pages again. "This will take some time to figure out. I'm not even sure how powerful this is. We'll have to work on it for a while to see for sure."
"All right, I'll leave it to you then," Mio stated. She saluted the two before walking out of the building and headed towards the hanger where her striker unit was house. Stepping inside she saw the maintenance men working on her unit.
"Ah, major, we were finishing up and about to call for you," the head mechanic stated walking over to her.
"Some of the best news I've heard all day then," Mio replied, jumping up into the unit quickly powering it up not feeling anything unusual to her.
"Everything looks good here," one said. "Output is normal."
"Let's take it for a real test then," Mio said. "This is Major Mio Sakamoto ready for takeoff."
She quickly left the ground heading up into the sky feeling the wind rush around her. It felt so great to soar above the clouds and with the birds. She could see far out to see seeing several Fuso warships patrolling out at sea.
She turned to see Yoshika's house and thought about what had recently happened. Her father had helped out so much in the fight against the Neuroi. Mio wondered if Yoshika would ever realize how much her father had helped the world or how much Yoshika had helped out.
She looked down at the harbor seeing a Romagna warship docked nearby, the same one that helped out in the last battle when she had briefly lost her powers.
She turned around in the air, breathing in the cool air welcoming it before heading into several maneuvers designed to test out the Striker Unit. She now had to avoid combat which mean she had to fly well and keep a distance between her and the Neuroi.
"Major, any problems, everything looks good here," the head mechanic asked over the radio.
"Nope, so far everything looks good, I'll run some more tests and see," Mio replied.
"Fine, we'll continue to monitor from here," the reply came back.
Mio made another turn quickly accelerating to see how fast she could go before doing some high-speed turns. She felt the unit needed to be able to handle that especially for role in any combat situations. Finally finished she headed back to the hanger.
Stepping out of the Striker Unit she looked across the hanger at another unit sitting off to one side. Walking over to them she ran her hands over them wondering if the units would ever be used again. They had recovered the units and brought back to Fuso on board the Musashi recently. The mechanics quickly fixed them. Mio could not help but think that the units would be flying again especially after the letter.
"Hello Mio," a familiar voice said, causing her to turn around. Walking across the hanger deck she spotted the familiar form of Minna, her orange hair still as long as Mio remembered.
"Minna, I was wondering when you'd get here," Mio replied.
"We finally had a break. Got here in time to see you flying," Minna said, and Mio caught the look she gave.
"Yeah, the striker unit is working just fine. How's the meeting?" she asked, hoping to deflect the conversation for a moment. She knew how Minna felt about her flying into a combat situation.
"Ugh, that's all I have to say. At least we have an ally at the moment, Maria," Minna said.
Mio had to think of that for a second before remembering the Duchess of Romagna, who had become friends with Lucchini.
"Yeah, I can see why. Especially if Lucchini is still friends with her," Mio said.
"From what I've heard she and Shirley make up the Duchess' personal guard," Minna said. "In fact, a lot of former members of the 501st are in prominent areas. Our legend is following us where ever we go."
"I guess so," Mio said. "I take it they chose you to represent the witches in this meeting is anyone else there?"
"Nope, here as an advisor. At least I was asked this time. The biggest problem is it adds even more paperwork than before, going over all the details and such," Minna said.
"Well then, can I interest you in a nice bath," Mio said.
"Now, there's an offer you know I can't refuse," Minna replied. "Lead on."
Mio sat back in the large bath watching as Minna stepped in, and waded over to where she was sitting down with a sigh. Mio could see the tiredness in her friend.
"Are the meetings that bad?" Mio asked.
"You don't know the worst of it," Minna replied. "I don't get it, here we are in the longest peaceful stretch since the Neuroi have shown up and what do they do? Bicker like, well, a bunch of old people about budgets and programs. They always want to try something new but without testing it first, just put it in action."
Mio sat back thoughtful for a few seconds at what Minna said before replying. "They're scared. So far the only successful defense has been the witches. They feel they should be doing the protecting, not a bunch of girls."
"Maybe," Minna said, dunking under the water for a second. She re-emerged and pushed her wet hair out of her face. "You always say there is nothing us witches can't do."
"There isn't," Mio said, laughing before moving in behind Minna. She slowly massaged the shoulders feeling the tightness slowly relax. "So, what are they going to do?"
"That's the question isn't it? They are out of ideas and blame the witches for every loss but not for a victories, and then it's all about teamwork," Minna replied, relaxing into the massage Mio gave her. "Mmm, that feels good though. You haven't lost your touch at all. I wonder what they'd do if you showed up?"
"Probably nothing much, I have as much pull as you do," Mio replied, working on down Minna's back finding a knot and working it. "I hear most squadrons are at full strength now."
"Yeah," Minna mumbled out. "That's the only good news. Orussia Britannia and Africa are all at full strength with some to spare."
"Fuso sent the 524th to Orussia, they should have left by now. I know a few young witches here that might be ready in a few years," Mio stated, rubbing Minna's back.
"Always on the lookout," Minna said.
"Looking towards the future, we can't fight forever and you are getting to the point where your shield won't protect you for much longer," Mio replied.
"I know," Minna sighed. "I'm keeping a close eye on that."
"Good, I know what's it like," Mio said, as each fell into silence. They were both thinking about when Minna threatened to shoot Mio for going back out without a shield.
"So, how's Perrine?" Minna finally asked, breaking the silence. She felt Mio's hands still briefly before continuing. "I'm sorry, that was something I shouldn't have asked."
"No, she writes me still, working in Britannia with Lynette," Mio finally answered.
"Yeah, I heard that. You know she still worships you," Minna said.
"I know, she's a good kid," Mio said. She knew that Perrine had a crush on her. It was actually very obvious to everyone. Mio always thought Perrine would grow out of it, but now, she sighed. She was not sure if it was just a crush to Perrine. "I write her back, I hope maybe she'll meet someone else."
"Doesn't always happen, I didn't think so," Minna replied.
There was the biggest dilemma for Mio. She had feelings for Perrine, but also for Minna and at the moment, and she found it hard not to act on those instincts. She felt slightly relieved when she heard sounds coming down the hallway.
"I see we're about to company," Mio said, continuing her massage, looking up to see a couple of the medical staff walk in.
"Ah, um, major, how are you?" the first one, a tall dark-haired woman said. Mio felt sure they did not think anyone was in the bath by the way they walked in, hand in hand which they quickly released.
"Good, everything all right," Mio replied.
"Yep," the shorter one replied as they looked at Minna. "I don't think we've met, are you new?"
"Ah, just talking with my friend, I'm Lieutenant Colonel Minna Dietlinde Wilke," Minna replied. They watched as recognition appeared in their eyes.
"The commander of the 501st Joint Strike Wing?" the taller one asked.
"The one and only," Minna replied.
"So this was the commander who kept you in line," the shorter one said, looking at Mio. "You must be here as part of the high bigwig meeting?"
"Yep, and it's boring," Minna replied.
"Really, with so many important figures I would have thought it would be exciting," the shorter one said.
"Not really, listening to a bunch of political old men who have no idea what they are talking about, not that exciting especially when they choose not to listen to those in the field," Minna replied.
Mio sat back slightly allowing the conversation to roll over her for a moment. She wondered about the letter Miyafuji had received. The last time had been right after a large new Neuroi hive appeared.
"Hey, what are you thinking about?" Minna said giving Mio a nudge.
"Ah, just wondering how much longer this peace will last. It makes me nervous," Mio replied honestly.
"I know me too," Minna replied.
"I didn't think witches got nervous, especially you two," the taller woman said.
"We do, and that's not a good thing," Minna said.
Mio hoped the peace lasted a bit longer and that the leaders might finally listened to those fighting the Neuroi.
Yoshika slowly awoke, feeling slightly confused at her surroundings. She thought back to the last thing she could remember. She recalled the ride back home from school, and saw the warships in the harbor. Michiko's grandfather mentioned something about even more warships arriving from all over the world for some sort of meeting.
She made it home, that much she remembered feeling slightly tired before a witch had arrived. There she bolted upright in shock realizing she received another letter from her father. She wondered once more why letters from her father were still arriving to her so long after his death. Something did not make sense to her.
"Ah, I see you've finally woken up," her mother's voice said, causing Yoshika to look over at the doorway.
"Mom, what happened, I received a letter from father, but why, what's in it," Yoshika said in a rush.
"Well, you've been asleep for a day now," her mother said, checking Yoshika over before continuing. "I also bet you're hungry after such a long sleep."
Yoshika paused in her thinking to realize she was indeed hungry. "Um, yeah, I guess sleeping for a day will do that. I don't know why I did that, I've been getting enough sleep, and I missed Michiko after I promised her I'd there tomorrow, um, I mean today," Yoshika frowned wondering if she was saying that right.
"That's expected in the regenerating sleep," her mother said, shocking Yoshika for a second at the term. "How do you feel though?"
Yoshika thought about that for several seconds while her mother felt her forehead then stood back up waiting. "I guess fine, what happened?"
"The regenerating sleep, you don't know much about it do you," her mother said, as Yoshika shook her head no. "When a witch uses all of their power up in a single instant, it takes time to resupply it. The regenerating sleep heals your magic."
"Y-you mean I have my magic back?" Yoshika replied, unsure if she heard her mother correctly.
"Yes, a witch can never lose their powers. It's the recovery time that is different for every witch. You are young so it came back rather quickly. Someone older it might take over a year before their magic is restored," her mother said.
Yoshika absorbed that information for a while as her grandmother walked into the room with a tray of food that smelled wonderful. Setting the tray down in front of her she quickly ate what was on the tray before asking the one question that she wanted to know the answer to the most.
"Um, did I really receive a letter from father again?"
"Yes, I asked for Major Sakamoto to come up to look at it," her mother replied.
"Really?" Yoshika said excited that the major might be here until she realized how long she had been out. "She's already been here hasn't she?"
"Yes, I asked the nice witch who delivered the letter to have the major come by. She did not know what the letter meant either but asked to take it to intelligence. Something about some design or something that she did not understand," her mother said. "She asked about you though, and was not surprised when I told her you were in the regeneration sleep."
"She herself went thought it not long ago," her grandmother said. "Now rest up and allow your powers to fully replenish."
"All right," Yoshika said, laying back down in the bed.
"You do have a visitor though," her mother said, leaving the room and returning with Michiko following her.
"Yoshika, you're all right," Michiko said, quickly heading over to the bedside.
"Yeah, just something us witches do in certain moments," Yoshika said.
"Your mother mentioned your powers were coming back, is that right?" Michiko asked in an excited voice.
"That's what she said, I haven't tried anything yet," Yoshika replied at that.
"Oh, why not?'
"Um, my mind has been somewhere else," Yoshika replied, thinking about the letter she had received along with Major Sakamoto.
"She still needs to rest a bit," her grandmother said.
"Oh, well my grandpa says another Fuso fleet will arrive tomorrow," Michiko said. "There are some other ships there as well; I've never seen them before. My grandpa says they are from Romagna."
"Really," Yoshika said. "What about the fleet from Britannia?"
"Already here," Michiko said.
"Probably part of the large meeting of world leaders that's going on," her mother said.
"The Neuroi have been peaceful for a while so they thought they would talk about the situation and what else they can do," her grandmother said. "Just another excuse for more bickering about the fact they don't know anything."
"Wow, amazing so many leaders are here," Yoshika said. She would have to see that for herself once she recovered then another though struck her. "Um, you mentioned Major Sakamoto knew about what was going on with me, does that mean she has her powers back?"
"We talk about that, yes she did recover her powers and she is still flying," her mother said.
"What!" Yoshika said, sitting up in the bed again looking at her mother in shock. She wanted to head down to the base and give the major a stern talking to about flying again. "She can't defend herself in a battle anymore."
"She can fly and her powers have matured. She is using her magic of sight to scout now, not engage," her mother said.
"Oh, I see," Yoshika replied, feeling slightly relieved at what her mother told her. She wondered though what Commander Minna would think about that. She was extremely protective of the major.
"All right, let's give Yoshika her rest," her mother said as Yoshika yawned.
"Of course, I'll be by tomorrow," Michiko said quickly giving Yoshika a hug. "I'm glad you're all right."
"Thanks," Yoshika replied back, grinning at her friend who then walked out of the room.
She stood after everyone had left the room stretching for a second knowing tomorrow she would head to the base to talk to the major. Yoshika did not think the major would know anything but she would try. She could also gain some information about what her friends might be up to.
She laid back down looking at the ceiling knowing the last two times she had received a letter she ended up fighting the Neuroi. Would that happen again? She realized only time would tell for sure. For now she had her magic back which meant she could follow in her mother's footsteps and become a doctor like her mother and her grandmother. She knew now, after her two stints in the Navy, she could control her power much better than she ever had in her life.
She hoped the major would be there tomorrow when she went there. Then she could figure out what to do next.