A/N: I promised this story for so long! But I never got the guts to post it. Too many flamers and haters out there in this section. Yeah, I'm afraid of flamers and haters. Got a problem with that? Anyway, this story takes place in the Pacific region so that would mean that it will mainly include Britannia, Fuso, and Liberion. Karlsland may show up... or maybe not. Who knows?
Since I've put this story on temporary haitus, I will post the first seven chapters out first. Depending on my schedule, I may or may not continue. I actually have to do mandatory military service soon, so it would be at least another two months before anything happens. And I'm concentrating on my Angel Beats! story first.
For those wondering, I'm changing the way the different people address each other in accordance to their country. Fuso will use Japanese ranks to address officers, Britannia and Liberion will use English.
Here are some of that may come up
Gun-sou = Sergeant
Shou-sa = Sergeant Major
Jyun-shikan = Warrant Officer
Shou-i = 2nd Lieutenant
Chu-i = 1st Lieutenant
Tai-i = Captain
Shou-sa = Major
Chu-sa = Lt. Colonel
Tai-sa = Colonel
Following tradition, all Witches are based off real WW2 pilots.
Strike Witches
Pacific Suns
Battle of the Pacific
Chapter 1
Welcome
"The enemy will never come this far"
That was what the higher-ups at command had said.
"Look at its location! This place is impregnable!"
Such confidence in this small place.
"Our 15 inch guns will tear the enemy to shreds!"
Those large guns certainly do look fearsome.
"In any case, the war will never reach this part of the World."
How arrogant. How ignorant. How wrong.
Neuroi, the enemy of humanity. While it was not certain from where they came from, what was known was that they were hostile. The petty squabbles between men meant little when the entire species of humanity faced extinction at the hands of these alien invaders. Humanity was facing a losing battle against these creatures and was desperate to find a way to combat them. The answer came when doctor Miyafuji invented the Striker Units. These machines used magic engines to amplify and greatly increase battle capacities of witches. Witches were common around the World, each having their own areas of expertise. Witches were now at the fore-front of every battlefield.
Their courage and strength an inspiration to many as humanity now began to push the enemy back, reclaiming their homelands that were once lost. But the Neuroi were not easy to defeat, and the witches numbered only so few that they were deployed only in certain regions where they were most needed. The Afrikan campaign saw fewer Neuroi attacks, but those that did appear were fiercer and more ferocious than anywhere else. The liberation of Gallia and Romagna and the eventual push back into Kirksland saw some of the largest battles against the Neuroi that humanity had ever seen. The battle of Suomus was the turning point in the Eastern European theatre while Fuso Empire had not been attacked ever since the Fuso Sea Incident in 1937.
But that did not mean that the Neuroi were on the retreat. Far from it as the Southern Hemisphere of the World was still under threat and Neuroi control. Fuso's large neighbour, the Tian Shang Empire had seen more than three quarters of its land mass gone, destroyed by the Neuroi and was now reduced to mere pockets of resistance. To the far South of Fuso, the pacific had not seen much action even though they were right next to Oustralis. Oustralis had been Neuroi territory ever since the first Neuroi war, Britannia pulling its troops back North to the pacific Islands when the Neuroi hives appeared in large numbers. No one was thinking of amounting an operation to take it back as it was classified as suicide to even try it. Thus the pacific became the first line of defence against the Neuroi from the South.
"Enough with the history lessons. We already know about that so there's no need to remind us."
I blinked a couple of times, slightly surprised by their words. I wasn't really trying to give a history lesson, but rather an important reminder as to their duties here on this island.
"The Neuroi aren't going to attack us any time soon, Major."
One of the witches said, making some others in the room nod in agreement.
"We were sent here since we were the left-overs."
Another witch added. Some laughed at that. 'Left-overs'. It wasn't such a nice term once you got branded with it. While it was true that the Witches stationed in the South Pacific were quite numerous compared to other places, it was also true that the Witches stationed here had the tendency to be... less than expected. Some were here because of military misconduct, others displayed weak or little powers. There were even recruits being sent here to train. I, myself, was sent here because of a little... problem.
I wasn't exactly sent, however, since that incident was entirely my fault. However I do not regret coming here. Unlike the European theatre, the South Pacific saw little action, and unlike the Afrikan campaign which had indeed seen some of the fiercest fightings in the least number of skirmishes. Suomus and Orussia were too cold for me, and though I was offered a chance to fly with the legendary 'Silent Witches' of the 507th Joint Fighter Wing, I turned it down because I wasn't good at night flying. In fact, I'm so terrible that I would get lost without assistance.
"So are you going to let us go now, Major? Or do you have another speech to make?"
A witch in the front asked sarcastically. Though she was being rude to a superior ranking officer, I let it slide. I understand what these girls are thinking and I can't really blame them. I was only transferred here recently, and suddenly being placed as the commanding officer of this base, even I would think this was unfair. These girls have fought and bonded with each other for months now and suddenly they received a new commanding officer? No way were they going to just accept my word, let alone follow any orders I give.
"... Unfortunately for you, lieutenant, I still have some news to announce."
A stir of groans echoed around the room.
"Settle down. There's no use getting all pissed about it now. And it is going to affect all of you, so listen up. The Tian Shang Empire, or rather what's left of it, has sent us some of their own witches for further training."
"What? ! You can't be serious, Major! We already have two halls filled with trainees!"
"We can't train any more than that!"
As expected the response was so quick and immense that I didn't even managed to get my thoughts straight. A loud slam sounded from the table in front of me and the entire room fell silent. The source of the slam was the captain next to me. She was strict and followed rules almost to the letter. Even though I outrank her, I was scared of her too. The captain was a Fuso native, sent here after she punched her superior officer in the face when the order she was given made her angry. I did my research though, and found out that the order given to her was to abandon two whole battalions of infantry in order to ensure that a new secret weapon was delivered to safety.
The captain was outraged by this, punched the superior ranking officer and flew out with her witches to give aid to the two battalions. I was surprised that she wasn't demoted or court martialed after that, but apparently there was a rather important person in one of the two battalions she rescued, so she was sent here instead, together with a medal too. Not exactly the punishment her former superior commander wanted to see. So this captain may be more kind hearted than she lets on.
"Shou-sa, you may continue."
She said, prompting me to nod.
"Er... right, so the Tian Shang Empire is currently sending some of their own troops down to train."
"But why here and not Fuso? It's closer, and Fuso has the capabilities to train troops."
One of the Liberion witches raised a good question.
"Well, as most of you know, this island has a large number residents who came from Tian Shang. Compared to Fuso, the trainees would feel more relaxed and at home. Don't forget that the Tian Shang Empire is now reduced a small piece of land smaller than Britannia. This place would be like a home that those young ones have not experienced before, so be nice."
That made them silent. There were already a number of witches of Tian Shang descent who were serving in both Fuso and Britannian forces, not to mention that a lot of these witches here know some one who had lost their home to the Neuroi, or they themselves have lost homes to the enemy. I must have touched a nerve there.
"So the recruits will be arriving in two weeks. I expect every one of you give them all a warm welcome. As witches... as survivors, we are all equal under our sky. Dismissed."
"Shou-sa, if I may have word in private."
I looked around and saw that the Fuso captain was standing there with her no-nonsense face again. This girl needs to learn to lighten up. But then again, maybe the training of Britannia was somewhat more relaxed compared to what Fuso had. Or was it because I came from Faraway land? The Britannian troops always called us from Faraway land to be extremely easy going. Not sure how much of that is true.
"... Shou-sa?"
The captain looked at me with a raised eyebrow. I must be day-dreaming again.
"I'm sorry, it's just my mind is thinking of something else."
I apologized, not sure if that would actually work on a Fuso trained strict and by-the-book witch. It wouldn't work on a superior.
"I apologize then. My matter can wait."
"Ah wait! That's not it. Follow me to my office. We can talk there."
I stop the Fuso girl before she can run off. This girl needed to get some lessons in understanding body language. Or maybe I wasn't clear myself? The captain snapped to attention.
"Thank you. Allow me to carry those for you, Shou-sa."
The captain reached out for the files in my hands, but I stepped away, giving her a courtesy smile.
"It's alright. I can manage."
The files in question were something I requested from the head office. It contained every single witch, division, supplies and trainees that this base has. I realized after arriving, that though this was a small island, it still housed quite a large number of military personnels. The Fuso captain wanted to protest, but kept her lips shut. I could see it in her eyes that she wanted to help me carry these heavy files quite badly. She really was a kind girl. Still, this much wasn't as heavy as it seemed. Maybe the reason she doesn't voice her opinion now was because of what happened before, that incident that got her and her squadron into this sweaty and bug infested place. At least the food was good. I led the way to my office, which the captain was kind enough to open the door for me. I placed the files on my thus far empty desk, putting them one side before leaning against my own desk to face the Fuso captain.
"So? What is your worry?"
I ask, pulling out the first file to flip through. The captain closed the door behind her and still stood at attention.
"Permission to speak freely."
She spoke with some force.
"... That is why you asked to talk to me in private, is it not? Just loosen up. There's no need to be formal with me."
I said, flipping through another page. This base had a lot of troops, mostly infantry and land based, though. The number of aerial witches numbered few in comparison.
"I must ask for your forgiveness if overstep my bounds, or if I am being rude. But I must question your authority."
That made me stop looking through the files. My authority? Now that is something that I knew I was going to be asked about, though I expected someone else to ask before this captain did.
"... What makes you ask about that?"
I ask, closing the file and putting it down on the desk. The captain now looked slightly frightened. Probably due to the fact that she just insulted another superior office. The very first time she did it, she did not get court martialed but was moved together with her squadron all the way to this place for rejects. She would not risk another problem for her squadron and thus had to be careful with how she dealt with me.
"I-... I notice your complete lack of commitment or strictness to command the troops. I read your file before you arrived, Shou-sa, and this highly contradicts what was said about you."
"... A report about me. I see."
I nod my head as I began to understand what she was talking about. My past deeds were not very worthy of praise, but it did get me to my current rank. But what I realized after I reached this high place was that it was an extremely lonely seat.
"And what does that report say about me?"
I ask, feeling slightly bad for making this captain even more on edge.
"I-... I better not say."
"No, go on. I'm interested to hear what those brass balls have to say about me."
"'B-brass balls'?"
She asked in confusion.
"Ah, that's what I called them. The higher ups. They like being so high up and away from the action that they have time to polish the one thing they lack, their balls."
Of course, that was a joke, but apparently the captain did not get it.
"Never mind. So what was said?"
"... I-is is really alright?"
"Would you rather I give you an order to say it?"
I ask back. The Fuso captain thought about it, she actually did seriously consider it. What is wrong with her? But she finally shook her head.
"I'll say it for myself. However I would like to ask Shou-sa that if you feel offended, to punish me and me alone as it was my own doing and I did this on my own behalf. My unit and anyone else in this base is unrelated to this event."
This girl really did care for her team that much. I envy that trust.
"Sure."
"... The reports said that you were extremely strict with your subordinates, you even shot down your own wingman."
I thought back about whether that was true. Now that I think about it, I guess it was. I would not hide that fact since even I was angry at myself for that decision. But it was necessary.
"You were called the 'Reaper' and rarely flew after that. Your rough tactics and strict discipline forced even veteran witches to collapse. The reports say that you would do anything to complete the objective given to you, even if it meant sacrificing everyone in your battalion."
The 'Reaper'. Now that was a nickname I had not heard in a long while.
"And now you seem to be very different. Is it because of this posting? Or is it because of that incident?"
'That' incident. It was something that I heavily regretted doing. Because of my own weakness, my own blind conviction, I nearly made two squads of good witches lose their lives. All for what? Another promotion? Another medal? It was useless. If it weren't for the help that came from the 31st Joint Fighter Squadron Afrika, I would nearly lost everything. That incident really opened my eyes and it made me see my own bloodied hands, and the blood path that had led me to that place. I volunteered to transfer and came here.
"... I see, so? You wish to know what I plan to do with this squad, am I right?"
I ask, reaching over and grabbing my mug of coffee. The Fuso captain nodded.
"Hmm~, well, I do not really plan to do anything."
I answered, putting my mug back down. The captain seemed surprised by my answer.
"N-not do anything?"
"Well, I won't do nothing. But I will not drive for anything. As you know, captain, my past is one that is drenched in blood. Shooting down my own wingman, harsh discipline, nearly killing two battalions by my selfish orders, these are only the tip of the long list of things I've done. I will make this base into one that would not be called the place for 'rejects', but I will do so without sacrificing anything."
"... B-but you do not seem to be holding any confidence, or any command at all."
"It is true that troops will not follow me if I lack the right stance, if I seem unsure, but I'm doing what I determine is the correct course for me to take. Let me ask you something, Captain, why do you fight?"
This sudden question took her back.
"Er... because it is my duty. Because there are people who need to be saved and the Neuroi needs to be pushed back."
Her answer was straight forward and pure. This is probably the sort of stuff that the younger ones would say after watching a lifetime's worth of propaganda films.
"Duty... I see."
"Are you not the same?"
She asked.
"... I guess... I would not be. I fought for reasons completely opposite of yours. I had no sense of justice in me, no duty. I fought for two things; power, and for revenge."
I looked into my mug, remembering the days when I saw nothing but hatred. I looked for nothing but power, power to prevent what had happened in the past. I wanted the power to stop useless deaths. But I was so blinded by that drive for power and to quench my thirst for revenge that I had become a demon. Death incarnate. I had caused the one thing I did not want. I had performed with my two hands the things I wanted to stop.
"... Shou-sa?"
The Fuso captain looked at me with some concern.
"It's nothing. Anyway, you can relax. I will get this base into proper form, but in a more relaxed manner."
"... You plan to follow the 507 JFW?"
She asked.
"Them? Nah, even if its me, I couldn't make these witches into an elite force. No, I plan to make them prepared for the inevitable."
"Which is?"
"... The eventual push South to retake Oustralis."
