I'm back everyone!
Sorry for the long hiatus on the story I really tried to work on it to the best of my ability, but eventually lost interest with it for a while when I hit a large writer's block in the fourth chapter, couple that with a few bad life moments and you have someone who almost didn't care anymore. However after some serious thought and some inspiration from seeing a few what I thought "dead" stories get updated at last I decided to continue the story of the 4th, but take it in a slightly different way than I originally planned it so please everyone bear with my while I rewrite the first three chapters. For now I bring you the new and improved first chapter and I will try to update the story as much as I can, but it may be a month or two till I finish the next chapter. Anyways I changed a lot of things in the first chapter and added a few of the O.C. characters sent to me.
Disclaimer- The Strike Witch series is owned by Shimada Humikane, Noboru Yamaguchi and Gonzo Animation Studios.
Chapter 1- Storm Raiders
"War! War! War!"
2017 after 72 years of uneasy "peace" between the world's superpowers the balance of power was thrown into chaos by the multi-national terrorist group Vector and many other war hungry nations, the world was yet again thrown into a world war, but unlike what most people would believe would happen the world's governments knew that a nuclear war was out of the question. For if they did it would end all life as they knew, to counteract this they launched wide scale military operations throughout the globe more so than those seen in World War II. Nation after nation left the United Nations till all that was left were certain key counties. These last nations in a desperate bid to end the conflicts established the United Nations Joint Task Force, these fleets were created in a last ditch effort to stop the United Nations from falling apart completely, but that was then and this is now.
The year is 2025, eight years since the war began one year after the so called "Restoration period" the war is all, but won for the allied forces. However the cost of the war has been grave, out of the 22 Joint Task Forces that were created six remain operational the 3rd fleet, 4th fleet, 9th fleet, 16th fleet, 19th fleet and the 22nd fleet. The 4th being the longest lasting force has seen action across the globe has been trusted to escort relief and military ships from the United States to Great Britain, however fate has more in store for the 4th task force than a simple supply run.
4th Joint Task Force
1634 hours
Destination Great Britain
Robert Grant quickly sped up the ladder leading to the Captain's quarters all while desperately trying not to drop the thick stack of reports that the commander had asked for. Almost tripping on the last step he regained his balance before speed walking to the commander's door to knock, but before he even had a chance to knock the commander's voice rose from the other side of the door, "Enter."
"Yes, ma'am." He said as he opened the door, standing over a long table littered with every type of report imaginable was a woman with medium length black hair that covered her left eye, she wore a standard MCCUU* with a black undershirt instead of the standard olive green colored shirt and wore a glove over her left hand. The room was not very big for a Captain's quarters, but it was a little bit bigger than the rest of the rooms, it also smelled very musty inside and was littered with empty cans of food and water bottles. "Commander Kaytusha?" Robert said as the woman stood up straight and looked at him, "I have those reports that you wanted ma'am." He said snapping to attention and saluting.
The Commander nodded to him, "Very well let's see them." She said holding out her left hand for them. 'Such a strange commander I have never seen her out of her room expect when called upon and she is always wearing that glove on her left hand.'
Robert handed the reports to her and glanced at the reports on the table, "There's nothing interesting to look at Staff Sargent." The commander said scanning through the new reports given to her.
"Yes ma'am." Robert said quickly startled by her quick response without even looking at him.
Kaytusha looked through the reports before setting them down and looking at the world map on the adjacent wall on it where little flags with numbers on them, "Everything is going good." She said, "All most too good she mumbled after as she strolled over to the map and began moving them to different parts.
"Commander?" Robert said questioningly hearing the last part of what she said.
"Oh I forgot this is your first time with the fleet right?" She said putting flags in Russia, South Africa, and France.
"Ah yes ma'am I served as Admiral Hack's secretary before this." Robert said with pride in his voice.
"Well then you should now everything so far has been going exactly to how we planned it to go, but I don't like it." She said as she stepped back from the map after rearranging the flags.
"Isn't it good though if everything has been predicted accurately?" Robert asked questioningly seeming a bit surprised.
The commander turned to him and gave him one of her blank stares, "This is war, we must hope for the best, but expect the worst and I say that Vector is being too quiet about our movements thus far. They should realize what we are trying to do, yet we haven't had any contact with them for about a month now." She said as she stroked her chin in thought.
"If they were to attack us ma'am, would they do it now since we have all these cargo ships in tow right now?" Robert asked.
"Yes now would be a perfect time to ambush the fleet, yet the same goes for them as well. It looks too perfect which is why they sit and watch for now." Kaytusha said as the intercom beeped.
[Commander requested on the bridge repeat Commander requested on the bridge.]
"Well that will have to wait for now." Kaytusha said as she picked up a standard army issue Colt .45 from under some paper and put it in its holster. Robert opened the door as she grabbed her Admiral's jacket from her bed and draped it over her shoulders.
Robert walked next to her as they headed towards the bridge, "If they do we can handle them commander." He said with a small smile, "I'd love a chance to get some combat with the infamous 4th ma'am."
"Is that what the top brass has come to calling us now infamous?" The commander said as they past some Marines that snapped to attention as they passed.
"Yes ma'am because of all the victories you have achieved against Vector this past year." He said with confidence as they approached the bridge.
"All I do is follow orders, nothing more nothing less. It's up to the next generations to decide whether I should be called famous or infamous." She said as they entered the bridge,
The bridge was filled with personal analyzing reports and making sure that all ship systems were working correctly. The guards at the door saluted the Commander as she entered, "Officer on the deck!" they shouted to everyone inside. Everyone in the bridge stopped what they were doing immediately and turned to salute her as she stood in the door.
"At ease soldiers." She said with a neutral look as she approached the center of the bridge, at the center was a woman sitting down surrounded with floating monitors all around her. She wore a standard Navy NWU*, however she wore a black vest over the Navy uniform as well as black greaves that went from her knees to her ankles covering the top part of her black boots.
"Lin." Kaytusha said as stood behind the woman.
Lin turned to face the commander before getting up and bowing before the commander, "Yes ma'am?" Lin had long black hair that reached almost down to her stomach and cool blue eyes that seemed to follow you whenever you pasted in front of her.
"What is the situation Lin?" The commander asked returning her bow with a nod.
"Ma'am we have received a transmission from Headquarters and it's marked to all ships going to Great Britain." She said as her blue eyes flickered and a monitor appeared in front of the commander with the message.
WARNING TO ALL SHIPS IN ROUTE TO GREAT BRITAIN
Highly unstable storm detected between United States and Great Britain, South of Iceland. All ships on this route are recommended to avoid storm at all costs. Commercial electronics will be affected in this storm. Military vessels are encouraged to take shipping route 46 instead if in route to Britain.
HQ out.
The commander read the message, "Looks like the perfect distraction." She said turning back to Lin.
Lin nodded, "What's our course of action ma'am."
"Continue on of course there's no way we can go around and still be on time. Connect me with the other ships." She said as she looked outside the bridge at the horizon.
Lin closed her eyes for a brief second and pointed in front of the commander, "Connection established ma'am." She said as forty monitors lined up by ship type in front of the commander.
[Communication] [To all ships this is the Shepard of Fire, we have just received word of an E.M.P. storm forming over our route to Great Britain and have been advised by HQ to avoid it.]
This caused some of the staff on the bridge to chuckle in amusement at the warning, "When have they ever cared about us?" Robert heard one of the guards whisper behind him.
[However we will not be going around it, instead we will be going straight through it and this storm will be our perfect shield. From here on out any ship in front of us will be classified as hostile till proven otherwise by the A.I.'s. All supply and transport ships form into three lines, carriers spread out one needs to be on the right side, left side and the last one leading the formation. Destroyers stay behind the bigger ships and in there wakes, battleship Iowa protect the left flank and Missouri you have the right, stay in formation with the carriers. Cruisers you will form the outer ring of the protection zone watch for any Class A threats to the carriers or supply ships. Submarines scout ahead for anything suspicious, I expect reports every twenty minutes Shepard out.]
The floating monitors disappeared as the commander stepped away from them and turned back to Lin, "Establish direct connection with A.I.'s Lin." She ordered.
"Acknowledged ma'am." She replied as she closed her eyes and four different monitors appeared in front of the commander each one had a name under them, A.I. Samantha, A.I. Athena, A.I. Valkyrie and A.I. Numa. Robert stood behind the commander as the screens flickered to life with live feed from the other A.I.'s, each of them bowed or saluted as they appeared one after the other on screen.
Kaytusha nodded as Numa was the last one to appear on screen, "A.I.'s needless to say why I called you here correct?" she said as each of them nodded to the question.
[Of course ma'am."] Valkyrie answered bowing her head again in respect.
[We stand ready to lead and the soldiers stand ready to fight!] Athena said with enthusiasm as her red eyes flashed brightly.
[Alright then Samantha will lead the formation of supply ships, take two destroyers of your choosing as backup and recall all recon flights. Then replace the recon flights with Storm Raiders and have all pilots on alert five status till we make it through the storm. Athena you will be on the right with Missouri while Valkyrie you take the left flank with the Iowa. Lastly Numa stay in the center and be ready to deploy at a moment's notice understood?]
I.N.D.* Guardian Ford-Class aircraft carrier
A young man with short brown hair and wearing an American flag on his shoulder was sitting on a couch playing Fallout 3 humming to one of the songs playing. As he did Japanese man walked in with a Coke and a Dr. Pepper. Throwing the Dr. Pepper to the young man he asked,
"How long have you played that? Jeez play something else for once Rick, that game is way too old." Opening his laptop and looking on the internet.
Rick turned and said, "Oh, and how long have you been watching anime Arashi?" As he started to watch the most recent episode of Sword Art Online.
"Longer than you have been playing that game." He replied.
Captain Rick is a 23 year old man from California, he was always a caring commander that always seemed to be a bit distant from everyone. First Lieutenant Arashi was his co-pilot, a Japanese Defense Force pilot from Kyoto he was almost the complete opposite of his American friend he always was optimistic and liked to find the good part of any situation. They are part of a fighter team known as the Storm Raiders call sign Raider 2-1, they specialized in flying in harsh conditions with specially modified jets that can recon in any weather and if necessary fight back with a combination of guns and missiles.
"I'll never understand why that game is so popular, at least anime I can watch it without the threat of someone backstabbing me." Arashi replied.
Two other people walked in to the room both had Russian flags on their shoulders. One younger of the two men had short unkempt brown hair, while the older one had a clean cut both of them had trays of food from the mess hall down the way. Both of the men strolled over to the couch before the older man asked, "What's the matter American Devas having relation problem with wife?" he said in a thick Russian accent.
A/N any text seen between () is the translation.
Rick just gave the old man a cold stare and said, "Заткнись Ivan!" (Shut up Ivan!)
"Oh look he been working on his Russian. He getting better yes?" Ivan said.
"Here and there." Rick replied bumping fists with the two men before moving his feet off the table.
Senior Lieutenant Ivan and Sargent Arman were Rick's wingmen call sign Raider two-two. While Ivan was a joker and loved to make fun of his superiors, Arman was a cautious man that loved to scout more than he did fighting, but he was the man you wanted next to you when you had too.
Rick and Ivan were the two leading aces among all the raiders with over twenty-five missions flown and a kill ratio of nearly six to one they were highly respected and feared when the two began to argue of who was better. Ivan was watching Rick decapitate some poor person with his knife as Arman was watching SAO with Arashi.
The intercom suddenly came to life,
[ALL HANDS MAN YOUR BATTLE STATIONS, REPEAT MAN YOUR BATTLE STATIONS! ALL STORM RAIDERS REPORT FOR DUTY!]
The four men ran out of the room for their lockers and began changing in to their G- Suits. They grabbed their helmets, Rick's was a jet black helmet with red writing on it that reading raider's in all caps, Arashi's on the other hand was green with white Japanese writing on it that read ファイター (Fighter). The other two had new helmets that they didn't want to write on yet. After changing they ran to the briefing room where Samantha was waiting with the rest of the Raiders.
"What's the good word Samantha?" Arashi asked.
Samantha turned to them and said, "There is an unstable storm ahead of us, you and Raider two- two are too take off and recon this part of the storm for any danger. If you do find anything Captain; Deal with it at your own discretion, do not engage if there is any doubt you cannot can handle it. You will be the first squadron in, other squads will also be launching call on them if you need too alright?"
They shook their heads. "Ok you are to take off in thirty minutes and Raider three- one and three- two will be joining you soon after. The fleet after that will enter after once it is clear that no variable threat is present. That is all, Raiders prepare to sortie!"
"Yes ma'am!"
Deck of IND Guardian
Rick was next to his F-18 doing flight check while Arashi checked the electronics, everything seemed to be going smooth as they checked off all the things one by one. The flight deck was scrambling with flight crews prepping other jets for takeoff as they also cleared the runway of jets coming in. Behind Rick was Ivan checking his Russian camouflage MiG(N) - 31* it had a fearsome looking armament 4x R-37 long range missiles and 2x R-77 medium-range Missiles. While Rick's F-18 sported 4x Sidewinders and 4x AMRAAM with PGM bombs. Rick was about to climb into his cockpit when the roar of an AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter caused him to stop as it began its final approach to the carrier. Ivan strolled up to him as they watched the helicopter land a bit suddenly on the carrier.
"Bit fast on land eh, Rick." Ivan snorted as the rotor blades slowed to a halt and the engine shut down.
"There are only four people I know that are alive who would make landings like that." Rick said as he shook his head as two women jumped down from the helicopter before walking towards them.
"Oh boy my luck must be rotten if I see you two before takeoff." Rick said as the two women stopped in front of them before taking off their helmets.
"Now now Captain is that anyway to treat a lady? No wonder you have no girlfriend." The taller one said as she pulled off her helmet reveling her short ginger hair with emerald green eyes.
Sergeant Maria O'Donovan and her best friend/copilot Corporal Jennifer Wei call sign Shrike 4-1, they had been together since the start of the war. They had also served under Rick's command for several operations and were personal friends of the two.
"A lady? You more of it than lady." Ivan said laughing at his own joke.
"Ok calm down Yoda, I don't want you to get hurt at your age." She shot back.
"Now that's just rude Sergeant Maria." Rick said as Ivan stopped laughing.
"Well I'm not the one who started it sir." She said as Rick looked at the second woman.
"Hey Jennifer you too see anything up there before being called back?" Rick asked.
Jennifer had undone her long black hair out of her bun and was playing with it, "No sir, but the storm was very weird almost like it appeared out of nowhere. If we would have stayed around in the area any longer, we may have been caught in it." She said looking at him with her dark brown eyes.
Rick sighed, "I hope it stays like that." He said as he turned to Ivan and motioned to the jets. "Well either way it's good to see you two we'll take it from here." He said as Ivan put on his helmet.
"Oh I would say that dinner is waiting for you inside, but Ivan got to it first." Rick added with a small grin.
"And it was lovely too bad you not there!" Ivan said walking back to his MiG laughing.
Maria scowled at Ivan, "Fucking old bat!" She yelled as Ivan climbed into his cockpit.
Ivan yelled back, "Screw you it bear not bat."
"I would but I make it a point not to fuck aging animals especially ones that can't get their dick up after a bottle of Viagra!" Maria yelled in response as Jennifer pushed Maria inside.
Rick ignored the insults as he did final check before saluting the man outside as he began to give final instructions. As Rick was in position waiting for the go signal he breathed in and out and felt his tags on his chest and said, "Please let us come home". Looking in front of him he saw the sky starting to change colors however with the radiation in the sky it glowed a nasty green color as the sun got lower in the sky, 'A nice colorful sunset. Seems like even that is a rare occasion now a days, oh what I would do for just a glimpse at the clear blue skies of California.' Rick thought as he shook his head as an image of her appeared in his mind, 'Not now, for now all that I can do is go forward.' He held his the dog tags on his chest, 'Wait for me, I'll come home eventually.' Rick readied himself as he watched Ivan's MiG launch down the carrier before Rick felt the catapult launch the F-18 down the carrier's deck, Rick instinctively lifted the stick and pulled up from the carrier. He was in the air again as Arashi brought up radar from the back seat and began to transmit their signal back to the ship. Ivan formed up with Rick and both jets headed towards the storm.
Arman looked down as they passed the Shepard of Fire, "What a ship." He whispered as he saw people raising the flag of the 4th task force.
Rick checked the coms making sure Ivan was on the same one, "Raider two-two this is Raider two-one do you copy."
"Yes sir. Reading loud and clear commander." Ivan replied.
He heard Arman saying on the other end, "Everything is going to be alright, it's going to be like last time just recon and return." As he tried to calm himself down. He had only been out here for about one month now and had only three kills and seven missions.
Rick said, "Cut the chatter Arman, you should know by now no two missions are alike. Just focus on the task at hand and we'll get through this in one piece."
"Y-yes sir." The young man said surprised at the commander's order.
"Leave him alone Rick, sure there's no such thing as two same flights, but he's still new you could let him hope for one." Arashi said.
Rick thought about it for a second and said, "True, but still keep your head on a swivel we need to be ready for anything roger."
"Roger!" Ivan said as they headed straight towards the storm, it was a clear sky no clouds anywhere.
Rick grumbled, 'I don't like it usually there are a bunch of clouds around when there is a large storm like this in the area, but there are none.' He thought as he scanned the sky around him.
Soon however they came upon a large cloud formation that stretched from one side of the horizon to the next, "Матерь Божия!" (Mother of God) Arman exclaimed at the sight of the storm.
The Raiders looked at the storm in astonishment, it looked like an upside down tornado with the point of the tornado towering towards the heavens. Green and blue lighting arced across its clouds like as though there was a light show in the center of the storm.
"Good god!" Ivan exclaimed as his blood seemed to chill to the bone at the sight of the massive super storm.
Rick on the other hand activated his jet's forward camera and sent a minute long video of what the storm looked like back to the fleet, "Alright boys let's get to work shall we?" he said as the storm grew closer.
"Buckle up it going to be rough ride." Ivan said as he tightened his seat harness a little more as they entered the storm. Both pilots were hit with the full force of the storm, the wind nearly tearing the sticks from their grips as they struggled to stay on course.
"Rick something's wrong with the radar, it can't read anything in the storm! It's just a large blot on the screen." Arashi said as Rick's HUD flashed on and off before completely dying.
Rick smacked the side of it a few times after it happened, "Damn, piece of shit. Something is draining the power from my HUD." He said in frustration.
"Mine too." Ivan said as he tried to fix it.
Soon Rick's instruments started acting weird as they flickered and started to read freak out, even the fuel gauge started to fluctuate, "What the hell is with this goddamn storm, our jets should be able to withstand these waves?!" Arashi said as his instruments went out completely.
"Shepard this is raider two- one we have lost our electronics and are flying blind repeat we are flying blind." Rick tried to message out. All that was heard though was the silence of the radio behind the roar of the wind in the storm. The lights from the jet flickered as power levels continued to decrease, "Sir our engines are failing!" Arashi yelled.
The jet's both started to lose altitude as they lost power to their engines, "We are going to have to eject Arashi!" Rick yelled back as then a flash of lighting struck the jet, Rick held his hands to shield his eyes as he felt his jet dove straight down.
504nd Ardor Witches base
0730 hours
Luciana Mazzei was walking down the base toward the hangers with her friend Martina Crepi, usually they would have their third friend Fernandia Malvezzi with them, but ever since that massive fuck up of an Operation, and she had to be hospitalized as well. The 504th Ardor witches have been officially taken out of service due to the amount of casualties sustained during Operation Trajanus barely a week earlier. Out of the ten combat witches on the base the operation left them with only five that were still able to fly the others had to be hospitalized for injuries sustained in the intense fighting afterward. The 504th was defeated and Venzia fell into Neuroi hands, the commander had left Takei Junko in charge while she went to command in Britannia to ask for reinforcements to be sent their way. Junko was talking to her old friend Mio Sakamoto, Fuso had heard of the defeat and decided to send supplies to the 504th to help them while they searched for new members to add to their ranks. Miyafuji Yoshika had also tagged along with the Major to help her with delivering the supplies. This was the first time Fernandia and Luciana had met the young savior of Gallia and they wanted to meet her in person to thank her for the supplies as well as see what type of person she was. The young Fuso witch was helping the soldiers on the base as they unloaded the truck while Mio and Junko were talking about the recent operation.
"Ah Luciana, Martina." Junko said as she spotted them approaching the hanger. "Please help Miyafuji unload the truck please these are supplies from Fuso."
"Yes ma'am" they replied as they head in to the hanger.
They approached the young witch and tapped her on the shoulder, "Um, excuse me but are you Sergeant Miyafuji Yoshika?" Martina asked.
The young witch turned around and said with surprise, "Yes why?"
"My name is Flight Sergeant Martina Crepi and this here is my friend Pilot Officer Luciana Mazzei. Nice to meet you hero of Gallia." Martina said.
Luciana only nodded and said, "Thank you for the supplies."
Yoshika smiled, "Hero? I don't know about that, but we need to help each other in our times of need don't we?" She said as she scratched her head.
Martina nodded and said, "Still after that operation we still need more witches then we need supplies, but fresh food is welcomed here."
"What happened?" Yoshika asked in curiosity.
"You didn't hear?" Martina asked as she sat on one of the large crates, "We were supposed to establish communication with the humanoid Neuroi that you discovered a year ago in Gallia. When we attempted to communicate with it a larger, more powerful hive appeared above the original one and destroyed the smaller one. It took over Venzia in a blink of an eye and we had to provide support for the evacuation. Does that sound about right Luciana?"
Luciana was helping unload the truck and only nodded in agreement.
"She was part of the first group that went in to try to communicate with them. I was sent later when word reached the base that the operation failed. We lost more than half our strength in that operation as well as our healer Fernandia Malvezzi." She looked down in defeat, "We didn't lose any witches, but lots of soldiers and civilians were killed in the confusion and we almost lost Commander Junko, but Fernandia healed her, but she was injured later on."
Yoshika only said, "Neuroi destroyed another Neuroi?"
"Yeah that what Luciana and Junko wrote down in the report I wasn't there to see it myself." Martina said standing back up and stretching.
"Are you going to get reinforcements?" Yoshika asked.
Luciana answered this time, "Our commander Federica is in Britannia trying to arrange it, but for now we are supposed to be reinforced by witches from the 503rd in Orussia and in addition 508th fleet left Liberion to assist us in taking back Venezia. They should be arriving in the next day or so."
As soon as she finished Major Sakamoto shouted at Yoshika, "Miyafuji we are heading back to base!"
"Yes Ma'am!" she shouted back.
She turned to Luciana and Martina, "I have to be going now, but it was nice getting to meet you. I know your friends will make it and I hope for the best for the rest of you."
Luciana nodded and Martina said, "I know it was nice to meet you too Miyafuji. Just leave some Neuroi for us we won't be out of action for long. "
As they Major Sakamoto and Miyafuji were going to leave the air raid siren went off. Junko ran to the radio as the witches gathered around her.
Junko turned around and said, "Neuroi have been spotted attacking our reinforcements from Orussia, they are requesting help. Mio I need your help since the 504th is not up to combat readiness yet."
Mio laughed, "Once more into the sky right Junko? Miyafuji ready the Strikers we are going to help."
"Roger." She said as she jumped out of the truck and pulled off the cover on the truck revealing two striker units in the back.
"Luciana, Martina get ready to sortie." Junko said.
"Yes Ma'am!" They ran into the hanger and got in to their striker units Luciana grabbed her Anti-Tank rifle and Martina grabbed her MG42. As they did the remaining members of the 504th arrived at the hanger Suma Amaki and Patricia Schade. They were briefed on the situation and quickly responded the same way.
Junko got into her striker and summoned her familiar, before grabbing her Type 99 machine gun and said, "All units launch!" as she took off and was joined by the rest of the squad.
"Where is the convoy?" she asked the men in the tower.
"South towards Africa they were going to enter port soon ma'am." The man responded.
"Roger. Mio you see anything?" she asked Mio who was fling right next to her.
Mio activated her magic eye and looked straight ahead and saw the engagement with multiple Neuroi's of various sizes only three witches were in combat with them. "Straight ahead three witches are engaged in combat right now."
"This is Flight Lieutenant Takei Junko. Do you read me convoy?"
"Da Flight Lieutenant this is the Captain Pavel of the Convey 89 we need help. Flight Lieutenant Waltraud Nowotny, Wing Commander Huberta von Bonin and Pilot Officer Ottilie Kittel are engaging the enemy, but they are not retreating and they are trying to sink the convey, we already lost four ships ma'am."
"Ok Captain Pavel don't worry we are in route-. "Before Junko was able to finish her sentence one of the Neuroi's beam cut in to the flagship sinking it. After that there was only static on the channel.
Mio grunted in frustration that they didn't make it in time as another destroyer was cut in half by the beam.
"All units engage and destroy the Neuroi." Junko said as head towards the battlefield.
Flight Lieutenant Nowotny was supposed to be the reinforcement's from the 503rd joint fighter wing along with her wingman Ottilie and Wing Commander Bonin, but when they were almost to the port they were attacked by a pair of heavy bombers and drone sized versions of the Neuroi. The three witches had been fighting for some time now, but were unable to save the doomed ships now they were running out of ammo and magic.
"Lieutenant I'm not sure how much longer I can keep this up," Ottilie said to Nowotny as she tried to catch her breath.
"Don't worry reinforcements are in route we just need to hold out till then, focus on supporting the Wing Commander." Nowotny said to her wingman as she reloaded her MG-42. Wing Commander Bonin was a witch of 26 years old. She shouldn't be even fighting since her shield didn't work anymore and her magic power was greatly weaken by age, but she insisted since she had never refused a good fight and joined the other two witches under protest.
Ottilie grunted in anger as the MG42 bullets just bounced off the heavy Neuroi without so much as a scratch on the outer armor.
"That armor's too thick we need something bigger!" Bonin shouted. The destroyers that were escorting them had been some of the first ships destroyed in the initial assault. Now they were facing defeat in the eyes and Bonin did not want to admit it, but they wouldn't last much longer without support.
Out of nowhere the Neuroi's side armor exploded in a flash of light. 'An Anti-Tank Rifle? From where?' Bonin thought as she looked to her side and saw the seven reinforcement witches from the 504th base.
"I thought we came here because you weren't combat effective Junko." Bonin said with a smile as the reinforcements gathered around her.
"Well we thought that since you took the time to come here we might as well show you the sights." Junko said as she held out her hand.
"Well I would be most thankful if you did that." Bonin replied shaking her hand. "But first let's deal with these bastard's first." She said turning towards the Neuroi.
"Of course are your girls ready?" Junko asked the Nowotny and Ottilie.
"Ready and willing." They yelled in unison.
"Junko we fought this type of Neuroi before, they have heavy armor and are very well armed don't underestimate them." Sakamoto said as the squadron split up to avoid the Neuroi lasers.
"Split the targets don't give them a moments rest!" Junko yelled as they charged in.
Kittel formed up behind Nowotny as they tag teamed one of the heavy Neuroi bombers with Bonin, Junko and Amaki.
Luciana provide covering fire with her anti- tank rifle as Martina and Patricia charged at another heavy bomber.
Sakamoto and Miyafuji focused their attacks on the drone Neuroi luring them away from the heavy bombers.
'Where did these Neuroi come from?! Our radar should have been able to detect them before they attacked the ships!" Junko thought as she dodged right and left while trying to draw its fire from Bonin.
"Focus fire on its center Luciana I think I saw the core!" Martina yelled firing at the spot before it had a chance to regenerate.
Luciana focused her rifle and steadied her aim as she followed Martina's tracers to the center of the target before squeezing the trigger. The rifle kicked back as its .55 caliber round flew towards the Neuroi bomber, upon impact the round blew straight through the Neuroi as it let out a shriek as it flew towards Luciana firing lasers everywhere.
Sakamoto chased down three drones, firing short bursts of her Type 99 she managed to down two before the third dove toward the sea in an effort to evade her shots. Miyafuji saw that and fired a quick deflection shot destroying the drone before deploying a shield shielding her from the debris. "Nice Miyafuji stay with me!" Sakamoto said as more drones tried to get behind them.
"Roger!" Miyafuji said as they both started firing as the drones behind them as they came into range.
Captain Rick Walker
Location: Unknown
Time: Unknown
Rick kept his eyes closed and waited to hear the splash of water against the jet with the calling of the grim reaper summoning his soul to the devil, but no such splash was heard and Rick opened his eyes and instead of them falling out of the sky they were flying straight as though nothing happened. Rick grabbed the stick out of fear while doing a looking at all his systems, his HUD was active and all the electronics had power. It was the outside of the jet however caught Rick's eye it was a nice clear day complete with blue skies and nice clear water.
"Arashi you ok back there?" Rick asked remembering his copilot, "Raider two-two, where are you?" he added looking over his shoulder trying to find his wingman.
After a few seconds a small groan was heard over the radio as a response to Rick's question, "Ah, my head." Arashi said as he tried to regain his focus.
"Arashi thank god are you injured?" Rick asked as he turned around to look at him.
Arashi felt something wet slowly moving down his face, "No I'm o-." Looking at his sleeve he saw a bright red stain, "Bleeding." He said as he undid his helmet and felt for the wound.
"Bleeding?! How bad is it?!" Rick yelled as Arashi took off his glove and found the wound.
"Not that bad it's just a cut on my head." Arashi said calmly as he inspected his helmet, "I think I hit my monitor when we started to fall." He said reaching for the first aid kit.
"Ok take it easy let me see if I can find land." Just then over the radio Rick heard a small moan, "Ivan is that you?" he asked looking at his radar he saw that Ivan's MiG was at his 5 o'clock low.
"Оставьте меня в покое дорогая. Просто еще одна минута или тридцать." Ivan said in more of a groan (Leave me alone dear. Just another minute or thirty.)
"Hey Arashi is your radio off?" Rick said as he cleared his throat
"Yeah why?" Arashi asked as Rick brought the radio as close as he could to his mouth, "Wake up you fucking old bear!" he yelled as loud as he could.
"AHH!" was the response on the other side as Ivan woke up startled by the yelling," Не ешь меня! "He yelled. (Don't eat me!)
Rick just shook his head as he lowered his throttle to form up next to the MiG, "Why the hell would I want to eat an old ass bear like you? You probably taste like old boots at best." Rick said as Ivan watched him form up.
"Fuck you I was having nice dream of glorious wife and children." Ivan said looking around, "Where are we?" he added shaking his head, trying to clear his vision.
"I wish I knew." Rick answered back before noticing in the back of the MiG Arman was just starting to wake up as he bobbed his head back and forth.
"Are we dead?" he said looking around at the clear blue skies.
"No, we are very much alive Arman." Arashi said bandaging his head from the wound.
"Oh." Arman said sadly as Ivan laughed out loud, "What you eager to die Arman? You still young have much to look forward too and do!" he said checking all his instruments.
"Cut the chatter you two." Rick said as he looked at his digital map, it said no signal. 'What the fuck. No signal?!' He thought, "Ivan is your map working?"
"Um, yeah it work before storm now no." Ivan said inspecting his map before hitting it, "Какашка!" He shouted. (Piece of shit!)
Rick sighed, "Well shit, Arashi see if you can raise the fleet, Arman see if you can also, Ivan me and you will look for some kind of land we shouldn't be that far from Britain if we are out of the storm and everyone keep an eye out for any ships or something like that."
"Wait a minute wasn't it close to evening when we left?" Arashi asked looking around.
"I know Arashi." Rick grunted looking at his digital clock that flashed 00:00.
"You know what?" Ivan asked also punching his clock in anger.
"Well if you had a brain somewhere in that skull of yours, you would know that the sun was setting as we left." Rick said looking for any type of ship.
"Sir he's saying that the position of the sun right now does not match the time we left. If you look at it now it's heading towards the middle of the sky not setting." Arman said as Ivan just answered back with an unimpressed oh.
Upon closer inspection of the remaining instruments, there were a lot of certain types that worked, but any GPS or satellite related equipment seemed to be broken as well as personal cell phones, 'Well this is fuckin weird, no cell phones, GPS or satellite reception it's almost like we've fallen off the end of the face of the Earth. What in the world happened to us' He thought.
Arashi shook his head in anger, "Sir I cannot raise the fleet or anyone else for that matter." He reported as Arman said the same for him.
"So what now?" Ivan asked as he leaned back in his pilot's seat, "We're out here all alone cut off from the fleet." He sighed, "What you Americans call fubar I think."
"Are you not concerned that we could get hit at any time by Vector?" Arman asked in a very concerned tone as he double checked his radar screen and looked around concurringly around the jet.
"No not really at the very least our armaments are working so if they do decide to attack we can deal with them." Arashi said as a small static noise peaked his attention, "I think I got something."
Rick started to pick the strange noise also at first it seemed like a jumbled up radio message, "Do you think you can clean it up a bit Arashi?" Rick asked tapping his helmet seeing if it was broken.
"No it looks to be an old military channel it may clear if we get closer to the signal." Arashi said curiously as he made a note of the channel. Soon after flying in all directions they figured out that the signal got stronger when they headed south east of their location. The radio chatter seemed to clean it's self in till they finally heard something that they clearly understood.
[Radio] [Wing Commander we can't hold them here we need additional support!] A young woman said as different machine guns were heard in the background.
[Stand your ground! We'll hold them focus fire on the bomber type then work your way down.] Another young woman said as what Rick thought was propeller sound in the background.
"Sounds like they're in serious trouble sir." Arman said as they also picked up the message.
Rick thought about the possibility of it being a trap or something else, 'Should we help? It could be a trap, but if it's legit then we could be of some help. Maybe we could get some answers from them or maybe they have an actual map that works.' Rick continued to think when he heard a scream on the radio that brought him out of his thoughts.
[Ottilie are you ok?!] A different voice asked as more machine gun fire was heard.
[It got close, but I'm ok.] The one called Ottilie responded, she sounded exhausted and was breathing heavily. [I can't hold out much longer.]
[Hold on I'll be right there.] Another said as more voices of concern steamed through the radio.
"What do you think Rick?" Arashi asked Rick as they listened in to the chatter.
"Do not respond to them. We don't know anything about where we are or who those girls are. For all we know it could be a fake distress signal trying to lure our task force right into an ambush." Rick said.
"But Rick if it's a real emergency shouldn't we help them?" Arman asked looking over at Rick though his cockpit.
"I said we weren't going to answer back. I never said we wouldn't check it out." Rick said looking at Arman grinning under his mask.
Arman gulped in response as he felt the jet accelerate towards the signal. After a few minutes Arman spotted something in the distance, "Sir I think I see smoke in front of us sir." Rick looked up and there was a lot of smoke and what looked like a large battle happening in front of them.
Rick squinted to try to see what was happening and when he could finally see it the battlefield ahead he could not believe his eyes. "What the fuck?!" he said as he broke left suddenly catching Arashi off guard.
"Agh, take it easy Rick." Arashi said as he watched Ivan speed past him before turning around to regroup.
"What is problem? Sound off next turn." Ivan asked sounding very annoyed looking at Rick who was staring at the battle raging ahead, "What you look at?" Ivan said.
Rick felt his jaw open in disbelief and repeated in a lower voice, "What the fuck?!" He could not even begin to describe what he was seeing as the rest of his squad saw what he had seen all of them had the exact same reaction.
In front of them above smoldering wreckages of ships, appeared to be girls with metal legs flying and fighting against some two large unidentified black objects that looked to be shooting some type of red beam at the girls. Rick watched as two of the girls flew above the battle before executing a perfect split S down towards the large object.
"So anyone see girl flying with metal leg, perform advance combat maneuver while crazy black object shoot red laser at them?" Ivan asked as he rubbed his eyes.
"Yeah we do." Arashi said as he just stared in wonder at what he was witnessing.
"Hehe ok I not crazy yet." Ivan said.
Arashi's eyes were as big as plates and he felt his blood run cold as they watched this impossible battle take place right in front of them.
Ivan was looking in amazement at the battle unfold when Arman just started laughing out and crying, "WHERE ARE WE?!" he shouted before Ivan heard a thud behind him. When Arashi looked at Arman he was slumped over in his seat knocked out as his brain collapsed at the sight of the battle.
'What- no where are we?!" Rick thought as they watched the battle ensue.
Major Sakamoto
Sakamoto shot down another three drones when her gun clicked empty, "Shit." She mumbled out as she dropped it and drew her sword, they had been fighting for nearly twenty minutes and they have shot down the virtually all of the drones yet the heavy bombers were still operational and proving to be tougher than the last ones they fought.
"Mio." Sakamoto heard as Junko flew up next to her, "HQ just radioed in the Romagna fleet has been dispatched to help us, but two new contacts have appeared on the radar and are coming straight for us." She said loading her Type 99 with her last magazine.
Sakamoto growled angrily, "If it's going to come to a last stand take everyone and leave Junko, I will buy you enough time to leave." She said gripping her sword tightly.
"No Major I will stay with you!" Miyafuji said coming behind Junko.
"Miyafuji! You will obey my orders and leave the battlefield! This is not you're your last fight, the 501st still needs you." Sakamoto said holding the young witch that she had trained. "I remember when I first met you, I knew you had potential yet you surpassed my expectations, don't waste them here by trying to save me."
"No I will stay with you we can still win! We have too!" She yelled back, "I refuse to believe that we can't beat these Neuroi!"
"Miyafuji." Sakamoto said as she saw the determination in her eyes, 'That look it's the one of a true warrior of Fuso.' Sakamoto stared in awe before letting out one of her famous laughs, "Aright I like that look in your eye Miyafuji! Let's win this one!" she said slapping Miyafuji on the back. "What are your orders Junko?" she asked.
"Redouble your efforts on the one Wing Commander Bonin is facing, Luciana, Martina, Patricia keep the other one at bay. As soon as we destroy this one we will focus on the next understood?"
Captain Rick Walker
Arman had regained his consciousness as the two jets continued to watch at a distance the situation that appeared to be degrading every second, "Oh good you back." Ivan said a bit annoyed to Arman as he heard Arman adjust his seat buckle. "It appears that the signal was not fake." Ivan said looking at Rick.
"So what do you want to do Rick? Engage or head towards land?" Arashi asked as they surveyed the battlefield from afar.
Rick looked at Ivan who only nodded before remembering what the commander told him, 'It is our job, no our duty to protect the people of this world. That is your job as a soldier in the 4th and I will accept nothing less than your best efforts to do so. Even if it means your life use it to save someone another human being, but make sure to take a hundred enemies with you. You wouldn't want to go to hell alone now would you?'
'Ah fuck it.' Rick thought as he gave a light chuckle, "Alright boys even if it means our lives let's help out these girls. Time to figure out where we are and find out what the fuck is going on here."
'I hope we get some answers out of them at the very least.'
MCCUU- (Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform) The current battledress uniform of the United States Marine Corps and some United States Navel personal intended for wear in the field or for working parties.
NWU- (Navy Working Uniform) Based off of the Marines MCCUU are the standard working uniforms for the United States Navy. Normally worn when other uniforms could get ruined or are inappropriate for the task at hand.
I.N.D. - (Independent) A prefix used to identify A.I. ships that have sworn no loyalty to any Nation or to the United Nations and therefore does not have to abide by any military laws or orders.
MiG-31(N) - N stands for Naval variant, created when Russian received design plans for the F-18 it is lighter than the original MiG-31, has standard foldable wings and comes with a tail hook. Usually camouflaged the same blue and white as the Su-33.
Done at last hopefully everyone likes the updated version better than the original and I would like to thank everyone for putting up with the hiatus. I'm still accepting any O.C.'s you send me and I'll more than likely put them into the story now or later on either way they will get in. Till next time everyone!