Do not own Strike Witches or KanColle. Damn.


1.

The world switched rapidly between bright blue and black as Nagato blinked over and over. Something felt out of place. She slowed her blinking and tried to comprehend the situation. She felt weightless and thought to herself that she must be dreaming, but she couldn't shake the feeling of reality. The sky above her had few clouds, flecked randomly across the canvas, and the searing brightness suggested a summer afternoon.

As she tensed and relaxed her muscles she felt sand rolling over her hands, the feeling slowly returning to her limbs. She lifted one arm straight into the sky to shake the pins and needles and provide some much needed shade. A shot of pain ran up her calf starting from her toes as she kicked something hard. She propped up on her elbows to look around properly and noticed her battle suit scattered around her. She thanked the gods that most of it seemed undamaged, she had a bad feeling it would be needed later.

She finally stood, stretching her arms above her head and twisting her back to ease some tension. Nagato gathered her gear into an organised pile by her side. Everything had a place and today of all days she planned to stick to her routines. She ran her fingers through her hair and discovered one of her radars were slightly bent. After forcefully bending the head piece back into shape she attempted to contact Mutsu.

'Come in, Mutsu. Over.'

Only the sound of static rung in her head. She walked along the beach a little way and when the static dulled she tried again.

'This is flag-ship Nagato. Does anyone copy?'

Static.

Nagato paced back to her equipment and started inspecting the damage. She slung the machinery over her shoulders then secured it around her waist and upper thighs, cursing under her breath when the weight first bore down through her legs. For the first time Nagato realised how much she took the launching sequence for granted. Her equipment had never seemed heavy or uncomfortable to her before, but now she couldn't shake either sensation. She made her way down to the shore, stumbling in the soft sand every so often. As the waves started to lap around her ankles she reached down to double check her floats and props. Satisfied she stepped onto the water.


Sanya stirred. Waking to the sound of static.

She rolled over to discover the empty space beside her. 'Must be late.' She concluded out loud. Eila would have been beside her if it was still morning. She reluctantly sat up.

Once she overcame the urge to go back to sleep she channelled her magic and searched for the source of the static with her mind, a fluorescent green antenna appearing from above her ears and casting a dull light over her face. '…Nagato…anyone…' Sanya could barely make out the words. She slung her feet over the edge of the bed and rose up. The only thought going through her mind was that Minna needed to know what she had heard, even though she knew the few words she had detected were not much to go on.

She sighed heavily and went to the foot of the bed to gather her clothes, like always Eila had folded them neatly and piled them on one side.

The walk to the commanders' office went by slowly. Sanya had kept her antenna up and searched for any traces of the earlier voice. Nothing else had been said but she could detect an unfamiliar presence. She knew it wasn't a Witch, but she didn't believe it was Neuroi either. By the time she reached up her hand to knock on her superiors' door she was convinced she had narrowed down the location as much as possible, but it seemed to be moving at a steady pace with no particularly obvious destination.


Nagato stopped as suddenly as the rough water would let her. For a seemingly fair weathered day the waters sure were choppy. From her knowledge she concluded that she must be in a straight of some kind, or somewhere with conflicting currents.

She turned as she slowed, trying to pinpoint the location of the noise, it was like nothing she had ever heard before. An image of her aircraft carrier comrades came to mind as the sound was not too dissimilar to some of Akagis' escort planes, but something was telling her this source was different. 'Maybe I'm in a different country and their fleet girls are different to ours.' She thought. Though that still didn't answer her question of how she had arrived there. The thought had been bugging her for some time now as her continued efforts to contact someone hadn't resulted in any replies from her fleet.

She squinted into the bright sky trying to the see the planes as they approached. As soon as she witnessed the source of the noise, however, she felt water lapping around her waist. The pure shock having put her off balance and causing her to fall. The shape in the sky seemed to do a similar double take and rolled awkwardly to the left before regaining posture and continuing towards her. Nagato stood upright as soon as she could and shifted her weight to her back leg, taking up a defensive stance and adjusting her turrets ready to fire.

'What on earth?' Nagato didn't even bother to keep her thoughts internal. Hoping instead that the sound may wake her from this weird dream. 'Is that seriously a girl?'

The shape in the sky stopped heading towards her and raised itself to full height.

The girls were motionless. A mere 20 meters separating them. Far enough away to feel safe, but close enough to truly take in the sight before them.

'What is going on?' both girls voiced their similar thoughts.

Sensing that the plane-girl in front of her meant no harm Nagato brought herself slowly out of the defensive stance. All the while staring down the girl for any sign of hostility as she increased her vulnerability. But rather the creature just hovered in the same air space. Her mouth, Nagato was convinced by now that the weird animal was at least female, remained open in awe. Relying on her knowledge of her own fleet girls Nagato guessed the female was a few years younger than her.

'Nagato.' For now this was all she was willing to share, not wanting to reveal too much before knowing what she was in for.

The girl closed her mouth at least, but she still appeared too shocked to reply. Nagato was convinced she could at least understand some of the things she said, considering that the creature had shared similar thoughts as herself only moments before. 'Flag-ship Nagato.' She continued, hoping that this would help the female before her realise she was a fleet-girl. 'Maybe she's never seen a fleet girl before?' Nagato considered, after all she had never seen such a creature which was half plane. Though on closer inspection Nagato was starting to believe the girl was not actually half plane, but rather sporting some kind of machinery similar to her own equipment.

'Yosh…' The girl had started but quickly stopped as the similar sound from earlier started becoming louder.

Realising that the sound meant more plane girls Nagato quickly returned to her defensive stance. She knew she would be able to beat one, possibly even up to three if the weapon the young girl was holding by her side was the best they had. But she had seen the girl approach and knew they were fast. Faster than any flying-type Abyssal she had faced.

'Yoshika we told you not to go ahead.' A stern voice barked down from above. Three more girls had arrived. These girls all arguably older than the first, the one she now knew to be Yoshika. And by the way the long haired plane-girl had spoken they were all likely her superiors. Nagato couldn't help but think of Fubuki. The way she showed such determination to take Yamato to sea only weeks before. 'So Yoshika is probably just as bad at following orders.' She realised.

The four girls now all hovered in line next to each other staring down upon her. The feeling was making her uneasy but she was at least grateful they hadn't surrounded her. At least this way she could take out a couple at once with some well-placed shells.

One of the girls flew forwards slowly lowering her massive weapons by her side as she did so, likely trying to show she meant no harm. 'Definitely can't take them all.' Nagato realised. The other new girls carried smaller weapons, similar to Yoshikas'. This stern looking plane-girl, however, had two large weapons which looked like some kind of rifle, one in each hand. Two chains of bullets criss-crossed her chest and two rocket looking items were visible past each shoulder. 'Why can she carry so much?' Was the only thought running through Nagato's mind right now.

Since the girl had made it evident that she wasn't approaching to attack, Nagato again slowly changed her stance and repeated her earlier introduction. 'I'm flag-ship Nagato.'

'Flight Lieutenant Barkhorn.' The heavily equipped girl responded.

'Have you seen the other ship girls?' Nagato was now sure the girls meant no harm so she probed for answers to the many questions running through her head. Since this question was met with a blank stare she asked another. 'Do you all have plane souls?'

'What?' the confusion in the plane-girl called Barkhorn only confused Nagato further.

She visibly shook her head as if trying to regain her earlier composure.

'If you are not allies with the Neuroi you should come with us. Our Commander will want to speak to you.' Barkhorn continued.

'I have never heard of this Neuroi.'

This time Barkhorn looked as shocked as the other girls had looked previously. Meanwhile the other girls somehow managed to double their shocked faces.

'But everyone has heard of the Neuroi.' Yoshika claimed while rushing forward to pull up next to Barkhorn.

'If that is truly the case then you definitely need to follow us.' Barkhorn said, her voice now a little shaky.

'Do… um. Do you just walk on the water?' The final two girls had rushed forward and the plane-girls now made a small arc before her only meters away. The feeling of uneasiness rushed back over her with the close proximity of the potential threat.

'Yes.' Nagato answered the petite blonde girl. For some reason the small plane-girl reminded her of her sister, Mutsu, and a renewed feeling of confusion swept over. This time laced with sorrow as she pondered what fate had met her and if she would ever see Mutsu again.

'We don't have too far to go. You can just, um, walk at the speed you feel comfortable. We'll match your pace.' Barkhorn quickly turned and started slowly advancing forward. Nagato followed, slowly picking up pace. She didn't go her full speed though, not wanting to reveal what she was capable of in case she needed it later.

The Barkhorn girl continued in front her seeming to match her pace easily. The two blonde girls hovered slightly above and behind her, but the young plane-girl who first greeted her, Yoshika, was flying by her side staring at her in awe again.

'Wow.'

'Ten minutes and that's all she can think to say' Nagato thought to herself, slightly amused by the reaction.

'You really are walking on water.' Yoshika continued. 'Well kind of walking. You look more like you're skating.'

'How do you stay floating?' The blonde from earlier asked. The two girls were now flying the same as Yoshika but on her other side. She could tell them apart easily as the speaking girl had a short blonde bob, whilst the other had long hair blowing behind her as she flew. They also wore different jackets, she finally noticed. Nagato had been so preoccupied earlier with the thought of defending her life that all she had noticed was the plane-like machines where their legs should have been. The girl with short hair wore a uniform similar to Barkhorn up in front, whilst the other girl had a long light-blue jacket with lighter coloured pouches at her hips. The jacket was just long enough to reach the top of her thighs. This girl, at least, had white stockings on adding some modesty to her look, the others wore nothing but underwear with their jackets. 'I guess that makes it easier for the planes.' She thought.

She stared again at the girl with stockings. Something had caught her eye the first time. She stared harder. She twisted her head slightly to the left and squinted assuming this might make it easier somehow. 'Wha…' Nagato's words were quickly replaced with a thud and gurgling noises as she stumbled and landed face first into the cold sea.

The flying girls quickly all stopped and turned to check if their new companion needed assistance.

Nagato rose once more to her feet and stared intently at the long-haired blonde. Then the short-haired. Then the one called Barkhorn, and finally turning to stare at Yoshika. 'So I am dreaming.' She finally concluded internally.

'Are you ok. Are you sore anywhere?' Yoshika spoke quickly and flustered staring down at her.

'Why do you all have ears?' Nagato finally managed. 'And tails?'

'I don't have ears.' The short-haired blonde claimed excitedly.

'Because we're witches of course.' The long-haired blonde answered sharply. Now that she had finally spoken Nagato thought she mightn't like this one. She seemed to have a stubborn air about her as she spoke down on the fleet-girl.

'That's enough Eila.' Barkhorn added. Something about Nagato had made Barkhorn think she needed to be respectful. Besides wanting to keep the manners of a Karlsland soldier she considered their new companion to be of as much importance as Minna. She held herself the same way and struck Barkhorn as a woman in charge.

'We're almost there.' Barkhorn spoke directly to Nagato now, and indeed beyond her was a coast. 'Commander Minna will tell you everything soon.'

She turned around and continued on. Nagato realised that the questions would have to wait. There was obviously a system of authority here not dissimilar to that of the Naval District, and if she believed in anything, it was following proper protocols. She readjusted herself and followed the plane-girl once more. She watched the tail of the girl in front of her sway side to side with the wind and passed the last few minutes of the journey trying to picture this 'Commander Minna'.


Notes notes notes:

I have a few chapters already written up, but I'll wait a bit in case there's some reviews about this that I can apply to following work.

Regardless,

Hope you enjoyed =)