"Relocating?"
"New Recruit?"
"Yes. The Enemy has grown in size since the liberation of Romagna. We need the 501st at the main line of defense to form a strong defense against them."
"And since Miyafuji can fight again, we can ensemble the whole 501st JFW. Also, this recruit will have nearly the same magic energy level as Miyafuji has. Now, you are going to move into your new base in the Ural mountains. The new recruit will be joining you in 3 days. That's all." Said the General as Mio and Minna walked out of the room.
It was now 6 months since the 501. Joint Fighter Wing was reassembled, and since then, the Neuroi had been pushed back fairly far, so that they only controlled the land stripe between the Ural and the Pacific. Even though this doesn't seems like much, they were now concentrated to defend what they had claimed, and tried everything to get 'their' land back. Since then, the war was in stalemate, with no land lost or taken. The 501st JFW was situated in Karlsland for quite some time, with only some smaller fights here and there, but now, it would be back to the battle front again, and with an new face too!
"Well, I guess we should rally them all up, if we want to be in Orussia in 3 days." Sighted Minna.
"Who would have thought that the 501. would get a new recruit again, so shortly before the war ends?" Asked Mio.
"No one would. Now, I'm going to make a few radio calls, and go pack my stuff. Hope the newbie won't be any trouble." Said Minna and walked of.
- 3 days later; Ural mountains, 1100 Hours –
In front of an old looking, but well kept mansion, stood a group of 5 girls, all waiting for their higher ups too arrive.
"Couldn't they send us somewhere where it isn't cold?!" Grumbled a smaller girl, who was clinging to an other, much taller girl.
"Quit your whining Francesca, and concentrate on keeping warm. Who was the genius who send us up here and let's us stand for 2 hours in front of an old iron gate?!" Said a bigger girl, with glasses.
"That would be me. Sorry to let you all wait out here, but the snow is terrible up here!" Came a voice, and Minna stepped up to the group.
"It's alright, were fine. Just get this blasted gate open, so we can go warm up inside!" Chuckled the taller girl.
"Still no manners, like always." Came a critical voice behind them, as two girls in Karlsland uniform stepped up to the group.
"And I see that you still got an stick up your-"
"Anyways, do you guys know where Miyafuji, Eila and Sanya, are? They should have been here by now." Said a timid girl, and looked into the snow. She couldn't see far, as the falling snow blocked most of the view after a while, but she could here something.
"Do you hear… Chuffing?" She asked.
"I thought I was hearing things, so I didn't mention it but, yeah, it sound quite like a steam locomotive." Said Perrine
"Maybe we're close to some railway tracks? These regions needs strong locomotives to climb the hills, so it wouldn't be surprising to hear one." Suggested Mio.
"Can't be. The region is only accessible via road; the next railway line is more than 10 miles away!" Said Minna.
They all listened carefully as the chuffing grew louder and louder, till, out of the mist, came two, bright yellow lights, heading towards them. The lights, turned out to be lamps, that were fitted to an small, green, 0-4-0 steam locomotive. The engine slowed to an stop, and out of the cab stepped…
"Eila?!" Asked Shirley.
"Sanya?!" Asked Erica.
"Yoshika!" Exclaimed Lynette and ran to her friend, hugging her tightly.
Then, another person came out of the cab, this time, it was a boy. He had short, black hair, a old, Karlsland railway hat on his head, stubble's around his mouth and chin, and, instead of a pair of legs, a Striker Unit. He walked up to the group.
"Hello there. My name is Lukas Romstein, and I'm going to be your new team member." Said the boy friendly.
The girls were surprised. They never had a male member in their Unit; this could be the first male Striker ever! Finally, Minna found her voice.
"Welcome to the 501. Joint Fighter Wing Lukas. I'm Minna Wilcke, and I'm the commander of the 501.." She said, but was cut short when an icy wind blew around them.
"I would say we do the introducing inside." Quivered Erica, and she, as well as Mio and Minna, walked up to the mansions doors.
"Good Idea. Let me just bring Emma inside. It isn't good for her to stay out in the cold." Said Lukas and walked back to the loco.
"Who's Emma?" Asked Yoshika.
"Oh, ja, stupid of me. This is Emma, or: Experimental mobile material Assistant. Or in other words: She is an experimental steam locomotive design with an inbuilt Striker Unit." Smiled Lukas, as he got into the cab.
"Wait. Do you want to say, that this small toy train is a Striker Unit?!" Asked Gertrud.
"1. She isn't a toy train. 2. She isn't just a Striker Unit; she is a locomotive, Striker Unit and my lifeline!" Said Romstein with pride, and drove the engine into the front yard of the mansion. As the small engine passed them, they saw that the wheels of the loco weren't touching the ground, but more hovering over them. Emma rolled into the yard in front of the mansion, and stopped there.
"Well, your coming?! Or do you want to become human snowmen?!" Laughed Lukas and walked into the building.
The others stood there, for just a minute, before following the boy into the mansion. They went inside, but it was very dark.
"Where is the light switch?" Asked Yoshika.
"Already on it- Ouch!" Came a voice, and the light went on, showing Romstein, rubbing his head.
"Who was the genius to put a light switch directly under a lamp iron?!" Asked Lukas.
The girls looked up, just to see the lamp iron, with an dent the size of Lukas' head in it.
"Are you feeling alright?" Asked Lynette, slightly shocked to see Romstein still standing.
"Yeah, why'd you ask?"
Lynette said nothing, just pointed at the lamp iron. Lukas looked at it and laughed.
"Oh, that thing won't take me down." He laughed and hit himself on the head, only to hear a metallic sound.
"Metal plate, have it, with my Striker, since 1941." Smiled the boy, and looked around.
"Hm, seen worse. Could do with a good cleaning, and a better connection to the world, but I think it will do. I go and search for the kitchen, to make some tea. Who wants some?" He asked, and laughed again when he saw all the hands go up.
The others went to the main hall of the mansion, where they waited for they're new recruit. He returned with an large plate with mugs on them, and handed to each of them. It was then, that Mio and Minna came back.
"Ok, I got the telephone back to work again, and contacted HQ. They said were to stay here, and bring this place back in order, so that we can fight against the Neuroi, and force them out of Orussia. Now, HQ also wants to get this place connected to the outer world more, and ordered some workers to build a rail line up here." Said Minna to the others. Romsteins ears perked up, when he heard the last part.
"When are they going to start, laying down the rails?" He asked.
"They will start, as soon as the snow has stopped falling." Said Mio.
"Good. If they need any help with the work, let them know I'm willing to help them." Smirked Lukas.
"I will inform them. Now, we need to get this place back in order. Yoshika, Lynette, Perrine, you will start on the lower levels. Gertrud, Erica, you will go out and check the grounds. Francesca, Charlotte, Lukas, you will go and search the sheds for any space to store the Strikers in. Eila and Sanya will start on the upper levels. I and Mio will set up a command station in one of the rooms." Minna said and walked of, with Mio following behind her.
Lukas, Charlotte and Francesca were out in the snow, walking to the sheds that were behind the mansion. The ground behind the mansion was on a plateau, which was why they were to set up the base there. Lukas was driving in Emma, with the two girls beside him.
"You really don't want to ride inside her? She won't bite you know." Chuckled Romstein.
"Don't worry. We'll be alright just walking." Smiled Shirley, and looked to her right, just to see that Francesca wasn't there anymore.
"Huh? Where is she?"
"I'm here silly!" Shirley looked to the engine, just to see the young girl sitting on the running plate of the engine.
"It's warm here!" Shouted the girl.
Lukas chuckled, while Shirley just rolled her eyes, but said nothing. They soon reached the sheds, and looked inside it.
"Well, a bit old, but it's roof is in good shape, and it isn't cold in here. Perfect for storing the Strikers and Emma!" Said Romstein and walked further into the building. Suddenly, there was a low groaning sound, followed by an crack, and parts of the roof, falling onto Lukas.
"LUKAS!" Cried the two girls, but sighed in relief as they saw the boy, standing stiffly, in the middle of the pile of rubble.
"I HATE it when stuff like this happens!" He groaned, just to get a large amount of snow on his head, as part of the snow from the roof fell in.
The girls just stood there, trying their best not to laugh, but failed miserably.
"Jaja, I know. Very funny. First thing I'm gona do when the rails are set is to get a supply train with wood and other things for the house. When you see the others, tell them to make a list of what they need, and what they want. I will bring the needed things, and look if I can get the wanted things." Said Lukas as he shook the snow of his body.
He walked back to the door, till he stopped again.
"Also, there's another thing." Smirked Romstein.
"What is it?" Asked Francesca.
Suddenly, they were both hit by an snowball. They looked in the direction of they're new comrade, just to see him armed with a snowball in one hand, and a load of others in his other arm.
"Run" he smirked, and threw the ball.
After two hours, the snow stopped falling, but the sky was still covered with thick gray clouds. The house was cleaned up now, and they were all sitting at the long table in the dining room, waiting for the Charlotte, Francesca and Lukas. The doors opened, and in came the three scavengers, with red faces, and snow in their hair and on their clothes.
"What did you take so long? And why are you covered in snow?" Asked Mio.
"We found a good shed, but it's roof broke in. As for the snow, we-" Started Charlotte, but Lukas butted in.
"We went to look for another one, but slipped, and landed face first in the snow. That's why." He said calmly, and winked at Charlotte.
"Ok. Now, since we don't have any place for the Strikers to be stored at the moment, they will be left at the station till the railway is finished. Until then, I hope none Neuroi will attack us, or we'll be in serious trouble." Said Minna.
"For now, you should pick your rooms. Dismissed." Said Minna, and walked of.
"Well, seems good for me, but I don't really need my own room. Emma might be small, but there is enough space in her to sleep in. So, I will sleep in my engine." Smiled Romstein and walked of.
The girls started to go to the upper levels, where the rooms were. After setting up who would be with who, they all started to get their stuff. The rooms weren't as big as the ones in the base from Britannia or Romagna, but they were just as comfy, with old, wooden cupboards and with wooden beds. The girls were just about to take out their stuff, when they heard a chuffing noise from behind the house. They all looked out of the Windows, to see Emma, standing outside the sheds, with only some light clouds of steam, coming from underneath her. Suddenly, her lamps went on, and her steam color changed into an light blue. The air around her sizzled lightly with small lightning bolts. Then came a very deep whistle, as started to move. She went faster and faster, speeding along the long straight behind the house, till she started to rise into the air, racing against the clouds. The girls all ran out and looked at the sky, amazed at what they saw.
"I can't believe it…" Said Gertrud.
"It really can fly!" Squeaked Francisca.
"A flying locomotive. Mio, do you know something about this?" Asked Minna.
"Dr. Miyafuji experimented with the Striker technology, trying to build it into machines to make them better for the battlefield. I always thought he abandoned the project, after he finished the Strikers…" Said Mio.
The locomotive turned back, and started to dive down towards the girls. The whistle blew, and the girls just stared in awe as the small engine rocketed past them, with an unbelievable speed.
"Looks like you've got concurrence, Liberion." Smiled Gertrud.
"What? He might be fast, but I'm still the fastest." Said Shirley, and walked away.
Lukas slowed his engine down, and hovered next to the girls. He sat on the footplate, smiling at the small crowd.
"Well, what do you think? Pretty neat huh?" He smiled.
"You were fast!" Said Yoshika.
"Not really. I only made 850km/h." Said Lukas.
"850 km/h!?" Repeated the girls, not believing what they had heard.
"But that means, that this engine here is the fastest locomotive in the whole world!" Said Perrine.
"Not really. While in the air, she is counted as a plane, not a locomotive. And I won't let her run at that speed on the ground. I would need at least a straight stretch of track for 10 km to get that speed on land, and even so; the tracks would either melt, or break if I would run over them at that speed!" Said Romstein with seriousness.
"I see. Well, I hope you are ready to move. The workmen are needing assistance with the work on the tracks. You need to get to the station and collect they're working material, or they cant finish the tracks in time." Said Minna.
"Don't worry Ma'am, consider it done!" Smiled Lukas and stood up again, and with some twisting of levers and wheels, Emma started off again. Charlotte had seen everything, and was fuming.
'I'm the fastest here, I'll show them! I will get my Striker, and beat that stupid idiot in a race!' Thought Shirley, and got onto her bike, and started to drove down the mountain.
-New Republiska Train Station, 1400 Hours-
Shirley arrived at the Station, and went to the storage room, to get her Striker. But when she reached it, the Strikers weren't there anymore! She looked around, but could only find an old workman, who was cleaning the place.
"Excuse me! Could you tell me where the Strikers are?!" Shirley asked the man, who turned around, and looked at her.
"Chto?" Asked the man with an Russian accent.
"The Strikers! The machines that stood here! Where are they?! She asked again.
"Oh, Da! A Boy took them; he said he brings them to their owners. Loaded them onto a train." Said the old man.
"Drat! Now I can't get my Merlin!" She cursed to herself.
"Njet! Train still here!" Said the man, and showed Shirley a small train, with some log transporters and a closed goods truck.
"Perfect! I can still take my Striker!" She said, and walked out again, after thanking the man. She pushed her bike into the wagon, and went to her Striker.
"Good to see you old boy. It's time to get busy again!" Smiled Shirley and put the Striker on. But before she could start, there was a jerk, and she felt the train moving.
"Not now!" She said, and looked out of the truck, just to see Emma, pulling the train down the line.
-Rail head near the 501. Joint Fighter Units base, 1445 Hours-
Lukas braked Emma to an halt near the end of the nearly finished line. He jumped out and walked over to the workman, who were having a break, while waiting for the new material to arrive. The young man was just talking to one of the workman, when he heard the sound of one of the doors from the train opening. He turned around, just to see Shirley, white as chalk and shaking from head to toe.
"Shirley? What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to stay at the base?" Asked Lukas.
Shirley wanted to answer him, but couldn't, as a silent humming came up, followed by the loud explosion, as a Neuroi attacked the workmen. They screamed, and ran for their lives. Lukas raced back to Emma, uncoupled her, and climbed on board.
"SHIRLEY! STOP WAISTING YOUR TIME AND MOVE! WE NEED TO STOP THAT THING!" Shouted Romstein and whistling loudly, Emma started off. Shirley snapped back to real live, and ran back into the wagon. She grabbed her BAR M1918 and started off, towards the Neuroi.
The Neuroi was not big, only a medium type, but Lukas didn't care. They attacked innocent people, and the railways too! 'That were two things too many, and they will pay!' Thought Lukas and let Emma race towards the Neuroi. He turned to an closed cabin, and opened it, pulling out a very strange looking M1903 Springfield sniper rifle. It had a strange scope on it, bigger than normal ones had, and instead of an 5 Clip, in build ammo holder, it had an 15 bullet magazine, build into it.
"Let's grill some bastards" Smirked Romstein, turned to the controls, and pressed a button.
"I'm counting on you Emma. Don't fail me now." He said, and climbed onto the roof.
He stood up, and looked through his scope. He flicked a switch on the scope, and the Neuroi was invisible, with only its core visible.
'Gotcha' smirked Romstein and flipped the switch again. Just then, Shirley landed next to him.
"What are you doing up here?! You need to drive!" Shouted Shirley.
"I don't think so!" Laughed Lukas, and out of the running plate came two Browning M1918 MGs.
"What-?!" Began the Liberion, but was cut short as the Neuroi opened fire on them.
"No time to lose! The core is in the top left hand corner! I open it, Emma distracts it, and you destroy it! Now MOVE!" Shouted the Karlsland boy, and took of.
'No time to lose…' Thought Shirley, and took of as well.
Emma raced as fast as she could, drawing the Neurois Fire onto her. Lukas hovered in a distance, looking through his scope, and aiming the core.
"EAT FIRE PATRONS YOU BASTARD!" He cried, and pulled the trigger.
It hit the place where the core was, and a small explosion blasted some of the armor away. Shirley raced as fast as she could, and fired at the core. The core splintered into pieces, and the Neuroi dissolved into a million little pieces.
Emma slowed down and stopped next to Lukas. He opened the door, and stepped inside, falling onto the makeshift bed he build.
"Onto the tracks Emma, we need to finish the line, or were stuck up there all day tomorrow." Romstein murmured.
The engine soon reached firm land again, and the workmen congratulated him and Shirley. The workmen soon started to build the last pieces of track, and by sunset, the line was finished. Lukas uncoupled the truck with the Strikers in them, and a log transporter, and brought the workmen back to New Republiska.
After arriving back at the base, the young engineer went inside the mansion, to get something to eat. Before he could however, he was swarmed by the others, who all asked him questions about, how he was able to drive his engine without being in it, how he could see where the core was and such things. He groaned to himself, and started to answer the questions.
"I didn't drive Emma, she drove herself. She has an Autopilot program build inside of her, so she could run whenever she likes. I could see the core, because of my guns scope. It has a special lens, that can see right through the hull of an Neuroi, and can show you where the core is. It was one of the weapons Dr. Miyafuji developed, to make the battle less problematic for the witches. I am lucky to have them; I took them with me for testing on the day of the accident." Said Romstein, whispering the last part.
"You said that your engine is your life line. What does that mean?" Asked Gertrud.
"I was in an accident myself once. I, and some others, were collecting a shipment for the Doctor, from the docks. It was terrible busy back then, with cars, lorries and locomotives all rushing about. It was then when a lorry rushed into the harbor. I had enough time to jump out of the way, but I jumped into the path of an passing engine. The loco had cut my legs clean off. Doctor Miyafuji had offered me a second chance, and I gladly took it. Reason why I worked for him was, because I had witch magic inside me, just not as big and powerful as the witches are. He gave me the Strikers, so I could fly, and walk. They are a special design, with boot-like ends. But my power was too low to really fly, or fight. So he build in a special, steam driven booster system. That's why he designed Emma; so I could recharge my steam energy whenever and wherever I needed it. I owe him my life. I just wish I could have saved him." He explained.
The girls were amazed by the story they heard.
"He also gave my Striker a name: Steam surfer 01. I like it, even though the other teased me about it. Calling me 'Steamboy' and such. I quite like the name though. Fits to me." He chuckled, and yawned.
"We should probably go to bed now. I will repair the shed tomorrow, and get the stuff you guys need. Did you wrote your lists?" He asked, as the girl went pale.
"Um, we need to… We need to go!" Said Yoshika, and her and the others raced away.
"I think I will enjoy fighting with this lot." Lukas thought to himself, as he walked away.
