Let's head up to Chapter 3, after this chapter, we'll head straight into canon. This is happening in season 1 in between episodes 6 and 7. In this chapter, Joseph explains his and his boys' predicament and tell how his dimension is different from the two witches he explained to, including WWII, the first use of witches in combat, and how warlocks were used in the military. Now let's get this show on the road!
Disclaimer: I don't own Strike Witches, anything related, F-35B Lightning II, or anything copyrighted in this story, just Strike Team Misfit.
"Misfit 1" for talk while 'Misfit 1' for thought.
(Let's Go!)
Chapter 3: Guys in base, Joseph's explanation
Minna watched as Mio and the girls that came with her proceeded to land their strikers with those five, believe it or not, male witches. All five of them wear black helmets that have black visors, a gas mask that covers their nose and mouth, and black jackets with the Liberion flag on the right sleeve. Their strikers are sleek, blackish grey, and spew red magic at the bottom that looked like an exhaust. While Mio and the witches land then park their strikers, these male witches' landing is a bit exotic. As they get closer to the ground, the red magic seems to lessen as they begun to hover. Then, the exhaust tilt forward as a part with holes near it started to tilt also, forming what looked like feet. In the middle of their strikers' back, a part opens up to assist them while they hover. When they are ten feet from the ground, the exhaust stopped emitting magic, while the bottom of their strikers' 'feet' started emitting magic to keep them hovering two inches off the ground.
They followed Mio and the girls into the hangar. As the witches got out of their strikers, the guys backed to wall and powered down their strikers. They dropped their weapons, got out, and typed a four digit code at a pad on their right strikers. Unlike the girl's, who only wear their underwear, these guys wear short pants that go right above the knee.
"So these are the male witches," said Minna as Mio approached her.
"Yes, their strikers look different, and they seem to be hiding something," said Mio.
"Are they a threat?" Minna asked.
"I don't know, but something tells me they're not," Mio answered.
One of them, the one with Misfit 1 written on his helmet, approached the two. "Are you the commanding officer of this base?" He asked.
Minna nodded and said, "Yes, I'm Wing Commander Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke, the commanding officer of the 501st Joint Fighter Wing."
"Alright," he said as he started to take off his helmet and mask revealing a slightly tanned young man that looked like he is between 17 to 19 years old. He has short black hair and black eyes. He raised his hand inviting Minna to a handshake. "I'm Major Joseph Daniel of the Liberion 33rd Fighter Wing, commanding officer of the Misfit strike team."
'Liberion? I never knew they have male witches,' Minna thought as she shook his hand and asked him, "Okay major, may I ask why I have not heard of you and your men?"
Joseph looked around and whispered to Minna, "We are a top secret team that is known only by the top brass of the 33rd Fighter Wing and the President of Liberion."
"Alright," said Minna, "Follow us to the office. We have a lot to discuss about."
Joseph nodded as he followed Minna and Mio.
"Well, I wonder what's that about?" Misfit 5 said removing his helmet to show a hazel eyed boy with brown hair that has a spike gelled at the front and looked to be 15 to 17 years old. He turned to the rest of the girls and bowed, "How are ya, 2nd Lieutenant Stephen Lawson AKA Misfit 5 at your service."
"Will you knock off that polite act man," said a black haired and black eyed boy that seemed to be of Latin Liberion descent and appeared to be the same age as Steven, "They won't even bother going out with you after that act you pulled on Lynnette over there." Lynne blushed remembering what Stephen said to her. The Latin Liberion turned to the girls and introduced himself, "Hi names 1st Lieutenant Alan Vasquez AKA Misfit 3."
"I agree with Alan, Stephen," said an older boy with skater boy hairstyle that looked between 17 or 18 years old and is of Asian descent, "After that stunt you pulled, I don't think any girl here would want to risk it." He looked at the girls and introduced himself, "I'm Captain David Takeda AKA Misfit 2 and that's," he points to an 14 year old boy that has short blond hair and blue eyes, "2nd Lieutenant Nicholas Fisher AKA Misfit 4." Nicholas looked at them and waved his hand. David chuckled and said "He doesn't talk much."
"Takeda-san," asked Yoshika as David looked at her, "your last name is from Fuso, but why do you have western first name?"
"Well," David said, "My parents are from Fuso, but I was born in Liberion, and the constitution says that anyone born in Liberion soil is considered a Liberion citizen, they called me David because they always wanted to name their child after a legendary hero from the west, so that's what happened. Also, call me David, Takeda makes me sound old."
"Wow," said Yoshika amazed that David's parents gave a western hero's name instead of a name from Fuso.
"So this is the witches that Minna talked about," said Shirley as she and Lucchini got to the hangar, "Hi I'm Shirley and this is Lucchini." Stephen looked at her and his eyes widened at Shirley's assets.
"Why hello there, I'm Stephen" Stephen said in ladies man's tone and pointed to Shirley's assets, "Say, are those natural or pla.." He didn't finish because Nicholas, sensing a perverted Stephen, came behind him, and smacked him on the back of the head.
"OWWW!" shouted Stephen, "Nick, I didn't even finish the sentence!"
"You don't have to," said Nicholas, "I've seen it coming when she walked in the hangar."
"Aww, they're guys!" whined Lucchini, then she glared at Stephen who was trying to flirt with Shirley before he got punched in the head, grabbed onto Shirley's breasts, and said, "They're MINE!" Stephen is having a sad day. First he got cockblocked twice by his squad mate and now he got cockblocked by a thirteen year old girl.
Nicholas saw her and he blushed. "What is this feeling?' Nicholas thought. He didn't expect anyone around his age to be here.
"Hahaha," David laughed as he wiped an imaginary tear from his eye, "that always crack me up, by the way, I'm David and that's Alan," he pointed to Alan.
"Um," Lynne said, "why is your commander in the office with Commander Minna and Major Sakamoto?"
"Who knows," said Stephen with a bump on his head, "probably something of upmost importance."
"Ah, Stephen-san," Yoshika asked, "Do you need some ice for that bump?"
"Yes, please," Stephen said. Yoshika went off with Lynne to get some ice.
'What is Major Sakamoto discussing with Commander Minna and that person?' Perrine thought, 'If that person threatens the Major again, I will personally see to it that he gets what he deserve!'
Joseph followed Minna and Mio to Minna's office. Once there, Minna sat at her desk and Mio stood beside her. She looked at Joseph seriously. "Okay, Major," she said, "I haven't received word from the 33rd about a strike team assisting us against the Neuroi. So what are you doing here?"
'So that's what they're called,' Joseph thought, 'Heh, Neuroi, funny name if you ask me.' He looked to his left and right then sighed, "Promise me that this information I'm about to tell you should not leave this room."
"Why?" asked Mio as she gripped her sword in case Joseph is actually a threat.
"I trust you with this information about us," Joseph said, "We don't want some plotting person from high command stealing our strikers."
"Why is that?" asked Minna.
"Let me ask you something," Joseph said trying to answer her question, "Don't you think that our strikers' seem like it is way ahead of this current generation of striker units?"
"Yes it does seem that way," Mio said.
"Well," Joseph started, "in a way, it actually is."
"What do you mean?" asked Minna.
"Before I continue, promise me that this information must stay in this room," Joseph said his voice turned serious.
"Yes, we promise," Minna said, "Now tell me why you and your men are here." This relaxed Joseph, now, he's just hoping that she'll keep her promise.
'Here goes nothing I guess,' Joseph thought as he sighed. "Let's say that we're not from around here," Joseph said gaining confused looks from both Minna and Mio.
"What do you mean by not from around here?" Mio asked.
"I mean that my men and I are not from this time period and dimension altogether," Joseph said making both girls look at him like he grew another head or something.
"Do you expect us to believe that?" Mio asked as she crossed her arms, not believing him one bit.
"I don't expect you to believe me," Joseph said, "But tell me, what's the year?"
"1944, of course," Minna answered, a little bit shocked as to why he asked for the year. Joseph nodded.
"And what year did these Neuroi show up and attacked us?" he then asked.
"They came in 1939," Mio answered his question, "You should know about that, in fact, why are you asking us this?"
"That just proves it," Joseph said.
"Proved what?" Minna asked.
"That we went to a different dimension instead of just going back in time," He answered.
"I still don't believe you," Mio stated clearly. She watched as Joseph opened his bag, reached for something in it, and took out a handheld black device that has something that looks like a screen and four little buttons on one side. He pressed something at the top of it and he slid his thumb down the screen. He pressed the screen in different places and when he finished, he showed the screen to them.
"This is something called a smart phone," Joseph said sliding his finger across the screen of this 'smart phone'. It is showing a crystal clear picture of a city's skyline with various pictures with words under them littering around the picture. As he slid, the picture and the various pictures slides in sync with his finger, showing another part of the skyline picture and different little pictures in it."It has a touch screen and can make calls, send text messages to someone, plays music, connects to a radio, and can play videos," He said. Both girls' eyes widened when he said what that little thing could do. They didn't believe that such a small device could do all that. He pointed to a small picture that has two beamed eighth notes and a movie film beside it. At the bottom picture said Media Room. "This is called an application, or an app," Joseph explained, "This allows you to use a program downloaded to the phone." He pressed it and the screen switched to show a list. He pressed the one that said Playlists and it showed another list. He pressed the Download Playlist and slid his thumb down and pressed the screen a third time. All of a sudden, sounds and words that seem like music started coming out of the device.
I'm feeling like star you can't stop my shine
I'm loving cloud nine
My head's in the sky
I'm solo
I'm ridin' solo I'm ridin' solo I'm ridin' solo solo (1)
Mio and Minna listened a little more to the song and its interesting style of music. They never heard of this kind of music before neither. Joseph pressed a part of the screen that looks like a button with two bars standing side by side and the music stopped playing. He then pressed one of the visible buttons on the front that look a house.
"If this doesn't convince you, then I don't know what will," he said as he handed it to Minna, "Here you try it." Minna slid her finger across the screen as the screen slid with in sync with her finger. She gave it back to Joseph amazed at the small device. Joseph offered Mio to try it.
"No," Mio declined, "You have proven your point." Joseph nodded and sat down.
"Alright Major," Minna said, "Mind telling us your real rank while you're here?"
"Yes ma'am," Joseph said, "I'm Squadron Leader Joseph Daniel of the United States Air Force."
"Air Force?" Minna asked, "I didn't know Liberion has an air force."
"The United States Air Force, or USAF, was established in 1947 in my dimension," Joseph said.
"1947?" Mio asked, "What year are you from exactly ?"
"I come from the year 2012, Major," Joseph said, "The years 1939 through 1944 are long gone and let me tell you, it's not pretty."
"What happened in your dimension's version of those years?" Minna asked wondering what happened.
"You see," Joseph started to explain, "1939 marked the beginning our second world war, when Karsland invaded neighboring nations." Minna was shocked that her home country in another dimension started that dimension's Second World War.
"How large was this war?" Mio asked wondering the size of the war.
"Well, the war originally started in Europe," Joseph said, "but, the war was also fought in Northern Africa and the Pacific."
"Karsland fought a war on all those regions of the world?" Minna asked wondering how Karsland fought a war in three different regions, especially the Pacific.
"Not necessarily," Joseph said, "The Empire of Fuso, Karsland's ally fought at the Pacific side of the war."
"Which nations actually fought in this war?" Mio asked curious as to who fought in this Second World War.
"Well at first, it was Nazi Karsland and Fascist Romagna, then, The Fuso Empire allied with them and forming the Axis Powers," Joseph started listing the nations that fought in the Second World War, "Britannia and Gallia allied with each other to protect Gallia from Karsland, however, Gallia fell in 1940, leaving Britannia alone to defend itself against Karsland." Minna and Mio were surprised that Gallia fell so quickly against Karsland. "It wasn't until 1941 that started to change the tide of the war," Joseph continued, "Fuso's military decided to launch an attack on the Liberion port in Pearl Harbor that housed Liberion's Pacific Fleet. The Liberions were caught off guard and the Pacific fleet lost a battleship, capsizing another, and severely damaging the rest putting them out of action for at least two years. Liberion got mad and declared war on Fuso. Karsland found out and declared war on Liberion days later. Then, Karsland invaded the Union of Communists, or UOC, which also included Orussia (2). These two nations that were attacked formed an alliance with Britannia and became the big three of the allied powers."
"Who won this war?" Mio asked curious as to who won this war.
"The allies won the war." Joseph answered.
Minna and Mio seemed surprised. Here are two witches that took pride in their countries very strong military, and finding out that in a different dimension, with both allied with each other and Romagna, they still lost.
"How did they lose?" Minna asked surprise in her voice.
"Well, after the allies liberated North Africa in 1943, they invaded Romagna. Romagna surrendered later that year after their leader fled the country, oddly enough, the Romagnans were happy that they were liberated by the allies," Joseph said explaining how the war in Europe ended, "Karsland, after they lost the Battle of Stalingrad, started retreating against the advance of the UOC's Red Army. In 1944, Liberion and Britannia invaded Karsland occupied Gallia and liberated it. Both army's advanced on their respecting fronts until Karsland itself was attacked. Karsland surrendered after their leader committed suicide and The Red Army's attack on Berlin."
"How did Fuso lose the war?" Mio asked with a frustrated voice. Frustrated because in a dimension where the Neuroi never came, the Empire fell.
"Fuso started losing the war after the Battle of Midway in 1942. After that, Liberion started an island hopping campaign where Liberion Marines attack one Fuso held island until it surrenders, then move to the next one," Joseph started to explain how the one in the Pacific ended, "After Okinawa, Fuso's last island stronghold, fell against the Marines, Liberion dropped two atomic bombs on Fuso, convincing Fuso surrender."
"What are these atomic bombs?" Minna asked wondering what this weapon that actually convinced the Fuso Empire to surrender.
"Atomic bombs are bombs that, once activated, destroy everything in a large radius, leaving something called radiation that later kills survivors and it takes years for that part that was hit to recover," Joseph explained, "That was 1945, we have even stronger bombs in my time, but the two that were dropped on Fuso were the only ones used in war." Both of the girls were surprised that such weapons were created and used in a war.
"Did Karsland and Fuso ever recover from that war?" Minna asked hoping that Mio's and her respective countries recovered.
"Yes, actually," Joseph said relaxing the girls, "After the war, Liberion helped Fuso recover and encouraged Fuso to have a Democratic government and a Capitalist economy. Now, Fuso has one of the world's strongest economies, though its military has been tone down to a defense force so that the world won't have another Imperial Fuso attacking its neighboring countries." Mio was relieved that Fuso recovered, but was a little shocked Fuso abandoned its warring ways for a peaceful economic one.
"What about Karsland, how did it recover?" Minna asked wondering how Karsland recover from the war.
"Karsland was split into East Karsland and West Karsland after the war to make sure another world war won't happened," Joseph said, "East Karsland was controlled by the UOC while West Karsland was controlled by Gallia, Liberion, and Britannia." Minna tensed a little bit, but Joseph noticed. "However," Joseph continued, "after the four countries decided to open the gates of the wall that divided Berlin, uniting the city, and later the whole country. Karsland in my dimension has a strong economy and has a feared paramilitary unit known as the Border Guard Group 9 or the GSG-9 that strikes fear on Karsland's enemies and well- respected by its allies." Minna sighed in relief.
"I see that your world has strikers, when were they first used?" Mio asked.
"Striker units were invented in Fuso in 1945, but it came too late save it from defeat," Joseph said, "It wasn't until the War of the Korean Peninsula where Liberion used witch air forces equipped with striker units to assist the Republic of Seoul (3) against the Juche State of Korea, (4) did the striker units gained popularity. Now, most of the countries of the world have their own witches equipped with striker units. The militaries in my dimension respected the witches and magic. Heck, even most warlocks that can't even use striker units work in non-striker special forces like Liberion's Navy SEALs and Green Beret, Orussian Spetsnaz, Britannian SAS, and Karslandic GSG-9, etc."
"You mean that even male witches, that can't even use a striker unit fight in elite forces in your dimension?" Minna asked amazed that male witches could achieve such feat.
"Not all warlocks can't use striker units. It's just that the ones that can't became more known than the ones that did," Joseph said, "The ones that could, however, were stuck as equipment support for the land witches, though me and my men are an exception."
"It seems your squad is," Minna said, "how did this start though?"
"Britannia first used warlocks in sync with their SAS special forces as detectors, spotters, and infiltrators for the unit," Joseph explained, "Liberion first used it in battle during the Vietming War (5) when Navy Seals and Green Berets need magical support in their operations."
"Why can't they just use witches?" Mio asked wondering why these elite forces don't use witches instead, "They have more magical potential than these warlocks."
"Because witches are more likely to suffer more than their male counterparts in case they were ever captured," Joseph said.
"Why?" Minna asked.
"If a warlock was captured, he will be tortured or executed," Joseph informed Minna, "Witches on the other hand will be tortured, executed, or worse, raped." The last reason made both girls' eyes widened. "The government will not let their respected female combatants to suffer that way and the top brass agree with them," Joseph continued, "Warlocks have proven themselves in The Vietming War, Karsland's Operation Fire Magic, The Falkland War between Britannia and Argentine (6), The Yom Kippur War between Ramsea (7) and Damasca (8) against Judea (9), and The United Nations' Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield. They also have proven themselves in Iraqia (10) and Afghania (11)."
"Male witches actually proven themselves in those conflicts," Mio said actually impressed at how far male witches had become without the need of striker units.
"Warlocks are not as popular as witches," Joseph said, "But, they tackle missions that are so classified that only the highest ranking in government and the team that did it knows."
Minna nodded and stood. She turned around and looked through the window."Thank you for being honest with us Squadron Leader Daniel," she said, "You and your squad can stay in this base as long as you help us against the Neuroi." Then her voice became serious, "You may interact with the girls as long as you can't be intimate with them." Joseph nodded.
"I have conditions of my own too ma'am," Joseph said.
"And they are?" Minna asked as she turned around and looked at him.
"That we are still considered part of the Liberion Air Force, not this Joint Fighter Wing," Joseph said, "and keep the girls and mechanics from doing something with our strikers. They hold classified information, weaponry and design."
Minna nodded her head, "Understandable."
"Thank you for your time wing commander," Joseph said as he saluted Minna and left the room.
"Do you think this is the right decisioin Mio?" Minna asked. Mio laughed with her usual laugh as she left the room following Joseph.
Back in the hangar Shirley won't stop harassing Alan if she could fly his strikers.
"Come on," Shirley said, "Why not, that thing looks like it could fly really fast."
"For the umpteenth time," Alan said his hands on his head, "I can't let you fly it, Major's orders."
Eila left for her room, talking about keeping someone company, Gertrud went out to get some training done, and Perrine just scoffed and left. On the other side of the room Nicholas is keeping an eye on Stephen, who was having a lively conversation with Erica, Yoshika, and Lynne at another side, in case he does anything , that and trying to ignore Lucchini if she could hold his SAR that he has on his back.
"And he was like oh no you di'int," Stephen said in his conversation with the three, however, Lynne seems to get lost, "And I was like oh yes I did."
"Really?" Yoshika asked amazed at what Stephen was talking about, "Wow."
"You totally did," Erica said also amazed.
"Um," Lynne asked in total confusion, "what are we talking about? I'm lost."
"We're talking about mirrors," Stephen answered
At the wall where the guy's parked their strikers, David was making sure that they are being well kept. "So, if that happens to here, then that bad thing will happen," David said to himself, "Gotta make sure that doesn't happen." Suddenly the doors to the hangar opened to reveal Joseph and Mio walking inside the hangar.
"Everyone," Mio said gaining everyone's attention, "As of today, the Misfit team of the 33rd Fighter Wing will assist us against the Neuroi." Everyone eyes widened as they seem to be happy that these guy's will help them out. "However," Mio said, "Due to some classified information, the mechanics and witches must not do anything with their striker's without Major Daniel's permission." With that said, she excused herself and left the room.
"Aww man!" Shirley whined because she cannot try out the guys' strikers. Alan just gave off a sigh of relief.
"So how did you do it?" David asked Joseph as he approached him about how he was able to get them a place to stay and do their job. Joseph looked at his left and right to make sure no one is listening in.
"I kinda let the cat out of the bag and told them that were not from around here," Joseph whispered to David. David's eyes widened.
"What?" David whispered back in a harsh tone, "what would happen if they tell this dimension's top brass?"
"I got the feeling that I could trust them, especially Major Sakamoto, she could be trusted without even knowing her," Joseph said.
"I just hope you know what you're doing," David said calming down, "I don't want to be on the front page of a newspaper."
"Don't worry," Joseph reassured him as he watched at the rest of the team's antics with the witches, "I do."
(1)This is a part of the chorus in the son Ridin' Solo by Jason Derulo.
(2)My Story's counterpart to the Soviet Union, Orussia included.
(3)My Story's counterpart to South Korea, inspired by the country's capital Seoul, which in this case, Seoul City.
(4)My Story's counterpart to North Korea, inspired by the North Korean style of government.
(5)The Vietnam War, just with a different name, if Viet- was a bigger hint than any.
(6)My Story's Witches counterpart to Argentina.
(7)My Story's counterpart to Egypt, inspired by Ramses II.
(8)My Story's counterpart to Syria, inspired by the country's capital city Damascus.
(9)My Story's counterpart to Israel, if you read the Bible, or at least the New Testament, then you should know what Judea is.
(10)My Story's counterpart to Iraq, the first four letters is a dead giveaway.
(11)My Story's counterpart to Afghanistan, the first six letters is a dead giveaway.
And that's a wrap people, thank you for patiently waiting for the third chapter. I still hope that I got everyone's personality right. After this we will be heading straight into canon. Also, to the people hoping for no gary-stu's and harems, then you're in luck because this story won't have any!
R&R OUT.
