Strike Witches

Pacific Suns

Battle of the Pacific

Chapter 4

Liberty and Booze

Joanne C. Meyer POV

I did not know what had happened over the night, but apparently something DID happen between the new Major and the Fuso navy captain. I think everyone noticed this change as each time to Major tried to call out to the Captain, or when they would meet by some coincidence, the captain would run off with her face burning red. Obviously the new Major does not know what she did, otherwise she would not show such a perplexed look on her face. It had garnered the attention of the entire base as the Fuso captain wasn't exactly subtle in trying to hide her embarrassment. I did not know the Fuso captain that well, but I'm sure someone in my squad would know.

"Huh? You don't know them, Captain?"

One of my witches asked. I shook my head as I took a bite out of my bread.

"That's strange, I thought you would try to get to know more about them since you're all around the same rank."

Another said.

"Guys, the captain doesn't like to mingle with others, remember?"

A third said, bringing her tray of food to the table. In the canteen, the different squads do not usually mingle with one another, choosing to sit at the tables with their own squad members.

"Elaine, you're eating that again?"

The first witch asked the newcomer to the table. 2nd Lieutenant Elaine A. Valencia was my wingman, with her chestnut coloured hair flowing slightly past her shoulders. Her left bang was kept back by a hair clip she got recently from an admirer in the base. I would not tell her not to mix with men, but it would be a problem if she focuses on nothing but that guy. I have to admit though, he did seem rather nice. As for what Elaine was eating, it was a Fuso set meal, complete with rice, soup and grilled fish. She chooses not to touch the fermented beans that are called 'natto'. I wouldn't touch those with a five foot pole.

"It's nice, why don't you give it a try?"

Elaine asked, helping herself to the fish. A really simple meal but she looked like she was really enjoying it.

"Just because your lover is from Fuso doesn't mean you have to force yourself to eat Fuso food."

The first witch said, making Elaine gag on her food.

"W-who is my lover? ! I was just thinking about maybe repaying him back for the hair clip, that's all!"

"Oh? And by repaying you mean by cooking him a meal? In Fuso, isn't that a sign of affection?"

"Carolyn!"

This banter was starting to get off topic. Plus, it was rather boring to listen to them talk about this while I'm eating. My bread was losing its taste.

"Alright you two, settle down. You're ruining my food."

I said, breaking up the two.

"Elaine, you're too easy to read. Carolyn, stop teasing my wingman."

I pointed to the first witch. Warrant Officer Carolyn E. Harris. She was the wild one, constantly sticking out of formation as though she wanted to prove something to everyone else. That sort of tactic wasn't my style, nor was it even recommended. I swear, those propaganda films sent back home were more dangerous than the Neuroi, giving the newer witches grand delusions of fighting in glory. Bullshit, I tell you. Every single one of those words were lies.

"Right, so what can you tell me about them?"

I ask, changing the topic back to what it was before.

"Well, I'm not sure about the army's captain, Kanai Miyuki, since she rarely speaks out. But what we know is that she's very strict and rigid. I've seen her practice swinging her sword early in the morning everyday, and right after that she goes for a run. Personally, I don't know where she gets all of that stamina to do all that."

Carolyn said, stabbing the bacon on her plate with her fork and waving it about as she continued talking.

"As for the other Fuso leader, Takeuchi Shion, she seems to be more open. She takes an active role in training and seems to know what she's doing. In short, she's the type of person who can take control and lead. Say, Katherine, don't you know more about her?"

Carolyn asked the second witch, who was still eating her food.

"mashgba-"

"Swallow before speaking!"

Carolyn scolded the other witch. Warrant Officer Katherine A. Walsh, another rookie just out of training school. Both Carolyn and Katherine were apparently friends in training school, and so they stuck together all the way. However unlike Carolyn, Katherine was the more reserved of the two. She talks less, letting Carolyn do almost all of the conversations. She is also seems to be the one who holds the more reason behind the two, although she is also known to forget basic things. Like table manners.

"As I was saying, I only know as much as you."

Katherine said after swallowing her food down. So I guess that means no one knows anything more than that. But like Elaine said before, I don't really like to mingle around with others. Just sticking with my own squad is good enough. About this incident, it was more nothing more than a passing curiosity, that's all.

"Say, captain, what do you know about the new Major?"

Carolyn asked.

"Nothing much."

I replied, dipping my bread into some soup to soften it.

"It can't be nothing. You were reading her file for a whole day. There had to be something that you found out."

This girl was persistent. To the point of annoyance, actually. But it was true, I had read the Major's file for one entire day. I had heard rumours of the reaper before when I fought in the European wars. Heard nothing good about her besides that she had a near flawless victory streak. Note the word I use. 'Near-Flawless'. Like most commanders, the Major had her flaws, but because her victories numbered so many, some of her losses were... left out. I had not seen a file that had black-marked out about half of its contents, and failed to cover-up that she nearly killed almost all of her teams.

Was there something worse than trying to kill her own squads? What exactly was she doing during those years before coming here? Was this why this coming operation was given almost immediately after her arrival? And also why the mission was given to her and not the base commanders? I spotted the Major trying to talk to the Fuso captain again, but to no avail as the Fuso witch ran off once more. Perhaps I could offer some sort of leverage for information. I took another bite from my bread before getting up from my seat.

"Captain?"

"I need to talk to the Major for awhile. You girls get to the hangar and prep the strikers for launch."

I told them before rushing after the Major, who left the canteen probably in search of the captain. I stepped out of the canteen and spotted the Major turning a corner. Wasting no time, I ran after her. After I turned a corner, however, I came face to face with the Major herself, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. She was waiting for me.

"So? You wanted to talk about something, Captain Meyer?"

She asked in a sort of friendly yet creepy manner. Just who is she?

"... I need to know something, Major."

I replied, choosing my words somewhat carefully.

"Everyone needs to know something, Captain. If you're wondering about what happened between me and Captain Takeuchi, you're asking the wrong person as I do not know what is wrong either."

I don't think you're even thinking about what you did to her. But that wasn't what I wanted to ask.

"I wanted to ask about the up-coming operation."

"I told you all that I know about it-"

"I want to know about why you were told rather than the higher-ups."

The Major seemed a little surprised by my question.

"Maybe it is because I am the one in-charge of the witches?"

She replied my question in a rather sly manner, not answering me straight-on.

"You know that isn't what I'm looking for, Major. What happened in Afrika? What made you come here? Some one of your record would not be allowed to come here just on a whim. There must be some reason behind this-"

I was cut silent when I felt a sudden flow of magic coming from the Major. A magic circle appeared under our feet, spreading out from the Major. The walls started to crack as the pressure mounted. I felt... fear. I was afraid of this feeling. But as quickly as it began, it stopped. The Major took a deep breath in and exhaled.

"... Captain, you're too curious for your own good. Some things are best left alone."

The Major said, turning to leave. I was still shaking from the confrontation, but I knew I still had to press for more.

"M-Major! H-how about a trade?"

I ask, making the Major stop and turn.

"A trade? And what exactly would I want to trade for?"

"... I have information detailing the Liberion operations in the area, in particular, the navy movements in Pearl Harbour. I'm sure it concerns us all."

Now that seemed to have perked the Major's interest.

"So, Liberion really is preparing for an invasion... Fine, come with me."

The Major led the way down the hall towards her office. Opening the door, she stepped into her own office where her secretary was sorting out some paperwork.

"Mary, would you mind getting me some coffee? Make it extra strong with ten lumps of sugar in it, no more, no less."

The Major said, and her secretary raised an eyebrow at the Major's weird request, but then noticed me standing there as well. The secretary nodded and left the office, closing the door behind her. The Major walked over to her chair and sat down in it, opening a drawer of her desk and pulling out a bottle of whisky and two glasses. Obviously she wasn't going to be drinking coffee.

"Have a seat."

She said, uncorking the bottle and pouring two glasses, shifting one towards me. Should we really be drinking this early in the morning? The Major did not seem to care as she downed her glass in one gulp. Did not know she could drink, but then again, I did not know a lot of things. She saw me eyeing my glass, before giving a smile.

"What's this? A Liberion that is afraid of drinking? This is new."

Now that really touched a nerve. I may be lazy, but when it comes to defending my country's honour, I will do it. I grabbed my glass and downed it, though regretted it almost immediately as the liquid was strong to the point where it felt like it was burning my throat. I coughed and gagged, making the Major roar out in laughter.

"No one told you to drink it like that!"

She laughed, pouring herself another drink and gulping it down. She looked perfectly fine, but why? Wouldn't the drink affect her as well? Even if she was a heavy drinker, there would be some signs after drinking this heavy drink.

"You still don't get it, Captain?"

She asked. I shook my head. The Major sighed, sitting back in her chair. She looked slightly disappointed, as though she lost her fun streak. She then point to the top of her head. Two wolf ears popped out from the top of her head, twitching a little. Magic? She was using magic to drink this?

"It is a very good way to train yourself in the finer parts of magic control. It's a trick I picked up in Gallia. This is the reason why my magic hasn't faded as much as other witches at my age."

She explained, pouring herself another glass.

"Want another go?"

She asked, gesturing the bottle to me. She was testing me. Or was it having fun? I could not tell with this person. But this was a challenge with Liberion pride on the line, even though it was my fault that got myself easily provoked into this challenge.

"... Fine."

I snatched the bottle from her hand and brought it straight to my lips. I opened up my magic channels as my rabbit ears appeared on my head. It was easier to drink this heavy drink with magic, but something did not feel right. It was still painful to drink.

"You need to focus. You're currently exerting all of your magic to the outside. Focus on yourself and wrap the magic around the lining of your throat to prevent the drink from touching your insides."

Just what was she talking about? Wrapping? Focus? Insides?

"If your ears and tail are showing, then it means you're exerting too much force and too little control."

I put down the half empty bottle, rather angry at being played for by this Major.

"I don't understand what you're talking about! What is with this game of drinki-"

I felt something wanting to come out the wrong way. I felt really sick as my head was beginning to feel like a lead weight. Without missing a beat, the Major pointed to the toilet attached to her office, which I ran to. It was embarrassing for me as I was vomiting everything I had into the Major's toilet.

"Like I said, you need to focus."

The Major said from her seat. She was obviously having fun at my expense. I wasn't feeling too well even after emptying my bowels into the toilet, slumping into the chair opposite the Major at her desk. The Major merely smiled, reaching into her drawer and pulling out another bottle. This one was water.

"Here, it'll help."

She said, tossing me the bottle. Using the last of my strength, I opened the bottle and tried to drink its contents. The acid at the back of my throat was cooled down by the water, but it also made the water quite nasty tasting. Like drinking my own vomit. Not a pleasant thought.

"Now, as for the point of this."

The Major began, pouring herself another drink.

"Control is something that most witches do not learn about their powers. They put on the striker unit and rely on its regulators to control their powers for them. I'll tell you something interesting, Captain. This technique of training is used for the top witches in the Commonwealth. I'm sure you know what that means."

I sure do. The top witches of the Britannian Air Force, also known as the HMWs. Her Majesty's Witches. The elite witches who were used in the defence of Britannia. They were an extremely mysterious group, being well-known and not at the same time. People knew that the HMWs existed, but no one knew the true extent of their powers. A large Neuroi invasion of Britannia was thwarted by the HMWs alone, making them one of the strongest witches around. Does that mean that the Major was one of them?

"Within the HMWs, there also exist a certain group of individuals. Special individuals. Specializing in all sorts of things that would make the Neuroi look like a mere puppy."

A special group of witches? What does that mean?

"When I first joined the Britannian Air Force, I was invited to join this group of special individuals. We do not work together as a team, however, so it seemed more like a title than an actual squad. We were each given individual missions and specific orders to carry out. Strategic bombing and intruder missions is only one part of it."

"T-the bandit w-witches?"

I ask, still feeling queasy. The Major smiled and nodded.

"That is only one part, but yes. The intruder missions of the Bandit Witches were something that we did. But have you ever thought of flying straight into the Hive of a Neuroi? I'm sure you haven't. It is suicidal. But suicidal is what we do best."

"Wha-"

"I wanted to quit, but seeing my track-record, the higher-ups would not let go so easily. I thought something was off when they so easily allowed me to be transferred here. So this operation was the reason."

The Major seemed to have a hint of sadness in her tone.

"... I-if it was a secret, then why share it?"

"We are not bound by any oath of secrecy. This group is not one with secrets. We are a group that would do anything to get things done, no matter the cost. We are Her Majesty's Knights, the Fidei Defensor also known as the Knightmares."