Chapter 9

It was early morning. The sun was cresting over the horizon, gently rising into the sky and shining upon the 501st Romagnan base.

Gertrude Barkhorn stirred from beneath the covers of her bed, awakening to the sunlight shining through the window adjacent to where she slept. Slowly she opened her eyes and sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, her hair was let down, untied and free from her black ribbons. She always rose when the sun did, as any good solider of Karlsand would. Discipline was paramount after all. The Karlsand Captain kept to sleeping in the nude, she found it refreshing waking up without being weighted down by articles of clothing. Her sleepy focus turned to her roommate sitting in the opposite side of the room, Erica Heartmann, still sleeping half way off her bed and with the covers drawn over her head.

Trude always kept her side of the room clean, tidy and well organized, always keeping her living space immaculately maintained. She prided herself on this, for it showed disciplined and she felt that it reflected well for a solider of the Fatherland. So it was understandable why whenever she cast her gaze to her room mates squalor and disorganized mess that took up the brilliant but lazy girls side of the room in huge piles that could quite possibly rival the alps frustrated Barkhorn to no end. Erica was also a solider of Karlsand, born to a country that ran on discipline, order and held high expectations of maintaining ones duty. And yet her room, her discipline, her hygiene, all of it was lacking woefully, everything running counter to what the Karlsand military had trained them in.

"Damn it, Frau." Barkhorn gave an annoyed mutter. "She can never keep her side of the room clean. It's totally unbecoming."

Throwing the covers off her body and forcing herself to try and ignore the blatant eyesore of her friend's living space, she wandered over to one of the windows in the room and looked outside.

Off in the distance she could make out the tiny dot flying in the sky that was Sanya who was returning from night patrol, no doubt yawning sleepily as she was approaching the runway. Barkhorn could tell from the way the Orussian girl was flying; in a slow, lazy manner that the girl was most likely beginning to doze off, like she always dose. Looking down towards the ground she could see Major Sakamoto training with her sword, sharpening her swordsmanship skills and making sure they stay that way. Barkhorn respected the Major, liking how the Fuso woman shared the same initiative to maintaining ones skill and focus, even in ones daily tasks. She also was thankful that Sanya was so willing to forgo a night of sleep to make sure that the sky's were safe and clear as the rest of the base slept.

Barkhorn turned to a small dresser where her ribbons, panties and mini tank top were resting, dressing into her cloths and tying up her hair before she began her daily morning ritual: One hundred one handed chin-ups.

Better keep myself at 100% percent as well. Time to start the day. She found the exposed ceiling beam she always worked out on and grabbed it with her right hand, keeping her left arm behind her back. Narrowing her eyes on the beam, she then began her regimen, a few light grunts escaping her each time she drew her chin up to the beam. No sooner had she reached the tenth chin up that she heard a muffled sleepy, groaning voice roll out from Erica's side of the room.

"Trrrrrrrrrruuuuuuuuuuuuude. Keep it doooooooooooowwwwn."

"Up and at em Heartmann. We've got a lot of training and a lot of work to do."

Barkhorn continued her chin ups as she spoke, managing to reach count 23.

"Can't the training and work wait, I'm still sleepy. Another ten minutes alright."

Barkhorn closed her eyes in annoyance, continuing her reps. "I don't see why your one to complain. You've had plenty of sleep and have no excuse to stay in bed. They only one I can understand going to bed at this hour is Sanya Litvyak, and that's because she's always on night patrol."

"So? What's that got to do with me sleeping?"

Barkhorn gave a frustrated sigh as she continued on with her workout, though she was beginning to speed up considerably, not taking the time to pace herself, suddenly passing count 49. Upon reaching the count of 50 she switched to her left arm, with her right arm kept behind her back. Usually, she did 100 chin ups for each arm, but she was feeling more annoyed than normal, and decided to do only 50 this morning. I'll do the other 50 after breakfast. She thought to herself.

"Honestly Heartmann, you're lacking in discipline! For a Karlsand solider the first rule is discipline. The Second rule is also discipline."

"And let me guess, third, fourth, fifth and sixth are also discipline? Not like I haven't heard it before." Erica's voice seemed to sleepily mock Barkhorns words. "I'm too tired for speeches Trude. Give me another 20 minutes."

Barkhorns grasp on the beam tightened; the wood creaking slightly as it strained from her iron grip. The proud Karlsand solider growled in frustration as she fiercely continued with her work out.

"First you want ten minutes, now you want 20 more? Aren't you the least bit ashamed of yourself in your lax attitude?"

There was a short pause before a muffled reply came.

"Not really."

Barkhorn could only sigh once she finally reached her 50th rep. "Some how...I just knew you were going to say that."

She was determined at first to keep her regimen well maintained, but now she was too frustrated to get up to her usual 100th rep. She need some space to cool off. Letting go of the beam, landing on her feet and stretching her arms momentarily she went over to the closet and pulled out her uniform. She quickly donned it and buttoned it up. She couldn't understand why Heartmann prided herself in being so lax when out of combat. It annoyed her greatly.

"Whatever. I'm going to go get some breakfast early this morning. I'll finish my regimen afterwards. Just don't plan on staying in bed all day. When I come back here I better see you awake and out of bed."

Barkhorn then proceeded straight to the hallway and closed the door behind her.

"Later Trude." Erica called after her.

Barkhorn shook her head and she continued down the hall. "No motivation at all."

As she was walking the hallways of the barracks, her thoughts soon wander to the events yesterday and the five new arrivals to the base. "I wonder if I should check up on those five."She soon became curious and decided on taking a quick detour. She made her way to the opposite end of the barracks, and could hear the sounds of men snoring from four of the five rooms that were assigned to the visitors from the other reality.

She peaked into the first room a moment, noticing Private Ramirez still fully dressed in his uniform and his gear lying about, with his rifle laying on the floor and the strange rocket weapon still half slung on his back. He hardly even made it into bed, his body sprawled over across the mattress, and his BDU was heavily askew. Barkhorn frowned and continued on to the adjacent room in disgust.

In the adjacent room she saw Corporal Dunn sleeping with his arms behind his head, in full gear and at rest on the covers, rifle lying next to the bed. She couldn't be entirely sure, but she thought she could hear him swearing in his sleep. A foul mouth that one. She thought quietly.

Moving on to the next room, she looked in to find Sergeant Foley. She noticed that the tunic of his uniform and his combat vest rested on a chair and his boots rested at the foot of his bed. His helmet was placed on a desk alongside the chair with the man's gear and weapon. She found this somewhat odd and unfamiliar. Seeing a parallel to a laidback Liberion being this organized was surprising, given the fact that the other two men shown little to no organization or care that she thought for sure that all Liberion's, and by parallel these men from the alternate Liberion known as America would all be the same. Though granted it wasn't AS organized as a Karlsander's room.

Well...not as good as a disciplined Karlsland solider...but I suppose it's passable. Definitely better than his subordinates, that's for sure.

As she approach's the next room, she stops momentarily when she hears the sounds of a voice mumbling quietly. Leaning slowly into the door way. She found a combat uniform was neatly folded on a dresser, with combat vest, helmet, balaclava and gear placed nearby and the machinegun laying at rest in a corner of the room, along with an assortment of grenade like devices, futuristic equipment and a strange pistol laying on the night stand. She saw Roach sleeping under the covers of the bed but she could see that his sleep was anything but sound. The young Sergeant tossed and turned under his covers, talking in his sleep with distress.

"Scarecrow, watch out. Tango... right flank...heli in the air...too many. Ozone...Ghost...help...NO..."

Barkhorn watched silently as the Sergeant re-lived the nightmares of the previous day in his dreams. Calling out for fallen brothers in arms in vain, his horrid dreams filled with the sights, sounds and smells of a terrible battle, a mission that would scar the man's heart and mind. Barkhorn silently forced herself to move on from the room, feeling pity for the man and a bit of guilt in intruding.

She came upon the last room, feeling hesitant in looking in, after seeing Roach experiencing his nightmare she started to feel a bit ashamed in poking her nose in at an inopportune time. But taking a deep breath, she finally found enough strength to look into the last room, wondering what she would find the last man inside to be doing.

It was empty.

She stepped in with a quickened pace. She began wondering if the man had stepped into the closet for a moment, but found that the room had in fact been untouched. Nothing was here save for the furniture that was already present. There was no indication that the strange man, Ghost, had even entered the room either.

Where is he? The Karlsand Captain wondered.

She stepped back into the hallway and look down either end, trying to figure out where the man had gone. Turning down the hall to pass the empty room, she noticed a few small traces of dirt that made a partial foot print. She followed the direction in which it pointed until she came across a set of intersecting hallways. Turning around the corner she gasped in surprise, having now found her quarry.

Ghost was still dressed head to toe in his gear, resting, most likely asleep, sitting upright against the wall. But unlike the other four men, who have been asleep as if in a secure, safe area, Ghost was sleeping as though he where resting deep in enemy territory. His rifle was held firmly in his grip with both hands at the ready should someone mean him harm, and he sounded as if he was sleeping lightly.

Barkhorn could only stair in awe of the man who rested in front of her. She had heard stories of how men at the front lines would sleep like this, but she never seen it for herself. It struck her as unnerving, how even when a solider would need to live his life to kill, even while he was at rest. Every moment he would need to live each and every inch of his life ready to take the life of another, regardless of wither he slept or not. She knew that's just how it was...but Ghost seemed to raise this to a sort of terrifying art form. He was more than just a disciplined solider, or a true warrior. He was a killer. She could sense that in him.

She could hear him mumbling occasionally, but couldn't make out what he was saying. She knew it would be dangerous to awaken an armed; sleeping man like this, but for some reason, she felt compelled to speak to the man. Her curiosity was beginning to get the better of her.

She breathed deeply before she spoke. "Excuse me. Wake up!"

Ghost jerked awake, almost raising his rifle in anticipation of an attack, until he recognized the face of the person standing before him.

"Bloody hell; don't go sneaking up on me like that! Are you trying to get fucking shot?"

Barkhorn placed her hands on her hips, staring down the Lieutenant as he looked up at her groggily."Just what are you doing here? You haven't even been in your room. And your weapon..." She pointed to the rifle in Ghost's grasp. "Why do you have that with you? There isn't any need to have it on you like this."

"No offense kid, but I feel much more secure having this at hand when I need it."

Barkhorn peered intently at Ghost as he spoke, folding her arms in front of her with a stern, questioning look. "You don't think your safe here?" She asked.

"No place is safe kid, even if it seems like it." Ghost said bluntly.

"Well here you are safe, so you don't need to hold your weapon ready to shoot the first thing that moves."

Barkhorn sighed and then grabbed Ghost's arm, trying to pull the man to his feet. "Come on then, time to get up."

"Just what are you doing?" Ghost demanded, trying to resist but finding that the girl had quite a bit of strength in her.

"You'll need to eat breakfast. I'm headed to the mess hall anyways, so you can come along with me if you want." she said firmly.

Ghost shrugged, groaning as he got up. Slinging the ACR over his shoulder, he looked down at the girl. "Fine then. After you."

Following Barkhorn's lead, Ghost was lead down several corridors before reaching the doors leading outside. Stepping out of the doors of the barracks to the base grounds and noticing the hustle and bustle of personnel wandering about or working, Ghost's curiosity in regards to Barkhorn began to grow a little. Uncomfortably, he coughed, clearing his throat.

"So um... Barkhorn was it?" He asked awkwardly.

"Yes. What?"

Ghost could hear the strong, impatient tone that Barkhorns voice was taking. He sighed before he replied in deadpan. "A little bent out of shape are we? Get out on the wrong side of the bed this morning?"

"It's personal. I don't want to talk about It." she replied calmly.

Ghost rolled his eyes. Well this is going nowhere.

"Alright then how about we talk about something else?" There was a brief pause. "How long have you been in the service for?"

"Are you trying to make small talk?"

Ghost sighed. "Trying and failing apparently. I'm usually the strong silent type, but you interest me a little."

Barkhorn was silent for a while, closing her eyes thoughtfully. "I used to serve in the Luftwaffe Jagdgeschwader 52 and was in command of its 2nd fighter wing for five years before I became a part of the 501st Joint fighter wing. While I served in the Karlsland Lufwaffe, I became acquaintances with Minna and Heartmann."

"Oh, is that right? I guess the three of you have been pretty close, coming from the same country and all that?"

"Yes. Minna has really helped me a lot once our country fell to the Neuroi. She is a great leader and I have the utmost respect for her." Barkhorn rolled her eyes and lightly shook her head from side to side, recalling the earlier problem she had with Erica. "Frau however is completely haphazard in her personal life. She was a real mess when she was still a trainee under the command of Edytha Roßmann, and she hasn't had particularly rigorous training to be honest."

"Frau? You mean the Hartman girl, right?"

"Yeah, that's right."

"Pretty bad huh? Guessing she isn't much help when the chips are down?"

Barkhorn stopped dead and turned to face the British man, a sudden wash of anger over taking her.

"NO, YOU'RE WRONG!"

Ghost flinched, surprised by Barkhorns sudden outburst. "Huh? Where the fuck did that come from?"

Barkhorn realized that Ghost didn't know the whole story. Of course she couldn't blame him; all she had gone on about was Erica's lax discipline and her messy living habits. She lowered her head in embarrassment.

"Sorry...I...I suppose I neglected to tell you how talented she is." Her voice became soft and reminiscent. "Her skill in combat is amazing, and her tactics in battle are brilliant. And she's stubborn, always looking at everything with a critical eye. And it's because of that critical eye that a lot of the higher ups don't like her very much. So that's why I have to protect Heartmann from that sort of trouble."

Barkhorn continued to walk, though it was at a slower pace. Ghost quickly caught up to her and was again walking parallel to her.

He nodded, understanding. "Alright, I get it now. I'm sorry if I sounded like I was cutting her down or anything."

Barkhorn looked up to the British man smiling. "Thiers no need. You didn't know. I'm sorry for getting mad like that."

"Heh, forget about It." though Ghost couldn't really feel his emotions properly, he at least managed to fake em a little bit. When he was with kids, at least he made the effort, because he wanted to. He then proceeds to ask another question. Get to know something about her personally.

"Have you got family Barkhorn?"

Barkhorn blinked in confusion. "Huh? I asked you that yesterday and you never gave me an answer."

"Weeeeelllll maybe if you tell me a little bit about your family I might tell you a little about mine." Ghost teased.

A smooth operator this one...he definitely isn't the type to say very much until he's sure of something. Gertrude mused.

Barkhorn sighed and closed her eyes. "The only family I have left is my little sister Chris."

"Just you and your sister? What about your folks?"

"Their dead. Chris and I lost them before the Neuroi invaded Karlsland. And our extended family didn't make it when the fighting started."

"Oh. I see."

Ghost soon became hesitant about what he should say next. Aw geeze, I didn't know that it was something like this. How could I have known that it was only her and her kid sister left? He could see the saddened look painted on the girls face, and he soon started to feel...something almost akin to guilt.

"Minna, Heartmann and I helped during the evacuation, by trying to keep the skies clear of Neuroi, and the three of us fought hard against the invading forces. It wasn't an easy thing to do, but we did what we could."

Barkhorn then turned her head to face Ghost, her straight, stern faced look returning.

"Well, I told you a little bit about my family, now it's your turn Britannian."

Putting on your poker face now then are you? Ghost thought quietly.

"Fair enough I guess. But you sure you wanna hear it?"

"I do. It's only fair."

Once they reached the doors of the large, fort sized HQ building, Ghost held the door open for Barkhorn. Once she entered, he followed her and began speaking as they were drawing closer to the mess hall.

"Well, I had an angel of a Ma and a dead beat dad, and my brother was in a pretty rough patch for a while because of dear old pop, getting addicted to a whack load of drugs. He got clean, I made sure to that, and thankfully he found himself a wife and they had a kid and that's what kept him clean."

"By had do you mean...?"

"All dead and gone."

Ghost could see the look on Barkhorn's face become horrified shock. He merely shrugged in response.

"Surly you don't mean all of them!"

"Roger."

"I don't believe it."

"Well... you wanted to know." Ghost replied matter-of-factly.

Barkhorn hesitated before she mustered the strength to ask her question.

"What happened?"

Ghost turned his head away from Barkhorns gaze, he only managed to get this story out once to strangers and even then he hid the fact it was his. He wasn't sure he was ready to tell this girl just yet. "I don't think you're ready to hear that story kid. Let's just leave what I told you at that for a while?"

Barkhorn seemed confused at first, but a look of acceptance washed over her as she nodded. "I understand. I won't press any further into the matter."

"Well, better not start the day on a low note right?"

"...I suppose not."

Upon reaching the doors to the mess hall, Ghost allows Barkhorn to enter first, following behind her as she steps through the door frame. The pair are greeted by Yoshika as she enters the mess from the kitchen, dressed in an apron and carrying several stacked trays of Miso Soup and a few bowels of rice. Upon seeing Barkhorn and Ghost enter the room, she smiles broadly and approaches the table.

"Oh good morning! Glad to see you're both awake. Lynne and I made everyone breakfast! I made a little something from Fuso and Lynne made Tea and Scones."

Yoshika placed the trays and bowls of food on the table as Lynnette also enters the mess hall, carrying the Tea and a large tray of Scones in a delicate balancing act.

"Ah, you're both awake! Please eat up; we've made plenty to go around."

Ghost looks around the mess hall to see if there was anyone else present, but apparently they seemed to be the only early risers.

"I guess everyone else is asleep then?" Ghost asks Yoshika.

"Well the major is out training, and I think Sanya is returning from night patrol, but yeah, I don't think anyone else is up just yet."

Ghost takes an empty plate, filling it with Scones before he grabs one of the cups of tea and takes a seat at the table. He lifts the bottom of his balaclava up, exposing his mouth, before grabbing one of the scones on his plate and biting into it. The explosion of flavour that went off in his mouth was unlike anything that Simon had ever experienced. His mouth soon began to water as he chewed into the tender, warm, fluffy pastry. The mixture of Zante currants and a hint of cheese flooded the British man's taste buds.

"Mmmmmm. That's pretty good."

Lynnette smiled and nodded, happy to hear that the man approved of her cooking.

"I'm glad you're enjoying it. I made sure that I cooked it just right."

"Well it defiantly shows Lynne. This is some pretty good eating here. Not very often that I get to eat a homemade Scone, much less one made this well. Don't suppose you'd give me the recipe for it?"

"Oh it wasn't much really, but I'd be glad to write the recipe out for you."

Ghost chortled a little as he raised his cup of tea, saluting the young Brittanian girl's cooking. "Thanks luv. Cheers."

Barkhorn cocked her head and pointed at Ghost. "Aren't you going to take your mask off?"

"Nope." Ghost replied simply and took a sip from his cup of tea

Barkhorn had helped herself to Yoshika's prepared meal of Miso and a bowl of rice, taking a seat beside Ghost and proceeded to eat her meal as well. Trude often enjoyed Miyafuji's cooking, whenever the young Fuso Witch made a meal, Barkhorn often made sure to have at least something that the girl made. Of course Barkhorn had grown to become fond of Yoshika, seeing as she and Chris seemed to look a lot alike. As Minna and Heartmann would have attested, Gertrude loved her sister. Probably a little more than a big sister should for her little sister. Trude knew this and was a little embarrassed about this fact, but she couldn't help it. Chris was her only family after all. She couldn't help but feel like she had to be more than a big sister to Chris.

As Trude was in her own little world and Ghost was eating, Yoshika turned to Lynne and took the Britianinan girl by the hands. A warm, loving smile painted on her face as she spoke.

"Lynne. You and I...I'm glad we both had the chance to...well..."

Lynnette giggled and pressed her forehead against Yoshika's.

"Yeah. I'm glad too." She leaned closer to the other girl and her voice dropped to a whisper as she spoke into her friend's ear. "Last night, you were so bold Yoshika. I didn't think I'd see such a side of you before."

Yoshika's face turned red as she laughed nervously. "Y-yeah. Tell you the truth; I thought the only time I'd do something like that would be in my dreams."

Lynnette giggled again. "I think I understand now what you meant that one time when you said we were "flying in formation" in your dreams". Lynne said knowingly, winking playfully and a blush crossing her face. At which Yoshika quickly became embarrassed and laughed nervously.

The two girls hands intertwined as they both looked lovingly into each other's eyes. Yoshika then pulled Lynnette back into the kitchen as the two of them laughed happily, both of them overflowing with cheerful energy, oblivious to the company that they had in the mess.

As Ghost continued finishing the Scone, he noticed the interaction between Yoshika and Lynnette and watched in silent curiosity. He noticed every movement, every expression that was made and every word that the two girls had spoken. He read these things carefully. The part that really caught his attention was when the two girls had intertwined their hands and looked each other in the eye, much like a pair of young lovers. In fact, Ghost could bet that it was exactly the case. And they both had that particular glow...

Did those two? Don't tell me they...

The second those explicit thoughts crossed his mind he immediately knocked them away. Ghost may have been a little fucked in the head, but there were things even he wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole. Course, when he tried to do so they would creep back, and he soon became distracted by the thought of what those girls had apparently done in private, during the wee hours of the night before. They didn't really bother hiding it and Ghost wished they try to at least. Ghost cursed his over analytical mind.

Oh fuck me I should have just ignored all that shit and just ate my fucking Scone.

Barkhorn meanwhile began to put thoughts of her sister aside when she noticed that Yoshika and Lynette were acting different around each other. And she also noticed that Ghost seemed distracted, noting that the man was beginning to eat less enthusiastically.

"Something wrong?" She asked the Lieutenant of the 141.

Ghost turned to Barkhorn and gestured towards the kitchen that Yoshika and Lynne had walked into.

"Didn't you notice the behaviour of those two, Barkhorn?"

"Yes...I did notice they were acting...a little odd?"

"That's an understatement." Ghost replied sarcastically.

"I wonder what's gotten into those two."

Ghost sighs and decided he should just try and let the subject drop. Bringing it up would only serve to make things awkward. "Eh, whatever. Probably not any of our business anyways."

"Probably not."

The both continued to eat silently for a while before Ghost took a sip of his tea and studied Barkhorn from head to toe, trying to evaluate the Karlsand solider.

"I have a question."

"What?"

"You're a witch right? Yoshika has that healing magic, so what's your specialty?"

Gertrude eyed Ghost for a moment before she closed her eyes and smirked with pride. "Well I guess I can show you if you want. After we're finished with our breakfast, how about we spar?"

Ghost scoffed. "Really? You sure you want to spar Ol' Ghost?"

"You're damned right I do, Lieutenant."

Ghost placed his cup of tea on the table and got up out of his chair, pulling down the balaclava back over his mouth. He then gestured towards the door of the mess hall as he spoke.

"Alright then luv, how about now then? Show me just what a Witch can do against a solider of the 141."

Barkhorn smirked. She wanted to see this man's mettle, how strong he was. "Very well then."

As she stood up, Barkhorn noticed a figure sleepily walk into the mess. Ghost also took notice and recognized Roach as he wearily trudged his way to the table and sat down.

"Oh Roach, you're awake. How'd you sleep?"

Roach gave a tired, listless gaze to Ghost as his body swayed from side to side. "Horrible."

Roach then promptly let his head hit the table with a large thud; the sound of dishes bouncing from the impact of his forehead hitting the wooden tabletop.

Concerned, Ghost approached Roach and put a hand on his friends shoulder. "You gonna be okay mate?"

Roach slowly looked up, his chin resting on the table as he eyed the meals that Ghost and Barkhorn hadn't finished.

"You two going to eat that?"

"...no." they both replied in unison.

"If that's the case, I'll help myself."

Roach grabbed both plates and hunched over them, slowly eating the leftover food, though he seemed like he would fall back to sleep at any moment. His face was pale, his hair was messy and his eyes were bloodshot red, as though the man had himself a cry for a while.

Ghost leaned forward over Roach. "You want to talk about it?"

Roach gave a heavy, shaky sigh. "How about later, what say?"

Ghost shrugged in response. "If ya say so mate. Just take it easy for a while. Barkhorn and I are going to spar for a bit."

"Oh. Well, good luck with that." Roach then gave a tired smirk as he turned to his CO. "Just don't let her mop the floor with ya, okay?"

Ghost chuckled as he messed up Roaches hair.

"I'll certainly try to avoid that Roach."

...

Sakamoto trained long and hard with Reppumaru, since way before the sun had even thought about rising to start the day. As the leaves from a nearby tree fell, leaf by leaf, she would cleanly cut them in two before they had a chance to reach the ground. She occasionally flourished the sword which she had crafted with her on two hands, testing the balance between each strike on her small targets. She had crafted Reppumaru well, the beautiful edged weapon had perfect balance, and the steel blade that she had folded over five hundred times was the strongest of any Katana thus made. Not only was it a tried and true, battle tested Neuroi killer; it was a beam cutter. Sakamoto was the first witch in history to slice through a Neuroi's beam attack.

But that meant little if anything to her. All she cared about, all she desired, was to stay a solider of Fuso for as long as what little of her magic power remained. The only way she wanted it all to end was with a bang, not a whimper. To die in battle against the enemy before her life as a witch finally ended once her magic was gone. But she intended to fight the cruel fate that was dealt to her, though she was far from being a fatalist by any stretch of the imagination. Her new strikers served to maximize what little magic power she carried and increased her flying speed. It compensated for the fact that Mio's shield was too weak to even stop a bullet fired from a pistol. And her sword, Reppumaru, served as a means to quickly cut through a Neuroi, and protect her from any beam attacks she couldn't dodge. Maximising what she had to make up for what she had lost with age.

After a while, Sakamoto's training regimen came to an end. She brought her sword in front of her, before sheathing it in the scabbard at her waist. She bowed her head as a small smile crossed her face.

"Looks like I'm still in top form...good." she murmured quietly.

As she turned on her heels, content that her skills had been sufficiently sharpened, she noticed Barkhorn and the man known as "Ghost" walking side by side, both of them seemingly boasting and gloating to each other as they walked across the tarmac. The pair then stopped before a table that rested next to the Hanger where Ghost then proceeded to lay down his rifle. Barkhorn gestured away from the table and stood facing towards the Balaclava clad Lieutenant. Ghost proceeded to stretch a little, cracking his knuckles and neck as he stood to face the Karlsand Captain, the two of them standing a couple feet from each other.

"Are those two planning on sparing?" Mio wondered quietly to herself.

She stood and watched from a distance, unsure of how things would play out. She felt some apprehension as she watched; her hand resting upon the hilt of her sword if things turned out to be more dangerous then what currently seemed to be.

...

Barkhorn was grinning broadly with excitement in her eyes. She stared intently at Ghost and planted her feet, gesturing at the Lieutenant to make his move.

"Well, come on Britianian. Let's see what you're made of."

Ghost only scoffed, before he raised his arms up parallel to the ground, the palms of his hands facing skyward as he cocked his head to the right.

"Ladies first luv, I insist."

Still grinning wildly, Barkhorns eyes narrowed on Ghost's idle form.

"If you're sure."

Barkhorn charged at the Lieutenant and tried for a right hook, which Ghost promptly dodged. She quickly followed up with a left hook that was also dodged like her first attack. She was surprised at first, not expecting to miss her target, much less missing twice. This time she tried for a quick right jab. It was too fast for Ghost to dodge and he knew it, so instead he blocked the attack, deflecting it with his left hand. Barkhorn was impressed. Ghost had very good reaction time for a mere solider. She followed up with a left hook that Ghost blocked with his right hand. Ghost could feel the girls fists connect with his hands as he intercepted her punches. He noticed that each blow she threw felt heavy for a girl of her size, but he managed to read her body language and intercepted the girl's attacks with relative ease. But he could sense somehow that while her punches had considerable weight that she was holding back in some way. As Barkhorn continued throwing punches and Ghost blocked them, he chuckled as he quipped to the young Captain.

"Are you hold'en back luv?"

"What makes you think I am holding back, Lieutenant?"

"I can read your movements; you're not putting all strength into your attacks."

He attempted to counter with a knifehand strike to her neck, but she caught his hand easily, gripping Simons hand in a firm grip.

"Huh." Ghost was surprised that Barkhorn was managing to hold her own against a grown man like him this well. But still, his gut told him that while she was pretty good at fighting, she was still holding back. He smiled from beneath his balaclava.

"I'm more than a handful for you Ghost. You're out weighed."

"Is that so?"

At that, he grabbed the Karslander's arm and twisted it around behind her back. She felt some pain as he locked it behind her body, before he shoved her away. Barkhorn turned back to Ghost, studying him for a moment in curiosity, rubbing the soreness out of her arm before she advanced towards him.

As she attempted to grapple Ghost, he brought his knee up into her lower abdomen, breaking her defences and catching her off guard. Barkhorn stumbled back as she gasped for air; Ghost quickly turned the tables and began going on the attack, making several jabs at Gertrude, while she began to shield herself from his attacks, her arms protecting her head and chest.

"That's a bit dirty don't you think?" Barkhorn spat as she defended herself from Ghost's punches.

"Well, we're both soldiers right? We gotta do anything to survive; the enemy won't go easy on us."

"True." Trude mused.

She brought her leg up and tried to kick the Lieutenant in the shin, but misses and instead places her foot squarely onto Riley's groin. Ghost groaned painfully as he stumbled back a few steps. The pain was excruciating, but he forced himself to ignore it, his hand momentarily shielding his crotch for a moment before re-adopting his combat pose, though he was noticeably a bit stiff, and his knees were bent awkwardly.

"Son of a fucking bitch, that's a low blow!"

"Wups...sorry, wrong place." Trude replied, grinning sheepishly.

"Yeah, yeah, just don't go doing that again alright?"

"Fair enough. Better defend yourself, Ghost."

Barkhorn charged at the Lieutenant of the 141. As she attempted to strike another punch at the man, Ghost shifted the weight on his feet and dodged her attack. Quickly wheeling on his feet, he got into position behind her and quickly got her in a Sleeper Hold, lifting her off the ground as he kept her restrained. Barkhorn was soon finding herself struggling to escape the man's grasp, and her airway was being constricted, her lungs being denied oxygen. Ghost kept his hold on her firmly, his arm encircling her neck. Barkhorn was gasping uselessly for air and her hands trying to loosen Ghosts grip, but his hold was firm.

"You're a bit overconfident Captain. Another thing you should remember: don't underestimate your opponent."

Barkhorn stopped struggling, and closed her eyes, concentrating. She focused on her magic strength, her Karlsand Wirehaired Pointer ears and tail appearing as her body emanated a blue glow. Ghost hesitated for but a second; unsure of just what Barkhorn was doing. Finally, Barkhorn laughed quietly as her grip tightened on Ghost's arm, capitalizing on his hesitation.

"You'll find that statement cuts both ways, Lieutenant."

With all her strength and using her magic to multiply it, she grabbed the fabric of Ghost's Tactical soft shell jacket and threw the Task Force operator with all she could muster.

Ghost yelled as he was thrown twenty feet, before heavily hitting the ground, his body sliding and rolling across the pavement. Upon finally coming to rest, Ghost groaned, his limbs, joints and back aching from hitting the tarmac.

Barkhorn panted loudly, holding her throat as air finally flowed into her lungs. She was impressed, if a little shaken. Even though she held her own without her magic until now, she was amazed that Ghost could go toe to toe with her, and that he didn't hold anything back. The few times she managed to fight a normal solder, she hardly even needed to use any magic. Even without magic to double her strength, she was fit enough physically to match most grown men in a fight hand to hand.

Ghost was one of three men she met in her life where she needed to use her strength augmentation magic to help win a fight. The first time was against a large, burly Hauptfeldwebel from Karlsand when she was still a young Feldwebel, the man sought to make trouble for both her and Hartmann. At the time, there were a small, but loud few that openly resented and made vocal their dislike for witches. The second time was to beat up Trevor Maloney's 2nd in command and just and to scare Maloney himself. For that instance, she did so because she was pissed off, seeing as the man disbanded the witches in an attempt to test the Warlock Prototype Unit.

This time was different. Though Ghost was somewhat lean and lightly muscled, he had enough strength, endurance, combat knowledge and highly tuned, quick acting reflexes to keep pace with her.

She finally managed to catch her breath and looked to where Ghost came to rest, the man laying still. She approached him and attempted to pick the poor man up.

"Are you alright Ghost, I didn't hurt you did I?"

Ghost wearily found himself to his feet. He looked at Barkhorn as he rubbed the soreness out of his limbs.

"Nothing too bad, I'll be alright. How about you?"

"I'm fine, thank you for your concern."

Ghost sighed. "Let me guess: that was your magic, am I right?"

"Yes. Strength augmentation spell. I can channel magic energy to double my strength, and it can also double the durability of my weapons too."

"Well I'm impressed."

Barkhorn smirked and she crossed her arms. "You held your own very well; you've got mettle and skill. But..."

She raised her figure and waved it at Ghost, almost in a mocking, reprimanding gesture.

"You were out matched."

Ghost rolled his eyes. "Well it didn't help at all with you kicking my fucking boy's you know."

"I suppose not. Again, I'm sorry about that, I meant to aim for your shin." She apologized.

Ghost waved off her apology. "Well at least you didn't do it on purpose, so I guess I can forgive ya for that. And I guess I've had worse than that in my life."

Barkhorn extended her hand to Ghost, with a smile on her face. "Thank you for the sparring match Lieutenant. It more than made up for my unfinished morning calisthenics."

Ghost took Barkhorns hand in his own and the two began to shake hands. "Yeah it was a hell of a workout. The feeling is mutual."

The sound of footsteps approaching and stopping next to them made the two soldiers turn to the source of the sound. Standing before them was Mio Sakamoto, eyes closed as she smiled.

"Ah, I see you both had yourselves a bit of a sparring match? That was quite a test of martial skill."

Barkhorn's face was painted with surprise as she faced the Major, her hand still shaking Ghost's hand absentmindedly. "Oh Major, good morning mamm!"

Ghost stared blankly at the sword carrying Fuso Witch as Barkhorn continued shaking his hand. "So you were watching the whole thing then, eh?"

Mio gave her signature, hearty laugh in response to Ghosts question. "That's right. Aside from myself, Captain Barkhorn is one of the best fighters in the 501st. There is neither man, witch or Neuroi that can hold out long in a fight against her."

Barkhorn's face turned a little bit red in embarrassment from the Major's praise. She soon noticed that she was still shaking Ghost's hand and quickly withdrew her grasp, hiding her hand behind her back, her face turning redder.

Ghost turned his head to Barkhorn noticing her becoming a little flustered and her face turning a light shade of red.

"Are you alright Barkhorn?"

"H-huh? What? I-I'm fine!"

Mio nodded as she chuckled. "Well then, I suppose we better start the day's routine, don't you two agree? We have a lot to do today."

Barkhorn nodded in agreement and saluted Sakamoto. "Yes mamm. A good solider always performs their duty!'

"Good to hear Barkhorn."

"Hey Sakamoto" Ghost turned to Mio as he addressed her, to witch Mio turned to hear what Ghost was about to say.

"I don't suppose you guys have a Firing range or something I can practice at?"

"Well...we sort of have something that would suffice in that area. Once I get everyone ready to start the day, I'll see what I can do."

"Alright thanks."

Barkhorn Saluted Sakamoto again as she spoke to her. "Well Major, I better go see if Heartmann is up yet. In all likely hood she isn't but I'll try and drag her out of the barracks if I have to."

Sakamoto nodded. "Very well, I'll see if any of the others are awake yet. Your dismissed Captain."

"Mamm."

With that Barkhorn turned on the balls of her feet and proceeded in the direction of the Barracks. Ghost was about to head off himself and retrieve his ACR, but before he even had the chance to take his first step; Sakamoto placed her hand on the man's chest and stopped him. She waited until Barkhorn was out of ear shot before she addressed the man. Her face had taken a look that was a stern and threatening one, though it had little effect on a man like Ghost.

"I'd like to make something crystal clear to you Lieutenant." The Majors voice spoke threateningly as her uncovered eye gazed at the British man, firmly locked on the man, staring intensely at him through his sunglasses.

Ghost was silent, so Mio continued

"The girls on this base are trained to fight Neuroi, not another human being. There are only three people on this base that are used to facing down another person, two of whom have no problem raising their hand against a human opponent. If at any point you become a threat to any of the girls, I will not hesitate to cut you down. Barkhorn will hold no reservations either, so be warned, Lieutenant."

As her hand rested on her sword, using her thumb she let the sword creep ominously out of the sheath, exposing the Ricasso of Reppumaru.

After a moments silence, Ghost scoffed as he made his way past her. He stopped a foot away from her, turning his head slightly to face her.

"No need to worry about me Major. I'd know for a fact you and Barkhorn will fuck me up and good if I tried anything, not that I planned on it anyways. Besides...I hate bastards that hurt kids."

Sakamoto turned to face the man, surprised that he was so straightforward in his answer. She thought that she managed to peg him a secretive, plotting type, so she didn't expect him to state his intentions.

"But, you know how you asked how you girls prefer to have your space? I'd like to ask for the same thing in return."

An annoyed look overtook Mio's facial features at that. Apparently he is the secretive type...but it's strange that he was so blunt about his stance in regards to the girls.

"...very well. I'm still not sure about you, so I'm just going to keep an eye on you." Mio said at last.

"Well it's to keep your girls safe. Go ahead, as long as you don't go poking into my privacy, alright?"

Mio was silent, watching the masked man suspiciously. He was hiding something, but was unsure as of what.

"I'm off to check up on Roach. Seems the poor bastard had a rough sleep last night." With that, Ghost walked over to the table next to the hanger and retrieved his ACR, before he casually made his way to the mess hall.

...

Having just woken up Foley enters Dunns room as he pulls on his Combat Tunic, noticing Dunn resting comfortably on top the bed.

"Hey Dunn, wake up a minute will ya?"

Dunn slowly stirs and sleepily opens his eyes.

"Yeah Sarge?"

"Get up a minute, we need to talk." He stops for a moment before he asks Dunn a question. "Have you seen the Private anywhere?"

Dunn shakes his head. "Naw, I haven't."

Foley turns back to the door of the room and call's out into the hall. Thiers's a lot on his mind, and he need to talk with his men about it. "Ramirez!"

Thiers's no answer, so he yell's out the man's name a little louder. "RAMIREZ!

A groaning voice can be heard from the adjacent room in response.

"RAMIREZ, GET YOUR ASS IN HERE!"

After a moment, Ramirez slowly walks out into the hall and turns to face the Sergeant. "Oh, morning Sarge. What's happening?"

Foley silently gestures for Ramirez to enter the room, which he does, though he's confused over what's going on.

Once Ramirez slowly enters Dunn's room and wipes the sleep out of his eyes, his gaze shifts between Foley and Dunn.

"So what's going on Sarge"

Dunn sits up on the bed and swings his legs over the side to face Foley. "Is something up Sean?"

Foley nods as his gaze shifts between both of his subordinates. "You both noticed those two 141 guys acting weird last night, right?"

Dunn and Ramirez exchange a brief glance towards each other as they both nod silently.

"I'm not sure what they are up to, but whatever it is, I'm thinking we keep close tabs on 'em. If what they said about Sheppard is true, then we will need to figure out just how to deal with all this..."

Ramirez gives Foley a skeptical look. "Are you sure that they are even telling the truth? I mean okay, say that Sheppard tired to kill them, don't you'd think there'd be a reason. Maybe these 141 Guys went rouge or something and Sheppard tired to take em down."

Foley turns to Ramirez and looks at the Private for a second before rolling his shoulders back in a half-assed shrug. "Maybe, we can't really confirm what their saying is true or not."

Dunn however, shakes his head. "Maybe not, but you noticed how that Ghost guy spoke to us right? Dude sounded pissed. Plus, Sheppard never cared a hell of a lot about his men. Not since that Nuke went off in Basra Iraq a few years back: Changed the guy into an asshole. I'm thinking Sheppard decided to leave those boys in the "Prima Donna Squad" twisting."

Foley nods. "Also possible, but until we are sure, we better handle this situation delicately."

Ramirez quickly interjects Dunns question. "Yeah, but why? If those two ARE on our side like they say, then why did their Task Force just get the ever living shit kicked out of em by Sheppard?"

Foley is silent for a minute, but there something about the facts that they we're told at this point by Ghost and Roach that made him curious.

"Ghost said that the name of the men under Sheppard's command when they reached their LZ was named "Shadow Company."

"Yeah? So?" Ramirez asks.

Foley turns to the Private and crosses his arms. "I've never heard of them before. Ghost gave us the description of these men, and I don't recall ever seeing soldiers like em anywhere in the service."

Dunn nods in agreement. "Yeah, same here."

Ramirez scratches his head in confusion. "What would that make em then?"

"PMC's. Merc's maybe?" Dunn thinks out loud.

"If not that it could be CIA Special Activities Division or some sort of Special Black Op's division that was formed and trained in secret so no one will know about them." Foley adds. "Though for the life of me, I can't figure out where Sheppard can get men like this in such short notice, assuming he hadn't had them for a while that is."

Dunn sighs audibly. "Well however Sheppard got these guys, if those two Task Force guys are telling the truth, then what?"

Foley, shaking his head solemnly, replies to his 2IC with a hint of uncertainty on his face. "I dunno. I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."