A/N: I'm back with the next chapter of "Sounds of Silence." However, there are two important things I must address before I continue. First, I am writing a one-shot starring Perrine which will out be in only two weeks on Bastille Day and I hope you all check that out. Second, as I have previously stated, I have planned out a reboot for my story "Neon Genesis Striker" and I hope you all check it out when that comes out. Anyway, this chapter continues where the last one left off covering the fallout from the death of Sakamoto.

Disclaimer: I don't own Strike Witches

In the kitchen, Yoshika Miyafuji was busy at work. She was preparing a meal for her fellow comrades and was happy with her work thus far.

"Em, needs a little salt." said Yoshika taking a taste of her handy work.

"Hey Yoshika. How are you?" asked Lynne entering the kitchen.

"I'm fine Lynne." answered Yoshika happily before kissing her, "I'm cooking for everyone."

"Okay. It smells good." said Lynne surprised by her lover's happiness.

"Thank you. It's simple race and fish. Nothing too fancy." replied Yoshika.

"I can lay out the dishes." offered Lynne.

"Thanks." said Yoshika.

"I'm surprised you're taking this so well." confessed Lynne as she placed ten plates.

"Oh, well I guess so." shrugged Yoshika.

"Yeah. Considering what happened I was really afraid you'd fall apart." continued Lynne.

"Hey Lynne, your short one plate." said Yoshika.

"That should be enough." said Lynne counting the plates, "Yes, that is enough plates."

"Your forgetting someone." said Yoshika.

"Who am I forgetting?" asked Lynne.

"Sakamoto of course." answered Yoshika.

"Um Yoshika, Sakamoto was killed in battle." replied Lynne.

"That's a mean thing to say." huffed Yoshika.

"I'm not being mean. I am stating a fact." said Lynne.

"Sakamoto is not dead. If she were then we would never see her again." said Yoshika breaking down slightly.

"Yoshika, you're in denial." said Lynne walking over to her girlfriend.

"Don't be silly Lynne." laughed Yoshika clearly beginning to crack.

"Yoshika, you need to accept the fact Sakamoto is dead." said Lynne placing her hand on the girl's shoulders.

"No! If I do then Sakamoto won't come back!" cried Yoshika.

"Nothing will bring her back Yoshika. You need to accept that she's gone." said Lynne.

"I can't. Sakamoto, she was-" began Yoshika who broke down sobbing.

"It's okay Yoshika. Let it out." said Lynne as she blushed the brunette's hair.

"Sakamoto brought me into the 501st and we were so close. She was my sensei." sobbed Yoshika.

"I know Yoshika. We're all suffering." said Lynne compassionately.

"That's true." replied Yoshika as she began calming down.

"Perrine is locked in her room, I haven't seen any other girls and Minna was barely able to keep herself together." explained Lynne.

"I can only imagine how Minna is feeling." said Yoshika.

"Losing her lover like that." said Lynne choking up.

"At least we have each other." said Yoshika.

"That's true." said Lynne.

"If I lost you..." began Yoshika shaking.

"We won't lose each other." replied Lynne embracing her.

"I hope so." said Yoshika.

"Don't worry Yoshika, you and I will never be apart." reassured Lynne.

"I hope so." replied the brunette.

"I know we won't." said Lynne.

"This must have been what the others we talking about earlier when they were talking about earlier." sighed Yoshika.

"War is very difficult. When I first arrived in London the Neuroi were still attacking the city. Large parts of London were destroyed and still in ruin." noted Lynne.

"How horrible." replied Yoshika.

"No matter how terrible we're feeling, I could only imagine how bad Commander Minna is." said Lynne.

"Sakamoto meant more to her than anybody else." added Yoshika.

"If anybody is taking this especially hard it's her." said Lynne.

"Should would go see how she's doing?" asked Yoshika.

"No. Right now the two that should talk to her are Captain Barkhorn and Lieutenant Hartmann. Those two have known Commander Minna since the fall of Karlsland." answered Lynne.

"I just hope Commander Minna will be alright." said Yoshika standing up.

"So do I." said Lynne standing up with her.


In her office a solemn and heartbroken Minna was lying at her desk. He head was on the wooden desk as she contemplated her life now that she had lost a second love. Just then a gentle tap came at the door.

"Commander, it is Captain Barkhorn. I am here with Lieutenant Hartmann and we wish to talk with you ma'am." said Barkhorn.

"Oh come on Trude." sighed her blonde comrade who kicked the door open and went in.

"Hartmann! You do NOT barge into your commanding officer's quarters like that!" cried Barkhorn as she followed Hartmann.

"Hello you two. I hope you're doing well." said Minna lifelessly as she didn't move a muscle.

"We want to know how you're doing." replied Barkhorn forgetting her anger with Hartmann.

"That's really sweet of you two." said Minna monotone.

"How are you Minna?" asked Hartmann as they both approached their friend.

"I'm not good." answered Minna sadly.

"Losing Sakamoto must have been a tremendous loss." said Barkhorn sympathetic.

"Trude, Erica, you two don't realize how much your friendship means to me." replied Minna.

"We're always here for you Minna." said Hartmann.

"I'm so lucky. I've lost two lovers and still have two great friends." continued Minna.

"That's the spirit." replied Barkhorn happy.

"I miss Mio so much!" cried Minna who began to sob uncontrollable.

"There there Minna. It's all going to be okay." said Hartmann.

"No it won't!" cried Minna.

"Any ideas Erica?" asked Barkhorn unsure.

"I do have one." answered Erica, "Minna, I'm sure you're familiar with the cradle song."

"An old lullaby." said Minna.

"Correct." replied Erica who began to sing:

Good evening, good night,

With roses covered,

With carnations adorn,

Slip under the covers.

Tomorrow morning, if God wants so,

you will wake once again.

Good evening, good night,

By the angels watched,

Who show you in your dream

the Christ child's dream.

Sleep now blissfully and sweetly,

see the paradise in your dreams.

"Beautiful Erica." noted Barkhorn, "I used to sing that to Chris."

"Thanks." replied Erica smiling.

"That was beautiful, even though I'm not sleepy." laughed Minna.

"I was trying to get you to be happy and it seems to have worked." explained Erica.

"It did a little." admitted Minna.

"See, I told you she'd be fine Erica. Minna is a strong person." said Barkhorn.

"Mio was strong." sobbed Minna.

"Sorry." said Barkhorn feeling guilty.

"It's okay Minna. Sakamoto is in a better place and wouldn't want you to obsess with her death." said Erica trying to console her friend.

"Maybe you're right." sighed Minna.

"Of course. Come on Minna, getting back to work will help take your mind off this." replied Barkhorn.

"Mio loved work!" cried Minna.

"Your heart is in the right place Trude but, you're not helping." noted Erica.

"Look you two. I really appreciate what you're trying to do but, I really just want to be alone." said Minna.

"Are you sure?" asked Barkhorn uncertain.

"Yes. Look, I understand you're both worried about me but, I am okay." answered Minna.

"If you say so." replied a skeptical Erica who then left with Barkhorn.

"Okay, so Minna was more upset by the death of Sakamoto than I thought." admitted Trude.

"I told you. Look, I don't think it's a good idea to leave her totally alone right now." said Erica worried.

"Then we'll take time to check up on her every now and again." replied Barkhorn.

"Right." agreed Erica.


That night both girls went to bed as the sun set and Sanya departed for her routine night patrol. As Erica lay in her bed she enjoyed a restful sleep until her face was hit with a light that awoke her.

"What's with the light?" asked Erica as she sat up.

"Sorry Erica. I'm just doing some paperwork." answered Barkhorn sitting at a desk nearby her bed.

"Chris can wait one more day for your letter." said Erica bracing herself.

"It's not for Chris. It's regular paperwork about the 501st." replied Barkhorn.

"Minna usually does that." noted Erica.

"Yes but, I decided do step up and do it myself. This allows Minna to clear her head without so much work to do." explained Trude.

"Oh, that's really nice of you." quipped Hartmann.

"Thank you." said Barkhorn.

"I'm guessing that's not too important." said Erica..

"You're correct there. This is just basic paperwork." said Barkhorn.

"Trude, you'll make a good leader someday." replied Hartmann, "If only you can loosen up a bit."

"I'll ignore that second comment and thank you for the compliment." said Barkhorn.

"You really should be promoted anytime soon." shrugged Hartmann, "You might even be promoted."

"Major Barkhorn does have a nice ring to it." said Barkhorn smiling as she finished the paperwork.

"I think you'd make a great commander." said Hartmann.

"I would and besides, that would finally silence Hanna." replied Trude.

"Oh no. I should have seen that coming." sighed Erica.

"That girl is stubborn and untrustworthy!" snapped Barkhorn as she shut off the light and undressed.

"You say the same thing about Shirley." pointed out Erica.

"That Liberion is unprofessional." huffed Trude, "Though, I guess the United States has contributed a good deal to the war effort."

"Exactly. Shirley's done great in battle and Liberion as a whole has been very helpful. Look at the Tuskegee Air Witches." noted Erica.

"Liberion can claim to be a beacon of democracy and freedom as much as it wants but, as long as a portion of the country has signs that read "whites only" one must doubt that claim." replied Barkhorn as she climbed into bed, "Besides, I'm not really one to trust mob rule."

"Hey Trude, do you really think the war will ever end?" asked Erica, "I don't want anyone else getting hurt."

"I feel the same way Erica and I'm sure we'll end this. No, I know we will." answered Trude.


Unification of Karlsland: In 1862, King Fredrick Wilhelm IV of Prussia died and was succeeded by this son King Wilhelm I who appointed Otto von Bismarck as Chancellor with one goal: unify Karlsland without Ostmark. In 1864, Prussia and Ostmark teamed up to defeat Denmark and seize the territory Prussia had failed to take in the Three Years' War. This led to the creation of the Kingdom of Baltland which united the countries of Denmark and Norway-Sweden. In 1866, Prussia turned on Ostmark beginning the Seven Weeks' War. The Germanic Confederation was split on both sides but, in the end Prussia won decisively. Prussia gained the Germanic Confederation and put in under their control as the North Germanic Confederation to symbolize it as a separate entity from Ostmark which went into decline after the war. Now, only one obstacle prevented Prussia from achieving it's goal-it's neighbor Gallia. In 1870-71, Prussia and Gallia went to war to settle this and Prussia won another decisive victory annexing Alsace and Lorraine. The reign of Gallia as the most powerful country on the continent end while Prussia and the North Germanic Confederation united to form the Empire of Karlsland with King Wilhelm I taking the new title of Kaiser.

A/N: Well, I hope you enjoyed my latest chapter. As far as I know, this is the first SW fanfiction to mention racial segregation in the US. Also, since both the German Empire and Nazi Germany were not democratic I made Barkhorn skeptical of democracy. Just wanted to explain that. I used the popular lullaby called the "Cradle Song" here and I used the direct translations because the scene focuses on our Karlsland Trio so English would be their second language. Anyway, next time another tragedy strike the 501st. Please review.