Chapter 9: On the Offensive
The 501st met up inside the main office room of the base (Same room where Lynette and Yoshika were accepted officially) with Minna there. "Okay, we have Sakamoto out there analyzing what we're up against. But for now, I need status reports from all three squads!" Minna yelled, being more in-line with a military leader, now.
"Squad Sakamoto is all here!" Shone said, with Lynette and Yoshika waving to show that they were in-fact there.
"My squad is almost ready. Perrine is just getting her gear" Charlotte said, being slightly more serious than usual. Slightly.
"Sanya and Eila are both asleep."
"And I'm here with Gertrud!" Erica said from behind.
It was only a few minutes later that everyone met up with Sakamoto being the last to arrive due to her reconnaissance on the enemy units.
"What are we dealing with Sakamoto?" Minna asked with a serious expression.
"It's gonna be a tricky one, there are 2 type 8 high speed units, 1 type 12 dropship unit - and here's the kicker - that new unit that showed up 2 months ago has made it's way here".
Everyone became shocked, especially Yoshika and Lynette who have yet to learn all the basic Neuroi units, but to hear about a new type so soon kind of made the two of them shudder in fear.
"You mean the type 10…. the missile mothership!" Minna said in shock
The room went deathly silent; a reasonable reaction given they had not dealt with a Neuroi of this type before. This along with the fact that there are so few reports on it, and to say that they were worried about it was an understatement.
"Alright that's enough" Sakamoto said which got everyone's attention directed at her "Just because a new type of Neuroi has shown up doesn't mean that it will prevent us from doing what we do best, we're Strike Witches for god's sake! We shoot down neuroi all the time what's one new model gonna stop us from doing our duty!"
Hearing Sakamoto's words helped boost the morale of the witches (that were present) and got them really fired up; Yoshika and Lynette both now feeling up for the task at hand. "That's the spirit, now load up we'll need to be up there ASAP!"
But just as the witches were about to leave a bunch of explosions occurred outside of the base and when they looked…..
"Shit… the bastards blew up the runway now we can't launch" Shone said punching a hole in the wall, riling everyone up even more.
"We have no choice then" everyone turned to Sakamoto once again. "We'll have to use the catapult system if we're gonna have a chance of defeating the Neuroi" the others nodded but Minna spoke up
"That thing? We bought that because Maloney didn't give us enough money for turrets! How can we-"
"What choice do we have Minna? Either we use the catapults, or this place burns in hell!"
With those words Minna saw a strong sense of dedication in Sakamoto's eye - one to match her voice. "Okay, if you feel that way." Minna, showing some confidence in the situation, got up and looked at the squads. "Charlotte, you and your squad will deal with any ground units. Take no chances, got it?"
"Yes Ma'am!" The present members of her squad yelled.
"Gertrud, you and Erica are to take down that Drop Ship. Do what ever need to." The two witches nodded, being able to take off without the runway. "Sakamoto, you're to analyze the Type 10 and whatever you can to slow it down."
"What about the rest of my squad?"
"They're going to use the catapult." Minna turned to the other three. "Shone, you'll light up the catapult ammo. Lynette and Yoshika need to work together to arm and aim it. Can you three do that?"
"One problem." Shone said. "I'm not sure that there's ammunition for the catapult that can go that high and still damage them - Unless we put some scraped planes into the catapult."
"Damn it. Now what can we-"
"We'll find a way." Yoshika spoke up. Minna looked over as the outside got dark. Lynette soon gave her back up.
"We're the Elite Witches, right? We're not the kind to give in like that. We'll figure out how to make use of the Catapult."
Minna, while a bit unnerved, breathed steadily, and actually went back to her sweet tone. "If you have a plan, go for it!" She turned to the squad, remaining calm. "Look, I'll stay here to look after Sanya and Eila incase any Neuroi sneak past Charlotte's Squad. Any more questions?" No one objected.
"Okay, Elite Witches, DEPLOY!" And with the squads deployed to their posts.
And not a moment too soon, as The Neuroi dropship was already overhead, preparing to drop troops. Perrine showed up wearing her Striker Unit, armed with her carbine. "Charlotte, what did I miss?"
"Neuroi Invasion. We got ground duty once more. Gertrud and Erica will handle the dropship, the other ship is Sakamoto's job."
Perrine nodded, and decided to activate her magic ahead of time. The space around her lit up, and her hair and skin turned a strong tint of Silver. "My second grade armor should be enough. I'll upgrade it later if I need to." She checked her carbine for ammo, and her reserves. "Okay, Charlotte, I'm ready. I'll cover you from up here."
Gertrud and Erica stood on top of their of their condo. "Ready when Sakamoto is."
"I hear you." Minna said, talking into the radio. "I'll cover Sanya and Eila."
"Actually" A calm voice said. "We'll be covering you." Minna turned around to find the 'Silver Sisters' Sanya and Eila behind her, armed and ready.
"What are you-"
"We heard the alarm." Sayna said "And you shouldn't have to defend our home alone." With that, Minna's smiled returned at last, and she looked out. "Okay, Sakamoto, your squad's all that's left."
"Okay." Sakamoto said. "I'll join Gertrud and Erica once I can figure out how that thing is."
"You better hurry, It looks like all hell's gonna break loose any minute"
"Understood." Sakamoto then looked over to the others.
"Sakamoto." Yoshika spoke up. "Just let us know when you find the core. We'll deal with the rest."
She looked down at her newest recruit. "You better know what you're doing." And with that, Sakamoto ran off.
"You do know what you're doing, right?" Shone asked.
"Yeah. Once Sakamoto finds the core, the three of us take to the skies. You'll light up and fire some flares from here, creating some holes for us whilst we'll get out of the way. which will leave an opening for us to finish it off."
"That just might work." Lynette said, hopeful. The three activated their Striker Units and headed outside
That would signal the Neuroi ground Soldiers to land and start the attack.
"Minna." Sakamoto turned to see Eila. "I don't need to predict the future to know we'll be fine."
"Yeah," Sanya said, opening the window as Sakamoto left. "but just to be safe…" She fired three rockets at the Neuroi Dropship.
"You Know it'll just regenerate, right?"
"Yeah, but they move slower when they do so, that'll give Sakamoto some time to get by without be shot at."
Minna smiled, and looked outside. She took some comfort to find Charlotte's squad was handling the situation just fine, with Gertrud and Erica waiting by the ocean. Smart girls, they're waiting for the ship to retreat from the island before shooting it down.
Sakamoto wasn't have much luck with the Type 10. It's missiles were actually quite easy to dodge, and they went off in mid-air before reaching the base. But using her magic eye to no avail, Sakamoto curse herself. Damn it, where's the core!" She looked over and over, not seeing anything. And, to make matters worse, the ship was now working on using its laser cannon instead of missiles - much harder to dodge. I'll need to shield from this-
Her train of thought was stopped by a sudden barrage of laser blasts. Sakamoto quickly did what all she could - shielding, basically - to save herself. Of course, even the strongest shields start to crack with enough force.
Aw, crap…
Sakamoto's shield shattered into pieces, sending her flying backwards. Sakamoto tried to get a second wind, but she felt her consciousness begin to fade. Not helping was a small explosion sound effect. She turned her head to see black smoke emitting from her Strike Unit. The ship was now firing bigger laser blasts, getting closer and closer. Sakamoto was able to shield from a direct shot, but that shattered as well, and this one caused her to start falling.
"Oh God…" Shone said, looking out. Without skipping a beat, Lynette threw everything - Striker Unit excluded - down. "I'll get Sakamoto, You two deal with the Neuroi Ship!" And with that, Lynette started to skin over the water. If worse comes to worse, I can drop my Striker Unit and carry her back over the water. I AM a water witch. I can do it… Lynette was able to get Sakamoto in just as she got close to the water. However, while Lynette was able to catch her, she didn't account for trying to carry a 20-year-old woman and was basically stuck in place - trying to hold the witch without dropping her. "Damn it. I don't think I'm going to *groan* be able to fly her back" Lynette looked at Sakamoto's now unconscious face. Please be okay, Sakamoto. PLEASE!
"Well, Yoshika, got a plan B?" Shone looked to see Yoshika on the ground, distraught. "Yoshika?"
Yoshika was busy in her memories, trying to match them up with reality. No… This is Sakamoto… She's too strong to be shot down. She could just be… she's… she's… Sakamoto… I…
"YOSHIKA!" Yoshika snapped out of her thoughts, and found Shone looking at her. "Pull Yourself together! You need to have faith in Sakamoto and Lynette. If she's seriously hurt, you can help her after the battle." He pointed towards the Type 10 ship. "But there won't be an "afterwards" if we die!" Both magic users turned towards the monster-sized ship. "Now… what are we going to do about that damn thing?"
"Okay… I think I've got it." Yoshika looked at a surprised Shone. "You can fly, right?"
"Yeah." She's already got a plan B?
"Then you're going to launch us with the catapult."
"You're crazy, you know that?"
"It's the only way we can reach the Neuroi Ship in time before it's in range of the base." Yoshika also looked out to the ship. "Now, in the air, you'll need to fire a flare into the ship. That'll create a hole."
"Yeah, but it'll just recover from that."
"Yeah, but not fast enough to stop me from getting in there." Shone had a horrified look. "Shone, that core needs to be destroyed, and we both understand that there's no faster option."
Shone, while not on board, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, time is the enemy now."
Shone, getting a bit nervous, pulled the catapult down. The thrusted his sword into the ground, and tied the rope to it's handle. Hearing an explosion, he turned around and, to his delight, saw the Drop Ship taking some severe damage, having just left the base's grounds.
Now having a bit more confidence, he jumped in, an armed his flare. "Yoshika, you ready?"
Yoshika jumped in beside him, and put her flight goggles on. "I'm ready." And with that, Shone fired his flare at the rope. The two went flying through the air.
Stay focused. Stay Focused. Stay Focused.. Yoshika thought to herself. Once she and Shone both began to start falling a bit, she yelled "NOW!" And with that, the two fully activated their Strike Units and sored through the air.
"Hey, Yoshika, look down…" Doing as he asked, she saw Lynette carrying Sakamoto [slowly] across the ocean, back to the shore.
"Hey, Shone?"
"Yoshika. Don't worry. I will" Shone smiled at Yoshika, which she returned.
"Okay… I'm ready." Yoshika said, signaling Shone to fire. With the loud flare going to, Yoshika made her way into the hole Shone melted into the ship before it managed to shut.
Took a lot of magic to make a hole that big. Hope Yoshika knows what she's doing. Shone made a nose dive to reach Lynette. "Lynette!" Shone yelled, reaching in rather quickly. "I'll take Sakamoto. You wait here for a bit to help Yoshika."
"Where is she?"
"Somewhere inside that thing." Shone said, taking Sakamoto off of Lynette's hands.
You better be Okay, Yoshika.
"Wow, this is weird." Yoshika walked around the inside of the ship. Oddly enough, it would seem the ship was designed for humans, or the humanoid Neuroi at least, to walk around. "But reports show this ship can think for itself. I half to wonder why it would need-"
The answer literally formed in front of her - 5 Type 2 Neuroi. "01001001 01101110 01110100 01110010 01110101 01100100 01100101 01110010 00100001" The machine-like alien said it so fast it was almost impossible to hear the numbers it was saying.
With the unsettling knowledge that she very well may be walking on a Neuroi factory, Yoshika instinctively ran right past them, knowing she didn't have time to fight. Need to find the core. Need to find the core. Need to find the core.
Lynette was waiting outside the ship. She notice the ship itself has slowed down a bit. It's been getting slower… But it can't be in range just yet.
"Minna, This is Jane Thach of the 508th. We've detected a Type 10 in your-"
"WE KNOW, JANE!" Minna took a deep breathe after being told to do so. "Look, do you have any information on it?"
"Yes, I recommend using Sakamoto to scan the whole ship."
"We did. I've... lost contact with her. That said, the ship has nearly stopped."
"Okay, that's good. It might mean Sakamoto has gotten into the ship. If she encounters any troops in there, she should just ignore them. They're smarter than the average model. If you want to help, send some people to fire on the outside. Neuroi move more slowly when recovering."
"She already knows that, Jane."
"Minna!" Sayna said. "We'll join Gertrud and Erica in the sky."
Minna nodded, not sure what else to do. When the two girls ran out, Shone ran in, carrying Sakamoto.
"OH GOD! SAKAMOTO!"
"Don't worry, she's alive. I think she's just out of magic. She needs rest." Minna had trouble grasping that concept for some time.
"Minna?" The Radio said. "Minna? Are you there?"
Shone picked up the radio communicator. "This is Shone. Minna is.. um… looking after Sakamoto."
"Sakamoto isn't in the Neuroi?"
"No, Yoshika is." Shone said. "Anything she can do?"
There wasn't any immediate answer, thought Jane did respond. "If she can find the core, then she should be able to stop it."
Shone looked outside to see Charlotte's squad finishing off the ground units.
Lynette heard some Striker Units coming towards her. "Gertrud… Erica… Eila, and Sanya." Lynette continued to float. She wants to help them, but she left her weapons by the shore, and she's not going to leave Yoshika in there.
Yoshika continued to run through the ship, with more and more Neuroi troops following her. I'm up to 25 following me! She also notice these troops were firing more often, and were getting more accurate. I'm starting to wish I brought some kind of bomb with me… Yoshika, getting desperate, jumped off the side of the railing and activated her Striker Unit. Duh! Why didn't I just do this from the start? taking another left, then a few rights, actually managed to find the core!
This is huge! It's bigger than any Ground Troop I've seen. Yoshika managed to get down and get close to it. She picked up her machine pistol. "I doubt this will do so." She then put it up, and then pulled out her sword. "If I can stab it enough, It'll fall apart: the core itself can't regenerate!" I think.
However, the troops caught up with her. "01101011 01101001 01101100 01101100"
The ship, however, began to shake a bit.
It feels like missiles are being fired… did the ship make it to the island? I...
A look outside would explain why: The ship wasn't firing missiles but taking them! Courtesy of Sayna, but Gertrud's Squad was giving the ship hell as well.. Gertrud never stopped firing her shots, Erica was attacking with electricity - damaging the systems inside. Elia fired what was left of her machine gun at it.
Yoshika decided to start flying upwards to get closer to the core. "Time to destroy." Yoshika smirked to herself, being able to connect the dots and figures out that the Neuroi stopped firing because of the other witches.
This is for all of you. Yoshika then stabbed her sword into the Core over and over, until it exploded… sending Yoshika flying backwards.
"IT'S FALLING!" Erica yelled, happy. The others, while more subdued, were just as happy.
"Wait…" Lynette noticed something. "Yoshika… Yoshika?" Lynette looked at the ship, nervous. "I'm…" She shook her head, activated her Striker Unit and starting darting towards the falling ship. "I'm coming for you!"
Yoshika woke up, finding a Neuroi troop deactivated on top of her, with her sword implanted in it's back. Oh, she also notice the ship was falling. She was somehow able throw it off of her, after pulling her sword out. "How am I going to get out of here?" She started to just stab the floor, realizing just how weak a Neuroi is without it's core - it pierced the top layer quite easily. "I could just pull this thing apart!" And that actually worked! In fact, it worked a bit too well. As the very bottom of the ship fell apart, sending Yoshika falling, desperately trying to re-activate her Striker Unit. But with no luck.
Well, this sucks…
Much to Yoshika's shock, she was soon grabbed by someone before being squished between some familiar not pillows. "YOSHIKA! YOU'RE ALIVE. OH THANK GOODNESS YOU'RE ALIVE!"
"Yeah…" She said, trying to keep herself under control. "I'm.. I'm okay."
"So, you ready to go back to the shore?"
"I'm just fine here." Yoshika soon turned as red as Lynette was, realising she said that outloud.
"I think they're cute together." Erica said, looking in a distance. Gertrud's expression didn't seem to agree..
"Come on, Yoshika, let's get back to the base."
Yoshika, Lynette, and Gertrud's Squad had all returned to find everyone else watching Sakamoto laying on a bed, asleep, with Minna's hand over her, glowing white. "Minna! You know medic magic!"
"Not quite, this is Yang Magic. This is dealing with magic itself. I'm giving some to Sakamoto."
"Hey, Guys. Nice job out there. I heard you did some really good on your own." Sakamoto smiled, albeit weakly.
"She should be good by tomorrow. In the meantime, I want the rest of you to throw the neuroi parts into the ocean to deteriorate them. We can't risk them reviving." Everyone nodded. "After that, take the day off. Do as you please!" And so, the entire division left the room, leaving Sakamoto and Minna alone.
"I'm sorry, Minna."
"Sh, Sakamoto. It's not your fault. Things happen, okay?"
"But… a lot of these girls look up to me. I need to be someone for them to look up to."
"Then start by being smart and staying here." Minna smiled. "Besides, don't act like you don't enjoy my company."
Sakamoto gave out a weak laugh, "You're right." And with that, Sakamoto allowed Minna to tuck her into bed. "So, got any stories? You always seem to have some."
Minna smiled. "Maybe."
"Well, that's all of them!" Charlotte yelled. "I'm going to go take a bath."
"Wait for me!" Francesca yelled in pursuit.
"I need one too." Laura said, followed by Perrine repeating that.
Erica's stomach growled like a bulldog. "I'm going to cook up some hash browns, anyone want some?" The rest of her squad, and Shone, followed her. Charlotte would of as well if she hadn't been sweating so much.
"Well... " Lynette said. "Maybe we could make something to eat, too. I know some good fish-and-chips recipes."
"Only if you teach me." Yoshika smiled.
"Oh.. Okay!" And so the two walked back to the condo, both realizing something:
I'm going to be alone with her…
I'm glad I've started writing this story again - I'm thinking I've re-found my love for writing! Anyway, let's see whose ID Card we get today.
Name: Shone Hosho
Nickname: N/A
Age: 19
Birthplace: Fuso
Affiliation: 501st Joint Fighter Wing
Status: Soilder
Magic: Fire Magic
Weapon(s): Flare Gun, Burning Broadsword
Likes: Cook-outs, Swimming, Candles
Dislikes: Talking about his sister
Notes: Shone seems to fit surprisingly well into the 501st, being the only male magic user that's been accepted into the program - although he doesn't seem to keen on letting the "only male" part become public knowledge. Perhaps this has something to do with the fact of him getting into Strike Witches at all is a bit of a shady tale? Either way, the witches he seems to connect with the most are Lynette (whom he taught how to swim) and Charlotte (Whom he met before being recruited). Granted, he's pretty open to the JFW; to anyone outside the 501st JFW however, he becomes incredibly introverted.
