Somewhere in Karlsland:

In a house, a man with an Karlsland Railway hat sat at a PC, writing on something, as there was a loud crash from behind him. He turned around, just to see all 11 Witches, dazed and confused on the ground.

"Okay, the 501st is in my room, without pants or skirts on, and I'm not wearing pants. Normally, I would wake up now. So, this can only go well."

"Who are you, where are we and why did you bring us here?!" Asked Barkhorn.

"First: Welcome to Karlsland of 2015: The world is even more fucked up then back in 1945, your in my house, and I don't have the slightest Idea why you are here, but I'm writing a story about you lot, so, if you have any more questions, please ask them, or get out till I put on my pants."
"What, 2015.. WE ARE 70 Years in the future!"
"Good work finding that out Sherlock. Now, if you would leave, I've got a chapter to write."

The next few weeks went past quickly, with only the usual neuroi attacks. Alex and Tobias had worked themselves in right away, and were making friends with the other witches. Bud and Terence started with their work, training the witches in hand to hand combat. On their first morning, they gathered the witches in the shed, where the boxing ring was.

"Buongiorno, welcome, to our special hand to hand combat training! We will show you how to stand up in a fight, even if they outnumbered you 5 to 1." Smiled Terence.

"Small question? Why are we doing this?! We don't need this kind of training, Lukas taught us everything we need to know about this, and we did some fights back in Karlsland too!" Asked Trude.

"Oh, you think you know how to fight? Well then, lets see what you can do." Said Bud, and stepped forward.

"You want to fight me? Better call your friend over, so that you at least stand a chance!" Smirked the witch.

"Less talk and more fight." Was his only answer, as Terence rang a bell, that was placed near the ring.

Barkhorn started off quickly, and punched him right in the stomach. But the Venician man didn't even fling, he just smiled at the girl, and gave her a punch back, sending her flying to the corner.

"You need to take in more. You cant fight if one can send you flying like that. I do think that Lukas taught you some good stuff, but he is still wet behind his ears. And so do you. Now, lets see if you have the stuff that it takes to fight and win against one of us!" He said, and got out of the ring.

They fought hard, but in the end, all the girls were out of the ring, while both Bud and Terence were still standing upright, and chuckling to each other.

"We'll begin training right in the morning." Said Bud, as he and Terence walked away.

And they did. The next few days were filled with training. While Terence taught the younger girls (Yoshika, Lynette, Perrine and Lucchini), Bud worked with the older girls. While they did that, two of the three FIKRC engineers were working on their engines, keeping them in top condition. While they were under the leadership of Minna, Lukas would also get and give orders. Since their squadron was formed, they had their hands full with work, and this wasn't just the neuroi. They were often drafted in to take an extra military special from one of the supply depots to the front, or to help with taking out some of the left over Bolshevik partisans. Right now, they were oiling the motion parts of their engines, when they heard the wail of the 'Commander', as it slowly steamed into the shed.

"How was the trip?" Asked Alex.

"Like always. Partisans halfway to the front, gave me a few scratches." He said, as he jumped from the cab, wincing as he landed, a patch of blood on his uniform. Alex and Tobias looked at him with stern faces.

"Well, maybe a bit more then just a scratch." He chuckled, as he showed them a roughly patched up wound, made from a bullet.

"Hm, looks like from a Moisin. Better get Miyafuji to patch that one up." Murmured Tobias, as Lukas stopped him.
"Its just a little wound! I've got the bullet out already, so it'll heal of soon enough. Better not stop their training." Argued the young Captain, as he turned towards the girls, as they fought against each other.

The other two engineers just sighted. Lukas always hid his wounds, marking them off as 'just another scratch', even if they were pretty serious. The boy walked to the tender, where he took out an oil can, and started oiling the engine parts.

"I think were in for a treat." He said, to no one in particular.

"Why's that?" Asked Alex.

"'cause there is a truck labeled 'Neu Karlsland Research and Development' in coming up the mountain when I came back." Chuckled the boy.

"New toys?" Asked the blond man.

"Maybe. Or their just coming to take your engines back to the R&D!" Laughed the engineer, as they heard a horn from the other side of the mansion.

"Lets see what the guys from back home sent us, aye?" Grinned the Captain, and walked off, the other two coming up after him, shaking their heads, chuckling.

Outside stood a large truck, in Karlsland gray. Out of the passenger seat stepped a girl that looked exactly like Erica, only that she wore glasses, like Lukas did.

"Where are they?" She asked, but it was soon answered, as Lukas stepped up.

"Hey Hartmann! Do you know where the R&D guys are? I want to asked if they got any new toys for us." Laughed the engineer, as he came up next to her.

"Hey, since when do you wear glasses?" He asked, as she turned around, looking at the three men.

"Since always. As for the your first question, I-" But she was cut off, as the others came up, after finishing training.

"Ursula!" Grinned Erica, as she came up to her twin.

"Hello Erica." The other twin said.

Lukas looked at the two for a few seconds, first at Erica, then at Ursula and back to the first.
"Dear lord help us, TWO of them?! How did the world survive this long?!" He half shouted, as the others chuckled.

"What did you bring us Ursula?" Asked Minna.

"I just wanted to tell these three here. If you would follow me." Said the girl, as she walked to the back of the truck, where some of the men were already unloading the cargo.

Next to some crates, stood three new Striker units. Not just any, but Jet Strikers. Along with them were 3, 50mm BK-214 guns. But the most shocking thing was the 28cm K5 Gun, that was alongside it.

"We finally finished developing the Jet Strikers, and these three are the first finished ones. Along with them are the BK-214 automatic cannon." Explained Ursula.

"And what about the K5? We couldn't use that one, even if we would all carry it at once!" Said Barkhorn.

"Yes, that's why I have ordered it." Said Lukas.
"What?!"

"Yes. I have been working in my spare time on something. Something big. And with this thing, I can finally finish it. It will be a perfect addition to our current firepower." Said the engineer.
"What will that be?" Asked Mio.

"Why don't you come and see? I just need a few minutes to get the K5 into position."

25 Minutes later

"Yeah right, just a few minutes. Half an hour would be the correct word!" Grumbled Eila.
"Well, you have to give him the time, seeing that the K5 isn't just a mere Anti Aircraft gun. It can take out anything up to an 30 mile limit." Said Tobias, as he drank a cup of coffee.

Just then, a loud shot was heard from outside. They all went out, to see a massive flatbed, with the K5 mounted onto it.

"Say hello to 'Leopold'! With this, there wont be anything left for a neuroi to regenerate!" Grinned Lukas, as he stood on the large railway gun.

"Just how long did you work on that thing?!" Asked Shirley.

"Only 3 or 4 months. It would have been finished sooner, but I couldn't find a suitable barrel for it. So I needed to order it from R&D, so it could be controlled from the engine! It is also a self-reloader. I've got 25 shells, stored inside the frame, so that I don't need to care that much about ammo." Lukas grinned, as the girls eyed the big artillery with wide eyes.

"Do you really thing that it can be used in battle?" asked Mio.

"Of course! The couplings are secured with 3 different types of couplers. The sides are armored with the best Steel there is, and the shells are stored in a special safety container, so that they cant explode if it does get hit. Now, all we need is a neuroi..." As on cue, the air raid sirens blasted, signaling a neuroi was on the move.

"Perfect timing. Now lets get going!" He smirked, and started off.

The other girls and the two KRG Class 50 and 52 engines were racing behind the war train. They soon neared the neuroi. It was shaped like an cube, with red dots over it. As soon as they got closer, it split into smaller ones.

"Looks like the testing needs to wait, you can't fight against that lot with that gun!" Said Barkhorn.

"Watch me." Grinned the engineer, as he loaded the first round.

The guns barrel turned to the swarm of neuroi, that was heading for them. He fired, and the shell flew towards the neuroi. They got out of the shells way, but weren't prepared for what happened next. The shell exploded, and the shrapnel pierced many of the neuroi. Lukas took his shovel, and a piece of chalk, as he pulled 4 streaks on it, one for every 10 neuroi that had been hit. The small neuroi started to fire at the train, but he simply outmaneuvered them, with a few barrel rolls and altitude drops. He fired again, and again, and again. The three shells took some of the neuroi out already, and exploded again, the shrapnel taking out another 90 neuroi. Lukas pulled two levers, and pressed both buttons next to the levers, activating the mini guns that were next to the smokebox. The last few neuroi were destroyed by the guns, and with a splintering cracking sound, the core split from the last and only neuroi that was still there. Lukas stopped his little firing display, and smiled back at the group of girls and the two other engineers, that had watched him with wide eyes and open mouths. He grinned at them, but stopped, when he saw someone, or rather, something, behind the tender of Alex's engine. It looked like a witch, but it was covered in black, with red parts where the wings of the Striker would be. The familiar was black too, with blue spots. When the thing saw Lukas staring at him, it raced off. Now he saw that it was a neuroi, a witch shaped neuroi. He grabbed his M1903, and pointed it at the neuroi, but lowered his rifle.
"What is it? Why did you point your gun at us?" Asked Yoshika.

"There was a neuroi! It was shaped like a witch; now that I think about it, it looked like you. It was watching us, from behind Alex's engines tender." Explained Lukas, as the color washed from Yoshikas face.

"What is it?" Asked the engineer.

"The last time that neuroi appeared, was over Venicia. But it was shot down by another neuroi." Started Minna.

"Miyafuji has quite a past with it, but I think we should discuss this back at the base." Said Mio, as the sun slowly began to sink behind the horizon.

Back at the base, Lukas was given the folder, containing the last appearance of the humanoid neuroi, and the things that happened afterwards.

"I read about it in the paper, but as usual, only parts of the true story comes to the public." Said Alex.

"So this neuroi has a bonding with Yoshika, huh? Well then, how about we try it again?" Suggested Lukas.

"You mean, we should try to contact with the neuroi again?" Asked Minna.
"Yes. That neuroi seams to be peaceful, or at least, is trying to communicate with us; it would have shot us otherwise. So, how about Yoshika goes back to where we were earlier, and tries to communicate with the neuroi again? Maybe, we could end this war with that!" Smirked Lukas.

"Sounds like a plan, but the chances of failure are high. What do you suppose should we do, if it is a trap?" Asked Mio.

"Don't worry. I will escort her and stay by her side, so that such a thing can't happen." Said the Karlslander.

"Then its settled. Tomorrow, You and Miyafuji will go out and search that neuroi, and try to communicate with it once more!" Said Mio.

"You should better get some rest now." Said Minna, and ordered them to go to sleep.

Lukas changed into his nightwear, which was only his underpants and undershirt, and a pair of socks, and got into the bed on the firemans side of the cab. He closed his eyes, but opened them quickly, when he heard someone walking up to his engine. He got up, and pulled his Revolver from its holster. He got out of the cab through the front cab doors, and walked along the side of the boiler. He got down at the front of his engine, and sneaked back to the cab, where he could see a dark figure standing in front of it. He started his 'deadlight' up, just to see Yoshika, standing next to the cab.
"Miyafuji? What are you doing here? You should be sleeping right now!" Grumbled the engineer.
"Can we talk? And could you... put some pants on?" She asked, getting slightly red.

Lukas looked down himself, and then jumped into the cab.

"Give me a minute!" He called from the dark cabin.

He came out again, with his pants and jacket on, and his hat loosely placed on his head.

"What do you want to talk about?" The boy asked.
"I want to talk about the neuroi. Its just that, I don't think we should try to pick up contact with them."
"But why? We could end the war, if we could communicate with them!"
"I know, but it seams like, every time we try to make contact with them, something bad happens. First, we were forced to dissolved the 501st, and then the gigantic hive over Venicia appeared! I just don't want to have anything bad happen, if we pick up contact." Said Yoshika, saddened.

"But what if the neuroi wanted to warn you about these things? I heard what happened in Britannia; You were in the hive, they showed you the Warlock, and that it was part neuroi! And they didn't even had a chance to communicate with the one in Venicia! It could have wanted to warn us from the big hive back then, but it was just bad timing! And right now, we have the neuroi at the breaking point! Maybe they want to make peace with us? We at least should try to listen to them, instead of just shooting each others arse off!" Said the engineer harshly. He looked over to the Fuso witch, and sighted.

"Listen. If you don't want to come, its fine. I'll go by myself, okay?" He said, with an hopeful look on his face. Yoshika didn't react.

"If you don't want to talk to me, fine. But please, I've got an very important job tomorrow, and I need my sleep. So, Flight Officer Miyafuji, if you would please go to your room, that would be good. Good night." Said the young Captain annoyed, and turned to his engine.

"And shut off the lights when you go!" He shouted after her, as the young witch walked out of the shed...

The next morning

"Well, I'm off. Wish me luck, and we might end this slaughter." Said Lukas, as he stood in his engine.
"Are you sure Yoshika is sick? She never was sick before, or at all!" Asked Lynette.

"I'm perfectly sure. Tschüssikovski!" Said the engineer, as he pulled the throttle open, and brought the engine up to speed.

Yoshika looked out of the window, watching as Lukas raced off. She sighted, thinking back to the day in Britannia when things started to go wrong in the first place.

'I just hope nothing goes wrong this time...'

Lukas slowed his engine down, till it was just hovering in the air. He was at the exact same spot as yesterday, and was waiting for the neuroi. He waited for nearly 10 minutes, till he felt the presence of someone or something behind him. He turned around, to see the witch shaped neuroi, hovering in the air next to his engine. He walked to the other side, and pulled out his rifle. The neuroi was making attempts to turn, but stopped when he saw how Lukas placed the rifle on the running board of the engine.

"I don't want to do any harm. I've only come to speak." Said the engineer calmly, looking at the neuroi.

The neuroi just hovered outside, not doing anything. Lukas took that as a sign to talk.

"Why do you fight against us? Why did you come to our world, only to attack us? We could have coexisted, so why, why did you do all this?" Asked the young Captain.
The neuroi said nothing.

"If you don't want to answer, so be it. I wont shoot you. I hoped that we-"
"We" Lukas stopped talking, as a sound came from the neuroi. It sounded like Yoshika's voice.

"What, did you say?" Asked the engineer, shocked that the neuroi started to talk.

"We didn't started to fight" Said the neuroi. The words sounded cut off, like it was playing different records after each other.

"What do you mean?"

"We came to earth, but we didn't wanted to fight. You send your planes, you attacked us."

"I see. But why didn't you tell us?"
"We tried, but we couldn't understand your language. We only want to have peace, most of us want."

"Most of you?"
"Many have lost friends in this war, not only you. Some of us only want to avenge the loss of those, who were their friends, and family. I can feel you have the same feelings."

"My brother died in an neuroi attack on Calais, but I don't want to let these feelings take me over; I want to have a peaceful life, not one that is lead on the war path." Explained the engineer.

"I understand."

"So, what now? Since we've come to terms, we should end this war. Too many have fallen, on both sides. We should go to the supreme Allied command, and talk things out." Suggested Romstein.

"It would be for the best. But first, we need to end the battles between neuroi and humans. I will contact the leaders of the Ural hive, and order a truce."

"Thank you. I will call the leader of the Orussian army, and tell him that there will be a fire pause for a undetermined time. We will wait for you at our base in the mountains, outside of New Republiska... um, begging your pardon, but do you have a name?"

"No, we never needed names."

"Well, we'll figure something out. Simply calling you neuroi just wont do. Till we figured out a proper name, how about 'Neuroi girl', or just 'girl' for short?" Asked the engineer.

"This will do. I will come, when I've convinced the hive leaders to make a truce." Said the neuroi, and flew off.

Lukas saw after 'girl', as she disappeared, and started his engine off. Just then, it hit him; he, and the whole 501st, had probably started the end of the war. With this in mind, he grinned happily, and let the whistle blast out long and loud.

He soon arrived back at the base, where he was greeted by Shirley, Lucchini and Tobias, who were in the sheds right now, working on their Strikers and engine respectively. Lukas jumped out of the cab, and walked over to the three.

"And, how did it go?" Asked Tobias.

"Pretty well, otherwise, he wouldn't have gotten home." Snickered Lucchini.

"Get everyone to the main hall, ASAP! I've got good news." Grinned the engineer, as he raced out of the shed, and towards the mansion.

He quickly went to Minnas office, and busted in, but wasn't prepared for what he saw: There were Minna and Mio, both kissing each other, but quickly pulling away, blushing bright red.

"You didn't saw anything." Said Mio sternly.

"I didn't see what?" Asked the engineer cheekily, before turning serious again.

"I've found the neuroi, and could talk to him."
"Wait, what?!" Asked Mio.
"Yes. It appears to have recorded our voices, and took Miyafujis voice to communicate with me. It told me that they don't want to fight anymore, and it is right now asking for a truce on their side. I've told it that I would do the same, so, please let me make a call." He explained, and grabbed the phone.

He quickly tipped in the number of the Orussians Army's HQ, and quickly tolled the man who answered him that he wanted to speak the supreme commander of the Orussian Army, and that he got important information that could change the war. After a few seconds, a gruff voice answered him.

"Da, this is General Woroschilow speaking."

"Hello General, this is Lukas Romstein, Captain of the First Independent Karlsland Railway Corps speaking. You probably wont believe me, but we just had contact with a neuroi."

"We have this all the time, if its that why you have called me, I don't understand why it is so important to the war outcome." Replied the man.

"That's because we got actual contact with the neuroi. I just spoke to it. It wants to settle things with us, and don't wants to do us any harm. It is persuading the hive leaders of the Ural hive for a truce as we speak! We need to do the same, so we can work out a peace contract!" Replied the engineer.

"But who says that this isn't a trick? They could have fooled you, and are just waiting till we stopped defending. Then, they would attack us with full force." Asked the General, as he was stopped by an younger lieutenant.

"Sir! This just came in! The 502nd was just fighting against a neuroi, when it stopped fighting back. It just deflected the attacks, and turned back the way it came from! They are now requesting orders, as they don't know if they should pursue it, or leave it!" Explained the lieutenant.

"See?! I told you she would get the leaders of the hive to make a truce! If you tell them to kill that neuroi, they will think we have betrayed them, and I'm damn sure that this is our last chance to make peace with them!" Said Romstein, who had listened over the radio.

'If what he says really is true...' thought the General.

"Tell them to return to base. And give the order to all bases to be on standby. Lets see if what this Karlslander says is true." Said Woroschilow, to which the lieutenant just nodded.

"Thanks sir. I have a good feeling that were on the right track with this." Said Lukas, his smirk audible over the phone.

"I hope your right, Captain Romstein." Said the General, and ended the call.

"Well, you heard him. Were on standby right now, till girl gets here." Said the engineer, as he put the receiver down.

"Who is 'girl'?" Asked Minna.

"Its the name I gave the neuroi, till we can figure out a better name. Anyway, I tolled Shirley, Lucchini and Tobias to gather the others in the main hall, so we could tell them the news." Explained Lukas, as he put on his hat again.

"Good thinking. Lets go." Said Mio, and walked out.

The others were gathered in the main hall, all waiting for Lukas and/or the commander and major to come in. Soon enough, they all three came in, with Lukas stepping directly in front of them.

"Ladies, I've brought in good news. The mission was a complete success! I've talked to the neuroi, and we agreed to get together, and to talk about a peace contract. Till then, both sides are in a truce. Were all on standby till then." Grinned Lukas, waiting for the news to sink in.

"D-does that mean, that the war could be over?" Asked Lynette.

"If everything works out well, it does. We will expect the neuroi to land here any minute, so please, don't try to be hostile." Answered Lukas, and turned to the door.

He walked out, looking towards the sky, just to see the familiar form of the neuroi girl, landing just a few feet in front of him.

"I see that you kept your part of our little 'conversation'." Chuckled the engineer.

"Yes, I did, and so did you. I knew I could rely on this group."

"Anyways, lets go inside. I bet the others would like to meet a friendly neuroi." Said the boy kindly, and motioned the neuroi to walk inside.

When they got inside, 12 pairs of eyes were directed at them, making the neuroi feel a little nervous.

"My friends, this is girl. She will go to the Allied supreme commanding post, so that the peace can be restored on this planet." Explained Lukas, as the neuroi stepped forward.

"Hello. I'm neuroi girl, or girl for short. Its nice to finally be able to talk to you." Said the neuroi. But the moment she finished talking, she was bombarded with questions about the neuroi, how they lived, and what they did when they didn't fight. Lukas just laughed; He thought that the neuroi girl wouldn't have any trouble to get onto good terms with the witches...

"Finally finished. The more I write, the more I think I should stop and get back to reality for a minute or two"
"I wouldn't. We had one look at the outside, and we decided to stay inside." Said Lucchini, who jumped up behind him.

"HOW THE HELL DID YOU GET IN HERE?!"

"Through the door." Said the girl.

"Okay, tomorrow, I'll repair the lock on that thing. Anyway, you can't possibly stay inside here all day! I don't even have enough rooms to get you all covered, much less, enough food OR money to feed you through!"
"That won't be a problem. We've got these!" She said, handing him a bar of pure gold.

"WHERE THE HELL DID YOU GET THIS?!"
"Minna said I should give you this. She said the Karlslander got more then enough of this." Replied the young Romangnan.
"Thought so. Anyway, seems like I need to go to the store tomorrow. Better take a trailer with me, just in case I can't carry all the stuff with my motorbike... Who am I kidding, I will need a trailer. Thanks for reading and see you next time!

"To who are you talking?" Asked Lucchini.

"That's none of your concern. Now get out before I think about buy candy!"