A/N: Hello everyone I am back with my next chapter of "Sounds of Silence" and this one will be dark so hang on. Before I begin, my reboot of "Neon Genesis Striker" will begin October 25 of this year. I had the date wanted to get that out there. This will be much different than the original. Warning, this chapter might upset some people though I don't mean to.
Disclaimer: I don't own Strike Witches
It was an overcast day in Orussia. It had been a week since the death of Sakamoto in combat and everyone was trying to move on. Minna was still struggling and still spent most of her time in bed. Today, Barkhorn had to drag her out of the shower after she had been in there for thirty minutes.
"I found Minna." said Barkhorn dragging the commander into her office.
"You're fifteen minutes late for our meeting." noted Hartmann concerned.
"Mio was always punctual about time." sighed Minna sadly.
"You're just hurting yourself by dwelling on the death of Sakamoto." said Barkhorn.
"Trude." said Hartmann amazed.
"Erica she needs to hear this." said Barkhorn.
"Do you really think so?" asked Minna.
"Yes. Sakamoto would not want you to keeping beating yourself up over this." answered Trude.
"Maybe you're right." sighed Minna.
"I know so." replied Barkhorn.
"Okay. What is our main topic of discussion today?!" asked Minna more energetic.
"That's the spirit!" exclaimed Barkhorn.
"Um, our food shortage has been solved." answered Hartmann, "Of course, the death of Sakamoto is a reason why."
"That's good." said Minna.
"Our timetable doesn't have another Neuroi arriving for a time yet. So, at least we have plenty of time to prepare." said Barkhorn.
"Right. With Sakamoto gone I want you to fill her role Trude." replied Minna.
"Thank you ma'am. I will do my best." said Trude proudly.
"Trude had already filled in for you recently." noted Hartmann.
"Is this true?" asked Minna surprised.
"Yes ma'am. I have been running the day to day operations of the 501st Joint Fighter Wing while you have been recently... disposed." answered Barkhorn.
"I'm very proud of you Trude. You will make a great commander someday." said Minna.
"Thank you Minna. That means a lot coming from you." replied Barkhorn sincerely.
"I said the same thing but, Trude was preoccupied with silencing Hanna." quipped Hartmann.
"Erica!" snapped Barkhorn red-faced.
"That isn't usually like you." giggled Minna.
"The only people I that I fight for are myself and Chris." said Barkhorn.
"Of course. You're always so concerned about Chris." said Hartmann rolling her eyes.
"My relationship with Chris is not inappropriate!" exclaimed Barkhorn.
"I never said it was." replied Hartmann grinning.
"Thank you two." said Minna suddenly.
"What for?" asked Hartmann.
"I needed that little spat you two just had. It was so funny it helped to lift my spirits." answered Minna.
"Well, I guess in that case then we succeeded in our objective." said Barkhorn triumphant.
"That you have." said Minna with a sad smile.
"Please, tell us you'll be okay." requested Hartmann.
"Erica, Trude. I will be fine. This will take some getting used to and it will be a while but, I will be okay just like I was after Kurt died." replied Minna.
"That's good." sighed Barkhorn, "Of course, after the death of Kurt her disposition only improved once Sakamoto joined our outfit."
"Luckily, I'm caught up on paperwork so I can get an early start on more. It'll help to distract me." said Minna.
"That's the spirit Minna. Oh by the way, Allied command sent us a letter saying they've pushed back discussion about future funding back to an undetermined time." said Hartmann.
"That reminds me. I got a letter from Marshal Goering the other day and I haven't even read." realized Minna.
"Oh man that must be important." said Barkhorn, "We've never gotten a letter from the head of the Luftwaffe."
"We'll go so you can read it." said Hartmann who ushered Barkhorn away.
As Barkhorn and Hartmann left, Minna began searching for the telegram. After a little while she, found it in one of her desk drawers. Sitting back she looked at the letter, and noticed it was addressed not to her but, to Franz Halder a top Karlsland general. Minna was going to resend it but, she then noticed the name Sakamoto out of the corner of her eye.
"Why is Marshal Goering writing a letter about Mio?" asked Minna who looked at the letter.
Dear General Halder,
It has recently come to my attention that Major Mio Sakamoto of the 501st Joint Fighter Wing has been killed in combat. While the Fuso Empire is an ally of ours I did and still do reject the idea of giving her a promotion to Wing Commander. I have been made aware that Mio Sakamoto was a dyke and she deserves no place in our armies. Under our Paragraph 175 she would have been arrested in Karlsland. Too many of these damn witches are dykes and it's disgusting. I wish that Maloney would have succeeded with his Warlock so we could get rid of them. Just tie them to a pyre and burn them like we used to in the Middle Ages. Hell, we should have finished them off then when we had the chance. Worse yet, I have heard rumors of an illicit and forbidden relationship between Sakamoto and Wing Commander Minna Wilcke. I am contacting you to investigate these rumors and determine their truth. I know that she was engaged to a man but, she may also have had a relationship with Sakamoto. If these are true, then we will expose her and drive her out of the army in disgrace. Minna Wilcke will be dishonorable discharged and we might ever be able to arrest her for her homosexual relationship. At least Sakamoto was decent enough to get herself killed.
Marshal Herman Goering
"My god." said Minna shaking.
A little ways down the hall both Barkhorn and Hartmann were walking. Barkhorn was smiling though, Hartmann wasn't as giddy.
"Trude, I still think we need to keep an eye on Minna." said the Blonde Knight.
"Why?" asked Barkhorn as the two stopped.
"I know she seems to be doing better but, we need to be there for her." answered Hartmann.
"Look Erica, I am happy you're so willing to help Minna but, right now it's best if we let her grieve." replied Barkhorn.
"We should be there for her." said Hartmann.
"Minna herself said she was fine so there is nothing to worry about." said Barkhorn.
"I know but, don't forget how upset you were when Chris was hurt Trude." said Hartmann.
"Yes but, I survived." said Barkhorn clearly displeased.
"We can take Sergeant Miyafuji for that." noted Hartmann.
"Look, both Minna, you and I are all seasoned military. We are used to this sort of thing and can move past it." said Barkhorn.
"I still think you're letting your militarist point of view blind you." said Hartmann.
"The military of Karlsland is a strong and proud one." huffed Barkhorn.
"I'm not doubting that but, Minna really needs us." said Hartmann.
"That is why I took over running day to day activities while she was grieving." noted Barkhorn.
"That was great of you to do." replied Hartmann.
"And I will continue to do so as long as I need until Minna can resume full command." said Barkhorn who did an about face, "Speaking of which, I need a file from Minna for paperwork I am currently working on."
"I'll go with you." said Hartmann.
"That's fine Erica." said Barkhorn.
"I have nothing else to do." shrugged Hartmann.
"You could train." proposed Barkhorn.
"Of course that would be the first thing you say." laughed Hartmann.
The two Karlsland witches began heading back to the office of Minna with things seemingly improving. However, as the reached their destination they heard a single gunshot ring out. Hartmann and Barkhorn quickly kicked down the door and found Minna lying dead at her desk. The cause of death was an obvious gunshot wound to the right temple and her smoking Walther PP clutched in her right hand.
"Minna!" cried Barkhorn running over to her commander, "Speak to me dammit! You can't die! Not like this! Minna! Minna!"
"Oh god no." said Hartmann as she fell to her knees in horror.
"Erica, go get Miyafuji!" ordered Barkhorn.
"Trude, it's...it's too late." said Hartmann shaking.
"No! I won't accept that!" yelled Barkhorn.
"Minna...is...dead." said Hartmann wide-eyed.
"No! You're wrong! Minna!" screamed Barkhorn in vain.
Word of what happened to Minna spread quickly around the compound. The 501st were shaken by the suicide of their commander especially so soon after Sakamoto died. The entire 501st gathered outside the day after her death to salute as her coffin went by.
"I...can't...believe...Minna...is...gone!" sobbed Lucchini as they waited.
"It's a horrible tragedy. But, after Sakamoto was killed in action you had to expect this was a possibility." replied Shirley.
"Yeah. I was really afraid this would happen. My tarot cards seemed to point in this direction." added Eila sadly.
"So, is Minna going to be posthumously promoted like Sakamoto was?" asked a yawning Sanya.
"Lieutenant Colonel Minna was not killed in action so any promotion is out of the question." answered Perrine solemn.
"Hey Yoshika, if you need to cry you can." said Lynne worried about her girlfriend.
"I...need to protect everyone." said Yoshika eyes watering.
"Yoshika, you know that's impossible. What happened to Minna, was awful but, you couldn't have prevented it." replied Lynne.
"If something happened to you...I do the same thing." said Yoshika coldly.
"Yoshika you can't say that!" cried Lynne, "I know you love me but, don't throw your life away!"
"Lynne..." began Yoshika only to get cut off.
"She's right Miyafuji. You can't take that way out. You must face your problems." said Barkhorn clearly out of it.
"Captain, the coffin is coming out!" cried Shirley.
"Attention!" called Barkhorn causing all the witches to salute.
As the coffin containing the body of Minna passed draped under the Karlsland flag the girls showed one final act of respect for their fallen commander. The worst hit were clearly her oldest comrades Barkhorn and Hartmann. Trude was deeply shaken but, not trying to show it while Erica was a sobbing mess unable to maintain her composure.
After passing her former comrades, the body of Minna was transported away for a burial. The witches dispersed and temporary commander Barkhorn found herself in charge of the outfit. She entered her new office and sat in the same chair where she found Minna dead. Barkhorn sat in the chair and closed her eyes. Trude lost track of time and wasn't sure how much latter a knock came on the door.
"Come in." said Barkhorn quickly sitting professionally.
"Hey Trude. I wanted to see how you were doing." said Hartmann entering the room.
"I'm fine Erica. Really, I am." replied Barkhorn, "I am more worried how you are doing."
"Well, I obviously cried a lot but, now that I've gotten that out I feel better." said Hartmann.
"I could give you vacation time. It might be good." offered Barkhorn.
"Thank you Trude but, I am okay. I want to fight alongside you guys." replied Hartmann walking over to the desk, "This is eerie."
"Yes it is and now it's my office so everyday I will sit at the exact same spot where we found Minna dead." said Barkhorn with a sad smile.
"The others seem to be okay for now." noted Hartmann.
"That's good." said Barkhorn.
"Are you sure you're okay?" asked Hartmann concerned.
"I am fine. I know that I was shaken up by what happen but, I am fine." answered Barkhorn, "I wanted to be a commander but, not like this."
"Okay. I just wanted to make sure you didn't feel guilty. As for being commander, you are and I know you'll do a fine job." responded Hartmann.
"Because I kept saying Minna would be fine." realized Barkhorn.
"I want you to know it's not your fault." said Hartmann concerned.
"Thank you Erica but, I already know that." said Barkhorn.
"You seem to be bottling your emotions." replied Hartmann.
"Of course I am." said Barkhorn matter-of-fact.
"I really don't think you should." said Hartmann.
"Erica, I am a proud soldier of Karlsland. You are as well so you should know that we in the Karlsland military, and Karlsland it's self, don't show emotion." said Barkhorn.
"I don't think that's right." said Hartmann.
"Of course it is. Showing emotion is weakness and the rule of nature is survival of the fittest." said Barkhorn firmly.
"Oh Trude." sighed Hartmann.
"Showing your emotions is weakness." huffed Barkhorn.
"That's not the case when it comes to Chris." noted Hartmann.
"Well, that is different. Chris is my little sister." replied Barkhorn, "Thank you again for your concern Erica but, I will be fine."
"Okay but, I want you to cry if you feel like it. It really isn't good to hold in your emotions." said Hartmann accepting defeat.
"I will never show such weakness." scoffed Barkhorn.
"In that case I hope you're hurting yourself in the long run." said Hartmann who left.
When Hartmann was gone, Trude sat back in her chair and thought about the current situation. She briefly considered Erica's advice but, wouldn't let herself show emotion. Instead, she pulled a bottle of Karlsland whiskey she knew Minna had kept in her desk drawer and had a glass.
History of the Apennine peninsula: The Apennine peninsula was once the base of the might Roman Empire before it collapsed in 476. After, the peninsula was full of republics, monarchies and city-states until the mid-1800s. In 1848-49, failed revolutions attempted to unite much of the peninsula. In 1853, the Duchy of Sardinia (which included Piedmont, Aosta Valley and Liguria) took was one of several Western European countries that helped defeat Orussia in the Crimean War. Impressed by the Sardinian Army, in 1858 Emperor Napoleon III of Gallia agreed to help Sardinia if it got into a war with Ostmark. The next year in 1859, that war began masterminded by Sardinian Prime Minister Count Camillo Cavour. The combined forced of Gallia and Sardinia defeated Ostmark with the biggest victory at the Battle of Magenta. In the central part of the peninsula revolutions ousted monarchs and they united with Sardinia. In the southern part of the peninsula, the Red Shirts under Giuseppe Garibaldi captured Sicily and the mainland then were joined by soldiers from Piedmont who overran the Papal States in the center of the peninsula. In 1861, Victor Emmanuel II became ruler of the new Duchy of Italia.
A/N: Well there is another chapter done an I hope you enjoyed it. I know that the content was controversial but, I mean no offense by it (I'm bisexual) it was was reflection on the attitude of the era. This is were the story begins to get it's rating and there will be more dark scenes ahead. The suicide of Minna was inspired by a story I read called "Haji" which is in my favorites section and one I recommend. Also, this is not the last time Barkhorn drinks. Next time, a new commander is named and Lucchini deals with the change in Shirley. Please review.