The next part of the Episode is here. Before then, here are some notes.
First, I've revised and added more to Gertrud and Mio's quote lists. They now include some for Sailor Moon, Chibiusa, and even Vividred's Crow.
Second, I decided to move the next work introduced as early as next episode. Once that's done, I'll move this series from the Izetta x Strike Witches category into something more appropriate, wherever that is…
Third, the small Neuroi aircraft enemies will be based on Horton 229 and Focke Rochen.
And now, for the chapter.
The air raid sirens went off the next morning. Even though the sun wasn't up, most of the 501st were ready to move out. Six of the members launched from the runway as they headed eastward. Mio spearheaded the attack, lifting her eyepatch to zoom into the distance.
"What are we looking at, Major?" Lieutenant Barkhorn was the closest to Sakamoto. Erica was nearby while Francesca, Perrine, and Charlotte trailed behind.
"The radar reported enemy movement from this airspace," Sakamoto instructed. "Although there are multiple contacts, they are in a less organized manner. Commander Wilcke suspects that we're dealing with Neuroi."
"The enemy must be serious if they're attacking from this time and direction," Charlotte overheard the two as she caught up. Thanks to her power, she was much faster than the normal Witch, which was characterized by the two white rabbit ears on her head. Her Striker Unit was a personal modification based on a P-51D Mustang, one of the most powerful current designs from Liberion.
"The attack force's altitude is also higher than usual," the Major added. "Barkhorn, Hartmann, you take up the front this time. Shirley, Lucchini, you take the rear. Perrine will pair up with me."
The Witches reorganized themselves into three rows. Mio continued to view the airspace ahead of them to keep watch for the enemy.
"Too bad those rookies couldn't come with us, wouldn't you say, Shirley?" Francesca turned her ally by on the side, who only gave a mischievous smile.
"This is the front line," Perrine replied in irritation. "Rookies will only slow us down."
"Come on, Perrine. It's better than having the Commander babysit them over the mission."
The Galian Witch huffed to the side, concentrating more on her beloved superior.
"The enemy will not wait for them to grow," Barkhorn commented. "They're better going home than staying here."
"At least we won't have any insubordination in our ranks," Erica joked, which only Gertrud could understand. Even then, she did not comment.
"Heads up!" Mio called out as she spotted the enemy. "The enemy's approaching!"
The girl continued ahead as a swarm of Neuroi vessels came into their sight. It wasn't long before another battle was underway.
Back at the base, some of the recruits wandered near the hanger. Although they got up like everyone else in response to the siren, they were ordered to remain on the base. The attack required professionals, and other than those used for night patrol and the commander, the others were just greenhorns still undergoing training. There were also the two combat-capable guests that didn't have any actual rank.
"Why can't we launch as well?"
Alice waved her legs while sitting on the concrete plane of the hangar bay. Yoshika and Izetta stood by each other as they witnessed the Witches scramble to intercept. Of all the girls, Alice was the most frustrated since that meant fewer enemies to fight.
"It's per orders," Minna stood by the stationed girls, responding to Alice's question. "You're still a civilian, and Yoshika and Lynette are Witches-in-training."
"What about you, Izetta-san?" Alice turned to the White Witch, who was more guilty, yet should be freer than the others. Even though Alice and the others were ordered to stand by, Izetta was not a member of the 501st and took orders from her Archduchess instead.
"The Princess wanted to keep me on the base. She has a bad feeling about this attack and didn't want me to go."
"Fine wishes to keep her safe from danger," the Commander explained. "Furthermore, she has yet to disclose more information about her abilities. If it is Fine's wishes, then we shall not argue against her."
Izetta slept in the same room as the Archduchess during the night. When the radar tower sounded the alarm, she went into a panic until Fine calmed her down. Before Minna's briefing, Izetta received a talk to refrain herself from fighting too much. As much as she wanted to protect her friend, she was still too valuable to be lost and inexperienced against the Neuroi.
Yoshika was just as alert as Izetta, but as a soldier with no one else sleeping with her, she was more ready to participate. However, she noticed something peculiar this time around.
"By the way, Minna-san, have you seen Lynn-san anywhere?"
"Not today, unfortunately," Minna shook her head. "Did you try her room?"
"I knocked on the door, but she wouldn't answer."
Even though the alarm went off, the Britannian Witch did not appear. As her neighbor next door, Yoshika didn't even see her leave. She even called to her a few times, but there was no answer, so she thought that Lynette either was still sleeping or already left for the briefing. She could not find her at the briefing at all, which meant she remained locked up that night.
"She's probably still reeling about what Izetta said," Alice guessed. "I don't know what she's thinking, but she needs to get over it sooner or later."
"It's more burdening than you think," Minna stepped, speaking sharply to Alice's words.
"Minna-san," Yoshika turned to her commander as she addressed the three girls.
"Miyafuji, Miss Izetta, I need to have a word with you about Sergeant Bishop."
As the most self-depreciated of the three, Izetta was the one to speak first.
"M-Miss Wilcke, if it is about what I said before, I wanted to say that I'm-"
"That's not the problem here," the commander calmed her down, switching to a different topic. "Tell me, why did you two come to Britannia? Why do you choose to stand by the Witches rather than stay at your respective homes?"
"I-I just wanted to stand by the Princess," Izetta answered as Minna faced her first. "She wants to help her country, so we both journeyed here to gain allies who would join us. It had nothing to do with the other Witches."
"I just wanted to find where the action was," Alice pounded her fists together. "I need to fight in real battles if I want to get stronger."
Minna sighed over the hot-blooded girl while turning to the recruit.
"And you, Sergeant Yoshika?"
"I wish to help those who were in need."
Of all the answers given, Yoshika's response gave the most positive reaction. Or at least, that's what prompted her to respond.
"Those were the same words she said when she first arrived on the base," Minna addressed. "In case you haven't learned already, Britannia is not only the remaining stable part of Europe not threatened by war or disorder like in Eylstadt and Central Europe. It is also her homeland."
Izetta found herself surprised like Yoshika was. Alice didn't find it too interesting as the commander continued.
"Because Britannia is a critical member of the Allies, the pressure is overwhelming for her. She succumbs to her fears of failing and blames herself when anything bad happens. Such a mindset severely hinders her ability in actual warfare."
"Then," Yoshika wondered. "She wanted to prove her worth, too!"
"When you put it that way, Lynette is no different from the three of you," Minna got close to the recruit to the point it made her blush. "Yoshika, you said you wanted to help people." She went to the White Witch and patted her head, causing her to shake it in embarrassment. "And Miss Izetta, you came here so you could defend Eylstadt for your Archduchess, no? Never forget those feelings, and I'm sure you'll be able to help anyone."
Yoshika and Fine were left astounded by the Commander's words. Meanwhile, Minna went to Alice and did not give any friendly gestures.
"As for you, Alice, you need to start finding something you want to protect as well," the commander advised the Psionic girl in a serious tone. "Fine told me about your mission, about how you seek to save the world. But you left your homeland and are directionless about where to go right after. What's the point in saving the world if there's nowhere for you to return?"
"But I…"
"Please understand this. Not just for us, but your own sake as well."
"I…"
Minna's last words left Alice trailing before she left the group to their own devices. It wasn't that she couldn't argue against her; she just never gave the idea any thought. As for the others, they don't know to help, but they at least know what to do.
The 501st Witches that were dispatched to intercept closed in on the enemy Neuroi force. Mio's eye sighted a wave of eight incoming units, four of them looked like floating gunships while the other four were flying wings.
"Multiple Neuroi units, incoming!" Mio warned her squadron as she closed her eyepatch. "All units, attack!"
The squadron broke up as they confronted the enemy aircraft. The Neuroi craft fired beams at the intercepting force. After dodging the beams, the Witches responded in kind by returning fire.
Barkhorn and Erica were the first two engage. The Lieutenant took out one of the flying wings without putting up her shield. Erica got to the side of another and performed her special attack, the Sturm, which looked like a normal barrel roll but also manipulated strong winds. The enemy craft lost control of its flight before she gunned it down from above. Francesca and Shirley went in a scissors formation to avoid the enemy fire while taking out three of the gunship units. Perrine went ahead of Mio to gun down another flying wing.
The Major, on the other hand, found something odd about this attack. None of the Neuroi appeared to have any cores. That was more obvious when she cut down the last flying wing unit; it did not regenerate its damaged wing. She searched the falling craft with her eye, which further confirmed that suspicion.
Barkhorn finished off the remaining Neuroi craft as it plunged into the sea.
"Enemy targets eliminated."
"Alright," Francesca cheered. "Another mission accomplished!"
"It's too early to say that," Mio denounced as she closed her eyepatch again.
"This is strange," Perrine also caught the same suspicions that Mio did. "Aren't these units going down easier than they should?"
"I'm not finding any cores within the units either."
"You don't mean...this attack fleet was a diversion?"
"In that case," Perrine's words made the Major realize it. "The base is in danger!"
Back on the base, Yoshika, Izetta, and Alice stood by the door to Lynette's room. Yoshika was the closest while Izetta and Alice remained by the sides.
"Lynn-san, can you hear me?" The young Sergeant asked politely.
"L-Lady Bishop, I want to apologize about last night," Izetta added.
There was still no response. But after checking everywhere else, there was no other place Lynette could be. The door was also locked, which certainly could not have been done from the outside.
"We know you're in there," Alice joined in. "What we ought to tell you is that you need to stop blaming yourself for everything."
There was still no response, which prompted her to be blunter and more aggressive.
"Everyone here has something at stake here. You're not the only one pressured about protecting those you love or feeling so guilty about being helpless! Why can't you understand that?"
Lynette Bishop kept her back against the door. She had been like this ever since she woke up. Even though she dressed up and got ready for battle, she could not bear leaving the room. Alice's words that were supposed to bring their point across only prompted a hurtful reaction, which shook the door a little.
"L-Lady Bishop," Izetta spoke up after a moment of silence. "If you feel guilty about yourself, then I feel worse about myself than you ever did."
The White Witch's words caused the Britannian girl to ease her tension. At the very least, it got Lynette to listen.
"Ever since my childhood, as a descendant of Weisse Hexe, I've always lived with no one else other than my grandmother. She always shunned me for my power, and always told me never to use them even if it's to help people just like our ancestor. Even now, I feel hateful of myself for having this power, and not being able to live a lifestyle like anyone else."
Lynne did not want to deny what she said. Not only was she part of a wealthy merchant family, but she also had a large family with several other siblings, including a father and mother. But besides being in a wealthy family, she never had that the friends Izetta had. Even then, she did not expect the White Witch to speak those words.
"You had something to protect long before I did. I only had the Princess, and that was after years of living with my grandmother. I should be the one with no redeemable qualities."
Lynette's hands softened. It wasn't enough to motivate her, but she sensed the same feelings she always knew. They were of self-doubt, shame, and lack of value in the world. Those same feelings must have plagued the White Witch, just like how they plagued her.
"I'm not so good as a Witch either," Yoshika's followed. "I'm terrible at magic, and always get scolded. I can't fly well, and I hate using guns. I don't even want to fight anyone, even if it's a Neuroi. But…I want to be in the Witches. Because if my magic can save even one person, if there's something no one else can do, then I want to do it. I protect this unit, and…to protect everyone!"
Protect?
That word triggered something within Lynette. Her body released all tension as she faced the door.
"You and Yoshika are not the only ones who wish to make a change either," Alice added. "Izetta and I know this, too. You are capable of doing things even your White Witch can never do. If you want to know, you can ask her right here and now. She'll tell you everything, and that you should be grateful for who you are!"
"Izetta-san, Alice-san, and I will do our best," Yoshika finished her speech. "So that's why you should, too, Lynn-san!"
The astounded Lynette was left speechless from the girls' speeches. It was probably the first time she heard someone say any of that to her. Not even her family offered that kind of encouragement during her life. For that reason, she was desperate to find more.
But before she could exit the door, the air raid sirens went off again. That could only mean one thing; another attack was incoming.
Minna called for Eila within one of the meeting halls. After getting reports of new sightings, she was desperate to stage a counterattack.
"Our radar suddenly found a new enemy Neuroi force attacking from the south. There's also a high-speed unit that's far out of range from our main force."
The initial attack looked like the enemy attempted to attack Britannia while remaining by the edge of the bases' range. The size was too great for them to let it pass by, so they had to intercept. It was still an error on her part to not account for a second wave.
"Judging by the current path, they're both aiming for this base," Fine read the same report. "I doubt an evacuation is an option."
Minna shook head in confirmation.
"This base is the currently the largest stronghold keeping the Neuroi from attacking cities such as London. We need to hold here, but Eila and I are the only ones who can launch."
"Sanya used up all of her magic during her night patrol," the Soumus Witch made an X with her fingers. "No good for her."
Fine sighed over the situation, sharing the same frustration as the commander.
"Very well, the two of us will go then."
"Then why not make it five?"
The boast came from Alice, who rushed from the hallway. Izetta appeared a little later, breathing heavily after running such a short distance. But Minna knew their condition and orders.
"You are to remain on this base."
"You said this base was in danger," Alice protested as she turned to Izetta. "Her princess is on this base. There's no way we're going to stand by while it gets torn apart!"
"Please, Miss Wilcke, Princess," Izetta pleaded. "Allow me and Alice to go!"
"I cannot order civilians to go off against a Neuroi force," Minna protested. "And the Archduchess does not want to put Izetta in great danger."
"Then allow me to go as well!"
Yoshika entered the room next, remaining strong and upstanding in front of the commander.
"It's too soon for you to fight in an actual battle. Besides, you're still hesitant to shoot."
"I'll shoot if it's to protect someone!"
"Even so, you three are inexperienced and don't have proper military training."
"Then I will go, too!" Lynette came in afterward. "Yoshika and I can still at least amount to one!"
Minna gazed on Lynette's eyes. Those were not the same ones she usually saw when seeing the Britannian Witch. She was always quiet and reserved, and her eyes remained dull. Perhaps her words, or rather the other three girls said something that motivated her. What mattered was that this wasn't the same Lynette, at least not at the moment.
"Please, Princess," Izetta also demanded from the Archduchess "Alice and I will protect this base."
Izetta's eyes were now becoming a more common occurrence for the Archduchess. It became more evident that every decision she made to her, despite her protested, were completely resolute.
"Very well," Fine accepted her request. "Just promise that you'll be back."
"Lady Fine," Minna faced the Archduchess. "Those two may be your accomplices, but they're putting themselves at great risk without military training. Besides, will they be able to use their magic in this area?"
"Magic?" Yoshika faced Izetta, confused by what the commander meant. Lynette also drew the same blank.
"Izetta is my friend, and Alice has already proven to be a capable fighter. If it's to protect me, then there's nothing I can do to stop them."
Minna then turned to the other three girls, including Alice despite her lack of military rank.
"Nothing will change your minds, won't you?" She received no replies from any of them. "You two, get ready in ninety seconds! Alice and Miss Izetta, you two follow my lead and await further orders!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
The two Sergeants ran off to prepare their Striker Units. Alice and Izetta tagged alongside Minna and Eila as they headed down to the launch bay, hoping to be ready in time.
The next chapter will complete the battle and have the epilogue. Once that's done, that'll finish everything related to just Izetta x Witches x original content for MGC.
Either way, I hope you enjoyed the reading.
