Minna: Hello everyone. Welcome back. 96 can't be here right now, because it has to deal something with Eila and an Ammo Capsule. So, I'll be handling the introductions for the time being. And seeing that we're near the end of the season, things will be a little nutty. To start with, let's start with reviews.

Colonel AmiruddinArifSulaiman: Nice to hear that your mother is feeling well. Guess I really did, didn't I? And I'm currently on EP. 9. It will take a while when I get to the season finale. Still, anticipate Amirah and the SAS in the operation.

Gamerman22: I know, I won't. And anticipate their involvement.

Guest Reviewer: Thanks for the review.

Konnigvanmessen: Imagine if the Blood Gulch Crew find themselves in the SW world? Oh boy. And thanks for the heads up on Eila. She might need it.

Thorthemighty321: You sir are correct.

Gropau25: Yes. The Blue Neuroi Space Commandos are very deadly when it comes to eliminating the Red Neuroi. And human-made Neuroi weapons. The reason why Minna slapped Cipher is because the latter cannot follow that order. The two are close which means that she doesn't want to lose him. Oh, and Konnigvanmessen is joining in the fun for Eila's HALO jump.

Minna: That settles with reviews. So, enjoy the chapter, and I'll see you at the end.

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Chapter 7: Galm Team Priority Order One: Protect and Ceasing Hostilities

Cipher's P.O.V.

Yesterday had been really eventful. One, I've finally realized why Minna enacted that stupid rule in the first place. Luckily, she lifted it, allowing us to talk with the girls again. Yoshika and Pixy were especially pleased since they can communicate with each other once again. For me, I've already strengthen my ties with Minna again, after telling me what happened way before Pixy and I arrived here. So, I was heading for the dining room, when…

"Get out of the way!" I turned to find my ersatz sister, ramming into me. I broke her fall, but something… soft was on my face.

"Why, hey there, sis." I said in a muffled voice. "How are you this morning?" Barkhorn got off of me as a shade of red crept up onto her face.

"S-Sorry, Cipher!" She immediately scurried to a wall "I didn't see you there." I lifted myself off and dusted myself.

"What's the rush, sis?"

"It's my sister." She answered quickly "She's just convalesced. She's out of her coma."

"Really?"

"Yes. That's why I'm going there now." She tried running past me as I grabbed her shoulder.

"Take it easy there, sis. I'll ask Erica to drive us to the hospital. Speaking of which, where was she the whole time?"

"London. One of Britannia's best hospitals known as Royal London has been taking care of her since her coma. They called me earlier before I rammed into you saying that she's out of her trance."

"Okay. I'll call Erica, you start the car." She nodded as she went over to the hangar. I woke up Erica, without promising her to get her sweets, as we got in the car and drove to London. Barkhorn provided the directions to London and Erica told me the Trude can't drive, because of… personal reasons. We arrived at the hospital as the former clumsily approached her sister's hospital room.

"This is the medical ward! Not so loud!" The nurse said

"Oh, sorry!" Barkhorn apologized "I rushed straight here, so…" We then heard the sound of laughing as it turns out it came from her sister. She was sitting upright and laughed at Barkhorn's current state. "Chris…!" She walked over to her and hugged her.

"We're you okay without me, sis?" Chris asked

"Don't be silly!" She answered "Of course I'm okay! Who do you think I am?!"

"She was a lost cause all the way." Erica interjected "She was in real bad shape until just a while ago. She kept acting all reckless and fighting like crazy."

"Sis."

"E-Erica!" She snapped "I'm here to visit her today! Not to tell her that stuff!"

"It's the truth." I answered

"You are not helping, Cipher." She said lowly while turning red in embarrassment before turning to Chris, albeit panicked "It's not like that at all! I'm always calm and collected!"

"Sis…" Her sibling began "You seem to be in good spirits."

"R-Really?"

"That's thanks to Miyafuji." Erica answered

"Miyafuji?" Chris asked

"Yes. She was recruited recently." Chris was wondering who Yoshika is, as Barkhorn sat at her bedside.

"You see, she looks kind of like you." Barkhorn said as Chris was surprised, because of her uncanny resemblance.

"Like me! I'd love to meet her!" Chris said happily

"Yeah? Then I'll have her visit next time."

"Really? Do you think she'll be friends with me?" She asked as her older sister smiled

"She's pretty weird, but she's nice. I'm sure you'll be great friends." She answered "Oh, but even though you two are alike, you're much prettier of course."

"Talk about blind sisterly love." Erica and I both said. Chris then motioned over to me.

"Who's he, sis?" She asked as she pointed at me. Barkhorn allowed me to come to her bedside as she introduced me.

"This is Cipher, Chris. He came from another world where he participated in another war, and our ersatz brother."

"Really?" She asked intrigued "I always wanted to have another sibling."

"Well, he's our brother until he finds a way back or we're disbanded. So, say hi to him." She allowed her to introduce herself.

"I'm Christiane Barkhorn. I'm her younger sister, and the one who was in a coma for a long time." She said

"Well, while we're at it, I'm only known as Cipher. My name is a real mystery to the people of Ustio and my teammates. Your sister is amazing at her job, Chris. You should be proud."

"She is a Witch after all." She answered "I'm also glad that you're keeping her under reps whenever she wants to do anything crazy."

"I-I'm not like that at all, Chris." Barkhorn answered as she laughed a bit

"Cipher, keep an eye out on her, okay? Protect her like she's your own sibling."

"Sure thing, little sister." I answered as I played with her hair. We continued to talk for a while before Barkhorn said to return to the base. We said goodbye to our little sister as we head for our vehicle, which happens to have a letter on it.

"What's this?" Erica asked

"What's this doing here?" Barkhorn asked also. Erica took hold of the envelope

"Who's it for?"

"It's for Minna." I answered "I believe it's coming from the Allied HQ."

"What do they want? Recon? Immediate deployment?" Barkhorn asked. I opened it up as a letter was shown saying, 'Stay out of this. Don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong.' My expression turned that to an angry dog.

"It's a threat letter." I answered "Who would send this?"

"I have no clue, Cipher." She answered "I'm just as curious as you are. We'll find out more when we head back." I continued to read the contents of the letter while Erica drove us back. Whoever wrote this must bear a grudge on Minna. But I haven't seen anyone threatening the Commander in any way. I told the girls to go ahead as I walked to find Pixy.

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Pixy's P.O.V.

"You did well, little buddy." I congratulated Yoshika. Earlier, while Cipher went with the Captain to London, she participated in a two-on-two dogfight between her and Perrine against Shirley and Francesca. Lynnette supervised the battle while I had a practice dogfight against Fleisher and Waechter. Sure I was outnumbered, but I held my own, until Angela delivered the final blow. Paintballs on my right wing.

As for the two-on-two dogfight, it resulted in Yoshika painting both Shirley and Francesca in one go. It was all thanks to that maneuver that she learned from the Major. That received the ire from one certain Gallian Witch. I do not know what's going on between those two, but I think on her end, I think she's finished with Yoshika having been close to the Major. On Yoshika's end though, the Major was just teaching her. Anyways, I helped Yoshika out of her Striker Unit as she puts her training weapon back.

"Thanks, Larry-san." She answered "How did training go on your end?"

"It went well for the most part, until Angela shot at my red wing."

"Don't worry. At least you're getting better."

"At least at some levels with Cipher though. I don't want to dethrone him of his title. I'll just be his wingman until we retire." Yoshika smiled as Cipher waltzed in. "Hey, buddy. How's Barkhorn's sister?"

"She's fine. She's very lively and somewhat different from her sister." He answered

"So, why are you here, Cipher-san?" Yoshika asked

"I need to see Pixy. Minna received a letter that has been written to her, but looks like a threat letter." Yoshika and I were surprised

"Who would threaten the Commander?" She asked

"I have no idea. Has the Commander looked at the letter yet?"

"Barkhorn and Erica are currently looking into it now." He answered "I'm sure that Minna and the Major are also involved in this case. You better read it also, and get ROT Team to come too." I nodded as he went to the Commander's room.

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Cipher's P.O.V.

I entered the Commander's room as Minna, Barkhorn, Erica and the Major are currently discussing about the letter that was sent to the former. Pixy and ROT Team soon followed as we encircled Minna's desk. "Found out about anything?"

"No." Barkhorn answered "It's just that threat notice. But all we ever did was researching the Neuroi."

"But who would target her?" Fleisher asked "And more importantly, who would send you this?"

"There are too many possibilities to even count." The Major said

"Yes. I'm sure there are plenty of people in the military who despise us." Minna said

"What? Who in their right mind would hate the Witches?" Angela asked "You girls are the ones that humanity has looked up to."

"Exactly. But who would…" A spark of realization just came in. "I know who it is." Everyone looked at me because of my realization thought.

"Who is it?" Both Barkhorn and Fleisher asked. I raised my head as I gave my answer.

"Trevor Maloney. That Air Chief Marshal Pixy and I met when we went to London. He offered the two of us a deal."

"What kind of deal?" The Major asked

"He wanted us to join this group of his." Pixy answered "He also said something about woman being inside a house while man is out on the front lines."

"He said all that?" Angela asked angrily

"Precisely." I answered "He also said something about awakening a new weapon, which can rival both Neuroi and Witch combined."

"I don't know what it is." Pixy said "But the thought of it is completely scary."

"We don't know for sure." The Major said "For now, we'll continue our daily routines. We'll figure this out. Now, dismissed." We headed out, as I'm still mad at the thought that that idiotic Air Chief Marshal is threatening not Minna, but the entire Joint Fighter Wing. Pixy and Angela have the same expression, while Fleisher is especially mad.

"Who does he think he is?" Fleisher commented "Is he some sort of Emperor? Threatening the entire wing like that."

"Maybe it's his way of thought." I answered "I do not know what kind of mindset he is in right now, but something is going on right now, and I'm not liking it one bit."

"That Air Chief Marshal has no sense of pride for the Witches whatsoever. I hope whenever we find him, he'll perish over the ocean where no one can find him."

"Took the words out of my mouth, Fleisher." Pixy said as the former agreed with him. The three then went to do whatever they went, as I went to the hangar, hoping to find Shirley so she can help maintain her jet. But, it's something… worse.

"You won't need that." I heard Perrine saying to Yoshika

"Eh!?" Yoshika asked suddenly

"We're about to duel." Perrine answered. Perrine's weapon rack opened her weapon. Her real weapon.

"You can't be serious. I don't want to." Yoshika countered "I can't point a real gun at a person."

"Don't be silly." Perrine chided "We're not actually going to shoot them. It's only to make it feel real."

"Even so! I didn't join the Witches for this sort of thing!"

"Sheesh. You said the same sort of nonsense when you first joined, too." Perrine answered "I told you. It's only to make it feel real." I finally intervened as I stepped into the hangar.

"What to make it feel real." I said as I stepped in

"C-Captain." Perrine stuttered "What are doing here?"

"What am I doing here? What are you doing? Do you even have a training session? And with real weapons?"

"I challenged Miyafuji to a duel." She confidently proclaimed "It's because of her overall closeness to the Major." I was shocked and more pissed than ever.

"That's what it's all about?! That's the most idiotic reason why you're challenging her to a duel?! Perrine, cease whatever you're doing along with Yoshika, right now!" It was too late as Yoshika left the hangar first. "Yoshika, come back!"

"Looks like she made her choice. The duel shall now commence." She confidently said as she sped off.

"Damn it! Cease hostilities at once!" I grabbed a machine gun but it shoots out paintballs. "Oh, come on!" I got in my jet as I chased after them. I've finally caught up with them, as Yoshika and Perrine weaved around each other. Now problem. I can't fire my arcane missiles because of the splash damage and killing either teammates. My Vulcan ether cannon can help shoot them down, but I might damage their Strikers, hence the budget being slashed thanks in part by the military leaders. Can I continue telling them to stop? That is the only resort I have to go through.

"Perrine, Yoshika, stop right now!" I kept saying over and over until a transmission was sent out from the Control Tower. Perrine contacted both Minna and the Major who are inside.

"This is Perrine. Miyafuji and I are already in the air, doing… Uhh… training. We're already intercepting it." She contacted

"Yeah, right." I muttered silently. I then watched Yoshika going in ahead, something that the Commander ordered them not to. "Yoshika." I went after her but I was then concentrated on another blue sphere. "Another squadron? Who is it this time?" The sphere disappeared as there are now three new objects on radar. One was an F-22 Raptor, the other, an A-10 Thunderbolt II and another Witch. I radioed them in case. "Unidentified craft, you are entering the military boundaries of the 501st Joint Fighter Wing. Identify yourselves now or we will mark you as hostile."

"This is Lyla Czesława of Ustio's 6th Air Division, 25th Air Force Unit, callsign 'Invictus'. Are you Cipher of Galm Team?" Lyla asked

"No way. They continued to look for us since then?" I asked

"Yes." The pilot in the A-10 answered "Ustio has been working around the clock to find Galm Team since your disappearance after Operation Battle-Axe."

"But, who sent you here? The only way to enter is via a blue sphere."

"Her." They both pointed at the Witch. It turns out she has blue lines instead of red ones, and has Neuroi armor on her.

"N-Neuroi." I locked onto her, but they intervened at the last second.

"It's okay. She's not an enemy." The second pilot answered "She's more different unlike the ones she fought against." The allied Neuroi inched forward and introduced herself.

"I'm known as Vera Neckiton. I'm a member of the Blue Neuroi as an Elite Guard member and of the 1st Blue Neuroi Space Commandos. I know that I may be a Neuroi, but I'm also flesh and blood and not like those Neuroi you've fought against since you came here."

"You… You monitored my progress? Since coming here?" I asked intrigued

"Exactly. You are different than any of the Witches combined." Vera answered "You're a pilot who has the willingness to fight for others and protect the ones you always care about."

"Minna." I said silently as I turned back to the three "I understand now why you three are here, but why are you here Vera."

"A Witch by the name of Yoshika Miyafuji is about to make contact with a Humanoid Neuroi." Vera answered "Unfortunately, the entire Allied armies have no clue that Humanoids desired for peace and co-operation with the humans. Worse still, something is going on in London. And I'm sure the Blue Neuroi and the entire 501st will not like it one bit." I remained silent and went wide-eyed in surprise.

"So, not all Neuroi are that violent?" Vera nodded solemnly

"Who's your Commander during your time here?" Lyla asked "We need to tell her."

"The Commander is Wing Commander Minna Dietlinde-Wilcke." I answered "I hope she'll understand with everything you girls say." We then saw the rest of the Joint Fighter Wing as they are sent to reinforce Yoshika. As they got close, the Major ordered her to destroy the Humanoid. "Major, don't. It will kill you!"

"Cipher! Where are you?!" The Major asked

"I'm with another squadron from Ustio along with another Neuroi Witch just like the one Miyafuji is with. Do not kill it. I repeat. Do not kill it!" The Major ignored my warning as she opened fire on the Humanoid. "Vera, do something!"

"I'm already on it." Vera sped towards the Major, but Vera's not fast enough. The Humanoid fired lasers at her, which completely went through her shield, creating a deadly explosion.

"Major!" I yelled as she went down. "Damn it!" I watched as Yoshika and Perrine dived down to fetch her.

"What's wrong?! What happened?!" Minna said over the radio

"Major Sakamoto has been shot down!" I answered "Her shield was up also, but it went through with ease. Yoshika and Perrine are currently fetching her right now."

"Cipher… Return to base. Have Barkhorn follow it." Minna ordered silently

"I'm also bringing in another squadron from Ustio. They also have another Humanoid Neuroi with them."

"What!?" She exclaimed

"Don't worry. She's friendly. She didn't fire on any of us. I'm bringing them to base." Minna went silent on her end.

"Copy that last, Cipher." She answered

"Buddy, what happened up there?" Pixy asked, who was also with Minna inside

"Major Sakamoto has been shot down. And another Ustian squadron is present. I do not know what to make of this." I answered. We returned to the Hangar where everyone, ranging from ground crews to the Witches, was anxious to learn of the Major and her status, and I for one sense a chain reaction will occur.

Unknown P.O.V.

1800 Hours (Five Hours after Incident)

"Air Chief Marshal, we have something from the 501st Joint Fighter Wing." The soldier said "It says that they have made contact with a Humanoid Neuroi. One Witch in particular by the name of Yoshika Miyafuji intercepted it but in the end, Major Sakamoto has been shot down." I mused at this.

"Looks like we can't sit on the sidelines now, Private. Activate the Warlock, and I'll bring in transfer orders to the Wing that they're disbanded." I grinned but I then it turned into a scowl

"Yes sir." My new weapon will be unleashed to the entire world, but we have been exposed because of that detestable Fusoan Witch. Very soon, the Warlock will replace the Witches as they will be obsolete to fight.

Amirah's P.O.V.

2000 Hours (Nine Hours after Incident)

"Mistress, the 501st Joint Fighter Wing has made contact with a Humanoid Neuroi." Griffen said

"Let me hear it." I said while I took out a cigarette

"They found the Neuroi off the coast of Folkestone. Sergeant Yoshika Miyafuji intercepted it, despite orders for her to remain on stand-by. It turns out that it wants a connection between her and the Neuroi. Unfortunately, Major Sakamoto has been shot down by it, and in critical condition."

"Damn. What are they going to do?" I asked

"I have no idea, Mistress." He answered. An intelligence officer came in and gave Griffen a notice. His facial expression turned that to a scowl as he crumpled it up.

"What is it?"

"It's him. He's acting now. He's going to get the 501st disbanded." I shot up from my seat at that answer

"He's going to disband the wing, eh?" I asked "Tell Claus that Operation Skyfall shall now commence. Now, all we need is Galm Team. Griffen, gather thirty elite men that you can find. Tell them to meet me at the briefing room at 2200 hours." Griffen saluted as he went out to find men. For me, I started to call the Governor of Malta and Air Chief Marshal Dowding first, then Churchill, and finally, Galm Team. "Like I said, I'm already one step ahead of you." I said to myself as I started the series of calls.

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Minna: Welcome back everyone. Now that Chapter 7 is done, Operation Skyfall will soon commence next chapter. I know that 96 isn't here right now, he's trying to pry Eila out of the ammo container. I wonder what got her into this. Anyway, see you in… (Sees Eila being pissed, followed by a battered up 96) What happened to you, 96?

Let's just say that Eila has a mean right hook. And I've even brought a team of Navy SEALS with me.

Minna: I'll call up Miyafuji, okay?

Sure. Ow.

Minna: Like I said, see you in the next chapter. Bye!