Hello everyone, and welcome back to 'Demon Lord of the Strike Witches' and… Well… *Looks over to find Cipher and Minna standing beside me*
Cipher: "Where… have you been?"
For starters, life. Second is other stories that I've been working on. No worries, I didn't forget about you guys.
Minna: "Why start now. The ones you've been doing involved… Us in the Ace Combat Infinity Universe, an advanced army in a parallel world fighting in a World War II themed continent, a female counterpart for your Original Character, and… an ODST paired with soldiers that stand around and talk?"
Cipher: "To put it shortly, you've forgotten about us."
Again, I didn't have a lot of time on my hands. So, to make it up you, I'm working on this chapter.
Cipher: "Alright. So, where you left off, a Neuroi bug invaded the base. And that's pretty much it. So I wonder what this chapter will be like."
I'll get started while you guys help me along, alright?" *Both Minna and Cipher nodded* Okay, let's begin, shall we?
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Chapter 25: The Berkut Heist
Cipher's (Daniel Cross') P.O.V.
Apart from my usual morning routines involving Minna, I was about to join the others for training. However, I was stopped by Survivor, who seems rather… tense.
"Morning, Survivor." I greeted the Neuroi "You slept well?"
"I did, but… However, I got a message from London by Amirah." She answered "It turns out that some people managed to steal the salvaged aircraft after both Commodore Galland and her adjutant left the hangar."
"And… we only noticed this now? How come they didn't even report it in after it got stolen?"
"It got complicated after a few guards got shot." She pointed out "Of course the well-being of personnel came first, but when it came to looking at the hangar, they found the Berkut stolen. Amirah wants us to head over to London to check over what had happened."
"If that's the case, I'll be bringing Pixy and Isara with me." I said to her "Perhaps some of the girls can come with?"
"Unfortunately, they have Combat Air Patrols and training sessions today. Miyafuji in particular visited the Major earlier, but before she can begin her training, something felt wrong." I was intrigued to hear it. Normally, Yoshika wouldn't have a hard time handling a Striker Unit. "Somehow, her Striker just… stopped."
"Like it turned off?" I asked
"It didn't turn itself off, but it's not functioning normally." Survivor answered "Whenever she gets checked-up and ran tests, they said she's at perfect health, or that the Striker is in top shape. It is rare for a Witch to have that kind of condition."
"They'll find something, I hope…" I answered "Also, do we have to go to London again?"
"Not exactly. Amirah and her group have already departed for Sicily, which was recently liberated. Although, there is one requirement."
"Which would be…?"
"You're going to need a firearm. In case." I tilted my head in confusion before Survivor departed
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Palermo, Sicily, Duchy of Romagna
After arriving in Sicily, Pixy, Isara and I met up at one of the headquarters where Amirah, Crow Team, and the SAS are on stand-by. We walked up and Pixy recognized the two soldiers by the entrance. "Wallcroft, Griffen. Been a while since Folkestone."
"We have been busy, Galm Two." Wallcroft said "A lot of Special Operations involving Anti-Witches and us going behind enemy lines to catch what the Neuroi are planning. However, the Mistress wanted to do something else apart from those two."
"It involved a theft of the Su-47 Berkut… Survivor told us of that before we came here." I said to them "But… why us? We're pilots."
"Amirah will provide the info, you three." Griffen answered "Best head inside. Briefing's about to start." We then took our seats in front of other assembled SAS personnel and Crow Team as Amirah, along with Director von Stauffenberg took their places at the front.
"Alright, now that we're all here, I'll give you the rundown on what is happening." Amirah began "As you have already know, mysterious assailants entered a hangar at London's Heathrow Airport and stole the Yuktobanian Su-47. If you're not aware of this fighter, according to what PJ said, it's supposed to spearhead the Yuktobanian Air Force when it comes to stealth, something that we currently lack in."
"If you don't know what the country is, Yuktobania is a nation that was allied with Ustio along with other allies during the Belkan War, where Galm Team and Crow Team hail from." Von Stauffenberg said "That nation is the second superpower equalling to the Osean Federation. And that fighter jet proves their capabilities to engage in a full scale war against an enemy."
"In which we took the enemy out ourselves, right Blaze?" Isara nodded
"We've also pinpointed where the Su-47 may have landed." The slide then shows the Su-47 parked at an airbase "From what the GFI can gather, the Berkut is parked at an airport in Marseille. That's the good news. However, scientists from all corners of the world has been pouring in to see this marvel, which does raise up multiple red flags, along with military leaders that hold envious views to the Witches."
"We're calling this Operation Firkin." Amirah said "It is both a military operation, and a heist. Our target is to recapture the captured Su-47. Galm Team and Crow Team, you'll be on overwatch duty this time around, while me and the boys will raid the building. The tricky part is how to get the Berkut out to friendly lines. Luckily, I did some training with the aircraft beforehand. So that means I'll take the reins. Otherwise, if any critical components are missing or if we're engaged in a firefight, we'll need to find alternative modes of transport."
"And as for the soldiers, they'll provide cover if any of those military leaders came with their own men." Von Stauffenberg said "Operation will begin at sundown. That is when security seems down at that time. Dismissed." As everyone left the briefing room, Pixy had a thought.
"Since we're mercenaries, does that mean we'll get a cut?"
"I highly doubt it." I answered "However, we joined a multinational military wing. And Isara is technically still in the OADF. By all accounts, no, we're not getting paid."
"Great… I guess I'll have to wait more."
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Skies above Marseille, Republic of Gallia
As the orange skies dominated the evening, Pixy, Blaze, Crow Team and I are busy making sure everything is in working order. Amirah and her SAS brethren have departed from Sicily earlier by boat and have already landed while working their way to the hangar where the Berkut is being kept. Blaze then spoke through, lamenting.
"Well… This is… quite new to me." Blaze said over the radio
"What makes you say that?" I asked her
"I know I've been a part as a Special Operations Squadron, but never before have I done something like this." She answered
"You mean, the guys on the ground stealing a jet." Pixy pointed out "They have the hard part. Us though, we're just scanning the skies."
"PJ, you've been with Amirah longer than we have. What is this group that we're dealing with?"
"These people are Anti-Witch Forces." PJ answered "To put it simply, these dumbasses are following what Maloney had idealized from the get-go; that girls cannot serve on the frontlines. Of course, there are a lot of Generals and soldiers that hold a positive view on the Witches, even considering them as Angels, but some still hold contempt. Much of the problems came from Karlsland in particular, mostly because they see the men as their way of winning."
"And Minna told me of the things they do to the girls before Operation Arcadia…" I chirped
"Yeah… Nasty stuff. Von Stauffenberg and Amirah have been busy dealing with these forces, but some escaped to who knows where. Even the Kaiser and the US President are sending soldiers down to Neue Karlsland to work on some manhunts."
"Well… I just wish those idiots luck." Isara mocked them "They'll have the entire world soon breathing down their necks." Just then, Amirah spoke through the radio
"Overwatch Team, maintain radio silence until I give the word. We're nearing the hangar."
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Amirah's P.O.V.
After informing the pilots on maintaining radio silence, the men and I approached the hangar where they kept the Berkut. We gathered at the side door as I motioned Griffen to give prepare explosives. He nodded and stuck the explosive on the door and activated the timer.
"Stack up, gents." Everyone checked their weapon before the explosive went off. I took point while Wallcroft and Griffen followed close behind. "Hallway, clear."
"Main hangar's just behind this door, Mistress." I nodded before Burns breached the door, hoping to find the Berkut. And, to our surprise, is still intact. "There it is… Doesn't look like anything is ripped apart, nor any component is missing."
"Must be some set-up…" Griffen mused. "They didn't leave this here just for us to walk in and out cleanly."
"…Check for anything… Diagrams, notes, anything you can find." The men nodded before I radioed Cipher. "Cipher, good news is, we've found the Berkut. Bad news is, the ones who took it aren't present."
"Copy, Amirah… But I do find it odd as to why they leave it for us." Cipher answered
"We're finding any scrap of information we can find. We'll get back to you shortly, over." Just then, Burns called us over "Burns. You've found something?"
"This, Ma'am. It's just a note." Burns answered
"'You can have the Berkut back… We've got what we needed.'" I blinked a few times before seeing a post statement. "'P.S. We'll see each other on the battlefield. Your friends from the… 8492nd?'" Just then, an explosion rang out from outside the hangar. It turns out that they're from the Anti-Witch Forces. And they are bringing in the heavy weaponry.
"Shit! Ambush!" One SAS soldier called out as Panther and Sherman tanks rolled up and opened fire on us.
"Little close there, guys…" I muttered
"Oh, sod off Mistress, we're still in one piece!" Griffen answered in kind
"Galm One, you copy!?" I radioed frantically "Cipher!" Just as I shouted for Cipher to show up, a pair of missiles knocked out a few tanks. "You're just in the nick of time…"
"Hey. We'd always be fashionably late for parties like this." Pixy joked
"Amirah, we'll take care of the tanks." Cipher said "See if you can taxi it over to the runway." Judging by how the ferocity of the firefight is, it is possible for the Berkut to launch off the runway, but it would be an easy target for the tanks and the supporting infantry.
"I don't think taxiing over is looking like a good idea anymore." I fired a burst from my Sterling SMG, killing two soldiers before taking cover again
"Any bright ideas then?" Burns asked. PJ then gave in his answer
"I see some sort of helicopter parked near the hangar." PJ pointed out
"Is it strong enough to carry a fighter jet of this size?" I asked
"Worth a shot. But you might want to clear the enemy first before moving."
"Okay. Burns, Griffen. Wallcroft and I will hold down the fort. Get that copter working and wait for us. We'll be rolling the Berkut so that we can move-" A tank shell flew by me and nearly hit the Berkut "On out of here."
"Already on it." Griffen answered "Burns, you're with me! Let's go!" Griffen and Burns ran from cover to cover while Wallcroft and I, along with the other soldiers covered them. Just as they moved, more tanks showed up, and this time, they came with King Tiger tanks.
"Damn, rockets!" Two SAS soldiers who wield PIAT's came forward and fired on one of them. The heavy armor up front deflected it and fired its machine guns at us. "I'm starting to wonder who keeps supplying these assholes."
"It beats me, Mistress…" Wallcroft fired a quick burst from his SMG before taking cover again "These Anti-Witch Forces have been a royal pain since Maloney's downfall." A hail of bullets and missiles rained down on the enemy, knocking out nearly the entire column.
"Okay, I'll role the Berkut out of the hangar and-"
"Cancel that order, Amirah." Cipher spoke "We're seeing enemy bogeys heading towards us."
"What the… Shit!" Wallcroft and I ran out of the hangar and found ten Me-262's engaging in a dogfight with Galm and Crow Teams. "Don't let that helicopter take off! We're engaging right now!"
"We'll take care of the ground forces, Galm!" Crow One called out. Crow Team surged in and knocked out a few tanks before strafing a few soldiers in their way
"Now or never, Mistress!" Wallcroft called out. I nodded over to them as some soldiers gathered around the landing gears and begin pushing the Berkut out of the hangar. After knocking out another Tiger tank, I aided the men and using my magic, began pushing as well. I looked up as one Me-262 was shot down by Cipher.
"Amirah, how are we doing?" He asked me while engaging another
"We're getting there! This thing weighs a lot!"
"Easy for you to say." Pixy joined in "These 262's are giving us the time of our lives." After pushing the Berkut out of the hangar, Burns and Griffen began to start up the helicopter. One Me-262 caught wind of this and began to dive against us. A hail of cannon fire landed everywhere.
"Damn it! Take cover!" The 262 pulled up from its dive and was soon tailed by PJ. His F-16 lined itself up and fired an Arcane Missile, destroying it. "Nice save, PJ!"
"No problem. By the way, those 262's are running scared. Might be a good chance to pack everything up before they come back."
"I'm with PJ, Amirah." Cipher supported his decision "If they come back again, we might not have enough fuel nor ammo to take them on."
"Copy." I then turned to the men "Get the heavy stuff and load it onto the trucks. Burns, Griffen, have the helicopter hover above the Berkut and we'll attach the airframe to it."
"Providing it's not that heavy…" Griffen said "Alright, hovering into position now." The helicopter then hovered above the Berkut's main airframe before lowering a winch. We attached it and I gave the thumbs up for them to ascend. "Alright… taking off. Wish us luck." The helicopter began to take-off with the delicate cargo, however, the weight of the Berkut is putting a strain on the winch. "Damn it… This thing is heavy… Mistress, we'll have to abort the launch. If this cables snap, this Berkut isn't going anywhere."
"Alright. Guess I'm flying then." Climbing onto the wing, I entered the cockpit of the Berkut and started up its engines. Luckily, everything is still intact despite what this 8492nd group did to it. The fuel on board is enough to make it to friendly lines, the hydraulics are fluid, electrics are in working order. Pretty sure it'll work out. "Aisyah, you can hack into the aircraft like what Survivor does with Cipher's right?"
"I can try." As the Blue Neuroi did its magic, I began taxiing out onto the runway.
"So far, so good…" The Berkut rolled onto the main runway and I began to push the throttle forward. However…
"Small problem…"
"What?" I looked ahead and found a column of Tiger II heavy tanks blocking the runway "Uh… Aisyah!?"
"I can't fire the weapons while on the runway! We don't even have damn clearance!"
"Oh, lower the damn Earth if you have to! We're almost at the end of the runway!" Just as they were about to fire, I see both Blaze's and Cipher's aircraft soaring above me and released their missiles onto the tank column.
"Amirah, runway's clear."
"That was way too close, Cipher." I pulled the flight stick back and the Berkut soared into the skies. Wallcroft even informed me that the entire strike team exfiltrated successfully via the helicopter Griffen and Burns piloted. "Mission complete… Let's get the hell out of here…"
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Palermo, Sicily, Duchy of Romagna
Cipher's P.O.V.
After landing back in Sicily, I was busy talking to Pixy, Isara and PJ before Amirah walked up. "Hey, Amirah. Everything okay?"
"Mostly." The SAS Witch answered as she started smoking her pipe "The Berkut is still intact thankfully, despite what those Anti-Witch Forces did to it. However… Something struck me odd when I found one of the notes in the hangar."
"What did it say?" Isara asked
"All it said is that we can have the Berkut back for they have everything needed." She began "And that somewhere, they'll meet you on the battlefield. And the kicker? The signatories are those from the 8492nd. Does it ring any bells?"
"…What…?" Both Isara and I growled in frustration
"I take it you know them?" Pixy asked
"Know them…?" Isara seethed "Those are the bastards that escalated the war between Osea and Yuktobania back in our world."
"To give you the short version, the 8492nd was actually Bernitz. He, along with Grabacr and Ofnir aligned with a power cabal known as the Grey Men, a group of Belkan Ultranationalists that wanted to reunify the two Belka's from Osean rule."
"What happened to them?" PJ asked
"I don't know… Maybe they're in court or prison for all I care." Isara huffed "But… I don't get it… How did they manage to come here?"
"Maybe it's that blue sphere that appeared in our world." I answered "By my guess, I didn't see them bail out or anything."
"We'll keep tabs on them for now. Especially those from the Anti-Witch Forces, now that they have the data from the Berkut." Amirah said as she puffed out smoke "If they manage to interfere in any way, do not even hesitate to shoot them down."
"That we can agree on." Pixy smirked
"Might as well return to base. Minna is probably wondering where we are." I suggested. The others agreed as we left.
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By the time we returned, both Minna and the Major are looking at a Striker Unit. However, its design is different than the others. "Hey, Minna." The redheaded Commander turned and smiled
"I was asking myself where you have been the whole day." She said "But Survivor told me of your whereabouts, so no harm done."
"We just did a heist, Dear." I joked "Pretty much me, along with Amirah, Pixy, Crow Team, Blaze and the SAS raided an airbase just to recover one fighter jet."
"Although you could've done things a little… quieter next time." She joked as well
"They started it." I playfully pointed out "Also, what have we missed?"
"It's nothing too serious, Cipher." The Major began "Miyafuji has been having difficulties with her Striker as of late. As it turns out, her A6M Zero Striker can't keep up with her growing magic, which she can't fly at all."
"And this is the unit in question." I pointed to it
"It turns out this Unit is created by Dr. Miyafuji himself. They call it the J7W Shinden." The Major answered "Before he died, he sent the Fusoan Navy a letter, containing the last pieces needed for his custom unit. It suffered a few setbacks during its development. The only piece missing, is Miyafuji herself."
Pixy crossed his arms, smiling all around "It sounds like that Striker Unit is suited for my little buddy. But… I do have to wonder… why bring it in now?"
"Perhaps she has grown up." Minna chuckled "Like every Witch and Pilot, there comes a time where it feels like you already know what to expect."
"My God, I feel old…" Isara said nonchalantly as we all laughed the night away.
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Whew! All done. I know, I've been away from this a while now. And it nearly took me… It nearly took me an entire year!? To just post up a new chapter! What on Earth have I been doing!?
Cipher:"96. Calm down. You can catch up a lot on your own time. No rush."
Minna: "Exactly. Along with the fact that 'Season 3' has already finished. There is also a lot of stuff you need to update. And a prototype story called… 'Strike Witches: Cold War'?"
That… Picture Strike Witches, but with Black Ops: Cold War vibes. I know the original author did a 'What-If?' scenario on the subject, but maybe it's time to step out of the comfort zone.
Minna: "Least I know we're in it. And… Who's Chris Keera?"
Read the 506th JFW's manga, Minna. You'll understand.
Cipher: "On that note, it's time to end. Thank you so much for reading this chapter, and we'll see you in the next. Bye for now."
That's my line!
