Since 1943 the strategic bombing raids of europe was crucial in stopping the Neuroi war machine from gaining more traction and digging in their defences as the allied advance races swiftly on the ground. These bombings have saved countless lives on the ground as soldiers and witches race forward to liberate all of europe from the Neuroi threat with the hive situated in Berlin at Karlsland being the final obstacle.
The air crews of Liberion B-17s, Karlsland Heinkel-177s and Britannian Lancasters contributed to the victory won on the ground as thousands and millions of bombs are dropped with destroying the Neuroi war machine but it was not an easy price to pay. The life expectancy of these bomber crews are at the very least lasting only 2 weeks with Neuroi air power remaining strong and more aggressive wreaking havoc on them.
Somewhere above occupied Karlsland
October 1944
A bomber fleet of Liberion B-17s flies high above the sky with their mission of reducing the Neuroi defences in Karlsland near the Belgican and Gallian border into utter rubble however a squadron of Neuroi fighters tails above them from the rear using the sunlight and clouds as cover. The Neuroi began swooping down taking out at least two bombers as they descend as a fireball crashing down the earth, the Liberion fighter escort of P-51s accompanying them take notice of the threat.
"Neuroi! Let's get them!" the lead P-51 pilot exclaimed on the radio before rolling and hooking right followed by his squadron.
The P-51 squadron eventually took chase of the Neuroi fighters leaving the Bombers unprotected as they are left to fend for themselves. The lead bomber pilot (Captain) and his co-pilot (first officer) noticed as their escort left them to chase after scalps.
"Where are the damn fighters going?!" the first officer yelled.
"They're gone chasing scalps, leaving us unprotected again!" the captain said.
"Damn those glory grabbing bastards!" the first officer cursed.
The start of their troubles only began as the main Neuroi squadron that were hiding in the clouds above them dove down and began to capitalise on the opportunity of attacking the unprotected bombers.
"Bandits! Hundreds of em! Six o'clock!" the B-17 tail gunner yelled as he fired his gun.
The first bomber began going down in a ball of flame as the neuroi laser took a shot at its fuselage before a gigantic explosion rips the B-17 to pieces. The Neuroi striked them in formations of 3-5 picking the Bombers off one by one with one waist gunner helplessly attempting to score hits with his browning but the Neuroi opponent was too fast for their guns.
A Neuroi fighter came behind the Lead bomber hitting the engine as it sputters leaving a trail of oil and black smoke before disengaging. The Neuroi scrambled through as their lasers either hit the engines on the wings of the bombers or the fuselage wounding and killing the crewmen as they manned the MG's.
The screams of the airmen are heard over the radio as either their plane goes down or they are hit by the shrapnel caused by the Laser hitting Neuroi. A shot from a Neuroi plane caused a ball or underside gunner to die as his turret was exploded clean off taking him away. Another came when a tail gunner was hit by the exploding shrapnel as his body was thrown back inside the plane made by the gigantic sheer force.
A Neuroi fighter came swooping down in front of a heavily damaged B-17 as the pilot fearfully declared to his crew to prepare to bail out.
"Mayday! Mayday! Prepare to Bail out! I repeat prepare to bail- AHHHHH!`` The Neuroi fighter shot its lasers as it exploded on the cockpit killing the captain and first officer both as blood stains the cockpit. The surviving airmen of the bomber managed to escape on time as they jumped out of the diving bomber deploying their parachutes.
A B-17 loses its left wing as it burns off ripping the wing apart diving and spiraling downwards, the panicked airmen of the doomed bomber gripped and hold on for dear life as their terror filled screams were heard over the radio.
"OH GOD NO! NO! MAMA! I DONT WANNA DIE! AHHHH!" a young airman pleaded as he gripped onto his gun trying not slide down the fuselage, the burning bomber soon descend further down to earth disappearing in the clouds.
501st Join fighter wing Home base, Britannia
Since their last showdown with the Neuroi in D-day and the operation Market Garden,the 501st earned some well deserved rest in their base at Britannia. The girls were going about their daily routine throughout the base such as Shirley focusing on fixing her striker's engines, Lucchinni sleeping in the hangars, Gertrude constantly disciplining Erika who was all fast asleep in her bed, Perrine was in the armory taking inventory of their weapons whilst Eilla and Sanya were in the town nearby doing a bit of shopping.
Lynn and Yoshika were at the runway enjoying a bit of sunlight and tan, laying down on sun chairs just a few feet of the runway as they commented on their victory.
"I'm just so glad we get the time off, the Neuroi were really tough." Yoshika commented as Lynn glances at her companion.
"We do deserve it and the people of Gallia were grateful for it and not to mention the boys on the ground during Market Garden." the Britannian witch said with a smile before feeling a soft touch on her hand glancing over to see her companion holding it softly.
"I love you." Yoshika said looking at her Britannian lover softly putting a hand on her cheek which made Lynn blush as bright red as a tomato. Their moment was interrupted however as an incoming C-47 skytrain approached the runway preparing to land as it wheels touchdown the gush winds made by its propellers nearly blew them away as it did to the umbrella that was set above them.
The C-47 taxied along the runway before coming to an abrupt stop in front of the two witches, the stairs to the transport was set down as Lt Col Minna and Major Sakamoto stepped out accompanied by two Liberion officers. The girls tidied themselves up as they stood upright hastily wearing their clothes as they saluted their commanding officers and the Liberion guests.
"Ma'am!" the two witches hastily stood at attention saluting Commander Minna as she smiled.
"At ease you two, get yourselves properly dressed and let everyone know that we have something to announce." Minna told the two as she, Major Sakamoto and the Liberion officers headed towards the Briefing room.
5 and a half minutes later…
Everyone was gathered in the large Briefing room as at the center of attention were towards commander Minna and the Liberion officers, in the middle of the room was a projector with a film reel attached.
"Ok everyone let me introduce our Liberion guests, this is Lt General Chester Tatum and Colonel Jack Miller. They are here on behalf of Liberion Bomber command as they have a few words to say regarding the bombing campaign against the Neuroi, gentlemen if you please."
"As you fine ladies understand the bombing campaign is proving to be a pivotal success against our enemy on the ground as several million tons of bombs find their target reducing the enemy to rubble. However this has not come to an easy price as we at command cannot tolerate the heavy losses our bombers are facing." the General spoke at the girls before giving the floor to his colonel.
"One bomber has at least 10 men and our losses are increasingly heavy with out of a 100 bombers only 40 or 30 at most manages to return from each raid. The projector will give you an exact meaning to what me and the general have told you."
The projector turned on as the room went dark showing exactly the events of a bomber raid that recently occured sometime ago. The girls were shocked seeing each bomber bursting into flames and airmen parachuting out of them, Yoshika's eyes were glistening with tears at the sight. More and more dread filled within each girl's hearts as it became clear that the sacrifices made by these airmen is heavy and matches to the soldiers on the ground that they helped. The projector soon turned off as General Tatum stood in front of them all with a firm steel gaze as they all murmured among themselves.
"This is the price that is paid for our victory, we need to change the way we fight i need witches that can bring these young boys to their target and back not like our pilots that are our putting them in harms way by chasing rabbits. I am asking each and everyone of you from a soldier to soldier can you help save lives?" General Tatum said, all the girls then stood up to salute the general.
"Yes sir!" they all cried out in unison, the general was moved as he returned their salute followed by the colonel.
Several hours later…
Yoshika was in her quarters by the window staring at the moon as she thought back at the images of the burning bombers shown earlier by the general. She could not fathom at the thought of those men burning alive in those gigantic steel coffins moreover that they were also as young as 18 when she did her research.
Lynn noticed her partner's worry as she gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek to soothe her worries. Yoshika was receptive as she smiled at her touch before still looking back at the moon with a little worry.
"Dont worry about tommorrow we got new strikers for a reason and we're gonna do our part by helping those boys up in the air."
"I know i know its just that what if we lose a single bomber? Thats at least 10 men that won't go home and i just don't want to disappoint." Yoshika said as Lynn put a hand on her cheek reassuring her with a smile.
"You won't Yoshika and I'll be right behind you all the way." her words reassured her as she planted a kiss on her lips which Yoshika returned.