Chapter XIV:

The sea wind moved the flags hoisted on the masts of the "IV North Sea Fleet" based in London. A few kilometers from the capital, a sailor was stationed at the ship's helm, while the Chief Officer passed by to deliver his report to the ship's Captain. Everything seemed to be calm, and they were in contact with the Witches' headquarters. On deck, other members of the crew were cleaning the deck and civilians could also be seen being evacuated and taken to other places farther away from the battle fronts.

- Still no news of an attack.- Asked another of the Navy officers to his colleague, who was smoking a cigarette and looking towards the horizon.

- No, nothing, and on top of that, we have just received a report that the satellites and tracking systems are not functioning normally. There seems to be some kind of malfunction or interference.- Said his companion, who blew a cloud of white smoke into the air until it drifted away.

- Is this a joke?.- The other wanted to know but received a shake of the head.

- I'm afraid not, Dol. I'm afraid it's not. The Americans also report the same thing and we have already tried to verify even the smallest details but it is not a problem here, but from some distant source.- Said the man with the cigarette.

- We will have to look for other methods to establish communication. Are calls still useful?.- The blond-haired officer theorized.

- Yes, in theory, if those crazies don't start with another "Cyber Offensive".- Alleged his partner, shrugging his shoulders.- But we could try before...- At that moment, something caught the attention of that man, who moved a few meters away from his friend, walked to the edge and stood still, static, just like a stone statue and whipping his sense of hearing.

- What's the matter, Ralph, is something wrong.- Dol approached, but the black-haired man raised a hand to ask for silence.

That thing on the horizon, what could it be? It was big, as if it were a huge cloud formation, a classic North Sea storm that left a good rainfall in the area, so typical for the British and Spanish but that did not seem to be, in the full sense of the word.


From the bridge, the Captain also noticed this and took a pair of binoculars to get a better look. When he could distinguish perfectly what it was, he turned sharply and went to the outside.

- TAKE THE CIVILIANS TO THE SHELTERS! FAST!.- He ordered at the top of his lungs, as he ran to warn the other ships.


Ralph noticed that the "cloud" was getting closer and closer, and when he could distinguish its true form, the cigarette he had between his lips fell to the floor, still smoking and leaving him speechless.

- Holy Mother of God.- Were the words given by the officer, who was running to fulfill the orders of his leader.


In that enormous force mobilized by the Kankers, they were contemplating everything. Down there, fear, despair and chaos had begun to spread. The bells of the ships and the anti-aircraft alarms, those that had not sounded again since the end of the war against the "Neuroi" in the 1940's, were now echoing loudly over the following generations. The civilians were running for shelter, while the enemy ships continued their infernal march against the helpless humans.

- London in sight, sister, shall we give the order?.- May approached her two other members.

- Do us the honors.- Lee granted her and Marie, while she left to give the order to start the bombardment.

The blonde walked to where the "Command Center" was located and standing firmly, like any Commander before her troops, she contemplated, for a few seconds, the former Capital of the British Empire, now at her mercy. The desperation could be heard below, on land, and the shots that the terrestrial and naval artillery were firing against the ships of the "Shadow Neuroi" could also be seen.

- Hahahaha, those idiots look like simple mosquitoes.- Mocked Marie, who was filing her nails.- We'd better send them our "answer": Any attempt of resistance will be in vain.- Said the young woman and with that, the first of those machines began to turn on its beam. An intense red glow like fire was growing and with it, a shot was directed towards the Center of the City.


The impact had been certain; where once there were buildings, businesses and houses, now it was a huge "bonfire" whose lives had been lost. Ralph and Dol prayed that the area would be evacuated, but another even louder shot brought him out of his thoughts. They turned and could see that the bombing had just begun.


May, located on the "Command Bridge", watched the beginning of the air attack. From the distance, huge dark clouds of smoke could be seen coming from the buildings and other constructions. The first advance party was the one that initiated the bombardment and began to devastate everything in its path and the attacks that the defenders exerted were in vain, since they were of no use at all to contain them. The cannon and missile shots were like "feathers" on their impenetrable armor and from there they responded, destroying everything on land, even the first ships that were anchored in Dover Bay.

- Concentrate fire on Central London. Blow up all the major targets: Buckingham Palace, Parliament, the Prime Minister's Residence and his family, the military bases, the Harbour, Trafalgar Square by Admiral Nelson's Statue. Let no stone be left unturned in this place.- The blonde ordered her forces.

For their part, Lee and Marie observed that the interferences on enemy communications had been a complete success and the "Witches" would not come to interfere with their plans. However, at that moment, in the middle of the celebrations for having started their campaign of world conquest, a messenger approached them and showed a hologram, in which they could see two people flying north. The redhead and the dark blue hair came closer to see what it was all about and from there, they kept watching until they noticed who they were.

- Ah, so those flying rats have already found out. Very well, very well. When they see the surprise we have left for them, the people who had so much self-esteem will hate them.- Said Lee, leaving the "free way" and the consequences for those defenders.


Meanwhile, a few kilometers away, Erika and Charlotte had taken off from the base to discover the source of the interference, in the hope of finding it as soon as possible. In turn, at HQ, taking advantage of this moment to regain strength and restore communications, the "Witches" were with the boys they had chosen to guide them on a good path.

The moment they left the bunker, Trudie approached Sarah, placing her hand on the redhead's shoulders, causing her to turn around.

- Officer Barkhorn.- She addressed her with respect for the position she held.

- Well, I seem to have made a first, albeit small, advance in your education.- She said calmly, with a smile on her face.- Come, we must continue.

He said nothing and accompanied her to her room, where he could sit in a chair and rest for a while. He looked around, that redhead was a few meters away, wanting to know what they were going to do now.

- Do you want to tell me something?.- The dark brunette asked, looking at Ed's younger sister out of the corner of her eye.

- Huh? Oh, well, I...yes, yes, it's about what they did out there.- She answered and walked over to where the Officer was standing.- Is it true what's going on?. Are the Shadow Neuroi using interference, is it going to make the situation worse?.- Were the questions she asked, and at first Trudie needed a little time to draw a conclusion.

Trudie took a breath, it could be a trap and Sarah had that facet of "kindness" when she wanted something, so she had to be careful and not be fooled by that girl, but, for this occasion, the girl from Karlsland closed her eyes and from there she sighed deeply.

- If I were to lie to you, I would tell you that things could be fine, but I'm afraid not...- She paused and then ran her hand over her head, "The interferences continue and we don't know where the Cruels are, and we don't have confirmation of where the problem in the communications is coming from," she began to tell her.

- But...you can do it, if you defeated them in the past and I understand that they are of a more advanced generation, however, you will defeat them.- Sarah gave her her support, who was calm.

- I ask the same, but in this war we must not let our guard down: No matter how many there are, we must always keep them in our sights, even if it is an advance line. They have a vast army and technology, plus they gave us a good fight in the Heavens, but, I repeat again, we must not fall asleep.- She said and once the matter was over, she recovered, getting up from her seat.- We'd better get to...

At that moment, the door to her room opened and a Soldier entered, his face pale and pearly with sweat. Sarah saw him and something in her gut told her that something was wrong. Trudie stood up and went to him to speak.

- You are needed, Lieutenant, it is urgent.- The military man gave her that all-important message.

- I'm on my way. Sarah, come with me.- She answered and after asking the girl to go with her, they both followed the young man to the meeting point.


- Have you found anything, Charlotte?.- Erika asked her friend, who shook her head. The blonde frowned, that mission had not yielded good results, the source of the interference was still missing.

- We have to widen the search range, maybe if we move a little further North, we could...- Suggested the redhead but, from the HQ came a warning.

- "Erika, Charlotte, call off the search and return to base".- They heard Minna's voice, which was very serious and that was not a good sign.

Both girls said nothing and had to obey, heading towards that place.


Once they arrived, they were led by Minna and Trudie, who were, along with the others, in the "Operations Room". There, in the midst of a deep and cold silence, the central screen showed some extremely devastating scenes: they had before their eyes London or what was left, since the Capital of the former British Empire had been bombed almost in its entirety. Lynne was petrified and her hands were against her mouth, while Yoshika accompanied her in those hard moments.

Neither of them could say anything, the only thing that ran through the place was the pain the white-haired brunette felt at the sight of her home in flames. London had been devastated by the enemy bombings and it could be seen that many people were divided, blaming or defending the "Witches" for not having been able to go there to save them.

- Do they think we left them alone? The communications had failed, they are jammed!.- Trudie bellowed, hitting the table and seeing her frustration in her eyes, "This...This...This...This they will pay for...I swear".- She gave that promise, while Minna went towards her.

- I understand your pain, the same with you, Lynne, but until we reverse the situation regarding the source that is causing it, we will not be able to find the "Hives" and the Kankers must be ready to attack another big city.- She explained to the girls and with that it could be seen that the Peach Creek boys were present in that place. This is a very complicated time for all of us and it is here where we see that the enemy has a very powerful tool and it is the desperation of the people to lose their homes and businesses by the bombings, but ... but I will not allow a division to be generated against us: We protected them in the Past and we will do it again now.- He swore and with that he looked to where the Peach Creek boys were.- Edd, I need you to continue your investigator duties on that component that Rolf has.

- You have my word that I will do it.- The boy swore.

- Wait a minute, if we are going to fight, we will have to...use the weapons?.- Asked Jimmy with a little nervousness in his voice, which the "Witches" nodded their heads.

- Starting tomorrow we will begin to train them, physically and mentally, as well as in the use of firearms. There will be no excuses, we are at war and we need all the help we can get if we want to defeat the Kankers.- Answered the Commander.- Each of the Witches will be their Instructor and with that, the levels will increase in difficulty. I don't want any complaints or excuses that they couldn't attend the training.

Nobody said a single word, they did not want to contradict the military woman and kept silent.

- Very well, that's the way I like it, you can go outside but you will go to bed early. Tomorrow we start at 6:00 AM.- Yoshika added to those present.- Questions?

Silence again.

- Excellent, you can go out.- Concluded the Japanese brown woman, while those present were leaving the "Operations Room".

A great step had been taken, one of utmost importance in what was just beginning in Europe, but, deep down, they knew very well that it was going to expand to the rest of the world and they would have to work against the clock if they wanted to stop these conquerors.


[New chapter and with it comes training for the Peach Creek boys, as well as continuing the research that Double D is doing to improve that compound.

On the other hand, I'm announcing that this fic will be on hiatus until Friday (I've been having a little writer's block and I'll let it rest). But don't panic, I'll be back by the aforementioned day.

I hope you like it, I'll be seeing you. I send greetings and thanks to all of you.

Have a good start of Wednesday from me and stay tuned, I will soon upload this fic translated into English].