Chapter 2: Renewed spirits and Counterparts
1945
Neue Karlsland
Rosario Research Facility
This is where Karlsland was researching new equipment to combat the neuroi; leading member of the research facility was Hauptmann Ursula Hartmann who had created many new equipment and weapons to assist the war effort. Right now they were trying a new radar system which in theory will allow planes to detect neuroi in the most severe of weather.
"Alright, begin testing" Ursula said.
"Jawohl" A technician said as he activated the radar. The radar mount soon came to live and began to rotate
"Ma'am, radar is operating to its designed specs" Another technician said. Suddenly sparks began to jolt from the radar mount.
"What is going on Albert?" Ursula asked.
"Scheiße! The radar is malfunctioning! Something must have been…" Albert said.
"Now is not the time! Turn it off" Ursula barked.
"Jawohl" Albert said as he tried to turn off the radar mount, "It is not responding!"
The radar mount began to vibrate aggressively as the sparks became more frequent.
"Evacuate the lab!" Ursula shouted. Everyone present began evacuating, the scientists and technicians ran while the soldiers and Ursula ushered them out. Ursula was about to exit the lab when the radar mounting exploded. Luckily for Ursula, she was just at the door frame when the explosion happened but she got a massive cut on her leg from the debris. In all no-one else was injured but the scientists, Ursula included were not aware how that explosion would impact the course of the war.
Mediterranean Sea
A battle was raging between a young witch and a large neuroi plane as she tries to protect a seaplane and a battlegroup.
"Yoshika, are you okay?!" An older witch who was standing on the back of the seaplane shouted as she observed the fight.
"I am alright, Sakamoto-san!" Yoshika replied as she continued to engage the neuroi which was not showing any signs of weakening.
"Damn it, we need some support here" Mio said.
"And here is your support!" Someone shouted over the radio as the neuroi was pierced by a shot soon, came into view were three witches and Mio and Sakamoto knew these three were. It was Shirley, Francesca and Amirah, their former comrades of the 501st Joint Fighter Wing.
"Yoo-hoo!" Shirley shouted as she flew past them.
"Shirley!" Yoshika shouted as she watched Shirley engage the neuroi. At the same time Francesca floated to her
"Ciao, Yoshika" Francesca said.
"Oh, Lucchini" Yoshika said.
"Hey, Yoshika, nice to see you againlah" Amirah shouted as she swooped by before turning around to attack the neuroi.
"I am good" Yoshika said.
"See Yoshika? We scored only direct hits" Francesca said.
"Yeah that is true" Yoshika said. Then a familiar bang was heard and the neuroi was pierced by a large calibre shot. Then two more witches came into sight. Yoshika looked at them and she smiled, it was Lynette and Perrine.
"Yoshika!" Lynette shouted as she flew up to Yoshika.
"Lynne-chan!" Yoshika said as she hugged Lynette, "It is good to see you again"
"Hello again, Miyafuji" Perrine said.
"Perrine-san, it is good to see you again" Yoshika said. Soon rockets pummelled the neuroi, followed by rapid cannon fire. Yoshika, Lynette and Perrine turned to see who fired those rounds and saw the Eastern European Witches, Eila, Sanya and Katherine.
"Hey Yoshika, nice to see you again" Katherine said as she came in and ruffled Yoshika's hair.
"Katherine! Your hand is cold!" Yoshika yipped from Katherine's cold hand.
"Oops, must have forgotten to deactivate that" Katherine said as she removed her hand.
"How are you doing, Yoshika" Eila smiled.
"I am fine, Eila-san" Yoshika said.
"Hello, Yoshika" Sanya said softly.
"How much longer?" Mio asked the technician who was readying her new strikers.
"One more minute, ma'am" The technician said.
"Hey, are those three…" Amirah asked.
"It is! It's the Karlslander Trio!" Shirley said as Minna, Gertrud and Erica flew in and immediately began engaging the neuroi but even after almost everyone from the Strike Witches engaging the neuroi and even after Mio tried her new attack, Reppuzan. The neuroi didn't falter.
"What hell is going on?" Minna questioned the resilience of the neuroi.
"This neuroi is too strong" Shirley growled.
"How are we going to defeat this one?" Gertrude grumbled. Suddenly the neuroi was hit hard by various calibre rounds.
"Masya'allah, where the hell did that came from?" Amirah exclaimed
"What the hell?" Katherine asked surprised.
"Do you girls need support" A male voice said.
"Who is this?" Katherine barked. Suddenly a flight of thirteen aircraft of different shapes and sizes appeared overhead and they swooped in with their guns blazing.
"I am sorry but can we get to the introductions later? We have an enemy to fight don't we" The same man said.
"Fine but after the battle, you are to follow us to Romagna, Katherine said.
"Jawohl, now let's take this target down" The man said. The witches were reluctant at first to get involved but as they watched the fighters attack the neuroi target
"Where the hell did they come from?" Minna simply asked.
An hour earlier
Erich's POV
The light that blinded me soon died down and my vision came back and first I looked for was my wing partner, Heike but I couldn't physically see him so I decided to call him on the radio but I couldn't get to him or anyone in my squadron. I then looked at my surroundings, nothing but sea. That is strange, just moments ago; I was over Brno now I am over the sea.
"My fuel is hasn't gone down much but how can I be over the sea?" I said to myself. I checked my instruments and my gauges.
"Everything looks normal" I said to myself, satisfied that my plane was working
"Where am I" I said. I didn't recognize the body of water I was flying over and I can't be flying forever, and as much I love flying as the next pilot I need to put my feet on the ground from time to time as well.
"Okay, I'll try to radio allied units" I said as I got on the radio.
"To any Luftwaffe units or bases, this Major Erich Alfred Hartmann of Jagdgeschwader 52, please respond, I repeat, this Major Erich Alfred Hartmann of the Jagdgeschwader 52 to any Luftwaffe units, I have lost my bearings and need assistance for guidance to nearest Luftwaffe air base" I radioed but I got only static.
"God damn it" I said as I began to lose hope when the radio suddenly came to life
"This is Hauptmann Gerhard Barkhorn of the Jagdverband 44 to anyone out there, I am currently heading south, if you can hear, please provide guidance to nearest airfield" The radio went off.
"Gerd" I uttered as I was surprised to hear my friend's voice but this was strange, he was at Berlin trying to defend the city from the Russians but from I heard Berlin fell to the Soviets anyway.
"Gerd? Is that you" I replied to the radio call.
"Erich? Is that you? Where are you? Oh wait… I see you" Gerhard said.
"Where are you? I can't see you, wait" I said as I flipped the Bf-109 upside down and I saw his Me-262 flying just below me. He waved to me which I responded. I then flipped the plane back and dipped my plane's nose down and dropped to his altitude and flew to his left.
How did you get here? And weren't you stationed in Czechoslovakia?" Gerhard radioed back.
"Well I can ask you the same question, why are you here?" I asked.
"I don't know Erich; I was flying over Berlin when I flew into a large storm cloud and then a bright light appeared and the next thing I know I am here over some ocean with you" Gerhard said.
"That is strange" I said.
"Have you encountered anyone else?" Gerhard asked.
"So far only you" I answered. Suddenly the sound of another plane came.
"Do you hear another engine?" Gerhard asked.
"May I join in your Rotte?" A pilot asked. I looked around to search that voice came from and to my left was a Bf 109 with a familiar nose art.
"Hey, that is Wilcke's nose art…Wolf?" I asked.
"Oberst Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke at your service" Wolf said.
"Furst, nice to meet you again" Gerhard said.
"Gerd, Bubi, nice to meet you two again, but what are you two doing here? Aren't you two in different bases?" Wolf asked.
"That is what we were going to ask you since you got shot down over Braunschweig" I said.
"Shot down? No I was engulfed by some weird cloud and then next came this bright light and here I am" Wolf answered.
"This is interesting" I said.
"What is interesting, Bubi?" Gerd asked.
"We were all engulfed by a strange cloud then by a bright light and then we were brought here, where ever here is that is" I said.
"So we could have been transported to another part of the world?" Gerhard said.
"I am not sure that could even be the same world" I said to myself which I think Wolf caught.
"Did you say something, Erich?" Wolf asked.
"No, I didn't say anything" I answered. Then the radio was picking up other signals from different aircrafts.
"…so let me get this straight, all of us were engulfed by a storm cloud that appeared right in front of you, then you were swallowed by a bright light and when it died down, you found yourselves in foreign skies" Someone radioed.
"That sounded like an American" Gerhard said.
"It is odd that we understood that?" I realized that.
"Hey, Erich is right, how did we understand the English the pilot said?" Wolf said.
"I think it has to do with the light" I said.
"That could be true" Gerhard said.
"Hey, I see German planes!" Another voice said.
"Hold your horses there young lady, you know too well that they are in the boat with us" The first voice said.
"So, bang, what do we do?" Another voice asked.
"Give them holler, pal so they know we are friendly…in a sense" The first voice radioed.
"Alright, so who is going to radio them?"
"You do it, Bishop" The first voice said.
"Why me?" Bishop asked.
"You are the newest, it will give you some experience" The first voice said.
"Fine, this is Flight Lieutenant Arthur Bishop of the Royal Air Force, who is there?" Bishop asked.
"This is Colonel Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke of the German Luftwaffe in the Bf 109 on the left and just make things clear, I am not a Nazi or a sympathiser to National Socialism" Wolf radioed.
"This is Major Erich Alfred Hartmann of the German Luftwaffe in the Bf 109 with the black tulips; I am an average German pilot who happens to be on the wrong side" I said.
"This is Captain Gerhard Barkhorn of the German Luftwaffe in the Me-262 and like the others, I am not a Nazi" Gerhard said. We soon came into view of the other planes. I saw a ragtag flight of American, British, Italian, Japanese and Russian planes.
"So who are we flying with?" I asked as I was curious to know who was there with us.
"You already know me" Bishop said.
"I am Air Chief Marshal Katherov Ivan Litvyak of the Soviet Air Forces and I am in the IL-2M3" The highest ranking officer said.
"I am Captain Charles Yeager, US Army Air Force in the P-51 and please call me Chuck" The American pilot radioed.
"Bonjour, I am Capitan Pierre Clostermann of the Free French Air Forces in the Hawker Typhoon" The Frenchman introduced himself.
"Halo, I am Flight Lieutenant Amirul Ashraf bin Sulaiman of the Royal Air Force and my plane is the Spiteful, and tolong call me Amir" The Malay pilot radioed. I was surprised we have an Asian in RAF colours.
"Kon'nichiwa, I am Captain Muto Kaneyoshi of the Imperial Japanese Navy and I am in the N1K-J Shiden, it is great to meet you all" I heard the first Japanese pilot said. "And I am Captain Sakai Saburo, also of the Imperial Japanese Navy and I am in the famous A6M Rei-Sen, it is an honour to meet you" The second one said. "Ciao! I am Flight Officer Franco Lucchini of the Italian Regia Aeronautica, I am in the Macchi C.202, nice to meet you" The Italian radioed. "Greetings, I am Flight Officer Flight Officer Eino Ilmari Juutilainen of the Finnish Air Force in the grey Bf 109 with the white circle and blue swastika, I hope we can get along" The Finnish said."Privet, I am Pilot Officer Lydia Vladimirovna Litvyak of the Soviet Air Forces and I am in the Yak-9, it is a pleasure to meet you" I heard the second Russian pilot radio.
"Wait, Litvyak? Are you related to Katherov?" I asked.
"Yes, he is my older brother" Lydia said.
"Is there a problem?" Katherov asked.
"No sir, just curious" I said.
"Oh, sorry I can a bit overprotective when it comes to my sister" Katherov said.
"That is well understood" I said, "Well this one interesting group pilots we have here"
"That is true, pal" Chuck said.
"So what are we going to do?" Amir asked.
"I don't know really but one thing we are sure is that we need a place to land unless you all want to try ditching" Gerhard said.
"Damn, I knew I should have taken the NK Shiden when I flew up today" Muto said.
"The NK Shiden, what plane is that?" I asked.
"It is the seaplane version of this fighter" Muto answered. I immediately began laughing as I got the joke.
"That is sure is funny" Chuck smiled.
"Hey, did anyone realize that we are having no problems talking to each other?" Katherov pointed out.
"I just did realize it as well" I said.
"I think that light we flew into did something" Chuck said.
"Hey chaps, I think I see something in the distance" Arthur said.
"Yeah, I see something as well" Amir said.
"What are you guys seeing?" Wolf asked.
"I am seeing a battle to the south of us" Amir answered.
"Same thing here" Arthur said.
"Maybe we can find our allies if we head there and we can all go home" Franco said.
"That is not going to be easy because we are from opposing sides, we might get shot up" I said. Suddenly the radio came to life.
"This is the Fusoan battleship Yamato and her escorts to any allied units in the area we need assistance!" A radio message came.
"Yamato, I thought that battleship was sunk off Kyushu" Sakai radioed.
"Something is not right here" Chuck said.
"And it said it was Fusoan, not Japanese" Muto said.
"So what is the plan?" Eino asked.
"I think we should go help them" Amir said.
"At least we can get something out of our situation" I said.
"But we risk of being shot down" Katherov said.
"This is the Yamato, we have lost the Kisaragi! I repeat Kisaragi is sinking, we need assistance now" The Yamato radioed.
"Well they need our help" I barked.
"Alright, Erich, you lead the way" Wolf said.
"Okay let's give this flight a form" I said.
"So what's the arrangement, Major?" Chuck asked.
"Wolf, you lead while Gerhard and I are your left and right wingmen" I said.
"Alright" Wolf said as he moved to my forward left field of vision.
"Sakai and Muto, you two fly together" I said.
"Oh I am back with you again, I'll cover your ass again" Muto said.
"Just like old times" Sakai said as he flew in front of Muto. The two Japanese pilots then flew up to my right.
"Pierre, you are with Franco" I pointed out.
"Alright, can you guard my rear, Franco?" Pierre asked.
"Sure thing, masseur" Franco said as he flew to Pierre's eight o'clock. The two soon flew up to Gerhard's left.
"Chuck, you form up with Arthur and Amir" I said.
"No problem, hey Amir do you mind watching Arthur's ass with me?" Chuck asked.
"Do you hear any complaints?" Amirul said as he throttled down to fly parallel to Chuck with Arthur right in front of them. They then flew up to the right of the Japanese Rotte.
"Alright, lastly Eino, Katherov and Lydia, you three form the last group" I said.
"Brother, Eino and I will fly as your wingmen" Lydia said.
"Alright, sister" Katherov said.
"I never thought I would be escorting a high ranking officer from the other side of the frontlines before" Eino bemused.
"I never thought I would have a Finn as an escort so we are on the same both" Katherov added. The East Europeans flew behind me.
"Alright, let's go and help those ships out!" I shouted.
"Roger" The rest replied.
"Alright, Combined Fighter Squadron is a go!" I said, I have no idea how that name came to my mind but at least it sounded great.
"That is a great name, Erich" Amir said.
"Thanks, now let's get going" I said. We raced southwards towards where the Yamato was radioing from but we found something more interesting just before the large warships and her escorts. It was a large black flying object that had red patches all over it and it was firing a large number of red beams of light at what was the weirdest things I have ever saw. They were girls who were flying around the black object while carry some big guns with their legs encased in some strange metal tube that resembled our planes well, there were none that resembled Gerhard's plane but you get the idea.
"Okay, what the fuck is going here?" Gerhard asked.
"Does everyone see what I am seeing?" I asked.
"If it is a bunch of girls with metal leggings that look like our planes, well minus the jet carrying guns shooting a big black something, then yes we are seeing the same thing" Chuck said.
"What the hell is going on?" A female voice came on the radio.
"How are we going to defeat this one?" A female voice said.
"Who was that?" Lydia radioed.
"This neuroi is too strong" Another voice said.
"Alright, now we know what to shoot at, now let it have it" I said as I raced in but I didn't fire. The rest soon followed as well.
"Alright, let's go!" Muto shouted as his plane's cannons opened up on the "neuroi".
"Masya'allah, where the hell did that came from?" A different voice came along.
"What the hell?" An older female voice asked.
"Do you girls need support?" I heard Wolf asked.
"Who is this?" Katherine barked. Suddenly a flight of thirteen aircraft of different shapes and sizes appeared overhead and they swooped in with their guns blazing.
"I am sorry but can we get to the introductions later? We have an enemy to fight don't we" Wolf answered.
"Fine but after the battle, you are to follow us to Romagna, Katherine said.
"Jawohl, now let's take this target down" Wolf said. The witches were reluctant at first to get involved but as they watched the fighters attack the neuroi target
"Where the hell did they come from?" Minna simply asked.
Present…
Erica's POV
This battle just took a turn to the strange side, first a really tough neuroi then a bunch of planes appearing out of nowhere. I watched in amazement as these planes engaged the large neuroi.
"Are these pilots crazy?" Perrine said in surprise.
"Perrine, sometime in war you have to be off your rocker to win a battle" Katherine said.
These pilots sure have guts" Amirah said.
"I concur" I said.
"Well, we can't let them fight alone, let's assist!" Mio barked.
"Right" We all shouted as we flew back into the fight.
"Eat this!" Shirley barked as she fired her BAR at the neuroi.
Aduhai, looks like I have to go double trouble" Amirah said as she unslung her second twenty millimetre cannon.
"Oh, things just got real" Eila said as she saw Amirah pull out her second cannon. I watched as Amirah prep and cock her second cannon.
"This is Amirah, I am going double cannons" Amirah radioed as she began firing into the neuroi with both her cannons.
"Rip it to shreds!" Katherine barked.
"The neuroi is finally cracking up" Francesca said.
"What the hell? My right eye! I can see through right eye! Hey I see something inside the black object" One of the pilots shouted.
"What? Sakai, are you serious? I thought you got shot in that eye?" I heard another pilot radioed.
"Yes I was shot in my right eye but it is back and I can see a red orb near the top of the black object" The pilot called Sakai said.
"That is the core of the neuroi! We need to take it out if we want to destroy this fucker" Katherine shouted.
"What? How could he use magic, he is a pilot" Minna exclaimed.
"I think there is more than what meets the eye with these pilots" Mio said.
"Alright everyone, concentrate fire on the top of the neuroi" I heard another pilot radio.
"Got it, Erich, I am firing rockets!" A Gallian sounding pilot radioed as his plane unleashed a barrage of rockets at the top of the neuroi. It revealed the core.
"I am going in!" The guy named Erich said as he dived on the core with his cannons opening up. Suddenly his plane was enveloped by a vortex of spinning air.
"What the hell?" Erich shouted.
"Erich, are you alright?" Another pilot radioed.
"I am fine, but this vortex is steadying my plane, oh shit, I am too close" Erich said as his plane made contact with the core but his plane didn't disintegrate the moment it touched the neuroi instead the neuroi core shattered and the neuroi fell apart into the harmless white fragments we have come to take as a symbol of victory.
"Oh my god, how did you do that?" A pilot asked.
"I don't know" Erich radioed. I was surprised to see another one with the magic ability Sturm.
"This is Colonel Minna of the 501st Joint Fighter Wing to unidentified squadron, what is your unit name and who is your commander?" Minna radioed.
"I am the battle commander, Major Erich Alfred Hartmann of the Combined Fighter Squadron" Erich radioed. Hey, he has almost the same name as me.
"Und I am the commander of the CFS, Colonel Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke, at your service" Another Bf-109 pilot radioed. He has almost the same name as Minna.
"Well, we would like to thank you for assisting us today; we were nearly overwhelmed by the neuroi" Minna said.
"It is no problem but it was unfortunate we did not arrive sooner or that destroyer Kisaragi would still be here" Wolf said.
"Yes, now as my superior had said, your squadron is to follow us to Romagna" Minna said.
"Tell me, what is the date today and where are we again, I just realized that I have forgotten" Wolf radioed.
"The date is 5th July 1945 and we are in the Mediterranean Sea" Minna answered.
"I think we ain't in Kansas anymore" Another pilot radioed.
"I agree with you on that" A pilot radioed.
"So do you have any disagreements?" Katherine asked.
"No, please lead the way" Wolf said.