Hello everyone, sorry this took forever to update but I have been busy with life, my gate crossover, my new work life and the usual ups and downs. Don't worry, I won't abandon this story. We have gone this far so let's see it to the end. Also anyone who plays Ace Combat 5 is going to recognize a very familiar name and number. Guess.
Chapter 13: Crawling Around and Mystery Letter
August 20th
Pescara Air Base
It was a lazy morning for the 501st, most of the girls were still asleep and the pilots were not in for two days as they headed to Taranto to meet with the brass so it was quiet on base.
Eila, Sanya and Lydia's room
Sanya walked tiredly into the room. She then stripped to her underwear and let herself fall onto the bottom bunk which was Eila's bunk. Eila shot up in shock from the sound.
"Good grief" Eila sighed before she covered Sanya with her blanket before going back to sleep.
Meanwhile outside
In one of the many trees that surround the airbase, Francesca was in the tree and she was looking for some beetles.
"Ta-dah" Francesca said as she peered through two branches. She saw a number of beetles in a circle. She then began to pick them up and putting them in a jar, "Shiny and sparkly. Oh yeah"
She looked at one that was black and shiny with a big red dot on its back.
"Ooh! I found a fun little bug" Francesca said. Just then the sounds of trumpets of the morning call were heard.
On the beach
"It's that late already?" Mio asked as she stopped with her swings.
In the Commanders' office
"Well" Rommel said as he looked at his watch, "Not a bad time to start the day". He then went back to writing in his journal.
Later
In the common room
There was Yoshika, Lynette, Amirah, Francesca, Perrine, Eila, Georgina and Yoshiko with Minna and Mio on the other side of the room
"Good morning, ladies" Minna smiled, "This is today's update, thanks to the hard work of the maintenance guys, we fixed the problems we were having with the bath, it will be ready for use again at noon today"
"Yay!" Yoshika cheered.
"A bath! A bath!" Francesca chanted.
"They also turned it into an outside bath, facing the Adriatic Sea" Minna added.
"Oh? An open air bath now, huh?" Mio said.
"Hm, Yeah, Sanya's going to be excited" Eila said.
"Oh, I gonna miss those barrel baths" Amy said.
"You're all off duty today. Please tell everyone about the bath" Minna said.
"Yes ma'am!" Everyone but Minna and Mio said.
"Isn't that great, Yoshika?" Lynne asked.
"Yeah, let's take a bath together" Yoshika smiled, "You should join us, Perrine"
"Hmm? W-Well, it is nice to take a relaxing bath, after working up a sweat" Perrine said.
"A bath! A bath" Francesca cheered as she jumped off the window ledge and began running, "I'm gonna be first one-"
"Weren't you paying attention?" Mio asked, "The bath won't be ready again until noon"
"What? I can't use it yet?" Francesca groaned.
"We still have time before we can take our baths" Mio said, "Which means there is something we can do to make them more enjoyable"
"What is it, Sakamoto?" Yoshika asked.
"Why do I have a feeling it involves work?" Georgina asked.
"Work up a sweat with some drills!" Mio said, "Everyone, run laps around the base"
"Called it" Georgina said.
"But we can do drills anyti-" Yoshika said.
"I don't want to hear another word. Run!" Mio barked to which everyone in the room, immediately dashed out to do those laps.
"Yes, ma'am" Everyone in the room said.
"That the way, Mio" Yoshiko grinned.
"You too, Nishizawa" Mio said.
"WHAT?!" Yoshiko cried out, "Why?"
"Because, it would be unfair and you reminded me that you were in the room" Mio grinned.
"Why you…. Fine! I will do those damn laps only because of the bath" Yoshiko grumbled as she walked out of the room.
"That's not running" Mio shouted.
"Aw, come on!" Yoshiko said.
"Run, or you do double" Mio threatened.
"You are enjoying this aren't you" Yoshiko said she picked up the pace and began running.
"Sheesh… Why is everyone so excited over taking a bath?" Mio asked, "It is not like they haven't done it before?"
"If it gives them some new energy, I don't see any harm in it"
"You look tired yourself" Mio said.
"I feel like I've been battling my superiors more than the neuroi lately even with Katherine a part of command" Minna said as she pounded her sore shoulders.
"That's right. Recently even with Rommel and the others, you haven't been able to join us in battle, huh?" Mio said, "You haven't shot down many neuroi lately, either"
"I've been stuck at 199 for a while now" Minna sighed, "I guess when I hit two hundred, I'll be given a medal or something"
"Frankly, I'd rather they just lowered the amount of paperwork I have" Minna said.
"You'll melt your exhaustion away if you take a warm bath" Mio suggested, "Why not join me, Minna?"
"Well, Rommel and I still have some paperwork we need to file…" Minna said, "I'll think about it. Thanks for the offer"
"I see. Don't work too hard" Mio said.
Commanders' Office
Rommel's POV
I was looking at the stacks of paper that just been sent from High Command which seems to be an endless stream of documents. There were all sorts of paperwork from maintenance forms to unit combat reports. However, I then came over a document that I didn't remember seeing before.
"8492nd Squadron?" I said as I took this document from the pile.
"Rommel, what is the status on the paperwork?" Minna asked as she entered the office.
"It is getting done…" I said as I looked up to her then back at the mystery paper.
"What is the matter?" Minna asked.
"Have you heard of the 8492nd Squadron before, Minna?" I asked.
"No, I haven't" Minna replied, "Why you asked"
"Because we have a letter from that squadron" I said as I showed her the letter.
"Strange, what does it say?" Minna asked.
"Well, let's see" I said as I took a look at the paper, "They want the pilots to join them"
"What?" Minna said as she headed to my desk to see the letter.
"No I am not lying, here see for yourself" I said as I read out the lines, "This is Colonel Allen C. Hamilton of the 8492nd Squadron, to the pilots of the 501st JFW Fighter Squadron. I have heard of your exploits and I am very impressed. Now let me get straight to the point; I have a very good offer that you flyboys won't refuse at all. I am offering all you fliers of the 501st JFW Fighter Squadron to transfer to the 8492nd Squadron where you can really use your skills and planes. You're wasting your talents on those dumb sluts of the 501st, they are just stupidly lucky magic whores on overpriced broomsticks while they keep you on leashed and restrained, unable to be at your full potential and you know it. If you join use, we can let you to fly freely without restrain and at your fullest potential. We will allow offer triple pay if you join our little squadron. Come on over, just dump those stupid bitches and come into our open arms. This is a limited time offer but we know that you will choose wisely but on the off chance that you don't which is unlikely; you and your bitches will cease to exist"
"This is a serious problem" Minna said.
"Unfortunately for us, Katherine is not here" I said as I placed the paper down.
"Ja, she probably would know about this unit" Minna said. I then looked at my watch; it was just over 1200hrs or noon.
"The bath should be done by now" I said as I looked out the window, the sun was not in sight at all.
"Yes, that should be about right" Minna said.
"I will put this aside until Katherine and the rest return tomorrow" I said as I placed the paper into a drawer in my desk.
"Good idea, she will want that letter" Minna said. We went on with our work which went uninterrupted until we heard shouting and laughing.
"Well, the girls seem be having a fun time" I smiled.
"Yes it does" Minna said.
"It is such a fine day" I smiled as I looked out the window.
"Yes that is true" Minna said as she signed another piece of document. I had just finished my own work as I signed a maintenance log.
"Are you done Minna?" I asked.
"Yes, that was the last of my paperwork" Minna said.
Meanwhile
In the hangar
Amirah was her workbench machining something. It was a barrel for a M1 Garand. She had just finished making the barrel and now she was busy rifling the bore of the barrel. She had a lit cigarette in her lips and she was singing a little song.
"Hmm, not a bad start" Amirah said as she looked through the bore of her new barrel, "Ramirez, you are going to have to better than that if you want to sneak up on me"
"Damn, how did you know it was me?" The Liberion soldier said as he appeared from hiding.
"I have been doing this longer than you, Ramirez" Amirah said as she placed the barrel down, "So, why are you here because your girl ain't here right now"
"Well tell her I said hi" Ramirez smiled but his lips straightened when he pulled out something from his satchel, "I am here to tell you that Locke, our eyes in the 8492 reports that the leaders of the unit are trying to recruit the other world pilots"
"I suspected as much, those arrogant pricks think they are so much better than witches just because they got a stick but the world isn't perfect" Amirah said as she lit a cigarette, "So where is the rest of Taskforce 141?"
"They are in Naples, waiting on the new member you recruited" Ramirez said.
"So Noel has taken up my offer, that's good to know" Amirah said, "Alright, anything else?"
"Oh Eisenhower sends his regards" Ramirez said, "And he hopes this operation runs without a hitch"
"Good words from Ike" Amirah said, "Alright, now go before anyone spots you"
"Tell Elwyn, I said hi" Ramirez said before he took off into a jeep.
"I will" Amirah said as she waved him off before realizing that she smelt of metal, oil and sweat, "Damn, I need a shower and fast"
"Catch that bug!" Amirah heard Ember shouting.
"What the bloody hell?" Amirah turned to see Ember running with Francesca chasing something.
"Over there!" Blaze shouted.
"Hm… must be a cat or something" Amirah said as she looked at the barrel a second time before placing it on the workbench, she also extinguished the cigarette before heading to her room to get new clothes, "Well, time to go shower and then take a bath"
"Well, going for a shower as well?" Amirah turned to see Minna and Rommel approaching her from behind.
"Yes and a bath as well" Amirah said as she entered the changing room.
"Well see you two later" Rommel said as he stepped into the men's changing room. Amirah and Minna soon began to take off their clothes.
"It is sure is dark" Minna said, "I wonder if maybe the maintenance crews hasn't finished the lighting yet"
"It wouldn't be a surprise, it is lunch time" Amirah said.
"Yes, that could be the case as well" Minna said. Amirah and Minna headed to the showers to wash up.
"So Minna, how are you doing?" Amirah asked.
"I am doing just fine, Amirah but less paperwork would be nice" Minna said.
"Well as it is logical as you the commander" Amirah said as she stepped out of the shower.
"It comes with the rank, I suppose" Minna sighed.
"How about I melt those troubles away" Amirah suggested.
"That would be nice" Minna said. The two witches entered the bath and Amirah soon began massaging Minna, "Oh… Amirah, you give a-ah relaxing massage"
"Well, I had to deal with quite a number of cramps and sore back in my time in South East Asia so I have gotten good at giving massages." Amirah smiled as she massaged Minna's stiff shoulders. After what seems to be a few hours in the bath. The two witches climbed out of the bath and went to the changing room.
"Just like Mio said, that really melted my exhaustion away" Minna said, "Plus your massage eased up my shoulders"
"You are welcome" Amirah smiled. Minna just pulled up her panties when they both heard voices.
"That's it" Sanya pointed.
"Right there" Eila added.
"There" Mio barked.
"What in blue blazes?" Amirah exclaimed as she turned around, annoyed her privacy was breached.
"H-hey!" Minna stuttered, surprised like Amirah.
"Now's my chance!" Perrine shouted as she launched herself at Minna and yanked her panties down.
"What on earth…" Amirah said before Mio cut her off.
"I see it!" Mio barked. Minna saw that Mio was looking at her lower lips, when she realized that, she immediately pulled her panties up.
"KYAAAH" Minna screamed as she pulled her panties up. Amirah sensed something shattered in Minna's panties.
"Huh?" Sanya said as her familiars went down and Eila's pointers turned away.
"Well done, Minna" Mio said.
"You did it" Yoshika said.
"I-Incredible work" Perrine praised.
"Good job, Minna" Blaze smiled.
"Nice one" Ember grinned.
"Ah! My bug" Francesca began to cry.
"What the bloody fuck is going on here?" Amirah asked.
"My poor little bug was crushed…" Francesca cried.
"Wh-What on earth is going on?" Minna demanded.
Meanwhile outside the base
"The neuroi…" Gertrude uttered.
"It vanished without us even doing anything?" Erica said.
"This is Sakamoto, we destroyed the core down here" Mio radioed, "The mid-air neuroi wasn't the main body. Return to base"
"Huh?" Erica uttered.
"Roger that. Mission complete" Gertrude answered.
"Seriously, what in blue blazes is going on here?" Amirah grumbled. A few days later Colonel Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke was awarded the Order of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves though when asked by the aces, she wouldn't answer. Also the German aces were rather surprised by how the award looked as it looked a lot like girl's underpants.