Well this took way too long to make. Sorry about that. I have been busy and partly lazy. Well hopefully you enjoy this chapter. Again, sorry for the delay.
Chapter 20: Two headed Snake
Grand Harbour, Valletta
A Day after the Malta Operation
In the harbour of the now liberated town of Valletta, ships of Taskforce 508 were docked as they had arrived this morning. They had been originally supposed to take part of Maltese Liberation Operation however they were delayed due to a mishap at Gibraltar. However the commanders of Taskforce 508 decided to dock in Malta before they turned around for the Atlantic and then the Pacific. In Valletta, the streets were being guarded by the Marine detachments from the capital ships in the Liberion, Britannian and Fusoan ships. These marines were a great boost of manpower for the two squads of Taskforce 141 who were stationed on the island.
"Hey lieutenant, when did the boss say those MP boys from North Africa will be here?" A rifleman asked he and three other marines sat down inside an abandoned bar.
"Well Roebuck, she said they would here in two days and no we can't leave these marine boys here to take over for us." Sullivan said.
"Well Miller, looks like you are gonna have to wait before you can see your girl again." Another marine said as he petted the shoulder of the man beside him.
"Shut up Polonsky." Miller grumbled as he checked his M1941 Johnson Rifle, "At least I have a girl."
"What?" Polonsky replied to which the other two marines laughed.
"He got you there, Polonsky." Sullivan said.
"Remember, Miller doesn't talk much but when he does, it can sting." Roebuck added. They looked outside to see a jeep full of more marines roll past. However then the radio crackled to life.
"This is Richthofen calling Old Breed, can you hear me?" The radio said as Sullivan picked up the radio transmitter.
"This is Old Breed-1, I hear you loud and clear, what do you have for us?" Sullivan replied.
"Tell me, leutnant, there is no naval plane that is painted red and black?" The Karlslander asked.
"No all Liberion Navy and Marine planes are blue, Fusoan are white or green and Britannian planes are bluish-green" Sullivan asked, "Why are you asking?"
"Well I have eyes on several red coloured planes coming in from the north." Richthofen said.
"The north?" Sullivan managed to say before the sound of distant explosions and dust began to fall from the ceiling, "Shit, we are coming over now."
"Looks like the lady's worries were valid." Richthofen chuckled, "Never should have doubted her guts." before the radio went off.
"What was that?" Roebuck asked as he grabbed his M1 Garand.
"That was war." Sullivan replied, "Into the jeep now."
"Damn it, why can't we catch a break." Polonsky grumbled while fixing his helmet and grabbing his shotgun. Miller as usual, didn't say anything but grabbed his helmet and followed the rest into the jeep. The four soon headed over to the keep where the Richthofen and his squad was located. At the same time, the marines from the taskforce were racing for defensive positions and or cover as artillery shells crashed all around while the ships in Grand Harbour began raising their anchors and that is when they are suddenly under air attack by red aircraft. The 508th Joint Fighter Wing was immediately put into the air while anti-air guns began training on the planes.
Grand Harbour
USS Enterprise
Jane S. Thach's POV
It was one hell of a morning, one minute it was peace, the next minute thing we are under attack. I was just doing some checks on my strikers when the general quarters alarm went off, immediately I closed up my striker and got ready to launch, I was in the air with Cecilia Harris and Jamie Swett. Dorothy Baker was already in the air as part of the Combat Air Patrol.
"This is Enterprise to Mighty Leader, your mission is to protect the ships as they exit the harbour, we have little room to manoeuvre as it is." The radio in my transponder went off. I glanced behind to see more planes racing into the air
"This is Mighty Leader, understood Enterprise, we will keep the planes off of you lot, just make sure you don't shoot us up with flak." I replied.
"Wilco, good luck out there." Enterprise's bridge replied.
"This is USS Charles Ausburne to Enterprise! Requesting permission to head out first!" I heard the skipper of a destroyer barked.
"Request approved! Get out now" Enterprise radioed.
"This is Hunter Leader to Enterprise" I heard a Hellcat pilot radioed, "What the hell is going on? I am being engaged by red planes! Tell them, to cut it out!"
"This is Enterprise to all CAP aircraft and witches! Red aircraft is hostile! I repeat hostile! Do not hesitate to engage!" Enterprise barked.
"The hell?" Another Hellcat pilot radioed, "What the hell is wrong with them?"
"Hey! Did anyone see that broken broom on the side of that plane?!" A Corsair pilot radioed.
"A Broken Broom?" I repeated. I had heard of a fighter squadron that has a broken broom as their emblem. They were notorious for firing upon witches. If I am not wrong the name of the squadron was a four digit number.
"This is Akatsuki, requesting permission to follow Charles Ausburne out to sea!" Another destroyer commander radioed. The air over Malta became one hell of mess with planes, witches and live ammo flew everywhere.
"Thach, this is Shindō, I am in the air with Shōko Matsuda and Takami Karibuchi on Shōkaku." I turned to see my 2IC coming up from the Fusoan aircraft carrier with the other two close behind her. It was just in the nick of time as Shōkaku was bracketed by bombs.
"This is Enterprise to Shōkaku, are you okay?"
"This is Shōkaku, we are okay, shaken but no damage."
"Mighty Leader, this is Mighty-3, I am up with Migthy-9 and Mighty-10." I heard Delia radioed as I saw her come up with Sadae Komura and our newest flier, Samantha Chang from Singapore. Soon everyone formed up into our battle formation.
"Boss, what the hell is going on?" Jamie demanded.
"We are under attack by hostile planes, most likely Anti-Witches" I replied, looking around to how there was a lack of red planes, "And it appears they have withdrawn but they will be back."
"Fucking hell." Dorothy groaned.
"Enterprise, this is Mighty Leader, all Mighty Witches are in the air, requesting targets." I radioed.
"Enterprise here, radar is picking up contacts coming from the north from the direction of Sicily." Enterprise radioed.
"Understood, Enterprise." I replied, "Mighty Witches, on me, we got to keep stop those planes."
"Roger." The rest of my flight replied as we turned north. We were soon joined by Hellcats, Corsairs and Sams.
"This is R. J. McCullough of VF(N)-90 "Hunter", we will be tagging along." A Hellcat pilot radioed.
"Kenji Minamoto of Shōkaku's Fighter Squadron, so will we." A Sam pilot radioed.
"Arthur Cunningham of the 1834 Squadron, we will be supporting you as well." A Corsair pilot radioed.
"Well thanks for the help boys." I radioed.
"Mighty Leader, I am detecting the planes! They are in the clouds, direct front" Delia shouted as she pointed towards the clouds in front of us and as if on cue, at least three squadrons' worth of planes emerged from the clouds.
"Shit! Looks like the damn witches found out about our plan" A pilot radioed.
"Who the hell is broadcasting on an open mike?" Enterprise's captain.
"Well since we have been found out, no point hiding anymore, I am Major Allen Hamilton are the 8492nd "Witch Breaker" Squadron and you all will join the witches in hell" The pilot radioed.
"Not if we have something to say about that." I said, "Everyone, engage those scoundrels! Don't let them pass!"
"Roger!" My flight replied as we flew into the fray and immediately rounds began to fly.
"Scratch one red plane!" Dorothy hollered as she leaves a burning Typhoon, hurling straight for the sea.
"Samantha, remember what I thought you, lead your shots!" I heard Cecilia reminded.
"Y-Yes ma'am!" Samantha said nervously.
"This is for the near miss on Shōkaku!" Sadae barked as she fired on a red Mustang.
"Fuck! I am hit! I am hit!" A Hellcat pilot screamed.
"I am bailing out!" A Corsair pilot radioed and he bailed out. I glanced over to see his chute but I was horrified to see a red Spitfire turn and fire on the pilot.
"Holy shit! They just shot that pilot!" A Zero pilot gasped.
"No friend of the witches deserve to live" The Red Spitfire pilot spat but his reign of terror was cut short when Takami swooped in and shot his plane up.
"Then you shall get no mercy from us." Takami declared. The dogfight continued but it seems when thing couldn't get any more hectic.
"FUCK! FUCK! THIS IS USS BAGLEY! NEUROI DETECTED COMING FROM THE NORTH!"
"What?! This is Enterprise to Bagley! How far out!"
"20 MILES! THEY ARE 20 MILES OUT!"
"Shit, this becoming one hell of a shit storm." McCullough radioed.
"Well Robert, you know what they say, when the going get tough." I replied.
"The tough get going." McCullough replied.
"This is Captain Edward Richtofen of Taskforce 141, we have called the 501st, they will be here shortly." The Special Forces Captain radioed.
"Well they better get here quick! We can't do this all day!" Cunningham radioed.
"We are running low on ammo." Minamoto added.
"Looks like you will soon be defeated. You witches, you think can defeat us and the neuroi at the same time?" Hamilton questioned.
"As a fellow Navy witch said, there ain't nothing a witch can't do." I replied.
"And we will make sure you don't lay a finger on them." McCullough assured.
"Alright, let's rack up some kills!" A Hellcat pilot cheered.
"Watch your surrounding pilot, don't get cocky." Cecilia lectured as the dogfighting went on all around. It was nearly impossible to fly without running into someone, friendly or foe. I had a few close calls.
"Cecilia, now is probably not the time for lessons." Mie suggested as she engaged a neuroi
"I am coming for you, you bastard!" Jamie screamed over the radio as she chased down a P-47.
"Alright, let see if I still got it." I uttered as I lined up my sights on a Fw-190 and let him have the good news.
"Nice hit, Jane" Mie said as the Fw-190 broke up and fell towards the sea.
"Why thank you but we still got more to k-take out." I said, I couldn't put myself to say kill even though they were hostile.
"This is USS Enterprise, all ships have escaped the harbour, thank you for the protection." Enterprise radioed.
"No problem Big E." I replied.
"That is one lest thing to worry about." Sadae said.
"Curse it all! This is all your fault witches!" Hamilton declared, "You will pay for your victory!"
"Right-GAH! Bloody hell" Cunningham radioed before the sound of fire made me turn to see a Corsair being shot up by a P-51.
"ARTHUR!" A Corsair pilot screamed as I watched this one swoop in and tore the Mustang apart.
"Holy shit, was that Lancelot?"
"Fuck me, that was."
"Blimey, Lancelot, you earned my thanks for that one." Cunningham coughed.
"It is the least I can do for you, sir" Lancelot replied.
"I am sorry, Thach but I have to head back to Victorious, my fliers will be following you now." Cunningham said as he turned southeast in the direction of the carriers.
Nobody's POV
"This is Colonel Wilcke of the 501st Joint Fighter Wing and 501st Joint Fighter Squadron with a fighter force from HMS Illustrious to Allied fliers, we are coming to reinforce you, we are coming from the North East, ETA two minutes." I heard my 501st equivalent on the radio but she sounded rather tired.
"Hell yeah! Keep up the fight boys! The 501st are coming" Kenji replied.
"Hamilton, what do we do now? The damn Strike Witches are here." An enemy pilot questioned.
"Stay on the mission, our friends have something planned for those… children." Hamilton replied.
"I don't like the sound of that." Dorothy replied.
"Neither do I, let's rap this up." Jane nodded. We continued to engage the enemy fighters and neuroi and soon the 501st JFW and JFS joined the fray and we really began cutting down their numbers. Soon a fraction of their forces were left.
"Well Minna, glad to have you onboard," Jane said.
"Well I can't say it is not great to be in the air but damn I wish I could have gotten some more rest." Minna said.
"Yesterday?" Jane inquired.
"You have no idea." Minna said.
"I can imagine." Jane chuckled.
"I am sorry to be rude but we are in the middle of a dogfight." Amirah reminded before she latched onto a P-47 and stabbed the pilot with her knife.
"Did that witch just…?" An A7M pilot asked, not believing his eyes.
"Stabbed a pilot? Yes she did." A Hellcat pilot replied.
"I am glad I am on her side." The Sam pilot said.
"No argument here." The Hellcat pilot nodded.
"Looks like your plan is falling apart, Hamilton" Amirah radioed.
"Oh no, Butcher, it has only begun." Hamilton said before he laughed manically as suddenly a dark shadow emerged from the clouds. It was a massive neuroi that was larger than anything I had ever seen. It looked like it stretched for miles and it was taller than any skyscraper I have ever seen. It looked like a manta ray without the tail.
"Bugger me…" A Corsair pilot radioed.
"Oh my god…" A Hellcat pilot gasped.
"Kami…" A Sam pilot uttered.
"Oh god, help us all." Jane prayed.
"Now you will all die" Hamilton announced.
"Are you sure about that?" Yoshiko challenged.
"You do not see what stands before you?" Hamilton asked, "This is what the Red Neuroi called the Aigaion and this will be bring an end to the witches."
"Wait, you are collaborating with the enemy?" Minna gasped.
"As they say, the enemy of my enemy is my friend." Hamilton simply replied.
"You bastard." Wolf growled.
"You are not better, siding for the witches." Hamilton accused.
"Than I rather be one than join the likes of you." Erich snarled, "Even Nazis had better loyalty than you."
"Pah, why waste time with you, you are going to die anyway" Hamilton said as the giant neuroi began charging up for a beam attack.
"Shit! Everyone take evasive action!" Jane ordered as everyone began to scramble to make it harder for the neuroi beam to hit them.
Just then Aigaion unleashed a barrage of beams at the fliers. The witches and wizards, those who couldn't dodge erected shields but they were pushed back quite a bit. However several pilots were not as lucky as their planes exploded or plummeted towards the sea.
"Erich! Are you okay?" Erica asked.
"I am good, I am good but scheiße that was strong." Erich panted.
"What's the plan?" Chuck asked.
"No other choice but to engage it." Wolf said.
"Fat chance, you will all die before you can put a scratch on this beast." Hamilton said.
"It is not over until the fat lady sings." Emily rebutted.
"Yeah, we won't give up until our time is up." Dorothy barked.
"Especially if I have something to say about it." A mystery flier said.
"Who was that?" Blake asked.
"No idea…" Erica said before something in the corner of her eye caught her attention, "Mein Gott! What is over there?!"
"What? Where? Jesus Christ, what is that?" Shirley hollered in surprise. What appeared was a wing of white and blue aircraft that none of the 501st or 508th had ever seen. But what surprised them more was there were a squadron of witches with the white and blue aircraft with strikers that resembled the white and blue aircraft.
"Boss! We got unidentified white coloured vehicles moving on the north side of the island, they appear to be setting up for something" Richtofen radioed.
"Say again, what are they prepping for?" Amirah asked. She soon got her answer as from Malta, smoke trails raced up into the sky.
"What the hell are those?" Gertrude barked.
"Look like V2s but they are moving as if they are piloted" Gerhard replied.
"They are way faster than any V2 I have ever seen." Peter said, "Not to mention much larger."
The fliers all watched as the missiles flew past them and towards Aigaion. At the same time the white and blue aircraft flew into attack the large neuroi with what appeared to be rockets and bombs.
"This is Garuda Alpha-1 to all Garuda Alpha flight element, weapons free, destroy the target."
"Those aircraft, they are attacking that beast." Perrine said.
"Should we help?" Emily Earhart asked.
"Well what are you waiting for, time to go on the offensive." Wolf barked as he revved his engine and led the aces into battle.
"Everyone, engage the Aigaion." Minna barked as she led the witches towards the Aigaion.
"That includes us too girls." Jane ordered as the Mighty Witches followed the 501st into the attack.
"Come on boys, we can't leave let those aces have all the fun." McCullough radioed as the remaining fliers turned and headed into the battle as well.
"This will not stop our cause! DESTROY THEM ALL!" Hamilton barked. Aigaion began firing its beams at its attackers but due to the number, her firepower was divided and weakened. The attackers used this to their their advantage and pressed home the attack. The Aigaion soon was falling apart and was beginning to descend.
"Curse these witches, they are the cause of this." Hamilton growled.
"Come on everyone, just a little bit more" Minna urged however the witches, aces and navy fliers were low on ammo and fuel.
"Shit, I am out!" Amirul radioed.
"Verdammt, I have no more rounds left." Franz declared.
"Out of ammo" Eino said and the same was for the others, they had run out of ammo. Even the witches, were out with some forced to pull out their sidearm to shoot at the Aigaion.
"Damn it, we were so close." Amelia Patton said.
"What do we do now?" Dorothy asked.
"Do not worry, we will take it from here." radioed the same voice from before.
"Who is that?" Minna asked.
"I will explain later, there is a beast that needs to be slain." The voice said later.
"Why does that voice sound familiar?" Amirah uttered.
"Amirah?" Ember asked worriedly. Before she could say anything else, a large explosion caught their attention. It was the Aigaion. It was descending more rapidly than before.
"Looks like the battle is over." Mio said.
"This is not the end! It is not over as I will taking you all with me!" Hamilton barked as the dying giant began to power up its main weapon.
"Ah shit." Hiroyoshi uttered.
"Let's see if your shields can hold this." Hamilton sneered as Aigaion lit up like a Christmas Tree as a lot of beams flew out of it, all aimed at the tired witches and aces.
"Good lord, have mercy upon us." Arthur prayed.
"YOU WILL TAKE NO ONE!" The voice shouted as a pale witch with long light blue hair flew in front of everyone and erected a massive shield that blocked Aigaion's attack and absorbed the energy from it.
"Jesus…" Chuck uttered.
"She just took that like it was nothing." Charlie gasped.
"I am glad she is on our side." Pierre said.
"I hope she is." Perrine said with concern.
"Do not worry, little one, I am a friend of your." The witch said as she turned to smile at the aces and witches.
"How… that is not possible, that attack is impossible to block." Hamilton said.
"Nothing is impossible for a witch." The witch said and this caused Mio to smile at that comment.
"NO! YOU WILL NOT KILL ME!" Hamilton shouted as he flew his P-51 Mustang straight towards the witch with all his fifty caliber guns firing but they bounced harmlessly off the shield of the witch.
"Unfortunately for you, that is not to be." The witch said as the wing like structures on her began to glow.
"Oh wow…" Amirah said as exhaustion began to creep up to her.
"Wow indeed." Angela said.
"Alex Hamilton, this is the end for you. Now you feel the power of this photon ray!" The witch shouted as she unleashed a blinding beam of light which connected with Aigaion and Hamilton and what remained of the 8492.
"NO~!" Hamilton shouted before his plane exploded which was then superseded by Aigaion exploding.
"Holy shit!" Emily shouted in amazement.
"Tired…" Amirah yawned as she tiredly drifted, her two Oerlikons dropped out of her hands, now hanging on by their slings, this caused her to nose down and fly towards the mysterious witch.
"Amirah!" Mio shouted as she noticed too late what direction Amirah was heading.
"Amirah! You are flying towards someone." Ember barked.
"Pretty…" Amirah uttered in the few seconds she reopened her eyes to look at who she was flying into. The witch seems to have heard Amirah as she turned around and gently caught Amirah and held her.
"Well it looks like you have grown since we last met." The witch said before she looked up to the rest of the witches and circling planes.
"Um…" Wolf uttered unsure on what to say.
"Well since the battle is over, why don't we head back to base, I can tell you all are tired." The mystery witch said, "I know this girl here is."
"Wolf, what do you think?" Minna asked.
"If you ask me, I think we should let them come back with us." Muto said.
"Are you sure?" Minna asked.
"Well think about it, they did come in to save us." Muto said, "If anything, I say that act alone tells us of kind of people we are working with." Muto said.
"Yeah, it make sense if you put it that way" Wolf said.
"What do you think Mio?" Minna asked.
"I don't like it but I see your argument, so I have to agree." Mio replied.
"Do you want the 508th to accompany?" Jane asked.
"No, I don't think it is necessary besides, you all need to rest for the good job you did here." Minna said.
"Looks like this is going to be the last time we see each other, Mio" Shindō said.
"What do you mean?" Mio asked.
"The 508th is being sent over to the Pacific. It appears the neuroi there are proving more troublesome." Takami replied.
"Well I wish you the best of luck you two." Mio said.
"I wish you luck here." Shindō smiled. The fliers split into three, all heading for their bases. The 501st girls were running low on energy and magic. When they were just about to reach the base, almost everyone were hitching a ride on their counterpart's planes with the only exception being Yoshika and Amirah, who was not as tired and had someone already carrying her already respectively.
"This is Wolf to tower, requesting permission to land." Wolf radioed.
"This is Pescara Tower, you are clear to land, welcome home." Pescara Tower radioed.
"It is great to be back." Chuck radioed. The aces all landed and with them the mysterious flight grey and blue planes and witches in tow. The aces parked their planes and helped their passengers off. The mystery witch placed Amirah into a chair before she joined the rest of newcomers
"Now that we are here, can you tell us who are you and what is your goals?" Minna asked as she looked at the newcomers.
"There is no need to be hostile." The witch said, "My name is Relius Abernathy, I am the leader of the Tekkaden Corps of the Hivescansdra Federation or in simple terms, the Blue Neuroi."
"The Tekkaden Corps?" Minna repeated in confusion.
"It is basically like the Special Forces in terms of your armed forces." Relius answered.
"But who you said were affiliated to?" Wolf asked.
"We are part of the Blue Neuroi." One of the mystery soldier said as she stood up next to Relius.
"Major, at ease." Relius said.
"Yes ma'am." The "Major" replied.
"What is your name?" Muto asked.
"My name is Major Dragoslava Zenevieva of the Tekkaden Corps, I am also leader of the Sevastan soldiers" The soldier replied.
"She is one of my best soldiers and I believe your SAS witch has met her before." Relius replied.
"Amirah?" Minna asked as she glanced over to the witch who seems to be stirring now.
"Oh we are back at base?" Amirah said as she woke up, "I had a strange dream, I thought I flew into an angel but it… Ya Allah! You are real!"
"Amirah, what are you talking about?" Ember asked.
"Her, she is the angel I told you about, Ember, the one that saved me when I was younger." Amirah explained.
"What do you mean by that?" Minna said.
"When I was younger, neuroi attacked my village and in the chaos I got separated from my family, I tried to find them but as I saw more destruction and dead, I began to lose hope that is until I heard someone call for help so I ran over but when I got there, it was a trap as a neuroi grabbed my arms. I thought I was about to die but she came and saved me and then saved my family who were near by, they were about to be attacked by neuroified animals." Amirah said, "I was so overcome with relief that I passed out. My family on the other hand decided to check whether we are all safe. Before we could thank her, she left but now that you are here. I want to thank you."
"Well, I am glad that you have become someone who so is so awe-inspiring." Relius said, "Many of my soldiers aspire to be like you."
"Really? I am just a normal soldier like the rest." Amirah humbly said.
"There you go again, Boss, humble to a fault" Price said.
"Well since Amirah here has vouched for you, I don't see any reason for not letting you join our ranks." Minna said as she extended her hand, "Welcome to the 501st Joint Fighter Wing."
"Thank you, hopefully this is the start of a great relationship between our two groups." Relius smiled as she shook Minna's hand.
The following few days were very busy for the 501st and their allies, this is because all the formal ceremonies and meetings that they had to take part in as the Allied Forces were introduced to their newest allies, the Hivescansdra and the Sevastan Resistance. There was some initial friction however once the more prominent and iconic soldiers of the war, like Eisenhower, Rommel, Patton, Amirah and Erica, became good friends with the new allies, the others were not far behind to warm up to them. The arrival of the Hivescansdran and Sevastan forces was a great boost and it allowed the Allies to pulled divisions in need of rest out of the line as Hivescansdran units fill the gaps. Meanwhile the aces of the 501st and Amirah looked into the matter of the 8492nd Squadron which led several officers who were linked to the 8492nd being arrested for covering up incidents and threatening witnesses and victims over said incidents. One surprised Amirah, it was her old navigational instructor.
Well I hope you enjoyed it. This is Corporal Tommy signing off for now.
"CORPORAL! GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE!"
Shit, got to go, bye!