Hey there everybody, sorry for the delay, this chapter was a bit hard to write and I had been quite busy with other things. But now with free time, I can get back to this story. And well it won't be long before the end.
Chapter 21: To be Myself, Jets, jets and more jets
Adriatic Sea
It has been two weeks since the Malta affair and things for the 501st JFW calmed down. The witches and aces were fast to return to business as usual with normal patrols both night and day. During this time, the aces and the higher command of the 501st thought it was a good idea to start training the witches how to fly their planes. It was a backup measure for the unlikely event that the witches' strikers were inoperable or under major repairs during a general quarters alert. This was done on the reluctant agreement that the aces learn how to use striker units. Charles's B-17 crew were not included as they needed to help Charlie get used to flying a fully crewed bomber. It was a very interesting two weeks to say the least for everyone. The aces especially the boys had to adjust to using their bodies instead of controls for executing manoeuvres or changing speeds. It was also hard for them to forget that they have their weapons in their hands and often will unconsciously try to reach for the trigger on their throttle or centre stick (joystick) only to grab hold of air and feel their machine gun tug down them down slightly, all while the witches start giggling.
Meanwhile the witches were not that well off either as they had trouble getting used to flying actual planes with instances of hurt feet because the witch unconsciously straightening out their legs in an attempt to slow down or stop. Some were quick to catch on to flying planes like Shirley, Erica, Ember and surprisingly Yoshika and Francesca while others took much longer to get the hang of it like Eila, Perrine Minna and oddly enough Gertrude had trouble but that was because she had to fly the Me 262 and she had bad experiences in the striker version but Gerhard assured her and soon she was flying the jet without too much problems. However when it came to patrols, the witches and aces used their own kites because they didn't have no reason to be using their counterpart's kite if it is not required.
There has been some events during the two weeks, Sanya had her strikers changed from the MiG 150 to the Yak-9T. Franciscka had her old Bf-109E replaced with BF-109G strikers. Charlie got her strikers replaced with newer B-17G strikers. Franciscka and Charlie found it funny that they got their strikers upgraded to the G variant. Amirul and Emily on the other hand have started dating while Franz and Angela have begun to hang out with each other.
Amirul's POV
It is almost amazing to say the least when you are fighting the neuroi that much I can say. Almost every one of them was different from the last from giant large blimps to slim rockets and everything in between. However I and Emily couldn't help but grin when we saw this neuroi. It looked like a paper aeroplane with a tail added on. However it was not having a good day as Yoshika, Lynette, Perrine, Mio, Emily and I were giving it the works while the rest hung back. We let it know that our guns were working fine and our aim was good.
I was circling around when I saw Perrine fire a burst. Then Mio came around and pulled out her sword.
"REPPUZAN!" Mio shouted as she let loose a wave of magic with the slash of her sword. Her attack struck home and hit the neuroi dead center. I was slightly in awe by how symmetrical the cut was as the two slices looked perfect. The two neuroi halves separated then burst into a cloud of white fragments.
"You did it, Sakamoto-san!" Yoshika cheered.
"You defeated it, Major!" Lynette added.
"Good show out there." Arthur radioed.
"Y-Yeah…" Mio responded tiredly, before she grunted and suddenly dropped in altitude.
"Woah!" I shouted as I yanked hard left to avoid her, "Are you alright?"
"Major?" Lynette inquired, "Is something wrong?"
"No, I am fine" Mio replied. However I could tell that this was not the case and the major was hiding something. My mind then wondered to what Amirah and Ember was doing in Rome.
At the same time
Rome
Amirah and Ember were in a restaurant in the old city waiting for another person. They were sitting outside and they could see the convoy of army trucks rolling past, they were filled with wounded and damaged equipment. There also those trucks which carried the destroyed equipment and the dead but luckily only a few passed through the middle of the city and if they did, mostly at night.
"Damn they must be in a hurry if they are going straight through the middle of the city." Ember commented as she watched the trucks rumble past.
"That shows you how much faith High Command has in the coming plan" Amirah said as she held her pipe, "And to tell you the truth, neither do I but what am I supposed to do? I am just a lowly squadron leader"
"A squadron leader who also so happen to be in charge of the most elite special forces unit in the UN Military" Ember joked. Amirah snickered before she slipped her pipe back into her mouth. She then looked towards the trucks as they headed south. She knew there was even more passing on the outskirts of the city and those are not wounded or damaged but rather still capable soldiers and mostly good equipment. This movement of troops away from the frontlines was a very big sign of how much the Mediterranean High Command had in terms of confidence of the coming battle.
"So do you think they will try again?" Ember asked.
"Ember, you know as well I do that these people won't stop until one of two things occurs, either they are all dead or we are off the battlefield entirely in which we are all dead." Amirah replied.
"And we all don't want that." Ember said, "So what do you think they plan on doing? They aren't the type to back off just because their first plan failed."
"Knowing this group, they will launch another attack and their target will be in a location where there will as many to witness them because these bastards are the type to show off."
"So you are saying they will strike Taranto?" Ember guessed.
"Bingo" Amirah said. Just then a US Navy officer arrived at the restaurant. He was wearing sunglasses and he had dark brown hair from what can be seen under his cap. He went straight to Amirah and Ember's table.
"About time you showed up, Ensign, I was getting a little worried for a minute there." Amirah commented.
"Sorry I was late, ma'am, I got caught in traffic." The officer said.
"Well better late than never" Ember said.
"Right" Amirah sat up and leaned in closer to the centre of the table, "So what do you have for us, Locke?"
"Nothing good, commander, the Grey Men has gotten new planes but these planes are planes I have never seen before." Locke replied.
"Explain, Locke, both what they are and how they got them" Amirah asked.
"Well for one, I can tell that they are jet fighters however they are much different than anything I have seen. They have swept wings, better engines and they have heavy gun armaments, as for how they got them, I believe they got them the same way how you got your news planes, they were teleported in by random from the aces' world and judging from their appearance, they seem to be fresh out of the factory. I also heard that they came with missiles and that the Grey Men scientists were modifying them for what I have no idea." Locke said.
"Why is this?" Amirah asked.
"Sorry boss but they are doing it off base but from the activity in the command building, they are coming soon." Locke said.
"Wait, going back to the planes, how are they going to fly them? They like you have never seen those planes before." Ember asked.
"Well I thought of the same thing, that is until someone upstairs decided to give the Grey Men help because two planes appeared and landed at the base, from I can tell they are from the same world as your aces however it appears from a different time. I can't recall their names but one of them is something McCain but I don't know the other pilots." Locke said, "Those two are being used to train the Grey Men pilots on how to use their new planes."
"Damn, this can't be left to continue," Amirah said, "Locke; you go back and keep me posted whenever possible."
"Yes ma'am." Locke said.
"While the rest of us will try to prepare for an eventual attack," Amirah said, "As it appears that it is now a question of when, no longer if."
"Understood" Ember said.
"Let's prepare for the worse." Amirah said as she tapped the ashes out of her pipe.
That night
One person was showering; it was Mio as she wanted to shower in silence.
"Have I exhausted my magic power" Mio pondered as she looked at her hands as water flowed down her body. She then slammed her fist against the wall as she felt frustrated.
"Sakamoto-san, It is Miyafuji" Yoshika shouted. She stood in front of Mio's cabin with Amirah whom so happened to be walking in the same direction, "I have a message from Commander Minna."
"Odd, she wouldn't still be sleeping right now." Amirah commented.
"Sakamoto-?" asked Yoshika as she pushed the door to the two cousins' surprise opened.
"Strange." Amirah uttered as Yoshika and she slowly entered their battle commander's room.
"Sakamoto?" Yoshika tried again but the room was bare and however there was the lieutenant colonel's sword in its wooden stand, "Huh?"
"Well at least we know she isn't sleeping." Amirah said as she looked around.
"Could she still be practicing?" Yoshika wondered.
"Maybe." Amirah replied. Yoshika's glaze soon fell upon Sakamoto's sword.
"Reppumaru" Yoshika named the sword. Amirah turned to look at the red sword.
"She told me that she wanted to learn a Reppuzan that'll top her current Reppuzan." Yoshika recalled, "The true Reppuzan, she called it."
"I have heard of that," Amirah said, "It is an attack technique that has been passed down in the Fusoan Empire since anyone could remember."
"Eh? How did you know Amirah?" Yoshika asked.
"I am part Fusoan, remember Yoshika." Amirah reminded.
"Oh right." Yoshika said as she began to walk towards the sword, "Sakamoto said that if she can master it, she could destroy even the strongest neuroi with one attack."
"Possible…" Amirah commented as she watched Yoshika walk up to the sword, "Yoshika, what are you…"
Yoshika didn't hear her cousin as she lifted the sword up and she unsheathed it slightly. She held it for a few seconds before it started to glow before it was engulfed in raw magic.
"Yoshika!" Amirah shielded her eyes as the magic was so bright.
"Incredible… So this is Reppumaru" Yoshika gasped in amazed. Amirah fearing her cousin's life began to close the distance; at the same time Mio walked in and saw what was happening.
"Yoshika!" Amirah shouted as she and Mio stepped up and caught Yoshika as she began to fall, dropping the sword.
"Miyafuji!" Mio barked, "Snap out of it, Miyafuji!"
"Sakamoto? Amirah?" Yoshika uttered as she came to.
"Thank god, you are alright." Amirah said however she did wrap her arms around Yoshika, as though to shield her from Mio.
"Oh good, can you stand?" Mio asked.
"Y-Yes." Yoshika stood up though Amirah was standing next to her. Mio then grabbed the sword and sheathed it.
"Uh… Sakamoto, that sword…" Yoshika said nervously.
"You fool!" Mio snapped as she turned towards the two, "Don't you ever touch this sword again! Understood?"
"Y-Yes, ma'am!" Yoshika yelped before her shoulders drooped, "I apologize"
"Amirah, that goes to you as well." Mio said however Amirah was unfazed, more so she was cross.
"Yes ma'am." Amirah said in detest, "Well ma'am, we have a message from Minna."
*At the runway, a few minutes later*
The message for Mio was for her to join, Minna, Wolf and Erich to a meeting with the Mediterranean Allied Forces Command, Yoshika and Amirah watched as the Ju-52 taxied then took off.
"They left." Yoshika commented to which Amirah merely nodded.
"Where are they going?" Lynette asked as she and Arthur were carrying laundry to be hung.
"There is an important meeting at High Command. Sakamoto, Minna, Wolf and Erich are going to it." Yoshika said.
"I see." Lynette said.
"Well looks something big is coming." Arthur said.
"Why are you not going, Amirah?" Yoshika asked.
"Sorry Yoshika but I can't tell you why." Amirah said as she slipped her pipe into her mouth.
"Really?" Yoshika asked.
"Unfortunately yes," Amirah said. Yoshika was still standing there looking at the sky where the Ju-52 flew into. Arthur went on their way to hang the clothes out.
"I feel like that's the first time Sakamoto lashed out at me in quite a while" Yoshika commented.
"Ah there you are!" Francesca shouted. Yoshika turned to see her and Shirley shouting from the bath.
"Hey!" Shirley shouted.
"Come here you three!" Shirley shouted.
Bath
At the bath, Yoshika, Lynette, Amirah, Shirley and Francesca found that all the witches and female pilots barring, Katherine, Mio and Minna were there. Shirley and Francesca immediately jumped in while Amirah went over to Ember.
"Why are we taking a bath so early?" Yoshika asked.
"Captain Barkhorn told us to take the chance to refresh ourselves." Perrine replied.
"This might the last time we get to use the bath." Gertrude said.
"I certainly hope not." Amelia said.
"Huh?" Yoshika uttered.
"Well Minna and Mio went to Headquarters, right?" Erica asked as she floated in the water, "It is likely they're about to issue the final attack order. It is scary to think about it."
"So, the next chapter in our story is here." Franciscka said.
"Well looks like we are going to be busy soon." Charlie mused.
"Hah! Looks like we finally have the decisive battle," Yoshiko cheered.
"Hopefully things go well." Emily said.
"I second that notion." Frederica said.
"Well I hope whatever the mission is; we all make it out in one piece." Emily V said.
"Amen." Angela replied.
"I would drink to that." Lydia said as she sat next to Sanya and Eila.
"Well I know we can do it, right Amirah?" Ember turned to Amirah who smiled as she embraced Ember closely.
"Of course we can, as our Battle Commander always say, there is nothing a witch can't do." Amirah said.
"Well looks like I will get some really cool pictures" Georgina mused.
"After you make sure you are clear of enemy, Gina." Reina reminded to which Georgina chuckled.
"Final attack orders?" Yoshika finally managed to utter.
"Yeah, we'll be heading for the Neuroi Hive over Venezia, and wage an all-out attack." Gertrude uttered.
Taranto Naval Base
Headquarters of the Allied Mediterranean Forces
"What is the meaning of this?" Mio barked.
"General, what do you mean that the witches and pilots won't be needed in the upcoming operation." Minna asked. Kesselring (Karlslander Heer), Montgomery (Britannian Army), Ijuin (Imperial Fusoan Navy) and Clark (US Army) were seated facing the four leading officers of the 501st.
"Not at all." Kesselring said, "I am saying that the witches and the pilots aren't the key in defeating the Neuroi Hive."
"We are up against the hive, things are different." Montgomery asked, "Has the 501st Joint Fighter Wing ever defeated a Neuroi Hive directly?"
"Furthermore, do your pilots have any experience fighting large neuroi?" Clark asked. Minna and Wolf looked at each other and both knew that the generals were right.
"Well, no but…" Wolf uttered.
"Colonel Minna, Colonel Wolf, we have already determined the upcoming mission, is that not right, Commodore Sugita?" Kesselring asked. The 501st leading officers turned to their left to see the Imperial Fusoan Navy officer standing at attention, on the right hand side of the Mediterranean Front commanders.
"Yes, I shall repel the Venezian Hive myself by using the battleship Yamato." Sugita answered.
"Commodore! For all of Yamato's strength, it is still a conventional weapon." Mio pointed out.
"With due respect commodore, I highly doubt she will be able to get through, from what I heard from my Japanese pilots, the Yamato in my world was not able to withstand the US Navy's bombers." Erich said.
"Yes, I also believe that she cannot defeat an airborne Neuroi Hive" Mio added.
"I am sorry but the Yamato is not a conventional weapon, Lieutenant Colonel, Major." Ijuin replied, "In fact she is our ultimate weapon."
"Ultimate weapon?" Mio uttered.
"Bad" Wolf muttered softly, "I had a bad feeling about this."
"Yes" Ijuin replied, "From the Fusoan Navy's research of the Warlock conducted in Gallia, we have developed an extremely stable core control system. Though it can only last ten minutes, we are able to convert her into a neuroi while suppressing its tendency to go berserk. That does still mean it can go berserk, I hope that this is worth risking the pride of the Navy, if not those 'scientists' won't be finding work anytime soon."
"Truth be told I would rather have the girls and the boys here fight the neuroi hive but the damn Fusos threatened to pull their forces out of the Mediterranean if they aren't allow this damned experiment." Clark thought.
"Oh Katherine is going to have my ass for this when she finds out" Kesselring sighed.
"I pray to god this works or we will have two Neurois to worry about. I am terribly sorry about this, Colonels." Montgomery said. Their troubled expressions did not go unnoticed by Erich and Wolf.
"Wolf" Erich whispered, "You see their faces?"
"Yes, they look troubled." Wolf replied.
"Looks like they don't like the idea either," Erich deduced.
"It appears so." Wolf agreed.
"Convert her into a neuroi?" Minna uttered in disbelief.
"Have you lost your mind?" Mio gritted her teeth.
"It takes a neuroi to defeat a neuroi." Ijuin said.
"Destroying a Neuroi Hive at this current stage of the war, is outside the witches' or wizards' capabilities." Kesselring said. "But by all means, prove us wrong"
"There is nothing a witch can't do!" Mio barked as she clenched her fist, "As long as I have the True Reppuzan, even against a Neuroi Hive, I swear to you, I will win!"
"I like this one, she is a feisty one." Clark internally mused but he sighed as he and everyone in the room knew something about the lieutenant colonel, "Lieutenant Colonel, aren't you past the retirement age?"
"If we lost the battle, we will have no choice but to abandon all of Romagna to the neuroi." Clark said, "And all the territory we have bloodily gained will have been for nothing."
"Well if this fails, I will be out of a job soon, I'll be lucky I get a pension." Montgomery thought as he knew Churchill's interest in the Romagnan campaign. He gritted his teeth when he thought of Monte Cassino. "Those poor boys…"
"It would go without saying that we couldn't leave the 501st JFW and JFS as it now" Clarke continued. "Do you get what I am saying?"
"This meeting is adjourned. Operation Baytown will begin at 1000hours tomorrow."
"Field Marshal!" Mio shouted as she stepped forward.
"Lieutenant Colonel Sakamoto, stop." Minna barked.
"Minna!" Mio raised her voice.
"That's enough, Oberstleutnant" Wolf said.
"There is no use for that, Mio." Muto advised.
"Have the 501st Joint Fighter Wing escort the Yamato to battle." Kesselring said as he and the rest of the Mediterranean Commanders stood up.
"Understood" Minna, Wolf and Muto said as they saluted the commanders. Mio just stood there looking at them in surprise.
Later that night
Pescara Air Base
Briefing Room
The entire contingent of the 501st Joint Fighter Wing and the 501st Joint Fighter Squadron and the command staff of the unit were gathered in the briefing room. On the wall was the map and battle plan for the coming operation. There was absolute silence as no one chatted and all focused on the briefing for the coming battle. This included a new arrival, Bernard Montgomery from the Aces World and his daughter who came from the start of 1946 where they were just out for a walk. They arrived about three days before the meeting at Taranto. They were quite surprised to find Patton, Rommel and the reported missing pilots. They were given a rundown of the situation at hand and Montgomery's daughter Abigail who had Mosquito FB strikers with her when she came was given a quick but intensive flying and aerial combat lessons.
"Alright listen up, the coming operation, codenamed Operation Baytown is very important mission, much bigger than the Malta one and with bigger risks so I must stress you all pay attention so we don't fuck this one up." Wolf said as he began the briefing. The plan was for all the 501st to escort Taskforce Battle which is made up of ships that arrived in Taranto a few weeks prior however their main concern is ensuring that Yamato is protected and that it reaches in range of the neuroi hive for it do its part. They will not be the only one taking part as the Royal Romagnan Air Force and the aviation arm of the Royal Romagnan Navy will also be taking part as well. Furthermore, the 504th JFW will be put on hold as reserve. The aces could already tell that this was going to be a very important mission, a make or break as some would call it.
"We shall strike the neuroi with everything we have." Minna said, "And destroy it in one battle."
"There is nothing else on the plan" Wolf said, "So that wraps up our battle plans"
"That's not a lot of space for us" Gerhard said, "Too narrow a window, too many things that can go wrong."
"I agree what if it doesn't work?" Gertrude asked.
"That I am afraid will result in the complete withdrawal of Allied Forces from Romagna." Wolf said.
"Yes, in effect, we will be surrendering Romagna to the Neuroi," Minna added, "And this will lead to the disbanding of the 501st Joint Fighter Wing."
The room fell silent with only the sound of gasping from the witches could be heard as everyone wrapped their heads around what was just said.
"That is absurd!" Franco barked.
"Surrender?! Disband the 501st?!" Gertrude slammed her fists on the table as she stood up, "That is ridiculous"
"Insanity, complete insanity" Nishizawa said, "Just because of one fuck up, we get disbanded?"
"Monty, I mean no offense but I feel like slapping this world version of you across the face." Patton growled, "Give up ground. How the hell is that going to win us the damn war? Next thing we know we will be fighting at the steps of Capitol Hill"
"George, you are not the only one." Montgomery said, "All the lives lost holding the line would have been in vain if we were to withdraw from Romagna."
"A tactical retreat is understandable but a complete withdrawal from a theater, which is crazy, there may not be a chance to retake Romagna and I fear that we may end up on the back-foot from here on."
"Yes, especially how strategic Romagna is in the Mediterranean, if we let her fall, then all operations in the Mediterranean become near impossible which makes our victory over Malta pointless as now the neuroi can render Malta unusable." Katherov said.
"Minna, Wolf, you just agreed to this?" Gertrude asked.
"Well what do you think?" Wolf shot back.
"Of course fucking not" Minna barked. This surprised everyone as Minna barely swears.
"Well, that's a first." Amirah said as she held her pipe.
"I am as against this as you are" Minna said, "But we don't have the resources to fight this war of attrition. Casualties will keep on piling up if we continue the fighting. This is our only option."
"I am on the same thought process as well." Wolf solemnly sighed.
"Romagna…" Yoshika uttered.
"Surrender?" Lynette muttered.
"This can't be…" Perrine softly said.
"Damn…" Charles uttered.
"You said it." Charlie replied.
"This is going to be a major setback." Reina commented to which Riki nodded in agreement.
"Fuck…" George uttered.
That is when Francesca began to cry while Franco looked down at his knees though Charles and Greg could see the wet spots on his trousers.
"It will be fine. Don't be so worried" Shirley said as she pulled Francesca to her chest, "There is no way we'll hand your homeland to the Neuroi"
"Like Shirley said," Chuck patted Franco on his shoulder, "We will make sure Romagna will remain free."
"We just need to win" Sanya said.
"Y-Yeah! We just need to win" Eila said.
"Come on with more spirit comrade." Lydia joked.
"Ayo! We can secure this victory!" Eino cheered.
"Exactly" Perrine nodded.
"Yeah! Vive le liberté!" Pierre cheered.
"Yes, let's win!" Lynette said.
"Right, that is what we shall do." Arthur smiled.
"I know we'll win." Yoshika added.
"That's the spirit, Yoshika" Muto grinned, "Yeah, we gonna show these guys, what we can do"
"Agreed" Erich nodded.
"The girls are right, Trude" Erica grinned, "So why are you acting so weak?"
"I'm not!" Gertrude barked, "I will fight until I'm the last one standing!"
"I won't let you be alone out there." Minna said, "There are forty seven fliers here, fifty nine if we include Charles' crew and our resident commanders and all are in the Strike Witches."
"Yeah!" Yoshika cheered as she stood up, "With all of us, I know we can win!"
However Yoshika's cheerful expression changed to a surprised one as she glanced over to Mio whom was looking to the floor solemnly.
"Forty seven, huh?" Mio uttered, barely loud enough to be heard but heard it was by Muto who stood next to her. Yoshika like the rest who couldn't hear saw Muto frown as well.
Later that night
As everyone fell asleep, a few were not. Yoshika was wondering about how strange Mio was acting and why Muto wouldn't say anything about it. She then looked at her hands which still had the marks from the Reppumaru sword. She decided to find Mio to ask her for help with the marks however Mio wasn't in her room. She was in the hangar.
Entrance of the hangar
"Are you sure about this, Minna?" Amirah asked as she light a match and lit the tobacco in her pipe as she stood next to Minna,
"I am sure of it; we need to do something before she does something stupid." Minna said as she turned to Amirah, "Thanks for helping with this."
"It is the least I can do." Amirah said, "You also thank Sakai here as well"
"We all here for the same reason, we all know how devastated Mio is to not be a fighter anymore." Sakai said as he stood on Minna's opposite flank. It was then did they hear a loud bark and the forceful start of striker units. Amirah, Sakai and Minna looked up and watched as a dim glow grew until Mio came roaring down the hangar right at them. She yelped as she moved to dodged them while they simply turned and followed her until she crashed onto the runway. Amirah just calmly smoked her pipe, the smoke tossed about by Mio's strikers just seconds ago.
"Minna… Amirah… Sakai, you knew?" Mio groaned.
"Remember, Mio, I can sense the magic levels of everyone around me." Amirah said.
"I could tell from how you were flying recently" Sakai said.
"We knew it would come to this someday." Minna said.
"I see" Mio replied.
"That sword of yours" Amirah said, "It's a double-edged sword."
"In exchange for strength on the battlefield, that magical sword eats up a great deal of your magic power" Minna said as it began to rain.
"In short, the Reppumaru is shortening your lifespan as a witch" Sakai said. Mio stood up as she unsheathed the Reppumaru.
"I can still fight" Mio barked as she does a slash and starts pumping magic into the sword. However it only weakly glowed for a second, Mio gasped and everyone could see her try again.
"It is over Mio!" Minna shouted.
"It is not!" Mio shook her head as she tried again, "I swear I will master the True Reppuzan"
"No!" Minna cried. Amirah and Sakai just watched while Amirah's pipe was now filling with water.
"Mio, this must stop, you are not doing anyone any good wasting your magic like this." Sakai barked while Amirah just stood there.
"Can't you see? It is impossible" Minna barked.
"Mio, please" Sakai pleaded. Mio fell to her knees, her eyes filling with water.
"Please, please, just once! Just one attack!" Mio screamed into the sky, "Let me perform a true Reppuzan"
"Please… Let me…" Mio started to cry, "Let me be part of the forty seven! I'm begging you…Minna…"
"Mio…" Sakai said as he and Minna comforted the crying samurai. Amirah stood behind them. She lazily rolled her pipe over in between her lips, to drain most of the water out. She was waiting for something and soon got it when she turned to look to the north; she saw a certain figure running. "Now that you are gone, I can get this done though I could have used some of your magic, Yoshika."
"Is that what you wish for, Mio Sakamoto?" Amirah asked as she walked up and around the three. Mio looked up and turned to look at the Malay witch.
"What is it to you, Amirah?" Mio asked, "What do you want?"
"I want to help you." Amirah said as she activated her magic as she kneed down in front of Mio, "But I will need your trust."
Amirah then extended both of her arms, her hands open, "Do you trust me?" Mio stared at the outstretched arms before she looked at Amirah's face before she sighed as she placed her sword down and put her hands on Amirah's open hands.
"I trust you, Amirah." Mio answered.
"Good," Amirah smiled before she started to glow brightly and soon lines began appearing on Amirah's body which resembled tribal marking, it was then she started speaking, "Wahai dunia alam keliling kami, aku minta pertolongan daripada engkau; sahabatku mula kehabisan kuasa ajaib tetapi aku akan memberinya sebahagian daripada kuasaku kepadanya"
Mio watched as the lines jump from Amirah's hands to her hands. Just then, lines like the ones on Amirah appeared on Mio and everyone found that her lines were not as bright as Amirah's lines.
"These must be my magic lines" Mio summarized in her head, "They aren't as bright as Amirah's"
Suddenly she felt as if something was flowing into her. She looked at her arms and saw the glow flowing from Amirah's hands into Mio's hands. The Fusoan witch watched as her lines grew brighter and she feels more energized. It was then she noticed that Amirah's hands were shaking. She looked up and she thought she saw a ghost. Amirah's skin had turned pale and although she was smiling, Mio could tell that she was struggling to keep that smile up.
"Amirah, stop, you are hurting yourself" Mio barked.
"Hold… on… just a bit more" Amirah grunted as she struggled to hold Mio's hands. Mio was becoming ever so worried as she began to see blood dripping from Amirah's lips. But just as it seems that Amirah was going to pass out, she let go though she was breathing heavily.
"There… it is done…" Amirah uttered before she fell forward before Mio caught her.
"Amirah, Are you alright?" Mio asked as she held the Malay witch.
"Flask… now…" Amirah requested.
"Right" Sakai replied as he fumbled slightly with a flask and gave it to Amirah who took and drank its content with Mio's help. Mio could smell that the content of the flask had a strong honey like smell to it. She watched as Amirah regained strength and her skin slowly returned to its normal light brown colour.
"Thank god my mom taught that potion to me" Amirah said as she wiped her mouth. She was still uneasy but she looked better than earlier, at the same time the rain stopped.
"What did you do to me?" Mio asked as she watched Amirah check her uniform.
"I gave me a fraction of my magic power to you." Amirah said as she slipped her pipe back into between her lips.
"Wait? How were you able to do that?" Mio asked.
"It is a spell that has been in my village, though I am pretty sure at this point, that spell is known throughout the Malay realm." Amirah said, "However only a few families can do the spell properly."
"What about you? Will you be fine?" Minna asked.
"I will be fine, as you have read in my folder, my magic power is special. It can regenerate but at a slow pace." Amirah said, "Which means I can be without of magic for a certain amount of time if I overuse it."
"I am so jealous." Mio said.
"It does mean that Amirah may be called up to fight when the rest of you girls have in effect, retired." Sakai noted to which Amirah nodded.
"My mother for example, she has been in the Royal Air Force since she was fourteen" Amirah said.
"Oh, I didn't know." Mio said.
"Well now you do, now if you excuse me, I have to rest or I won't be able to join the wing to the upcoming mission." Amirah said as she stood up but she wobbles slightly and Sakai helps steady her.
"Go rest, Amirah, you have done enough for tonight." Minna said.
"Yes ma'am." Amirah nodded as she and Sakai headed for the dorms.
"Amirah," Mio called as Sakai and Amirah turned to hear her, "Thanks."
"Just helping a friend out" Amirah smiled.
"Right then, let's go, we have a busy day tomorrow" Minna said and with that Minna and Mio got up and headed back inside.
Next Day
The base was rather busy as preparations were being made for the last mission. Marcus and Marie were leading the technicians on base arm, check and recheck all the planes and strikers.
Briefing Room
Everyone was standing in the area in front of the desk, all in their flight gear; all eyes were on the four commanding officers of the two units. Yoshika casted a worried glance to Mio and to Amirah who using her sheathed sword to help keep her steady.
"Momentarily, the 501st Joint Fighter Wing and the 501st Joint Attack Squadron will be leaving this base to eradicate the Neuroi in Operation Mars" Minna declared. She stood at the desk with Wolf, Erich and Mio flanking her.
"Our mission is to provide top cover for the Allied fleet's flagship, the battleship Yamato." Wolf continued, "That means the neuroi will stop at nothing to defend their nest. So be prepared for anything."
Suddenly the air raid siren blared; everyone looked out the windows and saw planes zooming past.
"What? What is going on?" Abigail said in shock.
"That my dear is an air raid." Patton said. Just then Marcus and Marie with Price and some of the base guards ran into the briefing room.
"You all need to get into the air quick! We are under attack!" Marcus shouted.
"Commanders, their planes, they are too fast, we can barely track them" A Base guard reported.
"Boss, it is the squadron Locke warned us about." James said. Before anything else was done, the sound of gunfire was heard.
"GET DOWN!" Amirah showed as the windows shattered two planes dove in and strafed. Everyone immediately dropped to the floor as hot lead flew into the briefing room. Soon the planes zoomed past, glass fragments were everywhere.
"Everyone, get to the hangar, now!" Wolf barked. Everyone was on their feet almost immediately and headed for the hangar.
"Get into your planes now! Go! Go! Go!" Marcus ordered.
Abigail's POV
We scrambled into our machines in a speed I have only seen when the Luftwaffe attacked my father's army, I never thought those men could run so fast and here I saw everyone who I just began to meet run like madmen to their planes or strikers.
"CHARLES! You go last; we need the fighters up first!" Wolf barked.
"Understood" Charles said as he got into his bomber.
"And to everyone else, get into the air, anyway you can!" Erich shouted as everyone began taxiing out of the hangar.
"First wave has passed" The tower radioed, "Everyone, get in the air as soon as possible."
That is what we did, we all took off with our weapons ready but I was nervous, from what I have heard on the radio that a nearby squadron had come over to help defend our base but they were being hit hard.
"Fuck! They got Frederick!" A pilot barked into the radio.
"They are too fast! I can't keep up!" Another barked. There were many desperate radio calls like those on the radio.
"Shit, it sounds like the neighbouring squadron got hit hard" Chuck radioed.
"I know," Erich replied, "Now it is our turn to help them."
"Roger, let's not keep them waiting." Minna ordered and into the battle we went and we almost got shot down in our first pass, the enemy jets were too fast. The only ones that could get close to following them were Shirley, Chuck, Gerhard, Reina and Riki. Peter, Amirah and Amirul were the next two who could keep up thanks to their more powerful aircraft. The rest like myself were having trouble keeping up, with us having to resort doing head on attacks on the enemy jets, Charles and his bomber crew stay behind, more often than not acting like fire support and also as an ammo store for the witches. However Erich noticed that the enemy jets had bad habit of bleeding off speed by getting into turning fights with us and often they and their wingman flew close formation, giving the impression that the two wanted the "glory" of shooting down a witch.
"These fools, they are wasting their speed advantage." Erich said as he observed a dogfight between Amirah and an Anti-Witch pilot which ended with Amirah stabbing the pilot with a bayonet.
"What makes you say that?" Peter asked.
"They are following us into our turns and dives, effectively cutting their speed and making them prime targets"
"So what do we do?" Minna replied.
"We force them into a turning match and we pounce on them."
"Understood," Mio replied, "This is Mio to everyone; if you got an enemy pilot on your ass, force them into following your manoeuvres; make them bleed their speed."
"And make sure you have a wingman, they will be able to clear your tail." Erich added. With that, we began fighting differently and results were almost immediate as more of the jets began going down. The Anti-Witch Wing was losing planes at an alarming rate. However that is when they pulled their trump card. The jets started firing what appeared to be guided rockets at us. The first wave did little as we all pulled our shields up, except for Eila who just dodged it. We were confused as to how they were being guided but we soon found out.
"Reina, look out you got a rocket coming up your ass!" Mio barked.
"Shit." Reina swore as she tried to weave to lose the rocket however it kept up with her. That is until she drove it into an enemy jet, "How the hell are they following us?"
" Scheiße," Peter said, "Those rockets, they must be designed to target everyone with magic."
"Well fuck, what do we do now?" Emily asked.
"Use their missiles against them. Also Mio, I am sorry to say this but you are probably our best bet right now." Amirah radioed.
"Why… Oh I see." Mio said, "Alright, I will do it."
"Minna, when will any back up show up?" Wolf asked, "Because I don't think we have enough ammo for this."
"We have two fighter squadrons coming in but they are twenty minutes out." Minna replied.
It was getting harder to fight as we all were getting tired and the pilots, their planes were starting run out of ammo and fuel. That and some of them had been shot. Hiroyoshi's plane was riddled with holes and he had wounds to his legs, worse was Amirah who in the middle of stabbing another pilot was grazed by several cannon rounds on her back. Her screams of pain still haunt me. Yoshika had to stop from the fight to heal Amirah.
"This is Franco; I am almost out of ammo." Franco radioed.
"So we are fucked then." Greg said.
"Appears so" Georgina uttered.
"I guess so" Franz radioed, "It has been an honour."
"Nope, not yet, you all are not dying today." A voice said.
"Who was that?" Gerhard radioed. Suddenly coming from the direction of Pescara, came a flight of aircraft that resembled the Blue Neuroi aircraft however they looked more human.
"Wait, Aren't the Blue Neuroi supposed to be in North Africa?" Angela asked.
"No, they aren't the Blue Neuroi, they are human aircraft." Eila said.
"Wow" Ember uttered.
"They are fucking fast." Shirley gasped as the newcomers zoomed past and immediately engaged the Anti-Witch Forces.
"How many are there?" Chuck asked before he rolled over to avoid an Anti-Witch jet, "Holy shit! That was close"
"This is Breaker One, Fox Two; Fox Two" The lead plane barked as it launched its own guided rocket at an enemy jet which soon exploded into a brilliant ball of flame.
"You're mine, you bastard," Another aircraft radioed as it did the same, "Fox Two!"
"Garuda Two, engaging enemy MiG" Another one radioed.
"Going in with guns" Another aircraft radioed which was in a very different shape with its straight wings and its engines on the rear of the fuselage. Then came the sound of something being torn apart was heard and I watched as the strange aircraft's large nose mounted cannon opened up. I then looked to the plane's target which just disappeared into a ball of fire.
"Holy shit" Emily V. uttered in amazement.
"Incredible… they have magic as well." Mio uttered.
"What? How? Can you tell?" Gerhard asked.
"Our magic eyes can see their magic aura." Sakai said.
"Fuck! We can't win like this, these planes are too fast!" An Anti-Witch pilot barked.
"This is not fair." Another Anti-Witch pilot growled.
"As if you using 1960s jet against 1940s planes is fair? Give me god damn break" One of the new jets radioed.
"Karma is a bitch isn't it?" Another radioed. We watched as the newcomers decimate the Anti-Witches Squadron.
"Hey guys, look at the planes" Emily V. said as she looked at one of the new planes. I turned and saw on one of the plane, under the canopy, was a name, 'William Yeager' and behind that name was another "Edward Vermillion'
"Hey, they have your last name, Chuck" Shirley said.
"United States Air Force, huh?" Greg said.
"Calling the 501st Joint Fighter Wing and the 501st Joint Fighter Squadron, this is Lancer One, can you hear me?" An older sounding pilot radioed.
Well hopefully, this was good for all of you
Sorry about the bad version earlier.
And we will be soon find out about this new squadron. Until then, this is Corporal Tommy signing off.