Chapter 22

After the multiple test flights and a handful of crashes due to the calibration, I was allowed to officially take the equipment. "Finally." I huffed as I signed the last bit of paperwork related to my striker and new guns. "Now to get some sleep." I muttered as I looked at the clock. It read 11:01pm. I cracked my neck and elbows before standing and cracking my knees. I half stumbled back to my room and flopped down onto the bed after a glass of whiskey.

It had been a couple days since I had received my new striker and D-day was fast approaching, it was a couple days off still but the base was tense, you could see it in everyone's eyes, the day we finally march back into Karlesland. I sat at my desk twirling a pencil between my fingers and staring up at the ceiling. The same thing I've been doing for the past week or so. I glanced over at the calendar hung up in my office. "12 of January." I muttered. "Only two more days." I looked into the hallway to see if anyone had decided to come find me as I usually was somewhat hidden away. The only living being in the hallway was Vadim who was pacing up and down out of sheer boredom. "Fuck it." I said as I left my chair. "Vadim, lets go for a walk." I quickly retrieved his leash and clipped it to his collar as he can walking into my office.

"Stefan, you finally left your office!" Yoshika called as I walked past her and Lynne hanging up laundry. "Yea, it was boring just sitting in a chair and staring at the ceiling." I said as I walked over to speak with them. "It's times like these that I wish there was some activity." "Careful what you wish for." Lynne warned me. "You never know what's going to happen." "I just jinxed us, didn't I?" I asked as Vadim decided to seek out the attention he craved. "Yes, I guess you did." Lynne said. "Ah well." I said with a shrug. "What's the worst that could happen." "You did it again Stefan." Yoshika said. "Damn, today is not my lucky day." I responded before we all laughed abit. It was nice to see some of the girls in high spirits.

I rolled out of bed and groggily checked the calendar. It read the 14 of January. "Gertrude." I said as I poked her shoulder only for her to roll over. "Gertrude. It's D-Day." I said again hoping it would wake her. "What!" Gertrude shot up. "It's January 14 the operation is later today. Our job is to make sure no enemy bombers get in aswell as taking out any major ground threat." I said as I tossed her, her cloths and stepped across the room to wake Erica. "Erica, get up." I said as I threw a book near her head. "40 more minutes." I heard her mutter. "Up now or I'll open fire." I said. "20 minutes then." She bargained in her sleep. I quickly signaled to Gertrude to toss me my Webley. She shakes her head but tosses it to me anyway. "Erica you have 10 seconds to get up or I'll shot." I threatened again. "10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1." I cocked the hammer and pointed the revolver towards the open window before squeezing the trigger. The sound of the .455 caliber round being fired off startled both Gertrude and Erica as both jumped followed shortly by Shirley kicking down the door. "What's wrong!" She shouts upon entry. "I was just waking Erica." I reassured her as I lowered my Webley. "Did you really have to wake the whole base like that." Shirley complained as Erica finally recovered from the loud noise. "Anyway. Everyone get dressed and to the briefing room before breakfast." I ordered.

Everyone minus Minna was seated in the briefing room as I set up the projector and the maps and images. Everyone was chatting and wondering what was going on, then it all went silent as I finished setting up the projector and Minna walked in. "Everything is set Minna." I said as I stepped to the side allowing her to walk right by. "Thank you." She said before coming to a stop infront of the room and off to the left of the screen. "As you are all aware we have been chosen to aide in the operation to liberate the Roer Triangle. Command just issued some change in our orders." Mio then changed the slide to the map of the assault. "Leading the Center thrust is now myself with Miyafuji, Eila, Sanya and Lynne." Minna said while using a stick to point at the Center thrust. "Leading the Southern thrust is Heidemarie along with Trude, Erica and Perrine. That means Stefan you are leading the Northern thrust with Sargent Hattori, Shirley, Lucchini and Captain Jantzen." "Not the first time command has changed plans last minute." I said. "Yea. They do, do that a lot." Jantzen said as she leaned against the wall beside me. "We leave at 1400 hours." Minna ordered. "Until then you will all be on standby."

"Ugh, I'm bored." I groaned as I layer my head down on the table as Yoshika and Lynne were playing a card game while Lucchini and Shirley were doing whatever they normally do. "I agree." Olivia said as she leaned back in her chair. "Yea, the whole war was written as if everything happened right after another ignoring all the time inbetween the major battles and any skirmish." I said as I lifted up my head from the table. "We need to find something to do between the paperwork and well actually fighting. Yoshika and Lynne play cards, Shirley relaxes while Lucchini groped her and sleeps, Major trains, Perrine is either with Yoshika and Lynne or watching the Major, Sanya sleeps while Eila watches over her, Heidemarie is normally lonesome, and Minna is almost always busy with paperwork." I said. "Well you drink and smoke, anything else? And you forgot Hattori, Barkhorn and Hartmann." Olivia says says. "Right, I usually am stuck doing paperwork but since I finished all mine and I am being transferred after this mission for three months in Orussia to aid the 502nd as they help the allies force their way towards the Berlin hive." I said while stretching. "And Gertrude is usually bugging Erica to get out of bed while Hattori continues to train under Major." "Hattori! Care to join us in a game?" Yoshika called as Hattori passed the dinning room door. "Uh, no thank you pilot office Miyafuji, I have to get ready for the battle." Hattori turned her down. "I'll join you Yoshika." I said. "What are you playing?" "Well Erica taught me it, she calls it blackjack." Yoshika said. "We'll deal me in and what's the betting pool like?" I asked. "Betting pool?" Yoshika questioned. "Uh, Stefan we aren't betting anything." Lynne said. "Ah well. I'll still join. It's not like I have anything else to do." I said. "I'll join as well." Olivia said as Yoshika dealt us in. 'An ace and a Queen.' I thought as I looked at the cards that were flipped over. Lynne had a 7 Olivia had a 9 and Yoshika had a 4. "Hit." Lynne said as she was dealt the card. "Hit." She said again. "Stay." She said passing it to me. "Stay." I said passing it to Olivia. "Hit." Oliva said. "Stay." "Hit." Yoshika said while taking a card from the top of the deck. "Hit." And another card she drew. "Stay." I flipped over the ace and said. "21." "25." Olivia said. "16." Yoshika said. "19." Lynne said. The game continued for awhile until Yoshika and Lynne excused themselves to make lunch for everyone.

After lunch everyone was gathered in the hanger. "So, who's ready for the operation?" I asked as we all stood in our strikers.

A/N: I have lost interest in continuing this story for the time being. I may come back to it in the future to continue this series or just rewrite it all.

Apologies.