The Clock Tower

by Archive keeper

After a series of vivid visions of a world at war with itself, Elia and the rest of the 501st are transported to the MW universe where they have to fight to survive the invasion of America. They team up with Metal Team and the 141 in order to find a way home however nothing is as it seems as the fate of both worlds may be tied to the will of a single man re posted with permission

31. Chapter 31 A Brave New World

rcHey guys after a long hiatus i am finally back with a new chapter. before i begin though i have to get some shit outta the way first. I did some thinking about some of the things i said in regards to some other popular stories on this site like the Chosen One and The Paradox Timeline and after Reading Bucue's review of the Chosen One i came to a conclusion. you know what at the end of the day you like what you like and who am I to say that you can not like a certain story. additionally when i was asking why people liked those stories i wasnt asking to be a "dick" or a "hater" i was more asking out of sheer confusion as in my personal opinion i couldnt see why anyone could possibly like those stories. but again hey who am i to question people's likes and dislikes. personally i will say that i dont like either stories but if you like them more power to you. i will respect your right to like those stories just respect my right to not like them. secondly i need to explain something else to everyone. at no point in time have i flamed any stories and here is why. there is a difference between a negative review and a flame review. a negative review sights examples of bad writing in the story that anyone can take a look at and see for themselves for example if someone said that there were lots of misspellings in the story and you looked and indeed saw a bunch of typos that would be an accurate and legitimate negative review. mean while a flame review is a review that is not helpful and attacks the author on a personal level for example a review like this would be a flame review "YUZ SUX DIXS GET OFF TIS SIGHT! XOXO" that would be an example of a flame review you can see that the review literally didnt say anything about the story it just insults the author. i have and never will write a review like this it is unprofessional and just makes the reviewer look stupid. that being said judging by the reactions that i have gotten from some about some of my rather outspoken opinions on certain stories i will no longer be writing reviews for stories i do not like from here on now. the only time i will leave a review for a story is if either i really really like the story, or i am specifically asked by the author to leave a review in which case i will warn them that i am going to be honest with the review and not sugar coat anything. additionally there are two other types of reviews i want to cover quickly which are what i like to call splashes and commentary. a splash is sorta the opposite of a flame; a splash is a positive comment about the story that also doesn't really help the author for example "This story is awesome" you see the praise is nice but ultimately its not overly helpful as it doesn't say why the reviewer likes the story again its nice but keep splashes at a minimum btw yes i just made that term up. next is a commentary reviewer which are a lot more helpful to both readers and the writer. a commentary review basically discusses what happened in the chapter and gives the author their in depth thoughts about the chapter, basically a chapter summary with the readers thoughts about the events of the chapter. a good review no matter if it is positive or negative picks apart the chapter and analyzes it that is what you should strive for. anyways ok that elephant is outta the room now so back on to answer some questions. to answer ghosts question about how much longer the clocktower is going to be. well i have a few more arcs left before the conclusion, we have up next the battle of Miami, the lost, the rescue, Red Flag/ Dissimilar Air Combat Training (that will be a fun ato write google DACT and Red Flag to get a better idea of what that arc might be about) then Minna and Mio's wedding and finally capping the last story arc with a bang which will be the Liberation of Cuba arc so i would say Ghost that i am about 60% done with the story now. also from ghost about the fate of the Abraham Lincoln and if the Neuroi are going to Neuroifi it... shhhhh spoilers :( XD. anyways i think that is all the questions i have for now if you asked me a question and i didnt answer it feel free to PM me. oh one more thing the 78th Tame Witches are Bucue's OC unit however Iliyana and Kitsune are my OCs that he endorses as canon for the 78th.

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A Brave New World

Onboard a C-17 over the Atlantic Ocean

Flying Officer Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen

08:34 local time

Eila sat with the other members of Task Force 141 in the belly of the massive transport aircraft taking them back to the United States. Eila loaded .45cal rounds into a magazine for her UMP; she was desperately trying to keep her mind off of the current situation. The Neuroi were here in this world. Not only that but the Neuroi were attacking in force and in numbers that eclipsed all other encounters with them save for perhaps Operation Palaiologos the 1941 battle in Eastern Europe to capture the Minsk Hive. Eila grimaced; she had not been present during Operation Palaiologos, when the combined armies of all of Europe attacked the Minsk Hive, but she knew that the battle was an utter catastrophe that ended with the human armies annihilated and the fate of Europe was effectively sealed. Once again humanity was forced to retreat from Europe abandoning it to their mortal enemies the Neuroi.

There were other developments that had occurred as well that Eila had not understood. First there was the blood raining from the sky. Even when the Neuroi first arrived to her world back in 1939 over the Orussian countryside the sky had not rained blood, so why did it happen now? And secondly she had heard reports that people from her world were showing up all over the place in this world. What had caused that to occur and why did they come here of all places to begin with. Just then Eila looked to her left to see Isabella the witch who had been amongst them this whole time approach them. Minna was the first to speak.

"Corporal Marquez… I haven't gotten the opportunity to ask you this yet… but I am getting the feeling that you know more about what is going on here, than you initially led us to believe. Is this true?" Minna asked politely, however judging by the subtle look in her eyes and the tone in her voice it was clear that Minna was ordering the Corporal not asking her. Isabella nodded her head.

"Yes I do know who caused the Neuroi to arrive to this world… or perhaps I should say what now." Isabella informed Minna then Grinch spoke.

"Alright then spill it… remember you owe us for pulling your ass out of the fire in Nicaragua." Grinch told Isabella who nodded.

"I suppose I do." She simply stated before turning to the assembled witches and Task Force members. "When I was thirteen years old my powers as a witch were awakened. I learned that I had the power of Remote Viewing. In other words I can observe events and locations that I am physically not present to witness; these include events and locations that are not occurring in this dimension." Isabella explained to them, she then turned to face Eila and the other witches. "This includes events occurring in your world. Some of the first things I saw were of the war occurring in your world against the Neuroi. And more importantly I also was contacted by Viktor Reznov from beyond the grave." Isabella informed them. Frost was the next one to speak.

"Wait how can that be possible Reznov has been dead for over fifty years." Frost explained to Isabella who nodded her head.

"Indeed he and Alex Mason have been dead for a long time, however their souls did not pass on to the afterlife instead they managed to get into an isolated pocket dimension where they began to conduct operations to hinder people from getting their hands on an ancient artifact… many of you may have heard of this artifact before it has been referred to "Pandora's Box"." Isabella paused; the men of Metal Team let out a gasp of surprise and murmured to themselves. Eila had never heard of this "Pandora's Box" before but it appeared that Metal Team had before. Shirley was the next to speak.

"Wait what the heck is Pandora's Box?" She asked them. Sandman was the next to speak.

"It was an ancient legend, it was a box said to contain all the evils of the world in it. Mostly it is used as a metaphor to warn of unforeseen consequences that could have dire results. However… that brings up another question… if Pandora's Box is real does that mean…" Sandman was cut off by Isabella.

"Yes the Pagan gods of Greece are real or rather they were real… they are dead now, killed by Yahweh, or God, or Allah whatever you wish to call him." Isabella explained, leaving everyone dumbstruck. "They weren't gods as we know them rather they were just powerful supernatural beings that claimed to be gods… actually they are what is referred to as "Outer Gods" the Neuroi are actually servants of an Outer God who calls himself The Architect; although that is not his true name and there are other names that this world has called him before." Isabella explained to the group. Gertrud was the next to speak.

"No that can't be possible there are no such things as gods and demons, the Neuroi are aliens from another dimension, not demons, or servants of Outer Gods." Gertrud told Isabella who shook her head.

"As I said the Neuroi and the Architect are not demons and gods as we think of them. They can be killed, but they are supernatural and defy most mortal understanding of how the universe works." Isabella explained. Eila was at a loss for words this was more than she could take in at the moment. "As I was trying to explain before, Makarov had gotten his hands on Pandora's Box and opened it revealing a Neuroi who goes by the name The Trespasser. This Neuroi made a pact with Makarov; if he sacrificed six hundred and sixty six million human lives the laws of this universe would be rewritten allowing magic to flow freely in this world and opening the gates to the Neuroi's realm allowing them to attack this world. In return they would grant him a new body and gift him with godlike powers. Everything that has transpired over the last few months from the Moscow airport attack, to the Russian invasion of Europe and America, to the nuclear war in the Indian Sub-continent has been part of Makarov's plan. And as you can see his plan has been successful." Isabella explained to them.

"This… this can't be possible there has to be a more rational explanation for why this is all happening." Eila said allow. She was a rational person, an atheist like most people from her world. She didn't believe in any of this religious nonsense and supernatural crap.

"You can believe what you want but it is the truth I have seen it with my own eyes." Isabella said as she summoned her familiar and pointed to her now gold colored eyes. "I have no reason to lie to you anymore." Isabella explained. Frost then spoke again.

"Why didn't you tell us all of this before Isabella…?" Frost trailed off.

"Because the whole reason that General Shepherd ordered you to rescue me was because he knew before hand that I was a witch. I don't know how he knew he just did. When I arrived at your base he told me that I was to use my powers to help him, but if I refused or if I told anyone else that I was a witch he threatened to dissect me, while I was still alive." Isabella informed Frost who clenched his teeth.

"That bastard… I never should have trusted him." Frost said aloud. Sandman nodded.

"The fault is mine Frost I should have suspected that something was up with that traitorous asshole." Sandman stated to Frost. Then Minna spoke.

"Isabella what about the people from our world, how did they end up in this world?" Minna inquired of Isabella.

"When I spoke to Reznov he told me that part of Makarov's plan was to use the sacrifice in the Ritual to destroy your world Minna… however as a fall back plan both Mason and Reznov sacrificed themselves to use an ancient device to transport as many people to this world as possible…. But I am sorry your home world… that entire reality is gone." Isabella explained to Minna just then Gertrud cried out.

"NO CHRIS SHE CAN'T BE DEAD SHE HAS TO BE ALIVE!" Gertrud cried out as Shirley wrapped her arm around her girlfriend.

"Don't worry I have seen Christine before back in your world and I know that she made it over into this world safe and sound." Isabella told Gertrud who looked up to Isabella. "Christine along with most of the city of Manchester where her hospital was located appeared in upstate New York. Last time I spoke to Reznov he said that he would try to get as many of your loved ones over to this world as he can." Isabella then looked to Eila. "Your sister Aurora is also alive she is currently in Canada." Isabella told Eila who sighed in relief. Then Sanya spoke.

"Isabella… what about my mother and father… did they make it out?" Sanya asked Isabella.

"Yes they did I am sure of it but I do not know where… I have never seen your parents before Sanya so I don't know what to look for." Isabella said to Sanya who had tears appear in her eyes. Eila wrapped her arm around Sanya and held her close to her chest.

"Oh mother… Oh father… I am so happy that you are alive… I know that one day I will see you again." Sanya said through teary eyes. Then Isabella spoke again.

"Part of Reznov's plan was to get as many witches and military personnel from your old world as possible to this one, and to get as many as he could to arrive in North America. He wanted to make sure that mankind in this world had as much of a fighting chance of survival as it could. However there is more bad news. The Neuroi that you fought back in your world Eila; they were only fighting at a fraction of their strength. The laws of your world were in such a way that they could only trickle out into your world and even then they were very handicapped. Did you ever wonder why they seemed to miss targets that any competent marksmen could hit with ease? Well that is because they were essentially fighting with one hand behind their backs so to say. Now however the laws of the universe have been rewritten and they are able to fight with all of their strength and they can bring the full might of all 6666 legions to bear against us." Isabella told them. Frost was the next one to speak.

"Then if that is the case then we are going to need everyone we can into the fight against these things… and we are going to need a hell of a lot of luck to for that matter." Frost stated aloud. Eila nodded her head. Eila used her powers to see into the future… mankind… before this war ended would be drowning in a sea of tears and blood… the future was very bleak indeed.

Onboard the USS Enterprise Pacific Ocean

First Lieutenant Trenton Marwick

10:12 local time
"All Hands General Quarters!" Shouted one of the radio operators on the bridge of the Big E. Trenton sat in the cockpit of his F4U Corsair with the engine up and running as more aircraft in front of him took off. As of ten minutes ago a massive flash of light had transported the entire carrier task force somewhere in the pacific. Trenton really couldn't say where but all he did know was one moment they were off the coast of Wake Island and the next they weren't. Shortly after that radar had picked up a Diomedia class Neuroi along with four Manta class Medium flyers and three dozen Fighter Bombers and six Destroyer class Neuroi; and more than likely the Diomedia class probably had a dozen or more Flying Goblets to cover it. Trenton looked to his right to see the USS Yorktown launching its Hellcats and Corsairs to intercept the incoming Neuroi. Alongside the two Liberion Flattops were dozens of Fletcher class destroyers along with Cleveland class Anti-Aircraft Light Cruisers and four Northampton Class Heavy Cruisers. Trenton grimaced even with all of the aircraft and ships here to face the incoming Neuroi it wouldn't be enough. Last Trenton remembered only one Marine flight and one Navy flight of Witches were with the task force, they may be enough to take out the Diomedia but against these new supersonic Neuroi they would be just as helpless as any of the mundane forces. If they got lucky maybe the fleet could put up enough lead to destroy the fast moving Neuroi aircraft but odds were that they wouldn't be able to.

"This is Jester 1-1 to all aircraft prepare to takeoff." Colonel Smith the commander of VMF-23 Court Jesters said to the pilots of the twelve F4U-1D Corsairs that were waiting for takeoff behind a flight of USN F6F Hellcats. Behind Trenton the 55th Tactical Air Infantry Platoon of the USMC got ready to take off. The three witches had been transferred over to the carrier task force two months ago after an undisclosed incident had occurred between two of the witches and a mundane tank platoon. Trenton looked at the Platoon leader Master Sergeant Margery Washington a seventeen year old Liberion girl of African descent. Trenton hadn't really talked to her too much given the strict no fraternization rule between mundane personnel and witches but from what he had gathered Margery was a competent and talented leader. The other two witches were Jennifer and Janette Wallace. The two of them were sisters and both appeared to practically be jumping at their collective shadows. The few times Trenton had passed the sisters in the hallway they practically hugged the wall and stared at him in fear until he left the area. Trenton had asked around and they seemed to be that way around everyone, or at least every man.

The last of the Navy Hellcats took off and Trenton watched as Colonel Smith took off the carrier. Trenton pushed forward to full throttle and his Corsair started to roll down the flight deck for takeoff. Just then over the radio his wingman and personnel friend Quinn spoke over the radio.

"Yo Trent, you think we are going to make it out of this alive?" Quinn asked Trenton who rolled his eyes. He would have tossed his hands up in frustration if he wasn't trying to fly his plane.

"Oh… that is just a great fucking question to ask me Quinn talk about inspiring confidence in me." Trenton replied with mock frustration in his voice. Truth be told the odds were not looking good but he would rather not be reminded about that.

"Hey no problem, anything to make you feel better Trent." Quinn replied with a chuckle in his voice.

"You know I have half a mind to whoop your ass when we land you loud mouth bozo." Trenton replied to his friend who laughed over the radio.

"Yeah well if you did that who would be watching your back in the skies?" Quinn asked jokingly. Before Trenton could reply the Colonel spoke over the radio.

"Shut-it both of you. Alright people get in formations with the rest of the air wing we are going to try and intercept the enemy as far from the fleet as we possibly can. Climb to five thousand meters just above the Diomedia class Neuroi. We are going to hit them from up top that is where their cores are located. Good luck people." Colonel Smith told the rest of the Court Jesters. Trenton climbed in his Corsair joining the circling aircraft above him. From below the witches from both the Enterprise and the Yorktown took off and flew towards the formation of mundane Liberion aircraft. One hundred and twenty Hellcats and Corsairs from the two Liberion Carriers along with six witches headed to engage the Neuroi who were approaching the Liberion fleet. In all directions there was nothing but water meaning if the carriers and the other ships were destroyed, Trenton was going to have to swim home. Trenton along with the other fighters and the witches of the USN and USMC increased their speed and headed towards the incoming Neuroi. Trenton flexed his hands that were beginning to shake with a combination of fear and anticipation for the coming dogfight. Over the course of this war against the Neuroi it was rare for a mundane pilot to score a kill against the Neuroi in air to air combat, and that was back in the early days of the war when most of the Neuroi fighter planes were barely better than a mundane aircraft, now with these new supersonic fighters that the Neuroi used; the odds of surviving an air to air engagement with the Neuroi were next to zero. Trenton shook his head; no he had already been shot down twice before by the Neuroi he wasn't going to be shot down again. Trenton then sighed he just wished his sister Clotilda was here; it would make him feel at ease to know that she was watching his back.

"I see them…. HOLY SHIT THAT IS A LOT OF THEM!" One of the mundane pilots shouted over the radio.

"Bandits twelve o'clock low!" Another pilot shouted. Trenton looked forward and down and spotted the enemy. The massive straight winged Neuroi referred to as a Diomedia was a nasty piece of work. Pushed forward by its six propeller engines mounted on the back side of the wings which gave off an ear splitting sound akin to a car engine revving ; the Diomedia was armed with four heavy laser ports, one on each wing and two mounted on the underside of the fuselage. Protecting the Neuroi from aerial attack were six heavy automatic cannons of a similar design as to the main armament of the Flying Goblet Neuroi. Although the exact rate of fire and power could only be speculated Trenton could assume that they fired roughly at a rate of somewhere between 1200 and 1500 rounds per minute, and hit with the force of a thirty millimeter cannon. The Diomedia had its first cannon located on the nose of the aircraft; its second turret was located near the tail to cover the rear of the aircraft while the remaining four turrets were mounted on both the top and underside of the wingtips. Trenton also knew that the Diomedia was capable of holding up to twenty Flying Goblets that were easily capable of taking on mundane piston engine fighter planes such as his Corsair. Guarding the Diomedia were four X-3 Manta class medium flyers arranged in a diamond formation to cover the Neuroi heavy bomber. However for Trenton at any rate the most distressing thing he saw were the dozens of Fighter Bomber class Neuroi. They were nasty pieces of work each one capable of flying past the speed of sound and out maneuvering and out shooting any mundane aircraft in the sky. Worse yet even witches weren't fast enough to be able to catch them. When the Fighter Bomber class Neuroi first were seen they weren't supersonic they flew about as fast as the Karlsland Me-262 and maneuvered about as well as the Mustang, but over the last few months they had changed and become like they are now. And as such causalities amongst airmen and air infantry witches had gone up. They were now within three kilometers of the Neuroi and the Diomedia class disgorged its Flying Goblet escorts which along with the Fighter Bombers and the Destroyer class Neuroi began to climb to intercept them.

"Alright people it's show time! Use Boom and Zoom tactics; all units engage at will!" One of the Senior CAG officers shouted over the radio. Trenton spoke over the radio.

"Ok you heard the boss Quinn, hold on to your ass this is going to get real ugly real fast!" Trenton shouted as he put his aircraft into a power dive heading towards one of the Manta class Neuroi.

"You got to be shitting me!" Was all Quinn could say as he along with every other aircraft and witch in the formation dived to attack the Neuroi. The Neuroi opened fire with their lasers and cannons, ruby red beams of light passed by Trenton's aircraft shredding Hellcats and Corsairs as they made their attack run. Cannon fire from the Diomedia passed over Trenton's canopy and Trenton saw as two of the Court Jesters were ripped apart as each shell detonated against their aircraft's body. Trenton performed a barrel roll to dodge incoming cannon fire and pulled the trigger on his flight stick sending a stream of incendiary rounds at the Manta class, his bullets hardly putting a dent in the massive Neuroi's armor. The Manta retaliated and fired a laser beam which impacting Colonel Smith's Corsair obliterating it in a bright flash of light. Trenton pulled off his attack run flying through the gap between the Diomedia and the Manta class Neuroi. Trenton looked back to see Margery fire a rocket from her Bazooka at one of the Manta class Neuroi. The M6 rocket from Margery's launcher smashed into the top of the Neuroi aircraft sending a thunderous detonation through the creature's body, which shattered its core. After that Margery switched to her M1 Thompson and began to fire at the Diomedia as Neuroi bullets smashed into her shield. Trenton saw two Flying Goblets flying up to attack Margery. Trenton cursed and pulled back on the stick and turned his aircraft to face the incoming Neuroi attackers. Trenton pushed the throttle forward as he ascended to meet the alien attackers; he rolled his aircraft to the left to dodge the wreckage of a burning Hellcat as it fell to the ocean below him. Trenton saw above that the battle was more of a bloodbath then anything. The Superior Neuroi aircraft hacked the Liberion aircraft from the skies as if they were nothing but flies to be swatted down. A Marine Witch was being assailed by three Fighter Bombers that were using their superior speed and agility to make quick passes at the witch draining her shields before they made the killing blow. Thankfully right before the Neuroi could finish off the assailed witch one of her comrade witches blocked the incoming lasers with her shield, saving the exhausted witch's life. In another section of the sky two Corsairs were dueling with a single Flying Goblet their fifty cal rounds smashing into its body and ripping away the armor to expose the core which was shattered by a few moments later. Their victory was short lived however as a Destroyer class fired its laser beam at the Corsairs bisecting one of the fighter planes while obliterating the other in a great ball of fire. Trenton turned his attention back to the Flying Goblets that were attacking Margery it was clear to him that they trying to overload her shield by attacking her from several different directions simultaneously. Trenton put one of the Flying Goblets in his sights and opened fire. Trenton sending a blizzard of high velocity rounds at the Neuroi which smashed into its body and sent it careening off its course. Trenton buzzed passed the Flying Goblets just as the Wallace sisters noticed the Flying Goblets and opened fire with their BARs killing Both Neuroi. Shells from the Diomedia passed by Trenton's aircraft missing him by mere centimeters as Trenton rolled onto his back and dove for the deck. Trenton then heard Quinn over the radio.

"Shit I can't shake this guy!" Quinn shouted over the radio. Trenton looked below him to see that a Flying Goblet was pursing Quinn's Corsair firing its cannon at the fleeing Liberion aircraft.

"Quinn I see you, I am coming to provide assistan…" Trenton said before his aircraft shook as three rounds from a Flying Goblet smashed into his fuselage. Trenton looked back to see a Flying Goblet pursing him firing its machine guns wildly at him. "Quinn listen to me I have one on my tail too but I have an idea that can save both our asses!" Trenton informed Quinn over the radio.

"Yea…yeah ok what's the plan Trent?" Quinn asked with clear panic in his voice as he tried to shake his relentless pursuer. Trenton dove for the deck to try and get to the same altitude as Quinn.

"You remember that game of chicken we played during flight school?" Trenton asked as he dodged an oncoming Destroyer class that shot past him fortunately for him at subsonic speeds.

"Yeah I remember… wait you want to do that thing that we did… again!?" Quinn asked as he remembered the stunt that nearly got them kicked out of flight school.

"You bet it… on the count of three you break left I'll break right got it?" Trenton asked as he leveled out and turned hard left then right to prevent his attacker from getting a clear shot. Bullets passed by him as he fought against the G-force of the hard maneuvers.

"Alright you're the boss, but this better not get us killed alright?" Quinn replied as he started to turn towards Trenton who began to turn towards his wingman.

"No promises." Trenton simply stated as he firewalled the throttle and increased his speed to 671kph. The two Corsairs closed the distance with each other the Neuroi hot on their tails as they got closer and closer. "1…2…3… NOW!" Trenton shouted as he rotated his aircraft to the right and turned hard; Quinn doing the same thing but in the opposite direction. Both pursing Flying Goblets smashed into each other dazed and crippled but not destroyed, and more importantly they were recovering. Trenton and Quinn reversed direction turning as tightly as they could to face the Neuroi. "I will go low you go high!" Trenton shouted over the radio.

"Ok!" Quinn simply replied. Trenton put the stunned Neuroi in his sights and pulled the trigger and sent a stream of bullets after the Neuroi Flying Goblet shredding its already compromised armor and shattering the core. Trenton decreased altitude fifteen meters as Quinn finished off the remaining Neuroi and ascended. "Yahoo! We just killed us some Neuroi!" Quinn shouted over the radio.

"Yeah I am sure we will get medals for that but that's only if we survive today. Take a look above." Trenton said over the radio as he saw flak bursts smack into the Neuroi formation. The Diomedia fired a barrage of lasers obliterating two Fletcher class destroyers in an instant. The Neuroi had reached the fleet; the easy part of the battle was over… now the real fight for survival would begin.

In the Skies over the Pacific

Master Sergeant Margery Washington

10:46 local time

Margery fired her M1 Tommy gun at one of the wounded Flying Goblets, her magically enhanced .45cal rounds hammering the weakened armor of the Neuroi and exposing the core which she obliterated with a single well placed shot. Marge looked to her left to see the Diomedia firing its powerful lasers into the fleet destroying destroyers and cruisers with each shot. Margery grimaced the battle had been lasting for only twenty minutes and the fleet's air wing had been depleted thirty five percent; additionally since the Diomedia had reached its target a dozen ships had been lost. Fortunately however the carriers Yorktown and Enterprise were still intact at the center of the fleet. Flak bursts from the escort ships filled the sky destroying a handful of the smaller strains in massed volleys of high explosive shells. Margery saw a supersonic Neuroi Fighter Bomber get hit with a glancing blow from a flak shell causing the aircraft to slow and wobble.

"Jen, Janette four o'clock!" Margery shouted, the two young witches turned to face the damaged Neuroi. Margery fired her Thompson using her magic to enhance each round, using her unique ability to concentrate the either in each round to make it explode on impact. Both of the Wallace sisters opened fire with their BARs their shots going wide as they tried to compensate for the speed of the Neuroi aircraft. An explosive round from Margery's Thompson smashed into the Fighter Bomber causing it to swerve to the left; an instant later, bullets from the Wallace sister struck the fuselage of the Neuroi tearing it open and exposing the core to their fire. Rounds from their Automatic Rifles perforated the Neuroi's core causing the alien craft to explode into white shards of metal. "Nice shooting ladies!" Margery shouted over the radio to the Wallace sisters.

"Than…thank you Master Sergeant." Jennifer the older of the two sister replied to Margery. Jennifer was a thirteen year old witch with chestnut colored short hair done in a ponytail; she had fair skin and hazel colored eyes. She was a little curvy for a girl her age which frankly Margery found quite appealing. Jennifer was the shyer of the two sisters who always seemed nervous around anyone though she was especially nervous around men for some reason just like her sister. Margery had only known the girls for four months now, but all she really knew about them was that they had been transferred from another unit that was serving in mainland Asia.

"Yeah anytime Marge!" Replied Janette, the younger of the two sisters who was twelve years. Janette wore her long dirty blonde hair down and had a petite body fitting of her age. Janette was much more outgoing and social then her older sister, other than her fear of men. Margery had asked the girls about their issue with men, but both of the Wallace sisters refused to answer any questions that Margery asked them on the issue.

Bullets whizzed past Margery's head as a Flying Goblet fired its machine guns at her. Now was not the time to ponder such things Margery thought as she fired a burst from her Thompson battering the Neuroi's armor. Margery's weapon clicked empty and she shoved in another thirty round magazine. The Wallace sisters fired their BARs at the Neuroi which sent a dozen .30-06 rounds through the Neuroi's core destroying the creature. Margery then looked over to see the Diomedia and the two remaining Manta class Neuroi attacking the fleet. Margery checked her ammo; she had three magazines and one M6 rocket left for her bazooka, not enough to take out all of the Neuroi. Not only that but the high powered Neuroi machine guns on the Diomedia kept her at a distance as every time she got close it fired a hail of high powered rounds at her preventing her from getting a clear shot. If that wasn't bad enough the remaining Mantas provide point defense for the Neuroi firing their lasers at her or anyone else that got too close to the Diomedia. Margery then got an idea.

"Barns you copy?" Margery asked over the radio trying to contact the other flight leader of the second witch platoon.

"Yeah I hear you loud and clear Washington." Gunnery Sergeant Michelle Barns spoke over the radio.

"I have a plan; I want your unit to take out the Manta on the right flank of the Diomedia, my girls and I are going to take out the Manta on the left flank. After that we are going to hit the Diomedia with everything we have left to see if we can finish it off." Marge explained to the other platoon leader.

"Ok I copy let's do this!" Barns shouted over the radio. Margery looked to the Wallace sisters and spoke.

"Ok Ladies arrowhead formation!" Margery shouted as she cocked her SMG and shot towards the Neuroi Manta classes. Lasers from the Neuroi shot towards her as she rolled to the left avoiding the incoming fire. Two Hellcats flew overhead firing all six of their .50cal machine guns, the heavy incendiary rounds smashing into the Neuroi Manta class. The Manta class retaliated firing its lasers at them. Two crimson colored beams crashed into the Liberion aircraft detonating fuel and ammunition in an instant killing both pilots in the blink of an eye. Margery aimed her M1 Thompson submachine gun at the Manta class and fired a long burst of fire at the Neuroi. Margery imbued the rounds with raw either which detonated on contact with the Neuroi causing the already magically enhanced rounds to inflict even more damage against the Neuroi. Jennifer and Janette added to the crescendo of fire directed at the Neuroi. large chunks of metal shattered against the impact of the heavy magically enhanced rounds which tore open the top section of the Neuroi exposing the ruby red core to her fire. Margery fired another short burst from her Thompson her rounds impacting the core causing it to shatter and the Neuroi to explode into white fragments. Margery looked over to Michelle and her girls as they closed in for the kill on the remaining Manta class. Michelle dove down close to the Neuroi firing her two M3 Grease Guns akimbo style at the Neuroi. The Manta retaliated by firing its lasers at Michelle who promptly put up her shield causing the lasers to deflect away from her. .45cal rounds slammed into the Neuroi Manta class's core causing the alien war machine to shatter into hundreds of white shards. Michelle and the two witches under her command flew towards Margery.

"What do we do Master Sergeant?" Michelle asked Margery who looked back to the rampaging Diomedia who despite the best efforts of the fleet's escort ships was still rampaging through the defenseless Liberion ships.

"Alright we are going to attack the Neuroi from both sides to divide its fire support that might make it easier to take out." Margery told Michelle who nodded her head.

"You want my girls and I to hit him from the left while you and the Wallace sisters hit him from the right?" Michelle asked Margery who nodded.

"Yeah classic one two punch scenario; are you clear on what we are supposed to do?" Margery inquired of the Gunnery Sergeant who nodded her head and looked back to her two witches.

"Ok ladies you heard the Master Sergeant let's take this mother fucker out, our boys in the fleet are depending on us!" Michelle told her girls. Margery gestured for the Wallace sisters to follow her as she swept out in a wide turning arc to the right to attack the Diomedia. The defensive turrets on the Diomedia opened up smashing into her shield while Margery slung her Thompson across her right shoulder while she then tried to pull the M1 Bazooka off her left shoulder.

"Jennifer I need you to reach into my satchel and load the remaining rocket into the Bazooka!" Margery ordered the young witch who flew over to her.

"Right!" She shouted as she pulled out the rocket and load it into the Bazooka.

"One o'clock high!" Shouted Janette, as she fired her BAR into the sky. Margery looked up in just enough time to see a Destroyer class diving down on her its laser charging to fire. Margery and Jennifer raised their shields as the laser impacted forming a singularity before detonating shattering both of the witch's shields and sending them falling to the sea below. Margery scrambled for her launcher before it could fall into the water.

"I got the rocket!" Jennifer shouted as she grabbed the last remaining M6 rocket before it fell into the sea. Margery looked to the Diomedia as it charged its lasers. As if in retaliation the Neuroi Diomedia fired its lasers at the Big E. Two heavy lasers shattered the flight deck of the USS Enterprise and burned their way down to the lowest levels. In a fraction of a second aviation fuel, bombs, bullets and the engine room exploded in a massive fireball instantly killing all hands aboard the venerable aircraft carrier that was the crown jewel of the Liberion Navy. "No the… Enterprise… it's gone." Jennifer weakly stated as she looked upon the smoldering wreckage of their carrier. Margery looked up to see Neuroi Fighter Bombers circling overhead preparing to pounce on the witches of Able Platoon. The handful of remaining Flying Goblets dueled with the remaining mundane aircraft and the Destroyer classes dove down and attacked the Liberion ships killing a vessel with each shot. The Fighter Bombers dove down on her their weapons ports charging and Margery closed her eyes preparing for the end when she heard an explosion and Neuroi shards falling around her. She opened her eyes to see dozens of rockets smashing into the smaller Neuroi each one destroying or damaging the fast moving Neuroi. Then over the radio a voice spoke.

"This is Commander Stryker of the United States Navy Crimson Typhoon Squadron. We are approaching you from the East. I say again we are coming in hot from the East!" This mysterious Commander Stryker said to her over the radio.

"What!? What kind of weapons were those and what carrier did you fly off from!?" Margery demanded over the radio to this mysterious commander who at least sounded like he was a Liberion.

"We are flying F/A-18F Super Hornets using AMRAAMs. We took off from The USS Carl Vinson. We heard your distress call an hour ago and we got here as fast as we could." Commander Stryker informed her. Just then from the East Margery could see two dozen mysterious grey painted aircraft flying towards her. They were large aircraft nearly the size of a medium bomber and powered by jet engines; they seemed to have a combination of fuel tanks and rockets loaded under their wings. "We are going to deal with the fast movers but that big thing… you are going to have to take it out yourself. We brought a Growler with us and are going to use an ECM on these things to try and scramble their systems; be advised you will lose radio communication shortly." Commander Stryker told her.

"Wait what is ECM!?" Margery inquired before her radio squealed with static. Margery looked all around her and saw some Neuroi firing wildly in all directions, while others fell out of the sky; Margery saw to her left as a Destroyer class and a Fighter Bomber class smashed into each other at supersonic speeds causing both aircraft to explode into white fragments. The Diomedia was firing its machine guns wildly even catching a Flying Goblet in its crossfire destroying the alien craft. Jennifer loaded the remaining M6 rocket into Margery's Bazooka and tapped her on the shoulder. Margery looked back to the Wallace sisters and spoke. "I am going to make my attack cover me!" She ordered the younger girls as she began to gain altitude to attack the Diomedia from above. The Wallace sisters nodded in compliance before ascending after Margery. Margery climbed until she was fifteen meters above the Neuroi Diomedia, she leveled her Bazooka and aimed for the middle of the craft knowing that was wear the core was located. Margery fired her rocket which slammed into the Neuroi. The explosion tore open the top of the Diomedia which normally wouldn't be enough to kill it, but in this case Margery's magic made sure that wouldn't happen as a second explosion detonated against the core shattering it. Margery's magic was such that with normal bullets she could infuse them with raw either to make them explode, but with explosive weapons like her Bazooka she could make the rocket explode twice so the first explosion would clear away the armor while the second explosion would destroy the core. Margery saw two of these mysterious fighters pass by one hundred meters to the left moving at supersonic speeds as they fired their cannons into a fleeing Destroyer class obliterating the Neuroi. Just who were these people? Margery thought to herself.

In the Deserts of Arizona USA

Major Samantha V. Walters

12:34 local time

"GET DOWN!" Samantha yelled to the other soldiers in the trench line as Neuroi artillery shells smashed into their position. Giant explosions of red light and metal fragments shook the ground as the heavy Neuroi artillery shells impacted the earth. Dirt rained down on Samantha's head from the artillery shells. Samantha looked above to see a series of airbursts from crystallized miasma shells detonate above another trench line two hundred meters away; Samantha saw as two soldiers had miasma fragments embed themselves in their bodies, the soldiers screamed in pain and horror as the miasma ate away at their skin and muscle causing them to come apart in a heap of frothy blood and liquefied skin.

"Here they come!" Diana shouted as she fired her Witch Combat Gun at the incoming Neuroi infantry assaulting their position. A 76 Magic Mass Round smashed into one of the lead forms obliterating it in an instant, white shards flew in all directions smashing into its comrades who advanced on regardless of the loss. Samantha raised her Vector submachine gun over the trench and let loose a burst of fire. The powerful 21st century machine pistol spat out thirty six .45cal rounds at the rate of over 900 rounds a minute dwarfing even her favorite Thompson. Despite the tremendous rate of fire the Vector was very easy to control even on full auto due to its unique recoil canceling system. Three closely clustered Neuroi infantry forms exploded as the barrage of fire smashed into their bodies and shattered their cores. Samantha used her abilities to detect that assaulting this particular trench line were about forty Neuroi infantry forms. Izumi track dashed between the trenches firing her Semi-automatic M16A4 Assault Rifle she had been given by these Americans. Laser fire impacted Izumi's shield as she knelt down to one knee and fired a 40mm grenade from her under-mounted grenade launcher. The grenade impacted admits the Neuroi and blew three of them apart and maimed two others which were then sprayed with .50cal fire from Claudia's M2 shattering both of the damaged Neuroi. Claudia then switched her fire to the rest of the advancing Neuroi; heavy rounds from her machine gun cut through the lightly armored Neuroi with ease as they continued to advance towards the Britannian and Faraway Landers positions. Just then a Witch Combat Gun shell smashed into the midst of the remaining Neuroi along with a high velocity "Exacto" Guided .50cal round that curved to hit a Neuroi infantry form. Samantha looked back to see both Zhana and Helga advancing towards the frontline with two Bradley IFVs chasing after them. Zhana cocked the bolt on her M99 Anti-Material rifle as she moved towards the trench line. The Bradleys opened fire with their machine gun cannons which shredded the handful of remaining Neuroi infantry forms attacking this position. The Bradleys stopped and offloaded a dozen American soldiers who took up positions alongside the Britannians. This attack had been repulsed but other sectors of the frontline were not so lucky.

Sixteen hours ago after they had rescued those American tankers back in Texas the officers in charge of that unit briefed her on the situation. They were in an alternate world in the year 2016; they were currently in a country called American which was needless to say an alternate version of Liberion. Also countless people from her world along with the Neuroi were now in this world and the American Military was doing whatever it could to defend its people and the people from her world from these Neuroi. Samantha was then told that the Neuroi were advancing along the desert towards Tucson Arizona and a combination of Britannian, Faraway Landers, and American troops were setting up a defensive position to block the Neuroi's advance and they were ordered to go and provide assistance for the mundane forces. After a "helicopter" ride to the battle zone the girls of the Iron Witches were given some American weapons like the Vector she was using to give them a leg up against the Neuroi.

"Iron Within!" Samantha yelled over the radio to call the rest of the Iron Witches over. Samantha used her striker's walking ability to walk to a more open area of the trench line where the rest of the Iron Witches were assembling. Overhead American Apache helicopters flew by firing guided rockets and cannons at Neuroi advancing on another section of the defensive line. Faraway Lander Cromwell medium tanks and Britannian Churchill Mk VIIs took up positions behind them more American armored vehicles began to move into position. American soldiers fired trench mortars and anti-tank rockets at Neuroi forces. Samantha had to say these American troops were quite skilled in battle against the Neuroi much to her surprise. The rest of the Iron Witches assembled in the trench and took a knee. "Alright what's our ammo count people?" Samantha asked her girls who checked their ammo.

"I have three magazines left for my witch combat gun including the magazine I have loaded." Dianna told Samantha, then Helga spoke with a smug smirk on her face.

"Bah you are getting Sloppy Liberion; I still have four left for my weapon." Helga jibbed, Dianna rolled her eyes. Zhana checked her M99.

"I have one full magazine left Ma'am, and one that is down to fifty percent capacity." Zhana told Samantha who nodded her head. Claudia checked her Browning.

"Three hundred rounds of full auto kick ass locked, cocked and ready to rock!" She cheered. Then Izumi spoke.

"Six magazines and two grenades." She told Samantha who nodded her head.

"I have four magazines left for my weapon; for us who are using these American guns we shouldn't have much of a problem getting spare ammo, but Helga, Dianna… if you run out of rounds for your witch combat guns don't hesitate to pick up a weapon from one of the dead, preferably an American weapon as they are a lot better than the weapon we have been using back in our world. The rest of the Iron Witches nodded their heads and got ready to get back into position when a flight of Hurricanes flew overhead their 20mm cannons blazing at the Neuroi. Samantha looked over the trench to see dozens of Neuroi advancing towards their position bringing along both Turtle and Behemoth classes. Anti-aircraft fire from Neuroi mobile AA guns tore through the sky and punched through the thin armor of the Hurricanes and ignited the ammo and the fuel causing both aircraft to explode into giant fireballs. The American Army Apaches turned to retreat firing their chin mounted 30mm machine gun cannons at the Neuroi as they retreated. Laser beams flew up from the Neuroi; one beam striking the tail rotor of one of the Apaches causing the attack helicopter to spin out of control and crash into the ground skidding to rest fifty meters from Samantha's current position. Samantha could see fuel leaking and blood splattering the cockpit section of the pilot in the front seat indicating that he had been killed in the crash; however in the rear seat Samantha could see that the pilot was still moving, dazed and wounded but not dead.

"Cover me; I am going to rescue that pilot!" Samantha shouted as she pulled herself out of the trench and started to track dash towards the helicopter. Laser fire from one of the Behemoths flashed out in front of her and struck the ground ten meters to her left, Samantha dashed to the right slightly to further confuse the Neuroi as she sped towards the wreckage. The Iron Witches along with every mundane soldier in the area fired at the advancing Neuroi tank shells impacted against Turtle classes blowing off limbs or shattering cores. The roar of a jet engine filled the sky as a single engine jet fighter fired a rocket at one of the Turtles smashing into the top of the Neuroi breaching its armor and shattering its core. Infantry lasers smashed into Samantha's shield as she reached the chopper. Samantha used her abilities to detect that the one pilot in the back seat was still alive however the pilot in the first seat was indeed very dead. However she also much to her ire discovered that there were approximately one thousand Neuroi combat forms closing on her position. Samantha grabbed the handle for the canopy of the Helicopter and used her enhanced strength to rip off the door and so she could reach the pilot. The pilot was currently dazed and facing away from her, clearly looking at the advancing Neuroi. "Hey Soldier Boy I am here to rescue you." Samantha said nonchalantly as she pulled out her K-bar to slice off the seat belt restraining the pilot to his chair. The pilot then turned to face Samantha. Blood dripped down his soft young looking face as he stared up at her with her bright blue eyes and surprising full lips… this pilot was a girl! Samantha just realized.

"I…am… not a boy." The pilot slurred her words as she reached up to pull off her helmet revealing long raven colored hair that was matted down with blood.

"Ok I… am sorry… I just am not used to seeing a mundane woman in uniform…" Samantha trailed off as she finished cutting off the seat belt and started to pull her out of the cockpit.

"Well… get used to it… sister because there are plenty of woman like me… serving our country." She once again slurred with a little bit of a chuckle in her voice.

"What is your name?" Samantha asked the pilot as she started to carry the pilot piggy back style. The pilot wrapped her arms around Samantha's neck for support.

"Warrant Officer… Jacqueline Dawkins… at your service…" She slurred.

"Ok Jacqueline I am going to get you some help but I need you to hold on and do not fall asleep." Samantha told Jacqueline who patted Samantha on the shoulder.

"I got… it… not my first head injury… you know…." She slurred. Samantha didn't respond and began to track dash towards the trench line. Laser blasts impacted all around her as the Neuroi tried their damndest to kill her and the girl she rescued. M1 Abrams and Churchill's fired their guns into the Neuroi doing an unknown amount of damage. Diana and Helga got out of the trench line and circled around behind Samantha using their shields to block any incoming fire from the rear. Samantha then jumped into the trench and looked to Izumi.

"Izumi she is injured and needs your magic pronto." Samantha said as she set Jacqueline down in the trench. Izumi walked over to Jacqueline and started to use her healing magic on the young pilot who couldn't be much older than nineteen or twenty years old.

"She has a pretty bad head injury but I think I can save her." Izumi told Samantha.

"You think you can save her or do you know that you can save her?" Samantha inquired to Izumi who looked back to Samantha.

"I know that I can save her." Izumi told Samantha who nodded her head; just then Zhana spoke.

"The… the pilot is… a girl!?" Zhana exclaimed in surprise at seeing Jacqueline. Samantha nodded to Zhana.

"I thought the same thing when I first saw her." Samantha told Zhana, just then Jacqueline opened her eyes and looked to Samantha.

"Hey… you are pretty cute… strawberry blondes… were always my thing… I know this might be forward of me but are you… single?" Jacqueline inquired which made Samantha step back and widen her eyes in surprised.

"WHAT!? HOW DARE YOU ASK MY MAJOR… I MEAN… THE MAJOR SUCH A THING!?" Zhana shouted at Jacqueline as she blushed wildly in nervous embarrassment. Jacqueline didn't say anything she just shut her eyes again passing out from the head injury.

"Calm down Zhana I am sure the head trauma has caused her to act delusional… I am sure she doesn't intend to steal the Major away from you." Izumi stated calmly. Samantha was rendered speechless for a moment unable to say anything.

"Well I have never been asked that before…" Samantha said aloud. Zhana puffed out her checks in frustration and spoke.

"It was bad enough when that pervert Shouting Eagle tried to steal you away from me… I mean us… but now we are in this world for only a single day and another person wants to take you away from me… I mean us!" Zhana exclaimed. Samantha raised an eyebrow.

"What are you talking about… what "Shouting Eagle"?" Samantha inquired.

"That Robert Miller, the Liberion Lieutenant!" Zhana exclaimed.

"Huh he and I are just friends hell he was a wife and two kids back home, so I highly doubt he wants to steal me away from the Iron Witches… and beside military regulation forbids fraternization between mundane soldiers and witches remember." Samantha stated to Zhana who seemed like she had to wind ripped out of her sails.

"Oh… I see then…" Zhana replied just then Jacqueline woke up.

"My gunner… is he alright…?" She asked Samantha who shook her head and then knelt to place her hand on Jacqueline's shoulder.

"No I am sorry I used my magic to check his vital signs… he is dead…" Samantha informed Jacqueline who had a look of sorrow appear on her face before she passed out again.

"Ok I got her stabilized, but I would like to stay with her to monitor he condition and prevent her from getting killed if that is alright Major?" Izumi asked Samantha who nodded.

"Permission granted Izumi." Samantha replied. Just then Helga and Diana jumped back into the trench line and ten Swept winged twin engine jets flew overhead dropping dozens of bombs apiece. The ground rocked with explosions as the jet powered aircraft delivered their deadly payload. Samantha and the other witches looked up out of the trench to see the ground was torn apart in the explosions and one of the Behemoth classes was dead while the other was crippled. "Helga, Zhana take out that Behemoth while we have the chance!" Samantha shouted as she raised her Vector over the trench to sweep for targets that were in range. Helga fired a shell from her Witch Combat Gun blowing away the remaining armor around the core of the twin legged Neuroi while Zhana aimed down her sights to fire a single round that crashed into the creature's core destroying the large Neuroi battle walker. Diana then looked to the sky and spoke.

"Those jets… I heard the Americans call them F-111s apparently they are some kind of medium bomber or something." Diana informed the Iron Witches. A dozen explosions filled the sky around the F-111 as Neuroi Anti-Aircraft Artillery fired at the F-111 sending hundreds of fragments into the American aircraft ripping it apart and killing the crew. The other F-111s turned around to head out of the Neuroi kill zone, but a dozen more flak bursts knocked down two more American jets. Izumi then got on the radio and listened to field headquarters.

"Ma'am we have two hundred Lancaster Bombers coming in to hit the Neuroi from high altitude but command needs us to take out the Neuroi flak guns before our bombers arrive. They are sending Colonel Miles and the rest of the 56th Land Battle Witch Battalion to help us out.

"Ok, we will hold here until the 56th get here, after that we will move in to support them and take out the AAA. Izumi I want you to stay here and cover Jacqueline while we move up to deal with the guns." Samantha ordered the rest of the Iron Witches. Samantha then looked over the trench to see down the ways a salvo of American Rocket Artillery explode in the air raining smaller sub-munitions onto the Neuroi, the small explosives rained down onto the Neuroi's head destroying a large group of infantry class Neuroi and heavily damaging a Behemoth class Neuroi which staggered under the impact of the rocket strike. The American tanks opened fire with their 120mm cannons blowing off large chunks of armor before finally destroying the core, causing the Neuroi to explode into white fragments. Samantha checked her ammo and looked to the rear to see thirty two land battle witches of the 56th Land Battle Witch Battalion track dashing towards their position. Leading the land battle witches were Colonel Cecilia G. Miles the unit CO and a veteran of the North African Front, and her XO Matavi Gupta an Indian Witch serving alongside the Britannian Army. All of the witches in the 56th aka the "Thunder Witches" were equipped with Matilda II strikers a slow and ponderous but heavily armored land battle striker usually equipped with a 40mm Witch Combat Gun for its primary weapon, although Samantha could see several witches in the Battalion were armed with Bren guns, Trench guns and in the case of Matavi an M2 Flamethrower of Liberion origin. Colonel Miles dashed over to the trench in front of Samantha.

"Major Walters what are you doing there, come on enough dilly dally we have a war to fight!" Colonel Miles told Samantha who smirked a bit as she pulled herself out of the trench line.

"Whatever you say Glinda." Samantha jibbed to which Miles blushed in embarrassment.

"Bawh… what!? Don't call me that Samantha! You know how much it embarrasses me!" Cecilia stammered to Samantha who just laughed as the other Iron Witches got out of the trench and readied their weapons.

"Whatever you say Cecilia. What is the plan?" Samantha stated as she checked her ammo count one more time.

"The Americans are attacking the Neuroi's right flank with an Armored Cavalry unit consisting of Tanks and IFVs they want us to hit the Left flank and take out whatever flak guns we can. Our secondary object is to eliminate over 70% of the mobile Anti-Aircraft guns. We have Tempest and Typhoon fighter bombers stacked up thirty kilometers away loaded with rockets and bombs, but we can't send them into the battle while the Neuroi have those SPAAGs up and running, because the Neuroi will shoot our boys out the sky if they do come." Colonel Miles explained to Samantha who nodded her head and looked back to the rest of the witches in her unit.

"Alright ladies you heard her, mount up and get ready to show these alien bastards what the Iron Witches can do!" Samantha shouted to her witches.

"Iron Within!" They shouted to her.

"Iron Without!" Samantha shouted back to her witches. Miles looked to her witches and gestured for them to advance. Samantha track dashed after Miles using her Firefly's speed to scout forward for the unit. Samantha used her abilities to detect the Neuroi before them. "Ma'am we have forty AAA guns in the center of the Neuroi lines, they are being guarded by roughly twenty Turtle class and three hundred Infantry class Neuroi. The enemy has thirty Self-Propelled-Anti-Aircraft-Guns patrolling their lines guarding for any incoming aircraft." Samantha informed the Colonel who cocked her WCG and spoke over the radio.

"Alright you heard the Major we have seventy Neuroi to kill minimum; let's send these walking scrap heaps to the junk yard!" Miles told her witches who shouted affirmatives. They drove over a hill to reach the alien's flank, below them were hundreds upon hundreds of jet black insect like forms of Neuroi. From the massive eight meter tall Behemoth class Neuroi to the man sized infantry class, to the five meter tall Turtle and Tortoise class Neuroi acting as tanks for their alien foe. Samantha could see four kilometers away the American armored unit engaging the Neuroi, powerful tank cannons and machinegun cannons tore into the Neuroi killing a handful of Turtle classes and destroying dozens of infantry class Neuroi. The aliens retaliated and returned fire sending crimson beams of light into the American formation, destroying two tanks and three IFVs. Then Samantha looked to the center of the Neuroi formation and spotted their primary targets the AAA class. The Anti-Aircraft Artillery class Neuroi was a spider like creature striding forward on eight legs mounted on a boxy torso; on top of the torso appeared to be for all intensive purposes a Flak 88mm cannon capable of firing Neuroified shells into the air at high speeds which were designed to detonate themselves at a set altitude or upon getting within two meters of an aircraft. Many of allied bombers during the war with the Neuroi had been lost to the AAA classes. "ALL WITCHES OPEN FIRE!" Colonel Miles shouted as she fired her witch combat gun into the Neuroi sending a 40mm shell into an infantry class blowing it apart in an instant. Diana fired her WCG and used her ability to fragment the shell into smaller explosive pellets which tore through the Neuroi infantry shattering their bodies and their cores. Samantha fired her Vector from the hip sending a tremendous spray of pistol caliber shells at the Neuroi which slammed into the bodies of five of the infantry classes armed with heavy weapons. The heavy weapons Neuroi were thrown off their legs and tore apart in the blizzard of shells, which maimed three and killed two. Samantha reloaded her Vector and then pulled out an M67 fragmentation grenade and tossed it into the midst of the surviving Neuroi infantry. The grenade exploded with an earth shattering force sending a powerful magic enhanced shockwave through the Neuroi's body which shattered their cores. Samantha then turned to a Tortoise class Neuroi and aimed down her sights. The Tortoise fired first sending a large bore laser towards her. Samantha put up her shield and the beam impacted against it pushing the witch back a meter before Samantha fired at the Tortoise. The bullets from her Vector tore into the Neuroi ripping through its armor and exposing its core which Samantha then fired another short burst sending three rounds into the core to shatter it. Samantha spotted a Neuroi SPAAG swiveling its quad barreled machinegun to face her direction. Samantha then spoke over the radio.

"Helga two o'clock enemy SPAAG!" Samantha shouted to Helga who swerved to face the Neuroi just as it fired its machine guns at Samantha. Explosive Neuroi bullets crashed into her shield pushing Samantha back as Helga lined up a shot with her Witch Combat Gun. Helga fired a single round from her WCG and it smashed into the side of the Neuroi SPAAG tearing open its armor like as if a giant took a can opener to the Neuroi before the shell reached the core and shattered it destroying the vehicle like Neuroi. Samantha then turned her attention in front of her as she watched Matavi use her flamethrower to roast a Turtle Class Neuroi that was attacking her. Matavi used her magic to steer the flame towards the Neuroi and engulf it in flames. Samantha then turned her attention to the cluster of AAA class Neuroi and reloaded her weapon. Samantha track dashed towards the Neuroi firing her Vector in short bursts at the Neuroi who tried to intercept her. Samantha then pulled out a grenade as she got within twenty meters of the AAA classes. Samantha tossed the grenade at the nearest Neuroi the small explosive detonated against the hull of the Neuroi tearing off its legs and exposing its core to her fire. Samantha then fired a burst of Vector fire. The other Land Battle Witches opened up on the Neuroi sending bursts of fire towards the Neuroi with machine guns and making surgically precise shots with their Witch combat guns. One by one Neuroi AAA classes exploded under the combined might of nearly forty witches. Then the Americans joined the fight their tanks and IFVs firing rockets and tank cannon shells at the surrounding Neuroi covering the Iron and Thunder Witches during the attack on the enemy. Samantha saw as up on the hill Zhana fired her sniper rifle picking off individual Neuroi with ease. Miles and Matavi fired their weapons at the smaller Neuroi rushing to intercept the land battle witches setting infantry classes alight with their flamethrower and witch combat gun. The AAA class Neuroi tried to depress their guns to fire upon the land battle witches but found themselves unable to do so any shot they fired going far over the witches heads. Samantha put an AAA class in her sights and fired a long burst at the Neuroi. Thirty .45cal ACP rounds smashed into the Neuroi tearing apart its shell and exposing the core before it too was shattered against the raging fire of the witches. Then Samantha heard a blood curdling scream. Samantha used her striker to pivot left 180 degrees to see an infantry class driving its blade through the chest of one of the Thunder Witches. The Neuroi infantry form then used its weapon arm to grab the witch by the face and use its claws to tear at her skin eliciting more cries from the girl. The Neuroi charged its laser just as Samantha fired her remaining six round at the Neuroi blowing off its weapon arm. The Neuroi screeched in pain as Samantha track dashed with all her might to reach the Neuroi. Samantha pulled out her knife as the Neuroi Infantry class pulled its blade free from the witch and then tried to slash at Samantha. Samantha tackled the Neuroi to the ground driving her K-bar through its chest and shattering its core. Samantha then pushed herself up used her strikers feet to run over to the wounded witch. Samantha checked for a pulse on the witch finding a very faint and weak one. If it wasn't for the additional armor platting of the Matilda striker that this witch wore on her chest she would have died instantly; as it was now this girl could still die. The girl in question had short boyish brown hair and wore a red beret with the Thunder Witches logo on it. Miles dashed over to Samantha and the wounded witch.

"Arya! Please don't die on me!" Colonel Miles shouted to the wounded girl who was still gasping for air. Samantha looked to Miles and spoke.

"She can make it, but only if we get her to a witch who has healing magic within the next few minutes. My radio woman has healing magic that can save this girls life, I request permission to fall back and get Arya to a medical station." Samantha stated to Colonel Miles who nodded her head before looking over her shoulder and shouting.

"Sandy give Major Walters cover on the retreat." Samantha said to another girl who had long dark brown hair tied in a pony tail. The girl wore glasses and the same beret as Miles and Arya. Miles then turned to Samantha and spoke. "Please save Arya she had been with me since the North African Campaign in 1942 and she is a personal friend of mine." Cecilia told Samantha who nodded her head.

"Understood Colonel. Diana get over here I will need your help carrying Arya back to the trench line!" Samantha shouted to the Liberion tank witch who track dashed to her side witch combat gun in hand. Samantha then saw the American tanks drive through the Neuroi lines. A laser beam from a Behemoth hit the lead tank burning through the turret armor and killing the crew. The following tanks and IFVs turned to face the Behemoth and opened fire. The combined might of six 120mm cannons and eight guided rockets shredded the heavy Neuroi walkers armor and exposed the core. Miles then fired two rounds from her WCG and sent two shells through one of the leg joints tearing it apart and causing the Behemoth two tip over. Another tank shell from one of the Americans found the core and caused the walker to explode into white fragments. Miles then dropped her Witch Combat Gun and pulled out a cavalry sword.

"Come on Thunder Witches we have Neuroi to kill; CHARGE!" She shouted as she dashed towards a Neuroi infantry class using her blade to cleave through the Neuroi. Just then Zhana spoke over the radio.

"Major we have killed most of the SPAAGs and the Britannians are sending in…" Zhana was cut off as a dozen Tempest fighter bombers flew overhead firing canons and rockets at the Neuroi ground forces tearing apart the smaller Neuroi forms. American Apaches flew into the fray and fired their guided rockets at the Neuroi each one of the rockets flying up into the air and then diving vertically onto a Neuroi Turtle impacting the weakly armored top half of the Neuroi and causing it to explode. Samantha then turned to face the allied lines and started to track dash to safety to save the life of this wounded girl she and Diana were carrying.

The Skies over Arizona

Wing Commander Roger Wellington RAF Bomber Command No. 457 Squadron

13:45 local time

"This is AWACS you are fifty kilometers from the target zone and ground forces report that the enemy AAA has been suppressed I repeat the enemy air defense has been suppressed." The American AWACS operator informed Roger who checked the miniature Computer called a "Laptop" that the Americans had provided him with prior to take off. The Laptop's screen gave him an up to date real time overview of the battlefield. It really was an incredible device that gave him a near omnipotent over view of the battlefield.

"Copy that I confirm that on the computer. We are moving into the target area and preparing to make our bombing run." Roger replied to the Yankee on the other end of the radio.

"Copy that, we have a fighter escort coming out of Groom Lake that should be at your position shortly; callsign Infinities." The AWACS operator informed him.

"Understood I will tell my gunners to be on the lookout." Roger replied.

"Be advised the Infinities fly black painted Raptors… so be careful to avoid friendly fire." The American told him.

"Alright I will send the word." Roger replied. Roger then switched from the private connection with the AWACS to the aircraft wide radio net work.

"Johnny, tell the other aircraft that we are clear for our bombing run, and to be on the lookout for some black painted American aircraft. They are friendly so tell the others not to shoot their asses down." Roger told his radio operator in the radio room.

"Understood sir!" Johnny replied before switching to a unit wide frequency and letting the others know what the situation was. Roger thought for a moment, depending on how long they were going to be stuck in this world our if the Americans would be willing to help them fight the Neuroi in their world they would have to get better radio technology so they didn't have to play phone tag relaying orders the way they just did. The current method was very time consuming and a needless waste of energy. Bill his co-pilot tapped him on the shoulder and spoke.

"Hey sir I heard the Americans and our boys are kicking ass on the ground." Bill said to him. Roger nodded his head.

"Yeah we have complete aerial supremacy over the battlefield and the Neuroi haven't deployed any super heavy forms so it's an even fight down there. But we are here to tip the advantage in mankind's favor." Roger told Bill; ever since the war began heavy bombing and artillery were always mankind's trump cards. The large heavy bombers that the Liberions, Orussians, and Britannians flew could destroy dozens of smaller forms of ground based Neuroi at a time. As long as the skies were clear and if the Neuroi were in open ground the might of RAF Bomber Command could be brought to bear against the Neuroi, just like they were doing now. "I heard that the Americans sent in some… what were they called again… you know those swinging wings aircraft that they fly." Roger was starting to say.

"The F-111s?" Bill replied. Roger nodded.

"Yeah the F-111s, I hear that they can carry twice the bomb load that we can and fly supersonic. What I wouldn't give to trade out our Lancasters for some of those American Kites." Roger said enthusiastically. Roger had always been a big fan of cutting edge military technology not just for the mundane forces but for witches to. Mankind had held out for as long as it had against the Neuroi with the technology they had in their world… but with the technology that this world had… perhaps it would be enough to turn the tide. Roger had done some research about technology in this world and he was astounded. In this world Mankind had walked on the moon in 1956, then on Mars in 1990 and now they had even established a permanent base on the moon and had sent an unmanned probe to another star system to search for new life or a new world to maybe one day colonize. With all of the advances in technology this world has experienced this world must be some kind of utopia. Bill then shook him from his thoughts.

"Yeah I know what you mean I wouldn't mind having our entire squadron reequipped with those birds it would be something else wouldn't it." Bill stated. Roger was about to say something when the AWACS spoke over the radio.

"Attention RAF Pilots we have five Neuroi fighters approaching form the East at Mach 2 they are at ten thousand meters!" The AWACs stated. Roger and Bill looked out the right side window to see five black objects approaching them at high speeds. It was the Neuroi!

"Tell all gunners we have bandits incoming three o'clock!" Roger yelled to Johnny who spoke over the radio.

"Roger that. All aircraft we have incoming bandits unknown class closing in at three o'clock." Johnny yelled over the radio. The gunners on all of the Lancaster bombers turned to face the incoming threat… laser beams from the Neuroi shot out long focused beams of a Destroyer class struck five RAF bombers tearing them apart. The gunners opened up with every machinegun they had. The bombers were in a box formation to maximize the effectiveness of their defensive armament but against fighters that fast… they didn't stand a chance. The Neuroi shot through their formation the distinctive sounds of bullets hitting his aircraft could be heard as the Neuroi passed by.

"Damn it tell the gunners to watch their fire! I will be damned before I let one of our aircraft get shot out of the sky because of some friendly fire!" Roger yelled to Johnny who began to speak into the radio. The Neuroi Destroyer class turned to face the RAF bombers and make another pass. This time Roger was sure that they would be aiming for his aircraft. Energy crackled along the front ends of the Neuroi aircraft as they charged their main weapons. The five rockets smashed into the Neuroi causing them to explode into white fragments. Overhead four black painted human jet fighters flew overhead each one had the twin Xs on the V tails. The aircraft circled around allowing Roger to see into the cockpit of each fighter. Each of the American pilots wore jet black flight gear and a helmet that obscured their face. The aircraft circled around and rose to two thousand meters above the bombers.

"This is Infinity 1 to RAF Wing Commander. Sorry we didn't get here sooner we got held up by some Neuroi one hundred kilometers south of here." The American pilot informed Roger.

"That is quite alright we are glad you are here Infinities!" Roger replied. Just then one of the Infinities dove out of formation and dove down between the bombers and gunned his engines as he passed through the formation. He then pulled back on his stick and slammed on the breaks practically bringing his aircraft to a full stop before lowering the nose again as the bombers caught up with him. He then rolled his aircraft so it flew over Roger's Lancaster's right wing to the left wing. He then leveled out at cockpit level to roger before looking inside and saluting Roger. He then accelerated again and rejoined formation with his fellow American pilots. Roger then looked to Bill. "What was that about?" He asked Bill who shrugged.

"I don't know but it sure was impressive." Bill replied. Roger then regained his composure and spoke to the bombardier.

"Alright Eddy ready the bomb bay doors we will be up on our target in five minutes." Johnny told Eddy as he closed on the target sight.

Two thousand meters above

"Damn it Infinity 4 what the hell do you think you are doing?" Sven the flight leader shouted on a closed flight level radio frequency. Infinity three shrugged and chuckled a bit.

"I just felt like doing a fly by and showing off a bit, you know." He informed his flight leader. Then Leon spoke.

"You dumbass that is completely against protocol and incredibly dangerous." Leon told him. Infinity three rolled his eyes.

"You know what they say Leon… I am dangerous and I like it that way." He told his rival and fellow Japanese American. Then Sharon the number four aircraft spoke.

"We are a frontline fighter squadron now remember. We have to act professional so we can't just show off like we were trying to impress some raw recruits at Red Flag." Sharon told him. He scoffed.

"Oh come on honey… you are getting soft on me, I used to remember that you loved it when I showed off how much of an ace I was." He jibbed with Sharon. Sven then spoke.

"First Lieutenant Bridges I swear to god if you don't shut up and act professional I will write your ass up when we land and will boot you out of this squadron. By the time I will be done with you, you'll be lucky to fly a crop duster." Sven warned him. Yuuya Bridges rolled his eyes and stopped talking. What a bunch of killjoys. Yuuya thought as he got back in formation.

Deserts of Arizona

Second Lieutenant Barnaby Harbison 27th Armored Regiment Royal Britannian Army

14:00 local time

Hundreds of fire bombs smashed into the ground as the RAF and RFLAF bombers pounded the Neuroi position in front of Barnaby, who sat safely in his Churchill Mk VII heavy tank. Hundreds of Neuroi exploded into white fragments as bombs fell onto their heads. Barnaby looked down to the loader and spoke.

"Jack load High Explosive." Barnaby ordered the loader who nodded his head and opened the breach of the main cannon pulled out the AP shell and loaded in an HE round. Just then over the radio one of the American Officer spoke.

"Attention all units advance on the Neuroi; make sure none of these alien bastards make it out of this kill zone alive." The American ordered every tanker on the battlefield. The shaking stopped as the Lancaster Bombers completed their bomb run. Dozens of Apaches and A-10 Thunderbolts from the American Air Force and Army flew overhead spraying cannon and rockets at the Neuroi.

"Alright ladies you heard the Yanks with their Tanks move out flank speed!" Barnaby ordered his tank platoon over the radio. Barnaby's tank lurched forward from its defensive position along with one hundred fellow Britannian Churchill tanks from the 27th Armored Regiment. On Barnaby's left flank sixty five Cromwell medium tanks from the 63rd Armored Division of the Faraway Land Army surged forward to engage the enemy their tank cannons blazing fire and death at the wounded and disoriented enemy. On Barnaby's right flank nearly two hundred assorted American armored vehicles moved in to engage the enemy racing across the desert at least as fast as a tank witch could move. The M1A2 Abrams tanks that the Americans used fired their 120mm Rheinmetall M256 cannons fired advanced munitions into the Neuroi witch cut through the smaller Neuroi combat forms like a knife through warm butter; while the M2A3 Bradleys fired their auto-cannons and rockets at the Neuroi. Behind the frontlines, Britannian artillery along with American M109A7 Paladins and M777s fired every shell they had in a creeping barrage to cover the advance of the human armored formation. Each one of the Britannian guns had been quickly upgraded with an advanced fire control system allow each and every one of the two hundred howitzers to drop every shell simultaneously on target. Barnaby then spotted a Turtle class with its front left leg blown off desperately trying to regenerate its damage and engage the humans.

"Gunner Turtle class eleven o'clock fire!" Barnaby shouted into the radio.

"Roger on the way!" Grady the gunner shouted as he fired a HE shell at the wounded Neuroi. The shell smashed into the front armor blowing away a large chunk of metal off its body exposing the core.

"Load High Explosive!" Barnaby shouted to Jack, who promptly loaded another shell.

"Gun ready!" Jack shouted back to Barnaby who continued looking though the commander periscope to the battlefield before him.

"FIRE!" Barnaby shouted.

"On the way!" Grady shouted as he fired the main gun sending the 75mm High Velocity cannon shell straight through the bright red Neuroi core shattering the alien beast into hundreds of white shards. Barnaby looked down to Grady and spoke.

"Oi Grady engage targets at will I am going to man the pintle mount." Barnaby informed the gunner who looked back up at Barnaby and spoke.

"Got it sir stay safe." He replied as when back to aiming the main gun. Barnaby opened the top hatch and pulled himself out of the hatch and took hold of the trusty Vickers machinegun. Barnaby pulled back the charging handle and swept the heavy machine gun to the left spotting a Neuroi infantry class firing at one of the other tanks, its laser just bouncing off the mighty armored machine like a rubber ball impacting a castle wall. Barnaby pressed the firing stud and sent a stream of .303 rounds at the Neuroi. A dozen rounds smashed into the Infantry Class's chest tearing open its torso and exposing the core which was struck by another two rounds causing the Neuroi to explode into fragments. Barnaby saw the turret of his tank swing to the right and fire a heavy shell at a light Neuroi walker. The HE shell smashed into the alien and blew it apart. An American helicopter roared overhead chain gun blazing as it tore through dazed Neuroi infantry. Barnaby saw from the right flank the Thunder witch move in to surround the remaining Neuroi firing their Witch Combat Guns at the alien menace, destroying several of them. Just then an American Army armored car drove up beside Barnaby's tank.

"Hey Lieutenant, orders from field headquarters is for the armored units to sweep this area for enemy survivors and eliminate all hostiles. The Air Force and some ground attack witches will mop up the Neuroi that are out of our reach." The gunner of the armored car told him. Barnaby looked over to the soldier and spoke.

"Understood soldier I will let my men know." Barnaby said as he gave a quick two fingered salute to the soldier who returned the gesture before patting the top of his vehicle and going back to man the three barreled spinning machinegun that some of the American vehicles used. Barnaby had seen those guns "miniguns" they called them, although truth be told they reminded him of the old Gatling Guns from yesteryear. However unlike the Gatling gun these things were chambered two either fire rifle caliber bullets or even .50cal BMG rounds at a rate of three thousand rounds a minute. Those things could spit out almost three times the amount of lead that a Kaiser Cutter (MG42) could spit out. The American vehicle sped away to reach the Faraway Landers and relay the orders to them. More American jets and helicopters flew overhead to pursue the fleeing Neuroi. This really was a strange and unique world. Barnaby frowned, he just hoped that his sister was safe and doing alright.

Skies over Philadelphia USA

Pilot Officer Morgan Harbison

17:22 local time

Both of Morgan's Sten Guns bucked in her hands as she fired at the top side of a Neuroi Bombard Class. The Straight winged bomb laden Neuroi screeched as 9mm rounds smashed into the creature. The laser ports on the top side of the wings fired in retaliation at her causing her to put up her shield. The bright red laser beams smashed into her shield knocking her off balance. Her rival Alannah Wualkar dove down on the Neuroi firing her Charlton Automatic rifle into the left wing of the Neuroi tearing a large hole in it.

"Looks like you owe me one you stiff limey!" The Australis witch jibbed with her with a toothy grin. Morgan then pointed her Sten guns at Alannah and shouted.

"Duck!" She simply stated causing Alannah to duck her head as Morgan fired her twin SMGs sending a stream of 9mm shells into a Pendulum class tearing through the diamond shaped Neuroi, and shattering its core. Alannah looked back in surprise at the destroyed Neuroi. "Even." Morgan simply stated to Alannah who rolled her eyes. Overhead American jet fighters dueled with the supersonic Neuroi interceptors that were trying to provide escort for the main bomber force that had been sent to attack Philadelphia. These Particular American jets were called F-16V Fighting Falcons and they were perhaps the most amazing aircraft Morgan had ever seen, the only thing coming close to them was the Super Hornet that Lilia and Melvina had brought back to their base with them before this mess started. Morgan was always a fan of jet technology and one day dreamed of flying the prototype Meteor Striker the RAF was giving some of its witch squadrons. But the jets in this world… they were so advanced! They could break the sound barrier with ease and could dogfight with the supersonic Neuroi classes. Morgan turned her attention back to the Bombard class Neuroi and reloaded both her Stens, and then aimed her weapons at the front end of the Neuroi craft. Morgan fired another long burst from her Stens emptying both of her weapons magazines into the Neuroi using her inherent ability to enhance the short ranged power and penetration ability to inflict more damage against the Neuroi. The front section of the Neuroi's armor began to be chipped away as Morgan poured SMG fire into the creature; finally the core was exposed to the open air and Morgan finished it off with another burst of gunfire. The Bombard class exploded into white fragments along with its deadly payload which fell harmlessly to the earth below. Bombard class Neuroi were nasty pieces of work and had been responsible for leveling much of Britannia's cities in the early 40s, the Bombard class had long straight wings and a long straight body with a standard tail design, the Neuroi almost looked like a real life version of a young child's attempt to draw an airplane. However despite its strange appearance it was a rather deadly class. Atop its wings were two light laser ports for defense along with a lower nose mounted machinegun and a machine gun mounted in the tail, both of which had a pretty narrow firing arc. However what made the Bombard class deadly was the lethal payload of Neuroified bombs carried in the belly and mounted on the underside of the wings. A single Bombard class could level entire city blocks if it was allowed to be unmolested. Morgan looked to the streets of Philadelphia below her and saw the damage that the Bombard classes had done to the city; entire neighborhoods were in flames and reduced to rubble by Neuroi bombs. Morgan Grimaced as she spotted two remaining Bombard classes dropping their payload in the Downtown area. Clotilda spoke over the radio.

"All witches we need to take out the remaining two Bombard classes. Ludwiga, Darya, Iliyana, and Brinda you are with me. We will take out the Bombards; Morgan, Alannah, and Kitsune, I need you to keep the Moth and Laros class Neuroi off our backs as we make our attack run." Clotilda explained to the air infantry component of the 78th Tame Witches.

"Yes Ma'am." Morgan and the others simply stated as they all turned to start heading towards the enemy Bombards. Morgan spotted the Laros class Neuroi and the Moth classes. Both Neuroi classes were early war fighter escort types of Neuroi that had first been spotted over Suomus. The Laros classes were short fighters with a tubular body and short stubby wings almost appearing to be a flying soup can with wings. The Laros were very maneuverable however that were lightly armed and had poor spatial awareness, so much so that you could actually sneak up on them. The Moth class however were different, the best way Morgan could describe the appearance of a Moth class was that it appeared to be like an old Sopwith Camel and they were equipped with four light laser ports mounted on the top and bottom wings of the Neuroi, additionally the Moth class also had twin forward firing Neuroified Machineguns which could make short work of any mundane piston engine fighter. The aircraft moved at about six hundred and fifty kilometers per hour easily as fast as your average piston engine plane. Lastly another stand out feature of the Moth class compared to the Laros class and the newer Laros-Kai classes was that the Moth class had excellent spatial awareness and they were nearly impossible to sneak up on. However the Moth class had one easily exploitable weakness… they caught on fire easily. The Moth class's armor was so thin and flammable that Katharine O'Hare had coined the name Moth class; because just like the bugs they were named after they were easily susceptible fire. Just then Darya spoke over the radio.

"Comrade Lieutenant what about the Manta class and the Interceptor class Neuroi?" Darya asked Clotilda.

"We will let the Americans handle the Interceptors we aren't fast enough to deal with them, but the remaining Manta classes and the Diomedia we will have to deal with on our own." Clotilda told Darya before speaking over the radio to the American pilots. "Diamondback 1 what is your status?" Clotilda asked the leader of the American F-16s that were dueling with the faster Neuroi overhead.

"This is Diamondback 1 to Lieutenant Marwick; we are running low on missiles and have suffered thirty percent casualties. However reinforcements are on the way, command has scrambled the entire 66th Tactical Fighter Wing to provide assistance. They should be within weapons range in ten minutes!" The pilot replied over the radio. Clotilda then spoke.

"Will you be able to hold out against the Neuroi until then?" Clotilda asked the American.

"Yes Lieutenant we should be able to keep the fast movers off your back until the 66th arrive." Diamondback 1 replied.

"Alright you heard the man we have Neuroi to kill. All witches engage!" Clotilda shouted over the radio as they closed in on the Neuroi formation. Morgan spotted three Moth classes turning to intercept her, and behind them two Laros classes also began to move to intercept the Tame Witches.

"Kitsune you take on the Laros classes they are the more maneuverable of the two Neuroi, Alannah and I will take on the Moth classes." Morgan told to the fifteen year old Fusoan witch who used the lightly armed and even less armored Ki-43 striker.

"Yes Ma'am!" She stated as she peeled off of the formation to engage the Laros classes. Morgan looked to Alannah and spoke.

"Alright you damn Kangaroo lover… let's have a friendly competition shall we?" Morgan said to Alannah who grinned and replied.

"You know if Clotilda hears about this she is going to kick our asses you know that right?" Alannah said with a toothy grin. Morgan returned the grin.

"What's wrong you afraid you are going to lose to me… again?" Morgan told Alannah who rolled her eyes before speaking.

"Oh you're on… and for the record you only won last time because you cheated you cheeky bitch. I would have scored that kill if you hadn't flown in front of me at the last minute." Alannah Protested.

"Alright whoever shoots down the most Moth and Laros classes wins and the loser has to buy all the drinks for the winner that she wants… that is unless a pretty little bird like yourself has other ways she would like to… reward the winner?" Morgan said with a sly grin to Alannah who promptly rolled her eyes.

"Oh please in your dreams you git!" Alannah chuckled. Just then they closed the distance with the enemy. Machinegun fire from the Moth classes smashed into Morgan's shield as she fired her twin SMGs into one of the Neuroi blowing apart its body and shattering its core. Lasers collided with her shield as Morgan quickly changed direction and fired another burst at one of the turning Moths her bullets tearing into its left wing and shredding its armor. Morgan fired another burst this time through the Neuroi's body breaking its core. Morgan looked to see Alannah firing a burst of machinegun fire into one of the Moth classes blowing it to pieces as it burst into flames. Alannah then switched to line up a shot on another Neuroi Laros class only for it to be sprayed with a stream of 20mm cannon fire from one of the American M168 EVADS emplacements. "Wha…what that is not fair!" Alannah shouted over the radio.

"All is fair in love and war you kangaroo lover!" Morgan shouted to her compatriot who growled in frustration. Morgan turned her attention back to one of the Laros classes that was turning to engage Iliyana who was firing her 23mm cannon into one of the Bombards. Morgan shot forward and fired a burst of Sten gun fire into the Laros tearing into its body and shattering its core. The poor sod probably didn't even know what hit it when she killed the Laros. Morgan watched as Alannah then shot down two Moth classes with her Charlton before she reloaded. Morgan then accelerated forward in her striker and used her magical ability to further augment her weapons to fire a quick burst of fire into a Moth class that was turning to engage her. Six magically enhanced rounds punched through the Moth's armor and shattered the core. Overhead Morgan saw as an F-16 was shot down by three interceptor class Neuroi its pilot ejecting as his aircraft began to go up in flames. Morgan climbed to try and reach the pilot but the Neuroi fired another laser round at the parachuting pilot turning him to ash in an instant. Morgan howled in rage as she turned her attention back to the Neuroi below her. She might not be fast enough to engage the Interceptors but she was going to teach the Laros classes a lesson. Morgan entered a power dive on two Laros classes that were trying to engage Ludwiga; Morgan fired her submachine guns at the Neuroi sending ten 9mm rounds into the first Neuroi punching through the paper thin armor and shattering its core. The second Laros turned sharply to avoid Morgan's fire but it inadvertently flew straight into Kitsune's line of fire and was promptly destroyed by the Fusoan witch's Type 100. Morgan witnessed the rest of the Tame Witches destroy the first Bombard class with a combination of cannon fire and Ludwiga's detonate ability. The Tame Witches then turned their attention to the remaining enemy bomber.

"This is Diamondback 3 I am hit and my ejection handle is stuck… oh god oh fucking hell!" The American pilot shouted as his aircraft spun out of control and smashed into the ground.

"Damn it, ok 7 this is 1 we are going to try and take out that big fucker at three o'clock. Remember what the witches told us its core is located on the top of its body." The American flight leader said to the remaining American airman.

"Roger that sir!" The pilot replied to the squadron leader. Morgan shouted over the radio to them.

"Damn it you don't have the firepower to take the Manta out pull back!" Morgan shouted to no avail as both F-16s shot towards the Manta at Mach 2 firing the five remaining missiles they had between them. The Manta fired its lasers shooting down three missiles; the remaining missiles smashed into the top section of the Neuroi doing minor damage. The Manta retaliated and fired its lasers swatting both American pilots from the sky in an instant. Morgan swore and nearly was lasered by a Laros class that she didn't notice before Alannah shot it down. Alannah was about to say something when Morgan shot down the sole remaining Moth class moving to intercept Alannah. "Even." Morgan stated before Alannah could speak, which caused the Aussie witch to puff her cheeks out in frustration. Clotilda and the rest of the Tame Witches finished off the remaining Bombard class, leaving only a dozen or so Interceptor class Neuroi, two Manta class Neuroi and one Diomedia class Neuroi remaining over the city. Morgan saw the Interceptors diving down on the Tame Witches.

"Incoming!" Brinda shouted over the radio as she and the other witches of the 78th put up their shields. Heavy and light lasers from the Interceptors struck Morgan's shield as they dove on her. Brinda used her unique magical ability called "the shield of return" to deflect some of the Neuroi laser fire back at the Neuroi or rather she attempted to do that. A laser blast from Brinda nearly skewered Morgan who shook her fist at the Pali witch.

"Watch it Brinda you almost flash fried me!" Morgan shouted to an embarrassed Brinda.

"I'm sorry!" She shouted over the radio. The remaining witches fired after the supersonic Neuroi unable to hit the creatures as they passed by them.

"Damn them… they are too fast!" Iliyana stated over the radio.

"We are going to need some of us to keep the Interceptors off of us while I and some of the other members of this flight take out the Manta's and Diomedia." Clotilda stated. Alannah spoke next.

"I can do it!" Alannah shouted. Morgan spoke next.

"Me too ma'am I can take those sods out!" Morgan told the Lieutenant who nodded and was about to speak when the Interceptors began to make another attack run. Lasers bounced off Morgan's shield as she tried to return fire emptying both magazines from her Sten gun her rounds flew wide of the high speed target. The fast moving enemy craft flew by and started to gain altitude to make another attack run. Then in the blink of an eye each Neuroi Interceptor exploded in a brilliant fireball.

"What the hell was that!?" Alannah shouted over the radio. Just then forty grey painted twin engine V tailed aircraft flew by and a new voice spoke over the radio.

"This is Colonel Alfred Walken commander of the 66th Tactical Fighter Wing callsign Hunter. The enemy fighters have been destroyed. I repeat the enemy fighters have been destroyed." Colonel Walken stated over the radio.

"What how..?" Clotilda was about to say before she was at a loss for words. Morgan watched in amazement as the strange American fighters flew overhead at Mach 2.25 and pulled amazing maneuvers. Despite the high speeds the American aircraft could practically turn on a dime. The Americans gained altitude and Colonel Walken began to speak again.

"We will handle the Manta classes just focus on taking out the Diomedia we will provide support as soon as these Neuroi have been dealt with." Alfred told Clotilda.

"Wait you won't be able to get close enough to them to get a clear shot!" Clotilda informed the American who was silent for a second.

"Do not worry about us we have already shot down a flight of Manta classes over Boston yesterday we know where the core is located. Just make sure you destroy the Diomedia and protect the civilians on the ground." Alfred stated to Clotilda. He then began to speak to his squad. "This is Hunter 1 to all units split into two formations and engage the Manta classes. Attack them from above and in two directions to divide their fire." Alfred ordered his subordinates. The forty American fighter jets then split into four groups of ten and began to circle above the Manta classes that desperately tried to fire their lasers at the American fighters however the Neuroi seemed uncharacteristically in accurate as they shot at the Americans. The first group of American fighters dove down on the Manta class firing their missiles at the medium sized Neuroi. The Neuroi screeched in pain as a dozen missiles impacted its body and tore apart the armor exposing the core. One of the American fighters fired its cannon into the core obliterating the Neuroi.

"Nice kill boss!" A woman with a Suomus sounding accent. Clotilda then spoke.

"You heard what the Colonel said all witches engage the Diomedia!" Clotilda shouted as she and the other witches began to advance towards the Diomedia that desperately fired its machineguns at the fast moving American fighters. Morgan watched as the 66th Tactical Fighter Wing destroyed the remaining Manta class before they turned their attention on the Diomedia firing their AMRAAMs at the large Neuroi craft doing little damage.

"The Neuroi appears to be too armored for our missiles to do much damage sir." One of the Americans stated to Alfred.

"Indeed… then we should do our best to distract the Neuroi from the witches they should be able to take out the Neuroi." He informed his wingmen who chorused affirmatives. Morgan and the other Tame Witches got within weapons range of the Diomedia and began to fire their weapons. Dozens of cannon shells and machinegun rounds smashed into the Diomedia which shrieked in pain and began to shift its defensive weapons fire in their direction. High caliber machinegun rounds stuck Morgan's shield causing her to dive closer to the ground. Even though the shells were weaker than your average laser blast the high numbers of hits in close succession would damage her shield more than a single heavy laser blast would.

"Shit we can't get close to this thing!" Ludwiga growled over the radio. Alfred then replied.

"I have an idea, my pilots will use our missiles to destroy or damage the Neuroi's turrets. When the turrets are destroyed you can move in and destroy the core." Alfred told Ludwiga and Clotilda.

"Understood, just be careful one shot from its cannon will be enough to destroy your aircraft." Clotilda told the American Colonel.

"Our aircraft are stealth, the Neuroi seem to have difficulties engaging stealth aircraft. All the same pilots, be careful I want none of you going home in body bags tonight." Alfred told Clotilda and his fellow airmen. Alfred and the other Americans turned to engage the Diomedia's turrets, firing a barrage of missiles at the Neuroi's defensive turrets. Dozens of high explosive tungsten lined explosions rocked the Diomedia which screeched in pain. Morgan and the other Tame Witches moved in. Morgan fired into the Diomedia's large noisy engines blowing away two of the three engines located on the left wing. Clotilda, Iliyana, and Darya fired their cannons into the top of the Neuroi breaking away its armor.

"Ludwiga use your ability and crack open its armor!" Clotilda shouted to the Karlsland witch who nodded her head.

"Detonate!" She shouted as she detonated the raw ether in the air around the damaged Neuroi armor crumbling the metallic shell and exposing the core to Brinda and Alannah who fired their LMGs into the core causing it to explode. The Neuroi shattered into dozens of white shards that fell to the earth below. Morgan looked around and saw that the skies were clear. The Neuroi had been destroyed. The American pilots continued to circle overhead probably talking with one of their "AWACS" planes. Alannah flew towards Morgan with a smug look on her face.

"I shot down three Laros classes and two Moth classes." Alannah stated triumphantly. Morgan smirked.

"I shot down three Moth classes and three Laros classes so it looks like I win the bet." Morgan stated to Alannah who was taken aback and began to speak.

"Well…well I shot down the Diomedia so we tied then!" She stuttered. Morgan shook her head and spoke.

"No that wasn't part of the deal we only counted Laros and Moth classes, besides we all shot down the Diomedia so you can't claim sole credit Alannah." Morgan told Alannah who began to pout just then Ludwiga came up behind them and bopped them on the head.

"What did I tell you two about having competitions in the field?" Ludwiga asked her voice filled with menace. Alannah and Morgan both started to sweat bullets and shy away from the Karlslander.

"Um… that we shouldn't hold them?" Morgan stated. Ludwiga nodded her head.

"Indeed… looks like the two of you will be cleaning the latrines for the next two weeks because of your stunts." Ludwiga stayed. Morgan sighed in frustration. Then one of the Americans flew low only twenty meters away from them at subsonic speeds. Morgan saw below the cockpit were over fifty kill marks painted in black on the aircraft and the name "Colonel Alfred Walken" written under the canopy.

"This is Hunter 1, AWACS has confirmed all hostiles are shot down, we have permission to RTB." Alfred stated to Clotilda.

"Understood 78th Tame Witches are Returning to Base." Clotilda replied. "Come on ladies the day is won, lets head back to base and get a nice cold soda." Clotilda smiled to the witches. Morgan watched in Awe as the Americans got in formation and started to head towards the makeshift airbase at Philadelphia International Airport. It was then she realized what these jets were.

"F-22… Raptor." Was all Morgan could say. Alannah turned to Morgan and spoke.

"Huh… what?" She stated. Morgan looked to her rival.

"It's the American's top of the line fighter… the F-22A Raptor, it's a "stealth" air superiority fighter." Morgan told Alannah who then looked at the American Raptors.

"Well they certainly are impressive." Was all Alannah could say as they started to return to base.

Philadelphia International Airport USA

Flight Lieutenant Ludwiga Krupke

19:35 local time

Ludwiga and the rest of the Tame Witches had gotten out of their strikers and were walking across the Tarmac to the makeshift barracks. The Land Battle Witches of the 78th greeted their comrades and loved ones and inquired about the battle with the Neuroi. Since their arrival to this world they had been asked by the local American forces to be on standby incase the Neuroi attacked again. Clotilda and Jenna had agreed and it was determined to make the local airport their base. Currently the once bustling airport had been turned into a fortress complete with AA guns, "SAM" sites, and a complement of fighters. Originally the twelve F-16s of Diamondback Squadron had garrisoned the base to assist the 78th however during the last battle they had all been shot down by the Neuroi. Now the 66th Fighter Wing with their F-22s had garrisoned the base to provide local defense. Ludwiga watched as a flight of four F-22s landed and taxied to the hangers. One of the Raptors had fifty one kill marks on it making the pilot a ten time ace. Back in her world Neuroi kills by mundane pilots were rare, getting one kill was impressive, two kills was something that was rare and three kills by a mundane pilot were downright unheard of. In fact there were only two mundane aces she knew of from Karlsland and one Liberion ace pilot. The two from Karlsland were named Wilfried von Aichberger aka "The Black Wolf King" a man who flew a customized jet black Fw190 and the other was named Gerhard von Ralerstein aka "The Thunder Baron". While the Liberion was named David McCampbell of the USL Navy. However none of those men even came close to this particular American. Ludwiga looked closer at the kill markings and saw that near the bottom were the outlines of two Fighter Bomber class Neuroi and a Manta class. The war had only gone on in this world for a day and this man already had three Neuroi kills. Ludwiga begrudgingly had to admit that it was impressive… for a mundane man anyway. The ace pilot pulled into the hanger and got out of his aircraft. He talked to the ground crew for a moment before some of his companions met with him. They then left the hanger and started to approach the Tame Witches. To Ludwiga's surprise two of the ace's companions were women. One appeared to be from mainland Asia while the other appeared to be from Suomus. Clotilda saluted them as they approached. Ludwiga then noticed that the ace was ranked as a Colonel. Ludwiga then saluted the man.

"My Name is Colonel Alfred Walken of the United States Air Force. It is a pleasure to meet you." Colonel Walken stated as he and his group saluted the witches. The Tame Witches went at ease. Colonel Walken was a rather tall man roughly 186cm tall with fair skin icy confident looking blue eyes. The man was well muscled and had light blonde hair that was cropped close to his head. He had a square jaw and his voice was calm and firm. Frankly he looked like the type of man you would find on a military recruitment poster.

"My name is First Lieutenant Clotilda Marwick commander of the 78th Combined Reserve Squadron otherwise known as the Tame Witches. The young lady to my left is Second Lieutenant Ludwiga Krupke my XO." Clotilda told Alfred who offered his hand to Clotilda who then shook it. Alfred then tried to do the same with Ludwiga who snorted and looked away.

"I prefer to just salute a superior officer; it is too informal to just shake hands." Ludwiga informed Colonel Walken who nodded his head. Alfred then gestured to the man next to him.

"This is Captain Marcus Hill my XO." Colonel Walken informed the witches. Marcus nodded his head. Walken then gestured with his head to the youngish looking Blonde woman.

"Her name is Second Lieutenant Irma Thesleff, and her name is Hae-Yoon Kang." Walken gestured to the two women pilots.

"Hello it's a pleasure to meet you." Irma said to them in a clear Suomus accent.

"Hey there just call me Jessie." Hae-Yoon the Asian Mainlander told them. The Tame Witches all said their hellos.

"I am Pilot Officer Morgan Harbison it's nice to meet you all and, I have to say you have some very impressive jet fighters at your command sir." Morgan told the American pilots.

"Yes they are F-22A Raptors some of the greatest fighter planes on the planet. I have fought many battles in my Raptor and it has brought me home each time. There is no other aircraft in the world I would rather be flying." Alfred told a rather amazed looking Morgan. Then the other Tame Witches introduced themselves to the Colonel and his flight. Alfred and the other Americans greeted each one before Alfred began to speak again. "I just wanted to come over and thank you all for what you have done today. Many civilians in this fair city owe you their lives and you should excellent skill in battle today, when you destroyed the Diomedia class Neuroi." Alfred complimented them.

"Thank you sir…" Ludwiga stated before having a bit of a smirk on her face. This guy has over fifty kills he probably is as big of a glory hound as her father. "You seem to be quite skilled yourself sir with the number of kills you have acquired. I imagine that you are quite proud of your accomplishments." Ludwiga goaded Alfred. Men like him were all the same, they only cared about their glory and prestige, and she bet that this man was no different. Alfred thought for a moment before speaking.

"Truth be told I don't really care about my kill record." Alfred simply stated in response. Ludwiga raised an eyebrow. Darya then spoke.

"Really… why is that sir? Most men in our world pride themselves in their kill count… even many witches have that mindset." Darya told Alfred who nodded his head.

"Perhaps Sergeant; some men pride themselves with their kill records, but I do not. As far as I am concerned taking someone's life is not something to be proud of… However I myself am prouder of the fact that I have never lost a man or woman under my command since I joined the military, that is what I take pride in Sergeant Abakumova." Alfred calmly stated, eliciting a look of surprise from some of the witches like Morgan and Alannah. Darya on the other hand seemed to smile at the fact that for once a mundane officer had shown her respect as oppose to treating her like a small child like many back in her world did. Ludwiga was stunned in surprise for a moment… What Alfred had said… was an unusual thing for a man to say. Then Clotilda spoke.

"I wish one of my original unit leaders thought like you. There was this one witch I served under named Barb Cross…" Clotilda trailed off before speaking again. "Well to be honest let's just leave it that she had the wrong mindset when it came to being an officer. It's still a painful memory for me." Clotilda told Alfred who nodded his head.

"I see… well I also wanted to tell you something else about our deployment orders." Alfred explained to the 78th.

"Our deployment orders." Ludwiga inquired as she raised an eyebrow. Clotilda elbowed her in the ribs.

"Yes, I got word from one of your generals… Eisenhower I believe, and I was contacted by one of the American Air Force generals. Both of our units are to be deployed to Speicher Air Force Base in Northern Florida. Our units are to redeploy there to prepare to engage the Neuroi Hive over Miami." Alfred informed the 78th. The Tame Witches all let out gasps of surprise and began to converse amongst themselves. Ludwiga just frowned and gritted her teeth. The last thing Ludwiga wanted to do was attack another Neuroi Hive head on.

San Francisco Police Department USA

Agent Andrei Harkov

12:58 local time

"Like I tell you before Yankee… I was on the Diplomatic plane to Hamburg with President Vorshevsky… then Makarov attacked us and…" Andrei was explaining before the Detective cut him off.

"Then some strange bomb blew you into the middle of an island in the Pacific Ocean?" the Detective more stated than asked. Andrei nodded his head.

"Simple yes?" Andrei replied with a smirk.

"And the next thing you knew you woke up in a cell in Alcatraz?" The Detective inquired of the Russian FSO Agent who nodded his head.

"Yes yes I am trying to explain this to you all rationally… now you have seen my badge you know that I am member of FSO. Therefore it is your duty to return me to my motherland so I can see if my President is safe." Andrei told the American police officer who sighed and shook his head.

"Listen agent like we said before because of the world's current situation regarding the alien threat we cannot return you to your government. Frankly we don't even know if Russia even has a government at this point in time. It's a mad house over there in Europe and we have our hands tied with the evacuation of civilians and military personnel from Europe." The Police Officer told Harkov who snorted in disbelief.

"Aliens? And you say my story is unbelievable." Harkov stated.

"Look we have shown you the news footage damn it why won't you believe us?" The American asked Harkov who laughed.

"Come on even you have to admit that the story you are giving me is a load of utter shit. Magical girls with animal ears and tails, Aliens, lasers? What a bunch of horse shit." Harkov told the American who shook his head. Just then the door to the interrogation room opened and a young African policewoman came through the door. She walked up to Harkov and the ears and a tail of a Pit-bull appeared on her head. Harkov yelped in surprise as the woman kicked the table between her and him away and got in his face.

"Listen you… I have half a mind to kick your smart ass to next Sunday you dumb Vodka chugging moron. We have tried to be reasonable with you but I have had it up to here with your shit. Either you start acting like a professional adult and show us some respect or I am going to beat it into you." The young woman growled to him through gritted teeth. Harkov nodded his head nervously. "Good boy… now do as the detective says and make up your mind… you want to be a prisoner of war, or a defector?" The policewoman asked him.

"I think I would prefer to be a defector… I never had anything against America you know?" Harkov told the woman who smirked and petted him on the head. Then the Detective spoke.

"Damn it Miss Brown I can't have one of my explorers threatening one of our prisoners. He may be a Russian but he still has rights." The Detective told the Policewoman… or explorer rather she was still not a fully fledged officer. Harkov stuck up his hand.

"It's alright sir… I do not mind being a defector especially if this country is as you say… safe from the Neuroi for now. If what you say is true and I am starting to think that it is… these aliens are marching into Russia and I don't want to be anywhere near those things. So if it means defecting from my country to yours I do not mind defecting." Harkov told the detective. The explorer patted him on the head and began to walk out of the room. "Wait Miss policewoman…" Harkov called to her. The young woman turned to face him. "If you are what to they call it… a witch… what is your power?" Harkov asked the young woman who summoned the animal spirit again. She then put her hand on the door handle and pulled on it hard enough to tear the door off its hinges.

"Strength." She simply replied as she turned to walk out the door.

"That is coming out of your pay!" The Detective shouted to her as she left. It was a strange world Harkov now found himself back in; and something told him that it was only going to get stranger and time went on.

Arrowhead USA

Corporal Jake Dunn

17:29 local time

"All clear Sergeant!" Jake shouted to Foley who along with the other members of his squad scanned the ruins. Arrowhead… a town that Jake had long spent his leave time at was now a lifeless ruin. The Neuroi had attacked the small town with dozens of aircraft and hundreds of infantry… they had destroyed everyone and everything in the town. The USMC under Major Hale had been sent in to eliminate the Neuroi but the alien bastards had used some kind of chemical weapon on them. They killed each and every one of the Marines including Major Hale. Right now Dunn wore a full NBC protection suit to guard against any lingering chemical agents. Overhead the witches of the 507th and 502nd Joint Fighter Wings flew top cover along with F-15s from Grissom who flew high above the clouds to guard against any fast moving aliens.

"Fucking bastards; fucking walking scrap yard POS bastards!" Slatter growled as he surveyed the destruction.

"Settle down private…" was all Foley could say as he stood amongst the wreckage. It had been a three hour long firefight in the city. The first and second Battalions of the US Army Rangers along with the witches had fought to clear the city of the Neuroi. It was done now but at a cost. Two platoons of soldiers had been lost taking the city; along with three Eagles. The losses would have been greater if it weren't for the witches. Jake sat down on some of the rubble; he pulled out his environment scanner and scanned the air quality.

"Hey Foley the air is clear… we can take off our masks now." Jake said as he looked to Foley who nodded his head, before taking off his own mask.

"Alright people you can take off your masks now." Foley said as he pulled off his mask and took a breath of fresh air. Jake pulled off his gas mask the cold October air filled his lungs, along with the rather disgusting smell of burning flesh and rotting corpses, those two things were bad enough that Dunn nearly wanted to put his mask back on. Jake looked around and spotted running down the street was a female Army Ranger carrying an M82A2.

"On your left!" She shouted as she came into range of Foley's squad. The Ranger was an Asian woman of about twenty one years of age. She had bright blue hair and a pair of cat ears on her head. It must be one of the witches from our world. Jake thought to himself.

"Hello Sergeant… KATARO?" Foley tried to read the Ranger's name tag.

"Its Kotoro." The Sergeant stated flatly.

"My apologies." Foley replied. The female Ranger was silent for a moment before she spoke.

"Command wanted me to spread the word. We are pulling out and heading back to base. We are going to mount up into helicopters and head to a staging area in Florida to deal with the Neuroi hive located over Miami." The Sergeant told them. James was the first to reply.

"What about Arrowhead?" He asked her.

"Regular Army troops will move in and secure the sight for investigation. That is all the information I have at this time." Sergeant Kotoro informed them. Foley nodded his head and spoke.

"Understood carry on then Sergeant we will wait here for extraction." Foley told her. Sergeant Kotoro nodded and started to run down the street to find another unit. Just then a flight of four witches flew overhead. Jake watched the witches as they settled down to hover only a hundred or so meters away from his position. They were witches from the 507th the Silent Witches. One of the witches was a big breasted blonde wearing a US Navy uniform and holding an M2, the other seemed to be British with long brown hair and a dark colored uniform, the third was a young girl in a world war two era Japanese Navy uniform… and the last one… Dunn stared intently at a Japanese woman with long raven colored hair, fair skin with a well toned body telling of someone who had spent a life time of training her mind and body. She wore a white Miko outfit with a red scarf and held a Katana in her hands. Jake could not take his eyes off this girl…

"Huh what is it Dunn?" James asked Jake as he looked at the witches.

"That girl… she is the most beautiful woman I think I have ever seen…" Was all Jake could say. James looked to the witches and spoke.

"Oh, the blonde yeah she is really pretty I guess." James replied. Jake looked to James and shook his head.

"No not the blonde, the one with the sword." Jake replied to James who then looked to the Japanese girl in the Miko outfit. James got a wide ear to ear smile on his face.

"Oh I see how it is… I always wondered if the stereotype was true." James said to Jake who raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"What are you talking about?" Jake asked his friend who chuckled.

"I always heard that white guys like Asian chicks… I guess I know that is true now." James said coyly before Jake bopped him on the head. Then McCoy spoke.

"Yeah I guess the Corporal has yellow fever." McCoy said before Jake also bopped him on the head. Jake then looked back to the witch in question. She was so beautiful; she was truly an angel of the sky. Just then the other Japanese girl looked to Jake and stuck her tongue out at him. Jake cocked his head in confusion. Then the girl of his affections turned to face him. Jake quickly turned away and began to blush.

"Hey guys I… I think I am in love." Jake told his two comrades who started to laugh hysterically. Jake only began to blush more in embarrassment. "Shut up…" Jake told them. James and McCoy stopped laughing.

"Holy crap you're serious…" James said in astonishment. Jake nodded his head.

One Hundred Meters away

Tomoko Anabuki listened intently to Elizabeth as she relayed their deployment orders to the American state of Florida. The Neuroi had massed near the hive they established there and it was command's goal to wipe out the hive before the Neuroi could do any serious damage. Tomoko then noticed Haruka turn to face a group of American soldiers and stick out her tongue at them.

"What are you doing Haruka?" Tomoko asked her fellow witch who turned back to face Tomoko.

"Tha…that pervert with the goggles on his helmet; he was eyeing you!" Haruka bleated. Tomoko turned to the Americans to spot a rather handsome young man roughly her age looking at them. The man quickly turned away with a slight blush on his pale face. "See what did I tell you!" Haruka stated.

"Hmm he is cute." Was all Tomoko said to Haruka who promptly gasped.

White House USA

President Barack H. Obama

21:00 local time

"So as of pre-war agreement we are helping the remaining inhabitants of the European Union to evacuate to Quebec France. So far the evacuation is going smoothly as the Neuroi seem to be making a single minded push towards Russian territory, almost completely ignoring our forces as we retreat westward." General Petraeus informed President Obama who stood in the holo-room under the White House.

"At Least there is some good news today; oh but David… don't call Quebec, French territory around any of our Canadian allies, they might have leased Quebec to the French in 1941 but it is still technically Canadian soil." President Obama told his most trusted General who nodded slightly.

"Of course Mr. President, I know that the French just have a 100 year lease on the province… sometimes it just slips my mind that Quebec isn't actually part of France." David replied. "Anyways one last thing before the meeting with the 501st begins sir." David began. "Have you ever heard of Project Habakkuk?" He asked Barack Obama who nodded his head.

"Yeah I have brushed up on my history what about it?" He asked his General.

"Well apparently the Britannians built to ships and both made it over to this world before their old world was destroyed." David told him. Barack's eyes widened in surprise.

"You're kidding me." President Obama replied to David who shook his head.

"No sir; the Air Force and the Navy are already fighting over who gets it." David informed the American President who rolled his eyes. Barack Obama was never a military man, he would be lying if he said that he understood all of this inter-service prick waving that the various branches had with each other.

"Tell the Navy they can man the ship, but it's the Air Force who gets to land planes on it. I would say that is a half way decent compromise." President Obama told the American General.

"Of Course Mr. President… one more thing the two Naval personnel from the USS Abraham Lincoln that somehow ended up in the witches world are now safely in the custody of the CIA and we are debriefing Lieutenant Kjellberg as we speak." David told the American President who nodded his head. Hopefully the Lieutenant would have useful intelligence about the Neuroi. "Now shall I begin the briefing?" David asked President Obama who nodded. David pressed a button on the control panel and the Hologram Room activated. In the middle of the room five holographic figures appeared. The first two were of the Commanding Officer and XO of the Strike Witches, Mio Sakamoto and Minna Dietlinde Wilcke; then in the middle of the two groups was Captain Price of Task Force 141; while the other two holograms were of Admiral Sugita and Admiral Soemu of the Imperial Fuso Navy. All four figures saluted the President who returned the salute.

"Hello Mr. President." Minna said to President Obama who looked to the Karlslander and spoke.

"Hello Wing Commander Wilcke it is good to see you again. I assume the flight back state side was without incident?" President Obama asked Minna who nodded her head.

"Yes sir my girls and I landed back state side two hours ago." Minna replied.

"Very good, and as I had my men inform you as of tonight the 501st Joint Fighter Wing has been officially reformed." President Obama told Minna who nodded.

"Thank you Mr. President." She responded. Barack Obama nodded his head.

"Now for the reason that I have called you all here tonight. In one weeks time we will launch an all out assault on the Miami hive with naval, ground and air forces from both our worlds. At 1500 hours a Special Forces team led by Captain Price will attack a Neuroi hard point in the city using underwater infiltration methods. The goal of this raid is to destroy a Neuroi defensive weapon that is looking out towards the sea. Then at 1900 hours the air and ground forces will launch a diversionary attack on the Neuroi positions in the city of Miami. The plan is to draw the main force of the Neuroi away from the ocean so we can use the Yamato to destroy the Neuroi hive." President Obama explained to the party assembled.

"What? With all do respect Mr. President the Yamato is a conventional warship and is not meant to take on a Neuroi Hive." Minna explained to the President. Then Admiral Soemu spoke.

"Oh trust me Commander the after these recent modifications the Neuroi is anything but conventional." The Fusoan Admiral stated to the witches.

"What!? Do you mean to Neuroifi the Yamato?" Mio asked the Admiral who just smiled smugly.

"The Warlock project in Gallia showed us the future of warfare. We have installed a magical dynamo in the Yamato to allow it to stay under our control for a total of nine minutes. In that time you and the rest of your unit will protect it as it makes its attack run on the Neuroi Hive." Admiral Soemu stated.

"What is the Warlock project?" Captain Price asked the witches.

"It was a failed weapons program by a rouge general named Trevor Maloney. The Warlock went rouge and destroyed the IFN Akagi before my unit destroyed it." Minna explained to Price who then looked to President Obama.

"I am with the girls on this one then sir. If they don't think it will work I am inclined to believe them." Price stated to the President who held up his hand. Then Mio spoke.

"Please Mr. President let me use my Shin Reppuzan on the Neuroi Hive… if I am allowed to I know that I can kill the Neuroi hive in one shot!" Mio pleaded to Obama who shook his head.

"I am inclined to believe the Admiral's here with their plan. You and your girls have done a lot for this country Major but these men are accomplished General Officers I have to trust their judgment on this matter." President Obama replied. Then Price spoke.

"And what if this Neuroi battleship thing fails? What then Mr. President?" Captain Price asked in a rather accusatory tone.

"If the Yamato fails, the 501st and the other witches will cover our forces as we retreat. After that a flight of Auroras will use tactical nuclear warheads to destroy the hive." President Obama explained. Minna and Mio were about to protest before Obama put up a hand. "I am the Commander and Chief of the United States Military. Whether this operation fails or succeeds is my responsibility not yours. You and your girls have done a lot for this country and I implore you to follow your orders just one last time if that be the case." President Obama stated to the two witches who were silent for a moment before Minna spoke.

"Of Course Mr. President I will inform the girls." Minna told President Obama.

"That will be all for tonight. Good luck and God Speed ladies and gentlemen." President Obama told them before they saluted and one by one shut down the video link. Price was the last one to end the call.

"This is bollocks sir and you know it." Captain Price told President Obama. David Petraeus was about to speak when President Obama held up his hand.

"Maybe but so far this is the best plan we have Captain. People need to see that we can defeat the Neuroi with conventional and magical weapons. America needs this victory… humanity needs this victory." President Obama told Price who just frowned before shutting down the video link. President Obama looked to his general. "Come on we should have a guest waiting for us in the Oval Office. She is royalty so we shouldn't keep her waiting." President Obama told David who nodded.

"One thing before we enter though." David began as they left the holo-room and began walking back to the Oval Office. "She brought with her, a squad of the Royal Guards, about ten of them in total. They agreed to hand in their firearms but refused to give up their swords." David informed Obama who shrugged.

"It's fine it's a local custom from them. Besides the Royal Guards are witches and if they wanted to kill us it wouldn't matter if they were armed our not, we wouldn't be able to stop them either way." Barack Obama told David as they stepped out in front of the Oval Office. David Opened the door and President Obama entered the room. Waiting for him were ten members of the Imperial Fusoan Royal Guards Corps. Six of the witches wore white uniforms indicating their status as witches from Samurai families, each one hand a Katana in their sheaths. Two of the witches wore dark blood red uniforms indicating that they were personal bodyguards to high ranking Fusoan Nobility; one had a Naginata while the other had two Katana swords. One of the witches wore a gold yellow uniform marking her out as a member of one of the thirteen Imperial Vassal Families, and judging by the family crest on the uniform he recognized that she was a member of house Takamura. The last member of the Royal Guards was their leader who wore a purple colored uniform marking her out as being a witch with a direct blood connection to the Imperial Family. Lastly a purple haired young woman wearing the traditional clothing of a Japanese Emperor was the Empress of Fuso Yuuhi Koubuin.

"Hello Mr. President we have a lot to talk about." Yuuhi said as she held a document that read in English EAC-99X Ether Accelerator Cannon.

Unknown Location People's Republic of China

Pilot Officer Amaki Suwa

23:12 local time

Amaki was so cold and so tired. But most of all she was in so much pain. She looked down to her fingers and toes and stared at the ugly bloody wounds where all of her finger and toenails had been ripped out. It was so painful… more painful than any of her crashes or any previous injury. What had she done to deserve this? Why were these strange people… these Chinese… and North Koreans hurting her so much? She didn't even know where their countries were and yet they treated her like she was a long time and bitter enemy. They kept calling her "Japanese" even though she insisted that she was Fusoan. Right now she had been stripped of her uniform and was standing with her wrists chained to the wall. She was nearly out of magic and she had not slept in what felt like a few days but she couldn't be sure. Her interrogations lasted what had to be hours at a time and she had been given only enough food and water to survive. It was horrible… so horrible… why were they doing this to her? It just didn't make sense. Just then the door to the cell she was being held in swung open. A young woman roughly her age stepped through the door. She was wearing the same type of black uniform that the other "Chinese" soldiers wore. The young looking woman was very attractive. She had wavy obsidian colored hair; smooth and flawless bronzed light tan skin, an elegant face that seemed to be the epitome of Asian femininity and beauty, she had a slightly bigger bust than Amaki's own and was about 165cm tall. She walked up to Amaki and didn't say a word; Amaki stared into her cold dark brown emotionless eyes. Then a magical aura surrounded the girl and a pair of white tiger ears and a tail appeared on her head and lower back respectively. This girl was a witch!

"You're… you are a witch! Please you have to help me! These men they have been keeping me here for days and have been tortur…" Amaki was cut off as the girl back handed her with enough force to send Amaki to the floor. Amaki looked up at this young woman with nothing but a mixture of confusion and horror in her eyes.

"My name is Captain Lien-Hua Chu of the People's Liberation Army Air Force, and acting commander of the First Magical Shock Battalion. I have come here to interrogate you on the working of the striker unit." Lien-Hua said to Amaki with zero emotion in her voice. The way she spoke it was like she was reciting a script or reading a grocery list to someone. "If you cooperate this will be less painful for you… however if you remain stubborn we will not hesitate to use force on you." Lien-Hua said to Amaki who tried to force herself to her feet. She was so tired and felt so weak it was a herculean effort for her to stand and face this girl.

"I told your friends before Captain I only fly in a striker unit… I don't know how to buil…" Amaki was again cut off this time as Lien-Hua put her hand on Amaki's mouth and slowly moved it down to cup her chin. Lien-Hua then slowly moved her thumb over Amaki's lips and forced itself inside Amaki's mouth. For the first time a look of genuine emotion appeared on Lien-Hua's face; a look of lustful desire… Amaki shuttered a sickly uncomfortable sensation filled Amaki's heart.

"You know…" Lien-Hua trailed off as she stepped in closer to Amaki and placed her left hand on Amaki's exposed left breast and gave a gentle squeeze which elicited an unwanted moan from Amaki's mouth as she felt a wave of undesired pleasure fill her chest. "I am not normally into women… but I have to say you are absolutely enticing." Lien-Hua cooed to Amaki as she moved her right hand away from Amaki's chin and traced down Amaki's body. Her fingers glided across Amaki's collar bone and then joined her left hand at Amaki's breasts and gave both of them a firm but gentle squeeze. Amaki bit her lip to stifle another moan of unwanted ecstasy. This was wrong… this was so wrong Amaki didn't want this… no she wanted Nishiki to touch her like this… not this… dark hearted witch. Lien-Hua's right hand then moved to Amaki's stomach and softly rubbed it and then… to her horror her hand moved south. Amaki shut her legs tightly and struggled against her restraints.

"No! Please no! Don't touch me there!" Amaki pleaded as Lien-Hua pried her legs open and used her right hand to caress Amaki's clean shaven snatch. Waves of pure ecstasy filled Amaki as Lien-Hua's fingers forced their way inside Amaki's most precious region. Amaki started moan in pleasure and loosen her legs as she finally gave way and was overcome by the direct stimulation to her maidenhood. "No…. only my Nishiki can touch me there… you can't do this to me…" Amaki weakly protested. Lien-Hua smirked.

"Oh really? If that is the case why is your tight little virgin cunt getting so wet then?" Lien-Hua taunted her. Amaki just remained silent as Lien-Hua violated her and started edging her closer and closer to orgasm. "As I said I find you rather enticing…. Now imagine how the guards think of you…." Lien-Hua said with no emotion in her voice. A look of horror filled Amaki's eyes as she started to realize where Lien-Hua was going with this. "Many of these men here don't have wives are girlfriends back home… which means that they are lonely and frustrated. So I ask you Pilot Officer Suwa… how long do you think you would last as all three hundred of these men took out all of their anger and frustration and loneliness on your body…?" Lien-Hua warned her.

"No…please…. I… I… am still a virgin." Amaki pleaded. It was all starting to sink in for her.

"Do you think you would last an hour? A day? A week? A month even? It doesn't matter because you are our prisoner and there is no escape from this life for you… your mind will break eventually; everyone has their breaking points… it's just a question of how long your mind will stay sane." Lien-Hua told Amaki who began to cry even as she was on the edge of climaxing. It was true there was no escape from this hell that she was in… if she didn't give them what they wanted… they would rape her; she knew they would. They had been giving her these hungry lecherous looks since she arrived at this prison. These men, they would rape her… rape her over and over again… until her mind broke…

"Why are you doing this to me? I haven't done anything to deserve this?" Amaki pleaded. Lien-Hua's facial expression didn't change; it was the same steely look she had on from the moment she arrived in her cell.

"Isn't it obvious? You have information that we want and we are willing to do whatever it takes to get that information from you." Lien-Hua told her. Just then Amaki cried out as she hit her limit and reached orgasm. Her inner thighs were wet with her juices and Amaki fell to her knees and broke down and sobbed. Lien-Hua then licked her fingers of Amaki's fluids and gave another brief smirk. "You taste sweet for a Jap." Lien-Hua taunted her. Amaki then looked up to Lien-Hua with a teary defeated look in her eyes.

"Ok… I will tell you everything you want to know about the striker unit… just please… don't let them rape me…" Amaki pleaded to Lien-Hua who looked to her and spoke.

"You made the right choice… we will see you again in the morning… get some rest it will be a long day tomorrow." Lien-Hua said as she turned and started off towards the cell door. She opened the door to start to walk out but before she left she looked back to Amaki… then something strange happened. Amaki swore she saw a look of pity and regret fill Lien-Hua's face for a fraction of a second. Then Lien-Hua left and the lights to her cell turned off, leaving Amaki alone with nothing but her tears.

"Please… Nishiki… please rescue me…" Amaki sobbed into the cold dark void of her cell.

Undisclosed Location People's Republic of China

Captain Lien-Hua Chu

23:21 local time

"Well I'll be damned you did it Captain." Captain Cho told Amaki as he stood by Lieutenant Ming and Lieutenant Chow of the People's Liberation Army. The two Chinese officers were both members of the elite Special Operations Unit and had been assigned to Amaki's interrogation.

"Of course I did. All I needed to do was to look into her eyes and I could see what she feared plain as day." Lien-Hua replied to Captain Cho. Then Lieutenant Ming spoke.

"So after we get what we need from the little Jap slut what do we do with her?" He asked Lien-Hua who started to walk away from them.

"Once she has given us what we need the party wants her dealt with in a fitting matter. How you choose to do that is up to you." Lien-Hua replied. Captain Cho chuckled.

"Ah I see so I guess we get to have a little fun with her before we off her then." He stated.

"Yeah I say we do to her what we did to that Malay bitch during the drone wars." Lieutenant Chow said to the trio of officers.

"What you mean the one we fucked with a pole wrapped in razor wire?" Lieutenant Ming asked.

"Yeah that's it lets fuck that little foreign whore with some razor wire and give her the ride of her life." Lieutenant Chow replied. Captain Cho laughed.

"Wow I want in on that action boys!" He joked as he slapped them on the backs. Lien-Hua stopped and thought for a moment. She then turned to face the trio of officers.

"On second thought I changed my mind." She said to them. Captain Cho raised an eyebrow. "I am a member of the party which means I am entitled to get the first of the spoils of war. And our prisoner is a woman that means she is the spoils is she not." Lien-Hua said to them. "I will make her my personal whore to fuck whenever I feel like it." Lien-Hua informed the officers who scowled in unison.

"Oh really… and I suppose you will share with us then… because if you don't… the little slut may have an accident happen to her, if you catch my drift. Captain Cho growled to Lien-Hua. Lien-Hua frowned inwardly. Even as a member of the party these men didn't respect her. all they saw was some upstart little girl trying to steal away what they thought was their prize. Lien-Hua thought of the Japanese witch. If she didn't compromise with them, they would probably kill Amaki anyway as a form of amusement. Probably say that she died trying to escape or something.

"Of course you can even pop her cherry if you wish… hell you can rough her up a little if you'd like. Just don't do any permanent damage and don't mess up her good looks too much. I want my personal whore to look alluring after all." Lien-Hua told them. Typical men. Lien-Hua thought to herself with disdain. The men chuckled.

"I guess we can do that… besides this way we can fuck her as often as we like now can't we." Lieutenant Chow said to Lien-Hua.

"As long as I get to play with her first and last at the end of the day and you follow the rules I have set for her body then by all means knock yourself out." Lien-Hua said as she turned to walk away. Behind her the men cheered and slapped each other on the back telling each other all of the lewd and depraved things they would do to the captured Japanese witch… how they planned to "Avenge Nanking"… Lien-Hua frowned and shook her head.

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Wow looks like things are getting worse and worse for Amaki arent they? anyways so i wanted to say that this chapter had gotten so long that i decided to cut out a few scenes that were going to introduce a handful of new characters to the story, like Marimo and Ilfried. I will introduce them later into the story, next chapter. also this was the end of the arrival story arc now we start the battle of Miami story arc which will be like 3 or 4 chapters. anyways so that is all for now please R/R and tell me what you think of this chapter. oh also in regards to Alfred Walken dont worry guys i promise i wont sabotage his raptor... or will i XD and yes the Infinities pilot was that Yuuya Bridges and the Royal Guard in Yellow was Top Tsun... I mean Yui Takamura... guess which characters will show up next chapter with that in mind. oh one more edit there is actually one more story arc that i forgot to mention which is the Fall of Japan arc that will happen after the rescue story arc so yeah i forgot about that one. ps i may this week or next week have a CIA document/chapter hybrid uploaded so stay tuned.