Chapter 2- The Prisoner
Commander Mina Wilke sat at her desk in her office. The red head was going over numerous enemy reports and battle plans, but her mind wasn't in the reports. Almost everybody had been to her office hoping to find out any news on the prisoner. And frankly, she was getting quite annoyed by all the distractions.
A knock at the door grabbed her attention.
"Great. Another nosy witch wanting to get their two-cents," she muttered to herself, then rose her voice. "Come in!"
Mina regretted her frustration when she saw who it was coming to talk to her. In walked her best military leader and asset, as well as her best and most trusted friend, Major Sakamoto Mio of the Fuso Empire.
"Mio!? Why are you here?" Mina asked, truly surprised.
"You know why I'm here, Mina," Sakamoto said as she approached one of the windows overlooking the runway. It was another clear sky; she'd have to get all the others out for some training flights so as not to waste the good weather.
Mina leant back in her chair as she too looked out the window. "I see."
"I don't know what we should do with her. We can't keep her in custody forever you know," Sakamoto said, turning to face Mina.
"We can't do anything until she gives us more info or until someone from the USLMC returns our call," Mina sighed.
"And that's not likely to happen anytime soon…," Mio groaned. The United States of Liberion Marine Corps were all but completely decimated during the early stages of the war. They suffered the worst losses because of a lack of knowledge on the enemy and the overzealous attitude of the Liberion government wanting to show the world they were a world power. Both of those factored into major losses to their previously mighty military power.
Mio pressed her temples. "Did you at least get anything from her file?"
Mina pulled the file from a drawer in her desk and held it open. "Master Sergeant Samantha O. Bryant. Stealth mission marksman specialist. Two Silver Stars and two Purple Hearts awarded. Current status: AWOL."
"Well we can always send her back for a court martial," Mio offered.
"But we both know that nothing will come of that. Nearly 70% of troops worldwide have abandoned their post and the higher ups are past making examples of people," Mina was truly tired of thinking about this.
But Mio wasn't. She was finally getting a chance to voice her opinion on the matter. "What are our other choices?"
"Well, we can either let her go…," Mina trailed off and the stern expression on Mio's face told her what she thought of that choice. So she continued, "Or, we can re- "
"OH NO! We cannot take on a new witch, especially one with a history of going AWOL! It's already hard enough to just keep Miyafuji in line!"
"I seem to remember someone having to convince me to allow Miyafuji to join us even though she was an untrained civilian," Mina countered knowing full well that would slow Mio.
But Mio didn't even hesitate. "She's a witch unimaginable magical potential and prominent healing powers. She is a priceless asset and a great team member. You know that."
"I agree with you on all points but Miyafuji is not the argument here," Mina said evenly, eyes closed and arms crossed over her chest. "The times have changed and the enemy is much more dangerous now. When Miyafuji first arrived, the Neuroi were predictable in their capabilities. But now we can't even tell what to expect when we go to battle."
Sakamoto looked thoughtfully out the window as she replayed the battle in her head. "They did throw the radar with that formation. And even then they were only acting as a decoy for the real attack."
"And if she wasn't there to see that you would've been shot down and we can't afford to lose you. I can't afford to lose you, Mio," Mina said without raising her head, a slight blush forming on her cheeks.
Sakamoto turned to face her. She rested a hand on Mina's shoulder. "Mina, nothing's going to happen to me. Trust me," she stopped and sucked in a deep breath. Mina looked up and their eyes locked. "If taking her in is a good plan in your opinion, I'm behind you. 100%."
"Damn! This holding cell is way better than even the General's office in the Marines," I sighed aloud as I laid on the bed. I had my hands folded behind my head, eyes closed in relaxation.
I was escorted back to their base after the battle and thrown in here. I really could've run whenever I felt, but I was tired of running and didn't have anywhere to go at mind. Besides, I'd rather be taken prisoner by fellow witches than some random military regiment somewhere in the world.
Plus, that Miyafuji girl from Fuso brought me some real food. I haven't had anything good or real to eat in months, MREs being the only thing I could pilfer to eat. And really, it's not like I was eating anything good while I was stateside anyways. This right here is a pretty good setup.
I was beginning to fall back to sleep when there was a knock at the door. It opened without waiting for a response. The pretty redhead who ordered me into isolation entered first, followed by Sakamoto and another girl I had seen at the battle.
She stopped right in front of the bed, the other two standing "at ease" behind her, neither one looking particularly relaxed. "Master Sergeant Samantha Bryant. I apologize for your hasty confinement, but we had to decide what our next steps were after your confession."
"Yeah, no complaints," I yawned and waved it off without sitting up.
She hesitated for a moment, "Be that as it may, you are AWOL and have a court martial pending against you."
"Hmph, not the first time," I grunted. I could tell my attitude was wearing on all three of them without even opening my eyes.
"As it is now, we have two choices. The first is to send you back to Liberia so that they may do whatever it is they wish to do with you," She paused, allowing for that to sink in.
"Do whatever you think best," I said before she could begin again.
"Yes. That is what we think as well. And that is why we have come to this decision and therefore officially extend you an invitation to join the 501st Joint Fighter Wing, The Strike Witches," She was beaming proudly as she said that, as if it were the dream of everyone in the world to join her regiment and only an extremely select few can do.
"No offense, Ma'am, but I don't do well in teams. And besides, I don't even know your name," I said, intentionally poking a hole in her strategy. Every high ranking officer I've ever come across so far has purposely avoided giving out their names, instead using their rank to scare people to do their dirty work. And it's worked every time.
Except for once.
"Oh! Sorry, truly my apologies. Things have been fast and hectic and I haven't had the chance to properly introduce myself. I am Lieutenant Colonel Mina Dietlinde Wilke of Karlsland," she said, sticking out her hand. I shook it once simply to get her to drop it back to her side. She then gestured to the women besides her. "This is Major Sakamoto Mio of the Fuso Empire and this is Captain Gertrud Barkhorn, also of Karlsland."
Both of them simply nodded as Mina said their names. I swung my legs off the edge of the bed and sat up, opening my eyes up finally and looking right at all three of them. "So then, Lieutenant Colonel, even knowing a little of my background, you still want me to join your little 'Band of Legendary Witches'. Why is that?" My tone was sharp.
"You have a very desirable skill set that we weren't even aware witches were being trained in. We believe that if you join our ranks we will be able to turn the momentum of this war against the Neuroi and finally expel them from our world," Major Sakamoto answered without hesitation.
I snorted and fell backwards onto the bed again. "So you want me to join your war. Jumping sides again. You'll have to do better than that," I said. But internally is kicking the shit out of myself, hoping against hope they didn't catch my slip up.
"I was there at the battle yesterday," Barkhorn spoke up this time. She had the tone of a person thought every rule of the military had to be followed to the letter, no room for interpretation. "Nobody was aware that that last Neuroi had slipped detection and even more nobody was aware you were even present, let alone existed, not even the Neuroi knew. You could have let the Neuroi shoot down Major Sakamoto and disappeared without even leaving a trace of your presence. But you didn't. Now I don't know what you mean by, 'jumping sides', but your actions tell me you have a sense loyalty to humanity and some trace of hatred for the Neuroi. Everybody here at the base shares those same feelings and have love to have the chance to fight alongside you."
"Hmph. Hate the Neuroi," I said aloud, trying it out on my tongue. "Appealing to my loyalties as well. Not sure how effective that is, though, considering I've 'deserted my fellow marines.'"
"We're sure you had your reasons," her tone was even, but her face was starting to show signs of annoyance. "So flattery doesn't work, good to know. What we do know though is that you saved one of our most important witches and we thanked you by taking you prisoner and threatening you with sending you home with a bow to be court martialed and dishonorably discharged, likely to spend years in prison. That's not exactly noble of us. So instead we'd prefer to thank you by giving you a chance to live and fight here with us, with your own freedom. Here, with grace and integrity rather than having the labels of traitor and coward planted on you by the Marines."
I stared at the three of them. Then I felt my lips turn up into a smile. "Now that, ladies, is how you make a pitch."
