Chapter 3-You're not alone
I'M BACK!
Yeah, seriously, I'm back in action. Goddamn GCSEs and music are scheming on me, I swear. Oh well, I finally took the time to look through my computer's files before starting my GCSEs when I suddenly discovered this and thought, 'crap!' I'd forgotten about this project entirely and I apologise for that. I'm gonna try and get back on track with my old schedule now that I've got so much more free time.
Colonel Amiruddin Arif: Thanks for the tip! I'll make sure to try and remember that! And on your first point, I have plans for Cecilia (Mwahahahahaha!) so don't worry about that! Also, keep the chapters coming man! They're awesome!
Since I haven't said this yet: I DO NOT OWN STRIKE WITCHES. You would have thought that would have been obvious on a fanfiction webiste but, meh. Better safe than sorry. Also, I like being corrected, strange as it seems. So please, leave constrctive criticism (that will inevitably be 99% unconstructive) after you've finished reading! Please return your seats to the upright position and stow your tray tables, here we go!
Ryuu's P.O.V.
I woke up the next morning before first light, getting myself up and out of bed, ready for the day ahead. That rhymed… oh well. I put on my clothes quickly before heading out of the door and walking around the base for a little. I hadn't yet had a chance to explore and get to know the place for myself, so I took this quiet time as a chance for me to do so, walking around and familiarising myself with various routes. Especially the ones to the hangar and briefing room, that would most definitely come in handy, considering I didn't know them properly yet. I also passed by what I assumed to be Minna's office, the pantry (which I found through a pleasant surprise, an open door) and various other deserted rooms. I made a mental note of one of them in particular, it was pretty big and I figured we could do indoor sparring there, at least without magic. Other than that, nothing much, so I headed back out to the hangar, and kitted myself out with the Type 99 MBS unit (Main Battle Striker, duh!) and headed out to the firing range. I deliberated firing the 125mm HE-FRAG rounds to wake up the base, but then decided against it, explosions tend to draw unwanted attention. I settled for using the Type 85 .50 cal machinegun instead, so I readied myself up and pulled down on the trigger. The gun jolted back against my arm, but thanks to my magic-
'My magic.' Terra's magic, the recoil was barely noticeable to me. I expended 100 hundred rounds before looking over my aim. Not bad. Improving.
"Up and at 'em early, don't you think Ryuu?" I turned around to see Mio looking at my practicing. More than that though, I think she was wondering about my striker unit. After all, from what I can tell our land strikers are very different from the other ones from this era.
"Yeah, can't get rusty now eh?" I commented.
"True, true," Mio answered. "But what is that striker unit you're using?" she asked.
"Oh this thing? It's the Norinco Type 99 MBS, equipped with a 125mm smoothbore cannon, complete with co-axial 7.62mm and a 12.7mm Type 85 hand-held HMG," I responded.
"125mm! Damn, that's a big cannon you've got there, I think only the Karslanders have guns that big right now," Mio commented. I chuckled a little at her response, causing her eyes to widen.
"Damn pervert!" she ran at me with her sword whilst I cackled like a madman.
"Gehehe, just try and hit me!" I said, doing all sorts of acrobatics to dodge her sword.
"Damnit! How are you so lithe in that damn juggernaut suit!?" Mio raged.
"This thing's got servo-motors in which help my agility, I'm actually more agile in this suit than without it!" I informed. I could see Mio's eyes twitch a bit when I said that.
"What the hell are servo-motors? And stop moving dammit!" she yelled at me. I smirked back at her whilst she kept swinging at me. "And why the hell are you being so damn cheeky now! When you arrived you scared the living hell out of everyone, me included!" Oh! Nice ammo Mio!
"Aww… was little Mio scared?" I couldn't resist the jab. She just had to go making it easier didn't she-oh crap!
"Hah!" Mio's blade just smashed into my chest with all the force of as shotgun slug. I gasped slightly at the force behind the strike, before toppling over backwards and landing on the ground, groaning. Note to self, don't get side-tracked when fighting Mio. "And aren't you younger than me anyways?" she asked.
"Depends *hah* how old *hah* are you *hah* anyways?" I asked, lying down on the floor. Seriously, she can swing hard!
"19, don't you know it's rude to ask a lady her age?" she replied, smirking.
"What lady?" I retorted. I groaned slightly before picking myself up. "And tone down the power on those strikes next time!" I complained. She just laughed at my response before looking back at me.
"Well, I guess I can let you off with that one." Still smirking dammit.
"I'll get you back for that eventually major."
"I'd like to see you try." We glared at each other for a couple of seconds before both of us burst out in laughter at each other.
"Oh wow, that was amazing! You looked like you were-" I was cut short by the incessant blaring of the base's alarm, signalling the proximity of a Neuroi. I cursed under my breath.
"Damn, we're under attack…" I gave her a look that practically blurted out no shit.
She is a Major, isn't she? asked Terra.
I thought so, but with that comment… yeesh… I glared a little more at Mio.
"What?" she asked. I sighed.
"Nothing, nothing…" I dismissively waved off her question. "Let's just get moving into the briefing room shall we? Actually, scratch that, I'm gonna go start spooling up my engines. The damn things take ages to warm up for some reason. I'll have to take a look at them sometime…" I trail off, thinking. Mio just grinned and ran off.
"Just remember to turn on your comms!" she yelled back at me.
"Yes ma'am!" I yelled back, giving her a mock salute. I heard her… distinctive laugh echo out from the distance. "Crazy woman…" I muttered under my breath.
Mei's P.O.V.
I know that bro told me to always head to the briefing room immediately after the alarm sounds, but this is more important.
"Lynette? Are you in there?" Yoshika asked. I felt terrible, Yoshika and I had managed to somehow make Lynette really angry last night.
"Please, please answer us if you are!" I beg through the door. It hadn't even been a week yet and I have already managed to make someone so distressed! She just ran away from us in tears when Yoshika and I were pondering what we could do to help. I feel so bad about pushing her when she's already so stressed about having to defend her homeland… and then three enemy contacts appeared on the radar…
"I'm terrible at magic, I'm always in trouble, I can't fly, and I won't use a gun…"
"I've never been in combat before without my brother, my magic is uncontrolled, I'm always so reliant on help, and I'm always in the way…"
"I don't even care about fighting the Neuroi…"
"All I wanted to do was help my brother…"
"All I wanted to do was to use my magic to help someone…"
"Even at the cost of myself…"
"Even if it's just one person…"
"Because…" Yoshika and I look each other in the eye before nodding.
"We want to protect people!" we say together. I hope that will get through to her.
"That's why I keep on trying…"
"That's why I fly the skies…"
"And that's why you should too… Lynette." We looked at each other one more time after having said our pieces, and left for the briefing room. I think bro's already left to dispatch the Neuroi… what a bother. Oh no, if I have to fight, he won't be there to help me! I begin to hyperventilate at the thought of having to fight without my brother at my side.
"What's wrong Mei? Is something the matter?" I turn to look at Yoshika, feeling absolutely petrified.
"This'll be the first time I go into battle without Ryuu! What do I do, what do I do…" I'm freaking out, I always mess up! What's going to happen now, will I get everyone hurt? I don't want that to happen! I carry on hyperventilating and panicking until I feel someone's hand on my shoulder.
"Please calm down Sakai!" Yoshika's voice snapped me out of my panic. I started to breathe slowly, before turning around to face Yoshika. I took a deep breath, organizing my thoughts. She's right, I have to calm down if I want to do anything useful here. Finally thinking straight again, I thought carefully about what I was going to say.
"Yoshika, are you okay with using a gun if you need to protect someone?" I asked. I was surprised at how well I seemed to carry the message, I sounded confident like my brother, but kind like Minna. Hmmm… Nice! She looked at me thoughtfully for a second, then I saw her face set in determination.
"Yes! I can!" she responded, without hesitation. I nodded, grinning the biggest shit-eating grin I could. What, I'm not completely innocent, I'm 16!
'Oh yes, brilliant, I've got that image in my head now!' Oh, now Ignis decides to show up!
'Too bad, so sad. Well, since I'm going into battle…' I heard Ignis sigh before she complied. She's stubborn, but dependable.
"Yikes!" Heh, sounds like Yoshika got spooked. I closed my eyes, feeling the magic running through my body. My transformation was kind of like my brothers, but different. First, instead of two scaly ridges, I grew a pair of long, gnarly horns. Also, my tail wasn't quite just a club, it instead ended in what looked like a thick two-pronged spear, like a two-pointed trident. Flames licked out from the back of my neck, my wrists and my ankles, as well as generally wreathing themselves around my tail and horns. I opened my eyes, the dark black of my iris and pupil suddenly flaring up, a flame dancing within them. I saw Yoshika looking at me slack-jawed. I grinned back at her.
"Should we go and see Minna now?" I asked. She just nodded in response.
Yoshika and I ran to the briefing room, Yoshika taking the lead.
'Seriously, that chick can run!' I rolled my eyes at Ignis' comment.
'If you're not gonna help, seriously shut it. I can kind of understand why bro and Terra hate you so much.'
'Aww… you love me really.' Once again I rolled my eyes, not bothering to dignify her comment with a retort. Yoshika burst round the corner, opening the door to the room as she went. Eila was sitting there, along with Minna.
"I'll go too!" yelled Yoshika. I rounded the corner moments later.
"And I'll accompany her!" I finished. Minna looked the two of us over for a second before fixing us with a hard stare.
"It's much too soon for either of you to go out on a real combat mission," she replied. "Miyafuji, you don't want to handle a gun," she turned to me, "and Mei, from what I can tell you won't do well in combat without your brother." Yoshika was slightly peeved from this.
"I can shoot if it's to help someone!" she retorted.
"And I can do just fine without my brother, watch me!" I roared back. I stomped out of the room without a second thought to the hangar bay. Who does she think she is, judging me like that! I'll damn well show her. I hear her calling after me from the briefing room, but I ignore it, running to the hangar.
Ryuu's P.O.V.
Hmmm… this doesn't look right.
"Mio," I call out. She looks up at me, as I fly topcover.
"What is it Ryuu?" she asks. I frown as I double check my radar, then look around at the sky.
"Something doesn't seem right, only one contact on a suicide run? The Neuroi can't be that cocky can they?" I asked her. She contemplates this for a moment, before nodding.
"Yes, something definitely does seem off here. Hartmann, Yeager, pick up altitude and remain there along with Ryuu!" she ordered.
"Kay!"
"Got it!" The two pulled up and pulled up on my flanks, whilst I initiated a tight turn to cut my speed. I finished my turn between the two girls, my Gyrfalcon's deafening roar drowning out the whine of Shirley's P-51 and Erica's Bf 109 G-6. I scanned the sky with my radar, trying to find where the remaining Neuroi might be hiding.
"They're really getting sneaky aren't they Shirley?" commented Erica, as she lounged about next to me. How the hell is she lying down on her back?
"Eh, they're picking up new tricks. 'Bout time they stopped just trying to swarm us," she responded. I rolled my eyes at that. Neuroi charges huh? Probably worked up until the Briti-eheh, Britannians got their radars working. Suddenly, my helmet HUD picked something up. Oh…
"CRAP!" I yelled out loud. I startled both Erica and Shirley, Shirley just winced slightly at my curse but Erica jumped and yelped as she fell over backwards (in mid-air no less) and dropped a bit of altitude. She quickly shot back up to meet us at 9,000m.
"What's wrong?" asked Erica.
"They're going for the base!" I shouted. "Mio, if you're done with whatever you're shooting at with Barkhorn, they're running for the base! Three of 'em!" I radioed Mio with the news.
"What?! Get back there quick, Perrine and Francesca, come on! We're going back!" I heard Mio yell on the comms. Well crap, I hate it when my intuition is right. At least we're close enough.
"Full speed girls, we've gotta make it back quick!" I yelled out at the two of them. I regulated my speed to 580kmh along with Erica and Shirley and we raced back towards base. I hope they're going to be fine…
Mei's P.O.V.
ARGH! I'm still here warming up my engines like bro told me and I've been caught up to by the others.
"Mei!" I heard Yoshika and Lynne call out my name.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Hold on, we're coming too!" Yoshika responded. I heard a growl from the other launch units in the room as everyone else's striker units started up. I looked up to see Minna glaring at me for a moment, before her gaze softened.
"I understand you want to prove yourself Mei, but at least let us assist you too," she said. I looked at her for a minute, before nodding sheepishly.
"Okay then," I responded. "I'll probably have to launch after you guys though," I continued, "my missiles are almost finished forming." Everyone else in the room nodded.
"In that case, Miyafuji, Bishop, wait for Mei to finish her preparations," Minna ordered.
"Hai!"
"Yes ma'am!" Eila gave the two a thumbs up before the two launched off, leaving me alone with Yoshika and Lynette.
"Hey, I'm, uh… sorry for ditching you guys back there," I apologized. I was just realizing that what I did was kind of, well, childish I guess.
"It's okay Mei, we don't really mind," replied Yoshika. Lynette nodded to affirm her statement.
"Hehe, thanks guys, I'm a little hot-headed like that, I guess my familiar is a little like me then," I said, grateful.
"Wait, your familiar is conscious?" asked Lynette. I nodded in response.
"Yours isn't?" I asked. She shook her head at me.
"I've never heard of conscious familiars bef-" Lynette got cut off by something. I shook my head at the sudden revelation.
"Well either way, I've finished preparing, so we better get moving," I cut in. The other nodded at my response, before revving up their strikers. The whine of propeller driven aircraft was slowly eclipsed by the ever growing roar of my Berkut's turbofans. Both Lynette and Yoshika detached off first, before I launched off, my katana resting neatly on my back. Hmm… I wonder if Ryuu took his blade as well. I quickly unholstered the large GSh-30-1 from my back, checking it over before pulling up to my assigned combat altitude. 15,000m wasn't it? Something like that, I'll just stay at 14,000 for now then.
"Are you in position Mei?" asked Minna over the radio. I booted up the radar on my HUD before responding.
"I'm up here Minna, I've got three contacts on the radar," I replied. Wait… "Four actually, but one isn't Neuroi, too small."
"What is it then?" asked Eila. Hmmm, approximately 1.8m long… oh.
"It's me! Don't you dare start firing missiles at me!" yelled my brother's voice. Yup, just as I thought.
"Hang on for a second, where are Shirley and Erica?" asked Minna.
"Had to leave them behind, they can't exactly reach 1,000kmh in level flight you know, ah crap, the trio've noticed me!" The sound of Neuroi beams came roaring out of the headset as they opened up on my brother with everything they had. "It's getting too hot here, I'm pulling back to their maximum range for now!"
"Okay Ryuu, Eila, come with me, we're going after it. The rest of you hold position, we don't want any accidents in case we all go up." I was a little angry at the fact that Minna basically told me, Lynnette and Yoshika to sit back and watch. Though it does make sense, if any of the Neuroi somehow manage to break through, someone needs to act as a safety net. Well, multiple people considering there are three Neuroi. I watch the contrails from their engines disappear into the distance as they move to intercept the Neuroi. At the same time, my brother's radar signature closes in to the Neuroi fast from the rear.
"It's going fast Minna, you're going to have to match speed with them."
"Ok Ryuu, we're dropping down now." By now I couldn't see them, but I knew they would be dropping down low to where the Neuroi are.
"Hey Mei, are you there?" Yoshika's voice rang out over the radio.
"Yeah, why?" I asked.
"Are you scared right now?" I paused for a second to think about what Yoshika had just said. Am I scared? Well… I guess…
"Yeah, I am." No sense in hiding it I guess. I might be about to go into combat without my brother at my side, with two others who are in the same boat as me in combat experience. Not blaming Yoshika and Lynette of course, that would be hypocritical of me, but still.
"Oh. We thought you might be fine cause you always seem so confident and all around the base. I mean, you even stormed out here to get up and fight the Neuroi." I thought that over for a second. I guess, but…
"It's still my first time you guys. And it's not like I usually do big things without my brother as well. So I guess I'm in the same boat." The two of them giggled a little at my reply. I smiled hearing them. I guess I won't be alone here then, even when my brother is busy.
"Heads up girls! The three of them just picked up a ton of speed and are heading your way." I could feel not only myself, but also the other two on the other end of the radio freeze for a moment hearing Minna say that. I was further scared at the fact that none of them had been taken out. Immediately, Lynette started firing her anti-tank rifle, but the bullets just ended up flying everywhere in the general direction of the three Neuroi, no hits. I frowned at this before I ended up diving down to where the Neuroi were.
"It's no good, I can't hit them!" I was beginning to shake a bit from the transonic speeds, and I was also struggling to keep my speed under control. I'm not supposed to break the sound barrier yet.
"It's okay, it's just like training!"
"But I'm taking up so much energy just flying. I can't control my shots magically so I'm not as accurate!" Ok, so that's why. Just hang tight…
"Okay then, I'll just keep you up!" Hey! That was my idea!
Oooh, big deal. Grrr…
Shut it. Geez, you're such an ass at times…
Why thank you! Ok, focus! Ignore the stupid dragon!
"Wha-! What are you doing?"
"Supporting you, now you can take a shot!" HOW AM I STILL SO HIGH UP! ARGH! Suddenly, I could make out Yoshika supporting Lynne down below. Nice! Now we should be able to do it.
"You three, the Neuroi are heading your way. Neutralise it. And be careful. Don't get killed." Hah… that's my brother… blunt as always.
"Okay then, on Miyafuji, shoot on three." It seems as if Lynette has a plan. "One, two, three!" I saw a stream of yellow tracers race out of Yoshika's gun, heading straight towards one of the three Neuroi in the distance. They split apart like a fighter formation, one pulling up, one breaking right and the last diving to the left. The one that pulled up was instantly blasted open by a precise shot from Lynne, causing it to shriek and shatter just like any other. Meanwhile…
"I can't hit the others!" I panicked a bit when Lynne said that. Sure, I can get the one that broke right, but the one diving off to the left… it's too far gone…
"I've got the one that is staying level!" I yelled through the radio. "Someone please get the other!" I levelled out at the same altitude as Lynnette and Yoshika and shot right past at over 1000kmh. I drew out my GSh-30-1 and brought it up at the Neuroi. It didn't even register me.
"Whoa!" Looks like the two just spotted me. Heh. I squeezed the trigger and 30mm HEI-T rounds tore into the Neuroi, tearing it apart. Somewhere in that carnage the core was hit (unsurprisingly) and a shriek signalled the death of the Neuroi. No rest for the weary though…
"The other one's made it to the base!" That was what I was afraid of. I twisted over to see the Neuroi moving just above sea level and making a beeline for the base. I instantly began to dive down, but just as I did, I saw it begin to charge up.
"It's going to fire!"
"Oh no it isn't! Shandián! (Lightning)" Eh? Suddenly, a giant flash of white lightning arced out from way off in the distance, striking the Neuroi and instantly making it shatter.
Wait a second, doesn't Jie use that attack?
I think he does Ignis. But that means…
Ryuu's P.O.V.
Wait a second, shandián?
"Lei-sensei? Is that you?" I asked tentatively. I've already confirmed he's here but…
"Identify yourself! Who are you?" Well Minna certainly seems jittery.
"Lieutenant General Lei Jie Rui of the Song Imperial Air Force, Wing Commander Minna." I watched as Minna's mouth dropped open in shock and Eila's widened in surprise. I could tell everyone else was stunned as well, since the comms instantly went dead. Meanwhile, I was a little nervous. Ok, very nervous. Lei-sensei disappeared about 3 years ago and no-one in my dimension saw hide nor hair of him for all that time. He was the one who taught our entire group of magi to use their abilities, even though he's barely older than me, he was the one who broke Matt out of that creepy experiment and he led the attack on a group of dark magi up in the Atlas Mountains. Yeah, a group of 12 kids launching a full on assault on an army of evil mages. Picture that one for a second. In all honesty, he hasn't changed much; short, jet black hair falling lightly over chocolate brown eyes and a small Fu Manchu looking very strange on his face. Yeah… don't know why he even has that. Anyways, he doesn't look like he's changed much, but at the same time he has a quite hardened look on his face, which he only wears when he's in combat. I guess that's to be expected, he has just fried a Neuroi inside out. He flew over to us so I could get a better view of his striker unit. Wow…
His striker was unmistakably based upon the prototype Mitsubishi F3 fighter aircraft, itself based upon the also prototype ATD-X. He was holding an M197 20mm three-barrelled rotary cannon, and mounted on the wingpack were 4 AAM-4 and 4 AAM-5 missiles. Unlike my sister and me, he didn't have a helmet, instead his HUD was displayed upon a simple visor. His leg units have sleek intakes heading up the legs and protruding just above the knee, but the really special bits were the thrusters. They all had three paddles vectoring the thrust like on the Rockwell X-31, meaning that he could pull sharp manoeuvres with ease. I must say, very nice. He finally reached us and Minna and Eila immediately snapped a salute off, seeing all the medals on his chest. I bowed when he arrived, remembering what he had done for all of us. He looked us all over twice before bursting out in laughter. I snapped my head up whilst Minna and Eila both raised an eyebrow.
"Bwahaha! You're all too stiff!" I mentally groaned at his actions whilst Minna and Eila both took on a bewildered stance and stared at him in amazement. It quickly became apparent to me that he wasn't either annoyed or disappointed, but instead was trying to get a rise out of one of us. I flew up to him before knocking him over the head lightly as he was doubled over in laughter.
"Grow up sensei, I don't think these two appreciate your jokes," I chided him as he slowly regained control of himself.
"Hey, who gave you permission to order me around Ryuu?" he countered back. I frowned slightly before pointing an accusing finger at him.
"You may be my sensei but someone needs to beat some sense into you every once in a while," I said to him. He waved his arms around comically whilst rebutting me.
"Oh noes! 'The Great Quake of Kagoshima' is berating me, whatever will I do?" I sighed in defeat at the antics of my 'teacher'. Sometimes, I just wonder how he's the teacher sometime. I looked up to see him don a serious face for a moment. I knew exactly why.
"No assaults or anomalies since the skirmish in the Atlas Mountains, everyone was safe and sound, apparently they're all heading over here to join us." Jie sighed in relief at the news running a hand through his black hair.
"Hǎo, hǎo, that's good to hear. So, I imagine you people want to return to base right? Well don't let me keep you waiting, let's go!" Jie beckoned the rest of the squadron back over to the base before flying off, leaving me there with Minna and Eila. I turned around to look at the two of the hovering there, stunned at the exchange they just saw. I sighed before looking past the two of them, seeing Lynne hugging both Mei and Yoshika half to death. I smiled at the sight before turning back to Minna.
"Well, you heard the man, shall we?" I asked her. She quickly regained her bearings before nodding to me.
"Everyone, we're heading back to base, we've got a…special guest with us." I smirked slightly at her way of describing Lei-sensei. A general who has a peculiar sense of humour. Yes, special indeed.
When we arrived back at base I saw Mei staring at Lei-sensei with wide eyes. I chuckled slightly before making my way over to her, patting her on the head. She responded by looking straight up at me.
"Onii-chan?" she asked. I smiled at her in response.
"You did well today Mei," I said warmly. She looked at me for a second before her face blossomed into a huge smile. She nodded quickly before speaking.
"Thanks bro! Can I go back to Lynne-chan and Yoshika-chan now?" she asked me. I raised an eyebrow at that. She never uses any kind of honorific unless she's incredibly excited or is feeling somewhat tense. And I can tell it isn't the other. I smiled again before nodding and gesturing towards the two of them my sister running off towards them. I smile whilst watching her before a hand lands on my shoulder.
"Guess she's found some friends here hey?" asked a voice from behind. I nodded.
"Yeah Lei-sensei, at least these people look like they will actually accept her."
"It's nice for her to be able to finally have some more friends, don't you think?" I smiled at that statement.
"Yeah, permanent ones at last." The thought of finally having somewhere permanent to do something useful sounded like a dream come true to me. Even if this world is at war, and even if isn't the most peaceful place to be, it's a place to be none the less. And with all of us here at this base, none of us will be alone.