Chapter 4 – The 501st checks in

When they landed in the hangar, the girls were walking around and admiring it. Toshiro docked his Striker, and started talking.

"This is, as you can see, the hangar. The big ass door leads outside of the base, and there's a truck behind it. Beneath the hangar floor, there's a big storeroom, and a second room, which I preemptively locked away for now, heheh… So, Minna, you look like you have something very important to say, so the floor is yours."

"Ah, thank you, Toshiro. As you probably already all know, the 501st JFW has been reformed, that's why you all are probably here. It was thanks to me convincing Generalmajor Galland that I could reform the unit."

"Or rather her being forced into doing so, haha!" Mio interrupted with a smile.

"Well, you can also view it that way, heheh… Because we did it on such a short notice, the state of our supplies is a mess, so we will have to ask around the local commanders."

"Not quite, Minna. I got supplies from Adolfine, and we are set for a week or so. I also have a radio rack installed already, but no radar or anything fancy."

"And I brought some supplies with me too." Mio added. "Although most of them will go to the 504th..."

"Well, how thoughtful of both of you… Now then, although I see that everyone is present, I have to do a roll call. Captain Gertrud Barkhorn?"

"Hier (Here)!" She shouted standing in attention.

"Captain Charlotte E. Yeager?"

"Yo!"

"1st Lieutenant Erica Hartmann?"

"Here…"

"1st Lieutenant Sanya V. Litvyak?"

"Here."

"1st Lieutenant Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen?"

"Here!"

Oh? Eila was promoted? Nice!

"1st Lieutenant Pierrette-Henriette Clostermann?"

"Present."

"Ensign Francesca Lucchini?"

"Heeeeeere!"

"Master Sergeant Lynnette Bishop?"

"Present…"

Lynne also got promoted!

"Sergeant Yoshika Miyafuji?"

"Present!"

It would be a miracle if she was promoted…

"And now… The grand mystery… Toshiro?"

"Heheh… Well, let me reintroduce myself… Colonel Toshiro Lucas Edelweiss, Grand Supervisor of the 501st JFW on behalf of the Karlslander Wehrmacht. Pleased to meet you all again."

The reaction was about what he thought it would be. Even the girls that met him in Fuso were surprised beyond recognition after hearing that display of authority, and had their eyes and jaws wide open.

"Toshiro… You'd better start slowly and from the beginning…" Minna said silently, still a bit shocked from what she heard.

"Okay. So, after I returned home with Yoshika and Mio, Marshal Admiral Yamamoto himself promoted me to 1st Lieutenant. But after no more than a minute I received news that shook me to the foundations of my being, changing my hair color. I found out that my mother died on the previous day… Two days later, I disappeared for four months to attend to a rather… unearthly training. After I returned, I found out I was dead and stuff, and that I posthumously got promoted to the rank of Major. So I rang to Adolfine, and called upon her offer, which she gave me in Britannia, and poof, I'm a new man. New rank, new surname, new army. But little did I know, Adolfine had something in mind for me. After a few days, she came and seized me to work as the supervisor of the 31st JFS in Africa. My duty ended about eleven days ago, when I ripped apart a land Neuroi bigger than this castle. After I woke up after nine days, I was promoted to the rank of Colonel by Rommel, and Adolfine ceded her duty as Grand Supervisor to me. The same day we get transported here, and almost three days later you show up. Any questions?"

"So… That means you are my boss, huh?" Minna asked with a gloomy look.

"Yes and no. I outrank you, that's a fact. But I will have the same duties and privileges as you had in Britannia, just I'll have a final say to everything, if I deem something worthy of discussing. So you don't have to pout like that, you can torture the girls with Mio all you want, well, unless I say stop that is, heheh."

Minna suddenly saluted, and said "Of course, Herr Oberst, heheh."

"That's the spirit, Minna! I'm looking forward to learn how to be a good commander from you, to satisfy both Adolfine and Uncle."

"Oh, right! Your Uncle! You're the goddamn nephew of the Kaiser!" Trude suddenly exploded. "How could you hide something like that from us?!"

"Because he forbade me, that's why."

The swift answer silenced Trude.

"Look, everyone… I didn't tell you because I was afraid of how all of you would react. Me being a nephew of an emperor and such… It really puts pressure on me, now that it will be revealed to the whole world that I'm alive… And I was given some stupid title… The Hero of Karlsland… A hero of a country I've never set foot in…" He muttered looking at the ceiling

A small hand grabbed his right hand. He looked down and saw Erica with a wide an honest grin.

"Don't worry bro! Whatever shit the world flings at you, we will make it fly back. Together!"

"Yeah!" A choral shout ran amongst the gathered girls.

"Heh… You girls always know how to raise my morale…"

"Excuse me, Colonnello…" A voice said from behind.

Toshiro turned around and saw a bunch of soldiers with crates standing at the stairs.

"Yes?" He asked.

"We don't wanted to interrupt this heartwarming scene, but where should we put the supplies?"

"The ones with the emblem of the 501st here, and the ones with the emblem of the 504th over at the big door." Mio commanded and pointed two spots.

"Affermativo, Maggiore (Affirmative, Major)."

"So anyway, I wanted to give you lot a tour around the base. And before you get excited, most of the castle is cut off because of various construction issues, so most of the thing including sleeping and briefings will be done in the various buildings in the base."

"Sounds fine with me." Minna said. "You are putting some effort in your duty, Toshiro."

"As a True Soldier of Karlsland, I have to." He said and winked toward Trude, earning a few honest laughs. "There are a few rooms that I thought could be used here, so let's get started. Unfortunately, you'll have to scale some rather large stairs, and the escalator is busted…"

"Awwww…" Erica sighed

"Hey, Toshiro, what should we do now, when we know the place in and out?" Shirley asked on behalf of herself and Francesca.

"Whatever Minna tells you." He answered with a sly smile.

"Let me see… Watch for those Romagnan soldiers… That should keep you two busy for a while."

"Okay!"

Toshiro led his little tour group up the stairs. Yoshika, Perrine and Lynne arrived upstairs out of breath.

"What is it with you three? I didn't even start my training program and you are already out of breath?" Mio asked.

She only got loud gasping for air in return.

"Let them be, Mio. These stairs could kill anyone, look at Erica there."

Mio leaned a bit and saw Erica half-alive leaning against the wall and gasping.

After a few minutes, they continued.

"This is the proposed war room. I installed a radio rack which served me in Africa, but we're in desperate need of a radar."

"Sanya can double as a radar, right, Sanya?" Minna asked the frail Orussian.

"Hmmm, yes." She responded.

"We also need a good military grade map it seems…" Minna pondered.

"I'll phone around and see what can be done." Toshiro said. "Now, let's go to the next room.

Toshiro opened the door to the office.

"As you can see, this will be mine and Minna's office. From respect to what you did and your… hmmm… experience, you get the better desk, Minna."

"Heheh… Thanks, Toshiro. The room and desk both look very good, and the room is well lit. A good choice again."

They ventured on to the archive room.

"This room should be the kingdom of Trude. As you can see, Trudy, there's a window which can be opened."

"Oh! Good job, Toshiro! But now I won't have an excuse to undress you…" She said with a slight blush. "And you got even more ripped than before… What a shame…"

"Just for you, I can work here without a shirt. But only when there are no drafts!"

"All right!"

They got before the door leading to Toshiro's room.

"And now, my room. Now don't jump the gun, thinking that I simply got dibs on it because I got here first. I got the key to the room from Adolfine herself, heh."

"Who's Adolfine?" Yoshika asked.

"Huh? You forgot already? The black haired beauty that snatched me from Fuso, remember?"

"Oh, that General lady? Oh right… No wonder I forgot, it was such a sad occasion…"

"Now, now, Yoshika. Don't say bad things about my boss."

"Heh, sorry…"

"Okay, now let's go inside."

After traversing the stairs, they entered the room itself. The girls were out of breath after seeing how bourgeois the room was. They carefully looked around the room, and just admired.

"Now, to add insult to injury, I'll show you my new awards."

Toshiro approached the chest, and pulled out the box with the Legion of Honor.

"First, I'll please our Gallian minority. Come closer, Perrine."

"Ugh... What?"

He opened the box in front of her, and she almost forgot how to breathe.

"T-t-t-the Legion d'Honneur! C-c-commanders class! H-how did you get that?"

"It was awarded while I was still 'alive' for destroying the Warlock and liberating Gallia in consequence."

"Well… I must say! You impressed me Toshiro!" Perrine regained her usual state of mind.

"Heheh… Now it's turn for the girls from Karlsland to be impressed…"

Toshiro reached into the chest, looking carefully at the Karlslander girls at the same time. Minna was honestly interested, Erica looked indifferent, and Trude almost burst from excitement. He pulled out the box he wanted to show them, and slowly opened it. Seeing the content, even Erica made big eyes.

"The Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds!" Trude shouted. "I've never seen anyone decorated with that class! Lemme touch it!"

"Sure, just don't drool over it…"

Trude carefully took the award in her trembling hands, as if she picked up the bones of some Pope.

"Incredible… So much detail… I hope you won't waltz around with it just like that? It could get tarnished."

"Adolfine already gave me that advice." He turned around to Lynne. "Lynne, I got two ribbons to sew on my uniform, could you do it for me some day."

"Sure, Toshiro." She answered with a small smile.

Toshiro now pulled out a small case and opened it.

"Honorary Clasp, not much to show around."

"You made the Wehrmachtsbericht? Why didn't I hear that?" Minna asked.

"Maybe because it was only broadcasted through the Tobruk broadcast station?"

Minna was now looking at the Knight's Cross and the Honorary Clasp with wise face expression.

"I should be proud to serve under someone who was awarded with this for the first time. And a Honorary Clasp to boot…"

"Correction, Minna. Not under, but with. I may have a higher rank than you in all those military records, but as humans, we are equal."

Minna placed the award back in its case and said "Glad to hear that you didn't change too much after advancing so fast…"

"Now that I have Yoshika here, I might as well lie on my bed and whistle Dixie, heh…"

"Oh no, Toshiro! Now that you are a soldier of Karlsland, I won't let you idle around!" Trude shouted with passion in her eyes.

"Captain Barkhorn, drop and give me fifty!" Toshiro shouted.

"Yes sir! Hey, what?!"

"Gheheheh, sorry, I didn't have an occasion to test my 'power'. Don't worry though, I won't abuse it."

"So should I do the pushups or not?"

"Barkhorn, stand up!"

"Yes sir! Oh fuck you, you did it again!" She hit him in the arm

"Owww! Sorry! Wait, hitting your superior? Month of KP!"

"Yes sir! Toshiro!"

"Stop it you two…" Minna sighed. "So anyway, nice room you have here, Toshiro, although a bit… secluded."

"Hey, maybe you'll stop visiting me five times a day like in Britannia, heh… I should forbid repairing the lift…"

"Why should we visit you five times a day?" Minna asked.

"I have the only tub in the base, and there's no hot bath here. The only alternatives are either an open aired pool, dipping yourself in the sea or a drum bath…"

"You are kidding me?!" Perrine suddenly interrupted. "Then how can I wash myself after training?!"

"Well, you could use my bath…" Toshiro made a pause. "Under one condition…"

"What is it?" She asked.

"I'll be watching you."

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAT?!"

"You heard me. I'll be watching you, hell, I can even wash your hair or back. That my condition, as the sole proprietor of the one and only tub in the base. Take it or leave it, I can go scrub you a barrel if you want…"

"I'd rather stay dirty!" She shouted and turned her back away.

"Does that apply to the rest of us?" Minna asked.

"Of course."

"Meh, I can bathe under Toshiro's surveillance, like I give a fuck… And he'll even wash my back and hair? Hah! What a bargain!" Mio boasted.

"I could also take a bath here… Since it's secluded, and only the two of us would be here… And I always have a stiff back after doing a lot of paperwork, so a backrub would be nice…" Minna said.

"A True Soldier of Karlsland should take pride in his body! I'm in!" Trude shouted.

"I don't know… You promise you won't do any funny stuff, bro?" Erica asked.

"How could I do funny stuff to my beloved ersatz sister?"

"Heehee, then I'm in!"

"Sanya, Eila?" Toshiro asked.

"I'd rather die!" Eila shouted.

"Well, I suppose I…" Sanya started talking.

"You'd also die!" Eila interrupted.

"Lynne?"

"Ummm… Well…. Uhhhhh…." She stuttered with her face red.

"Okay, that's a no… Yoshika? Do I have to ask you?"

"Well… Heheh… I suppose I could take a bath with you occasionally… Since you are my boyfriend and stuff…"

Everyone looked at her, and Erica whispered dramatically "Toshiro was talking about bathing separately."

Yoshika's face reddened immediately.

"I meant taking a bath under your supervision! I didn't mean… Oh… Oh… Hauuu…"

"Don't sweat, Yoshika, I know what you meant. No need to panic…"

"Okay, everyone, find Shirley and Lucchini, and get a tour of the rest of the base, Mio, Toshiro and I have stuff to discuss, okay?" Minna said.

"Roger!" Everyone responded and they all went out.

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